PLUG-IN CONNECTION WITH REMOVABLE PIN CONTACT OR SOCKET CONTACT

Plug-in connection with at least one pin contact (1) and/or with at least one socket contact that are connected to a cable and that communicate with a pin contact (3) or socket contact, wherein the pin contact (3) or the socket contact can be installed in a plug housing (1) engagement, characterized in that the engaged state can be non-destructively released.

The invention relates to a plug-in connection with at least one pin contact and/or with at least one socket contact, which are connected to a cable and are in connection with a pin or socket housing, wherein the pin or socket housing can be installed in a plug housing by means of engagement, in accordance with the features of the preamble of claim1.

Such a plug-in connection is known from DE 10 2011 051 291 A1. In this plug-in connection, which is constructed in several parts, the angularly designed pin housing or socket housing is fixed by means of latching arms arranged on an intermediate housing, whereby the pin housing or socket housing is permanently connected to the intermediate housing. The disadvantage of this engagement is that the pin or socket housing is so firmly connected to the intermediate housing that it cannot be removed without destroying it.

The object of the invention is to improve a plug-in connection in such a manner that the pin or socket housing can be easily removed again despite good fixation of the same in an adjacent component.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by the engagement being designed to be non-destructively detachable. This means that the pin or socket housing can be easily exchanged and replaced with another or even a different type of housing.

Preferably, the pin or socket housing is designed to be substantially cylindrical, at least in the installation area of the plug housing and the installation area of the plug housing.

The pin or socket housing has a locking ring and the installation area of the plug housing has at least one locking hook, which is arranged to be elastically flexible. The pin or socket housing can be inserted into the installation area of the connector housing and fixed to the locking ring by means of the locking hook(s) in the installed state. It should be expressly indicated that instead of the arrangement of the locking ring on the pin or socket housing and the fastening of the locking hook or hooks in the installation area of the plug housing, the locking hooks can also be arranged on the pin or socket housing, wherein the locking ring can then be provided as an annular cut-out in the installation area of the plug housing.

The locking hook(s) further have extension lugs protruding from the pin or socket housing, wherein the installation area of the plug housing may have an annular extension that extends from the end of the plug housing to the locking hooks. Preferably, however, recesses are incorporated in the installation area of the plug housing in which the locking hooks with the extension lugs are installed. Individual extensions are also provided in the recesses from the locking hooks to the end of the installation area.

In a further embodiment of the invention, an unlocking tool is associated with the plug-in connection, the dimensions of which are designed to fit into the extension or extensions in the installation area. The unlocking tool has at least one wedge-shaped bevel at its end that can be inserted into the connector housing, which can contact the extension lug(s) after insertion of the unlocking tool into the connector housing and release or lift the locking hook(s) from the locking ring. The at least one wedge-shaped slope can, for example, be designed as a truncated cone.

However, it is further proposed that three locking hooks with three extension lugs are provided distributed around the circumference of the installation area, which are layered in three recesses, and that the unlocking tool has a corresponding number of arms with bevels at the insertable end to fit the extensions.

This makes it easy to unhook the pin or socket housing from the plug housing by simple means.

InFIGS.1to5, where represented in detail, the reference number1indicates a connector housing which has a plurality of installation areas for various types of contacts, particularly pin contacts. Alternatively, it can also be a socket housing. In this case, corresponding socket contacts are arranged in the socket housing. The reference number2designates the installation area in the plug housing1which is designed for the installation of a pin or socket housing, wherein a pin contact shown here as an example is designated3. The installation area2is substantially cylindrical and has three recesses labeled4, which are arranged along the installation area2. The recesses4each have a locking hook labeled5, which protrude in the direction of the center of the installation area2. The locking hooks5have extension lugs labeled6, which are aligned in the direction of the outer circumference of the installation area2. Between the locking hooks5or extension lugs6and the end of the plug housing1, extensions labeled7are incorporated in the recesses4. Furthermore, noses12protrude at the end of the installation area2of the cylindrical design, which limit the insertion path of the pin contact3or a pin contact. As can be seen in particular inFIGS.1and4, a contact locking area, in particular a locking ring8, is incorporated on the pin contact3, on which, as can be seen in particular inFIG.1, the locking hooks5engage after the pin contact3has been pushed into the recess2, so that the pin contact3or a socket contact is fixed in both directions in the installation area2.

In the locked or hooked state of the locking hooks5on the locking ring8, the extension lugs6protrude slightly from the circumference of the pin contact3, as can be seen inFIG.1.

The reference number9also designates an unlocking tool which, corresponding to the number of locking hooks5and extension lugs6, has projecting arms10, at the ends of which bevels11are machined, the cutting edges of which are adjacent to the contact locking area, particularly the locking ring8.

If, as indicated inFIG.1, the unlocking tool9is now inserted with the arms10and the bevels11into the extensions7of the recesses4, the locking hooks5are displaced outwards into the recesses4via the extension lugs6, so that the pin contact3can be released from the locking mechanism and removed from the connector housing1. To better adapt the arms10and the extension lugs6to the circumference of the pin contact3, the inner walls of the arms10and the extension lugs6and, if necessary, the locking hook5are designed in the shape of a cylindrical shell, adapted to the circumference of the pin contact3or the locking ring8.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS