Abstract:
In order to realize a connector housing ( 10 ) that is tightly sealed relative to the environment, the invention proposes a device for an axially slidable connector-ended cable ( 5 ) because a contact holder ( 20 ) connected to the connector-ended cable can be displaced by a defined axial distance (C) within the connector housing, wherein a constant pressure is exerted upon the contact holder ( 35 ) of a corresponding female connector ( 3 ) by means of an integrated pressure spring ( 40 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention pertains to a device for a contact holder with a connector-ended cable that is arranged within a connector housing in an axially slidable fashion.  
         [0003]     A connector housing of this type is required in order to also utilize connectors with their own contact latching mechanisms in an industrial environment.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     There exist numerous connectors that feature a latching mechanism arranged for a definite overlapping contact area or to compensate tolerances between the contacts.  
         [0006]     These latching mechanisms secure the end position in the mated state. When the connection is produced, the contact pairs are joined and the connectors are held against one another by pressure springs. The latching is achieved with displaceable holding means in this case. The housing of the connector carries out a movement relative to the contact and therefore the connected cable.  
         [0007]     This displacement is only possible if the connectors are designed in a half-enclosed fashion and is quite common in offices—where they are not subjected to any dust and water.  
         [0008]     However, if a higher degree of protection with a housing that provides additional protection and features its own latching mechanism and with a sealing contour is required, a relative movement between the contact and the contact latching mechanism is no longer possible.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Consequently, the invention is based on the objective of designing a connector housing of the initially cited type in such a way that the contact holder with the cable connected thereto carries out a displacement in the mating direction within the connector housing.  
         [0010]     This objective is attained in that the connector housing features a sliding sleeve, in which the connector-ended cable is fixed, in that the sliding sleeve features locking devices that point into the connector housing, in that the contact holder is held between the locking devices, in that the contact holder is connected to the connector-ended cable, and in that the contact holder is displaceably guided within a recess in the connector housing.  
         [0011]     The advantages attained with the invention can be seen, in particular, in that the connector housing accommodates a contact holder that is connected to an electric cable and able to carry out an axial relative movement within the connector housing in order to offset the tolerance on a female connector and able to accommodate connectors with their own contact latching mechanism.  
         [0012]     In this case, an extension is integrally moulded onto the connector housing at the end on the cable side and a circumferential gasket is arranged in a groove on said extension, wherein a sliding sleeve is slipped over this extension. The sliding sleeve features a holding device that is formed by several tongue-shaped locking devices or guide rails, respectively. The locking devices extend through an opening in the connector housing and engage on the edges of the opening with hooks provided for this purpose such that the sliding sleeve is held in a captive fashion, wherein it is proposed to arrange the hooks on the quick-release hooks in such a way that a displacement between the connector housing and the sliding sleeve is possible over a predetermined distance.  
         [0013]     The two guide rails are simultaneously guided in corresponding guide grooves in the collar of the connector housing and advantageously prevent the sliding sleeve from being turned relative to the connector housing. An electric cable fixed within the sliding sleeve by means of a strain relief and a gland nut can be displaced relative to the connector housing by the predetermined distance, wherein a connector enclosure that provides an advantageous seal relative to the environment is formed due to the sealing effect of the circumferential gasket on the collar of the connector housing and the sliding sleeve, and wherein the high extraction forces for the electric cable are simultaneously preserved.  
         [0014]     In addition, a contact holder interposed between the locking devices of the sliding sleeve is held in an axially displaceable fashion in a recess in the panel of the connector housing. In this case, the sliding way of the contact holder advantageously corresponds to the sliding way of the sliding sleeve. A spring that surrounds the contact holder may be additionally arranged between the contact holder and the connector housing such that it continuously presses the contact holder in the mating direction. When the connector housing is connected to a female connector, the contact holder is continuously and steadily pressed against the female connector. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the figures and described in greater detail below. The figure show:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1 a  section through a connector housing in the non-mated position,  
         [0017]      FIG. 2 a  section through a connector housing in the mated position, and  
         [0018]      FIGS. 3   a, b  different views of a connector housing end and a sliding sleeve that can be slipped thereon.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a section through a connector  1  with a connector housing  10  that features a device for axially displacing or slidable an electric cable  5 .  
         [0020]     The mating side of the connector housing  10  is provided with integral latching elements for fixing the connector housing on a female connector.  
         [0021]     A sliding sleeve  25  is slipped on a collar  11  of the connector housing  10  on the cable side. Several locking devices  26  are integrally moulded onto the sliding sleeve and extend into the connector housing  10  through an opening  13 . Quick-release hooks  27  are provided on at least two locking devices and serve for holding the sliding sleeve on the rear panel  12  of the connector housing in a captive fashion. In this case, the hooks are arranged such that the sliding sleeve can be axially displaced relative to the connector housing by a certain distance C.  
         [0022]     The contact holder  20  with a part  22  integrally moulded thereon is inserted between the locking devices. The contact holder is simultaneously guided in a recess  14  in the panel of the connector housing.  
         [0023]     The sliding way C within the recess  14  corresponds to the sliding way C provided for the sliding sleeve, wherein the distance B between the collar  11  and the sliding sleeve is irrelevant in this case.  
         [0024]     Between the contact holder  20  and the rear panel  12  of the connector housing  10 , a pressure spring  40  is arranged around the part  22  of the contact holder and the locking devices  26  in such a way that the contact holder is continuously pressed against the lower stopping edge  16  of the recess  14  in the mating direction.  
         [0025]     The spring  40  can be optionally utilized in this case.  
         [0026]     The sliding sleeve  25  is slipped on the collar  11  of the connector housing  10  on the cable side, wherein their intermediate space is sealed against environmental influences by means of a circumferential gasket  19  arranged in a groove  18 .  
         [0027]     The electric cable  5  with its individual wires  6  is guided in the sliding sleeve  25  within a strain relief  42  and can be fixed by means of a gland nut  44  that is screwed on externally.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  shows the connector  10  in a position in which it is mated with a female connector  35  arranged in a gasket housing  30 , wherein both connectors are interconnected by means of snap-on means in the form of snap-fits  17 ,  31 .  
         [0029]     The snap-fits  31 ,  17  are disengaged by pressing together the two laterally arranged unlocking devices  33  such that the connector  1  can be detached from the gasket housing  30 .  
         [0030]     In this mated state, both contact holders exactly adjoin one another with their pressure areas  21 ,  36 , wherein the upper contact holder  20  contacts the upper stopping edge  15  of the recess  14  due to the contact pressure of the female connector.  
         [0031]     However, the contact holder  20  is at least pressed against the lower female connector  35  by the spring  40 .  
         [0032]     One can also recognize the increased distance (A) between the extension on the end of the male connector on the cable side and the sliding sleeve, wherein this increased distance makes it clear why the electric cable  5  needs to be displaceable by a certain distance within the male connector.  
         [0033]      FIGS. 3   a,    3   b  show the end of the connector housing on the cable side, wherein the region of the housing on the mating side is blanked out or cut off, respectively.  
         [0034]     In this case,  FIG. 3   a  shows a view of the connector housing  10  and the separate sliding sleeve  25  from the mating side while  FIG. 3   b  shows a view of the sliding sleeve and the connector housing from the cable side. The sliding sleeve  25  features four stripped-shaped holding devices that protrude from the socket shape, wherein two oppositely arranged holding devices are realized in the form of extended tabs that form locking devices  26  and two shorter strips that are realized in the form of guide rails  28  are respectively guided in a guide groove  13 . 1  within the opening  13  such that the sliding sleeve  25  is non-rotatably held on the connector housing once the gland nut  44  is screwed on the thread  29  after the assembly of the cable set.  
         [0035]     The guide rails are arranged in the extension of the connector that is formed by the collar  11 , wherein the locking devices  26  protrude through the opening  13  and prevent the sliding sleeve from falling out of the opening by means of quick-release hooks  27  integrally moulded thereon when the quick-release hooks engage on the edge of the opening  13  in the rear panel  12 . During the connector assembly, the part  22  of the contact holder  20  is positioned between the two locking devices  26  such that the locking devices are continuously spread apart.