A connector pin structure

Abstract

This utility model discloses a connector pin structure, which serves as a unipolar conductive structure disposed within a connector slot and conductively connected to external circuitry. It includes a strip-shaped conductor and an insulator fixedly connected to each other. One end of the conductor has a hollow portion for contact and conduction with the conductor of the external circuitry. The insulator has an embedded portion fixedly connected within the hollow portion. The other end of the conductor also has a tail portion for connecting to a wire harness inside the connector. This utility model improves upon existing integrated metal conductor structures by adding a low-cost insulator structure to replace the conductor as the main frame, providing structural strength. Simultaneously, it ensures a continuous conductive structure externally and fixes the conductor and insulator together, thereby improving overall integrity and maintaining an appearance consistent with existing integrated metal pins as much as possible while modifying its structural design.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of connector technology, and specifically relates to a connector pin structure. Background Technology

[0002] Existing connectors typically include an insulating shell structure and an internal metal conductor structure. The connector itself serves as an intermediate structure for connecting at least two circuits, and the metal conductor has at least two ends, which are respectively connected to the two circuits to achieve conductivity.

[0003] As a conductor structure in many connectors, a strip-shaped pin structure is used. This structure has a certain exposed length, providing a larger contact area and achieving better stability of the plug-in electrical connection. Existing pins, such as those used in charging or discharging equipment for new energy vehicles, serve as the connecting conductors for neutral, live, and ground wires. They are mostly manufactured using a one-piece CNC machining process, making them solid metal. These pins have good structural strength and current carrying capacity, but their cost is relatively high. To reduce costs and increase efficiency while meeting basic usage requirements, pins are optimized and improved. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this utility model provides a connector pin structure that aims to partially replace the integrally formed metal material with a low-cost insulating material. This not only meets the basic current carrying capacity but also has good structural strength, thereby achieving the effect of cost reduction.

[0005] The technical solution adopted in this utility model is as follows:

[0006] In a first aspect, this utility model provides a connector pin structure, which is disposed in the slot of the connector as a unipolar conductive structure and conductively connected to an external circuit. It includes a strip-shaped conductive body and an insulator that are fixedly connected to each other. One end of the conductive body has a hollow portion for the conductor of the external circuit to contact and conduct electricity. The insulator has an embedded portion that is fixedly connected to the hollow portion. The other end of the conductive body also has a tail portion that connects to the wire harness inside the connector.

[0007] It should be noted that a pin is a common conductor structure on a conductive connector, which can be placed on any of the neutral, live, or ground wires, serving as a conductor connecting the external circuitry to the connector's internal circuitry. The conductor is a strip-shaped structure connected end-to-end, mounted on the connector, with both exposed and internal portions. In this invention, the hollow portion serves as the connection to the external circuitry, possessing a relatively large surface area compared to the entire pin, while the tail portion is the concealed part within the connector. The insulator refers to a structure that replaces the existing one-piece metal conductive material as the pin's skeleton to provide structural strength, while the conductor primarily serves to conduct electricity.

[0008] In conjunction with the first aspect, the present invention provides a first embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the hollow portion of the conductor has a connection opening facing the tail, and the embedded portion of the insulator has a first exposed portion extending outward from the connection opening, and the first exposed portion contacts and limits the connection with the connector.

[0009] In conjunction with the first embodiment of the first aspect, the present invention provides a second embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the first exposed portion has an annular snap-fit ​​groove, and the connector is snap-fitted and fixed to the snap-fit ​​groove.

[0010] In conjunction with the first embodiment of the first aspect, the present invention provides a third embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the first exposed portion has an annular rubber ring groove, and a sealing annular member provided in the rubber ring groove seals the gap between the pin and the connector.

[0011] In conjunction with the first embodiment of the first aspect, the present invention provides a fourth embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the conductor further has a wrapping portion, and the first exposed portion of the insulator wraps and fixes the wrapping portion.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect or several embodiments of the first aspect, the present invention provides a fifth embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the hollow portion of the conductor has a gap at the end away from the tail, and the gap is filled by the inlay portion of the insulator.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect or several embodiments of the first aspect, the present invention provides a sixth embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the hollow portion of the conductor has a clearance opening at the end away from the tail, and the embedded portion of the insulator has a second exposed portion extending outward from the clearance opening.

[0014] In conjunction with the first aspect or several embodiments of the first aspect, this utility model provides a seventh embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the conductor is a metal sheet, the hollow portion is formed by bending the metal sheet, and the insulator is formed by injection molding within the bent hollow portion.

[0015] In conjunction with the first aspect or several embodiments of the first aspect, the present invention provides an eighth embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the tail portion includes at least one wire clamping portion for deforming and clamping the wire harness.

[0016] In conjunction with the sixth embodiment of the first aspect, this utility model provides a ninth embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the second exposed portion is an insulating head that cooperates with the connector to prevent electric shock from contacting the hollow portion.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0018] (1) This utility model improves the existing integrated metal conductor structure by adding a low-cost insulator structure to replace the excess current-carrying part in the conductor as the main frame, which bears a certain structural strength. At the same time, it ensures that the conductor structure is continuous from beginning to end and fixes the conductor and the insulator to improve the overall integrity and keep the appearance consistent with the existing integrated metal pin as much as possible while changing its structural design.

[0019] (2) By providing a first exposed portion extending to the outside of the hollow portion, the present invention forms a ring structure in the entire pin and is fixedly connected to the external connector, thereby further improving its structural strength and avoiding the use of a thin sheet conductive structure outside the pin that contacts the connector, affecting its structure and connection stability.

[0020] (3) The present invention provides a snap-fit ​​groove on the first exposed part to facilitate fixing with the connector, and the rubber ring groove can be set with a waterproof rubber ring, so as to block the annular gap when it is fixedly connected with the connector, thereby achieving a certain waterproof effect.

[0021] (4) The present invention wraps the conductive body wrapping part with a size smaller than the hollow part through the first exposed part, so that not only is the connection made through the embedded part in the hollow part, but also through the wrapping part with a smaller size on the outside, thus forming a double-layer connection relationship of inner and outer nesting, further improving the integrity of the pin and increasing the connection stability between the conductive body and the insulator.

[0022] (5) This utility model achieves good connection stability by providing openings on both sides of the hollow part and providing enlarged ends on both sides of the openings to block both ends.

[0023] (6) This utility model provides an insulating head structure formed by an embedded part extending outside the clearance opening at the front end of the hollow part, which can meet the design requirements of the end insulation material of the L / N end pin. At the same time, this integrated extended insulating structure itself is an extension of the built-in insulating material, which is simple to manufacture and is obviously different from the existing technology of directly setting a groove at the end of the metal pin and then embedding an independent insulating head. It is more stable and avoids the hidden danger of the insulating head falling off separately in the existing technology.

[0024] (7) This utility model also optimizes the setting method of the external conductor. It can use a metal sheet to form a columnar hollow part by stamping and then injection molding to form an insulating structure. This not only has higher connection stability, but also a simpler manufacturing method and lower cost. At the same time, the injection molding method can fill the gap formed by stamping the sheet and form a smoother pin outer surface after demolding for other surface processing, ultimately achieving a better matching degree. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is an isometric view of the grounding pin used in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a split isometric view of the grounding pin used in this embodiment of the utility model;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a front view of the grounding pin used in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0028] Figure 4 This utility model is based on Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the side cross-section after being cut along section line AA;

[0029] Figure 5 This is an isometric view of the L / N terminal insert used in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0030] Figure 6 This is a front view of the L / N terminal pin used in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0031] Figure 7 This utility model is based on Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the side cross-section after being cut along the BB section line;

[0032] Figure 8 This is a split isometric view of the L / N terminal insert used in this embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 9 This is an isometric view of another method used as the L / N terminal insert in the embodiments of this utility model.

[0034] In the diagram: 1-conductor, 2-insulator, 3-wire harness, 4-first wire clamping part, 5-snap groove, 6-rubber ring groove, 7-gap, 8-insulating head, 9-second wire clamping part, 10-avoidance opening. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The present invention will be further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0036] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of this application described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0037] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of this application provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed application, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0038] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0039] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer" to indicate orientation or positional relationships is based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationships commonly used when the product is in use. These terms are used solely for the convenience of describing this application and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in the description of this application is only used to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0040] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "horizontal" and "vertical" in the description of this application does not imply that the component is required to be absolutely horizontal or suspended, but rather that it may be slightly tilted. For example, "horizontal" simply means that its direction is more horizontal relative to "vertical," and does not mean that the structure must be completely horizontal, but rather that it may be slightly tilted.

[0041] In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set up," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0042] Example 1:

[0043] This embodiment discloses a connector pin structure, which includes a communication connector and an electrical connector, and has two connection ends, which are respectively connected to an internal circuit and an external circuit defined with the connector as a reference.

[0044] The pin structure comprises two parts: a conductor 1 and an insulator 2, both rigidly connected and fixedly connected. The conductor 1 is continuously arranged along the entire length of the pin and has at least two parts: a hollow portion on the outside of the connector, which is a uniform cylindrical structure filled with the insulator 2 to form a fixed connection; and a tail portion, which is the wire harness 3 used to connect the internal circuitry of the connector. The outer surface of the hollow portion is a smooth curved surface, and the entire outer surface of the hollow portion is made of conductive material, conducting electricity through contact with the conductors of the external circuitry.

[0045] In one embodiment, the conductor 1 is a single hollow tube, with the insulator 2 embedded within it to form an inner-outer nested connection. The insulator 2 is shorter than the conductor 1, resulting in a certain length of empty space inside the connection opening at the tail end of the conductor 1. A metal portion of the external wire harness 3, smaller than the cross-sectional size of the tail connection opening, is inserted, and then the conductor 1 at the tail end is pressed to clamp the metal portion of the wire harness 3, thus achieving a fixed connection. A snap-fit ​​groove 5 is provided on the outside of the conductor 1, which engages with a semi-circular flange on the connector to achieve a snap-fit ​​fixation.

[0046] Furthermore, in order to improve the connection stability between the conductor 1 and the insulator 2, several gaps 7 or openings are provided on the surface of the conductor 1. After the conductor 1 is formed, fluid insulator 2 material is injected into it by injection molding or other means. The openings or gaps 7 on the surface of the conductor 1 are filled by the insulator 2 material. After cooling and demolding, a pin structure with a smooth surface is formed. At the same time, the insulator 2 is embedded in the openings or gaps 7 of the conductor 1, thereby forming an integrated structure with better connection stability.

[0047] One implementation method involves using insulator 2 as a framework, and fabricating insulator 2 using an inorganic, high-temperature resistant material, giving its surface numerous groove structures. Then, a layer of conductive material 1, serving as the conductor 1, is molten and applied to the surface of insulator 2. After cooling, the conductive material 1 has portions that embed within the grooves of insulator 2, achieving good connection stability. Furthermore, extending the conductive material 1 to one side of insulator 2 creates a continuous external structure, ensuring a certain level of conductivity. Similarly, a snap-fit ​​groove 5 is formed on the surface of insulator 2, and a layer of conductive material 1 of the same thickness covers the surface of the snap-fit ​​groove 5, serving as a fixed connection position for the connector.

[0048] In one embodiment, the conductor 1 includes a circular hollow portion with a uniform cross-sectional radius, and the insulator 2 is embedded within the hollow portion. The conductor 1 also includes a wrapping portion with a smaller cross-sectional dimension than the hollow portion. The wrapping portion and the hollow portion are concentric tubular structures, forming a smooth connection through a diameter variation. A connection opening is provided at the end of the wrapping portion. The insulator 2, embedded within the hollow portion and the wrapping portion, extends outward from the connection opening to form a first exposed portion. The first exposed portion also extends in the opposite direction to form a portion that wraps around the wrapping portion. The external cross-sectional dimension of this portion is the same as that of the hollow portion, thereby forming a continuous pin structure with consistent cross-sectional dimensions. In this embodiment, a snap-fit ​​groove 5 is formed on the surface of the solid portion of the first exposed portion for contact and limiting connection with the connector.

[0049] In this method, the insulator 2 not only embeds itself inside the hollow part and the encapsulation part to form an inner core structure, but also has a first exposed part that extends outward from the opening on one side and wraps back, forming a double-layer connection with inner and outer nesting, which provides a good fixing effect between the conductor 1 and the insulator 2. At the same time, a snap-fit ​​groove 5 can be provided to use the insulator 2 as a connection structure to contact and limit the snap-fit ​​with the connector.

[0050] Furthermore, in order to achieve a conductive connection between the tail and the wire harness 3 inside the connector, an opening is made in the middle of the first exposed portion for the metal end of the wire harness 3 to be inserted and to contact the inner wrapping portion. Alternatively, before forming the insulator 2, a connection is formed between the metal part of the wire harness 3 and the inner wall of the wrapping portion, and then the liquid insulating material 2 is used to wrap and fix the conductive part 1 of the wire harness 3 that has been connected, through injection molding or other methods.

[0051] In one embodiment, the conductor 1 adopts a tube structure with openings on both sides, and the insulator 2 is embedded in the conductor 1 and extends outward from both openings to form enlarged ends. The conductor 1 is clamped and fixed from both ends by the enlarged end structure on both sides, which can also form a good connection and fixation effect.

[0052] As one implementation method, refer to Figures 1-4 The figure shows a pin structure used as a PE grounding terminal.

[0053] Reference Figure 2 The conductor 1 in the pin is a metal tube structure, with a hollow part with a closed port at the front, followed by a tube-shaped wrapping part with a smaller cross-sectional size, a semi-circular wrapping part with an even smaller size, and finally the first clamping part 4 connecting the wire harness 3.

[0054] The tubular wrapping section has a connection opening perpendicular to the axis of the hollow section, and also has an injection port with its axis perpendicular to the axis of the hollow section. This allows for the injection of material into the tubular wrapping section. Figure 2 The conductive body 1 structure shown in the figure is externally wrapped with a mold, with the mold port wrapped in the middle of the semi-circular wrapping part, and then injection molded into the mold to form the structure. Figure 2 The solid insulator 2 structure in the middle.

[0055] Reference Figure 1 The insulator 2 includes an embedded portion that is embedded in the hollow portion, and a first exposed portion that surrounds the embedded portion. The first exposed portion is a cylindrical structure with dimensions close to the outer dimensions of the hollow portion, and has two annular grooves on it. Figure 1 The connector features a rubber ring groove 6 and a snap-fit ​​groove 5. A channel has an opening at its bottom, smaller than the channel's inner diameter, the same size as the snap-fit ​​groove 5. During installation, the pin is positioned within the channel, with its hollow portion inside and its tail end inside the opening. A waterproof rubber ring on the surface of the rubber ring groove 6 seals the gap 7 in the opening, providing a degree of waterproofing.

[0056] Reference Figure 1 In the figure, a semi-enclosed U-shaped structure is set at the tail of the pin, which is the first wire clamping part 4. The opening size of the first wire clamping part 4 is larger than the metal part of the wire harness 3. By placing the metal part of the wire harness 3 inside the first wire clamping part 4 and then pressing it with a tool, the first wire clamping part 4 is compressed and deformed towards the middle, thereby achieving the effect of clamping the wire harness 3.

[0057] Reference Figure 4 As shown in the diagram, the embedded part is located inside the hollow part, while the first exposed part wraps around the smaller encapsulated part, thereby enhancing connection stability. In this pin structure used as a PE connector, there is no need to consider the issue of accidental electric shock, so the end has a closed structure design.

[0058] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the entire conductor 1 is made by bending and stamping a single metal sheet, wherein the hollow portion is a columnar structure formed by the sheet converging towards the center, as shown in the figure. Figure 2The figure shows a slit 7 on the outside of the hollow portion, which extends to the port of the hollow portion. In this embodiment, the port of the hollow portion is closed by three conical structures bent and joined together. Due to the use of injection molding, after injection molding into the hollow portion, the insulator 2 is partially embedded in the slit 7 to form a filler.

[0059] As one implementation method, refer to Figures 5-8 The figure shows the structure of the L / N terminal pin. When the pin is used as an L / N terminal pin, it is necessary to ensure that the end of the pin has a tapered insulating head 8. Since the pin is set in the channel of the connector, the size of the channel itself is different from the size of the pin. This may cause the user to insert his finger into the channel of the connector and contact the pin. This insulating head 8 structure can avoid contact with the conductor 1 as much as possible. When the user's finger is inserted into the channel, it first contacts the insulating head 8. However, since the gap 7 between the insulating head 8 and the channel is much smaller than the size of the finger, the finger can only contact the insulating head 8.

[0060] Specifically, in this embodiment, the hollow portion of the conductor 1 is located away from the tail and has an avoidance opening 10 at the end. The embedded portion within the hollow portion extends outward to form a conical insulating head 8 structure. This integrated insulating body 2 structure differs from the prior art method of setting a groove at the end of a metal pin to achieve the snap-fit ​​of the insulating head 8. The integrated insulating body 2 structure not only prevents contact through the insulating head 8 as the second exposed portion, but also allows this enlarged end to cooperate with the first exposed portion to place the hollow portion in the middle, thereby forming a fixed connection method with clamping at both ends.

[0061] Furthermore, the figure shows that a second wire clamping part 9 is provided at the tail of the pin. The first wire clamping part 4 clamps the metal part of the wire harness 3 to achieve conductivity, while the second wire clamping part 9 clamps and fixes the outer insulation layer of the wire harness 3, thereby providing better connection stability.

[0062] This utility model is not limited to the optional embodiments described above, and anyone can derive other various forms of products under the guidance of this utility model. The specific embodiments described above should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this utility model. The scope of protection of this utility model shall be determined by the claims, and the description can be used to interpret the claims.

Claims

1. A connector pin structure, which serves as a unipolar conductive structure disposed within a connector slot and conductively connected to an external circuit, characterized in that: It includes a strip-shaped conductor (1) and an insulator (2) that are fixedly connected to each other. One end of the conductor (1) has a hollow part for contact and conduction of an external circuit conductor. The insulator (2) has an embedded part that is fixedly connected within the hollow part. The other end of the conductor (1) also has a tail end that connects to a wire harness (3) inside the connector.

2. The connector pin structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hollow portion of the conductor (1) has a connection opening facing the tail, and the embedded portion of the insulator (2) has a first exposed portion extending outward from the connection opening, which contacts and limits the connector.

3. The connector pin structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first exposed part has an annular snap-fit ​​groove (5), and the connector is snapped and fixed to the snap-fit ​​groove (5).

4. A connector pin structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first exposed part has an annular rubber ring groove (6), and the gap between the pin and the connector is sealed by a sealing ring provided in the rubber ring groove (6).

5. A connector pin structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The conductor (1) also has a wrapping portion, and the first exposed portion of the insulator (2) wraps and fixes the wrapping portion.

6. A connector pin structure according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: The hollow portion of the conductor (1) has a gap (7) at the end away from the tail, and the gap (7) is filled by the inlay portion of the insulator (2).

7. A connector pin structure according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: The hollow portion of the conductor (1) has a clearance opening (10) at the end away from the tail, and the embedded portion of the insulator (2) has a second exposed portion that extends outward from the clearance opening (10).

8. A connector pin structure according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: The conductor (1) is a metal sheet, and the hollow part is formed by bending the metal sheet. The insulator (2) is formed by injection molding in the bent hollow part.

9. A connector pin structure according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: The tail portion includes at least one clamping portion of the deformable clamping wire harness (3).

10. A connector pin structure according to claim 7, characterized in that: The second exposed part is an insulating head (8) that mates with the connector to prevent electric shock from contacting the hollow part.

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