EP2434586A1 - Electrical connector with a union nut - Google Patents

Abstract

The connector has a plug head (3) on which a union nut (10) is rotatably seated for screwing the plug connector with a mating connector. The union nut comprises a threaded sleeve and a ring (12). A threaded sleeve (11) is engaged on carrier elements, so that one of the carrier elements is dimensioned to be sheared off when exceeding a tightening torque from the other carrier element. The ring is rotatably held on the threaded sleeve. The ring is rotatably held on the plug head opposite to the mating connector.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical connector with a plug head, rotatably mounted on a union nut for screwing the connector with a mating connector.

Electrical connectors of this type are known in many, mostly standardized embodiments. For connectors used in the commercial sector, e.g. used in mobile systems, there is usually an assembly instruction, which requires, among other things, that the tightening torque with which the nut is screwed against the mating connector, must be within a predetermined tolerance range, on the one hand, a secure electrical contact is ensured, on the other hand, a mechanical overload the structural parts of the connector and the mating connector is avoided. For this purpose, the union nut has wrench flats for attaching a torque wrench. However, whether during assembly, that is, when making the proper connector, the prescribed tightening torque adhered to or even if a torque wrench was used, is subsequently uncontrollable.

The invention has for its object to provide an electrical connector of the type mentioned in the introduction, which can be mounted without torque wrench, ie, for example, with a normal open-end wrench while maintaining the prescribed tightening torque.

This object is inventively achieved in that the union nut consists of a threaded sleeve and a ring, that the threaded sleeve and the ring each comprise at least one driver part that these driver parts at least when screwing the connector with the mating connector engage each other, and that one of the driver parts is dimensioned so that it is sheared off when exceeding a tightening torque applied to the ring of the other driver part.

This ensures that the connector can be mounted at least once by untrained personnel and with normal tools without falling below or exceeding the prescribed tightening torque range, because the shearing off of the driver part makes itself felt for the fitter as a sudden decrease in the tightening torque. In addition, markings on the threaded sleeve and the ring may be attached, at which the following on the shearing rotation of the ring relative to the threaded sleeve can be seen.

In a preferred embodiment, the ring is rotatably seated on the plug head, namely on its side remote from the mating connector side, so is axially "behind" the threaded sleeve, following the cable-side end face. The ring may have key surfaces, ie be formed on the circumference as a hexagon for the same width across the circumference, which is for the relevant connector according to the prior art in use.

Alternatively, the ring may be rotatably mounted on the threaded sleeve and have corresponding key surfaces. This embodiment, in which the drivers are radially directed, has the advantage of being shorter in the axial direction than the aforementioned embodiment with axially directed drivers, but requires the use of a key with a larger key width.

In both embodiments, "rotatable" means rotatability about a limited by the driver rotation angle.

The shear-off driver part can consist of a tooth-like segment and the shearing driver part of a cutting profile with a directed against the foot of the tooth-like segment cutting edge. The shear-releasable driver part can be formed on the ring and the shearing driver part accordingly on the threaded sleeve. Just as the reverse assignment is possible. If the materials of the threaded sleeve and the ring are different from each other, so for example, the threaded sleeve made of brass and the ring consists of an aluminum alloy, it is recommended to form the shearable driver part of that part of the split cap nut, which consists of the ductile material, in this For example, on the ring made of aluminum.

The threaded sleeve and the ring may each comprise two driving parts, which lie opposite each other on the same diameter of the threaded sleeve and the ring. The two shear-off driver parts are then dimensioned so that they are sheared off on reaching the prescribed tightening torque of the two shearing driver parts simultaneously. This has the advantage that the shear forces in opposite directions symmetrical to the central axis of the split union nut act.

If the connector in the embodiments described so far has only one shear-off driver part (or two simultaneously shear-off driver parts), loosening the screw once produced and thus disconnecting the connector from its mating connector only by means of a tool engaging the threaded sleeve, but not through Turning the ring possible.

The latter, however, can be achieved in that the ring also comes into a frictional engagement when rotating in the direction of loosening the screw with the threaded sleeve. If, for example, the shear-off driver part (or the shear-off driver parts) is formed on the ring, the latter can additionally have a segment of sufficient flank strength with a flank against which a rear edge (away from the cutting edge) of the shearing end Carrier part comes to rest and thereby produces the non-positive connection to the threaded sleeve. After releasing the connector can be coupled and screwed again with the same or another mating connector, but only by means of a torque wrench.

An embodiment that allows repeated connection and disconnection of the connector with the (or other) mating connector without a torque wrench is to dispose a plurality of shearable driver parts angularly offset, with which a single shear-off driver part sequentially with each renewed screwing engages. Because in this embodiment it must be ensured that the ring, as stated above, when rotating in the direction of loosening the screw with the threaded sleeve comes into a frictional engagement, the connector can be screwed in compliance with the specified tightening torque as often with the mating connector, solved by this and screwed again as shear-off driver parts are present. Although the connector remains usable even after shearing all shear-off driver parts, but then requires the use of a torque wrench as the usual connector with one-piece nut for all other glands with the mating connector.

Instead, according to a further embodiment, the threaded sleeve and the ring each comprise a plurality of driver parts which are assigned to each other in pairs and offset over the circumference of the threaded sleeve, that in each case after loosening the screw and re-screwing on a sheared driver part in the direction of rotation next follower part is sheared off. Due to this pairwise assignment, a chamber-like gap space is created from the shear-off driver part to the shear-off driver part for receiving the respective sheared driver part. This prevents that a sheared driver part obstructs, for example, the shearing off of the next follower part, so that a higher than the predetermined tightening torque would have to be applied for its shearing off. By an offset, for example, the shear-off driver parts to different circumferential angle can be additionally achieved that can be mounted in the manufacture of the connector, the threaded sleeve and the ring only in a predetermined relative position, which determines which of the sheared driver parts is sheared off first.

Preferably, the height of the shear-off driver part, depending on the embodiment measured axial or radial direction, smaller than the height of the shear-off driver part. The difference is such that a sheared driver member can not wed in the gap between the threaded sleeve and the ring.

A particularly preferred embodiment is that the surfaces or flanks of the driver parts which engage with one another by screwing on the threaded sleeve by means of the ring and the subsequent shearing include a rake angle with a plane perpendicular to the cutting or scissor plane. This rake angle ensures that the ring is pulled against the threaded sleeve, depending on the embodiment in the axial or in the radial direction. As a result, the shearing force is directed primarily against the foot of the sheared driver part, which the reproducibility of the shearing force and thus adherence to a narrow tolerance range of the tightening torque benefits. In addition, it is achieved by the shearing of the respective driver part at the level of his foot, that the ring relative to the threaded sleeve within the predetermined angular ranges for releasing and possibly repeating the screw remains freely rotatable, so no friction between the end face of a shear-off driver part and a rest of an already sheared driver part occurs.

Both effects of the rake angle are ensured in particular when the rake angle is greater than the friction angle of the mutually engaging driver parts. If it must be prevented that a sheared driver part falls out of the connector, for example from a great height of a Antemienmast or passes into a cabinet between other functional parts, the entire gap-shaped space between the screw and the ring can be completed to the outside by a Spankäfig. In the axial embodiment, the chip cage may consist, for example, of a ring jacket which is integral with the screw sleeve or the ring and bridges the intermediate space, and in the radial embodiment of ring diaphragms on the two end faces in the form of rolled flanges.

If several shearable driver parts for repeated screwing of the connector with the mating connector are present, the screw sleeve and the ring are expediently provided with markings on which the number of possible screw connections without torque wrench is read.

Fig. 1:

eine erste Ausführungsform des Steckverbinders im Längsschnitt,

Fig. 2:

eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung des Steckverbinders in Figur 1,

Fig. 3a:

eine Seitenansicht der zweiteiligen Überwurfmutter in Figur 1,

Fig. 3b:

einen Schnitt Längs der Linie A - A in Figur 3a,

Fig. 4a, 4b:

eine Seitenansicht und einen Schnitt wie in Fig. 3a und 3b, jedoch nach Drehung des Ringes um ca. 5 Grad relativ zu der Gewindehülse,

Fig. 5a, 5b: wie Fig. 3a und 3b,

jedoch nach weiteren Dre-hungen des Ringes relativ zu der Gewindehülse,

Fig. 6:

eine zweite Ausführungsform des Steckverbinders im Längsschnitt und

Fig. 7:

eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung des Steckverbinders in Figur 6.

The invention is explained below with reference to the drawing, in which by way of example a coaxial connector is shown in two different embodiments. It shows:

Fig. 1:

a first embodiment of the connector in longitudinal section,

Fig. 2:

an exploded perspective view of the connector in FIG. 1 .

Fig. 3a:

a side view of the two-piece cap nut in FIG. 1 .

3b:

a section along the line A - A in FIG. 3a .

4a, 4b:

a side view and a cut as in Fig. 3a and 3b but after rotation of the ring about 5 degrees relative to the threaded sleeve,

5a, 5b: as in FIGS. 3a and 3b,

however, after further rotations of the ring relative to the threaded sleeve,

Fig. 6:

a second embodiment of the connector in longitudinal section and

Fig. 7:

an exploded perspective view of the connector in FIG. 6 ,

The in the Figures 1 and 2 illustrated, coaxial connector of the widely used type 7-16 comprises a plug inner conductor 1 in an insulating support 2, which in turn is held in a connector outer conductor forming the plug head 3. With the plug head 3, a Kabelabfangteil 5 is screwed with the interposition of an O-ring 4, which is designed for connection to the outer conductor of a coaxial cable, not shown, whose inner conductor is connected to the female connector 1, for example, soldered into this.

A type-equivalent mating connector, for example a so-called housing coupler, is shown in dashed lines. To produce an electrically and mechanically perfect and permanent connection with the mating connector sitting on the plug head 3 of the connector rotatably a union nut 10 for screwing with the indicated external thread of the mating connector. The union nut 10 is inventively divided into a threaded sleeve 11 and a ring 12. On the lateral surface of the plug head 3 is seated for sealing an O-ring 8. Following this O-ring of the plug head 3 cable side has a circumferential shoulder 3.1, against which the threaded sleeve 11th abuts with an annular circumferential diameter stage during screwing on the mating connector.

To rotate the threaded sleeve 11 of the ring 12 comes in the axial direction in a frictional engagement with this threaded sleeve. The ring 12 has key surfaces 12.0 for attaching a normal open-end wrench. For connectors of very small diameter, the ring 12 may instead be elongated in the axial direction and, for example, have a knurling instead of the wrench flats, which allows rotation of the ring 12 by hand. For connectors of very large diameter of the ring 12 may be formed for applying, for example, a pin wrench.

In particular FIG. 2 illustrates, the threaded sleeve 11 for producing the frictional connection with the ring 12 distributed over the circumference arranged, axially directed driving parts such as 11.1 and the ring 12 correponding driver parts as 12.1. The measured in the axial direction height of the driver parts 12.1 is less than the axial height of the driver parts 11.1. In FIG. 1 you see above a driver part like 11.1 in Fig. 2 , Down in FIG. 1 is the conditional by said, different heights of the driver parts gap between the facing end faces of the threaded sleeve 11 and the ring 12 is denoted by s.

The driver parts 12.1 of the ring 12 are dimensioned such that they are sheared off from the respective engaging driver part 11.1 of the threaded sleeve 11 when a predetermined tightening torque specified for the connector is reached. In the illustrated embodiment, the ring 12 has three such shear-off driver parts such as 12.1, which, as will be explained below, are arranged distributed over the circumference of the end face of the ring 12 such that after shearing the first, in engagement with a corresponding, shearing driver part as 11.1 coming driver part as 12.1 and loosening and re-screwing the connector on the mating connector each shearable next driver part of the ring 12 in engagement with a correspond, the shearing causing driver part of the threaded sleeve 11 comes and is sheared off again at the predetermined torque.

The gap s, by which the distance between the end faces of the threaded sleeve 11 and the ring 12 is greater than the height of the driver parts such as 12.1, ensures that sheared driver parts can not wedge between these faces or put in front of a not yet sheared driver part. This avoids that a sheared driver part increases the required when re-screwing the connector on the mating connector torque for shearing the next driver part over the predetermined value addition.

In order to prevent sheared driver parts from falling out of the space between the end faces of the threaded sleeve 11 and the ring 12, the ring 12 has an annular skirt 12.5, which in FIG. 2 partially drawn broken. The ring Schü 12.5 thus creates between the spaced end faces of the threaded sleeve 11 and the ring 12 an outwardly closed chip box.

In order to make the locations and the number of shear-off driver parts on the circumference of the ring 12 and their relative position to the shearing driver parts 11.1 of the threaded sleeve 11 visible from the outside, both the ring and the screw sleeve are provided with suitable markings such as 12.6 and 11.6 , As a result, the achievement of the prescribed tightening torque when screwing the connector on the mating connector both by the increase in the force to be exerted on the tool and their sudden decrease after the shearing of the respective driver part as 12.1 palpable and by the simultaneous relative rotation of the respective markings relative to each other visually displayed.

To release the screw regardless of the number of already sheared driver parts of the ring 12 has a solid segment 12.4, which comes when releasing into engagement with one of the driver parts as 11.1.

In the FIGS. 3a and 3b is the omission of the remaining parts of the connector, the relative position of the threaded sleeve 11 and the ring 12 shown shortly before reaching the position in which the first shearable driver part 12.1 of the ring 12 comes into positive engagement with the shearing driver part 11.1 of the threaded sleeve 11. The threaded sleeve 11 has three such shear-acting driver parts 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3. The ring 12 has three corresponding shear-off driver parts 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3, which are arranged offset over the circumference of the ring 12 by different angles.

The upon rotation of the ring 12 in the direction of arrow P in Fig. 3b (corresponding to a right-hand thread) in frictional engagement coming flanks of all driver parts in the FIGS. 3a and 3b the flanks of the driving parts 11.1 and 12.1, close with a cutting plane, ie to the end face of the ring 12 containing plane, a rake angle, for the driver parts 11.1 and 12.1 in FIG. 4a is denoted by α. This rake angle is greater than the friction angle between the driver parts 11.1. and 12.1. As a result, the ring 12 is pulled in the axial direction to the threaded sleeve 11. Therefore, the free edge 11.1.1 of the driver 11.1 acts in FIG. 3b as a cutting edge against the foot of the driver 12.1. The cross section of the shear-off driver parts 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3 at the foot determines the height of the torque required for shearing the ring 12. The material for the threaded sleeve 11, the dimensioning and in particular the dimensions of the driver parts 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3 are chosen so that when tightening the screw and especially during the shearing process no elastic or even plastic changes in shape occur. For example, a brass alloy and, for the ring 12, an aluminum alloy with tightly tolerated tensile strength may be a suitable material for the threaded sleeve 11.

The FIGS. 4a and 4b show the position of the ring 12 relative to the threaded sleeve 11 after rotation in the direction of the arrow P in Fig. 3b by about 5 ° until the engagement between the shearing driver part 11.1 and the shear-off driver part 12.1.

To loosen the screw the ring 12, based on the top view, for example, in FIG. 4b against the Turned clockwise until the segment 12.4 comes with its flank for conditioning and thus for frictional engagement with a rear edge of the driver part 11.3 of the screw 11 and the ring then rotated further. The segment 12.5 thus ensures that the screw connection can be released again even after shearing off all the driver parts 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3. Therefore, the connector remains wei.ter usable even after shearing off all shear-off driver parts, but then requires the use of a torque wrench to comply with the prescribed tightening torque.

The FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate the position of the ring 12 relative to the threaded sleeve 11 in the event that the screw connection of the connector with the mating connector after shearing the driver 12.1 in Figure 4a and Figure 4b has been solved and then the connector with the same or another mating connector to be screwed again. In the in the FIGS. 5a, 5b illustrated position is the driver part 12.1 (see. Fig. 3a to 4b ) sheared off in the course of the first Aufschraubvorganges. The sheared driver part is not shown. For the second Aufschraubvorgang, which is analogous to the first screwing expires, the shearable driver part 12.2 has come into frictional engagement with the shearing driver part 11.2. This is followed by the shearing off of the driver part 12.2 at the predetermined tightening torque (not shown). For a third Aufschraubvorgang is still the shearable driver part 12.3 available.

The FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate in a representation analogous to the Figures 1 and 2 a second embodiment of the Connector according to the invention. With the exception of the union nut the connector is in the FIGS. 6 and 7 with the one in the Figures 1 and 2 match. The parts concerned therefore have the same reference numbers as in the Figures 1 and 2 ,

In this embodiment, however, the union nut 100 is divided into two parts, not in the axial but in the radial direction, into a threaded sleeve 111 and a ring 112 surrounding it radially. The ring has key surfaces 112.0. At its inner periphery, the ring 112 has a plurality of shear-off driver parts such as 112.1 in FIG. 7 , the functionally the driver parts 12.1, etc. in the Figures 1 to 5b correspond. Analog has the threaded sleeve 111 distributed on its outer circumference, shearing Mitnehmerteile 111.1 to 111.3 in FIG. 7 , in turn, the sheared driver parts 11.1, etc. in the Figures 1 to 5b and analogously have a shear-acting cutting edge like 111.1.1. The ring 111 further has a solid segment, not visible in this illustration, having the same function as the segment 12.4 of the ring 12 in FIGS Figures 1 to 5b , The "radial" embodiment of the connector according to the FIGS. 6 and 7 is therefore functionally identical to the "axial" embodiment according to the Figures 1 to 5b , The ring 111 has rolled, but spaced from the threaded sleeve 111 ring skirts 112.5, the analogous to the skirt 12.5 in the Figures 1 and 2 limit the circumferential annular space between the threaded sleeve 111 and the ring 112 to the outside to prevent the falling out of sheared driver parts such as 112.1.

The above-described construction of a union nut which is screwed onto the mating thread with a prescribed tightening torque without a torque wrench To have to use, can also be applied to a cable clamp, ie the screw, with wel cher, for example, a coaxial cable contacted via its outer conductor with the plug head and is mechanically non-detachably connected. For this purpose, this screw is formed in two parts analogous to the union nut.

Claims (13)

Electrical connector with: a plug head (3), a union nut (10; 100) rotatably seated on the plug head (3) for screwing the connector to a mating connector, characterized in that
the union nut (10; 100) comprises: a threaded sleeve (11, 111) and a ring (12; 112); wherein the ring is configured so that it at least when screwing with the threaded sleeve (11, 111) via driver parts (11.1, 111.1, 12.1, 112.1) into engagement, of which a shear-off driver part (12.1, 112.1) is dimensioned so that it is sheared off by a shearing driver part (11.1, 111.1) when a tightening torque applied to the ring (12; 112) is exceeded. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the ring (12) on the plug head (3) is rotatably supported on its side remote from the mating connector side. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the ring (112) on the threaded sleeve (111) is rotatably supported. Plug connector according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the shear-off driver part (12.1, 112.1) has a tooth-like segment and the shearing driver part (11.1) has a cutting profile with a cutting edge directed against the foot of the tooth-like segment (11.1.1, 111.1 .1). Connector according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the threaded sleeve (11; 111) and the ring (12; 112) each comprise two driving parts, which lie opposite each other on the same diameter of the threaded sleeve and the ring. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the ring (12; 112) is designed such that it comes into a frictional engagement when rotating in the direction of loosening the screw with the threaded sleeve (11; Connector according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by n ≥ 2 shear-off driver parts (12.1 to 12.3), which are arranged angularly offset, where n is an integer. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the threaded sleeve (11; 111) and the ring (12; 112) each comprise n ≥ 2 driver parts, which are assigned to each other in pairs and the sheared driver parts over the circumference of the threaded sleeve (11, 111) and the ring are arranged offset, that in each case after loosening the screw and re-screwing on a sheared driver part in the direction of rotation next follower driver part (eg 12.2) is sheared. Plug connector according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the height of the shear-off driver part / carrier parts (12.1 to 12.3; 112.1) is smaller than the height of the shearing driver part / carrier parts (11.1 to 11.3; 111.1). Plug-in connector according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the surfaces of the shearing and shearing driver part (11.1; 12.1) which engage with one another when the threaded sleeve (11; 111) is screwed on and subsequently shearing off have a plane perpendicular to the cutting plane Include rake angle (α). Connector according to claim 10, characterized in that the rake angle (α) is greater than the friction angle of the mutually engaging shear-off and shear-off driver parts. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the space in which the shear-off driver parts (eg 12.1 to 12.3) between the Screw sleeve and the ring are located, is completed to the outside by a chip cage. Plug connector according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the position of the shear-off driver part (s) relative to the shearing driver part (s) is identified by markings visible from the outside.

Images