DE102018128089B4 - Connectors for making electrically conductive connections - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector for producing electrically conductive connections with a corresponding mating connector, comprising at least two first contacting means and at least one second contacting means, such that the contacting means can be electrically conductively connected to contacting means of the mating connector for the permanent transmission of electrical energy, at least one Offset is provided between the two first and the at least one second contacting means, so that the maximum total assembly force can be reduced by the amount of at least one contact engagement force at the beginning of the plugging path of the contacting means, as a result of which the plugging force of the plug connection can be reduced overall, the contacting means being socket contact elements which are inside of the connector are arranged in socket contact bores and can be contacted via contact openings, the socket contact elements having essentially the same length have at least extension and the at least two first socket contact elements in the respective socket contact bore lie at the end on the stop, the at least one second socket contact element being able to be fixed with an offset in the respective socket contact bore and not lying on the end on the stop.

Description

The invention relates to a connector for producing electrically conductive connections with a corresponding mating connector having at least two first contacting means and at least one second contacting means such that the contacting means can be electrically conductively connected to contacting means of the mating connector.

A large number of components are available in the prior art for realizing electrically conductive connections and in particular detachable connections. A frequently used releasable connection technology are plug connectors which have one or more electrical contact elements, so that a plurality of electrically conductive connections can be produced.

The connector technology is used in practically all requirements and application environments, for example in vehicle technology, stationary technology, in the environment of aggressive media, large temperature fluctuations or even humidity conditions. The electrical power to be transmitted can range from low-voltage applications to high-voltage applications.

Under "high voltage" according to the DE 10 2016 105 504 A1 in this context, an electrical voltage is understood to be at least about 48 volts, but preferably 60 volts or more, more preferably 400 volts up to about 650 to 1,000 volts.

Generic connectors are designed for their contacting task to implement an electrically conductive connection such that their connectors are compatible with a complementary mating connector. The plugging together of the plug with the mating plug is supported, the mating plug often having a mating plug housing made of plastic and the plug-in contact attached to it for fastening to the contact part of the plug.

Additional requirements may arise in addition to the actual functional tasks of connectors. For example, a correct insertion and orientation must be ensured. Furthermore, the assembly process may have to be automated in order to economically enable mass production or mass assembly. The same applies to the effort of plugging together.

The DE 10 2016 105 504 A1 discloses an electrical connector, in particular a high-voltage connector, for a vehicle. This is particularly suitable for a plug connection in a high-voltage vehicle electrical system of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, hybrid or electric vehicle. An exemplary, preferred area of application in the vehicle is electrical contacting of the connector with a drive unit or a motor of the vehicle. The connector is intended to provide good vibration resistance in a structurally simple way and enable easy assembly. In order to achieve this goal it is proposed that a locking slide is used which can be attached to the connector housing and can be displaced transversely to the direction of insertion of the connector into the mating connector for locking the connector with the mating connector at least into a locking position. The locking slide has a guide link extending transversely to the plugging direction or the displacement direction with an inclined plane for guiding a locking bolt of the contact part when moving into the locking position. The basic idea is to reduce the effort required for locking and to optimize or improve the mountability by the inclination angle of the inclined plane as a result of the resulting triangle of forces.

The DE 196 55 105 C2 proposes a low-coupling force connector to support an assembly process, which is supplemented by a slide with a driver groove, which has an inclined section and a functionally comparable approach as in the DE 10 2016 105 504 A1 tracked. Here, the axial force component to be applied is realized by a vectorial addition of a shear force component with an axial component due to the inclined section in the slide and practically divided between the components to be joined. The compressive force is divided because the mutual mating of the connector housings and the mutual mating of the contacting elements provided in the connector housings takes place separately, so that it is possible to achieve coupling using a lower coupling force compared to the case when both the connector housings, as well as the contacting elements are matched at the same time.

Even those in the DE 38 18 092 C2 The teaching disclosed uses the relationships between the vectorial addition of forces in the inclined plane or oblique groove portions of a slide. What is described is a multi-pole plug connection for plugging and disconnecting with little exertion of force, plug and socket connections being arranged in a housing provided with a recess. A slide with a cam follower is moved on guide rails in such a way that the recess provided and the housing are moved towards or away from one another.

In the US 3,432,795 A a connector situation is presented, which realizes socket contact elements arranged in parallel and without offset, the plug contact pins are of different lengths, so that the contact is made in stages or cascade. It is disadvantageous that the shortened plug contact pins are only engaged in their shortened length with their assigned socket contact element.

The US 7,789,714 B2 discloses a connector arrangement with parallel arranged and equally long plug contact pins in a connector housing and parallel and without offset to each other arranged socket contact elements in a further, corresponding to the connector housing of the plug contact pins connector housing. It is proposed here that an uneven start of engagement of the contact elements is brought about by socket contact elements of different lengths. In one embodiment variant, the socket contact elements are of the same length and parallel, the plug contact pins are of parallel and different lengths. The different lengths of socket contact elements and plug contact pins are also presented.

The known solutions for realizing the assembly or coupling force of connectors and improving the assembly properties have in common that they are structurally complex and entail increased multipartism of the connectors. In addition, handling steps are required to actuate the locking means or slides and preferably to move them in a direction of movement transverse to the joining direction. The primary approach of known solutions includes measures and constructions for the additive or alternative provision of assembly or coupling forces, so that an overall increased insertion force can be applied to the joining partners of the connector.

It is an object of the invention to further develop the known connectors or the assembly process of the connector components, in particular the connector and mating connector, for producing an electrically conductive contact such that the assembly process is supported by reduced, automatically applied or manual coupling force and / or improved handling. Furthermore, the construction should be simple and the number of individual parts of the connector should be reduced.

The object is achieved in that a connector is proposed, the contacting means of which are at least offset from one another.

1. i. Einschubkraft verursacht durch die jeweils vorliegenden Einzelsteckkräfte der Kontakte innerhalb des Steckverbinders,
2. ii. Einschubkraft verursacht durch die Steckverbinderkomponenten Stecker und Gegenstecker, in welche die Kontakte des Steckverbinders aufgenommen sind,
3. iii. Kontakteingriffskraft zu Beginn des Steckweges der Kontakte (Buchsenkontakt und Kontaktstecker) bei ihrem Ineinandergreifen,
4. iv. Gleitreibungskräfte an den Flanken der Kontakte und der Steckverbinderkomponenten,
5. v. Verformungskräfte in elastischen und/oder plastischen Verformungsbereichen der Kontakte, insbesondere innerhalb von Kontaktzonen der Kontakte,
6. vi. Auslenkungskräfte von Zungen, Federlippen und Kontaktelementen in den Kontakten,
7. vii. Haftreibungskräfte an allen aneinander liegenden Flächen des Steckers und Gegensteckers bei diskontinuierlicher Fügebewegung mit Stillstandsanteilen in der Steckbewegung,
8. viii. Steckkräfte von Arretierungselementen wie beispielsweise Federhaken, elastischen Hintergriffen oder dergleichen bei der Bewegung in die gesteckte Endlage der Steckverbinderkomponenten,
9. ix. Linearkraftanteile zur Auslenkung der Kontaktpartner in eine lotrechte Position bei Schiefstellung vor dem Steckvorgang beispielsweise durch Einfädelschrägen am Kontaktöffnungseingang.

The basic idea of the invention is first of all to identify the causes and mechanisms of action with regard to the assembly force. The invention recognizes that the following influencing factors exist, which in each case and / or in total form the plug-in force or the assembly force of the plug and mating plug in the plug-in direction, that is to say in a predominantly linear longitudinal extension of the plug connector:

1. i. Insertion force caused by the existing individual insertion forces of the contacts within the connector,
2. ii. Push-in force caused by the connector components plug and mating connector, in which the contacts of the connector are received,
3. iii. Contact engagement force at the beginning of the plug-in path of the contacts (socket contact and contact plug) when they mesh,
4. iv. Sliding friction forces on the flanks of the contacts and the connector components,
5. v. Deformation forces in elastic and / or plastic deformation areas of the contacts, in particular within contact zones of the contacts,
6. vi. Deflection forces of tongues, spring lips and contact elements in the contacts,
7. vii. Stiction of friction on all surfaces of the connector and mating connector lying against each other in the case of a discontinuous joining movement with standstill proportions in the insertion movement,
8. viii. Insertion forces of locking elements such as spring hooks, elastic rear grips or the like during the movement into the inserted end position of the connector components,
9. ix. Linear force components for deflecting the contact partners into a vertical position in the event of inclination before the plugging process, for example by threading bevels at the contact opening entrance.

Based on the influence analysis, the teaching according to the invention proposes that the at least two contacts are arranged offset to one another in the axial direction of the plug connector. In this constructive way, it can be prevented that the influencing factors are summed up iii. and / or iv. and / or viii. and / or ix. is coming. This means in practice that the at least two contacts along the direction of insertion of the connector are not arranged in parallel but asymmetrically, so that the influencing factors iii. and / or iv. and / or viii. and / or ix. occur sequentially or sequentially.

The invention recognizes that, in particular, these influencing factors - individually or in total - have a significant share in the total plug-in force, and quasi an allocation or distribution of these influences along the plug-in path helps to significantly reduce the maximum assembly / joining / plug-in force that occurs.

It is optionally provided that the plug-in path, that is to say the length of the intermeshing of the plug and mating plug of the plug connection, is increased in order to be able to implement the offset amounts of the contacts that may be required in their longitudinal position. This can be the case in particular in the case of contact pairs with a longer contact engagement area and / or a plurality of contacts within the plug connector.

In individual cases and with more than two contact partners within a connector (multi-pin connector), it can be advantageous to influence the order in which the contacts engage during the plugging or assembly process by their relative position to one another. This measure is particularly interesting if the total plug-in force resulting from the individual forces of the influencing factors shifts its line of action too far axially parallel to the center line and thereby undesirably promotes tilting or tilting of the plug and mating plug during the plug-in process. The invention has found it particularly effective to arrange the respective outer contacts parallel to one another and the further contacts with an offset thereto and possibly also with an offset to one another in the case of a plurality of contacts in a plug connector.

The connector according to the invention is provided in particular when using power contacts, that is to say with high-voltage connectors with more than 60 volts, in particular 115 or 220 volts. This fact recommends these connectors especially for roller shutter drives.

• 1 eine erste perspektivische Ansicht des Steckverbinders mit seinem Steckverbindergehäuse und stirnseitigen Kontaktöffnungen;
• 2 die Vorderansicht des Steckverbinders mit seiner prismatischen, sechseckigen Ausbildung;
• 3 die Schnittlinienlage und Schnittdarstellung des Steckverbinders mit beispielhaft angeordneten Buchsenkontaktelementen mit einem ersten Versatz innerhalb von Buchsenkontaktbohrungen und
• 4 die Schnittlinienlage und Schnittdarstellung des Steckverbinders mit beispielhaft angeordneten Buchsenkontaktelementen mit einem ersten und einem zweiten Versatz innerhalb von Buchsenkontaktbohrungen.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the figures. Show:

• 1 a first perspective view of the connector with its connector housing and front contact openings;
• 2nd the front view of the connector with its prismatic, hexagonal design;
• 3rd the cut line position and sectional view of the connector with exemplarily arranged socket contact elements with a first offset within socket contact bores and
• 4th the cut line position and sectional view of the connector with exemplarily arranged socket contact elements with a first and a second offset within socket contact holes.

1 includes a first perspective view of the connector 100 with its connector housing10 and front contact openings 11 . This connector designed as a connector 100 interacts with a mating connector, not shown and not part of the invention, in order to implement the desired electrically conductive contact. Practically all embodiments come into consideration as corresponding mating plugs, which have the hole pattern of the contact openings 11 , the geometric shape of the connector housing 10th and the contacting means (selected here as an example: socket contact elements 20 ) can interact: contact blocks, plug-socket combinations, arrangements of contacts on printed circuit boards, contact housing, connections for devices and devices to be contacted electrically, roller shutter drives and so on.

The connector is used to effect the electrical contacting of the contact means in the connector 100 in the direction of insertion EST coupled with a mating connector. The movement path or the contacting path is preferably limited by an end position and the connector 100 locked. For this purpose, at least one locking element 12th be provided.

To contact means 20 inside the connector housing 10th To be able to introduce the housing are constructed at least in two parts. In the example shown, there was a spatial separation plane transverse to the longitudinal extent L , M chosen so that there is a continuous dividing line 14 results. To the interior of the connector 100 the at least two housing parts will be exposed 10 ' , 10 " longitudinal L moved in opposite directions.

2nd shows the front view of the connector 100 with its prismatic, hexagonal training. The number of contact openings selected as an example in this example 11 are arranged in a row and at regular intervals. Arrangements of any type deviating therefrom, for example asymmetrical spacings and / or hole distributions at different locations on the cross-sectional area, are supported by the invention. At least one locking element 12th can be provided axisymmetrically as shown, or can be positioned as desired deviating therefrom. A realization of the contact openings deviating from the symmetrical arrangement 11 and / or locking elements 12th can with a corresponding design of the mating connector for the geometric definition of the orientation of the connector 100 be used if the external dimensions and contours of the connector 100 are symmetrical.

3rd illustrates the position of the cut line (upper illustration) and sectional view (lower part of the drawing) of the connector 100 with exemplarily arranged socket contact elements 20 with a first offset v1 relative to each other in the axial connector direction L , M inside socket contact holes 13 . Provided that the contact partners, plug-in contact pins, contact box plugs (not shown) of the socket contact elements 20 Without offset in the longitudinal direction and thus parallel to the axis, there is a two-stage engagement situation during their simultaneous insertion movement: With the insertion length of the contact partner increasing through the contact openings 11 In the interior of the socket contact holes, contact is first made with the two outer socket contact elements 20 prepared so that the previously described possible summation of the influencing factors iii. and / or iv. and / or viii. and / or ix. on two of the four socket contact elements 20 is limited. The result of this geometric measure is a reduction in the maximum assembly or insertion force that occurs by reducing the summarily occurring individual force components.

With increasing insertion depth and after overcoming the offset path v1 becomes the contact to the two inner socket contact elements 20 prepared so that the previously described possible summation of the influencing factors iii. and / or iv. and / or viii. and / or ix. on the two inner socket contact elements 20 is limited. In this way, the maximum assembly or insertion force that occurs is approximately twice the amount of the influencing factor iii. reduced, the total insertion path in the direction IT is about offset v1 extended.

To the positioning of the socket contact elements 20 with offset v1 To accomplish each other, the invention provides that the socket contact elements 20 with offset v1 in the respective socket contact holes 13 are fixed, while the outer reference socket contact elements in the stepped holes 13 lie on the face on the stop. An alternative construction is provided according to the invention in that the two inner contact openings 11 by the amount v1 longitudinal L , M opposite the two outer contact openings 11 are extended (not shown). As a result of this constructive measure, the two inner socket contact elements are also 20 in the offset holes 13 on the face against the stop, so that the defined position with the offset v1 is supported.

In the in 3rd shown, to the central axis M Another inventive concept is taken into account in the symmetrical arrangement. Tilting, tilting of the connector 100 To reduce relative to its mating connector, the invention recognizes that torques, shear force components and / or an offset of the resulting vectorially added total force as the sum of the total individual forces per socket contact element 20 must be minimized. To achieve this and the line of action of the total force largely congruent with the center line M The paired symmetrical arrangement of the socket contact elements is to be maintained here 20 intended. Furthermore, the outer socket contact elements tilt or tilt 20 supported without misalignment, since here the contact plugs engage in front of the inner socket pair.

4th shows the position of the cut line (upper illustration) and sectional view (lower part of the drawing) of the connector 100 with exemplarily arranged socket contact elements 20 with a first and a second offset v1 , v2 relative to each other in the axial connector direction L , M inside socket contact holes 13 . This exemplary embodiment variant deviates from the situation according to 3rd a second offset v2 on, which is relative to the two inner socket contact elements 20 is realized.

Again, assuming that with the socket contact elements 20 Corresponding contact partners, plug-in contact pins, contact box plugs (not shown) are arranged without offset in the longitudinal direction and thus parallel to the axis, resulting in a three-stage engagement situation during their simultaneous insertion movement: As the contact partner's insertion length increases through the contact openings 11 In the interior of the socket contact holes, contact is first made with the two outer socket contact elements 20 prepared so that the possible summation of influencing factors described above iii. and / or iv. and / or viii. and / or ix. on two of the four socket contact elements 20 is limited. The result of this geometric measure is a reduction in the maximum assembly or insertion force that occurs by reducing the summarily occurring individual force components.

With increasing insertion depth and after overcoming the offset path v1 becomes contact with an inner, third socket contact element 20 prepared so that the previously described possible summation of the influencing factors iii. and / or iv. and / or viii. and / or ix. on an inner socket contact element 20 is limited or there is no summation. The insertion movement is continued and the offset path v2 The contact to the remaining socket contact element is overcome 20 manufactured. As a result, the influencing factor iii. During the insertion movement up to the end position of the connector relative to its mating connector, the following occurs: 2-fold - 1-fold - 1-fold. The total insertion path in the direction IT is about offset v1 + v2 extended.

Tilting, tilting of the connector 100 In this embodiment, the invention also proposes to reduce the distances between the two inner socket contact elements relative to its mating connector 20 with their offset v2 to each other to the center line L , M in front.

Reference list

10th

Connector housing

10 '

first connector housing part

10 "

second connector housing part

11

Contact openings

12th

Locking element

13

Socket contact hole

14

parting line

20

Contacting means / socket contact element

100

Connectors

EK

Direction of insertion of the contact box

IT

Direction of insertion of the contact box connector

EST

Direction of insertion of the connector

L

Longitudinal axis

M

Center axis

v, v1, v2

Longitudinal offset

Claims (13)

Connector (100) for producing electrically conductive connections with a corresponding mating connector, comprising at least two first contacting means (20) and at least one second contacting means (20), such that the contacting means (20) are intended to be electrically conductive with contacting means of the mating connector for the permanent transmission of electrical energy can be connected, at least one offset (v1, v2) is provided between the two first and the at least one second contacting means (20), so that the maximum total assembly force can be reduced by the amount of at least one contact engagement force at the beginning of the insertion path of the contacting means (20) , whereby the overall plug-in force of the plug connection can be reduced, the contacting means (20) being socket contact elements which are arranged within the plug connector (100) in socket contact bores (13) and can be contacted via contact openings (11), the socket End contact elements (20) have essentially the same longitudinal extent and the at least two first socket contact elements (20) lie on the end face in the respective socket contact bore (13), characterized in that the at least one second socket contact element (20) with offset (v1, v2) in the respective socket contact bore (13) can be fixed and does not lie on the end face. Connector (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the insertion force can be reduced by the amount of at least one of the sliding friction forces on the flanks of the socket contact elements (20). Connector (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the maximum total assembly force can be reduced by the amount of at least one of the insertion forces of locking elements (12) in the contacting means (20). Connector (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the two at least first contacting means (20) are arranged symmetrically to the center line (L, M) within the plug connector (100), so that a line of action of the total assembly force largely congruently supports the center line and tilting, edging of the plug connector (100) can be reduced during assembly. Connector (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the two at least first contacting means (20) within the connector (100) are arranged diametrically in the outer regions of its cross section. Connector (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the two at least first contacting means (20) within the connector (100) are axially aligned with each other. Connector (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one offset (v1) of the at least one second contacting means (20) is designed as a recess in the insertion direction (ES). Connector (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that two second contacting means (20) are provided. Connector (100) according to Claim 8 , characterized in that the two second contacting means (20) are arranged symmetrically to the center line (L, M), so that a line of action of the total assembly force largely congruently supports the center line and tilting, edges of the connector (100) is reduced during mounting. Connector (100) according to Claim 8 , characterized in that the two second contacting means (20) have a second offset (v2) relative to each other. Connector (100) according to Claim 10 , characterized in that the offset (v1) and the offset (v2) are approximately equal in amount. Connector (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the contact means (20) are power contacts, so that the connector (100) is suitable for high voltage. Detachable electrically conductive connection comprising a plug connector (100) according to one of the preceding claims and a corresponding mating plug.

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