Junction box

Abstract

The utility model relates to a junction box (1), in particular a sensor-actuator box, comprising: a housing (3) having at least one through-opening (31A-31N); at least one contact insert (5A-5N) for electrically connecting the sensor or actuator, the contact insert (5A-5N) being arranged in the through opening (31A-31N); and at least one sealing element (7A-7N) which can be arranged in a through-opening (31A-31N) between a housing material of the housing (3) and the contact insert (5A-5N), the sealing element (7A-7N) being adapted to seal a gap between the housing material and the contact insert (5A-5N) in the through-opening (31A-31N), and the sealing element (7A-7N) being adapted to identify the contact insert (5A-5N).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a junction box, in particular a sensor-actuator box, comprising a housing with at least one through-opening and at least one contact insert for electrically connecting a sensor or an actuator, wherein the contact insert is arranged in the through-opening. The junction box also comprises at least one sealing element, which can be arranged or is arranged in the through-opening between the housing material of the housing and the contact insert. Background Art

[0002] Sensor-actuator boxes, also known as sensor-actuator distributors, have been known for many years in various embodiments, such as those disclosed in DE 10 2013 002 852 A1. Sensor-actuator boxes serve as connecting devices between peripheral devices and control units in decentralized connection technology. Their purpose is to collect sensor signals or distribute actuator signals. Sensors and actuators can be connected to the sensor-actuator boxes using standardized sensor / actuator cables. Sensor-actuator boxes known from the prior art typically have four, six, eight, or ten contact inserts, also known as connection sockets, and a connection sleeve, such as a threaded sleeve with a standardized thread (e.g., M5, M8, M10, or M12), to which a corresponding connection plug can be connected. The connection plugs each have mating contact elements corresponding to the contact elements arranged in the contact inserts. The contact elements can, in particular, be contact sockets, and the mating contact elements can be contact pins. Furthermore, the connecting plugs each have a rotatably arranged connecting sleeve with an external thread, which can be screwed into an internal thread of the contact insert.

[0003] Sensor-actuator boxes have different embodiments, for example with a plastic or metal housing, wherein the connecting sleeve of the contact insert can also be made of plastic or metal. In particular, when using a plastic housing with a connecting sleeve on a metal contact insert, a sealing element is often installed between the housing and the contact insert in each case to achieve a higher level of protection or to increase the suitability of the sensor-actuator box for different environmental conditions.

[0004] In the prior art, the identification of the plug positions on sensor-actuator boxes is usually achieved by means of laser marking, pad printing, pluggable label plates, marking areas, or coloring the contact carrier of the contact insert, as shown, for example, in EP 2 002 514 A1. However, after the associated plug connector is inserted, the colored contact carrier is not visible or is only visible with difficulty, and distinguishing between the contact carriers or plug positions is difficult or even impossible.

[0005] Colored sealing elements for marking conductors and plug connectors are shown, for example, in the following documents: DE 11 2014 005 002 T5 and DE 10 2007 024 475 A1.

[0006] However, in the prior art, there is no solution for an element for use in a junction box which can simultaneously serve to seal and mark the plug-in locations. Utility Model Content

[0007] This object is achieved by the junction box according to the invention.

[0008] The sealing element is therefore suitable for sealing a gap between the housing material and the contact insert in the through-opening, and the sealing element is suitable for identifying the contact insert.

[0009] A housing can be understood as a one-piece or multi-piece housing having at least one through-opening in a surface. The through-opening can be circular and extend completely through the housing material to accommodate a contact insert for electrically connecting a sensor or actuator.

[0010] A contact insert can be understood as a one-piece or multi-piece component comprising a contact carrier with one or more contact elements accommodated therein, such as contact pins or contact sockets. Furthermore, the contact insert can have a connecting sleeve that at least partially surrounds the contact carrier, with the connecting sleeve forming or defining the outer circumference of the contact insert. The connecting sleeve can have a standard internal thread, such as an M5, M8, M10, or M12 thread, which can be connected to a corresponding external thread of a corresponding connecting sleeve of a coupling plug. Therefore, a connecting sleeve with a thread disposed thereon can also be referred to as a threaded sleeve.

[0011] As an alternative or in addition to a thread, the connecting sleeve can also have a connecting element for a push-pull plug connector, or the contact insert can be designed as a push-pull panel socket for tool-free device connection by simply plugging and locking the corresponding push-pull connectors into each other.

[0012] In the assembled position, the sealing element can surround the contact insert or the connecting sleeve and prevent liquids or dirt from penetrating into the gap between the housing material and the contact insert.

[0013] Furthermore, the sealing element is suitable for marking the contact insert. To this end, the sealing element can, for example, comprise a colored and / or translucent material for color-coding the contact insert. The colored design of the sealing element makes the contact insert easily identifiable, and the translucent material of the contact insert can also be illuminated by means of a lighting element, thereby, for example, being able to display the state of a plug position (plugged / unplugged or activated / inactivated).

[0014] The sealing element can be designed as a separate component and, during the production of the junction box, the fitter or worker can first arrange the sealing element in the through-opening before arranging the contact insert in the through-opening.

[0015] The sealing element described here can simultaneously achieve identification and sealing, wherein the sealing element can also achieve visual and / or color differentiation of the plug-in location after the connection plug has been inserted into the plug-in location or onto the contact insert, and at the same time effectively seal against the ingress of liquids or dust into the housing.

[0016] In one example, the sealing element is configured as a separate element.

[0017] In the above examples, the sealing element is not formed from the housing material or the contact insert, but is provided separately from the remaining components of the junction box so that the sealing element can be arranged in the through-opening during the manufacture of the junction box. In a subsequent step in the manufacturing method, the components of the correspondingly manufactured unit can be injection-molded with each other.

[0018] This embodiment enables the assembler to construct a junction box, in particular a sensor-actuator box, in a modular manner.

[0019] In one example, the sealing element has two mutually opposing and radially circumferential sealing surfaces.

[0020] To seal the gap in the through-opening between the housing material and the contact insert, the sealing element can have two mutually opposing, radially circumferential sealing surfaces. The first sealing surface can extend over the outer circumference of the sealing element, and the second sealing surface can extend over the inner circumference opposite the outer circumference. To this end, the sealing surfaces can have the known contours of positive-end seals and be designed to substantially complement the surface against which they abut in the assembled position.

[0021] In one example, the sealing element has a flange element which is suitable for at least partially surrounding the through-opening.

[0022] The term “flange element” is to be understood here to mean, in particular, a flange-like edge widening or thickening.

[0023] By arranging the flange element, a particularly good seal can be achieved and at the same time the visibility of the sealing element is improved even when the connecting plug is inserted.

[0024] In one example, the flange element protrudes beyond the diameter of the contact insert.

[0025] The visibility of the sealing element can thereby be further improved.

[0026] In one example, at least one contour element is arranged on the flange element. For example, the contour element can be configured as a material recess or cutout in the material of the sealing element. By introducing different types of contour elements, sealing elements of the same or different colors can be more easily identified.

[0027] In one example, the sealing element comprises an elastic material, in particular an elastomeric material.

[0028] As a result, the sealing element can be designed to be dimensionally fixed but elastically deformable.

[0029] In one example, the sealing element comprises a colored and / or translucent material.

[0030] By means of colored material, the contact insert can be color-coded so that it can be more easily identified. In addition, by translucent material, the contact insert can be illuminated by means of a light-emitting element so as to, for example, show the state of the plug position (plugged / unplugged or activated / unactivated).

[0031] In one example, the junction box has at least one lighting element, in particular at least one light emitting diode (LED), which is arranged in the housing and is suitable for emitting light via the sealing element.

[0032] For example, a light-emitting element can be arranged adjacent to a sealing element and emit light through the translucent material of the sealing element. Using multiple adjacent sealing elements allows for multiple light-emitting elements to be used. Alternatively, a single light-emitting element, for example, configured as an LED strip, can be arranged in the housing and emit light through multiple sealing elements.

[0033] In one example, the contact insert comprises a metal material. For example, the connecting sleeve may be constructed of a metal material, while the contact insert may be constructed of a plastic material.

[0034] In one example, the housing material comprises a plastic material. A housing made of a plastic material can be manufactured relatively simply and cost-effectively, and if an electrical connection occurs between the electronic / electrical device arranged in the housing and the housing due to damage, the housing can be touched by a user without the risk of electric shock.

[0035] In one example, the contact insert includes a connecting sleeve, wherein the connecting sleeve defines an outer periphery of the contact insert.

[0036] The connecting sleeve can surround the contact carrier in the contact insert at a defined radial distance and have an internal thread and / or connecting elements for a push-pull plug-in connector, so that the connecting sleeve can be connected to the connecting sleeve of a connecting plug corresponding to the contact insert, or screwed and / or plugged together and locked.

[0037] Connecting elements for push-pull plug connectors may be used in accordance with IEC 61076-2-010:

[0038] Defined in 2022-09.

[0039] In one example, the housing has a plurality of through-openings and contact inserts, wherein each contact insert is arranged in the through-opening, and the junction box has a plurality of sealing elements of the same or different colors, which can be arranged in each through-opening between the housing material and the respective contact insert.

[0040] Typically, a junction box has more than just one contact insert. For example, the junction box can have 4, 6, 8 or 10 contact inserts, which can be arranged in rows in one or more rows, evenly or differently spaced from one another, in corresponding through-openings in the housing.

[0041] Each contact insert can be held in a corresponding through-opening in the housing by means of a colored sealing element specific to the respective plug-in location. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] The idea underlying the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0043] Figure 1A : A schematic sectional view of a contact insert and a sealing element arranged in a through-opening of a housing of a junction box according to one embodiment;

[0044] Figure 1B : A schematic sectional view of a contact insert and a sealing element arranged in a through-opening of a housing of a junction box according to another embodiment;

[0045] Figure 2 : A schematic diagram of a sealing element according to one embodiment;

[0046] Figure 3A 、 3B : Schematic diagram of the junction box; and

[0047] Figure 4A 、4B :Along Figure 3B Section view of section lines AA and BB drawn in. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Figure 1A A schematic sectional view is shown through the contact insert 5A and the sealing element 7A according to one embodiment, located in the through-opening 31A of the housing 3 of the junction box 1 in the assembled position.

[0049] exist Figure 1A In the embodiment shown, the housing 3 has a through-opening 31A which is arranged circularly in the plastic material of the housing 3. Furthermore, a constriction 33A is shown in the through-opening 31A shown for reducing the inner diameter of the through-opening 31A in order to improve the fit of the sealing element 7A.

[0050] The illustrated contact insert 5A for electrically connecting a sensor or actuator is constructed in multiple parts and has a contact carrier 53A made of a non-conductive plastic material. An electrically conductive contact element 531A, designed as a contact socket, is accommodated in the contact carrier 53A. The illustrated contact element 531A is suitable for being electrically contacted by a corresponding contact element, such as a contact pin of a connecting plug (not shown), to establish an electrical connection between the contact elements. In other embodiments, multiple contact elements designed as contact sockets or contact pins can be accommodated in the contact carrier 53A.

[0051] In addition, Figure 1A The contact insert 5A shown in FIG has a connecting sleeve 51A made of metal material and having an internal thread. As shown, the connecting sleeve 51A surrounds the contact carrier 53A. In addition, Figure 1A As shown in FIG, the outer periphery of the connecting sleeve 51A also constitutes the outer periphery of the contact insert 5A. In the embodiment shown, the connecting sleeve 51A has a standard internal thread, such as an M5, M8, M10 or M12 thread, which can be connected to a corresponding external thread of the connecting sleeve of the connecting plug (not shown).

[0052] exist Figure 1A In the embodiment shown in FIG, the sealing element 7A is arranged in the through-opening 31A between the plastic material of the housing 3 and the contact insert 5A, or the metallic connecting sleeve 51A of the contact insert 5A.

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing element 7A has a U-shaped cross-section and is constructed from a colored, translucent elastomer. In other embodiments, the sealing element can also be constructed from a non-colored, translucent elastomer, or from a colored, non-translucent material. The illustrated sealing element 7A has two mutually opposing, radially circumferential sealing surfaces 73AA and 73AB, which serve to seal the gap in the through-opening 31A between the housing material and the metal connecting sleeve 51A of the contact insert 5A. The first sealing surface 73A extends along the outer circumference of the sealing element 7A, and the second sealing surface 73B extends along the inner circumference opposite the outer circumference. In the illustrated assembled position, the sealing element 7A is held in the gap in an elastically compressed manner.

[0054] The sealing element 7A also has flange elements 71AA and 71AB at its upper and lower ends, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the flange elements 71AA and 71AB at least partially surround the through-opening 31A or the region of the through-opening 31A having the constriction 33A. The arrangement of the flange elements 71AA and 71AB ensures a good seal and a good fit of the sealing element 7A in the through-opening 31A.

[0055] like Figure 1A As shown, the flange element 71AA protrudes beyond the diameter of the contact insert 5A or extends partially around the contact element 5A on the surface of the housing 3 in order to thereby improve the visibility of the colored sealing element 7A.

[0056] In other (not shown) embodiments, the profile element is arranged on the flange element, for example as a material recess in the material of the profile element, in order to facilitate identification of the sealing element.

[0057] Figure 1B A schematic sectional view is shown through a contact insert 5A and a sealing element 7A according to another embodiment, located in a through-opening 31A of a housing 3 of a junction box 1 in the assembled position.

[0058] Figure 1B The embodiment shown is similar to Figure 1AThe embodiment shown differs in that the rod element 71AC is arranged on the flange element 71AB. In the embodiment shown, the rod element 71AC is constructed integrally with the flange elements 71AA, 71AB and the remaining elements of the sealing element 7A. In other embodiments, the rod element 71A is constructed as a separate component that can be arranged on the flange element 71AB. The rod element 71AC can be constructed from the same material as the sealing element 7A, or from a different light-conducting material, and extends in a rod-like or ring-like manner between the light-emitting element 9 and the elements of the sealing element 7A to couple light from the light-emitting element 9 into the sealing element 7A in order to illuminate the translucent sealing element 7A. The rod element 71A can also be referred to as a light path.

[0059] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a sealing element 7A according to an embodiment is shown. The sealing element 7A shown corresponds to the sealing element 7A already shown in FIG. Figure 1A . As shown, the sealing element 7A has two mutually opposing, radially circumferential sealing surfaces 73AA and 73AB, wherein the first sealing surface 73AB extends on the outer circumference of the sealing element 7A, and the second sealing surface 73AA extends on the inner circumference opposite the outer circumference. The sealing element 7A shown also has flange elements 71AA and 71AB at the upper and lower ends, respectively. In the embodiment shown, the sealing element 7A is shown in a sleeve-like or hollow cylindrical shape. In other embodiments, the sealing element can also be configured as an annular ring or as an O-ring.

[0060] Figure 3A shows an isometric view of the junction box 1, and Figure 3B The diagram shows a top view of a junction box 1 , which is also often referred to as a sensor-actuator box.

[0061] The junction box 1 has a housing 3 made of plastic, in which a plurality, in this case twelve, of contact inserts 5A- 5N with sealing elements 7A- 7N are fixed in corresponding through-openings 31A- 31N in the housing 3 .

[0062] The illustrated contact inserts 5A-5N are designed as five-pole contacts for connecting sensors and actuators (not shown). In other embodiments, the contact inserts may have more or fewer than the five shown. For example, the contact inserts may be designed as only one-pole contacts. The contact inserts 5A-5N are located in corresponding through-openings 31A-31N on the upper side of the housing 3. The contact inserts 5A-5N are arranged in pairs in two rows. Seal elements 7A-7N of different colors allow the individual contact inserts 5A-5N to be distinguished from one another.

[0063] Figure 4A and Figure 4B Shown along the Figure 3B Section view of section lines AA and BB drawn in.

[0064] exist Figure 4A The figure shows the Figure 3B The cross-section of the section line AA in Figure 1A and Figure 1B As shown in Figure 4A The contact insert 5I shown on the right side in FIG has a connecting sleeve 51I with an internal thread, which is arranged around the contact carrier 53I. The contact insert 5I is fixed in the housing 3 by means of a sealing element 7I. Figure 4A The contact insert 5J shown on the left in FIG. 5 has a connecting sleeve 51J with an external thread.

[0065] exist Figure 4B Shown along Figure 3B The structure shown corresponds to the one already described in Figure 1A In addition, Figure 4B 1 , which extends through the housing 3 , and to which the illustrated contact inserts 5A- 5N can be electrically and mechanically connected.

[0066] Description of Reference Numerals

[0067] 1 junction box

[0068] 3 Shell

[0069] 31A-31N through opening

[0070] 33A narrowing

[0071] 5A-5N contact inserts

[0072] 51A-51N connecting sleeve

[0073] 53A-53N contact carrier

[0074] 531A contact element

[0075] 7A-7N sealing elements

[0076] 71AA, 71AB flange components

[0077] 71AC rod element

[0078] 73AA, 73AB sealing surface

[0079] 9 Light-emitting element

[0080] 11 Circuit Board

[0081] AA, BB autopsy

Claims

1. A junction box (1), in particular a sensor-actuator box, comprising: A housing (3) having at least one through-opening (31A-31N); at least one contact insert (5A-5N) for electrically connecting a sensor or an actuator, wherein the contact insert (5A-5N) is arranged in the through-opening (31A-31N); at least one sealing element (7A-7N) which can be arranged in the through-opening (31A-31N) between the housing material of the housing (3) and the contact insert (5A-5N), It is characterized by: The sealing element (7A-7N) is suitable for sealing a gap between the housing material and the contact insert (5A-5N) in the through-opening (31A-31N), and the sealing element (7A-7N) is suitable for identifying the contact insert (5A-5N).

2. The junction box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The sealing elements (7A-7N) are constructed as separate elements.

3. The junction box (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The sealing element (7A-7N) has two mutually opposing and radially circumferential sealing surfaces (73AA, 73AB).

4. The junction box (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The sealing element (7A-7N) has a flange element (71AA) which is suitable for at least partially surrounding the through-opening (31A-31N).

5. The junction box (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The flange element (71AA) protrudes beyond the diameter of the contact inserts (5A-5N).

6. The junction box (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: At least one profile element is arranged on the flange element (71AA).

7. The junction box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The sealing elements (7A-7N) comprise an elastic material, in particular an elastomeric material.

8. The junction box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The sealing element comprises a colored and / or translucent material for identifying the contact inserts (5A-5N).

9. The junction box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that A light-emitting element (9), in particular at least one light-emitting diode (LED), is provided, which is arranged in the housing (3) and is suitable for emitting light via the sealing elements (7A-7N).

10. The junction box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The contact inserts (5A-5N) include a metallic material.

11. The junction box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing material includes a plastic material.

12. The junction box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The contact insert (5A-5N) has a connecting sleeve (51A-51N), wherein the connecting sleeve defines the outer circumference of the contact insert (5A-5N).

13. The junction box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The housing (3) has a plurality of through-openings (31A-31N) and contact inserts (5A-5N), wherein the contact inserts (5A-5N) are respectively arranged in the through-openings (31A-31N); and A plurality of sealing elements (7A-7N) of the same or different colors are provided, which can each be arranged in a respective through-opening (31A-31N) between the housing material and the respective contact insert (5A-5N).

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