EP1353417B1 - Connection device for connecting data and supply lines to an electrical apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The connector assembly (1) comprises a housing (2), numerous first terminals (3) and second terminals (4). The two types of terminals are interconnected and each contain one or more data and current supply terminals. The first terminals contain geometrically different data and current supply terminals, while the second terminals contain geometrically uniform data and current supply terminals. The second terminals are fitted in a socket or plug strip set (5), or as solder points on housing.

Description

The invention relates to a connection device for connecting data and supply lines, in particular to an electrical device, according to the preamble of claim 1.

The prior art is the generic US-A-6 027 375 called.

In various applications - e.g. when connecting data or control power lines and power supply lines for electrical equipment, such as a contactor - it is necessary to connect the data or control lines with a compared to the power supply and voltage lines very thin cross-section of the first ports. Since the first terminals, e.g. are designed as Zugfederanschlüsse, are generally adapted to the relatively large cross-section of the power supply lines, can by sudden vibrations, such as occur in the application to a contactor, the very thin conductor in the per se "oversized" connections -. at terminal points - break. The connection of the data lines is also relatively tedious and cumbersome.

The solution to this problem is the object of the invention.

The invention solves this problem by the subject matter of claim 1,

The problem of breakage is reduced by the use of specific connectors for connecting data cables. Moreover, the invention offers the particular advantage of meeting the desire for simple, faster and more compact connection of the data lines - e.g. even with the help of many common prefabricated corresponding plug - corresponds. The power supply or power supply lines remain separately connectable separately. The usual industrial connector can be used on the device side.

The invention also makes it possible to disconnect the control lines together from the terminal device without interrupting the power supply. On the other hand, it is also possible to jointly disconnect the data and power supply lines on the side of the second terminals from the electrical device.

The housing of the customer does not need to be changed despite the input-side changed connection technology. Thus, according to an exemplary variant, latches to the housing of the contactor can be maintained.

Furthermore, the second connections are arranged in a row like a strip on the housing or combined in a socket or plug connector or as solder connections on the housing, which only has to be plugged onto a corresponding strip for or on the electrical device.

According to the invention, furthermore, the first data connections (this also includes control power connections) are combined in one female part. Here, in particular, the use of a standardized Tteiles offers. In this way it is possible to use for connection of the data or control power lines against breakages due to vibration particularly suitable connection technology, without having to resort to the conductor for larger cross-section but not designed for data lines connection techniques for control power lines back.

According to the invention, the first data connections are combined in an RJ45 socket. This means that the contacts of an RJ-45 socket are used as the first data connections. The counterpart is an RJ45 Western plug, in which the cables are intercepted very shortly behind the terminal point, which significantly reduces the risk of breakage.

Preferably, the first power supply terminals are provided with tension spring contacts, but it is also a design with crimp, screw, IDC or leaf spring contacts conceivable. Here, regardless of the need to have to connect control lines thin section, the respectively desired connection technology for the power supply lines are selected. Thus, it would not be possible to connect very thin conductors in insulation-piercing IDC connections designed for a larger cross-section. Through the use of hybrid termination technology, i. but by using a different connection technology for the data or control power lines, a variant is also conceivable in which the control power connections are designed as IDC connections.

Realizable are u.a. a design of the connection device (in particular on the device side) as a plug-in coupling for a pin header or a design as pin connector for a female connector or a design as PCB terminal block, in pressfit, in SMT technology, with solder pins or in THR technology.

Further advantageous embodiments can be found in the remaining subclaims.

Fig. 1

eine erste perspektivische Ansicht einer Anschlußvorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine zweite perspektivische Ansicht der Anschlußvorrichtung aus Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Sprengansicht der Anschlußvorrichtung aus Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

eine zweite perspektivische Sprengansicht der Anschlußvorrichtung aus Fig. 1;

Fig. 5

eine dritte perspektivische Sprengansicht der Anschlußvorrichtung aus Fig. 1; und

Fig. 6

eine vierte Sprengansicht auf die Anschlußvorrichtung aus Fig. 1.

The invention will be described with reference to a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a first perspective view of a connection device;

Fig. 2

a second perspective view of the connecting device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

an exploded perspective view of the connecting device of FIG. 1;

Fig. 4

a second perspective exploded view of the connection device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5

a third perspective view of the explosive device of the connection device of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6

a fourth explosive view of the terminal device of FIG. 1.

Fig. 1 shows a connection device 1, which is suitable, for example, for arrangement on or on a contactor, not shown, are to be connected to the power supply lines and data or control lines.

For this purpose, the connecting device - see also Fig. 3 - designed in the manner of a plug-in coupling, which has a plurality of first - here input side - terminals 3 a - 3 h and a plurality of second - here output side - terminals 4 a - 4h is provided, wherein the first terminals 3a - 3h are respectively connected to one of the second terminals 4a - h or galvanically connected.

Of the eight first and second terminals 3 and 4 exemplarily here, two each serve - the terminals 3a, b and 4a, b - for the connection of power and voltage supply lines (not shown here) and six each - the terminals 3c - h and 4 c - h - for connecting data or control lines (also not shown here), wherein the data lines typically have a much smaller cross-section than the power supply lines.

The second or here output-side terminals 4 are formed in a row as a female connector 5 on the housing 2, each having a uniform geometry, that is, the second power supply terminals 4a, b and the second data terminals 4 c - h are formed identically.

On the other hand, the first terminals 3 are formed differently with respect to the first power supply terminals 3a, b and the first data terminals 3c-h.

The exact structure of the connection device results from the explosive views of FIGS. 3 to 6.

As can be seen, the first data connections 3 c-h (not shown individually) are combined in the manner of an RJ45 socket part 18, which here has lateral outputs 6, each contacting printed conductors 7 on one side of a printed circuit board 8, which is inserted into a lateral recess 9 of the housing 2.

The printed conductors 7 are connected to pads 10 on the opposite side of the printed circuit board 8, to which in turn tulip-type contacts 11 are soldered (for example in SMD technology) whose tulip-like sections engage in openings 12 of the female connector 5, respectively. In this way, the (not individually illustrated, but designed in the manner of the standard connector RJ45) input side data terminals 3c-h with the corresponding contacts 11 of the female connector 5 are conductively connected.

The first power supply terminals 3a, b are designed as Zugfederanschlüsse 13 with stop bone 14, wherein on the end remote from the stop bone 14 end of the busbar 15 of Zugfederanschlüsse 13 directly tulip-like contacts 11 are formed, these tulip-like power supply contacts in more of the openings 12 of the female connector. 5 engage and there form the second power supply terminals 4a, b.

The geometry of the second data connections 4 c-h thus corresponds to the geometry of the second power supply connections 4 a, b.

The standard data connector RJ45 allows a particularly uncomplicated connection of the data lines, without these lines of relatively thin cross section could be destroyed in Tension spring connections, which are designed for larger diameter conductor, in itself. Instead of an RJ45 plug connection, data plug connections of other standards would also be conceivable, e.g. serial plug, USB plug or the like. The tension spring 13, however, also allow the connection of power supply lines significantly larger cross-section.

The first power supply terminals 3a, b and the first data terminals 3 c - h are thereby enclosed by respective cover parts 16, 17, which can be latched on the housing 2. Here, the insertion openings for the RJ45 plug and the insertion openings for the power supply lines are angled (here at right angles) aligned with each other, which facilitates the handling of the contactor.

On two sides of the housing 2 insertion openings 19a and b are formed for actuating tools in the region of the first power supply terminals.

Latching and release lever 20 on two opposite sides of the housing allow not shown here in detail, but known per se locking mechanism the locking of a connector counterpart on the female connector. 5

reference numeral

connecting device

1

casing

2

first connections

3, 3a - 3h

second connections

4, 4a-4h

receptacle

5

outputs

6

conductor tracks

7

circuit board

8th

recess

9

pads

10

contacts

11

openings

12

tension clamp connections

13

stop bone

14

conductor rail

15

cover parts

16, 17

female connector

18

recesses

19a, b

Latch and release lever

20

Claims (10)

1. Connection device for connecting data and supply lines, in particular to an electrical apparatus, which comprises the following:

   a) a housing (2),

   b) a plurality of first terminals (3),

   c) a plurality of second terminals (4),

   d) such that the first and second terminals (3, 4) are each electrically connected to one another and each comprises at least one or more data and current supply connections (3a, b and 3c-h; 4a, b and 4c-h),

   e) such that the first terminals (3) have data and current supply connections (3a, b and 3c-h) which are geometrically different from one another,
   characterised in that

   f) the first data connections (3c-h) are collected together in a RJ45 socket component (18),

   g) insertion openings for a RJ45 plug and insertion openings for the current supply lines on the first terminals (3) are orientated at an angle or parallel to one another.

   h) the second terminals (4) are arranged on the housing (2) in a row as a strip, and

   i) the second terminals have geometrically uniformly shaped data and current supply connections (4a, b and 4c-h).
2. Connection device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the second terminals (4) are collected together in a socket or plug strip (5) or as soldered connections on the housing (2).
3. Connection device according to either of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first current supply connections (3a, b) are formed as crimp, tension spring, screw, IDC or spring-clip contacts.
4. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the socket component (18) with the first data connections (3c-h) comprises outputs (6) which contact conducting paths (7) on a circuit board (8).
5. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the conducting paths (7) are connected to soldering eyes (10) on the reverse side of the circuit board (8) and tulip-type contacts (11) are soldered into the soldering eyes (10).
6. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that more of the tulip-type contacts (11) are formed on the first current supply connection (13).
7. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first current supply connections (3a, b) and the first data connections (3c-h) are enclosed by cover components (16, 17) that can be fastened to the housing (2).
8. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is designed as a plug coupling for a pin bar.
9. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is designed as a pin plug connector for a socket strip.
10. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is designed as a circuit board terminal of the press fit, SMT, soldered-pin or THR type.

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