Abstract:
Provided is a plug connector module for inserting in a holding frame of a modular plug connector. The plug connector module is provided so as to make electrical contact with the holding frame. A housing that forms the plug connector module is embodied from metal and can be connected in a mechanical and electrically conductive manner by way of a first type of fastener and a second type of fastening means to the holding frame.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a plug connector 
     modules for constructing modular plug connectors. Multiple, similar or diverse plug connector modules are combined into one plug connector. The plug connector can thus be formed and configured with a high degree of flexibility. 
     Plug connector modules are either inserted directly in a plug connector housing or inserted and fixed initially in a so-called modular frame. The modular frame is then mounted in the plug connector housing with the plug connector modules that are received in the said modular frame. 
     A plurality of plug connector modules for modular plug connectors are already known from the prior art. Said plug connector modules vary in their size, number of contact means that are received, dimensions of the contact means and type of contact means. Depending upon the embodiment of the plug connector module, said plug connector module can be used to transmit for example signals and currents of a digital, analogue, electrical, pneumatic, optical or hydraulic nature. 
     DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     DE 296 01 998 U1 discloses a modular plug connector having a metal holding frame and multiple individual modules in which contact elements are received. The holding frame is provided on one side with a connection to ground, said connection being connected by means of a metal, comb-shaped connecting bracket to contact elements in the individual modules. An electrical connection between the ground contacts of individual modules to the holding frame is thus possible. 
     DE 10 2013 108 383 A1 discloses an electrical plug connector module that is provided alone or in combination with further plug connector modules for forming a modular plug connector. The electrical plug connector module can be inserted depending upon the embodiment directly in a plug connector housing or can be fastened received in a holding frame having further modules in a plug connector housing. The electrical plug connector module comprises an electrical contact means that is connected in the interior of the electrical plug connector module in an electrically conductive manner to an electrical contact that is received in the interior of the electrical plug connector module. The electrical contact means that is guided on the outer side of the electrical plug connector module in addition makes contact with the holding frame or the plug connector housing by way of a resilient region and the electrical plug connector module is inserted into said housing. 
     EP 0 860 906 B1 discloses a holding frame for holding plug connector modules and for integrating into a plug connector housing or for screwing on to wall surfaces, wherein the plug connector modules are inserted into the holding frame and holding means on the plug connector modules cooperate with recesses that are provided on opposite-lying wall parts (side parts) of the holding frame. The recesses are embodied on all sides as closed openings in the side parts of the holding frame and the holding frame is embodied from two halves that are connected to one another in an articulated manner. 
     It is disadvantageous in the case of the solutions that are known from the prior art for modular plug connectors that it is only possible to establish a contact and provide a connection to an electrical ground in a manner that is limited with respect to the dimensions of the cross section. 
     The fastenings that are provided on the holding frames for a connection to ground are mainly only designed in dependence upon the type of construction for a conductor cross section of up to 10 mm 2 . The use of ground contact elements in plug connector modules is also regulated by means of the connection to the ground connection on the holding frame. A secure electrical connection of the ground contact to the holding frame is not possible. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to embody a plug connector module in such a manner that an electrical contact is secured between the electrical contact element and a holding frame in which the plug connector module is inserted, is also ensured in the case of very large conductor cross sections. Known holding frames that are not designed for large conductor cross sections of this type are furthermore to be used. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is an electrical plug connector module for use in a metal holding frame. The plug connector module is embodied from a housing and at least one electrical contact element that is received in the housing. 
     The housing forms a plugging side for making contact with a complementing plug connector module, a connecting side for connecting an electrical conductor to the contact element and two fastening sides to which it is possible to fasten the plug connector module with in the holding frame. For this purpose, fastening means are expediently provided on the fastening sides, said fastening means cooperating with corresponding fastening means on the holding frame. 
     The electrical contact element is arranged in the housing in such a manner that said contact element reaches with a connecting end into the connecting side of the plug connector module and reaches with a plugging end into the plugging side of the plug connector module. The connection of an electrical conductor on the connecting end of the electrical contact element on the connecting side of the plug connector module is thus possible and contact is made with a corresponding plug connector module by way of the plugging side. 
     In order to ensure a secure electrical connection to ground between the contact element and holding frame, the housing is embodied in accordance with the invention from an electrically conductive material. The connection to ground can then be transferred by way of the housing to the holding frame by means of making direct contact between the contact element and the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the housing is embodied from metal. 
     In a preferred embodiment, two types of fastening means are provided on at least one of the fastening sides of the housing. One fastening means of the first type and one fastening means of the second type. The fastening means of the first and second type can be arranged in such a manner that is variable in relation to location with respect to one another. 
     In other words, the fastening means of the first type is provided in a rigid manner on the housing, while the fastening means of the second type is provided in a movable manner on the housing and can be fixed on the housing by means of for example a screw. As a consequence, it is rendered possible to clamp components between the fastening means. The holding frame, in which the plug connector module is inserted, can thus be mechanically fixed between the fastening means of the first and second type. A secure electrical contact arrangement can thus be ensured. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the housing is embodied in a two-part manner from two housing parts. A simplified assembly of the contact elements in the housing is rendered possible by means of the two-part embodiment of the housing. In addition, it is possible by means of a two-part housing to clamp the contact element in the housing. This increases the contact reliability between the contact element and the housing in comparison to contact elements that otherwise are only latched in the housing. 
     In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the housing parts are embodied in a hermaphroditic manner. As a consequence, it is possible to form a housing from two identical housing parts. This saves on storage and production costs. 
     In order to ensure a particularly good, electrical conductivity between the plug connector module and the holding frame, a further, expedient embodiment provides that all components of the plug connector module are produced from a conductive material, preferably metal. As high as possible an electrical conductivity is rendered possible by means of using metal connecting components such as screws, rivets or washers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and is further explained hereinunder. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a plug connector module in a front view 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a plug connector module in a side view 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a plug connector module in a plan view 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a plug connector module in a further view 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a plug connector module in a spatial illustration, and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates two plug connector modules in a holding frame. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The figures include in part, simplified, schematic illustrations. In part, identical reference numerals are used for like but where necessary not identical elements. Various views of identical elements could be represented on a different scale. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an electrical plug connector module  1  in accordance with the invention in a front view. The plug connector module  1  is formed from a housing  2  and a contact element  3  that is received in the housing  2 . The housing  2  comprises two housing parts  24  that lie one behind the other in this case. The housing parts  24  are mechanically connected to one another using two screws  62  that are in each case screwed in from one side. 
     As is illustrated in the upper region of  FIG. 1 , the plug connector module  1  forms a connecting side  22 . Opposite said connecting side, the plug connector module  1  forms a plugging side  21  that is illustrated in the lower region. The plugging side  21  is provided so as to establish contact with a corresponding plug connector module. The contact element  3  protrudes into the plugging side  21  and forms a plugging end  31  at that location. 
     A cable that is to be connected can be inserted into the plug connector module  1  on the connecting side  22  and said cable can be connected to a provided connecting end  32  of the electrical contact element  3 . 
     Two fastening sides  23  are located on the sides of the plug connector module  1 . Said fastening sides are used so as to fasten the plug connector module  1  in a holding frame  8 . Two types of fastening means are provided for this purpose on the fastening sides  23 . The fastening means of the first type  5  that are fixed in a rigid manner on the housing  2 . In this exemplary embodiment, the fastening means of the first type  5  are integrated into the housing parts  24  in a single-part manner. 
     The fastening means of the second type  7  is arranged above this, said fastening means of the second type being connected by means of screws  61  to the housing  2 . By virtue of the fact that the fastening means of the second type  7  is attached to the plug connector module  1  in such a manner that it can move, but the fastening means of the first type  5  is not, a movement of the fastening means of the first type  5  and the fastening means of the second type  7  can be performed relative to one another. This movement renders it possible to clamp components between the fastening means of the first and second type  5 / 7 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a plug connector module  1  from a side view with a view of the fastening side  23 . The two housing parts  24  that form the housing  2  are evident. The fastening means of the first type  5  is divided in two. In each case, one half is formed on a housing part  24 . 
     The fastening means of the second type  7  on the other hand is fastened on merely one housing part  24 . A thread is provided for this purpose in the housing part  24  and the screw  61  is screwed into said thread and the fastening means of the second type  7  is thus fixed. In addition, a retaining ring is provided between the screw head and fastening means of the second type  7  so as to secure the fastening means of the second type  7  and the screw  61 . 
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  illustrate in each case a further view of a plug connector module  1  in a plan view of the connecting side  22  in  FIG. 3  and with a view of the plugging side  21  in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 3 , the contact element  3  is evident with a view of a connecting region  32 . Said contact element can be accessed by way of the connecting side  22  of the plug connector module  1  and can thus be connected to an electrical cable that is to be connected. In  FIG. 4 , a plugging region  31  of the contact element  3  is evident, said plugging region being provided so as to make an electrical contact with a corresponding plug connector module  1 . 
     The plug connector module  1  from  FIGS. 1 to 4  is illustrated in  FIG. 5  in a spatial view. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates two corresponding plug connector modules  1 ,  1 ′ in accordance with  FIGS. 1 to 5 , said plug connector modules being received in a holding frame  8 ,  8 ′. The holding frame  8 ,  8 ′ and the plug connector modules  1 ,  1 ′ are connected to one another. 
     The fastening means of the first type  5  of the plug connector modules  1  are evident, said fastening means engaging in a positive-locking manner in recesses of the holding frame  8 ,  8 ′. In addition, the fastening means of the second type  7  are screwed onto the plug connector modules  1 ,  1 ′ and thus clamp a region of the holding frame  8 ,  8 ′ between the fastening means of the first and the second type  5 ,  7 . A secure, mechanical fixing arrangement of the plug connector modules  1 ,  1 ′ on the holding frame  8 ,  8 ′ is thus ensured. A secure and permanent electrical connection can thus be ensured.