Patent Application
20170005432
The present invention is directed to a peripheral wedge seal member. In particular, the invention is directed to a peripheral wedge seal member which provides sealing and vibration dampening between a housing of a plug connector and a housing of a receptacle connector.
An electrical connector assembly includes a first or plug connector and a second or receptacle connector that are configured to mate with one another. Each connector typically has a housing and at least one cavity extends through the housing. Each cavity is configured to receive a terminal fitting. One end of each terminal fitting typically is connected to a conductor, such as the wire, cable, busbar, an electrical device or a conductive region of a circuit board. The opposed end of each terminal fitting is configured for achieving electrical connection with a terminal fitting in the mating connector.
Many connectors, such as those used in automotive vehicles, will be exposed to harsh environments in which moisture and vibrations can cause the electrical connection between the mating connectors to fail. For example, while the housing of an electrical connector is typically formed from a resin or other material that can withstand periodic exposure to moisture, if the assembly is not properly sealed, moisture can adversely affect the metallic terminal fittings and can cause a shorting between two terminal fittings. A short circuit can have serious effects on critical components of a vehicle, such as warning lights, airbags and the like.
Many connectors include an elastomeric seal to prevent intrusion of moisture into the region of the connector that contains the terminal fittings and the conductors to which the terminal fittings are connected. A seal of this type typically is mounted at an area where two parts of the mating housings will telescope together. For example, a frame-shaped seal or a toroid-shaped seal may be mounted over one housing of a connector assembly. The end of the mating housing will abut against the seal when the housings are connected. Thus, the seal engages the interface between the two housings to provide sealing.
However, many of the known seals do not have sufficient structural flexibility to provide proper sealing and vibration dampening for a wide range of dimensions or in a wide range of environments. In addition, mating and un-mating forces associated with known seals makes it difficult to access when service is required.
It would, therefore, be beneficial to have a peripheral wedge seal which can be used to effectively seal the assembly over a wide range of functional dimensions, provides for lower mating and un-mating forces, provides more compliancy, and provides sufficient vibration dampening between the plug connector and the receptacle connector even in harsh environments.
An embodiment is directed to a seal member for use with a plug connector housing and a receptacle connector housing. The seal member includes a deformable body which has tapered walls which extend from a thicker first end to a less thick second end. Each of the walls has a first surface and a second surface which is angled with respect to the first surface. At least one groove extends along the first surface. At least one support rib is provided proximate the at least one groove. The at least one groove and the at least one support rib form a spring member which allows the deformable body of the seal member to compress when the plug connector housing and the receptacle connector housing are mated together.
An embodiment is directed to a peripheral wedge seal member for use with a plug connector housing and a receptacle connector housing. The peripheral wedge seal member includes a deformable body which has tapered walls which extend from a thicker first end to a less thick second end. Each of the walls has a first surface and a second surface which is angled with respect to the first surfaces. Each of the walls has a compliant section which absorbs forces transmitted by the plug connector housing, the receptacle connector housing or both. Each compliant section has at least one groove extending along the first surface and at least one support rib provided proximate the at least one groove.
An embodiment is directed to a peripheral wedge seal member for use with a plug connector housing and a receptacle connector housing. The peripheral wedge seal member includes a deformable body which has tapered walls which extend from a thicker first end to a less thick second end. The walls have first surfaces and second surfaces which are angled with respect to the first surfaces. Each of the walls has a compliant section which absorbs forces transmitted by the plug connector housing, the receptacle connector housing or both. Each compliant section has at least one groove extending along the first surface, at least one support rib provided proximate the at least one groove, at least one recess which extends along the second surface and at least one deformable rib which is provided proximate the at least one recess.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown. In the drawings, the relative sizes of regions or features may be exaggerated for clarity. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
It will be understood that spatially relative terms, such as “top”, “upper”, “lower” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “over” other elements or features would then be oriented “under” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “over” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The plug connector housing 10 has terminals (not shown) which extend therethrough to mate with mating terminals (not shown) of the receptacle connector housing 12. As many different types of terminals and mating terminals may be used, a detailed description of such terminals and mating terminals shall not be provided.
As shown in
The mating portion 16 of the plug connector housing 10 has side walls 24 which extend from a receptacle connector engaging wall 22. The side walls 24 extend about the periphery of the mating portion 16 to form the mating portion 16. The side walls 24 may have linear configurations or may have arcuate surfaces or projections positioned thereon, such as, but not limited to, latching projections. The mating portion 16 has plug contacts (not shown) positioned in the mating portion 16 for electrically engaging the receptacle contacts when the plug connector housing 10 and the receptacle connector housing 12 are mated together. The mating portion 16 is dimensioned to be received in the opening 14 and movable therein between an unmated position and a mated position.
As the peripheral wedge seal member 30 may be used with plug connector housings 10 and receptacle connector housings 12 of many different configurations and sizes, a more detailed description of such plug connector housings 10 and receptacle connector housings 12 shall not be provided.
In the illustrative embodiment shown, the peripheral wedge seal member 30 is positioned on the side walls 24 of the mating portion 16 of the plug connector housing 10. The peripheral wedge seal member 30 is positioned proximate the receptacle connector engaging wall 22. As previously stated, the peripheral wedge seal member 30 may be secured to the mating portion 16 of the plug connector housing 10 by known methods, such as, but not limited, to adhesive, mounting members or frictional engagement.
As shown in
Referring to
In the embodiment shown, the first surfaces 38 have two recesses or grooves 42 which extend the entire length of each respective wall 32. The grooves 42 and support ribs 43 provide there between and/or proximate thereto act as spring members to allow for better compression of the peripheral wedge seal member 30 when the plug connector housing 10 and the receptacle connector housing 12 are mated together. This allows the plug connector housing 10 and the receptacle connector housing 12 to be mated and unmated with reduced force. In addition, the grooves 42 and ribs 43 provide additional compliancy to the peripheral wedge seal member 30, allowing the peripheral wedge seal member 30 to provide vibration dampening between the plug connector housing 10 and the receptacle connector housing 12. The spacing provided between the grooves 42 and the size of the grooves 42 may vary depending upon the insertion forces, compliancy and vibration dampening characteristics desired for the particular connector assembly 2. While two grooves 42 are shown on each side wall 32, other number of grooves may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
The second surfaces 40 have four recesses or channels 44 which extend the entire length of each respective wall 32. As the walls 32 of peripheral wedge seal member 30 are tapered, the channels 44 have slightly different configurations depending upon their location on the second surfaces 40. For example, channels 44a have bottom surfaces 46a which are positioned further from second surfaces 40 than bottom surfaces 46d of channels 44d. Deformable ribs 48 are provided between and/or proximate to the channels 44. As the walls 32 of the peripheral wedge seal member 30 are tapered, the ribs 48 have slightly different configurations depending upon their location on the second surfaces 40. For example, ribs 48a are longer than ribs 48c. The recesses 44 and the ribs 48 are provided to allow for better compression of the peripheral wedge seal member 30 when the plug connector housing 10 and the receptacle connector housing 12 are mated together. This allows the plug connector housing 10 and the receptacle connector housing 12 to be mated and unmated with reduced force. In addition, the recesses 44 and the ribs 48 provide additional compliancy to the peripheral wedge seal member 30, allowing the peripheral wedge seal member 30 to provide a proper seal between the plug connector housing 10 and the receptacle connector housing 12 and to provide vibration dampening between the plug connector housing 10 and the receptacle connector housing 12. The spacing provided between the recesses 44 and the size of the ribs 48 may vary depending upon the insertion forces, compliancy and vibration dampening characteristics desired for the particular connector assembly 2. While four recesses 44 and three ribs 48 are shown on each side wall 32, other number of recesses and ribs may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
The grooves 42, ribs 43, channels 44 and ribs 48 form compliant sections which are able to absorb forces transmitted by the plug connector housing 10, the receptacle connector housing 12 or both.
Referring to the alternate illustrative embodiment of
In the embodiment shown, the first surfaces 138 have two recesses or grooves 142 which extend the entire length of each respective wall 132. The grooves 142 and support ribs 143 provide there between and/or proximate thereto act as spring members to allow for better compression of the peripheral wedge seal member 130 when the plug connector housing 10 and the receptacle connector housing 12 are mated together. This allows the plug connector housing 10 and the receptacle connector housing 12 to be mated and unmated with reduced force. In addition, the grooves 142 and ribs 143 provide additional compliancy to the peripheral wedge seal member 130, allowing the peripheral wedge seal member 130 to provide vibration dampening between the plug connector housing 10 and the receptacle connector housing 12. The spacing provided between the grooves 142 and the size of the grooves 142 may vary depending upon the insertion forces, compliancy and vibration dampening characteristics desired for the particular connector assembly 2. While two grooves 142 are shown on each side wall 132, other number of grooves may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
The second surfaces 140 have recesses 144 which extend the entire length of each respective wall 132. The recesses 144 are provided proximate the first end 134 of the walls 132. Deformable ribs 148 extend from the second surfaces 140. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the ribs 148 have curved or arcuate configurations which project from the second surfaces 140. The ribs are positioned between the recesses 144 and second ends 136. The recesses 144 and the ribs 148 are provided to allow for better compression of the peripheral wedge seal member 130 when the plug connector housing 10 and the receptacle connector housing 12 are mated together. This allows the plug connector housing 10 and the receptacle connector housing 12 to be mated and unmated with reduced force. In addition, the recesses 144 and the ribs 148 provide additional compliancy to the peripheral wedge seal member 130, allowing the peripheral wedge seal member 130 to provide a proper seal between the plug connector housing 10 and the receptacle connector housing 12 and to provide vibration dampening between the plug connector housing 10 and the receptacle connector housing 12. The spacing provided between the recesses 144 and the ribs, the size of the recesses 144 and the size of the ribs 148 may vary depending upon the insertion forces, compliancy and vibration dampening characteristics desired for the particular connector assembly 2. While one recess 144 and one rib 148 are shown on each side wall 132, other number of recesses and ribs may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
The grooves 142, ribs 143, channels 144 and ribs 148 form compliant sections which are able to absorb forces transmitted by the plug connector housing 10, the receptacle connector housing 12 or both.
Peripheral wedge seals according to the present invention provide an effective seal over a wide range of functional housing dimensions, thereby accommodate a greater range of manufacturing tolerances than known seals. In addition peripheral wedge seals according to the present invention provide for lower mating and un-mating forces, provide more compliancy and provide sufficient vibration dampening between the plug connector the receptacle connector even in harsh environments.
In addition, as the seals are compressed when the plug connector housing and receptacle connector housing are mated, potential energy is developed and stored in the compliant sections. Consequently, when the plug connector housing and receptacle connector housing are unmated, the release of the compliant section releases the potential energy, thereby facilitating the unmating of the housings.
While the invention has been described with reference to an illustrative embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. In particular, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, sizes, and with other elements, materials, and components, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be used with many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, sizes, materials, and components and otherwise, used in the practice of the invention, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments and methods are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoing description or embodiments.
