A locking device with a dual position feedback mechanism

Abstract

This application belongs to the field of electronic lock technology and discloses a locking device with a dual-position feedback mechanism, including a rack and pinion lock slider and a circuit board. A metal spring is provided on the bottom surface of the rack and pinion lock slider. The metal spring includes a metal plate and three contact springs extending downwards from the side of the metal plate. Three conductive grooves are arranged parallel to each other on the circuit board along the sliding direction of the rack and pinion lock slider. The three conductive grooves are sequentially designated as a first conductive area, a signal area, and a second conductive area. The first conductive area, signal area, and second conductive area are located on the path of the bottom of the three contact springs as the rack and pinion lock slider slides. The sliding of the rack and pinion lock slider causes the three contact springs to make sliding contact with the first conductive area, signal area, and second conductive area. When the rack and pinion lock slider slides to the locked or unlocked position, the three contact springs are in different positions within the three areas, thereby generating corresponding locking or unlocking signals, achieving dual-position feedback and ensuring safe use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electronic lock technology, and in particular to a locking device with a dual position feedback mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the new energy vehicle industry, charging safety has gradually become a core concern for the industry. During the charging process of new energy vehicles, the locking mechanism between the charging gun and the vehicle's charging dock is a key component ensuring charging safety; its performance directly determines the stability and safety of the charging process. As an important part of the charging connection system, the reliability and accuracy of the electronic lock's status monitoring are crucial.

[0003] However, current electronic locks for car chargers generally suffer from numerous technical flaws. Firstly, most electronic locks lack a reliable position feedback mechanism, making it impossible to accurately determine the actual locking status. In practical applications, situations may arise where the electronic lock is not fully locked, but the system mistakenly interprets it as locked and initiates charging. This significantly increases the risk of the charging gun accidentally detaching during charging, potentially causing charging interruptions, electrical faults, or even fires and other serious safety accidents. Secondly, existing electronic lock position monitoring methods are relatively simple and lack redundancy. If the sole monitoring mechanism fails, the system will be unable to obtain the true status of the electronic lock, compromising charging safety and severely impacting the user's charging experience. Thirdly, traditional electronic lock position feedback mechanisms are complex, increasing manufacturing costs and significantly raising the equipment failure rate, thus hindering their widespread adoption.

[0004] Therefore, developing a locking device with a simple structure, high reliability, and a dual-position feedback mechanism that can monitor the locking and unlocking status of electronic locks in real time and accurately has become an urgent need to solve the current charging safety problems of new energy vehicles. Utility Model Content

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a locking device with a dual-position feedback mechanism.

[0006] The above-mentioned technical objective of this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution: a locking device with a dual position feedback mechanism, comprising a rack and pinion slider and a circuit board, wherein a metal spring is provided on the bottom surface of the rack and pinion slider, the metal spring comprising a metal plate and three contact springs extending downward from the side of the metal plate, and three conductive grooves arranged parallel and spaced apart on the circuit board along the sliding direction of the rack and pinion slider, the three conductive grooves being sequentially a first conductive area, a signal area, and a second conductive area, the first conductive area, the signal area, and the second conductive area being located on the path of the bottom of the three contact springs sliding with the rack and pinion slider.

[0007] By adopting the above technical solution, a metal spring is set between the rack lock lever slider and the circuit board, and three contact springs corresponding to the first conductive area, signal area, and second conductive area are set. When the rack lock lever slider slides, it will cause the three contact springs to make sliding contact with the first conductive area, signal area, and second conductive area. When the rack lock lever slider slides to the locked or unlocked position, the three contact springs are in different positions in the three areas, thereby generating a corresponding locked or unlocked signal, realizing dual position feedback and ensuring safe use.

[0008] Furthermore, the length of the signal region is greater than the length of the first conductive region, which in turn is greater than the length of the second conductive region.

[0009] By adopting the above technical solution, the lengths of the first conductive region, the signal region, and the second conductive region are designed differently to generate different signals.

[0010] Furthermore, the bottom surface of the rack lock rod slider is provided with a downward-facing mounting groove, and a mounting opening is provided on the side wall of the mounting groove near the lock rod. Fixing plates are provided on the two side walls of the mounting groove adjacent to the mounting opening, which are spaced apart from the bottom of the groove. A fixing groove for inserting a metal spring is formed between the fixing plates and the bottom surface of the mounting groove.

[0011] By adopting the above technical solution, an installation slot, an installation port, a fixing plate, and a fixing groove are set up. The metal plate of the metal spring is inserted from the fixing groove into the installation slot to realize the installation between the metal spring and the rack and pinion locking rod slider.

[0012] Furthermore, the bottom of the mounting groove is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove, and a snap-fit ​​spring is provided on the metal plate extending obliquely upward toward the locking rod side. The snap-fit ​​spring is inserted into the snap-fit ​​groove to achieve a snap-fit ​​engagement between the metal spring and the rack and pinion locking rod slider.

[0013] By adopting the above technical solution, a snap-fit ​​groove and a snap-fit ​​spring are set. When the metal plate of the metal spring is inserted from the fixed groove into the installation groove, the snap-fit ​​spring is first pressed by the bottom of the installation groove. When it reaches the snap-fit ​​groove, the snap-fit ​​spring is springed into the snap-fit ​​groove under the action of elasticity to achieve snap-fit ​​and prevent the metal spring from falling off when the rack lock rod slider slides.

[0014] Furthermore, the bottom of the contact spring is an upward-opening curved shape.

[0015] By adopting the above technical solution, the bottom of the contact spring is set to an upward-opening curved shape, which facilitates the sliding contact between the bottom of the contact spring and the first conductive area, the signal area, and the second conductive area, thereby reducing friction.

[0016] In summary, this utility model has the following beneficial effects: In this application, by setting a metal spring between the rack lock lever slider and the circuit board, and setting three contact springs corresponding to the first conductive area, signal area, and second conductive area, when the rack lock lever slider slides, it will cause the three contact springs to make sliding contact with the first conductive area, signal area, and second conductive area. When the rack lock lever slider slides to the locked or unlocked position, the three contact springs are in different positions in the three areas, thereby generating a corresponding locked or unlocked signal, realizing dual position feedback and ensuring safe use. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the rack and pinion slider according to an embodiment of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the mounting groove in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit board structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the metal spring sheet in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0022] In the diagram: 10. Rack and pinion locking slider; 11. Mounting slot; 12. Mounting port; 13. Fixing plate; 14. Fixing slot; 15. Snap-fit ​​slot; 20. Circuit board; 21. First conductive area; 22. Signal area; 23. Second conductive area; 30. Metal spring; 31. Metal plate; 32. Contact spring; 33. Snap-fit ​​spring. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0024] like Figure 1-5As shown in the figure, this application discloses a locking device with a dual position feedback mechanism, including a rack and pinion slider 10 and a circuit board 20. A metal spring 30 is provided on the bottom surface of the rack and pinion slider 10. When the rack and pinion slider 10 slides, the metal spring 30 and the circuit board 20 cooperate to generate a locking or unlocking signal, realizing a dual position feedback mechanism. This significantly improves the reliability and security of electronic lock status monitoring and effectively avoids the risk of misjudgment that may be caused by a single position.

[0025] Specifically, the metal spring 30 is made of beryllium copper alloy with good elasticity, and includes a metal plate 31 and three contact springs 32 extending downward from the side of the metal plate 31. The rack and pinion locking rod slider 10 is made of engineering plastic, and has a downward-opening mounting groove 11 on its bottom surface. A mounting opening 12 is opened on the side wall of the mounting groove 11 near the locking rod. Fixing plates 13 are provided inwardly on the two side walls of the mounting groove 11 adjacent to the mounting opening 12, spaced apart from the bottom of the groove. The fixing plates 13 and the bottom surface of the mounting groove 11 form a fixing groove 14 for the metal spring 30 to be inserted. The width of the fixing groove 14 is the same as the thickness of the metal plate 31. During installation, the metal plate 31 is inserted into the fixing groove 14 from the mounting opening 12, and the fixing grooves 14 on both sides fix the metal plate 31 in its vertical position.

[0026] A snap-fit ​​groove 15 is formed at the bottom of the mounting groove 11. A snap-fit ​​spring piece 33 extends obliquely upward from the metal plate 31 towards the locking rod side. The snap-fit ​​spring piece 33 is inserted into the snap-fit ​​groove 15 to achieve a snap-fit ​​engagement between the metal spring piece 30 and the rack and pinion locking rod slider 10. When the metal plate 31 of the metal spring piece 30 is inserted from the fixing groove 14 into the mounting groove 11, the snap-fit ​​spring piece 33 is first pressed down by the bottom of the mounting groove 11. When it reaches the snap-fit ​​groove 15, the snap-fit ​​spring piece 33 springs into the snap-fit ​​groove 15 under the action of elasticity, thus achieving a snap-fit ​​and preventing the metal spring piece 30 from falling off when the rack and pinion locking rod slider 10 slides. Through the cooperation of the fixing groove 14, the snap-fit ​​groove 15, the metal plate 31, and the snap-fit ​​spring piece 33, the installation and fixation of the metal spring piece 30 are achieved. The structure is simple, the operation is convenient, and the stability and reliability are stable.

[0027] Three conductive grooves are spaced parallel to each other on the circuit board 20, arranged along the sliding direction of the rack and pinion slider 10. This parallel and spaced arrangement of the conductive grooves effectively avoids signal interference, making the electrical signal more stable during transmission and reducing the probability of signal loss or mistransmission. The three conductive grooves are flush at one end and have different lengths. Specifically, the three conductive grooves are, in order, a first conductive area 21, a signal area 22, and a second conductive area 23, with the length of the signal area 22 being greater than the length of the first conductive area 21, which in turn is greater than the length of the second conductive area 23. The first conductive area 21, signal area 22, and second conductive area 23 are located on the path along which the bottom of the three contact springs 32 slides with the rack and pinion slider 10. The bottom of the contact springs 32 is an upward-opening curved shape. Compared to flat contact, the curved bottom of the contact springs 32 increases the contact area with the conductive grooves, reducing contact problems caused by vibration or displacement.

[0028] The working principle of the locking device with a dual position feedback mechanism in this embodiment is as follows: the end where the three conductive grooves are flush is the initial end, and the end of the signal area 22 away from the initial end is the final end. In the initial state, the bottoms of the three contact springs 32 are all located at the initial end; when locking, a positive voltage is applied, the first conductive area 21 and the signal area 22 are energized, and the rack and pinion locking lever slider 10 drives the metal spring 30 to slide. When the rack and pinion locking lever slider 10 slides to the locking position, the bottom of the locking spring 33 slides to the final end with the rack and pinion locking lever slider 10. At this time, the contact spring 32 on the first conductive area 21 disengages from the first conductive area 21, so that the connection between the first conductive area 21 and the signal area 22 is broken, the signal detection becomes low level, and after the control system receives this state information, it confirms the lock. The lever is already in the locked state. Upon unlocking, a reverse voltage is applied, energizing the second conductive area 23 and the signal area 22. The rack and pinion lever slider 10 drives the metal spring 30 to slide in the opposite direction. When the rack and pinion lever slider 10 slides to the unlocked position, the bottom of the locking spring 33 slides back to its initial position along with the rack and pinion lever slider 10. At this time, the contact spring 32 corresponding to the second conductive area 23 slides into the second conductive area 23, making the connection between the second conductive area 23 and the signal area 22 conductive. The signal detection becomes high-level, and the control system receives this status information, confirming that the lever is in the unlocked state. The signal processing circuit of this dual-position feedback mechanism has a response time of less than 1 millisecond, enabling real-time reflection of lever position changes. The entire system has a service life exceeding 100,000 operating cycles, meeting the needs of long-term use.

[0029] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this utility model. The protection scope of this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions falling within the scope of this utility model's concept are protected. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, any improvements and modifications made without departing from the principle of this utility model should also be considered within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A locking device having a dual position feedback mechanism, characterized by: The device includes a rack and pinion slider (10) and a circuit board (20). The bottom surface of the rack and pinion slider (10) is provided with a metal spring (30). The metal spring (30) includes a metal plate (31) and three contact springs (32) extending downward from the side of the metal plate (31). The circuit board (20) has three conductive grooves arranged parallel to each other along the sliding direction of the rack and pinion slider (10). The three conductive grooves are, in order, a first conductive area (21), a signal area (22), and a second conductive area (23). The first conductive area (21), the signal area (22), and the second conductive area (23) are respectively located on the path of the bottom of the three contact springs (32) as the rack and pinion slider (10) slides.

2. A locking device with a dual position feedback mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length of the signal region (22) is greater than the length of the first conductive region (21) and the length of the second conductive region (23).

3. A locking device with a dual-position feedback mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom surface of the rack lock rod slider (10) is provided with a downward-facing mounting groove (11). The mounting groove (11) has a mounting opening (12) on the side wall near the lock rod. The mounting groove (11) and the mounting opening (12) are provided with fixing plates (13) that are spaced apart from the bottom of the groove. The fixing plates (13) and the bottom surface of the mounting groove (11) form a fixing groove (14) for inserting a metal spring (30).

4. A locking device with a dual-position feedback mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: The bottom of the mounting groove (11) is also provided with a snap-fit ​​groove (15), and a snap-fit ​​spring piece (33) is provided on the metal plate (31) extending obliquely upward toward the locking rod side. The snap-fit ​​spring piece (33) is inserted into the snap-fit ​​groove (15) to realize the snap-fit ​​engagement between the metal spring piece (30) and the rack and pinion locking rod slider (10).

5. A locking device with a dual-position feedback mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the contact spring (32) is an upward-opening curved shape.

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