EP3108546A1

EP3108546A1 - Contact carrier

Info

Publication number: EP3108546A1
Application number: EP15715966.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefan Schnieder; Heiko Meier
Original assignee: Harting Electric GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Harting Electric Stiftung and Co KG
Priority date: 2014-02-20
Filing date: 2015-02-19
Publication date: 2016-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 2035-02-19
Also published as: PL3108546T3; RU2641708C1; WO2015124146A1; EP3108546B1; CN106030920B; CN106030920A; DE102014102171B4; US9966689B2; DE102014102171A1; US20160359259A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a contact carrier (1) for holding contact elements and for bringing into contact with a corresponding contact carrier. The contact carrier (1), which is made of an insulating material, has a plurality of cavities (4) in order to hold the contact elements, which cavities extend in a plugging direction through the entire contact carrier (1) and a retaining region (3) of the contact carrier and a plugging region (2) of the contact carrier. According to the invention, the contact carrier (1) has an insertion bevel (8), which insertion bevel makes it easier to bring the contact carrier (1) into contact with a corresponding contact carrier. The invention relates to improvements in the plugging region in order to avoid incorrect plugging of two contact carriers, in particular a resting of the contact carriers during the plugging process.

Description

contact support

description

The invention relates to a contact carrier according to the preamble of the independent claim 1.

Such contact carriers are needed in the connection and connection technology to accommodate contacts in, preferably connectors. The contact carrier serves to receive contact elements, such as electrical, pneumatic or optical contacts.

The contact carrier has cavities in which the contact elements are received and secured. The cavities are usually designed as holes that completely penetrate the contact carrier. Thus, on one side of the contact carrier, the connection side, a conductor with the received in the cavity contact element can be conductively connected.

On the side opposite the connection side, designed as a plug side, the contact element received in the cavity is provided for contacting with a second contact carrier. The second contact carrier is preferably also received in a connector which is connectable to the connector of the first contact carrier.

Depending on the design of the connector and the contact carrier, it is also conceivable to arrange various contact elements in a contact carrier. Thus, the contacting and transmission of, for example, power and signal lines can be realized simultaneously. In a particular embodiment of contact carriers, these are designed as modular. Several of these modulars can be used together in one connector. This embodiment makes it possible not to produce a special contact carrier for a connector for each specific application, but to combine different modules with different contact elements together.

The proposed invention relates to a further embodiment of such modular connector. In this particular type of modular connector, individual contact carriers (modular) are inserted into and held together by a frame. The so-called modular frame is accommodated with inserted modules in a connector housing and thus forms the modular connector.

State of the art

From DE 197 07 120 C1, a holding frame for mounting connector modules and for installation in connector housing or for screwing to wall surfaces is known. In this case, holding means are provided on the connector modules, which cooperate with recesses provided in opposite wall parts of the holding frame. The connector modules received in the holding frame are provided for contacting with corresponding connector modules in a mating connector.

The contact carriers (connector modules) are essentially of a square shape. This allows a close juxtaposition of several modules. Such contact carriers are also known from the non-modular field of connectors. In each case, a correspondingly larger contact carrier is inserted into a connector used and serves as an insulating body for receiving and Kontak- contact elements.

A disadvantage of these known from the prior art, modular and non-modular insulators for connectors, which is required when contacting the connector with a mating connector a minimum level of accuracy. An error-free contact is only possible if the orientation of the connector and mating connector binder does not soften too much.

However, this is not always guaranteed even if the contacting of connectors is not manual, i. done manually by a user, but automatically. Very often, connectors are made by robots, together with machine parts or other machines. For example, if large machine modules are replaced in large industrial plants, the connectors must be aligned with very small tolerances when assembling the machine components.

If this is not the case, it comes in the worst case, the destruction of the connector, if the insulator does not slide properly into each other and instead put on each other. Such an error is difficult to intercept in a large plant.

This problem becomes all the more relevant when it comes to modular connector systems. Since every single connector module has a certain tolerance and play, these tolerances add up. In the worst case, contacting several modular connectors is not possible without human intervention.

Specifically, such mismatches occur when the tolerances of rectangular or square contact carriers in two space dimensi- to be maxed out. In a system of two contactable contact carriers which may have a tolerance of 0.5 mm in each of two directions, with maximum utilization of this tolerance in both directions, an effective offset in the diagonal direction between the two directions of 0.71 mm (offset = ^ 0, S ² x 0.5 ² ) the sequence. Misjuring the contact carriers is the result.

task

The object of the invention is to present a contact carrier for connectors, which eliminates the disadvantages of known from the prior art contact carrier and connectors, or at least minimized. In this case, the contact carrier with the contact carrier of a two-pin connector should be able to be easily merged. The risk of mutual contact of the contact carrier to each other should be minimized even with inaccurate contact.

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

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The contact carrier is a substantially rectangular or square base body. The main body is divided into a holding area and a plug-in area. One or more cavities are provided in the contact carrier so that they completely penetrate the contact carrier and are arranged in regions in the holding region and the plug-in region. The cavities are provided for receiving contact elements, wherein the contact elements are fastened and held in the holding region of the contact carrier. The contact elements may optionally be electrical, pneumatic or optical contact elements. Preferably, the contact elements are formed so that they can be connected to the part arranged in the holding portion with a conductor to be connected. The connected conductor can leave the cavity in the holding area of the contact carrier.

When using electrical contact elements is expedient to produce the contact carrier of an insulating material to ensure electrical insulation of the contact elements to each other.

The holding region of the contact carrier has on its outside appropriate means which are suitable for mounting the contact carrier in a connector. The means may be formed as a mounting flange to secure the contact carrier with screws or similar tools in a connector housing.

A further embodiment would be in the range of modular connectors, on the contact carrier Anform ments provide by means of which the contact carrier form-fitting manner in e.g. a holding frame can be added.

The mating side of the contact carrier has at least four side surfaces which extend away from the holding region and are terminated by a cover surface terminating the mating side. In the top surface openings of the cavities are provided, which extend through the contact carrier. The openings ensure access and contact of the contact elements in the cavities. Between the side surfaces and the top surface of the contact carrier forms a circumferential edge. According to the invention, the edge is provided with a bevel serving as a chamfer. Through the insertion bevel, the object of the invention is achieved to increase the security and

To prevent misfeeds by successive contact pads.

In an expedient embodiment, the insertion bevel on the contact carrier has a dimensioning transverse to the insertion direction between 0.2 mm and 2.5 mm. In an embodiment adapted to the EN 175301-801: 2006 standard, the insertion bevel is wide at least 0.5 mm across the direction of insertion. In a preferred embodiment, the insertion bech between 0.3 mm and 0.8 mm across the direction of insertion is wide.

The design of the insertion bevel at 45 ° has proven to be particularly useful. But also chamfers with angles between 20 ° and 70 ° are conceivable. Advantageous insertion bevels in the range between 35 ° and 55 °.

The contact carrier is formed in a further embodiment so that between each two abutting side surfaces no edge, but a radius is formed. In this embodiment of the Kontaktträges the problem of mishaps when merging with another contact carrier is particularly large.

Due to the rounded edges between the side surfaces, the chamfer forming the insertion bevel also forms a radius on the top surface. In the case of a uniformly circumferential chamfer of, for example, 0.5 mm, a maximum offset from the contact carrier to a corresponding contact carrier in the x and y directions by 0.5 mm results in an effective offset in the diagonal direction (in the direction of the rounded Edge between the side surfaces) of 0.71 mm (offset =

However, since the circumferential insertion be allowed only 0.5 mm offset at each point, the contact carrier with the corresponding contact carrier is not pluggable. To eliminate this error, the contact carrier according to the invention has in the region of the rounded edges between the side surfaces over a step-shaped recess in the top surface. Thus, a touchdown of the contact carrier is prevented on a corresponding contact carrier.

The step-shaped recess is expediently executed in the same dimension as the insertion bevel on the contact carrier. This ensures that even at the maximum offset of two contact carriers to one another seating in the rounded corner is prevented.

Such misalignment of connectors is also required in standardization. Thus, EN 175301 -801: 2006 connectors must be able to compensate for a 0.5 mm offset in the longitudinal and transverse directions. This is not possible as already described with an insertion bevel of 0.5 mm. In order not to make the insertion bevels unnecessarily large fulfills a connector according to the teachings of the present invention, the requirements of EN 175301 -801: 2006.

embodiment

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

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a contact carrier;

2 shows a contact carrier with a corresponding contact carrier in partial section. Fig. 3 shows another contact carrier with a corresponding

Contact carrier in partial section; and

Fig. 4 shows a further contact carrier with a corresponding

Contact carrier in partial section.

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.

FIG. 1 shows a contact carrier 1 from a perspective view. The contact carrier 1 has two areas, wherein the area shown below forms a holding area 3 and the area shown here above forms a plug-in area 2.

In the contact carrier 1, a plurality of cavities 4 are introduced. In this case, the cavities 4 extend from a cover area 6, which terminates the plug-in area 2, through the entire plug-in area 2, as well as the entire holding area 3. On the non-visible, concluding surface of the holding area 3, the cavities 4 emerge - as does the plug-in area 2 the holding area 3 of the contact carrier 1 from.

The cavities 4 are provided for receiving contact elements. Contact elements are held in the holding region 3 in the cavities 4 and protrude with a plug end into the plug-in region 2. Through the openings of the cavities 4 in the holding region 3, the contact elements can be connected to a cable to be connected.

In addition to the inclusion and attachment of contact elements of the holding portion 3 is also provided for attachment of the contact carrier 1 itself. For this purpose, means 5 are provided on the contact carrier 1 in the holding area 3, which for receiving and fixing the contact carrier 1 in a Connectors are provided.

The means 5 can assume various configurations known from the prior art. In the embodiment shown cuboidal projections are provided as a means 5 on the contact carrier. The cuboidal means 5 can be inserted in a modular frame in corresponding recesses. As a result, the contact carrier 1 is held in the modular frame.

By inserting a plurality of contact carriers 1 in such a modular frame so a modular connector is assembled. The fully populated modular frame can be mounted in a connector housing. Also, attaching a contact carrier 1 directly in a connector housing is conceivable.

The plug-in region 2 of the contact carrier 1 is provided for joining with the plug-in region of a corresponding contact carrier 20. By inserting the plug-in region 2 into the plug-in region of the contact carrier 20, the contact elements received in the contact carriers 1, 20 are connected to one another and contacted.

Suitably, the plug-in region of the contact carrier 20 is designed so that it surrounds the plug-in region 2 of the contact carrier 1 in the inserted state. In the plug-in region of the contact carrier 20 projecting contact elements can thus protrude into the cavities 4 of the contact carrier 1 and contact the contact elements received therein.

The plug-in portion 2 of the contact carrier 1 know in the illustrated embodiment, four side surfaces 7, and a final top surface 6. The side surfaces 7 are each connected by a radius 10. In the transition between the side surfaces 7 and the top surface 6, a circumferential chamfer is provided on the contact carrier 1. The circumferential chamfer serves as an insertion bevel 8. The insertion of the plug-in region 2 of the contact carrier 1 into a plug-in region of your corresponding contact carrier 20 is thus simplified. Depending on the size of the insertion bevel 8, the contact carrier 1, 20 are joined together with a greater tolerance.

According to the invention, recesses 9 are introduced into the contact carrier 1 in the corner regions of the plug-in region 2. The recesses 9 are dimensioned so that they omit the rounded by the radius 10 corner region of the insertion 8. This prevents the problem according to the invention that, when the insertion bevel 8 is utilized in two directions (x, y), an assembly of contact carriers 1, 20 is prevented. The problem according to the invention is illustrated once more in detail in FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a section of a contact carrier 1 and a corresponding contact carrier 20 arranged above it. In this case, the contact carrier 20 is shown in partial section in order to allow a view of the interior of the contacting of the contact carriers 1, 20.

From the contact carrier 20, only a part of the plug-in area is shown. The remaining part of the contact carrier 20 has not been shown above the plug-in area for the sake of clarity. In the front region, a side surface 21 of the contact carrier 20 is cut open. As a result, a view of the insertion bevel 8 of the contact carrier 1 shown below is possible. Also, the contact carrier 1 is shown only in the neck.

Details such as the cavities 4 were omitted in this view. Only the elements relevant for the explanation are shown. Left hand, the radius 10 between the side surfaces 7 of the contact carrier 1 can be seen, which also forms a chamfer at the top, the contact carrier 20 end facing by the insertion 8. Due to the insertion bevel 8, the radius 10 at the edge 1 1 to the top surface 6 is lower.

Suitably, the plug-in areas of the contact carriers 1, 20 are dimensioned such that the plug-in area 2 of the contact carrier 1 can be inserted into the plug-in area of the contact carrier 20 in a form-fitting manner. For this purpose, it is advantageous to choose the radius 22 between the side surfaces 21 of the contact carrier 20 slightly larger than the radius 10 between the side surfaces 7 of the contact carrier first

FIG. 2 shows a state in which, when the contact carriers 1, 20 are brought together, the insertion bevel 8 is fully utilized both in the X direction and in the Y direction. By the offset of the contact carrier 1 to the contact carrier 20 by the width of the insertion 8 in the X and Y directions, resulting in a diagonal, directed to the radius 22 offset of ^ 2 * (width of the insertion). ² However, this offset is greater than the width of the insertion bevel 8 in the area F of the radius 22. Therefore, the contact carrier 20 sets at maximum X and Y offset in the area F on the contact carrier 1.

In a machine, non-manual contacting of the contact carrier 1, 20 so an unavoidable damage to the contact carriers 1, 20 would occur.

FIG. 3 shows a detail of a contact carrier 1 and a corresponding contact carrier 20 arranged above it, from an identical point of view as FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, however, the contact carrier 1 is shown in a further embodiment in which a recess 9 is introduced in the corner of the contact carrier 1 in the insertion 8.

Through the recess 9 in the corner region of the contact carrier 1, the inventive problem, which is explained in more detail in Figure 2, solved. An overlap of the radius 22 of the contact carrier 20 with the smaller radius 1 1 on the insertion bevel 8 of the contact carrier 1 is avoided. Even with complete spreading of the insertion bevel 8 in the X direction and in the Y direction, it is no longer possible to place the contact carrier 20 on the contact carrier 1.

Especially in the automated field, when plug-in connections are mechanically inserted by robots or when exchanging large machine modules, manual intervention to ensure complete contacting is no longer necessary. The risk of miscarriage in the mismatch area F (Figure 2) is significantly minimized.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. This, in turn, shows a section of a contact carrier 1 and a corresponding contact carrier 20 arranged above it, as in FIG. 2, from an identical point of view. In FIG. 4, however, the contact carrier 1 is not provided with a recess 9 in the corner region of the contact carrier 1.

The function of the recess 9 is realized in this embodiment by increasing the radius 1 1. Due to a larger radius between the insertion bevel 8 and the top surface 6 in the region of the radii 10, the edge with the radius 1 1 adapts to the radius 22 of the contact carrier 20.

The radius enlargement achieves the same effect as the introduction of a recess 9. The contact carrier 20 is set in the X-direction and in the Y-axis even if the insertion bevel 8 is fully spread out. Direction no longer on the contact carrier 1.

Figures 5 and 6 show two further specific embodiments of the invention. The embodiments are shown in the same view as the embodiments of Figures 2, 3 and 4.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the insertion bevel 8, as already known from FIGS. 1 to 4, is formed on the contact carrier 1. By contrast, the recess 9 is provided on the corresponding contact carrier 20.

In this case, the recess 9 facing the contact carrier 1 is arranged in the corner region between the side surfaces 21. Thereby, the same effect of the invention as in the embodiment shown first (Figure 1 and Figure 3) is intended.

Likewise, the embodiment shown in Figure 6 has the same effect. Here, the insertion bevel 8 is formed on the corresponding contact carrier 20. The recess 9 is integrally formed on the contact carrier 1 as in the embodiment of FIG.

Contact carrier list of reference symbols

1 . contact support

, plug-in region

3rd holding area

4th cavity

5. Means for attachment

6. Top surface

7. Side surface

8. insertion bevel

9. recess

10. Radius

1 1. inner radius

12th cavity

20. Contact carrier

21. side surface

22. Radius

X X direction

Y Y direction

F fault contact area

Claims

Contact carrier claims

1 . Contact carrier (1, 20) which is formed from an insulating material, has a substantially rectangular shape and forms at least one cavity (4) for receiving a contact element,

wherein the contact carrier (1, 20) has a plug-in region (2) and a holding region (3),

wherein the at least one cavity (4) extends at least through the holding region (3) along the insertion direction of the contact carrier (1, 20),

wherein the contact carrier (1, 20) on the holding portion (3) via means (5) for fixing the contact carrier (1, 20) has, and

wherein the plug-in region (2) of the contact carrier (1, 20) comprises at least four side surfaces (7, 21) extending away from the holding region (3), and

a cover area (6) which terminates the plug-in area (3) and forms the mating face of the contact carrier (1, 20),

characterized in that

in the region between the side surfaces (7, 21) and the top surface (6) of the plug-in region (2) a peripheral edge is formed, wherein the edge is formed as an insertion bevel (8).

2. Contact carrier (1, 20) according to claim 1, characterized in that

the insertion bevel (8) has an angle between 20 ° and 70 ° to the top surface (6).

3. contact carrier (1, 20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the insertion bevel (8) has a size of at least 0.2 mm to a maximum of 2.5 mm transverse to the insertion direction.

4. contact carrier (1, 20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the plug-in region (2) is provided with a radius (10, 22) between in each case two abutting side surfaces (7, 21).

5. contact carrier (1, 20) according to claim 4, characterized in that

the insertion bevel (8) in the region of the radii (10, 22) has recesses (9).

6. contact carrier (1, 20) according to claim 5, characterized in that

the recesses (9) of the insertion bevel (8) in the region of the radii (10, 22) are dimensioned such that the level of the cover surface (6) is at least equal to the height of the insertion bevel (8) against the insertion direction of the contact support (1, 20) is reduced.

7. contact carrier (1, 20) according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that

the recesses (9) of the insertion bevel (8) in the region of the radii (10, 22) are dimensioned so that the recesses (9) of the side surfaces (7, 21) at least the width of the insertion bevel (8) in the mating region (2), extend transversely to the direction of insertion.

8. contact carrier (1, 20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the insertion bevel (8) in areas in which a cavity (4) itself one of the side surfaces (7, 21) approximately has a recess (13).

9. contact carrier (1) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the at least one cavity (4) extends through the holding area (3) and the plug-in area (2) along the direction of insertion through the contact carrier (1).

10. Contact carrier (20) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that

the plug-in region (2) of the contact carrier (20) comprises a further cavity (12) which is accessible to the cover surface (6) and the inner sides of the cavity (12) form the side surfaces (21).

1 1. Contact carrier (1, 20) according to one of claims 5 to 1 1, characterized in that

the recess (9) by an enlargement of an inner radius (1 1) is realized, which in the region of the radii (10, 22) between the insertion bevel (8) and the top surface (6) is formed.

12. System of two contact carriers (1, 20), which are formed from an insulating material, has a substantially rectangular shape and each form at least one cavity (4) for receiving corresponding contact elements,

wherein the contact carriers (1, 20) each have a plug-in region (2) and a holding region (3),

wherein the at least one cavity (4) per contact carrier (1, 20) extends at least through the holding region (3) along the insertion direction of the contact carrier (1, 20),

wherein the contact carriers (1, 20) on the holding region (3) via means (5) for fastening the contact carriers (1, 20), wherein the plug-in region (2) of the contact carriers (1, 20) comprises at least four side surfaces (7, 21) extending away from the holding region (3), and

a cover area (6) which terminates the plug-in area (3) and forms the mating face of the contact carriers (1, 20),

wherein the first contact carrier (1) is formed such that the at least one cavity (4) extends through the holding area (3) and the plug-in area (2) along the plug-in direction through the contact carrier (1),

wherein the second contact carrier (20) is formed so that the plug region (2) of the contact carrier (20) comprises a further cavity (12) which is accessible to the top surface (6), and

wherein the plug-in region (2) of the first contact carrier (1) can be accommodated in the cavity (12) of the plug-in region (2) of the second contact carrier (20),

characterized in that

one of the contact carriers (1, 20) in the region between the side surfaces (7, 21) and the top surface (6) of its mating region (2) has a circumferential edge, wherein the entire edge is formed as an insertion bevel (8), and

the other of the contact carriers (20, 1) in the corner region between each two side surfaces (21, 7) and its top surface (6) has a recess (9).

13. System of two contact carriers (1, 20) according to claim 12, characterized in that

14. System of two contact carriers (1, 20) according to one of the claims 12 to 13, characterized in that

15. System of two contact carriers (1, 20) according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that

the plug-in areas (2) between each two abutting side surfaces (7, 21) with a radius (10, 22) is provided.

16. System of two contact carriers (1, 20) according to claim 15, characterized in that

the recess (9) in the region of the radii (10, 22) is provided.

17. System of two contact carriers (1, 20) according to claim 16, characterized in that

the recesses (9) in the region of the radii (10, 22) are dimensioned such that the level of the top surface (6) is reduced by at least the height of the insertion bevel (8).

18. System of two contact carriers (1, 20) according to any one of claims 12 or 17, characterized in that

the recesses (9) in the region of the radii (10, 22) are dimensioned such that the recesses (9) extend transversely to the insertion direction from the side surfaces (7, 21) at least the width of the insertion bevel (8).