Electrical connector and method for assembling an electrical connector
11095079 · 2021-08-17
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
H01R12/72
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
The invention relates to an electrical connector (2) comprising a coding housing (4) for electrical and mechanical connection to a compatible connector (3) and comprising a plug body (6) for electrical and mechanical connection to an electrical assembly (5, 14, 15, 16), wherein the compatible connector (3) can be connected to the coding housing (4) along an insertion direction (A), and wherein the coding housing (4) and the plug body (6) have a mechanical connecting device (8). It is provided that the connecting device (8) is designed in order to connect the coding housing (4) and the plug body (6) to one another in an interlocking manner in the insertion direction (A), wherein the connecting device (8) prespecifies an assembly movement (B), which differs from the insertion direction (A), in order to connect the coding housing (4) and the plug body (6) to one another.
Claims
1. A connector assembly, comprising: a first housing of a conductive material; a second housing; a first inner conductor; a first outer conductor that extends from an interior of said second housing to an interior of said first housing; a second inner conductor; and a second outer conductor that extends from said interior of said second housing to said interior of said first housing, wherein said first housing comprises a plurality of feet that project from a first side of said first housing, said first inner conductor extends from an interior of said first outer conductor through said interior of said first housing and projects from said first side of said first housing, said second inner conductor extends from an interior of said second outer conductor through said interior of said first housing and projects from said first side of said first housing, said second housing is situated adjacent a second side of said first housing, said second side of said first housing being substantially perpendicular to said first side of said first housing, at least one of said first outer conductor and said second outer conductor inhibits a disengagement of said second housing from said first housing, said first outer conductor is electrically insulated from said first inner conductor, and said second outer conductor is electrically insulated from said second inner conductor.
2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: said second housing is of a plastic material.
3. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: each of said first outer conductor and said second outer conductor electrically contacts said first housing.
4. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: at least one of said first outer conductor and said second outer conductor has a stepped outer diameter.
5. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: a first portion of said first outer conductor has a first diameter, a second portion of said first outer conductor has a second diameter that differs substantially from said first diameter, and said first portion is adjacent said second portion.
6. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: said first outer conductor is coaxial to said first inner conductor, and said second outer conductor is coaxial to said second inner conductor.
7. The connector assembly of claim 1, comprising: a connector comprising a third outer conductor, a third inner conductor, a fourth outer conductor and a fourth inner conductor, wherein said second housing comprises an opening at a side of said second housing opposite said second side of said first housing, said connector extends through said opening such that said third outer conductor electrically contacts said first outer conductor, said third inner conductor electrically contacts said first inner conductor, said fourth outer conductor electrically contacts said second outer conductor, and said fourth inner conductor electrically contacts said second inner conductor.
8. A connector assembly, comprising: a first housing of a conductive material; a second housing; a first inner conductor; a first outer conductor coaxial to a second end of said first inner conductor; a second inner conductor; and a second outer conductor coaxial to a second end of said second inner conductor, wherein a first end of said first outer conductor terminates in an interior of said first housing, a second end of said first outer conductor terminates in an interior of said second housing, a first end of said second outer conductor terminates in an interior of said first housing, a second end of said second outer conductor terminates in an interior of said second housing, said first housing comprises a plurality of feet that project from said first housing in a first direction, a first end of said first inner conductor projects from said first housing in said first direction, said second end of said first inner conductor projects from said first housing in a second direction and terminates in an interior of said first outer conductor in an interior of said second housing, said second direction being substantially perpendicular to said first direction, a first end of said second inner conductor projects from said first housing in said first direction, said second end of said second inner conductor projects from said first housing in said second direction and terminates in an interior of said second outer conductor in an interior of said second housing, said first outer conductor engages said first housing in a manner that inhibits a motion of said second housing relative to said first housing, said second outer conductor engages said first housing in a manner that inhibits a motion of said second housing relative to said first housing, said first outer conductor is distinct from said first housing and said second housing, and said second outer conductor is distinct from said first housing and said second housing.
9. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein: said second housing is of a plastic material.
10. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein: each of said first outer conductor and said second outer conductor electrically contacts said first housing.
11. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein: said first outer conductor has a generally cylindrical shape excepting a first step in outer diameter, said second outer conductor has a generally cylindrical shape excepting a second step in outer diameter, and said first step in outer diameter and said second step in outer diameter are situated in said interior of said second housing.
12. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein: said first end of said first outer conductor has a first outer diameter, said second end of said first outer conductor has a second outer diameter that is substantially larger than said first outer diameter, and an outer surface of said first outer conductor transitions abruptly, in said interior of said second housing, from said first outer diameter to said second outer diameter.
13. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein: said first outer conductor is insulated from said first inner conductor, and said second outer conductor is insulated from said second inner conductor.
14. The connector assembly of claim 8, comprising: a connector comprising a third outer conductor, a third inner conductor, a fourth outer conductor and a fourth inner conductor, wherein said first housing is situated adjacent a first side of said second housing, said second housing comprises an opening in a second side of said second housing opposite said first side, said connector extends through said opening such that said third outer conductor electrically contacts said first outer conductor, said third inner conductor electrically contacts said first inner conductor, said fourth outer conductor electrically contacts said second outer conductor, and said fourth inner conductor electrically contacts said second inner conductor.
15. A connector assembly method, comprising: positioning a first housing of a conductive material immediately adjacent a second housing, inserting, via a first hole in a first wall of said second housing subsequent to said positioning, a first end of a first outer conductor of a first pair of coaxial conductors into a first hole in a first wall of said first housing, and inserting, via a second hole in said first wall of said second housing subsequent to said positioning, a first end of a second outer conductor of a second pair of coaxial conductors into a second hole in said first wall of said first housing, wherein at least one of said first outer conductor and said second outer conductor electrically contacts said first housing and inhibits a motion of said second housing relative to said first housing.
16. The connector assembly method of claim 15, comprising: assembling a first inner conductor of said first pair of coaxial conductors relative to said first housing such that a first end of said first inner conductor projects from said first housing in a first direction and a second end of said first inner conductor projects from said first housing in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction and terminates in an interior of said first outer conductor in an interior of said second housing, and assembling a second inner conductor of said second pair of coaxial conductors relative to said first housing such that a first end of said second inner conductor projects from said first housing in said first direction and a second end of said second inner conductor projects from said first housing in said second direction and terminates in an interior of said second outer conductor in an interior of said second housing.
17. The connector assembly method of claim 16, comprising: soldering said first inner conductor to a first conductive trace of a printed circuit board, and soldering a foot of said first housing to a second conductive trace of said printed circuit board, wherein said foot projects from said first housing in said first direction.
18. The connector assembly method of claim 15, wherein: said second housing is of a plastic material, each of said first inner conductor and said second inner conductor is substantially L-shaped, said first outer conductor is insulated from said first inner conductor, and said second outer conductor is insulated from said second inner conductor.
19. The connector assembly method of claim 15, wherein: each of said first outer conductor and said second outer conductor has a generally cylindrical shape excepting a step in outer diameter.
20. The connector assembly method of claim 15, comprising: inserting a connector into said second housing such that a third outer conductor of said connector comes into electrical contact with said first outer conductor, a third inner conductor of said connector comes into electrical contact with said first inner conductor, a fourth outer conductor of said connector comes into electrical contact with said second outer conductor, and a fourth inner conductor of said connector comes into electrical contact with said second inner conductor.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) In the drawings:
(2)
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(8)
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(16)
(17) The compatible connector 3 can be connected to the coding housing 4 along an insertion direction A, indicated by corresponding arrows in the figures, along the axis Ax. The axis Ax is preferably (as is the case in the exemplary embodiment) the longitudinal axis of the coding housing 4.
(18) The compatible connector 3 is illustrated using dashed lines by way of example in
(19) In the exemplary embodiment, the compatible connector 3 and the coding housing 4 each have latching means 7 for mutually latching connection. However, the said latching means can, in principle, also be dispensed with or be designed in some other way. The coding housing 4 of the connector 2 can have a mechanical coding and an electrical configuration, which corresponds to the compatible connector 3 or to a coding housing of the compatible connector 3, in order to forward electrical signals (data and power supply) in as optimum a manner as possible and in order to ensure that only a compatible connector 3 can be plug-connected to the connector 2.
(20) The plug body 6 of the embodiment of
(21) The coding housing 4 and the plug body 6 have a mechanical connecting device 8 which is designed in order to connect the coding housing 4 and the plug body 6 to one another in an interlocking manner in the insertion direction A, wherein the connecting device 8 prespecifies an assembly movement B, which differs from the insertion direction A, for the coding housing 4 and the plug body 6 (indicated by corresponding arrows in the figures). The connecting device 8 is arranged in the region of the connecting faces 13 of the coding housing 4 and, respectively, of the plug body 6 which are intended to be mechanically connected to one another.
(22) Therefore, during the course of a method for assembling the connector 2, the coding housing 4 can be mechanically connected to the plug body 6 in one assembly step, but usually not necessarily in the first assembly step. This assembly step for establishing the mechanical connection between the coding housing 4 and the plug body 6 in this case comprises an assembly movement B by way of which the coding housing 4 and the plug body 6 are connected to one another in an interlocking manner in the insertion direction A of the compatible connector 3.
(23) The assembly movement B can comprise pushing the coding housing 4 onto the plug body 6 and/or rotating the coding housing 4 in relation to the plug body 6. Only the preferred variant of the pushing-on operation is illustrated in the exemplary embodiments, but this is not intended to be understood to be limiting.
(24) In the exemplary embodiment, the connecting device 8 is designed as a rail system, wherein the coding housing 4 and the plug body 6 have guide rails 9, 10 which correspond to one another and which together form the rail system and, respectively, the connecting device 8. Therefore, the coding housing 4 is pushed onto the plug body 6 using the said rail system. One of the hidden guide rails 10 of the plug body 6 is indicated as a dashed line in
(25) It can be provided that the mounting movement B or pushing the coding housing onto the plug body takes place along an assembly angle α, wherein the assembly angle α is 30° to 150°, preferably 45° to 135°, particularly preferably 80° to 100° and very particularly preferably 90°, relative to the insertion direction A. In the exemplary embodiment, an assembly angle α of 90° is used throughout, this having proven particularly suitable for the interlocking connection in the insertion direction A. However, this is not intended to be understood to be limiting. In principle, any desired assembly angles α can be provided. The only important factor is that the pushing-on operation or the assembly movement B does not take place in the insertion direction A of the compatible connector 3. In principle, the pushing-on operation can also take place along a specific assembly path and does not have to have a strictly linear profile, as illustrated in the exemplary embodiment.
(26) The connector 2 illustrated in
(27) Furthermore, recesses 11 for at least one contact body 12, which is still to be described below, are provided in the coding housing 4 and in the plug body 6, the said recesses preferably being oriented towards one another in an end position of the coding housing 4.
(28)
(29) In principle, the assembly movement B, in particular in respect of a pushing-on operation along a rail system, can take place in any desired direction (except for in or counter to the insertion direction A). This is illustrated by way of example in
(30) In
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(32) As already indicated above, the invention and, respectively, the connector 2 may be suitable for a large number of applications. For example, the plug body 6 of the connector 2, which is shown in an angular embodiment in
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(38) In principle, any desired guide can be provided, but a rail system is particularly suitable. Finally, the rail system can be realized in virtually any desired manner, for example, as illustrated in
(39) As shown in
(40)
(41) All of the contact bodies 12 are mounted in the electrical connector 2 in
(42) The at least one contact body 12 can be introduced by being pressed, soldered, welded, fused and/or adhesively bonded in the plug body 6 or the receptacle 11 thereof. The at least one contact body 12 is preferably pressed in the plug body 6 or the associated receptacle 11.
(43) The cross section of the contact body 12 can have a stepped design, as illustrated, in such a way that a stop is formed, which stop limits the pushing-in of the contact body 12 into the receptacle 11 of the plug body 6.
(44) The at least one contact body 12 can preferably be designed as a tubular outer conductor or as a contact sleeve and for receiving in each case at least one inner conductor part 19 (cf.
(45) In a preferably further assembly step, the one inner conductor part 19 or the plurality of inner conductor parts 19 can be introduced into the connector 2. The said inner conductor parts can preferably be pushed into the contact bodies 12, which are designed as contact sleeves, from the rear side of the plug body 6. The inner conductor parts 19—depending on the embodiment of the connector 2 as a straight or angled connector 2—can likewise be of straight or angled design. A dielectric (not illustrated) can preferably be provided for establishing electrical insulation between the inner conductor parts 19.
(46) A connector 2 which is assembled in such a way is then usually electrically and mechanically connected to the electrical assembly, in the present case a printed circuit board 5. This is indicated in
(47) Although the present invention has been described above in full on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto but able to be modified in many ways.
(48) The present disclosure may be summarized as disclosing, inter alia, the following Embodiments.
Embodiment 1
(49) Electrical connector (2) comprising a coding housing (4) for electrical and mechanical connection to a compatible connector (3) and comprising a plug body (6) for electrical and mechanical connection to an electrical assembly (5, 14, 15, 16), wherein the compatible connector (3) can be connected to the coding housing (4) along an insertion direction (A), and wherein the coding housing (4) and the plug body (6) have a mechanical connecting device (8), characterized in that the connecting device (8) is designed in order to connect the coding housing (4) and the plug body (6) to one another in an interlocking manner in the insertion direction (A), wherein the connecting device (8) prespecifies an assembly movement (B), which differs from the insertion direction (A), in order to connect the coding housing (4) and the plug body (6) to one another.
Embodiment 2
(50) Connector (2) according to Embodiment 1, wherein the connecting device (8) comprises a rail system, wherein the coding housing (4) and the plug body (6) each have at least one guide rail (9, 10), which guide rails correspond to one another and together form the rail system.
Embodiment 3
(51) Connector (2) according to Embodiment 2, wherein two guide rails (9, 10) which run in parallel and on opposite sides are arranged in the coding housing (4) and in the plug body (6) in each case.
Embodiment 4
(52) Connector (2) according to one of Embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the connecting device (8) comprises an end stop (18) which defines an end position of the coding housing (4) on the plug body (6) for the assembly movement (B).
Embodiment 5
(53) Connector (2) according to one of Embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the assembly movement (B) takes place along an assembly angle (α), wherein the assembly angle (α) is 30° to 150°, preferably 45° to 135°, particularly preferably 80° to 100° and very particularly preferably 90°, relative to the insertion direction (A).
Embodiment 6
(54) Connector (2) according to one of Embodiments 1 to 5, wherein recesses (11) for at least one contact body (12) are provided in the coding housing (4) and in the plug body (6) in order to introduce the at least one contact body (12) into the plug body (6) through the coding housing (4) in the insertion direction (A), wherein the contact body (12) and the recesses (11) are created in such a way that the coding housing (4) and the plug body (6) are fixed in position in relation to one another by virtue of the introduction of the contact body (12).
Embodiment 7
(55) Connector (2) according to Embodiment 6, wherein the plug body (6) is designed to receive one or more inner conductor parts (19), wherein the at least one contact body (12) is designed as a tubular outer conductor and to receive at least one of the several inner conductor parts (19).
Embodiment 8
(56) Connector (2) according to either of Embodiments 6 and 7, wherein the coding housing (4) and/or the plug body (6) are/is designed in order to receive one to ten contact bodies (12), preferably two to six contact bodies (12) and very particularly preferably four contact bodies (12).
Embodiment 9
(57) Connector (2) according to one of Embodiments 6 to 8, wherein the plug body (6) is designed from metal, preferably as a die-cast zinc part, and is electrically conductively connected to the at least one contact body (12).
Embodiment 10
(58) Connector (2) according to one of Embodiments 1 to 9, wherein the plug body (6) is designed for electrical and mechanical connection to an electrical assembly which is designed as a printed circuit board (5), electrical cable (14), adapter part (15) or device housing (16).
Embodiment 11
(59) Connector (2) according to one of Embodiments 1 to 10, wherein the coding housing (4) has latching means (7) for latching connection to the compatible connector (3).
Embodiment 12
(60) Method for assembling an electrical connector (2) which has a coding housing (4) for electrical and mechanical connection to a compatible connector (3) and has a plug body (6) for electrical and mechanical connection to an electrical assembly (5, 14, 15, 16), wherein the coding housing (4) is mechanically connected to the plug body (6) in one assembly step, wherein the assembly step for establishing the mechanical connection between the coding housing (4) and the plug body (6) comprises an assembly movement (B) of the coding housing (4) relative to the plug body (6), by way of which assembly movement the coding housing (4) and the plug body (6) are connected to one another in an interlocking manner in the insertion direction (A) of the compatible connector (3).
Embodiment 13
(61) Method according to Embodiment 12, wherein the assembly movement (B) comprises pushing the coding housing (4) onto the plug body (6) and/or rotating the coding housing (4) in relation to the plug body (6).
Embodiment 14
(62) Method according to Embodiment 13, wherein the coding housing (4) is pushed onto the plug body (6) using a rail system, wherein the coding housing (4) and the plug body (6) each have at least one guide rail (9, 10), which guide rails correspond to one another.
Embodiment 15
(63) Method according to either of Embodiments 13 and 14, wherein the pushing-on operation takes place along an assembly angle (α), wherein the assembly angle (α) is 30° to 150°, preferably 45° to 135°, particularly preferably 80° to 100° and very particularly preferably 90°, relative to the insertion direction (A).
Embodiment 16
(64) Method according to one of Embodiments 12 to 15, wherein in a further assembly step, at least one contact body (12) is introduced through corresponding recesses (11) in the coding housing (4) and in the plug body (6) in the insertion direction (A) in such a way that the relative position between the coding housing (4) and the plug body (6) is fixed.
Embodiment 17
(65) Method according to Embodiment 16, wherein the at least one contact body (12) is pressed, soldered, welded, fused and/or adhesively bonded in the recess (11) of the plug body (6).
Embodiment 18
(66) Method according to either of Embodiments 16 and 17, wherein in a further assembly step, at least one inner conductor part (19) is passed through the plug body (6) and received by the at least one contact body (12).
Embodiment 19
(67) Connector system (1) comprising an electrical connector (2) according to one of claims 1 to 12, a compatible connector (3) for electrical and mechanical connection to a coding housing (4) of the electrical connector (2) and an electrical assembly (5, 14, 15, 16) for electrical and mechanical connection to a plug body (6) of the electrical connector (2).