Electrical connector and method of manufacturing an electrical connector

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical connector (100) configured to mate with an electrically counterpart connector (501), the electrical connector (100) comprising a receiving member (101), an electrical terminal (300) received in a corresponding terminal cavity (107) of the receiving member (101), and an anti-vibration element (103). The electrical connector (100) is characterized in that the receiving member (101) further comprises a traversing groove (117) traversing the receiving member (101) from the receiving member outer surface (109) to the receiving member inner surface (301), the receiving member inner surface (301) defining a corresponding terminal cavity (107), and the anti-vibration element (103) is arranged in the traversing groove (117). The invention also relates to an electrical connector assembly (500) comprising an electrical connector (100) and an electrical mating connector (501), a method of assembling an electrical connector assembly (500), and a method of manufacturing an electrical connector (100), in particular a method of manufacturing an electrical connector (100) of the invention.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector comprising an electrical terminal and an anti-vibration element, an electrical connector assembly thereof, a method for assembling the electrical connector assembly and a method for manufacturing the electrical connector. Background Art

[0002] Electrical connectors are known in the art and include a receiving member and one or more electrical terminals. The electrical terminals are received in corresponding terminal cavities of the receiving member. The electrical terminals are configured to electrically contact corresponding mating electrical terminals of a mating electrical connector when the electrical connector is mated with the mating electrical connector.

[0003] The electrical terminals can be assembled into their corresponding terminal cavities of the receiving member, for example, by form-fitting or friction-fitting. It is preferable to avoid friction-fitting of the electrical terminals to reduce the risk of material degradation on both the receiving member and the electrical terminals due to frictional strain, which can affect the durability and quality of the electrical contact. Therefore, various form-fitting solutions have been devised for assembling electrical terminals into connector receiving members, in particular cantilever-type snap-fitting arrangements.

[0004] However, given manufacturing tolerances for the electrical terminals and the receiving member typically result in a snap-fit ​​fit of the electrical terminals within the receiving member, which still allows for relative micro-movement. In vibration-intensive environments, such as those near internal combustion engines, this relative micro-movement can cause material degradation of the electrical terminals and / or the receiving member. Furthermore, when the electrical connector mates with an electrical mating connector, relative micro-movement can further increase fretting corrosion of both the electrical terminals and the mating electrical terminals. Summary of the Invention

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electrical contact solution with improved vibration resistance and improved durability in vibration-intensive environments.

[0006] This object is achieved by an electrical connector configured to mate with an electrical counterpart along a mating direction, the electrical connector comprising a receiving member, an electrical terminal received in a corresponding terminal cavity of the receiving member, and an anti-vibration element. According to the present invention, the electrical connector is characterized in that the receiving member further comprises a transverse groove that traverses from an outer surface of the receiving member to an inner surface of the receiving member, the inner surface of the receiving member defining the corresponding terminal cavity, and the anti-vibration element is arranged in the transverse groove.

[0007] When the transverse groove traverses the container from the outer surface of the container member to the inner surface of the container member defining the corresponding terminal cavity, a space is created that links the outer portion of the container member with the terminal cavity. By arranging the anti-vibration element in the transverse groove, the anti-vibration element can represent a direct mechanical link between the outer portion of the container member and the terminal cavity holding the electrical terminal.

[0008] Thus, when the actuating device is positioned along the outer surface of the receiving member, the anti-vibration element can be clamped between, in particular, the electrical terminal and the actuating device outside the receiving member. This provides additional stability of the electrical terminal in the terminal cavity, in particular when manufacturing tolerances still allow relative movement between the electrical terminal and the receiving member.

[0009] In particular, when the electrical connector is mated with the electrical counterpart along the mating direction, the electrical counterpart can be an actuating device that sandwiches (particularly squeezes) the anti-vibration element with the electrical terminal. Therefore, when the electrical counterpart vibrates differently from the electrical connector, the vibration of the electrical counterpart can be directly and additionally transmitted to the electrical terminal, thereby further reducing the risk of fretting corrosion.

[0010] In one aspect, the anti-vibration element can be arranged in the transverse groove such that the anti-vibration element protrudes beyond the outer surface of the receiving member, thereby facilitating mechanical access to the anti-vibration element located in the transverse groove.

[0011] In one aspect, the electrical connector may include a plurality of electrical terminals received in corresponding terminal cavities of a receiving member. A transverse groove extends along the periphery of the receiving member such that the transverse groove traverses the receiving member from an outer surface of the receiving member to each of the corresponding inner surfaces of the receiving member defining the plurality of corresponding terminal cavities. The anti-vibration element is disposed in the transverse groove such that it protrudes beyond the outer surface of the receiving member along the periphery.

[0012] In this configuration, a single anti-vibration element can simultaneously interface with multiple terminal cavities holding corresponding electrical terminals. This means that the anti-vibration element can help stabilize multiple electrical terminals simultaneously.

[0013] In one aspect, the transverse groove may extend along the entire periphery of the receiving member, and the anti-vibration element is arranged in the transverse groove such that the anti-vibration element protrudes beyond the receiving member outer surface along the entire periphery of the receiving member.

[0014] In one aspect, the anti-vibration element can be formed into a shape matching the outer periphery of the receiving member.Therefore, the anti-vibration element can be conveniently arranged in the transverse groove so as to interface with each of the plurality of corresponding terminal cavities.

[0015] In one aspect, the receiving member can have a rectangular perimeter in a plane orthogonal to the mating direction, and the anti-vibration element can have a matching rectangular ring shape. Using the annular anti-vibration element disposed in the circumferentially transverse groove can provide the elastic properties of the anti-vibration element, which uniformly and inwardly applies a stabilizing force to the plurality of electrical terminals received in the receiving member.

[0016] In one aspect, the anti-vibration element can be an O-ring. In this configuration, the electrical connector, in particular the anti-vibration element, is therefore particularly cost-effective to realize.

[0017] In one aspect, the anti-vibration element can be made of rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer, in particular with a Shore hardness between 50 and 30, preferably between 35 and 45. The anti-vibration element thus constructed is suitable for providing the desired flexibility and elasticity properties without risking damage to the housing member or the electrical terminals.

[0018] In one aspect, the anti-vibration element can be arranged in the transverse groove so that it contacts one or more electrical terminals. Therefore, any pressure or force applied to the anti-vibration element is also directly and immediately transferred to the electrical terminals, and the anti-vibration element and the electrical terminals can move together.

[0019] In one aspect, the anti-vibration element may be arranged in the transverse groove such that it frictionally engages one or more electrical terminals. This allows for improved stability of the electrical terminals in their respective terminal cavities even when the electrical connector is in an uncoupled state.

[0020] In one aspect, the anti-vibration element can protrude beyond the inner surface of the receiving member defining one or more corresponding terminal cavities and enter the one or more corresponding terminal cavities. In this configuration, when the electrical terminals are assembled (e.g., snap-fitted) into their corresponding terminal cavities, frictional engagement between the anti-vibration element and the electrical terminals can be achieved.

[0021] In one aspect, the transverse groove can traverse the receiving member in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction. Therefore, when the electrical terminals are accommodated in a receiving member extending parallel to the mating direction, the placement of the anti-vibration element to be mated with one or more electrical terminals is more convenient. In other words, the distance between the outer surface of the receiving member and the inner surface of the receiving member defining the corresponding terminal cavity can be shortened.

[0022] In one aspect, each of the one or more electrical terminals can be a socket contact terminal including an inner narrowing portion configured to achieve electrical contact with a mating pin contact terminal. For each electrical terminal, a transverse groove extends from an outer surface of the receiving member across the receiving member to a portion of an inner surface of the receiving member defining a corresponding terminal cavity, the portion facing the corresponding inner narrowing portion of the electrical terminal.

[0023] Therefore, when mechanical force presses the anti-vibration element against the electrical terminal, the compressive force is locally applied to the inner narrowing portion of the electrical terminal. That is, the location of the maximum compressive force applied to the electrical terminal can be the inner narrowing portion of the electrical terminal, which includes one or more electrical contact points when the electrical connector is mated with the electrical mating connector. As a result, fretting corrosion caused by micro-movements between the electrical terminal and the mating electrical terminal, which is configured to accommodate contact pins in the electrical mating connector, can be reduced. Notably, when the anti-vibration element vibrates together with the electrical mating connector, vibrations of the electrical mating connector and the mating electrical terminal are transmitted to the electrical contact points.

[0024] The object of the present invention is also achieved by an electrical connector assembly, the electrical connector assembly comprising an electrical connector according to any one of the above aspects of the present invention, and an electrical mating connector comprising a shell member, wherein the electrical mating connector mates with the electrical connector such that the shell member encloses a receiving member. The shell enclosing the receiving member can conveniently interact with a transverse groove extending along the outer periphery of the receiving member of the electrical connector.

[0025] In one aspect of the electrical connector assembly, the electrical mating connector can be mated with the electrical connector such that the anti-vibration element is compressed between the housing member and the one or more electrical terminals. Thus, the anti-vibration element further stabilizes the electrical terminals within their cavities and, in particular, allows the one or more electrical terminals to vibrate with the electrical mating connector rather than the housing member of the electrical connector.

[0026] In one aspect of the electrical connector assembly, the shell member may include an inner surface having a chamfered portion configured to engage an anti-vibration element, particularly for compressing the anti-vibration element between the shell member and one or more electrical terminals when the electrical mating connector is mated with the electrical connector. The chamfered portion allows for gradual compression of the anti-vibration element when the connectors of the electrical connector assembly are mated. This can improve the smoothness of the mating motion.

[0027] The present invention also includes a method for assembling an electrical connector assembly according to one of the aforementioned aspects. The method comprises the following steps:

[0028] engaging the receiving member and the shell member so that the shell member encloses the receiving member, and

[0029] An anti-vibration element is compressed between the housing member and the electrical terminal.

[0030] When the electrical connector assembly is assembled according to this method, electrical contact between the electrical terminals is achieved, which provides the above-mentioned advantages of the present invention.

[0031] In one aspect of the method for assembling an electrical connector assembly, an inner surface of a shell member of an electrical mating connector includes a chamfered portion, and the compressing step includes compressing between the chamfered portion and the electrical terminal. The chamfered portion allows for gradual compression of the anti-vibration element when the connectors of the electrical connector assembly are mated. This can improve the smoothness of the mating motion.

[0032] The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing an electrical connector, in particular an electrical connector according to one of the above aspects. The method for manufacturing an electrical connector comprises the following steps:

[0033] providing a receiving member, the receiving member including a transverse groove, the transverse groove transversely extending from an outer surface of the receiving member to an inner surface of the receiving member, the inner surface of the receiving member defining a terminal cavity for an electrical terminal;

[0034] Arranging the anti-vibration element in the transverse groove so that the anti-vibration element protrudes beyond the outer surface of the receiving member, and

[0035] The electrical terminal is inserted into the terminal cavity. The electrical connector manufactured according to the method solves the problem of the present invention and, in particular, can achieve the above-mentioned respective advantages of various aspects of the present invention.

[0036] In one aspect of a method for manufacturing an electrical connector, an electrical terminal is inserted into a terminal cavity such that the electrical terminal contacts, and in particular, frictionally engages, an anti-vibration element. Consequently, any pressure or force applied to the anti-vibration element is directly and immediately transmitted to the electrical terminal, and the anti-vibration element and the electrical terminal can move together. The frictional engagement improves the stability of the electrical terminal in its corresponding terminal cavity, even when the electrical connector is in an uncoupled state.

[0037] In one aspect of a method for manufacturing an electrical connector, an electrical terminal is inserted into a terminal cavity so that an internal narrowed portion of the electrical terminal configured to achieve electrical contact with a mating electrical terminal is positioned face-to-face with an anti-vibration element and / or face-to-face with a portion of an interior surface of a receiving member defining the terminal cavity, through which portion the transverse groove passes through the receiving member.

[0038] Therefore, when a mechanical force presses the anti-vibration element against the electrical terminal, the pressing force is locally applied to an inner narrowed portion of the electrical terminal, which includes one or more electrical contact points when the electrical connector is mated with an electrical mating connector. As a result, fretting corrosion caused by micro-movements between the electrical terminal and the mating electrical terminal, which is configured to accommodate contact pins in the electrical mating connector, can be reduced.

[0039] In one aspect of a method for manufacturing an electrical connector, a transverse groove of a receiving member transverses the receiving member from an outer surface of the receiving member to a plurality of inner surfaces of the receiving member, the plurality of inner surfaces of the receiving member defining a plurality of corresponding terminal cavities for a corresponding plurality of electrical terminals, and the method further comprises the additional step of inserting the plurality of electrical terminals into their respective corresponding terminal cavities such that each of the plurality of electrical terminals contacts the anti-vibration element.

[0040] This method is particularly cost-effective both in terms of material costs and manufacturing step costs, since a single anti-vibration element can simultaneously interface with a plurality of terminal cavities holding corresponding electrical terminals. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The foregoing aspects, objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated through careful consideration of the following more detailed description of currently preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0042] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 2 Shown in unexploded perspective Figure 1 electrical connector.

[0044] Figure 3 Shown in a non-final manufactured state Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a portion of an electrical connector.

[0045] Figure 4 Shown Figure 3 , in which the electrical connector is in its final manufactured state.

[0046] Figure 5 Shown in a non-final assembled state including Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a portion of an electrical connector assembly of an electrical connector.

[0047] Figure 6 Shown in final assembled state Figure 5 view.

[0048] Figure 7 Shown in perspective Figure 5 and Figure 6 electrical connector assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] In the following detailed description of the embodiments, the same reference numerals identified in different drawings and / or different parts of the drawing descriptions refer to the same elements. Figures 1 to 7 The structural features of the objects shown in FIG. 1 are not drawn to scale.

[0050] The technical features and their associated advantages or effects described in the following description of the embodiments may be combined together or independently with any aspect or embodiment of the present invention or applied to any aspect or embodiment of the present invention, thereby producing other possible embodiments or aspects of the present invention.

[0051] Now about Figures 1 to 4 An electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described. Figure 1 An electrical connector 100 according to the present invention is shown in an exploded view. According to this first embodiment, the electrical connector 100 is configured for electrical signal applications in a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle. Specifically, the electrical connector 100 is suitable for electrical signal applications in vibration-intensive environments, such as near or adjacent to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.

[0052] The electrical connector 100 includes a receiving member 101, an anti-vibration element 103, and a cover 105. In this embodiment, the receiving member 101 includes a plurality of (here, ten) terminal cavities 107. The terminal cavities 107 extend through the receiving member 101 along a mating direction M parallel to the Cartesian direction x, and the electrical connector 100 is configured to mate with an electrical counterpart along this mating direction. For example, in this embodiment, the electrical connector 100 is configured to mate with the electrical counterpart 501 along the mating direction M, which will be described with respect to FIG. Figure 5 、 Figure 6 and Figure 7 Provide a description.

[0053] The container member 101 has a container member exterior surface 109. In a plane P orthogonal to the mating direction M, the container member exterior surface 109 defines the periphery of the container member 101. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the container member 101 has a box shape, i.e., a substantially orthogonal shape. Thus, in the plane P orthogonal to the mating direction M, the container member 101 has a substantially rectangular periphery, specifically a rectangular periphery with rounded corners 111.

[0054] The cover 105 has a tubular shape defining an inner space 113. The receiving member 101 is configured to fit into the inner space 113 so that the cover 105 encloses the receiving member 101. Figure 2 As shown. The cover 105 also includes a connector position assurance (CPA) device 115, which is configured to ensure the position of the electrical connector relative to the electrical counterpart when the electrical connector and the electrical counterpart are mated. Specifically, the CPA device 115 is configured to lock the electrical connector 100 and the electrical counterpart, such as the electrical counterpart 501, in a correctly mated position.

[0055] The receiving member 101 includes a transverse groove 117. The transverse groove 117 extends along the periphery of the receiving member 101. Specifically, the transverse groove 117 extends along the entire periphery of the receiving member 101, in particular, along the entire rectangular periphery in the plane P' orthogonal to the mating direction M. Figure 1 As shown, the transverse groove 117 has a width W, i.e., an extension along the mating direction M, corresponding to 1% to 10% of the extension of the receiving member 101 along the mating direction M. Alternatively or additionally, the transverse groove 117 has a width W corresponding to between 80% and 120% of the height H of the terminal cavity 107, i.e., the extension of the terminal cavity 107 in a direction O orthogonal to the mating direction M and parallel to the Cartesian direction y.

[0056] The traversing groove 117 traverses the receiving member 101 from the outside of the receiving member 101 toward the inside of the receiving member 101 into each terminal cavity 107. Specifically, the traversing groove 117 traverses the receiving member 101 from the receiving member outer surface 109 to each receiving member inner surface 301 defining the corresponding terminal cavity 107 formed in the receiving member 101. The receiving member inner surface 301 is formed at Figure 1 and Figure 2 Not visible in , but in Figures 3 to 6 , and described below with reference thereto.

[0057] The electrical connector 100 of the first embodiment further includes ten electrical terminals 300, and each electrical terminal 300 is accommodated in a corresponding one of the ten terminal cavities 107. Figure 1 or Figure 2 Not visible in the figure, but the electrical terminals 300 are Figures 3 to 6 shown and will be referred to Figures 3 to 6 In an alternative embodiment, some of the terminal cavities 107 may not hold electrical terminals. In other words, not every one of the plurality (here, ten) of terminal cavities 107 must accommodate a corresponding electrical terminal. Instead, the electrical connector 100 may include fewer electrical terminals than the number of terminal cavities 107, such as only one, two, four, five, or eight, wherein one to at most nine of the terminal cavities 107 do not accommodate a corresponding electrical terminal and are instead empty.

[0058] The anti-vibration element 103 is configured as an elastic band that can be pulled over the container member 101. Here, the anti-vibration element 103 has a rectangular ring shape that matches the extension of the outer periphery (here, the rectangular perimeter) of the container member 101. The anti-vibration element 103 is configured such that, in its unstretched, resting state, its inner surface area A is smaller than both the rectangular cross-sectional area of ​​the container member 101 in plane P outside the groove 117 and the rectangular cross-sectional area of ​​the container member 101 in plane P′ inside the groove 117.

[0059] Preferably, the Shore hardness of the anti-vibration element 103 is between 50 and 30, preferably between 35 and 45, for example 40 in this case. In a variant, the anti-vibration element 103 can also alternatively be in the shape of a torus or ring. In an example, a commercially available O-ring joint can be used as the anti-vibration element 103.

[0060] The containment member 101, the anti-vibration element 103, and the cover 105 are preferably made of materials designed for an operating temperature of at least 125° C., preferably at least 150° C. The anti-vibration element 103 can be molded as a single piece, preferably from rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer. The containment member 101 can be molded from polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

[0061] For each terminal cavity 107, the receiving member 101 further includes a corresponding snap-fit ​​opening 119 to allow the electrical terminal 300 to be snap-fitted and locked in its corresponding terminal cavity 107. Figure 3 and Figure 4 Describe this function further.

[0062] Figure 2 The electrical connector 100 is shown in a perspective view in an assembled delivery state. The receiving member 101 is assembled in the cover 105 so that a fitting gap 200 is formed between the receiving member outer surface 109 and the inner cover surface 201. The fitting gap 200 has a fitting gap opening 203 facing the mating direction M. The fitting gap 200 is configured to receive a shell member of the electrical mating connector, such as a mating connector, through the fitting gap opening 203 when the electrical connector 100 is mated with the electrical mating connector. Figure 5 and Figure 6 Shell member 503 is shown.

[0063] The terminal cavities 107 are arranged in two parallel rows R1, R2 in the containing member 101, with five terminal cavities 107 in each of the two parallel rows. The rows R1, R2 extend in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction M. In one variant, the containing member according to the invention can also include only one terminal cavity. In other variants, the containing member according to the invention can include a different number of terminal cavities, for example two, four, seven or 20 terminal cavities, which are arranged in one or two rows, for example rows R1, R2. The number of terminal cavities is preferably at least as large as the number of electrical terminals.

[0064] like Figure 2 As shown, the anti-vibration element 103 is arranged in the transverse groove 117. Specifically, the anti-vibration element 103 extends in the transverse groove 117 along the periphery of the receiving member 101 in a plane P' that is orthogonal to the mating direction M. Because the inner surface area A of the anti-vibration element 103 is smaller than the rectangular cross-sectional surface of the receiving member 101 in the plane P' within the groove 117, the anti-vibration element 103 is in a stretched state when arranged in the transverse groove 117.

[0065] If you will refer to Figure 3 As further described, the anti-vibration element 103 is arranged in the transverse groove 117 so that it protrudes beyond the outer surface 109 of the receiving member. Figure 2 The anti-vibration element 103 is shown arranged in the transverse groove 117 such that the anti-vibration element 103 protrudes beyond the receiving member outer surface 109 into the mating space 200 along at least a portion of the rectangular perimeter of the receiving member 101 .

[0066] Figure 3 and Figure 4 A portion of the electrical connector 100 is shown along Figure 1 The cross-sectional view shown is the same cross-sectional view of the cutting line V. Figure 4 In the embodiment, the electrical connector 100 is in the final manufacturing state. Figure 3 In the embodiment, the electrical connector 100 is in a non-final manufacturing state. Figure 3 In the view of FIG, the electrical terminal 300 has not yet been fully inserted into and locked in the receiving member 101.

[0067] As already mentioned, the electrical connector 100 includes ten electrical terminals 300, one electrical terminal 300 for each terminal cavity 107. The ten electrical terminals 300 are structurally identical and are identically arranged in their corresponding terminal cavities 107, so that when the electrical connector 100 is mated with the electrical counterpart connector along the mating direction M, the ten electrical terminals 300 mate with the mating electrical terminals of the electrical counterpart connector.

[0068] Because in this embodiment, each of the electrical terminal 300 and the terminal cavity 107 is identical and their features and effects correspond to each other, the present disclosure will be limited to descriptions of the features and effects of one terminal cavity 107 and one electrical terminal 300 .

[0069] Figure 3 The electrical terminal 300 is shown partially inserted into the corresponding terminal cavity 107 in the mating direction M. The cavity 107 is defined by the inner surface 301 of the receiving member and extends within the receiving member 101 along the mating direction M. In this embodiment, the electrical terminal 300 is stamped from a conductive metal sheet. The electrical terminal 300 includes a crimping portion 303 and a contact portion 305. The crimping portion 303 is configured to be crimped to the electrical conductor and the contact portion 305 is configured to electrically contact the mating electrical terminal. The crimping portion 303 is longitudinally connected to the contact portion 305 in the mating direction M.

[0070] In this embodiment, the electrical terminals 300 are socket contact terminals or female contacts and are therefore configured to receive pin contact terminals or male contacts when the electrical connector 100 is mated with a mating electrical counterpart. Preferably, the electrical terminals 300 are copper contacts with a tin, silver or gold coating.

[0071] The electrical contact 300 includes a resilient lance 307 that projects outwardly transversely to the mating direction M and is configured as a cantilevered snap-fit ​​assembly device. Figure 3 In the partially inserted view of FIG, the electrical terminal 300 is in an intermediate insertion state, wherein the elastic lance 307 has not yet reached the snap-fit ​​opening 119. Therefore, the elastic lance is still bent downward by the receiving member inner surface 301, i.e., bent inwardly toward the body of the electrical terminal 300, and the electrical terminal 300 is not locked to the receiving member 101.

[0072] The electrical terminal includes an inner narrowed portion 309. The inner narrowed portion 309 is configured to make electrical contact with a mating pin contact terminal when the electrical connector 100 is mated with an electrical counterpart connector.

[0073] The transverse groove 117 extends from the exterior of the electrical connector 100 toward the terminal cavity 107 in a direction O orthogonal to the mating direction through the receiving member 101. Specifically, the transverse groove 117 traverses the receiving member 101 from the receiving member exterior surface 109 to the receiving member interior surface 301 defining the terminal cavity 107.

[0074] The anti-vibration element 103 is arranged in the transverse groove 117 so that it protrudes beyond the outer surface 109 of the receiving member. Specifically, the anti-vibration element 103 is arranged in the transverse group 117 so that it protrudes beyond the front portion 311 of the outer surface 109 of the receiving member, and the front portion 311 is adjacent to the transverse groove 117 on the side facing the mating direction M. The front portion 311 extends from the transverse groove 117 to the distal end 313 of the receiving member 101 in the mating direction M. The anti-vibration element 103 protrudes beyond the front portion 311 by a distance D1.

[0075] Figure 4 Shown with Figure 3 , wherein the electrical connector 100 is in the final manufacturing state. In particular, the electrical terminal 300 is fully inserted into the terminal cavity 107 so that the electrical terminal 300 is correctly accommodated in the terminal cavity 107 and locked (in particular snap-fitted) to the receiving member 101.

[0076] That is, the electrical terminal 300 has been inserted further into the terminal cavity 107 in the mating direction M, so that the resilient lance 307 has moved to a position where it can extend into the snap-fit ​​opening 119 . Figure 4 The resilient lance 307 is shown extending outwardly back to its rest position such that the electrical terminal 300 is locked between the narrowed terminal cavity opening 400 and the snap-fit ​​stop surface 401 of the snap-fit ​​opening 119 in the receiving member 101 .

[0077] exist Figure 4 In the final manufactured state shown, the electrical terminal 300 is frictionally engaged with the anti-vibration element 103 disposed in the transverse groove 117, which extends across the receiving member 101 into the terminal cavity 107. It can be seen that when the electrical terminal 300 is fully inserted into the terminal cavity 107, the transverse groove 117 extends across the receiving member 101 to a portion of the receiving member interior surface 301 that faces the inner narrowed portion 309 of the electrical terminal 300.

[0078] exist Figure 4 In this final manufactured state, the electrical terminal 300 is frictionally engaged with the anti-vibration element 103 arranged in the transverse groove 117, so that the electrical terminal 300 is further stabilized in the terminal cavity 107. In particular, the electrical terminal 300 is frictionally engaged with the inner narrowed portion 309 of the electrical terminal 300. This allows the electrical terminal 300 to be advantageously stabilized at the electrical contact point when mated with a mating pin contact terminal.

[0079] The anti-vibration element 1033 is arranged in the transverse groove 117 along the entire periphery of the receiving member 101. Therefore, the anti-vibration element 103 is in the same contact, in particular friction engagement, with each of the ten electrical terminals 300 arranged in its corresponding terminal cavity 107 (in rows R1 and R2).

[0080] In the first embodiment of the present invention currently described, the anti-vibration 103 protrudes only slightly into the terminal cavity 107. Figure 3 and Figure 4 This allows for a light frictional engagement between the anti-vibration element 103 and the electrical terminal 300. However, in a variant, the anti-vibration element can be arranged in the transverse groove so that it protrudes, i.e. beyond the inner surface of the receiving member, into the terminal cavity by a distance, for example, distance D1.

[0081] Now refer to Figures 1 to 4 A method for manufacturing an electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The method according to the second embodiment described below is a method for manufacturing the electrical connector 100 described above.

[0082] The method begins with step A of providing a receiving member 101. As already mentioned with reference Figures 1 to 4 As depicted, the receiving member 101 includes a transverse groove 117 that traverses the receiving member 101 from the receiving member exterior surface 109 to at least one of the receiving member interior surfaces 301 defining the terminal cavity 107 .

[0083] In step B, the anti-vibration element 103 is arranged in the transverse groove 117 so that the anti-vibration element 103 protrudes beyond the outer surface 109 of the receiving member, in particular the front portion 311, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 and Figure 4 To this end, the anti-vibration element 103 is elastically stretched, for example manually, to slide onto the outer surface 109 of the receiving member into the transverse groove 117. As already mentioned, the anti-vibration element 103 is dimensioned so that it contracts inwardly upon reaching the transverse groove 117. Thus, the anti-vibration element 103 is securely lodged in the transverse groove 117 and is able to provide an inward force to stabilize the electrical terminal 300.

[0084] In step C, the electrical terminal 300 is inserted into the corresponding terminal cavity 107 along the mating direction M, so that the electrical terminal 300 contacts the anti-vibration element 103. As described in detail above, the electrical terminal 300 is inserted into the terminal cavity 107 in the mating direction M until the electrical terminal 300 is snap-fitted into the receiving member 101 and the inner narrowed portion 309 of the electrical terminal 300 is frictionally engaged and faces the anti-vibration element 103.

[0085] Now refer to Figure 5 、 Figure 6 and Figure 7 An electrical connector assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The electrical connector assembly 500 of the third embodiment includes an electrical mating connector 501 and the electrical connector 100 of the first embodiment of the present invention. The electrical mating connector 501 is configured to mate with the electrical connector 100 to establish electrical contact between the ten electrical terminals 300 and the ten mating electrical terminals 503 of the electrical mating connector 501.

[0086] Figure 5 and Figure 6 A portion of the electrical connector assembly 500 is shown along Figure 1 The cross-sectional view shown is a cross-sectional view of line V. Specifically, Figure 5 and Figure 6 Shown as Figure 3 and Figure 4 The same cross-sectional view of a portion of the electrical connector 100 can be seen in FIG, wherein the electrical connector 100 is in different mating states with the electrical counterpart connector 501. Figure 6 In FIG, the electrical connector assembly 500 is in the final assembled state, that is, the connectors 100 and 501 are fully mated. Figure 5 In FIG, the electrical connector assembly 500 is not yet fully assembled. Figure 5 , the electrical connector assembly 500 is in an intermediate mating state.

[0087] Figure 5 The housing member 503 of the electrical mating connector 501 is shown. The housing member 503 is configured as an encapsulating shell, such as Figure 7 As shown. The shell member 503 extends in a direction parallel to the mating direction M and includes an inner surface 505 configured to mate with the receiving member outer surface 109. The inner surface 505 of the shell member 503 includes a stop step 507 and a chamfered portion 509. The stop step 507 is closer to the distal end 511 of the shell member 501 than the chamfered portion 509. The chamfered portion 509 is configured so that it narrows the shell space 513 of the shell member 503 in the mating direction M (i.e., away from the distal end 511).

[0088] The electrical mating connector 501 further includes at least one (here, ten) mating electrical terminals 515. The mating electrical terminals 515 are pin contact terminals that are configured to be received in corresponding socket contact terminals (e.g., electrical terminals 300). As in the present embodiment, the mating electrical terminals 515 are identical and arranged in a corresponding manner to mate with corresponding electrical terminals 300. Only one mating electrical terminal 515 and its mating will be described below.

[0089] exist Figure 5In the intermediate mating state shown, the electrical connector 100 has been plugged onto the electrical counterpart connector 501 in the mating direction M, so that the receiving member 101 has been partially inserted into the electrical counterpart connector 500 . In other words, the shell member 503 has been partially slid into the mating space 200 .

[0090] Therefore, the shell member 503 has slid onto the receiving member outer surface 109 of the receiving member 101 of the electrical connector 100. However, the stop step 507 has not yet abutted, and the chamfered portion 503 has not yet reached the anti-vibration element 103. The pin terminal 515 has partially entered the electrical terminal 300 through the narrowed terminal cavity opening 400.

[0091] exist Figure 6 In FIG. 5 , the electrical connector assembly 500 is in its final assembled state. That is, the electrical connector 100 and the electrical mating connector 501 are fully mated. Specifically, as the electrical connector 100 moves further in the mating direction M, such that the receiving member 101 moves further into the housing space 513, the shell member 503 slides further on the receiving member exterior surface 109. The shell member 503 slides on the receiving member exterior surface 109 until the stop step 507 abuts against the stopper 600 protruding outward from the receiving member 101.

[0092] At the same time, the chamfered portion 509 has reached and slid over the anti-vibration element 103. As the chamfered portion 509 narrows the housing space 515 in the mating direction M, the chamfered portion 509 has engaged the anti-vibration element 103, which protrudes outward beyond the housing member outer surface 109 of the housing member 101. As the housing space 515 defined by the housing member 503 is narrowed by the chamfered portion 509, further mating movement of pushing the connectors 100 and 501 together presses the anti-vibration element 103 deeper into the transverse groove 117.

[0093] Specifically, in the mated electrical connector assembly, the shell member 503 exerts a pressing force F on the anti-vibration element 103 that is orthogonal to the mating direction M, thereby pushing the anti-vibration element 103 into the transverse groove 117 and against the electrical contact 300. In other words, the anti-vibration element 103 is pressed and sandwiched between the shell member 503 and the electrical contact 300. As the anti-vibration element 103 moves along the mating direction M on the chamfered portion 509, the chamfered portion 509 allows the pressing force F to gradually increase to its maximum value.

[0094] Figure 6In the fully mated state, the pin terminal 515 is shown to have moved further into the electrical terminal 300, thereby achieving electrical contact at the inner narrowing portion 309. When the anti-vibration element 103 is squeezed between the shell member 503 and the electrical contact 300, a direct mechanical link is established therebetween. This further stabilizes the electrical terminal 300 within its terminal cavity 107, reducing the likelihood of micro-movement of the electrical terminal 300 relative to the receiving member 101, which may occur even after the electrical terminal 300 is snap-fitted into the terminal 107 due to manufacturing tolerances.

[0095] Furthermore, because a direct mechanical link is established between the electrical terminal 300 and the housing member 503, vibrations of the electrical mating connector 501, which are different from the vibrations of the housing member 101 of the electrical connector 100, can be transmitted to the electrical terminal 300. In other words, the electrical terminal 300 can advantageously vibrate together with the electrical mating connector 501 and its mating electrical terminal 515. When the electrical terminals 300 and 515 vibrate together, fretting corrosion is reduced.

[0096] Figure 7 Shown in perspective Figure 5 and Figure 6 As can be seen, the electrical connector 100 is plugged onto the electrical counterpart connector 501 so that the shell member 503 is received in the mating space 200. Thus, the shell member 503 encloses the periphery of the receiving member 101 along its receiving member exterior surface 109.

[0097] Therefore, the shell member 503 can apply the squeezing force F along the entire periphery of the receiving member 101, and in particular, along the periphery of the anti-vibration element 103. In this way, the shell member 503 also presses one anti-vibration element 103 against each of the other ten electrical terminals 300 in its corresponding terminal cavity 107.

[0098] In view of the above-described electrical connector assembly 500, a method for assembling an electrical connector assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The method according to the fourth embodiment described below is a method for assembling the electrical connector assembly 500, the features of which have been described previously.

[0099] The method for assembling an electrical connector assembly according to the fourth embodiment begins with step D, which involves mating the receiving member 101 with the shell member 503 so that the shell member 503 encloses the receiving member 101. Specifically, the electrical connector 100 is plugged onto the electrical mating connector 501 so that the shell member 503 is inserted into the mating space 200 and the receiving member 101 is inserted into the shell space 515. Thus, the inner surface 505 slides on the periphery of the receiving member outer surface 109 of the receiving member 101.

[0100] The method according to the fourth embodiment further includes a step E of compressing the anti-vibration element 103 between the case member 503 and the electrical terminal 300. The chamfered portion 509 narrows the case space 515, so that the inner surface 505 of the case member 503 engages the anti-vibration element 103. Specifically, the case member 503 applies a compressive force F to the anti-vibration element 103 in a direction orthogonal to the mating direction M, causing it to abut against the electrical terminal 300. In other words, the anti-vibration element 103 is sandwiched between the case member 503 and the electrical terminal 300.

[0101] The above-described embodiments of the present invention each provide an electrical contact solution with improved vibration resistance and improved durability in vibration-intensive environments.

[0102] Reference numerals

[0103] 100 electrical connectors

[0104] 101 accommodating components

[0105] 103 anti-vibration element

[0106] 105 hood

[0107] 107 terminal cavity

[0108] 109 external surface of the receiving member

[0109] 111 Fillet of the accommodating component

[0110] 113 The inner space of the hood

[0111] 115CPA device

[0112] 117 Crossing Groove

[0113] 119 snap assembly opening

[0114] 200 fit clearance

[0115] 201 inner cover surface

[0116] 203 fit clearance opening

[0117] 300 electrical terminals

[0118] 301 accommodating component internal surface

[0119] 303 crimping part

[0120] 305 contact part

[0121] 307 elastic spear

[0122] 309 internal narrowing part

[0123] 311 The front portion of the outer surface of the receiving member

[0124] 313 The distal end of the outer surface of the receiving member

[0125] 400 narrowed terminal cavity opening

[0126] 401 snap assembly stopper surface

[0127] 500 electrical connector assembly

[0128] 501 electrical mating connector

[0129] 503 shell components

[0130] Inner surface of 505 shell member

[0131] 507 A stopper step formed on the inner surface of the housing member

[0132] 509 is a chamfered portion formed on the inner surface of the shell member

[0133] 511 distal end of the shell member

[0134] 513 Shell Space

[0135] 515 mating electrical terminals

[0136] 600 stopper

[0137] AInner surface area of ​​the anti-vibration element

[0138] D1 External protrusion distance of anti-vibration element

[0139] F Extrusion force

[0140] H Terminal cavity height

[0141] M mating direction

[0142] O Direction perpendicular to the mating direction

[0143] P, P' plane perpendicular to the mating direction

[0144] The row of R1 and R2 terminal cavities

[0145] V cross section line

Claims

1. An electrical connector, the electrical connector being configured to mate with an electrical counterpart connector (501) along a mating direction (M), The electrical connector (100) comprises a receiving member (101), an electrical terminal (300) received in a corresponding terminal cavity (107) of the receiving member (101), and an anti-vibration element (103). It is characterized in that The receiving member (101) further comprises a transverse groove (117), the transverse groove (117) transverses the receiving member (101) from the receiving member outer surface (109, 311) to the receiving member inner surface (301), the receiving member inner surface (301) defining the corresponding terminal cavity (107), and The anti-vibration element (103) is arranged in the transverse groove (117).

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The anti-vibration element (103) is arranged in the transverse groove (117) such that the anti-vibration element (113) protrudes beyond the outer surface (311, 109) of the receiving member.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a plurality of electrical terminals (300) accommodated in a corresponding plurality of corresponding terminal cavities (107) of the accommodating member (101), in, The transverse groove (117) extends along the periphery of the receiving member (101), in particular along the entire periphery, so that the transverse groove (117) traverses the receiving member (101) from the receiving member outer surface (109) to each of the corresponding receiving member inner surfaces (301) defining the plurality of corresponding terminal cavities (107), and The anti-vibration element (103) is arranged in the transverse groove (117) so that the anti-vibration element (103) protrudes beyond the outer surface (109, 311) of the containing member along the outer periphery of the containing member (101), in particular the entire periphery.

4. An electrical connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The anti-vibration element (103) is formed into a shape matching the outer periphery of the containing member (101), in particular, wherein the containing member (101) has a rectangular periphery in a plane (P, P') orthogonal to the mating direction (M), and the anti-vibration element (103) has a matching rectangular ring shape.

5. An electrical connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The anti-vibration element (103) is arranged in the transverse groove (117) so that the anti-vibration element (103) is in contact with the one or more electrical terminals (300), in particular frictionally engaged, and in particular, wherein the anti-vibration element (103) protrudes beyond the inner surface (301) of the accommodating member defining the one or more corresponding terminal cavities (107) and enters the one or more corresponding terminal cavities (107).

6. An electrical connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: Each of the one or more electrical terminals (300) is a socket contact terminal (300) comprising an inner narrowed portion (309) configured to achieve electrical contact with a mating pin contact terminal (515), Wherein, for each electrical terminal (300), the transverse groove (117) crosses the containing member (101) from the outer surface (109) of the containing member to a portion of the inner surface (301) of the containing member defining the corresponding terminal cavity (107), which portion faces the corresponding inner narrowed portion (309) of the electrical terminal (300).

7. An electrical connector assembly, comprising an electrical counterpart connector (501) and an electrical connector (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical counterpart connector (501) comprises a shell member (503), in, The electrical mating connector (501) is mated with the electrical connector (100) so that the shell member (503) encloses the accommodating member (101) and the anti-vibration element (103) is squeezed between the shell member (503) and the one or more electrical terminals (300).

8. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 9, wherein: The shell member (503) includes an inner surface (505) having a chamfered portion (509) configured to engage with the anti-vibration element (103).

9. A method for assembling an electrical connector assembly according to claim 7 or 8, comprising the following steps: making the containing member (101) and the shell member (503) cooperate so that the shell member (503) encloses the containing member (101), and The anti-vibration element (103) is pressed (F) between the shell member (503), in particular, a chamfered portion (509) of an inner surface (505) of the shell member (503), and the electrical terminal (300).

10. A method for manufacturing an electrical connector, in particular an electrical connector (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising the following steps: A receiving member (101) is provided, the receiving member (101) comprising a transverse groove (117), the transverse groove (117) transverses the receiving member (101) from a receiving member outer surface (109) to a receiving member inner surface (301), the receiving member inner surface (301) defining a terminal cavity (107) for an electrical terminal (300), Arranging the anti-vibration element (103) in the transverse groove (117) so that the anti-vibration element (103) protrudes beyond the outer surface (109, 311) of the receiving member, and The electrical terminal (300) is inserted into the terminal cavity (107), preferably so that the electrical terminal (300), in particular the internal narrowed portion (309) of the electrical terminal (300) configured to achieve electrical contact with the mating electrical terminal (515), contacts the anti-vibration element (103), in particular frictionally engages with the anti-vibration element (103).

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