Connection box for establishing a piercing contact between a flat cable and an apparatus with such a connection box

Abstract

A terminal housing is provided, comprising a first housing part (100), wherein the first housing part (100) has at least one receptacle (110, 120) for a ribbon cable (130, 131), wherein the at least one receptacle (110, 120) has a connection area (111, 121) for establishing a piercing contact with the ribbon cable (130, 131) via electrically conductive prongs (101, 102), the base of which opposite the tip of the electrically conductive prongs (101, 102) is attached to the bottom of the connection area (111, 121), and a second housing part (200) for covering the at least one receptacle (110, 120), wherein the connection area (111, 121) is limited in and against the direction of travel by a spacer (112, 113, 122, 123), wherein the spacers (112, 113, 122, 123) each have a support surface (112a, 113a, 122a, 123a) for the flat ribbon cable (130, 131) and that the second housing part (200) at the locations,the second housing part (200) which, when placed on the first housing part (100), is opposite the connection areas (111, 121) of the first housing part (100), has projections (220) which project towards the first housing part (100) and which, when the connection between the first housing part (100) and the second housing part (200) is established, engage between the spacers delimiting the connection areas (111, 121), so that the piercing connection is made by pressing the mandrels (101, 102) through the insulation of the ribbon cable (130, 131), and a method for making a piercing contact between a ribbon cable and a device with such a terminal housing.

Description

[0001] A particularly simple way to establish an electrical connection to at least one externally insulated conductor of a ribbon cable is to create a piercing contact. In such a piercing contact, at least one electrically conductive prong is used to pierce the insulation of an externally insulated conductor of the ribbon cable to such an extent that an electrical contact is established between this conductor and the electrically conductive prong.

[0002] In practice, it has proven effective to enclose the ribbon cable in a terminal housing of at least two parts, the first part of which carries the electrically conductive pin(s) and the second part of which has one or more contact surfaces to exert the necessary pressure or counter-pressure at the points where the pin is to be drilled through the insulated conductor, especially when the two parts of the housing are connected to each other.

[0003] The connection housing can be designed as a separate housing; however, it is also possible that at least one of the two housing parts is formed by a section of a component of another housing, in which, for example, a device is located that is connected to the ribbon cable via the pins.

[0004] Systems of this kind, using ribbon cables and connection housings to which devices are connected to or interconnected via the ribbon cable, are particularly common as fieldbus systems where the use of connectors should be avoided. A typical and popular example of such a bus system is the ASi bus.

[0005] However, a problem with the practical handling of such systems or with the application of such methods for making such an electrical connection is that premature interaction can easily occur between the electrically conductive pin and the insulation of the externally insulated conductor of the ribbon cable, so that the integrity of the insulation suffers, for example when inserting the ribbon cable or when attaching the second housing part, and the corresponding inner conductor is no longer completely protected from environmental influences.

[0006] Another problem is that, under certain circumstances, no or insufficient contact between the conductors may be achieved. One scenario in which this problem can occur is when the pressure required to press in the mandrels deforms the terminal housing, potentially resulting in suboptimal contact. This is especially true when a screw is used to apply this pressure.

[0007] Another problem that can arise when handling such systems is that the cables to be inserted are often form-coded flat cables, and the terminal block has a coding feature that specifies a particular orientation of the flat cable passing through it. This prevents incorrect connections, such as connecting it with reverse polarity to power supply lines. In practice, this coding feature is often implemented as a protrusion that extends the top or bottom of the flat cable in its transverse direction.

[0008] Particularly in cases where several devices are to be connected to the same flat cable in different orientations, it may be necessary to loop the form-coded flat cables between adjacent terminal boxes in order to transition from the orientation specified by a first terminal box to an orientation specified by a second terminal box.

[0009] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a connector housing improved with respect to at least one of these problems for establishing a piercing contact between a ribbon cable and a device with such a connector housing. This object is achieved by a connector housing having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 8. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

[0010] The terminal housing according to the invention has a first housing part which has at least one receptacle for a ribbon cable, such that the ribbon cable is guided through the first housing part in a defined position. The direction in which the receptacle traverses the first housing part then also defines the direction of travel of the ribbon cable at every point in the first housing part. Preferably, the receptacles can be designed as grooves.

[0011] This at least one receptacle has a connection area for establishing a piercing contact with the ribbon cable via electrically conductive prongs, the base of which, opposite the tip of the electrically conductive prongs, is attached to the bottom of the connection area. At this base, the electrical signal of the conductor of the ribbon cable, with which the contact is established via the electrically conductive prong, is then tapped, in particular via contacts or conductor tracks, which may, for example, be provided on a circuit board, and fed to further processing, or an electrical signal is fed to this conductor.

[0012] Accordingly, for the purposes of this disclosure, in a given terminal housing with which a piercing contact is made, the housing part having the electrically conductive prongs, the first housing part and the electrically conductive prongs are arranged within the receptacle for the ribbon cable.

[0013] As mentioned previously, the first housing part can also be formed by a section of a component of another housing, which, for example, contains a device that is connected to the ribbon cable via the pins. Of course, it is also possible that the first housing part contains a circuit board, possibly populated with components, with which the base of the pin is in electrical contact.

[0014] Furthermore, the terminal housing according to the invention also has a second housing part for covering the at least one receptacle. The second housing part preferably has at least one projection for pushing the pins through the insulation of a flat ribbon cable inserted into the at least one receptacle at a location opposite the connection areas of the first housing part when the second housing part is placed on top of the first housing part. Preferably, the first and second housing parts can be connected to each other, for example by screwing or snapping them together.

[0015] A key aspect of the invention is that the connection area is limited both in and against the direction of travel by a spacer, each spacer having a support surface for the ribbon cable. This means that the ribbon cable, which is guided in the receptacle to the connection area, runs supported on the support surface over the spacer before entering the connection area, and that when leaving the connection area it also runs supported on the support surface over the spacer, resulting in the ribbon cable being lifted within the receptacle in the connection area.

[0016] The projections, preferably located on the second housing part at the points opposite the connection areas of the first housing part when the second housing part is mounted on top of the first, project towards the first housing part in this mounted state. When the connection between the first and second housing parts is established, these projections engage between the spacers that define the connection areas. This also shifts the ribbon cable in the connection area towards the bottom of the receptacle and into the space between the spacers, so that the piercing connection is created by pressing the mandrels through the insulation of the ribbon cable. These projections can, in particular, be designed as plungers.

[0017] By arranging spacers around the prongs present in the connection areas, over which the ribbon cable is guided, and by only creating the piercing connection when a projection of the second housing part is inserted into the connection area between the spacers, and thus only then does the ribbon cable enter the space between the spacers in which the electrically conductive prongs are located, the probability of an unplanned and merely accidental interaction between the prongs and the ribbon cable, and thus the risk of accidentally damaging it, is significantly reduced.

[0018] Preferably, the spacers are dimensioned and shaped such that their greatest extent in the direction parallel to the direction of the prongs (i.e., from their base to their tip) is greater than the length of the prongs between their tip and base. This ensures that a flat ribbon cable inserted into the respective receptacle is supported on the bearing surfaces above the tips of the prongs before the second housing part is placed on them. Simultaneously, it is advantageous for guiding the flat ribbon cable within the receptacle if the greatest extent of the spacer in the direction parallel to the direction of the prongs is less than the depth of the receptacle, which is defined by the distance between its bottom and its upper edge in this direction.

[0019] The path of the ribbon cable, forced by the projections of the second housing part, can be controlled particularly well and a particularly stable piercing contact achieved if, in the direction of the respective connection area, a curved contact surface adjoins the contact surfaces of the spacers, so that the height of the spacers decreases in the area of ​​the contact surfaces in the direction of the connection area, and when the projections are inserted during the connection of the first housing part with the second housing part between the spacers that define the connection areas, the respective ribbon cables are at least pressed against parts of the contact surfaces.

[0020] Furthermore, the guidance of the flat ribbon cable is positively influenced if, in the direction away from the respective connection area, an inclined plane connects to the support surfaces, forming a connection to the base of the recording.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, which is also considered an independent invention, the first housing part and / or the second housing part is reinforced with a metal plate in the connection area. This measure reliably prevents deformation of the respective housing part when the pressure required for contact is applied. The metal plate can, in particular, be disc-shaped.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, which is also considered an independent invention, a pair of projections is provided in the upper region of the side walls of the at least one receptacle in both end regions, so that a flat ribbon cable inserted into the receptacle is held in position by the projections before the second housing part is connected to the first housing part, wherein the projections are arranged or can be arranged in such a way that a form-coded flat ribbon cable, in particular an ASi bus cable, can be held in position in any orientation enabling the production of the piercing contact.

[0023] The term "held in position" is to be understood as meaning that the flat ribbon cable is prevented from slipping or falling out of its receptacle; complete immobility is not implied and is only achieved in preferred embodiments when the first housing part and the second housing part are connected to each other and the piercing contact is established.

[0024] Such projections can be arranged if their position can be adjusted, for example by a movable arrangement on the first housing part or by removing them from the first housing part and rearranging them at a different location on the first housing part, for example in a design in which the projections have a fastening section that can be inserted into different openings in the first housing part.

[0025] Alternatively, the protrusions can also be arranged because they serve as a means of pre-positioning and do not necessarily bring about the final fixation of the ribbon cables after the connection has been made.

[0026] The inventive method for producing a piercing contact between a flat ribbon cable and a device with a connector housing according to one of claims 1 to 7 comprises the following steps, to be carried out in the specified order: Providing the first housing part; inserting at least one ribbon cable into at least one receptacle of the first housing part, such that the ribbon cable inserted into the receptacle is supported on the bearing surfaces and preferably runs above the tips of the electrically conductive prongs; and creating the piercing connection by pressing the electrically conductive prongs through the insulation of the ribbon cable by means of an interaction of the projections that the second housing part has at the locations opposite the connection areas of the first housing part when the second housing part is placed on the first housing part, with the ribbon cable, when the ribbon cable is displaced between the spacers delimiting the connection areas by the engagement of the projections when the second housing part is placed on top of the first housing part.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the method, the flat ribbon cable is also fixed and / or held in position between insertion and the creation of the piercing connection.

[0028] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to figures showing an exemplary embodiment. These show: Fig. 1a: an isometric view of a first housing part of a terminal housing; Fig. 1b: a top view of the first housing part made of Figure 1a Fig. 2a: a cross-sectional view of a section of a first embodiment of a terminal housing in a first stage of making the connection; Fig. 2b: a cross-sectional view of the section from Figure 2a in a second stage of making the connection; Fig. 3a: an isometric view of a second housing part of a terminal housing, viewed from the inside; Fig. 3b: a top view of the inside of the second housing part made of Figure 3aFig. 4a: a cross-sectional view of a section of a second embodiment of a terminal housing in a first stage of making the connection; Fig. 4b: a cross-sectional view of the section from Figure 4a in a second stage of making the connection; and Fig. 5: an isometric view of a first housing part of a terminal housing with inserted flat ribbon cables.

[0029] In the figures described below, the same reference numerals are used for identical components. However, for the sake of clarity, not all reference numerals are shown in every figure.

[0030] Figures 1a and 1btwo different views of a first housing part 100 of a terminal housing, i.e., according to the terminology of this patent application, of the housing part on which electrically conductive prongs 101, 102 are arranged, with which the piercing connection with a flat ribbon cable 130, 131 is made when a component which is connected via the terminal housing is added to a system consisting of the flat ribbon cable 130, 131 and at least one terminal housing.

[0031] In this embodiment, the first housing part 100 has a first receptacle 110 for a ribbon cable 130, 131 with a first connection area 111 for establishing a piercing contact with a first ribbon cable 130 via prongs 101, the base of which opposite the tip of the electrically conductive prongs 101 is attached to the bottom of the first connection area 111, and a second receptacle 120 for a ribbon cable 131 with a second, more extended connection area 121 for establishing a piercing contact with a second ribbon cable 131 via electrically conductive prongs 102, the base of which opposite the tip of the electrically conductive prongs 102 is attached to the bottom of the second connection area 121. A connection to another cable, circuit board, or electrical component can be established at the base of the prongs 101, 102.

[0032] In this embodiment, the first receptacle 110 and the second receptacle 120 are each formed by a groove that extends through the first housing part 100 in the direction in which the respective ribbon cable 130, 131 is to pass through it, i.e., in the direction of travel. Furthermore, the first receptacle 110 and the second receptacle 120 run essentially parallel to each other and guide the ribbon cables 130, 131, which are guided within them, longitudinally over the first housing part 100.

[0033] In the two end regions of the receptacle 110 and in the two end regions of the receptacle 120, a pair of projections 114a,114b and 124a,124b respectively is provided in the upper region of the side walls of the groove forming the receptacle 110 and 120, so that a flat ribbon cable 130 and 131 inserted into the receptacle 110 and 120 respectively is held in position by the projections 114a,114b and 124a,124b respectively before the second housing part 200 is connected to the first housing part 100.

[0034] How to view in conjunction with Figure 5 As can be seen particularly well, the respective pairs of projections 114a,114b,124a,124b are arranged in such a way that a form-coded flat ribbon cable 130,131 can be held in position in various orientations enabling the establishment of the piercing contact.

[0035] The first connection area 111 and the second connection area 121 are each bounded in and against the direction of travel by spacers 112, 113 and 122, 123, respectively, each of which has a bearing surface 112a, 113a, 122a, 123a for the respective flat ribbon cable 130, 131. The spacers 111, 112, 122 and 123 are dimensioned and shaped such that the greatest extent of the spacers 112, 113, 122, 123 in the direction parallel to the direction of travel of the mandrels 101, 102, i.e., their maximum height from the base of the receptacles 110, 120, which is reached at the bearing surface 112a, 113a, 122a, 123a, is greater than the length of the mandrels 101, 102 between their tip and their base, so that, as in Figures 2a and 4a As shown for the second image, a flat ribbon cable 130,131 inserted into the respective image 110,120 runs supported on the support surfaces 112a and 113a or 122a and 123a above the tips of the mandrels 101,102.

[0036] How to in Figure 1b As can be seen particularly well, this maximum height of the spacers is chosen so that an inserted flat ribbon cable 130,131 is stabilized or guided with regard to its position at least partially also in the area of ​​the support surfaces 112a, 113a,122a,123a in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the supports 110,120.

[0037] Towards the respective connection area 111, 121, the support surfaces 112a, 113a, 122a, 123a of the spacers 112, 113, 122, 123 each have a curved contact surface 112b, 113b, 122b, 123b, so that the height of the spacers 112, 113, 122, 123 decreases in the area of ​​the contact surfaces 112b, 113b, 122b, 123b towards the connection area 111, 112. In the opposite direction, the support surfaces 112a, 113a, 122a, 123a each have an inclined plane 112c, 113c, 122c, 123c, which forms a connection to the groove base of the grooved receptacles 110, 120.

[0038] The in the Figures 3a and 3b The illustrated second housing part 200, which serves as a cover to cover the first receptacle 110 and the second receptacle 120 of the first housing part 100 after the respective ribbon cable 130, 131 has been inserted, shows how to in the Figures 2a and 2b as well as 4a and 4b, which can be seen particularly well at the points which, when the second housing part 200 is placed on the first housing part 100, are opposite the connection areas 111, 121 of the first housing part 100, projections 210, 220 appear, which in the Figures 3a and 3b The second housing part 200 shown is formed by ribs. These projections 210, 220, which can also be designed as punches, are used when creating a final connection between the first housing part 100 and the second housing part 200, as shown in Figures 2b and 4bschematically, it can be seen that in the area of ​​the connection areas 111,121, the spacers 112, 113,122,123 are inserted between the spacers 112, 113, 122, 123 that limit the connection areas 111,121, so that the respective flat ribbon cables 130,131 are at least placed against parts of the contact surfaces 112b,113b, 122b,123b and the piercing connection is made by pressing the mandrels 101,102 through the insulation of the flat ribbon cable 130,131 into its conductor.

[0039] How to get into the Figures 3a and 3b As can be seen, the second housing part 200 in the illustrated embodiment is reinforced by ribs 230. Furthermore, the first housing part 100 and the second housing part 200 each have an opening 140, 240 centrally located between the connection areas 111, 121 of the first housing 100, which allows for the creation of a screw connection that enables the application of the pressure necessary to create the piercing connection in a particularly simple manner.

[0040] The Figures 2a and 2b On the one hand, and 4a and 4b on the other hand, differ in particular with regard to the extent of the bearing surfaces 122a and 123a, which in the embodiment of the Figures 4a and 4b are significantly wider, so that there are no inclined planes 122c and 123c in these figures.

[0041] Both in the Figures 2a and 2b as well as in the Figures 4a and 4b However, it is clearly visible that the first housing part 100 and the second housing part 200 are each reinforced in the connection area with a metal plate 150,250.

[0042] Figure 5Figure 1 is an isometric view of a first housing part 100 of a terminal housing with two inserted ribbon cables 130, 131. The coding features of these ribbon cables 130, 131 are protrusions 130a, 131a, which extend the trapezoidal cross-section of the ribbon cables 130, 131 along the longest side of the trapezoid. As can easily be visualized with simple geometric considerations, both ribbon cables 130, 131 are inserted into the first housing part 100 in such a way that, in the perspective of the inserted state, Figure 5The left conductor is the same conductor as the flat ribbon cable (because the flat ribbon cables 130 and 131 can be interlocked by rotating them about an axis perpendicular to their direction of travel). In this configuration, the projections 114a and 114b rest against the flat ribbon cable 131 and hold it in position. With the flat ribbon cable 130, however, there is only contact with projection 124a, while projection 124b has no direct contact with the flat ribbon cable 130, but geometrically prevents the flat ribbon cable 130 from falling out of its receptacle.

[0043] It is particularly noticeable that the coding feature 130 is always inserted to the left; however, it can be inserted as in Figure 5 The image shows the insert oriented both upwards and downwards. This is possible in both channels 110 and 112. Reference symbol list

[0044] 100 First housing part 101, 102 Pins 110, 120 Receptacle 111, 121 Connection area 112, 113 Spacer 112a, 113a Contact surface 112b, 113b Mounting surface 112c, 113c Inclined plane 114a, 114b Projection 122, 123 Spacer 122a, 123a Contact surface 122b, 123b Mounting surface 122c, 123c Inclined plane 124a, 124b Projection 130, 131 Flat ribbon cable 130a, 131a Coding feature 140 Opening 150 Metal plate 200 Second housing part 220 Projection 230 Ribs 240 Opening 250 Metal plate

Claims

1. Terminal housing comprising a first housing part (100), wherein the first housing part (100) has at least one receptacle (110, 120) for a ribbon cable (130, 131), wherein the at least one receptacle (110, 120) has a connection area (111, 121) for establishing a piercing contact with the ribbon cable (130, 131) via electrically conductive prongs (101, 102), the base of which opposite the tip of the electrically conductive prongs (101, 102) is attached to the bottom of the connection area (111, 121), and comprising a second housing part (200) for covering the at least one receptacle (110, 120), characterized by the fact thatThe connection area (111, 121) is limited in and against the direction of travel by a spacer (112, 113, 122, 123), wherein the spacers (112, 113, 122, 123) each have a bearing surface (112a, 113a, 122a, 123a) for the ribbon cable (130, 131), and that the second housing part (200) has projections (220) at the points which, when the second housing part (200) is placed on the first housing part (100), are opposite the connection areas (111, 121) of the first housing part (100), which project towards the first housing part (100) and which, when the connection between the first housing part (100) and the second housing part (200) is made, are between the spacers limiting the connection areas (111, 121). intervene so that the piercing connection is made by pressing the mandrels (101,102) through the insulation of the flat ribbon cable (130,131).

2. Connection housing according to claim 1, characterized by the fact thatthe second housing part (200) has at least one projection (220) for pushing the pins (101,102) through insulation of a flat ribbon cable (130,131) inserted into the at least one receptacle (110,120) at a point which, when the second housing part (200) is placed on the first housing part (100), is opposite the connection areas (111,121) of the first housing part (100).

3. Connection housing according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by the fact thatthe spacers (111,112,122,123) are dimensioned and shaped such that the largest extent of the spacer (111,112,122,123) in the direction parallel to the direction of the mandrels (101,102) is greater than the length of the mandrels (101,102) between their tip and their base, so that a flat ribbon cable (130,131) inserted into the respective receptacle (110,120) runs supported above the tips of the mandrels (101,102) before the second housing part is placed on the support surfaces (112a,113a or 122a, 123a).

4. Connection housing according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact thatIn the direction of the respective connection area (111, 121), a contact surface (112b, 113b, 122b, 123b) connects to the support surfaces (112a, 113a, 122a, 123a) of the spacers (112, 113, 122b, 123b), which is curved, so that the height of the spacers (112, 113, 122, 123) decreases in the area of ​​the contact surfaces (112b, 113b, 122b, 123b) in the direction of the connection area (111, 112) and when the projections (210, 220) are inserted when connecting the first housing part (100) to the second housing part (200) between the spacers that define the connection areas (111, 121). (112,113,122,123) the respective flat ribbon cables (130,131) are laid at least on parts of the installation areas (112b,113b,122b,123b).

5. Connection housing according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact thatIn the direction away from the respective connection area (111,121) to the support surfaces (112a,113a,122a,123a) an inclined plane (112c,113c,122c,123c) is attached, which forms a connection to the base of the recording (110,120).

6. Connection housing according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or according to the preamble of any one of these claims, characterized by the fact that the first housing part (100) and / or the second housing part (200) is reinforced in the connection area (111,121) with a metal plate (150,250).

7. Connection housing according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or according to the preamble of any one of these claims, characterized by the fact thatIn both end regions of the at least one receptacle (110, 120), a pair of projections (114a, 114b, 124a, 124b) are provided in the upper region of the side walls of the receptacle (110, 120), such that a flat ribbon cable (130, 131) inserted into the receptacle (110, 120) is held in position by the projections (114a, 114b, 124a, 124b) before the second housing part (200) is connected to the first housing part (100), wherein the projections (114a, 114b, 124a, 124b) are arranged or can be arranged such that a form-coded flat ribbon cable, in particular an ASi bus cable, can be held in position in any orientation enabling the creation of the piercing contact, so that the insertion, fixing and piercing of a flat ribbon cable in both possible directions of the Flat ribbon cable is made possible.

8. Method for producing a piercing contact between a ribbon cable and a device with a connector housing according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the steps of: - providing the first housing part (100); - inserting at least one ribbon cable (130, 131) into at least one receptacle (110, 120) of the first housing part, such that the ribbon cable (130, 131) inserted into the receptacle (110, 120) rests on the contact surfaces (112a, 113a and 113a, respectively).122a, 123a) supported and preferably runs above the tips of the mandrels (101, 102); and - forming the piercing connection by pressing the mandrels (101, 102) through the insulation of the ribbon cable (130, 131) by means of an interaction of the projections (220) that the second housing part (200) has at the points which, when the second housing part (200) is placed on the first housing part (100), are opposite the connection areas (111, 121) of the first housing part (100), with the ribbon cable (130, 131) that is created when the second housing part (100) is placed on the first housing part (100) by the engagement of the projections (220) between the spacers (112, 113, 122, 123) that delimit the connection areas (111, 121).

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that The flat ribbon cable (130,131) is fixed between insertion and making the piercing connection.

Images