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EP 0 820 647 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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28.07.1999 Bulletin 1999/30 |
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Date of filing: 10.04.1996 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC)6: H01R 13/629 |
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International application number: |
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PCT/IB9600/314 |
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International publication number: |
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WO 9632/761 (17.10.1996 Gazette 1996/46) |
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MODULAR ELECTRICAL CONNECTING UNIT
MODULARER ELEKTRISCHER STECKVERBINDER
CONNECTEUR ELECTRIQUE MODULAIRE
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Designated Contracting States: |
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DE ES FR GB IT SE |
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Priority: |
12.04.1995 GB 9507627 12.04.1995 GB 9507628
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Date of publication of application: |
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28.01.1998 Bulletin 1998/05 |
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Proprietor: THE WHITAKER CORPORATION |
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Wilmington, DE 19808 (US) |
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(72) |
Inventors: |
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- CANUTO, Oscare
I-10093 Collegno (IT)
- MASSOLA, Paolo
I-10051 Avigliana (IT)
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(74) |
Representative: Heinz-Schäfer, Marion |
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AMP International Enterprises Limited
AMPèrestrasse 3 9323 Steinach (SG) 9323 Steinach (SG) (CH) |
(56) |
References cited: :
EP-A- 0 273 999 EP-A- 0 549 371 US-A- 5 320 544
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EP-A- 0 363 804 DE-A- 4 336 711
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] This invention relates to a modular electrical connecting unit, in particular for
use as a central connecting unit in the automotive industry.
[0002] DE 43 36 711 discloses a connector assembly for joining a plurality of connectors
to a base unit. In this assembly the connectors are received in a frame that can be
hooked onto the base unit and pivoted to provide mechanical advantage to mate the
plurality of connector with the base unit.
[0003] There is disclosed in EP-A-0 549 371 an electrical connecting unit having a first
holding member for holding a plurality of connectors and a second holding member for
holding a plurality of complementary connectors. The holding members may be mated
to join the complementary connectors by way of a lever that is rotatably mounted on
the first holding member that serves to bring the two holding members and therefore
the complementary connectors therein together.
[0004] There is disclosed in EP-A-O 363 804 an electrical connecting unit comprising an
elongate frame for receiving matable electrical connectors, a pair of slides slidable
lengthwise of the frame along opposed elongate side walls of the frame, the slides
having camming surfaces for engagement by projections on a first connector, and an
actuating lever connected to the frame and the slides for movement from an open to
a closed position to drive the slides in a first direction to mate the connectors
and from the closed to the open position to drive the slides in a second and opposite
direction to unmate the connectors.
[0005] This known connecting unit contains only one pair of mating connectors both of which
extend for the full length of the frame. Especially in the automotive industry the
end user of such a unit may from time to time alter from one model to the next the
number of lines, that is to say connector positions, the end user requires the connecting
unit to provide with the result that the connecting unit must be frequently redesigned.
[0006] According, therefore, to the present invention an electrical connecting unit as defined
in the fourth paragraph of this specification is characterized in that the frame is
divided into a series of compartments by partitions extending across the elongate
frame, and in that each slide has a series of camming surfaces each associated with
an individual one of the compartments, for engagement by a respective projection on
an individual first connector, each compartment having means for retaining an individual
second connector therein, whereby the connecting unit can be used for mating 1 to
n pairs of matable connectors where n is the number of the compartments.
[0007] Thus the number of connector positions provided can be altered at will in order to
meet the varying requirements of the end user. In the interest of versatility the
number of compartments for a given frame length can be maximised by dimensioning the
compartments so that they are elongate transversely of the frame, the projections
being provided on short, rather than long, faces of the connectors. In one example
each connector has eighteen positions.
[0008] Advantageously the frame may have a mounting device for securing it to a support,
for example, an interconnection box, when the connection unit is in situ.
[0009] The lever may be dimensioned so that when it is in its closed position it acts as
a partial cover for the compartments thereby allowing leads extending from the first
connectors to extend outwardly from the connecting unit. To this end the lever may
comprise a pivot portion connected to the frame and a free ended lever arm projecting
from the pivot portion and being substantially narrower than the pivot portion. In
this case the lever arm is preferably of honeycomb construction in the interest of
strength with economy of material.
[0010] There is further disclosed in EP-A-O 363 804 the frame and lever assembly for an
electrical connecting unit where the lever having a rear end pivoted to the frame
for movement of the lever between an open position in which the lever is raised from
the frame and a closed position in which the lever is adjacent to the frame, wherein
the lever has at its forward end a latch arm having a rear portion connected to the
lever and a forward portion connected to the rear portion by a bight, the forward
portion having a forwardly projecting latching shoulder for engaging an abutment to
latch the lever in its closed position, the latching shoulder being releasable from
the abutment by pressing the forward portion of the latch arm rearwardly.
In this known assembly the frame has therein a first electrical connector and the
lever is actuable to cause a second electrical connector to be cammed into mating
relationship in the frame with the first electrical connector. The second electrical
connector has a cover with a trunk for marshalling leads connected to terminals of
the second connector. Especially in the case of connecting units where no such cover
is provided it is important that the forward portion of the latch arm should be protected
against entanglement with the leads. The forward portion of the latch arm should also
be protected against accidental actuation, but should, nevertheless, be easily actuable.
[0011] According to the present invention, therefore, an electrical connector assembly having
a frame and lever as discussed above is characterized in that the forward portion
of the latch arm upstands from the latching shoulder between forward side wall portions
of the lever, and in that a front end wall of the lever, spanning the side wall portions,
has a cut-out allowing access to the forward portion of the latch arm.
[0012] The forward portion of the latch arm is thus fully protected by the side wall portions
of the lever and the front wall thereof, but the forward portion of the latch arm
is readily actuable by finger pressure by way of the cut-out. In order to facilitate
such actuation a free end of the forward portion preferably extends to a position
substantially level with a top wall of the lever, the cut-out also extending to that
level. Also preferably, the latch arm is formed with reinforcing corrugations and
the forward portion of the latch arm is stiffly resiliently deflectable about the
bight.
[0013] Means are preferably provided for releasably retaining the lever in its open position,
as well as means for accurately guiding the lever between its open and its closed
positions.
[0014] The connectors will normally be colour coded so that polarizing means should be provided
to ensure that the compartments can receive connectors of the correct colour code.
[0015] As disclosed herein, means are provided for retaining the first connectors in a pre-mating
position in the compartments, the retaining means being overcome when the slides'
camming surfaces acting on the projections of the first connectors, force them into
the second connectors.
[0016] US-A-5 178 553 discloses a lever operated connector assembly in which a row of rigidly
connected plug connectors are mated with respective sockets connectors. An actuating
lever has camming surfaces engaged by projections on the socket connectors to draw
them into the plug connectors.
[0017] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which;
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modular central electrical connecting
unit comprising a frame for receiving multi contact plug and socket electrical connectors
and a lever on the frame for driving camming slides to mate the plug connectors with
the socket connectors;
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the connecting unit with the lever in an open position
and with parts exploded from the frame;
Figure 3 is an isometric view of the connecting unit with the lever in a closed position;
Figures 4 and 5 are respective exploded isometric views of the connecting unit, the
connectors not being shown;
Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, isometric view showing means for releasably
retaining the lever in its open position.
Figure 7 is a sectional view through the axis of the lever and illustrating details
of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, isometric view of a forward end portion of the
lever showing a latch for latching the lever in its closed position.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating details of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a fragmentary top plan view showing details of Figures 8 and 9;
Figure 11 is a fragmentary side view illustrating further details of Figures 8 to
10;
Figure 12 is an enlarged isometric view of one of the plug connectors;
Figure 13 is a transverse partly sectional view illustrating a connector of Figure
12 located in a pre-mating position in a mating connector;
Figure 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary view illustrating details of Figure 13;
Figure 15 is a similar view to that of Figure 1 but is differently sectioned and shows
terminals of the plug and socket connectors;
Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating details of Figure 15;
Figure 17 is a top plan view showing the connecting unit assembled to an interconnecting
box;
Figure 18 is a cross sectional view showing the connecting unit in situ and assembled
to the interconnecting box;
Figure 19 is an enlarged isometric view of the interconnecting box;
Figure 20 is a plan view of a socket connector;
Figure 21 is an underplan view of the frame; and
Figure 22 is a plan view of a plug connector.
[0018] As shown in Figures 1 to 5 modular central electrical connecting unit 2 comprises
a connector receiving frame 4, an actuating lever 6 and camming slides 8, each moulded
from an insulating material. The frame 4, which is elongate and is of generally rectangular
shape has a forward end wall 10, a rear end wall 12 and elongate side walls 14. Spanning
the side walls 14 are spaced, transverse partitions 16, defining in the present example,
a row of six connector receiving compartments 18 each having an upper open end 20
and a lower open end 22. There projects upwardly from the upper edge 24 of each partition
16, two connector guide wings 26 spaced transversely of the length of the frame 4,
and each having inclined surfaces 28 sloping downwardly to the upper edge 24 to define
a V-shaped opening 25'. The lower margin of each side wall 14 of the frame 4 is formed
with downwardly directed latch arms 34 each having a latching barb 36 directed inwardly
of a respective one of the compartments 18. The upper margin of each side wall 14
is formed with a longitudinally extending slide way 40 receiving a respective one
of the camming slides 8 between upper and lower gibs 41 and 43, respectively (Figures
16 and 18). The inner side of each slide way 40 opens into each compartment 18 between
the gibs 41 and 43. The lower edge of each side way 40 is substantially level with
the upper edges 24 of the partitions 16. The outer wall of the slide way 40 on one
side of the frame 4 is formed with a mounting device 43 comprising an outwardly open
channel 42 defined by said outer wall and upper and lower gibs 44 extending longitudinally
of the frame 4. As best seen in Figure 4, said outer wall is formed at the rear end
of the channel 42 with a rearwardly directed latch arm 46 having a rearwardly facing
latching shoulder 48 from which extends rearwardly cam follower tip portion 50. The
outer wall of each slide way 40 is formed at the rear end thereof with a lever guide
rail 52 which is stood off outwardly from the remainder of said outer wall. Immediately
above the guide rail 52 there upstands from each side wall 14 a bifurcated lug 54
defining aligned bearing holes 56. The lugs 54 are spanned by cruciform reinforcing
struts 58 as shown in Figure 4. The side walls 14 are spanned rearwardly of the frame
4 by a platform 60 which aids in supporting the flanges 54. Rearward reinforcing struts
62 are formed integrally with the end wall 12 of the frame 4 and the under side of
the platform 60. As best seen in Figure 6, there upstands from the base of a notch
64 in the upper margin of the rearmost partition 16, a lever open position latch arm
66 having a rearwardly directed latching nose 68. At one side of the forward end part
of the frame 4 is a housing 70 having cavities 72 each for latchingly receiving a
respective male power terminal 73. A secondary locking clip 74 is provided for ensuring
that the terminals 73 are secured in the cavities 72 against the action of vibration.
On the other side of the forward end part of the frame 4 and located above the housing
70 is a lever latch receptacle 76 having a lever latch receiving socket 78 and a lever
latching abutment in the form of a top wall 80.
[0019] Each camming slide 8 comprises an elongate, substantially flat, plate, the inner
face of which is formed with a camming slot 82 for each compartment 18 of the frame
4. The slots 82 are arranged in succession lengthwise of the slide 8. Each slot 82
has an open upper end 84, which, in a retracted, connector loading position of the
slide 8 communicates with a through opening 86 in the respective upper gib 41 of the
slideway 40 as best seen in Figure 16. Each slot 82 has a forwardly directed, blind,
arcuate lower end 88 spaced from the gib 41 towards the gib 43. Intermediate its ends,
each slot 82 has an upper section 90 which makes a first acute angle with respect
to the gib 41, and a lower section 92 which makes a second acute angle with respect
to the gib 41. The second angle is greater than the first, that is to say the section
90 is steeper than the section 92. Each slide 8 has, at its rear end, an elongate
transverse opening 94 for providing a lost motion connection to the lever 6 as described
below, and a transverse lever stop lug 96. The slots 82 are defined by depressions
98 in the outer face of the slide 8. The lugs 96 ensure that each slide 8 can only
be positioned in its correct slideway 40.
[0020] The lever 6 comprises a rear pivot portion 100 from one side of which extends forwardly,
a forwardly tapered lever arm 102. The portion 100 is thus substantially wider than
the arm 102. The pivot portion 100 comprises a transverse tubular shaft 103 extending
between the lugs 54 of the frame 4. Outside the lugs 54 are opposed cheeks 106 having
aligned holes 108 therethrough. A pivot pin 104 extends through the holes 108, the
holes 56 in the lugs 54 and through the tubular shaft 103. The pivot pin 104 has an
enlarged end 110 engaging the outer face of one of the lugs 54. The lever 6 is thus
pivotable about the pin 104. Each of the cheeks 106 has an inwardly projecting boss
112 below the pin 104 and which engages in the elongate opening 94 of the respective
slide 8. A lost motion connection is thereby provided between the lever 6 and each
slide 8. Each cheek 106 engages slideably between a respective guide rail 52 and a
rearward extension of the lower gib 43 of the respective slide way 40. The tubular
shaft 103 has a notch 114 therein (Figures 6 and 7) for engagement by the latching
nose 68 of the latch arm 66, releasably to retain the lever 6 in a raised open position
with the slides 8, therefore, each in a retracted position. The lever arm 102, is,
in the interest of economy of material, and at the same time in the interest of mechanical
strength, of honeycomb construction. The arm 102 thus has a thin top wall 116 having
on its inner face, intersecting transverse and longitudinal ribs 118 and 120 respectively.
The arm 106 has, at its free end, a latching device which is generally referenced
122 and which is best seen in Figures 8 to 11. The latching device 122, which is for
releasably retaining the lever 6 in its closed position, comprises a latch arm 124
having a downwardly depending rear portion 126 formed integrally with, and extending
from, the top wall 116 of the lever arm 102. The arm 124 further comprises a forward
portion 128 connected to the rear portion 126 by a bight 130 about which the portion
128 is stiffly resiliently deflectable. The forward portion 128 extends upwardly into
a forward cavity 132 of the lever arm 102 and has a free end 134 level with the top
wall 116. The cavity 132 is bounded rearwardly by the rear portion 126, laterally
by forwardly projecting side wall portions 136 of the level arm 102, and forwardly
by a front wall 138 spanning the side wall portions 136. The front wall 138 has a
cut-out 140 to allow finger access to the upper part of the forward latch arm portion
128. The cut-out 140 has an arcuate base bowed towards the bight 130 and extends to
the level of the top wall 116. Below the lever arm 102, the portion 128 of the latch
arm 124 has a forward latching shoulder 142 which is engageable under the top wall
80 of the receptacle 76. The latch arm 124 does not extend across the full width of
the forward end of the lever arm 102, thereby leaving a forward lower shoulder 144
of the arm 102, free to engage the top gib 41 of the adjacent slide way 40 in the
closed position of the lever 6. The latch arm 124 has longitudinal reinforcing corrugations
146. The upper part of the rear portion 126 has enhanced height corrugations 147 to
provide anti-overstress for the latch arm 124.
[0021] Each compartment 18 of the frame 4 is adapted to receive a plug connector 148 and
a mating socket connector 150 (Figures 1, 13 and 15) having male terminals 151 secured
in an insulating housing 153. As best seen in Figures 12 to 14, each plug connector
148 comprises an insulating housing 152 containing female terminals 154 (Figure 15).
Each plug connector 148 has a mating face 156 and opposite thereto a terminal receiving
face 157. The housing 152 has long side faces 158 and 159 and much shorter end faces
160. There projects from each end face 160, proximate to the terminal receiving face
157, a circular cylindrical projection in the form of a trunnion 162 as best seen
in Figure 2, for engaging in a respective slot 82 of a respective slide 8. The side
face 158 of each connector 148 has a latch arm 164 having a latching nose 166 for
latching engagement under a latching lip 25 of a respective mating socket connector
150, as best seen in Figure 13, to latch the connector 148 in a pre-mating raised
position to prevent its withdrawal from the frame 4. The side face 158 has at least
one key way 168 for receiving a respective key 33 in the connector 150 and the side
face 159 has at least one key way 170 for receiving a respective key 32 in the connector
150. The latch arm 164 is surmounted by a projecting stop 172 for engaging the upper
edge 173 of the mating connector 150, in the mating position of the connector 148.
The stop 172 can be pressed to deflect the latch arm 164 to allow the connector 148
to be removed from the frame 4. As shown in Figure 1, each connector 148 is loaded
into its respective compartment 18 in the direction of the arrow B after the female
terminals 154 of the connector 148 have been terminated to insulated leads L. The
socket connectors 150 (Figures 1, 13 and 15) are loaded into their respective compartments
18 after the male terminals 151 have been terminated to leads L2. The barbs 36 of
the latch arms 34 snap behind the housings 153 of the connectors 150 thereby latching
them in their compartments 18. The power terminals 73 are latched into the cavities
72 after leads L3 have been terminated to the terminals 73 and are locked securely
in their cavities by means of the secondary locking clip 74.
[0022] As shown in Figures 17 and 18, the gibs 44 and the latch arm 46 are used in securing
the connecting unit 2 in situ, for example, in an automotive vehicle, by fixing the
unit 2 to an interconnection box 174. As best shown in Figure 19, the box 174 comprises
lugs 176 by which it is secured to a fire wall, for example. A free end face 178 of
the box 174 has a longitudinal rib 180 defining in cooperation with the face 178 opposed
grooves 182 opening into one end 184 of the rib 180 and terminating at stop shoulders
188 at a position just back from the other end 186 of the rib 180. The rib 180 is
thus T-shaped cross section for nearly all of its length. A latch member 190 on the
face 178 of the interconnection box 174 is spaced from the end 184 of the rib 80 and
presents a shoulder 192 facing the end 184 of the rib 180 and an inclined cam surface
193 facing away therefrom. In order to mount the connecting unit 2 to the interconnection
box 174, the forward ends of the gibs 44 of the mounting device 43 are inserted into
the grooves 182 of the rib 180 until the forward ends of the gibs 44 abut the stop
shoulders 188. At this time, the lip portion 50 of the latch arm 46 of the device
43 has been cammed over the cam surface 193 of the latch member 190 so that the latching
shoulder 48 of the arm 46 snaps down behind the shoulder 92 of the latch member 190.
[0023] In order to prepare the connecting unit 2 for use, the socket connectors 150 are
loaded into the lower portions of the compartments 18 in the manner described above
so as to be latched therein. The lever 6 is retained in its open position by means
of the latch arm 66 as described above. The plug connectors 148 are loaded into the
upper portions of the socket connectors 150, in their premating positions as shown
in Figure 13. In the open position of the lever 6 the slides 8 are in their retracted
positions so that the upper end 64 of each camming slot 82 communicates with a respective
opening 86 (Figure 16). During the loading of the connectors 148, their trunnions
162 enter the camming slots 82 by way of the openings 86 in the gibs 41, to lie in
the upper sections 90 of the camming slots 82. In order to mate each plug connector
148 with the socket connector 150 there beneath, the lever 6 is depressed into its
closed position, accurately guided by the rails 52, so that the lever 6 is retained
in that position by engagement of the latching shoulders 142 of the latching device
122 under the top wall 80 of the receptacle 76. As the lever 6 is being swung to its
closed position, the bosses 112 on the lever 6 drive the slides 8 forwardly so that
the trunnions 162 are forced down the upper sections 90 of the camming slots 82 into
their lower sections 92 up to the ends 88 of the slots 82, whereby, each plug connector
148 is mated with the socket connector 150 therebeneath. Since the upper sections
90 of the slots 82 are relatively steep, the connectors 148 are moved rapidly towards
the connectors 150 until the trunnions 162 enter the lower sections 92 which are of
relatively shallow gradient, so that as the required mating force increases, the mechanical
advantage provided by the lever and slide system also increases. The leads L1 extending
from the connectors 148 extend upwardly from the frame 4 as shown in broken lines
in Figure 18 by virtue of the fact that the lever arm 102 is substantially narrower
than the width of the frame 4 thereby allowing egress space for the leads L1. The
leads L2 of the connectors 150 extend from the bottom of the frame 4. The plug connectors
148 can be removed from the frame by first releasing the latching shoulder 142 of
the latch arm portion 128, from the abutment top wall 80, by rearward finger pressure
on the portion 128 by way of the cut-out 140 to retract the shoulder 142 rearwardly
and then returning the lever 6 to its open position and pressing the stops 172 of
the connectors 148 inwardly to deflect the latch arms 164 to permit the connectors
148 to be removed from the frame 4.
[0024] As the slides 8 are connected to the short end faces 160, of the connectors 148,
rather than to their longer side faces 158 and 159, and as the connectors 150 extend
in the same direction as the connectors 148, a maximum number of connectors can be
accommodated for a given length of the frame 4.
[0025] Depending upon the end user's requirements, connectors will be provided in all of
the compartments 18 or only in a stipulated number of them. The latching device 122
for latching the lever 6 in its closed position, has the particular advantage that
the free end 134 of the latch arm 124 is protected by the lever 6 against tangling
with the leads L1, and also against accidental actuation of the latch arm 124. By
virtue of the cut-out 140 the latching device 122 is very easy to operate.
[0026] As shown in Figures 20 and 21, the connectors 150 may have side keys 20G for engaging
in keyways 202 in the partitions 16 and the connectors 148 may have end keys 204 for
engaging in end keyways 206 of respective connectors 150.
[0027] The connectors of all mating pairs are mated simultaneously by moving the lever 6
from its open to its closed position, whereby all circuits connected to the leads
L1 and L2 are simultaneously made. Conversely, by moving the lever 6 from its closed
to its open position all the circuits are simultaneously broken.
[0028] Preferably all of the connectors are colour coded and the keys and keyways are so
arranged that each compartment 18 can only accept connectors of a particular code
colour.
[0029] Advantageously then an electrical connector according to the present invention provides
a connector modular with the ability to receive modular connectors as required in
a central location. A lever structure is provided for mechanical advantage and the
lever structure includes an integrally moulded latch arm that is protected in a shroud
to prevent wire tangling or inadvertent disengagement.
1. An electrical connecting unit (2) comprising an elongate frame (4) for receiving first
and second matable electrical connectors (148, 150), a pair of spaced slides (8) slidable
lengthwise of the frame (4) along opposed elongate side walls (14) of the frame (4),
the slides having camming surfaces (82) for engagement by projections (162) on the
first connector (148), and an actuating lever (6) connected to the frame (4) and the
slides (8) for movement from an open to a closed position to drive the slides (8)
in a first direction to mate the connectors (148, 150) and from the closed to the
open position to drive the slides (8) in a second and opposite direction to unmate
the connectors (148, 150); characterized in that the frame (4) is divided into a series
of compartments (18) by partitions (16) extending across the elongate frame (4), and
in that each slide (8) has a series of camming surfaces (82) each associated with
an individual one of the compartments (18), for engagement by a respective projection
(162) on an individual first connector (148), each compartment having means (34, 36)
for retaining an individual second connector (150) therein, whereby the connecting
unit (2) can be used for mating from 1 to n pairs of matable connectors (148, 150)
where n is the number of the compartments (18).
2. A connecting unit (2) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that one or more of
the compartments (18) contains said individual first and second connectors (148, 150),
each of these connectors having longer side faces (158, 159) and shorter end faces
(160), the projections (162) of the first connector (148) being on the shorter end
faces (160) thereof, the compartments being elongate transversely of the frame (4).
3. A connecting unit (2) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one side wall
(14) of the frame (4) is provided with a mounting device (43) for securing the frame
(4) to a support (174), the mounting device comprising a slideway (40) presenting
an outwardly facing channel (42) defined by gibs (44) extending lengthwise of the
frame, and a latch arm (46) on said side wall (14), the latch arm (46) being spaced
from, and aligned with, one end of the channel (42) and having a shoulder (48) facing
away from said one end, and a lip portion (50) extending from the shoulder (48) in
a direction away from said one end of the channel (42).
4. A connecting unit as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the lever (6)
comprises a pivot portion (100) at one end of the frame (4) and a free ended lever
arm (102) extending from the pivot portion (100) and being substantially narrower
than the pivot portion in the transverse direction of the frame (4), the lever arm
(102) covering, in the closed position of the lever (6), only part of each compartment
(18) for allowing leads (L1) extending from the, or each, first connector (148) to
escape from the connecting unit (2).
5. A connecting unit (2) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the lever arm (102)
is of honey comb construction in that it comprises an upper longitudinal thin wall
(116) an intersecting transverse and longitudinal ribs (118, 120) on the inner face
of said thin wall (116).
6. A connecting unit (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that a latch arm (66) on the frame (4) is engageable in an opening (114) in a journal
shaft of the lever (6) for releasably latching the lever (6) in its open position.
7. A connecting unit (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that a lever guide rail (52) upstands from each side wall (14) of the frame (4),
opposed cheeks (106) on the lever (6) each slidably engaging a respective one of the
guide rails (52) to guide the lever (6) between its open and its closed positions.
8. A connecting unit (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized
by keying means for ensuring that only predetermined connectors can be received in
each compartment.
9. A connecting unit (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that each second connector (150) has a latching lip (25) for engaging a latching
nose (88) of a respective first connector (148) to retain it in a raised pre-mating
position.
10. A connecting unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in
that each compartment (18) has an upper open end (20) for receiving a respective first
connector (148) and a lower open end (22) for receiving a respective second connector
(150), and a latch arm (34) having a latching barb (36) proximate to said lower end
(22) for retaining the second connector (150) in the compartment (18).
11. A connecting unit (2) as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims, characterized
in that, the lever (6) has a rear end (100) pivoted to the frame for movement of the
lever between an open position in which the lever (6) is raised from the frame (4)
and a closed position in which the lever (6) is adjacent to the frame (4), wherein
the lever (6) has at its forward end a latch arm (124) having a rear portion (126)
connected to the lever (6) and a forward portion (128) connected to the rear portion
(126) by a bight (130), the forward portion (128) has a forwardly projecting latching
shoulder (142) for engaging with an abutment (80) to latch the lever (6) in its closed
position, the latching shoulder (142) is releasable from the abutment (80) by pressing
the forward portion (128) of the latch arm rearwardly; the forward portion (128) of
the latch arm (124) upstands from the latching shoulder (142) between forward side
wall portions (136) of the lever (6), and a front end wall (138) of the lever (6),
spanning the side wall portions (136), has a cut-out (140) allowing access to the
forward portion (128) of the latch arm (124).
12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the forward portion (128)
of the latch arm (124) has a free end (134) which is substantially level with a top
wall (116) of the lever (6).
13. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the cut-out has an arcuate
base bowed towards the latching shoulder (142) and the cut-out (140) extends from
the arcuate base to the level of a top wall (116) of the lever (6).
14. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that a top wall (116) of the
lever (6) is forwardly tapered from the rear end (100) of the lever (6) up to the
forward side wall portions (136) of the lever (6).
15. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said abutment is provided
by a top wall (80) of a latch arm receiving receptacle (76) in the frame (4), and
in that the latch arm (124) extends only partially between the forward side wall portions
(136) of the lever (6), thereby leaving a forward lower shoulder (144) of the lever
(56) free to abut the frame (4).
16. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the latch arm (124) is formed
with longitudinal reinforcing corrugations (146).
17. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the forward portion (128)
of the latch arm (124) is stiffly resiliently flexible about said bight (130).
18. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the
lever (6) is so dimensioned that it only partially covers the frame (4) in the closed
position of the lever (6).
1. Elektrische Verbindungseinheit (2) , die folgendes umfaßt: einen länglichen Rahmen
(4) zum Aufnehmen erster und zweiter koppelbarer elektrischer Verbinder (148, 150),
ein Paar längs des Rahmens (4) entlang gegenüberliegenden länglichen Seitenwänden
(14) des Rahmens (4) gleitende, beabstandete Gleitstücke (8), wobei die Gleitstücke
bewegungssteuernde Flächen (82) zum Eingriff durch Vorsprünge (162) an dem ersten
Verbinder (148) aufweisen, und einen mit dem Rahmen (4) und den Gleitstücken (8) verbundenen
Betätigungshebel (6) zur Bewegung von einer offenen in eine geschlossene Position
zum Antreiben der Gleitstücke (8) in eine erste Richtung zum Koppeln der Verbinder
(148, 150) und von der geschlossenen in die offene Position zum Antreiben der Gleitstücke
(8) in eine zweite und entgegengesetzte Richtung zum Entkoppeln der Verbinder (148,
150); dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Rahmen (4) durch Trennwände (16), die sich über
den länglichen Rahmen (4) erstrecken, in eine Reihe von Fächern (18) unterteilt ist,
und daß jedes Gleitstück (8) eine Reihe von jeweils einem einzelnen der Fächer (18)
zugeordneten bewegungssteuernden Flächen (82) zum Eingriff durch einen jeweiligen
Vorsprung (162) an einem einzelnen ersten Verbinder (148) aufweist, wobei jedes Fach
Mittel (34, 36) zum Halten eines einzelnen zweiten Verbinders (150) darin aufweist,
wobei die Verbindungseinheit (2) zum Koppeln von 1 bis n Paaren koppelbarer Verbinder
(148, 150) verwendet werden kann, wobei n die Anzahl der Fächer (18) ist.
2. Verbindungseinheit (2) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eines oder mehrere
der Fächer (18) den einzelnen ersten und zweiten Verbinder (148, 150) enthält bzw.
enthalten, wobei jeder dieser Verbinder längere Seitenflächen (158, 159) und kürzere
Endflächen (160) aufweist, wobei die Vorsprünge (162) des ersten Verbinders (148)
sich an den kürzeren Endflächen (160) davon befinden, wobei die Fächer quer zu dem
Rahmen (4) länglich sind.
3. Verbindungseinheit (2) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine Seitenwand
(14) des Rahmens (4) mit einer Montageeinrichtung (43) zum Sichern des Rahmens (4)
an einer Stütze (174) versehen ist, wobei die Montageeinrichtung eine Gleitbahn (40)
umfaßt, die einen nach außen weisenden Kanal (42) präsentiert, der durch Führungsleisten
(44) definiert wird, die sich längs des Rahmens erstrecken, und einen Rastarm (46)
an der Seitenwand (14), wobei der Rastarm (46) von einem Ende des Kanals (42) beabstandet
und zu diesem ausgerichtet ist und eine von dem einen Ende wegweisende Schulter (48)
aufweist, und einen Lippenteil (50), der sich in einer Richtung weg von dem einem
Ende des Kanals (42) von der Schulter (48) aus erstreckt.
4. Verbindungseinheit nach Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Hebel
(6) einen Drehteil (100) an einem Ende des Rahmens (4) und einen Hebelarm (102) mit
freiem Ende, der sich von dem Drehteil (100) erstreckt und wesentlich schmaler ist
als der Drehteil in der Querrichtung des Rahmens (4), umfaßt, wobei der Hebelarm (102)
in der geschlossenen Position des Hebels (6) lediglich einen Teil jedes Fachs (18)
abdeckt, damit von dem bzw. jedem ersten Verbinder (148) verlaufende Leitungen (L1)
aus der Verbindungseinheit (2) entweichen können.
5. Verbindungseinheit (2) nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Hebelarm (102)
einen Wabenaufbau aufweist, da er eine obere dünne Längswand (116) eine schneidende
Quer- und Längsrippen (118, 120) an der Innenfläche der dünnen Wand (116) umfaßt.
6. Verbindungseinheit (2) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß ein Rastarm (66) an dem Rahmen (4) in eine Öffnung (114) in einer Achszapfenwelle
des Hebels (6) eingreifen kann, um den Hebel (6) in seiner offenen Position lösbar
einzurasten.
7. Verbindungseinheit (2) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß von jeder Seitenwand (14) des Rahmens (4) aus eine Hebelführungsschiene (52) hochsteht,
wobei gegenüberliegende Backen (106) an dem Hebel (6) jeweils eine der Führungsschienen
(52) gleitend in Eingriff nehmen, um den Hebel (6) zwischen seiner offenen Position
und seiner geschlossenen Position zu führen.
8. Verbindungseinheit (2) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, gekennzeichnet durch
Keilmittel, um sicherzustellen, daß in jedem Fach nur vorbestimmte Verbinder aufgenommen
werden können.
9. Verbindungseinheit (2) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß jeder zweite Verbinder (150) eine Rastlippe (25) zur Eingriffnahme einer Rastnase
(88) eines jeweiligen ersten Verbinders (148) aufweist, um ihn in einer angehobenen
Vorkopplungsposition zu halten.
10. Verbindungseinheit nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß jedes Fach (18) ein oberes offenes Ende (20) zum Aufnehmen eines jeweiligen ersten
Verbinders (148) und ein unteres offenes Ende (22) zum Aufnehmen eines jeweiligen
zweiten Verbinders (150) und einen Rastarm (34) mit einem Rasthaken (36) in der Nähe
des unteren Endes (22) zum Halten des zweiten Verbinders (150) in dem Fach (18) aufweist.
11. Verbindungseinheit (2) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Hebel (6) ein hinteres Ende (100) aufweist, das an dem Rahmen zur Bewegung
des Hebels zwischen einer offenen Position, in der der Hebel (6) von dem Rahmen (4)
abgehoben ist, und einer geschlossenen Position, in der sich der Hebel (6) neben dem
Rahmen (4) befindet, angelenkt ist, wobei der Hebel (6) an seinem vorderen Ende einen
Rastarm (124) mit einem mit dem Hebel (6) verbundenen hinteren Teil (126) und einem
über eine Ausbuchtung (130) mit dem hinteren Teil (126) verbundenen vorderen Teil
aufweist, der vordere Teil (128) eine nach vorne vorstehende Rastschulter (142) zur
Ineingriffnahme mit einem Anschlag (80) zum Einrasten des Hebels (6) in seiner geschlossenen
Position aufweist, die Rastschulter (142) durch Drücken des vorderen Teils (128) des
Rastarms nach hinten aus dem Anschlag (80) gelöst werden kann; der vordere Teil (128)
des Rastarms (124) von der Rastschulter (142) zwischen vorderen Seitenwandteilen (136)
des Hebels (6) hochsteht und eine sich zwischen den Seitenwandteilen (136) erstreckende
vordere Endwand (138) des Hebels (6) eine Aussparung (140) aufweist, die Zugang zu
dem vorderen Teil (128) des Rastarms (124) gestattet.
12. Anordnung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der vordere Teil (128) des
Rastarms (124) ein freies Ende (134) aufweist, das sich im wesentlichen auf gleicher
Höhe mit einer oberen Wand (116) des Hebels (6) befindet.
13. Anordnung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Aussparung einen in Richtung
der Rastschulter (142) gebogenen bogenförmigen Boden aufweist und die Aussparung (140)
sich von dem bogenförmigen Boden bis zur Höhe einer oberen Wand (116) des Hebels (6)
erstreckt.
14. Anordnung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine obere Wand (116) des
Hebels (6) von dem hinteren Ende (100) des Hebels (6) bis zu den vorderen Seitenwandteilen
(136) des Hebels (6) nach vorne verjüngt ist.
15. Anordnung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Anschlag durch eine obere
Wand (80) eines Rastarmsockels (76) in dem Rahmen (4) gebildet wird und daß der Rastarm
(124) sich nur teilweise zwischen den vorderen Seitenwandteilen (136) des Hebels (6)
erstreckt, wodurch eine vordere untere Schulter (144) des Hebels (56) an dem Rahmen
(4) anschlagen kann.
16. Anordnung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Rastarm (124) mit in Längsrichtung
verlaufenden verstärkenden Rillen (146) ausgebildet ist.
17. Anordnung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der vordere Teil (128) des
Rastarms (124) um die Ausbuchtung (130) steif-elastisch flexibel ist.
18. Anordnung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der
Hebel (6) so dimensioniert ist, daß er in der geschlossenen Position des Hebels (6)
den Rahmen (4) nur teilweise abdeckt.
1. Unité de connexion électrique (2) comprenant un châssis allongé (4) destiné à recevoir
des premier et deuxième connecteurs électriques complémentaires (148, 150), une paire
de coulisseaux espacés (8) susceptibles de coulisser sur la longueur du châssis (4)
le long de parois latérales allongées opposées (14) du châssis (4), les coulisseaux
présentant des surfaces de came (82) destinées à être engagées par des saillies (162)
sur le premier connecteur (148), et un levier d'actionnement (6) connecté au châssis
(4) et aux coulisseaux (8), destiné à se déplacer d'une position ouverte à une position
fermée en vue d'entraîner les coulisseaux (8) dans une première direction afin d'accoupler
les connecteurs (148, 150) et de la position fermée à la position ouverte en vue d'entraîner
les coulisseaux (8) dans une deuxième direction opposée afin de désaccoupler les connecteurs
(148, 150), caractérisée en ce que le châssis (4) est divisé en une série de compartiments
(18) par des cloisons (16) se prolongeant en travers du châssis allongé (4), et en
ce que chaque coulisseau (8) présente une série de surfaces de came (82), chacune
associée à un compartiment individuel parmi les compartiments (18), destinées à être
engagées par une saillie (162) respective sur un premier connecteur individuel (148),
chaque compartiment possédant des moyens (34, 36) permettant d'y retenir un deuxième
connecteur individuel (150), si bien que l'unité de connexion (2) peut être utilisée
pour accoupler 1 à n paires de connecteurs complémentaires (148, 150), n représentant
le nombre de compartiments (18).
2. Unité de connexion (2) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce qu'un ou plusieurs
des compartiments (18) contient lesdits premier et deuxième connecteurs individuels
(148, 150), chacun de ces connecteurs présentant des faces latérales (158, 159) plus
longues et des faces d'extrémité (160) plus courtes, les saillies (162) du premier
connecteur (148) se trouvant sur ses faces d'extrémité (160) plus courtes, les compartiments
étant allongés transversalement au châssis (4).
3. Unité de connexion (2) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce qu'une paroi
latérale (14) du châssis (4) est pourvue d'un dispositif de montage (43) destiné à
fixer le châssis (4) à un support (174), le dispositif de montage comprenant une glissière
(40) présentant un canal (42) tourné vers l'extérieur et défini par des contre-clavettes
(44) se prolongeant sur la longueur du châssis, et un bras de verrouillage (46) sur
ladite paroi latérale (14), le bras de verrouillage (46) étant espacé par rapport
à une extrémité du canal (42) et aligné avec celle-ci, et présentant un épaulement
(48) tourné du côté opposé à ladite une extrémité, et une partie de lèvre (50) se
prolongeant depuis l'épaulement (48) dans une direction s'éloignant de ladite une
extrémité du canal (42).
4. Unité de connexion selon la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, caractérisée en ce que le levier
(6) comprend une partie de pivotement (100) au niveau d'une extrémité du châssis (4)
et un bras (102) de levier à extrémité libre se prolongeant depuis la partie de pivotement
(100) et substantiellement plus étroit que la partie de pivotement dans la direction
transversale du châssis (4), le bras (102) de levier ne recouvrant, dans la position
fermée du levier (6), qu'une partie de chaque compartiment (18) pour permettre à des
conducteurs (L1) se prolongeant depuis le, ou chaque, premier connecteur (148) de
s'échapper de l'unité de connexion (2).
5. Unité de connexion (2) selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que le bras (102)
de levier présente une structure alvéolaire en ce qu'il comprend une paroi longitudinale
supérieure mince (116) une des nervures transversales et longitudinales (118, 120)
s'entrecoupant sur la face intérieure de ladite paroi mince (116).
6. Unité de connexion (2) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée
en ce qu'un bras de verrouillage (66) sur le châssis (4) peut s'engager dans une ouverture
(114) dans un axe lisse du levier (6) en vue de verrouiller le levier (6) de manière
déblocable dans sa position ouverte.
7. Unité de connexion (2) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée
en ce qu'un rail de guidage (52) de levier s'élève depuis chaque paroi latérale (14)
du châssis (4), des joues opposées (106) sur le levier (6) engageant chacune par glissement
un rail respectif des rails de guidage (52) pour guider le levier (6) entre ses positions
ouverte et fermée.
8. Unité de connexion (2) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée
par des moyens de clavetage destinés à faire en sorte que seuls des connecteurs prédéterminés
puissent être reçus dans chaque compartiment.
9. Unité de connexion (2) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée
en ce que chaque deuxième connecteur (150) présente une lèvre de verrouillage (25)
destinée à engager un talon de verrouillage (88) d'un premier connecteur (148) respectif
afin de le retenir dans une position relevée de pré-accouplement.
10. Unité de connexion selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée
en ce que chaque compartiment (18) possède une extrémité supérieure ouverte (20) pour
recevoir un premier connecteur (148) respectif et une extrémité inférieure ouverte
(22) pour recevoir un deuxième connecteur (150) respectif, et un bras de verrouillage
(34) doté d'un cliquet de verrouillage (36) à proximité de ladite extrémité inférieure
(22) pour retenir le deuxième connecteur (150) dans le compartiment (18).
11. Unité de connexion (2) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en
ce que le levier (6) présente une extrémité arrière (100) montée pivotante sur le
châssis en vue de déplacer le levier entre une position ouverte dans laquelle le levier
(6) est relevé par rapport au châssis (4) et une position fermée dans laquelle le
levier (6) est adjacent au châssis (4), le levier (6) présentant, au niveau de son
extrémité avant, un bras de verrouillage (124) possédant une partie arrière (126)
connectée au levier (6) et une partie avant (128) connectée à la partie arrière (126)
par une anse (130), la partie avant (128) présentant un épaulement de verrouillage
(142) faisant saillie vers l'avant destiné à engager une butée (80) en vue de verrouiller
le levier (6) dans sa position fermée, l'épaulement de verrouillage (142) pouvant
être débloqué de la butée (80) en appuyant sur la partie avant (128) du bras de verrouillage
vers l'arrière; la partie avant (128) du bras de verrouillage (124) s'élève depuis
l'épaulement de verrouillage (142) entre des parties de parois latérales avant (136)
du levier (6), et une paroi d'extrémité avant (138) du levier (6), s'étendant entre
les parties de parois latérales (136), présente un évidement (140) permettant d'accéder
à la partie avant (128) du bras de verrouillage (124).
12. Ensemble selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que la partie avant (128) du
bras de verrouillage (124) présente une extrémité libre (134) qui est substantiellement
à niveau avec une paroi supérieure (116) du levier (6).
13. Ensemble selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que l'évidement présente une
base arquée courbée en direction de l'épaulement de verrouillage (142) et l'évidement
(140) se prolonge depuis la base arquée jusqu'au niveau d'une paroi supérieure (116)
du levier (6).
14. Ensemble selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce qu'une paroi supérieure (116)
du levier (6) s'amincit vers l'avant depuis l'extrémité arrière (100) du levier (6)
jusqu'aux parties de parois latérales avant (136) du levier (6).
15. Ensemble selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que ladite butée est fournie
par une paroi supérieure (80) d'une alvéole de réception (76) de bras de verrouillage
dans le châssis (4), et en ce que le bras de verrouillage (124) ne se prolonge que
partiellement entre les parties de parois latérales avant (136) du levier (6), en
laissant ainsi un épaulement inférieur avant (144) du levier (56) libre de venir buter
contre le châssis (4).
16. Ensemble selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que le bras de verrouillage
(124) est doté de profils de renforcement longitudinaux (146).
17. Ensemble selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que la partie avant (128) du
bras de verrouillage (124) est flexible de façon rigidement élastique autour de ladite
anse (130).
18. Ensemble selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce
que le levier (6) est dimensionné de telle sorte qu'il ne recouvre que partiellement
le châssis (4) dans la position fermée du levier (6).