EP1913661B1 - Plug with retainer spring for an earth contact - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a plug with a sleeve and with a position of use in the sleeve arranged insulator and with elongated contacts which are held in holes or holes in the insulator, wherein a contact is arranged as a grounding contact parallel to the other contacts within a perforation or bore which has a lateral opening for an electrically conductive retaining spring which defines the grounding contact in the position of use in its perforation or bore.

Such a plug is off EP 1 275 173 B1 known and has proven itself, because it is easy to manufacture and in a one-piece design of the insulator fixing the contacts, whether contact pins, be it contact socket, in a simple manner.

It goes out EP 1 275 173 B1 also the possibility of grounding one of the contact pins with a retaining spring, so to use it as a ground contact and at the same time set in the axial direction of its course within the insulator. The retaining spring provided here has two grounding detent engaging and encompassing spring arms and must be inserted after insertion of the grounding contact radially through a lateral opening of the insulator. This complicates the assembly, because the contact pin is only then fixed in the correct position when the retaining spring is mounted in turn. In addition, the existing contact surface on the spring arms is relatively small.

It is therefore an object to provide a connector of the type defined, in which the mounting of the ground contact is simplified and the contact surface can be increased.

To achieve this object, it is provided that the male part of the contact spring carries at least one extending on its outside spring arm, which has a free, the male part projecting end a radially inwardly extending, in the insertion of the ground contact projection, the grounding contact in the use position acted upon fixing and that the grounding contact on the acted upon by the projection of the spring arm position has a recess and the pivoting of the spring arm corresponds to at least the depth of engagement of its projection in this recess or recess.

In this way it is possible to use the retaining spring with its plug-in part from the side in the insulating body and then move the grounding contact as the other contacts, be it pins or sockets, axially in its position of use and position. The earthing contact automatically penetrates the plug-in part and comes into contact with it. The male part and the retaining spring can So be provided on the insulating body before the grounding contact is mounted. Accordingly easy then the assembly of this grounding contact by a simple insertion into its hole or hole, and also in the male part of the retaining spring. At the same time, the spring arm with its projection fix the grounding contact, so set, so that a simple, even previously usual insertion movements for the ground contact sufficient to mount it.

When inserting the grounding contact in his hole or hole so the projection of the spring arm is first pressed by the penetrating ground contact to the side and thereby deflected the spring arm until it springs into the recess and thereby fix the grounding contact. Thus, when inserting the grounding contact automatically creates a snap or snap fastening by the electrically conductive retaining spring.

The spring arm can protrude with a relaxed spring with its projection through a lateral opening of the insulating body in the interior of the opening or bore and be radially pivotable through the pluggable grounding contact. As mentioned, therefore, the grounding contact in its axial insertion movements in this way, the first partially in its displacement projection of the spring arm displace laterally or radially, thereby pivoting the spring arm until the serving to engage the projection of the spring arm recess has arrived in the region of this projection , In this case, the lateral opening for the projection of the spring arm can be arranged in the axial direction adjacent to the lateral opening for the insertion of the male part in the insulating body. Thus, the insulator is provided as little as necessary with lateral openings or they have the smallest possible size, on the one hand sufficient to pass the male part, and on the other hand, an adjacent opening with a correspondingly smaller dimension, the passage of the projection of the spring arm in the radial direction of outside in the path of the ground contact allows. In addition, the part of the insulating located between the side openings supports the spring arm from the inside, so that it can rest firmly against the inside of the sleeve and ground.

It is particularly favorable if the depression on the earth contact for the engagement of the projection of the spring arm rotates annularly and / or is delimited in the plug-in direction by a peripheral ring or collar, which on its side remote from the recess is in particular tapered, conical or frustoconical ,

The ring shape of the recess makes it possible to introduce the grounding contact, which usually has a circular cross-section, in any rotational orientation in its hole or bore and still allow the snap or snap connection with the tongue-like projection of the spring arm. The tapered shape of the boundary of the recess in the insertion direction before this depression facilitates the lateral displacement of the spring arm with its projection.

For a precise positioning of the grounding contact, it may be advantageous if the projection of the spring arm on its free end has a particular oriented in the axial direction retaining tongue or broadening, whereby the depression filled or a stop can be made to one of the boundaries of the recess, if the ground contact would have reached its exact axial position.

It is particularly favorable if the insertion part of the retaining spring has a larger lateral dimension than the lateral opening of the insulating body and corresponds approximately to the lateral dimension or the diameter of the hole or hole for the ground contact, and if the insertion part transversely to its inner longitudinal cavity or in the radial direction against its elasticity is compressible so far that it can be inserted through the side opening, which may also be slightly conical. The plug can therefore be brought by a lateral opening of the insulating in its position of use and then engage behind the edges of the lateral opening due to its inherent elasticity, so that it is held captive and largely positive fit. Advantageously, thus, the retaining spring can be pre-assembled, so that subsequently only the grounding contact has to be inserted and locked in order to finish the assembly.

It is favorable that the insertion in the position of use by him in particular by a form-fitting interspersed. Grounding contact is secured or locked against radial compression. Located. the grounding contact in the use position so the retaining spring can not be pulled out of the lateral opening of the insulator. At the same time, however, the spring arm extends to this outer side outside the lateral opening and can come into contact with the insulating body receiving sleeve to bring about the desired grounding.

It is expedient if the insertion part of the retaining spring is designed as a sleeve, which touches the grounding contact in the position of use on the outside at least partially flat. A correspondingly large contact surface between the retaining spring and grounding contact is available in this way. In this case, the electrically conductive retaining spring of at least partially electrical current conductive material, in particular made of metal.

Further, it is advantageous if the sleeve-shaped insertion part has at least one extending approximately in the axial direction, in particular continuous slot or the like interruption and in the relaxed state has a smaller cross-section than the ground contact. This expands when inserted into its position of use the male part, so that it is pressed well by the restoring forces occurring at the ground contact and leads to a correspondingly secure electrical contact.

The spring arm may in particular be integrally attached to the front end in the insertion direction of the retaining spring and its plug-in part and extending in the insertion direction. As a result, this spring arm extends over a maximum length of the retaining spring and can make good contact with the sleeve of the plug. In addition occurs in the axial insertion of the ground contact and its application to the projection of the spring arm in addition to the radial pivoting on a certain axial load, which acts in the above arrangement as a tensile force on the spring arm and therefore can not lead to its compression.

Particularly inexpensive is the retaining spring when with her Insertion and in particular with its spring arm is integrally bent from a part or stamped part. A slightly wider part of such a stamped part can be rolled into a sleeve, while a narrow part extending from this wider part can form the spring arm, at the free end of which the aforementioned projection can optionally be formed with additional retaining tongue or the like widening.

It should be noted that the spring arm of the retaining spring may have a widening extending in the transverse direction of its extension broadening to increase the contact area to the inside of the current-conducting sleeve of the plug.

Especially when combining one or more of the features and measures described above results in a plug with insulating body, grounding contact and this grounding contact detecting and festlegender retaining spring which can be mounted by simple plug-in movements, yet the grounding contact can be well fixed, contacted and positioned, because the retaining spring not only produces the electrical contact, but also causes the fixing and attachment of the grounding contact with the aid of a spring arm, this spring arm has a dual function, because he also makes contact with the sleeve of the plug in addition to this fixation of the grounding contact. This spring arm is thus at the same time a grounding spring.

A relatively simple manufacture of the parts on the one hand and an effective contact on the other hand results when the spring arm serving as a grounding arm has a flat, so rectilinear limited cross-section and in the use position in the cross-sectional arcuate joint between the circular in cross-section inside the sleeve and the Outside of the insulating body is clamped. Since the cross section of the spring arm does not exactly match that of the joint, it is correspondingly strongly pressed at the respective contact points and possibly also somewhat deformed, which leads to correspondingly good electrical contacts.

Fig. 1

eine Darstellung der einzelnen Teile des erfindungsgemäßen Steckers kurz vor ihrer Montage, also den Isolierkörper und die Haltefeder, bevor diese von der Seite her in den Isolierkörper eingefügt wird, wonach dann der Erdungskontakt axial eingesteckt und der gesamte Isolierkörper in die Hülse eingeschoben werden können,

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht des montierten Steckers gemäß Fig.1,

Fig. 3

einen Querschnitt des Steckers gemäß der Linie A-A in Fig.2,

Fig. 4

einen Teilausschnitt gemäß dem in Fig.3 umgrenzten Bereich B durch den Erdungskontakt und die ihn erfassende Haltefeder in gegenüber Fig. 3 vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 5,

einen Längsschnitt des Isolierkörpers und des montierten Erdungskontakts sowie weiterer Kontakte, wobei die Schnittebene durch die Längsmitte des Erdungskontakts verläuft und der Federarm der ebenfalls teilweise im Schnitt sichtbaren Haltefeder in Gebrauchslage erkennbar ist,

Fig. 6

eine schaubildliche Seitenansicht einer Haltefeder mit Einsteckteil, Federarm und Vorsprung,' wobei die Haltefeder an dem in Einsteckrichtung vorderen Ende des Einsteckteils einstückig über Abbiegungen befestigt ist und in Einsteckrichtung eines Erdungskontakts etwa parallel zur Längsmittelachse des Einsteckteils verläuft,

Fig. 7

eine Abwicklung der Haltefeder gemäß Fig.6 beziehungsweise ein beispielsweise ausgestanztes Teil, aus welchem die Haltefeder gemäß Fig.6 gebogen und gefertigt werden kann,

Fig. 8

eine gegenüber Fig.6 abgewandelte Ausführungsform, bei welcher der Federarm eine Verbreiterung aufweist, mit welcher die Kontaktfläche zu der das Gehäuse des Steckers bildenden Hülse vergrößert ist, sowie

Fig. 9

die Abwicklung beziehungsweise das Stanzteil, aus welchem die Haltefeder gemäß Fig.8 gebogen und gefertigt ist.

An embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows in partly schematized representation:

Fig. 1

an illustration of the individual parts of the connector according to the invention shortly before their assembly, ie the insulating body and the retaining spring before it is inserted from the side into the insulating body, after which then the grounding contact can be inserted axially and the entire insulating body can be inserted into the sleeve,

Fig. 2

a side view of the assembled connector according to Fig.1 .

Fig. 3

a cross section of the plug according to the line AA in Fig.2 .

Fig. 4

a partial section according to the in Figure 3 bounded area B through the ground contact and the holding spring in it opposite Fig. 3 enlarged scale,

Fig. 5,

a longitudinal section of the insulating body and the mounted grounding contact and other contacts, wherein the cutting plane passes through the longitudinal center of the ground contact and the spring arm of the likewise partially visible in section retaining spring is recognizable in the use position,

Fig. 6

a perspective side view of a retaining spring with plug, spring arm and projection, 'wherein the retaining spring is integrally attached to the insertion in the front end of the male part via bends and extends in the insertion direction of a ground contact approximately parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the male part,

Fig. 7

a settlement of the retaining spring according to Figure 6 or an example punched out part from which the retaining spring according to Figure 6 can be bent and manufactured,

Fig. 8

one opposite Figure 6 modified embodiment in which the spring arm has a widening, with which the contact surface is increased to the housing of the plug-forming sleeve, and

Fig. 9

the settlement or the stamped part from which the retaining spring according to Figure 8 bent and made.

The in Fig.2 in its final state and in Fig.1 shown in parts connector 1 has a housing forming its sleeve 2 and a position of use in the interior of this sleeve 2 arranged and fixed insulating body 3 and elongated pin-like contacts 4, which may be pins or contact sockets, in which therefore the mating connector then pins.

At these contacts 4 cables or wires are connected in the usual way before or after assembly, for example, soldered.

The insulating body 3 contains holes or holes 6, in which the contacts 4 are fixed, wherein a contact is arranged as a grounding contact 5 parallel to the other contacts 4 within one of these holes or holes 6, which has a lateral opening 8 for an electrically conductive, in the Whole designated 9 retaining spring which defines the grounding contact 5 in the use position in its perforation or hole 6.

Especially in the FIGS. 1 . 6 and 8 , but also in the Figure 4 and 5 it can be seen that the retaining spring 9 has a continuous in the axial direction, in the position of use within the perforation or bore 6 of the insulator 3 arranged insertion part 10, whose inner light section cross-section 3 to 5 approximately corresponds to the outer cross section of the substantially pin-shaped or sleeve-shaped grounding contact 5 and is located in the position of use within the insulating body 3 in alignment and coaxial with the opening or perforation 6 of the insulating body 3 for the grounding contact 5. The grounding contact 5 is thus at the same time inserted into its hole or hole 6 during axial insertion into this previously mounted plug 10 and inserted.

In this case, this insertion part 10 of the retaining spring 9 fits through the lateral opening 8 of the insulating body 3, so it can be brought from the side through this opening 8 in its position of use. In Fig.1 is the retaining spring 9 and its plug 10 recognizable even before this assembly, while 3 and 4 the position of use of the retaining spring 9 and its insertion part 10th demonstrate. You can see in the 3 and 4 Also, that the lateral opening 8 is slightly conical with a to the center of the insulating body 3 slightly reducing cross-section, which facilitates the insertion of the male part 10.

Especially in the Fig.1 . 6 and 8 as well as in Figure 4 and 5 it can also be seen that the plug 10 carries a spring arm 11 extending on its outside, which at its free end projecting beyond the plug 10 has a radially inwardly directed projection 12 extending into the insertion path of the earthing contact 5 and which holds the earthing contact 5 in the position of use fixing in a manner to be described and applied in the axial direction.

Especially in Fig.1 It is shown that the grounding contact 5 at the acted upon by the projection 12 of the spring arm 11 in the position of use has a recess 7 and the pivoting of the spring arm 11 corresponds to at least the depth of engagement of its projection 12 in this recess or recess 7.

According to Figure 5 protrudes the projection 12 of the spring arm 11 in a relaxed position or relaxed spring through a lateral opening 13 of the insulating body 3 in the interior of the opening or bore 6 and is radially pivotable through the plug-in ground contact 5. In this case, the lateral opening 13 is arranged for the projection '12 of the spring arm 11 in the axial direction adjacent to the lateral opening 8 for the insertion of the male member 10 in the insulating body 3, wherein the two openings 8 and 13 of the dimensions and distances of the male member 10 and of the projection 12 correspond to each other.

In Fig.1 it can be seen that the recess 7 to the grounding contact 5, for the engagement of the projection 12 of the spring arm 11 is provided, annularly rotates, that is designed as an annular groove and thus allows any rotational position of the grounding contact 5 during its assembly.

It can also be seen that the annular groove-like recess 7 is bounded by a circumferential ring or collar 14, which is tapered, conical or frusto-conical on its side facing away from the recess 7 and 14a in the insertion direction to the insertion of the grounding contact 5. Applying and radial pivoting of the projection 12 of the spring arm '11 easier.

For a good axial positioning is provided that the projection 12 of the spring arm 11 at its free end has an axially oriented retaining tab 15 which, according to Figure 5 in the position of use abuts on the trained as a collar 14 boundary of the groove 7.

Especially on the basis of 3 and 4 It is clear that the male part 10 of the retaining spring 9 has a larger lateral or radial dimension than the lateral opening 8 of the insulating body 3 and thereby corresponds approximately to the lateral dimension or the diameter of the hole or hole 6 for the grounding contact 5, so that the male part 10th in use position this hole 6 practically fills with its outside. At the same time, the male part 10 is compressible transversely to its inner longitudinal cavity or in the radial direction against the elasticity of its material so far that it can be inserted through the lateral opening 8. In this case, this lateral or radial compression can be supported by the slightly conical shape of the lateral opening 8. The user can thus insert the retaining spring 9 and in particular its plug 10 in the lateral opening 8 and the Holding spring 9 parallel to push itself through the opening 8, wherein the male member 10 first yields slightly, then to take its original shape inside the hole or hole 6 again. As a result, the male member 10 thus enters a kind of undercut and is held in a form-fitting manner and thus captive. Thus, the male member 10 is secured in the position of use by the form-fitting passing through ground contact 5 against radial compression or locked and thus hold so the two parts, namely the ground contact 5 and the retaining spring 9 mutually fixed in their position of use.

The male part 10 of the retaining spring 9 is formed as a sleeve which touches the ground contact 5 in the use position outside at least partially flat, which gives a good electrical contact, but is also supported by the projection 12 of the spring arm 11 and the retaining tongue 15 so that in each case there is a good electrical contact between grounding contact 5 and retaining spring 9, even if there should be gaps in one or the other area.

The in Figure 4 recognizable distance between male 10 and ground contact 5 is according to Fig. 5 only over a part of the length of this grounding contact 5 is provided.

According to Figure 4 . 6 and 8 the sleeve-shaped insertion part 10 has an approximately axially extending slot 16 or the like interruption and may have a smaller cross-section than the ground contact 5 in the relaxed state, so that this can expand the sleeve-shaped plug 10 slightly when inserted to improve the contact.

The electrically conductive retaining spring 9 consists namely of at least partially electrical current conductive material, in particular of metal. This is especially in the Fig.1 . 5 and 6 to 9 It is clear that the spring arm 11 is integrally attached to the front end 10a of the male member 10 and the retaining spring 9 in the insertion direction of the ground contact 5, and is arranged to extend in the insertion direction. When inserting the grounding contact 5 so this comes first with the end 10a of the retaining spring 9 into contact, of which the spring arm 11 extends in the direction of further insertion movement. It is thereby achieved that upon application of the projection 12 of the spring arm 11 with the projection or collar 14 of the earthing contact 5, the spring arm 11 is not only radially deflected laterally outward, but also subjected to a certain tensile force, so that there is no danger that this spring arm 11 is compressed.

The retaining spring 9 is in this case with its plug 10 and with its spring arm 11 in one piece from a part, preferably bent from a stamped part. Corresponding stampings are in the Fig.7 and 9 shown and clearly recognizes a wider area that will form the male 10 and from which the spring arm 11 goes off.

The show 8 and 9 in that the spring arm 11 of the retaining spring 9 can have a widening 17 extending in the transverse direction of its extension, which can increase the contact to the inside of the electrically conductive sleeve 2.

According to the Figure 4 . 7 and 9 has the spring arm serving as a grounding spring 11 has a flat planar cross-section and is in the use position in the circular arc-shaped joint 18 clamped between the circular in cross-section inside the sleeve 2 and the outside of the insulating body 3, resulting in a correspondingly good contact.

The plug 1 with a designed as a sleeve housing 2 and an insulator 3 arranged therein, which holds elongated contacts 4, has an electrically conductive retaining spring 9 for a grounding contact 5, which has a continuous in the axial direction and in particular sleeve-shaped, in use position within a perforation or hole 6 of the insulator 3 arranged insertion part 10 for the grounding contact 5, wherein the male part 10 of the retaining spring 5 through a lateral opening 8 of the insulator 3 fits and the bore 6 with this side opening 8 forms an undercut for the slightly elastically compressible male member 10 , On the outside of the male part 10 extends a spring arm 11, which is also arranged in the position of use on the outside of the insulating body 3, which contacts the inside of the sleeve 3 and has an inwardly directed projection 12 arranged at its free end. engages in a recess or recess 7 of the grounding contact 5 and determines the grounding contact 5 in the axial direction.

Claims (14)

1. Plug (1) having a sleeve (2) and having a insulating body (3), which is arranged in the sleeve (2) in the use position, and also having elongate contacts (4) which are held in holes or bores (6) in the insulating body, wherein one contact in the form of an earthing contact (5) is arranged within a hole or bore (6) parallel to the other contacts (4), the said hole or bore having a lateral opening (8) for an electrically conductive retaining spring (9) which secures the earthing contact (5) in its hole or bore (6) in the use position, wherein the retaining spring (9) has an insert part (10) which is continuous in the axial direction and is arranged within the hole or bore (6) in the insulating body (3) in the use position, the clear internal cross section of the said insert part corresponding approximately to the outside cross section of the substantially pin-like earthing contact (5), and the said insert part being aligned with or coaxial to the opening or hole (6) in the insulating body (3) for the earthing contact (5) within the insulating body (3) in the use position, with the result that this earthing contact can be inserted into the insert part (10) when it is inserted into its hole or bore (6), wherein the insert part (10) of the retaining spring (9) fits through the lateral opening (8) in the insulating body (3), characterized in that the insert part of the retaining spring is fitted with at least one spring arm (11) which runs on its outer face and has a projection (12), which is directed radially inwards and extends into the insertion path of the earthing contact (5), at a free end which projects beyond the insert part (10), the said projection acting on the earthing contact (5) so as to fix it in the use position, and in that the earthing contact (5) has a cavity (7) at that point which is acted on by the projection (12) of the spring arm (11), and the pivot path of the spring arm (11) corresponds at least to the engagement depth of its projection (12) into this cavity or recess (7).
2. Plug according to Claim 1, characterized in that the spring arm (11) projects, by way of its projection (12), into the interior of the opening or bore (6) through a lateral opening (13) in the insulating body (3) when the spring is relieved of strain, and can be radially pivoted by the earthing contact (5) which can be inserted.
3. Plug according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the lateral opening (13) for the projection (12) of the spring arm (11) is arranged in the axial direction adjacent to the lateral opening (8) for the insertion of the insert part (10) into the insulating body (3).
4. Plug according to one of Claims 1 to 3. characterized in that the cavity (7) in the earthing contact (5) for the engagement of the projection (12) of the spring arm (11) runs around the earthing contact in the form of a ring and/or is bounded in the insertion direction by a circumferential ring or collar (14) which is designed, in particular, in a tapering or conical manner or in the form of a truncated cone on its side (14a) which is averted from the cavity (7).
5. Plug according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the projection (12) of the spring arm (11) has a retaining tongue (15) or widened portion, which is oriented in the axial direction in particular, at its free end.
6. Plug according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the insert part (10) of the retaining spring (9) has a larger lateral dimensioning than the lateral opening (8) in the insulating body (3) and corresponds approximately to the lateral dimensioning or to the diameter of the hole or bore (6) for the earthing contact (5), and in that the insert part (10) can be compressed transverse to its internal longitudinal hollow or in the radial direction against its elasticity to such an extent that it can be inserted through the lateral opening (8).
7. Plug according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the insert part (10) is secured or blocked against radial compression by the earthing contact (5) which passes through it, in particular in an interlocking manner, in the use position.
8. Plug according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the insert part (10) of the retaining spring (9) is in the form of a sleeve which makes surface contact with at least regions of the outside of the earthing contact (5) in the use position.
9. Plug according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sleeve-like insert part (10) has at least one slot (16) or similar interruption which runs approximately in the axial direction and has a smaller cross section than the earthing contact (5) in the state in which it is relieved of strain.
10. Plug according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the electrically conductive retaining spring (9) is composed of a material which conducts electric current at least in regions, in particular of metal.
11. Plug according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the spring arm (11) is, in particular integrally, fitted to that end (10a), which is at the front in the insertion direction of the earthing contact (5), of the retaining spring (9) and its insert part (10), and is arranged so as to extend in the insertion direction.
12. Plug according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the retaining spring (9) with its insert part (10) and with its spring arm (11) is, in particular integrally, bent out of a part or stamped part.
13. Plug according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the spring arm (11) of the retaining spring (9) has a widened portion (17) which runs in the transverse direction of its extent.
14. Plug according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the spring arm (11) which serves as the earthing spring has a flat planar cross section and is clamped between the inner face, which is circular in cross section, of the sleeve (2) and the outer face of the insulating body (3) in the joint (18), which has a cross section in the form of an arc of a circle, in the use position.

Images