Plug-in connector having a floating contact carrier

Abstract

A plug-in connection (1) comprising a plug-in connector (2) having at least one contact carrier (6) which receives a contact (5) which is arranged at the end of an electrical conductor, and comprising a mating plug-in connector having at least one corresponding contact, which mating plug-in connector is plug-connected to the plug-in connector (2), so that the at least one contact (5) of the plug-in connector (2) is contacted by way of its associated contact of the mating plug-in connector, wherein a support (3) is provided, which receives the at least one contact carrier (6), wherein the at least one contact carrier (6) can move relative to the support (3) in one plane during the plug-connection, wherein the support (3) can further be fastened to the mating plug-in connector.

Description

[0001] Connector with a floating contact carrier

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a plug connection comprising a plug connector with a contact carrier which accommodates at least one contact (in practice often several contacts in each associated contact chamber) arranged at the end of an electrical conductor, and a mating connector with contacts which is plugged together with the plug connector so that the at least one contact of the plug connector is contacted with its associated contact of the mating connector, according to the features of the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0004] A prior art design, which is only schematically shown in Figure 5, requires a floating pin contact in the connector, whereby disadvantageously only very limited positions of 0.2 mm to the counterpart (mating connector) are possible and precise tool tolerances are necessary (with low distortion) and no process capability is possible when manufacturing the connector due to low position tolerance.

[0005] The task is to create a concept that is constructed from existing components (connector with contact carrier and contact(s) as well as correspondingly designed mating connector) to enable easy mating of, for example, four contacts in series (also conceivable fewer or more than four contacts in series and / or more than one row). The problem arose from the fact that the mating connector is provided ready-made and the previous system can only accommodate a very small and limited wobble tolerance - if at all. This has the disadvantage that at least one contact is damaged if the position deviation of the corresponding contacts of the connector and the mating connector is too large. This means that the system is not robust and reliable during assembly. This required tolerance on the contact side of the mating connector cannot therefore be maintained, which is a disadvantage.

[0006] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a plug connection which is improved compared to the prior art and which avoids the disadvantages described above.

[0007] This problem is solved by the features of patent claim 1.

[0008] According to the invention, a carrier is provided which receives the at least one contact carrier, wherein the at least one contact carrier can move, in particular be displaced, relative to the carrier in a plane during plugging together, wherein the carrier can also be fastened to the mating connector.

[0009] In order to maintain the required tolerance on the contact side of the mating connector, the invention provides a floating (in the sense of relatively movable) contact carrier on the connector, which compensates for tolerances during mating and thus enables easier handling.

[0010] The resulting advantages are: • The contact, especially a pin contact, can now be designed as either rigid or rigid and floating,

[0011] • The contact carrier can move relative to the connector and / or mating connector and thus accommodate a tolerance of up to 0.8 mm, for example.

[0012] • The manufacturing process is made easier and process capability is enabled,

[0013] • separate components make production more reliable with regard to tolerances and distortion,

[0014] • the contact, especially the pin contact, is now guided cleanly,

[0015] • There is no pre-damage caused by slanted pins, resulting in a more robust concept,

[0016] • for applications with larger tolerance clearance.

[0017] Further embodiments of the plug connection according to the invention are specified in the subclaims and described below.

[0018] In one embodiment, a carrier of the plug-in connector is provided which accommodates the at least one contact carrier, preferably a plurality of contact carriers, wherein the at least one contact carrier (preferably all contact carriers) can move, in particular slide, relative to the carrier in a plane during mating, wherein the carrier can also be fastened to the mating connector. If a plurality of contact carriers are present, these can be arranged movably on the carrier individually (formed as a single piece) or in groups. However, it should be avoided that all contact carriers are arranged movably on the carrier together, since then the desired effect of floating support of the contacts is not achieved. The carrier is preferably secured to the mating connector after the mating process, for example by means of a screw connection. Each contact is secured in its contact carrier with at least a primary locking mechanism.

[0019] The mating connector can be formed by a housing component of an electrical or electronic device, wherein the contacts protrude from the housing component in a fixed manner relative to one another or are located in an accessible manner within the housing component.

[0020] A cover can be placed on the carrier, beneath which at least one "floating" contact carrier is arranged for its protection. The cover can be used to implement a secondary locking mechanism for each contact together with its associated contact carrier. This means that the cover allows each contact to move within a plane relative to the carrier, but cannot move out of this plane.

[0021] A preferred embodiment of the plug connection according to the invention is shown in Figures 1 to 4.

[0022] In Figure 1 it can be seen that the plug connection 1 has at least one connector

[0023] 2, wherein this connector 2, which has a contact carrier with a contact chamber for receiving a contact, is arranged "floating" on a carrier 3. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the carrier

[0024] 3 has a total of four individual connectors 2, although it can also accommodate fewer or more than four individual connectors 2. Furthermore, it is conceivable for two or more than two connectors 2 to be combined, so that two or more than two contacts are arranged in a contact carrier of a respective connector. Each connector 2 is arranged on the carrier 3 so as to be displaceable relative to the latter.

[0025] The plug connection 1 shown in Figure 1 is shown in further detail in Figures 2 to 4 and is explained below.

[0026] In Figures 2 and 3, it can be seen that lines 4 are present, for example having an outer sheath within which an electrical conductor is arranged, wherein a contact 5 is arranged at each end of the line 4. The contact 5 can be designed as a pin contact, a socket contact, or the like. Furthermore, it can be seen that the plug connector 2 is formed by the contacts 5, each of which is inserted into a separate contact carrier 6 and secured there. The respective plug connector 2, or more precisely its associated contact carrier 6, is movably arranged on the carrier 3. This means that the contact carriers 6 are arranged "floating" on the carrier 3. The movement of the contact carriers 6 relative to the carrier 3 particularly preferably takes place as a linear movement (displacement).

[0027] Figure 3 further shows that the carrier 3 is permanently attached to a mating connector, shown only schematically, after the carrier 3 with its connectors 2 has been plugged onto or into this mating connector. The permanent, preferably also detachable, attachment is achieved, for example, by means of a screw connection, in particular a screw connection 7.

[0028] Figure 4 shows that the schematically shown mating connector is a

[0029] Housing base 8 and a housing component 9 interacting therewith. The carrier 3 is fastened to the housing component 9 (alternatively or additionally also to the housing base 8) by means of the detachable fastening, here again with the screw connection 7. This is not directly visible in Figure 4, since the carrier 3 with the plug-in connectors 2 arranged thereon is protected by a cover 10. The cover 10 can, for example, have its own fastening means for securing it (such as locking hooks, locking tabs or the like, the corresponding fastening means of which are formed by the housing component 9) or can also be secured alone or additionally by the screw connection 7 to the mating connector, in particular the housing component 9.

[0030] List of reference symbols

[0031] 1. Plug connection

[0032] 2. Connectors

[0033] 3. Carrier

[0034] 4. Management

[0035] 5. Contact

[0036] 6. Contact carrier

[0037] 7. Screw connection

[0038] 8. Lower housing part

[0039] 9. Housing component

[0040] 10. Cover

Claims

Patent claims 1. Plug connection (1) with a plug connector (2) with at least one contact carrier (6) which receives a contact (5) which is arranged at the end of an electrical conductor, and a mating connector with at least one corresponding contact which is plugged together with the plug connector (2) so that the at least one contact (5) of the plug connector (2) is contacted with its associated contact of the mating connector, characterized in that a carrier (3) is provided which receives the at least one contact carrier (6), wherein the at least one contact carrier (6) can move relative to the carrier (3) in a plane during plugging together, wherein furthermore the carrier (3) can be fastened to the mating connector.

2. Plug connection according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier (3) accommodates several individual contact carriers (6), each with a contact (5).

3. Plug connection according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrier (3) together with the at least one contact carrier (6) is designed in such a way that the at least one contact carrier (6) can be displaced relative to the carrier (3) in a plane when plugged together.

4. Plug connection according to one of the claims, characterized in that the carrier (3) can be fastened to the mating connector by means of a screw connection, in particular a screw connection (7).

5. Plug connection according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the mating connector is formed by a housing component (9) of an electrical or electronic device, the contacts of which protrude from the housing component (9) in a fixed manner relative to one another or are located in an accessible manner therein.

6. Plug connection according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a cover (10) can be placed on the carrier (3).

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