EP3061160B1 - Plug connector - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a connector consisting of a first connector housing, which can be connected as a plug with a cable, and a second, corresponding connector housing, which can be mounted as a mounting housing on a device or housing.

Such connectors are needed to connect a signal or power cable with a device or a machine. Such devices or machines are preferably motors, to which reference is made in the following.

However, the invention is also applicable to other devices, machines and devices and is not limited to engines.

The task of such connectors is to conductively connect all leads or wires of the cable to terminals in a motor. In this case, connectors preferably consist of two corresponding, connectable housing parts.

A first of the housing parts is provided for receiving the cable. The wires or wires of the guided into the housing cable are provided with contact means which are mounted in the housing and - in electrical lines - against each other are electrically insulated.

The second, also known as a housing housing part is provided on the engine and connected thereto. The terminals of the motor are also connected to contact means in the second housing part.

By mechanically connecting the two housing parts of the connector, the recorded contact means are interconnected and establish a conductive connection between the cable and the terminals of the motor.

Many connectors are known from the prior art, consisting of a mounting housing and a corresponding connector. These can also be used to connect a motor or other devices.

From the WO 2012/104172 A1 an electrical plug-in element for an electrical plug connection is known, comprising a conductor receiving portion for receiving at least one electrical conductor and a cap which in an installed position at least partially with the conductor receiving portion and / or the conductor.

The DE 36 34 695 A1 discloses a multi-pole electrical plug-in device, consisting of a plug and a socket with plastic housings, which can be connected by means of pivoting joint connection. In this case, contacts are added to which lines are connected. A latching connection is provided for the locking of the plug-in device.

The DE 37 44 277 A1 shows a multi-pin connector with a socket and a plug part that can be locked together, with the locking a swivel joint for positionally accurate mating of the working contacts of the female part and the plug part is formed. It is proposed to arrange a coding of the female part and the plug part respectively between the pivot joint and the working contacts in order to prevent that when not mating socket part and plug part, the normally open contacts can be engaged with each other.

From the US 4,877,409 A a foldable electronic connector for printed circuit boards is known. The connector consists of two plug-in parts which are contacted by means of pins and pockets hinged.

The JP 2011-049099 A shows a cable connection structure consisting of a connection head and a female contact, which is accommodated in a housing and is contactable with the connection head. For this purpose, the housing has openings in which the contacts of the connection head can penetrate and contact the socket contacts in the housing.

The disadvantage of the known connectors have in common that they are very hochbauend. This means that with respect to the surface on which such a connector is attached, this extend very far from the surface. So the connectors have a very high height.

This characteristic has a negative effect especially if, for example, the motor which is connected to the connector is used in a very narrow, space-poor environment. Here are very space-saving connectors and connectors on the engine helpful.

task

The object of the invention is to present a connector for the connection of equipment and machines, which is characterized by a very low height. In addition to the height of the plug-in process should be saving space in relation to the movement space of the connector parts. Furthermore, the manufacture of the connector is to be made more cost efficient by using special contact means of component reduction.

The object is solved by the features of independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The invention relates to a connector for producing a conductive connection. The conductive connection can be electrical, pneumatic, fluid or optical nature. Depending on the application, another medium can be transferred.

The present invention relates in its main application to the connection of electrical conductors and the transmission of electricity. However, this does not exclude the transfer of the invention to other media.

Naturally, the connector consists of two mating partners which can be coupled together. A first connector housing, which is provided for connecting a cable and a second connector housing which is intended for mounting on a device, a machine or other housing. The first connector housing has a connection for the cable, wherein the connection as known in the prior art, preferably consists of a cable gland. The cable gland allows insertion of the cable into the connector housing. At the same time, the cable gland fixes the cable mechanically to the first connector housing. In addition, the known cable glands seal the inside of the housing against the ingress of dirt and moisture.

In the interior of the connector housing, which is preferably made of metal, at least one insulating body is provided with contact means received therein. In this case, the insulating body of the mutual isolation of the contact means to each other.

The contact means, which are expediently designed as contact pins or contact sockets, are each connected to a wire or a conductor of the cable, which is guided in the connector housing. This allows the transmission of the individual electrical signals of the cable via the contact means to the second connector.

According to the invention, the contact means are designed as dual-contact contact means. This means that the contact means are formed both as a contact pin, and as a contact socket.

In this case, the contact means white at its front end on a molding as a contact pin. In the central region of the contact means, a bore is provided, which makes it possible to contact a contact pin with the contact means. Preferably, the bore is aligned at an angle of approximately 90 ° to the insertion direction of the contact pin on the front side.

This special embodiment of the contact means serves on the one hand to reduce the component, since a variety of contact means can be used in a connector. In addition, with such a contact means in addition to the contacting of another contact means simultaneously, for example, the connector housing can be contacted.

In the case of metallic housings, the required grounding can be transferred from the cable to the housing. An additional contact by means of a screw connection or a shield ring on the cable gland is not necessary.

The second connector housing is also provided for receiving at least one insulating body, as well as in contact means received therein. As already explained, can be dispensed with by appropriate arrangement of the contact means in the connector housings on a second type of contact means. Only one type of contact means - which have a contact pin and a contact socket - is needed for the connector.

The two connector housings can be joined together on an open side. The contact means are arranged in the connector housings such that, when the connector housings are assembled, the contact means of the two contact mechanically and electrically.

According to the invention, the two connector housings have at least two types of locking means. The locking means make it possible to permanently lock the connector housing in the contacted state, so that the connector can not be opened by unwanted, mechanical, external influences.

The first type of locking means is characterized in that one of the connector housing at least one, preferably two pivot pins are formed. These pivots engage in rotary bearings on the other connector housing. Through the pivots in the pivot bearings, the connector housings lock together and form the first type of locking means.

In addition, the pivot with the pivot bearings form an axis of rotation, which allows the two connector housing to each other to move the axis of rotation. By this tilting movement of the connector can be closed or opened.

In addition, the connector has at least a second type of locking means. This makes it possible to lock the connector housing of the closed connector with each other so that a tilting of the connector housing about the rotation axis is no longer possible. Opening the connector is prevented.

The second type of locking means can be formed by various technical solutions. For example, a screw connection of the two connector housings is conceivable. Also, a bayonet lock or a locking lever, as it is known from the field of heavy connectors, would be appropriate.

embodiment

Fig. 1

ein erstes Steckverbindergehäuse;

Fig. 2

ein erstes Steckverbindergehäuse in räumlicher Ansicht mit Blick auf den Steckbereich;

Fig. 3

ein zweites Steckverbindergehäuse;

Fig. 4

ein zweites Steckverbindergehäuse in räumlicher Ansicht mit Blick auf den Steckbereich;

Fig. 5

einen erfindungsgemäßen Steckverbinder in geöffnetem Zustand;

Fig. 6

einen erfindungsgemäßen Steckverbinder in geschlossenem und verriegelten Zustand;

Fig. 7

einen weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Steckverbinder in geschlossenem und verriegelten Zustand;

Fig. 8

den Steckverbinder aus Fig. 7 in Schnittdarstellung; und

Fig. 9

eine weiter Ausführungsform des Steckverbinders.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. Show it:

Fig. 1

a first connector housing;

Fig. 2

a first connector housing in a spatial view overlooking the plug-in area;

Fig. 3

a second connector housing;

Fig. 4

a second connector housing in a spatial view overlooking the mating area;

Fig. 5

a connector according to the invention in the open state;

Fig. 6

a connector according to the invention in a closed and locked state;

Fig. 7

another connector according to the invention in the closed and locked state;

Fig. 8

the connector off Fig. 7 in sectional view; and

Fig. 9

a further embodiment of the connector.

The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. In part, identical reference numerals are used for the same but possibly not identical elements. Different views of the same elements could be scaled differently.

The FIG. 1 shows a first connector housing 1 in a side view. The component, which is produced as a hollow body and die-cast, has an opening on its underside which serves as a plug-in area 15. In this plug-in area 15, the connector housing 1 can be contacted with a second connector housing 2.

In addition, the connector housing 1 has a connection region 16. The connection region 16 is formed in this embodiment as a cable gland. A cable 11 is received in the cable gland and passed over the connection area 16 in the connector housing 1.

In this particularly advantageous embodiment, plug-in region 15 and connection region 16 of the connector housing 1 are arranged approximately at 90 ° to each other. This means that the connection region 16 is arranged on a side of the connector housing 1 which adjoins the plug-in region 15 directly. This arrangement of plug-in area 15 and connection area 16 is particularly space-saving. A very flat design of the connector is made possible.

The first connector housing 1 off Fig. 1 is in Fig. 2 shown again, but in a three-dimensional view overlooking the plug-in area 15. The open plug-in area 15 allows a view of an insulator 3 arranged in the connector housing 1.

The insulating body 3 has in this embodiment, six contact chambers, in each of which a contact means 4 is added. The contact means 4 are each connected to a wire of the guided in the connector housing 1 cable 11.

The Fig. 3 shows a second connector housing 2 corresponding to the first connector housing 1. The second connector housing 2 designed as a mounting housing also has a plug-in area 15 and a connection area 16.

The plug-in region 15 of the second connector housing 2 is designed to be plug-compatible with the plug-in region 15 of the first connector housing 1. As a result, the connector housings 1, 2 can be positively connected to one another at their plug-in areas 15.

The terminal portion 16 of the second connector housing 2 is formed as an open area. It allows the placement of the connector housing 2 on a device, housing or a machine 10 as a so-called mounting housing. Through an opening in the device, the housing or the machine 10 lines can be performed in the, set on the opening connector housing 2.

Also, as well as in the first connector housing 1, an insulating body 13 is provided in the second connector housing 2, which is accommodated in the connector housing 2. The design as a mounting housing makes it possible to project the insulating body 13 out of the connector housing 2 via the connection region 16. Which no longer located in the connector housing 2 part of the insulating body 13 is received by the device, housing or the machine 10, on which the connector housing 2 is grown.

The guided into the connector housing 2 lines are, as well as in the first connector housing 1, connected to contact means 14. These are accommodated in the insulating body 13. In contrast to the first connector housing 1, however, the contact means 14 protrude from the Isolierköper 13 so that they dive in the closed state of the connector in the insulating body 3 of the first connector housing 1, and can contact the contact means 4 recorded there.

The second connector housing 2 off Fig. 3 is in Fig. 4 shown again, but in a spatial view with a view of the plug-in area 15. Recognizable here are the six contact means 14 which are accommodated in the insulating body 13.

In addition, the second connector housing 2 mounting holes 12 are formed, by means of which the connector housing 2 can be mounted on a device, housing or a machine 10. For this example, screws are appropriate: However, it is also conceivable to secure the connector housing 2 with rivets.

The first connector housing 1, and the second connector housing 2 together form the connector according to the invention, which in Fig. 5 is shown in an open state. The second connector housing 2 is mounted on a device 10.

According to the invention, the connector has two types of locking means 5, 6, which serve to lock the two connector housings 1, 2. The first type of locking means 5 is made of a Pivot 8 formed on the second connector housing 2, and a pivot bearing 9 on the first connector housing 1.

The connector housing 1 and 2 have two pivot bearings 9, or pivot 8. In a further embodiment, it would also be conceivable to form the pivot bearing 9 on the second connector housing 2 and the pivot 8 to the first connector housing. 1

In the in Fig. 5 illustrated position of the connector housing 1, 2 engage the pivot 8 in the pivot bearing 9 a. As a result, an axis of rotation 7 is formed around which the first connector housing 1 can be pivoted. At the same time prevent the pivot 8 in conjunction with the pivot bearings 9 opening the connector in the closed state.

By this type of locking means 6 and the rotational movement for opening and closing allows the particularly advantageous, space and space-saving type of connector.

In the Fig. 6 the connector is shown in a closed, fully locked state. In addition to the first type of locking means 5 (pivot 8 and pivot 9), the connector is locked by means of the second type of locking means 6. In this embodiment, the second type of locking means 6 is formed by a locking bracket 6b and locking pin 6a. These are widely known from the field of heavy connectors from the prior art.

The locking bracket 6 b is rotatably mounted on the second connector housing 2. By pivoting the locking bracket 6b this engages over locking pin 6a on the first connector housing 1. An open the connector binder is no longer possible.

The second type of locking means 6 may also be designed differently. For example, shows the Fig. 7 a connector according to the invention in a spatial view, wherein the second type locking means 6 is formed by a screw. With this, the first connector housing 1 and the second connector housing 2 are screwed.

An embodiment of the screw as a bayonet lock would be conceivable. This would have the advantage that it does not have to be rotated several turns until a final fixation is achieved. Only a quarter or half turn - depending on the design of the bayonet lock - would be necessary to lock the connector.

In the Fig. 7 In addition, the axis of rotation 7 is shown, which is formed by the pivot 8 and the pivot bearings 9. To this axis of rotation 7, the first connector housing 1 can be rotated to open the connector closed here.

The Fig. 8 indicates the connector Fig. 7 in a completely cut view. At the right-hand terminal portion 16 of the connector housing 1, the cable 11 is inserted into the connector housing 1. The cable 11 is split in the connector housing 1 in its individual wires, which are each connected to a cable connection portion 41 of the contact means 4.

The cable connection region 41 of the contact means 4 can be formed as a crimp, screw, solder or terminal connection. Depending on the dimension and type of cable cores, another technique may be advantageous here.

The contact means 4 each have a cable connection region 41, a first contact region 42, and a second contact region 43. The first contact region 42 is designed as a pin contact, wherein the second contact region 43 is formed as a female contact.

The contact means 14 of the second connector housing 2 are identical to the contact means 4 formed, so that advantageously only one type of contact means 4, 14 can be installed in the connector.

Recognizable in the section shown is showing how the plug-in areas 15 of the connector housing 1, 2 engage in a form-fitting manner. As a result, the first contact regions 142 of the contact means 14 of the second connector housing 2 penetrate into the second contact regions 43 of the contact means 4 of the first connector housing 1.

In this particular embodiment of the connector, however, the contact means 4 of the first connector housing 1 serve not only for contacting the contact means 14. It can be seen in section that the first contact areas 42 also contact the metallic connector housing 1 for grounding purposes. Thus, a protective earthing conducted via wires of the cable 11 can be connected directly to a metallic plug connector.

The Fig. 9 shows a further expedient embodiment of the connector according to the invention. In this embodiment, the locking bracket 6b, together with the locking pin 6a, the second locking means 6 forms a circular segment-shaped Anformung. By means of this Anformung the locking pin 6a is raised when opening the locking bracket 6b.

As a result, an opening of the connector by a certain angle α is possible. This is especially in spatially restricted applications helpful. Where the connector can not be opened by hand or there is no room for gripping the connector, this is at least partially opened and facilitates a complete opening by hand.

Connectors LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

first connector housing

2

second connector housing

3

insulator

4

contact means

5

Locking means of the first kind

6

Locking means of the second kind

6a

locking clip

6b

locking pin

7

axis of rotation

8th

pivot

9

pivot bearing

10

Device / housing / machine

11

electric wire

12

mounting hole

13

insulator

14

contact means

15

plug-in region

16

terminal area

41/141

Cable connection area

42/142

first contact area

43/143

second contact area

Claims (9)

1. Plug connector, consisting of a first plug connector housing (1), which can be connected as a plug to a cable (11), and a second, corresponding plug connector housing (2), which can be assembled as an add-on housing on a device or housing,
   wherein insulating bodies (3, 13) and contact means (4, 14) received therein are arranged in the plug connector housings (1, 2),
   wherein two types of locking means (5, 6) are configured for reciprocal locking of the plug connector housings (1, 2),
   wherein at least one rotary pin (8) is provided on one of the plug connector housings (1, 2) and at least one corresponding rotary bearing (9) is provided on the other plug connector housing (2, 1), and the at least one rotary pin (8) and the at least one rotary bearing (9) form an axis of rotation (7), about which the plug connector housings (1, 2) can move relative to one another,
   wherein the contact means (4, 14) in each case have a cable connection region (41, 141), a first contact region (42, 142), and a middle second contact region (43, 143) arranged between the cable connection region (41, 141) and the first contact region (42, 142), wherein the first contact region (42, 142) is formed as a pin contact and the second contact region (43, 143) is formed as a socket contact,
   wherein the contact means (14, 4) are embodied as dual-contactable contact means, and
   wherein the first contact regions (42, 142) of the contact means (4, 14) are compatible for plugging to the second contact regions (143, 43) of the contact means (14, 4),
   wherein the first contact regions (142) of the contact means (14) of the second plug connector housing (2) are formed such that they can be inserted into the second contact regions (43) of the contact means (4) of the first plug connector housing (1).
2. Plug connector according to Claim 1 characterized in that
   the at least one rotary pin (8) engages with the least one rotary bearing (9) and thus forms the first type of locking means (5).
3. Plug connector according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the second type of locking means (6) is formed by a screw, a bolt, a bayonet closure, a latched connection or a locked connection.
4. Plug connector according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the contact means (4) of the first plug connector housing (1) are oriented at an angle of approximately 90° to the plug-in plane and to the contact means (14) of the second plug connector housing (2).
5. Plug connector according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the contact means (4) of the first plug connector housing (1) are oriented radially in relation to the axis of rotation (7), and
   the contact means (14) of the second plug connector housing (2) are oriented tangentially in relation to the axis of rotation (7).
6. Plug connector according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the first contact region (42, 142) of the contact means (4, 14) are oriented at an angle of approximately 90° to the second contact region (43, 143).
7. Plug connector according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   at least one of the contact means (4) of the first plug connector housing (1) contacts the first plug connector housing (1) via the first contact region (42).
8. Plug connector according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the contact means (4) of the first plug connector housing (1), in the second contact region (43), contacts the first contact regions (142) of the contact means (14) of the second plug connector housing (2).
9. Plug connector according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the cable connection region (41, 141) is formed as a crimp, screw, solder or clamp connection.

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