EP0898334B1 - Electrical connector released by traction - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to electrical connectors lockable by push and unlockable by traction on a locking ring of one of the elements of the connector. We know many electrical connectors of this type, which have the advantage of being able to be coupled and uncoupled by a simple linear movement.

• une embase ayant un corps présentant une jupe tubulaire avant dans laquelle est retenue au moins une bille déplaçable radialement entre une position externe où elle est en saillie par rapport à la paroi externe de la jupe et affleure l'intérieur et une position interne où elle est en saillie par rapport à la paroi interne de la jupe et affleure l'extérieur, et
• une fiche ayant :
  • un corps insérable dans la jupe et ayant au moins une empreinte de réception de la bille, le corps de fiche interdisant la venue de la bille en position interne, sauf lorsqu'il est complètement inséré dans la jupe et présente alors son empreinte en face de la bille,
  • une bague de verrouillage déplaçable axialement sur le corps vers une position avant de butée, vers laquelle elle est repoussée par des moyens élastiques et à partir de cette position avant de butée,
  • une bague chasse-bille interposée radialement entre le corps de fiche et la bague de verrouillage, présentant un clavetage coulissant avec la bague de verrouillage, déplaçable axialement par rapport à la bague de verrouillage vers une position avant vers laquelle elle est repoussée par des moyens élastiques et à partir de cette position avant contre l'action desdits moyens élastiques, ladite bague chasse-bille ayant un diamètre interne tel qu'elle maintient la bille en position interne lorsqu'elle la recouvre.

In particular, document FR-A-2 690 569 describes such an electrical connector comprising:

• a base having a body having a front tubular skirt in which is retained at least one ball displaceable radially between an external position where it projects from the external wall of the skirt and is flush with the interior and an internal position where it is projecting from the internal wall of the skirt and flush with the outside, and
• a file having:
  • a body insertable into the skirt and having at least one impression for receiving the ball, the plug body preventing the coming of the ball in the internal position, except when it is completely inserted in the skirt and then presents its impression opposite the marble,
  • a locking ring movable axially on the body towards a front stop position, towards which it is pushed back by elastic means and from this front stop position,
  • a ball ring interposed radially between the plug body and the locking ring, having a sliding keyway with the locking ring, movable axially relative to the locking ring towards a front position towards which it is pushed back by elastic means and from this front position against the action of said elastic means, said ball-removing ring having an internal diameter such that it keeps the ball in internal position when it covers it.

The terms "base" and "plug" are used for reasons of convenience. They only involve the base is permanently fixed, although in general it belongs to a fixed device while the plug is connected to a cable.

One of the embodiments described in the document already mentioned allows the connector to be coupled by holding the plug either by the body or by the locking ring, which facilitates insertion. But he uses two snaps which engage alternately during insertion operations. At a given time, during insertion, neither of the two snaps is engaged, which creates uncertainty. In most cases it is without disadvantage but we wish to exclude it for applications which require great security.

The present invention aims in particular to provide a electrical connector of the type described above, retaining all the benefits you can get but without present its disadvantages.

To this end, the invention notably proposes a connector electric device according to claim 1.

To reduce the diameter of the connector, the means elastic can be constituted by springs with tweezers, having curved branches so that they can place these springs in a narrow annular space at inside the locking ring.

To make it easier, the ball ring can be made up of several assembled parts, as well than the sleeve.

• la figure 1 montre un connecteur suivant un mode particulier de réalisation de l'invention, à l'état découplé, en coupe suivant un plan passant par l'axe ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de détail à grande échelle montrant les éléments du connecteur dans la position qu'ils occupent lorsque la bague chasse-bille vient en contact avec la bille ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de détail montrant la disposition prise par les différents éléments lorsque le corps de la fiche a avancé par rapport à la position montrée en figure 2 ;
• la figure 4, similaire à la figure 1, montre le connecteur en position verrouillée ;
• les figures 5 et 6 montrent un ressort à pincettes. Le connecteur représenté en figure 1 est constitué d'une embase A et d'une fiche B.

The above characteristics as well as others will appear better on reading the following description of a particular embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example. The description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a connector according to a particular embodiment of the invention, in the decoupled state, in section along a plane passing through the axis;
• Figure 2 is a detail view on a large scale showing the connector elements in the position they occupy when the ball ring comes into contact with the ball;
• Figure 3 is a detail view showing the arrangement made by the different elements when the body of the plug has advanced relative to the position shown in Figure 2;
• Figure 4, similar to Figure 1, shows the connector in the locked position;
• Figures 5 and 6 show a pincer spring. The connector shown in Figure 1 consists of a socket A and a plug B.

The base A comprises a body 1, the front part of which is constituted by an annular skirt 2 having a shape of revolution. In the body is immobilized an insulator 40 pierced of passages 42 for receiving contact terminals 44. The back of the body contains a grommet 46 in which through holes are provided for conductors connected to terminals 44.

In the skirt 2 are provided radial holes in which are trapped balls 3, for example at number of three evenly distributed in the direction circumferential. A crimping, not shown, does not authorize the balls only to move between an internal position in the radial direction, shown in Figure 1, and a position external in the radial direction, represented in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Sheet B also includes a body 4 which contains also an insulator 48 retained in place by a plate 50 and a grommet 52, carrying male terminals. The part front of this body is also tubular and of revolution. It is intended to engage with a small clearance in the skirt 2.

In the outer wall of the plug body 4 is provided an annular groove 5 in a location such that it is in face of the balls 3 when the connector is in a full engagement position (Figure 4).

The plug body 5 has a support flange 10 on an internal shoulder of a locking ring 6. The flange 10 thus limits the movement of the ring locking 6 forwards with respect to the plug body 4. The rearward movement of the ring is limited by means which will be described later.

In the radial interval between the plug body 4 and the locking ring 6 is arranged a ball ring 7. The ball ring 7 is immobilized in rotation relative to the locking ring 6 by means of sliding keyway, for example having grooves longitudinal 17, formed on the inner face of the ring lock, and keys 18 and 20 belonging to the ball punch ring, which engage in the grooves. The forward movement of the ball ring 7, by compared to the locking ring 6, is limited by its support against a stop 22 which can be constituted by a circlip trapped in a circumferential groove of the locking ring.

The ball ring is completed by a socket guide 19 mounted with gentle friction on it and also provided with keys 20. Elastic means tend to push the ball ring 7 towards the stop 22 and the locking ring 6 towards its support position against the flange 10.

The elastic means comprise a sleeve which has also for the role of immobilizing the locking ring rotating as long as the connector is not locked and then release it to provide a tactile indication of locking.

The sleeve 24 is mounted on the body 4 and has with a sliding keyway, constituted for example by a or internal grooves of the sleeve and one or more keys 26 mounted on the body. A first spring 28, shown in Figure 1 by a double arrow, is interposed between the collar 10 and the sleeve. It tends to repel the sleeve forward. A second spring, shown schematically by a double arrow 30, tends to separate the sleeve from each other 24 and the ball-ring 7. In the case illustrated on the Figures, the ball ring 7 is in several parts. It comprises a ring proper 7, to which is fixed the key 18, and a sleeve 34 mounted frictionally soft on the ring proper 7, fitted with the key or keys 20.

The springs 28 and 30 are advantageously springs with tweezers of curved shape, which can for example have the appearance shown in Figures 5 and 6. The curvature of the branches (Figure 5) corresponds approximately to the average radius of the annular space in which it is housed. In the state of rest, the springs can have a shape of the kind shown in solid lines in Figure 6. When subjected to a force they take a form of the kind shown in dashes in this figure 6. Since they are mounted between integral in rotation, they may include anchoring spouts in the elements they separate.

When the sleeve 24 and the ball ring properly said 7 are in mutual support (Figures 1, 2 and 3), they have a snap that prevents them from turning one compared to each other. In the illustrated case, this snap consists of two sets of teeth or projections, one on the rear edge of the ball ring 7, the other at the bottom of an annular cavity formed in the sleeve and intended to receive the rear end of the ball punch ring. The spring 30 is interposed between the ball-bushing ring 7 and socket 19 which holds it in place contact with sleeve 24.

The ball ring can be in two pieces, one carrying the keys 18 and snapping onto the sleeve, the other reduced to a ring 34 for supporting the balls 3.

The various elements which have just been described are dimensioned so that the operation is as follows.

To couple the plug and socket from the position where they are shown in figure 1, just push plug B either through plug body 4 or through ring 6 which then rests on the collar 10.

The relative arrangement of the components of the plug remains the same until the ball ring comes into the support position against the balls 3 shown in Figure 2. The locking ring 6 is always immobilized in rotation, given its sliding keying with the ring ball punch 7, itself snapped onto the sleeve 24, itself keyed to the body. Means of coding, no shown, are generally provided on the plug body and the base body to not allow the introduction of the plug only in proper orientation.

When we continue to push forward the ring lock 6, which drives the plug body 4, the ring ball punch 7 moves back in the axial direction, since the balls cannot sink radially (Figure 3). The ring locking device 6 remains immobilized in rotation.

The same is true if the insertion effort is exerted on the plug body instead of exerting it on the locking ring, except that the locking ring can then back off at the same time as the ball-bushing ring.

When the plug body 4 has advanced enough to the balls are opposite the imprints 5, the balls fade inward under the push of the ring ball punch 7, on which the spring pressure is exerted 28, transmitted by the sleeve 24. The sleeve is dimensioned so that its advance is limited by its coming into abutment against the stop 22 integral with the locking ring 6, itself blocked by the collar 10 (Figure 4). The spring 30, weaker than spring 28, then takes the relay and projects forward the ball ring 7 which is disengages in rotation from the sleeve. The ball ring 7 is then again in abutment against the stop 22. The balls cannot escape, even when pulled exerted on the plug body. The locking ring is free to rotate and provides status confirmation Locked.

Unlocking is carried out by pulling the ring locking 6 towards the rear. The locking ring drives the ball ring which releases the balls. The locking ring cannot move back from the body until it abuts the sleeve 24 against the collar 10. Once the plug is released, it suffices to release the locking ring so that the elements of the plug returns to the position shown in Figure 1.

The locking ring is then immobilized again rotating relative to the body.

The arrangement which has just been described makes it possible to perform the same functions as those of connectors more complex and bulky forelegs. Projection of the locking ring forwards by a spring guarantees a frank lock. At no time is there a Uncertainty about the locking ring locking.

Claims (6)

1. Electrical connector comprising:

   a socket A having a body (1) with a front tubular skirt (2) in which at least one ball is retained, the said ball being able to move radially between an external position in which it projects from the external wall of the skirt and is flush with the inside and an internal position in which it projects from the internal wall of the skirt and is flush with the outside, and

   a plug having:

   a body (4) which can be inserted into the skirt and has at least one impression for housing the ball, the plug body preventing the ball from coming into the internal position except when it has been completely inserted into the skirt and then has its impression (5) opposite the ball,

   a locking ring (6) which can move axially on the body towards a front stop position, towards which it is pushed by springy means and from this front stop position,

   a ball-driver ring (7) interposed radially between the plug body and the locking ring, having a keying element sliding with the locking ring, which can move axially with respect to the locking ring towards a front position towards which it is pushed by springy means and from this front position against the action of the said springy means, the said ball-driver ring having an inside diameter such that it keeps the ball in the internal position when it covers it,

   characterized in that the said springy means comprise:

   a sleeve (24) having a keying element sliding with the plug body (4),

   a first springy means (28) interposed between the plug body (4) and the sleeve (24) and pushing the said sleeve forwards, towards a position of snap-fastening with the ball-driver ring (7),

   a second springy means (30) interposed between the sleeve (24) and the ball-driver ring (7) and tending to move the sleeve away from the snap-fastening position,

   the force exerted by the first means (28) being greater than that exerted by the second means (30).
2. Connector according to Claim 1, characterized in that the springy means consist of pincer springs having branches curved in such a way that the springs occupy a narrow annular space inside the locking ring.
3. Connector according to Claim 2, characterized in that the second springy means (30) is placed between

   the said ball-driver ring and

   a keyed bush (19) sliding on the locking ring (6) and held so as to bear against the sleeve by the said springy means (28, 30).
4. Connector according to Claim 3, characterized in that the second springy means includes terminal spurs for anchoring onto the bush and the ball-driver ring.
5. Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ball-driver ring is made in two parts, one bearing keys (18) for keying onto the locking ring and snap-fastening onto the sleeve, the other reduced to a collar (34) for bearing on the balls (3).
6. connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the snap-fastening is formed by two sets of teeth or projections, one set being made on the rear section of the ball-driver ring (7) and the other in the bottom of an annular cavity made in the sleeve and intended to house the rear end of the ball-driver ring.

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