EP2603954B1 - Power outlet - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a socket for connecting a plug in the exterior of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 with a socket housing in which a plug receiving opening is formed with electrical contacts for plugging a plug and making an electrical connection, and with a hinged to the socket housing cover , which in its closed position sealingly closes the plug-receiving opening and is biased in the closing direction. In the closed position, a seal received in the lid cooperates with the edge of the plug-receiving opening as a sealing surface, so that no water can enter the plug-receiving opening when the socket is not connected to a plug and the plug-receiving opening through the Cover is covered.

In general, the hinged to the socket housing cover are mounted on a hinge and loaded by means of a leg spring in the closing direction. For this reason, the moment acting in the closing direction on the lid in the open position is greater than in the closed position of the lid. The spring force of the leg spring must be in a fully or partially open position of the lid just so high that the lid closes when you release. In order to improve the tightness of the socket between the closed lid and the wall of the plug-receiving opening, it is basically desirable that the spring force is as high as possible even in the closed position of the lid. This could be achieved by a sufficiently strong leg spring, which then develops in the open position of the lid such a large closing force that a considerable risk of injury exists when the lid accidentally released in the open position and a finger between the lid and clamped in the socket housing becomes. In order to minimize the risk of injury, the closing force of the lid is therefore limited at currently available on the market sockets.

This leads in practice, especially in a use of sockets in the field of agriculture or trucks to problems in the tightness, since trucks and agricultural equipment during their use often heavily pollute and possibly cleaned by high-pressure cleaners again. It may happen that the lid is lifted from its closed position by the force of the water jet, so that moisture enters the contact area of the socket, which can lead to short circuits in a later case of use. Ingress of water into the interior of the socket can furthermore lead to undesired corrosion of the electrical contacts.

From the DE 20 2009 002 880 U1 is a socket with a socket housing and a hinged to the socket housing cover for closing an insertion for inserting a plug into the socket known. A locking mechanism comprises a barrier consisting of two brackets, which engage around the cover in the closed state and engage from opposite sides of the cover over the edge of the cover and secure the cover in the closed position. By means of an actuating element designed as a lever, the locks can be pressed laterally away from the cover in order to allow the cover to be opened.

The DE 298 06 587 U1 and the DE 29 07 051 A1 each describe a similar socket with a lid. An unlocking lever is mounted on the lid, which carries a latching device which cooperates with a counter-latching device on the collar of the can body to secure the lid in the closed position.

From the DE 44 16 992 A1 a waterproof closure assembly for a charging connection device in the form of a socket is known, which can be covered by means of a waterproof cap, wherein the cap around a Axially rotatably mounted on the socket is provided. A camming surface is formed about the axis on the cap, which cooperates with a resilient element which preloads the cap in the closed state in the closing direction and keeps it open in the open state. In addition, on the axis of the opposite side of the cap, an elastically evasive projection may be provided, which is inserted with the cap closed in a securing opening on the socket housing. The lock signals the user to seal the cap watertight.

The US 2004/0074745 A1 beschriebt a socket with a lockable, two-armed bracket that prevents the opening of a lid of the socket by the arms of the bracket cover a portion of the lid. If the bar is not locked, it can be folded down and releases the lid of the socket for opening.

It has as its object to provide a socket that achieves improved hold of the lid in the closed position of the lid. According to one important application, the sealing of the contact area should be improved by an increased closing force of the lid resting on the wall of the plug receiving opening.

The stated object is achieved with the features of claim 1. It is envisaged that at the socket a holding force of the lid in its closed position increasing Zuhalte mechanism is provided. According to the invention, this locking mechanism does not form a rigid lock which must be unlocked before opening by means of a bolt, but rather an arrangement with a retaining element which engages the cover or a locking bracket only in the closed position and can be moved against a particular adjustable force is trained. This holding element engages in the closed position of the lid or locking bracket on this and holds the lid or the lid supporting the locking bracket closed an additional force acting in particular in the closing direction, which must be overcome when opening the lid. According to the invention, however, this additional holding force does not further bias the cover in the closing direction. A separate unlocking of the lid or the locking bracket, for example. By manual release or actuation of an unlocking, according to the invention is not necessary. Nevertheless, according to the invention, however, in an open position of the cover which differs from the closed position, no additional force acts in the closing direction of the cover. In this case, the closed position of the lid does not necessarily have to be the position of the lid, in which the lid rests with maximum force on a wall of the plug receiving opening or a seal for sealing the contact area. The closed position of the lid can also be a position in which the lid rests - regardless of the biasing force acting in the closing direction - with a defined contact pressure on the seal or the wall of the plug-receiving opening. This position can for example be defined by a defined distance of the lid from the wall of the plug receiving opening and serve to set the contact pressure defined on the seal so that on the one hand a reliable seal is achieved and on the other hand, the force acting on the seal is not so great in that the seal is damaged over time by the force acting on it.

In general, therefore, the invention relates to increasing the holding force of the lid in a previously defined closed position. The closed position does not necessarily have to be a position in which the lid rests with maximum closing force on a wall of the plug receiving opening. The closed position is rather a position of the lid in which the lid is to be in its closed position, even if the opening to be closed in this position is not closed completely or not with maximum force. In a preferred application, the additional holding force is a closing force of the lid for sealing a plug receiving opening.

In order to build up the holding force according to the invention, the locking mechanism has a retaining element which deflects against a restoring force and acts on the cover in its closed position in the closing direction with an additional retaining force. After overcoming this holding force, the holding element deviates in a guide provided for this purpose. After moving the lid or a separate locking bracket, which may be part of the locking mechanism and acts on the lid, from the closed position no force acting in the closing direction of the lid holding force is exerted more on the lid. This is already achieved after opening the lid or locking bracket by a small opening angle from the closed position of, for example, 5 to 10 °. In this context, it is particularly advantageous if the guide is designed such that the holding element is moved in the guide substantially perpendicular to the additionally acting holding force.

The retaining element engages in the closed position of the lid and / or the locking bracket in a receiving opening. The retaining element received in the receiving opening is designed such that it is supported on the edge or the inner wall of the receiving opening in order to exert the additional holding force on the lid and to increase the closing force of the lid in its closed position. However, if in the opening direction a force overcoming the additional holding force is exerted on the holding element, the holding element in the guide deviates from its own restoring force. It is pushed out of the receiving opening and guided in the guide provided for this purpose. If the holding element is completely received in the guide or guide opening, it is preferably applied to a restoring force of the holding element receiving wall or guide surface against which the holding element is pressed by its restoring force.

During a movement of the holding element relative to this surface, only a small frictional force acts in comparison to the additional holding force in the closed position. If the lid or the locking bar of the lid is in a different open position from the closed position, the lid or locking bracket can therefore be moved without significant additional force relative to the socket housing. In particular, no force is applied by this friction force in the closing direction of the lid or locking bracket.

The additional holding force in the closed position of the lid or the locking bracket can be achieved in an advantageous manner, when the holding element has a rounded and / or beveled surface for transmitting power to a the additional holding force receiving surface. By a suitable bevel or rounding with a suitable radius of curvature is achieved that the holding force is preferably applied to a point or surface area, for example, the receiving opening, so that the force and its direction are easily controlled. In particular, the bevel or rounding can be designed such that in the closed position the force exerted during the opening movement acts largely in the direction of the additional holding force receiving surface and only to a small proportion obliquely or in particular perpendicular to the holding direction. With this force acting obliquely or perpendicular to the holding force, the holding element is then moved against its restoring force out of the receiving opening and releases the lid or the locking bar for an opening movement. About the angle between the tangential direction of the rounding or bevel and the point of attack on the holding force receiving surface, which is also referred to as a holding surface, the force ratios can be optimally adjusted. As a result of this dynamic pressure angle according to the invention, the additional holding force can be well adjusted and formed in such a way that it acts selectively only in the desired position of the lid or of the locking stirrup.

According to the invention, the holding element is a ball. This ball can be movably received in the guide or guide opening, which in particular has an inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of the ball. As a result, the ball is freely movable in the guide opening. According to a simple embodiment, the guide opening may be formed in the manner of a blind bore, i. have an open and a closed end. As the restoring force of the holding element generating element can be in the guide opening, a spring, in particular a coil spring, be accommodated, which is supported on the closed end of the guide opening and abuts at the opposite end of the ball also received in the guide opening. The length of the guide opening or the spring is dimensioned such that the spring and the abutting ball in the non-tensioned state of the spring are not completely absorbed in the guide opening. Under tensioning of the spring, the ball can then be pressed completely into the guide opening, so that the spring with its restoring force biases the ball in the direction of the open end of the guide opening. In the assembled state of the socket or the locking mechanism according to the invention, the ball is supported against an open end of the guide opening occlusive wall or guide surface, in which the receiving opening for partially receiving the ball or generally the holding element is formed. In the closed position of the lid or the locking bracket, the holding element partially enters the receiving opening and generated by the support on the (inner) wall of the receiving opening, the inventively provided additional holding force.

The ball is particularly advantageous because the retaining element can not tilt in the guide opening, a simple installation without a preferred direction of the holding element is possible and only a small frictional force is generated when the holding element is moved out of the receiving opening in the closed position and is supported on the wall or guide surface. In addition, it is achieved by the ball that the holding force is exerted only at one point on the wall or edge of the receiving opening, in the tangential direction and a direction normal to the tangential direction.

According to the invention, the inner diameter of the receiving opening is smaller than the outer diameter of the ball. Preferably, however, the receiving opening is only slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the ball, ie preferably about 5 to 15% smaller. This causes the tangent on the ball surface in the closed position of the latch to be aligned nearly parallel to the wall of the receiving opening such that a large force component in the direction of the holding force acts against the wall of the receiving opening and only a small force component is applied perpendicular thereto in the direction opposite to the restoring force of the spring. As a result, a particularly high, additional holding force is generated and achieved only a minimal force component against the restoring force, so that the force when opening the lid or locking bracket to overcome the holding force is very large.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the holding element is mounted with its restoring force causing element in the socket housing. There is usually enough space available to receive the holding element and, for example, a spring for generating the restoring force in the guide opening of the guide. However, the invention is expressly not limited to such an embodiment, but also includes embodiments in which the retaining element is received for example in the lid itself or the locking bracket.

In one embodiment, the receiving opening may be formed in a locking bracket, which is preferably pivotally hinged to the socket housing and is foldable over the lid in its closed position. In this position, the retaining element engages in the receiving opening of the locking bracket, which then secures the cover.

As already mentioned, in another embodiment, the retaining element in the cover or the locking bow can be movably guided against a restoring force and a receiving opening can be formed, for example, in the socket housing. The remaining features of the locking mechanism and / or the socket can be realized accordingly in this embodiment.

Easy handling of the locking bar and a secure Closing action can be achieved when the locking bracket is hinged to a side opposite to the plug-receiving opening side of the socket housing as the lid.

Lid and locking bracket fold in this embodiment so towards each other, wherein the lid is biased in the closing direction and the locking bracket must then be operated manually according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. To open the lid from the closed position of the locking bracket can initially be opened manually against the additional holding force of the locking mechanism. However, it is also possible to solve the locking bracket by pulling the cover with appropriate force with.

According to the invention, the locking bow has at least one, but preferably two, arms which can be swiveled over the edge of the cover, which in the closed position of the cover and the locking bracket rest on a pressing surface of the cover in order to exert the additional holding force on the cover. The contact surface between the arm and the arms of the locking bracket and the socket may be formed in the direction transverse to the pivot axis of the lid and the locking bracket centrally with respect to the plug-receiving opening. As a result, a uniform contact pressure is achieved, which are optionally adjustable by elongated holes in the cover storage and the lid spring for biasing the lid in the closing direction.

Other features, advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and the drawings. All described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination form the subject of the present invention.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Steckdose in dreidimensionaler Ansicht mit einem einen Verriegelungsbügel aufweisenden erfindungsgemäßen Zuhalte-Mechanismus in der Geschlossen-Stellung des Deckels und des Verriegelungsbügels;

Fig. 2

die Steckdose gemäß Fig. 1 mit geöffnetem Verriegelungsbügel;

Fig. 3

die Steckdose gemäß Fig. 1 mit geöffnetem Deckel und geöffnetem Verriegelungsbügel;

Fig. 4

die Steckdose gemäß Fig. 1 mit eingestecktem Stecker;

Fig. 5

die Steckdose gemäß Fig. 1 mit durch den Verriegelungsbügel gesicherten Stecker;

Fig. 6

die Steckdose gemäß Fig. 1 in einer Explosionsdarstellung;

Fig. 7

eine Teilschnittzeichnung der Steckdose gemäß Fig. 1 im Bereich des Zuhalte-Mechanismus bei geschlossenem Deckel und geschlossenem Verriegelungsbügel;

Fig. 8

eine Teilschnittzeichnung gemäß Fig. 1 im Bereich des Zuhalte-Mechanismus bei eingestecktem Stecker und geschlossenem Verriegelungsbügel;

Fig. 9

eine Teilschnittzeichnung der Steckdose gemäß Fig. 1 bei teilweise geöffnetem Verriegelungsbügel;

Fig. 10

eine nicht erfindungsgemäße Ausführungsform einer Steckdose mit einem unmittelbar auf den Deckel einwirkenden Zuhalte-Mechanismus in der Geschlossen-Stellung des Deckels;

Fig. 11

die Steckdose gemäß Fig. 10 in der Offen-Stellung des Deckels;

Fig. 12

eine nicht erfindungsgemäße Ausführungsform einer Steckdose mit einem unmittelbar auf den Deckel einwirkenden Zuhalte-Mechanismus in der Geschlossen-Stellung des Deckels;

Fig. 13

die Steckdose gemäß Fig. 12 in der Offen-Stellung des Deckels;

Fig. 14

eine Prinzipskizze des Zuhalte-Mechanismus in der Offen-Stellung;

Fig. 15

eine Prinzipskizze des Zuhalte-Mechanismus während des Schließvorgangs in einer ersten Position;

Fig. 16

eine Prinzipskizze des Zuhalte-Mechanismus während des Schließvorgangs in einer zweiten Position;

Fig. 17

eine Prinzipskizze des Zuhalte-Mechanismus in der Geschlossen-Stellung;

Fig. 18

die Steckdose gemäß Fig. 1 in einer dreidimensionalen Seitenansicht und

Fig. 19

die Steckdose in der Ansicht gemäß Fig. 18 in einer Schnittdarstellung.

Showing:

Fig. 1

an outlet according to the invention in three-dimensional view with a locking bracket according to the invention Zuhalte mechanism in the closed position of the lid and the locking bracket;

Fig. 2

the socket according to Fig. 1 with open latch bracket;

Fig. 3

the socket according to Fig. 1 with lid open and latch open;

Fig. 4

the socket according to Fig. 1 with plug inserted;

Fig. 5

the socket according to Fig. 1 with secured by the locking bracket connector;

Fig. 6

the socket according to Fig. 1 in an exploded view;

Fig. 7

a partial sectional view of the socket according to Fig. 1 in the area of the locking mechanism with the lid closed and the locking latch closed;

Fig. 8

a partial section drawing according to Fig. 1 in the area of the locking mechanism with the plug plugged in and the locking latch closed;

Fig. 9

a partial sectional view of the socket according to Fig. 1 with partially opened locking bracket;

Fig. 10

a non-inventive embodiment of a socket with a directly acting on the lid locking mechanism in the closed position of the lid;

Fig. 11

the socket according to Fig. 10 in the open position of the lid;

Fig. 12

a non-inventive embodiment of a socket with a directly acting on the lid locking mechanism in the closed position of the lid;

Fig. 13

the socket according to Fig. 12 in the open position of the lid;

Fig. 14

a schematic diagram of the locking mechanism in the open position;

Fig. 15

a schematic diagram of the locking mechanism during the closing operation in a first position;

Fig. 16

a schematic diagram of the locking mechanism during the closing operation in a second position;

Fig. 17

a schematic diagram of the locking mechanism in the closed position;

Fig. 18

the socket according to Fig. 1 in a three-dimensional side view and

Fig. 19

the socket in the view according to Fig. 18 in a sectional view.

In the Fig. 1 illustrated socket 1 is used to connect a connector 2, in Fig. 4 is shown. The socket 1 is typically mounted in the exterior of a vehicle and used to connect trailers or other electrical consumers to the circuit of the motor vehicle.

For this purpose, the socket 1 can be screwed by means not shown screws through the mounting holes 3 on the motor vehicle.

The present invention is particularly suitable for use in towing vehicles that are used in the field of agriculture or construction equipment, and can be connected to the own circuit having trailer or other machines. For electrical supply of the trailer or machines they are equipped with a plug 2, which can be plugged into the socket 1.

In Fig. 1 the socket 1 is shown in a state in which no plug 2 is plugged into the socket 1. A connector plug-in opening 4 provided for insertion of the plug 2, as shown in FIG Fig. 3 is shown in Fig. 1 closed with a hinged to the socket housing 5 lid 6 sealing. The lid 6 is biased in the closing direction and additionally secured by a locking mechanism 7, which increases the holding or closing force of the lid 6 in its closed position. For this purpose, the locking mechanism 7 a locking bracket 8 with two each edge of the lid 6 cross arms 9 which rest in the closed position of the lid 6 and the locking bracket 7 on a pressing surface 10 of the lid 6 to the invention provided additional Holding force on the lid 6 exercise.

The locking bracket 8 is similar to the cover 6 hinged to the socket housing 5, wherein the pivot axes of the lid 6 and the locking bracket 8 spaced from each other are aligned parallel, so that the pivoting direction of the lid 6 and the locking bracket 8 are in parallel planes to each other.

The lid 6 is how Fig. 2 can be seen well, via a one-piece connected to the socket housing 5 lid holder 11 and the locking bracket 8 via a one-piece connected to the socket housing 5 U-bracket 12 hinged to the socket 1. Cover holder 11 and bracket holder 12 can be found on opposite sides of the plug-receiving opening 4 and are arranged such that the pivot axes for the cover 6 and the locking bracket 8 are arranged in parallel in the manner described. Characterized the lid 6 and the locking bracket 8 are folded from different sides on the plug-receiving opening 4. In Fig. 2 there is the lid biased in the closing direction 6 on the plug-receiving opening 4. The locking bracket 8 with the two arms 9, however, is shown in an open position. Since the locking bracket 8 is biased neither in the direction of its open position nor in the direction of its closed position, the locking bracket 8 remains after opening in the in Fig. 2 position shown.

The on her the lid 6 side facing straight or plan trained arms 9 of the locking bracket 8 come in the closed position of the lid 6 and locking bracket 8 on rounded pressing surfaces 10 of the lid 6 to lie, the pressure surfaces 10 in a direction transverse to the Swivel axes of cover 6 and locking bracket 8 are arranged in the middle of the plug-receiving opening 4, so that the arms 9 exert in the closed position of the locking bracket in the middle of the lid 6 a uniform contact pressure and achieve a reliable sealing effect.

When the locking bracket 8, as in Fig. 2 is shown opened, the lid can be opened against its exerted by a lid spring 13 biasing force, such as Fig. 3 shows. As a result, the plug receiving opening 4 is released with the contacts 14 arranged therein for attaching the plug 2. In order to seal the plug-receiving opening 4 in the closed position of the lid 6, a ring seal 15 is arranged in the cover 6, which cooperates with the front wall of the plug-receiving opening 4 as a sealing surface in the closed position of the lid 6.

In Fig. 4 schematically a plugged onto the socket 1 connector 2 is shown, which has a flange-like projection 16 at a position corresponding to the pressing surfaces 10 of the lid 6. This makes it possible to fold the locking bracket 8 again in the direction of the plug receiving opening such that the arms 9 rest on the flange-like projection 16 and also act on the plug 2 in its plugged into the socket 1 state with an additional holding force. This is in Fig. 5 shown.

In the following Fig. 6 the socket 1 with the cover 6 and the locking mechanism 7 are shown in an exploded view, which explains the structure and operation of the locking mechanism 7 according to the invention in more detail.

The lid 6 of the socket 1 is fixed by means of a spiral tension pin 17 on the lid holder 11, wherein the spiral clamping pin additionally receives a lid spring 13, which is designed as a leg spring, to bias the cover 6 in the direction of its closed position. Thus, the cover 6 is located on the front wall of the plug-receiving opening 4, if no plug 2 is inserted into the socket 1. As a result, the contacts 14 located in the plug-receiving opening 4 are protected from the entry of moisture, since the arranged in the lid 6 ring seal 15 rests on the front side of the plug-receiving opening 4.

However, the bias of the lid spring 13 may only be so great that no serious injury (crushing) occur when the lid 6 is accidentally released from its open position and a finger between the lid 6 and the front wall of the plug-receiving opening 4 squeezed becomes. However, the achievable under this condition closing force is usually not sufficient to keep the lid 6 reliably in its closed position when the towing vehicle for example, is cleaned with a pressurized water jet. In this case, it has hitherto been a regular occurrence that the lid 6 is lifted off slightly so that moisture enters the plug receiving opening 4. This can lead to short circuits or corrosion of the electrical contacts when used later.

In order to pressurize the cover 6 in its closed position with an additional holding force, the additional locking mechanism 7 is provided according to the invention, which has a locking bracket 8 in this embodiment, which is articulated by means of two spiral tension pins 17 on the bracket holder 12. Furthermore, the locking mechanism 7 has a guide 18 with two guide openings 19 arranged axially on opposite sides of the guide 18, the axes of which preferably run parallel to the pivot axis of the locking bracket 8 defined by the spiral tension pins 17 in the bracket holder 12.

In the trained in the manner of a blind hole guide opening 19, a compression spring 20 and a ball 21 are respectively received such that serving as a holding element ball 21 can be pressed against a restoring force of the compression spring 20 in the guide opening 19. In the mounted state of the locking bracket 8, the balls 21 are held against the restoring force of the compression springs 20 in the guide openings 19, since the balls 21 are supported on a wall or guide surface 22 of the locking bracket 8. In the closed position of the locking bracket 8 are provided in the wall surface 22 receiving openings 23 in front of each of the guide openings 19 and allow a partial escape of the balls 21 from the guide openings 19 in the receiving openings 23rd

The guide openings 19 and the receiving openings 23 are arranged coaxially in the closed position of the locking bracket 8 and thus also of the cover 6, wherein the diameter of the receiving openings 23 is smaller than the diameter of the guide openings 19, so that the balls 21 can not escape completely from the guide opening 19. Nevertheless, the balls cooperate with the inner wall or edge of the receiving openings 23, so that in the closed position of the locking bracket 8 an additional holding force is exerted on the locking bracket 8 or cover 6 by the arms 9 on the pressing surfaces 10 of the lid. 6 rest and the arranged in the lid 6 ring seal while pressing on the frontal wall of the plug-receiving opening.

This is in the Fig. 7 to 9 once again clarified. Fig. 7 shows the locking bracket 8 in its closed position, in which rest its arms 9 on the pressing surface 10 of the lid 6. In the guide 18 of the socket housing 5 with the two guide openings 19, the compression spring 20 and the ball 21 serving as a holding element are respectively received, wherein each compression spring 20 are compressed to produce a restoring force when the ball 21 is fully received in the guide opening 19.

This restoring force of the compression springs 20 causes the balls in the closed position of the locking bracket 8 partially enter the positioned in front of the guide opening 19 receiving openings 23 in the wall or guide surface 22, so that an additional force to open the locking bracket 8 are generated must, which pushes the ball 21 completely back into the guide opening 19. As a result, an additional holding force is exerted on the cover 6, without this would be locked with a rigid lock, which would break off in the case of excessive force application and would lead to damage to the socket 1 and the additional locking mechanism 7.

If the force applied to the locking bow 8 force is too large, the additional holding force is overcome on the locking bracket 8 and the locking bracket 8 opens in the same way as in an intended opening of the locking bracket 8 by train to the traction surfaces 24 of the locking bracket 8 takes place, which are formed on the arms 9 of the locking bracket 8 in particular laterally outwardly projecting.

A corresponding situation with regard to the locking mechanism 7 results when the plug 2 is plugged into the socket and the locking bracket 8 is in its closed position. This is in Fig. 8 clarified.

Fig. 9 shows the locking bracket 8 in a partial open position in which the arms 9 of the locking bracket 8 are lifted from the pressing surfaces 10 of the lid 6 a piece far. In this position, the locking bracket 8, the balls 21 are pressed against the restoring force of the compression springs 20 through the wall surface 22 of the locking bracket 8 in the guide hole 19, so that the locking bracket 8 can be moved freely up to a small frictional force of the balls 21 on the wall surface 22 , A significant additional holding force is exerted on the locking bracket 8 and in particular acts no restoring force on the locking bracket 8 in the direction of its closed position.

In the 10 and 11 or 12 and 13, a non-inventive embodiment of the locking mechanism 25 is shown, which acts directly on a lid 26, 30 of a socket, not shown. The socket is constructed according to the previously described socket 1, but with the exception that the guide 18 is formed immediately adjacent to the lid holder 11, in which the lid 26 is mounted. This guide, also not shown, is designed such that the guide opening in the 10 and 11 shown ball 21 and compression spring 20 respectively on both sides of the lid leads. The receiving opening 27 into which the ball 21 enters in the closed position of the lid 26 is formed in each case in a wall surface 28 of the lid 26, on which the ball 21 is supported when it is fully pressed into the guide opening. Fig. 10 shows accordingly the lid 26 in the closed position while Fig. 11 a partially opened lid 26 shows.

Another non-inventive embodiment is in the FIGS. 12 and 13 shown. In this serving as a holding element ball 21 and the compression spring 20 are replaced by a flexible member 28 which is fixed to the socket housing and a semicircular curved holding member 29 which in the closed position of the lid 30 in one in the lid 30 accordingly the shape of the holding member 29 formed receiving opening 31 engages when the lid 30 is in its closed position. When opening the lid 30, the holding element 29 of the flexible element 28 is pressed out of the receiving opening 31, for which purpose a corresponding receiving space is provided in the socket.

In the above-described embodiments according to 10 and 11 respectively. FIGS. 12 and 13 was therefore dispensed with the additional locking bracket 8 of the first embodiment, so that the locking mechanism 25 each directly on the lid 26, 30 attacks.

It is understood that other embodiments of the evading against a restoring force holding element are possible with the same operating principle.

The preferred kinematics of the locking mechanism 7, 25 will be described below with reference to the schematic sketches of FIGS. 14 to 17 described, with reference to a ball 21 as a holding element. With differently shaped, for example, rounded or bevelled retaining elements 29, however, the same function can be achieved.

In Fig. 14 is a guide 18 for the acted upon by a restoring force Fb by the compression spring 20 ball 21, which serves as an inventive retaining element. With Fr, the reaction force is on the restoring force Fb, which according to the in Fig. 14 shown position is absorbed by the wall surface 22, which is either part of the locking bracket 8 or the lid 26. This corresponds to an open position of the cover 26 and locking bracket 8. In the drawn coordinate system, the axis P is formed parallel to the axis of rotation of the lid 26 and the locking bracket 8 and the axis S perpendicular thereto.

According to Fig. 14 the ball 21 is completely received in the guide opening 19. The reaction force Fr is then directed against the restoring force Fb, the forces Fr and Fb being aligned parallel to the axis P in each case.

Once the ball 21, as in Fig. 15 9, the reaction force Fr in the normal direction to the tangent of the ball 21 at the point of contact of the ball 21 is aligned with the wall or guide surface 22 (edge of the receiving opening 23). This results in an engagement angle θ between the restoring force Fr and the axis P, so that the reaction force Fr has a force component Fa in the direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation P standing axis S, which exerts an additional holding force when opening the lid. This additional component Fa is in the in Fig. 15 shown position of the ball 21 still comparatively small, since the ball is minimally received in the receiving opening 23. The force component Fa increases when the receiving opening 23 is aligned with the guide opening 19 substantially parallel, such as Fig. 16 illustrated.

In a fully parallel alignment of the receiving opening 23 and the guide opening 19, which corresponds to a closed position of the lid 26 and the locking bracket 8, the ball 21 enters as far as possible into the receiving opening 23, which has a reduced diameter compared to the outer diameter of the ball 21 having. In this case, the force component Fa in the direction of the axis S increases significantly, although the restoring force Fb of the spring by the deflection of the ball 21st subsides. It creates a particularly high additional holding force on the lid.

A very high reaction force Fr must be applied to the cover in order to generate a component of force which overcomes the restoring force Fb in the direction of the axis P. As a result, the very high additional holding force is achieved in the closed position of the lid or the locking bracket without an additional restoring force is exerted on the lid in the open position of the lid or the locking bracket.

The additional holding force according to the invention thus occurs selectively only in the state of a closed lid or locking bar, so that the risk of injury is minimized by unintentional closing of the lid or the locking bar and at the same time a particularly high closing force of the lid is ensured, the moisture in the Plug receiving opening 4 prevents.

Fig. 18 shows the interaction of the arm 9 of the locking bracket 8 of the first embodiment with the round-shaped pressure surface 10 of the lid 4, whereby, as the sectional drawing according to Fig. 1 9 can be seen, a particularly uniform pressing force is exerted on the ring seal 15 of the lid, which rests on the front wall of the plug-receiving opening 4. On this frontal wall, an additional seal 32 may be applied.

List of reference numbers:

1

socket

2

plug

3

fastening opening

4

Plug receiving aperture

5

socket Outlets

6

cover

7

Zuhalte mechanism

8th

lock bag

9

poor

10

pressing surface

11

lidholder

12

cradle

13

cover spring

14

contacts

15

ring seal

16

flange-like projection

17

Spiral pin

18

guide

19

guide opening

20

compression spring

21

Ball, holding element

22

Wall or guide surface

23

receiving opening

24

pull face

25

Zuhalte mechanism

26

cover

27

receiving opening

28

flexible element

29

retaining element

30

cover

31

receiving opening

32

poetry

Claims (8)

1. A power outlet for connecting a plug (2) to the exterior of a motor vehicle with a power outlet casing (5), in which there is configured a plug reception aperture (4) with electrical contacts (14) for inserting a plug (2) and establishing an electrical connection, and with a lid (6) hinged to the power outlet casing (5) which, in its closed position, closes and seals the plug reception aperture (4) and is pre-tensioned in closing direction, wherein a hold-closed mechanism (7) which increases the holding power of the lid (6) in its closed position and comprises a retaining element (21) for avoiding the restoring force is provided, which in its closed position, in closing direction, acts upon the lid (6) with an additional retaining force characterised in that the retaining element (21), in the closed position engages in a reception aperture (23), wherein the retaining element is a ball (21) and the inner diameter of the reception aperture (23) is smaller than the outer diameter of the ball (21).
2. The power outlet according to claim 1, characterised in that the reception aperture (23) is approximately 5 % to 15 % smaller than the outer diameter of the ball (21).
3. The power outlet according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the retaining element (21) is arranged in the power outlet casing (5).
4. The power outlet according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ball (21) is moveably received in a duct (18) having an open and a closed end with a duct opening (19), which has an inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of the ball (21), and in that a spring is received in the duct opening as an element generating the restoring force of the ball (21), which is supported against the closed end of the duct opening (19) and at the opposite end abuts against the ball (21) also received in the duct opening (19).
5. Power outlet according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the reception aperture (23) is formed in a locking clip (8).
6. The power outlet according to claim 5, characterised in that the locking clip (8) is hinged to a surface of the power outlet casing (5) of the plug, which is on the opposite side of the plug reception aperture (4) from the lid (6).
7. The power outlet according to claim 6, characterised in that the locking clip (8) has at least one arm (9) which can pivot over the rim of the lid (6), and which, when the lid (6) and the locking clip (8) are in the closed position, rests on a press-on surface (10) of the lid (6).
8. The power outlet according to claim 7, characterised in that the press-on surfaces between the arm (9) of the locking clip (8) and the lid (6) are formed centrally on the plug reception aperture (4) in a direction transversely to the pivotal axes of the lid (6) and the locking clip (8).

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