Wire clamp for mitigating load of cable on electrical plug

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection terminal (1) for reducing the load of at least one cable (2) on a light electrical plug (3) or an electrical coupling, the cable (2) leading into a housing (31) of the plug (3) or the coupling, at least one wire of the cable (2) being connected to at least one contact of the plug (3) or the coupling. According to the invention, the connection clamp (1) is designed to surround the housing (31) and the cable (2), and a force-fitting connection can be formed between the cable (2) and a cable clamping section of the connection clamp (1) in such a way that a force acting on the cable (2) can be conducted through the connection clamp (1) into the housing (31).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a terminal for relieving the load on a cable at an electrical plug or electrical coupling. The invention also relates to an assembly having a terminal according to the invention and its use in a motor vehicle lighting device. Background Art

[0002] In the prior art, load relief devices, in particular for tension relief, are known as mechanical protection devices for cables for guiding electrical lines. These load relief devices serve to absorb and / or dissipate mechanical forces acting on the cable, so that in particular the cable can be prevented from being pulled out of an electrical plug, for example. Furthermore, when used in an operating environment subject to vibrations, the load relief devices prevent contact corrosion or contact wear of the contacts in the plug connection, since the introduction of vibrations through the cable is prevented.

[0003] For example, EP 1 916 747 A1 discloses a load-relieving plug connector which is arranged at the end of a cable and has an injection-molded housing, wherein a strain relief element is arranged on the surface of the cable and is injection-molded around the housing under pressure.

[0004] Document DE 10 2011 051 951 A1 discloses a plug connector having a housing and a strain relief device for relieving the load on a cable introduced into the housing, the strain relief device comprising two latching elements, each of which has a recess and can be inserted from opposite sides from the outside into the housing or into a guide device provided on the housing. The latching elements can be latched with each other so that they can clamp-likely surround the cable with a force-locking manner by means of their recesses and divert the tensile forces acting on the cable to the housing.

[0005] The above-mentioned load relief device has been integrated into the corresponding plug connector in terms of production, or the plug connector is specially designed to receive the load relief device. Therefore, it is disadvantageous that the existing plug or connector cannot be retrofitted with the load relief device in the prior art. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an alternative embodiment of a device for relieving the load on at least one cable on an electrical plug or an electrical coupling, which device should in particular be able to be arranged on the plug or coupling in a simple and retroactively installed process. In this context, the part of the plug connection which is located on the cable end and has the contacts which point outwards or are located inwards is referred to as a plug or coupling.

[0007] This object is achieved starting from a terminal according to claim 1 and the assembly formed thereby according to claim 9. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0008] The technical teaching of the present invention discloses a terminal clamp configured to surround a housing of a plug or a connector and at least one cable passing therein, wherein a force-locking connection can be formed between the cable and a cable clamping section of the terminal clamp so that forces acting on the cable can be conducted into the housing through the terminal clamp.

[0009] The present invention is based on the following idea, that is, by means of a connecting clamp, a load-relief device that can be placed from the outside is realized, which is suitable for subsequently fixing the cable on a plug or a connector of any shape in principle. When the cable clamping section surrounds the cable circumferentially, a force-locking connection is formed, which introduces axially oriented forces, i.e. forces acting in the longitudinal extension direction of the cable, especially tensile forces, into the connecting clamp. The cable clamping section is preferably adapted to the contour of the cable to be surrounded so that a contact surface of suitable size can be formed. Radial forces (for example, based on the pivoting or vibration of the cable) are introduced into the cable clamping section by the form-locking formed in the radial direction. In particular, a force-locking connection is also formed between the housing of the plug or connector and the connecting clamp surrounding the housing. Therefore, the end section of the cable that passes into the housing is mechanically decoupled to a large extent from the rest of the cable, so that no significant force can be transmitted to the contact of the plug or connector connected to the cable through the cable.

[0010] In particular, the terminal has a first clamping jaw and a second clamping jaw, which are connected to each other by means of a hinge. This structure makes it particularly easy to install the terminal on the cable and the plug or the connector.

[0011] For example, the hinge is designed as a film hinge. Such a film hinge is designed as a flexible, thin-walled hinge groove between two clamping jaws and has no other mechanical components. The hinge function is realized by the hinge groove, which has a significantly reduced wall thickness compared to the normal wall thickness. In particular, the clamping jaws and the film hinge are designed as sections of a one-piece plastic component. For example, polypropylene is a suitable material for forming a terminal with a film hinge due to its softness and ductility. Production can be carried out in particular by means of injection molding or by means of additive manufacturing ("3D printing").

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the terminal clamp has a latching mechanism, by means of which the clamping jaws can be latched to one another when the housing and the cable are enclosed. This embodiment helps to further simplify the installation of the terminal clamp. In particular, corresponding latching mechanisms are formed on the sides of the two clamping jaws facing away from the hinge, which latching mechanisms are elastically tensioned when the terminal clamp is closed.

[0013] In another embodiment, the cable clamping section of the terminal clamp has at least one embedded element, which is arranged on the clamping jaws and forms a contact surface with the cable when the cable is surrounded, and the embedded element has a material with a smaller elastic modulus than the material of the clamping jaws. With the help of such an embedded element, dimensional tolerances of the diameter of the cable to be surrounded can be compensated, so that the desired force lock can be reliably formed between the cable and the cable clamping section. The embedded element can be made of rubber or foamed plastic, for example. In particular, the cable clamping section has two such embedded elements, which are arranged oppositely on different clamping jaws. In this embodiment, the entire contact surface with the cable to be surrounded is formed by the embedded element.

[0014] In another embodiment, the terminal clamp has at least one reference section, which can be engaged with a corresponding contact section of the housing by the housing surrounding the plug or the connector. For example, the contact section is designed as a circumferentially surrounding flange on the housing, and the clamping jaw has a corresponding reference section in the form of a groove. When the housing is surrounded by the terminal clamp, the flange is accommodated in the two grooves. Therefore, on the one hand, a reliable positioning of the terminal clamp during installation is ensured, and in addition, a form-fitting connection is formed between the contact section and the reference section, which form-fitting connection allows the transmission of force from the terminal clamp to the housing in the axial direction, that is, in the longitudinal extension direction of the cable.

[0015] The present invention also relates to an assembly comprising a terminal clamp according to any one of the aforementioned embodiments and an electrical plug or an electrical connector having at least one cable, wherein the cable is introduced into a housing of the plug or the connector, at least one wire of the cable is connected to at least one contact of the plug or the connector, and the terminal clamp surrounds the housing and the cable, and a force-locking connection is formed between the cable and the cable clamping section of the terminal clamp so that the force acting on the cable can be discharged into the housing through the terminal clamp.

[0016] The assembly can be used in particular in a plug connection to a socket or an integrated plug of a light module of a motor vehicle lighting device, in particular a headlamp, which is used to connect the light module to an energy supply. Plug connections in motor vehicle lighting devices are subject to permanent vibrations and shaking during driving and are therefore particularly susceptible to contact corrosion or even contact wear. In conjunction with the high electrical powers to be transmitted, in particular in high-power headlamps, there is a risk of arc ignition and the resulting accelerated wear in such stressed plug connections, up to the point of complete failure of the plug connection. Therefore, according to the invention, it is proposed to use the described assembly comprising a terminal clamp and a plug or a coupling in a plug connection for supplying power to a light module in a motor vehicle lighting device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Other measures to improve the present invention are shown below together with the description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are as follows:

[0018] Figure 1a , Figure 1b shows the structure of an assembly with an open terminal clamp according to the present invention; and

[0019] Figure 2a , Figure 2b The assembly is shown with the terminal clip closed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Figure 1a and Figure 1b The structure of the assembly 100 according to the invention with an opened terminal 1 is shown in a perspective view or a top view, and Figure 2a and Figure 2b A corresponding view shows an assembly 100 with a closed terminal 1 .

[0021] The assembly 100 comprises a terminal clamp 1 according to the invention and an electrical plug 3 having two cables 2, the cables 2 being introduced into a housing 31, the wires of the cables 2 being connected to the contacts of the plug 3 inside the housing 31. The closed terminal clamp 1 surrounds the housing 31 and the cables 2, and a force-locking connection is formed between the cables 2 and the cable clamping section of the terminal clamp 1, so that the forces acting on the cables 2 can be conducted into the housing 31 through the terminal clamp 1. The force-locking connection is used to transmit forces acting axially in the longitudinal extension direction of the cables 2; radial forces are transmitted from the cables 2 to the terminal clamp 1 by form-locking.

[0022] The terminal clamp 1 comprises a first clamping jaw 11 and a second clamping jaw 12, which are connected to each other by means of a hinge 13 which is designed as a film hinge. The hinge 13 allows the terminal clamp 1 to be moved from an open position ( Figure 1a , Figure 1b ) changes to the closed position at least once ( Figure 2a , Figure 2b The clamping jaws 11 , 12 and the hinge 13 are designed as sections of a one-piece plastic component.

[0023] On the sides of the clamping jaws 11, 12 respectively opposite to the hinge 13, latching mechanisms 14, 15 are integrally formed, by means of which the clamping jaws 11, 12 are latched to each other when surrounding the housing 31 and the cable 2. The latching mechanisms 14, 15 are configured, for example, in the form of latching eyes and latching projections, which are elastically braced against each other when the terminal 1 is closed.

[0024] The cable clamping section has two engagement elements 16, 17, which are arranged opposite each other on the two clamping jaws 11, 12 and form a contact surface with the cable 2 when enclosing the cable 2. The engagement elements 16, 17 have a concave recess, which is adapted to the contour of the cable 2. In addition, the engagement elements 16, 17 are made of a material with a lower modulus of elasticity than the material of the clamping jaws 11, 12. When the terminal 1 is closed, the engagement elements 16, 17 are compressed to a certain extent, thereby forming a stable and flat force-locking connection with the cable 2.

[0025] Furthermore, groove-shaped reference sections 18 , 19 are integrally formed on the clamping jaws 11 , 12 , which, by surrounding the housing 31 , can engage with a collar-shaped contact section 32 of the housing 31 . Figure 1a , Figure 1b The one-sided engagement of the reference section 19 shown in the figure with the contact section 32 first ensures that the terminal 1 is securely seated on the housing 31 during assembly of the assembly 100, so that the terminal 1 can then be closed without unintentional slipping. In addition, the positive fit between the contact section 32 and the reference sections 18, 19 helps to transmit the forces from the terminal 1 to the plug 3 while relieving the load on the cable 2. Reference numerals list

[0026] 1 Terminal clamp

[0027] 11, 12 jaws

[0028] 13 Hinge

[0029] 14, 15 locking mechanism

[0030] 16, 17 Embedded components

[0031] 18, 19 reference sections

[0032] 2 Cables

[0033] 3 plugs

[0034] 31 Shell

[0035] 32 contact section

[0036] 100 components

Claims

1. A terminal clamp (1) for relieving the load on at least one cable (2) at an electrical plug (3) or an electrical connector, wherein: The cable (2) is passed into a housing (31) of a plug (3) or a connector, and at least one wire of the cable (2) is connected to at least one contact of the plug (3) or the connector. The invention is characterized in that the terminal clamp (1) is configured to surround a housing (31) and a cable (2), and a force-locking connection can be formed between the cable (2) and a cable clamping section of the terminal clamp (1), so that a force acting on the cable (2) can be discharged into the housing (31) through the terminal clamp (1).

2. The terminal clamp (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The terminal clamp (1) comprises a first clamping jaw (11) and a second clamping jaw (12), and the clamping jaws (11, 12) are connected to each other by means of a hinge (13).

3. The terminal clamp (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that: The hinge (13) is designed as a film hinge.

4. The terminal clamp (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The clamping jaws (11, 12) and the hinge (13) are designed as sections of a one-piece plastic component.

5. The terminal clamp (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The terminal clamp (1) has a locking mechanism (14, 15), by means of which the clamping jaws (11, 12) can be locked to each other when surrounding a housing (31) and a cable (2).

6. The terminal clamp (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The cable clamping section has at least one engagement element (16, 17) which is arranged on the clamping jaws (11, 12) and forms a contact surface with the cable (2) when surrounding the cable (2), the engagement element (16, 17) having a material with a lower modulus of elasticity than the material of the clamping jaws (11, 12).

7. The terminal clamp (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that: The cable clamping section has two engagement elements (16, 17) which are arranged opposite each other on different clamping jaws (11, 12).

8. The terminal clamp (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The terminal (1) has at least one reference section (18, 19) which, by surrounding the housing (31), can engage with a corresponding contact section (32) of the housing (31).

9. An assembly (100) comprising a terminal clamp (1) according to any one of the preceding claims and an electrical plug (3) or an electrical coupling with at least one cable (2), wherein: The cable (2) is passed into a housing (31) of a plug (3) or a connector, at least one wire of the cable (2) is connected to at least one contact of the plug (3) or the connector, and the terminal clamp (1) surrounds the housing (31) and the cable (2), forming a force-locking connection between the cable (2) and a cable clamping section of the terminal clamp (1), so that a force acting on the cable (2) can be discharged into the housing (31) through the terminal clamp (1).

10. Use of the assembly (100) according to claim 9 in a plug connection to a socket or an integrated plug of a light module of a motor vehicle lighting device, in particular a headlight, wherein: The plug connection serves to connect the light module to a power supply device.

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