EP2577816A1

EP2577816A1 - Plug connector housing

Info

Publication number: EP2577816A1
Application number: EP11722818.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Harald Gross
Original assignee: Multi Holding AG
Current assignee: Multi Holding AG
Priority date: 2010-06-04
Filing date: 2011-06-01
Publication date: 2013-04-10
Also published as: CN102934290A; WO2011151392A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connector housing for receiving a contact element (4) that conducts the electric current, said plug connector housing comprising a connecting element (1), a sliding element (2) that can be at least partly inserted into the connecting element (1), and a locking element (3) for locking the sliding element (2) with respect to the connecting element (1). The sliding element (2) and the locking element (2) can be moved from an installing position into a locked position into the connecting element (1). The contact element (4) lies in an interior (12) that is provided by the plug connector housing. The sliding element (2) comes to rest on a stop (10) on the connecting element (1) in the locked position, and the locking element (3) is prevented from rotating relative to the connecting element (1) by a rotation-preventing means (11, 30) in the locked position.

Description

TITLE

connector housing

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a connector housing for a plug part or socket part according to the preamble of claim 1.

STATE OF THE ART

From the prior art, a plurality of connector housings for receiving contact elements for mediating an electrical contact between two contact elements are known. Such connector housing and the contact elements arranged therein are usually designed as a socket part and plug part. The contact elements are in electrical contact with, for example, a cable.

In the field of solar technology and in other fields of technology, there is a need that the electrical conductors of the cable are electrically good conductively connected to the contact elements of the connector, and in addition, a mechanical strain relief is present, so that the cable is not out of the Socket part or the plug part can be torn out.

Further, there is a need that the connection between the cable and the respective plug part or socket part can be made without tools. Nevertheless, however, it should be ensured that the connection quality is not impaired over the entire service life. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

Based on this prior art, the invention has for its object to provide a connector housing, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a reproducible and secure over the entire service life plug-in connection should be made.

Such a problem is solved by a connector housing according to claim 1. Accordingly, a connector housing for receiving a the electric current conductive contact element, wherein the connector housing a connection element, in particular for connection to another contact element, in the connection element at least partially insertable slide element, and a Locking element for locking the carriage element with respect to the connecting element comprises. The slide element and the locking element are movable from a mounting position into a locking position in the connection element and the contact element is arranged in an interior space provided by the connector housing. The carriage element comes to rest in the locking position on a stop on the connecting element and the locking element is secured in the locking position against rotation relative to the connecting element by a rotation.

Due to the arrangement of the stop element, a reproducible closure of the connector housing can be achieved. In addition, the lock ensures a secure connection through the anti-rotation device, so that the individual elements can not come apart during the service life.

Preferably, in the assembly position, the carriage element is connected to the connection element via a securing fixture and / or via a captive securing device, so that the elements move toward and away from each other with respect to a translatory movement up to a predetermined force in the direction of the respective movement are secured.

Such a backup has the advantage that the user an easy to be closed Connector housing has available and that the individual elements are in the mounting position to each other in a snap connection, which allows the user a particularly simple installation. Preferably, the anti-rotation device has at least one anti-rotation element and at least one locking element corresponding thereto, wherein the anti-rotation element is arranged on the connecting element and / or on the carriage element, and wherein the locking element is arranged on the locking element. Preferably, the anti-rotation is designed such that it is not solvable after a single engagement, which prevents unintentional or intentional unlocking.

Preferably, the captive comprises at least one securing element on the carriage element and at least one corresponding locking element on the locking element. As a result, a particularly simple structure is formed.

Preferably, the at least one locking element of the rotation is identical to the at least one locking element of the captive. This has the advantage that only one common usable locking element is to be arranged on the locking element.

The carriage element is secured to the connecting element against rotation relative to each other. This prevents torsion on the cable, which has a positive effect on the service life.

Preferably, the carriage element has at least one guide track for guiding the locking element, wherein the guide track preferably extends on the circumference of the carriage element via an incline in the direction of a central axis extending through the carriage element such that a rotational movement can be provided between the carriage element and the locking element is.

Preferably, the connecting element and the locking element each have a thread, which are engaged with each other, wherein the thread of the Locking element is optionally engaged with the guideway.

Preferably, at least one sealing element is further arranged, which seals the interior, in which the contact element comes to rest, to the outside towards fluids.

Further embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, which are given by way of illustration only and are not to be interpreted as limiting. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connector housing in the form of a female member without a contact element;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the connector housing according to FIG. 1; FIG.

Fig. 3 shows the connector housing of Figure 1 with the contact element in the

Assembly position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a connector housing in the

Delivery position or in a position between mounting position and locking position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a connector housing in the

Locked position;

6 is a sectional view through the center axis of the connector housing between the mounting position and the locking position. and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a connector housing in the form of a plug element.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figures 1 to 6 show views of a connector housing in the form of a female element. Such a connector housing serves to receive a Contact element 4, which is on the one hand with a cable, not shown here in electrically conductive connection, and on the other hand comprises a contact portion which is electrically contacted with a further contact element 4. The connector housing essentially comprises a connection element 1, a slide element 2 and a locking element 3. In the slide element 2, the contact element 4 is arranged. The slide element 2 can be at least partially inserted into the connection element 1, where it is then locked to the locking element 3, wherein the slide element 2 is then partially in the connection element 1 and partially in the locking element 3.

The individual elements of the connector housing can occupy essentially two positions, namely a mounting position and a locking position. In the figure 3, the carriage element 2 and the locking element 3 are in the mounting position. In this case, the carriage member 2 protrudes from the connection element 1, so that access to the contact element 4 is provided. In addition, the locking element 3 is connected to the carriage element 2 in connection. In the mounting position, the user can connect the contact element 4 to a cable. The cable is guided by the locking element 3 to the contact element 4 and the contact element 4 protrudes to the connection element 1, where it can then be electrically contacted by a contact element 4 of another connector housing.

In the figure 5, the connector housing is in the locked position. In this case, the carriage element 2 is received in a space 12 created by the connection element 1 and the locking element 3. In the locked position, the connector housing is in its use state and can be connected to other connector housings, for example.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the structure of the connector housing or the individual elements will be explained below. The connection element 1 essentially has a connection section 13 and a receiving section 14 adjoining it. The connection section 13 can be shown both as a socket element, as shown in Figures 1 to 6, and as a plug element, as in the figure. 7, be formed. For this purpose, the contact element 4, which is arranged in the respective connector housing, must be formed as a plug or as a socket. In the front section, the connection section 13 has snap-action elements 130 which can engage with latching openings 131 in the socket part according to FIG. Next, a seal 53 is still arranged in the front region, which comes to rest between the socket part and the plug part and thus prevents fluids from penetrating into the interior from there. The two snap elements 130 are oriented in the same direction, so that they are separable from one side with a screwdriver in a simple manner from the socket part.

The receiving portion 14 essentially serves to receive the carriage element 2 and is also in contact with the locking element 3. The receiving portion 14 is formed substantially as a hollow cylinder which extends along a central axis M. The hollow cylinder forms part of an inner space 12 into which parts of the carriage element 2 can be inserted. The hollow cylinder has an inner side 18, which faces the inner space 12, and an outer side 16.

On the outer side 16 in the region of the receiving portion 14, the connecting element 1 further comprises at least one anti-rotation element 11. In the present embodiment, four anti-rotation elements 11 are arranged on the outer side 16, wherein the anti-rotation elements 11 are distributed at regular intervals around the circumference. The anti-rotation elements 11 are used together with locking elements 30 of the locking element 3 as rotation against undesired rotation between the connection element 1 and locking element 3 in the locking position, as this pairing will be explained below.

The Aufhahmeabschnitt 14 further comprises a stop 10, here in the form of a stop surface 10, on which the carriage member 2 may be present in the locking position. In order to achieve a controlled movement between the locking element 3 and the connection element 1, the connection element 1 has an external thread 15 in the region of the receiving section 14, which can make a connection with a counterpart on the locking element 3. When the locking position is established, the locking element 3 can be rotated relative to the connection element 1 and the thread 15 causes the two elements 1 and 3 to move towards one another. Next, the receiving portion 14 still have at least one, here two oppositely arranged locking openings 17 which are in communication with parts of the carriage member 2 in the mounting position, so that the carriage member 2 can not slip out of the connection element 1 in the mounting position. It is a mounting fuse, which will be explained in more detail below. The Rastöffhungen 17 are arranged here in the region of the stop surface 10.

In the second portion 15, two further locking lugs 19 are formed in the region of the stop surface 10, which can engage in the latching elements 30. This connection is preferably before the mounting position is taken, so the contact element 4 is secured during transport. When the latching lugs 19 engage in the latching elements 30, the contact element 4 remains protected against coarser external influences, as shown in FIG.

The slide element 2 comprises a first portion 21 and a second portion 22. The first portion 21 serves to receive the contact element 4 and the second portion 22 of the receptacle of a sealing element 5, which serves to seal the inner space 12, as will be explained below. The first portion 21 and the second portion 22 are substantially separated by a stop surface 29 from each other. The abutment surface 29 is at the stop 10 of the connecting element, when the carriage member 2 is in the locking position. In the present embodiment, a plurality of abutment surfaces 29 are arranged, which are distributed around the circumference. In the locking position, the first portion 21 projects substantially completely into the connection element 1. Consequently, the contact element is located 4 completely in the connection element 1 and is thus protected from external influences.

The first section 21 comprises in the front region latching noses 23, which engage in the latching openings 17 of the connection element 1. Thus, with the connection between Rastöffhungen 17 and locking lugs 23, the mounting fuse provided. In this context, latching is to be understood that the slide element 2 can be pushed by hand into the connection element 1, in which case a latching force between latching noses 23 and latching openings 17 must be overcome. In the present embodiment, the carriage element 2 has two latching noses 23. Here, the locking lugs 23 also serve as a guide element in the connecting element 1, wherein the connecting element 1 in its interior 12 has suitable guideways, which are in communication with the locking lugs 23. The guideways also prevent the connecting element 1 and the carriage element 2 from rotating relative to each other.

Furthermore, the first portion 21 comprises holding elements 24 and guide elements 25. The holding elements 24 and the guide elements 25 serve to secure and guide the contact element 4 in the first section 21. The holding elements 24 are formed as clip elements, the contact element 4 engaged in these clip elements can be.

The second section 22 is designed substantially as a hollow cylinder with an outer side 220 and adjoins the first section 21. In the region of the second section 22, the carriage element 2 also comprises at least one, here two, securing element (s) 26. The securing element 26 can enter into a snap-in connection via a latching element 30 on the closure element 3. This snap-in connection is used essentially in the assembly position, whereby it is ensured by this snap-in connection that the locking element 3 can not detach from the slide element 2. This snap connection can therefore also be referred to as a captive.

Also in the second section 22 is a guide track 27 and a plurality of tabs 28 which extend from the hollow cylindrical body in the direction of the central axis M, arranged. The guideway 27 essentially serves to guide the locking element 3, as will be explained below. Preferably, two guide tracks 27 are arranged opposite one another on the outside 220. The guideways 27 extend like a thread with a slope and surround the circumference of the second portion 22 preferably only partially.

The tabs 28 act on the handling of the sealing element 5. Due to the formation of the locking element 3, these tabs 28 are pressed in the locked state against the central axis M, whereby the sealing element is pressed to the insulation of the cable and a respect to fluids such as water or air, tight connection between sealing element and cable can be provided.

Further, the carriage member 2 may comprise additional securing elements 20 which can engage the latching openings 17 of the connecting element 1 when the carriage element is in the end position and thus the abutment surfaces 29 are present at the abutment surfaces 10.

The locking element 3 is formed substantially as a sleeve, which comprises an inner space 31. In the front region, the locking element 3 comprises at least one locking element 30. In the present embodiment, four locking elements 30 are provided which at regular intervals around the Scope are distributed. The locking elements 30 serve different purposes. On the one hand go the locking elements 30 in the assembled state with the securing elements 26 a latching connection, also referred to as captive, a, which can be solved by rotation of the locking element to the central axis by hand. On the other hand, the locking elements 30 engage the anti-rotation elements 11 when the locking element 3 is in the locking position. Thus, the rotation is provided between the locking element 30 and the securing element 11. The locking elements 30 thus have in the mounting position the function of the captive and in the Verrieglungsstellung the function of rotation. In the interior 31, the locking element 3 comprises an internal thread 32, which korespondiert with the external thread 15 of the connecting element 2. In addition, the internal thread 32 also corresponds to the guide tracks 27 of the carriage element 2. It can therefore be said that the internal thread 32 is also preferably a multi-start thread.

The internal thread 32 is followed by a conical section 33. In the region of the conical section 33, the diameter of the sleeve of the locking element 3 tapers along the central axis. The conical portion 33 is formed so that it presses on the tabs 28, which then press the sealing element 5 to the insulation of the cable in the locking position. This can be well recognized in the sectional view of FIG.

The seal 5 is arranged here in the second section 22 of the carriage element 2. Preferably, the gasket 5 is produced in a two-component injection molding process together with the carriage element 2. The seal 5 here comprises an outer sealing ring 50, which extends on the outside 220 around the circumference of the carriage element 2, and a sealing body 51, which is located in the hollow cylindrical portion of the second portion 22. The sealing body 51 is formed substantially as a hollow cylinder and comprises a Dichtöffiiung 52nd

Preferably, the seal 5 is arranged so that it is not exposed to sunlight, which increases the life of the seal. The sealing ring 50 abuts in the locking position on the inner side 18 of the inner space 12. The sealing body, however, acts in the region of the sealing opening 52 on the surface of the cable. The sealing opening 52 preferably has a conical cross section, which tapers as seen from the interior of the sealing body. Due to the conical design, it is possible that different diameters of the cable can be used, which allows flexible application of the connector housing.

In the figure 3, the connector housing is shown in the assembled position. It stands the carriage element 2 so to the connection element 1 and the locking element 3, that access to the first portion 21 of the carriage element 2 and thus to the contact element 4 is ensured. In the assembly position, the user can guide the cable through the locking element 3 to the contact element 4, with which the cable can then be connected. Preferably, the contact element 4 is a contact element, which can be operated without tools, wherein the contact element 4 has a lever 40, with which the cable is clamped to the contact element 4, so that an electrical contact with the cable and the contact element 4 can be produced. Preferably, the lever 40 also acts as a strain relief lever, wherein the lever then acts with a further lever portion on the insulation of the cable.

FIG. 3 also illustrates the clamping of the contact element 4 by the holding elements 24 and the guidance thereof by the guide elements 25. It can also be clearly seen in FIG. 3 that the latching openings 17 of the connection element 1 are in the assembly position with the latching lugs 23 of the carriage element 2 so as to provide the mounting fuse, and that the locking elements 30 of the locking element 3 are in communication with the securing elements 26 of the carriage element 2, thus providing the captive. These latching connections in the mounting position have the advantage that the connecting elements 1, the carriage element 2 and the locking element 3 are each connected to each other via manually releasable latching connections, so that the connector housing is an element for the user. Now, if the user has brought the cable with the contact element 4 in connection, the user can bring the connector housing from the mounting position to the locking position. For this purpose he brings with a fixed connection element 1 a translational force F in the direction of the central axis M on the locking element 3, which einschiebt together with the carriage member 2 in the interior 12 of the connecting element 1 along a Einschiebbewegung. For this purpose, the locking element 3 is on the internal thread 32 on at least one guide element 27 at. By applying the force, the mounting fuse between Rastöfmungen 17 and locking lugs 23 is released and the carriage member 2 can in the Slide connecting element 1.

In the figure 4, the position is shown when the above insertion movement has reached the end position, while locking element 3 and slide element 2 are pushed so far into the interior 12 until the abutment surface 29 of the carriage element 2 is present at the abutment surface 10 of the connection element 1. In this case, the sealing ring 50 also comes to lie in the inner space 12 and comes into contact with the surface of the inner space 12, so that a fluid-tight connection between the slide element 2 and the connection element 1 is formed in this area.

As soon as the insertion movement is over to the effect that the two abutment surfaces 10 and 29 lie on top of each other, the user can move the locking element 3 further towards the connection element 1 by means of rotational movement. In this case, the connection of the captive securing between the latching elements 30 and the securing elements 26 must be overcome by the rotational movement in a first step. Via the guide elements 27 and the internal thread 32, the locking element 3 is then moved by the rotational movement in the direction of connection element, where the internal thread 32 then comes into contact with the external thread 15. Towards the end of the intended movement, the locking elements 30 then come into contact with the anti-rotation elements 11 of the connection element 1 and the locking element 3 is locked by the pairing anti-rotation elements 11 and locking elements 30 with the connection element 1. Thus, the locking position is achieved, as shown in FIG. In other words, it can be said that the anti-rotation element 3 is inserted together with the carriage member 2 in the production of the locking position on a stop and then also locked by a rotational movement of the locking element 3 to stop. With the figure 6 is a sectional view of the connector housing is shown, wherein the elements are here between the mounting position and the locking position. Here it can be well recognized that the contact element 4 comes to rest in the interior 12. Also, here is a possible embodiment of the contact element 4, which here has the shape of a socket part. The clamping region with the lever 40 is followed by a contact region 41 which projects into the connection section 13 of the connection element 1. The contact region 41 here also has a contact lamella 42, via which an electrical contact with a corresponding plug part can be produced. During the movement from the mounting position into the locking position, the contact element 4 is also moved in the connecting element.

FIG. 7 shows a connector housing in the form of a plug part, which can be connected to the socket part shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

Preferably, plug part and socket part are made of a material that does not conduct electricity, such as a plastic material.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Connection element 25 guide elements

Slide element 26 securing element

Locking element 27 guideway

Contact element 28 tabs

Sealing element 29 stop surface

Stop 30 locking element

Anti-rotation element 31 interior

Interior 32 internal thread

Connecting portion 33 conical section

Pick-up section 40 Lever

External thread 41 contact area

Outside 42 contact lamella

Detent openings 50 sealing ring

Securing element 51 sealing body first section 52 sealing opening second section F force

Outside M central axis

locking lugs

retaining elements

Claims

1. Connector housing for receiving a the electrical current conductive contact element (4), wherein the connector housing a connection element (1), in the connection element (1) at least partially insertable slide element (2), and a locking element (3) for locking the carriage element (2) with respect to the connection element (1), wherein the slide element (2) and the locking element (3) from a mounting position into a locking position in the connection element (1) are movable, and wherein the contact element (4) in a through the connector housing provided interior space (12) is arranged, characterized in that the carriage element (2) in the locking position on a stop (10) on the connection element (1) comes to rest and that the locking element (3) in the locking position against rotation relative to the connecting element (1) by a rotation (11, 30) is secured.

2. Connector housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact element (4) in the carriage element (2) is arranged.

3. Connector housing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carriage element (2) in the mounting position via a mounting fuse (23, 17) with the connection element (1) and / or a captive (26, 30) with the locking element ( 3), so that the elements (1, 2, 3) are secured to each other with respect to a translational movement toward or away from each other up to a predetermined force in the direction of the respective movement.

4. Connector housing according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rotation (11, 30) at least one anti-rotation element (11) and at least one corresponding locking element (30), wherein the anti-rotation element (11) on the connection element and / or on the carriage element (2) is arranged, and wherein the latching element (30) on Locking element (3) is arranged.

5. Connector housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the captive comprises at least one securing element (26) on the carriage element (2) and at least one corresponding locking element (30) on the locking element (3).

6. Connector housing according to claim 4 and 5, characterized in that the at least one latching element (30) of the rotation is identical to the at least one latching element (30) of the captive.

7. Connector housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carriage element (2) is secured to the connecting element (1) against rotation relative to each other.

8. Connector housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mounting fuse comprises at least one latching lug (23) and at least one latching opening (17), wherein the latching lug (23) preferably on the carriage element (2) and the latching opening (17) preferably on Connection element (1) is arranged, and wherein optionally via the latching lug (23) and a guide element on the connection element (1) a guide between the connection element (1) and carriage element (2) can be provided.

9. Connector housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carriage element (2) has at least one guide track (27) for guiding the locking element (3), wherein the guide track (27) preferably on the circumference of the carriage element (2) via a Slope in the direction of a central axis (M) extending through the carriage member (2), extends such that a rotational movement between the carriage member (2) and the locking element (3) can be provided.

10. Connector housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (1) and the locking element (3) via each a thread (15, 32) which are engaged with each other, wherein the thread of the locking element (3) optionally with the guide track (27) is engaged.

11. Connector housing according to claim 8 and 9, characterized in that the guide track (27) and the threads (15, 32) have the same pitch.

12. Connector housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that further comprises a sealing element (5) is arranged, which seals the interior (12), in which the contact element comes to rest, to the outside towards fluids.

13. Connector housing according to claim 12, characterized in that the sealing element (5) in the carriage element (2) is arranged, wherein the sealing element (5) has a sealing opening (52) through which the cable into the interior (12) of the connector housing can be guided, wherein the sealing opening (52) by the locking element (3) can be reduced in a change from the mounting position to the locking position, so that the seal (5) comes to rest on the surface of the cable.

14. Connector housing according to claim 13, characterized in that the sealing opening (52) has a tapered cross-section.

15. Connector housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing element (5) further comprises a sealing ring (50) which between the carriage member (2) and the connecting element (1) provides a fluid relative dense connection.

16. Connector housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection element (2) is designed as a socket element or as a plug element.