WO1995024666A1

WO1995024666A1 - Connector and plug-in part for a plug connection and a connector unit for a central coupling system

Info

Publication number: WO1995024666A1
Application number: PCT/EP1995/000927
Authority: WO
Inventors: Walter André GEHRI
Original assignee: Gehri Walter Andre
Priority date: 1994-03-10
Filing date: 1995-03-10
Publication date: 1995-09-14
Also published as: AU2069495A

Abstract

The invention concerns a connector (31), a fitting plug-in part (32) and a connector unit (30) for plug connections between electric leads (12a1) and beam waveguides (12a3). Previous connectors had the disadvantage that they allowed fitters easy or even unintentional access to the contact surface of the connector pin (1e). According to the invention, a restoring spring (6) is provided which retracts the pin (1e) into a protected position when the connector is in the rest state.

Description

PLUG AND INSERT FOR A CONNECTOR, AND CONNECTING BLOCK FOR A CENTRAL COUPLING SYSTEM

The invention relates to a plug according to claim 1, a plug-in part according to claim 6, a plug combination according to claim 7 and a connection block according to claim 9. Plug connections with plugs, plug-in parts and / or connecting blocks according to the invention are required wherever no continuous conductors can be provided, so for example for couplings between railway wagons, etc.

A large number of plugs or male connecting parts and corresponding plug-in parts or female connecting parts are known for connecting electrical conductors. The plug comprises at least one pin, the surface of which consists of conductive material at least in a partial area. When the pin is inserted into a corresponding sleeve of the plug-in part, the conductive partial area of the pin comes into contact with a conductive area of the sleeve. The main contact area is only arranged on the side of the pin. If a contact is provided at the inner end of the sleeve for the pin to come into contact with the end face, the sleeve and the pin length must match exactly. This necessary match can only be achieved with a large amount of processing. The known plugs with end contacts tend to break contacts when vibrating parts are connected.

In the case of lateral contact areas, the outer diameter of the pin and the inside of the sleeve must fit together so that the pin can be inserted and removed without great force and the lateral contact area lies sufficiently close to the sleeve. Again, this can only be achieved with a large amount of processing. Since the above pins are dirty on the side and on the end of the connector when not inserted, there is a risk that the Contact becomes bad, or the plug can no longer be inserted into the plug-in part.

The electrical lines are often used for the electrical supply of devices, such as measuring, control and drive units. From and to these devices, information must also arrive in parallel with the power supply. For example, in modern train compositions, wheel speeds and drive power are measured on individually driven wheels and curve radii and the corresponding optimal drive power are calculated in a central computer in order to control the drive power. To the

To be able to transmit information signals without interference and in the required density along the entire train composition, light guides are increasingly being used in addition to the electrical cables. Since large electromagnetic interference fields act on the cables in trains, a good earth connection must also be guaranteed to shield the cables. Interference- and loss-free plug connections for electrical lines and, if necessary, for light guides must therefore be provided between the carriages. In particular, damage or soiling of the contact areas must be avoided if the plugs are not inserted

Fig. 1 shows examples of known plugs for optical fibers as they are used in series production. Fig. 1a shows a connector, in which two pins 1a and 1b are plugged together in a centering coupling sleeve 2a. In principle, this state should be achieved with all such plug connections, since the pins 1 are highly precise guide parts, in the center of which the thin optical waveguide is held. The ground ends of the respective optical fibers must be as close as possible

face each other in a centered manner so as not to suffer transmission losses when transmitting light. It is also important that the pins 1 or the ends of the optical fibers come as close as possible. The latter Condition is solved well by a construction according to FIG. 1c, where at least one pin 1c of a plug connection is spring-loaded in the connecting direction. When two plugs are plugged together, similar to the position in FIG. 1a, the pin 1c is pressed resiliently against the assigned second pin (for example 1a) by such a pressure spring 3a, so that the distance between the two pins 1 is minimal.

The damage and soiling problem is now more clearly evident from the arrangements described above for the sensitive fiber optic ends than for the electrically conductive contact areas of the pins. If the plugs or pins 1b or 1c are pulled out of their plug connections, the pins 1 or the ends of the optical waveguides come to rest outdoors, since in the case of FIG. 1a the sleeve 2a remains on the pin 1a or because the pressure spring 3a 1c pushes the pin 1c forward into the position shown. The optical fibers or their ends are unprotected in these positions and can easily be contaminated or damaged by moisture, dust, dirt or body fluids - when touching the pins 1 with your fingers - which can lead to reduced transmission performance or failures when the connectors are reused later.

The only known protection against this is the attachment of a cover cap 4 to the pin 1 (Fig. 1b). However, this attachment in particular is dangerous since, in the event of slight carelessness, the fitter slips, for example, and instead of the cap 4 his finger touches the end of the pin. Apart from this, the pin 1 is unprotected until the cap 4 is attached.

The invention has for its object to provide a plug that ensures trouble-free contact in the inserted state even with vibrating systems and that does not release the contact area of electrical connecting pins even in the non-connected state and thus protects against unwanted access, dust, etc. In particular The connector should also protect the ends of the optical fibers in a corresponding manner, so that parallel electrical and optical fiber connections can be connected in a uniform manner without any problems. A corresponding plug-in part belongs to the plug. In particular, a connection block for a central coupling system is to be described for electrical and / or optical fiber connections, for example between railway wagons. The general task of searching for an improved connector is solved, for example, by the application of the features of claim 1. The plug-in part fits the connector with the features of claim 6. To take advantage of the connector according to the invention, for example, together with central couplings, such as those used in the railway industry are used to achieve a connection block according to the invention comprises the features according to claim 9. Further solutions or tasks according to the invention result from the dependent claims which describe the developments of the invention.

In addition, the invention includes further solutions to problems and variants or configurations that result from the description of the figures. The description of the figures relates to exemplary embodiments which cover the scope of protection of the

Do not restrict claims, but may themselves also include independently applicable inventions.

In the inventive solution, it is recognized in a first step that electrical connections with only one contact area on the end face of at least one connecting pin enable trouble-free and essentially loss-free contact if the end-side electrical contact surfaces are pressed together in a spring-loaded manner. Due to the spring load, the sleeve and pin length, as well as the sleeve and pin diameter, do not have to match exactly for optimal contact. In addition, there will be interruptions in contact with vibrating parts prevented. In a second inventive step, it is recognized that, in order to prevent damage and contamination-related contact problems in the plug, at least one return spring must be provided, which presses the at least one pin against its direction of insertion into a rest position, in which the pin is protected against unintentional access. For this purpose, the pin is preferably mounted so that it can be moved back and forth in the plugging direction in a bore in an insulation part, which is made in particular of plastic and has a front end face.

In the rest position, the end face of the at least one pin is pulled back a little, preferably at least 1 mm, in particular about 2 mm - 3 mm, behind the end face of the insulation part. In order to touch, contaminate or damage the face, a thin object would have to be deliberately inserted into the hole. The at least one pin is only slightly pulled back into the insulation part in order to prevent dust from collecting in the niche above the end face.

With earthing, it may be desirable that they also protrude in the rest position, or that they are at least retracted less than the other pins, so that the earthing is connected first when it is moved into the connecting position. The provision of grounding or

Shield connections via connector pins are easier and less susceptible to faults than an earth connection via the connector housing.

Particular preference is given to a special, self-centering design of the end faces of the pins, which interact in particular with opposing pins (eg cones in a conical countersink) during use. The end faces are rotationally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the pins, the rotationally symmetrical shape being concave or is convex, conical or conical, frustoconical or rounded.

Analogous to the pins for electrical contacts, pins with optical waveguides, preferably optical fibers of glass fiber technology, which are arranged centrally in the pin, can also be provided in the same connector. This simple and useful combination option results from the inventive finding that all connections are made by contacts on the end face of the pins.

In the plug-in part, each pin of the plug is assigned a bore (for electrical pins), preferably in an insulation part, or (for optical fibers) a sleeve, in which the pin is guided when it is moved into the connection position. In order to guarantee the most accurate guidance possible, it may be advantageous, in particular for pins with optical fibers, if they are guided in centering sleeves. A displaceable pin of the plug-in part is provided in each bore or sleeve, which is pressed against the pin of the plug in the connecting position by means of a pressure spring. The pressure spring guarantees a desired pressure force between the end faces of the two pins assigned to each other.

The end faces are adapted to one another, possibly flat, but preferably concave and convex. The concave-convex shape results in self-centering when pressed together. The contact force between two pins is at least 5 Newtons, but preferably about 10 Newtons.

The preferred plugs and plug-in parts provide an electrically conductive central grounding pin and, on a circle around this center, preferably pins at equal intervals for electrical and / or light conductor connections. The standard connectors are equipped with an earthing or Shield pin and two, four, six or eight other pins.

6, a further development of the connector according to the invention in the form of a connection block for a connector with at least one electrical connection and / or at least one optical fiber connection is described, in particular for use in central coupling systems between rail wagons.

It shows:

Fig.1 different conventional plugs for

Fiber optic connectors;

2 shows a single-pole connector according to the invention in

extended state;

Fig.3 two multi-pin connector in the unconnected state; 4 shows the plug according to FIG. 3 in the assembled, not yet locked state;

Fig.5, the plug according to Fig.3 and 4 in the locked state and

6 shows a connection block, in particular for use in central coupling systems of rail wagons. The technical implementation of the invention according to Fig. 2 consists of a conventional pin 1d, which is longitudinally displaceable in a connector housing 5a, a return spring 6a between support sleeves 7a and b and a - only symbolically indicated - bolt 8a, one end with a fixed stop 9a cooperates and is connected at the other end to the pin 1d or its base part 10a.

The support sleeve 7a is rigid with the inside of the

cylindrical connector housing 5a connected, while the support sleeve 7b is fixed to the pin ld. The connections can be made by pressing, screw threads or the like. be made. The return spring 6a thus pressurizes the pin 1d against the plugging direction, so that it is not connected or locked state of the plug, the pin end 11a is held pressed into the protected position 11a1. The position shown is achieved by advancing the base part 10a in the insertion direction (arrow) against the force of the spring 6a until the bolt 8a locks on the stop 9a. The stop 9a is itself ring-shaped and can be longitudinally displaced slightly against the force of a pressure spring 3b on the plug housing 5a. The symbolically illustrated pressure spring 3b consists of an elastic sealing ring with a greater restoring force than the restoring force of the return spring 6a. The principle of the invention also works without a pressure spring 3, but a variant is preferred, since then the criterion of the pins 1 resting snugly against one another is better met in the plug-connected state. With normal plug adjustment, the ends 11 of the pins 1 are located such that they would overlap when plugged together. This theoretical overlap is compensated for by the sprung mobility of the stop 9a and with it the bolt 8a and the base body 10a.

When a plug connection is opened, the latch 8a is first opened by the installer, after which the pin 1d moves into the position 11a1 and thus comes into a protected position, after which the plug connection can be opened completely without any risk.

Analogous to the connector according to FIG. 2, multi-pole connectors according to FIGS. 3 to 5 are also constructed, with a bayonet locking sleeve 8b being provided instead of the bolt 8a, which sleeve can be locked with a bayonet receiving sleeve 9b of the same type. The sleeves 8b and 9b also serve as a connector housing. The bayonet locking sleeve 8b is sealed against a holding part 15 by means of a sealing ring 14b. The holding part 15 is preferably made of electrically insulating material, in particular plastic, and has bores, the base Pick up body 10b of pins 1e. The base bodies 10b are held axially immovably on the holding part by support rings 7e and driving rings 13a. Return springs 6b are arranged concentrically around the base body 10b, which are supported on the support rings 7e or hold the base body 10b and with them the holding part 15 and the bayonet closure sleeve 8b in the direction of the optical waveguide 12c (against the locking direction). On the other hand, the return springs 6b are supported on a guide part 16, which in turn is axially displaceably held in the bayonet closure sleeve 8b. The guide part 16 has bores 18a which axially guide the pins 1e. On one shoulder, the guide part 16 carries a second sealing ring 14a, which seals it when it comes into contact with the bayonet receptacle 9b, so that no contaminants can penetrate into the space between the pin ends 11b and c when the plug connection is made.

The plug-in part designed as a female connector has an axially displaceable centering part 17 with bores 18b in its bayonet receiving sleeve 9b. Centering sleeves 2b are optionally provided in the bores 18b, in particular for the pins 1 with optical waveguides, which must be centered exactly on one another. The centering sleeves 2b serve, as in the prior art according to FIG. 1a, for centering two pins 1 inserted against one another - in this case 1e and 1f. The centering part 17 or the centering sleeves 2b center pins 1f or their base body 10c. The base body 10c carry support rings 7d, which are spring-loaded in the insertion direction by pressure springs 3c. The pressure springs 3c are supported against a support part 19 which is connected to the bayonet receiving sleeve 9b so as to be non-displaceable - if necessary in one piece. The pressure springs 3c have the task of pushing the pins 1f in the direction of the pins 1e, or they should when the pins 1e are on due to tolerance-related differences in length plug or lock the connector too tight on the

Press pin ends 11c of pins 1f, a resilient one

Allow evasion. Central pins 1e2 and 1f2 are preferably provided as an earth connection. It may be expedient here that the plug pin 1e2 also protrudes beyond the guide part 16 in the retracted state, or is at least somewhat longer than the other pins, so that the ground is first connected when plugged together. The connection example shown provides, in addition to grounding, an electrical connection of an electrical conductor 12a1 via pins 1e1, 1f1 and an optical waveguide connection of the optical waveguide 12a3 via pins 1e3 and 1f3.

Fig. 4 shows the position when loosely merging the two connector parts before locking. It can be seen that the pin ends 11b remain in a protected position 11b1 until the very end, in which they are kept away from any unintentional access when open. A guide pin 20 of the bayonet receiving sleeve 9b engages in an axial guide groove 21 on the guide part 16 in order to achieve the correct positioning of the different pins 1 relative to one another and to prevent rotation. At the same time (only one symbolically shown) lugs 22 of the bayonet locking sleeve 8b engage in bayonet grooves 23 on the outside of the bayonet receiving sleeve 9b. The guide part 16 closes flush with the centering part 17 and the respective pin ends 11 lie opposite one another.

The next step in producing the plug connection, namely the locking, is shown in FIG. 5. Against the force of the return springs 6b, the bayonet locking sleeve 8b, the holding part 15, the base body 10b and thus the pins 1e are displaced in the direction of insertion. The pins 1e penetrate into the centering sleeves 2b and are thus centered on the pin ends 11c of the pins 1f beat. By turning the bayonet locking sleeve 8b, the lugs 22 are brought to their locking point 24 in the bayonet receiving sleeve 9b so that they snap into place.

When opening the plug connection in the reverse order, before the two plug parts can be taken apart, the pins 1e are pulled back into position 11b1.

The invention thus enables an optimally protected and sealed against the environment connector between electrical conductors and / or optical fiber ends. The invention is not restricted by the exemplary representation; variations of the individual parts within the scope of the invention are conceivable within the scope of the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the pressure springs 3c can be omitted, or they could also be arranged approximately in the area of the sealing ring 14b. The return positions of the pins 1 shown are not to be understood quantitatively. Thus, shorter or longer return positions can be selected within the scope of the invention. The cable-side connector ends are not shown or described in more detail, since conventional end configurations can be provided for this, such as are already used, for example, in conventional plug connections between wagons. Part 17 and part 9b could also be formed in one piece, which has the advantage of requiring fewer moving parts. Part 19 is, as not shown in detail, fixed in part 9b.

6 shows a further development of the connector according to the invention in the form of a connecting block 30 for a connector with at least one electrical connection and / or at least one optical fiber connection, in particular for use in central coupling systems between see railroad cars. So that a railroad car can be coupled to a front in both orientations, the connecting blocks 30 must be of identical design. Each connection block 30 has at least one connection pair consisting of a plug 31 and a corresponding plug-in part 32, which are arranged symmetrically to the central plane 33 of the central coupling, so that when connecting two connection blocks 30, a plug 31 meets a plug-in part 32. The pins A, A ', or B, B', of the plug and the plug-in part, which are assigned symmetrically to one another, are each the same line, since each line is connected once both in plug 31 and in plug-in part 32. To move the plug pins A, B into the connection position, an actuating device 34 is provided, which moves the pins A, B into the connection position when or after the connection blocks 30 are firmly brought together. The actuating device 34 comprises mechanical, but preferably hydraulic or pneumatic actuating elements 35, which are connected to a guiding and / or holding device 36a, 36b for bringing the connecting blocks 30 together or holding them together. The movements of the mechanical couplings of two coupled wagons do not lead to movements of the connecting blocks 30 against one another, because on the one hand these are arranged movably on the mechanical couplings and

on the other hand are firmly pressed together by the holding device. Reference list

A pen

B pen

1 a-f pen

2 a, b centering sleeve

3 a-c pressure spring

4 cover cap

5 a connector housing

6 a, b return spring

7 a-c support sleeve

d-e support ring

8 a bolt

b Bayonet closure sleeve

9 a stop

b Baj onlet holder

10 a-c base body

11 a-c pin end

a1, b1 rest position of the end of the pen

12 a-c optical fibers

al electrical lines a3 optical fiber

13 a drive ring

14 a, b sealing ring

15 holding part

16 guide part

17 centering part

18 a, b holes

19 support part

20 guide pins

21 guide groove

22 lugs

23 bayonet slots

24 locking parts

25

26

27

28 29

30 connection block

31 connector

32 insert part

33

34 actuator

35 actuator

36 guide device

Claims

claims

1. Plug for a plug connection, which comprises at least one electrical connection, with a plug housing (5, 8b, 16) and at least one pin (1) which holds or forms an electrical conductor, characterized in that at least one spring is provided which is designed as a return spring (6) and presses the at least one pin (1) against its plugging direction into a rest position (11a1, -11b1), the pin (1) at least indirectly against the force of the return spring (6) in a Connection position is displaceable, and wherein the connector housing (5, -8b; 16) is designed so that the pin (1) in its rest position (11a1; 11b1) is protected against unintentional access.

2. Plug according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one pin (1) for interacting with an opposing pin (1) on its free end face (11a Fig.2) concave or convex, conical or to the longitudinal axis of the pin (1) is rotationally symmetrical curved.

3. Plug according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one pin (1e3) is provided, the one

Optical fiber (12a3) holds.

4. Plug according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one, preferably in the plug housing (5, 8b, 16) centrally arranged, pin (1e2) in its rest position in the plug-in direction protrudes further than at least one further pin (1e), wherein the above pin (1e2) is preferably electrically conductive, in particular as a grounding or shielding connection.

5. Plug according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the following features is provided,

a) the pin (1) is directly or indirectly with

a latch (8b and 22; 8a) for locking

(Locking) the pin (1) in its

Connection position connected,

b) the bolt (8a) can be locked with a stop (9a), preferably in the form of a ring segment,

c) the connector housing comprises a - preferably manually operable - bayonet lock sleeve (8b), within which two parts (15, 16) which are displaceable relative to one another are arranged, each of the parts (15, 16) possibly being sealed against the sleeve (14b, a) by means of sealing rings (14b, a) 8b) is sealed,

d) the parts (15, 16) in which the at least one pin is held or guided are made of electrical insulation material, preferably plastic.

6. Plug according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the following features is provided

a) the return spring (6) is designed as a helical spring and is arranged concentrically around the pin (1), b) the pin (1) has on its base body (10) a support ring (7b, preferably integrally formed with the body (10) e), or the base body (10) is held immovably in a holding part (15), the return spring (6) being supported on the holding part (15),

c) are inside a bayonet closure sleeve (8b)

a plurality of pins (1) are arranged, which are preferably assigned a common return spring (6), and d) in addition to the return spring (6), at least one pressure spring (3) is provided between a pressing part and the at least one pin (1), which

Pressure spring (3) has a higher spring constant than the return spring (6) and via which of the at least a pin can be moved into a connection position, so that the pin presses against a connection part with a desired pressure in the connection position.

7. Insert part for a plug according to one of claims 1 to 6 with a plug-in housing (9b) and a guide or centering part (17) with at least one bore or centering sleeve (2b) for inserting the at least one plug pin (1 ), characterized in that each pin (1) with an electrical conductor, or with an optical waveguide, of the plug in the associated bore is opposed by a corresponding pin (l) of the plug-in part, at least one pressure spring (3) having a small spring travel being provided which spring-loaded the pin (1) of the plug-in part for a length compensation - with essentially constant contact pressure - against the plug-pin (1) in the connecting position in the plug-in direction.

8. Plug combination of two pluggable

Plug parts or plug-in parts according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that both parts by a bayonet locking system

(8b, 9b, 22, 23, 24) can be locked together, one part having a guide groove (21) and the other a guide pin (20) for this groove (21) in order to prevent rotation.

9. Plug combination according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one of the following features is provided

a) the pins (1) pressed against each other on the end face have matching end faces, the end face of the one preferably being concave and that of the other pin being convex, b) the pins (1) are pressed against one another in the connecting position with a force of at least 5 Newtons, but preferably with about 10 Newtons.

10. Connection block for a plug connection, which comprises at least one electrical connection and / or at least one optical waveguide connection, with a guide device (36) for merging two connection blocks (30) and a holding device for holding the connection blocks (30), a central coupling system Type of wagon connection in the rail system, characterized in that

a) at least one connection pair consisting of a plug (31) and a plug-in part (32) is arranged in the connection block (30) such that when connecting two identical connection blocks (30), a plug (31) meets a plug-in part (32) , b) the plug (31) comprises a plug housing part, at least one pin (A, B, 1e) which holds or forms an electrical conductor and / or a light guide, and at least one spring, the spring acting as a return spring (6 ) and presses the at least one pin (A, B, 1e) against its plugging direction into a rest position (11a1; 11b1), the pin (A, B, 1e) at least indirectly against the force of the return spring (6) in a Connection position is displaceable, and wherein the connector housing part

(5; 8b; 16) is designed in such a way that the pin (1) in its rest position (11a1; 11b1) is protected against unintentional access,

c) the insert part for inserting the plug

a plug-in housing part and at least one bore (18b) or centering sleeve (2b) for inserting the at least one plug pin (A, B, 1e) so that each pin (A, B, 1e) with an electrical conductor or with an optical waveguide, the plug in the associated bore (18b) is opposed by a corresponding pin (A ', B', 1f) of the plug-in part, at least one pressure spring (3) with a small spring travel is provided, which holds the pin (A ', B', 1f) of the plug-in part for a length compensation - with a substantially constant contact pressure - against the plug pin (A, B, 1e) the connection position in the direction of insertion spring-loaded, and

d) an actuating device (34) for displacing the at least one pin (A, B, 1e) of the plug against the force of the return spring (6) is provided in a connecting position.

11. Connection block according to claim 10, characterized in that the actuating device (34) is connected to the guide device (36) and / or to the holding device and optionally comprises mechanical, but preferably hydraulic or pneumatic actuating elements (35), by means of which the at least a pin (A, B, 1e) can be moved into the connecting position when, but possibly only after, the guiding device has been brought together and / or the holding device has engaged.