EP0141958B1 - Latchable connector coupling - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a lockable plug-in coupling according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such plug-in couplings are used, for example, to connect electrical cables, hoses or the like. However, they can also be used as connecting elements in many other areas; for example, fuse contacts or mechanical fuse buttons may be mentioned.

In plug-in couplings of the generic type, the two coupling parts can be connected to one another by plugging them together. The locking bodies snap into the assigned recesses and lock the two coupling parts together. After the locking body has engaged, the securing means are pushed over the locking body in such a way that they are held in their locked position so that the plug-in coupling cannot be released by itself. To release the plug-in coupling, the securing means must be moved into an unlocking position, which allows the locking body to emerge from the recesses and thus to release the two coupling parts from one another.

Such a lockable plug-in coupling is known from EP-A-050 575, in which the locking bodies are arranged directly on a ring or directly on a ring.

Another plug-in coupling of the generic type is known from GB-A-1 337 253, in which the coupling parts each have an approximately circular cross-section, the locking bodies each being designed as approximately radially oriented disks arranged on the outer coupling part. These disks are freely movable in radial slots which are formed in a wall of the outer coupling part. A cage and an additional retaining ring are provided to secure the disks in the coupling part. The known plug-in coupling represents an expensive and fragile component because of the many individual parts that are complex to manufacture and assemble.

It is the object of the present invention to create a plug-in coupling of the generic type which is simpler to manufacture and assemble and thus much cheaper than the known plug-in coupling, and which is robust and less susceptible to damage.

This object is achieved by the features contained in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The locking bodies are no longer designed as components arranged in complicated cages and within certain limits freely movable components, but are connected to the coupling part carrying the locking bodies via elastic holding arms. This structure according to the invention makes it possible to dispense with a cage and other holding means for the locking bodies which are complex in terms of their shape and thus their manufacture; it also allows a considerable reduction in the individual components forming the plug-in coupling, as will be described in more detail below. The elastic holding arms hold the locking body in its effective position, but allow the required radial movement without further ado. The elastic properties of the holding arms can be chosen by appropriate choice of material or appropriate dimensioning such that the locking bodies are practically freely movable in the radial direction and provide no or no significant resistance to the coupling or uncoupling process. On the other hand, by choosing a greater stiffness it can be achieved that coupling or uncoupling is only possible when a certain desired resistance is overcome.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the holding arms are aligned approximately in the direction of insertion. This arrangement allows the distribution of a relatively large number of locking bodies over the circumference of a coupling part. On the other hand, there is hardly any restriction in the choice of the holding arm length, so that the elastic properties and the radial movement path of the locking body can be chosen relatively freely by a suitable choice of the holding arm length.

The locking body and the holding arms can basically consist of different materials and be assembled together. However, they are preferably formed in one piece and connected to the coupling part carrying them in any manner. In a preferred embodiment, the holding arms are arranged on a common holding bracket or the like, which can be mounted on this coupling part. The holding arms are preferably connected in one piece to this holding bracket.

The retaining clip can be designed, for example, as a closed ring which is pushed onto the coupling part in the axial direction, or it can be designed in the manner of a clip as a slotted, elastic ring, which can then also be fitted radially onto the coupling part.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding bracket, the holding arms and the locking body are designed as a one-piece bent sheet metal part; the holding arms then have the form of thin lamellae, the locking bodies being designed as eyelets formed on the free ends of these lamellae. The eyelets can be of any shape that is favorable for their locking task, that is to say, for example Have the shape of a ring or ring with a nose, as will be described in more detail below.

The retaining bracket can be held on the associated coupling part solely by its pressing or clamping force, but it can also be cast with this when using a coupling part made of a castable material. In another embodiment of the invention, the holding bracket can be omitted, the holding arms being connected directly to the coupling part, which is made of a castable material, by casting.

Another exemplary embodiment of the invention provides that the first coupling part and the holding arms each consist of metallic materials and are connected to one another by welding or the like.

In another, advantageous embodiment of the invention, the holding arms are connected in one piece to the first coupling part. The combined component formed in this way can be produced, for example, from a metallic material or from plastic by an injection molding process.

A particularly favorable and therefore preferred embodiment results if the locking bodies are arranged on the outer and the recesses on the inner coupling part and if the securing means as a sleeve o ... Is formed, as will be explained in more detail below.

In order to ensure a correct coupling pairing of two coupling parts or a correct coupling of these coupling parts, coding tasks can be assigned to the locking bodies at the same time. For this purpose, for example, a plurality of locking bodies offset from one another in the plug-in direction and correspondingly a plurality of recesses offset in the plug-in direction are provided on the first coupling part. Only when the coupling is correctly paired or when the coupling is in the correct position does each locking body find its associated recess, so that incorrect couplings are not possible.

Further advantages and refinements of the invention result from the dependent claims, the drawing and the description of the examples.

Several embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and described in more detail below.

• Fig. 1 eine teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht einer als elektrischer Stecker dienenden Steckkupplung,;
• Fig. 2 in schematischer Darstellung ein Kupplungsteil einer Steckkupplung gemäß Fig. 1;
• Fig. eine Vorderansicht eines Kupplungsteils gemäß Fig. 2;
• Fig. 4 ein Kupplungsteil etwa gemäß Fig. 2 in anderer Ausführung;
• Fig.·5 eine Vorderansicht eines Kupplungsteils gemäß Fig. 4;
• Fig. 6 eine Darstellung gemäß Fig. 5 in anderer Ausführung;
• Fig. 7 ein Kupplungsteil etwa gemäß Fig. 2 in anderer Ausführung;
• Fig. 8 ein Einzelteil eines Kupplungsteils gemäß Fig. 7;
• Fig 9 ein Einzelteil etwa gemäß Fig. 8 in anderer Ausführung;
• Fig. 10 ein Einzelteil gemäß Fig. 8 in einer Vorderansicht,;
• Fig. 11 ein Kupplungsteil etwa gemäß Fig. 7 in anderer Ausführung;
• Fig. 12 eine Vorderansicht eines Kupplungsteils gemäß Fig. 11;
• Fig. 13 schematisch eine besondere Anordnung von Verriegelungskörpern etwa gemäß Fig. 8 in anderer Ausgestaltung sowie ein die Ausnehmungen aufweisendes Gegenstück zu den Verriegelungskörpern;
• Fig. 14 ein Einzelteil der Fig. 13 in einer Abwicklung;
• Fig. 15 schematisch eine als Verriegelungsknopf dienende Steckkupplung in zwei Funktionsstellungen.

Show it:

• Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned side view of a plug connector serving as an electrical connector;
• FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a coupling part of a plug-in coupling according to FIG. 1;
• Fig. A front view of a coupling part according to Fig. 2;
• FIG. 4 shows a coupling part approximately according to FIG. 2 in a different embodiment;
• 5 shows a front view of a coupling part according to FIG. 4;
• FIG. 6 shows a representation according to FIG. 5 in another embodiment;
• FIG. 7 shows a coupling part approximately according to FIG. 2 in a different embodiment;
• 8 shows an individual part of a coupling part according to FIG. 7;
• 9 shows an individual part, for example according to FIG. 8, in a different embodiment;
• FIG. 10 shows an individual part according to FIG. 8 in a front view;
• 11 shows a coupling part, for example according to FIG. 7, in a different embodiment;
• FIG. 12 shows a front view of a coupling part according to FIG. 11;
• FIG. 13 schematically shows a special arrangement of locking bodies, for example according to FIG. 8, in a different embodiment and a counterpart to the locking bodies having the recesses;
• FIG. 14 shows an individual part of FIG. 13 in a development;
• 15 schematically shows a plug coupling serving as a locking button in two functional positions.

The plug-in coupling 2 shown in FIG. 1 has a first coupling part 4 and a second coupling part 6, which can be connected to one another by plugging into one another. The first coupling part 4 essentially consists of an inner socket body 8 and a sleeve 10 arranged coaxially therewith and connected to it. A flange 12 is formed on the sleeve 10, which flange serves to fasten the first coupling part, for example, to a device wall. A substantially tubular part 14 of the sleeve 10 is provided with a plurality of receiving slots 16 extending axially parallel over its circumference. In these receiving slots 16, the locking body 18 are received, which are firmly connected to the sleeve 10 via elastic holding arms 20.

The second coupling part 6 consists essentially of an inner plug body 22, a receptacle sleeve 24 arranged coaxially therewith, receiving receptacle 24, a securing sleeve 26 which can be displaced in the axial direction on the receptacle sleeve 24 and some other parts which are explained in more detail below. The tubular section 28 of the receptacle sleeve 24 projecting beyond the plug body 22 in the plugging direction is received by the annular space 30 remaining between the socket body 8 and the tubular part 14 of the sleeve 10 when the two coupling parts are plugged together.

On the outside of the tube section 28 is a receptacle for the locking body 18 serving circumferential groove 32 formed. As can be seen in FIG. 1, when the plug-in coupling is plugged together, the locking bodies 18 snap into the groove 32. The securing sleeve 26, which is pushed over the locking body 18 on the outside, holds the locking body 18 in its locked position, so that the two coupling parts 4 and 6 cannot be released from one another. To release the plug-in coupling, the securing sleeve 26 must be moved in the direction of the arrow 34 until it releases the locking body 18 in the radial direction. Then the second coupling part 6 can be pulled axially from the first coupling part 4, the locking bodies 18 being lifted out of the flat groove 32. The securing sleeve 26 is pressed into its locking position by a compression spring 36 which, on the one hand, bears against a shoulder 38 of the securing sleeve 26 and, on the other hand, is supported against an annular collar 40 arranged on the receiving sleeve 24. In order to facilitate a pushing back of the securing sleeve against the pressure of the compression spring 36, the securing sleeve 26 is provided on the outside with a profiling 42 which makes it easier to grip.

As can also be seen from FIG. 1, the socket body 8 has a plurality of sockets 44 for receiving plug pins 46 arranged on the plug body 22. In the plug body 22, the connecting eyes connected to the plug pins 46 are in a known manner. to connect the individual wires of the cable48. A sleeve 50 which can be screwed onto the receiving sleeve 24 and a clamping cone 52 cooperating therewith serve in a known manner as strain relief for the cable 48.

FIG. 2 shows a coupling part 54, which essentially corresponds in structure to the coupling part 4 in FIG. 1. On the inner socket body 56, a sleeve 58 is fastened, which is provided with a flange 60 for fastening the coupling part and ends in a tubular part 62 in the axial direction. This tubular part 62 has three receiving slots 64, which are evenly distributed over the circumference and extend in the axial direction (see also FIG. 3), in which the locking bodies 66 are arranged so as to be radially movable. The locking bodies 66 have the shape of circular disks and are in turn firmly connected to the sleeve 58 via elastic holding arms 68. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the locking bodies 66 protrude into the annular space 70 remaining between the tubular part 62 and the socket body 56. The coupling part 54 is intended for coupling together with a coupling part 6 (see FIG. 1). The annular space 70 in turn receives the pipe section 28, the locking bodies 66 engaging in the groove 32 and being held in this locked position by the securing sleeve 26.

4 and 5 show an embodiment in which the coupling part 72 is formed in one piece. The locking bodies 74 are connected directly to the coupling part 72 via elastic holding arms 76. Again, three locking bodies 74 are provided. These are each received in receiving slots 78 which are formed in the wall of the tubular part 80, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The tubular part 80 also forms an integral part of the coupling part 72.

6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a coupling part 82, which largely corresponds to the coupling part 72. In this case, only the locking bodies 84 are designed as spherical sections with a smaller width than the locking bodies 74. Accordingly, the width of the receiving slots 86 can also be smaller.

FIG. 7 shows a coupling part 88 in which the inner socket body 90, the tubular part 92 and the flange 94 form an integral component. In the tubular part 92, there are in turn axial slots 96 for receiving the locking bodies 98. As can also be seen in particular in FIGS. 8 and 10, the locking bodies 98 are connected in one piece to a holding bracket 1 D2 via elastic holding arms 100. The bracket 102 is designed as a slotted ring, which can be expanded elastically to the extent that it can be pushed over the tubular part 92 until it snaps into the receiving groove 104 formed on the coupling part 88. The locking bodies 98 are formed by eyelets formed on the ends of the holding arms 100 by a bending process. The locking body, the holding arms and the holding bracket can be manufactured as a one-piece bent sheet metal part.

FIG. 9 shows a variant which differs from the part shown in FIG. 8 on the one hand in that the locking bodies 106 have the shape of a ring with a nose 108 in cross section. This nose improves the holding properties of the locking body. On the other hand, the bracket 110 is designed as a closed ring. It can thus be used for a coupling part as shown in FIG. 11. This coupling part 112 consists of an inner socket body 114 and a sleeve 116 mounted thereon, which unites the longitudinally slotted tubular part 118 and the flange 120. The bracket 110 designed as a closed ring (according to FIG. 9) is pushed in the axial direction onto the tubular part 118, where it is held, for example, by a press fit. In the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 7 and 11, there is also the possibility of producing the parts 88 and 116 as injection molded parts or the like, and the retaining brackets 102 and 110 by casting in with them to connect this.

FIG. 13 shows a further variant, in which the locking bodies 122, 124 and 126 with their holding arms 128, 130 and 132 and the holding bracket 134 are in turn formed as a one-piece bent sheet metal part. The holding arms 128, 130, 132 have a different length, so that the locking bodies 122, 124, 126 are each offset from one another in the axial direction. Correspondingly, in the pipe section 136 belonging to the second coupling part, grooves 138, 140, 142 are formed which are offset in the axial direction and serve as receptacles for the locking bodies. This arrangement enables coding of the two coupling parts of a plug-in coupling. Only when each locking part snaps into an associated receptacle can the securing sleeve be pushed over the locking body and a connection between the two coupling parts can be established.

14 shows the holding bracket 134 with the holding arms 128 to 132 arranged thereon and locking bodies 122 to 126 in one development.

15 shows an enlarged representation and schematically of a plug coupling 144, which is designed as a mechanical locking button. The upper half of FIG. 15 shows the plug-in coupling during the coupling process, the lower half in the coupled state. The plug-in coupling again consists of a first coupling part 146 and a second coupling part 148 which can be coupled therewith. A locking button designed in this way could be used, for example, to button up tarpaulins or the like, one part connected to the first coupling part 146 and the other connected to the second coupling part 148 is.

In turn, a plurality of locking bodies 152 are fastened to the first coupling part 146 via elastic holding arms 150. A tube section 154 is formed on the second coupling part 148, on the outside of which a groove 156 serving as a receptacle for the locking bodies 152 is formed. On the pipe section 154, a securing sleeve 158 is slidably mounted in the axial direction. A compression spring 160, which on the one hand rests against an inner collar 162 formed on the securing sleeve 158 and on the other hand is supported against a collar 164 connected to the pipe section 154, presses the securing sleeve 158 into the locking position shown at the bottom in FIG.

When the two coupling parts 146, 148 are coupled, the pipe section 154 is pushed into the tubular part 166 of the coupling part 146. The locking bodies 152 are deflected radially outward by the inclined surface 168 formed at the front end of the pipe section 154. When the pipe section 154 is pushed in further, the locking bodies slide along the outer surface of this pipe section, whereby they come to bear against the inclined surface 170 formed on the securing sleeve 158. Since the diameter of the locking body 152 is larger than the annular space remaining between the pipe section 154 and the locking sleeve 158, the locking sleeve is pushed back against the pressure of the compression spring 160 until the locking body 152 engages in the groove 156. The securing sleeve 158 is then automatically pressed into the locking position shown at the bottom in FIG. 15 by the compression spring 160.

To release the coupling, the locking sleeve 158 must be moved in the direction of arrow 172 until it releases the locking body 152. If a pull is exerted on the second coupling part 148 in the direction of the arrow 172, the locking bodies 152 are lifted out of the flat groove 156, so that the coupling parts can be separated.

Claims (16)

1. Lockable plug-in connector with an inner connector part and an outer connector part receiving the former, where one or more locking members (18; 66; 74; 84; 98; 124-126; 152) which are movable approximately perpendicularly to the plug-in direction are arranged on a first of these connector parts (4; 54; 72; 88; 112; 146) and can catch in recesses (32) formed on the second connector part (6), which members can be arrested in a locked position by a securing means (10) which is arranged movably on one of the connector parts and can be pushed over the locked locking member, characterized in that the locking members (18; 66; 74; 84; 98; 124-126; 152) are connected by way of elastic supporting arms (20; 68; 76; 100; 128-132; 150) with the first connector part (4; 54; 72; 88; 112; 146).

2. Plug-in connector as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the supporting arms (20; 68; 76; 100; 128-132; 150) are aligned approximately in the plug-in direction.

3. Plug-in connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking members (18; 66; 74; 84; 98; 124-126; 152) and the supporting arms (20; 68; 76; 100; 128-132; 150) are respectively built in one piece and are joined with the first connector part (4; 54; 72; 88; 112; 146).

4. Plug-in connector as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that the supporting arms (100; 128-132) are arranged on a common shackle ((102; 110; 134) or the like which can be mounted on the first connector part (88; 112).

5. Plug-in connector as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that the shackle (110) is made as a closed ring.

6. Plug-in connector as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that the shackle (102) is made as a slotted elastic ring.

7. Plug-in connector as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the supporting arms (100; 128-132) are joined in one piece with the shackle (102; 110; 134).

8. Plug-in connector as claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that the shackle (102; 110; 134), the supporting arms (100; 128-132) as well as the locking members (98; 106; 122-126) are made as a one-piece bent sheet metal part, in that the supporting arms (100; 128-132) are made somewhat in the form of thin plates and in that the locking members (98; 106; 122-126) are made in the form of eyes formed on the free ends of the supporting arms.

9. Plug-in connector as claimed in Claim 8, characterized in that the locking members (106) in their cross section have the shape of-a ring provided with a lug (108).

10. Plug-in connector as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that the first connector part consists of a castable material and that the supporting arms or parts (110) connected with these are joined with this by means of integral casting.

11. Plug-in connector as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that the first connector part and the supporting arms (76 for example) consist of metal materials and are joined together by welding or the like.

12. Plug-in connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the supporting arms (20; 68; 76) are joined integrally with the first connector (4; 54; 72).

13. Plug-in connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a number of locking members (122,124,126) displaced with respect to one another in the plug-in direction are provided on the first connector part and also a number of recesses displaced in the plug-in direction are provided on the second connector part and assigned to these members.

14. Plug-in connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the locking members (18) are arranged on the outer connector part (4) and the recesses on the inner connector part (6) and in that the securing means is formed as a securing sleeve (26) or the like which is mounted to be movable on the inner connector part (6) in, as well as opposite to, the plug-in direction and is thrust by a spring (36) into its locking position.

15. Plug-in connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 and 10 to 14, characterized in that the locking members (16; 74) are spheres.

16. Plug-in connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 and 10 to 14, characterized in that the locking members (84) are formed as spherical segments or the like.

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