Sealing structure for electrical connections, plug connector, and electrical connection

Abstract

The present invention provides a sealing structure for electrical connections that reduces mating force, is easy to manufacture, and provides a reliable seal. [Solution] The present invention relates to a sealing structure for sealing an electrical connection, wherein the electrical connection has a plurality of interfaces, and at the plurality of interfaces, the plug of the electrical connection and the mating connector can be mated with each other along the mating direction. The sealing structure comprises a first sealing portion assigned to a first interface among the plurality of interfaces, and a second sealing portion assigned to a second interface among the plurality of interfaces. The first sealing portion and the second sealing portion each have a plurality of sealing protrusions arranged front to back in the mating direction. The sealing protrusions of the first sealing portion are arranged offset in the mating direction from the sealing protrusions of the second sealing portion. The present invention further relates to a plug connector and an electrical connection having such a sealing structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0003]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealing structure, a plug connector, and an electrical connection part for an electrical connection part.

Background Art

[0002] Electrical connection parts for transmitting electrical energy or signals are increasingly being used in environments with extreme temperatures near moisture and / or liquids. Against the influence of these environments, connectors must be designed to reliably maintain transmission quality and withstand the influence in each place of use or application area, for example in the automotive field.

[0003] Connectors for such electrical connection parts are often designed with or sealed with a seal to prevent liquid and / or dust from entering the connector. In particular, in modular connectors that integrate a plurality of contact systems into a common housing, it may be necessary to individually seal the individual modules. Such individual sealing significantly increases the fitting force required during assembly and impairs the usability of the electrical connection part.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] <00000 nineteen]]Therefore, there is a need for a sealing structure for an electrical connection part having a plurality of seals that reduces the fitting force, is easy to manufacture, and seals reliably.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present invention provides a sealing structure for sealing an electrical connection, wherein the electrical connection has a plurality of interfaces, and at the plurality of interfaces, the plug of the electrical connection and the mating connector can be mated with each other along the mating direction, and the sealing structure comprises a first sealing portion assigned to a first interface among the plurality of interfaces and a second sealing portion assigned to a second interface among the plurality of interfaces, and the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion each have a plurality of sealing protrusions arranged front to back in the mating direction, and the sealing protrusions of the first sealing portion are arranged offset in the mating direction with respect to the sealing protrusions of the second sealing portion, thereby solving this problem.

[0006] This solution, including the offset placement of the sealing protrusions, allows for better and more efficient distribution of the force peak during mating, thereby reducing the total mating force required when the plug mates with the mating connector of the electrical connection. This promotes a more compact design by eliminating the need for a larger lever and simultaneously contributes to reduced material wear.

[0007] The present invention can be further improved by the following configurations, which are advantageous in themselves and can be combined with each other in any way.

[0008] The terms "plug" and "mating connector" do not limit each component to a male or complementary female embodiment. These terms are merely intended to clearly distinguish between a single component and its complementary counterpart. A plug may be either a male or female plug, and therefore the mating connector may be designed to complement it.

[0009] The first seal portion and / or the second seal portion may have an opening, i.e., a through-opening, into which the plug and / or mating connector can be inserted. In particular, in embodiments of the plug as a female plug, the mating connector can be received in the through-opening. Alternatively, the through-openings of the first seal portion and / or the second seal portion can each receive a plug configured as a male plug. Thus, each seal portion can abut against the wall of the plug or interface, i.e., the plug wall and / or interface wall.

[0010] The terms "first" and "second" serve only as conceptual distinctions and can be used interchangeably as needed. The characteristics applicable to a part designated as "first" also apply equally to a part designated as "second," and vice versa.

[0011] The seal portion may have a seal portion wall surrounding the through-opening, particularly around the mating direction. The seal portion wall may abut against the plug wall or interface wall on one side. On the side of the seal portion wall facing away from the interface wall, a seal projection may extend into the through-opening in a direction transverse to the mating direction, or project toward the through-opening. An alternative embodiment may have a seal projection facing away from the through-opening, particularly along a direction transverse to the mating direction. If the plug or interface is configured as a male plug, each seal projection may project from outside the seal portion wall and from outside the plug wall or interface wall. This offers the advantage of easier access due to the seal structure, and therefore allows for faster maintenance or replacement of each seal structure and / or each seal part.

[0012] In the fitting direction, the sealing projections of the first seal portion and / or the sealing projections of the second seal portion may be spaced apart from each other. For example, the sealing projections of the first seal portion and / or the sealing projections of the second seal portion can be separated from each other by a recess, particularly in the fitting direction. Therefore, the recess can be located between the two sealing projections of the seal portion.

[0013] The sealing protrusions and recesses of the first seal portion, and / or the sealing protrusions and recesses of the second seal portion, can be manufactured from a single part. Thus, the first seal portion and / or the second seal portion can be constructed monolithically, or synonymously, as a single unit. Further embodiments feature a monolithically configured seal structure in which the seal portions can be connected to each other, and thus the first seal portion can be connected to the second seal portion. The seal structure can be configured, for example, as a mat seal having monolithically connected seal portions. This simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the required assembly effort. Fewer parts are required, and the monolithic seal structure and / or seal portions can be manufactured with high dimensional accuracy.

[0014] Embodiments of the sealing structure may also have individual radial seals and / or individual separate sealing parts. This offers the advantage of being able to flexibly adapt to external conditions and to individual, in particular, modular plug connectors and / or electrical connections.

[0015] Another embodiment may include sealing protrusions arranged front to back in the mating direction for each sealing portion, and these sealing protrusions are not connected to one another. This allows each sealing protrusion to be inserted or removed separately, and the installation of the sealing structure can be adapted to specific requirements, thus facilitating handling.

[0016] In one embodiment, the sealing projections of the first seal portion and / or the sealing projections of the second seal portion may be spaced equally apart from each other, particularly along the mating direction. This offers the advantage of simpler and faster manufacturing, as fewer individual adjustments are required, especially when using standardized distances.

[0017] The sealing projections can be configured as sealing lips. Each sealing projection may have a highest point, which defines the point on the sealing projection that protrudes furthest across the mating direction. Thus, in the direction across the mating direction, the highest point indicates the highest point or apex of each sealing projection furthest from the seal wall.

[0018] The sealing projection of the first seal portion can be positioned at the same height as the recess of the second seal portion in the mating direction. This offers the advantage of reducing the mating force, for example, when the first mating connector is inserted into the first seal portion and the second mating connector is inserted into the second seal portion along the mating direction. In particular, each mating connector can be inserted through the through-opening of their respective seal portions.

[0019] The sealing protrusions of the first seal portion and / or the sealing protrusions of the second seal portion, as well as the recesses of the first seal portion and / or the recesses of the second seal portion, can be configured identically. For example, each sealing protrusion of the first seal portion and / or each sealing protrusion of the second seal portion can have the same width in the fitting direction. The width of the sealing protrusions of the first seal portion and / or the width of the sealing protrusions of the second seal portion may be the same along the fitting direction. The width can be measured along the fitting direction from one inflection point to the other of the sealing protrusions.

[0020] The highest or apex of the sealing projections of the sealing portion, for example, the first sealing portion, can be at the same distance from each other in the mating direction. The apex can be located on a straight line extending parallel to the mating direction. Similarly, each recess can have a lowest point located closest to the sealing portion wall in a direction transverse to the mating direction, and the lowest point can similarly be located on a straight line parallel to the mating direction. Thus, the lowest point indicates the deepest point of the recess in a direction transverse to the mating direction.

[0021] In one configuration, the sealing projection and the recess may be combined in a sinusoidal shape along the fitting direction. In particular, the sealing portion can be configured in a sinusoidal shape on the sealing side. In this specification, the sealing side is the side of the sealing portion wall from which the sealing projection protrudes, or the side where the through-opening is located.

[0022] The distance between the first sealing projection of the first seal portion and the first end of the first seal portion may be greater than the distance between two sealing projections of the first seal portion that are arranged front to back in the mating direction. The first end of the first seal portion may be the end of the seal portion that is closest to the first sealing projection and is aligned with the mating direction. For example, the first end may directly face the mating connector in the mating direction. The first sealing projection may be the sealing projection of each seal portion that the mating connector first contacts during mating. Similarly, this configuration also applies to the second seal portion.

[0023] Similarly, the distance along the mating direction between the apex of the first sealing projection of the first seal portion and the insertion opening of the assigned interface may be greater than the distance between the apex of the two sealing projections of the first seal portion that are positioned front to back in the mating direction, and the same applies to the second seal portion.

[0024] The distance between the last seal protrusion of the first seal portion and the second end of the first seal portion, and / or the distance between the last seal protrusion of the second seal portion and the second end of the second seal portion may be less than or equal to the distance between two seal protrusions of the first seal portion arranged front and back in the fitting direction, and / or the distance between two seal protrusions of the second seal portion arranged front and back in the fitting direction. The last seal protrusion may be the seal protrusion of the seal portion that the mating connector contacts last when fitting the electrical connection portion. The second end of each seal portion may be the end farthest from the mating connector in the fitting direction.

[0025] Similarly, for example, the distance between the apex of the first seal protrusion of the first seal portion and the second end of the first seal portion may be less than or equal to the distance between the apexes of two seal protrusions of the first seal portion arranged front and back in the fitting direction.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the distance between the first seal protrusion of the first seal portion and the first end of the first seal portion may be less than or equal to the distance between two seal protrusions of the first seal portion arranged front and back in the fitting direction. The distance between the last seal protrusion of the first seal portion and the second end of the first seal portion may be greater than the distance between two seal protrusions of the first seal portion arranged front and back in the fitting direction, and this can also be transferred to the second seal portion.

[0027] The first seal portion and the second seal portion can be arranged in a common plane perpendicular to the fitting direction. The end of the seal portion facing the mating connector, that is, the first end, can be located in a common plane perpendicular to the fitting direction. In particular, the leading edge of the seal portion can be located in a common plane perpendicular to the fitting direction.

[0028] The ends of each sealing part may be in the same plane as the ends of the interface. In particular, the ends of the first sealing part may be in the same plane as the ends of the second sealing part. For example, the first end of the first sealing part is in the same plane as the first end of the second sealing part. The first end of the first sealing part and the first end of the second sealing part may be arranged in a row across the fitting direction and aligned in a common plane. This enables accurate alignment that guarantees uniform force transmission and sealing.

[0029] The first sealing part and the second sealing part can be configured identically. The first sealing part can be arranged adjacent to the second sealing part and rotated 180° around an axis. The axis can extend perpendicular to the fitting direction along a direction crossing the fitting direction. Therefore, the sealing parts can be identical and insertable with respect to each other in an inverted manner. This reduces the total number of parts to be manufactured and simplifies the installation.

[0030] The first sealing part and / or the second sealing part can extend along a circumferential direction crossing the fitting direction. In particular, the first sealing part and / or the second sealing part can extend in a ring shape along the circumferential direction. The shape depends on each interface and can be adapted individually. Therefore, the sealing part can have the same contour and / or size as each interface to which the sealing part is assigned.

[0031] In the case of an electrical connection part having three or more interfaces, the sealing structure can have three or more sealing parts.

[0032] The third sealing part or the odd-numbered sealing parts can correspond to the first sealing part. The fourth sealing part or the even-numbered sealing parts can correspond to the second sealing part.

[0033] The arrangement or positioning of the seal portion corresponding to the first seal portion, and the arrangement of the seal portion corresponding to the second seal portion, are variable in a common plane and can be adapted individually. Whether the seal portion corresponding to the first seal portion is in an even or odd position, and / or whether the seal portion corresponding to the second seal portion is adjacent to the seal portion configured as the first seal portion, is not important.

[0034] Therefore, another identical seal portion corresponding to the first seal portion can be placed adjacent to the seal portion corresponding to the first seal portion. This does not impair the function of the seal structure, as long as the seal structure has at least one second seal portion having a seal projection offset with respect to the seal projection of the first seal portion. Preferably, the seal structure can have an equal number of seal portions having a seal projection at the height of the first seal portion and an equal number of seal portions having a seal projection at the height of the second seal portion.

[0035] The seal structure may have seal portions arranged in a row, for example, in a direction transverse to the mating direction. The seal structure may have seal portions arranged in a grid, for example, a 2x2 grid or a 2x4 grid. The seal portions may be located in such a grid or row arrangement in a common plane.

[0036] The present invention further solves the problems relating to a plug connector having multiple interfaces and the above-described sealing structure, wherein in the mated state, the first sealing portion seals the first interface and the second sealing portion seals the second interface.

[0037] A plug connector may have multiple plugs configured to be connectable to a mating connector. The number of plugs may correspond to the number of interfaces. The interfaces may be positions where the plugs and the mating connector make contact in a mated state.

[0038] Multiple plugs, especially when the plug is configured as a female type, may have multiple plug openings or insertion openings. One sealing portion may be provided for each insertion opening. The sealing portion may extend along the circumferential direction of each insertion opening. The openings and / or insertion openings of the plug connector may be any polygonal opening.

[0039] The first seal portion and / or the second seal portion may be positioned or mounted along the circumferential direction on the interface wall and / or the plug connector wall or plug wall, for example, on the inside of the interface wall or plug wall. Alternatively, for example, in the case of a male plug, each seal portion may be mounted on the outside of the interface wall or plug wall.

[0040] The first seal portion and / or the second seal portion may have a seal projection on the seal side, the seal projection protruding across the mating direction so as to be away from the interface wall.

[0041] The apex of each sealing projection in the sealing section can be located further from the interface wall than the lowest part of at least one recess in each sealing section.

[0042] The present invention further solves the problem relating to the electrical connection between the above-described plug connector and at least one mating connector, which may be part of the mating connector plug. The mating connector plug may consist of several mating connectors. The number of mating connectors can correspond to the number of plugs and / or interfaces. The above-described sealing structure can be arranged to seal between the plug of the plug connector and the mating connector when the plug connector and the mating connector are mated. In particular, when the plug connector and the mating connector plug are mated, the sealing structure can be arranged to seal between the plug and the mating connector.

[0043] The sealing projection of the sealing structure located on the plug connector can be supported on the inside or outside of the mating connector and / or the mating connector plug when mated.

[0044] The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are always used for elements that correspond to each other in terms of function and / or structure. According to the above description, if the technical effect associated with the features of the exemplary embodiment is not important in a particular application, these features may be omitted. Conversely, according to the above description, if the technical effect of an additional feature is important in a particular application, features that do not yet exist may also be added to the exemplary embodiment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0045] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the seal structure. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a seal structure. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of the sealing structure in a plug connector. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a sealing structure in a plug connector. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a sealing structure in a plug connector. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a seal structure having multiple sealing parts. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the electrical connection between a plug connector and a mating connector plug. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the electrical connection in a mated state. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0046] Figure 1 shows a seal structure 100 having a seal portion 102. In this embodiment, the first seal portion 104 is arranged adjacent to the second seal portion 106. The seal portion 102, in particular the cross-section 108 of the seal portion 102, may be configured in a ring shape, and for example, it can form an ellipse or a circle along the circumferential direction 110.

[0047] The sealing portion 102 may have a through opening 112 that extends along a fitting direction 114 that crosses the circumferential direction 110.

[0048] The seal portion 102 may have a plurality of seal protrusions 116. The plurality of seal protrusions 116 may protrude or project from the seal portion wall 118 surrounding the through opening 112 along the circumferential direction 110. In Figure 1, one of the plurality of seal protrusions 116, seal protrusion 120, protrudes from the seal portion wall 118 toward the through opening 112, particularly toward the center 122 of the through opening 112. The side on which the seal protrusion 120 protrudes from the seal portion wall 118 can be defined as the seal side 124.

[0049] The sealing side 124 may be the outer side 125 of the sealing wall 118, in which case the sealing projection 120 among the multiple sealing projections 116 protrudes away from the sealing wall 118 and away from the through opening 112.

[0050] Along the fitting direction 114, the sealing protrusion 120 among the multiple sealing protrusions 116 can be positioned front to back.

[0051] The first seal portion 104 and the second seal portion 106 can be configured monolithically and connected to each other by a material portion or a material bridge 126. Another embodiment of the seal structure 100 provides seal portions 102 that can be configured separately from each other and mounted separately from each other.

[0052] At least a portion of the outer surface 125 of the first seal portion 104, for example, the longitudinal side 128 of the first seal portion 104, can face at least a portion of the outer surface 125 of the second seal portion 106, for example, the longitudinal side 128 of the second seal portion 106.

[0053] Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a seal structure 100 comprising a first seal portion 104 and a second seal portion 106 arranged adjacent to each other along a direction 202 that crosses the fitting direction 114. In Figure 2, the seal projection 120 is arranged front to back along the fitting direction 114.

[0054] The sealing projection 120 can be configured as a sealing lip. Each sealing projection 120 may have its highest point or apex 204 furthest from the sealing wall 118 along the direction 202 that crosses the fitting direction 114.

[0055] The sealing projection 120 may have a width 206 along the fitting direction 114. The width 206 of the sealing projection 120 may be greater than the distance 208 between the two sealing projections 120 of the sealing portion 102.

[0056] The sealing portion 102 may have a recess 210 between the two sealing protrusions 120. The recess 210 can connect the two sealing protrusions 120 that are positioned front to back along the fitting direction 114. In one embodiment, the recess 210 can completely separate the two sealing protrusions 120 that are positioned front to back.

[0057] The recess 210 may have a lowest point 212, which is the point of the recess 210 closest to the seal wall 118 in a direction 202 that crosses the fitting direction 114. The lowest point 212 may be located on a lowest line 214 parallel to the fitting direction 114. Similarly, the highest point or vertex 204 may be located on a highest line 216 parallel to the fitting direction 114.

[0058] The sealing portions 102, particularly the first sealing portion 104 and the second sealing portion 106, can be arranged adjacent to each other in a common plane 218. This common plane 218 can extend across the fitting direction 114 or perpendicular to the fitting direction 114, for example, along a direction 202 that crosses the fitting direction 114.

[0059] The distance 220 between the highest points 204 of the two sealing protrusions 120 in the fitting direction 114 can be the same as the distance 222 between the lowest points 212 of the sealing portion 102. The distance 224 between the first sealing protrusion 226 and the first end 228 of the sealing portion 102 may be greater than the width 206 of the sealing protrusion and / or greater than the distance 208 between the two sealing protrusions 120 arranged front to back and / or greater than the distance 220 between the highest points 204 of the two sealing protrusions 120 arranged front to back in the fitting direction 114.

[0060] Similarly, the distance 230 between the last sealing projection 232 and the second end 234 of the sealing portion may be smaller than the width 206 of the sealing projection 120 and / or smaller than the distance 208 between the two sealing projections 120 and / or smaller than the distance 220 between the highest points 204 of the two sealing projections 120 that are positioned one behind the other.

[0061] The recess 210 can be configured opposite to the sealing projection 120. Both the sealing projection 120 and the recess 210 can be configured in a wavy shape, for example, a sinusoidal shape, along the fitting direction 114.

[0062] The first sealing portion 104 and the second sealing portion 106 may have a height 236 along the fitting direction 114, and this height may be the same.

[0063] Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the sealing structure 100 for the electrical connection 300. The electrical connection 300 has a plug connector 302 which includes an interface 303 and a plug 305. The plug connector 302 may have a first interface 304 and a second interface 306, which may belong to a plurality of interfaces 307 303.

[0064] Interfaces 304 and 306 may each have an insertion opening 308, into which the mating connector 310 of the mating connector plug 312 can be inserted in the mating direction 114.

[0065] The sealing structure 100 can be placed on each interface 304, 306 of the plug connector 302. The sealing parts 104, 106 can be assigned to each interface 304, 306. Similarly, the sealing part 102 can be assigned to each plug 305. For example, the first sealing part 104 can be placed on or attached to the interface wall or plug wall 314 of the first interface 304.

[0066] The sealing portion 102 can be positioned on the inside 316 of each interface wall 314. The sealing projection 120 can protrude into the insertion opening 308 in a direction 202 that crosses the fitting direction 114.

[0067] An alternative embodiment may have a sealing structure 100 located on the outside 318 of the interface wall or plug wall 314. Thus, the mating connector plug 312 can be configured as a female mating connector into which a plug connector 302, particularly a plug 305, can be inserted.

[0068] The seal structure 100 may have multiple seal protrusions 116, for example, three seal protrusions 120 for each seal portion 102. In Figure 3, the seal side 124 is located on the inside 316 of the plug wall 314.

[0069] The ends 318 of interfaces 304 and 306 may be in the same plane as the ends 228 and 234 of the sealing portion 102.

[0070] The seal structure 100 may have a first seal portion 104, which is positioned relative to the second seal portion 106 such that the distance 224a between the first seal projections 120, 226 of the first seal portion 104 and the first end portion 228 is smaller than the distance 224b between the first seal projection 120 of the second seal portion 106 and the first end portion 228.

[0071] Preferably, the sealing projection 120a of the first sealing portion 104 is positioned offset from the sealing projection 120b of the second sealing portion 106 along the fitting direction 114. In a further embodiment, the sealing projection 120a of the first sealing portion 104 can be located directly opposite the recess 210 of the second sealing portion 106 in a direction 202 that crosses the fitting direction 114. Thus, the apex 204 of the sealing projection 120a of the first sealing portion 104 can be located on the same line as the lowest part 212 of the second sealing portion 106 along the direction 202 that crosses the fitting direction 114.

[0072] Each of the multiple sealing protrusions 116 of the first sealing portion 104, specifically each sealing protrusion 120, can be positioned opposite to each of the recesses 210 of the second sealing portion 106.

[0073] Figure 4 shows an embodiment comprising a plug connector 302 and a sealing structure 100. In this figure, the sealing structure 100 has a total of four sealing portions. Other embodiments of the sealing structure 100 may have any number of sealing portions 102. The number of sealing portions 102 is freely adaptable and modular, depending on the respective plug connector 302 or electrical connection portion 300.

[0074] The seal structure 100 may have several seal portions 102 configured as a first seal portion 104 and several seal portions 102 configured as a second seal portion 106. For example, the seal structure 100 may have two seal portions 102 having seal projections 120 at the height of the first seal portion 104 and two seal portions 102 having seal projections 120 at the height of the second seal portion 106. The first seal portion 104 may be arranged adjacent to the second seal portion 106 along a direction 202 that crosses the fitting direction 114.

[0075] Two identical sealing portions 102, for example, two sealing portions 102 having a sealing projection 120 at the height of a second sealing portion 106, may be arranged along a direction 202 that crosses the fitting direction 114. Overall, the sealing structure can have an equal number of sealing portions 102 having a sealing projection 120 at the height of a first sealing portion 104 and sealing portions 102 having a sealing projection 120 at the height of a second sealing portion 106.

[0076] An alternative embodiment of the seal structure 100 may have alternating first seal portions 104 and second seal portions 106 along at least one direction 202 that crosses the mating direction 114, so that, as viewed from the outside 402 of the plug connector 302, all odd positions have the first seal portion 104 and all even positions have the second seal portion 106.

[0077] Each sealing portion 102 can be positioned on the inside 316 of the interface wall 314. Each sealing portion 102 can extend along the circumferential direction 110, and the circumferential direction 110 can extend around the fitting direction 114.

[0078] The sealing portion 102 can be separated from the plug connector wall or plug wall 404 extending in the mating direction 114, and the plug connector wall or plug wall 404 can at least partially correspond to the interface wall 314 along the direction 202 that crosses the mating direction 114.

[0079] In Figure 4, the end of the interface 318 is coplanar with the first end 228 of the seal portion 102. The ends, in particular the ends of the interface 318 and the respective ends 228 of the seal portions 102, can be located in a common plane 218 that extends perpendicular to the fitting direction 114.

[0080] The second seal portion 106 can be configured identically to the first seal portion 104. During installation of the seal structure 100, the second seal portion 106 can be rotated 180°, for example, in a direction 202 that crosses the fitting direction 114, and installed relative to the first seal portion 104. Therefore, the second end portion 234 of the first seal portion 104 may be identical to the first end portion of the second seal portion 106, and vice versa.

[0081] Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a plug connector 302 having a monolithic or integrally configured sealing structure 100. The ends 228, 234 of each seal portion 102 may be coplanar at at least one end, preferably the end facing the mating connector 310 or mating connector plug 312, in a monolithic configuration, and may be arranged on a common plane 218. The seal portions 102 can be mounted at the same height in the mating direction 114, as well as arranged adjacent to each other along the longitudinal side along the direction 202 that crosses the mating direction 114. At at least one end 228, 234, for example the end facing the mating connector 310, the seal portions 102 can be connected to each other by a material bridge 126 in at least one direction, for example, along the direction 202 that crosses the mating direction 114.

[0082] Figure 5 also shows a diagram in which the seal portions 102 are attached to the inside 316 of each interface wall 314. In this embodiment, the seal portions 102 are arranged alternately along a direction 202 that crosses the fitting direction 114, so that a second seal portion 104 can be positioned between two seal portions 102 having a seal projection 120 at the height of the first seal portion 104, and the seal projection 120 of the second seal portion 104 is offset in the fitting direction 114 relative to the seal projection of the first seal portion 104.

[0083] The tip 502 of the sealing projection 120 may be angular or rounded. The sealing projection 120 can take various forms to ensure a reliable seal.

[0084] Figure 6 shows a plug connector 302 equipped with a seal structure 100 having a plurality of seal portions 602. Of the plurality of seal portions 602, seal portion 102 can be located on a common plane 218. At least one end of each seal portion 102 facing the mating connector 310 in the mating direction 114 can be located on the common plane 218. A recess 210 can be placed here.

[0085] Multiple seal portions 602 may be formed monolithically or integrally and connected to each other by a material bridge 126 between each pair of seal portions 102. The material bridge 126 may be located on the longitudinal side 128 of the seal portion 102, for example, in the center of the longitudinal side 128. The material bridge 502 may have the same height or material thickness along the mating direction 114 as the seal portion 102 to which the material bridge 126 connects. The material bridge 126 may have a significantly smaller height or thickness, for example, it may be less than or equal to the width 206 of the seal projection 120 in the mating direction 114.

[0086] For example, the four sealing portions 102 can be connected to each other along a direction 202 that crosses the mating direction 114. The sealing portions 102 do not necessarily all need to be connected to each other. In Figure 6, the four sealing portions 102 are each connected to each other along a direction 202 that crosses the mating direction 114. The sealing portions 102 are not connected along a direction perpendicular to the mating direction 114 and the direction 202 that crosses the mating direction 114.

[0087] The sealing portion 102 may terminate in the same plane 218 as the multiple interfaces 307 of the plug connector 302, or may be located on the plane 218. As shown in Figure 6, each sealing portion 102 may be configured to be elliptical. The sealing projection 120 may project toward the through opening 112 of each sealing portion 102.

[0088] In Figure 7, the electrical connection portion 300 is shown in a mated state 702. In this embodiment, the plug connector 302 has two interfaces 303, namely a first interface 304 and a second interface 306. Each of the interfaces 304 and 306 may have an insertion opening 308, in which a sealing structure 100 or at least one sealing portion 102 can be placed. At least a portion of the sealing structure 100 can be placed in the interface wall 314, for example, inside 316 of the interface wall 314.

[0089] Each sealing projection 120 of the sealing portion 102 may project along a direction 202 that crosses the fitting direction 114 toward the insertion opening 308 of the interface 303, or toward the through opening 112 of each sealing portion 102, particularly toward the center 704 of the sealing portion or toward the through opening 112 of the sealing portion 102.

[0090] The through-openings 112 of each seal portion 102 and the insertion openings 308 of the seal portion 102 to which interfaces 304 and 306 are assigned can be configured concentrically with respect to each other. Each opening, i.e., the insertion openings 308 of interfaces 304 and 306 and / or the through-openings 112 of the seal portion 102, may be circular, elliptical, rectangular, or polygonal. Each seal portion 102 can be adapted to the respective shape or contour of the insertion openings 308 of interfaces 304 and 306 and / or the through-openings 112 of the seal portion 102.

[0091] The mating connector 310 of the mating connector plug 312 can be inserted into the insertion opening 308 of interfaces 304 and 306 and the through-opening 112 of the respective sealing portion 102. In this mated state 702, the sealing structure 100 seals the electrical connection portion 300 from the outside. One side 706 of the mating connector 310, for example, the outside 708 of the mating connector 310, can be supported by at least one sealing projection 120 of the respective sealing portion 102.

[0092] Interfaces 304, 306, or plug 305 can be configured as female plugs to which the respective sealing portions 102 of the sealing structure 100 are attached. Alternatively, interfaces 304, 306, or plug 305 can be configured as male plugs to which the respective sealing portions 102 extend, for example, around the mating direction 114. In this case, the sealing projection 120 protrudes in a direction 202 that crosses the mating direction 114 so as to move away from the outside 402 of the plug connector 302 or interface 303. Thus, the mating connector plug 312 can have a female mating connector 310 that can receive the male plug 305.

[0093] Figure 8 shows another embodiment of an electrical connection section 300, which includes a plug connector 302 having a sealing structure 100 located inside 316 of each interface wall 314.

[0094] The electrical connection portion 300 is shown in the mated state 702. The plug connector 302 may have four interfaces 303. The first seal portion 104 can be assigned to or associated with the first interface 304. The second seal portion 106 can be assigned to the second interface 306. The offset of the seal projection 120 in the mating direction 114 reduces the mating force along the mating direction 114. This reduces the force required to insert the mating connector 310 or mating connector plug 312 into the plug connector 302, or to connect the mating connector plug 312 to the plug connector 302. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 100 seal structure 102 Seal part 104 First seal section 106 Second seal section 108 Cross-section of the seal 110 Circumferential direction 112 Through-opening 114 Mating direction 116 Multiple sealing protrusions 118 Seal area wall 120, 120a, 120b sealing protrusions 122 Center of the through-opening 124 Seal side 125 Outside 126 Material bridging between seals 128 Longitudinal side of the seal 202 Directions that cross the mating direction 204 Highest point of the seal projection 206 width 208 Distance between the two seal protrusions 210 recess 212 Lowest part 214 Lowest line 216 Highest Line 218 Common plane of the sealing part 220 Distance between the highest points 222 Distance between the lowest points 224 Distance between the first sealing projection of the sealing portion and the first end portion 226 First sealing protrusion of the sealing section 228 First end of the seal 230 Distance between the last sealing projection of the sealing portion and the second end 232 Last seal protrusion 234 Second end of the seal 236 Height of the seal 300 Electrical connection part 302 Plug Connector 303 Interface 304 First Interface 305 Plug 306 Second Interface 307 Multiple Interfaces 308 Insertion opening 310 Mating connector 312 Mating connector plug 314 Interface Wall 316 Inside the interface wall 318 Interface end 402 plug connector and / or interface outside 404 Plug Wall 502 Tip of the seal projection 602 Multiple sealing parts 702 Fitting state 704 Center of the seal 706 Side of the mating connector 708 Outside of the mating connector

Claims

1. A sealing structure (100) for sealing an electrical connection (300), wherein the electrical connection (300) has a plurality of interfaces (307), and in the plurality of interfaces (307), the plug (305) of the electrical connection (300) and the mating connector (310) can be mated to each other along the mating direction (114), The aforementioned seal structure (100) is - A first seal portion (104) assigned to the first interface (304) among the plurality of interfaces (307), - The second seal portion (106) assigned to the second interface (306) among the plurality of interfaces (307) and Equipped with, The first sealing portion (104) and the second sealing portion (106) each have a plurality (116) of sealing protrusions (120) arranged front to back in the fitting direction (114), and the sealing protrusions (120) of the first sealing portion (104) are arranged offset in the fitting direction (114) relative to the sealing protrusions (120) of the second sealing portion (106), thus forming a sealing structure (100).

2. The sealing projection (120) is separated from each other in the fitting direction (114) by a recess (210), and the sealing projection (120) of the first sealing portion (104) is at the same height as the recess (210) of the second sealing portion (106) in the fitting direction (114), according to claim 1, the sealing structure (100).

3. The sealing structure (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing projection (120) of the first sealing portion (104) and / or the sealing projection (120) of the second sealing portion (106) are configured identically.

4. The seal structure (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the seal projection (120) of the first seal portion (104) and / or the seal projection (120) of the second seal portion (106) are arranged at equal intervals from each other in the fitting direction (114).

5. The seal structure (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the width (206) of the seal projection (120) of the first seal portion (104) and / or the width (206) of the seal projection (120) of the second seal portion (106) along the fitting direction (114) are the same.

6. The seal structure (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the distance (224) between the first sealing projection (226) and the first end (228) of the first seal portion (104) along the fitting direction (114), and / or the distance (224) between the first sealing projection (226) and the first end (228) of the second seal portion (106), is greater than the distance (208) between the two sealing projections (120) of the first seal portion (104) arranged front to back in the fitting direction (114), and / or the distance (208) between the two sealing projections (120) of the second seal portion (106) arranged front to back in the fitting direction (114).

7. The distance (230) between the last sealing projection (120) of the first sealing portion (104) and the second end (234), and / or the distance (230) between the last sealing projection (232) of the second sealing portion (106) and the second end (234), is less than or equal to the distance (208) between the two sealing projections (120) of the first sealing portion (104) arranged front to back in the fitting direction (114), and / or the distance (208) between the two sealing projections (120) of the second sealing portion (106) arranged front to back in the fitting direction (114), according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The seal structure (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first seal portion (104) and the second seal portion (106) are arranged in a common plane (218) perpendicular to the fitting direction (114).

9. The seal structure (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first seal portion (104) and the second seal portion (106) are identically configured, and the first seal portion (104) is rotated 180 degrees around an axis (202) extending perpendicular to the fitting direction (114) and positioned adjacent to the second seal portion (106).

10. The seal structure (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first seal portion (104) and / or the second seal portion (106) extend along a circumferential direction (110) that crosses the fitting direction (114).

11. The seal structure (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the seal structure (100) has three or more seal portions (102) for an electrical connection portion (300) having three or more interfaces (303).

12. A plug connector (302), Multiple interfaces (307), A seal structure (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and Equipped with, In the mated state (702), the first sealing portion (104) seals the first interface (304), and the second sealing portion (106) seals the second interface (306), in a plug connector (302).

13. The plug connector (302) according to claim 12, wherein the first sealing portion (104) and / or the second sealing portion (104) are located on the wall (314) of the respective interfaces (304, 306).

14. An electrical connection part (300), A plug connector (302) according to claim 12 or 13, At least one mating connector (310) and Equipped with, The sealing structure (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is an electrical connection portion (300) that is arranged to seal between the plug (305) of the plug connector (302) and the mating connector (310) in a mated state (702) between the plug connector (302) and the mating connector (310).

15. In the mating state (702), the sealing projection (120) of the sealing structure (100) is supported on the inside or outside (706) of the mating connector (310), as described in claim 14.

Images