Multi-degree-of-freedom, high-tolerance circular self-floating connector

Abstract

The present invention provides a multi-degree-of-freedom, large-tolerance circular self-floating connector, comprising a floating plug and a fixed socket capable of docking with each other, the floating plug comprising a plug housing, a clamping ring, a retaining ring, a floating sleeve, and a floating housing, the outer ring of the plug housing being sleeved with a floating sleeve, the floating sleeve being slidably mounted in the inner cavity of the floating housing, a retaining ring being provided at one end of the floating housing, a corrugated spring being provided between the floating sleeve and the retaining ring, the retaining ring being fixedly mounted at the other end of the floating housing via the clamping ring, a flange being provided at the outer ring of the plug housing, the flange being confined between the retaining ring and the floating sleeve, the floating sleeve being pressed against the flange by the elastic force of the corrugated spring. The present invention provides a multi-degree-of-freedom, large-tolerance circular self-floating connector, which improves the floating tolerance range through structural and elastic force setting optimization, meeting the rapidly developing requirements of space docking technology.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of electrical connectors, and in particular relates to a multi-degree-of-freedom, large-tolerance circular self-floating connector. Background Art

[0002] The electrical connectors used in space stations are in a state of weightlessness for a long time. The stability of the two docking terminals is poor during docking, and docking deviations such as translation and deflection often occur. Figure 1 As shown, the misalignment during docking includes Δα (rotation angle about the X-axis), Δβ (allowable rotation angle between panels), Δρ (translational motion distance along the plane containing the Y and Z axes, i.e., the translation distance between panels), and ΔX (overtravel along the docking axis). A dedicated tolerance guide structure is required to compensate for this misalignment. For example, Chinese patent publication number CN107887758A provides a six-degree-of-freedom floating connector consisting of two parts: a floating plug and a fixed socket. The connector includes a plug housing (equivalent to the plug housing), a sleeve (equivalent to the floating sleeve), a retaining ring, a clamping ring, a pressure ring (equivalent to the bushing), a push rod (equivalent to the spring cap), a small spring (equivalent to the spring), a yield spring, a flange (equivalent to the floating housing), and a socket housing. The retaining ring of the floating plug secures the retaining ring, sleeve, and yield spring within the flange. There are 4 step holes evenly distributed in the front and back rows on the sleeve, and a push rod and a small spring are arranged in the step hole. The pressure ring outside the sleeve compresses the small spring and presses the push rod into the arc pit on the outer circle of the plug shell. The plug shell step is located in the gap between the retaining ring and the sleeve. The shell guidance and key positioning are achieved during insertion through the conical chamfer of the plug plug end, the external key and the conical hole and keyway of the socket plug end. It has a six-degree-of-freedom floating function of displacement and rotation in the X, Y, and Z directions, and a return to the center reset function in the unplugged state. However, the structure of the push rod against the plug shell by the spring realizes the △α, △β and △ρ tolerances at the same time, so that the tolerance capabilities of the three are mutually restricted, such as Figure 2As shown, when the plug housing (equivalent to the plug shell 1) rotates around the X-axis, the arc pit of the plug housing will push the push rod (equivalent to the spring cap 8) back. When the push rod completely exits the arc pit, the plug housing will be disengaged, which will lead to failure of the plug housing's rotation direction positioning around the X-axis, and the inability to achieve docking or even misaligned docking will damage the connector and cause a serious accident. In order to avoid the above situation, the retraction stroke of the push rod must be less than the depth of the arc pit. In the prior art, the wall thickness of the plug housing is only 1.65mm, and the depth of the arc pit is only 1.2mm. Considering the safety margin, the retraction stroke of the push rod can only be controlled at the level of 0.9mm~1mm, resulting in the translation level between the plates being only △ρ=0.9mm~1mm. The flange and the sleeve are positioned by keyway cooperation, the sleeve and the flange are relatively fixed, and the push rod is pressed in the arc pit on the outer circle of the plug shell, and the push rod is restricted in the sleeve, resulting in a small rotation range of the plug shell around the X-axis, and can only achieve a rotation range of △α=±0.9°; similarly, for △β, the horizontal translation limit between the plates plus the rotation capacity limit of the push rod result in a deflection level between the plates of only △β=±0.9°; at the same time, the axial spacing between the retaining ring and the flange has not been optimized, resulting in the axial overtravel level of the existing technology being only △X=1.5mm. The parameter level of the existing technology limits the development of space station docking technology, especially △α is too small to meet the rapid development requirements of space docking technology.

[0003] In addition, when the floating plug and the fixed socket are docked, the force provided by the docking device is much greater than the plug-in force of the floating plug and the fixed socket. When the plug-in direction is deviated, it is easy to cause the plug-in force to increase rapidly and far exceed the design range. The small spring force of the existing technology has not been optimized for matching, resulting in slow steering response. At the very least, the guide structure will be scratched, affecting the service life. At worst, the electrical connector will be damaged, causing serious losses. At the same time, the yield spring force has not been optimized for matching. If the yield spring force is too small, the floating plug will easily start to retreat before the plug-in is engaged during docking, resulting in poor contact and seriously affecting the signal transmission. If the yield spring force is too large, the floating plug will not retreat to make way during deviated docking, and the floating plug will lack sufficient space to adjust the docking posture. It is easy to cause the plug-in force to increase rapidly, and there is a risk of damaging the electrical connector. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a multi-degree-of-freedom, large-tolerance circular self-floating connector, which improves the floating tolerance range by optimizing the structure and elastic force setting to meet the rapid development requirements of space docking technology.

[0005] The present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0006] A multi-degree-of-freedom, large-tolerance circular self-floating connector comprises a floating plug and a fixed socket that can dock with each other. The floating plug comprises a plug housing, a clamping ring, a retaining ring, a floating sleeve, and a floating housing. The outer ring of the plug housing is provided with a floating sleeve, which is slidably mounted in the inner cavity of the floating housing. A retaining ring is provided at one end of the floating housing, and a corrugated spring is provided between the floating sleeve and the retaining ring. The retaining ring is fixedly mounted on the other end of the floating housing via the clamping ring. A flange is provided on the outer ring of the plug housing, which is confined between the retaining ring and the floating sleeve. The floating sleeve rests against the flange under the elastic force of the corrugated spring, utilizing the good compression stroke of the corrugated spring to improve the axial overtravel tolerance. At the same time, the end face of the corrugated spring is flat, which can stably support the floating sleeve. The structure is rotationally symmetrical, the force is evenly distributed, and the service life of the connector is extended.

[0007] The flange is provided with circumferentially evenly distributed sector ring grooves, and the floating sleeve is provided with a convex key at a position corresponding to the sector ring groove. The convex key is inserted into the groove, and there is a gap between the convex key and the sector ring groove, so that the plug shell can rotate a certain angle relative to the floating sleeve, thereby increasing the rotation range of Δα and the tolerance capacity in the rotation direction around the X-axis, reducing the accuracy requirement of spatial docking in this direction, and making spatial docking easier.

[0008] In order to achieve the rotation and translation tolerance between panels, the floating sleeve is divided into two rows of front and rear circles with a number of step holes evenly distributed, the outer ring of the plug shell is provided with arc pits corresponding to the step holes, and a spring cap and a spring are provided in the step hole. The outer ring of the floating sleeve is provided with a bushing, one end of the spring rests on the bushing, and the other end of the spring pushes the spring cap to rest in the arc pit. When the plug shell is subjected to a deflection force, the plug shell can rest against the front row of spring caps and compress the rear row of spring caps for rotation to compensate for the rotation deviation between the panels, and at the same time can also squeeze the two rows of spring caps at the same time to achieve translation; after the external force is removed, the two rows of spring caps push the plug shell back to the center position under the action of the spring elastic force.

[0009] Furthermore, the step hole and the spring cap are clearance-fitted, and the step hole is provided with a first rounded corner at the inner hole opening of the floating sleeve. The spring cap includes a cap body and a cap brim, and the outer ring of the cap brim is provided with a second rounded corner. A clearance groove is provided at the connection between the outer ring of the cap body and the cap brim, and the groove wall of the clearance groove away from the cap brim is provided with an inclined surface. When the plug shell is subjected to force to rotate around the X-axis, the torsion amplitude of the spring cap is increased, and at the same time, the spring cap is ensured to rotate smoothly in the step hole to avoid jamming. At the same time, after the spring cap is twisted, the inclined surface will abut against the first rounded corner, and at the same time, the elastic force of the spring pushes the spring cap to abut against the circular arc pit. The deflection external force of the docking also acts on the plug shell to make it abut against the spring cap, forming a limit for the retreat of the spring cap, effectively limiting the retreat of the spring cap, and ensuring that the plug shell rotates 3.6° around the X-axis relative to the floating sleeve. After that, the spring cap still rests in the circular arc pit, laying the foundation for △α to achieve a tolerance range of ±3.6°, and at the same time breaking the limitation of the spring cap's torsional ability on the rotation range of △β, increasing the rotation range of △β to ±1.5°, and breaking the limitation of the spring cap's retraction stroke on the inter-plate translation △ρ. When only inter-plate translation exists, the translation distance can exceed the depth of the circular arc pit. When there is a tolerance of △α or △β, the spring cap twists, and the inclined surface rests on the first fillet, forming an effective limit for the spring cap, always keeping the spring cap resting in the circular arc pit, avoiding the risk of the spring cap falling out of the circular arc pit due to the rotation of the plug housing; after the external force is removed, the brim of the spring cap is flush with the step hole under the action of the spring elastic force, driving the plug housing to return to the center position.

[0010] Furthermore, the convex key can rotate from the center position to both sides within an angle range of ±3.6°. Combined with the torsion amplitude of the spring cap, the plug housing can rotate relative to the floating sleeve around the X-axis within an angle range of ±3.6°, which is three times higher than the rotation range of ±0.9° in the prior art.

[0011] The distance between the outer ring of the plug shell and the inner ring of the floating sleeve and the inner ring of the retaining ring is 2.5mm, and the distance between the outer ring of the plug shell and the inner ring of the retaining ring is greater than or equal to 2.5mm. While ensuring the structural strength of each component, the activity space of the plug shell is increased as much as possible, and the translation distance △ρ between the panels is increased to 2.5mm, which is 150% higher than the tolerance capacity of △ρ in the existing technology.

[0012] When the flange and the retaining ring are fitted together, the distance between the floating sleeve and the retaining ring is 3 mm, which increases the tolerance of the axial overtravel ΔX to 3 mm, which is doubled compared to 1.5 mm in the prior art.

[0013] The fixed socket includes a socket shell, a first conical surface is provided at the docking end of the socket shell, and a second conical surface is provided at the docking end of the plug shell. The top angle of the first conical surface is 2° larger than the top angle of the second conical surface. During the docking process, the first conical surface and the second conical surface serve as matching guide surfaces, ensuring that within the maximum deflection range, the first conical surface and the second conical surface are in surface contact, reducing line contact, reducing scratches on the first conical surface, and extending the service life.

[0014] A guide key is provided on the second conical surface, and a guide groove is provided on the first conical surface at a position corresponding to the guide key. The opening of the guide groove is provided with a chamfer, and the width of the chamfer opening is greater than the limit position of the guide key rotating around the X-axis, ensuring that the plug housing can also achieve plug-in guidance under extreme deflection, ensuring smooth plug-in.

[0015] Furthermore, the spring is in a compressed state, and its pre-compression elastic force range is between 1% and 2.5% of the maximum plug-in force. The elastic force in the maximum compression state is greater than or equal to 3% of the maximum plug-in force, ensuring that when deflection between panels occurs during docking, even if it is a slight deflection, it can respond quickly under a small external force, adjust the angle of the plug shell to make it parallel to the docking direction of the socket, and at the same time ensure that its maximum elastic force is greater than the deflection component of the maximum plug-in force at the maximum deflection angle, ensuring that a compression stroke is left, and thus ensuring that during the entire tolerance docking process, the plug shell and the spring cap are in an elastic contact state, reducing the wear caused by hard collision between the corresponding components and ensuring service life.

[0016] The corrugated spring is in a compressed state, with a pre-compression force ranging from 70% to 90% of the maximum insertion force, and a maximum compression force of 105% or greater. This ensures that the plug housing will not begin to retract until the insertion force exceeds a certain value, preventing poor contact caused by insufficient insertion depth during the docking process. Under the guidance of the corrugated spring, when the plug housing and the fixed socket are aligned, the corrugated spring's maximum force exceeds the maximum insertion force, allowing it to push the plug housing forward and engage with the fixed socket, ensuring insertion depth and contact reliability while also maintaining a sufficient compression stroke. This ensures that the floating sleeve and the corrugated spring maintain elastic contact throughout the tolerance docking process, reducing wear caused by hard contact between the corresponding components and ensuring service life.

[0017] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0018] Compared to the existing technology, this design increases the rotational angle of the plug housing relative to the floating sleeve about the X-axis by providing corresponding mating grooves and keyways on the flange of the plug housing and the floating sleeve, with space in the groove for the keyway to rotate. Furthermore, a clearance groove is provided on the spring cap that abuts the arc-shaped recess of the plug housing, and a second fillet is provided on the outer ring of the cap brim. This ensures smooth rotation of the spring cap in the stepped hole and prevents jamming when the plug housing is rotated about the X-axis under force. Combined with the keyway structure of the plug housing, the tolerance range of Δα is maintained at ±3.6°, a threefold improvement compared to the existing technology, while the rotation range of Δβ is increased to ±1.5°. By optimizing the spacing between the outer ring of the plug housing and the inner rings of the floating sleeve, retaining ring, and retaining ring, the inter-panel translation distance Δρ is increased to 2.5mm while maintaining the structural strength of each component, a 150% improvement in the Δρ tolerance compared to the existing technology. By selecting a corrugated spring as the elastic element for achieving X-axis overtravel and utilizing its excellent compression stroke, the axial overtravel tolerance is increased, raising the axial overtravel tolerance (ΔX) to 3mm, double the 1.5mm tolerance of the existing technology. The flat end surface of the corrugated spring provides stable support for the floating sleeve, resulting in a rotationally symmetrical structure and uniform force distribution, extending the connector's service life. By optimizing the spring force, even slight deflection between the panels during docking can be quickly responded to by adjusting the angle of the plug housing to be parallel to the docking direction of the receptacle under minimal external force. The maximum spring force is also ensured to be greater than the deflection component of the maximum mating force at the maximum deflection angle, ensuring a sufficient compression stroke. This ensures that the plug housing and spring cap maintain elastic contact throughout the tolerance docking process, extending service life. By optimizing the corrugated spring force, the plug housing only begins to retract when the mating force exceeds a certain value, avoiding poor contact caused by insufficient mating depth during docking. Under the guiding action, when the plug shell and the fixed socket are aligned in the insertion direction, since the maximum elastic force of the corrugated spring is greater than the maximum insertion force, the corrugated spring can push the plug shell forward and insert it into the fixed socket, ensuring the insertion depth and the reliability of the contact, while ensuring that a compression stroke is left, thereby ensuring that during the entire tolerance docking process, the floating sleeve and the corrugated spring are in an elastic contact state, ensuring the service life; by optimizing the matching angle of the guide surface of the floating plug and the fixed socket, the scratches on the guide surface are reduced and the service life is extended. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the misalignment of the space station connector during docking;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the motion state of the spring cap when the space station connector achieves △α tolerance docking with the plug shell;

[0021] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of the plug housing in the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5 It is a structural diagram of the floating sleeve in the present invention;

[0024] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the plug housing rotating relative to the floating sleeve in the present invention;

[0025] Figure 7 It is a structural schematic diagram of the spring cap in the present invention;

[0026] Figure 8 It is a structural schematic diagram of the twisted state of the spring cap when the plug housing rotates in the present invention;

[0027] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the plug housing of the present invention when rotating between the plates;

[0028] Figure 10 It is a structural schematic diagram of the socket housing in the present invention;

[0029] Figure 11 It is a schematic diagram of the docking of the plug housing and the socket housing in the present invention.

[0030] In the figure: 1-plug housing, 2-clamping ring, 3-retaining ring, 4-floating sleeve, 5-floating housing, 6-bushing, 7-corrugated spring, 8-spring cap, 9-spring, 10-socket housing, 101-flange, 102-sector ring groove, 103-arc pit, 104-second cone, 105-guide convex key, 401-convex key, 402-step hole, 403-first fillet, 501-retaining ring, 801-cap body, 802-cap brim, 803-second fillet, 804-make way groove, 805-inclined surface, 1001-first cone, 1002-guide groove. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The technical solution of the present invention is further described below, but the scope of protection claimed is not limited to the description.

[0032] like Figure 3 、 Figure 4As shown, a multi-degree-of-freedom, large-tolerance circular self-floating connector includes a floating plug and a fixed socket that can dock with each other. The floating plug includes a plug shell 1, a clamping ring 2, a retaining ring 3, a floating sleeve 4, and a floating shell 5. The outer ring of the plug shell 1 is provided with a floating sleeve 4, and the floating sleeve 4 is slidably installed in the inner cavity of the floating shell 5. A retaining ring 501 is provided at one end of the floating shell 5, and a corrugated spring 7 is provided between the floating sleeve 4 and the retaining ring 501. The retaining ring 3 is fixedly installed at the other end of the floating shell 5 through the clamping ring 2. A flange 101 is provided on the outer ring of the plug shell 1, and the flange 101 is restricted between the retaining ring 3 and the floating sleeve 4. The floating sleeve 4 rests on the flange 101 under the elastic force of the corrugated spring 7, and the good compression stroke of the corrugated spring 7 is used to improve the axial overtravel tolerance. At the same time, the end surface of the corrugated spring 7 is flat, which can stably support the floating sleeve, evenly bear the force, and extend the service life of the connector.

[0033] like Figures 3 to 6 As shown, the flange 101 is provided with circumferentially evenly distributed sector ring grooves 102, and the floating sleeve 4 is provided with a convex key 401 at a position corresponding to the sector ring groove 102. The convex key 401 is inserted into the sector ring groove 102, and there is a gap between the convex key 401 and the sector ring groove 102, so that the plug housing 1 can rotate a certain angle relative to the floating sleeve 4, thereby increasing the rotation range of Δα and the tolerance capability in the rotation direction around the X-axis, reducing the accuracy requirement of spatial docking in this direction, and making spatial docking easier.

[0034] like Figures 3 to 5 As shown, the floating sleeve 4 is divided into two rows, front and back, with a number of step holes 402 evenly distributed on the circumference. An arc pit 103 is provided on the outer ring of the plug shell 1 at the position corresponding to the step hole 402. A spring cap 8 and a spring 9 are provided in the step hole 402. The outer ring of the floating sleeve 4 is covered with a bushing 6. One end of the spring 9 rests against the bushing 6, and the other end of the spring 9 pushes the spring cap 8 to rest in the arc pit 103. When the plug shell 1 is subjected to a deflection force, the plug shell 1 can rest against the front row of spring caps 8 and compress the rear row of spring caps 8 to rotate, so as to compensate for the rotation deviation between the panels and realize the rotation tolerance between the panels; at the same time, it can also squeeze the two rows of spring caps 8 at the same time to realize translation, so as to realize the translation tolerance between the panels; after the external force is removed, the two rows of spring caps 8 push the plug shell to return to the center position under the elastic force of the spring 9.

[0035] like Figure 5 、 Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, the step hole 402 and the spring cap 8 are clearance-fitted, the step hole 402 is provided with a first fillet 403 at the inner opening of the floating sleeve 4, the spring cap 8 includes a cap body 801 and a cap brim 802, the outer ring of the cap brim 802 is provided with a second fillet 803, and a clearance groove 804 is provided at the connection between the outer ring of the cap body 801 and the cap brim 802, and the groove wall of the clearance groove 804 away from the side of the cap brim 802 is provided with an inclined surface 805. When the plug housing 1 is subjected to force and rotates around the X-axis, the torsion amplitude of the spring cap 8 is increased, and at the same time, the spring cap 8 is ensured to rotate smoothly in the step hole 402 to avoid jamming. At the same time, after the spring cap 8 is twisted, the inclined surface 80 5 will rest on the first fillet 403, and at the same time, the elastic force of the spring 9 pushes the spring cap 8 to rest against the arc pit 103. The deflection external force of the docking also acts on the plug housing 1 to make it rest against the spring cap 8, forming a limit for the retreat of the spring cap 8, effectively limiting the retreat of the spring cap 8, ensuring that after the plug housing 1 rotates 3.6° relative to the floating sleeve 4 around the X axis, the spring cap 8 still rests in the arc pit 103, laying the foundation for △α to achieve a tolerance range of ±3.6°, and at the same time breaking the limitation of the rotation range of △β on the torsional capacity of the spring cap 8, so that the limitation of the rotation range of △β is transferred to the maximum rotation angle of the flange 101, as shown in FIG. Figure 9 As shown, the rotation range of △β is increased to ±1.5°, and the restriction of the spring cap 8's retraction stroke on the inter-plate translation △ρ is broken. When only inter-plate translation exists, the translation distance can exceed the depth of the circular arc pit 103. When there is a tolerance of △α or △β, the spring cap 8 is twisted, and the inclined surface 805 will abut against the first fillet 403, forming an effective limit for the spring cap 8, always keeping the spring cap 8 against the circular arc pit 103, avoiding the risk of the plug housing 1 rotating and causing the spring cap 8 to fall out of the circular arc pit 103; after the external force is removed, the brim 802 of the spring cap 8 is flush with the step hole 402 under the elastic force of the spring 9, driving the plug housing 1 to return to the center position.

[0036] like Figure 6 As shown, the key 401 has a rotational range of ±3.6° from the center position. Combined with the torsion of the spring cap, the plug housing can rotate within a range of ±3.6° about the X-axis relative to the floating sleeve. This represents a threefold increase compared to the ±0.9° rotation range of the prior art, without changing the dimensions. In this embodiment, the key 401 is 2.5 mm wide, the sector ring groove 102 has an opening width of 5.4 mm, and the flange 101 has an outer diameter of 45.6 mm. It can be calculated that the key 401 has a rotational range of ±3.6° from the center position.

[0037] like Figure 3As shown, the distance between the outer ring of the plug shell and the inner ring of the floating sleeve and the inner ring of the retaining ring is 2.5 mm, and the distance between the outer ring of the plug shell and the inner ring of the retaining ring is greater than or equal to 2.5 mm. While ensuring the structural strength of each component, the activity space of the plug shell 1 is increased as much as possible, and the translation distance △ρ between the panels is increased to 2.5 mm, which is 150% higher than the tolerance capacity of △ρ in the prior art.

[0038] like Figure 3 As shown, when the flange 101 is fitted with the retaining ring 3, the distance between the floating sleeve 4 and the retaining ring 501 is 3 mm, which increases the tolerance of the axial overtravel ΔX to 3 mm, which is doubled compared to 1.5 mm in the prior art.

[0039] like Figure 4 、 Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, the fixed socket includes a socket housing 10, a first conical surface 1001 is provided at the mating end of the socket housing 10, and a second conical surface 104 is provided at the mating end of the plug housing 1. The top angle of the first conical surface 1001 is 2° larger than the top angle of the second conical surface 104. During the docking process, the first conical surface and the second conical surface serve as matching guide surfaces to ensure that within the maximum deflection range, the first conical surface and the second conical surface are in surface contact, thereby reducing line contact, reducing scratches on the first conical surface, and extending service life.

[0040] A guide key 105 is provided on the second conical surface 104, and a guide groove 1002 is provided on the first conical surface 1001 at a position corresponding to the guide key 105. The opening of the guide groove 1002 is provided with a chamfer, and the width of the chamfer opening is greater than the extreme position of the guide key 105 rotating around the X-axis, ensuring that the plug housing 1 can also achieve plug-in guidance under extreme deflection, ensuring smooth plug-in.

[0041] like Figure 3As shown, the spring 9 is in a compressed state, with a pre-compression force ranging from 1% to 2.5% of the maximum insertion force, and a maximum compression force of greater than or equal to 3% of the maximum insertion force. In this embodiment, the spring 9 has a free state height of 6.7 mm, a pre-compression force of 1.2 N, a pre-compression of 0.45 mm, a maximum compression force of 9.5 N, and a maximum compression of 2.95 mm. The designed insertion force of the floating plug and the fixed socket is ≤ 110 N. The deflection force in each direction is derived from the component of the insertion force in each direction. By optimizing the spring 9's elasticity, even slight deflection and small external force can be quickly responded to when deflection occurs between the panels during docking. The angle of the plug housing 1 is adjusted to be parallel to the docking direction of the socket. At the same time, the maximum elastic force is ensured to be greater than the deflection component of the maximum insertion force at the maximum deflection angle, ensuring a compression stroke. This ensures that the plug housing 1 and the spring cap 8 are in elastic contact throughout the entire tolerance docking process, reducing wear caused by hard contact between the corresponding components and extending service life.

[0042] like Figure 3 As shown, the corrugated spring 7 is in a compressed state, and its pre-compression elastic force ranges from 70% to 90% of the maximum insertion force. The elastic force in the maximum compression state is greater than or equal to 105% of the maximum insertion force. In this embodiment, the free state height of the corrugated spring 7 is 15.5mm, its pre-compression elastic force is 85N to 95N, the pre-compression amount is 8.7mm, the elastic force in the maximum compression state is ≥120N, and the maximum compression amount is 12.3mm, ensuring that the plug housing 1 will start to retract only when the insertion force exceeds a certain value, thereby avoiding insufficient insertion depth during the docking process, resulting in poor contact. Under the guiding action, when the plug housing 1 and the fixed socket are aligned in the insertion direction, since the maximum elastic force of the corrugated spring 7 is greater than the maximum insertion force, the corrugated spring 7 can push the plug housing 1 forward and insert it into the fixed socket, ensuring the insertion depth and the reliability of the contact, while ensuring that a compression stroke is left, thereby ensuring that during the entire tolerance docking process, the floating sleeve 4 and the corrugated spring 7 are in an elastic contact state, reducing the wear caused by the hard collision between the corresponding components and extending the service life.

[0043] The multi-degree-of-freedom, high-tolerance circular self-floating connector provided by the present invention utilizes corresponding grooves and keyways on the flange of the plug housing and the floating sleeve, with space provided in the groove for the keyway to rotate. This increases the rotation angle of the plug housing relative to the floating sleeve about the X-axis. Furthermore, a clearance groove is provided on the spring cap that abuts the circular recess of the plug housing, and a second rounded corner is provided on the outer ring of the cap brim. This ensures smooth rotation of the spring cap in the stepped hole when the plug housing is subjected to force and rotates about the X-axis, preventing jamming. Combined with the keyway structure of the plug housing, the Δα tolerance range is ensured to be ±3.6°, a threefold improvement compared to existing technologies, while the rotation range of Δβ is increased to ±1.5°. By optimizing the spacing between the outer ring of the plug housing and the inner ring of the floating sleeve, the inner ring of the retaining ring, and the inner ring of the retaining ring, the inter-panel translation distance Δρ is increased to 2.5mm while maintaining the structural strength of each component, a 150% improvement in the Δρ tolerance compared to existing technologies. By selecting a corrugated spring as the elastic element for achieving X-axis overtravel and utilizing its excellent compression stroke, the axial overtravel tolerance is increased, raising the axial overtravel tolerance (ΔX) to 3mm, double the 1.5mm tolerance of the existing technology. The flat end surface of the corrugated spring provides stable support for the floating sleeve, resulting in a rotationally symmetrical structure and uniform force distribution, extending the connector's service life. By optimizing the spring force, even slight deflection between the panels during docking can be quickly responded to by adjusting the angle of the plug housing to be parallel to the docking direction of the receptacle under minimal external force. The maximum spring force is also ensured to be greater than the deflection component of the maximum mating force at the maximum deflection angle, ensuring a sufficient compression stroke. This ensures that the plug housing and spring cap maintain elastic contact throughout the tolerance docking process, extending service life. By optimizing the corrugated spring force, the plug housing only begins to retract when the mating force exceeds a certain value, avoiding poor contact caused by insufficient mating depth during docking. Under the guiding action, when the plug shell and the fixed socket are aligned in the insertion direction, since the maximum elastic force of the corrugated spring is greater than the maximum insertion force, the corrugated spring can push the plug shell forward and insert it into the fixed socket, ensuring the insertion depth and the reliability of the contact, while ensuring that a compression stroke is left, thereby ensuring that during the entire tolerance docking process, the floating sleeve and the corrugated spring are in an elastic contact state, ensuring the service life; by optimizing the matching angle of the guide surface of the floating plug and the fixed socket, the scratches on the guide surface are reduced and the service life is extended.

Claims

1. Multi-degree-of-freedom, large-tolerance circular self-floating connector, characterized by: The invention comprises a floating plug and a fixed socket capable of docking with each other, wherein the floating plug comprises a plug housing (1), a clamping ring (2), a retaining ring (3), a floating sleeve (4), and a floating housing (5); the outer ring of the plug housing (1) is provided with a floating sleeve (4); the floating sleeve (4) is slidably installed in the inner cavity of the floating housing (5); a retaining ring (501) is provided at one end of the floating housing (5); a corrugated spring (7) is provided between the floating sleeve (4) and the retaining ring (501); the retaining ring (3) is fixedly installed at the other end of the floating housing (5) through the clamping ring (2); a flange (101) is provided at the outer ring of the plug housing (1); the flange (101) is restricted between the retaining ring (3) and the floating sleeve (4); the floating sleeve (4) is pressed against the flange (101) under the elastic force of the corrugated spring (7); The flange (101) is provided with a circumferentially evenly distributed sector ring groove (102), and a convex key (401) is provided on the floating sleeve (4) at a position corresponding to the sector ring groove (102). The convex key (401) is inserted into the sector ring groove (102), and there is a gap between the convex key (401) and the sector ring groove (102). The floating sleeve (4) is provided with a plurality of stepped holes (402) evenly distributed on the circumference in two rows, front and back. A circular arc pit (103) is provided on the outer ring of the plug housing (1) at a position corresponding to the stepped hole (402). A spring cap (8) and a spring (9) are provided in the stepped hole (402). The outer ring of the floating sleeve (4) is provided with a bushing (6). One end of the spring (9) abuts against the bushing (6), and the other end of the spring (9) pushes the spring cap (8) to abut against the circular arc pit (103). The step hole (402) and the spring cap (8) are clearance-fitted, the step hole (402) is provided with a first fillet (403) at the inner opening of the floating sleeve (4), the spring cap (8) comprises a cap body (801) and a cap brim (802), both ends of the outer ring of the cap brim (802) are provided with a second fillet (803), a clearance groove (804) is provided at the connection between the outer ring of the cap body (801) and the cap brim (802), and the groove wall of the clearance groove (804) away from the cap brim (802) is provided as an inclined surface (805), The distances between the outer ring of the plug housing (1) and the inner ring of the floating sleeve (4) and the inner ring of the retaining ring (3) are all 2.5 mm, and the distance between the outer ring of the plug housing (1) and the inner ring of the retaining ring (501) is greater than or equal to 2.5 mm.

2. The multi-degree-of-freedom, high-tolerance circular self-floating connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The convex key (401) has a rotation angle range of ±3.6° from the center position to both sides.

3. The multi-degree-of-freedom, large-tolerance circular self-floating connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the flange (101) and the retaining ring (3) are fitted together, the distance between the floating sleeve (4) and the retaining ring (501) is 3 mm.

4. The multi-degree-of-freedom, high-tolerance circular self-floating connector according to claim 1, wherein: The fixed socket comprises a socket housing (10), a first conical surface (1001) being provided at a butt joint end of the socket housing (10), and a second conical surface (104) being provided at a butt joint end of the plug housing (1), wherein a vertex angle of the first conical surface (1001) is 2° greater than a vertex angle of the second conical surface (104).

5. The multi-degree-of-freedom, large-tolerance circular self-floating connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: A guide cam (105) is provided on the second conical surface (104), a guide groove (1002) is provided on the first conical surface (1001) at a position corresponding to the guide cam (105), and a chamfer is provided at the opening of the guide groove (1002), and the width of the chamfer opening is greater than the limit position of the guide cam (105) rotating around the X axis.

6. The multi-degree-of-freedom, high-tolerance circular self-floating connector according to claim 1, wherein: The spring (9) is in a compressed state, and its pre-compression elastic force ranges from 1% to 2.5% of the maximum insertion force, and the elastic force in the maximum compression state is greater than or equal to 3% of the maximum insertion force.

7. The multi-degree-of-freedom, high-tolerance circular self-floating connector according to claim 1, wherein: The corrugated spring (7) is in a compressed state, and its pre-compression elastic force ranges from 70% to 90% of the maximum insertion force, and the elastic force in the maximum compression state is greater than or equal to 105% of the maximum insertion force.

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