EP0710405B1 - Electrical connector, especially for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electrical connection in the preamble of claim 1 specified type. In particular in motor vehicles cable sets are used, their plug-in parts and socket parts several times have adjacent contact pins or contact sleeves.

In the known connection of this type (see EP-A-0 330 436) the longitudinal guide elements existed between the end plate and the housing protruding from the end plate Guide pins that are slidable in the axial guide chambers of the housing were. These guide chambers were created by an increase in the housing, above each tubular duct, for plug-in installation served a contact sleeve. This resulted in a relative high height of the plug-in part. The resilient tongue was inside the case molded on the inner surface of the tubular channel and allowed none optical control of whether a correct plug-in installation of the Contact sleeve is present. There could be problems with the assembly of the Components result. The assembly of these components of the known Plug-in part was cumbersome and especially not for automation suitable.

The invention has for its object a reliable electrical Develop connection of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1, whose components can be easily assembled and automation of the process are accessible. This is according to the invention by the measures listed in the characterizing part of claim 1 achieved, which have the following special meaning.

Special longitudinal guide elements between the end plate and the housing are avoided because the outer contour of the housing itself already has the guiding effects when moving the cap longitudinally. The assembly the cap with the housing is without tedious alignment of individual Longitudinal guide elements, easy to carry out, the cap only needs like a lid to be put over the case. That allows you automatic assembly. The attached cap also ensures for a casing of the housing and provides additional protection. This cover of the housing by the cap allows the resilient Tongue particularly easy to manufacture, namely through wall parts of the tube wall of the housing itself. The tongue is therefore clearly visible from the outside Housing, which also applies in the extended position of the cap. So you can When inserting the contact sleeve, visually track whether the spring, is swung out beyond the outer contour of the housing before finally, in the defined mounting position of the contact sleeve in the housing, the spring again in alignment with the adjacent areas of the housing tube wall is coming. An incorrect or incomplete plug-in assembly the contact sleeve is missing or inadequate pivoting movement recognizable by the spring. This can be done reliably by optical scanning means be recognized. Automating the assembly is easy too realize. After this check the cap can be put into the final one Move the insertion position on the housing, where it covers the tongue and therefore prevents the tongue from springing out unintentionally. In this cover position the cap locks in the correct mounting position contact sleeve inserted in the housing; thus serves as a locking means for the assembled contact sleeve. By the final electrical control If the plug-in part is successful, it is the perfect assembly position all components guaranteed. Incorrect results are excluded.

Fig. 1

in starker Vergrößerung und im Längsschnitt den Steckteil der erfindungsgemäßen Verbindung zu Beginn der Montage einer Kontakthülse, wobei die Schnittführung I-I in Fig. 5 verdeutlicht ist,

Fig. 2

in einer der Fig. 1 entsprechenden Darstellung eine spätere Phase der Kontakthülsen-Montage,

Fig. 3

in einer der Fig. 1 entsprechenden Darstellung die endgültige, ordnungsgemäße Montagelage der Kontakthülse im vormontierten Steckteil,

Fig. 4

in der linken Bildhälfte, nach der sich im Anschluß an die Fig. 3 ergebenden letzten Phase des Zusammenbaus, den fertigen Stecker, und, in der rechten Bildhälfte, den entsprechenden Längsschnitt durch den zugehörigen Buchsenteil der erfindungsgemäßen Verbindung,

Fig. 5

im Halbschnitt einen ersten und zweiten Bestandteil des erfindungsgemäßen Steckteils, nämlich ein Gehäuse mit einer Ringdichtung,

Fig. 6

ein Bruchstück des Gehäuses von Fig. 5, auf welchem ein weiterer Bestandteil des Steckteils, nämlich eine Kappe aufgesteckt worden ist,

Fig. 7

eine Stirnansicht auf den kompletten erfindungsgemäßen Steckteil und

Fig. 8

in einem der Fig. 4 entsprechenden Längsschnitt die miteinander gekuppelten Buchsen- und Steckteile nach der Erfindung, wenn vorausgehend eine ordnungsgemäße optische Kontrolle in der Bauphase von Fig. 2 nicht vollzogen wurde und die Kontakthülse falsch, nämlich in einer Wendelage, im Steckteil eingebaut worden ist, was aber jetzt noch durch eine elektrische Endkontrolle anhand der stromleitenden Bestandteile feststellbar ist.

Further measures and advantages of the invention result from the subclaims, the following description and the drawings. In the drawings, the invention is shown in one embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1

in large enlargement and in longitudinal section the plug-in part of the connection according to the invention at the beginning of the assembly of a contact sleeve, the cut II being illustrated in FIG. 5,

Fig. 2

in a representation corresponding to FIG. 1, a later phase of the contact sleeve assembly,

Fig. 3

1 corresponding representation of the final, correct assembly position of the contact sleeve in the preassembled plug part,

Fig. 4

in the left half of the picture, after the final phase of the assembly that follows in connection with FIG. 3, the finished plug, and, in the right half of the picture, the corresponding longitudinal section through the associated socket part of the connection according to the invention,

Fig. 5

in half section a first and second component of the plug-in part according to the invention, namely a housing with an annular seal,

Fig. 6

5, on which a further component of the plug-in part, namely a cap, has been put on,

Fig. 7

a front view of the complete plug part according to the invention and

Fig. 8

in a longitudinal section corresponding to FIG. 4, the mutually coupled socket and plug-in parts according to the invention, if a proper visual check was not carried out beforehand in the construction phase of FIG. 2 and the contact sleeve was installed incorrectly, namely in a turning position, in the plug-in part , but what can now be determined by an electrical final inspection based on the current-carrying components.

The electrical connection according to the invention is as best 4 can be seen from a plug-in part 10 and a socket part 40, which can be coupled together in use. In extended 4 shows the decoupling position of these parts 10, 40, while the clutch position is illustrated by dash-dotted lines. The plug-in part 10 has a front section 11, which in the coupling case in a Recording 41 engages, which is complementary to the insertion profile of this section 11 is. The socket part 40 has a contact pin 42 in the receptacle 41, to which, in the plug-in part 10, a contact sleeve 12 is assigned. The plug-in part 10 and the socket part 40 can be any number of adjacent contact sleeves 12 or contact pins 42, which will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 5, however it is sufficient, based on FIGS. 1 to 4, to install only one such contact sleeve 12 to describe. This would be the smallest theoretically possible Correspond to the construction type of such a plug-in part with only one contact sleeve. It is understood that the invention on plug-in parts with any Number of contact sleeves is directed, which are then designed complementarily Socket parts 40 assigned with a corresponding number of contact pins 41 are.

Apart from the number of contact sleeves 12, there is the invention Plug-in part 10 from a unit with four components, namely the already mentioned contact sleeve 12, also a housing 20, an annular seal 35 seated thereon and an end cap 30. These components are locked in the one shown in FIG. 4 End position mutually, which is to be explained in more detail.

The contact sleeve 12 is formed as a stamped and bent product from sheet metal and comprises as can be seen from Fig. 1, except for its significant, sleeve-shaped Contact section 13 a connection section 14 for an electrical Conductor 15. The contact section 13 has an inclination to the longitudinal direction extending shoulder 16, which to be described in more detail Locking the contact sleeve 12 in the housing 20 is used. Also owns the contact section 13 a projecting beyond the outline of the sleeve Flag 17th

1 and 5, the housing 20 consists of at least one, but preferably a plurality of tubular channels 21, each one have stepped bore and for an axial insertion of the associated contact sleeve 12 serve in the direction of arrow 22 of FIG. 1. The expanded area of channel 21 has a circular profile and the narrowed one outer area rectangular profile. Every channel is surrounded by walls that can be interrelated in some areas. This is how one comes about Pipe shape, which is mainly in the narrowed bore area, according to Fig. 5, can singularly. Therefore, the channel 21 is hereinafter referred to as "pipe" become. A lower tube wall 23 can be seen in FIG. 5 is provided in its end region with longitudinal gaps 24 between which then, namely from the tube wall 23 itself, one also evident from FIG. 1 Tongue 25 arises. On the side of the tongue facing the inside of the pipe 25 there is a rising ramp, which is preferably in an undercut Level 27 ends. The opposite upper tube wall 28 of the tube 21 has a longitudinal slot 29 which is on its front end of the tube 21 facing side is closed, so a closed 5, has slot end 19.

The housing 20 is also stepped on the outside, of which to highlight a housing shoulder 18 provided in the middle housing zone which is a stop surface for one end of the already mentioned Ring seal 50 forms. The ring seal 50 is made of elastomeric material with circumferential radial ribs on its outside and spanned a discernible from FIG. 5, stepped relative to the tube 21, rotating Housing zone 38. To secure the ring seal 50 on the housing 20, as can be seen from Fig. 4, an end flange 35 of the already mentioned Cap 30. The cap 30 has other essential functions to.

1, 6 and 7, the cap 30 is profiled in a U-shape and has a substantially flat, plate-shaped apex wall 31 with at least one through hole 32. Each of these through holes 32 is assigned to a tube 21 of the housing 20 and serves in Coupling case, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4 or FIG. 8, for entry the socket-side contact pin 42 into the interior of the housing. The cap 30 has a all-round side wall here, but because of its different Training and function of individual wall parts in the drawings is designated by three reference numerals 33 to 33 ". A cap interior is created 34, which of the outer contour 44 from the front portion of the housing 20 is adjusted. This housing outer contour 44 also serves as a longitudinal guide element for the cap 50 to define this between two To transfer axial positions 30, 30 ', one of which 30 in 1 to 3 and 6 and the other 30 'shown in Figs. 4 and 8 are. The cap 30 is on the outer contour 44 of the housing 20 in the sense of the double arrows 39 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 are guided so as to be longitudinally displaceable. These two axial positions 30, 30 'are expediently through Secured rest positions, which are advantageously designed in the following manner.

The tube wall that acts as a lateral boundary of the housing, to which according to section line I-I of Fig. 5, the parallel cut for Fig. 1, has a longitudinal section 45, the end 46 of the tube 21 out, is limited by an end web 47. As from Fig. 1 and 6, the associated side wall part 33 " the cap 30 on its inner surface axially offset locking projections 36, 37, which in one axial position 30 of the cap the end web 47 of the housing between them. The locking projections 36, 37 are provided with suitable overrun profiles. In this position 30 is the cap at a distance from the ring seal 50, which is why this position hereinafter referred to as "extended position 30". In the other Axial position 30 ', however, as shown in FIG. 4, holds the cap, as already was described, with its end flange 34, the ring seal 50 in the pressing position on the housing shoulder 18, which is why this position 30 'below briefly "insertion position" should be referred to.

The plug-in part 10 according to the invention is assembled as shown in FIG 1 to be explained in several steps. First of all the ring seal 50 already described applied to the housing 20. Then, in the sense of the arrow 43 of FIG. 4, the cap is opened axially the free pipe end of the housing 20 plugged. There is a longitudinal shift 39 until the first locking projection 37 behind the end web 47 snaps while the second locking projections provided here twice 36 come to lie in front of the front end 46 of the housing tube 21. In order to As already mentioned, the extended position 30 of the cap is determined. The cap 30 is captively connected to the housing 20 and can be delivered as a unit in this pre-assembled position.

Now the already mentioned plug-in assembly 22 takes place on one electrical conductor 15 connected contact sleeve 12 according to FIG. 1st When the axial insertion 22 is carried out, the shoulder 16 moves onto the ramp 26 of the tongue 25 and there is a radial, recognizable from Fig. 2 Swinging out 48 of the tongue 25. This is possible, although the lower one Side wall part 33 of the cap in its extended position 30 on this Location is because a window 49 is provided there. According to the Fig. 2 penetrates the free end of the tongue 25 into the window 49 what can be clearly determined visually or by optical scanning means can. At the same time penetrates the radially projecting on the contact sleeve 12 flag 17 in the mentioned longitudinal slot 29, one in this tube wall 28 has closed slot end 51. This slot end 51 can be one Form stop for the flag 17. Entry into slot 29 secures a twist-proof position of the contact sleeve 12 in the housing.

As long as a defined, final mounting position of the contact sleeve 12 in Inside the housing 20 is not reached, the cap can be removed from it Extension position 30 of FIG. 2 is not yet in its final insertion position Slide on 30 'of Figure 4; the free end of the tongue 25 would namely encounter the window reveal 52 in the side wall part 33 of the cap. The postponement 39 is initially blocked. The final assembly position 3 can only be achieved if the shoulder 16 up to the axial area the undercut stage 27 of the ramp 26 has reached and the Tongue 25, due to the inherent spring tension of the plastic material, snaps back to their starting position where they are in axial Alignment with the lower tube wall 23. The free end of the tongue 25 is then, according to FIG. 3, from the window 49 of the side wall part 33 the cap comes out. The cap can now be moved out of its extended position 30 of FIG. 3 in the sense of the displacement arrow 39, against the provided with the ring seal 50 housing zone 38 are pushed. The front locking projections 36 move from the side wall region 33 ' the cap over the end web 47 of the cap side wall part 33 ' and come inside the length section shown in FIG. 1 45 to lie on the inner web edge 53 visible there. In the rack position 30 'are the side wall parts lying beyond the window 49 33 of the cap over the free end of the tongue 25. The end of the tongue is covered by the cap side wall part 33, which is why one Radial pivoting 48 of the cap 30 'in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 is excluded. In the inserted position 30 ', the cap engages on all sides the outer contour 44 of the housing tube 21 or several side by side lying pipes. Disassembly of the contact sleeve 12 in the sense of in Fig. 4 indicated arrow 22 'is excluded; the contact sleeve 12 is locked with her shoulder 16 behind step 27 of ramp 26. The contact sleeve 12 is thus properly in its final assembly position locked in the housing 20 of the plug part 10.

The plug part 10 can now be coupled to the socket part 40, what in Fig. 4 by the dash-dotted representation 40 'of the socket part is illustrated. The plug-in part 10 comes with its input mentioned front section 11 in the receptacle 41 of the coupled Socket part 40 'to lie. The contact pin passes through the through hole 32 at the front end of the cap in the insertion position 30 ' the clutch position 42, also indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 4 inside the contact sleeve 12 and ensures a perfect electrical there Contacting. The socket part 40 has one recognizable from FIG. 4 radially projecting cam 54, which is also dash-dotted in FIG. 4 illustrated coupling position 54 'via an inclined ramp 56 in an opening 55 of a resilient bracket formed on the housing 20 57 drives. There is also a mechanical interlock between the male part 10 and the socket part in coupling position 40 '. An electrical continuity control between the contact sleeve 12 and the engaged contact pin 42 'confirmed via electrical test equipment the correct assembly of the components of the plug-in part 10.

For the torsion-proof assembly of the plug-in part on the one hand and for the proper coupling of the male and female part 10, 40 are Coding means provided. The housing 20, according to FIG. 5, has certain locations coding grooves 58, which with complementary Fig. 7 dashed coding ribs 59 inside the cap 30 interact. The coding grooves 58 lie, as can be seen from FIG. 5, between adjacent housing tubes 21. In addition, both in the cap 30 and in the housing 20 axial recesses 60, as shown in FIG. 5 and 7, be provided for a proper, non-rotatable Ensure coupling of the plug part 10 with the socket part 40. These are in the receptacle 41 of the socket complementary axial webs, not shown or axial pins are provided which in the coupling case 40 'of the bushing into this Retract axial recesses 60.

In Fig. 8, the coupling case between a plug part 10 and a Socket part 40 'illustrates where in the plug part 10 the contact sleeve shown 12 ', contrary to the previous description, accidentally in twisted Situation has been inserted. At a 180 ° to the Should the case of the contact sleeve 12 'be twisted, the radially projecting one Flag 17 against the lower tube wall 23 and not, as in the proper position of Fig. 1 to 4, against the upper tube wall 28. Consequently, the flag 17 can not in the in the upper tube wall 28 retract the longitudinal slot 29, but butts, at the transition point between the wide and narrow bore area mentioned at the beginning of the housing tube 21 against a shoulder surface 61, which the further Plug-in assembly 22 of the contact sleeve 12 'stops. The said shoulder 16 of the contact sleeve 12 'faces the upper cap side wall part 33 " and consequently unable to face the described, outward facing Swivel the tongue 25 in the sense of FIG. 2 to perform. Self, if the incorrect installation of the contact sleeve 12 'in the above optical control has been overlooked, the final electrical check of incorrect assembly of the male part 10 perfectly detectable, as can be seen easily.

As has already been emphasized, it can be seen from FIG the stop action between the flag 17 and the sales surface 61 of the Housing 20 the full installation depth of the contact sleeve 12 'in the case of Fig. 8 do not reach. This is from the coupling position 40 'of the socket part 8 shows where the coupled contact pin 42 'in the axial Distance 51 in front of the front end of the incorrectly mounted contact sleeve 12 ' comes to rest. There is therefore no electrical contact instead of. Due to a voltage applied across electrical devices between the incorrectly installed contact sleeve 12 'and the coupled contact pin 42 ', which does not trigger a current flow, can clearly indicate the contact gap 51 can be closed. So far the wrong assembly of the Plug part 10 firmly and can eliminate this error.

Reference symbol list:

10th

Plug-in part

11

front section of 10

12th

Contact sleeve

12 '

twisted insertion position of 12 (Fig. 8)

13

Contact section of 12

14

Connection section of 12

15

electrical conductor to 12

16

locking shoulder on 13

17th

Flag at 13

18th

outer shoulder for 50

19th

closed slot end of 29

20th

casing

21

tubular channel. Housing pipe

22

Push-in arrow for 12

22 '

Disassembly arrow from 12 (Fig. 4)

23

lower tube wall from 21

24th

Longitudinal column in 23

25th

Tongue in 23

26

Ramp of 25

27

undercut level at 26

28

upper tube wall of 21

29

Longitudinal slot in 28

30th

Cap (extended position)

30 '

Insert position of 30

31

plate-shaped apex wall of 30

32

Through hole in 31

33

lower side wall part of 30

33 '

upper side wall part of 30

33 "

side sidewall part of 30

34

Card interior

35

End flange of 30

36

first lead on 33 "

37

second lead at 33 "

38

outer housing zone for 50

39

Longitudinal arrow from 30 to 44

40

Socket part (decoupling position)

40 '

Coupling position from 40 to 10

41

Inclusion in 40

42

Contact pin of 40 (decoupling position)

42 '

Clutch position of 42 (Fig. 4)

43

Arrow from 30 to 21

44

Outer contour of 20 (Fig. 5, 6)

45

Longitudinal section in 21

46

Forehead of 21

47

Terminal from 21

48

Radial pivot arrow of 25 (Fig. 2)

49

Window in 33

50

Ring seal on 20

51

axial spacing between 12 'and 42' (Fig. 8)

52

Window reveal of 49

53

inner web edge of 47

54

Cam at 40 (decoupling position)

54 '

Clutch position of 54 (Figs. 4, 8)

55

Bow opening of 57 (Fig. 4, 8)

56

sloping ramp of 57

57

Bracket at 40

58

Coding groove of 20

59

Coding ribs from 30

60

Axial recess in 20

61

Heel area in 23 (FIG. 8)

Claims (7)

1. Electrical connector, especially for motor vehicles, with a plug-in part (10) and a sleeve part (40),

   the sleeve part (40) of which has a retainer (41) complementary to the lead-in profile (11) of the plug-in part (10) with at least one contact pin (42),

   which in the coupled position (42') enters the plug-in part (10) and makes contact there with a contact tube (12) assigned to it,

   and the plug-in part (10) of which consists of a housing (20) with at least one tubular channel (tube 21) for the contact tube (12) and of an end plate with at least one through-hole (32) for the contact pin (42) of the sleeve part (40),

   the end plate is connected to the housing (20) by complementary longitudinal guide elements and is displaceable between at least two axial positions in relation to the housing (20),

   namely, on the one hand, an extended position, which permits an axial plug-in assembly (22) of the contact tube (12) in the housing (20) until a sprung tongue (25) located on the housing (20) snaps behind a shoulder (16) of the contact tube (12) located in a defined installed position,

   and, on the other hand, an inserted position, in which the longitudinal guide elements located on the end plate enter the spring passage of the tongue and thereby arrest the contact tube (12) in its installed position,

   wherein the end plate is formed by the vertex wall (31) of a cap (30) U-shaped in profile, the side walls (33, 33', 33") of which are longitudinally guided on the outer contour (44) of the housing (20),

   the tube wall (23) of the housing (20) is longitudinally split in one section (24) and forms between two gaps (24) an outer sprung tongue (25), which extends in the longitudinal guide area (39) of the cap side wall (33 to 33") on the housing (20),

   the spring passage (48) of the tongue (25) extends radially over the outer contour (44) of the housing (20),

   and the cap, while releasing in its extended position (30) the spring passage (48) of the tongue (25) with its cap side wall (33) facing the tongue (25), at least partially covers the tongue (25) in its inserted position (30'); characterised in that the cap side wall (33) has a window (49), which in the extended position (30) of the cap lies above the open end of the tongue (25) (Fig. 3).
2. Connector according to claim 1 characterised in that the tongue (25) has a ramp (26) undercut (27) in the direction of the tube interior of the housing, on which ramp the shoulder (16) of the contact tube (12) moves up during its plug-in assembly (22) and at the same time the tongue (25) presses so long into the window opening (49) of the cap located in its extended position (30) until the shoulder (16) engages behind (27) the ramp (26).
3. Connector according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the cap has an end flange (35), which in the inserted position (30') presses an annular seal (50) enclosing the housing (20) against a housing step (18).
4. Connector according to one or more of the claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the tube wall (28) of the housing (20) has a longitudinal slot (29), into which a lug (17) sitting on the contact tube (12) enters for the purpose of non-rotably securing the plug-in assembly (Fig. 4).
5. Connector according to claim 4 characterised in that the longitudinal slot (29) has a closed slot end (19), which forms a stop for the lug (17) at the plug-in assembly (22).
6. Connector according to one or more of the claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the coding grooves (58) and ribs (59) are provided for non-rotatable secure attachment (43) of the cap (30) onto the housing (20).
7. Connector according to one or more of the claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the tube wall of the housing (20) has a longitudinal cutout (45), which is limited by an end stay (47), and the end stay (47) cooperates with catch projections (36, 37) sitting on the inside surface of the cap side wall (33"), which catch projections determine the extended position (30) and/or the inserted position (30') of the cap on the housing (20).

Images