ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH A CPA ELEMENT

• US 20140065857A1
• Filed: 05/14/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi International Operations Luxembourg SARL (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Guillanton, Erwan, Guillanton, Melanie
• Granted Patent: US 9,054,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/131
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5202 Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/642 by position or shape of contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/701 the switch being actuated by an accessory, e.g. cover, locking member
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly including a first connector having a first casing and a first contact and a second contact, and a second connector having a second casing and a first and a second contact. The first and second connectors are configured to transition between an unassembled condition and an assembled condition to connect the first contacts together and the second contacts. The second connector supports a connector position assurance (CPA) element. In the unassembled condition, the CPA element abuts against a surface borne by one of connectors, thereby preventing movement of the CPA element relative to the second connector between a safety and an active position. In the assembled condition, the CPA element does not abut against the surface and is movable relative to the second connector between the safety and active positions, so as to connect the contact carried by the CPA element with the corresponding contact.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly, comprising

a first connector having a first casing and a first contact and a second contact, and

a second connector having a second casing and a first and a second contact, in which the first and second connectors are configured to selectively mate and unmate along a mating axis respectively between an unassembled condition and an assembled condition to electrically connect the first contacts together and the second contacts together,

wherein the second connector supports a connector position assurance (CPA) element carrying one of the contacts,

wherein, in the unassembled condition, the CPA element abuts against an abutment surface borne by one of the first and second connector, thereby preventing movement of the CPA element relative to the second connector between a safety position and an active position, and

wherein, in the assembled condition, the CPA element does not abut against said abutment surface so as to be movable relative to the second connector between said safety position and said active position, so as to connect the contact carried by the CPA element with the corresponding contact of the first connector.

2. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the abutment surface is borne by the second connector.

3. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein a sealing system is provided to surround the CPA element to provide sealing of the CPA element in its active position as well as in its safety position.

4. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein the sealing system of the CPA element comprises a radial compression seal with regard to the mating axis.

5. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein the sealing system of the CPA element is sandwiched between an external surface of the CPA element and an internal surface of a casing of the second connector.

6. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein the sealing system of the CPA element is a closed ring made from silicone material.

7. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein the second connector is provided with another sealing system to provide sealing of the contact carried by the CPA element and the corresponding contact of the first connector when the first and second connectors mate.

8. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the contact carried by the CPA element is different from the other contacts of the second connector and the corresponding contact of the first connector is different from the other contacts of the first connector.

9. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the abutment surface is driven away from engagement with the CPA element by the mating of the first and second connectors.

10. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the abutment surface is delimitated by a cam gear rotatably mounted on a casing of the second connector according to an axis perpendicular to the mating axis.

11. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the CPA element comprises a blocking arm which, in the active position of the CPA element, interlocks the first and second connectors to each other.

12. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the CPA element comprises a locking lever which locks the CPA element in its active position.

13. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the CPA element is formed as one piece.

14. A system comprising:

a power supply having at least two power outputs;

a base; and

a connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is mounted on the power supply, with its contacts connected to the power outputs, and wherein the second connector is mounted on the base.

15. A connector for a connector assembly to claim 1 and comprising the features of the second connector of said assembly.