CONNECTORS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connector with a contact carrier for receiving plug contacts having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] It is generally known, although not documented in writing by the applicant, that connectors can be equipped with a plug-in coding system. Besides so-called internal coding, which is achieved, for example, by partitions within the plug-in area, connectors can also be equipped with so-called external coding. In this case, the connector has coding lugs on specific areas of the outer surface of the contact carrier. These correspond to coding grooves, so that mating is only possible if the connector and mating part are correctly aligned or if the plug-in coding matches the mating part.

[0003] Such codings serve in particular to avoid incorrect polarity.

[0004] In the automated manufacturing of connectors, particularly those conforming to the RAST standard, defined contact carrier sections exist in which the coding lugs are arranged across the width of the contact carrier – referred to as mounting strips in the invention – and are arranged in a regular grid of coding lugs. Typically, the mounting strip is covered with coding lugs in the corresponding grid across its entire width. During the actual connector assembly, i.e., the connection of conductors to the connector, certain coding lugs are sheared off according to specifications, while others remain, resulting in a coding pattern characteristic of the assembled connector.

[0005] The different coding options result from the width of the connector's mounting strip for coding lugs and the coding lug grid. Narrow coding lug grids are preferred, extending across the entire width of the contact carrier and ideally formed on two opposing contact carrier side walls.

[0006] In the automated production of connectors, it is a significant advantage if the connectors are linked together in a chain or belt and can be moved through the assembly machine during the assembly process. This ensures a defined feed to the individual assembly stations. The feed is reliable. The feed dimension, and thus the cycle time of the assembly machine, can be influenced by the grid of such a contact carrier / connector chain, enabling simple and reliable connector assembly.

[0007] The applicant's own patent application DE 41 283 29 A1 discloses a connector chain and refers to prior art that is not documented in the printed document. In this prior art, the contact carriers have first connecting elements in the form of connecting hooks on one side wall and second connecting elements in the form of connecting lugs on the opposite side wall of the contact carrier. The contact carriers are arranged one behind the other, with the lugs pointing towards the hooks, and the hooks of one connector engage in the lugs of its adjacent connector. In this way, the contact carriers are joined together to form a chain. During the subsequent assembly of the connector, this chain is disassembled by shearing off the connecting hooks and connecting lugs.

[0008] This arrangement of contact carriers for connector assembly, as described in DE 41 283 29 A1, is extremely advantageous for manufacturing.

[0009] Since connecting hooks and connecting lugs - collectively referred to as connecting elements - are arranged on the outer surfaces of the contact carrier side walls opposite each other, there is a conflict with the arrangement of coding lugs, which is why connectors with coding lugs are usually fed to the assembly machine via alternative methods.

[0010] German patent application DE 20 2018 100 416 U1 discloses a connector with connecting means for forming a connector chain. In this connector, coding pins protrude from the underside in the insertion direction, i.e., the side of the contact carrier facing the insertion direction, through which the contacts are accessible.

[0011] German patent application DE 41 12 651 A1 discloses a connector without variable coding capability. Connecting means for manufacturing a connector chain are not disclosed.

[0012] US patent 2014 / 0342595 A1 also discloses a connector whose coding cannot be individually changed during the assembly process. Here, a coding is determined during the manufacturing of the contact carrier. For this purpose, sleeve sections surrounding the plug contacts are provided with a specific geometric shape. Connecting means for manufacturing a connector chain are not disclosed.

[0013] DE 20 2016 105 525 U1 discloses a connector with connecting elements for forming a connector chain. This connector also has shearable coding pins. However, the coding pins and the connecting elements are arranged on a locking cap and not on the contact carrier itself. Furthermore, the connecting elements define a space within which the coding pins are arranged on the locking cap.

[0014] The object of the invention is to create a connector with external coding which can be connected to form a chain by connecting several contact carriers in series.

[0015] The invention is solved by a connector having the features of claim 1, in particular its characterizing features, according to which the coding lugs are arranged on the outer surface of the contact carrier side wall, project from the contact carrier side wall and are designed to be shearable, the coding lug grid extends completely across the side wall width, the coding lugs are arranged in a first mounting strip, the first connecting element is arranged on the contact carrier side wall in a manner that preserves the coding lug grid, a geometric mirror plane is present, the contact carrier side wall is formed parallel to the side wall and lies between the first and second contact carrier side walls, second coding lugs are arranged on the second contact carrier side wall, the arrangement of the second coding lugs takes place in a third mounting strip, which is arranged on the second contact carrier side wall in a mirror image to the first mounting strip, a fourth mounting strip without coding lugs is present on the second contact carrier side wall,in which at least one second connecting element is arranged.

[0016] The main advantage is that even when connecting elements are arranged on the connector sidewall equipped with coding lugs, the full sidewall width remains available for the coding lugs within their coding lug grid. This means that the number of coding lugs does not need to be reduced despite the use of connecting elements to create a connector or contact carrier chain. It is advantageous to position the connecting elements either upstream or downstream of the coding lugs in the mating direction. Preferably, the coding lugs are located close to the mating opening, while the connecting elements are positioned further away from the mating opening on the sidewall of the contact carrier.

[0017] The coding lugs and connecting elements are arranged in separate mounting strips, ensuring sufficient space for both. The coding lugs are typically positioned at the front in the insertion direction. Therefore, the first mounting strip is also located at the front in the insertion direction, i.e., close to the insertion opening. The second mounting strip for the connecting elements, however, is located behind the coding lugs in the insertion direction, i.e., furthest from the insertion opening, on the side wall of the contact carrier.

[0018] Furthermore, the connector is equipped with a second contact carrier side wall, which is arranged opposite the first side wall and accommodates the plug opening between itself and the first side wall, with a geometric mirror plane that is formed parallel to the contact carrier side wall and lies between the first and second contact carrier side wall, with second coding lugs on the second contact carrier side wall, with at least one second connecting means on the second contact carrier side wall.

[0019] In other words, two opposing contact carrier side walls are provided with coding lugs, which maximizes the coding possibilities. The invention provides that the arrangement of the second coding lugs in a third mounting strip, which is arranged on the second contact carrier side wall in a mirror image to the first mounting strip, a fourth coding lug-free mounting strip is present on the second contact carrier side wall, in which at least a second connecting element is arranged.

[0020] In terms of its structure, the opposite contact carrier side wall is therefore identical to the first contact carrier side wall.

[0021] The invention adopts features advantageous to the prior art in that the first connecting element is a connecting hook and the second connecting element is a connecting eyelet, wherein preferably the connecting eyelet has two retaining feet and each retaining foot of the connecting eyelet is arranged in a retaining alignment free of coding lugs, and wherein in particular the connecting hook has two retaining feet and each retaining foot of the connecting hook is arranged in a retaining alignment free of coding lugs.

[0022] An alternative, particularly preferred embodiment of the connector is characterized in that the contact carrier forms a narrow neck and a base that is wide compared to the neck, wherein the first mounting strip of the first contact carrier side wall and the third mounting strip of the second contact carrier side wall are arranged on the contact carrier neck.

[0023] As a further embodiment, it is provided that the second mounting strip of the first contact carrier side wall and the fourth mounting strip of the second contact carrier side wall are arranged on the contact carrier base, in particular if the contact carrier base is at least a dimension wider than the coding carrier neck, which corresponds to the projection of the coding lugs relative to the coding carrier neck.

[0024] In this particularly preferred embodiment, the shearing blades intended for shearing off the coding lugs can again be used. However, a lateral offset of the shearing blades or the coding carriers is not required. The correct alignment of the contact carrier and shearing blades relative to each other is regulated by the offset. If the contact carrier base is wider than the contact carrier neck by at least the amount of the coding lug projection, an unintended collision between the shearing blade and the coding lug during shearing of the connecting elements is reliably prevented, and incorrect coding due to improper cutting or removal of coding lugs is excluded.

[0025] Of course, it is also possible here to work with two counter-rotating shearing blades, one shearing off coding lugs and the other the connecting elements. These can also perform their shearing motion in a single operation or cycle.

[0026] Further advantages of the invention, as well as a better understanding of it, will become apparent from the description of an exemplary embodiment. The following are shown: Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the connector according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a view of the narrow side of the connector according to the invention. Figure 1 , Fig. 3 a view of the first contact carrier side wall of the connector according to Figure 1 , Fig. 4 a view of the second contact carrier side wall of the connector according to Figure 1 , Fig. 5 a view of the plug opening of the connector according to Figure 1 opposite the insertion direction, Fig. 6 a view of the connector base in the insertion direction and Fig. 7 representation of a connector chain consisting of several connectors according to Figure 1 .

[0027] In the figures, a connector according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The connector 10 is in Figure 1shown in an exploded view. It comprises a contact carrier 11, which is composed of a contact base 11.1 and a contact carrier cover 11.2. This two-part contact carrier 11, composed of contact base 11.1 and contact carrier cover 11.2, serves to hold several plug contacts 12, whose opposing spring arms 13 form a plug slot 14 for receiving mating contacts.

[0028] The contact carrier cover 11.2 forms a plug opening 15 at the front of the contact carrier 11 in the plugging direction X, through which the plug gap 14 of the plug contacts 12 is accessible.

[0029] The contact carrier base 11.2 is provided with conductor insertion openings 16 and has locking supports 17 and locking springs 18 to be attached to the contact carrier cover 11.2.

[0030] A view of the narrow side of the connector in Figure 2shows that the contact carrier 11 has a contact carrier neck 19 formed by contact carrier cover 11.2, which originates in the plug-in direction X from a contact carrier base 20 formed by the contact carrier cover 11.2 and in particular also by the contact carrier base 11.1.

[0031] The contact carrier 11 of the connector 10 forms a first contact carrier side wall 21, which extends from the contact carrier cover 11.2 and across the entire contact carrier base 11.1 in the insertion direction. Opposite this is a second contact carrier side wall 22, which also extends across both the contact carrier cover 11.2 and the contact carrier base 11.1.

[0032] Coding lugs 23 extend from both contact carrier side walls 21, 22 by a projection d. How Figure 2As shown, the first and second contact carrier sidewalls 21 and 22 are set back by the projection d in the area of ​​the contact carrier neck compared to their position in the contact carrier base 20. In other words, the contact carrier base 20 is wider by at least the sum of the projections d of the coding lugs 23 extending from the contact carrier sidewalls 21 and 22.

[0033] Finally, it shows Figure 2 , that the first contact carrier side wall 21 carries a first connecting element 24, which is designed as a connecting hook 25, whereas the second contact carrier side wall 22 carries a second connecting element 26, which is designed as a connecting eyelet 27.

[0034] Figure 3 Figure 1 shows a view of the first contact carrier side wall 21. This can initially be divided into mounting strips M, i.e., surface areas that allow the arrangement of components. Figure 3The exemplary mounting strips M are separated from each other by boundary lines B.

[0035] Each mounting strip M extends transversely to the insertion direction X across the entire width of the connector 10 or the contact carrier 11; its length measured in the insertion direction X corresponds at least to the space required for arranging components in the insertion direction X.

[0036] In Figure 3 The contact carrier 10 or its first contact carrier side wall 21 initially forms a first mounting strip M.1 in which the coding lugs 23 are arranged and which is located at the front of the connector 10 in the plugging direction or is formed close to the plugging opening.

[0037] A second mounting strip M.2 is free of coding lugs and serves to arrange the first connecting means 24 in the form of connecting hooks 25. In the embodiment of the invention described here, it is located far from the plug opening in the area of ​​the contact carrier base 20, whereas the first mounting strip M.1, located near the plug opening, is formed in the area of ​​the narrower contact carrier neck.

[0038] Figure 4 Figure 1 now shows a view of the connector 10 or contact carrier 11 towards the second contact carrier side wall 22 opposite the first contact carrier side wall 21. Here too, the second contact carrier side wall 22 can be divided into mounting strips M running across the entire width of the side wall, perpendicular to the insertion direction X; four mounting strips M are shown here as an example, separated by boundary lines B.

[0039] The second contact carrier side wall 22 initially carries a third mounting strip M.3 near the plug opening or in the plug-in direction at the front of the contact carrier 11, which here carries the coding lugs 23. A fourth mounting strip M.4, without coding lugs, is arranged further away from the plug opening in the area of ​​the contact carrier base 20. Here, second connecting elements 26 in the form of connecting lugs 27 are located.

[0040] The Figure 3 and 4 Figures 1 and 2 show that the coding elements in their respective mounting strips M.1 and M.3 are arranged in a regular contact nose grid that extends across the entire contact carrier width. This ensures that the coding variance of the connector 10 is maximized by a high number of coding noses 23. The connecting elements 26 arranged in separate mounting strips M.2 and M.4 do not reduce the number of coding possibilities by decreasing the number of coding noses 23.

[0041] The special embodiment with contact carrier neck 19 and contact carrier base 20 of differing dimensions has the significant advantage that different shear lines are provided for shearing off the connecting elements 24 / 26. One or more shear tools 28 run along these lines to remove specific coding lugs or the connecting elements 24, 26. Shear line S.1 serves to shear off the connecting eyelet 27. When the shear tool 28 performs its shearing movement along this line, damage to the coding lugs 23 or shearing them off without damage is reliably prevented. To remove coding lugs 23 from the second contact carrier side wall 22, the shear tool must be moved along shear line S.2. The same procedure is followed for the connecting hook 25 or the coding lugs 23 on the first side wall. Separate shear lines (p. 3 and p. 4) are also available for each shearing process.

[0042] The embodiment shown in the exemplary embodiment thus not only makes it possible to ensure coding variance through a high number of coding lugs 23 by using different mounting strips M for coding lugs 23 and connecting elements 24, 26. The division of the contact carrier 11 into a narrow contact carrier neck 19 and a wider contact carrier base 20 allows for different shear lines S, so that the shearing operations for removing connecting elements 24, 26 and for selectively removing coding lugs 23 are not only carried out separately from each other, but also in different machining planes, so that the respective shearing operation can be carried out specifically and without the risk of a shearing error.

[0043] Figure 5Figure 1 shows the connector 10 according to the invention in a top view, i.e., in a view of its plug opening 15, in which the plug contacts 12 forming the plug gap 14 are seated. Besides the first connecting element 24 and the second connecting element 26, designed as a connecting hook 25 and connecting eyelet 27 respectively, the coding lugs 23 are also visible. The projection between the contact carrier neck 19 and the contact carrier base 20 by the dimension d is shown in the top view according to Figure 2. Figure 5 This is particularly evident once again. It is also visible here that the projection d corresponds to the extension of the coding lugs 23 from the respective contact carrier side wall 21, 22.

[0044] Figure 6 shows the connector 10 in a view from below with the connecting lugs 27 and the connecting hook 25.

[0045] Figure 7 Figure 1 now shows the application of the connecting elements 24 and 26 according to the invention. Figure 7Several connectors 10, in this case three, are arranged one behind the other, with the first connecting element 24 in the form of the connecting hook 25 engaging the second connecting element 26 of the adjacent connector 10. Thus, in this connector chain, it is ensured that a connecting hook 25 engages the connecting eyelet 27 of the adjacent connector 10.

[0046] In this way, a large number of connectors, or more importantly their contact carriers 11, can be connected to one another in order to be fed through an assembly machine. Once the connector 10 is fully assembled, the connecting elements 24 / 26 are sheared off and the connectors are separated.

[0047] The key advantage of the invention lies in the fact that, even when using the maximum connector width and thus the maximum number of coding elements, a connection between the contact carriers 11 and connectors 10 is still possible. This is achieved by arranging the connecting elements 24 / 26 in a coding-notch-free mounting strip on the respective contact carrier sidewall 21, 22. Shearing off the connecting elements 24 / 26 is facilitated in particular by the fact that the contact carrier 11 is divided into a narrow contact carrier neck 19 and a wide contact carrier base 20 in the insertion direction X. The contact carrier base 20 projects beyond the contact carrier neck 19 by at least the respective projection d of the coding lugs 23 arranged on the contact carrier sidewalls 21, 22.This ensures that the shearing tools can be precisely directed to the connecting elements 24 / 26 or the coding lugs 23 and that a misshearing, i.e., an incorrect removal of coding lugs 23 or connecting elements 24 / 26, is reliably excluded. Reference symbol list

[0048] 10 Connector 11 Contact carrier 11.1 Contact carrier base 11.2 Contact carrier cover 12 Plug contact 13 Spring arm 14 Plug gap 15 Plug opening 16 Conductor insertion opening 17 Detent support 18 Detent spring 19 Contact carrier neck 20 Contact carrier base 21 First contact carrier side wall 22 Second contact carrier side wall 23 Coding lugs 24 First connecting element 25 Connecting hook 26 Second connecting element 27 Connecting eyelet 28 Shearing tool B Boundary line d Projection dimension M.1 to M.4 Mounting strip S Shear line X Direction of insertion

Claims

1. Plug connector (10) having a contact carrier (11) for receiving plug contacts (12), - having a plug opening (15) which is designed at the front on the contact carrier (11) in the plug direction X and serves to receive counter contacts, - having a first contact carrier side wall (21), - having a regular coding lug grid that defines the regular arrangement of coding lugs (23) on the contact carrier (11), wherein - the first contact carrier side wall (21) is provided with at least one first connecting means (24), wherein - the outer surface of the first contact carrier side wall (21) is divided into mounting strips (M.1, M.2) arranged transverse to the plug direction, - the mounting strips (M.1, M.2) extend completely over the side wall width, - the first connecting means (24) are arranged in a second, coding lug-free mounting strip (M.2), and - having a second contact carrier side wall (22) which is arranged opposite the first side wall (21) and receives the plug opening (15) between itself and the first side wall (21), - having at least one second connecting means (26) on the second contact carrier side wall (22), characterised in that - the coding lugs (23) are arranged on the outer surface of the contact carrier side wall (21), are projected towards the contact carrier side wall (21) and can be designed in a manner capable of being sheared off, - the coding lugs (23) are arranged in a first mounting strip (M. 1), - the first connecting means (24) is arranged on the contact carrier side wall (21) receiving the coding lug grid, - the coding lug grid extends completely over the side wall width, - there is a geometric mirror plane, which is designed parallel to the contact carrier side wall and is placed between the first and second contact carrier side wall (21, 22), - second coding lugs (23) are arranged on the second contact carrier side wall (22), - the arrangement of the second coding lugs (23) takes place in a third mounting strip (M.3), which is arranged on the second contact carrier side wall (22) in a mirror-image to the first mounting strip (M. 1), - there is a fourth coding lug-free mounting strip (M.4) on the second contact carrier side wall (22) in which at least one second connecting means (26) is arranged.

2. Plug connector (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the connecting means (24) forms at least one retaining foot with which it is arranged in a manner capable of being sheared off on the contact carrier (11).

3. Plug connector (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the first connecting means (24) is a connection hook (25), and the second connecting means (26) is a connection point (27).

4. Plug connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the contact carrier (10) forms a narrow stem (19) and a wide base (20) towards the stem (19), wherein the first mounting strip M.1 of the first contact carrier side wall (21) and the third mounting strip M.3 of the second contact carrier side wall (22) are arranged in the contact carrier stem (19).

5. Plug connector (10) according to claim 4, characterised in that the second mounting strip M.2 of the first contact carrier side wall (21) and the fourth mounting strip M.4 of the second contact carrier side wall (22) are arranged on the contact carrier base (20).

6. Plug connector (10) according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the contact carrier base (19) is wider than the coding carrier stem (19) at least by a dimension d which corresponds to the projection of the coding lugs (23) towards the coding carrier stem (19).