EP1514331B1 - Secondary locking of a plug-in connection on two planes - Google Patents

Description

• einem Gehäuse, nämlich einem Grundkörper und einem Deckelelement sowie
• elektrischen Bauteilen, die in das Gehäuse einlegbar und fixierbar sind und
• einem Abgleichelement für eine Sonde, insbesondere eine planare Breitband-Lambda-Sonde, die in dem Kupplungsstecker oder über ein weiteres Kontaktelement außerhalb des Kupplungssteckers anzubringen ist, wobei
• ein Sekundärverriegelungselement als Fixierelement zum Fixieren mindestens eines in dem Gehäuse eingelegten elektrischen Flachsteckers vorgesehen ist.

The invention relates to a coupling plug, in particular for a planar lambda probe, consisting of

• a housing, namely a base body and a cover element and
• electrical components that can be inserted and fixed in the housing and
• an adjustment element for a probe, in particular a planar broadband lambda probe, which is to be mounted in the coupling plug or via a further contact element outside the coupling plug, wherein
• a secondary locking element is provided as a fixing element for fixing at least one inserted in the housing electrical tab.

State of the art

US6338654B1 discloses a coupling plug according to the preamble of claim 1.

Coupling plugs of the above type are usually for the connection between a harness connector and a lambda probe formed, wherein the terminals, which are provided in the coupling plug, are provided for adjustment, signal and / or heating of the probe. The lambda probe and the lambda control in conjunction with the 3-way catalyst is an effective emission control method. The lambda probe, which is screwed into an exhaust system, for example, comprises a sensor for determining the oxygen content in the exhaust gas.

The residual oxygen content is very well suited as a measure and regulates the air-fuel ratio, as it indicates precisely whether the air-fuel mixture burns completely.

The lambda probe supplies a voltage signal that represents the instantaneous value of the mixture composition and tracks mixture changes. The fuel supply to the engine is controlled by a mixture processing system according to the signal of the lambda probe so that a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio of λ = 1 is achieved. Depending on the design of the exhaust system and the operating conditions, heated or unheated probes are used. Further applications finds the lambda probe outside of motor vehicles, eg. As for the control of gas engines or oil gas burners for heating systems.

In particular, broadband lambda probes have a modular design and, in conjunction with the planar technology, allow the integration of several functions. As a rule, they have functional layers which consist of a porous protective layer, an outer electrode, a sensor foil, an inner electrode, a reference air channel foil, an insulating layer, a heating element, a heating foil, a resistor or a balancing element and connection contacts.

Since the broadband lambda probes from the combination of a Nernet concentration cell (= sensor cell) with an oxygen ion-transporting Pump cell, it can perform not only in the stoichiometric point at λ = 1, but also in the lean and rich area very accurate measurements.

Each probe is to be adjusted individually. For this purpose, the probe has a built-in resistor (mini hybrid). The adjustment, which preferably takes place by means of a laser beam, is carried out by removing the resistance layer, which is located on a ceramic substrate, in a corresponding manner, whereby a change in resistance is brought about and thus an adjustment takes place.

One embodiment is that the adjustment unit or the resistor is arranged directly on the probe. A further exemplary embodiment is that the resistor is accommodated outside, for example on a harness connector coupled to the probe.

In order to prevent moisture, dirt or the like from penetrating into the coupling plug, in which the corresponding lambda probe is arranged, and to ensure that the corresponding atmosphere prevails inside the coupling plug, the coupling plug has sealing elements, for example arranged on the plug Cover element or additionally provided pressure compensation elements.

Coupling plugs of the above type can be made in many forms. As a rule, these are multi-pole coupling plugs which have corresponding tabs.

Other embodiments have only flat contacts.

Again other versions have combinations of tabs and flat contacts.

In particular, in the use of coupling plugs that are multi-pole and record flat contacts and at the same time flat plug in a coupling plug is provided to provide at least one secondary latch in the tab portion to fix the arranged in the housing tabs and additionally provide for the flat contacts another secondary lock to fix these also in the housing.

Disadvantages of the prior art

A disadvantage of the last-mentioned embodiment of coupling plugs is that additional working and assembly steps are necessary to perform a corresponding fixation by means of a secondary locking of both tabs and flat contacts.

This also requires in addition a multiple control to check whether the fixation of the tabs or flat contacts has been successfully performed.

Object of the invention

The object of the invention is to avoid the disadvantages of the cited prior art.

Solution of the task

This object is achieved by a coupling plug with the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims. The solution of the problem is achieved in that flat contacts are provided in addition to the tabs in the housing, which are simultaneously fixable by a secondary locking element, wherein the secondary locking member in a first level receiving means for the tab in the formation of a locking plate and in another level Has fixing device in the form of a snap hook.

Advantages of the invention

A significant advantage of the inventive solution is that with a single component locking in two different levels can be brought about.

On the one hand is caused by the execution of a sliding plate, the locking of the tab contacts and in addition by inserting the secondary locking in the connector housing is caused by the pioneering of the locking plate snap hook locking the flat contacts.

Preferably, in the embodiment of the secondary lock according to the invention is a one-piece component. This also reduces the storage and storage of the components and increases the number of possible coupling plug designs, without even increasing the number of components.

Another advantage is that previous versions of coupling connectors, both plug-in devices, namely flat contacts and tabs, do not need to be changed, since the secondary lock according to the invention adapts to the existing design of coupling connectors.

Further advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the following descriptions, the drawings and the claims.

drawings

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die erfindungsgemäße Ausführungsform einer Sekundärverriegelung;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf einen Kupplungsstecker mit der erfindungsgemäßen Sekundärverriegelung gemäß Fig. 1, in Explosionsdarstellung;

Fig. 3

einen Längsschnitt durch einen Kupplungsstecker gemäß Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

einen Querschnitt durch den Kupplungsstecker gemäß Fig. 2;

Fig. 5

einen weiteren Querschnitt durch den Kupplungsstecker gemäß Fig. 2, wobei sich die Sekundärverriegelung in einer Vorraststellung befindet;

Fig. 6

einen weiteren Querschnitt durch den Kupplungsstecker gemäß Fig. 2, wobei sich die Sekundärverriegelung in einer Endlage befindet;

Fig. 7

einen Längsschnitt durch einen Kupplungsstecker gemäß Fig. 2, jedoch zusätzlich mit einem vorgesehenen Flachkontakt;

Fig. 8

einen Teilquerschnitt durch den Kupplungsstecker gemäß Fig. 7, wobei die hier dargestellte Sekundärverriegelung sich in einer Vorraststellung befindet;

Fig. 9

einen Teilquerschnitt durch den Kupplungsstecker gemäß Fig. 7, wobei die hier dargestellte Sekundärverriegelung sich in einer Endlage befindet.

Show it

Fig. 1

a perspective view of the embodiment of a secondary lock according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of a coupling plug with the secondary lock according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in exploded view;

Fig. 3

a longitudinal section through a coupling plug according to Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 4

a cross section through the coupling plug according to Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 5

a further cross section through the coupling plug according to Fig. 2 with the secondary lock in a pre-locked position;

Fig. 6

a further cross section through the coupling plug according to Fig. 2 , wherein the secondary lock is in an end position;

Fig. 7

a longitudinal section through a coupling plug according to Fig. 2 , but in addition with a planned flat contact;

Fig. 8

a partial cross section through the coupling plug according to Fig. 7 , wherein the secondary lock shown here is in a Vorraststellung;

Fig. 9

a partial cross section through the coupling plug according to Fig. 7 , wherein the secondary lock shown here is in an end position.

Description of an embodiment

In Fig. 1 the secondary lock 1 according to the invention is shown. This secondary lock 1 comprises two levels A, B, wherein in the first plane A, a locking plate 2 is provided, which can receive 3 record tabs, which are not shown in detail in the drawing by recording device and fix.

In the further level B, a snap hook 4 pointing away from the locking plate 2 is provided. This snap hook 4 serves to fix the flat contacts, not shown in detail in the drawing, which pass through the opening 5 through the locking plate.

The secondary lock 1 is a one-piece plastic tip casting. This secondary lock 1 is in accordance with Fig. 2 to 4 inserted into a plug housing 6 of a coupling plug K, in particular to secure tab 7 and flat contacts 8, which are arranged within the plug housing 6.

After insertion of these components in the connector housing 6 is on the side of the secondary latch 1, a contact carrier lower part 9 to be inserted, which cooperates with the secondary latch 1.

In the connector housing 6, a balancing resistor 10 is arranged, which is protected by a cover 11 together with a seal 12 from dirt, moisture or the like (in Fig. 3 the lid 11 and the seal 12 is not shown for reasons of clarity).

In Fig. 5 is the secondary lock 1 according to the invention shown in a so-called pre-locking position. This Vorraststellung is immediately after the installation of the in the Fig. 2 to 4 achieved coupling plug K and the tabs 7 shown are arranged by the secondary latch 1 at a distance. By moving the secondary lock in the direction of arrow 13, the immediate locking is brought about by taking the end position of the secondary lock 1 and the individual tabs 7 are fixed. The in the FIGS. 5 and 6 shown flat contacts 8 remain unaffected by the movement of the secondary lock in the direction of arrow 13.

By inserting the secondary lock 1 in the connector housing 6 is simultaneously a pre-locking position of the secondary lock for in Fig. 7 to 9 achieved flat contacts 8 achieved. The pioneering of the locking plate 2 snap hook 4 goes according to Fig. 8 in a so-called pre-locking position over. By pushing the secondary lock in the direction of arrow 13, a nose 15, which is part of the snap-action hook 4, engages behind a recess 16 and lays back a defined distance 17, which leads to the fixation of the flat contact 8.

By forming the secondary lock 1 for the harness connector in two levels, on the one hand, the assembly is facilitated and it is possible to produce this harness connector very inexpensively.

Claims (3)

1. Coupling plug, in particular for a planar lambda probe,
   comprising a housing (6), specifically a main body and a cover element (11), and

   - electrical components (7, 8) which are inserted into the housing (6) and fixed, and

   - wherein a secondary locking element (1) is provided as a fixing element for fixing at least one flat electrical plug (7) which is inserted into the housing (6),

   - wherein, in addition to the flat plugs (7), flat contacts (8) are provided in the plug housing (6), which flat contacts can be simultaneously fixed by the secondary locking element (1), wherein the secondary locking element (1) has, in a first plane A, a receiving device (3) for the flat plug (7) in the form of a locking plate (2) for locking the flat plug (7), characterized in that

   the secondary locking element (1) has, in a further plane B, a fixing device in the form of a snap-action hook (4) for fixing the flat contacts (8), and
   in that the coupling plug further comprises a compensation element (10) for a probe, in particular a planar broadband lambda probe which is fitted in the coupling plug or outside the coupling plug by means of a further contact element.
2. Coupling plug according to Claim 1, characterized in that the snap-action hook (4) faces away from the locking plate (2) in an at least approximately perpendicular manner.
3. Coupling plug according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking plate (2) and the snap-action hook (4) form an integral component.

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