Electrical connectors and receptacle assemblies having retention inserts

摘要

An electrical connector (118) comprises a connector housing (124) having opposite mating and loading faces (144, 146) and a mating axis (191) extending therebetween. The connector housing has interior walls that oppose each other with a contact cavity (125) therebetween. The contact cavity (125) is accessible through the mating face (144) and through the loading face (146). A retention insert (126) is advanced through the loading face (146) and is positioned within the contact cavity (125). The retention insert (126) has an engagement surface (152). First and second rows of mating contacts (128, 130) are separated by the retention insert (126). The contact cavity (125) has a component-receiving region (120) that exists between the first and second rows of mating contacts (128, 130) and is accessible through the mating face (144). The mating contacts (128, 130) of the first and second rows are oriented to extend lengthwise along the mating axis (191) and are held between the engagement surface (152) and the interior walls. The mating contacts (128, 130) of the first and second rows are configured to engage an electrical component when the electrical component is inserted into the component-receiving region (120).