Connector sheath and wire end connector

Abstract

The utility model discloses a connector sheath and a wire end connector, and belongs to the technical field of connectors. The connector sheath comprises a sheath body and a sheath cover, the sheath body is internally provided with a containing cavity used for containing a wire harness terminal, the containing cavity penetrates through the sheath body, and the inner side wall of the containing cavity is movably connected with a locking and releasing part; the sheath cover is detachably connected to the electric connection end of the sheath body; the sheath cover is provided with a terminal hole matched with the accommodating cavity; one side, facing the sheath body, of the sheath cover is also provided with a limiting part; the locking and releasing piece is provided with a locking position capable of being clamped with the wire harness terminal in the containing cavity and an unlocking position capable of being separated from the wire harness terminal in the containing cavity. When the terminal is used, only the sheath cover needs to be detached, and then the free end of the locking and releasing part is pressed, so that the spring bolt of the locking and releasing part can be easily separated from the terminal, and the terminal can be rapidly detached. Compared with a traditional dismounting method, the operation complexity is remarkably reduced, the dismounting efficiency is improved, and the sheath and the terminal cannot be damaged in the dismounting process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a connector sheath and a wire end connector, belonging to the technical field of connectors. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of the automotive industry, the complexity and integration of automotive electrical systems are increasing. As an indispensable component of these systems, the performance and reliability of automotive connectors are directly related to the overall operational stability and safety of the vehicle. As a key component of automotive connectors, the structural design of cable-end connectors must not only meet the requirements of electrical connectivity but also address requirements such as ease of maintenance, high durability, and low cost.

[0003] In existing technology, automotive wire-end connectors typically consist of three main components: a sheath, a Terminal Position Assurance (TPA), and a wiring harness terminal. The sheath, as a protective structure, not only provides insulation and waterproofing but also ensures a secure connection between the terminal and the wiring harness through its internal snap-fit ​​mechanism. The TPA further enhances the locking effect of the terminal, preventing it from loosening or falling out due to vibration or external forces. However, in actual use, various factors (such as design flaws, material degradation, and improper installation) may cause the terminal to need repair or replacement.

[0004] During the process of rework and disassembly of terminals, the traditional method requires the use of a specific tool to insert into the repair hole on the connector and lift the plastic clip upward to separate the terminal, thereby removing the terminal. Although this method can achieve terminal removal, it has significant disadvantages: First, the operation is difficult and the removal efficiency is low. The technician must have high professional skills and extensive experience to avoid unnecessary damage to the sheath during the removal process. Second, if the force is not applied properly or the tool is not selected properly, it is very easy to cause the sheath to crack, deform, or damage the clip, which will affect the overall performance and life of the connector.

[0005] Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems existing in the prior art, it is necessary to optimize the design of the disassembly structure of the automotive wire end connector to improve the disassembly efficiency, reduce the difficulty of operation and reduce the damage to the sheath. Utility Model Content

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art and provide a connector sheath and a wire end connector, which are used to solve the problem in the prior art that the terminals in the wire end connector are difficult to disassemble and easily cause damage to the sheath.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose and other related purposes, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0008] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a connector sheath, comprising a sheath body and a sheath cover;

[0009] The sheath body is provided with a receiving cavity for receiving the wiring harness terminal, the receiving cavity passes through the sheath body, and a locking release member is movably connected to the inner side wall of the receiving cavity;

[0010] The sheath cover is detachably connected to the electrical connection end of the sheath body, the sheath cover is provided with a terminal hole adapted to the accommodating cavity, and a limiting portion is provided on a side of the sheath cover facing the sheath body;

[0011] The lock release member has a locking position capable of engaging with the wiring harness terminal in the accommodating cavity, and an unlocking position capable of disengaging from the wiring harness terminal in the accommodating cavity;

[0012] When the shield cover is connected to the electrical connection end of the shield body, the lock release member is limited to the locking position by the limiting portion.

[0013] During application, when the wiring harness terminal needs to be disassembled, just remove the protective cover, and then act on the lock release to move it from the locked position to the unlocked position, so that the lock release can be disengaged from the wiring harness terminal, which significantly improves the efficiency of wiring harness terminal disassembly and avoids damage to the wiring harness terminal during the unlocking process of the lock release.

[0014] Optionally, the first end of the lock release member is connected to the inner side wall of the accommodating cavity, and the second end deviates from the inner side wall of the accommodating cavity and extends outside the opening of the accommodating cavity; the lock release member is provided with a locking tongue for clamping the wiring harness terminal on a side facing the accommodating cavity;

[0015] The limiting portion is a positioning groove or a positioning hole adapted to the second end portion of the lock release member;

[0016] In the locked position, an adjustable height gap exists between the second end of the release member and the inner sidewall of the accommodating chamber to which its first end is connected. In this embodiment, the release member can be disposed on either sidewall of the accommodating chamber. The adjustable height gap provides space for the release member to switch from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0017] Optionally, the multiple accommodating cavities inside the sheath body are respectively provided with the locking release members;

[0018] The protective cover also features access openings on the sides of each terminal hole corresponding to each accommodating cavity. The retaining grooves are located on the side of each terminal hole facing the protective cover body. The perimeter of each terminal hole facing the protective cover body features terminal positioning grooves that mate with the electrical connection ends of the wiring harness terminals. In this embodiment, the wiring harness terminals are positioned by the terminal positioning grooves around the terminal holes, and the second, free, end of the release member is positioned by the retaining grooves and brought into close proximity with the wiring harness terminals to ensure a secure connection.

[0019] Optionally, the locking release is integrally formed with the jacket body and made of an elastic material. In the absence of external force, the locking release forms a V-shaped angle with the inner sidewall of the receiving cavity to which it is attached. This embodiment ensures that the locking release remains engaged with the wiring harness terminal under the action of elastic force even when the jacket cover is not attached to the jacket body, facilitating installation of the jacket cover.

[0020] It should be noted that the lock release member can also be rotatably connected to the inner side wall of the accommodating cavity, and more preferably, an elastic member is configured on the rotating shaft to keep the lock release member in a locked position in the absence of external force, or other structural forms are adopted that can achieve a locked position and an unlocked position and switching between the two.

[0021] Optionally, a hook is provided on the side of the sheath cover facing the sheath body, and a hole adapted to the hook is provided on the end surface of the electrical connection end of the sheath body, and the hook can be fixedly connected to the hole.

[0022] Optionally, a positioning column is provided on the side of the sheath cover facing the sheath body, and a positioning hole adapted to the positioning column is further provided on the end surface of the electrical connection end of the sheath body.

[0023] Optionally, at least one of the hooks and positioning posts is provided on both sides of the protective cover.

[0024] Optionally, the hook and the positioning post are provided on both sides of the protective cover, and the line connecting the two positioning posts intersects with the line connecting the two hooks. In other words, the hooks and the positioning posts are not symmetrically arranged on both sides of the protective cover. This embodiment can achieve a foolproof effect while providing dual positioning.

[0025] On the other hand, the present invention further provides a wire end connector, comprising a wiring harness terminal and the connector sheath described in the first aspect, wherein the wiring harness terminal is installed in the accommodating cavity and is provided with a snap portion for engaging with the lock release member.

[0026] Optionally, the line end connector further includes a TPA;

[0027] The connector sheath body is further provided with a TPA slot for installing the TPA, and the TPA is provided with a locking portion for clamping the wiring harness terminal.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects achieved by the present invention are as follows: the present invention introduces a detachable sheath structure. When in use, it is only necessary to remove the sheath cover, and then press the free end of the lock release to change the lock release from the locked position to the unlocked position. At this time, the lock release is separated from the wiring harness terminal, and the wiring harness terminal is quickly disassembled. Compared with the traditional method of using a specific tool to insert the maintenance hole and lift the plastic buckle, the present invention significantly reduces the complexity of the operation and improves the disassembly efficiency. Moreover, the disassembly process of the present application will not cause additional stress concentration or damage to the sheath, ensuring the stability and reliability of the connector during long-term use. In addition, the detachability of the sheath also enables more thorough cleaning and inspection of the inside of the sheath during maintenance, further improving the reliability of the connector. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 Shown is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the utility model;

[0030] Figure 2 The figure shows the schematic diagram of the utility model sheath body and sheath cover being disassembled;

[0031] Figure 3 The figure shows the structure diagram of the utility model sheath body;

[0032] Figure 4 The figure shows a cross-sectional view of the utility model sheath body;

[0033] Figure 5 Shown is a schematic diagram of the structure of the utility model protective cover;

[0034] Figure 6 Shown is a schematic diagram of the bottom structure of the utility model;

[0035] In the figure: 1-sheath body, 2-sheath cover, 3-TPA, 11-wiring terminal, 12-lock release, 13-clamp hole, 14-positioning hole, 15-TPA slot, 21-terminal hole, 22-limiting slot, 23-inspection port, 24-hook, 25-positioning column, 31-locking part, 111-buckle part, 121-lock tongue, 211-terminal positioning slot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0037] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "back," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are intended solely to facilitate and simplify the description of this utility model. They do not indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0038] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; mechanical connections, electrical connections; direct connections, indirect connections through an intermediate medium, and internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this utility model based on specific circumstances.

[0039] Example 1

[0040] This embodiment introduces a connector sheath, referring to Figures 1 to 6 , which includes a sheath body 1 and a sheath cover 2; the sheath body 1 is provided with a receiving cavity for accommodating a wiring harness terminal 11, the receiving cavity passes through the sheath body 1, and a locking release member 12 is movably connected to the inner wall of the receiving cavity; the sheath cover 2 is detachably connected to the electrical connection end of the sheath body 1, and the sheath cover 2 is provided with a terminal hole 21 adapted to the receiving cavity, and a limiting portion is provided on the side of the sheath cover 2 facing the sheath body 1;

[0041] The locking release 12 has a locking position capable of engaging the wiring harness terminal 11 in the accommodating cavity, and an unlocking position capable of disengaging the wiring harness terminal 11 in the accommodating cavity; when the sheath cover 2 is connected to the electrical connection end of the sheath body 1, the locking release 12 is limited to the locking position by the limiting portion.

[0042] During use of this embodiment, after the wiring harness terminal is connected to the cable and inserted into the accommodating cavity, the locking release is in the locked position and engaged with the wiring harness terminal. When the protective cover is installed on the protective cover body, the locking release is restrained in the locked position, ensuring that the locking release 12 will not move to the unlocked position due to vibration, external force, or other factors. This achieves the purpose of securing the wiring harness terminal, improves the stability of the electrical connection, and reduces the risk of electrical failure or safety accidents caused by the detachment of the wiring harness terminal 11. When the wiring harness terminal needs to be removed, the protective cover is removed to release the locking release, and then the locking release is applied to switch it from the locked position to the unlocked position, thereby disengaging the locking release from the wiring harness terminal. This significantly improves the efficiency of wiring harness terminal removal and prevents the locking release from damaging the wiring harness terminal during the unlocking process.

[0043] Example 2

[0044] Based on the same inventive concept as Example 1, Figure 1-2 As shown, the wire end connector of this embodiment includes a sheath body 1 and a sheath cover 2. The sheath body 1 has a housing for accommodating a wiring harness terminal 11. The housing extends through the sheath body 1, and a locking release 12 is movably connected to the inner wall of the housing. The sheath cover 2 is detachably connected to the electrical connection end of the sheath body 1. Furthermore, the sheath cover 2 is provided with a terminal hole 21 adapted to fit within the housing, thereby enabling electrical connection between the wiring harness terminal 11 and an external device, such as a male terminal. Furthermore, a stopper is provided on the side of the sheath cover 2 facing the sheath body 1.

[0045] The locking release 12 has a locking position capable of engaging the wiring harness terminal 11 in the accommodating cavity, and an unlocking position capable of disengaging the wiring harness terminal 11 in the accommodating cavity. In the locking position, the locking release 12 can engage and fix the wiring harness terminal 11. In the unlocking position, the locking release 12 is out of contact with the wiring harness terminal 11, which is usually when the wiring harness terminal 11 needs to be replaced or repaired.

[0046] Furthermore, if Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the first end of the locking member 12 is connected to the inner sidewall of the accommodating cavity, while the second end, or free end of the locking member 12, deviates from the inner sidewall and extends beyond the opening of the accommodating cavity. A locking tongue 121 for engaging the wiring harness terminal 11 is provided on the side of the locking member 12 facing the accommodating cavity. In the locked position, an adjustable height gap exists between the second end of the locking member 12 and the inner sidewall of the accommodating cavity to which its first end is connected. This gap allows the locking member 12 to move with sufficient space when subjected to external force, thereby enabling the locking member 12 to transition between the locked and unlocked positions.

[0047] In this embodiment, the release member 12 is integrally formed with the housing body 1 and made of an elastic material. In the absence of external force, the release member forms a V-shaped angle with the inner wall of the housing chamber to which it is attached. This means that the release member 12 has a certain degree of elasticity and resilience, allowing it to more tightly grip the wiring harness terminal 11. Furthermore, the elastic material allows for a certain amount of deformation when subjected to external force, allowing for easy release when needed.

[0048] In this embodiment, the sheath body 1 is internally provided with multiple cavities, each of which is equipped with a corresponding release 12. This allows each wiring harness terminal 11 to be independently locked and unlocked. In a preferred embodiment, each release 12 is located on the same side of its corresponding cavity. This design helps maintain the consistency of the arrangement of the wiring harness terminals 11, making the entire electrical connection assembly neater and more organized. When a specific wiring harness terminal 11 needs to be replaced or repaired, the user simply locates the release 12 in the corresponding cavity and unlocks it.

[0049] In the present invention, the limiting portion is a limiting groove 22 or a limiting hole adapted to the second end of the lock release member 12. Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment, the limiting portion takes the form of a limiting groove. Specifically, a limiting groove 22 is provided on the side of each terminal hole 21 facing the housing body 1. Access openings 23 are also provided on the sides of each terminal hole 21 corresponding to the respective accommodating cavities on the housing cover 2. Access openings 23 provide an additional way to unlock the locking release 12, providing an additional safety measure for terminal removal. During use, a maintenance tool can be inserted into the access opening 23 and tilted upward to release the locking release 12 from the wiring harness terminal 11.

[0050] Furthermore, if Figure 5 As shown, each terminal hole 21 is provided with a terminal positioning groove 211 around the side facing the housing body 1. The shape of these positioning grooves adapts to the end of the wiring harness terminal 11 and further secures the wiring harness terminal 11. The positioning grooves 211 constrain the wiring harness terminal 11 within the housing cavity, ensuring more precise control of its position. This not only prevents the wiring harness terminal 11 from vibrating or impacting, but also ensures a stable and reliable electrical connection.

[0051] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 5In this embodiment, the sheath body 1 and the sheath cover 2 are connected by a snap-fit ​​connection. Specifically, a hook 24 is provided on the side of the sheath cover 2 facing the sheath body 1. A snap-fit ​​hole 13 is provided on the end surface of the electrical connection end of the sheath body 1, which is adapted to the hook 24. The hook 24 can be snap-fitted and fixed to the snap-fit ​​hole 13. The snap-fit ​​connection ensures a secure connection between the sheath body 1 and the sheath cover 2, while facilitating removal and reinstallation. When the sheath cover 2 needs to be removed, the user can use an appropriate tool or finger to press the hook 24, causing it to elastically deform and disengage from the snap-fit ​​hole 13. The sheath cover 2 can then be easily removed from the sheath body 1.

[0052] Furthermore, the side of the sheath cover 2 facing the sheath body 1 is provided with a positioning post 25, and the end surface of the sheath body 1 at the electrical connection end is provided with a positioning hole 14 that is compatible with the positioning post 25. The combination of the positioning post 25 and the positioning hole 14 provides an additional fixing point for the connection between the sheath cover 2 and the sheath body 1. This not only increases the stability of the connection, but also reduces the risk of loosening due to vibration or impact.

[0053] At least one hook 24 and one positioning post 25 are provided on each side of the protective cover 2. In this embodiment, one hook 24 and one positioning post 25 are provided on each side of the protective cover 2, and the line connecting the two positioning posts 25 intersects the line connecting the two hooks 24. This design ensures that the protective cover 2 can only be connected to the protective cover body 1 in the correct orientation. If the connection is attempted in the incorrect orientation, the positioning post 25 and hook 24 will not be able to be simultaneously inserted into the positioning hole 14 and the locking hole 13, thus preventing incorrect installation.

[0054] Example 3

[0055] This embodiment introduces a wire end connector using the connector protective cover described in embodiment 1 or embodiment 2. Specifically, Figure 3 、 4 As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the wiring harness terminal 11 of the above-mentioned wire end connector is installed in the accommodating cavity, and the wiring harness terminal 11 is provided with a snap portion 111 for engaging with the locking release 12. In addition, the wire end connector also has a terminal position assurance device TPA3. The sheath body 1 of the connector sheath is also provided with a TPA slot 15 for installing the TPA3, and the TPA3 is provided with a locking portion 31 for engaging the wiring harness terminal 11. TPA is a mechanism specifically used to ensure that the wiring harness terminal 11 is correctly and firmly installed in the connector. The wiring harness terminal 11 can be locked twice by TPA. The locking release 12 ensures the stable connection of the connector after mating, while the TPA3 ensures the correct installation and fixation of the wiring harness terminal 11 in the connector. The combination of the two can greatly improve the stability of the wiring harness terminal 11 in the connector and prevent the connection from loosening or falling off due to factors such as vibration and impact.

[0056] Combine Figure 4 As shown, the specific steps of installing and removing the wiring harness terminal of the wire end connector of this embodiment are as follows.

[0057] Installation: Connect the wiring harness terminal to the cable and insert it into the accommodating cavity. When it is inserted into place, the locking release will clamp the side of the wiring harness terminal. At this time, the locking release is in the locked position. Install the sheath cover to the sheath body to further limit the locking release in the locked position. Even if the locking release is fatigued and damaged due to long-term use, it will not affect the positioning of the wiring harness terminal by the locking release in the installed state.

[0058] Disassembly: First, remove the protective cover 2 from the protective cover body 1. Once the protective cover 2 is removed, the retaining force applied to the locking element 12 by the retaining portion of the protective cover 2 is released. Next, press the second end of the locking element 12 in the direction of the gap (i.e., the height adjustment gap between the second end of the locking element 12 and the inner sidewall of the accommodating chamber to which its first end is connected) to elastically deform the locking element 12, thereby disengaging the locking tongue 121 from its locking position with the wiring harness terminal 11. When the locking tongue 121 disengages the locking position with the wiring harness terminal 11, the wiring harness terminal 11 is no longer locked in the accommodating chamber. At this point, the wiring harness terminal 11 can be easily removed from the accommodating chamber for repair or replacement.

[0059] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention. These improvements and modifications should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A connector sheath, characterized in that: It comprises a sheath body (1) and a sheath cover (2); The sheath body (1) is provided with a receiving cavity for receiving a wiring harness terminal (11), the receiving cavity passes through the sheath body (1), and a locking release member (12) is movably connected to the inner side wall of the receiving cavity; The sheath cover (2) is detachably connected to the electrical connection end of the sheath body (1); a terminal hole (21) adapted to the accommodating cavity is provided on the sheath cover (2); and a limiting portion is provided on the side of the sheath cover (2) facing the sheath body (1); The lock release member (12) has a locking position capable of engaging with the wiring harness terminal (11) in the accommodating cavity, and an unlocking position capable of disengaging from the wiring harness terminal (11) in the accommodating cavity; When the sheath cover (2) is connected to the electrical connection end of the sheath body (1), the lock release member (12) is limited to the locking position by the limiting portion.

2. The connector cover according to claim 1, wherein: The first end of the locking member (12) is connected to the inner side wall of the accommodating cavity, and the second end deviates from the inner side wall of the accommodating cavity and extends outside the opening of the accommodating cavity; the locking member (12) is provided with a locking tongue (121) for clamping the wiring harness terminal (11) on one side facing the accommodating cavity; The limiting portion is a limiting groove (22) or a limiting hole adapted to the second end portion of the lock release member (12); In the locked position, there is a height-adjustable gap between the second end of the lock release member (12) and the inner side wall of the accommodating cavity to which the first end thereof is connected.

3. The connector cover according to claim 2, wherein: The multiple accommodating cavities inside the sheath body (1) are respectively provided with the locking and releasing components (12); The side of each terminal hole (21) corresponding to each accommodating cavity on the sheath cover (2) is also provided with an inspection port (23), and the side of each terminal hole (21) facing the sheath body (1) is provided with the limiting groove (22), and the peripheral portion of each terminal hole (21) facing the sheath body (1) is provided with a terminal positioning groove (211) adapted to the electrical connection end of the wiring harness terminal (11).

4. The connector cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The locking and releasing member (12) and the sheath body (1) are integrally formed and made of elastic material, and in the absence of external force, a V-shaped angle is formed between the locking and releasing member (12) and the inner side wall of the accommodating cavity to which it is connected.

5. The connector cover according to claim 1, wherein: The sheath cover (2) is provided with a hook (24) on one side facing the sheath body (1), and the end surface of the electrical connection end of the sheath body (1) is provided with a clamping hole (13) adapted to the hook (24), and the hook (24) can be clamped and fixed with the clamping hole (13).

6. The connector cover according to claim 5, wherein: A positioning column (25) is provided on the side of the sheath cover (2) facing the sheath body (1), and a positioning hole (14) adapted to the positioning column (25) is also provided on the end surface of the electrical connection end of the sheath body (1).

7. The connector cover according to claim 6, wherein: At least one of the hooks (24) and positioning posts (25) is provided on both sides of the protective cover (2).

8. The connector cover according to claim 7, wherein: The hook (24) and the positioning column (25) are respectively provided on both sides of the protective cover (2), and the connecting line of the two positioning columns (25) intersects with the connecting line of the two hooks (24).

9. A wire end connector, characterized in that: The invention comprises a wiring harness terminal (11) and a connector sheath according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the wiring harness terminal (11) is installed in the accommodating cavity, and a snap-fit ​​portion (111) for snapping with the locking release member (12) is provided on the wiring harness terminal (11).

10. The wire end connector according to claim 9, wherein: Also includes TPA (3); A TPA slot (15) for installing the TPA (3) is further provided on the sheath body (1) of the connector sheath, and a locking portion (31) for clamping the wiring harness terminal (11) is provided on the TPA (3).

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