PLUG CONNECTOR WITH A CONTACT ELEMENT DESIGNED AS A CASTING PART

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a plug connector for plug-in connection with a mating connector and a method for manufacturing a plug connector for plug-in connection with a mating connector.

[0002] Such a connector comprises a contact carrier made of an electrically insulating material, an electrical grounding contact arranged on the contact carrier for electrical contact with the mating connector, and an electrically conductive housing part connected to the contact carrier. Furthermore, such a connector comprises an electrically conductive contacting element manufactured by a casting technique, which has a first contacting section that electrically contacts the housing part and a second contacting section that electrically contacts the grounding contact, and electrically connects the housing part to the grounding contact.

[0003] Such a connector is known, for example, from US 6,254,403 B1 and DE 44 19 023 A1. A similar connector is known, for example, from DE 10 2014 112991 A1. Such a connector can, for example, be attached to an electrical cable and serve to connect the electrical cable to a higher-level electrical assembly.

[0004] In such a connector, the grounding contact (also known as the PE contact) located on the contact carrier serves to establish a ground connection between the connector and the mating connector, thus providing the same grounding potential at both. It is desirable to connect any accessible metal parts to the grounding contact via an electrical conductor to include these parts in the grounding system.

[0005] For a connector intended for use in demanding environments, such as industrial settings, the housing component, which at least partially encloses and surrounds the connector, is typically made of metal and therefore electrically conductive. To integrate the housing component into the grounding system, an electrical connection between the housing component and the grounding contact is required. This connection is conventionally achieved, for example, by a metal spring formed as a stamped and bent part.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a connector and a method for manufacturing a connector which enable the creation of an electrical connection between a grounding contact on a contact carrier and an electrically conductive housing part of the connector in a simple, automatable manner.

[0007] This problem is solved by an object having the features of claim 1.

[0008] Accordingly, the connector is characterized by the fact that the contacting element is formed in situ on a pre-assembly assembly formed by the contact carrier, the grounding contact and the housing part using casting technology.

[0009] For the electrical connection of the grounding contact arranged on the contact carrier to an electrically conductive housing part, the connector uses a contact element manufactured using a casting technique. For example, the contact element can be a metal casting or an injection-molded part made of an electrically conductive plastic. For metal casting, a low-melting-point metal, such as an aluminum alloy or a tin alloy, particularly a tin solder alloy, can be used. For injection molding, a material such as that described in WO 2005 / 057590 A1 can be used.

[0010] The contacting element rests with its first contact section against the housing part and with its second contact section against the grounding contact arranged on the contact carrier, thus contacting the housing part and the grounding contact and thereby establishing an electrical connection between the housing part and the grounding contact. The housing part is therefore at the earth potential applied to the grounding contact and is thus included in the grounding system.

[0011] According to the invention, the contacting element is formed in situ on a pre-assembled module formed by the contact carrier, the grounding contact, and the housing part using a casting technique. The contacting element is thus formed directly on the contact carrier using the casting technique employed. For this purpose, a pre-fabricated assembly of the connector, consisting of the contact carrier, the grounding contact, and the housing part, can be placed, for example, into a casting tool, such as a metal casting mold or an injection mold. The components of the assembly are sealed against each other, allowing the contacting element to be formed directly on the pre-fabricated module within the tool. During the forming process, the contacting element, with the material forming the second contacting section, can directly contact the grounding contact arranged on the contact carrier and thus establish electrical contact with the grounding contact.The contacting element is preferably formed directly on the housing part, for example by casting the material of the contacting element through an opening in the housing part, thus forming a material-bonded connection with the grounding contact on the one hand and the housing part on the other.

[0012] For the in-situ production of the contacting element on the pre-assembly assembly formed by the contact carrier, the grounding contact and the housing part, the parts of this pre-assembly assembly are sealed to each other in such a way that the liquid casting material, in particular a metal material, flows around the housing part and grounding contact and connects electrically, but has no electrically contacting contact with other, electrically conductive elements.

[0013] The components of the pre-assembly unit together form a cavity into which liquid material, particularly a liquid metal, flows during casting for in-situ shaping of the pre-assembly unit. The cavity extends, for example, to an opening in the housing part, into the contact carrier, and around a shaft section of the grounding contact, so that the contacting element can be formed by flowing into the cavity to create electrical contact with the grounding contact on the one hand and the housing part on the other.

[0014] The housing component can, for example, provide a (section-by-section) enclosure for the connector and can be designed as a metal part for connectors intended to be robust. The housing component is electrically conductive and is electrically connected to the contact element via the first contact section of the contact element and, through this connection, to the grounding contact, so that the housing component is at the ground potential applied to the grounding contact.

[0015] The housing component can be a cast part, for example, manufactured by zinc die casting or aluminum die casting. However, especially for small production runs, the housing component can also be a turned part, for example, made of brass or steel, particularly stainless steel.

[0016] In one embodiment, the contact carrier has a receiving socket and the grounding contact has a shaft section, wherein the grounding contact is arranged with its shaft section in the receiving socket and the second contacting section of the contacting element is in electrical contact with the shaft section. The contact carrier is made of an electrically insulating material, for example, an insulating plastic material, and thus isolates the grounding contact from surrounding components of the connector. The grounding contact is inserted into a corresponding receiving socket of the contact carrier and is fixed to the contact carrier, for example, by friction fit and / or positive fit (e.g., by snap-fit, press-fit, or crimping).The contacting element extends to the grounding contact on the contact carrier in such a way that the contacting element electrically contacts the grounding contact with its second contacting section and is thus electrically connected to the grounding contact.

[0017] For example, the second contact section of the contacting element can extend completely around the shaft section of the grounding contact. The contacting section thus forms – possibly after its shaping directly against the shaft section of the grounding contact – an eyelet through which the contacting element extends with its shaft section, ensuring complete contact between the contacting section of the contacting element and the grounding contact, thereby guaranteeing a low-resistance, mechanically fixed connection between the contacting element and the grounding contact.

[0018] In one embodiment, the second contact section for contacting the grounding contact on the contact carrier is arranged radially inside the first contact section for contacting the housing part (radially to a mating direction along which the connector is to be connected to a corresponding mating connector). The first contact section thus projects radially outwards beyond the second contact section and can, for example, be in contact with a radially inwards facing inner surface of the housing part at a radially outward-facing outer surface, so that an electrical connection to the housing part is established via the first contact section of the contact element.

[0019] Alternatively, the first contact section can also encompass the housing part, at least partially, so that the first contact section is formed radially outside the housing part, for example by forming the contact section in situ on the housing part. In this case, the contact element can, for example, extend through an opening in the housing part to contact the grounding contact inside the housing part.

[0020] The contacting element thus contacts the housing part via its first contacting section at a radially outer position and the grounding contact via its second contacting section at a radially inner position, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the grounding contact located inside the contact carrier and the housing part surrounding the contact carrier on the outside.

[0021] In one embodiment, the connector has an electrically conductive bearing element arranged radially outside the contact carrier and connected to the housing part, as well as a connecting element. The connecting element is rotatably mounted on the bearing element about a mating direction, along which the connector can be plugged into the mating connector, and is designed, for example, as a coupling nut, by which the connector can be screwed to a corresponding mating connector. For this purpose, the connecting element in the form of the coupling nut has, for example, a threaded section with an external thread formed on it, by which a screw connection can be made with a corresponding screw opening of the mating connector.The bearing element can, for example, be designed as a sleeve that surrounds the contact carrier in a ring shape and provides a sliding bearing surface for the rotatable mounting of the connecting element on the contact carrier.

[0022] For example, in one design the housing part can be integrally and integrally formed with the bearing element.

[0023] In one embodiment, the contacting element is also electrically connected to the bearing element. The electrically conductive bearing element is thus also electrically connected to the grounding contact of the contact carrier via the contacting element.

[0024] In one embodiment, the housing part is enclosed, at least partially, by an electrically insulating sheath. The electrically insulating sheath can be formed on the housing part, for example, by plastic injection molding, and forms an outer, electrically insulating enclosure for the housing part. The sheath can also be formed directly on the housing part, for example, by plastic injection molding, thus in situ with the contact element already cast.

[0025] The sheath part preferably forms an interior enclosed by the sheath part. An electrical cable can be inserted into the interior of the sheath part at an end facing away from the contact carrier, so that such an area, in which the conductors of the cable are electrically connected to contact elements of the contact carrier, is enclosed by the sheath part and thus protected from the outside.

[0026] The housing component can, for example, also provide electrical shielding to the outside.

[0027] In one embodiment, one or more electrical contact elements for electrical contact with the mating connector are arranged on the contact carrier in addition to the grounding contact. These contact elements allow for the establishment of an electrical connection between the connector and the mating connector, for example, to transmit electrical power or exchange data signals. Each contact element is arranged in a corresponding receptacle on the contact carrier, ensuring electrical isolation between the contact elements and the grounding contact.

[0028] In one embodiment, the contact carrier forms a plug-in section with which the connector can be plugged into the mating connector along the plug-in direction. The plug-in section can, for example, have a cylindrical shape and can enclose the contacts so completely that the contact is embedded radially outwards within the plug-in section and is fully enclosed by the material of the plug-in section along the plug-in direction. When the plug-in connection is plugged into the mating connector, the grounding contact makes electrical contact with a corresponding mating contact of the mating connector, thus establishing a common ground between the plug-in and the mating connector.

[0029] The problem is also solved by a method for manufacturing a plug-in connection for mating connection with a mating connector, wherein the method comprises: providing a contact carrier made of an electrically insulating material, arranging an electrical grounding contact for electrical contact with the mating connector on the contact carrier, and providing an electrically conductive housing part to be connected to the contact carrier. Additionally, it is provided that an electrically conductive contacting element is manufactured on the contact carrier by means of a casting technique such that the contacting element forms a first contacting section and a second contacting section that is electrically in contact with the grounding contact, wherein the contacting element is formed in situ on a pre-assembly assembly formed by the contact carrier, the grounding contact, and the housing part by means of the casting technique.The advantages and beneficial designs described above for the connector also apply analogously to the method, so reference should be made to what has been stated above in this regard.

[0030] In this process, the contact element is formed directly on the contact carrier using a casting technique. For this purpose, the contact carrier is provided with an attached grounding contact and placed in a suitable casting mold. The contact element is then formed on the contact carrier, for example, using a metal casting process or plastic injection molding (using an electrically conductive plastic material), such that the second contact section of the contact element rests against the grounding contact, thus establishing an electrical connection to it.

[0031] During the forming of the contact element on the contact carrier, the housing part is already connected to the contact carrier. Therefore, in this case, the first contact section of the contact element comes into direct contact (in situ) with the housing part during the forming process, thus establishing the electrical connection between the housing part and the contact carrier. The forming of the contact element using the casting technique involves pouring the material of the contact element through an opening in the housing part into a cavity on the contact carrier. This allows the contact element to be formed around the grounding contact located radially inside the housing part, resting against the housing part and extending between the grounding contact and the housing part to establish the electrical connection.

[0032] In another embodiment, the contacting element is first formed on the contact carrier, and only then is the housing part connected to the contact carrier in such a way that the housing part makes electrical contact with the first contacting section, and the contacting element thus electrically connects the housing part to the grounding contact. The contacting element is therefore formed on the contact carrier while the housing part is not yet connected to it. By subsequently attaching the housing part to the contact carrier, the housing part is also electrically connected to the contacting element and, via this connection, to the grounding contact on the contact carrier.

[0033] The underlying concept of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 a view of an embodiment of a connector connected to an electrical cable; Fig. 2 a longitudinal sectional view through the connector; Fig. 3 a partially enlarged view of the arrangement according to Fig. 2 Fig. 4 is a separate, partially cutaway view of a contact carrier of a connector; Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a contacting element on a contact carrier of a connector; Fig. 6 is a representation of a housing part on which a contacting element is to be formed in situ; Fig. 7 is a view of the housing part with the contacting element formed on it; and Fig. 8 is a separate view of the contacting element formed in situ on the housing part.

[0034] Fig. 1Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a connector 1 which is connected to an electrical cable 2 and serves to connect to a mating connector 3. To connect the cable 2 to the mating connector 103, the connector 1 can be connected to the mating connector 3 along a mating direction E by mating a mating section 120 formed on a contact carrier 12 and forming a mating face into the mating connector 3, in particular a mating opening formed on the mating connector 3.

[0035] Electrical contact elements 13 are arranged on the contact carrier 12 of the connector 1. When plugged into the mating connector 3, these contact elements electrically contact corresponding mating contacts of the mating connector 3 and serve to transmit currents, for example, for electrical power transmission or data communication. Additionally, the contact carrier 12 has a grounding contact 14, which is at ground potential and, when connected to the mating connector 3, contacts a corresponding grounding contact on the mating connector 3, thus providing a common ground potential at the connection created by the connector 1 and the mating connector 3.

[0036] The contact carrier 12 is made of an electrically insulating material, so that the contact elements 13 and the grounding contact 14 are electrically insulated from each other. A connecting element 11 in the form of a coupling nut is arranged on the contact carrier 12 and is rotatably mounted on the contact carrier 12 about the insertion direction E via a sleeve-shaped bearing element 15, which surrounds the contact carrier 12 in an annular manner. In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting element 11 has a threaded section 111 projecting from a knurled collar 110, on which an external thread is formed, via which a screw connection can be made with the mating connector 3 when the connector 1 and the mating connector 3 are connected to each other.

[0037] The bearing element 15 is firmly connected to the contact carrier 12 and is made of an electrically conductive material, in particular a metal. Similarly, the connecting element 11 is also made of an electrically conductive material, in particular a metal.

[0038] In the illustrated embodiment of the connector 1, a housing part 17 is connected to the contact carrier 12 such that the housing part 17 connects to the positioning element 15 on a side facing away from the connecting element 11. The housing part 17 is shown in a view in Fig. 6 , has a cylindrical basic shape and is integrally and integrally formed with the bearing element 15.

[0039] The housing part 17 is electrically conductive and thus, together with the bearing element 15 and the connecting element 11 arranged thereon, provides an enclosure for the contact carrier 12.

[0040] Outside the housing part 17, a sheath part 10 is formed, which is made of an electrically insulating plastic, for example by injection molding, and is arranged outside the housing part 17 in such a way that the housing part 17 is surrounded on the outside by the sheath part 10. The sheath part 10 extends beyond an end of the housing part 17 facing away from the connecting element 11 and closes off – as shown in the sectional view according to Fig. 2 evidently - an interior space 100, within which conductors 21 of the electrical cable 2 are connected to contact elements 13, 14 of the contact carrier 12.

[0041] The electrical cable 2 is inserted into the sheath section 10 at an end remote from the contact carrier 12 and has a cable sheath 20 that encloses the conductors 21. Inside the sheath section 10, the conductors 21 are stripped of their outer sheath 20 and connected to the contact elements 13, 14 on the contact carrier 12. The conductors 21 may be enclosed by an electrically insulating material in an area between the end of the cable sheath 20 and the contact carrier 12 within the sheath section 10 (for example, by encasing the conductors 21 within the interior 100 of the sheath section 10 with an electrically insulating potting compound).

[0042] The bearing element 15 is sealed moisture-tight against the jacket part 10 and against the contact carrier 12 by means of seals 150, 151, for example in the form of O-rings, as can be seen from the sectional view according to Fig. 2and the enlarged view according to Fig. 3 as is evident.

[0043] In the illustrated embodiment, the housing part 17 is made of an electrically conductive material, in particular a metal, for example as an aluminum die-cast part or a zinc die-cast part. Because the housing part 17 can be touched by a user during use, for example via the bearing element 15 and the connecting element 11 arranged thereon, it is advantageous to include the housing part 17 in the grounding of the connector 1 and to connect it to the grounding potential applied to the grounding contact 14 in order to prevent any risk to a user when touching the connector 1.

[0044] To establish an electrical connection between the housing part 17 and the grounding contact 14, a contacting element 16 is provided in the illustrated embodiment. This contacting element is electrically arranged between the housing part 17 and the grounding contact 14 and electrically connects them. The contacting element 16 is formed from an electrically conductive material using a casting technique, whereby the forming can take place in situ directly on the contact carrier 12 with the grounding contact arranged on the contact carrier 12.

[0045] The contacting element 16 is formed, for example, by means of metal casting as a metal casting part or from an electrically conductive plastic by means of plastic injection molding.

[0046] The contacting element 16 is shaped such that it forms a contacting section 161 which extends on the contact carrier 12 to the grounding contact 14 arranged in a receiving socket 120 of the contact carrier 12 and thereby completely surrounds a shaft section 140 of the grounding contact 14, as can be seen from Fig. 3 in conjunction with the schematic view according to Fig. 5 The earthing contact 14 is inserted into the receiving socket 120 of the contact carrier 12 and forms a contact socket 142 on its side facing the plug-in section 120 and a connection section 141 on its other, opposite side for connecting to an associated conductor 21 of the cable 2. The shaft section 140 is essentially cylindrical and, after the forming of the contacting element 16, is completely surrounded by the material of the contacting section 161.

[0047] The contacting element 16 forms a further contacting section 160, which is connected via an intermediate section 162 to the contacting section 161 assigned to the earthing contact 14 and is assigned to the housing part 17 in such a way that the contacting section 160 lies radially outside the housing part 17, thus at least partially encompassing the housing part 17 on the outside, is in electrical contact with the housing part 17 and thus establishes an electrical connection to the housing part 17.

[0048] The intermediate section 162 extends inside the bearing element 15 and forms in the longitudinal section plane according to Fig. 2 and 3 a stage to extend from the housing part 17, which is formed in one piece with the bearing element 15, to the grounding contact 14.

[0049] With reference to an axis pointing along the insertion direction E of the substantially cylindrical connector 1, the contacting section 161 of the contacting element 16, which is associated with the contact carrier 12, is arranged radially within the contacting section 160, which is associated with the housing part 17, as can be seen from the schematic view according to Fig. 5 This is evident. The contacting element 16 can take the form of a conventional, in Fig. 4 replicate the contact spring shown, which is shaped as a stamped and bent part, and extend section by section in a crescent shape on the outside of the housing part 17.

[0050] The forming of the contact element 16 can take place directly in situ on the contact carrier 12 and the housing part 17. The contact element 16 can be formed on the contact carrier 12 after the contact elements 13 and 14 have been inserted into their respective receiving sockets 120 of the contact carrier 12 and fixed to the contact carrier 12, and after the housing part 17, together with the bearing element 15 and, if applicable, the connecting element 11, has been arranged on the contact carrier 12. By sealing the components of the pre-assembled modules thus created and by placing the assembly in a suitable casting tool, the contact element 16 is formed on the contact carrier 12 and the housing part 17, also forming the contact section 160 associated with the housing part 17, so that after removing the assembly from the tool, the housing part 17 is electrically connected to the grounding contact 14.

[0051] As this is shown Fig. 6 As can be seen, an opening 170 is provided on the housing part 17 for forming the contacting element 16 in situ. Material is poured through this opening into the space associated with the contacting element 16 in order to form the contacting element 16 radially within the housing part 17 on the contact carrier 12. The opening 170 is formed on the housing part 17 and provides access to a casting channel formed on the contact carrier 12, which extends towards and surrounds the shaft section 140 of the grounding contact 14. In other words, the contact carrier 12, the housing part 17, and the grounding contact 14 form a cavity into which liquid material, in particular a metallic material, flows during casting to form the contacting element 16.

[0052] Alternatively, the housing part 17 can also be attached to the assembly thus created after the contacting element 16 has been formed on the contact carrier 12, in order to establish an electrical contact between the contacting element 16 and the housing part 17 by placing the housing part 17 against the contacting element 16 from the outside.

[0053] In the schematically in Fig. 5 In the illustrated embodiment, the contacting section 160 extends over a circular arc segment on the outside of the housing part 16 and, after being formed in situ on the assembly comprising the housing part 17, the contact carrier 12, and the grounding contact 14, conforms to the outside of the housing part 16. The intermediate section 162 extends through the opening 170 in the housing part 16 towards the grounding contact 14 in order to completely surround and thereby contact the grounding contact 14 with the contacting section 161.

[0054] In another, in Figs. 7 and 8 In the illustrated embodiment, the contacting section 160 associated with the housing part 17 extends ring-shaped around the housing part 17, so that the contacting section 160 completely surrounds the housing part 17. Again, the contacting element 16 is formed in situ on the assembly comprising the housing part 17, the contact carrier 12, and the grounding contact 14, with the liquid material flowing around the housing part 17 in the casting mold during casting and thus forming the ring-shaped contacting section 160.

[0055] While Fig. 7 the contacting element 16 on the housing part 17 and in conjunction with the grounding contact 14 shows, represents Fig. 8The contacting element 16 is shown in a separate view. The intermediate section 162 extends in a stepped fashion between the radially outer contacting section 160, which encompasses the housing part 17, and the radially inner contacting section 161, which contacts the grounding contact 14.

[0056] The underlying idea of ​​the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can also be realized in other ways.

[0057] A connector of the described type can be used to connect an electrical cable attached to the connector to a cable associated with a mating connector or to a higher-level electrical assembly.

[0058] Such a connector can be used to transmit electrical currents to provide a power supply or to transmit data signals. Reference symbol list

[0059] 1 Connector 10 Sheath 100 Interior 11 Connecting element 110 Collar 111 Threaded section 12 Contact carrier 120 Receptacle 121 Plug-in section 13 Contact elements 14 Grounding contact (PE contact) 140 Shaft section 141 Connection section 142 Contact socket 15 Bearing element 150, 151 Seal 16 Contacting element 160 Contacting section 161 Contacting section 162 Intermediate section 17 Electrically conductive housing part 170 Opening 2 Electrical cable 20 Cable sheath 21 Conductor 3 Mating connector E Plug-in direction

Claims

1. Plug-in connector (1) for plug-connection to a mating plug-in connector (3), comprising a contact carrier (12) manufactured from an electrically insulating material, an electrical earthing contact (14), which is arranged on the contact carrier (12), for making electrical contact with the mating plug-in connector (3) and an electrically conductive housing part (17) connected to the contact carrier (12), and an electrically conductive contacting element (16) which is manufactured by means of a casting technique and has a first contacting portion (160) bearing in an electrically contacting manner against the housing part (17) and a second contacting portion (161) bearing in an electrically contacting manner against the earthing contact (14) and electrically connects the housing part (17) to the earthing contact (14), characterized in that the contacting element (16) is formed using the casting technique in situ on a preassembled assembly formed by the contact carrier (12), the earthing contact (14) and the housing part (17), wherein an opening (170) is provided on the housing part (17), it being possible to pour material into the space associated with the contacting element (16) through the opening in order to form the contacting element (16) radially within the housing part (17) on the contact carrier (12), wherein the opening (170) is formed on the housing part (17) and provides access to a casting channel which is formed on the contact carrier (12) and extends towards and surrounds a shaft portion (140) of the earthing contact (14), so that the contact carrier (12), the housing part (17) and the earthing contact (14) form a cavity into which liquid material flows to form the contacting element (16) during casting.

2. Plug-in connector (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the contacting element (16) is manufactured as a cast metal part by means of metal casting.

3. Plug-in connector (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the contacting element (16) is manufactured as an injection-moulded part from an electrically conductive plastic by means of plastic injection moulding.

4. Plug-in connector (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact carrier (12) has a receiving socket (120) and the earthing contact (14) has a shaft portion (140), wherein the earthing contact (14) is arranged in the receiving socket (120) by way of the shaft portion (140) and the second contacting portion (161) of the contacting element (16) bears in an electrically contacting manner against the shaft portion (140).

5. Plug-in connector (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the second contacting portion (161) of the contacting element (16) circumferentially surrounds the shaft portion (140).

6. Plug-in connector (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first contacting portion (160) projects radially outwards beyond the second contacting portion (161).

7. Plug-in connector (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by an electrically conductive bearing element (15) which is arranged radially outside the contact carrier (12) and is connected to the housing part (17), and a connecting element (11) which is rotatably mounted on the bearing element (15) about a plug-in direction (E) along which the plug-in connector (1) can be plug-connected to the mating plug-in connector (3).

8. Plug-in connector (1) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the contacting element (16) bears against the bearing element (15) in an electrically contacting manner.

9. Plug-in connector (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing part (17) is at least partially enclosed by an electrically insulating casing part (10), wherein the casing part (10) forms a circumferentially enclosed interior (100) and an electrical cable (2) is introduced into the casing part (10) at an end of the casing part (10) facing away from the contact carrier (12).

10. Plug-in connector (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one electrical contact element (13) for making electrical contact with the mating plug-in connector (3) which, in addition to the earthing contact (14), is arranged on the contact carrier (12).

11. Plug-in connector (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact carrier (12) has a plug-in portion (121) by way of which the plug-in connector (1) can be plug-connected to the mating plug-in connector (2) along a plug-in direction (E).

12. Plug-in connector (1) according to Claim 11, characterized in that the plug-in portion (121) encloses the earthing contact (14) circumferentially around the plug-in direction (E).

13. Method for producing a plug-in connector (1) for plug-connection to a mating plug-in connector (3), wherein the method comprises: providing a contact carrier (12) manufactured from an electrically insulating material, arranging an electrical earthing contact (14) for making electrical contact with the mating plug-in connector (3) on the contact carrier (12), and providing an electrically conductive housing part (17) to be connected to the contact carrier (12), manufacturing an electrically conductive contacting element (16) on the contact carrier (12) by means of a casting technique in such a way that the contacting element (16) forms a first contacting portion (160) for making electrical contact with the housing part (17) and a second contacting portion (161) bearing in an electrically contacting manner against the earthing contact (14), characterized in that the contacting element (16) is formed using the casting technique in situ on a preassembled assembly formed by the contact carrier (12), the earthing contact (14) and the housing part (17), wherein an opening (170) is provided on the housing part (17), material being poured into the space associated with the contacting element (16) through the opening in order to form the contacting element (16) radially within the housing part (17) on the contact carrier (12), wherein the opening (170) is formed on the housing part (17) and provides access to a casting channel which is formed on the contact carrier (12) and extends towards and surrounds a shaft portion (140) of the earthing contact (14), so that the contact carrier (12), the housing part (17) and the earthing contact (14) form a cavity into which liquid material flows to form the contacting element (16) during casting.

14. Method according to Claim 13, characterized by connecting the housing part (17) to the contact carrier (12) in such a way that the housing part (17) bears in an electrically contacting manner against the first contacting portion (160), so that the contacting element (16) electrically connects the housing part (17) to the earthing contact (14).