Touch protection covers, connecting parts, and module connectors

The touch-protective cover with a movable screw guide element and flexure bearing simplifies the assembly of electrical module connectors by compensating for positional tolerances, enhancing ease and reducing manufacturing costs.

JP7801031B2Active Publication Date: 2026-01-16TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GMBH
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024023319
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-02-24
Filing Date
2024-02-20
Publication Date
2026-01-16
Estimated Expiration
2044-02-20

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing electrical module connectors face challenges in connecting two modules with varying positional tolerances, particularly when using threaded connections, requiring significant effort and complexity.

Method used

A touch-protective cover with a movable screw guide element monolithically connected to a protective housing, allowing for adjustment of positional tolerances through a flexure bearing, reducing the number of parts and simplifying the assembly process.

Benefits of technology

The solution enables easy and cost-effective manufacturing, simplifies handling, and compensates for positional variations, reducing installation complexity and effort while ensuring safe electrical connections.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To provide a module connector that can be easily and inexpensively manufactured and can compensate even for a large positional tolerance with almost no effort.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to an electrically insulating touch-protective cover 1 for a connection component of an electrical module connector for electrically connecting two electrical modules, in particular two battery modules. The touch-protective cover 1 includes a protective housing 10 and a screw-guiding element having an insertion opening 14. The protective housing 10 is configured to at least partially surround an electrical conductor 8 of the connection component. The insertion opening 14 of the screw-guiding element is configured to at least partially rotatably receive a screw 52 that serves to fasten the electrical conductor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrically insulating touch-protective cover for a connection part of an electrical module connector for electrically connecting two electrical modules, in particular two battery modules. The battery modules are preferably battery modules of an electric vehicle or an energy technology system. The invention also relates to a connection part equipped with such a touch-protective cover, as well as a module connector equipped with a connection part and a complementary mating part. [Background technology]

[0002] The relative position between two electrical modules connected by a module connector is subject to tolerance-related variations, which have proven problematic, for example, when the connecting part of the module connector is fastened to its mating part by a threaded connection.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need to connect electrical modules without requiring much effort, despite positional tolerances. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object underlying the present invention is therefore to provide a modular connector which can be manufactured easily and cheaply and which can compensate for large positional tolerances with little effort. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This object is solved by a touch protection cover of the above type, which comprises a protective housing and a screw guide element with an insertion opening. The protective housing is configured to at least partially surround an electrical conductor of the connection part. The insertion opening of the screw guide element is configured to at least partially rotatably receive a screw that serves to fasten the electrical conductor. According to the invention, the screw guide element is movable relative to the protective housing and is monolithically connected to it.

[0006] The touch-protective cover may be attached to the connecting part of the electrical module connector, and the mobility of the screw guide element advantageously allows positional tolerances to be compensated for when connecting the electrical modules, i.e. the position of the screw of the connecting part received in the insertion opening can be adjusted with respect to its position for different relative positions of the two electrical modules to be connected.

[0007] The monolithic connection of the protective housing and the screw guide elements reduces the number of separate parts, making the touch-protective cover and module connector easier and more cost-effective to manufacture. Fewer parts also simplifies handling.

[0008] Additionally, the screw guide element is held in a predetermined nominal position by the monolithic connection unless an external force is applied. The nominal position can be selected to be a location (e.g., a central location) that is suitable for multiple applications. This simplifies the installation process in terms of complexity and time required, as fewer parts must be included and there is no loose "loose" part.

[0009] Therefore, the touch-protective cover according to the present invention solves the above-mentioned object.

[0010] The above solution can be further improved by the additional features described below, each of which is advantageous independently of the other and can be combined with one another as desired.

[0011] According to one possible configuration, the touch protection cover can comprise a flexure hinge or flexure bearing, in particular a spring joint, which connects the screw guide element and the protective housing monolithically and movably relative to one another. By means of the flexure bearing, a monolithic connection between the protective housing and the screw guide element can be easily formed.

[0012] According to a further possible configuration, the screw guide element can be arranged in the opening of the protective housing, thereby saving a certain amount of space. Furthermore, a flexure bearing can be arranged in the opening of the protective housing, whereby in the plane of the opening the screw guide element is movably guided relative to the protective housing by the flexure bearing. In particular, the screw guide element can be floatingly mounted in the opening of the protective housing.

[0013] The opening in the protective housing extends from the outside to the inside of the protective housing, where an electrical conductor surrounded by the protective housing can extend, for example, in the form of a bus bar or a current strip. The insertion opening of the screw guide element and the opening in the protective housing are preferably arranged coaxially.

[0014] The screw guide element can be separated from the protective housing by an opening. In particular, the screw guide element can be separated from the protective housing by a gap, which is part of the opening. The gap can, for example, be an annular gap that surrounds the screw guide element in the circumferential direction and can be bridged by a flexure bearing. The gap thereby provides freedom of movement for the screw guide element. Thus, when the screw guide element is moved relative to the protective housing, the gap narrows at least in parts and widens in other parts.

[0015] The size of the gap is preferably limited at each position of the screw guide element to prevent the user's finger from touching the electrical conductors running inside the protective housing. The user's finger can be simulated by a test finger according to common standards, such as DIN EN60529:2000, which specifies a test finger length of 80 mm and a diameter of 12 mm. Other relevant standards can be VDE0470 Part2, IEC / EN61032, VDE0470 Part1, or IEC / EN60529, IEC / EN60950, IEC61010, IEC / EN60335, IEC / EN60745-1, IEC / EN60034-5, and IEC / EN60065.

[0016] An easily manufacturable configuration is obtained when the flexure bearing includes at least one deformable material bridge extending from the protective housing to the screw guide element. The at least one material bridge can thereby bridge the gap. In addition to the shape of the gap, the configuration of the material bridge also determines the radius of motion of the screw guide element. The screw guide element can be movable relative to the protective housing by deformation of the at least one material bridge.

[0017] At least one material bridge may include two joints. Each joint articulately connects two adjacent regions. Preferably, these two adjacent regions are pivotable around the joint, particularly in one plane. To this end, the bending stiffness at each joint is lower than the bending stiffness of the region immediately surrounding the joint. In other words, the two adjacent regions have a higher stiffness than the respective joint.

[0018] The pivot planes of the two joints are preferably parallel to each other. In addition, the pivot planes of the two joints are optionally parallel to the plane of the opening of the protective housing. Furthermore, the pivot planes of the two joints may be perpendicular to the insertion opening.

[0019] The two joints can be located at any point on at least one material bridge. For example, one joint can be directly adjacent to the protective housing and / or the other joint can be directly adjacent to the screw guide element. This allows the material bridge to be connected to the screw guide element at one joint and to the protective housing at the other joint.

[0020] Alternatively, the two joints can be spaced apart from both the protective housing and the screw guide element, with one joint preferably being located within 1 / 3 of the length of the material bridge from the protective housing and / or the other joint being located within 1 / 3 of the length of the material bridge from the screw guide element.

[0021] The joints can each be formed by a bend or twist of the material bridge. According to a cost-effective construction of the touch-protective cover, the joints can each be configured as a film hinge.

[0022] To achieve high stability, the flexure bearing can have at least two material bridges, each extending from the protective housing to the screw guide element. Therefore, at least four joints are provided on the at least two material bridges. Preferably, the at least two material bridges engage the screw guide element at diametrically opposed points. In this case, each of the at least two material bridges can extend at least partially along the circumferential direction of the insertion opening. For example, each of the at least two material bridges can extend at least partially in a direction approximately tangential to the insertion opening. Each of the at least two material bridges can have at least one bend. Additionally, each of the at least two material bridges can have a short section and a long section separated from each other by at least one bend. For example, the long section can be based on the protective housing, and the short section can be based on the screw guide element. The long section can extend parallel to the tangent of the insertion opening, while the short section can extend radially to the insertion opening. In particular, each of the at least two material bridges can be configured in an L-, J-, or S-shape. This allows for greater mobility of the screw guide element compared to straight, radially extending spoke-like material bridges.

[0023] In applications where the screw position only needs to be adjusted in a single direction, it is desirable to limit the mobility of the screw guide element to the necessary direction. For this purpose, the screw guide element can be guided by a flexure bearing so that it can be moved along the compensation direction relative to the protective housing. The screw guide element is preferably guided essentially linearly relative to the protective housing. In this case, the compensation direction is preferably perpendicular to the screw axis and corresponds to the direction of adjusting the screw position. In embodiments with at least two material bridges, the mobility of the screw guide element can be limited to the compensation direction in that the at least two material bridges are arranged point-symmetrically relative to the screw guide element. In particular, the at least two material bridges can support the screw guide element in a double-hanging manner.

[0024] In particular, the insertion opening of the screw guide element can be configured to at least partially rotatably receive the screw head of the screw. Furthermore, the screw guide element can include a sleeve-like portion or collar configured to linearly guide the screw head. In this case, the plane of movement of the screw guide element within the sleeve-like portion or collar is preferably perpendicular to the screw axis and perpendicular to the guide direction. Optionally, the screw guide element can have at least one locking arm configured to engage behind the screw head. The at least one locking arm is preferably flexible and disposed on the sleeve-like portion or collar. This prevents the screw from being lost.

[0025] In addition to the screw guide element, the touch protection cover can also include a guide element that is spaced apart from the screw guide element, monolithically connected to the protective housing, and movable relative to the protective housing. In this case, the guide element preferably has a push-through opening for pushing through the screw shank, which is spaced apart from the screw guide element in the axial direction of the insertion opening and is arranged flush with the insertion opening. For screws whose heads are received in the insertion openings and whose screw shanks pass through the push-through opening, the screw guide element and the guide element allow parallel guiding, thereby preventing the screw from tilting or tilting.

[0026] An additional flexure bearing can connect the guide element and the protective housing. In this case, the additional flexure bearing can have the same configuration as the flexure bearing of the screw guide element. In particular, the additional flexure bearing can have at least one material bridge extending from the protective housing to the guide element. The at least one material bridge of the additional flexure bearing can be configured in the same way as the at least one material bridge connecting the screw guide element and the protective housing.

[0027] An electrical conductor of the connection part can extend between the screw guide element and the guide element. In other words, the screw guide element and the guide element are arranged on either side of the electrical conductor. If the connection part has a conductive current bridge, as is common in electrical module connectors, the guide element can be configured to at least partially receive the current bridge. In particular, the guide element can be configured to anchor and hold the current bridge. Alternatively, the current bridge can be arranged in the mating part of the connection part, and the connection part itself can have no anchored and held current bridge.

[0028] As mentioned above, the electrical conductors of the connection element run inside a protective housing. To facilitate easy installation of the electrical conductors inside the protective housing, the protective housing is preferably constructed in two parts, consisting of two housing halves that can be joined together. In this case, the screw guide element and the guide element are preferably connected to different housing halves.

[0029] The above object is achieved by a connecting part, which comprises a touch-protective cover according to one of the above configurations, an electrical conductor surrounded by a protective housing of the touch-protective cover, and a screw, the screw head of which is received in a screw guide element of the touch-protective cover. In this context, the connecting part benefits from the advantages and functions of the touch-protective cover described above. In particular, the relatively small number of parts simplifies the manufacturing, assembly, and mounting of the connecting part.

[0030] According to a possible configuration of the connecting part, the oblong hole can be arranged in an extension of the insertion opening of the screw guide element. For example, one end of the electrical conductor can have the oblong hole. The oblong hole is preferably configured to receive the threaded shank of a screw or a threaded bolt. Advantageously, the oblong hole can thereby function as a linear guide for the screw. The longitudinal direction of the oblong hole can therefore be aligned along the compensation direction. In other words, the oblong hole extends in the compensation direction.

[0031] A modular connector also solves the aforementioned object when it comprises a connecting part according to one of the above embodiments and a mating part of the connecting part, the mating part including a threaded sleeve configured complementarily to the thread of the connecting part. The mobility of the screw guide element allows the screw to be aligned axially flush with the threaded sleeve. The small number of parts, especially of the touch protection cover, allows the modular connector to be assembled with little effort and subsequent maintenance is easy.

[0032] References in this application to standards and norms (e.g. DIN / IEC / EN standards) refer to the versions of the relevant standards and norms in force at the time of filing.

[0033] The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings by way of exemplary configurations. Each configuration merely reflects a possible combination of features. If the technical effect associated with an individual feature of the configuration is not important for a particular application, that feature may be omitted according to the above description. Conversely, if the technical effect associated with a feature of the described configuration is important for a particular application of the configuration, that feature may be added.

[0034] In the figures, the same reference numerals are used for features that correspond to one another in terms of function and / or structure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic top view of a touch protection cover according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is another schematic perspective cross-sectional view of the touch-protection cover of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic perspective exploded view of a connecting piece according to an exemplary embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective exploded view of the connecting component of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] 10 is a schematic perspective view of a connection piece according to a further exemplary embodiment; FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic perspective exploded view of a modular connector according to an exemplary embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] The touch protection cover 1 will be described below in accordance with an exemplary embodiment with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Furthermore, the connecting parts 2 of the module connector 4 and the module connector 4 itself will be described in accordance with exemplary embodiments with reference to Figures 3 to 6.

[0037] FIG. 1 is a top view of the touch protection cover 1. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the touch protection cover 1 as viewed from below. The touch protection cover 1 is formed from an electrically insulating material, such as plastic, and is adapted to be attached to a connection part 2 of an electrical module connector 4. The electrical module connector 4 serves to electrically connect two electrical modules (not shown), in particular two battery modules (not shown), in high-voltage applications by connecting the connection part 2 to a complementary mating part 6 (see FIG. 6). In this case, the electrical conductors 8 (see FIG. 3) of the connection part 2 are electrically connected to the electrical conductors 8 (see FIG. 6) of the mating part 6.

[0038] As can be seen from Figure 1, the touch protective cover 1 comprises a protective housing 10 and a screw guide element 12 having an insertion opening 14. The screw guide element 12 is movable relative to the protective housing 10 for position adjustment and is at the same time monolithically connected to the protective housing 10. For this purpose, the touch protective cover 1 comprises a flexure bearing 16, in particular a spring joint 18, which monolithically and movably connects the screw guide element 12 and the protective housing 10 to one another.

[0039] The flexure bearing 16 may include at least one deformable material bridge 20 extending from the protective housing 10 to the screw guide element 12. The at least one material bridge 20 may include two joints 22. Each joint 22 hinges two adjacent regions 24a, 24b to one another. These two adjacent regions 24a, 24b are preferably pivotable about the joint 22, particularly in one plane. For this purpose, the bending stiffness at each joint 22 is lower than the bending stiffness at the regions 24a, 24b immediately surrounding the joint 22. In other words, the two adjacent regions 24a, 24b have a higher stiffness than the respective joint 22.

[0040] The two joints 22 can be located at any position on the at least one material bridge 20. In FIG. 1, one joint 22 is located directly on the protective housing 10, and the other joint 22 is located directly adjacent to the screw guide element 12. Alternatively, the two joints can be located at a distance from both the protective housing and the screw guide element. In this case, preferably, one joint is located within one-third of the length of the material bridge from the protective housing, and / or the other joint is located within one-third of the length of the material bridge from the screw guide element.

[0041] The flexure bearing 16 shown in FIG. 1 has two material bridges 20 that each extend from the protective housing 10 to the screw guide element 12. The two material bridges 20 preferably engage the screw guide element 12 at diametrically opposed points. Furthermore, each of the two material bridges 20 extends at least partially along a circumferential direction 26 of the insertion opening 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown, each of the two material bridges 20 extends at least partially in a generally tangential direction relative to the insertion opening 14.

[0042] Each of the two material bridges 20 can include at least one bend 28. In addition, each of the two material bridges 20 can include a short portion 30a and a long portion 30b separated from each other by the at least one bend 28. For example, the long portion 30b is based on the protective housing 10, and the short portion 30a is based on the screw guide element 12. The long portions 30b can extend parallel to each other, while the short portion 30a extends radially to the insertion opening 14. In particular, each of the two material bridges 20 can be configured in an L-shape, a J-shape, or an S-shape.

[0043] 1, the two material bridges 20 are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the screw guide element 12. The screw guide element 12 is therefore guided by the flexure bearing 16 so that it is movable along a compensation direction 34 relative to the protective housing 10. Preferably, the screw guide element 12 is guided essentially linearly with respect to the protective housing 10. In this case, the compensation direction 34 is preferably perpendicular to the screw axis 36 and corresponds to the direction in which the position adjustment is performed.

[0044] The protective housing 10 is configured to at least partially surround the electrical conductor 8 of the connection piece 2. For this purpose, the protective housing 10 provides space for the electrical conductor 8 on its inside 38. As can be seen from Figure 3, the electrical conductor 8 may be a busbar 40 made of copper, aluminum, or an alloy containing copper or aluminum. Alternatively, a current strip (not shown) made of braided metal wire may be used.

[0045] The busbar 40 has at least one flat surface 42 that defines a busbar plane 44. In this context, the screw guide element 12 is displaceable parallel to the busbar plane 44. The busbar 40 preferably has two flat surfaces 42 that are parallel to each other. When an electrical module is connected, the flat surfaces 42 of the busbar 40 are aligned toward and away from the electrical module. In the illustrated embodiment, the busbar 40 has a rectangular cable cross-section. Other conductor cross-sections, such as square, polygonal, circular, oval, or U-shaped conductor cross-sections, are also possible.

[0046] In the mounted state, at least one end 46 of the electrical conductor 8 extends through the interior 38 of the protective housing 10. The electrical conductor 8 may include an oblong hole 48 at this end 46. The oblong hole 48 connects both flat surfaces 42 of the busbar 40 to one another. The oblong hole 48 thus serves as a screw opening 50 for a screw 52 of the connection piece 2, which serves to fasten the electrical conductor 8 (see FIG. 3 ). For this purpose, the oblong hole 48 is configured to receive a threaded shaft 54 ​​of the screw 52. Furthermore, the oblong hole 48 serves as a linear guide for the screw 52. A longitudinal direction 56 of the oblong hole 48 is aligned parallel to the compensation direction 34. In other words, the oblong hole 48 extends in the compensation direction 34.

[0047] The screw 52 forms a threaded connection with a threaded sleeve (not shown) of the mating part 6 of the modular connector 4, which is configured complementarily to the screw 52. To also be able to form the threaded connection despite tolerance-related variations in the relative position 58 of the connecting part 2 and the mating part 6, the screw 52 is movably held by the touch-protective cover 1. This task is taken care of by the screw guide element 12, which is configured to at least partially rotatably receive the screw 52 in the insertion opening 14. In particular, the insertion opening 14 can be configured to rotatably receive the screw head 60 of the screw 52.

[0048] For this purpose, the screw guide element 12 may include a sleeve-like portion 62 configured to linearly guide the received screw head 60 along the insertion opening 14. In this case, a movement plane 64 of the screw guide element 12 is preferably perpendicular to the screw axis 36 and perpendicular to a guide direction 66 within the sleeve-like portion 62. Optionally, the screw guide element 12 may include a locking arm 68 configured to engage behind the received screw head 60. The locking arm 68 is preferably flexible and arranged in the sleeve-like portion 62.

[0049] 1 , the screw guide element 12 and the flexure bearing 16 can be arranged in an opening 70 in the protective housing 10. In this case, the insertion opening 14 of the screw guide element 12 and the opening 70 in the protective housing 10 are arranged coaxially or at least concentrically. In the plane of the opening 70, the screw guide element 12 is therefore movably guided relative to the protective housing 10 by the flexure bearing 16. In particular, the screw guide element 12 can be mounted in the opening 70 so as to float.

[0050] An opening 70 leads from the exterior 72 of the protective housing 10 to the interior 38 of the protective housing 10. The screw head 60 received in the screw guide element 12 is accessible from the outside through this opening 70, allowing the screw 52 to be tightened or loosened as needed.

[0051] The screw guide element 12 may be spaced from the protective housing 10 by an opening 70. In particular, the screw guide element 12 may be separated from the protective housing 10 by a gap 74, which is part of the opening 70. The gap 74 may circumferentially surround the screw guide element 12, for example, as an annular gap 76, and may be spanned by the flexure bearing 16. The gap 74 may be generated by the manufacturing process, but it also provides the screw guide element 12 with a certain amount of freedom of movement. As the screw guide element 12 moves relative to the protective housing 10, the gap 74 narrows in at least some areas and widens in others, as shown by dashed line 78 in FIG. 1 .

[0052] However, the size of the gap 74 is limited at each position of the screw guide element 12 so as to prevent a user's finger (not shown) from touching the electrical conductors 8 extending inside 38 of the protective housing 10. The user's finger can be simulated by a test finger (not shown) according to common standards, such as DIN EN60529:2000, which prescribes a test finger length of 80 mm and a diameter of 12 mm. Other relevant standards can be VDE0470 Part2, IEC / EN61032, VDE0470 Part1, or IEC / EN60529, IEC / EN60950, IEC61010, IEC / EN60335, IEC / EN60745-1, IEC / EN60034-5, and IEC / EN60065.

[0053] A cap 80 molded onto the head 60 of the screw 52 interacts with the touch-protective cover 1. Additionally, a cap 82 may be disposed or molded onto the end of the screw shank 54 opposite the head 60. This ensures that interaction with the touch-protective cover 1 does not create a gap that would allow a user's fingers to come into contact with live components.

[0054] 3 it can be seen that the touch-protective cover 1 can comprise, in addition to the screw guide element 12, a guide element 84' spaced apart from the screw guide element 12 and likewise monolithically connected to the protective housing 10 and movable relative to it. In this context, the guide element 84' preferably comprises a push-through opening 88 for pushing through the threaded shank 54 of the screw 52, ​​spaced apart from the screw guide element 12 in the axial direction 86 of the insertion opening 14 and arranged flush with the insertion opening 14. When the screw head 60 is received in the insertion opening 14 and the screw shank 54 passes through the push-through opening 88, the screw guide element 12 and the guide element 84' allow parallel guiding, thereby preventing the screw 52 from tilting or tilting.

[0055] A further flexure bearing 90' connects the guide element 84' and the protective housing 10. In this context, the further flexure bearing 90' can have the same configuration as the flexure bearing 16 of the screw guide element 12. In particular, the further flexure bearing 90' can have at least one material bridge 92' extending from the protective housing 10 to the guide element 84'. The at least one material bridge 92' of the further flexure bearing 90' can be configured in the same way as the at least one material bridge 20 connecting the screw guide element 12 and the protective housing 10.

[0056] The electrical conductor 8 of the connecting part 2 can extend between the screw guide element 12 and the guide element 84'. In other words, the screw guide element 12 and the guide element 84' are arranged on either side of the electrical conductor 8. The guide element 84' forms a mating surface 94 that is configured complementary to the mating surface 94 of the counter part 6 and can be plugged into the mating surface 94 of the counter part 6 (see FIG. 6).

[0057] In order to reduce the electrical resistance, particularly when the electrical conductor 8 is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, the connection part 2 has a current bridge 96 made of copper or a copper alloy. This can be seen in Figure 3. The current bridge 96 has a central opening 98 which preferably extends parallel to and coaxial with the push-through opening 88 of the guide element 90'. The screw shaft 54 ​​passes through the central opening 98.

[0058] The current bridge 96 is configured in the shape of a hollow cylinder having a circular base surface 100 and a circular end surface 102. With the base surface 100, the current bridge 96 forms a predetermined interface surface 104 with a counter contact 106 of the counter component 6 (see FIG. 6). With its end surface 102, the current bridge 96 abuts against one flat surface 42 of the bus bar 40 opposite the screw guide element 12. In order to increase the contact surface between the current bridge 96 and the bus bar 40, the current bridge 96 has an enlarged end surface 102.

[0059] The guide element 84' is therefore configured to at least partially receive the current bridge 96. In particular, the guide element 84' may be configured to captively hold the current bridge 96. Alternatively, the current bridge may be attached to a counterpart part of the connection piece, so that the connection piece itself does not have a captively held current bridge.

[0060] To facilitate easy installation of the electrical conductor 8 in the protective housing 10, the protective housing 10 is constructed in two parts, consisting of two joinable housing halves 108a, 108b. The housing halves 108a, 108b include complementary latching elements 110a, 110b. Alternatively or additionally, the housing halves 108a, 108b may be glued, welded, pressed, or otherwise attached to one another. The housing halves 108a, 108b are assembled and closed around the electrical conductor 8, the current bridge 96, and the screw 52. In this context, the screw guide element 12 and the guide element 84' are connected to the separate housing halves 108a, 108b.

[0061] In the connection part 2 of Figures 3 and 4, the screw head 60 is received in the screw guide element 12 and the current bridge 96 of the guide element 84'. Figure 5 shows that the connection part 2 can also be configured for the simultaneous connection of several electrical modules. For this purpose, the connection part 2 comprises several electrical conductors (not shown), several current bridges (not shown), and several screws 52. For each screw 52 or several screws 52, the touch-protective cover 1 can have a separate screw guide element 12 that is movable relative to the protective housing 10 and is simultaneously monolithically connected to the protective housing 10.

[0062] 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of an electrical module connector 4 for connecting several electrical modules (not shown) in pairs. The module connector 4 has a corresponding number of connecting parts 2 and a certain number of mating parts 6. The connecting parts 2 have a common protective housing 10. If the mounting position 112 of the illustrated mating parts 6 deviates from a predetermined target position 114, this position tolerance 116 can be compensated for by displacing the screws 52 together with the associated current bridges 96, screw guide elements 12, and guide elements 84′ according to the actual mounting position.

[0063] The screws 52 and screw guide elements 12 can be rotated and displaced until the screws 52 are fully seated in their respective threaded sleeves. After tightening, the resulting frictional force and positive locking prevents rotation and displacement. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1 Touch Protective Cover 2 Connecting parts 4 Module Connector 6 Counterpart 8 Conductors 10 Protective Housing 12 Screw guide element 14 Insertion opening 16 Flexure bearing 18 Spring joint 20 Material Bridge 22 Joint 24a, 24b area 26 Circumferential direction 28 Bend 30a, 30b part 34 Compensation direction 36 Screw axis 38 Inside 40 Bus Bar 42 Flat surface 44 Busbar plane 46 End 48 oval hole 50 threaded opening 52 screws 54 Screw shaft 56 Longitudinal 58 Relative Position 60 screw head 62 parts 64 plane 66 Guide direction 68 Lock Arm 70 Opening 72 Outside 74 Gap 76 Annular gap 78 lines 80 Cap 82 Cap 84' guide element 86 Axial 88 Push-through opening 90' flexure bearing 92' Material Bridge 94 Mating surface 96 Current Bridge 98 Opening 100 Base 102 End face 104 Boundary Surface 106 Counterpart Contact 108a, 108b housing halves 110a, 110b latch elements 112 Mounting position 114 Target position 116 Positional Tolerance

Claims

1. An electrically insulating touch-protective cover (1) for a connecting part (2) of an electrical module connector (4), comprising: The touch protection cover (1) a protective housing (10) adapted to at least partially surround the electrical conductors (8) of said connection piece (2); a screw guide element (12) having an insertion opening (14) configured to at least partially rotatably receive a screw (52) serving to fix the electrical conductor (8); the screw guide element (12) is movable relative to the protective housing (10) and is monolithically connected to the protective housing (10); The protective housing (10) surrounds the outer periphery of the screw guide element (12), The screw guide element (12) includes a sleeve-like portion (62) configured to guide the screw head (60) of the screw (52); The sleeve-like portion (62) of the screw guide element (12) defines the insertion opening (14). Touch protection cover (1).

2. a flexure bearing (16) that monolithically and movably connects the screw guide element (12) and the protective housing (10) to each other; A touch-protective cover (1) according to claim 1.

3. The screw guide element (12) and the flexure bearing (16) are arranged in an opening (70) of the protective housing (10), and the screw guide element (12) is movably guided relative to the protective housing (10) by the flexure bearing (16) in the plane of the opening (70). A touch-protective cover (1) according to claim 2.

4. The screw guide element (12) is separated from the protective housing (10) by a gap (74) spanned by the flexure bearing (16). A touch-protective cover (1) according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The flexure bearing (16) includes at least one deformable material bridge (20) extending from the protective housing (10) to the screw guide element (12). A touch-protective cover (1) according to claim 2 or 3.

6. The at least one deformable material bridge (20) has two joints (22). A touch-protective cover (1) according to claim 5.

7. Each of the joints (22) is configured as a film hinge. A touch-protective cover (1) according to claim 6.

8. The screw guide element (12) is movably guided along a compensation direction (34) relative to the protective housing (10) by the flexure bearing (16). A touch-protective cover (1) according to claim 2 or 3.

9. The touch-protective cover (1) comprises a guide element (84'), the guide element (84') is spaced apart from the screw guide element (12), monolithically connected to the protective housing (10), has a penetration opening (88) arranged flush with the insertion opening (14) for pushing through the threaded shank (54) of the screw (52), and is movable relative to the protective housing (10); A touch-protective cover (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

10. the guide element (84') is configured to at least partially receive the conductive current bridge (96) of the connection part (2); A touch-protective cover (1) according to claim 9.

11. The protective housing (10) is composed of two housing halves (108a, 108b) that can be joined together, and the screw guide element (12) and the guide element (84') are connected to the separate housing halves (108a, 108b). A touch-protective cover (1) according to claim 9.

12. The sleeve-like portion (62) is cylindrical. A touch-protective cover (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

13. The sleeve-like portion (62) is cylindrical. A touch-protective cover (1) according to claim 9.

14. A connecting part (2), The connecting part (2) is - a touch-protective cover (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, - an electrical conductor (8) surrounded by the protective housing (10) of the touch-protective cover (1); - a screw (52), Equipped with The screw head (60) of the screw (52) is received in the screw guide element (12) of the touch-protective cover (1); Connection part (2).

15. The connecting part (2) has an oblong hole (48) in the extension of the insertion opening (14), the longitudinal direction (56) of the oblong hole (48) being aligned along the compensation direction (34). A connecting piece (2) according to claim 14.

16. One end (46) of the electrical conductor (8) has the oblong hole (48). A connecting piece (2) according to claim 15.

17. A module connector (4), The module connector (4) - a connecting piece (2) according to claim 14, - a mating part (6) of the connecting part (2), The mating part (6) includes a threaded sleeve configured to complement the threads (52) of the connecting part (2). Module connector (4).

Citation Information

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