EP3340393B1 - Housing lock for an electric connection between a connector and a counterpart connector, connector, and plug-in connection - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a connector comprising a housing lock for an electrical plug connection between the connector and a mating connector. The invention also relates to a plug connection with a plug and a mating plug.

For example, housing locks with a slide that can be attached to a housing of the plug are known, the slide in the attached state along a displacement path from an open position, in which the plug is movable relative to the mating connector, to a closed position, in which the plug relative to the mating connector is immobile, is transferable, and with a locking element which is movable into a locking position in which the locking element holds the slide in the closed position, the locking element can only be moved into the locking position when the slide is in the closed position.

From the US 9 293 860 B1 a connector is known which can be connected to a mating connector by means of a slider and pressed against it, a rotatable mating element enabling the slider to be moved into the end position with a high force. From the WO 2010/015888 A1 a plug connection is known in which a sleeve causes a plug to be pressed against a mating plug.

Such housing locks, however, are usually quite large and not very intuitive to use.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a solution in which simple operation is possible and at the same time the space requirement is low.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that the locking element can be moved into the locking position by rotation.

Such a movement is easier and more intuitive for the user to carry out. Furthermore, the rotation saves space.

The solution according to the invention can be further improved with the following, each advantageous embodiments and further developments. Depending on the application, these can be combined with one another or left out.

A rotation guide, which defines a rotation path, can be present on the locking element. Since the locking element can be arranged at least partially and / or in some positions in the slide, the slide can also have at least one rotation guide. In particular, such a rotation guide can be arranged in a slide in order to accommodate the locking element in the slide in the most space-saving way possible.

In an assembly position, the locking element can be detachable from the slide and / or can be connected to it. This allows, for example, separate production, which can be simple. The locking element can be connected to the slide, for example, by insertion or by a translational movement, or it can be introduced into the slide. For this purpose, there can be an insertion opening in the slide which is, for example, complementary to the locking element.

In a pre-latching position, a stop of the locking element can rest against a stop of the slide when the slide is outside the closed position. This can effectively prevent the locking element from being moved into the locking position when the slide is still outside the closed position. To transfer the locking element into the locking position, the engagement between the two stops can be released. This can happen automatically when the slide is moved into the closed position or is completely in the closed position.

In the pre-latching position and / or in the locking position and in particular outside the assembly position, the locking element can be held in or by the slide, so that the locking element can no longer be lost. In particular, it can be held captive in the slide or by the slide.

In order to allow the simplest possible operation, the pre-latching position can lie on a movement path between the mounting position and the locking position. The locking element can thereby be brought in a simple manner with a continuous movement and / or in a single direction of movement from the assembly position into the pre-latching position and then into the locking position. The end positions of such a movement path can be, for example, the assembly position and / or the locking position. Such end positions can be limited by stops on the locking element and / or on the slide and / or on other elements in order to avoid over-turning.

The locking element can be transferred from the assembly position into the pre-latching position and / or from the pre-latching position into the locking position by a rotation. Alternatively or in addition, the locking element can be transferred from the assembly position to the locking position by rotation. The movement path can run in the shape of a sector of a circle. These configurations allow easy operation and a simple construction by means of circular or circular sector-shaped movements and elements.

The stop of the locking element and / or the stop of the slide can be arranged on a deflectable arm in order to enable the simplest possible construction. The deflectable arm can be deflectable resiliently or elastically. For example, it can be arranged at one end of the arm. The arm can be designed, for example, as a lever or tongue with an elongate element that is held at one end and freely movable at the other end. Alternatively, a configuration as a lamella can also be advantageous in which an elongate element is held at two ends. The stop can for example be arranged centrally on a bridge-like element.

A deflection can take place in different directions, for example along a direction that runs perpendicular to an axis of rotation or along a direction that runs parallel to an axis of rotation. The deflection is advantageously carried out perpendicular to a direction of rotation, for example along a direction that runs tangentially to a direction of rotation or along a direction that runs radially away from a center of rotation or radially towards a center of rotation.

The stop can be arranged on a projection. The projection can in particular protrude in one direction of the displacement path. If the projection is arranged on the locking element, it can project in the direction of the housing and / or the slide. If the stop is arranged on the slide, it can correspondingly protrude towards the locking element and / or away from the housing. These refinements make it possible for a deflectable element to which the slide is attached to spring back into its original shape after overcoming the counter-stop by deflecting it, and damage due to further deflections is avoided. If the deflectable element is an arm, the arm can thus be slightly L-shaped, a short leg with the projection and the stop being attached to a longer stop for deflection.

Alternatively or additionally, a stop can also be arranged on another deflectable element, for example a plate or the like. In addition, due to material properties, the stop can be rubber-elastic, i.e. compressible or the like.

In order to keep the rotation as simple as possible and to keep the space requirement small, the axis of rotation can run through the locking element. It is particularly advantageous if the axis of rotation runs centrally through the locking element, since in this case the space requirement is minimal.

In an advantageous embodiment, the axis of rotation runs perpendicular to the plugging direction along which the plug and the mating plug are plugged together. This can, for example, facilitate the operation, since such a configuration can ensure easy accessibility of the locking element. In an alternative embodiment, the axis of rotation can also run parallel to the insertion direction. For example, such a configuration perpendicular to the insertion direction can be more compact than another configuration.

For particularly simple operation, the slide and / or the locking element can have latching elements, by means of which the locking element can be latched or latched in the assembly position, the pre-latching position and / or the locking position. This can enable reliable relative positioning of the two elements. Furthermore, for example, the user can be given tactile, optical or acoustic feedback that a certain position has been reached. Latching elements can in particular be latching knobs. Latching elements do not necessarily have to lead to a latching that can only be released again by actuating further elements, as is the case, for example, with a form-fitting latching. Latching elements can, for example, also be moved out of the latching position by a further actuation of the latched element with a higher force, as is the case, for example, with hill-like latching knobs.

In an advantageous embodiment, the slide and / or the housing have guide elements for guiding along the displacement path. The guide elements can be designed linearly in order to allow easy and simple movement. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the guide elements run perpendicular to a plug-in direction between the plug and the mating plug, so that little or no forces occurred along the plug-in direction during displacement. As an alternative to a linear guide, other displacement paths can also be possible, for example curved and / or circular displacement paths. For example, the slide can also be pushed towards the housing by a rotational movement or a folding movement.

The slide can have a pressure guide which automatically presses the mating connector against the connector when the slide is moved into the closed position. Such a pressing guide can in particular run obliquely to a plug-in direction and / or obliquely to the displacement path. A pressing guide for the mating connector can in particular run at an angle to a guide for the connector, so that automatic merging is achieved. The pressure guide can be designed, for example, as a groove or channel-like. It can be open on one or both sides and in particular be an opening in a wall. It can be a guide. A corresponding counter-element can be designed as a projection, for example head-shaped or pin-shaped, and arranged within the guide.

In order to enable a particularly space-saving design, the locking element can be designed as a flat body. For example, it can be designed in the shape of a plate, plate or coin. In particular, it can be a very short cylinder or an oblate ellipsoid of revolution, which optionally also has outwardly protruding elements.

The locking element can have a force introduction section with which a force for rotating the locking element can be introduced, for example by hand or with a machine. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the force introduction section is designed at the same time as a holding element for holding the locking element. A user or a machine can then hold the locking element on the holding element in a particularly simple manner, insert it into the slide and rotate it without having to grip or actuate further elements.

The locking element can have form-fit elements for a connection to the housing and form-fit elements for a connection to the slide. In the locking position, these form-fitting elements can be used to establish a connection between the housing and the slide via the locking element. Such a form fit acts preferably in or against a displacement path. Form-fit elements can have undercuts with respect to the displacement path.

In order to enable the simplest possible operability, a locking element can be rotationally symmetrical with respect to the direction of rotation. In this way, for example, the locking element can be used in different rotational positions with equal rights, so that the user no longer has to pay attention to the correct orientation. A symmetry with respect to a front side and a rear side of the locking element allows a further simplification of the operating process. Corresponding form-locking elements can be present on the housing and / or on the slide. The form-fit elements can be designed as guides at the same time, for example as rotational guides.

The locking element can be firmly locked in the locking position. When moving into the locking position, a latching element can latch the locking element in the locking position and moving out of the locking position can only be possible by deliberately deflecting an element transversely to the direction of rotation. This can increase security.

A connector according to the invention comprises a housing and a housing lock.

The plug advantageously has an unlocking device which releases the stop of the slide and the stop of the locking element from one another when the slide is in the closed position. Such an unlocking device can already be present on the slide or the securing element and / or on a housing of the plug. You can deflect at least one of the stops, for example in a direction opposite to the displacement path. When the slide is moved along the displacement path, the unlocking device can ensure that one of the stops stops while the other is moved further with the slide. Alternatively, the unlocking device can cause a deflection perpendicular or at an angle to the displacement path. The unlocking device can in particular comprise a projection or a step. In particular, at least one bevel can be present, for example to enable lateral deflection.

A stop of the locking element can be out of engagement with a stop of the slide in the pre-latching position and in the locking position of the locking element in the closed position of the slide, so that the locking element can be moved. At least one of the stops can be pushed out of engagement or deflected.

A plug connection according to the invention comprises a plug and a mating plug.

In an advantageous embodiment, the locking element can only be transferred into the locking position when the mating connector is connected to the connector. This allows an increased level of security to be achieved. For example, it can be prevented that the locking element is brought into the locking position when the slide is in the closed position, but no mating connector is attached to the plug. Such a connection securing device can comprise parts which are attached to the plug, the mating plug, the slide and / or the locking element. For example, the security mechanisms mentioned above are also possible for such a security. For example, there may be projections and stops that are deflected by the projections.

Further locking connections can be present between the slide and the housing which, for example, produce a form fit or can be easily released by higher forces. Such locking connections can give the user tactile, optical or acoustic feedback that the slide is in the closed position. Similar locking connections with such feedback can be present between further elements.

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by way of example on the basis of advantageous configurations with reference to the drawings. The advantageous further developments and refinements shown are in each case independent of one another and can be combined with one another as required, depending on how this is necessary in the application.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Perspektivansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Gehäuseverriegelung zusammen mit weiteren Teilen eines Steckers und einem Gegenstecker;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Perspektivansicht der Gehäuseverriegelung in einer Offenstellung und einer Montagestellung;

Fig. 3

eine Frontalansicht der Offenstellung und der Montagestellung;

Fig. 4

eine Frontalansicht in einer Offenstellung und einer Vorraststellung;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Perspektivansicht einer Geschlossenstellung und einer Verriegelungsstellung;

Fig. 6

eine Frontalansicht der Geschlossenstellung und der Verriegelungsstellung;

Fig. 7

eine schematische Perspektivansicht des Verriegelungselements von vorn;

Fig. 8

eine schematische Perspektivansicht des Verriegelungselementes von hinten;

Fig. 9

ein Detail des Schiebers und des Verriegelungselementes in der Vorraststellung;

Fig. 10

eine geschnittene, schematische Perspektivansicht des Schiebers, des Verriegelungselementes und des Gehäuses in der Vorraststellung;

Fig. 11

eine geschnittene, schematische Perspektivansicht eines Steckers in der Geschlossenstellung und der Verriegelungsstellung;

Fig. 12

eine Ansicht eines Verriegelungselementes zusammen mit dem Schieber in der Montagestellung.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic perspective view of a housing lock according to the invention together with further parts of a connector and a mating connector;

Fig. 2

a schematic perspective view of the housing lock in an open position and an assembly position;

Fig. 3

a front view of the open position and the assembly position;

Fig. 4

a front view in an open position and a pre-locking position;

Fig. 5

a schematic perspective view of a closed position and a locking position;

Fig. 6

a front view of the closed position and the locked position;

Fig. 7

a schematic perspective view of the locking element from the front;

Fig. 8

a schematic perspective view of the locking element from behind;

Fig. 9

a detail of the slide and the locking element in the pre-locking position;

Fig. 10

a sectional, schematic perspective view of the slide, the locking element and the housing in the pre-locking position;

Fig. 11

a sectional, schematic perspective view of a plug in the closed position and the locked position;

Fig. 12

a view of a locking element together with the slide in the assembly position.

In the Fig. 1 a plug connection 2 with a plug 3 and a mating plug 4, which is only indicated, is shown.

The plug 3 comprises in particular a housing 5 to which a housing lock 1 can be attached.

The housing lock 1 comprises a slide 10 and a locking element 20.

The slide 10 can be displaced along a displacement path 100 relative to the housing 5 and partially pushed into it. The locking element 20 can be inserted into the slide 10 through an insertion opening 17 and rotated there along a movement path 200. In the Fig. 1 an exploded view is shown, which can also be viewed as a pre-assembly position in which the housing lock 1 is not yet connected to the rest of the plug 3.

The plug 3 can be plugged together with the mating plug 4 along a plugging direction 34. This is possible when the slide 10 is not in a closed position 12.

In the Figures 2 and 3 an open position 11 of the slide 10 is shown, in which the mating connector 4 is plugged together with the connector 3. Based on the Fig. 1 the slide 10 was partially inserted into the housing 5. The locking element 20 was inserted into the slide 10 through the insertion opening 17 and is now in the assembly position 11. By rotating the locking element 20, it is inserted into the position shown in FIG Fig. 4 shown pre-locking position 12 brought. In the pre-latching position 12, the locking element 20 is rotatably held in the slide 10 and can therefore no longer be lost. The rotation takes place along a movement path 200 of the locking element 20. The locking element 20 rotates about an axis of rotation 32 which runs centrally through the locking element 20. The slide 10 can still be in the open position 11. Alternatively, it can also already be in the closed position 12.

In the pre-latching position 22, a stop 25 of the locking element 20 rests against a stop 15 of the slide, see also Fig. 9 . The stop 25 of the locking element 20 is arranged at the end 20a of an arm 29 in order to allow a slight deflection of the stop 25. If the slide 10 is now moved into the closed position 12 by being moved along the displacement path 100, an unlocking device 70 with a projection 71 located on the housing 5 directs the arm 29 and the stop 25 into a deflection direction 290, which is directed towards the axis of rotation 32 and perpendicular to this, and thus brings the stop 25 out of engagement with the stop 15. The slope 72 facilitates the deflection. The locking element 20 can then be rotated further along the movement path 200. In the locking position 23 then reached, form-fit elements 209, together with further form-fit elements 210, ensure a connection between the housing 5 and the locking element 20 or the locking element 20 and the slide 10.

The locking element 20 can be brought into the locking position 23 by a simple and continuous rotation from the assembly position 21 via the pre-latching position 22. A transfer to the locking position 23 is only possible when the slide 10 is in the closed position 12. In this closed position 12, the slide 10 holds the mating connector 4 on the connector 3.

Since the stop 25 is arranged on a projection 28 of the arm 29 projecting towards the housing 5, the arm 29 and in particular its end 29a can spring back into its original position when the projection 28 after the rotation from the pre-latching position 22 on the projection 71 has rotated over. Excessive stress on the arm 29 and breakage are thereby prevented. The arm 29 is generally approximately L-shaped with a long limb and a short limb which surrounds the projection 28.

In the Figures 5 and 6 the closed position 12 is shown, in which a relative movement between the connector 3 and the mating connector 4 is no longer possible. The locking element 20 holds the slide 10 in the closed position 12 because it is in the locking position 23 in which it is locked to the housing 5.

The locking element 20 is designed as a flat body 205. It is roughly plate-shaped, plate-shaped or coin-shaped. It has a base 220 in the form of a short cylindrical piece and two wings 230 protruding therefrom. Surfaces and edges lying on the base 220 and the wings 230 serve as rotation guides 30 for the rotation of the locking element 20 in the slide 10. A stop 42, which on Is arranged at the end of a channel 235 in a wing 230, serves to prevent accidental movement back into the assembly position 11, in which the locking element 20 could fall out of the slide 10. When moving from the assembly position 21 to the pre-latching position 22, a corresponding ramp-like counter-element 241 snaps into place on the slide 10 behind the stop 240.

In order to hold the locking element 20 in the pre-locking position 22 and the locking position 23 in an easily releasable manner, the locking element 20 has locking elements 60 which interact with indentations 62 in the slide 10.

The slide 10 has a pressure guide 120 which automatically pulls the mating connector 4 onto the connector 3 when the slide 10 is moved into the closed position 12. The pressure guide 120 comprises an obliquely running groove 121 which forms a link 122 for a corresponding counter element on the counter connector 4. Guide elements 110 guide the slide 10 relative to the plug 3 perpendicular to the plug-in direction 34 and thus obliquely to the pressure guide 120.

The locking element 20 also has a force introduction section 207, which is designed here as a bar and serves to introduce the force necessary for the rotation into the locking element 20. The force introduction section 207 simultaneously has a double function and also serves as a holding element 208 with which the locking element 20 can be held during assembly.

Latching connections 80 are attached, for example, between the slide 10 and the housing 5 and, in addition to latching the two, can also serve to indicate to the user that the correct position has been reached by tactile, acoustic or optical means, for example by clicking. Such locking connections 80 can also exist between further elements.

In an embodiment not shown, the two wings 230 could also be designed identically in order to enable insertion in any rotational position. Furthermore, the front side and the rear side of the locking element 20 could also be designed symmetrically to one another in order to enable an even easier insertion. For this purpose, the form-fit elements 209 could be used as force introduction section 207 and as holding elements 208.

Reference number

1

Housing lock

2

Connector

3

plug

4th

Mating connector

5

casing

10

Slider

11

Open position

12th

Closed position

15th

Stop slider

17th

Insertion opening

20th

Locking element

21

Assembly position

22nd

Pre-locking position

23

Locking position

25th

Stop locking element

28

Lead arm

29

poor

29a

End of arm

30th

Rotation guide

31

Direction of rotation

32

Axis of rotation

34

Mating direction

60

Locking element

61

Locking knobs

62

indentation

70

Unlocking device

71

head Start

72

Slope

80

Locking connections

100

Displacement

110

Guide elements displacement

120

Pressing

121

Groove

122

Backdrop

200

Motion path

205

Flat body

207

Force introduction section

208

Retaining element

209

Form-fit element housing locking element

210

Form-fit element slide locking element

220

Base

230

wing

235

channel

240

attack

241

Counter element

290

Arm deflection direction

Claims (15)

1. A plug connector (3) comprising a housing latch (1) for an electrical plug connection (2) between the plug connector (3) and a mating plug connector (4), comprising
   a slider (10) attachable to a housing (4) of the plug (3), wherein the slider (10), in the attached state, can be moved along a displacement path (100) from an open position (11), in which the plug connector (3) is movable relative to the mating plug connector (4), into a closed position (12), in which the plug connector (3) is fixed relative to the mating plug connector (4), wherein the housing latch (1) comprises a latching member (20) which is movable into a locked position (23) in which the latching member (20) holds the slider (10) in the closed position (12), characterised in that the latching member (20) can only be moved into the locking position (23) when the slider (10) is in the closed position (12),
   wherein the latching member (20) is movable into the locking position (23) by rotation.
2. The plug connector (3) according to claim 1, wherein the latching member (20) is detachable from and/or attachable to the slider (10) in an assembly position (21).
3. The plug connector (3) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein in a pre-locking position (2) a stop (25) of the latching member (20) abuts against a stop (15) of the slider (10) when the slider (10) is not in the closed position (12).
4. The plug connector (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein in the pre-locking position (22) the latching member (20) is retained in the slider (10).
5. The plug connector (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pre-locking position (22) is located on a path of movement (200) between the assembly position (21) and the locking position (23).
6. The plug connector (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the latching member (20) can be transferred from the assembly position (21) to the pre-locking position (22) and/or from the pre-locking position (22) to the locking position (23) by rotation.
7. The plug connector (3) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the stop (25) of the latching member (20) and/or the stop (15) of the slider (10) are arranged on a deflectable arm (29).
8. The plug connector (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a rotational axis (32) of the rotation into the locking position (23) extends through the latching member (20).
9. The plug connector (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the slider (10) and/or the latching member (20) include locking elements (61, 62) by means of which the latching member (20) is locked in the assembly position (21), the pre-locking position (22) and/or the locking position (23).
10. The plug connector (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the slider (10) comprises a press-on guide (120) which automatically presses the mating plug connector (4) against the plug connector (3) when the slider (10) is transferred into the closed position (12).
11. The plug connector (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the latching member (20) is formed as a flat body (205).
12. The plug connector (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, in the locking position (23), a connection between the housing (5) and the slider (10) via the latching member (20) is established by means of positive engagement elements (209, 210).
13. The plug connector (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the plug connector comprises an unlocking device (70) that disengages the stop (15) of the slider (10) and the stop (25) of the latching member (20) from each other when the slider (10) is in the closed position (12).
14. The plug connector (3) according to claim 13, wherein the stop (25) of the latching member (20) is out of engagement with a stop (15) of the slider (10) in the pre-locking position (22) and in the locked position (23) of the latching member (20) in the closed position (12) of the slider (10).
15. Plug-in connection (2) comprising a plug connector (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 14 and a mating plug connector (4).

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