Release tool

Abstract

The invention relates to a release tool for unlocking contact modules on connectors.To provide a release tool for unlocking contact modules on connectors, which enables simple, reliable and damage-free unlocking for removal of the contact modules, the release tool is designed with a release tool housing designed for the detachable stationary arrangement of the connector in a processing position, as well as an actuating element adjustable between an initial position and an end position on the release tool housing and at least one adjustable release unit mounted on the release tool housing, which is coupled to the actuating element in such a way that an adjustment of the actuating element between the initial position and the end position causes an adjustment of the release unit between an out-of-engagement position associated with the initial position and an unlock position associated with the end position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a release tool for unlocking contact modules on connectors.

[0002] Connectors are known in a wide variety of designs from the prior art. In particular, they are used for the manufacture of cable harnesses, which are used, for example, in vehicles, especially passenger cars, whereby individual wires are grouped together in the connectors for connection to, for example, a control unit, sensor, actuator or the like.

[0003] Modern connectors increasingly feature a modular design, with the connector housings having one or more module slots that accommodate contact modules, each containing at least one contact element. The position of the contact modules within the module slot, for example, where two or more contact modules are arranged one behind the other in a single slot, is secured by adjustable locking elements mounted on the connector housing, which engage in corresponding receptacles on the contact modules. Connectors in which contact modules are locked are disclosed, for example, in EP 0 152 743 A1 and DE 10 2022 105 158 A1.

[0004] To replace the contact modules, for example in the event of a cable failure, it is necessary to move the locking elements on the connectors from their locked position to a release position, which allows the contact modules to be removed from the module slots of the connector housings. In automotive repair shops, this unlocking process is often performed using simple tools such as screwdrivers, attempting to move the locking elements out of their locked position. However, this method carries a significant risk of damaging the locking elements and / or the contact modules, resulting in the need for costly replacement of the connector and / or the contact modules.

[0005] Based on this, the invention aims to provide a release tool for unlocking contact modules on connectors, which enables simple, reliable and damage-free unlocking for removing the contact modules.

[0006] The invention solves the problem by means of a release tool with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0007] The unlocking tool according to the invention has - a release tool housing designed for the detachable, fixed arrangement of the connector in a machining position and - an actuating element mounted on the release tool housing, adjustable between a starting position and an end position.

[0008] Furthermore, at least one adjustable unlocking unit mounted on the unlocking tool housing is provided, which is coupled to the actuating element in such a way that an adjustment of the actuating element between the initial position and the end position causes an adjustment of the unlocking unit between an out-of-engagement position associated with the initial position and an unlocking position associated with the end position.

[0009] Essential to the unlocking tool is its design for holding a connector to be processed in a working position on the tool housing. This working position is the position in which the locking elements on the connector can be moved from their locked position (which secures the contact modules to the connector housing) to a release position using the unlocking tool. In this working position, the actuating element, which is adjustable between a starting position and an end position on the tool housing, allows the release units, also mounted on the tool housing, to be moved between their disengaged position and the release position, in which they have moved the locking elements into a release position.

[0010] Due to the fixed positioning of the connector in a machining position on the release tool housing, it is reliably ensured that the release unit engages reliably with the respective associated locking elements and that these are unlocked when the release unit is moved from the disengaged position to the unlocked position, allowing the contact modules to be removed from the connector housing. The movement of the release unit results from its coupling with the actuating element, whereby moving the actuating element from its initial position to its end position causes the release unit to move from the disengaged position to the unlocked position.

[0011] The design of the unlocking unit such that it engages with the locking element and, in the unlocked position, moves the locking element into the release position that releases the contact modules on the connectors, is generally freely selectable. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the unlocking unit comprises a release body with an engagement element that can be brought into engagement with a locking element on the connector. For adjusting the release body between the disengaged position and the unlocked position, it also has, in addition to the engagement element, a guide element which is pivotally arranged on a guide element receptacle on the actuating element.

[0012] This further development of the invention provides a release element for the release unit. This release element is equipped with an engagement element that can be brought into engagement with the locking element on the connector and thus optimally adapted to the locking element. When the release element is moved from the disengaged position to the unlocked position, the engagement element engages with the locking element and moves it from its locked position, which secures the contact module on the connectors, to the release position. The design of the release element with an engagement element allows the engagement element to be optimally adapted to the locking element, thus ensuring reliable adjustment.

[0013] A guide element of the release body serves to adjust the release element, engaging with the actuating element via this guide element. Thus, adjusting the actuating element between its initial and final positions causes the release body to move between its disengaged position and the unlocked position of the release unit. This embodiment of the invention therefore ensures particularly reliable operation of the release tool when the actuating unit is adjusted between its initial and final positions.

[0014] For the release tool to function, it is necessary to position the connector to be processed on the release tool housing in a processing position in which the locking elements are aligned with the release units such that they can be engaged with each other for release. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the release unit is arranged adjacent to a connector receptacle on the housing body, preferably a housing base body, such that the engagement element projects into the connector receptacle in the release position.

[0015] According to this embodiment of the invention, the housing of the release tool includes a connector receptacle. The connector receptacle is adapted to the shape and design of the connector to be released, ensuring that it can be reliably positioned on the release tool in the working position. In this position, the connector rests against the side, bottom, and end faces of the connector receptacle.

[0016] To unlock the contact modules of the connectors, the unlocking units are arranged on the housing body, preferably a housing base, such that when moved between the disengaged position and the unlocked position, they engage with the locking elements of the connector arranged in the connector receptacle. Particularly preferably, the unlocking units are arranged on the housing body or housing base such that the engagement element of the unlocking unit projects into the connector receptacle in the unlocked position and reliably engages with a locking element of a connector arranged therein.

[0017] It is further preferred that the engagement element, in the disengaged position, is recessed relative to the connector receptacle such that the connector can be positioned within the receptacle and removed from it without obstruction. Furthermore, the connector receptacle, with its preferably U-shaped cross-section and open design at both ends and top, allows for the convenient removal of the unlocked contact modules from the connectors, preferably from the module slots of the connectors, within which the contact modules are arranged one behind the other.

[0018] The design of the unlocking unit with the preferably provided unlocking element and its arrangement on the housing body, in particular the housing base, is generally freely selectable. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the unlocking unit has a guide unit arranged on the housing base, preferably in a recess on the housing base, for the articulated reception of the unlocking element.

[0019] According to this embodiment of the invention, the unlocking unit, as an assembly, comprises a guide unit which serves to pivotally receive the unlocking element and thus define its adjustment path between the disengaged position and the unlocked position. Particularly preferably, the guide unit is arranged in a recess on the housing base, the recess being adapted to the guide unit and thus enabling a reliable, fixed arrangement of the guide unit on the housing base, thereby ensuring a high degree of functional reliability.

[0020] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the guide unit for defining the movement path of the release element between the disengaged position and the unlocked position has a cam track for receiving a cam pin arranged on the release element. In this embodiment, the release element is not only pivotally mounted on the guide unit, but its adjustment movement between the disengaged position and the unlocked position is also defined by a cam track formed on the guide unit. The use of a cam track thus allows the movement of the release element, in particular the adjustment movement of the engagement element of the release element and its interaction with a locking element of a connector, to be defined with exceptional precision, thereby ensuring particularly reliable unlocking.Furthermore, the use of a cam-controlled adjustment movement of the unlocking body enables a particularly compact design of the unlocking tool.

[0021] The design of the guide unit is, in principle, freely selectable. However, it is particularly advantageous that the release element is arranged between two spaced-apart holders of the guide unit, each holder having a cam track for receiving the cam pin projecting towards the two holders, and preferably arranged in a recess on the housing base adapted to the shape of the holders.

[0022] According to this embodiment of the invention, the release element is adjustably arranged between two holders, each of which has a cam track designed to receive a cam pin extending through the release element into the cam track. The holders are preferably arranged in recesses on the housing base that are adapted to the shape of the holders. For example, the holders can be polygonal, ensuring precise alignment of the guide unit with the housing base via the holders. Furthermore, the use of a recess to receive the appropriately shaped holders allows for precise positioning of the release unit relative to an advantageously provided connector receptacle, thereby ensuring the reliable operation of the release tool.In particular, the use of two spaced-apart holders to accommodate the release body arranged between them, wherein the cam pin extends into the cam track of the two spaced-apart holders, ensures reliable adjustment of the release body between the out-of-engage position and the unlocked position, thereby preventing tilting in a particularly reliable manner.

[0023] The design of the preferably provided connector receptacle on the release tool is generally freely selectable. However, it is particularly advantageous for the connector receptacle to have opposing side walls, a receiving base, and an end wall, wherein the distance between the side walls and the arrangement of the end wall and the receiving base are designed such that the connector rests against the side walls, the receiving base, and the end wall in the machining position. In this position, the connector is particularly reliably fixed in its position on the release tool, so that when the actuating element is adjusted, the release unit enables reliable unlocking of the connector's locking elements.At the same time, the open U-shaped design of the connector receptacle formed by the side walls, the base and the end wall allows good access to the connector in the unlocked position, in which the contact modules can then be removed from the connector, in particular from the module slots of the connectors, or placed in them.

[0024] The design of the adjustability of the actuating element on the housing of the release tool between the initial and final positions is, in principle, freely selectable. For example, it is also conceivable that the actuating element could be rotated to adjust the release unit between the disengaged position and the unlocked position. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the actuating element is mounted on guide bodies projecting from the housing body so as to be linearly displaceable. According to this embodiment of the invention, the actuating element is linearly displaced to adjust it between the initial and final positions.Particularly advantageously, the actuating element has a U-shaped form that corresponds to the advantageously provided U-shaped cross-section of the connector receptacle, so that an adjustment movement of the actuating element can take place in the longitudinal axis direction of the connector receptacle without the actuating element being moved into the connector receptacle. This embodiment of the invention allows for a particularly simple and compact design as well as reliable control of the unlocking unit, especially when several unlocking units are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal axis direction of the connector receptacle in order to unlock several contact modules arranged one behind the other within a module slot on the connector.

[0025] It is particularly advantageous that the actuating element can be detachably locked in its end position on the housing, especially the housing base. According to this embodiment, the actuating element is detachably locked on the housing body after being moved from its initial position to its end position, thus preventing accidental movement back from the end position. This embodiment of the invention makes it possible, after the actuating element is in its end position and the release unit is in the unlocked position (allowing the contact modules to be removed from the module slots of the connectors), to reliably remove the contact modules from or insert them into the connectors without manually locking the actuating element.After completion of the work, once the actuating element has been released, it can be returned to its initial position in which the contact modules are reliably locked to the connector.

[0026] It is particularly advantageous that the housing base has a spring-loaded detent element projecting towards the actuating element, which engages in a detent receptacle on the actuating element when the actuating element is in its end position. This embodiment of the invention represents a particularly simple and cost-effective method for releasably locking the actuating element in its end position. The actuating force required to return the actuating element from its locked detent position to its initial position can be determined by the design of the spring load. At the same time, the arrangement of the detent element in the detent receptacle in the end position ensures reliable locking of the actuating element and thus convenient handling of the connector, namely the removal of the contact modules and their arrangement in the module slots of the connectors.

[0027] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the actuating element is slidably mounted in the area between the housing base and a housing cover, the housing cover having recesses for receiving the holders of the guide unit.

[0028] According to this embodiment of the invention, the actuating element extends between a housing base and a housing cover that covers the actuating element, wherein the connection between the housing cover and the housing base is such that the actuating element is freely adjustable between the initial position and the end position. Particularly preferably, according to this further development of the invention, the housing cover also has a recess for receiving the holders of the guide unit. This embodiment ensures a particularly reliable arrangement of the unlocking unit, especially when the guide unit has two holders spaced apart from each other, one holder being arranged in a recess on the housing base and the other on the housing cover.

[0029] The arrangement of the release units on the release tool depends on the connector being processed and its position in the processing position within the preferably provided connector receptacle. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, a release unit is arranged opposite each other on the housing body, in particular the housing base and the housing cover, in the area of ​​the side walls of the connector receptacle, forming a pair of release units.This design of the unlocking tool makes it possible to process connectors in a particularly simple and reliable manner, especially those connectors which have two parallel module slots for receiving the contact modules, whereby a pair of unlocking units is used to unlock two contact modules arranged adjacent to each other in adjacent module slots.

[0030] Particularly advantageously, the release tool further comprises at least two pairs of release units arranged at a distance from one another on the housing in the direction of movement of the actuating element. According to this embodiment of the invention, the release tool can be designed in a simple and convenient manner to suit the connectors to be processed. For example, in the case of connectors with two module slots and three contact modules arranged one behind the other, three pairs of release units can be arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the actuating element or in the longitudinal axis direction of the connector receptacle, so that these can release the six contact modules on the connector. Depending on the connectors to be processed, the release tools can also be provided with more or fewer pairs of release units.

[0031] Furthermore, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the pairs of release units can have different guide units and / or release bodies. This makes it particularly easy to manufacture release tools adapted to the connectors. It is also possible to design the release tool with different release units or pairs of release units, each pair being adapted to the respective contact modules to be released. This makes it possible to process connectors that use different locking elements to secure the contact modules, for example, because the contact modules on the connector differ from one another.

[0032] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the actuating element is also biased towards the initial position. This embodiment of the invention ensures a secure arrangement of the actuating element in the initial position, in which a simple and reliable arrangement of the connector on the release tool is possible.

[0033] An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 in an exploded view a perspective view of an embodiment of a release tool; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the unlocking tool of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a perspective view of the unlocking tool of Fig. 1 without case cover; Fig. 4 a perspective view of the unlocking tool of Fig. 1 with a connector arranged in a connector receptacle of the release tool; Fig. 5 a top view of the unlocking tool of Fig. 1 without housing cover in a starting position of an actuating element; Fig. 6 a view of the unlocking tool of Fig. 5 in an intermediate position of the actuating element and Fig. 7 a top view of the unlocking tool of Fig. 5 in an end position of the actuating element.

[0034] In Fig. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a release tool 1 in an exploded view. The release tool 1, which in its assembled state is Fig. 2 with a housing cover 3 and in Fig. 3, which is shown without a housing cover 3, has in addition to the housing cover 3 a housing base body 2 and an actuating element 4 adjustable in the area between the housing base body 2 and the housing cover 3.

[0035] The unlocking tool 1 serves to unlock contact modules 30, which are arranged in a connector housing 31 of a connector 29 in module slots 33a, 33b, whereby locking elements 32 on the connector housing 31 must be moved from a locking position that secures the contact modules 30 in the module slots 33a, 33b to a release position (see Figure 1). Fig. 4).

[0036] Four release units 16 are arranged on the housing base 2 for unlocking the locking elements 32 on the connector housing 31, corresponding to the number of contact modules 30 arranged on the connector 29. These release units are located between a Fig. 5 depicted out-of-intervention position via the in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 intermediate position shown in the Fig. 3 and Fig. The unlocking position shown in Figure 7 can be adjusted, whereby the actuating element 4 is longitudinally displaceable on the housing base 2 between the initial position associated with the out-of-engagement position and the end position associated with the unlocking position. For this purpose, guide bodies 6 projecting from the housing base 2 are arranged on it, which extend through recesses 5 on the actuating element 4 and, due to their shape, define the initial and end positions of the actuating element 4 on the housing base 2.

[0037] The release units 16 each have a release body 17, which is adjustably mounted on the actuating element 4 via a guide element 19 in a guide element receptacle 20. At its end opposite the guide element 19, the release body 17 has an engagement element 18, which engages with a detent element 32 of the connector 29 in the unlocked position. To define the path of movement of the release body 17 between the disengaged position and the unlocked position, the release unit 16 has a guide unit 27, which consists of two spaced-apart holders 28 that adjustably accommodate the release body 17 between them. A cam pin 22 extends from the release body 17 towards the holders 28 and is guided in cam tracks 21 of the two holders 28.

[0038] For the fixed mounting of the release units 16 on the housing base 2, the housing base has a recess 25a adapted to the shape of the holders 28. Connecting pins 23 extend through the holders 28 to secure their position and are positioned in bores 24 within the recess 25a. Furthermore, the holders 28 of the release units 16 are also secured in recesses 25b on the housing cover 3, allowing the release elements 17 to pivot reliably between the disengaged position and the unlocked position. Fastening screws 15, which extend through bores 9 in the housing cover into internal threads 7 of the guide bodies 6, serve to secure the housing cover 3 to the housing base 2 with the actuating element 4 interposed, thus securing it.

[0039] The actuating element 4 is arranged with its side surfaces 13 at a distance from the side walls 11a, 11b of the housing base 2 and housing cover 3. An end face 14 of the actuating element 4 is arranged in its end position approximately flush with an end wall 12a, 12b of the housing cover 3 and the housing base 2, so that the actuating element 4 as a whole does not come into contact with a connector 29 arranged in a connector receptacle 10, neither with its end face 14 nor with its side surfaces 13.

[0040] To unlock the locking elements 32, so that the contact modules 30 arranged in the module slots 33a, 33b can be removed from the connector housing 31, the actuating element 4 is moved from the position shown in the diagram. Fig. The initial situation shown in section 5 is based on the information provided in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 intermediate layer shown in the Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig.Figure 7 shows the end position in which the engagement elements 18 engage with the locking element 32 and lift the connector housing 31 from the connector housing in such a way that it enters the recesses 26a, 26b provided for this purpose on the housing base 2 and the housing cover 3, so that the contact modules 30 can then be removed from the module slots 33a, 33b and placed back into them. After the actuating element 4 is returned to its initial position, the locking elements 32 return to their locking position and lock the contact modules 30 in their position in the module slots 33a, 33b.

[0041] For the temporary locking of the actuating element 4 in its end position, a spring-loaded, spherical detent 8 is provided on the housing base 2, projecting towards the actuating element 4. In the end position, this detent interacts with a detent receptacle (not shown) on the actuating element 4, thus locking the actuating element 4 in the end position. This locking mechanism eliminates the need for manual adjustment of the actuating element 4 in its end position and thus allows for convenient removal of the contact modules 30. Reference symbol list 1 release tool 2 Housing base bodies 3 Housing covers 4 Actuating element 5 Exclusion 6 guide bodies 7 internal threads 8 locking elements 9 bore 10 connector mounts 11a Side wall 11b Side wall 12a Front wall 12b Front wall 13 side surface 14 Front surface 15 Mounting screw 16 unlocking unit 17 unlocking bodies 18 Intervention element 19 Guide element 20 Guide element attachment 21 scenery railway 22 scenery pen 23 Connecting pin 24 bore 25a Recess (housing base) 25b Recess (housing cover) 26a Recording 26b Recording 27 Command Unit 28 holders 29 connectors 30 contact module 31 connector housings 32 locking elements 33a Module shaft 33b Module shaft

Claims

[1] Unlocking tool for unlocking contact modules (30) on connectors (29), with - a release tool housing designed for the detachable fixed arrangement of the connector (29) in a machining position, - an actuating element (4) mounted on the release tool housing which is adjustable between a starting position and an end position and - at least one unlocking unit (16) adjustable on the unlocking tool housing, which is coupled to the actuating element (4) in such a way that an adjustment of the actuating element (4) between the initial position and the end position causes an adjustment of the unlocking unit (16) between an out-of-engagement position associated with the initial position and an unlocking position associated with the end position. [2] Unlocking tool according to claim 1, characterized by, that the unlocking unit (16) has a unlocking body (17) with an engagement element (18) that can be engaged with a detent element (32) on the connector (29), wherein the unlocking body (17) has a guide element (19) that is pivotally arranged on a guide element receptacle (20) on the actuating element (4) for adjustment between the out-of-engagement position and the unlocked position. [3] Unlocking tool according to claim 2, characterized by , that the unlocking unit (16) is arranged adjacent to a connector receptacle (10) of a housing body on the housing body, preferably a housing base body (2), such that the engagement element (18) projects into the connector receptacle (10) in the unlocked position. [4] Unlocking tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the unlocking unit (16) has a guide unit (27) arranged on the housing base body (2), preferably in a recess (25a) on the housing base body (2) for the articulated reception of the unlocking body (17). [5] Unlocking tool according to claim 4, characterized by , that the guide unit (27) for determining the movement path of the unlocking body (17) between the out-of-engage position and the unlocked position has a cam track (21) for receiving a cam pin (22) arranged on the unlocking body (17). [6] Unlocking tool according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by, that the unlocking element (17) is arranged between two spaced-apart holders (28) of the guide unit (27), wherein the holders (28) each have a cam track (21) for receiving the cam pin (22) projecting towards the holders (28) and are preferably arranged on the housing base body (2) in a recess (25a) adapted to the shape of the holders. [7] Unlocking tool according to claim 3, characterized by , that opposite side walls (11a, 11b) of the connector receptacle (10) have receptacles (26a, 26b) for arranging the contact modules (30) on the connector (29) locking elements (32). [8] Unlocking tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the actuating element (4) is mounted on the housing base body (2) so as to be linearly displaceable by guide bodies (6) projecting from the housing base body (2). [9] Unlocking tool according to one or more of claims 3 to 8, characterized by , that the actuating element (4) can be releasably locked in the end position on the housing, in particular the housing base body (2). [10] Unlocking tool according to one or more of claims 3 to 9, characterized by , that the housing base body (2) has a spring-loaded detent element (8) projecting towards the actuating element (4), which engages in a detent element receptacle on the actuating element (4) in the end position of the actuating element (4). [11] Unlocking tool according to one or more of claims 3 to 10, characterized by , that the actuating element (4) is slidably mounted in the area between the housing base body (2) and a housing cover (3), wherein the housing cover (3) has recesses (25b) for receiving the holders (28) of the guide unit (27). [12] Unlocking tool according to one or more of claims 3 to 11, characterized by , that on the housing body, in particular the housing base body (2) and the housing cover (3), a release unit (16) is arranged opposite each other in the area of ​​the side walls (11a, 11b) of the connector receptacle (10), which together form a pair of release units. [13] Unlocking tool according to claim 12, characterized by , that at least two pairs of unlocking units are arranged at a distance from each other on the housing in the direction of movement of the actuating element (4). [14] Unlocking tool according to claim 12 or 13, characterized by that the unlocking unit pairs have different guide units (27) and / or unlocking bodies (17). [15] Unlocking tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the actuating element (14) is biased in the direction of the starting position.

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