Protective cap for high-current plug connector

Abstract

A protective cap (4, 4′) for an electrical high-current plug connector (1) is substantially box-shaped and has at least one open side (5). The protective cap (4) has a gripping element (8) for fixing the protective cap (4, 4′) to a connection region (3, 3′, of the high-current plug connector (1), which is provided for connecting an electrical conductor. The gripping element (8) extends into the open side (5).

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A protective cap (4, 4′) for an electrical high-current plug connector (1), wherein the protective cap (4, 4′) has an essentially box-shaped form and has at least one open side face (5), wherein the protective cap (4) has a gripping element (8) for fixing the protective cap (4, 4′) on a connection region (3, 3′, 3″) of the high-current plug connector (1) which is provided for connecting an electrical conductor, and wherein the gripping element (8) projects into the open side face (5).

13. The protective cap (4, 4′) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the gripping element (8) has a pincer-like design.

14. The protective cap (4, 4′) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the gripping element (8) has two arms (8a, 8b) which cross over each other or two arms (8a, 8b) oriented relative to each other in an S-shape.

15. The protective cap (4, 4′) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the arms (8a, 8b) are each integrally formed on the protective cap (4, 4′) in a lower region and each grip around the connection region (3, 3′, 3″) for a conductor to be connected in an upper region.

16. The protective cap (4, 4′) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the protective cap (4, 4′) has a cover (6) with a cylindrical protrusion (7).

17. The protective cap (4, 4′) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the protective cap (4, 4′) has a T-shaped structure (10) for fixing the protective cap (4, 4′) with a cable tie.

18. The protective cap (4, 4′) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the T-shaped structure (10) is oriented parallel to the open side face (5).

19. The protective cap (4, 4′) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the T-shaped structure (10) is integrally formed on the cover (6).

20. The protective cap (4, 4′) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the protective cap (4, 4′) has a recess (11) in each of two opposing side faces.

21. The protective cap (4, 4′) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the protective cap (4, 4′) is made of plastic.

22. A system, comprising: a first high-current plug connector (1) and a second adjacent high-current plug connector (1), wherein the high-current plug connectors (1) are each equipped with the protective cap (4, 4′) as claimed in claim 11.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and is explained in detail below.

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a plurality of high-current plug connectors arranged next to one another with a protective cap,

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of a first embodiment of a protective cap, and

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a perspective illustration of a second embodiment of a protective cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The drawings contain partly simplified schematic illustrations. Identical reference symbols are partly used for the same but possibly not identical elements. Different views of the same elements can be at different scales. Specifications of directions such as “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “front”, and “back” relate to the respective illustrations and can vary with reference to the elements illustrated.

[0018] FIG. 1 shows three high-current plug connectors 1 arranged (in a row) next to one another. The high-current plug connectors 1 are fixed in a retaining frame 2. The retaining frame 2 can be installed, for example, in a mounting housing (not shown) and the latter is in turn mounted on a housing wall (not shown). Each high-current plug connector 1 has a connection region 3 for an electrical conductor (not shown) which here takes the form of a crimped connection (crimp sleeve). Alternatively, other types of connection for the conductors, for example a screwed connection, can also be provided.

[0019] The high-current plug connectors 1 are each provided with a protective cap 4, 4′. The protective cap 4, 4′ has an essentially box-shaped form and is pushed onto the respective high-current plug connector 1. The protective cap 4, 4′ has three closed side faces and one open side face 5. The protective cap 4, 4′ has a cover 6 with a cylindrical protrusion 7. The cylindrical protrusion 7 is configured to receive the high-current contact element with a precise fit.

[0020] FIGS. 2 and 3 each show different embodiments of a protective cap 4, 4′. The protective cap 4, 4′ has a gripping element 8 for fixing the protective cap 4, 4′ on a connection region 3, 3′, 3″ for a connected conductor, wherein the gripping element 8 projects into the open side face. The gripping element 8 has two arms 8a, 8b oriented relative to each other in an S-shape. The arms 8a, 8b are facing each other. In the region of the bulge of the S, the arms 8a, 8b have the shortest distance from each other and can even possibly touch each other here.

[0021] When the protective cap 4, 4′ is put on, the resilient arms 8a, 8b first move apart and away from each other until they finally engage over the connection region 3, 3′, 3″ of the high-current plug connector 1 and hence fix the protective cap 4, 4′ such that it cannot tilt.

[0022] In the lower region, the arms 8a, 8b are each integrally formed on the protective cap 4. In their extended regions, the arms 8a, 8b are configured so that they can move and are resilient. In the upper region, the arms 8a, 8b form, or the gripping element 8 forms, a pincer-like receiving region 9. This receiving region 9 engages over the connection region 3, 3′, 3″ of the high-current plug connector 1 such that the protective cap 4, 4′ is retained on the high-current plug connector 1 captively and so that it cannot be displaced. The protective cap 4, 4′ can be pulled off from the high-current plug connector 1 again. All that is required here is to overcome the spring force of the arms 8a, 8b of the gripping element 8.

[0023] The protective cap 4, 4′ has a T-shaped structure 10. The T-shaped structure 10 is integrally formed on the cover 6 of the protective cap 4. 4′ in the region of the open side face 5, facing the cylindrical protrusion 7. The protective cap 4 can consequently additionally be fixed captively, for example, on the connected conductor or on the mounting housing with the aid of a cable tie (not shown).

[0024] In a further embodiment (FIG. 3), two opposing side faces of the protective cap 4′ have a recess 11. This recess 11 corresponds to an integrally formed or molded part of an insulating body (not shown) of an alternative high-current plug connector.

[0025] Even though different aspects or features of the invention are shown in the drawings in each case in combination, unless otherwise stated, it is clear to a person skilled in the art that the combinations illustrated and discussed are not the only ones possible. In particular, corresponding units or groups of features from different exemplary embodiments can be interchanged.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0026] 1 high-current plug connector [0027] 2 retaining frame [0028] 3 connection region for an electrical conductor [0029] 4 protective cap [0030] 5 open side face [0031] 6 cover [0032] 7 cylindrical protrusion [0033] 8 gripping element [0034] 8a, 8b arm of the gripping element [0035] 9 pincer-like receiving region [0036] 10 T-shaped structure [0037] 11 recess