EP1289074B1 - Socket for a trash protected connector and such connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The protective seal (26) is moved between two positions. In the covering position it closes the contact chamber externally, making a flush seal at the socket surface. In the contacting position, access to the socket contacts is enabled. The seal is moved between these positions by inserting the complementary plug (10).

Description

The invention relates to a socket for a connector, with a Socket housing having a contact chamber in which a plurality Socket contacts are arranged, wherein a protective seal is provided, the between a covering position in which it substantially contacts the contact chamber flush outside closes, and a contact position is adjustable, in the one Access to the socket contacts is possible, with the protective seal of a complementary plug from the covering position in the contact position can be transferred.

Such a socket is known from EP-A-0 615 312. The protective seal is attached to a plate in an initial position in front of the contacts is located and can be moved by a mating connector so back that the contacts are accessible. The protective seal faces the contacts each having a slot through which the corresponding contact pass can, if the plate is moved from the mating connector to the rear.

From DE-A-198 09 801 a socket for a plug connection is known, which is intended in particular in motor vehicles, for example in Area of doors or floor to be used. To the penetration of To prevent dirt in the socket, a stamp is provided inside the sleeve is slidably mounted and the contact chamber of the socket closes when the plug is not plugged in.

The invention is based on the object, a socket of the above Such a way that improved protection against the Ingress of contamination is guaranteed, so that the connector can also be used in the floor area of a motor vehicle, the Pollution is particularly exposed.

For this purpose, it is provided in the socket according to the invention that the Protective seal is attached to a stamp, which is displaceable in the socket housing is attached, and that the punch facing on its the plug End face is provided with a depression that the protective gasket over the Front side of the punch extends and in the covering to the outside over the Side surfaces of the stamp protrudes and that the protective seal, if they pressed by the plug into the recess, to the side surfaces of the Plunger applies, so that they are pushed into the contact chamber can, without the protective gasket contacts the socket contacts. The protective seal reliably prevents soiling in the contact chamber invade while maintaining a simple and secure connection between the plug and the socket is possible. Collect any dirt Do not over the contact chamber, since the protective seal the outside of the Covering contact chamber flush. In addition, possible dirt be easily removed. By attaching the protective seal to the stamp ensures that when inserting the plug into the socket the Protective seal pushed together with the punch in the socket can be. The socket contacts are released only as far as the Plug is inserted into the socket housing. This leaves the sealing function for the part of the socket housing which is not yet loaded by the plug, continue to receive. Due to the depression in the stamp, the Protective seal when plugging the plug so automatically in their Contact position back, so that the plug sunk in the contact chamber can be without rubbing the protective seal on the edge of the contact chamber and soiling, which could adhere to the protective gasket, at the edge of the Contact chamber are stripped and in this way in the contact chamber can get into it.

In a preferred embodiment, the protective seal is located at the edge of Opening the contact chamber, wherein the edge is made chamfered. This leads to an automatic centering of the protective gasket to its optimum Position. In addition, pressure exerted on the outside of the protective seal is, that it applies more to the beveled edge, what the Sealing automatically improved.

If the protective seal is made of an elastic material, a achieved particularly good sealing function, since then the protective gasket to the good Can nestle the opening of the contact chamber.

Preferably, the stamp is provided with a circumferential groove into which a engages formed on the protective seal sealing skirt. In this way The elastic protective seal can be attached to the stamp with minimal effort become.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the socket contacts against the Edge of the female housing, which faces the plug, are reset. This ensures that the socket contacts are not contaminated can be contaminated, which may adhere to the protective gasket.

In a connector according to the invention are a socket and a Plug provided, which has a connector housing, in which several Plug contacts are arranged, it being provided that the plug on Protection visor is mounted between a cover position in which it Plug contacts covers, and a contact position is adjustable, in the one Access to the plug contacts is possible, with the protective visor when Plugged into the socket from the covering position transferred to the contact position can be. The protection visor prevents mechanical damage or a pollution. This is important if the plug is connected to a Vehicle seat is attached, which can be removed from the vehicle. The protection visor prevents pushed the plug contacts when handling the removed vehicle seat or otherwise damaged, as this is rebuilt Vehicle seat a reliable contact of the mounted in the vehicle floor Could prevent socket.

It is particularly advantageous if the plug has a plug-in section has, on which the plug contacts are exposed and plugged into the socket can be, and the protective visor surrounds the insertion on all sides. It is further particularly advantageous if the protective visor on his the front end of the insertion portion associated with an apron, by means of the plug contacts when plugged into the socket inside be pressed so that they are not the edge of the contact chamber of the plug touch. This prevents soiling on the edge of the Contact chamber of the socket are received by the plug contacts and carried into the contact chamber.

• Figur 1 eine Explosionsansicht des Steckers;
• Figur 2 eine Explosionsansicht der Buchse;
• Figur 3 eine Querschnittsansicht durch den Stecker von Figur 1;
• Figur 4 eine Querschnittsansicht durch die Buchse von Figur 2;
• Figur 5 eine perspektivische Schnittansicht des Steckers von Figur 1;
• Figur 6 eine perspektivische Schnittansicht der Buchse von Figur 2;
• Figur 7 eine Querschnittansicht entsprechend den Figuren 3 und 4, wobei der Stecker in die Buchse eingesteckt ist;
• Figur 8 eine perspektivische Schnittansicht entsprechend den Figuren 6 und 7, wobei der Stecker in die Buchse eingesteckt ist; und
• Figur 9 eine weitere perspektivische Schnittansicht von Stecker und Buchse im ineinander eingesteckten Zustand.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made. In the drawings show:

• Figure 1 is an exploded view of the plug;
• Figure 2 is an exploded view of the socket;
• Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the plug of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view through the bush of Figure 2;
• Figure 5 is a perspective sectional view of the plug of Figure 1;
• Figure 6 is a perspective sectional view of the bush of Figure 2;
• Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figures 3 and 4, wherein the plug is inserted into the socket;
• Figure 8 is a perspective sectional view corresponding to Figures 6 and 7, wherein the plug is inserted into the socket; and
• Figure 9 shows another perspective sectional view of plug and socket in one another inserted state.

FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 show a plug 10 which has a plug housing 11 with a plug-in section 12, a plug flange 14, two plug springs 16, a protective visor 18 with a skirt 18a, plug contacts 20 and a Connector cover 22 having contact openings 22a.

The insertion portion 12 of the plug housing 11 is designed piston-shaped and provided at its front end in the insertion direction with a nose 12a. The Plug contacts are arranged exposed in receptacles in the connector housing 11, wherein they are bent with a vertex 13 executed. The Plug contacts 20 pass through the contact openings 22a of the plug cover 22 with respect to the figures up out of the plug, so that they on Cable can be connected. The connector cover 22 closes the Plug-in section 12 from above.

On the connector housing 11, the protective visor 18 is slidably mounted in the Figures 1, 3 and 5 is shown in the covering position. The covering position is determined by a sighting flange 18b of the protective visor 18 on the Plug flange 14 of the connector housing 11 is present. In the covering position is the exposed area of the plug contacts covered in the insertion portion 12, so that the plug contacts against mechanical damage and against Pollution are protected. The skirt 18a lies closely to the insertion section 12 on. From the covering position, the protective visor 18 against the Effect of the plug springs 16 and counter to the insertion of the plug in the socket, so with respect to the figures up, in a contact position be moved, in which the plug contacts 20 in the region of the insertion 12 are exposed.

In the figures 2, 4 and 6, a socket 23 is shown, in which the plug 10th can be inserted. The socket 23 has a housing which is formed by a bushing flange 24 and first and second contact chamber sections 34, 36. The two contact chamber sections 34, 36 form a Contact chamber 37, in the plurality of socket contacts 30 and a stamp 28th are arranged. The opening to the contact chamber is formed by an edge 24a in the socket flange 24. The socket contacts 30 are formed so that their End portions which lie in the vicinity of the bushing flange 24, relative to the Edge 24a of the bushing flange are reset to the outside (see Figure 8). The socket contacts 30 protrude with respect to the figures lower end of the second contact chamber portion 36 out of the contact chamber, so that a Cable can be connected.

The punch 28 has at its the edge 24 a associated end of a circumferential groove 28a and a recess 28b, wherein the transition from the Face of the punch to the groove 28a is chamfered. Extends over the depression a protective seal 26 having a central portion 26 a and a circumferential Sealing skirt 26 b which engages in the groove 28 a, so that the Protective seal is held at the front end of the punch. In the in the FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, the protective gasket 26 is in its position Sealing position in which the central portion 26a is flat and close to the Edge 24a of the socket is present. Seen from the outside of the socket, the Protective seal 26 the same shape as the opening to the contact chamber 37th Die Protective seal 26 has slightly larger dimensions in the relaxed state as the opening in the bushing flange 24, so that the protective seal with Preload is applied to the edge 24a.

In the contact chamber two socket springs 32 are each one Spring guide element 38 is arranged. The bush springs act on the Stamp 28 in the position shown in Figures 2, 4 and 6, in which the Protective seal 26 abuts the chamfered edge 24a of the contact chamber 37. The protective seal 26 closes flush with the outside Bush flange 24 from. The contact chamber 37 is thus shown in the here Cover closed against external influences such as dirt and moisture.

The following is the insertion of the plug 10 in the socket 23rd be described in detail. When placing the plug 10 on the socket 23rd First, the nose 12 a is pressed against the protective gasket 26. This will be the Protective seal in the recess 28 b at the front side of the punch 28th pushed in until it rests against the floor. It "shortens" the Central portion 26 a of the protective seal 26 so that its outer edge from the edge 24 a the Buchsenflansches 24 retracted and towards the chamfer of the punch between the end face and the groove 28 a is pulled. When the Protective seal 26 is in this contact position, the punch 28 in the Contact chamber 37 are inserted without the protective seal the edge 24a of the bushing flange 24 touched. In this way it is prevented possibly on the outside of the sleeve 23 or the protective seal 26th existing contaminants are transmitted to the socket contacts 30. Also, no contaminants are transmitted to the socket contacts because these are reset.

During the insertion of the insertion portion 12 in the opening of the Buchsenflansches 24 and in the first contact chamber portion 34 is the Stamp 28 against the spring force of the socket springs 32 further down pressed. Since the protective visor 18 on the outside of the bushing flange 24th is applied, it is pushed back, so that the plug contacts 20 and released and inserted into the contact chamber 37. there At no time are they free so they can be used throughout the insertion process always protected against external influences. The apron 18a pushes the bent plug contacts 30 inward during insertion in the insertion portion 12, when it slips over the vertex 13, so that the Plug contacts enter the contact chamber 37 of the socket, without the edge 24a to touch.

The insertion section 12 can now so far into the first contact chamber section 34 are pushed until a projection 12b of the connector housing 11 abuts the skirt 18 a and the plug flange 14 tight on the Bushing flange 24 rests, whereby a good seal is ensured (see Figures 7, 8 and 9). The protective visor 18 is completely in the Contact position pushed back. The plug-in section 12, the plug contacts 20 and the socket contacts 30 are dimensioned so that at the end of the Inserting the plug contacts with the socket contacts completely in are electrical contact. In particular, by the engagement of the nose 12a in the recess 28b reaches to center the insertion portion 12 and thus the plug contacts 20 and the socket contacts 30 both right and left with respect to the figures in good contact with each other.

If the plug 10 with the insertion portion 12 from the first contact chamber portion 34 of the sleeve 23 retracted so remains, due to the Spring force of the socket springs 32, in the region of the nose 12a and the recess 28b always a tight contact between the male and the stamp 28 received. At the same time the protective visor 18 remains in abutment on Socket flange 24. If the plug 10 is completely pulled out of the socket 23, returns the protective shield 18 in its covering position, in which the Plug contacts 20 are protected against external influences. At the same time, the Protective seal 26 back to its covering position, in which they close to the edge 24a of the bushing flange 24 abuts and the contact chamber 37 of the socket concludes.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10:

plug

11:

plug housing

12:

insertion section

12a:

nose

12b:

head Start

13:

vertex

14:

connector flange

16:

plug springs

18:

protective visor

18a:

apron

18b:

Visierflansch

20:

plug contacts

22:

plug cover

22a:

Contact breakthroughs

23:

Rifle

24:

bushing flange

24a:

edge

26:

protective seal

26a:

midsection

26b:

sealing skirt

28:

stamp

28a:

groove

28b:

deepening

30:

female contacts

32:

Jack springs

34:

first contact chamber section

36:

second contact chamber section

37:

contact chamber

38:

Spring guide element

Claims (8)

1. A socket (23) for a plug connection, comprising a socket housing (24, 34, 36) that has a contact chamber (37) in which a plurality of socket contacts (30) is arranged, a protective seal (26) being provided which is movable between a covering position in which it closes the contact chamber so as to be essentially flush on the outside, and a contact position in which access to the socket contacts is allowed, the protective seal being adapted to be transferred from the covering position into the contact position by means of a complementary plug (10), characterized in that the protective seal (26) is mounted to a plunger (28) that is shiftably mounted in the socket housing (24, 34, 36), and that the plunger (28) is provided with a deepening (28b) on its end face facing the plug (10), that the protective seal (26) extends across the end face of the plunger (28) and projects towards outside beyond the side surfaces of the plunger in the covering position, and that the protective seal (26) comes to rest at the side surfaces of the plunger when it is pressed into the deepening by the plug, so that the plunger can be pushed into the contact chamber (37) without the protective seal touching the socket contacts (30).
2. The socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the protective seal (26) rests at an edge (24a) of an opening of the contact chamber (37), the edge being configured skewed.
3. The socket according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the protective seal (26) consists of an elastic material.
4. The socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the plunger (28) is provided with a surrounding groove (28a) that is engaged by a sealing skirt (26b) formed on the protective seal (26).
5. The socket according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the socket contacts (30) are receded with respect to that edge (24a) of the socket housing which faces the plug (10).
6. A plug connection comprising a socket (23) according to any of the preceding claims and a plug (10) including a plug housing in which a plurality of plug contacts (20) is arranged, characterized in that mounted to the plug is a protective shield (18) that is movable between a covering position in which it covers the plug contacts (20), and a contact position in which access to the plug contacts (20) is allowed, the protective shield being adapted to be transferred from the covering position into the contact position during insertion into the socket.
7. The plug connection according to claim 6, characterized in that the plug (10) has a plug-in section (12) at which the plug contacts (20) are exposed and which can be plugged into the socket (23), and that the protective shield (18) encloses the plug-in section (12) on all sides.
8. The plug connection according to claim 7, characterized in that the protective shield (18) has a skirt (18a) at its end associated with the front end of the plug-in section (12), by means of which skirt the plug contacts (20) are forced inwards during insertion into the socket (23), so that they do not touch the edge (24a) of the contact chamber of the socket (23).

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