Plug-in connector system

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug-in connector system for contact-connecting electrical conductors for creating an electrically conductive connection, having a first housing element and at least one second housing element, wherein the housing elements, in the contact-connecting position of the electrical conductors of the plug-in connector system, are placed together at their end sides, wherein a first toothed rim is fixed to the end side of the first housing element and a second toothed rim that corresponds to the first toothed rim is fixed to the end side of the at least one second housing element, the corresponding tooth systems of said toothed rims interengaging in the position in which the housing elements are placed together, so that the housing elements are fixed in terms of rotation relative to one another and rotation of one housing element in relation to the other is prevented.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connector system for contacting electrical conductors to create an electrically conductive connection, comprising a first housing element and at least one second housing element, wherein the housing elements are placed together at their end faces in the contacting position of the electrical conductors of the connector system.

[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] Depending on the installation or environmental conditions, application, cabling situation, etc., very different positions and orientations of the incoming and outgoing cables and lines can be realized. For example, aligned cable arrangements, angular positions in virtually any angle, and perpendicular arrangements of the incoming and outgoing lines relative to each other are possible. For any angular arrangement, rotational degrees of freedom may be required, for example, for the outgoing line if the supply line terminates in a connector plug that is fixed and immobile.

[0004] Particularly sophisticated designs are required when connector arrangements in an angled design and with a precisely defined rotational position of the angled connector plug relative to the axis of the straight connector plug must be realized.

[0005] The teaching of DE 297 10 984 U1 describes an electrical plug-in connection device with a first plug-in connector which has a fastening body for securing it to a supporting part and a connecting body suitable for connection to a second plug-in connector, wherein the connecting body has a first set of electrical plug-in contacts which are able to establish an electrical plug-in connection with a second set of electrical plug-in contacts of the second plug-in connector attached to the connecting body, wherein the possibility is supported that a second plug-in connector designed as an angle part can be rotated together with the connecting body even after the plug-in connection has been established in such a way that the existing cable outlet points in a lateral direction in which there are no interfering components next to the plug-in connection device which would impair the laying of the cable.The position of the cable outlet can be freely selected within the available rotation range. The rotation angle limiting device ensures that excessive or repeated rotation does not damage the electrical connection between the first set of electrical plug contacts and the connected electrical cables. Outside the position of the rotation angle limiting device, the angular position is freely selectable, but a defined position is not supported due to the lack of a positive fit.

[0006] DE 10 2004 041 809 A1 discloses an angle coupler for connector systems for realizing an angular position of the supply line and the discharge line relative to one another. The angle part has a base body in which, on the one hand, a socket surrounded by the housing is arranged for receiving a plug contact, and, on the other hand, an insertion opening is provided for inserting one end of an electrical line for establishing an electrical connection with a socket contact fixed in the socket. Cooperating engagement elements for positive engagement in a predeterminable angular position of the angle part relative to the housing are arranged on the housing and the base body, and a displaceable locking element for locking and releasing the positive engagement is provided on the base body or the housing. The variance of the supported angular positions is limited to the predefined positioning of the engagement elements relative to one another.

[0007] German Patent Application DE 31 35 781 A1 discloses a cable connector with two selectable cable outlet directions and a housing comprising a cable entry area and a contact area. The housing consists of two parts that can be separated and joined together in the cable entry area, preferably by hand, and whose separating surfaces extend diagonally to the connector's longitudinal axis. While these cable connectors facilitate cost-effective mass production and allow for easy production of the desired cable outlet direction at the assembly site, they are unsuitable for many applications because only two cable outlet directions can be set.

[0008] EP 1 424 750 A1 discloses an electromechanical plug-in device with a plug connector, which is designed for electrical and mechanical connection to a plug connector counterpart. A cable outlet part has a circuit carrier provided for electrical connection to an outgoing cable, as well as a contact carrier drum mounted on the cable outlet part so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The contact carrier drum has first plug contacts accessible on the axial front side of the contact carrier drum facing away from the cable outlet part, in order to be electrically contactable with second plug contacts of the plug connector counterpart during a plug-in movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the contact carrier drum.The axial rear side of the contact carrier drum facing the cable outlet part is provided with first contact surfaces which are contacted or can be contacted with second contact surfaces provided axially opposite on the circuit carrier, regardless of the relative rotational position currently assumed between the cable outlet part and the contact carrier drum.

[0009] DE102018121397A1 relates to an electrical connector comprising a plug connector and a mating connector connectable to the plug connector. The mating connector has an actuating element movable between a home position and a locking position, which is designed to interact with a guide means of the plug connector such that the plug connection, starting from a pre-locking position, assumes a locking position when the actuating element is moved from the home position into the locking position. It is provided that the plug connector has a toothing, and the mating connector has a counter-toothing corresponding to the toothing of the plug connector, wherein the toothing and the counter-toothing engage with each other in the locking position of the plug connection.

[0010] When the electromechanical connection is established, only the relative position between the contact carrier drum having the first plug contacts and the contacted connector counterpart is fixed, while the cable outgoing part can be variably positioned in terms of rotation angle relative to the contact carrier drum and relative to the connector counterpart in order to align the outgoing cable as desired.

[0011] While the twistability is already advantageous for cable outlets coaxial with the contact carrier drum, as twisting of the outgoing cable can be avoided, the arrangement is particularly advantageous for connectors designed as right-angle plugs, so that the cable outlet is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the contact carrier drum.The electrical connection between the contact carrier drum and the cable outgoing part is made by first and second contact surfaces on, on the one hand, the axial rear side of the contact carrier drum and, on the other hand, a circuit carrier of the connector that is connected or to be connected to the outgoing cable, wherein between mutually assigned pairs of first and second contact contact surfaces both permanent contact is possible or only contact when an electromechanical connection is established, wherein beforehand, during the rotational angular alignment of the cable outgoing part, there is no electrical contact between the first and second contact contact surfaces to avoid wear.

[0012] For electrically conductive, detachable connectors, in addition to coding as a mechanical implementation of the correct connection of multi-pin connectors, a high degree of defined adjustment options with regard to the orientation and position of the cable outlet relative to the cable inlet is often required. This variability, combined with defined orientations of the respective angular positions, is not found in the state of the art, in addition to the disadvantages already outlined.

[0013] The object of the invention is to further develop plug connections and connector systems and to improve them in such a way that a high degree of defined adjustment options with regard to the orientation and position of the cable outlet relative to the cable inlet are supported by the rotational position of the housing elements of the connector system relative to one another and the disadvantages occurring in the prior art are at least partially reduced.

[0014] To solve this problem, the invention proposes a first gear ring on the front side of the first housing element and a second corresponding gear ring on the front side of the second housing element of the connector system, the respective teeth of which extend in the axial direction of the housing elements. The meshing of the gear rings secures the housing elements rotationally relative to one another, preventing rotation of one housing element relative to the other. The gears are arranged on the flat side and are similar in functional and geometric design to a Hirth gear. Other gear geometries, such as involute, sawtooth, rectangular, or trapezoidal gears, can also be used.

[0015] Depending on the gear geometry, the invention utilizes the respective geometry-dependent mechanical properties. If particularly good assembly and easy meshing of the gears are to be achieved, the invention provides for the use of gears with inclined tooth flanks and small or pointed tooth tips, for example, Hirth, sawtooth, or trapezoidal gears. With these gear geometries, the meshing movement is supported by the tooth side bevels, and the risk of the tooth tips "blocking" in the event of an inaccurate pre-assembly position of the gear rims is minimized by the small or almost zero tooth tip face. A disadvantage of these gear geometries, however, is that when torque loads are applied to the gearing, a linear force acting axially to the gear rims occurs, counter to the direction of meshing, and may need to be supported to prevent unwanted or uncontrolled loosening or loosening.To prevent movements beyond the engagement position of the teeth.

[0016] If a particularly good positive connection of the gear rims is to be achieved with a lower or almost zero linear force under torque loads on the gearing, the invention provides gear geometries with almost aligned and right-angled tooth flanks. These are, in particular, rectangular gears or trapezoidal geometries with a low lateral inclination.

[0017] The two gear rims, with their flat-side teeth (i.e., arranged on a face or a shoulder and extending in the axial direction of one of the connector housings), provide a largely positive fit when the teeth are engaged. This ensures a very accurate and precisely defined positioning of the wires, cables, and busbars to be contacted by the connector. The design of the gearing according to the invention not only achieves a high degree of variability in the possible positions, but also ensures particularly reliable anti-rotation security due to the positive connection of the intermeshing teeth.

[0018] A further particular advantage of the inventive design is that the gears can be manufactured using a single set of tools, injection molding tools. The achieved positioning variance can therefore be realized in a particularly cost-effective manner, as both the tooling costs themselves as well as volume effects and part costs are reduced.

[0019] In the angular relative position of the lines, cables, busbars to one another, the positioning of the first line, cable, busbar in its rotational position relative to the longitudinal axis (also referred to as the plug-in axis of the plug connection) of the second line, cable, busbar is ensured by the toothed ring use according to the invention.

[0020] To meet the frequently occurring requirement for very precise rotational positioning, the invention implements a high variance of possible positions. The high variance, i.e., the high number of possible rotational positions of the first line, cable, or busbar relative to the longitudinal axis of the second line, cable, busbar, or the second housing element or the second connector plug, is achieved by the high number of teeth on the gear rims. The rotational position, rotational relative positioning, is adjustable by a defined pre-assembly position of the housing elements, supported according to the invention by a zero marking on one housing element and a vernier scale on the other housing element.

[0021] According to the invention, 36 positions can be assumed around the circumference of the gear rims, allowing rotational positions to be assumed in 10-degree angular increments. The respective position is adjustable by a defined pre-assembly positioning between the corresponding gear rims, which are fixed, for example, to the connector housing parts. The 36 possible positions are realized structurally by 36 teeth of each gear rim. Positioning during assembly can also be facilitated and supported in this design by a vernier scale, which is preferably provided on a connector housing cover or housing element cover.

[0022] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the figures. In the figures: Fig. 1: the perspective view of a wireframe model of the connector system with a first housing element and a second housing element as well as a first line, cable, or busbar in operative contact with the first connector plug in one spatial orientation; Fig. 2: the perspective view of a wireframe model of the connector system with a first housing element and a second housing element as well as a first line, cable, or busbar in operative contact with the first connector plug in a second spatial orientation; Fig. 3a: the top view of the second gear ring in an exemplary embodiment having 36 teeth on the end face and evenly arranged in the circumferential direction; Fig. 3b: the sectional side view of the first gear ring with a plurality of teeth as well as the individual part image of a tooth; Fig.4 on the left shows the perspective view of the connector system with a first housing element and a second housing element, mating connector in an assembly position and a first line, cable, busbar in operative contact with the first housing element and on the right supplemented with a housing element; Fig. 5 the front view and top view of the connector system with a first housing element and a second housing element in a pre-assembled position; Fig. 6 the side view and bottom view of the connector system with a first housing element and a second housing element, mating connector in a pre-assembled position; Fig. 7 the sectional front view of the connector system with a first housing element and a second housing element, mating connector according to the illustration from . Figure 5; Fig. 8 the three-dimensional view of the connector system with a first housing element and a second housing element, mating connector according to the illustration from Figure 6 .

[0023] Figure 1 shows the perspective view of a wireframe model of the connector system 1 with a first connector plug or housing element 10 and a second connector plug, mating connector or housing element 20 as well as a first line, cable, busbar 30 in operative contact with the first connector plug 10 in an orientation in space.

[0024] The exploded view shows the elements of the connector system 1 in a position prior to assembly, in which the two housing elements 10, 20 are aligned vertically and correctly with respect to each other. The rotational position of the housing elements 10, 20 relative to each other is determined by their relative orientation. In the arrangement example shown, the zero-degree position is selected, so that the zero-degree marking 21 on the second housing element 20 and the zero-degree inscription on the vernier scale 11 are aligned in the longitudinal direction LL.

[0025] At least one anti-rotation device 24 can be provided on the second housing element 20, which cooperates with a housing element 20' (not shown here) and prevents the rotation of the second housing element 20 in the mounted position.

[0026] Figure 2comprises the perspective view of a wireframe model of the connector system 1 with a first housing element 10 and a second housing element, mating connector 20 and a first line, cable, busbar 30 in operative contact with the first housing element 10 in a direction opposite Figure 1 changed second orientation in space. This illustration also shows an exploded view of the elements of the connector system 1 in a position prior to assembly, in which the two housing elements 10, 20 are perpendicular and correctly plugged to each other in the zero-degree position, so that the zero-degree marking 21 on the second housing element 20 and the zero-degree inscription on the vernier scale 11 are aligned in the longitudinal direction LL.

[0027] In this embodiment, the two gear rings 12, 22 are designed for a total of 36 rotational relative positions. This is achieved by 36 teeth 12', 22' evenly distributed in the circumferential direction, allowing the rotational relative position to be adjusted in 10-degree increments. The vernier scale 11, whose scale ranges from 0 to 360 degrees in 10-degree increments, is also coordinated with this.

[0028] In order to fix the two housing elements 10, 20 in their assembled position relative to one another, i.e. in the engagement position of the teeth 12', 22' of the gear rims 12, 22, at least one first snap element 13 is provided on the first housing element 10 and at least one second snap element 23 is provided on the second housing element 20. In the assembled position of the housing elements 10, 20, these snap elements engage with one another, prevent their displacement in the axial direction and guide them in the radial direction. If, due to the tooth shapes, for example due to Hirth, sawtooth or trapezoidal toothing and caused by a torque load on the toothing, a linear force acting axially to the gear rims occurs against the direction of tooth engagement, the snap elements 13, 23 must also fix the housing elements 10, 20 against these forces in order to prevent undesired or uncontrolled loosening or loosening.To prevent movements beyond the engagement position of the teeth 12', 22'.

[0029] Figure 3a Illustrates the top view of the second gear ring 22 in an exemplary embodiment having 36 teeth 22' arranged on the end face and evenly in the circumferential direction, so that the rotational relative position of the first and second gear rings 12, 22 or the housing elements 10, 20 can be changed in 10-degree increments. This exemplary embodiment of the gearing according to the invention not only achieves a high variance of the possible position, but also ensures anti-rotation security due to the positive connection of the intermeshing teeth 12', 22'.

[0030] In the Figure 3bThe sectional side view of the first gear rim 12 with a plurality of teeth 12' is shown, as well as the individual part representation of a tooth 12'. The tooth shape selected here, as one of many suitable options, features straight tooth flanks, and the tooth tip area is tapered by a chamfer. The straight side flanks result in an axial force component that is almost zero or close to zero under radial load, and torque acting on the gearing when the teeth mesh. The chamfer in the tooth tip area reduces the size of the front face of the teeth, thus minimizing the risk of the tooth tips being "blocked" in the event of an inaccurate pre-assembly position of the gear rims 12, 22 due to the small or close to zero tooth tip face.

[0031] Figure 4includes on the left the perspective view of the connector system 1 with a first housing element 10 and a second housing element, mating connector 20 in an assembly position as well as a first line, cable, busbar 30 in operative contact with the first housing element 10 and on the right supplemented with a housing element 20'. The anti-twist device 24 of the second housing element 20 is introduced into axially extending recesses of the housing element 20' and realizes a positive connection with the recesses for the rotational fixing of the second housing element 20 in the circumferential direction.

[0032] In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the vernier 11 is formed in one piece with or within a housing element cover 11', which is detachably connected to the first housing element 10 at its free end face, ie the side facing away in the plug-in direction, via snap elements.

[0033] Figure 5Outlines the front and top views of the connector system 1 with a first housing element 10 and a second housing element 20 in a pre-assembled position. The assembly situation is realized by the interlocking of the first and second snap-in connection elements 13, 23, so that the housing elements 10, 20 are releasably fixed in their axial direction and with zero degree of freedom, and in their rotational position relative to each other with one degree of freedom relative to the snap connection.

[0034] Figure 6 illustrates the side view and bottom view of the connector system 1 with a first housing element 10 and a second housing element, mating connector 20 in a pre-assembled position analogous to the illustration in Figure 5 .

[0035] Figure 7 comprises the sectional front view of the connector system 1 with a first housing element 10 and a second housing element, mating connector 20 according to the illustration from Figure 5 .

[0036] Figure 8 shows a further three-dimensional view of the connector system 1 with a first housing element 10 and a second housing element, mating connector 20 according to the illustration from Figure 6 . List of reference symbols

[0037] 1Connector system, connector 10First connector plug, housing element 11Vernier, vernier scale 11'Housing element cover 12First gear ring 12'Tooth, toothing of the first gear ring 13First snap connection element 20Second connector plug, mating connector, housing element 20'Enclosure element 21Zero-degree marking 22Second gear ring 22'Tooth, toothing of the second gear ring 23Second snap-in connection element 24Anti-rotation device 30First line, cable, busbar 31Screw, clamping screw LL.Longitudinal direction of the second cable, longitudinal direction of the housing elements

Claims

1. Plug-in connector system (1) for contact-connecting electrical conductors for creating an electrically conductive connection, having a first housing element (10) and at least one second housing element (20), wherein the housing elements (10, 20), in the contact-connecting position of the electrical conductors of the plug-in connector system (1), are combined at their end sides, wherein a first toothed ring (12) is fixed to the end side of the first housing element (10) and a second toothed ring (22), which corresponds to the first toothed ring (12), is fixed to the end side of the at least one second housing element (20), the corresponding tooth systems (12' 22') of the toothed rings interengaging in the position in which the housing elements (10, 20) are combined, so that the housing elements (10, 20) are fixed relative to each other in terms of rotation and rotation of one housing element in relation to the other is prevented, characterized in that 36 rotationally different positions of the housing elements (10, 20) relative to each other can be assumed via the tooth system of the toothed rings (12, 22) and different positions can be assumed in 10-degree angular steps in each case, wherein the plug-in connector system (1) has a Vernier scale (11) and the second housing element (20) has a zero-degree marking (21), so that the rotational position of the housing elements (10, 20) relative to each other in the direction of longitudinal extent can be read off from the Vernier scale (11).

2. Plug-in connector system (1) for contact-connecting electrical conductors for creating an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the tooth systems (12', 22') of the toothed rings (12, 22) extend in the axial direction of the housing elements (10, 20).

3. Plug-in connector system (1) for contact-contacting electrical conductors for creating an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the tooth systems (12', 22') of the toothed rings (12, 22) are formed by a tooth geometry with straight tooth flanks.

4. Plug-in connector system (1) for contact-connecting electrical conductors for creating an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 3, characterized in that the tooth geometry of the tooth systems (12', 22') are supplemented with chamfers in the tooth head region, so that the end face of the teeth is reduced in size.

5. Plug-in connector system (1) for contact-connecting electrical conductors for creating an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the tooth systems (12', 22') of the toothed rings (12, 22) are formed by Hirth, involute, sawtooth, rectangular or trapezoidal tooth systems.

6. Plug-in connector system (1) for contact-connecting electrical conductors for creating an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the tooth systems (12', 22') of the toothed rims (12, 22) are each formed by 36 teeth (12', 22') uniformly distributed in the circumferential direction, so that the rotational position of the housing elements (10, 20) relative to each other can be defined in 10-degree steps.

7. Plug-in connector system (1) for contact-connecting electrical conductors for creating an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the Vernier scale (11) is designed as or integrally with a housing element cover (11').

8. Plug-in connector system (1) for contact-connecting electrical conductors for creating an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 7, characterized in that the housing element cover (11') can be detachably connected to the first housing element (10).

9. Plug-in connector system (1) for contact-connecting electrical conductors for creating an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the housing elements (10, 20) can be detachably combined via at least one first and one second snap-action connecting element (13, 23) respectively.

10. Plug-in connector system (1) for contact-connecting electrical conductors for creating an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 9, characterized in that the housing elements (10, 20), in their combined position, are fixed detachably and with a degree of freedom of zero in their axial direction and, in the rotational position relative to each other, with a degree of freedom of 1 with respect to the snap-action element connection (13, 23).

11. Plug-in connector system (1) for contact-connecting electrical conductors for creating an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second housing element (20) has at least one rotation-prevention means (24), so that the rotational position of the second housing element (20) in the plug-in connector system (1) can be fixed.

12. Plug-in connector system (1) for contact-connecting electrical conductors for creating an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second housing element (20) is enclosed by an enclosure element (20').

13. Plug-in connector system (1) for contact-connecting electrical conductors for creating an electrically conductive connection according to Claim 12, characterized in that the enclosure element (20') has recesses extending in the direction of longitudinal extent.

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