WO2004047234A1

WO2004047234A1 - Plug connection and assembly process for making at least one connection through an opening in a partition wall

Info

Publication number: WO2004047234A1
Application number: PCT/EP2003/012850
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus Gimbel; Kai Sellien
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Amp Gmbh
Priority date: 2002-11-18
Filing date: 2003-11-17
Publication date: 2004-06-03
Also published as: DE10393723T5; DE10393723B4; AU2003283407A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and an assembly process for making a plug connection through an opening in a partition wall, in which the plug connection has a first and a second plug which may be plugged into one another, and one of the plugs may be sealed off by way of a seal surrounding the opening. In order to secure connection of the plugs as simply as possible, one of the plugs has a clamping device which may be brought into engagement with the other plug. One of the plugs may have a tensioning device by means of wich this plug may be locked to prevent movement in a direction approximatively perpendicular to the direction in wich it is guided through the partition wall.

Description

Plug connection and assembly process for making at least one connection through an opening in a partition wall

The present invention relates to a plug connection for making at least one plug connection through an opening in a partition wall.

US 5,391 ,086 discloses an electrical connector, in which a snap-in element of a seal is positioned in a cavity in a securing wall. With the aid of a drive pinion, a sliding actuator is driven in a direction parallel to the securing wall. The sliding actuator has recesses which, in certain sections, run approximately transversely with respect to the driving direction and a direction passing through the securing wall. The recesses engage with sliding pins of a movable plug section. By sliding the sliding pins in the recesses, the drive pinion moves the movable plug section in a direction transverse with respect to the driving direction of the slidable actuator, which corresponds to movement in a direction through an opening in the securing wall.

Oblique hooks are formed on the movable plug section. The oblique hooks engage with oblique counter-hooks which are connected to a seal of the electrical connector. When the movable plug section is moved in the direction passing through the opening in the securing wall, this moves the seal in the direction passing through the opening until the snap-in element of the seal is positioned in the cavity in the partition wall. At the same time, a peripheral section of the seal comes into abutment against the securing wall. This prevents the counter-hook connected to the seal from being able to move further in the direction of passing through the securing wall. The forces of engagement between the counter-hook and the hook of the movable plug section are not sufficient to allow the counter-hook to pass further through. The counter-hook slides away over the hook of the movable plug section, with the result that the hook and the counter-hook disengage. Then the movable plug section moves without transmitting further force to the seal.

This electrical plug connector is very complicated in construction and the process for positioning the seal is very involved. Furthermore, the electrical connector position is relatively unstable with respect to the securing wall. Forces acting on the electrical plug connector can thus easily have an adverse effect on the effectiveness of the seal.

US 5,816,833 discloses two plug parts which may be connected to one another. The plug parts are brought into an engaged or plugged position with the aid of two sliding elements that are combined with one another. A first sliding element is moved by a second sliding element which is guided movably in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the first sliding element on the first plug part. The first sliding element is movably received on the first plug part and engages with the second plug part.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved plug connection and an assembly process for the same, such that a good seal is formed with respect to the partition wall and a secure connection of the plugs is obtained with low complexity of the plug connection and assembly process.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a plug connection is provided for making at least one connection through an opening in a partition wall. The plug connection having a first and a second plug, which may be plugged into one another, and at least one of the plugs may be sealed off from the partition wall by way of a seal surrounding the opening. At least one of the plugs has a clamping device which may be brought into engagement with the other plug, and the plugs may be permanently clamped together with the partition wall being included therein. The clamping device makes it possible in a simple manner to make the plugs abut against the partition wall in a permanently secure way. The permanently secure abutment of the plugs at the same time brings about a permanent, good and reliable sealing effect by the sealing element. The secure abutment of the plugs keeps the plug connection in its provided position even when acted upon by forces which are transmitted to the plug connection for example by way of cables leading out of the plug connection. This is particularly desirable in automotive construction, for door isolating plugs. The latter are put under load by a relative movement between the door and the bodywork pillar by way of corresponding cables. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, one of the plugs may have at least one engagement means for bringing it into engagement with the clamping device. Thus, allowing forces to be transmitted between the clamping device and the plug. In a particularly favourable embodiment of the invention, one of the plugs may have at least one pin-like projection as the engagement means for bringing it into engagement with the clamping device, thereby providing a particularly simple engagement means for transmitting forces between the plug and the clamping device. Advantageously, the clamping device may have a sliding device having at least one upward or downward transmission arrangement, such that it converts an applied sliding force or movement into a larger or smaller clamping force or movement. Particularly advantageously, the clamping device may be a sliding device which, in order to clamp the plugs, may be displaced in a direction transverse to the direction in which they are guided through the partition wall. Thus, the clamping can be performed very quickly and simply.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the clamping device may have at least one guide slide which runs partly in a plane longitudinal with respect to the direction in which they are plugged into one another and transversely with respect to the direction in which they are plugged into one another. This makes it possible to convert a sliding force or movement into a clamping force or movement.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the seal may be injection moulded onto the plug. This makes it possible to attach the seal to the plug in such a way that it cannot come loose and to provide a permanent seal between the seal and the plug.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the plugs may have an assembly securing means by which it can be secured to prevent movement in a direction opposite to the direction in which it is guided through the partition wall. This makes it possible to secure the plug in a guided-through position. It is favourable if at least one of the plugs may be securable in the manner of a bayonet closure to prevent movement in a direction opposite to the direction in which that plug is guided through the partition wall. This makes it possible to secure the plug particularly simply and rapidly. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one of the plugs may have a tensioning device by means of which this plug may be locked to prevent movement in a direction approximately perpendicular to the direction in which it is guided through the partition wall. This makes it possible to lock the plug in a desired position in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the plug is guided through the partition wall. It is favourable if at least one of the plugs may have a tensioning device which may be inserted, at least in certain portions thereof, into a free space remaining between the plug and the partition wall when the plug is positioned through the partition wall.

In another embodiment of the invention, the section of the tensioning device which may be inserted into the free space may abut in the end position against at least one opening edge with resilient pretension. This makes it particularly simple to apply a defined holding force for locking. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tensioning device may have at least one control cam which is arranged at least partly in a plane parallel to the direction of guiding through the partition wall and runs transversely to the direction of guiding the plug through the partition wall. This makes it possible to guide the tensioning device in a particularly simply defined way from a starting position to a secured position. Advantageously, the tensioning device may be held resiliently in the manner of a spring in its end position by means of a natural spring element. In this way, simple holding of the tensioning device in an end position is made possible.

In a particularly favourable embodiment, at least adjacent to a control cam at least one cutout may be provided at least in certain sections on the tensioning device, with an intermediate section being deformable resiliently in the manner of a natural spring between the control cam and the cutout and hence an element which is guided in the control cam is resiliently fixable in an end position by a spring force from the natural spring. This makes it possible to detachably and resiliently hold an element guided in the control cam in an end position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plug may have at least one pin-like tensioning projection which may be brought into engagement with the tensioning device, making it possible to bring the plug into engagement with the tensioning device in a particularly simple manner.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamping may be performed with the upward or downward transmission of a sliding movement. This means that converting a sliding force or movement into a clamping force or movement is performed particularly simply. Advantageously, the clamping may be performed with a sliding movement in a direction transverse to the direction of guiding the plug through the partition wall. This makes it possible to perform the sliding movement in a particularly practical way.

Advantageously, at least one of the plugs may be secured separately to prevent movement in a direction opposite to the direction in which it is guided through the partition wall. This makes it possible to hold the plug in a position through the partition wall. The plug may be secured in the manner of a bayonet closure, with the plug, once guiding of the plug through the partition wall is complete, being moved in a direction transverse to the direction in which it is guided through, and at least one hooking element of the plug being brought into engagement behind structures complementary therewith on the partition wall. This allows the plug to be secured to prevent movement in the direction in which it is guided through with the aid of a particularly simple movement sequence.

A detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a first plug according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a side view of a sliding device of the first plug of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 shows a partially exploded perspective view of a second plug according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 shows a side view, greatly enlarged, of a tensioning device of the second plug of Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a profile view of an opening through a partition wall, configured in accordance with the construction of the second plug of Figure 3;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the second plug of Figure 3, partly guided through the opening of Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the second plug of Figure 3, guided completely through the opening of Figure 5;

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the second plug of Figure 3, guided completely through the opening of Figure 5 and secured to the partition wall in which the opening is formed;

Figure 9 shows a view of the first and second plugs of Figures 1 and 3, respectively, before they are plugged into one another; and

Figure 10 shows a view of the first and second plugs of Figures 1 and 3, respectively, in an engaged or plugged configuration.

The plug connection has a first plug 1 (best shown in Figure 1) and a second plug 17 (best shown in Figure 3). Figure 1 shows a first plug 1 of a plug connection in a partially exploded illustration. The fist plug comprises a first plug housing 2, a sleeve 3, a sliding device 4, a first pin receiver 5 and a second pin receiver 6. The sliding device 4 serves as a clamping device, s will be described in greater detail below.

The first plug housing 2 has a connecting piece 7 to which the sleeve 3 can be attached. The sleeve 3 and the connecting piece 7 form a channel through which a cable (not shown) can be guided into the interior of the first plug housing 2 for connection to contacts in the first and second pin receivers 5, 6..

The first and second pin receivers 5, 6 are constructed to have certain sections complementary with one another, so that certain sections of the first pin receiver 5 may be pushed into the second pin receiver 6 in the direction of the arrow 8. In the assembled condition, the first and second pin receivers 5, 6 may be guided into the interior of the first plug housing 2 in the direction of the arrow 9.

The sliding device 4 is received in the first plug housing 2 in such a way that it may be displaced in the direction of the arrow 10. The sliding device 4 has an actuation surface 11 to which a displacement force acting on the sliding device may be applied.

The sliding device has side elements 12, 13. As shown by Figure 2, an upper guide slide 14 and a lower guide slide 15 are provided in each of the side elements 12, 13. In this exemplary embodiment of the invention, the guide slides 14, 15 are guiding cut-outs or cam slots, as will be described in greater detail below.

In Figures 1 and 2, an arrow 16 indicates a plugging direction which is provided for plugging the first plug 1 into the second plug 17. The direction 10, in which the sliding device 4 may be displaced in the first plug housing 2, runs approximately perpendicular to the plugging direction 16 in which the first plug 1 is plugged into the second plug 17. The guide slides 14, 15 have downward transmission sections 18, 19. The downward transmission sections 18, 19 run in a direction approximately perpendicular to the plugging direction 16 in which the first plug 1 and the second plug 17 are plugged into one another and transverse the sliding direction 10 at an acute angle. Moreover, the guide slides 14, 15 have terminal sections 20, 21 which run approximately parallel to the sliding direction 10.

The first plug housing 2 has a latching hook 22. The latching hook 22 is integrally formed with the first plug housing 2 and may- be deflected resiliently, forming a natural spring. The sliding device 4 has first and second latching depressions 23, 24, as shown in Figure 2, complimenting the latching hook 22. The latching depressions 24 is arranged on the sliding device 4 such that the latching hook 22 can engage in the latching depression 24 of the first plug housing 2 with the sliding device 4 in a starting position, as shown in Figure 1. The latching depression 23 is arranged in a position on the sliding device 4 such that the latching hook 22 can engage in the latching depression 23 of the first plug housing 2 in an end position of the sliding device 4 shown in Figure 10.

Figure 3 illustrates the second plug 17 of the plug connection, in partially exploded view. The second plug 17 has a second plug housing 25, a cover 26 to protect electrical contacts within the second plug housing 25 against drips, a tensioning device 27 and a seal 28. The cover 26 may be slid onto the second plug housing 25 in the direction of the arrow 29 to protect against drips. An outer periphery 30 of the second plug housing 25 and a peripheral edge 31 of the cover 26 are engaged with one another to protect against drips.

The seal 28 of the second plug housing 25 is applied in peripheral manner to an abutment side 32 of the outer periphery 30. In this embodiment of the present invention, the seal 28 is injection moulded onto the outer periphery 30, and therefore the seal 28 is attached to the second plug housing 25 in a fixed manner such that it should not come loose. The connection between the seal 28 and the second plug housing 25, therefore, is sealed. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the seal may be a separate part from the second plug housing 25 and may be brought into sealing abutment against the abutment side 32.

The second plug housing 25 has pin-like projections 33, 34. The pin-like projections 33, 34 may be formed integral with the plug housing 25. Furthermore, the pin-like projections 33, 34 are configured such that they may be brought into sliding engagement with the guide slides 14, 15 of the sliding device 4 of the first plug 1. The pin-like projections 33, 34 thus form a sliding engagement means for engaging with the sliding device 4 serving as a clamping device. The second plug housing 25 moreover has pin-like hooking projections 35, 36. The hooking projections 35, 36 may be formed integral with the second plug housing 25. They are arranged spaced from the seal 28 by an amount corresponding approximately to the thickness of a partition wall 37 as illustrated in Figures 5 to 10. This allows the hooking projections 35, 36 to be hooked behind the partition wall 37 (i.e., to engage the partition wall surface opposite the seal 28). Thus, the hooking projections 35, 36 form assembly securing means by which the second plug 17 can be secured to the partition wall 37 to prevent movement opposite to a direction 38 (shown in Figure 6) in which the second plug 17 is guided through an opening 39 in the partition wall 37. Furthermore, the hooking projections 35, 36 thus form part of a bayonet- closure system for this purpose.

The second plug housing 25 has pin-like tensioning projections 40, 41. The tensioning projections 40, 41 may be formed integral with the second plug housing 25. The pin-like tensioning projections 40, 41 may be brought into engagement with control cams 42, 43 of the tensioning device 27 which are illustrated on an enlarged scale in Figure 4. The tensioning device 27 is arranged on the second plug housing 25 such that the control cams 42, 43 are arranged in a plane parallel to the direction 38 of guiding the second plug 17 through the partition wall 37. The control cams 42, 43 run transversely with respect to the direction 38 of guiding the second plug 17 through the partition wall 37. This configuration makes the tensioning device 27 capable of moving with respect to the second plug housing 25 as a result of a driving movement in the direction of the arrow 44 and also in a proportionate manner in the direction of the arrow 45. The proportionate movement in the direction of the arrow 45 corresponds to the profile of the control cams 42, 43 relative to the second plug housing 25.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a driving movement in the direction of the arrow 44 causes downward transmission of tensioning device 27, and, with the aid of the control cams 42, 43, simultaneous movement in the direction of the arrow 45. In an alternative embodiment this movement may also be transmitted upwards and in the direction of the arrow 45. Figure 4 shows the tensioning device 27 on a greatly enlarged scale in side view. Here, the difference between the control cams 42 and 43 is particularly clearly visible. Whereas sides 46, 47 of the control cam 43 run in a straight line, only one side 48 of the control cam 42 is straight. Another side 49 of the control cam 42 runs in a curve towards the interior of the control cam 42. Consequently, the width of a terminal section 50 of the control cam 42 is larger than that of a central section 51 of the control cam 42. The width of a terminal section of the control cam 43 is approximately the same as the rest of the spacing between the sides 46, 47 of the control cam 43.

Provided adjacent to the control cam 42 is a cutout 52. Between the control cam 42 and the cutout 52 there is an intermediate wall 53 which thus forms an intermediate section. The intermediate wall 53 is an element which can be clamped resiliently forming a natural spring. Thus, the intermediate wall 53 may be deflected at least in certain sections towards the cutout 52 when the control cam 42 is moved relative to the tensioning projection 40 slidingly disposed in the control cam 42. In the illustrated embodiment, the diameter of the tensioning projection 40 is larger than the width of the central section 51 of the control cam 42. The intermediate wall 53 consequently takes the form of a spring element which projects at least partly into the internal region of the control cam 42 when the tensioning device 27 is in the starting position.

If the tensioning projection 40 is in the region of the terminal section 50, the intermediate wall 53 forms, in accordance with its contour, an abutment which provides a means of resiliently securing against the tensioning projection 40. This may only be overcome by a correspondingly large force when there is a relative movement between the tensioning projection 40 and the tensioning device 27. Here, the intermediate wall 53 must be deformed resiliently towards the cutout 52. The behaviour is similar if the tensioning projection 40 is in an initial section 54 of the control cam 42 and is to be moved in the direction of the terminal section 50.

The tensioning device 27 further includes a pivotal section 55. The pivotal section 55 may be constructed integral with the tensioning device 27. Between the pivotal section 55 and the rest of the tensioning device 27 there is provided an outwardly open slot 56. In the direction of the slot 56, the section 55 is pivotal at most by an amount corresponding to the width of the slot 56, taking as a starting point the starting position of the section 55 shown in Figure 4.

The section 55 is pivoted about a natural hinge or flexible joint 57. When the tensioning device is deflected about the flexible joint 57, the pivotal section 55 is in a resiliently pretensioned condition.

The tensioning device 27 has an upper side 58 (shown in Figure 4). When it is moved in the direction of the arrow 44 (shown in Figure 3), and hence also proportionately in the direction of the arrow 45, the upper side 58 may be brought into abutment against an upper opening edge 59 of the opening 39 (shown in Figure 5).

Figure 5 shows a detail of the partition wall 37 with the opening 39. The opening 39 is constructed to be complementary with a section 60 of the second plug 17 (shown in Figure 3), which is to be guided through the opening 39. Accordingly, depressions 63, 64, 65 are in each case made on the sides 61 , 62 of the opening 39. When the second plug 17 is guided through the opening 39, the depressions 64 have the effect of guiding the pin-like projections 34 and the pin-like hooking projections 36. The depressions 65 guide the pin-like projections 33 and the pin-like hooking projections 35. Those sections 66, 67 of the sides 61, 62 of the opening 39 which are adjacent to the depressions 64 and 65 form holding structures 66, 67. After insertion through the depressions 64, 65, the pin-like hooking projections 35, 36 may each be brought into abutment against the holding structures 66, 67 by being displaced in a direction shown in Figure 7 by the arrow 71.

Figure 6 shows the second plug 17 in a condition while it is being guided through the opening 39 in the partition wall 37 in the direction of the arrow 38. Here, the pin-like projections 34, 33 run in a straight line through the depressions 64, 65 in the opening 39. The tensioning device 27 is in a starting position.

Figure 7 shows the second plug 17 in a condition in which it has been completely guided through the opening 39. Here, the pin-like hooking projections 36, 35 have also passed through the depressions 64, 65. Between a lower opening edge 68 of the opening 39 and a lower side 69 of the second plug 17 there is a spacing 70. In the position illustrated, the plug 17 is displaceable in the direction of the arrow 71 approximately perpendicular to the direction 38 in which the second plug 17 is guided through opening 39. The second plug 17 is displaced by a distance about the same as the width of the spacing 70.

In the position shown in Figure 8, the second plug 17 is moved downwards by comparison with the position shown in Figure 7 in the direction of the arrow 71 , by a distance that is the same as the width of the spacing 70. This displacement has placed the hooking projections 36, 35 into abutment against the respective holding structures 66, 67 of the partition wall 37. The hooking projections 36, 35 thus engage behind the partition wall 37. The hooking projections 35, 36 are displaced from the depressions 64, 65. In this position, the second plug 17 is secured to prevent movement in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow 38.

Furthermore, Figure 8 shows the tensioning device 27 of the second plug 17 in an end position. Here, the pin-like tensioning projections 40, 41 are in their respective end positions in the terminal sections 50, 71 of the respective control cams 42, 43. The tensioning device is held in this end position resiliently by the natural spring force of the intermediate wall 53.

The upper side 58 of the tensioning device 27 abuts against the upper opening edge 59 of the opening 39 in the region of the pivotal section 55. Here, the section 55 is pivoted about the flexible joint 57 and resiliently pretensioned by the natural spring force of flexible joint 57. In the end position of the tensioning device 27, the tensioning device 27 is in a position (as seen in the direction of the arrow 45) displaced with respect to the second plug housing 25 approximately by the same amount as the size of the spacing 70. This means that the free space with the spacing 70, which is offset in the direction of the upper opening edge 59 by the movement of the second plug 17 in the direction of the arrow 71 , is fastened in position against the upper opening edge 59. The second plug 17 is locked in this position to prevent a movement in opposition to the direction 71. In Figure 9, the second plug 17 is in the position shown in Figure 8 with respect to the partition wall 37. The first plug 1 is positioned opposite the section 60 of the second plug 17 which is guided through the opening 39 in the partition wall 37. The sliding device 4 of the first plug 1 is in the starting position. The first plug 1 is thus in a condition in which it can be plugged into the second plug 17 in the plugging direction 16. Here, the direction 16 of plugging into one another is a direction opposed to the direction 38 of guiding second plug 17 through partition wall 37.

Figure 10 shows the first and second plugs 1 , 17 in the condition in which they are plugged into one another. Furthermore, the sliding device 4 is in an end position, so that the first and second plugs 1 , 17 are clamped with the partition wall 37 included therein. Here, the seal 28 of the second plug 17 abuts firmly against the partition wall 37 along its entire periphery.

Functioning of the embodiment illustrated in the drawing of the plug connection of the associated assembly process will be described below.

First, the first plug 1 is assembled. With reference to Figure 1 , certain sections of the first pin receiver 5 are here introduced into the second pin receiver 6 in the direction of the arrow 18. In this condition, the first and second pin receivers 6 are inserted into the interior of the first plug housing 2 in the direction of the arrow 9..Then certain sections of the sleeve 3 are pushed over the connecting piece 7 and hence mounted on the first plug housing 2.

Assembly of the first plug includes mounting pins in the first and second pin receivers and laying a supply cable through the interior of the sleeve 3 into the interior of the first plug housing 2, and connecting cores of the connecting cable to the corresponding pins.

Assembly of the second plug 17 is independent of this. For the second plug 17, as shown in Figure 3, the cover 26 for protecting against drips is pushed onto the sec- ond plug housing 25 in the direction of the arrow 29. Pins are also inserted into the second plug 17 and one or more supply lines laid.

Then, a connection is made through the opening 39 in the partition wall 37 (shown in Figure 5) with the aid of the plug connection according to the invention. The connection is an electrical connection in this embodiment.

As shown in Figure 6, the second plug 17 is guided in the direction of the arrow 38 through the opening 39 in the partition wall 37. This guiding through is continued until, as shown in Figure 7, the pin-like hooking projections 36, 35 are completely guided through the respective depressions 64, 65. The plug 17 is now moved in the direction of the arrow 71 , that is to say transversely with respect to the direction 38 in which it is guided through the partition wall 37. The movement in the direction of the arrow 71 continues until the lower side 69 of the second plug 17 abuts, at least over certain portions thereof, against the lower opening edge 68. Performing this movement removes the spacing 70 originally present between the lower side 69 and the opening edge 68, while creating a corresponding spacing 70 between the upper opening edge 59 and the upper side 58 of the tensioning device 27. The tensioning device 27 is in this case in the starting position. Furthermore, the pin-like hooking projections 36, 35 will have reached behind the partition wall 37 and come into abutment against the holding structures 66, 67 as a result of the movement in the direction of the arrow 71. In this position, the second plug 17 is secured to prevent movement in a direction opposite to the direction 38 in which it is guided through the partition wall 37. Accordingly, the plug 17 is secured in the manner of a bayonet closure. At the same time, the hooking projections 36, 35, the depressions 64, 65 and the holding structures 66, 67 form component parts of a corresponding bayonet closure system.

Next, the second plug 17 is locked to prevent movement in the direction of the arrow 71. For this purpose, the tensioning device 27 is moved out of the starting position shown in Figures 6 and 7 into the end position shown in Figure 8. In the end position of the tensioning device 27, the pivotal section 55 is resiliently pretensioned in the manner of a spring to abut against the upper opening edge 59. This causes a force to be exerted on the second plug housing 25 in the direction of the arrow 71 , with the result that the second plug 17 is locked in the direction transverse to the direction 38 in which it is guided through. Here, at least the lower side 69 of the second plug 17 abuts with force against the lower opening edge 68 of the opening 37, due to the resilient spring force of pivot point 57.

The movement of the tensioning device 27 from the initial position into the end position shown in Figure 8 is performed by moving the tensioning device 27 in the direction of the arrow 44. The movement in the direction of the arrow 44 is converted proportionately into a movement in the direction of the arrow 45, in a manner corresponding to the profile of the control cams 42, 43. This means that the tensioning device 27 moves at the same time proportionately in the directions of the arrows 44 and 45. Thus, the pivotal section 55 comes into abutment, resiliently pre-tensioned against the upper opening edge 59, with the section 55 pivoting about the flexible joint 57. Accordingly, the second plug 17 is separately secured in its position relative to the partition wall 37. In automotive construction, this may be a pre-assembly condition.

The first and second plugs 1 , 17 can now be plugged into one another. Starting from the position of the first and second plugs 1, 17 shown in Figure 9, the first plug 1 is brought up to the section 60 of the second plug 17 in the direction of the arrow 16 and plugged into the second plug 17.

Then a force is applied to the actuation surface 11 of the sliding device 4 of the first plug 1 , causing the sliding device 4 to be moved in the direction of the arrow 10 out of the starting position shown in Figure 9 into the end position shown in Figure 10. At the same time the first and second plugs 1 , 17 are pushed firmly together, due to a transverse cam action of the upper guide slide 14 and the lower guide slide 15 on pin-like projections 33, 34, creating a clamping force between first and second plugs, 1 , 17. Thus, the seal 28 is pressed firmly against the partition wall 37 and the first and second plugs 1,17 are secured in their position with respect to the partition wall 37. When the sliding device 4 is moved in the direction of the arrow 10, that is to say during clamping, the sliding movement in the direction of the arrow 10 is transmitted, in a manner corresponding to the profile of the transversely-oriented downward transmission sections 18, 19, of the upper guide slide 14 and the lower guide slide 15, into a smaller but more forceful movement of the plugs 1 , 17 with respect to one another. This causes tension to be increasingly built up until the projections 33, 34 are positioned in the respective end sections 20, 21 of the downward transmission sections 18, 19. Furthermore, the latching hook 22 then latches into the latching depression 23. Thus, the sliding device 4 is held in a manner preventing an unintentional movement out of the end position.

Claims

1. A plug connection for making at least one connection through an opening (39) in a partition wall (37), in which the plug connection has a first and a second plug (1 , 17) which may be plugged into one another, and at least one of the plugs (1 , 17) may be sealed off from the partition wall (37) by way of a seal (28) surrounding the opening (39), characterised in that at least one of the plugs (1 , 17) has a clamping device which may be brought into engagement with the other plug (17, 1 ), whereby the plugs (1 , 17) may be clamped in a direction (16) of being plugged into one another with the partition wall (37) being included therein.

2. A plug connection according to Claim 1 , characterised in that one of the plugs (1 , 17) has at least one engagement means (33, 34) for bringing it into engagement with the clamping device.

3. A plug connection according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that one of the plugs (1 , 17) has at least one pin-like projection (33, 34) as the engagement means for bringing it into engagement with the clamping device.

4. A plug connection according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the clamping device has a sliding device having at least one upward or downward transmission arrangement (18, 19) transverse to the direction of the plugs being plugged into one another.

5. A plug connection according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the clamping device is a sliding device (4) which, in order to clamp the plugs (1 , 17), may be displaced in a direction transverse to the direction (38) in which one of the plugs (17) is guided through the partition wall (37).

6. A plug connection according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the clamping device has at least one guide slide (18, 19) which runs at least partly in a plane longitudinal with respect to the direction (16) in which they are plugged into one another and transversely with respect to the direction (16) in which they are plugged into one another.

7. A plug connection according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the seal (28) is injection moulded onto the plug (1 , 17).

8. A plug connection according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the plugs (1 , 17) has an assembly securing means (35, 36) by which it can be secured to the partition wall (37) to prevent movement in a direction in opposition to the direction (38) in which it is guided through the partition wall (37).

9. A plug connection according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the plugs (1 , 17) is securable to the partition wall (37) in the manner of a bayonet closure to prevent movement in a direction in opposition to the direction (38) in which it is guided through the partition wall (37).

10. A plug connection according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the plugs (1, 17) has a tensioning device (27) by means of which this plug (1 , 17) may be locked to prevent movement in a direction ap- proximately perpendicular to the direction (38) in which it is guided through the partition wall (37).

11.A plug connection according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the plugs (1 , 17) has a tensioning device (27) which may be inserted at least in certain portions thereof into a free space remaining between the plug (1 , 17) and the partition wall (37) when the plug (1 , 17) is guided-through the partition wall.

12. A plug connection according to at least one of Claims 10 or 11 , characterised in that the section (55) of the tensioning device (27) which may be inserted into the free space abuts in the end position against at least one opening edge (59) with resilient pretension.

13. A plug connection according to at least one of Claims 10 to 12, characterised in that the tensioning device (27) has at least one control cam (42, 43) which is arranged at least partly in a plane parallel to the direction (38) of guiding through the partition wall (37) and runs transversely to the direction (38) of guiding through the partition wall.

14. A plug connection according to at least one of Claims 10 to 13, characterised in that the tensioning device is held resiliently in a fixed position with respect to the partition wall by a spring element.

15. A plug connection according to at least one of Claims 10 to 14, characterised in that adjacent at least one control cam (42, 43) a cutout (52) is provided in the tensioning device (27), with an intermediate section (53)disposed between the cutout and control cam, the intermediate section being resiliently deformable to fix an element (40, 41) which is guided in the control cam (42, 43) in an end position in the control cam by a natural spring force.

16. A plug connection according to at least one of Claims 10 to 15, characterised in that at least one of the plugs (1 , 17) has at least one pin-like projection (40, 41 ) which may be brought into engagement with the tensioning device (27).

17. An assembly process for making at least one connection through an opening (39) in a partition wall (37) with the aid of a plug connection, in which the plug connection has a first and a second plug (1 , 17) which are plugged into one another, and at least one of the plugs (1 , 17) is sealed off from the partition wall (37) by way of a seal (28) surrounding the opening (39), characterised in that a clamping device of at least one plug (1 , 17) is brought into engagement with the other plug (17, 1 ) and by means of the clamping device the plugs (1 , 17) are clamped in the direction (16) of being plugged into one another with the partition wall (37) included therein.