GB2023946A

GB2023946A - A plug socket for a multipolar plug-in device

Info

Publication number: GB2023946A
Application number: GB7900651A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: JAEGER E KG
Current assignee: JAEGER E KG
Priority date: 1978-04-27
Filing date: 1979-01-08
Publication date: 1980-01-03
Also published as: GB2023946B; IT1113904B; IT7922176A0; FR2424642A1; SE7903548L; SE430284B; DE7812822U1; FR2424642B1

Abstract

A multipolar connector for use in the electrical connection of a motor vehicle to a caravan or other trailer, comprises: a contact carrier 3, Figure 3b, having an array of parallel recesses 5 to receive a set of electrical contacts 6; a contact attachment 8, Figure 4b having an array of apertures 9 whose disposition corresponds to that of the array of recesses 5 in the contact carrier 3; catch means 12 to hold the contact carrier 3 and contact attachment 8 together in a superimposed disposition, so that the apertures 9 in the contact attachment 8 retain the contacts 6 in place in the contact carrier 3; a housing to house the contact carrier 3 and contact attachment 8; and a removable cover for the housing to protect the contact carrier and contact attachment. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A plug socket for a multipolar plug-in device The invention relates to plug sockets for a multipolar plug or other plug-in device. In particular it relates to plug sockets for use in the electrical connection of a motor vehicle to a caravan or other trailer. Plug sockets of this type proposed hitherto have been complicated as regards production and assembly.

The object of the present invention is to provide a plug socket which is improved with respect to production, assembly and/or connection.

Accordingly, the invention provides a plug socket for a multipolar plug-in device and suitable for the electrical connection of a motor vehicle to a trailer, the plug socket comprising: (a) a contact carrier insert comprising a contact carrier having an array of parallel recesses to receive a set of electrical contacts, a contact attachment having an array of apertures, the disposition of the apertures one from another corresponding to that of said array of parallel recesses, and lock or catch means whereby when the contact carrier and contact attachment are superimposed so that the array of parallel recesses corresponds to the array of apertures the lock or catch means serves to hold the contact carrier and contact attachment together in said superimposed disposition, and the size of said apertures in the contact attachment is such that when the contact attachment is in said superimposed disposition it serves to retain the contacts in place in the contact carrier; (b) a housing to house the contact carrier insert; and (c) a removable cover for the housing to protect the contact carrier insert.

The contacts can be inserted in a simple manner with their feet in the parallel recesses of the contact carrier and be secured by engaging the contact attachment, the apertures of the latter corresponding to the contact pins and embracing them. The contact attachment serves to retain the contacts in place because the perforations therein normally have a smaller clear width than the foot part of the contacts held therein (including the connection fastening screws provided in the foot part). The contact pins thus lie protected in the base part of the contact attachment, whose cross-sectionand shaping corresponds for the rest to the plug to be inserted into the plug socket.

The contact carrier insert conveniently is held in the housing by a catch connection or plug-in connection, thereby providing a means of assembly similar in its convenience to the means of connecting together the contact carrier and the contact attachment. In one form the catch connection or plug-in connection comprises a detent provided on the inner wall of the housing and which engages an outer peripheral surface of the contact carrier insert. The detents (for example catch noses) can, however, be provided conversely on the contact carrier insert, e.g. the contact carrier or the contact attachment, for collaboration with corresponding surfaces on the inner wall of the housing.

The lock or catch means for the contact carrier and contact attachment can, for example, comprise at least one catch pin carried by the contact carrier or the contact attachment,-and at least one catch recess in the contact attachment or contact carrier, respectively, for engagement with the catch pin or pins.

The contact carrier and contact attachment preferably have one or more edge recesses of which those in the contact carrier correspond to those in the contact attachment, or one of those members has one or more edge recesses and the other has one or more co-operating projections. This ensures that the two members can only be superimposed in one particular relative disposition, and thereby is a check on the correct insertion of the contact pins or contact sleeves.

A particular relative disposition of contact carrier insertion the housing can be obtained where the contact carrier insert has a recess or recesses in;its periphery, and the housing has a corresponding projection or projections for engagement with said recess or recesses. Alternatively, the projections can be provided on the contact carrier insert and cutouts or other recesses in the housing. Said projections can, for example, be webs serving for the reception of fastening bolts to hold the housing in place, in use, on an attachment surface.

The contact carrier can have a plate-shaped portion having legs which in the assembled plug socket are in substantial alignment with the base of the housing intended to abut the attachment surface.

This feature serves primarily for saving in material and the axial accessibility of the openings in the parallel recesses for the insertion of the connection wires or other leads. Said alignment results in the contact carrier being supported on the attachment surface, so that the catch connection between the contact carrier insert and the housing is relieved to some extent.

If a screw or similar connection is provided between the electrical leads and the contacts instead of a soldered joint, crimping connection or plug-in connection, said parallel recesses are preferably provided with outwardly directed grooves or bores for the screws which are thereby accessible in a simple mannerfrom a radial direction to a screwdriver.

The parallel axial recesses preferably have tapered extensions to accommodate electrical wires or leads entering the contact carrier. By means of this feature the connection wires can, contrary to what was hitherto customary, be inserted axially into the openings of the respective contact-foot. In this way, the connection of the plug socket in accordance with the invention is considerably simplified.

Where one or more of the parallel recesses are disposed between others of the recesses so that access to the screw connections of the former is difficult said one or more recesses are preferably longer than the other recesses so that their screw connections are accessible to adjustment by a screw driver from a radial direction.

Thus, in the case of plug sockets having many, for example seven or more, poles this measure can be useful if, for example, a central contact is sur rounded by six outer contacts.

The housing coveniently comprises a cylindrical portion and a cap or domeportion of curved periphery merging with the cylindrical portion and especially where the latter construction is followed the cover can have a curved periphery corresponding to that of the cap or dome portion of the housing.

Where the housing has indentations to permit access to fastening bolts or similar means to hold the plug socket in place on the attachment surface, a grip strap of the cover is preferably such as to protrude only partially beyond one of the indentations. As a result, one finger can be engaged under the grip strap and the cover easily raised, all the more so if the grip strap has at its lower edge a concave form. Fastening bolts used to hold the plug socket in place are preferably such that their heads are let into the housing. This further facilitates insertion of a finger under the grip strap of the cover for raising the latter.

There is now described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings a plug socket (comprising a socket housing, cover, contact carrier and contact attachment) of one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure la is a side view of the socket housing (without the cover); Figure ibis a bottom plan view of the socket housing of Figure 1a in the direction X; Figure ic is a top plan view of the socket housing of Figure 1a in the direction Y; Figure id is a section of the socket housing along the line A-B of Figure 1c; Figure ie is a section of the socket housing along the line C-D of Figure 1c; Figure if shows on an enlarged scalethe portion of Figure 1 d marked Z; Figure 2a is a top plan view of the cover of the plug socket; Figure2b is a side view of the cover of Figure 2a in the direction Y; Figure 2c is a side view of the cover of Figure 2a in the direction Z; Figure2d is a bottom plan of the cover of Figure 2b in the direction X;; Figure 2e shows a section of the cover in accordance with Figure 2b along the line A-B; Figure 2f shows a detail section of a cover an alternative to that of Figure 2e; Figure 3a is a top plan view of the contact carrier; Figure 3 is a section of the contact carrier in accordance with Figure 3a along the line A-B; Figure 3c is a bottom plan of the contact carrier in accordance with Figure 3b from the view X; Figure 3d is a side view of the contact carrier in accordance with Figure 3a, partially sectioned; Figure 4a is a top plan view of the contact attachment; Figure 4b is a side view of the contact attachment of Figure 4a in the direction A; Figure is a bottom plan of the contact attachment of Figure 4b in the direction X; and Figure 4d is a side view of the contact attachment of Figure 4a in the direction B.

The plug socket shown in the drawings serves, for exampte, for a seven-pole plug-in device and meets DIN Standard 72577. The socket housing 2 with cover 1 as well as the contact carrier insert, consisting of the contact carrier 3 and the contact attachment 8 consist of plastics material for example Hostalen.

Referring to Figures 3a to 3d, the contact carrier 3 has, on its upper side 4, angularly-symmetrically distributed parallel axial recesses 5, into which (Figure 3b) the foot parts 7 of the contact pins or contact bushes 6 can be inserted. The means to hold the leads (not shown) in electrical contact with the pins 6 can, for example, be screws 27 provided in the foot parts 7 of the contacts 6 and accommodated in radially outwardly extending grooves or bores 26.

The grooves 26 prqvide access to the screws 27 by means of a screwdriver even after the contact attachment 8 has been connected to the contact carrier 3 as described below.

Afterthe insertion ofthe contacts 6 into the respective axial recesses 5, the contact attachment 8 can be superimposed over contact carrier 3 so that the apertures 9 provided in the base portion of the contact attachment are aligned with the respective apertures 5 of the contact carrier 3. For a catch connection between the contact carrier 3 and the contact attachment 8, the contact attachment 8 has on its underside two radially mutually opposite cross-slotted catch pins 12, which engage respec tivelywith catch recesses 13 in the upper side of the contact carrier 3. When the contact attachment 8 and the contact carrier 3 have been connected together in this way the contacts 6 lie with their pin-shaped or sleeve-shaped contact parts 10 in the perforations 9 of the base portion 11 of the contact attachment 8.

The contacts 6 are held in place by reason of the respectively widened foot part 7 or of the laterally protruding screw heads in the contact carrier insert.

The contact carrier 3 and the contact attachment 8 have mutually corresponding edge cutouts 17, 18 respectively of asymmetrical form or arrangement respectively and/or the contact attachment & as on its underside adjoint-pieces 37 which, in a specific position of the contact attachment 8, fit into corresponding cutouts 38 in the contact carrier 3, thus ensuring a non-interchangeably correct superimposing of the contact attachment 8 and the contact carrier 3.In the drawings, by way of example two of the edge recesses 17 of the contact carrier (18 of the contact attachment) are spaced apart by 120 and are of rounded shape, and the third edge recess 17 ofthe contactcarrier (18 of the contact attachrnent) is offset by a further 120 and is angular in shape.

The contact carrier 3 has a plate-shaped portion 23 in which the axial recesses 5 are provided and from which extend four angularly-symmetrically arranged legs 25. In the assembled state the ends of these legs are in substantial alignment with the edge 24 of housing 2. In this way, the contact carrier insert (that is, the contact cafrier 3 and the contact attachment 8) can be supported, after installation or attachment, by the surface which the socket is located, for example a mounting plate on the rear of a motor car.

Axial tapered apertures 28 extend from the inner ends of axial recesses 5 to the underside of the plate-shaped portion 23. By this means the connec- tion bores 36, provided in respective foot parts 7 of the contacts 6 are exposed even afterthesuperim- posing of the contact attach ment-8, and the electricål; connection wires can be inserted in a simple manner axially into these connection bores 36.The axial recesses 5 of the contact carrier 3lare as far as their bottoms 29 so wide that the contacts 6 are capable of lateral play eveh after the superimposing of the contact attachment 8with the contactcarrier, end in this way the contacts 6 can make any Slight adjustment in their disposition when the plug (not shown) is fitted to the plug socket. As can be seen from Figure 3b the axial recess 5 for the reception of the central contact 6 is longer than the surrounding axial recesses 5. Consequently, the connection fastening screw 27 provided in the foot part7 of the central contact6 is accessible from the side to adjustmett between the legs 25.

After the insertion of the contacts 6-into the-axial recesses 5, the catching superimposition of the contact attachment 8 onto the contact carrier 3 to provide the contact carrier insert and the fastening of the electrical connection cables to the contacts 6 with the aid of the fastening screws 27, the cdntact carrier insert can be inserted into the housing 2.'ln order to ensure that the contact carrier insert can be inserted into the housing in only-a single orientation therewith, the contact carrier 3 has, at its outer peripheral surface 16, two edge cutouts 19 offset from each other by 1200 and a double edge cutout 19 offset from each of said two edge cutouts by a further 1200. These cutouts engage respectively with corresponding axial webs 20 on the inner wall 14 of the housing 2.A catch nose or detent 15 is provided in a corresponding axial position on each of the webs 20, so that upon the introduction of the contact carrier insert into the housing 2 the outer peripheral surface 16 of the plate-shaped portion 23 'snaps' over the catch noses 15 and thereby engages in the housing. This catch connection does not need to be particularly stable where upon the installation or attachment of the housing 2, for example to the rear of a motor car, the contact carrier 3 is supported by the legs 25 on the installation or attachment surface. The webs 20 are formed on the angularlysymmetrically disposed ribs 22 for the'reception of the fastening bolts 21.

The housing 2 has itself an approximately cylindrical jacket portion 30 which merges upwardly in stepless manner with a spherical cap br dome portion 31. Provided in the spherical cap portion 31 are indentations 32 for the introduction of the fastening bolts 21 into the ribs 22.

The cover 1 has a spherical or other curved shape which corresponds to the'shape ofthe"c-ap-.portion 31, and this curved shape is applied also to grip strap 33. The grip strap 33, which is hinged resiliently to the housing 2, engages in the closed state partially over the one of the angularly-syrrin etrically arranged indentations 32. In this way the grip strap 33 can easily be released by means of one finger to open the cover 1. Opening -of the edver is furthier facilitated in that fastening bolts 21 are sunk with their heads, more especiaily the one under the grip strap 33, into the socket housing 2, so that by utilizing the concave shape (provided in accordance with--:DlN Standard 72577) of the lower edge of the grip strap 33 neverthelessthefitting of the round cover 1 into the spherical cap portion 31 is facilitated.

In an adaptation to the DIN Standard 72577 the inner surface.39 of the cover 1 can be angled aside at the transition to the. grip strap 33, as is evident from .Figure-2f

Claims

CLAIMS r .1. A plug socket fora multipolar plug-in device and suitable for the electrical connection of a motor vehicle to a trailer the plug socket comprising: (a). a contact carrier insert comprising a contact carrier having an array of parallel-recesses to receive a set of electrical contacts, a contact attachment having an array of apertures, the disposition of the apertures one from another corresponding to that of said array of parallel recesses, and lock or catch means whereby when the contact carrier and contact attachment are superimposed so that the array of parallel recesses corres ponds to the array of apertures the lock or catch means serves to hold the contact carrier and contact attachment together in said superimposed disposition, and the size of said apertures in the contact attachment is such that when the contact attachment is in said superimposed disposition it serves to retain the contacts in place in the contact carrier; (b) a housing to house.the contact carrier insert; and (c) a removable cover for the housing to protect the contact carrier insert.
2. Aplug socket according to claim 1, in which the contact carrier insert is held in the housing by a catch connection or plug-in connection.
3. A plug socket according to claim 1 or 2, in which said lock or catch means comprises at least one catch pin carried by the contact carrier or the contact attachment, and at least one catch recess in the contact attachment or contact carrier, respectively, for engagement with the catch pin or pins.
4. A plug socket according to claim 2 or 3, in which the catch connection or plug-in connection between the contact carrier insert and the housing is ba detent provided on the inner wall of the housing and which engages an outer peripheral surface of the contact carrier insert.
5. A plug socket according to any of claims 1 to 4, in-which the contact carrier and the contact attach ment have edge recesses which correspond to one another, and/or have adjoint-pieces and recesses which fit into one another.-
6.. A plug socket according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which the contact carrier insert has a recess or recesses in its periphery and the housing has a corresponding projection or projections for engage- ment with said recess or recesses.
7. A plug socket according to claim 6, in which -said projections are webs formed on ribs of the housing said ribs serving for the reception of fastening boltsto-hold the housing in place, in use, on an attachment surface.
8. A plug socket according to any of claims 1 to 7 in which the contact carrier has a plate-shaped portion having legs which in the assembled plug socket are in substantial alignment with the base of the housing intended to abut the attachment surface.
9. A plug socket according to any of claims 1 to 8, in which the parallel recesses have outwardly pointing grooves or bores for the reception of fastening means by which electrical leads are connected to the contacts.
10. A plug socket according to any of claims t to 9, in which said parallel recesses have tapered extensions to accommodate electrical leads entering the contact carrier.
11. A plug socket according to claim 9 or 10, in which said radial grooves or bores are axially superjacent in more than one plane and the electrical contacts have correspondingly different axial lengths.
12. A plug socket according to any of claims 1 to 11, in which the housing has an approximately cylindrical jacket portion and a cap portion of curved periphery merging with the jacket portion.
13. A plug socket according to claim 12, in which the cover has a curved periphery corresponding to that of the cap portion.
14. A plug socket according-to claim 12 or 13, in which the housing has indentations for the insertion of fastening belts, and the cover has a grip strap which only partially protrudes beyond one of the indentations.
15. A plug socket substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.

15. A plug socket according to any of claims 1 to 14, in which the head of the respective fastening bolt is let into the socket housing.

16. A plug socket according to claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A plug socket substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 1 sot August 1979 Superseded claims All New or amended claims:

1. A plug socket for a multipolar plug-in device and suitable for the electrical connection of a motor vehicle to a trailer the plug socket having a contact carrier insert held in a housing by a catch or plug-in connection and having a removable cover forthe housing to protect a contact carrier insert and comprising:: (a) a contact carrier insert comprising a contact carrier having on its upper side only an array of parallel recesses to receive a set of electrical contacts with their foot parts each, and (b) a contact attachment having an array of apertures, the disposition of the apertures one from another corresponding to that of said array of parallel recesses, and lock or catch means whereby when the contact carrier and contact attachment are superimposed so that the array of parallel recesses corresponds to the array of apertures the lock or catch means serves to hold the contact carrier and contact attachment together in said superimposed disposition, and the size of said apertures in the contact attachment is such that when the contact attachment is in said superimposed disposition it serves to retain the contacts in place against axial movement in the contact carrier, that said parallel recesses have tapered extensions to accomodate electrical leads entering the contact carrier from the underside, and that the contact parts of the contacts lie essentially with their whole length within the apertures of the contact attachment.

2. A plug socket according to claim 1, in which the contact carrier and the contact attachment have edge recesses which correspond to one another, and/pr have adjoint-pieces and recesses which fit into one another.

3. A plug socket according to claim 1 or 2, in which the contact carrier insert has a recess or recesses in its periphery and the housing has a corresponding projection or projections for engagement with said recess or recesses.

4. A plug socket according to any of claims 1 to 3, in which the contact carrier has a plate-shaped portion having legs which in the assembled plug socket are in substantial alignment with the base of the housing intended to about the attachment surface.

5. A plug socket according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which said lock or catch means comprises at least one catch pin carried by the contact carrier or the contact attachment, and at least one catch recess in the contact attachment or contact carrier, respectively, for engagement with the catch pin or pins.

6. A plug socket according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which the catch connection or plug-in connection between the contact carrier insert and the housing is a detent provided on the inner wall of the housing and which engages an outer peripheral surface of the contact carrier insert.

7. A plug socket according to any of claims 3 to 6, in which said projections are webs formed on ribs of the housing said ribs serving for the reception of fastening boltsto hold the housing in place, in use, on an attachment surface,

8. A plug socket according to any of claims 1 to 7, in which the parallel recesses have outwardly pointing grooves or bores for the reception of fastening means by which electrical leads are connected to the contacts.

9. A plug socket according to claim 8, in which said radial grooves or bores are axially superjacent in more than one plane and the electrical contacts have correspondingly different axial lengths.

10. A plug socket according to any of claims 1 to 9, in which the housing has an approximately cylindrical jacket portion and a cap portion of curved periphery merging with the jacket portion.

11. A plug socket according to claim 10, in which the cover has a curved periphery corresponding to that of the cap portion.

12. A plug socket according to claim 10 or 11, in which the housing has indentations for the insertion of fastening bolts, and the cover has a grip strap which only partially protrudes beyond one of the indentations.

13. A plug socket according to any of claims 1 to 12, in which the head of the respective fastening bolt is let into the socket housing.

14. A plug socket according to claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.