EP2091108A1 - Connector with a coding device and method for fitting the coding device - Google Patents

Abstract

A plug connection and a method for coding a plug connection and the plug connection are characterized in that the coding elements (7, 8, 107, 108) are preassembled as a preassembled unit on at least one of the plug connector parts (1, 104) and that the other one Connector part (4, 101) is configured such that the one of the two for coding (9, 109) preassembled coding elements (7, 107) in the first purely axial mating of the two connector parts in / sets him, so that this coding element ( 7, 107) remains after the first release of the first mated connector parts alone by axial pulling on this other connector part (4, 101).

Description

The invention relates to a plug-in device according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for mounting the coding device to the plug connection.

A connector has a first connector part and a second connector part. In each case one of the connector parts is a plug part and one of the connector parts is a socket part.

A generic connector shows the US 3,491,330 , The assembly and adjustment of the coding device are relatively expensive.

The invention has the object to supplement the generic connector to a particularly easy to assemble easy to handle coding, which is relatively compact. In addition, a simple method for coding the connector should be created.

The invention solves this problem by the subject matter of claim 1 and claim 19.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

According to the characterizing part of claim 1, the coding elements are preassembled as a preassembled unit on at least one of the plug connector parts and the respective other connector part is configured such that the one of the two pre-assembled coding device for the first purely axial mating of the two connector parts in / on him determines, so that this coding element after the first release of the first mated connector parts alone by axial pulling on this other connector part remains, wherein the force for releasing the coding element from the other connector part is greater than the force which is necessary to separate the two coding elements from each other.

By "axial" is here a straight mating and separating without the need to move one of the connector parts perpendicular to the direction of insertion and removal to understand.

This connector is particularly advantageous in terms of assembly and handling of the coding. Especially the mounting of the coding device is very simple. The coding device also builds very compact, whereby different codes are not realized by many different coding elements but by turning the same.

This also offers an advantage over the particular EP 1 119 229 A1 , From the EP 1 119 229 A1 It is known to set a coding device with two parts on an electronics housing as a preassembled unit on an electronics housing, wherein after a placement of the electronics housing on a terminal clamp-like base support one coding on the electronics housing and the other on the base carrier. For a generic connector with preferably rotatable coding this solution is not suitable because it is necessary to move the two parts electronics housing and terminal when mating not only in the plugging direction but also perpendicular to what is not feasible in generic connectors in the rule. This problem is solved according to the invention, since here alone by axial plugging and pulling a mounting of the coding device without additional movement perpendicular to the insertion direction can be realized.

The connector is designed for connection of electrical lines and / or light pipes and / or fluid lines.

As far as the arrangement of coding elements is described or claimed by way of example on a male and a female part, this arrangement is in principle also reversible, i. the coding elements arranged on the plug parts in the following figures could also be arranged on the socket parts and vice versa, given a corresponding redesign of the housing. The following description of the figures is not to be understood as limiting. The same applies to the use of terms such as "top", "bottom", "right", "left", etc., which may refer only to the respective representation, but is not to be understood as limiting.

Fig. 1a, b

verschiedene perspektivische Ansichten eines Steckerteils einer ersten Steckverbindung;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Buchsenteils einer ersten Steckverbindung;

Fig. 3a-d

verschiedene Ansichten eines ersten Kodierelements einer Kodiervorrichtung;

Fig. 4a-f

verschiedene Ansichten eines zweiten Kodierelements der ersten Kodiervorrichtung

Fig. 5a-c

die Kodierelemente aus Fig. 3 und 4 im zusammengesteckten Zustand;

Fig. 6a, b

das Steckerteil aus Fig. 1 mit jeweils zwei daran angeordneten Kodiervorrichtungen;

Fig. 6c

das Steckerteil aus Fig. 1 mit einer daran angeordneten Kodiervorrichtung und einer Kodiervorrichtung vor der Montage;

Fig. 7a-c

das erste Zusammenstecken und Lösen von Stecker- und Buchsenteilen mit den ersten Kodiervorrichtungen;

Fig. 8a-d

verschiedene weitere Ansichten des Steckerteils aus Fig. 1 mit daran angeordneten Kodierelementen;

Fig. 9a-c

verschiedene weitere Ansichten des Buchsenteils aus Fig. 2 mit daran angeordneten Kodierelementen;

Fig. 10

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Steckerteils einer zweiten Steckverbindung;

Fig. 11

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Buchsenteils einer zweiten Steckverbindung;

Fig. 12a-d

verschiedene Ansichten eines ersten Kodierelements einer zweiten Kodiervorrichtung;

Fig. 13a-d

verschiedene Ansichten eines zweiten Kodierelements der zweiten Kodiervorrichtung

Fig. 14a-b

die Kodierelemente aus Fig. 3 und 4 im nicht zusammengesteckten und im zusammengesteckten Zustand;

Fig. 15a, b

das Buchsenteil aus Fig. 11 mit jeweils zwei daran angeordneten Kodiervorrichtungen;

Fig. 15c

das Buchsenteil aus Fig. 11 mit einer daran angeordneten Kodiervorrichtung und einer Kodiervorrichtung vor der Montage;

Fig. 16a-c

das erste Zusammenstecken und Lösen von Stecker- und Buchsenteilen mit Kodiervorrichtungen nach Art der Fig. 14;

Fig. 17a-d

verschiedene weitere Ansichten des Steckerteils aus Fig. 10 mit daran angeordneten Kodierelementen;

Fig. 18a-d

verschiedene weitere Ansichten des Buchsenteils aus Fig. 11 mit einem daran angeordneten Kodierelement.

The invention will be described in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1a, b

various perspective views of a plug part of a first connector;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of a socket part of a first connector;

Fig. 3a-d

different views of a first coding element of a coding device;

Fig. 4a-f

different views of a second coding element of the first coding device

Fig. 5a-c

the coding from Fig. 3 and 4 in the assembled state;

Fig. 6a, b

the plug part Fig. 1 each with two coding devices arranged thereon;

Fig. 6c

the plug part Fig. 1 with a coding device arranged thereon and a coding device before assembly;

Fig. 7a-c

the first mating and detaching of male and female parts with the first coding devices;

Fig. 8a-d

various other views of the connector part Fig. 1 with coding elements arranged thereon;

Fig. 9a-c

various other views of the female part Fig. 2 with coding elements arranged thereon;

Fig. 10

a perspective view of a plug part of a second connector;

Fig. 11

a perspective view of a female part of a second connector;

Fig. 12a-d

different views of a first coding element of a second coding device;

Fig. 13a-d

different views of a second coding element of the second coding device

Fig. 14a-b

the coding from Fig. 3 and 4 in the unmated and in the assembled state;

Fig. 15a, b

the socket part Fig. 11 each with two coding devices arranged thereon;

Fig. 15c

the socket part Fig. 11 with a coding device arranged thereon and a coding device before assembly;

Fig. 16a-c

the first mating and loosening of male and female parts with coding on the type of Fig. 14 ;

Fig. 17a-d

various other views of the connector part Fig. 10 with coding elements arranged thereon;

Fig. 18a-d

various other views of the female part Fig. 11 with a coding element arranged thereon.

A connector has a first connector part and a corresponding second connector part. They can be designed for mounting on housings or free cables / cables.

Fig. 1 shows as the first connector part, a plug part 1, which has a housing 2, are arranged on / in the plug contacts 3, which are formed here as pins. The housing has remote openings 27 for to be connected ladder. This plug part could also be referred to as a pin header.

Fig. 2 shows as a second connector part a female part 4, which has a housing 5, are arranged on / in the socket contacts 6 (not visible here). To recognize collar 28, which receive the socket contacts. Furthermore, openings for conductors to be connected can also be provided on the housing (not visible here).

The housings 2, 4 and the electrical contacts - plug contact 3 and socket contact 4 - form on the sides to be joined in each case a so-called mating face and are formed correspondingly such that the electrical contacts 3, 6 and the housings 2, 5 can be plugged together the electrical contacts 3, 6 conductively connect to each other (see Fig. 7 and 16 ).

Here, the plug part 1 and the socket part 4 each exemplify two of the electrical contacts. However, the invention is not limited to this but can also be used in connector parts with only one or more than two corresponding contacts.

In order to realize a mechanical coding function, the housings 2, 5 of the connector parts are here designed such that at least in each case at least one mechanically acting by its distinguishable shape coding element 7, 8 (see Fig. 3 and 4 ) can be arranged and fastened, wherein the coding elements have a mutually corresponding, a mating permitting shape, so that they can each be plugged together to form a coding device 9 with the two coding elements 7, 8 ( Fig. 5 ).

On the connector part 1 more coding elements 7 can be provided as only one if they have a corresponding number of contours for the arrangement of the coding elements 7. In particular, it is conceivable to provide one of the coding elements 7 for each electrical contact on the connector parts 1. The same applies to the female part.

Accordingly, the male and female parts of the type shown, each having two electrical contacts 3, 6, each provided with two coding elements 7, 8, so that on each of two coding devices 9a, 9b are formed (see, eg Fig. 6 and 7 ).

Accordingly, the housing 2 of the plug part here in a particularly clear view in a housing projection 10 in addition to the plug contacts 3 each have a receiving contour 11 for receiving the coding elements 7a, b ( Fig. 1 ).

These receiving contours 11 are designed such that, viewed from the mating face, they initially have a cylindrical receiving section 12 and subsequently a non-rotationally symmetrical, preferably polygonal receiving section 13 which, by way of example, has an approximately square geometry with slightly curved side and corner regions.

The insertable into these receiving contours 11 coding 7 - see Fig. 3 - Have a rinkragenartigen / flange-like head 14, to which two struts 15, 16 are formed here by way of example at their end remote from the head each have a radially outwardly projecting projection 17, 18, which are preferably formed tapered towards the end ,

The struts 15, 16 and the lugs 17, 18 are shaped and designed so that it is possible to easily compress them radially towards each other so that they in the cylindrical receiving portion 11 of Fig. 1 can be plugged into it. Upon further insertion into the receiving contour 11, the lugs 17, 18 finally snap into the square receiving section 13, the spring legs 15, 16 again moving radially away from each other, so that the lugs 17, 18 are held in the receiving section 13 like an undercut. The head 14 rests on the housing 2. Thus, the coding elements are held captive in the receiving contours 11 ( Fig. 8 ). The approaches could theoretically also extend inward and there in contours intervene if the shots 11 would be designed differently (not shown here).

The head 14 - see Fig. 3 and 8th ) is provided with a non-rotationally symmetric Kodierkontur 19, which is preferably designed such that it may also be rotated once with a tool.

The coding contour 19 can therefore be designed, for example, as a non-symmetrical polygonal socket. Here, the Kodierkontur is designed as an arrow-shaped slot. The coding element 7 can be rotated in the receiving contour 11 about its longitudinal axis, wherein the receiving portion 13 is here shaped such that the lugs 17, 18 are noticeably latched in each of two of the four corners of the receiving portion 13.

Thus, the coding element 7 can be adjusted in four different, visually based on the arrow contour clearly distinguishable from each other positions.

This number of positions is advantageous, but not mandatory. It can also be formed two, three or more locking areas in the receiving contour 13. Likewise, the number of struts 15, 16 and the lugs 17, 18 is advantageous, but not mandatory.

The corresponding coding element 8 of Fig. 4 also has a head 20 which is adapted to be placed on a housing projection / part 21 of the housing 5 of the socket part.

The head 20 is plate-like and has on its one side mounting or here plug contours 22, here pins, which here exemplarily in opposite corner regions of the preferably polygonal, in particular square-shaped head 15 at its side facing the housing projection 21 ( Fig. 7 ) are arranged.

At the side facing away from the plug contours 22 side of the head 20, a Kodierkontur 23 is formed, which has a Kodierkontur 19 corresponding shape.

Here, the Kodierkontur 23 is therefore designed as a cross-section arrow-shaped pin, which is shaped such that it is preferably in the receiving contour 19 of the first Kodierelements easily clamped plugged. For this purpose, one or more ribs 29 may be provided on the pin 23.

During the initial assembly of the coding device 9, the orientations of the two Kodierkonturen 19, 23 at the male and female parts 1, 4 must match.

In order to ensure that from the outset the coding elements 7, 8 are in each case easy to assemble on the male and female parts 1, 4 in the appropriate orientation, the two coding elements 7, 8 of each coding device 9 are here designed such that they together on one of two connector parts are pre-assembled.

This is in Fig. 6 and 15 shown.

For assembly, the two coding elements 7, 8 are preferably already plugged together during production into a pre-assembled coding device 9 (FIG. Fig. 5 ). In this position, the Kodierkonturen 19, 23 engage each other and the heads 14, 20 preferably lie against each other.

In this pre-assembled position of the second coding element 8 on the first coding element 7, the preassembled coding device 9 of FIG Fig. 5 on the connector part - in Fig. 6 on the plug part 1 -, to be pre-assembled ( Fig. 6c ) by the coding device 9 is inserted with the coding element 7 on the front of the plug part 1 in the receiving contour 11.

In order to facilitate alignment, it is provided that, on the side of the head 15 of the second coding element 8 facing away from the coding contours, Fig. 4 ) an actuating contour is formed, which is here designed as a slot, which in turn has an arrow-like shape, wherein the alignment of this arrow contour corresponds to the orientation of the Kodierkontur. At this actuation contour, the coding device 9 can be rotated on the plug part 1 in the preassembled position.

In the preassembled state, the plug contours 22 are from the head 15. The plug part is provided with a corresponding mounting contour, here with holes (eg blind holes or holes) 25, which are designed and arranged such that with any orientation of the coding device in one of the possible - here four - coding positions each of the pins form- / / or positively engage in the holes 25. Here, four of the holes 25 are arranged on the corners of an imaginary square, so that for each of the four orientations of the coding element 7 on the plug part a corresponding Montagekonturmusteranordnung, here hole pattern arrangement, on the socket part is present. This is particularly advantageous and structurally simple. The holes 25 are arranged here on a square projection 26, but this is not mandatory. The projection 26 provides a bearing surface for the head 20 of the coding element 8 (see Fig. 2 ).

The head 20 could also in a correspondingly shaped in the housing 5, preferably not rotationally symmetrical recording, in particular catch contour, engage (not provided here, but in the embodiment of Fig. 10 to 17 realized analogously).

In order to complete the coding or the first coding with the assembly of the coding device 9, it is only necessary, the corresponding connector part - in Fig. 7 the female part 2 - on the first connector part 1 - in Fig. 7 the plug part 1 - put on. In this case, the second coding element 8 on the housing 5 of the second connector part - in Fig. 7 the female part 2 - attached (For example, locked), so that it when disconnecting the two connector parts 1, 2 from each other on the second connector part - in Fig. 7c at the socket part 2 - remains.

The force for releasing the coding element 8 from the second connector part 2 must therefore be greater than the force which is necessary to separate the two coding elements 7, 8 from each other.

In this way, the coding process is simple and quick to carry out.

With the two coding devices 9, 9 'of the Fig. 7 Sixteen different codes can already be realized in a small space. For example, with a pin header of three or four, the number of encodings in a confined space could easily be increased without the encoding system itself becoming more complicated.

Fig. 10 to 17 show a kind of reverse variant, in which the coding devices 109 are preassembled with Kodierelementen 107, 108 respectively as a preassembled unit on the socket part 104 and in which the plug part 101 1 is formed such that it is the first mating with the socket part "coding" element 108 from Socket part 104 takes over. Otherwise, the male and female parts have the functions and elements of the embodiment of Fig. 1 to 10 on.

Here is at the socket part 104 - Fig. 11 - Provided a receiving contour 111, in which a preassembled coding device 109 can be inserted.

In this recording contour 111, the coding device 109 is inserted, in which case a coding element 107 functionally analog coding element 107 in the receiving contour 111 with the receiving portions 112 and 113 can be inserted and latched in different positions.

The receiving contour 111 is axial (direction x in FIG Fig. 1 ) longer than in Fig. 1 to 10 so that the shape of the spring legs 115, 116 with the lugs 116, 117 is different than in FIG. 1 to 10 , They are shorter because they are formed on a partially hollow cylindrical portion 130, which adjoins the head 114.

The coding element 108 is functionally analogous to the coding element 8 of FIG Fig. 1 to 10 but is "received" after common pre-assembly with the coding element 107 on the socket part 104 of the plug part 101 1 at its first mating with the socket part 104.

The here stepped head 120 - here without pins 22 - is at least partially inserted into a corresponding, formed in the housing 102, preferably not rotationally symmetrical receptacle, in particular latching contour 125, and thus serves itself as the plug contour 122. The head is in four positions in the locking contour 125 locked.

reference numeral

plug part

1

casing

2

plug contacts

3

female connector

4

casing

5

contacts

6

Coding

7, 8

coding

9a, 9b

housing extension

10

Up Silhouette

11

receiving portion

12, 13

head

14

Suspensions

15, 16

approaches

17, 18

Kodierkontur

19

head

20

housing extension

21

plug contours

22

Kodierkontur

23

actuating contour

24

arrowhead

25

head Start

26

openings

27

collar

28

ribs

29

plug part

101

female connector

104

coding

107, 108

coding

109

Up Silhouette

111

receiving portions

112 and 113

head

114

Suspensions

115, 116

approaches

117, 118

male profile

122

catch contour

125

cylindrical section

130

Claims (19)

Plug connection with a. a first connector part and a second connector part, wherein a connector parts as plug part (1, 101) and one of the connector parts as a female part (104) is formed, each having a housing (2, 102, 5, 105) and contacts to be connected, preferably electrical and / or photoconductive contacts (4, 5), b. a coding device (9, 109) with two corresponding coding elements (7, 8, 107, 108), c. wherein one of the coding elements (7, 107, 8, 108) is to be arranged on one and the other of the coding elements (7, 107, 8, 108) on the other connector part,
characterized in that d. the coding elements (7, 8; 107, 108) can be preassembled as a preassemblable unit on at least one of the plug connector parts (1, 104) and e. that the respective other connector part (4, 101) is designed such that the one of the two coding elements (7, 107) in the first purely axial mating of the two connector parts in / on it sets, so that this coding element (7, 107) to the first release of the first mated connector parts alone by axial pulling on this other connector part (4, 101) remains. Plug connection according to claim 1, characterized in that the coding device (9) on the plug part (1) is preassembled. Plug connection according to claim 1, characterized in that the coding device (109) on the socket part (104) is preassembled. Plug connection according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each contact on the connector parts (1, 101) and the socket parts (4, 104) each one of the coding elements (7, 108, 8, 107) is provided. Plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the housing (2, 104) of the one connector part (1, 104) at least one or more receiving contour (s) (11) for receiving the coding elements (7, 107) is formed. Plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving contours (11, 111) are designed such that they from a mating face initially a cylindrical receiving portion (12, 112) and thereafter a non-rotationally symmetrical, preferably polygonal receiving portion (13 , 113). Plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving contours (11, 111) have an approximately square geometry. Plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coding elements (7, 117) which can be inserted into these receiving contours (11, 11) have a flange-like head (14), on which the spring legs (15, 16) are formed, which are connected to their from Each having a projection (17, 18), the spring legs (15, 16) and the projections (17, 18) being shaped and designed such that the projections (17, 18) in different rotational positions of the coding elements (7, 107) can be latched in the receiving contour. Plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head (14, 114) has a non-rotationally symmetric Kodierkontur (19). Plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the further coding element (8, 108) likewise has a head (20, 120) and a corresponding coding contour (23, 123) on the head. Plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Kodierkontur (23) is designed as a cross-section preferably arrow-shaped pin, which is shaped such that it is preferably in the slot-like receiving contour (19) of the first Kodierelements slightly clamped plugged. Plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head (20) is plate-like and on one side mounting contours (22), preferably pins, which are designed to engage in a mounting pattern, preferably a hole pattern, on the corresponding connector part. Plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that four of the holes (25) are arranged on the corners of an imaginary square, so that for each of the four orientations of the coding element (7) on the plug part, a corresponding hole pattern arrangement on the socket part is present. Plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head (120) itself is designed as a plug-in contour (122), which is designed for latching and / or clamping engagement in a mounting contour on one of the connector parts (101). Plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more ribs (29) are provided on the pin (23). Plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the side remote from the Kodierkonturen side of the head (15) of the second coding element (8) an actuating and / or Kodierpositionsanzeigekontur is formed. Plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating and / or Kodierpositionsanzeigekontur is formed as a preferably arrow-shaped slot (24, 124). Plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the orientation of the slot (24, 124) corresponds to the orientation of the Kodierkontur. Method for coding a plug connection, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a. the coding elements (7, 8, 107, 108) are preassembled as a preassemblable unit on at least one of the plug connector parts (1, 104), respectively, and b. the respective other connector part (4, 101) is configured in such a way that the one of the two coding elements (7, 107) preassembled for the coding device (9, 109) defines itself in the first purely axial mating of the two connector parts in / on it, then that this coding element (7, 107) remains after the first release of the first mated connector parts alone by axial pulling on this other connector part (4, 101).

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