EP1552582B1 - Electrical plug-in connector - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical plug-in connector is in the form of a cable plug connector or a device connector plug. A particularly reliable and tightly-sealed connector may be achieved, whereby the plug-in connector is disclosed, and contains a connector mechanism, which is self-closing on bringing the parts for connection together. The plug-in connector further contains a radial seal for sealing the parts connected together.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical connector, in particular in the form of a cable connector or a device connector plug.

To achieve a particularly high density, it is for example from the US-A-4,611,872 known to insert in the pin contacts of a connector surrounding shock protection sleeves sealing rings. These seals serve as axial seals, so are compressed when connecting socket and connector part. This sealing forces are introduced into the connector. For permanent assurance of tightness materials with a particularly high strength for the production of connectors or additional security elements to secure the connector are always required for this reason.

The object of the invention is to provide a particularly reliable and tight fitting connector. This object is achieved by a connector according to claim 1.

In a preferred embodiment, the connector has a connection mechanism that automatically closes when merging the parts to be joined. In addition, the connector of a radial seal for sealing the interconnected parts. The connection mechanism is for connection the connector is formed with a further connector such that the radial seal is arranged when mating plug and socket part in the overlapping region. When connecting the socket part and the plug part attached to the socket part, the plug sockets enclosing contact protection sleeves in corresponding, the pin contacts on the plug part spaced surrounding contact protection sleeves are inserted. The radial seal is advantageously arranged in the region of the contact protection sleeve, preferably on the contact protection sleeve of the connector part. A basic idea of the invention is to replace the previously used axial seal by a radial seal. The sealing forces thus act radially, ie in the direction of the circumference of the connector and no longer in the axial direction of connection of the connector. Therefore, the radial seal unfolds its effect without sealing forces must be introduced into the connector. In other words, the sealing forces no longer need to be applied through the connector or through additional security devices. Through this solution, the connector can be structurally simplified. In particular, it can be made entirely of plastic, without additional security devices are required, since only the grip of the connector, but not the sealing forces are to be hedged. The thus obtained connectors with force-free locking or latching are not only constructively simple, but also have a particularly high density, so that, for example, the requirements of IP 67 are met. A simple construction of the connector is also achieved by the positive lock. In the best case, only two parts are required for the connection, which can be hidden together without using a tool. For example, the connector according to the invention may be a cable connector or a device connector.

For the preparation of the connector while a locking tongue is preferably used, the male and female parts together (claim 3). Such a locking tongue is for example from the German patent DE 34 40 043 C2 , in particular from the local claims 1 to 4 known. Since the lock is force-free due to the use of a radial seal, the attachment of a single locking tongue is sufficient. Despite this unbalanced locking a secure and tight connection is possible because no counter-forces act on the lock.

For mounting the device connector plug to a device wall, such as a lamp housing, this has a mounting element, for example in the form of a stop collar on (claim 4). On the mounting element, an axial seal is attached (claim 5), with which the stop element bears against the housing wall surrounding the mounting opening. In addition, the connector carries a thread for securing the stop collar on the housing wall by means of a screw connection.

In a further development of the invention, a two-piece device connector is proposed, which requires a much smaller housing feedthrough, cf. Claim 6. The electrical connector therefore consists of an adapter element and a contact carrier which can be connected to the adapter element. For this purpose, a specially designed adapter element is used with a feed-through, so that the device connector can also be used in housing bushings, which are narrowed down to the dimensions of the cable diameter plus the housing wall thickness. The adapter element can be combined with the male or female contact carriers of the connector. Of particular advantage is that the user does not have to change existing housing bores. On the other hand, in each case only a new adapter socket must be developed and manufactured, since this can be combined with existing module modules.

If the connector is designed as a cable connector, it has an automatically closing connection mechanism for connecting the contact carrier of the connector with a strain relief and a radial seal for sealing the interconnected parts (claim 7). Particularly advantageous is the embodiment according to claim 8, according to which the strain relief is simply pushed onto the contact carrier. This achieves a high level of installation friendliness. Pushing is preferably axial, ie in the plug longitudinal direction. The preferably sleeve-like strain relief is fastened according to a further embodiment of the invention according to claim 9 by means of a latching connection on the contact carrier. Good handling and high construction site suitability is achieved by a pre-assembly as far as possible, in which, for example, strain relief and contact carrier are already connected.

The existing radial seal for sealing the connection is arranged in the overlap region of strain relief and contact carrier. The deferred on the contact carrier strain relief is preferably secured by means of an end-mounted cap nut. This also serves to further seal against the expiring from the connector cable.

The embodiment as a cable connector may have the end face of the above-described connection mechanism for connecting a complementary plug part. The contact carriers of cable connectors and device connector are in this respect preferably constructed identically.

The contact carrier has a contact area arranged opposite the plug or socket face for connecting the conductors. The connection area preferably comprises so-called push-in contacts, in which the conductors can be easily inserted. The wiring effort is therefore very low. The push-in contacts are designed in particular as spring-loaded terminals. But it can also be used, for example, screw, crimp, solder or insulation displacement terminals. It is particularly advantageous if spring-loaded terminals are equipped with a double connection for two conductor ends per pole. In this case, the strain relief is preferably designed such that it ensures the connection of two round cables in parallel side by side in a connector.

It when the connection mechanism can be opened only with an actuating tool (claim 10) is particularly advantageous. This fulfills the requirements for reconnectable installation connectors according to EN 61535. With the particular arrangement of the radial seal according to claim 11 finds, in particular when loosening by means of a tool, first a kind of pre-solution of the connector instead. In this way, the then yet to be overcome friction forces of the radial seal between the connecting parts are no longer so great. The connection can therefore be separated very easily.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 12, the connector comprises a corresponding opener for unlocking the connection mechanism. This allows a tool-only plug-in connector to be used where normally manually-openable connectors are used without incurring extra work for the user. The opener is releasable, preferably with the formation of a latching or snap connection, connected to the connector (claim 13). In addition, it can be ensured by appropriate coding measures that the NC contact can only be mounted on such connectors in which a use of the opener is desired.

A particularly simple and yet safe operation of the connection mechanism is possible by a breaker according to claim 14. This has a release element for unlocking the connection mechanism, which is attached to a preferably manually deflectable actuator. Such an opener may be constructed in one piece and made entirely of plastic, whereby it can be made particularly inexpensive.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the contact protection sleeves surrounded the plug contacts are designed such that in addition to an anti-rotation (claim 15) by the use of corresponding coding elements (claims 16 and 17) also provides a backup against mating mating mating pairs.

Fig. 1-3

verschiedene Ansichten eines Steckerteils eines Geräteanschlussste- ckers,

Fig. 4-6

verschiedene Ansichten eines Buchsenteils eines Geräteanschlussste- ckers,

Fig. 7-9

verschiedene Ansichten eines Steckerteils eines Kabelsteckverbinders,

Fig. 10

eine Zugentlastung für einen Kabelsteckverbinder,

Fig. 11-13

verschiedene Ansichten eines Buchsenteils eines Kabelsteckverbinders,

Fig. 14

einen Öffner für einen Verbindungsmechanismus,

Fig. 15

ein Buchsenteils mit Verriegelungszunge,

Fig. 16

ein Buchsenteil mit aufgeschnapptem Öffner,

Fig. 17

eine Draufsicht auf das Steckgesicht eines Steckers mit Kodierung und Verdrehsicherung,

Fig. 18

eine Draufsicht auf das Steckgesicht einer Buchse zum Stecker nach Fig. 17,

Fig. 19

eine schematische Darstellung der möglichen Kodierungen bei dem Ste- cker nach Fig. 17,

Fig. 20-21

Schnittansichten weiterer Ausführungsbeispiele.

In the following, the invention will be described with reference to exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail with reference to the figures. Hereby show:

Fig. 1-3

various views of a plug part of a device connector,

Fig. 4-6

various views of a female part of a device connector,

Fig. 7-9

different views of a plug part of a cable connector,

Fig. 10

a strain relief for a cable connector,

Fig. 11-13

various views of a female part of a cable connector,

Fig. 14

an opener for a connection mechanism,

Fig. 15

a female part with locking tongue,

Fig. 16

a socket with snapped opener,

Fig. 17

a top view of the mating face of a plug with coding and rotation,

Fig. 18

a plan view of the mating face of a socket to the plug Fig. 17 .

Fig. 19

a schematic representation of the possible encodings in the plug after Fig. 17 .

Fig. 20-21

Sectional views of further embodiments.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the connector according to the invention as a device connector. In this case, a trained as a plug part three-pin (N, L, earth) circular connector 1 is shown, which is already mounted in the mounting hole of a device wall 2. The connector according to the invention can also be designed, for example, 5-pole or with any number of poles. At the front end face 3 of the cylindrical contact carrier 4 of the connector 1, the three mutually parallel plug pins 5 are each surrounded by a contact-protection sleeve 6, which projects beyond the pin contacts. The contact protection sleeves 6 are surrounded by a cross-sectionally substantially triangular protective cover 7, which is integrally formed on the contact carrier 4 of the connector 1.

For mounting on the device wall 2, the contact carrier 4 has a peripheral stop collar 8. For sealing the connector 1 to the housing wall 2, an axial seal 9 is attached to the stop collar 8, for example in the form of a sealing ring laminated on one side with adhesive film. The connector 1 is inserted from the inside of the housing 10 here in the housing opening and fixed to the device wall 2 by means of a fastening nut 11 from the outside. When tightening the fastening nut 11, the sealing ring 9 is then compressed and seals the mounting hole. A corresponding external thread 12 is mounted on the contact carrier 4 in the region of the stop collar 8.

As in the circular connector 1 without housing wall performing Fig. 2 1, a contact region 14 for connecting the conductors (not shown) is provided on the rear end face 13 of the connector opposite the front end face 3. The contact region 14 has push-in contacts 15 in the form of spring-loaded terminals. This makes it possible, for example, to connect single-stranded or fine-stranded conductors with a connection cross-sectional area of 0.75 to 2.5 mm * mm. The contacts 15 are designed as double contacts, so that in each case two conductor ends can be connected to one pole.

To form a secure connection with the corresponding socket part, a locking tongue 16 is provided, which can be inserted into a plug-in direction 17 extending longitudinal shaft 18 in the connector housing 4, and the end-mounted locking hook 19 engages for secure fixing in a correspondingly provided locking window 20, see , Fig. 3 showing the connector 1 without nut and locking tongue. The locking tongue 16 can either be loose or plugged as an already pre-assembled component on the male or female part. However, it is also possible to perform the locking tongue 16 as an integral, one-piece component of the contact carrier 4.

To the outer protective cover 7 of the contact protection sleeves 6, a radial seal 21 is attached directly to the foot of the enclosure 7. This runs in a correspondingly provided receiving groove 22. As a radial seal 21 can be used a conventional O-ring, which then assumes the triangular shape of the protective cover 7 in the applied state.

Fig. 4 shows a socket part 23 of a circular connector 1 corresponding to the above-described plug part. The socket part 23 can also be mounted in the housing opening of a device wall 2 with the aid of a fastening nut 11. To seal the female part 23 to the device wall 2 in turn an axial seal on the stop collar 8 is provided. The rear-mounted contact area 14 is provided as well as the plug part with double connections in the form of spring-loaded terminals.

The connector face lying on the front end face 3 in turn has three contact protection sleeves 24, which enclose the three contact sockets 25 (N, L, earth). Around the contact protection sleeves 24 around a again in cross-section substantially triangular protective cover 26 is arranged. However, in contrast to the above-described plug part 1, this protective cover 26 does not protrude beyond the front end face 3 of the contact carrier 4, but closes off with it. Also, the female part 23 has an extending in the insertion direction 17 longitudinal shaft 18 for receiving a locking tongue 16 and corresponding locking window 20 for locking the latching hook.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed as a cable connector. In Fig. 7 to 9 in turn, a three-pole embodiment of a corresponding plug part 27 is shown. At the front of the front side 3 of the contact carrier 4 opposite back a strain relief 28 is attached, which is fixed by means of a union nut 29. The front end face 3 with the plug pins 5, the contact protection sleeves 6 and the radial seal 21 and the corresponding locking elements 18, 20 is identical to the device connection plug already described. However, the connector housing now has additional locking elements in the form of latching hooks 30 for producing a latching or snap connection with the strain relief 28.

To seal the connection between the contact carrier 4 and strain relief 28, a circumferential radial seal 31 is provided on the contact carrier 4, which is inserted in a corresponding circumferential groove as a receiving element 32 and held there. When snapping the strain relief 28 on the contact carrier 4, the radial seal 31 is then in the overlapping area and seals the two parts 4, 28 against each other.

The designed in the manner of a sleeve strain relief 28, see. Fig. 10 , Has at its front end face 33 three mutually offset arranged grip-like locking receptacles 34. During axial displacement of the strain relief 28 on the contact carrier 4 then engage three symmetrically on the circumference of the contact carrier 4 rear side latching hooks 30 in the latching opening 34 of the strain relief 28 a.

The strain relief 28 tapers from its front in the direction of its back in several stages, see. Fig. 10 , And has at its rear end 35 on a lamellar holding device 36 for fixing the cable (not shown). In the strain relief 28 is a cable seal 37 for additional sealing of the cable connector 27 to be connected cable. The strain relief 28 is fixed by means of a union nut 29, which is screwed on the back of the strain relief 28. For this purpose, the strain relief 28 has a corresponding external thread. The cap nut 29 may, as well as the fastening nut 11 for fixing the connector to a device wall, be provided with means that a Prevent screwing by hand. These may be, for example, ratchet-like latching hooks.

To connect the cable connector 27, first the strain relief 28 and the cable seal 37 are pulled over the cable. Subsequently, the stripped cable are connected to the spring-loaded terminals and the strain relief 28 connected to the contact carrier 4 by axial snapping. The Fig. 11 to 13 show a corresponding female part 39 of a cable connector.

The described connectors can be plugged together to form socket-plug combinations. For example, the in Fig. 7 shown plug part 27 of the cable connector with the in Fig. 4 shown socket part 23 of a device connector plug are connected, etc. When connecting socket and plug part, the respective contact protection sleeves 6,24 are pushed together. In this case, then the inside of the protective cover 26 of the female part 23, 39 on the outside of the protective cover 7 of the plug part 1, 27, so that the attached to the plug part 1, 27 radial seal 21 bushing and plug part seals against each other.

An opener 40 for opening the lock shows Fig. 14 , The opener 40 has for attachment to the contact carrier 4, an at least semicircular ring segment 41, at the ends snap hooks 42 are attached. On the ring segment 41, a release lugs 44 is attached via a resilient web 43. On the Auslösoppen 44 opposite side of the web 43, an actuating surface 45 is attached.

For fixing the opener 40 on the contact carrier 4 has this, as in Fig. 15 shown, formed on its front end by an inner ring 46 and an outer ring 47 receiving groove 48. In the assembled state, the inner and outer rings 46, 47 simultaneously serve to receive the forces resulting from the actuation of the opener 40.

The receiving groove 48 has at least two latching recesses 49 for receiving the snap hooks 42 of the opener 40. The inner ring 46 points in the region of the locking window 20 an opening 50 for receiving the Öffnersteges 43, which extends in the mounted state of the receiving groove 48 to the locking window 20.

As in Fig. 16 illustrated, the opener 40 is arranged in the locked state on the contact carrier 4, that the trigger nubs 44 into the locking window 19 into it, without that he touches the locking tongue 16. Upon actuation of the opener 40 by deflecting the web 43 from its rest position, for example by the pressure of a finger on the actuating surface 45, the trigger nip 44 moves into the locking window 20 and pushes the locking hook 19 of the locking tongue 16 out of its locking position. Then can be done by pulling apart socket and plug part in the axial direction, a separation of the lock.

The FIGS. 17 and 18 show the plug faces 51, 52 of mutually associated plug contacts. In this case, 25 coding pins 53, 54 are integrally formed on the contact protection sleeves 24 of the socket contacts, which are introduced during mating of socket part 23 and plug part 27 in corresponding formed as recesses Kodierstiftaufnahmen 55, 56 of the connector part 27. The coding pins 53, 54 are integrally formed on the contact protection sleeves 24 of the female part 23, while the contact protection sleeves 6 of the male part 27 have corresponding pocket-like extensions designed as Kodierstiftaufnahmen 55,56.

In the three-pin connector shown, there are a total of twelve different coding options. These are in Fig. 19 shown schematically. The corresponding in Fig. 19a shown variant of the connector face Fig. 17 , Consistent with all coding variants, the anti-rotation pin 57 pointing into the center of the three plug contacts is on the socket part 23, which, together with a corresponding anti-rotation mount 58 on the plug part 27, forms an anti-rotation lock.

In Fig. 20 a two-piece device connector according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in a highly simplified sectional view. The device connector has all the features described above essential to the invention, as well as in the Fig. 1 to 6 are shown. In addition, the connector in this embodiment comprises an adapter element 101 which can be connected to the contact carrier. The adapter element 101 consists of a sleeve-shaped base body 102, for example of a plastic material, on which on its one side a tubular connection or extension piece is formed as a feed-through nozzle 103. The central longitudinal axis 104 of the main body 102 coincides with the central longitudinal axis 105 of the feed-through connection 103, so that the feed-through connection 103 extends away from the main body 102 in a straight line. On the side of the main body 102 opposite the feedthrough 103, the latter has a receiving opening 106 for a contact carrier. The contact carrier can be both a plug contact and a socket contact. By way of example, a schematic representation of a corresponding plug contact 107 is shown. The plug contact 107 has to form a releasable connection connecting elements in the form of locking tongues 108 which engage in corresponding detent recesses 109 on the base body 102 of the adapter element 101 and form a secure mechanical connection when merging contact carrier and adapter element 101. The bushing 103 is hollow on the inside, so that electrical connection or connection cable can be passed through the bushing 103 and the body 102 through to the contact carrier and can be connected there to the contact elements of the plug contact. On the outer circumference of the feedthrough 103, a screw thread 110 is attached. A fixing nut 111 mounted on the feedthrough 103 serves to mount the adapter element 101 in a housing opening 112 of a housing wall 113. In other words, the adapter element 101 is fixed to the housing wall 113 with its rear side 114 facing away from the contact carrier. To ensure the tightness of the connector, a round seal 115 is provided, which surrounds the feed-through nozzle 103 and rests against the main body rear side 114.

While conventional connector housings are designed, for example, for mounting in an M 25 mounting opening, the bushing 103 has a smaller diameter in the exemplary embodiment, so that mounting in a housing opening 112 for M 20 threads (corresponding to PG 13.5) is also possible.

Fig. 21 shows a further embodiment of an adapter element 101 in a again greatly simplified sectional view. As a contact carrier to be connected, a female contact 117 is now shown by way of example. The adapter element 116 differs from the adapter element 101 described above in that the feed-through connection 103 is attached at an angle to the base body 102 of the adapter element 116. The central longitudinal axis 105 of the feed-through stub 103 corresponds to the central longitudinal axis 104 of the main body 102 at a connection angle α of approximately 30 °. Other adapter elements may have different connection angles α in the range of 90 ° to 180 °. In accordance with the position of the housing opening 112 or the housing wall 113, the rear side 114 of the main body 102 extends obliquely to the main body central axis 104.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Device connection plug = plug part

2

device wall

3

Front end

4

contact support

5

pin

6

Contact Protective sleeve

7

protective shell

8th

stop collar

9

axial seal

10

Housing inside

11

fixing nut

12

external thread

13

Rear end face

14

contact area

15

Push-In Contact

16

locking tab

17

plug-in direction

18

longitudinal shaft

19

locking hook

20

locking element

21

radial seal

22

receiving groove

23

Device connection plug - socket

24

Shock sleeve

25

Contact socket

26

cover

27

Cable connector - plug part

28

Strain relief

29

Nut

30

latch hook

31

radial seal

32

receiving element

33

Front end

34

latching opening

35

back

36

holder

37

cable seal

38

external thread

39

Cable connector - socket part

40th

opener

41

ring segment

42

snap hooks

43

web

44

burl

45

actuating surface

46

Inner ring

47

Outer ring

48

receiving groove

49

recesses

50

breakthrough

51

Plug face - plug part

52

Plug face - socket part

53

Polarizing

54

Ködierstift

55

Kodierstiftaufnahme

56

Ködierstiftaufnahme

57

Verdrehsicherungstift

58

Verdrehsicherungsaufnahme

101

Adapter element 101

102

body

103

Bushing connection piece

104

Center longitudinal axis of the body

105

Center longitudinal axis of the feedthrough

106

receiving opening

107

plug Contact

108

catch tongue

109

latching receptacle

110

screw thread

111

fixing nut

112

housing opening

113

housing wall

114

back

115

round seal

116

adapter element

117

female contact

Claims (17)

1. Electrical plug-in connector (1, 23, 27, 39)

   - having a connection mechanism, which closes automatically when the parts (1, 23, 27, 39) to be connected are joined together, for the purpose of forming a plug/socket connection having a further plug-in connector, and

   - having a radial seal (21), which is arranged on a contact-protection sleeve (6, 24), for the purpose of sealing the parts (1, 23, 27, 39), which are connected to one another, in the region of overlap between the two plug-in connectors which are to be connected to one another, characterized in that the contact-protection sleeves (6, 24) are for their part enclosed by triangular protective casings (7, 26).
2. Plug-in connector according to Claim 1, characterized by a radial seal (21) on the protective casing (7, 26).
3. Plug-in connector according to Claim 2, characterized by a connection mechanism having a locking tongue (16), which is provided with at least one locking hook (19) and points in the plug-in direction (17), for the purpose of inserting it into a locking opening (18).
4. Plug-in connector according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by a mounting element for the purpose of fixing the plug-in connector to a device wall (2).
5. Plug-in connector according to Claim 4, characterized by an axial seal (9) arranged on the mounting element.
6. Plug-in connector according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized by an adapter element (101, 116), having a bushing connection piece (103) which is passed through a housing opening (112) or the like and having a connection element for the purpose of forming a connection with a contact carrier, the bushing connection piece (103) having outer dimensions which are different from those of the rest of the adapter element (101, 116).
7. Plug-in connector according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized by a connection mechanism, which closes automatically when the parts to be connected are joined together, for the purpose of connecting a contact carrier (4) of the plug-in connector to a strain-relief device (28) and a radial seal (31) for the purpose of sealing the parts which are connected to one another.
8. Plug-in connector according to Claim 7, characterized in that the strain-relief device (28) can be pushed onto the contact carrier (4), and the radial seal (31) is arranged in the region of overlap.
9. Plug-in connector according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the connection mechanism has latching elements (30, 34) fitted on the contact carrier (4) and the strain-relief device (28).
10. Plug-in connector according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the connection mechanism can only be opened using an actuating tool.
11. Plug-in connector according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the radial seal (21, 31) is arranged such that, when the connection mechanism is released, even a very short release path is sufficient for overcoming the frictional forces of the radial seal (21, 31).
12. Plug-in connector according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises an opener (40) for the purpose of opening the connection mechanism.
13. Plug-in connector according to Claim 12, characterized in that the opener (40) is connected to the plug-in connector such that it can be released, preferably so as to form a latching connection.
14. Plug-in connector according to Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the opener (40) has a release element, which is fixed to an actuating element which can be deflected, for the purpose of opening the connection mechanism.
15. Plug-in connector according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized by a contact-protection sleeve (6, 24), which is associated with a plug-in contact (5, 25), having a pocket- or web-shaped anti-rotation element (57, 58).
16. Plug-in connector according to one of Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that each plug-in contact (5, 25) has a contact-protection sleeve (6, 24), and at least one pocket- or web-shaped encoding element (53, 54; 55, 56) is associated with at least one contact-protection sleeve.
17. Plug-in connector according to Claim 16, characterized in that at least one of the encoding elements (53, 54; 55, 56) points in the direction of a contact-protection sleeve which is arranged on a further contact plane.

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