GB2251345A

GB2251345A - Two-part electrical connector

Info

Publication number: GB2251345A
Application number: GB9127261A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Friedrich Schauer
Original assignee: Kabelmetal Electro GmbH
Current assignee: Kabelmetal Electro GmbH
Priority date: 1990-12-24
Filing date: 1991-12-23
Publication date: 1992-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 2011-12-23
Also published as: DE4041782C2; GB2251345B; DE4041782A1; GB9127261D0

Abstract

An electrical two-part connector comprises a socket connector having socket contacts (3) and of a plug connector having plug pins (4). Each socket contact (3) is constructed as a uniform tubular piece which is tightly enclosed by the insulating material of an injection-moulded body (8). Each plug pin (4) is of polygonal construction and the diameter of the circular envelope (11) of the plug pin (4) is slightly larger than the smallest inside width of the socket contact (3). Each socket contact (3) is sealingly crimped to the end of a wire to prevent injection moulding material entering the contact. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION

ELECTRICAL PLUG DEVICE 7 2 31345 The invention relates to an electrical plug device for connecting through a current path, consisting of a socket part having at least one socket contact and of a plug part having at least one plug pin, to which in each case electrical conductors are connected, in which at least the socket contact is embedded (DE-PS 24 28 582), leaving free a contact surface, in a protective body consisting of insulating material and manufactured by injection moulding.

Plug devices of this kind are used for example wherever electrical lines can be detachably connected to one another or wherever an electrical line is detachably connected to an electrical device. The parts of such a twopart plug device are also described as "ready made" since at least the socket part is completely finished by the injection-moulded protective body and has no mountable parts. The injection moulding of electrical contacts presents hardly any difficulties with plug pins since -the parts of the plug pins serving to provide contact project out of the injectionmoulded protective body. However, it is a problem with socket contacts which are normally integrated in the profile of the protective body. The socket contacts must therefore be partially covered during the injection moulding process so that the contact surface remains free from injectionmoulding material (burr). With spring-mounted socket contacts, it must additionally be ensured that the spring path is not impeded by the material of the protective body.

This is achieved for example in the plug according to the publication DEPS 24 28 582 mentioned at the beginning by the use of a prefabricated stable insert of insulating material into which the socket contacts are inserted before the injection moulding of the protective body. The socket contacts are designed in such a way that during the manufacture of the protective body they seal off the insert at the line-side end from the injectionmoulding material. As a result, the space inside the insert and thus the area surrounding the socket contacts remain free from injection-moulding material. The socket contacts are therefore pressed resiliently outwards when plugging in plug pins. However, the outlay for this is large since with the prefabricated insert an additional component is required and because the socket contacts have to be shaped in a costly manner if they are to fulfil their sealing function.

The invention is based on the object of developing the plug device described at the beginning in such a way that socket part and plug part can be of simple design without the use of additional components.

This object is achieved according to the invention - in that the socket contact is constructed as a tubular piece which is tightly enclosed by the insulating material of its protective body and has a hollow space with uniform cross-sectional bordering, - in that the plug pin is of polygonal construction and - in that the diameter of the circular envelopes of the plug pin is slightly larger than the smallest inside width of the socket contact.

A simple tubular piece that can be severed at the required length from a continuously manufacturable tube is used as socket contact. Both parts can be, for example, squeezed together in order to connect the socket contact to an electrical conductor. As a result, the socket contact can be closed at the end of the conductor in such a way that it is sealed from the material of the protective body during its manufacture. This is also achieved if conductor and socket contact are soldered or welded to one another. The socket part can thus be made damp-proof in a simple manner, since the material of the protective body tightly encloses the socket contacts. the connected conductors and the end of the line containing the conductors. This advantage also applies for the plug part. A large degree of dimensional accuracy is not required for the tubular piece since the plug pin to be 1 plugged in is slightly over dimensioned and rests with its edges firmly against the inner surface of the tubular piece. At the same time, the tubular piece can be slightly deformed with corresponding dimensioning. The edges of the plug pin additionally press into the surface of the tubular piece. The contact pressure required for a fault-free current condunction is thus ensured.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

Exemplary embodiments of the subject of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of the two parts of a plug device according to the invention, partially in section.

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail.

In the following description, the invention of a plug device is described whose socket and plug parts each have two contact elements. However, the invention can also be used for plug devices with only one contact element or with more than two contact elements.

- In Fig. 1, a socket part 1 and a plug part 2 of a plug device are illustrated which can be joined in order to connect through two current paths. For this purpose, the socket part 1 has two socket contacts 3, whilst two plug pins 4 are attached to the plug part 2. The socket contacts 3 are constructed as tubular pieces whose hollow space 5 (Fig. 2) serves for receiving the plug pins 4. They are connected to conductors 6 of a twoconductor electrical line 7. For this purpose, the socket contacts 3 are squeezed for example to the conductors 6 in such a way that their conductor-side ends are tightly closed off. This could also be achieved, for example, if socket contacts 3 and conductors 6 were soldered or welded to one another. The socket contacts 3 and their points of connection to the conductors 6 and the end of the line 7 are embedded in a protective body 8 manufactured by injection moulding and consisting of insulating material.

The plug pins 4 of the plug part 2 are also is embedded in a protective body 8 manufactured by injection moulding and consisting of insulating material. They are connected to the two conductors of a two-conductor line 10. If the plug pins 4 are plugged into the socket contacts 3, the plug device is then complete and the two lines 7 and 10 are connected through.

In particular the socket contacts 3 designed as tubular pieces are embedded in a damp-proof manner by the injection moulding with the protective body 8. However, it is thus also ensured that the end of the line 7 and the conductors 6 are covered in such a way that no dampness can reach them. This advantage applies not only when the socket part is formed onto electrical lines but also, for example, when the socket part is an insert of an electrical device whose socket contacts 3 are accessible from outside for the purpose of making contact. A socket part of this design guarantees an overall damp-proof arrangement.

The socket contacts 3 are constructed as simple tubular pieces. The fitting plug pins 4 are of polygonal design. They have, for example in accordance with Fig. 2, a four-cornered cross-section. The diameter of the circular envelopes 11 of the plug pins 4 indicated by dot-dash lines in Fig. 2 is slightly larger than the smallest inside width of the socket contacts 3. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the diameter of the envelopes 11 is somewhat larger than the internal diameter of the socket contacts 3 which are illustrated in Fig. 2 in their position of rest in which no deformation by the plug pins 4 has occurred.

The specification concerning the envelopes 11 also applies when the plug pins 4 are of three-cornered design or have more than four corners. It is thus ensured that the edges of the plug pins 4 rest at least f irmly against the inner surf ace of the socket contacts 3 or even penetrate slightly into this surface. At the same time, deformation of the socket contacts 4 can also take place if their walls are not too thick. The crosssectional shape of the socket contacts 3 can be as desired. Their hollow space 5 should only have a uniform bordering as is given most favourably by the circular shape. However, the hollow space 5 of the socket contacts 3 can also be for example of elliptical design.

The socket contacts 3 are expediently of relatively thin-walled construction so that they do not offer an excessively large resistance when inserting the plug pins 4. They consist for example of copper. Their inner surf ace can be tin-plated in order to improve the contacting. The plug pins 4 consist for example of brass. Their surface can also be tinplated in order to improve the contacting. The material used for the socket contacts 3 is expediently softer than the material of the plug pins 4.

It will be understood that the invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that various modifications of detail can be made within the ambit of the invention.

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An electrical plug device suitable f or use in the connecting through of a current path, and comprising a socket part having at least one socket contact and a plug part having at least one plug pin; respective electrical conductors being connected to the socket contact or contacts and plug pin or pins; and at least the socket contact or contacts being embedded, leaving free a contact surface, in a protective body of insulating material fabricated by injection moulding; in which device: the or each socket contact comprises a tubular piece which is tightly enclosed by the insulating material of its protective body and has a hollow space with a uniform cross- sectional bordering; the or each plug pin is of a polygonal configuration; and the diameter of the circular envelopes of the or each plug pin is slightly larger than the smallest inside width of the (or the respective) socket contact.

2. A device according to Claim 1, in which the or each plug pin is at least three-cornered.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the or each plug pin is four-cornered.

4. A device according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the or each plug pin is of brass.

5. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 4, in which the or each plug pin is tin-plated.

6. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 5, in which the or each socket contact has a circular internal crosssection.

7.

A device according to any of Claims 1 to 5, in which 7 - the or each socket contact has an elliptical or other oval internal cross- section.

8. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 7, in which 5 the or each socket contact is of copper.

9. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 8, in which the contact surface of the or each socket contact is tinplated.

10. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 9 in which the or each socket contact is of a softer material than the (or the respective) plug pin.

is

11. A device according to Claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 and 2.