Multiple distributor

Abstract

The subject matter of the invention is a multiple distributor (100) having a housing part (110), a first plug connector part (120) and a second plug connector part (140), wherein both the first plug connector part (120) and the second plug connector part (140) are integrally connected to the housing part (110).

Description

[0001] Multiple distributors

[0002] The invention relates to a multi-connector comprising a housing part, a first connector part and a second connector part.

[0003] With this type of multi-connector, it is typically designed to be assembled from individual components. The two connector parts are usually separate components, which are connected to the housing part, for example, via a screw connection. To seal the screw connection, at least one sealing element must be positioned between the housing part and the respective connector part. This necessitates a large number of individual components to assemble the multi-connector, resulting in high manufacturing costs and significant assembly effort. Furthermore, if the sealing element is not installed correctly, it can lead to leakage problems.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of providing a multi-way distributor in which, in particular, the assembly and manufacturing effort and thus also the manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0005] The problem is solved according to the invention by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] The multi-connector according to the invention is characterized in that the first connector part is integrally connected to the housing part, and that the second connector part is integrally connected to the housing part.

[0007] This means that both the first connector part and the second connector part are now integrally connected to the housing part. Due to this integral design, the housing part and the two connector parts together form a single component. The housing part could, for example, be a housing cover. Specifically, the housing of the first connector part can be integrally formed with the housing part, and the housing of the second connector part can be integrally formed with the housing part. This integral design reduces the number of components to be assembled, thereby reducing assembly effort and costs for manufacturing the multi-connector. It also makes it possible to reduce component variation.Furthermore, the one-piece design eliminates the need for additional sealing elements between the connector parts and the housing parts. The invention is not limited to two connector parts; more than two connector parts can also be integrally attached to a single housing part, with each connector part being integrally connected to the housing part. The two or more connector parts are preferably designed as circular connectors.

[0008] The connector parts of the multi-connector can each be electrically connected to mating connector parts. For this purpose, the first connector part may have a first locking element to form a snap connection with a first mating connector part, and the second connector part may have a second locking element to form a snap connection with a second mating connector part. The locking elements enable a quick and easy connection between the connector part and its mating connector part. The two locking elements are preferably each arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the respective connector part, in particular on an outer circumferential surface of the housing of the respective connector part, so that the locking elements protrude from the respective outer circumferential surface of the connector parts.

[0009] The housing part can have a longitudinal axis, wherein the first locking element of the first connector part can be arranged rotated at an angle α < 90°, particularly at an angle 10° < α < 80°, relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing part, and wherein the second locking element of the second connector part can be arranged rotated at an angle β < 90°, particularly at an angle 10° < β < 80°, relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing part. The longitudinal axis preferably extends along the housing part such that it passes through both the first and the second connector parts. The two locking elements are preferably positioned on their respective connector parts such that the locking elements, particularly a central axis of the locking elements, do not extend through the longitudinal axis and, in particular, not through or parallel to a vertical axis of the housing part, but are arranged rotated or twisted relative to it.The locking element or the central axis of the locking element of the first connector part preferably extends at an angle a < 90°, in particular at an angle 10°.

[0010] < a < 80°, preferably at an angle of 30° < a < 60°, particularly preferably at an angle a = 45° to the longitudinal axis or a vertical axis of the housing part. The locking element or the central axis of the locking element of the second connector part preferably extends at an angle β < 90°, particularly at an angle of 10°

[0011] < β < 80°, preferably at an angle of 30° < β < 60°, particularly preferably at an angle β = 45° to the longitudinal axis or a vertical axis of the housing part. This rotated arrangement of the locking elements of the connector parts significantly reduces the effort required to manufacture the one-piece multi-connector.

[0012] To further simplify the manufacture of the multi-connector, it is preferably provided that the first locking element of the first connector part is arranged symmetrically to the second locking element of the second connector part. The first locking element and the second locking element are then preferably rotated in the same way with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing part, so that the angle α is equal to the angle β.

[0013] Preferably, the first locking element and / or the second locking element are designed as spring-loaded locking hooks. The locking elements designed as spring-loaded locking hooks are then preferably integrally arranged with a first end on the housing of the respective connector part, and a second end of the locking hook opposite the first end is designed as a free end, which preferably has no direct connection to the housing of the connector part.

[0014] The first connector part can have two or more contact elements, and the second connector part can have two or more contact elements, with each contact element of the first connector part being connected to each contact element of the second connector part via a busbar. The busbar can be in the form of an elongated metal contact. The two connector parts, or rather the contact elements of the two connector parts, can be electrically connected to each other via the one or more busbars. A busbar is connected at one end to a contact element of the first connector part and at its other end, opposite the first end, to a contact element of the second connector part. The ends of the busbar can be pressed into the respective contact element.The one or more busbars can preferably be arranged in the housing part.

[0015] Preferably, not only is one contact element of the first connector part electrically connected to a contact element of the second connector part via a busbar, but two or more contact elements of the connector part are each connected to contact elements of the second connector part. Therefore, multiple busbars can be provided to connect several contact elements of the first connector part to several contact elements of the second connector part, with the busbars preferably arranged parallel to each other. This parallel arrangement of the busbars avoids a crossed arrangement. The parallel arrangement of the busbars also allows them to all be identically shaped and designed, thus enabling the use of identical parts and significantly reducing the necessary component variation, including with regard to the busbars.Furthermore, the parallel arrangement of the busbars to each other saves installation space.

[0016] The housing component can be manufactured together with the first and second connector components using a single injection molding process. Both the housing component and the housings of the two connector components can then be made from a single plastic material. In particular, the rotated arrangement of the locking elements can significantly improve the demoldability of such a one-piece component during injection molding.

[0017] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and a preferred embodiment.

[0018] Figures 1A to 1C show schematic representations of a multiple distributor in different views according to the invention.

[0019] Figs. 2A, 2B show a schematic representation of the multiple distributor shown in Figs. 1A to 1C in one half of an injection mold or during demolding from the mold half.

[0020] Figs. 3A, 3B schematic representations of the electrical connection of the two

[0021] Connector parts via five busbars, and

[0022] Figs. 4A, 4B schematic representations of the electrical connection of the two

[0023] Connector parts via three busbars,

[0024] Figures 1A to 1C show a multi-connector 100 according to the invention. In the embodiment shown here, the multi-connector 100 comprises a housing part 110, a first connector part 120, and a second connector part 140. The housing part 110 forms a housing cover.

[0025] The housing part 110 and the two connector parts 120, 140 are formed integrally, so that the housing part 110 and the two connector parts 120, 140 together form a single component. The two connector parts 120, 140 each have a housing 121, 141, via which the two connector parts 120, 140 are integrally connected to the housing part 110.

[0026] The connector parts 120, 140 can each be electrically connected to a mating connector part (not shown here). To enable the mating connector parts to be detachably attached to the connector parts 120, 140, the first connector part 120 has a first locking element 122 and the second connector part 140 has a second locking element 142. The locking elements 122, 142 are each arranged on an outer circumferential surface 123, 143 of the respective connector part 120, 140 or of the housing 121, 141 of the respective connector part 120, 140. The housing part 110 has a longitudinal axis L. A first vertical axis V1 of the housing part 110 runs along the length of the first connector part 120, and a second vertical axis V2 of the housing part 110 runs along the length of the second connector part 140. The two vertical axes V1 and V2 extend parallel to each other and both intersect the longitudinal axis L at a 90° angle.

[0027] The two connector parts 120, 140 are each arranged on the housing part 110 such that the central axis M1, M2 of the respective locking element 122, 142 does not extend along the longitudinal axis L or the vertical axes V1, V2. The two connector parts 120, 140 are, however, arranged such that the locking elements 122, 142 extend with their central axes M1, M2 rotated or twisted relative to the longitudinal axis L and the vertical axes V1, V2.

[0028] In the embodiment shown here, the first locking element 122, or its central axis M1, extends at an angle α = 45° to the longitudinal axis L, or vertical axis V1, of the housing part 110. The second locking element 142, or its central axis M2, also extends at an angle β = 45° to the longitudinal axis L, or vertical axis V2, of the housing part 110 in the embodiment shown here. The first locking element 122 is thus arranged symmetrically to the second locking element 142.

[0029] This special arrangement of the locking elements 122, 142 significantly simplifies the demolding of the multi-distributor 100 from a mold half 200 of an injection mold, as shown in Figures 2A and 2B. The twisted arrangement of the locking elements 122, 142 allows for the formation of an undercut in the area of ​​the locking elements 122, 142, into which the negative form of the mold half 200 can engage via specially designed mold areas 210, 211.

[0030] In the embodiment shown here, the undercut is formed by the fact that the two locking elements 122, 142 are each designed as a spring-loaded locking hook, as can be seen in particular in Fig. 1B.

[0031] The first detent element 122 of the first, designed as a spring-loaded detent hook

[0032] Connector part 120 is connected to a first end 125 on the housing 121 of the first

[0033] The connector part 120 is integrally connected. A second end 126 of the first locking element 122, opposite the first end 125, is designed as a free end, which does not have a direct connection to the housing 121 of the first connector part 120. The first locking element 122 can thus project from the housing 121 or from the outer circumferential surface 123 of the housing 121, so that a clearance in the form of the undercut 124 is formed between the housing 121 and the first locking element 122. The tool half 200 with a forming area 210, as shown in Fig. 2B, can engage in this undercut 124.

[0034] The second locking element 142 of the second connector part 140, designed as a spring-loaded locking hook, is integrally connected to the housing 141 of the first connector part 140 at a first end 145. A second end 146 of the first locking element 142, opposite the first end 145, is designed as a free end, which does not have a direct connection to the housing 141 of the first connector part 140. The first locking element 142 can thus project from the housing 141 or from the outer circumferential surface 143 of the housing 141, so that a clearance in the form of the undercut 144 is formed between the housing 141 and the first locking element 142. The tool half 200, with a forming area 211 as shown in Fig. 2B, can engage in this undercut 144.

[0035] As can be seen in Fig. 3A, 3B and Fig. 4A, 4B, the two connector parts 120, 140 are electrically connected to each other via busbars 160A, 160B, 1600, 160D, 160E.

[0036] The first connector part 120, in the embodiment shown here, has five contact elements 127A, 127B, 1270, 127D, 127E. The second connector part 140, in the embodiment shown here, also has five contact elements 147A, 147B, 1470, 147D, 147E.

[0037] The first contact element 127A of the first connector part 120 is connected via the first busbar 160A to the first contact element 147A of the second connector part 140, by means of a first end 161A of the busbar 160A engaging with the first contact element 127A and an opposite second end 162A of the busbar 160A engaging with the first contact element 147A of the second connector part 140.

[0038] The second contact element 127B of the first connector part 120 is connected via the second busbar 160B to the second contact element 147B of the second connector part 140, by means of a first end 161 B of the busbar 160B engaging with the second contact element 127B and an opposite second end 162B of the busbar 160B engaging with the second contact element 147B of the second connector 140.

[0039] The third contact element 127C of the first connector part 120 is connected via the third busbar 160C to the third contact element 147C of the second connector part 140, by means of a first end 161C of the busbar 160C engaging with the third contact element 127C and an opposite second end 162C of the busbar 160C engaging with the third contact element 147C of the second connector 140.

[0040] The fourth contact element 127D of the first connector part 120 is connected via the fourth busbar 160D to the fourth contact element 147D of the second connector part 140, by means of a first end 161 D of the busbar 160D engaging with the fourth contact element 127D and an opposite second end 162D of the busbar 160D engaging with the fourth contact element 147D of the second connector 140.

[0041] The fifth contact element 127E of the first connector part 120 is connected via the fifth busbar 160E to the fifth contact element 147E of the second connector part 140, by means of a first end 161 E of the busbar 160E engaging with the fifth contact element 127E and an opposite second end 162E of the busbar 160E engaging with the fifth contact element 147E of the second connector 140.

[0042] The busbars 160A-160E are all arranged parallel to each other, so that they have no crossing points. The busbars 160A-160E are designed as identical parts with the same dimensions, as can be seen in Figures 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4b. Due to the rotated arrangement of the locking elements 122 and 142, the entire connector part 120 and 140 is rotated relative to the housing part 110, so that the contact elements 127A-127E and 147A-147E are also rotated accordingly. This allows them to be connected to each other via busbars 160A-160E in such a way that the busbars 160A-160E do not cross.

[0043] In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4A, 4B, in contrast to the embodiment shown in Figs. 3A, 3B, only three of the contact elements 127B, 147B, 127C, 147C, 127E, 147E are connected to each other via a busbar 160B, 1600, 160E. In the Figs.

[0044] In Figures 3A and 3B, the two connector parts 120 and 140 are designed as five-pole connector parts. In Figures 4A and 4B, the two connector parts 120 and 140 are designed as three-pole connector parts.

[0045] Reference symbol list

[0046] 100 multi-way distributors

[0047] 110 Housing part

[0048] 120 First connector part

[0049] 121 cases

[0050] 122 First locking element

[0051] 123 External perimeter area

[0052] 124 Undercut

[0053] 125 First End

[0054] 126 Second Ending

[0055] 127A-127E Contact element

[0056] 140 Second connector part

[0057] 141 Housings

[0058] 142 Second locking element

[0059] 143 External perimeter area

[0060] 144 Undercut

[0061] 145 First End

[0062] 146 Second Ending

[0063] 147A-147E Contact element

[0064] 160A-160E busbar

[0065] 161A-161 E First End

[0066] 162A-162E Second End

[0067] 200 tool halves

[0068] 210 Form area

[0069] 211 Form area

[0070] L Longitudinal axis

[0071] V1 Vertical axis

[0072] V2 Vertical axis

[0073] M1 center axis

[0074] M2 central axis a angle ß angle

Claims

Claims 1. Multiple distributor (100), comprising a housing part (110), a first connector part (120) and a second connector part (140), characterized in that the first connector part (120) is integrally connected to the housing part (110), and that the second connector part (140) is integrally connected to the housing part (110).

2. Multiple distributor (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first connector part (120) has a first locking element (122) for forming a locking connection with a first mating connector part and the second connector part (140) has a second locking element (142) for forming a locking connection with a second mating connector part.

3. Multiple distributor (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing part (100) has a longitudinal axis (L), wherein the first locking element (122) of the first connector part (120) is arranged rotated at an angle a < 90°, in particular at an angle 10° < a < 80°, to the longitudinal axis (L) of the housing part (110) and wherein the second locking element (142) of the second connector part (140) is arranged rotated at an angle β < 90°, in particular at an angle 10° < β < 80°, to the longitudinal axis (L) of the housing part (110).

4. Multiple distributor (100) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first locking element (122) of the first connector part (120) is arranged symmetrically to the second locking element (142) of the second connector part (140).

5. Multiple distributor (100) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the first locking element (122) is designed as a spring-loaded locking hook and / or the second locking element (142) is designed as a spring-loaded locking hook.

6. Multiple distributor (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first connector part (120) has two or more contact elements (127A-127E) and that the second connector part (140) has two or more contact elements (147A-147E), wherein each contact element (127A-127E) of the first connector part (120) is connected to each contact element (147A-147E) of the second connector part (140) via a busbar (160A-160E).

7. Multiple distributor (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that several busbars (160A-160E) are provided for connecting several contact elements (127A-127E) of the first connector part (120) with several contact elements (147A-147E) of the second connector part (140), wherein the busbars (160A-160E) are arranged parallel to each other.

8. Multiple distributor (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing part (110) with the first connector part (120) and the second connector part (140) are manufactured in an injection molding process.

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