Connector part with strain relief

Abstract

Connector part (1) for plugging into a mating connector part (2), comprising a housing part (10) having a pluggable section (100) that can be plugged into the mating connector part (2), at least one electrical contact element (11) that can be connected to a conductor (14), a contact holder (12) with which the at least one electrical contact element (11) can be connected for placement on the pluggable section (100), and a housing cover (13) that can be connected to the housing part (10), characterized in that the contact holder (12) has a first clamping device (15) and the housing cover (13) has a second clamping device (16), wherein the first clamping device (15) and the second clamping device (16) are designed to receive the conductor (14) between them and clamp it between the contact holder (12) and the housing cover (13) in a position of the housing cover (13) connected to the housing part (10).wherein, before attaching the contact holder (12) and the housing cover (13) to each other, the conductor (14) can be inserted into a first clamping receptacle (150) of the first clamping device (15) of the contact holder (12), and by attaching the housing cover (13) the conductor (14) can be clamped between the clamping devices (15, 16) and thereby secured in a strain-relieved manner between the housing cover (13) and the contact holder (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connector part for plug-in connection with a mating connector part according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a connector part comprises a housing that has a pluggable section that can be connected to the mating connector part. The connector part also comprises at least one electrical contact element that can be connected to a conductor, a contact holder to which the at least one electrical contact element can be connected for positioning on the pluggable section, and a housing cover that can be connected to the housing part.

[0003] Such a connector component can be used, for example, in a charging system for an electric vehicle and can be designed as a so-called charging socket, which is permanently attached to a vehicle and into which a charging plug can be inserted to establish an electrical connection to a charging station. Alternatively, such a connector component can also implement a charging plug that can be inserted into a corresponding charging socket.

[0004] In such a connector, one or more electrical cables are connected to one or more electrical contact elements. The contact elements are arranged on the housing part in such a way that they extend into the area of ​​the mating section, thus enabling an electrical connection to be established with a mating connector part, particularly with mating contact elements arranged on it, when the connector is inserted.

[0005] Such a connector component requires strain relief for electrical conductors connected to contact elements to prevent the transmission of forces acting on the conductors to the contact elements. This strain relief requires securing the conductors connected to the contact elements to the housing component in such a way that forces acting, for example, on a cable bundling the conductors, are dissipated into the housing and do not act on the contact elements.

[0006] Ideally, strain relief should be integrated into components of the connector part in such a way that the strain relief does not increase the installation space requirement, requires no or only a few additional components if possible, and is also easy to handle so that the strain relief can be easily created when assembling the connector part.

[0007] Connector components, which may also include strain relief, are described, for example, in DE 10 2013 213 336 A1, DE 10 2011 004 834 A1 and DE 10 2010 049 032 B4.

[0008] KR 10 2018 0 123 993 A discloses a connector component comprising a housing cover, a housing base, and contact elements to which conductors are connected. The contact elements are inserted between the housing base and the housing cover. The contact elements are then inserted into the housing base, and the housing cover is subsequently connected to the housing base to cover it. In the assembled state, the rectangular section of the housing base rests on the crimp section of the contact elements, and the round sections of the housing base are in contact with the pins of the contact elements.

[0009] WO 2011 / 001748 A1 discloses a connector comprising a terminal connected to one end of an electrical cable and a housing that receives the terminal. The terminal includes an electrical connection section and a wire connection section, each electrically connected to a mating terminal and a core wire of the electrical cable. The wire connection section comprises a bottom wall on the surface of which the core wire of the electrical cable is positioned, and a pair of crimp pieces crimped to the core wire. The housing comprises a main body arranged to receive one end of the electrical cable and the terminal connected thereto, and a cover body attached to the main body such that the electrical cable is clamped between the cover body and the main body.

[0010] JP 2007-087681 A discloses a connector with a housing element for connection to a main body housing, which carries a terminal inside, and a cover housing attached to cover the terminal. A cable support element, projecting from the housing element for connection, has an upper projection on the side of the cover housing and a lower projection on the side of the main body housing and supports a cable. Either the upper projection element or the lower projection element has a convex portion, and the other portion has a concave portion that engages with the convex portion. An engagement surface on the side of a convex portion has a sloping surface shaped to be inclined in the direction in which the cable support element is positioned in a projecting position on the housing element for connection.

[0011] DE 202 18 228 U1 discloses an angular rotary encoder with strain relief in the cover, comprising a housing into which a cable is inserted through an opening, wherein a strain relief for securing the cable is arranged in the area of ​​the opening, which is formed on the one hand by surfaces of the cover and on the other by surfaces of the housing, between which a crimp sleeve firmly connected to the cable is frictionally clamped, wherein a cable receptacle open at least in the direction of the cover is arranged in the interior for receiving the crimp sleeve, and that a crimp cam projecting on the inside of the cover frictionally clamps the crimp sleeve when the cover is screwed onto the interior of the housing with at least one screw.

[0012] From EP 1 052 742 A1, plug sockets are known which have a spring-loaded contact in the slot for guiding the bayonet pins, which simultaneously serves as a contact and retaining spring. The electrical socket consists of a body made of insulating plastic material with a cavity for receiving the lamp clamp. The clamp comprises a contact pad and two lateral pins. The socket has an electrical contact in its base that interacts with the contact field of the lamp, as well as a lateral contact that interacts with the side wall of the lamp clamp. The lateral contact is located in one of the two grooves that receive the lateral pins of the lamp sleeve. The lateral contact includes a free end that acts against the side of the clamp and serves as a hook to hold the light bulb, which is inserted by axial force.

[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide a strain relief for a cable connected to a contact element in a connector part, which is structurally simple and easy to handle.

[0014] This problem is solved by an object having the features of claim 1.

[0015] Accordingly, the contact holder has a first clamping device and the housing cover a second clamping device, wherein the first clamping device and the second clamping device are designed to receive the conductor between them in a position of the housing cover connected to the housing part and to clamp it between the contact holder and the housing cover, wherein, before the contact holder and the housing cover are attached to each other, the conductor can be inserted into a first clamping receptacle of the first clamping device of the contact holder, and by attaching the housing cover, the conductor can be clamped between the clamping devices and thus secured in a strain-relieved manner between the housing cover and the contact holder.

[0016] The connector incorporates strain relief through clamping devices integrated into the contact holder and the housing cover. The contact holder has a first clamping device that interacts with a second clamping device on the housing cover in such a way that, when the housing cover is connected to the connector, a cable held between the clamping devices is secured and thus strain-relieved. By being held between the clamping devices of the contact holder and the housing cover, the cable is clamped to both the contact holder and the housing cover, preventing forces acting on the cable from being transmitted to a contact element located on the contact holder to which the cable is connected.

[0017] To create strain relief, it is advantageously necessary to attach the housing cover to the contact holder so that a cable is clamped between the clamping devices on the side of the contact holder and the housing cover. The contact holder can already be attached to the housing part, so that strain relief is achieved by clamping the cable between the clamping devices when the housing cover is attached to the housing part. Alternatively, the contact holder can first be connected to the housing part, so that strain relief is achieved by clamping the cable between the clamping devices of the contact holder and the housing cover. The assembly thus created can then be attached to the housing part and connected to it.

[0018] The fact that strain relief can be achieved by attaching the housing cover to the contact holder allows for simple, strain-relieved cable securing between the housing cover and the contact holder, and thus relative to the housing component. This strain relief can be implemented with minimal design effort by using integral clamping devices on both the contact holder and the housing cover. These devices can, for example, be molded as a single piece with the contact holder and the housing cover, thus not significantly increasing manufacturing costs.

[0019] In one embodiment, the housing part has a housing section that defines a receiving space. The contact holder can be inserted into the receiving space to position the at least one electrical contact element on the plug-in section, so that the at least one electrical contact element is located within the area of ​​the plug-in section of the housing part. Several contact elements can be connected to each other via the contact holder to form a pre-assembled module, in order to attach and connect the pre-assembled module to the housing part. In the assembled position, the contact elements extend into the area of ​​the plug-in section of the housing part, so that by plugging them in with a corresponding mating connector part, the contact elements on the plug-in section of the connector part can be electrically connected to corresponding mating contact elements of the mating connector part.

[0020] In one embodiment, the housing cover, when connected to the housing part, closes the receiving space to the outside. Thus, when the housing cover is attached to the housing part, the contact holder is received and enclosed within the receiving space, with contact elements arranged on the contact holder extending into the area of ​​the plug-in section of the connector part and being positioned and mechanically locked onto the housing part via the contact holder.

[0021] In one embodiment, the first clamping device of the contact holder has at least one clamping receptacle, for example, in the form of a recess. Additionally or alternatively, the second clamping device of the housing cover can have at least one second clamping receptacle, for example, in the form of a recess. A conductor can be clamped between the clamping receptacles of the clamping devices, thus creating a positive, clamping connection between the conductor and the contact holder as well as the housing cover for strain relief purposes.

[0022] For example, each clamping device can have multiple clamping receptacles, whereby, in a position where the contact holder and the housing cover are joined, each clamping receptacle of the first clamping device is opposite a corresponding clamping receptacle of the housing cover. A conductor can thus be clamped between each pair of clamping receptacles, in order to secure the conductor between the contact holder and the housing cover when the two are joined. The clamping receptacles are, for example, arranged in a row along a transverse direction and offset from each other along this transverse direction, so that several conductors can be clamped side by side.

[0023] In one embodiment, the first clamping device has at least one first section adjacent to a first clamping receptacle, while the second clamping device has at least one second section adjacent to a second clamping receptacle. The clamping sections form stops that limit the maximum approach path of the housing cover relative to the contact holder. In a position where the clamping devices of the contact holder and the housing cover are maximally close to each other, the clamping sections are in contact with one another. The clamping effected by the clamping devices in this position can be designed such that a conductor held between the clamping devices is not excessively pinched.

[0024] In one embodiment, the housing cover has at least one locking device for snap-fit ​​connection to the housing part. The housing cover can thus be positively locked to the housing part by placing the housing cover against the housing part and engaging its locking devices, for example in the form of locking projections on locking arms, with corresponding locking devices on the housing part, thereby positively locking the housing cover to the housing part.

[0025] In one embodiment, the second clamping device of the housing cover is formed on an inner side of the housing cover and creates a clamping contour for clamping one or more conductors between the housing cover and the contact holder. When the housing cover is connected to the housing part, the inner side faces the contact holder, and the clamping device, which, for example, forms one or more clamping recesses for receiving one or more conductors, projects from the inner side as a raised section. When the housing cover is attached to the contact holder, the clamping device of the housing cover is opposite the clamping device of the contact holder, so that one or more conductors can be received between the clamping devices.

[0026] In one embodiment, the housing cover has a cable outlet through which at least one conductor can be routed. The cable outlet can, for example, take the form of a spigot with a bore through which a cable containing multiple conductors can be passed. The direction of the cable exit, determined by the cable outlet, can differ from the mounting direction in which the housing cover is to be attached to the housing part and may, for example, be perpendicular to the mounting direction.

[0027] In one embodiment, the contact holder and the housing cover are first connected to each other before the resulting assembly is attached to the housing part and connected to it. When the contact holder and the housing cover are attached, strain relief is already provided for the wires connected to the contact elements. This is achieved by clamping the wires between the clamping devices of the contact holder and the housing cover, thus securing them between the contact holder and the housing cover and relieving strain.

[0028] The contact holder and the housing cover can each have one or more fastening points, for example in the form of screw holes, through which the contact holder and the housing cover can be connected to each other. For example, a force-fit connection can be established between the contact holder and the housing cover via these fastening points, for example by using fasteners in the form of screws. This makes it possible to fix the contact holder and the housing cover to each other in such a way that a sufficient, but not excessive, clamping force is provided between the clamping devices to secure conductors between the contact holder and the housing cover.

[0029] After connecting the contact holder to the housing part, the assembly thus created can be attached to the housing part, whereby the contact holder is inserted, for example, into the receiving space formed on the housing part and the contact elements connected to the contact holder are positioned towards the plug-in section of the connector part.

[0030] A connector of the described type can, for example, be part of a charging system for an electric vehicle. Such a connector can, for instance, function as a charging socket (also called a charging port) on the electric vehicle side, into which a charging plug on a charging cable can be inserted. Alternatively, the connector can also function as a charging plug itself.

[0031] The underlying concept of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 A view of an embodiment of a connector part, in a perspective exploded view; Fig. 2 another perspective exploded view of the arrangement according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a side view of the connector part in the mounted position; Fig. 4 a top view of the connector part; Fig. 5 a partially enlarged representation of the arrangement according to Fig. 1; Fig. 6 a front view of the connector part; Fig. 7 a sectional view along line AA according to Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 a sectional view along line BB according to Fig. 6.

[0032] A in Fig. The embodiment of a connector part 1 shown in Figures 1 to 8 has a housing part 10 which forms a plug-in section 100 in the form of a plug-in opening into which a mating connector part 2 (see Figure 1) can be inserted. Fig. 3) can be inserted into a plug-in section 200 formed on a housing part 20 in the form of a plug along a plug-in direction E to establish a connection between the connector part 1 and the mating connector part 2.

[0033] Connector part 1 is a socket, for example, for a charging socket for mounting on an electric vehicle, into which a mating connector part 2 in the form of a plug can be inserted. Within the insertion opening formed by the plug section 100, plug domes 101 are formed in which contact elements 11 are located when connector part 1 is mounted, so that an electrical connection can be established via the contact elements 11 with corresponding mating contact elements of the mating connector part 2.

[0034] The connector part 1 has a contact holder 12 in the form of a plate-shaped element, which serves to combine the contact elements 11 into a pre-assembled unit to be arranged on the housing part 10. The contact elements 11 can be positioned together on the housing part 10 via the contact holder 12 by inserting the contact holder 12 into a receiving space 103 of the housing part 10, formed by a rear housing section 102, such that the contact elements 11 are guided through openings 104 in a base of the receiving space 103 and thus come to rest in the plug-in domes 101 in the area of ​​the plug-in opening formed by the plug-in section 100, as can be seen, for example, in the sectional view according to [reference]. Fig. 7 is evident.

[0035] The contact holder 12 shows, as can be seen from the enlarged view according to Fig. As can be seen in Figure 5, the holders 120 are in the form of recesses into which the contact elements 11 are inserted. In the illustrated embodiment, each contact element 11 has a contact section 110 projecting forward from the contact holder 12 towards the plug-in domes 101. This contact section 110 is in the form of a contact socket for plug-in connection with a mating contact element of the mating connector part 2. It has a central section 112 adjoining the contact section 110 and a connecting section 111 adjoining the contact section 110 for connecting to a line 14 associated with the respective contact element 11. The contact element 11 is inserted into an associated holder 120 of the contact holder 12 by means of the central section 112 and is thereby secured to the contact holder 12.With the connection section 111, the contact element 11 protrudes from the contact holder 12 on a side facing away from the contact section 110 and is connected to the associated line 14 via the connection section 111.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving chamber 103 of the housing part 10 is closed by a housing cover 13, so that the contact holder 12 is enclosed in the receiving chamber 103. The housing cover 13 has locking devices 130 in the form of locking arms with forming locking projections, which can be engaged with associated locking devices 105 on the outside of the housing section 102 in order to create a snap-fit, positive-locking connection between the housing cover 13 and the housing part 10.

[0037] As from Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the housing cover 13 has fastening points 133 through which fastening elements 17 in the form of screws can engage to connect to fastening points 121 of the contact holder 12 in order to forcefully secure the housing cover 13 to the contact holder 12 by means of screw connections.

[0038] For assembly in the illustrated embodiment, the contact holder 12 is first fitted with contact elements 11, to which conductors 14 are connected, by inserting the contact elements 11 into corresponding holders 120 on the contact holder 12. The housing cover 13 is then connected to the contact holder 12, so that the assembly thus created can be attached to the housing part 10 to position the contact elements 11 relative to the housing part 10. Assembly is carried out along an assembly direction M (see figure). Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) along which the housing cover 13 and the contact holder 12 are placed next to each other and the assembly thus created is connected to the housing part 10.

[0039] The housing cover 13 has a cable outlet 131 through which the conductors 14 connected to the contact elements 11, which are, for example, bundled together in a cable, can be routed to lead the conductors 14 away from the connector part 1. The cable outlet 131 defines a cable exit direction that is at least approximately perpendicular to the mounting direction M and the insertion direction E.

[0040] On an inner side 132 facing the contact holder 12, as can be seen in particular from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the housing cover 13 has a clamping device 16 which has a series of clamping receptacles 160 in the form of recesses similar to notches, offset from one another along a perpendicular to the mounting direction M, for receiving conductors 14 connected to the contact elements 11. In addition, the contact holder 12 has, as can be seen in particular from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 5, a clamping device 15 in the form of a raised bridge with clamping receptacles 150 in the form of recesses in the form of notches for interaction with the clamping device 16 of the housing cover 13.

[0041] As shown in the sectional view according to Fig. As can be seen in Figure 8, the clamping receptacles 160 of the clamping device 16 of the housing cover 13 are in a position in which the housing cover 13 is connected to the contact holder 12, opposite the clamping receptacles 150 of the clamping devices 15 of the contact holder 12, so that the conductors 14 connected to the contact elements 11 are received in the clamping receptacles 150, 160 and thereby clamped between the clamping devices 15, 16. The conductors 14 are thus secured between the housing cover 13 and the contact holder 12 in a strain-relieved manner, so that forces acting on the conductors 14 can be dissipated into the housing cover 13 and from there into the housing part 10 and do not lead to a load on the contact elements 11.

[0042] Each clamping receptacle 150, 160 of each clamping device 15, 16 is bordered by one or two system sections 151, 161, against which the associated clamping receptacle 150, 160 is recessed. When the housing cover 13 and the contact holder 12 are maximally close to each other, as can be seen from the sectional view according to Fig. As can be seen in Figure 8, the system sections 151 and 161 are in alignment with each other, so that the housing cover 13 and the contact holder 12 cannot be brought any closer together.

[0043] When the housing cover 13 is connected to the contact holder 12 via the screw connections made by the fastening elements 17, the clamping devices 15, 16 come into an opposing position, so that the conductors 14 held between the clamping devices 15, 16 are clamped between the housing cover 13 and the contact holder 12 and thus secured in a strain-relieved manner. The fastening elements 17 can be tightened until sufficient clamping is achieved, whereby the clamping is limited by the contact sections 151, 161 and thus excessive crushing of the conductors 14 is avoided.

[0044] The strain relief via the clamping devices 15, 16 is automatically established when the contact holder 12 and the housing cover 13 are joined, without requiring any further assembly steps. Before joining the contact holder 12 and the housing cover 13, the conductors 14 must be inserted into the clamping receptacles 150 of the clamping device 15 of the contact holder 12. When the housing cover 13 is attached, the conductors 14 are automatically clamped between the clamping devices 15, 16 and thus secured in a strain-relieved manner between the housing cover 13 and the contact holder 12.

[0045] The assembly formed from the housing cover 13 and the contact holder 12 is attached to the housing part 10 with the strain relief already in place. When the contact holder 12 is attached to the housing part 10 together with the housing cover 13, the contact elements 11 are fastened to the contact holder 12, and the conductors 14 are clamped between the clamping devices 15, 16 and thus secured in a strain-relieved manner between the contact holder 12 and the housing cover 13.

[0046] The underlying idea of ​​the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can also be realized in other ways.

[0047] Strain relief of the type described can be implemented on a connector component in the form of a charging socket or a charging plug. However, such strain relief can also be used on a completely different connector component.

[0048] The contact holder can be attached to the housing part as a separate component. However, it is also conceivable and possible to integrate the contact holder into the housing part, so that the contact holder becomes part of the housing part. In this case, the strain relief is created when the housing cover is attached to the housing part. Reference symbol list 1 connector part 10 Housing part 100 plug-in section (plug opening) 101 plug-in domes 102 Housing section 103 Recording Room 104 Opening 105 Locking device 11 Contact element 110 Contact section 111 Connection section 112 Middle section 12 contact holders 120 bracket 121 Mounting point (screw opening) 13 Housing covers 130 resting device 131 Cable outlet 132 Inside 133 Mounting point (screw opening) 14 Electrical wiring 15, 16 clamping device 150, 160 clamping mount 151, 161 Annex section 17 Fastening element 2 mating connector part 20 Housing part 200 plug sections (plugs) E Plug direction M Mounting direction

Claims

[1] Connector part (1) for plugging into a mating connector part (2), with a housing part (10) having a pluggable plugging section (100) to the mating connector part (2), at least one electrical contact element (11) connectable to a conductor (14), a contact holder (12) to which the at least one electrical contact element (11) can be connected for placement on the plugging section (100), and a housing cover (13) connectable to the housing part (10), characterized by, that the contact holder (12) has a first clamping device (15) and the housing cover (13) has a second clamping device (16), wherein the first clamping device (15) and the second clamping device (16) are designed to accommodate the conductor (14) between them in a position of the housing cover (13) connected to the housing part (10) and to clamp it between the contact holder (12) and the housing cover (13), wherein, before the contact holder (12) and the housing cover (13) are joined together, the conductor (14) can be inserted into a first clamping receptacle (150) of the first clamping device (15) of the contact holder (12), and by attaching the housing cover (13), the conductor (14) can be clamped between the clamping devices (15, 16) and thereby secured in a strain-relieved manner between the housing cover (13) and the contact holder (12). [2] Connector part (1) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the housing part (10) has a housing section (102) which defines a receiving space (103), wherein the contact holder (12) can be inserted into the receiving space (103) for arranging the at least one electrical contact element (11) on the plug-in section (100). [3] Connector part (1) according to claim 2, characterized by , that the contact holder (12) together with the at least one electrical contact element (11) can be inserted into the receiving space (103). [4] Connector part (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the housing cover (13) in the position connected to the housing part (10) closes the receiving space (103) to the outside. [5] Connector part (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the first clamping device (15) has at least one first clamping receptacle (150), including the first clamping receptacle (150) of the first clamping device (15), for receiving the line (14). [6] Connector part (1) according to claim 5, characterized by , that at least one first clamping receptacle (150) is shaped as a recess. [7] Connector part (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the second clamping device (16) has at least one second clamping receptacle (160) for receiving the line (14). [8] Connector part (1) according to claim 7, characterized by , that at least one second clamping receptacle (160) is shaped as a recess. [9] Connector part (1) according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein claim 7 relates to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized by, that the first clamping device (15) has at least one first system section (151) adjacent to the at least one first clamping receptacle (150) and the second clamping device (16) has at least one second system section (161) adjacent to the at least one second clamping receptacle (160), wherein in the position of the housing cover (13) connected to the housing part (10) the at least one first system section (151) and the at least one second system section (161) are close to each other. [10] Connector part (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the housing cover (13) has at least one locking device (130) for locking connection to the housing part (10). [11] Connector part (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the second clamping device (16) is formed on an inner side (132) of the housing cover (13) which, in the position of the housing cover (13) connected to the housing part (10), faces the contact holder (12). [12] Connector part (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the housing cover (13) has a cable outlet (131) through which the cable (14) can be passed. [13] Connector part (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the contact holder (12) has at least one first fastening point (121) and the housing cover (13) has at least one second fastening point (133), wherein the at least one first fastening point (121) and the at least one second fastening point (133) can be connected to each other by means of a fastening element (17) in a force-fit manner.

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