DE10012177A1 - connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to enable reliable contacting in the case of a connecting device (2) for connecting a plurality of individual conductors (10) of a first line (6) to corresponding individual conductors (12) of a second line (8), contact pins (22) are used according to the principle of insulation penetration technology Contacting of the corresponding individual conductors (eg 10A, 12A) is provided, the contact pins (22) having a cutting area (36) with a cutting edge (38). The cutting area (36) is in particular disc-shaped. The contact pins (22) also have, in particular, a flat, ellipsoidal configuration. With such contact pins (22), the individual conductors (10, 12) are cut in the longitudinal direction and only marginally displaced to the side.

Description

The invention relates to a connecting device for connecting a plurality cell conductors of a first line to corresponding individual conductors of a second line device with a housing and with a contact part, which according to the principle of Insulation penetration technology contact pins for contacting the other corresponding individual conductors.

Such a connection device is known from US 5,934,930. she serves for example for connecting a branch or connecting line to a Ver supply line. Such a connection device enables consumption cher or a device via a branch line to a supply line conclude. In the device known from US 5,934,930 there is a first Line or supply line between a contact part and a housing upper part and a second line or branch line between a housing lower part and the contact part inserted. The two lines each point several individual conductors, which are conical contact pins based on the principle of Insulation penetration technology can be contacted. The contact pins protrude from both sides of the contact part. To fix the individual conductors of the Ab The lower part of the housing has grooves in which the individual conductors are inserted become. The contact part has correspondingly shaped webs, which in the Engage grooves of the lower housing part and thus the individual conductors in their position fix. This is to ensure that the individual conductors are in their position are held in contact so that they are conical Cannot avoid contact tip when contacting.

The invention has for its object to provide a connection device which enables reliable contacting.  

The object is achieved according to the invention by a connection device for connecting several individual conductors of a first line to corresponding ones Single conductor of a second line with a housing and with a contact part, which contact works according to the principle of insulation penetration technology has pins for contacting the corresponding individual conductors, wherein the contact pins have a cutting area with a cutting edge.

Compared to the conical or conical contact pins with their punctiform tip, as known in the field of insulation penetration technology are, the contact pins proposed here have an elongated cutting edge up. With insulation penetration technology, the contact pin penetrates into the Conductor core of the single conductor, the conductor core in particular a bundle of has individual stranded wires. The contact pins therefore differ from so-called cutting contacts, in which only the isolation of the individual egg ters is cut.

The elongated cutting edge has the main advantage that the con tactical single conductor cut in its longitudinal direction and its single NEN stranded wires are only slightly displaced to the side. This since The displacement is compared to that of a cone tip is caused, low. The stranded wires are therefore in contact significantly less stressed. Furthermore, because of the elongated Cutting edge of the individual conductor to be contacted better guided when making contact, so that the risk of the conductor evading is reduced and thus a si Chere contacting is guaranteed.

In a preferred embodiment, the cutting edge has a rear extending area and is rounded in particular. The cutting edge is This means that it is bent outwards towards the individual conductor, so that only one section is ever used the cutting edge cuts the single conductor. The cutting edge gradually penetrates the single conductor, the insulation being cut open little by little. We It is important that this actually takes place, whereas  with conventional conical contact tips, the tip is only pressed in and the material is displaced on all sides. Because of the gradual inclusion in the forces required for contacting are low for the individual conductors. This is This is particularly advantageous if multi-core cables are contacted.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the cutting area is disc-shaped mig trained, namely in the sense of a particularly curved on both sides Disc. The edge of the disc does not necessarily need to be a circular line be formed, but can also be elliptical or egg-shaped. The discusarti ge formation of the cutting area allows gentle contacting with relatively little effort. The gentle contacting is essential Lich influenced by the symmetrical and especially rounded training.

The contact pins preferably have, at least in one contact area, wel cher in contact with the individual conductor, perpendicular to its longitudinal axis is an elongated and in particular elliptical cross cutting surface. The contact pin is in particular ellipsoidal or as elongated disc. Compared to the well-known circular The cross-sectional area of the conical contact pins is hereby achieved a significantly better contact. On the one hand is the side Displacement of the individual stranded wires less, which is therefore better suited to the Fit the contact pin. On the other hand, this makes it much larger Contact area allows.

In a preferred embodiment, a shaft adjoins the cutting area with a blunt, especially slightly rounded side edge. The flat trained contact pin is on its essentially parallel Side edges not formed with sharp edges. This is the danger of the un wanted injury or cutting of individual stranded wires of the Single conductor low when penetrating and penetrating the contact pin.  

The contact pins are advantageously provided with two opposite one another Cutting areas formed and protrude from the contact part on both sides, which is arranged between an upper housing part and a lower housing part is net, so that the two lines to be contacted with each other which are arranged. For example, the first line between the upper housing part and the contact part and the second line between the Pinched contact part and the lower housing part.

An alternative embodiment with lines arranged side by side is to realize without restriction of the function of the contact pins and leads to a flat design.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing faces the housing-side guide of the contact pins have recesses which correspond to the contact pins geometry. The contact pins fully penetrate the individual conductors constantly and in the contacted state extend from the contact part to the housing, where their tips, i.e. their cutting areas, are guided or held.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the contact pins are underneath differently trained to contact different types of To enable individual conductors. A connection device with such contact For example, pens are particularly suitable for combined data and Power lines used to connect electrical consumers gene, with the consumer, for example, via a data bus system controlled and simultaneously supplied with power via the combined line. The different design of the contact pins can also be independent of realize the special shape of the cutting area is also for the be knew conical contact pins suitable.

At least one contact pin is preferably divided into several functional zones. This enables targeted and safe contacting of special individual eggs ters that have a multi-layer or multi-layer structure.  

In particular, the contact pin here has a contact zone which is separated from a Isolation zone is surrounded. This is an undesirable in an advantageous manner conductive connection via the contact pin between different areas of such a special single conductor prevented.

The contact pin is preferably used for contacting a shield having individual conductors provided, the isolation zone and the contact zone are arranged such that in the contacting state the contact zone with is in contact with the conductor core of the individual conductor and in particular fully constantly covered, and that the isolation zone completely covered the shield covers. This is a short circuit between the shield and the core safely prevented.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the contact part has webs, which is a contact surface for spacers between adjacent one form cell conductors of the lines. These spacers are for example at Ribbon cables formed by the insulation between the individual conductors. in the these spacers are special as spacers in so-called Steglei lines in which the conductors are separated from each other by the spacers be kept apart.

For a good routing of the lines is in an expedient configuration between two adjacent webs, a receptacle for one of the Individual conductors formed. The cross-sectional profile of the receptacle is preferably here mewanne the cross-sectional profile of the first or second line in the area of adapted to the individual conductor. And the cross-section is preferred at the same time Profile of the webs the cross-sectional profile of the first or second line in the area the spacers adjusted.

For a safe routing of the lines on all sides, the housing preferably has Corresponding webs corresponding to the webs of the contact part.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawing explained in more detail. They each show schematic representations

Fig. 1 is a terminal device having a sealed housing having a supply line and a branch pipe,

Fig. 2 the connecting device according to Fig. 1 in an exploded view,

Fig. 3 shows the connecting device in a sectional view,

Fig. 4 is an elliptical-shaped contact pin,

Figure 5 onszonen. An elliptical-shaped contact pin with several functi,

Fig. 6A is a sectional view of the section 6 A-6 A by the pin parallel to its longitudinal axis as shown in FIG. 4,

Fig. 6B, C alternative cutting geometries to that in Fig. 6A sitter,

FIG. 7A is a sectional view of section 7 A- 7 A through the right contact pin perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of FIG. 4,

FIG. 7B, C alternative cutting geometries to those in Fig. 7A is depicted. In the figures, parts having the same effect are represented by the same reference numerals.

According to the connection device 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , this has a three-part housing 4 through which a first line, for example a supply line 6 , is guided. A second line, for example a branch line 8, opens into the connection device 2 . In the exemplary embodiment, the two lines 6 , 8 are each designed as a multi-core ribbon cable. The supply line 6 has a plurality of individual conductors 10 A to 10 d and the branch line 8 has corresponding individual conductors 12 A to 12 D. Via the connecting device 2 , the corresponding individual conductors, for example the individual conductor 10 A with the individual conductor 12 A, are conductively connected.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, the supply line 6 for contacting is inserted between a housing lower part 14 and a housing middle part 16 , and the branch line 8 between the housing middle part 16 and a housing upper part 18 is inserted. The middle housing part 16 has a contact part 20 , from which a plurality of contact pins 22 protrude on both sides (cf. also FIG. 3).

The housing parts 14 , 16 and 18 each have openings 24 for the supply line 6 and the branch line 8 on their end faces. Since the Abzweiglei device 8 does not extend through the housing 4 , the upper part of the housing middle part 16 and the upper housing part 18 has only one end opening 24 opening. The middle part 16 of the housing has positioning pins 26 which both in the direction of the upper part 18 of the housing and the lower part 14 of the first recess and engage in corresponding positions 28 when the housing 4 is closed. On the lower housing part 14 and on the upper housing part 16 , recesses 30 are provided, into which corresponding locking pins 32 of the middle housing part 16 engage. This latchability of the housing parts 14, 16, 18 in conjunction with a rotating about the central housing part 16 sealing ridge 34 enables a simple and quick mounting and at the same time provides that the contact area is sealed off from the environment.

The contact part 20 has z for each corresponding pair of conductors. B. 10A, 12A a contact pin 22 . There can also be several contact pins 22 per pair of conductors 10 A, 12 A. The contact pins 22 are arranged in the longitudinal direction 23 , ent long of the lines 6 , 8 are guided through the housing 4 , offset, for example individual pairs are provided at the same height. The offset arrangement leads to the fact that the individual conductors 12 A to 12 D are contacted at different locations with respect to the longitudinal direction 23 and laterally displaced. In the exemplary embodiment, mutually adjacent contact pins 22 are arranged offset, the first and third as well as the second and fourth contact pins each forming a pair which is arranged at the same height.

According to the sectional view of FIG. 3, one of these contact pin pairs with the contact pins 22 B and 22 D can be seen. They are arranged on the contact part 20 , which forms a partial region of the middle part 16 of the housing. The contact pins 22 run perpendicular to the contact part 20 and each have a cutting area 36 with a cutting edge 38 at their opposite ends. The inter mediate the cutting areas 36 part of the contact pin 22 is referred to as shaft 40 .

In the illustrated contacted state according to FIG. 3, the contact pins 22 B, D penetrate the individual conductors 10 B, D and 12B, D completely, the cutting region 36 extending into a recess 39 of the upper housing part 18 and the lower housing part 14 , respectively. These recesses 39 are preferably adapted to the geometry of the cutting area 36 and, in particular, slot-shaped, so that the contact pins 22 are guided in the two housing parts 14 , 18 .

The individual conductors 10 , 12 of the two lines 6 , 8 designed as ribbon cables have a conductor core 44 surrounded by insulation 42 , which is formed, for example, from a bundle of individual stranded wires. The one cell conductor 10 A, B; 12A, B are designed as data conductors and additionally have a shield 46 . The two other single conductor types C, D are used in particular for the power supply. For the formation of the ribbon cable, the individual conductors 10, 12 surrounded by a common insulating jacket 48, wherein between adjacent strands 10, 12 spacing webs 50 are provided, respectively, which serve to space the individual conductors 10, 12 from each other.

The contact pin 22 B, which is used to contact the shielded individual conductors 10 B, 12 B, is divided into several functional zones. With respect to each individual conductor 10 B, 12 B, it each has a contact zone 47 forming a contact area, which is surrounded by two insulation zones 49 . The contact zone 47 covers the conductor core 44 , and the insulation zones 49 cover the area of the shield 46 , so that a short circuit between the shield 46 and the conductor core 44 is avoided. The insulation zone 49 is formed, for example, by the application, in particular gluing, of insulation strips to the base body of the contact pin 22 , the base body consisting of a conductive material.

The cross-sectional contours of the contact part 20 and of the lower housing part 14 and the upper housing part 18 are adapted to the cross-sectional contour of the two lines 6 , 8 . For this purpose, webs 52 are provided, between which the spacer webs 50 are clamped in the assembled state. The webs 52 preferably each have a trough-like depression on their end face and form a receiving trough 54 for the spacer webs. The side surfaces of the webs 52 run in an arc shape, with adjacent side surfaces forming a further receptacle 56 . The individual conductors 10 , 12 are clamped between two further receptacles 56 located opposite one another. The contoured configuration of the contact part 20 and the housing parts 14 , 18 ensures that the two lines 6 , 8 are held securely and firmly - for example in the event of a tensile load - in the housing 4 . The contoured or profiled configuration acts in particular as an abutment for magnetic or electromagnetic forces which occur at high currents and which have the tendency to repel the contact pins 22 from the individual conductors 10 , 12 .

As an alternative to the rounded design of the receiving troughs 56 , these have a rectangular profile. Likewise, the webs 52 can have a rectangular profile, so that the webs 52 and the receiving troughs 56 form a crenellated contour. This crenellated contour is easy to manufacture, and also leads to a good hold of the lines 6 , 8 , although the hold is better in the rounded form, adapted to the cross-sectional contour of the lines 6 , 8 .

The special configuration of the contact pins 22 is best illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 4 and 5. It can be seen from this that the contact pins 22 are essentially flat structures, a disc-shaped cutting area 36 being located at the opposite ends of the shaft 40 . The edge of the disc-like cutting area 36 forms the cutting edge 38 . The contact pin 22 has an overall elongated disc-like shape or also a flat ellipsoid-like shape with parallel and preferably blunted side edges 58 .

The contact pin 22 has two essential design features, namely the elongated design of the cutting edge 38 and the flat configuration of the contact pin 22 at least in the contact area or in the contact zone 47 , in or in which the conductor core 44 was in contact with the contact pin 22 Connection is established.

With regard to the cutting edge 38 , it should be mentioned that it acts, in particular due to the rearward curved design in the direction of the shaft 40, as a knife-like cutting edge and thus ensures a comparatively simple penetration of the contact pin 22 into the individual conductors 10 , 12 . At the same time, this means that the effort required to make contact is low. Another aspect of the elongated cutting edge 38 can be seen in the better guidance in relation to the respective individual conductor 10 , 12 in comparison to a point tip. The individual conductors 10 , 12 do not dodge and are safely contacted.

Different design options for the formation of the cutting edge 38 can be seen from the schematic sectional illustration according to FIGS. 6A to 6C.

According to Fig. 6A, the cutting edge is formed semi-circular 38th Instead of the semicircular design, the cutting edge can also lie on a line that is not circularly curved. The curved design of the cutting edge 38 is the preferred embodiment, since with this design a gradual and uniform cutting of the contact pin 22 into the individual conductors 10 , 12 is made possible without a particularly high expenditure of force.

The cutting edge 38 is alternatively designed as a polygonal path, as is shown by way of example in FIG. 6B. This is relatively easy to achieve in terms of manufacturing technology. In the simplest case, the cutting edge 38 is designed as a straight line in the manner of a meter. A design which is improved compared to this simplest embodiment can be seen in FIG. 6C, in which a flat knife-like edge 62 merges into the shaft 40 via slopes 64 .

For the second essential aspect of the contact pins 22 , namely their flat shape, that is to say an elongated cross-sectional area perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 60 , alternative embodiments are exemplified in FIGS . 7A to 7C.

The decisive advantage of the flat design is that the individual conductors 10 , 12 are cut in the longitudinal direction, and that their individual Lit wires are only marginally displaced to the side. Their stress is therefore low. With the elongated design of the cross-sectional area, which is preferably approximately elliptical or lenticular, as can be seen in FIG. 7A, a very high contact area with the individual conductors 10 , 12 to be contacted is achieved with only a very small lateral displacement. The contact reliability is thus very high or in other words, the contact resistance was between the contact pin 22 and the respective single conductor 10 , 12 is very ge ring.

Both of these advantages are best achieved with the symmetrical and rounded cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 7A. Alternatively, this cross-sectional shape according to FIG. 7B is formed by a semicircle or also by a rectangle, the longitudinal sides of which converge to form the triangle 58 to form the side edges 58 , as shown in FIG. 7C.

The described connection device 2 is characterized by several design features, which in their combination lead to particularly reliable contacting of the two lines 6 , 8 with one another. These are essentially the special design of the contact pins 22 with regard to their geometric shape and their subdivision into several functional zones. As a further essential feature, the contoured design of the contact part 20 and of the lower housing part 14 and the upper housing part 18 can be seen. The preferably elliptical design of the contact pins 22 , their subdivision into functional zones 47 , 49 and the contouring are aspects which also individually and in particular independently of one another represent advantageous configurations of a connecting device.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

connection device

4

casing

6

supply line

8th

branch line
10A-D single conductor
12A-D single conductor

14

Housing bottom

16

Housing body

18

Housing top

20

contact part

22

contact pins

23

longitudinal direction

24

opening

26

positioning

28

positioning recess

30

recess

32

latching pin

34

sealing land

36

cutting area

38

cutting edge

39

recess

40

shaft

42

insulation

44

conductor core

46

shielding

47

contact zone

48

insulation jacket

49

isolation zone

50

distance web

52

web

54

receptacle

56

further receptacle

58

side edge

60

longitudinal axis

62

edge

64

slope

Claims (16)

1. Connection device ( 2 ) for connecting a plurality of individual conductors ( 10 ) of a first line ( 6 ) to corresponding individual conductors ( 12 ) of a second line ( 8 ) with a housing ( 4 ) and with a contact part ( 20 ), which according to the principle of Insulation penetration technology acting contact pins ( 22 ) for contacting the corresponding individual conductor ( 10 A, 12 A), characterized in that the contact pins ( 22 ) have a cutting area ( 36 ) with a cutting edge ( 38 ). 2. Device ( 2 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting edge ( 38 ) has a rearwardly extending region and is in particular rounded. 3. Device ( 2 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cutting area ( 38 ) is disc-shaped. 4. Device ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least in a contact area ( 47 ) the contact pins ( 22 ) perpendicular to their longitudinal axis ( 60 ) have an elongated and in particular elliptical cross-sectional area. 5. The device ( 2 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a shaft ( 40 ) with a blunt side edge ( 58 ) adjoins the cutting area ( 36 ). 6. Device ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact pins ( 22 ) are formed with two mutually opposite cutting areas ( 36 ) and protrude on both sides from the contact part ( 20 ) which between an upper housing part ( 18 ) and a lower housing part ( 14 ) is arranged. 7. The device ( 2 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing ( 4 ) for housing-side guidance of the contact pins ( 22 ) has recesses ( 39 ) which have a geometry corresponding to the contact pins ( 22 ). 8. The device ( 2 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that differently designed contact pins ( 22 B, 22 D) are provided for contacting different types of individual conductors ( 10 B, 12 B; 10 D, 12 D). 9. Device ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one contact pin ( 22 B) is divided into a plurality of functional zones ( 47 , 49 ). 10. The device ( 2 ) according to claim 9, characterized in that the contact pin ( 22 B) has a contact zone ( 47 ) which is surrounded by an isolation zone ( 49 ). 11. The device ( 2 ) according to claim 10, characterized in that the contact pin ( 22 B) for contacting a shield ( 46 ) having a single conductor ( 10 B, 12 B) is provided, the insulation zone ( 49 ) and the contact zone ( 47 ) are arranged such that in the contacting state the contact zone ( 47 ) with the conductor core ( 44 ) of the single cell ( 10 B, 12 B) is in contact, and that the insulation zone ( 49 ) completely covers the shield ( 46 ) , 12. The device ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact part ( 20 ) has webs ( 52 ) which have a bearing surface for spacers ( 50 ) of the lines ( 6 , 6 ) arranged between adjacent individual conductors ( 10 , 12 ). 8 ) form. 13. The device ( 2 ) according to claim 12, characterized in that between two adjacent webs ( 52 ) in each case a receptacle ne ( 56 ) for one of the individual conductors ( 10 , 12 ) is formed. 14. The device (2) according to claim 13, characterized in that the cross-sectional profile of the receiving dish (56) the cross-section profile of the first line (6) and the second line (8) in the area of each weiligen individual conductors (10, 12) adapted is. 15. The device ( 2 ) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the cross-sectional profile of the webs ( 52 ) to the cross-sectional profile of the first line ( 6 ) or the second line ( 8 ) in the region of the respective di punch pieces ( 50 ) is adjusted. 16. The device ( 2 ) according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the housing ( 4 ) to the webs ( 52 ) of the contact part ( 20 ) has corresponding webs ( 52 ) which correspond.