Electrical connectors – With coupling separator – Nonconducting pusher
Patent
1991-10-21
1992-12-29
McGlynn, Joseph H.
Electrical connectors
With coupling separator
Nonconducting pusher
H01R 1300
Patent
active
051747740
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to electrical connectors having a plug and a socket which can be coupled into each other by insertion and carrying cooperating contacts provided with locking means comprising a fork lever whose branches rotate on one of the elements (socket or, more frequently, plug) about an axis transversal to the plug-in direction and have claws engaging on a ramp provided on the other element (plug or, more frequently, socket) during the tilting of the lever about its axis in a direction bringing it onto the element which carries it.
In numerous cases, electrical connectors have to be placed at locations where they are difficult to access and where in particular it is difficult to exert by hand a force for inserting or pulling out the plug. This situation is encountered especially in the motor vehicle industry and it is possible to mention by way of example gearbox output connectors.
Connectors of the type defined hereinabove have already been proposed in which the tilting of the lever, relatively easy to effect by gripping the plug-lever assembly in the hand, completes the insertion of the plug and locks it. But these connectors only solve the problem very partially, as the extraction must also be performed by pulling on the plug, after rotation of the lever in order to unlock it. Moreover, many of the existing connectors of the type defined hereinabove are liable to become loose under the effect of axial or transverse vibrations.
The invention aims to provide a connector of the type defined hereinabove in which an action on a lever enables not only locking and unlocking to be effected but also the insertion and the extraction of the plug and which, in addition, guarantees a complete plug-in retention even in the case of intense vibrations.
With this aim in mind, the invention proposes in particular a connector of the type defined hereinabove in which, in addition to the locking claw intended to bear on the ramp, oriented in such a manner that the tilting of the lever causes the plug and the socket to come closer to each other, each branch of the fork comprises an additional finger intended to bear on a ramp oriented in the direction opposite to the first ramp and having a profile such that movement of the lever from its locking position exerts a force tending to separate the plug from the socket.
The invention will be better understood upon reading the description which follows of a particular embodiment given by way of non-limiting example. The description refers to drawings which accompany it, in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded view, in perspective, showing the main components of an electrical connector of the type called "round" to which the invention relates;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view, from the front, showing the components of the connector of FIG. 1, in a position opposite to that of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view, in perspective and in partial cross section, of the connector in its state at the completion of locking;
FIG. 4 is a view, in perspective, of the locking lever of the connector of FIGS. 1 to 4, intended to make the shape of the unlocking fingers appear clearer;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the successive relative positions of the lever and of the ramp during locking;
FIG. 6, similarly to FIG. 3, is a front view of the connector showing the elements in the position in which they are situated at the start of the extraction movement.
The connector whose main components are shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has a generally known construction. It is composed of a plug 10 and a socket 12. The plug has a sleeve 14 which contains or constitutes a rigid insulating block pierced through by passages for receiving electrical contact terminals. When the plug is mounted on an electrical cable 15 (FIG. 3), the conductors of the cable are connected to the terminals. An adaptor 18 is overmolded over the cable 15 and the sleeve 14. A retention ring 16 surrounds the front portion of the sleeve.
The socket 12 comprises a body 20 having a tubular front portion intended for engagement in the sleeve 14, containing or const
REFERENCES:
patent: 2514246 (1950-07-01), Knox
patent: 3054023 (1962-09-01), Blecker et al.
patent: 3784954 (1971-05-01), Grimm
patent: 3801757 (1974-04-01), Carissimi et al.
patent: 3836938 (1974-09-01), Barrett
Bonnetier Marie-Noelle
Le Bris Henri
McGlynn Joseph H.
Souriau & Cie
LandOfFree
Lever locked connector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Lever locked connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Lever locked connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1884151