A female connector sheath

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of connector housing technology, specifically to a female connector housing, comprising a housing shell and a housing body, wherein the housing shell and housing body are slidably connected, and terminals are inserted into the housing body; the inner side of the housing shell is provided with a TPA structure that mates with the terminals, and the outer side of the housing shell is provided with a locking structure for connection with mating terminals. The beneficial effects of this invention are: the connector housing is divided into a housing body and a housing shell, and both the TPA structure and the locking structure are located on the housing shell, facilitating modular design of the connector housing and shortening the production cycle; furthermore, during the assembly of the housing body and housing shell, the TPA structure is used for guiding and limiting, facilitating rapid assembly of the connector housing; additionally, the housing body is provided with an unlocking groove for terminal removal, facilitating terminal unlocking and removal, and simplifying disassembly and maintenance of the connector housing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of connector sheath technology, and in particular to a female connector sheath. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the automotive industry, driving safety is receiving increasing attention from the public, and automotive wiring harnesses play a crucial role in signal transmission. To ensure smooth signal transmission, it is especially important that terminals and connectors in automotive wiring harnesses are securely fixed. Therefore, terminal fixing methods and locking structures are being strengthened and enhanced in connector design.

[0003] Currently, connector housings are designed with locking devices to connect the housing to the mating terminals. A TPA structure is also designed on top of the spring mechanism on the connector housing to provide secondary locking and fixation of the terminals. Typically, the locking device and the hinged TPA are both placed on the housing. This design places strict requirements on product materials and manufacturing precision, resulting in a low yield rate and making it unsuitable for widespread adoption. Alternatively, the locking device can be designed on the housing body, with the TPA designed as a separate component. This design is relatively complex and has a longer production cycle. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention proposes a female connector sheath, which solves the problems of low yield and long production cycle in the manufacturing of connector sheaths in the prior art.

[0005] The technical solution of this invention is implemented as follows:

[0006] A female connector sheath includes a sheath shell and a sheath body. The sheath shell and the sheath body are slidably connected, and a terminal is inserted into the sheath body. The inner side of the sheath shell has a TPA structure that mates with the terminal, and the outer side of the sheath shell has a locking structure for connecting with the mating terminal. Both the TPA structure and the locking structure are provided on the sheath shell, which provides better fixation of the connector sheath to the terminal, facilitates modular design of the sheath, shortens the design and production cycle, and facilitates the installation of the connector sheath.

[0007] The TPA structure includes a TPA retaining part, which is disposed on the inner wall of the outer casing and has a C-shaped structure. The outer casing body has a corresponding TPA groove, and the TPA retaining part is slidably connected to the corresponding TPA groove. The TPA retaining part guides and limits the outer casing body, ensuring accurate relative positioning between the outer casing and the outer casing during installation. This facilitates quick and easy positioning and installation of the outer casing body. The outer casing has a limiting groove at its open end, and the outer casing body has a limiting boss on its bottom surface. The limiting groove and the limiting boss engage. After the outer casing body and the outer casing are installed in place, the limiting boss engages with the limiting groove, fixing the relative position of the outer casing body and the outer casing body.

[0008] The sheath body has multiple terminal guide grooves arranged side by side. The side wall of the terminal guide groove is provided with a spring tongue, and the terminal is provided with a locking groove. The spring tongue and the locking groove cooperate. After the terminal is installed in place, the spring tongue is inserted into the locking groove, and the spring tongue axially limits the terminal, thereby realizing the one-time locking of the terminal.

[0009] The terminal is also provided with an anti-misalignment rib, which cooperates with the TPA holding part. When the sheath body is installed into the sheath shell, the TPA holding part limits the anti-misalignment rib, thereby achieving secondary locking of the terminal.

[0010] The end of the terminal guide groove is provided with a thrust portion, which mates with the terminal plane of the terminal. The thrust surface restricts the movement of the terminal along its axial direction, ensuring accurate installation of the terminal within the sheath body.

[0011] The sheath body is also provided with an unlocking groove, which corresponds to the position of the spring latch. The unlocking groove allows the unlocking tool to be inserted into the spring latch and the spring latch to be unlocked, facilitating the removal of the terminal.

[0012] The sheath body has a push-pull plate on its side wall, which extends upwards from the upper surface of the sheath body and engages with the side of the sheath shell. When the sheath body is installed into or removed from the sheath shell, the operator applies a pushing or pulling force to the sheath body using the push-pull plate, facilitating the installation or removal of the sheath body.

[0013] The locking structure includes an elastic cantilever beam and a protective structure. The cantilever end of the elastic cantilever beam is equipped with a pressing part. The protective structure is fixedly mounted on the outer casing, and its position corresponds to the pressing part. The middle part of the elastic cantilever beam is connected to the mating end via a hook-and-connect mechanism. The locking structure ensures a stable connection between the outer casing and the mating end, while the protective structure effectively protects the pressing part, preventing breakage or failure.

[0014] The mounting mechanism includes a mounting platform I and a mounting hole I. The mounting platform I is fixedly mounted on the elastic cantilever beam, and the mounting hole I is located on the side wall of the mating end. The mounting platform I and the mounting hole I are engaged.

[0015] The mounting mechanism includes a mounting hole II and a mounting platform II. The mounting hole II is located on the elastic cantilever beam, and the mounting platform II is fixedly located on the inner wall of the mating end. The mounting hole II and the mounting platform II cooperate with each other.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: the connector sheath is divided into a sheath body and a sheath shell, and the TPA structure and locking structure are both set on the sheath shell, which facilitates the modular design of the connector sheath and shortens the production cycle; and when assembling the sheath body and the sheath shell, the TPA structure is used for guiding and limiting, which facilitates the rapid assembly of the connector sheath; in addition, the sheath body is provided with an unlocking groove for terminal removal, which facilitates the unlocking and removal of the terminals and the disassembly and maintenance of the connector sheath. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of a female connector sheath according to the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the terminal structure.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a sectional view of the main body of the sheath.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of the sheath.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the outer casing structure in Example 4.

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the protective suit assembly in Example 4.

[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the outer casing structure in Example 5.

[0025] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the protective suit assembly in Example 5.

[0026] Figure 9 This is a diagram illustrating terminal unlocking.

[0027] In the diagram: 1-Sheath housing, 11-Locking structure, 111-Elastic cantilever beam, 112-Pressing part, 113-Protective structure, 114-Hanging platform I, 115-Hanging hole II, 12-TPA structure, 121-TPA holding part, 13-Limiting groove, 2-Sheath body, 21-TPA corresponding groove, 22-Limiting boss, 23-Terminal guide groove, 24-Push-pull plate, 25-Spring tongue, 251-Spring tongue boss, 26-Thrust part, 27-Unlocking groove, 3-Terminal, 31-Card slot, 32-Terminal plane, 33-Anti-misalignment rib, 4-Matching end, 41-Hanging hole I, 42-Hanging platform II. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] Example 1, as Figure 1 As shown, a female connector sheath includes a sheath shell 1 and a sheath body 2. The sheath shell 1 and the sheath body 2 are slidably connected, and a terminal 3 is inserted into the sheath body 2. The inner side of the sheath shell 1 is provided with a TPA structure 12 that mates with the terminal 3, and the outer side of the sheath shell 1 is provided with a locking structure 11 for connecting with a mating end 4. The connector sheath is divided into a sheath shell 1 and a sheath body 2, and the locking structure 11 and the TPA structure 12 are simultaneously set on the sheath shell 1. The sheath adopts a split design, which is beneficial for the setting and arrangement of the locking structure 11 and the TPA structure 12. It also facilitates the modularization of the sheath, shortens the design cycle of the locking structure 11 and the TPA structure 12 on different models of sheaths, and the split sheath can reduce the complexity of the structure and shorten the production cycle.

[0030] Furthermore, such as Figure 5 , Figure 7As shown, the TPA structure 12 includes a TPA holding part 121, which is disposed on the inner wall of the sheath shell 1 and has a C-shaped structure; the sheath body 2 is provided with a TPA corresponding groove 21, and the TPA holding part 121 is slidably connected to the TPA corresponding groove 21; the opening end of the sheath shell 1 is provided with a limiting groove 13, and the bottom surface of the sheath body 2 is provided with a limiting boss 22, and the limiting groove 13 cooperates with the limiting boss 22. When the sheath body 2 is inserted into the sheath shell 1, the sheath body 2 moves along the direction of the TPA holding part 121. When the sheath body 2 is fully inserted into the sheath shell 1, the limiting boss 22 engages with the limiting groove 13. The front of the limiting boss 22 is an inclined surface. When the sheath body 2 moves, the limiting boss 22 can push open the sheath shell 1, facilitating the installation of the sheath body 2. The rear of the limiting boss 22 is a vertical surface. The rear of the limiting boss 22 fits against the side wall of the limiting groove 13, thus fixing the position of the sheath body 2 within the sheath shell 1. The direction in which the sheath body 2 is inserted into the sheath shell 1 is forward, and the direction in which the sheath body 2 is removed from the sheath shell 1 is backward.

[0031] Example 2 differs from Example 1 in that the sheath body 2 has multiple terminal guide grooves 23 arranged side by side, and the side walls of the terminal guide grooves 23 are provided with spring tongues 25, such as... Figure 2 As shown, terminal 3 is provided with a slot 31, and spring tongue 25 cooperates with the slot 31. The sheath body 2 is also provided with an unlocking slot 27, and the unlocking slot 27 corresponds to the position of spring tongue 25. In this embodiment, the sheath body 2 is provided with two rows of terminal guide slots 23, with five terminal guide slots in each row, and an unlocking slot 27 is provided between the two rows of terminal guide slots 23. After terminal 3 is inserted into the terminal guide slot 23, spring tongue 25 is engaged in the slot 31, thereby limiting and fixing terminal 3 within the sheath body 2.

[0032] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 As shown, terminal 3 is also provided with anti-misalignment rib 33, and anti-misalignment rib 33 cooperates with TPA holding part 121. When terminal 3 is inserted into terminal guide groove 23, anti-misalignment rib 33 can effectively ensure that terminal 3 is rotated in the correct direction, and improve the efficiency of sheath assembly.

[0033] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, the end of the terminal guide groove 23 is provided with a thrust portion 26, which cooperates with the terminal plane 32 of the terminal 3. The thrust portion 26 limits the axial movement of the terminal 3, and the thrust portion 26 cooperates with the spring tongue 25 to limit and fix the position of the terminal 3 within the sheath body 2, ensuring the stability of the terminal 3 installation.

[0034] Example 3 differs from Example 2 in that, as Figure 4As shown, a push-pull plate 24 is provided on the side wall of the sheath body 2. The push-pull plate 24 extends upward from the upper surface of the sheath body 2 and engages with the side of the sheath shell 1. When assembling or disassembling the sheath body 2, a pushing or pulling force is applied to the sheath body 2 through the push-pull plate 24 to assemble and disassemble the sheath.

[0035] Furthermore, the locking structure 11 includes an elastic cantilever beam 111 and a protective structure 113. The cantilever end of the elastic cantilever beam 111 is provided with a pressing part 112, and the protective structure 113 is fixedly mounted on the protective housing 1, with the protective structure 113 corresponding to the pressing part 112. The middle part of the elastic cantilever beam 111 is connected to the mating end 4 through a hooking mechanism. The protective housing 1 is inserted into the mating end 4 and fixed by the hooking mechanism to ensure the connection stability between the protective housing 1 and the mating end 4.

[0036] Example 4 differs from Example 3 in that, as Figure 6 As shown, the mounting mechanism includes a mounting platform I114 and a mounting hole I41. The mounting platform I114 is fixedly mounted on the elastic cantilever beam 111, and the mounting hole I41 is located on the side wall of the mating end 4. The mounting platform I114 mates with the mounting hole I41. The mounting platform I114 is located in the middle of the elastic cantilever beam 111 and is integrally connected to the elastic cantilever beam 111. When the sheath shell 1 is connected to the mating end 4, the mounting platform I114 is inserted into the mounting hole I41. The mounting platform I114 limits the relative position of the sheath shell 1 within the mating end 4, ensuring that the sheath shell 1 is stably installed within the mating end 4.

[0037] Example 5 differs from Example 3 in that, as Figure 8 As shown, the mounting mechanism includes a mounting hole II 115 and a mounting platform II 42. The mounting hole II 115 is located on the elastic cantilever beam 111, and the mounting platform II 42 is fixedly mounted on the inner wall of the mating end 4. The mounting hole II 115 and the mounting platform II 42 mate. The mounting hole II 115 is located in the middle of the elastic cantilever beam 111. The mounting platform II 42 is integrally connected to the mating end 4. When the sheath shell 1 is connected to the mating end 4, the mounting platform II 42 is inserted into the mounting hole II 115.

[0038] Example 6 differs from Example 1 in that the outer casing 1 is a cuboid structure open on the front and right sides. The TPA structure 12 is disposed on the top, back, and bottom surfaces of the cuboid structure, and is located inside the cuboid structure. The main body 2 of the casing enters from the front of the outer casing 1. The limiting groove 13 is located at the right edge of the bottom surface, and is positioned close to the front of the cuboid structure. This location facilitates deformation of the bottom surface of the cuboid structure, making it convenient for the installation or removal of the main body 2 of the casing.

[0039] Furthermore, the left side of the cuboid structure is provided with through holes arranged side by side, and the through holes are positioned with the terminal guide groove 23 on the sheath body 2 to facilitate the connection of the terminal 3.

[0040] Furthermore, the locking structure 11 is located on the outer side of the top surface of the cuboid structure, and the fixed end of the elastic cantilever beam 111 is located near the left side of the cuboid structure. When the connector sheath is assembled, the left end of the sheath shell 1 is inserted into the mating end 4.

[0041] The assembly process of the connector is as follows: 1. Insert the terminal 3 into the sheath body 2. The slot 31 on the terminal 3 cooperates with the spring tongue 25 in the sheath body 2. The terminal plane 32 of the terminal 3 fits against the thrust part 26 of the sheath body 2, thereby achieving one-time locking of the terminal 3.

[0042] 2. Insert the sheath body 2 with the assembled terminal 3 into the sheath shell 1. The TPA structure 12 on the sheath shell 1 is inserted into the corresponding TPA groove 21. After the sheath body 2 is installed in place, the limiting boss 22 is inserted into the limiting groove 13. At this time, the TPA holding part 121 of the TPA structure 12 limits the misalignment rib 33 of the terminal 3, realizing the secondary locking of the terminal 3 and completing the assembly of the female end sheath.

[0043] 3. Connect the assembled female end sheath to the mating end 4 by inserting it into the mating end 4. The locking structure 11 on the outer shell 1 of the sheath is connected to the mating end 4.

[0044] The connector separation process is as follows: 1. Separate the assembled female end sheath from the mating end 4, press the pressing part 112 of the locking structure 11 to unlock the locking structure 11, disconnect the female end sheath from the mating end 4, and remove the female end sheath from the mating end 4.

[0045] 2. Separate the sheath body 2 inside the sheath housing 1, manually pry open the top and bottom surfaces of the sheath housing 1, so that the limiting protrusion 11 separates from the limiting groove 13, pull the push-pull plate 24 to move the sheath body 2 outward along the TPA structure 12, and at the same time, the TPA structure 12 locks and unlocks the terminal 3 a second time.

[0046] 3. Separate terminal 3 from the sheath body 2, such as... Figure 9 As shown, use an unlocking tool to penetrate into the unlocking groove 27, so that the head of the unlocking tool contacts the tongue protrusion 251 of the tongue 25, apply force to the unlocking tool to lift the tongue 25 so that the tongue 25 unlocks the slot 31 of the terminal 3, and pull the terminal 3 out from the tail of the sheath body 2, and the female end sheath is unlocked.

[0047] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A female connector sheath, comprising a sheath shell (1) and a sheath body (2), characterized in that, The outer casing (1) is slidably connected to the main body (2), and a terminal (3) is inserted into the main body (2); the inner side of the outer casing (1) is provided with a TPA structure (12) that cooperates with the terminal (3). The TPA structure (12) includes a TPA holding part (121), which is located on the inner wall of the outer casing (1) and is a C-shaped structure; the main body (2) is provided with a TPA corresponding groove (21), and the TPA holding part (121) is slidably connected to the TPA corresponding groove (21); the terminal (3) is provided with an anti-misalignment rib (33), and the anti-misalignment rib (33) cooperates with the TPA holding part (121) to achieve secondary locking of the terminal (3); the outer side of the outer casing (1) is provided with a locking structure (11) for connecting with the mating end (4).

2. The female connector sheath according to claim 1, characterized in that, The opening end of the sheath shell (1) is provided with a limiting groove (13), and the bottom surface of the sheath body (2) is provided with a limiting boss (22). The limiting groove (13) and the limiting boss (22) cooperate.

3. The female connector sheath according to claim 2, characterized in that, The sheath body (2) has multiple terminal guide grooves (23) arranged side by side. The side wall of the terminal guide groove (23) is provided with a spring tongue (25), and the terminal (3) is provided with a slot (31). The spring tongue (25) and the slot (31) cooperate.

4. The female connector sheath according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that, The end of the terminal guide groove (23) is provided with a thrust part (26), which cooperates with the terminal plane (32) of the terminal (3).

5. The female connector sheath according to claim 4, characterized in that, The main body (2) of the protective cover is also provided with an unlocking groove (27), and the unlocking groove (27) corresponds to the position of the spring (25).

6. The female connector sheath according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5, characterized in that, A push-pull plate (24) is provided on the side wall of the sheath body (2). The push-pull plate (24) extends upward from the upper surface of the sheath body (2) and is engaged with the side of the sheath shell (1).

7. The female connector sheath according to claim 6, characterized in that, The locking structure (11) includes an elastic cantilever beam (111) and a protective structure (113). The cantilever end of the elastic cantilever beam (111) is provided with a pressing part (112). The protective structure (113) is fixedly installed on the outer shell (1) of the protective sleeve, and the protective structure (113) corresponds to the pressing part (112). The middle part of the elastic cantilever beam (111) is connected to the mating end (4) through a hooking mechanism.

8. The female connector sheath according to claim 7, characterized in that, The hanging mechanism includes a hanging platform I (114) and a hanging hole I (41). The hanging platform I (114) is fixedly mounted on the elastic cantilever beam (111), and the hanging hole I (41) is mounted on the side wall of the mating end (4). The hanging platform I (114) and the hanging hole I (41) are engaged.

9. The female connector sheath according to claim 8, characterized in that, The mounting mechanism includes a mounting hole II (115) and a mounting platform II (42). The mounting hole II (115) is located on the elastic cantilever beam (111), and the mounting platform II (42) is fixedly located on the inner wall of the mating end (4). The mounting hole II (115) and the mounting platform II (42) are connected to the mounting plate. Connect to Platform II (42) for coordination.

Images