EP3837740A1

EP3837740A1 - Plug connector

Info

Publication number: EP3837740A1
Application number: EP19755604.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andreas Urbaniak; Thomas Kaluba; Eduard Cvasa; Achim Rosemann; Ufuk CECEN; Ingo Eckhardt
Original assignee: Volkswagen AG
Current assignee: Volkswagen AG
Priority date: 2018-08-17
Filing date: 2019-08-15
Publication date: 2021-06-23
Also published as: DE102018120104A1; CN113169477A; WO2020035566A1; CN113169477B; US20210242621A1; US11539159B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connector (100) for providing an electrical connection, having: a collective seal (10) having at least one passage opening (11) and at least one electrically conductive plug contact (30), which can be guided through the at least one passage opening (11) of the collective seal (10). To this end, the invention makes provision for a template (40) for the passage opening (11) to be provided in order to support the plug contact (30) when it is guided through the passage opening (11) of the collective seal (10).

Description

description

Connectors

The invention relates to a connector for providing an electrical connection to a device part in a motor vehicle, such as a door handle, an engine or an airbag control unit, according to the preamble of the independent device claim. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a corresponding connector according to the preamble of the independent method claim.

In the case of plug connectors which have an arrangement which is optimized for installation space, combined plug connections are often used, for example with the aid of collective seals in the form of mat seals, in order to save installation space for individual line insulation of different plug contacts. Such collective seals are suitable for carrying out relatively thin ones

Plug contacts in the connectors on the socket side (female). Both

Connectors on the male side (male) use thicker contacts than on the female side. During contact assembly, the contact elements are replaced by the

Mat seal pushed. There is a risk that the plug contacts can damage, for example puncture, the relatively soft mat seal when the plug contact is installed. For this reason, mat seals have so far only been used in conjunction with

Connectors used on the socket side (female). On the connector side, the plug contacts are usually simply overmoulded with a potting compound within a plug housing. The encapsulation can only take place after the final assembly of all contact elements in the connector housing. However, this restricts the freedom of assembly with different plug contacts or with a different number of plug contacts and precludes retrofitting and / or subsequent maintenance of such plug connectors. In addition, the punched edges of the plug contacts have to be passed through

Collective seals are carefully made burr-free to avoid damage to the seal during contact assembly, which is associated with a considerable manufacturing effort.

The object of the invention is therefore to at least partially overcome at least one disadvantage known from the prior art in a connector. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a connector for providing an electrical connection to a device part in a motor vehicle, such as a door handle, an engine or an airbag control device, which is simple, inexpensive and quick to manufacture and which is automatically equipped of the connector, which is reliably sealed, which has an extended service life and which can be flexibly assembled and / or modified and easily maintained.

The object of the invention is achieved by a connector for providing an electrical connection with the features of the independent device claim, in particular from the characterizing part, and by a method for producing a corresponding connector with the features of the independent device

Process claim, in particular from the characterizing part, solved. In the

dependent claims, preferred developments of the invention are listed. Features that are disclosed for the individual aspects of the invention can be combined with one another in such a way that reference is always made or can be made to one another with respect to the disclosure of the aspects of the invention.

The invention provides a connector for providing an electrical connection, in particular on a device part in a motor vehicle, such as a door handle, an engine or an airbag control unit, ready, comprising: a collective seal or one

Mat seal with at least one through opening and at least one electrically conductive plug contact which passes through the at least one through opening

Collective seal is feasible. For this purpose, the invention provides that a

Template for the through opening is provided to support the plug contact when passing through the through opening of the header seal.

Under the template in the sense of the invention, a guide and / or centering device, in particular a guide and / or centering film, with a corresponding one

Guide unit for the through opening can be understood. The template, in particular the guide unit, can in turn be an imaging guide geometry for the

Have through opening. The guide geometry can preferably be designed as a (3D) guide geometry with a certain depth. The template can advantageously be designed in the form of a film and be arranged flat on one side of the collecting seal. By resting the template on one side of the collective seal, the guide geometry can at least partially penetrate into the through opening.

The connector according to the invention is particularly suitable as a device plug, preferably on the male side (male) or on the device side of two complementary plug connections, which can have relatively hard and / or thick plug contacts.

Nevertheless, it is also conceivable that the invention can also be advantageous in the case of plug connectors on the socket side (female) in order to improve the quality and also of the plug sockets increase security and simplify their manufacture. In the case of a plug contact in the sense of the invention, the plug contact can be formed with a connecting line both on the socket side and on the plug side.

The idea of the invention is that a template for the through opening is provided for the manufacture of the connector, which is used in the implementation of the

Plug contact aligns the tip of the contact plug with the through opening of the collective seal, so that the plug tip does not penetrate into the seal, but is guided specifically through the through opening in the collective seal. The template effects an alignment of the plug contact along the surface of the template, preferably on a guide unit of the template, until the plug tip has the through opening in the

Mat seal hits exactly and is then carefully guided through this through opening. This can be achieved by a special shape of a, for example funnel-shaped, guide geometry that can at least partially protrude into the through opening of the collecting seal, and / or a certain material composition, for example in the form of an elastic film, that

Template can be achieved. The shape of the guide geometry can influence the angle of incidence of the plug tip on the surface of the header seal, which can cause it to slide along the template instead of being pierced through the plug tip into the material of the mat seal. The template can preferably be designed in the form of an elastic film, which can cause the plug tip to be dampened. The template can be used as a retrofit component for the connector, at least

temporarily or permanently.

Most common seals have several through openings that can be fitted with plug contacts as required. In the sense of the invention, the template can advantageously be provided with a corresponding one for all through openings of the collecting seal

Guide geometry be formed. In other words, the template in the sense of the invention can have a guide geometry that covers all of the through openings

Collective seal depicts. Furthermore, the template can have a guide unit for each through opening. The respective guide unit can be funnel-shaped

Have guide geometry that are in the direction of the through holes of the

Gasket tapered. The guide unit can also have a complementary opening for the through opening at a lower point. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the guide unit can have flaps that can be opened in the direction of the through openings of the collecting seal. In addition, the guide unit can have a predetermined breaking geometry, for example between the flaps, in order to facilitate passage of the plug tip. This enables a connector which is simple, inexpensive and quick to manufacture, which permits automatic fitting of the connector, which is reliably sealed, which has an extended service life and which can be flexibly assembled and / or converted and easily maintained.

Furthermore, the invention can provide for a connector that the template is elastic and / or film-like. Such a template can advantageously cushion and deform resiliently in order to be able to align the plug contact in an advantageous manner. In addition, such a template can have a thin material thickness and can be arranged in the connector without significant space losses.

Furthermore, the invention can provide for a connector that the template lies loosely on the header seal. Thus, the assembly of the template within the

Connector or the assembly of the connector easily and without much effort.

In the context of the invention, it is also conceivable that the template can have a material thickness of 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm, preferably 0.15 mm. A thin template with elastic properties can thus be provided.

In addition, it is conceivable that the template can have a depth of 1 mm to 1.2 mm, in particular 1.1 mm. A partial penetration of a guide unit of the template into the respective through opening can thus be brought about, so that the plug tip can be precisely aligned with the through opening of the collecting seal.

In addition, the invention can provide for a connector that the template has at least one guide unit to the plug contact in the direction of

Align through opening, in particular the guide unit can have a funnel-shaped guide geometry. The funnel-shaped guide geometry can preferably have a depth of 0.5 mm to 0.7 mm, preferably 0.6 mm. The template can thus provide an imaging guide geometry for the through opening. The

The guide unit advantageously ensures that the plug tip first appears on the template when the collecting seal is fitted and is aligned by the guide unit to the through opening before it is guided through the through opening. It can thus be avoided that the plug tip sticks into the collective seal.

Furthermore, in the context of the invention, the template can have hinged guide elements which can be opened in the through opening of the collective seal by the plug contact are. The alignment of the plug tip can thus be considerably simplified and the plug tip can be passed through the through opening almost smoothly. The guide elements can preferably be attached to the respective guide unit using hinge elements.

Furthermore, the invention can provide for a connector that the template has a predetermined breaking geometry that can be opened by the plug contact in the direction of the through opening. In addition or instead, the template can have a complementary opening for the through opening. The predetermined breaking geometry advantageously ensures that after the alignment of the plug tip, trouble-free passage of the plug tip through the through opening can be made possible.

Furthermore, in the context of the invention, the template can have a collar element, which can be used to position a holding element or a sealing retaining grid for the template on a connector housing. The collar element can surround the template in the form of a shell, so that a receptacle for the holding element is created within the template. By attaching the holding element, the template can also be used

can be arranged captively on the gasket. The template is thus arranged between the collecting seal and the holding element. The collar element can surround the foot of the holding element in the area of the support surface on the template.

Furthermore, the object of the invention is achieved by a method for producing a

Detached connector, comprising: a collective seal with at least one

Through opening and at least one electrically conductive plug contact, which is carried out through the at least one through opening of the collective seal. For this purpose, it is provided according to the invention that when the plug contact is made through the

Through opening of the header seal a template is used to guide the plug contact through the through opening of the header seal. With the help of

The method according to the invention achieves the same advantages as in the above

Connection with the connector of the invention have been described. To avoid repetition, reference is made in full to this.

Furthermore, the method can provide that the template remains on the header seal after the plug contact has been passed through the through opening of the header seal during normal operation of the connector. Thus the commissioning of the

Connector are accelerated. Further measures improving the invention are described in more detail below with the description of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the figures. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can each be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. It should be noted that the figures are only descriptive and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. Show it:

1 is a sectional view and different views of an assembled connector after the assembly of a gasket with a plug contact,

2 is an enlarged view of a plug contact when passing through a template in the sense of the invention,

Fig. 3 different views of a plug contact after passing through a template in the sense of the invention, and

Fig. 4 different views of a template in the sense of the invention.

In the following figures, the same reference numerals are used for the same technical features of different exemplary embodiments.

1 shows a connector 100 after the assembly of a collective seal 10 in the form of a mat seal 10 with an electrically conductive plug contact 30. Die

Mat seal 10 has a plurality of through openings 11, each for a plug contact 30, which can be fitted or left free as required. Together the

Mat seal 10 with a holding element 20 or a seal holding grid with an opening 21 for a connecting line 33 housed in a connector housing 50.

The collective seals 10 are conventionally only equipped with relatively thin plug contacts 30 in the plug connectors 100 on the socket side (female). Both

Connectors 100 on the male side (male) use thicker contacts 30 than on the socket side. When such thicker contact elements are passed through the mat seal 10, the plug contacts 30 may damage, for example puncture, the relatively soft mat seal 10.

The invention provides a connector 100, which makes it possible for the connector seal 10 to be gently fitted with relatively thick plug contacts 30 on the connector side, even without a connector 100, without damaging the connector seal 10. For this purpose, the invention provides a template 40 for the through opening 11 in order to support the plug contact 30 when passing through the through opening 11 of the collective seal 10.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the template 40 can be designed in the form of a guide and / or centering film. The guide film is designed with a corresponding guide unit 41 for the respective passage opening 11 of the mat seal 10. The template 40, in particular the guide unit 41, can be an imaging one

Have guide geometry for the through opening 11 (see FIG. 2). The

Guide geometry can be designed as a (3D) guide geometry with a certain depth t2 (see FIG. 4). The template 40 can be applied as a retrofit component for the connector 100, at least temporarily to populate the mat seal 10 or permanently for the operation of the connector 100.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3, the template 40 is arranged flat on one side of the collecting seal 10, so that the respective guide unit 41 can at least partially penetrate into the corresponding through opening 11 of the sealing mat 10 (see FIG. 2). , The template 40 only needs to be arranged loosely on the collecting seal 10. If the holding element 20 is positioned on the template 40, the template 40 can no longer slip. In other words, the template 40 is between the

Mat seal 10 and the holding element 20 positioned. The template 40 can also have a collar element 44 in order to at least partially enclose the holding element 20 in the region of the contact surface on the template 40. The template 40 is thus reliably held in its position.

An end grille 51 or a locking plate is then placed in front of the other side of the connector 100. The end grille 51 and / or the connector housing 50 in the region of the end grille 51 can interact with a plug geometry 32 or with a so-called contact box on the plug contact 30 in a positive and / or non-positive manner in order to fasten the plug contact 30 on the plug connector 100.

As shown in FIG. 2, the template 40 according to the invention aids in the passage of the plug tip 31 through the through opening 11 of the collecting seal 10 by precisely aligning the plug tip 31 with the aid of the guide unit 41, so that the plug tip 31 does not penetrate into the collecting seal 10, but instead is specifically guided through the through opening 11 in the collecting seal 10. As FIG. 2 also shows, the template 40 effects alignment of the

Plug contact 30 on the guide unit 41 of the template 40 until the plug tip 31 hits the through opening 11 in the mat seal 10 exactly. The plug tip 31 can then be guided gently through the through opening 11.

Since the collecting seals 10 mostly have a plurality of through openings 11, which can be fitted with plug contacts 30 as required, the template 40 can also be formed in the sense of the invention for all through openings 11 of the collecting seal 10 with a corresponding guide geometry, which all through openings 11 of the Can image manifold 10 (see FIG. 4). Within the scope of the invention, the template 40 can each have a guide unit 41 for each through opening 11. The respective guide unit 41 can have a funnel-shaped guide geometry that extends in the direction of the

Through openings 11 of the manifold 10 can taper.

As FIG. 3 shows, the guide unit 41 can have guide elements 42 in the form of flaps that can be opened in the direction of the through opening 11 of the collecting seal 10. The guide elements 42 can preferably be attached to the respective guide unit 41 with the aid of hinge elements 45, in particular in the form of film hinges. In addition, the guide unit 41 can have a predetermined breaking geometry 43, for example between the flaps, in order to facilitate passage of the plug tip 31. In addition or instead, the guide unit 41 can have a complementary opening 46 for the through opening 11 at a lower point.

Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows the template 40 in the context of the invention in isolation. The template 40 can have a material thickness d of 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm, preferably 0.15 mm and a depth t1 of 1 mm to 1.2 mm, in particular 1.1 mm. The depth t2 of the funnel-shaped guide geometry can be in the range from 0.5 mm to 0.7 mm, preferably 0.6 mm.

The foregoing description of the figures describes the present invention

only in the context of examples. Of course, individual features of the embodiments can, if it makes technical sense, be freely combined with one another without going outside the scope of the invention. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Gasket, mat seal

1 1 through opening

20 holding element

21 opening

30 plug contact

31 connector tip

32 connector geometry

33 connecting cable

40 template

41 management unit

42 guide element

43 predetermined breaking geometry

44 collar element

45 hinge element

46 complementary opening

50 connector housings

51 end grille

100 connectors d material thickness

t1 depth

t2 depth

Claims

claims

1. connector (100) for providing an electrical connection, comprising: a collective seal (10) with at least one through opening (1 1) and at least one electrically conductive plug contact (30),

which can be passed through the at least one through opening (11) of the collecting seal (10),

characterized,

that a template (40) is provided for the through opening (11) to the plug contact (30) when passing through the through opening (11)

Support gasket (10).

2. Connector (100) according to claim 1,

characterized,

that the template (40) is elastic and / or film-like.

3. Connector (100) according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized,

that the template (40) lies loosely on the collecting seal (10).

4. Connector (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that the template (40) has a material thickness (d) of 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm, preferably 0.15 mm,

and / or that the template (40) has a depth (t1) of 1 mm to 1.2 mm, in particular 1.1 mm.

5. Connector (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that the template (40) has at least one guide unit (41) in order to align the plug contact (30) in the direction of the through opening (1 1),

and / or that the guide unit (41) has a funnel-shaped guide geometry,

and / or that the funnel-shaped guide geometry has a depth (t2) of 0.5 mm to 0.7 mm, preferably 0.6 mm.

6. Connector (100) according to the preceding claim,

characterized,

that the template (40) has hinged guide elements (42) which can be opened in the through opening (11) of the collecting seal (10) by the plug contact (30).

7. Connector (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that the template (40) has a predetermined breaking geometry (43) by the

Plug contact (30) can be opened in the direction of the through opening (1 1).

8. Connector (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that the template (40) has a collar element (44), which is used to position a holding element (20) for the template (40) on a connector housing (50).

9. A method of making a connector (100), comprising:

a collective seal (10) with at least one through opening (1 1) and at least one electrically conductive plug contact (30),

which is passed through the at least one through opening (11) of the collecting seal (10),

characterized,

that when the plug contact (30) is passed through the through opening (11) of the collective seal (10), a template (40) is used to guide the plug contact (30) through the through opening (1 1) of the collective seal (10) in a targeted manner.

10. The method according to the preceding claim,

characterized,

that the template (40) after performing the plug contact (30) through the through opening (1 1) of the header seal (10) in normal operation of the

Plug connector (100) remains on the collective seal (10).