Modular plug connector modules for heavy-duty industrial plug connectors

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connector module (1, 1', 1") for a modular industrial plug connector, wherein the plug connector module (1, 1', 1") is formed by at least two independent functional units (2, 2'), wherein the functional units (2, 2') surround a cavity (6) with each other in the installed state. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a plug connector module (1, 1', 1") for a modular industrial plug connector, the method having the following method steps: wherein at least two independent functional units (2, 2') are first assembled together, wherein the functional units (2, 2') surround a cavity (6) with each other in the assembled state, and then the cavity (6) is at least partially filled with a fixing element (7), thereby fixing the functional units (2, 2') to each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a plug connector module for a heavy-duty industrial plug connector and also to a method for producing such a plug connector module.

[0002] Such plug connector modules are required as components of a plug connector module system so that plug connectors, in particular heavy industrial plug connectors, can be flexibly adapted to specific requirements, for example in terms of signal and energy transmission between two electrical devices. Usually, for this purpose, the plug connector modules are installed in corresponding holding frames, which are therefore also called hinged frames, module frames or modular frames. The holding frames are therefore used to accommodate a plurality of plug connector modules of the same type and / or different from one another and to securely fix them on a surface and / or on a device wall and / or on a plug connector housing, etc. Background Art

[0003] Plug connector modules usually have a substantially square insulating body or a square housing. The insulating body or the housing can be used, for example, as a contact carrier and can accommodate and fix different types of contacts. The functionality of the plug connector formed in this way is therefore very flexible. For example, pneumatic modules, optical modules, modules for transmitting electrical energy and / or electrical analog and / or digital signals can be accommodated in the corresponding insulating body or housing and thus used in a modular plug connector system. Plug connector modules are also increasingly taking on measurement and data technology tasks.

[0004] It is best to use a holding frame formed by two frame halves that are hingedly connected to one another. The plug-in connector module is provided with a roughly rectangular holding element that protrudes on the narrow side. In the side parts of the frame halves, there are recesses or openings that are designed as openings that are closed on all sides, and the holding element sinks into the recess or opening when the plug-in connector module is inserted into the holding frame. So-called hinged frames are usually used. In order to insert the plug-in connector module, the holding frame is folded open, that is to say opened, wherein the frame halves are folded open around the hinges only to such an extent that the plug-in connector module can be inserted. The frame halves are then brought together, that is to say the holding frame is closed, wherein the holding element reaches into the recess and holds the plug-in connector module securely and in a form-fitting manner in the holding frame.

[0005] The above-mentioned modular industrial plug connectors offer a high degree of flexibility and can be used in different fields of application, which is achieved by installing plug connector modules with different functions together in a common holding frame. However, the number of positions for plug connector modules in a holding frame is limited. This limits the flexibility of such industrial plug connectors.

[0006] The idea of ​​increasing the flexibility of such industrial plug connectors with plug connector modules which can in turn be modularly composed of different functional units runs counter to customer demands for less effort when assembling industrial plug connectors.

[0007] The German Patent and Trademark Office has searched the following prior art for the priority applications of the present application: DE 10 2017 123 331 B3, DE 10 2014 108 847 A1 and DE 10 2018 115 371 A1.

[0008] Problems solved

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a plug connector module which enables a modular industrial plug connector with increased modularity without increasing the effort for assembling such a plug connector.

[0010] The object of the present invention is achieved by the following features. A plug connector module for a modular industrial plug connector is provided, wherein the plug connector module is composed of at least two independent functional units, wherein the functional units form a cavity with each other in the assembled state, the cavity extending along the plug-in direction of the plug connector module and perpendicular to the plug-in direction, and the functional units can be fixed to each other by spraying a fixing member in the form of a solidified material into the cavity. A method for manufacturing a plug connector module for a modular industrial plug connector is also provided, the method having the following method steps:

[0011] - wherein at least two separate functional units are first assembled together, wherein the functional units surround a cavity with each other in the assembled state,

[0012] - wherein the cavity is then at least partially filled with a fixing element, whereby the functional units are fixed to one another,

[0013] Therein, the fixing element is at least partially filled in the cavity with a cured compound, so that the cavity is filled with the fixing element. Summary of the invention

[0014] The plug connector module according to the invention is used in modular industrial plug connectors. In this case, a plurality of plug connector modules of the same type and / or different types are usually installed in a so-called holding frame. The holding frame is then installed in a plug connector housing or an equipment wall. The plug connector module according to the invention consists of at least two independent functional units.

[0015] The functional unit forms an independent component. This means that the functional unit can work independently, ie without another functional unit connected thereto. The functional unit is not technically usable only by connecting two or more functional units to a plug connector module.

[0016] Preferably, the functional unit has at least one contact element and / or sensor and / or edge computer. The edge computer can, for example, collect, store, process and send data. The contact element can, for example, be an electrical contact element for transmitting current or signals. The contact element can also be an optical contact element, for example an optical contact element connected to an optical conductor. The functional unit can have multiple contact elements, in particular multiple different contact elements. For example, electrical contact elements and optical contact elements can be mixed with each other. The sensor can, for example, be a current sensor, which monitors adjacent contact elements, for example, which are arranged in adjacent functional units. However, temperature sensors, optical sensors, in particular diffuse light sensors or other sensors can also be provided. The functional unit can also include multiple sensors, in particular different sensors. The functional unit can also contain one sensor or multiple sensors and at the same time contain one contact element or multiple contact elements.

[0017] The functional units of the plug connector module can function completely independently of one another. However, in particular when a sensor of one functional unit is combined with a contact element of another functional unit, it is also possible to achieve a synergistic effect by joining the functional units together.

[0018] The functional units surround a cavity when they are mounted together. A cavity here means a hollow space that is accessible from the outside. For this purpose, each functional unit has a camber that forms the mentioned hollow space or the mentioned cavity when the functional units are assembled together.

[0019] The chamber can also have two outward openings. Thus, for example, separate fixing elements can be introduced on both sides.

[0020] The cavity can extend substantially in the plugging direction of the plug connector module and / or perpendicularly to the plugging direction. The plugging direction is the direction in which the plug connector module is guided toward the mating plug connector module during the plugging process. This orientation of the cavity makes it possible to simply fill the cavity with a fixture or to simply introduce a fixture into the cavity.

[0021] The functional units are fixed to one another by at least partially filling the cavity with a fixing element. The fixing element is in particular a separate component. The fixing of the functional units to one another can be reversible if the fixing element is designed so that it can be removed from the cavity again. In this case, the functional units can be reused and can be combined in different ways accordingly. For example, a defective functional unit can be replaced without having to dispose of a functional unit that is still working and was previously combined with it. This solution is particularly durable.

[0022] The fixing element can be an already existing separate component. The fixing element has the shape of a component extruded into the space. Such a component can be manufactured easily, for example in an injection molding process.

[0023] However, the fixing element can also be produced during the injection molding process. In this case, the functional units are first joined together. The cavity produced in this case is filled with plastic material during the plastic injection molding process, so that the plastic material solidifies and the fixing element is produced or formed at the same time. It is sufficient to partially fill the cavity.

[0024] Will at first still be the liquid fixing part and be injected into the inlet of the cavity and then if necessary, unnecessary material will leak out through the second opening of the cavity.At this moment, also make the curing process correspondingly accelerated through two openings.

[0025] Preferably, the fixing element has a cross-shaped cross section. The two cross rods can be anchored in each of the functional units, thereby forming a particularly stable and gap-free connection of the functional units. The gap-free nature of the connection of the functional units is particularly important. Excessive gaps between the functional units lead to "wobbling" plug connector modules and ultimately reduce the functionality of the industrial plug connector equipped with the plug connector module.

[0026] Advantageously, the functional units each have a complementary offset on the side on which they are joined together. The functional units can thus be joined together in a form-fitting manner. The offset allows the functional units to be held against each other in the plugging direction or against the plugging direction without the need for fixings. This imparts a high degree of stability to the plug connector module, in particular during the plugging process.

[0027] The production process of the plug connector module according to the invention is described below. The method steps mentioned here can advantageously be arranged in a different order.

[0028] First, at least two independent functional units are assembled or joined together. In the assembled state, the functional units surround a cavity with each other.

[0029] The cavity is then at least partially filled with the fixing element, thereby fixing the functional units to one another. The already manufactured fixing element can be introduced into the cavity or pushed into it. Alternatively, a curable compound can be filled into the cavity, for example in an injection molding process. The curing compound then forms the fixing element.

[0030] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, a retaining element for fixing the plug connector module in a retaining frame is formed on the narrow side of the plug connector module or a projection thereof is formed. This process step can be performed before, after or during filling the cavity with the retaining element.

[0031] As is known, plug-in connector modules have differently sized retaining elements on the narrow side. This ensures that the plug-in connector module is polarized (correctly inserted in the desired orientation) into a retaining frame that has recesses of different sizes that match it. The aforementioned, later-molded retaining elements allow functional units to be combined with one another more flexibly, since the polarization direction does not have to be taken into account. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and described in detail below. It is shown in the drawings:

[0033] Figure 1 A schematic three-dimensional and partly perspective view of a first embodiment of a plug connector module according to the invention is shown;

[0034] Figure 2 A perspective view of a fixing member is shown;

[0035] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a plug connector module according to the invention;

[0036] Figure 4 shows a three-dimensional and partially perspective schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a plug connector module according to the invention;

[0037] Figure 5 A partial perspective view of a plug connector module according to the invention is shown.

[0038] The drawings contain partially simplified schematic diagrams. In part, the same reference numerals are used for identical, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of the same element may be shown in different proportions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Figure 1 A schematic perspective and partly perspective view of a first embodiment of a plug connector module 1 according to the invention is shown.

[0040] The plug connector module 1 is composed of two functionally independent functional units 2, 2'. The functional units 2, 2' have retaining members 3, 3' of different sizes on the narrow sides of the plug connector module 1 formed by the functional units 2, 2', and the plug connector module 1 is fixed to a retaining frame (not shown) of an industrial plug connector (not shown) by means of the retaining members. The functional units 2, 2' have openings 4, into which (different) contact elements 5 can be inserted. However, other elements, such as sensors, can also be arranged in the functional units 2, 2'. Since the functionality of the functional units 2, 2' related to this is not important for the present invention, it will not be described in detail below. The plug connector 1 is plugged together with the corresponding mating plug connector module (not shown) along the plug-in direction SR.

[0041] The joined functional units 2, 2' surround a cavity 6. The cavity 6 is filled with a fixing element 7, which is Figure 2 The fixing element 7 has the shape of a cross extruded into space.

[0042] In the plug connector module ( Figure 1 In a first embodiment of the present invention, the functional units 2, 2' form a transverse partition of the plug connector module 1. The functional units 2, 2' are joined together with their narrow sides provided for this purpose. The fixing element 7 is then pushed or injected into the plug connector module 1 axially, i.e. in the plugging direction SR, in order to connect the functional units 2, 2' to one another in a detachable manner in the best case.

[0043] The functional units 2, 2' each have a mutually complementary oriented offset 9 on their joined sides. As a result, the functional units 2, 2' cannot move axially relative to each other even without the fixing element 7. This stabilizes the functional units 2, 2' during further production processes, such as injection molding.

[0044] exist Figure 3 A second embodiment of a plug connector module 1' according to the invention is shown in . In this embodiment, the plug connector module 1' is divided longitudinally. Therefore, the fixing element 7 is pushed or injected into the narrow side of the plug connector module 1' perpendicular to the plug-in direction SR. This longitudinally divided plug connector module 2, 2' has the disadvantage that the diameter of the contact elements that can be accommodated therein is limited. This usually also causes problems with air gaps and creepage distances. However, the advantage of the longitudinal division of the plug connector module is that when the plug-in position (steckplätze) of the retaining frame is provided accordingly, the functional unit can be fixed in the retaining frame individually, that is, without being connected to another functional unit.

[0045] exist Figure 4 A third embodiment of a plug-in connector module 1 '' according to the invention can be seen in the figure. This variant is again the aforementioned plug-in connector module 1 '' which is divided transversely by the functional units 2, 2' joined together on the narrow sides. In this embodiment, the fixing element 7 extends both in the plug-in direction SR and perpendicularly to the plug-in direction in the plug-in connector module 1 ''. The cavity 6 is naturally designed accordingly. The design of the fixing element 7 allows the functional units 2, 2' to be fixed to each other particularly firmly and without gaps. For this purpose, it is naturally not necessary to use a manufactured component as the fixing element 7. In this embodiment, the fixing element 7 is sprayed into the cavity 6 in the form of a solidified material.

[0046] exist Figure 5A detail of a plug connector module 1, 1', 1'' according to the invention can be seen in FIG. This detail is focused on the retaining element 3' formed on the respective narrow side of the plug connector module 1, 1', 1''. Figure 5 In the embodiment of the schematic diagram of , the retaining element 3' can (optionally) be implemented as follows. The retaining element 3' is composed of a base 3a molded on the functional unit 2, 2', and the base has a groove 8. The base 3a basically corresponds to the small retaining element 3 of the plug connector module 1, 1', 1' and is correspondingly assembled into the narrower recess of the aforementioned retaining frame. During the injection molding process, the enlarged part 3b is molded on the base 3a. The base 3a together with the enlarged part 3b corresponds to the larger retaining element 3' of the plug connector module 1, 1', 1' and is correspondingly assembled into the larger recess of the aforementioned retaining frame. In this embodiment, the functional units can be interchanged with each other as desired, because the functional units are only provided with the advantageous polarization part for the retaining frame later in the injection molding process.

[0047] Although different schemes or features of the present invention are shown in combination in the drawings, it is clear to the skilled person that the combinations shown and discussed are not the only possible ones without any contrary indication. In particular, corresponding units or feature combinations in different embodiments can be exchanged with each other.

[0048] Reference numerals list

[0049] 1 Plug connector module

[0050] 2 Functional Units

[0051] 3. Retaining parts

[0052] 3a Base

[0053] 3b Enlargement

[0054] 4 Opening

[0055] 5 Contact elements

[0056] 6 chambers

[0057] 7 Fixing parts

[0058] 8 slots

[0059] 9 Offset

[0060] SR plug-in direction

Claims

1. A plug connector module (1, 1', 1'') for a modular industrial plug connector, wherein: The plug connector module (1, 1', 1'') is composed of at least two independent functional units (2, 2'), wherein the functional units (2, 2') form a cavity (6) with each other in the assembled state, characterized in that the cavity (6) extends along the plug-in direction (SR) of the plug connector module (1, 1', 1'') and perpendicular to the plug-in direction (SR), and the functional units (2, 2') can be fixed to each other by spraying a fixing part (7) in the form of a solidified material into the cavity (6).

2. The plug connector module according to claim 1, characterized in that The plug connector module (1, 1', 1'') has a fixing element (7), and the fixing element (7) at least partially fills the cavity (6) in order to fix at least two functional units (2, 2') to each other.

3. The plug connector module according to claim 2, characterized in that The fixing element (7) is a component that is squeezed into the space.

4. The plug connector module according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The fixing member (7) has a cross-shaped cross section.

5. The plug connector module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The functional units (2, 2') each have an offset (9) on their joined-together side, wherein the offsets (9) are oriented complementary to one another.

6. A method for producing a plug connector module (1, 1', 1'') for a modular industrial plug connector, the method comprising the following method steps: - wherein at least two independent functional units (2, 2') are first assembled together, wherein: The functional units (2, 2') surround a cavity (6) with each other in the assembled state. - wherein the cavity (6) is then at least partially filled with a fixing element (7), thereby fixing the functional units (2, 2') to one another, The cavity (6) extends along the plug-in direction (SR) of the plug connector module (1, 1', 1'') and perpendicularly to the plug-in direction (SR), and the functional units (2, 2') can be fixed to each other by spraying the fixing element (7) in the form of a solidified material into the cavity (6).

7. The method for manufacturing a plug connector module (1, 1', 1'') for a modular industrial plug connector according to claim 6, characterized in that: A retaining element (3) is formed on a narrow side of the plug connector module (1, 1', 1'') to fix the plug connector module (1, 1', 1'') in a retaining frame.

Images