Plug connector with variable adjustable coding

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connector for electrically-conductive contacting of contact elements, having at least one plug connector plug (20) and at least one plug connector mating plug (30) and at least one variably adjustable coding (10), wherein the variably adjustable coding (10) is formed by a receptacle (13) and an associated receptacle space (12), introduced in each case into a wall region of the at least one plug connector plug (20) and into the wall region of the at least one plug connector mating plug (30), wherein a coding piece (11) is introduced into the at least one receptacle (13).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Connectors with variably adjustable coding

[0003] The invention relates to a connector for electrically conductive contacting of contact elements, comprising at least one connector plug and at least one connector mating plug and at least one variably adaptable coding.

[0004] Electrical contact elements, contact arrangements, pluggable and detachable cable connection elements, and suitable manufacturing processes are available in the known state of the art. Socket or contact elements or plug-in connectors can be designed in single- or multi-pole contact arrangements and have various symmetrical or asymmetrical connector faces. In connection technology for electrical contacting tasks, these connectors are often implemented as plugs and mating connectors, which are often detachable and available in various geometric shapes.

[0005] The plug-in contact elements, contact pins, and contact blades can have round, square, prismatic, symmetrical, and asymmetrical cross-sections, or be tongue-shaped. The connector housings also come in a variety of geometric shapes: round, elliptical, triangular, square, and polygonal, cascade-shaped, modular, and so on.

[0006] Not only, but especially in multi-pin connectors designed as high-current contact elements, it may be necessary for the connector partners—that is, the plug and the mating plug—to have a defined relative position to prevent incorrect contact. Other reasons for a specified relative position may include installation space constraints, movement and collision areas in the connector environment, cable routing and cable feeds to the connector location, and so on.

[0007] Coding is used to achieve this defined position of the connector partners relative to one another before and / or during the mating process. Coding in this context preferably refers to geometric configurations such as corresponding grooves and pins, which only support the mating of the connector partners in the correct contact position and orientation. Another coding option is the asymmetrical plug contact pattern of at least two plug contact elements in the plug contact housing. It is known in the art to provide connectors with coding means, whereby this is often possible in the form of coding walls, coding projections, etc. Coding means with complementary shapes are applied to a corresponding counterpart, so that electrical contact is only possible when the coding means of the connector and counterpart engage.The purpose of such coding devices is to ensure that only the connector intended for the respective connection can be contacted. Furthermore, such coding devices also ensure correct polarity.

[0008] DE 10 2017 105 186 A1 shows one possibility for coding and thus correctly orienting circular connectors in the form of a coding groove. The coding groove on a circular connector interacts in a corresponding manner with a coding lug on the mating connector and / or the connector flange, so that an asymmetrical drilling or fastening pattern forces the connector partners to be mated together in the correct orientation relative to one another in a geometrically defined manner.

[0009] In particular, in the case of connector partners which are connected by a connector housing and a connector mating connector housing in the form of a device housing or a device housing flange, for example made of an iron or non-ferrous casting, it is particularly desirable to code different plug faces of connectors with several contact elements correctly and to use only one

[0010] Housing variant must be used. This requires variable coding solutions.

[0011] Until now, a separate cast part has been used for each coding on cast housings for device walls. When several different device parts are arranged side by side in series, housings with variable coding solutions are advantageous, allowing for interchangeability with just one housing variant.

[0012] DE 20 2010 009 298 U1 deals with variable, adaptable coding for connectors. The presented teaching shows a possibility of designing connector housings or connector housing pairs with identical construction for various coding options. For this purpose, the proposed connector has a housing made up of paired housing parts, which are equipped with different receptacles for plug contacts and can thus realize a wide range of different plug faces and contact patterns. The assembly of the connectors, i.e. the specific assignment of the contacts to the receptacles, is then carried out individually and depending on the respective concrete application. To prevent differently assembled housing parts from being coupled together, a central receptacle in the form of a hole for a coding element is provided in each housing part.Each contact configuration is assigned a specific coding element or a predefined rotational position of a coding element. The coding element has an asymmetrical cross-sectional area in the mating direction, for example, a U-shaped profile. On the side facing away from the mating direction, the coding element has a geometry compatible with the central mounting hole of the housing part, featuring a snap-in hook, so that the coding element is fixed centrally in the housing part and locked in place.

[0013] The disadvantage of this solution is that each contact configuration requires a specific coding element and / or a predefined rotational position, i.e., its orientation in the insertion direction of the coding element. Therefore, it is important not only that the corresponding receptacles are equipped with the intended plug or socket contacts, but also that the coding element assigned to the respective contact configuration is inserted into the housing part. Therefore, incorrect assembly cannot always be reliably avoided.

[0014] It is an object of the invention to at least partially reduce the aforementioned disadvantages of connectors with variably adaptable coding and to support the variably adaptable coding function in a particularly simple and economical manner.

[0015] To solve this problem, the invention proposes variably adaptable coding for connector plugs and / or connector mating plugs in the form of device housings, device walls, or flange elements, designed as a cast part. The variably adaptable coding is formed by at least one receptacle in the connector plug housing or connector mating plug housing in a wall region in which the connector partners are plugged together. A coding piece is inserted into the at least one receptacle and preferably secured. The securing can be positive or non-positive, for example by pressing in, caulking, or gluing. The coding piece is designed such that it protrudes or projects at least partially in the radial direction of the connector relative to the plug-in axis.Complementary to the at least one receptacle and the protruding coding piece, a receiving space extending in the longitudinal direction of the plug-in connector is formed in the correctly oriented plug-in face position of the plug-in connector mating connector or plug-in connector, into which receiving space the protruding coding piece part can be inserted with the plug-in movement.

[0016] In addition to the coding function of ensuring that complementary connectors can only be mated together in the correct mating orientation, the invention also supports the correct pairing of connector plugs and mating connectors from a plurality of different connector types. For this purpose, the housing wall of the connector can be provided with one or more non-removable projections in the form of one or more invariable codings with a cross-sectional geometry that differs from the at least one coding piece. When the connector is mated, these projections engage in a compatible recess in the connector partner, thus enabling the connector to be mated only in this correct orientation.In this design, the variably adaptable coding achieves the function that matching connector partners can be mated together, while non-matching ones cannot. The connector thus contacts matching connector partners in the form of a connector plug and connector mating plug, provided the orientation relative to each other is correct and the contact elements to be contacted inside the connector partners have a compatible mating face.

[0017] The proposed variably adaptable coding provides a particularly simple and reliable way to code different mating faces of a connector, preventing connector partners from mating only in the correct orientation relative to one another. With at least two different mating faces of a plurality of connectors, the variably adaptable coding prevents the incorrect mating of incompatible connectors with different mating faces. This is achieved with only one connector housing on the connector plug side and the mating connector side, thus saving storage and tooling costs, reducing the variety of parts, and flexibly enabling any type of special coding.The variably adaptable coding is particularly advantageous for heavy connectors in which the connector plug and / or connector mating plug are formed by device housings, device walls or flange elements made of die-cast material.

[0018] The invention is explained in more detail below using a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the figures. In the figures:

[0019] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the connector mating connector, exemplarily designed as a flange element with at least one variably adjustable coding and the projection for the optional invariable coding;

[0020] Fig. 2 shows the side view and the top view of the flange element with at least one variably adjustable coding and the optional projection for the optional invariable coding;

[0021] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the connector plug with at least one variably adjustable coding and the optional recess for the invariable coding;

[0022] Fig. 4 the side view and the top view of the connector plug with at least one variably adjustable coding and the optional recess for the invariable coding.

[0023] Figure 1 shows the perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the connector mating connector 30, exemplarily designed as a flange element 31 with at least one variably adaptable coding 10 and the optional projection 41 for the optional invariable coding 40.

[0024] The at least one variably adaptable coding 10 is essentially formed by a coding piece 11 and a receptacle 13 in one of the plug connection partners 20, 30 and at least one receiving space 12 in the respective associated plug connection partner 20, 30 that is compatible therewith and aligned with the mating orientation. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1, the receptacle 13 and coding piece 11 of the at least one variably adaptable coding 10 are introduced into the plug connector mating connector 30, exemplarily designed as a flange element 31. The invariable coding 40 is essentially formed by at least one projection 41 and at least one recess 42 in the respective associated plug connection partner 20, 30 that is compatible therewith and aligned with the mating orientation.In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the projection 41 of the invariable coding 40 is arranged in the connector mating connector 30 in an exemplary manner as a flange element 31.

[0025] Preferably, several receptacles 13 are incorporated into the connector mating connector 30, or the embodiment selected here as a flange element 31. These receptacles are distributed symmetrically or asymmetrically on the inner housing wall and preferably extend longitudinally parallel to the cylindrical base body of the flange element 31. Depending on the coding to be implemented, one or more coding pieces 11 can be inserted into the receptacles 13, thus achieving coding situations corresponding to the respective mating faces of the contacting elements.

[0026] The at least one coding piece 11 is preferably secured in its respective receptacle 13 in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner, for example by pressing, caulking, or gluing. Wedge-like clamp connections or prismatic receptacle geometries are also possible. Since the variably adaptable coding 10 offers particularly significant economic advantages in conjunction with die-cast connector partners 20, 30, a receptacle 13 in the form of a wedge-like clamp connection is also advantageous from a manufacturing perspective, as it supports easy demolding of the die-cast body and avoids complex, multi-part die-casting tools. In order to achieve reliable clamping forces with self-locking, the receptacle 13 is designed as a wedge-like clamp connection with a wedge bevel of approximately 5 degrees. By securing the coding piece 11 in the receptacle 13, the coding piece 11 is prevented from falling out of the receptacle before or during mating of the plug connection.

[0027] Figure 2 shows the side view and the top view of the flange element 31 with at least one variably adaptable coding 10 and the projection 41 for the optional invariable coding 40. The ten exemplary receptacles 13 are arranged asymmetrically in the circumferential direction on the inside of the housing wall of the flange element 31 and a total of four coding pieces 11 are inserted into four receptacles 13. The coding pieces 11 protrude radially inward of the flange element 31 with a prismatic cross-sectional section into the insertion space of the connector plug 20 and are plug-compatible with the receptacle spaces 12 arranged there in alignment, so that the cross-sectional sections of the coding pieces 11 can be pushed into the receptacle spaces 12 when the plug connection is plugged together.

[0028] The mating direction of both plug connection partners 20, 30, i.e. of the flange element 31 selected here as an example with the plug connector 20, lies in their axial alignment along the common and congruent mating center axis xx.

[0029] The optional invariable coding 40 is implemented in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, and its projection 41 is preferably formed integrally with the connector mating connector 30, which is embodied here as a flange element 31. The projection 41 projects radially inward in a manner comparable to the at least one coding piece 11, i.e., it projects inwardly of the flange element 31 in the radial direction relative to the plug-in axis of the connector. The inwardly projecting cross-sectional portion of the projection 41 differs in dimension or shape from the inwardly projecting cross-sectional portion of the at least one coding piece 11.

[0030] Figure 3 comprises a perspective view of the connector plug 20 with at least one variably adaptable coding 10 and the optional recess 42 for the invariable coding 40 provided in this exemplary embodiment. The prismatic housing body of the connector plug 20 is designed here, for example, as cylindrical and is plug-compatible with the mating connector plug 30 or the flange element 31.

[0031] At least one recess 42 extending in the axial longitudinal direction is arranged in the outer housing wall surface of the connector plug 20. The recess 42 associated with the projection 41 of the flange element 31 is designed to be compatible in position, dimension, and shape in the housing wall of the connector plug 20, so that the projection 41 can be inserted into the recess 42 when the plug connection is plugged together, provided the connector plug 20 and the connector mating connector 30 or flange element 31 are correctly oriented relative to one another.Also provided in the outer housing wall of the connector plug 20 is at least one receiving space 12 with an axially longitudinally extending orientation; the embodiment shown has ten receiving spaces 12 distributed asymmetrically on the circumference and aligned in a plug-compatible manner to the positions of the receiving spaces 12 with coding pieces 11 of the connector mating plug 30 in the form of a flange element 31.

[0032] Depending on the desired plug-in compatibility and the assignment of connector plug 20 and connector mating connector 30 or flange element 31 to a pluggable connector arrangement, a blocking piece 11' can be introduced into the at least one receiving space 12. The blocking piece 11' occupies the respective receiving space 12 and blocks the receiving space 12 for a receptacle 13 with coding piece 11 that is compatibly assigned in the connector mating connector 30, 31, so that plugging together of the plug connection is prevented by this coding combination.

[0033] Figure 4 illustrates the side view and the top view of the connector plug 20 with at least one receiving space 12 and at least one blocking piece 11' of the variably adaptable coding 10 as well as the at least one recess 42 of the invariable coding 40 used as an example. The longitudinal extent of both the variably adaptable coding 10 and the optional invariable coding 40 run largely axially parallel to the mating center axis xx and are limited to a section of the connector plug 20.

[0034] Recess 42 and receiving space 12 are arranged on the housing circumference of the connector plug 20, so that the connector plug 20 and the connector mating plug 30 can be mated together in the correct mating orientation. Mating is not possible if the use of at least one blocking piece 1T occupies the receiving space 12 for an associated coding piece 11 and thus defines non-matching connector partners 20, 30.If the optional invariable coding 40 is omitted (not shown in Figure 4), the variably adaptable coding 10 can be used to ensure both the correct orientation of the connector partners 20, 30 and plug-in compatibility by assigning different connector plugs 20 and connector mating plugs 30, 31, even if they each have identical connector housings on the plug and / or mating plug side. This is achieved by at least two variably adaptable codings 10, whose coding situation is determined by the symmetrical or asymmetrical arrangement around the circumference and the selection and positioning of the coding pieces 10.

[0035] List of reference symbols

[0036] 10 variably customizable coding

[0037] 11 Coding piece

[0038] 11' blocking piece

[0039] 12 Recording room

[0040] 13 Recording

[0041] 20 connector plugs

[0042] 30 connector mating connectors

[0043] 31 flange element

[0044] 40 invariable coding

[0045] 41 lead

[0046] 42 Recess xx Assembly center axis

Claims

Claims 1. A connector for electrically conductive contacting of contact elements, comprising at least one connector plug (20) and at least one connector mating plug (30) and at least one variably adaptable coding (10), characterized in that the variably adaptable coding (10) is formed by a receptacle (13) and an associated receptacle space (12), introduced into a respective wall region of the at least one connector plug (20) and into the wall region of the at least one connector mating plug (30), wherein a coding piece (11) is introduced into the at least one receptacle (13).

2. Plug-in connector for electrically conductive contacting of contact elements according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall regions form the sections of the plug-in connector plug (20) and the plug-in connector mating plug (30) that can be plugged together along a plug-in center axis xx.

3. Connector for electrically conductive contacting of contact elements according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of variably adaptable codings (10) are introduced symmetrically or asymmetrically in the circumferential direction of the wall regions.

4. Connector for electrically conductive contacting of contact elements according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one blocking piece (1 T) is introduced into a receiving space.

5. Plug connector for electrically conductive contacting of contact elements according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one invariable coding (40), formed by a projection (41) and a recess (42), is introduced in a respective wall region of the at least one plug connector plug (20) and in the wall region of the at least one plug connector mating plug (30).

6. Connector for electrically conductive contacting of contact elements according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one projection (41) has a cross-section which differs in dimension or shape from the cross-section of the coding piece (11).

7. Connector for electrically conductive contacting of contact elements according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one projection (41) is formed integrally with the connector plug (20) or connector mating plug (30).

8. Connector for electrically conductive contacting of contact elements according to claim 1, characterized in that the connector plug (20) and / or the connector mating plug (30) is a cast part.

9. Connector for electrically conductive contacting of contact elements according to claim 1, characterized in that the connector mating connector (30) is a flange element (31) or a device housing or a device wall.

10. Connector for electrically conductive contacting of contact elements according to claim 1, characterized in that the coding piece (11) is fixed in its respective receptacle (13) in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner.

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