DE3843852C2 - Connectors - Google Patents

Description

The innovation concerns a connector with one for one push an insert part (for example insulating body) into Axial direction trained can housing. The generic The subject also includes an analog plug housing. Such connectors are in many areas of Technology in use, especially in electrical engineering and Electronics, and are also used in fluid connections, hydrau lik connections, pneumatic connections and the like puts. With such connectors, the insertion part with the actual connecting elements, for example electrical contact pins and / or electrical contact bushings, pre-assembled and then axially into the cans inserted housing. The slide-in module must then be used for final assembly Part of the can housing are attached, which is why Insert part is primarily glued in there. He is therefore no longer removable. Also known Connections by means of screws are complicated in assembly graceful and time consuming and, moreover, not always safe.

The document DE-OS 20 22 448 shows a connector with an internal latch between the housing and con clock carrier, which when inserting the contact carrier by the Elasticity of the contact carrier and / or the housing reached becomes and leads to an unsolvable locking.  

EP-A-0 163 473 describes an electrical connector a cylindrical housing and an insert. The housing has a shoulder on the inside that resembles a hoop of the insert bes serves as a stop. A ring with ge through column separated conical spring sections from beryllium copper, is in a recess of the Ge placed before the slot is inserted.

The ring is continuous and therefore not stretchable. When assembling the electrical connector, the on thrust inserted into the housing from the contact side the spring sections are compressed, until they are at the end of the way in the recess of the housing can grab. The ring is star during this insertion process exposed to elastic stresses, which is why relatively expensive but highly elastic material beryllium copper is used.

This ring is still large torsional loads sets, the design of the ring with the spring sections is complicated, which makes its production more expensive.

The object of the present innovation is an electrical So too verbes connectors of the type described sern that the connector and the ring simplified and there with cost-saving from a material with low elasticity requirements can be produced.  

According to the innovation, the assignment is therefore determined partly in relation to the box housing now by inside the Connector attached locking means. So it can't more happen that - as with the prior art mentioned - separate fasteners are introduced from the outside that can come loose or even get lost. According to the locking means proposed in the innovation can be varied Refinements are formed.

In addition, the arrangement of locking means in Interior of the can housing achieves that locking elements do not act on the can housing from the outside Influenced, for example a blow bean stress, corrosive influences or the like. Through the Innovation is therefore the safety of connectors considerably increased.

According to a particularly simple embodiment of the state of the Technology is at least one on the inner circumference of the can housing Arranged locking projection provided, the radially inward protrudes into the socket housing and verses with a sloping surface hen, which is in the direction of insertion of the insert in the Gradually reduce the free cross section of the can housing Lich reduced. Such a rest is preferably jump integrally formed with the can housing. When on push the insert part runs on the slope surface, which corresponds to the cross section of the insert according to the radial extent of the inclined surface is gert. For this purpose, the insert part is preferably made of one  proportionally, based on the can housing, give way and / or elastic material. The through the Deformation of the sloping surface of the locking projection Insert part when inserting in the axial direction is therefore only temporarily, and in the direction of insertion behind the locking projection this expands when inserted through the locking projection compressed material of the insert part again in radial Direction and thus ensures that the Insert part against the insertion direction safely avoided becomes. For this purpose, for example, the can housing can be made from one relatively hard plastic or metal and the insert part made of a relatively soft, elastic synthetic rubber be placed, such as under the name Neoprene is commercially available.

Of particular importance here is that these are fundamental the shape of the can housing or the insert no loading restrictions imposed. So the can housing in the cross cut practically any shape, such as the shape a circle, rectangle, triangle, oval or the like. The shape of the connector can therefore be optimal Way the respective purpose, in particular the type of parts to be adjusted.

While the embodiment described above esp is particularly suitable for those cases in which without ready provision of other means a relatively good seal be reached between the insert and the socket housing there are numerous applications in which the use  is similarly rigid in part as the can housing and can not be deformed or in particular releasably should be formed. Then another advantage is recommended stick embodiment of the innovation, in which a ring part is provided, which is partially in a first recess in the box housing and partially in a second recess in the Insert part sits. Such a ring part is advantageous ge from an at least slightly resilient material manufactures which for assembly either in the recess in Box housing or pushed into the recess in the insert and is held there. When inserting the insert in the can housing then snaps the ring part into the respective kor responding recess of the other part and prevents further axial Ver shift. Through further measures to be taken if necessary men can also be achieved with such a ring part that the axial locking can be released again. this will explained in more detail below.

A particularly simple design, which is a main part of the covers actually possible uses itself when the can housing is hollow cylindrical and the insert is partially cylindrical.

The first recess in the can housing is preferably An provided with corresponding surfaces of the Interact ring part and this in the axial direction of the Do set the singe housing.  

If the outer circumference of the ring part is smaller than the inside circumference of the first recess in the can housing, so can a rigid, radially inflexible insert into the can be inserted, because then when inserting the on the ring part in the free space of the first recess can escape in the socket housing. This is the ring part advantageously with one in the insertion direction of the insert partly provided rear sloping surface, which the Gradually free cross section of the ring part in the direction of insertion Lich reduced. When inserting the insert runs there forth this on the inclined surface and thus presses the ring partly radially outwards and into the first recess in the cans into the housing, creating the interior of the can housing so it is widely released that the insert part continues in axial direction can be inserted until the ring is back in the Recess in the insert part springs back and the insert part against the can. The pushing in will continue easier if the insert part at its front section in Direction of insertion an inclined surface tapering the insertion part che has. Then act when inserting the insert the inclined surface of the insert and the inclined surface of the Ring part together. For this purpose, the angle is preferably between the axial direction, i.e. the insertion direction, and the Sloping surface of the ring part larger than the angle between the Axial direction and the inclined surface of the insert.

The ring part is preferably radially through with one of these setting slot and by changing the slot width variable in diameter. This ver  Change in diameter is required to make the ring for example, can be pushed into the socket housing can. To insert the ring part in the recess of the do sengehäuses he is first compressed, into the can guided and then in the area of the radial inner groove in the The can wall is released again, the ring part opening widened again due to its inherent elasticity and in the groove initially lies loose. He can no longer get out of this way take out fall out. When inserting the insert like therefore the slot of the ring part increases (due to the Widening through the insert with a larger diameter), whereby it is achieved that the insert part so far in the Ring part can be inserted until the second recess of the insert part reaches the ring part. Then he snaps Ring part together again a little bit and is also in the two th recess of the insert part, whereby the axial Ver locking of the insert part against the socket housing is enough.

To the required expansion of the ring part in the first To be able to accomplish recess of the can housing - As mentioned above - the outer circumference of the ring part in Rest position less than the inner circumference of the first recess in the box housing. This leads to a proportionate loose fit of the ring part in the first recess of the do singe housing. To achieve a firmer seat here and at the same time still an expansion of the ring part in the Allow the first recess of the can housing is the Ring part on its outer circumference advantageously with at  least provided a spring part, which the ring part against the Resiliently supports the bottom of the recess of the can housing. At an expansion of the ring part therefore presses the spring share something together and thus enables the enlargement of the clear width of the ring part for inserting the insert part. Advantageously, several are on the outer circumference of the Ring parts distributed spring parts provided, preferably in equally spaced from each other. The ring part and the The spring part or the spring parts is or are preferably a executed in pieces. For this purpose, the spring part can be approximately oblique protruding spring rib protruding from the outer circumference of the ring part be educated.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the innovation it is envisaged that the ring part with a in the insertion direction device of the insert arranged at the front which is the free cross section of the ring part in one thrust direction gradually expanded that the insert part in its front section has a smaller diameter, than the inside diameter of the can housing, so that in Area of the front section an annular gap between insert part and box housing is formed, and that in one the direction of the front of the box housing open is a release that can be inserted into the annular gap tool on the inclined surface of the ring part to press and so the ring part out of the recess of the one to solve part of the sentence. This can be a simple Unlocking the insert against the socket housing be enough. In one embodiment of the connector,  in which the insert part is cylindrical and the can housing is hollow cylindrical, the resulting annular gap is therefore also hollow cylindrical, and the unlocking tool can simply be a piece of pipe that is adapted to the annular gap and whose wall thickness is preferably slightly less than that Width of the ring gap.

The innovation is shown below with the help of drawings ter exemplary embodiments explained in more detail, from which result in further advantages and features.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a partial view of a connector according to the innovation;

Figs. 2a and 2b in cross-section two embodiments of a ring portion for the connector shown in Figure 1. and

Fig. 3 shows a connector according to the prior art in longitudinal section.

Since the embodiment of the prior art shown in FIG. 3 has a special structure, it should first be discussed. Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section of a connector 70 with a substantially hollow cylindrical Do sengehäuse 74 , in which an insert part 72 (here an Iso lierkörper) is inserted in an insertion direction indicated by an arrow 84 .

The insert part is provided, for example, with an electrical contact plug 80 , which extends further through the insert part 72 and has a connecting lug 82 at the opposite end, to which a line can be fastened, for example by a screw connection, solder connection or the like.

In the interior of the can housing 74 , latching means are provided which, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, are designed as a latching nose 76 which runs around the inner circumference of the can housing 74 . The locking lug 76 has, in the insertion direction 84 of the insert part 72 on the input side, an inclined surface 78 , which gradually reduces the cross section of the socket housing 74 in a direction of insertion 84 and then ends at a surface springing back perpendicular to the inner wall of the socket housing 74 .

The can housing 74 is made of aluminum, while the insert part 72 made of rubber, on the other hand, is relatively soft and in particular elastic in the radial direction. When inserting the insert 72 into the socket housing 74 , the front end face of the insert 72 runs at a certain point on the inclined surface 78 . This results in a compression in the radial direction in the area of the insert 72 in question, which regresses with a further advance in the insertion direction 84 , since after passing the latching nose 76, the insert 72 expands again radially outward.

The insertion of the insert part 72 in the insertion direction 84 is continued until the insert part 72 abuts an unspecified ring flange at the end of the socket housing 74 and the insulating body 72 with a correspondingly shaped detent for the detent circumferential groove engages around the detent. In a backward movement (in the opposite direction of arrow 84 ), the insert 72 is prevented by the circumferential locking projection 76 . The elasticity of the insert part 72 , which leads to the fact that it fits snugly everywhere on the inner wall of the can housing 74 , ensures a relatively good seal and thus prevents foreign bodies between the inner surface of the can housing 74 and the outer surface of the insert part 72 can penetrate.

Since in the embodiment of the plug connector shown in Fig. 3, the locking by the cooperation of the locking projection 76 and the elasticity of the insert part 72 be accomplished, a solution to this locking is practically only possible by damaging the outer circumference of the insert part 72 . Such an embodiment is therefore recommended for those cases in which a particularly simple and therefore inexpensive structure is required and should be prevented that the insert and the can housing are detached from one another.

In contrast, in the embodiment of the innovation shown in Fig. 1, the possibility of a solution of the axial locking gelation of an insert part against a can housing is possible.

The connector 10 shown in Fig. 1 has an essentially hollow cylindrical socket housing 14 , in which an insert part 12 is arranged with a substantially cylindrical shape. The insert 12 is in the Dar position shown in FIG. 1 in its locked end position in the box 14th

The locking of the insert part 12 in the socket housing 14 is accomplished here by a first groove 16 in the socket housing 14 , a second groove 32 in the insert part 12 , and a locking device which engages partly in both grooves 16 , 32 , namely a ring part 24 . The ring part 24 has the shape of a circular ring interrupted by a gap (not shown) with the approximately double trapezoidal cross-section that can be seen in the sectional view in FIG. 1. The outer circumference of the ring part 24 is less than the inner circumference of the first recess 16 of the can housing 14 , which becomes clear in FIG. 1 on the basis of the distance between the bottom 18 of the recess 16 and the ring part 24 . The axial extent of the ring part 24 is slightly less than the distance between two stop surfaces 20 , 22 of the recess 16 , so that the ring part 24 is axially securely fixed in the recess 16 . The axial extent and the depth of the recess 32 of the insert part 12 is in each case less than the corresponding dimen- sions of the recess 16 of the can housing 14 . In particular, the depth of the recess 32 in the insert part 12 is less than the distance between the ring part 24 and the bottom 18 of the first recess 16 . Therefore, if the ring part is pressed so far (in Fig. 1 downwards), the diameter of the ring part 24 is expanded until the ring part 24 with its outer circumference touches the bottom 18 of the recess 16 in the can housing 14 , the ring part 24 no longer sits in the recess 32 of the insert part 12 , so that it is now unlocked.

The direction of insertion of the insert part 12 into the socket housing 14 is indicated by an arrow 44 in FIG. 1. At the front end of the insert part 12 , an electrical plug contact 40 is provided which continues through the insulating body 12 in an electrically conductive manner and opens at the opposite end into a connecting lug 42 to which an electrical line can be connected by a suitable type of fastening. The plug contact 40 is designed to engage in an electrical socket, not shown, of a corresponding counterpart of the connector 18 .

At its front end, the insert part is tapered by an inclined surface 34 . Furthermore, the front section of the insert part 12 to form an annular gap 46 in its front section of a smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the can housing 14 is rich in this loading. The resulting annular gap 46 between rule's insert 12 and socket housing 14 serves, as will be explained in more detail below, for the introduction of a removal tool. This interacts with an inclined surface 26 of the ring part 24 in the manner specified below.

Starting from a locking lug 30 , which brings about the locking of the ring part 24 in the recess 32 of the insert part 12 , a further inclined surface 28 is provided on the ring part 24 .

When inserting insert 12 into socket housing 14 in insertion direction 44 , insert 12 can first be freely pushed into socket housing 14 until the front edge of inclined surface 34 of insert 12 runs onto inclined surface 28 of ring part 24 . By the interaction of the two inclined surfaces 34 , 28 , the ring portion 24 is expanded and thus provides a larger clear width, so that the insert part 12 can be pushed forward in the direction of arrow 44 . As soon as the front edge of the groove 32 of the insert part reaches the locking lug 30 of the ring part 24 , the ring part 24 snaps back and presses into the recess 32 from the insert part. Another forward movement (in the direction of arrow 44 ) is prevented in that a stop surface 38 of the insert 12 comes to rest against a corresponding stop surface 36 of the can housing 14 . The insert part is now prevented from moving backwards (against the direction of arrow 44 ) by the wall of the groove 32 and the latching lug 30 of the ring part 24 resting against it.

A sealing of the insert part 12 with respect to the can housing 14 is done by an O-ring 50 seated in a groove 48 of the can housing 14 .

To unlock a fit to the shape of the annular gap 46 is unlocking tool, so in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 Darge a tubular unlocking tool, against the direction of arrow 44 inserted into the annular gap 46 . As soon as the unlocking tool (not shown) acts on the inclined surface 26 of the ring part 24 , the ring part 24 deflects outwards accordingly and thus increases its diameter, namely until the outer circumference of the ring part 24 comes to rest approximately on the bottom 18 of the recess 16 is coming. This leads to the fact that according to the Rastvor jump 30 of the ring member 24 slides out of the recess 32 of the insert part 12 and releases them. Then the insert part 12 can be pulled out against the insertion direction 44 from the housing housing 14 again. After removing the unlocking tool from the area 46 , the ring part 24 jumps back into its rest position and the entire device is ready for insertion of an insert part 12 (or another insert part) in the insertion direction 44 .

The ring part 24 shown in Fig. 1 is relatively simple. To form the free area between the ring's part 24 and the bottom 18 of the groove 16 , the ring part 24 sits radially displaceably in the groove 16 . This ring part is shown again in Fig. 2a.

If a more tight fit of the ring part in the groove 16 is achieved and the unlocking function is to be retained, an embodiment of a ring part shown in FIG. 2b is recommended. A there designated by the reference number 54 ring part is formed in its interior as well as the ring part 24 , as can be seen clearly from the opposite position of Fig. 2a, 2b. As 54, the ring part has a slanted surface 56 (corresponding to the inclined surface 26) for engagement by a release tool to a latching lug 60 (corresponding to the locking lug 30) and an inclined surface 58 (corresponding to the inclined surface 28) to cooperate with the inclined surface 34 of in FIG. 1 insert 12 shown .

In addition, the ring part 54 shown in Fig. 2b is provided with a resilient projection 62 which projects outward from the body of the ring part 54 . The resilient projection 62 is designed such that, in the rest position of the ring part 54, it contacts the bottom 18 of the recess 16 of the can housing 14 and thus lies centrally and securely in the groove. Is inserted by inserting the insert part 12 (inclined surface 34 ) of the ring part 54 in its diameter, so reduced the distance of the free end of the resilient before jump 62 to the body of the ring part 54th As a result of the springs supporting the ring part 54 by the resilient projection 62 , the ring part 54 is now also held in the radial position virtually without play in the groove 16 of the can housing 14 .

The ring part 54 can be made of plastic or metal, the resilient radial projection preferably being made in one piece with the other parts.

Claims (13)

1. Plug connector with a socket housing designed for inserting an insert in the axial direction, in which an annular part is located between the outer periphery of the insert part ( 12 ) and the inner periphery of the socket housing ( 14 ) for locking the insert part ( 12 ) relative to the socket housing ( 14 ) ( 24 , 54 ) is provided, which is partially seated in a first recess ( 16 ) in the socket housing ( 14 ), characterized in that the ring part is partially seated in a second recess ( 32 ) in the insert part ( 12 ) and has an expandable diameter. 2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the socket housing ( 14 , 74 ) is hollow cylindrical and the insert part ( 12 , 72 ) is cylindrical. 3. Connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first recess ( 16 ) in the socket housing ( 14 ) is provided with stop faces ( 20 , 22 ) which fix the ring part ( 24 , 54 ) in the axial direction of the socket housing ( 14 ) lay. 4. Connector according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the ring part ( 24 , 54 ) has a wall ( 30 ) which forms a stop with the wall of the second recess ( 32 ). 5. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outer circumference of the ring part ( 24 , 54 ) is smaller than the inner circumference of the first recess ( 16 ) in the housing ( 14 ). 6. Connector according to claim 5, characterized in that the ring part ( 24 , 54 ) with a in the insertion direction ( 44 ) of the insert part ( 12 ) arranged at the rear inclined surface ( 28 , 58 ) is provided, which the free cross section of the ring part in Insertion direction gradually reduced. 7. Connector according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the insert part ( 12 ) has at its front portion in the insertion direction the insertion part ( 12 ) tapered inclined surface ( 34 ). 8. Connector according to claim 7, characterized in that the angle between the axial direction and the inclined surface ( 28 , 58 ) of the ring part ( 24 , 54 ) is greater than the angle between the axial direction and the inclined surface ( 34 ) of the insert part ( 12 ) . 9. Connector according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the ring part ( 24 , 54 ) is provided with an inclined surface ( 26 , 56 ) arranged at the front in the insertion direction ( 44 ) of the insert part, the free cross section of which gradually increases in a direction of insertion , and through an annular gap ( 46 ) between the insert part ( 12 ) and Dosenge housing with an unlocking tool who can. 10. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the ring part ( 24 , 54 ) has a radially enforcing zenden slot. 11. Connector according to claim 10, characterized in that the ring part ( 54 ) is provided on its outer circumference with at least one spring part ( 62 ) which the ring part ( 54 ) against the bottom ( 18 ) of the recess ( 16 ) of the socket housing ( 14 ) resiliently supported. 12. Connector according to claim 11, marked by a multitude over the circumference of the ring part at a distance spring parts distributed to each other. 13. Connector according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the ring part ( 54 ) and the spring part ( 62 ) (the Fe derteile) is made in one piece (are).