A locking structure

Abstract

The locking mechanism of the embodiment of the present invention is simple and ingenious in design, has the advantages of being more convenient to use and having a good locking mechanism, more suitable for the locking of socket shells and socket shells, and being able to lock the socket shells in a certain manner and being able to move relative to the socket shells.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of connectors, and in particular relates to a locking structure on an energy storage connector. Background Art

[0002] The research and development of energy storage technology has always been highly valued by all countries. The construction scale of energy storage stations is increasing day by day. At the same time, the rapid development of electric vehicles has effectively promoted the development of the lithium battery industry. The recycling of lithium batteries is bound to bring new application opportunities in the field of energy storage. Since the energy storage modules are connected with high voltage and high current in the energy storage station, it is dangerous to a certain extent, which requires the connector to have CPA (secondary locking) and anti-finger contact functions. At present, in order to achieve the above functions, energy storage connectors use more complex locking structures, increase the number of parts, and lead to larger product volumes. For example, the push-type spring pin locking mechanism set on the plug, or the buckle structure with a secondary locking function that matches the shell setting of the plug and the socket, etc., are easy to cause the locking structure to vibrate loose and fail under the influence of high-frequency vibration environments or other external factors. Summary of the invention

[0003] In order to solve the deficiencies of the existing prior art, the present invention proposes a locking structure for an energy storage connector, which makes the connector design simpler, the structure more ingenious, the volume smaller and the locking effect better while achieving the same function.

[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 locking structure proposed by the present invention, it includes an adaptable plug housing and a socket housing, a mounting hole is provided at the top of the plug housing, a spring sheet is provided in the mounting hole, the rear end of the spring sheet is fixed to the top of the plug housing in the mounting hole, the front end is a movable end cantilevered toward the front end of the mounting hole, the bottom of the movable end is provided with a lock hook that is snap-fitted with a lock slot of the socket housing to achieve one-time locking, a lock hole is formed between the spring sheet and the inner wall of the mounting hole, and a locking sheet is slidably inserted in the lock hole;

[0005] The middle part of the locking plate is a cantilevered middle cantilever, and side cantilever arms spaced apart from the middle cantilever are symmetrically arranged on both sides. The front end of the middle cantilever is provided with a middle boss and side bosses symmetrically arranged on both sides of the middle boss. A guide groove and a first stop symmetrically arranged on both sides of the guide groove are arranged in the middle of the spring piece; limit platforms are symmetrically arranged on the inner walls of both sides of the mounting hole, and a second stop is arranged inside the limit platform. Anti-slip keys are arranged on the side cantilever, and the locking plate forms an unlocking position and a locking position when moving in the lock hole:

[0006] When the locking plate is in the unlocking position, the side boss cooperates with the first stopper to prevent the locking plate from moving forward to the locking position, and the anti-drop key cooperates with the second stopper to prevent the locking plate from falling out of the lock hole;

[0007] After the plug housing and the socket housing are locked once, the plug housing lifts the middle protrusion so that the front end of the middle cantilever is tilted, and then the side protrusion avoids the first stop in the insertion direction. At this time, the locking plate can be pushed to move from the unlocking position to the locking position;

[0008] When the locking plate is in the locking position, the groove arranged on the side cantilever cooperates with the convex key on the inner wall of the lock hole to position the locking plate in the insertion direction, the side cantilever is limited between the limit platform and the inner wall of the lock hole, and the front end of the side cantilever is pressed on the locking platform arranged at the movable end of the spring piece to prevent the movable end of the spring piece from tilting, thereby realizing secondary locking.

[0009] The purpose of the present invention is further achieved by adopting the following technical measures.

[0010] In the aforementioned locking structure, the mounting hole and the plug housing are integrally formed.

[0011] In the aforementioned locking structure, the movable end of the spring piece is provided with a force-applying handle for releasing the primary locking relationship between the plug housing and the socket housing.

[0012] In the aforementioned locking structure, the rear end of the locking piece is provided with an insertion and removal portion for facilitating the insertion and removal of the locking piece along the insertion direction.

[0013] In the aforementioned locking structure, a first inclined surface is arranged at the front end of the anti-key-off, and a second inclined surface cooperating with the first inclined surface is arranged at the rear end of the second stop.

[0014] In the aforementioned locking structure, the locking platform and the limiting platform are at the same height and are spaced apart.

[0015] In the aforementioned locking structure, the front end of the first stop is set as a third inclined surface, and the rear end of the side boss is set as a fourth inclined surface adapted to the third inclined surface to facilitate the movement of the locking plate from the locking position to the unlocking position.

[0016] In the aforementioned locking structure, the front and rear ends of the middle boss are also provided with guiding inclined surfaces for facilitating sliding engagement with the socket housing when the locking plate moves between the unlocking position and the locking position.

[0017] In the aforementioned locking structure, the top of the mounting hole housing just above the middle cantilever is protruding outwards and an escape groove is formed inside the locking hole for the middle cantilever to tilt upwards when the plug housing and the socket housing are locked once.

[0018] The aforementioned locking structure, in which the thickness of the middle cantilever decreases gradually from the rear end toward the front end, and the height of the top surface of the middle cantilever is lower than the height of the top surface of the side cantilever, the height of the middle slide symmetrically arranged in the middle of the spring sheet and slidingly cooperating with the middle cantilever is lower than the side slides on both sides of the spring sheet and slidingly cooperating with the side cantilever, the first stop platform is arranged on the corresponding middle slide, the guide groove is formed by the gap between the two middle slides, and the front end of the side slide is the locking platform, so that the junction of the middle slide and the side slide on the same side forms an L-shaped guide rail for guiding and inserting the middle cantilever.

[0019] By means of the above technical scheme, the present invention fixes the locking plate in the unlocking position by the first stop and the second stop before the head seat is inserted. After the head seat is inserted, the middle cantilever of the locking plate is lifted by the socket shell to release the freedom of the locking plate in the insertion direction. When the head seat is inserted into place, the locking plate can be pushed to the locking position, so that the spring plate cannot be lifted to realize the secondary locking function. Compared with the prior art, the structure is simpler, the size is smaller, and the structural layout is more convenient.

[0020] 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

[0021] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional diagram when the locking plate of the present invention is in the unlocking position.

[0022] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the mounting hole and the locking hole in the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the locking plate in the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the locking plate in the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of the shrapnel in the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the locking piece and the plug housing in the present invention.

[0027] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the blocking cooperation between the side boss and the first stop when the locking piece in the present invention is in the unlocking position.

[0028] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the blocking cooperation between the anti-drop key and the second stop when the locking plate in the present invention is in the unlocking position.

[0029] Fig. 9This is a state diagram of the middle boss being lifted up when the plug housing and the socket housing are locked once in the present invention.

[0030] Fig.10 yes Fig. 9 Schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the lower boss and the first stop when the middle boss is lifted.

[0031] Fig.11 It is a schematic diagram of the locking plate in the locking position in the present invention.

[0032] Fig.12 It is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure when the locking plate in the present invention is in the locking position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The technical solution of the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0034] The specific implementation example of the present invention is Figures 1 to 12 As shown, a locking structure includes an adaptive plug housing 1 and a socket housing 2. For the convenience of description, this embodiment defines the plug-in end of the plug housing as the front end. An integral mounting hole 3 is provided on the top of the plug housing. The mounting hole has a space for assembling and matching a locking piece 5 and a spring piece 4. A spring piece 4 is provided in the mounting hole. The rear end of the spring piece is a fixed end, which is used to fix the spring piece to the top of the plug housing in the mounting hole 3. The front end of the spring piece is set as a cantilevered movable end. A force applying handle 7 is provided at the movable end to facilitate lifting the movable end of the spring piece; a locking hook 41 is provided at the bottom of the movable end. During the process of the plug housing and the socket housing being plugged into place, since the spring piece has elasticity, its movable end is first lifted up by the socket housing during the plug-in process, and then resets under the elastic force and snaps into engagement with the corresponding lock groove 21 on the socket housing to achieve a one-time locking function, so as to prevent the socket housing from detaching from the plug housing.

[0035] A locking hole 6 is formed between the spring piece 4 and the inner wall of the mounting hole 3, and a locking piece 5 with a secondary locking function is slidably inserted in the lock hole. The middle part of the locking piece 5 has a cantilevered middle cantilever 51, and side cantilevers 52 are symmetrically arranged on both sides. The side cantilevers are spaced apart from the middle cantilever and are integrally connected at their rear ends. The rear end of the locking piece is set as a plug-in and pull-out part 53, which is convenient for manual plug-in and pull-out. The entire locking piece is an axisymmetric part. The front end of the middle cantilever is provided with an intermediate boss 54 and side bosses 55 symmetrically arranged on both sides of the intermediate boss; a guide groove 42 penetrating along the front-to-back direction is opened in the middle of the spring piece, and the guide groove slides with the intermediate boss 54 to guide the insertion of the locking piece. In this embodiment, the direction from the rear end to the front end is the insertion direction of the locking piece; the front end of the middle part of the spring piece 4 is symmetrically provided with a first stop 43 which corresponds to and cooperates with the side boss 55, and limit platforms 11 are symmetrically provided on both sides of the plug shell inside the mounting hole, and a second stop 12 is provided on the inner side of the limit platform, and an anti-slip key 56 is provided on the side cantilever for stopping and cooperating with the second stop 12 in the insertion direction of the locking piece. When the locking plate is inserted into the lock hole for the first time, the locking plate is inserted into the lock hole in a forced manner, and the first inclined surface 561 at the front end of the anti-dropping key and the second inclined surface 121 at the rear end of the second stopper slide together for easy insertion. During insertion, the side cantilever 52 is lifted up by the second stopper 12, and the locking plate is continuously pushed toward the front end so that the anti-dropping key 56 passes over the second stopper 12. Then, the side cantilever 52 returns to a straight state, so that the anti-dropping key and the second stopper form a blocking fitting relationship along the insertion direction. Figure 8 As shown, to prevent the locking piece from slipping out of the lock hole in the rear end direction, at this time, the side boss 55 and the first stop 43 also form a blocking cooperation relationship along the insertion direction, and the locking piece cannot be further pushed toward the front end direction, such as Figure 7 As shown, at this point, the locking piece is in the unlocking position; when in the unlocking position, the movable end of the locking piece is not affected by the locking piece, that is, the locking platform 44 set at the movable end does not contact the side cantilever, and the movable end can be lifted up and deformed under the action of external force and release the snap-fit ​​relationship between the lock hook 41 at the bottom of the spring and the matching lock groove 21 of the socket housing. It is worth noting that, by means of the above-mentioned front and rear limiting structure of the locking piece, it can be avoided that the locking piece may move forward to the locking position under the influence of external force before the plug housing and the socket housing are locked once, so that the secondary locking is more logical and sequential, and prevents the operator from operating incorrectly; for example, the locking piece may be pushed into the secondary locking position first, and then the plug and the socket may be locked once, resulting in deformation of the locking piece or the connector housing. Secondly, when the plug housing and the socket housing are separated later, the locking piece will not be separated from the plug housing when it moves from the locking position to the unlocking position, the locking piece is not easy to be lost, and the plug-in efficiency is higher.

[0036] like Fig. 9After the plug housing and the socket housing are inserted into place, the lock hook and the socket housing snap fit together to achieve one-time locking. At this time, the middle boss 54 is lifted up by the socket housing 2, and the front end of the middle cantilever 51 is tilted. Then, the side bosses 55 on both sides of the middle boss can avoid the first stop 43 in the insertion direction of the locking piece. Fig.10 As shown; in addition, since the second stop 12 cooperates with the anti-drop key 56, the locking piece will not fall out of the lock hole when the middle boss is pushed by the socket housing. Then, the locking piece is pushed in the insertion direction, so that the side boss 55 passes over the first stop 43 until the locking piece reaches Fig.11 In the locking position shown in the figure, the front end of the middle cantilever falls down and returns to the initial shape when the locking piece is in the unlocking position. At this time, the middle boss 54 also falls into the lock groove on the socket housing that is snap-fitted with the lock hook, which will not affect the middle cantilever's recovery shape; the lock groove is set as an annular lock groove to achieve multi-angle plug-in locking in the circumference of the head seat. In order to achieve the limit position along the insertion direction when the locking piece is in the locking position, a groove 57 is opened on the outside of the side cantilever, and a convex key 13 is provided on the side wall of the plug housing located inside the lock hole 6. When the locking piece reaches the locking position, the groove and the convex key snap-fit ​​to achieve the locking piece positioning, ensuring that the locking piece cannot move freely in a high-frequency vibration environment.

[0037] like Fig.12 As shown, when the locking plate is in the locking position, the upper and lower end surfaces of the side cantilever are contacted and limited by the inner wall of the top of the lock hole and the upper surface of the limit platform 11, respectively, and the locking platform 44 and the limit platform 11 are at the same height and are distributed in parallel. The front ends of the two side cantilevers press the locking platforms 44 symmetrically arranged on both sides of the movable end one by one, so that the movable end of the spring piece cannot be lifted, thereby realizing the secondary locking function.

[0038] Preferably, in order to facilitate the movement of the locking plate from the locking position to the unlocking position, the front end of the first stop platform is set to a third inclined surface 431, and the rear end of the side boss is set to a fourth inclined surface 551 adapted to the third inclined surface; the front and rear ends of the middle boss are also provided with guide inclined surfaces 541 for facilitating sliding fit with the socket housing when the locking plate moves between the unlocking position and the locking position.

[0039] In this embodiment, the thickness of the middle cantilever decreases from the rear end to the front end, and the top surface height of the middle cantilever is lower than the top surface height of the side cantilever. Figure 4For example, the bottom surface of the middle cantilever is a horizontal surface and the top surface is an inclined surface; correspondingly, the middle slide 45 symmetrically arranged in the middle of the spring sheet and slidingly cooperating with the middle cantilever is lower in height than the side slides 46 on both sides of the spring sheet and slidingly cooperating with the side cantilever; the first stopper 43 is arranged on the corresponding middle slide 45, the guide groove is formed by the gap between the two middle slides, and the front end of the side slide is the locking platform 44. Therefore, under this structural design, an L-shaped guide rail is formed at the junction of the middle slide and the side slide on the same side, which can play a guiding and limiting role for the middle cantilever during insertion; and the gap between the side slide and the limiting platform forms a space for the anti-slip key to slide along the insertion direction of the locking plate. Furthermore, the top of the mounting hole shell located directly above the middle cantilever is protruding outward and a avoidance groove 14 is formed inside the lock hole for the middle cantilever to tilt upward when the plug shell and the socket shell are locked once.

[0040] In another embodiment, if the difference between the upper surface height of the middle cantilever at the middle boss and the upper surface height of the side cantilever is greater than the front end force-lifting height of the middle elastic arm, it is possible to achieve the goal of making the side boss avoid the first stop in the insertion direction of the locking plate when the middle boss is lifted up without providing an avoidance groove.

[0041] When the plug housing 1 is separated from the socket housing 2, the locking piece 5 is first pulled away from the lock hole 6 from the locked position toward the unlocked position, then the middle boss is lifted up by the socket housing, and the middle cantilever is tilted up accordingly, and the side boss 55 releases the blocking cooperation relationship with the first stop 43 in the insertion direction, and then the plug-in and pull-out portion 53 of the spring piece is continued to be pulled toward the rear end direction, so that the side boss passes the first stop and the middle cantilever is reset. At this time, the locking piece completes the movement from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the front end of the side cantilever 52 no longer contacts the lock platform 44, and the secondary locking fails. At this time, the force applying handle 7 is lifted to separate the lock hook from the lock groove provided on the socket housing and cooperating with the lock hook, and finally the plug housing is pulled out from the socket housing to complete the separation of the plug and the socket.

[0042] 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 locking structure, comprising a matching plug housing and a socket housing, characterized in that A mounting hole is provided at the top of the plug housing, and a spring sheet is provided in the mounting hole. The rear end of the spring sheet is fixed to the top of the plug housing in the mounting hole, and the front end is a movable end cantilevered toward the front end of the mounting hole. A lock hook is provided at the bottom of the movable end to snap-fit ​​with the lock slot of the socket housing to achieve one-time locking. A lock hole is formed between the spring sheet and the inner wall of the mounting hole, and a locking sheet is slidably inserted in the lock hole. The middle part of the locking plate is a cantilevered middle cantilever, and side cantilever arms spaced apart from the middle cantilever are symmetrically arranged on both sides. The front end of the middle cantilever is provided with a middle boss and side bosses symmetrically arranged on both sides of the middle boss. A guide groove and a first stop symmetrically arranged on both sides of the guide groove are arranged in the middle of the spring piece; limit platforms are symmetrically arranged on the inner walls of both sides of the mounting hole, and a second stop is arranged inside the limit platform. Anti-slip keys are arranged on the side cantilever, and the locking plate forms an unlocking position and a locking position when moving in the lock hole: When the locking plate is in the unlocking position, the side boss cooperates with the first stopper to prevent the locking plate from moving forward to the locking position, and the anti-drop key cooperates with the second stopper to prevent the locking plate from falling out of the lock hole; After the plug housing and the socket housing are locked once, the plug housing lifts the middle protrusion so that the front end of the middle cantilever is tilted, and then the side protrusion avoids the first stop in the insertion direction. At this time, the locking plate can be pushed to move from the unlocking position to the locking position; When the locking plate is in the locking position, the groove arranged on the side cantilever cooperates with the convex key on the inner wall of the lock hole to position the locking plate in the insertion direction, the side cantilever is limited between the limit platform and the inner wall of the lock hole, and the front end of the side cantilever is pressed on the locking platform arranged at the movable end of the spring piece to prevent the movable end of the spring piece from tilting, thereby realizing secondary locking.

2. A locking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting hole is integrally formed with the plug housing.

3. A locking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The movable end of the spring piece is provided with a force applying handle for releasing the primary locking relationship between the plug housing and the socket housing.

4. A locking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rear end of the locking piece is provided with an inserting and removing portion for facilitating inserting and removing the locking piece along the inserting direction.

5. A locking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first inclined surface is arranged at the front end of the anti-drop key, and a second inclined surface cooperating with the first inclined surface is arranged at the rear end of the second stop platform.

6. A locking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking platform and the limiting platform are at the same height and are spaced apart from each other.

7. A locking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front end of the first stop is set as a third inclined surface, and the rear end of the side boss is set as a fourth inclined surface adapted to the third inclined surface so as to facilitate the movement of the locking plate from the locking position to the unlocking position.

8. A locking structure according to claim 1 or 7, characterized in that: The front end and the rear end of the middle boss are also provided with guiding inclined surfaces for facilitating sliding fit with the socket housing when the locking piece moves between the unlocking position and the locking position.

9. A locking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the mounting hole housing just above the middle cantilever is convex outwardly and an escape groove is formed inside the locking hole for the middle cantilever to tilt upward when the plug housing and the socket housing are locked once.

10. A locking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thickness of the middle cantilever decreases gradually from the rear end toward the front end, and the height of the top surface of the middle cantilever is lower than the height of the top surface of the side cantilever. The middle slide symmetrically arranged in the middle of the spring sheet and slidingly cooperating with the middle cantilever is lower than the side slides on both sides of the spring sheet and slidingly cooperating with the side cantilever. The first stop platform is arranged on the corresponding middle slide, and the guide groove is formed by the gap between the two middle slides. The front end of the side slide is the locking platform, so that the junction of the middle slide and the side slide on the same side forms an L-shaped guide rail for guiding and inserting the middle cantilever.

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