Movable connector housing, housing arrangement, contact arrangement and plug connection

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) comprising a first and a second housing section (2a, 2b), with a receptacle (4) extending from a first access opening (6a) to a second access opening (6b), in which at least one busbar (8, 8a, 8b) and / or contact structure (66) can be received, at least partially, wherein the first access opening (6a) is arranged in the first housing section (2a) and the second access opening (6b) is arranged in the second housing section (2b), wherein the first housing section (2a) is movable relative to the second housing section (2b). Such a connector housing is suitable for tolerance-compensating connectors.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector housing, a housing arrangement with such connector housings, and a contact arrangement with such a contact arrangement. The invention further relates to a plug connection with such a contact arrangement.

[0002] Electrical connectors often contain electrical conductors, such as busbars, which are electrically connected via a contact structure. Particularly in applications where the busbars are subject to movement, for example due to vibrations or changes in position, the contact structure must sometimes compensate for large tolerances between the busbars. Furthermore, connectors typically require a housing to protect the live components. This housing must not obstruct the tolerance-compensating movements of the contact structure and the busbars.

[0003] The present invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a tolerance-compensating electrical connector or its parts.

[0004] This task is solved by a connector housing, with a first and a second housing section, with a receptacle extending from a first access opening to a second access opening, in which at least a busbar and / or contact structure can be received at least partially, wherein the first access opening is located in the first housing section and the second access opening is located in the second housing section, wherein the first housing section is movable relative to the second housing section.

[0005] The first and second housing sections of the connector housing are movable relative to each other. This means that an element connected to or located within the first housing section is also movable relative to an element connected to or located within the second housing section. The connector housing is therefore suitable for accommodating elements that are movable relative to each other while compensating for tolerances. For example, one element could be a busbar and the other a contact structure.

[0006] The mobility of the housing sections of the connector housing allows for tolerance-compensating movements of the elements relative to each other.

[0007] The above invention can be further improved by the following features, each of which is advantageous in itself and can be combined with each other as desired.

[0008] The first housing section can be movable translationally and / or rotationally relative to the second housing section. In particular, the first housing section can be movable translationally, and especially displaceable, relative to the second housing section along a first axis, second axis, and / or third axis. The first, second, and third axes can each extend perpendicular to one another. Alternatively or cumulatively, the first housing section can be rotatable, and especially pivotable, relative to the second housing section about the first, second, and / or third axis.

[0009] In one embodiment, translational and rotational relative mobility can be coupled between the first and second housing sections.

[0010] The first and second housing sections can form a joint, for example a hinge or ball joint. For this purpose, the first and second housing sections can each have at least one joint section, in particular a joint surface, wherein the joint sections or joint surfaces are designed to be complementary to each other.

[0011] To ensure mobility with minimal wear, the first and second housing sections can together form a bearing, for example, a rolling bearing or a plain bearing. For this purpose, the first and second housing sections can each have complementary bearing sections, such as bearing surfaces.

[0012] The connector housing can be accessed via the first and / or second access opening for the busbar and / or for the contact structure.

[0013] To securely and releasably connect the first and second housing sections, the connector housing can have a positive locking arrangement by which the first and second housing sections can be positively connected to each other. The first and second housing sections can each have at least one positive locking element, wherein the at least one positive locking element of the first housing section can be connected to the at least one positive locking element of the second housing section.

[0014] At least one positive locking element can be designed as a latching device by which the first housing section can be latched to the second housing section. Preferably, the latching mechanism is releasable and re-attachable.

[0015] The first housing section can have at least one detent projection, and the second housing section can have at least one recess complementary to the detent projection, wherein the at least one detent projection can be positively connected to the at least one recess. For example, a detent hook can be provided as the detent projection, and a groove as the recess.

[0016] To make the connector housing flexible and thus particularly suitable for tolerance-compensating contact structures, the connector housing can have at least one section made of a material that is more flexible than the material of the rest of the connector housing. In other words, the connector housing can be made of a flexible material in sections. A rubber material, for example, could be used as a flexible material.

[0017] In one embodiment, the first and / or second housing section can each be made entirely of a flexible material, or the first and / or second housing section can only have a section made of a flexible material.

[0018] To fix the position of the connector housing, at least relative to a busbar, the first housing section can be designed to be fixed to a busbar. Alternatively or cumulatively, the housing section can be designed to be fixed to the contact structure. A fixed connection can be understood to mean that – in a state connected to the busbar and / or contact structure – at least the section of the connector housing connected to the busbar and / or contact structure is immovably connected to it, in particular rigidly and / or in a way that transmits movement.

[0019] The connector housing can have a collar designed to surround the busbar, at least partially, and / or to be connected to the busbar by frictional, material, and / or form-fitting means. The collar can, in particular, firmly grip the busbar.

[0020] To prevent incorrect insertion and thus damage to the connector housing, the connector housing can have at least one alignment element arranged at the second access opening, which projects away from the receptacle. The alignment element can be configured to align the connector housing relative to another connector housing. The at least one alignment element can be configured to engage with at least one alignment element of the other connector housing that is configured complementarily to this at least one alignment element.

[0021] The at least one alignment element can, in a simple embodiment, have the form of a fin, a rib, or a plate. Similarly, the at least one alignment element can have a guide groove or a guide slot that is designed to be complementary to the fin, rib, or plate. The at least one alignment element can have a guide funnel that opens into the guide groove or guide slot. The funnel can have at least one leading edge.

[0022] To make the connector housing touch-proof, at least on the second housing section, and inaccessible, especially to human fingers or test fingers, the second housing section can have an electrically non-conductive touch protection profile that divides the second access opening into a plurality of adjacent slots. The slots can together form the second access opening.

[0023] The contact protection profile is designed so that the recess is inaccessible to a human finger and to a UL or VDE test finger through the slots, but accessible to the contacts of the contact structure. This prevents contact with live components held in the recess by human fingers or the aforementioned test fingers, while the busbar can be electrically contacted via the contacts of the contact structure.

[0024] In a structurally simple and robust design, the touch protection profile can have a plurality of touch protection ribs arranged next to each other, with one of the slots being formed between adjacent touch protection ribs.

[0025] Preferably, the contact protection ribs and / or the slots are arranged parallel to each other and, in particular, equidistantly. The contact protection ribs and / or the slots can be arranged in a comb-like pattern.

[0026] The center planes spanned by the contact protection ribs can be arranged orthogonally to a center plane spanned by the receptacle. The center plane of the receptacle can run parallel to flat sides of the receptacle and / or along a longitudinal axis of the receptacle.

[0027] The width of the slots can be approximately 2 mm, for example, and the width of the protective ribs approximately 1 mm. The width of the slots or the protective ribs can be measured along a stacking direction in which the slots and / or the protective ribs are arranged parallel to each other. This stacking direction can, for example, extend along the first axis.

[0028] The height of the slots and / or the touch protection ribs can correspond to a height specified by the UL or VDE test finger. In other embodiments, the height of the slots and / or the touch protection ribs can exceed the height specified by the UL or VDE test finger by approximately 2 mm. For example, the height of the touch protection ribs can be between approximately 5 mm and approximately 9 mm. The height can be measured perpendicular to the center plane of the connector housing receptacle.

[0029] To simplify the insertion of the connector housing into other components, such as another connector housing, the touch protection profile can have at least one insertion ramp pointing away from the receptacle. Preferably, the connector housing has two insertion ramps that taper towards the center plane of the receptacle.

[0030] At least one, but preferably all, of the contact protection ribs can taper away from the receiving area according to one embodiment. For this purpose, the at least one tapered contact protection rib can have at least one, preferably two or more, pointed chamfers on at least one side facing away from the receiving area.

[0031] At least one of the entry chamfers of the contact protection profile can be formed by chamfers on the contact protection ribs. The chamfers of the contact protection ribs can lie in a common plane and, in particular, be identically shaped.

[0032] The at least one alignment element can project further away from the receiving area than the contact protection ribs. At least one section of the at least one alignment element can be formed by or terminate in one of the contact protection ribs. The at least one alignment element can correspond to a contact protection rib in an embodiment that has no chamfer.

[0033] To prevent a human finger from entering the receptacle through the second access opening, a plurality of inwardly projecting protective ridges can be arranged at least at the second access opening. Preferably, the protective ridges are arranged parallel, and in particular equidistantly.

[0034] The contact protection strips can form or surround a busbar opening through which a busbar can protrude. Gaps formed between two adjacent contact protection strips can lead into the receptacle.

[0035] The touch protection strips are designed in such a way that the intake through the second access opening is inaccessible to a human finger as well as to UL and / or VDE test fingers.

[0036] In one embodiment, a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface of the connector housing can each have a series of touch protection ridges. Preferably, each touch protection ridge on the top surface is opposite a touch protection ridge on the bottom surface. The number of touch protection ridges on the top surface can correspond to the number of touch protection ridges on the bottom surface. Opposing touch protection ridges on the top and bottom surfaces can be aligned.

[0037] Protective contact strips arranged on the top side can project towards the underside, and vice versa. Preferably, the protective contact strips on the top and / or bottom side are of the same length or project inwards to the same extent.

[0038] To simplify the insertion of other components into the connector housing, the touch protection ribs can taper away from the first access opening on their sides facing away from it. Each touch protection rib can have at least one chamfer that points away from the first access opening, particularly in its normal direction. Preferably, each touch protection rib has at least two chamfers that taper to a point away from the first access opening.

[0039] To prevent the insertion of other components into the connector housing from being blocked by the contact structure, the connector housing can, according to a further embodiment, have positioning elements arranged parallel to each other, which are designed to align the contacts of the contact structure relative to the touch protection ridges. Alternatively or cumulatively, the positioning elements can be designed to align the busbar relative to the touch protection ridges.

[0040] The positioning elements can be designed to align the contacts of the contact structure at a predetermined distance. The positioning elements can be arranged in parallel, in particular equidistantly.

[0041] A division of the contact protection bars, by which adjacent contact protection bars are spaced apart from each other, can correspond to a division of the positioning elements, by which adjacent positioning elements are spaced apart from each other.

[0042] The positioning elements can align the contacts of the contact structure so that they overlap with the contact protection ridges, particularly along a longitudinal direction of the connector housing receptacle, and in particular, are completely aligned. The positioning elements can extend along the longitudinal direction of the receptacle and / or a longitudinal direction of the first housing section and / or a longitudinal direction of the second housing section.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the positioning elements can be arranged on the second housing section.

[0044] The positioning elements can taper along their sides facing the second access opening in a direction from the first to the second access opening. The positioning elements can have at least one, but preferably two, chamfers converging towards each other. In these embodiments, inserting the positioning elements between the contacts of the contact structure, or vice versa, is simplified, in particular by preventing the positioning elements from interlocking with the contacts.

[0045] The problem is further solved by a housing arrangement with a first connector housing according to the invention and a second connector housing according to the invention which can be plugged together with the first connector housing, wherein the touch protection ribs of the second connector housing can be inserted at least partially into the slots of the touch protection profile of the first connector housing.

[0046] The housing arrangement is suitable for tolerance-compensating connectors, since the first and second connector housings each have movable housing sections and the first connector housing is also movable relative to the second connector housing, in particular pivotable.

[0047] In this configuration, the first connector housing can have the touch protection profile, while the second connector housing can be provided with the touch protection ribs.

[0048] Preferably, exactly one touch protection rib of the second connector housing is received, at least partially, in each slot of the touch protection profile of the first connector housing.

[0049] In one embodiment, the contact protection profile can have multiple contact protection ribs arranged side by side, and the contact protection ribs of the contact protection profile can be arranged in a meshing pattern with the contact protection webs. The contact protection ribs and contact protection webs can always be arranged alternately side by side.

[0050] The problem is further solved by a touch-protected contact arrangement with a housing arrangement according to the invention, and with a contact structure at least partially integrated into the receptacle of the second connector housing, which is pluggable onto a first and a second busbar and is movable relative to the first and / or second busbar and is designed to electrically connect the first and second busbar. The contact structure is designed to compensate for positional tolerances between the first and second busbars. The housing arrangement, through the mobility of the housing sections of both connector housings relative to each other and through the relative mobility of the two connector housings relative to each other, is suitable for allowing the compensation of positional tolerances. At the same time, contact between the current-carrying components arranged in the housing arrangement and human fingers is prevented.

[0051] The contact structure can have at least one contact, but preferably several contacts.

[0052] There are virtually no limits to the design of the contact structure. For example, the contacts can be designed as cables, contact bridges, or terminals. Furthermore, the contact structure can include at least one electrical connector that can be connected to the first and / or second busbar.

[0053] Further examples of possible contact structures are disclosed in German patent application DE 10 2024 136 289.8.

[0054] The problem is further solved by a touch-protected plug connection with a contact arrangement according to the invention, with the first busbar, which is inserted at least partially in the receptacle of the first connector housing, with the second busbar, which is inserted at least partially in the receptacle of the second connector housing, wherein the contact structure is plugged onto the first and second busbars and electrically connects them, wherein the touch protection ribs of the second connector housing are arranged at least partially in the slots of the touch protection profile of the first connector housing, and wherein at least one contact of the contact structure electrically contacts the first busbar through the slots of the touch protection profile.

[0055] The connector is capable of compensating for tolerances between the first and second busbars. The movement of the connector housings relative to each other, as well as the movement of the housing sections within each connector housing relative to each other, allows the housing arrangement to accommodate these tolerance-compensating movements.

[0056] To define the position of the busbars, at least relative to the respective first housing section, and to securely attach the busbars to the respective connector housing, the first housing section of the first connector housing can be fixed to the first busbar and / or the first housing section of the second connector housing can be fixed to the second busbar. The first housing sections can be fixed to their respective busbars in a way that is either immovable or rigid. The fixing can be achieved by positive locking, for example with snap-fit ​​elements, and / or force locking, for example by crimping, and / or by material locking, for example by gluing or welding.

[0057] Preferably, only the second housing section of the first connector housing is movable relative to the first busbar and / or only the second housing section of the second connector housing is movable relative to the second busbar.

[0058] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying figures. Individual features present in the following exemplary embodiment may be omitted if, according to the embodiments described above, the technical effect associated with that feature is not important. Conversely, a feature described above but not present in a subsequent exemplary embodiment may be added to the exemplary embodiment if the technical effect associated with that feature is important for a particular application.

[0059] In the following, the same reference symbols are used for elements that correspond to each other in terms of structure and / or function.

[0060] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a connector housing according to a possible embodiment; Fig. 2 a schematic sectional view of the connector housing made of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a schematic sectional view of a connector housing according to another possible embodiment; Fig. 4 a schematic perspective view of a connector housing according to another possible embodiment; Fig. 5 a schematic perspective representation of a plug connection according to a possible embodiment; Fig. 6 a schematic sectional view of the plug connection made of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 a schematic perspective representation of the plug connection made of Fig. 6, without the second housing section of the second connector housing.

[0061] The following describes a connector housing according to one possible design with reference to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 described purely as examples.

[0062] The connector housing 1 has a first housing section 2a and a second housing section 2b. As shown in Fig. As can be clearly seen in Figure 2, the connector housing 1 includes a receptacle 4 that extends from a first access opening 6a to a second access opening 6b. The first access opening 6a is located in the first housing section 2a, and the second access opening 6b is located in the second housing section 2b. In the illustrated embodiment, a busbar 8 is inserted into the connector housing 1. The busbar 8 is received in the receptacle 4 of the connector housing 1 and can protrude from the connector housing 1 at the first access opening 6a.

[0063] The first housing section 2a is movable relative to the second housing section 2b. In the illustrated embodiment, the first housing section 2a, 2b is displaceable relative to the second housing section 2a, 2b along a first axis 10a. In other embodiments, the first housing section 2a can be displaceable relative to the second housing section 2b alternatively or cumulatively along a second axis 10b and / or a third axis 10c, wherein the first, second, and third axes 10a, 10b, 10c are each oriented perpendicular to one another. In yet other embodiments, the first housing section 2a can be rotated, in particular pivoted, about the first axis 10a and / or the second axis 10b and / or the third axis 10c relative to the second housing section 2b alternatively or cumulatively.

[0064] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the displacement of the first housing section 2a relative to the second housing section 2b along the first axis 10a can be achieved by a positive locking arrangement 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the positive locking arrangement 12 can comprise positive locking elements 14, wherein at least one of these positive locking elements 14 can be arranged on each of the first and second housing sections 2a and 2b. Fig. 1 and Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the positive locking element 14 of the first housing section 2a can be configured as a projection 16, and the positive locking element 14 on the second housing section 2b as a groove 18 complementary to the projection 16. The positive locking arrangement 12 connects the first housing section 2a to the second housing section 2b. Of course, the positive locking arrangement 12 can also be configured differently, for example, so that at least one of the positive locking elements 14 is configured as a latching element.

[0065] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the first housing section 2a can be fixed to the busbar 8. Fixing can be understood to mean that the first housing section 2a is rigidly connected to the busbar 8 and is not movable relative to the busbar 8. The fixing of the first housing section 2a to the busbar 8 can be achieved by positive locking, friction locking, material locking, or by a combination of at least two of the aforementioned connection types. Since in the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the first housing section 2a is fixedly connected to the busbar 8, but is slidably mounted to the second housing section 2b, allowing the second housing section 2b to be aligned relative to the busbar 8.

[0066] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the second housing section 2b can have an electrically non-conductive touch protection profile 20 that divides the second access opening 6b into a plurality of adjacent slots 22. In this embodiment, the second access opening 6b can therefore be formed by or correspond to the plurality of slots 22. The touch protection profile 20 can have a plurality of adjacent touch protection ribs 24, with one of the slots 22 being formed between each adjacent touch protection rib 24. The touch protection ribs 24 are arranged so close together, or the slots 22 are so narrow, that human fingers cannot penetrate the receptacle 4 or come into contact with the busbar 8 inserted in the receptacle 4 or other current-carrying components.

[0067] The contact protection ribs 24 can, as in the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the embodiment shown in section 2, the objects are arranged parallel to each other and, in particular, equidistant from each other. As can be seen from the schematic sectional view in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3 of a touch protection profile 20 according to a further embodiment, the touch protection ribs 24 can each have a height 26 that is measured orthogonally to a center plane 28 of the receptacle 4 of the connector housing 1. The height 26 of the touch protection ribs 24 can, for example, be between approximately 5 mm and approximately 9 mm. As can be seen from Fig. As can be further seen in Figure 3, the contact protection ribs 24 can each have a width 30, which can be measured along the center plane 28 of the receptacle 4 and perpendicular to a longitudinal direction 32 of the receptacle 4. The width 30 of the contact protection ribs 24 can, for example, be approximately 1 mm. A width 34 of the slots 22, which can also be measured along the center plane 28 of the receptacle 4 and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 32 of the receptacle 4, can, for example, be approximately 2 mm. In addition, a width 36 of the receptacle 4 can be larger than a width 38 of the busbar 8 in order to allow the second housing section 2a to move relative to the busbar 4 along the first axis 10a.

[0068] Out of Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 further shows that the connector housing 1 can have at least one insertion ramp 40 pointing away from the receptacle 4. In the present embodiment, the connector housing 1 can be provided with two insertion ramps 40, which can converge at an angle. The insertion ramps 40 can be formed by chamfers 42 of the individual contact protection ribs 24, which converge towards each other. The individual chamfers 42 do not necessarily have to be additionally provided with chamfers 44 pointing away from the receptacle 4.

[0069] The connector housing 1 can further comprise at least one alignment element 46, which can be arranged at the second access opening 6b and can project outwards in the direction of the receptacle 4. In the illustrated embodiment, two alignment elements 46 are provided, each of which can be formed by or terminate in one of the contact protection ribs 24. The alignment elements 46 can be arranged in the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the alignment elements 46 correspond in particular to a contact protection rib 24 which is not provided with a chamfer 42. Of course, in other embodiments, the alignment elements 46 can also be arranged at other locations of the second housing section 2b, and in particular not on a contact protection rib 24.

[0070] The alignment elements 46 of the connector housing 1 can be configured to align the connector housing 1 relative to another connector housing 1. The other connector housing 1 can also have at least one alignment element 46, which can be configured to be complementary to the alignment elements 46 of the connector housing 1. The other connector housing 1 can be configured as shown in Fig. 4 is shown, for example, in insertion slots 48, which have insertion funnels 50 opening into which the alignment elements 46, designed as fins 52, of the in Fig. 1 and Fig. The connector housing shown in section 2 can engage. Naturally, there are virtually no limits to the design of the alignment elements 46.

[0071] Fig. Figure 4 shows a connector housing 1 according to a further advantageous embodiment. The connector housing 1 has the first housing section 2a with the first access opening 6a and the second housing section 2b with the second access opening 6b, wherein the receptacle 4 extends between the first and second access openings 6a, 6b. The first housing section 6a is movable relative to the second housing section 6b. In the illustrated embodiment, the first housing section 6a can be rotatable or pivotable relative to the second housing section 6b, in particular about the first axis 10a. Of course, as already explained above, the first housing section 2a, 2b can be displaceable and / or rotatable, in particular pivotable, relative to the second housing section 2a, 2b along the first and / or second and / or third axis 10a, 10b, 10c.Of course, combinations of translational and rotational mobility of the first relative to the second housing section 2a, 2b can also be realized.

[0072] Even the one in Fig. The connector housing 1 shown in Figure 4 can have a positive locking arrangement 12 by which the first and second housing sections 2a, 2b can be positively connected or – here – joined. The positive locking connection can preferably be detachable and reattached. The positive locking arrangement 12 can have a positive locking element 14 arranged on the second housing section 2b, which is here designed purely by way of example as a projection 54, and a positive locking element 14 arranged on the first housing section 2a, which is here designed by way of example as a recess 56. The projection 54 can be provided with a chamfer 58 to simplify the placement or plugging of the first housing section 2a onto the second housing section 2b. Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the first housing section 2a can be fixed to the busbar 8. The first housing section 2a can, in particular, have a collar 60 that surrounds the busbar 8, especially gripping it tightly.

[0073] The connector housing 1 can have at least one section 62 whose material is more flexible than the material of the rest of the connector housing 1. In the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the entire first housing section 2a can be made of such a flexible material or correspond to section 62 made of the flexible material. In this way, the mobility of the first housing section 2a relative to the second housing section 2b can be further increased. Of course, in other embodiments, the second housing section 2b can alternatively or cumulatively have a section 62 made of a flexible material or correspond completely to this section 62. Likewise, only a section of the first housing section 2a and / or only a section of the second housing section 2b can be made of a flexible material. Suitable flexible materials include, in particular, elastic materials such as rubber.

[0074] As from Fig. As can be further seen in Figure 4, a plurality of inwardly projecting contact protection ribs 64 can be arranged at the second access opening 6b of the second housing section 2b, which prevent the penetration of human fingers or other objects into the receptacle 4. In particular, it can be prevented that human fingers come into contact with a contact structure 66 or busbar 8 received in the receptacle 4.

[0075] In the present embodiment, a series of touch protection ribs 64 are arranged, purely by way of example, on a top surface 68a and on a bottom surface 68b of the second housing section 2b. The touch protection ribs 64 on the top surface 68a can project towards the touch protection ribs 64 on the bottom surface 68b, while the touch protection ribs 64 on the bottom surface 68b can project towards the touch protection ribs 64 on the top surface 68a. The touch protection ribs 64 on the top surface 68a do not have to be, as in the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the contact protection ribs 64 are located opposite one of the contact protection ribs 64 on the underside 68b, and in particular, are not aligned with it. For example, the contact protection ribs 64 on the underside 68b and the top side 68a can be offset along a stacking direction 70, along which the contact protection ribs 64 can lie next to each other.

[0076] The contact protection ribs 64 can taper on their sides 72 facing away from the first access opening 6a in a direction away from the first access opening 6a. The contact protection ribs 64 can be provided with at least one chamfer 74, but preferably with several chamfers 74. The tapered contact protection ribs 64, or those provided with chamfers 74, can facilitate the insertion of other elements into the connector housing 1. As shown in Fig. As can be seen in section 5, such an element can, for example, be attached to another connector housing 1, in particular the one in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 connector housings shown correspond to 1.

[0077] The following is a purely exemplary example of a touch-proof connector 76 with reference to the Fig. 5, Fig. 6 to Fig. 7 described.

[0078] The connector 76 can have a housing arrangement 78 with a first connector housing 1, 1a and a second connector housing 1, 1b. The first connector housing 1, 1a can, for example, be the one described in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 connector housings 1 shown, the second connector housing 1, 1b the one in Fig. The 4 connector housings shown correspond to 1. Of course, the first and / or second connector housing 1, 1a, 1b can alternatively correspond to other configurations of connector housing 1. In the Fig. 5, Fig. 6 to Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the first and second connector housings 1, 1a, 1b are plugged together, and the touch protection ribs 64 of the second connector housing 1, 1b are each inserted, at least partially, into one of the slots 22 of the touch protection profile 20 of the first connector housing 1, 1a. Thus, both the receptacle 4 of the second housing section 2b of the second connector housing 1, 1b and the receptacle 4 of the second housing section 2b of the first connector housing 1a are protected against the ingress of a human finger from outside the housing assembly 78.

[0079] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 6, the connector 76 can have a touch-protected contact arrangement 80 with the housing arrangement 78. The contact arrangement 80 can have a contact structure 66 that is at least partially incorporated in the receptacle 4 of the second connector housing 1, 1b, which is shown in the Fig. 6 and Fig. The embodiment shown in Figure 7 is purely exemplary and features a plurality of contacts 82 arranged parallel to one another. The contacts 82 can, for example, be designed as flat contact bridges. In the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the contacts 82 of the contact structure 66 can be plugged onto a first busbar 8a, which is inserted at least partially into the receptacle 4 of the first connector housing 1, 1a, and onto a second busbar 8b, which is inserted at least partially into the receptacle 4 of the second connector housing 1, 1b. In this way, the contact structure 66 can electrically connect the first and second busbars 8, 8a, 8b to each other.

[0080] The contact structure 66 can be movable relative to the first and / or second busbar 8, 8a, 8b in order to compensate for tolerances or relative movements between the first and second busbar 8, 8a, 8b. For example, the contact structure 66 can compensate for translational relative movements along the first and / or second and / or third axis 10a, 10b, 10c. Likewise, rotational movements about the first and / or second and / or third axis 10a, 10b, 10c of the first and / or second busbar 8, 8a, 8b can be compensated by the contact structure 66.

[0081] The design of the contact structure 66 is by no means fixed to the one in Fig. 6 and Fig. Figure 7 illustrates the configuration of the contact structure 66. In principle, any contact structure 66 is conceivable that electrically connects the first and second busbars 8, 8a, 8b and is movable relative to the first and / or second busbars 8, 8a, 8b. For example, in other configurations, the contacts 82 of the contact structure 66 can be designed as cables with terminals that can be connected to the first or second busbar. In yet other configurations, the contacts 82 can be designed as tabs, terminals, or electrical connectors. Of course, in some configurations, the contact structure 80 can also have only a single contact 82.

[0082] At the in Fig. 5, Fig. 6 to Fig. In the connector 76 shown, the touch protection ribs 64 of the second connector housing 1, 1b can be arranged, at least partially, in the slots 22 of the touch protection profile 20 of the first connector housing 1, 1a. The contacts 82 of the contact structure 66 can be, as shown in Fig. As is particularly evident in section 6, the first busbar 8, 8a is contacted through the slots 22 of the touch protection profile 20 of the first connector housing 1, 1a. Fig. As can be seen in Figure 7, each contact 82 is preferably arranged in a slot 22 of the touch protection profile 20, so that the contacts 82 and the touch protection ribs 24 of the touch protection profile 20 are always arranged alternately next to each other. The contacts 82 and touch protection ribs 24 can, in particular, interlock with each other. In other embodiments, it is of course also conceivable that two or more contacts 82 of the contact structure 66 are arranged in each slot 22 and that the first contact bridge 8, 8a makes contact through this slot 22. However, it is also possible that some slots 22 do not accommodate any contact 82 at all.

[0083] To align the contacts 82 of the contact structure 66 relative to the contact protection ridges 64, the second connector housing 1, 1b can have positioning elements 84, which are preferably arranged parallel to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the positioning elements 84 can be located on the first housing section 2a of the second connector housing 1, 1b. As shown in Fig. As can be clearly seen in Figure 7, the positioning elements 84 can align the contacts such that, when the first busbar 8, 8a, equipped with the first connector housing 1, 1a, is inserted, each touch protection rib 24 of the touch protection profile 20 can engage in the contact structure 66, in particular between adjacent contacts 82 of the contact structure 66. Similarly, each contact 82 of the contact structure 66 can engage in a slot 22 of the touch protection profile 20 and make contact with the first busbar 8, 8a through this slot. A division 86 of the positioning elements 84, by which adjacent positioning elements 84 are spaced apart from one another, can preferably correspond to a division 88 (see Figure 7). Fig. 4) the contact protection bars 64, by which adjacent contact protection bars 64 are spaced apart from each other.

[0084] Since the first housing section 2a, 2b of the first connector housing 1, 1a is movable relative to the second housing section 2a, 2b, the first busbar 8, 8a can still be moved relative to the second busbar 8, 8b even when the touch protection profile 20 is inserted into the receptacle 4 of the second connector housing 1, 1b. Reference sign 1 connector housing 1a first connector housing 1b second connector housing 2a first housing section 2b second housing section 4 recording 6a first access opening 6b second access opening 8 busbar 8a first busbar 8b second busbar 10a first axis 10b second axis 10c third axis 12 Positive locking arrangement 14 Positive locking element 16 lead 18 Nut 20 Touch protection profile 22 slots 24 contact protection ribs 26 Height of a contact protection rib 28 Center plane of the recording 30 Width of a contact protection rib 32 Longitudinal direction of the recording 34 Width of a slot 36 Width of the recording 38 Width of the busbar 40 Inset chamfer 42 Bevel 44th phase 46 alignment element 48 insertion slots 50 insertion funnels 52 Finn 54 lead at the second housing section 56 Recess on the first housing section 58th chamfer on the lead 60 collars 62 flexible section 64 Touch protection bridge 66 Contact structure 68a Top side 68b Underside 70 Stacking direction 72 Side of a touch protection barrier facing away from the first access opening 74 Chamfer of a touch protection strip 76 Connector 78 Housing arrangement 80 Contact arrangement 82 contacts in the contact structure 84 Positioning element 86 Division of the positioning elements 88 Division of the contact protection strips 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 2024 136 289.8

[0053]

Claims

Connector housing (1, 1a, 1b), comprising a first and a second housing section (2a, 2b), comprising a receptacle (4) extending from a first access opening (6a) to a second access opening (6b), in which at least one busbar (8, 8a, 8b) and / or contact structure (66) can be received at least section by section, wherein the first access opening (6a) is arranged in the first housing section (2a) and the second access opening (6b) is arranged in the second housing section (2b), wherein the first housing section (2a) is movable relative to the second housing section (2b). Connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 1, wherein the connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) has a positive locking arrangement (12) by which the first and second housing sections (2a, 2b) can be positively connected to each other. Connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) has at least one section (62) whose material is more flexible than the material of the rest of the connector housing (1, 1a, 1b). Connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first housing section (2a) is designed to be fixed to a busbar (8, 8a, 8b). Connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) has at least one alignment element (46) arranged at the second access opening (6b) which projects in the direction away from the receptacle (4). Connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second housing section (2b) has an electrically non-conductive touch protection profile (20) that divides the second access opening (6b) into a plurality of adjacent slots (22). Connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 6, wherein the touch protection profile (20) has a plurality of touch protection ribs (24) arranged side by side, wherein one of the slots (22) is formed between adjacent touch protection ribs (24). Connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the touch protection profile (20) has at least one insertion ramp (40) pointing away from the receptacle (4). Connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least at the second access opening (6b) a plurality of inwardly projecting contact protection ribs (64) are arranged. Connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 9, wherein the contact protection ribs (64) taper on their sides (72) facing away from the first access opening (6a) in a direction away from the first access opening (6a). Connector housings (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 9 or 10, with positioning elements (84) arranged parallel to each other, which are configured to align contacts (82) of the contact structure (66) relative to the contact protection ribs (64). Housing arrangement (78) comprising a first connector housing (1, 1a) according to one of claims 6 to 8 and a second connector housing (1, 1b) according to one of claims 9 to 11 which can be plugged together with the first connector housing (1, 1a), wherein the touch protection ribs (64) of the second connector housing (1, 1b) can be inserted at least partially into the slots (22) of the touch protection profile (20) of the first connector housing (1, 1a). A touch-protected contact arrangement (80) with a housing arrangement (78) according to claim 12, and with a contact structure (66) received at least partially in the receptacle (4) of the second connector housing (1, 1b), which is pluggable onto a first and a second busbar (8, 8a, 8b) and is movable relative to the first and / or second busbar (8, 8a, 8b) and is designed to electrically connect the first busbar to the second busbar (8, 8a, 8b). A touch-protected connector (76) with a contact arrangement (80) according to claim 13, comprising the first busbar (8, 8a) which is inserted at least partially in the receptacle (4) of the first connector housing (1, 1a), and the second busbar (8, 8b) which is inserted at least partially in the receptacle (4) of the second connector housing (1, 1b), wherein the contact structure (66) is plugged onto the first and second busbars (8, 8a, 8b) and electrically connects them, wherein the touch protection ribs (64) of the second connector housing (1, 1b) are arranged at least partially in the slots (22) of the touch protection profile (20) of the first connector housing (1, 1a), and wherein at least one contact (82) of the contact structure (66) passes the first busbar (8, 8a) through the slots (22) of the touch protection profile (20). through which it is electrically conductive. Connector (76) according to claim 14, wherein the first housing section (2a) of the first connector housing (1, 1a) is fixed to the first busbar (8, 8a) and / or wherein the first housing section (2a) of the second connector housing (1, 1b) is fixed to the second busbar (8, 8b).

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