Contact insert for a connector part

The contact use for connector parts addresses the complexity of traditional screw connections by employing a grounding element with a spring-activated contact device, allowing for easy and reliable plugging of protective lines.

EP3312940B2Active Publication Date: 2025-04-30PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG
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Patent Information

Application Number
EP2017195383
Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2016-10-20
Filing Date
2017-10-09
Publication Date
2025-04-30
Estimated Expiration
2037-10-09

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing contact solutions for connector parts often require complex screw connections for attaching protective lines, which can be cumbersome and difficult to access, especially when the contact insert is already inserted into a connector housing.

Method used

A contact use featuring a grounding element with a contact device that includes a housing with a plug opening for the protective line and a spring element to lock and contact the protective line with the grounding element, allowing for easy plugging and reliable connection.

Benefits of technology

Enables a simple, convenient, and reliable connection of protective lines to the grounding element without the need for additional operating steps, improving accessibility and ease of use compared to traditional screw connections.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

A contact insert (2, 4) for a connector part (1, 3) comprises a frame part (20) having a plug-in section (200) for plug-in connection with another connector part (3, 1), at least one electrical contact element (211, 411) arranged on the plug-in section (200), and an earthing element (22) arranged on the frame part (20) to which a protective conductor (25) can be connected. Additionally, a contacting device (23) is provided on the earthing element (22), which has a housing (230) with a plug-in opening (231) for inserting the protective conductor (25) and a spring element (26) arranged on the housing (230) for locking the protective conductor (25) in the plug-in opening (231) and for contacting the protective conductor (25) with the earthing element (22). In this way, a contact insert is provided for a connector part, which enables easy connection of a protective conductor.
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Description

[0001] The invention relates to a contact insert for a connector part according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a contact insert comprises a frame part which has a plug-in section for plugging into another connector part, at least one electrical contact element arranged on the plug-in section and an earthing element arranged on the frame part to which a protective line can be connected.

[0003] Such a contact insert can, for example, be inserted into a connector housing of a connector part, thus enabling the connector housing to be equipped with very different contact inserts, thus providing individual mating faces on the connector part that are adapted to a specific application. One or more electrical contact elements are arranged on the mating section of the frame part. When the connector part is connected to an associated, further connector part, these contact elements electrically engage with contact elements of the further connector part, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the connector parts.

[0004] The grounding element can generally be used to ground the connector parts when plugged in, ensuring that the connector parts are at the same ground potential when plugged in. The grounding element can also be used to ground the frame part, for example, if it is made of an electrically conductive (metal) material.

[0005] In a connector component known from DE 295 20 008 U1, a connector insert has several rows of contact elements. The contact insert can be inserted into a panel-mounted housing that is attached to a mounting wall.

[0006] From DE 10 2007 013 536 B3 an earthing element (referred to as PE metal part) is known, which is used to fasten a contact insert, for example in a plug housing, and has a so-called PE screw connection for connecting a protective line.

[0007] DE 10 2010 017 717 A1 discloses a contact insert comprising a frame part and a contact module that can be inserted therein. A connection device for connecting a protective conductor is arranged on the frame part, which connection device has a connection arm with a screw connection.

[0008] In a contact insert known from EP 0 882 318 B1, a large number of contact modules can be inserted into a frame part known as a mounting frame. Some of the modules can also be used to connect protective conductors for so-called PE contacting (PE stands for "protective earth"). These contact modules are designed as screw terminals.

[0009] DE 295 05 272 U1 discloses a sensor-actuator distributor with a distributor housing in which a circuit board is arranged, on which a plug part is arranged. The plug part can be connected to a connection plug. DE 10 2013 108 383 discloses a connector module in whose housing an electrical contact is accommodated, to which a ground connection can be applied. JP 2004 319196 A discloses a contact device for shielded cables.

[0010] Conventionally, the primary design for connecting a protective wire has been a screw terminal. This enables a reliable, mechanically secure connection between the protective wire and the contact insert, but may be subject to handling limitations. For example, a screw terminal may no longer be easily accessible once the contact insert is inserted into an associated housing of a connector part, which may make it necessary to secure a protective wire before inserting the contact insert into the housing. In addition, attaching multiple protective wires requires plugging the protective wires into the (one) screw terminal and simultaneously fixing the protective wires by tightening a screw. The object of the present invention is to provide a contact insert for a connector part that enables simple connection of a protective wire.This object is achieved by an object having the features of claim 1. Accordingly, the contact insert has a contacting device arranged on the grounding element, which has a housing with a plug-in opening for inserting the protective line and a spring element arranged on the housing for locking the protective line in the plug-in opening and for contacting the protective line with the grounding element.

[0011] Such a grounding element can be detachably mounted on a frame part of a contact insert with a contacting device arranged thereon. This can, if necessary, enable the contact insert to be equipped with a grounding element and a contacting device arranged thereon without having to adapt the design of the frame part. Such a grounding element with a contacting device arranged thereon can thus be used on an existing frame part and, if necessary, even retrofitted.

[0012] The protective cable is connected to the grounding element on the frame part via a spring-loaded connection. To connect the protective cable to the grounding element, the protective cable can be easily and conveniently inserted with a (stripped) wire end into the plug-in opening of the contacting device's housing. This inserts the wire into the area of ​​the spring element, which locks the protective cable in the housing and ensures contact between the protective cable and the grounding element. Therefore, connection only requires inserting the protective cable. The locking and contacting of the protective cable with the grounding element can advantageously occur automatically, without the need for further operating steps to secure the protective cable to the grounding element.

[0013] In one embodiment, the spring element has a clamping leg that engages the protective wire when the protective wire is inserted into the plug-in opening. The protective wire is locked in the housing of the contacting device via the clamping leg. For contacting the protective wire with the grounding element, the clamping leg is designed, for example, to press the protective wire against a contact section of the grounding element, thus bringing the protective wire into electrical contact with the grounding element.

[0014] When the protective cable is inserted into the housing's plug-in opening, the protective cable acts on the clamping leg of the spring element, deflecting it, preferably elastically, in such a way that the protective cable is locked in the housing and contacted with the grounding element. For this purpose, the clamping leg is movably mounted within the housing.

[0015] In addition to the clamping leg, the spring element, in one embodiment, has a retaining leg, via which the spring element is held to the housing. The retaining leg can, for example, be bent over to form the clamping leg and secured between housing sections of the housing in such a way that the spring element is fastened to the housing via the retaining leg. When the protective cable is inserted into the plug-in opening of the housing, the protective cable acts on the clamping leg and moves the clamping leg toward the retaining leg, elastically deforming the spring element, so that the protective cable is held under prestress in the housing of the contacting device.

[0016] The connection between the protective wire and the contacting device is preferably detachable. For this purpose, the contacting device can, for example, have a release element that can be actuated to release the protective wire and, for example, has an arm with which the release element acts on the spring element when actuated. The release element can, for example, be actuated using a tool, such as a screwdriver, and can be pressed into the housing of the contacting device for actuation. As a result, the release element acts with its arm on the clamping leg of the spring element and presses it out of contact with the protective wire, so that the locking of the protective wire in the housing is released and the protective wire can thus be pulled out of the plug-in opening.

[0017] In one embodiment, the housing of the contacting device can have two (separate) plug-in openings for inserting two protective conductors and two spring elements for locking the protective conductors in the plug-in openings. The contacting device thus provides two plug-in locations for connecting two protective conductors, although it is also conceivable and possible in principle to provide even more plug-in locations, e.g., three or four plug-in locations, for connecting more than two protective conductors. In this way, multiple protective conductors can be connected to the contacting device in a simple and convenient manner, ensuring reliable electrical contact with the grounding element and reliable mechanical support.

[0018] Each spring element can be designed as described above and in particular have a clamping leg for locking and contacting the protective line.

[0019] The grounding element has, for example, a contact lug for grounding contact with the additional connector part. The contact lug can, for example, extend along a connection direction along which the connector parts are to be connected to one another on the frame part, so that when the connector part is plugged into the additional connector part, the contact lug runs onto an associated contact section on the additional connector part, thereby establishing a connection between the connector parts for common grounding.

[0020] The contact insert can be of modular design. For example, it can be provided that one or more modular contact modules can be attached to the frame part, which can be designed, for example, as a rectangular receiving frame, in order to modularly equip the frame part with contact modules and thus create an individual contact insert for a connector part. Each contact module can have one or more plug-in openings for inserting electrical cables and can also have one or more contact elements for making contact with an associated further connector part. For example, a plurality of plug-in locations (offset from one another along a transverse direction transverse to the connection direction) can be provided on the frame part, into which plug-in locations a plurality of contact modules can be inserted.

[0021] If the contact insert is designed modularly with contact modules that are attached to the frame part, the contact elements of the contact insert are preferably part of the contact modules. In this case, the plug-in section for plugging into the other connector part can be formed integrally on the frame part or by the contact modules. If the plug-in section is formed by the contact modules, the contact modules thus form the mating face of the connector part where the contact insert is used.

[0022] A contact module to be attached to the frame part can be designed such that a cable can be inserted into a plug-in opening of the contact module in one plug-in direction. Preferably, the protective cable can also be inserted into the plug-in opening of the contacting device along the plug-in direction, so that the protective cable is connected to the contacting device of the earthing element in the same direction as other electrical cables are connected to the plug-in openings of the contact module. The electrical cables can also be connected to the contact module via spring-loaded connections, so that protective cables, like other cables (e.g., for data transmission or to provide an electrical supply), can be plugged into the contact insert in a simple, possibly even automated manner.

[0023] In one embodiment, the frame part has a frame opening into which the contact module is inserted. The frame part (which is rectangular in its basic shape) encloses the frame opening and thus creates a receiving space with slots into which one or more contact modules can be inserted. In the inserted position, they lock into the frame part, thus creating a (modularly configurable) mating face on the frame part. The one or more contact modules can be inserted into the frame opening in the insertion direction and are locked into the frame part in the inserted position.

[0024] The grounding element is arranged outside the frame opening on the frame part, for example on a narrow end face of the (rectangular) frame part. While one or more contact modules are thus inserted into the frame opening enclosed by the frame part, the grounding element with the contacting device arranged thereon is fastened outside the frame opening on the frame part, in particular in the region of the end face of the frame part. It is conceivable for the frame part to have a (single) grounding element with a contacting device arranged thereon. However, it is also conceivable and possible for a grounding element to be arranged on each side of the frame part on opposite end faces of the frame part, in which case both grounding elements or just one of the grounding elements can have a contacting device.

[0025] In one embodiment, the grounding element is positively connected to the frame part. The grounding element is thus attached to the frame part in such a way that a positive connection exists between the frame part and the grounding element, thus holding the grounding element to the frame part.

[0026] Such a positive connection can be established, for example, via an engagement section of the grounding element that can be inserted into an engagement opening in the frame part and (additionally or alternatively) via a locking section that creates a latching connection with the frame part. The engagement section can, for example, be inserted along the plug-in direction into the associated engagement opening of the frame part and creates a positive connection between the grounding element and the frame part transversely to the plug-in direction. In contrast, the locking section can, for example, when the engagement section is inserted into the associated engagement opening, engage in a latching manner with an undercut of the frame part in order to secure the grounding element to the frame part in a positive-locking manner along the plug-in direction. The engagement section and the locking section thus secure the grounding element to the frame part when attached to the frame part.

[0027] This results in an arrangement in which the earthing element can be easily attached to the frame part for mounting the contact insert and is held firmly and resiliently to the frame part in the attached position.

[0028] In one embodiment, the housing of the contacting device is positively connected to the grounding element. The housing can, for example, be made of an electrically insulating plastic material and encloses the spring element to create the spring-loaded connection. The housing can, for example, have a positive-locking section (for example, in the form of a resilient latching tongue), via which the housing is latched to the grounding element in the attached position. The connection between the housing of the contacting device and the grounding element is thus also positively latched, which allows the housing to be easily attached to the grounding element while also ensuring a secure hold in the attached position.

[0029] The contact insert can be used, for example, in a connector part, whereby such a connector part can have a connector housing in which the contact insert is accommodated. Such a connector housing can be connected to an electrical cable with a plurality of conductors. However, it is also conceivable and possible to use such a contact insert, for example, in a housing mounted on a control cabinet or other electrical system.

[0030] The concept underlying the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. They show: Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of two connector parts that can be connected to one another in a plug-in manner along a connection direction; Fig. 2 shows a view of two contact inserts of the connector parts; Fig. 3 shows a view of an embodiment of a contact insert that has a frame part, grounding elements arranged thereon, and a contacting device for connecting a protective line to one of the grounding elements; Fig. 4 shows a separate view of a grounding element with a contacting device; Fig. 5A shows a view of a contact insert of a connector part in the connected state with a contact insert of another connector part; Fig. 5B shows a sectional view along the line AA according to Fig. 5A ; Fig. 6 a sectional view along the line BB according to Fig. 4 ; Fig. 7 a view of the grounding element with the contacting device arranged thereon; Fig. 8 a separate view of the grounding element on the frame part of the contact insert; Fig. 9 a side view of the arrangement according to Fig. 8 ; Fig. 10 a plan view of the arrangement according to Fig. 8 ; and Fig. 11 a rear view of the earthing element (viewed from the side of the frame part) with the contacting device arranged thereon.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of two connector parts 1, 3 that can be plugged together along a connection direction E. Each connector part 1, 3 has a connector housing 10, 30, in which a contact insert 2, 4 with contact elements arranged thereon is received. A cable 12, 32 is connected to the connector housing 10, 30 via a cable outlet 11, 31 and is electrically connected within the connector housing 10, 30 to the contact elements of the respectively assigned contact insert 2, 4.

[0032] It should be noted at this point that the present invention can be used not only for connector parts with manually handled connector housings, but can also be used, for example, for connectors provided on electrical systems, for example a control cabinet, in which a contact insert is to be fixed, for example, to a device wall, for example a control cabinet wall.

[0033] An embodiment of two contact inserts 2, 4 to be connected to each other along the connection direction E is shown Fig. 2 Each contact insert 2, 4 has a frame part 20, 40 in the form of a rectangular frame, which forms a frame opening 201, 401 into which—in the illustrated embodiment—a contact module 21, 41 is inserted. A plug-in section 200, 400 is formed on the frame part 20, 40, wherein the plug-in section 200 of the first contact insert 2 forms a socket into which the plug-in section 400 of the frame part 40 of the other contact insert 4 can be inserted.

[0034] Each contact module 21, 41 has a plurality of plug-in openings 210, 410 into which electrical lines 24 (see Fig. 3 ) for electrical contact with contact elements 211, 411 in the form of contact pins or contact sockets. In a connected state, the contact elements 211 of one, first contact insert 2 engage with the associated contact elements 411 of the other, second contact insert 4, so that electrical contact is established between the contact inserts 2, 4.

[0035] In principle, one or more contact modules can be inserted into the frame opening 201, 401 of each frame part 20, 40, so that individual contact arrangements can be created on the contact inserts 2, 4 to form a customized mating face. In the illustrated embodiment, (exactly) one contact module 21, 41 is precisely inserted into the frame part 20, 40 and connected to the frame part 20, 40 in a snap-in manner. However, it is also possible to arrange several (smaller) contact modules next to one another in the frame part 20, 40.

[0036] Grounding elements 22, 42 are arranged on both sides of the frame part 20, 40. These elements, on the one hand, enable mechanical fixing of the contact insert 2, 4 to the associated connector housing 10, 30 via fastening elements 220, 420 and, on the other hand, provide protective contact between the contact inserts 2, 4. Each grounding element 22, 42 is supported on the frame part 20, 40 assigned to it via locking sections 221, 421. In this way, the frame part 20, 40 can also be included in the grounding (if the frame part 20, 40 is made of an electrically conductive material, in particular a metal material).

[0037] Contacting lugs 222, 422 extend on the respective associated plug-in section 200, 400 (see Fig. 5B in conjunction with Fig. 2 ) of the earthing elements 22, 42, which run onto one another when the contact inserts 2, 4 are plugged in and thereby establish electrical contact between the earthing elements 22, 42 of the two contact inserts 2, 4.

[0038] In the Fig. 2 In the illustrated embodiment of conventional contact inserts 2, 4, contacting devices 23', 43' in the form of screw terminals for connecting protective lines are provided on the earthing elements 22, 42.

[0039] In contrast, the Fig. 3 bis 6 In the embodiment of a contact insert 2 shown, a contacting device 23 is arranged on a grounding element 22, which has a housing 230 with two plug-in openings 231 for inserting protective lines 25 (see Fig. 6 ) and enables connection of the protective lines 25 by plug-in contact.

[0040] The contacting device 23 has, as can be seen from the sectional view according to Fig. 6 As can be seen, two spring elements 26 are enclosed and held in the housing 230, each of which is assigned to one of the plug-in openings 231. Each spring element 26 has a clamping leg 260 that extends into the area of ​​the plug-in opening 231 assigned to the spring element 26 and serves to lock and contact a protective line 25 inserted into the plug-in opening 231. A holding leg 261 is bent over to form the clamping leg 260 and is enclosed between housing sections 233 of the housing 230, so that the spring element 26 is fixed in the housing 230 via the holding leg 261.

[0041] The clamping leg 260 is movable within the housing 230, undergoing elastic deformation relative to the retaining leg 261. When a protective wire 25 is inserted, a (stripped) wire end 250 of the protective wire 25 presses against the clamping leg 260 and pushes it aside, allowing the wire end 250 to slide past the clamping leg 260 and be elastically pressed against a contacting portion 223 of the grounding element 22 via the end of the clamping leg 260. The clamping leg 260 (acting like a barb) locks the protective wire 25 in the plug-in opening 231 when the protective wire 25 is (fully) inserted into the plug-in opening 231 with the wire end 250. The protective line 25 is thus held mechanically on the contacting device 23 via the spring element 26 on the one hand and is in planar contact with the contacting section 223 of the earthing element 22 on the other hand due to elastic pressure of the clamping leg 260.

[0042] The connection of the protective cable 25 to the contacting device 23 is detachable. For this purpose, each plug-in opening 231 is assigned a release element 27, which can be displaced in a release opening 232 of the housing 230 such that, by applying pressure to the release element 27 (e.g., using a tool), the release element 27 slides with a body 270 in the release opening 232 and acts on the clamping leg 260 with an arm 271 protruding from the body 270, so that the latter is pressed out of contact with the wire end 250 of the protective cable 25. The protective cable 25 can thus be pulled out of the assigned plug-in opening 231.

[0043] In the Fig. 3 bis 6 In the embodiment shown, a contacting device 23 is arranged only on a grounding element 22 of the contact insert 2 (in Fig. 3 shown on the left). It is of course also conceivable and possible to additionally connect the other earthing element 22 (in Fig. 3 right) to provide such a contacting device 23.

[0044] Via the contacting device 23, a protective line 25 can be connected to the associated earthing element 22 in a simple manner by inserting it into one of the plug-in openings 231. As can be seen from Fig. 3 As can be seen, the plug-in direction S, in which the protective conductors 25 are to be inserted into the plug-in openings 231, corresponds to the plug-in direction S, in which the other electrical conductors 24 are to be inserted into the plug-in openings 210 of the contact module 21 of the contact insert 2. The connection of the protective conductors 25 can thus be carried out in the same way as for the other electrical conductors 24, if necessary even with the contact insert 2, 4 already enclosed in a receiving housing.

[0045] Fig. 5A und 5B show a view of the contact insert 2 in the connected state with the contact insert 4 within the connector housing 30 associated with the contact insert 4 (the contact insert 2 is shown without the connector housing 10). As can be seen from the sectional view of the two contact inserts 2, 4 according to Fig. 5B As can be seen, both contact inserts 2, 4 each have a contacting device 23, 43 connected to a grounding element 22, 42, so that both contact inserts 2, 4 can be connected to protective conductors 25 in a plug-in manner with a reliable mechanical connection and electrical contact. The contacting device 43 on the contact insert 4 is constructed identically to that described above for the contacting device 23 of the contact insert 2.

[0046] As also from Fig. 5B As can be seen, in the connected state, the contact lugs 222, 422 of the grounding elements 22, 42 are in contact with each other. When plugged in, the contact lugs 222, 422 converge on each other and thus provide electrical contact for the common grounding of the contact inserts 2, 4.

[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, the earthing element 22, 42 is positively connected to the associated frame part 20, 40 of the contact insert 2, 4, as will be explained below with reference to Fig. 7 bis 11 will be explained using an earthing element 22 of the contact insert 2 having a contacting device 23.

[0048] The grounding element 22 has support sections 224 which extend transversely to the plugging direction S and carry the fastening elements 220 for fastening the contact insert 2 in the housing 10 of an associated connector part 1. In a position of the grounding element 20 connected to the frame part 20, the support sections 224 rest on an end section 205 of the plug-in section 200 of the frame part 20, as can be seen, for example, from Fig. 8 can be seen, and are supported on the frame part 20 in the plug-in direction S.

[0049] The earthing element 22 (with the contacting device 23 arranged thereon) is attached in the plug-in direction S by pushing engagement sections 225 of the earthing element 22, which are bent over to form a wall section 226, in the plug-in direction S into engagement with associated engagement openings 203 on an end face 202 of the frame part 20 in order to thereby establish a positive connection (transverse to the plug-in direction S) between the earthing element 22 and the frame part 20.

[0050] If the earthing element 22 is attached to the frame part 20 and the engagement sections 225 have been pushed into engagement with the associated engagement openings 203 until the support sections 224 come into contact with the end section 205 of the plug-in section 200 of the frame part 20, the locking sections 221, which protrude from the support sections 224 counter to the plug-in direction S, snap into engagement with undercuts 204 on the end face 202 of the frame part 20, so that the earthing element 22 is fixed in a locking manner counter to the plug-in direction S on the end face 202 of the frame part 20.

[0051] In the attached position, the earthing element 22 is thus connected to the frame part 20 in a locking manner and is thereby fixed to the frame part 20.

[0052] The contacting device 23 is connected to the grounding element 22 in a latching and thus form-fitting manner via its housing 230. For this purpose, the housing 230 has form-fitting sections 234 on both sides in the form of resilient latching tongues, which engage with the contacting sections 223 of the grounding element 22 when the housing 230 is placed in the plug-in direction S on the grounding element 22, as can be seen from a synopsis of Fig. 7 and Fig. 11 can be seen. In the attached position, the form-fitting sections 234 engage in locking openings 227 of the contacting sections 223 and thereby fix the housing 230 (with the spring elements 26 enclosed therein) to the grounding element 22.

[0053] The contacting device 23 can thus be attached to the grounding element 22 in a simple manner by plugging the housing 230 into the plugging direction S on the grounding element 22.

[0054] In addition, the earthing element 22 can also be attached to the frame part 20 in a simple manner - with or without the contacting device 23 arranged thereon - so that the contact insert 2 can be easily installed.

[0055] A grounding element 22 with a contacting device 23 of the type described can be used in particular on existing frame parts 20 without the need for significant modification of the design of the frame part 20. Existing frame parts 20 can thus be equipped with grounding elements 22 and contacting devices 23 arranged thereon and, if necessary, also retrofitted.

[0056] The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can in principle also be implemented in a completely different way.

[0057] A contacting device for contacting an associated grounding element may have one or more plug-in openings for connecting one or more protective conductors. For example, such a contacting device may have only one plug-in opening. However, it is also conceivable and possible to provide more than two plug-in openings on such a contacting device for connecting more than two protective conductors.

[0058] In the illustrated embodiment, exactly one contact module is attached to the associated frame part of a contact insert. However, it is also conceivable and possible to insert several contact modules side by side into the frame part of the contact insert to provide different contact elements and create a customized mating face. Bezugszeichenliste

[0059] 1Connector part 10Connector housing 11Cable outlet 12Cable 2Contact insert 20Frame part (module frame) 200Plug-in section 201Frame opening 202End face 203Inner opening 204Undercut 205End section 21Contact module 210Plug-in openings 211Contact elements 22Grounding element (PE sheet) 220Fastening element 221Locking section 222Contacting lug 223Contacting section 224Support section 225Inner section 226Wall section 227Locking opening 23, 23'Contacting device 230Housing 231Plug-in opening 232Release opening 233Housing sections 234Form-locking section 24Cables 25Protective cable 250Wire end 26Spring element 260Clamping leg 261Retaining leg 27Release element 270Body 271Arm 3Connector part 30Connector housing 31Cable outlet 32Cable 4Contact insert 40Module frame 400Plug-in section 401Frame opening 41Contact module 410Plug-in openings 411Contact elements 42Earthing element (PE sheet) 420Fastening element 421Locking section 422Contacting lug 43,43'Contacting device EConnection direction SSocket direction,

Claims

1. A contact insert (2, 4) for a plug connector part (1, 3), comprising - a frame part (20), which has a plug section (200) for plugged connection to a further plug connector part (3, 1), - at least one electrical contact element (211) arranged on the plug section (200), - an earthing element (22) arranged on the frame part (20), to which a protective line (25) can be connected, - a contact-connection device (23) arranged on the earthing element (22), which includes a housing (230) having a plug opening (231) for plugging in the protective line (25) and a spring element (26) arranged on the housing (230) for locking the protective line (25) in the plug opening (231) and for contact-connecting the protective line (25) to the earthing element (22), and - a contact module (21) arranged on the frame part (20), which has at least one plug opening (210) for plugging in at least one electrical line (24) in a plugging direction (S), wherein the at least one contact element (211) is a constituent part of the contact module (21), wherein the frame part (20) has a frame opening (201) into which the contact module (21) is inserted, characterized in that the earthing element (22) is arranged outside of the frame opening (201) on the frame part (20), wherein the earthing element (22) with the contact-connection device (23) arranged thereon is attached to the frame part (20) outside of the frame opening (201).

2. The contact insert (2, 4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (26) has a clamping limb (260) which is in contact with the protective line (25) when the protective line (25) is plugged into the plug opening (231).

3. The contact insert (2, 4) according to claim 2, characterized in that the clamping limb (260) is designed to press the protective line (25) against a contact-connection section (223) of the earthing element (22).

4. The contact insert (2, 4) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the clamping limb (260) can be moved relative to the housing (230).

5. The contact insert (2, 4) according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the spring element (26) has a holding limb (261), by means of which the spring element (26) is held on the housing (230).

6. The contact insert (2, 4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact-connection device (23) has an unblocking element (27), which can be actuated to release the protective line (25) from the plug opening (231).

7. The contact insert (2, 4) according to claim 6, characterized in that the unblocking element (27) has an arm (271), with which the unblocking element (27) acts on the spring element (26) during actuation.

8. The contact insert (2, 4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (230) of the contact-connection device (23) has two plug openings (231) for plugging in two protective lines (25) and two spring elements (26) for locking the protective lines (25) in the plug openings (231).

9. The contact insert (2, 4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the earthing element (22) has a contact-connection lug (222, 422) for earthed contact-connection to the further plug connector part (3, 1).

10. The contact insert (2, 4) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the protective line (25) can be plugged in the plugging direction (S) into the plug opening (231) of the contact-connection device (23).

11. The contact insert (2, 4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the earthing element (22) is connected to the frame part (20) in a form-fitting manner.

12. The contact insert (2, 4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the earthing element (22) has an engagement section (225), which is pushed into an engagement opening (203) of the frame part (20) for connection, and / or a latching section (221), by means of which the earthing element (22) is latched to the frame part (20).

13. The contact insert (2, 4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (230) of the contact-connection device (23) is connected to the earthing element (22) in a form-fitting manner.

14. The contact insert (2, 4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (230) of the contact-connection device (23) has a form-fitting section (234), by means of which the housing (230) is latched to the earthing element (22).

15. A plug connector part (1, 3) comprising a contact insert (2, 4) according to any of the preceding claims.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Contact means for attaching an end of a cable

    EP2544314A2

  • PE connection for connectors

    DE102007013536B3

  • Connectors

    DE102010017717B4

  • Electrical terminal block

    DE102011115637A1

  • Connector module

    DE102013108383A1