Apparatus and connector with cable wall penetrations for multiple cables - Patents.com

Abstract

To provide a device and a connector with a cable wall penetration part for a plurality of cables.SOLUTION: There is provided a device, wherein a wall part 2 has a housing 1 defining a housing interior 3 in a plurality of planes, and a cable wall penetration part in the region of a wall opening part 5 formed in one of walls 4 to allow a plurality of cables to pass therethrough. A receptacle is formed to face the wall opening part 5 by a receptacle frame 6 integrally formed on the wall 4 to at least partially surround the wall opening 5. A plurality of sealed passageways 12 is provided for the plurality of cables by at least one sealing member 11 disposed within the receptacle. A cover element 16 is fixedly installed inside the receptacle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and connector having a cable wall penetration for multiple cables.

[0002] [background] A cable wall penetration serves to guide a cable through a wall opening or through-hole from one side of the wall to the other, and in particular to insert the cable into a housing, such as a cable cabinet. In this case, the passage of the cable through the wall opening must be evenly sealed so as to seal the interior of the housing from the environment. For this purpose, the use of what are called sealing members for cable wall penetrations can be provided, which sealing member has a cable passage in which the cable to be passed through can be received in a sealing manner.

[0003] EP 3 404 789 A1 discloses a conduit penetration having a base frame and at least one conduit penetration module, the conduit penetration module being provided with one or more passage openings corresponding to respective cables. The external dimensions of the conduit penetration module are adapted to the internal cross-section of the base frame so that the conduit penetration module can be placed in the internal cross-section of the base frame. At least one holding part is also attached to the base frame, and by means of the holding part, the conduit penetration module can be fixed in a captured state within the base frame. According to EP 3 404 789 A1, the at least one holding part fixed to the base frame can be switched between a holding position, in which the holding part fixes the conduit penetration module in a captured state within the base frame, and a release position, in which the conduit penetration module can be removed from the base frame and inserted into the base frame.

[0004] Cable wall penetrations and connectors are also described in DE 20 2015 102 280 U1, DE 10 2016 223 425 A1, WO 2018 / 096 136 A1, WO 2020 / 207 796 A1 and DE 10 2016 213 873 A1.

[0005] [overview] It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus having a cable wall penetration for multiple cables, which allows for the production of a fixed and sealed wall penetration for multiple cables with reduced installation effort. Additionally, a connector with an improved cable wall penetration is provided.

[0006] This object is achieved by a device with a cable wall penetration for a plurality of cables according to independent claim 1 and by a connector according to dependent claim 14. Embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] According to one aspect, an apparatus is created having a cable wall penetration for multiple cables. The cable wall penetration includes a housing having walls surrounding an interior of the housing on multiple sides, and a cable wall penetration in the area of ​​a wall opening formed in one of the walls for passing multiple cables therethrough. The cable wall penetration includes: a receptacle frame integrally formed on the wall to at least partially surround the wall opening, the receptacle frame defining a receptacle opposite the wall opening; at least one sealing member disposed within the receptacle, the sealing member providing multiple sealed passages for the multiple cables, each of the multiple sealed passages configured to sealingly receive one of the cables as it passes through the wall opening; and a cover element associated with the receptacle frame, the cover element fixedly installed within the receptacle, the at least one sealing member.

[0008] According to a further aspect, a (plug) connector is provided on the device.

[0009] The housing in which the cable wall penetration is located may be a one-piece housing or a multi-piece housing. For example, a one-piece based housing may have a housing cover mounted on top of it to close the housing interior. In one embodiment, the housing is a portable housing, particularly as part of a portable device formed with the cable wall penetration.

[0010] The wall having the opening or through-hole associated with the cable wall penetration may be made of a plastic material, for example manufactured by injection molding. The housing may be made entirely of a plastic material. Alternatively, different materials, for example plastic and metal, may be used for the wall and / or housing.

[0011] By integrally forming the receptacle frame on the wall so that it partially or substantially completely surrounds the wall opening, the installation effort required when manufacturing the cable wall penetration is reduced. In particular, work steps that would otherwise be required when manufacturing the cable wall penetration on the housing, such as the fixed installation of the receptacle frame, are eliminated. The correct position of the receptacle frame relative to the wall opening is also always guaranteed in this way, resulting in accurate installation of the further components of the cable wall penetration.

[0012] The receptacle frame may be formed by a frame wall that protrudes from the outer surface of the wall and is integrally formed on the wall. In this or other embodiments, the inner surface of the frame wall may be disposed flush with the inner surface of the wall opening. In this or other embodiments, at least one sealing member disposed within the receptacle frame after installation may extend only into an area facing the receptacle frame, or alternatively, may also extend toward an area of ​​the inner surface of the wall opening, with contact being formed between the opposing surfaces in either case. In one embodiment, the frame wall is disposed on a base and is integrally formed on the base, which is integrally formed on a wall having a wall opening and partially or completely surrounds the wall opening.

[0013] The frame wall may be formed with support wall portions on the outer surface of the wall portion, which support the frame wall in an upright position. The support wall portions may have, for example, a polygonal cross section, in particular a triangular cross section. One or more of the support wall portions may be arranged in corner regions of the frame wall surrounding the wall opening.

[0014] The frame walls may have honeycomb wall regions, which results in a material-saving and mechanically stable design of the frame walls, at least partially supported.

[0015] The receptacle frame may substantially completely surround the wall opening, in which case the receptacle frame may be designed to be substantially continuous around the wall opening or may be designed in a segmented manner.

[0016] A frame element may be disposed within the receptacle, the frame element dividing the receptacle into a plurality of sub-receptacles, each configured to receive a sealing member that provides at least one sealed passageway for one of a plurality of cables. One or more walls may be formed within the receptacle using the frame element, such that the plurality of sub-receptacles are each configured to receive one or more sealing members. In this or other embodiments, the sealing member is made of a resilient material that is positioned around the cable and then compressed in a sealing manner against the cable received in the passageway.

[0017] The frame elements may be designed in one piece or in multiple pieces and may be removably installed inside the receptacle, for example by plug and / or clamp connection. Alternatively, a non-removable installation may be provided. The frame elements may be removably placed in associated plug receptacles arranged on the inner surface of the frame wall.

[0018] The sub-receptacles corresponding to the closure members may be formed with an outwardly flaring cross section (away from the housing), and the closure members may have a (negative) profile that matches the outwardly flaring sub-receptacles, such that the clamping effect on the closure member when inserted into an associated sub-receptacle increases as the closure member is inserted further into the sub-receptacle.

[0019] The receptacle frame may be configured to insert at least one closure member into the receptacle space from the outside of the face facing away from the housing, where the closure member is installed into the receptacle from the outside. In this or other embodiments, the receptacle space may have a cross-section that widens outward in the direction away from the housing.

[0020] The cover element may be installed without the use of tools. For example, a clamp connection, a plug connection and / or a click connection may be provided for designing the cover element so that it can be installed without the use of tools.

[0021] The cover element may be installed with the aid of a connecting device formed on the receptacle frame. The connecting device on the receptacle frame interacts with an associated connecting member on the cover element to install the cover element after one or more closure members have been placed in the receptacle. Alternatively, or in addition, the connecting device may be designed to install the cover element on a wall. The connecting device and associated connecting member on which the cover element is installed may be located inside (i.e., covered, for example, by the cover element itself) after the cover element has been installed.

[0022] In the installed position, the cover element surrounds a corner region of the housing where the wall is connected to an adjacent wall of the housing. In this embodiment, in the installed position, the cover element surrounds a corner region of the housing where the housing walls meet, either continuously or in a segmented manner, at a portion or the entire housing end. The wall may be connected in one portion at the corner region.

[0023] The cover element may be arranged such that, when viewed from above the wall opening, it overlaps an edge of the at least one closure member, thereby contributing to securing the closure member after it has been installed in the receptacle.

[0024] The cover element is formed in multiple parts by multiple cover elements, and when the cover elements are installed, i.e. during installation, one of the cover elements is connected to at least one other of the cover elements with the aid of interrelated connecting elements. The connecting elements on the cover elements may be designed so that when the connected cover elements are combined together and when they are separated from each other, they are guided in a connecting direction transverse to the passage direction of the wall opening. For example, plug, clamp and / or click connections may be provided between the multiple cover elements, and in the case of said or other connection types, the cover elements are connected without the use of tools.

[0025] The housing may be a (plug) connector housing configured to receive a (plug) connector element having electrical contact members inside the housing. In this case, the cable wall penetration serves to insert multiple cables from the outside into the connector housing, where they are connected to electrical contact members of the connector element, which provide, for example, connection pins and / or connection sockets. To secure the connection housing after it has been inserted into the associated connection housing, the connector housing may be provided with fixing members, such as housing protrusions and / or pivot members, which interact with associated fixing members on the connector housing and can be fixed in a releasable connection while preventing accidental removal. A further wall opening may be arranged in the connector housing opposite the wall opening with the cable wall penetration, through which access to the contact members is provided.

[0026] The above described embodiments relating to devices having cable wall penetrations for multiple cables may be provided in association with connectors as appropriate.

[0027] [Description of the embodiment] Further embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings: FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus having a cable wall penetration on a housing before the cable wall penetration is formed; Figure 2 is a further schematic perspective view of the device depicted in Figure 1; 3 is a schematic perspective view of the device depicted in FIG. 1 with a cable wall penetration formed therein; FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a further device having a cable wall penetration installed on a housing; FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus having a connector with a cable wall penetration on a connector housing before the cable wall penetration is formed; FIG. 6 is a further perspective view of the device depicted in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the device depicted in FIG. 5, with a cable wall penetration formed therein.

[0028] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a further device having a connector with an alternative cable wall penetration on the connector housing.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a device having a housing 1 in which a wall 2 surrounds a housing interior 3 on multiple sides. A housing opening 5 is formed in the wall 4, and a cable (not shown) passes through the housing opening 5. A receptacle frame 6 is integrally formed on the wall 4 to surround or enclose the wall opening 5. The integrally formed receptacle frame 6 is formed with a peripheral frame wall 7 and may be formed, for example, by injection molding. In the alternative case of a metal housing, it may be provided that the receptacle frame 6 is manufactured with curved walls. The housing interior 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a configuration having a housing 1 in which a wall 2 surrounds the housing interior 3 on multiple sides using a housing cover (not shown). A housing opening 5 is formed in the wall 4 for guiding a cable (not shown) through the housing opening 5. The receptacle frame 6 is integrally formed on the wall 4 to surround or enclose the wall opening 5. The integrally formed receptacle frame 6 is formed with a peripheral frame wall 7 and may be formed, for example, by means of injection molding. In the alternative case of a metal housing, the receptacle frame 6 may be manufactured by means of curved walls. The housing interior 3 may be closed by means of a housing cover (not shown).

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, the support wall portions 8 are provided on the outer surface of the frame wall, in particular in the corner regions 9 of the receptacle frame 6. The partial walls 10 are formed in a honeycomb shape.

[0031] To form a cable wall penetration in the region of the wall opening 5, sealing members 11 are provided, each having one passage 12 for receiving one cable (not shown). In the region of the inner surface 13, the frame wall 7 has plug receptacles 14, and a frame element 15 may be removably placed in the receptacle formed with the receptacle frame 6 and provides separate sub-receptacles corresponding to the sealing members 11, which in the embodiment shown each receive one of the sealing members 11.

[0032] When the sealing element 11 (with the cable) is placed in the receptacle in the receptacle frame 6, the cover element 16 is installed, which in the illustrated embodiment consists of two parts, elements 16a and 16b. Alternatively, a one-part design may be provided. The cover element 16 can be installed without tools with the aid of a connecting device 17, which in the illustrated example is designed with connecting elements on the receptacle frame 6 on the one hand and on the cover element 16 on the other hand (see FIG. 2).

[0033] The elements 16 a and 16 b of the cover element 6 can be removably connected by a connecting device 18 .

[0034] Figure 2 shows a further perspective view of the device depicted in Figure 1 before the cable wall penetration has been installed, which is then designed according to the perspective view of Figure 3 when the cover element 16 is also installed. When the cover element is installed, elements 16a and 16b are connected to each other in an installation direction transverse to the passage direction of the wall opening 5. For this purpose, elements 16a and 16b have interconnected connecting members 18 (see Figure 1).

[0035] Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the device of Figure 1, in which the same reference numerals as in Figures 1-3 are used for the same features. In the embodiment of Figure 4, more than two sealing members 11 are disposed within the receptacle of the receptacle frame 6, and the sealing members 11 have one or more passages 12 for each cable, with passages with a larger diameter being used for, for example, power lines, while passages with a smaller diameter may be used for data or control lines.

[0036] Figures 5-8 show an embodiment illustrating the use of the cable wall penetration described with reference to Figures 1-4 in connection with connector 20. The same reference numbers are used in Figures 5-8 for the same features as in Figures 1-4.

[0037] In the embodiment of Figures 5 to 8, the housing 1 depicted in Figures 1 to 4 is configured as a plug connector housing 21, which is used to receive a connector element 22 having electrical contact members 23, and which may be removably connected to a cable wall penetration, optionally with an associated socket 24, to form an electrical connection to multiple cables or wires. Figures 5 and 6 are shown in a comparable state to Figures 1 and 2, without the cable wall penetration installed. Figures 7 and 8 then show an embodiment of connector 20 (with associated socket 24) in which the cable wall penetration is formed.

[0038] To secure the connector housing 21 to the socket 24, a securing device 25 is provided, which in the illustrated embodiment includes a housing projection 26 on the connector housing 21 and an associated pivot member 27.

[0039] The features disclosed in the above description, in the claims and in the drawings can be relevant both individually and in any combination to realize different embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0040] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus having a cable wall penetration on a housing before the cable wall penetration is formed; [Figure 2] A further schematic perspective view of the apparatus depicted in Figure 1; [Figure 3] 2 is a schematic perspective view of the device depicted in FIG. 1 with a cable wall penetration formed therein; [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a further device with a cable wall penetration installed on a housing; [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus having a connector with a cable wall penetration on a connector housing before the cable wall penetration is formed; [Figure 6] A further perspective view of the device depicted in Figure 5; [Figure 7] 6 is a schematic perspective view of the device depicted in FIG. 5, the device being formed with a cable wall penetration. [Figure 8] 10 is a schematic perspective view of a further device having a connector with an alternative cable wall penetration on the connector housing.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus having cable wall penetrations for a plurality of cables, comprising: a housing (1, 21) in which a plurality of walls (2, 4) define a housing interior (3) on a plurality of sides; a cable wall penetration in the region of a wall opening (5) formed in one of the walls (2, 4) for passing a plurality of cables therethrough, the cable wall penetration comprising: a receptacle frame (6) integrally formed on the wall portion (4) so ​​as to at least partially surround the wall opening (5), the receptacle frame (6) forming a receptacle facing the wall opening (5); at least one sealing member (11) disposed within the receptacle, the at least one sealing member (11) providing a plurality of sealed passages (12) for the plurality of cables, each of the plurality of sealed passages (12) configured to sealingly receive one cable passing through the wall opening (5); a cover element (16) associated with the receptacle frame (6), by means of which the at least one sealing member (11) is fixedly installed inside the receptacle.

2. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle frame (6) is formed by a frame wall (7) protruding from the outer surface of the wall portion (4) and integrally formed on the wall portion (4).

3. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the frame wall (7) is formed with a support wall (8) that supports the frame wall (7) in an upright position on the outer surface of the wall (4).

4. 4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the frame wall (7) comprises a plurality of honeycomb wall regions (10).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the receptacle frame (6) substantially completely surrounds the wall opening (5).

6. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein a frame element is disposed within the receptacle, the frame element dividing the receptacle into a plurality of sub-receptacles, each of the sub-receptacles configured to receive a sealing member (11) that provides at least one sealed passage for one of the plurality of cables.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the receptacle frame (6) is configured such that the at least one sealing member (11) is inserted into the receptacle frame (6) from the outside of a surface facing away from the housing (1; 21).

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cover element (16) is installed without the use of tools.

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cover element (16) is installed with the aid of a connecting device (17) formed at least partially on the receptacle frame (6).

10. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein in the installed position, the cover element (16) surrounds a housing corner area in which the wall (4) is connected to an adjacent wall of the housing (1; 21).

11. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cover element (16) is arranged so that, when the wall opening (5) is viewed from above, it overlaps the at least one sealing member (11) at its end face.

12. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cover element (16) is formed in multiple parts by a plurality of cover elements (16, 16b), and wherein, during installation of the cover element (16), one of the cover elements is connected to at least one other of the cover elements with the aid of interconnecting connecting members (18).

13. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a plug connector housing (21) configured to receive a plug connector element (22) having electrical contact members (23) inside the housing.

14. A plug connector (20) comprising a device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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