Patent Description:
In general, a number of components are installed in a vehicle, an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a battery pack, or the like, and a complex wiring circuit is used to connect components to other components or supply power. Because the wiring circuit is quite complicated, it is effective to install the plurality of components and then form the wiring circuit. To this end, a cable connector implemented by connecting a plurality of cables is frequently used.

A cable connector includes electrical cables, terminal pins connected to ends of the electrical cables, and a connector housing into which the terminal pins are inserted and fixed. The number of terminal pins or the size of the connector housing may vary according to a product to be applied.

In the case of a connector, a plurality of terminal pins and a plurality of cables should be correctly connected, and the terminal pins connected to the cables should be correctly inserted into a connector housing. However, in a manufacturing process, for some reasons, the terminal pins may not be inserted into the connector housing to correct positions. In this case, because signal transmission or power supply through the connector is not performed, a product using the cable connector may not operate normally.

Accordingly, in the case of cable connectors, only normal products are shipped through a final test process of checking there is malfunction after assembly and checking an assembled state of a plurality of terminal pins and a connector housing.

Currently, X-ray imaging, Dino inspection (digital microscope inspection), etc. are performed to determine whether a connector has a poor pin assembled state, and because an inspection time and a tact time increase due to the process and productivity is deteriorated, improvement is required.

<CIT> relates to a jig for testing a connector and, more specifically, to a jig for testing a connector wherein a connector to be tested can be tested automatically and can be installed by being buried in a testing device. The jig installed on a device to test the polarity of the connector to be tested comprises: a fixing body including a connector insertion hole having one side of the connector to be tested inserted therein, and including, in the connector insertion hole, a switch pin for detecting the insertion of the connector to be tested toward the connector insertion hole; a conveying body including multiple terminals for testing and vertically reciprocating through the opened lower part of the connector insertion hole; and a driving part for vertically reciprocating the conveying body.

<CIT> relates to a device for testing cables provided with plugs having plug contacts, as to connection failures, switching and the like, the device comprising a coupling element provided with a plug receptacle having a contour corresponding to that of a plug, a plurality of spring contacts extending through the coupling element and provided in a number and with an arrangement corresponding to those of the plug contacts, the spring contacts being provided with an electrical testing circuit, the spring contacts being arranged to contact the plug contacts after insertion of the plug under pressure, elements for fixing the plug which are actuatable after insertion of the plug and termination of a testing process, and a displacing member on which the spring contacts are mounted outside of the coupling element and by which the spring contacts are movable into the plug.

<CIT> relates to a test station for the tactile detection of a position of at least one component of a vehicle part, said test station comprising: a test adapter for receiving the vehicle part to be tested, a test probe which can be moved counter to the test adapter along a predefined path, said test probe having at least one contact element by means of which it is possible to detect contact with the component to be tested of the vehicle part, and a drive for moving the test probe and/or the test adapter, wherein the drive is an electromotive drive for at least incrementally moving the test probe and/or the test adapter, and the test station is designed to determine a travel position of the test probe and/or of the test adapter upon contact with at least one contact element. The invention also relates to a method for the tactile detection of a position of at least one component of a vehicle part. The present invention can particularly advantageously be used for testing plug-in connection elements and fusebanks.

The present disclosure is designed to solve the problems of the related art, and therefore the present disclosure is directed to providing a means for easily determining whether a pin of a connector under test is pushed, thereby omitting X-ray imaging and Dino inspection.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a pin push inspection connector according to claim <NUM>.

A pair of length adjusting bolts may be respectively provided on a left edge and a right edge of the second connector assembly.

A pair of length fixing bolts may be provided between the pair of length adjusting bolts.

The at least one inspection pin may be fixed in the second connector assembly to move integrally with the second connector assembly in the first direction or the second direction with respect to the first connector assembly.

The first connector assembly may include a latch provided to be engaged with a locking protrusion provided on an outer portion of the connector under test.

The at least one inspection pin may include a plurality of inspection pins, and is provided to be connected in a one-to-one plug-in manner to each terminal pin of the connector under test.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there may be provided a pin push inspection connector in which whether a terminal pin of a connector under test is pushed may be easily determined because a contact point with the terminal pin of the connector under test may be variably adjusted.

Because existing X-ray imaging and Dino inspection may be omitted when the pin push inspection connector is used, an inspection time and a tack time may be reduced and connector productivity may be improved.

The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the specification and the attached drawings.

Also, the description proposed herein is just a preferable example for the purpose of illustrations only, not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a connector under test that may be inspected by a pin push inspection connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a photograph showing a pin push inspection connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

A pin push inspection connector <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be used as an inspection means that is directly connected to a connector under test <NUM> to check whether all terminal pins P of the connector under test <NUM> are pushed.

As shown in <FIG>, the connector under test <NUM> refers to a connector including a plurality of terminal pins P connected in a one-to-one manner to a plurality of cables and a housing into which the plurality of terminal pins P are inserted. The number and shape of terminal pins P in the connector under test <NUM> may be determined according to characteristics of a product to be applied, and as shown in <FIG>, the pin push inspection connector <NUM> may be connected to correspond to the connector under test <NUM>.

For example, the connector under test <NUM> may be a sensing cable connector used in a battery module (pack) to transmit various data such as a voltage or a temperature to a battery management system (BMS). The pin push inspection connector <NUM> according to the present embodiment may be connected in a plug-in manner to the sensing cable connector, and may include the same number of inspection pins <NUM> as the terminal pins P of the sensing cable connector. When the terminal pins P of the sensing cable connector are of a female type, the inspection pins <NUM> may be of a male type, and in contrast, when the terminal pins P is of a male type, the inspection pins <NUM> may be of a female type.

Also, as described below in detail, because the pin push inspection connector <NUM> is configured so that a contact point between the inspection pins <NUM> and the terminal pins P is variably adjustable before or after the pin push inspection connector <NUM> is fastened to the connector under test <NUM>, the pin push inspection connector <NUM> may be used to determine whether the terminal pins P are pushed backward from pre-determined positions and assembled (defective state) in a final function test after the assembly of the connector under test <NUM>.

Main elements of the pin push inspection connector <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>. The pin push inspection connector <NUM> may include a first connector assembly <NUM>, a second connector assembly <NUM>, and at least one inspection pin <NUM>, and may be provided as a complementary connector connectable to the connector under test <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the first connector assembly <NUM> may include a first housing <NUM>, a guide pin <NUM>, a latch <NUM>, and a first fastening hole <NUM>, may be connected to the connector under test <NUM>, and may be fixedly coupled to the connector under test <NUM>.

The first housing <NUM> may include a first main body 11a of a central portion formed in a hollow structure and a first wing body 11b integrally formed on both sides of the first main body 11a, and one guide pin <NUM> and one latch <NUM> may be provided on the first wing body 11b.

The guide pin <NUM> may be fixedly coupled to the first wing body 11b and may extend in a first direction +Y from the first wing body 11b beyond the first main body 11a, and the latch <NUM> may be formed in a substantially '┐ '-shaped bent structure and may rotate by a certain angle with respect to a hinge shaft 13a at a bent area in a direction intersecting the first direction +Y.

The connector under test <NUM> (see <FIG>) may include a connection portion <NUM> inserted into a middle portion of the first housing <NUM> and a locking protrusion <NUM> provided on both sides with the connection portion <NUM> therebetween. The terminal pins P may be located in the connection portion <NUM>, and a guide groove <NUM> into which the guide pin <NUM> may be inserted may be formed in the locking protrusion <NUM>.

In this configuration, a front portion of the first main body 11a of the first housing <NUM> may be connected and fixed to the connector under test <NUM> in the first direction +Y. In more detail, (see <FIG>), the connection portion <NUM> of the connector under test <NUM> may be inserted into the first main body 11a of the first housing <NUM>, and the guide pin <NUM> may be inserted into the guide groove <NUM> of the connector under test <NUM>. In this case, a length of the guide pin <NUM> and a depth of the guide groove <NUM> of the connector under test <NUM> may be determined so that, when the guide pin <NUM> reaches the end of the guide groove <NUM> of the connector under test <NUM>, the connection portion <NUM> of the connector under test <NUM> is no longer inserted into the first housing <NUM>.

As described above, in a state where the connection portion <NUM> of the connector under test <NUM> is inserted into the first main body 11a of the first housing <NUM> and the guide pin <NUM> is inserted into the guide groove <NUM> of the connector under test <NUM>, when the latch <NUM> is engaged with the locking protrusion <NUM> of the connector under test <NUM>, the first connector assembly <NUM> does not move in the first direction +Y or a second direction -Y with respect to the connector under test <NUM>.

Also, as shown in <FIG>, the first connector assembly <NUM> may include the first fastening hole <NUM> extending from a surface of a rear end portion of the first connector assembly <NUM> to a certain depth in the first direction +Y. The rear end portion of the first connector assembly <NUM> refers to a rear end portion of the first wing body 11b on both sides of the first housing <NUM> in the present embodiment. A thread may be provided on an inner circumferential surface of the first fastening hole <NUM>, and a rod portion of a length adjusting bolt <NUM> may be screwed into the first fastening hole <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG> and <FIG>, a front portion of the second connector assembly <NUM> may be connected in the first direction +Y to a rear portion of the first connector assembly <NUM>. Also, a connection interval between the second connector assembly <NUM> and the first connector assembly <NUM> may be variably adjusted when necessary in the first direction +Y or a second direction -Y that is opposite to the first direction +Y.

The second connector assembly <NUM> may include a second housing <NUM>, the inspection pins <NUM>, the length adjusting bolt <NUM>, and a length fixing bolt <NUM>.

The second housing <NUM> may include a second main body 21a that may be partially inserted into the first main body 11a, and a second wing body 21b integrally formed on both sides of the second main body 21a.

The inspection pins <NUM> may be connected to an extension line C for a continuity test, and may be provided in a state of being fixedly assembled to the second main body 21a.

Each inspection pin <NUM> may be fixed in a press-fit or snap-fit manner to a pin holder <NUM> provided in the second main body 21a, and a front end portion of the inspection pin <NUM> may protrude from a front side of the second main body 21a. Also, the front end portion of the inspection pin <NUM> may be supported by a pin support <NUM>. The pin support <NUM> is a plate-shaped body having a plurality of holes, and may be provided so that the front end portion of the inspection pin <NUM> is inserted into each hole. The pin support <NUM> may be manufactured as a separate component, or may be integrally manufactured with the second main body 21a or the first main body 11a.

According to this configuration, because an interval, that is, a creepage distance, between the inspection pins <NUM> may be maintained constant by the pin support <NUM> and the pin holder of the second main body 21a, the inspection pins <NUM> may be connected to the terminal pins P of the connector under test <NUM> without being misaligned with the terminal pins P.

The length adjusting bolt <NUM> may pass through a body of the second connector assembly <NUM> and may be screwed into the first fastening hole <NUM> of the first connector assembly <NUM> to a certain depth, and may be used as a means for variably adjusting a connection distance or a connection interval between the first connector assembly <NUM> and the second connector assembly <NUM>.

In detail, in the present embodiment, the body of the second connector assembly <NUM> refers to the second wing body 21b of the second housing <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the second wing body 21b includes a through-hole <NUM>. The through-hole <NUM> may be formed at a position corresponding to the first fastening hole <NUM> provided in the first wing body 11b in the first direction +Y, and thus, the length adjusting bolt <NUM> may be screwed into the first fastening hole <NUM> of the first wing body 11b through the through-hole <NUM> of the second wing body 21b.

A pair of length adjusting bolts <NUM> may be provided respectively on a left edge and a right edge of the second connector assembly <NUM>. That is, the length adjusting bolts <NUM> may be inserted into the through-hole <NUM> of the second wing body 21b on a left side and the through-hole <NUM> of the second wing body 21b on a right side.

In this case, because a thread is not formed on an inner circumferential surface of the through-hole <NUM>, the rod portion of the length adjusting bolt <NUM> may be screwed only into the first fastening hole <NUM> of the first wing body 11b.

Accordingly, when the length adjusting bolt <NUM> is continuously turned clockwise, the length adjusting bolt <NUM> may move forward in the first direction +Y, a head portion H may contact a surface of the second wing body 21b, and finally, the second wing body 21b is pushed by the head portion H to contact the first wing body 11b as shown in <FIG>. As such, when the first wing body 11b and the second wing body 21b contact each other, a connection interval between the first connector assembly <NUM> and the second connector assembly <NUM> is '<NUM>'.

In this state, when the length adjusting bolt <NUM> is slightly turned counterclockwise, the length adjusting bolt <NUM> is released from the first fastening hole <NUM> and moves little by little in the second direction -Y. In this case, because the head portion H of the length adjusting bolt <NUM> is separated from the surface of the second wing body 21b in the second direction -Y, a connection interval between the first connector assembly <NUM> and the second connector assembly <NUM> may be increased.

Finally, when the length adjusting bolt <NUM> is separated from the first fastening hole <NUM> of the first wing body 11b, the first connector assembly <NUM> and the second connector assembly <NUM> may be completely separated from each other with a slight force.

According to this configuration of the present disclosure, in a state where a connection interval between the first connector assembly <NUM> and the second connector assembly <NUM> is '<NUM>', for example, when positions of the inspection pins <NUM> are to be moved backward by <NUM> or <NUM> in the second direction -Y, a connection interval between the first connector assembly <NUM> and the second connector assembly <NUM> may be adjusted to be <NUM> or <NUM> by releasing the length adjusting bolt <NUM> from the first fastening hole <NUM> little by little.

The length fixing bolt <NUM> may be screwed into a second fastening hole <NUM> passing through the body of the second connector assembly <NUM> in the first direction +Y to support the rear end portion of the first connector assembly <NUM>, and may be used as a means for preventing a connection interval between the first connector assembly <NUM> and the second connector assembly <NUM> which is increased by the length adjusting bolt <NUM> from being reduced again.

A pair of length fixing bolts <NUM> may be provided between two length adjusting bolts <NUM> and may be respectively inserted into the second fastening hole <NUM> perforated in the second wing body 21b on a left side and the second fastening hole <NUM> perforated in the second wing body 21b on a right side.

Because a thread is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the second fastening hole <NUM>, the length fixing bolt <NUM> may be screwed into the second fastening hole <NUM>. The length fixing bolt <NUM> may pass through the second fastening hole <NUM>, and a front end portion of the length fixing bolt <NUM> may support the rear end portion of the first connector assembly <NUM>.

In more detail, the second fastening hole <NUM> may be formed at a position corresponding to a rear end of the guide pin <NUM> located on the first wing body 11b, the length fixing bolt <NUM> may be screwed into the second fastening hole <NUM>, and the front end portion of the length fixing bolt <NUM> may pass through the second fastening hole <NUM> to support the rear end of the guide pin <NUM>.

For example, in a state as shown in <FIG>, when the length adjusting bolt <NUM> is released from the first fastening hole <NUM>, the second connector assembly <NUM> is separated backward from the first connector assembly <NUM> by about <NUM>, and the length fixing bolt <NUM> is left as it is, a connection interval between the first connector assembly <NUM> and the second connector assembly <NUM> is likely to be reduced again even with slight impact. Accordingly, in this case, when the length fixing bolt <NUM> is turned clockwise to move forward in the first direction +Y, as shown in <FIG>, the length fixing bolt <NUM> supports the rear end portion of the first connector assembly <NUM>, that is, the rear end of the guide pin <NUM>. Accordingly, even when there is impact, a connection interval between the first connector assembly <NUM> and the second connector assembly <NUM> which is increased by the length adjusting bolt <NUM> is not reduced again.

As described above, the pin push inspection connector <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the first connector assembly <NUM> fixed to the connector under test <NUM> and the second connector assembly <NUM> connected to the first connector assembly <NUM> by variably adjusting a connection interval. The inspection pins <NUM> to be connected to the terminal pins P of the connector under test <NUM> are configured to move integrally with the second connector assembly <NUM> in the first direction +Y or the second direction -Y.

An example of use of the pin push inspection connector <NUM> will be briefly described as follows.

For example, when inspection is performed on the connector under test <NUM> assuming that a product in which a pin push of each terminal pin P is <NUM> or more is a defective product, a connection interval of the pin push inspection connector <NUM> is set to '<NUM>'. (It is assumed that when a connection interval between the first connector assembly <NUM> and the second connector assembly <NUM> is '<NUM>', a connection length between the inspection pin <NUM> and the terminal pin P with no pin push is <NUM>). Next, the pin push inspection connector <NUM> is connected to the connector under test <NUM> and a continuity test is performed.

In this case, referring to <FIG>, because the terminal pin P ④ and the inspection pin <NUM> corresponding thereto do not contact each other, current does not flow therethrough. Accordingly, it may be detected that the terminal pin P ④ is pushed by <NUM> or more and assembled.

In another example, when inspection is performed on the connector under test <NUM> assuming that a product in which a pin push of each terminal pin P is <NUM> or more is a defective product, a connection interval of the pin push inspection connector <NUM> is increased by <NUM>, the pin push inspection connector <NUM> is connected to the connector under test <NUM>, and then a continuity test is performed.

In this case, referring to <FIG>, because the terminal pin P ③ and the terminal pin P ④ do not contact the inspection pins <NUM> corresponding thereto, current does not flow therethrough. Accordingly, it may be detected that the terminal pin P ③ and the terminal pin P ④ are pushed by <NUM> or more and assembled.

In another example, the pin push inspection connector <NUM> in which a connection interval is initially set to '<NUM>' is connected to the connector under test <NUM>, and then, a continuity test is performed by sequentially increasing a connection interval by <NUM>. In this case, the terminal pins P having a pin push of <NUM> or less, <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, and <NUM> or more may be detected.

As described above, according to a configuration and an operation of the pin push inspection connector <NUM> according to the present disclosure, because a contact point with the terminal pins P of the connector under test <NUM> may be variably adjusted, whether the terminal pins P of the connector under test <NUM> are pushed may be easily determined even without performing existing X-ray imaging or Dino inspection.

While one or more embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the figures, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described specific embodiments, and it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope as defined by the following claims.

Claim 1:
A pin push inspection connector (<NUM>) comprising:
a first connector assembly (<NUM>) having a front portion configured to be connected to a connector under test (<NUM>) in a first direction and to be fixedly coupled to the connector under test (<NUM>); and
a second connector assembly (<NUM>) having a front portion connected to a rear portion of the first connector assembly (<NUM>) in the first direction and provided so that a connection interval with respect to the first connector assembly (<NUM>) is variably adjustable in the first direction or a second direction that is opposite to the first direction,
wherein the second connector assembly (<NUM>) comprises at least one inspection pin (<NUM>) provided therein to be connected to at least one terminal pin (P) provided in the connector under test (<NUM>),
characterized in that the first connector assembly (<NUM>) comprises a first fastening hole (<NUM>) extending in the first direction from a rear end portion of the first connector assembly (<NUM>), and the second connector assembly (<NUM>) comprises a length adjusting bolt (<NUM>) passing through a body and screwed into the first fastening hole (<NUM>) to a certain depth, and
wherein the second connector assembly (<NUM>) further comprises a second fastening hole (<NUM>) extending in the first direction and having a thread formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof, and a length fixing bolt (<NUM>) screwed into the second fastening hole (<NUM>) and provided to support the rear end portion of the first connector assembly (<NUM>),
wherein the first connector assembly (<NUM>) comprises a first housing (<NUM>) comprising a first main body (11a) formed in a hollow structure and a first wing body (11b) integrally formed on both sides of the first main body (11a), and a guide pin (<NUM>) extending from the first wing body (11b) in the first direction beyond the first main body (11a),
wherein the length fixing bolt (<NUM>) is provided so that a front end portion of the length fixing bolt (<NUM>) supports a rear end of the guide pin (<NUM>) located on the first wing body (11b).