Contact insert for plug connector
By providing shoulders and locking elements on the end surface of the contact insert, the simple fixation and high contact density of the contact insert in the plug connector housing component is achieved, and the problems of complex assembly and low contact density in the prior art are solved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380069138.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-09-28
- Filing Date
- 2023-09-14
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-06
AI Technical Summary
The assembly process of the contact inserts of the existing fixed electrodes is complicated and time-consuming, and has a low contact density, making it difficult to increase the contact density without increasing the external size.
At least one shoulder and at least one locking element are respectively arranged on both end faces of the contact insert. The shoulder interacts with the abutment section of the housing component to achieve a stop position. The locking element is pivotally locked in the locking recess of the housing component to achieve a safe and reliable mechanical fixation of the contact insert.
The assembly process of contact inserts is simplified, assembly time is reduced, and contact density is improved, without the need for bolts, simplifying the manufacturing of housing components.
Smart Images
Figure CN119948706A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates to a contact insert for a plug-in connector, comprising an insulating body in which a plurality of contact elements are arranged, wherein the insulating body has two mutually opposite longitudinal sides and two mutually opposite end faces. The invention also relates to an assembly consisting of a contact insert and a housing part of the plug-in connector, wherein the housing part is designed to accommodate the contact insert. Background Art
[0002] A contact insert for a plug connector in which a plurality of contact elements are arranged is intended to be connected to a corresponding mating contact insert arranged in a housing of a mating plug connector. The contact elements can in particular be contact pins or contact sockets which are connected to corresponding contact elements of a mating contact insert when the contact insert is plugged together with a corresponding mating contact insert or the plug connector is plugged together with a corresponding mating plug connector.
[0003] Contact inserts can be divided into modular contact inserts and fixed-pole contact inserts. Modular contact inserts are usually first inserted into a retaining frame, which is then inserted into a housing part of the plug connector and fixed therein. Since the contact inserts can be individually inserted into the retaining frame, there is the possibility that the retaining frame can be equipped with different contact inserts depending on the intended use. However, due to the necessity of using a retaining frame and using individual contact inserts, the contact density in a modularly constructed plug connector is lower than in the case of a fixed-pole contact insert with comparable outer dimensions.
[0004] In contrast, fixed-pole contact inserts are inserted directly into the housing part of the plug connector, i.e. without the use of a retaining frame, and are fixed therein. Such contact inserts have an insulating body in which a plurality of contact elements are arranged. Furthermore, a flange section is usually arranged on each of the two mutually opposite end faces of the insulating body, by means of which the contact insert is positioned and fixed in the housing part of the plug connector. Since the number of contact elements arranged in the insulating body cannot be varied in such contact inserts, these contact inserts are referred to as fixed-pole contact inserts.
[0005] Usually, the contact insert also has at least one protective conductor connection, which is arranged in the region of the flange section, since the flange section is usually at least partially made of metal or has a metal part designed as a stamped and bent part, to which the protective conductor connection is electrically connected. The metal part also serves to electrically connect the contact insert to the metallic plug connector housing, so that protective grounding of the housing can be achieved via the protective conductor connection. In the case of a plug connector housing made of plastic with a protective conductor bridge, the metal part serves to be connected to the protective conductor bridge, via which the two protective conductor connections of the contact insert are electrically connected to each other, so that the PE contact leads when the plug connector and the mating plug connector are plugged together. If the contact insert is fixed in the housing of the plug connector, an electrically conductive connection to the mating contact insert fixed in the housing of the mating plug connector is also achieved via the protective conductor connection, so that the contact insert and the mating contact insert are at the same potential in the plugged state.
[0006] Different types of fixed-pole contact inserts have been known from practice for many years, which differ from one another, in particular in the type and number of contact elements and in their arrangement. In this case, the contact insert is fixed in the housing part of the plug connector by means of screws, for which purpose corresponding holes are formed in the flange section of the contact insert and corresponding threaded holes are formed in the housing part. This allows a mechanically secure and reliable connection of the contact insert in the housing part to be achieved. However, a disadvantage here is that the assembly process is relatively complex and the assembly time associated therewith is relatively long. Summary of the invention
[0007] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a contact insert which can be assembled into a housing part of a plug-in connector in the simplest possible manner. The contact insert should be directly insertable into the housing part and fixed therein without using a retaining frame. The contact density should preferably be as high as possible without increasing the outer dimensions of the contact insert. Furthermore, an assembly consisting of a contact insert and a housing part of a plug-in connector should be provided, wherein the mechanical connection of the contact insert and the housing part can be achieved in the simplest possible manner.
[0008] This object is achieved in the contact insert according to the invention by means of the features of claim 1. In the contact insert according to the invention, at least one shoulder and at least one latching element are respectively provided on the two end faces. The shoulder formed on the end face of the insulating body interacts with a contact section in the housing part of the plug connector, thereby achieving a stop or a defined end position when the contact insert is inserted into the housing part. The latching element can be brought from a first position into a second position and serves to latch the contact insert in the housing part of the plug connector. In this case, the first position of the latching element is a locking position in which the latching element engages in a corresponding latching recess in the opposite end wall of the housing part of the plug connector. As a result, a safe and reliable mechanical fixation of the contact insert in the housing part of the plug connector is achieved without having to screw a screw into the housing part for this purpose, whereby the fixation can be achieved more simply and with less time consumption.
[0009] It has already been explained that at least one shoulder is provided on each of the two end faces of the insulating body. Even though the arrangement of the shoulder on one end face may in principle be sufficient, the contact insert is usually designed in such a way that two shoulders are arranged on each of the two end faces. The at least one latching element is then arranged between the shoulders, so that the arrangement of the shoulder and the latching element is symmetrical with respect to the center plane of the contact insert. Furthermore, the two shoulders are preferably arranged outside the end faces in each case, so that the contact insert inserted into the housing part comes into contact in the corner region of the insulating body.
[0010] As for the latching element arranged on the end face of the insulator, it has been mentioned above that the latching element can be brought from a first position into a second position. If the contact insert is inserted into the housing part of the plug connector, the contact insert can be locked in the housing part in the following way, that is, the latching element is pivoted to the first position or is located in the first position respectively. The pivotable arrangement of the latching element on the end face of the insulator can be realized in the following way, that is, the latching element is pivotably arranged on the end face of the insulator around a bearing pin extending transversely to the insertion direction E. Then, corresponding to the bearing pin, a bearing recess is provided, in which the bearing pin engages. The bearing pin can be constructed either on the latching element or on the end face of the insulator. Correspondingly, the bearing recess is constructed either in the end face of the insulator or in the latching element. Here, the latching element can be arranged and constructed on each end face of the insulator in such a way that the latching element can be latched in the first position. For this purpose, for example, a latching projection can be formed on the end face of the insulating body, which latching projection latches with a corresponding section of the latching element when the latching element is pivoted into the first position.
[0011] According to an alternative embodiment, the latching element is formed integrally with the corresponding end face of the insulating body. The latching element can be connected to the end face of the insulating body, for example, by a flexible hinge. The insulating body and the latching element are then preferably made of plastic. It is particularly advantageous here that, in addition to the latching element, the shoulder is also formed integrally with the insulating body, because the insulating body can be manufactured particularly simply, in particular by injection molding.
[0012] The assembly of the contact insert according to the invention in the housing part of the plug connector can be further simplified if the latching element does not have to be actively brought into its first position by the user, but this takes place automatically when the contact insert is inserted into the housing part. For this purpose, for example, an additional spring element can be arranged on the end face of the insulating body, which spring element exerts a spring force on the latching element, by which the latching element is pressed into its first position. In order to pivot the latching element from its first position into its position, a force must be applied that counteracts the spring force of the spring element.
[0013] According to a particularly preferred design of the contact insert according to the invention, the latching element is designed as an elastic latching arm, whose base area is respectively connected to the end face of the insulating body and whose free end has at least one latching projection. Here, the elastic latching arm is arranged on the end face of the insulating body so that when the contact insert is inserted into the housing part, the latching arm is first deflected toward the end face and then rebounds to its first position when the contact insert reaches its specified end position, that is, when the shoulder on the end face of the insulating body abuts against the corresponding abutment section in the housing part. The latching projection of the latching arm then engages in a corresponding latching recess in the opposite end wall of the housing part, whereby the contact insert is securely latched in the housing part. The direction of extension of the latching arm from its base area to the free end is preferably opposite to the insertion direction E of the contact insert into the housing part. Furthermore, the latching projection preferably has a bevel which rises outwards opposite to the insertion direction E of the contact insert, so that the contact insert can be easily inserted into the housing part and the latching arms are deflected by the end wall of the housing part itself.
[0014] If the contact insert is to be removed from the housing part again, the latching element must be moved from its first position to its second position, i.e., the removal position. In the second position, the latching projection of the latching element does not engage in the latching recess in the opposite end wall of the housing part of the plug connector, so that the contact insert can be easily removed from the housing part. In order to be able to remove the contact insert from the housing part of the plug connector as easily as possible, the latching elements each have an operating section in order to bring the latching element from the first position to the second position. For this purpose, the operating section of the latching element can be configured as a handle section, for example. The handle sections of the two latching elements are then preferably arranged relative to each other so that the two handle sections can be operated by the user simultaneously with one hand. As a result, the contact insert can be very easily removed from the housing part.
[0015] According to an alternative embodiment, the actuating section is designed as a receptacle for the tip of a tool, for example a screwdriver. The latching element can then be pivoted from the first position into the second position simply by inserting the tip of the tool into the receptacle and then pivoting the tool. The shape of the receptacle can determine whether the latching element can be pivoted with a conventional screwdriver or only with a special tool.
[0016] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the contact insert, the latching elements are designed as resilient latching arms, each of which has two latching projections spaced slightly apart from one another. The actuating section, which is designed as a receptacle for a tool, is designed between the two latching projections, so that the latching projections simultaneously serve as guides for the tool tip when the tool is inserted into the receptacle.
[0017] It has already been stated at the outset that, in the contact insert according to the invention, the contact density should be as high as possible without increasing the outer dimensions of the contact insert compared to conventional contact inserts. This is preferably achieved by not providing metal parts serving as protective conductor connections on the two end faces of the insulating body. By eliminating the provision of metal parts on the end faces of the insulating body, the plug-in surface of the contact insert formed by the contact elements can have an area corresponding to at least 80%, in particular at least 90%, of the maximum outer dimension of the contact insert. In this context, the maximum outer dimension is understood to be the area resulting from the product of the maximum length and the maximum width of the contact insert.
[0018] Since, in conventional contact inserts, a non-negligible portion of the maximum outer dimension of the contact insert is not available for contact elements due to the metal parts arranged in the region of the flange section for the protective conductor connection, the area of the plug-in surface of such contact inserts is usually no more than 70% of the maximum outer dimension of the contact insert. By deliberately not arranging the metal parts serving as protective conductor connections on the end face of the insulating body, the contact insert can have a greater number of contact elements while the other outer dimensions remain the same. In addition, the manufacture of the contact insert is further simplified because, apart from the contact elements, the contact insert can be made completely of plastic.
[0019] The object stated at the outset is achieved in an assembly consisting of a contact insert according to the invention and a housing part of a plug-in connector, having the features of claim 10. The housing part of the plug-in connector has two mutually opposite side walls, two mutually opposite end walls and a plurality of contact sections, against which the contact insert rests with its shoulders when the contact insert is inserted into the housing part. The housing part is generally shaped like a cap, wherein its inner dimensions, at least in cross section, are matched to the corresponding outer dimensions of the contact insert.
[0020] According to the invention, a latching recess is formed in each of the two end walls of the housing part on the inner side, into which the latching element engages in its first position when the contact insert is inserted into the housing part. The latching recess is adapted in its dimensions to the dimensions of the latching element, so that when the latching element is in its first position, i.e. the locking position, the contact insert is prevented from being pulled out of the housing part counter to the insertion direction E.
[0021] As mentioned above, in the contact insert according to the invention, two shoulders are preferably provided on the two end faces of the insulating body. In this case, two contact sections are also correspondingly formed on the two end walls of the housing part, wherein the contact sections are arranged outside the end wall in the transition region to the side wall corresponding to the shoulders. Since the fixation of the contact insert in the housing part does not require screws, it is also possible to dispense with forming threaded holes in the housing part, which also simplifies the production of the housing part. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] In particular, there are numerous possibilities for designing and improving the contact insert and the assembly consisting of the contact insert and the housing part according to the invention. For this purpose, reference is made to the dependent claims and the following description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. In the drawings:
[0023] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of two contact inserts,
[0024] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a housing part with an inserted contact insert in a perspective view and a plan view,
[0025] FIG. 3 shows two sectional views of the housing part according to FIG. 2 , without and with an inserted contact insert,
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a partial longitudinal section through a housing part with an inserted contact insert in three different positions of the contact insert, and
[0027] FIG. 5 shows two enlarged detailed views of the contact insert, one with the latching element in a first position and one with the latching element in a second position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Figure 1 An embodiment of two mutually corresponding contact inserts 1, 1' for a plug connector is shown, wherein the contact inserts 1, 1' each have an insulating body 2, in which a plurality of contact elements 3 are arranged. The two contact inserts 1, 1' differ only in the plug-in surfaces 4, 4' formed correspondingly to each other and in the contact elements 3 each arranged in the insulating body 2, which are designed as contact pins in one contact insert 1 and as contact sockets in the other contact insert 1'.
[0029] The insulating body 2 has two longitudinal sides 5, 5' lying opposite one another and two end faces 6, 6' lying opposite one another. Both the number of contact elements 3 and the dimensions of the insulating body 2 can differ from the exemplary embodiment shown. For example, the extension of the longitudinal sides 5, 5' can be shorter than in the exemplary embodiment shown and the extension of the end faces 6, 6' can be longer than in the exemplary embodiment shown. It is therefore also possible that the length of the end faces 6, 6' corresponds to the length of the longitudinal sides 5, 5' or even exceeds the length of the longitudinal sides 5, 5'.
[0030] Two shoulders 7 and a latching element 8 are arranged on each of the two end faces 6, 6' of the insulating body 2, wherein both the shoulders 7 and the latching element 8 are formed integrally with the insulating body 2. Here, the two shoulders 7 are arranged externally on each of the two end faces 6, 6', and the latching element 8 is arranged between the shoulders 7 of one end face 6, 6'.
[0031] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the latching element 8 is designed as an elastic latching arm, whose base area 9 is connected to the end face 6, 6' in each case. Two latching projections 11 are formed on the free end 10 of the latching element 8 or the latching arm. The extension of the elastic latching arm from the base area 9 to the free end 10 takes place opposite to the insertion direction E of the contact insert 1 into the housing part 20 of the plug connector.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of such a housing part 20, wherein the inserted contact insert 1 is in the locked state, in which the two locking elements 8 are therefore in their first position. FIG. 3 shows two sectional views of the housing part 20, one without an inserted contact insert 1 ( Figure 3a ) and a contact insert 1 ( Figure 3b ). The housing part 20 has two mutually opposite side walls 21, 21' and two mutually opposite end walls 22, 22' which together form a receiving space for the contact insert 1. The housing part 20 is thus designed in the form of a cover, wherein, in particular, the inner dimensions of the housing part 20 are matched to the outer dimensions of the contact insert 1. For connection with a corresponding second housing part of the plug connector, two locking clips 25 are arranged on the housing part 20 in a laterally pivotable manner.
[0033] A plurality of contact sections 23 are formed in the interior of the housing part 20, against which the inserted contact insert 1 rests with its shoulder 7, so that the predetermined end position of the contact insert 1 in the housing part 20 is determined by the position of the contact sections 23. Since a total of four shoulders 7 are provided in the illustrated contact insert 1, the housing part 20 also has four contact sections 23, which are arranged outside the two end walls 22, 22', respectively, near the transition area to the side walls 21, 21'. In addition, a latching recess 24 is formed on the inner side of the two end walls 22, 22', into which the latching element 8 engages with its latching projection 11 in its first position.
[0034] FIG. 4 shows a detail of a housing part 20 with an inserted contact insert 1 in three different positions when the contact insert 1 is inserted into the housing part 20. Figure 4a In the position shown, the latching projections 11 of the latching element 8 are still located above the upper edge or end walls 22, 22' of the housing part 20, so that the latching arms have not yet been deflected. If the contact insert 1 is inserted further into the housing part 20, the latching projections 11 slide along the inner sides of the two end walls 22, 22', whereby the latching arms 8 are deflected against their spring force, as in Figure 4b . If the contact insert 1 is fully inserted into the housing part 20, so that the shoulder 7 rests on the abutment section 23, the latching projection 11 of the latching element 8 is at the level of the latching recess 24 in the inner side of the two end walls 22, 22', so that the latching arm springs back from its second position into its first position, in which the latching projection 11 engages in the latching recess 24. The contact insert 1 can then no longer be pulled out of the housing part 20 counter to the insertion direction E. To this end, the latching element 8 must first be deflected from its first position (locking position) into its second position (removal position), so that the latching projection 11 no longer engages in the latching recess 24.
[0035] As can also be seen from the three views according to FIG. 4 , the latching projections 11 each have an inclined surface which rises outwardly opposite to the insertion direction E of the contact insert 1, so that when the contact insert 1 is inserted into the housing part 20, the latching projections 11 slide with their inclined surfaces along the end walls 22, 22′ of the housing part 20 and, in the process, the elastic latching arms are automatically deflected with their free ends 10 toward the end faces 6, 6′ of the insulating body 2.
[0036] In order to be able to remove the contact insert 1 inserted and locked in the housing part 20 again from the housing part 20 when necessary, the two locking elements 8 each have an actuation section 12, which is designed as a receptacle for a tool. As can be seen in particular from the enlarged view according to FIG. 5 , the actuation section 12 is located between the two locking projections 11 of the locking element 8, so that the locking projections 11 serve as guides when inserting the tool into the actuation section 12. If the tip of the tool is inserted into the actuation section 12, the locking element 8 can be easily removed from the housing part 20. Figure 5a The locking position shown is deflected to Figure 5b The second position is shown, so that the contact insert 1 can then be removed from the housing part 20 .
[0037] From different views of the contact insert 1, in particular Figure 1 As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 , no metal parts serving as protective conductor connections are arranged on the two end faces 6, 6′ of the insulating body 2. Only two shoulders 7 and latching elements 8 are arranged or formed on the two end faces 6, 6′ of the insulating body 2, respectively, which protrude only slightly outwards from the remaining planar end faces 6, 6′. This results in the plug-in face 4 of the contact insert 1, which is formed by the contact elements 3, having a surface that is only slightly smaller than the maximum outer dimension of the contact insert 1. In other words, the maximum outer dimension of the contact insert 1 differs from the surface of the plug-in face 4 essentially only in the dimensions of the shoulders 7 and the latching elements 8. As a result, there is more space for arranging the contact elements 3, while the outer dimensions of the contact insert 1 remain the same, which results in an increase in the pole density of the contact insert 1 compared to conventional contact inserts of the same size.
[0038] The illustrated contact insert 1 and the illustrated assembly of contact insert 1 and housing part 20 are thus reduced to the bare essentials. The assembly of contact insert 1 in housing part 20 is significantly simplified by the screw-free locking, without requiring additional components, in particular a holding frame or separate fixing elements.
[0039] Description of Reference Numerals
[0040] 1, 1' contact insert
[0041] 2 Insulator
[0042] 3 Contact elements
[0043] 4, 4' plug-in surface
[0044] 5, 5' longitudinal side
[0045] 6, 6' end face
[0046] 7 shoulder
[0047] 8 Locking elements
[0048] 9Bottom area
[0049] 10 Free end
[0050] 11 Lock protrusion
[0051] 12 operating sections
[0052] 20 Shell parts
[0053] 21, 21′ side wall
[0054] 22, 22′ end wall
[0055] 23 Snap section
[0056] 24 locking recesses
[0057] 25 Locking clamp
[0058] EInsert direction
Claims
1. A contact insert (1) for a plug connector, comprising an insulating body (2) in which a plurality of contact elements (3) are arranged, wherein: The insulating body (2) has two longitudinal sides (5, 5') lying opposite one another and two end faces (6, 6') lying opposite one another. At least one shoulder (7) and at least one latching element (8) are arranged on the two end faces (6, 6'), respectively, and the latching element is used to latch the contact insert (1) in a housing part (22) of the plug-in connector, wherein the latching element (8) can be introduced from a first position (latching position) into a second position (removal position).
2. The contact insert (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that Two shoulders (7) are respectively formed on the two end faces (6, 6') of the insulating body (2), wherein on the two end faces (6, 6'), the at least one locking element (8) is between the shoulders (7) and the shoulders (7) are respectively arranged on the outside of the end faces (6, 6').
3. The contact insert (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The latching elements (8) are each arranged pivotably on an end face (6, 6') of the insulating body (2).
4. The contact insert (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The shoulder (7) and / or the latching element (8) are formed integrally with the insulating body (2).
5. The contact insert (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The latching element (8) is designed as an elastic latching arm, whose base area (9) is respectively connected to the end surface (6, 6') and whose free end (10) has at least one latching projection (11).
6. The contact insert (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The latching elements (8) each have an actuating section (12) in order to move the latching element (8) from a first position (latching position) into a second position (removal position).
7. The contact insert (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that The actuating section (12) is designed as a receptacle for a tool.
8. Contact insert (1) according to claims 5 and 7, characterized in that The latching elements (8) each have two latching projections (11) spaced apart from one another, and a receptacle (12) for a tool is formed between the two latching projections (11).
9. The contact insert (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that No metal parts serving as protective conductor connections are arranged on the two end faces (6, 6') of the insulating body (2), and the plug-in surface (4) of the contact insert (1) formed by the contact element (3) has an area corresponding to at least 80%, in particular at least 90%, of the base surface of the contact insert (1).
10. An assembly consisting of a contact insert (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a housing part (20) of a plug connector, wherein: At least one shoulder (7) and at least one latching element (8) are respectively arranged on two end faces (6, 6') of the insulating body (2) of the contact insert (1). The housing part (20) has two mutually opposite side walls (21, 21'), two mutually opposite end walls (22, 22') and a plurality of contact sections (23) against which the shoulder (7) of the inserted contact insert (1) rests. In the inner sides of the two end walls (22, 22') of the housing part (20), latching recesses (24) are respectively formed, into which latching recesses the latching elements (8) of the contact insert (1) respectively engage in a first position of the latching elements (8).
11. The assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that The contact insert (1) consists of plastic and the housing part (20) consists of metal, a metal alloy or plastic.