EP2727189B1 - Apparatus for on demand dust and/or moisture protection for current-carrying appliance connection or connecting means - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for on-demand dust and / or moisture protection for current-carrying device connection or connecting means, comprising a standard appliance plug, which is connectable to a standard device connector, which is part of an electrical connection cable, according to claim 1.

From the DE 10 2006 060 989 A1 an attachment for an electrical connector is previously known, wherein a frame part is provided with substantially the outer contour of a first electrical connection element modeled inner surface. The frame part can be fixed to a second electrical connection element and, with its inner surfaces, forms a passage opening in the connection direction of the electrical connection elements. Therein, the first electrical connection element can be freely moved. In order to avoid unnecessary downtime and to make electrical equipment safer side of the fencing, a sealing element is arranged on or adjacent to the inner surfaces of the frame member.

The trained as an attachment seal device is virtually slipped over the device connector on the device housing and fixed. The cable socket is enclosed by the existing sealing lip when plugged in. The sealing lip must lie very precisely against the cable socket, which requires a correspondingly precise design. This is usually not given by the existing tolerances for connectors and gaps.

The DE 35 07 525 C1 shows an electrical appliance plug formed as a plug-coupling system, the cylindrical connector housing has a collar with external thread. The engaging in the collar coupling is clamped with a cap on the external thread of the collar. According to the local solution, the interior should be protected against the escape of oil or against the ingress of water, in particular of pressurized water in submersible pumps. For this purpose, a plug-in sleeve of the plug housing on a front web a plurality of barb-like tongues formed on the end edges facing a cuff of the collar, leaving a circumferential gap. The circumferential gap takes on a mounting edge and a sealing disc. A nut which can be screwed onto the external thread of the collar tightly clamps the sealing disk and seals the coupling cap of the coupling with an annular surface on the end edge of the collar. The local solution is more suitable for continuous use, but not for a daily or more frequent use or operation in terms of disconnecting the plug-coupling system.

In the sealed electrical connection arrangement according to DE 697 05 676 T2 is assumed by a plug and a coupling as part of a socket or a mobile coupling of an extension cable or a device plug. The clutch is provided with a housing which is equipped with a hinged and hinged lid in a rest position. The cover or the plug housing have support surfaces which are intended to contact an annular seal in the closed position of the cover or connection position of the plug. The housing of the coupling has at its front edge an annular groove which receives the lower part of the aforementioned seal, whose cross section has the shape of an inwardly curved hook. It is therefore a special geometry of ring seal, the annular groove and conical cylinder as a counter surface in the counterpart for the pivotal or translational movement when opening and closing the lid required. This results in a considerable effort both manufacturing and maintenance side.

The state of the art in terms of sealing devices for connectors is still on the DE 10 2005 040 425 A1 , the DE 695 01 873 T2 or the DE 195 24 363 C2 directed.

From the foregoing, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a further developed device for demand dust and / or moisture protection for current device connection or connecting means containing a standard device plug, which is connectable to a standard corresponding device socket, in principle, any with electrical energy supplying device with the device according to the invention should be equipped and this is the manufacturing and thus cost expenses limited. The solution to be created is to be designed so that the present requirements can be met only in the specific case of a high degree of protection against the penetration of moisture, water spray or the like by using a suitable connection cable with associated socket.

The object of the invention is achieved with a device according to the combination of features according to claim 1, wherein the dependent claims comprise expedient refinements and developments.

It is therefore assumed that there is a device for dust and / or moisture protection on demand for current-carrying device connection or connecting means, comprising a standard device plug, which is connectable to a standard corresponding device socket, which is part of an electrical connection cable or connection means.

The standard device plug is surrounded by a housing open in the insertion direction, which has a mounting flange for receiving a circumferential sealant. In this case, the mounting flange slightly protrudes from the housing wall of the housing laterally and can on its underside a circumferential groove, e.g. Include annular groove for receiving a sealant.

Furthermore, the housing has means for attachment to or in a, to be supplied with electrical energy device. An expansion of the housing wall of the standard device plug in the insertion direction and a space between the Wandungsinnenseite the housing of the standard device plug and the standard device plug is inventively designed so that both the standard corresponding socket according to IEC / EN 60320 can be freely introduced, as well as such a socket according to IEC / EN 60320 is inserted, which is integrated or accommodated in a plug-in direction open sealing housing and the inner contour of the sealing housing of the outer contour of the housing wall of the housing of the standard equipment plug is formed complementary, that during the insertion both the electrical connection takes place and the sealing housing of the socket comes in close-fitting positive engagement and contact with the standard connector housing and thereby the Gehäusewandungdes housing of the standard device connector is embraced on the outside.

It is within the meaning of the invention that with respect to the design of plug and socket with housing design and a kinematic reversal can be done.

In one embodiment of the invention, a circumferential sealing means, in particular at least one sealing ring is inserted or arranged in the inner wall of the sealing housing of the socket. For this purpose, the inner wall may have a circumferential annular groove which receives the sealing ring.

According to the invention, a standard socket or a sealing housing provided with the invention further developed standard socket and corresponding connection means can be inserted into the housing with integrated standard appliance plug as needed.

The means for attachment may comprise bolts or screws which are received by the housing wall. The screw is thus executed concealed from the direction of insertion.

In one embodiment of the invention, the housing wall has a rotationally symmetrical shape.

Likewise ausgestaltend there is the possibility of the housing wall of the housing surrounding the standard connector made of an elastic or elastomeric material to optimize the sealing properties.

In addition, means for locking or pull-out protection can be provided between the standard connector housing and the sealing housing of the socket.

These agents may e.g. a bayonet closure and / or locking prongs or the like solutions include.

Finally, according to the invention, the use of the device in device power connector connectors according to IEC / EN 60320.

The invention will be explained below with reference to an embodiment and with the aid of figures.

Fig. 1 und 2

Lösungen des Standes der Technik hinsichtlich vorbekannter Normsteckverbindungen;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht sowie eine Schnitt-Seitenansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Gerätesteckers;

Fig. 4

eine Schnitt-Seitenansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Gerätesteckers mit aufgenommener, abgewinkelter, der Norm entsprechender Gerätesteckdose;

Fig. 5

eine Längsschnittdarstellung der erfindungsgemäß weitergebildeten Gerätesteckdose mit Dichtgehäuse;

Fig. 6

eine Darstellung ähnlich derjenigen nach Fig. 4, jedoch in einer Ausführungsform, bei der die erfindungsgemäße Gerätesteckdose mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Gerätestecker staub- und feuchtigkeitsdicht verbunden ist;

Fig. 7

eine Darstellung einer möglichen Verriegelung der Steckverbindung mittels Riegel oder Klinke und

Fig. 8

eine Darstellung einer weiteren Verriegelungsvariante mittels Bajonettverschluss.

Hereby show:

Fig. 1 and 2

Solutions of the prior art with respect to previously known standard connectors;

Fig. 3

a plan view and a sectional side view of the device plug according to the invention;

Fig. 4

a sectional side view of the device connector according to the invention with recorded, angled, the standard corresponding device socket;

Fig. 5

a longitudinal sectional view of the invention further developed device socket with sealing housing;

Fig. 6

a representation similar to that after Fig. 4 but in an embodiment in which the device socket according to the invention with the device connector according to the invention is dust and moisture-proof connected;

Fig. 7

a representation of a possible locking of the connector by means of latch or pawl and

Fig. 8

a representation of another locking variant by means of bayonet lock.

The Fig. 1 and 2 show a side sectional view of the usual application of an IEC 60320-1 connector.

The housing 1 of an electrical appliance has an opening in which the standard appliance plug 2 is embedded and mounted.

The standard device connector 2 usually takes a device socket 3 with power cord 4, so that the power supply of the electrical device is secured.

Such a simple connection satisfies the given environmental conditions in many cases, but is not suitable for higher degrees of protection.

Fig. 2 now shows an example of how a standard plug connection to dust and water can be protected according to the prior art. The plug connection according to Fig. 1 is not enclosed as a whole by the device housing 1. The resulting cavity is sealed with a housing cover 6 and seal 7. The power cable 4 is passed through the protected housing feedthrough a PG cable gland 5a and thus out in the protected interior of the overall housing from the parts 6 and 1.

As already stated, the use of device plug-in connections in accordance with the IEC / EN 60320-1 standard is widespread. Such connectors are protected against dust and water according to IP40. For the needs of higher types of protection, the standard refers to other, less well-known connectors, e.g. IEC / EN 60320-2-3 for a degree of protection according to IPx4.

In many applications, the achievement of IP40 protection is sufficient. However, certain applications require a higher degree of protection, e.g. in the medical-technical field.

If these are to be equipped with common appliance connections in accordance with IEC / EN 60320-1, the standard recommends that additional protective measures be taken by the appliance manufacturer. Here exist individual solutions device-type, in which less protected connectors are enclosed by the device housing with the required degree of protection, the Device housing the connector according to the illustration Fig. 2 protects.

These measures create unnecessary manufacturing costs and additional handling and assembly measures for those multi-device devices that are actually IP40 rated.

As described in the prior art, solutions are common in which only appliance connectors are even tight and are provided for tight installation in device housings. Although devices equipped in this way are generally leakproof, they are often not the plug-in device itself. Corresponding devices may only be used in the disconnected state, e.g. Be exposed to splashing water. Such a degree of protection serves primarily the cleanability.

A protection of the contacts in the area of the connector offer so-called bellows. Here, small elastic bellows are pushed onto the pins of the device connector. An attached appliance socket attaches to the bellows. By squeezing a bellows, the contact pin is enclosed and protected. Such protection requires that the surface of the mains socket of the mains cable in the area of the sockets must be free from soiling or contours.

The solutions according to the below-described embodiment of the invention solve the problem that in many types of equipment for the vast majority of copies the degree of protection IP40 is sufficient, but in certain applications, modes or circumstances a higher degree of protection, e.g. IP54, is required. It should not be the protection of the plug-in device construction as in the prior art, part of the device housing and no corresponding effort to pull.

With the solution according to the invention there is an advantage in that all devices can be equipped according to the vast majority of applications in the IP40 housing protection with relatively simple design and low cost of connectors according to IEC 60320-1. In the event that one of the electrical appliances to be supplied with electricity has a Housing protection> IP40 has, it is possible according to the present invention to achieve the desired degree of protection by simply using an additionally required standard equipment plug with surrounding housing and corresponding provided with a sealing housing socket part with connecting cable. The housing parts according to the invention then form, in the area of the mains connection, a protective device of at least degree of protection IP54.

The costs for the device-side housing design, including the device plug and mounting, correspond to those of standard commercial IEC 60320-1 device plug-in connectors. The costs for achieving the higher degree of protection of the housing relocate to the then only necessary device connection cable. The part of the device housing required for the degree of protection is connected to the connection cable. A conversion of a device equipped with the above-mentioned connector of the housing protection IP40 to a higher degree of protection does not require extra effort in the production and no change to be supplied with power device itself, but only the use of a standard device plug with surrounding housing or if such according to the invention Plug is already installed, only the use of a connection cable with socket, which is integrated in a plug-in open housing or housed by such a housing.

The Fig. 3 now shows left side a plan view of the insertion region of a standard device connector according to the invention and the right side a sectional view.

There is a housing or a housing body 8 is present, which contains the standard device connector 2 or forms a constructive unit with this.

The housing body 8 has a possibility for tight mounting to the device housing 1 (see Fig. 4 ) on.

This possibility is exemplified by an O-ring seal 11, which is located in a groove of the housing flange. Screws or bolts 9 are used to fix the device connector according to the invention on the device housing 1. The necessary housing breakthrough for the connections and the Housing bores for the fastening screws are similar to those of commercially available device connectors, so that no additional expense arises here.

In one embodiment, the outside of the wall of the housing body may have a smooth, conical, but also cylindrical sealing surface 10.

The outer shape of the housing body 8 corresponds to the standard, so that all associated appliance sockets can be accommodated. Here, moreover, the expansion of the housing in the insertion direction and the space between the Wandungsinnenseite of the housing body 8 and the standard device connector 2 is formed so that the normentsprechende socket (see, eg Fig. 4 and 6 ) can be introduced unhindered.

The Fig. 4 now shows one of the possibilities of application of the device connector according to the invention with housing body 8 and the actual standard device connector 2. The housing body 8 with the standard device connector 2 is connected to the housing 1 of the electrical device. A standard device socket 3a in an angled form of the corresponding power cord 4 is received by the standard device connector and it is here the degree of protection IP40 achievable.

The inventively further developed device socket 13 after Fig. 5 comprises a sealing housing 12 which on one side of the standard device socket 13 and on the other, mostly opposite side of a ≥IP54 tight cable bushing 5 contains.

In the inner connection space 15 of the sealing housing 12, the device socket 13 is connected to the power cord 4.

The power cord 4 is led through the cable gland 5b to the outside.

The front portion of the sealing housing 12 has a sealing device 14, e.g. formed as an O-ring in a circumferential groove.

If the sealing housing 12 is pushed onto the associated appliance plug housing 8, sealing takes place with the aid of the sealing device 14 and Sealing area 10 of the room in which the electrical connector 2/13 is now located, with regard to the external environment according to degree of protection ≥IP54.

The Fig. 6 shows a sectional view of the inventive tight connection according to degree of protection ≥IP54 using the standard device connector according to the invention with housing and the standard socket, which is integrated in a plug-in direction open sealing housing or received by this.

The standard appliance plug housing 8 is connected via the seal 11 tightly and firmly using the screw 9 with the housing 1 of the electrical device. Likewise, by means of the seal 14 to the sealing surface 10 is a sealing connection with respect to the sealing housing 12. Through the cable gland with Biegeschutz 5b, the power cord 4 is tightly guided. If necessary, device body and power cord can be separated in a simple and known manner by pulling on the sealing housing 12.

It is within the meaning of the invention, the connection between the sealing housing 12 and the housing surrounding the standard connector 8 to lock mechanically, as in the FIGS. 7 and 8 shown.

The Fig. 7 relates to a variant with pin lock consisting of bore or groove 16 in the connector housing 8 and selbstverriegelndem pin or latch 17 with manual opening mechanism as a manual operation 18 on the sealing housing 12. This can prevent inadvertent separation of the two housing halves. The cable bushing 5a is designed here as a sealed PG gland.

Fig. 8 shows a variant with bayonet lock, consisting of a bayonet 19 on the device connector housing 8 and self-locking counter-bayonet 20 with manual opening mechanism on the sealing housing 12, also to prevent inadvertent separation of the two housing halves.

From the comments it can be seen that in the housing with integrated standard device plug, if necessary, a standard socket or a sealed housing provided standard socket and corresponding connection means is insertable.

To improve the sealing effect, it is possible, at least the housing wall of the housing enclosing the standard connector made of an elastic or elastomeric material.

For improved insertion or placement of the socket with housing on the standard plug with housing insertion bevels or corresponding conical insertion surfaces may be present.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Housing of the electrical device

2

Standard appliance plug according to IEC / EN 60320

3

Appliance socket in accordance with IEC / EN 60320 in standard-compliant housing

3a

Appliance socket according to IEC / EN 60320 angled in standard housing

4

power cable

5

Grommet

5a

Cable gland as PG gland

5b

Cable bushing with bending protection over a shell

6

housing cover

7

Seal between housing and housing cover or device connection space

8th

Housing of the standard appliance plug / appliance plug housing

9

Fixing screw or fixing bolts

10

Sealing surface / housing wall

11

Seal device socket to device housing

12

Sealing housing for the standard device socket

13

Connector

14

Seal of the device socket housing to the device plug housing

15

inner connection space

16

Bore or groove for pull-out protection

17

Pen or latch for pull-out protection

18

Manual operation for releasing the safety catch

19

Elements of the bayonet lock

20

Counterbayonet with actuating ring

Claims (7)

1. An apparatus for on-demand dust and/or moisture protection for current-carrying device connection means or connecting means, including a standard device plug (2) which is connectable to a standard-conforming device socket (3; 3a) which is a component of an electrical connecting cable (4), the standard device plug (2) according to IEC/EN 60320 being enclosed by a housing (8) of the standard device plug, which housing is open in the plug-in direction and comprises a fastening flange for receiving a circumferential sealing means (11), and the housing (8) having means (9) for fastening to or in an equipment to be supplied with electrical energy,
   characterized in that
   an extension of the standard device plug's housing wall in the plug-in direction as well as a free space between the wall inner side of the standard device plug's housing and the standard device plug (2) are formed such that both the standard-conforming socket (3) according to IEC/EN 60320 can be inserted in an unimpeded manner and such a socket according to IEC/EN 60320 is insertable, which is integrated or received in a sealing housing (12) which is open in the plug-in direction, and the inner contour of the sealing housing (12) being formed to be complementary to the outer contour of the housing wall (10) of the standard device plug's (2) housing (8) such that, during the plug-in operation, both the electrical connection is achieved and the socket's sealing housing (12) enters into a tightly close contact and positive fit with the standard plug's housing (8), and thereby the standard device plug's (2) housing (8) is encompassed at the outside.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   a circumferential sealing means (14), in particular at least one sealing ring is inserted or arranged in the inner wall of the socket's sealing housing (12).
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   a standard socket or a standard socket provided with a sealing housing (12) having corresponding connection means is insertable in the housing (8) with the integrated standard device plug (2) if required.
4. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the means for fastening comprise bolts or screws (9) which are received by the housing wall (10).
5. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the housing wall (10) has a rotationally symmetric shape.
6. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   a means for locking or pull-out protection (16; 17) is provided between the standard plug housing and the socket's sealing housing.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6,
   characterized in that
   the pull-out protection comprises a bayonet catch (19) and/or a latch.

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