MODULAR PLUG CONNECTOR

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a modular plug connector which has a plug comprising a plurality of plug modules and has a mating plug comprising a plurality of mating plug modules, in which each plug module forms a plug module pair with a mating plug module, wherein the plug and the mating plug can assume an interconnected state and wherein at least one of the plug module pairs has at least one locking device, which can assume a locking state in the interconnected state of the plug and the mating plug, in which locking state the locking device prevents the plug module and the mating plug module of said plug module pair from separating from each other.

Claims

1. A modular plug-and-socket connector, which comprises a plug including a plurality of plug modules and a mating connector including a plurality of mating connector modules, in which one plug module and one mating connector module form one plug module pair in each case, wherein the plug and the mating connector can assume an interconnected state in which the plug module and the mating connector module of each of the plug module pairs are interconnected, and can assume a separated state in which the plug module and the mating connector module of each of the plug module pairs are separated from each other, and wherein at least one of the plug module pairs comprises at least one locking device which, in the interconnected state of the plug and the mating connector, can assume a locking state in which the locking device prevents the plug module and the mating connector module of this plug module pair from separating from each other, and can assume a release state in which the plug module and the mating connector module of this plug module pair can be separated from each other.

2. The modular plug-and-socket connector of claim 1, in which the locking device transitions from the release state into the locking state when the temperature of the modular plug-and-socket connector or the plug module pair comprising the locking device increases, and transitions from the locking state into the release state when the temperature of the modular plug-and-socket connector or the plug module pair comprising the locking device decreases.

3. The modular plug-and-socket connector of claim 1, in which the at least one locking device comprises at least one element made of a shape memory alloy.

4. The modular plug-and-socket connector of claim 1, in which the at least one locking device comprises an activatable actuator including a movable connection element which, upon activation of the actuator by appropriate control signals, can be transferred between an opening position and a closing position, wherein the at least one locking device assumes the release state when the connection element is in the opening position and assumes the locking state when the connection element is in the closing position.

5. The modular plug-and-socket connector of claim 4, in which the plug module comprises the actuator, and the mating connector module comprises a receptacle in which the connection element can be accommodated in the closing position, or in which the mating connector module comprises the actuator, and the plug module comprises a receptacle in which the connection element can be accommodated in the closing position.

6. The modular plug-and-socket connector of claim 4, which comprises a temperature-measuring device for measuring a temperature of the modular plug-and-socket connector, and a control device, wherein the control device is configured for activating the actuator and for transferring the locking device from the release state into the locking state or from the locking state into the release state if a temperature measured by the temperature-measuring device exceeds or falls below a predefined limiting value.

7. The modular plug-and-socket connector of claim 1, in which the plug module pair comprising the locking device includes a display which is configured for displaying whether the locking device is presently in the release state or in the locking state.

8. The modular plug-and-socket connector of claim 1, in which, in the interconnected state of the plug and the mating connector, at least one plug module pair is designed as at least one power supply line and/or at least one plug module pair is designed as at least one optical waveguide and/or at least one plug module pair is designed as at least one fluid line.

9. The modular plug-and-socket connector of claim 8, comprising a connection socket which can be connected to an external connection mating socket for supplying at least one plug module pair with current and/or for supplying at least one plug module pair with light and/or for supplying at least one plug module pair with fluid.

10. The modular plug-and-socket connector of claim 9, in which the connection socket and at least one element of the locking device are situated on the plug or mating connector.

11. The modular plug-and-socket connector of claim 8, in which the locking device is configured for assuming the locking state when at least one plug module pair conducts the light and/or when at least one plug module pair conducts the current and/or when at least one plug module pair conducts the fluid and/or when there is a voltage present at at least one plug module pair.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail in the following on the basis of the attached drawings. In the drawings:

[0033] FIG. 1A shows a schematic three-dimensional representation of a first exemplary embodiment of a modular plug-and-socket connector,

[0034] FIGS. 1B to 1D each show a highly schematic representation of a plug module pair of the plug-and-socket connector according to FIG. 1A in different situations, wherein the plug module pair comprises a locking device,

[0035] FIGS. 2A and 2B each show a highly schematic representation of a second exemplary embodiment of a modular plug-and-socket connector,

[0036] FIGS. 2C to 2E each show a highly schematic representation of a plug module pair of the plug-and-socket connector according to FIGS. 2A and 2B in different situations, wherein the plug module pair comprises a locking device, and

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a plug of a modular plug-and-socket connector according to one embodiment, comprising a connection socket, together with a connection mating socket.

[0038] The modular plug-and-socket connector 10 according to FIG. 1A comprises a plug 12 including a plurality of plug modules 14 and comprises a mating connector 16 including a plurality of mating connector modules 18. In the modular plug-and-socket connector 10, one plug module 14 and one mating connector module 18 form one plug module pair 20 or 21 in each case.

[0039] The plug 12 and the mating connector 16 can assume an interconnected state (not illustrated in FIG. 1A) in which plug module 14 and mating connector module 18 of each of the plug module pairs 20 are interconnected, and the plug 12 and the mating connector 16 can assume a disconnected state (as illustrated in FIG. 1A) in which plug module 14 and mating connector module 18 of each of the plug module pairs 20, 21 are separated from each other.

[0040] In the connected state of the plug 12 and the mating connector 16, three adjacent plug module pairs 21 are each designed as power supply lines for transmitting control signals or greater electrical currents and two other adjacent plug module pairs 20 are designed, in the connected state, as fluid lines for transmitting fluid in the form of compressed air.

[0041] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1A, a plug module pair 20 comprises a locking device 22. This plug module pair 20 is illustrated highly schematically in FIGS. 1B to 1D. The highly schematically illustrated locking device 22 of the plug module pair 20 comprises an element 28 made of a shape memory alloy. The locking device 22, in the connected state of the plug 12 and the mating connector 16, can assume a locking state 24in order to secure the connection of plug 12 and mating connector 16 against an inadvertent disconnection or separationin which the locking device prevents the plug module 14 and the mating connector module 18 of the plug module pair 20 from separating from each other (see FIG. 1D). Furthermore, the locking device 22 can assume a release state 26 in which plug module 14 and mating connector 18 of the plug module pair 20 can be separated from each other (see FIG. 1C).

[0042] When there is a temperature increase of the modular plug-and-socket connector 10 or the plug module pair 20 of at least 10 degrees Celsius with respect to the ambient temperature, the locking device 22 transitions from the release state 26 into the locking state 24 as a result of the modular plug-and-socket connector 10 or the plug module pair 20 heating up, and transitions from the locking state 24 into the release state 26 when there is a temperature decrease or cooling of the modular plug-and-socket connector 10 or the plug module pair 20 to ambient temperature. The transition into the locking state takes place passively, specifically by way of the element 28 made of the shape memory alloy extending as a result of the phase transition induced by the temperature increase and, in the extended state, pressing the mating connector module 18 against the plug module 14, i.e., forming or establishing a force-locked connection between the plug module 14 and the mating connector module 18.

[0043] FIGS. 2A and 2B each show a highly schematic representation of a second exemplary embodiment of a modular plug-and-socket connector 10 according to the present disclosure. Two plug module pairs 20 of the modular plug-and-socket connector 10 are formed, in the connected state of the plug 12 and mating connector 16 (see FIG. 2B), as power supply line 42. In the connected state of the plug 12 and the mating connector 16, one plug module pair 20 is designed as optical waveguide 44. Another plug module pair 20, however, does not perform a conduction function, but rather is utilized only for securing the existing connection between plug 12 and mating connector 16, wherein this plug module pair 20 comprises a locking device 22 which is illustrated in greater schematic detail in FIGS. 2C to 2E.

[0044] The locking device 22 according to FIGS. 2C to 2E comprises an activatable actuator 30 including a movable connection element 32 which, upon activation of the actuator 30 by means of control signals in the form of an opening signal 34 or a closing signal 35, can be transferred between an opening position (see FIG. 2D) and a closing position (see FIG. 2E), wherein the locking device 22 assumes the release state 26 when the connection element 32 is in the opening position and assumes the locking state 24 when the connection element 32 is in the closing position. The actuator 30 is provided with a supply voltage 39 (illustrated only in FIG. 2C which shows the plug module 14 and the mating connector module 18 in the separated state) which can be provided at the modular plug-and-socket connector 10 or outside thereof.

[0045] In the case of the locking device 22, the mating connector module 18 comprises the actuator 30 and the plug module 14 comprises a receptacle 36 of the locking device 22, in which the connection element 32 can be accommodated in the closing position.

[0046] In the second exemplary embodiment of the modular plug-and-socket connector 10, the plug-and-socket connector 10 comprises a temperature-measuring device 38 for measuring a temperature of the modular plug-and-socket connector 10 at the plug module 14 of the plug module pair 20 comprising the locking device 22 (see FIGS. 2C to 2E). Furthermore, the modular plug-and-socket connector 10 comprises a control device 40 (illustrated highly schematically in FIGS. 2C to 2E), wherein the control device 40 is configured for activating the actuator 30 and for transferring the locking device 22 from the release state 26 into the locking state 24 or from the locking state 24 into the release state 26 if a temperature measured by the temperature-measuring device 38 exceeds or falls below a predefined limiting value.

[0047] The plug 12 of a modular plug-and-socket connector according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, which is illustrated in FIG. 3, comprises a connection socket 48 which can be connected to an external connection mating socket 50, specifically for supplying each plug module pair of the plug-and-socket connector with current or light or fluid depending on how the particular plug module pair is configured. The connection mating socket 50 is fastened on a housing wall 51 of a control cabinet (not illustrated) of a system. The connection socket 48 and the greatest number of elements or parts of the locking device 22 are situated on the plug 12.

[0048] In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.