EP3012920A1 - Electric socket - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical socket, in particular a socket, for electrical plug connection with a plug (2), with a socket housing (3), a in the socket housing 83 arranged load contact (7) and a covering device (8), wherein the covering device (8 ) has a cover (9) for plug-in covering the load contact (7) when not plugged plug (2) by the cover (9) between a cover and an open position is movable, wherein the cover (9) in the covering position the load contact ( 7) covering the plug side and in the open position provides a plug-side access to the load contact (7). According to the invention, provision is made for the covering device (8) to have a locking element (10) which is provided with a push-button (11) and a pawl (12), the push-button (11) being arranged such that it comes from the plug-in side of the socket forth kraftbeaufschlagbar, the pawl (12) between a locking position and an unlocking position is movable, the pawl (12) engages in the locking position in a locking opening, the pawl (12) is led out in the unlocked position of the locking opening and the button (11) is connected to the pawl (12) such that the pawl (12) can be transferred from the locking position into the unlocking position by means of a push-side application of force to the feeler (11). This is an electrical outlet (1) which allows a simple and reliable way covering an optionally live contact in the unplugged state.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical socket, in particular charging socket, for electrical plug connection with a plug, with a socket housing, arranged in the socket housing load contact and a covering device, wherein the covering means comprises a cover for plug-in covering the load contact with not plugged in by the cover between a cover position and an open position is movable, wherein the cover member covers the load contact in the cover position and in the open position provides a plug-side access to the load contact.

In some European countries mechanical elements are prescribed for AC outlets, which cover when not operating a power outlet, so in particular when no plug is plugged into the socket, all possibly live contacts and protect against access. In this regard, the "principle of parental control" is also spoken. The covers must automatically close when unplugging the plug and may be open only with the contour of a plug provided for the socket.

In practice, the previously mentioned mechanical elements for covering possibly live contacts are also referred to as a shutter. The difficulty in designing such a shutter is, inter alia, that the shutter mechanism must necessarily lie in the direction of insertion in front of the contacts, the contour which opens the shutter is in the position of the plug, but the entire plug, including of its housing, through the plane of the shutter must dive to a normatively defined reference plane into the socket.

From the DE 10 2012 101 755 A1 is an electrical plug-in device with a closure device known. The closure device of the socket described therein is designed such that a shutter provided for covering a contact is opened via a rotary movement of the plug. A special toothed locking element in the shutter converts this rotational movement via toothed racks into a translation of the shutter. The socket is with the plug by means of a rotary movement quasi "unlocked" as with a key. This approach to removing it shutter requires so in addition to the insertion movement of the plug a further measure of the user, which makes the use of such a can relatively complex.

It is the object of the invention to provide such an electrical socket for electrical plug-in connection with a plug that allows a simple and reliable way covering an optionally live contact in the unplugged state, so if no plug is plugged into the socket.

This object is solved by the subject matter of patent claim 1. Preferred developments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

The invention is thus in an electrical socket, in particular charging socket, for electrical plug connection with a plug, with a socket housing, arranged in the socket housing load contact and a Covering device, wherein the covering device has a cover for plug-in covering the load contact with not plugged plug by the cover between a cover position and an open position is movable, wherein the cover in the cover position covers the load contact plug side and in the open position a plug-side access to the load contact bereitstellt, characterized in that the covering device has a locking element which is provided with a button and a pawl, wherein the button is arranged such that it is kraftbeaufschlagbar from the plug side of the socket, the pawl between a locking position and an unlocking position is movable , The pawl engages in the locking position in a locking opening, the pawl is led out in the unlocked position of the locking opening and the button is connected to the pawl in such a way that by means of a r plugging force of the push button, the pawl of the locking position can be converted into the unlocked position.

It is thus an essential point of the invention that the pawl of the locking element can be brought out of the locking opening, that the button from the plug side of the socket, ie for example by means of a plug provided for the socket, is acted upon with force. This makes it possible that by the engagement of the pawl in the locking opening, a fixing of the cover takes place, which is solved by the plug-side force application of the locking element, specifically namely the button of the locking element. Thus, a possibility is provided, the actual plug-in process of inserting a for the electrical outlet provided plug to use to move the cover of the cover from its covering position into its open position to provide access to the load contact and thus to allow a galvanic contacting a plug contact with the load contact of the electrical outlet.

Basically, the invention requires that when a plug-side force is applied to the pawl of the button is transferred from the locking position to the unlocked position. For this purpose, a variety of configurations of the locking element are possible. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided that the locking element is designed such that a movement of the button in or opposite to the insertion leads to a pivoting of the pawl.

For this purpose, various constructions are possible in which the pawl is fixed, for example pivotable about a pivot axis and is connected by means of an articulated arm with the button, so that a linear movement of the probe leads to the desired pivotal movement of the pawl. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided in this context that the locking element between the button and the pawl has an elastic arm with a support, with which the locking element rests on a, preferably provided on the socket housing, abutment. By this abutment practically a pivot axis is defined, but which is not spatially fixed but during movement of the probe and thus during the pivoting of the pawl perpendicular to its extension direction, defined by the course of the abutment, is displaceable. As a result, however achieves exactly the desired effect, namely the translation of a linear movement of the probe in a pivoting of the pawl, wherein the elasticity of the elastic arm makes the use of a mechanical joint superfluous.

The elasticity of the elastic arm can be achieved in various ways. Preferably, however, it is provided that the entire locking element is made of a resilient plastic material.

In this context, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention further provided that the locking element has a second, connected to the button elastic arm with a support, with which the locking element rests on a, preferably provided on the cover, abutment. This preferred development of the invention forms the construction described above insofar as that achieved an increased stability of the locking element in kraftbeaufschlagten state of the probe and virtually the effect of a spiral spring is effected, which pushes the button after completion of the insertion force side back to its original position.

In this case, the button can be arranged relative to the cover in various ways to allow a plug-side force application. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the cover has a passage opening in which the button of the locking element is inserted from the opposite side of the plug side. By means of this passage opening in the cover is the button of the plug side accessible, so that it can be contacted from there, for example, by a portion of the mating face of a provided for the electrical outlet plug.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the passage opening and the probe are further dimensioned such that the probe is guided laterally in the passage opening and only in the insertion direction and opposite thereto movable. This means that the button according to this preferred embodiment of the invention is designed relative to the through hole such that it laterally, ie towards the inner edge of the through hole, only so much game that he is basically movable in the through hole, in the insertion direction and opposite. The passage opening acts as a guide for the movements of the button, which performs this due to a force from the plug side of the electrical outlet or due to the above-described bending spring effect.

According to a further preferred development of the invention, it is provided that the cover element has a receiving opening connected to the through opening, in which the locking element is inserted from the opposite side of the plug side. This receiving opening is preferably dimensioned such that it serves as a guide of the additionally provided for the button components of the locking element and very particularly preferably provides an abutment for a support of the locking element.

If the latch of the locking element has been led out of the locking opening by the push-side application of force of the push button, so that an associated locking or fixing of the cover element of the cover has been canceled, there are various ways to bring the cover from the covering position in the open position , According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the cover on the mating side adjacent to the button has such a tapered surface, that the cover is moved at Steckseitiger force applied to the tapered surface. Due to the chamfered surface not only a force component in the insertion direction is exerted on plug-in force in plug-in direction on the cover, but also perpendicular thereto, ie in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction. In this way, the cover member can be displaced from the cover position to the open position, allowing access to the load contact, e.g. for galvanic contacting by means of a corresponding contact of a provided for the electrical outlet plug.

The bevel of the tapered surface in this preferred embodiment of the invention may extend in different directions, wherein the course of the slope of course defines the direction of the force exerted in the plane perpendicular to the insertion direction force. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention is provided in this context that the taper of the tapered surface extends to the center of the socket housing, so that the cover is moved at plug-side force application of the tapered surface to the outside of the socket housing. The cover element Thus, it is thus shifted out of the center region of the socket housing, which makes it possible to provide a plurality of cover elements arranged in the middle region of the socket, which are moved with the plug plugged from the central region in the edge region of the box, where they contacting other Load contacts, the cover they are not provided, can not disturb.

In principle, it can be provided that a connector provided for the electrical socket can be plugged into the electrical socket without additional means or measures. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, provided in the insertion and opposite displaceable centering. This is preferably in a portion of the outer edge of the insertion, so provided for the insertion of the plug opening of the electrical outlet, provided and there movably attached to the socket housing. Preferably, the centering aid is provided with a return spring which exerts a force against the insertion direction on the centering aid. Such a centering aid has the advantage that the contacting of the areas of the mating face of a connector provided for the electrical socket, which is intended to effect the application of force to the pushbutton and thus the unlocking of the locking element, is reliably ensured.

Preferably, a return spring for retrieving the cover is also provided in the covering position for the cover. By means of such a return spring can thus always be ensured with the plug that the cover always is arranged above the load contact to be covered and this thus can not be touched by the plug side of the socket forth.

Furthermore, according to a preferred development of the invention, it is provided that two load contacts of the electrical socket can be covered by means of a common cover element, ie, they are covered in the unmated condition by means of the common cover element. A single, common cover element is thus associated with a load contact pair, so that this load contact pair is always covered jointly by means of the common cover element or in the open position this common cover element provides access to both load contacts of the load contact pair. In this context, it is very particularly preferred that a plurality of load contact pairs are provided, each of which can be covered by a common cover member.

Finally, it is provided according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, regardless of the number of covered by a cover load contacts and regardless of the number of cover elements of the electrical outlet that the cover has a cover provided with a plurality of locking elements, preferably exactly two locking elements, each provided with a button and a pawl, as described above. This allows a particularly high level of security, as it allows the cover of the cover can only be brought from its covering position into its open position, when both pushbuttons are subjected to force and additionally a displacement of the cover occurs. This is by hand, especially without accurate Knowledge of the design of the electrical outlet, or practically impossible with simple tools, so that a very high level of security is achieved.

Fig. 1

schematisch eine elektrische Steckdose gemäß einem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

Fig. 2

schematisch eine Frontansicht der elektrischen Steckdose gemäß dem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung bei abgenommener Frontblende des Dosengehäuses mit zwei Abdeckeinrichtungen in Abdeckstellung,

Fig. 3

schematisch die elektrische Steckdose gemäß dem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung aus Fig. 2 mit abgenommenem Schutzdeckel und den beiden Abdeckeinrichtungen in Öffnungsstellung,

Fig. 4a, b

das Verriegelungselement der Abdeckeinrichtung der elektrischen Steckdose gemäß dem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in einer Seitenansicht bzw. in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

Fig. 5

die Abdeckeinrichtung in einer perspektivischen Ansicht von unten mit eingesetzten Verriegelungselementen,

Fig. 6

einen Teilschnitt durch die elektrische Steckdose gemäß dem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung vor dem Stecken eines für die Steckdose vorgesehenen Steckers,

Fig. 7

einen Teilschnitt der elektrischen Steckdose gemäß dem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung während des Steckvorgangs eines für die Steckdose vorgesehenen Steckers und

Fig. 8

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Bereichs der elektrischen Steckdose gemäß dem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung, aus dem das Zusammenwirken einer Rückholfeder mit einer Abdeckeinrichtung ersichtlich ist.

The invention will be explained in detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings. In the drawings show

Fig. 1

1 schematically shows an electrical socket according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a perspective view,

Fig. 2

schematically a front view of the electrical outlet according to the preferred embodiment of the invention with removed front panel of the socket housing with two covering devices in the covering position,

Fig. 3

schematically the electrical outlet according to the preferred embodiment of the invention Fig. 2 with removed protective cover and the two cover devices in the open position,

Fig. 4a, b

the locking element of the covering device of the electrical socket according to the preferred embodiment of the invention in a side view and in a perspective view,

Fig. 5

the cover device in a perspective view from below with inserted locking elements,

Fig. 6

a partial section through the electrical outlet according to the preferred embodiment of the invention before plugging a plug provided for the socket,

Fig. 7

a partial section of the electrical outlet according to the preferred embodiment of the invention during the insertion of a plug provided for the plug and

Fig. 8

a perspective view of a portion of the electrical outlet according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the interaction of a return spring with a covering is visible.

Out Fig. 1 schematically is an electrical outlet 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a perspective view apparent. The electrical socket 1 is for an electrical connector with a not shown here, in the Fig. 6 and 7 However, schematically indicated plug 2 is provided. The Fig. 2 and 3 schematically show a front view of the electrical outlet with the front panel removed, on the one hand in the cover and on the other hand in the open position, as described in detail below. As these figures can be removed, the electrical socket 1 a socket housing 3 with a only in Fig. 1 shown front panel 4 and a protective cover 5 on. At the time of the Fig. 3 apparent electrical socket 1, the protective cover 5 is removed, so that a spring 6 is visible, with the protective cover 5 is not plugged plug 2 elastic on the insertion opening 6 of the electrical outlet is folded.

As Fig. 3 removable, four load contacts 7 are arranged in the socket housing 3, which are coverable in pairs by a respective cover 8. How to compare the Fig. 2 with the Fig. 3 Removable, the covering devices between the in Fig. 2 illustrated cover position and in Fig. 3 shown opening position movable. In the covering position, the two cover devices 8 each cover two load contacts 7, so that they are accessible from the plug side, that is to say from the side in which a plug 2 provided for the electrical socket 1 can be plugged into the socket.

The electrical socket 1 has further contacts 17, for which no covering device is provided. In addition, a in the insertion and opposite displaceable centering 23 is provided. This is arranged in a portion of the outer edge of the insertion, the electrical socket 1 and there movably attached to the socket housing 3. The centering aid 23 is provided with a return spring, not shown, which exerts a force against the insertion direction on the centering aid 23.

For the actual cover of the load contacts 7, the two cover devices 8 each have a cover element 9. The two cover elements 9 thus ensure the actual mechanical cover of the load contacts 7, so that they are not accessible from the plug side of the electrical socket 1 forth in the covering position. The cover devices 8 have in addition to the respective Cover 9 each have two locking elements 10 on how Fig. 5 removable. The locking elements 10 are configured as shown in detail in FIG Fig. 4a and 4b shown.

The Fig. 4a and 4b is insofar removed that a respective locking element 10 has a button 11 and a pawl 12. Between the button 11 and the pawl 12, the locking element 10 has a first elastic arm 13. This first elastic arm 13 is provided with a support 14 to which the pawl 12 is connected. In addition, a connected to the button 11 second elastic arm 15 is provided, which ends in a support 16. The elasticity of the arms 13, 15 is achieved here by the fact that the locking element 10 is made entirely of an elastic plastic.

From the already mentioned Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a cover 8 of the presently described electrical socket 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention can be removed from below. From below, so from the direction of insertion of the electrical socket 1 opposite direction, two locking elements 10 are inserted into the cover 9 of the cover 8, in a respective receiving opening 17. These receiving openings 17 each have a connected to her and in particular the Fig. 6 and 7 removable passage opening 18 into which the respective button 11 of the locking elements 10 is inserted. The through holes 18 are open towards the top, so the plug-in side of the electrical outlet 1 out, so that the tops of the inserted into the respective through hole 18 button 11 of the Plug side of the electrical socket 1 ago are kraftbeaufschlagbar.

In each case, a locking element 10 is inserted into the receiving openings 17 and through openings 18, in such a way that the locking elements 10 with their respective support 16 at the end of the second elastic arm 15 on an abutment 19 in a lateral end portion of a respective through hole 18 of the cover. 8 rest.

The actual functioning of the covering devices 8 for unlocking and subsequent transfer from the covering position into the open position, namely the transfer of the pawl 12 of an interlocking element 10 from its locking position into its unlocking position and the movement of the covering device 8 thus enabled, is in particular the Fig. 6 and 7 removable. These show in a partial section of the electrical socket 1 according to the presently described preferred embodiment of the invention together with a direction indicated by dashed lines plug 2, as it comes to the unlocking and displacement. As sectional views show the Fig. 6 and 7 Of course, only one locking element 10. The other locking member 10 of the cover 8 is operated in the same manner.

It shows the Fig. 6 the plug 2 before the start of the plug-in operation in a state in which the plug 2, the top of the button 11 shown there of the locking element 10 is not touched and thus the push button 11 also not yet subjected to force. Fig. 7 is then a state removable, in which the plug 2 already applied to the surface of the probe 11 with force had, so that it has come to the unlocking position of the locking element 10 shown there and already a shift of the cover 8 is done with its cover 9 radially outward. Thus, the load contact 7 shown there is accessible from the plug side of the electrical socket 1 ago. In detail, the procedure when plugging the plug 2 into the electrical socket 1 is as follows.

After opening the protective cover 5, the plug 2 is positioned with its mating face below the centering aid 23. This ensures that all four buttons 11 of the two covering devices 8 are hit by corresponding locations of the mating face of the plug 2 at the following plug-in operation.

Im out Fig. 6 apparent unloaded state of the probe 11, so if this is not yet acted upon by the plug 2 of the plug side of the electrical socket 1 ago, the pawl 12 of the locking member 10 engages in a locking opening 21 formed in the socket housing 3 of the electrical socket 1 is. This prevents that the cover 9 of the cover 8, within which the locking element 10 is arranged with the pawl 12, radially outwardly, in Fig. 6 so to the right, can move.

However, if it comes to the fact that the top of the button 11 is acted upon with force, namely by a corresponding region of the mating face of the plug 2 during insertion, it causes the button 11 is pressed down, causing it to a deformation of the first elastic arm 13 and the second elastic arm 15 of the locking element 10 comes. This elastic deformation of the two arms 13, 15 leads on the one hand to a spring force which pushes the button 11 back up, namely, that the first elastic arm 13 with the support 14 at the formed by a portion of the socket housing 3 supports 20th supported and that the second elastic arm 15 is supported with its support 16 on the counter-bearing 19 formed in the receiving opening 7 of the locking element 10. In addition, pivoted on the underside of the cover means 8, the pawl 12 from the locking opening 21 and is thus transferred from the locking position to the unlocked position.

Upon further insertion of the plug 2 then provides the tapered surface 24 of the cover 9 for a displacement of the cover 8 radially outward. The cover 8 is doing on the from the Fig. 6 and 8th apparent 22 led.

The now relieved button 11 can not be pushed back in this position by the spring restoring forces of the locking elements 10, since the pawls 12 can no longer immerse in the unlocked position in the sliding plane. Due to the displacement of the covering devices 8 radially outwards, the pawls 12 are no longer located above the locking openings 21, so that pivoting back into the initial position corresponding to the locking position is not possible. The locking elements 10 remain tensioned by the two elastic arms 13, 15, which rest with their supports 14, 16 on a part of the socket housing 3 and the cover 8, respectively.

When pulling the plug 2, the spring forces due to the elastic arms 13, 15 of the locking element 10 and the springs of the centering aid 23, not shown, and provide a Fig. 8 apparent return spring 25 for the cover 8 that all parts automatically return to the starting position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

electrical outlet

2

plug

3

socket housing

4

front panel

5

protective cover

6

feather

7

load contacts

8th

cover

9

cover

10

locking element

11

button

12

pawl

13

first elastic arm

14

In stock

15

second elastic arm

16

In stock

17

receiving opening

18

Through opening

19

Counter bearing for support of the second elastic arm

20

Counter bearing for support of the first elastic arm

21

locking opening

22

guide

23

centering

24

bevelled surface of the cover

25

return spring

Claims (10)

Electrical socket, in particular charging socket, for electrical plug connection with a plug (2), with
a socket housing (3),
one in the socket housing (3) arranged load contact (7) and
a cover device (8), wherein
the cover device (8) has a cover element (9) for plug-in covering of the load contact (7) when the plug (2) is not plugged in, by
the cover element (9) is movable between a covering position and an open position, wherein
the cover element (9) in the covering position covers the load contact (7) on the plug side and in the open position provides a plug-side access to the load contact (7), characterized in that
the covering device (8) has a locking element (10) which is provided with a push-button (11) and a pawl (12), wherein
the pushbutton (11) is arranged such that it can be subjected to a force from the plug side of the socket,
the pawl (12) is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position,
engages the latch (12) in the locking position in a locking opening,
the pawl (12) in the unlocked position is led out of the locking opening and
the button (11) is connected to the pawl (12) in such a way that the pawl (12) can be transferred from the locking position into the unlocked position by means of a push-side application of force to the button (11). Electrical socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element (10) is designed such that a movement of the button (11) in or opposite to the insertion direction to a pivoting of the pawl (12). Electrical socket according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking element (10) between the button (11) and the pawl (12) has an elastic arm (13) with a support (14), with which the locking element (10) on a , preferably on the socket housing (3) provided, abutment (20) rests. Electrical socket according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking element (10) has a second, with the push button connected elastic arm (15) with a support (16), with which the locking element (10) on one, preferably on the cover ( 9) provided, abutment (19) rests. Electrical socket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover element (9) has a passage opening (18) in which the push-button (11) of the locking element (10) is inserted from the side opposite the plug side. Electrical socket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover element (9) on the plug side adjacent to the button (11) has such a chamfered surface (24) that the cover element (9) at plug-side force application of the chamfered surface (24 ) is moved. Electrical socket according to claim 6, characterized in that the chamfer of the chamfered surface (24) to the center of the socket housing (3) extends, so that the cover member (9) at Steckseitiger force applied to the chamfered surface (24) to the outside of the socket housing (3 ) is postponed. Electrical socket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking opening (21) in the socket housing (3) is provided. Electrical socket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two load contacts (7) are provided which can be covered by means of a common cover member (9). Electrical socket according to claim 9, characterized in that a plurality of load contact pairs (7) are provided, each of a common cover (9) can be covered.

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