WO2004084359A1

WO2004084359A1 - Electric connector

Info

Publication number: WO2004084359A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/002645
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ralf Stollberger; Christoph BLÖSCH; Frank Schwabbauer
Original assignee: Wieland Electric Gmbh
Priority date: 2003-03-15
Filing date: 2004-03-13
Publication date: 2004-09-30
Also published as: PL1604431T3; DE10311507B4; DE502004009651D1; EP1604431A1; ES2325991T3; ATE434844T1; DE10311507A1; EP1604431B1

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric connector comprising a housing (1), a continuous through opening (8) for an electric line (13), at least two clamping jaws which fix the conductor (14) between them and which are on the housing, also comprising a shrinking body which impinges upon the clamping jaws with clamping force and fixes them into the clamping position thereof. Said shrinking body is embodied as a traction relief for the line (13). The clamping jaws are pivotably mounted on the housing (1).

Description

description

Electrical connector

The invention relates to an electrical connector according to the preamble of claim 1. Such connectors have a housing with a Durchfuhrungsoffnung for electrical conductors. Connected to the conductors are electrical connection contacts. The connection contacts are designed depending on the function as plug contacts or socket contacts. The plug and socket contacts of a pair of plugs are therefore compatible with each other. As a special design there are also connectors that are equipped with both male and female contacts. Finally, so-called hermaphroditic connectors are known. As electrical connection contacts here also protective earth contacts are included. The connection of the electrical conductors of the connector to the terminal contacts is designed as a crimp connection, screw connection, clamp connection, insulation displacement connection or cohesive connection, for example soldered connection or welded connection.

In the assembled state, a connector is usually plugged together with a complementary other connector. Both connectors then form an electrically conductive plug-in coupling with each other. Usually, these plug-in couplings are designed so that they can be mounted and dismantled as often as desired. The respective connectors can thus be plugged into each other as often as desired and then pulled apart again.

When releasing the connector, so when pulling the connector forming the coupling, however, it is problematic if the operator does not touch the connector on the housing and then pulls apart, but includes the cable leading out of the housing and one or both connectors when loosening the connector on the cable draws.

There is a great risk that the aforementioned connection between the individual conductors and their associated contacts is damaged. At a Damage to the connection between the conductor and the terminal contact is mainly the risk that the then re-coupled with each other connectors are still functional and the connection between the terminal contact and electrical conductor is further destroyed during operation. In extreme cases, this can lead to fires or similar accidents.

It is therefore known to provide a strain relief on the connector. This strain relief has the function to absorb a tensile force introduced into the cable, so that it is absorbed by the strain relief, so that when pulling the connection to the cable lines, damage to the connection between the conductors and the connection contacts is omitted.

From DE-A-44 04 260 a connector with an effective as a strain relief shrink body is known. In the field of Durchfuhrungsoffnung for the electrical conductors there is a designated as a pressure piece, multi-slotted sleeve exists. About this multiply slotted sleeve, a shrink tube is shrunk to secure the head against train. A disadvantage of this design is the fact that the sleeve arms formed as a result of the slit are deformed only elastically by the force introduced by the shrink tube force. Part of the force introduced by the shrinking tube is thus wasted in keeping the sleeve arms, which are reversibly spring-like deformed, in their final assembly position. In other words, in the final assembled state, the sleeve arms tend to deform back to their original position. Such recovery would equal the destruction of the strain relief.

From US-A-3,920,306, finally, a connecting element is known with a cable entry. At the cable entry in turn elastically deformable fixing tongues are formed. These fixing tongues carry projections on their inner surfaces facing the conductors in each case for the positive fixing of the conductors. In the final assembly state, the fixing tongues are biased by means of lashing straps to secure the conductors against being pulled out. Again, the fixing tongues are each only reversibly deformed, with the result that in the final assembly state they tend to release the strain relief again. The present invention has for its object to provide an electrical connector with an improved over the prior art strain relief. This object is achieved by the combination of features of claim 1. The further dependent claims contain partially advantageous and partly also for themselves inventive developments of the invention.

According to claim 1 of the inventive electrical connector consists of its housing and a through hole for the introduction of a plurality of electrical conductors and an insulating jacket comprehensive line into the housing. The basic idea of the invention consists of a strain relief designed as a friction stop. The clamping elements of Reibgehemmes are in this case at least two the line between them clamping fixing jaws, which in turn are fixed to the housing and the clamping jaws in their final assembly position with the clamping force acting on shrink body. The shrinking body which fixes the clamping jaws in their final assembly position thus serves as an energy store for the clamping connection.

An advantage of the invention lies in the simple mounting of the connector. First, the already pre-assembled with electrical connection contacts conductor are first introduced into the housing. Subsequently, only the shrink body has to be shrunk. During shrink-fitting, the shrinking body simultaneously presses the clamping jaws against the sheath line projecting out of the housing. The shrink body thus has a double function. On the one hand, he brings the jaws from their initial position in their clamping the conductor final assembly position. On the other hand, the shrink body in this final assembly position serves as an energy store for the Reibgehemme. With regard to the mode of action of the Reibhememme mentioned here, reference is made to "Krause" design elements of precision engineering ", 2nd edition, Karl Hanser Verlag Munich - as in 1993 (ISBN 3-446-16530-4).

The pivotal mounting of the jaws has the advantage that the jaws during the shrinking process of the shrink body can move continuously and without resistance to the conductor or the cable and continuously conform to the outer insulating jacket of the pipe. This measure favors the assembly and tolerance compensation during assembly equally.

Another advantage of the invention is thus the stepless adaptability of the strain relief to the outer diameter of the conductor to be fixed or the outer insulating jacket, so the line to be fixed. As a result of this stepless adaptability possible tolerance fluctuations are balanced from the outset. The shrink connection therefore ensures consistent tolerance compensation in the mass production of connectors. Finally, the assembly is simplified because except the jaws only a single further part to the realization of the strain relief is required. Other parts such as screws or the like omitted. Finally, the strain relief thus created is also tamper-proof, because the shrink body can usually no longer be removed from the plug connector without damage or irreversible destruction.

The claims 2 to 6 relate to developments of the jaws. The proposed in claim 2 fixation of the jaws in the region of the opening edge of the Durchfuhrungsoffnung ensures a shift of the effective locations of the Reibgehemmes to that region of the housing from which the cable exits.

The proposed in claim 3 rectangular configuration of the jaws gives them a very large effective lever arm. In addition, this rectangular configuration favors the continuous narrowing of the shrink body, which is designed in particular as a shrink tubing, from the housing with a tendency to be larger in diameter toward the cable with a diameter that tends to be smaller than the housing.

According to claim 4, the jaws are designed as a swivel paddle and fixed in each case by means of a film hinge with its hinge-side narrow side of the housing and pivotally mounted. The use of a film hinge ensures a particularly reliable and resistance-free pivoting of the swivel paddles in the direction of the cable to be acted upon. The film hinge leaves a so far irreversible and without substantial force feasible pivoting of the swivel paddle in the direction of the cable to. The swivel paddle is thus permanently pivoted in the direction of the cable and sets the shrink tube no spring forces or similar restoring forces to zurückzuschwenken to its original position.

Claim 5 relates to a development of schwenkpaddelartig trained jaws. Ultimately, only the end faces of the line-side narrow side of the swivel paddles act as clamping surfaces acting on the cable, while the remaining rectangular surface of the swivel paddles act as a lever arm for a good

Power transmission and on the other hand as protection for the conductor or the cable in the region of the passage opening is effective. Finally, the rectangular pivot paddles additionally act as a supporting skeleton within the shrunk-on shrink body, in particular the shrunk-shrink tube, thereby forming a free terminal space for the individual conductors, without applying any forces to the conductors.

Claim 6 includes a further adaptation of the swivel paddles to the cylindrical or rounded outer contours of the line cable.

According to claim 7, it is finally proposed to provide also on the outer surfaces of the jaws, in particular designed as a pivot paddle clamping jaws form projections. These mold projections are used for improved fixation of the shrink tube both during assembly and in final assembly. During pre-assembly, the mold projections serve as a form-fitting prefixing for the shrink tubing during the shrinking process. After shrinking the tubing engages in the recesses formed between the mold protrusions. The non-positive shrinkage connection is thus supplemented by an additional positive connection between the shrink tubing and the mold projections.

According to the teaching of claim 8 profile projections are provided on the inner surfaces of the jaws. These profile projections serve to profile the clamping jaws ken, in order to increase the highest possible friction between the jaws on the one hand and the line clamped by them on the other hand. The profile projections thus serve to increase the efficiency of effective as a strain relief Reibgehemmes. The profile projections can hereby be designed as points, claws, ribs or grooves. Other geometric shapes of suitable profile projections are also conceivable. In addition to the function as a strain relief, these profile projections also serve as thrust relief and in particular as anti-rotation device for the cable in the shrink body. In particular, the anti-rotation device prevents leaks in the region in which the heat-shrinkable tubing acting as the rear closure cap rests flush on the outer jacket of the cable.

The claims 10 to 12 relate to an assembly aid for the jaws. As a result of the pivotable, movable mounting of the jaws on the housing in automated production there is a risk that the jaws change their position before assembly, in particular before shrinking of the shrink body unintentionally. In claim 10 it is therefore proposed to connect the jaws together via mounting aids to hold them in their open position initially. The mounting aid is connected to the jaws on predetermined breaking points, so that they can be easily removed before final assembly.

Advantageously, the mounting aid designed as an auxiliary ring (claim 11). This auxiliary ring can be molded on simple connection points on the jaws. Before the final assembly, the connection points are simply broken and the auxiliary ring so removed from the jaws. Particularly advantageously, the auxiliary ring is molded on the free end of the jaws, which faces away from the housing. In this way, the auxiliary ring can be easily broken off end of the jaws. In addition, the auxiliary ring ensures the free ends a very secure fixation of the jaws in their open position and thus unfolds its effect as a mounting aid particularly effective.

The proposed in claim 13 formation of the shrink body as a shrink tube has the advantage that the shrink tube can be easily pushed over the preferably pre-assembled with the terminal contacts conductor or the conductors can simply be pushed through the shrink tubing. Furthermore, the shrink tubing can be pushed onto a cylinder-shaped connecting flange or mounting socket provided on the housing for pre-assembly before shrinking. The design as a shrink tube facilitates the assembly of the shrink body consequently. In a further embodiment according to claim 14, the shrink tube can be used at the same time as a closure cap for the Durchfuhrungsoffnung. Due to the fact that the heat-shrinkable hose firmly conforms both to a correspondingly formed opening edge of the passage opening on the one hand and the outer casing of the conductor on the other hand, even high tightness requirements can be realized. The heat shrink tubing, in addition to its function as energy storage for the Reibgehemme nor the function of a sealing cap for the Durchfuhrungsoffnung. To increase the tightness between the shrink tube and the opening edge of the Durchfuhrungsoffnung one hand, and the cable jacket on the other hand, the inside of the shrink tube may optionally be provided with a suitable adhesive, creating a permanent and gap-free connection of the items.

The claims 15 and 16 include developments of the housing for better fixation of the shrink tube both during assembly and in Montageendzu- stand. During pre-assembly, the mold projections or the annular beads serve as a form-fitting prefixing for the shrink tubing during the shrinking process. After shrinking the tubing engages in the recesses formed between the mold projections, which are configured in the case of the annular beads according to claim 16 as annular grooves. In addition to the non-positive shrink connection, there is an additional positive connection between shrink tubing material and the mold protrusions or annular beads.

Claim 17 relates to an embodiment of the connector with a cylinder-shaped connector housing and adapted to this cylinder shape designed as a pivot paddle jaws.

Based on an embodiment shown in the drawing figures, the invention will be further explained. Show it: 1, the empty housing of the connector with molded swivel paddle,

1 a is a plan view of the contact end of the housing according to arrow I in Fig. 1 with already inserted terminal contacts,

2 shows the housing according to FIG. 1 with inserted cable and already pre-assembled connection contacts,

3 shows the housing according to FIG. 1 in an embodiment with point-shaped injection-molded auxiliary ring on the clamping jaws, FIG.

4 shows the housing according to FIG. 3 after removal of the auxiliary ring, FIG.

5 shows the housing, line or terminal contact combination shown in FIG. 2 with pivoting paddles pivoted into the final assembled state, FIG.

Fig. 6 shows the arrangement of FIG. 5 with deferred shrink tube before the heat treatment and

FFiigg .. 77 the finished connector.

The cylindrical housing 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a contact protection 3 at its contact end 2. In the openings 4 of the contact protection 3 are mounted in Fig. 1a terminal contacts 16, in the case of the embodiment, a plug pins. In Fig. 1a it can be seen that only the opening 4 shown on the top right is circular. The two other the terminal contacts 16 receiving openings have a deviating from the circular shape free form. This irregular freeform is used to create a plug coding. The aim of this plug-in coding is to be able to put together only technically constructive compatible connector to a plug-in coupling. In Fig. 1a, finally, the locking opening 17 for receiving, for example, a snap hook of a mechanical lock for the connector in the coupled state.

Facing away from the contact end 2 is the connection end 5 of the housing 1. The housing 1 has, at the connection end 5, a mounting stub 6 that springs back from the actual housing body. The mounting stub 6 carries two annular beads 7. The mounting stub 6 also forms the opening edge of the Durchfuhrungsoffnung 8 of the housing 1. On the front side of the mounting stub 6 are on film hinges. 9 Swivel paddle 10 stored. The swivel paddles 10 have flats 12 on their line-side narrow sides 11 facing away from the film hinges 9.

To assemble the connector, the conductors 14 combined in the cable 13 are first connected to the connection contacts 16, namely crimped together. This prefabricated unit of connection contacts 16 and conductors 14 is then, as shown in FIG. 2, inserted through the Durchfuhrungsoffnung 8 in the housing 1. Fig. 2 shows this insertion position of the cable connection terminal assembly. Then, the shrink tube 15 is pushed over the mounting stub 6 and thus also over the radially projecting from the mounting stub ring beads 7 until it rests against the main body of the housing 1. The annular beads 7 fix the shrink tube 15 in its position shown in Fig. 6 before the heat treatment.

Fig. 3 shows again the housing 1 without the prefabricated unit of the connection contacts 16 and the conductors 14. Compared with the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are shown in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 on the housing 1 facing away from the free ends formed the pivot paddle 10 as predetermined breaking points effective injection points 18. With the aid of these injection points 18, an auxiliary ring 19 is connected to the free ends of the swivel paddle 10. The auxiliary ring 19 serves as an assembly aid. As a result of the mounting of the swivel paddle 10 on the film hinges 9, namely, the swivel paddles 10 are very easy to move. This complicates an automated assembly of the pre-assembled from the terminal contacts 16 and the conductors 17 unit.

For final assembly of this embodiment, consisting of terminal contacts 16 and conductors 14 pre-assembled unit is inserted through the Durchfuhrungsoffnung 8 in the housing 1. Then the auxiliary ring 19 is separated from the pivoting paddles 10 by breaking through the perforation-like injection points 18 (FIG. 4). Then, the shrink tube 15 is pushed over the mounting stub 6 and the annular beads 7 until it rests against the main body of the housing 1. Then, the same shrinking process as in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. It should also be noted that the swivel paddles 10 are designed trapezoidal in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. This trapezoidal configuration of the swivel paddle 10 is arbitrarily interchangeable with the rectangular, in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 shown rectangular configuration regardless of the attachment of the auxiliary ring 19. It is also conceivable, the auxiliary ring 19 designed with a rectangular shape Pivoting paddles 10 according to FIG. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 to combine.

As a result of the heat treatment, the material of the heat-shrinkable tube 15 shrinks. Due to the shrinkage of the material of the shrink tube 15, the clamping forces are transmitted to the pivot pad 10 at the same time. As a result of Schrumpfbzw. Clamping forces pivot the pivot paddles 10 to their film hinges 9 in the direction of the cable 13 until they have reached their final assembly position in which their facing away from the film hinges 9 end faces abut with the flats 12 on the outer surface of the cable 13. FIG. 3 clearly shows in FIG. 5 that due to their concavity, the flattened areas 12 cling particularly well to the outer casing of the cable 13 and thereby the clamping force via the large lever arm between the film hinge 9 and the line-side narrow side 11 of the swivel paddle 10 transmitted. Thus, FIG. 5 shows the final assembly position of the swivel paddle 10 in the case of a subsequently removed shrink tube 15.

On the other hand, FIG. 7 shows the finished plug-type connector. On the one hand, the shrunk-on shrinking tube 15 can be seen, which holds the pivoting paddle 10 in its clamping position shown in FIG. The shrink tube 15 is in this case clearly tapered from the housing 1 to the cable 13. Furthermore, in FIG. 7, the positive connection formed by the annular beads 7 between housing 1 and heat-shrinkable tube 15 is easily recognizable. Shrink tube 15 conforms both to annular beads 7 and to the outer jacket of lead cable 13, thus forming at the same time a very tight rearward sealing cap for the connector. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

casing

Contact end

contact protection

opening

terminal end

mounting stud

torus

Through opening

film hinge

Pivoting paddle line side narrow side

flattening

cable

ladder

shrinkable tubing

connection contact

locking opening

injection point

auxiliary ring

Claims

claims

1. Electrical connector with a housing (1), s • with a Durchfuhrungsoffnung (8) for an electrical conductor (14) comprising line (13),

• with at least two the line (13) between them fixing jaws on the housing and

• with a clamping body acting on the clamping jaws and in their clamping position fixing shrink body as a strain relief for the

Line (13) characterized in that the clamping jaws on the housing (1) are pivotally mounted.

5 2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping jaws are fixed at the opening edge of the Durchfuhrungsoffnung (8).

0 3. Connector according to claim 2, characterized by substantially rectangular pivoting paddle (10) as clamping jaws.

4. Connector according to claim 3, 5, characterized in that the swivel paddles (10) each by means of a film hinge (9) with a hinge-side narrow side on the housing (1) are pivotally mounted.

5. Connector according to claim 4, 0 characterized in that the end face of the hinge-side narrow side facing away line side narrow side (11) has flats (12) for forming a clamping surface.

6. Connector according to claim 5, characterized in that the swivel paddles (10) and their flats (12) are concavely curved for surface fitting to the cable (13).

7. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by molding projections on the shrink body facing the outer surfaces of the swivel paddles (10).

8. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by profile projections on the jaws to increase the effective between the conductors (14) and the jaws friction.

9. Connector according to claim 8, characterized by profile projections on the flats (12).

10. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a sollbruchstellenaufweisende mounting aid connect the jaws in their open position with each other.

11. Connector according to claim 10, characterized by an effective as predetermined breaking points connecting points (18) molded onto the jaws auxiliary ring 19 as an assembly aid.

12. Connector according to claim 11, characterized in that the auxiliary ring (19) is molded onto the free ends of the clamping jaws facing away from the housing (1).

13. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by a shrink tube (15) as a shrink body.

14. Connector according to claim 13, characterized in that the shrink tube (15) surrounds the line (13) like a spout and a

Sealing cap for the passage opening (8) forms.

15. Connector according to claim 13 or claim 14, characterized by 5 mold projections on the housing (1) for additional positive fixing of the shrink tube (15) on the housing (1).

16. Connector according to claim 15, characterized in that the shaping projections are designed as annular beads.

17. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized by a cylindrical housing (1) with a contact end (2) with Anschlußkon- 5 clocks (16), with a contact end (2) remote terminal end (5) with the Durchfuhrungsoffnung ( 8) and with several, preferably four in the manner of teeth of a spur gear toothing from the opening edge of Durchfuhrungsoffnung (8) projecting swivel paddles (10).