Electric connector

Abstract

The utility model discloses an electric connector, which is matched and connected with a matching connector and comprises a sheath, a terminal and a locking piece, the terminal and the locking piece are arranged in the sheath, a terminal mounting part is arranged in the sheath, a terminal cavity is arranged in the terminal mounting part along the axial direction of the sheath, at least part of the terminal is arranged in the terminal cavity, and the locking piece is arranged in the terminal cavity. According to the utility model, the locking piece is arranged inside the sheath through one end of the sheath facing the matching connector, then is arranged on the outer side of the primary locking cantilever in a sliding manner, and has a preassembling position and a locking position, when the locking piece is in the preassembling position, due to the existence of the accommodating groove, the terminal can be smoothly jacked up the primary locking cantilever and then is arranged in the terminal cavity, so that the locking effect is good; the primary locking of the terminal is realized through the reset primary locking cantilever; and when the locking piece slides to the locking position, the locking piece is pressed on the outer side of the primary locking cantilever, so that the primary locking structure of the terminal can be prevented from losing efficacy, namely, the primary locking structure of the terminal is reinforced, the structure is simple, and miniaturization of the connector is facilitated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of connectors, in particular to an electrical connector. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with the rapid development of the automotive industry, people have higher and higher requirements for the environmental protection, safety, intelligence, comfort, etc. of automobiles; for connector suppliers, it means that the requirements for the stability of connector products are also becoming more and more strict. At the same time, with the continuous increase of automotive functions, the structure and types of connectors are also constantly changing and increasing. Connector suppliers have to continuously innovate product structures and processes to meet customer needs. Therefore, the quality of connectors has been increasingly valued by automobile manufacturers and spare parts suppliers.

[0003] In current automotive industry applications, connectors are mainly used to achieve electrical connection and ultimately realize the functions of transmitting signals and power. A separate part is usually installed on the connector to strengthen the fixation of the terminals. This part is a PLR (positive latch reinforcement), also known as the main lock or primary lock reinforcement device. Its function is to strengthen the primary lock structure for holding the terminal assembly and prevent the terminal assembly clamped on the primary lock structure from falling off, resulting in electrical connector contact failure. The existing primary lock structure is generally a sheath cantilever that cooperates with the terminal assembly. During the process of loading the terminal assembly, it will be lifted by the terminal assembly. In order to avoid interference between the primary lock reinforcement device and the lifted sheath cantilever in the pre-installed position, which will affect the loading of the terminal assembly, the primary lock reinforcement device often inevitably has problems such as complex design and large volume in design, which is not conducive to the miniaturization of the connector and will also lead to poor user experience during use. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] In view of this, the purpose of the utility model is to provide an electrical connector to solve the technical problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present utility model is as follows: An electrical connector is cooperatively connected with a mating connector, and includes a sheath, terminals installed in the sheath, and a locking member. A terminal installation portion is provided in the sheath, and a terminal cavity is axially formed in the terminal installation portion along the sheath. At least a part of the terminals is installed in the terminal cavity. A primary locking cantilever for primarily locking the terminals is formed on the terminal installation portion. After the locking member is inserted into the interior of the sheath through one end of the sheath facing the mating connector, it is slidably disposed outside the primary locking cantilever and has a pre-installed position and a locking position. A receiving groove is formed on one side end face of the locking member facing the primary locking cantilever. When the locking member is in the pre-installed position, the receiving groove can be used to avoid the primary locking cantilever lifted by the terminals, and when the locking member is in the locking position, the locking member presses against the outside of the primary locking cantilever.

[0006] In some embodiments, the locking member includes a plate-shaped main body portion and a sliding portion integrally provided with the main body portion. The receiving groove is formed on one side end face of the main body portion facing the primary locking cantilever. A sliding groove slidably engaged with the sliding portion is formed on the terminal installation portion.

[0007] In some embodiments, a plurality of terminal cavities are arranged side by side on the terminal installation portion, and a positioning groove is formed between the plurality of terminal cavities. A plurality of positioning ribs corresponding to the plurality of positioning grooves one by one are provided on one side end face of the main body portion facing the primary locking cantilever.

[0008] In some embodiments, at least one positioning rib is connected to the sliding portion through a connecting column. The sliding portion and the main body portion are both plate-shaped and are arranged in parallel between them. The sliding groove is located directly below the positioning groove, and at least part of the sliding groove is communicatively arranged with the positioning groove.

[0009] In some embodiments, the main body portion, the positioning ribs, the connecting column, and the sliding portion are integrally injection molded.

[0010] In some embodiments, the sliding portion is snap-fitted with the inner wall of the sliding groove to position the locking member at the pre-installed position and the locking position.

[0011] In some embodiments, a first clamping block and a second clamping block are staggeredly arranged on the side walls on both sides of the sliding direction of the sliding portion, and the first clamping block is located in front of the second clamping block in the sliding direction of the sliding portion. A third clamping block is provided on the inner wall of the sliding groove, and a stepped structure is provided at the entrance of the sliding groove. After the sliding portion is inserted into the sliding groove, the third clamping block and the stepped structure are respectively snap-fitted with the first clamping block and the second clamping block to position the locking member at the pre-installed position.

[0012] In some embodiments, shrinkage holes are correspondingly formed on the inner sides of the first clamping block and the second clamping block of the sliding portion.

[0013] In some embodiments, when the locking member is in the locking position, the first engaging block passes over the third engaging block and engages with the third engaging block to prevent the locking member from unexpectedly withdrawing from the locking position.

[0014] In some embodiments, a crimping surface is further provided in the receiving groove. When the locking member is in the locking position, the locking member is pressed against the outer side of the primary locking cantilever through the crimping surface.

[0015] In some embodiments, a protrusion is provided at the top of the terminal, and a stopper that cooperates with the protrusion is protrudingly provided on the end face of the primary locking cantilever facing the terminal. After the terminal is inserted into the terminal cavity, the stopper engages with the protrusion.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present utility model are as follows: After the locking member of the present utility model is inserted into the inside of the sheath through the end of the sheath facing the mating connector, it is slidably disposed on the outer side of the primary locking cantilever and has a pre-installed position and a locking position. When the locking member is in the pre-installed position, due to the existence of the receiving groove, the terminal can smoothly lift the primary locking cantilever and then be inserted into the terminal cavity, and the primary locking of the terminal is achieved through the reset primary locking cantilever; then when the locking member slides to the locking position, the locking member is pressed against the outer side of the primary locking cantilever, which can prevent the failure of the primary locking structure of the terminal, that is, strengthen the primary locking structure of the terminal. The structure is simple and is conducive to the miniaturization of the connector. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The drawings incorporated in the specification and constituting a part of the specification illustrate embodiments of the present utility model and, together with the description, are used to explain the principles of the present utility model.

[0018] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the electrical connector provided by the present utility model;

[0019] Figure 2 is Figure 1 an exploded schematic diagram of the electrical connector shown;

[0020] Figure 3 is after removing the locking member Figure 1 a schematic structural diagram of the electrical connector shown;

[0021] Figure 4 is Figure 1 a schematic structural diagram of the locking member in the electrical connector shown;

[0022] Figure 5 is when the locking member is in the pre-installed position, Figure 1 a cross-sectional view taken along the A-A direction;

[0023] Figure 6 is when the locking member is in the pre-installed position, Figure 1Cross-sectional view along B-B direction;

[0024] Figure 7 When the locking member is in the locked position, Figure 1 Cross-sectional view along A-A direction;

[0025] Figure 8 When the locking member is in the locked position, Figure 1 Cross-sectional view along B-B direction.

[0026] The markings in the figure are as follows:

[0027] 10. Terminal; 101. Protrusion;

[0028] 20. Locking member; 201. Main body part; 202. Sliding part; 203. Receiving groove; 204. Positioning rib; 205. Connecting post; 206. First clamping block; 207. Second clamping block; 208. Crimping surface; 209. Shrinkage hole;

[0029] 30. Sheath; 301. Terminal mounting part; 302. Terminal cavity; 303. Primary locking cantilever; 304. Chute; 305. Positioning groove; 306. Third clamping block; 307. Step structure; 308. Stop block;

[0030] 40. Sliding direction of the sliding part. Detailed implementation manners

[0031] Now, various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that: Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangements of components and steps, numerical expressions and values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention.

[0032] The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way a limitation on the present invention or its application or use.

[0033] Techniques, methods, and devices known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, the techniques, methods, and devices should be regarded as part of the specification.

[0034] In all the examples shown and discussed here, any specific values should be construed as merely exemplary and not as a limitation. Therefore, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values.

[0035] As Figures 1-8As shown in the figure, an electrical connector is configured to be connected in cooperation with a mating connector. It includes a sheath 30, terminals 10 installed within the sheath 30, and a locking member 20. A terminal installation portion 301 is provided within the sheath 30. An axial terminal cavity 302 is formed along the axis of the sheath within the terminal installation portion 301. At least a part of the terminals 10 is installed within the terminal cavity 302. A primary locking cantilever 303 for initially locking the terminals 10 is formed on the terminal installation portion 301. It should be noted here that the front end of the main structure of the terminal cavity 302 in the present utility model is a groove-shaped structure with a notch at the top. The primary locking cantilever 303 is integrally formed with the terminal installation portion 301 and is suspended at the top of the groove-shaped structure. The terminal cavity 302 and the primary locking cantilever 303 jointly surround the outside of the terminals 10, and the primary locking of the terminals 10 is achieved through the primary locking cantilever 303. This is a relatively conventional technical means in the art and will not be elaborated here in detail. Further, as Figure 2 shown, a protrusion 101 is provided at the top of the terminals 10. A stopper 308 that cooperates with the protrusion 101 is protrudingly provided on the side end face of the primary locking cantilever 303 facing the terminals 10. After the terminals 10 are inserted into the terminal cavity 302, the stopper 308 passes over the protrusion 101 and engages with the protrusion 101 to prevent the terminals 10 from withdrawing from the sheath 30. For details, please refer to Figure 5 and Figure 7 .

[0036] As Figure 4 shown, after the locking member 20 is inserted into the interior of the sheath 30 through the end of the sheath 30 facing the mating connector, it is slidably disposed outside the primary locking cantilever 303 and has a pre-installed position and a locking position. A receiving groove 203 is formed on the side end face of the locking member 20 facing the primary locking cantilever 303. When the locking member 20 is in the pre-installed position, the receiving groove 203 can be used to avoid the primary locking cantilever 303 lifted by the terminals 10. And when the locking member 20 is in the locking position, the locking member 20 presses against the outside of the primary locking cantilever 303. For details, please refer to Figures 5-8 . When the locking member 20 is in the pre-installed position, due to the existence of the receiving groove 203, the terminals 10 can smoothly lift the primary locking cantilever 303 and then be inserted into the terminal cavity 302, and the primary locking of the terminals 10 is achieved through the reset primary locking cantilever 303. Then when the locking member 20 slides to the locking position, the locking member 20 presses against the outside of the primary locking cantilever 303, which can prevent the failure of the primary locking structure of the terminals 10, that is, strengthen the primary locking structure of the terminals. The structure is simple and is conducive to the miniaturization of the connector. In addition, a pressing surface 208 is further provided within the receiving groove 203. When the locking member 20 is in the locking position, the locking member 20 presses against the outside of the primary locking cantilever 303 through the pressing surface 208.

[0037] Further, as Figure 4As shown, the locking member 20 includes a plate-shaped main body portion 201 and a sliding portion 202 integrally provided with the main body portion 201. A receiving groove 203 is formed on one end face of the main body portion 201 facing the primary locking cantilever 303. A sliding groove 304 is formed on the terminal mounting portion 301 and is slidably engaged with the sliding portion 202. The locking member 20 is slidably engaged with the terminal mounting portion 301 through the cooperation of the sliding portion 202 and the sliding groove 304.

[0038] In one embodiment, as Figure 1 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, a plurality of terminal cavities 302 are arranged side by side on the terminal mounting portion 301. A positioning groove 305 is formed between the plurality of terminal cavities 302. A plurality of positioning ribs 204 corresponding to the plurality of positioning grooves 305 one by one are provided on one end face of the main body portion 201 facing the primary locking cantilever 303. Through the cooperation of the positioning ribs 204 and the positioning groove 305, effective positioning of the locking member 20 during the process of being inserted into the sheath 30 can be achieved, and the purpose of preventing the locking member 20 from being misinserted can be achieved. At least one positioning rib 204 is connected to the sliding portion 202 through a connecting column 205. Both the sliding portion 202 and the main body portion 201 are plate-shaped and are arranged in parallel. The sliding groove 304 is located directly below the positioning groove 305, and at least part of the sliding groove 304 is communicated with the positioning groove 305. When the locking member 20 is in the locking position, the connecting column 205 is embedded in the communication area of both the positioning groove 305 and the sliding groove 304. In addition, the sliding portion 202 and the main body portion 201 are independently provided. On the one hand, it can further prevent the misinsertion of the locking member 20. On the other hand, since the sliding portion 202 and the corresponding sliding structure are provided on the sliding portion 202 and the sliding groove 304, and there is no corresponding sliding structure on the main body portion 201, the installation accuracy of the main body portion 201 is higher, and the strengthening effect on the primary locking structure of the terminal 10 is better. Further, in order to reduce the manufacturing cost of the locking member 20, the main body portion 201, the positioning ribs 204, the connecting column 205 and the sliding portion 202 are integrally injection-molded.

[0039] In some embodiments, as Figures 4-8As shown, the sliding part 202 is clamped and matched with the inner wall of the sliding groove 304 to position the locking part 20 at the pre-installed position and the locking position. Specifically, a first clamping block 206 and a second clamping block 207 are arranged in a staggered manner on the side walls on both sides of the sliding direction of the sliding part 202, and the first clamping block 206 is located in front of the second clamping block 206 in the sliding direction 40 of the sliding part. A third clamping block 306 is arranged on the inner wall of the sliding groove 304, and a stepped structure 307 is arranged at the entrance of the sliding groove 304. After the sliding part 202 is inserted into the sliding groove 304, the third clamping block 306 and the stepped structure 307 are respectively clamped and matched with the first clamping block 206 and the second clamping block 207 to position the locking part 20 at the pre-installed position. When the locking part 20 is in the locking position, the first clamping block 206 passes over the third clamping block 306 and is in a blocking fit with the third clamping block 306 to prevent the locking part 20 from unexpectedly withdrawing from the locking position.

[0040] In some embodiments, shrinkage holes 209 are correspondingly formed inside the first clamping block 206 and the second clamping block 207 of the sliding part 202.

[0041] Although some specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail by way of examples, those skilled in the art should understand that the above examples are only for illustration and not for limiting the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the above embodiments can be modified without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, which is connected with a mating connector, comprises a sheath, a terminal installed in the sheath, and a locking member, wherein a terminal mounting portion is provided in the sheath, a terminal cavity is provided in the terminal mounting portion along the axial direction of the sheath, and the terminal is at least partially installed in the terminal cavity, characterized in that: A primary lock cantilever for locking the terminal is formed on the terminal mounting portion, and the locking piece is inserted into the interior of the sheath through one end of the sheath facing the mating connector and then slidably arranged on the outside of the primary lock cantilever, and has a pre-installed position and a locked position. A receiving groove is provided on the end surface of the locking piece facing the primary lock cantilever, and when the locking piece is in the pre-installed position, the receiving groove can be used to avoid the primary lock cantilever lifted by the terminal, and when the locking piece is in the locked position, the locking piece is pressed on the outside of the primary lock cantilever.

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking member includes a plate-shaped main body and a sliding part integrally arranged with the main body, the receiving groove is arranged on one side end surface of the main body facing the primary lock cantilever; the terminal mounting part is provided with a sliding groove that slidably cooperates with the sliding part.

3. An electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The terminal mounting portion is provided with a plurality of terminal cavities arranged side by side, and positioning grooves are formed between the plurality of terminal cavities. The end surface of the main body facing the primary lock cantilever is provided with a plurality of positioning ribs corresponding to the plurality of positioning grooves one by one.

4. An electrical connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: At least one positioning rib is connected to the sliding part through a connecting column, the sliding part and the main body are both plate-shaped and arranged in parallel; the sliding groove is located directly below the positioning groove, and the sliding groove and the positioning groove are at least partially connected.

5. An electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sliding portion is engaged with the inner wall of the sliding groove to realize the positioning of the locking member at the pre-installed position and the locked position.

6. An electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: A first block and a second block are staggeredly arranged on the side walls on both sides of the sliding direction of the sliding part, and the first block is located in front of the second block in the sliding direction of the sliding part. A third block is arranged on the inner wall of the slide groove, and a step structure is arranged at the entrance of the slide groove. After the sliding part is installed in the slide groove, the third block and the step structure are respectively engaged with the first block and the second block to realize the positioning of the locking member in the pre-installed position.

7. An electrical connector according to claim 6, characterized in that: The sliding part has shrinkage holes correspondingly formed on the inner sides of the first clamping block and the second clamping block.

8. An electrical connector according to claim 6, characterized in that: When the locking member is in the locking position, the first clamping block passes over the third clamping block and cooperates with the third clamping block to prevent the locking member from unexpectedly withdrawing from the locking position.

9. An electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: A pressing surface is also provided in the receiving groove. When the locking member is in the locking position, the locking member is pressed onto the outer side of the primary lock cantilever through the pressing surface.

10. An electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: A protrusion is provided on the top of the terminal, and a stopper matching with the protrusion is protruded on the end surface of the primary lock cantilever facing the terminal. After the terminal is installed in the terminal cavity, the stopper matches with the protrusion.

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