A CPA push interlocking structure

Abstract

A CPA push interlocking structure includes a plug and a socket, wherein the plug includes a plug housing and a handle, and the socket includes a socket housing and a socket signal contact member assembled in the socket housing. The handle locks the plug housing and the socket housing through a primary locking structure, and a signal short-circuit component with a plug signal contact member arranged at the front end is slidably assembled in the cavity of the plug housing. The signal short-circuit component cooperates with the handle lock through a secondary locking structure. When the signal short-circuit component is in the secondary locking position, the plug signal contact member and the socket signal contact member are in contact and conductive, and when the signal short-circuit component is in the secondary unlocking position, the plug signal contact member and the socket signal contact member are separated. The present invention associates the secondary locking structure with the high-voltage interlocking function through the signal short-circuit component. When the secondary locking structure is not installed in place, the interlocking signal circuit is in a disconnected state. The signal circuit can be connected only after the secondary locking structure is in place. Therefore, once the signal circuit is connected, it can be proved that the secondary locking structure has taken effect without manual judgment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of electrical connectors, and in particular relates to a CPA push interlocking structure. Background Art

[0002] As an important component for interconnecting the power system of new energy vehicles, connectors are related to the safety and reliability of vehicles during driving. CPA (Connector Position Assurance) and HVIL (High Voltage Interlock Loop) have become an indispensable part of connector safety assurance. CPA (secondary locking structure) is a position assurance structure used to ensure that the primary locking mechanism will not be easily withdrawn; HVIL (high voltage interlock) is a system used to ensure that the signal circuit is turned on later than the power circuit and disconnected earlier than the power circuit, to prevent arcing and other damage to the connector during the plug-in and unplug process. In the existing connector safety structure, CPA and HVIL are independent of each other. Before the CPA is assembled in place, the HVIL is already turned on, and the control system cannot determine whether the CPA has been installed in place, requiring manual identification; on the other hand, after the CPA is installed in place, there is also a risk of vibration loosening in the working environment of vehicle vibration, and the conventional structure cannot detect whether the CPA is loose. Summary of the invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a CPA push interlocking structure, which solves the problem in the prior art that the system cannot monitor the CPA status and cannot determine whether the CPA is properly assembled and vibrates and loosens after being assembled.

[0004] The purpose of the present invention and the technical problem to be solved are achieved by adopting the following technical solutions. According to a CPA push interlocking structure proposed by the present invention, it includes an adapted plug and a socket, the plug includes a plug housing and a handle slidably assembled on the plug housing, the socket includes a socket housing and a socket signal contact assembled in the socket housing, the handle locks the plug housing and the socket housing through a primary locking structure, a signal short-circuit component with a plug signal contact at the front end is guided and slidably assembled in the cavity of the plug housing, the signal short-circuit component realizes secondary locking through the secondary locking structure and the handle locking, and when the signal short-circuit component is in the secondary locking position, the plug signal contact is in contact with the socket signal contact, and when it is in the secondary unlocking position, the plug signal contact is separated from the socket signal contact.

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is further achieved by adopting the following technical measures.

[0006] The aforementioned CPA pushes the interlocking structure, wherein the secondary locking structure includes a locking key arranged at the rear end of the signal short-circuit component, a locking groove arranged at the upper part of the handle and locked with the locking key, and a protrusion arranged at the lower part of the handle and cooperates with the signal short-circuit component in the upper and lower directions when the signal short-circuit component is in the secondary locking position to prevent the handle from moving in the unlocking direction.

[0007] In the aforementioned CPA push interlocking structure, the rear end of the signal short-circuit component is extended in the left-right direction and is provided with a blocking wing that cooperates with the protrusion in the front-rear direction when the handle is in the unlocking position.

[0008] The aforementioned CPA push interlocking structure, wherein the one-time locking structure includes a lock post disposed on the socket housing and a lock slot provided on the handle and locked with the lock post.

[0009] In the aforementioned CPA push interlocking structure, a positioning key is provided on the plug housing, and a key slot is provided on the inner wall of the handle for locking and cooperating with the positioning key when the plug housing and the socket housing are locked.

[0010] In the aforementioned CPA push interlocking structure, the signal short-circuit component is provided with at least one annular groove along the axial direction and opened along the radial direction for installing the sealing member.

[0011] The aforementioned CPA push interlocking structure, wherein the plug signal contact is embedded in the inner hole at the front end of the signal short-circuit component, and the plug signal contact is assembled and positioned by interference fit with the fixing portion extending in the front-to-back direction in the inner hole through the barbed hole set at the rear end.

[0012] In the aforementioned CPA push interlocking structure, guide arms are provided on both sides of the plug housing and are slidably matched with guide grooves provided on the inner wall of the handle.

[0013] The aforementioned CPA push interlocking structure has anti-retraction keys on both sides of the front end of the signal short-circuit component, and corresponding anti-retraction key grooves extending along the front-to-back direction and cooperating with the anti-retraction keys to prevent the signal short-circuit component from escaping from the cavity are opened on the side walls of the cavity.

[0014] In the aforementioned CPA push interlock structure, the socket signal contact comprises two sheet-type pins arranged in parallel.

[0015] By means of the above technical solution, the present invention combines HVIL with CPA, thereby associating the secondary locking structure with the high-voltage interlocking function, and integrating the signal circuit conduction function of the high-voltage interlocking and the secondary locking function of the connector through the signal short-circuit component. When the secondary locking structure is not installed in place, the high-voltage interlocking circuit is in a disconnected state, and the signal circuit can be connected only after the secondary locking structure is in place. Therefore, once the interlocking circuit is turned on, it can be proved that the secondary locking structure has taken effect without manual judgment. In addition, when the secondary locking mechanism loosens and fails during the operation of the connector, the high-voltage interlocking circuit will be disconnected, and the system can monitor the loosening failure information in time, but at this time the primary locking structure of the connector is not loose, and the power contact is still in normal contact, so the connection can continue to realize power transmission, and can also give the control system a signal that the connector is at risk of falling out.

[0016] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of the present invention, it can be implemented according to the contents of the specification. In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the following specifically cites a preferred embodiment and describes it in detail with the accompanying drawings as follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a stereogram of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 The figure is a schematic diagram of the appearance of the plug housing and the handle in the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the signal short-circuit component in the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 It is an exploded view of the plug and the socket in the present invention when they are not plugged in.

[0021] Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional view of the signal short-circuit component in the present invention.

[0022] Figure 6 to Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the handle in the present invention.

[0023] Figure 8 It is a schematic structural diagram of the plug housing in the present invention.

[0024] Fig. 9 It is a structural schematic diagram of the plug cover plate in the present invention.

[0025] Fig.10 This is a state diagram when the plug and the socket of the present invention are initially plugged into each other and the handle is in the unlocked position.

[0026] Fig.11 for Fig.10 Schematic cross-section diagram of .

[0027] Fig.12 This is a schematic diagram of the state when the present invention implements one-time locking.

[0028] Fig.13 This is a schematic diagram of the state when the secondary locking is achieved in the present invention.

[0029] Fig.14 for Fig.12 Middle AA cross section.

[0030] Fig.15 for Fig.13 Middle BB cross section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The technical solution of the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments.

[0032] An embodiment of a CPA push interlocking structure of the present invention is as follows: Figures 1 to 15 , including an adapted plug 1 and a socket 2, the front end of the plug is a plug end, the plug and socket are plugged in and out in the front-to-back direction, the plug includes a plug housing 11, a handle 12 slidably mounted on the plug housing, and a signal short-circuit component 13 guided and slidably mounted in a cavity 111 of the plug housing, the socket 2 includes a socket housing 21 and a socket power contact 22 and a socket signal contact 23 mounted on the socket housing, wherein the socket signal contact 23 includes two parallel-arranged sheet pins to form a signal circuit. The socket housing 21 is provided with a lock column 211 corresponding to the lock slot 121 provided on the handle 12, and the sliding direction of the handle when switching between its unlocking position and locking position is perpendicular to the plugging and unplugging direction of the plug; combined with Fig.10 After the plug housing 11 and the socket housing 21 are initially plugged in, the handle is pressed down in the i direction so that the lock column and the lock groove cooperate to achieve a one-time locking of the plug housing after the plug-in connection; specifically, in the process of pressing the handle down, the handle drives the plug housing to gradually plug in with the socket housing in the j direction until the handle is pushed into contact with the top of the plug housing, indicating that the plug is in place. At this time, the handle is in the locking position to complete a one-time locking, and the positioning key 112 provided on the plug housing 11 is inserted into the key groove 122 provided on the inner wall of the handle 12 to prevent the handle from loosening in the -i direction under a vibration environment, thereby making the one-time locking more reliable.

[0033] In this embodiment, a sliding hole 123 corresponding to the cavity 111 is provided at the rear end of the handle 12, and the front end of the signal short-circuit component is inserted into the cavity 111 through the sliding hole. The sliding hole extends downward and is open at the lower end so that the handle can slide up and down relative to the signal short-circuit component.

[0034] The plug housing 11 is fixedly equipped with a plug power contact 114 that is plugged into and matched with the socket power contact through a plug insulator 113. The front end of the plug housing 11 is connected to the plug cover 14 through a snap-fit ​​structure. The plug cover 14 is used to position the plug insulator 113. In this embodiment, combined with Figure 8 and Fig. 9 The buckle structure is a locking boss 115 provided on the plug housing and a locking ear 141 provided on the plug cover plate 14 and for the locking boss to snap into. Guide arms 116 are provided on both sides of the plug housing to slide with the guide grooves 124 provided in the handle. The guide arms extend in the up-down direction. Preferably, the cross section of the guide arms is L-shaped, and the guide grooves are correspondingly provided as matching L-shaped grooves.

[0035] The front end of the signal short-circuit component 13 is equipped with a plug signal contact 131 that is plugged with the socket signal contact. In this embodiment, the plug signal contact 131 is embedded in the inner hole at the front end of the signal short-circuit component, and the tail end of the plug signal contact is positioned by interference fit with the plate-shaped fixing portion 132 extending in the front-to-back direction in the inner hole of the signal short-circuit component through its own barbed hole 1311. Anti-retraction keys 133 are provided on both sides of the front end of the signal short-circuit component, and anti-retraction key grooves 1111 extending in the front-to-back direction and cooperating with the anti-retraction keys to prevent the signal short-circuit component from falling out are correspondingly opened on the side wall of the cavity 111.

[0036] In order to realize the mutual relationship between the high-voltage interlocking function and the secondary locking function, the signal short-circuit component in the present invention is connected to the handle through a secondary locking structure to prevent the handle from moving from the locked position to the unlocked position under a vibration environment. The movement stroke of the signal short-circuit component in the cavity forms a secondary locking position and a secondary unlocking position. When the signal short-circuit component is in the secondary locking position, the plug signal contact is in contact with the socket signal contact, and when it is in the secondary unlocking position, the plug signal contact is separated from the socket signal contact. The secondary locking structure includes a locking key 134 provided at the rear end of the signal short-circuit component, a locking groove 125 provided on the handle at the top of the slide hole and locked with the locking key 134, and a protrusion 126 provided on the handles on both sides of the bottom of the slide hole and blocked and cooperated with the signal short-circuit component in the upper and lower directions when the handle is in the locked position, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown. Combined with Figure 4Another function of the protrusion 126 is that when the handle 12 is in the unlocking position, the protrusion 126 can form a blocking fit relationship with the blocking wing 135 extending in the left-right direction at the rear end of the signal short-circuit component in the j direction, so as to prevent the signal short-circuit component from being fully inserted into the cavity without completing the first locking, causing the high-voltage interlock signal circuit to be turned on in advance. When the signal short-circuit component is fully inserted into the cavity, the locking key and the locking groove snap fit, and the bottom of the rear end of the signal short-circuit component and the protrusion 126 form a blocking fit relationship in the up-down direction to prevent the handle from moving in the -i direction, thereby achieving secondary locking. At this time, the signal short-circuit component is in the secondary locking position, the plug signal contact and the socket signal contact are plugged in place, and the signal circuit is turned on.

[0037] In order to reduce the movement of the signal short-circuit component in the front-to-back direction after it is in the secondary locking position, Fig.15 The limit plate 136 disposed at the rear end of the signal short-circuit component cooperates with the handle stop to limit the forward movement of the signal short-circuit component, and the locking key cooperates with the locking groove to limit the backward movement of the signal short-circuit component. In other embodiments, the locking groove may also be a rectangular groove that is closed in both the front and rear directions. In this case, the front and rear positioning of the signal short-circuit component can be achieved without the limit plate.

[0038] In this embodiment, the retaining wing 135 can also be used as a force-applying part for converting the signal short-circuit component from the secondary locking position to the secondary unlocking position. Fig.12 shown.

[0039] Preferably, at least one annular groove 137 is radially processed on the signal short-circuit component, which is used to install a seal when and only when the connector has a sealing requirement.

[0040] Combination Fig.10 , Fig.11 Before the plug and the socket are mated, the signal short-circuit component 13 is restricted by the protrusion 126 and cannot be fully inserted into the cavity 111, and the plug signal contact is separated from the socket signal contact. During the mating process, the handle 12 is pushed along the i direction, driving the plug 1 to mate with the socket 2 along the j direction. When the handle is pushed to the top of the plug housing 21, it is locked once. At this time, the plug power contact 114 is connected with the socket power contact 22, and the plug signal contact 131 is not connected with the socket signal contact 23. Fig.12 and Fig.14 As shown, the interlocking circuit is disconnected at this time. After the primary locking is completed, the rear end of the signal short-circuit component is offset from the protrusion in the vertical direction, and the signal short-circuit component is pushed along the k direction, driving the plug signal contact and the socket signal contact to plug and match to achieve contact conduction. The secondary locking position of the signal short-circuit component is confirmed by the locking key and the locking groove to prevent it from falling out. At this time, the signal circuit formed by the two-piece pins of the socket signal contact is connected, as shown in FIG. Fig.13and Fig.15 shown.

[0041] After the signal short-circuit component is installed in place, the interlock circuit is turned on. When the signal short-circuit component of the connector composed of the plug and the socket is loosened due to external factors such as high-frequency vibration during operation, it will cause the plug signal contact to separate from the socket signal contact, disconnect the signal circuit, and disconnect the interlock circuit, so that the system can detect the loosening and failure of the secondary locking structure. It is worth noting that when the secondary locking structure is loose, the primary locking structure is still effective, the handle is in an unloose state, and the power contacts are still in normal contact. At this time, the connector can continue to realize power transmission and send a signal to the control system that the connector is at risk of falling out.

[0042] In other embodiments of the present invention, the handle and the socket housing can also achieve a primary locking function through conventional locking mechanisms such as a snap structure, a steel ball locking mechanism, etc. For example, a snap groove is provided on the socket housing and a corresponding snap is provided on the handle; the secondary locking structure can also be transformed into: a locking groove is provided at the rear end of the signal short-circuit component, and a corresponding locking key is provided on the handle; the plug signal contact can also be assembled in the front end inner hole of the signal short-circuit component through an insulator.

[0043] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Any technician familiar with the profession, without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present invention, any simple modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiment based on the technical essence of the present invention, still falls within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A CPA push interlocking structure, comprising a matching plug and a socket, wherein the plug comprises a plug housing and a handle slidably mounted on the plug housing, and the socket comprises a socket housing and a socket signal contact assembled in the socket housing, wherein the handle locks the plug housing and the socket housing through a one-time locking structure, characterized in that: A signal short-circuit component with a plug signal contact at the front end is guided and slidably assembled in the cavity of the plug housing. The signal short-circuit component realizes secondary locking through the secondary locking structure and the handle locking cooperation. When the signal short-circuit component is in the secondary locking position, the plug signal contact is in contact and conduction with the socket signal contact, and when it is in the secondary unlocking position, the plug signal contact is separated from the socket signal contact. The secondary locking structure includes a locking key, a locking groove that locks with the locking key, and a protrusion that is arranged at the lower part of the handle and cooperates with the signal short-circuit component in the upper and lower directions when the signal short-circuit component is in the secondary locking position to prevent the handle from moving in the unlocking direction. One of the locking key and the locking groove is arranged at the rear end of the signal short-circuit component, and the other is arranged at the upper part of the handle.

2. The CPA push interlocking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rear end of the signal short-circuit component is extended along the left-right direction to be provided with a blocking wing which is matched with the protrusion in the front-back direction when the handle is located at the unlocking position.

3. The CPA push interlocking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The one-time locking structure comprises a locking column arranged on the socket housing and a locking groove opened on the handle and locked with the locking column.

4. The CPA push interlocking structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The plug housing is provided with a positioning key, and the inner wall of the handle is provided with a key slot which is locked and matched with the positioning key when the plug housing and the socket housing are locked.

5. The CPA push interlocking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The signal short-circuit component is axially provided with at least one annular groove which is opened radially and is used for installing a sealing element.

6. The CPA push interlocking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plug signal contact is embedded in the inner hole at the front end of the signal short-circuit component, and the plug signal contact is assembled and positioned by interference fit with the fixing part extending in the front-rear direction in the inner hole through the barbed hole arranged at the rear end.

7. The CPA push interlocking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: Guide arms which are slidably matched with guide grooves provided on the inner wall of the handle are arranged on both sides of the plug housing.

8. The CPA push interlocking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: Anti-retraction keys are arranged on both sides of the front end of the signal short-circuit component, and anti-retraction key grooves extending along the front-to-back direction and cooperating with the anti-retraction keys to prevent the signal short-circuit component from escaping from the cavity are correspondingly opened on the side walls of the cavity.

9. The CPA push interlocking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The socket signal contact comprises two sheet-type pins arranged in parallel.

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