DE102020126918A1 - Electrical connector housing assembly with operating lever and electrical connector and connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a space-saving and sealable housing arrangement (1) for an electrical connector (2) that can be plugged together with a mating connector (6) and has a connector support system. The housing arrangement (1) comprises a connector housing (10) and an operating lever (12) arranged pivotably on the connector housing (10), the operating lever (12) having at least one drive element (38) arranged to be engageable with the mating connector (6), wherein the operating lever (12) has at least one lever arm (14) which is provided with a bearing pin (16), the plug housing (10) having at least one bearing hole (18) into which the bearing pin (16) of the at least one lever arm (14 ) is plugged in, and wherein at least one bearing seal (46) is arranged between the plug housing (10) and the bearing journal (16) of the at least one lever arm (14). The operating lever (12) with its at least one drive element (38) is used to mechanically support the plugging process between the electrical plug (2) and mating plug (6). In addition, the bearing journal (16) on the operating lever (12) contributes to the tightness of the housing arrangement (1) due to its arrangement in relation to the plug housing (10) and the at least one bearing seal (46). This functional integration on the operating lever (12) allows the housing arrangement (1) according to the invention to be space-saving and sealed at the same time. The present invention also relates to an electrical connector (2) with such a housing arrangement (1) and a connector arrangement (4) with the electrical connector (2).

Description

The present invention relates to a housing assembly for an electrical connector with an operating lever, for example but not exclusively for automotive applications. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an electrical connector with such a housing arrangement and a connector arrangement with an electrical connector.

In general, electrical plugs are used in electrical circuits to create detachable plug connections for the transmission of electrical currents and/or signals between components belonging to the electrical circuit. As part of a plug-in process for producing or releasing the plug-in connection, considerable resistance forces may have to be overcome, which counteract the plug-in process in a hindering manner. In order to avoid productivity losses during assembly, the use of a manually operated plug-in support system for mechanical support of the plug-in process is recommended, for example in automotive engineering.

Traditional mating assist systems are often bulky and/or difficult to implement other functions, such as sealing the electrical connector. For example, the entire mechanism of the plug support system can be arranged entirely on the outside of the electrical plug in order to leave the tightness of the electrical plug unaffected, but it takes up a correspondingly large amount of space. On the other hand, parts of the mechanism can be integrated into the interior of the electrical plug, but must have an operative connection to the outside of the electrical plug for the purpose of manual operation, which inevitably leads to leaks.

There is therefore a need for a plug-in connection with a plug-in support system that takes up as little space as possible and at the same time does not impair the sealability of the plug-in connection.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide means for plug-in support of a plug-in connection, which are space-saving and sealable.

This object is achieved by a housing arrangement for an electrical connector that can be plugged together with a mating connector in a plugging direction, comprising a connector housing and an operating lever arranged pivotably on the connector housing, the operating lever having at least one drive element arranged to be engageable with the mating connector, the operating lever having at least one has a lever arm which is provided with a bearing journal, the connector housing having at least one bearing hole into which the bearing journal of the at least one lever arm is inserted, and at least one bearing seal being arranged between the connector housing and the bearing journal of the at least one lever arm.

The present invention is advantageous because the operating lever serves to support plugging due to the presence of the at least one drive element and contributes to tightness due to the arrangement of the bearing journal in relation to the plug housing and the at least one bearing seal. This functional integration on the operating lever allows the housing arrangement according to the invention to be space-saving and sealed at the same time.

The invention can be further improved by the following configurations, each of which is advantageous in itself and can be combined with one another as desired.

According to one possible embodiment of the invention, the plug housing can be a plastic injection molded part in order to save costs and/or weight, with the at least one bearing hole being, for example, a substantially circular through-opening which preferably leads into the interior of the plug housing perpendicular to the plug-in direction and is produced as part of the injection molding process . Alternatively, the at least one bearing hole can be a preferably deburred bearing bore. Optionally, a bearing bush can be provided in at least one bearing hole.

As an operating lever, activation lever and/or support lever, the operating lever can be part of a plug support system to support a process of connecting and/or disconnecting the electrical connector and mating connector.

The at least one lever arm can have a lever flank in order to generate a leverage effect, at one end of which the bearing pin is formed. The trunnion may be a trunnion having a cylindrical or plug-shaped portion that fits within the at least one bearing hole. In the inserted state, the bearing pin can enter into a sealing connection with the at least one bearing seal and thus seal the at least one bearing hole tightly, preferably watertight or at least dustproof or dirtproof.

In order to enable the operating lever to pivot, the bearing journal and bearing hole can result in a perforated bearing, pivot bearing, plain bearing or a sliding pairing with cylindrical contact surfaces. The operating lever can thus be connected to the connector housing so that it can pivot about a fixed pivot axis, which preferably runs perpendicularly to the plug-in direction.

The at least one drive element can be rotatable about the pivot axis inside the connector housing. In particular, the at least one drive element can be formed on the bearing journal of the at least one lever arm, preferably on a side of the bearing journal facing away from the corresponding lever flank. Furthermore, the at least one drive element can be designed as an externally toothed transmission element. In particular, the at least one drive element can have a segment or a section of a toothed wheel, a ring gear, a toothed ring or a toothed wheel-like formation.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the at least one bearing seal can be located between the at least one drive element and the at least one lever arm. In the embodiment with the drive element formed on the bearing pin, at least one bearing seal can be located between the drive element and the lever flank. Thus, the drive element and the lever arm, in particular the lever flank, can be arranged on opposite sides of the at least one bearing seal. For example, the at least one lever arm, in particular its lever flank, can be arranged on the outside of the connector housing, while the at least one drive element is stowed inside the connector housing. This allows a compact design of the housing arrangement in the direction of the pivot axis.

To simplify production, the at least one bearing seal can, according to a further embodiment, together with the connector housing, result in a two-component component produced by two-component injection molding. In particular, the at least one bearing seal can be injected into the at least one bearing hole. The at least one bearing seal can thus be produced together with the connector housing in one and the same manufacturing process, without the need for additional assembly steps. Alternatively, the bearing journal of the at least one lever arm can also be injection molded with the at least one bearing seal. Correspondingly, the at least one bearing seal with the operating lever then results in a two-component component and in this case rests against an inner wall of the plug housing in the at least one bearing hole.

According to a further alternative embodiment, the at least one bearing seal can be a prefabricated, separate sealing ring that is either inserted into the at least one bearing hole or placed on the bearing journal of the at least one lever arm. This improves the ability to replace the at least one bearing seal as a result of repairs.

For the purpose of stabilizing the operating lever, according to a further possible embodiment, the connector housing can have two bearing holes, with each bearing hole being designed in accordance with the above description. The two bearing holes can be arranged on two opposite sides of the connector housing, preferably aligned along the pivot axis.

Furthermore, the operating lever can have two lever arms, each lever arm being designed in accordance with the above description. In particular, the two lever arms can each be provided with a bearing pin, the bearing pins preferably pointing towards one another and being arranged in alignment along the pivot axis. In addition, the two lever arms can each be inserted with their bearing journals into one of the two bearing holes. Correspondingly, the housing arrangement has two bearing seals, each bearing seal being arranged between the connector housing and one of the bearing journals.

Each bearing hole can preferably be provided for a specific lever arm and its bearing pin. Correspondingly, each lever arm can only be inserted with its bearing pin into the bearing hole provided for it. Alternatively, the two lever arms can each be inserted with their bearing journals into any desired bearing hole.

The operating lever can be designed in a U-shape. In particular, the two lever arms can encompass the connector housing. This arrangement results in a symmetrical force distribution and thus improves operability.

According to a further possible embodiment, the operating lever can be in several parts. The advantage of this embodiment is evident from the following consideration: A one-piece U-shaped operating lever would have to be elastically spread in order to be able to insert the bearing journals of its two lever arms into the corresponding bearing holes and would therefore have lever arms that are oversized in length. As will become apparent from the description of other embodiments below, there is a need to oversize the lever arms for flexibility not with a multi-part operating lever, which allows a relatively compact design of the operating lever perpendicular to the pivot axis.

According to a possible embodiment of the housing arrangement with a multi-part operating lever, the two lever arms can be designed so that they can be joined together to form a structural unit, preferably repeatedly and/or joined together in a form-fitting manner. For example, free-standing ends of the two lever arms facing away from the respective bearing journals can be plugged into one another, preferably parallel to the pivot axis. Thus, each bearing journal can also be inserted parallel to the pivot axis into the corresponding bearing hole by means of a straight-line movement. The term "linear movement" is intended to describe that it is a purely translational movement that does not include any pivoting or rotation. The linear movement primarily protects the bearing seals, which could easily be damaged by tilting and/or wedging of the bearing journal in the course of a pivoting movement of the lever arms.

According to a further possible embodiment of the housing arrangement with a multi-part operating lever, the two lever arms can be designed to be separable from one another, preferably non-destructively or at least repeatedly. Thus, if necessary, each bearing pin can also be pulled straight out of the corresponding bearing hole, which simplifies repairs, for example.

According to a further possible embodiment, the operating lever can be in three parts. In particular, the operating lever can include a removable connecting element, via which the two lever arms can be connected. The connecting element is preferably a separate component which connects the two lever arms in the manner of a bridge. Thus, the two lever arms can be mounted independently of each other on the connector housing and then connected by the connecting element. In particular, the bearing journals of the two lever arms can be inserted into the corresponding bearing hole parallel to the pivot axis, independently of one another.

To facilitate operation, the connecting element can have a handle, a handle, a handle, a bracket and/or a section with a gripping surface.

The connecting element can be placed perpendicularly or tangentially to the pivot axis on the free ends of the lever arms. For example, the two lever arms can each have a T-shaped profiled edge at their free ends, which can be accommodated in a corresponding T-shaped groove guide of the connecting element. The connecting element can preferably be attached to the free ends of the lever arms, for example by means of a snap-in connection. Alternatively or additionally, the connecting element can also be glued, screwed, welded and/or pressed. Thus, an unwanted movement relative to the lever arms is prevented and the loss of the connecting element is prevented.

According to a further possible embodiment, the housing arrangement can have a safety device which prevents the at least one lever arm from being attached and/or removed on or from the connector housing outside of an assembly position and which, when attached to the connector housing and moved out of the assembly position, prevents the at least one lever arm of the at least one lever arm is secured to the connector housing. In this case, the mounting position results from a relative position between the at least one lever arm and the connector housing.

The safety device can be arranged partially on the connector housing and partially on at least one lever arm. For example, the safety device can be designed in the manner of a bayonet and have a flange on the connector housing for each bearing hole in the connector housing, which flange extends at least in sections around the corresponding bearing hole in the circumferential direction of the corresponding bearing hole. Furthermore, the safety device can have at least one cam on each lever arm, which engages behind the corresponding flange in a form-fitting manner. For this purpose, the at least one cam can protrude, for example, from a cantilever of the at least one lever arm in the direction of the bearing journal.

Optionally, the at least one lever arm can be detached from the connector housing in the assembly position. The at least one lever arm can preferably be attached to the connector housing and detached from the connector housing only in the assembly position. For this purpose, each flange of the safety device can have a gap at a firmly defined point corresponding to the assembly position, through which the at least one cam of the safety device fits during assembly of the lever arm located in the assembly position. Depending on the width of the gap, the assembly position can be a discrete angular position or a continuous angular range. For reasons of redundancy, each lever arm can have several cams. The flange can have a corresponding number of gaps.

According to a further embodiment, the at least one lever arm can have an insertion position resulting from the position relative to the connector housing. In the plugged-in position of the at least one lever arm, the at least one drive element of the operating lever rests on the mating connector without being in engagement with the mating connector. The electrical connector can thus be placed on the mating connector or removed from the mating connector. The at least one lever arm can be pivoted out of the assembly position into the plug-in position at least during assembly.

Furthermore, the at least one lever arm can have an end plug position resulting from the position relative to the connector housing. In the final plugged-in position of the at least one lever arm, the at least one drive element of the operating lever is in engagement with the mating connector. This state corresponds to an electrical plug that is fully plugged together with the mating plug. The at least one lever arm can be pivoted out of the assembly position into the final plugged-in position, at least during assembly.

As part of the mating process between the electrical plug and the mating plug, the at least one lever arm is transferred from the plugged-in position into the final plugged-in position. During the process of separating the electrical plug from the mating plug, the at least one lever arm is transferred from the final plugged-in position into the plugged-in position.

The mounting position may be outside the range between the mating position and the final mating position, including the mating position and the final mating position. In other words, the mounting position is not in the area between the plugged-in position and the final plugged-in position, including the plugged-in position and the final plugged-in position.

Optionally, the at least one lever arm can latch in the final plugged-in position on the connector housing. For this purpose, the at least one lever arm can have a latching element which engages in a latching connection with a latching edge of the connector housing. For example, the connector housing can have a latching opening in which the latching element latches. The latching element can optionally be formed on a flexible bar section of the at least one lever arm. Furthermore, the at least one lever arm can have a push button, which, when actuated, deflects the flexible bar section so that the latching element is moved out of the latching opening on the connector housing.

According to a further embodiment of the housing arrangement with a multi-part operating lever, the multi-part operating lever can form a stop when the lever arms are moved out of the respective assembly position and are joined together, thereby blocking a movement of the assembled lever arms into the respective assembly position. For example, the connecting element can form this stop. In particular, the connecting element can prevent the two lever arms from reaching the assembly position from the area between the plugged-in position and the final plugged-in position, including the plugged-in position and the final plugged-in position, in the state connected by the connecting element. In this case, the connecting element strikes the connector housing before the two lever arms reach the assembly position from the area between the plugged-in position and the final plugged-in position, including the plugged-in position and the final plugged-in position. Thus, the two lever arms cannot be detached from the plug housing in the assembled state. This prevents an unintentional loss of the lever arms or the entire operating lever during operation.

Optionally, the multi-part operating lever can latch on the connector housing when it is at the stop. For this purpose, the connecting element can have, for example, a latching lug pointing towards the plug housing. Furthermore, a latching hump can be formed on the connector housing, with which the latching lug of the connecting element enters into a latching connection as soon as the stop is reached. The lever arms of the multi-part operating lever can preferably be held in the plugged-in position in order to prevent the operating lever from pivoting unintentionally during the assembly process.

According to a further embodiment, the two lever arms cannot be connected by the connecting element in their respective assembly position. For example, the connector housing is located between the exposed ends of the two lever arms when the two lever arms are in their respective assembly positions. This ensures that the two lever arms can only be connected by the connecting element when the two lever arms are moved out of their respective assembly positions.

Optionally, a straight, web-like or rib-like handle can be provided on each lever arm, which extends on an outside of the respective lever arm and in the assembly position of the respective lever arm with respect to the connector housing has a characteristic orientation. For example, the handle is aligned parallel or perpendicular to an outer edge of the connector housing when the respective lever arm is in the assembly position. Preferably, the pivot axis runs symmetrically through the handle. This simplifies both automated assembly and manual assembly of the respective lever arm, since the handle not only provides a support surface for a robot gripping tool, but also represents a visual reference mark for manual assembly. In other words, the handle serves as an assembly aid for the respective lever arm.

According to a further embodiment, each bearing hole can have a sealing surface and a bearing surface which are offset from one another in the axial direction of the bearing hole, with the inserted bearing pin resting on the sealing surface and on the bearing surface. The sealing surface and the bearing surface are preferably cylindrical and run coaxially with one another, with the inserted bearing journal resting all the way around on the sealing surface and on the bearing surface. Furthermore, the bearing surface can be designed to be at least more dimensionally stable than the sealing surface. The bearing surface can be, for example, the running surface of the perforated bearing resulting from the bearing pin and bearing hole and can be formed by the inner wall of the connector housing. The sealing surface can be formed by the at least one bearing seal, for example. In this way, the inserted bearing journal is centered in the corresponding bearing hole by means of the bearing surface in order to ensure the most even possible distribution of pressure on the at least one bearing seal.

The object initially taken as a basis can also be achieved by an electrical connector with a housing arrangement according to one of the preceding embodiments, the connector housing having a connector face pointing in the direction of insertion, which is surrounded by a peripheral seal. At least one electrically conductive contact element can be arranged in the mating face, which is designed for making contact with a mating contact of the mating connector. Depending on the field of application of the electrical plug, several contact elements can optionally be arranged in the plug face. Due to the already explained functionality and advantages of the housing arrangement and in particular due to the presence of the circumferential seal, the electrical plug according to the invention can also be advantageously designed to save space and be sealed.

According to one possible embodiment, the mating face can form a receptacle for the mating connector. In particular, the at least one bearing hole can lead into the receptacle. Preferably each bearing hole leads into the receptacle. The bearing pin inserted into the respective bearing hole and in particular the at least one drive element can thus protrude into the receptacle.

According to a further possible embodiment, the at least one drive element can be located between the at least one bearing seal and the peripheral seal.

This preferably results in a compact arrangement of the at least one drive element.

Optionally, the circumferential seal can be connected in one piece to the at least one bearing seal in order to prevent the seals from being lost accidentally. For example, a cast branch that is produced during two-component injection molding can monolithically connect the peripheral seal to the at least one bearing seal. In the case of a housing arrangement with two bearing holes and two bearing seals, the two bearing seals can also be monolithically connected via a further casting branch, which is also produced during two-component injection molding. For this purpose, a filling channel can be provided on the connector housing, which extends between the two bearing holes. Additional filling channels can lead from the two bearing holes to the connector face.

The task set out at the outset can also be achieved by a connector arrangement comprising an electrical connector according to one of the preceding embodiments and a mating connector which can be plugged together with the electrical connector, the mating connector having at least one driven element which can be brought into engagement with the at least one drive element of the operating lever, wherein the electrical plug and the mating plug together form a sealed interior which is sealed at least in sections by the at least one bearing seal. The interior of the plug arrangement is preferably sealed off by the at least one bearing seal and the peripheral seal.

The plug arrangement according to the invention also benefits from the advantages of the housing arrangement and can be used in damp and/or dusty or dirty environments thanks to the sealed interior. Furthermore, the connector arrangement according to the invention saves installation space in that the at least one drive element of the operating lever interacts directly with the at least one driven element of the mating connector. In this way, slides or similar intermediate components can be dispensed with will. This reduces the space occupied by the plug arrangement with its remaining components and also reduces the total number of components in the plug arrangement.

The at least one output element of the mating connector is, for example, a toothed rack that is formed on the mating connector. When the at least one drive element of the operating lever and the at least one driven element of the mating connector engage, a pivoting movement of the operating lever is converted via a rotary movement of the at least one drive element into a linear plugging movement between the electrical connector and mating connector. Such a driven element is preferably provided for each drive element of the operating lever.

According to one possible embodiment, the mating connector can have an end face opposite the mating face of the electrical connector in the plugging direction, with the peripheral seal resting on the end face when the electrical connector is plugged together with the mating connector. The circumferential seal is preferably pressed onto the end face during the linear plug-in movement and thus seals the plug-in face at least in sections. In this case, the end face can be formed by a plate which encloses the remainder of the mating connector and which extends perpendicularly to the plug-in direction.

According to a further possible embodiment, the at least one drive element of the operating lever can engage with the at least one driven element of the mating connector in the sealed interior of the connector arrangement. Preferably, each drive member of the operating lever engages the corresponding driven member of the mating connector in the sealed interior of the connector assembly. Consequently, the input and output elements are in an environment protected from dust and dirt. This reduces wear on the input and output elements.

To reduce wear from dust and debris, the bearing surface of each bearing hole is also preferably located within the sealed interior of the connector assembly. Correspondingly, the inserted bearing journal preferably also rests on the bearing surface in the sealed interior of the plug arrangement.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings using a number of embodiments whose different features can be combined with one another as desired in accordance with the above comments.

• 1 eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Gehäuseanordnung gemäß einer ersten beispielhaften Ausführungsform;
• 2 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Gehäuseanordnung gemäß einer zweiten beispielhaften Ausführungsform in Vorderansicht;
• 3 eine perspektivische Detailansicht einer schematischen Explosionsschnittdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Gehäuseanordnung gemäß einer dritten beispielhaften Ausführungsform;
• 4 eine perspektivische Detailansicht einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Gehäuseanordnung gemäß einer vierten beispielhaften Ausführungsform;
• 5 eine perspektivische Detailansicht einer schematischen Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Gehäuseanordnung gemäß einer fünften beispielhaften Ausführungsform;
• 6 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen elektrischen Steckers gemäß einer ersten beispielhaften Ausführungsform in Seitenansicht;
• 7 eine schematische perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Steckeranordnung gemäß einer ersten beispielhaften Ausführungsform;
• 8 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung der Steckeranordnung aus 7 in Seitenansicht; und
• 9 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung der Gehäuseanordnung aus 1 in Seitenansicht;

Show it:

• 1 a schematic perspective view of a housing arrangement according to the invention according to a first exemplary embodiment;
• 2 a schematic sectional view of a housing arrangement according to the invention according to a second exemplary embodiment in front view;
• 3 a perspective detailed view of a schematic exploded sectional view of a housing arrangement according to the invention according to a third exemplary embodiment;
• 4 a perspective detailed view of a schematic sectional view of a housing arrangement according to the invention according to a fourth exemplary embodiment;
• 5 a perspective detailed view of a schematic representation of a housing arrangement according to the invention according to a fifth exemplary embodiment;
• 6 a schematic sectional view of an electrical connector according to the invention according to a first exemplary embodiment in side view;
• 7 a schematic perspective exploded view of a connector assembly according to the invention according to a first exemplary embodiment;
• 8th a schematic sectional view of the connector assembly 7 in side view; and
• 9 a schematic sectional view of the housing arrangement 1 in side view;

Referring to 1 until 5 the schematic structure of a housing arrangement 1 according to the invention is explained below. The schematic structure of an electrical connector 2 according to the invention and a connector assembly 4 according to the invention is shown with reference to FIG 6 until 8th explained.

1 and 2 each show exemplary embodiments of the housing arrangement 1 according to the invention for the electrical plug 2 which can be plugged together with a mating plug 6 along a plugging direction 8 (see 7 ). As in 1 and 2 shown, the housing arrangement 1 comprises a plug housing 10 and a control panel pivotably arranged on the plug housing 10 tion lever 12. The operating lever 12 has at least one lever arm 14 in this case.

Out of 2 and 3 It is clearly visible that the at least one lever arm 14 is provided with a bearing pin 16 and that the plug housing 10 has at least one bearing hole 18 into which the bearing pin 16 of the at least one lever arm 14 is inserted (see Fig.

The at least one lever arm 14 can also have a lever flank 20, at one end 22 of which the bearing pin 16 is formed. The journal 16 may be a stub axle 24 having a cylindrical portion 26 that fits within the at least one bearing hole 18 .

The connector housing 10 can be a plastic injection-molded part 28, with the at least one bearing hole 18 being a substantially circular through-opening 30, which preferably leads into the interior 32 of the connector housing 10 perpendicularly to the plug-in direction 8.

Bearing pin 16 and bearing hole 18 together result in a hole bearing 34, pivot bearing, plain bearing or a pair of sliding surfaces with cylindrical contact surfaces. The operating lever 12 can thus be connected to the connector housing 10 so that it can pivot about a fixed pivot axis 36 which preferably runs perpendicularly to the plug-in direction 8 .

Out of 3 It can also be seen that the operating lever 12 has at least one drive element 38 that can be brought into engagement with the mating connector 6 . The at least one drive element 38 can be rotatable about the pivot axis 36 . In particular, the at least one drive element 38 can be formed on the bearing journal 16 of the at least one lever arm 14 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the at least one drive element 38 is formed on a side of the bearing journal 16 facing away from the corresponding lever flank 20 and is designed as an externally toothed transmission element 40 . In particular, the at least one drive element 38 has a segment 42 of a ring gear 44 .

In 2 is shown that at least one bearing seal 46 is arranged between the connector housing 10 and the bearing journal 16 of the at least one lever arm 14 . In the inserted state, the bearing pin 16 of the at least one lever arm 14 forms a sealing connection 48 with the at least one bearing seal 46, so that the at least one bearing hole 18 is closed tightly, preferably watertight or at least dust-tight or dirt-tight.

In the exemplary embodiment shown 2 the at least one bearing seal 46 is located between the at least one drive element 38 and the lever flank 20 of the at least one lever arm 14. In particular, the lever flank 20 of the at least one lever arm 14 is arranged on the outside of the connector housing 10, while the at least one drive element 38 is arranged on the inside of the connector housing 10 is.

The at least one bearing seal 46 is injected into the at least one bearing hole 18 and, together with the connector housing 10, results in a two-component part 50. Conversely, the bearing journal 16 of the at least one lever arm 14 can be injection-molded with the at least one bearing seal 46, so that the at least one bearing seal 46 is connected to the Operating lever 12 results in a two-component component (not shown). Alternatively, the at least one bearing seal 46 can be a prefabricated separate sealing ring (not shown) that is either inserted into the at least one bearing hole 18 or placed on the bearing journal 16 .

In the exemplary embodiments shown 1 and 2 For example, connector housing 10 has two bearing holes 18, each bearing hole 18 being aligned on one of two opposite sides 52 of connector housing 10 along pivot axis 36 (see Figs 2 ). Furthermore, the operating lever 12 has two lever arms 14 , the two lever arms 14 each being provided with a bearing pin 16 . How out 2 As can be seen, the bearing journals 16 of the two lever arms 14 point towards one another and are aligned along the pivot axis 36 . In addition, the two lever arms 14 are each inserted with their bearing pins 16 into one of the two bearing holes 18 . The housing arrangement 1 accordingly has two bearing seals 46, each bearing seal 46 being arranged between the plug housing 10 and one of the bearing journals 16 in each case.

Each bearing hole 18 of the exemplary embodiments shown is provided for a bearing journal 16 of a specific lever arm 14 in each case. Correspondingly, in the exemplary embodiments shown, each lever arm 14 is only inserted with its bearing pin 16 into the bearing hole 18 provided for this purpose.

The operating lever 12 can be U-shaped and the two lever arms 14 can enclose the connector housing 10 (see FIG 7 ). Furthermore, the operating lever 12 can be in several parts. In the exemplary embodiment shown 1 the operating lever 12 is in three parts. In particular, the operating lever 12 includes, in addition to the two lever arms 14, a removable Connecting element 54. The connecting element 54 is a separate component which connects the two lever arms 14 in the manner of a bridge. The connecting element 54 has a section 56 with a gripping surface and thus also serves as a handle.

The connecting element 54 is in each case placed on free-standing ends 58 of the two lever arms 14 facing away from the respective bearing journals 16 . For this purpose, the two lever arms 14 each have a T-shaped profiled edge 60 at their free ends 58 , which is accommodated in a respective T-shaped groove guide 62 of the connecting element 54 . Furthermore, the connecting element 54 is fastened to the free ends 58 of the two lever arms 14 by a latching connection 64 . The latching connection 64 comprises a flexible latching tab 66 on the connecting element 54, which protrudes into one of the T-shaped groove guides 62, and a latching notch 68 on the T-shaped profiled edge 60, into which the corresponding latching tab 66 latches (see Fig 6 ).

As in 2 shown, the two lever arms 14 can be mounted on the connector housing 10 independently of one another. In particular, the bearing pins 16 of the two lever arms 14 can be inserted into the corresponding bearing hole 18 independently of one another and parallel to the pivot axis 36 by means of a linear movement 70 (see FIG 2 Left). The two lever arms 14 can then be connected by the connecting element 54 . After removing the connecting element 54, the bearing journals 16 of the two lever arms 14 can be pulled out of the corresponding bearing hole 18 independently of one another parallel to the pivot axis 36 by means of the rectilinear movement 70 (see FIG 2 to the right).

According to an alternative embodiment, not shown, the free ends 58 of the two lever arms 14 can be plugged directly into one another. In such an embodiment, the connecting element 54 can be omitted.

The housing arrangement 1 can have a safety device 72, as in 4 shown. The securing device 72 prevents the at least one lever arm 14 from being attached to and/or removed from the connector housing 10 outside of an assembly position 74 . The at least one lever arm 14 can be attached to the connector housing 10 in the assembly position 74 . The assembly position 74 results from a relative position between the at least one lever arm 14 and the connector housing 10. When the at least one lever arm 14 is attached to the connector housing 10 and has been moved out of the assembly position 74, the at least one lever arm 14 is secured to the connector housing 10 by the securing device 72.

The securing device 72 is partially arranged on the connector housing and partially on the at least one lever arm. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the securing device 72 is designed in the manner of a bayonet and has a flange 76 on the connector housing 10 for each bearing hole 18 in the connector housing 10, which flange extends at least in sections around the corresponding bearing hole 18 in the circumferential direction 78 of the corresponding bearing hole 18. Furthermore, the safety device 72 on each lever arm 14 has at least one cam 80 which engages behind the corresponding flange 76 in a form-fitting manner. How out 3 As can be seen, the at least one cam 80 can protrude from a cantilever 82 of the lever arm 14 in the direction of the bearing pin 16 .

Each flange 76 of the securing device 72 has a gap 84 at a point that corresponds to the assembly position 74 , through which the at least one cam 80 fits when the lever arm 14 located in the assembly position 74 is assembled. Depending on the width of the gap 84, the mounting position 74 can be a discrete angular position or a continuous angular range.

The at least one lever arm 14 can be pivoted, at least during assembly, from the assembly position 74 into an insertion position 86 (see FIG 7 ). The plug-in position 86 results from the relative position of the at least one lever arm 14 to the plug housing 10. In the plug-in position 86 of the at least one lever arm 14, the electrical plug 2, as in 7 shown, placed on the mating connector 6 or removed from the mating connector 6. In the fitted state, the at least one drive element 38 of the operating lever 12 rests against the mating connector 6 without being in engagement with the mating connector 6 .

Furthermore, the at least one lever arm 14 can have an end plug position 88 resulting from the position relative to the plug housing 10 (see FIG 1 , 6 and 8th ). The at least one lever arm 14 can be pivoted out of the assembly position 74 into the final plugged-in position 88 at least during assembly. In the final plugged-in position 88 of the at least one lever arm 14, the at least one drive element 38 of the operating lever 12 is in engagement with the mating connector 6, as shown in the sectional view of FIG 8th shown. This state corresponds to an electrical plug 2 fully plugged into the mating plug 6.

In the context of an assembly process between the electrical plug 2 and the mating plug 6 , the at least one lever arm 14 is transferred from the plugged-in position 86 to the final plugged-in position 88 . When the electrical plug 2 is separated from the mating plug 6 , the at least one lever arm 14 is transferred from the final plugged-in position 88 into the plugged-in position 86 . The assembly position 74 is located outside the area between the plugged-in position 86 and the final plugged-in position 88 including the plugged-in position 86 and the final plugged-in position 88.

Optionally, the at least one lever arm 14 can latch on the plug housing 10 in the final plugged-in position 88 . For this purpose, the at least one lever arm 14 can have a latching element 90 which engages in a latching connection with a latching edge 92 of the connector housing 10 . For example, the connector housing 10 can have a latching opening 94 in which the latching element 90 latches (see FIG 1 ). As in 5 shown, the latching element 90 can be formed on a flexible beam section 96 of the at least one lever arm 14 . Furthermore, the at least one lever arm 14 can have a push button 98 which, when actuated, deflects the flexible bar section 96 so that the latching element 90 leaves the latching opening 94 and the latching connection is released.

How also from 5 As can be seen, the multi-part operating lever 12 can form a stop 100 when the assembled lever arms 14 are moved out of the respective assembly position 74 , by which a movement of the assembled lever arms 14 into the respective assembly position 74 is blocked. In the embodiment shown, the connecting element 54 forms the stop 100 and strikes the connector housing 10 .

Out of 9 it can be seen that the multi-part operating lever 12 can optionally latch on the plug housing 10 when it is on the stop 100. For this purpose, the connecting element 54 can have a latching lug 99 pointing towards the connector housing 10 , which engages in a latching connection with a latching hump 101 formed on the connector housing 10 . The lever arms 14 of the multi-part operating lever 12 can preferably be held in the plugged-in position 86 in order to prevent the operating lever from pivoting unintentionally during the plugging-in process.

Accordingly, the two lever arms 14 cannot be connected by the connecting element 54 in their respective assembly position 74 because the connector housing 10 is located between the free ends 58 of the two lever arms 14 when the two lever arms 14 are in their respective assembly position 74 . this is in 5 and 9 each indicated by a dashed line.

A straight, rib-like handle 102 can optionally be provided on each lever arm 14, which extends on an outer side of the respective lever arm 14 and has a characteristic alignment in the assembly position 74 of the respective lever arm 14 with respect to the connector housing 10. For example, the handle 102, as in 6 is indicated by the dashed line 104, aligned parallel to an outer edge 106 of the connector housing 10 when the respective lever arm 14 is in the assembly position 74. The handle 102 serves as a support surface for a robot gripping tool and/or as a visual assembly aid. In order to save space, the handle 102 can be countersunk in the bearing pin 16 .

As in 3 shown, each bearing hole 18 can have a sealing surface 108 and a bearing surface 110 which are offset from one another in the axial direction of the bearing hole 18 , with the inserted bearing journal 16 resting circumferentially on the sealing surface 108 and on the bearing surface 110 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, sealing surface 108 and bearing surface 110 are cylindrical and coaxial with one another. The bearing surface 110 is formed here by an inner wall of the plug housing 10 and corresponds to the running surface 112 of the perforated bearing 34 resulting from the bearing journal 16 and bearing hole 18 . The sealing surface 108 is formed by the at least one bearing seal 46 .

6 shows an exemplary embodiment of the electrical connector 2 according to the invention with the housing arrangement 1. In the illustration shown, the connector housing 10 has a connector face 114 pointing in the direction of insertion 8, which is surrounded by a peripheral seal 116. Depending on the application of the electrical plug 2 , electrically conductive contact elements (not shown) can be arranged in the mating face 114 , which contact elements are designed for making contact with mating contacts of the mating plug 6 . The mating face 114 accordingly forms a receptacle 118 for the mating connector 6. As in 2 shown, the at least one drive element 38 is located between the at least one bearing seal 46 and the peripheral seal 116.

Optionally, the circumferential seal 116 is integrally connected to the at least one bearing seal 46 . How out 4 As can be seen, a cast branch 120 can monolithically connect the circumferential seal 116 to the at least one bearing seal 46 . At the in 2 housing arrangement shown 1 with two bearing holes 18 and two bearing seals 46, the two bearing seals 46 are also monolithically connected via a casting branch 122.

7 and 8th show an exemplary embodiment of the plug arrangement 4 according to the invention. The plug arrangement 4 comprises the electrical plug 2 and the mating plug 6, which is designed to be able to be plugged together with the electrical plug 2. The mating plug 6 has at least one driven element 124, which is arranged such that it can be brought into engagement with the at least one drive element 38 of the operating lever 12 on. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the at least one driven element 124 of the mating connector 6 is a toothed rack 126 formed on the mating connector 6. When there is an engagement between the at least one drive element 38 of the operating lever 12 and the at least one driven element 124 of the mating connector 6, a pivoting movement of the operating lever 12 converted via a rotary movement of the at least one drive element 38 into a linear plugging movement 128 between the electrical connector 2 and mating connector 6. A driven element 124 is preferably provided on the mating connector 6 for each drive element 38 of the operating lever 12 .

The electrical connector 2 and the mating connector 6 together form one in the sectional view 8th visible, sealed interior 130 of the connector assembly 4, which is at least partially sealed by the at least one bearing seal 46. The interior space 130 of the plug arrangement 4 is preferably sealed off by the at least one bearing seal 46 and the peripheral seal 116 . In 7 is clearly shown that the mating connector 6 can have an end face 132 opposite the mating face 114 of the electrical connector 2 in the insertion direction 8, with the peripheral seal 116 resting on the end face 132 when the electrical connector 2 is plugged together with the mating connector 6. In particular, the circumferential seal 116 is pressed onto the end face 132 as part of the linear plug-in movement 128 and thus seals the plug-in face 114 at least in sections (see FIG 8th ). In the embodiment shown 7 the end face 132 is formed on a plate 134 which extends perpendicularly to the plug-in direction 8 and encloses the rest of the mating connector 6 .

Out of 8th It can be seen that the at least one drive element 38 of the operating lever 12 is in engagement with the at least one driven element 124 of the mating connector 6 in the sealed interior space 130 of the connector arrangement 4 . Each drive element 38 of the operating lever 12 is preferably engaged with the corresponding driven element 124 of the mating connector 6 in the sealed interior space 130 of the connector arrangement 4 .

The bearing surface 110 of each bearing hole 18 is preferably also located in the sealed interior 130 of the plug arrangement 4. Accordingly, the inserted bearing pin 16 preferably also lies on the bearing surface 110 in the sealed interior 130 of the plug arrangement 4.

Reference List

1

housing arrangement

2

electrical plug

4

connector arrangement

6

mating connector

8th

mating direction

10

connector housing

12

operating lever

14

lever arm

16

bearing journal

18

bearing hole

20

leverage flank

22

End

24

stub axle

26

section

28

plastic injection molded part

30

passage opening

32

Inner

34

hole bearing

36

pivot axis

38

drive element

40

gear element

42

segment

44

sprocket

46

bearing seal

48

sealing connection

50

two-component part

52

pages

54

fastener

56

section

58

end up

60

edge

62

groove guide

64

snap connection

66

locking tab

68

notch

70

straight movement

72

safety device

74

assembly position

76

flange

78

circumferential direction

80

cam

82

boom

84

gap

86

plug-in position

88

final mating position

90

locking element

92

locking edge

94

detent opening

96

bar section

98

push button

99

detent

100

attack

101

resting hump

102

Handle

104

line

106

outer edge

108

sealing surface

110

storage area

112

tread

114

mating face

116

circumferential seal

118

recording

120

cast branch

122

cast branch

124

output element

126

rack

128

linear plugging movement

130

inner space

132

face

134

plate

Claims (15)

Housing arrangement (1) for an electrical plug (2) that can be plugged together with a mating plug (6) along a plugging direction (8), comprising a plug housing (10) and an operating lever (12) pivotably arranged on the plug housing (10), the operating lever (12 ) has at least one drive element (38) which can be brought into engagement with the mating connector (6), the operating lever (12) having at least one lever arm (14) which is provided with a bearing pin (16), the connector housing (10) having at least has a bearing hole (18) into which the bearing pin (16) of the at least one lever arm (14) is inserted, and wherein at least one bearing seal (46) is located between the plug housing (10) and the bearing pin (16) of the at least one lever arm (14 ) is arranged. Housing arrangement (1) after claim 1 , wherein the at least one bearing seal (46) is located between the at least one drive element (38) and the at least one lever arm (14). Housing arrangement (1) after claim 1 or 2 , wherein the plug housing (10) has two bearing holes (18) and the operating lever (12) has two lever arms (14), the two lever arms (14) each being provided with a bearing pin (16), and the two lever arms (14) are each inserted with their bearing journals (16) in one of the two bearing holes (18). Housing arrangement (1) after claim 3 , wherein the operating lever (12) is in several parts. Housing arrangement (1) after claim 4 , wherein the two lever arms (14) are designed to be joined together to form a structural unit. Housing arrangement (1) after claim 4 or 5 , wherein the two lever arms (14) are designed to be separable from one another. Housing arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 4 until 6 , wherein the operating lever (12) comprises a removable connecting element (54) via which the two lever arms (14) can be connected. Housing arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 7 , wherein the housing arrangement (1) has a securing device (72) arranged partly on the connector housing (10) and partly on the at least one lever arm (14), through which attachment and/or removal of the at least one lever arm (14) on or from the connector housing (10) outside of an assembly position (74) and when the at least one lever arm (14) is attached to the connector housing (10) and moved out of the assembly position (74), the at least one lever arm (14) is secured on the connector housing (10). Housing arrangement (1) after claim 8 in combination with claim 5 , wherein the multi-part operating lever (12) forms a stop (100) when the assembled lever arms (14) are moved out of the respective assembly position (74), by which a movement of the assembled lever arms (14) into the respective assembly position (74) is blocked. Housing arrangement (1) after claim 9 in combination with claim 7 , wherein the connecting element (54) forms the stop (100). Housing arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 10 , wherein each bearing hole (18) has a sealing surface (108) and a bearing surface (110) which are offset from one another in the axial direction, the inserted bearing journal (16) resting on the sealing surface (108) and on the bearing surface (110). Electrical plug (2) with a housing arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 11 , wherein the plug housing (10) has a plug-in face (114) pointing in the plug-in direction (8) and surrounded by a peripheral seal (116). Electrical connector (2) after claim 12 wherein the at least one drive element (38) is located between the at least one bearing seal (46) and the peripheral seal (116). Connector arrangement (4) comprising an electrical connector (2). claim 12 or 13 and a mating connector (6) that can be plugged together with the electrical connector (2), the mating connector (6) having at least one driven element (124) which can be brought into engagement with the at least one drive element (38) of the operating lever (12), the electrical The plug (2) and the mating plug (6) together form a sealed interior (130) of the plug arrangement (4), which is sealed at least in sections by the at least one bearing seal (46). Connector arrangement (4) according to Claim 14 , wherein each drive element (38) of the operating lever (12) with the corresponding driven element (124) of the mating connector (6) in the interior (130) of the connector assembly (4) is engaged.

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