EP2826104A1

EP2826104A1 - Plug connector and method for assembling a plug connector

Info

Publication number: EP2826104A1
Application number: EP13715128.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jens Gerullis
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2012-03-15
Filing date: 2013-03-14
Publication date: 2015-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-14
Also published as: DE102012102188B4; JP2015518363A; CN104247162B; CN104247162A; JP5977378B2; US20150064963A1; DE102012102188A1; WO2013135385A1; US9413100B2; EP2826104B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connector comprising a housing (1) formed from a plastic material, wherein the housing (1) has a housing base part (2) and a lid (3) for closing the housing base part (2), wherein the lid (3) is pivotably arranged on the housing base part (2). A receiving element (7) is arranged on the housing base part (2) to pivotably arrange the lid (3) on the housing base part (2), said receiving element (7) carrying a retainer (5) which has a mount (19) on which the lid (3) is pivotably mounted, and said retainer (5) carrying a spring element (6) which is secured to the lid (3) and to the receiving element (7).

Description

Connectors and methods for assembling a ^»

connector

The invention relates to a connector with a housing formed of a plastic material, wherein the housing has a housing lower part and a cover for

Having closed the lower housing part, wherein the lid is pivotally mounted on the housing lower part. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for

Mounting a connector, wherein a lid of a housing formed of a plastic material is mounted on a lower housing part of the housing, wherein in an assembled state, the lid is pivotally mounted on the housing lower part.

Connectors, in particular heavy connectors, usually have a two-part housing formed, which consists essentially of a lower housing part and a lid. In the lower housing part a contact face exhibiting a contact element is usually arranged, wherein the mating face, when the contact element is not connected to a mating contact element, is covered by the lid or hidden by the cover on the

Housing base rests and the housing thereby

closed is. It is known that the lid is attached via a holder on the housing base. The holder is usually by means of screws on the

Housing base attached. In order to be able to produce such a screw connection, it is necessary to have corresponding threads in the housing, in particular in the housing

Housing bottom of the housing to provide. Although this represents an additional expense, the production of such

Connector complicates, but is the case of the

CONFIRMATION COPY Connector constructed of a metal, as is usually provided, such a construction is not a problem, since the metal used provides sufficient strength and thus that of a metal

trained housing can reliably carry the thread. However, it is problematic to use such a construction also in housings which are made of a plastic material, since plastic is softer than metal and thus difficult enough strength for the thread can be created to the holder for the

Cover permanently secure to the lower housing part even at higher ambient temperatures.

The invention is therefore based on the object, a connector and a method for assembling a

To provide connector, by means of which in a training of a housing of the connector of a KunstStoffmaterial a secure attachment of a cover of the housing to a lower housing of the housing, even under heavy use, especially an increased temperature load, can be permanently ensured and at the same time the attachment with a low

Manufacturing costs can be formed. In a connector of the beginning designated in more detail

Art, this object is achieved in that the pivotable arrangement of the lid on the

Housing base a receiving element on the

Housing base is arranged, on the receiving element, a holder is arranged, which has a bearing, on which the lid is pivotally mounted, and on the holder, a spring element is arranged, which is fixed to the lid and on the receiving element. Furthermore, this object is achieved in a method for mounting a connector of the type described in more detail by the following steps are provided: forming a receiving element on the

Housing base, placing a holder on the

Receiving element, arranging a lid on a bearing formed on the holder, and arranging a

Spring element on the holder, wherein the spring element is attached to the lid and on the receiving element.

Advantageous embodiments and advantageous

Further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The attachment of a lid to a lower housing part of a housing of a connector is characterized in that this can now be done without screws and thus durability and resilience of attaching a lid to a lower housing part compared to conventional screw fasteners on a

Plastic housing can be improved. The attachment of the lid to the housing lower part takes place essentially via a receiving element, a holder and a

Spring element. The receiving element is preferably at one

Outside of the housing arranged, in particular integrally formed, and preferably has a block-like, in particular substantially rectangular block-like shape, so that the receiving element from the outside of the housing

projects. The receiving element allows a screwless attachment of the holder to the housing lower part, by the holder attached to the housing lower part

Shunt member pushed or even, for example can be clipped on. If the holder is arranged on the receiving element, the lid is arranged on a bearing formed on the holder. The storage is preferably by holding elements with round-shaped

Recesses formed in which on the lid

trained bearing journals can be engaged such that the journals within the round-shaped

Recesses are rotatably mounted. Finally, a spring element is arranged on the holder, that it is attached to both the receiving element and on the lid, whereby the holder is fixed to the receiving element and. achieved at the same time that the

Cover can be held over the spring element in an open position and in a closed position. In the closed position, the cover rotatably or pivotally mounted on the holder is located on the

Lower housing part, so that the mating face of the arranged in the lower housing part contact element is covered, and in the open position, the lid is pivoted away from the lower housing part. For attachment of the

Spring element this is pushed onto the holder by the spring element along an outer surface of the

Holder is moved and comes to this in the desired position to concern. The spring element thus causes a positive connection. the lid with the

Housing base.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring element is plate-shaped and has at least two spring arms, wherein a first spring arm is attached to the lid and a second spring arm to the receiving element. About the two spring arms of the plate-shaped

Spring element can be a good spring action and at the same time a secure attachment of the spring element and thus also of the holder on the receiving element or the

Housing bottom can be achieved. Due to the plate-like design of the spring element, this can be arranged to save space particularly, this preferably has a relatively small thickness and rests in the mounted state as close as possible to the holder. The two spring arms are preferably formed on a base body of the spring element. The second spring arm is preferably formed from the main body or cut by the second spring arm in the form of a tab at an angle to the

Base body and also to the first spring arm, which is preferably formed in extension of the base body, is formed bent and thereby a kind of window in the base body, which hineinerstreckt into the first spring arm, is formed.

For attachment of the spring element to the cover, it is preferably provided that the first spring arm rests against a stop formed on the cover such that the cover is held in its position by the spring force of the first spring arm. The lid preferably has a recess into which the first spring arm of

Spring element is inserted, wherein the recess at its closed end within the lid a

Stop has. The first spring arm is included

preferably inserted so far into the recess that the first spring arm rests with its free end against the stop. As a result, a targeted guidance of the lid at a pivoting movement of the lid and a targeted fixation of the lid in the desired position relative to the lower housing part with simple means and a low design effort are possible. Further, it is preferably provided that for fastening the spring element to the receiving element of the second

Spring arm is locked behind a formed on the receiving element rear handle. The second spring arm is preferably designed so flexible that it is bent when pushing the spring element on the holder in the direction of the rear handle and guided so that the free end of the second spring arm engage the rear handle or can engage behind this. As a result, a secure, positive connection via the spring element, the holder and the receiving element between the cover and the lower housing part ready with a low design cost and with a short assembly time

be put.

The spring element is preferably made of a metal

formed, whereby a particularly good spring action, high load capacity and long life can be achieved. The spring element is preferably formed from a sheet metal material.

A further preferred embodiment of the

Invention provides that the receiving element a

Dovetail guide for arranging the holder has on the receiving element. By providing a

Dovetail guide on the receiving element, the holder can be safely pushed onto the receiving element with little effort by the

Dovetail guide and a correspondingly formed on the holder engaging element, which in the

Dovetail guide is guided, a positive connection between the receiving element and the holder, similar to a tongue and groove connection is formed. The dovetail guide allows that in one

fastened state of the holder on the receiving element not only lateral forces, but also tensile forces can be transmitted. In addition, by this connection of the

Holder are arranged with the receiving element of the holder as close as possible to the receiving element, so that they can be positioned to save space in the connector to each other. The dovetail guide has one or more trapezoidal grooves, in which on the

Receiving element formed trapezoidal or

Dovetail-shaped engagement elements in the form of

Webs that form the spring of the tongue and groove connection, can engage and can be guided, which in addition to the positive connection a

frictional connection is formed. Alternatively, it is also possible that a differently trained leadership as a dovetail guide on the

Receiving element for fastening the holder to the

Receiving element is provided.

Preferably, it is further provided that the

Receiving element integral with the lower housing part

is trained. The receiving element is doing

preferably in an injection molding process together with the

Housing bottom made to achieve the integral connection between the receiving element and the housing lower part. Due to the one-piece training in

Sprit pouring process, the production cost and the production time can be reduced and also a particularly secure attachment of the receiving element can be achieved on the lower housing part. But it is also possible that the receiving element as a to the lower housing part is formed separate component, which on the

Housing base, in particular an outside of the

Housing base, fixed, for example, fixed by a latching connection can be.

Further, it is preferably provided that the holder is pushed onto the receiving element and the holder a

Having stop for limiting the Aufschiebeweges of the holder on the receiving element. The stop can prevent the holder from reaching too far beyond the stopper

Receiving element is pushed and thereby no secure attachment of the holder to the receiving element more

could be guaranteed. The stop is preferably in the form of a rib formed on the receiving element transversely to the direction of displacement of the holder on the holder

formed, which when sliding the holder on the receiving element against a lower, transverse

Side surface of the receiving element strikes.

The invention will be referred to below

attached drawings based on a preferred

Embodiment explained in more detail.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a

Connector according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a

Housing base of a housing of the

Connector according to the invention with a receiving element arranged thereon, 3 is a schematic representation of a holder of the connector according to the invention,

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a

Fixing operation of the holder to the arranged on the housing lower part receiving element of the connector according to the invention,

Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of the on the

Receiving element arranged holder according to the invention,

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of a lid of a

Housing of the connector according to the invention,

Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of the arrangement of

Lid on the on the receiving element

arranged holder according to the invention,

Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of a

Spring element of the connector according to the invention, and

9 is a schematic representation of a

Fixing operation of the spring element on the holder and the cover of the connector according to the invention.

In Fig. 1, a connector according to the invention is shown in a fully assembled state. The connector has a formed of a plastic material

Housing 1, wherein the housing 1 has a lower housing part 2 and a cover 3. The one shown here Housing base 2 has two cable entry openings 4a, 4b for inserting a respective cable, not shown here, in the lower housing part 2 of the housing 1, wherein the inserted cable can be connected to a arranged in the housing lower part 2, not shown here contact element. The contact element in turn has a

Mating face on which a, not shown here counter contact element can be connected. If no mating contact element is connected to the mating face, the mating face can be covered by the cover 3, by bringing the cover 3 to rest on the housing lower part 2 by a pivoting movement of the cover 3, as shown in FIG. 1, and the housing 1 in order to

is closed. As a result, the arranged in the lower housing part 2 contact element and in particular the

Mating face of the contact element to be protected from dirt and moisture. The lid 3 is pivotally mounted on the lower housing part 2, so that by a simple pivoting movement of the lid 3 without the cover 3 must be completely removed from the lower housing part 2, the housing 1 and in particular the lower housing part 2 can be closed and opened. The cover 3 is fastened here screwless to the lower housing part 2. To attach the lid 3 to the

Housing base 2 are in particular a, as shown in Fig. 2 receiving element 7, a holder 5 and a

Spring element 6 is provided.

The attachment of the lid 3 to the housing lower part 2 is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 to 9.

In Fig. 2, the lower housing part 2 is arranged with a on an outer side of the housing lower part 2 Receiving element 7 shown. The receiving element 7 is also formed of a plastic material and is preferably in an injection molding of the

Housing lower part 2 is formed together with the lower housing part 2, so that the receiving element 7 is integrally formed with the lower housing part 2 in one step. The receiving element 7 is formed substantially in the form of a narrow, substantially rectangular block, wherein on the receiving element 7 a

Dovetail guide is formed by a respective trapezoidal groove 9a, 9b is formed for receiving and securing the holder 5 at the two longitudinal side surfaces 8a, 8b of the receiving element. At a pointing in the direction of the lid 3 transverse side 10 of

Receiving element 7 is further formed a rear handle 11 in the form of a slot-shaped recess in which the spring element 6 can catch or latch and thus can be attached to the receiving element 7. The

Receiving element 7 is centered along a

Longitudinal side surface 12 of the housing lower part 2 and

adjacent, preferably flush, to an upper edge 13 of the lower housing part 2, on which in a closed state or the closed position of the cover 3 rests arranged.

On the receiving element 7 is a, as shown in Fig. 3 shown holder 5 is arranged by the holder 5, as shown in Fig. 4, is pushed from below, in the direction of the arrow 32 on the receiving element 7. The holder 5 has a first region for attachment and guidance of the

Holder 5 on the receiving element 7, a second region for fixing the spring element 6 and a third region for supporting the lid 3. The first area has two opposite, longitudinally extending engagement elements 14a, 14b in the form of webs which are formed in the on the receiving element 7,

Trapezoidal grooves 9a, 9b engage, so that the holder 5 can be pushed onto the receiving element 7.

Furthermore, the receiving element 7 has at the first region a stop 15 arranged transversely to the engagement elements 14a, 14b in the form of a rib which is located on a lower transverse side surface 16 or a lower transverse side surface 16, respectively.

transverse side surface of the receiving element 7, as shown in Fig. 4, strikes when the holder 5 is pushed far enough on the receiving element 7. The second region of the holder 5 is formed opposite the first region of the holder 5 and serves to enable the spring element 6 to be pushed onto the holder 5, the holder 5 being fixed to the receiving element 7 by means of the spring element 6. The second region has an upper, in the mounted state in the direction of the cover 3 facing lateral side 17 of the holder 5 a

Recess 18, via which a part of the spring element 6, in particular a second spring arm 31 of the spring element 6, as shown in Fig. 8, in which on the

Receptacle 7 trained rear handle 11 inserted and can be fixed there. This recess 18 of the holder 5 is thus formed in extension to the rear handle 11 of the receiving element 7. The third region of the holder 5 is arranged above the second region and has a bearing 19 in which the lid 3

can be arranged. The storage 19 has two

spaced apart holding elements 20a, 20b, which each have a slotted, circular opening 21a, 21b, in which on the lid 3 formed bearing journals 22a, 22b, as shown in Fig. 6, engage and can be stored rotatably. As shown in Fig. 5, the holder 5 is so far on the

Retaining element 7 postponed that the bearing 19 projects beyond the upper edge 13 of the housing base 2 upwards.

Once the holder 5 is arranged on the receiving element 7, as shown in Fig. 5, the lid 3 is fixed to the holder 5, in particular to the bearing 19 of the holder 5, as shown in Fig. 7.

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the cover 3, wherein the cover 3 essentially consists of a cover surface 23 which is located on the edge 13 of the housing lower part 2

is arranged and thereby a top of the

Housing base 2 and the mating face of the in the

'Housing part 2 arranged contact element

completely covering, one on the cover surface 23rd

molded support arm 24, which projects beyond the cover surface 23 on one side, and two on the support arm 24th

formed bearing pin 22a, 22b formed. By the support arm 24, the bearing pins 22a, 22b spaced from the cover surface 23 on the lid 3 are arranged. If the cover 3 is attached to the holder 5, the

Spring element 6 is pushed onto the holder 5, as shown in Fig. 9.

The spring element 6 is shown enlarged in FIG. 8. The spring element 6 is made of a metal, in particular a

Made sheet metal and is substantially plate-shaped, d. H. in the form of a thin plate. The

Spring element 6 has a base body 30, on which a first spring arm 25 and a second spring arm 31

are formed. The first spring arm 25 is at one

Upper side of the spring element 6 is formed, so that the first spring arm 25 forms an extension of the body 30, and the first spring arm 25 serves to the

Spring element 6 to be attached to the lid 3. The cover 3 preferably has, on its retaining arm 24, a recess, not shown here, in which the first spring arm 25 of the spring element 6 is inserted. The recess has at its closed end within the lid 3, a stop, not shown here, wherein the first spring arm 25 is inserted so far into the recess that the first spring arm 25 with its free end, in particular with the upper edge 26 of the free end , is applied to the stop. As a result, a spring force can be applied to the lid 3 by the spring element 6, which holds the lid 3 in the open position and in the closed position.

Furthermore, the spring element 6 has a second spring arm 31. This spring arm 31 is made by forming a window 27 in the spring element 6, in particular in the main body 30 of the spring element 6, wherein the formation of the window 27, a portion of the spring element 6 is bent, which then forms the second spring arm 31. The window 27 extends along the

Longitudinal side surface of the spring element 6, wherein a

Part of the window 27 hineinerstreckt into the first spring arm 25, whereby the spring action of the first spring arm 25 can be improved. The second spring arm 31 is at an angle to the first spring arm 25 and to the

Base body 30, in the direction of the receiving element. 7

bent, and serves to the spring element 6 on the

To mount receiving element 7 and thus simultaneously the Holder 5 to fix the receiving element 7. The second spring arm 31 is divided into a first portion 28 and a second portion 29, wherein the first

Part region 28 is integrally formed with the second portion 29. The first portion 28 is integrally connected to the base body 30 and extends at an angle between 30 ° and 80 ° to the longitudinal side surface of the base body 30. The second portion 29 is formed shorter than the first portion 28 and is at an angle of substantially 90th ° to the longitudinal side surface of the base body 30 is formed. The second portion 29 represents the free end of the second spring arm 31, with which the second spring arm 31 is pushed onto the formed on the holder 5 recess 18 and formed on the receiving element 7 rear handle 11 and there

is latched to the spring element 6 on the

To fix receiving element 7 and thus at the same time to fix the holder 5 on the receiving element 7. In Fig. 9 is shown how the spring element 6 on the

Holder 5 is pushed. For this purpose, the spring element 6 from below, in the direction of the arrow 33 on the holder 5 and thus in the lid 3 and the receiving element 7 up or inserted. When sliding the spring element 6, the first spring arm 25 is inserted into the recess formed in the cover 3 up to the stop and the second spring arm 31 pivots when pushed in the direction of the receiving element 7 to the rear handle 11 of

To lock receiving element 7. Reference sign list

Housing 1

Housing base 2

Lid 3

Cable entry opening 4a, 4b

Holder 5

Spring element 6

Pick-up 7

Longitudinal side surface 8a, 8b

Dovetail guide 9a, 9b

Transverse side 10

Rear grip 11

Longitudinal side 12

Edge 13

Engagement element 14a, 14b

Stop 15

Transverse side surface 16

Transverse side 17

Recess 18

Storage 19

Retaining element 20a, 20b

Opening 21a, 21b

Bearing journals 22a, 22b

Covering surface 23

Holding arm 24

First spring arm 25

Top edge 26

Window 27

First subarea 28

Second subarea 29

Main body 30

Second spring arm 31 Arrow 32 arrow 33

Claims

claims

1. connector, with

one formed of a plastic material

Housing (1),

the housing (1) having a housing lower part (2) and a cover (3) for closing the housing lower part (2),

wherein the lid (3) pivotable on the

Housing base (2) is arranged,

characterized in that

for the pivotable arrangement of the cover (3) on the lower housing part (2) a receiving element (7) on the housing lower part (2) is arranged, on which

Receiving element (7) a holder (5) is arranged, which has a bearing (19) on which the lid (3) is pivotally mounted, and on the holder (5) a spring element (6) is arranged, which on the Cover (3) and on the receiving element (7) is attached.

2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (6) is plate-shaped and has at least two spring arms (25, 31), wherein a first spring arm (25) on the lid (3) and a second spring arm (31) is attached to the receiving element (7).

3. Connector according to claim 2, characterized in that for fixing the spring element (6) on the cover (3) of the first spring arm (25) on a lid (3) formed stop abuts such that the lid (3) is held in position by the spring force of the first spring arm (25).

4. Connector according to claim 2 or 3, characterized

in that, for fastening the spring element (6) to the receiving element (7), the second spring arm (31) is latched behind a rear grip (11) formed on the receiving element (7).

5. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 4,

characterized in that the spring element (6) is formed of a metal.

6. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 5,

characterized in that the receiving element (7) has a dovetail guide (9a, 9b) for arranging the holder (5) on the receiving element (7).

7. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 6,

characterized in that the receiving element (7) is formed integrally with the housing lower part (2).

8. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 7,

characterized in that the holder (5) on the receiving element (7) is pushed and the holder (5) has a stop (15) for limiting the Aufschiebeweges of the holder (5) on the receiving element (7).

9. Method for mounting a connector, at

which a lid (3) one of a

Plastic material formed housing (1) on a housing lower part (2) of the housing (1) is mounted, wherein, in an assembled state, the lid (2) is pivotably arranged on the housing lower part (3), comprising the steps:

- Forming a receiving element (7) on the

Housing lower part (2),

Arranging a holder (5) on the receiving element (7),

Arranging the cover (3) on a bearing (19) formed on the holder (5), and

- Arranging a spring element (6) on the holder (5), wherein the spring element (6) on the lid (3) and on the receiving element (7) is attached.

A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the receiving element (7) is formed integrally with the lower housing part (2) in an injection molding process.