Miniaturized connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector (1) having a housing (2) and a shield contact (4). In order to reduce the size of the connector (1), the connector (1) according to the invention comprises a housing (2) and a shield contact (4), wherein a gap (10) extending in a circumferential direction (U) extends between the housing (2) and the shield contact (4), wherein a mating housing (66) of a mating connector (64) can be inserted into the gap (10) in a plugging direction (S). The gap (10) opens into a sealing portion (12) in the plugging direction (S), in which a sealing ring (14) is held axially between the shield contact (4) and the housing (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a connector having a housing and shielded contacts. Background Technology

[0002] The aforementioned types of connectors are used, for example, in electric vehicles for high-voltage applications. It is particularly important that the connector system reliably and safely withstands electrical, thermal, and mechanical loads. To prevent failures or even short circuits in the insert system comprised of the connector and mating connectors, a sealing element is provided and held within the housing by a locking ring. This sealing element seals the insert system against fluids or at least liquids. This results in significant space requirements within the housing, thereby increasing the size of the connector. Particularly in the automotive sector, there is a desire to keep connectors or insert systems as small as possible. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to create a connector that allows for miniaturization of either the connector or the plug-in system, respectively.

[0004] This objective is achieved by a connector according to the invention, which has a housing and a shielding contact, wherein a gap extending in a circumferential direction extends between the housing and the shielding contact, wherein a mating housing of a mating connector can be inserted into the gap in a mating direction. According to the invention, the gap extends in the mating direction into a sealing portion, in which a sealing ring is axially held between the shielding contact and the housing.

[0005] As a result of the solution according to the invention, the sealing ring is now directly fixed by the shielded contact, eliminating the need for an additional locking ring. Therefore, less space is required inside the housing since the locking ring is no longer needed. Thus, the shielded contact not only ensures the electromagnetic compatibility of the insertion system but also guarantees the axial position of the sealing ring. Eliminating the locking ring reduces not only the space required in the housing but also the cost and weight of the connector.

[0006] Further developments are specified below, which can be combined independently of each other as needed and are advantageous within themselves.

[0007] The connector may be particularly suitable for high-voltage applications around 300V.

[0008] The shielded contact can be constructed in the shape of a basic sleeve, such that the shielded contact can surround the plug contact, such as a single-terminal plug contact, but preferably a multi-terminal plug contact, and keep it away from electric and / or magnetic fields or protect the environment from the fields generated by the plug contact. The shielded contact can therefore be a shielded sleeve.

[0009] The gap can extend along the radial outer surface of the shielded contact. The housing wall of the mating connector can then be simply inserted into the gap, such that the shielded contact is at least partially received in a socket within the mating housing. The gap can preferably extend coaxially with the shielded contact, such that the width of the gap between the shielded contact and the housing is the same in every radial direction of the gap.

[0010] To secure the sealing ring axially, the shielding contact may include, for example, at least one radially projecting shoulder. The sealing portion extends into an undercut formed by the projecting shoulder and can retain the sealing ring within the undercut. Under loads in the direction opposite to the mating direction, such as when the mating connector is pulled out, the sealing ring may be pulled along with it. In this case, the sealing ring abuts against at least one radially projecting shoulder and can be retained.

[0011] To securely retain the sealing ring as firmly as possible within the sealing portion in the axial direction, a radially projecting shoulder can be provided to completely surround the circumferential direction, such that the shoulder protrudes in each radial direction. The shoulder can, for example, be formed as a widening of the sleeve body of the shielded contact. The shoulder can preferably form the free end of the shielded contact, opening towards the connector face of the connector.

[0012] According to another advantageous embodiment, the sealing ring may protrude radially onto the outer radial surface of the shielded contact, particularly the shielded contact. As a result, the housing wall of the mating connector can be easily inserted through the gap, through the shielded contact, and pressed against the sealing ring, without the housing wall touching the shielded contact. In this way, damage to the shielded contact due to friction, particularly under high mating cycles, can be prevented.

[0013] If the sealing ring is connected to the sealing plug in both the radial and axial directions, a portion of the sealing ring can close the gap in the axial direction. The housing wall of the mating housing can be inserted into the gap until it abuts, in which case the housing wall abuts the sealing ring in the axial direction, thus establishing a seal between the housing and the housing wall in the axial direction. The sealing ring may include, for example, radially projecting arms that close the gap in the axial direction. The sealing ring can preferably be constructed as a basically L-shaped structure.

[0014] The housing may include a protrusion extending in the insertion direction and around which a sealing ring is held. The protrusion may form a recess with the housing, which closes the sealing portion and into which the sealing ring is inserted. For example, the recess may be formed because the protrusion projects axially from a housing wall that extends radially inward from the outer casing wall.

[0015] The protrusion can preferably be integrally formed with the housing to form a single housing. The shielding contact or at least the radially protruding shoulder can be directly adjacent to or even abut against the protrusion in the axial direction, and protrude beyond the radially outer surface of the protrusion in the radial direction. This ensures that the sealing ring does not slip off the protrusion in the axial direction.

[0016] The protrusion can preferably be shaped as a hollow body extending in the axial direction, with its opening penetrated by the shielding contact. Therefore, the protrusion can be held between the sealing ring and the shielding contact in the radial direction, at least in the radial direction.

[0017] The shielded contact can be precisely inserted into the opening of the hollow body in the radial direction, and is widened at the portion protruding from the hollow body. Due to the formed shoulder, not only can the sealing ring be fixed between the shielded contact and the housing in the axial direction, but the shielded contact can also be fixed in the housing. When the shielded contact is pressed, the shoulder can abut the protrusion in the insertion direction and prevent the shielded contact from moving further relative to the housing in the insertion direction.

[0018] The shielded contact can preferably be integrally formed as a single component. As a result, shielded current can be conducted through the shielded contact without additional transition resistance. The shielded contact can extend from the connection portion used for cable shielding, for example, by crimping to an electrical conductor, to the contact portion used for shielding of mating connectors.

[0019] To improve the stiffness of the shielded contact and thereby avoid undesirable deformation, especially at least one radially protruding shoulder, the shielded contact can be a deep-drawn component.

[0020] The connecting portion and the contact portion can preferably be arranged axially on different sides of the protrusion. Since the connecting portion will be constructed to be pressed onto the cable shield of the electrical conductor, the net width of the shield contact in the connecting portion can be smaller than that in the contact portion. In particular, the outer contour of the shield contact can gradually taper from the contact portion toward the connecting portion.

[0021] The shielded contact may preferably have an intermediate portion extending from the connecting portion to the contact portion, wherein the net width of the shielded contact in the contact portion has a net width between the shielded portion and the shielding portion. The electrical conductor may terminate, for example, at a contact terminal held in the plug contact. The plug contact may include a connector interface for mating with mating plug contacts of a mating connector.

[0022] The plug contact can be, for example, an inner housing portion in which the electrical conductor contact terminals are held, preferably within the connector interface. The plug contact can then protectively surround the contact terminals. The plug contact can preferably be formed of an electrically insulating material, such as a plastic material, thereby providing additional touch protection for the contact terminals.

[0023] The shielding contact may, for example, abut against the plug contact in the intermediate portion and at least partially spaced apart from the plug contact in the contact portion. Therefore, the shielding contact may be rigidly connected to the plug contact in the intermediate portion, for example, by crimping. Thus, the intermediate portion may represent an attachment portion for attaching the shielding contact to the plug contact. Furthermore, a socket for mating connectors may be formed in the contact portion by a slot between the shielding contact and the plug contact. Therefore, the mating plug contact can insert its shield into the socket so that the shield of the mating plug contact makes contact with the shielding contact on the inner surface.

[0024] To improve corrosion resistance, the shielded contact may be coated with, for example, a silver and / or tin coating. The coating can be applied to the shielded contact, particularly by electroplating. If the shield of the mating plug contact is to contact the shielded contact on the inner surface, the shielded contact may be permitted to include a contact area at its free end facing the opening, where the coating can be applied more effectively, thus ensuring a higher quality coating.

[0025] The middle portion can preferably be precisely arranged in the channel opening of the protrusion in the radial direction, thereby shielding the contact from being rigidly held by the protrusion in the radial direction.

[0026] According to another advantageous embodiment, the shielding contact can be pressed onto the plug contact at its intermediate portion. For this purpose, the shielding contact can be pressed radially inward at its corners into corresponding grooves in the plug contact in the circumferential direction. This prevents displacement of the plug contact relative to the shielding contact, particularly along the longitudinal axis.

[0027] Connector assemblies may include connectors and mating connectors according to one of the foregoing configurations.

[0028] The mating connector may include a mating housing that, when in the mating state, at least partially protrudes through a gap along the mating direction and presses against a sealing ring at least radially in the sealing portion. Additionally, the mating housing may preferably press against the sealing ring along the mating direction, thereby achieving a seal both radially and axially.

[0029] In the gap, the mating housing can preferably be spaced apart from the radial outer surface of the shielding contact in the radial direction, thereby preventing wear of the shielding contact due to friction on the mating housing during insertion.

[0030] In the inserted state, the mating plug contact of the mating connector can be at least partially inserted into the socket of the shielded contact. The shield of the mating plug contact can contact the radial inner surface of the shielded contact.

[0031] To ensure continuous contact even under strong vibration loads, the shield can be bent back radially outward, with a contact area for engaging the shield contacts arranged at the end of the bend. As a result, a contact spring that is radially elastic and pre-tensioned against the shield contacts can be formed.

[0032] In the following description, the invention will be illustrated in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Elements corresponding to each other in terms of structure and / or function in the drawings are given the same reference numerals.

[0033] The combinations of features shown and described in the various embodiments are for illustrative purposes only. Based on the above description, if the technical effect of a feature of an embodiment is not important to a particular application, it can be omitted. Conversely, based on the above description, if the technical effect of another feature is advantageous or necessary to a particular application, it can be added to the embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the connector according to the present invention is shown;

[0035] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of the shielded contacts of the connector shown; and

[0036] Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the plug assembly according to the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0037] First, refer to Figure 1 An exemplary construction of connector 1 according to the present invention is described.

[0038] The connector 1 according to the invention includes a housing 2 and shielding contacts 4 for shielding electrical conductors 6 or plug contacts 8 respectively, wherein a gap 10 extending in the circumferential direction U extends between the housing 2 and the shielding contacts 4, and wherein the gap 10 can be inserted into a mating housing of a mating connector in the mating direction S. The gap 10 passes through a sealing portion 12 in the mating direction S, in which a sealing ring 14 is axially held between the shielding contacts 4 and the housing 2.

[0039] According to the solution of the present invention, the sealing ring 14 can be directly held by the shielding contact 4 relative to the mating direction S, thereby preventing the sealing ring 14 from slipping out of the sealing portion 12. Therefore, no additional locking ring is required, thereby further reducing the size of the connector 1.

[0040] like Figure 1As shown, the electrical conductor 6 can be a cable 16. The cable 16 can preferably be multi-core, thus the connector 1 is a multi-terminal connector 1, wherein only one of the two cores 18 or the plug contact 8 is present. Figure 1 The cross-sectional view is shown. Connector 1 is particularly suitable for high-voltage applications around 300V.

[0041] The electrical conductor 6 may include protective insulation 19 surrounding the two cores 18, wherein the free ends of the cores 18 are not insulated 19 and each can be connected to the contact terminal 20, for example, by crimping.

[0042] The exposed core 18 and contact terminal 20 can be held within the plug contact 8, which includes an interface for mating plug contacts of a mating connector. Therefore, the plug contact 8 can form an inner housing that at least protectively surrounds the contact terminal 20. The contact terminal 20 and / or the exposed core 18 can be held by the plug contact 8, resulting in them being protectively surrounded by the plug contact 8 as the inner housing.

[0043] The plug contact 8 may be provided with a so-called TPA (Terminal Position Guarantee), which is intended to serve as a secondary lock 22 for the contact terminal 20 in the plug contact 8. In this exemplary configuration, the secondary lock 22 is configured as a radially deflectable tab 24, which can be pressed into the opening of the plug contact 8 when the contact terminal 20 is fully inserted, and in a form-fit manner prevents the contact terminal 20 from moving relative to the plug contact 8 in the insertion direction S.

[0044] In order to keep the electrical conductor 6 (especially the exposed core 18 and at least the crimped area of ​​the contact terminal 20) away from electric and / or magnetic fields or to protect the surrounding environment from the influence of fields generated by the system, the shielded contact 4 may sleeve-shaped cover the plug contact 8 in the crimped area of ​​the contact terminal 20 up to the insulation 19 of the electrical conductor 6.

[0045] The shielding contact 4 can preferably be integrally formed as a single component 26 so that shielding current can be conducted through the shielding contact without additional transition resistance. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the shielding contact 4 can extend from the connection portion 28 to the contact portion 32. At the connection portion 28, the shielding contact 4 is pressed against the cable shield 30 of the electrical conductor 6. The contact portion 32 is used to contact the shield of the mating connector.

[0046] The shielding contact 4 may therefore include a sleeve diameter that gradually tapers from the contact portion 32 along the insertion direction S toward the connection portion 28. In particular, the sleeve diameter may taper in a stepped manner, wherein each step may define a functional area of ​​the shielding contact 4.

[0047] The attachment portion 34 may extend between the connecting portion 28 and the contact portion 32 for attaching the shielded contact 4 to the plug contact 8. The attachment portion 34 and / or the contact portion 32 may preferably have a polygonal cross-section, such that the substantially polygonal plug contact 8 can be uniformly surrounded by the shielded contact 4. Since the insulation 19 of the cable 16 is generally approximately circular, the shielded contact 4 in the connecting portion 28 may have a generally circular cross-section transverse to the insertion direction S.

[0048] The shielding contact 4 can be adjacent to the plug contact 8 in the attachment portion 34, and can be pressed radially inward at least partially at the corner of the shielding contact 8 in the corresponding attachment groove 36 of the plug contact 8 in the circumferential direction U, thereby fixing the shielding contact 4 to the plug contact 8 in the axial direction by form fit.

[0049] The shielding contact 4 may be radially widened outward in the contact portion 32 relative to the rest of the shielding contact, thereby forming a radially protruding shoulder 38. In the exemplary configuration shown, the radially protruding shoulder 38 may extend circumferentially in the circumferential direction U, such that the shoulder protrudes radially in each radial direction relative to the rest of the shielding contact 4. However, multiple radially protruding shoulders spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction U may also be provided.

[0050] Due to the widening of the contact portion 32, the net width of the shielding contact 4 in the contact portion 32 increases, such that the radially inner surface 40 of the shielding contact 4 in the contact portion 32 is at least partially spaced from the plug contact 8 in the radial direction. This forms a socket 42 into which the mating plug contact of the mating connector can be inserted, so that the shield of the mating connector can contact the radially inner surface 40 of the shielding contact 4.

[0051] To avoid contact corrosion, the shielding contact 4 may preferably be coated with tin and / or silver. The coating may be applied, for example, by electroplating.

[0052] like Figure 1 As shown, the plug contact 8 can be held together with the shielding contact 4 within the housing 2. For this purpose, a protrusion 44 extending in the insertion direction S is provided. This protrusion 44 is constructed as a hollow body, and its channel opening 46 is penetrated by both the shielding contact 4 and the plug contact 8. Preferably, the shielding contact 4 is precisely inserted into the channel opening 46, at least partially in the radial direction, through its attachment portion 36, such that the protrusion 44 radially secures the shielding contact 4 and the plug contact 8 within the housing.

[0053] The connecting portion 28 and the contact portion 32 can be arranged on different sides of the protrusion 44, wherein the contact portion 32 is preferably directly adjacent to the protrusion 44 in the axial direction and protrudes beyond the protrusion 44 in the radial direction through its radially projecting shoulder 38. The radially outer surface 48 of the contact portion 32 protrudes on the radially outer surface 50 of the protrusion, thereby forming an undercut 52 in the insertion direction S, into which the sealing ring 14 is inserted.

[0054] The contact portion 32 is spaced apart from the housing wall 54 in the radial direction, thereby forming a gap 10 between the shielding contact 4 and the housing 2.

[0055] The sealing ring 14 is slidable around the protrusion 44 such that it abuts the radially outer surface 50 of the protrusion. The sealing ring preferably has a generally L-shaped body, wherein one arm 56 of the body abuts the radially outer surface 50 of the protrusion, while the other arm 58 extends radially away from the radially outer surface 50 of the protrusion and closes the sealing portion 12 along the insertion direction S. To stabilize the arm 58 in the insertion direction S, the arm 58 may be supported on the radially extending housing wall 60, so that the arm 58 cannot deflect in the insertion direction S. The arm 58 preferably extends radially from the radially outer surface 50 to the housing wall 54 and abuts its inner surface.

[0056] The protrusion 44 can preferably protrude from the housing wall 60 in the axial direction, such that the protrusion 44, the housing wall 58 and the housing wall 60 form a recess into which the sealing ring 14 is inserted.

[0057] Therefore, the sealing ring 14 is held axially in the sealing portion 12 between the housing wall 60 and the shielding contact 4, thereby preventing the sealing ring 14 from being accidentally pulled out of the sealing portion 12 when the mating connector is pulled out.

[0058] The sealing ring 14, particularly the arm 56 of the sealing ring 14 adjacent to the protrusion, can protrude radially onto the shielded contact, allowing the mating housing of the mating connector to engage radially and sealingly with the sealing ring 14 without touching the shielded contact. This prevents the shielded contact 4 from being damaged due to wear on the mating housing, especially with high mating cycles.

[0059] To improve the stability of the shielded contact 4, particularly on the radially protruding shoulder 38, the shielded contact 4 can be a deep-drawn part. This prevents the shielded contact 4 from deforming under load, such as when the sealing ring 14 is pressed against the shoulder 38 in the axial direction.

[0060] Now refer to the following Figure 3 An exemplary construction of the plug assembly 62 according to the present invention is described.

[0061] An exemplary configuration of the plug assembly 62 includes Figure 1 The connector 1 shown is a mating connector 64 having a mating housing 66 and a mating plug contact 68.

[0062] Figure 3 The plug assembly 62 is shown in the plugged state 70. The mating housing 66 is at least partially plugged into the housing 2 such that the wall 72 of the mating housing slides along the outer housing wall 54 of the housing 2 in the plugging direction S, and the free end 74 of the wall 72 is pushed into the sealing portion 12 through the gap 10. The free end 74 of the wall 72 may preferably abut the sealing ring 14 in the plugging direction S, thereby forming a seal between the free end 74 of the wall 72 and the arm 58 of the sealing ring 14 in the axial direction.

[0063] In addition, the arm 56 adjacent to the protrusion 44 can be pressed against the inner surface 76 of the wall to form a seal in the radial direction.

[0064] The inner surface 76 of the wall 72 is preferably spaced apart from the radial outer surface 48 of the shielding contact 4 in the radial direction, so that the wall 72 and the shielding contact 4 do not rub against each other during the insertion or removal process.

[0065] The mating connector 62 includes a sleeve-shaped shield 78 that is crimped onto the cable shield of the mating connector 62 and extends axially along the mating plug contact 68. The free end of the shield 78 can be bent back radially outward to form an elastic contact spring 80, which is pre-tensioned radially outward. In the mated state, the mating plug contact is at least partially inserted into the socket 42 of the shield contact 4 so that the contact spring 80 makes contact with the radially inner surface 40 of the shield contact 4.

[0066] Even under vibration loads, the resilient contact spring 80 ensures reliable and constant contact of the shielded contact 4.

[0067] The shielding contact 4 preferably includes a contact area 82 on its radially inner surface 40, which is disposed on its end facing the opening. The coating of the shielding contact 4 can be better applied in this area, thereby further improving corrosion resistance.

[0068] By establishing contact with the shielding contact 4 on its radial inner surface 40, the size of the plug assembly 62 can be further reduced because no additional space is needed in the gap for the shielding of the mating connector.

[0069] List of reference numerals

[0070] 1 connector

[0071] 2 shells

[0072] 4 shielded contacts

[0073] 6 electrical conductors

[0074] 8 plug contacts

[0075] 10 gaps

[0076] 12 Sealing parts

[0077] 14 sealing rings

[0078] 16 cable

[0079] 18 cores

[0080] 19 insulation

[0081] 20 contact terminals

[0082] 22 locks

[0083] 24 convex plates

[0084] 26 integral parts

[0085] 28 connecting parts

[0086] 30 cable shield

[0087] 32 Contact Part

[0088] 34 Attachment Parts

[0089] 36 Attachment Grooves

[0090] 38. Radial protrusion of the shoulder

[0091] 40 radial inner surface

[0092] 42 socket

[0093] 44 protrusions

[0094] 46-channel opening

[0095] 48 Radial outer surface of the contact portion

[0096] 50 radial outer surface of the protrusion

[0097] 52 bottom cut

[0098] 54 Outer shell wall

[0099] 56 Arm of the adjacent protrusion of the sealing ring

[0100] 58. The arm of the sealing ring that closes the sealing portion in the insertion direction.

[0101] 60 shell wall

[0102] 62 plug assembly

[0103] 64 mating connector

[0104] 66 Fitting the shell

[0105] 68 mating plug contacts

[0106] 70 plug-in state

[0107] 72 walls

[0108] 74 Free end of wall

[0109] 76 Inner surface of the wall

[0110] 78 Block

[0111] 80 contact spring

[0112] 82 contact area

[0113] S-type insertion direction

[0114] U-shaped direction

Claims

1. A connector (1) having a housing (2) and shielded contacts (4), wherein, A gap (10) extending in the circumferential direction (U) extends between the housing (2) and the shielding contact (4), wherein a mating housing (66) of a mating connector (64) is adapted to be inserted into the gap (10) in the insertion direction (S), and wherein the gap (10) extends into a sealing portion (12) in the insertion direction (S), wherein a sealing ring (14) is axially held between the shielding contact (4) and the housing (2), wherein the shielding contact (4) includes at least one radially projecting shoulder (38) that axially restricts the sealing portion (12), wherein the radially projecting shoulder is formed as a widening of the sleeve body of the shielding contact and is arranged to surround the entire circumferential direction.

2. The connector (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The gap (10) extends along the radial outer surface (48) of the shielding contact (4).

3. The connector (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The sealing ring (14) protrudes radially over the shielding contact (4).

4. The connector (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, A portion of the sealing ring (14) closes the gap (10) along the insertion direction (S).

5. The connector (1) according to claim 4, wherein, The sealing ring (14) includes at least one radially projecting arm (58) that closes the gap (10) along the insertion direction (S).

6. The connector (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The shielding contact (4) extends from the connection portion (28) of the shielding braid for connecting to the electrical conductor (6) to the contact portion (32) of the shield (78) for contacting the mating connector (64).

7. The connector (1) according to claim 6, wherein, The shielding contact (4) gradually tapers from the contact portion (32) to the connection portion (28).

8. The connector (1) according to claim 6, wherein, The shielding contact (4) includes an attachment portion (34) extending between the connection portion (28) and the contact portion (32) for attaching the shielding contact (4) to the plug contact (8).

9. The connector (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The shielding contact (4) is integrally formed into a whole component (26).

10. The connector (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The sealing ring (14) is held around the protrusion (44) that extends in the axial direction.

11. The connector (1) according to claim 10, wherein, The at least one radially protruding shoulder (38) is adjacent to the protrusion (44) along the insertion direction (S).

12. A plug assembly (62) having a connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and a mating connector (64), the mating connector (64) comprising a mating housing (66) adapted to be plugged into the housing (2), wherein, In the plugged state (70), the mating housing presses against the sealing ring (14) at least partially in the sealing portion (12).

13. The plug assembly (62) according to claim 12, wherein, In the plugged state (70), the mating housing (66) impacts the sealing ring (14) along the plugging direction (S).

14. The plug assembly (62) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein, In the plugged-in state (70), the shield (78) of the mating connector (64) contacts the radial inner surface (40) of the shield contact (4).

Images