EP1012922B1 - Electric plug and socket assembly - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electrical plug connection according to the preamble of claim 1. Under electrical In particular, an electrical line connection or a plug connection is used here electrical device connection with a coupling plug and with a coupling socket Roger that.

Such, e.g. US Pat. No. 5,637,010 known plug device serves the purpose of making an electrical connection To be able to produce sticks. To do this, one is connected to an electrical line Plug contact part, for example in the form of a multi-pin coupling plug, created a releasable electrical connection to a mating contact part. The mating contact part, e.g. in the form of a coupling socket, can also be used an electrical line connected or directly connected to an electrical device his.

Such a plug device is to prevent contact with live parts often with one that protrudes beyond the live parts and usually Protective collar made of insulating material. The connector essentially comprises an outer part, expediently in the form of the plug part, and an inner part picked up by this, which then contacts the counter contacts Contains plug connection in the form of sockets. The inner part and the outer part are usually matched to one another with regard to their dimensions, that the plug connection is held together by force or positive locking. To the inner part, which can be coupled to the ancillary part, has a recess into which is coupled Condition engages a locking hook, which is in an opening in the outer part held resiliently and axially by abutment on an arranged on the outer part slidable sleeve is secured against radial deflection.

One from the US PS 4,017,139 known connector serves the axially displaceable sleeve on the one hand to protect against an unintentional Loosen the connector and on the other hand to block against accidental Put the plug-in parts together. The sleeve is from a resting or Normal position both in and against the direction of insertion through this rest position slidable up to a respective release stop, so that there are practically three stops for the sleeve. However, this requires one. complex and therefore complex locking mechanism.

The invention is therefore based on the object for such an electrical connector a particularly reliable and comparative of the type mentioned simply set up lock to indicate which on the one hand is an unintended Pulling apart of the two coupling parts safely prevented and the other hand enables the plug connection to be loosened as often as required.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. Da the outer part only two stops for the sleeve in the locked position on the one hand and in the unlocking position on the other hand, the displacement path the sleeve is limited to the shaft of the outer part. In addition to the unlocking stop forming step on the shaft of the outer part has the sleeve on the other the end facing the insertion opening is directed inwards and on the inner circumference Distributed webs on the one in the locked position in the area of the insertion opening on the outer part molded retaining collar.

On the outer part of the connector are a number of resilient locking hooks, preferably two opposing locking hooks, provided during the Inner part has corresponding recesses for receiving the locking hook. For locking, the locking hooks are coaxially surrounding the outer part and carried by this slidable sleeve against radial deflection blocked. Unlocking takes place by sliding the sleeve against the insert or insertion direction. This releases the locking hooks, so that these can dodge radially outwards when the plug connection is released.

To maintain the lock in the normal position, which is easier and more advantageous Way is achieved by engaging the locking hook on the inner wall of the sleeve a return spring is provided. This is conveniently in a closed Annulus introduced between the outer part and the sleeve, which advantageously by an inner wall of the sleeve on the one hand and by a step on the shaft of the External part is limited on the other hand. To unlock the connector is thus to move the sleeve against the force of the spring so that the sleeve is always in the normal or locking position is driven back.

The or each latching hook is advantageously from one behind the other in the axial direction a cam and a resilient shaft (spring shaft) are formed in one piece, which is molded into an opening in the outer part. The one after The type of a cast-on spring tongue formed latching hook is thus self-resilient, this in normal division with the insertion opening for the inner part delimiting Wall is aligned. Alternatively, the locking hook can be in the rest or normal position be deflected outwards when the sleeve is retracted and thus a pretension have, when pushing the sleeve of the locking hook in the direction of Protective collar of the outer part formed and pressed by the sleeve in turn is immovable to the outside. This alternative simplifies it Pull apart the two plug or coupling parts.

The latching hook can have a lower inlet inclination compared to the outlet inclination Show α. This should only deviate by an amount from a 0 ° inclination, by joining the inner part and the outer part together in the unlocked position located sleeve is just guaranteed. Preferably, the Inclination angle α between zero and forty-five degrees.

Because the locking or locking hook has a two-leg spring shaft has, the two ends of which have a cam or a spring hook carrying spring legs run transverse to the radial deflection direction of the cams, the locking mechanism acts like a Directional locks. The feather legs lie in the plane running parallel to the insertion or joining direction of the opening in the outer part, into which the locking hook is molded. The inner part points an internal contour opening into the recess for guiding the cams or locking hooks on. The inner contour tapers in the direction of insertion towards the recess there. This locking mechanism allows the outer part to be pushed open the inner part without pulling the sleeve back into the unlocked position.

In contrast to a conventional snap connection of a directional lock, the Structure and operation z. B. in "Components of precision engineering", O. Richter, R. v. Voss, F. Kozer, VE3 Verlag Technik Berlin, 9th edition (1964), page 283 ff the cams or locking hooks are not in the slide guide plane of the spring legs. Rather, the cams are expediently at 90 ° from the thrust guide plane directed radially inwards towards the receiving space for the inner part, see above that the inner contour forms a path guide only with the cams. The feather legs themselves are not guided on the inner contour. To lock the lock Cams or pawls not in the side of the spring leg cam or Locking bolt, but in the radially inward recess on the inner part. The Locking mechanism thus allows the interior to be plugged together and outer part with the sleeve in the locked position, which then releases the connector reliably prevented. On the other hand, with the sleeve withdrawn the plug connection is unlocked by the locking hooks moving radially outwards can and the cams designed as pawls from the counter surface of the Be released from behind.

To seal the connector, the inner part carries one at its insertion end Sealing ring. To avoid disability when plugging the two coupling parts through the sealing ring, the inner part knows at least two diameter steps decreasing towards the inserting end, whereby at the inserting end facing step a circumferential groove for receiving the sealing ring is provided. The inner diameter of the outer part is adapted to these steps, so that a reliable sealing effect is ensured after the plug connection has been made is.

The inner part has a number of axially extending through openings for receiving of contact inserts, while in the bottom of the housing with these aligned through openings provided for receiving the mating contact inserts are. The outer part is expediently designed as a plug while the inner part forms the socket. However, the reverse is also possible Execution. In this case, the jacket of the outer part delimiting the insertion opening forms at the same time the protective collar to prevent the plug contacts from bending due to external mechanical To prevent influences.

The sleeve is provided on the jacket side with a circumferential recessed grip, which is manual Movement of the sleeve facilitated. To further facilitate the handling of the Plug connection is at the end of the outer part opposite the insertion opening a handle is molded into a preferably at an obtuse angle bent guide sleeve for receiving an electrical line in one piece transforms.

Fig. 1

in perspektivischer Darstellung eine elektrische Steckverbindung gemäß der Erfindung mit einem in ein Außenteil eingesteckten Innenteil,

Fig. 2

die Steckvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 im Längsschnitt II-II,

Fig. 3 und 4

in perspektivischer Darstellung das Innenteil bzw. das Außenteil der entkoppelten Steckvorrichtung in einer ersten Variante,

Fig. 5

in perspektivischer Darstellung eine weiteren Variante der Steckvorrichtung mit gegen das Innenteil geführtem Außenteil mit teilweise zurückgezogener und im Bereich eines zweischenkligen Rasthakens aufgeschnittener Hülse,

Fig. 6a und 6b

den zweischenkligen Rasthaken in einem Anlaufbereich einer Bahnführung am Innenteil der Steckvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 5 in Seitenansicht bzw. im Querschnitt VI-VI,

Fig. 7a und 7b

den zweischenkligen Rasthaken in einem Verjüngungsbereich der Bahnführung gemäß Fig. 6 in Seitenansicht bzw. im Querschnitt VII-VII,

Fig. 8a und 8b

den zweischenkligen Rasthaken an der engste Stelle der Bahnführung in Seitenansicht bzw. im Querschnitt VIII-VIII,

Fig. 9a und 9b

den zweischenkligen Rasthaken im Hinterhakzustand in Seitenansicht bzw. im Querschnitt IX-IX, und

Fig. 10a und 10b

den zweischenkligen Rasthaken im Entriegelungszustand mit entklinkten Federschenkeln in Seitenansicht bzw. im Querschnitt X-X.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. In it show:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an electrical connector according to the invention with an inner part inserted into an outer part,

Fig. 2

1 in longitudinal section II-II,

3 and 4

a perspective view of the inner part or the outer part of the decoupled plug device in a first variant,

Fig. 5

a perspective view of a further variant of the plug-in device with the outer part guided against the inner part with the sleeve partially retracted and cut open in the region of a two-leg locking hook,

6a and 6b

the two-leg locking hook in a run-up area of a web guide on the inner part of the plug device according to FIG. 5 in side view or in cross section VI-VI,

7a and 7b

the two-leg locking hook in a tapered area of the web guide according to FIG. 6 in side view or in cross section VII-VII,

8a and 8b

the two-leg locking hook at the narrowest point of the web guide in side view or in cross section VIII-VIII,

9a and 9b

the two-leg locking hook in the rear hook state in side view or in cross section IX-IX, and

10a and 10b

the two-leg locking hook in the unlocked state with unlatched spring legs in side view or in cross section XX.

Corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals in all figures Mistake.

Fig. 1 shows the electrical connector 1 as a device connector in a coupled and locked state. It comprises an outer part 2 and an inner part 3 that in the outer part 2 is inserted or onto which the outer part 2 is pushed. The inner part 3 comprises a holding plate 4, which is square in the exemplary embodiment, with rounded Corners 5, in the area of through openings 6 for (not shown) fasteners are provided. By means of the holding plate 4, the inner part 3 can e.g. on one electrical device. The outer part 2 carries a sleeve 7, which in Axial direction A along a shaft 9 of the outer part 2 in and against that with the Axial direction A coinciding insertion direction E is displaceable. For improvement handling is the sleeve 7 at the end facing the inner part 3 provided with a recessed grip 10.

The outer part 2 is designed in the manner of an angled plug and points to it the end facing away from the inner part 3 is bent at an obtuse angle β (β> 90 °) Guide sleeve 11 through which a (not shown) connecting line to be led. The guide sleeve 11 is advantageously molded onto the outer part 2. But it can also be designed as a separate part replaceable. In the Extension of this shaping, which also serves as a handle, in the direction of insertion E, the outer part 2 is deposited on the shell side to form a step 13, which one Unlocking stop for the sleeve 7 when it is moved against the direction of insertion E forms. Instead of such a step 13 there can also be a holding collar be molded onto the outer part 2.

The sleeve 7 is part of a locking and unlocking mechanism of the plug connection 1, as can be seen from the sectional view according to FIG. 2. In the locking state shown the sleeve 7 blocks two diametrically opposed locking hooks 14, which are part of the outer part 2 and the lock. The locking hooks 14 extend extending in the insertion direction E up to the mouth of an insertion opening 15 of the outer part 2. They engage behind each of an outlet inclination 16 of a recess 17 in the shaft 18 of the inner part 3. The locking is effected by the locking hook 14 rest in their normal position shown on the inner wall of the sleeve 7. This prevents the locking hooks 14 from evading in the radial direction R.

The contact surface is expediently formed by an inwardly directed collar or web contour 19 on the inner wall of the sleeve 7 in the region of the recessed grip 10. This web contour 19 and a step 12 on the outer part 2 delimit one formed thereby Annulus 20 between the sleeve 7 and the outer part 2, the expansion in Axial direction A reduced by moving the sleeve 7 against the insertion direction E. becomes. This annular space 20 serves to receive a return spring 21 which Sleeve 7 always drives back into the locking position. The reduction of the annulus 20 by moving the sleeve 7 against the insertion direction E thus causes a Preloading the return spring 21 designed as a compression spring worn spring 21 is thus invisible and captive.

The latching hooks 14 are expediently designed in the form of molded spring tongues and thus self-resilient. For this purpose, each latching hook 14 points in the axial direction A. A cam 14a and a resilient shaft 14b are arranged in one piece one behind the other on. The spring shaft 14b of the latching hook 14 is on its side facing away from the cam 14a End with the wall 22 of the outer part delimiting the insertion opening 15 2 connected in one piece. The jacket wall 22 also forms one Protective collar to avoid mechanical contact stress from external Powers. The jacket wall 22 is in the form of jacket webs at the insertion opening 15 23 flared outward so that the jacket webs 23 one Form locking stop for the sleeve 7.

The inclination α of each latching hook 14 is approximately in the illustrated embodiment 45 ° and thus corresponds approximately to the tendency to leak 16. However, it is expedient the inclination α of the latching hook 14 is approximately zero degrees and thus smaller than the outlet inclination 16. As a result, when the sleeve 7 is in the locking position, a plugging together of outer part 2 and inner part 3 prevented. The locking mechanism with the locking hooks 14 and the sleeve 7 on the one hand and the recesses 17 on the other hand thus provides a locking both with regard to the plugging together the plug-in device 1 and with respect to the pulling apart of the Plug device 1 represents. In this variant of the plug device 1 is an unintentional or unauthorized establishment or loosening of the connector reliably prevented.

The inner part 3 has a stepped outer contour with three different diameter levels 24 and 25a and 25b, which decrease towards the insertion end 26. So the largest diameter step 24 on the shaft side serves as an insertion stop for the inner part 3. The inner contour is at the middle and smallest diameter step 25a or 25b or the inner diameter of the outer part 2 are adapted accordingly. The diameter gradation serves to facilitate the production of the connector, as for Sealing of the connector 1, the inner part 3 on the smallest diameter level 25b carries a sealing ring 27. Another sealing ring 28 is on the inserting end 26 facing away from the shaft or end face 29 of the inner part 3. This serves for sealing the inner part 3 against the (not shown) electrical device.

The inner part 3 has a number corresponding to the corresponding electrical poles Number of through holes 30 for receiving socket inserts 31 provided. Corresponding through holes 32 in the outer part 2 are used Receiving plug contacts 33 forming the counter-contacts. The contacts 31, 33 can also be interchanged, so that then the outer part 2, the socket inserts carries while the inner part 3 receives the plug contacts.

3 and 4 show the inner part 3 and the outer part 2 of the plug-in device 1 According to the first variant with the connector disconnected when the outer part 2 from Inner part 3 is pulled off or the inner part 3 is pulled out of the outer part 2. Fig. 3 shows the graduated outer contour of the inner part 3 and the shape of the trough-like recess 17 is comparatively clear. In the exemplary embodiment, the Plug device 1 designed nine poles.

The configuration of the latching hooks 14 can be seen comparatively clearly from FIG. 4. The latching hooks 14 are provided in openings 34 in the outer part 2 and align with the jacket wall 22 of the outer part 2 which delimits them 14 are with the sleeve 7 pushed back against the insertion direction E in the radial direction R resiliently movable, so that the plug connection in this unlocking position 1 can be uncoupled. That is, in this unlocked position, the outer part 2 and the inner part 3 are pulled apart unhindered. The necessary Pulling force is dependent, among other things, on the tendency to leak 16, while the insertion force is determined by the inclination α. The transmission of the clutch forces is essentially determined by the contact surface between the cams 14a the locking hook 14 and the recess 17th

In order to achieve a particularly good transmission of the coupling and locking forces, are the cam 14a of the latching hook 14 and the recess 17 in the inner part 3 molded for a full-surface system. To at the same time when unlocked Plug connection 1, the outer part 2 and the inner part 3 with little effort To be able to separate from one another, the recess 17 has one through to the other parallel side surface 35 or 36 with inclined end faces therebetween limited, predeterminable tendency to leak 16. The corresponding one is The slope of the locking hook 14 is adapted to the inclination of this end face. The Width of the recess 17 is matched to the cam 14a, so that the cam face 37 is guided exactly.

To protect against incorrect merging of the outer part 2 and the inner part 3 are in the outer part 2 a blind contact pin or blind contact 38 and on the inner part 3, a corresponding dummy bushing 39 is provided, which can be joined together have to swear. Another directional requirement when plugging the outer part together 2 and the inner part 3 is due to the cross-sectional shape of the plug-in device 1 achieved. This deviates from the circular shape, the width of the crosswise to the axial direction A rectilinear locking hook 14 and the remaining gap widths of the opening 34 die Determine the deviation of the shape of the insertion opening 15 from the circular shape.

When plugging the connector 1 together and thus when coupling the outer part 2 and the inner part 3 are the locking hooks 14 against the spring force of the spring shaft 14b in the radial direction R outward from the openings 34 in the pushed back sleeve 7 free space pressed. There is a Deflection of the locking hook 14 around the starting point of the spring shaft 14b at the base of the opening 34 of the outer part 2. The latching hook 14 can also be at rest or Normal position with the sleeve 7 withdrawn be deflected outwards - that is to some extent have a bias, while then when the Sleeve 7, the locking hook 14 in the radial direction R to the interior or receiving space 40 of the Outer part 2 pressed out and again with the sleeve 7 advanced be held immobile.

The preferred variant of the locking mechanism shown in FIG. 5 enables pushing the outer part 2 onto the inner part 3 without the sleeve 7 in the unlocked position withdraw. For this purpose, the or each latching hook 14 'has two legs executed. The partially withdrawn in this representation and for visualization of the two-leg latching hook 14 'in this area cut sleeve 7th is designed without a recessed grip. The sleeve 7 can, however, again with a Handle recess 10 may be provided. The spring shaft is in this variant by two spring legs 14c is formed, which with the jacket wall 22, which in turn delimits them of the outer part 2 are aligned. Likewise, the cam of the locking hook 14 'is in two parts, so that the two with the insertion or joining direction E in a plane transverse to the radial direction R extending spring legs 14c at the ends each with a radial direction R facing cam 14'a are provided.

The inner part 3 has one in the recess for guiding the cams or locking hooks 14'a 17 'opening inner contour 41. The in the area of the insertion end of the inner part 3 open and there with a run-up area 41a with mutually parallel side surfaces Beginning inner contour 41 forms a web guide with the cams 14'a the two-leg locking hook 14 '. The web guide enables plugging together of the outer part 2 and the inner part 3 even when the sleeve 7 is in the locking position located. The spring legs 14c are thereby on the inner contour 41 of the inner part 3 performed in the manner of a snap lock.

The position of the locking hook 14 'in this run-up area 41a and the contact of the spring legs 14c in this area of the web guide is shown in FIG. 6a. Fig. 6b shows this position in cross section along the line VI-VI in Fig. 6a. 6b shows that the locking hook 14 'only with its cam 14'a along the inner contour 41 is performed. The cams 14'a are expediently at 90 ° from the Thrust guide plane radially inwards towards the receiving space 40 for the inner part 3 directed so that the inner contour 41 forms a web guide only with the cams 14'a.

A tapered area 41b of the inner contour 41 adjoins the run-up area 41a on. The inner contour 41 tapers in the insertion direction E to the recess 17 '. there. The position of the latching hook 14 'in this tapered area 41b is shown in FIG. 7a, while the associated cross-sectional representation can again be seen from FIG. 7b. In the tapered area 41b, the spring legs 14c are fed towards one another until they in the adjoining, forming the narrowest point of the inner contour 41 Butt end region 41c. This is shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b.

Fig. 9a shows the position of the locking hook 14 'in the locked state, in which the Cams or locking hooks 14'a in the recess having a rear hooking area 41d 17 'are positively engaged. This rear hooking condition of the cams 14'a shows Fig. 9b. The locking mechanism forms a one acting in the radial direction R. Tooth alignment lock by the cams 14'a designed as pull or pawls are. If the sleeve 7 is withdrawn into the unlocked position, the Locking hook 14 'when pulling apart the outer part 2 and the inner part 3 radially dodge outside. This is shown in Figures 10a and 10b.

Reference list

1

Electrical connector

2nd

Outer part

3rd

inner part

4th

Retaining plate

5

corner

6

Through opening

7

Sleeve

9

shaft

10th

Recessed grip

11

Guide sleeve

12th

step

13

Step / collar

14

Locking hook

14a

Cam / locking hook

14b

Springiness

14c

Feather legs

15

Insertion opening

16

Leakage tendency

17th

Recess

18th

shaft

19th

Bridge / collar

20th

Annulus

21

Compression spring / return spring

22

Jacket wall / protective collar

23

Mantle bridge

24.25

Diameter step

26

Inserting

27.28

Sealing ring

29

Face

30th

Through opening

31

Bushing insert

32

Through opening

33

Connector contact

34

breakthrough

35.36

Side surface

37

Cam face

38

Blind contact

39

Blind socket

40

Indoor / recording room

41

Inner contour

41a

Startup area

41b

Rejuvenation area

41c

Constriction area

41d

Rear hook area

A

Axial direction

E

Insertion direction

R

Radial direction

α

Tendency to shrink

β

angle

Claims (12)

1. Electrical plug-in connection having an outer part (2) and having an inner part (3) which can be coupled to the outer part and has a recess (17, 17') in which, in the coupled state, a latching hook (14, 14') engages, said latching hook being retained resiliently in a through-passage (34) of the outer part (2) and being secured against radial deflection by abutment against an axially displaceable sleeve (7) arranged on the outer part (2), wherein the outer part (2) has only two stops (13, 23) for the sleeve (7) in the locking position, on the one hand, and in the unlocked position, on the other hand, characterized in that the latching hook (14') has a two-legged resilient stem, of which the two resilient legs (14c), bearing a protuberance (14'a) at the end, run transversely to the radial deflecting direction (R) of the protuberances (14'a), and in that the inner part (3), for the purpose of guiding the protuberances (14'a), has an inner contour (41) which opens out into the recess (17').
2. Electrical plug-in connection according to Claim 1, characterized in that the latching hook (14, 14') is formed from a protuberance (14a, 14'a) and a resilient stem (14b) which is connected integrally to the outer part (2), said protuberance and resilient stem being arranged integrally one behind the other in the axial direction (A).
3. Electrical plug-in connection according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inner contour (41) tapers towards the recess (17') in the pushing-in direction (15).
4. Electrical plug-in connection according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the normal position, with the sleeve (7) drawn back, the latching hook (14, 14') is deflected radially outwards.
5. Electrical plug-in connection according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized by a spring (21) which is arranged in an annular space (20) between the sleeve (7) and the outer part (2) and is intended for restoring the sleeve (7) into the locking position, a locking stop being formed by an outwardly extended retaining collar (23) which is integrally formed on the outer part (2) at the pushing-in opening (15) and against which, in the locking position, butts an inwardly directed collar contour (19) at that end of the sleeve (7) which is directed towards the pushing-in opening (15).
6. Electrical plug-in connection according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, in order to form a cross-sectional shape which is other than circular, there are provided two mutually opposite through-passages (34) which run rectilinearly in the circumferential direction of the outer part (2) and each have an inherently resilient latching hook (14, 14') for engagement in corresponding recesses (17, 17') on the inner part (3), the width of the latching hooks (14, 14') and. the remaining gap widths of the through-passages (34) determining a shape for the pushing-in opening (15) which is other than circular.
7. Electrical plug-in connection according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the annular space (20) is formed by a step (13) on the shank (9) of the outer part (2) and a crosspiece (19) which is integrally formed on the inner wall of the sleeve (7).
8. Electrical plug-in connection according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the inner part (3) has at least two diameter steps (25a, 25b), which decrease in size in the direction of the pushing-in end (26), the step (25b), which is directed towards the pushing-in end (26), bearing a sealing ring (27), and in that the internal diameters of the outer part (2) are adapted to these steps (25a, 25b).
9. Electrical plug-in connection according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the inner part (3) has a number of axially running through-passage openings (30) for accommodating contact inserts (31), and in that the outer part (2) has through-passage openings (32) which are aligned therewith and are intended for accommodating the mating contact inserts (33).
10. Electrical plug-in connection according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that integrally formed on the outer part (2), at the end directed away from the pushing-in opening (15), is a guide sleeve (11) which is bent at an obtuse angle (β) and is intended for an electric line.
11. Electrical plug-in connection according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the sleeve (7) has a grip hollow (10) running around its lateral surface.
12. Use of an electrical plug-in connection (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 11 as a multipole, preferably nine-pole, electrical line connection or appliance connection, having a coupler plug as the outer part (2) and a coupler socket as the inner part (3) or having a coupler socket as the outer part (2) and a coupler plug as the inner part (3).

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