阅读说明：本技术 具有插式连接器部件和插接装置的插接系统 (Plug-in system with a plug-in connector part and a plug-in device ) 是由 彼得·维勒 于 2020-03-05 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种插接系统包括：插式连接器部件(6),所述插式连接器部件具有插式连接器壳体(62)和布置在所述插式连接器壳体(62)上的多个接线端子(1),所述接线端子分别具有一个形成夹脚(32)的弹簧元件(3)；和插接装置(5),所述插接装置具有多个导电插接元件(51,52)。所述插接装置(5)的插接元件(51,52)为了与所述插式连接器部件(6)的接线端子(1)进行电接触而可沿插接方向(E)分别与所述插式连接器部件(6)的接线端子(1)中的一个进行插接连接,并且在连接位置中与相应接线端子(1)的弹簧元件(3)的夹脚(32)机械式作用性连接。所述插接元件(51,52)中的至少部分沿所述插接方向(E)观察具有不同的高度(H1,H2)。这样就能提供一种插接系统,其能够以简单的方式减小将包括多个插接元件的插接装置与包括多个接线端子的插式连接器部件连接在一起所需的插接力。(A docking system comprising: a plug connector part (6) having a plug connector housing (62) and a plurality of terminals (1) arranged on the plug connector housing (62), each having a spring element (3) forming a clamping foot (32); and a plug device (5) having a plurality of electrically conductive plug elements (51, 52). The plug elements (51, 52) of the plug device (5) can be respectively plug-connected to one of the connection terminals (1) of the plug connector part (6) in a plug-in direction (E) for making electrical contact with the connection terminals (1) of the plug connector part (6) and, in the connected position, are mechanically operatively connected to the clamping feet (32) of the spring elements (3) of the respective connection terminal (1). At least some of the plug elements (51, 52) have different heights (H1, H2) as viewed in the plug-in direction (E). This makes it possible to provide a plug system which makes it possible in a simple manner to reduce the plugging force required for connecting a plug device comprising a plurality of plug elements to a plug connector part comprising a plurality of terminals.)

1. A docking system, comprising: a plug connector part (6) having a plug connector housing (62) and a plurality of terminals (1) arranged on the plug connector housing (62), each having a spring element (3) forming a clamping foot (32); and a plug device (5) having a plurality of electrically conductive plug elements (51, 52), wherein the plug elements (51, 52) of the plug device (5) can be respectively plug-connected to one of the connection terminals (1) of the plug connector part (6) in a plug-in direction (E) for making electrical contact with the connection terminals (1) of the plug connector part (6) and are mechanically operatively connected to the clamping legs (32) of the spring elements (3) of the respective connection terminal (1) in the connected position, characterized in that at least some of the plug elements (51, 52) have different heights (H1, H2) as viewed in the plug-in direction (E).

2. Plugging system according to claim 1, characterized in that a first group of the plug elements (51, 52) has a first height (H1) and a second group of the group plug elements (51, 52) has a second height (H2), which is smaller than the first height (H1).

3. Plug-in system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plug device (5) has a printed circuit board (50) which extends in a plane perpendicular to the plug-in direction (E), the plug elements (51, 52) being arranged on the printed circuit board in such a way that the plug elements (51, 52) project beyond the printed circuit board (51, 52) in the plug-in direction (E).

4. Plug system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least some of the plug elements (51, 52) are connected to one another in series in a longitudinal direction (L) transverse to the plug direction (E).

5. Plug-in system according to claim 4, characterized in that the plug-in elements (51, 52) form at least two rows of plug-in elements (51, 52) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) at a distance from one another transversely to the longitudinal direction (L).

6. Plugging system according to claim 5, characterized in that the plugging elements (51, 52) of the rows of plugging elements (51, 52) arranged at the same position along the longitudinal direction (L) have the same height (H1, H2).

7. Plug-in system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring elements (3) of the connection terminal (1) are arranged at a uniform clamping height (K) at the same height as the plug-in elements (51, 52) perform a mechanical interaction, as viewed in the plug-in direction (E).

8. The plug-in system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each connection terminal (1) has a contact housing (2) which forms a support section (23) on which the spring element (3) is arranged.

9. Plug-in system according to claim 8, characterized in that the spring element (3) has a curved bearing section (31) and a supporting limb (30), wherein the supporting limb (30) is arranged on a first side of the bearing section (31) and is supported on the contact housing (2), and the clamping limb (32) is arranged on a second side of the bearing section (31) and can be elastically deflected relative to the supporting limb (30) when the plug-in element (51, 52) is plugged into the connection terminal (1).

10. Plug-in system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each connection terminal (1) has an electrical contact element (4) for making electrical contact with a correspondingly inserted plug-in element (51, 52) of the plug-in device (5).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a plugging system according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background

The plug-in system comprises a plug connector part having a plug connector housing and a plurality of terminals arranged on the plug connector housing, each of which terminals has a spring element forming a clamping foot. The plug system further comprises a plug device having a plurality of electrically conductive plug elements. The plug elements of the plug-in device can be respectively plug-connected to one of the terminals of the plug-in connector part in the plug-in direction for making electrical contact with the terminals of the plug-in connector part and, in the connected position, are mechanically operatively connected to the legs of the spring elements of the respective terminal.

DE 102009008933 a1 discloses, for example, a terminal with a spring element. In such a terminal, a spring element and a contact element are arranged in a contact housing. The conductor can be inserted into a conductor entry of an actuating element, wherein, in the inserted state, the actuating element is pressed into the connecting terminal, so that the spring element is adjusted with one leg relative to the contact element, so that the conductor is inserted between the contact element and the leg of the spring element.

Terminals using spring elements are also referred to as "Push-In" terminals. Such terminals usually come into contact with the electrical line in the form of individual conductors in order to connect the electrical line to the plug connector part, wherein each terminal is usually connected to a corresponding individual conductor.

Such terminals are straight-plugged by: the electrical wire is inserted into the socket of the terminal so as to act on and deflect the clamping legs of the spring element, so that the electrical wire is mechanically locked on the terminal in the connecting position and makes electrical contact therewith. When the electrical line needs to be separated again from the connection terminal, the clamping feet can be displaced, for example, by actuating the corresponding actuating element, in order to remove the electrical line again from the connection terminal.

Thus, a certain plugging force is required to plug the electrical line straight to the connection terminals of the plug connector part, which is sufficient to electrically deflect the clamping legs of the spring element. When it is necessary to connect the wires grouped together on the plug device together to the terminals of the plug connector part, these wires interact simultaneously with the clamping legs of the spring element to achieve an electrical deflection of the clamping legs. The total insertion force required for connecting the plug device to the plug connector part therefore corresponds to the sum of the individual insertion forces required for connecting the wires to the connecting terminals. The total plugging force can therefore be relatively large, in particular at the beginning of the plugging process.

DE 102004061276 a1 discloses a contact arrangement having a first contact piece and a second contact piece, the contact elements of the first contact piece being periodically offset with respect to one another.

DE 19838492 a1 discloses a plug connector in which the contact pins have different lengths.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a plug system which makes it possible in a simple manner to reduce the plugging force required for connecting a plug device comprising a plurality of plug elements to a plug connector part comprising a plurality of terminals.

The solution of the invention to achieve the above object is the subject matter with the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, at least some of the plug elements have different heights, as viewed in the plugging direction.

The plug-in system comprises a plug-in connector part having a plurality of terminals arranged on a plug-in connector housing, each of which terminals has a spring element forming a clamping foot. The plug connector part can be plugged with a plug device having a plurality of electrically conductive plug elements, for example in the form of pin elements. Each plug element can be attached to one of the terminals in such a way that, when the plug elements are plug-connected to the terminals, they act on the clamping legs of the spring elements of the respective terminal and elastically deflect the clamping legs, so that, in the connected position, the plug elements of the plug device are mechanically locked on the terminals and are in electrical contact with the terminals.

These plug elements have different heights, as viewed in the plugging direction, so that, when the plug device with its plug elements is attached to a plug connector part with the terminals arranged thereon, these plug elements interact in an alternating manner with the terminals, in particular with the clamping legs of the spring elements of these terminals. In this way, the longer plug element interacts earlier with the corresponding terminal, in particular with the clamping leg of the spring element of the terminal, while the shorter terminal element is then connected to the corresponding terminal. The plug elements are of unequal length, which reduces the overall insertion force required, since the insertion force required to connect the plug elements with the respective terminals is applied in an alternating manner.

These plug elements have different heights, as viewed in the plugging direction, so that certain plug elements interact with corresponding spring elements of the terminal only when other plug elements are at least partially plugged, so that the plugging force is distributed in a staggered manner. Each plug element requires in principle a certain plug force to contact the corresponding spring element. At the beginning of the plugging process, a reduced plugging force is generated, since initially only the plug elements of greater height will extend into the respective terminals and come into contact with the spring elements of these terminals. In the case of plug elements of two groups of the same size having two non-consecutive heights, the plugging force is halved at the beginning of the plugging process in the event that only the plug elements of greater height come into contact.

The plug elements may be divided into several groups having non-continuous heights. For example, the first set of plug elements has a first height, and the second set of plug elements has a second height, which is smaller than the first height. The first plug element thus has a first height which is greater than a second height of the second plug element. In this way, plug elements with two different discrete heights are present, wherein the number of plug elements of the first group and the number of plug elements of the second group can be identical or different.

Alternatively, the height of the plug element can also vary to a large extent and there can be more than two discrete heights. The plug elements may vary in their height, for example, by means of a periodic function (for example, by means of a sinusoidal function), or three or more groups of plug elements may be provided, each having a discontinuous height corresponding to the respective group.

In one embodiment, the plug device has a printed circuit board which extends in a plane perpendicular to the plugging direction, and the plug element is arranged on the printed circuit board in such a way that it protrudes out of the printed circuit board in the plugging direction. The printed circuit board thus extends in a plane along a plane which is formed by a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, wherein both the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction are perpendicular to the plugging direction. The electrically conductive plug elements are therefore arranged rigidly on the printed circuit board and are combined together via the printed circuit board in such a way that the plug elements are jointly plugged to the connecting terminals of the plug connector. For example, conductive paths for electrically connecting these plug elements together and/or to corresponding further electrical or electronic components can be formed on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board can be connected to electrical lines, so that a plurality of electrical lines can be brought together into contact with the connecting terminals of the plug connector part via the plug connection.

In one embodiment, at least some of the plug elements are connected to one another in series in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the plugging direction. The plug elements thus form a row which can be built, for example, on the printed circuit board, and which can be connected to one another at equal distances within the plug elements of the row. Such a row of plug elements can preferably be plug-connected to a row of terminals arranged on the plug connector part in order to electrically contact the plug elements with the terminals and to mechanically connect them together.

In one embodiment, the plug device has a plurality of rows of plug elements, the rows being spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal direction. Each row may have, for example, the same number of plug elements, wherein the plug elements of each row may be arranged equidistantly, so that a matrix-like plug element arrangement is provided. In this way, for example, a plug-in device with two or more rows of plug elements can be provided which are combined together on a printed circuit board and can be plugged together to a corresponding arrangement of terminals, i.e. a plurality of rows of terminals on the plug connector part.

The height of the plug elements can vary along each row, and additionally or alternatively the height can vary laterally between the rows. In one embodiment, the plug elements vary in their height along each row, with adjacent plug elements of different rows being identical in their height. Accordingly, the plug elements of the rows of plug elements which are arranged at the same position in the longitudinal direction have the same height, so that only a change in height is provided in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the plug elements arranged in the same axial position can also have different heights.

In one embodiment, the spring elements of the connecting terminals are arranged at the same height, as viewed in the plug-in direction. In this way, in the connecting position, the clamping connection is carried out at a uniform clamping height by the clamping feet of the connecting terminals. The height of the plug elements thus varies, as viewed in the plugging direction, while the terminals are arranged at the same height with respect to their function and establish mechanical and electrical contact with different plug elements at the same height.

In one embodiment, the terminals can all have the same design and have spring elements of the same design. Thus, no distinction is made between these terminals and they are arranged at the same height on the plug connector housing of the plug connector part.

In one embodiment, each connection terminal has a contact housing which forms a support section on which the spring element is arranged. The contact housing of each connection terminal can be of modular construction, so that these connection terminals can be arranged modularly on and accommodated in the plug connector housing. Alternatively, the contact housing of each connection terminal is integrally and integrally molded with the plug connector housing of the plug connector part, so that the connection terminals are integrated with their contact housings in the plug connector housing.

In one embodiment, the spring element of each connection terminal has a curved bearing section and a support limb, wherein the support limb is formed on a first side of the bearing section and is supported on the contact housing, and the clamping limb is formed on a second side of the bearing section and can be elastically deflected relative to the support limb when the plug element is plugged into the connection terminal. The support leg serves to support the spring element relative to the housing, wherein the spring element is arranged with its bearing section around the support section contacting the housing and forms a defined fulcrum for the clamping leg relative to the support leg. The spring element interacts with the corresponding plug element of the plug device during the plug connection by means of the clamping foot, so that the clamping foot is elastically deflected during the plug connection and interacts with the plug element, so that the plug element is mechanically locked and electrically contacted.

In one embodiment, each connection terminal has an electrical contact element for making electrical contact with a correspondingly inserted plug element of the plug device. Such an electrical contact element can be designed as a busbar and extends in the region of the contact housing of the terminal block in such a way that, in the connected position, the inserted plug element is pressed against the contact element in an electrical contact manner by means of the clamping leg of the respective spring element.

The plug connector part can be connected to a superordinate electrical component, for example, in the following manner: the connector part is fixedly connected to a printed circuit board or a wall of a switchgear cabinet or the like. In this case, for example, the electrical lines electrically connected to the plug elements can be connected to the plug connector part via the plug device.

In an alternative embodiment, the plug connector part can be designed to be plugged into a corresponding mating plug connector part. For example, on the side facing away from the plug opening for plugging the plug element to the connection terminal of the plug connector part, a plug section can be formed, in the region of which the connection elements of the contact elements of the connection terminal are arranged, so that a plug surface for plug connection with a corresponding mating plug connector part is provided on this plug section. The terminal elements of the contact elements can be designed, for example, as contact pins or contact bushes, in order to plug-connect these terminal elements to mating and corresponding mating contact elements of a mating connector part.

Drawings

The basic idea of the invention is explained in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

In the figure:

fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a plug-in system with a plug-in connector part and a plug device to be plug-connected to the plug-in connector part;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the plug device;

fig. 3 is an isolated view of an exemplary embodiment of a terminal of the plug connector part, with a contact housing, a spring element and a contact element;

FIG. 4A is a view of the contact housing without the shroud wall;

FIG. 4B is a view according to FIG. 4A with a spring element arranged on the contact housing and a contact element arranged on the contact housing;

fig. 5 is a view of an embodiment of a plug connector part with a plug device attached;

fig. 6A is a side view of the male connector part and the plug device before attachment of the plug device to the male connector part;

FIG. 6B is a view of the plug connector part with the plug device in the attached position;

FIG. 7 is an isolated view of the plug device;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the plug device;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the male connector part;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 9;

fig. 11 is a top view of the male connector part with the plug device attached; and

fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along line C-C in fig. 11.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a plug system with a plug connector part 6 which comprises a plug connector housing 62 and a plurality of terminals 1 in the form of spring contacts which are accommodated in the plug connector housing 62 and are connected to one another in series in the longitudinal direction L.

The plug device 5 can be plugged to the plug connector part 6 in the plugging direction E by: the plug elements 51, 52 arranged on the printed circuit board 50 are inserted into the sockets 600 formed on the first top side 60 of the plug connector housing 62 and operatively connected to the connecting terminals 1. In the connected position, each plug element 51, 52 is located in a corresponding plug receptacle 600 and is mechanically locked to the plug connector part 6 by the connecting terminal 1 and is also in electrical contact with the connecting terminal 1.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2, the plug elements 51, 52 have the form of electrical contact pins which project beyond the printed circuit board 50 in the plug-in direction E. The printed circuit board 50 extends in a plane perpendicular to the plugging direction E, which is formed by a longitudinal direction L and a transverse direction Q (corresponding to the drawing plane shown in fig. 2). The plug elements 51, 52 are fixedly connected to one another by the printed circuit board 50 and are thus combined with one another to form a module which can be handled in a unified manner in order to plug the plug elements 51, 52 together into the connector part 6.

As shown in fig. 2, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the plug arrangement 5 has a plurality of rows of plug elements 51, 52, in this particular exemplary embodiment two rows of plug elements 51, 52, wherein each row comprises a plurality of plug elements 51, 52 which are arranged at equal distances from one another in series in the longitudinal direction L and are spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction Q transverse to the longitudinal direction L. These rows have the same number of plug elements 51, 52. The plug elements 51, 52 are equidistant from one another in the longitudinal direction L, so that a regular matrix-like arrangement of the plug elements 51, 52 is provided, which can be plugged into a corresponding complementary arrangement of the connecting terminals 1 on the plug connector part 6.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a single terminal 1 with a contact housing 2 and a spring element 3 arranged on the contact housing 2. As shown in this embodiment, the contact element 4 can be attached to the contact housing 2 in such a way that the contact element 4 projects out of the contact housing 2 in the form of a contact pin 40 or a contact cup or the like and snaps into contact with the contact housing 2 with a contact arm 41.

Each connection terminal 1 can be plugged in by a plug element 51, 52 of the plug device 5 in the plugging direction E, so that in the position in which the respective plug element 51, 52 is plugged into the connection terminal 1, the plug elements 51, 52 are held on the contact housing 2 by the spring element 3 and are in electrical contact with the contact arms 41 of the contact element 4.

The contact element 4 is inserted into the contact housing 2 in an attachment direction a opposite to the plugging direction E. The connecting terminals 1 are arranged on a plug connector housing 62 of the plug connector part 6, wherein the contact housing 2 can be of modular construction and is plugged into the plug connector housing 62 or alternatively integrally molded with the plug connector housing 62.

Fig. 4A and 4B are an isolated view of the contact housing 2 (fig. 4A) and a view when the spring element 3 and the contact element 4 are arranged (fig. 4B). The contact housing 2 has two housing walls 20, 21 which are connected by side walls 22, 25 (see fig. 3). Fig. 4A and 4B show the contact housing 2 without the cover wall 20 (upper cover wall in fig. 3), so that the elements 23, 24 arranged in the contact housing 2 can be directly viewed.

The contact housing 2 has a support section 23, around which the spring element 3 is arranged with a bearing section 31, such that the spring element 3 extends from the support section 23 with a support leg 30 formed by a first spring leg and a clamping leg 32 formed by a second spring leg. The support leg 30 passes through an opening 231 between the support section 23 of the contact housing 2 and the first side wall 22 and is supported on the inner side 220 of the side wall 22 by the support leg 30. And the clip leg 32 extends from the support section 23 at an end 320 toward the second sidewall 25. The contact housing 2 also has a stop section 24 with a stop face 240 which provides a stop for the clamping foot 32.

The terminal element 1 can in principle also have another design, for example a spring element or a contact housing with another design.

When the plug elements 51, 52 are inserted into the contact housing 2 in the plugging direction E, the clamping feet 32 are deflected with elastic deformation relative to the supporting section 23 and are moved away from the contact arms 41 of the contact element 4 with their ends 320. In this way, the support section 23 forms a fulcrum for the clamping foot 32, while the support limb 30 serves as a thrust bearing for the deflection of the clamping foot 32.

When the plug elements 51, 52 are inserted with one end into the contact housing 2, the plug elements 51, 52 are pressed by the clamping feet 32 against the contact arms 41 of the contact element 4, so that the plug elements 51, 52 are brought into electrical contact with the contact element 4 and are mechanically locked on the connection terminal 1. Due to the elastic deformation of the clamping feet 32, the plug elements 51, 52 are held under elastic prestress on the contact arms 41 of the contact element 4 by the ends 320.

Fig. 5 to 12 show an embodiment of a plugging system comprising a plug connector part 6 and a plugging device 5 attached thereto. Components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols as before.

The plug connector part 6 has a plug connector housing 62 with a top side 60 and a bottom side 61. On the top side 60, several sockets 600 are formed, into which the plug device 5 is inserted with the plug elements 51, 52 in the plugging direction E, in order to establish electrical contact with the connecting terminals 1 enclosed in the plug connector housing 62.

The connecting terminals 1 of the plug connector part 6 can be embodied, for example, as described above in connection with fig. 3 and fig. 4A and 4B.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 5 to 12, the plug device 5 has a housing 53 in which the printed circuit board 50 with the plug elements 51, 52 arranged thereon is enclosed, so that the plug elements 51, 52 protrude out of the housing 53 on the side used for attaching the plug device 5 to the plug connector part 6, see fig. 6A, 7 and 8.

The plug connector part 6 has an arrangement of several sockets 600 on the top side 60 of the plug connector housing 62, each of which corresponds to one of the terminals 1. The arrangement of the plug socket 600 corresponding to the connecting terminal 1 corresponds to the arrangement of the plug elements 51, 52 on the plug device 5, so that the plug device 5 can be plugged together with the plug connector part 6 in the plugging direction E.

The plug connector part 6 with the plug connector housing 62 and the connecting terminals 1 arranged thereon can be, for example, a component of a plug connector assembly in which the plug connector part 6 is arranged on a mounting rail, for example, via the bottom side 61, in order to be combined with further electrical or electronic devices. In general, the plug connector part 6 can be connected to a higher-level electrical or electronic component in order to provide electrical or electronic functions within the framework of such a component.

In order to connect the plug device 5 to the corresponding plug connector part 6, the plug device 5 is attached with its plug elements 51, 52 to the plug connector part 6 in the plugging direction E, so that the plug elements 51, 52 engage with the plug openings 600 on the top side of the plug connector housing 62 and make electrical contact with the connecting terminals 1 of the plug connector part 6 (see the transition between fig. 6A and 6B). During the plug-in connection of the plug elements 51, 52, the spring element 3 is acted upon in such a way that the clamping feet 32 of the spring element 3 are elastically deflected and an electrical connection and a mechanical locking are also established, so that plug-in forces are required for the plug elements 51, 52 to be plug-connected, which add up to the overall connection terminal 1.

In order to reduce the insertion force at the beginning of the insertion process, in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 5 to 12, the plug elements 51, 52 of the plug device 5, viewed in the insertion direction E and starting from the printed circuit board 50, have different heights H1, H2. As shown in fig. 10, the connecting terminals 1 of the plug connector part 6 are accommodated in the plug connector housing 62 at the same height, so that the spring elements 3 of the connecting terminals 1 are arranged at the same height on the plug connector part 6, and therefore the different heights H1, H2 of the plug elements 51, 52 lead to the following: the plug elements 51, 52 interact in an alternating manner with the clamping feet 32 of the spring element 3 of the terminal 1, so that the plugging process between the plug elements 51, 52 and the terminal 1 takes place in an alternating manner.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 5 to 12, the plug device 5 has two sets of plug elements 51, 52 which have different heights H1, H2. Thus, the first set of plug elements 51 has a first height H1, while the second set of plug elements 52 is formed with a second height H2, which is less than the first height H1. In this way, when a plug-type connection is made, the plug elements 51 of the first group are initially brought into operative connection with the connecting terminals 1 of the plug connector part 6. Then, during further insertion, the plug elements 52 of the second group are operatively connected to the connecting terminals 1 only when the plug elements 51 of the first group have been at least partially inserted into the corresponding connecting terminals 1.

In the exemplary embodiment shown schematically in fig. 1 and 2 and in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 5 to 12, the plug device 5 has a total of 40 plug elements 51, 52, wherein the illustrated embodiment does not impose any limitation on the invention, for example, plug elements 51, 52 can also be provided which are much smaller or much larger than the above-mentioned number. In the embodiment shown, the number of plug elements 51 having the first height H1 is equal to the number of plug elements 52 having the second height H2. The heights H1, H2 vary along each row of plug elements 51, 52, but the heights H1, H2 of adjacent plug elements 51, 52 in the transverse direction Q are identical.

As an alternative to the two non-continuous heights H1, H2, the plug elements 51, 52 can also vary to a greater extent in their height. In particular, more than two discrete heights H1, H2 of the plug elements 51, 52 can be provided.

The plug connector part 6 has a configuration of the connecting terminals 1 corresponding to the configuration of the plug elements 51, 52 (wherein the number of connecting terminals 1 can also be greater than the number of plug elements 51, 52), so that the plug device 5 can be plugged with the plug elements 51, 52 to the connecting terminals 1 of the plug connector part 6.

The connecting terminals 1 are accommodated in the plug-type connector housing 62 at the same height, so that a clamping connection is established between the clamping feet 32 and the plug elements 51, 52 at least approximately at a uniform clamping height K by the clamping feet 32 of the spring elements 3 of the connecting terminals 1, irrespective of the height H1, H2 of the plug elements 51, 52. In this way, in the plugged-in position, the plug elements 51, 52 are functionally identical in their electrical contact and mechanical locking.

The idea on which the invention is based is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can in principle also be implemented in a completely different way.

In particular, the plug connector part does not have to be designed to be plugged into a corresponding mating plug connector part, but can also be a component of a higher-level component. The plug connector part can be connected, for example, to a printed circuit board or to a wall of a switchgear cabinet.

The plug arrangement can in principle have any number of plug elements. At least some of the plug elements vary in their height, the terminals of the plug connector part preferably being of identical design, and in particular in the case of a greater number of terminals than plug elements, the plug devices can optionally also be connected to the plug connector part in different positions.

Description of the reference numerals

1 connecting terminal

2 contact shell

20, 21 wall part

22 side wall

220 inside

23 support section

231 opening

24 stop section

240 stop surface

241 end

25 side wall

250 inner side

251 stop

252 opening

3 spring element

30 support side foot

31 support section

32 clamping feet

320 end

4 contact element

40 terminal element (contact pin)

41 contact arm

410 end

5 plug-in device

50 printed circuit board

51, 52 plug element

53 casing

6-plug connector part

60 top side

600 socket

61 bottom side

62 plug-in connector housing

A direction of attachment

E direction of insertion

H1, height H2

Height of K clamp

L longitudinal direction

Transverse direction Q