WO2019201913A1 - Connecteur mâle - Google Patents

Connecteur mâle Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2019201913A1
WO2019201913A1 PCT/EP2019/059796 EP2019059796W WO2019201913A1 WO 2019201913 A1 WO2019201913 A1 WO 2019201913A1 EP 2019059796 W EP2019059796 W EP 2019059796W WO 2019201913 A1 WO2019201913 A1 WO 2019201913A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
connector
receptacle
guiding
guiding element
elements
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/EP2019/059796
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Christian Hengel
Louis DELORENZI
Olivier JUND
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Staeubli Electrical Connectors AG
Original Assignee
Staeubli Electrical Connectors AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Staeubli Electrical Connectors AG filed Critical Staeubli Electrical Connectors AG
Publication of WO2019201913A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019201913A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
    • H01R13/631—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances for engagement only
    • H01R13/6315—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances for engagement only allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/64—Means for preventing incorrect coupling
    • H01R13/645—Means for preventing incorrect coupling by exchangeable elements on case or base
    • H01R13/6453—Means for preventing incorrect coupling by exchangeable elements on case or base comprising pin-shaped elements, capable of being orientated in different angular positions around their own longitudinal axes, e.g. pins with hexagonal base

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a connector for establishing a plug connection with a mating connector according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a connector system comprising such a connector and a mating connector according to the preamble of claim 8.
  • Connector systems comprising a connector and a mating connector are widely used in order to interface system components with each other or with other systems.
  • connector systems comprising a pin-side connector and a socket-side connector can be used in order to provide an electrical contact or to establish a fluid-tight connection in fluidic systems. A proper alignment of the connectors can however be difficult.
  • FR 2 947 674 discloses a connector system comprising a connector that is mounted on a support.
  • the support comprises two protruding guiding elements for guiding the connection of a pin-side connector with a socket-side connector.
  • the guiding elements are arranged laterally on the pin-side connector, wherein electrical contact elements are provided between said guiding elements. Since the support is connected to a base by means of resilient elements, an elastic articulation is provided between the pin-side and the socket-side connector.
  • a connector according to claim 1 a connector for establishing a plug connection with a mating comiector by plugging together the connector with the mating connector along a plugging direction, wherein the connector comprises:
  • the guiding element has an elongated design and protrudes from the connector.
  • the guiding element is arranged centrally on the connector with regard to the outer walls of the connector housing.
  • the protruding guiding element serves the purpose of guiding the connector upon its connection with the mating connector. Said guidance enables a targeted connection, in which the connector is properly placed in relation to the mating connector.
  • the guiding element can thus also be seen as a centering aid.
  • Properly placed in the present context means that any misalignment between the connector and the mating connector is reduced or even prevented, and wherein the connector is arranged horizontally and/or vertically and/or angularly aligned with respect to the mating connector such that a stable and functional connection, and as a result, a reliable connection with the mating connector is achieved. Said horizontal and/or vertical and/or angular alignment is further made possible in that the connector can be resiliently mounted and thus fastened in a movable manner because of the at least one resilient element.
  • a centrally arranged guiding element means that when the connector is viewed in the cross-section said guiding element is arranged centrally, i.e. in the center of the connector.
  • a central axis running centrally through the connector runs through the guiding element.
  • the guiding element is arranged centrally with respect to the outer walls of the connector housing.
  • the connector could correspond to an electrical or a fluidic connector.
  • the functional contact established between the connector and the mating connector can then be an electrical contact or a fluidic contact.
  • the connector and the mating connector correspond to a pin-side connector and a socket-side connector, wherein the connector elements provided on said connectors are electrical pins and electrical sockets, respectively.
  • the connector and the mating connector correspond to an inlet-side connector and an outlet-side connector, wherein the connector elements correspond to fluid path inlets and fluid path outlets provided on said connectors which allow a fluid communication or connection between said fluid paths.
  • Possible connections established by the connector and the mating connector are not only electrical or fluidic, but also thermocouple pressure contacts, coaxial, optical fiber, compressed air, liquid, electrical and PE, or data transfer, respectively.
  • the connector preferably comprises one single guiding element. That is, it is preferred to arrange only one guiding element on the connector, wherein said single guiding element is already capable of properly guiding the connector due to its central positioning on the connector. The fact that only one single guiding element is needed simplifies the construction of the connector. However, it is conceivable to additionally provide two or more such guiding elements, wherein the additional two or more guiding elements are arranged elsewhere on the connector, for example laterally on the connector housing. In the case of two additional guiding elements, the connector could comprise the centrally arranged guiding element as mentioned above plus in each case one guiding element on each side of the connector housing.
  • At least two connector elements can be provided on the connector, wherein the guiding element is arranged centrally between said at least two connector elements. It is thus preferred that the guiding element is not only arranged centrally with respect to the outer walls of the connector housing but also centrally within the connector elements provided on the connector.
  • the central arrangement of the guiding element means that it is arranged centrally with respect to the outer walls of the connector housing and with respect to the at least two connector elements when the connector is viewed along the central axis running through the guiding element. In this case a lateral distance between the guiding element and the connector elements is in each case the same.
  • two connector elements could be provided, wherein one of the connector elements is arranged to the left (above) and the other connector element is arranged to the right (below) of the guiding element when viewed from the front.
  • the distance between the guiding element and the connector elements to the left and to the right (above and below) is preferably in each case the same. That is, the guiding element is preferably equally spaced from the connector element to the left (above) and from the connector element to the right (below).
  • the connector elements can be provided in two or more groups of connector elements, wherein the guiding element is arranged centrally within said groups of connector elements and wherein the distance between the guiding element and the two or more groups of connector elements is in each case preferably the same.
  • a first group of connector elements and a second group of connector elements can be arranged horizontally spaced from the guiding element, and/or a third group of connector elements and a fourth group of connector elements can be arranged vertically spaced from the guiding element. That is, it is preferred that the groups of connector elements are distributed symmetrically around the guiding element. This arrangement is again to be understood with respect to the cross-section or the central axis running through the guiding element, i.e.
  • the first group of connector elements and the second group of connector elements can be arranged horizontally spaced from the guiding element when the connector is seen in the cross-section or when viewed along the central axis
  • the third group of connector elements and the fourth group of connector elements can be arranged vertically spaced from the guiding element when the connector is seen in the cross-section or when viewed along the central axis.
  • the connector can be of a mirror-symmetrical design with respect to a reflection at a vertical plane extending vertically through a central axis of the guiding element and/or with respect to a reflection at a horizontal plane extending perpendicularly through said vertical plane.
  • the distance between the above-mentioned groups and the guiding element is different in each case and/or that the groups of connector elements are distributed asymmetrically, for example randomly, around the guiding element.
  • the connector elements of different groups preferably correspond to different types of connector elements such as connector elements of a different size or shape. Moreover, it is preferred that the connector elements belonging to one particular group are of the same type. However, it is also conceivable that the connector elements are asymmetrically arranged around the guiding element and/or that the connector elements of one particular group are of a different type.
  • the resilient element is configured to compensate a vertical offset and/or a horizontal offset and/or an angular offset of the connector with respect to the mating connector upon connection of the connector and the mating connector.
  • the connector can be resiliently mounted by means of the at least one resilient element which enables a horizontal and/or vertical and/or angular alignment.
  • the resilient element is preferably made of an elastic, flexible or deformable material or configuration which permits a deformation or movement of the connector in all directions in space.
  • one single resilient element can be provided, said resilient element being arranged centrally on the connector housing.
  • Said one single resilient element could be a spring or a resilient element in the form of a double loop as described below which is arranged centrally with respect to the outer walls of the connector housing and on the opposite side of the guiding element on the connector.
  • a central arrangement of the resilient element means that when the connector is seen in the cross-sectional view or along the central axis running through the guiding element the resilient element is arranged centrally, i.e. in the middle of the connector with respect to the outer walls of the connector housing.
  • at least two resilient elements can be provided, said resilient elements being preferably arranged symmetrical on the connector housing, e.g. in corner areas of the connector housing.
  • the resilient element preferably has essentially the shape of a double loop, wherein the loops are arranged offset by about 90 degrees with respect to each other and, with respect to the fastening thereof on the connector housing, are arranged one behind the other.
  • Each loop can have one fastening element by means of which the first loop can be connected to the connector housing and the second loop is connectable to the support.
  • Either configuration of the resilient element(s) is in the position of compensating a vertical offset, a horizontal offset as well as an angular offset of the connector with respect to the mating connector upon connection thereof.
  • the resilient element(s) allows the connector to tilt downwards, upwards and sideways with respect to the mating connector and, as such, a tolerance compensation in several spatial dimensions. The tilting is caused by the interaction between the guiding element and a receptacle on the mating connector, as will be explained in greater detail below.
  • a connector system comprising a connector as described above and a mating connector
  • the mating connector comprises a mating connector housing being delimited by outer walls, at least one connector element that is arranged to establish a functional contact with the respective connector element provided on the connector, and a receptacle for receiving the guiding element of the connector, said receptacle being arranged centrally on the mating connector with regard to said outer walls of the mating connector housing.
  • a centrally arranged receptacle means that when the mating connector is seen in cross- sectional view said receptacle is arranged centrally, i.e. in the middle of the mating connector.
  • a central axis running centrally through the mating connector runs through the receptacle.
  • the receptacle is arranged centrally with respect to the outer walls of the mating connector housing.
  • a connector system comprising a connector and a correspondingly designed mating connector are provided, wherein the mating connector comprises a receptacle within which the guiding element on the connector is received in a guided manner upon connection of the connector and the mating connector.
  • the protruding guiding element serves the purpose of guiding the connector upon its connection with the mating connector. Said guidance enables a targeted connection, in which the connector is properly placed in relation to the mating connector.
  • the guiding element can thus also be seen as a centering aid.
  • Properly placed in the present context means that the connector is arranged horizontally and/or vertically and/or angularly aligned with respect to the mating connector such that a stable and functional connection, and as a result, a reliable connection with the mating connector is achieved.
  • Said horizontal and/or vertical and/or angular alignment is made possible in that the connector can be resiliently mounted and thus fastened in a movable manner because of the at least one resilient element.
  • the resulting interaction between the guiding element and the receptacle leads to a displacement in the horizontal and/or vertical direction of the connector with respect to the mating connector, and, due to the resilient mounting of the connector, in a tolerance compensation in several spatial dimensions. In this way a mechanically and functionally reliable connection between the connector and the mating connector is provided.
  • the connector system can be an electrical plug connector system with a connector and a mating connector corresponding to a pin-side connector and a socket-side connector, wherein the connector elements provided on said connectors are electrical pins and electrical sockets, respectively.
  • the connector system is a fluidic plug connector system, where the connector and the mating connector correspond to an inlet-side connector and an outlet-side connector, and where the connector elements correspond to fluid path inlets and fluid path outlets provided on said connectors which allow a fluid communication or connection between said fluid paths.
  • other types of connectors such as connectors establishing thermocouple pressure contacts, coaxial, optical fiber, compressed air, liquid, electrical and PE, or data transfer connections, are however possible, too.
  • the guiding element preferably has one or more chamfers which are configured to slide along an inner surface of the receptacle upon connection of the connector and the mating connector so as to enable a guided receiving of the guiding element within the receptacle.
  • the chamfers correspond to inclined surfaces which are preferably provided on a free end region of the guiding element, e.g. the chamfers can be formed by means of a tapering tip of the guiding element.
  • the guiding element and the receptacle in each case comprises at least one guiding surface, wherein the guiding surface of the guiding element and the guiding surface of the receptacle are correspondingly shaped so as to enable a guided receiving of the guiding element within the receptacle.
  • the insertion of the guiding element into the receptacle can in a sense be considered as a rough adjustment, which is mainly important for a proper positioning between the connectors.
  • the receptacle preferably has a shape that essentially corresponds to the shape of the guiding element.
  • the guiding element can be provided in the form of an essentially cylindrical mandrel, preferably with a conically tapering tip as described above, and the receptacle can be of a cylindrical shape.
  • the further guidance by means of the guiding surfaces can be considered as a precision adjustment, wherein the guiding surface of the receptacle can be provided by means of a guiding pin arranged within the receptacle, wherein the guiding pin is arranged offset with respect to a central axis of the receptacle and preferably extends through the clear width of the receptacle transversely with respect to the central axis, and/or wherein the guiding pin is arranged in a proximal region of the receptacle.
  • the combination of adjustments results in an even more precise guidance.
  • the guiding surface on the guiding element is preferably provided by means of a straight cutting surface which slides along or past the guiding surface provided on the receptacle.
  • the guiding surface could be provided by means of partially cutting-off the lateral surface of the cylinder in the circumferential direction and essentially fully cutting-off said lateral surface in the longitudinal direction of the guiding element.
  • the straight cutting surface that is created in this way then corresponds to the said guiding surface of the guiding element.
  • the guiding surface of the guiding element thereby preferably extends essentially along an entire length of the guiding element. In this way the guiding element can be received within the receptacle upon the connection of the connector with the mating connector in a guided manner over substantially its entire length.
  • the receptacle has a guiding slot into which a guiding element in the form of a tongue or the like or a protruding element that protrudes from the guiding element, respectively, is received upon the connection, such that guidance is provided by means of the guiding slot interacting with the protruding element.
  • Further configurations such as a receptacle having a semi-circular cross- section, wherein the guiding element can be guided along the straight surface of said semicircular receptacle upon the connection of the connectors, are possible as well.
  • such configurations not only serve the purpose of guiding the connection between the connector and the mating connector, but are also coding means which ensure that the connector is connected to the mating connector in the correct orientation.
  • the guiding element can be electrically conductive and can be configured for electrically contacting the receptacle on the mating connector, wherein a resilient contact element such as a contact lamella is arranged within the receptacle in order to establish an electrical contact.
  • a resilient contact element such as a contact lamella
  • the guiding element also serves the purpose of an earthing contact, i.e. a contact element for grounding. It should be noted that instead of a contact lamella any other resilient contact element could be arranged within the receptacle.
  • the guiding element is surrounded by a sheath element, said sheath element being designed complementary to the receptacle of the mating connector and being configured so as to at least partly receive the receptacle upon connection of the connector and the mating connector.
  • the sheath element can be seen as a structure that surrounds the guiding element and which surrounding structure receives the receptacle upon connection of the connectors. It is thereby preferred that the sheath element surrounding the guiding element extends only along a partial length, but not along the entire length, of the guiding element. In this way, upon connection of the connectors, the sheath element of the guiding element only receives part of the receptacle.
  • the receptacle can be seen as a projecting structure which projects from a surface of the mating connector, wherein the sheath element surrounding the guiding element is preferably arranged offset inwards with respect to a surface of the connector so as to at least partially receive said projecting structure.
  • the sheath element surrounding the guiding element is preferably formed within inner walls of the connector housing.
  • the guiding element and the receptacle in each case can comprise a first orientation structure, the first orientation structures being configured such that a rotation lock with respect to a rotation of the connector and the mating connector is provided upon connection of the connector and the mating connector, and/or the sheath element and the receptacle in each case can comprise a second orientation structure, the second orientation structures being configured such that a rotation lock with respect to a rotation of the connector and the mating connector is provided upon connection of the connector and the mating connector. That is, it is conceivable to provide a connector and a mating connector that comprise either the first orientation structures or the second orientation structures only, or that comprise both the first and second orientation structures.
  • first orientation structures correspond to correspondingly shaped guiding surfaces provided on the guiding element and the receptacle, and/or it is preferred that the sheath element and the receptacle are of a mutually complementary asymmetrical shape, preferably a droplet shape, wherein the second orientation structures are provided by means of said mutually complementary asymmetrical shapes.
  • an asymmetrical shape corresponds to a shape which is not completely rotational symmetrical. Or, in other words, the asymmetrical shape is a shape that is not symmetrical with respect to all rotations.
  • the droplet form will only be projected on itself in the case of a rotation by 360 degrees.
  • the first orientation structures in the form of the guiding surfaces correspond to the guiding surfaces as described above and are provided by means of the straight cutting surface on the guiding element which can slide along or past the guiding pin arranged within the receptacle.
  • the connector and the mating connector are at least partly connected, i.e. if the guiding element is at least partly received in the receptacle, the receptacle is at least partly received within the sheath element surrounding the guiding element and the cutting surface of the guiding element abuts against the guiding surface of the pin, and due to their asymmetric design, a rotation relative to one another is rendered impossible.
  • the asymmetric design also serves the purpose of a coding which ensures a correct plugging together of the two connectors.
  • the asymmetric shape allows a connection of the connector with the mating connector in one single orientation only. However, it is also conceivable to provide a rotation lock by other means.
  • first and/or second orientation structures could be designed as additional, individual structures on the receptacle and on the sheath element surrounding the guiding element, which individual structures are capable of engaging one another.
  • An example of such orientation structures are a tongue and a groove according to a tongue-and-groove connection, wherein the tongue could be provided on the sheath element and a corresponding groove could be provided on the receptacle, or vice versa.
  • the free end regions of the second orientation structures on the connector and the mating connector comprise mutually corresponding inclined end surfaces, which end surfaces provide an additional guidance upon the connection of the connector with the mating connector. At the same time, said end surfaces also serve for tolerance compensation, since an alignment of the two connectors with respect to one another during the sliding along the end surfaces takes place.
  • One or more of the connector elements on the connector and the respective one or more connector elements on the mating connector are preferably surrounded by mutually complementary sheath elements as described above.
  • said sheath elements with a second orientation structure as described above, e.g. in the fonn of a complementary asymmetrical shape or by means of a tongue-and-groove connection.
  • the guiding element and the connector elements are preferably arranged in one or more sub-housings, the sub-housings being removably mounted within the connector housing of the connector, and/or the receptacle and preferably one or more connector elements are preferably arranged in one or more sub-housings, the sub-housings being removably mounted within the mating connector housing of the mating connector.
  • the connector elements e.g. the pins and the sockets, as well as the guiding element and the receptacle can be arranged in sub-housings which in turn are removably mounted within the connector housing of the connector and within the mating connector housing of the mating connector, respectively.
  • the connector system corresponds to a modular connector system in which the connector elements, the guiding element and the receptacle can be replaced by removing the particular sub-housings they are arranged in.
  • One or more connector elements can be arranged on the same sub-housings. For example it is possible to arrange connector elements of the same type or of the same dimensions in one common sub-housing.
  • the connector system could also correspond to a non-modular system, wherein all connector elements are an integral part of the same connector housing.
  • the connector comprises subhousings which do not contain any connector elements. Such empty sub-housings serve the purpose of a spacer or a distance piece.
  • Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a plug connector comprising a connector and a mating connector
  • FIG. 2 shows a further perspective view of the plug connector according to figure 1 ;
  • Fig. 3 shows a side view of the plug connector according to figure 1 in an unconnected state
  • Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section of the plug connector according to figure 3 through the plane A-A.
  • Fig. 5 shows a top view of the plug connector according to figure 1 in the unconnected state
  • Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal section of the plug connector according to figure 5 in the unconnected state through the plane B-B;
  • Fig. 7 shows a longitudinal section of the plug connector according to figure 3 in a semi-connected state through the plane A-A;
  • Fig. 8 shows a longitudinal section of the plug connector according to figure 5 in the semi-connected state through the plane B-B;
  • Fig. 9 shows a longitudinal section of the plug connector according to figure 3 in a connected state through the plane A-A;
  • Fig. 10 shows a longitudinal section of the plug connector according to figure 5 in the connected state through the plane B-B;
  • Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of a sub-housing comprising a sheath element according to a first embodiment
  • Fig. 12 shows a side view of the sub-housing comprising the sheath element according to figure 11 ;
  • Fig. 13 shows a sectional view of the sub-housing comprising the sheath element according to figure 12 through the plane C-C;
  • Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of a sub-housing comprising a sheath element according to a second embodiment
  • Fig. 15 shows a side view of the sub-housing comprising the sheath element according to figure 14;
  • Fig. 16 shows a sectional view of the sub-housing comprising the sheath element according to figure 15 through the plane D-D.
  • a connector system 1 comprising a connector 2 and a mating connector 3 are depicted in different connection states.
  • the connector system 1 corresponds to an electrical connector system, where the connector is provided in the form of a pin-side connector 2 and the mating connector is provided in the form of a socket-side connector 3. It should be noted that this could likewise be reversed, i.e. that the connector corresponds to a socket-side connector and the mating connector corresponds to a pin-side connector.
  • figures 1 to 6 depict the connector system 1 in the unconnected state, in which the pin-side connector 2 and the socket-side connector 3 are separated from one another.
  • the pin-side connector 2 and the socket-side connector 3 in each case comprises a connector housing 23, 33, which is delimited by outer walls 231 , 331 and which has an essentially rectangular shape.
  • a plurality of connector elements in the form of electrical pins 22a, 22b, ... and sockets 32a, 32b, ... is provided within the pin-side connector housing 2 and the socket-side housing 3, respectively.
  • one pin 22a, 22b, ... on the pin-side connector 2 is configured to establish an electrical contact with a corresponding socket 32a, 32b, ... on the socket-side connector 3.
  • a guiding element 21 in the form of a protruding bar for guiding the plugging together of the pin-side connector 2 and the socket-side connector 3 is arranged centrally on the pin-side connector 2 with respect to the outer walls 231 of the pin-side connector housing 23.
  • Said guiding element 21 has an elongated design and extends perpendicularly away from a surface 210 of the pin-side connector 2.
  • the guiding element is arranged centrally with respect to the outer walls 231 of the pin-side connector housing 23.
  • a receptacle 31 configured to receive said guiding element 21 is provided on the socket-side connector 3, wherein said receptacle 31 is likewise arranged centrally on the socket-side connector 3 with regard to the outer walls 331 of the socket-side connector housing 33.
  • the receptacle 31 is arranged centrally with respect to the outer walls 331 of the socket-side connector housing 33.
  • the guiding element 21 is arranged centrally with respect to the outer walls 231 of the pin-side connector housing 23 as well as centrally within all of the pins 22a, 22b, ... provided on the pin-side connector 2.
  • two additional guiding elements 216a, 216b are arranged laterally on the pin-side connector housing 23, which additional guiding elements 216a, 216b are configured to be received in corresponding openings 316a, 316b arranged laterally on the socket-side connector housing 33.
  • Said additional guiding elements 216a, 216b provide additional guidance upon the connection of the pin-side and the socket-side connectors 2, 3 and thereby assist the proper adjustment of the connectors 2, 3 with respect to each other especially at the end of the connecting process.
  • the pin-side connector 2 comprises medium-sized pins 22a constituting a first and a second group of pins 22 la, 22 lb, thin pins 22b constituting a third and a fourth group of pins 221c, 22 Id, and large pins 22c constituting a fifth and a sixth group of pins 22 le, 22 If, wherein the guiding element 21 is arranged centrally within said groups 221a, 221b, ....
  • the distance between the guiding element 21 and the first group of pins 221a equals the distance between the guiding element 21 and the second group of pins 22 lb.
  • the distances between the guiding element 21 and the third group 22 lc and the fifth group 22 le equal the distances between the guiding element 21 and the fourth group 22 ld and the sixth group 22 lf, respectively.
  • the first, third and fifth groups of pins 221a, 221c, 221 e and the second, fourth and sixth groups of pins 221b, 22 ld, 22 lf are arranged mirror-symmetrical with respect to a plane extending vertically through the guiding element 21.
  • the receptacle 31 is arranged centrally with respect to the outer walls 331 of the socket-side connector housing 33 as well as centrally within all of the sockets 32a, 32b, ... provided on the socket-side connector 3, wherein different types of sockets 32a, 32b, ... are arranged in different groups of connector elements 32 la, 32 lb, ... in a mutually corresponding manner with respect to the arrangement of the groups of pins 221a, 221b, ... on the pin-side connector 2.
  • the number of as well as the arrangement of the connector elements are not limited to the example shown in the figures. Instead, a plurality of arrangements is possible.
  • Two resilient elements 24a, 24b in the form of double loops 241a, 242a, 241b, 242b are arranged in the comer areas of the pin-side connector housing 23 in order to resiliently mount the pin-side connector housing 23 on a support.
  • Each loop 241a, 242a, 241b, 242b has one fastening element 243a, 243b, 244a, 244b by means of which the first loop 24la, 241b is connected to the pin-side connector housing 23 and the second loop 242a, 242b is connectable to the support.
  • the loops 241a, 242a, 24 lb, 242b are arranged offset by about 90 degrees with respect to each other and are arranged one behind the other with respect to the fastening of the resilient element 24a, 24b on the pin-side connector housing 23, giving the resilient elements 24a, 24b the shape of a twisted“8”.
  • loop 24 la, 24 lb which is arranged proximal from the pin-side connector housing 23 and is connected thereto and, in the present case, in a lateral view of the connector system 1 has the shape of a standing zero is elastically deformable particularly in the vertical direction V
  • loop 242a, 242b which is arranged distal from the pin-side connector housing 23 and, in the present case, in the lateral view of the connector system 1 has the shape of a lying zero is elastically deformable particularly in the horizontal direction H.
  • the resilient element 24a, 24b is in the position of compensating a vertical offset, a horizontal offset as well as an angular offset of the pin-side connector 2 with respect to the socket-side connector 3 upon connection thereof. That is, during the connection of the pin-side connector 2 with the socket-side connector 3 the resilient element 24a, 24b allows the pin-side connector 2 to tilt downwards, upwards and sideways with respect to the socket-side connector 3. The tilting is caused by the interaction between the guiding element 21 and the receptacle 31 , which interaction also defines the absolute value and the direction of the tilting. This allows tolerance compensation in several spatial dimensions.
  • the guiding element 21 and the receptacle 31 in each case comprises at least one guiding surface 25, 34, wherein the guiding surface 25 of the guiding element 21 and the guiding surface 34 of the receptacle 31 are correspondingly shaped so as to enable a guided receiving of the guiding element 21 within the receptacle 31.
  • the guiding element 21 has in the present case an essentially cylindrical shape with a conically tapering tip 21 1.
  • the lateral surface of the cylindrical guiding element 21 however has been partially cut-off in the circumferential direction and has been essentially fully cut-off in the longitudinal direction.
  • the straight cutting surface that is created in this way corresponds to the said guiding surface 25 of the guiding element 21.
  • the guiding element 21 along with its guiding surface 25 thus has to a certain extent the shape of a cylinder segment.
  • the guiding surface 34 of the receptacle 31 is provided by means of a guiding pin 35 that is arranged within the receptacle 31 , in a proximal region 36 of the receptacle 31.
  • the proximal region 36 refers to that region of the receptacle 31 within which the guiding element 21 is firstly received upon connection thereof.
  • the guiding pin 35 is arranged offset with respect to the central axis AR of the receptacle 31 and extends through the clear width of the receptacle 31 transversely with respect to the central axis AR.
  • the guiding pin 35 is arranged at a right angle to the central axis AR of the receptacle 31 and offset upwards within the receptacle 31 when the socket-side connector 3 is viewed from the front. It follows from figures 9 and 10 that the length LG of the guiding surface 25 on the guiding element 21 corresponds approximately to the length LR of an inner lateral surface 310 of the receptacle 31. In this way the guiding element 21 can be received within the receptacle 31 upon the connection of the pin-side connector 2 with the socket-side connector 3 in a guided manner over substantially its entire length, whereby guidance in the horizontal direction H is provided.
  • Guidance in the vertical direction V is achieved by the particular dimensions of the guiding pin 35 and the guiding element 21, wherein the sum of the cross-sections of the guiding pin 35 and the guiding element 21 along the vertical direction V in the region of the guiding surfaces 25, 34 corresponds essentially to the diameter of the receptacle 31 in the region of the guiding pin 35. Thereby, also a rotation of the connector 2 with respect to the mating connector 3 is prevented, i.e. the guiding surfaces 25, 34 correspond to first orientation structures which provide a rotation lock.
  • the connector elements i.e. the pins 22a, 22b, ... and the sockets 32a, 32b, ..., as well as the guiding element 21 and the receptacle 31 are arranged in sub-housings 232, 232a, 232b,
  • the present connector system 1 is thus a modular connector system in which the connector elements 22a, 22b, ... 32a, 32b, ..., the guiding element 21 and the receptacle 31 can be replaced by removing the particular sub-housings 232, 232a, ... 332 ,332a, ... they are arranged in.
  • outer housings (not shown) at least partly surrounding the connector housings 23, 33 and the connector elements 22a, ..., 32a, ...
  • each case can be provided, too, which outer housings in each case shield and protect the connector 2 and the mating connector 3 from the surroundings.
  • seven sub-housings 232, 232a, ... are mounted on the pin-side comiector 2 and seven sub-housings 332 ,332a, ... are mounted on the socket-side connector 3.
  • the sub-housing 232, 332 arranged centrally on the pin-side and the socket- side connector 2, 3 comprises the guiding element 21 and the receptacle 31 , respectively.
  • the remaining six sub-housings 232a, ... 332a, ... comprise one of the groups 221a, ... 32 la, ... of different pins 22a, ... and sockets 32a, ... as mentioned above.
  • the connector elements 22a, ..., 32a, ... are locked by means of a retaining clip 212, 311.
  • the retaining clip 212, 311 is essentially U- shaped and is configured to be inserted through an opening 213a, ..., 312a, ... provided in the sub-housing 232a, ... , 332a, ....
  • the connector elements 22a, ... 32a, ... in turn have in their outer surface in each case one lateral recess or groove 214a, ..., 313a, into which the free ends of the U-shaped retaining clip 212, 31 1 can engage. In this way the connector elements 22a, ..., 32a, ...
  • the guiding element 21 and the receptacle 31 likewise comprise such lateral recesses or grooves 214, 313 and are fastened to their sub-housing 232, 332 via an opening 213, 312 in this manner, too.
  • the guiding element 21 is surrounded by a sheath element 26.
  • said sheath element 26 is an integral part of the particular sub-housing 232 and is formed by the inner walls 234 of the sub-housing 232.
  • the sheath element 26 of the guiding element 21 is designed complementary to the receptacle 31 on the socket-side connector 3. This in turn means that the receptacle 31 has the form of a sheath element protruding from the sub-housing 332.
  • the sub-housings 232, 332 of the guiding element 21 and of the receptacle 31 can be displaced along the plugging direction P relative to one another and into one another in such a way that, in the connected state, the mutually facing surfaces 233, 333 of the sub-housings 232, 332 on the pin-side connector 2 and on the socket-side connector 3 directly adjoin one another and are flush and in alignment with one another.
  • sheath elements 26, 31 are discussed in more detail.
  • said sheath elements are of a complementary design.
  • the sheath element 26 of the guiding element 21 and the receptacle 31 in each case also comprise a second orientation structure 27, 37, the second orientation structures 27, 37 being configured such that a rotation lock with respect to a rotation of the pin-side connector 2 and the socket-side connector 3 is provided upon the connection thereof, and especially in the connected state thereof.
  • the sheath element 26 of the guiding element 21 and the receptacle 31 are of a mutually complementary asymmetrical shape, here in the form of a droplet, wherein the above-mentioned second orientation structures 27, 37 are provided by means of said mutually complementary asymmetrical shape. That is to say, in the present example the second orientation structures 27, 37 are an integral part of the sheath element 26 and of the receptacle 31, wherein the second orientation structures 27, 37 are formed by the particular shapes of the sheath element 26 and of the receptacle 31 themselves.
  • the asymmetric design also serves the purpose of a coding which ensures a correct plugging together of the two connectors 2, 3.
  • the asymmetric shape allows a connection of the pin-side connector 2 with the socket-side connector 3 in one single orientation, namely the correct orientation, only.
  • the receptacle 31 comprises a rib or web 314 on its inner surface 315 in the region of the asymmetry, in case of a droplet shaped receptacle 31 in the region of the tip 371 of the drop.
  • Said rib or web 314 provides the inner surface of the receptacle a circular cross-section and thereby compensates any effects resulting from the asymmetric receptacle 31 on the guiding element 21.
  • one or more pins and sockets can comprise sheath elements 28a, ... 38a, ... (see e.g.
  • sheath elements 38c of sockets 32c and corresponding sheath elements 28c of pins 22c in figures 1 and 2) which are designed in analogy to the sheath elements of the guiding element 21 and the receptacle 31.
  • the sheath elements 28a, ... surrounding the pins 22a, ... serve the purpose of electrical shields that shield the pins 22a, .. . as they can be found on conventional plugs.
  • the said sheaths can not only be present on sub-housings.
  • the free end region 218 of the sheath element 26 of the guiding element 21 and thus the second orientation structure 27, the free end region 219 of the retaining structure 217 arranged within said sheath element 26 and being configured to retain the guiding element 21 on the pin-side connector 2, as well as the free end region 317 of the receptacle 31 , and thus the second orientation structure 37, comprise end surfaces 220, 221, 318, 319 which are inclined with respect to the extension direction E, and wherein said end surfaces 220, 221, 318, 319 are tilted in a manner complementary to one another.
  • the sheath element 26 comprises an end region 218 with a tilted end surface 220 whose inclination is such, that a distance from said end surface 220 to the central axis AS of the sheath element 26 becomes increasingly larger when viewed from the proximal end of the pin-side connector 2 in the direction of the distal end of the pin-side connector 2 along the extension direction E.
  • the retaining structure 217 arranged within the sheath element 26 in turn comprises an end region 219 with a tilted end surface 221 whose inclination is opposite to the inclination of the sheath element 26, namely such, that a distance from said end surface 221 to the central axis AS becomes increasingly smaller when viewed from the proximal end of the pin-side connector 2 in the direction of the distal end of the pin-side connector 2 along the extension direction E. Consequently, the receptacle 31 has a first end surface 318 which is configured to interact with the end surface 220 of the sheath element 26 and a second end surface 319 which is configured to interact with the end surface 221 of the retaining structure 217.
  • the first end surface 318 of the receptacle 31 is inclined such, that a distance between the first end surface 318 and the central axis AR becomes increasingly smaller when viewed from the proximal end of the socket-side connector 3 in the direction of the distal end of the socket-side connector 3 along the extension direction E.
  • the second end surface 319 is inclined such, that a distance between the second end surface 319 and the central axis AR becomes increasingly larger when viewed from the proximal end of the socket-side connector 3 in the direction of the distal end of the socket-side connector 3 along the extension direction E.
  • Said inclined end surfaces 220, 221, 318, 319 not only provide an additional guidance upon the connection of the pin-side connector 2 with the socket-side connector 3, but at the same time also serve for tolerance compensation.
  • figures 5 and 6 depict the connector system 1 in the unconnected state, in which the pin-side connector 2 and the socket-side connector 3 are separated from one another
  • figures 7 and 8 depict the semi-connected state, in which the pin-side connector 2 has been partly connected to the socket-side connector 3
  • figures 9 and 10 depicted the connector system 1 in the connected state, in which the pin-side connector 2 has been fully connected to the socket-side connector 3.
  • a further guidance then results between the guiding pin 35 arranged within the receptacle 31 and the guiding surface 25 of the guiding element 21. Thereby, a first rotation lock is established since the particular design and dimensions of the guiding surfaces 25, 34, i.e.
  • the first orientation structures prevent a rotation of the connector 2 relative to the mating connector 3.
  • Another guidance is then provided between the sheath element 26 of the guiding pin 21 and the receptacle 31 when the connection is advanced and the connectors 2, 3 are first close to and then in the connected state.
  • the second orientation structure 27 of the connector 2 is constituted by walls 234.
  • the second orientation structure 37 of the mating connector 3 is constituted by walls 334. Said walls 234, 334 and therefore the second orientation structures 27, 37 are not completely rotationally symmetrical with respect to a rotation about a rotation axis R extending centrally through said second orientation structures.
  • the droplet shape of the sheath elements makes said sheath elements 26, 36 being rotationally symmetrical with respect to a rotation by 360 degrees only.
  • the guiding surfaces 25, 34, and therefore the first orientation structures are not completely rotationally symmetrical with respect to a rotation about the rotation axis R extending centrally through said orientation structures.
  • a rotation lock is provided once the sheath elements 26, 31 are at least partly connected, namely when the wall 334 delimiting the receptacle 31 is at least partly received within the wall 234 delimiting the sheath element 26.
  • the walls 234, 334 and therefore the second orientation structures 27, 37 are dimensioned such, that a positive fit is established upon their connection, i.e.
  • the pin-side comiector 2 and the socket-side connector 3 can engage one another due to their second orientation structures 27, 37.
  • the first and second orientation structures therefore not only prevent a rotation of the pin-side connector 2 with respect to the socket-side connector 3 but also keep the connectors in their aligned state.
  • guidance is further supported if additional guiding elements are provided, such as the two additional guiding elements 216a, 216b provided laterally on the connector housing 23 of the pin-side connector 2, which are received within the corresponding openings 316a, 316b provided on the plug-side connector housing 33.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un connecteur (2) pour établir une connexion par enfichage avec un connecteur homologue (3) par enfichage du connecteur (2) avec le connecteur homologue (3) le long d'une direction d'enfichage (P) comprenant au moins un élément de connecteur (22a, 22b,...), un boîtier de connecteur (23) étant délimité par des parois externes (231), au moins un élément élastique (24a, 24b), et un élément de guidage (2l). L'élément de guidage (21) est disposé au centre du connecteur (2) par rapport aux parois extérieures (231) du boîtier de connecteur (23). Un système de connecteur (1) comprend un tel connecteur (2) et un connecteur homologue (3), le connecteur homologue (3) comprenant un boîtier de connecteur homologue (33) étant délimité par des parois externes (331), au moins un élément connecteur (32a, 32b,…), et une embase (31) destinée à recevoir l'élément de guidage (21) du connecteur (2). L'embase (31) est disposé au centre du connecteur homologue (3) par rapport aux parois externes (331) du boîtier de connecteur homologue (33).
PCT/EP2019/059796 2018-04-18 2019-04-16 Connecteur mâle Ceased WO2019201913A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18168003.4 2018-04-18
EP18168003 2018-04-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2019201913A1 true WO2019201913A1 (fr) 2019-10-24

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2019/059796 Ceased WO2019201913A1 (fr) 2018-04-18 2019-04-16 Connecteur mâle

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2019201913A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112490715A (zh) * 2020-11-23 2021-03-12 业成科技（成都）有限公司 连接器模组

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3363218A (en) * 1965-08-31 1968-01-09 Army Usa Resilient mount for rack and panel type electrical connectors
EP1249722A2 (fr) * 2001-04-13 2002-10-16 Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. Connecteur à haute densite de fibre optique autocentré
FR2947674A1 (fr) 2009-07-03 2011-01-07 Accumulateurs Fixes Support de connecteur
US20140093210A1 (en) * 2012-09-28 2014-04-03 Positronic Industries, Inc. Fiber Optic Connector Assembly
WO2016160265A1 (fr) * 2015-03-31 2016-10-06 Tyco Electronics Corporation Matériel de guidage configurable pour des systèmes de connecteur
US9705244B1 (en) * 2016-12-20 2017-07-11 Amphenol East Asia Electronic Technology (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd. Electric connector

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3363218A (en) * 1965-08-31 1968-01-09 Army Usa Resilient mount for rack and panel type electrical connectors
EP1249722A2 (fr) * 2001-04-13 2002-10-16 Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. Connecteur à haute densite de fibre optique autocentré
FR2947674A1 (fr) 2009-07-03 2011-01-07 Accumulateurs Fixes Support de connecteur
US20140093210A1 (en) * 2012-09-28 2014-04-03 Positronic Industries, Inc. Fiber Optic Connector Assembly
WO2016160265A1 (fr) * 2015-03-31 2016-10-06 Tyco Electronics Corporation Matériel de guidage configurable pour des systèmes de connecteur
US9705244B1 (en) * 2016-12-20 2017-07-11 Amphenol East Asia Electronic Technology (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd. Electric connector

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112490715A (zh) * 2020-11-23 2021-03-12 业成科技（成都）有限公司 连接器模组

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