Connector assembly for coaxial connectors

Abstract

Coaxial connectors contain sensitive components that can be easily damaged. If they are damaged, there is a risk that the required high data rates or high signal quality cannot be maintained. The aim of the invention is therefore to provide an assembly for connecting a coaxial cable that is less easily damaged.The aim is achieved by a connector assembly (1) for coaxial plug connections, comprising a housing (6) having a plug opening (22) which passes through the housing (6) in a plug-in direction (4); comprising a connector (2) having a coaxial connector (24) which can be plugged together with a mating connector (56) in a plug-in direction (4), which projects through the plug opening (22) and is displaceable in the connector opening (22) transversely to the plug-in direction (4) relative to the housing (6); and comprising a clamping member (8) which can be transferred into a holding position (39) in which the connector (2) is frictionally fixed to the housing (6). This displaceability allows a force-free connection when transmitting audio and video signals and in laboratory technology, which prevents damage.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector assembly for coaxial connectors with an alignable connector.

[0002] Due to their good shielding, coaxial cables are used to transmit weak and / or high-frequency signals over relatively long distances. They are used to transmit audio and video signals, as well as in laboratory technology for signal transmission with the least possible interference. The coaxial connectors used for connection are subject to stringent requirements. At the same time, however, coaxial connectors contain sensitive components, such as the often delicate inner conductor, which can be easily damaged. Damage to these components poses a risk that the required high data rates or high signal quality cannot be maintained.

[0003] The aim of the invention is therefore to provide an assembly for connecting a coaxial cable which is less easily damaged.

[0004] The present invention solves this problem by a connector assembly for coaxial connectors with a housing having a connector opening that extends through the housing in a plug-in direction; with a connector having a coaxial connector that can be plugged together with a mating connector in a plug-in direction, that extends through the connector opening and that is displaceable in the connector opening transversely to the plug-in direction relative to the housing; and with a clamping member that can be transferred into a holding position in which the connector is frictionally fixed to the housing.

[0005] This solution allows for a force-free or nearly force-free connection, which protects the individual components and is particularly suitable for sensitive materials. This type of connection thus results in less or no damage from unavoidable mechanical movement of the connector. Another advantage is the use of fewer components, resulting in lower costs and reduced complexity.

[0006] The invention can be further improved by the following embodiments, each of which is advantageous in itself and can be combined with one another as desired.

[0007] In one design, the coaxial connector can be plugged in from both sides, acting as an adapter, allowing a connection both toward and away from the housing. This eliminates the need for complex cable connections. This is particularly useful when a mating connector is already present on the housing side, for example, on a circuit board or other electrical or electronic component.

[0008] As is common for coaxial connectors, the coaxial connector can be equipped with an inner conductor held in a dielectric within the outer conductor. The inner conductor can be accessible from both sides.

[0009] In order to mechanically protect the plug connection provided by the coaxial connector, the coaxial connector can be surrounded by a plug collar on at least one side located along the plug-in direction, preferably on both sides opposite each other in the plug-in direction.

[0010] In the simplest case, the housing is simply a wall of a housing, a cover, or a bulkhead. It does not have to form an interior space. In another embodiment, the housing can partially enclose an interior space that serves to accommodate electrical and / or electronic components, such as a circuit board, a camera, a microphone, or another sensor. The coaxial connector can protrude into the interior space to make contact with this component or a mating connector attached to it.

[0011] In one embodiment, the connector can have a housing receptacle into which a portion of the housing protrudes and into which the portion of the housing is clamped when the clamping member is in the holding position. In this way, the housing and connector can be easily secured against one another. The housing receptacle can, for example, be designed at least in sections as an annular groove, and an edge of the connector opening can be received in the annular groove.

[0012] According to a further embodiment, the connector can have an upper part and a lower part that can be joined to the upper part. This division allows different functions to be assigned to the upper part and the lower part. For example, the lower part can have or form the outer conductor of the coaxial connector. In such a case, the lower part is preferably made of a metallic material. The upper part can be made of an electrically non-conductive material. In such a configuration, the coaxial connector can be formed by the lower part. Alternatively or cumulatively, the housing can be arranged between the upper part and the lower part when the upper and lower parts are joined together.

[0013] The upper part can be designed to be placed (exclusively) from the outside, in the plug-in direction, onto the plug opening of the housing, while the lower part can be designed to be placed (exclusively) from the opposite side of the housing, opposite to the plug-in direction, or from the inside of the housing. The upper and lower parts are designed to be joined together with a positive connection in the plug-in direction and movable transversely to the plug-in direction. With such a design, the housing receptacle is created, for example, only by connecting the upper and lower parts.

[0014] For example, the housing receptacle can be limited in the plug-in direction by the upper part and the lower part, so that the housing, in particular an edge of the plug opening, is located between the upper part and the lower part in the plug-in direction.

[0015] The upper part can provide the structures necessary for attaching a surrounding housing to the connector, such as locking projections and / or recesses, so that another connector can be connected to the connector assembly from outside the housing.

[0016] The lower part can be joined to the upper part in various ways, for example, welded, clipped, latched, locked, hot-riveted, and / or glued. The connection between the upper and lower parts can be achieved by means of form-fitting and / or material bonding.

[0017] In one embodiment, the upper and lower parts can be movable relative to each other, particularly in the plug-in direction, as long as the holding position is not assumed. In the holding position, the upper and lower parts can be moved toward each other compared to a position outside the holding position. This means, for example, that the housing is clamped in the housing receptacle, which narrows as a result.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the plug connector, in particular the lower part and / or upper part, can be rotatable in the plug opening as long as the clamping member is not in the holding position.

[0019] The lower part can protrude into the interior of the housing or be located mostly inside the interior.

[0020] In one embodiment, the lower part can have a flange section for engagement with the housing, wherein the flange section preferably lies in a plane extending parallel to the normal plane of the plug-in direction. The flange section can guide the alignment of the connector. It can also provide a sealing surface against which a seal arranged between the flange section and the housing rests. The flange can be part of the housing receptacle.

[0021] The upper part can also have a flange that runs parallel to the flange section of the lower part. In such a configuration, the housing receptacle can be delimited in the plug-in direction by the flange and the flange section.

[0022] In one embodiment of the connector assembly, the clamping element can be inserted into a receptacle of the connector transversely to the insertion direction. Upon insertion into the receptacle, the clamping element can press the connector increasingly more strongly against the housing with increasing insertion depth, particularly until the retaining position is reached.

[0023] In such a configuration, the clamping element can engage around the coaxial connector or the lower part. For this purpose, the clamping element can have two legs that, in the holding position, accommodate the coaxial connector between them, perpendicular to the plugging direction.

[0024] The connector and housing can be clamped by pushing the upper and lower parts apart in the connector receptacle by inserting the clamping element and then moving them towards each other on the housing receptacle. This can be achieved, for example, by the upper and lower parts in the receptacle facing each other in the plug-in direction and the clamping element inserted into the receptacle being located between the upper and lower parts in the plug-in direction. Furthermore, the upper part in the receptacle can be arranged after the lower part in the plug-in direction and the lower part in the housing receptacle can be arranged after the upper part in the plug-in direction. It is advantageous here if the upper part is movable in the plug-in direction relative to the lower part before reaching the holding position, as already mentioned above.

[0025] In another design, the clamping element is inserted between the connector and the housing to clamp the connector against the housing. While this variant is simpler in construction, it is somewhat more difficult to seal and can cause relative movement between the connector and the housing when the clamping element is inserted.

[0026] A further advantageous embodiment provides that the clamping element has an assembly position that is located in front of the holding position in the direction in which the clamping element is inserted into the receptacle. In the assembly position, the upper part and the lower part are locked in the plug-in direction by the clamping element. In the assembly position, the upper part and the lower part can thus be moved together to align them with the mating connector.

[0027] The receptacle can have at least one groove and / or one shaft into which the clamping element is inserted. The receptacle and / or clamping element have wedge surfaces that are inclined relative to a plane normal to the insertion direction. A wedge surface of the receptacle interacts with the clamping element and / or a wedge surface of the clamping element interacts with the receptacle. The relative movement required for clamping between the upper and lower parts, or between the connector and the housing, is generated via the wedge surfaces.

[0028] The receptacle is hermetically separated from other openings in the connector that provide access to the coaxial connector along the mating direction, for example, by walls. This prevents substances from penetrating the coaxial connector through the receptacle and contaminating it.

[0029] The clamping element can also have a threaded section, so that the wedge surfaces are not straight, as in the slider, but rather spiral. For example, the clamping element can be a union nut screwed over the connector, particularly the upper part, which is screwed against the housing or the lower part and, like the slider, moves the upper and lower parts, or the connector and the housing, relative to each other to clamp the housing.

[0030] In one variant of this design, the clamping element is part of a bayonet lock. A bayonet is a special type of thread in which the tightening movement takes place over only a small portion of a full revolution.

[0031] For example, the clamping element can have wings formed by the connector. The wings can be formed on the upper part or, preferably, on the lower part, in particular on the outer conductor. They can be provided with wedge surfaces that extend helically around the plugging direction, through which the housing and connector are clamped. The wings protrude outward from the connector, in particular transverse to the plugging direction.

[0032] The housing can have recesses complementary to the wings, through which the wings can be inserted into the housing. The recesses are formed, for example, by the edge of the connector opening. With wings inserted between or behind the recesses, the connector can be moved transversely to the plugging direction in the connector opening to enable alignment with the mating connector. Once the connector is aligned and mated with the mating connector, it is secured by frictional engagement by actuating the bayonet lock, i.e., a relative rotation between the housing and the connector around the plugging direction relative to the housing.

[0033] In this design, the housing receptacle is formed between the wings and a flange surface of the connector. The flange surface can be formed by the flange section of the lower part or the flange of the upper part.

[0034] In the holding position, the wings are advantageously inserted into the housing. This allows the bayonet lock to be operated from outside the housing. In the holding position, the wings engage behind sections that extend between the recesses. These sections can be provided with helical wedge surfaces, either alternatively or cumulatively.

[0035] When using a bayonet lock, the connector can be inserted into the connector opening as a single, finished component. When using an upper and lower part, these can be pre-assembled when the connector is inserted into the connector opening.

[0036] To enhance the frictional engagement in one of the above embodiments, the housing may have at least one elevation projecting in or against the plugging direction, particularly at the edge of the plug opening. The elevation may be formed as an elongated, straight, or curved, for example, annular rib or, equivalently, as a ridge, and may taper to a point. Instead of or in addition to such a linear elevation, point elevations in the form of knobs or points may also be present. Alternatively or cumulatively, the plug connector, in particular the upper part and / or the lower part, may also be provided with at least one such elevation.

[0037] The at least one elevation presses into the part opposite it during clamping and thus leads to an improved fixation of the connector and housing.

[0038] To protect the interior of the housing against ingress of substances, the connector assembly may have a seal between the upper and lower parts, and / or between the connector and the housing.

[0039] In the finished connector assembly, the connector can be housed in a surrounding housing and / or additionally glued, welded, hot-riveted and / or overmolded to the housing.

[0040] The mobility of the connector parallel to the opening plane of the connector assembly can be a translational movement along the opening plane. The connector can also be rotatable about an axis parallel to the plug-in direction. In particular, the connector can be rotated from a position in which the connector is movable to a position in which the connector is fixed. This mobility has the advantage of finding an ideal position for the plug connection that is force-free and thus minimizes the load on the plug connection. Since the connector and housing are only fixed relative to each other in the holding position, both can still move to relieve any tension in the plug connection.

[0041] Furthermore, the connector assembly may comprise an electrical conductor having a plug connected to the coaxial plug in the holding position through an opening of the plug collar in the plugging direction.

[0042] The invention also relates to an alignable connector for the connector assembly in one of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0043] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the drawings using exemplary embodiments. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for elements that correspond to one another in terms of function and / or structure.

[0044] In accordance with the above description, a feature of an embodiment may be omitted if the technical effect associated with that feature is not important for a particular application. Conversely, in accordance with the above description, a feature not yet present in the embodiment may be added to the embodiment if the technical effect of the feature to be added is important for a particular application. Each embodiment may be provided with the features of the other embodiment that differ in this respect.

[0045] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of the connector assembly in a fixed position; Fig. 2 a schematic exploded view of the connector assembly of the Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a schematic perspective view of the connector assembly of the Fig. 1 in a view along the arrow III of the Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a schematic perspective view of the connector assembly of the Fig. 1 in a view along the arrow IV of the Fig. 1; Fig. 5 a schematic perspective view of the connector assembly of the Fig. 1; Fig. 6 a schematic sectional view of the connector assembly of the Fig. 1 before mating with a mating connector; Fig. 7 a schematic sectional view of the connector assembly of the Fig. 1 during mating with a mating connector; Fig. 8 a schematic sectional view of the connector assembly of the Fig. 1 after mating with a mating connector; Fig. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a connector for a connector assembly; Fig. 10a schematic exploded view of a connector assembly with the connector of the Fig. 9; Fig. 11 a schematic perspective view of the connector assembly of the Fig. 10 along the arrow XI of the Fig. 10; Fig. 12a schematic sectional view of the connector assembly of the Fig. 10 before mating with a mating connector; Fig. 13a schematic sectional view of the connector assembly of the Fig. 10 during mating with a mating connector; and Fig. 14 a schematic sectional view of the connector assembly of the Fig. 10 after plugging together with the mating connector.

[0046] First, the structure of a connector assembly is shown as an example using the design of the Fig. 1 to 8 described.

[0047] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a connector assembly 1. The connector assembly 1 has a connector 2, which is inserted into a housing 6 in the plugging direction 4. The connector 2 is attached to the housing 6 by a clamping member 8.

[0048] The connector 2 has a connector collar 10 that projects in the opposite direction to the plugging direction and can be made of an electrically insulating material, for example, a plastic. The connector collar 10 has an opening 12 through which an electrical conductor (not shown here), for example, a cable or a connector such as a Fakra connector, can be inserted into the connector assembly 1 in the plugging direction 4. The connector collar 10 surrounds, at least in sections, a receiving space 13 that is accessible through the opening 12 and in which the electrical conductor can be received.

[0049] The connector 2 can have a receptacle 14 into which the clamping member 8 can be inserted in order to fix the connector 2 to the housing 6. The receptacle 14 can have at least one continuous shaft and / or slot that penetrates the connector 2 radius-parallel, i.e. perpendicular to the plug-in direction 4. The shaft or slot can be closed at one end or open, i.e., continuous. The at least one slot or shaft is preferably located on a side 16 of the connector 2 that points in a direction 18 perpendicular to the plug-in direction 4. The receptacle 14 is preferably separated from the receiving space 13, for example, by a wall (not visible here).

[0050] On a side 20 opposite side 16, the receptacle 14 may have at least one further slot or shaft. A slot or shaft may have a rectangular cross-section.

[0051] The receptacle 14 can be arranged in a base 21 of the connector 2, which has a larger diameter than the connector collar 10 and from which the connector collar 10 extends. The base 21 and the connector collar 10 can be prismatic, in particular cylindrical or hollow-cylindrical.

[0052] The housing 6 is depicted here as cuboid-shaped and may have rounded edges and corners. The housing 6 may be part of a housing of an electrical or electronic device not depicted here. This device may be, for example, a camera, a microphone, or another sensor for detecting a physical measurement variable. A part of this device may be housed in the housing 6.

[0053] The housing 6 has a plug opening 22 into which the connector 2 can be inserted and which connects an external environment of the housing 6 with its interior. When inserted, the connector 2 protrudes from both sides of the plug opening 22.

[0054] The connector 2 has an upper part 23 that protrudes from the plug opening 22 toward the outside. The plug collar 10 and the receptacle 14 as well as the base 21 are preferably formed in the upper part 23.

[0055] The connector assembly 1 further comprises a coaxial connector 24 and optionally one or more seals 26 that seal one or more gaps between the connector 2 and the housing 6. The coaxial connector 24 is part of a lower part 25 of the connector 2, which extends into the housing 6 when the connector 2 is attached to the housing 6.

[0056] In one variant, the lower part 25 and the upper part 23 can be held together by the clamping element 8, which is at least partially inserted into the receptacle 14, before the connector 2 and the housing 6 are fixed relative to one another by clamping. Alternatively, the lower part 25 and the upper part 23 can also be joined together without the clamping element 8, for example by gluing, screwing, hot riveting and / or welding. However, the lower part 25 and the upper part 23 can preferably be joined together without tools, for example by plugging them together along the plugging direction 4. For this purpose, automatic locking mechanisms can be provided, for example.

[0057] When the lower part 25 and the upper part 23 are joined together, a portion of the housing 6 is arranged between the lower part 25 and the upper part 23. For this purpose, a groove-shaped housing receptacle can be formed jointly by the lower part 25 and the upper part 23, into which an edge of the plug opening 22 protrudes at least in part.

[0058] The lower part 25 may have a flange portion 27 that does not fit through the plug opening 22, for example, because it has a larger diameter than the plug opening 22. The housing receptacle is formed between the surface of the flange portion 27 facing the housing 6 and the end of the base 21 facing the housing 6.

[0059] The coaxial connector 24 extends counter to the plugging direction 4 through the plug opening 22 and the base 21 of the upper part 23 and can protrude into the interior of the plug collar 10, wherein the coaxial connector 24 is preferably spaced radially from the plug collar 10. In the plugging direction 4, the coaxial connector 24 can protrude from the flange section 27 and protrude into the interior of the housing 6. In this way, the coaxial connector 24 is accessible from both sides, counter to the plugging direction 4 from the interior of the housing 6 and in the plugging direction 4 from outside the housing 6.

[0060] The connector opening 22 can have an elevation 28 in the form of one or more ribs or projections on its edge, which protrudes in or opposite to the plugging direction 4 and can improve the fixation of the connector 2 transversely to the plugging direction 4. An annular rib extending around the connector opening 22 is shown merely as an example.

[0061] The lower part 25 can have a base 29 arranged between the coaxial connector 24 and the flange portion 27. The diameter of the base 29 can be smaller than the diameter of the flange portion 27 and larger than the diameter of the coaxial connector 24. When the upper part 23 and lower part 25 are mated together, the base 29 of the lower part 25 is received in the base 21 of the upper part 23.

[0062] The base 29 of the lower part 25 has one or more shafts or slots that are part of the receptacle 14 and, when the upper and lower parts are fully and correctly plugged together, complete the shafts or slots of the upper part 23 by being aligned with one another. The clamping element 8 can therefore only be fully inserted into the receptacle 14 when the upper and lower parts are plugged together as intended. The receptacle 14 can, as in the embodiment shown here, be separate from the housing receptacle formed between the upper part 23 and lower part 25. One of the seals 26 can be arranged between the receptacle 14 and the plug opening 22 on each of the two sides located in the plugging direction 4, so that no moisture can penetrate into the interior of the housing 6 via the receptacle 14.These seals 26 can, for example, be arranged once between the base 21 and the housing 6 and once between the housing 6 and the flange section 27.

[0063] The lower part 25 has Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 comprises the inner conductor 30 of the coaxial connector 24 and a dielectric 32, which galvanically separates the inner conductor 30 from an outer conductor 34 forming a housing part of the lower part 25 and holds it in a through-opening 36 of the coaxial connector 24. The through-opening 36 is closed by the dielectric 32. The outer conductor 34 can serve as a shield for the coaxial connector 24.

[0064] In the illustrated embodiment, the flange portion 27 is formed by the outer conductor 34, which also includes the base 29. Furthermore, the outer conductor 34 forms a collar 38 on both sides located along the plug-in direction 4, projecting along the plug-in direction 4, into which the inner conductor 30 projects.

[0065] While the outer conductor 34 or the lower part 25 can be formed from a metal material, the upper part 23 is preferably formed from a plastic. For this reason, it may be useful for the elevation 28 to protrude from the upper part 23, so that when the upper part 23 is pressed against the housing 6, a local deformation occurs due to the depression of the elevation 28 into the upper part 23, thus reinforcing the frictional engagement. Of course, the same effect is achieved if, alternatively or cumulatively, an elevation is arranged on the upper part 23.

[0066] In Fig. 3, the clamping element 8 is shown in the fully inserted state, the holding position 39. In the holding position 39, the connector 2 and the housing 6 are fixed relative to each other in a relative position transverse to the plugging direction 4. The structure of the clamping element 8 is shown in Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the clamping member 8 is a slider that is inserted into the connector 2 transversely to the plugging direction 4 in order to create a clamping connection between the connector 2 and the housing 6.

[0067] Accordingly, the clamping member 8 can be fork-shaped with two legs 40 arranged parallel to one another. The distance between the two legs 40 is greater than the diameter of the through-opening 36. In another embodiment, it can even be greater than the diameter of the receiving space 13. As a result, the legs 40 can be pushed in the receptacle 14 in a direction transverse to the plugging direction 4 past the through-opening 36 or even past the receiving space 13, which then lies between the two legs 40 when the clamping member 8 is fully inserted and is preferably separated from them by a wall.

[0068] One end 42 of the legs 40 is free, while the other end 44 of the legs 40 is connected to one another by a base 46, resulting in an overall U-shape of the clamping member 8. The base 46 forms a handling surface or handle 48 on its side facing away from the free ends 42 of the legs 40, which should allow both a tool-free pressing of the clamping member 8 into the receptacle 14 and a tool-free withdrawal of the clamping member 8. Such a handle 48 can be formed in a simple manner by the base 46, which forms a flat body, being kinked or bent to one side out of the plane spanned by the legs 40. In an alternative embodiment, the clamping member 8 is pressed in and / or withdrawn using a special tool with counterhold on the connector assembly 1, for example with counterhold on the upper part 23.This is useful when high forces must be applied to press the clamping element in. Using the special tool protects the sensitive components of the connection when securing the connector 2.

[0069] When fully inserted, the clamping element 8 can be secured in the receptacle 14, for example, by positive locking and / or frictional engagement. The connector 2 is, for example, frictionally fixed relative to the housing 6 in the plane defined by the connector opening 22.

[0070] If the clamping element 8 is fully inserted into the receptacle 14, the connector 2 is held immovably on the housing 6. As Fig. 3 shows, when the clamping member 8 is fully inserted, only the handle 48 protrudes from the connector 2. Furthermore, the free ends 42 on the opposite side can still protrude from the receptacle 14.

[0071] In particular, the clamping element 8 can press the base 21 of the upper part 23 and the base 29 of the lower part 25 against each other and / or move them toward each other, clamping the intermediate section of the housing 6. This clamping effectuates the frictionally locked fixation of the connector 2 to the housing 6. Additionally, the frictionally locked connector 2 can be glued, welded, hot-riveted, and / or overmolded to the housing 6.

[0072] The clamping can be achieved by a wedge-like interaction of the receptacle 14 and the clamping member 8. Thus, the receptacle 14 and / or the clamping member 8 can have surfaces inclined relative to the insertion direction 4, via which the insertion movement of the clamping member 8 directed transversely to the insertion direction 4 is converted into a relative movement of the upper part 23 and the lower part 25 toward each other, directed parallel to the insertion direction 4.

[0073] Of course, a wedge-like interaction can also be achieved through other configurations. For example, the clamping element 8 can be designed as a union nut that is screwed over the base 21, rests against the housing 6, and pulls the flange section 27 against the housing 6 in the opposite direction to the insertion direction 4. However, this requires a connection between the upper part 23 and the lower part 25 that can withstand high tensile forces.

[0074] In Fig. 5, the clamping element 8 is not yet fully inserted into the receptacle 14, so that it is in an intermediate position 49. In this state, the connector 2 is positively connected to the housing 6 along the plug-in direction 4, but is not yet fixed in the plane spanned by the plug opening 22 relative to the housing 6. The connector 2 can therefore be moved transversely to the plug-in direction 4 while the clamping element 8 is not yet fully plugged in, as indicated by the arrows 50. Thanks to this mobility, the position of the coaxial connector 24 can be adapted to the position of a mating connector of the device arranged in the housing 6, which may deviate from a desired position, so that after the coaxial connector 24 and the mating connector have been plugged together, the connection is force-free.Once the coaxial connector 24 and the mating connector are plugged together, the connector 2 can be fixed relative to the housing 6 by completely inserting the clamping member 8 in the plane of the connector opening 22.

[0075] This is explained below with reference to the Fig. 6 to 8 are explained in more detail.

[0076] In Fig. 6, the device 52 is represented by way of example by a printed circuit board 54 on which a mating connector 56 is located, which is complementary to the part of the coaxial connector 24 pointing in the plugging direction 4 and is to be plugged together with the latter.

[0077] The clamping member 8 is not yet fully inserted into the receptacle 14, so that the connector 2 can be displaced relative to the housing 6 in the plane spanned by the connector opening 22 in order to align it with the mating connector 56, as indicated by the double arrow 50.

[0078] The edge of the plug opening 22 is received, at least in sections, in a housing receptacle 57, which is merely an example and is formed jointly by the upper part 23 and the lower part 25. Opposite the plug-in direction 4, the housing receptacle 57 is delimited by the upper part 23 and in the plug-in direction 4 by the lower part 25.

[0079] The receptacle 14 for the clamping member 8 is also formed by both the lower part 25 and the upper part 23. The receptacle 14 is formed, at least in sections, on its side facing opposite to the plug-in direction 4 by a section of the lower part 25 and, at least in sections, on its side facing in the plug-in direction 4 by a section of the upper part 23. On the receptacle 14, the upper part 23 and lower part 25 are thus arranged exactly opposite to the plug-in direction 4 than on the housing receptacle 57. This configuration results in the upper part 23 and lower part 25 being held together in the plug-in direction 4 as soon as the clamping member 8 is pushed into the receptacle 14 between the sections of the upper part 23 and lower part 25 located there.

[0080] Once the coaxial connector 24 and the mating connector 56 are aligned, they can be plugged together as shown in Fig. 7. When the coaxial connector 24 and mating connector 56 are plugged together, the inner conductor 30 of the coaxial connector 24 contacts a complementarily designed inner conductor of the mating connector 56 in the housing 6. It is irrelevant whether the inner conductor 30 is designed as a socket or as a pin. The outer conductor 34 of the coaxial connector 24 contacts an outer conductor of the mating connector, whereby it is irrelevant here whether the outer conductor 34 is plugged into or over the outer conductor of the mating connector.

[0081] Once the coaxial connector 24 and the mating connector 56 are plugged together and the connector 2 and the mating connector 56 are aligned with one another without force, this position is fixed by actuating the clamping element 8. For this purpose, for example, the clamping element 8 is pushed completely into the receptacle 14. The receptacle 14 and the clamping element 8, in particular its leg 40, interact in a wedge-shaped manner, as already explained, so that when the clamping element 8 is pushed in, the sections of the upper part 23 and lower part 25 that are opposite one another in the receptacle 14 are pressed apart. The pressing apart of the upper part 23 and lower part 23 in the receptacle causes the upper part 23 and lower part 25 to move towards one another in the area of the housing receptacle 57. The section of the housing 6 located in the housing receptacle 57 is thereby clamped between the upper part 23 and the lower part 25 and secured to the housing 6 by frictional engagement. This is Fig. 8 shown.

[0082] The wedge-shaped interaction of clamping member 8 and receptacle 14 can be achieved, for example, by the thickness of the legs 40 increasing towards the base 46 and / or the clear width of the receptacle between upper part 23 and lower part 25 decreasing in the direction away from the legs 40.

[0083] The housing 6 can be provided with a recess 59 around the connector opening 22, which completely accommodates the base 21 or the flange 58. The edge of the recess 59 can serve as a stop that limits the mobility of the connector 2. At the same time, the recess 59 facilitates a centered insertion of the upper part 23 into the connector opening 22.

[0084] The frictional fixing of the relative position of connector 2 and housing 6 in the plane spanned by the connector opening 22 can be supplemented by gluing, welding, hot riveting and / or overmolding of connector 2 and housing 6.

[0085] The Fig. 9 to 14 show a further embodiment of a connector assembly 1, wherein in the following only the differences to the embodiment of the Fig. 1 to 8. Furthermore, the above comments on the Fig. 1 to 8.

[0086] According to Fig. 9, in the connector 2 of this connector assembly 1, the upper part 23 and the lower part 25 are already structurally combined before being attached to the housing 6. The upper part 23 and the lower part 25 can be monolithically formed from a body molded in a multi-component process. For example, the outer conductor 34 made of metal and forming the lower part 25 can be overmolded by the plastic upper part 23. Alternatively, the upper part 23 and the lower part 25 can also be assembled from two or more parts.

[0087] Another difference to the design of the Fig. 1 to 8 is that the clamping element 8 is integrated into the connector 2 and the housing 6 and is not a separate component. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the clamping element 8 is part of a bayonet lock 60, one part 62 of which is formed by the connector 2, in particular by the lower part 25, and the other part 64 of which is formed by the housing 6, in particular by the edge of the connector opening 22.

[0088] In a bayonet closure 60, like a thread, the wedge surfaces on the slider, which extend in a straight line, are curved in a spiral shape and run around the plug-in direction 4. The clamping movement is therefore not carried out by pushing in, but by turning.

[0089] On the connector 2, the part 62 comprises a plurality of, for example, two to six, here three, wings 66 projecting transversely to the plug-in direction 4 from the connector 2, which are spaced apart in the plug-in direction 4 from the flange section 27 or the flange 58 or base 21, which here form the clamping member 8. The housing receptacle 57 is formed between the wings 66 and the flange section 27 or flange 58.

[0090] The connector 2 can also have one or more handles 48. Thus, the connector collar 10 can serve as a handle 48 and / or grip or finger recesses 68 are distributed around the circumference, facing opposite to the plugging direction 4.

[0091] The part 64 of the bayonet lock 60 formed by the housing 6 has recesses 70 which are formed by the edge of the plug opening 22 and are constructed in a complementary manner to the wings 66 in terms of number and shape, so that the wings 66 can be inserted through the recesses 70 into the interior of the housing 6. By rotating the plug connector 2 around the plugging direction 4, the wings 66 inserted through the recesses 70 engage behind the sections 72 which are formed by the edge of the plug opening 22 and connect adjacent recesses 70 in the direction around the plugging direction 4, as Fig. 11 shows.

[0092] The sections 70 interact with the wings 66 in a wedge-shaped manner in that by screwing in 74 the wings 66 around the plug-in direction 4 under the sections 72 of the connector 2 are increasingly pulled against the housing 6, wherein the housing 6 is clamped in the housing receptacle 57 between the wings 66 and the flange section 27 and / or flange 58 and is frictionally secured to the housing 6.

[0093] The recesses 70 are preferably slightly larger than the wings 66, so that the connector 2 can be displaced relative to the housing 6 in the plane of the connector opening 22 even when the wings 66 and the sections 72 lie in a common plane.

[0094] The connector assembly 1 can also have a seal 26 which, in this embodiment, seals the connector 2 to the housing 6 after a curing time.

[0095] In Fig. 12 shows how the connector 2 is plugged onto the housing 6 in the plugging direction 4, whereby the mating connector 56 may already be located inside the housing 6.

[0096] Once the coaxial connector 24 and the mating connector 56 are aligned, they can be plugged together. In the plugged-together state, the connector 2 is as in the embodiment of the Fig. 1 to 8 remain movable relative to the housing 6 in the plane of the plug opening 22 as long as the clamping element 8 is not yet fully actuated. This allows the plug connection to relax and become force-free even in the plugged-in state. This is Fig. 13. Although the connector 2 is already located on the housing 6 and the wings 66 have moved past the sections 72 in the plugging direction 4, the housing 6 and the connector 2 are nevertheless displaceable relative to one another, as indicated by the double arrow 50.

[0097] Then the connector 2 is rotated around the plug-in direction 4, as shown in Fig. 11, so that the wings 66 move under the sections 72, which thus retract into the housing receptacle 57. The width of the housing receptacle 57 decreases in the direction of rotation as the material thickness of the wings 66 and / or the sections 72 increases in the direction of rotation. With increasing rotation 74, the housing 6 is thus increasingly clamped and frictionally fixed relative to the connector 2.

[0098] Instead of a bayonet lock 60, a conventional screw connection (not shown) can also be used, wherein the lower part 25 is unchanged and the upper part 23 can be provided with a union nut, so that the lower part 25 is pulled towards the housing 6 when screwing and the housing 6 is clamped between the lower part 25 and the upper part 23. Reference symbol 1 connector assembly 2 connectors 4 Plug-in direction 6 housings 8 clamping device 10 plug collars 12 Through hole of the plug collar 13 Recording room 14 recording 16 Side of the plug collar 18 Direction perpendicular to the plug-in direction 20 opposite side of the connector collar 21 bases 22 plug opening 23 Top 24 coaxial connectors 25 lower part 26 Seal, O-ring 27 Flange section 28 Survey 29 Base of the lower part 30 inner conductors 32 Dielectric 34 outer conductors 36 passage opening 38 Collar of the outer conductor 39 Stop position 40 legs 42 free end of a leg 44 other end of a leg 46 Base 48 Handling surface / handle 49 Intermediate position 50 arrows 52 Device 54 circuit board 56 mating connectors 57 Housing holder 58 flange 59 Deepening 60 bayonet lock 62 connector-side part of the bayonet lock 64 housing-side part of the bayonet lock 66 wings 68 Grip or finger recess 70 recesses 72 sections between the recesses 74 Turning the bayonet lock

Claims

[1] Connector assembly (1) for coaxial connectors with a housing (6), which has a plug opening (22) which passes through the housing (6) in a plugging direction (4); with a connector (2), which has a coaxial connector (24) which can be plugged together with a mating connector (56) in a plugging direction (4), the plug opening (22) protrudes and is displaceable in the plug opening (22) transversely to the plugging direction (4) relative to the housing (6); and with a clamping device (8), which can be transferred into a holding position (39) in which the connector (2) is frictionally fixed to the housing (6). [2] Connector assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connector (2) has a housing receptacle (57) into which a portion of the housing (6) projects and in the holding position (39) of the clamping member (8) the section of the housing (6) is clamped into the housing receptacle (57). [3] Connector assembly (1) according to claim 2, wherein the housing receptacle (57) is designed at least in sections as an annular groove and an edge of the plug opening (22) is received in the annular groove. [4] Connector assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connector (2) has an upper part (23) and a lower part (25) which can be joined to the upper part (23), wherein the lower part (25) forms the outer conductor (34) of the coaxial connector (24) and the upper part (23) is made of an electrically non-conductive material. [5] Connector assembly (1) according to claim 4, wherein the lower part (25) has a flange portion (27) for engagement with the housing (6). [6] Connector assembly (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the housing (6) is arranged in the plug-in direction (4) between the upper part (23) and the lower part (25) and the two opposite sides of the housing receptacle (57) in the plug-in direction (4) are each formed by the upper part (23) and the lower part (25). [7] Connector assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the connector (2) inserted into the connector opening (22) is rotatable relative to the housing (6). [8] Connector assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the clamping member (8) can be inserted into a receptacle (14) of the connector (2) transversely to the plug-in direction (4) and, when inserted into the receptacle (14), presses the connector (2) against the housing (6). [9] Connector assembly (1) according to claim 8, wherein in the receptacle (14) the upper part (23) and the lower part (25) are opposite one another in the plug-in direction (4) and the clamping member (8) inserted into the receptacle (14) is located between the upper part (23) and the lower part (25) in the plug-in direction (4). [10] Connector assembly (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the upper part (23) is movable in the plugging direction (4) relative to the lower part (25). [11] Connector assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the clamping member (8) is part of a bayonet closure (60). [12] Connector assembly (1) according to claim 11, wherein the clamping member (8) has wings (66) formed by the connector (2) and recesses (70) formed by the housing (6) and complementary to the wings (66). [13] Connector assembly (1) according to claim 12, wherein the wings (66) are formed by the lower part (25) and are located in the housing (6) in the holding position (39). [14] Connector assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the connector assembly (1) has a seal (26) between the upper part (23) and the lower part (25) and / or between the connector (2) and the housing (6). [15] Connector (2) for a connector assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14.

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