Holding frame for a connector

Abstract

Holding frame for a connector for installation in a metallic connector housing and for protective earthing thereof, as well as for receiving similar and / or different modules (3) which can be inserted into the holding frame along an insertion direction, wherein the holding frame is formed from at least two different materials, of which at least one material is electrically conductive, characterized by that the holding frame has a base frame (1) and at least one cheek part (2, 2') which is designed to fix a module (3) received in the base frame (1), wherein the holding frame is designed to hold a module (3) received therein in one direction with its base frame (1) and to fix this module (3) at the same time with tabs (22, 22') belonging to the respective cheek part (2, 2') perpendicularly thereto by the module (3) being latched to the tabs (22, 22'), that the base frame (1) is designed as a die-cast part, that the at least one cheek part (2, 2') is a stamped and bent part and consists of spring-elastic sheet metal, that the at least one cheek part (2, 2') is essentially flat and has a rectangular basic shape, that the base frame (1) has a rectangular cross-section and two side parts (12, 12') arranged parallel to one another and two end faces (11, 11') arranged perpendicularly thereto and arranged parallel to one another, the two end faces (11, 11') being shorter than the two side parts (12, 12'), and that the two side parts (12, 12') each have on a first edge a plurality of webs (122, 122') arranged symmetrically opposite one another, which extend along the side parts (12, 12') and counter to the insertion direction and between which open recesses (123, 123') are formed, wherein the length of the webs (122, 122') counter to the insertion direction exceeds their width along the side parts (12, 12'), wherein the at least one cheek part (2, 2') is held by locking and a positive connection to the base frame, wherein at least one side part (12, 12') has at least one fastening means which engages in a fastening recess of the cheek part (2, 2'), wherein the at least one cheek part (2, 2') is folded by 180° at at least one bending edge (B, B') with a bending radius which is not less than a minimum bending radius of the resilient sheet.

Description

The invention relates to a holding frame for a plug connector according to the preamble of independent main claim 1.The invention also relates to a method for producing a holding frame according to claim 1.The invention further relates to a method for producing a plug connector according to claim 14.Such holding frames are required to accommodate a plurality of modules of the same type and / or also different modules. These modules can be, for example, insulating bodies which are provided as contact carriers for electronic and electrical and possibly also for optical and / or pneumatic contacts. It is of particular importance that the holding frame enables a protection ground according to the specification of the plug connector standard EN61984, for example for inserting the holding frame equipped with modules into metallic plug connector housings.Prior ArtThe publication DE 27 36 079 A1 shows a device for mounting terminal blocks on a carrier rail (also known as a "top-hat rail"), wherein a comb of leaf springs is inserted into a U-shaped profile.From the publication EP 0 860 906 B1 a holding frame for holding plug connector modules and for installation in plug connector housings or for screwing onto wall surfaces is known, wherein the plug connector modules are inserted into the holding frame and holding means on the plug connector modules cooperate with recesses provided on opposite wall parts (side parts) of the holding frame, wherein the recesses are formed as openings closed on all sides in the side parts of the holding frame, wherein the holding frame consists of two halves joined together in an articulated manner, wherein the separation of the holding frame is provided transversely to the side parts of the frame, and wherein joints in the fastening ends of the holding frame are arranged in such a manner that when the holding frame is screwed onto a fastening surface the frame parts align themselves in such a manner, the side parts of the holding frame are oriented at right angles to the fastening surface and the plug connector modules have a form-fitting connection with the holding frame via the holding means. In practice, such holding frames are usually manufactured in a die casting process, in particular in a zinc die casting process.The document DE 295 08 095 U1 shows a holding frame which is produced by zinc die casting technology and has a PE contact.The publication DE 20 2013 103 611 U1 shows a metallic holding frame in which two frame halves are screwed to one another in a particularly stable manner, in particular for fixing pneumatic modules, and thus fix the modules in the frame in a particularly stable manner.The publication EP 2 581 991 A2 proposes a holding frame in which the two frame halves can be joined together in a latching manner by linear displacements in order to avoid tilting of the modules during their installation and furthermore not to rely on the presence of a planar fastening surface. In this context, an associated latching mechanism is also disclosed in which a plastic protrusion can be used as a latching means, while the remaining frame is made of metal.However, it has been found in practice that such holding frames require complicated operation during assembly. For example, such holding frames must be unscrewed from the plug connector and / or unlocked as soon as only a single module is also to be exchanged. In this case, the other modules whose removal was not desired at all may also fall out of the holding frame and then have to be inserted again before the frame halves are screwed together and / or before the frame halves are locked together. Finally, all modules must be located simultaneously in the position provided for them already before the frame halves are joined together, in order to be finally fixed in the holding frame when the frame halves are joined together, which makes assembly more difficult.The publication EP 1 801 927 B1 discloses a holding frame which consists of a one-piece plastic injection-molded part. The holding frame is designed as a circumferential collar and has a plurality of wall segments separated by slots on its plug-in side. In each case two opposite wall segments form an insertion region for a plug module, wherein the wall segments have window-like openings which serve to accommodate projections formed on the narrow sides of the modules. Furthermore, a guide groove is provided in each of the wall segments. Above the openings, the guide groove is formed by means of an outwardly offset window web which has an insertion bevel on the inside. In addition, the plug-in modules have latching arms which are formed on the narrow sides, acting in the direction of the cable connections, and latch under the lateral collar wall, so that two independent latching means fix the plug-in connector modules in the holding frame.The disadvantage of this prior art is, on the one hand, that it is a holding frame formed from plastic which, according to the generic type, is not suitable for protection ground and thus not for installation in metallic plug connector housings. However, the use of metallic plug connector housings presupposes such a protection ground and is necessary in many cases both because of its mechanical robustness, its temperature resistance and because of its electrically shielding properties and is therefore desired by the customer. Furthermore, it has been found that the production of the aforementioned plastic retaining frames by the injection molding process is at least difficult to implement and only with great effort. Finally, the heat resistance of such a plastic holding frame is also not always sufficient for specific applications, for example in the vicinity of a blast furnace.Finally, the plastic material and the shape, in particular the thickness of the holding frame, are determined at the relevant locations primarily by the requirements of flexibility and not by those of temperature resistance.Object Setting Up To AchieveThe object of the invention is to specify a structural form for a holding frame which, on the one hand, has good heat resistance and high mechanical robustness and which, in particular also when installed in a metallic plug connector housing, enables a corresponding protection ground, in particular a PE (protection earth), and which, on the other hand, also ensures comfortable operability, in particular when individual modules are exchanged.This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims.Such a holding frame can be used in the area of heavy industrial plug connectors and is made at least partially of an electrically conductive material. This allows a protection ground which can be realized, for example, in that the holding frame has a PE contact or is at least equipped with such a PE contact.The holding frame can have, for example, a base frame and at least one, preferably two, cheek parts. The base frame can then be formed from a different material than the cheek parts and thus advantageously have a lower elasticity and thus a greater rigidity than the cheek parts.The cheek parts can be formed from a material which, according to its stress / strain diagram, is more elastic, that is to say has a lower modulus of elasticity than the material from which the base frame is formed. In reverse terms, the material of the base frame can be more rigid than the material from which the cheek parts are formed, i.e. the material of the base frame can have, according to its stress / strain diagram, an elastic modulus which is greater than the elastic modulus of the material from which the cheek parts are formed.The amount of the modulus of elasticity is greater the more resistance a material opposes its elastic deformation.Furthermore, the material from which the cheek parts are formed can have a greater elastic range according to its stress / strain diagram than the material from which the base frame is formed.In particular, the base frame can be rigid, in particular rigid, viewed in an idealized manner.Furthermore, the cheek parts can be designed to be resilient and can advantageously be manufactured from a resilient sheet metal.A spring-elastic sheet is understood to mean a sheet which has spring-elastic properties, such as, for example, a reversible deformability, in particular upon application of a corresponding restoring force, that is to say, for example, a sheet which is produced from spring steel or a comparable material.Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.An advantage of the invention is thus that the modules can be inserted into the holding frame individually and with only very little effort and removed therefrom again, which in particular facilitates manual fitting. The spring-elastic properties of the cheek parts make it possible to insert or remove modules individually with only very little effort. At the same time, the base frame can ensure the necessary mechanical stability during the holding of the inserted modules due to its rigidity.Both for the base frame and for the cheek parts, the use of metallic materials ensures a high temperature resistance compared, for example, with plastic, and furthermore also a particularly high mechanical robustness of the holding frame.A further advantage of the invention is that the holding frame allows a protective grounding, in particular a PE protective grounding of a metallic plug connector housing into which the holding frame is inserted, for electrical safety. This also ensures, as an additional advantage, a shielding of the signals transmitted by the plug connector. This shielding can be protection against interference fields from the outside. However, this can also be a shielding for preventing or reducing transmission of interference, that is to say for protecting the environment against interference fields of the plug connector. In other words, not only are the signals transmitted by the modules protected from external interference fields, but also the environment is protected from interference which arises from a current flow which runs through the modules.A particularly great additional advantage is that the holding frame is on the one hand particularly heat-resistant and on the other hand nevertheless has a sufficiently high elasticity due to the use of spring-elastic sheet metal at the locations required for this purpose in order to insert the modules individually and with little effort into the module frame and remove them again. It is therefore of particularly great advantage if the holding frame has spring-elastic sheet metal at suitable points, because, with elasticity at least as great, it is thereby substantially more heat-resistant than a plastic frame that is otherwise functionally comparable from a mechanical point of view. Modules belonging to them can be designed to be correspondingly compact in their design, so that they can furthermore be made of plastic and are nevertheless relatively heat-resistant.It is particularly advantageous if the holding frame has a plurality of different regions, for example a first and a second region, which have different elasticity from one another, because it can then apply a higher resistance moment in a targeted manner in the region of the highest bending stress.These different regions can be formed, for example, from different materials and thus preferably have different material properties, in particular different elastic moduli.The second region can thereby have a higher elasticity than the first region. The first region can thus, in reverse terms, have a greater stiffness than the second region. In particular, the first region can be formed to be rigid and the second region can be formed to be resilient. Such an elasticity or rigidity can be achieved, on the one hand, by the material used in each case, as already mentioned, and / or it can also be achieved, on the other hand, by the geometric shape of these regions.For this purpose, the first region can be formed from a rigid material, for example from a zinc alloy or from an aluminum alloy or from a copper alloy. The second region can be formed from a spring-elastic material and thus consist, for example, of a spring-elastic steel sheet.The first region can be produced in a casting process, for example in a zinc die casting or aluminum die casting process, or else can be produced by milling from a copper alloy, for example. For example, the first region can preferably be the encircling base frame. The base frame can thus be, in particular, a zinc die-cast part. The base frame can be substantially rectangular in cross section, i.e. has two mutually parallel opposing end faces and, at right angles thereto, two mutually parallel opposing side parts, wherein the two end faces are shorter than the two side parts. Both the end faces and the side parts can have a substantially rectangular shape.Furthermore, the second region can be formed, for example, from the at least one, preferably the two separate cheek parts, of which each cheek part preferably consists of a spring-elastic sheet metal part in each case. The cheek parts can consist of the same material, in particular of spring-elastic sheet metal, and can also have the same thickness. For example, the preferably two cheek parts can be punched out of the same stamped sheet metal.Each cheek part can be substantially planar and preferably have a rectangular basic shape. Thus, it has two opposed long edges, namely a first and a second edge, and at right angles thereto two opposed short edges, namely a third and a fourth edge. The cheek part has, in particular, slots which begin at regular intervals at its first edge and which preferably run at right angles thereto in the direction of the second edge into the cheek part, preferably straight slots, as a result of which free-standing tongues are formed in the cheek part. Furthermore, a latching window can be arranged in each of these tabs as a latching element. These latching windows are provided for receiving latching noses of inserted modules in order to latch the modules in the holding frame. Furthermore, each cheek part can have a plurality of fastening elements, in particular fastening recesses in preferably round form, for fastening to the base frame.Each of the two cheek parts can advantageously be fastened to the base frame on an outer side of one of the two side parts, so that two spring-elastic tongues of the two cheek parts are symmetrically opposite one another. Furthermore, these tabs can be bent slightly outwards towards their end, i.e. away from the base frame and thus from one another, in order to facilitate the insertion of a module.On the corresponding side part, preferably on both side parts, the base frame can have fastening means, for example round fastening pins. These fastening means can engage in the fastening recesses of the associated cheek part and hold the cheek parts on the base frame in this way, for example by latching and / or by a positive and non-positive connection. Additionally or alternatively, the cheek portions may be secured to the base frame by bonding, welding, soldering, riveting and / or bolting, or by any other type of attachment to the base frame.The modules belonging to this can be substantially cuboidal and can each have a width on two mutually opposite end faces which corresponds to the width of a tab. Each module advantageously has a respective latching nose on its two end faces, which latching nose can likewise be of substantially cuboidal design. Each of the spring-elastic tabs of the holding frame advantageously has a latching window, which can be of substantially rectangular design and which is provided for the preferably form-fitting reception of such a latching lug.The two latching noses of a module can differ from one another, for example in their shape and / or their size, in particular by their length, and the tabs on both sides of the holding frame can have corresponding windows for this purpose, which thus likewise differ from one another and which fit in each case to one of the latching noses in terms of their size and / or their shape. This has the advantage that the orientation of each module in the holding frame is thereby fixed. In other words, the latching windows and the latching noses can be used by their shape and / or size as coding means, in particular as polarization means, for orienting the modules in the holding frame.Advantageously, the tabs of the holding frame are bent slightly away from the holding frame in a free-standing end region, which simplifies the insertion of the modules. The insertion of a module into the holding frame is then particularly easy to use. For this purpose, a module is namely initially inserted between two tabs of a holding frame and then slides with its two end faces and in particular with the latching lugs formed thereon along the end regions of the tabs which are bent away from one another. As a result, the two tabs flex apart briefly until the respective latching noses are received by the associated latching window of the respective tab and thus latch therein. When the latching lugs are received in the respective latching window, the tabs spring back into their starting position. In this way, the modules can latch individually in the holding frame.At the same time, the module is held firmly in the preferably rigid base frame. In order to unlock the modules again, it is merely necessary to bend the two associated lugs away from one another again. The respective module can then be removed individually from the holding frame, while the other modules are still locked. This ensures a firm hold of the module in the holding frame with a comparatively low actuating force, which is particularly advantageous for operability.It is furthermore of particular advantage that the modules are already held in the holding frame with sufficient holding force by the above-mentioned construction and accordingly do not require any further latching means, for example latching arms, apart from their latching lugs, since this simplifies their design and thus their production outlay considerably and at the same time ensures a compact design and thus also a high heat resistance of the modules and thus of the entire plug connector.In one embodiment, it is particularly advantageous if these two cheek parts are of the same type, i.e. in spite of the two-part embodiment of the holding frame, only cheek parts of one type have to be produced, which further reduces the production outlay.In another preferred embodiment, the two cheek parts differ in terms of the size and / or the shape of their latching windows. This has the advantage that the orientation of each module, which accordingly also has two different latching noses, is thereby fixed. In other words, the latching windows and the latching noses can thus serve as coding means for orienting the modules due to their shape.For protection (PE), the holding frame can be equipped with a corresponding PE module, which establishes an electrical contact between a ground cable connected thereto and the holding frame, for example, via an electrically conductive ground clamp. As a result, the holding frame can be equipped with a PE contact.Alternatively, the holding frame itself may have a PE contact, for example a screw contact, for the grounding cable. For example, such a PE contact can be integrally formed on the base frame.List of FiguresAn exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and is explained in more detail below. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a base frame; FIGS. 2 a, b show a first cheek part from two different perspectives; FIGS. 2c, d show a second cheek part from two different perspectives; FIGS. 3 a, b show a module from two different perspectives; FIGS. 4 a, b show a holding frame with an inserted PE module from two different perspectives.FIG. 1 shows a base frame 1. this base frame 1 is substantially rectangular in cross section, i.e. has two mutually parallel opposite end faces 11, 11' and, at right angles thereto, two mutually parallel opposite side parts 12, 12', the two end faces 11, 11' being shorter than the two side parts 12, 12'. Both the end faces 11, 11' and the side parts 12, 12' have in turn a substantially rectangular shape, wherein a flange 13, 13' projecting at right angles thereto is formed on each of the end faces 11, 11', wherein each of these two flanges 13, 13' has two screw bores 131, 131', so that the base frame 1 has a total of four screw bores 131, 131'.The two side parts 12, 12' each have on a first edge a plurality of webs 122, 122' which, in the present embodiment, are of relatively short design, are arranged symmetrically opposite one another, wherein the term "short" in this context means that the length of the webs 122, 122' which runs upwards in the drawing falls below their width. The webs 122, 122' could, however, also be significantly longer in a somewhat different embodiment. For example, their length could correspond to their width or even exceed it. Thus, open recesses 123, 123' are formed between these webs 122, 122'.In the present example, four such open recesses 123, 123' are provided on each cheek part 2, 2', but a different number of recesses would of course also be conceivable, for example three, five, six, seven or eight. The number of open recesses 123, 123' in each side part 12, 12' corresponds to the number of modules 3 which the corresponding holding frame is capable of receiving.Furthermore, each side part 12, 12' has a plurality of fastening pins 124, 124' for fastening the associated cheek part 2, 2'. In the present case, the fastening pins 124, 124' have a circular shape in cross section; however, any other shape would also be conceivable; the fastening pins 124, 124' could therefore also be formed, for example, in an oval, rectangular, square, triangular, pentagonal, n-cornered manner or in any other planar shape.Thus, two cheek parts 2, 2' are provided for the holding frame, namely a first cheek part 2 and a second cheek part 2'.FIGS. 2a and 2c each show one of these cheek parts 2, 2' in a first perspective, in which the viewing direction runs at right angles thereto. FIGS. 2b and 2d show the respective cheek part 2, 2' from an oblique view. Each cheek part 2, 2', which in the present exemplary embodiment is preferably a stamped and bent part, has three slots 21, 21', by means of which four identically sized tongues 22, 22' are formed. The number of brackets 22, 22' of the respective cheek part 2, 2' corresponds to the number of open recesses 123, 123' on one of the two side parts 12, 12' of the base frame 1 in each case.In each tab 22, 22' of each cheek part 2, 2' a respective latching window 23, 23' is provided. The latching windows 23 of the first cheek part 2 are larger than the latching windows 23' of the second cheek part 2'. The two cheek parts 2, 2' thus differ from one another in the size of their latching windows 23, 23'. Furthermore, additional fastening recesses 24, 24' are provided in the cheek parts 2, 2', which in the present exemplary embodiment have a circular shape, but of course could also have any other shape, i.e. could be formed, for example, in oval, rectangular, square, triangular, pentagonal, n-cornered or in any other flat shape.The fastening pins 124, 124' of the base frame 1 fit positively into the respective fastening recesses 24, 24' of the associated cheek parts 2, 2', so that the respective cheek part 2, 2' can be plugged onto the associated side part 12, 12'. In addition, the respective cheek part 2, 2' can also be fastened to the corresponding side part 12, 12' in another way, for example by adhesive bonding, welding, soldering, riveting and / or screwing.It can be seen in FIGS. 2b and 2d that the respective cheek part 2, 2' is folded by 180° in the lower end region at a bending line B, B' and is thus reinforced in this region. A lower edge K, K' of the associated sheet metal comes to lie between the fastening recesses 24 and an associated bending line B, B', so that the fastening recesses 24, 24' are uncovered and the fastening pins 124, 124' can be introduced freely therein.FIGS. 3 aand 3 b show a module 3 which can be inserted into the holding frame in a possible design from two different views. Of course, other modules of similar construction can also be used.The module 3 has a first latching nose 31 on a first longitudinal side 32, which is provided for latching in a latching window 23 of the first side piece 2. On a second longitudinal side 32' opposite this first longitudinal side 32, the module 3 has a second latching nose 31' which is narrower than the first latching nose and which is provided for latching in a latching window 23' of the second cheek part 2'. Furthermore, the module is made very compact, which improves its heat resistance.The shape of the latching noses 31, 31' and the shape of the windows 23, 23' determine the orientation of the module 3 in the holding frame.FIG. 4 shows a completely assembled holding frame, in which the two cheek parts 2, 2' are therefore fastened to the base frame 1. The fastening pins 124, 124' of the base frame 1 engage in the fastening recesses 24, 24' of the corresponding cheek parts 2, 2'. In addition, a particular stability of this fastening is provided in that said lower edge K, K' of the respective sheet metal of the cheek part 2, 2' ends directly with the corresponding side part 12, 12' of the base frame 1. In addition or as an alternative to the fastening by the fastening pins 124, 124' and the fastening recesses 24, 24', the cheek parts 2, 2' can also be soldered, welded, screwed, riveted or otherwise fastened to the base frame 1.The cheek parts 2, 2' have a higher elasticity than the base frame 1, in particular in the region of their brackets 22, 22'. Expressed in the opposite sense, the base frame 1, which can be produced in a die casting process, in particular a zinc die casting process, has a greater rigidity than the two spring-elastic cheek parts 2, 2', which can consist, for example, of spring-elastic steel sheet.This means that a certain force, for example 10 N, which acts on any tab 22 of a cheek part 2 at the level of its latching window 23 at right angles to the surface of the cheek part 2 directed from the inside outwards with respect to the holding frame, causes a deflection of the tab 22 to be measured at the level of its latching window 23, which deflection is greater than the deflection experienced by the base frame 1 at any point if at this any point an equally great force, that is to say likewise 10 N, directed from the inside outwards with respect to its end face 11, 11' or to its side part 12, 12', acts perpendicularly with respect to its base frame 1.The base frame 1 thus has a greater rigidity than the cheek parts 2, 2'. In reverse, the cheek parts 2, 2' have a higher elasticity than the base frame 1.In the following details, it is taken as a basis that the holding frame is fixed at four corner points. For example, it can be fixed to the four screw bores 131, 131' of its flanges 13, 13' in or on a metallic plug connector housing by screwing.If, for example, a force of 10 N then acts on the tab 22 of a cheek part 2 at the height of its latching window 23 at right angles to the surface of the cheek part 2, this tab 22 is reversibly deflected, for example, by a path length of at least 0.2 mm, preferably of at least 0.4 mm, in particular of at least 0.8 mm, that is to say, for example, of more than 1.6 mm. If an equally great force of 10 N acts, for example, in the middle of its side part 12 perpendicularly to the surface of the side part 12 with respect to the base frame 1 from the inside outwards, then the base frame 1 itself is deflected, in this region in which its stiffness is still the smallest, only by a path length of less than 0.2 mm, preferably less than 0.1 mm, in particular less than 0.05 mm, that is to say, for example, less than 0.025 mm. The base frame 1 is thus more rigid than the cheek parts 2, 2'. In particular, the base frame 1 is to be regarded as rigid and the cheek parts 2, 2' are to be designated as spring-elastic in each case.This provides for holding and in particular latching of the modules with a high holding force with simultaneously low actuating forces, which significantly facilitates operation, in particular insertion and removal of individual modules 3. Finally, the cheek part 2 is resilient and the elasticity of the cheek part 2 is selected, in particular according to the values specified above, such that the modules 3 can be inserted manually and removed manually. At the same time, the base frame 1 is rigid and, in particular, the rigidity of the base frame 1 is so high, in particular according to the values specified above, that the inserted modules 3 are held therein with sufficient strength in order to ensure the intended function of an associated plug connector. As a result, the modules 3 and thus also contacts present in the modules 3 are positioned geometrically exactly and mechanically stable enough to make reliable electrical contact with corresponding mating contacts of a comparable mating plug.Such a plug connector and a corresponding mating plug, which are not shown in the drawing, can additionally have a preferably metallic housing, into each of which a holding frame equipped completely or partially with modules 3 is inserted.In the holding frame shown in FIGS. 4 aand 4 b, a specially designed PE module 3' is held, which corresponds in its basic shape to the module 3 shown in FIGS. 3 a, b. In addition, the PE module 3' has an electrically conductive PE contact 33' which is electrically conductively connected via the PE module 3' to an electrically conductive ground clip 34' likewise belonging to the PE module 3'. The PE contact 33' can be, for example, a screw contact, i.e. the PE contact 33' has a grounding screw 35' which is suitable for conductively connecting a grounding cable to the PE contact 33' and mechanically fixing it thereto. This grounding cable is electrically conductively connected to the base frame 1 by the PE module 3' via its grounding clamp 34' which is clamped to one of the end faces 11' of the holding frame.Alternatively, the holding frame can have, for example on its base frame 1 itself, such a PE contact, for example a PE screw contact. The PE contact can be formed on the base frame 1, for example. This can already take place during the production of the base frame 1, for example, by injection molding.List of reference characters1 Base frame 11, 11' end faces 12, 12' side parts 122, 122' webs 123, 123' open recesses 124, 124' fastening pins 13, 13', flanges 131, 131' screw bores 2, 2' cheek parts 21, 21' slots 22, 22' lugs 23, 23' latching windows 24, 24' fastening recesses B, B' bending line K, K' lower edge 3 module 3' PE module 31, 31' latching noses 32, 32' longitudinal sides 33' PE contact 34' grounding bracket 35' grounding screw

Claims

Holding frame for a plug connector for installation in a metallic plug connector housing and for the protection thereof, and for receiving modules (3) of the same type and / or different which can be inserted into the holding frame along an insertion direction, wherein the holding frame is formed from at least two different materials, of which at least one material is electrically conductive, characterized in that the holding frame has a base frame (1) and at least one cheek part (2, 2') which is configured for fixing a module (3) received in the base frame (1), wherein the holding frame is configured to hold a module (3) received therein in one direction with its base frame (1) and to fix this module (3) at the same time with brackets (22, 22') belonging to the respective cheek part (2, 2') perpendicularly thereto, in that the module (3) latches (22, 22') to the brackets, the base frame (1) being designed as a die cast part, the at least one cheek part (2, 2') being a stamped bent part and consisting of spring-elastic sheet metal, the at least one cheek part (2, 2') being of substantially planar configuration and having a rectangular basic shape, the base frame (1) having a rectangular shape in cross section and having two side parts (12, 12') which are situated parallel opposite one another and two end faces (11, 11') which are situated perpendicular thereto and are situated parallel opposite one another, the two end faces (11, 11') being shorter than the two side parts (12, 12'), and the two side parts (12, 12') each having, on a first edge, a plurality of webs (122, 122') which are situated symmetrically opposite one another and extend along the side parts (12, 12') and counter to the insertion direction and between which open recesses (123, 123') are formed, wherein the length of the webs (122, 122') counter to the insertion direction exceeds their width along the side parts (12, 12'), wherein the at least one cheek part (2, 2') is held on the base frame by latching and a form-fitting connection, wherein at least one side part (12, 12') has at least one fastening means which engages in a fastening recess of the cheek part (2, 2'), wherein the at least one cheek part (2, 2') is folded by 180° at at least one bending edge (B, B') with a bending radius which is not less than a minimum bending radius of the resilient metal sheet.Holding frame according to Claim 1, characterized in that the base frame (1) is produced in a zinc die casting process.Holding frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding frame has a PE contact (33') or is at least equipped with a PE contact for the purpose of protecting the metallic plug connector housing into which the holding frame can be inserted.Holding frame according to Claim 3, characterized in that the PE contact (33') is integrally formed on the base frame (1).Holding frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each cheek part (2, 2') has rectilinear slots (21, 21') which begin at regular intervals at a first long edge and run at right angles thereto in the direction of a second long edge into the cheek part (2, 2'), as a result of which free-standing tongues (22, 22') are formed in the cheek part (2, 2').Holding frame according to Claim 5, characterized in that a latching window (23, 23') is arranged in each of the lugs (22, 22'), which is provided to receive latching lugs (31, 31') of inserted modules (3, 3') in order to latch the modules (3, 3') in the holding frame.Holding frame according to Claim 1, wherein a flange (13, 13') projecting at right angles thereto is formed on the end faces (11, 11'), each of these two flanges (13, 13') having in each case two screw bores (131, 131'), with the result that the base frame (1) has a total of four screw bores (131, 131') for screwing into or onto the metallic plug connector housing.A connector comprising a metallic connector housing and a holding frame according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the holding frame is inserted into the metallic connector housing.Method for producing a holding frame according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the holding frame is provided for receiving modules (3) of the same type and / or different which can be introduced into the holding frame along an introduction direction, wherein the holding frame is formed from at least two different materials, wherein at least a first part of the holding frame, namely the base frame (1), is produced in a die casting process, wherein at least a second part of the holding frame, namely the at least one cheek part (2, 2') which is designed for fixing a module (3) accommodated in the base frame (1), is produced by die-cutting bending technology, wherein the at least one cheek part (2, 2') is punched out of a resilient metal sheet and is folded by 180° at least one bending edge (B, B'), wherein the holding frame is designed for the purpose of achieving a clear-cut effect, with its base frame (1) to hold a module (3) accommodated therein in one direction and to fix this module (3) at the same time with brackets (22, 22') belonging to the respective cheek part (2, 2') perpendicular thereto by the module (3) latching (22, 22') to the brackets, wherein the base frame (1) is produced in such a way that it has a rectangular cross-section and has two side parts (12, 12') which are situated parallel to one another and two end faces (11, 11') which are situated perpendicular thereto and are situated parallel to one another, wherein the two end faces (11, 11') are shorter than the two side parts (12, 12'), wherein the two side parts (12, 12') each have, on a first edge, a plurality of webs (122, 122') which are situated symmetrically to one another and extend along the side parts (12, 12') opposite the insertion direction and between which open recesses (123, 123'), wherein the length of the webs (122, 122') counter to the insertion direction exceeds their width along the side parts (12, 12'), wherein the at least one cheek part (2, 2') is fastened to the base frame by latching and a positive connection, wherein at least one side part (12, 12') has at least one fastening means that engages into a fastening recess of the cheek part.Method according to claim 9, wherein the base frame (1) is produced in a zinc die casting process.Method according to one of claims 9 to 10, wherein the at least one cheek part (2, 2') is fastened to the base frame (1) by adhesive bonding, welding, soldering, riveting, latching and / or screwing.A method of manufacturing a connector according to claim 8, comprising the steps of the method according to claim 9 and the following steps: a.) inserting modules (3) into the holding frame with only little effort due to the spring-elastic properties of the cheek parts (2, 2'); b.) stably holding the inserted modules (3) in the holding frame due to the rigidity of the base frame (1); c.) Grounding of the base frame (1) by mounting with a specially designed PE module (3') or by a PE contact of the base frame (1); d.) inserting the holding frame into a metallic plug connector housing; e.) Protection Grounding of the Metal Plug Connector Housing by the Holding Frame.Method according to claim 12, characterised in that said protection ground in point c.) is effected by the specially designed PE module (3'), the electrically conductive ground clamp (34') of which is clamped to one of the end faces (11') and thus electrically conductively connected to the base frame (1).Method according to claim 13, characterised in that the PE module (3') is electrically conductively connected to a ground cable by its PE contact (33') by a ground screw (35').Method according to Claim 12, characterized in that the base frame is earthed at point c.) via a PE contact which is integrally formed on the base frame (1).

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