EP2924811B1 - Electric plug connector - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electrical connector having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Such electrical connectors are used to make an electrical connection between two cables or to establish an electrical connection between a cable and an electrical appliance. For this purpose, a cable can be connected in the usual way to electrical contact elements of the plug connection member and routed via a cable guide channel of the cable outlet member. The connector member may be configured as a plug which can be plugged into a complementary socket, or as a socket into which a complementary ausgestalteter plug can be inserted. In order to avoid that tensile forces can be exerted on the plug connection member via the cable, the cable outlet member has a cable clamping device with which the cable can be clamped. The cable clamping device thus forms a strain relief.

Electrical connector with a connector member which is pluggable connectable for establishing an electrical connection with a complementary designed connector link, and with a Kabelauslassglied having a cable guide channel for guiding and a cable clamping device for fixing a cable connected to the connector member, are for example from EP 2 323 228 A2 known. The electrical connector described in this publication has an insulating body with a square collar surrounding an opening and having a circumferential recess with Verrastungsaussparungen. In addition, the electrical connector has an angled strain relief element with a U-shaped rail surrounding a connection opening on three sides. The rail has locking lugs and latching hooks and can be inserted into the recess of the insulating body until it is locked.

From the EP 2 299 547 A1 an electrical connector is known in which the Kabelauslassglied is integrally connected to the connector member and a strain relief formed with a plurality of radially outwardly facing wedge-shaped thickenings, which are pressed by screwing a union nut on the Kabelauslassglied radially inwardly into the cable management channel and thereby one in the cable management channel can set arranged cable.

From the document US 2002/0146930 A1 an electrical connector with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known. The electrical connector has a plug connection member and a cable outlet member. The Kabelauslassglied comprises two housing shells which abut each other with their joining edges and form a cable guide channel between them. At their ends facing away from the plug connector, the housing shells form slotted half cylinders with a plurality of fingers, which carry locking teeth on their inner sides and on their outer sides. The inside locking teeth serve to jam a cable running in the cable guide channel by a clamping sleeve is pushed onto the outside locking teeth, the internally complementarily configured locking teeth and under the action of which the slotted half cylinders are pressed together. After sliding onto the half cylinder, the clamping sleeve can no longer be released from the locking teeth but at most be pushed further onto the locking teeth.

From the document US 4,641,905 A a cable feedthrough is known, with the aid of a multi-core cable can be passed through an opening in a housing without the risk of damage to the cable. The cable gland has two housing shells, which carry clamping wedges on the inside and onto which a union nut can be screwed.

Object of the present invention is to develop an electrical connector of the generic type such that it has a simpler handling.

This object is achieved by an electrical connector having the features of claim 1.

The connector according to the invention is characterized by a simplified handling. To insert the cable into the cable guide channel, a second housing shell of the cable outlet member can be moved relative to a first housing shell in an open position in which the second housing shell releases the first housing shell. This facilitates the insertion of the cable into the cable duct. The second housing shell can then be transferred to its closed position and by means of a union nut, the second housing shell can be set in its closed position on the first housing shell. The housing shells have on the facing inner sides of clamping wedges, between which the cable can be positioned, and by screwing the nut on the housing shells, the cable can be jammed.

According to the invention, the cable clamping device comprises a cable clamping element with at least two clamping jaws, which are rigidly connected to at least one guide strip, wherein the at least one guide strip is linearly displaceable and rotatably held on at least one housing shell and the two jaws by screwing the nut on the housing shells in the cable guide channel can be inserted and applied to the clamping wedges.

The jaws can be moved linearly by screwing the union nut on the housing shells in the cable channel. Here they can slide along the clamping wedges, which are arranged on the inner sides of the housing shells. The clamping wedges guide the jaws radially inwards into the cable guide channel. This has the advantage that cables with different diameters can be fixed by means of the clamping jaws in the cable guide channel, in particular also cables whose diameter is smaller than the distance that the clamping wedges have in the closed position of the second housing shell to each other.

To avoid that twist the at least two jaws when screwing the nut on the housing shells, the cable clamping element has at least one guide bar, which forms a rotation lock. The at least one guide strip is linearly displaceable and rotatably held on one or on both housing shells. When inserting the jaws in the cable duct, the at least one guide rail slides along at least one housing shell in the longitudinal direction of the cable guide channel, but it can not be twisted. Since the at least one guide strip is rigidly connected to the clamping jaws, it is ensured by the guide strip which slides along the at least one housing shell that the clamping jaws do not rotate when the cap nut is screwed on.

It is advantageous if the second housing shell is held captive on the first housing shell.

Preferably, the second housing shell is mounted on the first housing shell movable back and forth between the open position and the closed position.

It is advantageous if the second housing shell is pivotably mounted on the first housing shell. The second housing shell can be pivoted relative to the first housing shell about a pivot axis. The pivot axis is conveniently aligned obliquely or perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the connector link. As a result, the first housing shell can be exposed on the side facing away from the connector member by the second housing shell is pivoted to its open position. This facilitates the insertion of the cable into the cable duct.

It is advantageous if the two housing shells form a housing of the cable outlet member, wherein the housing has a cylindrical end portion which carries an external thread and has at least one elongated opening in which a guide rail is slidably supported. By pivoting the second housing shell in its open position, the housing the Kabelauslassglieds are opened in a simple manner. The two housing shells together form a cylindrical end portion of the housing of the Kabelauslassglieds. The cylindrical end portion carries an external thread and has at least one elongate opening, that is, an opening which is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the external thread. In the opening a guide rail is arranged, which is rigidly connected to the at least two jaws of the clamping member. As the jaws are inserted into the cable duct, the guide rail slides along the lateral boundaries of the elongated aperture. The elongate opening here ensures that the guide bar can only move in the longitudinal direction, but can not perform any rotational movement.

Preferably, the elongated opening is arranged between the two housing shells. In the region of the aperture thus takes the second housing shell in its closed position a distance from the first housing shell. Between the first housing shell and the second housing shell, the elongated opening is arranged, which is bounded by the two housing shells.

The opening extends in an advantageous embodiment of the invention at least over the entire length of the external thread of the housing of the cable outlet member.

It is advantageous if the clamping element has two diametrically opposite guide rails, which are each insertable in a arranged between the two housing shells opening. The provision of the two guide rails increases the mechanical stability of the clamping element and has the additional advantage that the insertion of the guide rails is simplified in the openings. Jamming of the guide rails in the elongated openings is avoided.

A further simplification of the handling of the electrical connector according to the invention is achieved in an advantageous embodiment in that the jaws and the at least one guide bar are held on a support ring which is insertable together with the jaws and the at least one guide bar in the nut. The two jaws and the guide bar together with the support ring from a component that can be used before screwing the nut on the two housing shells in the nut. When screwing the union nut, the cable clamping element is inserted into the cable guide channel and the jaws are moved in the cable guide channel in the longitudinal direction and slide along the clamping wedges. The at least one guide rail ensures that the jaws perform only an axial movement but not a rotational movement.

The union nut, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a radially inwardly directed step, against which the support ring. About the level of the support ring can thus be supported in a structurally simple way of the union nut.

The clamping jaws are preferably aligned obliquely inwardly with their end region facing away from the support ring in the cable guide channel. It can be provided that the jaws have a constant material thickness practically over their entire axial length, however, reduce the outer and inner diameter of the jaws with increasing distance from the support ring.

The jaws are made of an elastically deformable material, in particular of a plastic material.

It is advantageous if the clamping jaws are integrally connected to the at least one guide strip.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the clamping element has a retaining ring, which is connected to the at least one guide rail and surrounds the housing shells in the circumferential direction. This increases the mechanical stability of the clamping element. While the jaws occupy a position within the cable management channel and the at least one guide rail preferably occupies a position in an elongated opening between the two housing shells, the retaining ring assumes a position outside of the cable guide channel by surrounding the two housing shells in the circumferential direction. The inner diameter of the Haltring is this chosen larger than the outer diameter of the external thread to which the union nut can be screwed.

The retaining ring is advantageously placed on the nut. When screwing on the two housing shells thus the union nut Push the retaining ring in front of him and thereby exert a thrust force on the clamping element in a structurally simple manner.

The clamping element is advantageously designed as a one-piece plastic molding.

It is advantageous if at least one housing shell a resilient shield contact element is held, which can be pressed against a shield of a cable. About the shield contact element can be achieved in a structurally simple manner, an electrically conductive connection between the shield of the cable and at least one housing shell. The housing shells are made of an electrically conductive material, in particular of a die-cast material and therefore have a good shielding property and also a high mechanical stability.

It is particularly favorable if a shield contact element is held at least on the second housing shell. If the second housing shell is transferred into its closed position, the shield contact element held on the second housing shell is pressed against the shielding of the cable positioned in the cable duct.

Figur 1:

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines elektrischen Steckverbinders mit einem Kabelauslassglied, das zwei Gehäuseschalen und eine auf die Gehäuseschalen aufgeschraubte Überwurfmutter aufweist;

Figur 2:

eine perspektivische Darstellung des elektrischen Steckverbinders aus Figur 1, wobei die Überwurfmutter entfernt wurde;

Figur 3:

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Kabelauslassglieds aus Figur 1;

Figur 4:

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Kabelklemmelements des elektrischen Steckverbinders aus Figur 1;

Figur 5:

eine Schnittansicht des Kabelauslassglieds aus Figur 3, wobei eine zweite Gehäuseschale relativ zu einer ersten Gehäuseschale eine Offenstellung einnimmt und die Überwurfmutter zusammen mit dem Kabelklemmelement im Abstand zu den Gehäuseschalen angeordnet ist;

Figur 6:

eine Schnittansicht des Kabelauslassglieds entsprechend Figur 5, wobei die zweite Gehäuseschale eine Schließstellung einnimmt;

Figur 7:

eine Schnittansicht des Kabelauslassglieds entsprechend Figur 5, wobei die Überwurfmutter auf die beiden Gehäuseschalen aufgeschraubt wird; und

Figur 8:

eine Schnittansicht des Kabelauslassglieds entsprechend Figur 5, wobei die auf die Gehäuseschalen aufgeschraubte Überwurfmutter ihre Endstellung erreicht hat.

The following description of an advantageous embodiment of the invention is used in conjunction with the drawings for further explanation. Show it:

FIG. 1:

a perspective view of an electrical connector with a Kabelauslassglied having two housing shells and a screwed onto the housing shells union nut;

FIG. 2:

a perspective view of the electrical connector FIG. 1 with the union nut removed;

FIG. 3:

a perspective view of the Kabelauslassglieds FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4:

a perspective view of a Kabelklemmelements the electrical connector FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5:

a sectional view of the Kabelauslassglieds FIG. 3 wherein a second housing shell occupies an open position relative to a first housing shell and the union nut is arranged together with the cable clamping element at a distance from the housing shells;

FIG. 6:

a sectional view of the Kabelauslassglieds accordingly FIG. 5 wherein the second housing shell assumes a closed position;

FIG. 7:

a sectional view of the Kabelauslassglieds accordingly FIG. 5 , wherein the union nut is screwed onto the two housing shells; and

FIG. 8:

a sectional view of the Kabelauslassglieds accordingly FIG. 5 , wherein the screwed onto the housing shells union nut has reached its end position.

In the drawing, a total occupied by the reference numeral 10 advantageous embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention is shown schematically. The electrical connector 10 has a plug connection member 12 and a cable outlet member 14. The Kabelauslassglied 14 is detachably connectable to the connector member 12. For this purpose, a total of four connecting straps 18, 20, 22, 24 are arranged on an end face 16 of the cable outlet member 14 facing the plug connection member 12, each having an opening 26 and being associated with it Recesses can be introduced, which are arranged on the cable outlet member 14 facing the rear side of the connector member 12.

The plug connection member 12 can be used with a cable outlet member 14 facing away from the front end portion 28, which is designed as a connector, in a person skilled in the known connection socket. At the front end portion 28, the plug connection member 12 has electrical contact elements for producing an electrical connection with corresponding electrical contact elements of the connection socket. In the illustrated embodiment, the front end portion 28 including the electrical contact elements of the connecting member 12 is covered by an attachable on the front end portion 28 protective cap 30. Alternatively, the front end section 28 could also be configured as a connecting bushing into which a complementary designed connector plug can be inserted.

The Kabelauslassglied 14 has a cable guide channel 32 through which a cable connected to the electrical contact elements of the connector member 12 can be passed. In the illustrated embodiment, the cable guide channel 32 is formed at an angle and comprises a plug connector 12 facing the front end portion 34 and a plug connector 12 remote from the rear end portion 36, wherein the rear end portion 36 is aligned in the illustrated embodiment perpendicular to the front end portion 34. However, it may also be provided that the rear end portion 36 is aligned or at an acute angle to the front end portion 34.

The cable outlet member 14 has a first housing shell 38 and a second housing shell 40. The first housing shell 38 is releasably connectable by means of the connecting straps 18, 20, 22 and 24 with the connector member 12 and the second housing shell 40 is in the illustrated embodiment about a perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 42 of the connector 12 aligned pivot axis 44 verschenkbar on the first housing shell 38th stored. The second housing shell 40 can between a in FIG. 5 illustrated open position in which it releases the first housing shell 38, and one in particular in the FIGS. 6 . 7 and 8th shown closed position in which it covers the first housing shell 38, are pivoted back and forth.

The two housing shells 38, 40 form a housing 46 of the cable outlet member 14 with a plug connection member 12 facing away from the cylindrical end portion 48 which carries an external thread 50.

The cylindrical end portion 48 has two diametrically opposite elongated openings 52, 54 which extend over the entire length of the external thread 50 and open into the plug connector 12 facing away from the end face 60 of the housing 46. The elongate apertures 52, 54 are arranged between the two housing shells 38, 40 and are thus limited on the one hand by the first housing shell 38 and on the other hand by the second housing shell 40.

On the external thread 50, a union nut 62 can be screwed. By means of the union nut 62, the second housing shell 40 can thus be fixed in its closed position on the first housing shell 38.

The union nut 62 has an end edge 64 facing the housing 46, and on its rear side 66 facing away from the end edge 64, the union nut 62 has a cable passage 68, which is surrounded by a step 70 directed radially inward.

For clamping a cable inserted into the cable guide channel 32, the cable outlet member 14 comprises a cable clamping device with a cable clamping element 72, which in FIG. 4 is shown enlarged, and with clamping wedges 93, 95, which are explained in more detail below. The cable clamping element 72 has two elastically deformable, diametrically opposed jaws 74, 76 and two between the jaws 74, 76, diametrically opposed guide rails 78, 80. The jaws 74, 76 are, like the guide rails 78, 80 integral with a support ring 82 and can be used before screwing the nut 62 on the external thread 50 in the nut 62. The support ring 82 may be supported on the radially inwardly directed step 70 of the union nut 62. This is especially true FIG. 5 clear.

The jaws 74, 76 have virtually the same length over their entire thickness, however, reduce the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the jaws 74, 76 with increasing distance from the support ring 82. With their the support ring 82 facing away from the front end portions are the jaws 74, 76th thus inclined radially inwardly into the cable guide channel 32.

In addition to the support ring 82, the cable clamping element 72 has a retaining ring 84 which can be positioned on the end edge 64 of the union nut 62 when inserting the cable clamping element 72 into the union nut 62. The retaining ring 84 is integrally connected to the guide rails 78, 80.

The guide rails 78, 80 protrude with their support ring 82 facing away from the front end portions 86, 88 on the retaining ring 84. When screwing the union nut 62, in the previously the cable clamping element 72 has been used, the front end portions 86, 88 of the guide rails 78, 80 are each inserted into an elongate opening 52, 54. Subsequently, the union nut 62 can come into engagement with the external thread 50 and be screwed onto the external thread 50. In this case slide the guide rails 78, 80 in the openings 52, 54 along the two housing shells 38, 40 along. The guide rails 78, 80 ensure that when screwing the nut 62 on the external thread 50, the cable clamping element 72 is moved only in the axial direction, but can not perform any rotational movement.

The already mentioned Kemmkeile 93, 95 of the cable clamping device are arranged adjacent to the mutually facing inner sides of the housing shells 38, 40 of the end face 60 of the housing 46. When the cap nut 62 is screwed on, the radially inwardly inclined free end regions of the clamping jaws 74, 76 slide along the inclined surfaces 94, 96 and are supported by these in the radial direction to the outside , This is especially true of the FIGS. 7 and 8th clear.

The second housing shell 40 carries on its inside an elastically deformable shield contact element 98, which projects into the cable guide channel 32 and, like the first housing shell 38 and the second housing shell 40 is made of an electrically conductive material, preferably made of a metal. The housing shells 38, 40 are preferably made of a die-cast material. Also, the connector member 12 has an electrically conductive housing, so that by the use of the electrically conductive housing shells 38, 40 and the use of the electrically conductive housing of the connector member 12, an effective electromagnetic shielding is achieved.

As already mentioned, a multi-core electrical cable can be connected to the electrical contact elements of the plug connection member 12. For this purpose, the cable can be passed through the cable passage 68 of the union nut 62 and the support ring 82 and the retaining ring 84 of the cable clamping element 72. The cable can then be passed through the cable guide channel 32, wherein the second housing shell 40 can take their open position to facilitate the insertion of the cable into the cable guide channel 32. Before inserting the cable into the cable duct 32, the shield of the cable can be exposed. The individual wires of the cable can be connected to electrical contact elements of the connector member 12. Subsequently, the second housing shell 40 can be pivoted into its closed position, wherein the cable is bent and the shield contact element 98, the shield of the cable contacted. Finally, then the cap nut 62 can be screwed onto the external thread 50, wherein the retaining ring 84 surrounds the external thread 50 in the circumferential direction and the two jaws 74, 76 receive the cable between them. If the union nut 62 has reached its end position, then the clamping jaws 74, 76 jam the cable in the cable guide channel 32, so that a tensile load of the cable is not transmitted to the electrical contact elements to which the individual wires of the cable are connected. If a relatively thick cable is used, the cable clamping element 72 can be omitted and the cable can be clamped between the clamping wedges 93, 95.

Claims (14)

1. Electrical plug connector with a plug-connection member (12) which can be plug-connected to a complementarily configured plug-connection member to produce an electrical connection, and with a cable outlet member (14) which has a cable guidance channel (32) for guiding and a cable clamping arrangement for fixing a cable which is connected to the plug-connection member (12), the cable outlet member (14) having a first and a second housing shell (38, 40), the second housing shell (40) being movable between an open position which releases the first housing shell (38) and a closed position which covers the first housing shell (38), and the cable clamping arrangement having clamping wedges (93, 95) which are arranged on the inner sides of the housing shells (38, 40) which face each other, the cable outlet member (14) having a cap nut (62) which in the closed position of the second housing shell (40) can be screwed onto the two housing shells (38, 40), characterised in that the cable clamping arrangement has a cable clamping element (72) with at least two clamping jaws (74, 76) which are connected rigidly to at least one guide bar (78, 80), with the at least one guide bar (78, 80) being held so as to be linearly displaceable and to resist rotation on at least one housing shell (38, 40), and the at least two clamping jaws (74, 76) being able to be introduced into the cable guidance channel (32) by screwing the cap nut (62) onto the housing shells (38, 40) and being able to be laid against the clamping wedges (93, 95).
2. Electrical plug connector according to Claim 1, characterised in that the second housing shell (40) is mounted on the first housing shell (38) so that it can be moved back and forth between the open position and the closed position.
3. Electrical plug connector according to Claim 2, characterised in that the second housing shell (40) is mounted pivotably on the first housing shell (38).
4. Electrical plug connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the two housing shells (38, 40) form a housing (46) of the cable outlet member (14), the housing (46) having a cylindrical end section (48) which bears an external thread (50) and has at least one elongate aperture (52, 54) in which a guide bar (78, 80) is held so as to be displaceable.
5. Electrical plug connector according to Claim 4, characterised in that the elongate aperture (52, 54) is arranged between the two housing shells (38, 40).
6. Electrical plug connector according to Claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the elongate aperture (52, 54) extends at least over the entire length of the external thread (50).
7. Electrical plug connector according to one of Claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the cable clamping element (72) has two guide bars (78, 80) located diametrically opposed to one another which can each be introduced into an elongate aperture (52, 54) arranged between the two housing shells (38, 40).
8. Electrical plug connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the clamping jaws (74, 76) and the at least one guide bar (78, 80) are held on a supporting ring (82) which together with the clamping jaws (74, 76) and the at least one guide bar (78, 80) can be inserted into the cap nut (62).
9. Electrical plug connector according to Claim 8, characterised in that the cap nut (62) has a step (70) which is directed radially inwards, against which the supporting ring (82) lies.
10. Electrical plug connector according to Claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the clamping jaws (74, 76) are directed with their end regions which are remote from the supporting ring (82) obliquely inwards into the cable guidance channel (32).
11. Electrical plug connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cable clamping element (72) has a holding ring (84) which is connected to the at least one guide bar (78, 80) and surrounds the two housing shells (38, 40) in the peripheral direction.
12. Electrical plug connector according to Claim 11, characterised in that the holding ring (84) can be placed on the cap nut (62).
13. Electrical plug connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a resilient shield contact element (98) is held on at least one housing shell (38, 40), which shield contact element can be pressed against shielding of the cable.
14. Electrical plug connector according to Claim 13, characterised in that a shield contact element (98) is held at least on the second housing shell (40).

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