PLUG CONNECTOR SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connector system, connectors for detachably contacting electrical conductors to create an electrically conductive connection, comprising a connector plug with at least one plug contact pin, pin contact, and a connector mating connector with at least one plug contact socket, plug contact bore, wherein the connector plug and connector mating connector as well as the at least one plug contact pin, pin contact and plug contact socket, plug contact bore correspond to one another in such a way that they produce an electrically conductive connection by detachably plugging one into the other.

[0002] Connectors in a wide variety of designs and variants are used to make contact or create detachable electrically conductive connections. Connector solutions are available in a wide range of designs, for example, with regard to the number of poles, electrical performance, and conditioning for a wide range of external influences such as humidity, temperature, corrosive media, or mechanical stress.

[0003] Concepts for sealing plugs and mating plugs against liquid ingress are known from the documents US 2005 / 0191899 A1, US 2008 / 0160813 A1 and US 2001 / 0018283 A1.

[0004] Depending on the environmental conditions and the resulting influences, it must be ensured that the contacting task is carried out permanently, reliably, and without failure. To achieve this goal, protection classes have been defined, which are expressed by IP codes (IP = International Protection) and are based on test procedures for various environmental conditions.

[0005] Connectors for implementing various protection types or IP codes, IP classes are in many cases enclosed, housed, partially or completely sealed or even shielded by housings.

[0006] If housings or correspondingly designed connectors are used to meet higher IP classes, such as IP65 or IP68, increased requirements arise with regard to sealing properties. Connectors used in the area of ​​application of devices, operating equipment, luminaires, installation materials, etc., for example, with protection class IPX7, must at least provide temporary, phased protection against water penetration during submersion, i.e., against temporary submersion.

[0007] DE 10 2017 000 466 A1 discloses a sealed connector with a push-pull locking system. The connector presented for connection to a complementary socket in an operating state for establishing a data connection comprises a connector housing with a connecting device configured to at least partially engage and be connected to the complementary socket, as well as a circumferential sealing element, wherein the circumferential sealing element is arranged on the connecting device; and a circumferential pressing element configured to fix the circumferential sealing element to the connector housing, wherein the circumferential sealing element is configured to create a seal with respect to the connector housing and / or a seal with respect to the complementary socket in the operating state.The circumferential pressing element is designed to fix the circumferential sealing means to the connector housing, and in particular to the connecting device, by clamping the sealing element. Clamping in this sense means enclosing at least a portion of the sealing element between the pressing element and the connector housing, wherein the sealing means is compressed in at least one direction by the enclosing. This advantageously prevents the sealing element from falling off the connector housing.

[0008] In order to comply with the degree of protection IP67 (total protection against dust ingress and immersion) of the corresponding standard (IEC 60529) with plug-in connection elements, DE 60 2004 010 507 T2 presents electrical connection elements which interact by plugging in, primarily consisting of a cylindrical housing which forms a shaft inside for receiving electrical contact parts and has a collar around the outside edge of the shaft which extends radially from the housing at a distance from the shaft, an annular flat seal made of deformable elastic material which is applied to the housing by being pressed against the shoulder surface of the collar closest to the opening of the shaft and is intended to be arranged between the electrical connection element and the complementary connection element when both elements are connected to each other, and rotary clamping means which are intended to be connected to complementary clamping means,provided on the complementary electrical connection element, to act by pressure on the seal when the two electrical connection elements are connected to each other, the seal being made of a material with low deformation resistance and extending at least so far that it is substantially flush with the edge of the collar.

[0009] DE 60 2004 010 507 T2 provides further recommendations and information on the sealing material, its hardness and compressive strength as well as other properties.

[0010] DE 44 30 775 A1 discloses a waterproof connector having at least one terminal fitting including a connecting portion and a wire connecting portion. A sealing member is mountable on the terminal fitting, wherein the sealing member is formed with a mounting hole, which is a through hole, to allow the connecting portion to be inserted. The connector further comprises a connector housing having a cavity for at least accommodating the terminal fitting, wherein the sealing member is held in close contact with the inner wall surface of the cavity.

[0011] Another technical variant based on DE 44 30 775 A1 for realizing watertight plug connections is presented in DE 60 2005 005 100 T2, in which the plug contact pins are provided with sealing members. A sealing member is introduced which is mounted or arranged between an interlocking section, which can be brought into engagement with a resiliently deformable locking section, which is formed in or on a cavity front section, and the wire connecting section. The sealing member is provided in front of the wire connecting section or on the side opposite the wire connecting side, as seen from the wire side, and can, even if water enters through the interior of the wire, prevent any further forward movement of the water, i.e., the arrival of water on mating orcoordinated sections of the mating connection fittings.

[0012] DE 196 46 293 C1 proposes a sealed connector having a block-shaped contact carrier with a central opening and contact chambers. In order to eliminate the capillary action of moisture due to ambient conditions in this known connector and thus prevent moisture or contaminants from reaching the contact partners to be protected, and possibly electronic circuits and connecting conductor ends, it is proposed that the entire contact carrier be provided with the outer jacket not only on its lateral outer surfaces, but also at least partially across the end face of the contact carrier. As a result, the material region of the outer jacket extending across the end face of the contact carrier is tensile-resistantly connected to the base regions of a sealing collar, at least in sections.This does, to a certain extent, prevent the outer sheath, which is made of a relatively soft plastic material, from lifting off the outer surface or the end face of the contact carrier.

[0013] In addition to the sealing solutions for connectors and detachable contacts widely available in the prior art, technical concepts have been developed to remove any water that has penetrated. For this purpose, it is known to install drains that drain water that has penetrated the contact chambers or the plug-in collar of the connector back out of the connector area via a corresponding drainage path. Such drainage openings in the contact chambers and within the plug-in collar also have the advantage of allowing air to circulate during mating and unmating of the connector, thus keeping mating forces as low as possible. Examples of such drainage arrangements are described in US Pat. No. 8,257,101 B2 and EP 2 525 443 A1.

[0014] A problem with such water drainage channels leading out of the connector is that these drainage channels can be the cause of unwanted leakage currents. To improve tracking resistance, DE 10 2013 213 336 A1 proposes connecting each of the contact chambers to its own drainage channel, which is formed integrally within the housing and separate from the other drainage channels. This prevents the drained fluids from the various contact chambers from contacting each other to form a closed electrical connection, in the sense of a leakage current path. The proposed design comprises at least two contact chambers containing the power contact elements arranged within a tubular plug-in base.Since this plug-in base is usually positioned at an angle to the rear, fluid can collect within it, and a separate drainage opening must be provided for this area, which is also referred to as the plug-in face. The drainage opening is connected to exactly one of the drainage channels, preventing any connection to the other contacts. This is preferably the drainage channel that drains the contact chamber of a grounded contact element.

[0015] In the state of the art, there are primarily two different objectives for sealed connectors: With sealing solutions for different requirements, environmental conditions or IP protection classes, or with means for draining ingress of water.

[0016] Solutions for water wetting, humidification, or moisture exposure of connectors prior to assembly and mating are not available. Situations of this kind are particularly common when using detachable connectors in offshore applications, such as boats, ships, watercraft, or water sports equipment, such as surfboards with electrical equipment, drives, or jet skis. If these connectors are assembled with moist, wet, or liquid-wetted connector plugs, several problems can occur: Leakage currents resulting from creepage distances formed by moisture in the interior of the housing, corrosion of the electrical conductors, short circuits, sparking or arcing and, last but not least, the resulting hazards for persons, operating and user personnel.

[0017] The object of the invention is to further develop the existing designs of available connector solutions and to improve them in such a way that their mating, contacting, and assembly is possible even after prior exposure to water or moisture on the connector plugs, and the disadvantages of the prior art are at least partially reduced. In particular, the connectors according to the invention are conditioned for use in offshore applications.

[0018] According to the invention, it is proposed to integrate a water drainage function in the unmated state and a water displacement function during the mating process into the connector. This means that existing connector solutions, i.e., unsealed, partially, or fully sealed connectors, are enhanced with a design solution that allows even wet, moistened connector plugs to be mated, assembled, and brought into contact. Preferably, this function is enhanced for connectors that are sealed to IPX7 when mated.

[0019] The invention proposes surrounding the pin contact(s) or plug contact pin(s) with a cone, which ensures that any water present or that has penetrated is drained or transported away toward the plug base. This means that each of the pin contacts is housed within the plug contact housing by a dome-shaped protrusion with an outer conical contour. The conical contour tapers toward the plug contact tip.

[0020] The base of the plug is designed to slope downwards from the center of the plug at least in one direction normal to the plugging direction, so that the water is drained away from the interior of the plug.

[0021] The arrangement of the pin contact(s) or plug contact pin(s) within the connector housing is preferably in the center region of a radial sectional plane and is enclosed by an axially open, prismatic or cylindrical plug wall, which extends radially from the plug base and has at least one drainage hole in the base region. The at least one drainage hole in the plug wall allows the water, moisture, or liquid transported away from the plug contact area by the dome-shaped elevation(s) with a conical contour to be drained away and guided out of the plug contact area.

[0022] The plug connector mating connector with one or more plug contact sockets, plug contact holes for establishing contact with the plug contact pins, pin contacts of the plug contact plug has at least one preferably injection-molded seal made of a plastic material on the front side and on the input side of the plug contact socket, plug contact hole, which a. The removal of moisture, water, liquid from the respective pin contact, plug contact pin during the plugging or assembly process and b. in the plugged state, the radial sealing of the plug contact partners is realized individually, regardless of the water, moisture, liquid drainage.

[0023] Sealing is achieved through the interaction of the seal on and with the dome-shaped protrusion on its outer conical contour. This means that the sealing of the respective plug contact partners takes place within the connector housing, rather than the sealing of the entire connector housing to the outside. In this way, the achievable protection rating can be, for example, IPX7.

[0024] Functionally, the structural geometric design of the previously described dome-shaped elevation with a conical contour, in conjunction with the outwardly sloping plug base of the connector plug with plug contact pins and pin contacts, ensures that during and after the plug-in process of the connector plug with the connector mating connector, the water, moisture, and liquid wiped off by the seal from the plug contact pin or pin contact is transported away from the plug contact interior area and drained away. The at least one drain hole, introduced into the axially open, prismatic or cylindrical plug wall, which extends radially from the plug base, drains the water, moisture, and liquid from the plug contact interior area.

[0025] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the figures. In the figures: Fig. 1: The side view and the sectional front view of the connector, connector system with a connector plug and a connector mating plug; Fig. 2: The front view and the sectional side view of the connector plug; Fig. 3: The enlarged detailed sectional side view of the connector plug.

[0026] Figure 1shows the side view on the left and the sectional front view on the right of the connector system, connector 1, with a connector plug 10 and a connector mating connector 20. The basic structure of this exemplary embodiment of the connector system, connector 1, is realized here by the central region with the contacting device and the outer regions with locking function, fastening means, and threading aids. The central region with the contacting unit, formed by the connector system, connector 1, has a connector plug 10 with at least one plug contact pin, pin contact 11, which are received and held in the central region of the connector housing in or by dome-shaped elevations with an outer conical contour 12.

[0027] The mating connector 20 of the connector system, connector 1, has at least one plug contact socket, plug contact bore 21, which is arranged in such a way as to correspond to the at least one plug contact pin, pin contact 11 of the connector plug 10 that an electrically conductive, preferably detachable plug connection can be established. In the assembly or plug-in direction of the plug connection partners 10, 20 relative to one another, a seal 22 is provided in front of the opening of the at least one plug contact socket, plug contact bore 21.

[0028] This seal 22, which is preferably molded onto the front side and input side of the plug contact socket, plug contact bore 21, functionally wipes off moisture, water, liquid from the respective plug contact pin, pin contact 11 during the plugging or assembly process and, in the plugged state, radially seals the plug contact pairing consisting of plug contact socket, plug contact bore 21 and plug contact pin, pin contact 11, regardless of the water, moisture, liquid drainage.

[0029] Both the connector plug 10 and the connector mating plug 20 can optionally have housing seals 16, 23, which are arranged in the outer area of ​​the respective housing and enable sealing against or against adjacent installed components. The exemplary embodiment shown shows, as an example, a round cord seal with a round profile inserted into a groove.

[0030] Figure 2includes the front view (left) and the sectional side view (right) of the connector plug 10 with at least one plug contact pin, pin contact 11, which are received and held in the central region of the connector housing in or by dome-shaped elevations with an outer conical contour 12 and are enclosed by an axially open, prismatic or cylindrical plug wall 13, which extends axially from the connector base 15 and has at least one preferably radial drain hole 14 in the base region. The at least one hole, drain hole 14 is provided on the axially open, prismatic or cylindrical plug wall 13, adjacent to the connector base 15, which is designed to slope downwards from the connector center at least in a direction normal to the plugging direction, in such a way that the water, moisture, liquid is carried away from the connector interior.

[0031] The Figure 3illustrates the enlarged detailed sectional side view of the connector plug 10 with at least one plug contact pin, pin contact 11, which are received and held in the central region of the connector housing in or by dome-shaped elevations 12 with an outer conical contour 12 and are enclosed by a prismatic or cylindrical plug wall 13 which is open in the axial direction and extends radially from the connector base 15 and has at least one preferably radial drain hole 14 in the base region.

[0032] The connector base 15 is designed to slope downwards at least in one direction normal to the plugging direction, i.e., in the radial direction from the connector center. Due to the resulting inclined plane, the dome-shaped elevations 12 in the center of the connector plug 10 are higher in this view than the adjacent dome-shaped elevations 12, i.e., the central dome-shaped elevations 12 project beyond the adjacent dome-shaped elevations 12. Reference symbol

[0033] 1Connector system, connector 10Connector plug 11Plug contact pin, pin contact 12Dome-shaped elevation, conical contour 13Connector wall 14Hole, drain hole 15Connector base 16Housing seal 20Connector mating connector 21Plug contact socket, plug contact hole 22Seal 23Housing seal

Claims

1. Plug-in connector system (1) for releasably contacting electrical conductors for producing an electrically conductive connection, comprising a plug-in connector plug (10) having at least one plug-in contact pin, pin contact (11), and a mating plug-in connector plug (20) having at least one plug-in contact socket, plug-in contact hole (21), wherein the plug-in connector plug (10) and the mating plug-in connector plug (20) and also the at least one plug-in contact pin, pin contact (11), and the plug-in contact socket, plug-in contact hole (21), are arranged in a manner corresponding to each other in such a way that they establish an electrically conductive connection by being releasably plugged one into the other, wherein the at least one plug-in contact pin, pin contact (11), in the plug-in connector plug (10) is received and retained in a dome-shaped raised portion (12) with an outer conical contour and the dome-shaped raised portion (12) with an outer conical contour, with at least one seal (22) of the mating plug-in connector plug (20), seals off the at least one plug-in contact pin, pin contact (11), and the plug-in contact socket, plug-in contact hole (21), in the plugged-together state, wherein the plug-in connector plug (10) has a plug-in connector base (15) and is supplemented by a plug wall (13), which axially extends out of the plug-in connector base (15), characterized in that the plug-in connector base (15) extends in a sloping manner in at least one direction radially to the insertion direction of the plug-in connector system (1), so that water, moisture, liquid is guided away from the plug interior, and wherein the plug wall (13) adjoining the plug-in connector base (15) has at least one drain hole (14).

2. Plug-in connector system (1) for releasably contacting electrical conductors for producing an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the seal (22) seals off the at least one plug-in contact pin, pin contact (11), and the plug-in contact socket, plug-in contact hole (21), in the plugged-together state in the radial direction in interaction with a conical contour on the outside of the at least one dome-shaped raised portion (12).

3. Plug-in connector system (1) for releasably contacting electrical conductors for producing an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the seal (22) causes moisture, water, liquid to be wiped off from the respective plug-in contact pin, pin contact (11), during the plug-in process, assembly process of the plug-in connector system (1) by plugging one into another.

4. Plug-in connector system (1) for releasably contacting electrical conductors for producing an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the seal (22) is a seal composed of a plastic material and injection-moulded onto the mating plug-in connector plug (20).

5. Plug-in connector system (1) for releasably contacting electrical conductors for producing an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in the case of a plurality of dome-shaped raised portions (12), the central dome-shaped raised portions (12) project beyond the adjoining adjacent dome-shaped raised portions (12) due to the oblique plane resulting from the sloping extent of the plug-in connector base (15).

6. Plug-in connector system (1) for releasably contacting electrical conductors for producing an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the plug wall (13) has a prismatic or cylindrical geometry that is open in the axial direction.

7. Plug-in connector system (1) for releasably contacting electrical conductors for producing an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one hole, drain hole (14), is arranged at the end of the sloping extent of the plug-in connector base (15).

8. Plug-in connector system (1) for releasably contacting electrical conductors for producing an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that housing seals (16, 23) are provided for sealing off against adjoining assembly components, so that a protection class of at least IPX7 is achieved.

9. Plug-in connector system (1) for releasably contacting electrical conductors for producing an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 8, characterized in that the housing seals (16, 23) are formed as round cord seals and inserted into seal grooves.