Patent Grant
10637188
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Patent Application No. 17205961.0 filed in the European Patent Office on Dec. 7, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The invention relates to an electrical plug connector and a method for fitting the electrical plug connector to a mating connector.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.
An electrical plug connector contains a plug housing having a wall which defines a first opening. A sleeve-like contact element holder surrounds the first opening along a longitudinal axis in a plug-in direction. The contact element holder is designed for receiving and holding an electrical contact element. A collar extends from the wall in the plug-in direction along the longitudinal axis and surrounds the contact element holder at a distance. A sleeve-like fixing element is attached releasably to the contact element holder. The fixing element surrounds the contact element holder radially. The fixing element surrounds at least a part of the contact element holder along the longitudinal axis. A plurality of first protrusions project from an outer surface of the fixing element into a free space between the fixing element and the collar. A plurality of second protrusions project from an inner surface of the fixing element through a plurality of second openings into the contact element holder. The first protrusions and the second protrusions are designed so that, after fitting the plug housing together with a mating plug housing, a counter collar of the mating plug housing extends into the free space and is in engagement with the first protrusions. This causes the first protrusions to be pressed inwardly and the second protrusions to be pressed inwardly. The second protrusions are also pressed against an electrical contact element that is held in the contact element holder.
A fixing element is provided which, when the electrical plug connector is not inserted, is attached loosely around the contact element holder so that when mounting the electrical contact element, no problems occur through obstructions which project into the contact chamber, and thus mounting the contact can be carried out with comparatively little force. The inside of the contact chamber is slightly larger than the external dimensions of the electrical contact element so that the electrical contact element has a small amount of play in the contact chamber and can be easily inserted therein as a result. The fixing element is flexible in design so that mounting the electrical contact element can be carried out in each case with little force although the clearance between the protruding elements already has the same size as the external dimensions of the contact element. Once the mounting of the electrical contact element has taken place the electrical plug connector of the invention can be fitted together with a mating connector. The collar of the mating connector deforms the fixing element so that protrusions which are attached to the fixing element project into the contact chamber and press against the contact element. The play exhibited by the contact element in the contact chamber is thereby eliminated. The contact element is now, even in the case of severe vibrations, held firmly fixed between the protrusions. The wear or damage caused by vibrations is thus minimized.
The contact element holder preferably comprises a sleeve-like fixing element and the collar preferably has a circular or oval cross-section. A circular or oval structure requires comparatively simple injection moulding tools. Sliding on the fixing element is particularly simple with this cross-section. The collar of the mating connector likewise has a circular or oval cross-section so that, after fitting together, the parts lie concentrically around the electrical contact element. This structural shape enables the development of compact electrical plug connector systems.
The inner diameter of the fixing element is particularly preferably larger than the outer diameter of the contact element holder and the outer diameter of the fixing element is smaller than the inner diameter of the collar. Through this structure the fixing element can be easily mounted and has enough space to be able to be deformed.
The fixing element is preferably flexibly deformable in the radial direction in relation to the longitudinal axis. Through the flexible deformability the protrusions can be moved flexibly in the direction of the contact element and vice versa. The electrical plug connector can thereby be fitted and released many times without the fixing element losing its function.
In a particularly preferred embodiment the wall thickness of the fixing element varies along the periphery of the fixing element. By varying the wall thickness the behaviour of the fixing element can be influenced in relation to its flexibility. The fixing element consists of plastic and is made in an injection moulding process. Areas with a reduced wall thickness are less resistant to deformation and can be deformed flexibly up to a certain degree. Through the deliberate distribution of areas with increased wall thickness and reduced wall thickness it is possible to adjust the flexibility of the fixing element, more particularly in the radial direction.
The areas of the fixing element from which first protrusions and/or second protrusions originate preferably have a greater wall thickness. A greater wall thickness makes the areas of the fixing element more rigid and more inflexible. The areas where the protrusions are attached have to transfer forces and therefore have to be more rigid.
In each case one first protrusion and one second protrusion preferably extend counter to one another and at right angles to the outer surface of the fixing element, along a common axis, away from one another. With this arrangement of the protrusions the force which the counter collar exerts on the first protrusions is transferred in a line to the second protrusions. Undesired tensions or deformations inside the fixing element are thereby avoided.
In a particularly preferred embodiment the first protrusions and the second protrusions are arranged uniformly along the periphery of the fixing element. Through this arrangement of the protrusions the fixing element is deformed evenly along the periphery and the electrical contact element is supported evenly along its periphery.
The first protrusions are preferably smaller than the second protrusions. The first protrusions should project as little as possible into the free space in order not to unnecessarily increase the structural size of the electrical plug connection and not impair the seal in its sealing function. The first protrusions can be designed in all conceivable forms, for example, as bulges or ribs. The size of the protrusions which extend radially from the surface of the fixing element corresponds roughly to the play of the electrical contact element in the contact element chamber.
The contact element holder preferably has a contact element chamber for holding the electrical contact element, wherein the inside of the contact element chamber is free of second protrusions. When the electrical plug connector is not in the fitted state no protrusions project into the contact element chamber so that the electrical contact element can be inserted and removed easily. The electrical contact element, during the process of fitting together with the mating plug, can furthermore be aligned in relation to a complementary electrical contact element at least at the start of the process. Small tolerances of the electrical plug connector can thereby be compensated. As soon as the counter collar comes into engagement with the first protrusions and thereby presses the second protrusions against the electrical contact element, the electrical contact element can no longer be moved.
In a particularly preferred embodiment the second protrusions are designed in the manner of ribs and the second openings are designed in the manner of slits wherein the slits extend from the free end of the contact element holder counter to the plug-in direction. This structure makes assembly particularly simple because the positioning of the fixing element is visible through the slits and ribs. The ribs are securely guided in the slits during movement.
An electrical contact element is preferably held in the contact element holder wherein the electrical contact element has a rectangular cross-section and wherein the contact element holder is designed to hold the electrical contact element in relation to the longitudinal axis with restricted rotation relative to the longitudinal axis. The design of the electrical contact element with a box-like structure is widespread in technology when the mating plug connector is fitted with flat blades. In order to fix this design of the electrical contact element only four protrusions are required.
The electrical contact element preferably has four side faces wherein each side face of the electrical contact element is arranged in each case opposite a second protrusion of the fixing element. With the arrangement of the protrusions opposite the side faces it is ensured that the retaining force acts directly on the side face. In practice protrusions and side faces are arranged so that they are at right angles to one another.
In a particularly preferred embodiment a ring-shaped sealing element which surrounds the contact element holder is arranged between the wall and the fixing element wherein the fixing element holds the ring-shaped sealing element in position. The fixing element holds a ring-shaped sealing element in position by its end opposite the plug-in direction. The fixing element thus serves as a safeguard against losing the ring-shaped sealing element during transport. It is particularly preferred if the outer diameter of the fixing element is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the sealing element in order not to impair the sealing action thereof.
The fixing element preferably has retaining arms which interact with retaining openings in the contact element holder in order to hold the fixing element on the contact element holder. A particularly simple manner of fastening the fixing element on the contact element holder uses retaining arms which are introduced with retaining openings in the contact element holder. It is however also conceivable to reverse the position of the arms and openings. In principle all conceivable snap-fitting or detent connections can be used where technically possible.
A process for fitting together an electrical plug connector and an electrical mating connector is particularly preferred. The process comprises the following method steps:
Preferred configurations of the invention will now be described below in further detail. Similar or corresponding details of the object according to the invention are provided with the same reference numerals.
While this invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments thereof, it is not intended to be so limited, but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims that follow. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to configure a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the number and positions of the various components described herein are intended to define parameters of certain embodiments, and are by no means limiting and are merely prototypical embodiments.
Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the following claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
As used herein, ‘one or more’ includes a function being performed by one element, a function being performed by more than one element, e.g., in a distributed fashion, several functions being performed by one element, several functions being performed by several elements, or any combination of the above.
It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact.
The terminology used in the description of the various described embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
As used herein, the term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” is, optionally, construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],” depending on the context.
Additionally, while terms of ordinance or orientation may be used herein these elements should not be limited by these terms. All terms of ordinance or orientation, unless stated otherwise, are used for purposes distinguishing one element from another, and do not denote any particular order, order of operations, direction or orientation unless stated otherwise.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17205961 | Dec 2017 | EP | regional |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190181585 A1 | Jun 2019 | US |
