Connector

Details Connector Connector

1999-11-29

2001-07-03

Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Self aligning contact

C439S076200

Reexamination Certificate

active

06254412

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an electrical connecting configuration for a coil unit provided with a plurality of coils distributed in specific locations and a connector unit provided with connecting members distributed so as to correspond with the coils.
A solenoid unit for controlling oil pressure is provided within a gearbox casing of an automatic transmission of an automobile. A connector unit attached to a wire harness outside the gearbox casing provides electricity to coils of this solenoid unit. An example of this connector unit is described in the laid open publication JP-9-55235. The solenoid unit thereof is provided with a coil unit having a plurality of coils distributed at specified locations on a base, these coils being fixed thereto, each of the coils being provided with a separate protruding terminal. The connector unit thereof has a plurality of plate-shaped terminal fittings distributed on the base so as to correspond to each of the coils. An attachment hole and a resilient clamping member protruding upwards from the hole edge of each attachment hole are formed on each plate-shaped terminal fitting. When a connector housing is attached to the coil unit, the protruding terminals pass through the attachment holes and are gripped by the resilient clamping members. The coil unit and the connector unit thereby attain an electrically connected state.
In the above example, the plurality of plate-shaped terminal fittings are positioned individually to correspond to the plurality of coils, and the two units are joined. In this configuration, even the dimensional error of each component and the attachment error of each unit are within a range of tolerances, this error accumulates when the two units are joined and consequently there is the danger of a larger dislocation appearing in position between the protruding terminals and the plate-shaped terminal fittings, thereby preventing the two units from fitting together smoothly.
The example disclosed in the above publication addressed this problem by providing resilient clamping members on the attachment holes into which the protruding terminals are fitted, these resilient clamping members being capable of bending resiliently. This resilient change of position is the means to absorb the dislocation in position. However, with this method, the maximum extent of dislocation absorption is limited to the greatest bending capacity of the resilient clamping members, and there are cases where the dislocation absorption is insufficient.
The present invention has been developed after taking the above problem into consideration, and aims to present an electrical connecting configuration in which the dislocation absorbing function of an electrical connecting member between a coil unit and a connector unit is superior.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided an electrical coil unit comprising a base, a plurality of coils distributed on the base and each having a terminal, and a connector having a plurality of contacts engageable one each with said terminals; characterised in that said terminals and contacts have a fitting direction, and each of said contacts comprises a fixed conductor and a movable conductor, said fixed conductors being immovable with respect to said connector, and said movable conductors being in electrical contact with a respective fixed conductor and movable with respect thereto in a plane perpendicular to said fitting direction.
Preferably either the fixed conductors or movable conductors has a resilient contact member for maintaining electrical contact therebetween.
The terminals preferably comprise upstanding pins of for example circular cross-section.
The movable conductors preferably include resilient arms for contact with respective terminals.
In the preferred embodiment, the fixed conductor confines movement of the movable conductor by means of a peripheral wall. The fixed conductor preferably substantially encloses the movable conductor, and may be folded from a sheet metal blank.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5679010 (1997-10-01), Hotea et al.
patent: 5707243 (1998-01-01), Endo et al.

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