EP2091108B2 - Connector with a coding device - Google Patents

Description

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

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 known connector with the features a) to d) of claim 1 shows the US 5,273,462 known. However, this coding device is specifically used only on relatively pivotable housing parts and optimized in terms of this.

A generic connector show the US 3,491,330 and the WO 00/62380 , the last-mentioned document still disclosing the feature f). The assembly and in particular an exact setting and adjusting the coding but are still too 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.

The invention solves this problem by the subject matter of claim 1 Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

After the characterizing part of claim 1, the coding elements u.a. 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 / sets him, so that this coding after the first Solve 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. In addition, this has one of the coding element on the type of feature f. Struts with lugs, which are shaped and designed such that the other coding element is rotatable and can be latched in different rotational positions in a receiving contour of a connector part.

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, which at their end facing away from the head each have a radially outwardly projecting projection 17, 18, preferably beveled 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 inwards and intervene there in contours, if the receptacles 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 be formed in a correspondingly shaped in the housing 5, preferably not rotationally symmetrical Recording, in particular locking 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 socket part 2 - fixed (eg latched), so that it when separating 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 coding elements 107, 108 respectively as a preassembled unit on the socket part 104 and in which the plug part 101 is formed such that it at the first mating with the socket part "his" coding element 108 from the 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 "absorbed" after joint pre-assembly with the coding element 107 on the socket part 104 of the plug part 101 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. <B> reference numerals </ b> 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 (17)

1. A plug connector, comprising

   a. a first plug connector part and a second plug connector part, wherein one of the plug connector parts is formed as a plug part (1, 101) and one of the plug connector parts is formed as a socket part (4, 104), which parts respectively comprise a housing (2, 102; 5, 105) and contacts to be interconnected, preferably electrical contacts and/or optical waveguide contacts (3, 103),

   b. a coding device (9, 109) having two corresponding coding elements (7, 8, 107,108),

   c. wherein one of the coding elements (7, 107, 8, 108) is to be arranged on the one plug connector part and the other of the coding elements (7,107,8,108) on the other plug connector part,

   d. wherein the coding elements (7, 8; 107, 108) are pre-mountable as a pre-mountable unit on at least one of the plug connector parts (1, 104),

   characterized in that

   e. the respective other plug connector part (4, 104) is formed in such a way that, on the occasion of the first purely axial plugging together of the two plug connector parts, one of the two coding elements (8, 108) becomes fixed thereto, so that said coding element (8; 108), after the first separation solely by axial pulling apart of the plug connector parts plugged together for the first time, remains disposed on said other plug connector part (4, 104),

   f. wherein the other coding element (7, 107) comprises spring-loaded leg members (15, 16) with projections (17, 18), which spring-loaded leg members (15, 16) are formed on a flange-like head or which spring-loaded leg members are formed on a partially-hollow cylindrical segment, which adjoins a flange-like head (114), wherein the spring-loaded leg members (15, 16) respectively comprise one of the projections (17, 18) on their end facing away from the projections (17, 18), wherein the spring-loaded leg members (15, 16) and the projections are formed and configured in such a way that the other coding element (7, 107) is rotatable and its projections can be latched in different rotational positions in a receiving contour (11) of the one plug connector part (1, 104).
2. The plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the coding device (9) is pre-mountable on the plug part (1).
3. The plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the coding device (109) is pre-mountable on the socket part (104).
4. The plug connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one each of the coding elements (7, 108; 8, 107) is provided for each contact on the plug connector parts (1, 101) and the socket parts (4, 104).
5. The plug connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one or several receiving contour or contours (11) for accommodating the coding elements (7, 107) are formed on the housing (2) of the one plug connector part (1, 104).
6. The plug connector according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one or several receiving contours (11, 111) are formed in such a way that when viewed from the plug face they first comprise a cylindrical receiving segment (12, 112) and adjacent thereto a non-rotationally-symmetric receiving segment (13, 113) which is preferably polygonal.
7. The plug connector according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the at least one or several receiving contours (11, 111) have an approximately square geometry.
8. The plug connector according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the head (14, 114) has a non-rotationally-symmetric coding contour (19).
9. The plug connector according to claim 8, characterized in that the further coding element (8, 108) also has a head (20, 120) and a corresponding coding contour (23, 123) on the head.
10. The plug connector according to one of claims 8 to 9, characterized in that the coding contour (23) is formed as a rod which is preferably arrow-shaped in its cross section and which is formed in such a way that it can be plugged into the slot-like receiving contour (19) of the first coding element, preferably in a slightly clamping manner.
11. The plug connector according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the head (20) of the further coding element (8, 108) is disc-shaped and has mounting contours (22), preferably pins, on one side, which contours are configured for engagement in a mounting configuration, preferably a pattern of holes, on the corresponding plug connector part.
12. The plug connector according to claim 11, characterized in that four of the holes (25) are disposed at the corners of an imaginary square, so that a corresponding arrangement of a pattern of holes is provided on the socket part for each of the four orientations of the coding element (7) on the plug part.
13. The plug connector according to one of claims 11 to 12, characterized in that the head (120) is itself configured as a plug contour (122) which is formed to engage in a latching or clamping fashion in a mounting contour on one of the plug connector parts (101).
14. The plug connector according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that one or more ribs (29) are provided on the rod (23).
15. The plug connector according to one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that an actuating and/or coding position indicator contour is formed on the side of the head (15) of the second coding element (8) which faces away from the coding contours.
16. The plug connector according to claim 15, characterized in that the actuating and/or coding position indicator contour is preferably formed as an arrow-shaped slot (24, 124).
17. The plug connector according to claim 16, characterized in that the orientation of the slot (24, 124) corresponds to the orientation of the coding contour.

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