WO2021213980A1 - Plug-in connector system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug-in connector system, a plug-in connector for releasably contacting electrical conductors to produce an electrically conductive connection, comprising a plug-in connector plug having at least one plug contact pin, a pin contact, and a mating plug-in connector having at least one plug contact socket, a plug contact hole, the plug-in connector plug and mating plug-in connector and also the at least one plug contact pin, pin contact, and plug contact socket, plug contact hole, corresponding to one another in such a way that they produce an electrically conductive connection when they are releasably plugged together. The at least one plug contact pin, pin contact, in the plug-in connector plug is accommodated and retained in a dome-shaped protuberance with an external conical contour, and, with at least one seal of the plug-in connector plug, the dome-shaped protuberance with an external conical contour provides sealing of the at least one plug contact pin, pin contact, and the plug contact socket, plug contact hole, when plugged together.

Description

description

Connector system

The invention relates to a connector system, connector for releasable contacting of electrical conductors for the implementation of an electrically conductive connection, comprising a connector plug with at least one plug contact pin, pin contact and a connector mating connector with at least one plug contact socket, plug contact bore, with connector plug and connector mating connector and the at least one plug contact pin, pin contact and plug contact socket and plug contact bore correspond to one another in such a way that they establish an electrically conductive connection by being releasably plugged into one another.

Plug-in connectors in a wide variety of designs and variants are used to make contact or to produce releasable, electrically conductive connections. Connector solutions are available in a large number of different designs, for example with regard to the number of poles, electrical power and the conditioning of a wide variety of external influences such as humidity, temperature, corrosive media or mechanical loads.

Depending on the ambient conditions and the resulting effects, it must be ensured that the contacting task is carried out permanently, reliably and without interference. In order to achieve this goal, types of protection have been defined, which are expressed by IP codes (IP = International Protection) and for which test procedures with different environmental conditions are stored.

Connectors for implementing different degrees of protection or IP codes, IP classes are in many cases enclosed, enclosed, partially or completely sealed or shielded by housings.

If housings or appropriately designed plug connectors are used to meet, in particular, higher IP classes, for example IP65 or IP68, there are increased requirements with regard to the tightness properties. Connectors within the area of application of devices, equipment, lights, installation material, etc., for example with degree of protection IPX7, must at least temporarily offer protection against ingress of water during submersion, ie against temporary submersion. DE 10 2017000466 A1 shows a sealed connector with a push-pull locking system. The plug connector presented for connection to a complementary socket in an operating state for establishing a data connection comprises a connector housing with a connection device which is designed to at least partially engage with the complementary socket and to be connected to it, as well as a circumferential sealing element, the circumferential sealing element Sealing element is arranged on the connecting device; and a circumferential pressing element which is designed to fix the circumferential sealing element on the connector housing, wherein the circumferential sealing element is designed to produce a seal with respect to the connector housing and / or a seal with respect to the complementary socket in the operating state. The circumferential pressing element is designed to fix the circumferential sealing means on the connector housing, and in particular on the connecting device, by clamping the sealing element. Clamping in this sense means enclosing at least a part of the sealing element between the pressing element and the connector housing, the sealing means being compressed in at least one direction by the enclosing. This advantageously prevents the sealing element from falling off the connector housing.

In order to meet the IP67 degree of protection (complete protection against ingress of dust and immersion) of the relevant standard regulations (IEC 60529) with plug-in connection elements, DE 60 2004010 507 T2 presents electrical connection elements that interact by plugging in, primarily consisting of a cylindrical housing that is inside forms a shaft for receiving electrical contact parts and on the outside around the edge of the shaft around a collar which extends radially from the housing at a distance from the shaft, an annular flat seal made of deformable elastic material, which is attached to the housing by being against the the shoulder surface of the collar closest to the opening of the shaft is pressed, and is intended to be arranged between the electrical connection element and the complementary connection element when both elements are connected to one another, and rotary clamping means, which are intended to be combined with complementary clamping means, the are provided on the complementary electrical connection element to cooperate in order to act by pressure on the seal when the two electrical connection elements are connected to one another, the seal being formed from a material with low deformation resistance and at least so far that it is substantially with the Edge of the collar is flush. DE 602004 010507 T2 explains further recommendations and information on the sealing material, its hardness and compressive strength and further properties.

DE 44 30775 A1 discloses a waterproof connector with at least one terminal fitting which includes a connecting portion and a wire connecting portion. A sealing member is fixable on the terminal fitting, the sealing member being formed with a mounting hole which is a through hole to allow the connecting portion to be inserted. The connector further includes a connector housing having a cavity for at least receiving the terminal fitting, the sealing member being held in close contact with the inner wall surface of the cavity.

Another technical variant based on DE 44 30 775 A1 for realizing watertight plug connections is presented in DE 60 2005 005 100 T2, in which the plug contact pins are provided with sealing members. A sealing member is inserted which is mounted between an interlocking portion which is engageable with a resiliently deformable locking portion formed in or on a cavity front portion and the wire connecting portion. The sealing member is provided in front of the wire connecting portion or on the side opposite to the wire connecting side as viewed from the wire side, even if water enters through the inside of the wire, any further forward movement of the water, i.e. H. prevent water from arriving on mating portions of the mating connector fittings.

DE 19646293 C1 proposes a sealed connector which has a block-shaped contact carrier with a central opening and contact chambers. In order to switch off the capillary effect of moisture due to the ambient conditions in this known connector and thus prevent neither moisture nor contamination from reaching the contact partners to be protected and possibly electronic circuits as well as connection conductor ends, it is proposed that the entire contact carrier not only be on its lateral outer surfaces, but also at least partially provided with the outer jacket over the end face of the contact carrier, whereby the material area of the extending over the end face of the contact carrier Outer jacket is at least partially connected to one another in a tensile manner with foot regions of a sealing collar. As a result, it is already prevented in a certain way that the outer jacket, which consists of a relatively soft plastic material, can lift off the outer surface or the end surface of the contact carrier.

In addition to the sealing solutions for connectors and detachable contacts that are often available in the state of the art, technical concepts have been developed to remove water that has penetrated. For this purpose, it is known to attach drains that drain water that has penetrated into the contact chambers or the plug-in collars of the plug-in connectors out of the plug-in connector area via a corresponding drainage path. Such drainage openings in the contact chambers and within the plug-in collar also have the advantage that an exchange of air can take place when the plug-in connection is plugged together and when the plug-in connection is released, so that the plug-in forces remain as low as possible. Examples of such drainage arrangements are described in US Pat. No. 8,257,101 B2 and in EP 2 525443 A1.

A problem with such drainage channels out of the connector can be that these drainages are the cause of undesired leakage currents. DE 102013 213 336 A1 suggests that each of the contact chambers is connected to its own drainage channel, which is formed in one piece and separate from the other drainage channels in the housing, in order to improve the leakage current resistance. In this way it can be achieved that the drained liquids from the various contact chambers can no longer touch each other to form a closed electrical connection in the sense of a leakage current path. The construction presented comprises at least two contact chambers which contain the power contact elements, which are arranged within a tubular socket. Since this plug-in base is usually arranged in such a way that it is oriented obliquely to the rear, liquid can collect in it and a separate drainage opening must be provided for this area, which is also referred to as the plug face in the following. The drainage opening is connected to exactly one of the drainage channels so that no connection can be made to the other contacts. This is preferably the drainage channel which drains the contact chamber of a contact element connected to ground. In the state of the art, there are primarily two different aims for sealed plug connections:

With sealing solutions for different requirements, environmental conditions or IP protection classes, or with means for draining off water that has penetrated.

Solutions with regard to water wetting, humidification, the effects of moisture on connectors prior to their assembly, and plugging together are not available. Situations of this type are particularly common when using detachable plug connections in the offshore area, such as boats, ships, generally watercraft or water sports equipment, such as surfboards with electrical devices, drives or jet skis. If the known plug connections are fitted with damp, wet or liquid-wetted plug connector plugs, several problems are possible when plugged together:

Leakage currents as a result of the creepage distances created by the moisture in the interior of the housing,

Corrosion of electrical conductors,

Short circuit,

The formation of sparks or arcing and, last but not least, the resulting

Hazards to persons, operating and user personnel.

It is the object of the invention to further develop the existing constructions of the available connector solutions and to improve them in such a way that their plugging together, contacting, and mounting is possible even after the connector plug has been exposed to water or moisture, and the disadvantages occurring in the prior art are at least partially reduced. In particular, it is provided that the connectors according to the invention are conditioned for use in the offshore area. According to the invention, it is proposed to integrate a water drainage in the unmated state or a water displacement during the plugging process in the plug connection. This means that the existing connector solutions, ie the non, partially or completely sealed plug connections function, are expanded with a constructive solution that makes it possible to plug in, assemble and bring into contacting position even when wet, moistened connector plugs are used. Plug connections that are sealed according to IPX7 when plugged in are preferably expanded to include this function.

The invention proposes surrounding the pin contact (s), plug contact pins, each with a cone, which ensures that the existing or penetrated water is discharged or transported away in the direction of the connector base. This means that each of the pin contacts is received within the plug contact housing by a dome-shaped elevation with an outer conical contour. The conical contour is designed to taper in the direction of the plug contact tip.

The connector base is designed to slope away from the center of the connector, at least in one direction normal to the connector direction, so that the water is led away from the connector interior.

The arrangement of the pin contact (s), plug contact pins within the connector plug housing is preferably in the middle area of a radial sectional plane and is framed by a prismatic or cylindrical plug wall which is open in the axial direction and which extends radially from the plug base and has at least one drain hole in the base area. Through the at least one drainage hole in the plug wall, the water, moisture, liquid transported away from the plug contact area by the dome-shaped elevation (s) with a conical contour can be diverted, out of the plug contact plug inner area.

The connector mating connector with one or more plug contact sockets, plug contact bores for making contact with the plug contact pins, pin contacts of the plug contact plug has at least one preferably molded-on seal made of a plastic material on the front and input side of the plug contact socket, plug contact bore a. The removal of moisture, water, liquid from the respective pin contact, plug contact pin during the plugging process, the assembly process and b. When plugged in, the radial sealing of the plug-in contact partners is implemented individually, regardless of the water, moisture and liquid drainage.

The seal is achieved by the interaction of the seal on and with the dome-shaped elevation on its outer conical contour. This means that the respective plug contact partners are sealed within the connector housing and not the entire connector housing is sealed to the outside. In this way, the degree of protection to be achieved can be, for example, IPX7.

Functionally, the structural geometric design of the previously described dome-shaped elevation with a conical contour in connection with the outwardly sloping plug base of the connector plug with plug contact pins, pin contacts also ensures that during and after the plugging process of the plug connector with the plug connector mating connector, the plug contact pin, pin contact through the seal Stripped water, moisture, liquid transported away from the plug contact plug inner area is diverted away. The at least one drainage hole, introduced into the prismatic or cylindrical plug wall which is open in the axial direction and which extends radially from the plug base, is used to guide the water, moisture and liquid out of the plug contact plug interior.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the figures. Show:

1 shows the side view and the sectional front view of the connector,

Connector system with a connector plug and a connector mating connector;

2 shows the front view and the sectional side view of the connector plug;

3 shows the enlarged detail sectional side view of the connector plug. Figure 1 shows the left side view and right the sectional front view of the connector system, connector 1 with a connector plug 10 and a connector mating connector 20. The basic structure of this exemplary embodiment of the connector system, connector 1 is realized here by the central area with the contacting device and the outer Areas with a locking function, fixing means and threading aids. The middle area with the contacting unit, formed by the connector system, connector 1, has a connector plug 10 with at least one plug contact pin, pin contact 11, which are received and held in the center area of the connector housing in or by dome-shaped elevations with an outer conical contour 12.

The connector mating connector 20 of the connector system, connector 1 has at least one plug contact socket, plug contact bore 21, which is arranged corresponding to the at least one plug contact pin, pin contact 11 of the plug connector 10 that an electrically conductive, preferably detachable plug connection can be entered and established. A seal 22 is provided in front of the opening of the at least one plug-in contact socket, plug-in contact bore 21 in the assembly or plug-in direction of the plug-in connection partners 10, 20 to one another.

This seal 22, which is preferably molded on at the front and the input side of the plug contact socket, plug contact bore 21, functionally realizes the wiping off of moisture,

Water, liquid from the respective plug contact pin, pin contact 11 during the plugging process, assembly process and, when plugged in, radially seals the plug contact pairing consisting of plug contact socket, plug contact bore 21 and plug contact pin, pin contact 11.

Both the plug connector 10 and the plug connector mating connector 20 can optionally have housing seals 16, 23, which are arranged in the outer region of the respective housing and enable a seal to or against adjacent built-in components. The exemplary embodiment shown shows an example of a round cord seal with a round profile inserted into a groove. Figure 2 comprises the front view (left) and the sectional side view (right) of the connector plug 10 with at least one plug contact pin, pin contact 11, which are received and held in the central area of the connector housing in or by dome-shaped elevations with an outer conical contour 12 and include, are framed by a prismatic or cylindrical plug wall 13 which is open in the axial direction and which extends axially from the connector base 15 and has at least one preferably radial drainage hole 14 in the base area. The at least one bore, drainage bore 14 is provided on the prismatic or cylindrical plug wall 13, which is open in the axial direction, adjacent to the connector base 15, which slopes down from the center of the plug in at least one direction normal to the plugging direction, that the water, moisture, liquid from the Connector interior is led away.

FIG. 3 illustrates the enlarged detail sectional side view of the connector plug 10 with at least one plug contact pin, pin contact 11, which are received and held in the central area of the connector housing in or by dome-shaped elevations 12 with an outer conical contour 12 and are enclosed by an in Prismatic or cylindrical plug wall 13 which is open in the axial direction and which extends radially from the connector base 15 and has at least one preferably radial drainage hole 14 in the base area.

The connector base 15 is designed to be normal in at least one direction, that is to say sloping in the radial direction to the plug-in direction from the center of the plug. Corresponding to the inclined plane generated in this way, the dome-shaped elevations 12 in the center of the connector plug 10 are higher in this view than the adjoining, adjacent further dome-shaped elevations 12, ie the central dome-shaped elevations 12 protrude beyond the adjoining dome-shaped elevations 12. Reference number

1 connector system, connector

10 connector plugs

11 plug contact pin, pin contact

12 dome-shaped elevation, conical contour

13 Connector wall

14 hole, drain hole

15 connector base

16 Housing seal

20 connector mating connectors

21 plug contact socket, plug contact hole

22 seal

23 Housing seal

Claims

Expectations 1. Plug connector system, plug connector (1) for releasable contacting of electrical conductors for the realization of an electrically conductive connection, comprising a plug connector plug (10) with at least one plug contact pin, pin contact (11) and a plug connector mating plug (20) with at least one plug contact socket, plug contact bore (21 ), the connector plug (10) and connector mating connector (20) as well as the at least one plug contact pin, pin contact (11) and plug contact socket, plug contact bore (21) are corresponding to one another in such a way that they establish an electrically conductive connection by releasably plugging into one another, characterized in that the at least one plug contact pin, pin contact (11) in the connector plug (10) is received and held in a dome-shaped elevation (12) with an outer conical contour and the dome-shaped elevation (12) with an outer conical contour with at least one seal (22) of the connector counterpart The sealing of the at least one plug-in contact pin, pin contact (11) and the plug-in contact socket, plug-in contact bore (21) is realized in the plugged-in state. 2. Plug connector system, plug connector (1) for releasable contacting of electrical conductors for the realization of an electrically conductive connection according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal (22) seals the at least one plug contact pin, pin contact (11) and the plug contact socket, plug contact bore ( 21) realized in the plugged-in state in the radial direction in cooperation with a conical contour on the outside of the at least one dome-shaped elevation (12). 3. Connector system, connector (1) for releasable contacting of electrical conductors for the realization of an electrically conductive connection according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal (22) removes moisture, water, liquid from the respective plug-in contact pin, pin contact (11) during the plugging process, the assembly process of the connector system (1) is effected by plugging into one another. 4. Connector system, connector (1) for releasable contacting of electrical conductors for the realization of an electrically conductive connection according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal (22) is an injection-molded seal made of a plastic material on the connector mating connector (20). 5. Connector system, connector (1) for releasable contacting of electrical conductors for the implementation of an electrically conductive connection according to claim 1, characterized in that the connector plug (10) has a connector base (15) which extends radially to the plug-in direction of the connector system (1 ) extends sloping in at least one direction, so that water, moisture, liquid is led away from the connector interior. 6. Connector system, connector (1) for releasable contacting of electrical conductors for the realization of an electrically conductive connection according to claim 5, characterized in that with a plurality of dome-shaped elevations (12) the central dome-shaped elevations (12) the adjacent adjacent dome-shaped elevations (12 ) protrudes due to the sloping plane resulting from the sloping extension of the connector base (15). 7. Connector system, connector (1) for releasable contacting of electrical conductors for the realization of an electrically conductive connection according to claim 1, characterized in that the connector plug (10) extends axially through a plug wall (13) which extends from the connector base (15) , is added. 8. Connector system, connector (1) for releasable contacting of electrical conductors for the realization of an electrically conductive connection according to claim 7, characterized in that the plug wall (13) has a prismatic or cylindrical geometry that is open in the axial direction. 9. Connector system, connector (1) for releasable contacting of electrical conductors for the realization of an electrically conductive connection according to claim 7, characterized in that the plug wall (13) adjacent to the connector base (15) has at least one preferably radial bore, drainage bore (14) . 10. Connector system, connector (1) for releasable contacting of electrical conductors for the realization of an electrically conductive connection according to claim 9, characterized in that the at least one bore, drainage bore (14) is arranged at the end of the sloping extension of the connector base (15). 11 connector system, connector (1) for releasable contacting of electrical conductors for the implementation of an electrically conductive connection according to claim 1, characterized in that housing seals (16, 23) are provided for sealing against adjacent built-in components, so that a degree of protection at least IPX7 is achieved. 12. Connector system, connector (1) for releasable contacting of electrical conductors for the realization of an electrically conductive connection according to claim 11, characterized in that the housing seals (16, 23) are designed as round cord seals and are inserted into sealing grooves.