CN202564689U - Electric connector assembly and electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly, comprising a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector adapted to cooperate with each other along a mating direction; the first electrical connector has a first connector housing, the first connector housing includes a front section, The rear section and the middle gap sandwiched between the front section and the rear section; the second electrical connector has a second connector housing provided with a pair of opposite latches with locking hooks; when the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector When the connector is mated, the front section abuts against the second connector housing, and the lock hook is locked on the front section in the middle gap, and the lock hook can be touched from the outside through the middle gap; the middle gap It is set to have a mating direction width and a radial height that do not allow human fingers to access and release the locking hook from the outside. The utility model also relates to the above-mentioned electrical connector.

Description

Electrical connector components and electrical connectors

technical field

The utility model relates to an electrical connector assembly, in particular to an electrical connector assembly used for photovoltaic battery electric energy output, and also relates to an electrical connector.

Background technique

Electrical connector assemblies are generally used to connect two electrical components, for example, for electrical connection between photovoltaic panels, or for the overall electrical energy output of photovoltaic panels.

Electrical connector assemblies generally consist of two parts, each housing or containing an electrical component or photovoltaic panel. The two parts are detachable, when the two parts are disassembled, the corresponding electrical components or photovoltaic panels are respectively installed into the corresponding parts, and when the two parts are connected together, the corresponding electrical components or photovoltaic cells are completed electrical connections to the board.

The two parts of the electrical connector assembly usually realize the above-mentioned detachable feature by snap-fitting, one part includes a latch with a locking hook, and the other part includes a lock hole and a notch. When the two parts are connected together, the lock hook of the latch of one part passes through the lock hole of the other part and protrudes out of the lock hole, and then snaps and locks in the notch, thereby realizing Assembly of electrical connector components.

However, at this time, the hook of the latch is exposed outside, and it is easy to be unintentionally pressed by human fingers, such as operators or other irrelevant personnel, causing the two parts of the electrical connector assembly to be separated from the latch. In this way, eg cables or electrical connections between photovoltaic panels are accidentally disconnected, causing unintended consequences.

Utility model content

The purpose of the utility model is to solve the technical problem that the connection of the two electrical connector parts of the electrical connector assembly is easily unintentionally disengaged by fingers of operators or unrelated personnel without adding additional components.

To this end, in one aspect of the present invention, an electrical connector assembly is provided, including a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector adapted to cooperate with each other along a mating direction; the first electrical connector has The first connector housing, the first connector housing includes a front section, a rear section, and a pair of opposite three-side open middle gaps sandwiched between the front section and the rear section; the second electrical connector has a first Two connector housings, the second connector housing is provided with a pair of opposite latches with locking hooks; wherein, when the first electrical connector is mated with the second electrical connector, the front section abuts against the The second connector housing, the lock hooks of the pair of latches are locked on the front section in the pair of middle gaps, and the lock hooks can be accessed from the outside through the middle gap; the middle The notch is set to have a mating direction width and a radial height that do not allow human fingers to touch and release the locking hook from the outside.

According to a preferred embodiment, the mating direction width of the middle notch is smaller than the thickness of a human finger, so as not to allow the human finger to touch the locking hook locked in the space.

According to a preferred embodiment, the rear section includes a cavity extending from the central notch into the rear section, the cavity receiving the shackle of the latch when the first electrical connector is mated with the second electrical connector. at least partly.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first connector housing further includes a pair of side walls extending from an end of the rear section close to the middle notch along the mating direction into the middle notch.

According to a preferred embodiment, the rear section comprises a flange protruding outwards in the radial direction at an end close to the middle gap.

According to a preferred embodiment, said front section is of substantially the same height as said flange, and said substantially same height is greater than the height of the rest of said rear section.

According to a preferred embodiment, the electrical connector assembly further includes an unlocking device, and the unlocking device includes a gripping portion for human hands and a pair of legs extending opposite and parallel from the gripping portion, the pair of The distance between respective inner sides of the legs is sufficient to disengage the latched latch from the first connector housing.

Using the unlocking device according to the utility model, after the unlocking device engages the electrical connector assembly to be unlocked and the lock bolt reaches the disengaged position, the operator's hand can release the unlocking device and simultaneously move the two parts of the electrical connector assembly. connector part without having to hold the unlocking tool with one hand all the time.

Another aspect of the utility model also provides an electrical connector, the electrical connector has a connector housing, the connector housing includes a front section, a rear section and a pair of opposite to each other three open middle notches; wherein, when the electrical connector is mated with a mating electrical connector, the front section abuts against the mating connector housing, a pair of latches of the mating connector housing The lock hook is locked on the front section in the pair of middle gaps, and the lock hook can be accessed from the outside through the middle gap; And release the mating direction width and radial height of the lock hook.

According to the electrical connector assembly of the present utility model, human fingers cannot touch the latch hook of the latch of the second connector housing locked by the first connector housing, which protects the latch hook of the second connector housing from being It will be unintentionally pressed by human fingers and disengaged from the latch with the first connector housing, which protects the two parts of the electrical connector assembly from being accidentally separated. The electrical connector assembly realizes, for example, electrical components or The electrical connection or electrical output between photovoltaic panels cannot be interrupted accidentally.

Description of drawings

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood in the following embodiments of the present invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings. in:

1A-1G show different views of an electrical connector assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein, FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view in which two electrical connectors of an electrical connector assembly are partially separated, and FIG. 1B-1C respectively show a perspective view and a front view of two electrical connector parts assembled together to form an electrical connector assembly, FIG. 1D is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the first connector housing of FIG. 1A , and FIG. 1E is Along the vertical longitudinal sectional view shown by the arrow in Fig. 1B, Fig. 1F is a front view of Fig. 1E, and Fig. 1G is a partially enlarged view of Fig. 1F;

2A-2E show different views of an electrical connector assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein, FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view in which two electrical connector parts of an electrical connector assembly are separated, and FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of two electrical connector parts assembled together to form an electrical connector assembly, Figure 2C is a vertical longitudinal sectional view along the arrow shown in Figure 2B, Figure 2D is a front view of Figure 2C, Figure 2E It is a partial enlarged view of Fig. 1D;

3A-3B respectively show a perspective view and a front view of the unlocking device of the electrical connector assembly according to the present invention;

4 is a schematic diagram of unlocking the electrical connector assembly according to the first embodiment using the unlocking device according to the present invention, wherein the unlocking device has not yet engaged the electrical connector assembly;

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of unlocking the electrical connector assembly according to the second embodiment using the unlocking device according to the present invention, wherein the unlocking device has engaged the electrical connector assembly.

Detailed ways

An electrical connector assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It should be pointed out that the electrical connector assembly of the present invention is suitable for the connection between two electrical components such as cables (not shown), especially for the conductive connection or electrical energy output between photovoltaic panels.

The electrical connector assembly according to the present invention comprises two separable electrical connector parts, for example, the first electrical connector part may be a socket electrical connector, the second electrical connector part may be a plug electrical connector, or on the contrary.

The first electrical connector part comprises a first connector housing 30 and the second electrical connector part comprises a second connector housing 10 .

The first connector housing 30 and the second connector housing 10 are generally plastic parts, preferably a molded integral part. Of course, the first connector housing 30 and the second connector housing 10 may be formed from any suitable material.

Preferably, the first connector housing 30 and the second connector housing 10 are configured to be interchangeable.

Herein, "front" refers to the direction from the first connector housing 30 to the second connector housing 10, "rear" refers to the opposite direction, and the longitudinal direction is defined as the front-rear direction, that is, the electrical connector The mating direction of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector of the assembly.

The second connector housing 10 includes a hollow protruding section 18 . The first connector housing 30 includes a central aperture 38 for receiving the protruding section 18 of the second connector housing 10 when the second connector housing 10 is connected to the first connector housing 30 . The protruding section 18 has planes 19 arranged symmetrically in the diametrical direction, in this illustration, symmetrically arranged in the vertical direction.

The second connector housing 10 also includes a pair of latches 15 each composed of a latch arm 11 and a latch hook 12 . The first connector housing 30 includes a pair of locking holes 35 corresponding to the latches 15 .

Each latch 15 and each locking arm 11 is spaced from a corresponding plane 19 of the protruding section 18 and is slightly inclined at an angle away from the plane 19 of the protruding section 18 , the latch 15 and the locking arm 11 It has a certain degree of elasticity, as can be seen from the enlarged view shown in Figure 1G.

The hook 12 of the latch 15 has an inclined guide surface for the hook 12 to be easily guided into the first connector housing 30 when the second connector housing 10 is fitted into the first connector housing 30 The lock hole 35 of the body 30.

In addition, the first connector housing 30 has a front section 31, a rear section 40, and a middle gap 33 open on three sides between them. When the first connector housing 30 and the second connector housing 10 are connected together, the front section 31 is adjacent to the second connector housing 10 and the locking hook 12 of the second connector housing 10 is locked in the middle gap 33 .

Therein, the front section 31 has a rear surface 32 (FIG. 1G). When the two electrical connectors of the electrical connector assembly are mated, the locking hook 12 of the second connector housing 10 is locked on the rear surface 32 .

When connecting the first connector housing 30 and the second connector housing 10 , put the latch 15 of the second connector housing 10 in the mating direction of the first connector housing 30 and the second connector housing 10 Under the guidance of its guide surface, it is inserted into the locking hole 35 of the first connector housing 30 from front to rear, thus, the locking hook 12 is directed towards the protruding section of the second connector housing 10 by the inner wall of the locking hole 35 The direction of the corresponding plane 19 of 18 is deflected. When the locking hook 12 stretches out of the locking hole 35, the locking hook 12 deflects upward under its own elastic action and returns to the original state, thus, the locking hook 12 is stuck on the rear surface of the front section 31 of the first connector housing 30 32, that is locked in the middle gap 33. Thus the first and second connector housings are connected together. In this way, the conductive terminals provided in the second connector housing 10 and the conductive terminals in the first connector housing 30 are electrically connected, and the cables connected to each conductive terminal point are respectively connected to the wiring terminals on the photovoltaic panel. Positive and negative terminals of the box.

At this time, the front section 31 of the first connector housing 30 abuts against the second connector housing 10, and the portion 37 between the lock hole 35 and the central hole 38 of the first connector housing 30 is accommodated in the second connector housing 30. between the latch 15 and the protruding section 18 of the device housing 10, as best shown in FIG. 1G.

As described above, the lock hole 35 is configured to fit the latch 15 of the second connector housing 10 to pass therethrough in such a manner that the latch 15 elastically deforms. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1G, when the second connector housing 10 is assembled with the first connector housing 30, the latch 15 of the second connector housing 10 and the portion of the first connector housing 30 There are gaps between 37. When separating the second connector housing 10 from the first connector housing 30, the two locking hooks 12 are respectively biased toward the protruding sections 18 of the second connector housing 10 to disengage them from the first connector housing. The engagement of the front section 31 of the body 30 is sufficient.

As mentioned above, by locking the hook 12 of the latch 15 of the second connector housing 10 on the front section 31 of the first connector housing 30 and locking it in the middle gap 33, the connector housing 10 and 30 connections.

However, the connection between the two parts of the electrical connector realized in the above-mentioned manner has the following disadvantages, that is, when the first connector housing 30 and the second connector housing 10 are in the connected state, the second connector housing 10 The locking hook 12 exposed outside is easy to be accidentally pressed by fingers, thereby there is a risk that the second connector housing 10 is accidentally disengaged from the connection with the first connector housing 30, and if such a situation occurs, it will Unexpected troubles are caused, for example, the cable connection may be disconnected, resulting in the interruption of the conductive connection or electrical output of the photovoltaic panel.

In order to solve this problem, according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1A-1G , the rear section 40 of the first connector housing 30 includes a further radially outwardly protruding portion at one end adjacent to the middle notch 33 . Extended flange 50 ( FIG. 1A ), thus, flange 50 is higher than the rest of rear section 40 .

The flange 50 has a surface 36 adjacent to the central notch 33 such that the surface 36 is separated from the rear surface 32 of the front section 31 by the central notch 33 . Furthermore, a cavity 48 extending from the surface 36 to the inside of the flange 50 along the mating direction of the connector housing is formed in the flange 50 .

The middle notch 33 has a width L1 ( FIG. 1G ) along the mating direction of the first connector housing 30 and the second connector housing 10 , which width L1 is defined by the surface 36 of the flange 50 and the surface of the front section 31 Between 32. The central notch 33 has a height H in the radial direction (FIG. 1G).

An advantage of the electrical connector assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention is that the width L1 of the middle notch 33 along the mating direction and the height H along the radial direction are set to prevent people's fingers from touching and releasing from the outside. The locking hook 12 of the second connector housing 10 is locked.

Specifically, in this first embodiment, the width L1 of the middle notch 33 along the mating direction is set to be smaller than the thickness of a human finger (as we all know, the thickness of a human finger is smaller than the width), so that the human finger cannot extend into the middle Therefore, the locking hook 12 of the second connector housing 10 cannot be touched and pressed down in the notch 33 . In this way, it is avoided that the operator or other irrelevant persons depress the latch hook 12 of the second connector housing 10 intentionally or unintentionally, so as to disconnect the second connector housing 10 from the first connector housing 30 . The width L1 is between 1-6 mm, preferably between 1-3 mm.

Furthermore, the front section 31 and the flange 50 of the first connector housing 30 have substantially the same height H, and preferably, the substantially same height H is greater than the height of the rest of the rear section 40 . In this way, when the second connector housing 10 and the first connector housing 30 are connected, that is, when the locking hook 12 of the second connector housing 10 is locked in the middle gap 33, the locking hook 12 is further inwardly Constricted in the outer contour of the first connector housing 30, that is, more deeply recessed in the outer contour of the electrical connector, it is not easy to be touched or pressed down to cause the second connector housing 10 and the first connector housing Body 30 separates.

Since the front section 31 of the first connector housing 30 and the substantially same height of the flange 50 are greater than the height of other parts of the rear section 40, the strength of the first connector housing 30 due to the presence of the middle gap 33 is appropriately compensated. weakened, prolonging the service life. Optionally, the heights of the front section 31 and the flange 50 of the first connector housing 30 may be different, and when they are different, the radial height H refers to the front section 31 and the rear section 40 adjacent to the middle notch 33 The smaller radial height in the surface of .

The height H according to this first embodiment is greater than 3 mm, preferably greater than 5 mm.

When the second connector housing 10 and the first connector housing 30 are connected, that is, when the locking hook 12 of the second connector housing 10 is locked in the middle gap 33, the locking hook 12 can extend to the Cavity 48, as best shown in FIG. 1G. Therefore, the existence of the cavity 48 solves the problem that the length of the locking hook 12 along the mating direction of the connector housing is greater than that of the middle notch 33 along the mating direction of the connector housing, which may be caused by the width L1 of the middle gap 33 being smaller than the thickness of a human finger. The width L1 cannot realize the problem of locking.

According to the variation of the first embodiment of the present utility model, the cavity 48 of the first connector housing 30 can penetrate the first connector housing 30 along the width direction of the locking hook 12, that is, there is no side wall 44 ( 1B ) and the side wall opposite side wall 44, such that flange 50 is in the form of an inverted L-shaped part cantilever.

Obviously, if the length of the locking hook 12 along the mating direction of the connector housing is less than or equal to the width L1 of the middle notch 33 along the mating direction of the connector housing, the flange 50 may not form the cavity 48, which further simplifies the first step. The manufacture of a connector housing 30 further reduces the manufacturing cost.

It is conceivable that if the substantially same height of the front section 31 and the flange 50 is large enough to prevent people's fingers from touching and releasing the locking hook 12 locked on the second connector housing 10, the width L1 of the middle gap 33 must not be less than The thickness of a human finger.

In the variation of the first embodiment, the combination of the substantially same heights of the front section 31 and the flange 50 and the width L1 of the middle notch 33 prevents human fingers from touching and releasing the lock locked on the second connector housing 10 Hook 12 function.

A second embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2A-2G , wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or similar parts as those of the first embodiment.

Like the first embodiment, the flange 72 protrudes outward in the radial direction from the outer surface of the rear section 40 . However, the first connector housing 30 according to the second embodiment further includes side walls 77 and 78 protruding from the flange 72 toward the middle notch 33 . Side walls 77 and 78 have arcuate outer contour surfaces continuous with flange 72 .

The width L1 of the middle notch 33 along the mating direction of the connector housing is limited between the surface 75 of the flange 72 and the surface 32 of the front section 31, and the width L1 of the middle notch 33 is smaller than the thickness of a person's finger, preventing people's fingers from touching And press down the locked hook 12 .

The presence of the side walls 77 and 78 increases the strength of the first connector housing 30 .

As mentioned above, since the width L1 of the middle notch 33 is sufficient to prevent a person's finger from touching the locked hook 12 , the first connector housing 30 may include only one side wall 77 or 78 , or no side wall at all.

If the width L1 of the middle notch 33 is smaller than the length of the locking hook 12 along the mating direction, the flange 72 can also be formed with a cavity as shown in the first embodiment for receiving the locking hook of the second connector housing 10 Part of 12.

In other embodiments, the first connector housing 30 may additionally include a top wall extending from the flange 72 into the middle notch 33 along the mating direction of the connector housing, so as to further ensure that fingers are blocked when the locking hook 12 is locked. Out of the locked space.

The radial height H of the central notch 33, the distance between the respective inner sides of the side walls 77 and 78, and the width L1 of the central notch 33 may each have a size sufficient to prevent a person's fingers from reaching and unlocking the latched locking hook 12, or The effects can be achieved in any combination, as long as the guarantor's fingers cannot reach and unlock the locked hook 12 from the outside through the space formed by the front section 31 , side walls 77 and 78 and flange 72 .

As mentioned above, the electrical connector assembly according to the present utility model is set to prevent people's fingers from touching and releasing the latched hook 12 from the outside through the middle gap 33, but needs to make two connections by means of a special unlocking tool. Separation of the housing.

The utility model also provides an unlocking device, which can unlock the hook 12 of the second connector housing 10 when needed, and disconnect the second connector housing 10 and the first connector housing 30. connect.

In the present invention, the unlocking device is a substantially U-shaped clip 60 as shown in FIGS. 3A-B .

The clevis 60 includes a handle 61 adapted to be grasped by an operator's hand and an actuating portion 62 adapted to open the locking hook 12 of the second connector housing 10 . The handle 61 can have any structure suitable for the operator to grasp, such as the hollow ring shown in this embodiment.

The actuating part 62 comprises two opposite and parallel arranged legs 63 and 64 . The distance L between the legs 63 and 64 is smaller than the distance D between the outer walls of the two locking holes 35 of the first connector housing 30 (refer to FIG. 1G ).

At the end of each leg 63 and 64 remote from the shank 61 are formed slopes 65 and 66 that flare away from each other. Portion 68 connecting legs 63 and 64 may have an inner contour that conforms to the outer contour of the electrical connector assembly, or may not contact the electrical connector assembly.

When separating the second connector housing 10 from the first connector housing 30 , the operator holds the U-shaped clamp 60 and moves it along the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4 . The ramps 65 and 66 at the ends of the legs 63 and 64 first contact one of the two highest points 39 of the shackle 12 (FIG. 2A). As the clevis 60 continues to move along the direction of the arrow, the slopes 65 and 66 of the clevis 60 respectively bias the two locking hooks 12 of the first connector housing 30 so that the two locking hooks 12 face each other. , that is, deform in a direction that causes the two lock hooks 12 of the first connector housing 30 to leave the locked position. When the respective insides of the legs 63 and 64 of the clevis 60 finally contact the top plane 29 ( FIG. 2A ) of the latch 12 , the latch 12 is biased enough to disengage from the front section 31 of the first connector housing 30 . locking. At this time, the operator can loosen the U-shaped clip 60, move one or both of the second connector housing 10 and the first connector housing 30 in a direction away from each other, the second connector housing 10 or the first connector housing 30 A connector housing 30 is separated.

It can be understood that, in addition to the U-shaped clip 60 according to the present invention, any other suitable tool can be used to realize the function of unlocking the locking hook 12 of the second connector housing 10, such as a leg strap as shown in FIG. 4 U-clamps with other structural features.

Using the unlocking device according to the utility model, after the unlocking device engages the electrical connector assembly to be unlocked and the lock bolt reaches the disengaged position, the operator's hand can release the unlocking device and simultaneously move the two parts of the electrical connector assembly. connector part without having to hold the unlocking tool with one hand all the time.

According to the electrical connector assembly of the present utility model, human fingers are blocked from touching and unlocking the hook of the second connector housing locked by the first connector housing from the outside through the middle gap, thereby protecting the second connection. The hook of the connector housing will not be accidentally pressed by human fingers, so that the two parts of the electrical connector assembly will not be accidentally separated, so that the electrical connector assembly realizes the electrical connection between, for example, electrical components or photovoltaic panels or electrical output will not be interrupted unexpectedly.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described, these have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the structures described herein may be embodied in various other forms; in addition, various substitutions and changes may be made to the structures described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (8)

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector adapted to mate with each other along a mating direction; The first electrical connector has a first connector housing, and the first connector housing includes a front section, a rear section, and a pair of opposite middle gaps open on three sides sandwiched between the front section and the rear section; The second electrical connector has a second connector housing, and the second connector housing is provided with a pair of opposite latches with locking hooks; Wherein, when the first electrical connector is mated with the second electrical connector, the front section abuts against the second connector housing, and the hooks of the pair of latches are locked in the pair of middle notches. Locked on said front section, said locking hook is accessible from the outside through said middle gap; It is characterized in that the middle notch is set to have a mating direction width and a radial height that do not allow human fingers to touch and release the locking hook from the outside. 2 . The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the mating direction width of the middle gap is smaller than the thickness of a human finger. 3 . 3. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 2, wherein the rear section includes a cavity extending from the middle notch into the rear section, when the first electrical connector is mated with the second electrical connector The cavity receives at least a portion of a shackle of the latch. 4. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first connector housing further includes an end extending from an end of the rear section close to the middle notch along the mating direction to the middle A pair of side walls within the notch. 5. The electrical connector assembly according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the rear section includes a flange protruding outward in a radial direction at an end close to the middle notch. 6. The electrical connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the front section and the flange have a specific substantially same height, and the substantially same height is greater than the height of the rest of the rear section. 7. The electrical connector assembly according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, the electrical connector assembly further comprises an unlocking device, the unlocking device includes a grip part for human hands and a slave grip The grip begins with a pair of opposite and parallel extending legs, the distance between respective inner sides of the pair of legs being sufficient to disengage the shackles of the pair of latches from locking with the first connector housing. 8. An electrical connector, said electrical connector having a connector housing, said connector housing comprising a front section, a rear section, and a pair of opposite middle gaps open on three sides sandwiched between the front section and the rear section ; Wherein, when the electrical connector is mated with the mating electrical connector, the front section abuts against the mating connector housing, and the hooks of a pair of latches of the mating connector housing are in the middle of the pair The notch is locked on the front section, and the lock hook can be accessed from the outside through the middle notch; It is characterized in that the middle notch is set to have a mating direction width and a radial height that do not allow human fingers to touch and release the locking hook from the outside.

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