EP3577726A1

EP3577726A1 - Plug connector housing

Info

Publication number: EP3577726A1
Application number: EP18702900.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Irina Lötkemann; Sebastian Griepenstroh; Florian Hackemeier
Original assignee: Harting Electric GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Harting Electric Stiftung and Co KG
Priority date: 2017-01-31
Filing date: 2018-01-15
Publication date: 2019-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 2038-01-15
Also published as: EP3577726B1; WO2018141326A1; KR20190108157A; DE102017101870A1; KR102197256B1; US20190348798A1; US10665987B2; CN110235313B; CN110235313A

Abstract

The problem addressed by the invention consists in specifying a structural form for a plug connector housing having a socket housing (1) and having a screw attachment (2) held rotatably thereon, which ensures increased stability with respect to tensile and lever forces (F), in particular under the action of vibration and regular and/or individually occurring shocks. Said problem is solved by means of a plug connector housing having a socket housing (1) and a screw attachment (2), wherein the socket housing (1) has an outer surface of circular cross section with an encircling first groove (11) formed therein, and wherein the screw attachment (2) has an inner surface of circular cross section with an encircling second groove (22) formed therein, and wherein the plug connector housing furthermore has a circlip (5) which is arranged with its inner circumference in the first groove (11) and with its outer circumference in the second groove (22) in order to hold the screw attachment (2) rotatably on the socket housing (1).

Description

Connector housing description

The invention relates to a connector housing according to the generic part of the independent claim. 1

Such connector housings are suitable to a

Screw connector to a mating connector in the inserted state, so as to prevent inadvertent disconnection of the connector.

State of the art

Such fittings are known in the prior art, for example from the document DE 20 2013 100 979 U1. This is a

Circular connector disclosed with a sleeve housing. This has a locking means, which is designed as a screw-top and plug side is arranged on the spout housing. On the inside of the locking means an internal thread is provided, through which the circular connector for mechanical locking of the connector is screwed onto the mating connector.

The rotatable holding the screw attachment to the grommet housing is usually solved in this construction over several individual locking lugs made of plastic, which are integrally formed on the inner surface of the screw attachment. The mounting of the connector housing, i. the sliding of the screw attachment to the spout housing, in this case requires a corresponding deformability of the spout housing and / or the screw attachment.

A disadvantage of this prior art is that these rotatable

Attaching the screw attachment to the grommet housing for many

Applications are not stable enough. It has become in practice For example, shown that in particular problems caused by a connected to the Tüllengehäuse heavy cable. This causes lateral forces can the screw attachment by a

appropriate leverage, in particular under the action of

Vibration and regular and / or isolated shocks, in the worst case even disconnect from the grommet and thereby interrupt the electrical connection. Corresponding situations can, for example, in the field of the food industry, at

Production lines or in the railway area occur when the mating connector is attached to a mounting housing on a wall.

The German Patent and Trademark Office has in the priority application for the present application, the following prior art research: DE 20 2012 101 303 U1, CH 232 218 A, DE 82 55 66 B and DE 20 2013 100 979 U1.

task

The object of the invention is a design for a

Specify connector housing with a Tüllengehäuse and a rotatably held thereon screwing, which avoids these problems and ensures a high stability against tensile and leverage forces in the mated condition.

This object is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1.

The connector housing has a sleeve housing and a

Screw attachment on. The grommet housing has a circular outer surface in cross-section with a circumferential first groove formed therein. The screw cap has a circular cross-section

Inner surface with a circumferential second groove formed therein. The connector housing further has a snap ring, which with its inner periphery is disposed in the first groove and with its outer periphery in the second groove to rotatably hold the screw cap to the spout housing.

The invention has the advantage that acting on the spout housing force on the snap ring on the majority of the circumference of the

Schraubaufsatzes is transmitted. Finally, the snap ring can very large area apply the counterforce to the expected constant axial and / or shear forces. Thus, the said forces are distributed homogeneously over almost the entire circumference of the

Connector housing. As a result, the screw is on the

Spout housing kept stable even under heavy loads. As simulations and corresponding empirical investigations prove, this also applies under the influence of vibration and occasional and / or regularly occurring impacts.

An additional advantage of the invention is that the

Connector housing must be designed less elastic compared to the known from the prior art construction, because its assembly by means of a deformation of the snap ring takes place, so no deformation of the housing components, namely the Tüllengehäuses and / or Schraubaufsatzes required. The spout housing and / or the screw cap can thus be made of a harder material, e.g. a harder plastic, be manufactured and / or by their shape have a greater rigidity, as is the case in the prior art. Also, they can better absorb the forces occurring without unwanted detent from each other.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. In an advantageous embodiment of the snap ring is made of a resilient material, in particular made of elastic steel, for example made of elastic stainless steel. In another embodiment, however, it may in principle also consist of a resilient plastic.

Advantageously, the snap ring has a circular basic shape and is designed to be open at one point and thereby elastically deformable in the radial direction, in particular expandable and compressible.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if both the first groove and the second groove and the snap ring has a rectangular profile. In particular, it is advantageous if the width of the first groove, the second groove and the snap ring coincide with each other. As a result, the snap ring at least partially engage positively in both grooves. An axial displacement between the screw cap and the

Spout housing is thus prevented by the substantially radially oriented side surfaces of the snap ring and the grooves.

This width is always in the insertion direction, i. in the direction of the axis of symmetry of the assembled connector, measured. The depth of the grooves and the height of the snap ring profile are basically measured at right angles to it in the radial direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the profile of the snap ring has a height that is greater than its width. This is advantageous in order to counteract the radial elasticity of the snap ring of a possible axial displacement of a sufficiently large radial surface, so as to hold the screw cap stable on the grommet housing.

In particular, the snap ring engages in the mounted state in the radial direction as deep as in the first groove as in the second groove. This position is particularly advantageous since it provides the same force in each groove endures. In an asymmetrical distribution, however, the maximum holding force would be determined by the respective lower engagement depth and therefore lower than it is in the aforementioned uniform, or at least a more uniform, position of the case. Taking into account manufacturing tolerances, the depth of engagement of the snap ring in the assembled state in the respective groove between 40% and 60%, preferably between 45% and 55% and in particular between 47.5% and 52.5% of the height of the snap ring profile amount to to take advantage of the aforementioned effect particularly advantageous.

Advantageously, the height of the profile of the snap ring and the depth of the two grooves are chosen so large that the connector is able to provide a sufficient counterforce to the sum of expected constant tensile forces of the cable, vibration forces and scattered or regularly occurring shocks. This is the result

Screw attachment to the spout housing kept stable under the influence of these forces. The height of the profile of the snap ring and the depth of the two grooves can be freely adapted to the respective requirements over a sufficiently large area, without causing unwanted side effects.

Advantageously, the screw attachment has at his the

End of the sleeve facing away from a screw thread or at least a so-called "partial thread" for screwing in or on a

Counter thread of a mating connector housing. In particular, the screw thread / partial thread is an internal thread and the counter thread is a corresponding external thread. However, in other embodiments, the screw attachment may have an external thread and the mating connector housing an internal thread.

In the mating connector housing may be a mounting housing, for example, to a wall, for example to the wall of a Railway wagons or a manufacturing plant, eg in the vicinity of production machines, is grown. Then the connector housing associated therewith is subject to constant leverage corresponding cable forces even with simultaneous vibration and regular and / or occasionally occurring shocks, which makes special demands on the stability of the connection. Such requirements are, for example, in the food industry, to

Production lines or placed in rail traffic, so that a connector housing according to the invention can be used particularly advantageously in these areas.

In a preferred embodiment, the snap ring in a pre-assembly can be expanded elastically in the radial direction and push with little effort on the Tüllengehäuse. Thereupon, the snap ring in the first groove of the Tüllengehäuses lock by relaxing radially inward and thereby partially engages in this first groove. In particular, it is advantageous if the first groove is so deep that the snap ring is still radially compressible in this preassembled state. This allows the snap ring in the actual assembly, i. when pushing the screw attachment on the

Sleeve housing, elastically bent radially inwards. For this purpose, the screw attachment at its end facing the sleeve housing inside and preferably directly to the second groove then have a chamfer. So can the snap ring during the

Mounting process by attaching the screw top deeper, especially completely, immerse in the first groove. As soon as the

Screw top is finally plugged onto the spout housing and thus is relative to the spout housing in its final position, the snap ring can relax radially outward again, so as to lock into the second groove of the screw. As a result, the snap ring immersed in the final assembled state in both grooves, so that it with its inner circumference in the first groove and with his Outer circumference is disposed in the second groove, and holds the

Screw attachment rotatable on the grommet housing.

For this preferred embodiment, it is also particularly advantageous if the depth of the first groove is at least as large as the height of the snap ring profile. Thereby, the snap ring during assembly process, in particular by an elastic compression in the radial direction, completely in the first groove can be accommodated, so in other words can completely immerse in the first groove to in this way the

Do not obstruct the insertion of the sleeve housing. On the other hand, it is also not desirable for manufacturing reasons, the depth of the first groove larger than necessary to design.

Thus, in this preferred embodiment, the depth of the first groove within the manufacturing tolerances of the height of

Circlips correspond, eg. between 0.75 and 1.5 times the height of the snap ring profile, in particular between 0.825 and 1.25 times the height of the snap ring

Snap ring profiles lie, preferably between 0.9 and 1, 2 times the height of the snap ring profile and lie more preferably between 0.95 and 1, 1 times the height of the snap ring profile.

This preferred embodiment has the additional advantage that the screw attachment can be made comparatively small, since the depth of the second groove must correspond only to the immersion depth of the snap ring in this second groove in the assembled state.

In an alternative embodiment, the snap ring can be initially in an alternative pre-assembly, e.g. with a

Special tool to compress elastically in the radial direction and push into the screw and so can first in the second groove lock the screw attachment by expanding radially expanding and thereby partially engages in this second groove. In particular, it is advantageous if the second groove has such a large depth that the snap ring is also radially expandable outwards in this preassembled state. As a result, in an alternative assembly, ie in this case when inserting the spout housing into the screw attachment, the spool housing initially elastically deflects it radially outward, thereby deeper, in particular completely, immersing in the second groove. For this purpose, the grommet housing can be designed to be conically tapered on the outside, at least on its end facing the screw attachment. Once the spout is finally in the

Screwed top is inserted and thus relative to

Screw is in its final position, the snap ring can relax radially inward and thereby engage in the first groove of the Tüllengehäuses to complete the assembly. Thereby, the snap ring immersed in this final assembled state in both grooves, so that it is arranged with its inner circumference in the first groove and with its outer periphery in the second groove, and rotatably holds the screw cap on the grommet housing.

For this alternative embodiment, it is advantageous if the depth of the second groove is at least as great as the height of the snap ring profile. As a result, the snap ring in the alternative assembly process,

in particular by elastic expansion in the radial direction, completely in the second groove receivable, so can completely immerse in the second groove, so as not to hinder the insertion of the Tüllengehäuses. On the other hand, it is also not desirable for manufacturing reasons, the depth of the first groove larger than necessary to design.

Thus, in this alternative embodiment, the depth of the second groove within the manufacturing tolerances of the height of the Correspond to snap ring profiles, ie between 0.75 and 1.5 times the height of the snap ring profile, in particular between 0.825 and 1.25 times the height of the snap ring

This alternative design may optionally have the advantage that, depending on the closer manufacturing conditions

Mounting capability of the connector housing to facilitate. Therefore, this variant, for the reasons mentioned above, is preferred for designs in which the screw attachment anyway has a somewhat larger diameter, that is, it does not have to be particularly large in order to allow a sufficient depth of the second groove.

embodiment

A preferred embodiment of the invention is in the

Drawings shown and will be explained in more detail below. Show it:

Fig. 1 corresponds to the prior art

Connector housing in a longitudinal section;

Fig. 2a shows an inventive connector housing in

Longitudinal section;

Fig. 2b shows an enlargement of the locking mechanism of the

previous presentation;

Fig. 2c, the connector housing according to the invention with a

Plug-in area of a mating connector housing in longitudinal section; 3a shows a screw attachment in a 3D representation;

FIG. 3b shows a sleeve housing in a 3D representation; FIG.

Fig. 3c shows a snap ring in a 3D representation.

The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. In part, for the same, but possibly not identical

Elements identical reference numerals used. Different views of the same elements could be scaled differently.

Fig. 1 shows a prior art

Connector housing in longitudinal section. The connector housing has a sleeve housing 1 and plug side rotatably attached to a screw cap 2 with an internal thread 23. On the opposite cable connection side of the sleeve housing 1 a horizontally extending in the drawing cable 4 is shown, the

Gravity in the form of a vertical lever F on the

Connector housing acts.

The grommet 1 has one shown here only in profile

circumferential first groove 1 1, in which three locking lugs 24 of the

Engage screw 2, so that the screw cap 2 is rotatably supported on the grommet housing 1. Of these three locking lugs 24 but only one locking lug 24 can be seen in the sectional view, as the other two locking lugs offset by 120 ° formed on the circular in cross-section inner circumference of the screw 2 and are therefore not visible in this cross-sectional view. On its side facing the grommet housing 1, the detent 24 has an unspecified slope, which is intended to cooperate with a ramp 14 of the grommet housing 1 during assembly. That way you can Spout 1 and / or the screw 2 at the

Deforming assembly process to the extent necessary in order to allow a sliding of the screw attachment 2 on the sleeve housing 1 and a locking of its locking lugs 24 in the first groove 1 1, so that the screw 2 in the mounted state rotatable on

Spout housing 1 is held. However, it is also understandable that the shape of the locking lugs 24 is largely due to the needs of their ability to install and that in particular their height and thus the size of their mating connector housing facing force-absorbing surface is limited. Finally, the elasticity of the spout housing 1 and / or the screw cap 2 necessary for this type of assembly is extremely unfavorable for the stability against possibly occurring tensile and leverage forces and is therefore severely limited.

Another disadvantage of this construction is that e.g. strong lever forces F, as they arise from the load with a heavy cable 4, especially under an additional influence of vibration and shock, can easily cause this attachment

undesirable to solve and forcibly disconnect the connector. Finally, in this geometric arrangement of the locking lugs 24 under unfavorable conditions, a large part of the

Load on a comparatively small attack surface of a single latch 24, which is located at the corresponding geometric position. From the drawing it is easy to see that the respective

Latch 24 only on its side facing the mating connector housing has an attack surface and on the other side to facilitate mounting the said slope has. Thus, a deformation of the sleeve housing 1 by leverage and in particular under the

Effect of vibration and shocks depending on their direction easily cause the respective latch 24 is at least partially pushed out of the first groove 1 1 and / or shaken out. This reduces the effective area, which is available for receiving power, and makes so a breaking out of the latch 24 from the first groove 1 1 even more likely. This design according to the state of the art therefore represents a compromise between assembly capability and stability during operation, ie operational safety, especially under corresponding environmental conditions.

FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c show, in various illustrations, a solution according to the invention that differs from the prior art in that the screw attachment 2 has a circumferential second groove 22 at its inner circumference, which is circular in cross section. On the other hand engages an almost completely circumferential

Snap ring 5, which is shown as a single part in Figure 5, both in the first groove 1 1 and in the second groove 22 a. Ideally, the depth of its engagement in the first groove 1 1 and the second groove 22 is almost equal, which optimizes the power available for receiving effective force-absorbing surface of the snap ring 5 in each direction. In view of manufacturing tolerances, the depth of engagement of the snap ring 5 in the respective groove between 40% and 60%, preferably between 45% and 55% and in particular between 47.5% and 52.5% of the height H of the snap ring profile. Furthermore, the screw cap 2 has in the direction of the spout housing 1 for improved mounting a chamfer 21, which also cooperates in the assembled state with a corresponding sealing ring 6.

When mounting needs, compared to that shown in Fig. 1

Arrangement, no longer the sleeve housing 1 to be deformed. As a result, the grommet housing can be made of a harder material, which benefits the stability of the connector. Instead of it, the snap ring 5 can take over the corresponding function during assembly and under the action of the chamfer 21 when pushing the

Schraubaufsatzes 2 are radially compressed on the sleeve housing 1 and so temporarily lower, ideally completely, in the first groove 1 1 dive. Once the screw cap 2 is completely pushed and the two grooves 1 1, 22 are above each other, the snap ring 5 locks to complete the assembly with its outer region, and thus with its outer periphery, in the second groove 22 of the screw 2 a remains but with its inner region, and thus also with its inner circumference, in the first groove 1 1. This is compared to the prior art, in each case a nearly encircling and thus significantly enlarged force-absorbing attack surface between the snap ring 5 and the respective groove 1 1, 22 given, on the one hand by its almost completely encircling shape and on the other hand in that the height H of its tread surface more can be twice as large as the height of the known from the prior art locking lug 24 whose elastic deflection is extremely limited for the reasons mentioned above.

Fig. 2b shows the relevant mechanism in an enlarged view. In particular, the rectangular profile of the

Snap rings 5, i. the rectangular snap ring profile, clearly visible. It can be seen that although the snap ring profile has the same width B as the first groove 11 and the second groove 22, but in the

pre-assembled state, the first groove 1 1 in the direction of its height H is not completely filled. As a result, the snap ring 5 is still radially compressible in the arrangement shown here.

It is also readily apparent that the depth of the first groove 1 1 is at least the height H of the snap ring profile. As a result, the snap ring 5 can completely immerse in the assembly in the first groove 1 1, resulting in the attachment of the screw 2 on the

Grommet considerably easier.

FIG. 2c shows a comparable arrangement in which the

Screw attachment 2 with its internal thread 23 on a mating thread 33rd screwed. This mating thread 33 belongs to the plug-in area 3 of a horizontally oriented mating connector housing, which is as a

For reasons of clarity not shown in the drawing extension housing is executed, the e.g. on a vertical surface, e.g. a wall, can be attached.

FIG. 3 a shows the screw attachment 2 with the circumferential second groove 22 and the internal thread 23 in a 3D representation.

FIG. 3b shows the grommet housing 1 with its circumferential first groove 11 in a 3D representation.

3c shows the snap ring 5. This is open, that is interrupted in a region 5 ^' . In profile it has a rectangular shape and has a height H and a width B. Its height H is measured in a radial direction, ie in the direction of its radius R. Perpendicular to the ring plane extends the axis of symmetry A, which also corresponds to the symmetry axis of the sleeve housing 1 in the assembled state. The width B of the snap ring 5 is measured in the axial direction A, ie in the insertion direction.

The snap ring 5 is made in this embodiment

elastic steel.

Connector housing reference symbol list

1 grommet housing

1 1 first groove

14 ramp

2 screwed attachment

21 Bevel

22 second groove

23 internal thread

24 latch

3 plug-in area of the mating connector housing 33 mating thread of the mating connector housing

4 cables

5 snap ring

5 ^' interruption of the snap ring

6 sealing ring F leverage

H Height of the profile of the snap ring

B Width of the profile of the snap ring

R radius of the snap ring

A symmetry axis

Claims

Steckverbinderqehäuse

claims

Connector housing comprising a grommet housing (1) and a screw cap (2), wherein the grommet housing (1) has a circular in cross-section outer surface with a molded therein circumferential first groove (1 1) and wherein the screw attachment (2) has a circular in cross-section inner surface comprising a circumferential second groove (22) formed therein and wherein the connector housing further comprises a snap ring (5) arranged in the mounted state with its inner periphery in the first groove (1 1) and with its outer periphery in the second groove (22) is to the screw cap (2) rotatably on the

To hold the grommet housing (1).

Connector housing according to claim 1, wherein the snap ring (5) is made of a resilient material, has a circular basic shape and at a location (5 ^' ) made open and thereby radially deformable.

Connector housing according to claim 2, wherein the snap ring (5) in the radial direction (R) is both elastically expandable and elastically compressible.

Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the screw cap (2) at its end facing away from the spout housing (1) has an internal thread (23) or at least a partial internal thread for screwing onto a mating thread (33) or a Teilgegengewinde a mating connector housing. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the snap ring (5) within manufacturing tolerances in the radial direction just as deeply into the first groove (1 1) engages as in the second groove (22).

Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first groove (1 1) has a depth within manufacturing tolerances, the depth of at least one height (H) of the profile of the

Snap rings (5) corresponds, so that the snap ring (5) is completely in the first groove (1 1) can be accommodated.

Connector according to claim 6, wherein the screw cap (2) to facilitate assembly at its the spout (1) end facing inside a bevel (21) through which in the first groove (1 1) preassembled snap ring (5) when plugging the Schraubaufsatzes (2) on the Tüllengehäuse (1) initially elastically compressible and in the final plugged state in the second groove (22) can be latched.

Connector according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second groove (22) within the manufacturing tolerances in the radial direction (R) has a depth which corresponds at least to the height (H) of the profile of the snap ring (5), so that the snap ring (5) is fully receivable in the second groove (22).

Connector according to claim 8, wherein the grommet housing (1) at least at its the

Screwed top (2) facing the outside is conical, whereby in the second groove (22) preassembled snap ring (5) upon insertion of the spout housing (1) in the screw cap (2) initially elastically expandable and in the final inserted state in the first groove (1 1) can be latched.

10. Connector housing according to one of the preceding claims, wherein both the first groove (1 1) and the second groove (22) and the snap ring (5) have a rectangular profile.

1 1. Connector housing according to claim 10, wherein the first groove (1 1), the second groove (22) and the profile of the snap ring (5) have the same width (B).