Round plug connector having directly locked locking element

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connector (1) having an inner part, wherein, coaxially over the inner part, there is a locking element (1.1) by means of which the plug connector (1) is brought together with and locked with a mating plug connector by a rotational movement of the locking element (1.1), wherein the locking element (1.1) is rotatably mounted on the inner part but cannot be moved relative to the inner part along the longitudinal axis of the locking element, wherein the inner part has at least one axially oriented elastic spring fin (1.2.1) fixedly attached to the inner part, wherein direct locking of the locking element (1.1) is made possible by means of the at least one elastic spring fin (1.2.1) fixedly attached to the inner part. The inner part, in particular in the form of a contact carrier, is produced from a metal material using the metal injection molding (MIM) process.

Description

[0001] Circular connector with direct locking element

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a plug connector having an inner part, in particular a contact carrier for receiving contacts, wherein a locking element is arranged coaxially above the inner part, in particular the contact carrier, with which locking element the plug connector is brought together and locked with a mating connector by a rotational movement of the locking element, wherein the locking element is arranged rotatably on the inner part, in particular the contact carrier, but is not movable relative to it along its longitudinal axis, as well as a method for producing such an inner part, in particular such a contact carrier for the plug connector, according to the features of the respective preamble of the two independent patent claims.

[0004] For the assembly and fixing of the locking element to the contact carrier, it is already known to provide the contact carrier with a circumferential groove into which a C-spring is inserted, which is designed in such a way that it forms a locking edge for the locking element in the axial direction, i.e. in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the connector. To assemble the C-spring, it is pushed over the contact carrier from the front (from the direction of the plug-in face of the connector) and can be slightly compressed by the inner contour of the locking element so that the locking element can be pushed completely or at least partially over the C-spring.Once this has occurred, the inner contour of the locking element no longer compresses the C-spring, so it relaxes. As a result of this relaxation, the C-spring forms a locking edge that interacts with a corresponding locking edge on the inner contour of the locking element, preventing the locking element from being pushed off the contact carrier again. At the same time, this ensures that the locking element is rotatably mounted on the contact carrier.If the mating connector is now plugged into the contact carrier of the connector, after the mating process has been completed, the locking element of the connector can be brought together with a corresponding counterpart on the mating connector by turning, in particular screwing, with the counterpart, so that the plug connection, formed from the mild mating connector plugged together, can no longer be plugged apart.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of improving an arrangement described above with regard to its assembly and durability during operation of the connector.

[0006] This problem is solved by the features of the two independent patent claims.

[0007] With regard to the design of the connector, the invention provides that the inner part has at least one axially aligned elastic spring blade firmly attached to it, wherein the at least one elastic spring blade firmly attached to the inner part enables direct locking of the locking element. The elasticity of the at least one spring blade enables force-reduced assembly of the connector. After assembly, the end of the at least one spring blade rests against a corresponding geometry of the locking element in order to permanently enable direct locking of the locking element during operation of the connector, i.e., during the plugging processes.

[0008] The inner part can be the contact carrier, which accommodates the connector's contacts. Alternatively, it is conceivable for the inner part to be a separate component from the contact carrier and arranged coaxially above it. In a shielded connector, the inner part is also provided with a shield. This can be, for example, a metallic coating. Additionally or alternatively, the inner part can be made entirely of a metallic material.If the connector is a shielded connector which is arranged at the end of a shielded cable and in which the inner part, in particular the shielding housing, is made of a metallic material, it is self-evident that the shielding of the cable is connected in a suitable manner to the metallic inner part, in particular the shielding housing, and thus electrically contacted in order to loop the shielding from the cable via the connector to the plugged-in mating connector.

[0009] In particular, the invention relates to a circular connector, and especially to circular connectors for field use. These are often locked to their counterparts (mating connectors) using a screw or bayonet lock.

[0010] For this purpose, the connector must be equipped with a locking element that can rotate around its longitudinal axis and that must be positively mounted or locked on the front of the connector housing. A one-piece locking element, mounted from the mating face, generally has the advantage of allowing a more compact design of the connector in the cable-side connection area.

[0011] Shielded circular connectors for field use require - for functional reasons - a metallic housing that is completely closed around the insulating contact carrier, to which, in the case of front-side mounting, the corresponding

[0012] A locking element must be locked. According to the current state of the art, such shielding housings are either machined or die-cast. Using these processes, it is technically and / or economically impossible to provide permanently attached locking elements to the shielding housing. This locking is achieved with the help of additional parts, such as so-called C-springs or the like, which in turn leads to greater assembly effort, a greater variety of parts, lower precision in the assembly, and the like.

[0013] According to the invention, the connector has an inner part that has at least one spring blade aligned in the axial direction, preferably two or more than two spring blades, wherein the at least one elastic spring blade firmly attached to the housing enables direct locking of the locking element in the axial direction. At the same time, after the locking element has been installed and has reached its end position, a rotational movement of the locking element relative to the inner part is permitted. Advantageously, the inner part is the contact carrier of the connector. Alternatively, it is just as conceivable for the inner part with its at least one spring blade aligned in the axial direction (preferably two or more than two spring blades) to be arranged coaxially within the locking element, wherein the contact carrier with contacts of the connector is again arranged coaxially within the inner part.If the above-mentioned elements are made of an electrically non-conductive material (e.g. plastic), it is a non-shielded connector, and these elements can be manufactured using a plastic injection molding process.

[0014] The subject matter of this application, in particular, according to the independent method claim, is a circumferentially closed shield housing, which is preferably manufactured from a metallic material using the metal injection molding (MIM) process. It enables direct locking of the locking element in the axial direction by means of at least one elastic spring lamella firmly attached to the shield housing, while simultaneously permitting rotational movement of the locking element. The metal injection molding process advantageously makes it possible to cost-effectively manufacture the geometrically quite complex inner part with its at least one axially aligned elastic spring lamella firmly attached to it in one piece.

[0015] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. This connector is a shielded connector, although the same designs can also be used for an unshielded connector.

[0016] Figure 1 shows, as far as shown in detail, a connector 1, in particular a shielded (alternatively unshielded) circular connector for field use, which has a housing and is arranged at the end of a shielded or unshielded cable. This connector 1 has an inner part (not further designated), with a locking element 1.1 arranged coaxially above the inner part, with which the connector 1 is brought together and locked with a mating connector (not shown here) by a rotary movement of the locking element 1.1. The locking element 1.1 is arranged rotatably on the inner part, but is not movable relative to it along its longitudinal axis.

[0017] Furthermore, the connector 1 has a shielding housing (generally referred to as the inner part or contact carrier) that is circumferentially closed, thus coaxially surrounding the inner part or contact carrier at least partially or over its entire length. This is particularly important in a shielded connector in order to transfer the shielding from the cable shielding via the connector to the mating connector.

[0018] Furthermore, the housing in this exemplary embodiment is designed such that, starting from the cable end, a part of the housing is made of plastic, and between the end of this housing part and the mating face of the connector, a further housing part is provided. This further housing part can also be made of plastic, or alternatively of a metal material (necessary for shielding). It can have a smooth or, as shown, a grooved surface for better handling of the connector during the mating process. This further housing part is shown partially open in Figure 1 for the purpose of better recognizing the interior of the connector 1, whereas in practice it is completely closed.

[0019] This additional housing part described above is the locking element 1.1.

[0020] In the lower illustration of Figure 1, it can also be seen that the shielding housing 1.2 is sleeve-shaped and has two radially projecting webs. When viewed in Figure 1, the right-hand web forms the end of the shielding housing 1.2, whereas the left-hand web is arranged, for example, approximately in the middle of the axial extent of the shielding housing 1.2 and has at least one partially or completely circumferential spring lamella at its outward-facing end. The corner of the transition from the left-hand web to the at least one spring lamella is supported on a projection of the locking element 1.1, just as the free end of the at least one spring lamella is supported on a further projection of the locking element 1.1. This ensures that the locking element 1.1 is rotatably arranged on the inner part, but is not movable relative to it along its longitudinal axis.

[0021] Figure 2 shows important features of the locking element 1.1. This includes a running surface 1.1.1 required for its rotational movement, which is provided on the shield housing 1.2 corresponding to the counter-running surface 1.2.2 (see Figure 3), as well as a running surface 1.1.2 corresponding to the locking slats on the shield housing 1.2, which, in interaction with these, ensures positive locking.

[0022] Figure 3 shows a design of the shield housing 1.2, which is circumferentially closed with at least one spring lamella 1.2.1 arranged thereon. Preferably, several spring lamellas 1.2.1 are provided for the purpose of uniform force distribution or uniform spring action over the circumference. This elastic spring lamella(s) 1.2.1 is (are) firmly connected to the shield housing 1.2. These elements are preferably manufactured in one piece, again preferably using a casting process from a metallic material, and again preferably using the metal injection molding (MIM) process from a metallic material.

[0023] Furthermore, at least one (or more) running surface(s) 1.2.1.1 is (are) present, corresponding to the running surface 1.1 .2 on the locking element 1.1, on which (which) the positive locking (see Figure 1, lower illustration) is ensured during assembly of the locking element 1.1.

[0024] Reference number 1.2.1.2 designates an optional flattened portion on the spring plate 1.2.1, which can be used to reduce the assembly force if necessary. Reference number 1.2.2 also designates a counter-running surface corresponding to the running surface 1.1.1 on the locking element 1.1, which also serves as a stop during its assembly.

[0025] List of reference symbols

[0026] 1 connector

[0027] 1.1 Locking element

[0028] 1.2 Shield housing

[0029] 1.1.1 Tread

[0030] 1.1.2 Tread

[0031] 1.2.1 elastic spring slat

[0032] 1.2.1.1 Tread

[0033] 1.2.1.2 Flattening

[0034] 1.2.2 Counter surface

Claims

Patent claims 1. A plug connector (1) having an inner part, wherein a locking element (1.1) is arranged coaxially above the inner part, with which locking element the plug connector (1) is brought together and locked with a mating connector by a rotational movement of the locking element (1.1), wherein the locking element (1.1) is arranged rotatably on the inner part but is not movable relative thereto along its longitudinal axis, characterized in that the inner part has at least one axially aligned elastic spring lamella (1.2.1) fixedly attached to it, wherein a direct locking of the locking element (1.1) is possible by means of the at least one elastic spring lamella (1.2.1) fixedly attached to the inner part.

2. Connector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner part is a contact carrier for receiving contacts of the connector (1).

3. Plug connector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner part with its at least one spring lamella (1.2.1) aligned in the axial direction, preferably two or more than two spring lamellas (1.2.1), is arranged coaxially within the locking element (1.1), wherein in turn the contact carrier with contacts of the plug connector (1) is arranged coaxially within the inner part.

4. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (1.1) has a running surface (1.1.1) required for its rotational movement, which is provided corresponding to a counter-running surface (1.2.2) on the inner part, in particular designed as a shielding housing (1.2), 5. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (1.1) has a running surface (1.1.2) which is provided corresponding to locking lamellas on the inner part, in particular the shielding housing (1.2).

6. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one spring blade (1.2.1) has a flattening (1.2.1.2), in particular a partial flattening.

7. Method for producing a plug connector which has an inner part, in particular a contact carrier for receiving contacts, wherein a locking element is arranged coaxially above the inner part, in particular the contact carrier, with which locking element the plug connector is brought together and locked with a mating connector by a rotary movement of the locking element, wherein the locking element is arranged rotatably on the inner part, in particular the contact carrier, but is not movable relative to it along its longitudinal axis, characterized in that the inner part is produced from a metallic material using the metal injection molding process (MIM).

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that a contact carrier for receiving contacts of the connector is produced from a metallic material as the inner part using the metal injection molding process (MIM).

9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that as an inner part a shielding housing with at least one axially aligned elastic spring lamella fixedly attached to it is produced from a metallic material according to the metal injection molding process (MIM), wherein the inner part is designed in such a way that a contact carrier for receiving contacts of the connector can be inserted into the inner part.

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