GB2262001A

GB2262001A - Polarized two-part connector

Info

Publication number: GB2262001A
Application number: GB9223970A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dieter Beer; Klaus Dieter Endres; Willi Durkop
Original assignee: Weidmueller Interface GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Weidmueller Interface GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1991-11-27
Filing date: 1992-11-16
Publication date: 1993-06-02
Also published as: ITGE920117A0; FR2684244A1; DE4138973C2; ITGE920117A1; GB9223970D0; IT1257457B; FR2684244B3; DE4138973A1

Abstract

The two parts (1, 2) of a connector have respective mutually engaging polarizing keys (3). Each key (3) is rotatably mounted in a connector part (2, 1) and is arrestable (for example by detents (8)) within predetermined regions of pivotal movement. The regions of pivotal movement of the mutually corresponding keys (3) are equal in size, and their axes of rotation are aligned when the parts (1, 2) are mated. The keys (3) can be simply rotated in order to change the coding. Each key (3) may be retained by latches (10) and be formed with a through-bore (12) for receiving a key removal tool. <IMAGE>

Description

--- 3 - ' 1 1 CODABLE PLUG-IN CONNECTOR The present invention relates to a

codable plug-in connector comprising a male connector member and a female connector member each with a respective coding member with the two coding member mutually cooperating in a closed together position of the connector numbers.

A plug-in connector of this kind is disclosed in Patent Specification DEA-37 44 277 showing coded members which ensure that it is only possible to engage together male connector members and female connector members which are intended to be associated with each other.

The known coding members are in the form of coding blocks which are inserted into corresponding receiving means in the male and female connector members and secured there.

Various codings can be formed by changing the coding blocks but this gives rise to handling problems. since the mutually cooperating coding members, a socket, on the one hand, and a pin, on the other hand, which pin is inserted into the socket during the locking operation, have to be disposed accurately relative to each other.

In addition, it is difficult to change the coding since the coding blocks must each be released from their anchored positions before they can be changed.

A plurality of codings is possible with the known coding members, but the number of coding possibilities is determined to a great extent by the number of coding blocks which means that an impractical, timeconsuming and expensive handling operation is needed.

In addition, an increased number of coding blocks requires a considerable amount of space which is also a disadvantage, particularly since the space available in the region in which the plug-in connector is used is often confined.

According to the invention there is provided a codable plug-in connector comprising a male connector member and a female connector member each with a respective coding member with the two coding members mutually cooperating in a closed together position of the connector members, wherein each of the coding members is mounted rotatably in the respective male connector member or female connector member and is arrestable within predetermined regions of pivotable movement, the 2 regions of pivotal movement of the mutually corresponding coding members are equal in size, and axes of rotation of the cooperating closure members are aligned in the closed together position of the connector members.

Such a codable plug-in connector can provide a high number of codings with a low space requirement and a small amount of handling.

It is desirable for the two mutually cooperating coding members to be of the same design. Preferably, each coding member has a pin and a pin receiving socket which engage with the respectively oppositely disposed coding member when the plug-in connector is closed. Expediently, the pin and the pin receiving socket of each coding member are arranged in 1800 displaced relationship relative to one another.

Providing the coding members to be identical in design simplifies manufacture and assembly. Since the coding members are usually made of a plastics material, it is no longer necessary to have different moulding tools. With respect to assembly, no operational errors are likely to arise from mixing up the coding members.

The capacity of the coding members to rotate and the fact that they are able to be arrested within a predetermined region of pivotal movement means that a plurality of coding variants is possible dependent on the number of regions of pivotal movement.

The rotatable coding members can be mounted in a cylindrical coding member socket having notched recesses distributed over its periphery, into which recesses lugs correspondingly formed on the associated rotatable coding member engage.

It is particularly easy to adjust the coding when the coding members are engaged with one another, ie when the plug-in connector is closed. To do this, at least one of the coding members should be accessible from the outside, preferably at the rear of the plug-in connector. Expediently, that coding member is provided with a tool receiving means, such as a slot for example, for insertion therein of a screwdriver.

In order to be able to perform the turning or arresting operations easily but safely, the lugs which are formed on the coding member and which engage into the recesses of the coding member receiving sockets should be elastically deformable, so that after the coding member has been rotated through a specific angular region they 3 engage into the respectively associated recess.

The coding members can be used with plug-in connectors, the male connector members and female connector members of which are pivotally joined together about a common pivot axis. Therein, one of the connector members can receive the pivot axis, whilst the other connector member hangs inside this pivot axis for the purposes of pivotal movement.

In this case, the coding members are expediently arranged in the region of the pivot axis, so that the coding members start to function before contact is made by electrical terminals.

However, it is also possible to use the coding members with plugin connectors which are not joined together, but which can be freely plugged together. Therein, it is possible to provide both mutually facing end regions of the male and female connector members with coding members. This makes it possible for the number of possible combinations of codings to be optimised in accordance with the number of mutually corresponding coding members.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an illustrative side view of a codable plug-in connector according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a fragmentary sectional view of the portion of the plug-in connector of Figure 1 indicated at II; Figure 3 shows a fragmentary longitudinal section through a 25 coding member taken on line III-III in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a bottom view of the coding member, viewed in the direction of arrow IV in Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a plan view of the coding member, viewed in the direction of arrow V in Figure 3.

A codable plug-in connector shown in Figure 1 comprises a female connector member 1 and a male connector member 2 which are pivotally connected together about a pivot axis 13 located at their ends so as to be relatively movable between a closed, together position and an open, apart position.

In the region adjacent to the pivot axis 13, each of the female connector member I and the male connector member 2 has a respective coding member 3 which cooperate with one another in the closure 4 position of the plug-in connector.

The coding members 3 which are identical in design are each disposed in a coding member receiving socket 6 in the respective female connector member 1 or the male connector member 2. Each has a pin 4 and with a pin receiving socket 5 disposed diametrically opposite so that the pin 4 of one coding member 3 can engage into the pin receiving socket 5 of the other coding member 3 when the plug-in connector is in the closed position.

Each coding member 3 is rotatably mounted in a respective one of the coding member receiving sockets 6 and is arrestable within predetermined regions of pivotal movement in the coding member receiving socket 6, so that the regions of pivotal movement of the mutually corresponding coding members 3 are equal in size. When the plug-in connector is in the closed position, the axes of rotation of the coding members 3 are aligned, so that both of the cooperating coding members 3 can be adjusted in the closed position simply by turning one of the coding members 3.

In addition to the pin receiving socket 5 and the pin 4 which are both arranged at one end, each coding member 3 has two elastically deformable retaining hooks 10 on the oppositely disposed end, the retaining hooks 10 resting on the bottom of a cylindrical opening 15 in the female connector member 1 or male connector member 2 when the coding member 3 is in the mounted position. This ensures that the coding member 3 is held securely so that it is prevented from slipping out.

In addition, each coding member 3 is provided with an annular member 9 which has a lug 7 in each of two diametrically oppositely disposed positions, each lug 7 engaging in a respective one of a plurality of recesses 8 of the coding member receiving sockets 6.

Each coding member receiving socket 6 includes a toothed rim 11 with the recesses 8 into which the lugs 7 engage being formed by intermediate spaces between adjacent teeth 14 of the toothed rim 11. The pitch of the teeth 14 is dependent on the diameter of the toothed rim 11 or of the coding member receiving socket 6, and determines the number of possible codings. It is important that the pitches of the teeth 14 are of equal size.

The annular member 9 is elastically deformable, so that when the coding member 3 is turned, each lug 7 can move by deformation to pass over the apex of the tooth 14 which it has to move over, and the lug then engages in a new position in an adjacent recess 8.

A slot 12 which is accessible from both ends of the coding member 3 acts as a tool receiving means, so that a screwdriver may be inserted thereinto, for example, to turn the coded member 3.

It is therefore also possible to change existing codings, even after the plug-in connector is already operational, either from the front or the back of the plug-in connector.

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Claims

1. A codable plug-in connector comprising a male connector member and a female connector member each with a respective coding member with the two coding members mutually cooperating in a closed together position of the connector members, wherein each of the coding members is mounted rotatably in the respective male connector member or female connector member and is arrestable within predetermined regions of pivotable movement, the regions of pivotal movement of the mutually corresponding coding members are equal in size, and axes of rotation of the cooperating closure members are aligned in the closed together position of the connector members.

2. A codable plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein each coding member fits into a coding member socket in one of the male and female connector members and is prevented from being displaced in an axial direction.

3. A codable plug-in connector according to claim 2, wherein each coding member is provided with at least two mutually oppositely disposed retaining hooks which are elastically deformable transversely to the axial extent of the coding member, and the retaining hooks rest on the base of an opening in one of the male and female connector members.

4. A codable plug-in connector according to claim 2, wherein the coding member socket includes a peripheral toothed rim having recesses formed between adjacent teeth thereof and an elastically deformable lug on the coding member engages in the recesses.

5. A codable plug-in connector according to claim 4, wherein the coding member is provided with an annular member on which two lugs are formed in such a way that the lugs are diametrically opposite one another.

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6. A codable plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein each coding member is provided with a pin and a pin receiving socket which are arranged in displaced relationship through 1800 relative to each other.

7. A codable plug-in connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each coding member has a tool receiving means at least at one end thereof.

8. A codable plug-in connector according to claim 7, wherein the tool receiving means is in the form of a slot.

9. A codable plug-in connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the coding members are of the same design.

10. A codable plug-in connector according to claim 7. wherein the opposite ends of each coding member which are remote from and which face the cooperating coding member are both provided with a tool receiving means.

11. A codable plug-in connector substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.