CN111293477A - Contact carrier for a contact and contact - Google Patents

Abstract

A contact carrier (1) having at least one receiving opening (2) for a contact (3) having a connection for an electrical conductor, wherein the receiving opening (2) has a guide region (4) for the contact (3), is designed in such a way that the contact (3) can be transferred from an insertion position into a locking position.

Description

Contact carriers and contacts for contacts

technical field

The invention relates to a contact element carrier for a contact element according to independent claim 1 .

The invention also relates to a system according to the preamble of independent claim 16 .

Such a contact carrier for accommodating contacts is suitable, for example, for contacting cables with an outer insulation and a conductive core.

It is also expedient to use such a contact carrier as a plug connector module for accommodating electrical contacts. In this context, this refers in particular to electrical and/or optical and/or pneumatic contacts, such as so-called PE contacts, or a plurality of contacts for data transmission.

Background technique

Contact carriers are used in so-called industrial plug connectors, also known as rectangular plug connectors or heavy-duty plug connectors. Such plug connectors and mating plug connectors are used to establish an electrical and mechanical connection between two electrical conductors or an electrical conductor and a device or installation in the industrial sector. Especially for the transmission of large currents, large, heavy-duty plug connectors are required, which are protected against environmental influences by means of a housing.

Numerous different embodiments of contact carriers for contacts and different embodiments of contacts are known in the prior art and, depending on the application, involve high-pole or low-pole plug connector modules. The document DE 10 2014 116 482 A1 thus discloses a contact piece which has a receiving chamber at its connection-side end for accommodating a cable, and wherein the receiving chamber is provided to receive a bent spring element. The spring element then holds the cable mechanically and electrically in the connected position. The contacts have flared arms along the circumference for latching in the contact carrier during insertion (see Figure 3). The disadvantage of the latching arm in this configuration is that subsequent removal of the contact piece from its contact piece carrier is very cumbersome and can only be achieved with special tools. Such detent arms or detent springs also form weak points with respect to the holding force of the contacts.

Alternatively, document DE 10 2013 108 383 B4 discloses an electrical plug connector module for accommodating electrical contacts. The contacts are held by means of electrical contact means, which at the same time are designed as holding springs, wherein the contact carrier and the contact pieces are held by means of the holding springs in a defined holding frame (see FIGS. 1 , 3 ). The problem faced by the person skilled in the art here is that the replacement of the already installed contacts afterwards is very complicated and requires, in particular, the use of special tools.

Furthermore, from EP 0 935 310 B1, a contact piece with screw connections for electrical conductors is known, wherein the contact piece is designed with holes for accommodating electrical conductors. In order to hold the electrical conductor in the hole, the clamping screw is clamped transversely to the axis of the hole. Wire protection plates are provided in such screw joints so that the conductors to be connected are not damaged. This arrangement is very complicated in its assembly, since the clamping screws need to be tightened for each contact. A wire protection plate is then provided for each clamping screw, so that such a plug connector module is particularly expensive to manufacture. If a person skilled in the art wants to replace such a contact, this would be time-consuming and technically complex.

It can be seen from the prior art that a separate latching element is provided for the contact piece, so that the contact piece is held on or in its contact piece carrier. In this case, the subsequent removal and replacement of eg defective contacts is time-consuming and technically complex and can only be done with the aid of special tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide a contact carrier with contacts, which can be exchanged in a simple, easy-to-operate manner, especially in the installed state.

This object is achieved by the features of independent claim 1 and by a system according to claim 16 .

Advantageous configurations of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The contact element carrier according to the invention has at least one receiving opening for a contact element having a connection for an electrical conductor. The receiving opening of the contact element carrier has at least one guide region for the contact element, wherein the contact element can be shifted from the inserted position into the locked position.

The contact carrier according to the invention is for example incorporated into so-called industrial plug connectors, which are also referred to as rectangular plug connectors or heavy-duty plug connectors. Such plug connectors and mating plug connectors are used to establish an electrical and mechanical connection between two electrical lines or an electrical line and a device or a mounting in the industrial sector. In particular, for the transmission of large currents, large, heavy-duty plug connectors are required, which are protected against environmental influences by means of housings.

The plug connectors referred to here serve to connect a plurality of electrical conductors, one of which is a protective conductor (PE contact). The protective conductor can also be combined with the neutral conductor as a PEN contact. The protective conductor is advantageously connected to a protective conductor bridge in order to perform the corresponding protective conductor function and to contact the protective conductors of the plug connector and the mating plug connector with each other. The remaining conductors are connected to the electrical contacts of the plug insert.

In a preferred configuration, the plug connector has at least one contact carrier according to the invention which is fastened in the plug connector housing. At least one contact element according to the invention is arranged in a contact element carrier, also referred to as an insulator. In this context, this refers in particular to electrical and/or optical and/or pneumatic contacts. Preferably, such a contact piece has a plug-in area and a cable connection area. The cable connection area is used to supply the contacts with corresponding digital and/or analog signals and/or energy. Furthermore, at least one cable entry opening for the introduction of electrical and/or optical and/or hydraulic cables can be arranged in the plug connector housing.

The plug connectors are provided on the plug side, in particular, for plugging with corresponding mating plug connectors via corresponding plug openings and in particular via corresponding so-called “plug surfaces”, for example to transmit signals and/or energy.

The contact element according to the invention can be transferred from the inserted position into the locked position, wherein the inserted position refers to the position of the contact element in the cable connection region of the contact element carrier on the plug-in side. In particular, the contact piece is inserted into its receiving opening on the plug-in side of the contact piece carrier and brought into its locking position along its guide region. The locked position refers to the position in which the contacts are held fixedly in the contact carrier. In particular, the contact piece in its locking position remains firmly on the connected electrical conductor even when pulled on the plug-in side.

A possible embodiment provides that the contact piece is introduced axially in the insertion direction and transferred into its locking position by means of a rotational movement. The rotational movement can be achieved at the cable, at the contacts or via a tool.

According to a further preferred configuration, the guide region is designed such that the contact piece can be transferred from the locking position into the insertion position. Reversible insertion of the contacts is achieved in this way. Via a rotational movement, for example on the connected cable, the contact piece is then transferred into its inserted position. This is particularly advantageous because in this way the contact carrier can be installed on site, ie the contacts can be mounted and dismounted without special tools and can be replaced in a simple manner.

Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable for the contact piece to be transferred from the insertion position into the locking position with only light pressure applied along its guide region in the insertion direction. For example, the guide area and the contact piece can cooperate in the form of a bayonet lock.

According to a preferred embodiment, the guide region has a first stop for a first stop of the contact piece in the insertion direction. The stop can be, for example, a ridge formed on the contact carrier. In a conceivable configuration, the bulge extends in the circumferential direction within the circular receiving opening. The first stop allows the installer to simply confirm when the desired depth has been reached in the insertion direction.

Furthermore, the guide region preferably has at least one guide rail and/or at least one guide groove for guiding the contact piece from the insertion position to the locking position or vice versa. Such guide regions with corresponding stops and/or guide grooves can be formed on the contact carrier, for example as a one-piece injection-molded part. The manufacturing process according to the invention for guiding the guide regions of the contacts can advantageously be integrated into the manufacturing process of the contact carrier. Material costs and manufacturing costs are thereby minimized.

Another configuration provides that the guide region has at least one locking delimitation for locking the contact piece in the locking position. The locking delimitation can be configured in the form of a recess and/or a retaining groove, in particular a recess and/or a retaining groove formed on the contact carrier. For example, it is conceivable for the guide rails and/or the guide grooves to have a circumferentially circumferential design in the insertion direction at a predetermined depth. The circumferentially extending guide rails and/or guide grooves can then have recesses and/or grooves opposite the insertion direction, ie in the form of retaining grooves and/or recesses. This is particularly advantageous since a securely fixed locking delimiter is achieved in a particularly simple manner.

A further and/or additional refinement can provide that the guide region has a third stop, which serves to stop the contact piece when the locking limit is reached. The third stop can also advantageously be formed on the contact carrier, and it is particularly advantageous if the third stop is a ridge formed on the contact carrier. The third stop allows the installer to confirm when a defined locking portion, eg in the form of a retaining groove, has been reached. This achieves a high degree of ease of handling for the reliable introduction of the contact piece into its locking delimitation.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, the guide region for the contact piece is designed in such a way that the contact piece abuts against the first stop in the insertion direction and/or moves towards the first stop by means of the first guide rail and/or the guide groove. The two guide rails are guided and/or guided by means of the second guide rail towards the locking delimitation and/or are held in the locking position in the locking delimitation.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first and second guide rails are circumferentially continuous ridges in the insertion direction in a defined axial depth of the receiving opening. The contact piece introduced in the insertion direction has a stop section corresponding to the stop and/or the guide rail. As a result, a reliable transfer of the contact piece from its inserted position into its locked position is ensured without problems for the installer.

In particular, this also ensures a reliable transfer of the contact piece according to the invention from its locked position or from its installed state into its inserted position. For this purpose, the installer can similarly guide the contact pieces on the corresponding stops and guide rails and/or guide grooves, for example by applying a rotational movement in the opposite direction to the insertion direction, to lock the contacts from which they are securely fastened. position into its free insertion position. This ensures that the contact piece according to the invention can be exchanged easily, reliably and quickly.

Alternatively and/or additionally, the first stop and/or the second stop and/or the further stop are integrally formed components on the contact carrier. It is particularly advantageous if the component consists of a plastic material, in particular a rubber material.

In another special alternative or additional configuration, the first stop for the contact element is a spring, in particular a wave spring. In addition, the first stop for the contact piece has a holding force opposite the insertion direction, wherein the holding force corresponds at least to the connection force in the insertion direction of the electrical conductor connected to the contact piece. In the mounted state of the contact piece, the first stop, eg in the form of a bellows spring, exerts a tensile force on the contact piece opposite to the insertion direction, so that the contact piece is securely held in its locking delimitation. In particular, the first stop can be deformed in the insertion direction and at the same time can build up a tensile force counter to the insertion direction. The tensile force built up against the insertion direction then acts on the contact piece in such a way that the contact piece is securely held in its locking delimitation. A particularly low-cost and simple implementation is thereby achieved, since the first stop serves as an identification feature when the desired depth is reached in the insertion direction and at the same time as a fixing aid for the contact piece in the installed state.

The force for reaching and remaining in the locked position may be applied via a spring, but also via a soft member or another conceivable structure.

Alternatively or additionally, the guide area for the contact element is at least one guide groove extending perpendicular to the insertion plane and/or obliquely, and/or the guide area for the contact element is at least one guide rail extending parallel to the insertion plane . In particular, the guide rail and/or the guide groove extend circumferentially along a defined depth of the receiving opening of the contact carrier in the insertion direction. It can thus be provided that the first stop is formed as a circumferentially extending first guide rail parallel to the insertion plane. The guide grooves then preferably extend in the insertion direction, starting from the stop thus extending, obliquely and/or perpendicular to the insertion plane. The guide region can then be limited to a defined depth in the insertion direction by a further second guide rail extending circumferentially and parallel to the insertion plane. Furthermore, it is advantageous if recesses are formed in the second guide rail for the contact piece constructed in this way opposite to the insertion direction. The contact piece is then reliably guided in the guide region by means of its stop portion and held securely and fixedly in the recess by means of the holding force of the first stop.

Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable to increase the holding force of the contact piece in such a way that the locking delimitation is formed in the contact piece carrier in the form of a material undercut or a material projection for accommodating the corresponding latching element. or locked to the contacts. As a result, the secure locking position can be held independently of the detent element.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the contact part is a one-piece stamped part. According to a further advantageous configuration, the contact piece has at least one guide nose, preferably two guide noses, for guiding in the guide region. As a result, the at least one guide nose can be integrated in the stamping process of the contact piece and can be produced in this way very simply. However, it is also conceivable to provide turned contacts.

Advantageously, the at least one guide nose interacts with the guide region in such a way that the guide nose abuts against the first stop in the insertion direction and/or is guided to the at least one first stop by means of the at least one guide rail and/or the guide groove. Two guide rails, and/or are guided by means of the second guide rail to at least one locking delimitation and/or are held in the locking position in the locking delimitation. This enables a simple and reversible installation of the contact element in its contact element carrier.

According to an alternative or additional embodiment, the at least one guide nose interacts with the guide region in such a way that the guide nose abuts the first stop and/or is guided to the second stop by means of a guide rail and/or a guide groove. The stop, and/or is guided to the third stop by means of the guide rail and/or the guide groove, and/or is held in the locking position in the locking delimitation. This enables a simple and reversible installation of the contact element in its contact element carrier.

In the event of a desired disassembly, the guide nose can be removed with a correspondingly simple operation along the guide area. For this, the person skilled in the art first releases the contact piece from its locked position by pressing in the insertion direction. During a subsequent rotational movement and/or by means of a spring force acting on the contact piece, the contact piece is guided with its guide nose along the guide region against the insertion direction and can then be removed.

A system consisting of a contact carrier and a contact, wherein the contact carrier has a receiving opening for the contact, wherein the receiving opening has a guide area for the contact, and the guide area is designed such that the contact can be inserted from the The position is transferred to the locked position.

The embodiment of the guide rail with its grooves and recesses for the corresponding contact piece with its protruding profile allows an easy-to-handle, stable and at the same time reversible connection, so that the contact piece can subsequently be replaced without problems.

Description of drawings

Various embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 . which shows:

Figure 1 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a contact carrier according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of a cross-sectional view of a receiving opening of a contact carrier according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a contact carrier and contacts according to the present invention; and

Figure 4 shows another perspective view of a contact carrier and contacts according to the present invention; and

Figure 5 shows another perspective view of a contact carrier and contacts according to the present invention; and

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the cable connection side of the contact carrier with the receiving opening; and

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the receiving opening of the contact carrier according to the invention, and

FIG. 8 shows a perspective plan view of the plug side of the receiving opening of the contact carrier according to the invention.

The accompanying drawings contain partially simplified schematic diagrams. In part, the same reference numerals are used for the same, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of the same element may be shown in different scales.

Detailed ways

FIG. 1 shows a perspective sectional view of a contact carrier 1 according to the invention, which has a receiving opening 2 for a received contact 3 . The contact piece 3 shown is a contact piece 3 that is preferably stamped out of copper and bent in the shape of a pin.

The contact element 3 accommodated in the contact element carrier 1 has a connection side and a plug side, wherein the connection side is used for contacting the cable/mating plug connection. The plug-in side can be embodied as a pin contact or as a socket contact. Other embodiments for the plug side of the electrical contacts known from the prior art are also conceivable and used.

The receiving opening 2 of the contact element carrier 1 has an integrally formed radially extending hollow-cylindrical contour in the axial direction for the so-called guide region 4 of the two latching lugs 3 . 1 on the contact element 3 (see FIG. 3 ). ). In each case, the guide region 4 has a mounting opening 4.1 (see FIG. 2 ) and a locking delimitation 4.2 for the latching nose 3.1 which is offset in the circumferential direction with respect to the mounting opening 4.1.

At least one mounting opening 4.1 is configured as a guide groove 4.1 extending in the axial direction. At least one locking delimitation 4 . 2 is formed as a material recess from the contact carrier material along the guide contour of the guide region 4 .

The contact piece 3 is first guided into the receiving opening 2 in the direction of the arrow (see FIG. 1 ) or the insertion direction. The two latching noses 3.1 slide along the mounting opening or guide groove 4.1 into a deeper plane in the insertion direction. Preferably two locking delimitations 4 . 2 are arranged one after the other in the circumferential direction in the deeper plane. The subsequent rotational movement of the contact piece 3 causes its latching nose 3.1 to rotate clockwise in the direction of the locking delimiter 4.2, so that the contact piece 3 can be transferred into its locking position in a reliable and easy-to-operate manner. By rotating the contact piece 3 counterclockwise, it is possible to change the contact piece 3 from its locking position into its insertion position, wherein the detent nose 3.1 can be removed from the locking delimitation 4.2 by pressing in the insertion direction. A very simple introduction into and removal from the locked position is achieved by a simple axial pressing and/or a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation and/or an axial pulling of the contact piece.

Furthermore, the hollow-cylindrical guide region 4 has guide rails 4.3, 4.3' constructed parallel to one another, wherein the two guide rails 4.3, 4.3' are oriented parallel to one another at different depths and are each interrupted by two mounting openings 4.1. The mounting opening 4.1 simultaneously serves as a connection between the first and second guide rails 4.3, 4.3'.

The first guide rail 4.3 can also be provided as a first stop 4.3 in the insertion direction. The first stop 4.3 may be an elastic soft member formed on the contact carrier. Additional latching mechanisms, such as springs, can then be dispensed with.

At least one axial offset is formed on the second guide rail 4.3' opposite to the insertion direction, which exactly forms at least one locking delimitation 4.2.

The contact piece 3 is in a locked and loss-proof state in FIG. 1 , wherein the two latching lugs 3.1 are accommodated in corresponding locking delimitations 4.2.

A spring 5 integrated or formed on the contact carrier 1 , for example a wave spring 5 , is particularly preferably arranged on the guide region 4 of the receiving opening 2 . In this case, the spring 5 in particular exerts a force to securely position and/or hold the contact piece 3 in the defined guide region 4 , wherein the force acts counter to the insertion direction, so that the spring 5 exerts a holding force counter to the insertion direction to contact 3.

The two latching noses 3.1 are arranged offset from one another by 180° in the circumferential direction. Correspondingly, two corresponding mounting openings 4.1 for guiding or holding the latching nose 3.1 are arranged offset from each other by 180° in the circumferential direction, and two for holding the latching nose 3.1 in the locking position The locking delimitations 4.2 are each arranged offset from one another by 180° in the circumferential direction.

Figure 2 shows a sectional top view of the receiving opening 2 of the contact carrier 1 according to the invention, wherein the axially extending mounting opening 4.1 and the second guide rail 4.3' can be clearly seen. The second guide rail 4.3' is formed on the circumference of the circular receiving opening 2, wherein the guide rail 4.3' is interrupted by two mounting openings 4.1. The two locking delimitations 4.2 are arranged offset from the mounting opening 4.1 in the circumferential direction, wherein the two locking delimitations 4.2 are formed as groove-like recesses in the axial direction and opposite to the insertion direction.

As shown in perspective views in FIGS. 3 , 4 and 5 , the contacts 3 are reversibly accommodated in the contact carrier. The detent nose 3.1 interacts with the locking delimitation 4.2 in such a way that the contact piece 3 is held in its locking position in a loss-proof manner.

Furthermore, a stop projection 3.2 is provided on the contact piece 3, wherein the stop projection 3.2 is provided for abutment on the first stop or on the first guide rail 4.3. However, it is also conceivable that the spring 5 assumes the function of the first stop, so that the stop projection 3 . 2 can correspond to the spring 5 (see FIG. 1 ).

The punched contact piece 5 has openings, which are formed, for example, when its latching nose 3.1 is bent out, thereby saving material and allowing the contact piece 3 to be easily held during the production process.

FIG. 6 shows the contact carrier 1 according to the invention with the receiving opening 2 in a perspective view, wherein a top view of the cable connection area is shown. An axially extending mounting opening 4.1 is shown, which has a groove-like configuration. As can be clearly seen, the axial offset or locking limit 4.2 starts from a circumferentially extending guide rail 4.3'.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a further perspective view of the contact carrier with the receiving opening 2 , wherein the guide area 4 for guiding the contact 2 is provided in the receiving opening 2 . According to a further and/or additional embodiment, a further stop 4.4 is provided, wherein the further stop 4.4 cooperates with a further stop projection. The other stop 4.4 is circumferentially formed on the contact carrier.

The grooves and recesses in the receiving opening 2 , in particular in the guide region 4 of the receiving opening 2 , are connected to the protruding contours on the contact piece 3 , so that the interaction of the two components is achieved in a simple and cost-effective manner.

Even if different aspects or features of the present invention are shown in separate combinations in the drawings, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the combinations shown and discussed are not the only possible combinations if not indicated to the contrary. In particular, elements or feature combinations corresponding to each other in the different embodiments can be exchanged for each other.

List of reference signs

1 contact carrier;

2 to accommodate the opening;

3 contacts;

3.1 Lock the nose;

3.2 Stop protrusion;

4 Boot area;

4.1 Installation openings or guide grooves;

4.2 Lock the limiter;

4.3 The first guide rail or the first stop;

4.3' Second guide rail;

4.4 Another stop.

Claims (16)

Claims 1. A contact carrier (1) having at least one receiving opening (2) for a contact (3) with connections for electrical conductors, wherein the receiving opening (2) has A guide area (4) for the contact piece (3), wherein the contact piece (3) can be transferred from the inserted position into the locked position. 2 . The contact carrier according to claim 1 , wherein the guide area ( 4 ) is configured such that the contact ( 3 ) can be transferred from the locking position into the insertion position. 3 . 3. Contact carrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide region (4) has a first stop (4.3) for the contact (4.3). 3) The first stop along the insertion direction. 4. Contact carrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide area (4) has a guide for guiding the contact (3) from the insertion position into the locking position At least one guide rail (4.3, 4.3') and/or at least one guide groove (4.1). 5. Contact carrier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide area (4) has a locking delimitation for locking the contact (3) in the locking position. 6. Contact carrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide area (4) for the contact (3) is configured such that the contact (3) abuts in the insertion direction On the first stop (4.3) and/or by means of the first guide rail (4.3) and/or the guide groove (4.1) towards the second guide rail (4.3') and/or by means of the second guide rail (4.3') The guide rail (4.3') is guided towards the locking limit (4.2) and/or remains in the locking position in the locking limit (4.2). 7. Contact carrier according to claim 6, wherein the first and second guide rails (4.3, 4.3') are in a defined axial depth of the receiving opening (2) in the insertion direction A ridge that is continuously structured on the circumference. 8. Contact carrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first stop (4.3) and/or the second stop and/or the further stop are integrally formed there components on the contact carrier (1). 9. The contact carrier according to claim 8, wherein the component consists of a plastic material, in particular a rubber material. 10. Contact carrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first stop (4.3) for the contact (3) is a spring (5), in particular a wave spring. 11. Contact carrier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first stop (4.3) for the contact (3) has a holding force opposite to the insertion direction, wherein the Said holding force corresponds to at least one connecting force in the insertion direction of the electrical conductor connected to said contact piece (3). 12. Contact carrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide area (4) for the contact (3) is at least one guide extending perpendicular to the insertion plane and/or obliquely The groove (4.1), and/or the guide area (4) for the contact piece (3) is at least one guide rail (4.3, 4.3') extending parallel to the insertion plane. 13. Contact carrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the contact (3) is a one-piece stamped part. 14. Contact carrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the contact (3) has at least one guide nose (3.1), Two guide noses (3.1) are preferred. 15. Contact carrier according to claim 14, wherein the at least one guide nose (3.1) interacts with the guide region (4) in such a way that the guide nose (3.1) abuts in the insertion direction on the first stop (4.3) and/or guided towards at least one second guide rail (4.3') by means of at least one first guide rail (4.3) and/or guide groove (4.1), and/or by means of at least one first guide rail (4.3) and/or guide groove (4.1) Said second guide rail (4.3') is guided towards at least one locking delimitation (4.2) and/or is held in said locking position in said locking delimitation (4.2). 16. System consisting of a contact carrier (1) and a contact (3), wherein the contact carrier (1) has a receiving opening (2) for the contact (3), wherein the contact The receiving opening ( 3 ) has a guide area ( 4 ) for the contact piece ( 3 ), wherein the contact piece ( 3 ) can be transferred from the insertion position into the locking position.

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