CN110392961B

CN110392961B - Contact insert for a plug-type connector part

Info

Publication number: CN110392961B
Application number: CN201880017327.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 延斯·安德烈森
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2017-03-10
Filing date: 2018-01-22
Publication date: 2022-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 2038-01-22
Also published as: CN110392961A; DE102017105079A1; EP3593411A1; EP3593411B1; WO2018162136A1

Abstract

A contact insert for a plug connector part, comprising a frame part, a plug section arranged on the frame part for plug connection to a further plug connector part, at least one electrical contact element arranged on the plug section, and a grounding element arranged on the frame part, to which a protective grounding line can be connected. Furthermore, a contact device is provided which is arranged on the grounding element and has a spring element which can be deflected about a deflection axis relative to the grounding element, the spring element having a clamping foot for locking the protective grounding wire in a clamping position on the grounding element and a latching leg for latching the spring element with the grounding element, wherein the spring element can be moved out of the clamping position as a result of the disengagement of the latching. In this way, a contact insert for a plug connector part is provided, which can be easily connected to a protective earth connection.

Description

Contact insert for a plug-type connector part

Technical Field

The invention relates to a contact insert for a plug connector part.

Background

The contact insert comprises a frame part, a plug section arranged on the frame part for plug-in connection with a further plug connector part, at least one electrical contact element arranged on the plug section, and a grounding element arranged on the frame part, to which a protective grounding line can be connected.

For example, such a contact insert can be inserted into a plug housing of a plug connector part, and the plug housing can be assigned a completely different contact insert in such a way that a separate plug surface adapted to the specific application is provided on the plug connector part. One or more electrical contact elements are arranged on the plug-in section, which, when the plug-in connector part is connected to a corresponding plug-in connector part, engage in electrical contact with the contact elements of the other plug-in connector part, so that an electrical connection is established between the plug-in connector parts.

In general, the grounding between the plug connector parts can be carried out by means of a grounding element when the plug connector parts are plug-connected together, so that the plug connector parts are at an equal ground potential in the plugged state. The frame part can also be grounded via a grounding element, for example if the frame part is made of an electrically conductive (metallic) material.

In the connector part of the connector disclosed in DE 29520008U 1, the connector insert has several rows of contact elements. The contact insert can be inserted into a mounting housing which is fastened to the mounting wall.

DE 102007013536B 3 discloses a grounding element (referred to as PE metal part) for fastening a contact insert in, for example, a plug housing, and having a so-called PE screw connection for connecting a protective grounding wire.

DE 102010017717 a1 discloses a contact insert having a frame part and a contact module which can be inserted into the frame part. A connection device for connecting a protective earth conductor is arranged on the frame part, and the connection device comprises a connection arm with a screw joint.

In the contact insert disclosed in EP 0882318B 1, a plurality of contact modules can be inserted into a frame part, which is referred to as a receiving frame. In this case, several modules can be used to connect a protective earth line for so-called PE contacts (PE stands for "protective earth"). These contact modules are constructed as screw joints.

Conventionally, the joint for connecting a protective earth wire is constructed mainly as a screw joint. This enables a secure mechanical connection of the protective earth wire to the contact insert, but may optionally be restricted in terms of portability. The screw connection can thus optionally no longer be easily accessible with the contact insert inserted into the corresponding housing of the plug connector part, which may require a secure protection of the ground connection before the contact insert is inserted into the housing. Furthermore, to install several protective earth wires, it is necessary to plug the protective earth wires to the screw joint(s) and at the same time fix the protective earth wires by tightening screws.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a contact insert for a plug connector part, which can be easily connected to a protective earth connection.

The solution of the present invention to achieve the above object is the subject matter having the features of the present invention.

In this context, the contact insert has a contact device arranged on the grounding element, which contact device has a spring element which can be deflected about a deflection axis relative to the grounding element, which spring element has a clamping foot for locking the protective grounding wire in the clamping position on the grounding element, and a latching leg for latching the spring element together with the grounding element. Wherein the spring element can be moved out of the clamping position as a result of the disengagement of the catch.

Therefore, the protective earth wire is connected to the earth element on the frame member by the elastic joint. In order to connect the ground cable to the grounding element, the ground cable can be inserted in a simpler and more convenient manner with the (stripped) core end into the spring element of the contact device and thus into the region of the clamping foot, which locks the ground cable relative to the grounding element and brings it into contact with the grounding element. Thus, the connection is made (only) by plugging the protective earth wire once and optionally by actuating the spring element once. The locking and the contacting of the protective earth wire with the grounding element can advantageously be carried out by itself without further operating steps (for example screwing) being required to fix the protective earth wire to the grounding element.

In the clamping position, the clamping foot presses the protective earth wire in electrical contact with the earth element. For this purpose, the clamping foot acts on the (stripped) core end of the protective earth wire and presses this core end against the wall section of the grounding element, so that an electrical contact is established between the protective earth wire and the grounding element. The spring element itself of the contact arrangement is preferably made of a resilient metal material, for example spring steel, so that the electrical contact is likewise established by the spring element. In this case, the spring element is arranged in electrical contact with the grounding element, so that the spring element is grounded.

The deflectable arrangement of the spring element on the grounding element makes it possible to arrange the protective grounding line on the grounding element in different ways. This makes it possible to initially bring the spring element into its clamping position in order to subsequently insert the ground protection wire between the clamping foot of the spring element and the grounding element and in this way to arrange the ground protection wire on the grounding element. During insertion, the protective earth wire reaches a clamped intermediate position between the clamping foot of the spring element and the earth element and is thereby locked on the earth element. Alternatively, the ground line can also be mounted to the grounding element without the spring element (yet) being in the clamped position. In this case, the spring element is only moved into the clamping position after the ground cable has been fitted to the grounding element, so that in the clamping position the clamping foot acts on the (stripped) core end of the ground cable and thus locks the ground cable to the grounding element.

In the clamping position, the spring element is snapped together with the grounding element such that the spring element assumes a certain defined position relative to the grounding element and can act in a locking manner on a protective grounding wire plugged to the contact device. By disengaging the catch, the spring element can be moved out of the clamping position, so that the clamping foot is moved, and the ground line is thus unlocked from the contact device. When the clamping leg is moved out of the clamping position, the clamping foot moves together with the latching leg, so that the spring element as a whole is deflected about the deflection axis.

To facilitate the deflectability, the spring element is preferably supported on the grounding element in a manner deflectable about a physical support axis. For this purpose, the spring element may have a bearing section which engages around a corresponding counter bearing section of the grounding element and can be pivoted about a pivot axis relative to this counter bearing section. The spring element may have, for example, two bearing segments axially spaced apart from one another and parallel to one another along the deflection axis, which are each arranged on a corresponding counter bearing segment of the grounding element and can be deflected about the deflection axis relative to the corresponding counter bearing segment.

In an advantageous technique, the clamping foot is arranged at an angle, in particular at an acute angle (equal to or less than 90 °), to the latching leg. Thus, the clamping foot and the clamping leg together form a V-shape. During the use of the clamping foot for locking the protective earth wire on the earthing component and for clamping the protective earth wire against the earthing component, the clamping leg extends at an angle relative to the clamping foot and is used for clamping the spring element in the clamping position. By clamping the clamping foot by means of the clamping leg, a sufficient elastic retaining force is provided on the clamping foot in order to maintain a beneficial clamping-type abutment of the protective earth wire with the earth element in a manner that compensates for position and dimensional tolerances.

The snap-in legs are preferably snapped together with the grounding element by means of snap-in ends facing away from the clamping feet. The engagement leg can thus be engaged by means of the engagement end of the engagement leg, for example by being inserted into an engagement hole provided on the grounding element, so that the engagement leg and the spring element are locked in the clamped position. By disengaging the catch, the spring element can be moved out of the clamping position, so that the protective earth wire can be removed from the earth element.

The snap-fit may be separated, for example, by means of an application tool, such as a screwdriver. For this purpose, openings can be formed in the latching legs, which openings are used for the insertion of tools and can act on the latching legs in such a way that the latching of the latching legs with the grounding element is separated.

The grounding element has, for example, contact lugs for grounding contact with the other connector part. The contact lugs can extend, for example, over the frame part in the connecting direction for connecting the plug connector part, so that when the plug connector part is plug-connected to another plug connector part, the contact lugs meet the other plug connector part at corresponding contact sections, so that an electrical connection is established between the plug connector parts for connection to ground.

The contact insert can be constructed to be modular. For example, one or several modular contact modules can be mounted on a frame part, which can be designed as a rectangular receiving frame, in order to modularly equip the frame part with contact modules, in order to provide a personalized contact insert for a plug-in connector part. Each contact module may have one or several plug-in openings for inserting electrical lines, and may also have contact elements arranged on the plug-in section for contacting another corresponding plug-in connector component. The frame part can, for example, be provided with several (offset in a transverse direction transverse to the connecting direction) slots into which several contact modules can be inserted.

The contact modules may for example each form one or several plug-in sections on the frame part.

The contact module, which is fitted to the frame part, can be designed such that the wires are inserted into the plug-in openings of the contact module in the plug-in direction. The protective earth wire is preferably also plugged into the spring element of the contact device in the plugging direction, so that the protective earth wire is connected to the contact device of the grounding device in the same direction as the plugging openings of the other wire-connection contact modules. In this case, the electrical lines can also be connected to the contact modules via spring contacts, so that the protective earth line can be plugged into the contact inserts in a simple manner, in exactly the same way as other lines (for example for data input or for power supply), optionally also automatically.

For example, contact inserts can be applied to a plug connector part, wherein such a plug connector part can have a plug housing in which the contact inserts are accommodated. Such a plug housing can be used for connecting cables having several conductor cores. However, it is also possible to use such contact inserts, for example, on add-on housings of switch cabinets or other electrical devices.

Drawings

The basic idea of the invention is explained in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

Wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of two plug connector parts which can be connected to one another in a plug-in manner in a connecting direction;

FIG. 2 is a view of two contact inserts of the plug connector part;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a contact arrangement with a deflectable spring element;

fig. 4 is a front view of a contact arrangement on a grounding element;

FIG. 5 is a perspective schematic view of a contact arrangement on the ground element; and

fig. 6 is a top view of a contact arrangement on the grounding element.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of two

plug connector parts

1, 3 which can be connected to one another in a plug-in manner in a connecting direction E. Each

plug connector part

1, 3 has a

plug housing

10, 30, in each of which a contact insert 2, 4 with contact elements arranged thereon is accommodated. One cable 12, 32 is connected to the

plug housings

10, 30 via a

cable outlet

11, 31 and is electrically connected to the contact elements of the corresponding contact insert 2, 4 in the

plug housings

10, 30.

It should be noted here that the invention can be used not only in plug connector parts with manually operated plug housings, but also, for example, in plug connectors provided on electrical devices, for example, switchgear cabinets, in which the contact inserts are fixed, for example, on a device wall, for example, a switchgear cabinet wall.

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of two contact inserts 2, 4 which are to be connected in a plug-in manner in a connecting direction E. Each contact insert 2, 4 has a frame part 20, 40 in the form of a rectangular frame, into which the

contact module

21, 41 is inserted. Plug-in

sections

200, 400 are formed on the frame parts 20, 40, wherein the plug-in section 200 of one first contact insert 2 forms a sleeve into which the plug-in section 400 of the frame part 40 of the other contact insert 4 can be inserted.

The

contact modules

21, 41 each have

several plug openings

210, 410 into which

electrical lines

24, 44 for electrical contacting with

contact elements

211, 411 in the form of contact pins or contact sleeves can be inserted. In the connected state, the contact elements 211 of one first contact insert 2 snap together with the corresponding contact elements 411 of the other second contact insert 4, so that an electrical contact is brought about between the contact inserts 2, 4.

In principle, one or several contact modules can be fitted to each frame part 20, 40, so that a personalized contact arrangement for forming a personalized plug surface can be provided on the contact inserts 2, 4. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the (exactly) one

contact module

21, 41 is inserted with a precise fit into the frame part 20, 40 and is connected to the frame part 20, 40 in a snap-in manner.

It is equally possible to arrange several (smaller) contact modules side by side in the frame parts 20, 40.

On both sides of the frame parts 20, 40, grounding

elements

22, 42 are arranged, which on the one hand can mechanically fix the contact inserts 2, 4 to the

corresponding plug housings

10, 30 by means of the

fastening elements

220, 420 and on the other hand provide a ground-protecting grounding contact between the contact inserts 2, 4. Each grounding

element

22, 42 is supported and fastened by a

fastening section

223, 423 on its corresponding frame part 20, 40, wherein (in the case of frame parts 20, 40 made of electrically conductive material, in particular metallic material) the frame parts 20, 40 can also be grounded in this way.

The

contact webs

222, 422 of the

ground elements

22, 42 extend over the

corresponding plug sections

200, 400, which contact webs meet in advance when the contact inserts 2, 4 are connected together in a plug-in manner (before the

contact elements

211, 411 make contact), so that an electrical contact is established between the

ground elements

22, 42 of the two contact inserts 2, 4.

In the embodiment of a conventional contact insert 2, 4 shown in fig. 2, contact means 23', 43' in the form of screw connections for connecting a protective earth line are provided on the earthing

component

22, 42.

In the exemplary embodiment of the grounding element 22 shown in fig. 3 to 6, as applied to the contact inserts 2, 4, a contact device 23 is arranged, which can be connected to a protective grounding line 25 by contact in a plug-in manner.

The contact device 23 has a spring element 230, which is made of spring steel, for example, and is thus electrically conductive and elastic in itself. The spring element 230 has a clamping foot 231 for clamping and locking the protective earth wire 25, which is fitted with a core wire end 250 to the contact device 23, on the earth element 22. The clamping leg 231 is connected to a latching leg 232, which is bent at an acute angle α, and can be latched with the rear wall section 224 of the ground element 22 by a latching end 233 facing away from the clamping leg 231 and can engage in a latching opening 226 in this wall section 224.

The spring element 230 is mounted on the grounding element 22 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis D. For this purpose, the spring element 230 has two bearing sections 234, which project transversely to the deflection axis D and which engage corresponding counter bearing sections 225 of the grounding element 22 (see, for example, fig. 6) and are supported on the counter bearing sections 225, for example, in a manner such that they can be deflected about a (physical) deflection pin. The counter-bearing section 225 projects transversely to the deflection axis D out of the wall section 224 and receives the clamping foot 231 of the spring element 230 therebetween.

The ground protection wire 25 can be fitted with the (stripped) core end 250 to the contact device 23 in such a way that the ground protection wire 25 is held between the clamping foot 231 of the spring element 230 and the wall section 224 of the grounding element 22 with the ground protection wire 25 fitted and the spring element 230 in the clamped position. The elastic clamping action of the clamping feet 231 presses the core wire ends 250 into electrical contact with the wall sections 224 and with the spring elements 230, so that a ground contact is established between the protective ground wire 25 and the ground element 22.

To assemble the protective earth wire 25 to the earth element 22, the spring element 230 of the contact device 23 may be in a clamped position. In this case, the protective earth wire 25 is pressed with the (stripped) wire end 250 between the clamping foot 231 and the wall section 224 of the earth element 22 so that it is held clampingly on the earth element 22 in the event of an elastic deflection of the clamping foot 231.

Alternatively, the protective earth wire 25 may be fitted to the earth element 42 without the spring element 230 being in the clamped position. In this case, the clamping lock can be achieved with the protective earth wire 25 already assembled in the following manner: the spring element 230 is brought into the clamping position and is snapped with the grounding element 22 by means of the snap-in legs 232 such that the clamping feet 231 bear clampingly against the core wire ends 250 of the protective grounding wire 25.

The spring element 230 can be deflected out of the clamping position so that the protective earth 25 is separated again from the earth element 22. To this end, for example in the case of a tool in the form of a screwdriver or the like, the engagement between the latching leg 232 and the wall section 224 can be disengaged by inserting the tool into the opening 235 on the latching leg 232 and thereby acting on the latching end 233 of the latching leg 232, so that the latching end 233 is disengaged from its latching engagement with the latching hole 226 on the wall section 224 of the grounding element 22. After the engagement is released, the spring element 230 can be deflected, so that the clamping foot 231 is also moved, so that the clamping abutment with the ground protection line 25 is released.

By means of the contact device 23, the protective earth 25 can be connected to the corresponding earth element 22 simply by plugging. The plugging direction S in which the protective earth wire 25 is plugged into the contact device 23 corresponds to the plugging direction S in which the other

electrical wires

24, 44 are likewise plugged into the plugging

openings

210, 410 of the

contact modules

21, 41 of the corresponding contact inserts 2, 4. This allows the protective earth wire 25 to be connected in the same direction as the

other wires

24, 44.

The grounding element 22 is made of a metal material, for example, as a stamped and bent piece. The grounding element 22 is fixed to the corresponding frame part 20, 40 of the contact insert 2, 4 by means of the fixing section 223.

The flange section 221 projects beyond the rear wall section 224 of the ground element 22, on which flange section fastening points are formed for fastening the ground element 22 and the frame parts 20, 40 connected to the ground element 42 in the housing of the plug-in connector part.

The contact tabs 222 project beyond the grounding element 22 and are used for grounding contact with corresponding mating plug connector components as previously described.

The mating support section 225 is, for example, integrally formed on the grounding element 22, for example, as a curved section. Furthermore, the spring element 230 of the contact device 23 is preferably made in one piece, for example from spring steel.

For mounting the grounding element 22 and the contact device 23, the spring element 230 is fitted to the grounding element 22 and is connected with the counter bearing section 225 in a manner deflectable about the deflection axis D, for example by means of a joint pin.

The grounding element 22 with the contact arrangement 23 of the described type arranged thereon can be arranged on both sides of the frame part 20, 40 of the corresponding contact insert 2, 4.

The basic idea of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but may in principle also be implemented in a completely different way.

The grounding element may have one or several contact devices of the type described herein for connecting to one or several protective grounding wires.

Contact inserts of the type described here can be used for different purposes for the plug connector part. Such contact inserts can be designed in particular as contacts for heavy industrial plug connectors.

In order to clamp-on, contact-type locking of a protective earth wire to an earth element, a contact arrangement of the type described requires only one spring element which is connected to the earth element in a deflectable manner. No further components need to be provided, which provides a simple contacting device with an advantageously minimized number of components.

Description of the reference numerals

1-plug connector part

10 socket casing

11 cable outlet

12 cable

2 contact insert

20 frame component (Module frame)

200 plug section

21 contact module

210 socket opening

211 contact element

22 ground element (PE board)

220 fastening element

221 Flange section

222 contact sheet

223 fastening section

224 wall sections

225 mating support sections

226 card hole

23, 23' contact device

230 spring element

231 clamp pin

232 clamping support leg

233 snap end

234 supporting segment

235 opening

24 wire

25 protective earth wire

250 core wire end

3-plug connector part

30 plug-in housing

31 cable outlet

32 electric cable

4 contact insert

40 Module frame

400 plug section

41 contact module

410 inserting opening

411 contact element

42 ground element (PE board)

420 fastening element

421 flange section

422 contact sheet

423 fastening section

43' contact device

Angle alpha

D deflection shaft

E direction of connection

S direction of insertion

Claims

1. A contact insert (2, 4) for a plug connector part (1, 3), having a frame part (20), a plug section (200) arranged on the frame part (20) for plug connection to another plug connector part (3, 1), at least one electrical contact element (211, 411) arranged on the plug section (200), and a grounding element (22) arranged on the frame part (20), to which a protective grounding wire (25) can be connected, a contact device (23) arranged on the grounding element (22), which has a spring element (230) which can be deflected about a deflection axis (D) relative to the grounding element (22), which has clamping feet (231) for locking the protective grounding wire (25) in a clamping position on the grounding element (22), and a snap leg (232) for snapping the spring element (230) together with the grounding element (22), wherein the spring element (230) can be moved out of the clamping position as a result of a disengagement of the snap, characterized by a contact module (21) arranged on the frame part (20) and having at least one plug-in opening (210) for inserting at least one electrical line (24) in a plug-in direction (S), the protective grounding line (25) being pluggable in the plug-in direction (S) to the contact device (23).

2. The contact insert (2, 4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping feet (231) are adapted to press the protective earth wire (25) in an electrically contacting manner against the earth element (22).

3. The contact insert (2, 4) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring element (230) has a bearing section (234), by means of which the spring element (230) is supported on the grounding element (22) so as to be pivotable about the pivot axis (D).

4. The contact insert (2, 4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping foot (231) is arranged at an angle to the snap-in leg (232).

5. The contact insert (2, 4) according to claim 4, characterized in that the angle is an acute angle (a).

6. The contact insert (2, 4) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the latching legs (232) have latching ends (233) facing away from the clamping feet (231), which can be latched with the grounding element (22).

7. The contact insert (2, 4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the grounding element (22) has a latching hole (226) into which the latching leg (232) engages in the clamping position.

8. The contact insert (2, 4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (230) has an opening (235) on the snap leg (232) which is suitable for tool insertion for disengaging the snap.

9. The contact insert (2, 4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the grounding element (22) has contact tabs (222, 422) for grounding contact with the other plug connector part (3, 1).

10. Plug connector part (1, 3) having a contact insert (2, 4) according to one of the preceding claims.