DE202015101652U1 - Contact carrier for attachment to a connector housing - Google Patents

Abstract

Contact carrier (1) for attachment to a connector housing (62), with
- A contact housing (2) to which an electrical line (5) in a plug-in direction (E) can be inserted,
- One on the contact housing (2) can be arranged contact element (4) for electrical contact with the line (5) and
- One on the contact housing (2) arranged spring element (3) which is supported with a first leg (30) relative to the contact housing (2) and a second leg (32) which upon insertion of the line (5) in the contact housing (2) is adjustable and when in the contact housing (2) inserted line (5) presses the line (5) with the contact element (4) in abutment,
characterized in that the contact element (4) in one of the insertion direction (E) opposite Ansetzrichtung (A) to the contact housing (2) can be attached, wherein the spring element (3) the contact element (4), when the contact element (4) to the Contact housing (2) is attached, in the case of not in the contact housing (2) inserted line (5) against the Ansetzrichtung (A) on the contact housing (2) holds.

Description

The invention relates to a contact carrier for attachment to a connector housing according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a contact carrier comprises a contact housing, to which an electrical line can be inserted in a plug-in direction. At the contact housing, a contact element for electrical contact with the line can be arranged. In addition, a spring element is arranged on the contact housing, which is supported with a first leg relative to the contact housing and having a second leg which is adjustable upon insertion of the line into the contact housing and presses in the contact housing plugged line with the contact element in abutment , If the line is inserted into the contact housing, the contact element is thus electrically contacted with the line, said contact is under a bias caused by the spring element.

A contact carrier of this type is for example from the DE 10 2009 008 933 A1 known. In this contact carrier, a spring element and a contact element are arranged in a contact housing. A line can be inserted into a Leitereinführöffnung an actuating element, wherein upon insertion, the actuating element is pressed into the contact housing and thereby the spring element is adjusted with a leg relative to the contact element, so that the line between the contact element and the legs of the spring element can be inserted ,

The contact element may - outside the contact housing - have a contact pin, which - when using the contact carrier to a connector - for plug-in, electrically contacting connection with a mating contact element of a mating connector part is used. The contact element may also be part of a busbar, such as a terminal block or the like, or be connected to such a busbar.

The object of the present invention is to provide a contact carrier which can be simple in design, can be mounted in a modular manner on a connector housing and also allows a reliable hold of the contact element on the contact housing before attaching the contact carrier to a connector housing.

This object is achieved by an article having the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, the contact element in a plug-in direction opposite Ansetzrichtung is attachable to the contact housing, wherein the spring element holds the contact element when the contact element is attached to the contact housing, not inserted into the contact housing line against the Ansetzrichtung on the contact housing.

The contact element can thus be attached to the contact housing in a direction opposite to the insertion direction Ansetzrichtung. This allows in particular insertion of the contact element on one side of the contact housing, which is opposite to the side to which the line is to be set. For example, a line can be inserted from above into the contact housing, while the contact element can be attached from below to the contact housing.

In this way, a simple attachment of the contact element to the contact housing is possible. In particular, for example, a bus bar can be introduced in a simple manner with a suitable contact arm in the contact housing. Or a contact element with a contact pin remaining outside the contact housing can be inserted into the contact housing by means of a contact arm connected to the contact arm.

Because the spring element holds the contact element, if no line is inserted into the contact housing, on the contact housing, a captive is also provided which causes - do not fall out of the contact housing - in a pre-assembly state, for example, before attaching the contact carrier to a connector housing can. The contact element is thus held after attachment to the contact housing by it is in captive engagement with the spring element, so that the contact carrier can be delivered with arranged thereon spring element and disposed thereon contact element in a modular manner and installed in a connector housing.

The contact housing may be made of plastic, for example. The contact housing can in particular be made of an electrically insulating material. There is thus provided a contact housing which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which can be combined in a modular manner with different connector housings.

The contact element is preferably, when the contact element is attached to the contact housing, with a contact arm on a wall of the contact housing. The contact element In this case, it is preferably inserted into the contact housing with the contact arm and is held by the spring element on the contact housing by the spring element with its second leg with the contact arm of the contact element in abutment.

For a favorable hold, the contact element can advantageously have a holding nose on its contact arm, with which the second leg of the spring element is in engagement with the contact element for holding the contact element. The retaining lug can be designed, for example, as a protrusion projecting transversely to the attachment direction from the contact arm. It is also conceivable, for example, that the retaining lug is formed on an engagement opening on the contact arm, in which engages the spring element with its second leg.

By abutment with the retaining lug, the spring element holds the contact element against the Ansetzrichtung on the contact housing. The contact element can thus not fall out against the Ansetzrichtung from the contact housing when it has been attached to the contact housing. When attaching the contact element to the contact housing, the second leg of the spring element snaps into engagement with the retaining lug, so that when the contact element is plugged in there is a positive connection between the second leg of the spring element and the retaining lug of the contact element.

The spring element is preferably arranged in a form-fitting manner on a support section of the contact housing and extends with its legs from the support section of the contact housing. About the first leg, the spring element is supported for example on a first side wall of the contact housing. The second leg holds the contact element on the contact housing when the contact element is attached to the contact housing and (still) no line is inserted into the contact housing. Upon insertion of an electrical lead into the contact housing, the second leg is then pivoted relative to the support portion so that the second leg is removed from the contact element and the lead is inserted between the second leg and the contact element. If the line is connected to the contact housing, then the spring element presses the electrical line via the second leg against the contact element, so that - under bias of the spring element - an electrical contact between the line and the contact element is made.

The contact housing has, in a further embodiment, for example, a stop portion which provides a stop for the second leg of the spring element when inserted into the contact housing line. The second leg can thus be pivoted away upon insertion of a line in the contact housing of the contact element until it comes into contact with the associated stop portion, which thus defines a defined position for the second leg when inserted into the contact housing line.

An assembly of a connector preferably comprises a connector housing and at least one arranged on the connector housing contact carrier of the type described above. Such a connector housing, for example, have one or more receiving chambers, in each of which a contact carrier can be accommodated, so that in an assembled state, in which Contact carrier is arranged on the connector housing, the contact housing is at least largely enclosed in the receiving chamber.

Such a plug connector can be, for example, a plug which can be brought into engagement with an associated mating plug, for example a socket. Such a plug connector may, for example, also be a terminal block or the like, which makes it possible to connect a plurality of lines for connecting lines to one another, for example via a busbar.

In particular, in the embodiment of the connector assembly for a connector part that can be put into engagement with an associated mating connector part may be required that when attaching the connector part to the associated mating connector part position tolerances between contact elements on the connector part and the mating connector part can be compensated. In the present case, this can be done by arranging each contact carrier with play in the receiving chamber assigned to it. In this case, the contact carrier can in particular have a clearance in a plane extending transversely to the plug-in direction to the receiving chamber, so that a contact element fixedly connected to the contact housing of the contact carrier can move at least slightly relative to the receiving chamber and thus relative to the plug connector housing and thereby the position of the Contact element can be adapted in game-related manner.

Such a clearance is provided by the fact that the contact housing of the contact carrier is not accurately received in the receiving chamber, but the peripheral outer walls at least in one direction a distance from the associated walls or wall sections that define the receiving chamber have. One such play may be, for example, at least 0.15 mm. For example, in the plane extending transversely to the insertion direction, with a centered arrangement of the contact carrier in the associated receiving chamber, a gap having a width of 0.2 mm can be formed between the contact carrier and the associated, supporting walls of the receiving chamber.

Due to the play of the contact carrier in the associated receiving chamber, in particular a tilting of the contact carrier in the receiving chamber may be possible. Such tilting makes it possible to adapt the angular position, for example, of a contact pin projecting from the contact pin of the contact element. The angular play can be, for example, in a range between ± 1 ° and ± 10 °, for example ± 5 °.

A tilting of the contact carrier in the receiving chamber is advantageously possible around two mutually perpendicular tilt axes. Thus, tilting about a first tilting axis, which is directed transversely to the insertion direction, may be possible. In addition, tilting about a second tilting axis, which is directed both transversely to the insertion direction and transversely to the first tilting axis, take place. In this way, the angular position of one of the contact housing projecting contact pin of the contact element can be adapted in a flexible manner.

Such an adjustment of the angular position of a contact pin may be required, because possibly the incorporation of a contact assembly whose component is the contact carrier, can be tolerated in a parent housing of a connector part. In order to allow a favorable connection of the connector part with an associated mating connector part and in particular to avoid damage to contact elements due to deviation in the angular position, a game-prone arrangement of the contact elements on the associated contact carrier on the connector part is advantageous.

The game is provided here by game-affine arrangement of each contact carrier in the associated receiving chamber of the connector housing. The contact element, however, is fixedly arranged on the contact housing of the contact carrier, so that the contact carrier is moved in total for changing the position of the contact element.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures. Show it:

1 a view of a contact carrier with a contact housing, a spring element and a contact element;

2A a view of the contact housing, without a top wall;

2 B the view according to 2A with a spring element arranged on the contact housing and a contact element arranged on the contact housing;

3 a view of a connector housing;

4A a plan view of the connector housing;

4B a sectional view taken along the line AA according to 4A ;

4C a sectional view taken along the line BB according to 4A ;

5A a plan view of the connector housing, partially cut in a cutout B; and

5B an enlarged view of the connector housing in the cutout B according to 5A ,

1 shows in a perspective view a contact carrier 1 that has a contact housing 2 and one on the contact housing 2 arranged spring element 3 having. To the contact housing 2 can be a contact element 4 be set so that it is in the attached position with a contact pin 40 from the contact housing 2 protrudes and with a contact arm 41 in the contact housing 2 is plugged in.

To the contact housing 2 can in a plug E a line 5 with a cable end 50 be plugged in, so that in a position in which the line 5 in the contact housing 2 plugged in, the line 5 over the spring element 3 on the contact housing 2 held and with the contact arm 41 of the contact element 4 electrically contacted.

The contact element 4 can, however, in one of the insertion direction E opposite Ansetzrichtung A in the contact housing 2 be plugged in to the contact carrier 1 to complete. In this way, a modular assembly of a contact carrier 1 created, which can be arranged on a connector housing, as will be described below.

2A and 2 B show the contact housing 2 in a separate view ( 2A ) and in a view with arranged thereon spring element 3 and contact element 4 ( 2 B ). The contact housing 2 has two ceiling walls 20 . 21 on that over side walls 22 . 25 are interconnected (see 1 ). 2A and 2 B show here the contact housing 2 without the (as shown in 1 upper) ceiling wall 20 and thus provide a view of the inside of the contact housing 2 arranged elements 23 . 24 ,

The contact housing 2 has a support section 23 on, for arranging the spring element 3 on the contact housing 2 serves. The spring element 3 is with a storage section 31 around the support section 23 placed around and extends with a first leg 30 and a second leg 32 from the support section 23 , The first leg 30 extends through an opening 231 between the support section 23 and a first side wall 22 of the contact housing 2 through and over the first leg 30 on an inside 220 the side wall 22 supported. The second leg 32 whereas it extends from the support section 23 towards a second side wall 25 and serves to the contact element 4 if it is with his contact arm 41 in the contact housing 2 is inserted, captive on the contact housing 2 to keep.

The contact housing 2 also has a stopper section 24 with a stop surface 240 on that a stop for the second leg 32 provides when a line 5 in the contact housing 2 is inserted.

The contact element 4 can, as already mentioned above, in the Ansetzrichtung A to the contact housing 2 Be prepared by the contact arm 41 in an opening 252 between the second side wall 25 and an end 241 of the stopper section 24 is inserted. In this way, the contact carrier 1 be completed, so that after insertion of the contact element 4 a modular unit is created, which can be delivered in this form and installed on a connector housing.

When inserting the contact element 4 becomes the contact arm 41 through the opening 252 passed through and arrives at one end 410 in abutment with a stop 251 at one of the opening 252 opposite end of the side wall 25 , In addition, one of the contact arm snaps 41 projecting retaining lug 411 engaged with one end 320 of the second leg 32 of the spring element 3 , so that a positive connection between the second leg 32 and the contact arm 41 of the contact element 4 will be produced.

Is the contact element 4 completely in the contact housing 2 plugged in, is the contact arm 41 thus with its end 410 at the stop 251 and is also in abutment with an inside 250 the side wall 25 , The second leg 32 of the spring element 3 in this case exerts a biasing force on the contact arm 41 off, the contact arm 41 in contact with the inside 250 the side wall 25 holds and also, by the positive connection between the second leg 32 and the retaining nose 411 , a falling out of the contact element 4 against the Ansetzrichtung A from the contact housing 2 prevented.

By engagement of the second leg 32 with the retaining nose 411 becomes the contact element 4 thus, after attaching it to the contact housing 2 has been set, captive on the contact housing 2 held, leaving the contact carrier 1 with the contact element arranged thereon 4 shipped and can be installed in a modular manner on a connector housing.

Becomes a conduit 5 - After the contact carrier 1 has been attached to a connector housing - in the insertion direction E in the contact housing 2 introduced, so will the second leg 32 under elastic deformation to the support section 23 pivoted and thus from the contact arm 41 of the contact element 4 away. The support section 23 thus provides a fulcrum for the second leg 32 while the first leg 31 as an abutment for the pivoting of the second leg 32 serves.

Is the line 5 with her end 50 in the contact housing 2 plugged in, so will the line 5 with her lead end 50 through the second leg of the spring 32 against the contact arm 41 of the contact element 4 pressed, leaving the line 5 with the contact element 4 electrically contacted. Due to the elastic deformation of the second leg 32 this is the line 5 under elastic bias on the contact arm 41 of the contact element 4 held.

The stopper section 24 defines the maximum swing path of the second leg 32 , At maximum deflection is the second leg 32 in contact with the stop surface 240 at the stopper section 24 ,

The contact carrier 1 as he is in 1 and 2A . 2 B is shown, for example, to a connector housing 62 a connector assembly 6 be arranged as in 3 to 5A . 5B is shown. The connector assembly 6 with the connector housing 62 and the contact carriers arranged thereon 1 can be part of a Be connector part, which can be brought in mating manner with an associated mating connector part in engagement. On a first page 60 of the connector housing 62 can insertion openings 600 be provided in the lines 5 with cable ends 50 can be inserted. On an opposite, second side 61 however, a mating face may be formed through an opening 610 in the connector housing 62 and disposed therein contact pins 40 of contact elements 4 is formed. By having an associated mating connector part in this opening 610 is inserted and mating contact elements of the mating connector part in an electrically contacting manner with the contact pins 40 can be engaged, an electrical connection between connected to the connector part and the mating connector part lines 5 getting produced.

On the connector housing 62 can in a modular way multiple contact carrier 1 to be ordered. Every contact carrier 1 here has a contact element 4 on, that is about the contact carrier 1 associated contact housing 2 on the connector housing 62 is arranged and held.

Every contact carrier 1 this is within one of the connector housing 62 trained reception chamber 63 arranged, as in particular from the partially enlarged sectional view according to 5B is apparent. Every contact carrier 1 is from his assigned receiving chamber 63 at least largely framed, so that the contact carrier 1 in the receiving chamber 63 is held.

The arrangement of the contact carrier 1 in the associated receiving chamber 63 takes place here with game S. So points the contact carrier 1 with its contact housing 2 - With centered arrangement in its associated receiving chamber 63 - A gap to the contact housing 2 surrounding, supporting wall sections 630 - 633 on, for example, may have a width between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm, for example, of 0.2 mm.

The game S is preferably in the plane P transverse to the insertion direction E. This plane P corresponds to the plane according to 5B ,

Due to the game S of the contact carrier 1 in the associated receiving chamber 63 is in particular a (slight) tilting of the contact carrier 1 with the contact element arranged fixedly thereon 4 to the associated connector housing 62 possible. Because of the play S existing in all directions in the plane P, tilting about a first tilting axis K1, which is directed transversely to the insertion direction E, and additionally about a second tilting axis K2 perpendicular to the first tilting axis K1 is possible, so that the contact carrier 1 around these two tilt axes K1, K2 with a Verkippspiel V1, V2, as in 5B is located, is tiltable.

The Verkippspiel can be defined here by a Verkippwinkel α1, α2. Thus, a maximum tilting in a range of, for example, ± 2 ° or ± 5 ° be possible, wherein the Verkippspiel V1, V2 can be different in size to the different tilt axes K1, K2.

Because the contact carrier 1 in his assigned receiving chamber 63 Thus, with game S is arranged, in particular, the angular position of the contact pin 40 of the contact element 4 of the contact carrier 1 be adjusted to a certain extent, for example, to compensate for tolerance-related deviations between the angular positions of the contact elements with associated mating contact elements of a mating connector part. Such a floating mounting of the contact elements 4 is advantageous to avoid plugging a connector part with an associated counterpart connector part damage to the contacts, which could otherwise arise at different angular position of the contact elements due to voltages during insertion.

The contact housing 2 of the contact carrier 1 can be made of plastic, for example. The contact housing 2 In this case, it may in particular be electrically insulating.

The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can in principle also be realized in a completely different kind of way.

For example, a contact element that is to be connected to a contact housing, also be part of a busbar or connected to a power rail.

A contact carrier of the type described here can be used not only on a connector for connection to an associated mating connector part, but also for example on a terminal block or the like.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 contact support

2

 Contact housing

20, 21

 wall

22

 sidewall

220

 inside

23

 support section

231

 opening

24

 stop section

240

 stop surface

241

 The End

25

 sidewall

250

 inside

251

 attack

252

 opening

3

 spring element

30

 leg

31

 bearing section

32

 leg

320

 The End

4

 contact element

40

 pin

41

 contact

410

 The End

411

 retaining nose

5

 management

50

 cable end

6

 connector assembly

60

 top

600

 insertion

61

 bottom

610

 opening

62

 connector housing

63

 receiving chamber

630-633

 wall section

α1, α2

 playing angle

A

 attachment direction

B

 neckline

e

 insertion

K1, K2

 tilt axis

P

 level

S

 game

V1, V2

 Verkippspiel

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102009008933 A1 [0003]

Claims (13)

Contact carrier ( 1 ) for attachment to a connector housing ( 62 ), with - a contact housing ( 2 ) to which an electrical line ( 5 ) in a plug-in direction (E) can be inserted, - one on the contact housing ( 2 ) contact element ( 4 ) for electrical contact with the line ( 5 ) and - one on the contact housing ( 2 ) arranged spring element ( 3 ), with a first leg ( 30 ) relative to the contact housing ( 2 ) is supported and a second leg ( 32 ), which when plugging the line ( 5 ) in the contact housing ( 2 ) is adjustable and in the contact housing ( 2 ) inserted line ( 5 ) The administration ( 5 ) with the contact element ( 4 ) in abutment, characterized in that the contact element ( 4 ) in one of the insertion direction (E) opposite Ansetzrichtung (A) to the contact housing ( 2 ) is attachable, wherein the spring element ( 3 ) the contact element ( 4 ), when the contact element ( 4 ) to the contact housing ( 2 ), not in the contact housing ( 2 ) inserted line ( 5 ) against the Ansetzrichtung (A) on the contact housing ( 2 ) holds. Contact carrier ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact housing ( 2 ) is made of plastic. Contact carrier ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact element ( 4 ), when the contact element ( 4 ) to the contact housing ( 2 ), with a contact arm ( 41 ) on the contact housing ( 2 ) is present. Contact carrier ( 1 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the contact element ( 4 ) one on the contact arm ( 41 ) arranged retaining lug ( 411 ), on which the second leg ( 32 ) of the spring element ( 3 ) for holding the contact element ( 4 ) on the contact housing ( 2 ) is present. Contact carrier ( 1 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that the retaining lug ( 411 ) transversely to the Ansetzrichtung (A) of the contact arm ( 41 ) Protrudes. Contact carrier ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element ( 3 ) on a support section ( 23 ) of the contact housing ( 2 ) is arranged, wherein the first leg ( 30 ) of the spring element ( 3 ) from the support section ( 23 ) to a first side wall ( 22 ) of the contact housing ( 2 ) and on the first side wall ( 22 ) is supported and the second leg ( 32 ) when plugging in the electrical line ( 5 ) relative to the support section ( 23 ) is pivotable. Contact carrier ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact housing ( 2 ) an abutment section ( 24 ) having a stop for the second leg ( 32 ) of the spring element ( 3 ) in the contact housing ( 2 ) inserted line ( 2 ). Connector assembly ( 6 ), with a connector housing ( 62 ) and at least one on the connector housing ( 62 ) arranged contact carrier ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims. Connector assembly ( 6 ) according to claim 8, characterized in that the connector housing ( 62 ) at least one receiving chamber ( 63 ), in which the at least one contact carrier ( 2 ) with play (S) is arranged. Connector assembly ( 6 ) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the at least one contact carrier ( 2 ) a game (S) in a direction transverse to the insertion direction (E) extending plane (P) to the receiving chamber ( 63 ) having. Connector assembly ( 6 ) according to claim 10, characterized in that the play (S) between the contact carrier ( 2 ) and at least one wall section ( 630 - 633 ) of the connector housing ( 62 ) is at least 0.15 mm. Connector assembly ( 6 ) according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the contact carrier ( 2 ) in the receiving chamber ( 63 ) is tiltable. Connector assembly ( 6 ) according to claim 12, characterized in that the contact carrier ( 2 ) - around a transverse to the direction of insertion (E) extended, first tilting axis (K1) and - a transverse to the insertion (E) and transverse to the first tilting axis (K1) extended, second tilting axis (K2) in the receiving chamber ( 63 ) is tiltable.

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