EP3217483B1 - Clamping frame for a connector - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a holding frame with the features of the independent main claim 1.

Such holding frames are required in order to accommodate several mutually similar and/or different modules. These modules can be insulating bodies, for example, which are provided as contact carriers for electronic and electrical and possibly also for optical and/or pneumatic contacts. It is of particular importance that the holding frame enables a prescribed protective earthing according to the connector standard EN61984, for example for inserting the holding frame equipped with modules into metallic connector housings.

DE 2736079 A1 refers to the attachment of terminal blocks or connection modules made of rigid insulating material by snapping and locking in place on a metal support rail, which may be unsymmetrical and which may be formed by a U-shaped profile with two inwardly projecting lugs that are equal in height can be offset from each other and from the central part of the U-shaped profile.

Specifically revealed DE 2736079 A1 a snap-in terminal block or a connection module for electrical lines, the terminal block being provided at its two end edges, which run parallel to the longitudinal direction of a carrier rail, for assembling such terminal blocks with grooves, each with internal horizontal cooperating projections provided near the free ends of the two legs of a metal U-shaped support profile, the grooves being able to be inserted at respectively different distances from the bottom of the profile against the action of at least one transverse leaf spring, the two parts compressible towards the floor or against the rear leg of the profile and of which a free end can slide transversely inside a groove made in the thickness of the metal of the profile parallel to the floor at the point of connection of this floor is formed with an inner part of increased thickness of the front leg of this profile, that the depth of this groove in relation to the distance between the inner projections is sufficient to allow the compression of the curved central part of the transverse leaf springs, which is necessary for the inward projecting protrusions can enter inside the grooves of the terminal faces of the terminal blocks, and that the lower part of the front end edge of the terminal blocks has a bevel which facilitates the snapping of these terminal blocks and the snapping by simply exerting pressure on the terminal blocks towards the bottom of the profile the support rail allows.

EP 0 183 587 A1 discloses a multipole electrical connector element consisting of a hollow housing of substantially parallelepiped flat shape, internally having at least one cavity for receiving a substantially parallelepiped insulating block, preferably rounded at the corners, the block or blocks being provided with a plurality of through bearings or cells for insertion of contacts consisting of pins or sockets, and the connector element also comprising locking means cooperating with the locking organs of a complementary connector element, each block of insulating material being clamped in the associated cavity of the housing by two elastic spring clips arranged between the block and the cavity of the housing in the region of the end faces separated by the longitudinal sides of the cavity, that each of the spring clips has a substantially U-shaped cross-section, the web of the spring clip being provided with means for attachment to the shorter side wall of the cavity of the housing and is provided with elastic means for bearing against the shorter side wall of the insulating block, and wherein each of the legs of the spring clip is designed to rest elastically against part of the height of the associated longer side wall of the block, and that in addition each leg of the spring clip is designed in such a way that the free end face is supported elastically against a stop which is formed by an undercut on the associated longer side wall of the cavity of the housing.

A connector according to US 2013/0217268 A1 includes an insulated body with a slot for receiving a connector module and a housing that completely encloses the insulated body. An arm has at least two extensions each adapted to two oppositely formed side walls of the insulated body and each provided with a projection formed at a distal end of the at least two extensions. At least two through holes are designed to be formed in each of the two side walls of the insulated body to receive the protrusions therein.

U.S. 4,032,209 discloses a support rail having spaced ledges each holding a plurality of clips, the clips being provided in pairs at each station. A connector assembly may be attached to one or more of these stations, and an electrical component, such as a relay, may be plugged into the connector assembly such that the component and connector assembly are held together by engagement of the clips.

U.S. 5,352,133 discloses a fiber optic electrical connector assembly having a dielectric jacket with a receptacle for receiving a plug in a position for mating with a mating connector device. A metal latch is affixed to the dielectric shell and is engageable with a complementary latch on the plug to automatically latch the plug in the receptacle in response to positioning of the plug therein in a mating direction. An overload protector overlies the metal latch in spaced relationship to ensure that the metal latch only moves into and out of engagement with the complementary latch to a limited extent so as to prevent overloading of the metal latch. A rib and slot engagement is provided between the plug and the shell to prevent rotation of the connector about an axis perpendicular to the mating direction of the plug to provide further overload protection for the metal lock.

DE 298 12 500 U1 discloses a modular plug connector with a support frame, which has longitudinal frame strips and contains a plurality of modules, which are each supported on a first longitudinal edge of the frame strips, with independent locking elements being provided which can be snapped or clamped onto the modules and these can be attached to one of the first Block longitudinal edge opposite second longitudinal edge.

State of the art

From the pamphlet EP 0 860 906 B1 discloses a holding frame for holding connector modules and for installation in connector housings or for screwing to wall surfaces, with the connector modules being inserted into the holding frame and holding means on the connector modules interacting with recesses provided on opposite wall parts (side parts) of the holding frame, with the recesses acting as openings closed on all sides are formed in the side parts of the holding frame, the holding frame consisting of two halves which are hinged to one another, the separation of the holding frame being provided transversely to the side parts of the frame, and joints being arranged in the fastening ends of the holding frame in such a way that when Screwing the holding frame onto a mounting surface, the frame parts align in such a way that the side parts of the holding frame are aligned at right angles to the mounting surface and the connector modules have a positive connection with the holding frame via the mounting means. In practice, such holding frames are usually manufactured in a die-casting process, in particular in a zinc die-casting process.

The pamphlet EP 2 581 991 A1 discloses a holding frame for plug-in connector modules, which has two frame halves which can be latched together by linear displacement of one frame half relative to the other frame half in a sliding direction, with latching means corresponding to one another being provided on the frame halves, which latch the two frame halves together during linear displacement effect in two different detent positions in which the frame halves are spaced at different distances from each other.

In practice, however, it has been shown that such holding frames require complex operation during assembly. For example, must such holding frames are unscrewed from the connector and/or unlatched as soon as even a single module is to be replaced. The other modules, whose removal was not desired at all, may also fall out of the holding frame and then have to be reinserted before the frame halves are screwed together and/or locked in place. Finally, before the frame halves are assembled, all modules must be in the intended position at the same time in order to be finally fixed in the holding frame when the frame halves are assembled, which makes assembly more difficult.

The pamphlet EP 1 801 927 B1 discloses a support frame made from a one-piece plastic injection molding. The holding frame is designed as a peripheral collar and has a plurality of wall segments separated by slots on its plug-in side. Two wall segments lying opposite each other form an insertion area for a plug module, the wall segments having window-like openings which serve to accommodate projections formed on the narrow sides of the modules. Furthermore, a guide groove is provided in each of the wall segments. The guide groove is formed above the openings by means of a window web which is offset outwards and has an insertion bevel on the inside. In addition, the plug-in modules have latching arms which are formed on the narrow sides and act in the direction of the cable connections and latch below the lateral collar wall, so that two independent latching means fix the connector modules in the holding frame.

A disadvantage of this prior art is that it is a holding frame made of plastic, which is not generically suitable for protective earthing and is therefore not suitable for installation in metal connector housings. However, the use of metallic connector housings requires and is such protective earthing Both because of their mechanical robustness, their temperature resistance and because of their electrically shielding properties are necessary in many cases and therefore desired by the customer. Furthermore, it has been shown that the production of the above-mentioned plastic holding frames in the injection molding process is at least difficult and can only be realized with great effort. Finally, the heat resistance of such a plastic holding frame is not always sufficient for special applications, for example in the vicinity of a blast furnace. After all, the plastic material and the shape, in particular the strength of the holding frame, are primarily determined at the relevant points by the requirements for flexibility and not by those for temperature resistance.

Reference is made to further prior art US-A-4,032,209 , US-A-5,352,133 , as well as DE 27 36 079 , EP 0 183 587 and US2013/0217268 .

WO 2014/202050 A1 a holding frame for accommodating a plurality of connector modules. The connector modules are received in recesses of the holder frame by means of holding means. The recesses of the holding frame are made in opposite frame parts. The holding frame according to WO 2014/202050 A1 enables spring-loaded accommodation and storage of the connector modules in the holding frame. Tolerances of the various connector modules and their contact means can be compensated in this way. A safe and complete plugging of connector modules of a modular connector with its mating connector can be guaranteed. WO 2014/202050 A1 was published after the priority date of the present application and is therefore only prior art under Art. 54(3) EPC and not relevant to the question of inventive step.

task

The object of the invention is to provide a design for a holding frame which, on the one hand, has good heat resistance and high mechanical robustness and, in particular, when installed in a metallic connector housing, has a corresponding protective earthing, in particular a PE ("Protection Earth"), and which, on the other hand, also ensures convenient operability, especially when replacing individual modules.

In a first aspect, this object is achieved with a holding frame having the features of claim 1 .

In the second aspect, the object is achieved with a method by the features according to claim 3.

Advantageous developments of the invention are described in dependent claims 2 and 4.

A holding frame according to the invention can be used in the field of heavy industrial connectors and can consist at least partially of an electrically conductive material. As a result, protective grounding is made possible, which can be implemented, for example, by the holding frame having a PE contact or at least being equipped with such a PE contact.

The holding frame has a base section and a deformation section, which are formed at least partially from different materials. The base section is used to fix a recorded module in one plane. The deformation section can assume an insertion state and a holding state, the insertion state allowing at least one module to be inserted in a direction transverse to the plane into the holding frame, with a received module being fixed in the holding state.

The holding frame has a base frame as the base section and at least one, preferably two, cheek parts as the deformation section. The base frame is then formed from a different material than the cheek parts and thus advantageously has less elasticity and therefore greater rigidity than the cheek parts.

The cheek parts can be formed from a material which, according to its stress/strain diagram, is more elastic, ie has a lower modulus of elasticity, than the material from which the base section, in particular the base frame, is formed. Conversely formulated, the material of the base section can be stiffer than the material from which the deformation section is formed. For example, according to its stress/strain diagram, the material of the base frame can have a modulus of elasticity that is greater than the modulus of elasticity of the material from which the cheek parts are formed.

The amount of the modulus of elasticity is the greater, the more resistance a material opposes to its elastic deformation.

Furthermore, the material from which the deformation portion is formed may have a greater elastic range than the material from which the base portion is formed, according to its stress/strain diagram.

In particular, the base section, in particular the base frame, can be rigid, in particular rigid when viewed in an idealized manner.

Furthermore, the cheek part or the cheek parts are designed to be spring-elastic and is/are advantageously made from a spring-elastic sheet metal.

A spring-elastic sheet metal is to be understood as meaning a sheet metal that has spring-elastic properties, such as reversible deformability, in particular when a corresponding restoring force is applied, for example a sheet metal that is made of spring steel or a comparable material.

Advantageous refinements of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

One advantage of the invention is that the modules can be inserted into and removed from the holding frame individually and with very little effort, which in particular facilitates manual assembly. The resilient properties of the deformation section, in particular of the cheek part or cheek parts, allow modules to be inserted or removed individually with very little effort. At the same time, the rigidity of the base frame can ensure the necessary mechanical stability when holding the inserted modules.

Advantageously, for both the base section, in particular the base frame, and the deformed section, in particular the cheek parts, the use of one or more metallic materials ensures high temperature resistance compared to plastic, for example, and also particularly high mechanical robustness of the holding frame.

A further advantage of using one or more metal materials is that the holding frame enables protective earthing, in particular PE protective earthing, of a metal connector housing, into which the holding frame is inserted, for electrical safety. As an additional advantage, this also ensures that the signals transmitted through the connector are shielded. This shielding can provide protection against external interference fields. However, it can also be a matter of shielding to avoid or reduce the emission of interference, ie to protect the environment against interference fields from the connector. In other words, not only are the signals transmitted by the modules protected from external interference fields, but the environment is also protected from interference caused by a current flow running through the modules.

A particularly great additional advantage of using one or more metallic materials is that the holding frame is on the one hand particularly heat-resistant and on the other hand still has a sufficiently high elasticity at the required points, for example through the use of spring-elastic sheet metal, to hold the modules individually and can be inserted into the module frame and removed again with little effort. It is therefore of particularly great advantage if the holding frame has spring-elastic sheet metal at suitable points, because this makes it much more heat-resistant than a plastic frame that is otherwise functionally comparable from a mechanical point of view, while being at least as elastic. Associated modules can be designed to be correspondingly compact in their design, so that they can continue to be made of plastic and are still relatively heat-resistant.

It is particularly advantageous if the holding frame has several different areas, for example a first and a second area, which have different elasticity from one another, because it can then specifically apply a higher section modulus in the area of the highest bending stress. The first area corresponds to the basic section. The second area corresponds to the deformation section.

These different areas, that is to say the base section and the deformation section, are formed from different materials and can therefore preferably have different material properties, in particular different moduli of elasticity.

As a result, the deformation section has greater elasticity than the base section. To put it the other way around, the first area therefore has greater rigidity than the second area. In particular, the first area can be rigid and the second area can be resilient. As already mentioned, such elasticity or rigidity can be achieved on the one hand by the material used in each case and/or on the other hand it can also be achieved by the geometric shape of these areas, in particular the base section and the deformation section.

For this purpose, the first region, in particular the base section, can be formed from a rigid material, for example from a zinc alloy or from an aluminum alloy or from a copper alloy. The second area, in particular the deformation section, can be formed from a spring-elastic material and thus consist, for example, of a spring-elastic sheet steel.

The first area, in particular the base section, can be produced in a casting process, for example in a zinc die-casting or aluminum die-casting process, or also by milling from a copper alloy, for example. For example, the first area, in particular the base section, can preferably be the peripheral base frame. The base frame can thus in particular be a die-cast zinc part. The base frame can have a substantially rectangular cross-section, ie it has two parallel, opposite end faces and perpendicular thereto two parallel, opposite side parts, the two end faces being shorter than the two side parts. Both the end faces and the side parts can have an essentially rectangular shape.

Furthermore, the deformation section is formed from the at least one, preferably the two, separate cheek parts, of which each cheek part preferably consists of a spring-elastic sheet metal part. The two cheek parts can optionally consist of the same material, in particular of resilient sheet metal, and also have the same thickness. For example, the preferably two cheek parts can be punched out of the same stamped sheet metal.

Each cheek part can be designed to be essentially flat and preferably have a rectangular basic shape. Thus, it has two opposite long edges, namely a first and a second edge, and two opposite short edges, namely a third and a fourth edge, perpendicular thereto. The cheek piece has in particular regular slots beginning at its first edge and extending preferably at right angles thereto in the direction of the second edge into the cheek piece, preferably rectilinear slots, whereby free-standing tabs are formed in the cheek piece. Furthermore, a locking window can be arranged as a locking element in each of these tabs. These snap-in windows are intended to accommodate snap-in lugs of inserted modules in order to snap the modules into the holding frame. Furthermore, each cheek part can have a plurality of fastening elements, in particular fastening recesses in a preferably round shape, for fastening to the base frame.

Each of the two cheek parts can advantageously be fastened to the base frame on the outer side of one of the two side parts, so that two spring-elastic straps of the two cheek parts are symmetrically opposite one another. Furthermore, these tabs may be bent slightly outwards towards their end, i.e. away from the base frame and thus away from each other, in order to facilitate the insertion of a module.

The base frame can have fastening means, for example round fastening pins, on the corresponding side part, preferably on both side parts. These fastening means engage in the fastening recesses of the associated cheek part and thus hold the cheek parts by latching and by a form-fitting connection on the base frame. Here, additional adhesion is also possible. In addition to this, the cheek parts be attached to the base frame by gluing, welding, soldering, riveting and/or screwing or by any other type of attachment to the base frame.

The associated modules can be essentially cuboid and can each have a width on two opposing end faces that corresponds to the width of a tab. Each module advantageously has a latching lug on each of its two end faces, which can also be designed to be essentially cuboid. Each of the spring-elastic tabs of the holding frame advantageously has a latching window, which can be of substantially rectangular design and which is provided for receiving such a latching lug, preferably in a form-fitting manner.

The two latching lugs of a module can differ from one another, for example in their shape and/or their size, in particular their length, and the tabs on both sides of the holding frame can have corresponding windows for this purpose, which also differ from one another and in their size and/or their shape match one of the locking lugs. This has the advantage that it fixes the orientation of each module in the holding frame. In other words, due to their shape and/or size, the latching windows and the latching lugs can be used as coding means, in particular as polarization means, for orienting the modules in the holding frame.

Advantageously, the lugs of the holding frame are slightly bent away from the holding frame in a free-standing end area, which simplifies the insertion of the modules. Inserting a module into the holding frame is then particularly user-friendly. For this purpose, a module is first inserted between two lugs of a holding frame and then slides with its two end faces and in particular with the latching lugs formed thereon along the end regions of the lugs that are bent away from one another. As a result, the two tabs bend apart briefly until the respective latching lugs are received by the associated latching window of the respective tab and thus latch therein. When recording the locking lugs the tabs preferably spring back into their starting position in the respective locking window. In this way, the modules can be locked individually in the holding frame.

At the same time, the module is firmly held in the preferably rigid base frame. To unlatch the modules again, the two associated tabs only have to be bent away from each other again. The respective module can then be removed individually from the holding frame, while the other modules remain locked. In this way, a firm hold of the module in the holding frame is ensured with a comparatively small actuating force, which is particularly advantageous for the operability.

It is also of particular advantage that the modules are already held in the holding frame with sufficient holding force due to the aforementioned construction and accordingly require no further locking means, for example locking arms, apart from their locking lugs, because this considerably simplifies their design and thus their production costs and at the same time ensures a compact design and thus also for a high heat resistance of the modules and thus of the entire connector.

In one embodiment, it is particularly advantageous if these two cheek parts are of the same type, i.e. despite the two-part design of the holding frame, only cheek parts of one type have to be manufactured, which further reduces the manufacturing effort.

In another preferred embodiment, the two cheek parts differ in the size and/or the shape of their locking windows. This has the advantage that the orientation of each module, which accordingly also has two different latching lugs, is thereby fixed. In other words, the locking windows and the locking lugs can thus serve as coding means for orienting the modules due to their shape.

For protective earthing (PE), the holding frame can be equipped with a corresponding PE module, which, for example via an electrically conductive earthing clip, creates an electrical contact between a connected Grounding cable and the at least partially electrically conductive, in particular metallic, holding frame manufactures. This allows the holding frame to be equipped with a PE contact.

As an alternative to this, the holding frame itself can have a PE contact, for example a screw contact, for the grounding cable. For example, such a PE contact can be molded onto the base frame.

example

Fig. 1

einen Grundrahmen;

Fig. 2a, b

ein erstes Wangenteil aus zwei verschiedenen Perspektiven;

Fig. 2c, d

ein zweites Wangenteil aus zwei verschiedenen Perspektiven;

Fig. 3a, b

ein Modul aus zwei verschiedenen Perspektiven;

Fig. 4a, b

einen Halterahmen mit einem eingefügten PE-Modul aus zwei verschiedenen Perspektiven.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is explained in more detail below. Show it:

1

a base frame;

Fig. 2a, b

a first cheek piece from two different perspectives;

Fig. 2c, i

a second cheek piece from two different perspectives;

3a, b

a module from two different perspectives;

Fig. 4a, b

a holding frame with an inserted PE module from two different perspectives.

The 1 shows a base frame 1. This base frame 1 is essentially rectangular in cross-section, ie it has two parallel opposite end faces 11, 11' and at right angles thereto two parallel opposite side parts 12, 12', the two end faces 11, 11' are shorter than the two side parts 12, 12'. Both the end faces 11, 11' and the side parts 12, 12' have an essentially rectangular shape, with a flange 13, 13' projecting at right angles to the end faces 11, 11' being formed on each of these two flanges 13, 13' each has two screw holes 131, 131', so that the base frame 1 has a total of four screw holes 131, 131'.

The two side parts 12, 12' each have on a first edge a plurality of webs 122, 122', which in the present embodiment are relatively short and are arranged symmetrically opposite one another, the term "short" in this context meaning that the upward running length of the webs 122, 122 'the width falls below. However, the webs 122, 122' could also be significantly longer in a somewhat different embodiment, also according to the invention. For example, their length could correspond to their width or even exceed them. Open recesses 123, 123' are thus formed between these webs 122, 122'.

In the present example, four such open recesses 123, 123' are provided on each cheek part 2, 2', but a different number of recesses would of course also be conceivable, for example three, five, six, seven or eight. The number of open recesses 132, 132' in each side part 12, 12' corresponds to the number of modules 3 which the corresponding holding frame is able to accommodate.

Furthermore, each side part 12, 12' has a plurality of fastening pins 124, 124' for fastening the associated cheek part 2, 2'. In the present case, the fastening pins 124, 124' have a circular cross-section; however, any other shape would also be conceivable according to the invention; the fastening pins 124, 124' could also be designed, for example, as oval, rectangular, square, triangular, pentagonal, n-sided or in any other two-dimensional shape.

Two cheek parts 2, 2' are thus provided for the holding frame, namely a first cheek part 2 and a second cheek part 2'.

The Figure 2a and Figure 2c each show one of these cheek parts 2, 2' in a first perspective, in which the viewing direction runs at right angles thereto. The Figure 2b and Fig. 2d show the respective cheek part 2, 2 'from an oblique view. Each cheek part 2, 2', which is a stamped and bent part in the present exemplary embodiment according to the invention, has three slots 21, 21', through which four tabs 22, 22' of the same size are formed. The number of tabs 22, 22' of the respective cheek part 2, 2' corresponds to the number of open ones Recesses 123, 123' on one of the two side parts 12, 12' of the base frame 1.

A locking window 23, 23' is provided in each tab 22, 22' of each cheek part 2, 2'. The locking windows 23 of the first cheek part 2 are larger than the locking windows 23' of the second cheek part 2'. The two cheek parts 2, 2' thus differ from one another in the size of their locking windows 23, 23'. Furthermore, additional fastening recesses 24, 24' are provided in the cheek parts 2, 2', which have a circular shape in the present exemplary embodiment according to the invention, but of course could also have any other shape, for example oval, rectangular, square, triangular, pentagonal, n - could be angular or formed in any other flat shape.

The fastening pins 124, 124' of the base frame 1 fit positively into the respective fastening recesses 24, 24' of the associated cheek parts 2, 2', so that the respective cheek part 2, 2' can be pushed onto the associated side part 12, 12'. In addition, the respective cheek part 2, 2' can be attached to the corresponding side part 12, 12' in some other way, for example by gluing, welding, soldering, riveting and/or screwing.

In the Figure 2b and 2d it can be seen that the respective cheek part 2, 2' is folded by 180° in the lower end area on a bending line B, B' and is thus reinforced in this area. A lower edge K, K' of the associated metal sheet comes to lie between the fastening recesses 24 and an associated bending line B, B', so that the fastening recesses 24, 24' are uncovered and the fastening pins 124, 124' can be inserted therein without hindrance.

The Fig. 3a and the Figure 3b show a module 3 that can be inserted into the holding frame in a possible design from two different views. Of course, other modules with a similar design can also be used.

The module 3 has a first latching lug 31 on a first longitudinal side 32 , which is provided for latching in a latching window 23 of the first cheek part 2 is. On a second longitudinal side 32' opposite this first longitudinal side 32, the module 3 has a second latching lug 31' which is narrower than the first latching lug and which is provided for latching in a latching window 23' of the second cheek part 2'. Furthermore, the module is very compact, which improves its heat resistance.

The orientation of the module 3 in the holding frame is determined by the shape of the latching lugs 31, 31' and the shape of the windows 23, 23'.

The 4 shows a fully assembled holding frame, in which the two cheek parts 2, 2' are fastened to the base frame. The fastening pins 124, 124' of the base frame engage in the fastening recesses 24, 24' of the corresponding cheek parts 2, 2'. In addition to this, this attachment is particularly stable because said lower edge K, K' of the respective metal sheet of the cheek part 2, 2' terminates directly with the corresponding side part 12, 12' of the base frame 1. In addition or as an alternative to attachment by the attachment pins 124, 124' and the attachment recesses 24, 24', the cheek parts 2, 2' can also be soldered, welded, screwed, riveted or otherwise attached to the base frame 1, provided that the cheek parts are at least positively connected to are connected and latched to the base frame.

The cheek parts 2, 2' have a higher elasticity than the base frame 1, in particular in the area of their tabs 22, 22' two spring-elastic cheek parts 2, 2', which can consist, for example, of spring-elastic sheet steel.

This means that a certain force, for example 10 N, which acts on any tab 22 of a cheek part 2 at the level of its locking window 23 at right angles to the surface of the cheek part 2, directed from the inside outwards with respect to the holding frame, one, at the height of its Locking window 23 causes to be measured deflection of the tab 22, which is greater than the deflection that the base frame 1 experiences at any point when at this point, an equally large force, for example also 10 N, acts perpendicularly to its end face 11, 11' or to its side part 12, 12', directed from the inside outwards with respect to the base frame.

The base frame 1 therefore has greater rigidity than the cheek parts 2, 2'. To put it the other way round, the cheek parts 2, 2' have a higher elasticity than the base frame.

The following information is based on the fact that the holding frame is fixed at four corner points. For example, it can be fixed by screwing to the four screw holes 131, 131' of its flanges 13, 13' in or on a metal connector housing.

If, for example, a force of 10 N then acts on the tab 22 of a cheek part 2 at the height of its latching window 23 at right angles to the surface of the cheek part 2, this tab 22 is, for example, moved by a distance of at least 0.2 mm, preferably at least 0.4 mm, in particular at least 0.8 mm, ie for example more than 16 mm deflected reversibly. If an equally large force of 10 N, for example, acts in the middle of its side part 12 perpendicular to the surface of the side part 12, acting from the inside outwards with respect to the base frame 1, the base frame 1 will even in this area, in which its rigidity is still greatest is the smallest, deflected only by a path length of less than 0.2 mm, preferably less than 0.1 mm, in particular less than 0.05 mm, ie for example less than 0.025 mm. Thus the base frame 1 is more rigid than the cheek parts 2, 2'. in particular, the base frame 1 is to be regarded as stiff and the cheek parts 2, 2' are each to be described as spring-elastic.

As a result, the modules are held and in particular locked in place with a high holding force and at the same time low actuating forces, which considerably facilitates operation, in particular the insertion and removal of individual modules 3 . Finally, the cheek part 2 is resilient and the elasticity of the cheek part 2 is selected in particular according to the values specified above such that the modules 3 can be inserted and removed manually. At the same time, the base frame 1 is rigid and in particular the rigidity of the base frame 1, in particular according to the values specified above, is so high that the inserted modules 3 are held in it with sufficient strength to ensure the intended function of an associated connector. As a result, the modules 3 and thus also the contacts present in the modules 3 are positioned geometrically precisely and mechanically stable enough to reliably make electrical contact with corresponding mating contacts of a comparable mating connector.

Such a connector and a corresponding mating connector, which are not shown in the drawing, can also have a preferably metallic housing, into which a holding frame fully or partially equipped with modules 3 is inserted.

In the in the 4a and 4b A specially designed PE module 3' is held, which in its basic form corresponds to that in 3a, b shown module 3 corresponds. In addition, the PE module 3' has an electrically conductive PE contact 33' which is electrically conductively connected via the PE module 3' to an electrically conductive grounding clip 34' which also belongs to the PE module 3'. The PE contact 33' can be a screw contact, for example, ie the PE contact 33' has a grounding screw 35' which is suitable for conductively connecting a grounding cable to the PE contact 33' and mechanically to it fix. This grounding cable is electrically conductively connected to the base frame 1 by the PE module 3' via its grounding clip 34', which is clamped to one of the end faces 11' of the holding frame.

As an alternative to this, the holding frame according to the invention can have such a PE contact, for example a PE screw contact, for example on its base frame 1 itself. The PE contact can be formed onto the base frame 1, for example. This can already be done during the manufacture of the base frame 1, for example using the injection molding process.

However, the invention is in no way limited to this embodiment. Rather, it is a large number of other versions, in particular through the following Characteristics and also disclosed according to the invention by their meaningful combination:
The holding frame is used to hold modules 3 of the same type and/or different, the holding frame being formed from at least two different materials, of which at least one material is electrically conductive. Advantageously, the holding frame has at least partially spring-elastic properties. In particular, the holding frame can consist partly of a rigid material and partly of a resilient material.

The holding frame is designed in several parts. The holding frame consists of at least two parts, of which a first part is formed from a first material and a second part is formed from a second material, the modulus of elasticity of the first material being greater than the modulus of elasticity of the second material.

For example, the first part can be designed as a base frame 1 and the second part as a cheek part 2, 2'. The base frame 1 has a rectangular shape in cross-section and has two parallel opposite side parts 12, 12' as well as two end faces 11, 11' arranged perpendicular thereto and parallel opposite one another. In particular, the base frame 1 is rigid. The base frame 1 can be made in one piece. The one-piece base frame 1 can be designed as a die-cast part. The at least one cheek part 2, 2' is resilient. The at least one cheek part 2, 2' is electrically conductive and also consists of spring-elastic sheet metal.

The at least one cheek part 2, 2' is fastened to the base frame 1. The at least one cheek part 2, 2' can have a plurality of slots 21, 21, through which tabs 22, 22' are formed in the respective cheek part 2, 2'. The width of the tabs 22, 22' can correspond to the width of the modules 3. In particular, all tabs 22, 22' can have the same width. Each tab 22, 22' can have a latching means. The locking means can consist of a locking window 23, 23', which is arranged in the respective tab 22, 22'. The at least one cheek part 2, 2' can in particular be a stamped and bent part. In the at least one cheek part 2, 2 'can there are two cheek parts 2, 2 '. The holding frame has a protective earth contact (PE contact) or is at least equipped with one.

During its production, the holding frame, which is provided for a connector and is suitable for receiving modules 3 of the same type and/or different, is formed from at least two different materials.

At least a first part of the holding frame, namely a base frame 1, is produced in a die-casting process, in particular in a zinc die-casting process.

The at least one cheek part 2, 2' can be punched out of a spring-elastic sheet metal and, in particular, can be folded by 180° on at least one bending edge B, B'.

The at least one cheek part 2, 2' is fastened to the base frame 1 in particular in a form-fitting manner.

With its base frame, the holding frame can hold a module 3 accommodated therein in one direction and this module 3 can be fixed perpendicularly thereto at the same time with the brackets 13, 13', 23, 23' belonging to the respective cheek part 2, 2, in particular by the module 3 being attached to its Tabs 22, 22' locked.

Reference List

1

base frame

11, 11'

end faces

12, 12'

side panels

122, 122'

webs

123, 123'

open recesses

124, 124'

mounting pin

13, 13'

flanges

131, 131'

screw holes

2, 2'

cheek parts

21, 21'

slots

22, 22'

tabs

23, 23'

snap window

24, 24'

mounting holes

B, B'

bending line

K, K'

lower edge

3

module

3'

PE module

31, 31'

detents

32, 32'

front faces

33'

PE contact

34'

ground clip

35'

ground screw

Claims (4)

1. A holding frame for a plug connector, namely a heavy industrial plug connector for receiving similar and/or different modules (3, 3') comprising a base portion (1) for fixing a received module (3, 3') in a plane and a deformation portion (2, 2') which can assume an insertion state and a holding state, wherein the insertion state allows insertion of at least one module (3, 3') into the holding frame in a direction transverse relative to the plane and a received module (3, 3') is fixed in the holding state and the base portion (1) and the deformation portion (2, 2') are at least partially formed from different materials and have different material properties, namely different moduli of elasticity,

   wherein the base portion is a peripherally extending base frame which is of rectangular cross-sectional configuration and has two mutually parallel and oppositely disposed end faces and at a right angle thereto two parallel and oppositely disposed side portions, wherein the end faces are shorter than the two side portions, and

   wherein the base portion at the end faces has a respective flange projecting at a right angle relative thereto, wherein each of said flanges has two screw bores so that the base frame in total has four screw bores, and

   wherein the deformation portion (2, 2') is in the form of at least one cheek portion on the base frame, and

   at least a part of the deformation portion (2, 2') is arranged externally on the base portion (1), and the base portion (1) and the deformation portion (2, 2') are positively lockingly interconnected and latched, and

   wherein the deformation portion (2, 2') is designed for elastic deformation between the insertion state and the holding state, and

   wherein the deformation portion (2, 2') has or comprises resilient sheet and the resilient properties of the deformation portion (2, 2') make it possible to individually insert or remove modules (3, 3'), and

   wherein the deformation portion is at least partially produced with a stamping bending process, and

   wherein the holding frame has a protective earthing contact (33') or is equipped therewith, and

   wherein the base portion (1) is produced at least partially by pressure die casting, more specifically from a metal like for example zinc or a metal alloy, preferably a zinc alloy or aluminium alloy, and

   wherein the base portion is of lower elasticity and thus greater stiffness than the deformation portion, and

   wherein the base portion (1) is stiff and the higher elasticity of the deformation portion (2, 2'), in comparison with the base portion is achieved by

   - the higher elasticity of the material used for the deformation portion (2, 2') in comparison to the material used for the base portion (1) and/or

   - the geometrical shapes of the base portion (1) and the deformation portion (2,2').
2. A holding frame according to claim 1 characterised in that the protective earthing contact (33') is a screw contact which has an earthing screw (35') suitable for conductingly connecting an earthing cable to the protective earthing contact (33') and mechanically fixing same thereto.
3. A method of producing a holding frame for a plug connector, namely a heavy industrial plug connector for receiving similar and/or different modules comprising a base portion for fixing a received module in a plane and a deformation portion which can assume an insertion state and a holding state, wherein the insertion state allows insertion of at least one module into the holding frame in a direction transverse relative to the plane and a received module is fixed in the holding state, wherein the base portion and the deformation portion are at least partially formed from different materials and have different material properties, namely different moduli of elasticity, wherein

   the base portion forms a peripherally extending base frame and is of a rectangular cross-sectional configuration and has two mutually parallel and oppositely disposed end faces and at a right angle thereto two parallel and oppositely disposed side portions, wherein the end faces are shorter than the two side portions, and

   the base portion at the end faces has a respective flange projecting at a right angle relative thereto, wherein each of said flanges has two screw bores so that the base frame in total has four screw bores, and

   the deformation portion (2, 2') is in the form of at least one cheek portion on the base frame, and

   at least a part of the deformation portion (2, 2') is arranged externally on the base portion (1), and the base portion (1) and the deformation portion (2, 2') are positively lockingly interconnected and latched, and

   the deformation portion (2, 2') is designed for elastic deformation between the insertion state and the holding state, and

   the deformation portion (2, 2') has or comprises resilient sheet and the resilient properties of the deformation portion (2, 2') make it possible to individually insert or remove modules (3, 3'), and

   the deformation portion is at least partially produced with a stamping bending process, and

   the holding frame has a protective earthing contact (33') or is equipped therewith, and

   the base portion (1) is produced at least partially by pressure die casting, more specifically from a metal like for example zinc or a metal alloy, preferably a zinc alloy or aluminium alloy, and

   the base portion is of lower elasticity and thus greater stiffness than the deformation portion, and

   the base portion (1) is stiff and the higher elasticity of the deformation portion (2, 2'), in comparison with the base portion, is achieved by

   - the higher elasticity of the material used for the deformation portion (2, 2') in comparison to the material used for the base portion (1) and/or

   - the geometrical shapes of the base portion (1) and the deformation portion (2,2'),

   so that the holding frame can targetedly apply a higher resistance moment in the region of the highest flexural stressing.
4. A method according to claim 3 characterised in that the protective earthing contact is shaped on the base frame in production of the base frame using an injection moulding method.

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