EP1679767A1 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A first casing part (FCP) (10) acts as a socket casing and plugs together with a second casing part (SCP) (12) as a plug-in casing. A lever (14) engages with the SCP and swivels on bearings on the FCP so that, when it swivels, the lever causes linear motion relative to the FCP and parallel to a plug-in direction (16), so as to plug together and release the FCP and the SCP engaged with the lever.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical connector having a first housing part, in particular a socket housing, a second housing part which can be plugged together with the first housing part, in particular a plug housing, and a lever which can be brought into engagement with the second housing part.

Such a connector is basically known. By a corresponding actuation of the lever, the housing parts can bring in a final locked state or release from this. A problem in the known connector proves that the housing parts can easily tilt against each other when operating the lever.

The invention has for its object to provide an electrical connector that can be handled easier and safer.

To solve the problem, an electrical connector with the features of claim 1 is provided.

The plug connector according to the invention comprises a first housing part, in particular a socket housing, a second housing part which can be plugged together with the first housing part, in particular a plug housing, and a lever which can be brought into engagement with the second housing part and which is pivotably mounted on the first housing part in such a way that Lever during its pivoting performs a linear movement relative to the first housing part and parallel to the insertion direction to bring the first housing part and the lever engaging with the second housing part in a mated state or to be released from this.

The lever according to the invention is thus not mounted with respect to the first housing part fixedly arranged pivot axis on the first housing part, but the lever is both pivotally and slidably connected to the first housing part with respect to the first housing part. In this case, the pivot axis extends in particular through a transversely to the insertion direction seen central region of the first housing part.

In order to control the pivoting movement of the lever into a translation of the pivot axis, i. translate into a linear movement of the lever relative to the first housing part, a transmission mechanism is provided. By a corresponding design of the transmission mechanism, it is possible to specify the ratio with which the force to be applied for the pivoting of the lever is converted into a force parallel to the plugging direction.

The translation of the lever is parallel to the plugging direction, namely when assembling the housing parts in the insertion direction and when separating the housing parts against the insertion direction. During its movement in the direction of insertion, the lever brought into engagement with the second housing part pulls the housing parts evenly and in particular without tilting the housing parts, and a correct mating, ie a correct plug connection, of the housing parts is achieved. Conversely, the lever pushes the housing parts during its translation apart the plug-in direction, whereby the separation of the housing parts is facilitated.

Since a relative movement of the housing parts parallel to the insertion direction in assembled housing parts is not possible without a linear movement of the lever and thus not without pivoting the lever, the lever not only ensures a correct connection of the housing parts, but also for securing the connector in the mated State. The lever thus fulfills a dual function.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

According to a preferred embodiment of the connector, the lever between an insertion position, in which the first housing part and the second housing part are at least partially assembled, and a locking position pivotally, in which the first housing part and the second housing part fully assembled and secured against relative movement in the insertion direction are. The lever thus not only facilitates the mating of the housing parts, but he exercises in its locking position and a locking function, so that the housing parts are protected against unintentional separation.

Advantageously, the lever and the first housing cooperate by means of a toothing, which is arranged in particular in the region of the pivot axis of the lever. By the teeth, the pivotal movement of the lever can be implemented in a particularly simple manner in a linear movement of the lever relative to the first housing part.

Preferably, the lever is mounted on the housing part by means of at least one bearing protrusion provided with a plurality of teeth. By the at least one bearing projection also extends the pivot axis of the lever.

It is particularly advantageous if the first housing part has a guide, which extends in the plugging direction and is provided with a linear arrangement of teeth at least in regions, for each bearing projection of the lever. The guide fulfills a dual function by on the one hand leads the bearing projection of the lever and thus dictates the direction of translation of the lever, and on the other hand by means of its linear arrangement of teeth gear-like manner with the teeth of the bearing projection cooperates to move the lever during pivoting of the lever to effect along the lead. The interaction of the toothed bearing projection and the linear array of teeth provided guide of the first housing part is a particularly simple form of transmission mechanism.

It is further preferred if the second housing part has two guide pins which are spaced apart from one another transversely to the plugging direction and / or in the plugging direction and the first housing part has two guides spaced apart from one another and extending in the plugging direction. By engaging in the guides guide pin, the second housing part is guided on the first housing part. In this way, a tilting of the housing parts is even better avoided and a correct assembly of the housing parts even better ensured. The interaction of the guide pin with the guides corresponds to a parallel feed, which is achieved according to the invention by a single lever.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the lever has two, in particular about the pivot axis of the lever, curved guide slots for guiding a respective guide pin. The curvature is chosen such that the guide pins can move during pivoting of the lever along the guide slots. In the locking position of the lever, the guide slots in the region of the guide pins extend approximately transversely to the plug-in direction, so that the guide pins are prevented from moving parallel to the plug-in direction. In this way, a secure locking of the housing parts is achieved.

The guide slots can be arranged offset to one another and / or each have a different curvature. By such guide slots and such guide pins of the second housing part can be added or guided, which are spaced apart not only transversely to the direction of insertion, but also in the insertion direction.

Preferably, the lever has two insertion grooves extending in the direction of insertion and each passing into a guide slot for the guide pins. By inserting the insertion of the guide pin of the second housing part is facilitated in the guide slots when mating the housing parts.

Advantageously, the lever is U-shaped and mounted on opposite sides of the housing part at this. This gives the lever a special stability.

Preferably, the connector is formed symmetrically with respect to a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis of the lever center plane. The lever and the housing parts thus act together on opposite sides of the connector. The lever is in other words mounted on opposite sides of the connector to the first housing part and toothed with this. Likewise, the second housing part is guided on opposite sides on the first housing part.

The pivoting of the lever is thus implemented on opposite sides of the connector in a translation of the lever and thereby in a relative movement of the housing parts. This leads, together with the symmetrical guidance of the second housing part on the first housing part to a particularly secure mating of the housing parts and in particular prevents tilting of the housing parts.

Fig. 1

eine Explosionsansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen elektrischen Steckverbinders;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Steckverbinders von Fig. 1 mit teilweise zusammengesteckten ersten und zweiten Gehäuseteilen und mit in Einführstellung befindlichem Hebel;

Fig. 3

(A) eine erste Querschnittsansicht, (B) eine zweite Querschnittsansicht und (C) eine Draufsicht auf eine von dem zweiten Gehäuseteil abgewandte Stirnseite des ersten Gehäuseteils mit in Einführstellung befindlichem Hebel, wobei der Draufsicht (C) die Lage der Schnitte von (A) und (B) zu entnehmen sind;

Fig. 4

(A) eine erste Querschnittsansicht und (B) eine zweite Querschnittsansicht des Steckverbinders von Fig. 1 mit einem um etwa 45° verschwenkten Hebel, wobei die Lage der Querschnitte derjenigen von Fig. 3 entspricht; und

Fig. 5

(A) eine erste Querschnittsansicht und (B) eine zweite Querschnittsansicht des Steckverbinders von Fig. 1 mit in Verriegelungsstellung befindlichem Hebel, wobei die Lage der Querschnitte derjenigen von Fig. 3 entspricht.

The invention will now be described purely by way of example with reference to an advantageous embodiment with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

an exploded view of an electrical connector according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of the connector of Figure 1 with partially mated first and second housing parts and befindlichem in insertion with lever.

Fig. 3

(A) a first cross-sectional view, (B) a second cross-sectional view and (C) a plan view of an end face remote from the second housing part of the first housing part with lever in the insertion position, the plan view (C) showing the position of the sections of (A) and (B) are to be taken;

Fig. 4

(A) is a first cross-sectional view and (B) is a second cross-sectional view of the connector of Figure 1 with a pivoted about 45 ° lever, wherein the position of the cross sections of that of Figure 3 corresponds. and

Fig. 5

(A) is a first cross-sectional view and (B) is a second cross-sectional view of the connector of Fig. 1 with the lever in the locked position, the position of the cross sections corresponding to that of Fig. 3.

The electrical connector according to the invention shown in Fig. 1 comprises a first housing part 10, a second housing part 12 and a lever 14. All three components 10, 12, 14 comprise a plastic material. Preferably, each is an injection molded part.

In the present embodiment, the first housing part 10 is formed as a female housing and provided for receiving a plurality of female-type electrical connection elements. At the end facing away from the second housing part 12, the first housing part 10 has a plurality of hollow cylindrical shafts 15, which serve to guide electrical circular conductors.

The second housing part 12 is designed as a plug housing and provided for receiving an adapted number of plug contacts. For connecting the socket-like connection elements with the plug contacts, the housing parts 10, 12 can be plugged together, wherein the second housing part 12 in the present embodiment, at least in sections in the first housing part 10 can be inserted. The plugging direction is indicated in Fig. 1 by the arrow 16.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lever 14 is U-shaped. Two legs 18 connected to one another by a base 17 engage on opposite sides of the first housing part 10 in lateral guide shafts 19 of the first housing part 10 provided for this purpose. The lever 14 is pivotable between an insertion position and a locking position and mounted linearly relative to the first housing part 10 movable on this.

For supporting the lever 14 on the first housing part 10, a bearing projection 20 is provided on the inside 22 of each leg 18. The bearing projections 20 have on their side facing the base 17 of the leg more, in the present case three, teeth 24.

In a direction transverse to the insertion direction middle region of opposite sides of the first housing part 10 is in each case one extending in the insertion direction 16 guide 26 is provided. The guides 26 serve to receive and guide the bearing projections 20 of the lever 14th

Each guide 26 has a linear arrangement of teeth 28 on one of its longitudinal sides. The teeth 28 are arranged relative to the teeth 24 of the lever 14 such that the teeth 24 of the lever and the teeth 28 of the first housing part 10 at least partially engage. This results in a pivoting of the lever 14 to a linear movement of the bearing projections 20 along the guides 26, as will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

Fig. 3 shows the connector with the lever 14 in the insertion position. Figs. 3A and 3B show different cross-sectional views of the connector, with the section EE shown in Fig. 3A further inside is the section FF shown in Fig. 3B. The exact position of the sections EE and FF are shown in Fig. 3C shown plan view of the second housing part facing away from the front side of the connector.

When located in the insertion position lever 14 adjacent to the base 17 portions 30 of the legs 18 are oriented substantially transverse to the insertion direction 16. The sections 30 also close approximately flush with the shafts 15 in this lever position.

As can be seen in FIG. 3A, the bearing projections 20 are arranged in the insertion position of the lever 14 in an end region of the guides 26 facing the second housing part 12. A first tooth 24 'of each bearing projection 20 engages a first tooth space 32 of each guide 26.

At the first tooth 24 of each bearing projection 20 is followed in the insertion position of the lever parallel to the insertion direction 16 oriented first straight section 34, which merges into a direction transverse to the insertion direction 16 second straight section 36. The second straight section 36 is adjoined by an approximately circularly curved section 38 lying opposite the teeth 24 and enclosing an angular range of approximately 135 °, which in turn merges into a third straight section 40. The third straight section 40 simultaneously forms an edge of the third tooth 24 "'of the bearing projection 20.

While the first tooth 24 'of each bearing projection 20 engages the first tooth gap 32 of each guide 26, the first and second straight portions 34, 36 and the curved portion 38 are correspondingly straight or curved wall sections 42, 44, 46 of the guides 26 at.

The first housing part 10 has in the region of the guides 26 for the bearing projections 20 each have two guides 48 which extend from the guides 26 for the bearing projections 20 parallel to the insertion direction 16 and are open on the second housing part 12 facing side of the housing part 10 , The guides 48 on one side of the first housing part 10 are spaced from each other, wherein the distance between the guides 48 corresponds approximately to the width of the guide 26 for the bearing projections 20. The guides 48 are aligned approximately with the parallel to the insertion direction 16 wall portions 50 of the guides 26 for the bearing projections 20.

Each guide 48 serves to receive or guide a guide pin 52 of the second housing part 12. The guide pins 52 each have a first straight section 54 oriented parallel to the plug-in direction 16 on their mutually facing sides. Each guide pin 52 further includes a second straight portion 56 which is oblique to the first straight portion 54 and forms an angle of about 60 ° therewith. In a region opposite the straight sections 54, 56, the guide pins 52 have a part-circular profile.

The guide pins 52 on one side of the second housing part 12 are each spaced transversely to the plug-in direction 16, this distance being adapted to the spacing of the guides 48 of the first housing part 10. In addition, the guide pins 52 are also arranged offset to one another in the insertion direction 16, ie, the one guide pin 52 ', in the drawing of the base 17 of the lever 14th remote guide pin 52 'is seen in the insertion direction 16 in front of the other guide pin 52 "arranged.

When mating the housing parts 10, 12, the guide pins 52 are inserted into the guides 48 of the first housing part 10. In this case, the oriented parallel to the insertion direction 16 first straight portions 54 of the guide pin 52 on the guides 48 bounding wall portions 57 of the first housing part 10.

As can be seen in FIG. 3B, the legs 18 of the lever 14 also each have two curved guide rails 58, 60 arranged offset from one another for guiding the guide pins 52 of the second housing part 12. The guide slots 58, 60 extend along circular paths, the centers of each of which lie in the region of the pivot axis of the lever 14. In this case, the circular path along which the first guide slot 58 extends has a smaller radius than the circular path along which the second guide slot 60 extends. In other words, the first guide slot 58 is more curved than the second guide slot 60. The first guide slot 58 also has a smaller length than the second guide slot 60.

In the region of its end remote from the base 17 of the lever 14, each guide slot 58, 60 merges into an insertion groove 62, 64. The insertion grooves 62, 64 extend parallel to the insertion direction 16 and are open at their end facing the second housing part 12. Furthermore, the insertion grooves 62, 64 are aligned with the guides 48 of the first housing part 10, so that the guide pins 52 of the second housing part 12 during mating of the housing parts 10, 12 not only in the guides 48, but at the same time in the insertion grooves 62, 64 introduced become.

To fully assemble and lock together the housing parts 10, 12, the lever 14 is pivoted, i. pressed down in the drawing (Fig. 4). The cooperation of the teeth 24 of the bearing projections 20 with the linear arrangement of teeth 28 of the guides 26 causes the rotation of the bearing projections 20 into a linear movement of the bearing projections 20 within the guides 26 implemented.

In other words, the pivoting of the lever 14 results in a translation of the lever 14 relative to the first housing part 10. When folding down the lever 14 to assemble the housing parts 10, 12, the translation of the lever takes place in the insertion direction 16, i. in the direction of the second housing part 12 opposite side of the first housing part 10th

During the pivoting of the lever 14, the guide pins 52 of the second housing part 12 move along the guide slots 58, 60, as shown in Fig. 4B. The guide pins 52 are now not only with their first straight sections 54 on the guides 48 of the first housing part 10 limiting wall sections 57, but also with their second straight sections 56 on the guide slots 58, 60 bounding wall portions 66 of the lever 14 at.

These wall portions 66 engage behind the guide pin 52 in other words to the rear in the insertion direction 16, ie in the drawing so on the lower sides of the guide pin 52. As soon as the guide pin 52 by the pivoting of the lever 14 in the guide slots 58, 60 have moved in, the guide pins 52 are thus secured to a linear movement parallel to the insertion direction 16 relative to the lever 14. Instead, the guide pin 52 and thus the second housing part 12 are moved together with the lever 14 in the insertion direction 16 or counter to the insertion direction 16, depending on the direction in which the pivoting of the lever 14 takes place.

When folding down the lever 14, as shown in the sequence of Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the second housing part 12 is moved by the lever 14 and in the guide slots 58, 60 engaging guide pin 52 in the insertion direction 16, i. pulled into the first housing part 10.

Fig. 5 shows the connector in the fully assembled and locked state. The lever 14 is in its locking position, in which it is folded so far that the base 17 of the lever 14 rests against the first housing part 10. As a result of the pivoting of the lever 14, the bearing projections 20 have moved along the guides 26 as far as the end regions of the associated guides 26 facing away from the second housing part 12.

In other words, the lever 14 has undergone a maximum translation relative to the first housing part 10, and the second housing part 12 has been drawn into the first housing part 10 at most. In this end position of the second housing part 12 relative to the first housing part 10, the guide pins 52 are in the region of the closed ends of the guides 48 and in the region of the closed ends of the guide slots 58,60.

A second guide slot 58 opposite straight rear side portion 68 of the legs 18 of the lever 14 extends in the locking position of the lever 14 parallel to an upper side of the wells 15 of the first housing part 10 and almost flush with these from. As a result, the connector in the locked state has a particularly compact design.

To separate the housing parts 10, 12, the lever 14 only has to be folded back again, i. to be folded up in the drawing. Such a pivoting of the lever 14 causes a linear movement of the lever 14 relative to the first housing part 10 against the insertion direction 16, whereby the second housing part 12 is pushed out of the first housing part 10.

In this case, the guide pin 52 of the second housing part 12 move not only against the insertion direction 16 along the guides 48 of the first housing part 10, but also along the guide slots 58, 60 of the lever 14. Once the lever 14 has reached its insertion position, there are the guide pin 52 again in the region of the insertion grooves 62, 64, so that the guide pins 52 are removed from the insertion grooves 62, 64 and from the guides 48 and the housing parts 10, 12 can be completely separated from each other.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

housing part

12

housing part

14

lever

15

shaft

16

plug-in direction

17

Base

18

leg

19

guide shaft

20

bearing projection

22

inside

24

tooth

26

guide

28

tooth

30

outside

32

gap

34

straight section

36

straight section

38

curved section

40

straight section

42

straight wall section

44

straight wall section

46

curved wall section

48

guide

50

wall section

52

spigot

54

straight section

56

straight section

57

wall section

58

guide link

60

guide link

62

insertion groove

64

insertion groove

66

wall section

68

Back portion

Claims (11)

An electrical connector having a first housing part (10), in particular a socket housing, a second housing part (12) which can be plugged together with the first housing part (10), in particular a plug housing, and a lever (14) which can be brought into engagement with the second housing part (12) is pivotally mounted on the first housing part (10), that the lever (14) during its pivoting a linear movement relative to the first housing part (10) and parallel to the plugging direction (16) performs to the first housing part (10) and with the lever (14) in engagement second housing part (12) to bring into a mated state or to solve this. Connector according to claim 1,
characterized ,
in that the lever (14) can be pivoted between an insertion position in which the first housing part (10) and the second housing part (12) can be at least partially joined together, and a locking position in which the first housing part (10) and the second housing part (12 ) are completely assembled and secured against a relative movement parallel to the insertion direction (16). Connector according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized,
that the lever (14) and the first housing part (10) by means of a toothing (24, 28) cooperate, which is arranged in particular in the region of the pivot axis of the lever (14). Connector according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized ,
in that the lever (14) is mounted on the first housing part (10) by means of at least one bearing protrusion (20) provided with a plurality of teeth (24). Connector according to claim 4,
characterized ,
that the first housing part (10) provided extending in the plug-in direction (16) and at least regionally with a linear arrangement of teeth (28) guide (26) for each bearing projection (20) of the lever (14). Connector according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized ,
in that the second housing part (12) has two guide pins (52) which are spaced apart from each other transversely to the plug-in direction (16) and / or plug-in direction (16) and the first housing part (10) has two guides (48) spaced apart from each other and extending in the plug-in direction (16). for the guide pin (52). Connector according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized ,
in that the lever (14) has two guide slots (58, 60) curved, in particular around the pivot axis of the lever (14), for guiding a guide pin (52) in each case. Connector according to claim 7,
characterized ,
that the guide slots (58, 60) are arranged offset from one another and / or each have a different curvature. Connector according to claim 7 or 8,
characterized ,
in that the lever (14) has two insertion grooves (62, 64) for the guide pins (52) which extend in the insertion direction (16) and pass into a respective guide slot (58, 60). Connector according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized ,
that the lever (14) is U-shaped and is mounted on opposite sides of the first housing part (10) on this. Connector according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized ,
that the plug connector is formed symmetrically with respect to a pivot axis of the lever (14) the vertical median plane.

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