EP1652274B1 - Plug-in connection system with an integrated lock - Google Patents

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to provide a plug-in connection system which is economical to produce, is compact, is easy to handle and which connects to a module in an electrically reliable manner, said aims being achieved by means of a plug-in connection device. Said plug-in connection device comprises locking hooks (17) which are provided with unlocking elements (19). As a result, the locking hooks (17) can be maintained in an unlocked position such that the plug-in connection can be released in a simplified manner. Preferably, the unlocking elements project in an essentially non vertical manner over the housing (16) of the connection device or in an extrinsically vertical manner over the housing (16) of the connection device. The total space required for the plug-in connection system is reduced, thereby ensuring that the module is connected in an electrically reliable manner.

Description

The present invention relates to a plug connection system or a plug connection device with an integrated lock for the electrical connection of electrical modules, for example, installation devices or switching devices. In such connector systems usually a variety of electrical connections between the modules must be made. This is usually done by multi-core connection cable, which are equipped at their ends with multipolar connectors, which are plugged into corresponding sockets on the modules.

It is necessary that the connector can be made in a fast as well as simple manner and a reliable electrical connection between the modules. There is also a need to reliably lock the connectors so that they can withstand mechanical stresses, e.g. Withstand vibrations and shock loads while maintaining the electrical connection between the modules and remaining fully functional.

There are already known connector systems with locking devices for connecting electrical modules, which consist of a plug and a complementary formed to the connector socket, which are connected to each other in the locking position with mechanical aids. In such a known connector system, the plug is connected by means of screws to the socket, wherein one or more screws are rotatably mounted on the plug and are secured to the socket thread. In the locking position, ie when the plug is inserted into the socket, the screws are screwed to the plug into the threads on the socket and so creates a firm connection between the plug and socket.

To separate the connection between the plug and socket, the screws must be unscrewed from the threads again. This connector system therefore has the disadvantage that the production and the solution of the connector requires several handles and brings both for the accommodation of the screw as well as their operation a lot of space.

In a further connector system with a locking device according to the prior art, tilting levers are arranged on the plug, which engage in the locking position on the socket and thus produce a mechanical coupling between the plug and the socket. The rocker arms are spring-mounted on the plug under a bias, so that they snap into the locking position in corresponding projections or depressions on the socket.

To separate the connection between the plug and socket, the rocker arms must be individually and manually brought into an unlocking in this connector system, in which they reach out of the projections or recesses on the socket to allow separation of the plug from the socket. Therefore, this connector system also has the disadvantage that the solution of the connector is relatively expensive and require the arrangement of the rocker arm on the plug and their operation a lot of space.

A known plug connection device, which is plugged for electrical connection in electrical modules to a mating connector device, is made of US 5,328,288 known. The plug connection device described therein comprises a housing and a locking device connected to the housing, which is designed for mechanical coupling of the plug connection device with the mating plug connection device. The locking device is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position. Furthermore, the locking device is integrally connected to the housing.

Furthermore, from the US 5,312,268 a multi-electrode connector device is known. This plug connection device comprises a locking device integrally connected to a housing, wherein the locking device for locking and unlocking is movable and is designed for mechanical coupling of the plug connection device with the mating plug connection device.

Furthermore, from the EP 0 549 370 A2 , of the EP 1 020 959 A2 and the US 6,102,727 corresponding connector devices known.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a connector device and a connector system for electrical modules with the lowest possible cost, which is characterized by ease of use and small footprint and ensures a reliable electrical connection of the modules. Furthermore, a corresponding method for releasing the connector system is to be specified.

According to the invention the object is achieved by a plug connection device which is plugged for the electrical connection of electrical modules in / on a mating connector device, with a housing and at least one locking device connected to the housing for the mechanical coupling of the connector device with the mating connector device, the locking device between a locking position and an unlocking position is movable, wherein the locking device is integrally connected to the housing and the locking device comprises an unlocking element which in the unlocked position in a complementary to the unlocking element formed counter element engages the housing, so that the locking device is fixable in the unlocking position.

The advantage of this one-piece design of the locking device with the housing is the simplified production of the overall system as well as the simplified logistics in the handling of the parts to be assembled for the connection system. In addition, the assembly cost is reduced.

In addition, the invention provides a method for separating an above connector device of the mating connector device by fixing the at least one locking device in the unlocked position by means of the unlocking device and releasing the connector device of the mating connector device.

In a preferred embodiment of the plug connection device according to the invention, the locking device has at least one unlocking hook or a corresponding unlocking element. The / can engage in a unlocking position in a (s) complementary to the unlocking hook formed barb or counter-element on the housing of the connector device. The unlocking hook is preferably located at the free end of the locking hook, but can also be on a be arranged at a different location of the locking hook with a distance from its fixed end. To release the connector device of the mating connector device, ie, for example, to remove the plug from the socket, the locking hook is brought from the locking position to the unlocked position, wherein the locking hook is released from the engagement in the plug by the unlocking hook with the barb on the Bush is engaged. In this way, the locking hook is held in the unlocked position, as long as the plug is removed from the socket or is removed.

By integrating a locking hook as a locking device in a socket of the connector on the one hand, the space requirement of the locking device is reduced to a minimum and on the other hand simplifies the handling of the connector system as a whole, with a reliable electrical connection of the modules is guaranteed. The connector system according to the present invention also has the advantage that in this case no more locking hooks are required on the connectors of the connecting cable, so that the connecting cable and the connector for damage are less prone. For the same reason, on the one hand the connectors of the connection cables can be accommodated in a smaller space on the modules and on the other hand, the space for handling in the placement of the plug on the modules or in the removal of the connector is reduced by the modules. In addition, the connector system according to the invention is inexpensive to manufacture due to the simple solution.

By means of the plug connection system according to the invention, two or more electrical modules can be connected to one another. The modules are connected via a multi-pole connection cable (eg 10-pin), which is typically offered in different lengths. This allows the Modules are located next to each other or at a distance of, for example, up to 200 cm. At the ends of the connecting cable is in each case a plug, while the counterpart to the plugs - so the sockets - are housed in the modules.

In a preferred embodiment of the connector system according to the present invention, the locking hook has a fixed end, which is preferably arranged at the bottom of the socket. Alternatively, the fixed end of the locking hook can also be arranged at a different location of the socket. The locking hook is made of a flexible material, preferably plastic and arranged on its fixed end to the socket so that it has resilient properties due to its flexibility.

Furthermore, the locking hook has a free end, which establishes the mechanical coupling between plug and socket. This is done by engaging the free end of the locking hook on the plug once the plug is in the lock position, i. completely inserted into the socket. It is particularly advantageous if the free end of the locking hook has a projection which engages in the locking position in a complementary formed to the projection recess in the plug. The protrusion in the locking hook thus cooperates with the depression formed in the plug such that the plug is reliably held in the locking position.

It when the engagement between the unlocking hook of the locking hook and the barb on the socket is designed so that the release hook disengages automatically when inserting the plug into the socket from the barb. In this way, the lock between the plug and the socket is made solely by the insertion of the plug into the socket as soon as the plug has reached the locking position without the need for another handle or additional operation of the locking hook or is required.

In addition, the locking hook can be resiliently mounted on the sleeve so that it is biased in the direction of its locking position due to its flexibility, so that the locking hook snaps into the locking position automatically upon insertion of the plug into the socket.

The insertion movement of the plug into the socket can be further facilitated if the locking hook has at its free end a flank which is chamfered substantially in the direction of insertion movement of the plug into the socket. It is particularly advantageous if the edge directly adjacent to the projection, which engages in the locking position on the plug. During the insertion movement of the plug into the socket, the plug can slide on the flank at the free end of the locking hook while pressing the locking hook in the direction of the unlocking position. Once the plug is inserted into the socket so far that he has reached the locking position, the locking hook can snap back and fix the plug in the locked position.

The erfindungemäße plug connection device can be made particularly reliable when a locking device is provided on two opposite sides of the housing, which engage in the locking position on the plug or the mating connector device. As a result, a stable mechanical coupling between the plug and socket is made on two opposite sides.

FIG 1

eine sog. D-SUB-Buchse zur elektrischen Verbindung elektrischer Module gemäß dem Stand der Technik;

FIG 2

einen sog. 2,54 mm-Raster-Stecker einer Verbin- dungsleitung zur elektrischen Verbindung elektri- scher Module gemäß dem Stand der Technik;

FIG 3

eine Detailansicht des 2,54 mm-Raster-Steckers in FIG 2 zur elektrischen Verbindung elektrischer Mo- dule gemäß dem Stand der Technik;

FIG 4

ein mehrere elektrische Module umfassendes Modulpa- ket;

FIG 5

eine schematische Darstellung einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Steckverbindungsvorrichtung mit integrierter Verriegelung gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

FIG 6

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Deckels mit der Steckverbindungsvorrichtung nach FIG 5.

The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1

a so-called D-SUB socket for electrical connection of electrical modules according to the prior art;

FIG. 2

a so-called 2.54 mm pitch plug of a connecting line for the electrical connection of electrical modules according to the prior art;

FIG. 3

a detail view of the 2.54 mm raster plug in FIG. 2 for electrical connection of electrical modules according to the prior art;

FIG. 4

a module package comprising several electrical modules;

FIG. 5

a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of the connector device with integrated latch according to the present invention;

FIG. 6

a perspective view of a lid with the connector device according to FIG. 5 ,

The embodiment described in more detail below represents a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In order to better understand the operation of the connector system according to the invention, are first based on the FIGS. 1 to 3 Connector systems according to the prior art explained in more detail.

In FIG. 1 is a so-called D-SUB socket 5 for the electrical connection of electrical modules according to the prior art shown. This socket 5 comprises a counterpart 1, on which a complementary formed plug (not shown) of a connecting line can be plugged. The counterpart 1 has a plurality of pole connections 4, which open into corresponding lines 2 at the bottom of the socket, which lead to an electrical module (not shown). In this known connector system, the connector is fixed by means of screw. At the socket 5 are Fixed thread 3, in the rotatably mounted on the plug screws (not shown) can be screwed. When the plug is inserted into the socket 5, the screws are screwed to the plug in the thread 3 on the socket, thus creating a firm connection between the plug and socket 5.

To separate the connection between the plug and socket 5, the screws must be unscrewed from the threads 3 again. This connector system therefore has the disadvantage that the production and the solution of the connector requires several handles and brings both for the accommodation of the screw as well as their operation a lot of space.

In FIG. 2 a 2.54 mm raster plug 6 of a connecting line for the electrical connection of electrical modules according to the prior art is shown. In this connector system, the plug 6 is locked in the socket (not shown). For this purpose, 6 rocker arms 7 are arranged on the plug, which engage with a hook 10 in the locking position on the socket 8 and so produce a mechanical coupling between the plug 6 and the socket 8. The rocker arms 7 are resiliently mounted on the plug 6 such that they can be pivoted between a locking position and an unlocking position. The rocker arms 7 are subjected to a bias so that they are biased in the direction of the locking position. It can be clearly seen that the rocker arms 7 represent the vertically highest point of the plug and thus increase the space requirement of electrical modules that are connected to such plugs.

In FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the in fig2 shown 2.54 mm raster plug 6 for electrical connection of electrical modules according to the prior art shown. In FIG. 3 It can be seen that the rocker arm 7 on the plug 6 in the locking position with its hook 10 snaps into a corresponding rear engagement 9 on the socket 8, as soon as the plug 6 is inserted to the locking position in the socket 8.

To separate the connection between the plug 6 and socket 8, the rocker arms 7 must be individually and manually brought into the unlocking in this connector system, in which the hooks 10 from the Hintergreifungen 9 on the socket 8 reach to a separation of the plug 6 of the socket 8 to allow. Therefore, this connector system also has the disadvantage that the solution of the connector is connected with multiple handles and the arrangement of the rocker arm 7 on the connector 6 and their operation require a lot of space. In addition, the rocker arm 7 is designed as a separate part that must be attached to the connector system. Disadvantageously, therefore, an additional part is required, which is to be saved.

In FIG. 4 a module package 12 is shown that includes a plurality of electrical modules 13. The modules 13 are electrically connected to each other via connecting lines 14. The existing of flat ribbon cables connecting lines 14 are provided at their ends with plugs that are plugged into corresponding sockets in the modules 13. The connection between the connection cable and the module is improved by means of the connector system with unlocking elements according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of the connector device with unlocking according to the present invention. In FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lid of in FIG. 5 shown preferred embodiment of the connector device according to the present invention. For the embodiment described below, a known connector in 2.54 mm grid is chosen as the basis, however, other standard systems may be chosen for the practice of the present invention.

In FIG. 5 shows the plug connection device according to the invention in the locking position. An unillustrated standard connector can be completely inserted into a plug-shaped housing 16 of the connector device. The plug connection device according to the invention comprises in the illustrated embodiment, two locking hooks 17 for the mechanical coupling of the plug with the housing 16, wherein the locking hooks 17 are integrated into the housing 16. The locking hooks 17 are arranged on two opposite sides of the housing 16.

Both the housing 16 and the locking hooks 17 are made of a flexible material, preferably plastic. The locking hooks 17 have a fixed end 22, which is arranged in each case at the bottom 23 of the housing 16 of the bush, wherein the locking hooks 17 are resiliently mounted due to their flexibility. In this case, the locking hooks 17 are biased so that they are biased in the direction of their locking position.

Furthermore, the locking hooks 17 each have a free end, on which an inwardly projecting projection 18 is formed. By the projection 18 at the free end of the locking hook 17, a mechanical coupling between the plug and the socket 16 is made by the projection 18 engages in a corresponding recess or Hintergreifung on the plug as soon as the plug completely into the socket or the housing 16 in the direction of the arrow A is inserted and thus is in the locking position. In this way, the plug is reliably held in its locking position.

The locking hooks 17 are each provided at their free end additionally with a flank 20 which have a beveled in the direction of the insertion movement A of the plug into the socket or the housing 16 rounding 20, wherein the flank 20 directly adjacent to the projection 18 which in the locking position engages the plug. As a result, during the insertion movement in the direction of the arrow A, the plug can slide into the socket 16 on the flank 20 at the free end of the locking hook 17, thereby pressing the locking hooks 17 outwards. Once the plug is fully inserted into the socket 16 and has reached the locking position, the locking hook 17 snaps back due to its bias and fixes the plug in the locked position.

In addition, the locking hooks 17 each have an unlocking hook 19 at its free end, which engages in an unlocking position in a complementary to the unlocking hook barbs 21 on the housing 16. To remove the plug from the housing 16, the locking hooks 17 are brought from the locking position to the unlocked position by the locking hooks 17 are pressed outwards. In this case, on the one hand, the projections 18 of the locking hooks 17 are disengaged from the engagement with the back grips on the plug and on the other hand, the release hooks 19 pushed over the barbs 21 on the housing 16 until they come into engagement with each other. In this way, the mechanical coupling between the plug and the socket or the housing 16 is released and the plug can be removed from the socket 16. The locking hooks 17 are held by the engagement between the unlocking hooks 19 and the barbs 21 on the sleeve 16 in the unlocked position.

To solve the engagement between the unlocking hooks 19 at the free ends of the locking hooks 17 and the barbs 21 on the housing 16, the release hooks 19 are pushed back over the barbs 21. It is particularly advantageous, however, if the engagement between the unlocking hook 19 of the locking hook 17 and the barb 21 on the socket 16 solves independently upon insertion of the plug into the socket 16, for example, by pressing the plug, the barbs 21, the correspondingly movable are shaped (not shown in the figures), are moved down.

Claims (12)

1. Plug-in connection apparatus which can be plugged into/onto a mating plug-in connection apparatus in order to electrically connect electrical modules, having

   - a housing (16) and

   - at least one locking device (17) which is connected to the housing (16) and serves to mechanically couple the plug-in connection apparatus to the mating plug-in connection apparatus,

   - it being possible to move the locking device (17) between a locked position and an unlocked position, and

   - the locking device (17) being integrally connected to the housing,
   characterized in that

   - the locking device (17) has an unlocking element (19) which, in the unlocked position, engages in a mating element (21) which is arranged on the housing (16) and complements the unlocking element (19), so that the locking device (17) can be fixed in the unlocked position.
2. Plug-in connection apparatus according to Claim 1, with the locking device (17) having a locking hook or a locking eye for the purpose of mechanical coupling to the mating plug-in connection apparatus.
3. Plug-in connection apparatus according to either of the preceding claims, with the locking device (17) having an end (22) which is rigidly connected to the housing (16), as a result of which the locking device (17) is resiliently mounted on the housing (16).
4. Plug-in connection apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, with the unlocking element (19) comprising an unlocking hook or an unlocking eye.
5. Plug-in connection apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, with the unlocking element (19) and the mating element (21) engaging in such a way that the unlocking element (19) automatically disengages from the mating element (21) when the plug-in connection apparatus is inserted into the mating plug-in connection apparatus.
6. Plug-in connection apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, with the locking device (17) being resiliently mounted on the housing (16) in such a way that it is prestressed toward the locked position, so that the locking device (17) automatically snaps into the locked position when the plug-in connection apparatus is inserted into the mating plug-in connection apparatus.
7. Plug-in connection apparatus according to one of Claims 2 to 6, with the free end of the locking hook (17) having an edge (20) which is inclined essentially in the direction of the insertion movement (A) of the plug-in connection apparatus into the mating plug-in connection apparatus.
8. Plug-in connection apparatus according to Claim 7, with the edge (20) directly adjoining a projection (18) of the locking hook (17), which projection engages on the connector in the locked position.
9. Plug-in connection apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, with a respective locking device (17) being provided on two opposite sides of the housing (16).
10. Plug-in connection system having a plug-in connection apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, which apparatus is in the form of a socket, and a mating plug-in connection apparatus which corresponds to a connector.
11. Plug-in connection system with a plug-in connection apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 9, which apparatus is in the form of a connector, and with a mating plug-in connection apparatus which corresponds to a socket.
12. Method for disconnecting a plug-in connection apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 8 from the mating plug-in connection apparatus by

    - fixing the at least one locking device (17) in the unlocked position by means of the unlocking device, and

    - releasing the plug-in connection apparatus from the mating plug-in connection apparatus.

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