Abstract:
The present invention relates to a connector arrangement including a plug connector and a socket connector that may be suited for use with an electronically adjustable damper of an automobile. The socket connector is rotatably arranged in a socket connector housing and has an outer casing. The outer casing includes a guideway formed therein that is configured to receive a corresponding guide element of the plug connector. The guideway has a funnel shaped portion configured to receive the guide element. The guide element rotates the socket connector into a correctly aligned orientation with regard to the plug connector upon contacting the funnel shaped portion when the plug connector is inserted into the socket connector.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT Application Number PCT/EP2012/068613 having an international filing date of Sep. 21, 2012, which designated the United States, said PCT application claiming the benefit of PCT Application Number PCT/IB2011/003313, having an international filing date of Dec. 23, 2011, which also designated the United States, the entire disclosure of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to electrical connector arrangements having a connector and a counter connector, in particular a plug connector and a socket connector, with a self-alignment feature for aligning and connecting both connectors. The present invention relates in particular to connector arrangements for electrically adjustable dampers for automobiles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Machines and electrical devices commonly require the use of electrical connector arrangements comprising a male plug inserted into a female socket. Such electrical connector arrangements usually allow the device, or components of the device, to be disconnected from electrical power to allow disassembly, maintenance, or repair of the device. 
         [0004]    Electrical connector arrangements for complex machinery may include a plurality of electrical pins on a male connector which mate with a corresponding plurality of pin sockets in a female counter connector. The male and the female connector are generally shaped or notched so that they can be connected in only one orientation to allow proper mating. 
         [0005]    Thereto, WO 2007/006335 A1 discloses a connector arrangement for connecting a contact receptacle of a connector and a contact header of a counter connector. The connector arrangement includes locking means for maintaining the contact receptacle in an intermediate position into a frame of the connector, and unlocking means for releasing the contact receptacle from its intermediate position. 
         [0006]    However, in some situations requiring electrical connector arrangements, the connector arrangement must be positioned in a location inaccessible to human sight. 
         [0007]    Thereto, WO 1988/010525 discloses a self-aligning electrical connector arrangement for aligning and connecting multiple pins of a male coupler with the corresponding multiple pin sockets of a female coupler in a blind environment. A cylindrical standpipe is attached to and extends axially from the female connector. The end of the standpipe remote from the female coupler comprises a ramp sloping to a lug slot in the standpipe that extends toward the female coupler. The male coupler includes a lug comprising a cam follower or roller for following the cam of the standpipe. 
         [0008]    However, this self-aligning electrical connector needs to be further improved for application fields, where the connector arrangement must be positioned in a location not only inaccessible to human sight, but also in a location hardly accessible to human reach. In such location, it must be further facilitated to correctly align and connect the connector arrangement, as it is hardly impossible to check the alignment visually and tactilely and it is further difficult to fiddle the connector into the counter connector. Obviously, such a connector is likewise very advantageous in normal situations, since the self-aligning facilitates and secures the mating process also in conditions, where the connector parts are easily accessible. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved self-aligning connector arrangement for aligning and connecting a plug connector and a socket connector, preferably in an environment hardly accessible to human sight and reach. 
         [0010]    According to the invention, it is provided a connector arrangement comprising a plug connector and a socket connector. In particular, it is provided a connector arrangement for an electronically adjustable damper of an automobile. According to the invention, the socket connector is rotatably arrangable in a socket connector housing and comprises an outer casing comprising at least one guideway formed therein for the reception of a corresponding guide element of the plug connector. The guideway has preferably an opening which facilitates the insertion of the guide element as in particular a funnel shaped portion for the reception of the guide element, so that upon insertion of the plug connector into the socket connector, the guide element is enabled upon contacting portions of the funnel shaped portion to rotate the socket connector into a correctly aligned orientation with regard to the plug connector. In other words, since the socket connector is arranged rotatable in a socket connector housing, it is upon insertion of the plug connector automatically rotated in the correct orientation to allow a correct mating with said plug connector. 
         [0011]    The connector arrangement solves the object of the present invention, in particular as the socket connector is rotatably arrangable in a socket connector housing. Thereby, the plug connector can be held by the user in an arbitrary position and the rotatability of the socket connector will allow a rotation of the socket connector into the correctly aligned position. In other words, the user does not need to actively rotate or align the plug connector into a correctly aligned position before mating with the socket connector. Thereby, an environment hardly accessible to human sight and reach does not impair the alignment and the connection between the plug connector and the socket connector, as also a (compelled by the environment) nearly blind and clumsy user is able to insert the plug connector into the socket connector. Naturally, the present invention is also advantageous in normal conditions, where the user is not hampered by lack of sight or similar. 
         [0012]    Preferably, an outer casing of the socket connector comprises at least one guideway with a funnel shaped portion for the reception of a corresponding guide element of the plug connector. Thereby, a slight and imprecise contact between the plug connector and the socket connector enables a guiding of the guide element of the plug connector along contacting portions of the funnel shaped portion of the guideway of the socket connector&#39;s outer casing. As a result, the plug connector is reliably guided into the socket connector independent of the initial position of the connectors to each other. Thereby, a safe connection of the two connectors is further independent from the environment and the abilities of the user. 
         [0013]    This so-called self-alignment is preferably further improved by an essentially cylindrical plug-in portion of the plug connector adapted to be inserted into the socket connector. The guide element is then preferably arranged at the free end of the cylindrical plug-in portion. The self-alignment is preferably further improved by parabolic shaped faces of the funnel shaped portion of the guideway of the socket connector&#39;s outer casing. 
         [0014]    In many fields of applications, it is important that a save coupling between two connectors can be guaranteed. Therefore, the connector arrangement according to the invention is preferably provided with a connector position assurance (CPA) member which can be inserted into a locked position only if the plug connector is appropriately connected to socket connector. In this locked position, the CPA provides additional security for the mated state of plug connector and the socket connector, and typically the CPA is constructed such that an operator can visibly detect if the CPA is inserted correctly into its locked position. 
         [0015]    For the above discussed self-alignment, the plug connector is preferably in locked position still arranged rotatable with respect to the socket connector housing. The CPA is preferably allocated to the plug connector and comprises a cylindrical outer cap and an inner locking member comprising at least one locking portion, for example in form of a locking arm. The cylindrical outer cap preferably comprises cylindrical side walls, an open end and a closed end. The socket connector housing preferably comprises a locking projection adapted to interact with the locking portion of the inner locking member, to allow a locking of plug connector and socket connector housing. The outer cap is arranged movable with respect to the inner locking member from a first open position to a second closed position. After the locking of the inner locking member with the socket connector housing, the cylindrical outer cap is movable to the second closed position, thereby preventing a release of the locking of the inner locking member. Preferably, the CPA can only be moved into the second position when the two connectors are fully mated, so that a correct and safe mating between the plug connector and the socket connector can be guaranteed. 
         [0016]    The CPA can be further improved when the cylindrical outer cap comprises a latching member adapted to latch onto a latching portion of the inner locking member when the cap is arranged in the second closed position. Thereby, a correct and safe mating between the outer cap and the inner locking member can be further improved. 
         [0017]    The form of the CPA can be flexibly adapted to the operational conditions. The inner locking member preferably allows a locking onto the socket connector housing in any relative angular orientation of plug connector and socket connector housing. Therefore, the locking projection of the socket connector housing can be provided in a ring shape, out of one circumferentially extending collar, out of several circumferentially spaced collar elements or the like. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0018]    The present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic illustration of a connector arrangement comprising a plug connector and a socket connector; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a 3D illustration of a connector system; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows several views of the plug connector and the socket connector; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 4 to 7  show several views of a course of action concerning the self alignment during the insertion of the plug connector into the socket connector; and 
           [0023]      FIGS. 8 to 11  show several views of a course of action concerning a connector position assurance during the insertion of the plug connector into the socket connector. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]      FIGS. 1 to 4  show a connector arrangement comprising a plug connector  10  and a socket connector  20  from different angles. The socket connector  20  is rotatably arranged in a socket connector housing  21  (see  FIG. 4 ). The socket connector housing is e.g. part of an electronically adjustable damper arrangement if a passenger vehicle. Upon an arbitrarily insertion of the plug connector  10  into the socket connector  20 , the socket connector  20  is rotated into a correctly aligned orientation with regard to the plug connector  10 . This rotation is enabled and guided by the following constructive means. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the plug connector  10  comprises a cylindrical plug-in portion  13  with a guide element  12  at the free end of the cylindrical plug-in portion  13 . The plug connector  10  further comprises a lever member  14  which serves as a terminal position assurance (TPA) member to verify the correct mounting of the contact terminals in the plug connector  10 . If the terminals are not correctly mounted in plug connector  10 , the lever member  14  cannot be closed, i.e. pushed in the position shown in the figures, so that a mating of the plug connector  10  is not possible. Thereby an incorrect mounting of the terminals is easily detected. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the socket connector  20  comprises an outer casing  22  with a guideway  24  for the reception of the guide element  12  of the plug connector  10 . The guideway  24  has a funnel shaped portion  25  with contacting portions  23  for the reception of the guide element  12 . The contacting portions  23  of the funnel shaped portion  25  are provided with a screw curved shape. The screw curve has preferably an essentially constant gradient so that the torque applied upon mating of plug connector  10  is constant. The socket connector  20  comprises two ledges  27  arranged spaced apart on the outer surface of the outer casing  22 . The two ledges  27  are further explained concerning  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b . The plug connector  10  and the socket connector  20  with its constructive guiding means are further shown in  FIG. 3  in different perspectives to facilitate understanding. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 , upon an arbitrarily insertion of the plug connector  10  into the socket connector  20 , an imprecise contact between the plug connector  10  and the socket connector  20  enables a guiding of the guide element  12  of the plug connector  10  along contacting portions  23  of the funnel shaped portion  25  of the guideway  24  of the socket connector&#39;s  20  outer casing  22 . In  FIG. 4   a , the guide element  12  of the plug connector  10  is shown in an arbitrarily position right before a contact with the socket connector  20 .  FIG. 4   b  shows the same position in detail. 
         [0028]    In  FIG. 5 , the guide element  12  of the plug connector  10  glides along contacting portions  23  of the funnel shaped portion  25  of the guideway  24  of the socket connector&#39;s  20  outer casing  22 . Thereby, the socket connector  20  is rotated to enable the gliding of the guide element  12  of the plug connector  10  along the contacting portions  23  of the funnel shaped portion  25  of the guideway  24  of the socket connector&#39;s  20  outer casing  22 . In other words; the orientation of the plug connector  10  remains basically steady and the socket connector rotates inside of the socket connector housing  21  to allow an insertion or “threading in” of the guide element  12  into the guideway  24 . 
         [0029]    In  FIG. 6 , the guide element  12  of the plug connector  10  is inserted into the entrance of the guideway  24  of the socket connector&#39;s  20  outer casing  22 . The rotation of the socket connector  20  in the socket connector housing  21  stops and the guide element  12  of the plug connector  10  is moved into the guideway  24  of the socket connector&#39;s  20  outer casing  22 . In the position shown in  FIG. 6 , plug connector  10  and socket connector  20  are now in the correct angular orientation with respect to each other. 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 7 , the guide element  12  of the plug connector  10  is completely inserted into the guideway  24  of the socket connector&#39;s  20  outer casing  22 . In this position, plug connector  10  and socket connector  20  are fully and correctly mated with each other. 
         [0031]    As also shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3   c  and  4   a , the connector arrangement is further provided with a connector position assurance (CPA) member which can be inserted into a locked position only if the plug connector  10  is appropriately connected to socket connector  20 . In this locked position, the CPA provides additional security for the mated state of plug connector  10  and the socket connector  20 , and typically the CPA is constructed such that a user can visibly detect if the CPA is inserted correctly into its locked position. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 1 to 3   c ,  4   a , and  8  to  11  show that the CPA is allocated to the plug connector  10  and comprises a cylindrical outer cap  15  and an inner locking member  17  comprising a locking arm  19 . As can be seen best in  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   c , the cylindrical outer cap  15  comprises cylindrical side walls, an open end and a closed end. Now referring to  FIGS. 8 to 11 , the socket connector housing  21  comprises a locking projection  26  adapted to interact with the locking arm  19  of the inner locking member  17 , to allow a locking of plug connector  10  and socket connector housing  21 . The locking projection  26  has a ring shape and the plug connector  10  upon mating is surrounded by the ring shaped locking projection  26 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 8   a  shows the plug connector  10  and the socket connector  20  before mating.  FIGS. 8   a  to  8   c  show different views of this position of the plug connector  10  and the socket connector  20 .  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  show the two ledges  27  arranged spaced apart on the outer surface of the outer casing  22  of the socket connector  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b , the outer casing  22  is fully inserted into the socket connector housing  21 . The two ledges  27  of the outer casing  22  rest in respective recesses, angular grooves, in the socket connector housing  21  and secure thereby a safe connection between the outer casing  22  and the socket connector housing  21 , while at the same time allow and guide a rotation of the socket connector  20  inside of the socket connector housing  21 .  FIG. 8   b  shows the lever member  14  of the plug connector  10  in its closed position, whereby it fixes the contact terminals in place.  FIGS. 8   d  and  8   e  show details of the locking projection  26  of the socket connector housing  21  according to  FIGS. 8   b  and  8   c.    
         [0034]      FIGS. 9   a  to  9   c  show different views of the insertion of the plug connector  10  into the socket connector  20 . The guide element  12  of the plug connector  10  is partially inserted into the guideway  24  of the socket connector&#39;s  20  outer casing  22  and the plug connector and socket connector are correctly aligned with respect to each other. Thereby, the correct contacting of the respective contact terminals in plug connector  10  and socket connector is secured. The locking arm  19  of the inner locking member  17  contacts the ring shaped locking projection  26  of the socket connector housing  21  surrounding the plug connector  10 .  FIGS. 9   d  and  9   e  show details of the locking projection  26 , of the interaction between the socket connector housing  21  and the locking arm  19  of the inner locking member  17 . 
         [0035]      FIGS. 10   a  to  10   c  show different views of the completed insertion of the plug connector  10  into the socket connector  20 . The guide element  12  of the plug connector  10  is completely inserted into the guideway  24  of the socket connector&#39;s  20  outer casing  22 .  FIG. 10   b  shows the lever member  14  of the plug connector  10  completely inserted into the outer casing  22  of the socket connector  20 . In this position, the lever member  14  additionally secures the position of the contact terminals in plug connector  10 . The locking arm  19  of the inner locking member  17  is pressed over the ring shaped locking projection  26  of the socket connector housing  21  and rests in a recess behind the locking projection  26 . The outer cap  15  is arranged movable with respect to the inner locking member  17  from a first open position to a second closed position. The outer cap  15  is shown in  FIGS. 10   a  to  10   e  in the first open position. A latching member  16  of the cylindrical outer cap  15  is visible.  FIGS. 10   d  and  10   e  show details of the inner locking member  17  resting in the recess behind the locking projection  26  of the socket connector housing  21  according to  FIGS. 10   b  and  10   c.    
         [0036]      FIGS. 11   a  to  11   c  show how the CPA member locks the inner locking member  17  with the socket connector housing  21  in the second closed position of the CPA. In  FIGS. 11   a  to  11   e  the outer cap  15  is moved with respect to the inner locking member  17  from a first open position to a second closed position after the locking of the inner locking member  17  with the socket connector housing  21 . The latching member  16  of the cylindrical outer cap  15  is latched onto a latching portion  18  of the inner locking member  17  when the outer cap  15  is arranged in the shown second closed position. Thereby, a correct and safe mating between the outer cap and the inner locking member can be guaranteed. The plug connector  10  is in locked position still rotatable with respect to the socket connector housing  21 .  FIGS. 11   d  and  11   e  show details of the latching member  16  of the cylindrical outer cap  15  latched onto the latching portion  18  of the inner locking member  17  when the outer cap  15  is arranged in the second closed position according to  FIGS. 11   b  and  11   c.