Electric connector
AssigneeFramatome Connectors International
InventorsPier Carlo Bigotto, Renzo Rampone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric connector (2) having an insulating casing (5) with a number of cavities for respective electric terminals (4); a slide (15) movable with respect to the casing (5) in a direction perpendicular to the connection direction (A) of the terminals (4), and in turn having cam means (20) interacting with a complementary connector (3) to generate a force for mating the connectors (2, 3) in response to translation of the slide (15); and an activating lever (24) connected in articulated manner to the slide (15) and to the casing (5) by means of pins (27, 36) which engage respective slots (29, 35) in sliding manner to impart a translatory component of motion to the lever (24), and to vary the resisting arm of the lever (24) during rotation of the lever (24).
Claims7
An electric connector (2) of the type comprising an insulating casing (5) having a number of cavities (10) for respective electric terminals (4) extending in a connection direction (A) of said connector (2) to a complementary connector (3);
- and a lever device (14) for reducing the force required for connection to said complementary connector (3);
- said lever device (14) comprising a slide (15) sliding with respect to said casing (5) in a direction (B) perpendicular to said connection direction (A) and having cam means (20) interacting with said complementary connector (3) to generate a force for mating said connectors (2, 3) in response to translation of said slide (15);
- and an activating lever (24) for activating said slide (15) and connected to the slide (15) by first articulated connecting means (27, 29), and to said casing (5) by second articulated connecting means (35, 36);
- wherein both said first and said second articulated connecting means comprise a pair of hinge elements (27, 29;
- 35, 36) connected to each other in sliding manner to impart a translatory component of motion to said activating lever (24);
- wherein said activating lever (24) is a first-class lever;
- said first and said second articulated connecting means (27, 29;
- 35, 36) being located respectively at an end portion (26) and an intermediate portion (34) of said activating lever (24);
- and
- wherein said activating lever (24) comprises at least a third pin (37) located in an intermediate position between said first and said second articulated connecting means (27, 29;
- 35, 36) and engaging in sliding manner a guide (40) defined by at least said slide (15) or said casing (5).
An electric connector (2) of the type comprising an insulating casing (5) having a number of cavities (10) for respective electric terminals (4) extending in a connection direction (A) of said connector (2) to a complementary connector (3);
- and a lever device (14) for reducing the force required for connection to said complementary connector (3);
- said lever device (14) comprising a slide (15) sliding with respect to said casing (5) in a direction (B) perpendicular to said connection direction (A) and having cam means (20) interacting with said complementary connector (3) to generate a force for mating said connectors (2, 3) in response to translation of said slide (15);
- and an activating lever (24) for activating said slide (15) and connected to the slide (15) by first articulated connecting means (27, 29), and to said casing (5) by second articulated connecting means (35, 36);
- wherein both said first and said second articulated connecting means comprise a pair of hinge elements (27, 29;
- 35, 36) connected to each other in sliding manner to impart a translatory component of motion to said activating lever (24);
- and
- wherein each said pair of hinge elements (27,29) comprises a first pin (27) engaging in a sliding manner a first elongated slot (29) and each pair of hinge elements (35, 36) comprise a second pin (36) engaging in a sliding manner a second elongated slot (35).
A connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first pin (27) and said second slot (35) are carried by said activating lever (24);
- in that said first slot (29) is carried by said slide (15);
- and in that said second pin (36) is carried by said casing (5).
An electric connector (2) of the type comprising an insulating casing (5) having a number of cavities (10) for respective electric terminals (4) extending in a connection direction (A) of said connector (2) to a complementary connector (3);
- and a lever device (14) for reducing the force required for connection to said complementary connector (3);
- said lever device (14) comprising a slide (15) sliding with respect to said casing (5) in a direction (B) perpendicular to said connection direction (A) and having cam means (20) interacting with said complementary connector (3) to generate a force for mating said connectors (2, 3) in response to translation of said slide (15);
- and an activating lever (24) for activating said slide (15) and connected to the slide (15) by first articulated connecting means (27, 29), and to said casing (5) by second articulated connecting means (35, 36);
- wherein both said first and said second articulated connecting means comprise a pair of hinge elements (27, 29;
- 35, 36) connected to each other in sliding manner to impart a translatory component of motion to said activating lever (24);
- said hinge elements (27, 29) of said first articulated connecting means comprising at least a first pin (27) defining a first hinge axis (C) and engaging in sliding manner a respective first slot (29) elongated in a direction substantially parallel to said connection direction (A);
- said hinge elements (35, 36) of said second articulated connecting means comprising at least a second pin (36) defining a second hinge axis (D) and engaging in sliding manner a respective second slot (35);
- said first and said second pin (27, 36) respectively engaging said first and said second slot (29, 35) in sliding manner to vary the distance between said first and said second hinge axis (C, D) along the path of said activating lever (24);
- and
- wherein said second slot (35) is an elongated slot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.