Connection adapter for mechanically connecting corresponding electrical plug connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection adapter for mechanically connecting corresponding electrical plug connectors, each of which preferably has electrical plug connector disks connected in series with one another, said connection adapter having a first adapter disk part and a second adapter disk part, the first adapter disc part is used for connecting at least one electric plug connector disc of a first plug connector in series along / or opposite to the series direction, and the second adapter disc part is used for connecting at least one electric plug connector disc of a second plug connector in series along / or opposite to the series direction. The first and second adapter disk parts can be releasably latched to one another, and the connection adapter comprises a locking mechanism for latching the adapter disk parts to one another, which locking mechanism is designed in a self-latching manner, in particular in such a way that the adapter disk parts can be detachably latched to one another. The two plug connectors are arranged such that a latching of the adapter disk part is established directly when the two plug connectors are slid together in or against the slip direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a connection adapter for mechanically connecting corresponding electrical plug connectors, which preferably have electrical plug connector disks respectively connected in series with each other, and a plug assembly comprising two plug connectors and such a connection adapter. Background Art

[0002] In electrical applications, for example in production technology or switch cabinet construction, there is a need to be able to connect corresponding plug-in connectors, in particular consisting of plug-in connector plates connected in series in a row, to one another in a simple manner in a mechanically secure and detachable manner. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a cost-effective connection adapter which can be assembled easily and quickly, in particular for the releasable mechanical connection of plug-in connectors consisting of plug-in connector disks which are preferably connected in series with one another.

[0004] This object is achieved with a connection adapter having the features of independent claim 1 and a plug-in connector having the features of independent claim 12. Advantageous embodiments can be derived from the dependent claims.

[0005] According to claim 1, a connection adapter for mechanically connecting corresponding plug-in connectors is provided, wherein the plug-in connectors preferably each have an electrical plug-in connector disk connected in series with one another. The connection adapter has a first adapter disk part, which is used to connect in series at least one electrical plug-in connector disk of a first plug-in connector in / or against the series connection direction. In addition, the connection adapter has a second adapter disk part, which is used to connect in series at least one electrical plug-in connector disk of a second (matching) plug-in connector in / or against the series connection direction. The adapter disk parts can be releasably locked to one another, and the connection adapter includes a locking mechanism for locking two adapter disk parts for two plug-in connectors to one another, the locking mechanism being designed to be self-locking, and more precisely, in particular designed so that the locking of the adapter disk parts is established directly when the two plug-in connectors are slid together in / or against the sliding direction.

[0006] As a result, the two plug connectors of the plug assembly can be locked to one another very easily simply by sliding the second adapter disk part onto the first adapter disk part.

[0007] The plug-in connector plates of the two plug-in connectors that can be plugged together can preferably have corresponding plug-in surfaces that can be plugged together, and the plug-in surfaces have corresponding plug contacts. When the adapter plates are partially plugged together, the plug-in surfaces of the two plug-in connector plates are preferably also plugged together and the plug contacts are connected to each other. The plug-in connector plates of the two plug-in connectors can also preferably have at least one or more connection contacts that are preferably connected to the corresponding plug contacts, and the connection contacts are respectively used to connect conductors or connect electrical devices, such as circuit boards.

[0008] As a particularly advantageous embodiment, in particular, there is mentioned a connection adapter disk part which is economical and can be assembled easily and quickly, and which is used for mechanically connecting plug connectors which are composed of plug connector disks connected in series with one another. The term disk should not be understood in a narrow sense. The disk does not have to be designed flat, but can also be designed relatively wide and uneven in the direction of the series connection.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the adapter disk parts each include a housing part, which surrounds an inner space part. Here, it is also preferred that the locking mechanism includes a locking hook component, which extends at least partially in the two inner space parts in the locked state of the connection adapter, in which the first adapter disk part is locked with the second adapter disk part. The locking mechanism is provided for reliably connecting the adapter disk parts and thus the two plug connectors.

[0010] For this purpose, the locking mechanism preferably comprises a counter-locking mechanism which is arranged on or in the second adapter disk part, and a locking hook which is arranged on the locking hook means and which cooperates with the counter-locking mechanism in a locking manner in the locked state.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the second housing part is designed as the mating locking mechanism. It is particularly preferred that the detent hook means can be automatically adjusted from a release position, in which the detent hook does not cooperate with the mating locking mechanism, into a latching position, in which the detent hook cooperates with the mating locking mechanism in a latching manner. Due to the automatic adjustability of the detent hook means from the release position into the latching position, the locking mechanism ensures a reliable and permanent latching of the adapter disk parts to one another even in demanding environments, for example under strong vibration loads.

[0012] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first adapter disk part comprises a rotary bearing, which forms a rotation axis, and on which the locking hook element is supported so as to be reversibly rotatable about the rotation axis in the rotation direction. Thus, the locking hook element can be reversibly adjusted from a locking position into a release position by rotation about the rotation axis.

[0013] It is particularly preferred that the first adapter disk part comprises a guide element which engages in a slot of the locking hook element so that the locking hook element can be guided along the slot during a rotation about the rotation axis. The shape of the slot also enables the locking hook element to be rotated back from the release position into the locking position.

[0014] The slotted link preferably comprises a release end and a latching end, the guide means being arranged at the release end in the release position of the latching hook means and being arranged at the latching end in the latching position of the latching hook means.

[0015] Preferably, the locking hook means completely penetrates the first inner space portion of the first adapter disk part. Here, the locking hook means preferably penetrates the first adapter disk part in a longitudinal direction transverse to the series connection direction.

[0016] Particularly preferably, the detent hook means further comprises an actuating mechanism for manually actuating the detent hook means, the actuating mechanism being accessible from the outside. Very particularly preferably, the actuating mechanism protrudes from the first housing part. The actuating mechanism can be actuated manually, for example with a finger or a screwdriver.

[0017] According to claim 12, the following technical solution is also proposed: a plug assembly, which has two plug connectors and a connection adapter according to any one of the claims related thereto, at least one electrical plug connector disk of a first plug connector is connected in series to the first and second adapter disk parts of the connection adapter along or opposite to the series connection direction, and at least one electrical plug connector disk of another plug connector is connected in series to the other adapter disk part of the connection adapter along or opposite to the series connection direction.

[0018] The electrical plug connector disks of the first and second plug connectors or the plug connectors formed by the electrical plug connector disks of the first and second plug connectors can be locked to each other very easily and quickly by means of a connection adapter. Separation can also be achieved very easily and quickly by operating the operating mechanism. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention is described below with the aid of the accompanying drawings. The drawings are merely exemplary and do not restrict the invention to the exemplary embodiments shown. In the drawings: Figure 1a )to Figure 1e ) shows the connection adapter, Figure 1a )to Figure 1b ) shows the connection adapter in the locked state, Figure 1c ) shows the connection adapter when the second adapter disc part is released from the first adapter disc part of the connection adapter, and Figure 1d )to Figure 1e ) shows the connection adapter in a separated state, in which the second adapter disc part is separated from the first adapter disc part; and Figure 2a )and Figure 2b ) each shows one of the two corresponding plug-in connectors having the connection adapter from FIG. 1 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a connection adapter 1 according to the invention. The connection adapter 1 is provided for mechanically connecting two corresponding electrical plug connectors 20 , 30 , each of which can have a row of plug connector disks 2 , 3 (see also Figure 2a , Figure 2b ). Therefore, the plug connector plates 2 , 3 of the corresponding plug connectors 20 , 30 can be plugged together in the series connection direction 93 .

[0021] The two plug connector plates 2, 3 of the two plug connectors 20, 30 also each have preferably corresponding plug-in surfaces that can be plugged together, and the plug surfaces have corresponding plug contacts (not shown in detail here, for example, configured as pin contacts and socket contacts) that can be plugged together or are plugged together in FIG. 2. The two plug connectors can be plugged together along an insertion or sliding direction 92 oriented perpendicularly to the series connection direction 93.

[0022] The connection adapter 1 has a first adapter disk part 12, which is configured to connect in series at least one or more first electrical plug connector disks of the first electrical plug connector disk 2 of the first plug connector along / or against the serial connection direction 93. The connection adapter 1 also has a second adapter disk part 13, which is configured to connect in series at least one or more second electrical plug connector disks of the second electrical plug connector disk 3 of the corresponding second plug connector along / or against the serial connection direction 93.

[0023] The adapter disk parts 12, 13 can be releasably locked to each other. For this purpose, the connection adapter 1 has a locking mechanism for locking the adapter disk parts 12, 13 to each other, which is designed to be self-locking, and more precisely, is designed in particular so that the locking is established directly and automatically when the plug connectors 20, 30 are slid together in the sliding direction 92.

[0024] In the first and second plug-in connector disks 2, 3 connected in series on both sides, that is, along and against the series connection direction 93, the connection adapter 1 can be arranged between the plug-in connector disks 2, 3. For this purpose, the connection adapter 1 is designed in a disk shape. Both the first adapter disk part 12 and the second adapter disk part 13 each have two mutually opposite broad sides 102 (see Figure 1e )), the broad sides are connected to one another via narrow sides 101. Alternatively, however, a plurality of connection adapters may also be provided.

[0025] Broadside 102 extends flatly parallel to a plane (not shown) indicated by a line (not shown) extending in Z direction 91 and a line (not shown) extending in sliding direction 92. Z direction 91 and sliding direction 92 extend transversely to each other and to series connection direction 93.

[0026] Figure 1a )to Figure 1b ) shows the connection adapter 1 in a locked state R, in which the first adapter disk part 12 and the second adapter disk part 13 are locked, Figure 1a ) shows a side view and Figure 1b ) shows a perspective view. Figure 1c ) shows the connection adapter 1 when the second adapter disk part 13 is loosened from the first adapter disk part 12. Figure 1d )to Figure 1e ) shows the connection adapter 1 in a separated state T, in which the second adapter disk part 13 is separated from the first adapter disk part 12, Figure 1d ) shows a side view and Figure 1e ) shows a perspective view.

[0027] The adapter disk parts 12, 13 each have a housing part 121, 131, which surrounds the interior space parts 120, 130. The housing parts 121, 131 are made of insulating material housing parts, in particular made of plastic. The locking mechanism extends in the interior space parts 120, 130 of the two adapter disk parts 12, 13 in the locked state R. In the present embodiment, the locking mechanism completely penetrates the first adapter disk part 12 and at least partially penetrates the second adapter disk part 13.

[0028] The locking mechanism has a locking hook device 11, which is supported on a rotary bearing 123 so as to be reversibly rotatable about the rotation axis 9 in the rotation direction 90. The rotary bearing 123 is configured here as a web. The web is manufactured in one piece with the first housing part 121. The web extends along the rotation axis 9, which is oriented in the series direction 93.

[0029] The latching hook means 11 are of planar design and extend parallel to the broad side 102 .

[0030] In order to lock the second adapter disk part 13 on the first adapter disk part 12, the locking mechanism also has a matching locking mechanism 134. The matching locking mechanism 134 is arranged on or in the second adapter disk part 13. The matching locking mechanism is manufactured in one piece with the second housing part 131 of the second adapter disk part 13. In addition, the locking mechanism has a locking hook 18, which is arranged on the locking hook device 11. Preferably, the locking hook 18 is manufactured in one piece with the locking hook device 11. The locking hook 18 cooperates with the matching locking mechanism 134 in a locking state R.

[0031] For this purpose, the latching hook 18 protrudes from the first adapter disk part 12 through a first connecting opening 128, which extends through the narrow side 101 of the first housing part 121. In the locked state R of the connecting adapter 1, the latching hook 18 extends into the second adapter disk part 13 through a second connecting opening 138, which extends through the narrow side 101 of the second housing part 131. In the locked state R, the latching hook 18 engages with the mating locking mechanism 134 from behind.

[0032] By rotating the detent hook means 11 in the rotational direction 90, the detent hook means 11 can be automatically adjusted from a release position L, in which the detent hook 18 does not cooperate with the mating locking means 134, into a latching position V, in which the detent hook 18 cooperates in a latching manner with the mating locking means 134. In the release position L of the detent hook means 11, the second adapter disk part 13 can be separated from the first adapter disk part 12, in particular by sliding in the sliding direction 92. The connection adapter 1 is then in a separated state T.

[0033] For automatic locking of the locking mechanism, the first adapter disk part 12 has guide means 14 which engage in the slot 16 of the latching hook means 11. The guide means 14 is formed integrally with the first housing part 121 and extends parallel to the rotation axis 9 in the serial connection direction 93.

[0034] When the latching hook means 11 is rotated about the rotation axis 9, the guide means 14 guides the slot 16. The slot 16 has a release end 161 and a latching end 162, the guide means 14 being arranged at the release end 161 in the release position L of the latching hook means 11 and at the latching end 162 in the latching position V of the latching hook means 11. The shape of the slot 16 is designed such that the latching hook means 11 automatically rotates from the release position L into the latching position V when the two adapter disk parts 12, 13 are plugged into each other in the sliding direction 92.

[0035] In order to separate the adapter disk parts 12, 13 from each other, the locking hook device 11 further comprises an actuating mechanism 15. The actuating mechanism 15 is provided for manually actuating the locking hook device 11. The actuating mechanism is here manufactured integrally with the locking hook device 11. The actuating mechanism can be accessed from the outside through an actuating opening 125, which is arranged opposite the first connecting opening 128 and passes through the narrow side 101.

[0036] An actuation recess 151 , in this case in the form of a slot, is provided on the actuation mechanism 15 . The actuation mechanism 15 can thus be actuated selectively by means of fingers or a screwdriver 7 .

[0037] On the other narrow side 101 of the first adapter disk part 12 , third and fourth connection openings 170 with snap-fit ​​connections 17 are provided, to which adjacent plug-in connector disks 2 of two plug-in connectors 20 can be connected in series.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a plug assembly in a) and b) respectively, which consists of two corresponding plug connectors plugged together using the connection adapter of FIG. The plug connectors 20 , 30 here differ only in the number of electrical plug connector disks 2 , 3 connected in series to the connection adapter 1 .

[0039] exist Figure 2a ), one plug connector disk 2 of the first plug connector 20 and one plug connector disk 3 of the second plug connector 30 are respectively connected in series to the connection adapter 1 along the series connection direction 93, and two plug connector disks 2 of the first plug connector 20 and two plug connector disks 3 of the second plug connector 30 are respectively connected in series to the connection adapter against the series connection direction 93.

[0040] exist Figure 2b ), the two plug-in connector plates 2 of the first plug-in connector 20 and the two plug-in connector plates 3 of the second plug-in connector 30 are connected in series to the connection adapter 1 both along and against the series connection direction 93 .

[0041] In order to connect the plug-in connector disks 2, 3 in series with each other and in series to the corresponding adapter disk parts 12, 13, the adapter disk parts 12, 13 can each have corresponding sliding, snap-on and locking hook means 192 to 195 of the plug-in connector disks 2, 3 of their plug-in connectors that can be connected in series.

[0042] By separating the second adapter disc part 13 from the first adapter disc part 12, that is, by operating the operating mechanism 15 so that the locking hook device 11 is rotated against the rotation direction 90, the connecting joint assemblies in the two plug-in connectors 20 and 30 can be separated. The first plug-in connector of the two plug-in connectors 20 and 30 then includes the plug-in connector disc 2 of the first plug-in connector and the first adapter disc part 12, and the second plug-in connector of the two plug-in connectors 20 and 30 includes the plug-in connector disc 3 of the second plug-in connector and the second adapter disc part 13.

[0043] The plug-in connectors 20 , 30 can thus be locked to one another very easily simply by sliding the second adapter disk part 13 , here counter to the sliding direction 92 , onto the first adapter disk part 12 .

[0044] For this purpose, the latching hook 18 has an inclined surface (not shown) which guides along the mating locking means 134 when the latching hook 18 is inserted into the second inner space part 130 of the second adapter disk part 13. Here, the latching hook member 11 is rotated from the locking position V to the release position L in the opposite direction of rotation 90. If the latching hook 18 has passed the mating locking means 134, the latching hook member 11 is automatically rotated back in the direction of rotation 90 by pressing the lower edge of the latching hook member 11 onto the narrow side of the adapter disk part 13 below the second connection opening 138. The latching hook 18 is thus rotated in the direction of the rotation direction 90 and then engages the mating locking means 134 from behind, so that the adapter disk parts 12, 13 are locked to each other in the locking position V. The plug-in connectors 20, 30 are then locked to each other again to form a plug-in assembly consisting of two plug-in connectors.

[0045] Reference numerals list 1Connection adapter 101 Narrow Side 102 wide side 11 Stop hook device 12 first adapter disc portion 120 First Interior Space 121 First (insulating material) housing part 123 swivel bearing 125 Manipulation opening 128 first connection opening 13 Second adapter disc portion 130 Second Internal Space 131 Second (insulating material) housing part 134 with locking mechanism 138 Second connection opening 14Guide devices, connectors 15 Operating mechanism, lever 151 Operation space 16 chute 161 Loose end 162 Lock end 17 snap-on connector 170Third and fourth connection openings 18 Stop hook 192 to 195 Slide, snap and detent hook devices 20 First plug connector 2 First plug connector tray 30 Second plug connector 3 Second plug connector tray 7. Screwdriver 9 Rotation axis 90 degree rotation direction 91 Z direction 92 Slip direction 93 Series Direction R card lock status T separation state L Loose position V-lock position.

Claims

1. A connection adapter (1) for mechanically connecting corresponding electrical plug connectors (20, 30), each of the electrical plug connectors preferably having electrical plug connector disks (2, 3) connected in series with each other, the connection adapter having a first adapter disk part (12) and a second adapter disk part (13), the first adapter disk part being used for connecting in series at least one electrical plug connector disk (2) of the first plug connector (20) along / or against a series connection direction (93), the second adapter disk part being used for connecting in series at least one electrical plug connector disk (3) of the second plug connector (30) along / or against the series connection direction (93), the first and second adapter disk parts (12, 13) being releasably lockable to one another, and the connection adapter (1) comprising a locking mechanism for locking the adapter disk parts (12, 13) to one another, the locking mechanism being constructed in a self-locking manner, in particular being constructed so that the locking of the adapter disk parts (12, 13) is established directly when the two plug connectors (20, 30) are slid together along or against a sliding direction (92).

2. The connection adapter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The plug connector disks (2, 3) of the two plug connectors (20, 30) each have a corresponding plug-in surface that can be plugged together, and the plug-in surface has corresponding plug contacts that can be plugged together.

3. The connection adapter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The plug-in connector disks (2, 3) of the two plug-in connectors (20, 30) also each have at least one connection contact for connecting a conductor or a circuit board.

4. The connection adapter (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that The adapter disk parts (12, 13) respectively include housing parts (121, 131), the housing parts enclosing inner space parts (120, 130), the locking mechanism including a locking hook device (11), the locking hook device at least partially extending in the two inner space parts (120, 130) in a locked state (R) of the connecting adapter (1), in which the first adapter disk part (12) is locked with the second adapter disk part (13).

5. The connection adapter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The locking mechanism comprises a mating locking mechanism (134) and a locking hook (18), wherein the mating locking mechanism is arranged on or in the second adapter disk part (13), and the locking hook is arranged on the locking hook device (11) and cooperates with the mating locking mechanism (134) in the locked state (R) in a locking manner.

6. The connection adapter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The second housing part (131) is configured as the mating locking mechanism (134), and the locking hook device (11) can be automatically adjusted from a release position (L) to a locking position (V), in which the locking hook (18) does not cooperate with the mating locking mechanism (134), and in which the locking position the locking hook (18) cooperates with the mating locking mechanism (134) in a locking manner.

7. The connection adapter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The first adapter disk part (12) comprises a rotary bearing (123) which is designed as a rotation axis (9) and on which the locking hook element (11) is mounted so as to be reversibly rotatable about the rotation axis (9) in a rotation direction (90).

8. The connection adapter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The first adapter disk part (12) comprises a guide element (14) which engages in a guide groove (16) of the locking hook element (11) so that the locking hook element (11) can be guided along the guide groove (16) when rotating about the rotation axis (9).

9. The connection adapter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The guide groove (16) comprises a release end (161) and a locking end (162); the guide element (14) is arranged on the release end (161) in a release position (L) of the locking hook element (11) and is arranged on the locking end (162) in a locking position (V) of the actuating mechanism (11).

10. The connection adapter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The locking hook device (11) completely penetrates the first inner space portion (120) of the first adapter disk portion (12).

11. The connection adapter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The detent hook device (11) comprises an actuating mechanism (15) for manually actuating the detent hook device (11), the actuating mechanism being accessible from the outside.

12. A plug-in assembly comprising two plug-in connectors (20, 30) and a connection adapter (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one electrical plug-in connector disk (2) of a first plug-in connector (20) is connected in series with a first and a second adapter disk part (12, 13) of the connection adapter (1) in a direction of series connection or in a direction opposite to the series connection (93), and at least one electrical plug-in connector disk (3) of another plug-in connector (30) is connected in series with a further adapter disk part (13, 12) of the connection adapter (1) in a direction of series connection or in a direction opposite to the series connection (93).

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