EP1463160B1 - Plug with slider for connecting to a socket - Google Patents

Abstract

The plug-and-socket system is designed to make electrical contact and hold the contact pins firmly in their sockets. The socket assembly (1) has a housing (2) surrounding contact pins (S). There is a catch (11) with a sloping run-up surface (10) on the outside of the housing. A two-armed safety catch lever (38) on the plug (12) engages on a catch (24) and has a projection engaging on a transverse beam (28). The system includes a bolt (29) with a hooked end (30). There is a chamber (19) with contact sockets (K) to accommodate the contact pins.

Description

The invention relates to a plug for connection to a socket having a socket housing with a first longitudinal axis and with a wall enclosed by a receiving space which is open to an end face of the socket housing and closed at the end remote thereto by a bottom and the first contacts are, wherein on an outer surface of the receiving space enclosing wall at least one latching lug is arranged projecting, which has a rising in the direction of the end face to the ground from the outer surface rising contact surface and extending in the direction of the ground with a toward the outer surface Detent surface is provided, comprising a connector housing having a second longitudinal axis, which has a longitudinal axis parallel to each other in the receiving space insertable first housing portion having a first axial end surface having a second housing portion with one of the first end face facing away from the second end surface has an elastically deflectable latch is integrally formed with a latching web, wherein the latching web facing the socket housing of the contact surface of the locking lug and in the fully connected state of the plug with the socket of the locking surface of the locking lug facing a slide at least partially surrounding the plug housing and adjustably mounted along the second longitudinal axis therebetween between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position corresponds to an unlocked position of the receptacle housing to the plug and the second position represents the fully connected position thereof an elastically deflectable safety lever carries, which has a securing projection, which is located in the first position in the direction of the first axial end face in front of the detent web and is located in the second position in the direction of the first axial end face behind the detent web.

The DE 102 16 072 A1 describes a plug for connecting a socket. It comprises a connector housing with a second longitudinal axis. This is insertable with mutually parallel longitudinal axes of the plug and socket in the receiving space of the socket with a first housing portion having a first axial end surface. The housing has a second end face facing away from the first end face. The connector housing is associated with a two-armed latch. This has in the direction of the first end surface on a latching ridge and away from the first end face behind the latching ridge a holding breakthrough. Approximately in the middle of the latch is pivotally connected to the connector housing. It is guided away from the first axial end surface toward the second end surface beyond the connection with the connector housing and forms a second lever arm which has release actuating portions for actuating the latch. It is pressed on the release operation sections so that the second lever arm of the bolt approaches the housing outer surface of the connector housing. In this case, the latching web is moved away from the housing outer surface upwards. When connecting the plug housing with the socket housing, the latching web of the contact surface of the locking lug of the socket housing is opposite and is raised during further insertion and is behind the locking lug. The plug further comprises a slider which at least partially surrounds the plug housing and is adjustably mounted there along the second longitudinal axis between two positions, the first position corresponding to an unlocked position of the socket housing to the plug and the second position being the fully connected position thereof; then namely, when the locking bar of the bolt has set behind the locking lug. The slider has a resiliently deflectable one-armed locking lever which has a locking projection which is in the first position towards the first axial end surface in front of the locking web in the opening and is located in the second position in the direction of the first axial end surface behind the locking web , In this position, the slider is over the safety lever frictionally held on the latching web in the locked position. In order to release the locked in the final position state, the slider must be moved back, whereby the retaining force generated by the safety lever is overcome and the slide can get behind the locking ridge with its locking projection. In this case, the securing web, which prevents pivotal movement of the bolt, is moved away from the second arm of the bolt so that the locking web can be raised out of engagement with the latching lug via the release actuating portions exposed in a section of the slider. After that plug and socket can be separated.

In the EP 0 896 396 A2 a connector is described which comprises a socket and a plug. The socket has a female connector housing and a receiving space enclosed by a wall. This is open to an end face of the socket housing and closed at its end remote from it by a bottom. The socket has a first longitudinal axis which defines a connection direction. The socket housing first contacts are assigned. These are aligned parallel to the first longitudinal axis and project from the ground into the receiving space. On the outer surface of the receiving space enclosing wall, a latching nose and two laterally extending the same parallel ribs are arranged projecting.

The plug has a plug housing with a first housing section and a second housing section. The first housing section enters when connecting to the socket in the receiving space. The second housing portion is arranged at a radial distance from the first housing portion, so that there is a free space between the two, which receives the wall of the socket housing. The second housing portion of the plug is associated with a resiliently deflectable locking arm which can be locked via a spring holder when it is in the locking position, wherein the spring holder prevents deflection of the locking arm from the relaxed position.

The spring holder pressure springs are associated with each other, which are connected at their not supported at this end with each other via a crossbar. The locking arm has an inclined surface which runs when inserting the plug into the socket against the latch. In this case, the spring holder is in an advanced position in which its locking surface is not in contact with the locking arm. He is held in this position on the connector housing by elastic arms with locking lugs.

With this type of connector, a release force is generated, which is the two components of the connector namely the socket and the plug apart, as long as the final connection state in which both are locked to each other, is not reached. The measures provided for this construction require a large amount of space, which is often not available, especially in cramped conditions and when arranging a plurality of plugs on a device or on a piece of equipment of a vehicle. Nevertheless, it is desirable to at least recognize whether a complete connection has been achieved or not.

Object of the present invention is to propose a connector for connection to a socket, which is suitable for small and tight installation conditions and has a slide that shows whether a complete connection was achieved or not, the slider is not unintentionally from the complete connection corresponding position can be relocated.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a plug, which is characterized in that the safety lever is designed as a two-armed lever having a first securing arm with a securing projection, which is in the first position in the direction of the first axial end face in front of the locking web and is located in the second position in the direction of the first axial end surface behind the detent web and having a second securing arm, which is acted upon for movement of the securing projection out of engagement with the detent web by hand.

An advantage of this design is that it can be seen from the position of the slide, whether a fully connected state has been reached or not. The slider is in the respective positions that the unconnected or not yet fully connected state and fully connected state, held securely. In the first position, the slider is displaced away from the first end surface so far that the locking projection of the locking lever is toward the first end surface of the connector housing in front of the locking ridge and the locking ridge prevents the slider from advancing to the fully connected condition Position can be moved, in which the securing projection is starting from the first position to a position behind the locking ridge, can be moved. The locking projection runs when connecting the plug with the socket the locking bar behind. First, the locking bar is raised by the latch of the socket, ie it moves away from the outer surface of the same by running up on the run-up surface. The following locking projection also runs after the locking bar on the contact surface and is raised, so that the safety lever swings. After the detent has reached the end of the detent, the detent takes on its original position again due to the elasticity of the arrangement of the bolt and sits behind the latch and is located in the immediate vicinity of the locking surface of the latch. Upon further advancement of the slider, the securing projection passes over the latching lug and over the latching web, which can not move further forward in the direction of the first end surface, and sits behind the latching web.

According to a first embodiment it is provided that the bolt is designed as a two-armed lever having a first arm and a second arm, wherein the second arm is for actuating the bolt, and that the second securing arm acts on the second arm of the bolt, so that this is out of engagement with the latch is movable. It is preferably provided that the bolt comprises two identical, parallel locking portions, whose first arms are interconnected by the locking web, and that the locking lever is disposed between the two parallel locking portions.

In the event that a two-armed bolt is selected, it is provided that the safety lever has two release lugs on its second safety arm, each serving to act on one of the second arms of the bolt to fully Connected state to bring the locking bar disengaged from the latch.

In a second variant of the solution for the movement of the latching web of the bolt disengaged from the detent, it is provided that the slider has at least one disconnecting cam which disengages the first arm of the bolt with its detent web when the slider moves in a direction away from the first end surface Latch moves. In this case, it is possible to form the latch as a one-armed lever, wherein the at least one release cam acts on the first arm. In the event that the latch is designed as a two-armed lever, it is also possible to arrange the release cam on the slider so that it acts on the second arm. In both cases, the release cams are arranged so that first when acting on the second securing arm of the safety lever, first the locking projection is moved out of engagement with the locking bar and then, if further pulling on the slider is acted, the release cam come into effect and the latch with his Disconnect locking bar from engagement with detent nose. It is possible to apply the second arm of the bolt by hand or to choose a design in which this is acted upon by the movement of the slider in the direction of the first end face of the plug housing away from the slider.

Preferably, the bolt is integrally connected to the connector housing via a locking bar, which forms a pivot axis of the bolt. The bolt thus pivots about the pivot axis formed by the locking bar.

The securing lever can also be integrally connected to an inner surface of the slider via a lever web which forms a pivot axis.

For the operation of the second safety arm of the safety lever by hand, a recess is provided in the valve body.

The plug housing is further provided with at least one stop, which is the axial movement of the slider on the connector housing limited so that it can not slide down from the connector housing. In the unconnected position of the plug, ie, for example, during transport or before assembly, the slider is fixed on the one hand by this stop, which cooperates with the connector housing and on the other hand by the securing projection of the safety lever, which sits in front of the detent web in position.

Two preferred embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawing.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Längsschnittdarstellung einer konventionellen Steckbuchse und eines erfindungsgemäßen Steckers in einer ersten Ausführungsform,

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Steckers in der ersten Ausführungsform,

Figur 3

einen perspektivischen Längsschnitt der Steckbuchse und des Steckers zu Beginn des Verbindens der beiden,

Figur 4

eine perspektivische Längsschnittdarstellung von Stecker und Steckbuchse bei einer fortgeschrittenen Verbindungsstellung der beiden,

Figur 5

eine perspektivische Längsschnittdarstellung, wobei sich der Stecker gemäß der ersten Ausführungsform im vollständig verbundenen Zustand zur Steckbuchse befindet, und

Figur 6

eine zweite Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Steckers in einer perspektivischen Explosionsdarstellung.

It shows

FIG. 1

3 is a perspective longitudinal sectional view of a conventional receptacle and a plug according to the invention in a first embodiment,

FIG. 2

an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the invention in the first embodiment,

FIG. 3

a perspective longitudinal section of the socket and the plug at the beginning of connecting the two,

FIG. 4

a perspective longitudinal sectional view of plug and socket at an advanced connecting position of the two,

FIG. 5

a perspective longitudinal sectional view, wherein the plug is according to the first embodiment in the fully connected state to the socket, and

FIG. 6

a second embodiment of a connector according to the invention in a perspective exploded view.

First, based on the FIGS. 1 and 2 the structure of the known socket 1 and the plug 13 according to the invention will be described.

The socket 1 comprises a socket housing 2 which is fixedly connected to an electrical device, e.g. Part of the same, can be. It is made of an electrically insulating resin material (plastic) and has a first longitudinal axis 3. The female connector housing 2 further comprises a wall 4 which encloses a receiving space 5 which is closed by a bottom 7 and is limited at its open end by the end face 6. The wall 4 forms an outer surface 8. The receiving space 5 forms a rounded at opposite ends rectangle, but may have any shape. From one of the sections of the outer surface 8 is a locking lug 9, which has a contact surface 10 towards the end face 6, which extends away from the end face 6 in the direction of the bottom 7 and thereby extending away from the outer surface 8. It ends in a point or parallel to the outer surface 8 extending surface and from there into a latching surface 11, which again runs steeply towards the outer surface 8.

In FIG. 1 Furthermore, the plug 12 is shown, the plug housing 13 is made of an electrically insulating and elastic properties having resin material (plastic) and centered on the second longitudinal axis 14. The plug 12 is the socket 1 opposite, but not shown connected, wherein the first longitudinal axis 3 and the second longitudinal axis 14 are aligned with each other. By displacement of the plug 12 to the socket 1 out with aligned longitudinal axes 3, 14 to each other, the socket 1 and the plug 12 are connected together. The connector housing 13 comprises a first housing portion 15 which enters the receiving space 5 of the socket 1 during connection. This has a first end surface 16. The connector housing 13 further includes a second housing portion 17 terminating in the second end surface 18. In the connector housing 13, two receiving chambers 19 are formed, which are for receiving Serving contact sockets K These are fixed by molded tongues and beyond by a holder 20 in the connector housing 13. The contact sockets K are connected to cables, for example, and serve to receive the first contacts in the form of pin contacts 9 protruding from the base 7 into the receiving space 5 of the socket 1 when connecting the plug 12 to the socket 1, in order to produce an electrically conductive connection. The second housing portion 17 has an outer surface 21 which is bounded towards the first housing portion 15 by the seal assembly 22 which cooperates with the inner surface of the wall 4 in mated condition of socket 1 and plug 12 to the unit against incoming moisture or contamination tight.

From the outer surface 21 of the second housing portion 17 is at least one stop 23 near the second end face 18.

The second housing portion 17, a latch 24 is formed, which comprises a first latch portion 25 and a second latch portion 26. The latch 24 is designed overall as a one-armed lever, wherein both latch portions 25, 26 each form a first arm 27, which is integrally connected via a locking bar 30 with the second housing portion 17. The two first arms 27 extending from the locking bar 30 extend approximately parallel but spaced from the outer surface of the plug housing 13 in the direction of the first end face 16, but not all to the end face 16 but only over a partial area, so that the two first arms 27 connecting Detent bar 28 is located above the first housing portion 15. The two locking portions 25, 26 are arranged at a parallel distance and extend approximately parallel to the second longitudinal axis 14 and form between them a free space which is bridged by the latching web 28. Furthermore, the two first arms 27 in extension of the latching web 28, however, in relation to this height offset from the outer surface of the plug housing 13 each have a lug 29. The latch 24 may be about the axis 30, the second longitudinal axis 14 at a distance perpendicular to the latch web 30 about an axis crosses, be elastically deflected. He takes in the normal position, ie in the relaxed position, however, in the FIGS. 1 and 2 shown position.

The connector housing 13 is enclosed by a tubular slider 31. This has an outer wall 32 and a guide portion 33 in which a guide bore 34 is located, with which the slide 31 is arranged on the outer surface 21 of the second housing portion 17 along the second longitudinal axis 14 slidably limited. In the direction away from the first end surface 16, the movement of the slider 31 is limited by at least one stop 23 which engages in a groove 36 and cooperates with a stop 37 at the end of the groove 36 of the guide portion 33 to limit movement.

With the outer wall 32 of the slider 31, is internally in this, a locking lever 38 pivotally integrally connected via a lever web 39 about a pivot axis which intersects the second longitudinal axis 14 at a distance at right angles. The pivotability is possible due to the elastic properties of the material from which the slider is made (resin material). The locking lever 38 is designed as a two-armed lever. The first securing arm extending from the lever web 39 in the direction of the first end face 16 is designated by 40 and carries a securing projection 41 projecting inward toward the outer surface of the plug housing 13. The securing projection 41 is arranged at a distance from the lever web 39. The lever arm 39 in the direction of the second end face 18 of the plug housing 13 extending second securing arm 42, an actuating projection 43 is formed, which is located in a recess 35 of the slider 31 and can be applied by hand. Upon actuation of the actuating projection 43 in the direction of the connector housing 13, the locking lever 38 pivots due to the elastic properties of the material from which the connector housing 13 is made, around the pivot axis formed by the lever web 39. In the unconnected state of the plug 12 and socket 1, the securing projection 41 is longitudinally on the first end face 16 as seen in front of the detent web 28. Thus, the slider 31 via the securing projection 41 and the cooperating stops 23 and 37 in the unconnected state reproduced Positions determined. The safety lever 38 is in this position in its normal position, ie relaxed position, which it occupies on the elastic return in the region of the lever web 39. Further, the slider 31 has release cams 44, each acting on a lug 29 of one of the two locking portions 25, 26 of the first arms 27, when the slide 31 from the connected state is pushed back into the illustrated state.

Based on FIGS. 3 to 5 A description will be given of the connection operation from the position according to FIG FIG. 1 ,

How out FIG. 3 recognizable, enters the first housing portion 15 of the plug housing 13 in the receiving space 5 of the socket 1 a. In this case, the latching web 28 of the bolt 24 approaches the contact surface 10 of the locking lug 9. This condition is in FIG. 3 shown. Upon further insertion of the plug 12 with its first housing portion 15 in the socket 1 of the locking bar 28 slides on the contact surface 10 high, wherein the locking bar 30 elastically deformed and generates a restoring force. Upon further insertion of the locking bar 28 passes over the locking lug 9 of time and can sit in front of the locking surface 11 by moving back to its original position. In this Vorbewegen is also the securing projection 41, which follows the locking bar 28 in the direction of movement, has been moved on the contact surface 10 of the locking lug 9 so that the lever web 39 elastically deformed and generates a restoring force in which the locking lever 38 to the through the lever web 39 formed pivot axis pivoted in the left-pivoting sense. This raised position is in FIG. 4 shown. Upon further advancement of the slide 31, the securing projection 41 passes over the latching web 28 and is seated in the direction of movement on the end face 16 of the plug housing behind the latching web 28. This position is in FIG. 5 shown and indicates the fully connected state of the plug 12 and socket 1. By viewing this state is detected. For releasing the connection, the slider 31 is pulled on the one hand, so that it is removed from the first end surface 16 along the second longitudinal axis, and on the other hand pressed simultaneously on the actuating portion 43 so that the securing projection 41 is lifted out of operative connection to the latching web 28 , The slider 31 can then slide back, as the raised first locking arm 40 allows the locking projection 41, the latching web 28 and the latch 9 can pass. Upon further pulling action of the latching web 28 is raised, because the lugs 28 are raised by the release cam 44 so that they move from the outer surface. 8 Remove the socket 1, wherein the locking bar 28 can pass over the locking cam 9 away. As soon as the latching web 28 has passed the latching cam 9, the securing projection 41 can return to its original position when the bolt 24 is returned, ie the position as shown in FIG FIG. 1 is shown, move back.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative design for the latch. Out FIG. 6 an exploded view of the plug 112 with the plug housing 113 and the slide 131 can be seen. In connection with the plug housing 113, it can be seen that this is likewise constructed from a first housing section 115 and a second housing section 117, wherein the first housing section terminates in the first end face 116. The plug housing 113 is also a latch 124 integrally formed, however, in contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5 designed as a two-armed lever. There are also two locking portions 125, 126 each provided with a first arm 127, wherein the two arms 127 are connected to each other by the latching web 128. Via the locking bar 30, via which the latch 124 is integrally connected to the plug housing 113, extending second arms 45 out. These second arms 45 extend from the latch bar 130 in a direction away from the first end surface 116. The slider 131 is one according to the embodiment FIGS. 1 to 5 correspondingly designed locking lever 138, differs from this, however, essentially only in that the second securing arm 142 laterally lugs 46 are formed, which act upon application of the second securing arm 142 in the loosening sense on the second arms 45 of the bolt 124 and the locking bar 128 except Raise the operative connection to the catch of the socket.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

receptacle

2

Jack housing

3

first longitudinal axis

4

wall

5

accommodation space

6

face

7

ground

8th

outer surface

9

locking lug

10

approach surface

11

Rest area

12, 112

plug

13, 113

plug housing

14

second longitudinal axis

15, 115

first housing section

16, 116

first end surface

17, 117

second housing section

18

second end surface

19

receiving chamber

20, 120

holder

21

outer surface

22

sealing arrangement

23

attack

24, 124

bars

25, 125

first latch section

26, 126

second latch section

27, 127

first arm

28, 128

latching web

29

approach

30, 130

beam web

31, 131

pusher

32

outer wall

33

guide section

34

guide bore

35

recess

36

groove

37

attack

38, 138

safety lever

39

lever bar

40

first safety arm

41

securing projection

42, 142

second safety arm

43

actuating extension

44

release cam

45

second arm

46

solvent approach

S

Pin contact (first contacts)

K

Contact socket

Claims (10)

1. Connector plug (12, 112) for connecting to
   a connector socket (1),
   which has a connector socket housing (2) with a first longitudinal axis (3) and an accommodation chamber (5) enclosed by a wall (4) and which is open to an end face (6) of the connector socket housing (2) and is closed by a bottom (7) at the end distanced thereto, and to which first contacts (S) are arranged, wherein on an outer face (8) of the wall (4) enclosing the accommodation chamber (5) at least one locking projection (9) is arranged projectingly, which has an abutment face (10) inclined in the direction from the end face (6) towards the bottom (7) with increasing distance from the outer face (8) and which is provided in the direction towards the bottom (7) with a locking face (11) extending in the direction towards the outer face (8),
   comprising

   - a connector plug housing (13, 113),
   which has a second longitudinal axis (14),
   which has a first housing portion (15, 115) with a first axial end face (16, 116), insertable into the accommodation chamber (5), when the two longitudinal axes (3, 14) are aligned parallel to each other,
   which has a second housing portion (17, 117) with a second end face (18) facing away from the first end face (16, 116),
   on which an elastically deflectable locking arm (24, 124) with a locking web (28, 128) is formed, wherein the locking web (28, 128) is arranged opposite to the abutment face (10) of the locking projection (9) when connecting the connector socket housing (2) and in the completely connected condition of the connector plug (12, 112) with the connector socket (1) is arranged opposite to the locking face (11) of the locking projection (9),

   - a slider (31, 131),
   which encloses the connector plug housing (13, 113) at least partially and is mounted displaceably along the second longitudinal axis (14) on the connector plug housing (13, 113) between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position corresponds to an unlocked position of the connector socket housing (2) relative to the connector plug (12, 112) and the second position represents the completely connected position,
   which carries an elastically displaceable securing lever (38, 138), having a securing projection (41), which is positioned in the first position in the direction towards the first axial end face (16, 116) in front of the locking web (28, 128) and which is positioned in the second position in the direction towards the first axial end face (16) behind the locking web (28, 128),

   characterised in
   that the securing lever (38, 138) is formed as a lever with two arms,
   which has a first securing arm (40) with a securing projection (41) positioned in the first position in the direction towards the first axial end face (16, 116) in front of the locking web (28, 128) and positioned in the second position in the direction towards the first axial end face (16) behind the locking web (28, 128) and which has a second securing arm (42), which can be acted upon manually for moving the securing projection (41) out off engagement with the locking web (28, 128).
2. Connector plug according to claim 1,
   characterised in
   that the locking arm (124) is formed as a lever with two arms, which has a first arm (127) and a second arm (45), which serves for actuating the locking arm (124), and that the second securing arm (42) acts upon the second arm (45) of the locking arm (124), so that the same is movable out off engagement with the locking projection (9).
3. Connector plug according to one of claims 1 or 2,
   characterised in
   that the locking arm (24, 124) comprises two identical, parallel locking portions (25, 26; 125, 126), which first arms (27, 127) are connected to each other by the locking web (28, 128) and that the securing lever (38, 138) is arranged between the two parallel locking portions (25, 26; 125, 126).
4. Connector plug according to claim 3,
   characterised in
   that the securing lever (138) has two disengaging lugs (46) on its second securing arm, which, respectively, serve for acting upon one of the second arms (45) of the locking arm (124).
5. Connector plug according to claim 1,
   characterised in
   that the slider (31) has at least one disengaging cam (44), which, when moving the slider (31) in a direction away from the first end face (16), moves the first arm (27) with its locking web (28) out off engagement with the locking projection (9).
6. Connector plug according to claim 5,
   characterised in
   that the disengaging cam (44) acts onto the first arm (27) or the second arm (45) of the locking arm (24, 124).
7. Connector plug according to claim 1,
   characterised in
   that the locking arm (24, 124) is connected integrally via a locking web (30, 130), forming a pivot axis of the locking arm (24, 124), with the connector plug housing (13, 113).
8. Connector plug according to claim 1,
   characterised in
   that the securing lever (38, 138) is integrally connected via a lever web (39), forming a pivot axis of the securing lever (38, 138), with an inner face of the slider (31).
9. Connector plug according to claim 1,
   characterised in
   that the second securing arm (42) of the securing lever (38) is accessible via a recess (35) in the slider (31).
10. Connector plug according to claim 1,
    characterised in
    that the connector plug housing (13, 113) has at least one abutment (23), which limits the axial movement of the slider (31) on the male connector housing (13, 113).

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