Assembly tool for a plug connector, and method for the use thereof

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to simplify the manual connection of the wires (32) of a multi-wire electrical cable (3) on both sides to a plug connector (2) which has insulation displacement terminations (238) on both sides. To achieve this aim, an assembly tool (1) is provided. The plug connector (2) and two associated cable managers (24) can be inserted into the assembly tool (1). The cable managers (24) can then be pressed into the plug connector (2) using crimping pliers so that the wires (32) are pressed into the insulation displacement terminations (238).

Description

[0001] Title: Assembly tool for a connector and method for using it

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention is based on an assembly tool for a connector according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0004] Furthermore, the invention is based on a system comprising a connector, a multi-core electrical cable to be connected thereto and an assembly tool according to claim 6.

[0005] Furthermore, the invention is based on a method for using the assembly tool according to claim 6.

[0006] Such assembly tools are required to facilitate the assembly of a connector and the connection of a multi-core electrical cable to the connector.

[0007] State of the art

[0008] In the prior art, connectors with insulation displacement connections on both sides and separate cable managers are known, whereby the cable managers serve to hold the wires in defined positions in order to press several wires together into the insulation displacement terminals to cut through their insulation and for electrical connection.

[0009] A disadvantage of this state-of-the-art technology is that the aforementioned process is very laborious when performed manually, because the connector, both cable managers, and typically a pair of pliers, especially a crimping tool, must be held simultaneously, and the crimping tool must also be operated. Such a process is difficult to perform with two hands, which makes manual operation by human specialists particularly difficult.

[0010] The German Patent and Trademark Office has searched the following prior art in the priority application for the present application: US 2022 / 0393417 A1, US 2006 / 0003623 A1 and DE 10 2021 202 180 A1.

[0011] Task

[0012] The object of the invention is to provide an assembly tool and a method which facilitate manual operation.

[0013] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

[0014] An assembly tool is used to positively accept a connector inserted in an insertion direction and to facilitate the connection of a multi-core electrical cable to the connector.

[0015] For this purpose, the assembly tool has a substantially flat base wall. The base wall has a through-hole for receiving a plug-in section of the connector.

[0016] The base wall has an essentially rectangular basic shape with two parallel long sides and two parallel and perpendicular narrow sides, the long sides being longer than the narrow sides.

[0017] The base wall has two receiving ribs aligned parallel to the insertion direction, one of which runs along each of the two long sides of the base wall, in particular is integrally formed thereon. These two receiving ribs serve to positively receive an end region of a base section of the inserted connector.

[0018] Furthermore, the assembly tool has two side walls, one of which is arranged, in particular formed, at right angles to each of the two narrow sides of the base wall.

[0019] The two side walls run parallel to the insertion direction and point together from the base wall - against the

[0020] Insertion direction - in an insertion direction, ie the direction from which the connector is inserted into the assembly tool.

[0021] Each of the two side walls has two parallel longitudinal edges and, for each longitudinal edge, a guide web arranged thereon, in particular formed thereon, directed inwards perpendicular to the respective side wall for the common positive reception of the base section of the connector.

[0022] Each of the two receiving webs and two of the guide webs can form an actuation opening in the form of a substantially rectangular actuation window, so that the assembly tool has two opposing actuation windows. One of the cable managers is inserted or at least can be inserted into each of these actuation windows.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, at least one, in particular each, of the two actuating windows can be connected to the insertion opening on the insertion side. This is particularly advantageous because it allows the respective cable manager to be equipped with the wires before the connector is inserted into the assembly tool. A system comprises the connector, the multi-core electrical cable to be connected to it, and the assembly tool of the aforementioned type.

[0024] The connector has a mating direction. It can be inserted into the assembly tool in this mating direction, allowing it to be positively seated in the assembly tool. Thus, the mating direction of the connector inserted into the assembly tool runs parallel to its insertion direction.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the multi-core cable can comprise several electrical cores, each of which has an electrical conductor, e.g., a copper strand. Each core has insulation surrounding the electrical conductor.

[0026] The connector can have a connector housing. The connector housing has a substantially cuboid-shaped base section and a plug-in section extending in the plug-in direction and adjacent to the base section on the plug-in side. The plug-in section can have a smaller cross-sectional area than the base section, viewed in the plug-in direction.

[0027] In addition, the connector has several plug contacts, each with a cable connection area and a plug-in area.

[0028] The mating area of ​​each plug contact extends in the mating direction and is arranged at least largely in the mating section of the connector housing. The cable connection area of ​​each plug contact has an insulation displacement terminal arranged perpendicular to the mating direction in the base section of the housing. At least one of the insulation displacement terminals points in a first direction, and at least one further insulation displacement terminal points in a second direction, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction. The connector housing has a cutout in each of the two aforementioned directions in the respective area of ​​the insulation displacement terminals.

[0029] The connector also features two separate cable managers made of electrically insulating material. Each of the two cable managers has a substantially flat basic shape with several wire receptacles designed as linear recesses. Each wire receptacle is limited on both sides by a limiting bar on the cable manager, so that two adjacent wire receptacles are each separated by a limiting bar.

[0030] The cable manager has a slot running transversely to each wire receptacle to accommodate the respective insulation displacement terminal.

[0031] Each of the two cable managers can be pushed through one of the aforementioned openings in the connector housing of the connector positively received in the assembly tool through one of the aforementioned operating windows of the assembly tool. Each of the wires can then be pushed through the respective opening in the connector housing into one of the insulation displacement terminals by inserting the respective cable manager and thus electrically connected to the respective plug contact.

[0032] A method for using an assembly tool has the following steps:

[0033] Inserting a connector through the insertion opening into the assembly tool;

[0034] Form-fitting insertion of the connector into the assembly tool using the receiving and guiding ribs; insertion of the electrical wires of a multi-core electrical cable into the wire receptacles of one of the connector's two cable managers;

[0035] Insert one of the two cable managers into one of the two operating windows of the assembly tool;

[0036] Pressing each of the two cable managers together into one of two openings in the connector housing and thereby pressing and electrically contacting each wire into and with one of the insulation displacement terminals of a plug contact of the connector by means of a tool, in particular pliers, particularly preferably crimping pliers.

[0037] The present invention therefore offers the following advantages:

[0038] The manual connection of the multi-core electrical cable to the connector is made considerably easier because this process can be performed with two hands. The user simply inserts the connector into the assembly tool so that the plug-in area protrudes through the plug-in opening. The cable managers, equipped with the individual wires, can then be inserted into the assembly tool from both sides, where they can be held there temporarily, at least in a form-fitting manner, and in particular, e.g., by the wires and / or the shape of the window, or otherwise, in a form-fitting and friction-fitting manner.

[0039] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the insulation displacement terminals can pierce the insulation of the respective cables as soon as the cable managers are inserted into the operating windows of the assembly tool, in order to temporarily hold the cable managers in the fastening windows.

[0040] Both cable managers can then be secured with pliers, e.g.

[0041] Crimping pliers are used to press the connector into both sides of the terminal. This forces the wires into the insulation displacement terminals, allowing the connector to be electrically connected to the cable with minimal manual effort.

[0042] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, the assembly tool is constructed in one piece. This makes it particularly easy and cost-effective to manufacture and is particularly stable.

[0044] In particular, the assembly tool can be made of plastic or metal. In this case, it can be manufactured particularly advantageously in small runs, for example, using 3D printing, or in large runs, for example, using injection molding.

[0045] To accommodate a substantially cuboid-shaped plug-in area of ​​a male connector with a substantially cuboid-shaped cross-section, it can be particularly advantageous if the plug-in opening is also substantially rectangular. The aforementioned plug-in area can also be chamfered at one corner for polarization, for example.

[0046] The assembly tool can have a substantially cuboidal shape due to its base wall and the two side walls projecting from it at right angles. However, in a preferred embodiment, it is open opposite the base wall to accommodate the connector on the insertion side. In other words, the assembly tool has an insertion opening on the insertion side for inserting the connector already fitted with the cable. This is particularly advantageous because it enables the connector to be inserted into the assembly tool from the insertion side without any manufacturing effort and even with the positive additional benefit of saving material.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, the system can additionally have a tool, in particular a pair of pliers, for simultaneously pressing in the two cable managers. Particularly preferably, the tool can be a crimping pliers.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, each of said slots of the cable manager can extend at least partially into each of the two limiting webs defining the respective wire receptacle.

[0049] In a further preferred embodiment, the two cable managers can be designed identically to each other.

[0050] In a further preferred embodiment, the plug-in area of ​​the plug-in contact can be designed as a contact socket.

[0051] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the plug contacts can be a so-called "Ek" (i.e., single-sided contact), which is also known in principle from the widely known RJ45 connectors / "Western plugs." For this purpose, a spring contact and / or sliding contact made of elastic sheet metal can be used.

[0052] In an advantageous embodiment, the plug-in section of the connector can be substantially cuboid-shaped. "Substantially" can mean, for example, that the plug-in section can have at least one beveled corner as a coding feature to prevent the plug from being incorrectly plugged in by being rotated 180°. In addition, the "substantially rectangular" plug-in opening can also be beveled at least at one corresponding corner. Embodiment

[0053] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. They show:

[0054] Fig. 1a - e an assembly tool from different angles;

[0055] Fig. 2a - b the assembly tool with the connector, a cable to be connected to it on both sides and two cable managers.

[0056] Some of the figures contain simplified, schematic representations. Identical reference symbols are used for similar, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of the same elements may be scaled differently. Directional references such as "left," "right," "top," and "bottom" are to be understood with reference to the respective figure and may vary in the individual illustrations relative to the object depicted.

[0057] Figures 1a - e show an assembly tool 1 from different angles.

[0058] Fig. 1a shows an assembly tool 1 with a view of its essentially flat base wall 11. This base wall 11 has a rectangular plug-in opening 10 designed as a through-opening.

[0059] The base wall 11 has a substantially rectangular basic shape with two parallel long sides 111 and two parallel narrow sides 112 running perpendicular to the long sides 111. The long sides 111 are longer than the narrow sides 112.

[0060] Figs. 1b and 1c show the assembly tool 1 viewed obliquely or almost entirely from an insertion-side direction, i.e., in an insertion direction E, with a view of an insertion opening 140. The base wall 11 has two mutually parallel receiving webs 114, one of which is shown at the top and one at the bottom in the drawing. Each of these receiving webs 114 runs along one of the two longitudinal sides 111 of the base wall 11. The receiving webs 114 are integrally formed on the longitudinal side of the base wall 11. The receiving webs 114 are also aligned parallel to the insertion direction E.

[0061] Furthermore, the assembly tool 1 has two side walls 12, one of which is arranged, namely molded, at right angles to each of the two narrow sides 112 of the base wall 11. The two side walls 12 run parallel to the insertion direction E and, starting from the base wall 11, point together in an insertion direction, thus pointing opposite to the insertion direction E.

[0062] Each of the two side walls 12 has two longitudinal edges 121 running parallel to the insertion direction E and, for each longitudinal edge 121, a guide web 124 arranged thereon, in particular formed thereon, directed inwards perpendicular to the respective side wall for the common positive-locking reception of a base section 22 of a plug-in connector 2.

[0063] In addition, an actuating window 120 and the insertion opening 140 are designated in Fig. 1 b.

[0064] In Fig. 1d and 1e, the two actuation windows 120 are particularly clearly visible and labeled as clearly as possible.

[0065] Each actuation window 120 is formed by one of the two receiving webs 114 and two of the guide webs 124.

[0066] On the insertion side, the operating window 120 is connected to the insertion opening 140. Fig. 2a shows the assembly tool 1 together with the connector 2, which has two cable managers 24, and a

[0067] Connector 2 cable to be connected on both sides 3.

[0068] The wires 32 of the cable 3 are already shown running in the connector 2.

[0069] In the present embodiment, however, the wires 32 are actually guided through the respective cable manager 24, which is shown in Fig. 2b as floating on both sides above and below the assembly tool 1. For this purpose, the wires 32 run through wire receptacles 240 of the respective cable manager 24.

[0070] In Fig. 2b, the connector 2 is already inserted with its plug-in section 21 through the plug-in opening 10 of the assembly tool 1 and is simultaneously inserted with its base section 22 between the

[0071] Guide webs 124, the receiving webs 114 and the side walls 12 of the assembly tool 1 and thus held in a form-fitting manner in the assembly tool 1.

[0072] For the final electrical connection, the cable managers 24 equipped with the Adem 32 are first inserted into the actuation window 120 of the assembly tool 1. The insulation displacement terminals 238 are already guided through the insulation displacement openings 280 of the cable managers 24 and are already inserted superficially into the outer insulation of the Adem 32. This allows the insulation displacement terminals 238 of the connector 2 to penetrate so deeply into the insulation of the Adem 32 that it—and thus the respective cable manager 24—is temporarily held in the actuation window 120 of the connector 2.

[0073] The cable managers 24 are then pressed into the connector 2 on both sides, more precisely into a respective cutout 20 of the connector 2, using pliers, in particular crimping pliers. This forces the wires 32 into the insulation displacement terminals 238 and electrically connects them—and thus to the respective plug contact 233 that has this insulation displacement terminal 238. Since the actuation window 120 is connected to the insertion opening 140, the respective cable manager 24 can also be equipped with the wires 32 before the connector 2 is inserted into the assembly tool 1. Even though various aspects or features of the invention are shown in combination in the figures, it is clear to those skilled in the art—unless otherwise stated—that the combinations illustrated and discussed are not the only possible ones. In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes from different exemplary embodiments can be interchanged.

[0074] Applicant: HARTING Electric Stiftung & Co. KG

[0075] Title: Assembly tool for a connector and method for using it

[0076] List of reference symbols

[0077] 1 assembly tool

[0078] 10 Plug-in opening

[0079] 11 Base wall

[0080] 111 long sides

[0081] 112 narrow sides

[0082] 114 mounting bridges

[0083] 12 side walls

[0084] 120 operating windows

[0085] 121 longitudinal edges

[0086] 124 guide rails

[0087] 140 insertion opening

[0088] 2 connectors

[0089] 20 Postage paid

[0090] 21 plug-in section

[0091] 22 Base section

[0092] 233 plug contacts

[0093] 238 insulation displacement terminal

[0094] 24 cable managers

[0095] 240 wire receptacles

[0096] 280 insulation displacement opening

[0097] 3 cables

[0098] 32 Adem

[0099] E Insertion direction

Claims

Claims 1. Assembly tool (1) for the positive reception of a connector (2) inserted in an insertion direction (E) and for facilitating the connection of a multi-core electrical cable (3) to the connector (2), wherein the assembly tool (1) has a substantially flat base wall (11), which o has a plug-in opening (10) designed as a through-opening for receiving a plug-in section (21) of the connector (2), o wherein the base wall (11) further has a substantially rectangular basic shape with two mutually parallel long sides (111) and two mutually parallel narrow sides (112) running perpendicular to the long sides (111), ■ wherein the long sides (111) are longer than the narrow sides (112); o wherein the base wall (11) has two receiving webs (114) aligned parallel to the insertion direction (E), each of which runs along one of the two long sides (111) of the base wall (11) and which serve for the positive reception of an end region of a base section (22) of the inserted plug-in connector (2); and o wherein the assembly tool (1) further has two side walls (12), of which one side wall (12) is arranged projecting at right angles to each of the two narrow sides (112) of the base wall (11), ■ wherein the two side walls (12) run parallel to the insertion direction (E) and, starting from the base wall (11), point together in an insertion-side direction opposite to the insertion direction (E); wherein ■ each of the two side walls (12) has two longitudinal edges (121) running parallel to the insertion direction (E) and, for each longitudinal edge (121), a guide web (124) arranged thereon and directed inwards perpendicular to the respective side wall (12) for the common positive reception of the base section (22) of the plug connector (2).

2. Assembly tool (1) according to claim 1, wherein the assembly tool (1) is designed in one piece.

3. Assembly tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly tool (1) is made of plastic or metal.

4. Assembly tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug-in opening (10) is substantially rectangular.

5. Assembly tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly tool (1) already has a substantially cuboidal basic shape due to its said base wall (11) and the two side walls (12) projecting therefrom at right angles, but is designed to be open opposite the base wall (11) and thus has an insertion opening (140) on the insertion side for inserting the plug-in connector (2) already provided with the cable (3).

6. Assembly tool (1) according to claim 5, wherein an actuating opening in the form of a substantially rectangular actuating window (120) is formed by each of the receiving webs (114) and two of the guide webs (124), so that the assembly tool (1) has two actuating windows (120) lying opposite one another.

7. Assembly tool (1) according to claim 6, wherein each of the two actuating windows (120) is connected on the insertion side to the insertion opening (140).

8. System, comprising a connector (2), a multi-core electrical cable (3) to be connected thereto and an assembly tool (1) according to one of claims 6 to 7, wherein the connector (2) has a plug-in direction in which it can be inserted into the assembly tool (1) and thereby positively received in the assembly tool (1), so that the plug-in direction of the received connector (2) runs parallel to its insertion direction (E).

9. System according to claim 8, wherein the multi-core cable (3) comprises: o several electrical wires (32), each ■ an electrical conductor, and ■ have an insulation surrounding the electrical conductor, and wherein the connector (2) comprises: o a connector housing, which ■ on the cable connection side, a substantially cuboid-shaped base section (22) and ■ has a plug-in section (21) running in the plug-in direction and adjacent to the base section (22) on the plug-in side, • wherein the plug-in section (21) has a smaller cross-sectional area than the base section (22) when viewed in the plug-in direction; o a plurality of plug-in contacts (233), each having a Cable connection area and a plug-in area, where ■ the plug-in area of ​​each plug-in contact runs in the plug-in direction and is arranged at least largely in the plug-in section (21) of the connector housing, wherein ■ the cable connection area of ​​each plug contact has an insulation displacement terminal (238) which is arranged perpendicular to the plugging direction in the base section (22) of the housing; and wherein ■ at least one of the insulation displacement terminals (238) points in a first direction and at least one further of the insulation displacement terminals (238) points in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein o the connector housing in the region of the insulation displacement terminals (238) has a clearance (20) in each of the two aforementioned directions; and wherein the connector (2) further comprises two separate cable managers (24) made of electrically insulating material, wherein each of the two cable managers (24) has a substantially flat basic shape with a plurality of linear recesses as wire receptacles (240), wherein o each wire receptacle (240) is delimited on both sides by a respective delimiting web of the cable manager (24), so that two adjacent wire receptacles (240) are each separated by a delimiting web; wherein ■ the cable manager (24) has a cross-connection cable (25) for each wire receptacle (240) Has a slot for receiving the respective insulation displacement terminal (238), o wherein each of the wires (32) can be pressed into one of the insulation displacement terminals (238) by inserting the respective cable manager (24) through the respective cutout (20) of the connector housing and can thus be electrically connected to the respective plug contact (233), wherein beforehand one of the two cable managers (24) can be pressed through one of the said actuating windows (120) of the assembly tool (1) into one of the aforementioned cutouts (20) of the connector housing of the connector (2) received in a form-fitting manner in the assembly tool (1).

10. System according to claim 9, wherein the system additionally has a pliers for simultaneously pushing in the two cable managers (24).

11. System according to one of claims 9 to 10, wherein each of the slots extends at least partially into each of the two limiting webs defining the respective wire receptacle (240).

12. System according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the two cable managers (24) are identical to each other.

13. System according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the plug-in area of ​​the plug-in contact (233) is designed to make contact on one side, so that the plug-in contact is a so-called “Ek-contact” (one-side contacting contact).

14. System according to one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the plug-in section (21) of the connector (2) is substantially cuboid-shaped.

15. A method for using an assembly tool (1) according to one of claims 6 to 7, characterized by the following steps: o Inserting a plug connector (2) through the insertion opening (140) into the assembly tool (1); o Form-fitting reception of the plug connector (2) in the assembly tool (1) by means of the receptacle (114) and guide webs (124); o Inserting the electrical wires (32) of a multi-core electrical cable (3) into wire receptacles (240) of one of two cable managers (24) of the plug connector (2); o Inserting one of the two cable managers (24) into one of the two actuating windows (120) of the assembly tool (1); o Jointly pressing each of the two cable managers (24) into one of two openings (20) of the connector housing and thereby pressing and electrically contacting each wire (32) into one and with one of the insulation displacement terminals (238) of a plug contact (233) of the connector (2) by means of pliers.

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