EP3679632B1 - Plug connector with secondary lock for securing contact partners in the contact support of the plug connector - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a plug connection, having a plug connector and a mating connector, wherein the plug connector and the mating connector can be plugged together to form the plug connection, the plug connector having a contact carrier with at least one contact cavity for receiving a contact partner, and the contact carrier being inserted into an outer housing of the connector , wherein each contact partner is primarily locked in its contact chamber and a secondary bolt is provided for secondary locking of the contact partners in their contact chambers, the secondary bolt being formed by a longitudinal web, at the two ends of which a latching element which interacts with the contact carrier is arranged in accordance with the features of the preamble of patent claim 1

There are plug connectors such plug connections are known which have a contact carrier. The contact carrier has at least one contact cavity, usually a plurality of contact cavities, in each of which a contact partner is inserted. The contact partner is arranged at the end of an electrical conductor. For the reliable function of the connector, the contact partner is primarily locked in its associated contact cavity. This is done, for example, by means of a spring clip protruding from the contact partner, which comes into contact with an undercut in the contact chamber when the contact partner has been inserted into the contact chamber in its intended position.

In addition, it is known that the contact partner is not only primarily locked in its contact chamber, but that a so-called secondary locking also takes place. Such a secondary locking takes place, for example, with locking tabs, locking bolts or the like.

In addition, it is known that the secondary bolt is formed by a longitudinal bar, at both ends of which a latching element which interacts with the contact carrier is arranged, with at least one force-absorbing bar being arranged on the upper side of the longitudinal bar. The contact partners are secondarily locked in their contact chambers with the longitudinal web when the secondary bolt has been moved from a first to a second position after the contact partners have been inserted into their contact chambers and initially locked there in a primary manner. To fix the secondary bolt in the contact carrier, the latter has a latching element at each of its two ends, which interacts with a corresponding geometry in the contact carrier.

For the function of the plug connection in operation, i. That is, once the connector has been mated with the mating connector, it is necessary for these two elements to be permanently and reliably connected. For this purpose, locking elements, so-called CPAs (connector position assurance), have already become known.

In addition, however, it is also necessary for the function of the plug connector of the plug connection for the contact carrier to be fixed reliably and permanently in its intended target position in its outer housing. Depending on the embodiment of the plug connector, this intended target position can be an end position when the contact carrier has been inserted into the outer housing. However, it can also be a pre-latching position in which the contact partner is first brought in relation to the outer housing, with further measures then taking place (such as inserting the contact partner) and only then is the contact carrier brought into its intended end position in the outer housing. In both cases, it can happen in a disadvantageous manner that although the contact carrier has been inserted into its outer housing, it can move out of this position again in the course of further assembly or plug-in processes, so that these further assembly or plug-in processes are not reliable, ie error-prone, can take place.

FR 2 831 721 A1 discloses the preamble of claim 1.

The invention is therefore based on the object of improving a generic connector and avoiding the disadvantages described at the outset. This problem is solved by the features of patent claim 1.

According to the invention, in order to actuate the secondary bolt, at least one force-absorbing web, for example in the form of an elevation, more particularly in the form of a rectangular or cuboid elevation, is arranged on the upper side of the longitudinal web of the secondary bolt, on which during a locking process of the A downward force is applied to the secondary latch.

In a development of the invention, it is provided that the longitudinal web of the secondary bar has an insertion chamfer. With the insertion chamfer, which preferably extends over the entire length of the longitudinal web between the two latching elements extends, it is possible to easily introduce the contact partners into the contact chambers, since the movement of the contact partners is not impeded in their contact chambers by the longitudinal web during this insertion process when this is in its first position is in the contact carrier, which does not cause secondary locking of the contact partner. There is therefore no stop surface against which the contact partners could hit when they are inserted into their contact chambers and would block an insertion movement. This bumping and blocking is effectively prevented by the insertion chamfer of the secondary bar.

In a development of the invention, it is provided that the longitudinal web of the secondary bolt has an unlocking recess in the area of its latching elements. Using these unlocking recesses, the secondary bolt can be moved from its locked position in the contact carrier (in which it secondarily locks the contact partners) to an unlocked position in which the contact partners are released (or vice versa) using a tool that is placed on the contact carrier from the outside ) so that they can be exchanged, for example, or replaced in the event of damage.

In a development of the invention, it is provided that the longitudinal web of the secondary bar has a coding. By means of this coding it can be determined, for example, for which contact carrier the secondary bolt is to be used. The coding thus provides information about the contact carrier in which the respective secondary bolt is to be used, depending on its number of contact cavities and thus corresponding to the number of contact partners. This coding can be queried automatically so that, depending on each contact carrier, the corresponding secondary bolt (and also the outer housing that matches the contact carrier) can be selected and installed.

The secondary bolt described above is thus designed in such a way that the contact carrier can only be moved into its associated outer housing and fully inserted when the secondary bolt is not in its first but in its intended end position in the contact carrier, in which the secondary locking device is in it the contact partner has taken place. This increases the assembly reliability of the entire connector, since it is possible to check whether all contact partners have been inserted into their contact chambers as intended and have not only been locked primarily but also locked in a secondary manner. This is because the secondary locking is not possible until each contact partner has been inserted into its associated contact chamber as intended, since in such a case the secondary bolt cannot be actuated and is arranged in the contact carrier in such a way that the contact carrier can be fully inserted and fixed in its outer casing allows. In addition, the secondary bar according to the invention enables a robust absorption of the contact retention forces due to the force absorption webs on the longitudinal web. A miniature construction of the plug connector can thereby be achieved in an advantageous manner. Furthermore, the first position (pre-locked position) and the second intended end position (end locked position) of the secondary bolt in the contact carrier in the mounted state can be detected in these two positions, ie checked, so that at least two test options are possible. A simple locking and unlocking of the secondary bar in the contact carrier is also possible, since this takes place by means of a simple latching process. By simply moving (unlocking) the secondary bar in the contact carrier (starting from the final locking position, the secondary bar is brought into its pre-locked position), the contact partners can be exchanged quickly and easily in the fully assembled state. A further advantage can be seen in the fact that the secondary bar is arranged captively in the installed state between the contact carrier and the outer housing.

The insertion chamfer already described allows for the simplest assembly of the contact partners in their contact cavities. Depending on the geometric design (e.g. length of the longitudinal web and number of force absorption webs) of the secondary bolt, it can be implemented independently of the number of poles of the connector (number of poles equals the number of contact partners). In addition, the secondary bar can be easily adapted to the geometries used with regard to the contact partner and its associated contact carrier.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the figures and explained in more detail below.

figure 1 shows, as far as shown in detail, a plug connection 1. This plug connection 1 comprises a plug connector 2 and a mating connector 3 that can be plugged together with it. Some elements of the plug connection 1 (such as electrical conductors, at the end of which contact partners are arranged) have been omitted for the sake of a better overview, in in practice, however, exist and are generally known.

The connector 2 is formed by a contact carrier 4, which has contact cavities, not shown, for the contact partners. The contact carrier 4 is inserted into an outer housing 5 (also referred to as a protective collar). The contact partners used in the contact chambers are primarily locked in a suitable manner that is known per se (so-called primary locking). In addition, there is a secondary locking by means of a secondary bolt 6, which can be present, but does not have to be. To seal and to achieve a longitudinal watertightness is between the contact carrier 4 and the outer housing 5, a seal, in particular designed as a lip seal 7 used. A locking element 8 (for the contact carrier 4) and/or a locking element 9 (for the outer housing 5) and/or a locking element 10 (for the secondary bolt 6) can, but need not, be present as further elements of the plug-in connection 1. To achieve sealing and longitudinal watertightness, a further sealing element, in particular a lip seal 11, is provided between the connector 2 and the mating connector 3 (which is also referred to as the socket). A further locking element, namely a CPA 12 known per se, is provided for the permanent fixing of the plug connection 1 plugged together from the plug connector 2 and mating plug connector 3 .

The assembly of the above elements is shown in the following based on the Figures 2 to 4 explained.

In figure 2 it is shown that the contact carrier 4 has been inserted a little way into its outer housing 5, so that it is in a first position, which is referred to as the pre-latching position, in the outer housing 5. Starting from this pre-locked position, it is possible to move the contact carrier 4 further into the outer housing 5 until the intended end position has been reached. In the pre-locked position as shown in figure 2 is shown, the contact carrier 4 protrudes, for example, 3.45 mm from the outer housing 5 . Larger or smaller distances are of course also conceivable. After the contact partners (e.g. contact sockets) have been inserted into their associated contact cavities in the contact carrier 4 and have been primary locked there, the secondary locking of the contact partners takes place in their contact cavities by means of the secondary lock 6. This is followed by the further assembly of the connector 2 and the mating of the connector 2 with its mating connector 3. Once If the contact carrier 4 still protruding from the outer housing 5 in the pre-locking position has come to rest against a contact area, for example a base, of the mating connector 3, the outer housing 5 is also displaced up to the contact area (in particular the base) of the mating connector 3, as a result of which the The outer housing 5 and the contact carrier 4 are pushed further into one another, so that the contact carrier 4 is then arranged in its end position in the outer housing 5 as intended and the outer housing 5 and the contact carrier 4 form a flat surface on the front side (ie in the direction of the mating connector 3). Through this in figure 3 The state shown is thus fixed as intended in its outer housing 5 of the contact carrier 4 . This position can also be referred to as the final locking position of the connector 2 . Subsequently, as described in figure 4 is shown, the insertion of the mating connector 3 in the connector 2 prepared as described above, so that the connector 1 is thereby plugged together. Finally, this plug connection 1 is secured by actuating the CPA 12 so that it is not possible to move the mating connector 3 out of the plug connector 2 again without releasing the CPA 12 .

Of the figure 2 it could be seen that the contact carrier 4 was brought into a first position relative to the outer housing 5, which was the described pre-latching position. In order to effectively prevent the contact carrier 4 from being able to move out of the outer housing 5 from this pre-locked position, according to the invention the outer housing 5 has at least one locking hook 13 which interacts with the contact carrier 4, the contact carrier 4 having a hook counter-geometry 14 and the at least one Locking hook 13 is aligned obliquely to a central axis of the outer housing 5. this is in figure 5 shown, in which case an embodiment is shown in which symmetrical to the Central axis of the outer housing 5, two locking hooks 13 are arranged on the outer housing 5.

When mounting (inserting) the contact carrier 4 into its outer housing 5, the two locking hooks 13 are spread apart on the left and right, so that the contact carrier 4 can be inserted (pushed) into the outer housing 5 guided by these two locking hooks 13 spread apart. If the contact carrier 4 has then been brought into its intended position (e.g. the pre-locked position), the two locking hooks 13 deform back into their original position and come to rest on the hook counter-geometry 14, thereby preventing the contact carrier 4 from moving out of its assumed position the outer casing 5 can be moved out. The process of the contact carrier 4 sliding along the two deflected locking hooks 13 is in figure 6 shown, where the figure 7 it can be seen that the respective free end of the two locking hooks 13 has come to rest on the hook counter-geometry 14 . The alignment of the locking hooks 13 is preferably almost identical or even completely identical before and after the insertion of the contact carrier 4 into its outer housing 5 .

In the Figures 8 to 11 both the locking hook 13 of the outer housing 5 and the hook counter-geometry 14 of the contact carrier 4 are shown again in different perspective views.

Referring to the Figures 10 and 11 It still needs to be explained that the hook counter-geometry 14 is arranged at one end of a transverse web 15 emanating from the central axis of the contact carrier 4 . As in figure 11 very good as can be seen, the transverse web 15 with its two hook counter-geometry 14 arranged at the respective end is also formed symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the contact carrier 4 . It can also be seen that the end of the transverse web 15 with its counter-hook geometry 14 is designed as a free end protruding from the surface of the contact carrier 4 . As a result, this hook counter-geometry 14 can be produced very well in a plastic injection molding process, since this geometry can be reproduced in the corresponding injection molding tool and there is also a correspondingly good demouldability.

When considering the Figures 12 and 13 , which show the arrangement and the interaction of the locking hooks 13 with the hook counter-geometry 14 in detail, it can be seen that the interaction of the locking hooks 13 and the hook counter-geometry 14 of the contact carrier 4 prevents the contact carrier 4 from moving out of the outer housing 5 even under high loads is prevented. This moving out (pressing out) must be effectively prevented in particular when the mating connector 3 is plugged into the connector 2 . This effective prevention is achieved by an undercut contour of the angles a and b, which are formed both on the free ends of the locking hooks 13 and on the corresponding contact surface of the hook counter-geometry 14, and a defined loading direction due to the slight inclination of the locking hooks 13 in relation to the Longitudinal axis of the connector 1 ensured. In addition, the interaction of the geometry shown and described prevents movement of the fixed locking hooks 13 (for example unfolding). Bending the locking hooks 13 inward beyond the angle c (see figure 13 , lower left illustration) prevents the defined stop d on the contact carrier 4 (see again figure 13 , lower left illustration.

while in the Figures 1 to 4 the structure and operation of an example of a connector has been shown and described above, was in the Figures 5 to 13 shown based on this embodiment, the locking hook 13 on the contact carrier 4 in connection with the hook counter-geometry 14 on the outer housing 5 and also described above.

The following is now the secondary bar 6, which can be used in the contact carrier 4, based on figures 14 to 21 described.

It goes without saying that the exemplary embodiment and the associated description relating to the secondary bolt 6 can be implemented alone in a connector, just like the locking hook 13 in connection with the hook counter geometry 14. In contrast, the combination of these two elements (secondary bolt 6 and locking hook 13) shown and described.

figure 14 shows the secondary bar 6 in two different views. It is basically designed to be elongated and has a particularly flat longitudinal web 16 . At the end of this longitudinal web 16 a locking element 17 are arranged. The latching element 17 is designed as a tab extending approximately at right angles from the longitudinal web 16, at the end of which a shoulder, which in particular forms an undercut, is arranged. One end face of the longitudinal web 16 is not formed at right angles to the larger surface of the longitudinal web 16, but is beveled and thus forms an insertion chamfer 18 along which the contact partners can slide when inserted into their contact chamber and thus blocking is prevented during this insertion process. On the top of the longitudinal bar 16 force absorbing webs 19 are arranged. In this exemplary embodiment, there are 3 force absorbing webs 19 arranged symmetrically over the longitudinal extension of the longitudinal web 16 . However, one, two or more than three force absorbing webs 19 can also be provided, the number depending on the design of the connector, in particular the number of contact partners. Furthermore, in the region of the latching elements 17 there is an unlocking recess 20 in the tab, which extends approximately at right angles from the longitudinal web 16 . An unlocking tool can be inserted into this unlocking recess 20, for which purpose the contact carrier 4 has a corresponding opening through which not only the secondary bolt 6 can be inserted, but also via which the unlocking recess 20 can be actuated with the development tool. Finally, the secondary bar 6 shown in this exemplary embodiment has a coding 21 . In this case, the coding 21 is a recess in one longitudinal side of the longitudinal web 16.

In figure 15 is shown that the insertion chamfer 18 in the open state during contact assembly (insertion of the contact partners in their associated contact chambers) allows for smooth positioning of the respective contact partner in its associated contact chambers. The open state can be the pre-locked position of the secondary bar 6 in its contact carrier 4, in which it is possible to insert the contact partners into the contact chambers, but these are not yet locked in a secondary manner. The secondary locking only takes place when the secondary bolt 6 has been brought from its pre-locked position into its intended final locked position. In the open state can also be about the fact that the Contact carrier 4 has not yet been used at all or only a little way into the outer housing 5.

figure 16 shows the locking process of the secondary bolt 6, in which it is brought from the pre-locked position into its intended final locked position. During this locking process of the secondary bolt 6 , a downward force is applied to the force absorbing webs 19 . this is in figure 16 shown in the left illustration. The force absorption is indicated by the three arrows. This is done, for example, with or without a tool, by hand or by machine. During the movement of the secondary bolt 6 from its pre-locked position (recognizable in the middle of the figure 16 ) In its final locking position, the two locking elements 17 are spread apart and snap back into their original position in the end position in order to fix the contact partners in a secondary locked manner via the longitudinal web 16 of the secondary bolt 6, which is then in its final locking position. This is in the right representation of the figure 16 recognizable. It goes without saying that the secondary bar 6 is first inserted into the contact carrier 4 and fixed there in its pre-locked position. The latching elements 17, which form a latching geometry or an undercut geometry, are adapted in terms of their function to a counter-latching geometry or a counter-undercut geometry of the contact carrier 4. Such a counter-geometry is in accordance with the embodiment figure 16 formed for example as a protruding bead of the contact carrier 4.

In figure 17 an unlocking process of the secondary bolt 6 is shown. During this unlocking process of the secondary bolt 6, a corresponding cutout in the contact carrier 4 (and possibly the outer housing 5, after the contact carrier 4 has been used as intended and completely has been inserted into the outer housing 5), a corresponding unlocking mechanism is inserted into the unlocking recesses 20 and the secondary bolt 6 is pulled up using this development tool (when considering the figure 17 ) and thus unlocked. As a result of this unlocking, it is possible that the contact partners (or at least only one or more contact partners) can be changed, for example in the event of incorrect assembly or exchanged in the event of damage.

In figure 18 it can be seen that the process of inserting the contact carrier 4 into its outer housing 5 is only possible when the secondary bolt 6 is in the closed state (final locking position). The relative movement (inserting the contact carrier 4 into the outer housing 5) is blocked by the secondary latch 6, which is still open. In this context, open means that the secondary bolt 6 has already been brought into its pre-locked position in the contact carrier 4, but the final locked position has not yet been reached. The secondary bolt 6 dips into both the contact carrier 4 and the outer housing 5 with the force absorbing webs 19 and prevents the entire system from being displaced into its final locking position. This means that although the contact carrier 4 has already been inserted a little way into the outer housing 5, a further insertion movement is not yet possible because of the blockage by the secondary bolt 6. In this position of the contact carrier 4 in relation to the outer housing 5, it is possible to use (to equip) the contact partners in their contact chambers. In this position, the corresponding geometries of the contact partners for their secondary locking have not yet touched, in particular no undercut (have not yet come into contact with one another) with the secondary bar 6 and are therefore not yet fixed in their intended end position (secondary locking). By actuating the secondary bolt 6 (also referred to as closing), with which the Secondary bolt 6 is moved from its pre-locked position to its end-locked position (see figure 19 ) the secondary bar 6 immerses completely in the contact carrier 4, so that it no longer protrudes over the surface of the contact carrier 4. In other words, the secondary bolt 6 then no longer overlaps the outer housing 5. At the same time, the secondary bolt 6 creates an undercut for the locking geometries of the contact partners for their secondary locking and thus ensures the correct positioning, i.e. their intended end position, of the contact partners in their contact chambers. This is then in accordance with figure 19 each contact partner is locked in its associated contact cavity.

With reference to the figure 20 the functional principle of the force absorbing webs 19 is described. The geometry shown of the force absorbing webs 19 always ensures the correct position of the respective contact partner in its contact chamber. The locking geometries of the respective contact partner (provided with the reference number 22 here) rest against the force absorbing web 19 under tensile load when the secondary bolt 6 is in its intended end position in the contact carrier 4 . This permanently and effectively prevents the contact partner from shifting in its contact cavity due to its contact with the contact carrier 4 (more precisely its contact cavities).

Finally, FIG. 21 shows the situation in which the contact partners can be exchanged easily and quickly when the connector 2 is in the fully assembled state. In addition, the pre-locked position and the final locked position of the secondary bar 6 can be seen in the assembled state of the plug connector 2 . The opening and closing (i.e. moving the secondary latch 6 from its pre-locked position to its final locked position on the contact carrier 4 and vice versa) 6 can take place in the fully assembled state of the connector 2, in which the contact carrier 4 has been fully inserted into the outer case 5. In this state, or after the contact carrier 4 has been moved out of the outer housing 5, the secondary latch 6 can be opened and either a contact partner fitted if a contact partner is missing in a contact chamber, or a damaged contact partner can be replaced with a new contact partner in the event of damage.

In addition, the configuration and assembly sequence of the secondary bolt 6 described has the advantage that the position of the secondary bolt 6 can be queried at several points and at several times during the assembly of the connector 2 in order to ensure error-free assembly of the connector 2 or incorrect assemblies recognize. If the secondary bolt 6 is used in its pre-locked position on the contact carrier 4, this can be queried at four points. Namely on the outside left and outside right on the visible positioning knobs and in the middle left and right on the two blocked webs. In the final locking position, these are completely immersed in the contact carrier and are no longer visible. The position nubs and the two blocked webs can be seen in FIG. 21 in the illustration on the left, whereas they are no longer visible in the illustration on the right in FIG.

Reference List

1.

connector

2.

connector

3.

Mating connector (socket)

4.

contact carrier

5.

Outer housing (protective collar)

6.

secondary latch

7.

lip seal

8th.

Locking element contact carrier

9.

Locking element outer housing

10

Secondary bolt locking element

11.

lip seal

12.

CPA

13.

locking hook

14

hook counter geometry

15

cross bar

16

longitudinal web

17

latching element

18

insertion phase

19

force absorbing bar

20

unlocking recess

21

encoding

22

contact partner

Claims (4)

1. Plug connection (1), having a plug connector (2) and a mating plug connector (3), it being possible for the plug connector (2) and the mating plug connector (3) to be plugged together to form the plug connection (1), the plug connector (2) having a contact carrier (4) with at least one contact chamber for receiving a contact partner, and the contact carrier (4) being inserted into an outer housing (5) of the plug connector (2), it being possible for each contact partner (22) to be primarily locked in its contact chamber, and a secondary latch (6) for a secondary locking action of the contact partners (22) in their contact chambers being provided, the secondary latch (6) being formed by a longitudinal web (16), at the two ends of which in each case one latching element (17) which interacts with the contact carrier (4) is arranged, characterized in that at least one force absorption web (19) is arranged on the upper side of the longitudinal web (16), to which force absorption web (19) a downwardly acting forces applied during locking operation of the secondary latch (6).
2. Plug connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal web (16) of the secondary latch (6) has an insertion bevel (18).
3. Plug connection according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the longitudinal web (16) of the secondary latch (6) has at least one unlocking cut-out (20) in the region of its latching elements (17).
4. Plug connection according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the longitudinal web (16) of the secondary latch (6) has an encoding means (21).

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