EP1131860A1

EP1131860A1 - Contacting device for a flat band cable

Info

Publication number: EP1131860A1
Application number: EP00962507A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christian Gossmann
Original assignee: Woertz AG
Current assignee: Woertz AG
Priority date: 1999-09-20
Filing date: 2000-09-19
Publication date: 2001-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-19
Also published as: WO2001022534A1; JP2003510995A; US6551124B1; ATE397307T1; DE50015182D1; EP1131860B1; JP4138315B2

Abstract

The invention relates a contacting device (2) offering a high degree of protection, especially protection level EP 67, comprising an extremely simple sealing system whereby the upper part (4) of a housing is provided with a sealing rib (24) which cooperates with asealing element (6). In order to produce a tight seal, said sealing rib (24) preferably surrounds a contact region (22) and is pressed in an assembled state into a preferably plate-shaped sealing element (6). When contact with the conductor (12) of the flat band cable (10) occurs, a contacting element (18), for example a contact screw (20), penetrates the sealing element (6) and thereby displaces sealing material additionally contributing to the tightness of said seal. Preferably, the contacting device (2) is preferably an adapter (66) for a field bus-system or is a "heavy rectangular plug-in connector".

Description

Contacting device for a ribbon cable

The invention relates to a contacting device for a ribbon cable with a housing upper part comprising a number of contacting elements and with a housing lower part between which the ribbon cable can be passed, wherein a sealing element is provided which seals the housing upper part against this when the ribbon cable is installed.

10

11 ribbon cables are used in many areas, for example in the

12 building technology, in the automotive sector, or in industrial control and

13 Automation technology. They are used both for electrical power supply M in the low voltage range, e.g. for a vehicle electrical system, as well as in

15 the usual voltage range of a few 100V for building installation

16 sets. The ribbon cables have several electrical

17 look up conductors, some of them for energy supply and some as commun

18 nication lines can be used.

19

20 Especially in building technology as well as in industrial control and

21 Automation technology is often desired, electrical devices spatially

22 can be flexibly arranged and connected without the need for complex installation cables

23 relocate. For this purpose, a space

24 laid ribbon cable, via which the electrical as well as the communication

25 supply of the devices to be connected is provided. Via contact

26 devices can attach these to the ribbon cable at any point in the room

27 be closed. Both the power supply and the communication of the devices with each other or with one is thus via the ribbon cable

29 headquarters provided. A bus system (fieldbus) is preferably provided for this purpose.

30 hen. The bus system can be designed as a power bus and / or as a data bus

31. In this case, the contacting device is designed as a bus adapter,

32 via which the devices can be connected to the bus system. Such as bus System-designed electrical installation system is known from EP 0 665 608 A2.

4 The contacting device is primarily intended for those applications in which the conductors of a conventional round cable are to be contacted with those of an e flat ribbon cable. A known technique for contact

7 tion is the so-called penetration contact, in which contact pins the β sheath of the ribbon cable and the insulation of the conductors to be contacted

9 penetrate. The contact area must be protected against the ingress of dirt and water for safe and permanent contact. Different degrees of protection are defined by 1 the European standard EN 60 529. 2 The degree of protection IP 67 should be sought for the contacting device. 3 4 DE 196 18 998 C1 discloses a contacting device of the type mentioned at the beginning. To achieve a high degree of protection, a sealing element is provided between the 6 ribbon cable and the upper part of the housing. 7 This essentially consists of interconnected O-rings. The 8 contact pins or contacting elements are passed through the openings of the O- 9 rings and penetrate the ribbon cable. The sealing element also has an elevation in the form of a tongue on its outer edge, which engages in a correspondingly shaped groove in the upper part of the housing. The seal between the flat ribbon cable and the sealing element is obtained via the O-rings and the seal between the 4 sealing element and the upper part of the housing is obtained via the tongue and groove design. A disadvantage of this embodiment is the complex design of the sealing element and that it has to be fitted into the groove of the upper housing part. The object of the present invention is to provide a contacting device with a simply designed sealing system which ensures a high degree of protection. 1 The object is achieved according to the invention with the features of the patent

2 say 1. Then a sealing web is provided on the upper part of the housing, which with the

3 sealing element interacts. The seal between the sealing element and

4 The upper housing part is made in such a way that the sealing element is pressed against the sealing web during assembly s. This ensures a secure seal. At the same time, there is no need for complex tongue and groove

7 design, since the sealing element need not have any groove β in the area of the sealing web.

In a preferred embodiment, the sealing web is molded directly onto the upper housing part. It is therefore an integral part of the upper housing part 2, which is designed in particular as an injection molded part. This facilitates its 3 manufacture. 4 5 In order to achieve the greatest possible tightness, the sealing web is arranged in an advantageous configuration around a contact area in which the contacting elements are located. 8 9 The sealing web preferably tapers towards the sealing element, so that the sealing web presses into the sealing element in the assembled state and a high seal is achieved. For example, the sealing web is triangular in cross section. 3 4 For a simple configuration of the sealing element, this is preferably 5 flat. The sealing element is thus a flat seal and, for example, a rubber band. The sealing element is preferably predominantly continuous, so 9 has no recesses, particularly in the area of the contacting elements. This applies at least to the unmounted state. This has the advantage of an extremely simple design of the sealing element. 2 1 The continuous sealing element also favors a secure seal

2 between the sealing element and ribbon cable, if that during assembly

3 contacting element is passed through the sealing element. there

4 displaces the contacting element sealing material, which on the one hand clings tightly around the contacting element and on the other hand forms a small bead on the underside of the sealing element towards the ribbon cable,

7 which has the effect of an O-ring. In preferred embodiments, the contacting elements are β through the sealing element in the assembled state

9 guided, which lies sealingly against the contacting elements. The contacting elements are preferably guided through the sealing element in such a way that the sealing material displaced by the contacting elements in each case forms a bead 3 which runs around the respective contacting element and serves to seal the ribbon cable to the respective contacting elements. This seal can be achieved independently of the seal obtained via the 5 sealing web. 6 7 The contacting elements preferably have screws for screwing s into the flat cable. The contact to the conductors of the ribbon cable is made 9 via the screws. Compared to simply designed contact pins, the screws have the advantage that they can exert greater forces. They are therefore particularly suitable for relatively strong flat ribbon cables. The screws can also be used to set the penetration depth 3 in the ribbon cable.

For quick and easy installation, the lower housing part 6 preferably has a guide rail into which the upper housing part can be inserted by means of a guide element. For this purpose, the guide rail is designed, for example, as a simple profile rail. 9

The guide rail and guide element preferably cooperate in the manner of a hinge. For this purpose, a game is preferably set between the guide rail and the guide element in such a way that the 1 two housing parts by one from the guide rail and the guide element

2 ment formed pivot axis is possible. This enables easy

3 Assembly of the ribbon cable, as this in the two opened housing

4 parts are inserted, which are then closed. The two housings

5 set parts are joined together in a suitable manner on the side opposite the guide rail, for example screwed.

7 β In a preferred embodiment, the upper housing part is part of a plug-in

9 connector, in particular part of a rectangular connector. The

10 upper housing part has in particular contact sockets for receiving

11 contact plugs. These are attached to a connector housing, which

12 is attached to the upper part of the housing. It is particularly advantageous if

13 housing upper part and connector housing also have sealing agents, also for

14 the connector to achieve protection class IP67. Such connectors

15 are so-called heavy rectangular connectors, particularly in the field

16 of industrial control and automation technology.

17 is To use the contacting device in a fieldbus system, with

19 for example in a power bus and / or in a data bus system.

20 possible, the contacting device is preferably a fieldbus adapter

21 trained. Via the adapter, bus participants are connected to the bus line of the

22 ribbon cables forming fieldbuses can be connected.

23

24 In an expedient embodiment, the device comprises a control unit

25 unit, via which the device coupled to the fieldbus can be controlled. For this purpose, the control unit has in particular a display and an operating element.

27 This has the main advantage that usually in central control cabinets

28 ken arranged functions directly in the area of the electrical

29 machines are arranged. This increases user friendliness and

30 makes troubleshooting easier, since complex control cabinets are largely eliminated.

31 len can. 1 In a particularly useful embodiment, the adapter has an adapter

2 lower part and an adapter upper part, the latter on the adapter lower part

3 is attachable. The lower part of the adapter carries in particular the contacting

4 mechanisms, i.e. the contact pins, for making contact with the ribbon cable. The upper part of the adapter contains in particular the electronics of the adapter, for example the electronics of the control unit. Adapter upper part and lower part are

7 connected to each other in the manner of a connector. This has the decisive advantage that the adapter upper part carrying the electronics is simpler

9 way can be plugged on and is therefore also easy to replace. This

10 enables the adapter to be used for different requirements in a simple manner.

11 by replacing the upper part of the adapter. Also for troubleshooting

12 adapter upper part is preferably replaced in a simple manner.

13

14 A plug connection is preferably integrated in the upper housing part. The is plug connection is here, for example, as a connection for a communication line to a communication device or as a connection for energy supply

17 designed for an electrical consumer. The plug connection is preferred

18 as a connection for a printed circuit board connector. The inte-

19 of the plug connection in the upper part of the housing has

20 binder has the advantage that the plug connection is arranged internally in the upper part of the housing.

21 net is, so that sealing measures, as with a connector

22 are necessary, not necessary.

23

24 embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawing

25 explained in more detail. They each show a schematic representation

26

2 is an exploded view of a contacting device,

2β Fig. 2 shows a section through a contacting device in the assembled Zu-

29 stood, and

30 Fig. 3 u. 4 each an upper housing part in a perspective top view.

31 FIG. 5 a contacting device designed as a bus adapter

32 1 In the individual figures, parts with the same function have the same reference numerals

2 provided.

4 According to FIG. 1, the contacting device 2 comprises an upper housing part 4, a sealing element 6 and a lower housing part 8. Between the lower housing part 8 e and the sealing element 6 there is a ribbon cable 10 with a number of conductors 12

7 inserted.

8th

9 The upper housing part 4 has a connection 14 for a round cable. The 0 round cable is inserted into the interior 16 of the upper housing part, where its 1 conductor is connected to contacting elements 18 (cf. FIGS. 3 and 2 4). In Fig. 1 only contact pins or contact screws 20 of the individual 3 contacting elements 18 can be seen. The contact screws 20 have a contact tip 21 on the end 4 and penetrate the bottom 23 of the housing upper part 4 in a contact area 22. The contact area 22 is completely surrounded by a sealing web 24. The sealing web 24, also referred to as a sealing rib, thus forms a circumferential elevation on the outside of the base 23 facing the sealing element 6. The upper housing part 4 also has two side webs 26 on its underside, which have a longitudinal recess 28 for form the 0 recording of the ribbon cable 10. The left side web 26 is designed as 1 guide element 30. The right side web 26 has two bores 2, through which screws (not shown) are guided and screwed into corresponding threaded bores 34 in the lower housing part 8 in order to fasten the two 4 housing parts 4, 8 together. 5 6 In addition to the threaded bores 34, the lower housing part 8 has two further fastening bores 36 with which the lower housing part 8 can be fastened, for example 8, to a wall. Furthermore, the lower housing part 8 9 comprises a guide rail 38 corresponding to the guide element 30 and two positioning webs 40 for precise lateral positioning of the flat ribbon cable 10. Only one of the two positioning webs 40 can be seen in FIG. 1. The 2 lower housing part 8 is preferably made of metal for the best possible stability, in particular made of light metal, for example aluminum. The upper housing part 4 is preferably a plastic injection molded part, the sealing web 24 being an integral part of the upper housing part 4. The sealing web 24 forms a structural unit with the upper housing part 4.

The sealing element 6 is preferably designed as a rubber seal and designed as a flat, flat rubber band. It preferably has no elevations, depressions or recesses and holes. Positioning holes are preferably provided only for its positioning on the bottom 23, into which positioning pins attached to the bottom 23 engage (not shown).

The procedure for contacting the conductors 12 of the ribbon cable 10 is as follows: The sealing element 6 is inserted in the bottom 23 of the upper housing part 4 and covers the contact area 22. The contact screws 20 protrude only slightly or not at all from the bottom 23 at this time. The sealing element 6 is preferably held in a recess in the base 23 via suitable holding elements, for example the positioning pins mentioned. The upper housing part 4 is then inserted with its guide element 30 into the guide rail 38 of the lower housing part 8. The guide element 30 and the guide rail 38 are designed such that the two housing parts 4, 8 can be rotated or tilted relative to one another. To insert the ribbon cable 10 between the positioning webs 40, the two housing parts 4, 8 are folded apart. After insertion, the upper housing part 4 is fastened to the lower housing part 8 by means of screws. For contacting, the contact screws 20 are now screwed into the ribbon cable 10 until the contact tips 21 contact the respective conductors 12.

In the contacting device 2 shown in FIG. 2, for reasons of clarity, the distances between the individual elements are shown to be larger than the distances actually occurring. According to FIG. 2, the sealing web 24 is triangular in section, that is, it tapers in the direction of the sealing element 6. During assembly, the tip presses into the 1 device 6 and securely seals the upper housing part 4, so that neither

2 dirt still moisture can get to the contact screw 20 shown.

3

4 The contacting screw 20 has a thread 42 with which it can be screwed into a threaded element of the housing part 4, for example a threaded insert 44. The threaded insert 44 is in particular made of a conductive material

7 and conductively connected to an associated conductor of the round cable. In the

₈ assembly the contacting screw 20 through the sealing element 6

9 performed. Sealing material is displaced. Due to the elasticity of the

10 sealing material presses it into the threads and thus causes

11 a seal. In addition, that which is displaced by the contacting screw 20

12 material at least partially taken outwards and forms around the contact

13 tation screw 20 around a bead 46. This bead 46 acts approximately like an H sealing ring. When assembled, the bead 46 is generally complete

15 pressed together and closes flat with the underside of the sealing element 6

16 from.

17 ιβ The positioning webs 40 are conically shaped in order to easily insert the

19 ribbon cable 10 to enable and at the same time the exact lateral position

20 guarantee.

21

22 In Fig. 2 is an exemplary shape of the guide rail 38 and

23 of the guide element 30. Thereafter, the guide rail 38 in the

24 seen cut bent and forms an overhang or undercut 48, the

25 holds the guide member 30 in the vertical position. For fixation in the horizontal position, the guide element 30 is arranged between the guide rail 38 27 and the one positioning web 40. By a tilting movement of the second housing upper part 4 relative to the lower housing part 8 by a pivot axis

To enable 29 se 50 is between the bend forming the undercut 48

30 and the guide element 30 provided sufficient play. For this purpose,

31 the bend runs horizontally on its upper side, while the guide element

32 ment 30 is formed obliquely to this top. The leadership Rail 38 also has a stop 52 which limits the tilt angle. When the upper housing part 40 is opened, the upper housing part 4 comes to rest with a counter stop 54 on the stop 52. The pivoting movement about the pivot axis 50 is indicated by the arrow 56.

According to FIG. 3, a plurality of contacting elements 18 in the form of connecting terminals are provided in the interior 16 of the upper housing part 4. These each have a receptacle 58 for the contacting screws 20 and a clamping area 60 for connecting a conductor of the round cable inserted via the connection 14. The clamping area 60 is arranged on the side of the contacting element 18 facing away from the connection 14. The conductors introduced via the connection 14 are fastened in the clamping area 60, which is conductively connected to the contact screws 20. Four fastening positions 62 are provided on the upper housing part 4 for fastening a housing cover.

An alternative embodiment of the upper housing part 4 is shown in FIG. 4, according to which the contacting elements 18 are designed as contact sockets for receiving contact plugs. In the exemplary embodiment, four contacting elements 18 are shown as examples. The contact plugs are preferably attached in a plug housing (also not shown in the figure) (also referred to as mating plug), which can be fastened to the upper housing part 4 via locking pins 64. The upper housing part 4 forms a plug connector with the plug housing. A locking bracket of the plug housing engages in the locking pin 64 in order to firmly connect the plug housing to the upper part of the housing. In order to achieve a tightness according to IP67 on the contact surface between the upper part of the housing and the connector housing, a seal is arranged between the two housing parts. The tightness is achieved as soon as the connector housing is pressed onto the upper housing part by means of the locking mechanism, which consists of the locking pin 64 and the associated locking bracket. Such connectors are used, for example, in the automotive sector and in particular in industrial control and Automation technology used where they are known as so-called "heavy rectangular connectors". The upper housing part 4 is therefore designed such that it is compatible with the connector housings of such heavy rectangular connectors usually used in control and automation technology.

5, the contacting device configured as a bus adapter 66 has an adapter lower part 68 and an adapter upper part 70. The adapter 66 serves in particular as an interface between bus users of a fieldbus system and the fieldbus system. The bus participants, for example electrical devices / machines and communication devices, are connected via the adapter to the ribbon cable forming the bus line.

In the adapter 66, the adapter part 70 can in particular be plugged onto the lower adapter part 68 like a plug connector. An intermediate seal 72 is provided between the two adapter parts 68, 70 to ensure the degree of protection IP67. The lower adapter part 68 comprises the contacting mechanism via which the adapter 66 is connected to the ribbon cable. The ribbon cable is passed through a slot 73 through the adapter 66.

A control unit 74 is integrated into the adapter upper part 70, which has operating elements 76 and a display element 78. The adapter 66 further comprises two plug connections as integral components. This is an energy connection 80, via which the energy provided via the ribbon cable is made available to an electrical consumer, for example a motor. A communication connector 82 is provided as a further plug connection, via which a communication or data processing device can be connected to the ribbon cable. The communication connection 82 is designed, for example, as a connection for a printed circuit board connector.

Such an adapter 66 is suitable for decentralized control of machines and components in the fieldbus system. This can be installing device can be connected to the ribbon cable at any point largely independent of location. The adapter 66 therefore enables the construction of a decentralized bus system.

The adapter upper part 70 can be replaced in a simple manner by plugging onto the adapter lower part. The upper adapter part 70 and the lower adapter part 68 are accordingly designed in the manner of a connector, the mating connector or the connector housing of such a connector already being an integral part of the adapter 66. Depending on the device to be connected, the adapter upper part 70 is designed differently. The adapter 66 is thus modular, in particular in the form of a modular system. This allows simple and quick adaptation to the requirements on site.

In the contacting device 2, ie also in the adapter 66, the arrangement of the sealing web 24 ensures a very simple and at the same time very efficient arrangement for sealing the entire contacting elements from the environment. In particular, this enables the use of a flat and continuous sealing plate as the sealing element 6. While the secure seal between the sealing element 6 and the upper housing part 4 is determined by the sealing web 24, it is decisive for the sealing between the sealing element 6 and the flat strip 10 that sealing material is displaced by the contacting screw 20, which materially contributes to the seal. With this configuration, a secure seal is ensured with simple means, and a high degree of protection, in particular the degree of protection IP 67, is achieved.

Claims

5

6 claims

7 β 1. Contacting device (2) for a ribbon cable (10) with a housing part (4) comprising a number of 9 contacting elements (18) and with a housing lower part (8) between which the ribbon cable can be passed, whereby a sealing element ( 6) is provided which seals the upper housing part (4) against the latter when the ribbon cable (10) is mounted, characterized in that a sealing web (24) is provided on the upper housing part (8), which interacts with the sealing element (6). 6

2. Device (2) according to claim 1, 8 characterized in that the sealing web (24) is integrally formed on the upper housing part (4).

1 3. Device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, 2, 3 characterized in that the contacting elements (18) are arranged in a contacting area (22) 4, and the sealing web (24) around the contacting area (22) 5 is arranged circumferentially , 6 7 4. Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, β characterized in 9 that the sealing web (24) tapers. 0 1 5. Device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, 2 characterized in 3 that the sealing element (6) is flat. 1

2 6. Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims,

₃ characterized in

4 that the sealing element (6) is free of recesses in the area of the contacting elements (18).

6

7 7. Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, β characterized in that the contacting elements (18) are guided through the sealing element (6) in the assembled state, and that this is on the contacting elements (18) in each case fits tightly. 2 3 8. Device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, 4 characterized in that, in the assembled state, the contacting elements (18) are guided through the 6 sealing element (6) in such a way that the contacting elements (18) displace them Sealing material of the sealing element (6) 8 each forms a bead (46) 9 which runs around the respective contacting element (18) and serves to seal the ribbon cable to the respective contacting element (18). 1 2 9. Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, 3 characterized in 4 that the contacting elements (18) have contact screws (20) for screwing into the flat ribbon cable (10). 6 7 10. Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, β characterized in 9 that the lower housing part (8) has a guide rail (38) into which the upper housing part (4) can be inserted by means of a guide element (30). 1 2 11. Device (2) according to claim 10, 3 characterized in that a play is set between the guide rail (38) and the guide element (30) such that the two housing parts (4, 8) can be opened about a pivot axis (50) formed by the guide rail (38) and the guide element (30) is.

12. The device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper housing part (4) is part of a connector, in particular a rectangular connector.

13. Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed as a bus adapter (66) for a bus system.

14. The device (2) according to claim 13, characterized in that the adapter (66) comprises a control unit (74).

15. The device (2) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the adapter (66) has an adapter lower part (68) and an adapter upper part (70) which can be plugged onto the adapter lower part (68).

16. The device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plug connection (80, 82) is integrated.