A power connector

Abstract

This invention discloses a power connector with a direct-insertion self-locking structure, which is simple, compact, and easy to install. The technical solution includes: a connector plug and a connector socket adapted to the connector plug. The connector plug comprises: a core with a set of axially penetrating plug terminal mounting holes, a first terminal block mounting groove communicating with the plug terminal mounting holes at its rear end, a positioning groove communicating with the plug terminal mounting holes at its front end, and an axially extending first slot on its side wall; a plug terminal, inserted into the plug terminal mounting holes of the core; a first terminal block, disposed in the first terminal block mounting groove of the core and electrically connected to the plug terminal; and an elastic latch, disposed in the first slot of the core, having at least one spring arm with a protruding hook.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a power connector. Background Technology

[0002] A power connector, also known as a power coupler, consists of a connector plug and a matching connector socket. The connector plug has plate-shaped or post-shaped plug terminals (commonly known as male terminals), and the connector socket has matching socket terminals (commonly known as female terminals). When the connector plug and connector socket are inserted, the connector plug is mainly held in place by the clamping force of the socket terminals. Therefore, it is easy for problems to occur, such as excessively tight insertion and removal in the initial stage of use, and excessively loose insertion and removal after a period of use, or even intermittent connection.

[0003] To overcome the aforementioned problems, various connector structures with rotary self-locking have emerged on the market. These primarily rely on rotary self-locking between the plug and socket housings or between the plug and socket terminals. However, due to the cumbersome insertion and removal process and their relatively large size, these connectors are mainly used in industrial applications where insertion and removal are infrequent. Currently, however, there is an urgent need for a compact, easy-to-insert, and stable power connector, particularly for applications such as charging new energy vehicles. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a power connector with a direct-insertion self-locking structure, which is simple, compact and easy to install.

[0005] To solve the above problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention includes: a connector plug and a connector socket adapted to the connector plug, characterized in that the connector plug includes:

[0006] The insert has a set of axially penetrating plug terminal mounting holes, and its side wall has an axially extending first slot.

[0007] The plug terminal is inserted into the plug terminal mounting hole of the ferrule;

[0008] An elastic latch is provided in the first slot of the ferrule, and it is provided with at least one spring arm, on which a protruding hook is provided;

[0009] A sliding button is slidably disposed in the first slot of the insert, and an unlocking slider acting on the spring arm is provided at the inner end.

[0010] The outer shell is fitted onto the upper end of the insert. The outer shell has a second slot extending axially at the position corresponding to the first slot. The width of the second slot is narrower than that of the first slot. When the connector plug is inserted into place, the lower end of the outer shell abuts against the panel of the connector socket.

[0011] An end cap covers the upper end of the outer casing, and a wire outlet hole is provided at the upper end of the end cap.

[0012] The power connector is characterized in that: the rear end of the ferrule is provided with a first terminal mounting groove communicating with the plug terminal mounting hole, a first terminal is mounted through the first terminal mounting groove, the first terminal is electrically connected to the plug terminal, and the front end of the ferrule is provided with a positioning groove communicating with the plug terminal mounting hole.

[0013] The power connector is characterized in that: a positioning rod is embedded in the first slot on the end cover.

[0014] The power connector is characterized in that the connector socket comprises:

[0015] The panel has a first socket for inserting the tumbler and a second socket for inserting the elastic buckle. A hanging platform is provided on the side corresponding to the second socket to engage with the hook of the elastic buckle.

[0016] A terminal block is installed on the back of the panel, and has a socket terminal mounting hole corresponding to the plug terminal mounting hole. A second terminal mounting groove is provided on the side corresponding to the socket terminal mounting hole.

[0017] The socket terminal is movably disposed in the plug terminal mounting hole of the terminal block, and a first return spring is provided at the lower end;

[0018] The second terminal block is located in the second terminal block mounting slot of the terminal block and is electrically connected to the socket terminal.

[0019] The power connector is characterized in that it further includes a positioning bracket, the positioning bracket including a base plate, a sheath integrally formed on the base plate and a cover plate integrally formed on the side of the base plate, the sheath being fitted over the upper end of the socket terminal mounting hole, and the cover plate sealing the upper part of the second terminal mounting groove.

[0020] The power connector is characterized in that it further includes two opposing protective plates, which are hinged to the upper end of the terminal block and have a torsion spring on one side to drive them to rotate upwards, and cover the first socket of the panel.

[0021] The power connector is characterized in that: the top of the socket terminal is provided with a concave contact surface, and the lower end of the plug terminal is provided with a convex contact surface that matches the concave contact surface.

[0022] The power connector is characterized in that a second return spring is provided below the sliding button.

[0023] The power connector is characterized in that: the plug terminal is cylindrical and is threadedly connected to the first terminal block through the threaded portion at the upper end; the socket terminal is cylindrical and is connected to the second terminal block through a flexible connecting wire at the lower end.

[0024] The power connector is characterized in that: the elastic latch is V-shaped, including a mounting plate and a spring arm, the hook is integrally bent from the front end of the spring arm, the mounting plate is integrally bent to have a positioning protrusion, the first slot is provided with a slot for inserting the mounting plate into the mounting plate, and the bottom of the unlocking slider is provided with an inclined surface acting on the spring arm.

[0025] The advantages of the power connector of the present invention are as follows: 1. It adopts a direct-insertion self-locking structure, making insertion and removal more convenient; 2. A spring is installed below the socket terminal. This spring, on the one hand, allows the socket terminal and the plug terminal to make closer contact when the plug terminal is inserted into the socket, reducing the contact resistance, and on the other hand, provides a certain elastic force when the plug and socket are separated, allowing the plug and socket to separate more quickly; 3. The plug core and the plug terminal are inserted into the socket together, making the insertion more stable.

[0026] The present invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the power connector of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the connector plug of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the connector plug of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the ferrule structure of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the elastic locking mechanism of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the slider of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 7 This is an exploded view of the connector socket of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of the connector socket of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the front structure of the panel of this invention;

[0036] Figure 10A schematic diagram of the back structure of the panel of this invention;

[0037] Figure 11 A schematic diagram of the terminal block structure of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 12 A schematic diagram of the positioning bracket of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 13 A schematic diagram of the connection between the connector plug and the connector socket of this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0040] Reference Figure 1-13 As shown, the power connector of the present invention includes a connector plug 1 and a connector socket 2 adapted to the connector plug 1. The connector plug 1 includes: a core 3, a plug terminal 4, a first terminal block 5, a resilient locking buckle 6, and a sliding button 7. The core 3 has two or three axially penetrating plug terminal mounting holes 8, a first terminal block mounting groove 9 communicating with the plug terminal mounting holes 8 at the rear end of the core 3, a positioning groove 10 communicating with the plug terminal mounting holes 8 at the front end of the core 3, and an axially extending first slot 11 on the side wall of the core 3. The plug terminal 4 is inserted into the plug terminal mounting holes 8 of the core 3. The first terminal block 5 is disposed in the first terminal block mounting groove 9 of the core 3 and is electrically connected to the plug terminal 4, facilitating connection with external wires. If necessary, the first terminal block 5 can be omitted, and external wires can be directly connected to the plug terminal 4 by welding, riveting, plugging, or ultrasonic welding. The elastic latch 6 is disposed within the first slot 11 of the insert 3. The elastic latch 6 has a spring arm 12, and the spring arm 12 has a protruding hook 13. The sliding button 7 is slidably disposed within the first slot 11 of the insert 3. The inner end of the sliding button 7 has an unlocking slider 14 that acts on the spring arm 12. When the sliding button 7 slides down, the unlocking slider 14 presses against the spring arm 12, causing the hook 13 to move away from the mounting platform 26, thus completing the unlocking.

[0041] A housing 15 is fitted onto the upper end of the insert 3. The housing 15 has an axially extending second slot 16 corresponding to the first slot 11. The width of the second slot 16 is narrower than the first slot 11. When the connector plug 1 is inserted, the lower end of the housing 15 abuts against the panel 20 of the connector socket 2. After the first terminal block 5, elastic latch 6, and sliding button 7 are installed into the insert 3, the housing 15 is then installed. Finally, the end cap 17 is installed on the upper end of the housing 15, completing the overall positioning and making installation more convenient without any screws. The lower end of the end cap 17 has a positioning rod 18 embedded in the second slot 16. The positioning rod 18 and the second slot 16 are tightly fitted together to seal the opening of the second slot 16. The upper end of the end cap 17 has a wire outlet hole 19 through which external wires pass to connect to the first terminal block 5. For a more aesthetically pleasing appearance, a decorative panel 45 can be installed on the panel 20.

[0042] Preferably, the connector socket 2 includes: a panel 20, a terminal block 21, a socket terminal 22, and a second terminal block 23. The panel 20 has a first socket 24 for inserting the ferrule 3 and a second socket 25 for inserting the resilient latch 6. A mounting platform 26 corresponding to the second socket 25 is provided on one side to engage with the hook 13 of the resilient latch 6. The terminal block 21 is mounted on the back of the panel 20 by screws or hooks. The terminal block 21 has a socket terminal mounting hole 41 corresponding to the plug terminal mounting hole 8. A second terminal block mounting groove 27 is provided on one side corresponding to the socket terminal mounting hole 41. The socket terminal 22 is movably disposed in the plug terminal mounting hole 8 of the terminal block 21, and a first return spring 28 is provided at the lower end of the socket terminal 22. The second terminal block 23 is disposed in the second terminal block mounting groove 27 of the terminal block 21 and is electrically connected to the socket terminal 22. When the connector plug 1 is inserted into the connector socket 2, the first return spring 28 is compressed, and the plug terminal 4 and the socket terminal 22 can make closer contact through the elastic force of the first return spring 28.

[0043] Preferably, the device also includes a positioning bracket 29, which comprises a base plate 30, a sheath 31 integrally formed on the base plate 30, and a cover plate 32 integrally formed on the side of the base plate 30. The sheath 31 is fitted over the upper end of the socket terminal mounting hole 41, and the cover plate 32 covers the upper part of the second terminal block mounting groove 27. The positioning bracket 29 allows for simultaneous positioning of the assembled socket terminal 22 and the second terminal block 23, preventing them from falling off.

[0044] Preferably, the device further includes two opposing protective plates 33, which are hinged to the upper end of the terminal block 21 and have a torsion spring 34 on one side to rotate them upwards, thus covering the first insertion hole 24 of the panel 20. The protective plates 33 cover the first insertion hole 24 to prevent dust and misinsertion, thereby improving safety. When the connector plug 1 is inserted, its insert 3 automatically pushes open the protective plates 33.

[0045] Preferably, the top of the socket terminal 22 is provided with a concave contact surface 35, and the lower end of the plug terminal 4 is provided with a convex contact surface 36 that matches the concave contact surface 35. By connecting the concave contact surface 35 and the convex contact surface 36, the contact surfaces can automatically correct themselves to ensure accurate docking, while also improving the contact surface area, thereby improving current carrying capacity and temperature rise performance.

[0046] Preferably, a second reset spring 37 is provided below the slider 7 for automatic reset after the slider 7 is unlocked.

[0047] Preferably, the plug terminal 4 is cylindrical and is threaded to the first terminal block 5 via a threaded portion 38 at its upper end; the socket terminal 22 is cylindrical and its lower end is connected to the second terminal block 23 via a flexible connecting wire 39. This facilitates connection while ensuring current carrying capacity. If necessary, the terminals and terminal blocks can also be connected by riveting, welding, or other methods.

[0048] Preferably, the elastic latch 6 is V-shaped, including a mounting plate 42 and a spring arm 12. The hook 13 is integrally bent from the front end of the spring arm 12. The mounting plate 42 is integrally bent and has a positioning protrusion 43. The first slot 11 has a slot 44 for inserting the mounting plate 42. During assembly, the elastic latch 6 is placed into the first slot 11 of the insert 3, and then slid down to insert the lower end of the mounting plate 42 into the slot 44 and position it by the positioning protrusion 43, thus easily completing the assembly of the elastic latch 6. The bottom of the unlocking slider 14 has an inclined surface 40 acting on the spring arm 12. By setting the inclined surface 40, it is easier to unlock the elastic latch 6.

[0049] The above description is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed structure and technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A power supply connector comprising a connector plug (1) and a connector socket (2) adapted to the connector plug (1), characterized in that The connector plug (1) comprises: a plug core (3) provided with a group of axially-through plug terminal mounting holes (8) with a first axially-extending slot (11) on the side wall; a plug terminal (4) inserted into the plug terminal mounting hole (8) of the plug core (3); a resilient lock catch (6) provided in the first slot (11) of the plug core (3) and provided with at least one elastic arm (12) with a protruding hook (13) on the elastic arm (12); a sliding knob (7) slidably provided in the first slot (11) of the plug core (3) and provided with an unlocking slider (14) at the inner end for acting on the elastic arm (12); a shell (15) sleeved on the upper end of the plug core (3), the shell (15) being provided with a second axially-extending slot (16) at the position corresponding to the first slot (11), the width of the second slot (16) being smaller than that of the first slot (11), and the lower end of the shell (15) abutting against the panel (20) of the connector socket (2) when the connector plug (1) is inserted into place; an end cover (17) covering the upper end of the shell (15) and provided with a wire outlet hole (19) at the upper end; the connector socket (2) comprises: a panel (20) provided with a first insertion hole (24) for inserting the plug core (3) and a second insertion hole (25) for inserting the resilient lock catch (6), and provided with a hooking table (26) on the side corresponding to the second insertion hole (25) for hooking and cooperating with the hook (13) of the resilient lock catch (6); a terminal seat (21) mounted on the back of the panel (20) and provided with a socket terminal mounting hole (41) corresponding to the plug terminal mounting hole (8) and a second terminal seat mounting groove (27) on the side corresponding to the socket terminal mounting hole (41); a socket terminal (22) movably provided in the plug terminal mounting hole (8) of the terminal seat (21) and provided with a first reset spring (28) at the lower end, the top of the socket terminal (22) being provided with a concave contact surface (35), and the lower end of the plug terminal (4) being provided with a convex contact surface (36) matched with the concave contact surface (35); a second terminal seat (23) provided in the second terminal seat mounting groove (27) of the terminal seat (21) and electrically connected with the socket terminal (22); a positioning bracket (29) comprising a bottom plate (30), a sheath (31) integrally formed on the bottom plate (30), and a cover plate (32) integrally formed on the side of the bottom plate (30), the sheath (31) being sleeved on the upper end of the socket terminal mounting hole (41), and the cover plate (32) being covered on the upper side of the second terminal seat mounting groove (27).

2. The power connector of claim 1, wherein: The plug core (3) is provided with a first terminal seat mounting groove (9) communicated with the plug terminal mounting hole (8) at the rear end, a first terminal seat (5) is mounted in the first terminal seat mounting groove (9), the first terminal seat (5) is electrically connected with the plug terminal (4), and the plug core (3) is provided with a positioning groove (10) communicated with the plug terminal mounting hole (8) at the front end.

3. The power connector of claim 1, wherein: The positioning rod (18) is embedded in the first slot (11) on the end cover (17).

4. The power connector of claim 1, wherein: Two opposite protective plates (33) are further included, which are hinged to the upper end of the terminal seat (21), and one side is provided with a torsion spring (34) for driving the protective plate (33) to flip upward and cover the first jack (24) of the panel (20).

5. The power connector of claim 1, wherein: A second reset spring (37) is arranged below the sliding button (7).

6. The power connector of claim 2, wherein: The plug terminal (4) is in a cylindrical shape and is threadedly connected to the first wiring seat (5) through a threaded portion (38) at the upper end; the socket terminal (22) is in a cylindrical shape and is connected to the second wiring seat (23) through a soft connection lead (39) at the lower end.

7. The power connector of claim 1, wherein: The elastic lock (6) is in a "V" shape and includes a mounting plate (42) and an elastic arm (12), the hanging buckle (13) is integrally bent and formed at the front end of the elastic arm (12), the mounting plate (42) is integrally bent and formed with a positioning protruding portion (43), the first slot (11) is provided with a slot (44) for inserting the mounting plate (42), and the bottom of the unlocking sliding block (14) is provided with an inclined surface (40) for acting on the elastic arm (12). The positioning rod (18) is embedded in the first slot (11) on the end cover (17).

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