DE102012021238A1 - Dense connector and LED light module equipped with a sealed connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector with a connector housing and a contact-bearing contact carrier, designed to produce a preferably IP67-tight connection to a corresponding connector socket of an LED light module, which has the following: a plug section for insertion into a corresponding connector socket; - a sealing element in the plug-in section - a connection section in which the cable connection area of the contacts is located, characterized in that - a functional section is arranged adjacent to the connection section and has a pressure compensation chamber.

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical connector according to claim 1 and a sealed LED lighting module according to claim 7.

The present invention therefore relates in particular to a connector for producing an IP67 tight connection with a corresponding connector socket of an LED lighting module.

On the market different lighting devices are known that can be used outdoors and especially under water.

In conventional waterproof lighting modules, the lighting is placed in a sealed housing and sealed by means of a suitable seal against water ingress and ingress of moisture.

As the need for energy-saving lighting devices is increasing, more and more LED lighting modules are gaining acceptance in the market.

Most lighting modules, including LED modules, generate heat during their operation, which must be dissipated in a suitable manner. In particular, in so-called underwater lights or applications that are installed in wet areas, it is necessary to provide sealed lighting modules. In order to produce a sufficient protection against water ingress even under water, electrical and electronic devices are classified according to protection classes.

The first indicator means that touch and foreign body protection while the second code classifies the water protection. A component classified in accordance with IP67 thus has a seal which prevents the ingress of dust at a negative pressure of 20 mbar in the housing and water may not or only insignificantly penetrate during temporary submersion, so that no harmful effects are caused.

The present invention is concerned with LED lighting modules and connectors for connection to LED lighting modules, which are at least temporarily submerged in water.

Since LED lighting modules usually have several LED's, you are surrounded by an optical lens, arises in the interior of the optical lens when heated, d. H. when operating the LED or the LED lighting device heat.

As a result of the increase in temperature, the pressure within the lens interior increases and usually causes the seals used to be pressurized and then no longer sufficiently sealed to the environment.

Conversely, when strongly cooled, a suction effect is produced because a negative pressure is created in the interior of the lens and, if appropriate, dust is sucked past the boundary surfaces of the seals.

A disadvantage of these embodiments is that such LED lighting modules are insufficiently protected against the ingress of dust and water. The result is the short life and the failure of the lighting modules well before their technical life.

Thus, LED lighting modules can typically be operated between 8,000 and 16,000 operating hours. Modern LEDs can also have an even longer life. With insufficient protection against dust and water, this lifetime is exorbitantly undercut. In some cases, the LED light module may fail during the first use.

In the prior art, different methods for sealing LED lighting modules are known. A common method is the casting with a sealant such. B. a casting resin.

Alternatively, sealed, fixed installations can be selected, in which the LED lighting modules are placed in a sealed housing enclosing the LED.

In these cases, it is particularly problematic in case of failure of an LED light module that open housing and replace the light module.

There is therefore a need for pluggable and re-releasable LED lighting modules that can be submerged briefly or even longer under water and by means of a connector releasably connectable to a supply voltage.

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a connector for a LED lighting module, which on the one hand is sufficiently dense and on the other hand withstand the pressure fluctuations caused by heat.

The present object is solved with the features of claim 1.

Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

All combinations of at least two features specified in the description, the claims and / or the drawings also fall within the scope of the invention.

For specified value ranges, values lying within the stated limits should also be disclosed as limit values and may be claimed in any combination.

The basic idea of the present invention is therefore to provide a connector which, in its plug-in region, i. H. is provided in its mating portion with a sealing element for sealing and also has a functional portion by a pressure compensation chamber is provided.

If the pressure compensation chamber is surrounded to the outside by means of an elastomeric shell, the resulting overpressure can be introduced by suitable connecting channels in the connector according to the invention and transferred to the pressure compensation chamber when pressurized within an LED light module.

This pressure compensation chamber can then inflate, as a result of the elastomeric shell, the chamber wall is expandable like a balloon. For extremely strong cooling, the exact reverse effect may occur in which a negative pressure that would form in the lens interior is partially compensated for, that air volume can be sucked out of the pressure compensation chamber and can reach the lens interior of the LED lighting module via the aforementioned connection channels.

In this way, it is ensured on the whole that the sealed plug-in connector connected in the closed system between the LED lighting module and the sealed plug-in connector connected to the lighting module provides a kind of "pressure compensation function". The fact that the pressure compensation chamber can increase in volume, ensures that even with extreme temperature increase in the LED light module, the pressure can be reduced immediately, without causing a destructive effect of the seals on the LED light module.

• – einen Steckabschnitt mit einem Aufnahmeraum zum Einführen in eine korrespondierende Steckverbinderbuchse;
• – einem Dichtelement im Steckabschnitt;
• – einen Anschlussabschnitt, in dem sich der Kabelanschlussbereich der Kontakte befindet, wobei
• – benachbart zum Anschlussabschnitt ein Funktionsabschnitt vorgesehen ist, der eine Druckausgleichkammer aufweist.

According to the invention, therefore, a connector is provided with a connector housing and a contact-carrying contact carrier, wherein the connector is adapted to produce a sealed, preferably IP67 tight connection with a corresponding connector socket of a LED lighting module, the connector comprising

• A plug portion having a receiving space for insertion into a corresponding connector socket;
• - A sealing element in the plug portion;
• - A connection portion in which the cable connection portion of the contacts is located, wherein
• - A function section is provided adjacent to the connection section, which has a pressure compensation chamber.

Characterized in that the plug-in portion is provided with a sealing element, the plug contour of the connector can be sealingly attached to a corresponding mating connector on the LED light module, whereby initially a tight connection between the plug and mating connector is made.

Since the pressure compensation chamber is provided in the interior of the now closed plug connection, a pressure increase arising within the system can be absorbed by expanding the pressure compensation chamber.

Advantageously, the functional area has an elastomeric shell as a chamber wall of the pressure compensation chamber.

Alternatively, the entire connector shell may be formed as an elastomeric shell, so that in any case the functional portion of the connector is surrounded with its pressure compensation chamber with an elastomeric shell.

Advantageously, the elastomeric shell is arranged circumferentially on the functional portion, so that the largest possible effective chamber wall can expand as pressure equalization as pressure equalization.

Advantageously, a deformable, elastomeric shell is provided as a chamber wall at least in the functional area, so that the pressure compensation chamber volume V2 of the pressure compensation chamber can adapt correspondingly to pressure changes in the pressure compensation chamber by increasing the volume to a volume V2 '.

Advantageously, the pressure compensation chamber is further connected by means of a connecting channel arranged in the interior of the connector with the receiving space in the plug-in portion. This ensures that the air from the LED light module can pass through the connector socket and the connector to the pressure compensation chamber through the connecting channel, which is arranged according to the intended purpose.

Preferably, the pressure compensation chamber is sealed directly from the environment.

It is particularly preferred that the pressure compensation chamber is sealed adjacent to the cable outlet by means of a molded cable seal towards the cable sheath out.

Particularly preferred is an embodiment in which the entire connector shell is integrally molded around the contact carrier from an elastomeric shell material. In this case, at the same time molded onto a cable sheath represent a one-sided seal the pressure compensation chamber.

According to the invention, a sealed LED lighting module is further provided.

The basic idea of the present invention is to provide a sealed light-emitting module which has a connector socket which can be plugged into the previously described connector, specifically for producing a sealed, preferably IP67-tight connection.

According to the invention therefore an LED lighting module, preferably an immediately sealed LED lighting module is provided with a plurality of cooling fins having heat sink, which further preferably forms a flat body with a top and a bottom, wherein at least one, preferably more LED's bonded on the top of the body and preferably are directly gebonded.

Further, a contact-carrying connector socket is attached to the underside of the body and at least one contact is connected to at least one of the LED's through the body through.

The connector socket is designed to produce a sealed, preferably an IP67 tight connection with a corresponding connector, which has a pressure compensation chamber.

According to the invention, a single continuous connection channel is preferably provided between the LED lighting module of the connector socket and the corresponding connector. As a result, the air between the pressure compensation chamber in the connector and the LED light module back and forth.

According to the invention, therefore, an LED lighting module is provided in which at least one LED is covered with a dense, preferably IP67 dense, optical lens, specifically to form a lens interior for the LED.

Advantageously, the lens interior is connected via a connecting channel with the pressure compensation chamber of a connector to be connected.

Advantageously, the LED lighting module on the main body locking recesses for locking with locking arms of the connector socket. This makes it possible to provide an exchangeable for each LED lighting module connector socket, which has suitable latching arms and latching on the body and that can be inserted into the recesses and latched there.

Advantageously, the connector socket latching arms to lock on the recesses of the body.

It is particularly advantageous to provide an LED lighting module in which the connector socket has latching arms which protrude through latching recesses of the base body and lock with their end-side latching lugs on the upper side of the base body.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, at least one of the latching arms protrudes with its end-side latching lug through the base body into the lens interior.

In a further advantageous embodiment, there is a seal at the sealing plane between the connector socket and the underside of the base body.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, this seal is formed around the latching recess of the latching arm, the lens interior is sealed relative to the environment at the sealing or connecting plane between the connector socket and the bottom.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, a connection channel between the lens interior and the contact receiving space of the connector socket is provided.

It is also advantageous if a part of the connecting channel is formed by a latching recess. In other words, there is a detent recess in the sealed interior, the provided with a connector, sealed device consisting of LED light module, connector socket and plugged connector.

Further advantages, features and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the figures, the claims and the figures. These show in:

1 shows a perspective view of an LED lighting module with a connector;

2 shows the LED light module off 1 in a perspective view from below;

3 shows a sectional view through an inventive LED lighting module;

4 shows a sectional view similar to the 3 in which the elastomeric sleeve in the pressure balance chamber is inflated;

5 shows a perspective sectional view through an inventive LED lighting module with a latched connector socket.

1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of an LED lighting module according to the invention 1 , The LED lighting module 1 includes a heat sink 2 with cooling fins 3 , In the present embodiment, it is translucent cooling fins 3 , The heat sink 2 further comprises a main body 4 ,

In the present embodiment, the main body 4 formed as a ceramic body. At the corners of the main body 4 there are mounting holes 5 which are open to the outside. The main body 4 has a top 4a and a bottom 4b on. At the base body 4 is a connector socket 30 locked. In the connector socket 30 is in 1 an inventive connector 50 plugged in.

In 2 is the LED light module 1 out 1 shown in a perspective view from below. It can be seen that at the bottom 4b an optical lens 6 attached, which is the LED's not shown in this figure 7 surrounds. The optical lens 6 forms an externally sealed lens interior 8th for the LEDs contained therein 7 , The lens interior 8th at normal ambient temperature has a normal atmospheric pressure corresponding to the ambient pressure during assembly. Furthermore, the lens interior comprises 8th a volume V1. At the base body 4 is a recess 11 appropriate. The recess 11 is in the present embodiment as a through the body 4 designed through opening. Another recess 11 is in the illustration in 2 not apparent since they are in the area of the lens interior 8th , thus below the optical lens 6 is appropriate. By the in 2 apparent recess 11 a catch hook protrudes 33 one of the latching arms 34 the connector socket 30 , The latching hook 33 locked at the bottom 4b , preferred is between the connector socket 30 and the top 4a of the basic body 4 a like in 5 shown seal 36 arranged. Advantageously, the seal is as a compressible in its thickness seal 36 designed so that when snapping the connector socket 30 with his crab arms 34 into the main body 4 or in the recess 11 of the basic body 4 a restoring moment of the seal 36 on the connector socket 30 is exercised. By such a configuration, the connector socket 30 on the one hand sealing and on the other hand spring-loaded by the restoring force of the seal 36 at the base body 4 held.

In 5 is also the basic structure of the LED lighting module according to the invention 1 seen. The main body 4 is as a flat body 4 formed, the a circumferential collar portion 12 having.

In the main body 4 is located in the collar section 12 a recess 11 as well as in the area below the optical lens 6 a second recess 11 , The two recesses 11 serve the locking of the connector socket 30 , The recesses 11 are as by the main body 4 formed through openings. On the bottom 4b of the basic body 4 are several LEDs 7 directly on the bottom 4b of the basic body 4 gebonded by means of connections 10 (Bonding). The connections 10 are electrical with the pins 31 the connector socket 30 connected, provided the connector socket 30 , as in 5 in its latched position with the main body 4 is. The optical lens 6 encloses the LEDs 7 forming a lens interior 8th , The lens interior 8th has a volume V1. If the lens interior 8th would be completely closed when operating the LED light module 1 and the one from the LED's 7 Heat generated the pressure in the lens interior 8th increase significantly. For this purpose, a connection channel 39 through the main body 4 appropriate. The connection channel 39 runs inside the sealed interior of the lens interior 8th to the sealed interior of the connector socket 30 ,

As in 5 further apparent is the connection channel 39 from a seal 36 surrounded, so also at the interface between the connector socket 30 and the top 4a of the basic body 4 a sealing effect to the outside takes place. The connector socket 30 has contact pins 31 on that electrically with the LEDs 7 of the LED lighting module 1 are connected. The contact pins 31 be from a contact body 32 held. The contact pins 31 protrude into a contact reception room 35 into it. The connector socket 30 has, as previously explained, on latching arms 34 with snap hook 33 and is, as in 5 shown by means of two locking arms 34 at the base body 4 attached and at the bottom 4b with the locking hooks 33 locked.

The following will be on the 3 and 4 Referenced. Shown is a sectional view through the LED lighting module according to the invention 1 , On the bottom 4b of the basic body 4 are several LEDs 7 can be seen, as described above, of an optical lens 6 be sealed. The optical lens 6 forms a lens interior in its interior 8th out.

In the connector socket 30 is an inventive connector 50 plugged in. The connector 50 has a front plug-in section 53 on, then a connection section 60 at which the cable connection area of the contacts 52 is located and adjoining thereto a functional section 61 , The functional section 61 serves the function of pressure equalization. Therefore, the functional section points 61 a pressure compensation chamber 56 on. The pressure compensation chamber 56 is of an elastomeric shell 55 surround. The pressure compensation chamber 56 is with the lens interior 8th via a connection channel 39 connected. The connection channel 39 runs from the lens interior 8th through the connector socket 30 and the mating section 53 and the connection section 60 of the connector 50 to the pressure compensation chamber 56 of the connector 50 ,

In the present embodiment, the connector housing 51 as an elastomeric shell 55 educated. The elastomeric shell 55 is a shell, which by means of an injection molding process around the contact carrier 59 was sprayed around. The connector 50 forms in the region of its plug contour a cylindrical plug contour 53 also made of the elastomeric shell 55 is formed. Inside the plug contour 53 are circumferential sealing lips 37 arranged.

This ensures that when plugging the connector 50 with the connector socket 30 the connector 50 with its plug contour 53 the connector socket 30 seals.

It also ensures that the connection channel 39 completely inside a sealed room. When operating the LED lighting module 1 The air in the lens interior heats up 8th , At the same time, the pressure in the sealed room increases. Because a connection channel 39 to the pressure compensation chamber 56 exists, the pressure increase can be intercepted by the fact that the volume V2 in the region of the pressure compensation chamber 56 increased to V2 '.

The pressure compensation chamber 56 is in the present embodiment directly by injection molding of the elastomeric shell 55 to the cable 58 forming a cable seal 57 educated.

In the area of the connection section 60 form the contacts 52 a crimp connection for a crimped connection 54 for connecting to a cable 70 out. Adjacent to the pressure compensation chamber 56 is the cable outlet 62 , At the cable outlet 62 is the aforementioned cable seal 57 educated. The present connector 50 is designed as a 90 ° angled connector, resulting in a particularly compact design for the LED light module 1 results.

Alternative methods or designs for sealing the pressure compensation chamber may also be used 56 be formed. It is also possible the connector housing 51 to be designed so that only the front part and that the cylindrical plug contour 53 is formed of an elastomeric material and the pressure compensation chamber 56 circumferentially or only partially with an elastomeric shell 55 is overmoulded.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

LED light module

2

heatsink

3

cooling fins

4

body

4a

top

4b

bottom

5

mounting holes

6

optical lens (lens)

7

LED

8th

Lens interior (volume V1)

9

Printed circuit board (integrated)

10

Connections (bonding)

11

recesses

12

collar section

30

connector socket

31

contact pins

32

Contact body

33

latch hook

34

locking arms

35

Contact receiving space

36

Sealing element (seal)

37

poetry

39

connecting channel

50

Connectors

51

Connector housing (molded)

52

contacts

53

cylindrical plug contour

54

crimp

55

elastomeric shell

56

Pressure equalization chamber

57

cable seal

58

electric wire

59

contact support

60

connecting section

61

function section

62

cable outlet

70

electric wire

V2

Volume before pressure increase

V2 '

Volume after pressure increase

Claims (17)

Connector ( 50 ) with a connector housing ( 51 ) and a contact ( 52 ) carrying contact carriers ( 59 ), formed for producing a preferably IP67 tight connection with a corresponding connector socket ( 30 ) of an LED lighting module ( 1 ) comprising: - a plug-in section ( 53 ) for insertion into a corresponding connector socket ( 30 ); A sealing element ( 37 ) in the plug-in section ( 53 ); A connection section ( 60 ), in which the cable connection area of the contacts ( 52 ), characterized in that - adjacent to the connecting section ( 60 ) a functional section ( 61 ) is arranged, which a pressure compensation chamber ( 56 ) having. Connector ( 50 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least in the functional area ( 61 ) an elastomeric shell ( 55 ) as a chamber wall of the pressure compensation chamber ( 56 ) is provided and the pressure compensation chamber ( 56 ) is elastically deformable. Connector ( 50 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least in the functional area ( 61 ) a deformable elastomeric shell ( 55 ) as a chamber wall of the pressure compensation chamber ( 56 ) is provided, so that the pressure equalization chamber volume V2 of the pressure compensation chamber ( 56 ) with pressure changes in the pressure compensation chamber ( 56 ) can adjust accordingly. Connector ( 50 ) according to at least one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pressure compensation chamber ( 56 ) by means of a inside of the connector ( 50 ) arranged connecting channel ( 39 ) in the plug-in section ( 53 ) connected is. Connector ( 50 ) according to at least one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure compensation chamber ( 56 ) is sealed from the environment. Connector ( 50 ) according to at least one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure compensation chamber ( 56 ) adjacent to the cable outlet ( 62 ) by means of a molded cable seal ( 57 ) is sealed towards the cable sheath. Sealed LED light module ( 1 ) with a plurality of cooling fins ( 3 ) having heat sink ( 2 ), which has a flat basic body ( 4 ) with a top side ( 4a ) and a bottom ( 4b ), wherein at least one LED ( 7 ) on the top ( 4a ) of the basic body ( 4 ) and at the bottom ( 4b ) of the basic body ( 4 ) a contacts ( 31 ) carrying connector socket ( 30 ) and at least one contact ( 31 ) with at least one LED ( 7 ) through the main body ( 4 ) is connected through and the connector socket ( 30 ) is formed for producing a preferably IP67 tight connection with a corresponding connector ( 50 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6. Sealed LED light module ( 1 ) with a contact ( 31 ) carrying connector socket ( 30 ) and a connector ( 50 ) according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, which is adapted to produce a preferably IP67 tight connection with the connector socket ( 30 ). Sealed LED light module ( 1 ) according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one LED ( 7 ) with a preferably IP67 dense optical lens ( 6 ) is covered and to form a lens interior ( 8th ). Sealed LED light module ( 1 ) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the basic body ( 4 ) Recesses ( 11 ) for latching with latching arms ( 34 ) of the connector socket ( 30 ) having. Sealed LED light module ( 1 ) according to one or more of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the basic body ( 4 ) Recesses ( 11 ) for latching with latching arms ( 34 ) of the connector socket ( 30 ) having. Sealed LED light module ( 1 ) according to one or more of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the connector socket ( 30 ) Latching arms ( 34 ), which by the recesses ( 11 ) of the basic body ( 4 ) protrude and with their end-side latching hooks ( 33 ) at the top ( 4a ) lock. Sealed LED light module ( 1 ) according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one of the latching arms ( 34 ) with its end locking hooks ( 33 ) in the lens interior ( 8th ) protrudes. Sealed LED light module ( 1 ) according to one or more of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that a seal ( 36 ) between the connector socket ( 30 ) on the bottom ( 4b ) is arranged. Sealed LED light module ( 1 ) according to claim 12 and 13, characterized in that the seal ( 36 ) around the recess ( 11 ) of the latching arm ( 34 ), which enters the lens interior ( 8th ) is arranged to the lens interior ( 8th ) relative to the environment at the connection plane between the connector socket ( 30 ) and the underside ( 4b ) seal. Sealed LED light module ( 1 ) according to one or more of the claims, characterized in that a connecting channel ( 39 ) between the lens interior ( 8th ) and the contact receiving space ( 35 ) of the connector socket ( 30 ) is provided. Sealed LED light module ( 1 ) according to claim 16, characterized in that a part of the connecting channel ( 39 ) of a latching recess ( 11 ) is formed.

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