EP3782237B1 - Connector part with hermaphroditic contact elements - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a connector part according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a connector part comprises a plurality of hermaphroditic contact elements for contacting associated hermaphroditic contact elements of a mating connector part, each hermaphroditic contact element having a body, a first contact lug extending from the body along a first direction, and a second contact lug extending from the body along the first direction . The first contact tab and the second contact tab are in this case offset from one another along a second direction extending transversely to the first direction and also along a third direction extending transversely to the first direction and transversely to the second direction.

Connector parts that have hermaphroditic contact elements can be plugged together in order to establish electrical contact between the contact elements. The hermaphroditic contact elements of the connector parts are designed in the same way, so that one connector part is not fixed to socket contacts and the other connector part to pin contacts, as is usually the case. Instead, the hermaphroditic contact elements of both connector parts have both socket and pin characteristics.

Connector parts with hermaphroditic contact elements are, for example, from U.S. 6,193,537 and the EP 1 973 201 B1 known.

In the known hermaphroditic contact elements of a connector part, contact lugs protrude parallel to one another from a body and serve to come into contact with contact lugs of an associated hermaphroditic contact element of the mating connector part from different sides (with reference to the third direction), so that the first contact lug of the hermaphroditic contact element of the connector part with a second contact lug of an associated hermaphroditic contact element of the mating connector part and the second contact lug of the hermaphroditic contact element of the connector part interacts in an electrically contacting manner with the first contact lug of the associated hermaphroditic contact element of the mating connector part.

If connector parts with such hermaphroditic contact elements are plugged together, torques can occur on the hermaphroditic contact elements, which must be absorbed and dissipated on the connector part and the mating connector part. In particular, in this way, a load can occur between hermaphroditic contact elements and a printed circuit board on which the hermaphroditic contact elements are arranged, which can impair the service life of the connector part.

The object of the present invention is to provide a connector part in which a torque load on the hermaphroditic contact elements can be reduced.

This object is solved by an object with the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, for each hermaphroditic contact element, the connector part has a hermaphroditic contact element that is a mirror image of a first mirror plane and a hermaphroditic contact element that is a mirror image of a second mirror plane. In this case, the first mirror plane is spanned by the first direction and the third direction and the second mirror plane by the first direction and the second direction.

For each hermaphroditic contact element there are thus mirror-image hermaphroditic contact elements, which means that when the connector part is plugged into an associated mating connector part, torques act in a mirror-inverted manner and thus cancel each other out. The fact that for each hermaphroditic contact element is a hermaphroditic contact element mirrored on the first mirror plane (which is spanned by the first direction and the third direction) and a hermaphroditic contact element mirrored on the second mirror plane (which is spanned by the first direction and the second direction). is present, torques acting about the first direction and about the second direction just cancel out to provide a balanced connector part with reduced torque loading when mated with a mating connector part.

The tab extends from the body along the first direction. The contact lugs are offset from one another on the body along the second direction and are therefore arranged next to one another on the body. Along the third direction they act Contact lugs make electrical contact with associated contact lugs of a hermaphrodite contact element of the mating connector part. Because mirror-image hermaphroditic contact elements are used, torques caused by mating connection of the hermaphrodite contact elements of the connector part with associated hermaphrodite contact elements of the mating connector part cancel out in the first direction and in the second direction, so that a torque load between the connector parts when mating connection is at least reduced.

The number of hermaphroditic contact elements of the connector part preferably corresponds to 4 or an integer multiple of 4, i.e. 8, 12, 16, etc. The arrangement of the hermaphroditic contact elements is mirrored in such a way that for each hermaphroditic contact element there is a hermaphroditic contact element that is a mirror image of the first mirror plane and a second mirror plane mirror-image hermaphroditic contact element exists. The arrangement of the hermaphroditic contact elements is thus balanced, so that a torque load just cancels out as a result.

In one configuration, the body extends areally along a plane spanned by the first direction and the second direction. The hermaphroditic contact element can be manufactured, for example, as a bent stamped part, for example from sheet metal. Accordingly, the body extends in the plane spanned by the first direction and the second direction.

In this case, the first contact lug can extend in the plane of the body and thus protrudes from the body in the first direction. The first contact lug can have the shape of a contact pin, for example.

In contrast, the second contact tab can be offset from the plane along the third direction and thus protrudes out of the plane. The second contact lug can, for example, be connected to the body via a connecting section in the area of which a bend is created, so that the second contact lug is offset from the plane and arranged outside of the plane.

For each hermaphroditic contact element of the connector part, there is a hermaphroditic contact element that is a mirror image of the first mirror plane and a hermaphroditic contact element that is a mirror image of the second mirror plane. here It can also be provided that groups of hermaphroditic contact elements are mirrored to one another, so that for a group of more than one hermaphroditic contact element there is a group of hermaphroditic contact elements that is a mirror image of the first mirror plane and a group of hermaphroditic contact elements that is a mirror image of the second mirror plane. In this way, for example, a group of three hermaphroditic contact elements that is a mirror image of the first mirror plane and a group of three hermaphroditic contact elements that is a mirror image of the second mirror plane can exist for a group of three hermaphroditic contact elements. A cancellation of the torques thus takes place in groups in that for each group of hermaphroditic contact elements there are mirror-image groups of hermaphroditic contact elements.

In one embodiment, the hermaphroditic contact elements are jointly connected to a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board can, for example, extend in a plane spanned by the second direction and the third direction and have connection points to which the hermaphroditic contact elements are soldered, for example, so that the hermaphroditic contact elements are mechanically attached to the printed circuit board and also make electrical contact with the printed circuit board are. For this purpose, each hermaphroditic contact element can have, for example, a connection lug which protrudes from the body and which enables a soldered connection to the printed circuit board.

A connector system comprises a connector part according to the type described above and a mating connector part which has a number of hermaphroditic contact elements corresponding to the number of hermaphroditic contact elements of the connector part and to which the connector part can be plugged. The hermaphroditic contact elements of the connector part and the mating connector part are designed identically and are arranged relative to one another such that the hermaphroditic contact elements can be brought into electrical contact with one another by plugging the connector part into the mating connector part.

Fig. 1

eine Ansicht einer Anordnung von hermaphroditischen Kontaktelementen, in verbundenem Zustand;

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht einer anderen Anordnung von hermaphroditischen Kontaktelementen;

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht eines hermaphroditischen Kontaktelements in Verbindung mit einem zugeordneten hermaphroditischen Kontaktelement;

Fig. 4A

eine Ansicht eines Steckverbinderteils mit einer Anordnung von hermaphroditischen Kontaktelementen;

Fig. 4B

eine Ansicht eines zugeordneten Gegensteckverbinderteils;

Fig. 5A

eine frontale Ansicht des Steckverbinderteils;

Fig. 5B

eine frontale Ansicht des Gegensteckverbinderteils;

Fig. 6A

eine rückseitige Ansicht des Steckverbinderteils;

Fig. 6B

eine rückseitige Ansicht des Gegensteckverbinderteils;

Fig. 7A

eine Ansicht eines Steckverbinderteils mit einer Anordnung von hermaphroditischen Kontaktelementen, nach einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 7B

eine Ansicht eines zugeordneten Gegensteckverbinderteils;

Fig. 8A

eine frontale Ansicht des Steckverbinderteils;

Fig. 8B

eine frontale Ansicht des Gegensteckverbinderteils;

Fig. 9A

eine rückseitige Ansicht des Steckverbinderteils;

Fig. 9B

eine rückseitige Ansicht des Gegensteckverbinderteils;

Fig. 10A

eine Ansicht eines Steckverbinderteils mit einer Anordnung von hermaphroditischen Kontaktelementen, nach einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 10B

eine Ansicht eines zugeordneten Gegensteckverbinderteils;

Fig. 11A

eine frontale Ansicht des Steckverbinderteils;

Fig. 11B

eine frontale Ansicht des Gegensteckverbinderteils;

Fig. 12A

eine rückseitige Ansicht des Steckverbinderteils;

Fig. 12B

eine rückseitige Ansicht des Gegensteckverbinderteils;

Fig. 13A

eine Ansicht eines Steckverbinderteils mit einer Anordnung von hermaphroditischen Kontaktelementen, nach einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 13B

eine Ansicht eines zugeordneten Gegensteckverbinderteils;

Fig. 14A

eine frontale Ansicht des Steckverbinderteils;

Fig. 14B

eine frontale Ansicht des Gegensteckverbinderteils;

Fig. 15A

eine rückseitige Ansicht des Steckverbinderteils; und

Fig. 15B

eine rückseitige Ansicht des Gegensteckverbinderteils.

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

1

a view of an arrangement of hermaphrodite contact elements, in the connected state;

2

a view of another arrangement of hermaphroditic contact elements;

3

a view of a hermaphrodite contact element in connection with an associated hermaphrodite contact element;

Figure 4A

a view of a connector part with an array of hermaphrodite contact elements;

Figure 4B

a view of an associated mating connector part;

Figure 5A

a front view of the connector part;

Figure 5B

a front view of the mating connector part;

Figure 6A

a rear view of the connector part;

Figure 6B

a rear view of the mating connector part;

Figure 7A

a view of a connector part with an arrangement of hermaphrodite contact elements, according to a further embodiment;

Figure 7B

a view of an associated mating connector part;

Figure 8A

a front view of the connector part;

Figure 8B

a front view of the mating connector part;

Figure 9A

a rear view of the connector part;

Figure 9B

a rear view of the mating connector part;

Figure 10A

a view of a connector part with an arrangement of hermaphrodite contact elements, according to a further embodiment;

Figure 10B

a view of an associated mating connector part;

Figure 11A

a front view of the connector part;

Figure 11B

a front view of the mating connector part;

12A

a rear view of the connector part;

Figure 12B

a rear view of the mating connector part;

13A

a view of a connector part with an arrangement of hermaphrodite contact elements, according to a further embodiment;

Figure 13B

a view of an associated mating connector part;

Figure 14A

a front view of the connector part;

Figure 14B

a front view of the mating connector part;

Figure 15A

a rear view of the connector part; and

Figure 15B

a rear view of the mating connector part.

Figures 1 and 2 show arrangements of hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D, 2A-2D, which are part of different connector parts and can be connected to one another by plugging in along a plug-in direction directed along a first direction X, in order in this way to establish electrical contact between the hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D, 2A - 2D manufacture.

As per the view 3 As can be seen, each hermaphrodite contact element 1A-1D, 2A-2D has a body 10, 20 which extends in a plane defined by the first direction X and a second direction Y and from which Contact lugs 12, 13, 22, 23 along the first direction X protrude. A first contact lug 12, 22 extends along the first direction X in the plane of the body 10, 20, while a second contact lug 13, 23, offset along the second direction Y to the first contact lug 12, 22, extends to the plane of the body 10 , 20 is offset and thus arranged out of plane.

If mutually associated hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D, 2A-2D are plugged into each other, as is shown in 3 is shown, the contact lugs 12, 13, 22, 23 make contact along a third direction Z, the contact lugs 12, 13 of one hermaphroditic contact element 1A-1D resting on the contact lugs 22, 23 of the other hermaphrodite contact element 2A-2D from different sides .

To a torque load on connector parts, which are part of the hermaphrodite contact elements 1A-1D, 2A-2D according to Figures 1 and 2 are to be reduced, are in accordance with the arrangements Figures 1 and 2 the hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D, 2A-2D are arranged mirror-inverted to mirror planes E1, E2, with the result that torques M1, M2 about the first direction X and the second direction Y, which are due to the plugged connection between the hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D, 2A-2D act, cancel out straight and as a result a balanced arrangement of hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D, 2A-2D is created on each connector part.

The hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D are arranged on a first connector part and are connected to them via terminal lugs 11 protruding from the bodies 10 of the hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D (see 3 ) arranged together on a printed circuit board. Likewise, the hermaphroditic contact elements 2A-2D arranged on a second connector part are connected via terminal lugs 21 protruding from the bodies 20 of the hermaphroditic contact elements 2A-2D (see 3 ) at one in 1 Circuit board 5 shown schematically arranged. The hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D, 2A-2D can be soldered in particular to connection surfaces 50 of an associated circuit board 5 via the connection lugs 11, 21, so that the hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D, 2A-2D are mechanically fixed to the associated circuit board 5 and electrically connected to the Printed circuit board 5 are contacted.

According to the arrangement of the hermaphrodite contact elements 1A-1D, 2A-2D 1 each hermaphroditic contact element 1A-1D has a hermaphroditic contact element 1A-1D which is a mirror image of a first mirror plane E1 and also a hermaphroditic contact element 1A-1D which is a mirror image of a second mirror plane E2. Thus, the hermaphroditic contact elements 1A, 1C are mirror images of the hermaphroditic contact elements 1B, 1D to the mirror plane E1, in that the arrangement of the contact lugs 12, 13 on the body 10 viewed along the second direction Y is reversed. In addition, the hermaphroditic contact elements 1A, 1B are mirror images of the hermaphroditic contact elements 1C, 1D to the mirror plane E2, in that the contact lugs 13 protrude from the respective body 10 on different sides.

While in accordance with the arrangement 1 the contact lugs 13 of the different hermaphrodite contact elements 1A-1D each point outwards, the contact lugs 13 of the hermaphrodite contact elements 1A-1D point in the arrangement according to FIG 2 inwards and thus towards each other.

Figures 4A, 4B to 6A, 6B show an embodiment of a connector system with connector parts 3, 4, which can be plugged together to establish a connection. Each connector part 3, 4 has a housing 30, 40 on which arrangements of hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D, 2A-2D are arranged in such a way that the connector parts 3, 4 can be electrically connected to one another by plugging them together.

The connector part 3 has a plug-in section 31 which is surrounded by a plug-in opening 32 . Contact openings 310 are formed on the plug-in section 31, in which the associated hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D lie with their contact lugs 13. In contrast, the contact lugs 12 are arranged in the region of the plug-in opening 32 .

The connector part 4 is shaped to complement the connector part 3 . The connector part 4 has a plug-in opening 41 into which the plug-in section 31 of the connector part 3 can be plugged. The plug-in opening 41 is surrounded by a plug-in section 42, which comes to lie in the plug-in opening 32 of the plug-in connector part 3 when the plug-in connector parts 3, 4 are connected to one another. Contact openings 420 are formed on plug-in section 42, in which the hermaphroditic contact elements 2A-2D of the connector part 4 rest with their contact lugs 23, while the contact lugs 22 are arranged in the area of the plug-in opening 41.

In the illustrated embodiment, four groups of three hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D are arranged on the connector part 3, which are mirror images of one another about mirror planes E1, E2. Thus, the hermaphroditic contact elements 1A, 1C are mirror images of the hermaphroditic contact elements 1B, 1D with respect to the mirror plane E1. In addition, the hermaphroditic contact elements 1A, 1B are mirror images of the hermaphroditic contact elements 1C, 1D with respect to the mirror plane E2. The result is a balanced arrangement of hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D on the connector part 3 and also of the hermaphroditic contact elements 2A-2D on the connector part 4, due to which a torque load when the connector parts 3, 4 are plugged in is largely reduced.

Also in the embodiment according to Figures 7A, 7B to 9A, 9B are four groups of three hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D, 2A-2D formed on each connector part 3, 4, which are arranged to mirror planes E1, E2 just mirror images of each other. The arrangement of the hermaphrodite contact elements 1A-1D of the connector part 3 and likewise of the hermaphrodite contact elements 2A-2D of the connector part 4 with a view of the mirror plane E2 is just the reverse of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG Figures 4A, 4B to 6A, 6B.

In the embodiment according to Figures 10A, 10B to 12A, 12B are three groups of four hermaphrodite contact elements 1A-1D, 2A-2D formed on each connector part 3, 4, which are arranged in mirror symmetry to each other and are thus balanced in itself to each other. Thus, in the connector part 3, a pair of hermaphroditic contact elements 1C, 1D that is a straight mirror image of the mirror plane E2 is arranged adjacent to two hermaphroditic contact elements 1A, 1B along the third direction Z. In relation to the hermaphroditic contact elements 1A, 1C, the hermaphroditic contact elements 1B, 1D are mirror images of the mirror plane E1. This results in turn in a balanced arrangement of hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D, 2A-2D on each connector part 3, 4 with a reduced torque load.

The embodiment according to Figures 13A, 13B to 15A, 15B is in the sequence of hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D, 2A-2D on each connector part 3, 4 viewed along the third direction Z just reverse to the sequence in the embodiment of FIG Figures 10A, 10B to 12A, 12B.

Because in the connector parts 3, 4 for each hermaphroditic contact element 1A-1D, 2A-2D there is a hermaphroditic contact element 1A-1D, 2A-2D that is a mirror image of the mirror plane E1 and also a hermaphroditic contact element 1A-1D, 2A-2D that is a mirror image of the mirror plane E2, the torques about the first direction X and the second direction Y just cancel out in the arrangements of hermaphroditic contact elements 1A-1D, 2A-2D. As a result, no torques have to be absorbed and dissipated on the housing 30, 40 of the connector parts 3, 4 in the plugged-in state.

The idea on which the invention is based is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but can in principle also be implemented in a completely different manner.

Thus, designs of hermaphroditic contact elements other than those described here are also conceivable and possible.

Such arrangements of hermaphroditic contact elements can be used on very different connector parts for producing very different connections, for example a data connection or also an electrical supply to an industrial plant or the like.

Reference List

1A-1D

Hermaphrodite contact element

10

Body

11

connection tab

12

contact flag

13

contact flag

130

end of contact

131

connection section

2A-2D

Hermaphrodite contact element

20

Body

21

connection tab

22

contact flag

23

contact flag

230

end of contact

231

connection section

3

connector part

30

Housing

31

mating section

310

contact opening

32

plug opening

4

connector part

40

Housing

41

plug opening

42

mating section

420

contact opening

5

circuit board

50

land

E1, E2

mirror plane

M1, M2

torque

X,Y,Z

Direction

Claims (9)

1. Plug connector part (3, 4) having a plurality of hermaphroditic contact elements (1A-1D, 2A-2D) for making contact with associated hermaphroditic contact elements (2A-2D, 1A-1D) of a mating plug connector part (4, 3), wherein each hermaphroditic contact element (1A-1D, 2A-2D) has a body (10, 20), a first contact lug (12), which extends from the body (10, 20) along a first direction (X), and a second contact lug (13), which extends from the body (10, 20) along the first direction (X), wherein the first contact lug (12) and the second contact lug (13) are offset with respect to each other along a second direction (Y), which extends transversely with respect to the first direction (X), and, in addition, along a third direction (Z), which extends transversely with respect to the first direction (X) and transversely with respect to the second direction (Y), characterized in that, for each hermaphroditic contact element (1A-1D, 2A-2D), the plug connector part (3, 4) has a hermaphroditic contact element (1A-1D, 2A-2D), which is mirror-inverted with respect to a first mirror plane (E1) spanned by the first direction (X) and the third direction (Z), and a hermaphroditic contact element (1A-1D, 2A-2D), which is mirror-inverted with respect to a second mirror plane (E2) spanned by the first direction (X) and the second direction (Y).
2. Plug connector part (3, 4) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the number of hermaphroditic contact elements (1A-1D, 2A-2D) of the plug connector part (3, 4) corresponds to four or an integer multiple of four.
3. Plug connector part (3, 4) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the body (10, 20) of each hermaphroditic contact element (1A-1D, 2A-2D) extends flat along a plane spanned by the first direction (X) and the second direction (Y).
4. Plug connector part (3, 4) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first contact lug (12, 22) extends in the plane from the body (10, 20).
5. Plug connector part (3, 4) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second contact lug (13, 23) is offset along the third direction (Z) with respect to the plane.
6. Plug connector part (3, 4) according to Claim 1, characterized in that, for a group of more than one hermaphroditic contact element (1A-1D, 2A-2D), the plug connector part (3, 4) has a group of hermaphroditic contact elements (1A-1D, 2A-2D) which is mirror-inverted with respect to the first mirror plane (E1) and a group of hermaphroditic contact elements (1A-1D, 2A-2D) which is mirror-inverted with respect to the second mirror plane (E2) .
7. Plug connector part (3, 4) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the hermaphroditic contact elements (1A-1D, 2A-2D) are jointly connected to a printed circuit board (5).
8. Plug connector part (3, 4) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the body (10, 20) of each hermaphroditic contact element (1A-1D, 2A-2D) has a connection tab (11, 21) via which the hermaphroditic contact element (1A-1D, 2A-2D) is connected to the printed circuit board (5).
9. Plug connector system, having a plug connector part (3, 4) according to one of the preceding claims and a mating plug connector part (4, 3) having a plurality of hermaphroditic contact elements (2A-2D, 1A-1D) for the plug-in connection to the plug connector part (3, 4).

Images