Electric connector

Abstract

The invention provides an electric connector. The electric connector comprises a terminal, a terminal position assurance piece and a shell, one end of the terminal is used for being connected with a cable; the terminal position guaranteeing member comprises a terminal fixing part, and the terminal position guaranteeing member is fixedly connected with the terminal through the terminal fixing part; moreover, the terminal is installed in the housing along with the terminal position assurance member. The electric connector has a novel structure and an assembling mode, and the terminal fixing part is arranged on the terminal position guaranteeing piece, so that the terminal can be firstly fixed on the terminal position guaranteeing piece; the terminal can then be mounted into the housing along with the terminal position assurance member when the terminal position assurance member is mounted to the housing. The electric connector provided by the invention has the advantages that the automatic assembly is convenient, and the cable is not easy to deform in the assembly process, and is especially suitable for a small-diameter cable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of electronic connection accessories, and in particular to a novel electrical connector. Background Technology

[0002] Electrical connectors are indispensable electronic components in various electrical and electronic systems, widely used in aerospace, aviation, nuclear industry, weaponry, shipbuilding, electronics, transportation, computer, communications, medical, and oil exploration industries. Electrical connectors are primarily used for circuit connections between cables and between cables and equipment in electrical and electronic equipment, enabling the transmission of low-frequency signals, high-frequency signals, and electrical energy (power).

[0003] However, some existing electrical connectors present challenges in their assembly process, such as difficulties in inserting terminals and / or cables, leading to complex operations. This not only affects work efficiency but may also damage cables or terminals. This is particularly true for electrical connectors with small-diameter cables, which are more prone to deformation during terminal insertion into the housing, making terminal insertion difficult, increasing manufacturing costs, and hindering automated assembly.

[0004] like Figure 1 The diagram shows a structural schematic of an electrical connector 100 in the prior art. The electrical connector 100 includes a connector body 110, terminals 120, and wires 130. The connector body 110 has multiple insertion slots arranged side-by-side. A terminal 120 is inserted into each insertion slot, with one end of the terminal 120 extending from the bottom of the slot and the other end connected to a wire 130. The wire 130 is electrically connected to the terminal 120. During the assembly of this electrical connector 100, it is difficult to find a suitable operating position for automated assembly when inserting the terminal 120 and the wire 130 into the insertion slot. Furthermore, the wire 130 may deform during insertion. This difficulty is particularly pronounced when the wire 130 is a small-diameter or flexible cable, resulting in high production costs and low production efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address at least some of the aforementioned problems and defects, this disclosure provides a novel electrical connector. By providing a terminal fixing portion on a terminal position retainer, the terminal can be installed into the housing along with the terminal position retainer after being fixedly connected to it. This novel electrical connector, through optimized structural design, effectively optimizes the assembly process, mitigates the deformation of small-diameter cables during assembly, adapts to the needs of automated assembly equipment, facilitates automated assembly, reduces product manufacturing costs, and improves production efficiency.

[0006] Based on this, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an electrical connector is provided, the electrical connector comprising: a terminal, one end of which is used for connection to a cable; a terminal position guarantee member, which includes a terminal fixing portion for fixed connection with the terminal; and a housing, wherein the terminal is installed in the housing together with the terminal position guarantee member.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the terminal fixing part is a plug hole, and the terminal includes an outwardly extending plug part, which can be pressed into the plug hole to fix the terminal to the terminal position guarantee member.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the terminal position guarantee component further includes a cable fixing part for fixing the cable.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the cable fixing part is an elastic opening, and the cable can be pressed to expand the opening of the elastic opening so that it can be fixed inside the elastic opening.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the terminal fixing part is a plug hole, the cable fixing part is an elastic opening, and the opening direction of the terminal fixing part is consistent with the opening direction of the cable fixing part.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the opening direction of the terminal fixing part and the opening direction of the cable fixing part both face upward.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the terminal position guarantee further includes a terminal support portion for providing an upward support force to the terminal.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the terminal position guarantee is an integrally formed structure, which includes a plurality of terminal fixing parts for fixing the plurality of terminals respectively.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the housing does not have a limiting structure for the terminals.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the cable is installed onto the terminal position retainer along with the terminal.

[0016] The electrical connector disclosed herein features a novel structure and assembly method. By providing a terminal fixing part on the terminal position retainer, the terminal can be first fixed to the terminal position retainer; subsequently, the terminal can be installed into the housing along with the terminal position retainer when the terminal position retainer is installed into the housing. The electrical connector disclosed herein has the advantages of facilitating automated assembly and minimizing cable deformation during assembly. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Features, advantages, and other aspects of the embodiments of this disclosure will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description, in which several embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not limitation, in the drawings:

[0018] like Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an electrical connector 100 in the prior art is shown.

[0019] Figure 2a A schematic diagram of the structure of a novel electrical connector 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0020] Figure 2b It shows Figure 2a The diagram shows the assembly process of the electrical connector 200.

[0021] Figure 2c It shows Figure 2b An enlarged structural diagram of region E in the diagram.

[0022] Figure 2d It shows Figure 2b An enlarged structural diagram of region F in the diagram.

[0023] Figure 2e A schematic diagram of the internal structure of the electrical connector 200 after assembly is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0024] In the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this disclosure. The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example, specific embodiments that can implement this disclosure. The exemplary embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive of all embodiments according to this disclosure. In the specification, the same or similar reference numerals indicate the same or similar parts. It will be understood that other embodiments and structural modifications may be utilized without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not restrictive, and the scope of this disclosure is defined by the appended claims.

[0025] The terms “comprising,” “including,” and similar terms used herein should be understood as open-ended terms, meaning “including / including but not limited to,” implying that other contents may also be included. The term “one embodiment” means “at least one embodiment”; the term “another embodiment” means “at least one additional embodiment,” and so on.

[0026] As mentioned above, existing electrical connectors suffer from difficulties in achieving automated assembly and are prone to cable deformation during the assembly process. To solve or improve at least some of these technical problems, this disclosure proposes an electrical connector with a novel structure. The following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments, further illustrates this disclosure.

[0027] like Figures 2a-2e As shown, this disclosure presents a schematic diagram illustrating the assembly process and structure of a novel electrical connector 200 according to an embodiment. Wherein, Figure 2a This is a structural diagram showing the stage before the terminals of the electrical connector 200 are installed into the housing. Figure 2b This is a schematic diagram of the assembly process of electrical connector 200. Figure 2c for Figure 2b A magnified schematic diagram of the structure of region E in the diagram. Figure 2d for Figure 2b A magnified schematic diagram of the structure of region F in the diagram. Figure 2e This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the electrical connector 200 after assembly.

[0028] like Figures 2a-2e As shown, the electrical connector 200 includes a housing 210, terminals 220, a cable 230, and a terminal position retainer 240. One end of the terminal 220 is connected to the cable 230, and the other end is inserted into the housing 210 for electrical connection with other external electrical components, thereby enabling the transmission of electrical signals at both ends of the connection. In some examples, the terminal position retainer 240 includes a terminal fixing part 242 for fixing the terminal position retainer 240 to the terminal 220. After the terminal 220 is fixedly connected to the terminal position retainer 240, the terminal 220 can be installed into the housing 210 together with the terminal position retainer 240. In some examples, the cable is a circular cable, and one end of the terminal can be a ring structure. The cable is inserted into the ring structure and its conductive portion contacts the inner wall of the ring structure to achieve electrical connection with the terminal.

[0029] In some examples, during the installation of the terminal 220 into the housing 210 by clamping the terminal position guarantee 240, since the terminal 220 is fixedly connected to the terminal position guarantee 240, the terminal position guarantee 240 will move the terminal 220 together, so that the terminal 220 and the terminal position guarantee 240 synchronously reach their respective installation positions in the housing 210. By fixing the terminal position guarantee 240 to the housing 210, the position of the terminal 220 within the housing can be fixed. The terminal fixing part 242 can not only fix the terminal during assembly (e.g., the fixed connection between the terminal and the terminal position guarantee and the fixation of the terminal position within the housing), but also provide a retaining force for the terminal when the connector is inserted (e.g., when the terminal is subjected to a force from the connector in a certain direction, the terminal position guarantee can apply an opposite force through the terminal fixing part), so that the terminal is fixed in a preset position, thereby ensuring the electrical connection performance of the electrical connector.

[0030] In some examples, cable 230 can be installed onto terminal position retainer 240 along with terminal 220. Subsequently, cable 230 and terminal 220 can be installed into housing 210 together with terminal position retainer 240. Specifically, first, one end of the cable is electrically connected to the terminal; then, the terminal is installed onto the terminal position retainer, during which the terminal drives the cable to a preset position on the terminal position retainer; finally, the terminal position retainer is installed into housing, during which the terminal position retainer drives the terminal and cable to a preset position on housing. In some examples, there is a fixed connection structure between the cable and the terminal position retainer independent of the terminal fixing part, in which case the cable is actually driven by the terminal position retainer to enter the preset position on housing. In other examples, there is no fixed connection structure between the cable and the terminal position retainer independent of the terminal fixing part, in which case the cable is actually driven by the terminal position retainer via the terminal to enter the preset position on housing.

[0031] In some examples, the terminal fixing portion 242 is a plug-in hole. Correspondingly, the terminal 220 includes an outwardly extending plug-in portion 222, which can be pressed into the plug-in hole 242, thereby fixing the terminal 220 to the terminal position retainer 240. In some examples, the plug-in portion 222 on the terminal 220 is a sheet-like structure. In some examples, the plug-in portion 222 on the terminal 220 is formed by bending both sides of the material inward and then bending it downward. In other examples, the plug-in portion 222 on the terminal 220 may be formed by bending only one side of the material downward.

[0032] In other examples, the structures of the insertion portion 2222 on terminal 220 and the terminal fixing portion 242 on terminal position guarantee 240 can be interchanged; that is, the terminal 220 has an insertion hole, and the insertion portion extends outward on the terminal position guarantee 242. Preferably, the insertion hole is provided on the terminal fixing portion 242, which is beneficial for maximizing the conductive material of the terminal and improving the mechanical and current-carrying properties of the product. Furthermore, the improved electrical connector 200 eliminates the need for a limiting groove for the terminal 220 to be fixedly connected to the housing; therefore, the terminal 220 can have a complete plane, allowing for increased conductive material and improved mechanical and current-carrying properties. The housing 210 also lacks a limiting structure for the terminal 220, simplifying the housing structure and manufacturing process.

[0033] Optionally, the insertion portion 222 can be deployed at the bottom of the terminal 220, or at the top or side of the terminal 220. Correspondingly, the position of the terminal fixing portion 242 on the terminal position guarantee 240 also needs to be adjusted accordingly. In some examples, multiple terminal fixing portions 242 can be deployed on the terminal position guarantee 240, and the multiple terminal fixing portions 242 are used to fix a single terminal 220. In other examples, multiple terminal fixing portions 242 can be deployed on the terminal position guarantee 240, and the multiple terminal fixing portions 242 are used to fix multiple terminals 220 respectively.

[0034] In some examples, the terminal position guarantee 240 further includes a cable fixing part 244, which is used to fix the cable 230. The cable fixed by the cable fixing part 244 is less prone to deformation and positional shift during assembly. Optionally, the cable fixing part 244 can be deployed at the front end, rear end, side wall, etc., of the terminal position guarantee 240, and the specific location can be adjusted according to the cable's position. In some examples, multiple cable fixing parts 244 can be deployed on the terminal position guarantee 240, and these multiple cable fixing parts 244 are used to fix a single cable 230. In other examples, multiple cable fixing parts 244 can be deployed on the terminal position guarantee 240, and each of the multiple cable fixing parts 244 is used to fix multiple cables 230.

[0035] In some examples, the cable fixing portion 244 is a resilient opening. When the cable is placed on the open side of the resilient opening 244, pressing the cable 230 expands the opening, allowing the cable 230 to enter. Subsequently, the opening of the resilient opening 244 elastically returns to its original size, thus securing the cable 230 inside the resilient opening 244, i.e., fixing the cable 230 to the terminal position retainer 240. In some examples, the cable 230 is a round cable, and the resilient opening 244 is a ring-shaped structure with an opening size smaller than the diameter of the cable. In some examples, the cable 230 is a rectangular cable, and the opening size of the resilient opening is smaller than the width of the cable.

[0036] In some examples, the terminal fixing part 242 is a plug-in hole, and the cable fixing part 244 is a resilient opening. The opening direction of the terminal fixing part 242 is consistent with the opening direction of the cable fixing part 244, so that a single pressing operation (e.g., pressing to the left, pressing to the right, pressing down, pressing up, or pressing diagonally) can fix the terminal 220 and the cable 230, that is, the terminal 220 and the cable 230 are respectively fixedly connected to the terminal position fixing part 240. This example helps to simplify the assembly process and improve production efficiency. In some examples, the opening direction of the terminal fixing part 242 and the opening direction of the cable fixing part 244 are both upward, so that pressing down on the cable and the terminal can fix the cable and the terminal. Pressing down facilitates the application of force and makes assembly more convenient.

[0037] In some examples, the terminal position guarantee 240 further includes a terminal support 246 that provides upward support to the terminal 220. The terminal support may be positioned corresponding to the center of gravity of the terminal or the cable. In some examples, the terminal support 246 may be designed to be half the length of the terminal. In some examples, the terminal support 246 is located at the front end of the terminal fixing part 242. In some examples, the top surface of the terminal support 246 is in contact with the ground of the terminal 220 and is horizontally positioned.

[0038] The electrical connector 200 disclosed herein can be assembled by clamping the terminal 220, and the terminal 220 and cable 230 are driven into the housing 210 by the terminal position guarantee member 240, which can prevent deformation of the cable during the assembly process.

[0039] In some examples, the terminal position protector 240 is a one-piece molded structure. The one-piece molded design of the terminal position protector offers significant advantages in improving product manufacturing efficiency, enhancing product structural strength, improving product appearance, and simplifying maintenance.

[0040] In some examples, the assembly process of the electrical connector 200 can be described as follows: First, the cable 230 and the terminal 220 (one end of which is electrically connected to the cable) are placed above the terminal position retainer 240 by clamping the terminal 220; second, the cable 230 and the terminal 220 are pressed to fix the cable 230 and the terminal 220 to the terminal position retainer 240 by the cable fixing part 244 and the terminal fixing part 242, respectively; then, the terminal position retainer 240 is operated to connect to the housing 210, and at the same time, the cable 230 and the terminal 200 are driven by the terminal position retainer 240 and installed into the housing 210 together with the terminal position retainer 240.

[0041] The assembly process described above is easily automated, which can greatly improve the manufacturing efficiency of the electrical connector 200 and reduce manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the force applied during assembly does not involve the cable, effectively addressing the problem of cable deformation in existing technologies. Therefore, this disclosure is particularly applicable to electrical connectors for small-diameter cables.

[0042] It should be noted that the above examples are merely specific embodiments of this disclosure, and obviously this disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, with many similar variations. All modifications that can be directly derived or conceived by those skilled in the art from the content disclosed in this disclosure should fall within the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0043] While embodiments of this disclosure have been described with reference to several specific examples, it should be understood that the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed. The embodiments of this disclosure are intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the appended claims is to be interpreted in the broadest possible sense, thereby encompassing all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising: A terminal, one end of which is used to connect to a cable; A terminal position guarantee component includes a terminal fixing part for fixed connection with the terminal; The housing, wherein the terminal is installed in the housing together with the terminal position guarantee.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein, The terminal fixing part is a plug hole, and the terminal includes an outwardly extending plug part. The plug part can be pressed into the plug hole to fix the terminal to the terminal position guarantee member.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein, The terminal position guarantee component also includes a cable fixing part for fixing the cable.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein, The cable fixing part is an elastic opening, and the cable can be pressed to expand the opening of the elastic opening so that it can be fixed inside the elastic opening.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein, The terminal fixing part is a plug hole, and the cable fixing part is an elastic opening. The opening direction of the terminal fixing part is consistent with the opening direction of the cable fixing part.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 5, wherein, The opening direction of the terminal fixing part and the opening direction of the cable fixing part both face upward.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein, The terminal position guarantee also includes a terminal support portion for providing upward support force to the terminal.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein, The terminal position guarantee component is an integrally molded structure, which includes multiple terminal fixing parts for fixing multiple terminals respectively.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein, The housing does not have a limiting structure for the terminals inside.

10. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein, The cable is installed onto the terminal position retainer along with the terminal.

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