EP4115479A1

EP4115479A1 - Plug connector and plug connector assembly

Info

Publication number: EP4115479A1
Application number: EP21703225.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Vishwanath Kristappa BADAMI; Georg Wallensteiner
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2020-03-05
Filing date: 2021-02-02
Publication date: 2023-01-11
Also published as: KR20220144873A; US20230087250A1; JP2023516702A; WO2021175523A1; CN115428272A; DE102020202822B3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plug connector (1) for plugging together, along a plug-in direction (Z), with a mating plug connector (20) which has a mating plug connector housing (2), the plug connector (1) having: a plug connector housing (3); a plurality of electrical contact elements (40) which are arranged in the plug connector housing (3); a first lever arrangement (5) for reducing an operating force during the plugging-together and/or release of the plug connector with/from the mating plug connector, said first lever arrangement (5) being mounted rotatably on the plug connector housing (3), wherein the first lever arrangement (5) comprises: a first limb (51) and a second limb (52), wherein the second limb (52) is arranged pivotably on the first limb (51) by means of a first joint pin (53), wherein the first joint pin (53) is movable in a first guide slot (32), which extends substantially along the plug-in direction (Z), in the plug connector housing (3), a first guide arrangement (6) between the first limb (51) and the plug connector housing (3), wherein the first guide arrangement (6) has a first guide element and a first guide receptacle for receiving the first guide element, a second guide arrangement (7) between the second limb (52) and the plug connector housing (3), wherein the second guide arrangement has a second guide element and a second guide receptacle for receiving the second guide element, a first engagement element (8) which is arranged on the first limb (51) and is designed to engage in a first mating element (21) on the mating plug connector housing (2), and a second engagement element (9) which is arranged on the second limb (52) and is designed to engage in a second mating element (22) on the mating plug connector housing (2).

Description

description

title

Connector and connector assembly

State of the art

The present invention relates to a connector for plugging together with a mating connector along an insertion direction, for example a connector mounted on a cable harness, which can be plugged together with a mating connector of a control unit of a vehicle, and a connector arrangement.

Plug connectors and mating plug connectors are known from the prior art in different configurations. Due to the increasing number of contact elements that are provided in a connector, such connectors and mating connectors are getting larger and larger and greater (plug) forces have to be applied to plug and unplug the plug connection. For example, a plurality of contact elements are arranged in the plug connector, each of which is crimped onto a line of a cable harness. The contact elements can, for example, be socket contact elements (female contact elements). When plugging the connector together with the mating connector, mating contact elements of the mating connector in the form of e.g. pins or contact blades (male mating contact elements) can be inserted into the contact elements. It goes without saying that there are also connectors with male contact elements and mating connectors with female mating contact elements.

There is often a maximum insertion force at a defined insertion position. This can be, for example, the plug-in position at which a so-called opening peak has to be overcome. At this position, for example, contact lamellas are transverse to the penetrating pins or contact blades Shifted insertion direction. The opening peaks of all contact elements can add up and cause a very high insertion force. A.

So that a fitter is not confronted with an excessively high operating force when plugging the plug connector and mating connector, e.g. plug connectors with lever arrangements and / or slide arrangements are known in order to reduce the operating forces. For example, an operating force of no more than 75N should not be exceeded.

From EP 0933836 A2 a connector is known in which the operating forces when plugging together with a corresponding mating connector is to be reduced by a combination of a lever and a slide actuated by the lever. However, with this construction, a relatively large amount of space is required transversely to the insertion direction, since the slide is displaced transversely to the insertion direction during the insertion process. In addition, the construction of the connector with lever and slide is relatively complex.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a plug connector and a plug connector arrangement with a plug connector and a mating connector which, with a simple and inexpensive construction, enables secure plugging and loosening of the plug connection and thereby requires a reduced operating force compared to the plugging force. Furthermore, the connector should be able to be plugged together with a corresponding mating connector with the least possible operating path, in order to relieve the fitter on the one hand and to have to reserve as little installation space or operating space as possible on the other.

Disclosure of the invention

This object is achieved by a connector with the features of claim 1 and a connector arrangement with the features of claim 12.

The subclaims show preferred developments of the invention.

The connector according to the invention with the features of claim 1 thus has the advantage that a simple and secure connection of a connector to a mating connector of a connector arrangement is possible. When plugging together along an insertion direction Z, the electrical contacts or contact elements of the connector and the mating contacts or mating contact elements of the mating connector come into contact with one another. The necessary (operating) forces for plugging and unplugging the plug connection (from plugged together connector and mating connector) can be kept below a threshold of e.g. 75 N, e.g. even below a threshold of 50N or even e.g. below a threshold of 40N, whereby the number of electrical contacts is in particular greater than 20. This reduction in operating force can also advantageously be accompanied by a short operating distance.

According to the invention, a lever device or lever arrangement is provided on the connector, which enables efficient power transmission during the plugging process. In particular, a particularly high reduction in operating force, especially during those plug-in sections where particularly high plug-in forces occur. In other words: the lever device or lever arrangement is set up to reduce an operating force during the plugging process, in particular in a non-linear manner or in particular by means of a force transmission that is variable over the operating path. The plug connector here comprises a first lever arrangement for reducing an operating force when plugging together and / or detaching the plug connector with the mating plug connector. The first lever arrangement is rotatably arranged on a connector housing of the connector. The mating connector has a mating connector housing.

Plug connectors and mating plug connectors, in particular their housing parts, can be mechanically connected to one another when they are plugged together.

The first lever arrangement comprises a first and a second limb, the second limb being pivotably arranged on the first limb by means of a first pivot pin. The first pivot pin can be moved or displaced in a first guide slot, which extends essentially along the insertion direction Z, in the connector housing. Furthermore, a first guide arrangement is provided between the first leg and the connector housing, the first guide arrangement having a first guide element and a first guide receptacle for receiving the first guide element. A second guide arrangement is provided between the second leg and the connector housing. The second guide arrangement comprises a second guide element and a second guide receptacle for receiving the second guide element. Furthermore, a first and a second engagement element are provided. The first engagement element is arranged on the first leg and is designed to engage in a first mating element on the mating connector housing. The second engagement element is arranged on the second leg and is designed to engage in a second counter element on the counter connector housing. Preferably, the first and second engagement elements are each arranged at a free end of the first and second leg. As a result, when the connector housing is placed on the mating connector housing, the first and second engagement elements come into contact with the mating elements on the mating connector housing.

The functionality of the connector or the lever arrangement is as follows. When the lever arrangement is rotated (e.g. about an axis that runs transversely to the direction of insertion, e.g. through two opposite longitudinal sides of the connector housing), the first guide arrangement, which is arranged on the first limb, causes the first limb to be displaced along a direction specified by the first guide arrangement (e.g. transversely to the direction of insertion and transversely to the axis to the outside). Included the first pivot pin can serve as a point of rotation or a kind of rotary shaft for the rotary movement. In order to enable the displacement of the rigid first leg in the direction given by the first guide arrangement, the first pivot pin moves or displaces at the same time in the first guide slot (for example from top to bottom, i.e. along the insertion direction).

In the same way, the second limb can be displaced by means of the second guide arrangement during the rotary movement of the first lever arrangement along a desired direction, e.g. transversely to the insertion direction and transversely to the axis outwards, but e.g. in the opposite direction to the first limb).

In other words: the first guide arrangement produces a desired relative movement in a desired or preferred direction between the first leg and the connector or the connector housing. The second guide arrangement produces a desired relative movement in a desired or preferred direction between the second leg and the connector or the connector housing.

If the first engaging element engages in the first mating element or vice versa when plugging the connector and mating connector (the same applies to the second engaging element and the second mating element - this is not described further below), the combined displacement of the connectors and the mating connector is pulled towards each other along the insertion direction and the connector is closed.

Due to the combination of the movement of the first pivot pin in the first guide slot and the first leg in the first guide arrangement (and thus also of the first engagement element), the distance between an operator of the lever and the first counter-element and at the same time a further distance of the first changes during the rotation of the lever arrangement Pivot pin to the first counter element. The ratio of these two distances to one another results in a transmission ratio of the lever arrangement and thus the factor of operating force reduction. This gear ratio can for example be variable depending on the operating path of the lever arrangement or depending on the angle of rotation of the lever arrangement.

By means of the configuration of the first guide arrangement (and the second guide arrangement) relative to the first guide slot, the transmission ratio can be varied during the rotary movement, so that an efficient operation when plugging together is advantageously achieved with a very simple structure. Because on distances between the connector and the mating connector where only low insertion forces occur, the transmission ratio can be low, so that a large insertion path is achieved with a small rotary movement. In plug-in sections that cause a high plug-in force, the transmission ratio can be higher, so that a larger angle of rotation is necessary for the same distance along the plug-in direction. However, the higher gear ratio in these sections of the route also reduces the operating force to a greater extent.

The arrangement according to the invention thus advantageously enables the operating forces required for plugging together to be reduced with a very simple, robust and compact structure. A separate slide element or a slide element driven by the lever arrangement and / or a toothed wheel structure or rack and pinion structure can advantageously be dispensed with. Furthermore, at the same time, the operating distance required for plugging together can advantageously be reduced.

Furthermore, the first and the second guide arrangement and the first guide slot advantageously prevent tilting (relative to one another) and / or tilting of the plug connector and mating plug connector when they are plugged together.

In the context of this application, the expression “have” is to be understood as a synonym for the expression “comprise”.

The insertion direction can, for example, be referred to as the Z direction in a Cartesian coordinate system or as the vertical direction. A direction of the axis of rotation of the first lever arrangement can be referred to as the Y direction. A direction perpendicular to both the Y-axis and the Z-axis can be used as an X- Direction are designated (for example a direction along which, for example, a longitudinal side of the connector housing extends).

A direction of rotation of the first lever arrangement, in which the plug connector and mating plug connector are plugged together, can be referred to as the C direction.

A direction which - transversely to the insertion direction - points from the outside into the interior of the connector housing can be referred to as pointing radially inward, the opposite direction (from the inside to the outside) as pointing radially outward.

The expression according to which a guide arrangement is provided between a limb and the connector housing is to be understood here as meaning that the limb and the connector housing interact with one another by means of the guide arrangement.

The respective engagement elements can be designed as a slot or a groove and the corresponding counter-elements as a pin or a bolt. In principle, the engagement element can also be designed as a pin or bolt, etc. and the counter element as a groove or slot, recess, etc.

The term “essentially along the insertion direction” can be understood to mean directions which run by up to +/- 30 ^° to the insertion direction.

It can be provided, for example, that the first guide slot is arranged between the first guide arrangement and the second guide arrangement. This can be the case, for example, when viewed along the X axis. In this way, the connector can advantageously self-centering relative to the mating connector when the connector is plugged together or released. This advantageously reduces the risk of tilting or tilting and thus of increasing the insertion forces and / or the occurrence of transverse forces on the contact elements. It can be provided, for example, that the first guide arrangement is based on its geometric dimensions is identical or mirrored to the second guide arrangement. This further promotes self-centering.

More preferably, the plug connector further comprises a second lever arrangement. The second lever arrangement is preferably constructed in the same way as the first lever arrangement. The second lever arrangement comprises a third and a fourth limb, the fourth limb being arranged on the third limb by means of a second pivot pin. The second pivot pin is movably arranged in a second guide slot, which extends essentially along the insertion direction, in the connector housing. The first and second guide slots are preferably aligned parallel to one another. Furthermore, the second lever arrangement comprises a third guide arrangement between the third leg and the connector housing, the third guide arrangement having a third guide element and a third guide receptacle for receiving the third guide element. A fourth guide arrangement is provided on the second lever arrangement between the fourth leg and the connector housing, the fourth guide arrangement having a fourth guide element and a fourth guide receptacle for receiving the fourth guide element. Furthermore, a third engagement element and a fourth engagement element are provided. The third engagement element is arranged on the third leg and is designed to engage in a third mating element on the mating connector housing. Furthermore, the fourth engagement element is arranged on the fourth leg and is designed to engage in a fourth counter-element on the counter-connector housing.

It can be provided, for example, that the second guide slot is arranged between the third guide arrangement and the fourth guide arrangement. This can be the case, for example, when viewed along the X axis. In this way, the connector can advantageously self-centering relative to the mating connector when the connector is plugged together or released. This advantageously reduces the risk of tilting or tilting and thus of increasing the insertion forces and / or the occurrence of transverse forces on the contact elements. It can be provided, for example, that the third guide arrangement is designed to be identical or mirrored to the fourth guide arrangement in terms of its geometrical dimensions. This further promotes self-centering. It can for example be provided be that all four guide arrangements are designed to be identical or mirrored to one another in terms of their geometric dimensions.

The first and second lever arrangements are particularly preferably arranged on opposite sides of the connector housing. As a result, it is advantageously possible to apply a uniform introduction of force via the first and second lever arrangement during the plugging process and the detachment of the plug connection. Furthermore, the risk of tilting when plugging the plug connector and mating plug connector can be reduced in this way. Finally, the first lever arrangement and the second lever arrangement can thereby advantageously be made more compact or with less material, since the operating force is distributed over both lever arrangements.

Particularly preferably, each guide arrangement has a respective pin as a guide element and a groove in each case as a guide receptacle, with a position of each pin in its corresponding groove being changeable.

This advantageously results in a particularly simple and robust design of the guide arrangement.

By specifying the shape of the groove, the transmission ratio can also be designed during the lever rotation movement. This configuration of the guide arrangement (groove, pin) can thus provide a guide arrangement, and thus a lever arrangement, which can be implemented particularly easily and can be adapted to various requirements (operating force reduction / operating distance reduction). A particularly compact design is possible if a pin is arranged on each of the legs of the lever arrangements and a groove is arranged in the connector housing. It should be noted that the arrangement of pins and grooves can also be reversed, so that the grooves are provided in the legs and the pins are provided on the connector housing. Instead of grooves, guide surfaces can also be provided as guide receptacles, along which a guide element, for example a pin or a pin or a rail, a ball of a ball bearing, etc., is guided. Such a guide receptacle can have a guide surface, for example, a guardrail-like delimitation. The guide arrangement or the guide recording can be, for example, a Act backdrop structure. In addition, a groove can be arranged on one leg and a pin on another.

The grooves of the guide arrangements extend essentially (+/- 30 °) transversely to the insertion direction Z, for example essentially along the X direction, in particular at a right angle. The insertion direction Z is preferably the vertical direction and the grooves particularly preferably run perpendicular to the vertical direction in the horizontal direction (e.g. the X direction).

A particularly simple design of the guide arrangements can thereby be implemented.

It should be noted, however, that the grooves can also run at an angle of less than 90 ° to the direction of insertion.

The grooves can also be provided in an arc shape, in particular with a constant radius.

In order to enable particularly simple handling, the first and second lever arrangements are connected to one another by means of a connecting element. This creates an essentially U-shaped lever, the two legs of which form the first and second lever arrangement.

This also advantageously reduces the risk of tilting and / or tilting when plugging together.

More preferably, the first and second guide slots are straight. This advantageously enables a particularly simple design of the connector.

In a development it is provided that the first and second guide slots are arranged in the vertical direction. This advantageously enables a particularly simple design of the connector. Furthermore, this advantageously enables particularly low-friction operation. The first pivot pin is more preferably arranged on the first leg. This enables an advantageously particularly stable design of the first leg.

The second leg can then have an opening shaped corresponding to the first pivot pin in order to pivot about the first pivot pin.

Alternatively or additionally, the second pivot pin is arranged on the third leg. This enables an advantageously particularly stable design of the third leg.

The fourth leg further preferably has an opening shaped corresponding to the second pivot pin in order to pivot about the second pivot pin.

In addition to the different geometrical design of the grooves of the guide arrangement, for example as straight or curved grooves, it is furthermore preferably also possible for the grooves to be arranged in a common horizontal plane or to be provided in different horizontal positions.

The guide slots on the connector housing are preferably arranged, viewed along the insertion direction Z, in such a way that the guide slots have a lower end which lies below the grooves of the guide arrangements. More preferably, the guide slots, viewed along the entry direction, have an upper end which lies above the grooves. The upper end is preferably formed with a larger cross-section than the remainder of the guide slots. It is also possible that laterally stepped guide surfaces are provided on the grooves on the groove walls, and the pins each have a circumferential groove so that one end of the pin is designed as a head and the circumferential groove forms a neck-like incision and the head of the pin so on the guide surfaces can be guided. This can prevent the pins from accidentally loosening from the guide slots.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a connector arrangement with a connector according to the invention and a mating connector, wherein the mating connector has a mating connector housing and has mating elements, for example spigots, on the mating connector housing, set up for engagement with the engagement elements of the connector.

The connector arrangement on the mating connector preferably has a plurality of electrical mating contact elements which are arranged in the mating connector housing and are set up to contact the electrical contact elements of the connector when the connector and mating connector are plugged together for an electrical connection. The mating contact elements are designed, for example, as pins or contact blades (male mating contact elements). It goes without saying that the mating contact elements can also be designed as female mating contact elements, preferably with contact tongues or contact lamellas, into which the contact elements in the form of pins or the like of the connector are then inserted.

In the connector arrangement, the mating elements on the mating connector housing are furthermore preferably coupled to complementary mating element structures on the connector housing when they are plugged together, and the mating elements are displaced relative to the connector housing along the insertion direction when they are mated together.

This advantageously reduces the risk of tilting when plugging the connector and mating connector together.

For example, the mating elements can be designed as pins or projections on the mating connector housing. The counter-element structures can then, for example, be designed in the form of grooves or slots.

The connector arrangement is preferably used in the automotive sector in control devices. In particular when attaching a cable harness with a large number of electrical contacts, in particular more than 20 contacts, more preferably more than 50 contacts, more preferably more than 100 contacts, the connector arrangement according to the invention is very advantageous in order to plug and unplug the plug connection with a force of less than or equal to 75 N. drawing

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings is:

Figure 1 is a schematic, perspective view of the

Connector without cover,

Figure 2 is a schematic, perspective view of the

Mating connector,

Figures 3 and 4 perspective, schematic views of

Lever arrangements of the connector of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a schematic side view of a connector arrangement in a not yet plugged together state,

FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of the connector arrangement from FIG. 5, in which the connector is placed on the mating connector, the plugging process not yet having started,

Figures 7 to 10 different sectional views in parallel planes through the connector housing or the lever arrangements of the connector,

FIG. 11 shows a schematic, partially sectioned illustration of a side surface of the connector housing from FIG. 1,

Figures 12 to 14 are schematic representations of the sequence of movements of a lever arrangement during the process of plugging the connector and mating connector in different lever positions, FIG. 15 shows a schematic representation of the sequence of movements of the lever arrangement from FIGS. 12 to 14 in a single representation, which shows various angular positions of the lever arrangement,

FIG. 16 shows a schematic diagram and a table which shows a ratio V of a first length A from a first lever end to a counter element on the mating connector to a second length B of a guide element of the guide arrangement to the counter element during a plugging process,

FIG. 17 shows a schematic representation of a connector arrangement according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention,

Figure 18 is a schematic representation of a connector arrangement according to a third embodiment of the invention,

Figure 19 is a schematic representation of a connector arrangement according to a fourth embodiment of the invention,

FIGS. 20 to 23 are schematic representations of further alternatives for the connector arrangement, and

Figure 24 is a schematic representation of a

Connector arrangement according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention

A connector arrangement 100 with a connector 1 and a mating connector 20 is described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 16. The connector arrangement 100 can be used, for example, in the automotive sector. The connector 1 can be, for example, a connector at the end of a cable harness of a motor vehicle. The mating connector 20 can be arranged on a control device, for example.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrical connector arrangement 100 comprises a connector 1 (FIG. 1) and a mating connector 20 (FIG. 2). Plug connector 1 and mating plug connector 20 are designed to be complementary to one another and are designed to be plugged together along an insertion direction Z (FIG. 5).

The connector 3 has a connector housing 3 in which a plurality of electrical contact elements 40 are arranged. The contact elements are arranged here, for example, in contact chambers 42 in the interior of the connector housing 3. A line 43 can be attached to each of the contact elements 40, for example by means of a crimp attachment. The lines 43 together result in a cable harness, not shown here, at the end of which the connector 1 is arranged. The cable harness can be led away from the connector 1 laterally by means of a cover 30 shown in FIG. 5, for example.

The mating connector 20 has a mating connector housing 2. A plurality of mating contact elements 41 are arranged in the mating connector housing 2. These can be designed as contact blades or pins, for example. In this embodiment, four counter-elements 21, 22,

23, 24, two on each longitudinal side of the mating connector housing 2.

The connector 1 is placed on the mating connector 20 along an insertion direction Z (cf. Counter contact elements 41 are produced. The insertion direction Z is vertical in this exemplary embodiment, the connector 1 being moved exclusively in the vertical direction relative to the mating connector 20 over the entire insertion process. As a result, no transverse forces are exerted, for example on the electrical contact elements 40 and the electrical mating contact elements 41, during the plugging process. In addition, for example, in contrast to a solution in which the force transmission is brought about by a slide element displaceable along the X axis, the operating force is further reduced. In the case of a solution with a slide element, the transverse forces (along the X direction) also result in increased frictional forces during the assembly process along the insertion direction Z. The same also applies to the process of releasing (unplugging) the connector arrangement.

The plug connector 1 here also comprises a first lever arrangement 5 and a second lever arrangement 15 for reducing an operating force when plugging together and / or releasing the plug connector with the mating plug connector, which are rotatably mounted on the plug connector housing 3. In principle, it is also possible for only one (first) lever arrangement 5 to be provided. The first and second lever arrangements 5, 15 are connected to one another at one end of the lever via a connecting element 50 in the form of a bridge (see FIG. 6). The first and second lever arrangements 5, 15 are each arranged on the sides of the connector housing 3, so that a uniform introduction of lever force is possible during the plugging process and the detachment of the plug connection.

The first lever arrangement 5 and the second lever arrangement 15 are technically constructed in the same way in this exemplary embodiment. As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 3 and 4, the first lever arrangement 5 comprises a first leg 51 and a second leg 52. The second leg 52 is here, for example, shorter than the first leg 51 The first pivot pin 53 is arranged pivotably on the first leg 51. It goes without saying that the first pivot pin can also be arranged on the second leg 52 and, for example, is arranged or fastened in an opening of the first leg 51. The first pivot pin 53 can also be provided, for example, as a separate element which is inserted through openings in the first leg 51 and in the second leg 52 or is fastened there. The second lever arrangement 15 comprises a third limb 151 and a fourth limb 152. The fourth limb 152 is here, for example, shorter than the third limb 151. The fourth limb 152 is pivotably arranged on the third limb 151 by means of a second pivot pin 153.

As can also be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the lever arrangements 5, 15 has engagement elements 8, 9, 18, 19. More precisely, a first engagement element 8 is arranged on the free end of the first leg 51 and a second engagement element 9 is arranged on the second leg 52. A third engagement element 18 is arranged on the third leg 151 and a fourth engagement element 19 is arranged on the fourth leg 152. In this exemplary embodiment, the four engagement elements 8, 9, 18, 19 are designed as grippers with fixed tong jaws, a slot or a groove or a recess of the respective engagement element 8, 9, 18, 19 being provided between the tong jaws. These engagement elements 8, 9, 18,

19 then engage with the slot in the mating elements 21, 22, 23, 24 which are formed on the mating connector housing 2 (see FIG. 2). Here, the mating connector 20 has a first mating element 21 and a second mating element 22 on a first side face. On a second side opposite the first side, the mating connector 20 has a third mating element 23 and a fourth mating element 24. In this exemplary embodiment, the counter-elements are all constructed identically, merely by way of example. They are designed here in the form of cylindrical pins, here in the form of circular cylindrical pins. Other basic shapes are also possible, e.g. rectangular, elliptical, etc. basic shapes. The pegs are placed here on a base, for example, which here has an approximately rectangular cross-section (cuboid shape). A longitudinal axis of the base is aligned along the insertion direction Z here. The base is rounded here e.g. at its upper and lower end. The base can have two functions: on the one hand, it stabilizes the pegs of the counter-element 21, 22, 23, 24, since these pegs no longer project so far from the connector housing 3 with a thin cross-section. On the other hand, the base in the counter-element structures can bring about improved guidance.

The further structure of the connector 1 and the interaction with the mating connector 20 is illustrated in FIGS FIGS. 7 to 10 each show vertical sectional planes at different depths through the lever arrangement or the connector housing 3. Above all, the second lever arrangement 15 and its elements are shown. However, the description can be transferred to the first lever arrangement 5.

As can also be seen from FIGS. 1, 34 and 24, each lever arrangement 5, 15 has a guide arrangement between each leg and the connector housing 3. More precisely, a first guide arrangement 6 (see FIG. 24) is provided between the first leg 51 and the connector housing 3. A second guide arrangement 7 (see FIG. 24) is provided between the second leg 52 and the connector housing 3. A third guide arrangement 16 (see e.g. Figs. 8 and 10) is provided between the third leg 151 and the connector housing 3. A fourth guide arrangement 17 (see e.g. Figs. 8 and 10) is provided between the fourth leg 152 and the connector housing 3. The third and fourth guide arrangements 16, 17 can be seen in detail from FIGS. 8 and 10.

Each of the four guide arrangements 6, 7, 16, 17 has a pin here by way of example

10, which is guided in a groove 11 which forms a guide receptacle for the pin 10. The groove 11 is aligned in the horizontal direction (along the X direction) in the first embodiment. The pins 10 are cylindrical, for example circular cylindrical here, merely by way of example. The four guide arrangements, in cooperation with the two pivot pins 53, 153, ensure the relative movement between the lever arrangements 5, 15 (in particular their legs 51, 52, 151, 152) and the connector housing 3. And thus also the relative movement between the connector 1 and the mating connector 20 along the insertion direction Z. As can be seen from FIG. 8, there are two grooves to the left and right of the second guide slot 33

11 is provided in the connector housing 3. In the same way, the first guide slot 32 and the grooves 11 are also provided in the first lever arrangement 5, which is arranged on the other side of the connector housing 3. Figures 7 and 8 show two different sectional views of the connector arrangement 100 in the not yet closed state. A state at the start of the mating process is shown.

As shown in FIG. 7, after the connector 1 has been placed on the mating connector 20, the engagement elements 8, 9, 18, 19 engage in the corresponding mating elements 21, 22, 23, 24. FIG. 7 shows the position between connector 1 and mating connector 20, in which the lever device has already been pivoted somewhat (arrow C) and the engagement elements 8, 9, 18, 19 engage in the mating elements 21, 22, 23, 24. The pivot pins 53, 153 are already guided somewhat in the insertion direction Z in the guide slots 32, 33 (thus shifted somewhat downwards in the figure).

It can be clearly seen that the pin 10 in the groove 11 of the third guide arrangement 16 and the pin 10 in the groove 11 of the fourth guide arrangement 17 are each still mounted very close to their respective end facing the second guide slot 33. When the second lever device or second lever arrangement 15 is further rotated or pivoted along the direction of rotation (see arrow C), the two pins 10 move further and further outwards relative to the second guide slot 33 (along the X axis). At the same time, the second pivot pin 153 is shifted further and further downwards - as a result of the movement of the third and fourth legs 151, 152, which are connected to the pins 10, forced by the guide arrangements 16, 17.

The mating elements 21, 22, 23, 24 not only engage in the engagement elements 8, 9, 18, 19 which pull the connector 1 onto the mating connector 20 when the lever device is further rotated or pivoted. They are also guided into first to fourth counter-element structures 27, 28 (see also FIG. 11) (the first and second counter-element structures cannot be seen in the figures shown here). The third and fourth mating element structures 27, 28 are designed here as grooves or slots 12 in the connector housing 3 and extend along the insertion direction Z. In this way, a tilt-free, guided, uniform mating of connector 1 and mating connector 20 is improved. The same also applies to the first and second counter-element structure, which are not visible here. In FIG. 7 (as also in FIG. 9) the pins 10 and grooves 11 covered by the legs 151, 152 and the upper part of the second guide slot 33 are shown in broken lines.

Figures 8 and 9 then show an end position of the connector arrangement 100, in which the connector 1 is completely plugged onto the mating connector 20 and the electrical contact has been made. As can be seen in particular from Figure 9, the engagement elements 8, 9, 18, 19 of the first and second lever arrangement 5, 15 are pivoted about a horizontal position, so that a secured position of the plugged connection between connector 1 and mating connector 20 is achieved, in which an unintentional loosening of the plug connection is not possible. In this position, the engagement elements 8, 9, 18, 19 fully engage in the counter-elements 21, 22, 23, 24, which are then located at the end of the groove or the slot between the pincer-like jaws or pincer jaws of the engagement elements 8, 9, 18, 19 are located (see FIG. 9). The position of the pins 10 in the grooves 11 corresponding to the position from FIG. 9 of the connector arrangement 100 is shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 10, the counter-elements 21, 22, 23, 24 are positioned adjacent to the pins 10.

It can also be clearly seen that the second pivot pin 153 has been displaced in the second guide slot 33 at its lower end 33c.

The arrangement and shape of the third and fourth guide arrangements 16, 17 and the second guide slot 33 is selected in such a way that an, in particular variable, operating force reduction and jamming-free rotation of the second lever arrangement 15 is brought about. The same applies analogously to the first lever arrangement 5 and its elements.

In the connector housing 3, four vertical slots 12 are also provided, in which the counter-elements 21, 22, 23, 24 can each be moved in the vertical direction, ie, in the insertion direction Z. This again makes it clear that during the plugging process the plug connector 1 is only plugged onto the mating plug connector 20 in the insertion direction Z, so that the electrical contact elements 40 and the electrical mating contact elements 41 do not Radial forces are exposed, but only experience forces in the insertion direction Z.

Figure 11 shows an example of an inner wall of the connector housing 3 facing the interior of the connector housing 3, in which the second guide slot 33 and the two grooves 11 of the third and fourth guide arrangements 16, 17 running horizontally along the X direction are formed, as well as the two along the insertion direction Z vertically extending grooves of the third and fourth counter-element structure 27, 28. The opposite wall with the first guide slot 32 and the first and second guide arrangement 6, 7 can be designed analogously.

In order to ensure reliable guidance during the plugging process, a guide surface 33a is provided on the guide slot 33 along the slot walls of the guide slot 33, as shown in FIG. These guide surfaces 33a can for example be formed by a step in the wall.

At an upper - here: closed - end 33b, the second guide slot 33 has an enlarged diameter here, for example. The second pivot pin 153 can be inserted through this upper end 33b from the outside to the radial inside. The second pivot pin 153 can have a type of cap which has an enlarged diameter compared to the directly adjoining area of the pin (see also FIGS. 3 and 4). The side of the cap facing the pin can then slide downward on the guide surfaces 33a. Because of its enlarged diameter, after a displacement away from the upper end 33b of the second guide slot 33, it is advantageously no longer possible for the second pivot pin 153 to slip radially outward out of the interior. Furthermore, the cap and the guide surfaces set back in the wall can advantageously ensure that the second pivot pin 153 does not protrude, or only very slightly, into the interior of the connector housing 3.

The enlarged upper end 33b also advantageously reduces the risk of damage to the second pivot pin 153 when the lever device or the second lever arrangement 15 is mounted on the Connector housing 3. Since the second pivot pin must be attached to the connector housing 3 in a rotatable and displaceable manner, it can in this way be pushed through the widened upper end 33b easily and without damage. FIG. 11 also shows again in detail the arrangement of the vertical slots 12 in relation to the grooves 11, here at right angles.

It should be noted again that in Figures 7 to 11 only one side of the connector 1 was shown and described, but the opposite side, in which the first lever arrangement 5 is arranged, is constructed in the same way as that in Figures 7 to 11 page shown.

As can also be seen from FIGS. 8, 10 and 11, the guide slots 32, 33 have a length in the vertical direction such that a lower end 33c of the second guide slot 33 lies below the grooves 11, which are part of the third and fourth guide arrangements here by way of example 16, 17 are. As a result, the lever device with the first and second lever arrangement 5, 15 can be pressed downward beyond a horizontal plane, so that a secured position of the lever device in the plugged state of the connector 1 in the mating connector 20 is possible. This state is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The end position can preferably be further secured, for example, by latching interventions or the like.

The function of the connector arrangement 100 according to the invention with the connector 1 according to the invention is explained again schematically with reference to FIGS. 12 to 16.

Figure 12 shows schematically the starting position before the start of the plugging process. The connector 1 is placed over the mating connector 20 in such a way that the four engagement elements 8, 9, 18, 19 lie over the four peg-like mating elements 21, 22, 23, 24. The connector 1 is then moved in the insertion direction Z so that the engagement elements 8, 9, 18, 19 rest on the counter elements 21, 22, 23, 24, as indicated schematically in FIG. 12 by the dashed counter elements 23 ', 24'. The first and second lever arrangements 5, 15 are then rotated as indicated in FIG. 13 by the arrow C (here directed counterclockwise). As a result, on the one hand, a relative position between the pins 10 relative to the grooves 11 is changed (the Pins 10 move outwards from the center) and on the other hand the engagement elements 8, 9, 18, 19 come into engagement with the counter-elements 21, 22, 23, 24. The first and second pivot pins 53, 153 are moved vertically downwards (along the insertion direction Z) in the insertion direction Z in the first and second guide slots 32, 33, respectively. In FIG. 13, a state is shown in which an angle α between the first or third limb 151 and a horizontal plane, starting from the initial state in FIG. 12, is reduced somewhat, approximately by 10 °.

FIG. 14 then shows the end position which the plugged connector 1 assumes in the mating connector 20. The joints or the first and second pivot pins 53, 153 were moved along the insertion direction Z over a horizontal plane E in which the grooves 11 are arranged, so that the plug connection is secured. The first and second pivot pins 53, 153 are thus located below the horizontal plane E. The lever device has thus been transferred into an overpressed state.

FIGS. 15 and 16 again illustrate the connection process between the connector 1 and the mating connector 20.

FIG. 15 shows in 10 ° steps, starting from an angle a equal to 40 °, first distances A between a free end 151a of the third leg 153 up to a center point of the third counter-element 23, which in FIG A40, A30, A20, A10, A0 and A-10 (A minus 10 °) are marked.

Furthermore, second distances B between a center of the pin 10 and the center of the third counter-element 23 are shown in FIG. 15, likewise correspondingly in 10 ° steps, starting from B40, via B30, B20, B10, B0 and B-10 (B minus 10 °). The position A-10 and B-10 represents the secured, plugged position according to FIG. 14 between the connector 1 and the mating connector 20. The position is also shown in FIG. 15 as a function of the rotation of the lever device in 10 ° steps of the second pivot pin 153 is shown in the second guide slot 33.

In the table of FIG. 16, a ratio V = A / B of the first distance A and the second distance B is in each case corresponding to the angle a between the third Leg 151 and a horizontal plane shown. This ratio corresponds to the force transmission through the lever arrangements 5, 15. A ratio of e.g. V = 2 means that the operating force (without friction losses) is reduced by half relative to the insertion force (the operating distance is accordingly extended to double the insertion distance).

The table in FIG. 16 shows a diagram of the ratio V = A / B over the angle a in degrees. It can be seen that, for this exemplary embodiment, the greatest ratio is in the range of a = 0 °. That is, when the lever arrangements 5, 15 are aligned parallel to the horizontal plane E, at an angle a = 0 °, the force transmission is greatest. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the plugging process is completely completed at this angle, so that the electrical contact elements 40 make full contact with the electrical mating contact elements 41. The plugging process is then continued up to the angle a = -10 ° in order to secure the plug connection.

It is also clear from the diagram in FIG. 16 that the ratio V = A / B, which changes over the decreasing angle, results in a greatest leverage force in the area of the angle a of ± 0 °. In other words, the leverage increases continuously from a = 40 ° to a = 0 ° when the connector 1 is plugged into the mating connector 20 and the lever arrangements 5, 15 are actuated. This is particularly advantageous because a necessary plug-in force when plugging together increases with increasing distance covered in the plug-in direction Z (the plug-in force can here, for example, be composed of the contact forces to contact the contact elements 40 with the mating contact elements 41; a force to overcome a increasing internal pressure with a tight plug connection with a non-vented connector housing; etc.). The connector 1 according to the invention can thus optimally support the plugging process and the application of force by a user in that the lever ratio is continuously changed over the plugging path. The operating force of the fitter can thus be kept below a defined threshold even with increasing insertion force, without the operating distance increasing too much. The support of the user of the connector arrangement 100 is thus greatest when the force required to insert the connector 1 into the mating connector 20 is also greatest. This is a great advantage in particular in connector arrangements which have a large number of electrical contacts or contact elements.

As the translation increases, the operating distance increases as shown above. Due to the variable, non-linear or non-constant leverage that is present here, a double advantage is achieved with simple means.

On the one hand, it is ensured that the operator remains below a critical threshold (e.g. 75N or 50N or 40N) at every point of the plug-in path thanks to the variable transmission. At the same time, however, in sections of the insertion path where the insertion force is not so high, the operating path can be shortened by a lower leverage compared to the operating path at the highest translation. Depending on the connector arrangement, this variable leverage, which advantageously works completely without gears, racks or slide elements, can be adapted with little effort to the desired boundary conditions in terms of operating force and control path through a suitable shape of the guide arrangements and the guide slots as well as their relative arrangement to one another.

FIG. 17 shows a plug connector 1 and a plug connector arrangement 100 according to a second preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, identical or functional parts being denoted by the same reference symbols. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, in the second exemplary embodiment the arrangement of the engagement elements on the connector 1 and the geometrically corresponding counter elements on the mating connector 20 is reversed. As shown in FIG. 17, cylindrical or conical pins 18a, 19a, for example, are provided here as engagement elements on the third and fourth legs 151, 152, which are inserted into correspondingly geometrically designed pincer-like or slot-like or groove-like counter elements 23a, 24a on the mating connector 20 or engage the mating connector housing 2. FIG. 17 shows schematically only the illustration of the second lever arrangement 15. However, the first lever arrangement 5 of the second exemplary embodiment is constructed in the same way as the second lever arrangement 15. Otherwise, this exemplary embodiment corresponds to the previous exemplary embodiment, so that reference can be made to the description given there. FIGS. 18 and 19 show a third and fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention, again identical or functionally identical parts being denoted by the same reference numerals. In the third exemplary embodiment of FIG. 18, the third and fourth engagement elements are designed with curved free ends which are bent inwardly in the direction of the second pivot pin 153 or towards the second guide slot 33.

In the fourth exemplary embodiment in FIG. 19, the third and fourth engagement elements 18, 19 are also designed with arcuate ends, but these arcuate ends are bent outward at their free end, that is, away from the second guide slot 33.

Further alternative exemplary embodiments are shown schematically in FIGS.

In FIGS. 20 and 21, the grooves 11 in the connector housing 3 are no longer designed horizontally, for example, but rather straight at a predetermined angle, preferably 15 ° to a horizontal plane that extends along the X direction. In FIGS. 22 and 23, the grooves 11 are arcuate, one concave and one convex to the horizontal plane.

With this angled arrangement of straight grooves (FIGS. 20 and 21) or an arcuate arrangement of the grooves 11 (FIGS. 22 and 23), a lever force can be influenced in a targeted manner during the insertion path. This is advantageous, for example, if the electrical contact elements 40 have, for example, electrical tongues or contact lamellas, which have to be displaced by the electrical mating contact elements 41 during the plugging process. As a result, the force to be applied for the plugging process can increase significantly (snap-open peak), which can be adapted through the clever geometric design of the grooves 11 so that the highest leverage (and thus the lowest relative operating force) is available when the highest plugging force or plugging force is used Performing the plugging process is necessary.

FIG. 24 shows a connector 1 of a connector arrangement 100 according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the invention. Identical or functionally identical parts are again denoted by the same reference symbols. The fifth The exemplary embodiment corresponds essentially to the first exemplary embodiment, whereby, in contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the first pivot pin 53, the pin 10 and the first engagement element 8 no longer lie on a common straight line. In other words: the pin 10 can be arranged eccentrically to the slot of the first engagement element 8, for example. As can be seen from FIG. 24, in particular a connection between the pin 10 and the first engagement element 8 or the (further) pin 10 and the second engagement element 9 is designed to be angled or eccentric. As a result, the force required to carry out the plugging process can be further reduced. FIG. 24 shows the state of the plugging process in which the plug connector 1 is just placed on the mating connector 20 so that the engagement elements 8, 9 contact the corresponding mating elements 21, 22.

FIG. 24 again shows only one side of the connector 1 on the first lever arrangement 5. The second side of the connector 1 with the second lever arrangement 15 is constructed identically and is no longer described in detail.

With regard to the exemplary embodiments described, it should be noted that, of course, the most varied of combinations are possible. In particular, the grooves 11 shown in FIGS. 20, 21, 22 and 23 can be used in all of the exemplary embodiments described.

It is also possible that the engagement elements shown in FIGS. 18, 19 and 24 can be used in all of the exemplary embodiments described.

It should also be noted that it is also possible that the grooves 11 are not provided in the connector housing 3, but are provided on the lever arrangements 5, 15 and the pins 10 are then provided accordingly on the connector housing 3. In other words, the guide arrangements 6, 7, 16, 17 and engagement elements 8, 9, 18, 19 provided on the lever arrangements 5, 15 and the connector housing 3 can also be provided on the other component. Furthermore, it goes without saying that all the exemplary embodiments can also be designed with only a single lever arrangement. The representation of the second lever arrangement 15 does not mean that two lever arrangements 5, 15 have to be provided.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that the guide arrangements or guide receptacles, embodied here by way of example as grooves 11, which are arranged on the same longitudinal side of the connector housing 3, do not have to be arranged at the same height (that is, viewed along the Z-axis). This can be useful, for example, if the counter-elements 21, 22 or 23, 24 arranged on the same longitudinal side of the connector housing 3 are arranged at different heights (with respect to the Z-axis). In the same way, the first and second guide slots 32, 33 can, for example, also run (slightly) tilted relative to the insertion direction Z, for example tilted by up to 30 °, preferably by up to 15 °, particularly preferably by up to 10 °.

The proposed connector has the advantage over a connector with a lever arrangement which has a link structure for variable plug-in force reduction that the frictional forces are significantly reduced during operation.

The proposed connector has the advantage over a connector with a slide element for reducing the operating force that the frictional forces are significantly reduced during operation. In addition, the proposed solution has a self-centering effect when plugging together and / or loosening, so that the risk of tilting or tilting when plugging together or loosening the plug connection is reduced.

The proposed connector has the advantage over a connector with a lever arrangement for operating force reduction, which is designed by the meshing of gears, that a variable transmission ratio can be set with simple means and with low friction and can be adapted to the respective application.

Claims

Expectations

1. Connector (1) for plugging together along an insertion direction (Z) with a mating connector housing (2) having mating connector (20), the connector (1) having: a connector housing (3); a plurality of electrical contact elements (40) which are arranged in the connector housing (3); a first lever arrangement (5) for reducing an operating force when mating and / or releasing the connector with the mating connector, which is rotatably mounted on the connector housing (3), wherein the first lever arrangement (5) comprises: a first leg (51) and a second Leg (52), the second leg (52) being pivotably arranged on the first leg (51) by means of a first hinge pin (53), the first hinge pin (53) in a first guide slot (32) which extends essentially along the Insertion direction (Z) extends, is movable in the connector housing (3), a first guide arrangement (6) between the first leg (51) and the connector housing (3), the first guide arrangement (6) having a first guide element and a first guide receptacle for receiving of the first guide element, a second guide arrangement (7) between the second leg (52) and the connector housing (3), the second guide arrangement now g has a second guide element and a second guide receptacle for receiving the second guide element, a first engagement element (8) which on the first leg

(51) is arranged and is designed to engage in a first mating element (21) on the mating connector housing (2), and a second engaging element (9), which is on the second leg

(52) is arranged and is set up in a second Engage counter element (22) on the mating connector housing (2).

2. Connector according to claim 1, further comprising a second lever arrangement (15) with a third leg (151) and a fourth leg (152), wherein the fourth leg (152) by means of a second pivot pin (153) on the third leg (151) is arranged, wherein the second pivot pin (153) is movably arranged in a second guide slot (33), which extends essentially along the insertion direction (Z), in the connector housing (3), a third guide arrangement (16) between the third leg

(151) and the connector housing (3), the third guide arrangement having a third guide element and a third guide receptacle for receiving the third guide element, a fourth guide arrangement (17) between the fourth leg

(152) and the connector housing (3), wherein the fourth guide arrangement has a fourth guide element and a fourth guide receptacle for receiving the fourth guide element, a third engagement element (18) which is arranged on the third leg (151) and is set up in a third mating element (23) to engage on the mating connector housing (2), and a fourth engagement element (19) which is arranged on the fourth leg (152) and is designed to engage in a fourth mating element (24) on the mating connector housing (2).

3. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide arrangements (6, 7, 16, 17) each have a pin (10) as a guide element and a groove (11) as a guide receptacle, a position of the pin (10) in the groove (11) is changeable.

4. Connector according to claim 3, wherein in each case a pin (10) is arranged on a leg (51, 52, 151, 152) and in each case a groove (11) is arranged in the connector housing (3). 5. Connector according to one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the groove (11) extends essentially transversely to the insertion direction (Z), in particular at right angles.

6. Connector according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the first lever arrangement (5) and the second lever arrangement (15) are connected to one another by means of a connecting element (50).

7. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second guide slot (32, 33) is straight.

8. Connector according to claim 7, wherein the first and second guide slots (32, 33) are arranged along the insertion direction (Z).

9. Connector according to one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the first pivot pin (53) is arranged on the first leg (51) and wherein the second pivot pin (153) is arranged on the third leg (151).

10. Connector according to one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the guide arrangements (6, 7, 16, 17) have straight grooves (11) or wherein the guide arrangements have arcuate grooves.

11. Connector according to one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the guide slots (32, 33) viewed along the insertion direction (Z) have a lower end which is below the grooves (11) and / or wherein the guide slots (32, 33) viewed along the insertion direction (Z) have an upper end which lies above the grooves (11).

12. Connector arrangement, comprising:

- A connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims; and

- a mating connector (20),

- The mating connector (20) having a mating connector housing (2) with mating elements (21, 22, 23, 24).

13. Connector arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the mating connector (20) has a plurality of electrical mating contact elements in the

Mating connector housings (2) are arranged and are set up to contact electrical contact elements of the connector (1) when the connector and mating connector are plugged together.

14. Connector arrangement according to claim 12 or 13, - wherein the counter elements (21, 22, 23, 24) on

Mating connector housing (2) when mating with complementary mating element structures (12) are coupled on the connector housing (3), and the mating elements (21, 22, 23, 24) when mating relative to the connector housing along the

Shift the insertion direction (Z).