EP2823536B1 - Plug connector comprising a protective conductor bridge - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector for mechanical and electrical connection with a corresponding mating connector, comprising a housing, a protective conductor bridge and a plug insert, the protective conductor bridge being held on the housing.

Such plug connectors and mating plug connectors are used in the prior art to produce an electrical and mechanical connection between two electrical lines or an electrical line and a device or an installation. Large, heavy connectors that are protected from environmental influences by the housing are required in particular for the transmission of large currents. Such housings are usually made of aluminum and are provided with a thread to accommodate a cable gland. The plug connectors considered here are designed to connect a plurality of electrical conductors, one of which is a protective conductor (PE contact). The protective conductor can also be designed as a PEN contact combined with a neutral conductor. The protective conductor is connected to the protective conductor bridge in order to enable a corresponding protective conductor function and to bring the protective conductor of the connector and the mating connector into contact with one another. The remaining conductors are connected to electrical contacts on the plug insert.

The basic structure of the connector and the mating connector can be essentially identical and differ only in the design of their electrical contacts for establishing the electrical connection. The statements for the connector apply accordingly to the mating connector.

Plug-in connector and mating connector are designed correspondingly according to the plug-socket principle for establishing an electrical connection between the plug connector and the mating connector. The electrical contacts of the plug connector and mating plug connector can each be designed correspondingly as contact pins or contact pin receptacles. The plug insert is firmly positioned on the housing for the secure electrical connection of the conductors of the connector and the mating connector

From the DE 10 2009 055925 A1 A connector is known for mechanical and electrical connection with a corresponding mating connector, comprising a housing, a protective conductor bridge and a plug insert, the protective conductor bridge being held in the housing, the protective conductor bridge having at least one connection area for connection to the plug insert, and the plug insert on the at least one connection area is held.

From the DE 10 2010 017 717 A1 a plug connector with a plug-in section and a contact carrier having a connection section is known. The connector has at least one contact element designed as a contact socket or contact pin in the plug-in section and at least one connection element electrically connected to the socket or the pin in the connection section, with further contact elements that can be connected to a protective conductor on the connection section side protruding beyond the end face of the plug-in section and with the further contact elements are electrically contacted with one another via an electrically conductive bridge element. The further contact elements and the bridge element are designed as a one-piece part with one another.

From the DE 10 2005 019 245 B3 a connector is known which has a contact carrier and a housing. A latching element, which is formed by a leaf spring, is arranged on the contact carrier. A positive and non-positive connection between the contact carrier and the housing is established via the locking element.

The DE 296 02 740 U1 describes an electrical, multi-pole, modular connector which has an associated socket part can be connected. In the connector, a receiving frame is provided which can be modularly equipped with contact modules that can be snapped into the receiving frame in order to create a modularly configurable connector. A bridge connects the front metal parts of the mounting frame.

The U.S. 5,234,357 describes a connector in which a metal spring element is arranged on an insulating housing, which serves as a latching element for connection to an insulating housing of an associated mating connector. The insulating housing is enclosed in an outer housing. When the connector is plugged into the mating connector, the spring element latches with metal parts on the insulating housing of the mating connector and also establishes a connection with a protective conductor.

A disadvantage of the plug connector described above is that the assembly of the protective conductor bridge and the plug insert is complex and assembly space must be kept free in the housing in order to mount both the plug insert and the protective conductor bridge. This makes it necessary to make the connector correspondingly large. In addition, connectors of this type are often heavy, which makes them difficult to handle.

Based on the above prior art, the invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a connector of the type mentioned above that is simple and cost-effective to manufacture, is easy to handle and enables a secure mechanical and electrical connection of the connector and mating connector.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent claim. Beneficial Refinements of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

According to the invention, a connector for mechanical and electrical connection with a corresponding mating connector is thus specified, comprising a housing, two individual and identical protective conductor bridges and a plug insert, the protective conductor bridges being held on the housing, the protective conductor bridges each having two connection areas for connection to the plug insert, and the plug insert is held at the connection areas of the protective conductor bridges.

The basic idea of the present invention is therefore to simplify the assembly of the connector in that each protective conductor bridge is mounted in and directly on the housing and the plug insert is mounted in the housing directly on the protective conductor bridge. For example, the protective conductor bridge is first attached separately to the housing, and in a further assembly step the plug insert is attached to the already mounted protective conductor bridge. The connector formed in this way is easy to assemble and requires little space for installation. This also means that the weight of the connector is low. The assembly of the plug insert is basically independent of the sequence in which the plug insert and protective conductor bridge are inserted into the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the plug connector is designed in such a way that the plug insert is initially 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 connected to individual conductors, for example individual conductors of a cable to be connected, the protective conductor bridge being connected to a protective conductor, also a PE conductor. Further conductors are with electrical Contacts of the plug insert connected. The plug insert can be designed for contacting the mating connector with contact pins or corresponding receptacles for the contact pins, or with any other corresponding contacts. The plug-in connector and the mating plug-in connector can thus be designed, for example, according to the plug-socket principle, either as a male or female plug, without this requiring a difference for the assembly of the plug insert or the protective conductor bridge according to the invention. The protective conductor can also be designed as a PEN contact with an integrated neutral conductor. The versions for the connector apply accordingly to the mating connector. The protective conductor bridge is suitable for the reliable attachment of the plug insert, since it is designed as an electrical conductor and is therefore usually made of metal. The protective conductor bridge thus has a high level of stability, resulting in a robust and reliable connector.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the plug connector is designed in such a way that the connection areas are designed to produce a screw connection with the plug insert. The screw connection enables stable and reliable attachment of the plug insert to the protective conductor bridge. Various configurations of the connection area for producing the screw connection are possible, for example the connection area can have a bolt with an external thread for screwing on the plug insert. A screw can also be held on the connection area. Alternatively or in addition, it is also possible to use the connection area to produce a latching connection with the plug insert so that the plug insert is locked into place with the protective conductor bridge.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the plug connector is designed in such a way that the connection areas each have a through hole. The through hole enables a connecting screw or a screw bolt to be passed through, so that the plug insert and the protective conductor bridge can be fastened to one another while producing a screw connection.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the plug connector is designed such that the through hole is designed with an internal thread. The internal thread enables a screw to be screwed in directly, so that the plug insert can be attached to the protective conductor bridge simply and exclusively using at least one screw with a corresponding external thread.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the plug connector is designed in such a way that the connection areas are made from sheet metal. The sheet metal has a high level of stability, as a result of which 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 in such a way that the connection areas are each designed with a tubular body. The tubular body has a high strength for the attachment of the plug insert. The fastening can take place, for example, on an outer wall of the tubular body or on the tubular body as a whole.

If the connection area is made of sheet metal, the tubular configuration can be formed, for example, by simply bending or folding the sheet metal. The tubular body is preferably designed with a substantially rectangular cross section. It is further preferred that the connection area is designed as a hollow body.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the plug connector is designed in such a way that the tubular body has two opposite through holes and one of the through holes is designed with an internal thread. The two opposing through holes enable fastening means to be passed through in order to attach the plug insert to the connection area. Through the internal thread, a screw can be used to fasten the plug insert, while the second through-hole, designed as a thread, is only used for guidance. The cavity between the through holes creates a spring effect, so that the plug insert is reliably and permanently screwed to the protective conductor bridge.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the plug connector is designed in such a way that the through hole with the internal thread is designed with a passage. The passage makes it possible to provide a thread area with a larger thread length and a higher number of thread turns than is the case with the through hole alone. In particular, if the connection area is made from sheet metal, the material thickness of the sheet usually results in a short thread length which can be increased by the passage. In the case of the connecting area made of sheet metal, for example, the passage can be easily made by appropriately forming the through hole in the sheet metal produce. Alternatively, the passage can be attached to the metal sheet as a separate component, for example by welding, soldering or other connection techniques.

The plug connector is designed in such a way that the protective conductor bridge has two connection areas which are formed at their axial end areas. The two connection areas result in a reliable and durable attachment of the plug insert to the protective conductor bridge. At the same time, the protective conductor bridge can be stretched over the connection areas through the plug insert so that it is not subject to the risk of deformation. The connection areas are preferably formed at the end areas in the longitudinal axis of the protective conductor bridge.

The connector is designed in such a way that the protective conductor bridges each have an elongated main bridge body and the connection areas are formed on the side of the main bridge body. By attaching the connection areas to the side of the main bridge body, the protective conductor bridge can be attached, for example, along a wall of the housing, and the connection areas protrude from the protective conductor bridge into an interior of the housing. This allows the plug insert to be easily attached to the protective conductor bridges. The protective conductor bridge and the connection areas are particularly preferably arranged at a substantially right angle to one another. Thus, the bridge main body can have its smallest thickness in an insertion direction of the mating connector, while the connection area protrudes perpendicular to it into the housing in order to be able to attach the plug insert to it simply and reliably. When the protective conductor bridge is made of an elastic material such as metal, the bridge is the main body elastically connected to the connection area, which facilitates the assembly of the connector, since tolerances can be easily compensated. In particular, when a prefabricated unit of protective conductor bridge and plug insert is inserted into the housing, the mobility of the bridge main body to the connection area facilitates the insertion. Tilting when this unit is introduced into the housing can be prevented or compensated for.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plug connector is designed such that the connection areas have fastening means for connecting the protective conductor bridge to the housing. Thus, all fastenings can be effected via the connection areas, which favors the construction of the housing with small dimensions. The fastening means can be designed as desired, for example in the form of a through opening with or without an internal thread for screwing the protective conductor bridge to the housing at the connection areas. A through hole is preferably formed in each connection area for the simultaneous connection of the plug insert and the housing to the protective conductor bridge. The fastening means are also preferably designed to create a force-fitting or form-fitting connection between the protective conductor bridge and the housing. For example, the connection area can have a spring nose in order to establish a frictional connection with the housing.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed in such a way that the fastening means are designed as latching means in order to latch with corresponding latching means of the housing. The latching means allow the protective conductor bridge to be easily attached to the housing. To remove the protective conductor bridge from the housing, the latching can be easily removed again. The locking means can be designed as locking lugs or tongues, for example. A latching lug is particularly preferably formed on the connection area. The housing preferably has a guide groove with a locking lug into which the locking tongue can be inserted and locked therein.

The connector is designed such that the housing has a connector opening with two opposite sides, and a protective conductor bridge is attached to each of the two opposite sides, the plug insert being held together on both protective conductor bridges. This configuration of the plug connector also makes it possible to hold a large plug insert reliably in the housing, since the two protective conductor bridges provide support on the opposite sides of the housing. The assembly of a unit consisting of a plug insert and protective conductor bridges in the housing is also made easier, since this unit can easily be inserted between the opposite sides. With a conical design of the housing and / or a corresponding angling of the protective conductor bridges, this unit can be inserted into the housing in a self-centering manner. On both of them On the opposite side, a protective conductor contact is provided by the respective protective conductor bridge, which ensures a high level of safety for the connector. The connector can also be designed in such a way that it is rotationally symmetrical, that is to say that it can be connected identically to the mating connector when rotated through 180 ° around the axis of the insertion direction of the mating connector.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the protective conductor bridge is made in one piece from a sheet of metal. The design made of sheet metal enables the production of a protective conductor bridge with little use of material, the sheet metal being easy to shape, for example by bending, folding or the like, in order to shape the at least one connection area.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the housing is made of plastic. Compared to a metal housing, the plastic housing can be manufactured with a reduced weight, making the connector easy to handle. In addition, the plastic provides electrical insulation, which makes the connector easier to use and increases safety.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawing using preferred embodiments.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Steckverbinders gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform von der Seite seiner Steckeröffnung ohne angebrachten Steckereinsatz,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Schutzleiterbrücke des Steckverbinders aus Fig. 1 in Einzeldarstellung,

Fig. 3

eine Detailansicht der Ansicht aus Fig. 1, die die Anbringung der Schutzleiterbrücke in dem Gehäuse zeigt, und

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Schutzleiterbrücke gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Erfindung in Einzeldarstellung.

Show it

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a connector according to the invention according to a first embodiment from the side of its plug opening without attached plug insert,

Fig. 2

a perspective view of the protective conductor bridge of the connector Fig. 1 in individual representation,

Fig. 3

a detailed view of the view Fig. 1 , which shows the attachment of the protective conductor bridge in the housing, and

Fig. 4

a perspective view of a protective conductor bridge according to a second embodiment of the invention in an individual representation.

Fig. 1 shows a connector 1 according to the invention according to a first embodiment of the invention. The connector 1 comprises a housing 2, two protective conductor bridges 3, only one of which is in the Fig. 1 is visible, and a plug insert, not shown here. In the assembled state, the protective conductor bridges 3 and the plug insert are 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 in an injection molding process and has a molded cable screw connection 4. The screwed cable gland 4 is used to feed 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 the PE conductor. The further conductors are connected to electrical contacts of the plug insert. The plug insert is designed to make contact with 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 plug connector 1 can be electrically and mechanically connected to the corresponding mating plug connector. The plug opening 5 is rectangular, with two opposite sides 6 of the plug opening 5, here the longitudinal sides, being arranged parallel to one another. The protective conductor bridges 3 are attached along the longitudinal sides 6 in the housing 2.

Fig. 2 shows one of the protective conductor bridges 3 in detail. Both protective earth bridges 3 are identical to those in Fig. 2 Protective conductor bridge 3 shown executed.

The protective conductor bridge 3 off Fig. 2 is made in one piece from sheet metal and comprises an elongated main bridge body 7, at the axial end regions 8 of which a connecting region 9 is formed. The connection areas 9 are positioned laterally on a common side on the bridge main body 7.

In this exemplary embodiment, the connecting areas 9 are designed with a tubular body 10 which has a rectangular cross section. The tubular body 10 of the connection areas 9 is formed by bending the sheet metal of the protective conductor bridges 3 in the area of the connection areas 9.

The tubular body 10 has two opposite through holes 11, 12, as shown in detail in FIG Fig. 3 is shown. That in the Fig. 3 Through hole 11 shown above is designed as a through hole without an internal thread, while that in the Fig. 3 The lower through hole 12 shown is designed with a passage 13, the lower through hole 12 and the passage 13 having an internal thread. The plug insert can be mounted on the connection areas 9 of the protective conductor bridges 3 by means of four screws (not shown), the screws being passed through the upper through hole 11 and screwed into the lower through hole 12 with the passage 13.

A latching lug 14 is also formed on the connecting areas 9, with which the protective conductor bridge 3 is latched at its axial end areas 8 in a guide groove 15 behind a latching projection 16 of the housing 2, as shown in detail in FIG Fig. 3 is shown. Thus, the protective conductor bridges 3 can each be inserted individually or as a unit with the plug insert through the plug opening 5 into the housing 2 and mounted by establishing the latching connection.

Fig. 4 shows a protective conductor bridge 3 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The protective conductor bridge 3 of the second embodiment corresponds essentially to 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 are denoted by the same reference symbols. Since the protective conductor bridges 3 of the second embodiment essentially correspond to that of the first embodiment agrees, only their differences will be discussed here.

The protective conductor bridge 3 of the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in the design of its connection regions 9. The connection regions 9 of the protective conductor bridge 3 of the second embodiment each have a base region 17. The metal sheet of the connecting areas 9 is bent upwards at the edges of the bottom area 17 in order to form a locking lug 14 and side walls 18 described above. In addition, a through hole 12 with a passage 13, as described above, is formed in the bottom region 17 and has a corresponding internal thread.

There are no further differences between the protective conductor bridges 3 of the first and second embodiment. List of reference symbols Connectors 1 casing 2 Protective conductor bridge 3 Cable gland 4th Connector opening 5 Opposite sides, long sides 6th Bridge main body 7th End area 8th Connection area 9 tubular body 10 upper through hole 11 lower through hole 12th Draft 13 Snap-in flag, fasteners 14th Guide groove 15th Locking lug, locking means 16 Floor area 17th Side wall 18th

Claims (12)

1. Plug-in connector (1) for mechanical and electrical connection to a corresponding mating plug-in connector, comprising a housing (2), two individual, identical protective conductor bridges (3) and a plug insert, wherein the protective conductor bridges (3) are held on the housing (2), wherein the protective conductor bridges (3) each have two connecting regions (9) for connection to the plug insert and the plug insert is held on the connecting regions (9) of the protective conductor bridges (3), wherein the two connecting regions (9) of each protective conductor bridge (3) are formed on axial end regions (8) of the protective conductor bridge (3) and each protective conductor bridge (3) has an elongate bridge main body (7) on the sides of which the connecting regions (9) are formed, wherein the housing (2) has a plug opening (5) with two opposite sides (6) and one of the protective conductor bridges (3) is attached to each of the two opposite sides (6), wherein the plug insert is jointly held on the two protective conductor bridges (3) .
2. Plug-in connector (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the connecting regions (9) are designed for establishing a screw connection with the plug insert.
3. Plug-in connector (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the connecting regions (9) each have a passage hole (11, 12).
4. Plug-in connector (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the passage hole (12) is designed with an internal thread.
5. Plug-in connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting regions (9) are manufactured from sheet metal.
6. Plug-in connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting regions (9) are each designed with a tubular body (10).
7. Plug-in connector (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the tubular body (10) has two opposite passage holes (11, 12), and one of the passage holes (12) is designed with an internal thread.
8. Plug-in connector (1) according to either of the preceding Claims 4 and 7, characterized in that the passage hole (12) with the internal thread is designed with a rim hole (13).
9. Plug-in connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two connecting regions (9) have a fastening means (14) for connecting the protective conductor bridge (3) to the housing (2).
10. Plug-in connector (1) according to Claim 9, characterized in that the fastening means (14) are designed as a latching means in order to latch with corresponding latching means (16) of the housing (2).
11. Plug-in connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each protective conductor bridge (3) is produced in one piece from a metal sheet.
12. Plug-in connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) is produced from plastic.

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