Connector assembly, device and method for forming an electrically conductive connection

Abstract

Connector arrangement with - at least one pin-shaped plug-in element (20) which is electrically conductive at least in some areas, and - a plug receptacle (30) with at least one receiving hole with an electrically conductive contact area (36), wherein - the at least one plug-in member (20) can be inserted into the at least one receiving hole in an insertion direction to form an electrically conductive connection, - the at least one receiving hole is designed as at least one through-hole (34) with a first mouth opening (38) and an opposite second mouth opening (39), - the at least one pin-shaped plug-in member (20) can be inserted with a sliding fit in the manner of a displacement piston into the at least one through-hole (34) from the first orifice opening (38) as an inlet opening to the second orifice opening (39), - a length of the at least one pin-shaped plug-in member (20) corresponds to a length of the at least one through-hole (34) or is greater than the length of the at least one through-hole (34), - the at least one pin-shaped plug-in member (20) has an annular electrically conductive contact portion (26) in its central region and a non-conductive end portion (24) at its distal end, and the electrically conductive contact portion (36) is annular and arranged in a central region of the at least one through-hole (34), characterized by that an area at the first mouth opening (38) is designed as a sealing area (41) and an area at the second mouth opening (39) is designed as a sealing area (42), wherein a seal (18) of the plug receptacle (30) is arranged at least on the sealing region (41) on the first mouth opening (38), which seal is designed as an O-ring seal.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a plug arrangement with at least one pin-shaped plug element, which is at least partially electrically conductive, and a plug receptacle with at least one receiving hole with an electrically conductive contact area, wherein the at least one plug element can be inserted into the at least one receiving hole to form an electrically conductive connection, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The invention further relates to a device which can be used outdoors or underwater, in particular a work machine, with such a plug arrangement and to a method for forming an electrically conductive connection with such a plug arrangement.

[0003] Such connector arrangements have been known for a long time, for example, from US Pat. No. 3,277,424 A or US Pat. No. 3,368,181 A, and are used, for example, to connect electrical devices to the power supply or to create connections for data lines. Such data lines also require an electrically conductive contact for transmitting data pulses.

[0004] Plug assemblies with a cup-shaped plug receptacle with one or more receiving holes which are open on one side and closed on the other side, shown in the Fig. 1 to 4, are disclosed, for example, in US 4 299 431 A. The problem here is that dirt can be introduced into the receiving hole from the environment or through the pin-shaped plug-in element, particularly if the plug receptacle is used outdoors or in an environment where increased dirt can occur.

[0005] Dirt in the receiving hole can impair or even completely prevent the electrical connection between the plug element and the connector receptacle. Furthermore, a large accumulation of dirt in the receiving hole of the connector receptacle can lead to the plug element no longer being held, or at least not being held sufficiently, in the connector receptacle. This can impair or even prevent both the electrically conductive contact and the mechanical retention of the plug element in the connector receptacle.

[0006] It is known to provide covering devices, such as a cover flap, on the connector receptacle to prevent contamination. However, this makes establishing a plug connection more difficult. Furthermore, providing such a cover entails additional manufacturing effort and requires maintenance. Furthermore, there is still a risk of the cover being damaged or of dirt penetrating the connector receptacle when the plug element is inserted, even if the cover is open.

[0007] To expel dirt, US Pat. No. 3,277,424 A and US Pat. No. 3,832,674 A teach the provision of radial annular projections on the plug. When inserted underwater, for example, water can penetrate behind the plug into the gap between the plug and the plug receptacle due to a suction effect.

[0008] The invention is based on the object of specifying a plug arrangement, a device and a method for forming an electrically conductive connection, with which a reliable electrically conductive connection can be established in a simple and efficient manner even in heavily contaminated environments or in a liquid.

[0009] The object is achieved, on the one hand, by a plug-in arrangement having the features of claim 1, a device having the features of claim 6, and, on the other hand, by a method having the features of claim 7. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0010] The plug arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the at least one receiving hole in the plug receptacle is designed as a through hole with a first mouth opening and an opposite second mouth opening and that the at least one pin-shaped plug member can be inserted into the through hole with a sliding fit in the manner of a displacement piston.

[0011] A basic idea of ​​the invention is to design the plug receptacle with a through-hole that is open on both sides. The pin-shaped plug element is designed to match the receiving hole so that an outer side of the plug element makes contact with the wall of the surrounding receiving hole, at least in some areas, such that the plug element can be moved slidably within the receiving hole. In this way, the pin-shaped plug element, like a displacement piston, can expel dirt particles or even suspensions or liquids in the plug receptacle from the through-hole from the inlet opening to the opposite second outlet opening. In this way, a clean receiving hole and thus a reliable electrical connection are always ensured.

[0012] It is provided that the at least one pin-shaped plug-in element has an annular, electrically conductive contact section in its central region and a non-conductive end section at its distal end, and that the electrically conductive contact section is arranged in the associated through-hole in a ring-shaped manner and correspondingly in a central region of the through-hole. The plug-in element has a non-conductive end section at its distal, free end. This end section can be formed as a type of cap, for example from a plastic material or a ceramic material or another electrically non-conductive material, as can the rest of the base body of the plug-in element. The cap-like end section serves as a type of expulsion element for expelling dirt within the receiving hole from a first inlet opening to a second outlet opening of the through-hole.

[0013] In this way, a cleaning process takes place each time the plug element is inserted into the plug receptacle. To establish electrical contact, an annular, electrically conductive contact section is formed in a central region of the plug element and is connected to an internal supply line. Correspondingly, a corresponding annular, electrically conductive contact area is formed in a central region of the through-hole and is connected to a line. The leading, cap-shaped end section on the plug element cleans the central, electrically conductive contact area during the insertion process, so that particularly good electrical contact is always achieved between the contact section on the one hand and the contact area on the other.

[0014] In principle, the end section can be shaped as desired. According to one embodiment of the invention, it is particularly advantageous for the end section of the pin-shaped plug-in element to have a flat or convex end surface. The convex end surface can be conical, hemispherical, or dome-shaped. This facilitates insertion and insertion of the plug-in element into the plug receptacle.

[0015] According to the invention, particularly reliable removal of dirt particles within the connector receptacle is achieved by ensuring that the length of the pin-shaped plug element is approximately equal to or greater than the length of the through-hole. When the plug element is inserted, no hollow or free space remains in the connector receptacle in which dirt could accumulate. Rather, the necessary length of the pin-shaped plug element completely fills the through-hole, thus completely removing dirt particles. The plug element is preferably cylindrical, but can also have a polygonal shape.

[0016] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the invention, it is preferred that the sliding fit be designed as a slight press fit. This not only ensures particularly good cleaning of the plug receptacle during insertion, but a press fit also leads to a secure hold of the pin-shaped plug element in the plug receptacle.

[0017] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention consists in that the electrically conductive contact section and / or the electrically conductive contact region is displaceable transversely to the insertion direction and is in particular spring-mounted. The displaceability and also a spring-loaded preload can be designed such that the contact region and contact section are pressed against one another to thus form a secure electrical contact. With an annular design of the contact region or contact section, an eccentric bearing can be provided, wherein an arrangement concentric to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in member is adjusted when the plug-in element is inserted. Alternatively, the contact section or the contact region can also be formed from ring segments which protrude radially and are pressed back into their contact position when contact is made, preferably against a spring tension.

[0018] To ensure good electrical contact, an area at the first orifice and / or at the second orifice is designed as a sealing area on the through-hole. The sealing area can be formed, in particular, by a suitable material selection and fit, particularly at the inlet and outlet of the through-hole.

[0019] Accordingly, it is further advantageous for a region on the pin-shaped plug-in element, which, in the inserted state, is located near the first orifice and / or near the second orifice of the through-hole, to be formed as a sealing section. These sealing sections can also be formed as a sealing section by appropriately selecting the material and the fitting dimension. In particular, the sealing sections on the plug-in element can interact with the associated sealing sections on the through-hole, forming a contact joint so narrow that they are sealed against the ingress of particles, liquids, and / or gases.

[0020] It is particularly advantageous that a seal is provided in at least one sealing area of ​​the through-hole and / or at least one sealing section of the plug-in element. The seal can be an annular seal, in particular an O-ring seal. The seal can be made of a solid material, such as a metal, or a soft, elastic material, such as a rubber or a polymer material.

[0021] Furthermore, the invention also encompasses a device, in particular a work machine, which can be used outdoors or underwater, wherein at least one plug arrangement according to the invention is provided. The device can also be an electrical device, a computer, a mobile phone device, a measuring device, or another device with an electrical plug connection. In particular, the device is a work machine, in particular a construction machine, which is used outdoors or even underwater. In a work machine, in particular a construction machine, a connection can in particular be provided between a carrier device and an attachment element, which connection has a plug arrangement.

[0022] With regard to the method, the invention is characterized in that a plug assembly according to the invention is used, wherein, to form the electrical connection, at least one pin-shaped plug element is inserted with a sliding fit into the at least one through-hole at a first opening, wherein dirt or liquid in the through-hole is displaced by the plug element and pushed out of the through-hole via a second opening. The method according to the invention can be carried out in particular with one of the embodiment variants of the plug assembly described above. With the method according to the invention, the advantages described above can be achieved in an electrical plug connection.

[0023] The invention is further described below with reference to preferred embodiments which are schematically illustrated in the drawings.

[0024] The drawings show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a conventional connector; Fig. 2 a cross-sectional view of the connector of Fig. 1 before plugging in; Fig. 3 a cross-sectional view of the connector of Fig. 2 when plugging in; Fig. 4 a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 in the final plugged-in state; Fig. 5 a cross-sectional view of a plug-in arrangement according to the invention before insertion; Fig. 6 a cross-sectional view of the connector arrangement according to Fig. 5 when plugging in; and Fig. 7 a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 in the final plugged-in state.

[0025] In Fig. 1 shows a conventional connector assembly 10 with a pin-shaped connector 12, which has a cylindrical base 22 of larger diameter and a pin-shaped plug element 20 of smaller diameter. An annular electrically conductive contact section 26 is arranged in a central region of the plug element 20, which is connected on its inner side to a plug line 14 at the other end of the base 22.

[0026] A plug receptacle 30 is formed with a sleeve-shaped base body 32 to fit the plug 12. A through-hole 34 extends from an annular stop surface 33 on one end face of the plug receptacle 30 through the entire base body 32 of the plug receptacle 30. An outer diameter of the cylindrical plug member 20 is designed to match an inner diameter of the through-hole 34 in the plug receptacle 30, so that the plug member 20 can be slidably inserted into the through-hole 34 to establish a connection of a receiving line 15 to the plug receptacle 30.

[0027] To the connector arrangement 10 according to Fig. 1 the plugging process is shown schematically in the Fig. 2 to 4.

[0028] The plug 12 has a protruding pin body 23 on its base 22, wherein the base 22 and pin body 23 are made of the same, electrically non-conductive material and are in particular formed as a single piece. An elongated conductor body 29 made of an electrically conductive material, in particular a metal, is arranged within the base 22 and the pin body 23. The annular contact section 26, which is exposed on an outer side of the plug element 20, is formed on the inner conductor body 29. A cap-shaped end section 24 is formed from the electrically non-conductive material at the free end of the plug element 20. An end face 25 of the plug element 20 is dome-shaped and tapers towards the free end.

[0029] According to Fig. 2, the plug element 20 is inserted into a first opening 38 of the through-hole 34, which is formed approximately centrally in a sleeve-shaped base body 32 of the plug receptacle 30. An annular, electrically conductive contact region 36 of the plug receptacle 30 is formed along a central region of the through-hole 34. The electrically conductive contact region 36 is connected to a receiving line 15.

[0030] Fig. 3 shows the insertion process, wherein the pin-shaped plug-in member 20 of the plug 12 penetrates in a fitting and displacement-piston-like manner from the first mouth opening 38 into the through-hole 34 in the direction of the opposite second mouth opening 39 of the cylindrical through-hole 34.

[0031] Fig. Figure 4 shows the final state, with the electrically conductive contact portion 26 on the plug element 20 of the plug 12 in contact with the annular electrically conductive contact area 36 of the plug receptacle 30. In this way, an electrically conductive connection is formed between the plug line 14 and the receptacle line 15.

[0032] In the area of ​​the first mouth opening 38, an annular first sealing section 27 is formed on the plug-in member 20, and a corresponding first sealing region 41 is formed on the through-hole 34, so that these seal against one another in the inserted state and ensure protection against the ingress of dirt or liquid into the central region. Similarly, a second cylindrical sealing section 28 is formed on the opposite second mouth opening 39 on the plug-in member 20, and a matching second sealing region 42 is formed on the through-hole 34.

[0033] From the Fig. 5 to 7 illustrate a corresponding process for closing and forming a plug assembly 10 according to the invention. The plug 12 with the plug element 20 and the plug receptacle 30 are configured largely identically to the first embodiment, so that reference is made to the preceding embodiment for the corresponding configurations.

[0034] In contrast to the first embodiment, an end section 24 with a flat end face 25 is formed on the pin-shaped plug element 20. Furthermore, the axial length of the pin-shaped plug element 20 from the base 22 to the end face 25 at the end section 24 is equal to the axial length of the through-hole 34 in the plug receptacle 30. Furthermore, an annular seal 18 is arranged in a groove at the first sealing region 41 at the first mouth opening 38 of the plug receptacle 30 and at the second sealing region 42 at the second mouth opening 39.

[0035] According to the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the plug 12 is pushed into the plug receptacle 30 until an annular shoulder 21 at the transition between the base 22 and the pin-shaped plug element 20 rests against an annular stop surface 33 on the sleeve-shaped base body 32 of the plug receptacle 30. The seals 18 in the plug receptacle 30 come into the plugged-in final state according to Fig. 7, sealingly rests on a correspondingly designed first sealing section 27 and a second sealing section 28 against the pin-shaped plug element 20. Due to the coordinated length between the plug element 20 and the through-hole 34, this plug assembly 10 according to the invention no longer has any free space in which dirt can accumulate when plugged in.

Claims

[1] Connector arrangement with - at least one pin-shaped plug-in element (20) which is electrically conductive at least in some areas, and - a plug receptacle (30) with at least one receiving hole with an electrically conductive contact area (36), wherein - the at least one plug-in member (20) can be inserted into the at least one receiving hole in an insertion direction to form an electrically conductive connection, - the at least one receiving hole is designed as at least one through-hole (34) with a first mouth opening (38) and an opposite second mouth opening (39), - the at least one pin-shaped plug-in member (20) can be inserted with a sliding fit in the manner of a displacement piston into the at least one through-hole (34) from the first orifice opening (38) as an inlet opening to the second orifice opening (39), - a length of the at least one pin-shaped plug-in member (20) corresponds to a length of the at least one through-hole (34) or is greater than the length of the at least one through-hole (34), - the at least one pin-shaped plug-in member (20) has an annular electrically conductive contact portion (26) in its central region and a non-conductive end portion (24) at its distal end, and the electrically conductive contact portion (36) is annular and arranged in a central region of the at least one through-hole (34), characterized by , that an area at the first mouth opening (38) is designed as a sealing area (41) and an area at the second mouth opening (39) is designed as a sealing area (42), wherein a seal (18) of the plug receptacle (30) is arranged at least on the sealing region (41) on the first mouth opening (38), which seal is designed as an O-ring seal. [2] Plug arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the end portion (24) of the at least one pin-shaped plug-in member (20) has a flat or convex end face (25). [3] Plug arrangement according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that the electrically conductive contact section (26) and / or the electrically conductive contact region (36) is displaceable transversely to the insertion direction and in particular is resiliently mounted. [4] Plug arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat on the at least one pin-shaped plug-in member (20), a region which, in a state in which the at least one pin-shaped plug-in member (20) is inserted into the at least one through-hole (34), is located close to the first mouth opening (38) and / or the second mouth opening (39) of the at least one through-hole (34), is formed as a sealing section (27, 28). [5] Plug arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that a seal (18) is provided on the sealing area (42) arranged at the second mouth opening (39). [6] Device which can be used outdoors or underwater, in particular a working machine, characterized by that a plug arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5 is provided. [7] Method for forming an electrically conductive connection with a connector assembly (10), characterized bythat a plug arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5 is used, wherein to form the electrical connection the at least one pin-shaped plug member (20) is pushed into the at least one through-hole (34) with a sliding fit at the first mouth opening (38), wherein dirt or liquid in the at least one through-hole (34) is displaced by the at least one plug member (20) and pushed out of the at least one through-hole via the second mouth opening (39).

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