Abstract:
A plug-in system is provided for a control unit of a vehicle, including a plug, such as a cable harness, and a plug module. The plug is designed to produce an electrical connection with the plug module. The plug has a plug body that accommodates a multiplicity of electrical contacts and that has a plug base that is designed to accommodate a shroud of the plug module. In addition, the plug has a plug lever that is designed to be moved from a start position to an end position, while pulling the plug in the direction of the plug module using a lever arm that engages in the plug module. The plug lever can be mounted on the plug body in two orientations, and in both the orientations the lever arm and the plug module engage in one another in such a way that the plug can be pulled in the direction of the plug module.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an electrical plug-in system having a plug and a plug module. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     In a vehicle, in the engine compartment and in the body compartment there are numerous electrical and electronic control devices that have to be electrically connected to one another and to further components of the vehicle such as sensors and actuators. 
     For this purpose, on a control device there can be a plug module whose multipoint connector can have several hundred poles. A corresponding plug, connected to a cable harness, can be plugged onto the plug module to create the electrical connection. For this purpose, the plug can have a lever that engages in a toothed rod on the plug module and that pulls the plug in the direction of the plug module when there is a closing movement. 
     For such a plug having a plug lever, the plug connection between the cable harness plug and the multipoint connector is designed to be non-sealing, because the toothed rod situated in the interior on a shroud of the plug module, and the shaft on the lever that engages in the toothed rod, prevent a seal from being situated between the shroud and the plug. 
     Due to the lack of a seal, the electrical contacts of the plug module and of the plug are exposed to the media—in part aggressive—in the engine compartment or in the body compartment. 
     In addition, as a rule the plug lever can be mounted on the plug in only one orientation. Also, as a rule the plug connector can be closed or locked only at one side. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a plug-in system for a cable harness of a vehicle that can be assembled flexibly. 
     An aspect of the present invention relates to a plug-in system having a plug and having a plug module, the plug being designed to produce an electrical connection to the plug module. The plug module can for example be attached to a control unit of a vehicle, such as an engine control unit, and the plug can be connected to a cable harness of the vehicle. The plug and plug module can have more than 100 individual electrical contacts, for example produced via miniaturized electrical contacts that for example have a cross-section of 0.5 mm by 0.4 mm, and that are configured with a contact spacing of 1.8 mm. Such plug-in systems can be used for example in a vehicle (passenger vehicle, truck, bus). The plug module can for example be attached to a control device. The plug can be used to connect the control device, for example an engine control device, to a cable harness. 
     Specific embodiments of the present invention advantageously make it possible to provide a variable plug-in system for a control unit of a vehicle in which the plug lever and a guide of the electrical lines in the plug, i.e. a cable conduit, can be mounted on the plug in a plurality of orientations. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the plug of the plug-in system has a plug body that accommodates a plurality of electrical contacts and that has a plug base that is designed to accept a shroud of the plug module. In addition, the plug has a plug lever that is designed to be moved from a start position to an end position while pulling the plug in the direction of the plug module through the action of a lever arm that engages in the plug module. In this way, the plug with the plug base can be positioned on the shroud, and can be connected to the plug module in a controlled fashion through a lever movement using the lever. Through the movement of the plug lever, on which for example there is situated a shaft having teeth that engage in corresponding projections on the shroud, a translational movement can be produced in which for example more than 100 electrical contacts are pushed into one another without unintentionally being damaged (bent). In addition, with the plug lever a very large mechanical translation ratio can be achieved, so that the multiplicity of electrical contacts can be pushed into one another without difficulty. 
     In addition, the plug has at least one sealing element that is designed to seal the plug plugged into the plug module against a surrounding environment of the plug. In particular, the plug lever is designed so that the interior of the plug can be sealed by sealing elements such as a radial seal and/or a mat seal. For example, the plug lever can engage externally on the shroud of the plug module, while the sealing element is pressed onto an inner side of the shroud. 
     For example, the plug can be designed such that the plug lever can be mounted on the plug body in two orientations, and the lever arm and the plug module can, in both orientations, engage in one another in such a way that the plug can be pulled in the direction of the plug module. Through the design according to the present invention of the plug-in system, in this way it can be enabled that the plug lever can be attached to the plug in two positions, for example rotated by 180° to one another, and in both positions the plug can be securely connected to the plug module using the plug lever. 
     Overall, the plug-in system can be designed to provide a plug connection that is flexible and variable with regard to a positioning of the plug, and at the same time can provide a long-lived and stable electrical connection between electrical lines of a cable harness in a vehicle and a control device. 
     The number of sensors and actuators installed in vehicles, as well as corresponding control units that are capable of processing information from the sensors and controlling the actuators, is constantly increasing. In a vehicle, the space available for sensors, actuators, and control devices may however be very limited, so that these components of the vehicle are increasingly produced in a miniaturized design. This also holds for the associated plugs and plug modules with which electrical connections are produced between the components. Therefore, it can also be required to produce the plugs and plug modules in a flexible and variable construction, so that they can be attached to a control unit in various positions in the available constructive space in a vehicle. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the plug lever grasps the plug body with two lever arms that are connected by a cross-beam. On the two lever arms, which can run parallel to one another and to which the cross-beam can run in orthogonal fashion as lever handle, at the ends of the arms there can be shafts that are accommodated in the plug base and about which the plug lever can be moved. The shafts can for example be accommodated and movable in corresponding openings in the plug base. The openings can be fashioned symmetrically in the plug base, and can be situated symmetrically on two opposite sides of the plug body in such a way that the plug lever can be mounted on the plug in two positions rotated relative to one another for example by 180°. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, a lever arm of the plug lever has a shaft about which the lever can be moved, and that is oriented in the direction of the plug body. The shaft can have teeth, such as a lever tooth and/or a contact tooth, designed to engage in the plug module. For example, the teeth can engage in a corresponding toothed rod on the plug module. The plug lever can be a toothed rod lever. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the shaft has a contact tooth that is designed to be supported on a projection on the shroud in the start position. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the shaft has a lever tooth that is designed to grasp the projection, the lever tooth pulling the plug into the plug module when the lever is moved from the start position to the end position. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the shaft has only one lever tooth and only one contact tooth, configured orthogonal to a direction of longitudinal extension of the shaft, and standing out from the shaft. The direction of longitudinal extension of the shaft can be defined by the axis of rotation about which the shaft can be moved in the plug body. A design and geometry of the shaft, having only one lever tooth and one contact tooth, can in addition be produced relatively simply and at low cost. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the lever tooth is made longer than the contact tooth, so that the lever tooth stands out further from the shaft than does the contact tooth. In this way, relatively large lever forces can be produced, which can be necessary to pull the plug and the plug module into one another. In addition, a relatively large lever tooth can be made robust, so that the plug forces that occur during the plugging together of the plug and the plug module can be overcome by the lever forces without damaging the lever tooth, for example breaking it off. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the shroud of the plug module has a plug channel that is designed to accept the shaft, the plug channel of the shroud being fashioned symmetrically with respect to the orientations of the plug lever. In other words, the shaft can equally be accepted by the plug channel of the shroud in both of the orientations in which the plug lever can be mounted on the plug body, so that in both orientations a translational movement can be produced by moving the plug lever from the start position to the end position, during which movement the plug and the plug module are pushed into one another in order to produce an electrical connection. Here, the plug channel can be understood as the toothed rod and the shaft can be understood as the toothed rod lever. 
     The plug channel can be situated on an external side of the shroud. In addition, two plug channels can be fashioned on two oppositely situated external sides on the shroud, each accepting a shaft of a lever arm of the plug lever. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, along a direction of plugging into the plug channel the plug channel has a first segment that provides two symmetrical projections, a second segment that provides two symmetrical openings, and a third segment that provides two further symmetrical projections. The symmetrical design of the plug channel can ensure the functioning of the shaft and of the lever tooth in both orientations of the plug lever. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the projections of the first and of the third segment of the plug channel extend equally far into the channel. This can make it possible to push the shaft a certain distance into the third segment of the plug channel without coming to lie against a projection of the channel, which in turn can ensure that the plug and the plug module can be pushed far enough into one another to create an electrical connection. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, in the start position of the plug lever the lever tooth of the shaft grasps a projection of the plug channel, the lever tooth being designed to be pushed into an opening when the plug lever is moved from the start position to the end position, at the same time pulling the plug and the plug module into one another. In this way, on the shroud of the plug module there need be situated only a single projection or counter-tooth with which the lever movement can be converted into a translational movement. With the use of a single projection, this projection can be made relatively large, so that large forces can also be transmitted. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, in the start position of the plug lever the contact tooth of the shaft is supported on a projection, the contact tooth being designed to release the projection when the plug lever is moved from the start position to the end position. The projection can be situated on the outside of the shroud of the plug module. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the plug-in system further includes a plug cover that has a cable conduit for guiding electrical lines out from the plug body. Here, the plug cover can be fastened on the plug body in two orientations, so that in the two orientations the cable conduit can guide the electrical lines out from the plug body in different directions. The orientations of the plug cover, and thus the directions in which the electrical lines are guided out from the plug body, can for example be rotated by 180° relative to one another. The cable conduit that can be led out in different orientations can also be advantageous with regard to possibly limited constructive space in a vehicle. Thus, after equipping the plug with electrical lines, i.e. connecting the plug to a cable harness, performed for example by a cable manufacturer, the cable conduit can subsequently be modified or adapted to a constructive space. Flexibility with regard to the cable conduit can also save costs in production, because only one plug, or one plug-in system, has to be produced for both orientations of the cable conduit. In addition, in this way a changing operation for different orientations of the plug cover and of the cable conduit can be omitted. 
     In addition, the plug has at least one sealing element that is designed to seal the plug plugged into the plug module against the surrounding environment of the plug. In particular, the plug lever is designed so that the interior of the plug can be sealed by sealing elements such as a radial seal and/or a mat seal. For example, the plug lever can engage on the shroud of the plug module from the outside, while the sealing element is pressed against an internal side of the shroud. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the plug base has a plug element that is designed to be pushed into the plug module. The plug base can for example have a ring element, or jacket element, that guides the shaft of the plug lever, in the interior of which there is attached a further annular plug element. The ring element and the plug element can accommodate the shroud of the plug module between them. The plug element can be surrounded by a radial seal (i.e. a sealing ring) that is designed to be accommodated between the plug element and the shroud. The radial seal can thus seal the shroud from inside. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the plug has a mat seal that is situated between the plug base and a plug cover. The mat seal can have channels that accommodate lines to the electrical contacts. Together with the radial seal, the mat seal can terminate the space formed by the plug and plug module. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the plug lever has, at one end of a lever arm, a securing pin that, in the start position, lies against a stop element on the plug base, so that a movement of the plug lever from the start position to the end position is prevented. This prevents the plug from being positioned on the plug module in an undesired position, so that for example the teeth on the lever are not in the oriented position, or the plug can be pushed partly onto the plug module without the aid of the plug lever. 
     The securing pin can be designed to be pressed away from the plug base by the pressure of a ramp on the plug module, so that the securing pin slides over the stop element and releases the plug lever. In this way, with the securing pin a pre-stop is integrated into the plug. The plug lever remains in the start position until the securing pin is released. The plug lever can be actuated only when the plug is placed onto the plug module and the ramp releases the securing pin. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, on the plug base a further stop element is provided against which the securing pin lies in the end position, so that a movement of the lever past the end position is prevented. In this way, the plug and the plug module can be prevented from being pulled too far toward one another. 
     According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the plug includes a plug securing device, or plug position securing device, that includes a slide element in a cross-beam of the plug lever and an unlocking pin on a plug cover, the slide element being capable of being slid from an unlocked position into a locked position when the slide element is pressed against the unlocking pin. With the plug securing device, the plug can be locked only when the plug lever is securely in the end position. The plug securing device is integrated into a plug and checks whether the plug lever is really in the end position, in which all electrical connections between the plug and plug module have been produced, and in which all sealing elements seal. Subsequently, using the plug securing device the plug lever can be protected against opening. In order to open the plug lever, the plug securing device has to be unlocked. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a three-dimensional view of a plug-in system according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of the plug-in system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a longitudinal section through the plug-in system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a further longitudinal section through the plug-in system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a cross-section through the plug-in system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a partial cross-section through the plug lever of the plug-in system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a further partial cross-section through the plug lever of the plug-in system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  shows a further partial cross-section through the plug lever of the plug-in system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  shows a further partial cross-section through the plug lever of the plug-in system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  shows a perspective detailed view of the plug lever of the plug-in system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  shows a detailed view of the plug module of the plug-in system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  shows a side view of the plug-in system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  shows a side view of the plug-in system according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  shows a side view of the plug-in system according to a further specific embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a plug-in system  10  made up of two cable harness plugs  12   a ,  12   b  and two plug modules (or multipoint connectors)  14   a ,  14   b . Both plugs  12   a ,  12   b  are in an end position, in which the interior of the plug-in system is sealed against external influences and in which all electrical contacts are connected. 
     Plugs  12   a ,  12   b  are symmetrical relative to a mid-plane of plug-in system  10 , and plug-in system  10  is realized in such a way that plugs  12   a ,  12   b  can be plugged into plug modules  14   a ,  14   b  anti-symmetrically to one another. 
     The two plug modules  14   a ,  14   b  are housed in a common one-piece housing  16 . 
     Each plug  12   a ,  12   b  has a plug body  16  having a plug base  18  and a plug cover  20  that closes plug base  18  on the side situated opposite the side of plug base  18  that is plugged onto plug module  14   a ,  14   b.    
     A plug lever  22  of each plug  12   a ,  12   b  grasps plug body  16  in U-shaped fashion with two arms  24 . A respective shaft  26  is situated on the ends of arms  24 . The two shafts  26  of a plug lever  22  are accommodated in oppositely situated openings  28  in plug base  18 . 
     Plug base  18  includes a guide groove  30  in which a rail  32  situated on shaft  26  is accommodated, which prevents a movement of associated lever arm  24  in the axial direction. 
     Plug lever  22  has a cross-beam  34  that connects the two arms  24  and in which a plug securing device  36  is mounted (see  FIG. 6 ). 
     Each plug  12   a ,  12   b  and the associated plug module  14   a ,  14   b  has a miniaturized contact spacing of 1.8 mm, and is realized in six rows. The pins in plug module  12   a ,  12   b  have a cross-section of 0.5 mm by 0.4 mm. In this way, more contacts can be accommodated in a smaller space. 
       FIG. 2  shows a longitudinal section through plug-in system  10 . Plug  12   a  is shown in a start position, and plug  12   b  is shown in an end position. 
     In the case of plug  12   a  it can be seen that plug module  14   a  (and also plug module  14   b ) has an edge/shroud  38  on which plug  12   a  is placed in the start position. Arm  24  of first plug  12   a  is placed, in the start position, on cover  20  of second plug  12   b.    
       FIG. 3  shows plug-in system  10  in a cross-sectional view in which the two levers  22  on the one side of plug-in system  10  are cut away.  FIG. 3  shows that a movement of lever  22  from the start position to the end position pulls plug module  14   a  into plug  12   a . Shroud  38  is here situated in plug base  18 . 
       FIG. 4  shows plug-in system  10  in a cross-sectional view in which the two shafts  26  are sectioned on the one side of plug-in system  10 . On each shaft  26  there is situated a contact tooth  40  and a lever tooth  42 . Both teeth  40 ,  42  are projections that stand out from shaft  26 . 
     In the start position, contact tooth  40  is oriented in a direction transverse to the plug direction, and lever tooth  42  is oriented along the plug direction. On shroud  38 , there is externally situated a projection  44  on which contact tooth  40  is placed in the start position. In the start position, plug base  18  already extends past shroud  38 , in order to position plugs  12   a ,  12   b  in such a way that contact tooth  40  is correspondingly placed. 
     If lever  22  is moved into the end position, shaft  26  rotates and lever tooth  42  engages under projection  44  and pulls plug  12   a ,  12   b , or the base  18  thereof, and plug module  14   a ,  14   b , or shroud  38 , toward one another. Contact tooth  40  here moves in such a way that it releases projection  44  and can slide past projection  44 . 
     In the end position, contact tooth  40  is oriented in a direction opposite the plug direction, and lever tooth  42  is oriented in a direction transverse to the plug direction. 
     Underneath projection  44  there can be situated a further projection  46  that prevents lever tooth  42  from being moved further in the plug direction, in order to fix plug  12   a ,  12   b  in the end position. 
     The two projections  44 ,  46  can be considered as a toothed rod having to teeth  44 ,  46 . A mirror-symmetrical configuration of teeth, or a toothed rod, can be situated on the same side of shroud  38  on plug module  14   a ,  14   b . In this way, the same shrouds  38  can be used for the two plug modules  14   a ,  14   b.    
     Teeth  44 ,  46 , and projections  44 ,  46 , which form between them a plug channel for shaft  26  in plug module  14   a ,  14   b , are described in more detail below with reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a cross-section through plug  12   a  at the level of two ramps  48  of plug module  14   a . Plug  12   a  is sealed by a radial seal  50  and a mat seal  52 . 
     Plug base  18  has a ring or jacket element  54  that surrounds shroud  38  in the end position and that is externally flush with shroud  38 . Just as shroud  38  does, jacket element  54  can have a rectangular cross-section and can be formed with an annular shape. 
     In addition, plug base  18  has a central or plug element  56  that is surrounded by shroud  38  in the end position. Between jacket element  54  and plug element  56  there is situated an annular recess that accommodates shroud  38 . 
     Radial seal  50  surrounds plug element  56  at an outer wall. In order to create space for radial seal  50 , shroud  38  can be tapered on the inside at an outer end. 
     In the plug direction, plug element  56  is shorter than jacket element  54 , and is surrounded by radial seal  50 , which, in the end position, is situated between the inner wall of shroud  38  and the outer wall of plug element  56 . 
     Through plug element  56  there run guide channels  58  that accommodate lines of a cable harness. Central element  56  contains chambers  60  that accommodate contact elements, into which pins from plug module  14   a  can be pushed. 
     Between plug base  18  and plug cover  20  there is situated a mat seal  52  that has channels  62  through which lines can be guided and that seal the interior of plug  12   a  against the surrounding environment. 
     On plug lever  22 , at the ends of arms  24  there is situated a securing pin  64  that points in the direction of plug body  16  (inward), and that, when plug lever  22  is in the start position and no force is acting on pin  64 , lies against a housing element  66 , so that plug lever  22  cannot be moved in the direction of the end position. 
     The edge of housing element  66  on which pin  64  lies runs essentially orthogonal to the lower edge of plug  12   a.    
     Next to shroud  38  there is situated a ramp  48  on which pin  64  comes to be seated when plug  12   a  is placed onto the plug module. Through pressure on plug  12   a , pin  64  is pressed onto ramp  48 , and is pressed outward by ramp  48  away from plug body  16  in such a way that pin  64  slides over housing element  66  and releases plug lever  12   a . This is accompanied by deformation of the region of lever  22  connected to pin  64 . 
     During the movement from the start position to the end position of lever  22 , pin  64  is guided via a ramp  68  on plug body  16  until, in the end position, it lies against a further housing or stop element  70  (see  FIG. 3 ), which prevents a movement of lever  22  past the end position. 
     Plug base  18  and shroud  38  are constructed symmetrically relative to a longitudinal and to a transverse direction. Lever  22  is constructed symmetrically to the longitudinal direction. Pins  64  are situated on both sides of lever  22 . Ramp  38 , ramp  68 , and stop elements  66 ,  70  are situated on both sides of plug base  18  or of the shroud, two of these components being situated on each side respectively. 
       FIG. 6  shows a cross section through plug  12   a  along a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of plug-in system  10 , which lies outside the plane of symmetry. 
     Plug securing element  36 , or plug position securing element  36 , includes a slide element  72  that is mounted in sliding fashion in cross-beam  34  of lever  22 . However, in the unlocked position shown in  FIG. 6 , slide element  72  is prevented from sliding into a locked position by a locking element  74  of plug lever  22 . In its front edge, slide element  72  has a groove  76  that can accommodate an edge of locking element  74 . 
     On plug cover  20  there is situated an unlocking pin  78  that, when lever  22  presses on cover  20 , presses against slide element  72  and deforms it so that the slide element is no longer seated on locking element  74  and can be pushed over it. For this purpose, slide element  72  has, following groove  76 , a first ramp  80 . 
     Cover  20  and cross-beam  34  are constructed symmetrically to a mid-plane of plug-in system  10 . Thus, the slide element can have two grooves  76 , and lever  22  can have two locking elements  74 , and cover  20  can have two unlocking pins  78 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a cross-section through plug  12   a  along the plane of symmetry. Analogous to  FIG. 6 , slide element  72  is in the unlocked position, in which lever  22  and cover  20  are not locked to one another. 
     Slide element  72  has a bar  82  that is designed to be pushed into a clip  84  on cover  20 , so that lever  22  can no longer be moved away from cover  20 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a cross-section analogous to  FIG. 6 , in which the slide element is in the locked position. Slide element  72  has a switch  86  with which it can be moved into the locked position. For this purpose, slide element  72  is pushed over locking element  74 , where, on a further ramp in lever  22 , it subsequently lies against a ramp on locking element  74 . In this position, by actuating switch  86  slide element  72  can be moved back into the unlocked position, in which it bends away from locking element  74 , because the two ramps slide on one another. 
       FIG. 9  shows a cross-section analogous to  FIG. 7 . In the locked position, bar  72  is pushed into clip  84 . On its front edge, bar  72  has a beveled segment that facilitates the introduction into clip  84 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a perspective detailed view of plug lever  22  with the two U-shaped lever arms  24 , which are connected to cross-beam  34 . In this representation, the two shafts  26 , situated on the ends of each of lever arms  24 , can be seen clearly. 
     Each shaft  26  has a rail  32  that is accommodated in a guide groove  30  in opening  28  of plug base  18 , and that fixes lever arms  28  relative to an axial direction that can be defined by the plug direction. In addition, each shaft  26  has only one lever tooth  42  and one contact tooth  40 , which can stand out from shaft  26 , orthogonal to a direction of longitudinal extension of shaft  26 , offset by for example 90° to one another. 
     Opening  28  of plug base  18  can preferably be circular, and a further opening can be provided in plug base  18  that can be made complementary to lever tooth  42  and that can adjoin opening  28 , so that shaft  26  can be guided through opening  28  with lever tooth  42 . In addition, opening  28  can be made symmetrical relative to a midplane through opening  28 , i.e., two recesses, made complementary to lever tooth  42 , can be provided at opening  28 , through which lever tooth  42  can be guided. In addition, two openings  28  can be configured symmetrically at two oppositely situated sides of plug body  16 . 
     Lever tooth  42  stands out further from shaft  26  then does contact tooth  40 , so that when plug lever  22  is moved from the start position to the end position, and given the associated rotation of shaft  26  by lever tooth  42 , adequately large lever forces can be produced in order for example to apply the plugging forces necessary for a plugging together of plug  12   a ,  12   b  and plug module  14   a ,  14   b.    
       FIG. 11  shows a perspective detailed view of plug module  14   a ,  14   b  of the plug-in system of  FIG. 1 . On two oppositely situated external sides of shroud  38 , there are situated respective plug channels  90 . The two plug channels  90  of a plug module  14   a ,  14   b  are constructed so as to each accommodate a shaft  26  of the two lever arms  24  of a plug lever  22 . 
     Shroud  38  here forms a floor  91  of a plug channel  90 . On a side situated opposite floor  91 , i.e. a side facing away from shroud  38 , plug channel  90  is open in order to accommodate shaft  26 . If plug  12   a ,  12   b  is plugged onto plug module  14   a ,  14   b , the two shafts  26  of plug lever  22  on two oppositely situated sides of plug body  16  are each accommodated in openings  28  of plug base  18 , each shaft  26  being accommodated by a plug channel  90  on plug module  14   a ,  14   b.    
     Each plug channel  90  has, along the plug direction, a first segment  92  that provides two symmetrical projections  44 , a second segment  94  that provides two symmetrical openings  96 , and a third segment  98  that provides two additional symmetrical projections  46 . Here, the projections  44  of first segment  92  extend into plug channel  90  to the same distance as do projections  46  of third segment  98 . 
     Overall, first, second, and third segment  92 ,  94 ,  98  of plug channel  90  can be fashioned as thickened parts of shroud  38 , enclosing floor  91  of plug channel  90  and standing out from shroud  38 . Shroud  38  and plug channel  90  can be realized in one piece or in multiple pieces. First, second, and third segment  92 ,  94 ,  98  of plug channel  90  can thus form channel walls of plug channel  90 . In a multi-piece construction, the channel walls of plug channel  90  can for example be fastened to shroud  38  by a plastic spraying method, plastic welding, ultrasound welding, gluing, or riveting. 
     Plug channels  90  are fashioned symmetrically relative to first, second, and third segments  92 ,  94 ,  98 . In other words, plug channels  90 , or the channel walls, are fashioned in mirror-symmetrical fashion relative to a mid-plane through the plug channel along the direction of plugging. 
     The symmetrical realization of projections  44 ,  46  and of openings  96 , or the symmetrical realization of the channel walls of a plug channel  90 , makes it possible to mount plug lever  22  on plug body  16  in two orientations, lever arms  24  and plug module  14   a ,  14   b  engaging in one another, in both orientations, in such a way that plug  12   a ,  12   b  is pulled into plug module  14   a ,  14   b  by moving plug lever  22  from the start position to the end position. In other words, plug channels  90  are made symmetrical relative to the orientations of plug lever  22 , so that in both orientations of plug lever  22  the plug channels can accommodate shafts  26 . 
     As already explained in detail in relation to  FIG. 4 , in the start position contact tooth  40  is supported, transverse to the plug direction, on projection  44  of first segment  92  of plug channel  90 , and lever tooth  42  extends along the plug direction into plug channel  90  and grasps projection  44 . 
     When plug lever  22  is moved into the end position, shaft  26  rotates and contact tooth  40  releases projection  44  and slides past projection  44 . At the same time, lever tooth  42  engages under projection  44 , and pulls plug  12   a ,  12   b  into plug module  14   a ,  14   b , or into shroud  38 . Here, lever tooth  42  is pushed into recess  96  of plug channel  90 . In the end position, contact tooth  40  points in a direction opposite the plug direction, and is situated in first segment  92  of plug channel  90 , whereas lever tooth  42  points in a direction transverse to the plug direction, and extends into a recess  96  in second segment  94  of plug channel  90  (see also  FIG. 4 ). 
       FIG. 12  shows a side view of plug-in system  10  from  FIG. 1 , plug lever  22  of plug  12   a ,  12   b  being shown in the end position, and being configured mirror-symmetrically relative to a mid-plane through plug-in system  10 , which runs orthogonal to the plane of the drawing of  FIG. 12 . 
     Plugs  12   a ,  12   b  each have a plug cover  20 . A plug cover  20  can for example have an edge  101  fashioned complementarily to an edge region of plug body  16 , so that plug cover  20  can be fastened on plug body  16  for example by a positive fit and/or a force-fit. 
     The edge region of plug body  16 , and edge  101  complementary thereto of plug cover  20 , are in addition symmetrical with regard to two orientations in which plug cover  20  can be mounted on plug body  16 . The orientations of plug cover  20  can for example be rotated by 180° to one another. 
     Plug cover  20  also has a cable conduit  100  for guiding electrical lines out from plug body  16 . Corresponding to the orientation of plug cover  20 , cable conduit  100  guides the electrical lines out from plug body  16  in different directions in the two orientations. 
     In plug-in system  10  shown in  FIG. 12 , plug lever  22  and plug cover  20  are mounted in anti-symmetrical orientation to one another on plug  12   a ,  12   b . That is, plug cover  20  and plug lever  22  are configured mirror-symmetrically relative to the mid-plane through plug-in system  10 , so that cable conduits  100  are oriented in opposite directions. Therefore, the electrical lines are guided out from plug  12   a ,  12   b  in opposite directions by cable conduits  100 . 
       FIG. 13  shows a plug-in system  10  in which plug lever  22  and plug cover  20  are each mounted on plug  12   a ,  12   b  in the same orientation to one another, so that cable conduits  100  are also oriented in the same direction. In plug-in system  10  shown in  FIG. 13 , the electrical lines are therefore each guided out from plug body  16  on the right side. 
       FIG. 14  shows a plug-in system  10  in which plug lever  22  and plug cover  20  are also each mounted on plug  12   a ,  12   b  with the same orientation to one another, so that cable conduits  100  also point in the same direction. In plug-in system  10  shown in  FIG. 14 , the electrical lines are each guided out from plug body  16  on the left side. 
     Overall, it is to be understood that the plug-in systems  10  shown in  FIGS. 12 through 14  are made up of the same components  12   a ,  12   b ,  20 ,  22 , which however are combined with one another with a different orientation in each case. 
     In addition, it is to be noted that “includes” does not exclude any other elements or steps, and “one” or “a” does not exclude a plurality. In addition, it is to be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other exemplary embodiments described above.