WO2011128008A1

WO2011128008A1 - Plug-in connector

Info

Publication number: WO2011128008A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/000604
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eckhard Berg
Original assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs Gmbh
Priority date: 2010-04-15
Filing date: 2011-02-09
Publication date: 2011-10-20
Also published as: DE202010005055U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug-in connector for use in hygienically demanding environments, comprising a first sleeve for accommodating a first plug-in connector part, a second sleeve for accommodating a second plug-in connector part, a connecting device for connecting the first sleeve to the second sleeve, and a seal for sealing a transition between the first sleeve and the second sleeve, wherein a receptacle for accommodating the seal is formed between the first sleeve and the second sleeve in an assembled state, whereby the shape and the material of the seal and the geometry of the receptacle are matched to each other in such a way that the seal is positioned in a compressed manner between the first sleeve and the second sleeve in the assembled state and gap-free transitions are formed between the first sleeve and the seal and between the seal and the second sleeve.

Description

The present invention relates to a connector for use in hygienically demanding environments according to the preamble of claim 1.

A generic plug connector has the following components: a first sleeve for receiving a first plug part, a second sleeve for receiving a second plug part and a connecting device for connecting the first sleeve to the second sleeve. Connectors of this type are known for a variety of different applications and for different requirements. Special requirements exist for environments and applications in which certain hygienic conditions must be ensured. This requirement essentially relates to the cleanability. For example, such requirements are laid down in the so-called EHEDG Directive.

Usual connectors are not EHEDG compliant. In particular, they are not free of gaps and therefore have no smooth surfaces. In addition, in most cases they are made of inappropriate materials and are therefore generally difficult to clean. As an aspect of the invention can be considered to provide a connector for use in hygienically demanding environments, which is particularly simple in construction and in which the hygienic requirements are met particularly well and reliably.

This object is achieved by the connector with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the connector according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and are also described in the following description, in particular with reference to the accompanying figures.

The connector of the abovementioned type is inventively further developed in that a seal for sealing a transition between the first sleeve and the second sleeve is present, that between the first sleeve and the second sleeve in an assembled state, a receptacle for receiving the seal is formed so that the shape and material of the seal and the geometry of the receptacle are coordinated so that the seal is positioned compressed in the assembled state between the first sleeve and the second sleeve and between the first sleeve and the seal on the one hand and the seal and the second sleeve on the other hand, gap-free transitions are formed.

As a gist of the invention, it can be considered that gap-free transitions are achieved at the critical transition regions between the sleeves by forming a receptacle and by suitably tuning the seal to the geometry of that receptacle. Splitting-free in this context means that the transition areas are at least sufficiently smooth for the intended purposes.

The connector according to the invention can be cleaned much easier compared to solutions of the prior art and is therefore particularly well suited for use in hygienically demanding environments.

The seal can basically have any shape. In this context, it is only important that the seal is compressed in the mounted state so that gap-free transitions are ensured between the first sleeve and the seal on the one hand and the second sleeve and the seal on the other hand. In principle, this can also be achieved if the seal is a conventional O-ring with a circular cross-section.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, however, the seal is a flat gasket, since the gap-free transitions can be achieved particularly reliably in a flat profile. In this context, a flat profile should be understood to mean a rectangular profile in which one side is significantly longer than the one other side. In this context, the shape of the gasket as a single component is conceptually separated from the shape or profile of the gasket when installed. The seal as a single separate component may preferably have a flat profile with a rectangular cross-section in the sense described above. The geometric shape of the receptacle, which may also be referred to as a mounting opening for the seal, may preferably be designed so that the cross-sectional area of the seal in the installed state has an outwardly tapered profile. For example, this can be realized so that one side of the recording is significantly longer than another side. The seal can in principle consist of several parts. But particularly preferably, the seal has a ring shape. This is preferably a circular ring and, accordingly, the first sleeve and the second sleeve preferably have a cylindrical shape.

As such, no special requirements are placed on the connection device. It is particularly important here that the first sleeve and the second sleeve are brought in the assembled state in a defined relative position, so that the receptacle for the seal has a defined geometry.

In a preferred embodiment, the connecting device is formed by a bayonet closure. In this case, the requirement of a defined relative position is met in a simple manner.

In principle, however, the connection device can also be a screw connection or a latching connection.

The requirement of a defined relative position of the first sleeve and the second sleeve can also be realized in that stop regions are formed on the first sleeve and the second sleeve, which in the assembled state, a defined relative position of the first sleeve and the second sleeve is ensured. For example, these abutment portions abut one another and thus prevent the first sleeve and the second sleeve from moving further towards one another, for example when the connection device is a screw connection. The first sleeve and the second sleeve can in principle be formed so that plug parts of conventional connectors are received in them. The connector according to the invention can then also be regarded as a protective housing for conventional connectors, wherein this protective housing is formed from the outside so that the hygiene requirements are met.

This approach is characterized in that the functions "electrical connector" and "providing an EHEDG-compliant protective housing" are separated. The main advantage of this solution is that standard plug-in systems can be used. In the interior of the protective housing, therefore, it is possible to use the simplest plug-in connectors which meet, for example, only the protection category IP00. These connectors can be either struck directly to the cable ends or arranged in principle on small boards. If a bayonet catch is used, one of the two boards must be rotatable about the working angle of the bayonet thread. In principle, several sizes are possible for this approach.

In principle, however, an integrated solution is possible in which separately manufactured connector parts are used in the first sleeve and the second sleeve. In this case, compared to the solution in which the first sleeve and the second sleeve essentially constitute a protective housing, components can be saved.

In this alternative approach, in which the connector parts are firmly integrated into the sleeves, more compact, so smaller dimensions and dimensions are possible. Again, the inner part of one of the connectors must be rotatable by the working angle of the bayonet thread when a bayonet fitting is used as the connecting device.

In principle, it is also possible that the first sleeve or the second sleeve is the housing sleeve of a sensor. In addition to the plug part is housed in this embodiment in one of the two sleeves a complete sensor.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the connector according to the invention, a connection collar is formed on the first sleeve or the second sleeve, which in the assembled state into the respective other sleeve. se protrudes. Appropriately, this connection collar is formed so that the corresponding sleeve is guided in the respective other sleeve, that the connection collar is thus received largely form-fitting manner in the respective other sleeve.

The housing sleeves are preferably made of food-grade V4A steel as a precision casting or as an MIM part and are slip-ground or electropolished. A cutting production is also possible. (MIM means Metal Injection Molding).

The sealing elements are preferably formed from food approved elastomers, for example FKM (fluororubber) or VMQ (silicone rubber). The connector according to the invention can be made in particular EHEDG compliant. Other directives, in particular the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, USA) as well as the EU Plastics Directive 2002/7 / EC and the corresponding Regulation 975/2009 can be met without any problems.

Defined transition areas between the first sleeve and the seal on the one hand and the seal and the second sleeve on the other hand can be realized in a particularly reliable manner, when an extension of the receptacle in the axial direction from the inside out becomes smaller. This leads to a higher compression on the outer contour of the seal, which makes this outer geometry more stable. The handling of the connector according to the invention, that is, the assembly and release from each other, is facilitated if a first handle portion and / or on the second sleeve, a second handle portion is present on the first sleeve. In order to enable good work, the first grip region and / or the second grip region preferably has a profiling. The outer contour of this profiling is expediently selected such that the hygienic requirements with regard to minimum radii and cleanability are fulfilled here as well.

In simple and expedient embodiments, the first grip region and / or the second grip region has a ring shape. The gripping regions can be formed in particular in the end regions of the first sleeve and the second sleeve, which abut separately on the seal in the mounted state.

The grip areas may be separate components which are firmly connected to the respective sleeve.

A further preferred embodiment variant of the connector according to the invention is finally characterized in that the first sleeve has or has a cutting edge at a transition region to a first connector sleeve and / or the second sleeve at a transition region to a second connector sleeve for providing a gap-free transition. This cutting edge can work slightly into the insulating material of a connecting cable in the mounted state.

Instead of or in addition to the first or the second connector grommet, other structural designs of a cable design may be provided. Such a cable design can generally be regarded and designated as a sealing element between the cable and the sleeve. The connection grommet is so far only one possible embodiment of such a sealing element.

Further advantages and features of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying schematic figures. Show in it. 1 shows an external view of a first embodiment of a connector according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3: a detail of the embodiment of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4: a further detail of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2;

and

5 shows a sectional partial view of a second embodiment.

A first embodiment of a connector 100 according to the invention will be explained with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Equivalent reference numerals are given the same reference numerals in all figures. The connector 100 according to the invention has as essential components a first sleeve 10, a second sleeve 20 and a seal 40 arranged between these sleeves.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, a first connector sleeve 12 with a connection cable 16 received therein is also provided in the first sleeve 10, and a second connector sleeve 22 with a connection cable 26 received therein is provided in the second sleeve 20.

Details of the internal structure of the connector 100 are shown in Figs. FIG. 2 schematically shows connection contacts 82 of the first connection cable 16 and connection contacts 92 of the second connection cable 26. These connection contacts 82, 92 are connected in a manner not shown here in detail with a first plug part 80 and a second plug part 90. These may in particular be conventionally available and available plug parts. The enclosure formed by the first sleeve 10, the second sleeve 20 and the seal 40 thus acts as a protective housing for a conventional connector.

For easier handling of the first sleeve 10, there is a first grip area 60 with a profiling 62 there. Accordingly, a handle region 70 with a profiling 72 is present on the second sleeve 20. In the example shown, the first grip region 60, as shown in FIG. 4, is a separately manufactured part, on which also on a first side, in FIG. 4 on the right, a collar 65 is formed, with which the first grip region 60 projects into the first sleeve 10. This is shown in Fig. 2 in detail. In addition, a projection 32 is formed on the first grip area 60 as part of a bayonet connection.

In a corresponding manner, a connecting collar 75 is formed on the second grip region 70, which, as can be seen from FIG. 2, projects into the second sleeve 20. Furthermore, a projecting tube extension 77 is provided on the second grip region 70, with which the second grip region 70 projects into the first grip region 60 in the mounted state, the bayonet closure 32 being formed by this tube extension 77 and a recess formed therein. The first grip portion 60 and the second grip portion 70 may be considered as part of the first sleeve 10 and the second sleeve 20 in this example.

By means of the bayonet closure 32, the first grip region 60 and the second grip region 70 and thus the first sleeve 10 and the second sleeve 20 are brought into a defined relative position in the mounted state. This state is shown in Figures 1 to 3 in detail. This defined relative position includes in particular that between the first sleeve 10 and the second sleeve 20, a receptacle 50 is formed, in which the seal 40 is received in the mounted state. This is shown in detail in Fig. 3. The seal 40 is preferably a flat gasket, that is to say a gasket whose cross section has the shape of a rectangle.

The geometry of the receptacle 50 and the shape and material of the seal 40 are coordinated so that in the mounted state, as shown in Fig. 3, between the first sleeve 10 and the seal 40 on the one hand and the seal 40 and the second sleeve 20th on the other hand, gap-free transitions 14, 42 can be achieved. As a result, particularly good properties can be achieved with regard to the hygiene requirements.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, another feature is that an extension of the receptacle 50 in the axial direction, indicated by arrows 54, 52, 53 is smaller from the inside out. This means that the farther you go outside, the more compressed the gasket is. As a result, a particularly well-defined positioning and particularly smooth and gap-free transitions are realized in the region of the transitions 14, 42. A second embodiment of a connector 100 according to the invention will be explained with reference to FIG. The main difference compared to the example explained in connection with Figures 1 to 4 is that in the variant of Fig. 5, the first connector part 80 compact in the first sleeve 10 and, accordingly, the second connector part 90 compact in the second Plug sleeve 20 is integrated. This means that the first plug part 80 and the second plug part 90 have no further housing components. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment from FIGS. 1 to 4, the receptacle 50 with a substantially rectangular cross-section is also formed in FIG. 5, that is, the extent in the axial direction is essentially constant radially outward over the course of the seal 40. In order to provide a transition between the first sleeve 10 and the flexible connector grommet 12 accommodated therein, which meets hygienic requirements, an edge 64 is present in an end region of the first sleeve 10, which slightly protrudes into the material of the connector grommet in the mounted state shown 12 works into it. With the variant shown in FIG. 5, since no further housing components are necessary for the plug parts 80, 90, more compact, that is to say smaller, designs can be realized.

The present invention provides a connector for use in hygienically demanding areas, which meets the requirements for hygienic environments in a particularly simple and reliable manner.

Claims

1. Connector for use in hygienically demanding environments

with a first sleeve (10) for receiving a first plug part (80), with a second sleeve (20) for receiving a second plug part (90), with connecting means (32) for connecting the first sleeve (10) to the second sleeve (20), and

with a seal (40) for sealing a transition between the first sleeve (10) and the second sleeve (20),

wherein a receptacle (50) for receiving the seal (40) is formed between the first sleeve (10) and the second sleeve (20) in an assembled state,

characterized,

that the shape and material of the seal (40) and the geometry of the receptacle (50) are coordinated so that the seal (40) in the assembled state between the first sleeve (10) and the second sleeve (20) is positioned compressed and between the first sleeve (10) and the seal (40) on the one hand and the seal (40) and the second sleeve (20) on the other hand, gap-free transitions (14, 42) are formed.

2. Connector according to claim 1,

characterized,

the seal (40) is a flat gasket.

3. Connector according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized,

the seal (40) has a ring shape.

Connector according to one of claims 1 to 3,

characterized,

in that the connecting device (32) is formed by a bayonet closure (32).

Connector according to one of claims 1 to 4,

characterized,

in that the first sleeve (10) or the second sleeve (20) is the housing sleeve of a sensor.

Connector according to one of claims 1 to 5,

characterized,

in that a connection sleeve (12, 22) for a cable (16, 26) is arranged in the first sleeve (10) and / or the second sleeve (20).

Connector according to one of claims 1 to 6,

characterized,

in that stop regions are formed on the first sleeve (10) and the second sleeve (20), by means of which a defined relative position of the first sleeve (10) and the second sleeve (20) is ensured in the assembled state.

Connector according to one of claims 1 to 7,

characterized,

in that a connecting collar (77) is formed on the first sleeve (10) or the second sleeve (20), which in the assembled state projects into the respective other sleeve.

Connector according to one of claims 1 to 8,

characterized,

that an extent (52) of the receptacle (50) becomes smaller in the axial direction from the inside to the outside.

10. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 9,

characterized,

in that a first grip region (60) is present on the first sleeve (10) and / or a second grip region (70) is present on the second sleeve (20).

11. Connector according to claim 10,

characterized,

the first grip region (60) and / or the second grip region (70) have / have a profiling (62, 72).

12. Connector according to claim 10 or 11,

characterized,

in that the first grip region (60) and / or the second grip region (70) have / has a ring shape.

13. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 12,

characterized,

in that the first sleeve (10) has / has a cutting edge (64) at a transition region to a first connector sleeve (12) and / or the second sleeve (20) at a transition region to a second connector sleeve (22) for providing a gap-free transition.

14. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 13,

characterized,

the connecting device is a threaded connection or a latching connection.

15. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 14,

characterized,

in that the first plug part (80) and / or the second plug part (90) is a conventional plug part.