WO1996036092A1

WO1996036092A1 - Plug connector housing

Info

Publication number: WO1996036092A1
Application number: PCT/DE1996/000746
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dirk Koburg; Udo Ramaekers; Antje Hildebrandt
Original assignee: Delphi Automotive Systems Deutschland Gmbh
Priority date: 1995-05-12
Filing date: 1996-04-30
Publication date: 1996-11-14
Also published as: DE59605641D1; EP0770274A1; EP0770274B1; ES2148756T3; DE19517431C1

Abstract

The one-piece plug connection housing (60) consisting of at least three mutually engageable housing sections (10, 20, 30) pivotably connected together by film hinges (21, 31) is designed to accept electric conductors (40, 45) with contacts (42, 47) fitted to them and lying in several planes (22), in which the upper housing section (30) is engaged with the lower section (10) in the closed position and thus locks the other folded housing sections (20') between them. To reduce the space required and to simplify fabrication, the number of mutually engageable housing sections (10, 20, 30) exceeds that of the planes (22) in the seam regions (62) between the closed housing sections (10, 20', 30'), in which the electric conductors (40, 45) lie when fitted, by 1, whereby electric conductors (40, 45), especially with identical electric contacts (47), are locked in a seam region (62) and the film hinges (21) between the lower housing section (10) and the intermediate housing sections (20) are arranged at right angles to the film hinges (31) between the lower (10) and upper (30) housing sections.

Description

Connector housing ------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------

The invention is directed to a connector housing for electrical contact parts connected to electrical lines according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a housing is known as an embodiment of a multi-pole plug-in coupling half for electrical lines from DE-PS 37 35 205. When assembling the housing components and when using this housing as intended, the correct placement of all components of the coupling half can be seen. The Kontakttei le of the electrical lines are in continuous longitudinally profiled holes. An advantage of the housing design described is that the housing does not contain any lost parts, because all parts are hingedly connected by film hinges, which also makes the manufacturing process of the housing very simple and inexpensive.

The object of the invention is to provide a connector housing of the type described at the outset, which has no captive parts, the housing parts being collapsible by a folding process are, and this is also characterized by small space requirements and simplified assembly, namely a simple and quick assembly, and possibly disassembly, which is characterized by the electrical lines provided with the electrical contact parts.

This is achieved according to the invention by the measures specified in the characterizing part of claim 1, which have the following special meaning:

The number of electrical lines that can be fixed in the housing with their electrical contacts can be designed to be variable with simple assembly. According to the invention, the number z of housing parts which can be locked together is always 1 greater than the number n of levels in which the electrical lines are located. In the case of installation, these levels are located in the joint areas between the housing parts that are folded over one another. The assembly is particularly simple, quick and clear that electrical lines with in particular identical electrical contact parts are locked in a joint area between the closed housing parts. The arrangement of the film hinges according to the invention advantageously allows multiple locking of the electrical lines with their contact parts and the intermediate housing parts.

A further additional locking results from the fact that the housing parts lying one above the other are gripped transversely to their stacking direction by a profiled wall of two half-shells encompassing the connector housing of a container accommodating the housing.

Further measures and advantages of the invention result from the following description, in which a preferred embodiment of the Finding is further explained with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector housing according to the invention in the fully opened position of the housing parts

2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector housing according to the invention in a position rotated by 90 ° with respect to FIG. 1, including the electrical lines provided for the first line level,

3 is an exploded perspective view of the connector housing according to the invention according to FIG. 2, but with the second housing part closed, including the electrical lines lying in the first line level and fastened in the housing and the electrical lines provided for the second line level,

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connector housing according to the invention according to FIG. 3, but with the third housing part closed, including the electrical lines fastened in the housing and lying in the first and second line levels, with an additional illustration of a positioner and a circuit board for fixing the connector housing in one Container,

5 is a side view of the connector housing according to the invention of FIG. 4 mounted on the board in a container, Fig. 6 shows the end wall of the container provided for receiving the connector housing in a view rotated by 90 ° compared to FIG. 5.

The connector housing 60 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is a six-pole, one-piece injection molded part and consists of three housing parts 10, 20, 30. With the first, lowest housing part 10, hereinafter also referred to as the lower housing part 10, the second housing part 20, which is also referred to as intermediate housing part 20, and the third, uppermost housing part 30, also called upper housing part 30, is hingedly connected via film hinges 21, 31. The connection between the lower housing part 10 and the intermediate housing part 20 takes place via the film hinge 21, the connection between the lower housing part 10 and the upper housing part 30 via the two film hinges 31. The film hinge 21 between the lower housing part 10 and the intermediate housing part 20 is perpendicular to the film hinges 31 between the lower housing part 10 and the upper housing part 30 are arranged.

In the exploded view of Fig. 1, the two foldable housing parts 20, 30 are both shown in their fully opened positions.

The connector housing 60 serves to receive the contact parts 42, 47 of electrical lines 40, 45 with different cross sections 41, 46. The different line cross sections 41, 46 correspond to different functions of the electrical lines 40, 45. The lines 40 with a larger cross section 41 are load current lines, for example for the power supply of a motor, not shown here, while the lines 45 with the smaller cross section 46 represent signal or control current lines for the power supply of electronic components, which are also not shown here. According to the below Different function of the lines 40, 45, the size AA, 49 and the type of electrical contact parts 42, 47 is different. The load current lines 40 have angled contact parts (flat receptacles 42) of a larger dimension (contact system size 44) than the signal current lines 45, the contact parts 47 of which are straight flat receptacles with a smaller contact system size 49. Instead of the flat receptacles, the electrical contact parts 42, 47 can also be formed, for example, by circular receptacles or plug pins. The six-pole connector housing 60 described is provided for receiving two load current lines 40 and four signal current lines 45.

Via the electrical contact parts 42, 47 in the housing 60, the load and signal current lines 40, 45 are detachably connected to plug pins 61 located on a circuit board 59 by plug connections 42, 47, 61. 5 shows, the circuit board 59 and the connector housing 60 according to the invention, which can also be provided several times on the circuit board 59, are in an encapsulating container 50, from which the electrical lines 40, 45 are led to the outside.

The two angled plug sleeves 42 of the load current lines 40 shown in FIG. 2 are accommodated in the connector housing 60 in two chambers 11, 29, each of which is formed from a chamber part 11 located in the lower housing part 10 and a chamber part 29 arranged at right angles thereto. The chamber part 29 again consists of two semi-cylindrical spaces 27, 28. The first semi-cylindrical space 27 is located in the lower housing part 10, the second semi-cylindrical space 28 in the intermediate housing part 20.

The straight plug sleeves 47 of the signal current lines 45 are accommodated in four chambers 12 in the lower housing part 10 of the plug connector housing 60. The chamber parts 11 for the receptacles 42 of the load current lines 40 and the chambers 12 for the receptacles 47 of the signal current lines 45 are located in different levels 13, 14 of the first housing part 10, the level 13 of the chamber parts 11 being parallel to the level 14 of the chambers 12 for the Plug sleeves 47 of the signal current lines 45 is arranged.

For the course of the electrical lines 40, 45, the different line levels 22, 32 are provided at right angles to the chamber levels 13, 24. The first line level 22 of the course of the load current lines 40 is identical to the level between the first housing part 10 and the closed second housing part 20 ', in which the chamber parts 29 for the plug sleeves 42 lie. The second line level 32 runs parallel to the first line level 22 between the second housing part 20 'and the third closed housing part 30' and is intended for the course of the signal current lines 45.

When assembling the connector housing 60, in a first step, shown in FIG. 2, the load current lines 40 are inserted into the chamber parts 11 of the lower housing part 10 in the direction of arrow 64 with the angled end of their crimped flat plug sleeves 42. When the flat receptacles 42 are fully inserted into the chamber parts 11, two resilient locking webs 43 come into engagement on each flat receptacle 42 with corresponding undercuts 16 in the walls of the chamber parts 11 and form a latching connection 43, 16 through which the electrical contact parts 42 in the chamber parts 11 can be set. The sides of the flat receptacles 42 crimped onto the load current lines 40 come to lie in the semi-cylindrical spaces 27 of the chamber parts 29, which are arranged in the first line level 22 at right angles to the chamber parts 11 in the first housing part 10.

Then the second housing part 20 is moved by a movement around the film Hinge 21 in the direction of arrow 23 brought into its closed position 20 '. On the side of the intermediate housing part 20 facing the first housing part 10 there are two symmetrically arranged snap hooks 26 which, in this closed position 20 ', engage behind the ends of a corresponding latching slot 66 in the first housing part 10 and thus by means of the latching connections 26, 66 which arise, the flat receptacles 42 of the Lock load current lines 40 releasably and non-positively. The upper parts of the flat receptacles 42 are held in the semi-cylindrical spaces 28 of the chamber parts 29 of the second housing part 20. The load current lines 40 lie in the plane 22 in the joint area 62 between the intermediate housing part 20 'folded over the lower housing part 10 and pass through outlet openings 24 which are circular in cross section and are located half in the first housing part 10 and half in the second housing part 20 Chamber parts 29 of the connector housing 60 from. This intermediate assembly state is illustrated by FIG. 3.

In a second step, the electrical contact parts 47 of the four signal current lines 45 are then introduced in the direction of arrow 65 into the chambers 12 provided in the lower housing part 10. In the chambers 12 there are latching cutouts 15 which cooperate with resilient latching webs 48 located on the plug sleeves 47 and, when the contact parts 47 are fully inserted into the chambers 12, form latching connections 48, 15 which lock the contact parts 47 in the chambers 12.

When the lines 45 are fastened by their contact parts 47 in the chambers 12 of the lower housing part 10, the third housing part 30 is brought into its closed position 30 ′ by a movement around the film hinges 31 in the direction of the arrow 33. On the lower housing part 10 there is a web 18 on each side, which interacts with a notch 36 on each side of the third housing part 30 and on the accuracy seteil 30 has a leading and positioning effect. On the first housing part 10 there are also two symmetrically arranged latching projections 17, which cooperate in the closed position 30 'with corresponding latching tabs 35 also arranged laterally and symmetrically on the third housing part 30 and by forming a releasable non-positive latching connection 17, 35 which in the second signal level lines 32 in the joint area 63 between the closed second housing part 20 'and the flipped third housing part 30' extending signal current lines 45 releasably and non-positively. The signal current lines 45 exit through a common outlet opening 34 from the joint area 63 in the second line level 32 of the plug connector housing 60. Characterized in that the latching tabs 35 in the closed position 30 'of the third housing part 30 also encompass the intermediate housing part 20', an effective second locking for the load current lines 40 is created. The resulting assembly state of the connector housing 60 is illustrated by FIG. 4.

As already described, FIG. 4 shows the perspective exploded view of the connector housing 60 according to the invention in the assembled state according to FIG. 3, but with signal current lines 45 already fastened and the housing upper part 30 ′ closed, a holder or positioner 55 being additionally shown. This serves for the connector housing 60 as a centering aid for the connector pins 61 located on the board 59, which is also shown in addition. If the contact parts 42, 47 of the electrical lines 40, 45 are already connector pins, the board must be replaced accordingly the connector pins 61 can be provided. The connector housing 60 is inserted into the holder 55, which fulfills the function of a guide frame, being guided by two inner ribs 58 arranged symmetrically on the sides of the positioner 55 and running in a groove 19 in the housing lower part 10 of the connector housing 60 becomes. The holder 55 has snap hooks 56 and pins 57 on the underside. The holder 55, including the connector housing 60, is fastened on the circuit board 59 by means of the snap hooks 56. The pins 57 support the positioning of the holder 55 on the board 59.

FIG. 5 shows the connector housing 60 according to the invention in the installed state in the encapsulating container 50. The container 50, which is shown individually in a view in FIG. 6, is designed with two shells; it consists of an upper half-shell 51 and a lower half-shell 52. In the wall 53 of the container 50 there are openings 54 which are partially in the upper half-shell 51 and partially in the lower half-shell 52. The container wall 53 is profiled in the edge region of the openings 54.

As can already be seen from the drawings of FIGS. 1 to 3, the connector housing 60 has a segmented groove 38 in all housing parts 10, 20, 30 on the side of the line outlet openings 24, 34. The first segment 39 of the groove 38 is located in the lower housing part 10, the second groove segment 39 'in the intermediate housing part 20 and the third groove segment 39' 'in the upper housing part 30. When the connector housing is in the assembly state shown in FIG. 4, in which the closed Positions 20 ', 30' of the two foldable housing parts 20, 30 are present and the individual housing parts 10, 20 ', 30' are stacked or folded to a block in the direction of arrow 37, the groove segments 39, 39 ', 39 join '' to the continuous groove 38 together. The directional arrow 37 represents the surface normal of the stack levels of the housing parts 10, 20 ', 30' and at the same time the surface normal of the two line levels 22, 32.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the connector housing 60 is posi in the openings 54 of the container 50 shown individually in FIG. 6 tioned that the profiled wall 53 in the opening area engages in the groove 38 formed by the segments 39, 39 ', 39''. In the assembled state of the container 50, the upper half-shell 51 and the lower half-shell 52 of the container 50 encompass the entire connector housing 60, the plane of the container wall 53 being perpendicular to the stacking planes 38 of the housing parts 10, 20 ', 30' and the line planes 22, 32 runs. The container shells 51, 52 thus form the holder of the connector housing 60 and at the same time a third locking device for the electrical lines 40, 45.

The one-piece connector housing 60 according to the invention is part of an internal connector system, contains load and signal current lines 40, 45 of different cross sections 41, 46 with electrical contact parts 42, 47 of different contact system sizes 44, 49 and type (straight and angled flat receptacles). The housing 60, as detailed above, is easy to assemble. The lines 40, 45 emerge from the container 50 described, being guided in a defined manner and being protected against kinking and damage. The plug connections of the electrical contact parts 42, 47 in the housing 60 with the plug pins 61 of the board 59 are secured against loosening. Due to the compact design of the housing 60, only a narrow space in the container 50 is required for the plug connections 42, 47, 61.

It goes without saying that the invention is directed to all the new features and combinations of features which can be derived therefrom, possibly in conjunction with known technical measures for a further advantageous embodiment, even if these should not be expressly stated in the claims and the above description.

For example, as already mentioned, it is readily possible for the connector housing 60 according to the invention for a variable number of poles to interpret. This can be done in that the housing 60, as can be seen from claim 1, has a plurality of intermediate housing parts 20, and also one-part or multi-part chambers 12 11, 29 for receiving the electrical contacts 42, 47.

A second intermediate housing part 20 can be connected to the lower housing part 10 by means of film hinges 21, on the side of the lower housing part 10 opposite the first intermediate housing part 20. A further intermediate housing part 20 can also be connected via film hinges 21 to the first intermediate housing part 20, on the side of which is facing away from the lower housing part 10. On this intermediate housing part 20 there may be further intermediate housing parts 20 which are to be folded in zigzag fashion in alternating directions. The electrical lines 40, 45 are then in the installation case, as in the example described, in the different joint areas between the housing parts 10, 20 ', 30' which are folded over one another. The number of intermediate housing parts 20 results from the number n of the line levels to be provided reduced by 1 or from the total number z of housing parts 10, 20, 30 reduced by 2.

Deviations are also possible from the angular shape of the housing described in the exemplary embodiment, ie from the right-angled position of the planes 13, 14 of the chamber parts 11 or the chambers 12 to the planes 22, 32 of the electrical lines 40, 45.

B e z u g s z e i c h e n

first housing part, lower housing part

Chamber part in 10 for 42

Chamber for 47

Level of the chamber part 11 in FIG. 10

Level of chamber 12 in FIG. 10

Locking recess in 12 for 48

Undercut in 11 for 43

Latching projection at 10 for 35

Guide bridge at 10 for 36

Guide groove in 10 for 58

second housing part, housing intermediate part (fully opened position)

closed position of 20

Film hinge between 10 and 20

first management level, between 10 and 20 '

Folding direction of 20

Exit opening from 40 out of 29, in 10 and 20

Snap hook on 20

semi-cylindrical interior in 10 for 42, part of 29 semi-cylindrical interior in 20 for 42, part of 29

Chamber part between 10 and 20 for 42

third housing part, housing upper part (fully opened position) closed position of 30

Film hinge between 10 and 30 second management level, between 20 'and 30

Folding direction of 30

Outlet opening from 45 to 32

Snap tab on 30 for 17

Notch in 30 for 18

Stacking direction of the housing parts 10, 20, 30 (direction arrow), surface normal of the stacking levels

Groove in 10, 20, 30 for 53

Groove segment from 38 in 10

Groove segment from 38 in 20

Groove segment from 38 in 30

Load power line

Cross section of 40

Contact part of 40, angled socket

Resting bridge from 42

Contact system size of the load contact 42

Signal power line

Cross section of 45

Contact part of 45, straight socket

Resting bridge from 47

Contact system size of the signal contact 47

container

upper half shell of 50

lower half shell of 50

profiled wall in 50

Opening in 50

Holder, positioner

Snap hook from 55

Cones of 55

Inner rib of 55

circuit board

Connector housing

Pins on 59

Joint area between 10 and 20 '

Joint area between 20 'and 30'

Assembly arrow for 40

Assembly arrow for 45

Locking slot in 10

Claims

P atent to sp

1. connector housing (60) for electrical contact parts (42, 47) connected to electrical lines (40, 45), the electrical lines (40, 45) to be releasably connected by plug connections (42, 47, 61) in several levels (22 , 32) are arranged horizontally, and the housing (60) consists of mutually interlocking housing parts (10, 20, 30) which are integrally and hingedly connected to one another by film hinges (21, 31), the uppermost housing part (housing upper part 30) in the closed position (30 ') in the assembled state of the connector housing (60) with the lowest housing part (lower housing part 10) latched (17, 35) and thus locked between them the other closed housing parts (intermediate housing parts 20'), characterized in that the number (z) of the mutually lockable housing parts (10, 20, 30) exceeds the number (n) of levels (22, 32) in which the electrical lines (40, 45) lie by 1 (n + 1), and the Levels (22, 32) in which the electrical lines (40, 45) are located, in the case of assembly in the joint areas (62, 63) between the housing parts (10, 20 ', 30') which are folded over one another are located, in a joint area (62, 63) between the closed housing parts (10, 20 ', 30') each electrical lines (40, 45) are locked with in particular identical electrical contact parts (42, 47), and that the film hinges ( 21) are arranged between the lower housing part (10) and the intermediate housing parts (20) at right angles to the film hinges (31) between the lower housing part (10) and the upper housing part (30).

2. Connector housing (60) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical contact parts (42, 47) of the electrical lines (40, 45) lying in the different joint areas (62, 63) have different sizes (contact system sizes 44, 49).

3. Connector housing (60) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrical contact parts (42, 47) of the electrical lines (40, 45) lying in the different joint areas (62, 63) are of different types.

4. Connector housing (60) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that for the at least partial accommodation of the electrical contact parts (42, 47) of the electrical lines (40, 45) chambers (29) and / or chamber parts (11) are provided whose planes (14, 13) run perpendicular to the joint areas (62, 63) located in the planes (22, 32), in which the electrical lines (40, 45) lie in the case of assembly.

5. Connector housing (60) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the electrical connections (40, 45) to be connected by the plug connections (42, 47, 61) in the different joint areas (62, 63) have different line cross sections ( 41, 46).

6. connector housing (60) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the superimposed housing parts (10, 20 ', 30') in the installation in a container (50) through a profiled wall (53) of two the connector housing ( 60) in a segmented groove (38) encompassing half shells (51, 52) of the container (50) transverse to the stacking direction (37) of the housing parts (10, 20 ', 30').