ALIGNMENT MODULE FOR PLUG-IN CONNECTOR

Abstract

The invention relates to an alignment module for a plug-in connector for plugging into a rectangular module frame of a modular plug-in connector, said alignment module comprising: a) a substantially rectangular module body, b) from which module body two pins protrude, c) in addition, at least one securing element which is arranged on the module body in order to secure the alignment module for the plug-in connector to the module frame of the modular plug-in connector.

Claims

1. An alignment module for plug-in connector for plugging into a rectangular module frame of a modular plug-in connector, comprising: a) a substantially rectangular module body, wherein b) two pins protrude from the module body, and c) wherein at least one securing element is also arranged on the module body in order to fix the alignment module for plug-in connector to the module frame of the modular plug-in connector.

2. The alignment module for plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the alignment module for plug-in connector is hermaphroditic.

3. The alignment module for plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the pins on the module body are each arranged at two diametrically opposed corners of the module body in a manner protruding therefrom, more specifically in the plugging direction of the alignment module for plug-in connector with respect to a module frame.

4. The alignment module for plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the pins are identical and have a rectangular cross section. (Currently Amended) The alignment module for plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the pins each have an insertion bevel at their plug-in end.

6. The alignment module for connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the securing elements are sprung.

7. The alignment module for plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the securing elements each have a detent lug or a detent recess for latching with a module frame.

8. The alignment module for plug-in connector as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the insertion bevels are arranged on the plug-in end at least at two front-end edges.

9. A modular plug-in connector comprising at least one socket module having a socket module frame, which has a plug-in grid for plugging the socket modules into one of the plug-in positions of the plug-in grid, and also a pin module having a pin module frame with an identical plug-in grid for plugging in the pin modules, wherein an alignment module for plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1 is also provided for each module frame for assembly on the module frames in opposing corresponding plug-in positions of the plug-in grid.

10. The modular plug-in connector as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the alignment modules for plug-in connector arc formed with their securing elements such that they can be plugged in any plug-in position within the plug-in grid of the module frame of the modular plug-in connector.

11. The modular plug-in connector as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that, when modules are inserted into the respective module frames, the pins of each alignment module for plug-in connector protrude relative to the end face of the respective other module, said end laces being formed by the modules, such that, as the plug-in connector pairs of the modular plug-in connector are plugged together, the opposing ends of the pins of the opposing alignment modules for plug-in connector contact one another first.

Description

[0026] The invention will be described merely by way of example hereinafter on the basis of an advantageous embodiment with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a modular plug-in connector system;

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a further side view of the modular plug-in connector system according to FIG. 1;

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the modular plug-in connector system according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of two corresponding alignment modules for plug-in connector which face one another;

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of an alignment module for plug-in connector according to FIG. 4;

[0032] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an individual alignment module for plug-in connector;

[0033] FIG. 7 shows a side view of an alignment module for plug-in connector according to FIG. 6;

[0034] FIG. 8 shows a further side view of an alignment module for plug-in connector according to FIG. 6.

[0035] An exemplary embodiment of a modular plug-in connector system 2 is illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. The modular plug-in connector system 2 is formed from a plug-in connector pair 2a, 2b. The socket plug-in connector 2a comprises a socket module frame 21, in which socket modules 20 are plugged in a defined plug-in grid A. The pin plug 3a comprises a plug module frame 31, in which pin modules 30 (formed in a corresponding manner for engagement in the socket modules 20) are inserted, likewise in a plug-in grid A of the plug-in module frame 31.

[0036] In FIG. 1 it can also be seen that an alignment module for plug-in connector 1 shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 8 is inserted both in the socket module frame 21 and the plug-in module frame 31 and is latched via its securing elements 5a, 5b.

[0037] An exemplary embodiment of an alignment module for plug-in connector 1 is illustrated in FIG. 3 to FIG. 8. The alignment module for plug-in connector 1 has a substantially rectangular module body 3, wherein two pins 4a, 4b protrude from the module body 3, and wherein at least one securing element 5a, 5b is also arranged laterally on the module body 3 in order to fix the alignment module for plug-in connector 1 to the particular module frame 21, 31.

[0038] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, the present embodiment of the alignment module for plug-in connector 1 is hermaphroditic and this module can be used both with the pin module frame 31 and in the socket module frame 21.

[0039] Provided the alignment modules for plug-in connector 1 are each arranged at corresponding plug-in positions in the plug-in grid R of the module frames 21, 31, the front ends of the pins 4a, 4b meet one another when plugged together (as can be seen in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4), such that a guidance is ensured as the plug-in connector pairs 2a, 2b are guided together.

[0040] It can also be seen that the pins 4a, 4b are identical in terms of their form and are arranged at diametrically opposed corners of the module body and protrude therefrom.

[0041] The length of the pins 4a, 4b is selected here such that they protrude beyond the end faces of the pin modules 30 or of the socket modules 20, as can be seen also in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. It is thus ensured that, prior to the engagement of a pin module 30 with a socket module 20, the opposing (protruding) ends of the pins 4a, 4b of the corresponding, facing alignment modules for plug-in connector 1 meet one another first and ensure the guidance as the plug-in connector pairs 2a, 2b are plugged further together.

[0042] For improved guidance, the pins 4a, 4b have insertion bevels 8 at their plug-in ends 7. The insertion bevels 8 are formed here such that two alignment modules for plug-in connector 1 contacting one another or engaging with one another when plugged together each form sliding planes at the insertion bevels 8, along which they are guided until the side faces of the pins 4a, 4b face one another and the plug-in connector pairs 2a, 2b are inserted further.

[0043] It can also be seen in FIG. 4 to FIG. 8 that a sprung securing element 5a, 5b is arranged on each side of the module body 3. The securing elements 5a, 5b point with their free end 5c, 5d in the plugging direction E of the module with respect to the module frame.

[0044] The securing elements 5a, 5b have two spring tongues, which are attached at their free end to the module body and at their resilient free end are interconnected via a crosspiece. An opening is thus formed between the two spring arms, which opening can be engaged by a detent lug on the module frame.

[0045] The invention is not limited in its realization to the preferred exemplary embodiments specified above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable which make use of the presented solution, even in the case of embodiments that are fundamentally different.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0046] Alignment module for plug-in connector and modular plug-in connector comprising an alignment module for plug-in connector

[0047] 1 alignment module for plug-in connector

[0048] 2 modular plug-in connector

[0049] 2a, 2b plug-in connector pairs

[0050] 3 module body

[0051] 4a, 4b pins

[0052] 5a, 5b securing elements

[0053] 5c, 5d free end

[0054] 6 corners

[0055] 7 plug-in end

[0056] 8 insertion bevels

[0057] 20 socket module

[0058] 21 socket module frame

[0059] 22 end face

[0060] 30 pin module

[0061] 31 pin module frame

[0062] 32 end face

[0063] A plug-in grid

[0064] E plugging direction

[0065] R plug-in grid