Patent Publication Number: US-9419374-B2

Title: Connector with vibration protection

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from and incorporates by reference German Patent Application DE 10 2014 116 322.2 filed on Nov. 10, 2014. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a plug connector for establishing an electrical connection with a counter piece which includes a housing, in which contacts are arranged in plug in direction x in the front, the contacts being connectable with a cable positioned in plug in direction x in the back which cable can be run out of the housing,
         with a securing sleeve which is mounted rotationally movable on the housing to provide a screw connection that secures the plug connection with the counter piece, wherein at least at the end of the securing screw connection an axial section of the housing and an axial section of the securing sleeve engage each other in form closure that provides vibration protection of the plug connection,   with an elastic seal which secures the plug connection against influences of contaminants.       

     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A known connector is disclosed in DE 42 05 440 A1. The connector shown there is equipped with a securing sleeve with a locking profile on an inner circumference line as well as—according to the embodiment—a locking profile formed by two diametrically opposed teeth on the side of the contact support. When the locking profiles meet during the screwing action securing the plug connection, they engage form-fitting with each other. At this point the radial rise of the first protrusion over the second protrusion is ensured by at least one of the protrusions being forced out of its rest position. This can be ensured by an appropriate material weakness zone or by the choice of the material for the protrusions. 
     It is known from DE 200 03 224 U1, too, to provide an elastomeric ring between the protrusions of the locking profiles, the compression of the ring enabling the rising movement. The connectors known in the state of the art ensure a sufficient protection of the plug connection against vibration by the locking profiles of the connector housing or contact support and of the securing sleeve engaging with each other. A further advantage can be seen in the fact that in the plug connection, which is usually composed of two connectors, the vibration protection is provided by one of the connectors only. In existing installations the vibration protection may be retrofitted by the exchange of the cable harness without the need to exchange each of the connector components. 
     Finally, DE 10 2006 007 191 A1 shows a connector with a contact support covered by a securing sleeve. The contact support is provided with a locking profile on its outer circumference, its teeth comprising each a flat and a steep tooth flank. The snap-in hook on the side of the securing sleeve slips off the flat tooth flanks during the screwing onto the counter piece and thus offers an easy protection of the plug connection. In the opposite direction the snap-in hook hits the steep tooth flanks and thus impedes the loosening of the safety screw connection. 
     However, it has been revealed that especially in cases where plug connections are frequently separated and re-established, an increased wear of the locking profiles rubbing one against the other or of the elastomer ring has to be noted. In an extreme case this may lead to an insufficiency of the vibration protection after a certain number of connection cycles. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a new connector with sufficient low-wear vibration protection. 
     This object is accomplished by a plug connector for providing an electrical connection with a counter piece, the plug connector including a housing in which contacts that are supported in a front portion of the housing with respect to a plug in direction are connectable with a cable which is run out of a rear portion of the housing with respect to the plug in direction; a securing sleeve which is supported on the housing rotationally movable in a circumferential direction and which provides a securing screw connection for a plug connection between the connector and the counter piece, wherein an axial section of the housing and an axial section of the securing sleeve enter a form locking engagement at least at an end of a movement of the securing screw connection wherein the form locking engagement provides vibration protection for the plug connection; and an elastic seal which secures the plug connection against contaminants, wherein a first locking profile is formed along an outer circumference of the axial section of the housing, wherein the first locking profile includes at least one first protrusion and at least one first recess wherein a second locking profile is formed along an inner circumference of the axial section of the securing sleeve, wherein the second locking profile includes at least one second protrusion and at least one second recess, wherein the securing sleeve is supported on the housing so that the securing sleeve has radial movability relative to the housing, wherein a radial gap between the housing and the securing sleeve enabling the radial movability enables a radial rise of the at least one first protrusion above the at least one second protrusion when the at least one first protrusion and the at least one second protrusion contact during the movement of the securing screw connection, and wherein the elastic seal acts in a resetting manner against the radial rise. 
     The main advantage of the invention is that forces acting on the protrusions of the securing sleeve and the connector housing and causing wear can be reduced considerably, since the securing sleeve itself is being displaced radially when the radial rise movement occurs. The friction between two protrusions against the resetting forces causing the wear is thus minimized. 
     It is provided that the securing sleeve forms a locking profile with several second protrusions and several second recesses which are positioned in an alternating pattern along the inner circumference, especially when the housing forms a locking profile with several first protrusions and second recesses which are positioned in an alternating pattern along the outer circumference. 
     By increasing the number of protrusions, especially on the side of the securing sleeve, but also on the side of the connector housing a finer detent mechanism can be implemented at the end of the screwing movement securing the plug connection. 
     It is of significant importance for the invention that the circumferential pitch of the locking profiles of housing and securing sleeve differ. This is an essential prerequisite for the rise movement of a first protrusion above a second protrusion that at least one further corresponding first protrusion engages one further second recess. 
     Consequently, an advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized by the fact that when axial sections contact during the securing screw movement of the first and second protrusions and the first and second recesses, they impose to the securing sleeve an oscillating radial movement which is induced by the rising and penetrating process. 
     The different pitch of the locking profiles ensures that the first and second protrusions can slide over one another when providing the vibration protection so that the wear of the protrusions is strongly reduced. Resilient protrusions are thus not required for the connector according to the invention. 
     Therefore it is possible for the locking profiles on the side of the securing sleeve and the housing to be made from of a substantially rigid material such as hard plastic or metal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages of the invention become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to drawing figures, wherein, 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a connector according to the invention in a perspective view; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the connector according to  FIG. 1  with partial sectional view of the securing sleeve; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a plug connection using the connector according to  FIG. 1  in a partial sectional view; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a radial sectional view of the connector according to  FIG. 1  in the area of the locking profiles according to a first embodiment with a securing sleeve arranged concentrically; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the view according to  FIG. 4  with a securing sleeve arranged eccentrically; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a radial sectional view of the plug connector according to  FIG. 1  in the area of the locking profiles according to a second embodiment with a securing sleeve arranged concentrically; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the view according to  FIG. 5  with a securing sleeve arranged eccentrically; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates the view according to  FIG. 3  showing provision of a plug connection with vibration protection. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the drawing figures, the connector according to the invention is designated with reference numeral  10 . 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , the connector  10  includes a connector housing  11 , holding at its end  12  positioned in plug in direction x in front a contact support  13  for receiving electrical plug contacts. At its end  14  positioned in plug in direction x in the back of the connector  10  a cable  15  is run out. Finally, the connector housing  11  supports a securing sleeve  16  in its front section which also reaches over the contact support  13  and includes a thread which is not illustrated. This thread is used to screw the securing sleeve  16  onto a plug-compatible second connector which is not shown either in  FIG. 1 . The screw connection secures the plug connection. 
     From  FIG. 2  it is apparent that the connector housing  11  includes a first locking profile  17  in its front axial section enveloped by the securing sleeve  16 , the locking profile  17  being arranged along an outer circumference on the connector housing  11 . It includes several first protrusions  18  disposed over the circumference, first recesses  19  being arranged between them. Moreover, the contact support  13  is surrounded by a ring shaped rubber seal  20  that can be contacted by a second connector (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) in order to protect the electrical connection against contaminants. 
       FIG. 2  moreover shows the axially cut securing sleeve  16 . The latter is disposed with an axial section including a second locking profile  21 . The second locking profile  21  is arranged on an inner circumference and has second protrusions  22  disposed over the circumference, second recesses  23  being arranged between them. 
     The securing sleeve  16  is mounted rotationally movable on the connector housing  11  and is provided with radial mobility relative to the connector housing  11 . Finally, the securing sleeve is also axially movable on the connector housing  11  to a certain extent. 
       FIG. 3  now shows a plug connection provided between the connector  10  according to the invention and a second connector  50  that serves as a counter piece. The second connector can be a panel connector for example. The second connector  50  also has a connector housing which is numbered with  51 . The housing holds a contact support  52  which is equipped with plug contacts  53 . The connector housing  51  has an outer thread  54 , engaging with an internal thread  24  of the securing sleeve  16 . The connector housing  51  is disposed with a reception compartment in which the contact support  13  of the connector  10  enters. A face side  55  of the second connector  50  contacts the rubber sealing  20  of the connector  10  when producing the plug connection. When producing the screw connection to secure the plug connection the securing sleeve  16  is brought into its position at the front end in plug in direction x so that the first locking profile  17  and the second locking profile  21  are matched. 
     The engagement between the first locking profile  17  of the connector housing  11  and the second locking profile  21  of the securing sleeve  16  will now be explained using the  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the  FIGS. 4 and 5  showing a first embodiment of the locking profile and the  FIGS. 6 and 7  showing a second embodiment of the locking profiles  17  and  21 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a radial section cut through the opposing axial sections of the connector housing  11  and the securing sleeve  16  holding the first locking profile  17  and the second locking profile  21 . The second locking profile  21  is provided with a number of second protrusions  22  which are spaced one from another by second recesses  23 . The first locking profile  17  is shown here in its simplest form. It includes exactly one first protrusion  18  and exactly one first recess  19 , whereas the latter extends along the circumference which is not occupied by the protrusion. In  FIG. 4 , the sleeve  16  and the connector housing  11  are arranged concentric; the first protrusion  18  contacts a second protrusion  22  and has to pass it during the continuing screwing movement in direction S. 
     Neither the first protrusions  18  nor the second protrusion  22   a  are provided in a resilient way or have elastic material characteristics. Quite to the contrary, in an advantageous embodiment, the first locking profile  17  and the second locking profile  21  are made from metal. A continuous movement in direction S (in the example this is the counterclockwise direction) leads to the situation presented in  FIG. 5 . 
     During the rise of the first protrusion  18  above the second protrusion  22   a , as shown in  FIG. 5 , a radial displacement of the securing sleeve  16  occurs in direction R, whereas the remaining second protrusions  22  engage into the first recesses  19 . Therefore, the securing sleeve  16  is placed eccentric relative to the connector housing  11  in  FIG. 5 . 
     As will be described later, the seal  20  acts as an elastomeric element against the eccentric radial movement of the securing sleeve  16  to reset and forces the latter into its concentric neutral position. Continuous turning of the securing sleeve  16  in direction S thus leads to a back shift, so that the first protrusion  18  will engage the next second recess  23 . When the first locking profile  17  and the second profile  21  engage at the end of the screwing movement securing the plug connection and the rise movement of the first protrusion  18  above the second protrusions  22  takes place, the securing sleeve  16  is thus forced to perform a radial oscillating movement relative to the common axial axis of securing sleeve  16  and connector housing  11 . The resetting force of the seal  20  acting against each rise movement provides that the connector housing  11  and the securing sleeve  16  return to their concentric neutral position and turning against the securing movement S of the securing sleeve  16  is inhibited by the second protrusion  22  running against the first protrusion  18 . In this way the vibration protection of the plug connection is ensured. 
     In particular the locking profile  17  of the connector housing  11  is shown in its simplest form in the  FIGS. 4 and 5 , namely with one protrusion  18  and one recess  19 . Of course, the vibration protection is also ensured in this embodiment. It is also possible to provide the second locking profile in its simplest form with one protrusion  22  and one recess  23 . 
     In any case, however, a better vibration protection is obtained if the first locking profile  17  and the second locking profile  21  have several protrusions  18 / 22  and recesses  19 / 23 . Concerning this, reference is made to  FIGS. 6 and 7  showing an advantageous embodiment. The first locking profile  17  again is formed on the side of the connector housing. It holds four first protrusions  18  spaced over the circumference and in between them four first recesses  19 . The securing sleeve  16  holds several second protrusions  22  spaced over its circumference and in between them second recesses  23 . In  FIG. 4  the coaxial neutral position of the connector housing  11  and the securing sleeve  16  is shown. The first protrusions  18  are positioned in the second recesses  23 . The second protrusions  22  are positioned in the first recesses  19 . Supposing a screwing movement in direction S—here in counterclockwise direction—first protrusions  18   a  obviously run onto second protrusions  22   a . The upcoming rise shown in  FIG. 7  therefore requires an eccentric shift of the securing sleeve  16  in radial direction R according to  FIG. 7 . This is made possible by a deeper penetration of corresponding protrusions  18  into the respective recesses  23 . In return, the corresponding second protrusions  22  penetrate deeper into the first recesses  19 . 
     Also for this embodiment, it becomes clear that during continuous turning in direction S the securing sleeve  16  performs an oscillating radial movement about the in case of concentric arrangement common longitudinal axis of connector housing  11  and securing sleeve  16 . In this case, too, the seal  20  acts resetting against the radial shift R of the securing sleeve. 
       FIG. 8  shows the plug connection according to  FIG. 3  in the condition of a rise movement according to  FIG. 7  or  FIG. 5 . Here, it is shown that a resetting deformation of the seal  20  occurs as a result of the radial shift R. It is presumed that the longitudinal axis L 1  of the connector  10  and L 2  of the connector  50  are parallel displaced. But it is also possible that the longitudinal axis L 1  and L 2  are tilted relative to each other during the rise movement of the first protrusions  18  above the second protrusions  22 . 
     The locking profiles  17  and  21  shown in the  FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7  show a main precondition for the implemented vibration protection by form-locking engagement of the respective locking profiles  17  and  21 . The main precondition is the different indexing of the respective locking profiles  17  and  21 . The distances between adjacent first protrusions  18  differ from the distances between adjacent second protrusions  22 . It is provided that, during a rise movement of a first protrusion  18  above a second protrusion  22 , corresponding protrusions  18  and  22  are able to engage second recesses  23  or  19 . This ensures the radial evasion of the securing sleeve  16  during the rise movement. 
     To summarize, a new connector  10  is disclosed having an advantageous vibration protection. This protection is implemented by a locking profile  17  on the side of the connector housing  11  and a corresponding locking profile  21  on the side of a securing sleeve  16 , wherein the form-lock between the locking profiles  17  and  21  is provided by an eccentric radial movement of the securing sleeve  16  relative to the connector housing  11 . The resetting mechanism maintaining the form-lock is provided by the connector seal  20 , which is preexistent. In this case it is sufficient to provide one of the connectors  10 / 50  with a vibration protection according to the invention. It is even possible to ensure the radial rise movement simply through usual manufacturing tolerances when the locking profiles  17  and  21  are dimensioned accordingly. 
     The vibration protection has special low-wear characteristics since the resetting forces are not defined by the material of the locking profiles  17  and  21  but simply by the seal  20 . Moreover, regarding the here described vibration protection, it is possible to use non-elastic, wear-resistant materials, such as metal or hard plastic. 
     REFERENCE NUMERALS AND DESIGNATIONS 
     
         
         
           
               10  connector 
               11  connector housing 
               12  front end 
               13  contact support 
               14  back end 
               15  cable 
               16  securing sleeve 
               17  locking profile of  11   
               18  first protrusion of  17   
               19  first recess of  17   
               20  seal 
               21  second locking profile of  16   
               22  second protrusion of  16   
               23  second recess of  16   
               24  internal thread 
             x plug in direction 
             S threading direction 
             R radial movement 
             L 1  longitudinal axis of  11   
             L 2  longitudinal axis of  50   
               50  second connector 
               51  connector housing 
               52  contact support 
               53  plug contact 
               54  external thread 
               55  front wall of  50