EP3044836A1

EP3044836A1 - Plug-type connector

Info

Publication number: EP3044836A1
Application number: EP14758409.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arndt Schafmeister; Ralf Geske; Ralf Gehle
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2013-09-10
Filing date: 2014-09-03
Publication date: 2016-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 2034-09-03
Also published as: EP3044836B1; CN105531876B; CN105531876A; US20160226191A1; WO2015036305A1; US9768551B2; DE102013109933A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical plug-type connector comprising a housing (10) for holding electrical plug elements, and comprising a pulling aid (2) made of an electrically insulating material, which enables the plug-type connector (1) to be pulled apart from a mating connector (101), and which protrudes from the housing (10) of the plug-type connector (1) in the form of a tab (20). The pulling aid (2) is provided with an electrically conductive portion (3) which is designed and provided as a screening support for the screening of an electrical lead that is to be connected to the electrical plug-type connector (1).

Description

Connectors

description

The invention relates to an electrical connector according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a connector comprises a housing for receiving electrical connector elements, via which an electrical contact with a mating connector can be produced, and a pulling aid made of an electrically insulating material, by means of which the connector is removable from a mating connector and in the form of a tab of the housing of the Connector protrudes. Such a pulling aid facilitates the detachment of the connector from a mating connector, especially in hard to reach environment. For this purpose, the projecting from the housing of the connector pulling aid is taken and pulled off the connector by (manual) exercise of a corresponding tensile force on the pulling of the mating connector. It is therefore not necessary to take the housing of the connector itself, in order to deduct this from the mating connector can. And it is particularly avoided that in tight installation situations trying to release the connector by exerting a tensile force on the associated connection cable from the mating connector, whereby the connection between the connector and the associated connection cable could be damaged. The pulling aid thus serves as a strain relief for the cable.

However, the provision of such a pulling aid on the connector may conflict with the need to provide a shield pad on the connector to which the shield of the connector cable associated with the connector contacts to set it to a defined potential (potential equalization), such as in FIG DE 20 2010 000 741 U1.

The invention is therefore based on the problem of further improving a connector with a pulling aid of the type mentioned.

This problem is solved by the invention by providing a connector with the features of claim 1. Thereafter, in a generic connector, the pulling aid is provided with an electrically conductive portion which is formed and provided as a shield support for the screen of the connector associated electrical connection cable.

The solution according to the invention is based on the recognition that a shield support can therefore advantageously be integrated into a pulling aid, because the pulling aid can be specifically designed such that those areas of the pulling aid which serve as gripping areas for detecting the pulling aid and those areas of the pulling aid , where the shield support is provided, can be separated (spatially) from each other.

Thus, it is advantageous to provide the shield support in a region of the pulling aid, which faces the outgoing from the housing of the connector connecting cable, so that can be produced in a simple manner, a reliable electrical contact between the shield of the cable and the shield support. With respect to the grip areas where the pull can be taken by a user, on the other hand, it is expedient to arrange them on those areas of the pulling aid, which are not facing the connection cable, to facilitate the gripping of the pulling aid by a user and accidental pulling to avoid on the connection cable.

Thus, the solution of the invention provides a simplified structure of a connector by the drawing aid and a shield support are combined to form an assembly, without this would have restrictions on the function of the drawing aid or the shield support.

The electrically conductive portion which serves as a shield contact can be fixed to the drawing aid in a form-fitting manner, for example. For this purpose, the electrically conductive portion can be inserted into an associated fastening region of the pulling aid and / or behind or behind a fastening region of the pulling aid. Alternatively or additionally, a frictional and / or cohesive fixation of the electrically conductive portion may be provided on the pulling aid.

Specifically, the electrically conductive portion may be a sheet metal part that is fixed to the pulling aid so that it defines an electrically conductive surface portion on the pulling aid that serves as a shielding pad. The pulling aid itself can be integrally formed on the housing of the connector or attached thereto as a separate component. As a material for the drawing aid is eg plastic. The pulling aid advantageously has at least one grip area, on which the pulling aid can be grasped, in order to exert (manually) a tensile force with which the connector can be pulled off a mating connector, so that the plug connection is released. Such a grip region is preferably formed on a region of the pulling aid which does not face a connection cable connected as intended to the connector, in order to facilitate grasping the pulling aid and also to avoid accidental pulling on the connection cable. For this purpose, a respective grip region can be designed, for example, as a recessed grip, optionally with a ribbed surface, which extends laterally on the pulling aid. In particular, two recessed grips can be provided on each of two opposite sides of the pulling aid, wherein serving as a shield support electrically conductive surface portion is advantageously positioned between the two recessed grips, that a purpose connected to the connector electrical cable is supported with its screen on that surface portion ,

Furthermore, electrically conductive connection means are provided on the drawing aid, via which the serving as a shield support, electrically conductive portion of the pulling aid with an electrically conductive body is connected to achieve this potential equalization between the screen of the connector associated connection cable and that body. This may be, for example, an (electrically conductive) wall having a cutout through which the connector is to be connected to a mating connector, the latter being fixed to said wall. By connecting the shield of the connecting cable associated with the connector with that wall - via the shield support on the connector and the connecting means provided for this purpose - a defined equipotential bonding can be brought about with that wall.

The connecting means, via which the electrical connection of the shield support with another (electrically conductive) body, for. B. in the form of a wall, can be configured in different ways. One possibility is to make a flexible connection via an electrical cable. Another possibility is the production of a plug connection between the shield support and the further body, in particular simultaneously with the mating of the connector with a mating connector. Furthermore, an electrical contact can also be made at attachment points at which the connector is to be attached to that body.

An inventively designed pulling aid for an electrical connector is characterized by the features of claim 17. Advantageous developments of the drawing aid result from the dependent claims.

And claim 21 relates to an electrical connector with an electrical connector according to the invention.

Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of connectors, each associated with a mating connector;

Fig. 2A is an enlarged perspective view of one of the connectors

Fig. 1 together with the associated mating connector;

FIGS. 2B

and Figure 2C shows two views of a pulling aid of the connector of Figure 2A;

Fig. 3A is a plan view of a pulling aid for a connector;

3B is a view of a pulling aid obliquely from below;

Fig. 4A is a first modification of the connector of Fig. 2;

Figures 4B

and Figure 4C shows two views of the pulling aid of the connector of Figure 4A;

Fig. 5A is a second modification of the connector of Fig. 2;

FIGS. 5B

and Figure 5C shows two views of the pulling aid of the connector of Figure 5A;

Fig. 6A is a third modification of the connector of Fig. 2;

Figures 6B

and Figure 6C shows two views of the pulling aid of the connector of Figure 6A; Fig. 7A is a fourth modification of the connector of Fig. 2;

FIGS. 7B

and Figure 7C shows two views of the pulling aid of the connector of Figure 7A;

Fig. 8A shows a fifth modification of the connector of Fig. 2;

Figures 8B

and Figure 8C shows two views of the pulling aid of the connector of Figure 8A.

Figure 1 shows a connector assembly with three connectors 1, 1 ', 1 ", each of which a mating connector 101, 101', 101" is assigned, in the unmated state. Each of the connectors 1, 1 ', 1 "is provided for insertion into one of the mating connectors 101, 101', 101". For this purpose, the connectors 1, 1 ', 1 "and the associated mating connector 101, 101', 101" in each case corresponding to one another connector elements, for. B. in the form of plug pins on the side of the connector 1, 1 ', 1 "and in the form of the plug pins female receptacles on the side of the mating connector 101, 101', 101". In the present case, the mating plugs 101, 101 ', 101 "are arranged on a wall 100, for example of a device wall, as an electrically conductive (eg metallic) body in such a way that the mating face of a respective mating plug 101, 101 ', 101 "facing a cutout 100a of the wall 100, through which a respective mating connector 101, 101', 101" with the associated connector 1, 1 ', 1 "can be plugged together and thus electrically contacted.

In the present case, this concerns the design of the connectors 1, 1 ', 1 ", which each have a housing 10, 10', 10" with a pulling aid 2, 2 ', 2 "disposed thereon 4A to 4A show possible modifications of that connector Figures 3A and 3B relate to details in the region of the shield support provided with a pulling connector of a connector.

FIG. 2A shows, from a plug arrangement of the type shown in FIG. 1, a plug connector 1 together with the wall 100 and a mating plug 101 arranged behind a cutout of the wall 100 and associated with the plug connector 1. The connector 1 has a housing 10, the front side 12 is designed as a mating face with connector elements, here in the form of connector pins, via which the connector 1 with the associated mating connector 101 is plugged together. In the present case, this takes place concretely by inserting the plug elements on the front side 12 of the plug connector 1 into socket contacts of the mating plug. The rear side 14 of the plug housing 10 is designed as an electrical connection area, via which an electrical connection cable can be connected to the plug connector 1.

Furthermore, from the connector 1, specifically from the back of the plug housing 10, a pulling aid 2 from which is here designed as a in Figure 3A in a plan view more precisely visible tab. Two further views of the pulling aid 2 can be found in FIGS. 2B and 2C. The pulling aid 2 is to allow the removal of the connector 1 of the associated mating connector 101, when those two connector parts 1, 101 are plugged together. For this purpose, a user takes the pulling aid 2 and exerts on this a tensile force that releases the connector 1 of the mating connector 101. For easy gripping of the pulling aid 2, these grip areas 21, 22 in the form of one (serrated) recessed grip each. The two gripping areas 21, 22 are arranged opposite one another on each side of the pulling aid 2.

The pulling aid 2 consists of an electrically insulating material, in particular plastic. It may be integrally formed on the housing 10 of the connector 1 or attached thereto as a separate component, for example by gluing, screwing or latching. In the former case, on the one hand and on the drawing aid 2, on the other hand, mutually associated adhesive surfaces are provided on the connector 1. In the latter case, on the one hand and on the drawing aid 2 on the other hand mutually associated, engageable with each other locking elements are arranged on the connector 1. In the present case, the pulling aid 2 is arranged on the plug connector 1 in such a way that a connection cable connected as intended to the connection area on the rear side 14 of the plug housing 10 runs along a side of the pulling aid 2 facing that cable. For this purpose, the drawing aid 2 is adjacent to the connection region on the rear side 14 of the plug housing 10 of the latter in the exemplary embodiment. According to FIG. 2A, the pulling aid 2 is located directly below the connection region for an electrical cable provided on the rear side 14 of the plug housing 10. That is, the Connecting cable facing side of the pulling aid 2 can serve as a support for that connection cable.

In a double use of the pulling aid 2, an electrically conductive section 3 is provided on the one side of the connecting cable (intended to be connected to the connector 1) according to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 3A, which forms a shield support for the connection cable with a surface section 30 , By the screen of a purpose connected to the connector 1 connecting cable is applied to those surface portion 30, the shield of the connecting cable can be connected thereto with another body, for. B. the wall 100, be electrically connected for purposes of equipotential bonding.

FIG. 3A schematically shows a detail of a connection cable 200 connected to the connector 1, which with its screen 203 bears against the electrically conductive section 3 of the pulling aid 2 (shield support) or, more precisely, on the said surface section 30 in the exemplary embodiment.

The electrically conductive section 3, which serves as a shield contact, can consist in particular of metal. He is presently formed by a sheet metal part.

For fixing the electrically conductive portion 3 to the pulling aid 2 is used in the embodiment, a positive connection. Thus, a first protruding from the electrically conductive portion 3 mounting portion 33 is passed through a mounting opening 23 in the pulling aid 3 and engages behind this with angled ends 34 at its edge. Another fastening section 35 projecting from the electrically conductive section 3 surrounds the pulling aid 2 at its free end 25, see also FIG. 3B. In order to connect via the provided on the pulling aid 2 shield support, so on the electrically conductive portion 3, the screen of a properly connected to the connector 1 electrical cable to the wall 100, a connecting means is required, via which the electrically conductive portion 3 with that Wall 100 is electrically contacted.

According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2A are from the wall 100 tabs 104, which in the present case of the material of the wall 100th are formed and each forming an electrical contact element, which is assigned to each one of the connectors 1, V, 1 ", if this is intended to the corresponding mating connector 101, 101 ', 101" is connected. The tabs 104 are thereby from the wall 100 in each case in the direction of the connector from; So they point away from the mating connectors 101, 101 ', 101 ".

On the connector 1, more precisely on the housing 10 or concretely on the pulling aid 2, cf. FIGS. 2B and 2C, an electrical (metallic) mating contact 4 is accordingly arranged, which is in electrical connection with the electrically conductive section 3 serving as a screen support via an electrical connecting section 36, for example, B. by integral connection hereby. Thus, serving as a shield support portion 3 and the mating contact 4 can be formed by a single sheet metal part. The same applies to the further exemplary embodiments described below with reference to FIGS. 4A to 7C. The mating contact 4 is applied to the wall-side contact element (in the form of a tab 104) when the connector 1 is connected to the associated mating connector 101. As a result, an electrically conductive connection between the shield of a cable connected to the connector 1 and the wall 100 can be produced via the electrically conductive section 3, the mating contact 4 and the wall-side contact element 104 serving as the shield contact.

In FIGS. 4A to 7C, different modifications of the contacting method described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown. And FIGS. 8A to 8C, together with FIG. 3B, show the possibility of an electrical connection via a connecting cable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First of all, the modifications of the contacting method explained with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C will be described, wherein in FIGS. 4A to 7C matching elements are provided with the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C and subsequently only the differences to the figures 1, 2A, 2B and 2C will be discussed.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4A, the tabs 105 serving as wall-side contact elements formed on the wall 100 are away from the respective associated connector (eg 1) and instead towards the corresponding mating connector (eg 101). The respective tab 105 projects from the edge of the cutout 100a of the wall 100. At the connector 1 and the Pulling aid 2, a resilient mating contact 5 is provided, which is on the one hand electrically connected to the serving as a shield pad section 3, see. the individual representation of the pulling aid 2 in Figures 4B and 4C, and on the other hand so protrudes from the connector 1 and its housing 10 that it rests against the associated wall-side contact element (tab 105) under elastic bias when the connector 1 as intended with the Mating connector 101 is plugged together.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5A, the wall-side contact element is designed as a contact opening 106 in the wall 100, which, in turn, is assigned a spring-elastic mating contact 6 on the plug connector side, which is in electrical connection with the section 3 serving as the shield contact, cf. the individual representation of the pulling aid 2 in Figures 5B and 5C. The resilient mating contact 6 is such from the connector 1 or concretely from the pulling aid 2 from that it comes into engagement with the wall-side contact opening 106 when the connector 1 is intended to be connected to the mating connector 101. Here, the resilient mating contact 6 is biased on the edge of the wall-side contact opening 106, so that there is a reliable electrical contact. In the embodiment of Figure 6A, a wall-side contact element in the form of a contact opening 107 as an attachment point (mounting opening) is executed, which is assigned on the side of the connector 1, a mating contact 7 in the form of another mounting opening on a metallic mounting portion 70, which in turn electrically conductive with the as Screen serving serving section 3 is connected, see. the individual representation of the pulling aid 2 in Figures 6B and 6C. When properly merge the connector 1 with the mating connector 101 overlap the two mounting holes 7, 107 and can by suitable fastening means, for. B. in the form of a screw or a clip against each other, so that the surrounding the connector-side mounting opening, the mating contact 7 defining metallic mounting portion 70 is in electrical contact with the wall 100.

According to FIG. 7A, a contact opening, which in the present case is formed on the edge of the wall-side cutout 100a, is again provided as the wall-side contact element 108. The wall-side contact opening 108 is assigned on the side of the connector 1 or specifically the pulling aid 2, a resilient counter-contact 8, which is electrically conductively connected to the serving as a shield support portion 3, see. the Individual representation of the pulling aid 2 in Figures 7B and 7C. The resilient mating contact 8 is designed so that it rests against the cutout 100a facing away from the edge of the contact opening 108 when the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 have been brought together as intended.

In Figure 8A, and with additional reference to Figures 3B, 8B and 8C, an embodiment of a connector is shown in which the electrical connection between the serving as a screen support portion 3 on the pulling aid 2 and another electrically conductive body, namely the present Wall 100, via an electrical connection cable 9 is realized. The connecting cable 9 is on the one hand, as shown in Figures 3B, 8B and 8C, electrically connected via a (stripped) end portion 91 with the serving as a screen support portion 3. For this purpose, the end portion 91 of the cable 9 engages in the exemplary embodiment between two contact tabs 31, 32 of serving as a shield support, electrically conductive portion. 3

At its other, wall-side end of the cable 9 is provided with a metallic mounting portion 92 through which the connecting cable 9 by suitable fastening means 95, z. B. in the form of a screw on the wall 100 can be fastened, wherein the metallic mounting portion 92 is clamped against the wall 100. As a result, there is the desired electrical connection between serving as a shield support attachment portion 3 to the pulling aid 2 and another electrically conductive body in the form of the wall 100th

Claims

claims

An electrical connector having a housing (10) for receiving electrical connector elements and a pulling aid (2) made of an electrically insulating material, by means of which the connector (1) from a mating connector (101) is removable and as a tab (20) of the housing (10) of the connector (1) protrudes,

characterized,

in that the pulling aid (2) is provided with an electrically conductive section (3) which is designed and provided as a shield support for the screen (203) of an electrical connection cable (200) to be connected to the electrical connector (1).

2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrically conductive portion (3) forms a surface portion (30) on one side of the pulling aid (2), which faces the connection cable (200) when intended to the connector (1 ) connected.

3. Connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrically conductive portion (3) is positively fixed to the pulling aid (2).

4. Connector according to claim 3, characterized in that the electrically conductive portion (3) at least one attachment portion (33, 34, 35) which engages behind and / or engages around an area of the pulling aid.

5. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically conductive portion (3) is designed as a sheet metal part.

6. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pulling aid (2) consists of plastic.

7. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pulling aid (2) has at least one gripping area (21, 22), which is the connector (1) associated connection cable (200) is not facing, if this intended on the connector ( 1) is connected.

8. Connector according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one handle portion (21, 22) is designed as a recessed grip.

9. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that electrical connection means (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) are provided, via which on the pulling aid (2) provided for metallic portion (3) for equipotential bonding one of the electrical connector (1) different electrically conductive body (100) is contacted.

10. Connector according to claim 9, characterized in that the electrical connection means (4, 5, 6, 8) comprise an electrical mating contact, which with a provided on the electrically conductive body (100) contact element (104, 105, 106, 108) can be brought into electrical contact when the connector (1) is intended to be connected to the mating connector (101).

11. Connector according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the electrical connection means (5, 6, 8) comprise a resilient electrical mating contact provided under elastic bias to a on the electrically conductive body (100) provided contact element (105, 106, 108 ) can be applied.

12. Connector according to claim 9, characterized in that the electrical connection means (7) comprise an electrically conductive attachment point, via which an electrically conductive contact with a on the electrically conductive body (100) provided attachment point (107) can be produced.

13. Connector according to claim 9, characterized in that the electrical connection means (9) comprise an electrical cable, via which on the pulling aid (2) provided for metallic portion (3) with the electrically conductive body (100) is connectable.

14. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pulling aid (2) is fixed by fastening means on the connector (1).

15. Connector according to claim 14, characterized in that the pulling aid (2) by an adhesive, a latching connection or a screw connection to the connector (1) is fixed.

16. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, with a connection to the connector (1) connecting cable (200) having a screen

(203), wherein the screen (203) of the connection cable (200) rests against the electrically conductive portion (3) of the pulling aid (2).

17. pulling aid of an electrical connector (1), which is formed of an electrically insulating material and which protrudes at a proper arrangement of the connector (1) as a tab of this, so that the connector (1) by means of the pulling aid (2) of a mating connector (101) is removable,

characterized,

18. Drawing aid according to claim 17, characterized in that the pulling aid (2) for fixing to a connector (1) is formed by an adhesive, a latching connection or a screw connection.

19. pulling aid according to claim 17 or 18 with the characterizing features of one of claims 2 to 13.

20. Use of a pulling aid according to one of claims 17 to 19 for attachment to a connector (1), so that the pulling aid (2) supplemented connector (1) by means of the pulling aid (2) of a mating connector (101) is removable.

21. Electrical plug connection with a plug connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims and with a mating plug (101), which are connected to each other through a cutout (100a) of an electrically conductive body (100), wherein the electrically conductive portion (3) the connector (1) is in electrical connection with the electrically conductive body (100).