Abstract:
The invention relates to an electrical connector comprising, a female terminal, including a terminal base body; one or more pairs of terminal plates facing each other, protruding in an insertion direction from the edge of the terminal base body, for receiving and connecting to a mating male terminal and the one or more pairs of terminal plates facing each other being adapted to form recesses for receiving the mating male terminal and to provide a clamping compressive force against the mating male terminal; and one or more tilting restriction elements, a connector cavity for building the female terminal in, and an opening of the electrical connector for inserting a mating male terminal for connecting the mating male terminal with the female terminal, wherein the connector cavity includes one or more contacting portions corresponding to the tilting restriction elements.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to an electrical connector with the female terminal movable inside the electrical connector cavity and a motor with such an electrical connector. 
         [0003]    2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Electrical connectors have been developed for the motor industry. In the motor industry an electrical connector that comprises a female terminal inside a connector housing is used. Such a connector housing is sometimes integrally formed with a motor cover or a brush holder plate and therefore a female terminal is built into the connector housing portion of a motor cover or a brush holder plate. Terminals may be made from conductive metal, such as copper. Technical norms require that the female connector should be able to move inside the electrical connector cavity in all directions, to allow the expansion of the female terminal, particularly because the female terminal spreads out when the female terminal receives the mating male terminal or because the female terminal is swollen when temperature increases. This ensures, in turn, less friction oxidation on the point where the female terminal contacts the electrical connector cavity. 
         [0005]    The patent publication U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0129407 describes an electrical connector for connecting to a male blade terminal. The electrical connector comprises a female terminal including one or more pairs of opposing beams for compressing against the male blade terminal. Clamping means are provided. However this patent publication does not disclose any feature that the female terminal inside the electrical connector cavity does not always contact any part of the side wall of the electrical connector cavity and therefore the female connector is movable inside the electrical connector cavity. Such a feature can avoid friction oxidation of the female terminal especially when the mating male terminal is inserted into the female terminal. 
         [0006]    In case the electrical connector cavity is large but the terminal is too small, the female terminal is movable inside the electrical connector cavity and tilts inside the electrical connector cavity and can avoid friction oxidation of the female terminal when the mating male terminal is inserted into the female terminal. However due to too much space in the electrical connector cavity, the female terminal can be misaligned from the opening of the electrical connector where the mating male terminal is inserted into. The terminals can be damaged when the mating terminal is inserted. 
         [0007]    One solution is making the electrical connector cavity smaller in order to reduce the female terminal movement. However, the smaller electrical connector cavity creates an interference condition when the mating male terminal is inserted into the female terminal, and the female terminal expands outward, and the expanded female terminal prevents the female terminal from moving inside the electrical connector cavity. This increases the risk of friction oxidation. 
         [0008]    An object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical connector with a female terminal which can keep the female terminal movable inside an electrical connector cavity. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector with a female terminal which has durability against the pressure at the time of insertion of the mating male terminal into the female terminal. 
         [0010]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide for an electrical motor having such an electrical connector with a female terminal. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    For this effect, the present invention proposes an electrical connector comprising, a female terminal, including a terminal base body; one or more pairs of terminal plates facing each other, protruding in an insertion direction from the edge of the terminal base body, for receiving and connecting to a mating male terminal and the one or more pairs of terminal plates facing each other being adapted to form recesses for receiving the mating male terminal and to provide a clamping compressive force against the mating male terminal; and one or more tilting restriction elements, a connector cavity for building the female terminal in, and an opening of the electrical connector for inserting a mating male terminal for connecting the mating male terminal with the female terminal, wherein the connector cavity has one or more contacting portions corresponding to the tilting restriction elements and contacting to the tilting restriction elements when the female terminal tilts inside the electrical connector cavity. 
         [0012]    By providing one or more tilting restriction elements, the female terminal can be prevented from misalignment, while keeping the female terminal movable inside the electrical connector cavity. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the one or more pairs of the terminal plates facing each other comprise two pairs of the terminal plates facing each other. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the one or more pairs of the terminal plates facing each other have terminal ends at their ends opposite to the terminal base body, wherein the gap between the terminal plates facing each other becomes bigger moving from the point that receives the mating male terminal towards the terminal ends so that a part of the terminal end remains invisible in view from the opening when the tilting restriction elements contact either contacting portion. With such an arrangement, in view from the opening there is no gap between the female terminal and the connector opening which opens for the mating male terminal being inserted, so that the mating male terminal is smoothly inserted into the female terminal through being guided by the terminal plate. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the tilting restriction element comprises at least one tilting restriction member, protruding in the insertion direction from the edge of terminal base body and being arranged to be parallel to the direction that the pair of terminal plates is facing each other. Preferably, the tilting restriction element comprises two tilting restriction members, protruding in the insertion direction from the edge of the terminal base body, and the two tilting restriction members being laterally provided. By providing one or two protruding members, the tilting angle of the female terminal can be controlled. The tilting restriction element can comprise at least one tilting restriction member, expanding outwardly from the edge of the terminal base body. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the at least one tilting restriction member is substantially T-shaped, with a first width in the direction in which the terminal plates can deform or face each other at the terminal base body side and a second width at the side the mating male terminal is inserted, the second width being larger than the first width. A T-shaped tilting restriction member has therefore a main body, protruding in the insertion direction from the edge of the terminal base side, with two lateral lobes or elements, which allows tilting control, especially in the wide connector cavity. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the second width is less or equal to a width of the terminal base body. The width of the connector cavity is larger than the entire tilting restriction member. In this case, the tilting restriction member allows the maximum tilt angle. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, the at least one tilting restriction member is substantially I-shaped, with a rounded top. In such an embodiment a contacting portion comprises preferably a projected portion from the electrical connector cavity towards the tilting restriction members of the female terminal. 
         [0019]    In one aspect of the invention the electrical connector comprises a pair of contacting portions for each tilting restriction forming a slot being less wide than the connector cavity at the terminal plates. The contacting portions may comprise four projected portions from the electrical connector cavity towards the tilting restriction members of the female terminal, two of which face each other across one of the tilting restriction members. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the at least one tilting restriction member is shorter than the terminal plates. This arrangement allows the female terminal movable in the insertion direction. In such a configuration it is possible to arrange the tilting-restriction member in such a manner that during insertion of the male connector any interference except for the terminal plates can be avoided. In particular the tilting restriction member can be arranged below an optional top portion protruding inwardly from the connector cavity at the opening for inserting the mating male terminal, thus forming an edge of the opening, hiding the tilting-restriction member 
         [0021]    The present invention furthermore proposes a motor comprising an electrical connector as described above. And in case of the motor, the electrical connector may be integrally formed with a motor cover or a brush holder plate and therefore the female terminal is built into the connector portion of the motor cover or the brush holder plate. The electrical connector can also be arranged separately from the motor cover or the brush holder plate. 
         [0022]    Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description, simply by illustrating a preferable embodiments and implementations. The present invention is also capable of other and different embodiments and its several details can be modified in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a first aspect of a female terminal for an electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows an electrical connector in a first aspect according to an embodiment of the present disclosure 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a further aspect of a female terminal for an electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows an electrical connector in a further aspect according to the present disclosure. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  shows an electrical connector in a further aspect according to the present disclosure in a sectional view taken along a plane parallel and adjacent to a tilting restriction member. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5A  shows an electrical connector in a further aspect according to the present disclosure in a view similar to the one of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    The invention will now be described on the basis of the drawings. It will be understood that the embodiments and aspects of the invention described herein are only examples and do not limit the protective scope of the claims in any way. The invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents. It will be understood that features of one aspect or embodiment of the invention can be combined with a feature of a different aspect or aspects and/or embodiments of the invention. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  shows a first aspect of a female terminal  10  for an electrical connector  20  according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure and the electrical connector  20  comprising the female terminal  10  in the first aspect according to an embodiment of the present disclosure being shown on the schematic view of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0032]    The female terminal  10  comprises a terminal base body  30  formed with a termination area  32  at one end for connecting to another electrical connector or wire. Two pairs of the terminal plates facing each other  34   a ,  34   b  are protruding from an end surface  33  at the other end of the terminal base body  30 , in an insertion direction R, for connecting to a mating male terminal, preferably flat male terminal plate, such as a male terminal in a power supply box in a vehicle. 
         [0033]    Each of the two pairs of the terminal plates facing each other  34   a ,  34   b  is adapted to form a recess  60   a  for receiving the mating male terminal and to provide a clamping compressive force against the mating male terminal. The pairs of the terminal plates facing each other  34   a ,  34   b  protrude in the insertion direction R, which is perpendicular to the end surface  33  of at the end of the terminal base body  30 . The pairs of the terminal plates facing each other  34   a ,  34   b  have a terminal end  38   a ,  38   b  at their end opposite to the terminal base body  30 . 
         [0034]    As can be seen on  FIG. 2 , the female terminal  10  can be built in and arranged inside an electrical connector cavity  60  of the electrical connector  20 . The electrical connector cavity  60  houses two female terminals  10  on  FIG. 2 . The electrical connector cavity  60  is provided with an opening  62   a ,  62   b  for inserting a mating male terminal for connecting the mating male terminal with the female terminal. 
         [0035]    The female terminal  10  can move inside the electrical connector cavity  60 . The female terminal  10  comprises a tilting restriction element  40 , adapted to restrict a tilting movement of the female terminal by contacting a contacting portion  61  of the electrical connector cavity. 
         [0036]    The tilting restriction element  40  in the first aspect of the present disclosure comprises two tilting restriction members  42   a ,  42   b , protruding from the terminal base body  30 , in the insertion direction R and being arranged to be parallel to the direction that the pair of the terminal plates are facing each other. The two tilting restriction members  42   a ,  42   b  are laterally provided, on each lateral end side  37   a ,  37   b  of the main terminal body  30 . 
         [0037]    The person skilled in the art will understand that the tilting restriction element  40  may comprise only one tilting restriction member  42   a ,  42   b  provided at one end side of the main terminal body  30 . Similarly, one or two tilting restriction members  42   a ,  42   b  could be provided on any one of the two lateral end of the main terminal body  30 . 
         [0038]    The person skilled in the art will also understand that the tilting restriction member  42   a ,  42   b  is shown as protruding in the insertion direction R. The tilting restriction member  42   a ,  42   b  may expand outwardly. 
         [0039]    The tilting restriction members  42   a ,  42   b  are substantially T-shaped, with a first width W 1  at the terminal base side and a second width W 2  at the side the mating male is inserted. The second width W 2  is larger than the first width W 1 . And the second width W 2  is shorter than the width of the terminal base side W 0 . Such arrangement proposes the maximum tilting angle. 
         [0040]    The tilting restriction member  42   a ,  42   b  are shorter than the pairs of the terminal plates facing each other  34   a ,  34   b.    
         [0041]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , this arrangement of the tilting restrictions members  42   a ,  42   b  are arranged to dispose a part of the terminal end  38   a ,  38   b  of the pairs of the terminal plates facing each other  34   a ,  34   b  to remain invisible in view from the opening  62   a ,  62   b  when the tilting restriction members  42   a ,  42   b  contact either contacting portion  61 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  shows a first aspect of a female terminal  210  for an electrical connector  220 , the electrical connector  220  being shown in  FIG. 4  with the female terminal  210 . 
         [0043]    The female terminal  210  comprises a terminal base body  230  formed with a termination area  232  at one end for connecting to another electrical connector or wire. Two pairs of the terminal plates facing each other  234   a ,  234   b  are protruding from an end surface  233  at the other end of the terminal base body  230 , in an insertion direction R, for connecting to a mating male terminal, preferably flat male terminal blade, such as a male terminal blade in a power distribution box in a vehicle. 
         [0044]    Each of the two pairs of the terminal plates facing each other  234   a ,  234   b  is adapted to form a recess  260   a  for receiving the mating male terminal and to provide a clamping compressive force against the mating male terminal. The pairs of the terminal plates facing each other protrude in the insertion direction R, which is perpendicular to the end surface  233  of at the end of the terminal base body  230 . The pairs of the terminal plates facing each other  234   a ,  234   b  have terminal ends  238   a ,  238   b  at their end opposite to the base body  230 . 
         [0045]    The female terminal  210  comprises a tilting restriction element  240 , adapted to restrict a tilting movement of the female terminal when the female terminal is in operative position within the electrical connector cavity by contacting a contacting portion  261  of the electrical connector cavity. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the contacting portion  261  comprises projected portions  251  from the electrical connector cavity  60  towards the tilting restriction members  240  of the female terminal  210 . The projected portions being provided to project in the direction in which the terminal plates can deform and in a direction transverse thereto. 
         [0047]    The tilting restriction element  240  in the second aspect of the present disclosure comprises two tilting restriction members  242   a ,  242   b , protruding from the terminal base body  230 , in the insertion direction R and being arranged to be parallel to the direction that the pair of the terminal plates are facing each other. The two tilting restriction members  242   a ,  242   b  are laterally provided, on each lateral end side  232   a ,  232   b  of the main terminal body  230 . 
         [0048]    The person skilled in the art will understand that the tilting restriction element may comprise only one tilting restriction member provided at one end side of the main terminal body. Similarly, one or two tilting restriction members  242   a ,  242   b  could be provided on any one of the four lateral end of the main terminal body  230 . 
         [0049]    The person skilled in the art will understand that the tilting restriction member  242   a ,  242   b  is shown as protruding in the insertion direction R. The tilting restriction member  242   a ,  242   b  may expand outwardly. 
         [0050]    As can be seen on  FIG. 4  showing the electrical connector  220  with the female terminal  210 , the female terminal  210  can be arranged within an electrical connector cavity  260  of the electrical connector  220 . The connector cavity  260  houses two female terminals  210  on  FIG. 4 . The connector cavity  260  is provided with an opening  262   a ,  262   b  for inserting a mating male terminal for connection of the mating male terminal with the female terminal. The connector cavity  260  in this aspect of the disclosure is smaller and is in both the direction of deformation of the terminal plate and transverse thereto not as wide as the connector cavity  60  of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0051]    The tilting restriction members  242   a ,  242   b  in this aspect of the disclosure comprises an elongated restriction body  244   a ,  244   b , in an elongated rectangular form, having preferably a rounded end portion providing for a smooth surface upon contacting the contacting portion. The tilting restrictions members  242   a ,  242   b  are well adapted for a smaller cavity slot in a connector, the slot being confined by the projected portions  251  defining on either side of the contacting portions  261 . 
         [0052]    The slot can be open at the top as illustrated in  FIG. 5  or may be closed by an edge of the opening intended for inserting the male connector as it is illustrated in  FIG. 5A . When the slot is closed at the top the risk of inadvertently biasing the tilting restriction element can be reduced upon inserting the male terminal. On the other hand an opening allows for visual inspection of proper insertion of the male terminal. 
         [0053]    This is not shown in the figures, but the present invention also proposes a motor comprising an electrical connector as described above. In case of the motor, the electrical connector housing may be integrally formed with a motor cover or a brush holder plate and therefore the female terminal is built into the connector portion of the motor cover or the brush holder plate. The electrical connector can also be arranged separately from the motor cover or the brush holder plate. 
         [0054]    In summary, the present invention proposes providing a tilting restriction element, for maintaining the alignment of the female terminal so as to accept the insertion of the mating male terminal. This in turn avoids the female terminal to be damaged during the insertion of the mating male terminal because the terminal plates of the female terminal guides the mating male terminal from the opening of the electrical connector and this also keeps the female terminal movable inside the electrical connector cavity and can avoid the friction oxidation.