• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
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    • 专利摘要:
    The present invention relates to a lock assurance device (100) for an electrical connector system (500) comprising two homologous connector housings (200, 400), the device (100) comprising at least one spring and being configured to be movably accommodated in the first housing (200) such that movement of the device (100) from a delivery position causes a load of the at least one spring opposing the insertion of the housings (200, 400) as long as the electrical connector system (500) is not in a lock state and the device (100) is not returned to its delivery position. The device (100) is further configured such that, in the locked state, a movement of the device (100) from the delivery position causes a load of the at least one locking spring allowing unlocking of the housings (200, 400).
    公开号:FR3048310A1
    申请号:FR1651634
    申请日:2016-02-26
    公开日:2017-09-01
    发明作者:Marc Sebaouni；Steven Lord；De Villeroche Francois Jodon；Xavier Rouillard
    申请人:Tyco Electronics France SAS；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    LOCKOUT ASSURANCE DEVICE AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR SYSTEM
    The present invention relates to the field of automotive electrical connection. In particular, it relates to a lockout insurance device for an electrical connector system comprising two homologous connector housings, in particular to a spring-loaded locking device, as well as to such an electrical connector system.
    The repetitive high intensity vibrations and / or shocks to which the various elements of electrical connection can be subjected in motor vehicles, typically electrical connector systems comprising a clip holder with one or more electrical contacts and a homologous tab holder comprising a or several electrical contact tabs, may lead to a separation between the clip holder and the tongues holder, and therefore to a bad electrical contact, or even an interruption of the electrical contact.
    To overcome this problem, it is known conventionally to use tongue holders similar to the tongue holder 400 shown in FIG. 4A-4B, comprising at least one locking lug such as the locking pin 402, allowing, with a locking lance adapted to the homologous clip holder, to lock the electrical connector system when the clip holder and the tab holder 400 are in a fully coupled state, i.e. fully inserted into one another and that the physical and electrical contacts are suitably provided. As illustrated in FIG. 4A-4B, such a locking lug 402 is generally in the form of a projection of the tongue holder 400, a surface 406 of which, substantially perpendicular to the direction of the coupling movement, serves as a stop for the head of the tongue. locking lance of the clip carrier in the fully coupled state for effecting said locking in the coupled state of the connector system by preventing movement contrary to the insertion movement.
    Referring always to FIGs. 4A-4B for the sake of clarity, in order to prevent the connector systems from being incorrectly mounted, that is to say that the clip holders and tongue holders 400 are poorly coupled, it is known, as a first step, to prevent the locking by providing a stop on a thrust surface provided at the end of a lance of a locking device of the clip holder on the edges 404 of the opening 403 of the tong holder 400 in which are located the electrical contact tabs and which faces the clip holder during a coupling movement. Thus, if the force exerted on the clip holder and / or the tab holder 400 is not sufficient during the coupling movement, the pushing surface of the locking device of the clip holder remains in abutment against the edges 404 of the tongue holder 400, preventing locking.
    On the other hand, if the force exerted on the clip holder and / or the tongue holder 400 during the coupling movement is sufficient, the lance of the locking device of the locking device of the clip holder ending in the pushing surface is deflected relative to the edges 404 of the opening of the tongue holder 400. Conventionally, it is also known that the locking pin 402 of the tongue holder 400 has a rib 405 sloping, essentially in the direction of the movement of the tongue. coupling, then allowing deflection and guiding the lance of the locking device of the clip holder so that it passes over the locking pin 402, allowing then to continue the coupling movement until in the correctly coupled state of the connector system, in which the latch of the lock insurance device is then passed off the locking pin 402, has fallen back into its position. the non-deflected osition is then abutting against the locking pin 402, in particular the corresponding abutment or locking surface 406 of the locking pin 402, thereby effecting said locking of the connector system, preventing a counter-movement to the coupling movement.
    It is furthermore known from the state of the art to use a spring lock insurance device comprising a locking lance and at least one spring, the locking protection device being configured to be arranged in a movable manner. , in particular by sliding, in the clip holder. Conventionally, such a lock insurance device is arranged such that said spring is relaxed when the clip holder and the tab holder are in the unmated state, and compressed or "loaded" when are in a partially mated state. In these systems, the compression of the spring opposes the coupling movement, so that if the force exerted on the clip holder and / or the tongue holder during the mating movement is not sufficient to pass in addition to the stop between the locking lance and the edges of the tongue holder, the spring then automatically pushes the clip holder relative to the tong holder in a movement contrary to the coupling movement. An assembly of the incorrectly or partially coupled connector is thus prevented. On the other hand, if the force exerted on the clip holder and / or the tongue holder during the coupling movement is sufficient, the locking lance can then be deviated with respect to the edges of the tongue holder, and then deflected and guided by the rib to override the locking pin and then perform locking as described above. In the state of locking of the electrical connector system, inadvertent disconnection and / or involuntary due to shocks or vibrations of the environment is then in principle no longer possible. Only a voluntary manual disconnection by an operator is possible.
    These systems nevertheless have the disadvantage that, once the system in the lock state, during a manual disconnection operation thus requiring the unlocking of the system, for example for maintenance reasons, the locking lance of the device of Locking insurance limits the strength of retention and may break. In fact, for a manual disconnection, it is necessary to deflect the locking lance manually and maintain it, always manually, in a deflected state in order to be able to disconnect the tongue holder plugged into the clip holder, resulting in a risk of breakage. if the operator is putting too much pressure on the locking lance. This operation is also inconvenient because of the size of the connectors and the arrangement of the locking lance.
    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system which not only improves the locking of an electrical connector system comprising a lock-off clip holder and a matching tab holder, but also facilitates the unlocking operation of the system.
    According to one aspect of the present invention, the object is achieved by a lock assurance device for use in an electrical connector system comprising a first connector housing configured for plugging with a second lockable mating connector housing. therewith, wherein the lock-out insurance device comprises at least one spring and is configured to be movably housed in the first housing such that a movement of the lock-off device in the first housing from a delivery position causes a load of said at least one spring. The lockout insurance device is further configured such that, upon a plugging action of the second housing into the first housing, the lock insurance device is moved from the delivery position by the second housing such that charging said at least one spring opposes plugging as long as the electrical connector system is not in a locked state in which the second housing is locked with the first housing, and the lock insurance device is not returned to the delivery position. According to this aspect of the invention, the lock insurance device is further configured such that, in the lock state, a movement of the lock insurance device from the delivery position causes a load. said at least one spring allowing unlocking of the first and second housings.
    In an electrical connector system with a spring lock insurance device, it is therefore possible to use a pressure of the second housing, for example a door-tongues, to push the movable locking device, in particular sliding , housed in the first housing, for example a clip holder, thus charging the spring or springs. In this way, the load of the spring or springs opposes the insertion of the second housing in the first housing so that if the user does not push enough the second housing in the first housing, the second housing is ejected automatically . In other words, the locking spring of the lock insurance device automatically ejects and prevents a bad physical and / or electrical connection of the electrical connector system.
    In a locked state, that is to say when the first and second connector housings are correctly plugged and locked together, and the lock insurance device is returned to its position and in particular its delivery state, thus ensuring the maintenance of the locking and the connection of the system, a manual pressure performed by an operator on the locking insurance device again causes a load of the spring or springs which helps, in the same movement, to unlock the first and second boxes. This unlocking is only possible if the locking insurance device is sufficiently pushed manually. Otherwise, the lock insurance device is returned to its delivery position due to the load of the one or more springs which again opposes pressure on the lock-out insurance device. A disconnection is prevented automatically if the user does not load enough or the springs to allow unlocking. If the user pushes the locking insurance device so as to sufficiently load the spring or springs, the unlocking can be authorized without the use of particular tools and without having to manually access the locking lance of the clip holder and / or locking device, thus preventing any breakage resulting from improper operation by the operator.
    According to variants of this aspect of the present invention, and in a nonlimiting manner:
    Preferably, the lock assurance device may further be configured to be movably, particularly slidably, accommodated in the first housing in a direction of insertion of a second housing into the first housing. It is therefore possible to arrange the lock insurance device so that the plugging of the second box into the first box in a predetermined plug direction charges said at least one spring of the lock lock assurance device. such that the relaxation of the spring or springs is also in the direction of insertion. The lock insurance device can therefore be advantageously configured so that the ejection of the second housing in the event of a bad connection is made in the most direct manner possible, namely in the direction of insertion.
    Advantageously, the load of said at least one spring allowing the transition to the locking state and / or the unlocking from the locking state can be a maximum relative load of said at least one spring. This configuration is preferable so that only a maximum relative load state of the spring or springs of the lock insurance device allows the transition to the lock state and / or allows unlocking. In other words, the lock insurance device can be advantageously configured so that, during a plug-in action, the second box is ejected automatically if the predetermined load of the spring is not reached. In addition, the lock insurance device can also be advantageously configured so that, during a manual unlocking by an operator, the unlocking is allowed only from the moment when the predetermined load of the spring is reached.
    Advantageously, the load of said at least one spring allowing the transition to the locking state can be essentially the same as the load allowing the unlocking. This configuration advantageously makes it possible to use the same predetermined load of the spring or springs in order to allow the locking of the second housing in the first housing, but also to allow the manual unlocking if necessary.
    Preferably, the lock insurance device may further comprise at least one thrust surface configured such that, during a plug-in action, a thrust exerted on it, in particular by the second casing, causes the load of said at least one spring opposing the plugging action. As mentioned above, the lock insurance device can be advantageously configured to allow direct interaction with the second housing. An alternative configuration with in particular two thrust surfaces has proved advantageous, but configurations with one, three or more thrust surfaces are also conceivable within the scope of the present invention.
    Advantageously, the locking insurance device may further comprise an unlocking thrust surface, in particular different from said at least thrust surface of the preceding variant, configured so that, in the locking state, a thrust on it causes the charging of said at least one spring allowing unlocking. In order to avoid an inadvertent disconnection, the locking protection device may be provided with a thrust surface specifically dedicated to unlocking. Such a surface can then be arranged preferably so as not to be able to come into contact with the second housing so that, starting from a locking state of the system, it is necessary to push this unlocking thrust surface manually to to cause the loading of the spring necessary to the authorization of the unlocking of the system.
    Advantageously, the lock insurance device may further comprise at least one guide surface, and the lock insurance device may be further configured such that when moving the lock insurance device from the delivery position, said at least one guide surface causes a displacement of a first locking element of the first housing allowing passage to the locking state and / or unlocking from the lock state. It is therefore possible to configure the lock insurance device such that a displacement thereof which causes the spring (s) to be loaded also causes, if necessary, a deflection of a locking element of the first housing, for example locking lance, so as to allow the passage of a corresponding locking element of the second housing in one direction or the other of the direction of insertion.
    According to another aspect of the present invention, the objective is also achieved by an electrical connector system comprising a lock-up device according to the preceding aspect, or any of its variants, and a first connector housing. configured for plugging with a second lockable counterpartable connector housing therein, wherein the lock assurance device is movably housed in the first housing, particularly slidably in a direction of insertion of the second housing in the first housing. The first housing includes a first movable locking member, particularly resiliently, from a delivery position in which, in a locked state, the first locking member is locked with a second locking member. a second homologous housing. According to this aspect, the electrical connector system is further configured so that a load of the at least one spring causes a displacement of the first locking element of the first housing allowing the transition to the locked state and / or the unlocking since the lock state.
    The system therefore retains all the advantages of the lock insurance device and its variants. In addition, according to variants of this other aspect of the present invention, and in a nonlimiting manner:
    In combination with a lock-off device comprising a thrust surface configured so that, during a plug-in action, a thrust exerted on it causes the load of the at least one spring opposing the plug-in action, the electrical connector system can be further configured such that, in the locking state, said at least one thrust surface is arranged such that a thrust on it does not not allowed, in particular by the second housing. It is therefore possible to configure the lock-off device with a judicious arrangement of the thrust surface on which the second casing abuts and exert pressure during the plug-in action, so that once the When the locking state is reached, the second housing can not advance further into the first housing so that further pushing of the interlock device is not allowed, thus avoiding inadvertent disconnection.
    Preferably, the lock insurance device may be further configured such that, in the locked state, the unlocking thrust surface is arranged out of range of the second housing. It is therefore possible to avoid inadvertent disconnection by appropriately arranging the unlocking thrust surface so that an interaction between it and the second housing is not possible. Thus, a manual intervention of an operator on the unlocking thrust surface is necessary to unlock the system.
    In general, by the various aspects described above, whether taken independently of each other or in combination with each other, the present invention makes it possible to improve the locking and, where appropriate, the insurance. locking between a clip holder and a tab holder of an electrical connector system with respect to known connectors of the state of the art. In addition, the present invention also improves the unlocking and disconnection of the locked system and in particular prevents the locking elements from being broken or twisted. The invention will be explained in more detail in the following by means of advantageous embodiments and with reference to the following accompanying figures, in which: FIGS. 1A-1B schematically illustrate an example of an embodiment of a lock assurance device according to one aspect of the present invention, in two three-dimensional views; FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a clip holder case in an example of an embodiment of a first case of an electrical connector system according to one aspect of the present invention, in a three-dimensional view; FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an assembled clip holder, in which the lock assurance device illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1B is housed in the housing shown in FIG. 2, in an exemplary embodiment of an electrical connector system according to one aspect of the present invention, in a three-dimensional view; FIGs. 4A-4B schematically illustrate an example of tongues holder, in two three-dimensional views; FIGs. 5A-5B schematically illustrate an exemplary embodiment of an electrical connector system comprising the lock assurance device housed in the assembled clip holder case as illustrated in FIG. 3 and the tongue holder illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4B, before coupling, in a three-dimensional view (FIG 5A) and in a sectional view (FIG 5B), according to one aspect of the present invention; FIGs. 6A-6D schematically illustrate successive steps of mating and locking the electrical connector system illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5B, in a non-coupled state (FIG.6A), in a partially coupled state (FIG.6B), in another partially coupled state (FIG.6C), and in a coupled and interlocked state (FIG. 6D); and FIGs. 7A-7C schematically illustrate successive steps of unlocking the electrical connector system from the lock state illustrated in FIG. 6D.
    In the following description, the same element shown in several figures may be designated by the same reference sign. The description of an element that has already been the subject of a figure may be omitted in the description of other figures, the reader can refer to the previous description for more details.
    FIGs. 1A-1B are three dimensional views illustrating an example of an embodiment of a lock assurance device 100 according to one aspect of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A shows the device 100 in a perspective view from above, and FIG. 1B shows the device 100 in a perspective view from below.
    Thus, as is apparent from FIGs. 1A-1B, the lock assurance device 100 comprises a body 101, configured and adapted to be housed in a housing adapted to a clip holder housing for an electrical connector system, connected to at least one lance, here the two lances 102, 103, intended in particular to ensure the locking of the electrical connector system comprising a clip holder and a tab holder coupled to one another. As illustrated in particular in FIG. 1A, in a delivery state the lances 102, 103 can extend substantially parallel to the body 101, but other configurations could be envisaged.
    The body 101 of the lock assurance device 100 may have a geometry which is preferably matched to that of a homologous housing on a clip holder housing in which the device 100 is intended to be movably accommodated, in particular sliding . In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1B, the body 101 comprises two arms 106, 107 of substantially tubular geometry, configured for insertion into a housing adapted to a clip holder. As shown in the view of FIG. 1A, each arm 106, 107 has a respective locking lug 108, 109 which is configured to lock the device 100 to a clip holder housing. It is however possible, in variants, to provide the device 100 with a single arm or with more than two arms. It is also possible, in certain variants, to have more than one lug on an arm allowing locking with a suitable clip holder. The bottom view of FIG. 1B further illustrates that each arm 106, 107 comprises a corresponding cavity 110, 111.
    According to this aspect of the invention, the lock insurance device 100 comprises at least one spring (not shown), in particular as many springs as arms 106, 107, housed in the respective cavity 110, 111 corresponding to achieve a spring lock function between a clip holder and a tab holder in an electrical connector system. Thus, the lock assurance device 100 of the example of an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1B could comprise a single spring housed in one of the two cavities 110 or 111, or comprise two, respectively housed in the cavity 110 and in the cavity 111. An example of a two-spring locking mechanism will be detailed in the following.
    FIG. 1A further illustrates that the body 101 may comprise at one end a head 105 forming an angle, for example "L" or "T", and having an end surface 112. As will be detailed further forward, the Surface 112 may be configured as an unlocking thrust surface for manual action by an operator. In addition, one end of each lance 102, 103 may have a respective end surface 113, 117 which may have a recess having another end surface 114, 118. In this embodiment, the respective surfaces 114, 119 of the two lances 102, 103 may be abutment surfaces configured to make a stop with the edges of the opening of a tongue holder during the coupling of the clip holder. and the tab holder, preventing the continuation of the coupling movement if the force exerted on the clip holder and / or the tab holder is not sufficient to compress the springs to a predetermined load allowing the continuation of the movement mating as it will be detailed in the following. In the presently illustrated embodiment, the lock assurance device 100 thus comprises at least one abutment or thrust surface 114, 119, and in particular two such surfaces. As mentioned above, it is nevertheless conceivable that the lock insurance device 100 comprises only such a surface (and therefore a single lance) or three or more such surfaces (and therefore as many respective lances). FIGs. 1A-1B further illustrate that each lance 102, 103 may further terminate substantially at "L" by a respective shoe-shaped lug 119, 120. As is apparent from FIG. 1B, the underside of the lock insurance device 100 may include an element 115 having an inclined surface 116 which, as will be detailed further forward, may be a guiding or unlocking surface. Thus, when coupling between a clip carrier and a tab holder, if the force exerted is sufficient for the clip holder and the tab holder to be in a coupled state, the at least one abutment surface 114 , 118 can prevent a movement contrary to the coupling by making a stop against the edges of the opening of the tongues holder. Other features and features of the lock assurance device 100, or more generally this aspect of the present invention and its various variants, will be explained later.
    FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view illustrating an example of an embodiment of a clip holder housing 200 of an electrical connector system according to one aspect of the present invention. In this example, the clip holder housing 200 includes a body 201 with an upper portion 202 adapted to house a lock assurance device, and a lower portion 203 adapted to house one or more electrical contacts. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, but without limitation, the upper portion 202 is adapted to house the lock assurance device 100 of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1B.
    Thus, as is apparent from FIG. 2, the upper portion 202 of the body 201 of the clip holder housing 200 comprises a housing 204, which is a recess of suitable geometry, in particular complementary to that of the lock assurance device 100. The housing 204 can then comprise two grooves 205, 206 on both sides, whose geometry is adapted, and is in particular complementary, to that of the arms 106, 107 of the locking insurance device 100, and which essentially realize grooves in which can be the arms 106, 107 are introduced in order to house the locking protection device 100 in the housing 204. The grooves 205, 206 may each further comprise an end wall 207, 208 making it possible to prevent the insurance device 100 housed in the housing 204 emerges from it by means of a stop lugs 108, 109 on said end walls 207, 208 during a movement contrary to the insertion of the device 100 in the housing 204. Thus, in the relaxed state of the springs (not shown), they allow to bring the lugs 108, 109 abutting against the end walls 207, 208.
    In addition, in the variant illustrated in FIG. 2, the housing 204 includes a locking lance 209 configured to lock the clip holder 200 with the locking pin of a homologous tab holder. As is also apparent from FIG. 2, the lance 209 includes a recess at its end forming an unlocking surface 210 on which the unlocking surface 116 of the locking insurance device 100 housed in the housing 204 is pushed when pressure is exerted thereon causing a load of springs. This aspect will also be illustrated further.
    FIG. 2 further illustrates that the lower portion 203 of the body 201 of the clip holder 200 comprises a housing 211 for housing one or more electrical contacts or more generally electrical contact boxes, as illustrated for example by the assembly 300 of the FIG . 3 and the exemplary embodiments detailed below. The housing 211 is also configured to accommodate a homologous tab holder, which, in a state fully coupled with the clip holder 200, can be depressed to the abutment wall 218 of the housing 211.
    FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view illustrating an example of an embodiment of an assembled clip carrier 300 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, wherein the lock assurance device 100 of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. FIG. 1A-1B is movably, particularly slidably, accommodated in the housing 204 of the clip holder housing 200 of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2. The reader is therefore referred to the previous description for more details on these two elements.
    As illustrated in FIG. 3, in this exemplary embodiment of an assembled clip carrier 300, the lock assurance device 100 is movably accommodated substantially translationally in the housing 204 of the upper portion 202 of the clip holder 200, such that so that the arms 106, 107 of the lance 100 are housed in a groove 205, 206 respectively. The lock insurance device 100 is illustrated here in the delivery position. The lugs 108, 109 are therefore essentially in abutment with the inside of the walls 207, 208, and the locking springs are in an expansion state or in a relative state of minimum compression (not visible in FIG. housed in the cavities 110, 111 of the arms 106, 107.
    In the three-dimensional view of FIG. 3, the assembled clip holder 300 is shown three quarter-sided. Thus, it is apparent that the lance 102 of the lock assurance device 100 has its end surfaces 113, 114 so as to face a homologous tab holder which would plug into the assembled clip holder 300 in a corresponding electrical connector system. The lance 103 is not or not very visible here, but it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that its end surfaces 117, 118 are arranged in a manner similar to that of the lance 102. In particular, the abutment surfaces or thrust surfaces 114, 118 which will initially abut against the edges of the opening of a homologous tongues holder is also visible in this view.
    FIG. 3 further illustrates that an electrical contact box 301 is housed in the housing 211 of the lower portion 203 of the body 201 of the clip holder housing 200, in particular by means of a seal 304. In this example of As a possible embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, and in a nonlimiting manner for the present invention, the electrical contact box 301 has two electrical contact terminals 302, 303 configured to receive counterpart electrical contact tabs. A tab holder homologous to the assembled clip holder 300. In alternative embodiments, the electrical contact box 301 could have only one electrical contact terminal. In other variants, the electrical contact box 301 could have more than two electrical contact terminals, for example three or more terminals. A homologous tab holder will therefore comprise as many electrical contact tabs as the electrical contact box 301 has electrical contact terminals 302, 303.
    FIGs. 4A-4B are three dimensional views illustrating an example of tab holder 400 for an electrical connector system as described above. FIG. 4A shows the tongue holder 400 in a "front" view, while FIG. 4B represents it in a "behind" view.
    As mentioned above, the tab holder 400 may be a conventional tab holder. It therefore comprises a substantially hollow longitudinal body 401, in which can be housed one or more electrical contact tabs (not shown). The back view of FIG. 4B illustrates in particular the case of a door-tongues comprising two orifices 407, 408 allowing the entry of cables or more generally of electrical conductors whose terminations are the electrical contact tabs. In this case, the tong holder 400 may thus have two electrical contact tabs which may be homologous to the electrical contact terminals 302, 303 of the assembled clip carrier 300 of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3.
    As is apparent in particular from FIG. 4A, the tong holder 400 also includes a port or opening 401. As will be apparent later, the housing 211 of the clip holder housing 200 of the assembled clip holder 300 is sized to receive the tab holder 400. homologous to establish electrical contact between the tabs of the tab holder 400 and the electrical contact terminals 302, 303 of the clip holder assembly 300. As will be detailed later, during an operation of insertion of such a tab holder 400 into the homologous assembled clip holder 300, the edges or the periphery 404 of the opening 403 of the tab holder 400 will come into abutment against the surface 114 of the locking device 100 exerting a pressure on it loading the springs.
    As is apparent from FIGs. 4A-4B, in order to effect the locking with a homologous clip carrier, the tab holder 400 further comprises a locking pin 402 on the outer surface of the body 401, which can be substantially T-shaped, protruding by relative to the body 401 and slightly recessed from the edges 404 of the coupling opening 403. As also shown in FIGS. 4A-4B, the locking pin 402 comprises a rib 405 which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the body 401, or generally to a direction of coupling or insertion between the tongue holder 400 and a holder homologous clips such as the clip holder 300, in increasing slope in a direction substantially from the edge 404 of the opening 403 towards the end of the tongue holder 400 having the two orifices 407, 408. The locking pin 402 comprises in addition, on the opposite side to the rib 405, a locking surface 406, visible in particular in FIG. 4B. This surface 406 can therefore be hooked by the locking lance 209 of the clip holder housing 200 in the locking state of the system.
    FIGs. 5A-5B illustrate an exemplary embodiment of an electrical connector system 500 according to one aspect of the present invention, including the assembled clip carrier 300 of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 with in particular the lock assurance device 100 housed in the clip holder housing 200, and the tab holder 400 illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4B, before coupling, in a three-dimensional view (FIG 5A) and in a cross section (FIG 5B). Such a system 500 may for example be used for electrical connections in a motor vehicle engine, without being restricted solely to such use.
    In FIG. 5A-5B, the electrical connector system 500 is in a non-coupled state, i.e., unlocked. In particular, the clip holder 300 and the tab holder 400 face each other for coupling, but are not yet in physical contact. In particular, the surfaces 114, 118 of the lances 102, 103 of the locking insurance device 100 are not in abutment against the edges 404 of the opening 403 of the tongues holder 400. More particularly, there is no electrically contacting the electrical contact terminals 302, 303 and the electrical contact tabs (not shown) of the tab holder 400. In other words, the clip holder case 200 or the assembled clip holder 300 and the Tongue carriers 400, forming first and second housings, are in the unmated state. In addition, the two locking springs (not shown) of the lock insurance device 100 are relaxed, ie at rest. Thus, the lugs 108, 109 of the arms 106, 107 of the locking insurance device 100 are wedged against the inside of the walls 207, 208 of the clip holder housing 200.
    In the following, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that essentially half of the elements of the system 500 are visible in the view along the cross-section of FIG. 5B and in the successive views of FIGs. 6A-6D and 7A-7C, which are sections on the same plane as the section of FIG. 5B. Therefore, it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the non-illustrated elements on these sections behave similarly to the illustrated elements which are essentially symmetrical to them.
    FIGs. 6A-6D schematically illustrate successive steps of mating the electrical connector system 500 shown in FIGS. 5A-5B by several sectional views, starting from an unmated state shown in FIG. 6A to a locked state shown in FIG. 6D in which the housings 300, 400 of the electrical connector 500 are fully coupled and locked, through two successive partially coupled states shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C. Cross sections of FIG. 6A-6D essentially take the view of FIG. 5B.
    As is apparent from FIG. 6A, and in particular of the encircled portion, at the time of the first physical contact between the tongues holder 400 and the clip holder 300 for coupling of the electrical connector system 500, the upper part of the edge 404 of the opening 403 of the tong holder 400 abuts against said at least one abutment surface 114, 118 formed by the recess beneath the end surface 113, 117 of the corresponding lance 102, 103 of the lock assurance device 100. deflection of the head of the locking lance 209 of the clip holder housing 200 and deflection of the lances 102, 103 of the lock assurance device 100 are mutually excluded. The locking springs housed in the cavities 110, 111 of the arms 106, 107 of the device 100, which is in its delivery position, are essentially relaxed. At this point, there is no electrical contact because the tong holder 400 is not yet plugged into the housing 200 of the clip holder 300. The connector system 500, and therefore the entire clip holder 300 and the tab holder 400 are in a non-coupled state, and there is no locking between the locking lance 209 and the locking pin 402. To insert the tongue holder 400 into the latch 300, it is necessary to push the tongues holder 400 more in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 6A.
    FIG. 6B illustrates a subsequent step of the coupling during which force is exerted on the clip holder assembly 300 and / or the tab holder 400 with the intention of continuing the coupling of the electrical connector system 500 according to the direction in the map shown by the arrow illustrated above in FIG. 6A. This force is not enough, however, to complete the coupling. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6B, the lock assurance device 100 is biased and further advanced in the housing 204 of the housing 200 of the clip holder 300. In particular, a thrust is exerted by the edge 404 of the opening 403 of the holder. tabs 400 on the pushing surfaces 114, 118. Therefore, at this point, the springs of the lock insurance device 100 are in a loaded state but not yet in a maximum relative load or at least not yet in a relative load. predetermined amount corresponding to the authorization of the locking of the system. In other words, as is also seen in FIG. 6B, the arms 106, 107 have moved back inside respective grooves 205, 206 of the housing 204 of the clip holder 200, thereby compressing the springs. The system 500, and therefore the clip holder 300 and the tab holder 400, are in a partially coupled state, but there is no locking between the locking lance 209 and the locking pin 402. Nevertheless, the head of the locking lance 209 comes into contact with the sloping rib 405 of the locking pin 402 of the tongues holder 400.
    At the step illustrated in FIG. 6B, there is a beginning of electrical contact but if the force exerted thereafter to continue the coupling movement of the system 500 is not sufficient, the locking springs will tend to relax, so that the abutment surfaces 114, 118 will push the edge 404, thereby ejecting the tab holder 400 from the clip holder 300, in other words separating the electrical connector system 500, which will thus be returned to a non-coupled state, as in FIGS. . 5A or 6A. In this way, the invention advantageously makes it possible to improve a spring-loaded locking system preventing a bad electrical connection between contact terminals of a clip holder and contact tongues of a homologous tab holder.
    FIG. 6C illustrates the case where the force exerted on the clip holder 300 and / or on the tab holder 400 in the direction of insertion is sufficient to continue the coupling of the electrical connector system 500. The springs of the insurance device lock 100 are now more compressed than in the step illustrated in FIG. 6B because the device 100 is further pushed into the housing 204, so that the unlocking member 115 has deflected the locking lance 209 by the action of its sloping surface 116 on the unlocking surface 210. In addition, the head of the lance 209 is also deflected by the rib slope 405 of the lug 402. Therefore, the passage of the locking pin 402 and thus the advance of the tongues holder 400 in the housing 211 will be realized .
    As is also apparent from FIG. 6C, the lock insurance device 100 is still under a thrust stress but has come into abutment with the bottom of the housing 204 of the housing 200 of the clip holder 300. In other words, the springs of the device 100 are in a corresponding compression state at a predetermined relative load which is a maximum relative load with respect to the states illustrated above. The clip holder 300 and the tab holder 400 of the electrical connector system 500 are thus about to be correctly coupled and locked but are still shown in a partially coupled state. In particular, there is no locking between the locking lance 209 and the locking pin 402. It is then sufficient to continue inserting the tongue holder 400 in the housing 211 to complete the coupling action. However, at the step illustrated in FIG. 6C, if the coupling action is not continued, the action of the springs pushing back the lock insurance device 100 will lower the lances 102, 103 of the device 100, as well as the locking lance 109 of the door -clips 300, then preventing the insertion of the tong holder 400 and ejecting the latter. In this way, the invention advantageously makes it possible to improve a spring-loaded locking system preventing a bad electrical connection between contact terminals of a clip holder and contact tongues of a homologous tab holder.
    Finally, FIG. 6D illustrates the case where the tab holder 400 has been correctly inserted into the clip holder 300 and is locked therewith. As detailed in the encircled part, the head of the locking lance 209 is passed behind the locking pin 402 and thus prevents disconnection of the tab holder 400 by abutment against the surface 406 of the back of the locking pin 402. In addition, the lock insurance device 100 has returned to its delivery position, in which the unlocking element 115 prevents a rise of the locking lance 209, and the lances 102, 103 have returned to their initial position. The springs of the device 100 are therefore in a state of compression or minimal relative load or are totally relaxed. In this state of locking, there is an electrical contact between the electrically conductive elements of the tab holder 400 and the clip holder 300.
    Moreover, as is apparent from FIG. 6D, at this stage a push or a pressure on the tong holder 400 no longer has a direct effect on the lock insurance device 100. In particular, advantageously, the edge 404 of the opening 403 is not more in position to interact with the abutment surfaces 114, 118 and the tab holder 400 correctly plugged and locked with the clip holder 300 can no longer compress the springs of the lock insurance device 100. Thus, an involuntary disconnection caused by additional pressure of the tong holder 400 is not possible. Disconnection of the 500 system must be done manually. As will be detailed below, to disconnect the system from the lock state shown in FIG. 6D, it is necessary to push the unlocking thrust surface 112 of the head 105 of the lock insurance device 100. This is not possible at this point by pressing the tab holder 400 as the unlocking thrust surface 112 is conveniently arranged out of reach of the elements of the tong holder 400 effecting the thrust on the lock insurance device 100.
    FIGs. 7A-7C illustrate successive steps of unlocking and disconnecting the electrical connector system from the lock state illustrated in FIG. 6D and commented previously.
    As is apparent from FIG. 7A, in order to unlock the connector system 500, an operator must manually press the unlocking thrust surface 112 of the lock assurance device head 100 so as to slide it into the housing 204 of the locking device 100. 200 case of the clip holder 300. The springs of the device 100 then pass again a loaded state. The encircled portion in FIG. 7A details that an operator has manually pressed the surface 112, so that the unlocking surface 116 of the unlocking member 115 is now sufficiently advanced to contact the unlocking surface 210 of the lance however, as also apparent from FIG. 7A, the tongues holder 400 is still locked to the clip holders 300 by the locking lance 209 whose head always hooks the locking pin 402. As in the plugging action illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6D, if the operator does not sufficiently push the lock assurance device 100, the springs return the device 100 to its delivery position, thereby automatically returning to the lock state shown in FIG. 6D.
    FIG. 7B illustrates a next step, in which an operator has sufficiently pressed the unlocking thrust surface 112 to slide the lockout insurance device 100 to the housing bottom 204. The springs are therefore in a state of charge. relative maximum, which allows a disconnection of the tab holder 400. For the unlocking action, this step is essentially the pendant of the step of the locking action illustrated in FIG. 6C, except that the connector system 500 is still in a plugged state. As detailed in the encircled part, the unlocking surface 116 is now sufficiently advanced to have deflected the locking lance 209 by sliding under the unlocking surface 210. At this stage, it is still possible to automatically return to the unlocked state. lock illustrated in FIG. 6D if the operator releases the lock insurance device 100 due to the action of the springs that will automatically return it to its delivery position.
    Finally, FIG. 7C illustrates the disconnection of the tab holder 400 from the previous step illustrated in FIG. 7B. As illustrated again with the circled portion, this is possible because the maximum relative load state of the springs is maintained by the operator always exerting pressure on the lock insurance device 100 so as to maintain it at the same level of progress in the housing 204 which step illustrated in FIG. 7B. Since the only action of the operator was to manually push the head 105 of the lock insurance device 100, the operator did not need to manually deflect any locking spear, thereby preventing any risk of breakage in particular, the locking lance 209. In order to perform the disconnection operation, the operator was thus able, in a continuous and simplified movement with respect to the system known in the state of the art, to use the same state of charge of the devices. locking springs and the action of the unlocking surface 116 on the locking lance 209 used in the plugging action.
    The various aspects of the present invention, in particular the various embodiments and their variants described above, can be taken independently of one another or combined with one another and have the advantage of improving the locking as well as the facilitate manual unlocking between a clip holder and a tab holder counterpart of an electrical connector system compared to known systems of the state of the art. In particular, as can be seen from the examples illustrated by the accompanying figures, the invention makes it possible to use a spring lock insurance device in a similar manner both for locking and to allow unlocking. While the device fulfills its function of automatic ejection of the holder tongues if the plugging is not done correctly, the same device allows, by a manual action of a simplified operator compared to the state of the art known, to allow the unlocking and disconnection of the tongues holder.
    REFERENCE SIGNS 100 lockout insurance device 101 body 102 lance 103 lance 105 head 106 arm 107 arm 108 locking pin 109 locking pin 110 cavity 111 cavity 112 unlocking thrust surface 113 end surface 114 thrust surface / thrust lever 115 unlocking element 116 release surface 117 end surface 118 abutment / thrust surface 119 spigot 120 spigot 200 clip holder housing 201 body 202 upper part 203 lower part 204 housing 205 groove 206 groove 207 end wall end 208 end wall 209 locking lance 210 release surface 211 recess 300 assembly of clip holder 301 electrical contact box 302 electrical contact terminal 303 electrical contact terminal 304 seal 400 tab holder 401 body 402 pin locking 403 opening 404 edge 405 rib 406 locking surface 407 driver passage 408 passage for conductor 500 electrical connector system
    权利要求:
    Claims (9)
    [1" id="c-fr-0001]
    A lock assurance device (100) for use in an electrical connector system (500) including a first connector housing (200) configured for plugging with a second connector housing (400) counterpartable to be lockable with therein, wherein: the lock insurance device (100) comprises at least one spring and is configured to be movably accommodated in the first housing (200) such that movement of the insurance device locking (100) in the first housing (200) from a delivery position entrains a load of said at least one spring; and the lock insurance device (100) is further configured such that, upon a plug-in action of the second housing (400) in the first housing (200), the lock-off device ( 100) is moved from the delivery position by the second housing (400) such that the load of the at least one spring opposes plugging as long as the electrical connector system (500) is not in a locked state in which the second housing (400) is locked with the first housing (200), and the lock insurance device (100) is not returned to the delivery position; characterized in that the lock insurance device (100) further comprises an unlocking thrust surface (112) configured such that, in the locked state, a movement of the lock-off device (100) ) from the delivery position by pushing on said unlocking thrust surface (112) causes a load of said at least one spring allowing unlocking of the first and second housings (200, 400).
    [2" id="c-fr-0002]
    The lock assurance device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the lock assurance device (100) comprises a body (101) configured to be movably, in particular slidably housed, in the first housing (200) in a direction of insertion of a second housing (400) into the first housing (200).
    [3" id="c-fr-0003]
    The lock assurance device (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the lock assurance device (100) is further configured such that the load of said at least one spring enabling the transition to the locked state and / or unlocking from the lock state is a maximum relative load of the at least one spring.
    [4" id="c-fr-0004]
    The lock assurance device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lock assurance device (100) is further configured such that the load of said at least one enabling spring the transition to the locked state is essentially the same as the load allowing the unlocking.
    [5" id="c-fr-0005]
    The interlocking device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one thrust surface (114, 118), distinct from said unlocking thrust surface (112), configured such that so that, during a plug action, a thrust exerted thereon, in particular by the second housing (400), causes the load of said at least one spring opposing the plugging action.
    [6" id="c-fr-0006]
    The lock assurance device (100) according to claim 5, further comprising at least one guide surface (116), wherein the lock assurance device (100) is further configured such that, upon movement of the lock assurance device (100) from the delivery position, said at least one guide surface (116) causes a first lock member (209) to move the first housing (200) allowing the transition to the locked state and / or unlocking from the lock state.
    [7" id="c-fr-0007]
    An electrical connector system (500) comprising a lock assurance device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and a first connector housing (200) configured for plugging with a second connector housing ( 400) counterpartable lockable therewith, wherein: the lock-off device (100) is movably housed in the first housing (200), particularly slidably in a plug-in direction of the second housing (200); housing (400) in the first housing (200); the first housing (200) comprises a first releasable locking element (209), particularly resiliently, from a delivery position in which, in a locked state, the first locking element (209) is locked with a second locking member (402) of a second homologous housing (400); and the electrical connector system (500) is further configured such that a load of said at least one spring causes a displacement of the first locking member (209) of the first housing (200) allowing the transition to the state of locking and / or unlocking from the lock state.
    [8" id="c-fr-0008]
    An electrical connector system (500) according to claim 7, in combination with a latching safety device according to claim 5, wherein the electrical connector system (500) is further configured so that in the locking state, said at least one thrust surface (114, 118) is arranged relative to the second housing (400) so that thrust thereon is not allowed by the second housing (400).
    [9" id="c-fr-0009]
    The electrical connector system (500) of claim 7 or 8, wherein the electrical connector system (500) is further configured such that, in the locked state, the unlocking thrust surface (112) ) is arranged out of reach of the second box (400).
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    FR3048310B1|2020-10-09|
    EP3211728A1|2017-08-30|
    EP3211728B1|2020-10-28|
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    法律状态:
    2017-02-23| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 2 |
    2017-09-01| PLSC| Search report ready|Effective date: 20170901 |
    2018-01-11| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 3 |
    2020-01-13| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 5 |
    2021-01-12| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 6 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    FR1651634A|FR3048310B1|2016-02-26|2016-02-26|LOCKING INSURANCE DEVICE AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR SYSTEM|FR1651634A| FR3048310B1|2016-02-26|2016-02-26|LOCKING INSURANCE DEVICE AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR SYSTEM|
    EP17155345.6A| EP3211728B1|2016-02-26|2017-02-09|Electrical connector system comprising a locking assurance device|
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