Plug connector comprising a locking element and a shielding sleeve

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connection formed by a plug connector (22) and a mating plug connector that can be plugged together therewith, wherein the plug connector (22) has a housing (21), at least one contact support (4) is inserted into the housing (21), at least one contact (3) is inserted into the contact support (4), and the plug connector (22) has a locking element (10), the locking element (10) being suitable for and designed to be mounted in the plug connector (22) as intended only when the contact (3) is inserted into the contact support (4) as intended and when another element of the plug connector (22) is situated within the plug connector (22) as intended.

Description

[0001] E. HI.0998. WO Page 1

[0002] Hirschmann Automotive GmbH, Rankweil-Brederis, AT

[0003] November 12, 2025

[0004] Connectors with locking element and shielding sleeve

[0005] Description

[0006] The invention relates to a plug connection formed by a connector and a mating connector that can be plugged together therewith, wherein the connector has a housing, wherein at least one contact carrier is inserted in the housing, wherein at least one contact is inserted in the contact carrier, according to the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0007] Connectors are known in which at least one contact can be inserted into a contact carrier. Once this contact has been inserted into the contact carrier as intended, it is secured by a so-called primary locking mechanism, which in the prior art is, for example, designed as a snap-fit ​​connection. Additionally, a so-called secondary locking mechanism can also be added, which engages when the primary locking mechanism has been properly engaged.

[0008] However, during the assembly of contacts in their corresponding contact carrier, it can repeatedly happen that at least the primary locking mechanism, or possibly only the secondary locking mechanism, or even both locking mechanisms, are not properly engaged. This can, for example, cause a contact located on an electrical conductor of a cable to be pushed out of its contact carrier inside the connector housing when the connector is inserted into a mating connector to form a connection. E.HI.0998. WO Page 2

[0009] Hirschmann Automotive GmbH, Rankweil-Brederis, AT

[0010] November 12, 2025

[0011] When plugged in, the connection appears, from the outside, to be correctly inserted, with electrical contact established between at least one contact of the connector and the corresponding contact of the mating connector. However, if a contact is not properly locked or not locked at all within the connector's contact carrier, this contact can be pushed out of the carrier when the connector is inserted into the mating connector. This prevents electrical contact from being established, leading to errors in power or data transmission, for example.

[0012] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing an improved plug connection, in particular a shielded plug connection, which avoids the disadvantages described above.

[0013] This problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

[0014] According to the invention, the connector has a locking element, the locking element being suitable and designed such that it is only properly positioned in the connector when the contact is properly inserted into the contact carrier and when another element of the connector, in particular a shielding sleeve, is properly positioned within the connector. The locking element according to the invention ensures that the associated elements of the connector must first be properly and correctly assembled before the connector is inserted into the mating connector. Only then can the connector be used as intended. E. HI.0998. WO Page 3

[0015] Hirschmann Automotive GmbH, Rankweil-Brederis, AT

[0016] November 12, 2025

[0017] and can be properly inserted into the mating connector once the other connector element has been correctly and properly positioned there. This other element is preferably a shielding sleeve that is electrically connected to the cable shielding when the connector is assembled with its components.

[0018] Further advantageous embodiments of the plug connection, in particular its connectors, are specified in the dependent claims and are described below using an exemplary embodiment, to which, however, the invention is not limited.

[0019] A preferred embodiment according to the invention is described below and explained in more detail with reference to Figures 1 to 2.

[0020] Figure 1 shows a cable 1. The cable 1 is preferably a shielded cable, although the invention is of course also applicable to unshielded cables. An electrical conductor 2 is arranged inside the cable 1, the end of which is electrically connected to a contact 3 in a suitable manner (for example, by soldering, welding, crimping, or the like). In this embodiment, the contact 3 is designed as a round contact in the form of a socket, but it can also have other designs. The contact 3 is inserted into a contact carrier 4, the internal geometry of which largely corresponds to the external geometry of the contact 3. In this embodiment, the contact carrier 4 has at least one snap hook 5 in the insertion direction. Furthermore, at least one locking tab 6 is provided in a recess in the external geometry of the contact carrier 3.The function of the snap hook 5 and the locking tab 6 will be explained later in E. HI.0998. WO page 4.

[0021] Hirschmann Automotive GmbH, Rankweil-Brederis, AT

[0022] November 12, 2025

[0023] The contract 3 has at least one recess 7 in its outer geometry, which will be discussed later. A connecting sleeve 8 is arranged on the cable 1 as a possible further element of the connector. This connecting sleeve 8 may, but need not, be made at least partially or completely of an electrically conductive material. Two opposing wings 9 (optionally only one wing or more than two wings) are arranged on the contact carrier 4, projecting forward in the insertion direction. The snap hook 5 projects from the base of the contact carrier 4 into the space between these two wings 9. Optionally, two or more snap hooks 5 may be present.

[0024] The contact carrier 4, as shown in Figure 1, is pushed over the contact 3 towards the cable 1 (or conversely, that the contact 3 engages in its corresponding contact chamber in the contact carrier 4). This is shown in Figure 2. It is also clearly visible that the front end of the snap hook 5, which has an inwardly facing lug, has engaged in the recess 7 of the contact 3. Thus, the primary locking of the contact 3 in its contact carrier 4 has been properly achieved. The free end of the snap hook 5 then engages in the recess 7 of the contact 3, a point that will be important later and is described below.

[0025] Figure 3 shows the arrangement as depicted in Figure 2 and pre-assembled accordingly. This illustration is made in connection with a locking element 10 according to the invention. The locking element 10 has a cylindrical section 11 and pins 12 projecting from it towards the cable 1. The pins 12 can be accessed via the E. HI.0998. WO page 5

[0026] Hirschmann Automotive GmbH, Rankweil-Brederis, AT

[0027] November 12, 2025

[0028] Wings 9 of the contact carrier 4 extend. It can be seen that the locking element 10 initially forms a separate component from the contact carrier 4.

[0029] Figure 4 shows that the locking element 10, with its cylindrical section 11, has been at least partially slid over the wings 9 of the contact carrier 4. In doing so, part of the free end regions of the pins 12 dips into the contact carrier 4. This temporarily positions the locking element 10 in a preliminary position on the contact carrier 4. However, as described below, its final position can only be properly reached by further axial sliding towards the contact carrier 4, provided certain assembly conditions are met, which are also described below.

[0030] It should be noted that the locking element 10 cannot be moved into its pre-position on the contact carrier 4 if the snap hook 5 of the contact carrier 4 has not properly engaged in the recess 7. If this were the case, the free end of the snap hook 5 would not engage in the recess 7 and would protrude slightly radially outwards, so that in this improper state, a free end of the pin 12 would be in contact with the free end of the snap hook 5. This would prevent the locking element 10 from being pushed into its pre-position on the contact carrier 4.This ensures that, by sliding the locking element 10 onto the contact carrier 4 in the direction of its initial position, it can be determined and checked whether the snap hook 5 has properly engaged in the recess 7 and thus the primary locking of the contact 3 in its contact carrier 4 has occurred. Only then can further assembly take place. E. HI.0998. WO Page 6.

[0031] Hirschmann Automotive GmbH, Rankweil-Brederis, AT

[0032] November 12, 2025

[0033] Figure 5 shows that the locking element 10 has a detent arc 13 in the region of its cylindrical section 11. The function of this detent arc 13 will be discussed later.

[0034] In both Figure 5 and the two further Figures 6 and 7, it is clearly visible that the locking element 10 was able to assume its pre-position on the contact carrier 4 because the snap hook 5 of the contact carrier 4 properly engaged in the recess 7 of the contact 3, allowing a circumferential shoulder within the cylindrical section 11 of the locking element 10 to slide over the surface of the snap hook 5. In doing so, the partial ends of the pins 12 were immersed in corresponding recesses in the contact carrier 4. This immersion was possible because the respective free ends of the two pins 12 were not obstructed by the inwardly facing surface of the locking tab 6.

[0035] Figure 8 shows that, in addition to the connecting sleeve 8, another element of the connector, a shielding sleeve 14, is also slid onto the cable 1. This shielding sleeve 14 can be slid on from the direction of the contact 3 or from the direction of the free end of the cable 1. Figure 8 shows that the connecting sleeve 8 is fixed to the cable 1 in its final position, while the shielding sleeve 14, which has at least one recess 15, is still in a preliminary position.

[0036] In Figure 9, the shielding sleeve 14 has now been pushed towards the locking element 10, without thereby engaging with it in a functional manner. E. HI.0998. WO Page 7

[0037] Hirschmann Automotive GmbH, Rankweil-Brederis, AT

[0038] 12.11.2025

[0039] The locking element 10 has engaged. It has thus reached its final position relative to the contact carrier 4. The sliding process is limited by a circumferential rim in the end region of the contact carrier 4, from which the wings 9 project. In its final position, the shielding sleeve 14 contacts the connecting sleeve 8 with the shielding of the cable 1. The shielding sleeve 14 thus extends the shielding of the cable 1 towards the contact carrier 4, over it. For this purpose, both the connecting sleeve 8 and the shielding sleeve 14 are made of an electrically conductive material.

[0040] Figure 10 shows a cross-section of the arrangement according to Figure 9. It can be seen that the locking element 10 is still in its initial position on the contact carrier 4. It can also be seen that a lug 16, located in the free end region of the locking tab 6 of the contact carrier 4, is engaged in the recess 15 of the shielding sleeve 14. As will be shown and described below, this clears the path for the free ends of the pins 12 of the locking element 10 towards the cable 1. If the shielding sleeve 14 were not properly positioned and secured on the contact carrier 4, the engagement of the lug 16 of the locking tab 6 in the recess 15 of the shielding sleeve 14 would be blocked, thus preventing the pins 12 from engaging further in the contact carrier 4.This means that the locking element 10 can only be moved from its previous preliminary position to its final position on the contact carrier 4 once the shielding sleeve 14 has also been properly secured to the contact carrier. E. HI.0998. WO page 8.

[0041] Hirschmann Automotive GmbH, Rankweil-Brederis, AT

[0042] November 12, 2025

[0043] Figure 10 also shows the construction of the cable 1 and the shielding. An insulation 17 is provided around the electrical conductor 2, and a shield 18, for example a shielding foil or a shielding braid, is arranged coaxially around this insulation. This shield 18 is in turn protected from external influences by an outer sheath 19. At the end of the cable 1, a portion of the insulation 17, the shield 18, and the outer sheath 19 is removed so that a free end of the electrical conductor 2 can be electrically connected to the contact 3 in a suitable manner. The insulation 17 remains behind this free end of the electrical conductor 2, with the shield 18 being exposed over this remaining insulation 17 and folded back radially around the connecting sleeve 8.This means that the shielding 18 of the cable 1 runs coaxially both inside and outside the connecting sleeve 8, with the outer coaxial path of the shielding 18 coming into contact with the inner geometry of the shielding sleeve 14. This ensures that the shielding 18 of the cable 1 is electrically contacted with the shielding sleeve 14, so that the area of ​​the contact carrier 4 facing the mating face is also shielded from external electrical influences. Since this shielding of the contact carrier 4 is very important, it is also important that further assembly of the connector can only take place if the shielding sleeve 14 is properly secured to the contact carrier 4. This, in turn, is made possible when the lug 16 of the locking tab 6 of the contact carrier 4 is engaged in the recess 15 of the shielding sleeve 14. This prevents further axial movement of the connecting sleeve 10 towards the contact carrier 4.However, if the shielding sleeve 14 has been incorrectly mounted with respect to the contact carrier 4, this further axial displacement would not be possible, since the respective free end of the pin 12 of the locking element 10 runs against the inwardly deflected detent tab 16. In this case of fault, the detent tab 16 E. HI, 0998. WO page 9.

[0044] Hirschmann Automotive GmbH, Rankweil-Brederis, AT

[0045] November 12, 2025

[0046] deflected inwards because the nose 16 abuts the inner surface of the connecting sleeve 14, but cannot penetrate its recess 15. The contact arrangement according to Figure 10, in which the locking element 10 is still in its forward position, is provided with the reference numeral 20.

[0047] Figures 11 to 13 show that the contact arrangements 20 are inserted into a housing 21 of the connector. In Figure 11, the contact arrangement 20 is still in a pre-assembly position, whereas in Figures 12 and 13 it is properly arranged and secured in its final position within the housing 21. In Figure 13, it is again clearly visible that the locking element 10 is still in its pre-position relative to the contact carrier 4.

[0048] Figures 14 to 17 illustrate the further assembly sequence. Figure 14 shows that the locking element 10 has been moved from its initial position to its final position. This movement was permitted because the free ends of the pins 12 could penetrate further into the contact carrier 4, as the shielding sleeve 14 was properly secured to the contact carrier 4. After the primary locking of the contact 3 in the contact carrier 4 has also been properly achieved by the insertion of the snap hook 5 of the contact carrier 4 into the recess 7 of the contact 3, the locking arc 13 of the locking element 10 can slide over this snap hook 5. Once the locking element 10 has reached its final position, the free transverse end of the locking arc 13 is further secured to the end of the snap hook 5 after this transverse end has been slid over the snap hook 5.This is shown in Figure 15, and Figure 16 shows that the free ends of the pins 12 of the locking element 10 are fully enclosed in the end position of the locking element 10 with respect to the contact carrier 4. E. HI.0998. WO Page 10.

[0049] Hirschmann Automotive GmbH, Rankweil-Brederis, AT

[0050] November 12, 2025

[0051] They could immerse themselves because they were not blocked by the locking tab 6, since its nose 16 was immersed in the recess 15 of the shielding sleeve 14. This is also shown in Figure 17 in connection with the inserted contact arrangement 20 in the housing 21.

[0052] As shown in Figure 16, the locking element 10, more precisely its pins 12, not only performs a locking function but also a safety function. The shielding sleeve 14 cannot be removed without removing the pins 1, as pressing down the locking tab 6 and thus moving the locking lug 16 out of the recess 15 is blocked as long as the locking element 10 is in its end position. The locking element 10 can only be moved out of this end position if the connector is not inserted into the mating connector. This has the advantage that the shielding sleeve 14 can only be removed when the connector is not plugged in and therefore inactive.

[0053] Finally, Figure 18 shows a connector 22 according to the invention, in which several contact arrangements 20 are inserted into the housing 21 of the connector 22. In this embodiment, the contact carriers 4 of the respective contact arrangement 20 are designed to receive only one contact 3, and the contact carriers 4 are inserted individually into the housing 21 of the connector 22. Alternatively, it is conceivable that only a single contact carrier 4 or a group of contact carriers 4 is provided, wherein the single contact carrier 4 or the group of contact carriers 4 receives more than one contact 3. The design of the locking element and the assembly of the individual elements of the connector 22 are carried out in the same way in the latter two cases as described in E. HI.0998. WO page 11.

[0054] Hirschmann Automotive GmbH, Rankweil-Brederis, AT

[0055] November 12, 2025

[0056] The embodiment of the connector 22 with individual contact carriers 4 has been described above.

[0057] In the connector 22, as shown in Figure 18, all elements of the connector 22 have been properly assembled so that it can be inserted into a mating connector (not shown) to form a plug connection. E. HI.0998. WO Page 12

[0058] Hirschmann Automotive GmbH, Rankweil-Brederis, AT

[0059] November 12, 2025

[0060] Reference symbol list

[0061] 1. Cable

[0062] 2. Electrical conductor

[0063] 3. Contact

[0064] 4. Contact carrier

[0065] 5. Snap hook

[0066] 6. Rastle

[0067] 7. Exclusion

[0068] 8. Connecting sleeve

[0069] 9th wing

[0070] 10. Locking element

[0071] 11. Cylindrical section

[0072] 12. Pen

[0073] 13. Resting arch

[0074] 14. Shielding sleeve

[0075] 15. Exclusion

[0076] 16. Nose

[0077] 17. Insulation

[0078] 18. Shielding

[0079] 19. Outer coat

[0080] 20. Contact Order

[0081] 21. Housing

[0082] 22. Connectors

Claims

E. HI.0998. WO Page 13 Hirschmann Automotive GmbH, Rankweil-Brederis, AT November 12, 2025 Connectors with locking element and shielding sleeve Patent claims 1. Plug connection formed by a connector (22) and a mating connector which can be plugged into it, wherein the connector (22) has a housing (21) wherein at least one contact carrier (4) is inserted in the housing (21) wherein at least one contact (3) is inserted into the contact carrier (4), characterized in that the connector (22) has a locking element (10) wherein the locking element (10) is suitable and designed such that it is only arranged in the connector (22) as intended when the contact (3) is inserted into the contact carrier (4) as intended and when a further element of the connector (22) is arranged as intended within the connector (22).

2. Plug connection according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one wing (9), preferably two opposing wings (9), are arranged on the contact carrier (4) projecting forward in the plugging direction.

3. Plug connection according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the case of two opposing wings (9), at least one snap hook (5) projects in the space between these two wings (9), also starting from the base of the contact carrier (4), preferably two or more snap hooks (5) project. E. HI.0998. WO Page 14 Hirschmann Automotive GmbH, Rankweil-Brederis, AT November 12, 2025 4. Connector according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the locking element (10) has a cylindrical section (11) and pins (12) projecting from this section towards a cable (1) on which the connector (22) is arranged.

5. Plug connection according to claim 4, characterized in that the pins (12) extend over the wings (9) of the contact carrier (4).

6. Plug connection according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the locking element (10) has a detent arc (13) in the area of ​​its cylindrical section (11).

7. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a connecting sleeve (8) is arranged on the cable (1) as a further element of the connector (22), wherein this connecting sleeve (8) is formed at least partially or completely from an electrically conductive material.

8. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a shielding sleeve (14) is pushed onto the cable (1) as a further element of the connector (22).

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