Plug connector of electrical plug connection part

Abstract

To provide a plug connector of an electrical plug connection part.SOLUTION: There is provided a plug connector of an electrical plug connection part comprising the plug connector and a mating plug connector assigned to the plug connector as a counterpart. The plug connector can be inserted and coupled to the mating plug connector in an insertion direction (S). The plug connector has a housing and a plurality of electrical plug contacts at least partially located in the housing, each of which has a plug section. The plug section is designed to come into contact mechanically and electrically with a mating plug contact of the mating plug connector. The housing has a contact chamber to accommodate the plug sections of the plug contacts. The contact chamber has sidewalls limiting the contact chamber in the circumference direction, at least in an area of the plug sections arranged therein.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to a plug connector for an electrical plug connection, the electrical plug connection comprising a plug connector and a counter plug connector assigned to the plug connector as a mating part, the plug connector being pluggable into the counter plug connector in a plug-in direction (S), the plug connector having a housing and a number of electrical plug contacts arranged at least partially in the housing, each of the electrical plug contacts having a plug part, the plug parts being designed for mechanical and electrical contact with a counter plug contact of the counter plug connector, the housing having a contact chamber for receiving the plug part of the plug contact, the contact chamber having a side wall which defines the contact chamber in the circumferential direction, at least in the region of the plug part arranged therein. [Background technology]

[0002] A plug connector is known in the art from EP 2 953 213 B1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] EP2953213B1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The object of the present invention is to further improve such a plug connector of an electrical plug connection with regard to versatility and flexibility for the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This problem is solved in a plug connector of the type mentioned at the beginning in that the plug connector has at least one first fastening element, which is designed for fastening the functional element to the housing outside the contact chamber, and the plug connector has at least one second fastening element, which is designed for fastening the functional element to the housing inside the contact chamber. It is therefore proposed to simultaneously provide the plug connector with at least one internal fastening element and at least one external fastening element.

[0006] This plug connector has the advantage that the fixing elements designed for fixing inside and outside the contact chambers provide an expanded option for fixing the functional elements in the housing. Basically, any type of functional element can be fixed on the second and first fixing elements. If, for example, coding elements are fixed there as functional elements, the expanded fixing options allow the coding positions to be doubled and an increased coding option to be achieved. This allows a considerable increase in the coding options, especially in plug connectors with a small number of pins.

[0007] The at least one second and / or first fastening element can be arranged in the housing or configured as an integral part of the housing, for example at least one first fastening element designed to fasten the functional element to the housing can be arranged outside the contact chamber and at least one second fastening element designed to fasten the functional element to the housing can be arranged inside the contact chamber.

[0008] The plug connector according to the invention allows the user to equip the plug connector with one or more functional elements as required much more flexibly than in the prior art. The plug connector can therefore be substantially better adapted to the customer's or end user's wishes in individual cases without incurring significant costs. Furthermore, there are manufacturing technical advantages, since a uniform plug connector is provided for many applications, which the customer or end user can adapt to the application by mounting one or more functional elements on at least one second and / or first fixing element.

[0009] The at least one second and / or first fastening element can be configured as a form-fit fastening element, as a force-fit fastening element or a combination thereof, i.e. as both form-fit and force-fit fastening elements. Thus, the functional element can be fastened to the housing of the plug connector by means of the at least one second and / or first fastening element.

[0010] At least one second and / or first fastening element can be configured as a recess in the respective housing wall, i.e. as an area recessed from the plane of the surface of the housing wall, for example in the form of a blind hole (in other words a blind hole), a receiving groove or other receiving recess. At least one second and / or first fastening element can also be configured as a protuberance relative to the respective housing wall, i.e. as a fastening element protruding from the surface of the housing wall, for example in the form of a fastening stud, a fastening rail or other fastening protuberance. Here, the second fastening element can be configured the same as the first fastening element or can be configured differently, i.e. the second fastening element and the first fastening element can each be configured separately from one another according to one of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0011] When referring hereinafter to a second receiving groove, this refers to an embodiment of the second fixing element in the form of a groove-like recess. When referring hereinafter to a first receiving groove, this refers to an embodiment of the first fixing element in the form of a groove-like recess.

[0012] Here, the at least one second and / or the at least one first fastening element can be configured in particular as a universal fastening element or as a universal fastening element for fastening various functional elements, which can be selected by the user. By means of the at least one second and / or the first fastening element, various functional elements can be fastened, for example, in the vicinity of the plug-in side of the plug connector. The plug-in side of the plug connector refers to the area that faces towards the mating plug connector in the plug-in direction and is mated with the mating plug connector.

[0013] The functional elements can be configured for various functions of the plug connector, for example as coding elements for coding the plug connection, as fastening elements for fastening the plug connector with a counter plug connector to prevent accidental loosening, as labeling elements or as other functional elements. In this context, coding means that a specific combination of coding elements is fixed to the plug connector, which is assigned to a corresponding complementary coding in the counter plug connector, so that the plug connector can only be plugged into a counter plug connector with a correspondingly complementary coding.

[0014] A further advantage of the present invention is that the arrangement and position of the functional elements fixed to the second and / or first fixing elements are not permanently fixed and can also be changed later if necessary, thus allowing for example a recoding of the plug connector or a change of the fastening type to be carried out later.

[0015] The contact chamber, in which the plug portion of the plug contact is arranged, can have a bottom wall with a through opening, through which the plug contact protrudes from another region of the housing of the plug connector into the receiving chamber. Here, the contact chamber can be open on the side facing away from the bottom wall. The side walls of the contact chamber can extend in the plug-in direction from the bottom wall to the free end of the contact chamber. In this regard, insofar as the side walls are mentioned in the plural, these can be configured as continuous side walls or as side walls with interruptions. The side walls can extend annularly around the contact chamber and thus constitute a complete peripheral integral wall. The contact chamber is designed to receive a part of the housing of the mating plug connector. Thus, in the mated state of the plug connector and the mating plug connector, in which the plug contacts of the plug connector are in contact with the mating plug contacts of the mating plug connector, a part of the housing of the mating plug connector is arranged in the contact chamber.

[0016] The plug connector may have a plurality of plug contacts arranged side-by-side in the alignment direction A. The plug contacts may be arranged in a single row side-by-side in the alignment direction or in multiple rows side-by-side in the alignment direction.

[0017] The at least one first fastening element can be arranged, for example, on at least one outer wall of the housing arranged outside the contact chamber. The at least one first fastening element can also be arranged, for example, on the outside of a side wall of the contact chamber.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one second fastening element is arranged on a side wall of the contact chamber, in particular on the inside of such a side wall. This allows the functional element to be attached to the second fastening element in a simple and secure manner. For example, the functional element can be plugged into the second fastening element in a plug-in direction S. Alternatively, the at least one second fastening element or further second fastening elements can also be arranged on the bottom wall of the contact chamber.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one second fastening element is provided as a second receiving groove, for example as an inner receiving groove, in particular as a receiving groove with an undercut, whereby the functional element can be reliably fastened to the second fastening element. The second receiving groove can have, for example, a profile (in other words, a contour) with an undercut, for example a mushroom head profile, a dovetail (in other words, a mortise) profile or a T-profile.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the second receiving groove may extend in its longitudinal direction in the insertion direction, so that the functional element can be inserted into the second receiving groove simply and quickly and can also be easily removed again.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one first fastening element is provided for as a first receiving groove, for example as an outer receiving groove, in particular as a receiving groove with an undercut, whereby the functional element can be reliably fixed to the first fastening element. The first receiving groove can have, for example, a profile with an undercut, for example a mushroom head profile, a dovetail profile or a T-profile.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the first receiving groove extends in its longitudinal direction perpendicular to the plug-in direction and / or perpendicular to the alignment direction of the plug contacts, whereby the functional element can be easily and quickly plugged into the first receiving groove and also easily removed again, whereby the first receiving groove can extend substantially perpendicular to the one or more second receiving grooves.

[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the plug connector is configured as a pin header and the plug portions of the plug contacts are configured as contact pins protruding into the contact chambers. The plug connector is therefore configured as a male plug connector. The mating plug connector can have female plug contacts, i.e. socket contacts.

[0024] The contact chambers can be configured as continuous contact chambers in which the plug parts are arranged without separation from one another, or the contact chambers can have partitions between individual plug parts or between groups of plug parts.

[0025] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided for the plug connector to have a plurality of second fixing elements and / or a plurality of first fixing elements, which further improves the options for fixing the functional element to the plug connector.

[0026] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that one, several or all of the second fastening elements are each spatially assigned to a plug contact of the plug connector. This can be achieved, for example, by arranging each second fastening element so that it is aligned in the plug-in direction with the electrical plug contact to which it is assigned. In this way, the installation space can be effectively utilized for mounting a large number of functional elements in the housing of the plug connector, thus allowing a large number of combinations of functional elements.

[0027] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that one, several or all of the first fastening elements are each spatially assigned to a plug contact of the plug connector. This can be realized, for example, by arranging each first fastening element so that it is aligned in the plug-in direction with the electrical plug contact to which it is assigned. In this way, the installation space can be effectively utilized for mounting a large number of functional elements in the housing of the plug connector, thus allowing a large number of combinations of functional elements.

[0028] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the at least one second fixing element and / or the at least one first fixing element are configured as universal fixing elements for fixing various user-selectable functional elements to the housing, so that the user can select a functional element or a combination of functional elements suitable for a particular application from a given type of fixing element and attach it to the second and first fixing elements of the plug connector.

[0029] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one first fastening element is arranged in alignment with a second fastening element assigned to the at least one first fastening element in the plug-in direction, in such a way that the second fastening element is spatially assigned to the first fastening element.

[0030] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one second fastening element and / or at least one first fastening element has a latching element for latching a functional element attached to the respective fastening element, thereby making it possible to ensure a secure seating of the functional element on the fastening element.

[0031] Advantageously, the second and first fastening elements do not influence each other and can be used independently of each other, in particular it is possible to simultaneously attach one functional element to each of the second and first fastening elements.

[0032] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second fastening element and the first fastening element may be separated from each other and may not cross each other. If the at least one second fastening element and the at least one first fastening element are used, for example, for coding a plug connector, the second fastening element is particularly suitable for coding in a feed-through (device application), where the first fastening element is also well visible in the mated state of the plug connector and the mating plug connector and is thus suitable, for example, for a flying lead connection.

[0033] In the present invention, the term "one" does not denote a number, i.e., when referring to a component, it should be interpreted as meaning "at least one component." When angles are given in degrees, this is with respect to a 360 degree (360°) circle.

[0034] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments using the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a plug connector according to a further embodiment; [Diagram 3] 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of the plug connector according to FIG. 1; [Figure 4] 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of the plug connector according to FIG. 2; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] Each figure shows a plug connector 1 having a housing 2. The plug connector 1 is designed to be mated with a mating plug connector 6 configured as a mating part of the plug connector 1. In the mated state, the plug connector 1 and the mating plug connector 6 form an electrical plug connection. The plug connector 1 has a plurality of electrical plug contacts 3 in a housing 2, the electrical plug contacts 3 being at least partially arranged in the housing 2. The plug contacts 3 each have a plug portion 30 designed to be in mechanical and electrical contact with a mating plug contact 7 of the mating plug connector 6 when the plug connector is mated with the mating plug connector 6. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the plug contacts 3 are configured as male plug contacts having a contact pin as the plug portion 30. The mating plug contact 7 is thus configured as a socket contact configured to receive at least a part of the plug portion 30.

[0037] The plug connector 1 can be mated, in particular in a plug-in direction S, with a mating plug connector 6. The plug contacts 3 are arranged side-by-side in an alignment direction A. The housing 2 has a contact chamber 20 arranged on the plug-in side of the plug connector 1. The contact chamber 20 is configured as a substantially hollow chamber which is circumferentially bounded by side walls 21, 22, 23, 24. Plug portions 30 of the plug contacts 3 project into the contact chamber 20.

[0038] The plug connector 1 has a number of first fastening elements 4, each of which is designed to fasten one functional element 9 to the housing 2 outside the contact chamber 20. The plug connector 1 further has a number of second fastening elements 5, which are designed to fasten the functional elements 9 to the housing 2 inside the contact chamber 20. The second fastening elements 5 can be configured, for example, as elongated receiving grooves extending in the plug-in direction S, for example on the inner side of the side walls 21, 22, 23, 24.

[0039] Here, FIG. 1 shows a plug connector 1, whose second fastening elements 5 are respectively equipped with a functional element 9. According to FIG. 1, no functional element 9 is arranged on the first fastening elements 4. FIG. 2 shows the plug connector 1 in an assembled state, in which the first fastening elements 4 are also respectively fitted with a functional element 9. A user can now determine at any time whether one, several or all of the second fastening elements 5 are equipped with a functional element 9 and / or whether one, several or all of the first fastening elements 4 are equipped with a functional element 9. It is thus possible, for example, to only equip the first fastening elements 4 with a functional element 9.

[0040] Figure 3 shows part of the plug connector 1 in a side cross-sectional view together with part of the mating plug connector 6. According to Figure 3, no functional element 9 is attached to either the first fastening element 4 or the second fastening element 5, and the fastening elements 4, 5 are clearly visible. According to Figure 4, for example, a functional element 9 is attached to both the first fastening element 4 and the second fastening element 5.

[0041] The first fastening element 4 can be arranged outside the housing 2, in particular outside the contact chamber 20. As can be seen from Figures 3 and 4, the first fastening element 4 can also extend completely or partially through the housing wall of the housing 2 and possibly even into an area arranged inside the contact chamber 20. It is also possible for the functional element 9, which is fixed to the first fastening element 4 and is mainly arranged outside the contact chamber 20, to extend, for example by means of a fastening part, into the interior of the housing 2 or at least into the interior space of the contact chamber 20.

[0042] The first fastening element 4 can for example be configured as a first receiving groove extending in its longitudinal direction perpendicular to the plugging-in direction S and / or perpendicular to the alignment direction A. For example, the functional element 9 can be inserted into the receiving groove from above the housing 2 and then guided in the direction of the side wall 24 defining the contact chamber 20 until it is latched onto the first fastening element 4 by a latch element.

[0043] As can be seen from the figure, the first fixing element 4 can be transferred to an assigned second fixing element 5. It is also possible that the second fixing element 5 and the first fixing element 4 are separated from each other and do not cross or overlap. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 Plug Connector 2. Housing 3 Plug Contacts 4 First Fixing Element 5 Secondary Fixing Element 6 Mating plug connector 7 Mating plug contact 9 Functional Elements 20 Contact Chamber 21 Side wall 22 Side wall 23 Side wall 24 Side wall 30 Plug part A Alignment direction S Insertion direction

Claims

1. A plug connector (1) for an electrical plug connection, the electrical plug connection comprising the plug connector (1) and a counter plug connector (6) assigned to the plug connector (1) as a mating part, the plug connector (1) being pluggable into the counter plug connector (6) in a plug-in direction (S), the plug connector (1) having a housing (2) and a number of electrical plug contacts (3) arranged at least partially in the housing (2), each of the electrical plug contacts (3) having a plug part (30), the plug part (30) being designed for mechanical and electrical contact with a counter plug contact (7) of the counter plug connector (6), the housing (2) being arranged so that the plug part (30) of the plug contacts (3) is arranged so that the plug part (30 ...

1. A plug connector (1), comprising: a contact chamber (20) for accommodating a functional element (30) in a housing (2) having side walls (21, 22, 23, 24) which circumferentially define the contact chamber (20) at least in the region of the plug part (30) arranged therein; the plug connector (1) comprises at least one first fastening element (4) which is designed to fasten a functional element (9) to the housing (2) outside the contact chamber (20); and the plug connector (1) comprises at least one second fastening element (5) which is designed to fasten a functional element (9) to the housing (2) inside the contact chamber (20).

2. 2. A plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one second fixing element (5) is arranged on a side wall (21, 22, 23, 24) of the contact chamber (20).

3. 3. A plug connector as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one second fastening element (5) is configured as a second receiving groove, in particular as a receiving groove with an undercut.

4. 4. A plug connector according to claim 3, characterized in that the second receiving groove extends in its longitudinal direction in the plug-in direction (S).

5. 5. A plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one first fastening element (4) is configured as a first receiving groove, in particular as a receiving groove with an undercut.

6. 6. A plug connector as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the first receiving groove extends in its longitudinal direction perpendicular to the plug-in direction (S) and / or perpendicular to the alignment direction (A) of the plug contacts (3).

7. 7. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the plug connector (1) is configured as a pin header and the plug portion (30) of the plug contact (3) is configured as a contact pin protruding into the contact chamber (20).

8. 8. The plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug connector (1) comprises a plurality of second fastening elements (5) and / or a plurality of first fastening elements (4).

9. 9. A plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that one, several or all of the second fixing elements (5) are each spatially assigned to a plug contact (3) of the plug connector (1).

10. 10. The plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that one, several or all of the first fixing elements (4) are each spatially assigned to a plug contact (3) of the plug connector (1).

11. 11. A plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one second fixing element (5) and / or the at least one first fixing element (4) are configured as universal fixing elements for fixing various user-selectable functional elements (9) to the housing (2).

12. 12. A plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one first fastening element (4) is arranged in alignment with a second fastening element (5) assigned to the at least one first fastening element (4) in the plug-in direction (S).

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