End-position fixing of a plug-in connection for increasing the vibration resistance

Abstract

A plug system for high-current plug-in connections includes a cable harness plug including an electrical line, and a unit including an interface for establishing an electrical connection between the cable harness plug and the unit. The plug system also includes a first fixing element for fixing the cable harness plug to the interface in a form-locked manner. The plug system also includes a second fixing element which is configured for fixing the cable harness plug and/or the line to the unit in a form-locked manner so that a movement of the cable harness plug and/or of the line in parallel and perpendicularly to a mating direction of the cable harness plug is prevented.

Claims

1. A plug system for a high-current plug-in connection, comprising: a cable harness plug including an electrical line; a unit including an interface for establishing an electrical connection between the cable harness plug and the unit; a first fixing element, fastened on the cable harness plug and rotatable about an axis, to fix the cable harness plug to the interface in a form-locked manner; and a second fixing element to fix the cable harness plug and/or the line to the unit in a second form-locked manner so that a movement of the cable harness plug and/or of the line in parallel to a mating direction of the cable harness plug is prevented, wherein the second fixing element is detachable from the cable harness plug and unit, and the second fixing element includes a base body and a rotatable body, the rotatable body being rotatable relative to the base body.

2. The plug system of claim 1, wherein the second fixing element includes a quick-release closure.

3. The plug system of claim 1, wherein there is a locking element on the unit, and wherein the second fixing element is configured to engage in the second form-locked manner with the locking element so that the second fixing element is fixed to the unit in the second form-locked manner.

4. The plug system of claim 3, wherein the locking element includes two oppositely situated locking pins which are perpendicular with respect to the mating direction and face away from the unit.

5. The plug system of claim 1, wherein the second fixing element is situated on the cable harness plug, and wherein the second fixing element is supported so that it is rotatable about a second axis which extends through the cable harness plug, perpendicularly with respect to the mating direction.

6. The plug system of claim 1, wherein there is a first engagement element on the base body, wherein the cable harness plug includes an accommodation element, and wherein the first engagement element engages in a form-locked manner with the accommodation element when the second fixing element is fixed to the unit.

7. The plug system of claim 1, wherein the base body is configured to accommodate the electrical line, and wherein the rotatable body fixes the second fixing element and the electrical line accommodated in the base body to the unit in a form-locked manner.

8. The plug system of claim 1, wherein the second fixing element fixes the cable harness plug and the line to the unit in the second form-locked manner so that the movement of the cable harness plug and of the line in parallel to the mating direction of the cable harness plug is prevented.

9. The plug system of claim 1, wherein the rotatable body is rotatable about a second axis different from the axis about which the first fixing element is rotatable.

10. The plug system of claim 1, wherein the unit includes a locking element to engage the second fixing element.

11. The plug system of claim 10, wherein the locking element includes a pin extending perpendicular to the mating direction of the cable harness plug to the unit.

12. The plug system of claim 1, wherein the unit includes protrusions on which cable harness plug and line are aligned.

13. The plug system of claim 1, wherein the second fixing element includes a first engagement element that engages with a corresponding engagement element on the plug.

14. The plug system of claim 13, wherein the second fixing element includes a second engagement element that engages with a corresponding engagement element on the unit.

15. A plug system for a high-current plug-in connection, comprising: a cable harness plug including an electrical line; a unit including an interface for establishing an electrical connection between the cable harness plug and the unit; a first fixing element to fix the cable harness plug to the interface in a form-locked manner; and a second fixing element to fix the cable harness plug and/or the line to the unit in a form-locked manner so that a movement of the cable harness plug and/or of the line in parallel to a mating direction of the cable harness plug is prevented, wherein the second fixing element includes a separate component, wherein the second fixing element includes a base body and a rotatable body, and wherein the rotatable body is movable relative to the base body, and wherein there is a second engagement element on the base body, wherein the unit includes a pressing element, and wherein the second engagement element presses the electrical line against the pressing element when the second fixing element is fixed to the unit.

16. A method for manufacturing a plug system for a high-current plug-in connection, the method comprising: providing a cable harness plug including an electrical line; providing a unit including an interface for establishing an electrical connection between the cable harness plug and the unit; fixing the cable harness plug to the interface in a form-locked manner with a first fixing element fastened on the cable harness plug and rotatable about an axis; and fixing the cable harness plug and/or the line to the unit in a second form-locked manner with a second fixing element so that a movement of the cable harness plug and/or of the line in parallel to a mating direction of the cable harness plug is prevented, wherein the second fixing element is detachable from the cable harness plug and unit, and the second fixing element includes a base body and a rotatable body, the rotatable body being rotatable relative to the base body.

17. A plug system for a high-current plug-in connection, comprising: a cable harness plug including an electrical line; a unit including an interface for establishing an electrical connection between the cable harness plug and the unit; a first fixing element to fix the cable harness plug to the interface in a form-locked manner; and a second fixing element to fix the cable harness plug and/or the line to the unit in a form-locked manner so that a movement of the cable harness plug and/or of the line in parallel to a mating direction of the cable harness plug is prevented, wherein the second fixing element is detachable from the cable harness plug and unit, wherein the second fixing element includes a base body and a rotatable body, and wherein the rotatable body is movable relative to the base body, and wherein the first fixing element includes a locking lever, locking pins are provided on the unit, and the locking lever engages the locking pins.

18. The plug system of claim 17, wherein the rotatable body is rotatable relative to the base body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows side views of a plug system according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in different states.

(2) FIG. 2 shows side views of a plug system according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in different states.

(3) FIG. 3 shows side views of a plug system according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in different states.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) The figures illustrate side views of various specific embodiments of plug system 1. Plug system 1 includes a cable harness plug 3 including an electrical line 5 or a cable. In addition, plug system 1 includes a unit 7 including an interface 9 for establishing an electrical connection between cable harness plug 3 and unit 7. Unit 7 may be an electric machine, for example. Interface 9 includes a plug collar or an interface socket into which cable harness plug 3 is insertable.

(5) A first fixing element 11 is provided on cable harness plug 3. First fixing element 11 may be fastened on cable harness plug 3 so that the first fixing element is rotatable about an axis. First fixing element 11 may be configured as a locking lever between cable harness plug 3 and interface 9. First fixing element 11 fastens cable harness plug 3 to interface 9, without play, in a form-locked and optionally a force-fit manner. For this purpose, locking pins may be provided at interface 9 or at the outer periphery of the interface socket, perpendicularly with respect to mating direction 15 and facing away from interface 9, first fixing element 11 engaging with the locking pins, for example with the aid of an engagement hook, after the lever is actuated.

(6) In addition, plug system 1 includes a second fixing element 13. Second fixing element 13 fixes electrical line 5 and/or cable harness plug 3, without play, directly to unit 7 in addition to the actual plug locking via first fixing element 11. As a result, interface 9 and cable harness plug 3 have the same vibration level, thus minimizing wear on the electrical contact elements of plug system 1.

(7) Due to the fixing with the aid of the second contact element, a movement of cable harness plug 3 and/or of line 5 in parallel to mating direction 15 of cable harness plug 3 is prevented. A locking element 17 may be provided on unit 7 for this purpose. Locking element 17 may be configured as a pin or as an engagement hook. In particular, locking element 17 may be configured in the form of two locking pins situated perpendicularly on unit 7, opposite from one another with respect to mating direction 15. In all exemplary embodiments, second fixing element 13 is configured as a quick-release closure, as the result of which installation time and installation space may be saved.

(8) In plug systems 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, second fixing element 13 is configured to be separate from the other components of plug system 1. In contrast, in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2, the second fixing element is rotatably mounted on cable harness plug 3. Second fixing element 13 shown in FIG. 1 fixes electrical line 5 as well as cable harness plug 3 directly to unit 7. Second fixing element 13 illustrated in FIG. 2 fixes only cable harness plug 3 directly to unit 7. In contrast, second fixing element 13 shown in FIG. 3 fixes only electrical line 5 directly to unit 7.

(9) FIG. 1 illustrates different positions or closing states of plug system 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 1A shows plug system 1 in an attachment position without second fixing element 13. Cable harness plug 3 is guided on unit 7 and situated opposite from interface 9. However, the electrical contact elements of interface 9 and of cable harness plug 3 are not yet in electrical contact. In addition, first fixing element 11 is in an open position. Protrusions on which cable harness plug 3 and electrical line 5 may be aligned and positioned are provided on unit 7. These protrusions may also provide a connection geometry for second fixing element 13.

(10) Cable harness plug 3 and the interface collar are plugged together in FIG. 1B. This means that the plug-in connection is closed. In addition, first fixing element 11 is closed, so that cable harness plug 3 is connected to interface 9 without play. Second fixing element 13, which is configured to be separate from the components of the plug system, is open and in an attachment position.

(11) Second fixing element 13 shown in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1 includes a base body 29 and a rotatable body 31. Rotatable body 31 is supported so that it is movable with respect to base body 29. In particular, rotatable body 31 is mounted on base body 29 so that the former is rotatable about a rotational axis 19. Base body 29 includes a first engagement element 21 and a second engagement element 23. In addition, an accommodation element 25, which is configured for accommodating first engagement element 21, is provided on cable harness plug 3.

(12) As illustrated in FIG. 1C, accommodation element 25 cooperates with first engagement element 21 in order to position and align second fixing element 13. In addition, a pressing element 27 in the form of an elevation, optionally with a rough surface, is provided on unit 7. If second fixing element 13 is actuated by rotating rotatable body 31 about rotational axis 19 and transferred into the closed position, as shown in FIG. 1D, second engagement element 23 presses electrical line 5 against pressing element 27. This is indicated by arrows in FIG. 1D. At the same time, cable harness plug 3 is also fixed to unit 7 in a form-locked, and optionally a force-fit, manner. This is also indicated by arrows in FIG. 1D.

(13) FIG. 2 illustrates different positions or closing states of plug system 1 according to a second exemplary embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, second fixing element 13, in contrast to FIGS. 1 and 3, is premounted on cable harness plug 3 and supported so that it is rotatable about a rotational axis 19. In addition, in this embodiment, in contrast to the embodiments in FIGS. 1 and 3, second fixing element 13 includes no base body, but, rather, includes only a rotatable body which is mounted directly on the cable harness plug. In FIG. 2A the plug-in connection is open and, similarly to FIG. 1A, is in the attachment position. First fixing element 11 as well as second fixing element 13 are in an open position.

(14) Cable harness plug 3 and the interface collar, similarly to FIG. 1B, are plugged together and first fixing element 11 is closed in FIG. 2B. Second fixing element 13 is open, and is loosely engaged on or in locking element 17. Second fixing element 13 is actuated or closed in FIG. 2C, so that locking element 17 engages in a form-locked manner with a slot on second fixing element 13. In this way, second fixing element 13 mounted on cable harness plug 3 fixes cable harness plug 3 to unit 7 in a form-locked, and optionally a force-fit, manner.

(15) FIG. 3 illustrates different positions or closing states of plug system 1 according to a third exemplary embodiment. Second fixing element 13, similarly to FIG. 1, is configured as a separate component. Base body 29 of second fixing element 13 is configured for accommodating electrical line 5. The plug-in connection is closed in FIG. 3A. In addition, first fixing element 11 is in a closed position. Second fixing element 13 is in an attachment position and is open. Second fixing element 13, in comparison to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, is attached at a greater distance on line 5. In FIG. 3B, second fixing element 13 is pushed onto line 5 in such a way that line 5 is accommodated in base body 29. Second fixing element 13 is closed in FIG. 3C, so that a slot in rotatable body 31 engages with locking element 17 on unit 7, and line 5 is fixed to unit 7 in a form-locked, and optionally a force-fit, manner.

(16) In conclusion, it is noted that expressions such as including or the like are not intended to rule out that further elements or steps may be provided. In addition, it is pointed out that a or an do not exclude a plurality.

(17) Furthermore, features described in conjunction with the various specific embodiments may be arbitrarily combined with one another. Moreover, it is noted that any reference numerals in the claims are not to be construed as limiting their scope.