Connector including a protective conductor bridge

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector for mechanical and electrical connection with a corresponding mating connector, comprising a housing, a protective conductor bridge and a plug insert, wherein the protective conductor bridge is held on the housing.

[0002] Such connectors and mating connectors are used in the prior art to establish an electrical and mechanical connection between two electrical conductors or between an electrical conductor and a device or installation. Particularly for the transmission of high currents, large, heavy-duty connectors are required, which are protected against environmental influences by the housing. Such housings are typically made of aluminum and are threaded to accommodate a cable gland. The connectors considered here are designed to connect multiple electrical conductors, one of which is a protective earth (PE) conductor. The protective earth conductor can also be combined with a neutral conductor as a PEN conductor.The protective conductor is connected to the protective conductor bridge to enable the corresponding protective conductor function and to bring the protective conductors of the connector and mating connector into contact with each other. The remaining conductors are connected to electrical contacts of the connector insert.

[0003] The basic design of a connector and its mating connector can be essentially identical, differing only in the configuration of their electrical contacts for establishing the electrical connection. The descriptions for the connector therefore apply equally to the mating connector.

[0004] Connectors and mating connectors are designed according to the plug-socket principle to establish an electrical connection between the connector and its mating connector. The electrical contacts of the connector and mating connector can be configured as either contact pins or contact pin receptacles. For a secure electrical connection between the conductors of the connector and mating connector, the connector insert is firmly positioned in the housing.

[0005] A disadvantage of the previously described connector is that the assembly of the protective conductor bridge and the plug insert is complex, and sufficient space must be left clear in the housing to accommodate both the plug insert and the protective conductor bridge. This necessitates a correspondingly large connector design. Furthermore, such connectors are often heavy, which makes them difficult to handle.

[0006] The German patent DE 10 2009 055 925 A1 discloses a connector arrangement with a housing that has a metal frame element which is at least partially surrounded by a plastic material.

[0007] Based on the above prior art, the invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a connector of the above-mentioned type that is easy and cost-effective to manufacture, easy to handle and enables a secure mechanical and electrical connection between the connector and mating connector.

[0008] The problem is solved according to the invention by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0009] According to the invention, a connector for mechanical and electrical connection with a corresponding mating connector is thus provided, comprising a housing made of plastic, a protective conductor bridge and a plug insert, wherein the protective conductor bridge is held on the housing, the protective conductor bridge has two connection areas for connection with the plug insert, and the plug insert is held on the two connection areas.

[0010] The basic idea of ​​the present invention is therefore to simplify the assembly of the connector by mounting the protective conductor bridge in and directly on the housing, and the connector insert directly onto the protective conductor bridge within the housing. For example, the protective conductor bridge is first attached separately to the housing, and in a further assembly step, the connector insert is attached to the already mounted protective conductor bridge. The connector thus formed is easy to assemble and requires little installation space. This also results in a low weight for the connector. The assembly of the connector insert is, in principle, independent of the sequence in which the connector insert and protective conductor bridge are inserted into the housing.In a preferred embodiment, the connector is designed such that the plug insert is first mounted on the protective conductor bridge, and the unit thus formed can then be mounted together in the housing. The protective conductor bridge and the contacts of the plug insert are connected to individual conductors, for example, individual conductors of a cable to be connected, with the protective conductor bridge being connected to a protective conductor, also known as a PE conductor. Further conductors are connected to electrical contacts of the plug insert. The plug insert can be designed with contact pins or corresponding receptacles for the contact pins for contacting the mating connector, or with any other corresponding contacts.The connector and mating connector can therefore be designed, for example, as either a male or female plug according to the plug-socket principle, without this requiring any difference for the assembly of the plug insert or the protective conductor bridge according to the invention. The protective conductor can also be designed as a PEN contact with an integrated neutral conductor. The designs for the connector apply accordingly to the mating connector. The protective conductor bridge is suitable for the reliable attachment of the plug insert because it is designed as an electrical conductor and is therefore usually made of metal. Thus, the protective conductor bridge exhibits high stability, resulting in a robust and reliable connector.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the connection areas are configured to form a screw connection with the plug insert. The screw connection enables a stable and reliable attachment of the plug insert to the protective conductor bridge. Various configurations of the connection areas for forming the screw connection are possible; for example, each connection area can have a bolt with an external thread for screwing on the plug insert. A screw can also be incorporated into each connection area. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to configure each connection area to form a snap-fit ​​connection with the plug insert, so that the plug insert snaps into place with the protective conductor bridge.

[0012] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that each connection area has a through-hole. The through-hole allows a connecting screw or bolt to be inserted, so that the connector insert and the protective conductor bridge can be fastened together by creating a screw connection.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the through-hole is provided with an internal thread. The internal thread allows a screw to be screwed in directly, so that the connector insert can be easily attached to the protective conductor bridge using only at least one screw with a corresponding external thread.

[0014] Each connection area is made of sheet metal. The sheet metal is highly stable, ensuring that the plug insert is reliably held to the protective conductor bridge and thus to the housing.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that each connection area is formed with a tubular body. The tubular body exhibits high strength for mounting the connector insert. The insert can be attached, for example, to an outer wall of the tubular body or to the tubular body as a whole. If the connection area is made of sheet metal, the tubular shape can be formed, for example, by simply bending or folding the sheet metal. The tubular body preferably has a substantially rectangular cross-section. It is further preferred that the connection area is designed as a hollow body.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the tubular body has two opposing through-holes, one of which is threaded internally. The two opposing through-holes allow the insertion of fasteners to attach the connector insert to the connection area. A screw can be used to fasten the connector insert via the internal thread, while the threaded through-hole of the second through-hole serves only as a guide. The cavity between the through-holes creates a spring effect, ensuring reliable and durable screwing of the connector insert to the protective conductor bridge.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the through-hole with the internal thread is formed with a through-hole. This through-hole allows for a threaded section with a greater thread length and a higher number of threads than would be possible with the through-hole alone. Because the connection area is made of sheet metal, the material thickness of the sheet typically results in a short thread length, which can be increased by the through-hole. For example, the through-hole can be easily formed in the sheet metal connection area by appropriately shaping the through-hole. Alternatively, the through-hole can be attached to the sheet metal as a separate component, for example by welding, soldering, or other joining techniques.

[0018] The protective conductor bridge has two connection areas located at its axial ends. These two connection areas ensure a reliable and durable attachment of the connector insert to the protective conductor bridge. Simultaneously, the connector insert can tension the protective conductor bridge via these connection areas, thus preventing it from deforming. Preferably, the connection areas are located at the ends along the longitudinal axis of the protective conductor bridge.

[0019] The protective conductor bridge has an elongated main body, and the connection areas are formed laterally on the main body. By attaching the connection areas laterally to the main body, the protective conductor bridge can, for example, be mounted along a wall of the housing, with the connection areas projecting into an interior space of the housing. This allows the connector insert to be easily attached to the protective conductor bridge. It is particularly preferred that the protective conductor bridge and the connection areas are arranged at a substantially right angle to each other. Thus, the main body of the bridge can have its smallest thickness in the insertion direction of the mating connector, while the connection areas project perpendicularly into the housing to allow for easy and reliable attachment of the connector insert.If the protective conductor bridge is made of an elastic material, such as metal, the bridge body is elastically connected to the connection areas, which simplifies connector assembly because tolerances can be easily compensated for. In particular, when a pre-assembled unit consisting of the protective conductor bridge and connector insert is inserted into the housing, the flexibility of the bridge body relative to the connection areas facilitates insertion. Tilting during insertion of this unit into the housing can be prevented or compensated for.

[0020] The connection areas feature fasteners for attaching the protective conductor bridge to the housing. This allows all fastenings to be made via the connection area, which facilitates the design of a compact housing.

[0021] The fastening elements are designed as snap-fit ​​devices to engage with corresponding snap-fit ​​devices on the housing. These snap-fit ​​devices allow for easy attachment of the protective conductor bridge to the housing. The snap-fit ​​can be easily released to remove the protective conductor bridge from the housing. The snap-fit ​​devices can be designed, for example, as locking lugs or tongues. A snap-fit ​​tab is particularly preferred at each connection point. The housing preferably has a guide groove with a snap lug into which the snap-fit ​​tongue can be inserted and locked.

[0022] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed such that the housing has a plug opening with two opposite sides, and a protective conductor bridge is attached to each of the two opposite sides, with the plug insert being held by both protective conductor bridges. This design of the connector makes it possible to reliably hold even a large plug insert in the housing, since the two protective conductor bridges provide support on the opposite sides of the housing. It also facilitates the assembly of a unit consisting of the plug insert and protective conductor bridges in the housing, as this unit can be easily inserted between the opposite sides. With a conical design of the housing and / or a corresponding angled positioning of the protective conductor bridges, this unit can be inserted into the housing in a self-centering manner.On both opposite sides, a protective conductor contact is provided by the respective protective conductor bridge, ensuring a high level of safety for the connector. The connector can also be designed to be rotationally symmetrical, meaning that it can be connected identically to the mating connector when rotated 180° around the axis of insertion.

[0023] The protective conductor bridge is manufactured from a single piece of sheet metal. This sheet metal construction allows for the production of a protective conductor bridge with minimal material usage, and the sheet metal is easy to shape, for example by bending, folding, or similar methods, to form the connection areas.

[0024] The housing is made of plastic. Compared to a metal housing, the plastic housing can be manufactured with reduced weight, making the connector easy to handle. Furthermore, the plastic provides electrical insulation, which facilitates the use of the connector and increases safety.

[0025] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawing and preferred embodiments.

[0026] They show Fig. 1 a perspective view of a connector according to the invention in a first embodiment from the side of its connector opening without an attached connector insert, Fig. 2 a perspective view of the protective conductor bridge of the connector from Fig. 1 in single representation, Fig. 3 a detailed view of the view from Fig. 1, which shows the installation of the protective conductor bridge in the housing, and Fig. 4 a perspective view of a protective conductor bridge according to a second embodiment of the invention in detail.

[0027] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a connector 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The connector 1 comprises a housing 2, two protective conductor bridges 3, only one of which is located in the Fig. 1 visible, and a plug insert not shown here. In the assembled state, the protective conductor bridges 3 and the plug insert are fixed in the housing 2, whereby, for example, electrical contacts of the plug insert may protrude from the housing 2.

[0028] The housing 2 is made of injection-molded plastic and features an integrated cable gland 4. The cable gland 4 allows a cable with multiple conductors to enter the housing 2. One of the conductors is a protective conductor, which is connected to the protective conductor bridge 3, also known as the PE conductor. The other conductors are connected to electrical contacts of the connector insert. The connector insert is designed to connect to a corresponding mating connector (not shown) with contact pins or corresponding receptacles for contact pins.

[0029] The housing 2 has a connector opening 5 through which the connector 1 can be electrically and mechanically connected to the corresponding mating connector. The connector opening 5 is rectangular, with two opposite sides 6 of the connector opening 5, here the longitudinal sides, arranged parallel to each other. The protective conductor bridges 3 are mounted along the longitudinal sides 6 in the housing 2.

[0030] Fig. 2 Shows one of the protective conductor bridges 3 in detail. Both protective conductor bridges 3 are identical to those in Fig. 2 Protective conductor bridge 3 shown is executed.

[0031] The protective conductor bridge 3 made of Fig. 2 The bridge is manufactured in one piece from sheet metal and comprises an elongated main bridge body 7, at each of whose axial end regions 8 a connection region 9 is formed. The connection regions 9 are positioned laterally on a common side of the main bridge body 7.

[0032] In this embodiment, the connection areas 9 are designed with a tubular body 10 having a rectangular cross-section. The tubular body 10 of the connection areas 9 is formed by bending the metal sheet of the protective conductor bridges 3 in the area of ​​the connection areas 9.

[0033] The tubular body 10 has two opposing through holes 11, 12, as shown in detail in Fig. 3 shown. That in the Fig. 3 The through hole 11 shown above is designed as a through hole without an internal thread, while the one in the Fig. 3The lower through-hole 12 shown is designed with a through-hole 13, wherein both the lower through-hole 12 and the through-hole 13 have an internal thread. The plug insert can be mounted to the connection areas 9 of the protective conductor bridges 3 by means of four screws (not shown), the screws being passed through the upper through-hole 11 and screwed into the lower through-hole 12 with the through-hole 13.

[0034] At the connection areas 9, an additional locking tab 14 is formed, with which the protective conductor bridge 3 is locked at its axial end areas 8 in a guide groove 15 behind a locking projection 16 of the housing 2, as shown in detail in Fig. 3 As shown. Thus, the protective conductor bridges 3 can each be inserted individually or as a unit with the plug insert through the plug opening 5 into the housing 2 and mounted by making the snap connection.

[0035] Fig. 4Figure 1 shows a protective conductor bridge 3 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The protective conductor bridge 3 of the second embodiment is essentially identical to the protective conductor bridge 3 of the first embodiment, so that it can be used in place of the protective conductor bridge 3 of the first embodiment in the housing 2 described with reference to the first embodiment. For the sake of simplicity, similar elements are designated with the same reference numerals. Since the protective conductor bridge 3 of the second embodiment is essentially identical to that of the first embodiment, only its differences will be discussed here.

[0036] The protective conductor bridge 3 of the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in the design of its connection areas 9. The connection areas 9 of the protective conductor bridge 3 of the second embodiment each have a base area 17. The metal sheet of the connection areas 9 is bent upwards at the edges of the base area 17 to form a previously described locking tab 14 and side walls 18. A through-hole 12 with a through-hole 13, as previously described, is also formed in the base area 17, and this through-hole has a corresponding internal thread.

[0037] No further differences arise between the protective conductor bridges 3 of the first and second embodiments. Reference symbol list

[0038] Connectors 1 Housing 2 Protective conductor bridge 3 cable gland 4 Plug opening 5 Opposite sides, long sides 6 Bridge main body 7 End area 8 Connection area 9 tubular body 10 upper through hole 11 lower through hole 12 draft 13 Rest flag, fastening device 14 Guide groove 15 Locking lug, locking device 16 floor area 17 side wall 18

Claims

1. A plug-in connector (1) for mechanical and electrical connection to a corresponding mating plug-in connector, comprising a housing (2) made of plastic, a protective conductor bridge (3) and a plug insert, wherein the protective conductor bridge (3) is held on the housing (2), wherein the protective conductor bridge (3) is manufactured in one piece from a metal sheet, wherein the protective conductor bridge (3) has two connecting regions (9) for connection to the plug insert, and the plug insert is held on the two connecting regions (9), wherein the two connecting regions (9) are formed at the axial end regions (8) of the protective conductor bridge (3), and wherein the protective conductor bridge (3) has an elongate bridge main body (7) and the connecting regions (9) are laterally formed on the bridge main body (7), characterized in that the connecting regions (9) each have fastening means (14) for connecting the protective conductor bridge (3) to the housing (2), wherein the fastening means (14) each are designed as latching means in order to latch with corresponding latching means (16) of the housing (2).

2. The plug-in connector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting regions (9) are designed for producing a screw connection with the plug insert.

3. The plug-in connector (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the connecting regions (9) each have a passage hole (11, 12).

4. The plug-in connector (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the passage hole (12) is designed with an internal thread.

5. The plug-in connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting regions (9) each are designed with a tubular body (10).

6. The plug-in connector (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the tubular body (10) has two opposite passage holes (11, 12), and one of the passage holes (12) is designed with an internal thread.

7. The plug-in connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims in conjunction with one of claims 4 or 6, characterized in that the passage hole (12) with the internal thread is designed with a pull-through (13).

8. The plug-in connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) has a plug opening (5) with two opposite sides (6), and a protective conductor bridge (3) is attached to each of the two opposite sides (6), wherein the plug insert is jointly held on both protective conductor bridges (3).