Patent Application
20230198187
This application claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. DE 102021134299.6, filed on Dec. 22, 2021, the whole disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to an electrical plug connector and a method for assembling an electrical plug connector.
Prior art electrical plug connectors of which the assembly involves inserting a terminal into a housing, typically require a specific azimuthal or rotational orientation of the terminal during the insertion process. Achieving this orientation can be difficult and time consuming, and further, often results in damage to the terminals and/or wires associated therewith. Accordingly, an improved electrical plug connector and an improved method for assembling an electrical plug connector is desired.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a connector includes a housing defining a first receiving space and a second receiving space, a conductive electrical connecting element arranged in the second receiving space, a retaining element engaging around at least portions of the electrical connecting element and a contact-securing insert arranged in the first receiving space. The conductive electrical connecting element includes a contact sleeve adapted to connect to a contact pin, and an electrical contact adapted to connect to an electrical conductor. The contact-securing insert fixing the electrical connecting element and the retaining element within the housing in an axial direction of the electrical connecting element.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which:
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein the like reference numerals refer to the like elements. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.
In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.
The contact sleeve 101 has slots 104 along the axial direction 103. The slots 104 allow the contact sleeve 101 to be flexible along radial direction, e.g., a radial direction 105. This can be advantageous when receiving a contact pin. However, the slots 104 can also be omitted. By way of example, the contact sleeve 101 has a narrowed portion 106. Inside the narrowed portion 106, the contact sleeve 101 has a smaller radius than outside the narrowed portion. This can improve the stability of a connection with a contact pin.
The electrical contact 102 of the electrical connecting element 100 is formed by way of example as a crimp contact, in the present example as a so-called B-crimp contact. The electrical contact 101 formed as a B-crimp contact has a crimp contact base 107 and crimp flanks 108. An electrical conductor can be crimped between the crimp contact base 107 and the crimp flanks 108. In the crimped state, the crimp flanks 108 face each other and form the B-shaped crimp contact with the crimp contact base 107. The electrical conductor is not shown in
The first stop portion 201 is substantially semi-cylindrical. The second stop portion 202 is semi-cylindrical. The engagement portion 203 is in the form of a semi-cylinder shell. A radius of the first stop portion 201 dimensioned in a radial direction 205 is larger than a radius of the second stop portion 202. The radius of the second stop portion 202 is larger than a radius of the engagement portion 203. The first stop portion 201, the second stop portion 202, and the engagement portion 203 are arranged in series along an axial direction 204 of the retaining element 200. As a result, the retaining element 200 is telescopic.
On a side facing away from the second stop portion 202 and the engagement portion 203, the first stop portion 201 of the retaining element 200 has a first stop surface 206. On a side facing the second stop portion 202 and the engagement portion 203, the first stop portion 201 of the retaining element 200 has a second stop surface 207. On a side facing away from the first stop portion 201 and facing the engagement portion 203, the second stop portion 203 of the retaining element 200 has a third stop surface 208. The first stop portion 201 has a first outer wall 209. The second stop portion 202 has a second outer wall 210. The engagement portion 203 has a third outer wall 211.
The first stop portion 201 has a receiving portion 212 for receiving the electrical connecting element 100. In particular, the receiving portion 212 can be provided for receiving the electrical contact 102. Furthermore, the first stop portion 201 of the retaining element 200 has latching hooks 213 arranged on opposite sides of the retaining element in the radial direction 205 and projecting in a common half-plane. The latching hooks 213 are arranged on a side opposite the first outer wall 209. In the plugged together state of the electrical connecting element 100 with the retaining element 200, the electrical connecting element is arranged in the receiving portion 212 of the retaining element and is embraced or captured in portions by the latching hooks 213.
In the first receiving space 301 of the housing 300, first latching structures 308 are arranged on an inner side 307 of the housing 300. The first latching structures 308 are provided for receiving first latching lugs of the contact-securing insert, which will be explained in greater detail in the following description. This allows the contact-securing insert to latch in the first receiving space 301. The first receptacle 301 has a substantially cuboid shape with rounded edges, by way of example. The second receiving spaces 302 each have cylindrical shapes, for example. However, the shapes of the first receiving space 301 and the second receiving spaces 302 can also be different.
The electrical conductor 401 is part of a cable 400. The cable 400 has, by way of example, a total of four electrical conductors 401 which are electrically insulated from one another. However, the cable 400 comprises at least one electrical conductor 401. Each electrical conductor 401 of the cable 400 is connected to its own electrical connecting element 100 by connecting or crimping the electrical contact 102 of an electrical connecting element 100 to an electrical conductor 401. In
In a second method step, the retaining element 200 is plugged together with the electrical connecting element 100 in such a way that the retaining element surrounds the electrical connecting element at least in portions. One retaining element 200 is provided for each electrical connecting element.
The retaining element 200 is plugged together with the electrical connecting element 100 in such a way that the electrical contact 102 is arranged in the receiving portion 212 of the first stop portion 201 and is engaged around by the latching hooks 213. The retaining element 200 can be fixed to the electrical connecting element 100 in such a way that the retaining element 200 cannot be displaced in the axial direction 103 of the electrical connecting element 100.
The retaining element 200 can be plugged together with the electrical connecting element 100 in a transition region between the electrical contact 102 and the contact sleeve 101 in such a way that the retaining element abuts the edge 110 of the contact sleeve, whereby the retaining element is fixed to the electrical connecting element in the axial direction 103. In the assembled state, the retaining element 200 rests with the third stop surface 208 of the second stop portion 202 against the edge 110 of the contact sleeve 101. The retaining element 200 can also be plugged together with the electrical connecting element 100 in such a way that it engages in the contact sleeve 101, whereby the retaining element is fixed to the electrical connecting element in the radial direction 105. In the plugged together state, the engagement portion 203 of the retaining element 200 projects into the contact sleeve 101. The third outer wall 211 of the engagement portion 203 abuts an inner wall of the contact sleeve.
The retaining element 800 differs from the retaining element 200 in that it is configured to completely surround the electrical contact 102 of the electrical connecting element 100. The retaining element 800 has a first portion 801 and a second portion 802, which are connected to one another via a living hinge 803, which extends in the axial direction 204. Thus, the further retaining element 800 is formed in one piece. The first portion 801 has a second latching structure 205. The second portion 802 has a second latching lug 804 for engaging the second detent structure 805. The second latching lug 804 and the second latching structure 805, additionally to the living hinge 803, also allow the first portion 801 and the second portion 802 of the retaining element 800 to be connected together. In the interconnected state of the portions 801, 802, the second latching lug 804 and the second latching structure 805 are arranged on a side opposite the living hinge 803 in the radial direction 205. Instead of a living hinge 803, the retaining element 800 can also comprise a further second latching nose and a further second latching structure. In this case, the retaining element 800 is formed in two pieces. The latching hooks 213 are omitted from the retaining element 800.
The engagement portion 203 of the retaining element 800 has a third latching lug 806. The third latching lug 806 is configured to engage a third latching structure 807 of the electrical connecting element 100 formed in the contact sleeve 101 of the electrical connecting element 100. As a result, the retaining element 800 is fixed to the electrical connecting element 100 in the axial direction 204. However, the third latching lug 806 and the third latching structure 807 can also be omitted.
The retaining element 200 and the retaining element 800 can each be plugged together with the electrical connecting element 100 at least partially mechanically, i.e., in an automated manner. The retaining element 200 and the retaining element 800 can be fed to the electrical connecting element 100, in each case as individual parts or in a state in which they are plugged together with a carrier, and can be provided for plugging together.
The contact-securing insert 600 is provided for insertion into the first receiving space 301 of the housing. The contact-securing insert 600 comprises a plastics material by way of example. The contact-securing insert 600 has, by way of example, a total of four through-openings 601. Each through-opening 601 is provided for an electrical conductor 401 of the cable 400. If the cable 400 has only one electrical conductor 401, it is sufficient if the contact-securing insert 600 has only one through-opening 601. In this case, only one electrical connecting element 100 and only one retaining element 200 are used, and the housing 300 expediently has only one second receiving space 302. The through-openings 601 are each accessible via a groove 602 running parallel to the through-opening. Each electrical conductor 401 can be arranged in a through-opening 601 of the contact-securing insert 600 as part of a third method step of the method for assembling the electrical plug connector. In each case, an electrical conductor 401 is guided laterally into the through-opening 601 via the groove 602 running parallel to the through-opening.
Subsequently, in a fourth method step, the at least one electrical connecting element 100, the retaining element 200 plugged together with the electrical connecting element 100, the electrical conductor 401 connected to the electrical contact 102 of the electrical connecting element, and the contact-securing insert 600 are inserted through the first opening 303 into the housing 300. The at least one electrical connecting element 100 is first inserted into the first receiving space 301. From the first receiving space 301, the electrical connecting element 100 is inserted into the second receiving space 302 through the third opening 305.
The insertion takes place until the contact-securing insert 600 is arranged and locked in the first receiving space 301, the electrical contact 102 is arranged in the first receiving space 301 and facing the first opening 303, and the contact sleeve 101 is arranged in the second receiving space 302 and facing the second opening 304. As a result, the electrical connecting element 100 and the retaining element 200 are fixed in the axial direction 103 in the housing 300 by the contact-securing insert 600. Due to a symmetry of the electrical connecting element 100 plugged together with the retaining element 200, the electrical connecting element is inserted into the housing 300 independently of its azimuthal orientation. The contact-securing insert has the first latching lugs 605 for latching, which can latch into the latching structures 208.
The contact-securing insert 600 has a second stop 603 formed within the through-opening 601. When inserted into the housing 300, the retaining element 200 abuts the second stop 603 of the contact-securing insert 600 with the first stop surface 206, thereby fixing the electrical connecting element 100 in the housing in the axial 103 direction. However, it is not mandatory that the retaining element 200 abuts the second stop 603 in the assembled state of the electrical plug connector 700. The electrical connecting element 100 is particularly axially fixed when the retaining element 200 is in contact with both the first stop 306 and the second stop 603.
In the example shown, the retaining element 200 is shaped in such a way that, when inserted into the housing 300, the retaining element at least partially abuts an inner wall 604 of the through-opening 601 of the contact-securing insert 600. As a result the electrical connecting element 100 is fixed in the housing 300 in the radial direction 105. Here, the first outer wall 209 of the first stop portion 201 abuts the inner wall 604 of the through-opening 601. However, it is not necessary for the retaining element 200 to abut the inner wall 604 of the through-opening 601. If this is the case, however, the first stop portion 201 must have a radial cross-section which corresponds, at least in portions, to a radial cross-section of the through-opening 601. It is not necessary that the retaining element 200 has the form shown in
The housing 300 further comprises a third stop 309, which is formed in the second receiving space 302 adjacently to the second opening 304. In the assembled state, the contact sleeve 102 of the electrical connecting element 100 abuts the third stop 309, by way of example, which can prevent the electrical connecting element 100 from being inserted too far.
In addition, those areas in which it is believed that those of ordinary skill in the art are familiar, have not been described herein in order not to unnecessarily obscure the invention described. Accordingly, it has to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrative embodiments, but only by the scope of the appended claims.
It should be appreciated for those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are intended to be illustrated, and not restrictive. For example, many modifications may be made to the above embodiments by those skilled in this art, and various features described in different embodiments may be freely combined with each other without conflicting in configuration or principle.
Although several exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, an element recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of the elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102021134299.6 | Dec 2021 | DE | national |
