EP2823536A1

EP2823536A1 - Plug connector comprising a protective conductor bridge

Info

Publication number: EP2823536A1
Application number: EP13714560.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thorsten Diessel; Detlef Nehm; Martin Kneidl
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2012-03-05
Filing date: 2013-03-05
Publication date: 2015-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-05
Also published as: EP2823536B1; DE202013012815U1; US20150024621A1; EP3796482A1; EP4235976A2; JP6174759B2; US9368919B2; DE202013012817U1; DE202013012812U1; DE102012101813B3; EP4235976A3; JP2016186940A; CN104254949B; WO2013131918A1; DE202013012813U1; JP2015509651A; EP3796482B1; CN104254949A

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connector (1) for mechanically and electrically connecting to a corresponding mating plug connector, comprising a housing (2), a protective conductor bridge (3), and a plug insert, wherein the protective conductor bridge (3) is retained on the housing (2), wherein the protective conductor bridge (3) has at least one connection region (9) for connecting to the plug insert, and the plug insert is retained on the at least one connection region (9).

Description

CONNECTOR COMPRISING A TUBE LADDER BRIDGE

The present invention relates to a connector for mechanically and electrically connecting to a

Corresponding mating connector, comprising a housing, a protective conductor bridge and a plug insert, wherein the protective conductor bridge is held on the housing.

Such connectors and mating connectors are used in the prior art to provide an electrical and mechanical connection between two electrical leads or an electrical lead and a device or installation. In particular, for the transmission of large currents are large, heavy connectors

required, which are protected by the housing against environmental influences. Such housings are usually made of aluminum and are provided with a thread for receiving a cable gland. The ones considered here

Connectors are designed for connection of a plurality of electrical conductors, one of which

Protective conductor (PE contact) is. The protective conductor can also be combined with a neutral conductor as a PEN contact

be executed. The protective conductor is with the

Protective conductor bridge connected to a corresponding

Protective conductor function to allow and bring the protective conductors of connector and mating connector with each other in contact. The other leaders are with

electrical contacts of the plug insert connected. The basic structure of connectors and

Mating connector may be substantially identical and only in the embodiment of their electrical contacts for making the electrical connection differ. The designs for the connector thus apply accordingly for the mating connector.

Connectors and mating connectors are

Corresponding to the plug-socket principle for

Making an electrical connection between the connector and the mating connector executed. The electrical contacts of connectors and

Mating connectors can each be designed correspondingly as contact pins or pin receptions. For safe electrical connection of the conductors of

Connector and mating connector is the

Plug insert firmly positioned on the housing. A disadvantage of the connector described above is that the mounting of the protective conductor bridge and the

Plug insert is complex and in the housing

Mounting space must be kept free to both the

Plug insert as well as the protective conductor bridge too

assemble. This makes it necessary to make the connector correspondingly large. In addition, such connectors are often heavy, making their handling difficult.

Based on the above prior art is the

Invention therefore an object of the invention to provide a connector of the above type, the simple and

is cost-effective to manufacture, easy to handle, and allows safe mechanical and electrical connection of connectors and mating connectors.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent claim. advantageous

Embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. According to the invention thus a connector for

mechanical and electrical connection with a

Corresponding mating connector given, comprising a housing, a protective conductor bridge and a

Plug insert, wherein the protective conductor bridge is held on the housing, the protective conductor bridge at least one

Has connecting portion for connection with the plug insert, and the plug insert is held on the at least one connecting portion.

The basic idea of the present invention is therefore that

To simplify mounting of the connector by the protective conductor bridge is mounted in and directly to the housing and the plug insert in the housing

is mounted directly on the protective conductor bridge.

For example, the protective conductor bridge is first attached separately to the housing, and in another

Assembly step, the plug insert is attached to the already mounted protective conductor bridge. The connector thus formed is easy to assemble and requires a small installation space. As a result, the weight of the connector is low. The assembly of the

Plug insert is in principle independent of the

Order of insertion of plug insert and

Protective conductor bridge in the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the connector is designed such that first of all the plug insert is mounted on the protective conductor bridge and the unit thus formed can then be mounted together in the housing. Protective conductor bridge and contacts of the plug insert are with individual conductors,

For example, individual conductors of a cable to be connected, connected, wherein the protective conductor bridge is connected to a protective conductor, and PE conductor. Other leaders are connected to electrical contacts of the plug insert. The plug insert may be designed for contacting the mating connector with contact pins or corresponding receptacles for the contact pins, or with any other corresponding contacts. Of the

Connector and the mating connector can thus be performed, for example, according to the male-female principle either male or female connector, without this being for the inventive assembly of the

Plug insert or the protective conductor bridge a

Difference requires. The protective conductor can also be designed as a PEN contact with integrated neutral conductor. The designs for the connector apply accordingly to the mating connector. The protective conductor bridge is suitable for the reliable attachment of the plug insert, since they are designed as electrical conductors and therefore

usually made of metal. Thus, the protective conductor bridge has a high stability, resulting in a robust and reliable connector.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the at least one connection region is designed for producing a screw connection with the plug insert. The

Screw connection enables a stable and reliable attachment of the plug insert to the protective conductor bridge. There are various embodiments of the

Connection area for the preparation of the screw connection possible, for example, the connection area a bolt with an external thread for screwing the

Having plug insert. Also, a screw may be held at the connection portion. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible, the connection area for producing a latching connection with the plug insert so that the plug insert is latched with the protective conductor bridge.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the at least one connecting region has a through hole. The through hole allows performing a

Connecting screw or a bolt, so that the plug insert and the protective conductor bridge can be fastened together to make a screw connection.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the

Through hole is designed with an internal thread. The internal thread allows the direct screwing of a screw, so that the plug insert easily and under exclusive use of at least one screw with a corresponding external thread on the

Protective conductor bridge is attachable.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the at least one connection region is made of sheet metal. The metal sheet has a high stability, whereby the plug insert is reliably held on the protective conductor bridge and thus on the housing.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the at least one connection region is designed with a rohrformigen body. The tubular body has a high strength for the attachment of the plug insert. The attachment may be, for example, on an outer wall of the rohrformigen body or on the rohrformigen body overall. If the connection area is off

Metal sheet is made, the tubular can

Embodiment be formed for example by simply bending or folding the metal sheet. The tubular body is preferably designed with a substantially rectangular cross-section. It is further preferred that the connection region is designed as a hollow body.

tubular body has two opposite through holes, and one of the through holes with a

Internal thread is executed. The two opposite through holes allow you to perform

Fasteners to the plug insert on the

Connecting area to install. The internal thread can be a screw for attaching the plug insert

can be used while the second through hole thread running only serves the guide. The cavity between the through holes causes a spring effect, so that a reliable and durable screwing of the plug insert takes place on the protective conductor bridge.

In a further embodiment of the invention is the

Connector designed such that the through hole is made with the internal thread with a passage. The draft allows a threaded area with a larger thread length and a higher number

To provide threads as this in the

Through hole alone is the case. In particular, when the connection region is made of sheet metal, due to the material thickness of the sheet usually results in a small thread length, through the passage

can be increased. The passage can be For example, in the connection area made of metal sheet by a corresponding formation of the through hole simply from the metal sheet. Alternatively, the passage can be attached as a separate component to the metal sheet, for example by welding, soldering or other joining techniques.

Protective conductor bridge has two connecting portions, which are formed at their axial end portions. Due to the two connection areas results in a reliable and durable attachment of the plug insert to the

Protective conductor bridge. At the same time, the

Protective conductor bridge are stretched over the connecting areas by the plug insert, so that they are not the

Risk of deformation is subject. The connection regions are preferably formed on the end regions in the longitudinal axis of the protective conductor bridge.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the

Protective conductor bridge has an elongated bridge main body, and the at least one connection portion is formed laterally on the bridge main body. By the lateral attachment of the connection area to the bridge main body, the protective conductor bridge

for example, along a wall of the housing

be mounted, and project the connecting portions in an interior of the housing of the protective conductor bridge. This allows the plug insert easily on the

Protective conductor bridge are attached. Particularly preferably, the protective conductor bridge and the connecting regions are arranged at a substantially right angle to one another. Thus, the bridge main body may have its smallest thickness in a direction of insertion of the mating connector, while the connecting portion perpendicular to it in the

Housing protrudes to attach the plug insert easily and reliably. When the protective conductor bridge is made of an elastic material, such as metal, the bridge main body is elastic with the

Connected connection area, which facilitates the assembly of the connector, since tolerances easily

can be compensated. Especially if one

prefabricated unit made of protective conductor bridge and

Plug insert is inserted into the housing, facilitates the mobility of the bridge main body to the

Connection area the introduction. A tilting at

Insertion of this unit in the housing can be prevented or compensated.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the at least one connection region has fastening means for connecting the protective conductor bridge to the housing. Thus, all attachments can be effected over the connection area, which favors the construction of the housing with small dimensions. The fastening means can be designed arbitrarily, for example in the form of a through opening with or without internal thread for screwing the protective conductor bridge with the housing at the connection areas. Preferably, a through hole in the connecting portion for simultaneous connection of the plug insert and the housing with the

Protective conductor bridge formed. More preferably, the fastening means are designed to create a non-positive or positive connection of the protective conductor bridge to the housing. For example, the at least a connecting portion having a spring nose to make a frictional connection with the housing.

Fastening means are designed as locking means to lock with corresponding locking means of the housing. The locking means allow easy attachment of the protective conductor bridge to the housing. To remove the

Protective conductor bridge out of the housing, the latch can be reversed easily. The locking means may be formed, for example, as locking lugs or tongues. Particularly preferably, a latching lug is formed on the connection area. The housing preferably has a guide groove with a latching nose into which the latching tongue can be inserted and latched therein.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the housing has a plug opening with two opposite sides, and on each of the two opposite sides of a

Protective conductor bridge is attached, wherein the plug insert is held together on both protective conductor bridges. This embodiment of the connector makes it possible to reliably hold a large connector insert in the housing, as there is a support on the opposite sides of the housing via the two protective conductor bridges. Also, the assembly of a unit of plug insert and

Protective conductor bridges facilitated in the housing, since this unit can be easily inserted between the opposite sides. In a conical configuration of the housing and / or a corresponding angling of the protective conductor bridges, this unit can be self-centering introduced into the housing. At the two opposite sides is determined by the respective

Protective conductor bridge provided a protective conductor contact, which provides high security for the connector

guaranteed. Also, the connector can be so

be configured so that it is rotationally symmetrical, that is, when rotated 180 ° about the axis of the

Insertion of the mating connector identical with the mating connector is connectable. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the

Protective conductor bridge in one piece from a metal sheet

is made. The design made of sheet metal allows the production of a protective conductor bridge with little

Material insert, wherein the metal sheet is easy to shape, for example by bending, folding or the like to form the at least one connection region.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the housing

Plastic is made. Compared to a metal housing, the housing can be made of plastic with reduced weight, whereby the connector is easy to handle. In addition, the plastic causes an electrical insulation, the use of the

Connector facilitates and increases security.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to preferred embodiments.

Show it Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a

inventive connector according to a first embodiment of the side of his

Plug opening without attached plug insert,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of

Protective conductor bridge of the connector of Figure 1 in an isolated view, Fig. 3 is a detail view of the view of FIG. 1, showing the attachment of the protective conductor bridge in the housing, and a perspective view of a

Protective conductor bridge according to a second embodiment of the invention in

Individual presentation.

Fig. 1 shows a connector 1 according to the invention according to a first embodiment of the invention. Of the

Connector 1 comprises a housing 2, two

Protective conductor bridges 3, of which only one is visible in FIG. 1, and one not shown here

Plug insert. In the assembled state, the

Protective conductor bridges 3 and the plug insert fixed in the housing 2, wherein, for example, electrical contacts of the plug insert can protrude from the housing 2.

The housing 2 is made of plastic by injection molding and executed with a molded cable gland 4. The cable gland 4 serves to pass a cable with a plurality of conductors into the housing 2. One of the conductors is a protective conductor, which is connected to the protective conductor bridge 3, also PE conductor. The other conductors are with electrical contacts of the

Plug insert connected. The plug insert is designed for contacting a corresponding mating connector, not shown here, with contact pins or corresponding receptacles for contact pins.

The housing 2 has a plug opening 5, via which the connector 1 with the corresponding

Mating connector is electrically and mechanically connectable. The plug opening 5 is rectangular, with two opposite sides 6 of the plug opening 5, here the longitudinal sides, are arranged parallel to each other. The protective conductor bridges 3 are mounted along the longitudinal sides 6 in the housing 2.

Fig. 2 shows one of the protective conductor bridges 3 in detail.

Both protective conductor bridges 3 are identical to the protective conductor bridge 3 shown in FIG. 2. The protective conductor bridge 3 from FIG. 2 is manufactured in one piece from sheet metal and comprises an elongated one

Bridge main body 7, at its axial end portions 8 each have a connecting portion 9 is formed. The

Connecting portions 9 are positioned laterally on a common side on the bridge main body 7.

The connection areas 9 are in this

Embodiment designed with a rohrformigen body 10 having a rectangular cross-section. The rohrformigen body 10 of the connecting portions 9 is in each case by bending the metal sheet of

Protective conductor bridges 3 in the region of the connecting regions 9 formed. The tubular body 10 has two opposite through-holes 11, 12, as shown in detail in FIG. The through hole 11 shown in Fig. 3 above is designed as a through hole without internal thread, while the lower through hole 12 shown in FIG. 3 is designed with a passage 13, wherein the lower through hole 12 and the passage 13 have an internal thread. The plug insert is by means of four screws not shown on the connecting portions 9 of

Protective conductor bridges 3 mountable, wherein the screws passed through the upper through hole 11 and into the lower

Through hole 12 are screwed with the passage 13.

In addition, in each case a latching lug 14 is formed at the connecting regions 9, with which the protective conductor bridge 3 is latched at its axial end regions 8 in a guide groove 15 behind a latching projection 16 of the housing 2, as shown in detail in FIG. Thus, the protective conductor bridges 3 each alone or as a unit with the plug insert through the plug opening 5 in the

Housing 2 introduced and by making the

Locking connection are mounted.

4 shows a protective conductor bridge 3 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The protective conductor bridge 3 of the second embodiment is substantially the same as the protective conductor bridge 3 of the first embodiment, so that it can be used in exchange for the protective conductor bridge 3 of the first embodiment in the housing 2 described with reference to the first embodiment. For the sake of simplicity, similar elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals. Because the

Protective conductor bridges 3 of the second embodiment in

Substantially with that of the first embodiment agree, here is only on their differences

entered.

The protective conductor bridge 3 of the second embodiment is different from that of the first one

Embodiment in the embodiment of their

Connection areas 9. The connection areas 9 of the

Schut z lader bridge 3 of the second embodiment each have a bottom portion 17. The metal sheet of the connecting portions 9 is bent upwardly at the edges of the bottom portion 17 to a previously described

Detent flag 14 and side walls 18 form. By doing

Floor area 17 is also a through hole 12 with a passage 13 formed as described above, having a corresponding internal thread.

Further differences between the protective conductor bridges 3 of the first and second embodiments do not arise.

Reference sign list

Connector 1

Housing 2

Protective conductor bridge 3

Cable gland 4

Plug opening 5

Opposite pages, long sides 6

Bridge main body 7

End area 8

Connecting portion 9 tubular body 10 upper through hole 11 lower through hole 12th

Passage 13

Detent flag, fasteners 14

Guide groove 15

Locking nose, locking means 16

Floor area 17

Side wall 18

Claims

claims

A connector (1) for mechanically and electrically connecting to a corresponding mating connector, comprising a housing (2), a protective conductor bridge (3) and a plug insert, the protective conductor bridge (3) being held on the housing (2),

characterized in that

the protective conductor bridge (3) at least one

Connection area (9) for connection to the

Having plug insert, and

the plug insert on the at least one

Connection area (9) is held.

2. Connector (1) according to claim 1, characterized

marked that

the at least one connection region (9) for

Manufacture of a screw with the plug insert is executed.

3. Connector (1) according to claim 2, characterized

marked that

the at least one connection region (9)

Through hole (11, 12).

4. Connector (1) according to claim 3, characterized

marked that

the through hole (12) is designed with an internal thread.

5. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the at least one connection region (9)

Metal sheet is made.

6. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that

the at least one connecting region (9) is designed with a tubular body (10).

7. Connector (1) according to claim 6, characterized

marked that

the tubular body (10) has two opposite through holes (11, 12), and one of

Through holes (12) is designed with an internal thread.

8. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding

Claims in conjunction with one of claims 4 or 7, characterized in that

the through hole (12) with the internal thread with a passage (13) is executed.

9. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that

the protective conductor bridge (3) has two connecting regions (9), which are formed at their axial end regions (8).

10. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the protective conductor bridge (3) an elongated

Bridge main body (7), and

the at least one connection region (9) is formed laterally on the bridge main body (7).

11. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one connection region (9)

Fastening means (14) for connecting the

Protective conductor bridge (3) with the housing (2).

12. Connector (1) according to claim 11, characterized

marked that

the fastening means (14) are designed as latching means in order to lock with corresponding latching means (16) of the housing (2).

13. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the housing (2) has a plug opening (5) with two opposite sides (6), and

on each of the two opposite sides (6) a protective conductor bridge (3) is mounted, wherein the

Plug insert on both protective conductor bridges (3) is held together.

14. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the protective conductor bridge (3) in one piece from a

Metal sheet is made.

15. Connector (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the housing (2) is made of plastic.