DE8904191U1 - Socket for a plug-in device for supplying electrical equipment in vehicles etc., in domestic use, in industrial areas and for similar purposes with electrical energy - Google Patents

Description

Keil&Schaafhausen PATENT ATTORNEYS Frankfurt am Main

04.04.1989

J 75 G 34

ERICH JAEGER GmbH & Co. KG Gluckensteinweg 5a

6380 Bad Homburg v.d.H. 1

Socket for a device for supplying electrical equipment in vehicles and the like, in domestic use, in the industrial sector and for similar purposes with electrical energy

Description:

The invention relates to a socket for a plug-in device for supplying motor vehicles and the like, in domestic use, in the industrial sector and for similar purposes with electrical energy, with a housing sealed against the ingress of dust, dirt and/or moisture, in which the contact sockets are accommodated.

For example, plug devices for engine and vehicle preheating systems in motor vehicles are known in which both the socket provided on a connecting cable, for example, and the plug arranged on the motor vehicle are each equipped with a spring-loaded cover which, when the plug device is not in use, i.e. when the plug connection is loose, seals the insertion opening of the socket or plug housing against dust, dirt and moisture.

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KEIL&SCHAAFHAUSEN

PATENT ATTORNEYS - 2 -

should close. On the one hand, the locking function of the lid often leaves much to be desired, and on the other hand, connecting the socket and plug together is difficult, since both lids have to be held open against the spring closing force at the same time. The problem of preventing the ingress of dust, dirt and/or moisture occurs in various ways, equally when supplying electrical equipment in other vehicles, in domestic use, in the industrial sector and for similar purposes.

|j Based on this, it is the object of the present invention to propose a socket for a plug device of the type _mentioned at the beginning, which allows a simpler connection of the socket and plug, but which nevertheless ensures a reliable seal when the plug device is not in use, ie when the socket and plug are not connected.

This object is essentially achieved according to the invention in that the plug-in side of the housing is closed off by a front plate which preferably only has openings for the passage of the contact pins of a plug-in connector, and that the openings are closed in the waiting position, ie when the plug is not plugged in, by closure elements which are mounted so as to deflect axially and laterally, ie in the circumferential direction or radially or a combination of these directions of movement, against the effect of a restoring force while releasing the associated contact sockets, under the action of axial force , preferably from the contact pins of the plug-in connector. The openings in the front plate preferably only need to be large enough for the contact pins of a plug to easily pass through and into the

tölL&SCHAAFHAUSEN

PATENT ATTORNEYS - 3 -

The openings are also distributed over the surface of the front panel in accordance with the distribution of the contact sockets in the socket and the contact pins in the plug, are aligned with the contact sockets and their cross-section is preferably adapted to the external cross-section of the contact pins of a plug to be plugged in. While in the prior art the socket must be sealed by the hinged cover over the entire circumference of the housing, the sealing surface areas and edges are considerably smaller in the solution according to the invention. Plugging the socket and plug together is considerably easier because the socket no longer has a hinged cover, which would have to be held open by hand next to the hinged cover of the plug against the effect of the restoring force during the plugging process. Rather, according to the invention, the closure elements which close the openings in the waiting position, i.e. when the socket is not in use, i.e. when the plug is not plugged in, are automatically pushed away axially and laterally by the contact pins when the plug is plugged in, in such a way that they no longer hinder the contact pins' access to the contact sockets. The closure elements can be mounted in such a way that when the plug is plugged into the socket, they are initially lifted out of the openings in the front panel due to a slight axial movement and then, when the plug is further plugged into the socket, they are pushed out of the path of movement of the contact pins laterally, i.e. in the circumferential direction and/or radially with respect to the housing, so that they can be inserted into the contact sockets. The plug can still be provided with a hinged cover which closes the plug housing in the waiting position on the insertion side, which is provided with a sealing ring on the housing side, which

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Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS

•under the action of a return spring, it can seal against the front edge of the plug housing and which, when opened, exposes the entire front of the plug housing surrounding the contact pins and, after insertion, accommodates the front end of the socket.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the closure elements are guided under the axial force of preferably the contact pins of a plug-in connector axially and in the surrounding direction or radially or a combination of these directions of movement, so that the closing and opening function of the closure elements is reliably ensured.

The axial and circumferential or radial guidance of the closure elements or a combination of these directions of movement can be formed in particular by surfaces of a guide body in the housing that run obliquely to the housing axis, whereby the guide body can be part or section of the housing itself, of the contact insert carrying the contact sockets and/or of the front plate.

According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the closure elements in their closed position protrude from the inside of the housing with knobs into the openings of the front panel in order to sealingly close them under the effect of the restoring force.

In this context, it is also proposed that the front surfaces of the knobs in their closed position be flush with the front surface of the front panel or protrude beyond it. In this way, it is prevented that dirt can settle in the openings of the front panel in the waiting position, i.e. as long as the socket is not in use, which would otherwise

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" Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS
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when the plug is inserted, the contact pins would be pushed into the socket housing and the contact socket area, thus impairing the function of the plug device. It is particularly preferable for the front surfaces of the studs to be aligned with the front surface of the front panel, as the socket can then have a completely smooth front surface in the waiting position, which is easy to keep clean . The alignment of the front surface of the studs with the front surface of the front panel can be ensured simply by the locking elements striking the back of the front panel in their locked position in such a way that the studs inserted into the openings penetrate completely through to the front surface of the front panel.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the openings in the front panel widen conically inwards and the studs have corresponding bevels on their front ends, which lie against the conical area of the openings in the closed position. In this way, the studs are automatically centered in their closed and sealing position, while on the other hand, when the plug is inserted, the axial displacement path of the locking elements, which must first be overcome before they can move sideways out of the path of movement of the contact pins, can be kept as small as possible.

The sealing function of the locking elements equipped with knobs can be further improved by surrounding the knobs with O-rings, which in their closed position form a seal around the peripheral edges of the openings on the back of the front panel. The O-rings can be inserted into the ring grooves of the locking elements immediately surrounding the knobs.

" Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS

In a structurally simple embodiment of the invention, it is further proposed that the locking elements are held in the locking position in the "waiting" position, i.e. when the plug is not plugged in, under the action of a return spring. The return spring does not need to exert particularly great forces. It only has to press the locking elements guided on their guide surfaces back into their locking position when the plug is pulled out of the socket and then hold them sealingly on the back of the front panel. Since these return forces can be relatively small, the resistance force that the locking elements exert against the contact pins when the plug is plugged into the socket is also relatively small and not significant compared to the insertion forces that have to be exerted with conventional plug connections.

A particularly simple and reliable construction of a socket designed according to the inventive concept is obtained if, according to a further preferred feature of the invention, the locking elements are formed or carried by the wings of a turnstile mounted so as to be rotatable about the housing axis or an axis parallel to it. When the plug is inserted into the socket, the turnstile is initially pushed slightly axially back into the housing of the socket by the contact pins of the plug, and is then set in rotation with the help of the guide surfaces mentioned, so that the wings of the turnstile move out of the path of movement of the contact pins and the contact pins can be pushed through the gaps in the turnstile to the contact sockets.

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PATENT ATTORNEYS

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Safe operation is ensured when the turnstile is mounted so that it can rotate using a central cylindrical pin in the housing, in particular the contact insert.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the turnstile can be supported centrally with the cylindrical pin on the return spring, which can be designed as a helical spring, for example.

The coil spring is then preferably accommodated in a cylindrical axial channel in the housing, preferably in the contact insert.

Another inventive idea is that the turnstile, including the cylindrical pin, is mounted in the housing, in particular the contact insert, with little radial play. This allows the turnstile with the pin to tip and become jammed if asymmetrical forces are applied. This prevents the turnstile from being deliberately pushed into the open position and turned, e.g. by means of a tool inserted into an opening. Only if a symmetrical force is applied, such as that exerted by the contact pins of a plug on the knobs of the turntable, can the turnstile be lifted out of the closed position and turned out of the path of movement of the contact pins of the plug to be inserted.

In this context, it is advantageous if the pin is equipped with a toothing on its circumference, which, in the tilted position of the slewing ring, engages with an inner tooth on the outer surface of a recess that accommodates the pin.

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PATENT ATTORNEYS

However, it can also be provided that a circumferential stop edge is provided at a short distance behind a rear face of the pin in the surface of the recess receiving the pin, against which the pin strikes in the tilted position and therefore the locking elements cannot be lifted out of their locking position in the event of asymmetrical force, such as when a tool is deliberately inserted into an opening in the front plate.

The invention further proposes that the locking elements, which are formed or carried, for example, on the wings of a turnstile, are provided with a lateral projection for engaging in a circumferential groove of the associated contact pin of a plug to be inserted. In this way, the restoring force for the locking elements is used as a holding force for the plug in the socket.

The solution according to the invention was previously explained using a socket. However, the principle of the invention can obviously also be implemented on a plug if, in contrast, the socket is provided in a conventional manner with a housing that is completely open at the front and can be closed with a hinged lid, as is explained in more detail above and below, for example, for the plug.

The plug device according to the invention, consisting of a socket and a plug, can be used in the field of motor vehicles not only for engine and vehicle preheating systems, but also for battery charging, for example, which also applies in particular to batteries used in electrically powered vehicles, as well as for other vehicles such as caravans,

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" KfelL&SCHAAFHAUSEN

PATENT ATTORNEYS - 9 -

Camping trailers and the like. The plug device according to the invention can also be used with advantage wherever the socket and/or plug are exposed to dirt or moisture when in standby, whether in domestic use, in the industrial sector and for similar purposes.

Further details, features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments based on the drawing. All of the features described and/or illustrated form the subject matter of the present invention, either individually or in any meaningful combination, regardless of their summary in the claims or their reference back to them.

Show it:

"ig. 1a in side view, partially cut according to section line AA of Fig. 1b, an embodiment of a socket having an axe invention,

Fig. 1b shows a section of the socket along the section line B-B of Fig. 1a,

Fig. 2 in side view, partially cut lengthwise, a plug that can be plugged together with the socket according to Fig. 1a to form a plug device with conventional sealing of the plug housing that is completely open at the front by means of a spring-loaded hinged cover,

Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS - 10 -

Fig. 3a schematically, partly broken away and partly sectioned, the front sections of the socket and plug according to Figures 1a and 2 shortly before inserting the plug into the socket,

Fig. 3b is a view similar to Fig. 3a, but after inserting the plug into the socket,

'■·'· Fig. 4a shows a view of a turnstile forming the closure elements according to the invention,

''i; Fig. 4b the turnstile of Fig. 4a in side view, partially sectioned along the section line C-C of Fig. 4a,

Fig. 5a is a sectional view, enlarged in comparison to Fig. 1, of another embodiment of the socket according to the invention in its front section with means for preventing deliberate opening of the turnstile,

Fig. 5b shows a section along the section line D-Π of Fig. 5a in the area of the pin of the turnstile,

Fig. 6a is a representation corresponding to Fig. 5a, in which however, an attempt is made to press a closure element out of the closed position using a tool, and

&ggr; Fig. 6b is a section along the line D-D of Fig.

6a.

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Keil&Schaafhausen

PATENT ATTORNEYS - 11 -

The socket 1 for a plug device for supplying motor vehicles and the like with electrical energy has a housing 3 in which contact sockets 4 are held by means of a contact insert 19 and a rear cover plate 30. The cover plate 30 has openings 31 for the connecting wires to the contact sockets 4. The contact insert 19 and the cover plate 30 are held in the housing 3 by means of a cap 32 screwed onto the rear section of the housing 3. The contact insert 19 is supported with a peripheral shoulder 33 on an inner shoulder 34 of the housing 3, while the cap 32 in turn rests with a shoulder 35 on the rear surface of the cover plate 30. The contact insert 19 and the end plate 30 form, in the case shown, three channels, the contour of which essentially corresponds to the contour of the contact sockets 4, for the essentially axially immovable accommodation of the contact sockets 4. As can be seen from Fig. 1a, one contact socket 4, namely the one intended for the protective conductor contact pin, is longer than the others so that the protective conductor contact function occurs first when a plug 2 according to Fig. 2 is inserted into the socket 1 according to Fig. 1a, before the other contacts come into contact with one another. The cap 32 is equipped with a cable screw connection designed as a handle 36, which allows the socket 1 to be easily removed from a plug 2. The plug 2 also has a cable screw connection, similar to the handle 37, on its rear cap 38, which is screwed onto the rear end of the plug housing 39 in order to hold the contact pins 7 in it by means of a cover plate 40, which also has openings 41 for the connecting wires to the contact pins 7. A hinged cover 42 with a seal 43 is placed on the front edge of the plug housing 39 with the aid of a pressure spring 44, so that the

PATENT ATTORNEYS
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Contact pins 7 of the plug 2 remaining on the motor vehicle when the plug device is not in use remain protected against dirt and moisture in the plug housing 39.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing using the example of the socket 1. It is also possible, however, to implement the inventive concept in the plug 2 and to equip the socket 1 in the conventional manner with a hinged cover, which is opened to establish the plug connection and thus exposes the contact sockets 4, as is illustrated in Fig. 2 for the contact pins 7 of the plug 2.

In the socket 1 shown in Fig. 1a, the plug-in side 5 of the housing 3 is closed off by a front plate 8 which only has openings 6 for the passage of the contact pins 7 of the plug-in plug 2, which in the case shown is formed as one piece with the side wall of the housing 3. The openings 6 are distributed over the front plate 8 in accordance with the arrangement of the contact pins 7 of the plug-in plug 2. To facilitate correct plugging, the socket 1, as can be seen from Fig. 1b, has a coding in the form of a bead 46 which matches a corresponding rib 47 on the plug housing 39. In the waiting position shown, the openings 6 are closed by closure elements 9, which can initially move slightly axially under the axial force of the contact pins 7 of the plug 2 to be inserted and then in the circumferential direction against the effect of a restoring force, releasing the associated contact sockets 4. The closure elements 9, as can be seen in particular from Fig. 3a and 3b, are initially pushed axially out of the openings 6 of the front

"KEllASCRIAAFFHAUSEN

PATENT ATTORNEYS
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plate Ö and then guided in the circumferential direction by inclined surfaces 10 of a guide body 11, which in the case shown is formed by the front end of the contact insert 19, out of the path of movement of the contact pins 7 of the plug-in connector 2 under the axial force that occurs during the insertion process. As can be seen in particular from Fig. 3a, the locking elements 9 protrude in their closed position from the inside of the housing 3 with knobs 12 into the openings 6 of the front plate 8 in order to close them. In the closed position shown in Figs. 1a and 3a, the front surfaces 13 of the knobs 12 are aligned with the front surface 14 of the front plate 8, so that no dirt can settle in the openings 6 in the waiting position.

The openings 6 of the front panel 8 widen conically towards the inside of the housing 3 and the studs 12 have corresponding bevels 21 on their front ends, which on the one hand achieves a centering of the studs 12 in the closed position and on the other hand the axial displacement path that is required until the closure elements 9 can be pushed laterally out of the path of movement of the contact pins 7 is as small as possible. To improve the seal, the studs 12 are surrounded by O-rings 22, which, when the closure elements 9 are in the closed position, seal against the area of the peripheral edges of the openings 6 on the back of the front panel 8. The closure elements 9 are held in the waiting position, i.e. when the socket 1 is not in use, under the action of a return spring 15 in their front closed position, in which the studs 9 engage in the openings 6.

PATENT ATTORNEYS
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In the embodiment shown, the locking elements 9 are formed by the wings 16 of a turnstile 17 that is rotatably mounted about the housing axis A. The turnstile 17 is rotatably mounted with a central cylindrical pin 18 in a recess 25 of the contact insert 19. The turnstile 17 is supported with the cylindrical pin 18 on the return spring 15 designed as a helical spring, which is accommodated in a cylindrical axial channel 20 of the contact insert 19 that forms the extension of the recess 25, as can be seen in particular from Fig. 1a. The return spring 15 is supported on its rear side on the front of the end plate 30.

As can be seen in particular from Figures 5a to 6b, the turnstile 17 including the cylindrical pin 18 is mounted with a small radial play in the housing 3 or the contact insert 19. If, as illustrated in Fig. 6a, an attempt is made to act on one of the three locking elements 9 with a tool 45 in order to release the opening ^r :, the turnstile 17 tilts with the pin 18 in such a way that the turnstile 17 cannot carry out the rotary movement required to release the opening 6. For this purpose, the pin 18 can, for example, be equipped on its circumference with a toothing 23 which, when the turnstile 17 is in the tilted position, engages with an internal toothing 24 on the outer surface of the recess 25 receiving the pin 18, as can be seen from Fig. 6b. Instead of this or in addition, however, a circumferential stop channel 27 can also be provided at a short distance behind a rear end face 26 of the pin 18 in the outer surface of the recess 25 receiving the pin 18, against which the pin 18 already strikes when the slewing ring 17 has not yet experienced an axial displacement which is necessary for the locking

" KtILA ¹ SCnAAFHATISEN

PATENT ATTORNEYS - 15 -

elements 9 with the knobs 12 come free from the front panel 8. This measure also prevents the turnstile 17 from being opened intentionally.

As indicated in Fig. 3b on one of the contact pins 7, namely the protective conductor contact pin, the locking elements 9 can engage with a lateral projection 28 in a circumferential groove 29 of the associated contact pin 7, in order to create a certain additional security for the plug connection against unintentional pulling apart. This is because when pulling apart, the locking elements 9 must overcome the restoring force of the restoring spring 15 in order to come out of the groove 29 with their projection 28, taking into account the guide surfaces 10.

PATENT ATTORNEYS - 16 -

List of reference symbols:

1 Power outlet 2 Plug 3 Housing 4 Contact sockets 5 Insert side 6 openings 7 Contact pin«* 8th Front panel S Locking element 10 Areas 11 Guide body 12 Ncnpen 13 Front smile,n 14 Front surface 15 return spring, ,6 wing 17 Turnstile 18 cone 19 Contact insert 20 channel 21 bevel 22 O-rings 23 Perforation 24 Internal teeth 25 Recess 26 Frontal area 27 Stop edge 28 head Start 29 Groove

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PATENT ATTORNEYS - 17 -

30 End plate 31 Breakthroughs 32 cap 33 circumferential shoulder 34 Inner shoulder J5 shoulder 36 Handle 37 Handle 38 cap 39 Connector housing 40 End plate 41 Breakthroughs 42 Hinged lid 43 poetry 44 Pressure spring 45 Tool 46 Bead 47 rib A Housing axis

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ERICH JAEGER GmbH « Co. KG Gluckensteinweg 5a

638Ö Bad Homburg v.d.H. 1

PATENT ATTORNEYS Frankfurt am Main 04.04.1989 J 75 G 34

Socket for a plug-in device for supplying electrical equipment in motor vehicles and the like, in domestic use, in the industrial sector and for similar purposes with electrical energy

Summary:

The invention relates to a socket for a plug-in device for supplying electrical devices in motor vehicles and the like, in domestic use, in the industrial sector and for similar purposes with electrical energy, with a housing sealed against the ingress of dust and/or moisture, in which the contact sockets are housed. In order to ensure that the socket and plug can be easily plugged together despite the socket being reliably sealed, according to the invention the plug-in side of the housing is closed off by a front plate that only has openings for the contact pins of a plug-in plug to pass through, and the openings are closed in the waiting position, i.e. when the plug is not plugged in, by locking elements which are axially and laterally supported against the effect of a restoring force under the axial force of the contact pins of a plug-in plug, releasing the associated contact sockets. This principle according to the invention can also be implemented on a plug onto whose contact pins the contact sockets of a socket provided with a conventional hinged cover can be plugged.

Claims (16)

'Keil&Schaafhäusen PATENT ATTORNEYS Protection claims: 1. Socket for a plug device for supplying electrical equipment in motor vehicles and the like, in domestic use, in the industrial sector and for similar purposes with electrical energy, with a housing (3) sealed against the ingress of dust, dirt and/or moisture, in which the contact sockets (4) are accommodated, characterized in that the plug-in side (5) of the housing (3) is closed off by a front plate (8) which preferably only has openings (6) for the passage of the contact pins (7) of a plug (2) to be inserted, and that the openings (6) are closed in the waiting position by locking elements (9) which are mounted axially and laterally against the effect of a restoring force under the axial force effect, preferably of the contact pins (7) of a plug (2) to be inserted, so as to deflect the associated contact sockets (4). 2. Socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the closure elements (9) are guided under the axial force action, preferably of the contact pins (7) of a plug (2) to be inserted, axially and in the circumferential direction or radially or a combination of these directions of movement. 3. Socket according to claim 2, characterized in that axial and circumferential or radial or a combination of these directions of movement guide is formed by surfaces (10) of a guide body (11) in the housing (3) that run obliquely to the housing axis (A). 4. Socket according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the closure elements (9) in the closed position protrude from the interior of the housing (3) with knobs (12) into the openings (6) of the front plate (8). β * 86S * S S * β S * S S * (δ PATENT ATTORNEYS - 2 - 5. Socket according to claim 4, characterized in that the front surfaces (13) of the knobs (12) are flush with the front surface (14) of the front plate (8) or protrude beyond it in the closed position of the closure elements (9). 6. Socket according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the openings (6) of the front plate (8) widen conically inwards and the knobs (12) have corresponding bevels (21) at their front ends. 7. Socket according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the closure elements (9) in the closed position are sealingly attached to the rear side of the front panel (8) by means of sealing means, i.e. if necessary, the knobs (12) are surrounded by O-rings (22) which, in the closed position of the closure elements (9), are sealingly attached to the rear side of the front panel (8) in the region of the peripheral edges of the openings (6). 8. Socket according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the locking elements (9) are held in the waiting position under the action of a return spring (15) in the locking position. 9. Socket according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the closure elements (9) are formed or carried by the wings (16) of a turnstile (17) mounted rotatably about the housing axis (A). 10. Socket according to claim 9, characterized in that the turnstile (17) is rotatably mounted with a central cylindrical pin (18) in the housing (3), in particular the contact insert (19). PATENT ATTORNEYS
- 3 - 11. Socket according to claim 10, characterized in that the hub (17) is supported centrally with the cylindrical pin (18) on the return spring (15), which is designed, for example, as a helical spring. 12. Socket according to claim 11, characterized in that Ule neiiueiieuei \ \->&igr; in a iy j. xuu l .loi-iicii aAiaxcn nanai (20) is accommodated in the housing (3), in particular the contact insert (19). 13. Socket according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the turnstile (17) including the cylindrical pin (18) is mounted with little radial play in the housing (3), e.g. the contact insert (19), and can therefore be tilted in the event of asymmetrical force. 14. Socket according to claim 13, characterized in that the pin (18) is equipped with a toothing (23) on its circumference, which in the tilted position of the turnstile (17) III X U CXIICL XllllCllüailllUII^ IC-Z/ (18) engaging the recess (25). 15. Socket according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that a preferably circumferential stop edge (27) is provided at a short distance behind a rear end face (26) of the pin (18) in the outer surface of the recess (25) receiving the pin (18). 16. Socket according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the closure elements (9), which are designed or carried, for example, as wings (16) of a turnstile (17), are provided with a lateral projection (28) for engaging in a circumferential groove (29) of the associated contact pin (7) of a plug (2) to be inserted.