EP0813269B1 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The electric connector (1) provides a releasable connection of an electrically conductive multiple fibre flat band cable (6) to a pre-manufactured plug (5). The latter is to be inserted into the connector (1). The insulated housing (19) receives the electric contacts. The housing (19) has at least one contact element group (11) for the leads of the electric connection. The electric connector (1) is arranged as an adaptor between the flat cable terminal and the individual lead terminal in a screw clamp, insulation displacement clamp or spring clamp arrangement. The insulating housing (19) has no circuit board. The connector (1) preferably has lead pieces (11) made from a lead frame. Several separation points are provided between the lead pieces for connection pieces.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical connector for connecting an electrical conductive, multi-core ribbon cable with a single or multi-conductor connection, preferably with screw clamp, insulation displacement or spring clamp technology, with an insulating housing and with a contact element group arranged in the insulating housing, wherein the contact element group multiple contacts, multiple contact elements and several conductor pieces connecting the contacts and contact elements has and is punched or cut from a sheet.

The use of ribbon cables for the electrical connection between devices offers numerous advantages. Part of the constant position of the conductors in the Plastic sheathing of the ribbon cables is the basis for a large number of well-known Cutting or penetration contacts that provide an electrical connection between the conductor and a further contact piece, a connector. On the other hand, ribbon cables offer a cable that is directly assembled at the manufacturer Plugs a connection security against an unintended one Swap connections, the individual contact points of the double or multi-row connector is assigned a single conductor of the ribbon cable. by virtue of this connection security are therefore increasingly assembled with plugs Ribbon cable manufactured and there is a need for electrical adapted for this Interconnects.

One of these versions, adapted to the requirements, is an adapter plug or adapter, which is a connection between a flat cable connector and terminal housings manufactures for single conductors. There are often adapters based on this a circuit board. They are on the input side with a soldered pin header connector equipped, which serves as a receptacle for the flat cable connector. With the pin contacts This pin strip is connected to further conductive tracks that lead to a soldered Branch the DSUB connector and, depending on requirements, in a two or three-row version of the DSUB connector to its angled solder contacts. This Arrangement with a printed circuit board is then usually enclosed in an insulating housing and is very complex to manufacture and voluminous in its dimensions.

Housing arrangements are often found in another embodiment of an electrical connector with pin headers, PCB terminal connections for single conductors and Industrial connectors that are mounted on a circuit board. These orders with a carrier housing also offer the option of mounting on a mounting rail and are no less in use as an adapter with very great effort to manufacture and also very voluminous.

From DE 44 13 756 Cl an electrical connector described above is known, to which, however, only two cable strands can be connected it is not intended that further individual conductors are connected to it become. The known connector is rather used for plugging on Plug contact, for which purpose the known connector has a 90 ° to the connection ends angled tulip-shaped socket 30 is formed.

The invention is therefore based on the object, the known electrical connector to improve in that he also for a ribbon cable with a plurality can be used by individual conductors and yet has a compact design and is easy to manufacture.

The invention has set itself the goal of an inexpensive and with minimal Material costs to produce compact connector especially for input flat cable connector and the output single conductor connection propose a pin header for the adaptation of a flat cable connector is provided, but a circuit board is not required. It is also provided that the connector with standardized electrical end pieces on the input side as well on the output side, so that type-related connection technologies e.g. in Screw, insulation displacement or spring force technology in one for the respective connection cross section of the continuing single conductor specified connection divisions can be made available.

According to the invention, the previously derived and shown problem is solved by that in the assembled state of the contact element group, the contacts and the conductor pieces are arranged in two levels and that the ends of the conductor pieces are bent so are that the contact elements are arranged in a plane next to each other ..

The invention thus relates to an electrical connector, in particular an adapter plug, for connecting multi-core cables pre-assembled with a plug electrical cable, in particular ribbon cable, to a multi-pin clamp connector or to a multi-pin connector, being of a small pitch a ribbon cable connector connects to a larger division of a multi-pole terminal connection or a multi-pole industrial connector to be produced and wherein the electrically conductive contact elements of the intermediate connector punched out of a strip-shaped sheet as a group in a lead frame and can be assembled into a compact connector.

The problem of balancing the routing between the contact division of the Flat cable plug connection and a further connection for one Multipole plug or screw connection is in the connector according to the invention by the double-layer arrangement of the contacts and the conductor pieces as well as by the Bending the ends of the conductor pieces solved in a simple manner.

For this purpose, the electrically conductive contact elements of the adapter plug are made a strip-shaped sheet as a group in a lead frame, i.e. a leader or Lead frame, or a Systremträger, punched and into a compact Connector inserted in an insulating housing. It should be noted that the Contacts to the connector side of the ribbon cable in their position in the same way Are spaced from each other that the respective row of pins with the one piece further conductor pieces in one level with the socket contacts of the Ribbon cable connector are aligned. The in the direction of the single conductor connections extending contact conductors branch immediately after the required Contact pin length to a pitch specified by the individual conductor connections, the division of the single conductor connection contacts of a first row of contacts so are arranged so that the single-conductor connection contacts of the second row of contacts in provided spaces between the single-conductor contact connections of the first Contact row can be positioned. On the one hand, it is important that the electrical necessary insulation distance constant between the first and the second level. On the other hand, it is necessary to move to one level Contact pins of the flat cable connector side running conductor pieces in a common Plane to each other according to claim 3 so that the conductor end pieces the single-conductor contact connections of one level as a second Level are aligned to a common level according to claim 4 single-conductor contact connections based on these end pieces of the conductor pieces to a terminal block with the same single-conductor receptacle, same single-conductor insertion direction and build up clamping.

This joining of the contact levels is done in a simple way by flipping of a section of the lead frame reached The lead frame has for this purpose in its longitudinal extent on the leadframe cutouts that are exactly in position the group of contacts at a first level and the group of contacts at one second level, with a spacer remaining in the frame width remains between these exemptions, the task of which is after the Transfer of the first leadframe section to the contact group of the second leadframe section a distance between the contact pins of the leadframe levels to generate, which is just as large that the end pieces of the single conductor connection contacts are on one level and both groups of ladder sections are also the have the same distance from each other. These exemptions are intended that over the remaining connectors the bending process of the lead frame is facilitated by these predetermined breaking points, some of which connected spacers easily separated or removed after the bending process can be.

The insertion of the first leadframe section with the folded second leadframe section in an insulating housing also requires the removal of the frame piece and the connectors between the contacts. Likewise, the spacer removed between the individual contact levels in one cycle, whereby the preferably small connectors between the connectors and the frame pieces easier to remove.

It is particularly advantageous to use the actuators in electrical connectors compact design to be arranged on one side of the connector. For execution of single conductor clamping points with a front actuation, e.g. B. with spring terminals, the actuators are directed towards the wire insertion.

In a further embodiment of the electrical connector, the individual conductor connections are in a terminal block with actuating parts arranged on one side or with a push-in opening of the conductor arranged actuating parts for conductor clamping.

Electrical connectors of this type are preferably used for easier handling when connecting individual conductors to a housing or to a mounting rail attached. For this purpose, mounting holes are on the side of the insulating part or in the surface of the insulating part arranged, inserted through the appropriate fasteners can be and thus fix the electrical connector.

There is also a desire to have the ribbon cable plug on one Fasten connector. This is according to a further embodiment of the invention a mounting frame with a lateral attachment option, preferably a recess, provided, can be locked in the resilient locking hook and thus protects the ribbon cable connector against one-sided disconnection. Likewise the mounting frame offers protection against bending the pin contacts of the electrical connector. Unintentional twisted insertion of the ribbon cable connector to prevent, the frame has a coding that corresponds with an insertable counterpart of the ribbon cable connector.

In some cases there is also a version with one directly attached to the electrical connector Ribbon cable provided, the contacting of the ribbon cable conductor through common connection techniques, such as penetration or cutting techniques, he follows.

In a special embodiment, the insulating housing of the electrical connector and its electrical contacts next to the ribbon cable connection with the constructive design of industrial plug connections. That has the advantage that individual conductors, which often have to be electrically separated, with one Plug / socket piece or a plug / socket arrangement combined into a block provided and inserted into the electrical connector by means of this can be. For this, the industrial plug connections of the electrical Connector has been provided in a special way, an exchange important connections prevented.

The variant is also used in connection with an industrial plug connection of a through connector proposed, the insulating housing lateral Has fasteners that are inserted into a frame piece through a device wall Can be snapped into place. That is in coordination with the Overall length provided so that the connector for single conductors in one level the front of the mounting frame on the device wall.

In a special version for mounting the electrical connector a standard mounting rail are individual universal foot pieces on the bottom side of the insulating part housing Can be inserted in dovetail guides and by means of resilient fixing elements can be attached in an intended plug-in position. These fixation elements are designed as flexible construction parts and can be from the electrical connector. The universal foot is in its execution constructed in such a way that it is possible at any time to pass the electrical connector through to release the actuation of resilient holding elements from the mounting rail.

Fig. 1

ein elektrischer Verbinder (1) in dreidimensionaler Darstellung mit einem Endstück (4) eines mit dem Steckerteil (5) konfektionierten Flachbandkabels (6) in einer Ausführungsvariante zu Einzelleiter-Klemmstellen (7), die als Klemmblock (8) ausgeführt sind.

Fig. 2

ein elektrisch leitendes in zwei Ebenen angeordnetes Metallteil (2, 3) des elektrischen Verbinders (1) mit einer Teilbestückung einzelner Zugkäfigklemmen-Metallteilen (9).

Fig. 3

ein Leadframe-Teilstück (10) mit einer Anordnung von Kontakten (11, 12),

Fig. 4

einer Rückansicht des elektrischen Verbinders (1) in einer Ausführungsvariante ohne Flachbandstecker-Aufnahmerahmen (13),

Fig. 5

einer Rückansicht des elektrischen Verbinders (1) in einer Ausführungsvariante ohne Flachbandstecker, das Flachband ist hierbei direkt am elektrischen Verbinder mittels bekannten Kontaktierungsverfahren befestigt,

Fig. 6

eine Ausführungsvariante eines über Befestigungsbohrungen (14) anschraubbaren elektrischen Verbinders (1) mit einer Anschlußmöglichkeit für Industriesteckverbinder (15),

Fig. 7

eine Ausführungsvariante eines über einen Befestigungsrahmen (16) an einer Gehäusewand befestigbaren elektrischen Verbinders (1) mit einer Anschlußmöglichkeit für Industriesteckverbinder (15),

Fig. 8

eine Ausführungsvariante einer elektrischen Verbinderanordnung mit festangespritzten oder nachträglich montierbaren Fußelementen (37) zur Montage auf Tragschienen (38).

Further features, advantages and possible uses of the present invention result from the claims subordinate to claim 1 and the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing and the drawing itself, which are explained in more detail in connection with the figures. It shows

Fig. 1

An electrical connector (1) in a three-dimensional representation with an end piece (4) of a ribbon cable (6) assembled with the plug part (5) in an embodiment variant for single-conductor clamping points (7) which are designed as a terminal block (8).

Fig. 2

an electrically conductive metal part (2, 3) of the electrical connector (1) arranged in two planes with a partial assembly of individual pull cage clamp metal parts (9).

Fig. 3

a leadframe section (10) with an arrangement of contacts (11, 12),

Fig. 4

a rear view of the electrical connector (1) in an embodiment variant without ribbon connector receptacle frame (13),

Fig. 5

a rear view of the electrical connector (1) in an embodiment variant without a ribbon connector, the ribbon is attached directly to the electrical connector using known contacting methods,

Fig. 6

an embodiment variant of an electrical connector (1) which can be screwed on via fastening bores (14) and has a connection option for industrial connectors (15),

Fig. 7

An embodiment variant of an electrical connector (1) which can be fastened to a housing wall by means of a fastening frame (16) with a connection possibility for industrial plug connectors (15),

Fig. 8

An embodiment variant of an electrical connector arrangement with molded-on or subsequently mountable foot elements (37) for mounting on mounting rails (38).

In Fig. 1, an electrical connection element 1 is in an embodiment with Single-connection terminal connectors 7, which are combined to form a terminal block 8 and with a screw terminal connection 7 provided for a single conductor 17 are shown, the actuating elements 18 on a flat side of the electrical Connector 1 are accessible. The insulating housing 19 has a for attachment Device plate side openings 20, in the locking or fastening elements 21st a receiving part for fastening the electrical connector 1 on a device plate can be inserted. The end piece assembled with a plug 5 4 of a ribbon cable 6 is for connection to the contact pins 11 of the electrical connector 1 inserted into a receiving frame 13, which acts as a guide frame is provided to protect the contact pins 11 against bending. The openings 22 of the receiving frame 13 allow the ribbon cable connector to be attached 5 by means of the holding elements provided on the ribbon cable connector 5.

The opening 23 is a coding opening for the right-sided insertion of the ribbon cable plug 5 in the receiving frame 13.

At the same time, the mark 24 of the ribbon cable plug 5 should also be checked the mark 24 'of the receptacle housing 13 for contact point assignment. Furthermore, the ribbon cable connector 5 has a laterally on both sides Removal aid 25 provided on the plug housing, by means of the ribbon cable plug 5 are withdrawn from the contact pins 11 of the electrical connector 1 can.

The contact elements 11, 12 inserted in the electrical connector 1 and their Connecting pieces 26 are shown in FIG. 2 without an enveloping insulating housing 19. The conductor pieces 27, 27 'are here still with the lateral between the individual Line pieces provided leadframe connecting webs 28 shown in the Insertion process of the conductor piece levels 27 and 27 'in the insulating housing 19 removed become. On the end pieces 12 of the conductor pieces 27, 27 'are in this illustration Clamp connector 9 in tension sleeve design with screws 18 as actuators attached. So that this clamp connector 9 in one plane within the insulating housing 19 are aligned, are the end pieces inserted into these tension sleeves 12 of the conductor pieces 27 from the respective contact plane of the conductor pieces 27, 27 ', made with the contact pins 11 of the flat cable connector in one plane are to a new clamp connector level by turning and thus existing mutually provided bending edge 35, 35 'have been aligned.

The metal parts 27, 27 'of the electrical connector are made using leadframe stamping technology made from a metal strip, the electrical contact elements 11, 12, 27 as one-piece line elements in a leadframe section 10, 10 'by means of intermediate connecting webs 26 held together as a group become. 3 shows a leadframe sheet metal strip 39 with a leadframe section 10 for mechanical assembly in a simple metal part variant with few Contact points 11, 12 to simplify the peculiarities of the invention can. This leadframe section 10 consists of lateral guide strips 30, which are interrupted at regular intervals per contact group by spacers 31 which, after a section 10 'of the leadframe has been folded over into a Longitudinal alignment of lead frame section 10 in front of it at a vertical distance is positioned to the leadframe level of the leadframe section 10 '. The length the spacer 31 is dimensioned so that the vertical lead frame distance equal to the vertical distance between the contact rows 29 of the ribbon cable connector is. This distance is for the mechanical assembly of the contact elements of considerable advantage, because the contact pins 11 of the respective over this distance Contact element group inserted into the insulating housing 19 and by means of holding elements in the insulating part 19 are kept at an insulation distance. In automated Assembly process, the connecting webs 26, 28 and the spacers 31, 31 'removed so that there is no electrical short circuit.

4 shows a rear view of an embodiment variant of the electrical connector 1, which is provided by means of fastening bores 14 and Screws can be screwed to a device surface. In this version is contrary to the embodiment of FIG. 1 on a receiving and guide frame 13 waived.

Like FIG. 4, FIG. 5 also shows a rear view of an embodiment variant of the electrical Connector 1 represents, on a connector 5 of the ribbon cable end piece 4 is dispensed with and the end piece of the flat cable 6 directly on the electrical Connector 1 via known contacting techniques with the inserted line pieces 27 of the electrical connector 1 is connected.

Another variant of the electrical connector 1 is shown in FIG. 6. in this connection the further individual contacts are designed for industrial connectors 32, which, like the connection technology in a single-conductor terminal connection according to FIG. 1, has one row is executed, but the contact elements 12 instead of in a flat design for a clamp connector is provided as a pin version for industrial connector 32, the individual clamping points by means of a coding 33 provided Protect contacts or a single-row connector against interchanging or incorrect connection can. This variant of the electrical connector 1 is also through holes 14 in the insulating housing 19 attachable to a device, so that the actuating forces be caught by the insulating housing 19 at a plug connection.

7 also shows a variant of the electrical connector 1 in one embodiment with codable industrial plug connection 32 on the outlet side with single-row pin contacts and an additional device front attachment via a holding frame 16, which can be inserted through a rectangular opening in the front of a device wall and by means of Screw through side holes 40 of the holding frame on the front of the device is attachable. This holding frame 16 has frame pieces projecting on the plug side 34 with a lateral opening 36 'into which latching pieces protrude laterally on both sides 36 of the insulating housing 19 of the electrical connector can snap, so that Insulating housing 19 and holding frame 16 are attached to each other. The industrial connector 32 protrudes through a fastening in a device front opening an opening 41 provided to match the outer contour of the insulating part 19 and flush with the front of the device and the mounting frame 16 in one plane.

In a special embodiment, the electrical connector 1 with universal foot elements 37 proposed for use on the mounting rail 38 according to FIG. 8. For this purpose, there are 19 dovetail guides on the underside of the insulating housing provided in the length of the insulating housing 19, in the guide parts 42 of the universal foot 37 inserted and by means of resilient fixing elements 44 on the universal foot 37 can be attached. Then the complete electrical connector can be placed on one Standard mounting rail by means of resilient fastening elements 43 of the universal foot 37 attached and the ribbon cable connector 5 plugged in and the individual conductors 17th be connected. This version is also in one piece with the insulating housing connected mounting rail mounting feet provided. This does not apply Dovetail guide groove and resilient fixing elements.

Claims (12)

1. An electrical connector (1) for connecting an electrically conductive, multi-core ribbon cable (6) with a single or multi-wire terminal, preferably using the screw terminal, cut-and-clamp or spring-loaded contacting method, with an insulation casing (19) and a contact element group (11,11', 12, 12', 27) arranged inside the insulation casing (19), wherein the contact element group (11, 11', 12, 12', 27) has several contacts (11, 11'), several contact elements (12, 12') and several conductor segments (27) that connect the contacts (11, 11') and contact elements (12, 12'), and is stamped or cut out of a steel sheet, characterized in that, with the contact element group (11, 11', 12, 12', 27) mounted, the contacts (11, 11') and conductor segments (27) are arranged in two planes, and that the ends of the conductor segments (27) are bent in such a way that the contact elements (12, 12') are situated one next to the other in a single plane.
2. The electrical connector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact pieces (12, 12') are placed next to each other in a single plane as end pieces of the connecting pieces (27) in such a way that a contact piece (12) of the upper contact group (11, 27, 12) is placed in a gap between the contact pieces (12') of the lower contact group (11', 27', 12'), and the latter form a shared lateral plane of orientation.
3. The electrical connector (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that partially stamped spacers (31) establish a preset distance between the upper contact group (11, 27, 12) and lower contact group (11', 27', 12') during the mechanical assembly of the contact element (11, 11', 12, 12', 27) in the folding process based on the desired kink sites and corresponding length of the spacers (31).
4. The electrical connector (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that component conductor terminals (7) in a clamping block (8) are designed with actuator elements (18) arranged on one side, or with actuator elements for conductor clamping arranged relative to the insertion opening (7) of the conductor.
5. The electrical connector (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the insulation casing (19) has attachment openings (20) through which the holding or attachment means (21) can be inserted, and hence the entire electrical connector (1) can be secured to a device wall or device plate.
6. The electrical connector (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the insulation casing (19) has a guiding mounting frame (13) for the detachable connection of the prefabricated ribbon cable plug (5) provided on the electrically conductive, multi-core ribbon cable (6).
7. The electrical connector (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the insulation casing (19) has a direct connection prepared for the ribbon cable (6), with penetration contacts for ribbon cables (6).
8. The electrical connector (1) for connecting an electrically conductive, multi-core ribbon cable (6) with at least one industrial plug according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the insulation casing (19) has a clamping block (8) with terminals (15) for industrial plug connectors.
9. The electrical connector (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the terminals (15) have coding elements (33).
10. The electrical connector (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the insulation casing (19) can be inserted into a mounting frame (16) secured to the front side of a device, that the mounting frame (16) has projecting pieces (34) extending sideways through the front opening in the front side of a device to secure the electrical connector (1), and that the insulation casing (19) of the electrical connector (1) has lateral counterparts (36) for attachment to the projecting pieces (34) of the mounting frame (16), and is positioned and fixed by means of the latter in the opening (41) of the mounting frame (16).
11. The electrical connector (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the insulation casing (19) has holding elements (37) for a mounting rail attachment that are secured in one piece to the insulation casing (19).
12. The electrical connector (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the insulation casing (19) has holding elements (37) for a mounting rail attachment that can be secured to the insulation casing (19) after the fact, in particularly detachably, preferably by means of grooves, wedge guides or snap-on attachments.

Images