Plug connector with improved operational safety, in particular at high voltages

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connector (1) having at least one plug connector housing (2), an insulating body (3) and a contact element (4), the insulating body (3) having at least one semiconductor region (11, 13) for field control.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention is based on a plug connector of the type specified in independent claim 1 .

[0002] Such plug connectors are used in particular in the railway industry for the transmission of high currents and / or in medium and high voltage applications, for example in wind turbines. Background Art

[0003] DE 101 40 762 A1 shows an angled plug connector with an integrated fuse to avoid undesired partial discharges.

[0004] However, the design of this angled plug connector is quite complex, which makes its production very expensive. In addition, once the safety device is triggered, the angled plug connector can no longer be used. The safety device must first be replaced. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a plug connector which is as free from partial discharge as possible and which is easy to manufacture.

[0006] This object is achieved by the subject matter of independent claim 1 .

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0008] The plug connector according to the present invention comprises at least a plug connector housing, an insulating body and a contact element. The insulating body comprises a semiconductor region for field control. The semiconductor region or field control region is provided to prevent undesired partial discharges.

[0009] Advantageously, the insulating body is produced in a two-component injection molding process, whereby the above-mentioned field control region can be provided on the injection-molded part (ie, the insulating body) in a single process step.

[0010] Advantageously, the insulator is made of two plastic materials having different electrical conductivities, wherein one material preferably has very good insulating properties, and the other material has semiconductor properties.

[0011] The material having semiconductor properties is preferably a conductive plastic, in particular a conductive high-molecular polyethylene.

[0012] In short, the field control region can be considered to be made of a different material than the rest of the insulator. The field control region is locally defined.

[0013] Preferably, the plug connector has a two-part contact element, which consists of a connecting part and a contact part.

[0014] Preferably, one side of the connecting part has an axial opening, which is designed as a crimping interface for the electrical conductor. The connecting part has a radial through hole at the other end, into which the contact part can be inserted. The contact part can be designed as a pin contact, for example.

[0015] Preferably, a circumferential contact strip is arranged in the through hole, thereby ensuring reliable electrical contact between the connecting portion and the contact portion.

[0016] Preferably, the connecting portion and the contact portion are oriented approximately at right angles or orthogonally to each other. Thus, the plug connector can be embodied as an angle, wherein the cable connection direction intersects the plugging direction at an angle of 90°.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the connecting portion is arranged in the semiconductor region of the insulator, thereby effectively preventing partial discharges.

[0018] Preferably, the angular intersection region of the contact element is arranged in the semiconductor region of the insulator. Intersection regions always have a high risk of partial discharges due to their angular geometry, and this can be effectively reduced or avoided in this way.

[0019] Preferably, the insulator is designed in at least two parts. The two-part shape allows geometrically complex semiconductor regions to be realized.

[0020] Advantageously, at least two parts of the insulating body are each produced in a two-component injection molding process. Here, one material for the semiconductor region and another material for the remaining part of the insulating body can be processed in a single process or a single injection mold.

[0021] Preferably, at least two parts of the insulating body are respectively made of two plastic materials with different electrical conductivities, thereby making it possible to realize semiconductor regions with complex geometric shapes.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the insulator is designed in three parts, thereby making it possible to realize geometrically complex semiconductor regions while saving material.

[0023] Preferably, at least one portion of the insulator is made of two different plastic materials, and at least one portion of the insulator is designed to be homogeneous and uniformly made of the same plastic material. In other words, at least one portion of the insulator preferably has two different regions formed of different plastic materials, while at least one other portion of the insulator is made of a single plastic material.

[0024] Preferably, at least two portions of the insulator are each made of two different plastic materials. At least one portion of the insulator is designed to be homogeneous and uniformly made of the same plastic material. The latter portion is then made of an insulating plastic commonly used for insulators. In other words, at least two portions of the insulator each have two distinct regions formed of different plastic materials, while at least one other portion of the insulator is made of a single plastic material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] An embodiment of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings and will be described in detail below. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows a perspective sectional view of a plug connector according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a first part of an insulator, which is produced in a two-component injection molding process, Figure 3 shows a further perspective view of a first part of an insulator, which is produced in a two-component injection molding process, Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the second part of the insulation, which is produced in a two-component injection molding process, Figure 5 showing a perspective view of a third portion of the insulator, Figure 6 Another perspective view showing a third portion of the insulator, Figure 7 A perspective cutaway view showing the entire insulating body of the plug connector, and Figure 8 A sectional view of a two-part contact element of a plug connector is shown.

[0026] The drawings contain partially simplified schematic diagrams. In some cases, the same reference numerals are used for identical, but possibly non-identical, components. Different views of the same component may have different scalings. Directional designations such as "left," "right," "up," and "down" should be understood with reference to the corresponding drawings and may vary from one figure to another depending on the object shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Figure 1 The present invention shows a cross-section of a plug connector 1. The plug connector 1 has a plug connector housing 2, in which an insulating body 3 is arranged. The plug connector housing 2 is essentially made of aluminum.

[0028] Arranged within the insulating body 3 is a two-part contact element 4 consisting of a connection part 4a and a contact part 4b. The connection part 4a has an axial opening 5 at one end, which is provided as a crimping interface for connecting an electrical conductor. The connection part 4a has a radial through-hole 6 at the other end, through which the contact part 4b can be inserted or passed. The geometry of the contact part 4b is not critical to the invention, therefore Figure 3 Only the contact portion 4b is schematically shown.

[0029] The connecting portion 4a and the contact portion 4b of the contact element 4 are arranged substantially orthogonally to each other. Thus, the plug connector 1 can be embodied in an angular form, wherein the cable connection direction intersects the plugging direction at an angle of 90°.

[0030] Optionally, the plug connector 1 may also have a partial discharge sleeve 7, which is only Figure 8 In the assembled state, the connecting portion 4a of the contact element 4 is arranged in this alternative embodiment within a partial discharge sleeve 7. However, with the insulator 3 according to the invention already described in detail above, the partial discharge sleeve 7 is not necessary.

[0031] The partial discharge sleeve 7 has an insertion opening 9. The connecting part 4a can be inserted into the partial discharge sleeve 7 in the direction of arrow P. The partial discharge sleeve 7 has a contact opening 8 associated with the through hole 6 of the connecting part 4a. This allows the contact part 4b to be pushed further into the connecting part 4a.

[0032] Arranged in the through-opening 6 of the connecting part 4a is a circumferential contact strip 10. The contact strip 10 establishes a reliable electrically conductive connection between the connecting part 4a and the contact part 4b.

[0033] exist Figure 2 and Figure 3 FIG 3 shows a first part 3 a of an insulator 3 according to the present invention. The first part 3 a is produced using a two-component injection molding process and comprises a semiconductor region 11 formed from a semiconducting or conductive plastic, in particular polyethylene. The remainder of the first part 3 a is made of another material, particularly one with good insulating properties.

[0034] The first portion 3a of the insulating body 3 has a hollow cylindrical opening 12 in which extends the contact portion 4b of the contact element 4. The connecting portion 4a of the contact element 4 is positioned on the semiconductor region 11.

[0035] exist Figure 43 shows a perspective view of the second part 3b of the insulating body 3. The second part 3b is produced in a two-component injection molding process and has a semiconductor region 13 formed from a semiconducting or conductive plastic, in particular polyethylene. The remaining insulating region 14 is made of another material, in particular one with good insulating properties.

[0036] The second portion 3b of the insulator 3 is positioned within the semiconductor region 11 of the first portion 3a of the insulator 3, so that the semiconductor regions 11 and 13 surround the connecting portion 4a of the contact element (including the intersection region between the connecting portion 4a and the contact portion 4b). This effectively prevents the occurrence of partial discharges in this geometrically susceptible region of the contact element.

[0037] exist Figure 5 3. The third part 3c of the insulating body 3 is shown in perspective in FIG. The third part 3c serves as a cover for the insulating body 3. The third part 3c is made entirely of a single insulating plastic material.

[0038] The third part 3 c of the insulating body 3 has fixing ribs 15 on the inside, which, in the assembled state, engage with the insulating region 14 of the second part 3 b of the insulating body 3 .

[0039] In the assembled state, the contact element 4 or its connecting part 4a is arranged or fixed between the first part 3a and the second part 3b of the insulating body 3. In this case, the connecting part 4a is shielded from field control technology by the semiconductor regions 11, 13 of the insulating body 3. The entire system is fixed together by the third part 3c or cover of the insulating body 3.

[0040] The plug connector 1 has a cable outlet 16 on the cable connection side, which assumes the function of sealing and strain relief for a connected cable (not shown).

[0041] Even if various aspects or features of the present invention are shown in combinations in the drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the combinations shown and discussed are not the only possible combinations, unless otherwise indicated. In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes in different embodiments may be interchanged.

[0042] Reference Signs List 1 Plug connector 2 Plug connector housing 3 Insulators 3a) Part 1 3b) Part 2 3c) Part 3 4 contact elements 4a) Connection part 4b) Contact part 5 Axial opening of the connecting portion 4a 6 Radial opening of connecting portion 4a 7 Partial discharge sleeve 8 Contact opening of partial discharge sleeve 7 9 Insertion opening for partial discharge sleeve 7 10 Contact zone 11 Semiconductor region of the first portion 3a 12 Opening of first portion 3a 13 Semiconductor region of the second portion 3c 14 Insulation Area 15 fixed ribs 16 Cable outlet

Claims

1. A plug connector (1) comprising at least a plug connector housing (2), an insulating body (3) and a contact element (4), wherein: The insulator (3) has at least one semiconductor region (11, 13) for field control.

2. The plug connector (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized by: The insulator (3) is produced in a two-component injection molding process.

3. Plug connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized by: The insulator (3) is made of two plastic materials having different electrical conductivities.

4. Plug connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized by: The plug connector (1) has a two-part contact element (4) consisting of a connecting part (4a) and a contact part (4b).

5. Plug connector (1) according to the preceding claim, It is characterized by: The connecting part (4a) has an axial opening (5) at one end, which is designed as a crimping interface for an electrical conductor, and wherein the connecting part (4a) has a radial through hole (6) at the other end, into which the contact part (4b) can be inserted.

6. Plug connector (1) according to the preceding claim, It is characterized by: A circumferential contact strip (10) is arranged in the through-hole (6).

7. Plug connector (1) according to any of the three preceding claims, It is characterized by: The connecting portion (4a) and the contact portion (4b) are oriented substantially at right angles to each other.

8. Plug connector (1) according to the preceding claim, It is characterized by: The corner intersection region of the contact element (4) is arranged in the semiconductor region of the insulating body (3).

9. Plug connector (1) according to claim 4, It is characterized by: The connecting portion (4a) is arranged in the semiconductor region (11, 13) of the insulator (3).

10. Plug connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized by: The insulator (3) is designed in at least two parts.

11. Plug connector (1) according to the preceding claim, It is characterized by: At least two parts (3a, 3b) of the insulating body (3) are respectively produced in a two-component injection molding process.

12. Plug connector (1) according to claim 10, It is characterized by: At least two parts (3a, 3b) of the insulator (3) are respectively made of two plastic materials each having different electrical conductivities.

13. Plug connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized by: The insulator (3) is designed in three parts.

14. Plug connector (1) according to the preceding claim, It is characterized by: At least one portion of the insulator (3) has two different regions formed of different plastic materials, and At least one further portion of the insulating body (3) is made of a single plastic material.

15. Plug connector (1) according to claim 13, It is characterized by: At least two parts of the insulator (3) respectively have two different regions formed of different plastic materials, and At least one further portion of the insulating body (3) is made of a single plastic material.

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