Connecting device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connecting device (10) for connecting electrical cables, comprising an arrangement of electrical contacts, wherein a plurality of first electrical contacts are arranged around at least one second electrical contact, each of the first electrical contacts being at a substantially equal distance to the at least one second electrical contact, and an arrangement of clamping units, wherein each clamping unit has at least two clamping receptacles, each of which is configured to receive an electrical conductor reproducibly in a lockable and releasable manner such that release of the electrical conductor from a respective clamping receptacle is prevented in the locked state below a predetermined release force and is permitted in the unlocked state, wherein each of the electrical contacts is electrically connected to a clamping unit.

Description

[0001] It is generally known from the prior art that electrical devices, such as headlights, can be connected with electrical cables to supply the device with power. It is also generally known that two electrical cables can be connected together to create an extended electrical line.

[0002] A connecting device of this type is known, for example, from DE 10 2012 218028 A1, with further reference to WO 2019 / 002748 A1 and US 4 106 834 A.

[0003] However, these cable connections are often difficult to replace or repair individually, if at all possible.

[0004] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a connection device for connecting electrical cables which enables improved interchangeability.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by a connection device for connecting electrical cables according to claim 1, comprising an arrangement of electrical contacts which are configured to enter into electrically conductive contact with a complementary arrangement of electrical contacts in a plug-socket principle, wherein a plurality of first electrical contacts are arranged around at least one second electrical contact, wherein each of the first electrical contacts has a substantially equal distance to the at least one second electrical contact, and An arrangement of clamping units, wherein each clamping unit has at least two clamping receptacles, each of which is configured to receive an electrical conductor reproducibly in a lockable and releasable manner such that release of the electrical conductor from a respective clamping receptacle is prevented in the locked state below a predetermined release force and is permitted in the unlocked state, wherein each of the electrical contacts is electrically connected to a clamping unit.

[0006] In this context, "reproducible" means that an electrical conductor can be repeatedly inserted into a clamping receptacle, locked in the clamping unit, unlocked, removed from the clamping receptacle and reinserted (or possibly another electrical conductor) into the clamping receptacle, etc.

[0007] The connecting device is part of a plug-socket combination for connecting two electrical cables, wherein the connecting device according to the invention can be implemented as either a plug or a socket. In the case of the plug, the electrical contacts can advantageously be designed as pin-like projections. In the case of the socket, the electrical contacts can advantageously be designed as recesses.

[0008] In particular, at least one of the second contacts may be connected to an earthing conductor of the electrical cable and / or the first electrical contacts may be connected to phases of the electrical cable.

[0009] An example of an embodiment according to the present invention is a 5- or 7-pin plug connector in which one contact, usually the grounding contact, is arranged in the center and the remaining 4 or 6 contacts are arranged in a circle around this central contact.

[0010] The connection device according to the invention thus allows it to be disassembled without tools, i.e., without the use of special tools, and subsequently the clamp connections of the connection device to the electrical cable can be released. Depending on the repair situation, a replacement connection device can then be connected to the electrical cable, or a different, shortened, or repaired electrical cable can be connected to the connection device.

[0011] The arrangement of clamping units can be radially covered by a cover that prevents direct and potentially unintentional contact with the clamping units and / or the electrical conductors. The cover can consist of several subcomponents, for example two or three, which are essentially identical in design and, when assembled, form the cover.

[0012] If components of the connection device according to the invention, which are intended to be touched by a user, are made of plastic, the plastic itself can provide the necessary insulation of the electrically conductive components from the user. However, if components of the connection device according to the invention, which are intended to be touched by a user, are made of metal, grounding of these components can be provided. In particular, a metal ring can be arranged in contact with these components, which is in electrical connection with the aforementioned grounding conductor. The connection of the metal ring to the grounding conductor can comprise a stranded wire or a substantially rigid web, which is integrated into a connection base body made of plastic, for example, cast in or overmolded.The metal ring can be positioned axially, in which it radially surrounds the arrangement of electrical contacts.

[0013] In a further development of the present invention, the arrangement of clamping units can comprise a plurality of first clamping units arranged around at least one second clamping unit, each first clamping unit being at a substantially equal distance from the at least one second clamping unit. This arrangement of the clamping units can be a similar arrangement to that of electrical contacts, i.e., an arrangement configured in the same way. Furthermore, this arrangement can allow electrical connections between the electrical contacts and the clamping units to run in a substantially straight line. That is, such an electrical connection can extend along the shortest path from an electrical contact to a respective clamping unit.

[0014] In this arrangement, the free end of at least one of the second clamping units can extend further outwards in an axial direction than the corresponding free ends of the first clamping units. This allows the corresponding electrical conductor to be connected to the middle (second) clamping unit first, and then the first clamping units to their respective electrical conductors. This simplifies assembly.

[0015] In particular, the number of clamping units can correspond to the number of electrical contacts. Thus, each individual electrical contact can be connected to a single clamping unit, so that the contact pattern of the plug or socket can be mapped to the arrangement of the clamping units.

[0016] According to the invention, a clamping unit has an elongated shape with two opposite longitudinal ends, and one of the two clamping receptacles of the clamping unit is arranged at each longitudinal end, wherein, in particular, all clamping units can be arranged essentially parallel to one another. Thus, the two clamping receptacles of a clamping unit allow both an electrical conductor, which is associated with at least one of the electrical contacts, to be connected to a clamping unit without tools, and an electrical conductor, which is associated with the electrical cable, to the clamping unit without tools.

[0017] In possible embodiments of the present invention, the arrangement of clamping units can comprise a base body on which the clamping units are held. The base body can, in particular, define fixed relative positions of the clamping units to one another by means of suitable receptacles for the clamping units.

[0018] The base body of the clamping unit assembly can be made of plastic. Particularly when using an injection molding process, the base body can be manufactured in a cost- and weight-optimized manner.

[0019] The electrical contacts can be housed in a connecting body and thus be fixed in their relative positions. This allows for a desired arrangement of the electrical contacts to be defined and maintained during use of the connecting device.

[0020] In this context, the connecting body can be made of plastic. Here, too, the base body can be manufactured cost-effectively and with optimized weight using an injection molding process. Furthermore, a plastic connecting body can provide insulation between the electrical contacts.

[0021] Advantageously, the base body of the clamping unit arrangement can be configured to engage with the connecting base body in such a way that the base body of the clamping unit arrangement is at least rotationally secured relative to the connecting base body, and in particular also translationally secured. This can be achieved, for example, by providing at least one projection on one of the two components, which is configured and arranged to engage with a corresponding recess on the other of the two components. This prevents damage to the electrical connections.

[0022] The connecting device may further comprise a protective cover which surrounds at least the outer surface of the base body of the clamping unit arrangement and which is connectable to the connecting base body. The connection of the protective cover to the connecting base body may be watertight, in particular by using suitable sealing materials.

[0023] The connecting body and the protective cover can be connected to each other, for example, via a threaded connection. For instance, the connecting body can have an external thread that engages with an internal thread on the protective cover.

[0024] In a further development of the present invention, the connecting device can also include a strain relief which can be connected to the protective sleeve and which is configured to prevent displacement of a connected cable, at least in an axial direction. For this purpose, the strain relief can include radially inwardly displaceable projections to engage with a cable guided through the strain relief. The projections can be displaced radially inward, for example, by screwing the strain relief onto the protective sleeve. Alternatively or additionally, a ring can be arranged on the cable to be secured in an axially immovable manner, which is held back by the strain relief connected to the protective sleeve, at least in the axial direction away from the protective sleeve. This reduces or even prevents loads on the clamping receptacles.

[0025] In possible embodiments of the present invention, the protective cover can comprise a substantially cylindrical body and a threaded ring, wherein the threaded ring is freely rotatable relative to the cylindrical body in a circumferential direction and is secured in an axial direction.

[0026] The protective cover can be constructed in multiple parts, particularly two parts, wherein a radially inner part of the protective cover is arranged essentially coaxially to a radially outer part and, in the assembled state, can extend through it. In particular, the radially outer part of the protective cover can be configured to engage with the connecting base body in such a way that the radially outer part of the protective cover is secured relative to the connecting base body, at least rotationally. In a position different from the predetermined connection position of the radially outer part of the protective cover relative to the connecting base body, a connection between the radially inner part of the protective cover and the connecting base body can be prevented. This can be achieved, for example, by allowing the radially inner part of the protective cover to pass through the radially outer part of the protective cover only until the two parts abut each other.

[0027] This radially outer part of the protective cover can be manufactured using a two-component injection molding process and comprise at least two different materials. Thus, the radially outer part of the protective cover can have sections with different coefficients of friction and / or sections of different colors.

[0028] According to a further aspect, the invention can relate to a connector arrangement comprising two complementary and connectable connection devices according to the inventive principle based on the plug-socket principle. These two connection devices can be locked together using matching bayonet locking components.

[0029] It should be added at this point that, in particular, the connecting body of the connecting device according to the invention can be made of metal, advantageously using a metal casting process. The metal ring described above can form an integral part of the connecting body. Furthermore, at least the second clamping unit can be provided with a locking element, such as an elastic band, an elastic hose section, or adhesive tape, to prevent unintentional opening of the clamping unit. To open the second clamping unit, the locking element must therefore first be removed. In addition, the protective cover, in particular the outer part of the protective cover, can have at least one elastic buffer element.For example, an elastic rubber ring can be arranged at each longitudinal end of the outer part of the protective cover, which can dampen impacts, for example from dropping the connecting device, on the protective cover and thus on the entire connecting device, thereby reducing or even preventing damage.

[0030] The present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawings. It illustrates: Fig. 1 a perspective exploded view of two connection devices according to the invention, which are designed to be connectable to one another; Fig. 2 a perspective view of an arrangement of clamping units; Fig. 3 a side cross-sectional view of the arrangement of clamping units made of Fig. 2 ; and Fig. 4 a side cross-sectional view of a connecting device according to the invention.

[0031] In Figure 1Two connecting devices according to the invention are each designated by reference numeral 10. The two connecting devices 10 are made of Figure 1 They are largely similar to each other and differ particularly in that the in Figure 1 The connecting device 10 shown on the left is a female connecting device (socket), and the one in Figure 1 The connection device 10 shown on the right is designed as a male connection device (plug).

[0032] Furthermore, it can be seen that the respective outer protective covers 12 of the connecting devices 10 are designed slightly differently, in particular having different lengths and external designs, so that a user of the connecting device according to the invention can recognize from the outside as quickly as possible whether a connecting device present to him is a male or a female connecting device.

[0033] The female liaison officer trained in Figure 1 The connecting device 10 shown on the left comprises a connecting base body 14a, and the male connecting device in Figure 1The connecting device 10 shown on the right comprises a connecting base body 14b. The connecting base body 14a has a central recess 16, which is designed to receive a corresponding projection 18 of the connecting base body 14b. In the embodiment shown here, a plurality of pin-like projecting electrical contacts are arranged radially within the outer wall of the central projection 18 of the connecting base body 14b. This arrangement of electrical contacts comprises a plurality of first electrical contacts, which are arranged, for example, essentially along a circular path at equal intervals from one another (of course, a non-equally spaced arrangement is also conceivable), and a second electrical contact, which is arranged essentially at the center of this circular path.Radially within the outer wall, which defines the central recess 16 of the connecting body 14a, an arrangement of electrical contacts is also provided. In this embodiment, these contacts are designed as sockets to make electrically conductive contact with the pin-like electrical contacts of the connecting body 14b. For the arrangement of the electrical contacts, please refer to the description above.

[0034] The present invention will now be described with reference to the in Figure 1 The connecting device shown on the left is described in more detail below, with all features, effects and advantages also applying equally to the device shown in the diagram. Figure 1 The connection device shown on the right, 10, may be applicable.

[0035] The connecting device 10 further comprises an arrangement of clamping units 20, which are described below in particular with reference to Figures 2 and 3 will be described.

[0036] The arrangement of clamping units 20 comprises a base body 22 made of plastic, on which several clamping units 24 are arranged. Each clamping unit 24 has two clamping receptacles 26, which are electrically connected to each other. Each clamping receptacle 26 includes a clamping lever 28, which is designed to releasably lock a cable inserted into the respective clamping receptacle 26 and, in particular, to ensure an electrical contact between the cable and the clamping receptacle 26.

[0037] As especially in the Figures 2 and 3 As can be seen, the clamping units 24 are arranged analogously to the electrical contacts described above, such that a first plurality of clamping units are arranged essentially in a circle around a second clamping unit in the middle. The clamping units in the Figures 2 and 3The free end of the second clamping unit, shown on the left, projects further outwards relative to the corresponding free ends of the first clamping units, in particular by about half the total length of the second clamping unit. The second clamping unit can be configured, in particular, to be connected to an earthing conductor of an electrical cable, while the first clamping units can be configured to be connected to the respective phases of the electrical cable. The described arrangement of the clamping units 24 thus enables the connection of the earthing conductor to the first of the Figures 2 and 3 The end of the second terminal unit, shown on the left, is connected to the cable in a simple manner, and then the phases of the electrical cable are connected to the first terminal units. The in Figure 3The clamping receptacles 26 of the clamping units 24 shown on the right are each connected, particularly when using electrical cables, to one of the aforementioned electrical contacts, which are designed either as sockets or as plugs. Of course, it is also possible that the electrical contacts are designed such that their end pointing away from the cylindrical receptacle 16 or the projection 18 is configured to be directly connected to a clamping receptacle of a respective clamping unit 24.

[0038] How especially Figure 2 The base body 22 of the arrangement of clamping units 20 has markings (here letters) to distinguish the first clamping units 24 from each other in a simple way.

[0039] The in the Figures 2 and 3The side of the base body 22, or of the first clamping units 24, shown on the right, is radially surrounded by a cover 30, which comprises two half-shells 30a and 30b. This protects the electrical connection of the clamping units 24 to the electrical contacts from unintentional tampering. Furthermore, a locking device 32 formed on the cover 30 allows the clamping units 20 to be positively secured to a respective connecting base body 14a, 14b. Of course, the cover 30 can also be constructed from three or more partial shells, which can be joined together circumferentially to form the cover 30.

[0040] With reference to the aforementioned protective case 12, it is in the Figure 1 and 4It can be seen that the protective cover 12 is composed of an inner part 12a and an outer part 12b, which are designed to be detachable from one another. The inner part 12a of the protective cover 12 is essentially a cylindrical hollow body, which has an internal thread 34 at one longitudinal end and an external thread 36 at its opposite longitudinal end. The internal thread 34 is designed to be connected to a corresponding mating thread of a respective connecting base body 14a or 14b. The external thread 36 is designed to be connected to a corresponding mating thread of a strain relief 38. The strain relief 38 has a central through-opening, the diameter of which essentially corresponds to the outer diameter of an electrical cable to which the connecting device 10 according to the invention is to be connected.To prevent a tensile force exerted on the electrical cable from being transferred to the connection between the cable and the clamping units 24, a retaining ring can be attached to the cable at a suitable point, i.e., approximately at a distance from the free end of the electrical cable corresponding to the distance between the first clamping units 24 and the strain relief 38. This retaining ring can be, for example, clamped or screwed onto the electrical cable. Due to the larger outer diameter of the retaining ring, the tensile force exerted on the electrical cable is then transferred from the electrical cable into the retaining ring, and from there into the conical inner wall 40 of the strain relief 38, and from there into the protective sleeve 12 of the connection device 10.

[0041] The outer part 12b of the protective cover 12 can be designed in such a way that it can be connected to a respective connecting base body 14a, 14b in only a limited number of relative positions, in particular a maximum of three relative positions, and more preferably in only one relative position. A respective base body 14a, 14b, the inner part 12a of the protective cover 12, and the outer part 12b of the protective cover 12 can be designed such that engagement of the thread 34 of the inner part 12a of the protective cover 12 with the respective connecting base body 14a, 14b is not possible if the outer part 12b of the protective cover 12 is not connected to the connecting base body 14a, 14b in a predetermined relative position.

[0042] The predetermined relative positions between the protective cover 12 or the outer part 12b of the protective cover 12 and a respective connecting base body 14a, 14b can be configured, in particular, to transmit a rotational force exerted on the outer part 12b of the protective cover 12 to the respective connecting base body 14a, 14b. Thus, the two connecting devices 10, as shown in Figure 1 As shown, after being inserted into one another, they can also be locked together via a bayonet fitting. For this purpose, the connecting body 14a can have at least one groove, in particular three grooves, on its outer side, each of which is designed to engage with a pin-like projection projecting radially inwards, which is formed, for example, on the outer part 12b of the protective cover 12.

[0043] The design of the bayonet fitting and the at least one predetermined relative position of the outer part 12b to the respective connecting body 14a, 14b ensure that the fully connected plug-socket combination of the two connecting devices according to the invention is arranged such that the two outer parts 12a of the respective protective sleeves 12 also assume a predetermined relative position to each other, so that it is clearly recognizable from the outside that the plug-socket combination has been correctly connected. For this purpose, features can be arranged on a respective outer circumference of the outer parts 12b of the protective sleeves 12, which extend and / or complement each other and / or are congruent to one another in a main axial direction of extension of the connecting devices 10.

[0044] In the embodiment shown, the outer part 12b of the protective cover 12 of a respective connecting device 10 is formed as a two-component injection mold, wherein at least sections of the radially outer side of the outer part 12b have a higher coefficient of friction compared to an inner side of the outer part 12b, so that slippage between a user's hand and the outer part 12b can be reduced or even prevented.

Claims

1. Connecting device (10) for connecting electrical cables, comprising an arrangement of electrical contacts which are configured to enter into electrically conductive contact with a complementary arrangement of electrical contacts on the plug-and-socket principle, wherein a plurality of first electrical contacts is arranged around at least one second electrical contact, wherein each of the first electrical contacts has a substantially equal distance from the at least one second electrical contact, and an arrangement of clamping units (24), wherein each clamping unit (24) has at least two clamping receptacles (26), each of which is configured to receive an electrical conductor in a reproducible manner, and in a lockable and releasable manner, in such a way that a release of the electrical conductor from a respective clamping receptacle (26) in the locked state is prevented below a predetermined release force, and is allowed in the unlocked state, wherein each of the electrical contacts is electrically connected to a clamping unit (24), characterized in that a clamping unit (24) has an elongated shape with two opposite longitudinal ends, and in that one of the two clamping receptacles (26) of the clamping unit (24) is arranged at each longitudinal end, wherein in particular all clamping units (24) are arranged substantially parallel to one another, each clamping receptacle (26) comprises a clamping lever (28) which is configured to releasably lock a cable inserted into a respective clamping receptacle (26) and to secure an electrical contact between the cable and the clamping receptacle (26), und the connecting device (10) can be disassembled without tools.

2. Connecting device (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the arrangement of clamping units (24) comprises a plurality of first clamping units (24) which is arranged around at least one second clamping unit (24), each first clamping unit (24) having a substantially identical distance from the at least one second clamping unit (24).

3. Connecting device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a free end of the at least one second clamping unit (24) extends further outwards in an axial direction than do the corresponding free ends of the first clamping units (24).

4. Connecting device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of clamping units (24) corresponds to the number of electrical contacts.

5. Connecting device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arrangement of clamping units (24) comprises a base body (22) on which the clamping units (24) are held.

6. Connecting device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the base body (22) of the arrangement of clamping units (24) is made of plastic.

7. Connecting device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical contacts are received in a connection base body (14a, 14b) and are fixed in position relative to one another by the same.

8. Connecting device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connection base body (14a, 14b) is made of plastic.

9. Connecting device (10) according to Claims 5 or 6 and according to Claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the base body (22) of the arrangement of clamping units (24) is configured to engage with the connection base body (14a, 14b) in such a way that the base body (22) of the arrangement of clamping units (24) is at least rotationally secured, and in particular is also secured against translational movements, relative to the connection base body (14a, 14b).

10. Connecting device (10) according to Claims 5 or 6 and according to Claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the connecting device (10) further comprises a protective sleeve (12, 12a, 12b) which surrounds at least the base body (22) of the arrangement of clamping units (24) on the outer side thereof, and which is connectable to the connection base body (14a, 14b).

11. Connecting device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connection base body (14a, 14b) and the protective sleeve (12, 12a, 12b) are connectable to one another via a threaded engagement (34).

12. Connecting device (10) according to Claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the connecting device (10) further comprises a strain relief feature (38) which is connectable to the protective sleeve (12, 12a, 12b) and which is configured to prevent a displacement of a cable connected thereto, at least in an axial direction.

13. Connecting device (10) according to any one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the protective sleeve (12, 12a, 12b) is constructed in several parts, in particular in two parts, wherein a radially inner part of the protective sleeve (12a) is arranged substantially coaxially to a radially outer part (12b) and, in the assembled state, extends therethrough.

14. Connecting device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the radially outer part of the protective sleeve (12b) is manufactured using a two-component injection-molding process, and comprises at least two different materials.

Images