EP1650833B1 - Adapter for an electrical connector and connector having such an adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

The adaptor includes a disk (60) with an axial opening (64) for the conductors (52) of the respective cables (50). The disc has a cone (62) formed on its rear side, facing the cable, with a central opening aligned with the axial opening (54) in the disk. A complementary disk (70) is fixed and positioned on the disk, and has an opening (72) adapted to the cone, so that one cable can be inserted with its conductors through the respective opening., and the screening braiding (68) and sheath (66) of a cable are pressed together between the cone and the opening (72). An independent claim is included for a round connector.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to an adapter for connecting the electrical Adem of at least one electrical cable to an electrical connector, in particular to an electrical circular connector. The invention also relates to a connector equipped with such an adapter, such as circular connectors. Such connectors are used extensively in the military field, but also in civil air, sea and land vehicles, such as among other things in the underground area of locomotives.

STATE OF THE ART

There are known tubular adapter, which each have a screw thread at its two axial ends, so that they can be screwed with one end to an electrical circular connector. On the other axial end of the adapter, through which the one or more cables to be connected to the plug are guided into the interior thereof, a union nut is screwed. The shield braid of each one of the guided into the interior of the plug cable is bent in the interior of the adapter around a cone ring arranged there by almost 180 degrees and held squeezed between the cone ring and the tube shell of the adapter. The mounting of the shielding braid on the outer lateral surface of the conical ring tapering in the direction of the plug is very expensive. If a single conical ring is present, which encloses several cables at the same time, the shielding is practically possible only for the outer cable of the existing cable package. It is therefore known to surround each of the existing cables with a single cone ring. Such a construction proves to be extremely easy to install in practical operation, especially with a large number of cables to be connected to the plug. Apart from that, the tensile forces acting on the cable (s) act on the braided screen. The strain relief thus depends on the tensile strength of the shield braid and on the squeezing action with which the braided shield between the conical rings or the tube shell of the adapter is held. Such a strain relief is not technically desirable.

The European patent application EP 0 546 657 A2 discloses a connector with which the individual cables of this connector remain easily accessible. To a threaded connector to an adapter is releasably attached, in which a cable guide is fitted rotationally fixed in the form of a disc. This disc has the individual cables adapted through openings through which the cables are passed.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

Based on this known prior art, the present invention seeks to provide a technically flawless and easy to install way to connect one or more cables to an electrical connector.

This invention is given to the adapter to be connected to an electrical connector by the features of claim 1 and for a connector equipped with such an adapter by the features of claim 20. Useful developments of the invention are the subject of further claims.

Essentially, the invention includes that a type of conical ring is provided for each cable, which, in contrast to the prior art, does not taper in the direction of the plug in the insertion direction of the cable, but in the opposite direction. As a result, the screen braid lying on the lateral surface of the conical ring need only be bent upwards by less than 90 degrees from the axial orientation of the cable. It is not necessary to bend the shielding braid about an angle greater than 90 degrees, as is required in the prior art in the case of a circular connector. This facilitates the installation of a cable quite crucial by the cable needs to be pushed with expanded braided shield and in particular also widened jacket on each cone in the direction of insertion of the cable. Simultaneously with the braided shield, the cable is also pushed onto the cone, so that the strain relief is caused by pinch effect on the jacket of the cable.

The cone ring can be realized by a disc with attached cone. This cone can be integrally connected to the disc or a separate part to the disc. The cone adapted to the opening in the counter-disk can be realized by a correspondingly shaped insert ring in the respective bore of the counter-disk.

In particular, with multiple cables, the crushing effect on the braided shield and the jacket of the cable in question with the cone ring known in the art can only be made in a structurally very complicated way by the adapter itself. It has therefore been found to be very advantageous to arrange between the tube shell of the adapter and each cone a counter-disc with the shape of each cone adapted through holes. By sliding this counter-disk in the insertion direction of the individual cables on the disc containing the cones, the braided screen and the cable sheath of each existing cable can be arranged firmly inside the adapter.

It is possible to fasten the disc and the counter-disc together, in particular to screw together. It is then possible to insert a cable already attached to the disk and the counter disk as a prefabricated part as a whole into the adapter and thus into the plug. The wires of the individual cables of such a prefabricated cable bundle then only need to be electrically connected in the plug.

The axial immovable attachment of the disc optionally with the counter-disc can be effected in a circular connector by a cap nut, which can be screwed onto the rear end of the adapter. This cap nut then presses with an annular ceiling area the disc or the back against the disc-fitting counter-disc against the adapter. It is also possible to attach the disc to the adapter. This can be done for example by means of a locking ring, which can be used in an end in the adapter ring groove. In a non-circular cross-section adapter instead of the cap nut a perforated disc attached to the adapter such as are screwed.

The rear opening in the cap nut or in the perforated disc can be closed by a sealing material. This sealing material may be a potting material. In this way, according to the particular application, sufficiently waterproof cable connection can be created on a connector. The rear opening in the cap nut can also be sealed by a sealing ring. The same applies to the sealing of the cap nut relative to the adapter. The connector may be circular or polygonal in cross-section Accordingly, the outline shape of the disc and the counter-disc can then be circular or polygonal.

Further embodiments and advantages of the invention can be found in the claims further listed in the claims and the following embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Fig. 1

eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht eines Adapters, der an einem Stecker einer elektrischen Rundsteckverbindung aufgeschraubt ist,

Fig. 2

die bei dem Adapter nach Fig. 1 vorhandenen Scheiben und Gegenscheiben in voneinander getrennter

Fig. 3

und in aneinander befestigter Konfiguration,

Fig. 4

eine getrennte Darstellung einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer Scheibe und Gegenscheibe,

Fig. 5

ausschnittsweise Darstellung ähnlich der von Fig. 1, mit einem einzelnen, in einen Adapter eingeführten Kabels,

Fig. 6

eine gegenüber der der Fig. 2 bis 4 abgewandelte Ausführungsform,

Fig. 7

eine gegenüber der der Fig. 5 abgewandelte Ausführungsform,

Fig. 8

ein perspektivisch auseinander gezogene Darstellung von einigen Teilen des Adapters nach Fig. 5,

Fig. 9

eine perspektivisch auseinander gezogene Darstellung eines Teil-Montagezustandes eines an einem Stecker anzubringenden Adapters nach der Erfindung.

The invention will be described and explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a partially sectioned view of an adapter which is screwed to a plug of a circular electrical connection,

Fig. 2

according to the adapter Fig. 1 existing discs and counter-discs in separate

Fig. 3

and in attached configuration,

Fig. 4

a separate representation of another embodiment of a disc and counter-disc,

Fig. 5

partial representation similar to that of Fig. 1 with a single cable inserted into an adapter,

Fig. 6

one opposite the one Fig. 2 to 4 modified embodiment,

Fig. 7

one opposite the one Fig. 5 modified embodiment,

Fig. 8

a perspective exploded view of some parts of the adapter Fig. 5 .

Fig. 9

a perspective exploded view of a partial mounting state of an adapter to be mounted on a plug according to the invention.

WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An approximately tubular adapter 10 has a tube jacket 12, whose - in Fig. 1 - Left end has a toothed end face 14. This left end face 14 of the tubular jacket 12 is surrounded by a union nut 16 which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis 18 of the adapter 10.

The cap nut 16 has an internal screw thread 20 which is screwed onto the external thread 22 of a circular connector, which in this case is a plug 24. The adapter 10 facing the end of this plug 24 has a toothed end face 26 which is adapted to the toothed end face 14 of the adapter 10 so that the two end faces 14, 26 meshing with each other.

In the in Fig. 1 left end of the plug 24 can screw the right in the drawing end of a socket 34, and this is known per se in the art. The design of the plug 24 is known in the art.

The left union nut 16 is axially fixed by means of a locking ring 36 and rotatable about the longitudinal axis 18 on the adapter 10th

This in Fig. 1 right, rear end of the adapter 10 is widened in diameter relative to its other, left end. This flared, right end has an external screw thread 40. On this screw thread a cap nut 42 is screwed from the rear end. This cap nut 42 has a ceiling portion 44 which is present as an annular inner shoulder. This ceiling region 44 encloses a central opening 46 in the cap nut 42.

Through this opening 46 a plurality of cables 50 are guided into the interior of the adapter 10 in the present case and the plurality of wires 52 of each of these cables 50 electrically connected to the plug 24, which is not shown in detail in the drawing.

Between the ceiling portion 44 of the cap nut 42 and the rear planar end face 54 of the adapter 10, a disc 60 and a counter-disc 70 is placed, which engage with each other, as described in more detail below.

The disc 60 has individual cones 62, which in the present case are integrally connected to the disc 60 and taper in the direction of the cables 50 inserted into the adapter. The disk 60 and its respective cone 62 have a common passage opening 64 passing through both parts.

The passage openings 72 present in the counter disk 70 widen in the direction of the plug 24 and have such an opening contour that, in the interlinked state of the disk 60 and the counter disk 70, which is in Fig. 1 between the respective cone 62 and the reveal of the opening 72, both the cable sheath 66 and the shield braid 68 of the relevant cable 50 fit and in which Fig. 1 state shown firmly between the disc 60 and counter-disc 70 are held compressed. The cable sheath 66 of the cable 50 is thus still present in the area of the counter-disk 70.

The individual wires 52 of each cable 50 are guided through the through hole 64 of the respective cone 62 in the interior of the adapter 10 and secured in the interior of the plug 24 in a conventional manner.

The opening 46 of the cap nut 42 is subsequently closed by a potting material 76 in the present case and thus sealed.

To seal the cap nut 42 relative to the adapter 10, an O-ring 58 is present between these parts.

As the FIGS. 2 and 3 clarify the disc 60 and the counter-disc 70 may be screwed together by means of screws 78 in the axial direction.

The discs 60 and the counter-disc 70 are rotatably connected to each other. This is effected in the present case by at least one bolt 69, which projects out of the counter-disk 70 in the axial direction and engages in a blind hole 60 which fits in the end face 54 of the disks ( Fig.1 ).

The counter-disk 70 does not have to rest against the disk 60 over its entire surface. The counter-disk 70 only has to be positioned so close to the disk 60 in the axial direction that the cable sheath 66 and the two-dimensional mesh 68 between the disk 60 and their respective cone 62 and the openings 72 of the counter-disc 70 can be kept compressed.

At the in Fig. 4 shown disc 60.4 and counter-disc 70.4 are each planar radial outer surfaces available. In the disc 60.4 a blind hole 61 is provided, in which the cone 62.4 fits with its circular cylindrical projection 65. The lateral surface 63 of this projection 65 is then flat against the blind hole 61. The rear end of this cone 62.4 corresponds to the cone 62 of the disc 60. This cone 62.4 fits into the through hole 72 of an insert ring 75 inside. This insert ring 75 has a circular cylindrical surface 73, which fits into a blind hole 71 which is present in the counter-disk 70.4. In the discs 60.4 and counter-disc 70.4 so a multi-part construction of disc, cone and counter-disc is available. Functionally, this corresponds to Fig. 4 illustrated training of disc and counter-disc of the corresponding disc and counter-disc FIGS. 2 and 3 , The disc 60.4 and the counter-disk 70.4 can be fastened by means of screws 78 in the axial direction to each other, as well as in connection with the FIGS. 2 and 3 already described.

The construction according to Fig. 5 is different from that of Fig. 1 in that only a single cable 50 is inserted in the adapter 10.5. By means of its existing at its left end union nut 16, a plug, not shown here, on the one hand be attached to the adapter 10.5 and on the other hand screwed to a power outlet.

On the adapter 10.5 a disc 60.5 is present, which illustrates the end-side thickening of a cone 62. In the disc 60.5, a U-shaped circumferential groove 82 is provided, in which a locking ring 84 is inserted. The locking ring 84 is in plan, i. in the axial direction, approximately U-shaped and is used in the assembly in the radial direction in the U-shaped groove 82.

The counter-disk 70.5 has only one through-opening 72, corresponding to the only individual cable 50 present, and consists in the present example of an elastically somewhat compressible material. This may be a rubber and / or plastic containing material. From his back, in Fig. 5 right end of the adapter 10.5 is screwed again a cap nut 42.5, which has a Interposed disc 86 presses against the counter-disc 70.5. In the cap nut 42.5, the opening 46.5 for a cable 50 is present.

Between the cap nut 42.5 and the adapter 10.5 a sealing O-ring 90 is inserted. Also between the union nut 16 and the in Fig. 4 left end of the adapter 10.5 is a comparable O-ring 92 sealingly available. A similar to this O-ring 92 O-ring is also in the adapter 10 ( Fig. 1 ) available. The O-ring 90 corresponds to the O-ring 58 of the adapter 10 (FIG. Fig. 1 ).

The circumference of the discs and the counter discs need not be circular. It may also be polygonal, so that these disc designs can also be used in connectors that are not circular connectors, but have a square or other polygonal cross-section, for example.

The in Fig. 6 adapter 10.6 shown in detail differs from the adapter 10 only to the effect that its disc 60.6 and its counter-disc 70.6 are bolted together with screws 78.6, in contrast to the adapter 10 from the direction of the in Fig. 6 not shown plug 24 ( Fig.1 ) are screwed through the disc 60.6 in each case in one of the existing in the counter-disk 70.6 screw holes. The screwing direction of the screws 78.6 is thus exactly opposite to the screwing direction of the screws 78 (FIG. Fig. 3.4 ). This opposite screwing direction makes it possible that the counter-disk 70.6 in the area of the screws 78.6 on the in Fig. 6 right outside can be closed. Since this is the case with the adapter 10 (FIG. Fig. 1 ) is not the case, there is provided for the axial sealing a potting material. This potting material is in the adapter 10.6 ( Fig. 6 ) is not required because of the closed outside of the counter-disk 70.6. It is sufficient if, instead, an O-ring, not shown in the drawing, between the counter-disk 70.6 and the cap nut 42 (FIG. Fig. 1 ) is arranged. This O-ring then seals the adapter 10.6 to the outside and thus fulfills the sealing measure, which is realized in the adapter 10 by the potting material 76. A similar to the O-ring 58 O-ring between the cap nut and the adapter is present in this adapter 10.6.

The in Fig. 7 shown adapter 10.7 largely corresponds to the in Fig. 5 illustrated adapter 10.5. Different is its locking ring 84.7, which, like the Fig. 8 illustrated, has a cross-section U- or C-shaped form. This C-shaped form prevents the elastic counter-disc 70.5 from being deformed in the axial direction into the intermediate space 85 (FIG. Fig. 5 ), which in training according to Fig. 5 there in the axial direction between the locking ring 84 and the counter-disk 70.5 is present. In Fig. 7 the locking ring 84.7 is shown in the lower part of the drawing only with its radial inner cross-sectional area. A space comparable to the space 85 is not present in the adapter 10.7.

The locking ring 84.7 is circumferentially not closed and has a missing area, which complements, and thus the locking ring is virtually closed circumferentially, by a projecting portion 100 of the adapter 10.7 in the axial direction. This subregion 100 represents an axial extension of the tubular jacket 12.7 of the adapter 10.7 in a peripheral region. This is shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG Fig. 8 clear. In Fig. 7 This subarea 100 can be seen in the lower half of this image. Through this portion 100 which cooperates circumferentially with the locking ring 84.7, a rotationally secure attitude of the locking ring 84.7 is secured to the adapter 10.7.

The locking ring 84.7 engages with a radial inner portion 102 in the groove 82 of the disc 60.5, as is the case with the adapter 10.5 above.

The inner bottom 106 of the annular groove 82 has in axial view the outline of a square with angled corners. The inner recess of the locking ring 84.7 has two opposite planar surfaces 108,110. If the locking ring 84.7 is pushed onto the disk 60.5 in the radial direction, the bottom 106 bears against the two surfaces 108, 110 of the locking ring 84.7 with two opposite bottom sides. To facilitate assembly, the disc 60.5 twisted by any 90 degrees can be pushed into the locking ring 84.7. This is made possible by the square shape of the groove bottom 106.

In which the two surfaces 108,110 of the locking ring 84.7 connecting inner surface region 112 is a cross-sectionally approximately circular portion-shaped recess 114 is present. This recess 114 allows spreading of the two ends 118,120 of the locking ring 84.7. This spreading is required so that the locking ring 84.7 laterally slid onto the disc 60.5 can be. In the pushed state of the locking ring 84.7 engages with its two ends 118,120, the outer groove wall 122 outside its flattened central peripheral region 128th

Circumferentially, the locking ring 84.7 complements with the portion 100 of the adapter 10.7 to a full circle ring.

In contrast to the outer groove wall 122, which has four opposite flattened, central peripheral regions 128, the inner groove wall 130 is formed as a circular disk.

In Fig. 8 are items in the area of the disc 60.5 shown. In the existing between the two groove walls 122,130 of the disc 60.5 groove 82 engage radially inner portions 102 of the locking ring 84.7 partially. With its remaining cross-sectional area of the locking ring is 84.7 radially outside the disc 60.5. Its outer end face 132 forms a support wall for the counter-disk 70.5. This end face 132 prevents the counter-disc 70.5 axially relative to the Fig. 7 - can move to the left.

On the cone 62 of the disc 60.5 sits on the opposite disc 70.5, which in turn is covered by a disc 86 from the outside. The above-described locking ring 84.7, and the like is also true for locking ring 84, is not a closed ring, but is how out Fig. 8 it can be seen, a ring portion and has an approximately U- or C-shaped configuration.

Fig. 9 represents an intermediate mounting state of the adapter 10.7. The wires 52 of a cable 50 have been connected to a plug 24, after the disc 60.5 with its cone 62 under the braided shield and the jacket 66 of the cable 50 in the rearward direction - Fig. 9 from left to right - has been pushed in. The tube shell 12 with screwed on it union nut 16 has previously been pushed backwards on the cable, as well as the counter-disc 70.5, the disc 86 and the cap nut 42.7

Subsequently to the in Fig. 9 state shown, the pipe jacket 12.7 is slid over the disc 60.5 with the union nut and screwed to the plug 24. Subsequently, the disc 60.5 is aligned on the part 100 of the tube shell 12.7 and the locking ring 84.7 inserted into the disc 60.5, as is described above. Subsequently, the cap nut 42.7 is then screwed onto the tube jacket 12.

Fig. 9 illustrates that there is sufficient space for connecting the wires 52 to the plug 24, which greatly facilitates the assembly.

Claims (20)

1. Adapter (10, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7) for connecting the electrical cores (52) of at least one electrical cable (50) to an electrical plug connector (24),

   - it being possible for a disc (60, 60.4, 60.5, 60.6) with at least one axial opening (64) for the cores (52) of in each case one electrical cable (50) to be positioned on or in the adapter such that it cannot be displaced in the axial direction,

   characterized in that

   - the disc (60, 60.4, 60.5, 60.6) has, on its rear disc side, which is directed towards the at least one cable (50), a conical cone (62, 62.4) which tapers in the direction of projection and has a central passage opening which is aligned with the axial opening (64) in the disc (60, 60.4, 60.5, 60.6),

   - a mating disc (70, 70.4, 70.5, 70.6) can be positioned firmly on the disc (60, 60.4, 60.5, 60.6),

   - the mating disc (70, 70.4, 70.5, 70.6) has a passage opening (72) which is matched to the cone (62, 62.4) in such a way that in each case one cable (50) together with its cores (52) can be pushed though the relevant opening, and that the screen mesh (68) and the cable sheath (66) of a cable (50) can be held such that they can be pressed together between the cone (62, 62.4) and the passage opening (72) in the mating disc (70, 70.4, 70.5, 70.6).
2. Adapter according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that

   - a first screw thread (20) is present on the adapter (10, 10.5, 10.6) at that one axial end of the tubular adapter (10, 10.5, 10.6) which is designed for screw-connection to a round plug connector,

   - a second screw thread (40) is present on the adapter (10, 10.5, 10.6) at the other axial end of the adapter (10, 10.5, 10.6),

   - a box nut (42, 42.5, 42.7) with an axial opening (46, 46.4) for the cable (50) or cables (50) to be connected can be screwed onto the second screw thread (40) .
3. Adapter according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that

   - the cone (62, 62.4) is integrally connected to the disc (60, 60.5, 60.6) or is a part (62.4) which is separate from this disc (60.5).
4. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that

   - an insertion ring (75) can be inserted into the mating disc (70.4), the inner face of the said insertion ring corresponding to the shape of the passage opening (72) which is matched to the cone (62.4) .
5. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that

   - the disc (60, 60.4) can be held such that it can be pressed-in between the end face (54) of the adapter and the cover regions (44) of the box nut (42).
6. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that

   - the mating disc (70) can be held, such that it can be pressed-in, between the disc (60) and the cover regions (44) of the box nut (42).
7. Adapter according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that

   - the disc (60, 60.4, 60.5) can be held on the adapter (10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7) such that it cannot rotate.
8. Adapter according to Claim 6 or 7,
   characterized in that

   - a sealing material can be inserted into the opening region which is present between the at least one cable (50) and the cover region (44) of the box nut (42, 42.4).
9. Adapter according to Claim 8,
   characterized in that

   - the sealing material is casting material (76).
10. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that

    - a sealing ring (58, 90) is present between the box nut (42) and the mating disc (70) and/or between the box nut (42) and the adapter (10).
11. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that

    - the disc (60, 60.6) and mating disc (70, 70.6) can be fixed to one another, for example in particular can be screwed (78, 78.6) to one another.
12. Adapter according to Claim 11,
    characterized in that

    - a blind hole, which has an internal thread, is present in the mating disc (70.6) for the purpose of firmly screwing the shaft end of the at least one screw (78.6).
13. Adapter according to Claim 7,
    characterized in that

    - the disc (60) and the tubular casing (12) of the adapter (10) are bolted to one another by means of at least one bolt (69) and are therefore connected to one another such that they cannot rotate about the longitudinal axis (18).
14. Adapter according to Claim 7,
    characterized in that

    - the tubular casing (12.7) of the adapter (10.7) partially envelops the disc (60.5) by way of a circumferential sub-region (100), which projects in the axial direction, in one cross-sectional plane,

    - a blocking ring (84.7) is present as a ring section such that it partially envelops the disc (60.5) in the same cross-sectional plane in a different sub-region which circumferentially complements the sub-region (100), so that the disc (60.5) is present such that it is fixed in terms of rotation relative to the adapter (10.7).
15. Adapter according to Claim 14,
    characterized in that

    - the blocking ring (84.7) which envelops the disc (60.5) in a sub-region partially engages in an annular groove (82) in the disc (60.5).
16. Adapter according to Claim 15,
    characterized in that

    - the inner base (106) of the annular groove (82) has a shape which differs from the circular shape, in particular a square shape, in the axial direction.
17. Adapter according to one of Claims 14 to 16,
    characterized in that

    - the blocking ring (84.7) can be pushed onto the disc (60.5), in particular pushed into its annular groove (82), in the radial direction in the manner of a clip.
18. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that

    - the disc (60, 60.4, 60.5, 60.6) and mating disc (70, 70.4, 70.5, 70.6) are designed to be electromagnetically compatible.
19. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that

    - the mating disc (70, 70.4, 70.5, 70.6) comprises electromagnetically compatible material or material containing rubber or plastic.
20. Plug connector, for example in particular round plug connector,
    characterized by

    - an adapter (10, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7) according to one of the preceding claims.

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