EP0952635B1 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a electrical connector comprising its front first connections and on the external electrical conductors can be attached to between the conductors and the first terminals electrical Connections, wherein the connector is designed to accommodate overvoltage protection devices, so that the overvoltage protection devices then electrically coupled to the first terminals are in order for overvoltage protection for electrical Circuits to worry about when using the external conductor coupled to the first terminals are, and a releasable mounting means for releasable Connection of the connector to a support structure for the connector, characterized in that the Connect one to the back of the connector positioned mounting assembly for receiving overvoltage protection devices having.

Electrical connectors with terminals, for example for making a detachable electrical Connection to electrical conductors of a communication network, may be arranged to provide overvoltage protection devices record that in the case an overvoltage condition on a conductor to that effect act to form a conductive path to the earth. Such devices can be accessed via respective pairs of Be connected conductors, the respective communication circuits assigned. Each overvoltage protection device can a device with three Connections include, the first and the third Connection when used with respective conductors of the Pair with which he is associated. Of the second connection is grounded. If at such a Device is a normal voltage, represents the Device as between all connections a high Impedance, but takes place in overvoltage conditions either at the first or second port Breakthrough, which is a conductive way of the the Over-voltage connection to earth. In communication systems in practice this is Providing devices of this type important to prevent overvoltage conditions that originate, for example, from lightning strikes on the System cause serious damage.

In practice, for example in a telephone exchange, are the solvable to the power line connected connector to a suitable support structure arranged, with the connections to the have easier access to the outside, bearing in mind is that changes to the connections of the Connector connections to the conductors may be often have to be made to meet the requirements of network users. In such a Construction can the overvoltage protection devices then mounted to the front of the connector become. From the point of view of easy access this mounting arrangement is appropriate because the Overvoltage protection devices for replacement may need to be accessible by yourself. You up to assemble this way is also so far inappropriate, as the devices then next to the Connector connections are located and the appropriate Hamper access to the connector terminals. Document FR-A-2 530 910 discloses a Connector according to the preamble of claim 1.

An object of the invention is in the Providing an electrical connector, the can be arranged overvoltage protection devices such that easy access to the Connector connections and access to the overvoltage protection devices is possible in a simple way.

The invention is defined in claim 1.

The detachable mounting means (20) can at least partly by a conductive earthing element (50) formed when using the connector a releasable electrical connection to the support structure (22) so that from the connector to a grounded conductive part of the support structure (22) electrical grounding path is formed.

The first connections (12) can be from a Insulating body (10) of the connector are worn, the mounting assembly (14) having second terminals (16) comprising, the single one of the first terminals (12) electrically contact the mounting assembly (14) is designed, the surge protective devices (18), so that these with the second Terminals (16) are connected such that the overvoltage protection devices (18) about the second Connections (16) to the first terminals (12) coupled are.

The mounting assembly (14) can be a Insulating structure (24) and a printed circuit board (26) have, wherein the second terminals (16) of the Insulating structure (24) are worn and attached to the Conductor tracks (88) of the printed circuit board (26) electrically are coupled to the first terminals (12) are electrically coupled.

It can be an electrically conductive grounding element (50) be provided when using the connector Part of the releasable mounting means (20) forms or otherwise electrically coupled to it Earthing connection to the overvoltage protection devices (18) to form. In a form that is Grounding element (50) designed so that it Insulator (10) of the connector releasably contacted. Also in a special form that can Grounding element (50) gripping parts (68), the are designed to releasably to the support structure (22) take to the detachable connection of the connector with to effect the support structure (22). In the latter case the gripping parts (68) can be elastic and beside respective opposite parts (70) of the connector be arranged so that parts of the support structure between the gripping parts (68) and the opposite parts (70) of the connector elastic can be taken. The opposite parts (70) may be formed on the grounding member (50) be that each gripping part (68) and his Opposite part (70) between a respective, rear opening for receiving a define respective part of the support structure (22). At Each end of the grounding element (50) may be a said gripping member (68) and an associated one opposite part (70) of the earthing element (50) are located.

It can cover the back of the connector Cover (30) may be provided. She can the insulating body (10) of the connector releasably attached be.

The insulating body (10) of the connector and the first connections (12) can be parts of a Forming separation module (40), wherein the first Connections (12) arranged in two parallel rows are such that pairs of the first terminals (12), the in each case a first terminal (12) in a row and an opposite first terminal (12) in the Other series include, be defined, the first terminals (12) respective elastic Have contact parts (12c), wherein the elastic Contact parts (12c) of the first terminals (12) in each Pair of them are arranged so that they are in a first Condition thereof in electrical contact with each other are resiliently biased, but in a second Condition thereof by inserting an electrically insulating Elements in between, for example one Test plug, so that they are against the elastic bias be pushed apart from the direct electrical contact are shifted out. At this Arrangement are the elastic contact parts (12c) each Pair in their first state electrically coupled and separated in the second state. In arrangements of this kind are possibly only the first connections in one Row of first connections arranged to the Overvoltage protection devices (18) coupled to become.

For example, it may be two spaced apart parallel rows of the second terminals (16) be present, wherein an elongated part (52) of the grounding element (50) is positioned so that it is parallel extends to and between the rows. The elongated one Part (52) of the grounding element may be generally planar and be arranged so that it has a protruding barrier between each of the overvoltage protection devices (18), which are arranged on both sides of it, forms. The elongated part (52) may have projections (54) have, the conductor tracks (88) on the circuit board (26) contact and thus on these tracks one of the second terminals (16).

Figur 1 eine auseinandergezogene perspektivische Ansicht eines gemäß der Erfindung aufgebauten elektrischen Verbinders und einer Stützstruktur, mit der der Verbinder verwendet wird;

Figur 2 eine perspektivische Rückansicht des Verbinders und der Stützstruktur von Figur 1;

Figur 3 eine Ansicht ähnlich der in Figur 2, wobei aber ein Bauteil des Verbinders entfernt ist, um Verbindungen innerhalb des Verbinders zu einem Erdungselement zu zeigen;

Figur 4 einen Schaltplan, der elektrische Verbindungen innerhalb des Verbinders von Figur 1 zeigt.

The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical connector constructed in accordance with the invention and a support structure with which the connector is used;

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the connector and support structure of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but with a component of the connector removed to show connections within the connector to a grounding element;

Figure 4 is a circuit diagram showing electrical connections within the connector of Figure 1.

The illustrated electrical connector 8 is designed to be attached to a support structure 22 in this Fall by two spaced parallel rails 72nd is formed to be releasably secured.

The connector 8 has an electrical insulating body 10, on the front side first terminals 12 are arranged, to which during operation of the connector insulated conductor of Communication circuits are connected. The Terminals 12 are of the IDC type with forked Outer ends that define opposite elastic arms, pressed between the one insulated conductor can be so that inner edges of the arms insulation cut through and elastic in contact with the conductor be urged so that the head of the poor is taken, then contact the conductor electrically.

The front of the body 10 has a elongated, rectangular shape, and the terminals 12th are at this in two spaced parallel rows arranged parallel to the longer sides of the Front run. The bifurcated ends of the Ports 12 are in forwardly open cavities 74 taken on the front of the body 10 to a easy connection of wire conductors to them allow.

On the back of the body 10 is the Connector 8 with a mounting assembly 14 with a PCB 26 and, mounted on it, one of the Insulators 38 of the two surge connector 28 formed insulating structure 24 provided. As will be described below, certain of the Connections 12 to traces on the circuit board 26th soldered or otherwise with these electrically connected. Printed conductors on the printed circuit board 26, for example, by soldering, even with second Connections 16 connected by the insulators 38th are formed, which are parts of the connector 28.

The terminals 16 are of a type that the Establishing an electrical connection to them usable veins allowed, by a Clamping action when one end of the wire in the terminal is pressed. The overvoltage protection devices 18 be replaced by such insertion of wires 44, 46, 48th each device 18 in each of the terminals 16 with the connectors 28 electrically connected, so that then taken veins on the tracks on the Printed circuit board 26 an electrical connection to the Make connections 12. In the devices 18 in this case it is a gas arrester, ie Gas-filled devices with a central connection, on the wire 46 is connected and connections the outer ends to which the respective wires 44, 48th are connected.

An earth conductor in the form of a grounding element 50 is made of a metal plate by punching and bending shaped. He has a flat middle, in general planar strip-shaped part 52, wherein of an edge of projections 54 extend to the outside. These projections 54 are in openings in the Circuit board 26 at locations between the two connectors 28 and added to the tracks on the Printed circuit board 26 soldered or otherwise with these electrically connected so that the part 52 differs from the Back of the circuit board 26 in one outstanding relationship with the circuit board 26 and extends between the connectors 28 to the outside.

The element 50 has transversely at its ends bent-out, approximately flat parts 60, wherein these each at a free end a tongue-like Mounting part 62 having an aperture 64. These Parts 62 are in slots 66 on the back of the Body 10 and inserted at each end of the body 10, so that the mounting hardware 62 with inner, not shown Retaining elements in the slots 66 cooperate to to hold the mounting hardware 62 and the element 50th safe but detachable to mount on the body 10. For example, the slots 66 inner Have latching projections, which for this purpose in the Snap apertures 64 into place.

The flat parts 60 also define the Mounting parts 62 opposite ends elastic Gripping members 68, the connector 8 to the outside and extend behind. These gripping parts 68 cooperate with respective adjacent, but spaced, by Recesses formed at the ends of the part 52 Edge portions 70 of the element 50 together to a releasable elastic gripping of the parallel rails 72 of the support structure 22 to allow, as in figures 2 and 3 shown. Thus, each gripping member 68 and its adjacent opposite edge portion 70 respective releasable mounting means 20 for releasable Mounting the connector 8 to the structure 22 dar.xxx

It is a rear cover 30 is provided the above the flat part 52 of the element 50, the Circuit board 26, the connectors 28 and the devices 18 can be arranged. The cover 30 is located at the back of the body 10 and is at Coupling the connector to the rails 72 of the Support structure 22 by clamping end-side Extensions 32 of the cover between the back of the body 10 and the rails. The Cover 30 has end slots 34 on which the edge portions 70 of the planar portion 52 of the element 50 are exposed, so that they grab the rails 72 engage with the gripping parts 68 can.

The present in use electrical Connections within the connector 8 and to him and away from it are schematic in Figure 4 represented, this figure wire conductor 82, 86 of a incoming circuit pairs adjacent to "incoming" ports 12 in a row of Connections 12 are connected to the body 10, and Core conductors 80, 84 of an outgoing circuit pair, the to adjacent "outgoing" ports 12 in the other Row of terminals 12 connected to the body 10 are, shows. The connections to the conductors 80, 82, 84, 86 are on insulation displacement contact parts 12 a of Connections 12 made. The PCB tracks on the circuit board 26 are schematically through the Reference numeral 88 is shown. Certain of these tracks As shown, make a connection of Body parts 12b of the contacts 12 in the "incoming" Row this to the terminals 16 and thus to the Wires 44, 48 of the devices 18 ago. Also contact the wires 46 of the devices 18 over more PCB tracks 88, the element 50 and thus the Rails 72 of the support structure 22nd

When used between the Connections 12 connected wires connections be prepared as required is to install the required communication circuits correspond to. This can be done without further accomplished on the front of the connector become, without disturbances or Discomforts that can come when the Overvoltage protection devices on the front of the connector are arranged. On the other hand, you can optionally by disconnecting the connector 8 from the Rails 72 and removing the cover easily access to the devices 18. The devices 18 can be easily removed from the connectors 28 be exercised by applying force to the hand Pulling wires away from the terminals 16.

The illustrated body 10 and the shown connections 12 represent a so-called "Separation module" 40 whose connections in each Row of the same to respective associated opposite Connections 12 in the other row solvable and are electrically coupled. This coupling is by elastic engagement of elastic contact parts 12c (Figure 4) of the terminals 12 in a row with corresponding spring parts 12c of the connections in the other row causes. The parts 12c are in one longitudinally extending trough in the Front of the connector body arranged to allow them are accessible, so that a targeted separation of electrical connection between each of the connections a series of the respective associated terminals 12 in the other row is possible by, for example Insulating plug or test plug between the Parts 12 c are arranged so that the parts 12 c pushed apart against their elastic self-bias become. Thanks to the fact that the Overvoltage protection devices on the back of the Connector can be arranged, the test plugs and / or insulating plug, if necessary without further used and removed. Furthermore is to understand that for connection to the terminals 12 of the connector instead of the insulation or test plug used any other type of connection device can be.

The described arrangement is merely exemplified, but you can Many modifications are made without departing from To deviate scope of the invention, the is determined by the claims.

List of reference numbers

8th

Electrical connector

10

insulator

12

First connections

12a

Insulation displacement contact parts (contacts 12)

12b

Body parts (the contacts 12)

12c

Spring parts (the contacts 12)

14

mounting assembly

16

Second connections

18

Surge protectors

20

Removable mounting equipment

22

support structure

24

insulating structure

26

circuit board

28

Surge device connector

30

cover

32

End extensions (the cover 30)

34

Slots (in the cover 30)

38

Insulating body (of the connector 30)

40

separation module

44

Wire (overvoltage protection devices)

46

Wire (overvoltage protection devices)

48

Wire (overvoltage protection devices)

50

grounding element

52

Level part (from element 50)

54

Projections (at element 50)

60

Transversely bent flat parts (at element 50)

62

Mounting parts (on element 50)

64

Aperture (at element 50)

66

Slits (on body 10)

68

Gripping parts (on element 50)

70

Edge part (on element 50)

72

rails

74

Cavities (on body 10)

80

Core conductor (outgoing)

82

Core conductor (incoming)

84

Core conductor (outgoing)

86

Core conductor (incoming)

88

Printed conductors (on printed circuit board 26)

Claims (16)

1. Electrical connector (8) which has the following: first terminals (12) on its front side, to which external electrical conductors can be fitted in order to produce electrical connections between the conductors and the first terminals (12), the connector being designed to accommodate overvoltage protection devices (18) such that the overvoltage protection devices are then electrically coupled to the first terminals (12) in order to provide overvoltage protection for electrical circuits which are coupled to the first terminals (12) via the external conductors during use, and a detachable mounting means (20) for the purpose of detachably connecting the connector (8) to a support structure (22) for the connector, characterized in that the mounting means (20) are designed such that, in the event of a connection to the support structure (22), the rear side of the connector (8) faces the support structure (22) and the front side with the first electrical terminals (12) faces away from the support structure, and in that the connector (8) has a mounting assembly (14) which is positioned on the rear side of the connector (8) for the purpose of accommodating the overvoltage protection devices (18) such that, in the event of a connection to the support structure (22), the terminals (12) are freely accessible from the front side.
2. Electrical connector according to Claim 1, in which the detachable mounting means (20) is formed at least partially by a conductive earthing element (50) which produces a detachable electrical connection to the support structure (22) during use of the connector such that an electrical earthing path is formed from the connector (8) to an earthed, conductive part of the support structure (22).
3. Electrical connector according to Claim 1, further characterized in that the first terminals (12) are borne by an insulating body (10) of the connector, the mounting assembly (14) having second terminals (16) which make electrical contact with individual ones of the first terminals (12), the mounting assembly (14) being designed to accommodate the overvoltage protection devices (18) such that they are connected to the second terminals (16) so that the overvoltage protection devices (18) are coupled to the first terminals (12) via the second terminals (16).
4. Electrical connector according to Claim 3, further characterized in that the mounting assembly (14) has an insulating structure (24) and a printed circuit board (26), the second terminals (16) being borne by the insulating structure (24) and being electrically coupled to the conductor tracks (88) on the printed circuit board (26) which are electrically coupled to the first terminals (12).
5. Electrical connector according to Claim 3 or 4, further characterized in that an electrically conductive earthing element (50) is provided for the purpose of being electrically coupled to the detachable mounting means (20) in order to form an earthing connection to the overvoltage protection devices (18).
6. Electrical connector according to Claim 5, further characterized in that the earthing element (50) is designed such that it makes detachable contact with the insulating body (10) of the connector.
7. Electrical connector according to Claim 6, further characterized in that the earthing element (50) has gripping parts (68) which are designed to grip the support structure (22) detachably in order to bring about the detachable connection of the connector to the support structure (22).
8. Electrical connector according to Claim 7, further characterized in that the gripping parts (68) are elastic and are arranged next to respective opposite parts (70) of the connector such that parts of the support structure can be gripped elastically between the gripping parts (68) and the opposite parts (70) of the connector.
9. Electrical connector according to Claim 8, further characterized in that the opposite parts (70) on the earthing element (50) are designed such that each grip part (68) and its opposite part (70) define between them a respective, rearwardly pointing opening for the purpose of accommodating a respective part of the support structure (22).
10. Electrical connector according to one of Claims 7 to 9, further characterized in that a said grip part (68) and an associated opposite part (70) of the earthing element (50) are located at each end of the earthing element (50).
11. Electrical connector according to one of Claims 3 to 10, further characterized in that a cover (30) is provided for the purpose of covering the rear side of the connector.
12. Electrical connector according to Claim 11, further characterized in that the cover (30) is fitted detachably to the insulating body (10) of the connector.
13. Electrical connector according to one of Claims 3 to 12, further characterized in that the insulating body (10) of the connector and the first terminals (12) form parts of an isolation module (40), the first terminals (12) being arranged in two parallel rows in such a way as to define pairs of the first terminals (12) which each comprise a first terminal (12) in one row and an opposite first terminal (12) in the other row, the first terminals (12) having respective elastic contact parts (12c), the elastic contact parts of the first terminals in each pair of terminals being arranged such that, when they are in a first state, they are elastically prestressed such that they make electrical contact with one another but, when they are in a second state, they are moved out of direct electrical contact by an electrically insulating element being inserted between them such that they are pushed away from one another against the elastic prestress.
14. Electrical connector according to Claim 13, further characterized in that only the first terminals (12) in one row are coupled to the overvoltage protection devices (18).
15. Electrical connector according to one of Claims 3 to 14, further characterized in that there are two spaced-apart, parallel rows of second terminals (16), an elongate part (52) of the earthing element (50) being positioned such that it extends parallel to and between the rows.
16. Electrical connector according to Claim 15, further characterized in that the elongate part (52) has projections (54) which make contact with conductor tracks (88) on the printed circuit board (26) and thus with individual ones of the second terminals (16) via these conductor tracks.

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