Contact insert having a bridging function for an industrial electrical connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a contact insert (1) for an industrial electrical connector. The contact insert (1) has a connection side (A) for the connection of individual conductors of a multi-core cable and a contact side (K) for electrical connection to a mating electrical connector or to a socket. The contact insert (1) comprises a bridging element (2), which has a connection region (AB) associated with the connection side (A), for electrical connection to a conductor of the multi-core cable, and at least two contact regions (KB) associated with the contact side (K), for each electrically contacting a mating contact element of a mating electrical connector or of a socket.

Description

[0001] Title: Contact insert with bridging function for an industrial connector

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention is based on a contact insert with a bridging function for an industrial connector according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0004] Such contact inserts are required when the currents of individual conductors of a multi-core cable need to be distributed within the connector. This is the case, for example, in data centers.

[0005] Here, the so-called neutral conductor of the connected cable within a server cabinet (data rack) must be distributed among the individual units (server units) of the server cabinet.

[0006] State of the art

[0007] DE 20 2007 017 892 U1 shows a contact insert for industrial connectors with a PE sheet.

[0008] When bridging individual conductors is necessary for special applications, the conductors are currently bridged within the connector housing. Sufficient space is required for this, and a suitably large housing must be selected. Bridging within the housing poses a significant risk. If the mechanical connection between the bridged conductors is not secure, live conductors can reach the connector housing.

[0009] The German Patent and Trademark Office has searched the following prior art in the priority application for the present application: US 3421 134 A, JP H10-199643 A, DE 20 2005 020 026 U1 and DE 10 2010 011 371 A1.

[0010] The object of the invention is to propose a contact insert for industrial connectors that is safe, compact and can be conveniently connected to a cable.

[0011] The problem is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description.

[0013] The contact insert according to the invention is intended for use in a heavy-duty industrial connector. For this purpose, the contact insert is connected to a multi-core cable and screwed into a connector housing or a bulkhead housing, also known as a socket.

[0014] The contact insert has a connection side for connecting individual conductors of the multi-core cable. For this purpose, connection openings are provided on the connection side of the contact insert, into which the respective conductors of the multi-core cable can be inserted.

[0015] The contact insert has a contact side that serves for the electrical connection to a mating connector or socket. For this purpose, the contact insert has contact openings on the contact side for access to a mating contact element of a mating connector or socket.

[0016] Preferably, the contact insert has n connection openings or connection areas and m contact openings or contact areas, where n and m are numbers from the natural number space and the number m is greater than the number n. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the contact insert has exactly one connection area (n=1) and exactly three contact areas (m=3).

[0017] The contact insert preferably has a bridging element with a connection area assigned to the connection side. A conductor of the multi-core cable is connected to the connection area. The bridging element further comprises at least two contact areas assigned to the contact side. The contact areas are provided for the respective electrical contacting of a mating contact element of a mating connector or a socket (or with their contact elements). This bridging element allows the electrical bridging (also called potential distribution) of a conductor of the cable to be designed flexibly. The bridging element is also very compact and therefore allows a compact or, as viewed in the plug-in direction, flat design of the contact insert according to the invention.

[0018] Preferably, the connection area of ​​the bridging element is designed as a crimp sleeve. This type of connection technology has proven particularly reliable and is particularly suitable for the bridging situation at hand.

[0019] It can be particularly advantageous if the connection area is designed with a clamping spring as a so-called push-in connection. This would allow for faster and, above all, tool-free assembly of the corresponding connector.

[0020] Advantageously, the contact area of ​​the bridging element is designed as a socket. This particularly improves the contact protection of the connector. Preferably, the bridging element has a metal rail. The connection area (AB) and the contact areas (KB) are arranged on the metal rail.

[0021] It is particularly advantageous if the metal rail has a substantially E-shaped configuration. This E-shape allows it to be easily inserted into the plastic body of the contact insert, enabling a particularly compact design. For this purpose, the plastic body can be designed in two parts with a locking function for the two parts. Alternatively, the E-shaped rail, along with the connection area and contact areas, can be inserted into an injection mold.

[0022] The metal rail is preferably flat. In this case, "flat" means that the metal rail (without the connection area and contact areas) can be placed on a flat surface with both sides, for example, and rests almost completely on this surface. When installed, one flat side of the metal rail is aligned parallel to the connection side and the other flat side is aligned parallel to the contact side of the contact insert.

[0023] Preferably, the connection area and contact areas are riveted to the metal rail. This type of fastening has proven particularly stable and advantageous from a manufacturing perspective.

[0024] As described above, the metal rail advantageously has an E-shape. Preferably, the contact areas are then arranged at the ends of the E-lines of the metal rail. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the connection area is arranged at the end of an E-line of the metal rail. In this case, the connection area and the contact area are perpendicular to, but opposite to, the metal rail. Example

[0025] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. They show:

[0026] Fig. 1 is a perspective, partially sectioned and incomplete view of a contact insert according to the invention,

[0027] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a bridging element used in the contact insert and

[0028] Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the contact insert according to the invention.

[0029] Some of the figures contain simplified, schematic representations. Identical reference symbols are used for similar, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of the same elements may be scaled differently. Directional references such as "left," "right," "top," and "bottom" are to be understood with reference to the respective figure and may vary in the individual illustrations relative to the object depicted.

[0030] Figure 1 shows a partially sectioned view of a contact insert 1 according to the invention. The illustration in Figure 1 is not complete, as only a portion of the plastic housing is shown, and apart from the bridging element, no other contact elements are shown. The contact insert 1 is specifically designed for use in industrial connectors (not shown). Industrial connectors are used particularly in harsh industrial environments.

[0031] The contact insert 1 has a connection side A. On the connection side A, individual conductors of a multi-core cable (not shown) are connected to the contact insert. The contact insert 1 has a contact side K, which is used for the electrical connection or contacting with a mating connector or a socket. The contact insert consists of a plastic housing in the interior of which a bridging element 2 is arranged. On the connection side, the bridging element 2 has a connection area AB, which in the embodiment shown here is designed as a crimp sleeve. The connection area AB of the bridging element 2 is assigned to the connection side A of the contact insert 1. The plastic housing of the contact insert 2 has contact chambers 3, in which the connection area AB of the bridging element 2 is arranged on the connection side. The conductor of the multi-core cable is inserted into such a contact chamber 3 on the connection side.

[0032] The contact areas KB of the bridging element are arranged in each contact chamber 3 on the contact side K, which is not visible in the perspective shown in Figure 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the contact area KB is designed as a socket contact. The socket contact is suitable for receiving a matching contact pin and thus serves to electrically contact a mating contact element of a mating connector or a socket.

[0033] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the bridging element 2. The bridging element 2 has a metal rail 4. The metal rail 4 is a flat sheet metal part between one millimeter and four millimeters thick, which is punched from a correspondingly large piece of sheet metal.

[0034] The metal rail 4 is essentially E-shaped. In Figure 2, the metal rail 4, viewed in isolation, resembles an E tilted to the left. The E-lines are parallel but not equally spaced. The distance between the lower E-line and the middle E-line is smaller than the distance between the upper E-line and the middle E-line. On the contact side of the E-shaped metal rail 4, the contact areas KB are riveted, projecting axially, at the ends of the E-lines.

[0035] On the connection side, the connection area AB is riveted to the end of the lower E-line.

[0036] Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the inventive

[0037] Contact insert 1 is shown. The contact insert 1 has a two-part

[0038] Plastic housing, wherein the bridging element 2 is inserted into the first plastic housing part 5. By locking the first plastic housing part 5 with a second plastic housing part 6, the bridging element 2 is held captively in the plastic housing of the contact insert 1.

[0039] Applicant: HARTING Electric Stiftung & Co. KG

[0040] Title: Contact insert with bridging function for an industrial connector

[0041] List of reference symbols

[0042] 1 contact insert

[0043] 2 bridging element

[0044] 3 contact chamber

[0045] 4 metal rails

[0046] 5 First plastic housing part

[0047] 6 Second plastic housing part

[0048] A final page

[0049] K Contact page

[0050] AB connection area

[0051] KB Contact Area

Claims

Claims: A contact insert (1) for an industrial connector, wherein the contact insert (1) has a connection side (A) for connecting individual conductors of a multi-core cable and a contact side (K) for electrical connection with a mating connector or socket, wherein the contact insert (1) has a bridging element (2) with a connection area (AB) associated with the connection side (A) for electrical connection with a conductor of the multi-core cable and at least two contact areas (KB) associated with the contact side (K) for the respective electrical contacting of a mating contact element of a mating connector or socket. A contact insert (1) according to claim 1 is characterized in that the connection area (AB) of the bridging element (2) is designed as a crimp sleeve. A contact insert (1) according to any of the preceding claims is characterized in that the contact area (KB) of the bridging element (2) is designed as a socket.Contact insert (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the bridging element (2) has a metal rail (4) on which the connection area (AB) and the contact areas (KB) are arranged. A contact insert (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the metal rail (4) is substantially E-shaped. A contact insert (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the metal rail (4) is flat and that one flat side is aligned parallel to the connection side (A) and the other flat side is aligned parallel to the contact side (K). A contact insert (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the connection area (AB) and the contact areas (KB) are riveted to the metal rail (4). A contact insert (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the contact areas (KB) are arranged at their ends on the E-marks of the metal rail (4). A contact insert (1) according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the connection area (AB) is arranged at its end on an E-mark of the metal rail (4).Contact insert (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the contact insert (1 ) has a two-part plastic housing, wherein the bridging element (2) is inserted in a first plastic housing part (5) and is held securely in the plastic housing of the contact insert (1) by a snap-fit ​​connection of the first plastic housing part (5) with a second plastic housing part (6). Contact insert (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the connection area (AB) has a clamping spring and is designed as a so-called push-in connection.

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