JP2014075345A - Insertion connector and insertion type connection member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a safe insertion type connection member with a simple configuration for load contact.SOLUTION: A plurality of electric contact elements (18, 24) are connected with each other with a housing (16) of an insertion connector (12) being inserted into a housing (20) of a complementary insertion connector (14). The insertion connector (12) includes a latch element (26) that is coupled to the housing (16) and can be moved between an open position where the contact elements (18, 24) are separated from each other and a close position where the contact elements (18, 24) are connected with each other. The insertion connector (12) further includes a lock element (36) that can be moved between a lock position and a release position. The lock element (36) locks the latch element (26) at an intermediate position when the latch element (26) moves from the close position to the release position.

Description

  The present invention relates to a plug-in connector for forming an electrical connection between a plurality of electrical contact elements and a plug-in connection member provided with such a plug-in connector.

  In an electric or hybrid vehicle with an electric motor that serves as a vehicle drive, the electric motor must be connected to a load circuit that may include, for example, a converter and a battery. To make an electrical connection, a plug connector or connector connected to the load circuit cable and plugged into the interface or socket of the electric or hybrid motor can be used.

  When opening such high current plug connections, for example for maintenance purposes, it is usually guaranteed that the plug connections are free of voltage by discharging the charge before interrupting the electrical contact. It must be. This should prevent accidents after opening the plug connection.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and safe plug-in connector and plug-in connection member for load contacts.

  In order to solve this problem, in the configuration of the present invention, the plug-in connector includes a lock element that is movable between a lock position and a release position, and the lock element is configured such that the latch element is released from the closed position. When moving to a position, the latching element is locked at an intermediate position to prevent movement. In order to solve the above problem, in the configuration of the present invention, the plug-in connection member includes the plug-in connector and a complementary plug-in connector in an electric drive motor.

  One configuration of the present invention relates to a bayonet connector for forming an electrical connection between a plurality of electrical contact elements. The plug-in connector or connector can be connected to a vehicle cable or wire harness that can be part of the vehicle load circuit. A cable may have a plurality of electrical lines configured to carry high currents or load currents. For example, the cable can pass three-phase alternating current. Each line can be connected to a contact element (eg, a pin).

  According to a configuration of the invention, the plug-in connector includes a casing that houses the contact element, the casing being configured to be plugged into the complementary casing of the complementary plug-in connector and plugging in this way. Thereby, the contact element in the casing of the plug-in connector is connected to the contact element in the complementary casing. For example, the plug connector can be plugged into an interface of an electrical device to be connected to a vehicle load circuit. In this case, the contact element (eg pin) of the plug-in connector is inserted into a suitable complementary contact element (eg pin receiving part) of the interface.

  The plug connector further includes a latching element coupled to the casing and capable of moving between an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position is complementary to the contact element in the casing. The contact elements in a typical casing are separated from each other, and in the closed position, the contact elements in the casing and the contact elements in the complementary casing are connected to each other. The latching element may be, for example, a lever that can be rotated about a rotation axis in the casing. The latching element may be a slide element that can move in a lateral direction with respect to the insertion direction of the insertion connector.

  The bayonet connector further includes a locking element or lock bar that is movable between a locked position and a released position. The locking element is configured to lock the latching element in an intermediate position when the latching element moves from a closed position to an open position. As long as the locking element is in the locked position, the latching element cannot move further in the direction of the open position. The locking element must first be moved to the release position, which takes additional time. In this way, the overall time required to disengage the plug-in connector from the interface can be extended, so that the charges that are possibly present can be released well. As a result, the time required to open the plug-in connection member is extended, and can be, for example, about 5 seconds as a whole.

  According to the structure of this invention, the said lock element is attached to the said latching element, and it can slide between the said locked position and the said releasing position relatively with respect to the said latching element. Thus, if it is desired to provide a plug connector that requires an extended opening time, it is only necessary to change the latching element. There is no need to change another component of the plug-in connector, such as a casing, cable connection or contact element. Thereby, the insertion connector provided with the lock element as an additional structure can be formed.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the lock element can be manually moved between the lock position and the release position. For example, the locking element can be attached to the side of the latching element, so that the side surface of the locking element is directed outward. A person who wants to release the plug-in connector needs to move the latch lever or the latch slider to the intermediate position, and then grasp the side surface of the lock element with a finger, for example, and slide the lock element to the release position. Thereafter, the latch lever or latch slider can be moved completely to the open position. In this way the requirements for operational safety are met.

  The locking element can be provided on two sides of the latching element (eg on the opposite side). As a result, when necessary, the opening time can be extended by duplicating (doubling) the system.

  According to the structure of this invention, the said lock element contains the slider attached to the said latching element. For example, the locking element can be slid in an opening provided in the latching element, which is guided by a groove in the latching element.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the lock element is locked to the latching element at the lock position and the release position. For example, the locking element has one protrusion, and the latching element can have a plurality of recesses, and these recesses can be configured so that the protrusions are respectively in the locking position and the releasing position. It is provided to hold. The locking element cannot move from each position without further force.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the casing of the plug-in connector has a stopper with which a pin provided on the lock element abuts at the lock position. When the locking element is moved from the locked position to the released position, the pin can pass the side of the stopper. This stopper can be attached to the side of the casing of the plug-in connector, for example, and protrudes outward, for example.

  According to the configuration of the invention, the casing of the plug-in connector has a guide element, which guide element pin when the latching element moves from the open position to the closed position. And moving the locking element to the locked position. The guide element can also be provided on the side of the casing of the plug-in connector, for example, protruding outward. In this way, the locking element is automatically returned to the locked position when the plug-in connection member is closed. No additional operating time is required for closing the plug-in connection member.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the latching element has a groove, and the groove is formed so as to receive a protrusion or a pin provided in the complementary casing. When the latching element moves from the open position to the closed position, the casing and the complementary casing are attracted to each other. The latching element can act as a lever that can convert the movement of the latching element into a movement in the insertion direction for the connection or disconnection of the contact elements.

  When the protrusion provided on the complementary casing is located in the groove at the intermediate position, the insertion connector is configured so that the insertion connector does not come off at the intermediate position.

  According to a configuration of the invention, the plug-in connector has at least one load contact, which is in electrical contact with a complementary load contact at an intermediate position. Furthermore, the plug-in connector has a safety contact that is electrically isolated from the complementary safety contact at an intermediate position. The safety contact is separated from the complementary safety contact as the latching element moves from the closed position to the intermediate position. In this way, the electrical device (e.g. an electric motor) is deactivated by the control to detect the separation of the safety contact, so that charges are released through the load contact while the locking element is released. be able to.

  In short, the unlocking process of the latching lever or the latching slider can be locked at a predetermined position (that is, an intermediate position) by the lock element. The plug-in connector cannot be pulled out at this position. In this position, the load current or the main current through the plug-in connection member is interrupted by a control circuit comprising two safety contacts in the plug-in connection member. The residual charge of the main current can flow out of the lock element during the lock duration. The lock of the latch lever or the latch slider is released by opening the lock element. Thereafter, the plug-in connection member can be opened.

  Another configuration of the invention relates to a plug-in connection member for forming an electrical connection between a cable and an electric drive motor of a vehicle. For example, the vehicle may be a passenger car, a truck, or a bus.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, as described above or as will be described later, the plug-in connection member includes a plug-in connector (for example, a connector). Further, the plug-in connection member includes a complementary plug-in connector (for example, an interface) provided in the electric drive motor.

  In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is the figure which showed the plug-in type connection member by the structure of this invention in the closed position. It is the figure which showed the plug-in type connection member of FIG. 1 in the intermediate position in the state in which the lock element was locked. It is the figure which showed the insertion type connection member of FIG. 1 in the intermediate position in the state by which the lock element was cancelled | released. It is the figure which showed the plug-in type connection member of FIG. 1 in the open position. It is the figure which showed the plug-in type connection member of FIG. 1 in the intermediate position at the time of closing movement. It is the figure which showed the plug-in type connection member by another structure of this invention in the closed position. It is the figure which showed the insertion type connection member of FIG. 6 in the intermediate position in the state in which the locking element was locked. FIG. 7 is a view showing the plug-in connection member of FIG. 6 at an intermediate position in a state where the lock element is released. It is the figure which showed the plug-in type connection member of FIG. 6 in the open position. It is the figure which showed the plug-in type connection member of FIG. 6 in the intermediate position at the time of closing movement.

  Basically, the same parts or similar parts are given the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section view of a plug-in connection member 10, which includes a plug-in connector or connector 12 and an interface 14, ie a complementary plug-in connector 14. The plug-in connector 12 has a casing 16, which can accommodate the end of the cable, the line of this cable being electrically connected to the contact element 18. The interface 14 also has a casing 20, and the insertion connector 12 can be inserted into the collar 22 of the casing 20. Another contact element 24 that can be inserted into the contact element 18 is arranged in the casing 20 of the interface 14. For example, the contact element 24 is a pin, and the contact element 18 is a pin receiving portion.

  Furthermore, the plug-in connector 12 has a latching element 26 in the form of a latching lever 28. The latch lever 28 can pivot between a closed position and an open position about the rotation axis 30. The latch lever 28 has a groove 32 that can accommodate a pin or projection 34 provided on the collar 22 of the interface 14. When the latch lever 28 moves between the open position and the closed position, the pivoting motion of the latch lever 28 is converted into a linear motion in the insertion direction of the plug-in connection member 10 by the groove 32 and the pin 34. The

  In FIG. 1, the latch lever 28 is shown in the closed position, in which the pin 34 is located at the end of the groove 32. The contact element 18 and the contact element 24 are inserted into each other and are electrically connected to each other. Accordingly, the plug-in connection member 10 is completely closed.

  Further, the plug-in connector 12 has a locking element 36 on the hooking element 26. The lock element 36 is a slider that is housed in an opening 38 provided in the latch lever 28 and can be manually slid between the lock position and the release position in the radial direction with respect to the axis 30.

  In FIG. 1, the locking element 36 is shown in the locked position.

  In the casing 16 of the plug-in connector 12, a guide gate 40 for the pin 42 protruding from the locking element 36 on the side is located on the side. The guide gate 40 includes a guide element 44 and a stopper 46.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the guide element 44 prevents the locking element 36 from moving from the locked position to the released position in the closed position of the latching element 28.

  FIG. 2 shows the plug-in connection member 10 after the latching element 26 has been manually moved from the closed position shown in FIG. 1 to the intermediate position. The opening process of the latch lever 28, indicated schematically by an arrow, is stopped by the locking of the latch lever 28 by the locking element 36. Such a stop occurs when the pin 42 of the lock element 36 contacts the stopper 46. In this case, the end face of the stopper 46 extends in the radial direction with respect to the rotation axis 30.

  The locking element 36 has two protrusions 48, and these protrusions 48 hold the locking element 36 in two recesses 50 provided in the latching element 26, so that the locking element 36 is automatically released from the release position. There is no slipping.

  Each contact element 18 or contact element 24 has one safety contact 18a, 24a and load contact 18b, 24b, respectively. In the intermediate position, the electrical connection between the load contacts 18b, 24b still exists, but the electrical connection between the safety contacts 18a, 24a is already separated. At this position, the load current through the load contacts 18b, 24b is interrupted by the control circuit via the safety contacts 18a, 24a. Therefore, the residual charge of the load current can flow out during the duration of the lock by the lock element 36.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the lock element 36 is slid to the release position in the direction of the arrow. For this purpose, a corresponding force must be applied to the locking element 36, so that the projection 48 must come out of the recess 50. In the release position, the protrusion 48 is located in another recess 52 to prevent the locking element 36 from sliding in the direction returning to the locking position.

  The pin 42 of the locking element 36 can now move along the side of the stopper 46. The locking of the latch lever 28 is released by opening the lock element 36. Now the latch lever 28 is further opened until it reaches the end stop in the open position.

  In FIG. 4, the plug-in connection member 10 is shown in the open position. The contact elements 18, 24 are separated from each other. The plug-in connector 12 is pulled out from the interface 14.

  The locking element 36 is coupled to the stopper 46 at the open position of the latching lever 28, and is supported on a support surface 54 that extends in the circumferential direction with respect to the rotation axis 30. In this way, the lock element 36 is prevented from sliding to the lock position.

  As shown by the arrows in FIG. 4, the latch lever 28 can move back from the open position to the closed position again. In this case, the pin 34 of the interface 14 engages in the groove 32 and pushes the plug-in connector 12 in the direction of the interface 14 so that the contact elements 18 and 24 are connected to each other.

  In FIG. 5, the plug-in connection member 10 is again shown in the intermediate position. The guide element 44 is curved around the rotation axis 30 so that when the latch lever 28 is closed, the pin 42 slides below the guide element 44 and is pushed toward the rotation axis 30. In this case, the interval between the rotation axis 30 and the guide element 44 is shortened in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, the locking element 36 is automatically closed by the guide element 44.

  FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the plug-in connection member 10. In this figure, the plug-in connector 12 differs from that shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 in that it has a latching element 26 in the form of a latching slider 28 '.

  The interface 14 can be configured similarly to that shown in FIGS. The plug-in connector 12 is merely different in terms of the latching element 26 and the guide gate 40 and the groove 32.

  In the plug-in connection member 10 including the latching slider 28 ′ shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, the latching element 26 and the lock element 36 are shown at the same positions as those in FIGS. 1 to 5.

  The latching slider 28 'can pivot between a closed position and an open position in a direction transverse to the insertion direction. When the latching slider 28 ′ moves between the open position and the closed position, the movement of the latching slider 28 ′ is converted into a linear motion in the insertion direction of the plug-in connection member 10 by the groove 32 and the pin 34. Is done.

  In FIG. 6, the latching slider 28 'is shown in the closed position, in which the pin 34 is located at the end of the groove 32 and the locking element 36 is in the locked position.

  In FIG. 7, the latching slider 28 ′ of the plug-in connection member 10 is shown at an intermediate position. The opening process is stopped by the locking element 36 coming into contact with the stopper 46 and the latching slider 28 'being locked. In this case, the end face of the stopper 46 extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the latching slider 28 '.

  As described with reference to FIG. 2, the load current is interrupted at the intermediate position.

  FIG. 8 shows a state in which the lock element 36 is slid to the release position in the direction of the arrow. The locking of the latch slider 28 ′ is released by opening the lock element 36. Now the latching slider 28 'can be further opened until it reaches the end stopper.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the plug-in connection member 10 is now fully open and can be withdrawn. The locking element 36 is coupled to a stopper 46 and is supported on a support surface 54 that extends substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the latching slider 28 '.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the guide element 44 has such a shape that when the latching slider 28 'is closed, the pin 42 slides below the guide element 44 and is pushed toward the locked position. Yes. For this purpose, the first section of the guide element 44 is arranged inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the latching slider 28 '.

  Supplementally, the phrase “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the description “a” does not exclude a plurality. Further supplementally, a feature or step described with reference to any one of the above embodiments can be used in combination with another feature or step of another embodiment of the above embodiment. The reference signs in the claims are not limiting.

  10 plug-in connection member, 12 plug-in connector, 14 interface, 16 casing, 18 contact element, 20 casing, 22 collar, 24 contact element, 18a, 24a safety contact, 18b, 24b load contact, 26 latching element, 28 latching Lever, 28 'latch slider, 30 rotation axis, 32 groove, 34 pin, 36 lock element, 38 opening, 40 guide gate, 42 pin, 44 guide element, 46 stopper, 48 protrusion, 50 recess, 52 recess, 54 Support surface

Claims (12)

A bayonet connector (12) that forms an electrical connection between a plurality of electrical contact elements (18, 24), comprising:
A casing (16) for receiving the contact element (18), the casing (16) being configured to be inserted into a complementary casing (20) of a complementary plug-in connector (14); By inserting in this way, the contact element (18) in the casing (16) of the plug-in connector (12) is connected to the contact element (24) in the complementary casing (20),
A latching element (26) connected to the casing (16) and capable of moving between an open position and a closed position, the contact element (18) in the casing (16) being in the open position. And the contact element (24) in the complementary casing (20) are separated from each other, and in the closed position, the contact element (18) in the casing (16) and the complementary casing The contact elements (24) in (20) are connected to each other;
In the plug connector (12),
Including a locking element (36) movable between a locked position and a released position;
The locking element (36) is a plug, characterized in that it locks the latching element (26) in an intermediate position when the latching element (26) moves from the closed position to the open position. connector.   The locking element (36) is attached to the latching element (26) and is slidable between the lock position and the release position relative to the latching element (26). The plug connector according to claim 1.   Plug-in connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking element (36) can be moved manually between the locked position and the released position.   The plug connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the locking element (36) includes a slider attached to the latching element (26).   5. The plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking element (36) is engaged with the latching element (26) at the locking position and / or the release position. 6.   The said casing (16) has a stopper (46) with which the pin (42) provided in the said lock element (36) contact | abuts in a locked position, The any one of Claim 1-5 Plug-in connector.   The casing (16) has a guide element (44) that is adapted to move the locking element (26) when the latching element (26) moves from the open position to the closed position. 7. Plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the pin (42) of (36) is received and the locking element (36) is moved to the locked position.   The latching element (26) has a groove (32), which is formed to receive a protrusion (34) provided in the complementary casing (20). Thus, when the latching element (26) moves from the open position to the closed position, the casing (16) and the complementary casing (20) are attracted to each other. The plug connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   The plug connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the latching element (26) includes a lever (28) that rotates about a rotation axis (30) in the casing (16).   Insertion according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latching element (26) comprises a slide element (28 ') movable in a direction transverse to the insertion direction of the insertion connector (12). connector. Having at least one load contact (18b), the load contact being in electrical contact with a complementary load contact (24b) in an intermediate position;
11. Plug-in according to claim 1, comprising a safety contact (18a), which is electrically isolated from a complementary safety contact (24a) in an intermediate position. connector. A plug-in connection member (10) that forms an electrical connection between a cable and an electric drive motor of a vehicle,
Plug-in connection member, characterized in that it comprises a plug-in connector (12) according to any one of the preceding claims and a complementary plug-in connector (14) in an electric drive motor.

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