EP4305712A1

EP4305712A1 - Contacting element

Info

Publication number: EP4305712A1
Application number: EP22713408.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Lüdke; Christian Kupfer; Falk Langer
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG; SKS Kontakttechnik GmbH
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG; SKS Kontakttechnik GmbH
Priority date: 2021-03-11
Filing date: 2022-03-09
Publication date: 2024-01-17
Also published as: WO2022189524A1; BE1029186B1; BE1029186A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a contacting element, comprising: a lower part (3, 3') having at least one recess (5, 5') for receiving a cable (7, 7'); an upper part (9, 9') having a lever element (11, 11') mounted on the upper part (9, 9') for rotation between an open position and a locked position, in order to lock the upper part (9, 9') on the lower part (3, 3') when the lever element is in the locked position; and at least one contact pin (13A, 13A', 13B, 13B') designed to at least partly penetrate the cable (7, 7') received in the recess (5, 5'), when the lever is in the locked position, in order to electrically contact at least one conductor (8A, 8A', 8B, 8B') in the cable (7, 7'); wherein, when the lever element (11, 11') is in the open position, the lower part (3, 3') and the upper part (9, 9') can be plugged together in a straight line in a plugging direction, and the lever element (11, 11') is designed to move the lower part (3, 3') and the upper part (9, 9') toward each other in a straight line as the lever element is transferred into the locked position. The invention also relates to an actuator sensor (AS) interface system (100).

Description

contacting element

The invention relates to a contacting element, in particular for an actuator-sensor, AS, interface system according to the preamble of claim 1 and an actuator-sensor, AS, interface system with a contacting element as a passive distributor.

Such a contacting element, which can be used as a passive distributor for an actuator sensor, AS, interface system, comprises a lower part having at least one recess for receiving a cable, and an upper part having a lever element rotatably mounted on the upper part between an open and a locked position to lock the top in the locked position on the base. Furthermore, such a contacting element has at least one contact pin, which is adapted to at least partially penetrate the cable accommodated in the recess in the locked position in order to electrically contact at least one conductor in the flat cable.

Contacting elements as passive distributors can be used in various systems. A possible use of the passive distributor is in an actuator-sensor, AS, interface system. The AS Interface can also be abbreviated as ASi and referred to in English as Actuator-Sensor Interface, or in German as Aktor-Sensor Interface. The AS Interface is a standard for fieldbus communication that was developed to connect actuators and sensors to replace parallel cabling. The AS interface has been an international standard according to IEC 62026-2 since 1999.

The individual actuators and sensors of the AS Interface system can be connected to a continuous cable, for example a flat cable, to connect the individual bus participants. This cable is connected to the individual participants using the so-called penetration technique, which can also be referred to as the piercing technique. In contrast to the clamping technique, this technique means that the cable is not separated into several individual cables. A two-wire flat cable is often used for this, via which both the energy and the function and safety signals are transmitted.

For the connection of active I/O devices, distribution terminals are already used in the AS Interface system, which use leverage to contact the cable. Such a distribution terminal is described, for example, in the document DE 10 2006 023 351 B3. Other insulation displacement terminals are described in the documents CN 208433536 U, DE 100 57 428 A1, EP 1 704 628 A1 and DE 10 2015 114 134 A1.

The passive distributors known from the prior art are implemented using insulation displacement connectors that include a housing with an upper part and a lower part. In the assembled state, the cable is arranged or clamped between the upper part and the lower part, and the necessary contact force for the penetration technique is often applied by means of one or more screws with which the upper part and the lower part are screwed together. The contact pins are arranged in either the upper part or the lower part in order to electrically contact at least one conductor in the flat cable. The interface to the contact pins can be implemented in different ways, for example as a multi-pole M12 outlet, as a cable whose conductors are connected to the contact pins, as a bridge element to a second cable, or as a contact on a printed circuit board.

However, the known passive distributors have the disadvantage that the contact must be made with a tool and defined torques are required for the screw connection described above for certain applications. Due to their design, the well-known distributor terminals for active I/O devices are not suitable for use as passive distributors.

The object of the present invention is to provide a contacting element that enables simple assembly without tools in a confined space.

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

Accordingly, in the open position of the lever element, the lower part and the upper part are arranged so that they can be plugged into one another in a straight line in a plugging direction, and the lever element is adapted to move the lower part and the upper part straight towards one another when transferred to the locked position.

The recess in the lower part can extend or run through the lower part in some areas or completely from one side of the lower part to an opposite side of the lower part. For example, the recess can have a cross section, at least in some areas, which is complementary to the cross section of the cable used, for example the compartment cable used. In examples, the recording along a longitudinal axis of the lower part, for example, centrally along the longitudinal axis, run. The recess can also be designed in such a way that when a cable is received, the cable ends essentially flush with an upper side of the lower part, ie does not protrude beyond the upper side.

The lower part can also have a holding geometry, for example fastening straps, in order to be able to be mounted on a substrate.

The upper part can, when it is placed on the lower part, for example placed in a form-fitting manner, form a housing with the lower part, through which the cable runs from one end to an opposite end of the housing. For this purpose, the upper part and the lower part can have complementary connection structures so that they can be simply plugged together.

The at least one contact pin can be arranged in the lower part or the upper part and can be moved with the lower part or the upper part. For example, two contact pins can be arranged in the lower part and/or the upper part in an area below or above the recess and at least partially penetrate the cable accommodated in the recess in the locked position in order to thereby electrically contact at least one conductor in the flat cable. If a cable with additional conductors, that is to say more than two conductors, is used, a correspondingly larger number of contact pins can also be used for making electrical contact with the additional conductors.

The lever member is pivoted to the top portion between an open and a locked position to lock the top portion to the base in the locked position. The lever element can be permanently arranged on the upper part, or permanently arranged on the upper part, so that the use of lever or fastening elements to be arranged separately is eliminated.

For example, the lever element can have a lever arm with which the user can move the lever element from the open to the locked position. For locking, the lever element can have at least one opening, for example a slit-shaped opening, which can be moved on a guide track, which can be arranged as a pin-shaped projection on the lower part, when transferred into the locked position, so that the lever element is simultaneously moved around the pivot point . In the open position of the lever element, the lower part and the upper part can be plugged into one another in a straight line or linear manner and surround a section of the flat cable. When moving into the locked position, the upper part and the lower part are moved further in a straight line or linearly towards one another until, in the locked position, the contact pins at least partially penetrate the flat cable accommodated in the recess.

Advantageously, in the construction described here, a rotary movement on the lever element results in a straight-line or linear relative movement of the lower part and upper part towards one another. A pivoting of the upper part relative to the lower part can thus be omitted due to the linear guide. This advantageously enables a space-saving and tool-free assembly of the contacting element.

The contacting element is particularly suitable for use as a passive distributor in an AS-Interface system. However, the contacting element can also be used in other applications, particularly in applications where space-saving installation is required.

In one example, the cable receiving recess in the base is disposed along a longitudinal axis through the base.

For example, the recess can run centrally along the longitudinal axis. In contrast to a right-angled routing of the cable through the housing, a particularly space-saving assembly of the contacting element can be achieved by running along the longitudinal axis.

In one example, the at least one contact pin is arranged in the upper part.

For example, the contact pin or several contact pins can be formed from an electrically conductive material and have a cutting surface in order to penetrate the material of the cable. A plurality of contact pins can be spaced apart in the upper part in order to electrically contact an electrical conductor in the cable when the upper part is moved into the locked position together with the contact pins. In an alternative example, the contact pin or several contact pins can also be arranged in the lower part, or a first contact pin can be arranged in the upper part and a second contact pin can be arranged in the lower part. In one example, the at least one contact pin has at least one blade-shaped cutting surface, arranged on the contact pin parallel to a direction in which the cable runs in the recess, in order to cut into an insulating material of the cable when moving into the locked position, for electrically contacting the conductor.

The blade-shaped cutting surface can be designed to taper to a point in order to first penetrate or cut into the insulating material of the cable that surrounds the conductor in the cable when the upper part is moved into the locked position, in order then to make electrical contact with the conductor. The insulating material can be an electrically insulating material, for example a PVC material.

In this way, the conductor can advantageously be electrically contacted through the insulating material without the conductor having to be freed from the insulating material before connection. In addition, when removing the contacting element from the cable, the conductor does not have to be re-insulated again. Another advantage is that the blade-shaped cutting surface, which is arranged parallel to the direction of the cable, unlike, for example, fork-like contacts, which are arranged transversely to the direction of the conductor, the insulating material is less severely damaged during penetration and tears when the cable bends at the Contact point not open.

In one example, a large number of contact pins are arranged in the upper part, each of which has at least one blade-shaped cutting surface, arranged on the respective contact pin parallel to a direction in which the cable runs in the recess, in order to cut into the insulating material of the cable when it is moved into the locked position , for making electrical contact with the respective conductors.

A large number of conductors, which run in the same insulating material of the cable, can advantageously be electrically contacted in this way. For example, the cable can be designed as a multi-core flat cable, in which the conductors are routed parallel to one another and are surrounded by the insulating material.

The contact pins can each also be designed in two or more parts and for this purpose each have two or more blade-shaped cutting surfaces, which are each arranged one behind the other in the direction of the cable to a contact each conductor at two or more different locations.

Improved electrical contacting can advantageously be achieved by designing the contact pins in two or more parts.

In one example, at least one connector is arranged on the upper part as the outlet, the at least one connector being electrically connected to the at least one contact pin.

For example, the plug connector can be designed as a round plug connector and have contacts that can be plugged together with corresponding contacts of a corresponding plug connector, in order to make electrical contact with the conductors in the cable.

In an alternative example, an outgoing line, in particular a round cable, is arranged on the upper part, with at least one conductor of the outgoing line being electrically connected to the at least one contact pin.

A plug connector, for example, can be connected to a free end of the outgoing line. Alternatively, the individual conductors in the output power can also be connected to electronics via terminals.

In one example, the lower part has at least one holding segment, in particular a large number of holding segments, in order to fix the cable in the recess.

The holding segments can be arranged at least in certain areas over the cable in order to hold the cable securely in the recess and thus enable simple assembly of the contacting element.

In one example, the contacting element comprises at least one sealing element that can be arranged at least in regions between the upper part and the cable, or the sealing element is designed in one piece with the upper part.

For example, the sealing element can have at least one opening for a contact pin, or have multiple openings for multiple contact pins and surround at least one area of the contact pins to prevent the ingress of moisture to counteract. A sealing element for each contact pin can also be arranged at least in regions between the upper part and the flat cable.

Alternatively, the sealing element can also be designed in one piece with the upper part.

For example, the sealing element can be formed with the remaining elements of the upper part in an injection molding process from a plastic material. The at least one sealing element can also be designed as a sealing contour, which is arranged at least around the at least one contact pin or runs around the contact pin in order to seal in the locked position between the upper part and the cable, for example a flat cable, to prevent moisture into the area around the contact pin. For this purpose, the sealing contour can be web-shaped and taper to a point in the direction of the inserted cable, for example a flat cable, in the recess. A configuration of the sealing contour as a sealing lip can also be understood here as tapering to a point.

Advantageously, the use of separate or additional sealing elements can be dispensed with as a result of the one-piece design described.

Furthermore, several sealing elements can be formed in one piece with the material of the upper part on the upper part, for one contact pin each.

In one example, the contacting element comprises at least one sealing element formed in one piece with the upper part. Alternatively or in addition to the sealing element formed in one piece with the upper part, the sealing element can also be formed separately and materially attached to the material of the upper part by means of a joining method, for example by means of an adhesive bond. As a result, for example, the sealing element can be made of a first material that has greater elasticity than a second material of the upper part.

In one example, the lower part has at least one guide track and the lever element has at least one opening for introduction into the guide track in order to move the lower part and the upper part in a straight line towards one another when transferring to the locked position.

The opening can be designed in the form of a slit and the guide track can be arranged as a pin-shaped projection on the lower part. The opening can are moved along the guideway in accordance with the course of the guideway, while the lever member is moved about the fulcrum.

As a result, a uniform and linear power transmission can be made possible in the tightest of spaces for the transfer into the locked position.

In one example, the lower part has a guide track on opposite side surfaces, the lever element is rotatably mounted on the upper part at two opposite pivot points, and the lever element has two opposite openings in order to move the lower part and the upper part in a straight line when moving into the locked position to move towards each other.

For example, the lever element can be arranged on two opposite side surfaces on the upper part transversely to the recess. For example, an axle can extend through the upper part and the lever element is connected to the end regions of the axle and is rotatable about the axle. Correspondingly, the two opposite openings can be moved in guideways running in the same direction, which can be arranged on the lower part.

A particularly secure and energy-saving locking of the contacting element can advantageously be made possible by this structure.

In one example, the lever element is arranged and rotatably mounted on at least one side surface of the upper part in the middle in the extension direction of the upper part along the longitudinal axis.

A central arrangement allows the upper part and the lower part to be brought together evenly when transferred to the locked position.

In one example, the lever member is adapted to snap into the locked position.

For example, the latching can be realized through the use of latching elements or a corresponding design of the opening and guideway. Advantageously, the latching signals to the user that the locked position has been reached and the lever element can be held securely in the locked position. For example, two latching elements, designed as material projections, can be arranged on opposite sides of the lever element on the lever element. When moving into the locked position, the latching elements on the lever element can latch with corresponding latching elements, which are arranged, for example, as corresponding material recesses on the lower part. As a result, the contacting element can advantageously be transferred to the locked position by manually pressing the lever element and held securely in this position by the latching elements engaging, so that independent and unintentional opening of the contacting element can be prevented.

In one example, the cable is a shape-coded flat cable.

Advantageously, incorrect insertion of the flat cable into the recess can be prevented by a shape coding, thereby providing protection against polarity reversal.

In one example, the contacting element has a further recess for receiving a further cable and at least one further contact pin which is adapted to at least partially penetrate the further cable received in the further recess in the locked position.

Advantageously, several cables, for example flat cables, can be contacted at the same time with one contacting element.

The invention also relates to an actuator-sensor, AS, interface system, having: at least one cable and at least one contacting element, as described herein, as a passive distributor.

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

1 is an exploded view of a contacting element according to a

embodiment;

2A, 2B sectional representations through the contacting element shown in FIG. 1 in an open position;

3A, 3B sectional representations through the contacting element shown in FIG. 1 in a locked position; 4A - 4D representations of the contacting element shown in the previous figures during the transition from the open position to the locked position;

5 shows an exploded view of a contacting element according to a further embodiment;

6A-6D representations of a further embodiment of a contacting element with two recesses for receiving one cable each during the transition from the open position to the locked position;

7A, 7B representations of embodiments of a contacting element with a recess;

8A, 8B representations of an embodiment of a contacting element with two recesses;

9 shows a schematic representation of a region of an actuator sensor, AS,

Interface systems with contacting elements described herein;

10A, 10B representations of the contacting element shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in the open position;

11A, 11B representations of the contacting element previously shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B in the locked position;

12A, 12B representations of the upper part previously shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, 11A and 11B with sealing elements formed in one piece on the upper part; and

13A, 13B Representations of the previously shown contacting element with locking elements for locking in the locked position and unlocking from the locked position by means of a tool.

1 shows an exploded view of a contacting element 1 according to one embodiment. The contacting element 1 shown has a lower part 3 with a recess 5 for receiving the cable 7 shown as a flat cable. In further embodiments, the cable can also be designed as a round cable, for example. In the embodiment shown, the recess 5 extends through the lower part 3, centrally in the longitudinal direction, from a first side of the lower part 3 to an opposite, second side of the lower part 3.

Figure 1 also shows that the recess 5 has, at least in some areas, a cross section that is complementary to the cross section of the cable 7 used. The cable 7 is shown as a shape-coded flat cable with a web-shaped step in the direction of travel, so that the cable 7 is only in to be able to introduce the position shown in the recess 5.

The inserted cable 7 can be held in the recess 5 in the lower part 3 by means of the tongue-shaped retaining segments 21A-21N, in order to enable the contacting element 1 to be assembled easily.

FIG. 1 also shows that the lower part 3 has fastening lugs on a side opposite the recess 5 in order to be able to be mounted on a substrate.

The lever element 11 shown is rotatably mounted on the upper part 9 shown at two opposite pivot points 27A, 27B. The arrangement of the lever element 11 on the upper part 9 between an open and a locked position is shown more clearly in the figures shown below.

The two contact pins 13A, 13B shown are arranged on the upper part 9 in the assembled state of the contacting element 1 in order to be moved together with the upper part 9, and are adapted to at least partially penetrate the cable 7 accommodated in the recess 5 in the locked position. in order to electrically contact at least one conductor 8A, 8B in the cable 7 in each case.

For this purpose, the two contact pins 13A, 13B are arranged at a distance from each other in the upper part 9 in order to make electrical contact with an electrical conductor 8A, 8B in the cable 7 when the upper part 9 is moved into the locked position together with the contact pins 13A, 13B. The two contact pins 13A, 13B shown indicate a first end of cutting surfaces tapering to a point, in order to penetrate better into the insulation of the cable 7 can. In the embodiment shown, the opposite second ends of the contact pins 13A, 13B are connected to contacts of the connector 17 shown as an outlet. The connector 17 is shown as a circular connector and may be matable with a mating connector (not shown) to thereby electrically contact the conductors 8A, 8B in the cable 7.

Furthermore, a sealing element 15A, 15B for each contact pin 13A, 13B is arranged at least in regions between the upper part 9 and the cable 7 in the embodiment shown.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show sectional views through the contacting element 1 previously shown in FIG. 1 in an assembled state and in an open position.

FIG. 2A shows a sectional view through the contacting element 1 at a 90° angle to the longitudinal direction, ie the direction in which the recess 5 extends, and FIG. 2B shows a sectional view in the longitudinal direction.

In the open position, the upper part 9 is positively placed or plugged onto the lower part 3 and together with the lower part 3 forms the housing of the contacting element 1 through which the cable 7 runs from one end to an opposite end of the housing.

The lever element 11 is in the open position and the contact pins 13A, 13B do not yet contact the electrical conductors 8A, 8B in the cable 7.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show sectional views through the previously shown contacting element 1 in the assembled state and in a locked position.

When moving into the locked position, the upper part 9 and the lower part 3 are moved in a straight line or linearly towards one another until, in the locked position, the contact pins 13A, 13B the electrical conductors 8A, 8B of the cable 7 accommodated in the recess 5 at least partially penetrate or electrically contact the electrical conductors 8A, 8B. As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, a rotary movement of the lever element 11 results in a rectilinear or linear relative movement of the lower part 3 and the upper part 9 towards one another. Pivoting of the upper part 9 relative to the lower part 3 is thus eliminated by the linear guide.

The transfer of the contacting element 1 from the open position to the locked position is shown in the following FIGS. 4A-4D.

FIG. 4A shows the upper part 9 and the lower part 3 separately from one another. In the recess 5 no cable is arranged.

In FIG. 4B, the cable 7 is arranged in the recess 5 of the lower part 3 and the lever element 11 is in the open position. The upper part 9 shown can now, as indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 4B, be plugged onto the lower part 3 in a straight line or linearly, ie perpendicularly from above.

FIG. 4C shows a state of the contacting element 1 between the open position and the locked position. Shown is the guide track 23A on the lower part 3, which is introduced into the opening 25A on the lever element 11. Due to the pin-shaped or hook-shaped design of the guideway 23A shown and the correspondingly designed opening 25A, the lower part 3 and the upper part 9 are moved in a straight line towards one another when transferred to the locked position. The arrow shown in FIG. 4C indicates that the lever element 11 is moved about the pivot point 27A for this purpose.

In the embodiment shown, as is shown more clearly in Figure 1, the lower part 3 has a guide track 23A, 23B on opposite side surfaces, the lever element 11 is rotatably mounted on the upper part 9 at two opposite pivot points 27A, 27B, and the lever element 7 has two opposite openings 25A, 25B in order to move the lower part 3 and the upper part 9 in a straight line towards one another when transferring to the locked position.

FIG. 4D shows a state of the contacting element 1 in the locked position. In the locked position, the contact pins (not shown) at least partially penetrate the cable 7 accommodated in the recess 5 . At the connector 17, a corresponding connector (not shown) plugged in or be attached in order to electrically contact the conductors 8A, 8B in the cable 7 as a result.

The lever element 11 engages in the locked position as a result of the shown pin or hook-shaped design of the guideway 23A and the correspondingly designed opening 25A.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a contacting element 1 according to a further embodiment.

The contacting element 1 shown differs essentially from the contacting element shown above in that instead of a plug connector, an outgoing line 19, which is shown as a round cable, is arranged on the upper part 9, with at least one conductor of the outgoing line 19 each having a contact pin 13A, 13B is electrically connected.

At the free end of the outgoing line 19 shown, a connector is connected. In alternative configurations, the individual conductors in the output power 19 can also be connected to electronics via terminals.

Figures 6A - 6D show representations of a further embodiment of a contacting element 1' with two recesses 5, 5' for receiving a cable 7, 7' in each case during the transition from the open position to the locked position.

FIG. 6A shows the upper part 9' and the lower part 3' separately from one another. No cables are arranged in the two recesses 5, 5'. In FIG. 6B, a cable 7, 7' is arranged in each of the recesses 5, 5' and the lever element 11' is in the open position. The upper part 9' can now, as indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 4B, be plugged onto the lower part 3' in a straight line or linearly, ie vertically from above.

FIG. 6C shows a state of the contacting element 1' between the open position and the locked position. The guide track 23A' shown, the opening 25A' and the pivot point 27A' can be shaped in the same way as on the contacting element 1 in the previously shown figures. Also, when transferring to the locked position, the lower part 3' and the upper part 9' are moved towards one another in a straight line. The arrow shown in FIG. 6C indicates that the lever element 11' is moved about the pivot point 27A' for this purpose.

In contrast to the embodiment shown above, both cables 7, 7' received in the respective recesses 5, 5' are contacted at the same time when they are moved into the locked position, which is shown in FIG. 6D. The contacting element V has two plug connectors 17, 17' for contacting the conductors 8A, 8B, 8A', 8B' in the respective cables 7, 7'.

Figures 7A and 7B show representations of embodiments of a contacting element 1 with a recess 5.

FIG. 7A shows an embodiment of a contacting element 1 with a plug connector 17, the structure of the contacting element 1 shown in FIG. 7A has already been shown in FIG. FIG. 7B shows an embodiment of a contacting element 1 with an outgoing line 19 in the open and the locked position. The structure of the contacting element 1 shown in FIG. 7B has already been shown in FIG.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show representations of embodiments of a contacting element V with two recesses 5, 5'.

FIG. 8A shows an embodiment of a contacting element V with a plug connector 17'. In this case, the conductors in the cables shown can be contacted via the plug connector 17' shown. In further embodiments, as shown for example in FIGS. 6A-6D, the cables can also be contacted separately via a respective separate plug connector. FIG. 8B shows an embodiment of a contacting element V with an outgoing line 19'.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of a region of an actuator-sensor, AS, interface system 100 with contacting elements 1, V described here as a passive distributor.

In the illustration shown in FIG. 9, two contacting elements 1 previously shown in FIGS. 5 and 7B are shown in the open and in the locked position, which are each arranged on a cable 7, 7'. FIG. 9 also shows an embodiment of a contacting element V with two recesses 5, 5′, as previously shown in FIG. 8B, for receiving one cable 7, 7′ each.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show representations of the contacting element 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in the open position.

A side view is shown in Figure 10A, and a sectional view taken along the line A-A shown in Figure 10A is shown in Figure 10B.

In the open position shown, the contact pins 13A, 13B on the upper part 9 do not yet touch the cable 7 accommodated in the lower part 3. The cable 7 is shown as a shape-coded flat cable with a web-shaped shoulder in one direction, so that the cable 7 can only be connected in the position shown in the recess 5 to be able to introduce. In the embodiment shown, the cable 7 comprises two conductors 8A, 8B surrounded by an insulating material 70. The insulating material 70 comprises an elastic and electrically insulating PVC material.

The contact pins 13A, 13B have blade-shaped cutting surfaces, which run parallel to a direction in which the cable 7 runs in the recess 5, in order to cut into an insulating material 70 of the cable 7 when moving into the locked position, for electrically contacting the conductors 8A, 8B.

Furthermore, the sectional view shown in FIG. 10B also shows two sealing elements 15A, 15B, which are designed in one piece with the upper part 9. As shown, the two sealing elements 15A, 15B are each designed as a sealing contour surrounding the respective contact pins 13A, 13B. For this purpose, the sealing contours shown are web-shaped and tapered in the direction of the inserted cable 7 .

FIGS. 11A and 11B show representations of the contacting element 1 previously shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B in the locked position.

FIG. 11A shows a side view and FIG. 11B shows a sectional view along line BB shown in FIG. 11A. As already described above, the lower part 3 and the upper part 9 are designed to be plugged into one another in a straight line in a plugging direction in the open position, and the lever element 11 is adapted to move the lower part 3 and the upper part 9 straight towards one another when transferred to the locked position. When the upper part 9 is moved into the locked position, the contact pins 13A, 13B first penetrate the insulating material 70 of the cable 7 or cut through the insulating material 70. As the upper part 9 is moved further into the locked position, the contact pins 13A, 13B penetrate further and further into the insulating material 70 of the cable 7 until the contact pins 13A, 13B then electrically contact the respective conductors 8A, 8B in the cable 7 in the locked position.

In the embodiment shown, two contact pins 13A, 13B each contact a conductor 8A, 8B. As shown, the conductors 8A, 8B are routed parallel to one another and are surrounded by the same insulating material 70.

In embodiments that are not shown, only one contact pin can be used to contact only one conductor in a single-core cable. Alternatively, a large number of contact pins can also be used, which can be arranged next to one another and/or diagonally to one another in the upper part for electrically contacting one conductor in a multi-core cable.

Furthermore, FIG. 11B shows that the sealing elements 15A, 15B rest in the locked position on the insulating material 70 of the cable 7, or press into the elastic insulating material 70 with a tapering end region, in order to be in the locked position shown between the Seal upper part 9 and the cable 7 so that no moisture can penetrate into the area around the contact pins 13A, 13B.

FIGS. 12A and 12B show representations of the upper part 9 previously shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, 11A and 11B with sealing elements 15A, 15B formed in one piece on the upper part 9.

FIG. 12A shows a perspective view and FIG. 12B shows a detailed view of the area surrounded by a dashed line in FIG. 12A.

As shown, the two contact pins 13A, 13B are arranged spaced apart in the upper part 9 in order to electrically contact one conductor in the cable at a time. the Both contact pins 13A, 13B shown have pointed cutting surfaces at a first end in order to be able to penetrate into the insulation of the cable. Furthermore, the contact pins 13A, 13B shown are designed in two parts and each have two blade-shaped cutting surfaces, which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of the cable in order to contact the respective conductors at two different points for improved contacting. In embodiments that are not shown, the contact pins can also be designed in one piece with a blade-shaped cutting surface, or in multiple parts with several blade-shaped cutting surfaces.

Furthermore, two sealing elements 15A, 15B are shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, which are formed in one piece or in one piece with the upper part 9. The sealing elements 15A, 15B are each arranged around at least one respective contact pin 13A, 13B, or each run around one of the contact pins 13A, 13B, in order to seal in the locked position between the upper part 9 and the cable (not shown) to prevent moisture can penetrate to the contact pins 13A, 13B. As shown in the detailed view in FIG. 12B, the sealing contour for this purpose is designed in the form of a web and tapering to a point.

FIG. 13A shows an illustration of the previously shown contacting element 1 with latching elements 29A, 29B, 31A, 31B for latching together in the locked position. The latching elements 29A, 29B, 31A, 31B are shown in FIG. 13A within the areas shown in dashed lines for a clearer representation.

For this purpose, in the embodiment shown, two latching elements 29A, 29B are formed on the lever element 11 as material projections. When moving into the locked position, the two latching elements 29A, 29B latch on the lever element 11 with corresponding latching elements 31A, 31B on the lower part 3. The corresponding latching elements 31A, 31B are in the embodiment shown as material recesses, corresponding to the material projections on the lever element 11, shown.

The contacting element 1 shown in FIG. 13A can be manually transferred into the locked position by manually pressing on the lever element 11 and latched in this position by the latching elements 29A, 29B, 31A, 31B shown intermeshing. In the embodiment shown, corresponding latching elements are also arranged on the opposite side (not shown) to the side shown. In further embodiments that are not shown, more or fewer latching elements than those shown can also be used.

FIG. 13B shows an illustration of the previously shown contacting element 1 with locking elements 29A, 29B, 31A, 31B and with a tool 33 for unlocking from the locked position. The contacting element 1 shown in Figures 13A and 13B, each with two latching elements on opposite sides of the lever element 11, which latch with corresponding latching elements on the lower part 3, can latch so strongly through the use of the latching elements that manual transfer of the lever element 11 from the locked position in the unlocked position is very difficult, or not possible. The contacting element 1 can thus be transferred manually into the locked position, but can no longer be unlocked manually for the purpose of reliable contacting. In this case, a tool 33, such as the lever tool shown in Figure 13B, which is shown as a screwdriver, can be used for unlocking.

Reference List

I, r contacting element

3, 3' base

5, 5' recess

7, T cord

8A, 8A', 8B, 8B' conductors

9, 9' top

I I , 11 lever element

13A, 13A', 13B, 13B' contact pin 15A, 15A', 15B, 15B' sealing element

17, 17' connector

19, 19' outgoing line

21A - 21N, 21A' - 21N' retaining segment 23A, 23B guideway

25A, 25A', 25B, 25B' opening

27A, 27A', 27B, 27B' Pivot

29A, 29B latching element

31A, 31 B Corresponding locking element

33 tool

70 insulating material

100 actuator sensor, AS, interface system

A-A, B-B cutting line

Claims

patent claims

1. Contacting element, having: a lower part (3, 3') having at least one recess (5, 5') for receiving a cable (7, 7'); and a top (9, 9') having a lever member (11, 11') pivoted on the top (9, 9') between an open and a locked position to hold the top (9, 9') in the locked position on the base (3, 3') and at least one contact pin (13A, 13A', 13B, 13B') adapted to the cable (7, 7') accommodated in the recess (5, 5') in the locked position to penetrate at least partially in order to electrically contact at least one conductor (8A, 8A', 8B, 8B') in the cable (7, 7'), characterized in that the lower part (3, 3') and the upper part (9 , 9') are arranged in the open position of the lever element (11, 11') so that they can be plugged into one another in a straight line in a plugging direction, and the lever element (11, 11') is adapted when being transferred into the locked position, the lower part (3, 3' ) and the upper part (9, 9') to move towards one another in a straight line.

2. Contacting element according to claim 1, characterized in that the recess (5, 5') for receiving the cable (7, 7') in the lower part (3, 3') along a longitudinal axis through the lower part (3, 3') is arranged.

3. Contacting element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one contact pin (13A, 13A', 13B, 13B') is arranged in the upper part (9, 9').

4. Contacting element according to Claim 3, characterized in that the at least one contact pin (13A, 13A', 13B, 13B') has at least one blade-shaped cutting surface, arranged on the contact pin (13A, 13A', 13B, 13B') parallel to a direction in which the cable (7, 7') runs in the recess (5, 5') in order to cut into an insulating material (70) of the cable (7, 7') when moving into the locked position, for electrically contacting the conductor (8A , 8A', 8B, 8B').

5. Contacting element according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by at least one connector (17, 17 '), arranged on the upper part (9, 9'), wherein the at least one connector (17, 17') is electrically connected to the at least one contact pin (13A, 13A', 13B, 13B').

6. Contacting element according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized by an outgoing line (19, 19'), in particular a round cable, arranged on the upper part (9, 9'), with at least one conductor (8A, 8A', 8B, 8B') the outgoing line (19, 19') is electrically connected to the at least one contact pin (13A, 13A', 13B, 13B').

7. Contacting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower part (3, 3') has at least one holding segment (21A - 21N, 21A' - 21N'), in particular a large number of holding segments (21A - 21N, 21 A' - 21 N') in order to fix the cable (7, 7') in the recess (5, 5').

8. Contacting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one sealing element (15A, 15A', 15B, 15B') which can be arranged at least in regions between the upper part (9, 9') and the cable (7, 7'), or wherein the sealing element (15A, 15B) is formed in one piece with the upper part (9, 9').

9. Contacting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower part (3, 3') has at least one guide track (23A, 23A') and the lever element (11, 11') has at least one opening (25A, 25A') for introduction into the guideway (23A, 23A') in order to move the lower part (3, 3') and the upper part (9, 9') towards one another in a straight line when being transferred to the locked position.

10. Contacting element according to claim 9, characterized in that the lower part (3, 3') has a guide track (23A, 23A', 23B, 23B') on opposite side surfaces, the lever element (11, 11') on two opposite pivot points {21k, 27A', 27B, 27B') is rotatably mounted on the upper part (9, 9'), and the lever element (11, 11') has two opposite openings (25A, 25A', 25B, 25B') to when transferring to the locked position, the lower part (3, 3') and the upper part (9, 9') move towards one another in a straight line.

11. Contacting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever element (11, 11') is arranged on at least one side surface of the upper part (9, 9') centrally in the extension direction of the upper part (9, 9') along the longitudinal axis and is rotatably mounted.

12. Contacting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever element (11, 11') is adapted to engage in the locked position.

13. Contacting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable (7, 7') is designed as a shape-coded flat cable.

14. Contacting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a further recess (5') for receiving a further cable (7') and at least one further contact pin (13A', 13B') adapted to the further

To at least partially penetrate the recess (5') accommodated further cables (7') in the locked position.

15. Actuator-sensor, AS, interface system, comprising: at least one cable (7, 7') and at least one contacting element (1, 1') according to one of the preceding claims as a passive distributor.