JPS584430B2 - electrical connector cover - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cover for use with an electrical connector of the type disclosed in Patent Application Publication No. 3797/1982.

Such connectors include an insulating housing having a body having a rear wire connection surface and a front mating surface, and ribs extending laterally from the rear wire connection surface, one row on each side of the ribs. Two rows of terminals are fixed within the body so that the terminals are disposed, the terminals having contact portions projecting in the same direction as the front surface of the body and connecting portions projecting from the rear surface; Each of the connecting portions includes a plate having a wire-receiving slot opening at one edge, the plates in each row being substantially co-planar, with the slot openings facing away from the lip on opposite sides of the rib. stand up from

The wire is cut to the required length, and when the end of the wire is pushed into the slot transversely with respect to the axis of the wire, the end is connected to the terminal, and the edge of the slot cuts the insulation of the wire. An electrical connection is established between the terminal and the core of the wire.

A cover for use at the rear of the connector is also disclosed in the specification of the aforementioned Patent Application Publication No. 3797/1982.

The cover forms an insulating body with opposing grooves, each groove being interconnected at one end by an integral end wall.

Each groove receives one row of slotted plates when the connector is installed in the cover, the groove walls retaining the wires within the terminal slots, and the groove front walls retaining the wires in the rear surface of the body. is formed so as to come into contact with.

However, the above structure is not suitable for using the cover between the ends of the electric wire because the cover and the connector do not have an opening for leading the electric wire to the outside.

Furthermore, the above-described cover must be assembled by aligning the open end of the groove with the slotted plate of the terminal and sliding the cover over the row of terminals.

Therefore, when the electric wire is led out from the assembly, the assembly interferes with the portion of the electric wire led out to the outside, making it difficult to assemble the cover to the connector.

Therefore, when it is necessary to make a reliable connection between the ends of the wire, it is desirable to provide a cover instead of the above-mentioned cover.

The present invention is an improvement on the above-mentioned cover. According to the present invention, a cover for an electrical connector includes an insulating housing having a wire connection rear surface from which transverse ribs project, a row of terminals being secured to the housing on each side of the ribs, the terminals being fixed to the wire connection rear surface. The plate has wire connection portions projecting from the surface, each wire connection portion having a wire receiving slot opening at its edge, the plate extending away from the rib such that the slot opens away from the rib. erected, the cover comprises an insulator with opposing grooves respectively receiving the slotted plates of each row of terminals, the walls of the grooves being in contact with the plates when the cover is assembled into the connector. a cover for an electrical connector adapted to retain an electrical wire in a slot of the cover, said cover comprising two halves each having said groove, and a locking device being provided on said cover halves; , the locking device is arranged such that the cover is positioned against opposite sides of the ribs of the connector housing such that the grooves are laterally spaced apart and aligned with the respective upper and lower rows of the slotted plates; When pressed together, the front walls of each cover can be engaged with each other, and the front wall of each cover, together with the rear surface of the connector housing, defines a lead-out opening for each wire and has an arcuate front edge to hold the wire. A cover is provided, characterized in that the tension in the electric wire is relieved by tightening the lead-out portion of the rear surface against a portion of the rear surface extending perpendicularly to each side of the rib.

Since the external lead-out portion of the wire extends in the same direction as the slot, with conventional means there is a risk that the wire will be pulled out of the slot when it is connected to a connector of another harness.

Therefore, it is especially important to tighten the lead-out portion of the wire.

Each half of the cover has the same shape, and one end of each cover half has a strong and flexible locking band with an opening, the other end has a boss, and the other half of the cover has the same shape. Preferably, the boss is snap-fitted into the opening.

According to this configuration, it is easy to attach and manufacture the cover.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, the wires 2, 2' are inserted into the slots of the terminals in their intermediate parts, so that the wire portions 2as2
a' extends laterally from the collector 4.

The connector 4 is of the same type as that described in Patent Application Publication No. 3797/1982, and as shown in FIG. including.

A contact receiving cavity 12, 12' extends from the rear side 10 towards the mating surface 8 and opens towards the surface 14, l4' of the rib 13.

The lip 13 protrudes from the center of the central body portion 7.

A hood portion 16 surrounds the rib 13, which hood portion, when coupled to a complementary connector, as described in the specification of the above-mentioned patent application Publication No. 1983-3797, It is meant to be surrounded.

Individual contact terminals 18 are housed within the connector.

The terminal includes a central handle portion extending through the receiving cavity 12, a narrow contact arm 22 extending from one end of the handle portion, and a pair of spaced apart plate portions provided at the other end of the handle portion. include.

The plate parts are connected to each other at their upper ends by parallel bands (not shown).

The wire is forced between the straps transversely with respect to the axis of the wire and into the core contacting opposing slots of the plate portion to connect the wire to the terminal.

A rib 34 extends from the rear surface 46 of the housing 6 and the handle portion of the terminal 18 is supported on opposite sides 36,36' of said rib 34.

Isolation plates 38 rise from the sides 36 between adjacent handle portions to isolate the individual terminals from each other.

The isolation plate 38 projects beyond the plate portion and strap portion of the terminal at the rear end of the terminal and is reduced in height proximate the body portion of the housing and joins a rearward facing surface 42 perpendicular to the sides 36.

The rearwardly facing surface 42 is connected to a ledge 44 parallel to the side surfaces 36, which in turn leads to another rearwardly facing surface 46 of the central body 7 of the housing.

The cover 50 consists of two halves, each half including an elongated web 52.

The web 52 has a first flange 5 depending from its rear edge.
4 and a relatively short second section depending from the leading edge of the web 52 and adjacent the rear surface 46 after assembly of the connector.
It has a flange 56.

The outer surface 58 of the flange 56 is cylindrical so that the wires are better accommodated and clamped against the surfaces 42,46.

A central 7-flange 60 is provided between the flanges 54 and 56 and a groove 61 is formed therein.

The groove 61 accommodates the plate portion of the terminal and the blocking plate 38.

The flanges 56,60 are of sufficient height to hold the wires so as to provide a secure connection at the inner end of the terminal slot.

Each identically shaped cover half has a depending flange 62 with locking devices at both ends and integral with a locking strip 66 having a central opening 68 at one end.

The other end of each cover half has a depending 70 flange 64 with a central recess 70 formed to receive a locking strip 66' of the other cover half. is provided with a locking boss 72 that cooperates with the locking band portion 66'.

In FIG. 2, as each half is moved opposite to each other, the bands 66, 66' expand outwardly and the bosses open at the openings 68.
68'.

Opposite surfaces 74.74' and 7 of end flanges 62.64
6.76' abut the sides 48 (FIG. 2A) of the central rib 34 of the connector housing, so that the cover 50 is held against movement.

The locking strips 66,66' are rigid and flexible, and the cover parts are molded from a plastic material so that the cover half can be snugly assembled onto the connector.

After inserting the electric wires 2 and 2' into the slots of the contact terminals by the method described below, the upper cover halves arranged on both sides 48 of the rib 34 are pressed against each other to keep them locked. By matching the cover 50, the cover 50 is assembled to the housing.

When the cover parts are assembled, the 7 langes 54. 54' forms a rear opening 78 through which the electrical wires 2, 2' to be introduced pass.

The front 7 langes 56 press the wire firmly against the surface 42.46 so that no tensile forces are created in the electrical connections.

If necessary, an auxiliary clamping device may be provided at the rear of the seven flange 54, 54' to securely grip the lead-in wires 2, 2'.

The electrical harness shown in Fig. 4 includes electrical connectors 4A, 4B,
Includes 4C, 4D, 4F and electric wires 2, 2'.

One end of the electric wire 2 is connected to the ten row terminals of the connector 4A, and the electric wire 2'
One end is connected to the lower row of terminals of the connector 4A, and both electric wires 2, 2' are connected to the connector 4B at their intermediate portions.

The wires 2' are then connected to the ten rows of terminals of the connector 4C, and another wire 2' extends from the lower row of terminals of the connector 4C.

The wires 2, 2'' are then connected at their intermediate portions to a connector 4D and then to a connector 4E.

The electrical harness shown in FIG. 4 can be easily formed by inserting wires into a plurality of insertion devices as described below.

The insertion device is mounted on the panel at a location corresponding to the location of the harness connector.

The present invention can be implemented on various types of cables in addition to individual wire collections.

For example, the individual conductors of a ribbon cable (parallel, spaced circular conductors covered with an insulating web) can be cut axially between adjacent conductors and inserted into individual terminals using the method described above. obtain.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a flat ribbon conductor (a plurality of coplanar parallel ribbon conductors covered with an insulating web) of a flat cable.
It can also be implemented when electrically connecting to.

The insertion device shown in Fig. 5 and Fig.
This is an insertion device that is a modification of the device disclosed in No. 5, No. 25712.

The apparatus includes a casting frame having a base 80 and uprights 82, 84 integral with and spaced apart from the base.

Post 84 constitutes a connector placement jig and has a surface 88 formed with a reduced height.

With the mating surface of the connector nosing 60 abutting said surface 88 and the lower surface of the rib 34 resting on the forwardly extending shoulder 90, the wire-receiving portions of the individual contact terminals are laterally opposed with respect to the post. Ru.

Steel plates 86, 86' are fixed to both sides of the column and support both sides of the connector.

A pair of wire placement jigs 92. with arms 94.94'.
92' is pivotally connected to a pin 96 passing between the struts 82,84.

A central cavity 98 extends along the axis of the arm 94, and wire locators 100, 102 are secured to the arm on opposite sides of the central cavity.

A positioner 102 mounted on the post 84 and located remote from the connector is secured to the side of the arm by a stator 104 and extends beyond the inner surface of the arm.

A plurality of spaced apart isolation plates 106 project from an inwardly facing surface 107 of the locator body.

The spacing between adjacent isolation plates is equal to the spacing between adjacent terminals in the connector.

Surface 107 slopes inward toward cavity 98 so that
Each wire 2 is placed in a positioner 100 corresponding to said surface 107.
is guided towards the surface 114 of.

The locator 100 is secured to the arm by a stator 104 and has a standoff plate 110 whose upper edge is curved as shown at 112 to provide an air gap with the steel plate 86.

Surfaces 107, 114 so that the wire can be laterally extended through the locators 100, 102 in front of the insertion device 132, described below, and subsequently guided laterally by the surface 114 from the connector held on the post 84. is sloped.

A locking block 116 is fixed to the outer end of the arm 94,
The block has a recess 117 on the inward facing side and a leaf spring 118 on the outward facing side.

The outer end of arm 94' has a block 116' complementary to block 116.

Arms 94.94' can pivot inwardly toward a closed position.

In the closed position, spring 118 engages shoulder 120 of block 116', and the wires disposed within both locators align with the slots of the respective terminals.

An apron or mounting plate 122 having ears 123 for locking coil springs 124, 124' is attached to the locator 10.
It is provided adjacent to 2.

When individual wires are arranged in a row between adjacent coils of the spring, the wires are lightly held between the arrangers 100 and 102.

An apron 126 is attached adjacent the positioner 100 to the side of the arm opposite to the side to which the apron 122 is attached.

The apron 126 extends outwardly from the arm at right angles to the direction of movement of the arm between the open and closed positions.

A wire holding spring 130 extends across the apron 126 to hold the wire as it is pulled out.

A 7 flange 128 is provided at the end of the apron 126 to provide a surface for guiding the wire outwardly from the insertion zone.

Individual electrical bodies are inserted into the slots of each terminal by wire inserters 142.

The wire inserter 142 is mounted on the plate 132 and moves through a cavity 98 in the arm 94.

Plate 132 supports arm 13 pivoting about pin 96.
4 with a suitable stator.

Arm 134 has a handle 136 at its outer end for easy pivoting to a closed position.

The inner edge 138 of the plate 132 has an axial recess 140.
and the wire inserters are spaced apart along the recess.

The inserter enters the opening between the strips of the terminal and forces the conductor into the slot.

Recess 140 is wide enough to accommodate blocking plate 38 when the device is closed.

In operation, first the arms 94, 94' and 134,
Pivot 134' to the open position shown in FIG.

Next, connect the wires to the positioners 100, 102 and the gripping springs 124, 1.
Place it within 30.

Both positioners are pivoted inwardly against opposite sides of the connector to align the wires with their respective terminals.

The arms 134, 134' are then pivoted inwardly, causing the plates 132, 132' to move through the cavities 98, 98', causing the edges 138, 138' and 139, 13 of the plate members to move through the cavities 98, 98'.
9' and inserters 142, 142' force the wire laterally with respect to its axis from the locator and into the slot of the terminal.

Finally, open the arm and remove the connector.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 was published in the patent application published in Showa 5
The device differs from the device disclosed in the specification of No. 5, No. 3797 in the following points.

That is, they are spaced from the side openings 98 of the plates 132, 132' so that the wires are not damaged during insertion, and in addition, the edges 146, 146' are not coplanar with the rear surface 46 of the connector. Since the wire is shortened, the wire will not be cut by the edge.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector coupled to a plurality of electric wires at intermediate positions between the ends thereof and a cover assembly according to the present invention;
2 is a perspective view in section of the cover assembly, and FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the rear portion of the same connector as shown in FIG. 4 shows the wiring indicated by 4A, 4C, and 4E, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing how the connector and wire harness are attached, and The figure is a perspective view of an apparatus for coupling a plurality of electric wires to terminals of a connector, and FIG. 6 is a partially sectional view of the above-mentioned coupling apparatus, showing the relative positions of the jig and the insertion tool after the electric wires are inserted. 2... Electric wire, 4... Connector, 6... Housing, 18... Contact terminal, 34... Rib, 46.46'
...Rear surface, 50...Cover, 56.56'...
・Front wall, 61...Groove, 66.66', 72.72
'...Locking device.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A cover for an electrical connector comprising an insulating housing having a wire connection rear surface from which transverse ribs project, a row of terminals being secured to said housing on each side of said ribs, said terminals a wire connection portion protruding from said wire connection rear surface, each wire connection portion comprising a plate having a wire receiving slot opening at an edge thereof, said plate opening in a direction away from said rib; The cover, rising from the lip, comprises an insulator with opposing grooves respectively receiving the slotted plates of each row of terminals, and the walls of the groove are arranged so that the cover is assembled into the connector. Sometimes in covers for electrical connectors which serve to retain electrical wires in the slots of said plates, said covers consist of two halves each having said groove 61 and locking devices 66', 72. , 66, 72' are provided on the cover halves, the locking devices ensuring that the cover halves are on both sides 36., 66, 72' of the lip 34 of the connector housing.
36', said grooves being laterally spaced apart and aligned with respective upper and lower rows of said slotted plates, so that said grooves are mutually engageable when pressed together; A semi-circular front wall 56,56' defines a lead-out opening for each wire with the rear surface 46 of the connector housing and has an arcuate front edge 158, which allows the wire lead-out portion to be located within the rear surface 46. The cover is characterized in that the tension on the electric wires is alleviated by tightening the ribs 34 at portions extending perpendicularly to each side thereof.