Floating connector

Abstract

The present invention discloses a floating connector, and relates to the technical field of rail vehicle connection. The present invention mainly adopts a compression spring as a component directly connecting a mounting seat and a floating head and realizing a floating function. The axial compressibility of the compression spring is utilized to realize the axial floating function of the floating head relative to the mounting seat. At the same time, the certain lateral bending elastic deformation ability brought by the spring's own structure is utilized to realize the radial floating function of the floating head relative to the mounting seat. Compared with the traditional method, the floating connector provided by the present invention has the advantages of simple structure and easy installation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of rail vehicle connection, in particular to a floating connector. Background Art

[0002] In rail vehicles, floating connectors are often set between two vehicles for floating connection. However, with the development of technology, the floating connectors currently used are gradually unable to adapt to the use requirements of rail vehicles. Specifically, the floating connector is generally composed of two corresponding floating connectors. The floating function of the floating connector is relatively complex to implement and the implementation cost is relatively high. Therefore, providing a new floating connector with a simple structure has become a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention aims to provide a novel floating connector with a simple structure.

[0004] The embodiment of the present invention is achieved as follows:

[0005] A floating connector, comprising two floating connectors;

[0006] The floating connection comprises a mounting seat and a floating head;

[0007] The mounting seat has a floating hole in the shape of a stepped hole, and an end cover is provided at the larger hole end of the floating hole; the floating head is coaxially accommodated in the floating hole and partially extends out of the smaller end of the floating hole; a floating gap is left between the floating head and the floating hole, and the floating head also has a main body extending to the larger hole of the floating hole, and the diameter of the main body is larger than the diameter of the smaller hole of the floating hole; a plurality of compression springs are arranged evenly spaced around the axis of the floating hole between the main body and the end cover, and a spring seat corresponding to the compression spring is fixedly installed on the main body, and the two ends of the compression spring are respectively abutted against the spring seat and the end cover, and under normal conditions, the main body is abutted against the step surface of the floating hole under the elastic force of the compression spring;

[0008] The floating heads of the two floating connectors are respectively provided with pins and sockets that can be plugged in and matched, and the plugging direction of the pins and the sockets is arranged along the axial direction of the floating heads; when plugging in, the part of the floating head of one floating connector that extends out of the floating hole is used to contact the part of the floating head of the other floating connector that extends out of the floating hole, so as to separate the main body and the step surface in the two floating heads.

[0009] The above-mentioned normal state refers to a natural state where two floating connectors are not connected, which is different from a plug-in state.

[0010] Preferably, the floating heads in the two floating connectors are also respectively provided with guide pins and guide holes that match each other.

[0011] Preferably, a hemisphere is formed on the spring seat, the spherical surface of which is used to tightly abut against the end of the compression spring.

[0012] Preferably, a first limiting bolt extending from a hemisphere and penetrating into the compression spring is formed on the spring seat, and a gap is left between the outer edge of the first limiting bolt and the inner edge of the compression spring.

[0013] Preferably, the main body has a plurality of assembly holes corresponding to the spring seat, the spring seat has an assembly shaft which is interference fit in the corresponding assembly holes, and the hemisphere, the assembly shaft and the first limit bolt are fixedly connected or integrally formed.

[0014] Preferably, a plurality of second limiting bolts corresponding to the compression springs and inserted into the corresponding compression springs are fixedly arranged on the end cover.

[0015] Preferably, the outer edge of the second limiting bolt is in cooperative contact with the inner edge of the compression spring.

[0016] Preferably, the inner wall of the floating hole has a reset cone surface formed in the larger hole of the floating hole, and its smaller end is coaxially connected to the step surface, and the width dimension of the projection of the reset cone surface on the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the floating hole is greater than the width dimension of the floating gap.

[0017] Preferably, the floating connector also includes an elastic sleeve installed outside the smaller end of the floating hole and connected to the smaller end of the floating hole, and the elastic sleeve is connected to the portion of the floating head extending outside the smaller end of the floating hole; the elastic sleeve extends beyond the floating head so that when the sockets and pins in the floating heads of the two floating connectors are mated and plugged in, the ends of the elastic sleeves in the two floating connectors facing away from the floating hole can be squeezed against each other and elastically deformed.

[0018] Preferably, the floating head is made of insulating material.

[0019] The present invention adopts the above technical solution, and has the following beneficial effects:

[0020] The present invention mainly adopts a compression spring directly as a component to connect the mounting seat and the floating head and realize the floating function. The axial compressibility of the compression spring is used to realize the axial floating function of the floating head relative to the mounting seat. At the same time, the certain lateral bending elastic deformation ability brought by the spring's own structure is used to realize the radial floating function of the floating head relative to the mounting seat. Compared with the traditional method, the floating connector provided by the present invention has the advantages of simple structure and easy installation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of the present invention and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of the floating connector in Example 1 provided by the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the docking of two floating connectors in Example 1 provided by the present invention.

[0024]

Specific symbols

[0025] 100-floating connector, 110-mounting seat, 111-floating hole, 112-step surface, 113-end cover, 114-second limiting bolt, 115-reset cone surface, 120-floating head, 121-main body, 122-hemispherical body, 123-first limiting bolt, 130-compression spring, 140-guide pin, 150-elastic sleeve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the drawings here can be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0027] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the invention claimed for protection, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters denote similar items in the following drawings, and therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, further definition and explanation thereof is not required in subsequent drawings.

[0029] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that if the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inside", "outside" and the like appear, the orientation or position relationship indicated is based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, or the orientation or position relationship in which the product of the invention is usually placed when in use. It is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention. In addition, if the terms "first", "second" and the like appear in the description of the present invention, they are only used to distinguish the description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0030] In addition, if the terms "horizontal" or "vertical" appear in the description of the present invention, it does not mean that the components are required to be absolutely horizontal or suspended, but can be slightly tilted. For example, "horizontal" only means that its direction is more horizontal than "vertical", and does not mean that the structure must be completely horizontal, but can be slightly tilted.

[0031] In the description of the present invention, it is also necessary to explain that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "set", "install", "connect", and "connect" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0032] Example 1

[0033] See also Figure 1 , Figure 2 The main body of this embodiment is a floating connector, which is arranged on a rail vehicle and includes a socket floating connector and a pin floating connector, each of which is provided with a socket (not shown) and a pin (not shown);

[0034] Each floating connection 100 includes a mounting seat 110 and a floating head 120;

[0035] The mounting seat 110 has a floating hole 111 in the shape of a stepped hole, and an end cover 113 is provided at the larger hole end of the floating hole 111; the floating head 120 is coaxially received in the floating hole 111 and partially extends out of the smaller end of the floating hole 111; a floating gap is left between the floating head 120 and the floating hole 111, and the floating head 120 also has a main body 121 extending to the larger hole of the floating hole 111, and the diameter of the main body 121 is larger than the diameter of the smaller hole of the floating hole 111; a plurality of compression springs 130 are arranged evenly spaced around the axis of the floating hole 111 between the main body 121 and the end cover 113, and a spring seat corresponding to the compression spring 130 is fixedly installed on the main body 121, and the two ends of the compression spring 130 are respectively abutted against the spring seat and the end cover 113, and under normal conditions, the main body 121 abuts against the step surface 112 of the floating hole 111 under the elastic force of the compression spring 130;

[0036] The floating heads 120 of the two floating connectors 100 are respectively provided with pins and sockets that can be plugged in and matched, and the plugging direction of the pins and the sockets is arranged along the axial direction of the floating heads 120; when plugged in, the part of the floating head 120 of one floating connector 100 extending out of the floating hole 111 is used to contact the part of the floating head 120 of the other floating connector 100 extending out of the floating hole 111, so as to separate the main body 121 and the step surface 112 in the two floating heads 120.

[0037] The above description is mainly about the state of the floating connector 100 under normal conditions. When docking, the two floating connectors 100 are plugged in with the smaller ends of their floating holes 111 facing each other. Because the two mounting seats 110 are generally installed on two vehicle bodies with a relative motion relationship, the axes of the two are completely overlapped and collinear only under ideal conditions. Under normal conditions, the two mounting seats 110 have a certain axial displacement, and there will be a certain radial gap, or an angle, or both, between the axes of the two.

[0038] In this embodiment, the pin floating connector is used as the active component, and the socket floating connector is regarded as a static state. As the floating head 120 in the pin floating connector continuously moves toward the floating head 120 in the socket floating connector, the parts of the two floating heads 120 extending from the smaller end of the corresponding floating hole 111 will first contact and abut against each other, and the two sockets and pins will be docked with each other. Since both floating heads 120 extend from the smaller end of the floating hole 111, the action of the two abutting against each other will drive the main body 121 of the two to separate from the step surface 112, and move axially in the direction away from the other floating head 120.

[0039] At this time, the main body 121 and the mounting seat 110 are connected to the mounting seat 110 only by the compression spring 130. The axial compressibility of the compression spring 130 and the certain lateral bending elastic deformation driven by its structure itself, combined with the floating gap between the floating hole 111 and the floating head 120, give the floating heads 120 on both sides the ability to float and move relative to the mounting seat 110.

[0040] Therefore, the floating heads 120 on both sides can adapt to the axial displacement between the mounting seats 110 on both sides, and can also adapt to the radial gap, angle, or combination of the two between the mounting seats 110 on both sides. That is, the entire floating connector can adapt to the operating conditions of the rail vehicle.

[0041] It can be understood here that: since the pin and the socket can be regarded as a set of guide pins 140 and guide holes to some extent, when only the pin and the socket are provided, the floating heads 120 in the two floating connectors 100 can automatically adjust their positions along with the plugging action. However, as a preferred embodiment, in this embodiment, the floating heads 120 of the socket floating connector and the pin floating connector are respectively provided with mutually adapted guide pins 140 and guide holes, which are used to guide the plugging action of the socket and the pin in the two floating heads 120, so that the floating heads 120 of the two floating connectors 100 are in a coaxial state when the socket and the pin are plugged and matched.

[0042] As a preferred embodiment, in this embodiment, the spring seat is formed with a hemispherical body 122 whose spherical surface is used to tightly abut against the end of the compression spring 130. When the insulator 120 is deflected by force, the end of the compression spring 130 contacts the spherical surface of the hemispherical body 122 better than the conical surface, and when no force is applied, the end of the compression spring 130 slides more smoothly on the spherical surface without getting stuck, and the return effect is better.

[0043] More specifically, in this embodiment, a first stopper 123 extending from the hemisphere 122 and penetrating into the compression spring 130 is formed on the spring seat. At the same time, a plurality of second stopper bolts 114 corresponding to the compression springs 130 and penetrating into the corresponding compression springs 130 are fixedly arranged on the end cover 113. This arrangement can improve the stability of the compression spring 130. Further, a gap is preferably left between the outer edge of the first stopper bolt 123 and the inner edge of the compression spring 130, and the outer edge of the second stopper bolt 114 is preferably arranged to be in contact with the inner edge of the compression spring 130, in order to facilitate the lateral elastic deformation reset of the compression spring 130.

[0044] For the above-mentioned spring seat, it can be connected to the floating head 120 by bolts. However, for example, in this embodiment, the floating head 120 is generally made of insulating materials such as rubber, and bolt connection is likely to cause structural damage to the floating head 120. Therefore, in this embodiment, the main body 121 has a plurality of assembly holes corresponding to the spring seat, and the spring seat has an assembly shaft that is interference-fitted in the corresponding assembly holes, and the hemispherical body 122, the assembly shaft and the first limit bolt 123 are fixedly connected or integrally formed.

[0045] In this embodiment, after the pin and the socket are pulled out / separated, the floating head 120 in the floating connector 100 also has an automatic resetting function. Specifically, in this embodiment, the inner wall of the floating hole 111 has a resetting cone 115 formed in the larger hole of the floating hole 111, and the smaller end of the resetting cone 115 is coaxially connected to the step surface 112, and the width dimension of the projection of the resetting cone 115 on the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the floating hole 111 is greater than the width dimension of the floating gap.

[0046] As the pin and the socket are pulled out / separated, the floating head 120 automatically moves to the side close to the step surface 112 under the action of the elastic force of the compression spring 130. At this time, because the floating head 120 realizes the floating connection during the operation of the rail vehicle, the floating head 120 may have a certain radial clearance relative to its mounting seat 110, and this radial clearance will not exceed the floating clearance left between the floating head 120 and the floating hole 111. Therefore, as the floating head 120 moves toward the step surface 112, the extension on the floating head 120 will contact the reset cone surface 115, and move to the step surface 112 under the guidance of the reset cone surface 115. At this time, the axis of the floating head 120 is roughly coaxial with the axis of the floating hole 111. After that, the floating head 120 can be reset to the coaxial line of the floating hole 111 under the drive of the lateral deformation restoring force of the compression spring 130. It can be understood here that the reset cone surface 115 is mainly aimed at the initial reset of the floating head 120 and the floating hole 111 in the state of being in the maximum limit active position. If the reset cone surface 115 is not provided, when the floating head 120 and the floating hole 111 are at the maximum limit active position, that is, when the floating head 120 is in contact with the step surface 112, the compression spring 130 will be longer than its normal state, which will affect the lateral deformation recovery ability of the compression spring 130, and it is easy for the lateral deformation recovery force of the compression spring 130 to be unable to overcome the friction between the floating head 120 and the step surface 112 and cause accidental jamming.

[0047] In addition, in order to reduce the interference of the environment on the docking of the two floating heads 120, as a preferred embodiment, in this embodiment, the floating connector 100 also includes an elastic sleeve 150 installed outside the smaller end of the floating hole 111 and connected to the smaller end of the floating hole 111, and the elastic sleeve 150 is connected to the portion of the floating head 120 extending outside the smaller end of the floating hole 111; the elastic sleeve 150 extends outside the floating head 120, so that when the sockets and pins in the floating heads 120 of the two floating connectors 100 are mated and plugged in, the ends of the elastic sleeves 150 in the two floating connectors 100 facing away from the floating hole 111 can squeeze each other and elastically deform.

[0048] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention may have various modifications and variations. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A floating connector, comprising two floating connectors, characterized in that: The floating connection comprises a mounting seat and a floating head; The mounting seat has a floating hole in the shape of a stepped hole, and an end cover is provided at the larger hole end of the floating hole; the floating head is coaxially accommodated in the floating hole and partially extends out of the smaller end of the floating hole; a floating gap is left between the floating head and the floating hole, and the floating head also has a main body extending to the larger hole of the floating hole, and the diameter of the main body is larger than the diameter of the smaller hole of the floating hole; a plurality of compression springs are arranged evenly spaced around the axis of the floating hole between the main body and the end cover, and a spring seat corresponding to the compression spring is fixedly installed on the main body, and the two ends of the compression spring are respectively abutted against the spring seat and the end cover, and under normal conditions, the main body is abutted against the step surface of the floating hole under the elastic force of the compression spring; The floating heads of the two floating connectors are respectively provided with pins and sockets that can be plugged in and matched with each other, and the plugging direction of the pins and the sockets is arranged along the axial direction of the floating head; when plugged in, the part of the floating head of one floating connector extending out of the floating hole is used to contact the part of the floating head of the other floating connector extending out of the floating hole, so that the main body and the step surface in the two floating heads are separated; a hemisphere is formed on the spring seat, whose spherical surface is used to tightly abut against the end of the compression spring; the inner wall of the floating hole has a reset cone surface formed in the larger hole of the floating hole, and its smaller end is coaxially connected to the step surface, and the width dimension of the projection of the reset cone surface on the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the floating hole is greater than the width dimension of the floating gap.

2. The floating connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The floating heads in the two floating connectors are also respectively provided with guide pins and guide holes that match each other.

3. The floating connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The spring seat is provided with a first limiting bolt extending from a hemisphere and penetrating into the compression spring, and a gap is left between the outer edge of the first limiting bolt and the inner edge of the compression spring.

4. The floating connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: The main body has a plurality of assembly holes corresponding to the spring seat, and the spring seat has an assembly shaft which is interference fit in the corresponding assembly holes. The hemisphere, the assembly shaft and the first limiting bolt are fixedly connected or integrally formed.

5. The floating connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of second limiting bolts corresponding to the compression springs and inserted into the corresponding compression springs are fixedly arranged on the end cover.

6. The floating connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: The outer edge of the second limiting bolt is in cooperative contact with the inner edge of the compression spring.

7. The floating connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The floating connector also includes an elastic sleeve installed outside the smaller end of the floating hole and connected to the smaller end of the floating hole. The elastic sleeve is connected to the portion of the floating head extending outside the smaller end of the floating hole. The elastic sleeve extends outside the floating head so that when the sockets and pins in the floating heads of the two floating connectors are mated and plugged in, the ends of the elastic sleeves in the two floating connectors facing away from the floating holes can be squeezed against each other and elastically deformed.

8. The floating connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The floating head is made of insulating material.

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