EP0841723B1 - Cable connector and two-part connection comprising such connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The in-line electrical connector has two main parts in the form of a plug Ä3Ü and a socket Ä4Ü both of which have moulded sleeves Ä7,8Ü that are formed around grooves in the plug and socket bodies and so resist axial force. The pins of the plug are formed as metal pressings Ä10Ü and latch into axial holes. The socket contact bushes are also formed as pressings that fit into axial holes. The socket has a pair of finger pressure clamping elements Ä19Ü that engage lugs on the plug to resist axial force.

Description

The invention relates to a single or multi-pole, against Splash-proof cable connector for electrical Connect cable ends, especially as one part a two-part coupling with an element for strain relief and with one the pins or sockets supporting housing according to the preamble of claim 1. Preferably there is Housing made from a one-piece molded plastic part.

The cable connector is especially for voltages up to 250 volts and designed for currents up to 10 amps. He is especially for use within devices with tightly packed internals and little free space Volume, for example within gas heaters.

Difficulties often arise when laying cables when the cables with their plugs through narrow openings to be passed through. The aim is therefore one outside cross-section of the cable connector as small as possible. at however, the fulfillment of this requirement is triggered Limits, on the one hand, due to the electrical requirements according to the VDE norms for heavy current up to 250 Volt voltage and 10 ampere current as well as by the necessary Strain relief and an often necessary protection of the Cable connector and the couplings made with it Splash water are specified.

In particular the strain relief, which damage the Connection between plug and cable when not Prevent permitted pulling on the cable itself instead of the plug should lead to relatively large cross sections of the Plug. So there are known from the prior art Elements for strain relief from screwable clamps. To protect against splash water, it is also known that To connect the cable connector to each other by screwing, with one or more O-rings in the housing for sealing insert the plug. In addition to the disadvantageous large External cross section is a relative in both cases high assembly effort required. Another disadvantage the plug known from the prior art consists in the variety of items that make up the connector have to be manufactured costly and time-consuming.

The invention is therefore based on the object inexpensive to produce, only little assembly effort the installation of the cables against splash water protected and for voltages up to 250 volts as well Currents up to 10 amps rated cable connector with a to develop an extremely small external cross-section.

This task is the beginning of a cable connector Art solved by the features of claim 1.

The strain relief element becomes cohesive due to the injection molding with both the housing and the cable connected. The manufacture of the strain relief element requires only a single step and requires no high quality items. By appropriate shaping can be achieved that the invention Strain relief element no larger external cross section than has the housing. In contrast to the state of the art also fulfills the strain relief element according to the invention the further function of an absolutely watertight splash protection in the area of the cable exit from the housing.

Both the housing and the sleeve are made made of polyamide. When molding the strain relief element the sleeve is attached to both the housing and the Exterior insulation usually made of PVC Cable welded properly, so that one pronounced stable material connection and an absolute Watertightness is achieved in this area.

Furthermore, the sleeve consists of a Pressures of at most 20 bar sprayable plastic, thus special expenses to avoid Damage to the connector due to increased spray pressures is not necessary are.

It has proven to be advantageous if the on Cable adjacent sleeve length, i.e. the overmolded cable length, 16 to 30 mm.

It is also at the cable end of the housing adjacent sleeve length, i.e. the overmolded length of the Housing, preferably 8 to 12 mm.

Receives particularly effective strain relief protection one, in addition to the cohesive connection of the molded sleeve with a positive cohesion the housing is provided. Therefore, in another Embodiment of the invention proposed that the cable side End of the housing recesses on its outside, in particular at least one transverse to the cable direction circumferential groove.

Increased security against the slipping The fitter's finger gripping the plug is reached if at least part of the outside of the sleeve is transverse to the Cable direction is profiled. One grip area forming profiles also give a visual indication that the connector at this point and not on the cable itself is to be seized.

Preferably the sleeve is substantially the same Outside diameter as the housing, so that the invention Overall cable connector just the minimum achievable Has outer diameter when the poles, so the pins and Connection sockets, just the prescribed minimum distances to have.

The invention also relates to a two-part clutch according to the mentioned cable connectors according to the invention claim 7.

To protect against the ingress of splash water into the the coupling produced according to the invention it is proposed that the housing of the pins carrying cable connector on its facing away from the cable Is pot-shaped end that a sealing ring, especially a rubber O-ring on which inner edge between the bottom of the pot and the jacket of the pot and that the housing of the connector sockets Cable connector a contact surface for the sealing ring having.

A quick and easy to manufacture, against splash water protected coupling from the invention Cable plugs are connected by at least one with each other connected cable connectors snapping in one piece with the Interlocking connected housing achieved that particular is solvable.

The lock stands for the demand for one if possible small outer cross-section of the housing, if the locking device consists of a flat, parallel to the Aligned outside of the housing and a corresponding There is a latch.

A simple snap and release of the lock will reached when there is a push button at the cable end of the eyelet is molded and eyelet and push button by means of a web between them with the outside of the Housing are connected.

With the cable connectors according to the invention, one can Plug system with different number of poles and additional different coding if grooves or Feathers on the bottom and / or on the inside of the jacket Pot-shaped housing and the one plugged into it Condition of the surfaces of the other housing to prevent an incorrect coupling connection is provided are. In addition, the tongue and groove system also Protection against twisting of the complementary connector reached.

Another advantage is achieved if the grooves or Feather up to the opening edge of the pot and up to coupling-side end face of the connection sockets extend supporting housing. Only with suitable in the correct rotational position of the cable connectors can the male coupling part in the cup-shaped Insert housing. With an incorrect rotational position of the two coupling parts or if they do not belong together Coupling parts will be put together before Insert blocked, so that the corresponding deep in Pot-shaped housing arranged pins even with a violent attempt will not be bent.

No further help against plugging together related coupling parts is distinguished by a different Coloring achieved for the housing types.

Figur 1

einen Längsschnitt durch einen erfindungsgemäßen Kabelstecker mit Anschlußstiften,

Figur 2

einen Längsschnitt durch einen erfindungsgemäßen, dazu passenden Kabelstecker mit Anschlußbuchsen,

Figur 3

eine Übersicht über die aus den Steckern nach den Figuren 1 und 2 zusammengesetzte zweiteilige Kupplung, teilweise im Längsschnitt,

Figur 4

die steckseitige Ansicht auf den die Stifte tragenden Kabelstecker nach Figur 1,

Figur 5

die entsprechende Ansicht des die Buchsen tragenden Kabelsteckers nach Figur 2,

Figur 6

eine Ansicht entsprechend Figur 4 eines zweiten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsbeispiels,

Figur 7

eine Ansicht entsprechend Figur 5 des zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels,

Figur 8 u. 9

die steckseitigen Ansichten entsprechend den Figuren 6 und 7 für eine zweiteilige Kupplung in einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to drawings. Show it

Figure 1

2 shows a longitudinal section through a cable plug according to the invention with connecting pins,

Figure 2

2 shows a longitudinal section through a matching cable plug with connection sockets according to the invention,

Figure 3

1 shows an overview of the two-part coupling composed of the plugs according to FIGS. 1 and 2, partly in longitudinal section,

Figure 4

the plug-side view of the cable connector carrying the pins according to Figure 1,

Figure 5

the corresponding view of the cable connector carrying the sockets according to Figure 2,

Figure 6

4 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 4 of a second exemplary embodiment according to the invention,

Figure 7

5 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 5 of the second exemplary embodiment,

Figure 8 u. 9

the plug-in views corresponding to Figures 6 and 7 for a two-part coupling in a third embodiment.

The same reference numbers have been used in all drawings same meaning and will therefore only be used once explained.

The two-part, from the plugs according to Figures 1 and 2 composite coupling according to Figure 3 consists of two Cable 1, 2 connected cable connector 3, 4. Each of the Both cable plugs are made entirely of polyamide existing injection molded cylindrical housing 5, 6 and a molded one, also made of polyamide Part, the sleeve 7, 8 built. The sleeve consists of a when pressing a maximum of 20 bar sprayable plastic. The pens are with the Reference numeral 9, the sockets designated 10.

At the cable end there are two in each of the housings 5, 6 parallel circumferential grooves 11, 12 are formed. As Injection molded sleeve extends over both these grooves 11, 12 and also from the housing 5, 6 emerging cables 1, 2. The molded sleeves 7, 8 are massive and have no voids. The overmolded Cable length is 30 mm. The molded end of the case has a length of just under 10 mm. On the cable side End of the cylindrical sleeves 7, 8 are transverse to the cable direction extending profiles 13, 14 attached, the serve as a handle and release the two-part Lighten the coupling according to Figure 3.

For splash water protection on the plug-in part of the cable connector or the two-part clutch is an O-ring 15 in a circular groove of the connector pins Cup-shaped cable connector inserted, the circular groove: the inner edge between the bottom of the pot and the jacket of the pot forms. When connecting the associated cable plugs 3, 4 is the plug end 16 of the socket connector on this O-ring 15.

The connection of the two protected against splash water Cable connector 3, 4 is secured by a lock, which consists of two eyelets 17 and two locking lugs 18 which in the corresponding eyelets can engage, as shown in Figure 1 is shown. This creates a firm and lasting connection of the two connectors reached. Towards the cable side the eyelets 17 are extended so that they are in one Pushbutton 19 leak on its outside are profiled. The width of the sleeves 17 with their push buttons 19 is about a third of theirs from the Drawings total length. Between the sleeve 17 and the push buttons 19 extends a connecting web 20, with which the eyelets and push buttons on the housing 6 are attached. It should be pointed out again that preferably the entire housing with the eyelets 17, Pushbuttons 19 and the connecting web 20 as one piece Plastic injection molded part is made.

To release the lock, push buttons 19 pressed so that the eyelets 17 radially outward move and release the locking lugs 18 from the eyelets 17.

To have the smallest possible external cross-section of the entire to reach two-part cable connection, the jumps cable-side outer surface of the housing 5 back, so that a circumferential shoulder 21 is formed.

On the end face 16 and the pot base 22 are each one web-like or grooved three-beam star 23, 24 attached, both of which work together according to the tongue and groove principle (Figures 4 and 5). They have two functions. To the one limit the between the pins 9 or Bushings 10 possibly occurring leakage currents. To the prevent others in cooperation with one parallel to the outer or inner lateral surface Groove 25 or spring 26 the coupling of mismatched cable connectors and the coupling of Cable connectors that undesirably oppose each other are twisted.

The tongue and groove system of stars 23, 24 in conjunction with the groove 25 and the spring 26 enables the construction of a multipole coupling system with a security against a wrong connection. Two more examples of this Plug system are shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, 9. A variety of other designs are possible. to Coding is also provided that only the one another matching cable connectors have the same housing color.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

electric wire

2

electric wire

3

cable connector

4

cable connector

5

casing

6

casing

7

shell

8th

shell

9

pen

10

Rifle

11

groove

12

groove

13

profiling

14

profiling

15

O-ring

16

front

17

eyelet

18

locking lug

19

pushbutton

20

connecting web

21

shoulder

22

pot base

23

Star (feather)

24

Star (groove)

25

groove

26

feather

Claims (12)

1. Single-pin or multi-pin splashproof cable connector (3, 4) for the electrical connection of cable ends, in particular as one part of a two-part coupling, comprising a cable grip element (7, 8) and a shell (5, 6) carrying the connection pins (9) or connection sockets (10), wherein the cable grip element is formed as an integral sleeve (7, 8) consisting of plastics material and injection-moulded on the cable end of the shell (5, 6) and on the cable outlet from the shell (5, 6) and wherein the shell (5, 6) consists of polyamide, characterised in that the sleeve (7, 8) consists of a polyamide which can be injection-moulded at pressures of at most 20 bar.
2. Cable connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the length of sleeve contacting the cable (1, 2) is 16 to 30 mm.
3. Cable connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the length of sleeve contacting the cable end of the shell (5, 6) is 8 to 12 mm.
4. Cable connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cable end of the shell (5, 6) has recesses on its exterior, in particular at least one circumferential groove (11, 12) transverse to the cable direction.
5. Cable connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least a part of the exterior of the sleeve (7, 8) is profiled transversely to the cable direction.
6. Cable connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sleeve (7, 8) has substantially the same external diameter as the shell (5, 6).
7. Two-part coupling with cable connectors according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the shell (5) of the cable connector (3) carrying the connection pins (9) is pot-shaped at its end remote from the cable (1), in that a ring seal, in particular an O-ring (15) made of rubber, nests on the inner edge between pot base (22) and pot wall and in that the shell (6) of the cable connector (4) carrying the connection sockets (10) has a contact face (16) for the ring seal (15).
8. Coupling according to the preceding claim, characterised by at least one catch (17, 18) which latches when the cable connectors (3, 4) are joined together, is integral with the shells (5, 6) and is, in particular, releasable.
9. Coupling according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the catch consists of a plane eye (17) oriented parallel to the exterior of the shell (6) and a corresponding latching projection (18).
10. Coupling according to the preceding claim, characterised in that a pressure-operated key (19) is moulded on the cable end of the eye (17) and the eye (17) and the pressure-operated key (19) are connected to the exterior of the shell (6) by a bridge (20) located therebetween.
11. Coupling according to any of claims 7 to 10, characterised by grooves (24, 25) and tongues (23, 26) on the base (22) and/or on the inside wall of the pot-shaped shell (5) and on the faces of the other shell (6), which make contact once assembled, to prevent defective coupling.
12. Coupling according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the grooves (25) and tongues (26) extend to the rim of the pot and to the coupling-end face (16) of the shell (6) carrying the connection sockets (10).

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