Clamping strip for modular plug connectors

Abstract

The invention relates to a clamping strip for locally fixing at least one contact carrier module relative to the clamping strip, having at least one projection for creating a connection to a recess of the contact carrier module, wherein the at least one projection has at least one fin, or lug on a lateral flank such that the connection supports an interlocking and / or frictionally engaged latching. The invention also relates to the production method and assembly method for producing the connection between clamping strip and contact carrier module. The invention further relates to a module strip having at least one contact carrier module and at least one clamping strip in an at least temporary connection situation such that a structural unit is formed. The invention also relates to a modular plug connector for achieving multiple electrically conductive contacts, having a plug connector housing and a module strip.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a terminal block for the local fixation of at least one contact carrier module relative to the terminal block, comprising at least one projection for establishing a connection with a recess in the contact carrier module, and to the manufacturing method and assembly method for establishing the connection between the terminal block and the contact carrier module. Furthermore, the invention relates to a module block comprising at least one contact carrier module and at least one terminal block in an at least temporary connection situation, so that a structural unit is formed. Furthermore, the invention relates to a modular connector for implementing multiple electrically conductive contacts, comprising a connector housing and a module block.

[0002] Plug connectors in a wide variety of designs and variants are used to make contact or create detachable electrically conductive connections. One contacting option is the use of modular connectors with a plurality of contacting elements, which can be arranged in one or more modules within the connector. Due to their modular design and the use of different modules, such connectors can be very flexibly adapted to different contacting tasks, performance ranges, IP protection ratings, etc.

[0003] DE 10 2013 103 062 A1 discloses a solution for a multiple socket outlet and DE 30 46 758 A1 discloses a connection system for attaching a strain relief to an insulating housing.

[0004] DE 20 2015 009 386 U1 shows a system consisting of a connector module frame and one or more adapter elements. The module frame itself is generally a single piece and provides a defined, unchangeable space for a plurality of adapter elements and / or contact modules. While the single-piece design of the connector module frame is advantageous in terms of assembly, reducing the number of required individual parts, and increasing the stability of the overall construction, a significant disadvantage is that modular connectors of this type are fixed to the dimensions of the module frame with regard to the number of slots for the adapter elements or plug-in modules to be accommodated and are no longer adaptable.

[0005] Based on the basic idea of the one-piece module frame, the invention, disclosed in DE 20 2012 010 735 U1, attempts to reduce this disadvantage by using plug-in modules and module frame supports with different dimensions. The core idea here is that, on the one hand, the contact carrier modules are designed in different module widths and, on the other hand, modules are also provided whose width is a half-integer multiple (0.5, 1.5, 2.5 ...) of the width of the base module with a width D and that these can be releasably attached to a fixed frame part in a defined module grid. A frame with a fixed, uniform grid of webs and web spacing is provided, into which both the base modules and the modules with 0.5 times, 1.5 times, 2 times, 2.5 times ... the module width can be releasably locked.

[0006] With this proposed solution, the number of plug-in modules that can be accommodated in a given, one-piece plug-in module receiving space is variable due to their supported dimensional variation, but the total number of possible contact elements remains the same or almost the same across the modules, so that variability with regard to the contacting task is not possible or only possible to a limited extent.

[0007] The invention disclosed in DE 87 17 110 U1 comprises a modular connector device with a multi-part housing, in which a frame is provided in two parts into which differently designed contact modules can be inserted. The frame consists of two separate frame parts, one of which has a guide rail with a stop edge on each long side. The multi-part design is supported by two frame parts with fixed internal dimensions, which are joined in the plug-in direction and axial direction and connected to form a housing. Variable space for module slots is not feasible.

[0008] Depending on the design of the modular connector, one or more modules can be accommodated within the connector's module slots. The modules are designed so that at least one pin is integrated. The generally multi-part construction of these modular connectors supports modularity and adaptability to different contacting tasks and / or contacting requirements and offers improved flexibility due to their multi-part design.

[0009] If contact flexibility, and especially the number of poles, is to be adapted over a wider range, the one-piece, pre-assembled module frames or connector housings for accommodating plug-in modules have proven to be only partially suitable. Instead of the one-piece module frame design, designs comprising a plurality of contact carrier modules joined together by terminal blocks have been developed. In this way, virtually any number of contact elements can be implemented, which are then completed via appropriately designed terminal blocks to form a frame for plug-in modules.

[0010] A disadvantage of modular connectors with at least two-part module frame construction is the increased assembly effort resulting from the multi-part design. Depending on the connector design, a large number of contacts or poles can be contained in a number of contact carrier modules, connector modules, or plug-in modules. A modular connector is supplemented, for example, by terminal blocks, protective conductor contacts, connector module frames, module holders, connector housings, shielding housings, etc., so that a considerable number of individual parts must be installed for the modular connector. In addition to the number of parts, a considerable variety of parts and part variants can be required to provide modularity for different contacting tasks and / or the production of different connectors.

[0011] Another undesirable consequence of the multi-part nature of "assembled" connectors is the complexity associated with the multitude of handling steps and joining processes for the individual parts to create the desired complete component. This requires the correct elements of the modular connector to be assembled or joined in the correct order and at the correct location. Furthermore, space constraints or collision situations in the movement paths of the handling and assembly steps may need to be considered, further exacerbating the problem.

[0012] Assembled connectors can have module frames that are constructed in multiple parts. Depending on the design of the module frame elements, the module frames can be flexibly adapted to different plug-in module designs and the number of modules to be accommodated. One possible implementation involves the use of at least one terminal block within the module block, which can be combined using domes with contact carriers for accommodating contact carrier modules.

[0013] It is an object of the invention to further develop multi-part module frames, receiving frames with module slots for plug-in modules in such a way that the aforementioned disadvantages are at least partially reduced and improved handling of connector elements before and / or during assembly is supported.

[0014] To achieve this object, the invention proposes a modular connector according to claim 1, in which the simultaneous handling of a plurality of contact carrier modules, contact carriers within a module strip is simplified by joining these connector elements first and before further assembly to form a pre-assembled unit, module strip.

[0015] The invention recognizes that the at least temporary and preferably detachable connection can be established by a positive and / or non-positive connection of the terminal block with the contact carriers to be combined to accommodate contact carrier modules, thus supporting pre-assembly of the module as a module block. The positive and / or non-positive connection is achieved by one or more clamping elements in the form of projections that protrude from the terminal block surface and each correspond to a recess in the contact carrier module. The projections can have various prismatic contours and, according to the invention, have at least one rib or nose.

[0016] The at least one rib or nose is designed to correspond to the associated recess in the contact carrier or module holder and is configured such that it interacts with the locking hook in the recess of the contact carrier, so that a positive and / or non-positive connection can be established. The at least one rib or nose can be designed such that a rear grip is created with respect to the recess, which establishes the connection either in a non-positive and / or positive manner. The locking of the connecting partners to one another in the joining direction can be influenced by the geometry of the rear grip: If the engaging surface is arranged at an angle of less than 90°, the connection is primarily non-positive and, if necessary, supplemented by static and / or sliding friction effects. The recess of the contact carrier can be formed either by a wall bore or by the locking hooks.

[0017] By means of the at least temporary positive and / or non-positive connection of at least one terminal block and the module holder, contact carrier modules, contact carrier required for the plug-in contact modules, a pre-assembled component of the modular plug-in connector can be produced which can be reused as a structural unit, which allows handling to be considerably simplified and assembly quality to be increased.

[0018] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the figures. In the figures: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a possible embodiment of a terminal block with at least one projection and one rib or nose each; Fig. 2 shows a front view, a side view, a sectional view, and a detailed sectional view of the possible embodiment of a terminal block with at least one projection and one rib or nose each; Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a module strip as a structural unit formed by combining two terminal blocks and at least a plurality of contact carrier modules; Fig. 4 shows a front view, a side view, a sectional view, and a detailed sectional view of the module strip as a structural unit; Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a connector module frame with a plurality of module holders and recesses each having them.

[0019] Figure 1depicts a perspective view of a possible embodiment of a terminal block 1 with at least one projection 2 and one rib or nose 3 per projection 2. The at least one projection 2 preferably extends vertically from a terminal block surface in such a way that a recess 11 of the contact carrier module 10 to be fixed can be pushed onto it.

[0020] The projection 2 of the embodiment shown is designed as a cube-shaped dome and has a rib, nose 3, on one side flank. Preferably, it is intended to form the projection 2 with a rib, nose 3 on two opposite side flanks, so that a symmetrical engagement situation in the recess 11 is supported.

[0021] Figure 2includes the front view, side view and sectional plan view as well as a detailed sectional view of the possible embodiment of a terminal block 1 with at least one projection 2 and two ribs, noses 3 on opposite flanks of the projection 2 designed as a cube-shaped dome.

[0022] The projections 2 extend from the terminal block plane that is essentially flat, i.e., level and without webs. The webs of the terminal block plane opposite the direction of extension in the example shown can serve as reinforcement or dividing elements for components of the module holders 10. A partial front-end frame in the edge area of the terminal block 1 can fulfill various functions, for example, as a threading aid for the module holders 10 with their recesses 11 relative to the projections 2, as a contact edge for vertical alignment during assembly, as module holder protection, or as protection against unintentional separation of the at least temporary connection, which is realized by the engagement of projection 2 in the recess 11.

[0023] Figure 3shows the perspective view of a module strip 20 as a structural unit formed by merging two terminal strips 1 and at least a plurality of contact carrier modules 10. The formation of the module strip 20 as a structural unit is supported by the projections 2 according to the invention and the corresponding recesses 11 such that the at least temporary merging is a functional result of the connection in the form of a latching.

[0024] Figure 4Illustrates the front view, side view, and sectional top view, as well as a detailed sectional view of the module strip 20 as a structural unit. The detailed sectional view shows the at least one terminal strip 1 assembled to form an at least temporary, force-locking and / or positive-locking connection with the at least one contact carrier module 10 at their connection point. The locking mechanism holds the elements involved in the connection in place relative to one another, thus forming a preassembled structural or assembly unit that simplifies handling.

[0025] The connection point is realized by the projection 2, designed as a cube-shaped dome with (here) two ribs, lugs 3, and the corresponding recess 11 on two opposite side flanks. The ribs, lugs 3 realize a rear grip behind the recess 11, so that a preferably symmetrical engagement situation in the recess 11 is supported. The connection, locking, is established by an axial joining movement of the joining partners 2, 11 relative to each other under elastic and / or plastic deformation conditions of the adjacent areas and their materials.

[0026] Fig. 5 the perspective view of a connector module frame 30 with a plurality of module holders 10 and respective recesses 11. List of reference symbols

[0027] 1Terminal block, terminal block element 2Protrusion, clamping element 3Rib, nose 10Contact carrier module, module holder, contact carrier 11Recess, latching hook 20Module strip 30Connector module frame

Claims

1. Modular plug-in connector with a housing and two clamping strips (1), which are fitted in the housing, and a plurality of contact-carrier modules (10) for local fixing of the contact-carrier modules (10) in the housing relative to the clamping strips (1), wherein the clamping strips (1) have a multiplicity of projections (2) for establishing a connection to in each case one cutout (11) of the contact-carrier modules (10), wherein the projections (2) have at least one rib, nose (3) on a side flank such that the connection ensures form-fitting and / or force-fitting latching of the contact-carrier modules (10), wherein each of the two clamping strips (1) is formed in one piece.

2. Modular plug-in connector according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one projection (2) of the clamping strip (1) extends in a largely perpendicular direction from a clamping-strip surface that is substantially planar.

3. Modular plug-in connector according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one projection (2) of the clamping strip (1) is in the form of a cubic dome.

4. Modular plug-in connector according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one rib, nose (3) is in the form of a rear-engagement means in relation to the corresponding cutout (11).

5. Modular plug-in connector according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one projection (2) has two ribs, noses (3) on opposite side flanks of the projection (2) such that a situation in which the cutout (11) is engaged into in a symmetrical manner is promoted.

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