Circular connector with impact protection

Abstract

Electrical circular connector for automation technology, in particular for supplying power to automation devices, with impact protection (1), wherein the electrical circular connector with impact protection (1) comprises: a contact carrier (7) with a plurality of contact elements (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d), a union nut (3), a stop sleeve which is provided on the contact carrier (7) and on which the union nut (3) is rotatably mounted, a connecting cable (11), a handle body (13), which partially surrounds the contact carrier (7) at a first end (E1) and which positively surrounds a section of the connecting cable (11) at a second end (E2), characterized in that a separate impact protection element (2) made of plastic is provided on the handle body (13), which has longitudinal ribs (40) on its inside, wherein the impact protection element (2) extends over the length of the handle body (13) or over the length of the handle body (13) and over the union nut (3), wherein the impact protection element (2) and the union nut (3) are in one piece.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical round plug connector for automation technology, in particular for supplying energy to automation devices, with shock protection according to the preamble of claim 1.A round plug connector of the generic type is known from DE 19613228 A1 and DE 10 2009 001 360. Furthermore, DE 1803187 U also discloses a plug-in coupling for telecommunication cables.Furthermore, an electrical plug connector of the applicant is known from DE 102005056563 B3, in which a stop is provided as a protection against overloading of the sealing element, which stop limits the maximum screw-on path of the union nut, so that the elastic sealing element is intentionally compressed, but is not damaged or destroyed.Such electrical round plug connectors are used in various industrial fields, for example as plug connectors M 12 of straight or angled 90° design. They are used in automation technology and supply the automation devices, for example sensors, actuators and distributor boxes, with energy. They usually consist of a handle body with connecting cable and a contact carrier attached to the connecting cable. The handle body encloses in sections both the contact carrier and the connection cable. Two variants of the round plug connector are possible, times (pin) and female (socket), respectively. For the secure connection of a round plug connector (male / female) to a corresponding counter piece, a screw element is used which is either designed as a union nut with an internal thread (female) or as a threaded sleeve (male).In the operating state, the automation devices, e.g. sensors, are firmly connected to a control / evaluation unit via the respective connection cable. Frequently, not only are the sensor signals evaluated in the control / evaluation units, but the voltage supply of the sensors is also provided from there.In some cases, round plug connectors of this type are used in very harsh industrial environments. A further field of application is the food sector (food), where stringent hygiene regulations apply to the plants. For cleaning, acidic or basic cleaning / disinfecting agents are used here.Another large field of application is the production / tool field (non-food), where the installations must meet other requirements. Oil resistance is of great importance in particular for round plug connectors. Moreover, they must withstand high shock and vibration loads.In both fields (food / non food), high pressure / steam jet cleaning processes are also used.In safety-critical applications, installations or installation parts must meet further requirements, which are generally stipulated in corresponding standards / guidelines. Thus, the ATEX standard (IEC60079-0) specifies a strike test in which a steel ball acts on a round plug connector at 4 joules. Ready-to-use round plug connectors which meet this standard are known from the valve sector. They have a very stable voluminous housing which must be made of stainless steel in the food sector. Such round plug connectors are therefore expensive and very complicated to produce.In addition, lever forces can be transmitted directly to the mating plug piece via the rigid housing, which can lead to damage to the mating plug piece or to the part on which the mating plug piece is provided in the case of improper handling.The angled round plug connector ifm EVC08A, designed as a plug or cable socket, meets this standard and has a handy flexible housing.For conventional electricity. Round plug connectors are also known for protection against mechanical influences, and additional impact protection elements (protectors). US 2005019903 A1 discloses an appliance interface which, for sealing purposes, has two shell halves with sealing elements which can be connected to a two-part nut. US 20020134573 A1 discloses an armoured coupling piece with an integrated ground connection. These impact protection elements, however, have a large number of disadvantages as additional parts. They can be unintentionally dissolved, in particular during a cleaning procedure under high pressure or during mechanical cleaning, for example with a cleaning brush. This makes it impossible to use in safety-critical applications.It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an electrical round plug connector for automation technology, in particular for supplying energy to automation devices, with impact protection which does not have the above-mentioned disadvantages, which in particular has a very high impact strength, which can be used in different fields of application, in particular in safety-critical applications, which nevertheless has sufficient flexibility, which is simple to handle and which can also be produced easily and cost-effectively.This object is achieved by an object having the features of claim 1.The essential idea of the invention is to provide, in the case of an electrical round plug connector for automation technology, in particular for supplying energy to automation devices, a specially shaped impact protection element which optimally protects the round plug connector even under the action of a large force. The power supply is in the range of 10 - 36V and up to 4A maximum. Automation devices are to be understood as sensors, actuators and distributor boxes. The impact protection element is formed as an injection molded part made of plastic, preferably of a thermoplastic or elastomer with a hardness of up to 80° Shore (D). On its inner side, it has longitudinally extending ribs for forming a crumple zone. This minimizes the risk of breakage of the contact carrier between the union nut and the grip body. The impact protection element is preferably pushed over the grip body on the cable side and latches or tilts on the grip body. This prevents the impact protection element from accidentally detaching from the handle body, and it is therefore no longer possible to disassemble it without tools, for example during cleaning operations on the plug or during screwing on or unscrewing of the mating plug part.In one embodiment, the impact protection element extends over the entire length of the handle body. As a result, forces acting are absorbed and dissipated optimally over the entire impact protection. The impact protection element can be formed both from a metal, for example as a turning and / or deep-drawn part, and from a plastic injection-molded part.In one embodiment, the impact protection element extends over the entire round plug connector and surrounds the handle body together with the union nut. This achieves an even substantially higher impact protection.According to the invention, the impact protection element and the union nut or threaded sleeve are formed in one piece.In particular, with electric. Round plug connectors, which are designed as straight plugs or sockets, the lever arm is extended compared to the angled variants and higher forces act on the contact carrier. The risk of breakage of the contact carrier between the union nut and the handle body increases considerably. The impact protection element particularly effectively prevents the contact carrier from breaking off the grip body by absorbing a possible impact.The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. In this connection, FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment according to the invention, and FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 to 6 show exemplary embodiments which serve merely to explain the invention.The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a straight round plug connector with an impact protection element as an injection part on the handle body. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a straight round plug connector with a shock protection element made of metal on the handle body and over the union nut. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a straight round plug connector with a one-piece metal impact protection element emerging from the union nut. FIG. 4 shows a front view of a straight round plug connector according to FIG. 4 . 1 FIG. 5 shows a section through the round plug connector according to FIG. 4 along the line A-A FIG. 6 shows a section through the round plug connector according to FIG. 4 along the line B-BFIG. 1 shows a straight electrical round plug connector with impact protection 1 with an impact protection element 2 attached over a handle body 13. At its front first end E 1, the round plug connector 1 has a union nut 3 with a metric internal thread made of metal (preferably stainless steel, not shown) and key surfaces for a jaw key. The union nut 3 is rotatably held by a corresponding metallic stop sleeve (not shown) which encloses a contact carrier 7. In the contact carrier 7, a plurality of contact elements 9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 9 dare provided, which are designed as sockets (female variant) and which are connected to the individual conductors (not shown) of a connecting cable 11. The contact carrier 7 and the connecting cable 11 are at least partially surrounded by the handle body 13, which is preferably elastic. The handle body 13 adjoins the union nut 3 at the front first end E 1 of the round plug connector 1 in the region of the stop sleeve and bears on the rear second end E 2 of the round plug connector 1 in a form-fitting manner on the cable jacket of the connecting cable 11. In the case of the former variant, the contact carrier 7 has pins instead of sockets.The handle body 13 is designed as an injection-molded part.The round plug connector 1 is connected to a plug counterpart, not shown, which has contact elements of matching design. Such a mating connector may be provided, for example, on a sensor, for example proximity switches ifm IGT20A and IGT21A, respectively, which are permitted for the Ex range. In the operating state, the sensor is then connected to a control / evaluation unit via the connecting cable 11. For the application, the reliable transmission of sensor data to the control / evaluation unit is of great importance.In order to use the round plug connector 1, in particular as a straight plug or socket variant in the Ex region, it is additionally equipped with the impact protection element 2. The impact protection element 2 is constructed rotationally symmetrically and can thus be used for the male and female variant of a plug 1 or socket. The impact protection element 2 can be designed as a soft part, preferably the hardness is 75 Shore A, or as a hard part, with a preferred hardness of 80 Shore D, as an injection molded part made of a thermoplastic or elastomer. It is preferably pulled on from the rear second end E 2 via the grip body 13 in the direction of the union nut 3.The impact protection element 2 forms, by means of internal longitudinal triangular ribs 40 formed in the axial direction of the handle body 13, which ribs are preferably continuous, a crushing zone 45 between in each case two longitudinal triangular ribs 40. Damage to the plug 1, for example breakage of the contact carrier 7 between the union nut 3 and the handle body 13, is thereby prevented when a force effect of this order of magnitude is applied. In addition, the longitudinal triangular ribs 40 allow an penetrating medium to flow off via the crumple zone 45.The protection against tool-free dismantling of the impact protection element 2 is effected by means of a form fit on the handle body 13. At the rear second end E2 of the handle body 13, the rear part of the impact protection element 2 snaps in and prevents the impact protection element 2 from slipping off in the direction of the connecting cable 11. Since the handle body 13 tapers in diameter from the front first end E1 to the rear second end E2 and the impact protection element 2 likewise prevents the impact protection element 2 from slipping off in the direction of the contact carrier 7 or in the direction of the front first end E1.For the angled variant of the round plug connector 1 (male / female variant), an identical impact protection element 2 with the same functional principle, which is adapted to the angled handle body geometry, can be used.The union nut 3 is provided for all variants of the electric component. Round plug connector 1 (FIGS. 1-5 ) has inwardly projecting toothing (not shown). Two teeth of the toothing form intermediate spaces. The toothing interacts with a corresponding counter toothing (not shown) provided on the stop sleeve. The counter toothing is provided at the rear edge of a collar. The counter toothing has different steep flanks, so that different forces are necessary for closing or releasing a plug connection. The two parts thus form, by means of the corresponding securing means (toothing / counter-toothing), a sawtooth-shaped latching in the operating state, which prevents a simple release of the connection.In FIG. 2, the impact protection element 2 is formed from metal, in particular from stainless steel, for example as a deep-drawn part, with thin walls. It extends over the entire length of the round plug connector 1, i.e. as far as over the union nut 3. This ensures high impact protection, since in particular the sensitive region of the contact carrier 7 between the union nut 3 and the grip body 13 is also secured. Contrary to FIG. 1, the impact protection element 2 is rotatably mounted on the union nut 3 by the form fit. With a power wrench, the round plug connector 1 can be screwed onto or off the mating plug part as usual.Preferably, the impact protection element 2 has impact protection element indentations 41 at its rear second end E 2 in order to allow easier application to the handle body 13. In addition, medium penetrating through this can flow off. The impact protection element 2 is pushed from the rear second end E 2 over the grip body 13 and over the union nut 3 and tilts on the grip body engagement edge 42 and additionally on the union nut stop edge 43 (FIG. 1 ). An accidental detachment of the impact protection element 2 from the handle body 13 in the direction of the connecting cable 11 or in the direction of the contact carrier 7 is thereby prevented.The impact protection element 2 does not rest positively on the handle body 13 between the union nut 3 and the handle body engagement edge 42 and thereby forms a crumple zone.In addition, the impact protection element 2 has an axial play at the rear second end E 2, in the longitudinal direction of the handle body 13, in the region between the handle body engagement edge 42 and the impact protection element 2. likewise, the impact protection element 2 has an axial play at the upper first end E 1, in the longitudinal direction of the handle body 13, in the region between the union nut stop edge 43 (FIG. 1 ) and the handle body 13.In a shortened variant of the impact protection element 2 at the front first end E 1, this can also be used for the male variant of the round plug connector 1.In Fig. 3 a particular embodiment of the straight electric is shown. This is illustrated by round plug connector 1, which ensures particularly high impact protection. This fulfills an impact test according to the ATEX standard (IEC60079-0) of at least 7 joules. The union nut 3 is formed together with the impact protection element 2 as a one-piece impact protection cap nut 44. For this purpose, the impact protection cap nut 44 can be formed as a one-piece turned part or two-piece of turned part and welded-on deep-drawn part, for example of stainless steel.The impact protection cap nut 44 is mounted directly after the handle body injection molding and is rotatably held at the front first end E 1 on a corresponding metallic stop sleeve (not shown) which encloses a contact carrier 7 and tilts at the rear second end E 2 on the handle body engagement edge 42. At the same time, less material is thereby required for the impact protection cap nut 44.In addition, ribs (not shown) are attached to the handle body 13 in the longitudinal direction of the round plug connector 1, which ribs increase the connection to the contact carrier 7. Bores (not shown) in the impact protection cap nut 44 in the region of the handle body 13 allow an penetrating medium to flow off.In addition, the impact protection cap nut 44, at the rear second end E 2, has an axial clearance in the longitudinal direction of the handle body 13 in the region between the handle body engagement edge 42 and the impact protection cap nut 44.The impact protection cap nut 44 is additionally pressed on tightening via a jaw wrench at the rear end E 2 of the handle body 13 in the region of the handle body engagement edge 42. Thus, the opening torque is increased and toolless disassembly is prevented. If, in addition, the key surfaces on the impact protection cap nut 44 are reduced in size, disassembly without tools is additionally made more difficult.In a shortened and modified variant of the impact protection cap nut 44 as a threaded sleeve at its front first end E 1, this can also be used for the male variant of the round plug connector 1.FIG. 4 shows the electric component. Round plug-in connector from FIG. 1 from the front. The impact protection element 2 forms, by means of inner longitudinal triangular ribs 40 formed in the axial direction with respect to the handle body 13, which ribs are preferably continuous, a crumple zone 45 between in each case two longitudinal triangular ribs 40.FIG. 5 shows the section through the round plug connector according to FIG. 4 along the line A-A. The crushing zone 45 extends over the entire length of the impact protection element 2.FIG. 6 shows the section through the round plug connector according to FIG. 4 along the line B-B. The ribs 40 running longitudinally on the inner side, preferably designed as triangular ribs 40, run as far as the handle body engagement edge 42 and abut at least partially on the handle body 13.The function of the invention is explained again below. The invention provides an electrical round plug connector 1 for automation technology, in particular for supplying energy to automation devices, with impact protection 2, which is suitable overall for safety-critical applications, in particular by the design of the impact protection element 2 and preferably for straight plug variants. The impact protection element 2 is made of plastic which has longitudinally extending ribs 40 on its inner side. The interior space between the ribs 40 forms a crumple zone 45; it meets in particular the standard IEC 60079-0. Such a plug connection can be released only with one tool because of the securing means in the operating state. The round plug connector 1 is suitable for different industrial sectors (food, non-food), it satisfies the IP67 protection type, it is easily cleanable and in particular also suitable for high-pressure or steam cleaning methods. The handling is very comfortable for the user, since the impact protection element 2 surrounds the handle body 13 in a slender manner and is therefore space-saving. Damage due to transverse tensile forces on the connecting cable 11 is absorbed by the flexible grip body 13 and the impact protection element 2. The round plug connector 1 can also be produced in rapid series production.List of reference characters1 Electricity. Round plug connector with impact protection E1 First end E2 Second end 2 Impact protection element 3 Union nut 7 Contact carrier 9a-d Contact elements 11 Connecting cable 13 Handle body 40 Triangular longitudinal rib 41 Impact protection element indentations 42 Handle body engagement edge 43 Union nut stop edge 44 Impact protection cap nut 45 Crumple zone

Claims

Round electrical connector for automation technology, in particular for supplying power to automation devices, with impact protection (1), wherein the round electrical connector with impact protection (1) comprises: a contact carrier (7) with a plurality of contact elements (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d), a union nut (3), a stop sleeve which is provided on the contact carrier (7) and on which the union nut (3) is rotatably mounted, a connection cable (11), a handle body (13) which partially surrounds the contact carrier (7) at a first end (E1) and which positively surrounds a section of the connection cable (11) at a second end (E2), characterized in that a separate impact protection element (2) made of plastic is provided on the handle body (13), which has ribs (40) running longitudinally on its inner side, wherein the impact protection element (2) extends over the length of the grip body (13) or over the length of the grip body (13) and over the union nut (3), wherein the impact protection element (2) and the union nut (3) are integral.Round plug connector (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the round plug connector (1) is designed as a straight plug.

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