Connector with improved operational safety, in particular at high electric voltages

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connector (1), at least comprising a plug connector housing (2), an insulating body (3) and a contact element (4), wherein the insulating body (3) has at least one semiconducting region (11, 13) for field control.

Description

[0001] The invention is based on a connector according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0002] Such connectors are used particularly in the railway industry for transmitting high currents and / or when using medium to high voltages, for example in wind turbines. State of the art

[0003] DE 101 40 762 A1 shows an angled connector that has an integrated fuse to prevent unwanted partial discharges.

[0004] However, the construction of this right-angle connector is quite complex, making it quite expensive to manufacture. Furthermore, the right-angle connector is no longer usable once the fuse has blown. This fuse must first be replaced. Task

[0005] The object of the invention is to propose a connector in which partial discharges are avoided as far as possible and which is easy to manufacture.

[0006] The problem is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description.

[0008] The connector according to the invention comprises at least one connector housing, an insulating body, and a contact element. The insulating body has a semiconducting region for field control. The semiconducting region or field control region is intended to prevent unwanted partial discharge.

[0009] Advantageously, the insulating body is manufactured using a two-component injection molding process. This allows the aforementioned field control region to be provided on the injection-molded part, namely the insulating body, in a single process step.

[0010] Advantageously, the insulating body consists of two plastic materials, each with different electrical conductivities. Preferably, one material has very good insulating properties, while the other material has semiconducting properties.

[0011] The material with semiconducting properties is preferably a conductive plastic, in particular a high-molecular-weight polyethylene, which has electrically conductive properties.

[0012] In short, the field control area is made of a different material than the rest of the insulating body. The field control area is locally limited.

[0013] The connector preferably has a two-part contact element. The contact element is formed from a connection part and a contact part.

[0014] Preferably, the connector has an axial opening on one side, designed as a crimp connection for an electrical conductor. At the other end, the connector has a radial through-opening into which the contact part can be inserted. The contact part is designed, for example, as a pin contact.

[0015] Preferably, a circumferential contact strip is arranged within the through-hole. This ensures reliable electrical contact between the connecting part and the contact part.

[0016] Preferably, the connection part and the contact part are aligned approximately at right angles or orthogonally to each other. This allows the connector to be angled, with the cable connection direction and the plug-in direction intersecting at a 90° angle.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the connecting part is arranged in the semiconducting region of the insulating body. This effectively prevents partial discharges.

[0018] Preferably, the angular cut area of the contact element is located in the semiconducting area of the insulating body. Due to its angular geometry, this cut area always poses a high risk of partial discharges, which are thus effectively reduced or avoided.

[0019] Preferably, the insulating body is formed in at least two parts. The two-part shape allows for the geometric implementation of complex semiconducting regions.

[0020] Advantageously, at least two parts of the insulating body are each manufactured using a two-component injection molding process. One material for the semiconducting region and another material for the remaining insulating body can be processed in a single step or a single injection mold.

[0021] Preferably, at least two parts of the insulating body are each made of two plastic materials, each with different electrical conductivities. This allows complex geometries of semiconducting regions to be implemented.

[0022] In a preferred variant of the invention, the insulating body is constructed in three parts. This allows complex geometries of semiconducting regions to be implemented while simultaneously saving material.

[0023] Preferably, at least one part of the insulating body consists of two different plastic materials, and at least one part of the insulating body is homogeneous and consists uniformly of the same plastic material. Or, in other words, preferably at least one part of the insulating body has two different regions formed from different plastic materials, and at least another part of the insulating body consists of a single plastic material.

[0024] Preferably, at least two parts of the insulating body each consist of two different plastic materials. At least one part of the insulating body is homogeneous and consists of the same plastic material. The latter part then consists of an insulating plastic that is typically used for insulating bodies. Or, in other words, at least two parts of the insulating body each have two different regions formed from different plastic materials, while at least one other part of the insulating body consists of a single plastic material. Example

[0025] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. They show: Fig. 1 is a perspective sectional view of a connector according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a first part of the insulating body produced using a two-component injection molding process, Fig. 3 is a further perspective view of the first part of the insulating body produced using a two-component injection molding process, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a second part of the insulating body produced using a two-component injection molding process, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a third part of the insulating body, Fig. 6 is a further perspective view of the third part of the insulating body, Fig. 7 is a perspective sectional view of the entire insulating body of the connector, and Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a two-part contact element of the connector.

[0026] 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.

[0027] The Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a connector 1 designed according to the invention. The connector 1 has a connector housing 2 in which an insulating body 3 is arranged. The connector housing 2 consists essentially of aluminum.

[0028] A two-part contact element 4, consisting of a connecting part 4a and a contact part 4b, is arranged within the insulating body 3. The connecting part 4a has an axial opening 5 at one end, which is provided as a crimp connection for connecting an electrical conductor. At the other end, the connecting part 4a has a radial through-opening 6, into which the contact part 4b can be inserted or passed. The geometry of the contact part 4b is not essential to the invention, so that the contact part 4b in Figure 3 is only shown schematically.

[0029] The connection part 4a and the contact part 4b of the contact element 4 are arranged essentially orthogonally to each other. This allows the connector 1 to be angled, with the cable connection direction and the plug-in direction intersecting at a 90° angle.

[0030] Optionally, the connector 1 can have a partial discharge sleeve 7, which is only Figure 8 is shown. In the assembled state, the connecting part 4a of the contact element 4 in this alternative embodiment is arranged within the partial discharge sleeve 7. However, due to the insulating body 3 according to the invention, which has already been described in more detail above, a partial discharge sleeve 7 is not necessary.

[0031] The partial discharge sleeve 7 has an insertion opening 9. The connecting part 4a can be inserted into the partial discharge sleeve 7 in the direction of arrow P. The partial discharge sleeve 7 has a contact opening 8 that correlates with the through-opening 6 of the connecting part 4a. This allows the contact part 4b to be further inserted into the connecting part 4a.

[0032] A circumferential contact strip 10 is arranged within the through-opening 6 of the connecting part 4a. The contact strip 10 establishes a reliable electrically conductive connection between the connecting part 4a and the contact part 4b.

[0033] In the Figures 2 and 3 A first part 3a of the insulating body 3 according to the invention is shown. The first part 3a is manufactured using a two-component injection molding process and has a semiconducting region 11 formed from a semiconducting or conductive plastic, in particular polyethylene. The remaining part of the first part 3a consists of a different material, which has particularly good insulating properties.

[0034] The first part 3a of the insulating body 3 has a hollow cylindrical opening 12, in which the contact part 4b of the contact element 4 extends. The connection part 4a of the contact element 4 is positioned on the semiconducting region 11.

[0035] In Figure 4A second part 3b of the insulating body 3 is shown in perspective. The second part 3b is manufactured using a two-component injection molding process and has a semiconducting region 13 made of a semiconducting or conductive plastic, in particular polyethylene. The remaining insulating region 14 consists of a different material, which has particularly good insulating properties.

[0036] The second part 3b of the insulating body 3 is placed on the semiconducting region 11 of the first part 3a of the insulating body 3, so that the semiconducting regions 11, 13 enclose the connection part 4a of the contact element, including the intersection area between the connection part 4a and the contact part 4b. This effectively prevents partial discharge in this geometrically susceptible contact element area.

[0037] In Figure 5A third part 3c of the insulating body 3 is shown in perspective. The third part 3c functions as a cover of the insulating body 3. The third part 3c consists entirely of a single, insulating plastic material.

[0038] The third part 3c of the insulating body 3 has a fixing web 15 on the inside which, in the assembled state, engages in the insulating region 14 of the second part 3b of the insulating body 3.

[0039] In the assembled state, the contact element 4 or its connecting part 4a is arranged or fixed between the first part 3a and the second part 3b of the insulating body 3. The connecting part 4a is shielded from the field control by the semiconducting regions 11, 13 of the insulating body 3. The entire system is fixed together via the third part 3c or the cover of the insulating body 3.

[0040] The connector 1 has a cable outlet 11 on the cable connection side, which performs a sealing and strain-relieving function for the connected cable (not shown).

[0041] 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

[0042] 1Connector 2Connector housing 3Insulating body 3a) first part 3b) second part 3c) third part 4Contact element 4a) connection part 4b) contact part 5Axial opening of the connection part 4a 6Radial opening of the connection part 4a 7Partial discharge sleeve 8Contact opening of the partial discharge sleeve 7 9Insertion opening of the partial discharge sleeve 7 10Contact strip 11Semiconducting region of the first part 3a 12Opening of the first part 3a 13Semiconducting region of the second part 3c 14Insulating region 15Fixing web

Claims

1. Connector (1), at least comprising a connector housing (2), an insulating body (3) and a contact element (4), wherein the insulating body (3) has at least one semiconducting region (11, 13) for field control.

2. Connector (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the insulating body (3) is manufactured in a two-component injection molding process.

3. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the insulating body (3) consists of two plastic materials, each with different electrical conductivities.

4. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the connector (1) has a two-part contact element (4) which is formed from a connection part (4a) and a contact part (4b).

5. Connector (1) according to the preceding claim characterized in thatthe connecting part (4a) has an axial opening (5) at one end, which is designed as a crimp connection for an electrical conductor, and wherein the connecting part (4a) has a radial through-opening (6) at the other end, into which the contact part (4b) can be inserted.

6. Connector (1) according to the preceding claim characterized in that a circumferential contact strip (10) is arranged within the through opening (6).

7. Connector (1) according to one of the three preceding claims characterized in that the connecting part (4a) and the contact part (4b) are aligned approximately at right angles to each other.

8. Connector (1) according to the preceding claim characterized in that the angular cutting area of ​​the contact element (3) is arranged in the semiconducting area of ​​the insulating body (3).

9. Connector (1) according to claim 4 characterized in that the connecting part (4a) is arranged in the semiconducting region (11, 13) of the insulating body (3).

10. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the insulating body (3) is formed in at least two parts.

11. Connector (1) according to the preceding claim characterized in that at least two parts (3a, 3b) of the insulating body (3) are each produced in a two-component injection molding process.

12. Connector (1) according to claim 10 characterized in that at least two parts (3a, 3b) of the insulating body (3) each consist of two plastic materials with different electrical conductivities.

13. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the insulating body (3) is formed in three parts.

14. Connector (1) according to the preceding claim characterized in thatat least one part of the insulating body (3) has two different regions formed from different plastic materials and at least another part of the insulating body (3) consists of a single plastic material.

15. Connector (1) according to claim 13 characterized in that at least two parts of the insulating body (3) each have two different regions which are formed from different plastic materials and at least one other part of the insulating body (3) consists of a single plastic material.

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