Self-aligning modular electrical connection system with a common carrier
AssigneeAptiv Technologies AG
InventorsJeffrey S. Campbell, Wesley W. Weber, Christopher G. Reider
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical connection system is described which includes a common carrier. The common carrier includes a main channel configured to retain a cable bundle and a plurality of side channels that facilitate coupling of at least some cables of the cable bundle to an electronic control unit (ECU). The side channels are configured to retain a connector carrier configured to carry a pair of connectors slidable in each side channel between a pre-staged position in preparation for mating and a mated position which mates terminals carried by the pair of connectors and locks the pair of connectors to the ECU.
Claims20
An electrical connection system, comprising:
- a cable bundle comprising a plurality of cables;
- a first connector that carries a first pair of terminals that terminate a first pair of the plurality of cables;
- a second connector that carries a second pair of terminals that terminate a second pair of the plurality of cables;
- a connector carrier configured to retain the first connector and the second connector;
- and
- a common carrier configured to be secured to a substrate of a vehicle assembly that includes:
- a main channel configured to retain the cable bundle arranged in a first direction;
- and
- a side channel that retains the connector carrier in the side channel such that the connector carrier is moveable in a second direction different than the first direction from a pre-staged position in the side channel to a staged position which:
- mates the first pair of terminals carried by the first connector;
- mates the second pair of terminals carried by the second connector;
- and
- locks the first connector and the second connector to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU).
A method, comprising:
- securing a common carrier at a location on a substrate of a vehicle assembly;
- retaining a cable bundle of a wiring harness in a main channel of the common carrier arranged in a first direction;
- retaining, in a connector carrier, a first connector that carries a first pair of terminals that terminate a first pair of cables of the cable bundle;
- and a second connector that carries a second pair of terminals that terminate a second pair of cables of the cable bundle;
- arranging the connector carrier in a side channel of the common carrier that retains the connector carrier moveable in a second direction from a pre-staged position to a staged position;
- arranging an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) on the substrate of the vehicle assembly adjacent to the common carrier;
- gripping the connector carrier;
- and
- moving the connector carrier, retained in the side channel, from the pre-staged position to the staged position, thereby mating the first pair of terminals and the second pair of terminals, and locking the first connector and the second connector to the ECU.
A common carrier, comprising:
- a main channel configured to retain a cable bundle of a wiring harness arranged in a first direction;
- and
- a side channel configured to retain a connector carrier that retains a first connector that terminates a first pair of cables of the cable bundle and a second connector that terminates a second pair of cables of the cable bundle, wherein the connector carrier is moveable in a second direction from a pre-staged position in the side channel to a staged position that mates terminals of the first connector and the second connector to corresponding terminals of an electronic control unit (ECU), and lock the first and second connectors to the ECU.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.