Modular plug-in connector system

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug-in connector, substantially consisting of an insulating body and at least one contact element which is mounted directly in the insulating body, wherein the insulating body directly forms the plug-in connector housing of the plug-in connector. The plug-in connector is of particularly simple construction and can therefore be manufactured quickly. In addition, the plug-in connector is of very robust design and suitable for industrial use, in particular in harsh environments.

Claims

1. A modular plug-in connector system, comprising: an insulating body; at least one contact element that is held in the insulating body; and a plurality of casings, including an attachment casing for attaching an electrical device, a strain relief element for strain relief of multiple conductors or of a connected cable, and a cable casing for fixing and providing strain relief of a connected cable, wherein the insulating body simultaneously forms a plug-in connector casing of a plug-in connector, and wherein the insulating body comprises latching webs for fixing the insulating body to one casing selected from the plurality of casings.

2. The modular plug-in connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulating body has an attachment tab or an attachment tongue for reversibly attaching to a mating plug-in connector.

3. The plug-in connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulating body has a rectangular cross-section, and wherein the latching webs are formed on a connection-side of the insulating body, and wherein each of the plurality of casings comprises cut-outs configured to engage over the latching webs.

4. The modular plug-in connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment casing for attaching an electrical device is straight, and wherein the plurality of casings comprises a further attachment casing that is bent.

5. The modular plug-in connector system according to claim 1, wherein the plug-in connector has a seal that in turn has through-going openings for the at least one contact element and/or conductors that are connected thereto, and wherein a number of through-going openings corresponds to a number of contact elements of the at least one contact element, and wherein the seal has a rectangular cross-section with rounded corners, and wherein the seal has a lamellar structure along narrow sides around the rectangular cross section.

6. The modular plug-in connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one contact element is elongated along an axis and has a crimp connection for electrically contacting a conductor on one end, and wherein the plug-in connector system comprises at least one further contact element that is elongated along an axis and has a screw connection for electrically contacting a conductor.

7. The modular plug-in connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug-in connector has an identifying element that has a color that is different from the insulating body and wherein the identifying element can be reversibly fixed to the insulating body.

8. The modular plug-in connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a bearing pin is formed as one in each case on two opposite-lying side faces of the insulating body and a locking bracket having a U-shaped cross-section is pivotably mounted on the bearing pin.

9. The modular plug-in connector system according to claim 8, wherein the locking bracket has in a region of a respective bearing receptacle an elevation that faces the insulating body.

10. The modular plug-in connector system according to claim 8, wherein the bearing pins each have a cylindrical basic shape with a prism-shaped contour formed thereon.

11. The modular plug-in connector system according to claim 10, wherein the prism-shaped contour has a triangular cross-section.

12. The modular plug-in connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug-in connector has a contact carrier, in which the at least one contact element is arranged and wherein the contact carrier is configured to be latched in the insulating body.

13. The modular plug-in connector system according to claim 12, wherein the contact carrier forms a plug-in region of the plug-in connector.

14. The modular plug-in connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug-in connector has a shielding metal plate that can be electrically conductively connected on a connection side to a shield braid of a connected cable.

15. The modular plug-in connector system according to claim 14, wherein the shielding metal plate has on a plug-in side two tabs that face in the plug-in direction and are arranged offset with respect to one another.

16. The modular plug connector system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the shielding metal plate has on the connection side a shielding braid receptacle.

17. The modular plug-in connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein so as to provide electromagnetic shielding the plug-in connector has a shielding sleeve that is arranged within the insulating body.

18. The modular plug-in connector system according to claim 17, wherein the shielding sleeve has contact arms for contacting the shielding braid of a connected cable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded drawing of a plug-in connector.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded drawing of a further plug-in connector.

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded drawing of a further plug-in connector.

(4) FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded drawing of a further plug-in connector.

(5) FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a contact carrier.

(6) FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded drawing of a further plug-in connector.

(7) FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded drawing of a further plug-in connector.

(8) FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a shielding element.

(9) FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of two shielding elements that are plugged together.

(10) FIG. 10 illustrates an exploded drawing of a further plug-in connector.

(11) FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded drawing of a further plug-in connector.

(12) FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of a strain relief element.

(13) FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of a plug-in connector having an identifying element.

(14) FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective view of a seal having multiple through-going openings.

(15) FIG. 15 illustrates a perspective view of a wall mounting for a plug-in connector.

(16) FIG. 16 illustrates an exploded view of a further plug-in connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(17) The figures illustrate in part simplified schematic views. In part, identical reference numerals are used for similar but possibly not identical elements. Different views of similar elements may be scaled differently.

(18) The invention relates to a plug-in connector 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1.sup.IV, 1.sup.V, 1.sup.VI, 1.sup.VII that essentially comprises an insulating body 2, 2′ and at least one contact element 4, 4′, 4″, 4′″, 4.sup.IV, 4.sup.V, 4.sup.VI, 4.sup.VII that is attached or held in the insulating body 2, 2′, wherein the insulating body 2, 2′ forms the plug-in connector casing of plug-in connector 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1.sup.IV, 1.sup.V, 1.sup.VI, 1.sup.VII. The plug-in connector 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1.sup.IV, 1.sup.V, 1.sup.VI, 1.sup.VII is however not limited to these components. Different embodies of such a plug-in connector 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1.sup.IV, 1.sup.V, 1.sup.VI, 1.sup.VII are illustrated in the following figures. The plug-in connector 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1.sup.IV, 1.sup.V, 1.sup.VI, 1.sup.VII is constructed in a particularly simple manner and consequently can be assembled quickly. In addition, the plug-in connector 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1.sup.IV, 1.sup.V, 1.sup.VI, 1.sup.VII is embodied in a very robust manner and is suitable for use in an industrial environment, in particular in harsh industrial environments.

(19) FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded drawing of a plug-in connector 1. The plug-in connector 1 comprises an insulating body 2, an attachment casing 3, 3′ and one or multiple contact elements 4. As is apparent in FIG. 1, the attachment casing 3, 3′ can be embodied straight (FIG. 1, top left) or be bent by approx. 90° (FIG. 1, bottom left). The attachment casing 3, 3′ has cut-outs (not illustrated) that for fixing purposes engage over latching webs 30 that are provided for this purpose and are formed as one on the insulating body 2, 2′. This fixing arrangement functions in a similar manner to the strain relief element 28, which is described below, and emphasizes the modularity of the plug-in connector. A cylindrical bearing receptacle 5 is formed as one in each case on two side faces of the insulating body 2. A prism-shaped contour 9 is formed as one directly on the bearing receptacle 5 and the function of this prism-shaped contour is described in more detail below.

(20) The plug-in connector 1′ or the mating plug-in connector 1′ (terms are used synonymously) has optionally a cable casing 13 for fixing and providing strain relief of a connected cable (not illustrated). For this purpose, the cable casing 13 is equipped with a cable screw arrangement 14 and an associated seal 15. The media tightness of the plug-in connector 1′ is increased by means of the cable casing 13.

(21) The plug-in connector 1 can be equipped optionally with a locking bracket 6. The locking bracket 6 is embodied from sheet metal which has been processed in a bending and stamping process. The locking bracket 6 has essentially a U-shaped basic shape. Bearing receptacles 7 are provided in the side faces of the locking bracket 6 and the bearing receptacles engage over the bearing pins 5 of the insulating body 2. As a consequence, the locking bracket 6 is pivotably mounted on the insulating body 2. Bearing pins 5 are likewise formed as one on a mating plug-in connector 1′. In the locked state, the locking bracket 6 engages over the bearing pin 5 of the mating plug-in connector 1′. As a consequence, the plug-in connector 1 and the mating plug-in connector 1′ are reversibly locked to one another.

(22) A prism-shaped contour 9 is also likewise formed as one in each case on the bearing pins 5 of the mating plug-in connector 1′. The bearing pins 5 are embodied longer than the respective contour 9. This means that the bearing pins 5 protrude in a perpendicular manner further from the insulating body 2,2′ than the respective contour 9.

(23) The locking bracket 6 has in the region of its bearing receptacles 7 in each case an inwardly facing elevation 8. With the aid of the elevations 8 and the contours 9 that are formed as one on the bearing pins 5, the locking apparatus 6 is elastically widened during the locking procedure. The locking apparatus 6 does not rub with its side parts against the insulating body 2, 2′ or against its side faces.

(24) By virtue of the shape of the contours 9 and the associated elevations 8, the locking bracket 6 is held in its position in the closed state. It is necessary during the unlocking procedure to overcome a resistance since the locking bracket 6 is elastically widened again. As a consequence, an unintentional opening of the system or of the plug-in connection comprising a plug-in connector 1 and a mating plug-in connector 1′ is prevented. Moreover, the locking bracket 6 does not rub with its side parts against the insulating body 2, 2′ either against the insulating body 2 to which the locking bracket 6 is pivotably attached or against the insulating body 2′ of the mating plug-in connector 1′ that is to be connected.

(25) The plug-in connector 1, 1′ has a seal 10. The seal 10 is illustrated in an enlarged view in FIG. 14. The seal 10 has essentially a rectangular cross-section, wherein the corners or corner regions are rounded. The seal 10 has a lamellar structure 11 on the narrow sides. The seal 10 has six through-going openings 12. The through-going openings encompass in each case a conductor (not illustrated) that is attached to and in electrical contact with an associated contact element 4; 4′. As a consequence, the media tightness of the plug-in connector 1, 1′ is significantly increased. The number of the through-going openings 12 corresponds to the number of contact elements 4, 4′ that are arranged in the plug-in connector 1, 1′.

(26) FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative (second) embodiment of a plug-in connector 1″, 1′″. The insulating body 2, 2′ is essentially identical to the previous embodiments. The insulating body 2 of the plug-in connector 1″ has an attachment tab 16. The insulating body 2′ of the mating plug-in connector 1′″ has an attachment tongue 17 that corresponds thereto and has a latching hook 18. The insulating body 2, 2′ is manufactured from synthetic material. The attachment tongue 17 that is formed as one on the insulating body 2′ of the mating plug-in connector 1′, 1′″ is embodied in an elastic manner. During the plugging-in procedure, the attachment tongue 17 of the mating plug-in connector 1′″ engages in the attachment tab 16 of the plug-in connector 1″ and the latching hook 18 engages in an undercut (not illustrated for reasons of overview) of the attachment tab 16. As a consequence, the plug-in connector 1, 1″ and the mating plug-in connector 1′, 1′″ are reversibly locked to one another. It is also possible to provide insulating bodies without these latching means formed as one thereon, which are then limited to the above described latching bracket 6.

(27) The second embodiment of the plug-in connector 1″, 1′″ has a contact carrier 19. The contact carrier 19 has receptacles 20 in which in each case a contact element 4″, 4′″ is arranged. The contact carrier 19 is latched in the insulating body 2, 2′ of the plug-in connector 1″, 1′″. Finally, the contact elements 4″, 4′″ are then also attached in the insulating body 2, 2′ of the plug-in connector 1″, 1′″ by way of the contact carrier 19. The contact elements 4″, 4′″ have on the connection side a screw connection. The strands of a connected conductor (not illustrated) are attached in a connection-side receiving sleeve by way of a lateral screw. The screw connection technology ensures that the plug-in connector 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1.sup.IV, 1.sup.V, 1.sup.VI can be assembled in a simply manner. Contact elements 4″, 4′″ of this type are used in particular for transferring high currents.

(28) FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the said contact carrier 19. So as to fix the contact carrier 19 in the insulating body 2, 2′, an attachment tab 21 is formed as one on the contact carrier 19 and the attachment tab 21 has a cut-out 22 in the interior of the insulating body 2, 2′ and the cut-out 22 engages over a corresponding shaping (not illustrated for the sake of overview). The contact carrier 19 forms in the insulating body 2 the so-called plug-in region, insofar as this is equipped with pin contacts 4″. The contact elements 4″, 4′″ are merely encompassed and held by the contact carrier 19. The insulating body 2 does not support this function. As a consequence, the plug-in connector 1″, 1′″ can be constructed in a more compact manner.

(29) FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative (third) embodiment of a plug-in connector 1.sup.IV, 1.sup.V. The plug-in connector 1.sup.IV, 1.sup.V comprises contact elements 4.sup.IV, 4.sup.V that can be fixed or are fixed directly in the insulating body 2, 2′. The plug-in connector 1.sup.IV, 1.sup.V has a shielding metal plate 23 that is arranged in the insulating body. The shielding metal plate 23 has on the connection-side a U-shaped shielding braid receptacle 24 that can be electrically conductively connected to a shielding braid of a connected cable (not illustrated). In this case, the shielding braid receptacle 24 is pushed around the stripped shielding braid of a connected cable and as a consequence is electrically connected to the shielding metal plate 23. This connection can be supported by means of a cable tie.

(30) FIG. 8 illustrates the shielding metal plate 23 separately. The shielding metal plate 23 is embodied from a metal plate and has been produced in a bending and stamping process. The shielding metal plate 23 has on the plug-in side two tabs 25 that face in the plug-in direction and are arranged offset with respect to one another. As the plug-in connector 1.sup.IV and the mating plug-in connector 1.sup.V are plugged together, the tabs 25, 25′ of the respective shielding metal plates 23 engage in one another, as is apparent in FIG. 9. As a consequence, the shielding braids of the cable that is connected to the plug-in connector 1.sup.IV and the mating plug-in connector 1.sup.V are brought to the same electrical potential.

(31) FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an alternative (fourth) embodiment of a plug-in connector 1.sup.VI, 1.sup.VII The plug-in connector 1.sup.VI, 1.sup.VII comprises contact elements 4.sup.VI, 4.sup.VII. The contact elements 4.sup.VI, 4.sup.VII are held in the insulating body 2, 2′ by way of a two-part contact carrier 19′a, 19′b or by way of a three-part contact carrier 19a, 19b, 19c. The contact elements 4.sup.V, 4.sup.VII are configured for transferring large quantities of data or signals in a high frequency range. The plug-in connector 1.sup.VI, 1.sup.VII has a shielding sleeve 26 so as to electromagnetically shield the contact elements 4.sup.VI, 4.sup.VII and the shielding sleeve 26 is arranged within the insulating body 2, 2′. The shielding sleeve 26 is formed from an electrically conductive material and has on the connection side contact arms 27 that can be electrically conductively connected to the shielding braid of a connected cable (not illustrated). This connection can be supported by means of a cable tie. The shielding sleeve 26 provides the plug-in connector 1.sup.VI, 1.sup.VII with particularly high signal integrity.

(32) FIG. 12 illustrates a strain relief element 28 that is already mentioned above. The strain relief element 28 is provided so as to so as to provide strain relief for multiple conductors (not illustrated) or for a connected cable (not illustrated). The strain relief element 28 has a rectangular cross-section and can be plugged on the connection side onto the insulating body 2, 2′ and in so doing can be attached in a latching manner. In this case, the strain relief element 28 has cut-outs 29 that engage over latching webs 30 that are provided for this purpose and are formed as one on the insulating body 2, 2′. The strain relief element 28 comprises on the connection side a supporting web 31. The individual, connected conductors or the cable sheath of the connected cable can be placed on the supporting web 31. The conductors or the cable can be subsequently fixed to the supporting web 31 with the aid of a cable tie 32. A very cost-effective but yet extremely effective strain relief for the conductors and/or the cable is hereby provided.

(33) The plug-in connector 1 can be equipped with an identifying element 33, as is illustrated in FIG. 13. So as to fix the identifying elements 33 on the insulating body 2, 2′, the identifying element 33 has at each end a gripping hook 35 that respectively engage with a cut-out 34 on both sides in the insulating body 2, 2′. The identifying element 33 has a color that is different from the insulating body 2, 2′, in particular a signal color such as yellow or red or a combination of different signal colors. The identifying element 33 can be used for example so that multiple identical plug-in connectors 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1.sup.IV, 1.sup.V, 1.sup.VI, 1.sup.VII on an electrical device can be distinguished from one another.

(34) FIG. 15 illustrates a perspective illustration of a wall mounting 36. The wall mounting 36 can be attached for example to a device wall. For this purpose, the wall mountings has openings 37 into which screws (not illustrated) can engage so as to produce the attaching arrangement. The wall mounting 36 has a rectangular, flat basic shape. S-shaped fixing arms 38 protrude in a perpendicular manner from the corner regions of the basic form. A plug-in connector (1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1.sup.IV, 1.sup.V, 1.sup.VI, 1.sup.VII) can be reversibly fixed to the wall mounting 36 with the aid of the fixing arms 38. The plug-in connector (1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1.sup.IV, 1.sup.V, 1.sup.VI, 1.sup.VII) can be fixed for example to a device wall by way of the wall mounting 36. Multiple wall mountings 36 can be arranged in a row over lateral contours 41. As a consequence, it is possible to provide in particular clear device installations.

(35) FIG. 16 illustrates an alternative (fifth) embodiment of a plug-in connector 1.sup.VIII. The insulating body 2, 2′ is essentially identical to the previous embodiments. The fifth embodiment of the plug-in connector 1.sup.VIII has a holding plate 39. The holding plate 39 has receptacles 40 in which in each case a contact element 4.sup.VIII is arranged. The holding plate 39 is latched in the insulating body 2, 2′ of the plug-in connector 1″, 1′″. Finally, the contact elements 4.sup.VIII are then also attached in the insulating body 2, 2′ of the plug-in connector 1″, 1′″ by way of the holding plate 39. The contact elements 4.sup.VIII have on the connection side a crimp connection. In contrast to the embodiment variant having the contact carrier (FIGS. 3 and 4), the holding plate 39 does not form the plug-in region of the plug-in connector 1.sup.VIII.

(36) Even if different aspects or features of the invention are illustrated in the figures in each case in combination, it is obvious to the person skilled in the art—unless otherwise indicated—that the illustrated and discussed combinations are not the only possible combinations. In particular, units or feature complexes of different exemplary embodiments that correspond to one another may be exchanged with one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(37) 1 Plug-in connector 2 Insulating body 3 Attachment casing 4 Contact element 5 Bearing pin 6 Locking bracket 7 Bearing receptacle 8 Elevation 9 Contour 10 Seal 11 Lamellar structure 12 Through-going openings 13 Cable casing 14 Cable screw arrangement 15 Seal 16 Attachment tab 17 Attachment tongue 18 Latching hook 19 Contact carrier 20 Receptacle 21 Attachment tab 22 Cut-out 23 Shielding metal plate 24 Shielding braid receptacle 25 Tab 26 Shielding sleeve 27 Contact arms 28 Strain relief element 29 Cut-out 30 Latching webs 31 Supporting web 32 Cable tie 33 Identifying element 34 Cut-out 35 Latching hook 36 Wall mounting 37 Openings 38 Fixing arms 39 Holding plate 40 Receptacle 41 Contours