Patent Application
20070232121
This invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more specifically to a cable to board power connector assembly having a rotatable locking member.
Some electrical systems include one or more connectors that are removably mounted in a chassis. For instance, in some applications, power supplies may be slid into a chassis. The power supplies can be removed for service or replacement. Typically, a cable mounted connector mates with a header connector on a board in the power supply. Jackscrews are typically used to assure that the connectors are reliably mated. However, in some systems, the chassis or board is mounted in a case with a hinged or otherwise closeable cover which limits connector space. Cables must be negotiated out of the case and the connectors must remain reliably mated when the case is closed. Jackscrews are commonly used in pairs with one jackscrew at each end of the connector. A disadvantage associated with jackscrews is that one or more of the jackscrews may interfere with the closing of the cover.
When several connectors are mounted on a panel, cable routing may become more of a problem. Often cables must be turned or otherwise manipulated to exit the case. Typically, technicians forcibly bend the cables in order to route the cables in a desired direction. Care must be taken, however, to avoid damage to the cable that may result from excessive pulling or twisting on the cable. This problem is alleviated when the connector provides a right angle wire exit. In another disadvantage, the use of the typical two-jackscrew retention system generally precludes the provision of a right angle wire exit on the connector.
There is a need for a cable to board connector system that may be used in applications having a board mounted connector in a closed case that negotiates wires out of the case and keeps the connectors reliably mated when the case is closed.
In one aspect, an electrical connector is provided. The connector includes a housing having a contact loading end and a locking member rotatably mounted in the housing and substantially enclosed within the connector. The locking member has a circumferential edge portion that is exposed through a window of the connector to permit finger rotation of the locking member.
Optionally, the connector further includes a backshell at least partially enclosing the housing. The backshell includes a chamber between the contact loading end of the housing and a back wall of the backshell. The backshell includes side walls that have windows opening to the chamber to provide access to the edge portion of the locking member. The locking member includes a head portion enclosed by the back wall that does not extend axially outside the backshell. The housing includes a mating end opposite the contact loading end and a channel extending therebetween, and the locking member includes a shaft rotatably held in the channel even when the housing is in an unmated condition. The backshell includes a cable exit through an end wall of the backshell that is substantially perpendicular to a mating direction of the housing. The locking member includes a shaft rotatably held in the channel. The shaft includes a shoulder formed thereon. The channel has a step formed therein. The shoulder engages the step to provide a locking force when the connector is in a locked condition.
In another aspect, a connector assembly is provided that includes a cable mounted connector that includes a housing having a contact loading end and a locking member rotatably mounted in the housing and substantially enclosed within the connector. The locking member has a circumferential edge portion that is exposed through a window of the connector to permit finger rotation of the locking member. A mating connector includes a mating connector housing configured to be mated with the housing of the cable mounted connector.
The cable mounted connector 110 includes a housing 132 that is held in a backshell 136. The backshell 136 is formed with a right angle wire or cable exit 140 such that a cable or wire bundle 142 exits the backshell 136 in the direction of the arrow A which is substantially perpendicular to the mating direction of the mating connector 120 as indicated by the arrow B. A locking member 146 is centrally located within the backshell 136.
The cable mounted connector housing 132 includes a centrally positioned module 170. The locking member 146 comprises a thumbscrew having a head TYCO E-CC-00249 (AT 20958-2195) portion 172 and an engagement end 174. The engagement end 174 extends through the module 170 proximate a mating end 180 of the cable mounted connector housing 132. The engagement end 174 of the locking member 146 is configured to engage the insert 154 to place the connectors 110 and 120 in a locked condition. In an exemplary embodiment, the engagement end 174 is threaded and configured to be received in the insert 154. The cable mounted connector housing 132 includes orientation keys 178. The housing 132 holds a series of contacts 133 proximate to a mating end 180 of the housing 132. The contacts 133 are joined to corresponding wires within wire bundle 142.
The backshell 136 includes a first side wall 220, a second side wall 222 opposite the first side wall 220, a first end wall 226 and a second end wall 228 opposite the first end wall 226. A back wall 232 joins the side walls 220 and 222 and the end walls 226 and 228. The head portion 172 of the locking member 146 includes a circumferential edge portion 240 that is accessible through a window 244 provided in each side wall 220 and 222. An aperture 248 may be provided in the back wall 232 that provides access to the head portion 172 of the locking member 146. The locking member 146 continues to be retained in the backshell 136 when the connectors 110 and 120 are in an unlocked condition, and more specifically, when the mating connector housing 124 and the cable mounted connector housing 132 are in an unmated condition.
The cable mounted connector housing 132 includes a contact loading end 290 opposite the mating end 180. A plurality of retention ribs 292 are formed on the housing 132 proximate the contact loading end 290. The wire bundle 142 is arranged and routed toward the cable exit 140 in the end wall 226 such that individual wires are joined to corresponding contacts 133. A sleeve 296 is provided for cable management.
The backshell 136 has a receiving end 300 opposite the back wall 232. A retention channel 302 extends between the end wall lips 278 and 280 on the lower backshell section 262. A similar retention channel (not shown) is formed in the upper backshell section 260. When the upper and lower backshell sections 260 and 262 are combined, the retention channels 302 extend between the first and second end walls 226 and 228, respectively. The retention ribs 292 on the housing 132 are received in the retention channels 302 to lock the housing 132 in the backshell 136 when the upper and lower backshell sections 260 and 262, respectively, are joined.
The locking member 146 includes the head portion 172 and a shaft portion 310. The shaft portion 310 extends along an axis C from the head portion 172 and includes the engagement end 174. The engagement end 174 is necked down so that a shoulder 312 is formed on the shaft portion 310. The shaft portion 310 is received in the module 170 in the housing 132. The upper backshell section 260 and the lower backshell section 262 each includes a cradle 316 (not shown on the upper backshell section 260) that rotatably support the shaft portion 310 of the locking member 146 when the upper and lower backshell sections 260 and 262, respectively, are joined.
A chamber 320 is formed in the backshell 136 between the back wall 232 (
The module 170 in the cable mounted connector housing 132 includes a channel 370 having a step 372 formed therein. The shaft portion 310 of the locking member 146 extends along the axis C and is received in the channel 370. The locking member 146 freely rotates within the channel 370 and chamber 320 about the axis C when unlocked. The back wall 232 on the back shell 136 prevents the locking member 146 from sliding out of the channel 370 when unlocked. The shoulder 312 on the shaft portion 310 is sized to engage the step 372 in the channel 370. When the cable mounted connector 110 and the mating connector 120 are placed in a locked condition, the locking member 146 draws the enlarged rim 158 of the insert 154 against the step 362 in the channel 360 and simultaneously the shoulder 312 on the shaft portion 310 of the locking member 146 is brought to bear against the step 372 to provide or augment the locking force F on the mating connector housing 124.
In
The embodiments thus described provide a cable mounted connector 110 that is particularly suitable for use with a board mounted connector 120 housed in a cabinet or in a closed case. The cable mounted connector has a low profile and a ninety degree cable exit for limited space applications. A centrally mounted thumbscrew is provided to keep the connectors reliably mated. The thumbscrew continues to be retained in the cable mounted connector backshell with the head of thumbscrew not extending axially out of the cable mounted connector backshell. The cable mounted connector remains reliably mated to the board mounted connector when the case is closed. The centrally mounted thumbscrew balances the clamping load on the connectors while being positioned out of the wire exit area of the connector.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
