EP2456016B1 - Locking assembly for a connector device of an electronic component involved in automation technology - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a locking arrangement for a connector device which can be pivoted into an electronic assembly, with an unlocking slide, which is attached to the connector device and is operatively connected to a latching hook, which is arranged on a latching lug, wherein the latching hook is formed with a slot ,

The connection of electronic modules, in particular of peripheral modules in automation systems is usually carried out by means of plug devices, in particular front connectors, which contact the corresponding process line via a quasi-standing wiring to the periphery. In a module replacement thus only the front connector must be removed and no lines to be solved.

Printed circuit boards, assemblies or plug-in boards for electronic control units are advantageously used in standardized housing. A rack takes on the plugged via guide rails modules. The modules are supplied with voltage or signals via connection contacts, which are mounted either on the front side or backwards / sideways. The wiring of the modules with each other can also be done from the back.

The housings have fixed dimensions, are used to hold printed circuit boards and are installed in standardized control cabinets. A housing is composed of two side parts with mounting flanges, which are interconnected by four extruded profiles. The housing is screwed into an electronics cabinet via the two mounting flanges.

Inserted into the housing plug-in modules such as printed circuit boards are controlled by external process signals or are connected to other plug-in modules. For this will be Plug connectors, in particular front connectors in the form of connector strips used, which are pushed from the operating side to the plug-in modules. In the selection of the connector is in addition to the cost-effectiveness and the required pins especially to pay attention to reliability of the connector, mechanical robustness, combinability of parts that provide different manufacturers, insulation capacity and current load. The commonly used connectors for direct connection meet all economic and reliability requirements, only the number of pins is often insufficient. The process front connector is mainly used in peripheral devices when z. B. a spatial separation of the system cable from the electronics-internal signal lines is expedient to avoid electrical interference.

The disadvantage of the prior art, however, is that with disproportionate force for unlocking the connector device from the rack in the event of an emergency release often the locking system is damaged. As a result, the connector device with the module is no longer locked together, so that this type of unlocking is possible only once.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a locking arrangement for a plug device of an electronic module, which allows a repeated emergency release, without destroying the locking elements.

This object is achieved by a locking arrangement having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and developments, which can be used individually or in combination with each other, are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention this object is achieved by an unlocking arrangement for a connector device, which in a electronic assembly can be pivoted, with an unlocking slider which is attached to the connector device and is in operative connection with a latching hook, which is arranged on a latching lug. The invention is characterized in that the latching hook is formed with a slot, wherein the latching hook can be swung out in two directions. The connector device is used according to the invention in the lower part of the electronic module in the local plug bearing and then contacted by pivoting with the contact blades of the module and locked in the upper part of the module. As locking is a locking hook, which hooks behind a locking lug. By pulling on the unlocking slider of the connector device, the latching hook is deflected, whereby the system unlocks and the connector device is pulled by the contact blades of the assembly. So that the plug-in device can lock again during the next pivoting operation, the unlocking slide is brought with spring force to the starting position, whereby the latching hook assumes its original position again.

It is further contemplated that the locking elements, which are designed as latching lug and latching hook, overlap when locking and represent a positive connection. Usually, the locking mechanism must be released, so unlocked before the connector device can be pulled by the module. When properly unlocked, at least one partner, ie latching lug or latching hook must be deflected, so that the system can be loosened without damage. The essence of the invention now consists in the fact that a repeated emergency unlocking is possible without destroying the locking elements. For this purpose, the latching hook is designed according to the invention slotted and has the ability to be deflected in two directions, both vertically and horizontally. In the event that too much force is applied to the connecting line in the upper region of the plug device during the laying of the cable, the plug device can be torn off the module without being unlocked. To avoid doing the locking system is damaged, the latching hook automatically deflects. The latching hook is made so that it forms a sufficient rear grip with the locking lug and the overlap of locking lug and locking hooks over angle allows the deflection of the legs. The angles are adjusted so that the stress opens the locking mechanism without destruction. Through the slot of the locking hook according to the invention is formed with two legs, which act as torsion springs and solve the locking system, without being damaged. After the stress, the legs largely return to their original position and the connector device can be locked to the module again. In the new locking technology according to the invention open the two legs of the latching hook. After loading the two legs largely go back to their original position and the connector device can be locked again with the electronic module. The locking system is not damaged, ie the connector device and the assembly can still lock together due to the NotEntriegelung.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the plug device is contacted by means of pivoting technology on the electronic module. It is envisaged that the connector device, preferably a front connector contacted in the pivoting technique on the electronic module and in the upper region of the connector device, a latching element is arranged, which allows a lock. The connector device according to the invention is designed in the pivoting technique, whereby plugging and pulling forces are reduced.

According to the invention, it is further provided that a plug bearing for the pre-wiring and a second plug bearing for the contacting is responsible. The connector device according to the invention locks firmly in the pre-wiring position with the electronic module. This is done via a locking system. By means of journals, otherwise than Serve feeding cam, the connector device is mounted in the pre-rest position, where it locks by swiveling with the electronic module. The attached to the connector device locking mechanism locked in this position, the plug with the module. In this connector position, the terminals, ie the wiring panel, are located outside the electronic assembly and are easily accessible. The contact system of socket and knives is not yet engaged.

It is particularly advantageously provided that is formed deflectable by pulling the release slide of the connector device of the latching hook and unlocks the connector device, so that it can be swung out of the assembly. It is provided in particular that the unlocking slide is reset by means of spring force in its initial position before swiveling in, wherein the latching hook resumes its original position.

Another major advantage of the locking arrangement according to the invention is, in particular, that the locking arrangement has a non-destructive emergency unlocking. For this purpose, the latching hook according to the invention is designed slotted and has the ability to be deflected in two directions, vertically as well as horizontally. If too much force is applied to the connecting line in the upper region of the plug device during the laying of the cable, the plug device can be torn off the module without being unlocked. To avoid damaging the locking system, the latching hook deflects automatically. The latching hook according to the invention is made so that it forms a sufficient rear grip with the latching lug and the overlap of latching lug and latching hook on angle allows the deflection of the legs. The angles are adjusted so that the stress opens the locking mechanism without destruction.

It is provided in particular that the latching hook can be deflected in the vertical direction. The vertical alignment results in the spontaneous emergency unlocking. The slotted locking hook has two legs, which pivot away to the left and right in the event of spontaneous unlocking. This represents a vertical deflection.

In addition, it is provided that the latching hook is deflectable in the horizontal direction. The horizontal alignment results in a normal unlocking without excessive force. In this case, the latching hook shifts horizontally downwards, so that it is guided past the latching lug. This leads to an unlocked state.

The locking arrangement according to the invention is used in particular in plug devices, preferably in front connectors of electronic assemblies in automation technology.

The locking arrangement according to the invention for a plug-in device of an electronic assembly in automation technology allows repeated emergency unlocking without destroying the locking elements. The locking elements according to the invention are designed as latching hook and latching lug, wherein the latching hook can be pivoted in two directions, in the vertical and in the horizontal direction. This allows repeated use of this latch assembly after the connector device has been re-supplied to the assembly.

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will be explained below with reference to embodiments and with reference to a drawing.

Fig. 1

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung eine Steckervorrichtung mit erfindungsgemäßer Verriegelungsanordnung in einer elektronischen Baugruppe;

Fig. 2

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung die erfindungsgemäße Verriegelungsanordnung mit einem Entriegelungsschieber und zwei Verriegelungselementen aus Rasthaken und Rastnase;

Fig. 3

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung das Zusammenwirken zwischen Entriegelungschieber, Rastnase und Rasthaken;

Fig. 4

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung den erfindungsgemäßen Rasthaken mit Schlitz und sich daraus ergebenden zwei Schenkeln mit schräg an der Rastnase verlaufenden Führungskanten;

Fig. 5

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung die horizontale Drehbewegung der zwei Schenkel des Rasthakens im Falle einer Not-Entriegelung.

Here are shown schematically:

Fig. 1

in a perspective view of a connector device with inventive locking arrangement in an electronic module;

Fig. 2

in a perspective view of the locking arrangement according to the invention with an unlocking slide and two locking elements of latching hook and locking lug;

Fig. 3

in a perspective view of the interaction between unlocking slide, latching nose and latching hooks;

Fig. 4

in a perspective view of the locking hook according to the invention with slot and resulting two legs with obliquely extending on the locking lug guide edges;

Fig. 5

in a perspective view, the horizontal rotational movement of the two legs of the latching hook in the event of an emergency unlocking.

Fig. 1 shows a connector device 1 with a locking arrangement according to the invention in an electronic module 2. The connector device 1 has a connection pad 3 with slots 4 for electrical leads. The electronic assembly 2 has a preferably cuboidal housing 5, which is open on one side, so that the connector device 1 is preferably insertable in pivoting technology. The housing 5 may be formed in two parts with a front hood in the region of the connector device 1 and an adjoining base housing. The connector device 1 has in the upper region in the vicinity of the housing cover region 6 of the assembly 2 an unlocking slide 7. The unlocking slider 7 can swing out to the front, so that it is at an angle of about 90 ° to the connector device 1. In the housing bottom region 8 of the assembly 2 is arranged both a pre-wiring bearing position 9 and a Kontaktierungslagerstellung 10.

In Fig. 2 the locking arrangement according to the invention with the unlocking slide 7 and preferably two locking elements of latching hook 11 and locking lug 12 is shown. The unlocking slide 7 is in operative connection with the latching hook 11, which in turn is arranged leaning against the latching lug 12. In a normal unlocking process according to the invention, it is provided that the latching hook 11 moves in the vertical direction according to the arrow and is thus guided past the latching lug 12. The locking lug 12 is formed from contours in the housing of the electronic module 2. The interaction between the unlocking slide 7, locking lug 12 and latching hook 11 is also again in Fig. 3 shown.

Fig. 4 shows the locking hooks 11 according to the invention, which has a slot 13 and the resulting two legs 14, 15, the obliquely extending on the locking lug 12 have contact edges 16.

In Fig. 5 the horizontal rotational movement of the two legs 14, 15 of the latching hook 11 is shown in the event of an emergency unlocking. The two legs 14, 15 act like torsion springs, whereby the locking system dissolves without being damaged. After the load, the legs 14, 15 largely take their original position, and the connector device can be locked with the assembly 2 again. After the load, the two legs 14, 15 largely go back to their original position and the plug device can be locked to the module 2 again. The locking system is not damaged, ie the connector device and the assembly can due to the emergency unlocking again lock together.

The locking arrangement according to the invention for a plug-in device of an electronic assembly in automation technology allows repeated emergency unlocking without destroying the locking elements. The locking elements according to the invention are designed as latching hook and latching lug, wherein the latching hook can be pivoted in two directions, in the vertical and in the horizontal direction. This allows repeated use of this latch assembly after the connector device has been re-supplied to the assembly.

Claims (9)

1. Locking arrangement for a plug apparatus (1), which can be swivelled into an electronic assembly (2), with an unlocking slider (7) which is fastened to the plug apparatus (1) and is in operative connection with a snap hook (11), which is arranged on a catch (12), wherein the snap hook (11) is designed with a slot (13)
   characterised in that
   the snap hook (11) can be swung out in two directions.
2. Locking arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the plug apparatus (1) makes contact with the electronic module (2) by means of a swivel technique.
3. Locking arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that by pulling on the unlocking slider (7) the plug apparatus (1) of the snap hook (11) is designed so that it can be deflected and the plug apparatus (1) unlocked, so that this can be swung out from the assembly (2).
4. Locking arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the unlocking slider (7) can be returned to its starting position before swivelling by means of spring force, wherein the snap hook (11) takes up its original position again.
5. Locking arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the locking arrangement has nondestructive emergency unlocking, wherein the snap hook (11) has a slotted design and has the option of deflection in two directions.
6. Locking arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the snap hook (11) can be swung out in a vertical direction, wherein the slotted snap hook (11) has two limbs, which pivot to the right and to the left during a spontaneous unlocking process.
7. Locking arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the snap hook (11) can be swung out in a horizontal direction, wherein the snap hook (11) is displaced horizontally downwards so that it is moved past the catch.
8. Plug apparatus (1) for an electronic assembly (2) with a locking arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7.
9. Plug apparatus (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that the plug apparatus is designed as a front-panel connector.

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