WO2020249402A1

WO2020249402A1 - Plug connector system comprising forcibly separable plug connector parts

Info

Publication number: WO2020249402A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/064819
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Führer; Robert Babezki
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact E-Mobility Gmbh
Priority date: 2019-06-14
Filing date: 2020-05-28
Publication date: 2020-12-17
Also published as: DE102019116204B3

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connector system (1) comprising: a first plug connector part (2) having a first plug portion (200) and a contacting assembly (22) that can be moved with respect to the first plug portion (200) and has a first electrical contact element (225); a second plug connector part (3) having a second plug portion (31) which can be plugged with the first plug portion (200) along a plugging direction (E); and a second electrical contact element (320) for electrically contacting the first electrical contact element (225). According to the invention, the second plug connector part (3) has a control element (311) which is positioned on the second plug portion (31) and is designed to act on the contacting assembly (22) when the first plug portion (200) and the second plug portion (31) are separated from each other counter to the plugging direction (E) in order to break electrical contact between the first contact element (225) and the second contact element (320).

Description

Connector system with connector parts that can be positively separated from one another

The invention relates to a connector system according to the preamble of claim 1.

A connector system of this type comprises a first connector part which has a first plug-in section and a contacting assembly which is movable relative to the first plug-in section and has a first electrical contact element. A second plug connector part has a second plug-in section which can be connected to the first plug-in section in a plug-in manner along a plug-in direction, and a second electrical contact element for making electrical contact with the first electrical contact element.

Such connector systems are used, for example, in charging systems for charging electric vehicles, but can also be used, for example, in conveyor technology or tool technology.

Such connector systems enable an electrical connection to be established, for example, between electrical lines connected to the connector parts by plugging the connector parts together. In a connected state, the contact elements make contact with one another, so that a current can flow via the connector parts, for example, between lines connected to the connector parts.

In such a connector system, the connector parts can suddenly become detached from one another when a mechanical overload occurs, also referred to as forced disconnection. A connector system of the type described here should in principle enable such a forced disconnection, whereby it should be ensured that such a forced disconnection of the connector parts does not result in damage to the contact elements of the connector parts that make contact when connected and thus the functionality of the connector system for further use is not impaired by a forced separation.

From WO 2012/168488 A2 a connector system for a charging system for charging an electric vehicle is known, in which a charging plug is locked in a plugged-in state with a charging socket. In this case, an overload means in the form of a slope is formed on a locking means producing the lock, which has a Forced separation of the charging plug and the charging socket from each other in the event of an overload on the charging plug.

DE 103 26 740 B4 describes a connector with mechanical locking for receiving a plug. The connector has an immovable element and a movable element. By moving the movable element, a holding / separating device can be actuated to release the plug.

The object of the present invention is to provide a connector system which enables a forced separation of connector parts in a simple manner and at least reduces the risk of damage to contact elements of the connector parts.

This object is achieved by an object having the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, the second connector part has a control element arranged on the second plug-in section, which control element is designed to act on the contacting assembly counter to the plug-in direction when the first plug-in section and the second plug-in section are separated from one another, in order to remove electrical contact between the first contact element and the second contact element.

The first connector part has a movable contacting assembly, which is arranged, for example, displaceably or pivotably on a housing of the first connector part and can be moved to the housing in order to connect a first electrical contact element of the first connector part with an associated second contact element of the second when the second connector part is inserted To bring connector part electrically contacting in plant. By moving the contacting assembly, electrical contact can thus be established between the contact elements of the connector parts when the connector parts are plugged together.

In order to prevent damage to the contact elements of the connector parts when the connector parts are separated, a control element is provided on the second plug-in section of the second connector part, which control element is designed to act on the contacting assembly when the connector parts are separated from each other and to move them in this way on the first connector part that the contact elements of the connector parts are brought out of contact with one another. When separating the Connector parts from one another, the contacting assembly is thus moved by the action of the control element, so that the electrical contacting of the contact elements is automatically canceled. Because the contacting assembly is moved in a positively guided manner when the connector parts are separated from one another, excessive mechanical stress on the contact elements of the connector part is prevented when the connector parts are separated from each other, so that the risk of damage to the contact elements, especially in the event of a forced separation due to an overload between the connector parts is at least reduced.

The first plug-in section can be formed, for example, by a plug-in opening formed in the housing of the first plug-in connector part, into which the second plug-in section of the second plug-in connector part can be inserted along the plug-in direction in order to connect the plug-in connector parts to one another. The contacting assembly is movable to the housing, for example pivotable or displaceable, and can be moved into the area of the plug-in opening in order to establish the contact in order to connect the first contact element arranged on the contacting assembly to make electrical contact with the second contact element on the second plug-in section of the second plug connector part To bring plant. Conversely, the contacting assembly can be moved out of the area of the plug-in opening in order to remove contact between the contact elements when the connector parts are separated.

In one embodiment, the first plug connector part has an actuating element for moving the contacting assembly relative to the housing. The actuating element can for example be guided in a linearly displaceable manner on the housing of the first plug connector part and can in particular be actuated in order to bring the contact elements of the plug connector parts into contact with one another in an electrically contacting manner. By actuating the actuating element, the contacting assembly can be moved on the housing of the first connector part, so that by means of the actuating element, the contacting assembly is brought closer to the plug-in section of the second plug-in connector part when the plug-in connector parts are connected to one another, in order to bring the contact elements of the connector parts into contact with one another in an electrical manner.

Alternatively, the actuating element can be pivotable relative to the housing and thus be moved in a rotary manner. For this purpose, the actuating element can be designed, for example, as a swivel element, for example in the form of a lever. The actuation element can for example have a shaft which, after actuation of the actuation element, holds the contacting assembly in a contacting position in which the first contact element arranged on the contacting assembly is in electrical contact with the second contact element on the second plug-in section of the second plug-in connector part, so that the actuation element the contact is established and secured.

Using the actuating element results in a connection process for establishing the connection, in which the mechanical connection of the connector parts and the electrical contact are functionally separated from one another. To establish the mechanical connection of the connector parts to one another, the connector parts are attached to one another so that the plug-in sections of the plug-in connector parts are plugged together, for example by attaching a plug-in section in the form of a plug to another plug-in section in the form of a plug-in opening. To establish the electrical contact, the actuating element is then actuated to move the contacting assembly, which was previously in a release position on the first connector part, so that the first contact element of the first connector part arranged on the contacting assembly makes electrical contact with the second Contact element of the plug-in section of the second connector part arrives and the electrical contact is thus established.

In one embodiment, the contacting assembly has an actuating element that is pivotably connected to the housing. The actuating element can be designed such that it acts on the actuating element when actuated and thus moves the contacting assembly relative to the housing of the first connector part in order to establish contact between the contact elements of the connector parts. The adjusting element can for example be supported on the housing via a spring element, for example in the form of a leg spring, so that the adjusting element is adjusted in the direction of the contacting position against a spring preload of the spring element.

To detach the connector parts from one another - as part of a normal detachment process, that is, not as part of a forced disconnection - the actuating element can be reset, for example, by manual actuation. As a result, the effect of the actuating element on the contacting assembly, in particular on the actuating element of the Contacting assembly, canceled, so that the contacting assembly can move from the contacting position back into a release position, for example supported by the spring-mechanical bias of the spring element, via which the actuating element is supported on the housing. For a release, the actuating element can thus be brought out of operative connection from the contacting assembly, whereby the actuating element is reset and the contacting assembly is moved to the housing in such a way that the contact elements of the connector parts come out of contact with one another.

If instead of such a deliberately actuated release process a forced disconnection occurs under overload, the actuating element instead remains in its actuated position in which the actuating element acts on the actuating element of the contacting assembly. In this case, the contact between the contact elements is canceled in a controlled manner via the control element on the second plug-in section of the second connector part, so that the contact between the contact elements is canceled in a controlled manner even in the event of a forced disconnection.

For this purpose, for example, the first contact element of the first plug connector part can be moved to the actuating element of the contacting assembly. For example, the first contact element can be arranged on a carrier element pivotably connected to the actuating element, so that the first contact element can be adjusted relative to the actuating element by moving the carrier element.

The first contact element is preferably spring-mechanically pretensioned relative to the actuating element. If the control element on the second plug-in section of the second connector part thus acts on the first contact element or the carrier element on which the first contact element is arranged when the connector parts are separated from one another, the first contact element is thereby moved against the spring preload towards the actuating element and thus deflected that an electrical contact between the first contact element and the second contact element is canceled automatically. When separating the connector parts from one another as part of a forced separation, the contact elements are not excessively stressed by friction against each other, but are separated from one another in a forced, controlled manner, which at least reduces the risk of damage to the contact elements in such a forced separation. A spring-mechanical bias of the first contact element relative to the actuating element can be provided, for example, via one or more compression springs which act between the actuating element and the first contact element.

In one embodiment, the second contact element is arranged in an elastically resilient manner on the second plug section of the second plug connector part. For example, the second contact element can be part of a contact assembly which has a plurality of second contact elements, which are each connected to the second plug-in section in an elastically resilient manner via a spring arm.

A normal contact force when the contact elements make contact with one another can also be set via the spring-mechanical prestressing of the first contact element and / or a resilient arrangement of the second contact element.

In one embodiment, the control element is formed by a control edge formed on the second plug-in section transversely to the plug-in direction. The control edge is formed, for example, on an end of the second plug-in section that is remote from a housing body of the second plug-in connector part and is designed such that the control element acts on the contacting assembly, in particular the carrier element carrying the first contact element, when the plug-in connector parts are separated from one another, in order to establish contact between the Cancel contact elements of the connector parts in a positively guided manner.

For example, the contacting assembly on the first connector part can be moved from a release position in a contacting direction into a contacting position in order to bring the contact elements of the connector parts into contact with one another in an electrically contacting manner when the connection is established. The control element can protrude against the contacting direction relative to the second contact element on the second plug-in section and is designed so that when the first plug-in section and the second plug-in section are separated from each other, the contacting assembly is moved counter to the contacting direction. The control element thus brings about an automatic, forced separation of the contact elements from one another when the connector parts are separated from one another in the sense of a forced separation while the actuating element is still actuated. The idea on which the invention is based will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a view of a connector system with a first

Connector part and a second connector part;

Fig. 2 is a view of the connector system, separated from each other

Connector parts;

Fig. 3 is a view of the connector system when connected to one another

Connector parts;

4A is a side view of the connector system prior to connecting the

Connector parts with each other;

4B shows a side view of the connector system with connector parts mechanically connected to one another;

4C shows a side view of the connector system, with also electrically contacted contact elements;

Fig. 4D is a side view of the connector system, with forced separation of the

Connector parts from each other;

Fig. 4E is a side view of the connector system, in another

Forced separation of the connector parts from one another;

5A-5E sectional views through the connector system, in the different

Positions according to FIGS. 4A-4E;

Fig. 6 is a separate view of a first connector part of the

Connector system;

7 is an exploded view of the first connector part;

8 is an exploded view of a contacting assembly of the first

Connector part; 9 shows a view of the contacting assembly on the first connector part;

10 is a sectional view of the first connector part;

11 shows an enlarged sectional view of the contacting assembly on the first

Connector part;

12 is a separate view of the second connector part; and

13 is an exploded view of the second connector part.

1 to 13 show different views of a connector system 1, which has a first connector part 2 and a second connector part 3 to be connected to the first connector part 2 in a plugging direction E. An electrical line 4, 5 is connected to each connector part 2, 3, it being possible for the lines 4, 5 to be electrically connected to one another by plugging the connector parts 2, 3 with one another.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 3 in combination with the separate views according to FIGS. 6 to 11, the first connector part 2 has a housing 20 in which a plug-in section in the form of a plug-in opening 200 is formed. To connect the plug connector parts 2, 3 to one another, a plug section 31 on a housing body 30 of the second plug connector part 3 can be plugged into the plug opening 200 along the plug direction E in order to establish a plugged connection between the plug connector parts 2, 3 in this way.

A contacting assembly 22 is enclosed within the housing 2, which - as can be seen from the views according to FIGS. 7 to 11 - has an actuating element 221, a carrier element 220 and a contact element 225 arranged on the carrier element 220 in the form of a contact bar. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 9, an electrical line 4 assigned to the first plug connector part 2 is connected to the contact element 225.

The adjusting element 221 is pivotably mounted on the housing 20 via axle elements 224 (see, for example, FIG. 8). The adjusting element 221 is spring-mechanical to the housing via a spring element 222

20 supported, the spring element 222 in the form of a leg spring exerts an elastic bias in the direction of a release position (corresponding to the position according to FIG. 11) on the actuating element 221 and thus holds the actuating element 221 in the unactuated state in the release position.

The carrier element 220 lies in a recess 228 of the adjusting element 221 and is connected to the adjusting element 221 in a pivotable manner via a bearing section 227, as can be seen, for example, from FIG. 11. The carrier element 220 carries the contact element 225 at an end 226 remote from the bearing section 227, in that the end 226 reaches through an opening in the contact element and in the process engages around the contact element 225 in a U-shape, as can also be seen from FIG. 11, so that the Contact element 225 is movable together with the carrier element 220.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the carrier element 220 is spring-mechanically supported on the actuating element 221 via two spring elements 223 in the form of compression springs (see FIGS. 7 and 8 in conjunction with FIG. 11).

There is also an actuating element on the housing 20 of the first connector part 2

21 guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner along an actuation direction B in a guide opening 202 (see FIG. 7). The actuating element 21 has an actuating shaft 210 with an inclined surface 211 formed at one end, with which the actuating element 21 acts on the actuating element 221 of the contacting assembly 22 when actuated in the actuating direction B in order to move the contacting assembly 22 to the housing 20 of the first connector part 2 adjust.

The second plug connector part 3 has, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 3 in conjunction with the separate views according to FIGS. 12 and 13, a housing body 30 from which the plug section 31 protrudes in the form of a plug.

In the housing body 30, which is closed by a housing cover 300 (see FIG. 13) and the plug-in section 31, a contact assembly 32 is enclosed, which has a connection lug 321 and - in the illustrated embodiment - three contact elements 320 connected to the connection lug 321 via spring arms 322. The electrical line 5 assigned to the second plug connector part 3 is connected to the connection lug 321, as can be seen, for example, from FIG. 12. The contact elements 320 are installed in openings 312 on the plug-in section 31 and are therefore accessible from the outside for the purpose of making electrical contact, as can be seen from a synopsis of FIG. 13 and FIG.

The contact elements 320 are arranged on a side of the plug section 31 of the second plug connector part 3 which faces the contacting assembly 22 of the first plug connector part 2 when the plug connector parts 2, 3 are inserted. If the connector parts 2, 3 have been plugged together, the contacting assembly 22 can thus be moved along a contacting direction K (see FIG. 11) in the direction of the contact elements 23 on the plug-in section 31 of the second connector part 3 in order to establish electrical contact between the contact elements 225, 320 to manufacture.

At an end 313 of the plug-in section 31 of the second plug-in connector part 3 that is remote from the housing body 30, a control element 311 in the form of a control edge extending transversely to the plug-in direction E is formed. The control element 311 protrudes opposite the contacting direction K with respect to the contact elements 322 and serves to act on the contacting assembly 22 in the event of a forced separation of the connector parts 2, 3 in order to remove a contact between the contact elements 225, 320 in a positively guided manner, as will be explained below shall be.

As can be seen from the sequence of FIGS. 4A to 4E and 5A to 5E, in the connector system 1 during a connection process of the connector parts 2, 3, the establishment of the mechanical connection and the establishment of the electrical connection are functionally separated from one another.

Thus, by attaching the connector parts 2, 3 to one another along the plug-in direction E, a mechanical connection is first established between the connector parts 2, 3 by inserting the plug-in section 31 in the form of the plug of the second plug-in connector part 3 into the plug-in opening 200 of the first plug-in connector part 2, as this can be seen from the transition from FIGS. 4A, 5A to FIGS. 4B, 5B. In the plugged-in position according to FIGS. 4B, 5B, the plug connector parts 2, 3 are mechanically connected to one another, but without electrical contact being established between the contact elements 225, 320. When the connection is plugged in, the contacting assembly 22 is in its release position, as can be seen from FIGS. 5A, 5B. The actuating element 21 of the first plug connector part 2 is not actuated here and protrudes from the housing 20 with the shaft section 210. In the release position, the contacting assembly 22 is held by spring preloading of the spring element 222.

If the connector parts 2, 3 have been plugged together and are thus in the position according to FIGS. 4B, 5B, the actuating element 21 can be operated manually, for example, by pressing the actuating element 21 into the housing 20 in the actuating direction B and thus acts on the actuating element 221 with the shaft section 210. As a result, as can be seen from the transition from FIG. 5B to FIG. 5C, the contacting assembly 22 is pivoted in the contacting direction K to the housing 20 of the first plug connector part 2, so that the contact element 225 of the first plug connector part 2 matches the contact elements 320 on the plug section 31 of the second plug connector part 3 and thus an electrical contact is established between the contact elements 225, 320. In the position according to FIG. 5C, the connector parts 2, 3 are both electrically and mechanically connected to one another, so that the

Connector parts 2, 3 associated lines 4, 5 are electrically connected to one another.

The connector parts 2, 3 can by resetting the actuating element 21 against the actuation direction B and thus by resetting the

Contacting assembly 22 can be detached from one another in a deliberately actuated manner counter to the contacting direction K, in which case the sequence according to FIG. 5C to FIG. 5A runs in the reverse order compared to the plugging process.

Alternatively, however, a forced disconnection in the event of an overload between the connector parts 2, 3 is also possible with the actuating element 21 still in the actuated position, as can be seen from FIGS. 4D, 5D and 4E, 5E.

If the connector parts 2, 3 are plugged in and electrical contact is established, i.e. when the actuating element 21 is actuated according to the position according to FIGS. 4C, 5C, an overload occurs between the connector parts 2, 3 and the connector parts 2, 3 are separated from one another along a pull-out direction A. the plug-in section 31 is thus pulled out of the plug-in opening 200 in the pull-out direction A. The control element 31 1 acts on that of the housing body 30 of the second Connector part 3 remote end 313 of the plug section 31 onto the carrier element 220 of the contacting assembly 22 of the first connector part 2, in that the control element 311 runs in the form of the control edge onto the carrier element 220, so that the carrier element 220 is pivoted against the contacting direction K to the actuating element 221, with spring-mechanical compression of the spring elements 223, via which the carrier element 220 is spring-pretensioned with respect to the adjusting element 221 (see the transition from FIG. 5D to FIG. 5E). As a result, the electrical contact between the contact elements 225, 320 is canceled.

Because the contact elements 225, 320 are removed from one another in a positively guided manner when the connector parts 2, 3 are forced to be separated, excessive loading is avoided between the contact elements 225, 320, in particular along the extension direction A, so that the risk of damage to the contact elements 225, 320 in particular is significantly reduced in the case of a forced disconnection and thus the functionality of the connector system 1 is guaranteed for further use.

The idea on which the invention is based is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments described above, but can also be implemented in other ways.

A connector system of the type described can be used, for example, in a charging system for charging an electric vehicle. Such a connector system can also be used, for example, in conveyor technology or for the purpose of an automated tool change.

Connector parts of the connector system can be single-pole - as in the illustrated embodiment - or also multi-pole, so that lines can also be connected to one another in a multi-pole manner via such connector parts.

A contacting assembly of the type described can in principle be movable in any way on the associated plug connector part, for example pivotable (as in the illustrated embodiment) or also displaceable (linearly or along a curved path).

The actuating element is not necessarily designed as a linearly displaceable pin, but can also be rotatably movable, for example. So can it Actuating element can be designed, for example, as a rotationally movable ring element or lever element.

The actuation direction along which the actuation element is to be actuated is not necessarily directed perpendicular to the contacting direction, but can, for example, also be directed essentially in the same direction as the contacting direction or directed at an angle to the contacting direction.

List of reference symbols

1 connector system

2 connector part

20 housing

200 plug-in section (plug-in opening)

201 housing cover

202 guide opening

21 actuator

210 operating shaft

21 1 bevel

22 Contacting assembly

220 support element

221 control element

222 spring element (leg spring)

223 preload spring

224 axle elements

225 contact element (contact bar)

226 end

227 storage section

228 recess

3 connector part

30 case body

300 housing cover

31 plug section

310 Reset section

311 control element (control edge)

312 opening

313 end

32 contact assembly

320 contact element

321 connection lug

322 spring arm

4, 5 electrical line

A direction of extension

B direction of actuation

E Mating direction

K direction of contact

Claims

1. Connector system (1), with a first connector part (2) which has a first plug-in section (200) and a contacting assembly (22) movable to the first plug-in section (200) with a first electrical contact element (225), and a second plug-in connector part (3), which has a second plug-in section (31) which can be plugged in along a plug-in direction (E) to the first plug-in section (200), and a second electrical contact element (320) for making electrical contact with the first electrical contact element (225) , characterized in that the second plug connector part (3) has a control element (311) which is arranged on the second plug section (31) and is designed to counter the plugging direction (E) when the first plug section (200) and the second plug section (31) are separated ) to act on the contacting assembly (22) from one another in order to establish electrical contact between the first contact element (225) and the second contact cancel telement (320).

2. Connector system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first connector part (2) has a housing (20) on which the contacting assembly (22) is movably arranged.

3. Connector system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first plug-in section (200) is formed by a plug-in opening formed in the housing (20) into which the second plug-in section (31) of the second plug-in connector part (3) along the plug-in direction (E) can be inserted.

4. Connector system (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first connector part (2) has an actuating element (21) for moving the contacting assembly (22) relative to the housing (20) for contacting the first contact element (225) the second contact element (320) when establishing a connection between the first connector part (2) and the second connector part (3).

5. Connector system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the actuating element (21) is guided along an actuating direction (B) linearly displaceable on the housing (20) of the first connector part (2).

6. Plug connector system (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the contacting assembly (22) has an adjusting element (221) pivotably connected to the housing (20), the actuating element (21) being designed to move the contacting assembly ( 22) to act on the actuating element (221) to contact the first contact element (225) with the second contact element (320).

7. Connector system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the adjusting element (221) is supported on the housing (20) via a spring element (222).

8. Plug connector system (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the first contact element (225) is movable to the adjusting element (221).

9. Plug connector system (1) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the first contact element (225) is arranged on a carrier element (221) pivotably connected to the actuating element (221).

10. Plug connector system (1) according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the first contact element (225) is spring-mechanically biased to the adjusting element (221).

11. Connector system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second contact element (320) is arranged in an elastically resilient manner on the second plug-in section (31) of the second plug-in connector part (3).

12. Connector system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control element (311) is formed by a control edge extending transversely to the plugging direction (E) on the second plug-in section (31).

13. Connector system (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the contacting assembly (22) on the first connector part (2) from a release position in a contacting direction (K) into a contacting position for electrically contacting the first contact element (225) and the second Contact element (320) can be moved with one another, the control element (311) protruding against the contacting direction (K) relative to the second contact element (320) and being formed when the first plug-in section (200) and the second plug-in section (31) to move the contacting assembly (22) opposite to the contacting direction (K).