Round plug connector with shield connection

Abstract

The invention is based on a circular connector for detachable connection to a corresponding mating connector. The circular connector has a housing for receiving at least one insulating body. Furthermore, the housing has at least one locking element for detachable connection to a mating connector. The insulating body is designed to receive at least one electrical contact element. The housing further accommodates at least one shielding element, which is made of an electrically conductive material for connecting an electromagnetic shield. The shielding element has at least one contact lug running essentially parallel to a plugging direction. The circular connector is characterized in that the shielding element is integrally connected to the locking element.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a circular connector with shield connection, in particular for circular connectors with a push-pull locking mechanism according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0002] Such circular connectors are required to connect cables, especially those containing electrically conductive wires, to devices and / or other cables. Data transmission, in particular, requires cables and connectors with high electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). For this purpose, cables and, in some cases, the wires they contain are sheathed with conductive wire, wire mesh, and / or foil. Various shielding methods are used to transmit this shielding to a connector. State of the art

[0003] In the prior art, spring elements made of electrically conductive materials are preferably used to transfer an electromagnetic shield from an electrically conductive cable via a connector to a mating connector.

[0004] The use of spring washers is particularly suitable for circular connectors. Wave spring washers are particularly popular for shield connection in circular connectors.

[0005] The disadvantage of using spring washers, including wave spring washers, is the lack of operational reliability in circular connectors with a so-called push-pull locking mechanism.

[0006] Due to the way the locking mechanism works, simple spring washers cannot adequately ensure that the shield connection is secure even during operation and the vibrations that may occur.

[0007] DE 10 2020 110 291 A1 cleverly attempts to offer a shield connection for circular connectors with push-pull locking, which overcomes the disadvantages of corrugated washers, spring washers, or spring washers. However, in practice, the proposed solution has proven unstable. Even with normal handling, the circumferential ring can bend. Furthermore, the ring can easily bend open. This can cause the ring to easily detach from the circumferential groove of the connector and fall off. Task

[0008] The object of the invention is to equip a circular connector with push-pull locking with an element for shield connection, which is robust and reliable and enables improved operational reliability with regard to shield transmission.

[0009] The problem is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description.

[0011] The invention is based on a circular connector for detachable connection to a corresponding mating connector. The circular connector has a housing for receiving at least one insulating body. Furthermore, the housing has at least one locking element for detachable connection to a mating connector. The insulating body is designed to receive at least one electrical contact element. The housing further accommodates at least one shielding element, which is made of an electrically conductive material for connecting an electromagnetic shield. The shielding element has at least one contact lug running essentially parallel to a plugging direction. The circular connector is characterized in that the shielding element accommodates the locking element in a materially bonded manner.

[0012] In other words, the shielding element and the locking element are inseparably connected. Logically, the receptacle can also be described in such a way that the locking element receives the shielding element with a material fit. Essentially, the shielding element and the locking element are thus realized in one component, with different functions being performed by different elements of the corresponding component.

[0013] The housing is preferably a one-piece component that protects the circular connector from the outside. The housing is advantageously made of an electrically conductive material. A housing consisting of more than one housing part is conceivable. A multi-part housing may be particularly preferred for field assembly purposes.

[0014] An insulating body is a component into which a housing can be inserted. As the name suggests, the insulating body is made of a material that does not conduct electrical current. Plastics are preferably used for this purpose. The insulating body accommodates at least one contact element and is shaped such that the contact element can be brought into electrically conductive connection with a mating contact. The insulating body is preferably designed such that it can be brought into corresponding engagement with an insulating body of the mating connector. An insulating body can be designed to accommodate a shielding cross. A shielding cross is used when data contacts or pairs of data contacts are to be shielded from one another in order to enable better signal and / or data transmission.

[0015] A locking element is understood to be a component that can be engaged with a corresponding component of the mating connector. A locking hook is preferably used here. The locking element can interact with a mating connector housing. Alternatively, the locking element can interact with a counter-locking element. According to the invention, the locking element is arranged along the circumference of the housing. A design as a locking hook for push-pull locking mechanisms is particularly preferred. A design of the locking element with a push-pull inverse locking mechanism is very particularly preferred. The push-pull inverse locking mechanism is characterized by the possibility of creating particularly space-saving connections with inwardly mounted add-on housings. For this purpose, the locking element of the push-pull inverse locking mechanism is arranged circumferentially and outwardly on the housing.In a regular push-pull lock, a sleeve is used that surrounds the housing and whose locking elements point inwards.

[0016] A shielding element is essentially a component designed to create an electrically conductive connection to shield the signal and data lines connected to the circular connector from environmental electromagnetic interference. Typically, electrically conductive housings are used, which are connected to electrically conductive mating connector housings, often designed as bulkhead housings. Since the connection between the circular connector housing and the mating connector cannot be established or maintained in a sufficiently reliable electrically conductive connection, shielding elements are used to improve or ensure the electrically conductive connection.

[0017] A contact lug is an area formed on the shielding element. The contact lug is designed to securely and reliably contact the mating connector, or the components of the mating connector intended for shielding transmission. To achieve this, it is proposed that the shielding element and the contact lug be formed together first. Suitable methods for this include punching, water cutting, or laser cutting. The contact lug can then be formed from the common plane using a forming process. The simplest method is a bending process.The shielding element is particularly preferably produced using high-performance punching, in particular a punching and bending process, so that the shielding element is manufactured directly from a sheet metal, preferably a coil, and the contact lug is subsequently bent out of the plane of the sheet metal or coil at a desired angle, for example an angle between 60° and 110°. Advantageously, the contact lug is aligned starting from the shielding element in the plug-in direction, so that the shielding element is arranged on the housing facing opposite to the plug-in direction. This ensures that the contact lug can be brought into contact with the mating connector or the counter-shield contact to be contacted. An embodiment in which the contact lug is arranged on the shielding element so that it is deformed at a start of the lug by at least 30° in the direction of a central axis.

[0018] A particularly advantageous embodiment is one in which the shielding element is essentially designed as a hollow cylinder that at least partially encompasses the housing, the height of the hollow cylinder being greater than its wall thickness. This means that the shielding element is designed as an annular or partially annular basic shape that encompasses a circumference of the housing. The basic shape preferably has a length equal to or greater than the material thickness from which the shielding element is formed, viewed in the plug-in direction. The contact lug extends from this annular basic shape in the stretching direction. In the case of an open shielding element, it may be sensible to provide at least one annular holding shape in the housing, in which the shielding element is at least partially held.

[0019] In a further embodiment, the contact lug has a lug start, a lug middle, and a lug end, with the lug start being integrally formed on the shielding element, pointing in the plug-in direction. This means that, starting from the approximately hollow-cylindrical basic shape, the contact lug is arranged pointing in the plug-in direction. The contact lug is part of the shielding element and is generally electrically connected to the basic shape of the shielding element.

[0020] A clever embodiment provides for the flag beginning to extend at least partially outside an imaginary cylinder, the base of which is formed by an outer diameter of the shielding element. This means that the shielding element has a diameter that can be used to describe a cylinder. The flag beginning protrudes from this cylinder by at least half the material thickness of the shielding element. This shape is intended to ensure improved contact between the shielding element and the housing or a locking sleeve of the locking element, or both components.

[0021] A clever design provides for the center of the lug to run entirely within an imaginary cylinder whose base is formed by an outer diameter of the shielding element. This means that the contact lug essentially follows the contour of the housing. The contact lug generally runs from a first diameter of the circular connector to a second diameter of the circular connector. The first diameter essentially corresponds to a housing diameter in the area of a handle or grip. The second diameter essentially corresponds to an area of the circular connector that is engaged with a mating connector. The second diameter therefore roughly corresponds to the housing area that surrounds a mating face.

[0022] In a particularly secure embodiment, the end of the lug is substantially closer to a longitudinal axis than the center of the lug. The contact lug preferably extends from a starting position on the shielding element to a plug-in area of the circular connector. Particularly preferably, the contact lug extends with at least two differing gradients, with a first gradient extending from the beginning of the lug approximately to the center of the lug. At least a second gradient is thus extended approximately from the center of the lug to the end of the lug. The second gradient preferably enables the circular connector to be plugged into a mating connector without any problems.

[0023] In a practical embodiment, the shielding element has a number of contact lugs that is identical to the number of locking elements, with the number being greater than or equal to two. This embodiment thus initially achieves improved force distribution of the locking elements for improved attachment of the circular connector to a mating connector. Furthermore, secure, improved contact is achieved through the shielding element with a shield transfer means of the mating connector.

[0024] To further improve shield transmission, one embodiment provides for the contact lugs and locking elements to alternate circumferentially around the perimeter of the housing. This means that each locking element is flanked by two contact lugs. Likewise, each contact lug is flanked by two locking elements. This creates a particularly vibration-resistant embodiment that ensures shield transmission along the entire perimeter.

[0025] Alternatively, one embodiment provides that the shielding element has a number of contact lugs which differs from the number of locking elements, wherein the number of contact lugs is fewer than the number of locking elements. This design can enable simplified production with regard to a practical punching and bending process. Here, it is proposed that a shielding element is first punched out and thus initially has a beginning and an end. This is then formed into an approximately hollow-cylindrical, annular shielding element, according to the invention. Accordingly, a locking element is first formed at this beginning, then a contact lug, then two locking elements, another contact lug and concludes with a locking shape at the end.Further combinations are conceivable, whereby it is proposed that the beginning of a shielding element manufactured in this way begins with a locking element, has two locking elements toward a central region, and ends with a locking element toward the end. In principle, it is proposed that, even with an unequal ratio of locking elements to contact lugs, each contact lug is arranged flanked by two locking elements on the circumference of the shielding element.

[0026] In a further developed embodiment, the shielding element is electrically connected to the housing at least through the lug end and is electrically connected to the mating connector through at least one area between the lug start and the lug end, preferably the lug center. Preferably, the area from the lug center to the lug end is designed such that the lug center approximately corresponds to the diameter of the mating connector, so that when the circular connector is plugged into the mating connector, the mating connector contacts an area between the lug center and the lug end, thereby pushing the lug end toward a central axis of the circular connector. This forces the lug end against the housing of the circular connector, enabling electrical contact.

[0027] In one embodiment, the tab beginning defines at least the outer diameter, the tab end defines at least the inner shield diameter, and the tab center defines essentially a diameter located between the outer diameter and the inner shield diameter. Preferably, the diameter of the tab center is positioned closer to the inner shield diameter to achieve an advantageous arrangement of the shielding element, in which the contact tab initially follows the contour of the housing from an outer diameter and approaches the diameter of the area with the mating face with a smaller pitch. This ensures a simple mating process with a mating connector.

[0028] In one embodiment, it is proposed that the contact lug is provided with at least one first deformation at which the contact lug is reshaped, wherein the first deformation is arranged in a region between the lug start and the lug center.

[0029] Furthermore, an embodiment proposes that the contact lug is provided with at least one second deformation at which the contact lug is deformed, wherein the second deformation is arranged in a region between the lug start and the lug end.

[0030] For improved robustness, one embodiment proposes that the housing have a lug receptacle for receiving the contact lug and a locking receptacle for receiving the locking element. This embodiment enables the shielding element with locking element to be mounted in a predetermined position thanks to the various receptacles provided. Furthermore, the locking receptacle is cleverly designed to be shorter than the lug receptacle, measured along the central axis. The locking receptacle is designed to be deeper than the lug receptacle. A deeper locking receptacle allows the locking element, in particular the locking hook, to deviate towards the central axis, which can be necessary or at least helpful for connecting to a locking form of a mating connector.

[0031] Finally, an embodiment is proposed in which the housing has at least one separating form, wherein the separating form protects the shielding element from at least one of the points of damage or deformation at least during a plugging process. The separating form can firstly simplify a plugging process with a mating connector in that a part pointing in the plugging direction has a wedge shape, whereby the circular connector can be brought into engagement with a mating connector in a simplified manner. A contact lug preferably projects into an area between two separating forms. Particularly preferably, the contact lug ends essentially flush with the separating forms pointing in the plugging direction. This can at least prevent radial deflection of the contact lug during a plugging process. Example

[0032] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. They show: Fig. 1: A perspective detail of a circular connector in a longitudinal section; Fig. 2: A detail of the circular connector with a focus on a shielding element according to the invention; Fig. 3: A perspective view of the shielding element according to the invention; Fig. 4: A detail of the circular connector in a longitudinal section.

[0033] Some of the figures contain simplified, schematic representations. Identical reference symbols are used for similar, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of identical 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.

[0034] The Figure 1shows a plugged-in circular connector 1 in the plugged-in state with a mating connector 10. Only one plug-in area of the mating connector 10 is shown with a designated area of the mating connector housing 11. Arranged in the mating connector housing 11 in a plug-in direction SR is a seal 12 that is designed to protect against the ingress of fluids. The circular connector 1 has a housing 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 2 is constructed in two parts and further comprises a housing element 3. Housing 2 and housing element 3 are connected by means of a connecting element 25. The connecting element 25 can simply be a snap ring. Alternative connecting elements are conceivable.The housing 2 has two different diameters, a first diameter which is provided for connection to the housing element 3 and a second diameter which is provided for connection to a mating connector housing 11. The second diameter is preferably smaller than the first diameter, as shown. The locking element 4 can be seen arranged on the circumference of the housing 2. A locking hook 40 is arranged on the locking element 4. A locking sleeve 41 can be seen above this locking hook 40, which has a substantially larger diameter than the first diameter of the housing 2. The locking sleeve 41 is designed such that when pulled against the plug-in direction SR, it actuates the locking hook 40 and the connection between the circular connector 1 and the mating connector 10 can be released.To protect against the ingress of fluids, in a two-part housing 2, a transition from the housing 2 to the housing element 3 is provided with a sealing element 24. Finally, the shielding element 5 according to the invention can be seen, which has a contact lug 50. The contact lug 50 contacts the mating connector at its electrically conductive mating connector housing 11. Alternatively, an electrically conductive shielding element can also be provided in the mating connector housing 11. The locking element 4 forms a unit with the shielding element 5 and will hereinafter be referred to simply as the shielding element.For improved accommodation of the shielding element 5, the housing 2 has an annular holding form 23 at its end, pointing opposite to the plug-in direction SR, which serves at least as a stop for the shielding element 5 and is ideally designed as an axially oriented, radially circumferential groove, so that the shielding element 5 is introduced here and at least axially secured opposite to the plug-in direction SR. For simplified assembly and / or improved contact, the shielding element 5 can be designed with hook-shaped extensions pointing opposite to the plug-in direction SR. To clarify certain relationships and distances, a central axis m is also shown. In addition, the . Figure 1 clearly shows a circular connector 1 with a locking mechanism, which is generally known in the prior art as push-pull inverse.

[0035] Figure 2shows a perspective detailed view of the circular connector 1 with a focus on the shielding element 5 on the housing 2. An advantageous embodiment of the locking element 4 can be seen here, as can a simple embodiment of the shielding element 5 and the contact lugs 50 located thereon. The contact lugs 50 rest on a lug receptacle 20. The locking hooks 40 of the locking element 4 are arranged in a locking receptacle 22. The locking receptacle 22 is designed as a recess and allows the locking hook 40 to flexibly deflect in the direction of the central axis m. The shielding element 5 has a contact lug 50. The contact lug 50 has a lug start 51, a lug middle 52 and a lug end 53. According to the invention, the lug end 53 rests at least partially on the lug receptacle 20. Preferably, the flag center 52 already stands out from the flag holder 20 by at least half the material thickness.The housing 2 has a separating form 21 behind each locking hook 40, pointing in the plug-in direction SR. These separating forms 21 prevent the mating connector 10 from colliding with possible edges of the locking hook 40. Furthermore, the separating forms 21 are designed such that the lug ends 53 extend between the radially arranged separating forms 21. According to the invention, the contact lugs 50, with their lug ends 53, are flush with the ends of the separating forms 21 pointing in the plug-in direction SR. The lug ends 53 protrude at least over a length of the locking receptacles 22.

[0036] The Figure 3illustrates a particularly advantageous embodiment of the shielding element 5 according to the invention. The shielding element 5 is essentially annular, wherein the shielding element 5 has an opening. This opening is advantageous for assembly on the one hand, and is also due to an advantageous manufacturing process, preferably a punching and bending process. The shielding element 5 is therefore approximately annular; in other words, the shielding element 5 has an essentially hollow-cylindrical base body which largely surrounds the housing 2. The base body has an outer diameter d A. The end of the locking element 4 has the locking hook 40, the end of which describes a locking inner diameter d IV. The contact lug 50 of the shielding element 5 describes a further diameter with its lug end 53, referred to as the shielding inner diameter d IS .The outer diameter d A is greater than or equal to the diameter of the end of the housing 2 pointing opposite to the plug-in direction SR. The locking inner diameter d IV is less than or equal to the diameter of the end of the housing 2 pointing in the plug-in direction SR. Advantageously, the shield inner diameter d IS is less than or equal to the locking inner diameter d IV .

[0037] In the detailed view of the Figure 4the desired operating principle of the shielding element 5 with the molded-on locking element 4 becomes clearer. Starting from the annular base body of the shielding element 5, which describes the outer diameter d A, the contact lug 50 initially extends slightly beyond the outer diameter d A at its lug start 51. From the lug start 51, the contact lug 50 extends steeply downwards along the contour of the housing 2 to a diameter which is essentially similar to the locking inner diameter d IV. With this first section of the contact lug, the shielding element 5 preferably describes an angle of between 90° and 135° between the contact start 51 and the lug center 52. A second section of the contact lug 50 between the lug center 52 and the lug end 53 then runs less steeply, so that the first section and the second section describe an angle of 190° to 240°.The locking hook 40 engages a corresponding area of the mating connector housing 11. The contact lug 50 is shaped such that at least a portion of the mating connector housing 11 firmly contacts the contact lug 50, preferably an area near the contact center 52, particularly a second section. By contacting the mating connector housing 11 with the contact lug 50, the contact end 53 is pressed against the housing 2, thereby achieving a particularly secure and advantageous shielding transmission.

[0038] Although various aspects or features of the invention are shown in combination in the figures, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art—unless otherwise stated—that the illustrated and discussed combinations are not the only possible ones. In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes from different embodiments can be interchanged. List of reference symbols

[0039] 1Circular connector 10Mating connector 11Mating connector housing 12Seal 2Housing 20Flag holder 21Separator 22Locking holder 23Ring holder 24Sealing element 25Connecting element 3Housing element 4Locking element 40Locking hook 41Locking sleeve 5Shield element 50Contact lug 51Label start 52Label middle 53Label end SR Plug-in direction mCenter axis d A Outer diameter d IV Locking inner diameter d IS Shield inner diameter

Claims

1. Circular connector (1) for detachable connection to a corresponding mating connector (10), comprising a housing (2) for receiving at least one insulating body and at least one locking element (4) for detachable connection to the mating connector (10), wherein the insulating body is designed to receive at least one electrical contact element and wherein the housing (2) receives at least one shielding element (5) which is made of an electrically conductive material for connecting an electromagnetic shield and wherein the shielding element (5) has at least one substantially in a plug-in direction (S R ) extending contact lug (50), characterized in that the shielding element (5) is integrally connected to the locking element (4).

2. Circular connector (1) according to claim 1 characterized in thatthe shielding element (5) is essentially designed as a hollow cylinder at least partially enclosing the housing (2), wherein the height of the hollow cylinder is greater than its wall thickness.

3. Circular connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the contact lug (50) has a lug start (51), a lug center (52) and a lug end (53), wherein the lug start (51) is attached to the shielding element (5) in the plug-in direction (S R ) is formed.

4. Circular connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the flag beginning (51) extends at least partially outside an imaginary cylinder, the base area of which is defined by an outer diameter (d A ) of the shielding element (5).

5. Circular connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the flag center (52) runs completely within an imaginary cylinder, the base of which is defined by an outer diameter (dA ) of the shielding element (5).

6. Circular connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the flag end (53) is substantially at a smaller distance from a longitudinal axis (m) than the flag center (52).

7. Circular connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the shielding element (5) has a number of contact lugs (50) which is identical to the number of locking elements (4), the number being greater than or equal to two.

8. Circular connector (1) according to claim 7 characterized in that the contact lugs (50) and the locking elements (4) alternate circumferentially on the circumference of the housing (2).

9. Circular connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in thatthe shielding element (5) has a number of contact lugs (50) which differs from the number of locking elements (4), wherein the number of contact lugs (50) is less than the number of locking elements (4).

10. Circular connector (1) according to claim 9 characterized in that each contact lug (50) is arranged flanked by at least two locking elements (4) on the circumference of the shielding element (5).

11. Circular connector (1) according to claim 3 characterized in that the shielding element (5) is in electrically conductive connection with the housing (2) at least through the flag end (53) and is in electrically conductive connection with the mating connector through at least one area between the flag start (51) and the flag end (53), preferably the flag center (52).

12. Circular connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the flag start (51) has at least the outer diameter (d A), the flag end (53) has at least one umbrella inner diameter (d IS ) and the flag center (52) essentially describes a diameter which lies between the outer diameter (d A ) and the inner diameter of the screen (d IS ) is arranged.

13. Circular connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the contact lug (50) is provided with at least one first deformation at which the contact lug (50) is deformed, wherein the first deformation is arranged in a region between the lug start (51) and the lug center (52).

14. Circular connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the contact lug (50) is provided with at least one second deformation at which the contact lug (50) is deformed, wherein the second deformation is arranged in a region between the lug start (51) and the lug end (53).

15. Circular connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the housing (2) has a lug receptacle (20) for receiving the contact lug (51) and a locking receptacle (22) for receiving the locking element (4).

16. Circular connector (1) according to claim 12 characterized in that the housing (2) has at least one separating form (21), wherein the separating form (21) protects the shielding element (5) from at least one of the points of damage or deformation at least during a plugging process.

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