LU100001B1 - Connector part with a PE connection - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector part (1) for connection to an associated mating connector part (3) comprises a housing (10) which can be connected to the mating connector part (3) along a connection direction (E) and has a support section (103), at least one on the support section (103) of the housing (10) arranged contact element (11) along the connecting direction (E) plug for electrical contacting with at least one mating contact element (31) of the mating connector part (3) is connectable, and one on the support portion (103) of the housing (10) arranged protective contact element (12) along the connecting direction (E) plugging (12) for grounding contact with a counter-protection contact element (32) of the mating connector part (3) is connectable. In addition, an electrically connected to the protective contact element (12) contacting device (14) is provided, to which a protective line (21) can be attached and a contacting part (142) and on the contacting part (142) arranged spring element (140) for locking the protective line (21) on the contacting device (14) and for contacting the protective line (21) with the protective contact element (12). In this way, a connector part is provided, which allows a simple and efficient way to connect a protective line.

Description

Connector part with a PE connection LI

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

Such a connector part comprises a housing which is connectable along a connecting direction with the mating connector part and has a support portion. At least one electrical contact element is arranged on the carrier section of the housing and can be connected to at least one mating contact element of the mating connector part in a plug-in manner along the connecting direction for electrical contacting. In addition, a protective contact element is arranged on the support portion of the housing, which can be connected along the connecting direction to ground contact with a counter-protection contact element of the mating connector part. Via the contact elements of the connector part, useful electrical currents, for example for providing an electrical supply or for transmitting data signals or the like, can be transmitted. On the other hand, a grounding contact (so-called PE contacting, PE stands for "protective earth") is preferably connected to the protective contact element, so that an earthed ground contact takes place on the connector part when connected to an associated mating connector part.

Conventionally, it has been primarily intended to form a connection for connecting a protective line as a screw connection. This allows a reliable, mechanically strong connection of the protective line with the contact insert, but may be subject to restrictions in handling. Thus, a screw connection may be difficult to access after attaching the protective contact element to the housing of the connector part, which may make it necessary to secure a protective line before inserting the protective contact element in the housing. In addition, attaching a plurality of protective lines requires the attachment of the protective lines to the (a) screw connection and the simultaneous fixing of the protective lines by tightening a screw.

From DE 10 2009 056 713 A1 a connector part is known in which contact elements are arranged on a housing. A protective line can be connected via a contacting device in the form of a screw.

LL

In a connector part known from DE 10 2008 032 837 A1, electrical lines can be inserted into receiving openings of contact elements in order to clamp the electrical lines to the contact elements.

Object of the present invention is to provide a connector part available that allows a simple and efficient way to connect a protective line.

This object is achieved by an article having the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, the connector part has an electrically connected to the protective contact element contacting device to which a protective line is plugged and having a contacting part and arranged on the contacting part spring element for locking the protective line to the contacting device and for contacting the protective line with the protective contact element.

The connection of the protective line to the protective contact element thus takes place via a spring force connection. For connecting the protective line to the protective contact element, the protective line can be plugged in a simple, convenient manner with a (stripped) wire end to the contacting device and thereby passes into the region of the spring element which locks the protective line to the contacting device and contacting the protective line with the protective contact element causes. To connect thus (only) an insertion of the protective line is required. The locking and contacting the protective line with the protective contact element can advantageously be carried out automatically, without further operating steps to set the protective line to the protective contact element are required.

The connection of the protective line to the protective contact element can be done with already mounted on the support portion of the housing protective contact element. Due to the fact that no screw connection for clamping the protective line must be made to connect the protective line, but the protective line can be infected in a simple manner to the contact element assigned to the protective contact element, the protective line can be infected in a simple, possibly also automatable manner to the protective contact element and with the protective contact element are electrically connected.

LL

In one embodiment, the at least one contact element and the protective contact element project along the connecting direction from a first side of the carrier section. The support portion may, for example, be realized by a bottom of a plug-in opening of the housing, from which project the at least one contact element and the protective contact element. The at least one contact element and the protective contact element can be configured in this case, for example, as contact pins which are to be connected to mating contact elements in the form of contact sockets, or as contact sockets to be connected to mating contact elements in the form of contact pins, and allow a connection by the connector part and the mating connector part are connected to each other along the connection direction.

The contacting device assigned to the protective contact element may, for example, be arranged on a second side of the carrier section facing away from the first side. While contacting with the

Mating connector part thus takes place on the first side of the support section, the contacting device, via which the contacting of the protective line is made with the protective contact element, arranged on the second side of the support section. The contacting device is thus outside a range in which the plug-in contact between the connector part and the associated mating connector part is made.

One or more contact elements can be provided on the connector part, via which useful currents, for example for providing an electrical supply or for transmitting data signals or the like, can be transmitted. The one or more contact elements and the protective contact element may in this case preferably be designed identically, for example as contact pins or as contact sockets. Both the contact elements and the protective contact element are placed in plug-in connection with the mating connector part in mating engagement with associated mating contact elements or the associated mating contact element.

In one embodiment, the protective contact element and the protective contact element associated with the contacting device form a preassembled module that can be attached as a preassembled unit to the housing of the connector part, to the protective contact element on the support portion of

To mount housing. The fixing of the protective contact element on the Ll support portion, for example via a fastener, for example in the form of a screw, done via which the preassembled module can be clamped, but releasably secured to the housing. The protective line can be plugged into the contacting device when the protective contact element is arranged on the housing. But the protective line can also already before mounting the

Protective contact element are connected to the housing with the contacting device.

The spring element has, in one embodiment, a clamping leg, which is in contact with the protective device in contact with the protective device with the protective line. About the clamping legs, the locking of the protective line to the contacting device, which is formed for contacting the protective line with the protective contact element of the clamping leg, for example, to push the protective line against a Kontaktierungsabschnitt of the contacting and thus bring the protective line in electrical contact with the protective contact element.

When the protective line is plugged into the contacting device, the protective line acts on the clamping leg of the spring element and deflects it in a spring-elastic manner such that the locking of the protective line to the contacting device is effected by contacting the protective contact element. The clamping leg is arranged to be movable on the contacting part.

In addition to the clamping leg, the spring element, in one embodiment, a holding leg, via which the spring element is held on the contacting part. The Flalteschenkel can be bent, for example, to the clamping leg and be set between Flalteabschnitten of the contacting part such that is fixed and supported on the Flalteschenkel the spring element on the contacting part. The Flalteschenkel provides an abutment for the clamping leg. When plugging the protective line to the contacting device, the protective line acts on the clamping leg and moves the clamping leg to the Flalteschenkel under elastic deformation of the spring element, so that the protective line is held under pretension on the contacting device.

The connection of the protective line with the contacting device is preferably detachable. For this purpose, the contacting device, for example, have an unlocking that can be actuated to release the protective line and, for example, LI has an arm with which the Entsperrelement acts on actuation of the spring element. The unlocking element can be actuated, for example, by a tool, for example a screwdriver, and pressed into a housing part of the contacting device for actuation. As a result, the unlocking element acts with its arm on the clamping leg of the spring element and pushes it out of engagement with the protective line, so that the locking of the protective line is canceled at the contacting device and the protective line can thus be deducted from the contacting device.

The unlocking element is preferably guided displaceably on a housing cover connected to the housing. The unlocking element may in this case be arranged in the manner of a pin in a guide opening of the housing cover and be pressed into the housing cover in order to act on the clamping leg of the spring element for releasing the protective line from the housing. It is also possible that the contacting device has two or more (separate) slots for the insertion of two or more protective lines and two or more spring elements for locking the protective lines. The contacting device thus provides several slots for connecting a plurality of protective lines. In this way, multiple protective lines can be connected in a simple, convenient way with reliable electrical contact with the protective contact element and reliable mechanical support to the contacting device.

Each spring element may in this case be designed as described above and in particular have a clamping leg for locking and contacting the protective line.

In one embodiment, the electrical leads assigned to the electrical contact elements can be connected to the contact elements via further contacting devices. The connection of the protective line to the protective contact element and the connection of the electrical lines to the contact elements thus takes place in a similar manner by plug-in connection via respectively associated contacting devices.

In this case, the further contacting device assigned to each contact element can be structurally identical to the contacting device assigned to the protective contact element, as has been described above. In particular, the contact device associated with each contact element can have a contacting part and a spring element arranged on the contacting part for locking the line to the further contacting device and for contacting the line with the respectively assigned contact element. When plugging in the electrical line to the further contacting device, the spring element jammed the line with the contacting part, so that is connected via the line to the associated contact element.

The protective line and the electrical lines can preferably be connected to the connector part along a common insertion direction. Thus, the protective line can be plugged into the plug-in direction of the protective contact element associated with the contacting device. Likewise, the electrical lines can be plugged into the plug-in direction to the other, the contact elements associated with contacting devices.

In one embodiment, the housing is enclosed in a connector body. The housing can thus realize a contact insert, which is accommodated in a connector body and thus creates a mating face for the connector part.

In this case, the housing can be fixed in the connector body by means of a fastening element which, for example, acts on the protective contact element and is designed, for example, as a screw. About the fastener, a frictional connection of the housing is provided with the connector body, for example, so that the housing is fixed in the connector body.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures. Show it.

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a connector part and an associated mating connector part, which are to be connected to each other in a connecting direction with each other.

FIG. 2 shows a view of an exemplary embodiment of a connector part, with contact elements projecting from a support section and a protective contact element; FIG.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the connector part;

4 shows a separate view of the protective contact element with an associated contacting device for connecting a protective line;

Fig. 5 is a separate view of a housing cover for attachment to a

Housing of the connector part;

6 is a view of the housing with attached housing cover.

FIG. 7 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 6 with connected lines; FIG.

8 shows a view of the connector part, with the housing enclosed in a connector body;

Fig. 9 is a view of a housing of a mating connector part; and

Fig. 10 is a view of the connector part and the mating connector part before mating.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a connector part 1, which can be connected along a connecting direction E with a mating connector part 3.

The connector part 1 has a housing 10, in which a plug-in opening 100 is formed, within which contact elements 11 in the form of contact pins and a protective contact element 12 are arranged in the form of a further contact pin. In the plug-in opening 100, a plug-in portion 300 of a housing 30 of the mating connector part 3 are inserted so that mating contact elements 31 in the form of contact sockets of the mating connector part 3 electrically contact the contact elements 11 and a mating contact element 32 in the form of another contact socket with the protective contact element 12. In this way, in cables 2, 4 guided electrical lines can be electrically connected to each other.

LI

An embodiment of a connector part 1, Fig. 2 to 10. The connector part 1 has a housing 10 which has an at least approximately square or rectangular cross-section. In the housing 10, a plug-in opening 100 is formed, which is delimited along the connecting direction E by a carrier portion 103 forming the bottom of the plug-in opening 100.

The housing 10 can realize, for example, a contact insert for a connector part 1, as illustrated with reference to FIG. 8. The housing 10 may for example be enclosed in a connector body 17, on which a strain relief 170 is provided for fixing the cable 2 to the connector part 1.

In this embodiment, a total of four contact elements 11 for transmitting useful currents and a protective contact element 12 for providing a protective contact are arranged on the carrier section 103. The contact elements 11 and the protective contact element 12 are formed as contact pins and extend along the connecting direction E of the support portion 103 and are in this way in the insertion opening 100 in front.

On the side facing away from the plug opening 100 of the support portion 103 contact means 13, 14 are arranged, which allow a connection of lines 20 to the contact elements 11 and a protective line 21 to the protective contact element 12. The leads 20, 21 are e.g. run together in the cable to be connected to the connector part 1 2 (see Fig. 1).

As can be seen from FIG. 3, a total of four contacting devices 13 assigned to the contact elements 11 are accommodated on the rear side of the carrier section 103 in a respective receiving opening 101 of the housing 10 and are in electrical connection with the contact elements 11. In addition, in a central receiving opening 102, a contacting device 14 is received and electrically connected to the protective contact element 12.

Each contacting device 13, 14 has a contacting part 132, 142 of an electrically conductive metal material and a spring element 130, 140 held thereon, via which a clamping locking and an electrical connection of a respective infected line 20, 21 with the contacting part 132, 142, as will be described below with reference to the contacting device 14 of the protective contact element 12 still Ll.

The lines 20 to be connected to the contact elements 11 are to be connected to stripped wire ends 200 along a direction of insertion S rectified with respect to the connection direction E to the respective associated contacting devices 13. Along the same plug-in direction S, the protective line 21 with a stripped wire end 210 is to be connected to the contacting device 14 of the protective contact element 12, so that the connection of the lines 20 and the protective line 21 to the connector part 1 in a similar, rectified manner along the same direction S plug.

The housing 10 is connected via a e.g. In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the housing cover 16, which has a plug-in opening 162 for plugging in the protective line 21 and plug-in openings 163 for plugging in the lines 20, is closed. In the plug-in openings 162, 163, the lines 20 and the protective line 21 are inserted, so get into the region of the associated contacting devices 13, 14 and thereby contact with the contact elements 11 and the protective contact element 12th

Each contacting device 13, 14 has an unlocking element 133, 143, which is guided on the housing cover 16 and can be actuated in the plugging direction S using a suitable tool, for example a screwdriver, and thereby interacting with a clamping leg 131, 141 the respective associated contacting device 13, 14 passes. About the Entsperrelement 133, 143, the locking of the line 20 and the protective line 21 from the respectively associated contacting device 13, 14 are solved by the

Clamping leg 131, 141 is pressed out of abutment with the wire end 200, 210 and thus the respective line 20, 21 can be pulled out of the contacting device 13, 14 counter to the plugging direction S.

The unlocking elements 133, 143 are displaceably guided on the housing cover 16 to be attached to the housing 10 along the plug-in direction S, as can be seen from FIG. 6 and as will be described below.

FIG. 4 shows a separate illustration of the preassembled module of the protective contact element 12. While the protective contact element 12 is connected to the

Carrier portion 103 is attached and projects into the insertion opening 100, the

Contacting device 14 received in the receiving opening 102 of the housing 10 back of the support portion 103. About a grounding element 15, the contacting portion 142 of the contacting device 14 is connected to the contact element 12, wherein the grounding element 15 as well as the contacting part 142 and the contact element 12 is made of an electrically conductive metal material and on the one hand with a base 147 of the contacting part 142 and on the other hand with the Contact element 12 is connected.

The earthing element 15 can be connected, for example, by riveted joints, welded joints or in some other way on the one hand to the base 147 of the contacting part 142 and on the other hand to the protective contact element 12.

The assembly shown in Fig. 4 can be attached as a preassembled unit to the housing 10 of the connector part 1 and is inserted into the receiving opening 102 back of the support portion 103 so that the contact element 12 engages through the support portion 103 and on the receiving opening 102 side facing away the support portion 103 projects into the insertion opening 100. About a fastener 150 in the form of a screw, the assembly can be clamped to the housing 10 so that the assembly is stationary and mechanically resiliently held on the housing 10.

The protective line 21 can be connected to the contacting device 12 when the module 10 is attached to the housing or even before the module is attached to the housing 10. The spring element 140 of the

Contacting device 14 is held on the contacting part 142 via a holding leg 144, which is placed around a holding section 145 of the contacting part 142. Upon insertion of the wire end 210 of the protective line 21, the wire end 210 acts on the clamping leg 141 of the spring element 140 and presses the clamping leg 141 derail under deformation of the spring element 140 aside, that the wire end 210 between the clamping leg 141 and a contacting portion 146 in the form of one of the Base 147 projecting web of the contacting part 142 comes to rest. In the inserted position, the wire end 210 and above the protective line 21 is thus locked to the contacting device 14 and is also pressed into contacting contact with the contacting section 146 so that the protective line 21 is electrically connected to the protective contact element 12.

LL

By pressing the Entsperrelements 143 in the direction of insertion S, the protective line 21 can be solved by the contacting device 14. The Entsperrelement 143 acts on the clamping legs 141 and pushes them when actuated in the insertion direction S down and thus out of engagement of the inserted into the contacting device 14 wire end 210. The clamping stop of the protective line 21 is released in this way, so that the protective line 21st can be pulled out of the contacting device 14 against the insertion direction S.

The contacting devices 13 of the contact elements 11 are constructed quite analogously to the contacting device 14 of the protective contact element 12. With Bliek on the spring elements 131, 141, the contacting devices 13, 14 functionally identical.

Because the lines 20 on the one hand and the protective line 21 on the other hand can be connected to the connector part 1 along a common plug-in direction S, the lines 20 and the protective line 21 are easily connected. In particular, the protective line 21 can already be connected to the housing 10 of the connector part 1 arranged protective contact assembly to the protective contact element 11 associated with contacting device 14 are connected.

As can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6, the housing cover 16 has a body 160 which is to be attached to the side facing away from the plug opening 100 side of the housing 10 and axially projecting clip elements 166, over which the body 160 positively by latching with the Housing 10 can be connected.

On the body 160, an axially along the insertion direction S projecting from the body 160 engaging member 161 is formed, which engages in attached to the housing 10 housing cover 160 into the receiving opening 102 of the housing 10. The engagement member 161 protrudes from the body 160 toward the housing 10, but also at the rear. On the engagement member 161, an insertion opening 162 is formed for insertion of a protective line 21, which is aligned with the clamping leg 141 of the contacting device 14 such that upon insertion into the insertion opening 162, the line end 210 of the protective line 21 comes into contact with the clamping leg 141 and thereby by clamping the contacting device 14 is set.

On the body 160 also insertion openings 163 are formed, which are associated with the LI contacting devices 13 for the lines 20 of the cable 2 and can be inserted into the lines 20 for contacting with the contacting devices 13.

Moreover, a guide opening 164 for the unlocking element 143 associated with the contacting device 14 is formed on the engagement element 161 of the body 160.

The guide opening 164 has the shape of a shaft and slidably guides the unlocking element 143 on the body 160 along the direction of insertion S. By acting on the unlocking element 143, namely by pressing into the body 160, the protective line 21 can be released from the contacting device 14. in that the clamping leg 141 is pressed out of contact with the line end 210 of the protective line 21.

On the body 160 also guide openings 165 for the contact means 13 associated Entsperrelemente 133 are formed. By pressing these unlocking elements 133 into the body 160, the connection of the lines 20 with the associated contacting devices 13 can be solved.

As can be seen from FIG. 8, the housing 10 with the housing cover 16 arranged thereon can be enclosed, for example, in a connector body 17. The housing 10 thus realizes a contact insert received in the connector body 17.

The fastening element 150 acting on the grounding element 15 can serve to fix the housing 10 within the connector body 17. For this purpose, the fastening element 150, as can be seen in FIG. 8, be accessible from the outside and reach through an opening of the connector body 17, so that a frictional connection of the housing 10 to the connector body 17 can be made via the fastening element 150 in a screwing manner ,

As can be seen from FIG. 10, the connector part 1 can be connected along the connection direction E to an associated mating connector part 3. The mating connector part 3 can, in a concrete embodiment, have a housing 30 with a plug-in section 300 formed thereon, as shown in FIG. 9. At the plug portion 300 contact elements 31 may be arranged in the form of contact sockets, the plug in the connection with the

Contact elements 11, 12 reach within the plug opening 100 of the connector part 1 in electrical contact.

Also, the housing 30 of the mating connector part 3 can be enclosed in a connector body and thus realize a contact insert for the mating connector part 3.

The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can in principle also be implemented in a completely different manner.

For example, it can be provided that the contacting element assigned to the protective contact element provides more than one slot for connecting a plurality of protective lines to the protective contact element.

It is also conceivable that the connector part has more than one protective contact element, each with a contacting device, so that a plurality of protective lines can be connected to the plurality of protective contact elements.

A connector part of the type described here can be used in very different ways to produce an electrical connection between lines.

Reference numeral LL 1 connector part 10 housing 100 plug-in opening 101, 102 receiving opening 103 support portion 11 contact element (contact pin) 12 protective contact element (contact pin) 13,14 contacting device 130, 140 spring element 131, 141 spring leg 132, 142 contacting part 133, 143 unlocking 144 holding leg 145 holding portion 146 contacting section (Bridge) 147 Base 15 Grounding element (PE metal) 150 Fastening element 16 Housing cover 160 Body 161 Engagement projection 162, 163 Insertion opening 164, 164 Guide opening 166 Clip element 17 Connector body 170 Strain relief 2 Electrical cable 20 Electrical line 200 Cable end 21 Protective line 210 Cable end 3 Connector part 30 Housing 300 plug portion 31 mating contact element

32 Anti-protection contact element LI 4 Electrical cable E Connection direction 5 Plug-in direction

Claims (15)

Claims LI A connector part (1) for connecting to an associated mating connector part (3), comprising - a housing (10) which can be connected to the mating connector part (3) along a connection direction (E) and has a support section (103), - at least a contact element (11) arranged on the carrier section (103) of the housing (10), which can be connected to at least one mating contact element (31) of the mating connector part (3) along the connecting direction (E) for electrical contacting, and - one on the carrier section (103) of the housing (10) arranged protective contact element (12) along the connecting direction (E) plugging (12) for grounding contact with a counter-protection contact element (32) of the mating connector part (3) is connectable, characterized by an electrically connected to the protective contact element ( 12) connected contacting device (14) to which a protective line (21) can be attached and which is a contacting part (142) and a on the contacting part (142) arranged spring element (140) for locking the protective line (21) on the contacting device (14) and for contacting the protective line (21) with the protective contact element (12). Second connector part (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one contact element (11) and the protective contact element (12) along the connecting direction (E) from a first side of the support portion (103) protrude. 3. connector part (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the contacting device (14) facing away from the first side, second side of the support portion (103) is arranged. 4. connector part (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one contact element (11) and the protective contact element (12) are designed as contact pins or contact sockets. 5. Connector part (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized LL characterized in that the protective contact element (12) and the contacting device (14) are combined to form a preassembled module. 6. connector part (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (140) has a clamping leg (141) which is in at the contacting device (14) infected protective line (21) with the protective line (21) in abutment , 7. connector part (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the clamping leg (141) is adapted to press the protective line (21) against a contacting portion (146) of the contacting part (142). 8. connector part (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the clamping leg (141) to the contacting part (142) is movable. 9. connector part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (140) has a holding leg (144), via which the spring element (140) is held on the contacting part (142). 10. Connector part (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contacting device (14) has a Entsperrelement (143) which is operable to release the protective line (21) of the contacting device (14) and upon actuation on the spring element (140) acts. 11. Connector part (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the unlocking element (143) is displaceably guided on a housing cover (16) connected to the housing (10). 12. Connector part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one further, electrically connected to the at least one contact element (11) contacting device (13) to which an electrical line (20) is attachable and a contacting part (132) and a spring element (130) arranged on the contacting part (132) for locking the line (20) to the further contacting device (13) and for contacting the line (20) with the at least one contact element (11) has LI 13. Connector part (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the protective line (21) and the electrical line (20) along a common insertion direction (S) in the respective associated contacting device (13, 14) can be inserted. 14. Connector part (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (10) is enclosed in a connector body (17). 15. Connector part (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the housing (10) is fixed above a on the protective contact element (12) engaging fastener (15) to the connector body (17).