EP1307950B1 - Explosion-proof connecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an explosion-proof connecting device (1) comprising a plug (2) and a socket (3). Said plug (2) comprises a plug housing (4) having at least two contact elements (5, 6), and said socket (3) comprises a socket housing (7) comprising at least two corresponding plug-in elements (8, 9) which are arranged therein. The invention aims to improve one such explosion-proof connecting device in such a way that the separation of the connection can be carried out easily without clearing the voltage of corresponding appliances and without consulting skilled workers. In order to achieve this, the plug housing (4) and the socket housing (7) are held automatically in a retaining position (10) before being completely detached from the connection thereof when the contact elements (5, 6) and the plug-in elements (8, 9) have been electrically separated. An inner chamber (11) is formed in the retaining position (10) between the housings (4, 7) and the elements (5, 6; 8, 9), said chamber being essentially outwardly closed.

Description

The invention relates to a connecting device with plug and socket (plug connection) with the features of the preamble of patent claim 1.

At present, only a few devices in the hazardous area are connected via a plug connection from plug and socket to a voltage source. Instead, the power is usually supplied via terminal boxes, which also serve as a link between the trunk cable to the control room and Stichleiungen in the field.

Both these terminal boxes and the well-known in explosive areas connection devices with plug and socket must be previously de-energized before a corresponding connection can be solved.

Since this is generally not easy to do, professionals need to be involved in separating such connections.

US-A-5462450 shows a connection interrupt scanning mechanism with a connector with plug and socket. Two different relative positions of plug and socket are possible, wherein in one of these positions, an electrical connection between corresponding contacts of plug and socket is made. In already separate contacts plug and socket are still held relative to each other by means of a latching engagement. Only after releasing this locking engagement plug and socket are completely separable from each other.

The invention is based on the US-A-5462450 The object of the invention to improve a connecting device in a simple manner to the effect that this can also be used in potentially explosive areas and a separation of the compound in a simple manner without de-energizing appropriate equipment and without consulting professionals can be performed.

This object is solved by the features of patent claim 1.

The connecting device according to the invention is designed to be explosion-proof, wherein it forms a closed interior between plug-in elements and contact elements and plug housing and socket housing in a Rückhaltesteltung before complete release. This closed interior prevents at least a larger amount of explosive gas or the like from penetrating into the interior, which gas could ignite as a result of sparking that may occur in the event of electrical separation of contact elements and plug-in elements. As a result, the explosion can not continue to the outside of the connection device, where the ignition spark could cause a greater explosion and major damage when the elements are separated.

The sealing of the interior is improved in particular by the fact that complementary shaped guide channels are formed on the socket housing to the contact elements. An arrangement of the plug and socket in the retaining position is further simplified in that the socket housing extends beyond an end portion via the male elements to form these guide channels in the end portion.

These special security measures in the connection device according to the invention, this can be solved in a simple manner without voltage release and without the use of specially trained maintenance personnel or the like.

The fuse plug housing and socket housing in the restraint position and their automatic arrangement in this position when loosening the connection can be done in different ways. To make the connection device simple and secure in this context, plug housing and socket housing can be locked together in the restraint position. This locking engagement is made automatically when disconnecting the socket and plug. The locking action is directly by hand or with the aid of conventional. Solving tools in a simple manner.

An example of a corresponding latching device is a latching element on the plug housing and a counter-latching element on the socket housing. It should be noted that such a latching or counter-locking element does not have to be physically formed from an element, but may comprise a plurality of individual elements. That is, each latch member will engage each mating latch member when the plug and socket are disengaged from each other enough to reach the retaining position.

Locking element and counter-locking element can also be arranged in the reverse manner on the plug and socket housing. Example of such locking elements are spring-loaded locking cams, locking tongues, other elastically deflectable locking elements or the like.

In an easily produced embodiment, the locking element may be a protruding from an inner wall of the plug housing latching projection and the counter-latching element arranged in an outer wall of the socket housing latching recess.

In order to form a border for the interior space between socket housing and plug housing when releasing the connection of plug and socket and in particular in the retaining position from the side of the socket housing ago, the socket housing may extend with an end portion on the male elements addition. The end portion then forms a boundary of the interior.

In order to change the structure of the socket housing or socket as little as possible by the arrangement of the counter-locking element, this may be formed in the end portion.

In order to quickly insert the contact elements into the socket when connecting the plug and socket, the contact elements may extend substantially to the free end of the plug housing.

In order to include the smallest possible space between the connector housing and socket housing in the restraint position and at the same time this better against the To seal the environment, the end portion may extend beyond the counter-locking element in the direction away from the male elements.

In order to secure plug and socket in their fully interconnected position without additional measures, the locking element can be in substantially completely pushed into one another connecting position of plug and socket housing with a second counter-locking element in engagement.

In order to further reduce the interior space and to prevent an explosion propagating through a spark between the contact element and the mating contact element along the contact elements, complementary shaped guide channels may be formed in the end section of the socket housing in which the contact elements are fire-proof and / or puncture-proof in particular. or in which they are at least partially included in the retention position.

In addition to locking the plug and socket or the corresponding housing in the restraint position other possibilities are given, before a complete release of the plug and socket this in an intermediate position, i. the retention position. Another example is that the plug housing has a screw-type attachment which can be rotated relative to the contact elements and which is held on the socket housing in the connecting position and the retaining position. For example, this screw could be screwed as far as possible in the connection position on the socket housing and after unscrewing in restraint position a lock or the like can be solved to further unscrew the screw cap from the socket housing.

It is also conceivable that when connecting plug and socket of the screw on the connector housing is screwed as far as to plug housing and socket housing are arranged in the retaining position. The screw cap can then be mounted to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the plug housing, so that the plug housing from the retaining position to the connection position is further movable relative to the socket housing, while it moves relative to the screw attachment. When loosening the connection is then the connector housing to the plant removable with the screw, that is, it is arranged in the retaining position. Only by unscrewing the screw then plug and socket can be completely detached from each other.

Another example of such a screw cap is that this and the socket housing form a bayonet lock. In a first rotational position of the bayonet lock, the plug housing can be completely detached from the socket housing relative to the socket housing from the connecting position in the retaining position and only after a further rotation of the bayonet lock.

The connector of the connecting device according to the invention can replace any conventional plug in hazardous areas, according to the invention no voltage release of the connecting device is necessary before loosening the connection. A preferred arrangement of the plug is at the end of a supply cable.

To be able to connect the plug directly to a device, it can be provided at one end with a screw thread.

It is possible that the corresponding socket is located at the end of another cable and connected by connecting the plug and socket the other cable and the power cable to each other. However, it is also possible that the socket is located directly on an explosion-proof device, in particular in a device wall. In this way, the plug can be connected directly to the corresponding device.

Depending on the design of the device or system to be connected, the plug can also be firmly mounted on the device as a so-called device plug. The socket then in the form of a coupling is mounted on the supply cable.

In the following advantageous embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures in the drawing.

Fig.

1 einen Längsschnitt durch ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungsvorrichtung im getrennten Zustand von Stecker und Steckdose;

Fig. 2

das Ausführungsbeispiel nach Fig. 1 in einer Rückhaltestellung, und

Fig. 3

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungsvorrichtung in vereinfachter Darstellung.

Show it:

FIG.

1 shows a longitudinal section through an embodiment of a connecting device according to the invention in the separated state of plug and socket;

Fig. 2

the embodiment according to Fig. 1 in a retention position, and

Fig. 3

a further embodiment of the connecting device according to the invention in a simplified representation.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through an embodiment of a connecting device according to the invention shown. This has a plug 2 and a socket 3.

The plug 2 is arranged at one end 25 of a supply cable 26 or connected directly to the device with the screw thread 30. He has a connector housing 4, in which two contact elements 5, 6 are arranged and held in the form of contact pins. The contact elements 5, 6 extend substantially Chen to the free end 19 of the plug housing 4th

At the free end 19 and on an inner wall 14 of the plug housing 4, a latching projection 15 is arranged as a latching element 12. This points in the direction of the next adjacent contact element. 6

In a further embodiment, the latching projection 15 may have an insertion bevel 27 on its side pointing in the direction of the contact element 6. Through this sliding of the plug 2 on the socket 3 is facilitated.

The socket 3 has a socket housing 7, in which two male elements 8, 9 are arranged. In this, the contact elements 5, 6 can be inserted for the production of an electrical connection.

The socket housing 7 extends with its end portion 18 on the male elements 8, 9 also in the direction of plug 2. In the end portion 18, two guide channels 22, 23 are formed by a free end 29 of the socket 3 and the socket housing 7 in the direction of male members 8, 9 are lost. In the guide channels 22, 23 are the mating connector 2 and socket 3, the contact elements 5, 6 can be inserted and in the direction of the male elements 8, 9 feasible.

In an outer wall 16 of the socket housing 7, a latching recess 17 is arranged as a counter-latching element 13. This is located in the end portion 18 and in the illustrated embodiment, directly in front of the male elements 8, 9th

The end portion 18 extends over the latching recess 17 in the direction of connector 2 by an explosion protection length 28, which essentially indicates how far the contact elements 5, 6 in the in Fig. 2 shown retaining position 10 still in the guide channels 22, 23 are inserted.

In Fig. 2 is the embodiment after Fig. 1 shown in the above-mentioned retention position 10. In this position, the plug 2 and the connector housing 4 is partially pushed onto the socket 3 and the socket housing 7 and the locking projection 15 is in engagement with the locking recess 17. In this position, the contact elements 5, 6 are not in electrical connection with the male elements 8, 9 or are just electrically separated from these.

Between plug-in elements 8, 9 and contact elements 5, 6 and plug housing 4 and socket housing 7, an interior 11 is formed. This is substantially sealed from the external environment of the explosion-proof connection device 1. In the interior 11, a gas from the potentially explosive environment of the connecting device 1 may be penetrated. The amount of gas that has penetrated is relatively small and, when separating contact elements 5, 6 and plug-in elements 8, 9, a spark occurs between them, at most the gas present in this inner space is ignited. However, since the connector housing 4, when moving from a connection position 20, see the dashed line in FIG Fig. 2 , in such an explosion in the interior 11, only moved to the retaining position 10, on the one hand only a small amount of gas can be ignited and on the other hand, the explosion will not continue into the explosive outdoor area of the connecting device 1.

To fix the connection position 20, a second counter-locking element 21 is arranged in the outer wall 16 of the socket housing 7.

In Fig. 3 is a further embodiment of a particular connector 2 of the connecting device 1 according to the invention shown. This plug has on the outside of its housing on a Schraubring- or attachment 24, which is rotatably mounted on the rest of the housing in particular relative to the contact elements 5, 6. This screw attachment 24 can be screwed onto the outer wall 16 in the manner of a bayonet closure. In this case, the outer wall 16 of the socket housing 7 corresponding to the other part of the bayonet closure. Also, by means of such a bayonet lock, it is possible after turning by a fixed angle plug and socket from the connection position 20, see Fig. 2 to move to a corresponding retention position 10. After further turning in particular of the screw cap 24 then the plug 2 from the retaining position 10 is completely removable from the socket 3.

Claims (15)

1. Connector (1) having a plug (2) and a socket (3), the plug (2) having a plug housing (4) with at least two contact elements (5, 6), and the socket (3) having a socket housing (7) with at least two corresponding plug-in elements (8, 9) arranged therein, plug housing (4) and socket housing (7) being held automatically in a retaining position (10) against full release of their connection when the contact elements (5, 6) and plug-in elements (8, 9) are already electrically separated from each other, characterised in that the connector is of explosion-proof design, and in the retaining position (10) between plug-in element (8, 9) and contact element (5, 6) as well as plug housing (4) and socket housing (7) is formed an inner chamber (11) closed off to the outside, the socket housing (7) extending out by an end section (18) beyond the plug-in elements (8, 9), forming guide channels (22, 23) of complementary shape to the contact elements (5, 6) in the end section.
2. Connector according to claim 1, characterised in that plug housing (4) and socket housing (7) are latched together in the retaining position (10).
3. Connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a latch element (12) is arranged on the plug housing (4) and a counter-latch element (13) is arranged on the socket housing (7).
4. Connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the latch element (12) is a latch projection (15) projecting from an inner wall (14) of the plug housing (4), and the counter-latch element (13) is a latch recess (17) arranged in an outer wall (16) of the plug housing (7).
5. Connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the counter-latch element (13) is formed in the end section (18).
6. Connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the contact elements (5, 6) extend substantially as far as the free end (19) of the plug housing (4).
7. Connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the end section (18) extends beyond the counter-latch element (13) in a direction away from the plug-in elements (8, 9).
8. Connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the latch element (12) is engaged with a second counter-latch element (21) in a connecting position (20) of plug and socket housings (4, 7) substantially fully inserted one in the other.
9. Connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guide channels (22, 23) are of a shape complementary to the contact elements (5, 6), in which guide channels the contact elements (5, 6) can be guided so as to prevent penetration of ignition in particular to the plug-in elements (8, 9) and/or in which they are at least partially held in the retaining position (10).
10. Connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the contact elements (5, 6) can be guided in the guide channels (22, 23) so as to prevent penetration of ignition in particular to the plug-in elements and/or are at least partially held in them in the retaining position (10).
11. Connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the screw-on attachment (24) and socket housing (7) form a bayonet fastening.
12. Plug and socket as part of a connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plug (2) is arranged at the end (25) of a supply cable (26).
13. Plug and socket as part of a connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plug (2) is directly connected to an appliance at one end with a screw-in thread (30).
14. Plug and socket as part of a connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the socket (3) is arranged on an explosion-proof appliance, in particular in an appliance wall.
15. Plug and socket as part of a connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the socket (3) is designed as a coupling and arranged at the end (25) of a supply cable (26).

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