DE20018034U1 - Plug with a ground contact - Google Patents

Description

PATENT AND LAW FIRM Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. H. Schmitt

SCHMITT, MAUCHER & BÖRJES irftiKi

Anton Hummel Dreikönigstrasse 13

Verwaltungs GmbH D-79102 Freiburg i. Br.

Mozartstrasse 2

7 9183 Waldkirch Phone (07 61) 79 174 0

' ^iöJ MiuKiicn Fax (07 61) 79 174 30

Our. AWe · Please always aagefeeit

G 00 657 M

Mr/Dr/Be

Plug with a grounding contact

The invention relates to a plug with a sleeve and with an insulating body arranged in the sleeve in the position of use, which can be fixed by means of a locking spring which can be deformed inwards in the radial direction and which, in the initial position, protrudes at least partially beyond the outer contour, and with elongated, pin-like contacts - contact pins and/or contact sockets - the holes or bores of the insulating body which receive them are fixed in the position of use, one of these contacts, namely a contact running transversely to the locking spring in the area of the latter, being an earthing contact which can be connected or is connected to a contact or earthing spring in the position of use, wherein in the initial and in the position of use an edge forming a side surface of the locking tongue is arranged essentially within the outline of the insulating body opposite a shoulder and together with the latter forms a groove or slot which runs over at least part of the circumference of the insulating body and projects radially into the interior.

Such a plug is known from DE GM 200 07 001.1 U and has proven itself. The earthing contact is designed like the other contacts and has an annular groove in the holding area into which

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In the assembly position, a specially insertable retaining spring engages, which must therefore be manufactured and assembled. This also makes pre-assembly more difficult because such a retaining spring could be lost as a separate part as long as the insulating body is not yet fixed within the sleeve.

The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a plug of the type mentioned at the outset which, above all, enables safe pre-assembly of the individual parts and in particular also of the earthing contact without the risk of losing a retaining spring for this earthing contact.

To achieve this object, the plug defined at the outset is characterized in that the earthing contact has a projection for axial fixing which overlaps the side surface of the detent spring and engages in the slot between the latter and the insulating body and runs adjacent to the detent spring transversely to its extension and that the detent spring can be pivoted or deformed in the radial direction also outwards over the outer contour of the insulating body against a restoring force 0 or spring force.

In this way, it is possible to fix the earthing contact using the locking spring, which also serves to fix the insulating body.

" without requiring a separate retaining spring for this earthing contact. The projection provided on the earthing contact only needs to be pushed past the locking spring when the earthing contact is axially pushed in and inserted into the opening provided for this purpose on the insulating body, whereby the latter can be deformed radially 0 outwards by the fitter by hand or by the projection of the earthing contact. Once the projection has reached the side surface or the edge of the locking spring, the latter can return to its original position and thus fix the earthing contact axially in a pre-assembly position. After the insulating body has been inserted into the sleeve of the plug and anchored using the locking spring, this pre-assembly position is

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of the earthing contact is finally determined.

The locking spring known and proven from DE GM 200 07 001.0 U thus advantageously has a dual function in that on the one hand - as already known - it connects the insulating body with the outer sleeve in a form-fitting manner and on the other hand it also fixes the earthing contact axially in a pre-assembly position and makes a separate retaining spring unnecessary.

It is particularly advantageous if the projection provided on the earthing contact - for axial fixing relative to the insulating body -

) runs around the earthing contact over at least part of the circumference of the latter, in particular is designed as a collar that is uninterrupted in the circumferential direction. This makes it possible to insert the earthing contact, which usually has a circular cross-section, into its opening on the insulating body in any rotational position and to fix it in place. So that the projection or collar fits into the slot between the locking tongue and the insulating body, the axial extension is equal to or smaller than the width of this slot.
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The front or upper surface of the projection or collar in the direction of insertion of the earthing contact into the insulating body can be extended from the inside of the earthing contact to the radial edge

W , so that a conical or slanted insertion surface is created on this projection or collar. This makes it possible to automatically deform the locking spring radially outwards by inserting the earthing contact and to guide the earthing contact past it despite the spring force until the projection or collar has reached or passed the area of the edge or side surface of this locking spring, so that it then automatically returns to its starting position and thus to the holding position.

The rear or lower boundary surface 5 of the projection or collar in the direction of insertion can be approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal center

axis of the earthing contact, i.e. in a cross-sectional plane. This provides good surface support for this projection on the side surface of the locking tongue when the earthing contact is subjected to axial pressure during use. 5

The largest radial projection of the projection or collar relative to the outside of the earthing contact can be equal to or smaller than the distance of this outside of the earthing contact from the nearest surface of the insulating body. This makes the best possible use of the available radial width of the earthing contact, but also prevents the

&psgr; projection or collar protrudes beyond the outside of the insulating body.

Optimum use of space is achieved when the radial outer edge of the projection or collar is approximately flush with the outer surface of the insulating body.

The use of space can be optimized by the earthing contact touching the inside of the detent spring in the position of use and the side surface of the detent spring, which is overlapped by the projection or collar and is expediently flat and lies in a diametric plane, directly adjacent to the surface of the earthing contact - in the position of use, directly adjacent to the projection or collar. This means that the entire radial extension of the projection or collar can lie on the side surface of the detent spring, provided that this projection or collar is located on the circumference of the earthing contact in the area of the detent spring.

An undercut effective in the axial direction can be provided inside the sleeve, behind which the radially flexible or depressible locking spring protruding from the insulating body in the radial direction fits, which is also referred to as a "locking tongue" in DE GM 200 07 001.1 U.

If the insulating body is inserted axially into the sleeve, the locking spring automatically determines the axial position and

No further measures are required for the axial fixation of the insulating body within the sleeve, although they would be possible. The locking spring or locking tongue reaches behind the undercut on the one hand and against a stop on the sleeve on the other, which is sufficient for axial fixation.

The locking spring - or locking tongue - which is elastically flexible or deformable in the radial direction can be pivoted about a pivot axis running parallel to the central axis of the insulating body or the plug, in particular formed by the earthing contact touching the inside of the locking spring, and can

ψ extend in the circumferential direction of the insulating body, in particular on both sides of this pivot axis. The detent spring can therefore in particular be connected in one piece to the insulating body and can be pivoted radially outwards relative to its connection point, while the pivoting radially inwards is partially "prevented" by the earthing contact, whereby the part of this spring which extends beyond this earthing contact in the circumferential direction and runs to the free end of the detent spring can nevertheless be pivoted radially inwards and deformed due to the elastic material 0, whereby the restoring force is then advantageously greater due to the shorter spring travel.

" It is useful if the locking spring has a locking projection on its outside at its 5 pivotable free end, the radial extent of which is equal to or smaller than the deformation path of the locking spring in the radial direction into the interior of the insulating body. This locking projection can therefore jump behind the undercut mentioned above when the insulating body is pushed into the sleeve 0 and lock in place there, ensuring axial fixing. Due to this locking projection, it is possible to design a larger part of the locking spring on the outside flush with the surface of the insulating body.

A further embodiment of the plug according to the invention, which also

A further feature that can facilitate disassembly is that the locking spring has a deformation, in particular a projection, a hole, a bevel or the like, in the area between its free end and the earthing contact as an engagement point for a tool that can be inserted axially between the sleeve and the insulating body to deform the locking spring in a radial direction, in particular into the interior of the insulating body and out of the locking position of the sleeve. If the insulating body is to be removed from the sleeve again for any reason, the locking spring can be deformed radially inwards from the outside using a tool so far that it can be pushed back over the undercut on the inside of the sleeve.

P can be moved.

Above all, when the features and measures described above and contained in the claims are combined, an electrical plug is obtained in which an insulating body made in one piece with a locking spring or locking tongue can accommodate a large number of contacts, including an earthing contact, wherein the majority of the contacts can be fixed in the axial direction by a common retaining ring which engages grooves or similar recesses in the contacts, while the earthing contact can engage with a projection in a slot between the retaining spring or retaining tongue and the insulating body and thereby axially

™ can be set. This means that the earthing contact does not require any additional holding element and can work together with a conventional earthing spring to conduct electricity.

An embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows in a partially schematic representation:

Fig. 1 is a perspective side view of the individual parts of a plug according to the invention before assembly and joining, in the form of an "exploded view", 35

Fig. 2 is a partially perspective longitudinal section of the insulating body with the contacts at least partially attached thereto, wherein the earthing contact, which is designed as an earthing pin, is already in its assembly position, according to the

Section line A-A in Fig. 3,

Fig. 3 a front view of the insulating body as a plan view, as well as

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the underside or side of the insulating body from which the ψ pin-like contacts can be inserted during their assembly.

A plug 1, shown in Fig. 1 in an exploded view, in its assembly position approximately corresponding to Fig. 3 of DE GM 2 00 07 001.0 U, has a sleeve 2 forming its outer housing and an insulating body 3 arranged and fixed in this sleeve 2 in the position of use, as well as elongated, pin-like contacts 4 and an earthing contact 5, whereby all of these pin-like contacts are contact pins in the 0 embodiment, but according to Fig. 5 of DE

GM 200 07 001.0 U could also be contact sockets, which would then interact with a mating connector with contact pins. Cables or strands are connected to these contacts 4 and 5 before or after assembly in a known manner, with an earthing spring 5a making contact with the earthing contact 5.

The insulating body 3 contains holes or bores 6 in which the contacts 4 and also a further central contact 41 are fixed as described in DE GM 200 07 001.0 U. The contacts 0 4 and 41 have groove-like depressions 7 and, with the exception of the additional contact 41, are all located at the same distance from the inside of the sleeve 2 or the cylindrical outer or surface 3a of the insulating body 3. The latter in turn has a groove 8, 5 running along its outer side 3a and open to the outside, which connects the holes or bores 6 for the contacts 4 via a

Part of its radial extension cuts into the side facing the outside 3a of the insulating body 3. An adhesive or retaining ring 9 extends over part of the total circumference of the insulating body 3 and simultaneously engages in the recesses 7 of the contacts 4 and, with a retaining tongue 10 located on it, in a corresponding recess 7 of the contact 41 in the position of use.

One of the arranged on an imaginary cylinder or at the same distance from the outside 3a of the insulating body 3

Contacts is the already mentioned earthing contact 5, which in the use position can be or is electrically connected to the also already mentioned contact or earthing spring 5a.

The insulating body 3 can be fixed in a manner to be described within the sleeve 2, which is made of metal, for example, by means of a detent spring 19 which can be deformed inwards in the radial direction and in the initial position partially projects beyond the outer contour of the insulating body 3, wherein in the initial and also in the 0 position of use according to Fig. 1 and 2 an edge forming a side surface 22 of the detent tongue 19 lies essentially within the outline of the insulating body 3 opposite a shoulder or the continuation of a wall of the groove 8 and thus together forms a

W is arranged to form a groove or slot that extends radially into the interior and runs over at least part of the circumference of the insulating body 3 5. In the exemplary embodiment, this groove or slot is a continuation of the groove 8 already mentioned and is therefore also referred to below as "groove 8" or "slot 8". The side surface 22 of the locking spring 19 0 or locking tongue continues the other wall of the groove 8 for the retaining ring 9 already mentioned, which, however, leaves at least part of the slot 8 free in the area of the locking spring 19, in particular also the area in which the earthing contact 5 is located.

5 The earthing contact 5 has a side surface 22 of the locking spring

19 in the assembly position and engaging in the slot 8 between this and the insulating body 3, for axial fixing within the insulating body 3. It runs adjacent to the locking spring 19 transversely to its circumferential extension, viewed from the outside 3a, below this locking spring 19. The locking spring 19 can be pivoted or deformed in the radial direction not only radially inwards, but also outwards over the outside 3a of the insulating body 3 against a restoring force or spring force, so that when the earthing contact 5 is axially inserted, the projection 14 can be guided past this locking spring, which is then deformed radially outwards, until the

) projection 14 is located in the region of the slot or groove 8 and which can overlap the side surface 22 of the detent spring 19 and engage radially into this slot 8 from the inside, as can be seen in Fig. 2.

In this case, this projection 14 provided on the earthing contact 5 is designed in the embodiment as a continuous collar on its circumference, which is therefore also referred to as "collar 0 14" in the following. Since the earthing contact 5 - like the other

Contacts 4 is cylindrical or has a circular cross-section, such an annular collar 14 is advantageous, since then the earthing contact 5 can be inserted and fixed in the P insulating body 3 in any direction of rotation.
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The front surface 15 of the projection or collar 14 in the direction of insertion of the earthing contact 5 into the insulating body 3 slopes away from the earthing contact 4 towards its radial edge, so that a conical or inclined insertion surface is produced, which can be clearly seen in Fig. 1 and 2. If the angle of inclination is sufficiently steep, the projection 14 with this surface 15 is thus suitable for automatically deforming the locking spring or locking tongue 19 radially outwards when the earthing contact 5 is inserted axially.

5 In the direction of insertion or in the lower limiting surface

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16 of the projection or collar 14, on the other hand, runs at right angles to the longitudinal center axis of the earthing contact, thus forming a flat stop which can rest flat on the side surface 22 of the detent spring 19, as can be seen in Fig. 2, which also runs at right angles to the longitudinal center axis on a diameter plane of the plug, the insulating body and the contact pins.

The largest radial projection of the projection or collar 14 relative to the outside of the earthing contact 5 is smaller than the distance of this outside of the earthing contact 5 from the nearest surface 3a of the insulating body 3. However, it could also

) should be designed so large that it reaches up to this surface 3a, which leads to an enlarged contact surface, but would also require a greater deformation of the detent spring 19 radially outwards during assembly.

According to Fig. 2, the earthing contact 5 in its position of use touches the inside of the locking spring 19 and the side surface 22 of the locking spring 19, which is overlapped by the projection or collar 14, is directly adjacent to the surface of the earthing contact 5, so that a distance that is also conceivable in this area is eliminated and does not have to be bridged by the collar 14. Thus, the hole or perforation 6 for the earthing contact 5, which extends at least up to the height of the

W Federal 14 whose diameter must not be unnecessarily large.

In a manner not shown in detail, analogous to the design according to DE GM 200 07 001.0 U, an undercut effective in the axial direction is provided inside the sleeve 2, behind which, viewed in the insertion direction, the radially flexible or deformable locking spring 19 fits with its projection, which protrudes in some areas on the insulating body 3 in the radial direction. In this case, for the insertion of the insulating body 3 together with the pre-assembled contacts 4 and 5, the radially elastically flexible or deformable locking spring 19 is bent around a point parallel to the central axis of the insulating body.

•··· ♦·

3 or the plug 1, in particular formed by the earthing contact 5 which touches the inside of the detent spring 19, can be pivoted and deformed, the detent spring 19 thus extending on both sides of this pivot axis in the circumferential direction of the insulating body 3. The first part of the detent spring 19, which is prevented from deformation by contact with the earthing contact 5, extends from its one-piece fastening point on the insulating body 3 to the earthing contact 5, while the part of the detent spring 19 which extends beyond the earthing contact 5 has its free and pivotable end. The detent spring 19 can therefore be deformed radially outwards around its starting point, but radially inwards only relative to the earthing contact 5, so that the outward deformation is easy when the earthing contact 5 is inserted, while the locking takes place with a higher spring force.

The locking spring 19 has a locking projection 23 on its outside at its pivotable end, the radial extension of which is equal to or smaller than the deformation path of the locking spring 19 in the radial direction into the interior of the insulating body 3, since the remaining part of the locking spring 19 is flush with the top side 3a of the insulating body 3 in the normal or initial position. This locking projection 23 thus ensures the axial fixing of the insulating body 3.

P within a corresponding annular groove in the housing sleeve 2, while the inner side and the side surface 22 of the detent spring 19 ensure the axial fixing of the earthing contact 5, so that the detent spring 19 has a dual function overall.

Above all in Fig. 2 but also in Fig. 4 it can be seen that the 0 locking spring 19 has a deformation in its area between its free end and the earthing contact 5, in the embodiment a hole 24 as an attack point for a tool for deforming the locking spring 19 in the radial direction into the interior of the insulating body 3 and thus out of the locking position of the sleeve 5 2. This hole 24 is designed as a

·

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The point of attack for a tool for deforming the locking spring is also arranged in the assembly position on the side surface 25, which faces away from the side surface 22 over which the projection 14 of the earthing contact 5 engages and is arranged parallel. In Fig. 2 and 4 it is clearly visible that this hole 24 serving as a point of attack for a tool is easily accessible from the side of the sleeve 2 facing away from the actual contact pins in order to be able to release the locking position if necessary and to be able to remove the insulating body 3 from the sleeve 2 again.
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&phgr; Expectations

Claims (11)

1. Plug ( 1 ) of a sleeve ( 2 ) with an insulating body arranged in the sleeve ( 2 ) in the use position, which can be fixed by means of a detent spring ( 19 ) which can be deformed inwards in the radial direction and which, in the starting position, projects at least partially beyond the outer contour ( 3a ), and with elongated, pin-like contacts - contact pins and/or contact sockets - the holes or bores of the insulating body which receive them are fixed in the use position, one of these contacts, namely a contact running transversely to the detent spring in the area of the detent spring, being an earthing contact ( 5 ) which can be connected or is connected to a contact or earthing spring ( 5a ) in the use position, wherein in the starting and in the use position an edge forming a side surface ( 22 ) of the detent tongue ( 19 ) is located essentially within the outline of the insulating body ( 3 ) opposite a shoulder and together with the latter a recess extending over at least part of the Circumference of the insulating body ( 3 ) extending radially into the interior or forming a slot ( 8 ), characterized in that the earthing contact ( 5 ) has a projection ( 14 ) for axial fixing which overlaps the side surface ( 22 ) of the detent spring ( 19 ) and engages in the slot ( 8 ) between the latter and the insulating body ( 3 ) and runs adjacent to the detent spring ( 19 ) transversely to its extension and that the detent spring ( 19 ) can be pivoted or deformed in the radial direction also outwards over the outside ( 3a ) of the insulating body ( 3 ) against a restoring force or spring force. 2. Plug according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection ( 14 ) provided on the earthing contact ( 5 ) runs around at least part of the circumference of the earthing contact, in particular is designed as a collar which is uninterrupted in the circumferential direction. 3. Plug according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the front surface ( 15 ) of the projection or collar ( 14 ) in the direction of insertion of the earthing contact ( 5) into the insulating body (3 ) slopes away from the earthing contact ( 5 ) towards the radial edge, so that a conical or inclined insertion surface is produced. 4. Plug according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rear or lower boundary surface ( 16 ) of the projection or collar ( 14 ) in the insertion direction runs approximately at right angles to the longitudinal center axis of the earthing contact. 5. Plug according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the greatest radial projection of the projection or collar ( 14 ) relative to the outside of the earthing contact ( 5 ) is equal to or smaller than the distance of this outside of the earthing contact ( 5 ) from the nearest surface ( 3a ) of the insulating body ( 3 ). 6. Plug according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the earthing contact ( 5 ) in the position of use touches the inside of the detent spring ( 19 ) and the side surface ( 22 ) of the detent spring ( 19 ) overlapped by the projection or collar ( 14 ) directly adjoins the surface of the earthing contact ( 5 ). 7. Plug according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that an undercut effective in the axial direction is provided in the interior of the sleeve ( 2 ), behind which, viewed in the insertion direction, the radially flexible or depressible detent spring ( 19 ) protruding in the radial direction on the insulating body ( 3 ) fits. 8. Plug according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the detent spring ( 19 ) which is elastically flexible or deformable in the radial direction can be pivoted about a pivot axis running parallel to the central axis of the insulating body ( 3 ) or of the plug ( 1 ), in particular formed by the earthing contact ( 5 ) touching the detent spring ( 19 ) on the inside, and extends in the circumferential direction of the insulating body ( 3 ), in particular on both sides of this pivot axis. 9. Plug according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the locking spring ( 19 ) has on its outside at the pivotable end a locking projection ( 23 ) whose radial extent is equal to or smaller than the deformation path of the locking spring ( 19 ) in the radial direction into the interior of the insulating body ( 3 ). 10. Plug according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the locking spring ( 19 ) in its area located between its free end and the earthing contact ( 5 ) has a deformation, in particular of projections, holes ( 24 ), a slope or the like as an attack point for a tool for deforming the locking spring ( 19 ) in the radial direction into the interior of the insulating body ( 3 ) and out of the locking position of the sleeve ( 2 ). 11. Plug according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that an engagement point, in particular a hole ( 24 ) or the like, for a tool for deforming the detent spring ( 19 ) for disassembly is arranged on the side surface ( 25 ) which faces away from the side surface ( 22 ) over which the projection ( 14 ) of the earthing contact ( 5 ) engages.