CONNECTION SYSTEM

Abstract

A connection system for electrically connecting a cable to a device connector includes a terminal lug having a connecting section having an opening for engaging the terminal lug into a connected state with the device connector. A fixation element fixes the terminal lug in place, in the connected state, on the device connector, with shape fit and/or with force fit, to produce a fixed state. The terminal lug has an elastomer overmolded onto it, at least in the region of its connecting section, that forms a holder having a wall. The fixation element forms a section of a locking unit arranged within the holder in the fixed state, at least in certain sections, that includes a cap element for covering the fixation element, at least in certain sections. The cap element presses against and elastically deforms the wall in the fixed state, at least in certain sections.

Claims

1. A connection system for electrically connecting a cable to a device connector, the connection system comprising: a terminal lug comprising a connecting section having an opening open or closed at an edge of the opening and configured to bring the terminal lug into a connected state in engagement with the device connector; a fixation element configured to fix the terminal lug in place in the connected state on the device connector with at least one of a shape fit and a force fit to produce a fixed state; and an elastomer overmold overmolded onto the terminal lug at least in a region of the connecting section to form a holder having a wall arranged on the connecting section and extending from a top side of the connecting section in a normal direction to a plane of the opening with a closed circumference; wherein the fixation element forms a section of a locking unit arranged at least in sections within the holder in the fixed state and comprising a cap element configured to cover at least sections of the fixation element; and wherein the cap element is configured to press against and elastically deform at least sections of the wall in the fixed state to achieve a seal between the wall and the cap element.

2. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the fixation element is configured to fix the terminal lug in place in the connected state of the device connector using a screw connection.

3. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the cap element is configured to be arranged in at least sections of the holder in the fixed state for elastically deforming the wall by pressure from an interior of the holder outward; and wherein the pressure has a directional component parallel to radial directions normal to the normal direction and facing outward.

4. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the cap element has a cross-section with projecting arms, in a section plane; wherein a longitudinal axis of the locking unit lies in the section plane; wherein in the fixed state, at least first sections of the arms extend with a directional component parallel to radial directions normal to the normal direction and facing outward, and at least second sections of the arms extend with a directional component anti-parallel to the normal direction; and wherein the cap element is configured to encompass at least sections of the wall with the arms in the fixed state and to elastically deform the wall by exterior pressure with a directional component counter to the radial directions.

5. The connection system according to claim 4, wherein each of the arms comprises a first arm section and a second arm section; wherein the first arm section extends parallel to one of the radial directions with a respective first directional component, and the second arm section extends with a respective second directional component anti-parallel to the normal direction; and wherein the second arm section is arranged behind the first arm section, viewed in the radial direction corresponding to the respective first directional component.

6. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the cap element has a cross-section with projecting arms, in a section plane; wherein a longitudinal axis of the locking unit lies in the section plane; wherein in the fixed state, at least certain sections of the arms extend with a directional component parallel to radial directions normal to the normal direction and facing outward; and wherein the cap element is configured to press with the arms in the fixed state against at least sections of an end face of the wall facing away from the connecting section and thereby elastically deform the wall.

7. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein at least sections of the elastomer overmold are arranged on at least one of the top side of the connecting section and an underside of the connecting section opposite the top side.

8. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the holder narrows toward the normal direction.

9. The connection system according to claim 8, wherein at least sections of the wall are configured to narrow conically toward the normal direction.

10. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the holder has inside ribs projecting away from the wall in an interior of the holder with a directional component counter to radial directions normal to the normal direction and facing outward; and/or wherein the holder has outside ribs projecting away from the wall on an outside of the holder with a directional component parallel to the radial directions; and/or wherein the holder has end-face ribs projecting away from an end face of the wall facing away from the connecting section with a directional component parallel to the normal direction.

11. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer overmold forms a sealing foot arranged on the connecting section opposite to the holder and extending in a circumferentially closed manner counter to the normal direction so as to lie against a device housing in the fixed state, forming a seal.

12. The connection system according to claim 11, wherein the sealing foot (18) has at least one circumferentially closed axial sealing lip extending with a directional component counter to the normal direction; and/or at least one circumferentially closed radial sealing lip extending with a directional component counter to radial directions facing outward normal to the normal direction.

13. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the fixation element is connected to the cap element.

14. The connection system according to claim 13, wherein the fixation element is connected to the cap element by pressing using ultrasound.

15. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the cap element is produced from a thermoplastic or from a thermoplastic having at least one filler.

16. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the cap element is produced from a polyamide reinforced with glass fibers.

17. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the cap element has an activation section formed as a screw head.

18. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the cap element has an activation section formed as a hexagonal screw head.

19. A system comprising: the connection system according to claim 1; a device housing; and a device connector arranged on the device housing.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the device housing has at least one projecting wall section spaced apart from the device connector; and wherein in the fixed state, at least sections of the wall are pressed against the at least one wall section by the cap element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0068] In the drawings,

[0069] FIG. 1 shows an axonometric view of a connection system according to the invention in a first embodiment;

[0070] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a terminal lug from FIG. 1;

[0071] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a locking unit from FIG. 1, which is indicated by the section line III-III in FIG. 1;

[0072] FIG. 4 shows an axonometric view of a device connector on a device housing;

[0073] FIG. 5 shows an axonometric view of the terminal lug from FIG. 1 in a connected state with the device connector from FIG. 4;

[0074] FIG. 6 shows a view analogous to FIG. 5, wherein the terminal lug has been brought into a fixed state with the device connector, by means of a fixation element of the locking unit;

[0075] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view that is indicated by the section line VII-VII in FIG. 6;

[0076] FIG. 8 shows a view analogous to FIG. 6, wherein a tool for tightening the locking unit or the fixation element is shown;

[0077] FIG. 9 shows a sectional view, which is indicated by the section line IX-IX in FIG. 6;

[0078] FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of the terminal lug of a second embodiment of the connection system according to the invention, analogous to FIG. 2;

[0079] FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of the locking unit of the second embodiment of the connection system according to the invention, analogous to FIG. 3;

[0080] FIG. 12 shows an axonometric view of a device connector on a further device housing;

[0081] FIG. 13 shows an axonometric view of the terminal lug from FIG. 10 in a connected state with the device connector from FIG. 12;

[0082] FIG. 14 shows a view analogous to FIG. 13, wherein the terminal lug has been brought into the fixed state with the device connector by means of the fixation element of the locking unit;

[0083] FIG. 15 shows a sectional view that is indicated by the section line XV-XV in FIG. 14;

[0084] FIG. 16 shows a sectional view of the terminal lug of a third embodiment of the connection system according to the invention, analogous to FIG. 2;

[0085] FIG. 17 shows a sectional view of the locking unit of the third embodiment of the connection system according to the invention, analogous to FIG. 3;

[0086] FIG. 18 shows an axonometric view of the terminal lug from FIG. 16 in a connected state with the device connector from FIG. 12;

[0087] FIG. 19 shows a view analogous to FIG. 18, wherein the terminal lug has been brought into the fixed state with the device connector, by means of the fixation element of the locking unit; and

[0088] FIG. 20 shows a sectional view that is indicated by the section line XX-XX in FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0089] In the axonometric view of FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a connection system 1 according to the invention is shown, for electrically connecting a cable 2 to a device connector 3. FIG. 4 shows a device connector 3 that is configured as a pin that projects away from a device housing 19.

[0090] The connection system 1 comprises a terminal lug 4, with which the cable 2 is connected in a known manner, for example by means of crimping.

[0091] As can be seen well in the sectional view of FIG. 2, the terminal lug 4 has a connecting section 5 having an opening 6 that is closed on the edge, with which opening the terminal lug 4 can be brought into engagement with the device connector 3, in particular in that the terminal lug 4 is pushed over the pin-like device connector 3 with the opening 6.

[0092] In this way, a connected state 24 is produced, which is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein the connection system 1 and the device housing 19, together with the device connector 3, form parts of a system according to the invention. As can be seen in FIG. 5, in the connected state 24 the terminal lug 4 is not fixed in place on the device connector 3, but rather can simply be raised up from it again.

[0093] For fixation of the terminal lug 4 on the device connector 3, the connection system 1 comprises a fixation element 7, with which the terminal lug 4 can be fixed in place on the device connector 3 in the connected state 24, with shape fit and/or with force fit, in particular by means of a screwed connection, to produce a fixed state 25. Such a fixed state 25 is illustrated in FIG. 6. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the fixation takes place by means of a screwed connection, wherein in FIG. 7, accordingly, an outside thread 21 is indicated on the device connector 3, and the fixation element 7 has a matching inside thread (not shown), so that the fixation element 7 can be screwed onto the device connector 3.

[0094] As can be seen in the sectional view of FIG. 2, the terminal lug 4 is overmolded with an elastomer in the region of its connecting section 5. In this regard, the elastomer overmold 12 forms a holder 8 having a wall 15 that is arranged on the connecting section 5 and extends in a normal direction 9, with a closed circumference, wherein the normal direction 9 stands normal on a plane of the opening 6 and faces away from a top side 10 of the connecting section 5.

[0095] The fixation element 7 forms a section of a locking unit 13 of the connection system 1. The locking unit 13 furthermore comprises a cap element 14, which covers the fixation element 7, at least in certain sections, see FIG. 3, which shows a sectional view according to the section line III-III in FIG. 1.

[0096] In the fixed state 25, the locking unit 13 is arranged within the holder 8, at least in certain sections, see FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. In this regard, the cap element 14 is designed or set up so as to press against the wall 15 in the fixed state 25 and deform it elastically, at least in certain sections, so as to achieve a seal between the wall 15 and the cap element 14. In total, in this way a seal of the device connector 3 is achieved from that side of the terminal lug 4 on which the holder 8 is arranged.

[0097] In the first exemplary embodiment shown, the locking unit 13 or the cap element 14 presses against the wall 15 from the inside to the outside in the fixed state, see FIG. 7, which shows a sectional view along the section line VII-VII in FIG. 6. In other words, the cap element 14 is set up for being arranged in the holder 8 in the fixed state 25, at least in certain sections, and, in this regard, elastically deforming the wall 15 by means of pressure from the interior of the holder 8 to the outside, with a directional component parallel to radial directions 16 that stand normal to the normal direction 9 and face outward.

[0098] As is also clearly evident from FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, in the first exemplary embodiment shown, the holder 8 has ribs 17 that lie on the inside, which project away from the wall 15 with a directional component counter to the radial directions 16. Accordingly, the ribs 17 that lie on the inside are elastically deformed by the cap element 14, in the fixed state, and thereby an improvement in the sealing effect is achieved.

[0099] In this regard, the ribs 17 that lie on the inside run in a circumferentially closed manner.

[0100] Finally, FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, in particularand, in an analogous manner, FIG. 10 and FIG. 15 as well as FIG. 16 and FIG. 20show that the elastomer overmold 12 is arranged, in all the exemplary embodiments shown, also on the top side 10 of the connecting section 5 and on an underside 11 of the connecting section 5 that lies opposite the top side 10, in certain sections. The increase in mechanical stability of the elastomer overmold 12 brought about in this manner has an advantageous effect on the sealing effect, because correspondingly high forces can be applied to the wall 15 by means of the cap element 14, so as to bring about elastic deformation of the wall, without an additional counter-bearing for the wall 15 necessarily being required.

[0101] In all the exemplary embodiments shown, the elastomer overmold 12 furthermore forms a sealing foot 18, which is arranged on the connecting section 5 opposite to the holder 8, and extends counter to the normal direction 9, in a circumferentially closed manner, see FIG. 2, FIG. 10, and FIG. 16, so as to lie against the device housing 19, forming a seal, in the fixed state 25. In this way, sealing of the device connector 3 can be achieved not just from that side of the terminal lug 4 on which the holder 8 is arranged, but also from the opposite side, which faces the device housing 19 in the fixed state 25, so that the device connector 3 can be sealed off from all sides.

[0102] In all the exemplary embodiments shown, the sealing foot 18 has two concentric axial sealing lips 20, which run with a closed circumference and extend with a directional component counter to the normal direction 9. Furthermore, the sealing foot 18 has a radial sealing lip 34, which runs with a closed circumference and extends with a directional component counter to the radial directions 16. The axial sealing lips 20 improve the sealing effect, in that they are pressed against the device housing 19, in the fixed state 25, with a directional component anti-parallel to the normal direction 9, and deform elastically, see FIG. 7, FIG. 15, and FIG. 20. The radial sealing lip 34 improves the sealing effect in that it is pressed against the device housing 19, in the fixed state 25, with a directional component anti-parallel to the radial directions 16, and thereby deforms elastically, see FIG. 7, FIG. 15, and FIG. 20.

[0103] In all the exemplary embodiments shown, the fixation element 7 and the cap element 14 are connected to one another by means of pressing using ultrasound. In this regard, the cap element 14 is produced from a polyamide reinforced with glass fibers, in each instance. In this regard, the cap element 14 is provided with an activation section 22 that is configured as a hex head, so as to allow problem-free engagement of a tool 23, see FIG. 8, so that a specific tightening torque, for example, can be set when it is screwed onto the device connector 3, in a problem-free manner.

[0104] In the system according to the invention that is shown in connection with the first embodiment of the connection system 1 according to the invention, the device housing 19 has two projecting wall sections 26, which are spaced apart from the device connector 3, see FIG. 4. In this regard, the two wall sections 26 are arranged to lie opposite one another and cover an angle range around the device connector 3 that lies in the range from 120? to 180?.

[0105] As is illustrated in FIG. 9, the cap element 14, in the fixed state 25, presses the wall 15 against the wall sections 26. In other words, the wall sections 26 act as counter-bearings for the wall 15. Accordingly, the sealing effect is increased once again, at least in the region of the wall sections 26. Furthermore, the wall sections 26 offer protection against mechanical effects from the outside against the device connector 3 or against the holder 8 and the terminal lug 4 in the connected state 24 and in the fixed state 25, in certain sections.

[0106] FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of the terminal lug 4 of a second embodiment of the connection system 1 according to the invention. FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of the related locking unit 13. Fundamentally, what has been said with regard to the first embodiment of the connection system 1 according to the invention applies, unless something different is explicitly indicated, and therefore no repetition will be made.

[0107] In contrast to the first embodiment, the cap element 14 has a cross-section with particularly marked, projecting arms 28 in a section plane that corresponds to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 11, wherein a longitudinal axis 27 of the locking unit 13 lies in the section plane. The arms 28 in FIG. 11 result from a cut through a circumferential section of the cap element 14, which circumferential section has a brim-like form in an axonometric view of the locking unit 13 or of the cap element 14, see FIG. 14.

[0108] In the fixed state 25, the arms 28 run parallel to one of the radial directions 16 in a first arm section 29, and with a directional component anti-parallel to the normal direction 9 in a second arm section 30, in each instance, wherein the second arm section 30 is arranged behind the first arm section 29, viewed in the corresponding radial direction 16, see FIG. 11.

[0109] By means of the arms 28, the cap element can encompass the wall 15 at least in certain sections, or the cap element 14 is accordingly set up for encompassing the wall 15, at least in certain sections, in the fixed state 25, with the arms 28, and for elastically deforming the wall 15 by means of pressure from the outside, with a directional component counter to the radial directions 16. The desired seal is achieved, once again, by means of the elastic deformation of the wall 15.

[0110] To improve the sealing effect, in the second exemplary embodiment shown, the holder 8 has ribs 32 that lie on the outside, which project outward from the wall 15 with a directional component parallel to the radial directions 16, and are deformed by the cap element 14 in the fixed state 25, see FIG. 15. The arms 28, in particular the second arm sections 30, are dimensioned in such a manner, in this regard, that all the ribs 32 that lie on the outside are contacted by the cap element 14 in the fixed state 25. In this regard, the ribs 32 that lie on the outside run in a circumferentially closed manner.

[0111] Although ribs that lie on the inside are not excluded, they are not provided in the second exemplary embodiment shown, see FIG. 10.

[0112] With regard to the system according to the invention, comprising the connection system 1 according to the invention and the device housing 19 having the device connector 3, it should be noted that the device housing 19 shown in connection with the second exemplary embodiment does not have any projecting wall sections, see FIG. 12, which shows the device housing 19, and FIG. 13, which shows the connected state 24 with the terminal lug 4 arranged on the device housing 19. Accordingly, in the fixed state 25, the wall 15 is also not pressed against wall sections, see FIG. 15.

[0113] FIG. 16 shows a sectional view of the terminal lug 4 of a third embodiment of the connection system 1 according to the invention. FIG. 17 shows a sectional view of the related locking unit 13. Fundamentally, what has been said with regard to the first embodiment of the connection system 1 according to the invention applies, unless something different is explicitly indicated, and therefore no repetition will be made.

[0114] In contrast to the first embodiment, the cap element 14 has a cross-section with particularly marked, projecting arms 28 in a section plane that corresponds to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 17, wherein the longitudinal axis 27 of the locking unit 13 lies in the section plane. The arms 28 in FIG. 17 result from a cut through a circumferential section of the cap element 14, which circumferential section has a brim-like form in an axonometric view of the locking unit 13 or of the cap element 14, see FIG. 19.

[0115] In the fixed state 25, the arms 28 run, at least in certain sections, with a directional component parallel to the radial directions 16, wherein the cap element 14 is set up for pressing against an end face 31 of the wall 15 with the arms 28, at least in certain sections, in the fixed state 25, and thereby elastically deforming the wall 15. Once again, the desired seal is achieved by means of the elastic deformation of the wall 15.

[0116] In concrete terms, also in the third exemplary embodiment, the arms 28, in the fixed state 25, run with a directional component parallel to one of the radial directions 16 in the first arm section 29, and with a directional component anti-parallel to the normal direction 9 in the second arm section 30, in each instance, wherein the second arm section 30 is arranged behind the first arm section 29, viewed in the corresponding radial direction 16, see FIG. 17. For the function described above, of pressing against the end face 31 of the wall 15, the first arm section 29 is decisive. Accordingly, in the third exemplary embodiment, in comparison with the second exemplary embodiment, the expanse of the arms 28 in the second arm section 30 is clearly reduced. In the case of the third exemplary embodiment, the corresponding second arm section 30 serves, above all, for guiding the wall 15 and ensuring that the wall 15 does not slide away outward from the corresponding first arm section 29 in the region of the end face 31, parallel to the radial directions 16.

[0117] In the third exemplary embodiment shown, to improve the sealing effect, the holder 8 has two end-face ribs 33 that project away from the end face 31 of the wall 15 with a directional component parallel to the normal direction 9, and are deformed by the cap element 14 in the fixed state 25, see FIG. 20. The end-face ribs 33 run with a closed circumference and are arranged concentrically.

[0118] The arms 28, in particular the first arm sections 29, are dimensioned, in this regard, in such a manner that in the fixed state 25, all the end-face ribs 33 are contacted by the cap element 14.

[0119] Although ribs that lie on the inside as well as ribs that lie on the outside are not excluded, they are not provided in the third exemplary embodiment shown, see FIG. 16.

[0120] With regard to the system according to the invention, comprising the connection system 1 according to the invention and the device housing 19 with the device connector 3, it should be noted that the device housing 19 shown in connection with the third exemplary embodiment does not have any projecting wall sections, see FIG. 12, which shows the device housing 19, and FIG. 18, which shows the connected state 24 with the terminal lug 4 arranged on the device housing 19. Accordingly, in the fixed state 25 the wall 15 is also not pressed against wall sections, see FIG. 20.

[0121] Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.