EP3764477A1 - Contact body for a connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A contact carrier (1) comprises a side wall (6), a contact fixing (9) which is designed to fix at least one contact element (7) on the contact carrier (1), and an insertion opening (4) arranged on the side wall (6). for inserting a tool. The contact fixation (9) has two sections (91, 92) between which the tool (3) can be inserted. The contact fixing (9) is designed to fix a contact element (7) arranged on the contact carrier (1) in a fixing position, and can be moved from the fixing position into a release position in order to release the contact element (7) from the contact carrier (1) by bringing the tool (3) into operative connection via the insertion opening (4) with the contact fixation (9). It is provided that the sections (91, 92) of the contact fixing (9) are each connected to the side wall (6) of the contact carrier (1) at a connection point (61, 62).

Description

The invention relates to a contact carrier according to the preamble of claim 1 and a connector, in particular an electrical connector, containing at least one contact carrier, according to the preamble of claim 13.

Such a contact carrier comprises a side wall, a contact fixation which is designed to fix at least one contact element on the contact carrier, and an insertion opening arranged on the side wall for inserting a tool. The contact fixation has two sections between which the tool can be inserted. The contact fixing is designed to fix a contact element arranged on the contact carrier in a fixing position, and can be moved from the fixing position into a release position in order to detach the contact element from the contact carrier by bringing the tool into operative connection with the contact fixing via the insertion opening.

Contact carriers are usually also referred to as contact inserts and are used in connectors. Connectors of this type can be used, for example, to connect electrical contacts, but optionally also optical contacts with one another.

From the DE 10 2004 002 850 B4 An electrical connector is known which describes a contact insert which has an opening for inserting a tool and insertion openings for a tool, the insertion openings being located within the housing. The connector also includes at least one latching arm that is fastened at two points in the housing.

The problem on which the invention is based is to provide a contact carrier which enables a fixation with increased retention force for a contact element while being easy to handle for releasing.

This problem is solved by a contact carrier with the features of claim 1 or a connector with the features of claim 13. Further developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

In the case of a contact carrier, the sections of the contact fixing are accordingly connected to the side wall of the contact carrier at a connection point.

Because the sections of the contact fixation are each connected to the side wall at a connection point, the retention force for a contact element attached to the contact carrier can be improved, in particular against a tension load on a conductor connected to the contact element. The arrangement of the sections of the contact fixation and the connection to the side wall of the contact carrier via connection points on different sides of the insertion opening of the contact carrier creates a contact fixation according to the mode of action of a parallelogram, which enables a high axial force absorption with at the same time low force for mounting the contact element.

In addition, a load can be better transferred into the contact carrier via the contact fixing if the contact element is subjected to axial tensile stress. The contact fixing counteracts a conductor extension and enables an improved fixing of the contact element in its axial position on the contact carrier. For example, a V-shaped arrangement of the two sections of the contact fixing can improve the absorption of the conductor pull-out force and prevent the contact fixing from buckling axially.

The contact element can be designed, for example, as a rotated electrical contact. The contact element can also be implemented as an optical contact.

The insertion opening enables a tool, in particular a screwdriver, to be inserted. Each contact fixation is assigned an insertion opening via which a tool can be brought into operative connection with the respective contact fixation.

In one embodiment, the contact carrier has one or more contact openings into which contact elements can be inserted for fixing to the contact carrier. Each contact opening is assigned a contact fixing for fixing a contact element received in the respective contact opening, it being conceivable that each contact opening is assigned a separate contact fixing for fixing a contact element in the respective contact opening or one contact fixing is assigned to several contact openings in order to connect several contact elements to fix the contact openings at the same time. For example, several contact elements can be fixed to a contact carrier, the contact carrier having any number of contact openings for receiving contact elements can, for example, between two and twenty contact openings for receiving one contact element each.

The contact fixation consists of (at least) two sections. The two sections are connected to one another, for example, at a connection point and, moreover, in each case to a connection point to the side wall of the contact carrier. In one embodiment, the two sections of the contact fixing are arranged at an acute angle to one another and each extend from the connection point to the associated connection point on the side wall of the contact carrier.

The contact fixation can for example have a V-shaped, U-shaped, Z-shaped (in this case more than two sections), conical or frustoconical basic shape. The contact fixation is set up to fix a contact element received in the contact opening in the fixation position, for example by the contact fixation establishing a form-fitting or non-positive connection with the contact element and thereby fixing the contact element to the contact carrier.

In one embodiment, at least one section of the two sections of the contact fixing can have at least one latching element which is designed to fix the received contact element in the fixing position, in particular to fix it in a form-fitting manner. The locking element can be used to produce, for example, a fixation that acts both positively and positively. The latching element of the contact fixing is arranged here on the section which faces the contact element when the contact element is received in the associated contact opening. The contact fixing can have a latching element, but optionally also several latching elements, in order to fix an associated contact element on a plug connector.

The contact fixing can be moved from the fixing position into a release position in order to release the at least one contact element arranged on the contact carrier. For this purpose, a tool can be brought into operative connection with the contact fixation via the insertion opening so that the contact fixation can be elastically deformed by means of the tool so that the fixation of the associated contact element on the contact carrier is canceled, for example by deflecting a section of the contact fixation carrying a latching element is that the locking element is disengaged from the contact element.

To establish the operative connection with the contact fixation, the tool is inserted through the insertion opening into the tool pocket provided for the tool and formed by the contact fixation and can then be moved in order to bring the contact fixation from the fixation position to the release position and thereby fix the contact element to solve. For example, the tool can be introduced with a tip into the insertion opening and above it into the tool pocket of the contact fixation provided for the tool and then tilted in the insertion opening in order to deflect the contact fixation to release a contact element.

In one embodiment, at least one of the sections of the contact fixation is elastically deformable. For example, both sections of the contact fixing can be designed in such a way that the contact fixing is elastically deformed overall and can thus be moved between its fixing position and the release position. In the relaxed state, the contact fixing is in the fixing position. The contact fixing can be elastically deflected from the fixing position and, after the end of an actuation, automatically returns to its fixing position.

In one embodiment, a stop is arranged on at least one of the sections of the contact fixing, which stop is designed to come into contact with a housing of a plug connector in a supporting manner when the contact fixing is moved out of the fixing position. An end position for the contact fixing is defined via the stop so that the contact fixing cannot be deformed beyond the end position, for example in the direction of loosening. In this way, excessive loading on the contact fixing is counteracted in the event of an elastic deformation for releasing a contact element.

According to a further embodiment, the contact carrier has a contact guide which is designed to guide a contact element when it is attached to the contact carrier and also to support it in the attached position. In the attached position, a contact element can be accommodated between the contact guide on a first side and an associated contact fixation on a second side facing away from the first side (transversely to the axial extension direction of the contact element), the contact element being fixed in its seat on the contact carrier via the contact fixation is.

While a section of the contact fixing, which, for example, carries a latching element for form-fitting (and possibly also force-fitting) fixing, is aligned essentially parallel to the contact guide in the fixing position and thus creates a seat for the contact element on the contact carrier together with the contact guide, in one embodiment, the other portion of the contact fixing can be extended at an acute angle to the contact guide. Such an essentially V-shaped arrangement of the sections to one another can prevent the contact fixing from buckling when the contact element is subjected to a load due to tension on a conductor connected to the contact element, so that axial tensile forces are effectively and resiliently absorbed by the contact fixing and are transferred to the contact carrier can be derived and thus the contact element is held with a comparatively large holding force on the contact carrier.

The contact carrier is advantageously formed in one piece, with one or more contact fixings being formed in one piece with the side wall of the contact carrier. The sections of each contact fixation are formed in one piece on the side wall, wherein, for example, a latching element can be formed in one piece on one section of the contact fixation and a stop can be integrally formed on another section of the contact fixation.

In another embodiment, the contact carrier can also be designed in several pieces, for example by attaching one or more contact fixings as separate elements to the side wall and connecting them to the side wall.

In one embodiment, the contact carrier is entirely or partially made of plastic. The contact carrier can, however, also be formed from another, in particular electrically insulating material, for example ceramic or porcelain.

A plug connector has a housing and a contact carrier of the type described above, wherein the contact carrier can be connected to the housing in a latching manner, for example. In this case, the housing can, for example, form a plug-in face for the plug-in connection of the plug connector with an associated mating plug connector.

The contact carrier can be connected to the housing when the contact elements are attached to the contact carrier in order to position the contact elements on the housing, in particular the plug-in face of the housing. By using the contact carrier a preassembled assembly can thus be created in which the contact elements can be prepositioned and connected to associated lines in order to then attach the preassembled assembly to the housing in one work step and thus complete the connector.

In one embodiment, a section of each contact fixing of the contact carrier can have a stop which, when the contact carrier is connected to the housing, can come into contact with the housing in a supporting manner when the contact fixing is deflected. The stop, which can for example be formed on the section of the contact fixation facing away from an associated contact guide, can prevent excessive deflection of the contact fixation, especially when a contact element is detached from the contact carrier, so that damage to the contact fixation when deflected by a tool is counteracted.

Fig. 1

eine Ansicht eines Kontaktträgers, schräg von vorne;

Fig. 2

eine andere Ansicht des Kontaktträgers, schräg von hinten;

Fig. 3

eine Frontalansicht des Kontaktträgers;

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht des Kontaktträgers;

Fig. 5

eine Schnittansicht des Kontaktträgers entlang der Linie A-A gemäß Fig. 3;

Fig. 6

eine Seitenansicht eines einen Kontaktträger aufweisenden Steckverbinders zusammen mit einem Werkzeug;

Fig. 7

eine Schnittansicht des Steckverbinders;

Fig. 8

eine ausschnittsweise vergrößerte Darstellung der Anordnung gemäß Fig. 7;

Fig. 9

die vergrößerte Schnittansicht gemäß Fig. 8, jedoch ohne Werkzeug und Kontaktelemente; und

Fig. 10

eine Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels eines Steckverbinders.

The idea on which the invention is based will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a view of a contact carrier, obliquely from the front;

Fig. 2

another view of the contact carrier, obliquely from the rear;

Fig. 3

a front view of the contact carrier;

Fig. 4

a side view of the contact carrier;

Fig. 5

a sectional view of the contact carrier along the line AA according to Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 6

a side view of a connector having a contact carrier together with a tool;

Fig. 7

a sectional view of the connector;

Fig. 8

an enlarged section of the arrangement according to Fig. 7 ;

Fig. 9

the enlarged sectional view according to Fig. 8 but without tools and contact elements; and

Fig. 10

a view of a further embodiment of a connector.

An in Figs. 1 to 5 Contact carrier 1 shown in one embodiment serves as a carrier for contact elements 7 and can be attached to a housing 2 of a plug connector 14, for example together with contact elements 7 arranged on contact carrier 1 and lead wires connected to them, in order to complete plug connector 14 in this way as shown in the views Figures 6 to 9 can be seen. In the completed state, the connector 14 can be connected to an associated mating connector, for example to connect electrical lines to one another or to connect a line to an associated electrical device.

The contact carrier 1 has a side wall 6 on which a plurality of contact openings 8 are formed, into which contact elements 7 can be inserted for connection to the contact carrier 1. Such as from Fig. 1 As can be seen, in the embodiment shown, two rows of five contact openings 8 each are formed on the side wall 6, so that a total of ten contact elements 7 can be attached to the contact carrier 1.

On the rear of the side wall 6, contact fixings 9 are arranged, which are connected in one piece to the side wall 6 and serve to fix the contact elements 7 on the contact carrier 1. Each contact opening 8 is assigned (precisely) a contact fixing 9, via which a contact element 7 inserted into the contact opening 8 can be fixed on the contact carrier 1.

The contact fixings 9 are set up to fix contact elements 7 on the contact carrier 1. Each contact fixation 9 comprises two sections 91, 92, which are connected to one another at a connection point 61, 62 with the side wall 6 of the contact carrier 1 and at a connection point 12 and between which a tool 3 for acting on the respective contact fixation 9 can be inserted.

The contact fixings 9 are set up to fix a contact element 7 on the contact carrier 1 in each case in a fixing position. Each contact fixing 9 can be moved from the fixing position into a release position in order to release the respectively assigned contact element 7 from the contact carrier 1 again.

The contact carrier 1 also has several (here ten) insertion openings 4 arranged on the side wall 6 for inserting a tool 3 each.

Each contact opening 8 is assigned exactly one insertion opening 4 via which a tool 3 can be brought into operative connection with the contact fixing 9 assigned to the contact opening 8. Analogous to the arrangement of the contact openings 8, the insertion openings 4 are formed in two rows on the side wall 6, the insertion openings 4 assigned to the lower row of the contact openings 8 being arranged below the lower contact openings 8 and the insertion openings 4 assigned to the upper row of the contact openings 8 above the upper contact openings 8.

As in particular from the sectional views according to Figures 4 and 5 such as Figures 8 and 9 As can be seen, each contact fixing 9 is shaped with its sections 91, 92 to form a substantially V-shaped tool pocket 41. Each contact opening 8 is assigned a contact guide 11, which extends essentially parallel to an assigned, opposite section 91 of the assigned contact fixing 9 and thus, together with section 91, creates a receptacle for a contact element 7 inserted into the contact opening 8.

For the arrangement on the contact carrier 1, a contact element 7 can be inserted in an insertion direction E (see for example Figures 4 and 5 ) are inserted into a contact opening 8 and thus arrives in an intermediate position between a contact guide 11 assigned to the contact opening 8 and the section 91 of the assigned contact fixation 9 opposite the contact guide 11 the contact guide 11 protrudes from the section 91 and on which the contact element 7 runs upon insertion in the insertion direction E until the contact element 7 engages with the latching element 5 and is thus positively fixed via the contact fixation 9 on the contact carrier 1, as shown in particular from the Sectional views according to Figures 8 and 9 can be seen.

The contact elements 7 can be attached to the contact carrier 1 before the contact carrier 1 is connected to the housing 2 of the associated connector 14, so that a preassembled assembly of a contact carrier 1 with contact elements 7 arranged thereon can be mounted on the housing 2 of the connector 14 in order to achieve the To complete connector 14. Alternatively, contact elements 7 can also be used at Contact carrier 1 already connected to housing 2 can be attached to contact carrier 1.

When a contact element 7 is attached to the contact carrier 1, the contact element 7 runs with a front collar section 70 (see Fig. 8 ) onto the latching element 5 on the section 91 of the contact fixing 9 assigned to the respective contact opening 8. As a result, the contact fixation 9 is deflected with elastic deformation at the sections 91, 92 until the front collar section 70 of the contact element 7 has been moved past the latching element 5 and the latching element 5 thus engages a recess on the between collar sections 70, 71 Contact element 7 can snap, as in particular from Fig. 8 can be seen. The contact element 7 is thus fixed in a latching manner on the contact carrier 1 and held in a form-fitting manner on the contact carrier 1.

Additionally or alternatively, a frictional connection can also be established via the contact fixation 9 with elastic pretension in the direction of the contact guide 11, so that the connection between the contact element 7 and the contact carrier 1 can act positively and / or positively.

Due to the shape of the contact fixation 9 with the V-shaped mutually arranged sections 91, 92, in particular tensile forces on an associated contact element 7 against the insertion direction E can be absorbed and diverted in a resilient manner. Due to the sections 91, 92 supported at the connection points 61, 62 on the side wall 6 and the V-shaped arrangement of the sections 91, 92 relative to one another, the contact fixing 9 is prevented from buckling when there is an axial load on the contact fixing 9, so that axial tensile forces are effectively supported and can be derived.

To release a contact element 7 from the contact carrier 1, a tool 3, for example a screwdriver, can be inserted with a tip into an insertion opening 4 and brought into operative connection with the associated contact fixation 9, as shown in FIG Fig. 6 in sync with Fig. 7 and 8th can be seen. By tilting the tool 3 in the insertion opening 4 and by deflecting the contact fixation 9 caused in this way, the latching element 5 on the section 91 can be disengaged from the collar sections 70, 71 of the contact element 7, so that the contact element 7 is fixed on the contact carrier 1 is canceled and the contact element 7 can be released from the contact carrier 1 counter to the insertion direction E.

Contact elements 7 attached to the contact carrier 1 can thus be easily and conveniently removed from the contact carrier 1.

As in particular from the views according to Figures 4 and 5 in sync with Figures 8 and 9 and the perspective views of the contact carrier 1 according to Figs. 1 and 2 As can be seen, a stop 10 is formed on the section 92 of each contact fixation 9 that is remote from the respectively assigned contact guide 11 and is used to support the section 92 and thus the contact fixation 9 on the housing 2 when the contact fixation 9 is deflected to release an assigned contact element 7 serves. When a contact fixation 9 is deflected, the section 92 can only be deformed until the stop 10 rests against an associated wall of the housing 2, so that excessive deformation of the contact fixation 9 and thus overloading when the contact fixation 9 is deflected is prevented.

If the contact carrier 1 is arranged on the housing 2, protrude in particular from this Fig. 8 It can be seen - contact elements 7 fixed to the contact carrier 1 through openings 21 on a bottom wall 22 of the housing 2 into the area of a plug section 20 of the plug connector 14 formed on the housing 2. Via the plug section 20, the plug connector 14 can be plugged into an assigned mating plug connector in order to provide electrical contact.

In the embodiment according to Figs. 1 to 9 A total of ten contact openings 8, each with an associated contact fixing 9 for attaching ten contact elements 7, are formed on the contact carrier 1. The contact carrier 1 is formed in one piece, so that the contact fixings 9 are formed integrally with the side wall 6.

Contact openings 8 and contact fixings 9 can in principle be provided in any desired arrangement and number on the contact carrier 1. So shows Fig. 10 For example, an embodiment with a larger number of contact openings 8 and associated contact fixings 9, each contact opening 8 being assigned a contact fixation 9 for fixing a contact element 7 inserted into the contact opening 8, identical to that described above for the embodiment according to FIG Figs. 1 to 9 has been described.

The idea on which the invention is based is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments described above, but can also be implemented in other ways.

In the illustrated embodiments, the contact carrier is formed separately from the housing of the connector and can be connected to the housing in a latching manner. However, a one-piece design is also conceivable in which the contact carrier is formed integrally and in one piece with the housing of the plug connector.

The contact carrier as well as the housing of the connector can for example be made of plastic and are electrically insulating.

In the illustrated embodiments, each contact opening is assigned exactly one contact fixing for fixing exactly one contact element. However, it is also conceivable to fix several contact elements to several contact openings via a contact fixing so that several contact elements can be jointly fixed to a contact carrier via a contact fixing.

List of reference symbols

1

Contact carrier

2

casing

20th

Plug section

21st

opening

22nd

Bottom wall

3

Tool

4th

Insertion opening

41

Tool bag

5

Locking element

6th

Sidewall

61, 62

Connection point

7th

Contact element

70, 71

Waistband sections

8th

Contact opening

9

Contact fixation

91, 92

section

10

attack

11

Contact management

12

Connection point

14th

Connectors

E.

Direction of insertion

Claims (15)

Contact carrier (1) for a plug connector (14), with a side wall (6), a contact fixing (9) which is designed to fix at least one contact element (7) on the contact carrier (1), and one on the side wall (6) ) arranged insertion opening (4) for inserting a tool, wherein the contact fixation (9) has two sections (91, 92) between which the tool (3) can be inserted, and the contact fixation (9) is set up in a fixing position to fix the contact element (7) arranged on the contact carrier (1), and can be moved from the fixing position into a release position in order to release the contact element (7) from the contact carrier (1) by pushing the tool (3) through the insertion opening (4 ) is brought into operative connection with the contact fixation (9), characterized in that the sections (91, 92) of the contact fixation (9) are each connected to the side wall (6) of the contact carrier (1) at a connection point (61, 62) . Contact carrier (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the connection points (61, 62) of the sections (91, 92) of the contact fixing (9) are arranged on different sides of the insertion opening (4). Contact carrier (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact carrier (1) has a contact opening (8) for receiving a contact element, wherein the contact fixing (9) is set up, a contact element (7) received in the contact opening (8) ) to be fixed in the fixing position. Contact carrier (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contact fixing (9) is designed to fix a contact element (7) arranged on the contact carrier (1) in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner in the fixing position. Contact carrier (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a section (91, 92) of the two sections (91, 92) of the contact fixing (9) has a latching element (5) which is designed to be attached to the contact carrier ( 1) arranged contact element (7) to be fixed in the fixing position. Contact carrier (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two sections (91, 92) of the contact fixing (9) have a V-shaped, Form U-shaped, conical or frustoconical tool pocket (41). Contact carrier (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the two sections (91, 92) of the contact fixing (9) is elastically deformable. Contact carrier (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact carrier (1) has a contact guide (11) which extends perpendicularly from the side wall (6) and is designed to guide the contact element (7). Contact carrier (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that one of the two sections (91, 92) of the contact fixing (9) extends at an acute angle to the contact guide (11). Contact carrier (1) according to Claim 9, characterized in that the other of the two sections (91, 92) of the contact fixing (9) extends essentially parallel to the contact guide (11) in the fixing position. Contact carrier (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact carrier (1) is designed in one piece. Contact carrier (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact carrier (1) is at least partially formed from plastic. Connector (14) with a contact carrier (1) according to one of Claims 1-12. Connector (14) according to Claim 13, characterized by a housing (2) which is connected to the contact carrier (1) in a latching manner. Connector (14) according to claim 14, characterized in that a stop (10) is arranged on one of the two sections (91, 92) of the contact fixation (9) of the contact carrier (1), which stop is formed when the contact fixation (9 ) to come into contact with the housing (2) of the connector (14) in a supporting manner from the fixing position.

Images