Interface and method of assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to an interface having a socket housing for receiving an electrical conductor and a bridging element for contacting the electrical conductor in the socket housing, the socket housing having a plurality of chambers for receiving the electrical conductor in a fixed manner, the chambers being arranged in at least one row, the bridging element having at least one bridging element for contacting the electrical conductor in the socket housing. An electrical contact element is connected to a conductor end of the electrical conductor, the bridge element has a contact element with contact pins for contacting the electrical conductor in the chamber of the socket housing, the bridge element can be joined and / or plugged to the socket housing in a cover-like manner, and the bridge element is connected to the electrical conductor in the chamber of the socket housing. The bridge element can be locked on the socket housing in a longitudinal extension direction of the bridge element in a pre-assembly position for arranging the electrical conductor in the socket housing and in a final assembly position in which the electrical conductor is contacted by means of the contact element. The invention further relates to an assembly method for the interface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an interface with a socket housing and a bridging element, the socket housing being used to accommodate electrical conductors, and the bridging element being used to contact the electrical conductors in the socket housing. The present invention also relates to an assembly method for the interface. Background Art

[0002] It is known from the prior art that multiple wire ends are connected to form a joint by ultrasonic or resistance welding / crimping or generally by a pressure welding method. Then these joints are wound around a cable bundle. However, these methods cannot be effectively automated. Automatically inserting a single wire into a welding device and fixing the wire in the welding device are the greatest challenges here. In other known systems, contact parts are attached to the wire ends and then inserted into a socket housing. Then the auxiliary locking part is closed in a separate step, and finally a separate cover is joined to the socket housing, and the cover realizes electrical functions through integrated contact elements. The common point of these two solutions is that they both have an uncertain untwisting length of the wire ends. In addition, additional functions and / or components cannot be integrated, and there is a risk of uncertain signal routing. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the task of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks and provide an interface and an assembly method for the interface that can be automatically assembled and can integrate various functional elements.

[0004] This task is solved by the combination of features described in claim 1 of the patent.

[0005] According to the present invention, an interface and / or a connecting device for connecting electrical conductors is proposed. The connecting device has a socket housing for accommodating electrical conductors and a bridging element for contacting the electrical conductors in the socket housing. The socket housing has a plurality of chambers for fixedly accommodating electrical conductors. Here, these chambers are arranged in at least one row. Particularly in the case of a multi-row embodiment, the rows are arranged parallel to each other. In addition, electrical contact elements are connected to the conductor ends of the electrical conductors. In addition, the bridging element has a contact element with contact pins, particularly electrical contact elements, for contacting the electrical conductors in the chambers of the socket housing. In addition, the bridging element can be joined in a lid-like manner and / or plugged onto the socket housing. In addition, the bridging element can be locked at a pre-assembly position and a final assembly position at the socket housing along the longitudinal extension direction of the bridging element. The pre-assembly position is used for arranging the electrical conductors in the socket housing, and in the final assembly position, the electrical conductors are contacted by means of the contact elements.

[0006] Advantageously in this regard, the socket housing and the bridging element can be fixed to each other in a pre-assembly position before the contact part is inserted. In this way, automation can be achieved by controlling only one component with the operating device, thereby optimizing the degree of automation of the interface. In the pre-assembly position, the electrical conductors can be joined into the socket housing. In the case where the bridging element is moved from the pre-assembly position to the final assembly position, the electrical conductors are brought into contact by means of the contact elements. Alternatively, the bridging element can also be fixed during the joining process and the socket housing can be moved. In both cases, during the joining process, the electrical conductors, in particular the contact safety device ("end position insurance"; TPA) of the socket housing, are automatically closed.

[0007] In an advantageous embodiment variant, it is provided that the bridging element has a first stop groove and a second stop groove for complementary stop mechanisms, which two stop grooves are arranged in a row along the longitudinal extension direction of the bridging element and are spaced apart from each other. Herein, the first stop groove determines the pre-assembly position and the second stop groove determines the final assembly position.

[0008] Preferably, the interface is constructed such that the bridging element has at least one lug-shaped element. The first stop groove and the second stop groove are provided on at least one lug-shaped element. In addition, in particular, the free end of the lug-shaped element is constructed to be ramp-shaped and / or angled and / or tapering to accommodate the stop mechanism. In addition, the lug-shaped element is particularly constructed to be elastic in at least one transverse direction of the bridging element and / or can be elastic.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the bridging element has at least one guide groove for the socket housing along the longitudinal extension direction. In addition, viewed from the joining direction, the guide groove has a tapering section and a section adjacent thereto with a constant groove cross-section.

[0010] According to the present invention, in another advantageous variant, it is provided that a geometric shape part, in particular ribs and / or protrusions, is provided on the bridging element to reduce the clearance of the socket housing, in particular in the region of the contact elements.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the contact element has a busbar for short-circuiting all the contact pins, or has a plurality of busbars for short-circuiting the contact pins of each row of cavities, or has at least two busbars arranged in two different planes from each other, which carry contact pins that are staggered from each other for alternately short-circuiting the contact pins, or has a predetermined number of busbars for short-circuiting the contact pins for a predetermined cavity, or has a circuit board connected to the contact pins, and the circuit board carries diodes and / or resistors.

[0012] Advantageously, depending on the application of the interface, different functional elements can be selected for use, in particular small circuit boards or circuit boards with a small installation space, so as to make the contact pin distribution and functional range more flexible.

[0013] In one implementation variant of the interface according to the invention, at least one stop element, in particular a pair of stop elements, is constructed on at least one outer surface of the socket housing for complementary accommodation and thus locking. In particular, the stop element has a first section, a second section and a third section. The first section protrudes from the socket housing in a convex shape. The second section is the section that forms the free end of the stop element and is sloped and / or angled when viewed in the joining direction of the socket housing. The third section also protrudes from the socket housing in a convex shape. The first convex section prevents accidental assembly by fixing the stop element in the stop groove of the bridging element in the pre-assembly position. The second section supports and optimizes the assembly. The third section prevents accidental disassembly of the pre-assembly in the stop groove of the bridging element and fixes the end position of the socket housing relative to the bridging element or at least the end position of one stop mechanism in the stop groove.

[0014] Furthermore, an implementation is advantageous in which at least one flexible and / or elastic and / or bendable element, in particular a spring arm, is arranged and / or constructed on the socket housing for additionally protecting the contact elements (TPA, auxiliary locking) by means of a guiding mechanism, in particular for being inserted into the guiding groove of the bridging element. In this way, additional components for contact protection or closing contact protection as a separate assembly step are omitted. Here, the contact protection is implemented as follows: when the lid moves from the pre-assembly position to the end position, the contact protection is automatically closed. In addition, the contact protection is implemented as follows: it cannot be fully closed in the case of incorrect contact part assembly.

[0015] In one implementation variant of the invention, it is provided that the socket housing has at least one guiding rib, in particular for being inserted into a guiding groove that extends along the longitudinal extension direction of the socket housing.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, a socket alignment mechanism is constructed in the region of at least one stop element of the socket housing, and a bridging alignment mechanism is constructed in the region of the first stop groove of the bridging element, so that the socket housing and the bridging element are in the pre-assembly position, in particular during the insertion process, and can be aligned with each other without clearance by complementary alignment mechanisms preferably arranged at the operating device. The alignment mechanism can have any shape here, which is at least suitable for alignment along the longitudinal extension direction (axial direction) of the bridging element and / or the socket housing. The alignment mechanism is preferably constructed in a cross shape. Thereby, the assembly of the electric conductor with the electric contact element installed in the socket housing is optimized.

[0017] Based on the above disclosure, the present invention also provides an assembly method for an interface, which interface has a socket housing for receiving electrical conductors and a bridging element for contacting the electrical conductors in the socket housing, wherein the interface is provided especially as a loose part. Herein, the socket housing and the bridging element are arranged in a pre-assembly position. Preferably, one of the interfaces is received by an operating device. Furthermore, a wire is joined into the socket housing by the operating device, especially automatically, and in particular, the socket housing and / or the bridging element are moved to a final assembly position by the operating device. Herein, the socket housing and the bridging element are locked to each other. In particular, a stop element of the socket housing is locked in a second stop groove of the bridging element. In addition, the electrical conductors are contacted by contact elements.

[0018] Herein, it is advantageous that automation can be achieved by controlling only one component with the operating device, thereby optimizing the degree of automation of the interface. In the pre-assembly position, the electrical conductors can be joined into the socket housing. In the case where the bridging element is moved from the pre-assembly position to the final assembly position, the electrical conductors are brought into contact by means of the contact elements. Alternatively, the bridging element can also be fixed and the socket housing can be moved during the joining process. In both cases, during the joining process, the contact safety device ( "end position insurance"; TPA) of the electrical conductors, especially of the socket housing, is automatically closed.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment of the assembly method, before providing the socket housing and the bridging element, they are joined to the pre-assembly position especially by the operating device. Herein, in particular, a stop element of the socket housing is locked in a first stop groove of the bridging element. In addition, in particular, a guiding mechanism of a spring arm is engaged in a tapered section of a guiding groove.

[0020] In another advantageous variant of the assembly method, a guiding mechanism of a flexible and / or elastic and / or bendable element, especially a spring arm, moves along a tapered section of a guiding groove to an adjacent section with a constant groove cross-section, thereby additionally protecting the contact elements (TPA, auxiliary locking). Herein, in particular, at least one guiding rib and the guiding mechanism are arranged in a line. By this movement of the guiding mechanism of the spring arm, the auxiliary locking, especially the contact protection of the socket housing, can be closed.

[0021] As long as technically feasible and not mutually contradictory, the above features can be combined as required. Description of the Drawings

[0022] Other advantageous further aspects of the present invention are described in the dependent claims or are explained in detail below in conjunction with the description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Among them:

[0023] Figure 1a A perspective view showing the socket housing of the interface;

[0024] Figure 1b Side view of the socket housing showing the interface;

[0025] Figure 1c Top view of the socket housing showing the interface;

[0026] Figure 2a Perspective view of the bridging element showing the interface;

[0027] Figure 2b Side view of the bridging element showing the interface;

[0028] Figure 2c Bottom view of the bridging element showing the interface;

[0029] Figure 3a Side view showing the interface in the pre-assembled position;

[0030] Figure 3b Side view showing the interface with the alignment mechanism in the pre-assembled position;

[0031] Figure 3c Side view showing the interface in the final assembled position;

[0032] Figure 4 Shows the interface in Figure 3a Cross-sectional view of the side view of the pre-assembled position shown;

[0033] Figures 5a to 5f Perspective view of the contact element of the bridging element.

[0034] The drawings are schematic examples. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same functional and / or structural features. Detailed description of the invention

[0035] Figures 1a to 1c Is a perspective view of the socket housing 2 for receiving electrical conductors of the interface 1 ( Figure 1a ), a side view of the socket housing 2 of the interface 1 ( Figure 1b ), and a top view of the socket housing 2 of the interface 1 ( Figure 1c ).

[0036] The socket housing 2 has a large number of chambers 21 for fixedly receiving electrical conductors, and these chambers are arranged in two rows parallel to each other. Electrical contact elements are connected to the respective conductor ends of the corresponding electrical conductors.

[0037] On the outer surface of the socket housing 2 and on the outer surface of the socket housing 2 opposite to this outer surface, a pair of stop elements 22 are respectively formed for complementary accommodation and locking. Here, each stop element 22 has a first section, a second section, and a third section. The first section protrudes from the socket housing 2 in a convex shape to prevent accidental assembly. The second section is the section that constitutes the free end of the stop element and is sloped and / or angled when viewed in the joining direction of the socket housing 2. The third section protrudes from the socket housing 2 in a convex shape. In addition, two spring arms 23 are also constructed on the socket housing 2 for further locking by means of a guiding mechanism 231 to be inserted into the guiding groove 34 of the bridging member 3.

[0038] In addition, two guiding ribs 25 are respectively constructed on the outer surface of the socket housing 2 and on the outer surface of the socket housing 2 opposite to this outer surface for engagement with the guiding groove 34 of the bridging member. These guiding ribs extend linearly and parallel to each other in the joining direction of the longitudinal extension direction of the socket housing 2.

[0039] In Figures 2a to 2c the perspective view of the bridging element 3 of the interface 1 ( Figure 2a ), which is used for contacting the electrical conductor in the socket housing 2, and the side view of the bridging element 3 of the interface 1 ( Figure 2b ), and the bottom view of the bridging element 2 of the interface 1 ( Figure 2c ) are respectively shown.

[0040] The bridging element 3 has an electrical contact element 31 which is provided with contact pins 311 for contacting the electrical conductor in the chamber 21 of the socket housing 2. In addition, the bridging element 3 is constructed such that the bridging element 3 can be joined and / or plugged onto the socket housing 2 in a lid-like manner.

[0041] In addition, the bridging element 3 has two first stop grooves 32 and two second stop grooves 33 for complementary stop mechanisms. The first and second stop grooves are arranged in rows along the longitudinal extension direction of the bridging element 3 and are kept at a certain distance from each other. Here, each first stop groove 32 determines the pre-assembly position VS, and each second stop groove 33 determines the final assembly position ES.

[0042] In addition, the bridging element 3 has two lug-like elements 35, and the first stop groove 32 and the second stop groove 33 are respectively provided in each lug-like element 35. In addition, the free end of each lug-like element 35 is constructed to be sloped and / or angled and / or tapering to accommodate the stop mechanism. In addition, each lug-like element 35 is constructed to be elastic and / or can be elastic in at least one lateral direction of the bridging element 3.

[0043] The bridging element 3 has four guide grooves 34 for the socket housing 2 in the longitudinal extension direction, two of the guide grooves 34 being arranged adjacent to or formed by respective lug-shaped elements 35. Seen from the engagement direction, each guide groove 34 has a tapering section 341 and an adjacent section 343 with a constant groove cross-section.

[0044] In addition, ribs 36 are provided in the bridging element 3 in the region of the contact element 31 to reduce the clearance in the socket housing 2.

[0045] Figure 3a A side view of the interface 1 in the pre-assembly position VS is shown, Figure 3c A side view of the interface 1 in the final assembly position ES is shown. Here, each stop element 22 has a first section which projects in a convex shape from the socket housing 2 and thus bears against or contacts the bridging element 3 during assembly, thereby preventing accidental assembly. Here shown, the interface 1 with the socket housing 2 for receiving the electrical conductors and the bridging element 3 for contacting the electrical conductors in the socket housing 2 is shown in the assembled state, where the bridging element 3 is plugged onto the socket housing 2 in the form of a cover. According to Figure 3a and Figure 3b , the bridging element 3 can be locked in the pre-assembly position VS and the final assembly position ES at the socket housing 2 along the longitudinal extension direction of the bridging element 3, the pre-assembly position being for arranging the electrical conductors in the socket housing 2, and in the final assembly position, the electrical conductors being contacted by means of the contact elements 31.

[0046] In this way, the interface 1 is configured for an assembly method, in particular when the interface 1 is provided as a bulk part, where the socket housing 2 and the bridging element 3 are arranged in the pre-assembly position VS. In addition, a wire (not shown) is automatically joined to the socket housing 2 by means of an operating device, and the socket housing 2 and / or the bridging element 3 are moved to the final assembly position ES by means of the operating device. During this process, the socket housing 2 and the bridging element 3 are locked to each other. In addition, this locking is achieved by locking the stop element 22 of the socket housing 2 in the second stop groove 33 of the bridging element 3. Here, the electrical conductors are contacted by means of the contact elements 31.

[0047] In the corresponding assembly method, before the socket housing 2 and the bridging element 3 are provided, they are joined to the pre-assembly position VS by means of an operating device. Here, the stop element 22 of the socket housing 2 is locked in the first stop groove 32 of the bridging element 3. In addition, the guide mechanism 231 of the spring arm 23 is inserted into the tapering section 341 of the guide groove 34. During the movement, the guide mechanism 221 of the spring arm 22 is guided along the tapering section 341 of the guide groove 34 into the adjacent section 332 with a constant groove cross-section, so that at least one guide rib 25 and the guide mechanism 231 are arranged in a line.

[0048] Figure 3b A side view showing the interface 1 with the alignment mechanism 9 in the pre-assembly position VS. In order to align the interface 1 in the pre-assembly position VS, the socket housing 2 is configured with a socket alignment mechanism 29 in the region of at least one stop element 22, and the bridging element 3 is configured with a bridging alignment mechanism 39 in the region of the first stop groove 32, so that the socket housing 2 and the bridging element 3 can be aligned with each other in a gapless manner by the complementary alignment mechanism 9 preferably arranged at the operating device when in the pre-assembly position, especially during the insertion process. In Figure 3b the illustrated embodiment, the alignment mechanism 9 is configured in a cross shape.

[0049] Figure 4 A side view of the interface 1 in Figure 3a the illustrated pre-assembly position VS is shown in a sectional view.

[0050] Figures 5a to 5f A perspective view of an alternative contact element 31 of the bridging element 3 is shown.

[0051] According to the illustration, the contact element 31 has a bus bar 312 for short-circuiting all the contact pins 311 ( Figure 5a ), or has a plurality of bus bars 312 for short-circuiting the contact pins 311 of each row of cavities 21 ( Figure 5b ), or has at least two bus bars 312 arranged in two different planes from each other, the bus bar being provided with contact pins 311 which are arranged staggeredly for alternative short-circuiting ( Figure 5c ), or has a predetermined number of bus bars 312 for short-circuiting the contact pins 311 for a predetermined cavity 21 ( Figure 5d ), or has a circuit board 313 connected to the contact pins 311, the circuit board being provided with diodes 3131 ( Figure 5e and / or resistors 3132 ( Figure 5f ).

[0052] The present invention is not limited to the above-preferred embodiments in its implementation. In fact, many variations can be envisaged, and these variations can use the above solutions even in embodiments with different basic designs.

Claims

1. An interface (1) having a socket housing (2) for accommodating an electrical conductor and a bridging element (3) for contacting the electrical conductor in the socket housing (2), in, The socket housing (2) has a plurality of chambers (21) for receiving electrical conductors in a fixed manner, wherein the chambers (21) are arranged in at least one row. wherein the electrical contact element is connected to the conductor end of the electrical conductor, The bridging element (3) has an (electrical) contact element (31) with a contact pin (311) for contacting the electrical conductor in the chamber (21) of the socket housing (2). The bridging element (3) can be joined and / or plugged onto the socket housing (2) in a cover-like manner. The bridging element (3) can be locked in a pre-assembly position (VS) and a final assembly position (ES) at the socket housing (2) along the longitudinal extension direction of the bridging element (3), wherein the pre-assembly position is used to arrange the electrical conductor in the socket housing (2), and in the final assembly position, the electrical conductor is contacted by means of the contact element (31).

2. The interface (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The bridging element (3) has a first stop groove (32) and a second stop groove (33) for complementary stop means, wherein the first and second stop grooves are arranged in a row along the longitudinal extension direction of the bridging element (3) and are spaced apart from each other, wherein the first stop groove (32) determines the pre-assembly position (VS) and the second stop groove (33) determines the final assembly position (ES).

3. The interface (1) according to claim 2, wherein: The bridging element (3) has at least one lug-shaped element (35), wherein the first retaining groove (32) and the second retaining groove (33) are arranged in the at least one lug-shaped element (35), wherein in particular, the free end of the lug-shaped element (35) is configured to be ramp-shaped and / or angled and / or gradually tapering for accommodating a braking mechanism, wherein in particular, the lug-shaped element (35) is configured to be elastic and / or can be elastic in at least one transverse direction of the bridging element (3).

4. The interface (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The bridging element (3) has at least one guide groove (34) for the socket housing (2) along the longitudinal extension direction, wherein, viewed in the joining direction, the guide groove (34) has a tapered section (341) and an adjacent section (342) with a constant groove cross section.

5. The interface (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein A geometrical shape (36) is provided in the bridging element (3) for reducing the play of the socket housing (2), in particular in the region of the contact piece (31).

6. The interface (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The contact element (31) has a busbar (312) for short-circuiting all contact pins (311), or has a plurality of busbars (312) for short-circuiting the contact pins (311) of each row of chambers (21), or has at least two busbars (312) arranged in two different planes, which have contact pins (311) arranged staggered to alternately short-circuit the contact pins (311), or has a predetermined number of busbars (312) for short-circuiting the contact pins (311) of predetermined chambers (21), or has a circuit board (313) connected to the contact pins (311), the circuit board having a diode (3131) and / or a resistor (3132).

7. The interface (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: At least one stop element (22), in particular a pair of stop elements (22), is constructed on at least one outer surface of the socket housing (2) for complementary accommodation and thus locking, wherein in particular, the stop element (22) has a first section, a second section and a third section, the first section protruding from the socket housing (2) in a convex shape, the second section is a section constituting a free end of the stop element, and is constructed in a ramp shape and / or angled along the joining direction of the socket housing (2), and the third section protrudes from the socket housing (2) in a convex shape.

8. The interface (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The socket housing (2) has at least one spring arm (23) for auxiliary locking by means of a guide mechanism (231), in particular for engaging in the guide groove (34).

9. The interface (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The socket housing (2) has at least one guide rib (25), in particular for engaging in the guide groove (34), which extends in the longitudinal extension direction of the socket housing (2).

10. The interface (1) according to claims 2 and 7, wherein: The socket housing (2) is configured with socket alignment means (29) in the region of the at least one stop element (22), and the bridging element (3) is configured with bridging alignment means (39) in the region of the first stop groove (32), so that the socket housing (2) and the bridging element (3) are in a pre-assembly position and can be aligned with each other in a play-free manner, in particular during the installation process, by means of complementary alignment means (9) which are preferably arranged on the operating device.

11. A method for assembling an interface (1) according to the preceding claim, the interface having a socket housing (2) for accommodating an electrical conductor and a bridge element (3) for contacting the electrical conductor in the socket housing (2), the method comprising the following steps: a. Providing an interface (1), in particular a bulk part, wherein the socket housing (2) and the bridging element (3) are arranged in the pre-assembly position (VS); b. engaging the wire into the socket housing (2), in particular automatically by an operating device; c. moving the socket housing (2) and / or the bridging element (3) to the final assembly position (ES), in particular by means of an operating device, wherein the socket housing (2) and the bridging element (3) are locked to each other, wherein in particular the stop element (22) of the socket housing (2) is locked in the second stop recess (33) of the bridging element (3), wherein contact is made by means of the electrical conductor with the contact element (31).

12. The assembly method according to claim 11, wherein: Prior to the provision, the socket housing (2) and the bridging element (3) are joined into the pre-assembly position (VS), in particular by means of the operating device, wherein in particular the stop element (22) of the socket housing (2) is locked in the first stop groove (32) of the bridging element (3), wherein in particular the guide mechanism (231) of the spring arm (23) engages in the tapered section (341) of the guide groove (34).

13. The assembly method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein: During the movement, the guide means (221) of the spring arm (22) is guided along the tapered section (341) of the guide groove (34) into an adjacent section (332) with a constant groove cross section, wherein in particular, the at least one guide rib (25) and the guide means (231) are arranged in a line.

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