Plug connector element with locking device

Abstract

A plug connector element with a locking device (14), the locking device being used for releasably locking on a plug mating part (12), wherein the locking device has a plurality of locking hooks (16, 18) distributed on the circumference of a base body (10), the locking hooks forming a bend at the front end in the plugging direction and being pivotable in the radial direction between a locked position and a released position, characterized in that the locking hooks (16, 18) are constructed as components separated from each other and from the base body (10), the locking hooks are supported on the base body in such a way that the locking hooks can be tilted around an axis extending at right angles to the insertion direction and at right angles to the radial direction, and the locking hooks are elastically supported on the base body in the axial direction at the end opposite to the bend.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a plug connector element having a locking device for releasably locking to a plug mating part, wherein the locking device has a plurality of locking hooks distributed over the circumference of a base body, the locking hooks being bent at the front end in the plugging direction and being pivotable in the radial direction between a locking position and a release position.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to an electrical plug connector element.

[0003] The term “locking” is used in this document in a general sense and is intended to include positive-locking and non-positive-locking locking as well as latching. Background Art

[0004] In the case of electrical plug connections, the locking device is intended to prevent the connection from being accidentally released, for example by pulling on the cable. In the locked position, the locking hook engages behind the undercut or in the latching groove of the plug mating part, so that at least a certain resistance is opposed to the relative movement in the release direction.

[0005] In conventional plug connectors, in particular in small electrical plug connectors, the locking hooks are designed as spring tongues that can pivot in the radial direction due to their inherent elasticity. These tongues can be molded directly onto the base body or formed integrally on a sleeve that surrounds the base body and is held axially fixed thereon.

[0006] A distinction is made between internal locking, in which the base body is inserted into the mating plug part and the locking hooks are bent outwards into a hooked shape, and external locking, in which the base body is pushed onto the mating plug part and the locking hooks are bent inwards into a hooked shape. In electrical plug connectors, the locking mechanism is usually designed as a push-pull mechanism, in which the locking mechanism automatically engages when the plug connection is established and is released by pulling back an actuating element, for example in the form of a sleeve, in the release direction.

[0007] Plug connectors are also known in which the locking device has a threaded part that can be screwed together with a mating thread of a mating plug-in part. In this case, the thread and the mating thread can only be designed in a sector-shaped manner, so that the threaded parts can be axially plugged together in a position in which the thread sectors are twisted relative to each other, and the threads only engage with each other when one threaded part is subsequently rotated relative to the other. In this case, hooks can also be provided in the gaps between the thread sectors, which can achieve temporary locking in a position in which the threaded parts are not yet engaged.

[0008] DE 10 2012 111 408 B3 discloses a locking device for a plug connector, in which the locking hook is designed as a rocker arm that can be pivoted about a fulcrum on a base body. These rockers are prestressed into the locked position by pulling an extension arm of the rocker arm, which protrudes from the pivot bearing in the direction opposite to the plugging direction, inwardly via a spring ring. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a plug connector in which the locking device has a shorter overall length.

[0010] The solution of the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned object lies in that the locking hooks are constructed as components separated from each other and from the base body, and the locking hooks are supported on the base body in such a manner that the locking hooks can be flipped around an axis extending at right angles to the insertion direction and at right angles to the radial direction, and the locking hooks are elastically supported on the base body in the axial direction at the end opposite to the bent portion.

[0011] The radial pivoting movement of the hooks between the locked and released positions cannot, or at least cannot, be achieved solely through their inherent elasticity. Instead, the hooks rotate as a whole about their pivot axis. This not only reduces the length of the hooks but also has the advantage of reducing the risk of fatigue fracture and, consequently, increasing the durability of the locking device, since no elastic deformation occurs, or only minimal elastic deformation. The hooks are axially resiliently supported on the base body. Therefore, the axial position of the pivot axis does not need to be fixed, allowing the axial translation of the hooks to be superimposed on the pivoting movement. In other words, the hooks are supported on the base body in a manner that appears to "float." This resilient support allows the hooks to be preloaded into the locked position or, alternatively, into the released position by axially preloading the hooks onto a radially ascending or descending slope, or by generating a torque through the axial spring force in combination with a stop or support point for the hooks.

[0012] Advantageous solutions of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0013] In one embodiment, each locking hook has a radial projection at its end opposite the bend, upon which an axial spring force acts. This spring force can be generated by spring elements that are molded directly onto the radial projection and supported on a shoulder of the base body. These spring elements can, for example, be configured as wings extending circumferentially from opposite sides of the radial projection.

[0014] In one embodiment, only each second locking hook has such a resilient wing, while the locking hooks arranged between them have rigid support arms instead of wings. These support arms overlap the radial protrusions of the spring-loaded locking hooks in the circumferential direction, thereby indirectly achieving resilient support via the resilient wings of the adjacent locking hooks. Due to this structural form, the resilient wings can have a relatively large circumferential length even in the case of small plug connectors, thereby reducing elastic stresses and thus the risk of fatigue fracture. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] in:

[0017] Figure 1 An axial cross-sectional view of a circumferential region of a plug connector according to the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 and 3 perspective views of shackles designed in different ways;

[0019] Figure 4 for Figure 2 and 3 A perspective view of the locking hook shown in its installed position;

[0020] Figure 5 and 6 For different states of the locking device similar to Figure 1 sectional view of

[0021] Figure 7 For an improved embodiment similar to Figure 4 pictorial representation;

[0022] Figure 8 An axial cross-sectional view of a circumferential region of a plug connector having a locking device according to another embodiment;

[0023] Figure 9 For the Figure 8 A cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 1 ; and

[0024] Figure 10 In unlocked state Figure 8 Locking device shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] exist Figure 1, a portion of the peripheral wall of a plug connector according to the invention is shown in an axial section. The plug connector comprises a sleeve-shaped base body 10 which can be inserted into a plug opening of a plug mating part 12, shown here only in dashed lines, and can be locked to the plug mating part by means of a locking device 14. The locking device comprises a plurality of locking hooks 16, 18 distributed around the circumference of the base body, which are respectively Figure 1 and Figure 2 Each locking hook has a front end ( Figure 1 The left side in FIG) has a radially outward bend 20, which is configured as a locking lug and is Figure 1 In the locking position shown, they engage in the latching groove of the plug-in mating part 12. At the rear end, each locking hook has a radially outward projection 22.

[0026] At once Figure 2 In the case of the illustrated locking hook 16, the projection 22 is laterally adjoined by two elastic wings 24 which extend in the shape of a circular arc along the circumference of the base body 10. The wings 24 are slightly angled relative to the projection 22 and slightly curved along their length so that they are resiliently supported on shoulders 26 of the base body 10.

[0027] Figure 3 The illustrated locking hook 18 has two rigid support arms 28 instead of wings 24 , which are in the same plane as the projection 22 .

[0028] Figure 4 The diagram shows a configuration of six locking hooks, arranged on the base body 10. Three locking hooks 16 are arranged at an angular interval of 120°. The wings 24 each extend over an arc angle of approximately 60°, so that the free ends of the wings of two adjacent hooks nearly touch each other. The locking hooks 18 are also arranged at an angular interval of 120° in the gaps between the locking hooks 16, and the support arms 28 also each extend over an arc angle of approximately 60°, so that they overlap the projections 22 of two adjacent locking hooks 16. The elastic wings 24 prestress the locking hooks 16 forward in the direction of insertion. In this case, the projections 22 of the locking hooks press against the ends of the support arms 28, thereby prestressing the locking hooks 18 in the same direction.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, the locking hook 16 has its radial inner portion ( Figure 1 The portion of the hook 18 (the lower portion in the center) is guided in an axial groove 30 in the base body 10. The wings 24 are located outside this groove 30 and are supported on the circumference of the base body 10 at the location where they abut the projection 22, so that the hook is held at its rear end at a distance from the bottom of the groove 30. The same applies to the hook 18 provided with the support arm 28.

[0030] exist Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the locking hook can be pivoted about these pivot axes A and B. These pivot axes extend at right angles to the plug-in direction through support points where the wings 24 or support arms 28 rest on the edges of the grooves 30.

[0031] At the front end, each groove 30 is delimited by a ramp 32 inclined upwards, on which the front end of the locking hook is supported in such a way as to also hold the locking hook on the front end at a distance from the bottom of the groove 30. Figure 1 In the locked position, the ramp 32 also prevents the bent portion 20 from escaping from the latching groove of the plug-in mating part 12.

[0032] On the part of the base body 10 that is delimited by the shoulder 24 and has a larger diameter, a release element 34 is arranged. In this example, the release element 34 is designed as a sleeve that surrounds the base body 10 and is guided axially displaceably on the base body. At the front end, the release element 34 has a radially inwardly directed flange 36 that spans the projection 22 of the locking hooks 16, 18. Figure 1 In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the release element 34 is in a front end position in which the flange 36 is spaced axially apart from the projection of the hook 18. The release element 34 can be elastically held in this end position, for example, by a spring (not shown). In this example, the flange 36 has a nose 38 at its inner edge on the side facing the projection 22. When the release element 34 is pulled back axially against the spring force, the nose engages the projection 22 of the hook 18 and the inner edge of the support arm 28. Since the position at which the wing 24 abuts the projection 22 is slightly offset radially outwards relative to the nose 38, the hook 18 is prevented from moving. Figure 1 The counterclockwise torque acts on the adjacent projections 22 of the locking hooks 16 and 18. At the same time, the axial movement of the release element 34 pulls back all the locking hooks 16 and 18 evenly, so that the free ends of these locking hooks slide along the ramp 32 and penetrate deeper into the groove 30, while the bent portion 20 withdraws from the locking groove of the plug-in mating part 12. In this way, the locking hooks 16, 18 are transferred to Figure 5 The release position shown, in which the locking is cancelled. Therefore, if the user keeps acting on the pulling force of the release element 34, the plug connector element will be pulled out from the plug opening of the plug mating part 12.

[0033] Figure 6The figure shows a state where the plug connection is established again by pushing the base body 10 into the plug opening of the plug-in mating part 12. In this case, the inclined front side of the bent portion 20 hits the introduction slope of the plug-in mating part 12, so that the locking hooks 16 and 18 are pushed back against the force of the elastic wings 24, and the free ends of the locking hooks slide along the ramp 32 again and the locking hooks are flipped to the release position again, so that the base body 10 and the locking hooks can be inserted deeper into the plug opening. When the bent portion 20 reaches the axial position of the locking groove of the plug-in mating part 12, the front ends of the locking hooks 16 and 18 hit the ramp 32 under the action of the elastic wings 24, and the locking hooks pivot to Figure 1 Shown in locked position.

[0034] In another embodiment, the tilting movement of the locking hooks 16, 18 into the release position is controlled and supported in that the rear side of the bend 20 and the corresponding mating surface of the locking groove are inclined more sharply, so that when the locking hook is pulled back, these inclined surfaces slide along each other and the bend is pushed deeper into the groove 30.

[0035] With Figure 2 and Figure 3 The hooks 16 and 18 of the shape shown in FIG can be made of plastic or sheet metal. When using sheet metal, a flat blank can be first punched out, in which the protrusion 22 and the wings 24 or support arms 28 are coplanar with the rest of the hook. In a further step, the protrusion 22 is then bent at right angles to these wings or support arms. The bend 20 can be produced, for example, by axially upsetting the free end of the hook in a suitable die.

[0036] exist Figure 4 In the arrangement of the locking hooks 16 , 18 shown, the wings 24 are very long compared to the spring travel they have to cover, so that they undergo only little elastic deformation and practically no material fatigue occurs even with many locking and unlocking operations.

[0037] In another embodiment, in particular when the diameter of the base body 10 is relatively large, all locking hooks may also have Figure 2 The shape shown for the hook 16 is shown in FIG. In this case, the hooks are arranged in such a way that their projections 22 are all in a common plane and all the hooks are supported directly on the shoulder 26 via the wing 24 .

[0038] Figure 7 Another variant is shown, in which all the locking hooks 18 are formed as shown in FIG. Figure 3It is designed in the manner shown and is resiliently supported by means of a coil spring 24 a (shown only schematically in the figure), which surrounds the portion of the base body with reduced diameter and is supported on a shoulder 26 (not shown here).

[0039] Figures 8 to 10 An example of a locking device 14' on a plug connector element with another design is shown. This plug connector element has a sleeve-shaped base body 10' that can be plugged onto a plug mating part 12' designed as a pin. The locking device 14 is thus designed as an external locking element with a locking hook 16' that engages from the outside in a corresponding latching recess in the plug mating part 12'.

[0040] The locking hooks 16' each have a radial projection 22' at the rear end, which engages a helical spring 24' which surrounds the base body 10' and is supported by its opposite ends on a shoulder 26' of the base body. The rear part of each locking hook 16' is accommodated in an axial groove 30' of the base body. At the rear end, the locking hook has two laterally projecting axial ends 40, which respectively snap into recesses 42 formed in the side faces of the groove 30'. This forms a pivot bearing for the locking hook 16', which fixes it radially and axially. The helical spring 24' applies a torque to the locking hook, by which the locking hook is elastically held in place. Figure 1 shown in the engaged position.

[0041] In this embodiment, the plug connector element is locked to the plug mating part 12' only by latching. If the base body 10' is pulled out of the plug mating part 12 with a sufficiently large force, the locking hook is squeezed out of the V-shaped latching groove of the plug mating part 12, wherein the helical spring 24' yields, as shown in FIG. Figure 10 shown.

Claims

1. A plug connector element having a locking device (14; 14') for releasably locking on a plug mating part (12; 12'), wherein the locking device has a plurality of locking hooks (16, 18; 16') distributed on the circumference of a base body (10; 10'), each of the locking hooks forming a bend at the front end in the plugging direction and being pivotable in the radial direction between a locking position and a release position, wherein: The locking hooks (16, 18; 16') are configured to be separated from each other and to be connected to the base body (10; 10'), the locking hooks are supported on the base in such a way that the locking hooks can be turned around an axis (A; B) extending at right angles to the insertion direction and at right angles to the radial direction, characterized in that the locking hooks (16, 18; 16') are elastically supported on the base in the axial direction at the end opposite to the bent portion, wherein the elastic wing (24) is constructed in a manner integrally formed with the locking hook, and the locking hook (16) is supported on the base (10) via the elastic wing.

2. The plug connector element according to claim 1, wherein The locking hooks (16, 18; 16') each have a radial protrusion (22; 22') at the rear end along the plug-in direction.

3. The plug connector element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The locking hooks (16, 18; 16') are each guided in an axial groove (30; 30') of the base body.

4. The plug connector element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The base body (10) has a slope (32) for each locking hook, the front end of the locking hook is prestressed onto the slope by elastic support, and the slope participates in controlling the tilting movement of the locking hook.

5. The plug connector element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The wing (24) is attached to the projection (22) of the locking hook (16) and extends outside the recess (30) of the base body over a portion of the circumference of the base body.

6. The plug connector element according to claim 5, wherein The locking hooks (16) alternate circumferentially with further locking hooks (18) which, instead of the wings (24), have rigid support arms (28) in the plane of the projections (22), wherein the support arms (28) are supported with their free ends on the projections (22) of the adjacent locking hooks (16).

7. The plug connector element according to claim 2, wherein The locking hook (18) is supported by its radial projection (22) on a shoulder (26) of the base body via a helical spring (24a) surrounding a portion of the base body (10).

8. The plug connector element according to claim 6, wherein The locking hooks (16, 18) are made of metal plates.

9. The plug connector element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The locking hooks (16, 18; 16') are made of plastic.

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