DE3735164C1 - Electrical plug coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical plug coupling having latching elements (26, 28) which, during coupling of the two plug parts (2, 4), initially produce a force which counters the coupling movement but then assists the coupling movement and provides locking after a threshold position has been passed through. The wedge surfaces (37; 52, 56) which produce the drawing-in force are designed in two stages with wedge angles (ss, gamma ) which act differently, so that they can be optimally matched to the different tasks of automatically drawing-in on the one hand and locking on the other hand. The plug coupling is advantageously equipped with leading contacts, all the contacts, that is to say also those which are not leading, being engaged after the first drawing-in wedge surface pair (37; 52) becomes effective. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to an electrical plug coupling the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1.

Such plug couplings have the property that they are not imperfect, associated with faulty contacts Know the connector position. The wedge surface pairings are like this designed that if the operator unplugs the connector releases the clutch before reaching the threshold position the two connector parts completely separated and all Contacts are broken while after exceeding the threshold position, the two connector parts automatically to the extent that all contact elements are in one wall-free intervention.

There is already a plug coupling in the preamble of Claim 1 known type, in which the locking means an ejecting wedge surface pair and a retracting one Have wedge surface pairing (DE-PS 34 36 968). The only one The wedge surface pairing also serves as a lock of the two connector parts in the coupled state. Around To be able to perform the task, the angle of the wedge surface Chen to the plug axis running in the direction of insertion be relatively large, d. H. the wedge surfaces must be wide stand perpendicular to the direction of insertion. On the one hand, this means that the feed path after exceeding the threshold position only relatively small and the contact engagement of the Contact elements can be low. This applies in particular to the case in which some contact elements of one or the other connector part leading in the direction of insertion are, so part of the feed path for the Separation of the contact elements in the direction of insertion lost goes. The length of the contact elements must therefore at  well-known plug coupling with extraordinary accuracy in narrow tolerance groups what these Arrangement very complex and expensive. On the other hand but also the security of the known plug coupling against an unintentional uncoupling is only very slight, since it is ge is enough, the two connector parts by the small amount of Pull the feed path apart to the plug coupling inevitably separate completely.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a connector coupling of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1 to create a sufficient with a simple structure large feed path and thus a large depth of engagement Has contact element in which a secure locking the connector parts are guaranteed in the coupled state and with adequate protection against accidental t uncoupling is given.

According to the invention, this object is characterized by the of the features mentioned solved.

A typical area of application for such plug couplings gene is the electrical connector between the back wall wiring of a subrack and a slide-in Assembly.

Before inserting an insert into the subrack is usually the energy supply of at least the be the relevant plug-in switched off, so that a tension loose plugging is possible. For plants that have a large number of assemblies, but it is too expensive, for each insert a multi-pole switch for all supply provide voltages and switch off the entire system is often out of the question for operational reasons.  

The cheapest way to solve the problem is that Make connections directly via the plug-in coupling. It it only has to be ensured that the components of the A thrusts are not damaged by the voltage surge when plugged in will. Get with the connection to the supply voltages the components of the slide-in module have a higher voltage pulse Steepness that seriously jeopardizes the components. Further learned the supply voltages of the subrack one abrupt increase in current, which leads to malfunctions of the rest can lead to the system. To make the current rising flank flat hold, z. B. in the supply voltage lines damping choke coil turned on, but the dyna mix internal resistance of the power supply increased.

So that z. B. the choke coil only during plugging, not but is effective when the module is plugged in the assembly z. B. while plugging over leading Kon clock over the choke coil and then over lagging Contacts supplied by bypassing the choke coil. It is then required that the mating time in a certain ver Ratien stands at the time when over the choke coil builds up the supply voltage. The mating time can by ge suitable interpretation of the feeding mating surface pairing be be true.

The provision of leading contacts for plug couplings also allows to ensure that the signal lines can only be switched to the slot when the chip power supply of the insert is established.

The locking means according to the invention have two when coupling effective one after the other in the direction of insertion pulling wedge surface pairings. So there is the possibility  the different, sometimes contradicting ones Requirements for the retracting wedge surface pairings to be distributed over two systems. The first wedge surface pairing can be a relatively small angle to the direction of insertion have a sufficiently large feed path and a de guaranteed move-in time, so that the intervention fe of the contact elements, especially when using leading or lagging contacts, in any case one for safe contact is of sufficient size and for the voltage build-up of the supply voltage required Time is taken into account.

The second pair of wedge surfaces can be one to the direction of insertion have larger angles, so that they especially their ver can optimally perform locking tasks. The two-stage speed of the retracting wedge surface pairing also has the great advantage that in the event of accidental separation first pull the connector parts into the between the neutral position in both wedge surface pairs are set, with all contact elements, i.e. H. against if necessary also lagging contacts are still engaged. There is a prospect that the partial loosening of the Plug coupling and the clear snapping in between the indenting contact surface pairs located neutral Position is noticed and can thus be corrected, be before the plug coupling is completely disconnected.

The preferred mutual location of the different areas Chenpaarungen the locking means on the one hand and the Kontaktele ment of the two connector parts on the other hand is based on a preferred embodiment explained in more detail.  

In one embodiment of the invention it is provided that the One more locking device before the first active intervention of the ejecting wedge surface pairing ready for action shaft coming coming neutral centering pairing. This centering surface pair has the task of the two Align connector parts transversely to the direction of insertion ten that the mutually associated contact elements of the two Plug parts are largely exactly opposite each other.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the locking means, on the one hand, is assigned to a plug part, elastic bendable clip and on the other hand a other connector part assigned, insert into the bracket enclose profile stamp. In particular the bracket can in a simple and inexpensive way as a plastic part be made of an elastic plastic material. The Distribution of the different, interacting wedge surfaces on the bracket on the one hand and the profile stamp on the other on the one hand can be done in different, expedient ways; a preferred embodiment is also based on a Described embodiment.

In many cases, the connector parts have a connector socket development several, for example two power strips on. An example of such an arrangement is one with Printed circuit board with electronic components, on the in Plug direction leading edge two connector strips arranged are net, with two corresponding power strips on the the circuit board receiving device interact. In one in such a case it is not necessary that each one Provide connector strip with locking means of the type described are. Rather, it is invented with such an arrangement provided in accordance with the invention that it is invented in such a way according to the invention provided that the locking means between each  two power strips are arranged. When sticking the lei the locking device first center the ladder plate with respect to the Ge receiving this circuit board advises so that the connector strips of the circuit board to those of Device are exactly aligned. In the further The locking means come into action with one another grabbed, starting from the ejecting wedge surfaces ejection force generated pairing must be overcome. The move-in takes place after the threshold position is exceeded automatically or at least by the pulling force supported the arrangement. The locking means are between the power strips arranged so that the pulling force is symmetrical to these connector strips. One possibly too Start of the plugging process still existing tilting Printed circuit board opposite the device receiving this automatically canceled by the self-feeding, so that a flawless, even contacting of the contact elements he follows.

In many cases, arrangements formed from several mechanically interconnected assemblies (multiple inserts) are used, which are inserted together into the subrack. Such a multiple insert is sometimes required to accommodate a larger number of components than can be found on a plug-in card. On the other hand, it can also be intended to distribute the electrical load over several plug-in cards, which, as described below, can be inserted one after the other into the subrack. Each module can be connected to the subrack via a plug connector. If a double insert is used according to the invention, it is provided that the two insert assemblies are displaceable with respect to one another in the plugging direction by a dimension a , which essentially covers the plugging path between the first operative engagement of the plug parts of a plug coupling and a position (position 4). the connector parts speaks, in which the neutral surface pairing is in effect.

When the double insert is inserted, the first one is first of the modules contacted. If all contact elements of the first assembly are in contact, all con clock elements of the second, shifted from the first Assembly still out of contact, so that too strong Current pulse by plugging in both structures at the same time groups is avoided and also for inserting the double the required insertion force is divided.

An embodiment of the invention is in the drawing shown and described in more detail below. It shows

Figure 1 shows schematically an electrical connector coupling, each with two connector strips arranged on each connector part and locking means arranged between these connector strips;

Fig. 2 to 5 different mutual positions of the two plug parts of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 shows a double slot with plug coupling according to Fig. 1-5.

Fig. 1 shows schematically an electrical connector coupling with a first connector part 2 and a second connector part 4 , the device in the direction indicated by the arrow 6 can be coupled together. The first connector part 2 comprises two power strips 8, 10 , which are fastened next to each other, for example, on a device wall, not shown. The second connector part 4 comprises two plugs 12, 14 , which are also attached side by side, for example, to the leading edge 16 of a plug-in card 18 with electronic components. The first connector part 2 or the connector strips 8, 10 are provided with contact elements 20 designed as contact sockets. The second connector part 4 or the connector strips 12, 14 are provided with contact elements 22, 24 designed as contact pins, of which the contact elements 22 lead in the plug-in direction 6 and the contact elements 24 are accordingly lagging.

Between the connector strips 8, 10 of the first connector part 2, on the one hand, and the connector strips 12, 14 of the second connector part 4, on the other hand, latching means 26 and 28 , respectively, are arranged, which come into active engagement with one another when the two connector parts 2, 4 are coupled. The locking means 26, 28 have several tasks to be performed. In a first phase of the dome movement, they first serve for centering and mutually aligning the plug parts 2, 4 with respect to one another in a direction marked by the arrow 30, transverse to the plugging direction 6 . In a second phase, they generate a direction of insertion 6 , eject force, in a third phase after exceeding a threshold position, they generate a self-retracting force, and in a fourth phase, they finally reach a mutual position in which they connect the connector coupling Lock condition as described in more detail below.

The latching means comprise on the one hand an elastically bendable bracket 26 assigned to the second connector part 4 and on the other hand a profile stamp 28 assigned to the first connector part 2 and insertable into the bracket 26 . As can also be seen from FIGS. 2 to 5, the bracket 26 consists of two bracket elements 32 , each having an elastic leg portion 34 and a te formed at the free end of the Klammerelemen head portion 36 . The clamp elements 32 have a prismatic shape with the longitudinal sectional profile shown in FIGS . 1 to 5. The opposing surfaces of the two head parts 36 are formed in wesent union as a convex-cylindrical locking surfaces 37 . Both clamp elements 32 are connected to a common base 38 , which in turn is provided with fastening flanges 40 which allow the clamp 26 to be screwed onto the plug-in card 18 .

The profile stamp 28 also has a foot part 42 and a head part 44 formed at its free end.

The profile stamp 28 is preferably also prismatic with the longitudinal section shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 profile. But it can also be rotationally symmetrical to its longitudinal axis 46 . The head part 44 has an essentially axially symmetrical, bell-shaped profile, which is composed of several wedge surface areas. The first wedge surface area 48 has a divergent course from the free end of the profile die 28 to the foot part 42 (see in particular FIG. 2). The wedge angle α of the wedge surface area 48 is between 70 ° and 80 ° and is preferably 75 °. At the wedge surface area 48 , a second wedge surface area 52 adjoins a rounding 50 , which converges towards the foot end 42 and whose wedge angle β is between 25 ° and 35 °, but is preferably 30 °. Adjacent to the wedge surface area 52 is an axially parallel surface area 54 and this in turn is joined by a wedge surface area 56 converging towards the foot end 42 , the wedge angle γ of which is between 40 ° and 50 °, but preferably 45 °. At the free end of the Pro filstempels 28 a centering pin 58 projecting axially beyond the first wedge surface area.

During coupling of the two connector parts 2, 4 of the border between the clamp elements 32 centering pin is initially 58 to the large alignment of the two connector parts 2, 4 zueinan in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1, 30 (see Fig. 2, position 1). The possible deviation of the locking elements 26 and 28 from the ideally centered position is smaller than half the opening width of the contact elements 20 , so that the contact elements 22, 24 are captured by the contact elements 20 in any case if the coupling movement continues. In a continuation of the Kuppelbe movement of the wedge surface portion 48 of the profile comes temple 28 elements to bear against the wedge surface 49 of the Klammerele 32nd Since the wedge angle α is relatively large, the wedge surface pair 48/49 acts as a stop; if the dome movement continues, a relatively large ejecting force must be overcome. The position 1 of the profile stamp 28 corresponds to the mutual position of the contact elements 20 or 22, 24 shown in FIG. 2, ie all contact elements are still out of engagement.

In a continuation of the movement of the dome profile pushes punch 28 apart, the clamp elements 32, whereby a possibly still existing eccentricity of the profile stamp is opposite the clip 26 largely corrected by the non-deflected clip elements 32 28th The profile stamp 28 then comes into the position 2 shown in FIG. 3 (threshold position), the rounded portions 50 of the profile stamp 28 and the upper regions of the latching surfaces 37 of the clamp elements 32 no longer acting as ejecting wedge surface pairing and feeding the greatest spring force in the clamp elements 32 chert is. The position 2 of the profile stamp 28 corresponds to the mutual position of the contact elements 20 and 22, 24 shown in FIG. 3, ie the leading contact elements 22 do not yet come into mutual engagement.

In a further continuation of the dome movement, the profile stamp 28 reaches the position 3 shown in FIG. 4, in which the clamp elements 32 generate a retracting force with the release of potential spring force. The position 3 corresponds to the position in which the leading contact elements 22 already have contact, but the trailing contact elements 24 are shortly before their engagement in the assigned contact elements 20 .

When the dome movement continues, the wedge surface areas 52 come into engagement with the lower parts of the latching surfaces 37 . Acting on the profile stamp 28 feeding force has the consequence that the profile stamp 28 automatically comes into the position shown in Fig. 5 position (position 4). This position 4 corresponds to the position of the contact elements 20 and 22, 24 shown in FIG. 5, in which both the leading contact elements 22 and the trailing contact elements 24 have contact. Since the wedge angle β of the wedge surface areas 52 is relatively small, the locking effect of the wedge surface pairing 37/52 is relatively small. The time it takes for the movement from the threshold position (position 2) to the position at which the lagging contacts come into contact with contact corresponds approximately to the time required for the build-up of the supply voltage via the choke mentioned above.

The plug part 2 and thus the profile stamp 28 can be moved further in the direction of insertion 6 , the wedge surface areas 56 of the profile stamp 28 come to rest on the lower areas of the locking surfaces 37 ; also this wedge surface pairing 56/37 has a dome-supporting effect, so that the profile stamp 28 assumes the position 5 shown in FIG. 2. Since the wedge angle γ of the wedge surface regions 56 is steeper than the wedge angle β , the locking effect caused by the wedge surface pairing 56/37 is relatively large. The position 5 corresponds to the mutual position of the contact elements 20 ' and 22, 24 shown in Fig. 2, ie all Kontaktele elements are in a secure contact engagement. The path from position 4 to position 5 corresponds to the length of the trailing pins 24 in wesent union. In this way, the plugs are pulled into each other until they stop. Nothing changes in the contact.

Fig. 6 shows a double insert, which consists of the plug-in cards 18, 18 ' . Both plug-in cards are at their Längssei ten 100, 100 ' connected to each other by connecting means such that they are displaceable in the direction of arrow 102 against each other by the dimension a . Fig. 6 shows as a connec tion means a tab 104 which is attached to the plug-in card 18 ' by means of screws 106 . In the amount of the plug-in card 18 , the tab 104 has a slot 108 of length 2 a , the screw 110 is offset from a screwed to the plug-in card 18 approach.

In the position shown in FIG. 6, the plug-in card 18 with its associated plug strips 8, 10 is first contacted. When inserting it may have reached the position 4 defined at the front, in which all contact elements have contact. The dimension a is chosen so that the plug-in card 18 ' is still in position 1. Then the plug-in card 18 'is also brought into position 4 , ie the front edges of the plug-in cards 18, 18' are then at the same height. Now the two plug-in cards can be moved to position 5. The two retracting wedge surface areas 52 and 56 on the head part 44 also ensure defined positions when inserting each of the inserts even with multiple inserts.

Claims (12)

1. Electrical connector coupling with a first, occupied by first contact elements connector part and a second, with it, second contact elements occupied th connector part, and with the first and second connector part associated locking means, which a first when engaging in the direction of engagement, one ent against the mating direction, ejecting force he generating wedge surface pairing and a wedge surface pairing arrangement coming into effect after a threshold position has been exceeded, acting in the mating direction, generating force generating wedge surface pairing , characterized in that the retracting wedge surface pairing arrangement has a first ( 37, 52 ) and a second ( 37, 56 ) wedge surface pair, which take effect when coupling the connector parts ( 2, 4 ) one after the other, and that between the first and second retracting wedge surface pairing ( 37, 52; 37, 56 ) a neutral, no force in or against the Surfaces that create mating direction pairing ( 37, 54 ) is provided. 2. Plug coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that when coupling the plug parts ( 2, 4 ) to the threshold position (position 2), the first and the second contact elements ( 20; 22, 24 ) remain disengaged. 3. Plug coupling according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when coupling the plug parts le ( 2, 4 ) between the threshold position (position 2) and a position (position 4), in which the neutral surface pairing is in operative engagement, all first and second contact elements ( 20; 22, 24 ) come into contact. 4. Plug coupling according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a part of the first and / or second contact elements are formed in a hurry, characterized in that when the plug parts ( 2, 4 ) are inserted after the threshold position (position 2), the leading ones first ( 22 ), then the trailing ( 24 ) contact elements come into contact with the associated contact elements ( 20 ). 5. Plug coupling according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the latching means ( 26, 28 ) have a further, before the first operative engagement of the eject the wedge surface pairing ( 48; 49 ) in operative engagement ready coming neutral centering surface pairing ( 37; 58 ) . 6. Plug coupling according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the latching means on the one hand an associated with a connector part ( 4 ), elastically bendable bracket ( 26 ) and on the other hand one associated with the connector part ( 2 ) in the bracket ( 26 ) include insertable profile stamp ( 28 ). 7. Plug coupling according to claim 6, characterized in that the bracket ( 26 ) has two Klammerelemen te ( 32 ) with an elastic foot portion ( 34 ) and a free end formed head part ( 36 ), the head parts ( 36 ) against each other directional, we sentlichen convex locking surfaces ( 37 ), and that the profile stamp ( 28 ) also has a foot portion ( 42 ) and a head portion ( 44 ) formed at its free end, the head portion ( 44 ) a substantially to its center line Symmetrical bell-shaped profile with a first wedge surface area ( 48 ) diverging from the free end to the foot part ( 42 ), followed by a rounded transition area ( 50 ), a converging second wedge surface area ( 52 ), a surface area ( 54 ) parallel to the center line and another has a congealing third wedge surface area ( 56 ). 8. Plug coupling according to claim 7, characterized in that the wedge angle ( α ) of the first wedge surface area ( 48 ) is greater than the wedge angle ( β , γ ) of the second and third wedge surface areas ( 52, 56 ), and that the wedge angle ( γ ) of the third wedge surface area ( 56 ) is greater than the wedge angle ( b ) of the second wedge surface area ( 52 ). 9. Plug coupling according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the wedge angle ( α ) of the first wedge surface area ( 48 ) is between 70 ° and 80 °, preferably at 75 °, that the wedge angle ( β ) of the second wedge surface area ( 52 ) between 25 ° and 35 °, preferably before 30 ° and that the wedge angle ( γ ) of the third wedge surface area ( 56 ) is between 40 ° and 50 °, preferably 45 °. 10. Plug coupling according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the profile stamp ( 28 ) at its free end has a centering pin ( 58 ) projecting centrally over the first wedge surface ( 48 ). 11. Plug coupling according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the first plug part ( 2 ) and the second plug part ( 4 ) each have two plug strips ( 8, 10; 12 14 ) arranged next to one another transversely to the plug-in direction ( 6 ) and in that the locking means ( 26, 28 ) are each arranged between these connector strips ( 8, 10; 12, 14 ). 12. slide-in arrangement with two interconnected, equipped with electronic components slide-in modules, which can be plugged into a rack, the leading edges when plugging the modules are each provided with at least one connector part, each with a arranged in the subrack plug part comes into engagement and forms a plug coupling according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the two plug-in modules ( 100, 100 ' ) are connected to each other by a dimension (a) displaceably in the plug-in direction, wel ches in essentially the plug-in distance between the first active engagement of the plug parts ( 2, 4 ) of a plug coupling and a position (position 4) of the plug parts ( 2, 4 ) corresponds to, in which the neutral surface pairing ( 37, 54 ) is in active engagement.