Universal test cable

Abstract

Universal test cable for connecting a measuring instrument to an electrical wiring system of a motor vehicle, with - a plug unit for connection to a motor vehicle cable socket (1) having at least two contact modules (2) arranged in two rows (S), each with two rows (R) of socket contacts (3, 4), - a socket unit for connection to a motor vehicle cable plug having at least two contact modules (2) arranged in two rows (S), each with two rows (R) of pin contacts, and - a measuring device plug that can be connected to a measuring device connection, characterized in that - the plug unit comprises at least two contact module connection units (5) arranged in two rows (S), each with two rows (R) of six socket contacts arranged in a continuous recess (8) and - the socket unit has at least two contact module connection units (5) arranged in two rows (S), each with two rows (R) of six pin contacts (6) arranged in a continuous recess (8).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a universal test cable for connecting a measuring device to an electrical wiring system of a motor vehicle, with - a plug unit for connection to a motor vehicle cable socket having at least two contact modules arranged in two rows, each with two rows of socket contacts, - a socket unit for connection to a motor vehicle cable plug having at least two contact modules arranged in two rows, each with two rows of pin contacts, and - a measuring device plug that can be connected to a measuring device connection.

[0002] To test electrical wiring in a motor vehicle, measuring devices such as continuity testers or voltage meters are used. These are typically connected to the wires to be tested near the plug connections within the vehicle. The test is performed by disconnecting an existing plug connection in the vehicle and then connecting the measuring device to the wire contacts—i.e., the plug and the corresponding socket—of the wires to be tested.

[0003] To prevent damage to the cable contacts, it is imperative to use only test cables with plug and socket units that match the cable contacts (socket contacts and pin contacts). The use of test cables with plug and / or socket units that are not adapted to the cable contacts can lead to irreparable damage to the cable contacts, ultimately necessitating a lengthy and costly replacement of the cable contacts in the vehicle.

[0004] Damage can be caused, for example, by using a plug unit to connect to a cable socket whose plug contacts are incorrectly shaped, e.g., too large, compared to the cable socket. The use of unsuitable socket units to connect to a cable plug can also lead to damage, for example, if the socket housing of the socket unit causes damage to neighboring cable plugs due to its design.

[0005] Due to the large number of cable contacts, some of which differ only slightly from one another and are therefore difficult to distinguish visually from one another, test cable sets already exist which consist of different plug units, socket units and measuring device plugs, which can be combined on site by the operator via additional cables to form a test cable.

[0006] In practice, however, it has been shown that due to the only slight optical differences in the cable contacts and the resulting disorder of the components within a set by the user over time, test cables are put together which have incorrect plug units and / or socket units, which then lead to damage to the cable contacts.

[0007] Alternatively, pre-assembled test cables can be used for a reliable connection. Due to the large number of different automotive cable sockets and plugs, a large number of different test cables must be kept in stock. This particularly applies to automotive cable sockets or plugs manufactured using so-called contact modules, several of which are arranged together on a housing of a automotive cable socket or plug and have plug contacts.

[0008] The invention is based on the object of providing a test cable which enables a safe and damage-free connection between a measuring device and a cable connector on a motor vehicle, wherein the test cable is also designed for use with cable connectors with different contact modules.

[0009] The universal test cable according to the invention comprises a plug unit and a socket unit. The plug unit has at least two contact module connection units, each of which has two rows of six socket contacts. The socket unit, in turn, has two contact module connection units, each of which has two rows of six pin contacts.

[0010] The dimensions of the contact module connection units are adapted to the shape of the automotive cable sockets and / or automotive cable plugs manufactured using contact modules. The contact modules have cable contacts arranged in two rows. The number of cable contacts in the contact modules can vary from contact module to contact module in the respective rows, with a maximum of six socket contacts or plug contacts being arranged in one row of a contact module, so that a contact module has a maximum of twelve socket contacts or plug contacts. A automotive cable socket manufactured using contact modules or a automotive cable plug manufactured using contact modules has at least two contact modules arranged adjacent to one another in two rows on a housing of a automotive cable socket or a automotive cable plug.

[0011] Depending on the desired electrical contact, the contact modules can have not only a maximum of six plug contacts but also just two or four plug contacts or socket contacts per row, in which case the longitudinal extent of the contacts in the row direction can be increased. The plug unit and the socket unit of the universal test cable according to the invention each have at least two contact module connection units arranged in two rows, each with two rows of six socket contacts or pin contacts. The design of the contact module connection units and the arrangement of the socket contacts are adapted to the contact modules of the vehicle cable socket or the vehicle cable plug in order to achieve reliable contact. It is essential for the plug unit and the socket unit according to the invention that the socket contacts orPlug contacts of the contact module connection units are arranged in a continuous recess in each row. This means that the socket contacts or pin contacts are spaced apart from one another, but not separated by webs or the like. The area between the pin contacts or socket contacts is free. The pin contacts or socket contacts thus extend freely from the base of the recess toward the open end of the plug unit or socket unit.

[0012] This embodiment of the invention makes it possible to connect the plug unit or socket unit to a vehicle cable socket or a vehicle cable plug that has only two or four cable contacts in a row of a contact module. This may therefore result in multiple contacts, with several of the socket contacts and pin contacts of the six pin contacts or socket contacts arranged in series connecting to a socket contact or pin contact of the vehicle cable socket or the vehicle cable plug. For example, if there are two plug contacts on the vehicle cable socket, three plug contacts of the plug unit in each row of a contact module connection unit would be connected to a socket contact.

[0013] The signal from a socket contact is thus transmitted via three wires of the test cable, which can be taken into account when setting up the measuring device. The universal test cable according to the invention thus makes it possible to use it for connection to an electrical wiring system of a motor vehicle in which the cable connectors were manufactured using contact modules, which can have a different number of plug contacts for each row of the individual contact modules.

[0014] Due to the common design of motor vehicle cable sockets and motor vehicle cable plugs with usually four, six or eight contact module connection units arranged in two rows, a further development of the invention provides that the plug unit has correspondingly four, six or eight contact module connection units arranged in two rows, each with two rows of six socket contacts and / or the socket unit has four, six or eight contact module connection units arranged in two rows, each with two rows of six pin contacts.

[0015] This embodiment of the invention, in particular the embodiment with six contact module connection units, enables connection to a large number of automotive cable sockets and automotive cable plugs manufactured using contact modules.

[0016] The design of the socket contacts and their arrangement in a continuous recess such that they can be connected to the pin contacts of a cable connector is fundamentally freely selectable. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the socket contacts of the contact module connection units have recesses in the row direction. According to this embodiment of the invention, the socket contacts arranged one behind the other in a row are arranged in the recess such that, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the recess, they have recesses that make it possible to use the socket contacts to contact pin contacts that extend beyond two socket contacts in the row direction. If necessary, the wings of the socket contacts formed by the recesses encompass the pin contacts that extend over several socket contacts.

[0017] According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is further provided that the socket contacts and / or pin contacts are adjustable in their longitudinal axis direction, in particular are resiliently preloaded toward the use position. According to this embodiment of the invention, the socket contacts and / or pin contacts are arranged on the contact module connection units in such a way that they are adjustable in their longitudinal axis direction and are preferably preloaded toward their free end. This embodiment of the invention enables the socket contacts and / or pin contacts to deflect in the event of an obstacle, thus allowing contact to be made with neighboring socket contacts or pin contacts without causing a blockage.

[0018] The design of the recess for accommodating the socket contacts or pin contacts in a row of contact module connection units is generally freely selectable. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the recess is designed such that the contact module connection units are delimited by a circumferential inner wall, which ensures reliable contact and good positioning.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is further provided that the contact module connection units can be detachably arranged in a receiving opening of a housing of the plug unit and / or the housing of the socket unit. This embodiment of the invention makes it possible to adapt the socket unit and / or the plug unit of the universal test cable if necessary or to repair it in the event of damage by simply replacing a contact module.

[0020] According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is further provided that spacers are arranged in the row direction between the socket contacts of the plug unit, which spacers are preferably spring-biased towards the free end. According to this embodiment of the invention, these stabilizing spacers are arranged in the area between the socket contacts, the longitudinal extent of which preferably corresponds to the longitudinal extent of the socket contacts. The spacers are longitudinally displaceable and preferably spring-biased towards their free end, so that they protrude to the same extent from a base of the contact module connection unit in the unloaded state. The longitudinally displaceable design of the spacers allows them to deflect if necessary, for example in cooperation with a web on a vehicle cable connector, so that the socket contacts can be reliably contacted with the pin contacts of the cable connector.

[0021] An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a plug unit of a motor vehicle wiring system and Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a schematic view of a contact module connection unit with two rows of pin contacts.

[0022] In Fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle cable socket 1 of a cable system of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle cable socket 1 has four contact modules 2 in two rows S. The contact modules 2 in turn have socket contacts 3, 4 arranged in two rows R. For connection to the motor vehicle cable socket 1, a plug unit (not shown here) of a universal test cable is used, which has contact module connection units 5 adapted to the contact modules 2, as shown in Fig. 2 is shown.

[0023] The plug unit has four contact module connection units 5 arranged in z like rows S, each having two rows R of pin contacts 6 arranged in a common recess 8. The pin contacts 6 extend from a base area 7 and enable contacting of both the socket contacts 3 and the socket contacts 4 of the vehicle cable socket, whereby in the case of the elongated socket contacts 4, several pin contacts 6 come into contact with one socket contact 4. Fig. 1 List of reference symbols 1 automotive cable socket 2 contact module 3 socket contacts 4 socket contacts R series S series 5 Contact module connection unit 6 pin contacts 7 Floor space 8 recess 9 connector housing

Claims

[1] Universal test cable for connecting a measuring instrument to an electrical wiring system of a motor vehicle, with - a plug unit for connection to a motor vehicle cable socket (1) having at least two contact modules (2) arranged in two rows (S), each with two rows (R) of socket contacts (3, 4), - a socket unit for connection to a motor vehicle cable plug having at least two contact modules (2) arranged in two rows (S), each with two rows (R) of pin contacts, and - a measuring device plug that can be connected to a measuring device connection, characterized by , that - the plug unit comprises at least two contact module connection units (5) arranged in two rows (S), each with two rows (R) of six socket contacts arranged in a continuous recess (8) and - the socket unit has at least two contact module connection units (5) arranged in two rows (S), each with two rows (R) of six pin contacts (6) arranged in a continuous recess (8). [2] Universal test cable according to claim 1, characterized by , that - the plug unit comprises four, six or eight contact module connection units (5) arranged in two rows (S), each with two rows (R) of six socket contacts and / or - the socket unit has four, six or eight contact module connection units arranged in two rows (S), each with two rows (R) of six pin contacts (6). [3] Universal test cable according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the socket contacts of the contact module connection units (5) have recesses (8) in the row direction. [4] Universal test cable according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the socket contacts and / or pin contacts (6) are adjustable in their longitudinal axis direction, in particular are spring-loaded in the direction of their position of use. [5] Universal test cable according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by that the contact module connection units (5) are delimited by a circumferential inner wall. [6] Universal test cable according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by that the contact module connection units (5) can be detachably arranged in a receiving opening of a housing of the plug unit and / or housing of the socket unit. [7] Universal test cable according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by that longitudinally displaceable spacers are arranged in the row direction between the socket contacts of the plug unit, which are preferably spring-loaded towards their free end.

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