DE102021120916A1 - Electrical connector structure and electrical connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses an electrical connector structure and an electrical connector assembly. Here, the electrical connector structure includes a terminal housing, a cable clamp, an operating part, and a plug pin, wherein the plug pin and the cable clamp are provided in the same number and are conductively connected to one another in a uniquely associated manner. The cable clamp can be switched between a release state and a clamped state and, in the clamped state, acts on a cable to be connected in such a way that it is fastened to the connection housing. The actuator has an actuator structure exposed on the terminal housing and is pivotable relative to the terminal housing between a first position and a second position, wherein the cable clamp is in the release state when the actuator is in the first position and in the unlocked state when the actuator is in the second position clamped state. In the present invention, the cable clamp can be switched between the release state and the clamping state by manually applying a force to the exposed operation structure of the operation part, and quick connection can be made by inserting an end of a cable into the cable clamp in the release state to then switch the cable clamp to the clamping state. This process requires no tools, is quick to perform and ensures easy maintenance.

Description

field of invention

The present invention relates to the field of electrical connectors, and more particularly to an electrical connector structure and an electrical connector assembly.

Technical background

For quick connection or disconnection of multiple power cables and/or signal cables, electrical connectors are typically used, which are preconnected to the cables and then, when connection is desired, merely need to be inserted into one another or into other pluggable units in order to easily Way to enable a fast, correct connection of all cables. The existing electrical connectors require a tool to create an electrical connection between the cables to be connected and the conductive pins, which can only be implemented with great effort and low efficiency. In addition, almost no device maintenance is possible if no tools are available in emergencies. For example, the patent shows CN212968301U an electrical quick connector where, for a quick connection, it is necessary to insert a screwdriver inside the base to move the cable clamp. While such a method of connection proves to be simpler than traditional screw attachment, it still cannot complete a connection job in the absence of a screwdriver.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector structure and an electrical connector assembly which can perform a tool-less connection work.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by an electrical connector structure comprising a terminal housing, a cable clamp, an operating part and a plug pin, wherein the plug pin and the cable clamp are provided in the same number and are conductively connected to one another in a uniquely associated manner.

The cable clamp can be switched between a release state and a clamped state and, in the clamped state, acts on a cable to be connected in such a way that it is fastened to the connection housing.

The actuator has an actuator structure exposed on the terminal housing and is pivotable relative to the terminal housing between a first position and a second position, wherein the cable clamp is in the release state when the actuator is in the first position and in the clamped state when the actuator is in the second position located.

It is further provided that the cable clamp is an annular, closed element made from a spring sheet metal by bending, which spring sheet metal is provided with a connection hole at one end and is designed as an engagement end at the other end, the engagement end engaging in the connection hole and can shift within the connection hole.

It is further provided that the actuating part has a profiled surface and a handle section.

When pivoting the actuating part relative to the connection housing, different points of the profiled surface act on the cable clamp, so that the distance between the point via which the profiled surface acts on the cable clamp and the center of rotation of the actuating part can change.

It is further provided that an engagement groove is formed on the connection housing, in which the handle section can engage, depressions being formed on two sides of the handle section and projections formed on two groove walls of the engagement groove, the projections fitting into the depressions when the actuating part is in the second position intervention.

It is further provided that the electrical connector structure also comprises a jumper which can be removed from or attached to the connection housing and comprises a plurality of jumper pins which are conductively connected to one another, each of the jumper pins being conductively connected to one of the plug-in pins when the jumper is fitted to the connection housing. It is further provided that each of the cable clamps is connected to the associated plug-in pin via a pin holder, with a recess being formed on the pin holder, into which one end of the jumper pin can engage.

It is further provided that a first retention point is provided on both sides of the opening of the recess and a second retention point is provided on both sides of the head of the jumper pin, with the second retention points being engaged when the end of the Jumper pins are closer to the bottom of the recess than the first retention points.

It is further provided that probe holes leading to the individual cable clamps are formed in the connection housing.

It is further provided that the connection housing comprises a base and a cover, which are fixed to one another via a latching structure, the latching structure comprising a shoulder arranged on the base and a latching notch arranged on the cover, after a latching connection has been established between the base and the the shoulder is in the notch.

According to the invention, the object is further achieved by an electrical connector assembly which comprises two electrical connector structures as described above, one of which comprises plug-like plug-in pins as plug-in pins, while the other electrical connector structure comprises socket-like plug-in pins, the two electrical connector structures being able to be plugged into one another in such a way that the plug-type plug-in pins of one electrical connector structure and the socket-type plug-in pins of the other electrical connector structure are connected to one another in a uniquely assigned manner. Advantageous Effects: In the electrical connector structure and the electrical connector assembly according to the present invention, the cable clamp can be switched between the release state and the clamping state by manually applying a force to the exposed operating structure of the operating part, and quick connection can be made by turning on in the released state End of a cable is inserted into the cable clamp to then switch the cable clamp to the clamped state. This process requires no tools, is quick to perform and ensures easy maintenance.

character list

• 1 eine Ansicht einer elektrischen Verbinderstruktur von außen;
• 2 eine erste Schnittansicht der elektrischen Verbinderstruktur;
• 3 eine strukturelle Darstellung eines Betätigungsteils;
• 4 eine strukturelle Darstellung eines ersten Zustands von Kabelklemme und Betätigungsteil;
• 5 eine strukturelle Darstellung eines zweiten Zustands von Kabelklemme und Betätigungsteil;
• 6 eine strukturelle Darstellung eines dritten Zustands von Kabelklemme und Betätigungsteil;
• 7 eine strukturelle Herausvergrößerung einer Verrastungsstruktur;
• 8 den Zustand eines Vorsprungs und einer Einsenkung bei in einer Eingriffsnut befindlichem Griffabschnitt;
• 9 eine strukturelle Darstellung eines Jumpers eines ersten Typs;
• 10 eine Ansicht der elektrischen Verbinderstruktur mit einem daran angebrachten Jumper des ersten Typs von außen;
• 11 eine strukturelle Darstellung eines Jumpers eines zweiten Typs;
• 12 eine strukturelle Darstellung von Kabelklemme, Pinhalter und Steckpin in zusammengesetztem Zustand;
• 13 den Zustand nach dem Eingreifen eines Endes eines Jumperpins in eine Ausnehmung;
• 14 eine zweite Schnittansicht der elektrischen Verbinderstruktur und
• 15 eine strukturelle Darstellung einer elektrischen Verbinderbaugruppe.

Show it

• 1 Fig. 12 is an outside view of an electrical connector structure;
• 2 a first sectional view of the electrical connector structure;
• 3 a structural representation of an operating part;
• 4 a structural representation of a first state of cable clamp and actuator;
• 5 a structural representation of a second state of cable clamp and actuator;
• 6 a structural representation of a third state of cable clamp and operating part;
• 7 a structural enlargement of a latching structure;
• 8th the state of a projection and a depression with the handle portion located in an engagement groove;
• 9 a structural representation of a jumper of a first type;
• 10 Figure 12 is an outside view of the electrical connector structure with a first type jumper attached;
• 11 a structural representation of a jumper of a second type;
• 12 a structural representation of the cable clamp, pin holder and plug-in pin in the assembled state;
• 13 the state after an end of a jumper pin is engaged in a recess;
• 14 a second sectional view of the electrical connector structure and
• 15 Figure 12 shows a structural representation of an electrical connector assembly.

Concrete embodiments

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

The present invention provides an electrical connector structure which, as in 1 and 2 recognizable, a connection housing 1, a cable clamp 2, an actuating part 3 and a plug-in pin 4, wherein the plug-in pin 4 and the cable clamp 2 are provided in the same number and are conductively connected to each other in a uniquely assigned manner.

The cable clamp 2 can be switched between a release state and a clamped state and, in the clamped state, acts on a cable to be connected in such a way that it is fastened to the connection housing 1 . The operating part 3 has an operating structure exposed on the terminal housing 1 and can move between a first position and a second position with respect to the terminal housing 1, with the cable clamp 2 being in the release state when the operating part is in the first position (cf. 2 ) and with the actuating part in the second position in the clamped state (cf. 1 ) is located.

How out 3 results, the actuating part 3 is opposite the connection housing 1 pivotally mounted and has a profiled surface 31, a handle portion 32 and a pivot pin 34, wherein the actuating part 3 is connected via the pivot pin 34 to the connection housing 1 in an articulated manner for pivotal mounting. The handle portion 32 is the exposed actuation structure mentioned above. When the actuating part 3 pivots relative to the connection housing 1, different points of the profiled surface 31 act on the cable clamp 2, so that the distance between the point via which the profiled surface acts on the cable clamp 2 and the center of rotation of the actuating part 3 changes can. The actuating part 3 thus has a compressive effect on the cable clamp 2 when pivoting via the profiled surface 31 , which causes the cable clamp 2 to be deformed. In the present exemplary embodiment, the profiled surface 31 is designed as a continuous profiled cam surface. The cable clamp 2 is a closed ring-shaped element made from a spring steel sheet by bending. The spring plate is provided with a connection hole 21 at one end and formed as an engagement end 22 at the other end, the engagement end 22 engaging in the connection hole 21 and being able to slide within the connection hole 21 . In the present embodiment, the cable clamp 2 is in accordance with its clamping state 4 little or not at all mechanically stressed by other components, i.e. slightly stressed by other components (e.g. the connection housing 1 and the actuating part 3), the engagement end 22 being arranged at a first end of the connection hole 21 and the cable clamp 2 using its own spring force the to be connected cable pinched. at im in 5 However, when the cable clamp 2 is in the released state shown, it is heavily stressed by the actuating part 3 and is thus severely deformed, so that the engagement end 22 leaves the first end of the connection hole 21, as a result of which a gap is created between the engagement end 22 and the first end, into which the user enters Uses the end of the cable to be connected, in order to then pivot the actuating part 3 into the second position and thus complete the connection work. In 6 the state with a completely connected cable can be found. Since the actuating part 3 can be actuated without tools, a high level of operating comfort can be expected.

Preferably, the connector housing 1 and the handle portion 32 can be fixed to each other via a latching structure to hold the operating part 3 in the second position. When the operating part 3 is in the first position, it is held in the first position by an opposing compressive force of the cable clamp 2 . The latching structure is in 7 shown in more detail. The connector housing 1 has an engaging groove 14 in which the handle portion 32 can engage. The above-mentioned latching structure includes depressions 33 formed on two sides of the grip portion 32 and projections 15 formed on two side walls of the engaging groove 14. After the grip portion 32 is inserted into the engaging groove 14 by the user, the projections 15 enter the depressions 33 to to prevent reverse rotation of the handle section 32 (see 8th ). The projections 15 and the depressions 33 only separate from one another when a high counterforce acts on the handle section 32 .

The plug-in pin 4 is used to connect to a further electrical connector in order to establish a conductive connection between the cables connected to the two electrical connectors. The plug-in pin 4 can be configured both as a plug-type plug-in pin in the form of a solid cylinder and as a socket-type plug-in pin in the form of a hollow cylinder. According to the invention, one of two electrical connectors to be connected to one another has plug-like plug-in pins and the other electrical connector has socket-like plug-in pins, so that when the two electrical connectors are plugged into one another, the plug-like plug-in pins can be inserted unequivocally into the socket-like plug-in pins in order to establish a conductive connection.

Typically, multiple cables must be attached to an electrical connector in order to be able to make multiple conductive power connections and/or signal connections. So are in the in 1 The electrical connectors shown include six quick connect structures as described above forming a 2×3 rectangular array. In practical use, such an electrical connector may have multiple cable terminals 2 connected to the same power source or signal. In this case, if these cable clamps 2 were each connected to the same power source or signal by a cable, it would result in a complicated circuit, wasted cable, and low working efficiency. In order to solve this problem, the electrical connector structure further comprises a jumper 5 which can be detached from or attached to the connection housing 1 as required and comprises a plurality of jumper pins 51 which are conductively connected to one another. When the jumper 5 is attached to the connection housing 1, each of the jumper pins 51 is conductively connected to one of the plug-in pins 4, so that all cable terminals 2 connected to the jumper pins 51 of the same jumper 5 are conductively connected to one another, with one being connected to one of these cable terminals 2 standing cable can be conductively connected to all these cable clamps 2. Here the jumper 5 is designed in two forms. In 9 there is a transverse jumper which can conductively connect two cable clamps 2 arranged next to one another in the transverse direction and whose mounted state on the connection housing 1 in 10 is shown. Out of 11 shows a longitudinal jumper with which a conductive connection can be established between three cable clamps 2 arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction and its mounted state on the connection housing 1 in 1 is shown. Each of the cable clamps 2 is preferably connected to the associated plug-in pin 4 via a pin holder 6 . The pin holder 6 is designed overall as an upwardly open profile, in particular V-shaped or U-shaped, preferably as a component formed from a single piece of sheet metal, and forms a connection end 62 on one of its sides, which fits into the connection hole 21 of the cable clamp 2 engages, wherein the end of the cable is pressed by an elastic restoring force of the cable clamp 2 to the terminal end 62 to be conductively connected thereto. A recess 61 is formed on an opposite side of the pin holder 6, into which one end of the jumper pin 51 can engage, cf 12 . In order to be able to hold the jumper pin 51 in the recess 61 , a first retaining point 63 is provided on both sides of the opening of the recess 61 and a second retaining point 52 is provided on both sides of the head of the jumper pin 51 . How out 13 can be removed, the second retaining points 52 are closer to the bottom of the recess 61 than the first retaining points 63 when the end of the jumper pin 51 engages in the recess 61, so that the first retaining points 63 can be used to prevent the end of the jumper pin 51 from escaping from the Recess 61 can be pulled out, thereby avoiding unwanted detachment of the jumper 5. The end of the jumper pin 51 can leave the recess 61 only when a high pull-out force acts on the jumper 5 . This implementation of the pin holder is compact, since the end of the cable to be connected can be pressed against the connection end 62 between the sides of the pin holder by the elastic restoring force of the cable clamp 29 . This can be advantageous for a compact implementation of the electrical connector structure.

The cable clamp 2 is preferably made of a metallic material and itself has electrical conductivity. Probe holes 13 leading to the individual cable clamps 2 are formed in the connection housing 1, so that after the connection process, when it is to be determined whether the individual cables are conductively connected to the cable clamps 2, the user can insert one end of a probe into a respective probe hole 13 can start until the end of the probe comes into contact with the associated cable clamp 2 (cf. 2 ) to then check the device connected to the probe to see if the connection is successful.

In addition, the connection housing 1 includes a base 11 and a cover 12, which are fixed to one another via a latching structure. The probe holes 13 described above are located in the cover 12, in which there are also cable entry holes 16, into which one end of a cable can enter, and pin holes 17 for passing through a jumper pin 51 in each case. Out of 14 It can be seen that the above-mentioned locking structure comprises in particular a shoulder 111 arranged on the base 11 and a locking notch 121 arranged on the cover 12, with the shoulder 111 being located in the locking notch 121 after a locking connection has been established between the base 11 and the cover 12 , so that the base 11 and the lid 12 cannot separate from each other.

Furthermore, the present invention provides an electrical connector assembly which, as shown in 15 shown, comprises two electrical connector structures as described above, which are constructed identically or are composed of the same components. However, in order to enable the two electrical connector structures to be used in combination with each other, some components of the two electrical connector structures differ from each other in structure. This consists primarily in the fact that one of the two electrical connector structures has plug-like plug pins as plug pins 4 and the other electrical connector structure has socket-like plug pins.

In addition, the two terminal housings 1 of the two electrical connector structures are partially constructed differently from one another, in that one of the two terminal housings 1 comprises a plug-like base 11-1 as the base 11 and the other terminal housing comprises a socket-like base 11-2, with the plug-like base 11- 1 a plug-in bulge 11-10 and on the socket-like base 11-2 a plug-in bulge 11-20 is provided. The two electrical connector structures can be plugged into one another in such a way that the plug-like plug pins 41 of one electrical connector structure and the socket-like plug pins 42 of the other electrical connector structure are connected to one another in a uniquely assigned manner and at the same time the plug-in bulge 11-10 engages in the plug-in indentation 11-20.

In the electrical connector structure and the electrical connector assembly according to FIG According to the present invention, the cable clamp can be switched between the release state and the clamped state by manually applying a force to the exposed operation structure of the operation part, and quick connection can be made by inserting an end of a cable into the cable clamp in the release state, and then locking the cable clamp to switch to the clamped state. This process requires no tools, is quick to perform and ensures easy maintenance.

Reference List

1

junction box

11

Base

111

shoulder

12

lid

121

notch

13

probe hole

14

engagement groove

15

head Start

16

cable entry hole

17

pin hole

2

cable clamp

21

port hole

22

intervention end

3

operating part

31

Profiled surface

32

handle section

33

depression

34

pivot pin

4

pin

5

jumper

51

jumper pin

52

Second retention point

6

pin holder

61

recess

62

connection end

63

First holding point

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• CN 212968301 U [0002]

Claims (11)

Electrical connector structure, characterized by comprising a terminal housing (1), a cable clamp (2), an operating part (3) and a plug pin (4), the plug pin (4) and the cable clamp (2) being provided in the same number are assigned and are conductively connected to each other in a one-to-one manner; wherein the cable clamp (2) can be switched between a release state and a clamped state and in the clamped state acts on a cable to be connected in such a way that it is fixed to the connection housing (1); wherein the operating part (3) has an operating structure exposed on the connection housing (1) and can pivot relative to the connection housing (1) between a first position and a second position, the cable clamp (2) being in the first position in the operating part the release condition and in the clamped condition with the actuator in the second position. Electrical connector structure claim 1 , characterized in that the cable clamp (2) is an annular closed element made from a spring sheet metal by bending, which spring sheet metal is provided with a connection hole (21) at one end and is designed as an engagement end (22) at the other end , wherein the engagement end (22) engages in the connection hole (21) and can slide within the connection hole (21). Electrical connector structure claim 2 , characterized in that the actuating part (3) has a profiled surface (31) and a grip section (32), wherein when pivoting the actuating part (3) relative to the connection housing (1) different points of the profiled surface (31) on the cable clamp ( 2) so that the distance between the point through which the profiled surface acts on the cable clamp (2) and the center of rotation of the operating part (3) can change. Electrical connector structure claim 3 , characterized in that an engagement groove (14) is formed on the connection housing (1), in which the handle section (32) can engage, depressions (33) being formed on two sides of the handle section (32) and two groove walls of the engagement groove (14 ) Projections (15) are formed, the projections (15) engaging in the indentations (33) when the actuating part (3) is in the second position. Electrical connector structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a jumper (5) which is detachable from or attachable to the connection housing (1) and comprises a plurality of jumper pins (51) which are conductively connected to one another, wherein at the connection housing ( 1) attached jumper (5), each of the jumper pins (51) is conductively connected to one of the plug-in pins (4). Electrical connector structure claim 5 , characterized in that each of the cable clamps (2) is connected to the associated plug-in pin (4) via a pin holder (6), a recess (61) being formed on the pin holder (6), into which one end of the jumper pin (51 ) can intervene. Electrical connector structure claim 6 , wherein the pin holder (6) is designed overall as an upwardly open profile, in particular V-shaped or U-shaped, preferably as a component formed from a single sheet metal, and on one of its sides a connection end (62) and on an opposite side forms the recess (61), the end of the cable to be connected being able to be pressed against the connection end (62) between the sides of the pin holder by an elastic restoring force of the cable clamp (29). Electrical connector structure claim 7 , characterized in that a first retaining point (63) is provided on both sides of the opening of the recess (61) and a second retaining point (52) is provided on both sides of the head of the jumper pin (51), the second retaining points (52) are closer to the bottom of the recess (61) than the first retaining points (63) when the end of the jumper pin (51) engages in the recess (61). Electrical connector structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that probe holes (13) leading to the individual cable terminals (2) are formed in the connection housing (1). Electrical connector structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection housing (1) comprises a base (11) and a cover (12) which are fixed to one another via a latching structure, the latching structure having a shoulder arranged on the base (11). (111) and a locking notch (121) arranged on the cover (12), the shoulder (111) being located in the locking notch (121) after a locking connection has been established between the base (11) and the cover (12). An electrical connector assembly characterized in that it includes two electrical connector structures according to any one of Claims 1 - 10 of which one comprises plug-like plug pins as plug pins (4), while the other electrical connector structure comprises socket-like plug pins, wherein the two electrical connector structures can be plugged into one another in such a way that the plug-like plug pins of one electrical connector structure and the socket-like plug pins of the other electrical connector structure be uniquely associated with each other.

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