EP0236923B1 - Electrical power supply installation for aircraft - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a plug connector for insertion into a plug receptacle, comprising a housing which is divided in the longitudinal direction into at least two sections, of which the first section facing away from the plug receptacle contains electrically conductive elements and the one end of a multi-core cable , whose cores connected to one of the elements are cast into the housing as well as the end of the cable, the elements being releasably connected to electrically conductive, cylindrical bodies arranged in the second section, which at their free outer ends act as sockets for receiving the contact pins are trained.

A connector of the type described above is known from EP-A 0 128 472. The second section of the known connector has a cylinder made of insulating material, in which a plurality of contact pins is fixedly arranged, the ends of which protrude outwards on both sides of the cylinder. The contact pin ends projecting outwards on one side of the cylinder are inserted into sockets in the first section of the connector. The two sections of the connector have cylindrical areas with external threads. A ring nut is screwed onto the thread and connects the two sections. The contact pins projecting outward on the other side of the cylinder are inserted into sockets of a mating plug element. If one or more contact pins are bent or otherwise damaged in the known connector so that an assembly with the Mating connector is no longer possible, the second section of the connector is completely replaced.

Also known is a plug connector with a row of contact sockets arranged in an insulating body and contact elements designed as switches, the switch being actuated by a hollow cylindrical, insulating pin projecting from a mating plug element. The contact elements each consist of a conductive pin which projects into a hollow cylinder and is surrounded by resilient contact fingers. The contact fingers are spring loaded on the pin, which closes a circuit with a signaling device. When the connector is assembled with its mating plug element, the hollow cylindrical pin slides between the conductive pin and the contact finger, whereby the conductive connection between these contact elements is broken (US Pat. No. 3,912,889). For the on-board power supply of aircraft, multi-core cables with connectors are used, which are inserted into an on-board connector receptacle that contains contact pins. 200 volt / 400 Hz supply voltage and also 28 volt feedback are preferably transmitted via the cables and the plug connectors. The connectors of the known on-board power supplies each have a housing with bores, in which electrically conductive, cylindrical bodies are arranged, which are connected on the inside of the housing with multi-core cables and are designed at their free outer ends as sockets for receiving the contact pins. The ends of the supply lines inserted into the connector can be firmly connected to the electrically conductive cylindrical bodies, the free space being poured out with a mass after assembly. The housing of the connectors are often despite their robustness, especially on the front end by z. B. Falling damaged so that further use is not possible. It also happens that the sockets themselves are damaged. In all of these cases, the supply cable is cut shortly behind the connector in order to then firmly connect the wires in a new connector to the cylindrical bodies formed as sockets in the front free end. Is a corresponding supply cable from z. B. from a manual control panel, the existing length of the supply line is normally on z. B. limited to one to two meters, so that only a limited number of renewals of plugs is possible until further cutting is excluded. In this case, a new unit must be made available. To about the connector z. B. to supply an aircraft, this is inserted into the existing connector on the aircraft connector receptacle. It should be ensured that the contact pins are maximally inserted into the sockets in order to ensure the necessary power and signal transmissions via the plug connector to the aircraft. Even with low contact z. B. the power transmission take place, however, spark gaps often form, which lead to scorching. Furthermore, the contact pins and / or sockets can be damaged if the plug device falls down, namely if the contact pins are only slightly pushed into the sockets.

An object of the present invention is to further develop a connector of the type described in the introduction such that both the second section and the cylindrical bodies arranged in this section can be replaced individually. It is also an object of the invention to be able to check whether the contact pins of the plug receptacle are properly inserted into the sockets.

The object is achieved in that the second section has bores into which the elements extend and in which the cylindrical bodies are arranged, against which the second section can be displaced when the connection to the first section is released. There is therefore a connector which is particularly well suited for the 28 volt direct voltage and 200 volt / 400 Hz on-board power supply and which comprises two detachably connected housing parts, the outer section remote from the supply cable and / or the cylindrical part arranged therein Bodies can be exchanged. In particular, there is the possibility of removing the outer housing section from the cylindrical bodies, so that there is no risk that they get caught in the housing part, for. B. if the socket ends should be bent or scorched.

If the end face and / or socket is damaged, it is no longer necessary to cut off the supply cable behind the connector in order to carry out a renewal. Rather, the possibility is created to replace only the front part, which is not directly connected to the wires of the supply lines, without any disadvantages, particularly with regard to the electrical connections. This is made possible by the fact that the wires are connected to the electrically conductive elements in the first section adjacent to the supply line and are potted there. These electrically conductive elements preferably extend in the form of a socket as female connecting parts into the second section, around which the inner ones are located pin-shaped ends acting as male connecting parts to accommodate the cylindrical body. If this can preferably be done by a clamping action, there is the additional possibility of arranging a threaded pin axially from the bottom of the sleeve in the direction of the male part, which can be screwed into an associated bore or vice versa. This ensures an even more secure connection.

Alternatively, there is the possibility of forming the cylindrical bodies in the region of their inner ends in a sleeve-shaped manner in order to push them onto ends of the electrically conductive elements which are designed in the form of pins. But it can also be screwed to ensure an intimately conductive transition.

It is also possible to provide the elements with a bayonet lock.

If the outer housing section or a socket is damaged, only the housing must first be removed. In this case, the cylindrical bodies remain on the pin-shaped end pieces of the elements which, starting from the first section, are connected to the wires of the supply lines. Then only the cylindrical bodies that are damaged may need to be replaced. A new, second housing section is then pushed over the cylindrical body, up to the end region of the first section starting from the supply line. Finally, a connection is made, for example, by screws which extend from the free outer end face of the second, that is to say the outer section, to the inner first section.

The inside diameter of the bores receiving the cylindrical bodies is matched to the outside diameter of those. In order to fit pins into the sockets and to ensure full-surface contact, rubber rings, spring elements such as metal spring washers made of, for example, a constriction known per se in the outer wall of the cylindrical body. B. Tombac material is present, which is caused by a bias of the longitudinal slots bushing. The rubber rings are preferably designed as O-rings.

According to the invention it is further proposed that a cylindrical body has an axially displaceable pin which can be actuated from the socket and which interacts with a switching element which can be activated by a display. If a contact pin of the connecting cable is now inserted into the socket designed according to the invention, the switching element is actuated as a function of the stroke of the pin. The stroke is set so that the switching element only displays such as LED activates when the contact pins of the connecting cable so far - e.g. 90% - are inserted into the sockets of the connector to ensure that the required power and signal transmissions to the aircraft or the like are made via the connector. respectively. If the contact pins are inserted into the sockets accordingly, it is ensured that e.g. in the event of an inadvertent falling of the plug device, neither the sockets nor the contact pins can be deformed.

28 volt direct voltage is preferably conducted via the socket which has the axially displaceable pin. Of course, the 200V / 400 Hz supply can also be provided via the socket or the socket can be designed as a blind socket.

In an embodiment of the invention, the length of the contact pin projecting into the socket having the pin differs from that of the other contact pins producing the power and signal transmissions. For example, the contact pin that can be actuated by the axially displaceable pin can be made quite short, so that the pin only moves when the additional contact pins have been inserted almost completely into the associated sockets.

In order to ensure that the switching element can only be actuated when force is exerted on the displaceably designed pin, the switching element changes with a spring element directed against the force of the contact pin, which is preferably designed as a helical spring surrounding the front end of the pin.

The connector according to the invention can be used not only for the direct connection of connections for the on-board supply of aircraft, but also as a coupling piece for e.g. Manual control panels, e.g. the removal of the supply lines from cable drums and / or the movement of telescopic passenger boarding bridges is controlled. In this case, the part which has the control elements is that which is referred to as the first section in the case of the plug.

Further details, advantages and features of the invention result not only from the claims, the features to be extracted from them - individually and / or in combination - but also from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing.

Fig. 1

einen Längsschnitt eines erfindungsgemäßen Steckerverbinders,

Fig. 2

eine Schnittdarstellung entlang der Linie A-B in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine Detaildarstellung einer ersten Ausführungsform in Explosionsdarstellung,

Fig. 4

eine Detaildarstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsform eines Verbindungselementes

Fig. 5

eine Explosionsdarstellung eines Steckverbinders und

Fig. 6

eine besonders hervorzuhebende Ausführungsform eines Steckverbinders.

Show it:

Fig. 1

2 shows a longitudinal section of a plug connector according to the invention,

Fig. 2

2 shows a sectional illustration along the line AB in FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

2 shows a detailed illustration of a first embodiment in an exploded view,

Fig. 4

a detailed view of a second embodiment of a connecting element

Fig. 5

an exploded view of a connector and

Fig. 6

a particularly noteworthy embodiment of a connector.

In Fig. 1, a connector (10) of an aircraft power supply device according to the invention is shown in longitudinal section, which is intended in particular for the 28 V = / 200 V / 400 Hertz on-board power supply for aircraft. The connector, also called a plug, has a housing (12) which is composed of a first inner section (14) and a second outer section (16). The housing parts (14) and (16) are detachable, for. B. connected by screws. A supply line (not shown) ends in the housing part (14) and is introduced via a sleeve (18) provided at the rear end of the housing part (14). The front end (18) of the housing part (14) has a circumferential collar (20) which partially receives the rear end (22) of the front section (16) of the plug (10). In the front housing part (16) six holes are provided as an example (two for 28 V and the rest for 200 V / 400 Hz), of which holes (36) and (38) are shown. The bores of the housing part (16) are aligned with electrically conductive elements (40) and (42) which penetrate the end face (44) of the rear section (14) of the housing (12). These electrically conductive elements (40) and (42) have a circular cross section and are in bores (24), (26), (28), (30), (32), (34). The elements (40) and (42) are designed as sleeves on their rear ends (48) and (50) projecting into the interior (46) of the first section (14) in order to receive wires of the supply lines, not shown. The ends (48) and (50) are then crimped to ensure a secure connection to the wires. Alternatively, there is the possibility of soldering or hexagonal pressing. The interior (46) is then poured out to ensure that moisture cannot penetrate. The electrically conductive elements (40), (42) also extend in the direction of the bores (36) and (38) with sections (52) and (54) into them. Sections (52) and (54) are designed as pins in FIG. 1 and as sleeves in FIG. 6. 1, cylindrical elongated bodies (56) and (58) are now plugged onto the pin-shaped ends (52) and (54) according to FIG. 1, which are shown in detail in FIG. 4, for example. The rear end (60) of the body (58) now has a hole in order to be plugged onto the pin (54) of the electrically conductive element (42). The connection between the element (56) and the element (40) takes place in the same way.

The front free ends of the cylindrical bodies are designed as sockets into which electrical connection elements such as plug pins (80) and (82) are inserted with a precise fit, in order to establish desired electrical connections via the plug (10). In the exemplary embodiment, the sockets, which are provided with the reference numerals (64) and (66) by way of example, have slots in a known manner in order to ensure adaptation when the contact pins (80) and (82) are pushed in. In order to ensure that the inner surfaces (68) and (70) of the sockets (64) and (66) are in intimate contact over the entire surface with inserted plug pins (80) and (82), the invention further provides for a recessed circumferential step ( 72) is provided in the spring elements with open metal spring washers made of z. B. Tombac material or rubber elements such as O-rings (78) can be arranged.

The spring elements (78) act in such a way that the hollow cylindrical bodies are not only present in the bores (38) and (36) with a precise fit and position, but that the inner surfaces (68) and (70) are close to the inserted plug pins (80) and ( 82), whereby the desired electrical resistance-free transition is given.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a plug connector (100) that is particularly noteworthy, the elements corresponding to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 being provided with the same reference numerals. The bores (102), (104) and (106) of the front housing part (16) are cylindrical elements (114), (116) and (118) formed as bushings in their front ends (108), (110), (112) ) which are in turn detachably connected to the electrically conductive elements (120), (122) and (124) extending from the rear housing section (14). The end (130) projecting into the housing section (14) is designed as a sleeve in order to be crimped with wires (not shown) of cables to be inserted into it. The ends (126) and (128) have an internal thread (M 5, 8mm depth) and cables to be connected are screwed on with tooth lock washers.

In contrast to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 4, the sections (132), (134) and (136) of the elements (120), (122), (124) projecting into the housing part (16) are female connection parts, thus designed as sleeves, into which the inner ends (138), (140) and (142) designed as male connecting parts in the form of pins are detachably inserted. In addition, the plug connection can be secured by screw connections.

The graphic representation further clarifies that spring elements such as open metal rings or rubber elements (144), (146) and (148) not only in the area of the bushings (108), (110), (112) on their outer surfaces, but also in the area the spring elements (150), (152), (154) corresponding to the ends of the electrically conductive elements (120), (122), (124) extending in the housing section (16) are provided.

An axially displaceable pin (158) protrudes from the end face (156) of the housing section (16), which then interacts with a proximity switch when the plug connector (100) is fully inserted into a plug receptacle, that is, when the sleeves (108) (110), (112) contact pins are inserted. Then the pin (158) actuates the proximity switch, not shown, to e.g. to indicate via a diode embedded in the housing (14) or (16) that the plug connection has been made to the required extent. However, the pin (158) is not mandatory. Rather, the connector (100) can fully perform its function without it.

A further possibility of indicating whether the plug connector is fully inserted into a plug receptacle can be seen in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 shows in detail a cylindrical body (96) corresponding to one of FIG. 6 (reference symbols (114), (116), (118)), by means of which it is possible to indicate whether the contact pin (80) or ( 82) has been pushed into the socket (160) up to or almost as far as it will go. For this purpose, an axially displaceable pin (84) is provided in the socket (160) of the cylindrical body (96), which can actuate a switch (88). The switch (88) is arranged on the inner end (90) of an electrically conductive element (98) extending from the housing part (14). The stroke of the pin (84) is determined by the penetration of the contact pin (80) into the socket (160). If the contact pin (80) is fully inserted into the socket (160), the contact pin (84) is axially displaced in the cylindrical bodies (96) and (98) such that the switch (88), which is preferably a microswitch, is actuated and thus a light emitting diode (92) enclosing circuit closes. This light emitting diode can be embedded in a wall of the housing (12) in order to indicate whether the contact pins (80), (82) of a plug receptacle or a connecting cable shown are completely inserted into the sockets of the plug (10) or (100) or Not.

The pin (84) is preferably surrounded by a helical spring (94) which produces a force in the direction of the opening of the bushing (160), that is to say pushes the pin (84) away from the switch (88). The spring force is only overcome when the contact pin (80) penetrates into the socket (160).

The body (96) having the bushing (160) is connected to the element (98) according to the embodiment according to FIG. 6, that is to say that the inner end (162) of the body (96) as the male end and the associated end (164) of the element (98) is designed as a female plug-in part.

In principle, the cylindrical body (96) can only fulfill the function of indicating by means of the pin (84) which can be displaced therein whether the contact pins (80) and (82) have been inserted sufficiently into the plug (10). Preferably, however, 28 volts = is conducted via the cylindrical body (96), whereby the supply for the display means such as light-emitting diode (92) is simultaneously secured.

In the exemplary embodiment, the front housing part (16) is screwed to the lower housing part (14) via screw elements (74) and (76) in order to be able to carry out an exchange if necessary.

If, for example, the front housing part (16) and / or one of the cylindrical bodies (56), (58) or (114), (116), (118) or (96) with the sockets, the screws ( 74) and (76) are released so that the housing part (16) can be deducted. Then there are only the cylindrical bodies (56) and (58) on the ends (52) and (54) of the elements (40) and (42) designed as pins. Now the damaged cylindrical body must be replaced. A new housing part (16) is then pushed over the cylindrical bodies (56) and (58) in order to finally be securely connected to the housing part (14) by means of the screws (74) and (76).

5, the plug device (10) according to the invention is shown in an exploded view. The elements described in connection with FIGS. 1-4 are provided with the corresponding reference symbols in FIG. 5. 5 per se, the teaching according to the invention is therefore adequately illustrated without the need for further description.

In addition to the exploded view in FIG. 5, it should be pointed out that the contact pins (80) and (82) of the connecting cable (not shown in more detail) can be of different lengths.

5 also shows that the first section (14) z. B. has a keyboard or the like, so can serve as a hand control panel.

Claims (11)

1. Plug-in connector for insertion into a connector receptacle having contact pins, comprising a housing (12) which in a longitudinal direction is separably divided into at least two portions (14, 16), of which the first portion (14) remote from the connector receptacle contains electrically conductive elements (40, 42, 120, 122, 124) and one end of a multi-core cable, whose cores which are each connected to one of the elements (40, 42, 120, 122, 124) are encapsulated in the housing (12) in the same manner as the end of the cable, the elements (40, 42, 120, 122, 124) being detachably connected to electrically conductive, cylindrical bodies (56, 58, 114, 116, 118) which are disposed in the second portion (16) and whose free outer ends take the form of sockets (64, 66) for receiving the contact pins,
   characterized in that
   the second portion (16) has bores (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34), into which the elements (40, 42, 120, 122, 124) extend and in which are disposed the cylindrical bodies (56, 58, 114, 116, 118) relative to which the second portion (16) is displaceable on release of the connection to the first portion (14).
2. Plug-in connector according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the free end (40, 50) of the element (40, 42) extending in the first portion (14) of the housing (12) is of a sleeve-like construction for connection to a core.
3. Plug-in connector according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the region of the electrically conductive element (102, 104, 106) projecting into the second portion (16) of the housing (12) is of a sleeve-like construction and may be introduced and possibly screwed into the inner-lying end of the cylindrical body (138, 140, 142).
4. Plug-in connector according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the region (52, 54) of the electrically conductive element (40, 42) projecting into the second portion (16) is constructed like a pin, which at least in sections is screwed from the inner-lying end (60, 62) of the cylindrical body (56, 58).
5. Plug-in connector for insertion into a connector receptacle having contact pins, comprising a housing (12) which in a longitudinal direction is separably divided into at least two portions (14, 16), of which the first portion (14) remote from the connector receptacle contains electrically conductive elements (122, 124) and one end of a multi-core cable, whose cores, which are each connected to one of the elements (122, 124), are encapsulated in the housing (12) in the same manner as the end of the cable, the elements (122, 124) being detachably connected to electrically conductive, cylindrical bodies (114, 116) which are disposed in the second portion (16) and whose free outer ends take the form of sockets (160) for receiving the contact pins (80, 82),
   characterized in that
   one of the cylindrical bodies has an axially displaceable pin (84), which is actuable from the socket (160) and interacts with a switching element (88) which activates a display (92) such as a light-emitting diode.
6. Plug-in connector according to claim 5,
   characterized in that
   the pin (84) in the region of the socket (160) interacts with a spring element, such as helical spring (94), which is directed counter to the action of the contact pin.
7. Plug-in connector according to claim 5,
   characterized in that
   the switching element is a switch (88) which is disposed in the first portion (14) of the housing (12) in the electrically conductive element (98) associated with the cylindrical body (96), with it preferably being possible to conduct 28 V direct voltage via the cylindrical body.
8. Plug-in connector according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   extending from the end face (156) of the second portion (16) in the direction of the connector receptacle is a pin (158), which is displaceable in an axial direction of the housing (12) and by means of which a proximity switch is operable.
9. Plug-in connector according to at least claim 1,
   characterized in that
   provided in the sleeve-shaped regions of the cylindrical body (56, 58, 114, 116, 118) or of the electrically conductive elements (120, 122, 124) is a set-back portion (72), in which spring elements such as rubber rings preferably in the form of O-rings (78) are disposed, the external diameter of the spring elements (78) substantially corresponding to the internal diameter of the bore (36, 38) which receives the cylindrical body (56, 58) or the electrically conductive elements.
10. Plug-in connector according to at least claim 1,
    characterized in that
    the cylindrical bodies (114, 116) and the associated electrically conductive elements (122, 124) are connected via a bayonet catch.
11. Use of a plug-in connector according to at least claim 1 for a power supply installation for aircraft for transmitting preferably 200 V / 400 Hz supply voltage.

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