Connectors and electric vehicles equipped with connectors

Abstract

To provide a connector having a shielding element that meets high environmental requirements and has high vibration resistance. [Solution] The connector comprises housings 100, 200 provided with a grounding groove for housing a grounding component, the grounding groove having a recess along the circumferential direction of the grounding groove, and a shield element partially attached to the housings 100, 200 and provided with grounding portions 410, 420, 430 extending from the housings 100, 200, the shield element having fingers provided along the circumferential direction of the grounding portions 410, 420, 430, the fingers being attached to the corresponding recess to fix the grounding portions 410, 420, 430 to the grounding component, and enabling the shield element to be firmly attached to the housings 100, 200.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross-reference to Related Applications This application claims priority to Chinese Application No. 202423168675.5, titled "Connector and Electric Vehicle Comprising the Same", filed on December 20, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This application relates to a connector and an electric vehicle comprising the connector.

Background Art

[0003] A connector is a device for connecting two active devices to transmit current or signals. The connector can simplify the assembly process of electronic products and further simplify the mass production process of electronic products. The connector is easy to repair, and even if an electronic component fails, when the connector is attached, the failed component can be quickly replaced. With the progress of technology, the electronic components of electronic products with connectors can be updated, and old electronic components are replaced with new and better-performing electronic components, which is convenient for performance improvement. The connector can improve the flexibility of product design when designing and integrating new products and when forming a system using electronic components. Therefore, connectors are widely used in transportation, medical, aerospace, military, household appliances, and other fields.

[0004] The basic characteristics of a connector can be classified into three broad categories: mechanical characteristics, electrical characteristics, and environmental characteristics.

[0005] Insertion and extraction force and mechanical life are important mechanical characteristics. The insertion and extraction force and mechanical life of a connector are related to the structure of the contact parts (the magnitude of the standard pressure), the coating quality of the contact part (the coefficient of sliding friction), and the dimensional accuracy of the arrangement of the contact parts (alignment accuracy).

[0006] The main electrical characteristics of a connector include contact resistance, insulation resistance, and dielectric strength. High-quality electrical connectors should have low and stable contact resistance, which varies from a few milliohms to tens of milliohms. Insulation resistance is an indicator for measuring the insulation performance between contact components and between contact components and the housing of the electrical connector, and its magnitude varies from several hundred megaohms to several thousand megaohms. Dielectric strength represents the ability to withstand the rated test voltage between contact components or between contact components and the housing of the connector.

[0007] Environmental characteristics include temperature resistance, humidity resistance, salt spray resistance, vibration resistance, and shock resistance.

[0008] Connector technology development is characterized by features such as faster and digital signal transmission, integration of various signal transmission types, miniaturization of product volume, lower product costs, modular combinations, and ease of insertion and removal.

[0009] In conventional technology, the shielding element of a connector is designed as a type of discharge contact, the plating layer of the connector is generally tin, and the metal housing of the connector is an aluminum alloy. This contact design has relatively low resistance to environmental influences and vibrations, and as a result, the shielding element is easily displaced by external forces, cannot meet high environmental requirements, and cannot have high vibration resistance. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide a connector that has a shielding element that meets high environmental requirements and has high vibration resistance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] This application aims to solve at least one of the above-mentioned problems.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present application, a connector is provided, comprising: a housing having a grounding groove for housing a grounding component, wherein the grounding groove has a recess provided along the circumferential direction of the grounding groove; and a shielding element partially attached to the housing and having a grounding portion extending from the housing, wherein the grounding portion has fingers provided along the circumferential direction of the grounding portion, the fingers being attached to the corresponding recess to fix the grounding portion to the grounding component.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present application, the grounding groove includes a first grounding groove, the housing includes a first housing having two housing channels extending in a first direction for accommodating terminals, the first grounding groove is provided in a portion of the first housing connected between the two housing channels at the rear end of the first housing along the first direction.

[0014] According to one aspect of this application, the grounding groove further includes a second grounding groove and a third grounding groove, and the housing further includes a second housing connected to the first housing at the rear end of the first housing, the second grounding groove and the third grounding groove are provided on both sides of the second housing, respectively, along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0015] According to one aspect of this application, each of the housing channels is provided with an elastic arm extending from the upper wall of the housing channel toward a second housing in a first direction, and the elastic arm is provided with a projection.

[0016] According to one aspect of the present application, the shield element includes a first mounting portion comprising a first upper wall covered by a second housing and having a first through-hole, and two first side walls extending from the first upper wall and facing each other, and a second mounting portion comprising a second upper wall covered by a second housing and having a second through-hole, and two second side walls extending from the second upper wall and facing each other, wherein the projection is configured to fit into the first through-hole and the second through-hole, respectively.

[0017] According to one aspect of the present application, the grounding portion includes a first grounding portion, a second grounding portion, and a third grounding portion, wherein the shielding element is a first arm connected between a first side wall and a second side wall facing each other along a second direction, the first grounding portion includes a first arm provided on the first arm so as to be aligned with a first grounding groove, and a second arm extending from the other of the two first side walls away from a second mounting portion, the second grounding portion includes a second arm provided at the end of the second arm so as to be aligned with a second grounding groove, and a third arm extending from the other of the two second side walls away from the first mounting portion, the third grounding portion includes a third arm provided at the end of the third arm so as to be aligned with a third grounding groove.

[0018] According to one aspect of this application, a portion of the second housing covering the second mounting portion is provided with a protruding rib extending in a second direction, a portion of the third arm extending in the second direction is provided with a first projection spaced apart from the third grounding portion, the first projection being configured to abut against the end of the protruding rib, and a portion of the second arm extending in the first direction is provided with a second projection spaced apart from the second grounding portion.

[0019] According to one aspect of this application, the grounding portion is configured as an annular through-hole, and the grounding component is configured as a cylindrical sleeve, and therefore the grounding portion is fixed to the grounding component by a screw.

[0020] According to one aspect of this application, the connector further comprises a printed circuit board located below the housing, the printed circuit board having a mounting groove configured to be aligned with a grounding groove and to partially secure a grounding component to the printed circuit board.

[0021] According to another aspect of this application, an electric vehicle is provided that includes a connector according to any of the above embodiments.

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate the present application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present application and to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the embodiments described herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing individual shield elements of the connector shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view showing an individual first housing of the connector shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view showing an individual second housing of the connector shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view of a part of the second housing shown in FIG. 4, viewed from another angle, showing the protruding ribs and protrusions. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view showing shield elements and grounding components assembled together for the connector shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 7] It is an exploded view of FIG. 6 showing the upper part of the grounding component.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] The features of the present application will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below in conjunction with the drawings, and like reference numerals always denote corresponding elements. In the drawings, like reference numerals generally denote identical, functionally similar, and / or structurally similar elements. Unless otherwise noted, the drawings provided throughout this application are not to be construed as drawn to scale.

[0025] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present application more clear, the present application will be described in more detail below with reference to specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0026] However, it should be understood that these descriptions are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. In the detailed description below, numerous specific details are provided for illustrative purposes to provide a complete understanding of the embodiments of this application. However, it may be evident that one or more embodiments can be carried out without these specific details. In addition, descriptions of well-known structures and technologies are omitted in the following description to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the concepts of this application.

[0027] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application. Terms such as “equipment” and “includes” as used herein indicate the presence of features, steps, actions, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, actions, or components.

[0028] When expressions such as "at least one of A, B, and C" are used, they should generally be interpreted according to the meaning of the expression as commonly understood by those skilled in the art (for example, "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" should be interpreted as including, but not limited to, a system having only A, a system having only B, a system having only C, a system having A and B, a system having A and C, a system having B and C, and / or a system having A, B, and C).

[0029] All terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the meanings generally understood by those skilled in the art unless otherwise defined. It should be noted that terms used herein should be interpreted in a manner consistent with the context herein and not in an idealized or overly rigorous manner.

[0030] This application discloses a connector 1000 and an electric vehicle (not shown) equipped with the connector 1000.

[0031] Referring to Figures 1 to 7, the connector 1000 comprises housings 100 and 200 and a shielding element 400. Housings 100 and 200 are provided with grounding grooves 110, 210, and 220 for accommodating grounding components 300, and recesses 111, 211, and 221 are provided in the grounding grooves 110, 210, and 220 along the circumferential direction of the grounding grooves 110, 210, and 220. Shield elements 400 are partially attached to housings 100 and 200, and grounding portions 410, 420, and 430 are provided on the grounding portions 410, 420, and 430 along the circumferential direction of the grounding portions 410, 420, and 430. The fingers 411, 421, and 431 are attached to the corresponding recesses 111, 211, and 221, respectively, to secure the grounding portions 410, 420, and 430 to the grounding component 300 (see Figure 6), thereby enabling the shielding element 400 to be firmly attached to the housings 100 and 200. In this way, the shield element 400 is not easily displaced by external forces, thereby meeting the high environmental requirements of the shield element 400 and providing it with high vibration resistance.

[0032] Referring to Figure 3, the grounding grooves 110, 210, and 220 include the first grounding groove 110. The housings 100 and 200 include the first housing 100. The first housing 100 is provided with two housing channels 120 extending in a first direction D1 for accommodating terminals (not shown). The first grounding groove 110 is provided in the portion of the first housing 100 connected between the two housing channels 120 at the rear end 130 of the first housing 100 along the first direction D1.

[0033] Referring to Figure 4, the ground grooves 110, 210, and 220 further include a second ground groove 210 and a third ground groove 220. The housings 100 and 200 further include a second housing 200. The second housing 200 is connected to the first housing 100 at its rear end 130. The second ground groove 210 and the third ground groove 220 are provided on both sides of the second housing 200, respectively, along a second direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1.

[0034] Referring to Figures 1 and 3, each of the two housing channels 120 is provided with an elastic arm 122 extending from the upper wall 121 of the housing channel 120 toward the second housing 200 along a first direction D1, and a projection 1221 is provided on the elastic arm 122.

[0035] Referring to Figure 2, the shield element 400 includes a first mounting portion 440 and a second mounting portion 450. The first mounting portion 440 includes a first upper wall 441 covered by the second housing 200 and having a first through hole 4411, and two first side walls 442 extending from the first upper wall 441 and facing each other. The second mounting portion 450 includes a second upper wall 451 covered by the second housing 200 and having a second through hole 4511, and two second side walls 452 extending from the second upper wall 451 and facing each other. The projection 1221 is fitted into the first through hole 4411 and the second through hole 4511, respectively, to attach the shield element 400 to the first housing 100.

[0036] Referring to Figures 2, 6, and 7, the grounding portions 410, 420, and 430 include a first grounding portion 410, a second grounding portion 420, and a third grounding portion 430. As previously mentioned, the first grounding portion 410 is provided with a first finger 411 along the circumferential direction of the first grounding portion 410, and the first finger 411 is configured to be attached to the corresponding first recess 111. The second grounding portion 420 is provided with a second finger 421 along the circumferential direction of the second grounding portion 420, and the second finger 421 is configured to be attached to the corresponding second recess 211. The third grounding portion 430 is provided with a third finger 431 along the circumferential direction of the third grounding portion 430, and the third finger 431 is configured to be attached to the corresponding third recess 221.

[0037] The shield element 400 also includes a first arm 460, a second arm 470, and a third arm 480. The first arm 460 is connected between one of two first side walls 442 and a second side wall 452 that are opposite each other along a second direction D2, and a first grounding portion 410 is provided on the first arm 460 so as to be aligned with a first grounding groove 110. The second arm 470 extends from the other of the two first side walls 442 away from a second mounting portion 450, and a second grounding portion 420 is provided at the end of the second arm 470 so as to be aligned with a second grounding groove 210. The third arm 480 extends from the other of the two second side walls 452 away from the first mounting portion 440, and the third grounding portion 430 is provided at the end of the third arm 480 so as to be aligned with the third grounding groove 220.

[0038] A protruding rib 230 (see Figure 5) extending along the second direction D2 is provided on the portion of the second housing 200 that covers the second mounting portion 450. A first protrusion 481 is provided on the portion of the third arm 480 that extends along the second direction D2, spaced apart from the third grounding portion 430. The first protrusion 481 is configured to abut against the end of the protruding rib 230 (see Figure 5) to further secure the shield element 400 to the second housing 200. A second protrusion 471 is provided on the portion of the second arm 470 that extends along the first direction D1, spaced apart from the second grounding portion 420 (see Figures 2, 6, and 7).

[0039] Referring to Figures 1, 2, 6, and 7, the grounding portions 410, 420, and 430 are configured as annular through-holes, and the grounding component 300 is configured as a cylindrical sleeve that coincides with the annular through-holes in shape, so that the grounding portions 410, 420, and 430 can be fixed to the grounding component 300 by screws 600. The arrangement of the first projection 481 and the second projection 471 reduces or weakens the torque force applied to the entire shield element 400 when the screws 600 apply torque, thereby reducing deformation of the shield element 400.

[0040] Referring to Figure 1, the connector 1000 further comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) 500. The PCB 500 is located beneath the housings 100 and 200, and the PCB 500 is provided with mounting grooves (not shown) configured to be aligned with ground grooves 110, 210, and 220 to partially secure the grounding components 300 to the PCB 500.

[0041] The embodiments of this application have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that all embodiments not shown in the drawings or described in the text of the specification are known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail. Furthermore, the above definitions of each component are not limited to the various specific structures, shapes, or forms described in the embodiments, and those skilled in the art can easily make simple modifications or substitutions.

[0042] It should also be noted that in certain embodiments of this application, the numerical parameters in this specification and the appended claims are approximations and, unless otherwise specified, may be modified in accordance with the desired features obtained by the subject matter of this application. In detail, all figures representing dimensions, ranges, etc., used in this specification and the claims should be understood in all cases to be modified by the term “approximately”. Generally, the meaning of the expressed figures is intended to include variations of ±10% from a given quantity in some embodiments, ±5% from a given quantity in some embodiments, ±1% from a given quantity in some embodiments, and ±0.5% from a given quantity in some embodiments.

[0043] Those skilled in the art will understand that various combinations and / or sets of features described in the various embodiments and / or claims of this application can be made even if such combinations and / or sets are not expressly described in this application. In particular, various combinations and / or sets of features described in the various embodiments and / or claims of this application can be made without departing from the spirit and teachings of this application. All such combinations and / or sets are included in the scope of this application.

[0044] The specific embodiments described above provide a further detailed explanation of the object, technical solution, and beneficial effects of this application. It should be understood that the above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit it. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. - A housing provided with a grounding groove for housing a grounding component, wherein a recess is provided in the grounding groove along the circumferential direction of the grounding groove, - A shield element that is partially attached to the housing and has a grounding portion extending from the housing, wherein the grounding portion has fingers provided along the circumferential direction of the grounding portion. Equipped with, A connector characterized in that the fingers are mounted in corresponding recesses and configured to fix the grounding portion to the grounding component.

2. The grounding groove includes a first grounding groove, The housing includes a first housing having two housing channels extending in a first direction for accommodating terminals, The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the first grounding groove is provided in the portion of the first housing connected between the two housing channels at the rear end of the first housing along the first direction.

3. The grounding groove further includes a second grounding groove and a third grounding groove, The housing further includes a second housing connected to the first housing at the rear end of the first housing, The connector according to claim 2, characterized in that the second grounding groove and the third grounding groove are provided on both sides of the second housing along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

4. The connector according to claim 3, characterized in that each of the housing channels is provided with an elastic arm extending from the upper wall of the housing channel toward the second housing in the first direction, and a projection is provided on the elastic arm.

5. The aforementioned shield element is A first mounting portion comprising a first upper wall covered by the second housing and having a first through hole, and two first side walls extending from the first upper wall and facing each other, A second upper wall covered by the second housing and having a second through hole, and a second mounting portion extending from the second upper wall and including two second side walls facing each other. Includes, The connector according to claim 4, characterized in that the projection is configured to fit into the first through hole and the second through hole, respectively.

6. The grounding portion includes a first grounding portion, a second grounding portion, and a third grounding portion. The connector according to claim 5, further comprising: a first arm connected between the first and second side walls facing each other along the second direction, wherein the first grounding portion is provided on the first arm so as to be aligned with the first grounding groove; a second arm extending away from the second mounting portion from the other of the two first side walls, wherein the second grounding portion is provided at the end of the second arm so as to be aligned with the second grounding groove; and a third arm extending away from the first mounting portion from the other of the two second side walls, wherein the third grounding portion is provided at the end of the third arm so as to be aligned with the third grounding groove.

7. The portion of the second housing that covers the second mounting portion is provided with a protruding rib that extends along the second direction, A first projection is provided on the portion of the third arm extending along the second direction, spaced apart from the third ground contact portion, and the first projection is configured to abut against the end of the protruding rib. The connector according to claim 6, characterized in that a second projection is provided on the portion of the second arm extending along the first direction, spaced apart from the second grounding portion.

8. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the grounding portion is configured as an annular through-hole, the grounding component is configured as a cylindrical sleeve, and therefore the grounding portion is fixed to the grounding component by a screw.

9. The connector according to claim 8, further comprising a printed circuit board located below the housing, wherein the printed circuit board is provided with a mounting groove configured to be aligned with the grounding groove and to partially fix the grounding component to the printed circuit board.

10. An electric vehicle characterized by comprising the connector described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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