Electrical Connector Apparatus

This invention relates to electrical connectors of the type in which multiple electrical conductors are respectively connected to multiple terminals enclosed within a housing. The invention also relates to methods and apparatus for making such electrical connectors.

Manufacturers of electrical connectors for use in electronic circuitry such as computers typically provide their customers (e.g., computer manufacturers) with separate connector components such as terminals and terminal housings. The customer electrically and mechanically connects each terminal to an electrical conductor (e.g., a wire) and inserts the terminal in a terminal housing. This can be a costly and troublesome process for the customer because of the difficulties associated with handling the relatively small terminals and especially inserting the terminals in the terminal housing.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide improved methods and apparatus for assembling electrical connector terminals in terminal housings.

It is another object of this invention to provide electrical connectors which are partially pre-assembled in order to facilitate final assembly of the connectors.

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the invention by providing electrical connectors in which the terminals are partially pre-inserted and releasably retained in a terminal housing. When the electrical conductors (wires) are to be connected to the terminals, each terminal is partially ejected from the housing so that the appropriate conductor can be placed in the terminal. The terminal is then crimped around the conductor and pushed all the way back into the housing where it is latched in place. Apparatus is provided for partially ejecting the pre-inserted terminals form the housing, crimping the partially ejected terminals around conductors placed in the terminals, and then fully re-inserting the crimped terminals in the housing.

Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a partially pre-assembled electrical connector constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3a is a schematic partial plan view of illustrative apparatus for completing assembly of the connector of FIGS. 1 and 2 in accordance with the invention. FIG. 3a shows the apparatus at a first stage in its operating cycle.

FIG. 3b is a schematic partial elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 3a. FIG. 3a shows only the portion of the apparatus above the line A--A in FIG. 3b. FIGS. 3a and 3b are sometimes referred to collectively as FIG. 3.

FIGS. 4-12 (each including an "a" view similar to FIG. 3a and a "b" view similar to FIG. 3b) show successive stages in the operating cycle of the apparatus of FIG. 3. FIGS. 6c and 7c are partial elevational views taken along the lines 6c--6c and 7c-7c in FIGS. 6b and 7b, respectively. Associated "a", "b", and "c" views are sometimes referred to collectively by the Figure number alone (e.g., "FIG. 4" refers to FIGS. 4a and 4b collectively). FIGS. 4-12 are somewhat simplified as compared to FIG. 3. For example, the track on which the connector rests is not repeated in FIGS. 4-12, and the details on the top surface of the connector are also not repeated in FIGS. 4-12.

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 13--13 in FIG. 6a.

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 14--14 in FIG. 7a.

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 15--15 in FIG. 10a.

This invention has particular application to electrical connectors of the type shown in Mancini et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,781,760. As shown in that patent, a female terminal 34, 40, 42 is disposed in connector block 10 so that flexible latch 32 is behind disconnect portion 34 of the terminal. The uninsulated end of conductor 38 is engaged by wire crimp portion 40 of the terminal. The end of the insulation on conductor 38 is similarly engaged by insulation crimp portion 42 of the terminal. Disconnect portion 34 has a transverse cross section which is generally the shape of a hollow rectangle. A spring, which bows downwardly, is provided in the upper part of the hollow rectangle. Disconnect portion 34 is adapted to receive a male connector (not shown) which is a square metal pin. When a pin is in disconnect portion 34, the spring is deflected upwardly by the pin. This assures good electrical contact and good mechanical engagement between the male and female connector elements. Any number of such terminals can be arranged side by side in connector block 10.

Heretofore, connector blocks 10 and terminals 34-40-42 have been sold separately by the manufacturers of such apparatus. The purchaser has had to apply the terminals to the ends of the wires terminating at the connector, and has then had to insert the terminals in the connector block.

In accordance with this invention, terminals 110 (similar to terminals 34-40-42 in the above-mentioned Mancini et al. patent, but with wire crimp portion 112 and insulation crimp portion 114 uncrimped) are partially pre-inserted in terminal housing 150 (similar to Mancini et al.'s connector block 10) to produce a partially pre-assembled connector 100 having the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each terminal 110 is preferably inserted far enough into terminal housing 150 so that the associated latch 152 (similar to Mancini et al.'s latches 32) lightly and releasably engages the terminal. In the depicted embodiment, terminals 110 are inserted until uncrimped insulation crimp portions 114 contact the rear of terminal housing 150 and thereby prevent further insertion of each terminal. In this position, the free end or nose portion 154 of each latch 152 bears on the top of the disconnect portion 116 of associated terminal 110 (similar to Mancini et al.'s disconnect portion 34). In particular, each nose portion 154 preferably enters the gap 118 above the center of spring 120 in associated terminal 110 to a slight degree, which is not sufficient to permanently latch the terminal in housing 150, but which does increase the terminal's resistance to inadvertent withdrawal from the housing.

Further in accordance with this invention, users of the above-described partially pre-assembled connectors 100 can employ the following method to complete the assembly of the connector: Each terminal 110 is partially withdrawn from the rear of housing 150, as shown, for example, in FIG. 4, to expose at least wire crimp portion 112 (in addition to insulation crimp portion 114). The end of the wire 180 to be connected to the terminal is placed in the terminal so that an uninsulated end portion of the wire is adjacent wire crimp portion 112, and so that the end portion of the insulation is adjacent insulation crimp portion 114 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 13. Wire crimp portion 112 is then crimped on the uninsulated end portion of the wire, and insulation crimp portion 114 is crimped on the end of the insulation as shown, for example, in FIGS. 7 and 14. The terminal is then fully inserted into terminal housing 150 so that the associated latch 152 drops into the notch 122 behind disconnect portion 116, as shown, for example, in FIG. 15, to permanently secure the terminal in housing 150 in the manner taught by Mancini et al.

Illustrative apparatus 200 (constructed in accordance with this invention) for carrying out the foregoing method is shown in FIGS. 3-15. With apparatus 200 in the initial condition as shown in FIG. 3, partially assembled connector 100 is placed on stationary track 210 with the first of terminals 110 (i.e., terminal 110a) coaxial with push-out mandrel 220. Connector 100 is held on track 210 by one or more resilient hold-down fingers 212.

Actuator 222, which may be a conventional double-acting hydraulic or pneumatic linear actuator or an equivalent device, is then operated as shown in FIG. 4 to drive push-out mandrel 220 part way into housing 150. The leading portion 220a of push-out mandrel 220 enters the disconnect portion 116 of terminal 110a (see FIG. 13). Thereafter the shoulder 220b behind leading portion 220a contacts the front face of terminal 110a and pushes the terminal part way out of housing 150 (refer again to FIG. 4). The rear surface of terminal 110a contacts wire grippers 230a and 230b. Wire grippers 230 therefore act as a stop for terminal 110a and ensure that leading portion 220a is fully inserted in disconnect portion 116. When terminal 110a is thus partially ejected from housing 150, wire crimp portion 112 and insulation portion 114 are both exposed and positioned over stationary anvil 240. Terminal 110a is held in this position by the snug fit of leading portion 220a in disconnect portion 116.

The next step in the operation of the apparatus is movement of wire grippers 230 away from terminal 110a along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the terminal (see FIG. 5). This is accomplished by operation of actuator 250, which may be a conventional device similar to actuator 222. Actuator 250 reciprocates actuator carrier 260, on which are mounted actuators 262 and 264. Actuator 262, which may be another conventional device similar to actuator 222, can vertically reciprocate actuator carrier 270 as described in detail below. Actuator 272, which may be another conventional device similar to actuator 222, is mounted on carrier 270. Actuator 272 can reciprocate wire grippers 230a and 230b toward or away from one another as described in detail below. Accordingly, wire grippers move horizontally with actuator carrier 260 in response to operation of actuator 250.

The next step in the operation of the apparatus is placement of wire 180a in terminal 110a as shown in FIGS. 6 and 13. It should be noted that a portion of wire 180a is between wire grippers 230a and 230b.

After wire 180a is in place as described above, crimper 280 is lowered by operation of actuator 282, which can be another conventional device similar to actuator 222 (see FIGS. 7 and 14). Crimper 280 cooperates with anvil 240 to crimp wire crimp portion 112 on the uninsulated end portion of wire 180a and to crimp insulation crimp portion 114 on the end of the insulation of wire 180a.

After terminal 110a has thus been mechanically and electrically connected to wire 180a, the following operations take place: (1) actuator 282 is operated again to raise crimper 280; (2) actuator 272 is operated to move wire grippers 230a and 230b toward one another so that wire 180a is gripped between grippers 230; and (3) actuator 264 is operated to raise latch 266 into recess 224 in mandrel 220 (see FIG. 8).

Following the above-described operations, actuator 250 is operated again to move actuator carrier 260 horizontally toward housing 150 (see FIG. 9). Wire grippers 230, with wire 180a gripped between them, move with actuator carrier 260 toward housing 150. Accordingly, wire grippers 230, acting through wire 180a, push terminal 110a fully into housing 150. Mandrel 220 travels with wire grippers 230 by virture of the presence of latch 266 in recess 224. Actuator 222 idles during this motion of mandrel 220. Accordingly, mandrel 220 is retracted relative to housing 150 at the same time as and at the same rate that wire grippers 230 are pushing terminal 110a into housing 150.

After terminal 110a has been fully pushed into housing 150 as described above, actuator 222 is operated again to fully withdraw mandrel 220 from housing 150 (see FIGS. 10 and 15). In addition, actuator 262 is operated to lower wire grippers 230 below the horizontal plane in which wire 180a lies.

The processing of terminal 110a and wire 180a is now complete and the apparatus is ready to begin processing of the next terminal 110b. Accordingly, actuator 290, which may be similar to actuator 222, is operated to push housing 150 along track 210 until terminal 110b is coaxial with mandrel 220 (see FIG. 11). Actuator 264 is also operated again to lower latch 266 so that the latch no longer extends into recess 224.

When the foregoing operations have been performed, actuator 262 is operated again to raise wire grippers 230 so that they intersect the horizontal plane in which wire 180a lies (see FIG. 12). It will be noted that the condition of the apparatus in FIG. 12 is the same as the condition of the apparatus in FIG. 3 except that terminal 110a has been completed in FIG. 12 and housing 150 has been shifted one terminal spacing along track 210. Accordingly, the above-described operating cycle of the apparatus begins again and is repeated until all of terminals 110 have been wired and fully inserted in housing 150. Thereafter, the fully assembled connector can be removed from the apparatus and is ready for use.

Although the invention has been described in the context of connectors having female terminals 110, it will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to connectors having male terminals. In that event, the leading portion of push-out mandrel 220 would be modified to include a socket for receiving a male terminal pin. In other respects the method and apparatus of this invention would be as described above.