Connector module

Abstract

Electrical connector module (1) consisting of a housing (2) and at least one electrical contact element (3), wherein the housing (2) forms a plug-in side (21), a connection side (22) and two mounting sides (23), wherein the fastening sides (23) each have at least one fastening means, wherein the contact element (3) is received in the housing (2), and wherein the contact element (3) is accessible from the plug-in side (21) and the connection side (22), wherein the housing (2) is made of an electrically conductive material and is in electrically conductive contact with the contact element (3), wherein at least one of the fastening sides (23) has a fastening element of the first type (5) and a fastening element of the second type (7), wherein the fastening means of the first type (5) and the fastening means of the second type (7) are provided to be movable relative to each other on at least one fastening side (23), wherein the fastening means of the first type (5) is rigidly provided on the housing (2) and the fastening means of the second type (7) is movably provided on the housing (2) such that a component can be clamped between the fastening means of the first type (5) and the fastening means of the second type (7), the housing (2) is formed from at least two housing parts (24), wherein the contact element (3) is clamped between the housing parts (24).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connector module according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0002] These types of connector modules are needed to build modular connectors. Several identical or different connector modules are combined to form a single connector. This allows the connector to be assembled and configured with a high degree of flexibility.

[0003] Connector modules are either inserted directly into a connector housing or first inserted and secured in a modular frame. The modular frame, with the connector modules inside, is then mounted into the connector housing.

[0004] Connector modules for modular connectors are already known in a wide variety from the prior art. They vary in size, number of integrated contacts, contact dimensions, and contact type. Depending on the design of the connector module, it can be used for the transmission of, for example, digital, analog, electrical, pneumatic, optical, or hydraulic signals and currents. State of the art

[0005] German patent DE 296 01 998 U1 discloses a modular connector with a metallic mounting frame and several individual modules containing contact elements. The mounting frame has a ground connection on one side, which is connected to contact elements in the individual modules by means of a metallic, comb-like connecting bar. This enables an electrical connection between the ground contacts of the individual modules and the mounting frame.

[0006] From DE 10 2013 108 383 A1, an electrical connector module is known which is intended to be used alone or in combination with other connector modules to form a modular connector. Depending on the design, the electrical connector module can be inserted directly into a connector housing or mounted in a mounting frame along with other modules in a connector housing. The electrical connector module has an electrical contact element which is electrically connected inside the module to an electrical contact contained within it. The electrical contact element, which extends to the outside of the electrical connector module, also makes contact via a spring element with the mounting frame or the connector housing into which the electrical connector module is inserted.

[0007] From EP 0 860 906 B1, a mounting frame for holding connector modules and for installation in connector housings or for screwing onto wall surfaces is known, wherein the connector modules are inserted into the mounting frame and holding means on the connector modules interact with recesses provided in opposite wall parts (side parts) of the mounting frame. The recesses are designed as fully enclosed openings in the side parts of the mounting frame, and the mounting frame consists of two hinged halves.

[0008] A disadvantage of the solutions for modular connectors known from the state of the art is that contacting and transmitting an electrical ground is only possible to a limited extent in terms of cross-section.

[0009] Due to their design, the fixings provided on the mounting frames for a ground connection are usually only suitable for a conductor cross-section of up to 10 mm². 2 The design is square. The use of ground contact elements in connector modules is also regulated by the connection to the ground terminal on the mounting frame. A secure electrical connection of the ground contact to the mounting frame is not possible. Task

[0010] The object of the invention is to design a connector module in such a way that electrical contact between the electrical contact element and a mounting frame, into which the connector module is inserted, is ensured even with very large conductor cross-sections. The invention also aims to allow the use of known mounting frames that are not designed for such large conductor cross-sections.

[0011] The problem is solved by the characterizing features of independent claim 1.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0013] The invention relates to an electrical connector module for use in a metallic mounting frame. The connector module consists of a housing and at least one electrical contact element contained within the housing.

[0014] The housing comprises a plug-in side for connecting a complementary connector module, a connection side for connecting an electrical conductor to the contact element, and two mounting sides on which the connector module can be attached to the mounting frame. For this purpose, mounting elements are conveniently provided on the mounting sides, which interact with corresponding mounting elements on the mounting frame.

[0015] The electrical contact element is arranged in the housing such that one end of its terminal extends into the terminal side of the connector module and the other end into the plug side of the connector module. This allows for the connection of an electrical conductor to the terminal end of the electrical contact element on the terminal side of the connector module and for contacting a corresponding connector module via the plug side.

[0016] To ensure reliable electrical contact between the contact element and the mounting frame, the housing, according to the invention, is made of an electrically conductive material. Through direct contact between the contact element and the housing, the ground can thus be transferred via the housing to a mounting frame. In a preferred embodiment, the housing is made of metal.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the mounting sides of the housing is equipped with two types of fasteners: a first-type fastener and a second-type fastener. The first- and second-type fasteners are arranged in a spatially variable manner relative to each other.

[0018] This means that the first type of fastener is rigidly attached to the housing, while the second type of fastener is movable and can be fixed to the housing, for example, with a screw. This allows components to be clamped between the fasteners. The mounting frame, in which the connector module is inserted, can thus be mechanically secured between the first and second types of fasteners. This ensures reliable electrical contact.

[0019] In another preferred embodiment, the housing is two-part, consisting of two housing components. The two-part design of the housing allows for easier assembly of the contact element. Furthermore, a two-part housing enables the contact element to be clamped within the housing. This increases the contact reliability between the contact element and the housing compared to contact elements that are otherwise only snapped into place within the housing.

[0020] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the housing parts are hermaphroditic. This allows a housing to be advantageously assembled from two identical housing parts. This saves on storage and production costs.

[0021] To ensure particularly good electrical conductivity between the connector module and the mounting frame, another advantageous embodiment provides for all components of the connector module to be manufactured from a conductive material, preferably metal. The use of metallic connecting elements such as screws, rivets, or washers enables the highest possible electrical conductivity. Example of implementation

[0022] An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is explained in more detail below. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a connector module in frontal view, Fig. 2 a connector module in side view, Fig. 3 a connector module in top view, Fig. 4. A connector module in another view, Fig. 5 a connector module in spatial representation, and Fig. 6 two connector modules in a mounting frame.

[0023] The figures contain simplified, schematic representations. In some cases, identical reference symbols are used for elements that are the same but may not be identical. Different views of the same elements may be scaled differently.

[0024] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a front view of an electrical connector module 1 according to the invention. The connector module 1 is formed from a housing 2 and a contact element 3 received in the housing 2. The housing 2 has two housing parts 24, which are arranged one behind the other. The housing parts 24 are mechanically connected to each other by two screws 62, each screwed in from one side.

[0025] In the Fig. As shown above, connector module 1 forms a connection side 22. Opposite this, connector module 1 forms a plug-in side 21, shown below. The plug-in side 21 is designed for contact with a corresponding connector module. The contact element 3 projects into the plug-in side 21 and forms a plug end 31 there.

[0026] On the connection side 22, a cable to be connected can be inserted into the connector module 1 and connected to a connection end 32 of the electrical contact element 3 provided here.

[0027] Two mounting surfaces 23 are located on the sides of the connector module 1. These serve to secure the connector module 1 in a mounting frame 8. Two types of mounting means are provided on the mounting surfaces 23 for this purpose. Mounting means of the first type 5 are rigidly attached to the housing 2. In this embodiment, the mounting means of the first type 5 are integrally integrated into the housing parts 24.

[0028] Above this, second-type fasteners 7 are arranged, which are connected to the housing 2 by means of screws 61. Because the second-type fasteners 7 are movably attached to the connector module 1, while the first-type fasteners 5 are not, the first-type fasteners 5 and the second-type fasteners 7 can move relative to each other. This movement allows components to become jammed between the first- and second-type fasteners 5 / 7.

[0029] In the Fig. Figure 2 shows a connector module 1 in a side view, looking towards the mounting side 23. The two housing parts 24 that form the housing 2 are visible here. The mounting element of the first type 5 is also divided into two parts. Each half is integrally formed on one housing part 24.

[0030] The second type of fastener 7, however, is attached to only one housing part 24. For this purpose, a thread is provided in the housing part 24 into which the screw 61 is screwed, thus fixing the second type of fastener 7. To secure the second type of fastener 7 and the screw 61, a retaining ring is also provided between the screw head and the second type of fastener 7.

[0031] Fig. 3 and Fig. Figures 4 each show another view of a connector module 1, from a top view of the connection side 22 in Fig. 3 and with a view of the plug side 21 in Fig. 4. In this case, the Fig. 3 The contact element 3 is visible with a view to a connection area 32. This is accessible via the connection side 22 of the connector module 1 and can thus be connected to an electrical cable to be connected. In the Fig. 4 shows a plugging area 31 of the contact element 3, which is intended for electrical contacting of a corresponding connector module 1.

[0032] The connector module 1 from the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. 4 is in the Fig. 5 is still shown in a spatial view.

[0033] The Fig. Figure 6 shows two corresponding connector modules 1, 1' after the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. 5, each of which is housed in a mounting frame 8, 8'. The mounting frames 8, 8' and the connector modules 1, 1' are connected to each other.

[0034] The fasteners of the first type 5 of the connector modules 1 are clearly visible, engaging positively in recesses of the mounting frames 8, 8'. The fasteners of the second type 7 are also screwed to the connector modules 1, 1' and thus clamp a section of the mounting frames 8, 8' between the fasteners of the first and second types 5, 7. This ensures a secure mechanical fixation of the connector modules 1, 1' to the mounting frames 8, 8'. A secure and permanent electrical connection can thus be guaranteed.

Claims

[1] Electrical connector module (1) consisting of a housing (2) and at least one electrical contact element (3), wherein the housing (2) forms a plug-in side (21), a connection side (22) and two mounting sides (23), wherein the fastening sides (23) each have at least one fastening means, wherein the contact element (3) is received in the housing (2), and wherein the contact element (3) is accessible from the plug-in side (21) and the connection side (22), wherein the housing (2) is made of an electrically conductive material and is in electrically conductive contact with the contact element (3), wherein at least one of the fastening sides (23) has a fastening element of the first type (5) and a fastening element of the second type (7), wherein the fastening means of the first type (5) and the fastening means of the second type (7) are provided to be movable relative to each other on at least one fastening side (23), wherein the fastening means of the first type (5) is rigidly provided on the housing (2) and the fastening means of the second type (7) is movably provided on the housing (2) such that a component can be clamped between the fastening means of the first type (5) and the fastening means of the second type (7), the housing (2) is formed from at least two housing parts (24), wherein the contact element (3) is clamped between the housing parts (24). [2] Electrical connector module (1) according to claim 1 characterized by , that the second type of fastening device (7) can be fixed to the housing (2) by means of at least one screw (61). [3] Electrical connector module (1) according to claim 1 characterized by, that the two shell parts (24) forming the shell (2) are hermaphroditic. [4] Electrical connector module (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized by , that the housing (2) is made of metal. [5] Electrical connector module (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized by , that all parts of the electrical connector module (1) are electrically conductive. [6] Electrical connector module (1) according to claim 5 characterized by , that all parts of the electrical connector module (1) are made of metal.

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