EP3804045B1 - Assembly for a plug connector part having a holding frame and having modular contact inserts that can be attached thereto - Google Patents

Description

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

Such an assembly comprises a holding frame, which has frame walls and a frame opening delimited by the frame walls for accommodating a plurality of modular contact inserts in a plurality of slots arranged in a row along a width direction. At least one modular contact insert can be inserted into at least one slot in the frame opening and has a housing body with at least one projection element arranged thereon for engaging in an associated recess on one of the frame walls of the holding frame.

Such holding frames are used for modularly receiving contact inserts on connectors. One or more contact inserts can be arranged on such a holding frame in order to be inserted together with the holding frame into a housing of a connector part and connected to the housing. In this way, contact inserts can be combined with one another in a modular manner and arranged via the holding frame in or on a connector part.

Such modular contact inserts can have one or more electrical contacts, for example. In this case, the contact inserts are connected on the one hand, for example, to electrical lines that are fed to a connector and, on the other hand, form plug-in contacts via which the connector can be plugged into engagement with a mating connector part for electrical contact.

Such modular contact inserts offer the advantage of flexible combinability and thus variable usability of connectors.

At one from the DE 10 2012 110 907 A1 known holding frame is provided that on a first holding frame part, the recesses for receiving Having projection elements of contact inserts, a second holding frame part can be applied in order to lock inset projection elements in the recesses in this way and thus lock them on the holding frame.

At one from the EP 1 353 412 B1 known, modular connectors, modules can contain, for example, switching means that take on a signal-regulating or signal-controlling function in a module. Several modules can be lined up on a holding frame.

At one from the DE 10 2016 107 412 A1 known connector part are to be attached to a holding frame contact inserts, which have a movably arranged on a module housing contact carrier.

At one from the DE 20 2013 103 611 U1 known holding frames are holding frame parts made of sheet metal.

At one from the EP 3 011 643 B1 known connector part spring elements are arranged on a holding frame, which act on arranged on the holding frame connector modules.

In conventional connectors, modular contact inserts are attached to slots of a support frame to create a combination of contact inserts for providing an array of contacts, e.g. electrical contacts, optical contacts, pneumatic contacts or the like, on a connector part. One or more projection elements formed on the housing body of each contact insert creates a coding on the contact inserts, which cooperates with associated recesses on the frame walls of the holding frame for the correct positioning of the contact inserts on the holding frame. A contact insert can also be fixed to the holding frame in a latching manner via the projection elements.

The contact inserts as well as the holding frame can have tolerances. In addition, there can be tolerances in the positioning of a holding frame in an associated housing of a connector part. It may thus be necessary be to compensate for tolerances in the arrangement of contact inserts in the holding frame.

The object of the present invention is to provide an assembly for a connector part that allows tolerance compensation between contact inserts and the holding frame.

This object is solved by an object with the features of claim 1. Accordingly, the at least one modular contact insert has at least one slide element, which is guided displaceably on the housing body and on which the at least one projection element is arranged.

One or more projection elements are thus arranged on one or more slide elements and are adjustably mounted on the housing body. The projection elements are thus not rigidly formed on the housing body, but can be moved to the housing body by adjusting the at least one carriage element, which enables tolerance compensation in the position of the projection elements to the housing body of the respective contact insert. In a position in which the contact insert is attached to the holding frame, tolerance compensation between the contact insert and the holding frame is possible, due to the fact that the contact insert is supported on the holding frame via its projection elements and the position of the contact insert can thus be adjusted by adjusting the projection elements to the holding frame is variable to some extent.

One or more carriage elements are slidably guided on the housing body. Each carriage element preferably carries an associated projection element, so that each projection element can be adjusted relative to the housing body via the associated carriage element and the position of the projection elements can thus be adjusted independently of one another on the housing body.

Each carriage element is preferably guided in a displaceable manner by engagement of a guide pin in an associated guide groove on the housing body. In one configuration, for example, one or more on the housing body Guide grooves may be formed, into which an associated carriage element engages with one or more guide pins, so that the carriage element is guided in this way in a form-fitting manner on the housing body and can be adjusted on the housing body.

In one configuration, the contact inserts can be inserted into the holding frame along an insertion direction. The direction of insertion can correspond to the direction in which an arrangement of contact elements (created with a holding frame fitted with contact inserts on a connector part) can be brought into plugging connection with an associated mating connector part. Preferably, the at least one carriage element, which carries the at least one projection element, is slidably guided on the housing body along the insertion direction, so that the adjustment direction of the carriage element on the housing body corresponds to the insertion direction. Compensation for tolerances by adjusting the position of the projection elements relative to the housing body is thus possible, in particular along the direction of insertion.

In one embodiment, the at least one carriage element is resiliently pretensioned by a spring element along the direction of insertion relative to the housing body. The adjustment of the carriage element on the housing body is thus carried out in a spring-elastic manner, wherein--in an embodiment with several carriage elements and projection elements arranged thereon--each carriage element can be elastically pretensioned with respect to the housing body via a separate spring element. In this case, each spring element can be accommodated, for example, in an associated clamping receptacle on the housing body and prestresses the projection element, for example counter to the direction of insertion towards the housing body.

The at least one spring element can be designed, for example, by a compression spring that can be compressed when the carriage element is adjusted.

In one embodiment, the housing body has a stop element that limits the adjustment path of the closing element relative to the housing body along the direction of insertion. For example, in a rest position, a spring element assigned to the carriage element can push the carriage element against the Press stop element, wherein the carriage element against the spring bias of the stop element is movable away to compensate for tolerances.

In an advantageous embodiment, each modular contact insert has two carriage elements which are arranged on opposite sides of the housing body and each carry a projection element. The carriage elements can be adjusted separately and independently of one another on the housing body and are advantageously each pretensioned with respect to the housing body via a spring element. By moving one or both of the carriage elements relative to the housing body, the position of the projection elements on the housing body and thus the position of a contact insert on the holding frame can be adjusted.

For example, if a contact insert has a width that corresponds to a multiple of the width of a slot (e.g. twice the width), and the contact insert thus occupies more than one slot when inserted into the holding frame, the contact insert can also be on the opposite sides each have more than one carriage element, each of which carries a projection element and can be adjusted independently of one another on the housing body.

A recess on a frame wall of the holding frame is preferably assigned to each of the projection elements on the housing body. Accordingly, opposite frame walls of the holding frame have (at least) one recess for each slot, so that when a contact insert is inserted into the holding frame, the projection elements on the opposite sides of the housing body of the contact insert can engage with the recesses on the opposite frame walls of the holding frame in order to in this way to support the contact insert on the frame walls of the holding frame.

In this case, the recesses in the opposite frame walls, which are assigned to a slot, can have different widths, measured along the width direction. Thus, a first recess assigned to a slot on a first frame wall has a first width which differs from a second width of a recess assigned to the slot on the second frame wall opposite the first frame wall. Assigned projection elements on opposite sides of the housing body of a contact insert that can be inserted into the slot preferably have (likewise different) widths which correspond to the widths of the assigned recesses of the opposite frame walls, so that a coding is created via the recesses and the assigned projection elements, which that the contact insert can only be used in a single position and orientation in the slot. The projection elements can only engage with the associated recesses when the contact insert is positioned correctly in the associated slot, so that the contact insert can only be accommodated on the holding frame in the correct manner when positioned correctly.

The projection elements can be locked in the recesses via an associated locking element, which is, for example, elastically resilient, so that a form-fitting (possibly detachable) fixation of the contact insert on the holding frame is provided.

In one embodiment, a plug-in section is formed on the housing body of at least some of the contact inserts, with which the contact insert can be plugged and connected to an associated mating connector part. An array of contact inserts can be combined on a holding frame and mounted in a housing of a connector part, in order to equip the connector part with an array of, for example, electrical contacts. By plugging the connector part, the plug sections of the contact inserts on the holding frame are brought into a plugging connection with associated mating plug sections on a mating connector part, so that in this way a connection is established between the connector part and the mating connector part and, for example, electrical, optical or other contact elements are contacted with one another.

One or more contact elements, for example electrical contact elements, optical contact elements, pneumatic contact elements or also other contact elements can be arranged on the housing body of one or more contact inserts. Contact elements are thus fastened to the housing body for plug-in connection with associated mating contact elements.

On the back of a plug-in section formed on the housing body, one or more plug-in openings can be formed on the housing body, via which, for example, electrical or optical lines can be connected to contact elements on the housing body.

A plurality of slots arranged in a row along the width direction are defined on the holding frame. In principle, each slot is used to accommodate a contact insert, so that in this case the division of the slots corresponds to the division of the contact inserts. In one configuration, however, a contact insert can also have a width that corresponds to a multiple of the width (for example twice the width) of a slot. If such a contact insert is attached to the holding frame, the contact insert takes up the space of two or more adjacent slots in the inserted position and is accordingly held in two or more adjacent slots on the holding frame.

The holding frame forms a plurality of slots, which are offset relative to one another along the width direction, for receiving a plurality of contact inserts. Each slot is assigned, for example, a spring element serving for latching on a frame wall in such a way that contact inserts can be individually inserted into the slots and latched in the slots and can also be removed from the slots again. The holding frame advantageously has a substantially rectangular shape. Frame walls here form side surfaces along the longitudinal sides of the holding frame, on which two spring elements are arranged opposite one another for locking purposes for each slot.

In one embodiment, a connector part can have a holding frame of the type described above. A plurality of modular contact inserts can be used in the holding frame, at least some of which have a plug-in section that can be connected in a plug-in direction to a mating connector part and has contact elements arranged thereon for making contact with the mating connector part. For example, electrical, optical, hydraulic, pneumatic or other contacts can be made available on the contact inserts. Because the connector part is brought into mating engagement with an associated mating connector part, there is a Contacting between the contact inserts held in the holding frame and associated mating contacts on the side of the mating connector part.

Fig. 1

eine Ansicht eines Steckverbinderteils mit einem Halterahmen und darin eingesetzten Kontakteinsätzen;

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht eines Halterahmens mit darin eingesetzten Kontakteinsätzen;

Fig. 3

die Anordnung gemäß Fig. 2, betrachtet von oben;

Fig. 4

eine Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Kontakteinsatzes mit einem Gehäusekörper und daran angeordneten, Vorsprungselemente tragenden Schlittenelementen;

Fig. 5

eine Explosionsansicht der Anordnung gemäß Fig. 4;

Fig. 6

eine Seitenansicht der Anordnung gemäß Fig. 4;

Fig. 7A

eine stirnseitige Ansicht der Anordnung gemäß Fig. 4;

Fig. 7B

eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie A-A gemäß Fig. 7A;

Fig. 8A

eine Draufsicht auf die Anordnung gemäß Fig. 4; und

Fig. 8B

eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie B-B gemäß Fig. 8A.

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 a connector part with a holding frame and contact inserts used therein;

2

a view of a holding frame with contact inserts inserted therein;

3

the arrangement according to 2 , viewed from above;

4

a view of an embodiment of a contact insert with a housing body and arranged thereon, projection elements bearing carriage elements;

figure 5

an exploded view of the arrangement according to FIG 4 ;

6

a side view of the arrangement according to FIG 4 ;

Figure 7A

according to an end view of the arrangement 4 ;

Figure 7B

a sectional view along line AA according to FIG Figure 7A ;

Figure 8A

a top view of the arrangement according to FIG 4 ; and

Figure 8B

a sectional view along the line BB according to FIG Figure 8A .

1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a connector part 1, which has a housing 10 and a holding frame 3 inserted into the housing 10. In the case of this exemplary embodiment, an electrical line 11 leads into the housing 10, in which several electrical line wires which open into the housing 10 can be enclosed in order in this way to make electrical contact with contacts arranged on the holding frame 3.

The plug-in connector part 1 can be connected to an associated mating plug-in connector part 2 by being plugged in in a plug-in direction S. The holding frame 3 of the connector part 1 is used to hold modular contact inserts 4, as in one embodiment in 2 and 3 are shown. The contact inserts 4 are attached to the holding frame 3 and have outwardly protruding plug-in sections 40 with contact elements 400 arranged thereon, which are used for the plugging connection and electrical contact with associated mating contact elements of the mating connector part 2 .

How out Figures 2 and 3 seen, the contact inserts 4 are modular and can be made differently. The contact inserts 4 each have a housing body 42, which has plug-in openings 41 on a side pointing into the housing 10 of the connector part 1, into which the conductors of the line 11 can be inserted for electrical contact. On the opposite, outward-pointing side, the plug-in sections 40 with the contact elements 400 arranged thereon protrude from the housing body 42 and serve for plugging into engagement with the mating connector part 2 .

The contact inserts 4 can differ in the form of the plug-in sections 40 with the contact elements 400 arranged thereon, in the number of contact elements 400 or also in their basic function. For example, no electrical contacts can be provided via the contact inserts 4, but rather, for example, optical, mechanical or pneumatic contacts.

The contact inserts 4 can be attached to a holding frame 3 in a modular manner in different combinations. The holding frame 3 has frame walls 31, 32 which extend parallel to one another along a width direction B, which are spaced apart from one another along a depth direction Q and accommodate the contact inserts 4 between them. At the ends, the frame walls 31, 32 are connected to one another via wall parts 33, 34, so that a rectangular frame is formed with an opening 30 into which the contact inserts 4 can be inserted in an insertion direction E.

Along the width direction B, the contact inserts 4 - in the Figures 2 and 3 illustrated embodiment - an equal pitch, in particular the same width. However, this is not mandatory.

Recesses 310, 320 are formed on the frame walls 31, 32 - in pairs opposite each other - into which the contact inserts 4 with projection elements 420, 421 can be pushed, so that when the contact inserts 4 are arranged in the holding frame 3, the contact inserts 4 with their projection elements 420, 421 each come to rest in a pair of opposed recesses 310,320.

The recesses 310, 320 in the opposite frame walls 31, 32 have different widths A1, A2, measured along the width direction B (see FIG 3 ). In this way, a coding is created that allows a contact insert 4 to be inserted only in a predetermined position and orientation in a slot 300 created between the frame walls 31, 32. In this way, a first projection element 420, which is narrow measured along the width direction B, can be inserted into the recesses 310 on the first frame wall 31, while a second projection element 421, which is arranged on the opposite, other side of the housing body 42, due to its width A2, can only be inserted into the recess 320 can be used on the second frame wall 32.

Spring elements (in Figures 2 and 3 not shown), the contact inserts 4 can be latched to the holding frame 3 in that the projection elements 420, 421 are each latched in the associated recesses 310, 320.

Fastening points 330, 331, 340, 341 are provided on the front wall parts 33, 34, which are used to fasten the holding frame 3 to the housing 10 of the connector part 1 and, for example by means of suitable screw connections, to fix the holding frame 3 with contact inserts 4 arranged thereon to the housing 10 enable.

Connection devices 332, 342 are also provided on the front wall parts 33, 34, via which, for example, a neutral conductor (so-called PE contact) can be connected to the holding frame 3 and via which, when the connector part 1 is connected to the mating connector part 2, a ground connection between the connector part 1 and the mating connector part 2 is created.

at a in Figures 4 to 8A , 8B illustrated embodiment of a contact insert 4 are projection elements 420, 421 in a resilient manner relative to a housing body 42 of the contact insert 4 adjustable. Each projection element 420, 421 is formed on an associated carriage element 43, the projection elements 420, 421 being as described above with reference to FIG Figures 1 to 3 has been described, project outwards from the housing body 42 on opposite sides and are used for engaging in associated recesses 320, 321 on the side frame walls 31, 32 of the holding frame 3.

Each carriage element 43 has a body 430 from which guide pins 431, 432 project on different sides. Via the guide pins 431, 432, the carriage element 43 is guided displaceably on guide grooves 440, 442 within an associated guide track 44 of the housing body 42 along the insertion direction E and is prestressed resiliently in relation to the housing body 42 via a spring element 45.

Each guide pin 431, 432 engages in a separate, associated guide groove 440, 442 on opposite sides of the guide track 44, so that the carriage element 43 is guided along the insertion direction E on the housing body 42. The guide grooves 440, 442 each have a recess 441, 443 on an outer edge, which makes it possible to insert the respective carriage element 43 into the guide grooves 440, 442 for mounting the contact insert 4. In the inserted position, the carriage element 43 is slidably guided on the guide grooves 440, 442.

From the body 430 of each carriage member 43, a support member 433 projects inward. The associated spring element 45 is supported on the carriage element 43 via the support element 433, as is shown in particular in FIG Figure 7B and 8B can be seen, with the associated spring element 45 between the Supporting element 433 on the carriage element 43 and a bottom 446 of a clamping receptacle 444 of the housing body 42 extends. The spring element 45 is accommodated in the clamping receptacle 444 in the manner of a cage and is fixed to the floor 446 via a fixing pin 447 .

Each carriage element 43 is resiliently prestressed against the insertion direction E with respect to the housing body 42 via the associated spring element 45 . The adjustment path of the carriage element 43 counter to the insertion direction E is here limited by stop elements 445 at the end of the guide grooves 442 assigned to the guide pins 431 .

in a 4 and 6 to 8A , 8B In the initial position shown, each carriage element 43 is pressed against the stop elements 445 on the associated guide grooves 442 via the associated spring element 45 and can be moved away from the stop elements 445 in the insertion direction E against the spring preload of the spring element 45 in order to change position.

The position of the projection elements 420, 421 relative to the housing body 42 of the contact insert 4 can be changed independently of one another via the carriage elements 43, so that tolerances on the contact inserts 4, on the holding frame 3 and also in the position of the holding frame 3 within the housing 10 of an associated connector part 1 can be balanced flexibly.

On the housing body 42 of the in Figures 4 to 8A , 8B A plug-in section 40 is formed on the contact insert 4 shown, via which the contact insert 4, when the contact insert 4 is attached together with other contact inserts 4 to a holding frame 3 and is accommodated via the holding frame 3 within the housing 10 of a connector part 1, plugs in with an associated mating connector part 2 can be connected. One or more electrical, optical or other contact elements (possibly also in the form of plug connectors) can be arranged on the housing body 42 so that a mating face of contact elements on the holding frame 3 is created via a combination of contact inserts 4 .

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

One or more contact inserts of the same type or of different types can be accommodated on a holding frame in order in this way to create a desired arrangement of contact elements by combining modular contact inserts. Such a holding frame can be mounted with contact inserts arranged thereon in a housing of a connector part in order in this way to create a connector configured in a desired manner.

Reference List

1

connector part

10

Housing

11

Management

110

director

2

mating connector part

20

Housing

3

holding frame

30

opening

300

slot

31:32

frame wall

310,320

recess

33

wall part

330,331

attachment points

332

contact facility

34

wall part

340, 341

attachment points

342

contact facility

4

Modular contact inserts

40

mating section (mating face)

400

contact elements

41

plug openings

42

case body

420,421

protrusion element

43

slide element

430

Body

431,432

pilot

433

support element

44

guideway

440

guide groove

441

recess

442

guide groove

443

recess

444

clamping fixture

445

stop element

446

floor

447

fixing pin

45

spring element

A1, A2

Broad

B

latitude direction

E

insertion direction

Q

depth direction

Claims (13)

1. Assembly for a plug-in connector part (1), comprising a holding frame (3) which has frame walls (31, 32) and a frame opening (30), which is delimited by the frame walls (31, 32), for receiving a plurality of modular contact inserts (4) at a plurality insertion points (300) which are lined up with one another along a width direction (B), and comprising at least one modular contact insert (4) which can be inserted into the frame opening (30) at at least one insertion point (300) and has a housing body (42) with at least one protruding element (420, 421), which is arranged on the housing body, for engaging into an associated recess (310, 320) on one of the frame walls (31, 32) of the holding frame (3), characterized in that the at least one modular contact insert (4) has at least one slide element (43) which is guided in a displaceable manner on the housing body (42) and on which the at least one protruding element (420, 421) is arranged.
2. Assembly according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one slide element (43) is guided displaceably on the housing body (42) by engagement of a guide pin (431, 432) into an associated guide groove (440, 442).
3. Assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one contact insert (4) can be inserted into the holding frame (3) along an insertion direction (E), wherein the at least one slide element (43) is displaceable on the housing body (42) along the insertion direction (E).
4. Assembly according to Claim 3, characterized in that the at least one slide element (43) is preloaded in a spring-elastic manner by means of a spring element (45) with respect to the housing body (42) along the insertion direction (E).
5. Assembly according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the housing body (42) has at least one stop element (445) for limiting the movement of the slide element (43) along the insertion direction (E) to the main body (432).
6. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one modular contact insert (4) has two slide elements (43) which are arranged on opposite sides of the housing body (42) and each support a protruding element (420, 421).
7. Assembly according to Claim 6, characterized in that the slide elements (43) are displaceable on the housing body (42) independently of one another.
8. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that mutually opposite frame walls (31, 32) of the holding frame (3) have a respective recess (310, 320) for each insertion point (300).
9. Assembly according to Claim 8, characterized in that the recesses (310, 320) of the opposite frame walls (31, 32), which recesses are associated with an insertion point (300), have different widths (A1, A2) as measured along the width direction (B).
10. Assembly according to Claim 9, characterized in that each recess (310, 320) has an associate protruding element (420, 421) on the housing body (42) with a corresponding width (A1, A2).
11. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one contact insert (4) has an insertion portion (40) for plug-in connection to a mating plug-in connector part (2).
12. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one contact insert (4) has at least one electrical contact element (400).
13. Plug-in connector part (1) comprising an assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug-in connector part (1) has a housing (10) to which the holding frame (3) is fastened.

Images