EP2058904B1 - Hermaphrodite plug-in connector - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a hermaphroditic connector or a hermaphroditic connector according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention therefore relates to a modular hermaphroditic connector system having a hermaphroditic connector housing, hermaphroditic contacts, and hermaphroditic modular contact carriers. Hermaphroditic connector systems are already known in the art.

From the DE 1 177 231 a non-cutting shaped contact piece for electrical connectors is known, in which one side of the front plug-in portion has an inwardly directed spring clip, while the second side has a knife piece which is inserted into the column of the spring chamber when telescoping two identically shaped contact pieces.

Besides that is from the EP 0 681 345 A1 a nearly square, stamped and bent electrical hermaphroditic contact is known in which one of the side surfaces has a folded-back tab, while on the opposite side a resilient tongue is formed. In this case, a material increase is provided on the bent-back tab, which, when two contacts are pushed by 180 ° against each other, slides on the respective resilient tongue along.

Further known in the art is a contact plate electrical hermetic contact in which two resilient contact arms overlay a receiving member having two spaced, interconnected side walls forming a channel, the side walls being spaced apart therebetween pick up the contact arms of an identical trained hermaphroditic contact and get into contact with this.

Furthermore, from the DE 1 947 356 B a sheet metal existing with a mating connector identical connector known in which two resilient arms are arranged above a flat tongue, which meet on a molded longitudinal rib on the flat tongue of the mating connector when the two connectors are plugged together.

From the US 5,183,409 a hermaphroditic multiple plug is known in which two identical, round plug pins, each having two axially shaped finder, which are separated by a central slot, the plug pins are at a 90 ° rotation almost exactly plugged into each other.

DE9103278 U discloses a connector according to the preamble of claim 1. From the DE 29618214 U a connector is known, wherein the connector housing consists of two hermaphroditic housing half-shells.

The hermaphroditic plug contacts known in the prior art are not suitable in a simple manner to build a modular connector system in which a simple assembly and disassembly of the connector and also the replacement of a single contact should be possible even in the case of installation. The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a hermaphroditic connector system or a hermaphroditic connector of the type mentioned, which is characterized by a small number of parts, which are particularly modular and modular as easy to manufacture. It is a world-wide object of the present invention to provide a hermaphroditic contact, so that two different contacts, namely one socket and one pin contact each can be avoided and so to say only one type of contact is necessary in this type of connector. Another object of the present invention is to make the hermaphroditic connector so that by simply scaling the contours of the parent connector housing a plurality of hermaphroditic contacts can be accommodated in the housing and no further additional parts are needed. This object is achieved by the subject matter of claim 1, namely the fact that the connector housing, and the contact carrier and the contacts therein are all formed hermaphroditic. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The advantages achieved by the invention continue to be that such electrical, hermaphroditically trained connector is used confusion safe. In addition, such a hermaphroditic connector has the advantage only two basic components stocked to hold and beyond each necessary for the application or application housing in which the basic components, namely the contact modules, ie hermaphroditic contact carrier modules and the hermaphroditic contacts can be mounted.

In this case, the hermaphroditic contact is made of a simple sheet metal as a punched / bent part so that it can be pushed and inserted from behind through the contact carrier modules according to the invention, whereby in a maintenance case the individual contact can be changed in a simple manner.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Teiles eines hermaphroditischen Steckverbindergehäuses (hier als Unterteil dargestellt),
• Fig. 2 ein identisches, wie in Fig. 1 gezeigtes hermaphroditisches Steckverbindergehäuseteil (hier als Oberteil gezeigt),
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht eines herrnaphroditischen Kontaktes,
• Fig. 4 zeigt die perspektivische Ansicht von schräg hinten eines hermaphroditischen Kontaktträgermoduls,
• Fig. 5 zeigt die halboffene perspektivische Ansicht eines hermaphroditischen Steckverbindergehäuses mit eingesetzten Kontaktträgermodulen und Kontakten,
• Fig. 6 zeigt eine Ansicht gemäl3 Fig. 5 von oben,
• Fig. 7 zeigt die seitliche und halbtransparente Ansicht eines nicht gesteckten hermaphroditischen Kontaktträgermodulpaares,
• Fig. 8 ist eine Ansicht entsprechend Fig. 7 im gesteckten Zustand,
• Fig. 9 zeigt ein hermaphroditisches Steckverbinderpaar mit eingesetzten Kontaktträgermodulen in perspektivischer Ansicht,
• Fig..10 ist eine Ansicht gemäß Fig. 9 im gesteckten Zustand.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and we explained in more detail below. Show it:

• Fig. 1 a perspective view of a part of a hermaphroditic connector housing (shown here as a lower part),
• Fig. 2 an identical, as in Fig. 1 shown hermaphroditic connector housing part (shown here as a top),
• Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a Herrnaphroditic contact,
• Fig. 4 shows the perspective view obliquely from the back of a hermaphroditic contact carrier module,
• Fig. 5 shows the half-open perspective view of a hermaphroditic connector housing with inserted contact carrier modules and contacts,
• Fig. 6 shows a view gemäl3 Fig. 5 from above,
• Fig. 7 shows the lateral and semi-transparent view of an unmated hermaphroditic contact carrier module pair,
• Fig. 8 is a view accordingly Fig. 7 when plugged in,
• Fig. 9 shows a hermaphroditic connector pair with inserted contact carrier modules in perspective view,
• Fig..10 is a view according to Fig. 9 in mated condition.

In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 In the following, only a part, namely the housing half shell 4, designed as a connector housing lower part of the hermaphroditic connector housing 3 describe, since this is identical to the connector housing upper part. This consists of an electrical insulation material, preferably plastic and comprises a substantially planar housing bottom 9, each of which has a first housing wall 20 and a second housing wall 30 at the left and at the right edge, which protrude perpendicularly upwards from the housing bottom 9. The two housing walls 20, 30 extend in the rear portion along an arcuate housing wall portion 21. In the rear region extends a transverse web and connects the two housing walls 20 and 30 with each other. The housing crosspiece know a semicircular recess 42, which serves as a cable gland. The first housing wall 20 extends starting from the cable duct along the arcuate housing wall section 21 to a then substantially straight wall section. Following the arcuate housing wall portion 21 is a recess 23. This is followed by the straight housing wall portion at which extends upwards, so preferably perpendicular to the housing bottom 9, a wall web 24 is arranged. The wall web 24 know on its inward side a recess on. In the course of the first housing wall 20 toward the plug-side end 10, as in Fig. 5 defined, the wall thickness tapers abruptly, namely at an offset 26, which is found on the outer surface of the outer wall.

The second housing wall 30 is arranged substantially mirror-inverted to the first housing wall 20 in its course and protrudes from the housing bottom 9 substantially vertically upwards, starting with an arcuate course at the rear end. At the beginning of the arcuate course is a recess 34 over the entire height of the housing wall 30 correspondingly formed in its geometry to the mirror image arranged wall web 28. On the back of the wall web 28 is a not shown locking groove 29 which coincides with the locking lug 35 when mating two connector half-shells 4 lock. To complain about this later, as well as clearly in Fig. 2 to recognize which in Fig. 1 is rotated by 180 °, there is a wall web 31, which protrudes in height above the housing wall 30. As in Fig. 1 can be seen, located on the inside of the wall web 31, a latching tab 37, which is arranged corresponding to the latching lug 22 and the recess 23. In the further course are next to the wall web 31 towards plug-side end 10 of the housing part, a further recess 32, with another Latch 36, which is correspondingly formed to the wall web 24 of the first housing wall 20. Thereafter follows a section with an offset 33 on the inside of the housing wall 30, so that corresponding to opposite side, a wall portion with reduced wall thickness and indeed in about half wall thickness of the housing wall 30 is to be found. In the front, plug-side area, so to speak at the plug-side end 10 of the housing, is located in the housing half-shell 4, a substantially U-shaped portion formed by the two housing wall sections with offset to the plug-side end and the front part of the housing bottom 9 in the middle web of the U-shaped portion has a further offset, namely a step 27. This results in the plug-side end 10, a plug contour, which is formed so to speak of two L-shaped legs, which are arranged offset relative to each other via a step 27. In the left slightly deeper stepped area is a locking groove 43. As in Fig. 2 can be seen, a corresponding corresponding latching web 44 is formed, which is adapted to immerse in the locking groove 43.

At the housing bottom 9 chamber wall webs 40 are arranged at a fixed distance from each other, which project as wall-like webs from the bottom 9 of the connector housing 4 upwards and, so to speak, chambers for the contacts 6, preferably for the terminal portions of the contacts 6 form. In the in Fig. 1 shown embodiment, thus four chambers, formed by three chamber wall webs 40 and the two housing walls 20, 30, which define the two outer chambers. In about the middle of each chamber, which is defined by two chamber walls 40, or by a chamber wall 40 and one of the two housing walls 20, 30, substantially cuboid Codierstege 41 for receiving the contact carrier on the housing bottom 9 are offset towards the front. This Codierstege are slightly widened in their width formed opposite the chamber wall webs 40th Die Codierstege 41 serve to receive and fix the in Fig. 4 A hermaphroditic connector housing is obtained in a simple manner by locking identical housing halves 4 together, so that one to a hermaphroditic connector housing, as in Fig. 9 shown, which in turn represents itself as a hermaphroditic connector in the whole. Two of these mated housing pairs can be plugged together, and in Fig. 10 shown. The number of Kontaktkammem and thus absorbable hermaphroditic contact carrier modules 7, can be constructed modular by appropriate geometric broadening of the housing 3.

An embodiment of a hermaphroditic contact carrier module 7 is shown in FIG Fig. 4 displayed. Such a contact carrier module 7 is a substantially parallelepiped-shaped module with two parallel and substantially spaced and flat module walls 81, 82. Preferably in the central position of the contact carrier module 7 is an opening 74, which from the rear end to the front end of an inventive Contact carrier module 7 passes through, such that a contact, in accordance with Fig. 3 , Through this opening in such a contact carrier module 7 can be mounted by simple push-through mounting. Furthermore, the contact carrier module 7 has a lower contact carrier web 70, a middle contact carrier web 71 and an upper contact carrier web 72, which are arranged fork-like and parallel to one another in the plug-in direction when the contact carrier module is installed. The webs 70, 71, 72 extend in height substantially over the entire thickness of the contact carrier module 7. The upper contact carrier web 72 comprises a further, placed on this web 77, which is positively and materially connected to the upper contact carrier web 72. In the lower contact carrier web 70 is centrally a contact channel 80, formed as a recess, over the entire length of the lower contact carrier web 70. Each formed at the top and bottom in the contact carrier module 7, recesses 76, 79, which are diametrically opposed. Between the upper recess 76, which is formed as a box-shaped recess, as in Fig. 4 and the lower recess 79, which is also formed as a box-shaped recess, there is the aforementioned opening 74. In this opening 74 are two grooves for receiving a hermaphroditic contact 6, according to Fig. 3 appropriate. The hermaphroditic contact 6 is punched and formed as a stamped / bent part of a metal sheet. An example according to the invention, as in Fig. 3 shows a hermaphroditic contact formed with a terminal portion 60 and a Kontaktierabschnitt 61. Between the two sections 60, 61 is a holding portion 66 which is formed substantially U-shaped. To the legs of the U-shaped holding portion 66 connects to each leg a contact tongue 62, 63 at. The first contact tongue 62 is formed as a substantially straight web, the second contact tongue 62, connected to the diametrically opposite leg of the holding portion 66, connected parallel to the other. The second contact tongue 63 is formed in its front contacting region with a bent contacting portion 64. The otherwise substantially rectilinear second contact tongue 63 is as in here Fig. 3 dargstellt provided with a contact tip 65, the is produced by bending in the region of the bent contacting section 64. This results in a hermaphroditic contact, which can be mounted by means of simple push-through mounting in a contact carrier module 7 according to the invention. The connection section 60 is designed here as a crimp connection region and forms a receptacle for a cable, not shown, to be connected. In Fig. 5 By way of example, four hermaphroditic contact carrier modules are mounted in a housing part 4, in which four hermaphroditic contacts 6, according to FIG Fig. 3 are mounted by means of push-through mounting from the rear. Good to see is the location of the connecting portions 60 between the chamber wall webs 40. The hermaphroditic contacts 6 are so far inserted into the contact carrier modules 7 that they come with their stop 67 at an inner detent point of the contact carrier modules 7 to the plant. As a result, a fixed mounting position is achieved in the plugging direction. As can be clearly seen in the view 6, the chamber wall webs 40 simultaneously form a lateral limit stop for a contact surface of the connection portion 60. This simultaneously achieves a lateral hositionieriage the contacts 7 relative to the connector housing 3. Also can be seen in Fig. 6 the position of the contact carrier modules 7 relative to the connector housing 3, which are flush in the front area with their contact carrier webs 70, 71, 72 and the front housing contour at the plug-in end 10. The mode of action of hermaphroditic contact carrier modules with built-in contact is in the FIGS. 7 and 8 shown. An unmapped position is in Fig. 7 and an inserted position in Fig. 8 shown, In Fig. 7 are two contact carrier modules 7 rotated by 180 ° to each other with respect to each other, so that they are placed in a pluggable position. The contact carrier modules 7 are each equipped with a hermaphroditic contact 6, which protrude with its contact point 65 in the gap between the upper contact carrier web 72 and the central contact carrier web 71. In the middle contact carrier web 71 is located in the illustration in Fig. 7 , In the left contact carrier module, arranged on the underside, also a contact channel, in which the contact tongue 62 is introduced and rests with its upper side. As a result, the contact tongue 62 is guided on the one hand in the middle contact carrier web 71 and on the other hand supported by this. The lower contact carrier web 70 lies with its groove 80 the corresponding contact carrier web 72 with its corresponding web 77 opposite, so that when mating, as in Fig. 8 shown, in each case the groove 77 of a contact carrier module dips into the groove 80 of the corresponding contact carrier module, so that the contact carrier modules 7 together with the hermaphroditic contact 6 itself as hermaphroditic plug-in system are formed. When mating the two in Fig. 7 shown contact carrier modules are the resilient contact tongues 63 deflected from its rest position and slide on the corresponding contact tongue 62 of the opposite contact carrier module 7.In Fig. 9 a hermaphroditic connector is shown, which can be plugged so to speak with itself, so a second similar hermaphroditic connector, as in Fig. 10 shown in mated condition. When plugged together, the in each case offset, offset L-shaped housing part of a housing part immersed in the outwardly offset, L-shaped portion of the opposite housing. At the same time, when plugging together, the locking webs 44 cooperate with the locking grooves 43 so that the plug connector is securely held in its inserted position. Depending on the expression of the substantially semi-cylindrical locking ribs 44, the holding force of a hermaphroditic connector pair can be set and determine. Alternatively, two or more webs can be arranged side by side or offset from one another to achieve a higher holding force.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS Hermaphroditic connector

1

Hermaphroditic connector

2

Hermaphroditic connector pair

3

Hermaphroditic connector housing

4

Housing shell

6

Hermaphroditic contact

7

Hermaphroditic contact carrier module

8th

housing wall

9

caseback

10

stedcseitiges end

20

first housing wall

21

arcuate housing wall section

22

locking lug

23

recess

24

wall web

25

recess

26

Offset (on the outer surface)

27

step

28

wall web

29

locking groove

30

second housing wall

31

wall web

32

recess

33

Offset (on the inner surface)

34

recess

35.36

locking lugs

37

snap tab

38

radius

40

Chamber wall webs

41

pegs at

42

recess

43

locking groove

44

latching web

60

connecting section

61

contacting section

62

first contact tongue

63

second contact tongue

64

curved contact tongue section

65

contact cusp

66

holding section

67

attack

70

lower contact carrier bar

71

middle contact carrier bar

71

upper contact carrier bar

74

Opening / Breakthrough

75

longitudinal groove

76

recess

77

web

78

attack

79

recess

80

groove

81, 82

module walls

Claims (13)

1. Hermaphrodite plug-type connector (1) comprising a plug-type connector housing (3) having a plurality of hermaphrodite contacts (6) which each have a connection section (60) for connection of a cable at an end which is averted from the contact-making section (64), characterized in that the hermaphrodite plug-type connector (1) comprises at least one hermaphrodite contact carrier module (7) which is arranged in the plug-type connector housing (3), and in that the plug-type connector housing (3) consists of two hermaphrodite housing half-shells.
2. Hermaphrodite plug-type connector (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one hermaphrodite contact (6) is arranged in at least one contact carrier module (7).
3. Hermaphrodite plug-type connector (1) according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that a plurality of hermaphrodite contact carrier modules (7) are arranged next to one another in the plug-type connector housing (3).
4. Hermaphrodite plug-type connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing half-shells (4) each have side walls (20, 30), at least one wall web (24, 28, 31) projecting beyond each of the said side walls.
5. Hermaphrodite plug-type connector (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that at least one latching tab (29, 37) is integrally formed on each of the wall webs (24, 28, 31).
6. Hermaphrodite plug-type connector (1) according to Claim 4 or 5,
   characterized in that the latching lugs (22, 35, 36) are arranged on the outer faces of the housing walls (20, 30).
7. Hermaphrodite plug-type connector (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the latching lugs (22, 35, 36) are arranged in recesses (23, 32, 34) on the housing walls (20, 30).
8. Hermaphrodite plug-type connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a step (27) is arranged transverse to the plug-in direction of the plug-type connector at the plug-in end (10) of the plug-type connector housing (3), wherein at least two regions with inner and outer surfaces which are offset in relation to one another are connected to one another by the step (27).
9. Hermaphrodite plug-type connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hermaphrodite contacts (6) have two spring-action contact tongues (62, 63) which run parallel in relation to one another.
10. Hermaphrodite plug-type connector (1) according to Claim 9, characterized in that a contact dome (65) which is bent in the direction of the contact tongue (62) is formed at the end of the contact tongue (63).
11. Hermaphrodite plug-type connector (1) according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that that side of the contact tongue (62) which faces the contact tongue (63) is supported on the contact carrier module (7) in the fitted state.
12. Hermaphrodite plug-type connector (1) according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that that side of the contact tongue (62) which is averted from the contact tongue (63) makes contact with contact dome (65) of the contact tongue (63) of the corresponding mating plug in the plug-connected state of the hermaphrodite plug-type connector.
13. Hermaphrodite plug-type connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact carrier modules (7) have webs which extend in the plug-in direction of the plug-type connector in the direction of the plug-in end (10) in the fitted state.

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