Connector

Abstract

The invention discloses a connector. The connector comprises a plug and a plugging element plugged with the plug, the plug comprises a shell, an inner core and a locking piece; the plugging element comprises a shell and a plugging seat; the shell is provided with a locking part; the bayonet socket is restrained in the shell in a circumferential rotation manner; after the inner core of the plug is plugged with the plugging seat of the plugging element front and back, the plug has at least two positions relative to the plugging element: in the first position, the locking piece of the plug and the locking part of the plugging element are staggered in the front and back direction; and at the second position, after the plug and the bayonet socket jointly rotate circumferentially relative to the shell under the action of external force, the locking piece of the plug and the locking part of the plug element are aligned and locked in the front-back direction. According to the connector, unlocking caused by misoperation can be prevented, and abrasion of an inner core can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of connecting devices, and in particular to a connector. Background Art

[0002] Connectors are indispensable components in electronic devices, used to connect two active devices, transmit current or signals, etc. It builds a bridge of communication between blocked parts or isolated circuits in the circuit, so that the current can flow and the circuit can achieve the predetermined function. In general, connectors are not limited to connecting current. In today's rapidly developing optoelectronic technology, the carrier of signal transmission in optical fiber systems is light, and connectors are also used in optical signal pathways. Their functions are the same as those of circuit connectors. Connectors generally include plugs and sockets that plug into each other, or male and female plugs that plug into each other. The plug includes an outer shell and an inner core arranged in the outer shell, and the inner core is used to electrically connect to an external wire.

[0003] For example, the Chinese utility model patent with application number CN202022606674.X (publication number CN213366933U) discloses "A quick-lock electrical connector", which includes a plug and a socket, the plug includes a plug housing and a plug terminal disposed in the plug housing, the socket includes a socket housing and a socket terminal disposed in the socket housing, the plug housing is provided with a locking mechanism for locking the socket, the locking mechanism includes a locking block and an elastic member; the locking block is hinged to the plug housing, a locking hole is provided at one end of the locking block close to the socket, and a lock buckle is provided in the socket housing to cooperate with the lock hole; when the plug is connected to the socket, the elastic member always elastically drives the locking block to press down toward one end of the socket so that the lock buckle is buckled in the lock hole. The plug and socket of the quick-lock electrical connector can achieve rapid locking and separation, and its operation is simple, easy to use, and highly practical. However, when the locking block is contacted by mistake, the plug and socket will be unlocked.

[0004] There are also solutions to prevent unlocking due to misoperation. For example, the Chinese invention application with application number CN202410859314.0 (publication number CN118539227A) discloses "A circular straight plug connector". A circumferential waist-shaped hole is provided at the right end of the head shell of the circular straight plug connector, and a circumferential waist-shaped groove is provided in the middle of the head shell. The connecting sleeve is sleeved on the head shell, and a first rivet hole and a second rivet hole are provided on the connecting sleeve. A first rivet is installed in the circumferential waist-shaped hole, and a second rivet and a reset spring are installed in the circumferential waist-shaped groove. The top of the second rivet is located in the second rivet hole, and a vertical groove and a guide groove are provided at the left end of the seat shell. A horizontal groove is provided at the bottom of the vertical groove. The groove wall of the vertical groove close to the horizontal groove is a first arc, and the left side wall of the horizontal groove is a third arc. The junction between the first arc and the third arc is smoothly transitioned through the second arc. In the invention application, the plug and socket are inserted directly, which is efficient and labor-saving. After the direct insertion, they are automatically locked. When the plug and socket are separated, they need to rotate circumferentially first and then separate axially. The unlocking action is relatively complicated, which can prevent unlocking due to misoperation. However, when the plug and the socket rotate relative to each other circumferentially, the inner core is greatly worn, which affects the service life of the plug.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for continued improvement. Summary of the invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a connector which can prevent unlocking due to misoperation and reduce wear on the inner core in view of the current status of the prior art.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above technical problems is: a connector, comprising a plug and a plugging element plugged with the plug; The plug comprises a shell, an inner core and a locking member; the shell comprises a front section and a rear section connected to each other; the inner core is fixed in the front section and is used to be connected to an external wire; the locking member is arranged on the outer wall of the rear section of the shell so as to be movable forward and backward and has a locking position and an unlocking position; It is characterized in that The plug-in element comprises: A housing having a locking portion that cooperates with a locking member of the plug to lock; The plug socket is constrained in the housing for circumferential rotation; After the inner core of the plug is plugged into the plug socket of the plug element front and back, the plug has at least two positions relative to the plug element: In the first position, the locking member of the plug and the locking portion of the plug element are misaligned in the front-to-back direction; In the second position, after the plug and the socket are subjected to external force and rotate circumferentially relative to the housing, the locking piece of the plug and the locking portion of the plug element are aligned and locked in the front-to-back direction.

[0008] In order to take into account the requirements of positioning the plugging position and circumferential rotation, one of the front section of the shell of the plug and the inner wall of the shell of the plugging element has a limit block, and the other has a limit groove for inserting the limit block; the limit groove includes an axial extension section extending forward and backward, and a circumferential extension section connected to the inner end of the axial extension section; The locking member is in the unlocked position under force, the limiting block is located in the axial extension section of the limiting groove, and the inner core of the plug is plugged into the plug socket of the plug element, so that the plug is in the first position; When the plug and the socket rotate circumferentially relative to the housing under the action of external force, the limiting block enters the circumferential extension section of the limiting groove, so that the plug is in the second position.

[0009] By setting a limit block and a limit groove, the limit block is aligned with the axial extension section of the limit groove before plugging in, so as to locate the plugging position of the plug and the plug-in element; at the same time, by setting a circumferential extension section, when the plug and the plug socket rotate relative to the shell, the limit block enters the circumferential extension section, and the circumferential rotation requirement can be taken into account to avoid spatial interference.

[0010] In order to facilitate the alignment of the plug socket and the inner core in the circumferential direction and facilitate the front-to-back plugging of the two, the plug element further includes a second elastic member arranged between the plug socket and the housing; The second elastic member is in the initial position, so that the plug socket is in the initial preset position relative to the housing. When the limit block and the axial extension section of the limit groove are aligned front and back, the plug socket is aligned with the inner core in the circumferential direction and can be plugged in front and back. When the locking member is locked with the locking portion, the second elastic member is in an energy storage state, and the second elastic member releases energy to cause the socket to rotate circumferentially relative to the housing, thereby causing the socket to return to an initial preset position.

[0011] Taking the example of the socket and the inner core using a combination of jacks and pins, at least two jacks are often arranged in the circumferential direction (it is more common to have three jacks, which are distributed in a herringbone shape in the circumferential direction), and the number of pins corresponds to the sockets. When the position of the jack is aligned with the position of the pin in the circumferential direction, the socket and the inner core can be plugged in front and back; when the position of the jack is misaligned with the position of the pin in the circumferential direction, the socket and the inner core cannot be plugged in front and back; by providing a second elastic member, it is convenient to make the socket in an initial preset position relative to the shell, and when the axial extension section of the limit block and the limit groove are aligned front and back, it is convenient to align the socket and the inner core in the circumferential direction and plug them in front and back, thereby improving the efficiency of connector plug-in installation; otherwise, because the socket can rotate circumferentially, the socket may not be located at the required preset position before plug-in, and extra attention needs to be paid to adjusting the circumferential position of the socket, and the efficiency of connector plug-in installation is low.

[0012] Preferably, for ease of manufacturing, the second elastic member is a bending spring or a spring.

[0013] Preferably, in order to facilitate installation and manufacturing, the outer peripheral wall of the socket is provided with a mounting column, the inner peripheral wall of the shell is provided with a convex block, the first part of the second elastic member is constrained on the mounting column, and the second part of the second elastic member is constrained on the convex block; The protrusions are provided with two protrusions spaced apart in the circumferential direction, the mounting post is located between the two protrusions, and the mounting post is used to abut against the two protrusions in the circumferential direction.

[0014] In this way, the protrusion has two functions at the same time: first, the protrusion is constrained by the second elastic member; second, the two protrusions limit the circumferential rotation range of the mounting column, thereby limiting the circumferential rotation range of the socket, preventing the second elastic member from being over-stretched, and extending the service life of the second elastic member.

[0015] In order to facilitate manufacturing, the locking member has a locking block extending forward from the housing, and the locking portion is a locking groove for accommodating the locking block.

[0016] In order to facilitate automatic locking, the plug further comprises a first elastic member arranged between the locking member and the rear section of the shell, the first elastic member having a tendency to push the locking member forward and lock the locking member with the locking portion of the plug element.

[0017] In order to reduce the phenomenon of ignition and burning of the carrier fluid, a pin-and-hole matching structure is adopted between the socket and the inner core, so that the plug connection is stable and reliable, the phenomenon of ignition and burning of the carrier fluid can be reduced, and the service life can be extended.

[0018] Alternatively, an existing clip / spring-type current-carrying structure may be used between the socket and the inner core.

[0019] Preferably, one of the inner circumferential wall of the shell and the outer circumferential wall of the socket has an arcuate groove, and the other has a positioning block extending into the arcuate groove, and when the socket rotates circumferentially relative to the shell, the positioning block rotates circumferentially along the arcuate groove.

[0020] By setting the positioning block and the arc groove, the following functions are simultaneously achieved: first, the position of the circumferential rotation of the socket is guided; second, the axial position of the socket is limited, so as to facilitate the stable front-to-back connection between the socket and the inner core; third, the structure is reasonable and practical, and easy to manufacture.

[0021] Specifically, the plug-in element is another plug, or the plug-in element is a socket, and the outer periphery of the socket has a mounting seat with a square cross-section.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows: by improving the internal structure of the plug element and the matching relationship between the plug element and the plug, the plug element includes a shell and a socket, and the socket can rotate relative to the shell. When the plug and the plug element need to be locked, the inner core of the plug and the socket of the plug element are first plugged front and back, and then the plug and the socket are rotated circumferentially relative to the shell to the second position, and the locking piece of the plug and the locking part of the plug element are aligned and locked in the front and back direction. When unlocking, the locking piece is first placed in the unlocking position, and then the plug and the socket are rotated circumferentially in the opposite direction, and then the plug and the plug element are separated in the front and back direction. The unlocking action is relatively complicated, but it can prevent the plug and the plug element from being unlocked due to accidental contact with the locking piece. In the prior art, if the locking piece is accidentally contacted, it is easy to cause the plug and the plug element to be unlocked; At the same time, the plug and the socket rotate relative to the housing together, which reduces the relative rotation between the inner core of the plug and the socket, thereby reducing the wear between the inner core and the socket and extending the service life of the plug; The structure is reasonable and practical, and it is easy to manufacture.

[0023] In the improved scheme, by providing a second elastic member, the socket is conveniently placed in an initial preset position relative to the shell. When the limit block and the axial extension section of the limit groove are aligned front and back, the socket and the inner core are conveniently aligned in the circumferential direction to facilitate the front and back plugging of the two, thereby improving the efficiency of connector plugging and installation. Otherwise, because the socket can rotate circumferentially, the socket may not be located in the required preset position before plugging, and extra attention needs to be paid to adjusting the circumferential position of the socket, resulting in low efficiency of connector plugging and installation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of a locking state of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 An exploded view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a plug in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a plug-in element in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 5 for Figure 4 Exploded view of plug-in components; Figure 6 for Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a plug-in component; Figure 7 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the assembly of the housing and the second elastic member in the connector element; Figure 8 It is a cross-sectional view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiment 1:

[0026] See also Figure 1 to Figure 8 , which is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The connector includes a plug B and a plug element A plugged with the plug B. In this embodiment, the plug element A is another plug. Figure 3 , Figure 8 Plug B includes a shell 10, an inner core 20, a locking member 30, and a first elastic member 40. The shell 10 includes a front section 10a and a rear section 10b connected to each other. The inner core 20 is fixed in the front section 10a, and the inner core 20 is used to connect with an external wire, which can be a common wire or an optical fiber cable. The locking member 30 is arranged on the outer wall of the rear section 10b of the shell 10 to move forward and backward, and has a locking position and an unlocking position; the locking member 30 has a locking block 30a extending forward from the shell 10. The first elastic member 40 is arranged between the locking member 30 and the rear section 10b of the shell 10, and the first elastic member 40 has a tendency to push the locking member 30 forward and lock the locking member 30 with the locking portion 11 of the plug-in element A. The first elastic member 40 is a spring or a spring.

[0027] See also Figure 2 , Figure 4~Figure 8 The plug-in element A comprises a housing 1, a plug socket 2, and a second elastic member 3. The housing 1 has a locking portion 11 for locking with a locking member 30 of the plug B, and the locking portion 11 is a locking groove for accommodating a locking block 30a.

[0028] The socket 2 is constrained to rotate circumferentially in the housing 1. The outer periphery of the socket 2 has a mounting groove 23 for mounting the second elastic member 3. The inner peripheral wall of the housing 1 has an arc-shaped groove 14 ( Figure 7 , Figure 8 ), the outer peripheral wall of the socket 2 has a positioning block 22 extending into the arc-shaped groove 14 ( Figure 5 , Figure 8 ), when the socket 2 rotates circumferentially relative to the housing 1, the positioning block 22 rotates circumferentially along the arc groove 14. Preferably, the arc groove 14 is annular, the positioning block 22 is annular, there are two positioning blocks 22 spaced apart from each other, and the mounting groove 23 is formed between the two positioning blocks 22. The positions of the positioning block 22 and the arc groove 14 can also be interchanged. A pin-and-socket matching structure is adopted between the socket 2 and the inner core 20.

[0029] After the inner core 20 of the plug B is plugged into the socket 2 of the plug element A in front and back connection, the plug B has two positions relative to the plug element A: in the first position, the locking piece 30 of the plug B and the locking portion 11 of the plug element A are offset in the front-to-back direction; in the second position, after the plug B and the socket 2 are subjected to external force and rotate circumferentially relative to the housing 1, the locking piece 30 of the plug B and the locking portion 11 of the plug element A are aligned and locked in the front-to-back direction.

[0030] The inner wall of the housing 1 of the plug element A has a limit block 12, and the front section 10a of the housing 10 of the plug B has a limit groove 10c for the limit block 12 to be inserted into. The positions of the limit block 12 and the limit groove 10c can also be interchanged. Figure 2 , Figure 3 The limiting groove 10c includes an axial extension section 10d extending forward and backward, and a circumferential extension section 10e connected to the inner end of the axial extension section 10d; the locking member 30 is in the unlocked position under force, the limiting block 12 is located in the axial extension section 10d of the limiting groove 10c, and the inner core 20 of the plug B is plugged into the socket 2 of the plug element A, so that the plug B is in the first position; when the plug B and the socket 2 are subjected to external force and rotate circumferentially relative to the housing 1, the limiting block 12 enters the circumferential extension section 10e of the limiting groove 10c, so that the plug B is in the second position.

[0031] The second elastic member 3 is arranged between the socket 2 and the shell 1; the second elastic member 3 is in the initial position, so that the socket 2 is in the initial preset position relative to the shell 1, and when the limit block 12 and the axial extension section 10d of the limit groove 10c are aligned front to back, the socket 2 and the inner core 20 are aligned in the circumferential direction and can be plugged in front and back; when the locking member 30 is locked with the locking portion 11, the second elastic member 3 is in an energy storage state, and the second elastic member 3 releases energy and has a tendency to make the socket 2 rotate circumferentially relative to the shell 1, thereby causing the socket 2 to return to the initial preset position. The second elastic member 3 is a bending spring or a spring. The first part of the second elastic member 3 is constrained on the outer circumferential wall of the socket 2, and the second part of the second elastic member 3 is constrained on the inner circumferential wall of the shell 1. Specifically, see Figure 6 A mounting column 21 is provided on the outer circumferential wall of the socket 2, a protrusion 13 is provided on the inner circumferential wall of the shell 1, a first part of the second elastic member 3 is constrained on the mounting column 21, and a second part of the second elastic member 3 is constrained on the protrusion 13; there are two protrusions 13 distributed circumferentially, and the mounting column 21 is located between the two protrusions 13, and the mounting column 21 is used to abut against the two protrusions 13 in the circumferential direction.

[0032] The working principle and usage method of the connector of this embodiment are as follows.

[0033] The initial position is Figure 2As shown, the plug-in element A (a plug) on ​​the left side is in a preset position relative to the limit block 12 under the action of the second elastic member 3. When the axial extension section 10d of the limit groove 10c of the plug B is aligned front and back with the limit block 12, the three plug holes of the plug-in seat 2 are aligned with the three pins of the inner core 20 in the circumferential direction. The locking member 30 is pulled back to make the locking block 30a in the unlocking position, and the plug-in seat 2 and the inner core 20 are plugged front and back. Then, the plug B is rotated circumferentially, and the plug B and the socket 2 of the plug element A are rotated circumferentially relative to the housing 1. The limit block 12 enters the circumferential extension section 10e of the limit groove 10c, and the locking block 30a of the locking member 30 is aligned with the locking portion 11. The locking member 30 is released, and the locking block 30a is inserted forward into the locking portion 11. The plug B and the plug element A (two plugs) are locked with each other, and the second elastic member 3 is in an energy storage state.

[0034] When plug B and plug element A need to be unlocked, Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the locking member 30 is pulled rightward, the locking block 30a is withdrawn from the locking portion 11, and the plug B on the right side is rotated in the opposite direction, and then the plug B is pulled out to the right. After the plug B is pulled out, the second elastic member 3 releases energy to return the socket 2 to the initial position, so that the two plugs can be plugged in next time. Embodiment 2:

[0035] The difference between the connector of Example 2 and Example 1 is that the plug-in element A is a socket (not shown in the figure), and the outer periphery of the socket has a mounting seat with a square cross section. The structure inside the socket is the same as that of the above-mentioned Example 1. Figure 4 The internal structure of a connector (plug).

[0036] The working principle and use process of the socket and the plug are the same as those of Example 1.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising a plug (B) and a plug element (A) plugged into the plug (B); in, The plug (B) comprises an outer shell (10), an inner core (20), and a locking member (30); the outer shell (10) comprises a front section (10a) and a rear section (10b) connected to each other; the inner core (20) is fixed in the front section (10a), and the inner core (20) is used to be connected to an external wire; the locking member (30) is arranged on the outer wall of the rear section (10b) of the outer shell (10) so as to be movable forward and backward, and has a locking position and an unlocking position; It is characterized in that The plug-in element (A) comprises: A housing (1), the housing (1) having a locking portion (11) for locking in cooperation with a locking piece (30) of a plug (B); The plug socket (2) is constrained in the housing (1) for circumferential rotation; After the inner core (20) of the plug (B) is plugged into the plug socket (2) of the plug element (A) in a front-to-back manner, the plug (B) has at least two positions relative to the plug element (A): In the first position, the locking piece (30) of the plug (B) and the locking portion (11) of the plug element (A) are offset in the front-to-back direction; In the second position, after the plug (B) and the socket (2) are subjected to an external force and rotate circumferentially relative to the housing (1), the locking piece (30) of the plug (B) and the locking portion (11) of the plug element (A) are aligned and locked in the front-to-back direction.

2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: One of the front section (10a) of the shell (10) of the plug (B) and the inner wall of the shell (1) of the plug element (A) has a limit block (12), and the other has a limit groove (10c) for the limit block (12) to be inserted; the limit groove (10c) includes an axial extension section (10d) extending forward and backward, and a circumferential extension section (10e) connected to the inner end of the axial extension section (10d); The locking member (30) is in the unlocked position under force, the limiting block (12) is located in the axial extension section (10d) of the limiting groove (10c), and the inner core (20) of the plug (B) is plugged into the plug socket (2) of the plug element (A), so that the plug (B) is in the first position; When the plug (B) and the socket (2) are subjected to an external force and rotate circumferentially relative to the housing (1), the limit block (12) enters the circumferential extension section (10e) of the limit groove (10c), thereby placing the plug (B) in the second position.

3. The connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The plug-in element (A) further comprises a second elastic member (3) arranged between the plug-in socket (2) and the housing (1); The second elastic member (3) is in an initial position, so that the plug socket (2) is in an initial preset position relative to the housing (1), and when the limit block (12) and the axial extension section (10d) of the limit groove (10c) are aligned front to back, the plug socket (2) and the inner core (20) are aligned in the circumferential direction and can be plugged in front to back; When the locking member (30) is locked with the locking portion (11), the second elastic member (3) is in an energy storage state, and the second elastic member (3) releases energy to cause the socket (2) to rotate circumferentially relative to the housing (1), thereby causing the socket (2) to return to an initial preset position.

4. The connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: The second elastic member (3) is a bending spring or a spring sheet.

5. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer peripheral wall of the socket (2) is provided with a mounting column (21), the inner peripheral wall of the housing (1) is provided with a protrusion (13), a first part of the second elastic member (3) is constrained on the mounting column (21), and a second part of the second elastic member (3) is constrained on the protrusion (13); The protrusions (13) are provided with two protrusions (13) spaced apart in the circumferential direction, the mounting column (21) is located between the two protrusions (13), and the mounting column (21) is used to abut against the two protrusions (13) in the circumferential direction.

6. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking member (30) has a locking block (30a) extending forward from the housing (10), and the locking portion (11) is a locking groove for accommodating the locking block (30a).

7. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plug (B) further comprises a first elastic member (40) arranged between the locking member (30) and the rear section (10b) of the housing (10), wherein the first elastic member (40) has a tendency to push the locking member (30) forward and lock the locking member (30) with the locking portion (11) of the plug element (A).

8. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: A pin-and-socket matching structure is adopted between the socket (2) and the inner core (20).

9. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: One of the inner circumferential wall of the shell (1) and the outer circumferential wall of the socket (2) has an arc-shaped groove (14), and the other has a positioning block (22) extending into the arc-shaped groove (14); when the socket (2) rotates circumferentially relative to the shell (1), the positioning block (22) rotates circumferentially along the arc-shaped groove (14).

10. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The plug-in element (A) is another plug (B), or the plug-in element (A) is a socket, and the outer periphery of the socket has a mounting seat with a square cross-section.

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