Connector housing arrangement and connectors

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connector housing arrangement (1) comprising: a connector housing (10) for receiving at least one electrical connection; a lever (20) for mating the connector housing with a mating connector (30) along a mating direction (A), wherein the lever (20) is pivotable and / or displaceable relative to the connector housing (10) depending on its position. For improved operational reliability, the lever (20) is initially displaceable from a starting position to a rotation start position before it is pivotable. The connector housing arrangement (1) further comprises a displacement start locking structure (40) configured to prevent displacement from the starting position to the rotation start position and which is releasable when the connector housing (10) is mated with the mating connector (30). The present invention also relates to a connector with such a connector housing arrangement.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector housing arrangement and a connector comprising the connector housing arrangement.

[0002] Connector housing arrangements are known from the prior art, which have a pivotable lever on a connector housing. By pivoting the lever, the connector housing can be paired or plugged together with a mating connector along a mating direction. The lever can also be moved translationally to lock it.

[0003] However, with such a known connector housing arrangement, there is a risk of premature rotation of the lever if the mating connector is not yet in a predetermined position along a mating direction.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector housing arrangement with improved operational reliability.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by a connector housing arrangement comprising: a connector housing for receiving at least one electrical connection; a lever for pairing the connector housing with a mating connector along a pairing direction, wherein the lever is pivotable and / or displaceable relative to the connector housing depending on its position. In particular, the lever is initially displaceable from a starting position to a starting position before it is pivotable. In other words, in the starting position, the lever is only displaceable to the starting position, but not pivotable. Furthermore, the connector housing arrangement has a starting position locking structure configured to prevent movement from the starting position to the starting position, and which is releasable when the connector housing is paired with the mating connector.

[0006] According to this aspect, misuse can be reliably suppressed. This is because the lever must first be moved before it can be rotated. This prevents the lever from spinning freely before it engages with the mating connector. Furthermore, the translational movement can be locked by the initial locking mechanism. This locking mechanism can be released, in particular, by mating it with the mating connector. Thus, incorrect operation can be more reliably suppressed.

[0007] The invention can be further improved by the following embodiments, each of which is advantageous in itself and can be combined with each other as desired.

[0008] Preferably, the displacement start locking structure has a housing-side engagement section that is provided on an elastic arm section of the connector housing.

[0009] Thus, the initial displacement locking structure can be easily solved by elastic deformation of the elastic arm section. The elastic arm section can be deformed, in particular, by contact with the mating connector. This contact with the mating connector can occur at a contact point on the elastic arm section.

[0010] Preferably, the housing-side engagement section is positioned differently in the mating direction and / or in a direction intersecting the mating direction from the contact section of the elastic arm section with the mating connector. In other words, the housing-side engagement section and the contact section with the mating connector are located in different positions.

[0011] This ensures that the mating connector can be reliably paired with the connector housing, as the housing-side engagement section does not obstruct the mating connector.

[0012] According to another aspect, the connector housing arrangement also includes: a displacement end-lock structure designed to define the initial rotation position.

[0013] This allows a clear starting position for rotation, particularly a position after displacement, to be predefined, and further displacement can be locked. In other words, the lever can be operated purely rotationally from the starting position. This simplifies operation.

[0014] According to yet another aspect, the lever can be slidable during the displacement movement along an axis-forming section that forms the axis of the pivoting movement.

[0015] Thus, the translational movement of the lever can be guided, at least partially, by the axis formation section. At the same time, the number of components can be reduced.

[0016] According to yet another aspect, the connector housing arrangement can further include a rotary guide structure designed to guide the rotary movement of the lever.

[0017] According to this aspect, a pure rotational movement can be achieved, since translational movement can be prevented by the rotary guidance structure.

[0018] Preferably, the rotary guidance structure comprises a sliding track along which a peripheral section of the lever can slide.

[0019] Thus, the lever can be guided in a simple manner. In particular, no guide track is required. Instead, the outer periphery of the lever can be used for guidance.

[0020] According to yet another aspect, the connector housing arrangement may also include a rotation lock structure designed to lock a rotational movement before reaching the initial rotation position.

[0021] Thus, a purely translational displacement of the lever can initially be reliably achieved.

[0022] Preferably, the rotation lock structure is provided at two different positions in the circumferential direction around the pivot axis.

[0023] This allows for better load distribution when attempting to rotate.

[0024] Preferably, at least part of the rotary guidance structure connects to at least part of the turnstile structure.

[0025] This allows for a particularly simple configuration. The rotary guide structure and the rotary lock structure can thus be formed by a connector housing section, where they can be continuous surfaces of the connector housing section.

[0026] According to yet another aspect, the maximum lever arm length of the lever in the initial rotation position can be greater than in the starting position.

[0027] This makes the mating with the mating connector more efficient, as the force required by an operator is reduced due to the leverage effect.

[0028] Preferably, the lever has an eccentric control section that can engage with the mating connector.

[0029] The eccentric control section can engage with a mating section of the mating connector, thereby controlling the relative feed rate between the connector housing and the mating connector in the mating direction with respect to the lever's rotation angle. Thus, the force applied by the operator to the lever can be used to transfer it to the mating connector via the eccentric control section. In this way, the lever can be used to assist the mating process.

[0030] Preferably, the eccentric control section is designed in a tooth-like shape.

[0031] A tooth-like eccentric control section can enable a uniform mating with the mating connector. Furthermore, a toothed connection can be easily formed, making the configuration compact.

[0032] According to yet another aspect, the connector housing arrangement may also include a retaining structure designed to hold the lever in the initial rotation position.

[0033] This prevents unwanted rotation in the initial position. The locking mechanism is only released and the rotation initiated when a predetermined force is applied.

[0034] According to yet another aspect, the lever and / or the connector housing may be injection molded.

[0035] This simplifies the manufacturing of the lever and / or the connector housing. Furthermore, the structures mentioned above can be easily achieved. A thermoplastic material can be used.

[0036] According to yet another aspect, the connector housing may have a guide section designed to guide the mating connector parallel to the mating direction.

[0037] Thus, even when the lever is rotated, a translational movement of the counterpart connector can be reliably achieved.

[0038] Another aspect provides for a connector that includes the connector housing arrangement according to at least one of the preceding aspects.

[0039] This allows for the provision of a connector with increased operational reliability.

[0040] Depending on the application, the connector can have electrical, optical or opto-electrical contact elements which are connected to correspondingly complementary mating contacts of the mating connector.

[0041] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show exemplary embodiments whose various features can be combined arbitrarily as described above. In particular, individual features can be added to the described embodiments as explained above if the effect of these features is necessary for a specific application. Conversely, individual features can be omitted from the described embodiments if the technical effect of these features is not important in a particular application. In the drawings, similar, identical, and functionally equivalent elements are provided with identical reference numerals where appropriate. Fig. Figure 1 shows a connector housing arrangement in an external view in a starting position of the lever; Fig. Figure 2 shows the connector housing arrangement in a starting position of the lever rotation; Fig. Figure 3 shows the connector housing arrangement in a twisted position of the lever; Fig. Figure 4 shows the connector housing arrangement in a rotary end position of the lever; Fig. Figure 5 shows an enlarged view of part of the connector housing assembly in its initial position; Fig. Figure 6 shows an inside view of the connector housing arrangement in the initial position; Fig. Figure 7 shows an internal view of the connector housing assembly in the initial rotation position; and Fig. Figure 8 shows an inside view of the connector housing arrangement in the twisted position of the lever.

[0042] The Fig. Figures 1 to 4 show a connector housing assembly 1 in its initial position, initial rotation position, rotated position, and final position in that order. The connector housing assembly 1 comprises the components connector housing 10 and lever 20.

[0043] The connector housing arrangement 1 can be used, for example, in a connector for high-voltage applications. The connector has at least one electrical connection which is housed inside the connector housing 10.

[0044] The connector housing 10 thus has a housing function. It has an essentially parallelepiped shape. It has two wall sections 11, which are opposite side wall sections, with at least one connection between them, and which are opposite each other in a transverse direction. The transverse direction runs perpendicular to a mating direction A, shown in Fig. 1 to 4. The pairing direction A runs parallel to a longitudinal direction of the electrical connection.

[0045] Each side wall section 11 has an axis-forming section 12 that defines a pivot axis 13 at its midpoint. The axis-forming section 12 projects from an outer surface of the side wall section 11 and serves as a support section for the lever 20.

[0046] The connector housing section 10 further comprises an elastic arm section 14, which is designed to be self-supporting and is set off from the rest of the side wall section 11. As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 5, the arm section 14 has a projecting section 14a that extends towards the pivot axis on an arm section facing away from a mating connector 30 in the mating direction A. The elastic arm section 14 also has a contact section 14b with the mating connector 30. In this case, this contact section is formed on the inside of the arm section 14 by two projections, as shown in Figure 5. Fig. 7 can be seen. The projection section 14a is located in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction A and in the transverse direction closer to the pivot axis 13 than the contact section 14b, and in mating direction A further on the side of the connector housing 10.

[0047] As in Fig. 5 and Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the connector housing section 10 has housing-side turnstile sections 15, one of which is located on an outside and the other on an inside of the side wall section 11. The turnstile sections 15 are essentially oriented circumferentially (here perpendicular to the mating direction A and the pivot axis). That is, they have contact surfaces that point circumferentially. The turnstile sections 15 are provided at two positions circumferentially, in particular axially symmetrical to the pivot axis 13.

[0048] Furthermore, the connector housing 10 has housing-side rotary guide sections 16, each of which is also provided on different sides in the transverse direction of the side wall section 11. These are designed as a sliding track that extends essentially in the circumferential direction. It should be noted that two rotary guide sections 16 are also preferably provided in the circumferential direction, axially symmetrical to the pivot axis 13. The rotary locking sections 15 and rotary guide sections 16 are each formed by a connector housing section. Thus, their surfaces are continuous with respect to each other, and they share at least one coupling section.

[0049] Furthermore, as in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 7, a retaining projection 17 is provided on the side wall section 11. This projects in the direction perpendicular to the mating direction and transverse direction, and is located further away from the pivot axis 13 in said direction than the projection section 14a and the contact section 14b. In the mating direction, it is located further on the side of the connector housing 10.

[0050] Although not shown, lever 20 has an overall U-shape with two legs opposite each other in the transverse direction and a connecting section in the transverse direction.

[0051] Each leg has a lever bearing section 21 at an end section opposite the connecting section. The lever bearing section 21 is an elongated hole that has essentially the same diameter in the width direction as the axle-forming section 12 and is longer in the length direction.

[0052] Viewed in the transverse direction (along the pivot axis 13), the end section is predominantly circular and transitions into an extension section that extends to the connecting section.

[0053] The end section has an eccentric control section 22 at the periphery of the circular section. It is tooth-like and comprises two teeth 22a, 22b along the circumferential direction.

[0054] Furthermore, a locking projection 24a is provided on an outside of the lever 20, which projects away from the pivot axis.

[0055] In the transverse direction, a lever-side turnstile section 25 is formed projecting on both an outer and an inner side. The two turnstile sections 25 thus formed are essentially oriented circumferentially (here perpendicular to the mating direction A and the pivot axis). That is, they have contact surfaces that point circumferentially. The turnstile sections 25 are provided at two positions circumferentially, in particular axially symmetrical to the pivot axis 13.

[0056] Each lever-side rotary locking section 25 is connected to a lever-side rotary guide section 26. The rotary guide sections are also provided at two positions in the circumferential direction and correspond at their peripheral, which extends in the circumferential direction, to the housing-side rotary guide sections 16.

[0057] Furthermore, as in Fig. Figure 7 shows a lever-side retaining projection 27 projecting onto an inner side of the lever 20. In the direction perpendicular to the mating direction A and in the transverse direction, it is located further away from the pivot axis 13 than the locking projection 24a, the rotary locking sections 25 and the rotary guide sections 26.

[0058] The counterpart connector 30 is used in Fig. 1 to 4 move relative to the connector housing 10 in the mating direction A. It has an arm 31 pointing in the mating direction. On its end section on the side of the connector housing, teeth 32a, 32b are provided on one side facing the pivot axis 13, which are spaced apart in the mating direction A.

[0059] Functions and effects will now be described.

[0060] Furthermore, the connector housing assembly has a displacement initial locking structure 40. This comprises the projection section 14a and the locking projection 24a, which are opposite each other in the mating direction (in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole), and thus prevent the lever 20 from being displaced along the elongated hole to the side of the connector housing (upwards in the figures) in the initial position. Fig. 1. Prevent.

[0061] Only when the arm 31 of the mating connector 31 comes into contact with the contact section 14b of the elastic arm section 14 is the elastic arm section 14 bent outwards and the initial displacement locking structure 40 is released. The tooth 32a can then come into contact with the lever 20 to perform the displacement. Thus, the connector housing arrangement can be designed such that the mating connector 30 performs the displacement movement.

[0062] A turnstile structure 50 prevents the rotation of the lever 20 at least in its initial position, but here up to the starting position of rotation. It comprises the housing-side turnstile sections 15 and the lever-side turnstile sections 25, which are opposite each other in the circumferential direction and thus prevent rotation. It should be noted that in Fig. 5 a part of the side wall section 11 on which the turnstile structure 50 is formed, was cut out so that the turnstile structure 50 is exposed.

[0063] Thus, lever 20 can be moved upwards. A displacement end-lock structure defines the end of the displacement and therefore the position of lever 20 in the initial rotation position. Fig. 2. It comprises an end section of the elongated hole and the end section of the axis formation section 12, each on the side of the mating connector.

[0064] During the transition from the starting position to the rotation starting position, the rim of the elongated hole slides along the axis formation section by the path D in Fig. 5. Thus, the translational movement is guided. Simultaneously, the turnstile sections 15 and 25 also shift translationally relative to each other by a distance D. This releases the turnstile structure 50. The shift increases the maximum lever length (distance from pivot axis 13 to the connecting section of lever 20).

[0065] In the initial rotation position, the retaining projection 17 is located opposite the lever-side retaining projection 27 in the mating direction A, at a position spaced from the pivot axis 13, thus initially preventing rotation. This forms a retaining structure 60 with respect to the rotation position. Since the retaining projections 17 and 27 have corresponding sections inclined in the mating direction A, they can slide onto each other, initiating the rotation.

[0066] In Fig. 3. The lever 20 can then be rotated / pivoted by an operator to pair with the mating connector 30. A rotary guide structure 70 comprises the rotary guide sections 16, 26, which connect circumferentially to an end section in the displacement direction of the turnstile sections 15, 25. Thus, the rotary movement can be guided. In this embodiment, the rotary guide structure 70 is at least partially formed by the turnstile structure 50.

[0067] The teeth 22a, 22b of the eccentric control section 22 engage with the teeth 32a, 32b and move the connector housing arrangement 10 in mating direction A relative to the mating connector 30.

[0068] It is advantageous if the connector housing 10 has a guide section that guides the mating connector 30 in the mating direction A.

[0069] In Fig.4. The lever 20 finally reaches its final rotational position. The lever 20 can be locked in the final rotational position on the connector housing 10 by means of a locking mechanism.

[0070] In this embodiment, the housing-side engagement section is the projection section 14a. However, it can also be designed as a recess. Reference sign 1 Connector housing arrangement 10 connector housings 11 Side wall section 12 Axis formation section 13. Axis of rotation 14 elastic arm section 14a Projection section (housing-side engagement section) 14b Contact section 15 housing-side turnstile section 16 housing-side rotary guide section 17 housing-side retaining projection 20 levers 21 Lever bearing section 22 eccentric control section 22a, b tooth 24a Locking projection 25 lever-side turnstile section 26 lever-side rotary guide section 27 lever-side retaining projection 30 mating connectors 31 Arm of the counterpart connector 32a, b Tooth of the mating connector 40 Displacement start lock structure 50 turnstile structure 60 Support structure 70 Rotary guide structure A mating direction D displacement path

Claims

[1] Connector housing assembly (1) comprising: a connector housing (10) for receiving at least one electrical connection; a lever (20) for pairing the connector housing with a mating connector (30) along a mating direction (A), wherein the lever (20) is pivotable and / or displaceable with respect to the connector housing (10) depending on its position; wherein the lever (20) is first movable from an initial position to a rotation start position before it can be pivoted, and the connector housing assembly (1) further comprises a displacement start locking structure (40) which is designed to lock a displacement from the initial position to the rotation start position and which is releasable upon mating of the connector housing (10) with the mating connector (30). [2] The connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the displacement start locking structure (40) includes a housing-side engaging portion (14a) provided on an elastic arm portion (14) of the connector housing (10). [3] The connector housing assembly (10) according to claim 2, wherein the housing-side engaging portion (14a) is provided at a different position in the mating direction (A) and / or a direction intersecting the mating direction (A) from a contact portion (14b) of the elastic arm portion (14) with the mating connector (14). [4] The connector housing assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a displacement end locking structure configured to define the rotation start position. [5] The connector housing assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lever (20) is slidable during the sliding movement along an axis forming portion (12) which forms the axis (13) of the pivoting movement. [6] The connector housing assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: a rotation guide structure (70) configured to guide the rotational movement of the lever (20). [7] The connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 6, wherein the rotation guide structure (70) comprises a slide track along which a peripheral portion of the lever (20) is slidable. [8] The connector housing assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: a rotation lock structure (50) configured to lock a rotational movement before reaching the rotation start position. [9] The connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 6 or 7 and 8, wherein at least a part of the rotation guide structure (70) adjoins at least a part of the rotation lock structure (50). [10] The connector housing assembly (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a maximum lever arm length of the lever (20) in the rotation start position is greater than in the initial position. [11] The connector housing assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the lever (20) has an eccentric control portion (22) engageable with the mating connector (30) for mating. [12] The connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 11, wherein the eccentric control portion (22) is tooth-like. [13] The connector housing assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising: a holding structure (60) configured to hold the lever (20) in the rotation start position. [14] The connector housing assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the connector housing (10) has a guide portion configured to guide the mating connector (30) parallel to the mating direction. [15] A connector comprising the connector housing assembly (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims.

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