EP2463964B1 - Seal system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sealing system for an electrical connector, comprising a block seal which can be inserted into a connector housing and which has at least one opening through which a respective electrical contact is inserted when the electrical connector is fitted. It further relates to an electrical connector with such a sealing system and a method for assembling an electrical connector with at least one plug contact, which is connected to a cable.

Sealing systems according to the preamble of claim 1 are in US 2009/017659 A1 . EP 1 536 527 A1 and EP 2 044 657 A1 disclosed. Other sealing systems are in WO 2010/050336 A1 and EP 1 710 867 A 2 described.

Such sealing systems are used to prevent the unwanted ingress of dirt and / or moisture in an electrical connector. The block seal has openings or passages through which the electrical contacts are inserted, the seal being made on the circumference of the cables inserted through the openings. The cross-section of the openings is chosen slightly smaller than the cross-section of the cable including the insulation, so that the block seal rests on the cable circumference due to the compression occurring in this case.

However, it has proven to be problematic in this way to achieve a reliable seal even for cables with a very small cross-section. To assign cable with a cross-section of the electrical conductor of 0.13 mm ² to an outer diameter of the insulation of about 0.8 mm. However, in terms of manufacturing technology, it is difficult to produce openings in a block seal whose inside diameter is less than about 0.65 to 0.8 mm. Therefore, the compressive force applied to the cable is often too small to achieve a reliable seal.

In addition, when passing through the electrical contacts through the block seal is always the risk of damaging the openings, so that the tightness of the electrical connector may no longer be guaranteed.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved sealing system and an improved electrical connector of the type mentioned, in which the reliable seal is ensured even with small cable cross-sections.

The object is achieved by a sealing system having the features of claim 1. The sealing system comprises at least one sealing element which is attached to a cable connected to the plug contact and accommodated in the respective opening of the block seal at least when hindurchgedkontaktem contact.

The compression required for sealing is not or at least not exclusively provided by the block seal in the sealing system according to the invention, but substantially or additionally by the sealing element which on the one hand tightly encloses the cable and on the other hand tightly in the opening of the block seal is included. This makes it possible to produce the openings in the block seal with a cross-section, which can be controlled well manufacturing technology and is chosen so large that the electrical contacts can pass without the risk of damage. The sealing element and / or the block seal are expediently made of elastic material.

In addition, block seals can be produced according to the invention which can be used universally for various cable cross sections. The adaptation to a specific cable cross-section can be done individually by selecting a sealing element with a suitable cross-section.

According to a preferred embodiment, the sealing element has a cross section which is larger than the cross section of the opening of the block seal. Characterized the sealing element is compressed when it is received in the opening of the block seal, so that it rests particularly well on the cable and on the walls of the opening of the block seal.

According to the invention, the sealing element is a solid body. The required for receiving the cable or the plug-in contact opening is made by piercing, for example, using a needle or a combination of needle and hollow needle.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the opening is formed as a blind hole, which can be expanded in particular by means of penetrations to a through opening. Thereby It is possible to produce individually usable sealing systems, in which all openings are initially formed as blind holes in the production state and thus are initially closed. Only those openings which are to receive cables or contacts later, depending on the configuration of the electrical connector, are penetrated before the actual assembly, for example pierced or pierced.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the opening and / or the sealing element have an oval cross-section. This facilitates or allows only the passing through of such electrical contacts, which have a non-square cross-section.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one sealing lip is formed on the inner circumference of the opening and / or on the outer circumference of the sealing element, which extends transversely to the push-through direction. Such sealing lips can be compressed particularly well and facilitate in comparison to a sealing element or an opening with smooth walls insertion into the opening. Alternatively, the sealing member and the opening may both have a smooth circumference.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the block seal comprises an elastic sealing body. As a result, the compression forces required for sealing are applied not only by the sealing element, but with appropriate coordination of the cross sections of the sealing element and the opening to each other in addition from the block seal itself.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the block seal comprises at least one cover, which has at least one opening and preferably at its periphery has a sealing strip made of elastic material. The cover is made of a relatively inelastic material, wherein a relatively inelastic material means a material such as plastic which is more or less rigid or at least less flexible than, for example, a material used for the sealing element such as rubber or silicone. As a result, in particular in the case of large-area sealing systems, the block seal is prevented from being deformed and thus being released from its receptacle in the electrical connector, or the plug-in image of the block seal, that is to say the position of the openings, changes. The peripheral sealing strip ensures that the block seal itself is sealed in the electrical connector.

According to a preferred embodiment, the block seal is formed only by the cover. The seal between the cable and the block seal takes place here exclusively by the sealing elements.

Optionally, it is also possible to form the block seal only by the sealing body.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cover is arranged on one or both, the opening having sides of the sealing body and in particular connected to the sealing body. The cover and the sealing body form a sandwich, so to speak, which further increases the stability of the sealing element.

Preferably, the cross section of the opening in the cover can be oval or rectangular and the cross section of the opening in the sealing body can be round. As a result, the rather inflexible cover does not interfere with the insertion of plug contacts with an oblong cross section, while the round cross section of the opening in the region of the sealing body ensures an ideal adaptation to a likewise round cross section of the cable or of the sealing element surrounding the cable. Conveniently, the cross section of the opening in the sealing body is smaller than the cross section of the opening in the cover.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the sealing element has an opening for receiving a cable and / or a plug contact whose cross-section is preferably smaller than the cross section of the male cable and / or plug contact. This ensures that the sealing element itself is already biased prior to assembly in the block seal so that it fits tightly against the cable or the plug contact, whereby slipping during assembly, i. the passage through the opening is difficult. Connecting the plug contact with the sealing element, for example by crimping, can even completely prevent such slipping.

The object of the invention is further achieved by an electrical connector having a sealing system according to the invention. This may in particular be a connector.

The object of the invention is further achieved by the independent method claim and in particular by a method for assembling an electrical connector with at least one plug contact, which is connected to a cable, wherein the connector a Sealing system according to the invention comprises, with the steps: on pushing the sealing element on the cable and / or the plug contact, and plugging of the plug contact through the opening of the block seal, wherein the sealing element is received in an end position in the opening of the block seal.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims, the description and the drawings.

Fig. 1

eine Aufsicht einer Blockdichtung eines erfindungsgemäßen Dichtungssystems gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Schnittansicht der Blockdichtung von Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Abdeckung der Blockdichtung von Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Dichtungselements gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel, welches an einem mit einem Steckkontakt versehenen Kabel angeordnet ist;

Fig. 5 und 6

perspektivische Ansichten der Blockdichtung von Fig. 1 und des Dichtungselements von Fig. 4 in verschiedenen Montagepositionen;

Fig. 7

eine Aufsicht einer Blockdichtung eines erfindungsgemäßen Dichtungssystems gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 8

eine perspektivische Schnittansicht der Blockdichtung von Fig. 7;

Fig. 9

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Dichtungselements gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel, welches an einem mit einem Steckkontakt versehenen Kabel angeordnet ist;

Fig. 10 und 11

perspektivische Ansichten der Blockdichtung von Fig. 7 und des Dichtungselements von Fig. 9 in verschiedenen Montagepositionen;

Fig. 12

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines nicht erfindungsgemäßen Dichtungselements, welches an einem mit einem Steckkontakt versehenen Kabel angeordnet ist;

Fig. 13 und 14

Detailschnittansichten und -aufsichten von Dichtungselementen, welche in Öffnungen von Blockdichtungen aufgenommen sind; und

Fig. 15 und 16

Detailschnittansichten von Dichtungselementen, welche in Öffnungen von Blockdichtungen aufgenommen sind.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a plan view of a block seal of a sealing system according to the invention according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 2

a sectional perspective view of the block seal of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the cover of the block seal of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4

a perspective view of a sealing element according to an embodiment which is arranged on a provided with a plug-in cable;

FIGS. 5 and 6

perspective views of the block seal of Fig. 1 and the sealing element of Fig. 4 in different mounting positions;

Fig. 7

a plan view of a block seal of a sealing system according to the invention according to a second embodiment;

Fig. 8

a sectional perspective view of the block seal of Fig. 7 ;

Fig. 9

a perspective view of a sealing element according to a further embodiment, which is arranged on a provided with a plug-in cable;

10 and 11

perspective views of the block seal of Fig. 7 and the sealing element of Fig. 9 in different mounting positions;

Fig. 12

a perspective view of a sealing element not according to the invention, which is arranged on a cable provided with a plug contact;

FIGS. 13 and 14

Detailed sectional views and views of sealing elements which are received in openings of block seals; and

FIGS. 15 and 16

Detailed sectional views of sealing elements which are received in openings of block seals.

A sealing system 10 according to a first embodiment comprises a block seal 12 with a composed of a lower part 16 and a top 18, for example by means of plastic injection molding molded cover 14 and disposed between the lower part 16 and upper part 18 sealing body 20 made of elastic material such as silicone or rubber.

The upper part 18 of the cover 14 has in this embodiment a total of four rows each having 15 openings 22A, wherein of course any other configurations of the openings are possible. The openings 22A have an oval cross section and are aligned with passages or openings 22B in the sealing body 20, which have a round cross section. The lower part 16 initially has no openings in a ground state, however, areas corresponding to the openings 22A or 22B are pre-punched in such a way that perforations 24 can be produced at the positions to be fitted with plug contacts, for example by means of suitable penetration methods such as punching or piercing. which also have an oval cross-section.

The sealing body 20 projects laterally beyond the cover 14, so that a circumferential sealing strip 26 is thereby provided, which ensures that the block seal 12 sealingly in a housing of an electrical connector (not shown) can be used.

Fig. 4 shows a substantially cylindrical sealing member 30 which has a channel or opening 40 and is pushed onto a cable 32. The opening 40 may be made by a suitable penetration technique, for example by means of a jet of water, by laser drilling or by piercing. At the outer circumference of the sealing element 30, three circumferential, axially spaced from each other sealing lips 36 are integrally formed.

The introduction of the opening 40 by piercing can be carried out in a sealing element 30 produced as a solid body, for example by means of a needle / hollow needle combination. First, a channel is inserted into the sealing element by means of the needle, which is widened by pushing the hollow needle onto the needle. Subsequently, the needle is pulled out of the hollow needle and the cable 32 is inserted into the hollow needle. Finally, the hollow needle is pulled out of the sealing element 30, whereby the sealing element 30 contracts to its original cross-section and thereby applies voltage to the insulation of the cable 32.

On the cable 32, a plug contact 34 is attached in a conventional manner by means of crimp connection. The plug contact 34 has, in addition Crimpflügeln for attaching the cable further Crimpflügel 38, which surround the sealing member 30 and prevent this can move on the cable 32.

For mounting the electrical connector is according to FIGS. 5 and 6 the cable 32 provided with the plug contact 34 is inserted through the openings 22A, 22B and the opening 24, to such an extent that the sealing lips 36 are received in the opening 22B of the sealing body 20. The cross-section of the sealing element 30 is greater at least in the region of the sealing lips 36 than the cross-section of the opening 22B in the sealing body 20. As a result, the sealing lips 36 are deformed and compressed, so that they fit tightly against the wall of the opening 22B.

The oval openings 22A in the upper part 18 of the cover 14 and the oval openings 24 in the lower part 16 of the cover 14 ensure unhindered insertion of the plug-in contact 34, which has a rectangular cross-section in its contacting region. The flexible material of the sealing body 20 makes it possible for the openings 22B to expand slightly when the plug-in contact 34 is inserted. Since both the openings 22B in the sealing body 20 and the sealing element 30 each have a circular cross section, a uniform compression along the circumference of the sealing element 30 is ensured.

A sealing system 110 according to a second embodiment comprises according to FIGS. 7 and 8 a block seal 112 comprising a cover 114 and a circumferential sealing strip 126 made of elastic material. The sealing strip 126 is slightly laterally over the cover 114, as it also Fig. 10 can be seen.

In this exemplary embodiment, the cover 114 has a total of four rows, each with 15 openings 122, which extend into the cover 114, which is preferably formed as a solid body. In a ground state, the openings 122 are not continuous, but closed in the manner of a blind hole on the one side of the cover 114, but the cover 114 is pre-punched in the region of the openings 122 so that perforations 124 produced by suitable Durchdringungsverfahren such as punching or puncturing, if necessary can be, can be inserted through the plug contacts. The openings 122 in the exemplary embodiment have an oval cross section throughout, but can also be formed with a round cross section.

Fig. 9 shows on a provided with a plug contact 34 cable 32 sealing member 130 which extends from the sealing member 30 of Fig. 4 only differs by its oval cross section in the region of the sealing lips 36. The connection with the cable 32 or the plug contact 34 takes place in the same manner as described above with reference to FIG Fig. 4 has been described.

As in Fig. 10 and 11 1, the plug contact 34 connected to the cable 32 is pushed through one of the openings 122 provided with openings 124 until the sealing lips 36 of the sealing element 130 are located within the opening 122. The sealing lips 36 are compressed in the opening 122, so that the sealing element 130 rests tightly both in the region of the cable 32 and in the region of the wall of the opening 122. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, care must be taken when inserting the plug-in contact 34 that the oval sealing element 130 is not twisted in relation to the likewise oval opening 122, so that a uniform compression of the sealing lips 36 is achieved along the circumference of the sealing element 130.

In Fig. 12 an alternative embodiment of a sealing member 230 is shown, which can be used both with the block seal 12 according to the first embodiment and with the block seal 112 according to the second embodiment.

The sealing element 230 consists of a section of a hose, in particular a silicone hose, which can be produced for example by extrusion. Such extruded tubes can also be made with very small inner diameters, for example, 0.3 mm, and for mounting on the cable 32 to a suitable diameter expand. The expansion can be done for example by means of a hollow needle. After threading onto the cable 32, the sealing element 230 may contract again to achieve a seal on the lateral surface of the cable 32. The sealing member 230 is similar to FIG Fig. 4 and 9 fixed by means of the Crimpflügel 38 on the plug contact 34. It can also be pushed freely, so without attachment to the plug contact 34 on the cable 32. Furthermore, the sealing element 230 can also be partially pushed over the plug contact 34.

In Fig. 13 to 16 various combinations of block seals and sealing elements are shown in enlarged cross-sectional view.

The sealing system 110 according to Fig. 13 corresponds to the second embodiment according to Fig. 7 to 11 ,

This in Fig. 14 illustrated sealing system 10 largely corresponds to the first embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 6 ,

As well in Fig. 13 as well as in Fig. 14 It can be clearly seen that the sealing lips 36 of the sealing elements 30 and 130 are compressed in the openings 22B and 122, respectively. Furthermore, it can be clearly seen there that the sealing elements 30, 130 have blind holes 42 at both front ends. These facilitate the threading of the needles or hollow needles for producing the actual continuous openings.

According to Fig. 15 may be a sealing member 230, as with reference to Fig. 12 with both the block seal 12 (FIG. Fig. 1 to 6 ) as well as with the block seal 112 (FIG. Fig. 7 to 11 ) are used, wherein the compression area extends over the entire length of the openings 22A and 122, respectively.

Finally shows Fig. 16 a sealing system 210 according to another embodiment, which has a block seal 212 made of elastic material such as silicone or rubber. The block seal 212 can optionally be formed only by the sealing body 220 or, alternatively, according to the first embodiment be enclosed in a cover made of less flexible material. The sealing body 220 has openings 222, whose inner circumference is provided with three peripheral sealing lips 136.

For such a sealing system 210, a sealing element 230 with a smooth outer circumference is expediently used, as described with reference to FIG Fig. 12 has been described.

Instead of the sealing element 230 formed by a tube, a sealing element consisting of a solid body similar to the sealing elements can also be used Fig. 4 or 9 , but without sealing lips, are used, in which the necessary for the cable channel as explained above can be made by means of penetration.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10, 110,210

sealing system

12, 112,212

block seal

14, 114

cover

16

lower part

18

top

20, 220

sealing body

22A, 22B, 122, 222

opening

24, 124

perforation

26, 126

sealing strips

30, 130, 230

sealing element

32

electric wire

34

plug contact

36, 136

sealing lip

38

Crimpflügel

40

opening

42

blind

Claims (14)

1. Sealing system for an electrical connector with a block sealing (12, 112, 212) insertable into a connector housing, having at least one opening (22A, 22B, 122, 222) through which a respective electrical contact (34) is inserted when assembling the electrical connector,
   wherein the sealing system (10, 110, 210) includes at least one sealing element (30, 130), which is a solid body made of resilient material and which may be attached to a cable (32) connected to the contact (34) and is received in the opening (22A, 22B, 122, 222) of the block sealing (12, 112, 212) at least when the contact (34) is inserted,
   characterized in that
   the sealing element (30, 130) comprises a blind hole (42) on both front ends and an opening (40) made by puncturing for receiving a cable (32) and/or contact (34).
2. Sealing system according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the sealing element (30, 130) has a cross-section which is larger than the cross-section of the opening (22A, 22B, 122, 222) of the block sealing (12, 112, 212).
3. Sealing system according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the opening (22A, 22B, 122, 222) of the block sealing (12, 112, 212) is formed as a through-hole or as a blind hole which is expandable to a through-hole (22A, 22B, 122, 222) by puncturing.
4. Sealing system according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the opening (22A, 22B, 122, 222) of the block sealing (12, 112, 212) and/or the sealing element (30, 130) comprise an oval cross-section.
5. Sealing system according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   at the inner periphery of the opening (222) of the block sealing (212) and/or at the outer periphery of the sealing element (30, 130) at least one sealing lip (36, 136) is formed which extends transversely to the direction of insertion.
6. Sealing system according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the block sealing (12, 112, 212) includes a resilient sealing body (20, 220).
7. Sealing system according to one of the claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in that
   the block sealing (12, 112, 212) includes at least one cover (14, 114) comprising the at least one opening (22A, 122) of the block sealing (12, 112, 212) and comprising, preferably on its periphery, a sealing strip (26, 126) made of resilient material.
8. Sealing system according to claim 6 and 7,
   characterized in that
   the cover (14) is arranged at one or both sides of the sealing body (22, 220) comprising the opening (22A, 22B) of the block sealing (12, 112, 212) and is in particular connected to the sealing body (22, 220).
9. Sealing system according to claim 8,
   characterized in that
   the cross-section of the opening (22A, 122) in the cover (14, 114) is oval or rectangular and the cross-section of the opening in the sealing body (20, 220) is round.
10. Sealing system according to claim 6 or 7,
    characterized in that
    the block sealing is formed only by the cover (14, 114) or only by the sealing body (20, 220).
11. Sealing system according to one of the claims 6 to 11,
    characterized in that
    the cover (14, 114) comprises at least one pre-cut area which in a basic state closes the opening (22A, 22B, 122, 222) of the block sealing (12, 112, 212) at least on one side and is detachable from the cover (14, 114) for producing a through-hole (22A, 22B, 122, 222) in particular by puncturing.
12. Sealing system according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the cross-section of the opening (40) of the sealing element (30, 130) is smaller than the cross-section of the cable (32) and/or contact (34) to be received.
13. An electrical connector comprising a sealing system (10, 110, 210) according to one of the preceding claims.
14. Method of assembling an electrical connector with at least one electrical contact (34) which is connected to a cable (32), wherein the connector includes a sealing system (10, 110, 210) according to one of the claims 1 to 12, comprising the steps of:

    puncturing the sealing element (39, 130),

    sliding the sealing element (30, 130) on the cable (32) and/or the contact (34), and

    inserting the contact (34) through the opening (22A, 22B, 122, 222) of the block sealing (12, 112, 212), wherein the sealing element (30, 130) is received in an end position in the opening (22A, 22B, 122, 222) of the block sealing (12, 112, 212).

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