Device, arrangement and method for producing a plug connection

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for producing a plug connection between a number of contact carriers (2, 3) and at least a number of contact carrier counterparts (6, 7) of a mating component (5) corresponding to the number of contact carriers (2, 3). According to the invention, the device (1) has a connection arrangement (14) comprising - a first connection structure (14.1) in mechanical interaction with the number of contact carriers (2, 3) and - a second connection structure (14.2) formed in a complementary manner to the first connection structure (14.1) based on the number of contact carrier counterparts (6, 7) and / or the counterpart component (5), where - the connecting structures (14.1, 14.2) are formed to interlock in different locking positions relative to each other, - in a first detent position the number of contact carriers (2, 3) is fixed on the mating component (5) and contact carrier contacts (17) are spaced apart by the number of contact carriers (2, 3) from mating component contacts (18) by the number of contact carrier mating components (6, 7) and - in a second detent position the contact carrier contacts (17) are mechanically connected to the counterpart contacts (18). The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a plug connection.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for producing a plug connection according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a plug connection.

[0003] German patent application DE 10 2023 000 161 B3 describes a device for mounting multiple wiring harness components to a counterpart. At the counterpart, a predetermined mounting point is provided for each wiring harness component, to which the respective component is to be mounted. The device includes a mounting template which has a receiving recess for each wiring harness component for positive locking, force locking, and / or material locking of the respective component to the mounting template. The arrangement of the receiving recesses of the mounting template relative to each other corresponds to the arrangement of the mounting points at the counterpart relative to each other.The mounting template has a predetermined breaking point, which is designed and positioned on the mounting template such that the positive-locking, force-locking, and / or material-locking attachment of at least one of the wiring harness components to the mounting template can be destroyed by breaking or tearing the mounting template at the predetermined breaking point. Furthermore, a method for mounting several wiring harness components to a counterpart using the aforementioned device is described, wherein the wiring harness components are attached to the respective receiving form of the mounting template in a positive-locking, force-locking, and / or material-locking manner. The mounting template is positioned at the counterpart with the wiring harness components. The wiring harness components are mounted at the respective attachment point of the counterpart, whereby the mounting template is either removed or left in place at the counterpart.

[0004] The present invention is based on the objective of providing a novel device for producing a plug connection and a novel method for producing a plug connection.

[0005] The problem is solved according to the invention by a device which has the features specified in claim 1 and a method which has the features specified in claim 10.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] The device for producing a plug connection between a number of contact carriers and at least a number of contact carrier counterparts of a counter-component corresponding to the number of contact carriers is characterized according to the invention by a connection arrangement which has the following: - a first connection structure mechanically linked to the number of contact carriers and - a second connection structure, designed in a complementary manner to the first connection structure, based on the number of contact carrier counterparts and / or the counterpart component.

[0008] Included - the connecting structures are designed to interlock in different locking positions relative to each other, - In a first detent position, the number of contact carriers on the counterpart component is fixed, and contact carrier contacts are spaced apart from counterpart contacts by the number of contact carrier counterparts. - In a second detent position, the contact carrier contacts are mechanically connected to the counterpart contacts.

[0009] The device advantageously enables manual positioning of the number of contact carriers on the mating component and the locking of the connection structures in the first detent position. In this position, the number of contact carriers on the mating component is securely pre-fixed and can then be easily moved, particularly with the aid of at least one tool, into a position where the contact carrier contacts are mechanically connected to the mating component contacts and where the connection structures are locked in the second detent position. In other words, it allows for manual pre-positioning and pre-locking of the number of contact carriers on the mating component, followed by a move to the desired final position using at least one tool.This allows for the manual insertion of contact carriers, such as single or multiple connectors, into and / or onto mating components, such as control units, actuators, and / or sensors, until the first locking position is reached. Subsequently, particularly if a permissible insertion force for manual insertion is exceeded, the insertion process can be completed fully, safely, and conveniently with the aid of the tool.

[0010] In one possible embodiment of the device, the first connecting structure is an integral part of the number of contact carriers, thus enabling the aforementioned, at least two-stage locking mechanism without additional components and consequently with particularly low material, cost and installation space requirements.

[0011] In another possible embodiment of the device, the first connecting structure is arranged on an intermediate element, wherein - the intermediate element has a number of receiving shapes corresponding to the number of contact carriers, - the number of receiving recesses corresponds to the number of contact carrier counterparts positioned on the mating component and - in and / or on the number of receiving shapes the number of contact carriers is attached in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting and / or material-fitting manner.

[0012] Such an intermediate element with the first connection structure can be used as an adapter element and enables the device to be implemented even with contact carriers that lack a first connection structure. With a latching mechanism achieved using the intermediate element, locking mechanisms, in particular a so-called Connector Position Assurance (CPA), can be omitted for a number of contact carriers. Furthermore, such an intermediate element makes it possible to attach multiple contact carriers in and / or to several corresponding receiving recesses, allowing several contact carriers to be brought into contact with the mating component simultaneously. The intermediate element, with all the contact carriers attached to it, can then be latched onto the mating component in the first latching position.Subsequently, all contact carrier contacts can be simultaneously and reliably connected to their corresponding mating contacts by moving the intermediate element from the first to the second detent position. Furthermore, such an intermediate element also enables the formation of modular plug connections. For this purpose, unused receiving recesses can be sealed with a blanking plug, for example.

[0013] Furthermore, the intermediate element allows for the attachment of multiple contact carriers, enabling optimized organization and insertion of these components. The intermediate element acts as an assembly aid, facilitating the attachment of multiple identical or different contact carriers to the mating component within a specific geometric proximity. The intermediate element can be pre-loaded with the contact carriers, which are then positioned correctly relative to their counterparts on the intermediate element and moved to the mating component. By snapping the intermediate element into place on the mating component, the contact carriers are positioned correctly relative to their counterparts and then coupled to them.After the contact carriers are attached to the intermediate element, no further alignment relative to each other is required, which is particularly advantageous. This allows for decoupling and a reduction in assembly cycle time, as the contact carriers can be attached to the intermediate element beforehand, for example, during the production of a wiring harness, especially at a supplier's site or at a pre-workstation. This pre-fabrication reduces the assembly time, for example, on a vehicle. Mounting the contact carriers to the mating component is therefore significantly faster, as the intermediate element ensures that all attached contact carriers are positioned simultaneously and correctly on the mating component, allowing for quick and easy assembly. A further advantage of the intermediate element, and especially of pre-fabrication, is that...The advantage of attaching the contact carriers to the intermediate element during the manufacturing of a wiring harness is that it allows for the maintenance of order from this manufacturing process. This is because the contact carriers can be positioned in an orderly manner during the manufacturing process, and this order is maintained by their attachment to the intermediate element and is not lost during transport of the wiring harness. Thus, the intermediate element also enables the transfer of automated wiring harness manufacturing to assembly and / or supports the automated assembly of the wiring harness components to the mating component, since the intermediate element with the attached contact carriers can, for example, be grasped by a robot and moved towards the mating component.The mounting of the contact carriers onto the respective contact carrier counterpart can then be done manually until the first detent position is reached, and subsequently with the aid of at least one tool.

[0014] In another possible embodiment of the device, the intermediate element has a frame element in which the number of receiving recesses are formed and on which the first connecting structure is arranged. Such a frame element with the number of receiving recesses enables, on the one hand, easy handling and attachment of the contact carriers and, on the other hand, easy attachment to the mating component.

[0015] In another possible embodiment of the device, the number of receiving recesses has at least one through-hole in which at least one contact carrier can be arranged and attached in a form-fit, force-fit, and / or material-fit manner. Such through-holes enable simple and secure attachment of contact carriers designed as plugs and equally simple and secure contacting of these with the corresponding contact carriers.

[0016] In another possible embodiment of the device, the first connecting structure has a number of locking hooks, and the second connecting structure has, for each locking hook, a plurality of locking hook receptacles arranged one after the other in and / or on the mating component in the insertion direction of the number of contact carriers, wherein each locking hook is configured to engage in a respective locking hook receptacle. Alternatively or additionally, the second connecting structure has a number of locking hooks, and the first connecting structure has, for each locking hook, a plurality of locking hook receptacles arranged one after the other in and / or on the mating component in the insertion direction of the number of contact carriers, wherein each locking hook is configured to engage in a respective locking hook receptacle.This design of the connection structures, incorporating locking hooks and locking hook receptacles, enables a particularly simple and easy-to-use locking connection, especially one that is easy to lock and reopen. Such a locking connection is characterized by high mechanical stability and results in a high level of operational reliability for the resulting plug connection.

[0017] In another possible embodiment of the device, the plurality of latching hook receptacles arranged one behind the other in the insertion direction are designed as a plurality of teeth of a toothed connection, so that a plurality of latching positions, in particular more than two latching positions, can be realized. This enables an almost stepless reduction of the distance between the number of contact carriers and the contact carrier counter-elements, for example in the manner of a cable tie mechanism.

[0018] In another possible embodiment of the device, the number of contact carriers includes at least one contact carrier designed as a plug, and the number of contact carrier counterparts includes at least one contact carrier counterpart designed as a socket corresponding to the plug. Alternatively or additionally, the number of contact carrier counterparts includes at least one contact carrier counterpart designed as a plug, and the number of contact carriers includes at least one contact carrier designed as a socket corresponding to the plug.

[0019] In another possible embodiment of the device, it includes at least one tool designed to transfer the connection structures from the first detent position to the second detent position. Using such a tool, for example a robot with a suitable handle or a manually operated tool such as a lever or press tool, the contact carriers can be easily connected to their counterparts, even when high insertion forces are required to create the plug connection.

[0020] In another possible embodiment of the device, the counter-component - a control unit or - a component of a control unit or - an actuator or - a component of an actuator or - a sensor or - a component of a sensor.

[0021] The control unit, actuator, and / or sensor may be intended for use in a vehicle. Such vehicle components are often characterized by a high degree of complexity with regard to data and electrical connections, which can be established simply and reliably using this device.

[0022] In the inventive method for producing a plug connection between a number of contact carriers and at least a number of contact carrier counterparts of a mating component corresponding to the number of contact carriers, a device is used as described above. - the number of contact carriers with the first connection structure in mechanical interaction is directed towards the opposite component, - the number of contact carriers positioned relative to the counterpart component such that the first connection structure and the second connection structure are locked together in the first detent position, and - then, using at least one tool, the number of contact carriers is moved in the insertion direction relative to the counterpart component in such a way that the first connection structure and the second connection structure are locked together in the second detent position and the contact carrier contacts are mechanically connected to the counterpart contacts.

[0023] The procedure is particularly simple and reliable to execute and, due to the use of the device, leads in an analogous manner to the advantages already mentioned and achieved by the device.

[0024] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0025] This shows: Fig. 1 schematically a perspective view of a device for producing a plug connection in a first unplugged state, Fig. 2 schematically a perspective view of the device according to Fig. 1 in a second unplanted state, Fig. 3 schematically a perspective view of the device according to Fig. 1 in a stuck intermediate state, Fig. 4 schematically a sectional view of a section of the device according to Fig. 3 in the inserted intermediate state and Fig. 5 schematically a sectional view of the section of the device according to Fig. 4 in a plugged-in state.

[0026] Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures.

[0027] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a possible embodiment of a device 1 for producing a plug connection in a first unplugged state. Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the device 1 according to Fig. 1 in a second unplanted state.

[0028] The device 1 comprises several contact carriers 2, 3 designed as plugs, an intermediate element 4 and a counter-component 5.

[0029] The counterpart component 5 is, for example, a control unit, an actuator, or a sensor of a vehicle and is coupled to a data and / or electrical network of the vehicle (not shown) via contact carriers 2, 3. The contact carriers 2, 3 are coupled to the data network and / or the electrical network by means of lines 10, 11. For this coupling, the counterpart component 5 has several contact carrier counterparts 6 to 9. In the illustrated embodiment, however, only the contact carrier counterparts 6, 7 are provided for coupling with the contact carriers 2, 3. The contact carrier counterparts 6, 7 are each designed as a socket corresponding to the contact carriers 2, 3. The contact carrier counterparts 6 to 9 are surrounded at their edges by a cavity 5.1.

[0030] The intermediate element 4 has a frame element 4.1 in which a number of receiving forms 4.2 to 4.5 are formed. The receiving forms 4.2 to 4.5 are each designed as a through-hole, which is positioned in the frame element 4.1 corresponding to the contact carrier counterparts 6 to 9 of the mating component 5.

[0031] The feedthrough openings are designed such that a contact carrier 2, 3 can be arranged in and / or on each of them and attached in a positive-locking and / or force-locking and / or material-locking manner. Furthermore, the feedthrough openings are designed such that they can be closed with a closure element 12, 13, for example, a blanking plug. The closure elements 12 can also be arranged in and / or on the feedthrough openings and attached in a positive-locking and / or force-locking and / or material-locking manner. This allows the contact carrier counterparts 8, 9, which in the present embodiment are not to be coupled with contact carriers 2, 3, to be covered by the closure elements 12, 13 when the intermediate element 4 is coupled to the counterpart component 5.

[0032] A connection arrangement 14 is further formed on the frame element 4.1 and the opposing component 5, wherein the connection arrangement 14 comprises a first connection structure 14.1 arranged on the frame element 4.1 and a connection structure 14.1 formed on the opposing component 5 and in the Fig. 4 and Fig. The second connection structure 14.2, shown in more detail in Figure 5, is present. The connection structures 14.1 and 14.2 are complementary to each other and interlock.

[0033] In the illustrated embodiment, the first connection structure 14.1 has several locking hooks 15, and the second connection structure 14.2 has, for each locking hook 15, a plurality of locking hook receptacles 16 arranged one behind the other in the insertion direction of the contact carriers 2, 3 into the mating component 5, wherein each locking hook 15 is designed to engage in a respective locking hook receptacle 16. The locking hook receptacles 16 are located in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 shown in more detail.

[0034] To create a plug connection between the contact carriers 2, 3 and the contact carrier counterparts 6, 7, - as in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the contact carriers 2, 3 are first inserted into the receiving recesses 4.2, 4.3 and attached to them by means of a positive fit, a force fit, and / or a material fit. This attachment can be achieved, for example, by a snap-fit ​​and / or clamping mechanism. Furthermore, the receiving recesses 4.4, 4.5 are closed by means of the locking elements 12, 13, which are attached to them in and / or on the receiving recesses 4.4, 4.5 in a manner analogous to the contact carriers 2, 3.

[0035] The intermediate element 4 with the attached contact carriers 2, 3 and locking elements 12, 13 is then assembled as shown in the illustration in Fig. 2 brought closer to the opposite component 5.

[0036] Subsequently, the intermediate element 4 is positioned relative to the counterpart component 5 such that the contact carriers 2, 3 are correctly positioned above the contact carrier counterparts 6, 7 and the locking hooks 15 engage in a first locking position in the upper locking hook receptacles 16 of the counterpart component 5. This is in Fig. 3 in a perspective view of the device 1 and in Fig. 4 is shown in more detail in a sectional view of a section of the device 1.

[0037] The locking hooks 15 are inserted into the cavity 5.1 of the mating component 5 until they engage in the upper locking hook receptacles 16. In this first locking position, the contact carriers 2, 3 are fixed to the mating component 5 by means of the intermediate element 4, and the contact carrier contacts 17 of the contact carriers 2, 3 are correctly positioned above and spaced apart from the mating contacts 18 of the corresponding contact carrier counterparts 6, 7. The contact carrier contacts 17 are, for example, designed as knife and / or pin contacts and are arranged on a circuit board 19. The mating contacts 18 are designed corresponding to the contact carrier contacts 17, for example, as socket and / or terminal contacts.

[0038] In the first detent position, a pre-detent position is thus realized in which the intermediate element 4 with the contact carriers 2, 3 and locking elements 12, 13 attached to it is already securely held against the counter-component 5.

[0039] The intermediate element 4 with the attached contact carriers 2, 3 and locking elements 12, 13 can be moved manually into the first detent position.

[0040] After positioning the intermediate element 4 with the attached contact carriers 2, 3 and locking elements 12, 13 in the first detent position, a further movement in the direction of the contact carrier counterparts 6 to 9 is required to establish the plug connection between the contact carriers 2, 3 and the contact carrier counterparts 6, 7.

[0041] Due to the large number of contact carrier contacts 17 and the large number of corresponding mating contacts 18 into which the contact carrier contacts 17 are inserted to establish the connector, high insertion forces may be required to establish the connection between them. Alternatively or additionally, the high insertion forces may also result from the fact that special mechanical stability of the connector is required for vehicle applications, which increases the required insertion forces.

[0042] To mechanically connect the contact carrier contacts 17 and the mating contacts 18, the intermediate element 4 with the attached contact carriers 2, 3 and locking elements 12, 13 is then moved further towards the contact carrier matings 6 to 9 until the locking hooks 15 engage in a second locking position in the lower locking hook receptacles 16. This arrangement in the second locking position is described in Fig. Figure 5 shows a sectional view of the section of the device 1 according to Fig. Figure 4 shows the contact carrier contacts 17 in a plugged-in state. In the second detent position, the contact carrier contacts 17 are in a further intermediate position or an end position relative to the mating contacts 18.

[0043] The movement of the intermediate element 4 with the attached contact carriers 2, 3 and locking elements 12, 13 from the first locking position to the second locking position is carried out, for example, by means of at least one tool. Using such a tool, for example, a robot with a suitable handle or a manually operated tool, such as a lever or press tool, the contact carriers can be easily connected to their counterparts, even when high insertion forces are required to create the plug connection. Alternatively, the transition from the first locking position to the second locking position can be achieved by a screwing process. Reference symbol list 1 Device 2, 3 contact carriers 4 Intermediate element 4.1 Frame element 4.2 to 4.5 Recording shape 5 Counter-component 5.1 Cavity 6 to 9 contact carrier counterpart 10, 11 Management 12, 13 Locking element 14 Connection arrangement 14.1 Connection structure 14.2 Connection structure 15 locking hooks 16 Latch hook receptacles 17 Contact carrier contact 18 Counterpart contact 19 circuit boards QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2023 000 161 B3

[0003]

Claims

[1] Device (1) for producing a plug connection between a number of contact carriers (2, 3) and at least a number of contact carrier counterparts (6, 7) of a mating component (5) corresponding to the number of contact carriers (2, 3), characterized by a connection arrangement (14), comprising - a first connection structure (14.1) in mechanical interaction with the number of contact carriers (2, 3) and - a second connection structure (14.2) formed in a complementary manner to the first connection structure (14.1) based on the number of contact carrier counterparts (6, 7) and / or the counterpart component (5), wherein - the connecting structures (14.1, 14.2) are formed to interlock in different locking positions relative to each other, - in a first detent position the number of contact carriers (2, 3) is fixed on the mating component (5) and contact carrier contacts (17) are spaced apart by the number of contact carriers (2, 3) from mating component contacts (18) by the number of contact carrier mating components (6, 7) and - in a second detent position the contact carrier contacts (17) are mechanically connected to the counterpart contacts (18). [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the first connection structure (14.1) is an integral part of the number of contact carriers (2, 3). [3] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the first connecting structure (14.1) is arranged on an intermediate element (4), wherein - the intermediate element (4) has a number of receiving features (4.2, 4.3) corresponding to the number of contact carriers (2, 3), - the number of receiving features (4.2, 4.3) corresponding to the number of contact carrier counterparts (6, 7) is positioned on the counterpart component (5) and - in and / or on the number of receiving forms (4.2, 4.3) the number of contact carriers (2, 3) is attached in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting and / or material-fitting manner. [4] Device (1) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the intermediate element (4) has a frame element (4.1) in which the number of receiving forms (4.2, 4.3) are formed and on which the first connecting structure (14.1) is arranged. [5] Device (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by , that the number of receiving forms (4.2, 4.3) has at least one through-hole in which at least one contact carrier (2, 3) of the number of contact carriers (2, 3) can be arranged and fixed in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting and / or material-fitting manner. [6] Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - the first connection structure (14.1) has a number of locking hooks (15) and the second connection structure (14.2) has, for each locking hook (15) of the number of locking hooks (15), a plurality of locking hook receptacles (16) arranged one behind the other in the insertion direction of the number of contact carriers (2, 3) in and / or on the mating component (5), wherein each locking hook (15) is designed to engage in a respective locking hook receptacle (16), and / or - the second connection structure (14.2) has a number of locking hooks (15) and the first connection structure (14.1) has for each locking hook (15) of the number of locking hooks (15) a plurality of locking hook receptacles (16) arranged one behind the other in the insertion direction of the number of contact carriers (2, 3) in and / or on the mating component (5), wherein each locking hook (15) is designed to engage in a respective locking hook receptacle (16). [7] Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - the number of contact carriers (2, 3) includes at least one contact carrier (2, 3) designed as a plug and the number of contact carrier counterparts (6, 7) includes at least one contact carrier counterpart (6, 7) corresponding to the plug and designed as a socket and / or - the number of contact carrier counterparts (6, 7) includes at least one contact carrier counterpart (6, 7) designed as a plug and the number of contact carriers (2, 3) includes at least one contact carrier (2, 3) corresponding to the plug and designed as a socket. [8] Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one tool which is designed to transfer the connection structures (14.1, 14.2) from the first detent position to the second detent position. [9] Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the opposite component (5) - a control unit or - a component of a control unit or - an actuator or - a component of an actuator or - a sensor or - is a component of a sensor. [10] Method for producing a plug connection between a number of contact carriers (2, 3) and at least a number of contact carrier counterparts (6, 7) of a mating component (5) corresponding to the number of contact carriers (2, 3) by means of a device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the number of contact carriers (2, 3) with the first connection structure (14.1) which is in mechanical contact is directed in the direction of the opposite component (5), - the number of contact carriers (2, 3) is positioned relative to the counterpart component (5) such that the first connection structure (14.1) and the second connection structure (14.2) are locked together in the first detent position, and - then, using at least one tool, the number of contact carriers (2, 3) is moved in the insertion direction relative to the mating component (5) in such a way that the first connection structure (14.1) and the second connection structure (14.2) are locked together in the second detent position and the contact carrier contacts (17) are mechanically connected to the mating component contacts (18).

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