TWI528654B - Combined electrical connector with tolerance compensation - Google Patents

Description

Combined electrical connector with tolerance compensation

The present invention relates to a composite electrical connector, and more particularly to a connector that receives two inner casings in an outer casing, each of which is equipped with an electrical contact component. The invention is particularly applicable to so-called interlock circuits involved in automobiles.

In an automobile, if an electrical device having a voltage higher than the low voltage range (i.e., higher than 60 volts (V)) is operated, a control mechanism must be installed for safety on the high voltage vehicle electrical system and its components. Monitor insulation damage, as well as detect service and/or debug work and unfinished assembly procedures. One possibility is to install a control circuit, a so-called interlock circuit. If this interlock circuit is interrupted, the special device ensures that the voltage presented is reduced as quickly as possible. This can be done, for example, by a contactor that interrupts the circuit or discharges the capacitor.

In particular, in the case of driving an automobile by an electric motor, a voltage ranging from 300 V to 650 V is exhibited due to such demanded electric power. In particular, in the case of connecting the electric motor to the connector of the other components, such as the transmission housing, it is therefore necessary to safely open the interlock circuit if the power supply connector is removed for safety.

In general, especially in the field of automotive electronics, the problem of having to close the plug-and-socket connection often occurs, where significant tolerances are imposed on the two components that are about to be connected with respect to each other. These locations.

From U.S. Patent No. 7,393,229 B2, a rotatable mount for a connector is known which compensates for positional deviations in the x, y direction, allowing the connector to rotate in contact with the mating plug. The purpose of the connector configuration shown in this specification is also to compensate for the radial positional deviation between the connector and its mating connector of the geometric tolerance type.

U.S. Patent No. 6,739,893 B2 relates to a plug connection configuration that is incorporated into the housing of an electronic module and allows for tolerance compensation in the x and y directions. For this purpose, an insert with a pin opening is provided which is movably embedded in the recess of the outer casing. When the plug connection is formed by connecting the card to the circuit carrier, the alignment of the pin openings of the card with respect to the contact elements is made possible by the excess of the connection point of the card and the housing. The configuration proposed in this specification is used, for example, in the case of an electronic module as a controller in an automobile. Thus the tolerance in the x, y directions is compensated by providing a lateral gap.

A configuration for connecting a printed circuit board to a first and a second controller is known from U.S. Patent No. 7,044,751 B2. In the specification disclosed herein, when an electronic module is soldered to a printed circuit board, the end points belonging to a second electronic controller are not directly soldered, but are passed through an intermediate adapter, so in the case of the defect The two controllers can be easily separated.

U.S. Patent No. 6,065,988 is directed to an assembly structure for an electronic module. Some of the same electrical contacts are housed in a movable inner casing, and the inner casing is squeezed by applying an elastic force to the associated joint. The elastic force is supported against the outer casing. This configuration is suitable for ensuring that even if there is vibration, there is sufficient contact pressure between the front contact and its joint, such as a contact dashboard for use in a car.

However, known connectors are always based on the assumption that the same geometric tolerances apply to all contacts that are about to be closed. Combination connectors constructed from more than one plug system are not considered in these known configurations.

The object according to the invention clearly clarifies a combined electrical connector which makes it possible to simultaneously insert and unplug connectors of different systems, in particular connectors having different geometric tolerances in the insertion direction.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the scope of such independent patent application. Further developments of the present invention are the subject matter of the scope of such dependent claims.

The present invention is based on the idea of providing first and second sockets in an outer casing for respectively receiving the first and second inner casings and forming the second socket, so that the second inner casing is housed And moving in the second socket and in an insertion direction relative to the outer casing.

As such, it is possible to compensate for the tolerance between the second connector and its mating connector, even if they are significantly higher than the geometric tolerances allowed by the first connector and its mating connector. In particular, in this case for a car, the first inner casing can be arranged as a high voltage supply contact and the second inner casing can be arranged as an interlocking connector. The configuration according to the invention then achieves the goal of significantly compensating for higher tolerances in the interlocking circuit, if necessary, while at the same time ensuring that the connection of the interlocking circuit is open when the combined connector is removed.

By using the combination connector according to the invention, in the step of disassembling, the voltage-carrying high voltage connector and the interlocking circuit are both open, achieving this maximum possible safety for the service engineer.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second socket also has a holding device that tightly secures the second inner casing in the outer casing. It is thus possible to ensure that in the event of a repair, the interlocking plug cannot be detached from the housing as part of the low voltage connector without the tool.

In the high voltage plug housing, the socket of the small interlocking plug is designed so that it is possible to compensate for tolerance compensation of about ± 1 millimeter (mm) in one direction. This is, for example, the appropriate tolerance between the electric motor and the transfer housing. However, the combined connector solution according to the present invention is clearly applicable not only to high voltage circuits in the case of hybrid and electric vehicles, but also to any tolerance compensation that must be achieved between two or more connector systems. local. According to the invention, it is also achieved by this solution that the interlocking plug cannot be detached from the high voltage plug housing without an auxiliary tool.

The retaining means for securing the second inner casing to the outer casing can be performed, for example, by two limit stop edges, and the inner casing between the two limit stop edges is movable.

If the second socket has a plug opening to connect the plug and the socket to the second joint connector, and the second socket has a mounting opening to mount the second inner casing in the outer casing, The existing connector system can then be easily used as the second inner casing. For a particularly simple installation, the second socket can be substantially in the form of a tube, the plug opening and the mounting opening being in opposite end regions.

Once the plug and socket are closed, in order to fix it, the same The first and second inner casings are locked together with the appropriate mating connector. This, for example, makes the elastic fixation of the inner casing redundant.

Therefore, in the case of maintenance, the second inner casing and the other connector can be detached together. According to an advantageous further development of the present invention, the locking device having the plug and socket connected to the second joint connector can be It is obtained from the outside and is especially detachable.

Especially in the automotive field, it is often necessary to protect the electrical contact from moisture and dust. Thus, by means of the sealing means, the respective joint connectors of the first and second inner casings can be sealed.

In particular, if the first inner casing is used as a high voltage connector involving track impedance and electric field strength, and the second inner casing is associated with an interlock safety circuit, it will simultaneously contact the high voltage connector. These advantageous properties of the invention are then effective.

The invention will be explained in more detail based on the specific embodiments shown in the following figures, in order to better understand the invention. These same reference symbols are given and the same component names are given to the same components. Moreover, some of the features or combinations of features shown and described in the specific embodiments may themselves represent an independent inventive solution or a solution in accordance with the invention.

The first figure is shown in perspective view, in a first advantageous embodiment, a composite electrical connector 100 in accordance with the present invention. In the particular embodiment shown, the modular electrical connector 100 has an outer casing 102, which is here formed as a sealed three-pole sealed high voltage connector.

Therefore, when the outer casing 102 is detached, an interlock circuit is simultaneously opened, and the power supply is turned off correspondingly, and in the outer casing 102, the interlock connector 104 is also mounted as a second separate inner casing. Interlocking plug 104 is part of the low voltage switch and is coupled to high voltage plug outer casing 102 in direction 106 when the vehicle is assembled.

It is especially apparent from the cross-sectional view of the fourth diagram that the interlocking plug 104 is received on the outer casing 102 in a socket 108 so that it is accommodated on the one hand so that it can move in the direction 106 and the other Aspects, after an insert enters the socket 108, it can only be separated from the outer casing 102 using a special tool. This socket 108 has a substantially tubular form that is adapted to the outer side profile of the interlocking plug 104, even with a complex diameter.

As can be seen from the first figure, the interlocking plug 104 has a locking device known as a connector position assurance (CPA) 110. Thus, if the entire modular electrical connector 100 is about to be removed, the interlocking plug can be removed and the CPA 110 is still externally accessible to the assembler. To avoid accidental detachment of the CPA, a frame 122 is formed on the outer casing 102.

Additionally, in the outer casing 102, a first inner casing 112 is received that encloses the high voltage junction therein. For example, the combined connector arrangement 100 can be secured to a module housing, such as through a bolted joint 114. Alternatively, however, a locking device can also be provided here.

The second and third figures show two views of the state in which the combined electrical connector is inserted together. For the sake of clarity, these cable supplies are not shown. In particular, the use of sealed cable contacts on the contact receptacle 116 is generally known in such high voltage connectors.

The fourth figure shows a cross-sectional view of the combined electrical connector arrangement in accordance with the present invention, for the sake of clarity, conductive components such as cables, plug pins and sockets are not shown.

As can be seen in the fourth figure, the socket 108 housing the second inner casing 104 has two restriction stops 118, 120. The second inner casing 104 is received between the restriction stops 118, 120 so that it can move in the direction 106. The high voltage contacts are housed in a first inner casing 112, and the electric field strength and track resistance are in accordance with the requirements of a high voltage casing. Since the high voltage connectors clearly conform to the narrower tolerances, the first inner casing 112 can be secured in a first socket 126 of the outer casing 102 without a gap. However, it is of course also possible to accommodate the first inner casing 112 in the outer casing 102, wherein the first inner casing 112 is movable.

In order to secure the second inner casing 104 to the associated mating joint, a particular embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a locking device, known as a CPA (connector positioning assembly) 110. A sealing device 124 also enables sealing engagement of the second inner casing 104 with the associated joint connector.

If the combination connector 100 is to be removed during maintenance, the interlocking connector 104 must also be disengaged in accordance with the present invention, since the second inner casing 104 between the two restriction stops 120 and 118 is received, Separating the outer casing 102 from the second inner casing 104 requires a special tool. If such a special tool is not used, the receptacle 108 or housing 104 may be irreparably damaged by attempting to leave the interlocking plug on its mating connector. In accordance with the present invention, the distance between the two limit stops 118 and 120 is selected to compensate for a suitable tolerance size of about ± 1 millimeter (mm) in one direction.

100‧‧‧Combined electrical connectors

102‧‧‧External casing

104‧‧‧Interlocking connector, interlocking plug, second inner casing

106‧‧‧Insert direction/direction

108‧‧‧ socket

110‧‧‧Connector positioning assembly

112‧‧‧First inner casing

114‧‧‧Bolted joint

116‧‧‧Contact socket

118, 120‧‧‧Restricted stop

122‧‧‧Frame

124‧‧‧ Sealing device

126‧‧‧First socket

The first figure shows a perspective view of the combined electrical connector during the installation of the second inner casing; the second figure shows a perspective view ready to be inserted into the combined connector; the third figure shows the view after the second figure is rotated; the fourth figure shows A schematic cross-sectional view of the combined electrical connector of the second figure.

100. . . Combination electrical connector

110. . . Connector positioning component

102. . . Outer casing

112. . . First inner casing

104. . . Interlock connector

116. . . Contact socket

104. . . Interlocking plug

118, 120. . . Limit stop

104. . . Second inner casing

122. . . frame

106. . . Insertion direction / direction

124. . . Sealing means

108. . . socket

126. . . First socket

Claims (15)

A combined electrical connector having an outer casing, a first inner casing and a second inner casing, wherein at least one first electrical contact component is received in the first inner casing, and at least a second electrical contact An element is disposed in the second inner casing to join the first and second inner casings to a first and a second joint plug housing in an insertion direction for engaging a corresponding joint contact member, the outer portion The outer casing has a first and a second socket for receiving the first and second inner casings, respectively, and the second socket is configured to be disposed in the second socket, and Moving relative to the insertion direction of the outer casing. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second socket also has a holding device that fixes the second inner casing in the outer casing, so that it can be removed only by using a special tool Without damage. The connector of claim 2, wherein the holding device has a first and a second limiting stop. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second socket has a plug opening and a mounting opening for connecting the plug and the socket to a second mating connector, the mounting opening for A second inner casing is mounted in the outer casing. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second socket has a substantially tubular form having a complex diameter, and the plug opening and the mounting opening are in opposite end regions. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second inner casing has a second locking device for locking the plug and the socket to connect to a second connection. Connector. The connector of claim 6, wherein the second locking device is externally accessible to disconnect the plug and the socket. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second inner casing has a second sealing means for sealing the second joint connector. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first inner casing is fixed in the outer casing without a gap. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first inner casing is in the form of a high voltage connector for track resistance and electric field strength. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first inner casing has a first sealing means for sealing the first joint connector. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second inner casing has an interlocking connector to close and open an interlock circuit. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer casing has a fixing means for fixing the combined electrical connector to a component to be contacted. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first inner casing has a first locking device for locking the plug and the socket to the first joint connector. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second inner casing is movable relative to the outer casing for a range of movement that compensates for a tolerance of at least ±1 mm in the insertion direction.