EP3665748B1 - Electrical connector part having a locking element - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a connector part for connection to a mating connector part according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a connector part comprises a housing with a plug-in section formed thereon for the plug-in connection with the mating connector part. For example, one or more electrical contact elements can be arranged on the plug-in section, via which the connector part makes electrical contact with associated counter-contact elements of the counter-connector part when the connector part and the counter-connector part are plugged into one another.

In order to lock the connector part and the mating connector part in a plugged-on position, a locking element is provided which is designed to lock the mating connector part with the housing of the connector part in a locking position. The locking element can be moved out of the locking position in order to release the locking between the mating connector part and the housing in an unlocking position.

The connector part also has a connecting device which connects the locking element to the housing and has a guide section, a guide element guided on the guide section and a spring element, the spring element having a locking leg for locking the guide element in place on the guide section in the locking position and/or the Has unlocked position.

At one from the DE 10 2011 051 302 A1 known plug, a locking ring is arranged on a first connecting element, which can be rotated to the first connecting element. The locking ring can be screwed onto a second connecting element in order to establish a connection between the connecting elements in this way.

From the DE 10 2005 026 148 A1 a connector is known in which a quick-release lock is arranged on one coupling half. For this is on the coupling half a rotatable sleeve carrying leaf spring elements for interlocking with another coupling half.

The U.S. 5,662,488 A discloses a connector part for connection to a mating connector part via a locking element. The locking element has a plurality of spring elements, each in the form of a spring shackle, which each form a type of latching leg. A guide element in the form of a pin is formed on this latching leg and interacts with a guide section formed on the housing of the connector part in order to latch and unlatch the locking element on the housing of the connector part.

The U.S.A. 4,542,952 discloses an embodiment in which a stationary web formed on the mating connector part interacts with a spring element which is connected to the locking element 30 .

Also describes the U.S. 2014/227900 A1 a very complex design of a lock for a connector part by means of a ring, which can engage in groove-shaped recesses of another ring with projecting pins.

The object of the present invention is to provide a connector part that has a locking mechanism that is easy to operate, has a pleasant feel and is also easy to assemble.

This object is solved by an object with the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, it is provided that the guide element slides along the latching leg when the locking element is moved between the latched position and the unlocked position and the guide element thus acts on the latching leg and deflects it when the locking element is moved, so that the guide element is pushed aside from the unlocked position into the Locked position or vice versa from the locked position to the unlocked position.

The (movable) connection between the locking element and the housing of the connector part is guided by a guide element on a Guide section made in cooperation with an elastic spring element. When the locking element is adjusted between the locked position and the unlocked position, the guide element interacts with the latching leg of the spring element, so that the adjustment takes place by deflecting the locking leg and by locking the guide element relative to the guide section in the locked position and/or the unlocked position.

Due to the interaction of the guide element with the locking leg and the locking of the guide element in relation to the guide section in the locking position and/or in the unlocking position, it is possible to give a user haptic and advantageously also acoustic feedback about a position reached when moving the locking element when the locking element is moved to give locking element. A user can thus find out directly and unambiguously that a specific position of the locking element has been reached and that locking or unlocking has therefore been established.

The guide section can be arranged, for example, on the housing, for example in the form of a groove-shaped depression formed on a shaft section of the housing. However, it is also conceivable and possible to arrange the guide section on the locking element.

If the guide section is arranged on the housing, the spring element is preferably also arranged on the housing. However, it is also conceivable and possible to arrange the spring element on the locking element (in particular if the guide section is arranged on the locking element).

The guide element is preferably arranged on the respective other component. If the guide section is arranged on the housing, the guide element is arranged on the locking element and is thus moved relative to the guide section formed on the housing when the locking element is moved. If the guide section is arranged on the locking element, the guide element on the housing is shaped accordingly.

The spring element can, in one embodiment, have a retaining leg via which the spring element on the associated component, ie on the housing or the Locking element is fixed. The retaining leg can be bent over to form the latching leg, for example, and establishes the connection of the spring element to the associated component. The latching leg extends freely from the holding leg, so that the latching leg can be moved (elastic) relative to the holding leg and can be deflected in cooperation with the guide element.

In one embodiment, the spring element can form a (general) C-shape, for example, with its holding leg and the latching leg.

According to the invention, the guide element slides along the latching leg when the locking element is moved between the locking position and the unlocking position. When the locking element is moved, the guide element thus acts on the latching leg and deflects it so that the guide element moves from the unlocked position into the locked position or, conversely, from the locked position into the unlocked position while the locking leg is pushed aside.

The locking leg can be designed to lock the guide element in both positions, i.e. in the locking position as well as in the unlocking position, relative to the guide section, so that the guide element is in a defined position in relation to the locking leg both in the locking position and in the unlocking position Guide section is held. Due to the interaction with the latching leg, a user receives haptic and possibly also acoustic feedback, so that the user is immediately and clearly informed that, for example, the locking position has been reached.

In one configuration, the guide element can be moved along a direction of rotation directed about a longitudinal axis on a guide edge of the guide section. In this case, the locking element can be rotated relative to the housing, and by rotating the locking element, the guide element slides along the guide edge specified by the guide section and thus along a defined movement path. The locking leg of the spring element can here be designed to press the guide element in contact with the leading edge of the guide portion, so that the guide element on the locking leg opposite Leading edge is biased and is thus held in a defined system with the leading edge.

The adjustment path of the guide element, which is predetermined by the guide edge of the guide section and along which the guide element can be moved between the locking position and the unlocked position, is preferably limited, so that the guide element and thus the locking element can be moved between defined positions. For this purpose, stop surfaces can be provided on both sides of the guide section (viewed along the direction of rotation), with which the guide element interacts in its different end positions. Thus, the guide element can rest against a first stop surface in the unlocked position, but against a second stop surface in the locked position. The guide section, which is thus delimited by the stop surfaces, extends between the stop surfaces. In the locked position and in the unlocked position, the guide element preferably snaps into place through interaction with the locking leg of the spring element and is also in defined contact with an associated stop surface, so that the guide element and the locking element can be adjusted between defined positions.

In one embodiment, a step is formed on the guide edge, along which the guide element slides when the locking element moves, which separates sections of the guide edge with different heights (viewed along the longitudinal axis) from one another. For example, in the locking position, the guide element can rest against a section of the guide edge that is set back relative to another section of the guide edge (viewed along the longitudinal axis). In the locking position, the locking of the guide element relative to the guide section also takes place in that the guide element rests in a set-back section of the guide edge, so that a user can also perceive that the locking position of the locking element has been reached due to a (slight) axial displacement of the locking element.

The connecting device for connecting the locking element to the housing of the connector part can enable simple assembly. For example, the spring element can be easily attached to the housing of the Connector part are recognized to then mount the locking element by sliding on the housing. For this purpose, the connecting device can have an insertion section, for example, which, like the guide section, is shaped as a groove on the housing of the connector part and into which the guide element can be inserted in order to bring the guide element into the area of the guide section. If the guide element is in engagement with the guide section, the guide element is held in the area of the guide section by the latching leg of the spring element and cannot easily be removed from the guide section, at least not without deliberate detachment.

The connecting device can comprise one or more guide sections with one or more associated guide elements and one or more spring elements. If the locking element can be rotated relative to the housing of the connector part, guide sections can be formed offset from one another circumferentially around a shaft section of the housing, each of which is assigned a guide element of the locking element and a spring element. The connection between the locking element and the housing of the connector part thus takes place via a plurality of guide elements guided on guide sections and spring elements assigned to the guide sections.

At this point it should be noted that the locking element can basically also be moved to the housing in a different way, for example by sliding. In this respect, a rotatable arrangement of the locking element on the housing is just one of several possible configurations.

According to a further aspect, the locking element can establish a locking with the associated mating connector part in the manner of a bayonet lock. For this purpose, the locking element can have, for example, one or more latching elements, for example in the form of projection elements, via which a form-fit locking with the mating connector part can be established. If the locking element is rotatably mounted on the housing and is designed, for example, as a hollow-cylindrical sleeve, one or more locking elements can be formed, for example, on the inside of the locking element, projecting radially inward and when the mating connector part is inserted into a plug-in opening formed by the locking element and by subsequent rotation of the Locking element positively engage with the mating connector part.

If several latching elements are provided on the locking element, they can, for example, be circumferentially offset and distributed equally to one another on the locking element in order to produce an evenly distributed locking between the connector part and the associated mating connector part.

Fig. 1

eine Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Steckverbinderteils mit einem an einem Gehäuse angeordneten Verriegelungselement;

Fig. 2A

eine Ansicht des Steckverbinderteils bei der Montage des Verriegelungselements an dem Gehäuse;

Fig. 2B

eine Ansicht des Steckverbinderteils in montiertem, betriebsbereitem Zustand;

Fig. 3A

eine Ansicht des Steckverbinderteils in einer Verriegelungsstellung; und

Fig. 3B

eine Ansicht des Steckverbinderteils in einer Entriegelungsstellung.

The idea on which the invention is based is to be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures. Show it:

1

a view of an embodiment of a connector part having a locking element arranged on a housing;

Figure 2A

a view of the connector part during assembly of the locking element on the housing;

Figure 2B

a view of the connector part in the assembled, operational state;

Figure 3A

a view of the connector part in a locking position; and

Figure 3B

a view of the connector part in an unlocked position.

Figures 1 to 3A , 3B show an embodiment of a connector part 1, which is used for (preferably electrical) connection to an associated mating connector part 2 (see Figure 3A ) serves.

The connector part 1 has a housing 10, which on the one hand has a plug-in section 100 for mating connection with the associated mating connector part 2 and on the other hand a threaded section 101 on which a threaded element in the form of a union nut 14 is arranged. An (electrical) cable 15 connected to the connector part 1 is fixed to the housing 10 of the connector part 1 via the union nut 14 so that it can withstand tensile loads, with the cable cores of the cable 15 are contacted within the housing 10 with contact elements on the plug-in section 100 (electrically).

A locking element 13 is arranged on a shaft section 102 of the housing 10 such that it can rotate about a longitudinal axis L along a direction of rotation D. The locking element 13 is used to create a lock between the connector part 1 and the mating connector part 2 when the mating connector part 2 is attached to the connector part 1, so that the connection between the connector part 1 and the mating connector part 2 is secured and the mating connector part 2 cannot be removed from the connector without releasing the lock Connector part 1 can be removed.

The locking element 13 is rotatably mounted on the housing 10 via a connecting device 11 and can be rotated relative to the housing 10 between defined positions, corresponding to a locking position and an unlocking position. To mount the locking element 13, guide elements 131 are pushed inside a receiving space 130 of the locking element 13, which is designed as a hollow-cylindrical sleeve, into insertion sections 110 in the form of axially extending, groove-shaped depressions molded into the peripheral surface of the shaft section 102, as is the case in the transition from 1 towards Figure 2A is evident.

The guide elements 131 on the inside of the locking element 13 thus come into contact with boundary edges 116 of the insertion sections 110 extending transversely to the longitudinal axis L (see Figure 2A ) and can then be introduced in the direction of rotation D by rotating the locking element 13 in the area of a respective associated guide section 111 in the form of a groove molded into the shank section 102, as is shown in Figure 2B is shown.

Each guide section 111 is assigned a spring element 12 in the form of a C-shaped torsion spring, which is held on a holding section 115 of the shaft section 102 via a holding leg 120 and extends freely into the area of the guide section 111 with a latching leg 121. By rotating in the direction of rotation D, each guide element 131 interacts with the associated locking leg 121 in such a way that the guide element 131, as shown in FIG Figure 2B can be seen, via the locking leg 121 along the longitudinal axis L in contact with a Leading edge 117 of the guide portion 111 is pressed and held about it in the guide portion 111.

The locking element 13 is thus fixed (rotatable) to the housing 10 of the connector part 1 via the guide elements 131 and their retention in the guide sections 111 .

Is the position according to Figure 2B , which corresponds to the locking position, is reached, the connector part 1 is basically ready for operation (provided it is assembled with a line 15) and can be connected to an associated mating connector part 2 by inserting the mating connector part 2 into a plug-in opening 132 formed by the locking element 13 and rotating it of the locking element 13 in the direction of rotation D in the in Figure 3A locking position shown is locked with the connector part 1.

On the inside of plug-in opening 132, latching elements 133 are formed on locking element 13 in the form of radially inwardly protruding projections which, when mating connector part 2 is inserted, slide into insertion sections 201, for example, on the outside of a plug-in section 200 of a housing 20 of mating connector part 2 and, in each case, by rotating locking element 13 come into engagement with an associated locking section 202 of the plug-in section 200 of the mating connector part 2, so that a positive locking between the connector part 1 and the mating connector part 2 is produced.

Figure 3A shows the connector part 1 in the locked position, while Figure 3B represents the connector part 1 in the unlocked position. The mating connector part 2 is inserted while the locking element 13 is in the Figure 3B shown unlocking position, so that the locking elements 133 can slide inside the locking element 13 in an associated insertion portion 201 on the plug portion 200 of the mating connector part 2.

In the unlocked position, the locking element 13 is locked and held in a latching manner by the interaction of the spring elements 12 with the respectively assigned guide element 131, in that each locking leg 121 abuts the guide element 131 assigned to it with a stop surface 112, which the guide section 111 limited on the side of the unlocked position, and in contact with the leading edge 117 presses.

To lock the connector part 1 with the mating connector part 2, the locking element 13 is turned in the direction of rotation D in Figure 3A rotated into the position shown, as a result of which each guide element 131 slides along the latching leg 121 of the associated spring element 12 and thus moves along the guide edge 117 of the associated guide section 111 until the guide element 31 comes into contact with a stop surface 113 of the guide section 111 on the locking position side and slides into a recessed portion of the leading edge 117 beyond a shoulder 114 in the leading edge 117 as shown Figure 3A is evident. The locking position is thus reached, and in the locking position, the guide element 131 latches in place due to the spring action of the locking leg 121 in a way that can be felt and heard by a user, also because the locking leg 121 has a notch 122 assigned to the locking position, with which the guide element 131 can be locked in the locking position in Engagement comes out like this Figure 3A is evident.

In the locking position, the connector part 1 is locked by positive engagement of the latching elements 133 of the locking element 13 with the locking sections 202 of the mating connector part 2 .

To unlock the connector part 1 and the mating connector part 2, the locking element 13 can be rotated in the opposite direction of rotation D', as shown in FIG Figure 3B is shown, are twisted back, whereby the guide element 131 slides over the step 114 of time and, pushing aside the locking leg 121, comes back into the unlocking position in contact with the stop surface 112, as shown in FIG Figure 3B is evident. Again, the guide element 131 latches due to the spring action of the latching leg 121 in the unlocked position.

By rotating the locking element 13 back in the direction of rotation D', the latching elements 133 move out of the area of the locking sections 202 of the plug-in section 200 of the mating connector part 2, so that the mating connector part 2 can be pulled out of the plug-in opening 132 of the locking element 13 and the plug-in section 200 can thus be disengaged from the Plug portion 100 of the housing 10 can be brought.

Paragraph 114 is rounded at its edge, as shown in FIG 1 is evident. Likewise, the guide element 31 can be rounded at an edge with which the guide element 31 slides over the step 114, so that the guide element 131 can be moved out of the locking position in the direction of the unlocking position over the step 114 without (great) force.

By providing the connecting device 11 using one or more spring elements 12 for locking the locking element 13 in place with respect to the housing 10 of the connector part 1 in the unlocked position as well as in the locked position, it is possible to indicate to a user directly and clearly whether the unlocked position or the locking position is reached. The locking element 13 audibly engages in the locked position and the unlocked position (and only in these positions), so that a user knows when the locked position or the unlocked position is reached. This facilitates operation and reliably signals to a user that, for example, the locking between connector part 1 and mating connector part 2 has been correctly established.

The connecting device 11 uses few components and also enables easy assembly of the locking element 13 on the housing 10 of the connector part 1. For assembly, only the spring elements 12 have to be attached to the shaft section 102 of the housing 10 in order then - without special measures to hold the Spring elements 12 must be taken on the shank portion 102 - to push the locking element 13 along the longitudinal axis L onto the shank portion 102.

Due to the elastic design of the spring elements 12, the connecting device is insensitive to tolerances. Due to the elastic deformability of the spring elements 12, tolerances can be easily compensated.

The idea on which the invention is based is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described above, but can in principle also be implemented in a completely different manner.

A connector part of the type described here can be used to connect very different assemblies to one another. In particular, an electrical line can be connected to an associated electrical assembly via such a connector part. However, it is also possible to connect other contact elements, for example hydraulic or pneumatic contacts, via such a connector part.

Reference List

1

connector part

10

Housing

100

mating section

101

threaded section

102

shank section

11

connecting device

110

insertion section

111

guide section (adjustable track)

112

stop surface

113

stop surface

114

Unit volume

115

holding section

116

boundary edge

117

leading edge

12

spring element

120

holding leg

121

locking leg

122

score

13

locking element

130

recording room

131

guide element

132

plug opening

133

locking element

14

threaded element

15

Electrical line

2

mating connector part

20

Housing

200

mating section

201

insertion section

202

locking section

D, D'

direction of rotation

L

longitudinal axis

Claims (15)

1. Plug-connector part (1) for connection to a mating-plug-connector part(2), having a housing (10) which has a plug portion (100) for connection with plugging action to the mating-plug-connector part (2), having a locking element (13) which is arranged movably on the housing (10) and which is configured for locking the mating-plug-connector part (2) to the housing (10) in a locking position and which is movable out of the locking position in order for the locking between the mating-plug-connector part (2) and the housing (10) to be eliminated in an unlocking position, and having a connecting device (11) which connects the locking element (13) to the housing (10) and which has a guide portion (111), has a guide element (131) which is guided on the guide portion (111), and has a spring element (12), wherein the spring element (12) has a latching limb (121) for fixing the guide element (131) with latching action to the guide portion (111) in the locking position and/or the unlocking position, characterized in that the guide element (131) slides along the latching limb (121) during movement of the locking element (13) between the locking position and the unlocking position, and the guide element (131), during movement of the locking element (13), thus acts on the latching limb (121) and deflects the latter such that the guide element (131) passes from the unlocking position into the locking position, or conversely from the locking position into the unlocking position, with the latching limb (121) being forced to one side.
2. Plug-connector part (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the guide portion (111) is arranged on one of housing (10) and locking element (13) .
3. Plug-connector part (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the spring element (2) is arranged on the one of housing (10) and locking element (13).
4. Plug-connector part (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the spring element (2) has a holding limb (120) via which the spring element (12) is fixed on the one of housing (10) and locking element (13) and from which the latching limb (121) extends.
5. Plug-connector part (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the holding limb (120) and the latching limb (121) together form a C shape.
6. Plug-connector part (1) according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the guide element (131) is arranged on the other of housing (10) and locking element (13).
7. Plug-connector part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide element (131) is movable on a guide edge (117) of the guide portion (111) along a direction of rotation (D) that is directed around a longitudinal axis (L).
8. Plug-connector part (1) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the latching limb (121) is configured for pushing the guide element (131) into abutment with the guide edge (117) of the guide portion (111).
9. Plug-connector part (1) according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the guide portion (111), as viewed along the direction of rotation (D), is delimited by a first stop surface (112), against which the guide element (131) abuts in the unlocking position, and a second stop surface (113), against which the guide element (131) abuts in the locking position.
10. Plug-connector part (1) according to Claim 9, characterized in that the guide element (131) is movable on the guide portion (111) along the direction of rotation (D) between the first stop surface (112) and the second stop surface (113).
11. Plug-connector part (1) according to one of Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the guide edge (117) has a shoulder (114) which separates from one another portions of the guide edge (117) that, as viewed along the longitudinal axis (L), are arranged at different heights.
12. Plug-connector part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting device (11) has an insertion portion (110) via which the guide element (131) is able to be inserted into the guide portion (111).
13. Plug-connector part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (13) has at least one latching element (133) for form-fitting locking to the mating-plug-connector part (2).
14. Plug-connector part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (13) is in the form of a sleeve and is arranged rotatably on a shank portion (102) of the housing (10).
15. Plug-connector part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (13) forms a plug opening (132) for plugging-in of the mating-plug-connector part (2).

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