Connector plug with visual in-place identification function and connector assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector plug with a visual in-place recognition function and a connector assembly, the plug comprises a plug shell and a coupling nut with a locking thread, and the plug shell limits the axial forward displacement of the coupling nut through a blocking table on the periphery of the plug shell. The axial backward movement displacement of the coupling nut is limited through the check ring on the periphery of the coupling nut, an elastic piece is further arranged between the coupling nut and the check table, and when the plug shell and the adaptive socket shell are inserted and abut against each other in the axial direction, an axial relative movement distance exists between the coupling nut and the adaptive socket shell. When the coupling nut is continuously rotated to move towards the adaptive socket shell, the elastic piece is compressed, and when the coupling nut is axially ejected by the adaptive socket shell, the plug shell is determined to be in a state of in-place ejection. According to the invention, the conclusion that the plug shell and the socket shell are plugged in place can be obtained through observable abutting between the connecting nut and the socket shell, the structure is simple, and the conclusion is reliable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of connector technology, specifically relating to connector plugs and connector assemblies with visual positioning recognition function. Background Technology

[0002] Existing electrical connectors consist of a plug and a socket. To achieve locking after the plug and socket are mated, a connecting nut is provided on the outer periphery of the front end of the plug housing, and an external thread is provided on the outer periphery of the front end of the socket housing. After the plug housing and socket housing are mated, the connector is locked by locking the threads between the connecting nut and the socket housing. When the plug and socket are engaged, the outer periphery of the plug housing has a stop to limit the front face of the socket housing and prevent over-engagement. To ensure that the plug and socket are properly engaged, the front face of the socket housing and the front face of the stop on the outer periphery of the plug housing must be completely locked together (i.e., the gap is 0). Due to certain manufacturing errors in the connecting nut, plug housing, and socket housing, it cannot be guaranteed that when the front face of the connecting nut is locked by the outer periphery of the socket housing, the front face of the socket housing blocked by the connecting nut and the stop on the outer periphery of the plug housing are also locked together. At this time, there may be a gap Z between the front face of the socket housing and the front face of the stop on the outer periphery of the plug housing. The gap value Z is a variable and may be large or small. Since this gap Z is blocked by the connecting nut, it is impossible to determine whether the stop on the outer periphery of the plug housing and the socket housing are locked together and in place. Therefore, it is impossible to directly determine whether the connector meets the functional requirement of the stop on the outer periphery of the plug housing and the socket housing being locked together. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a connector plug and connector assembly with visual positioning recognition function. This allows the connector to directly observe whether the connector nut and the socket housing are locked together when the plug and socket are engaged, thereby determining whether the outer perimeter of the plug housing and the front end face of the socket housing are locked together, thus fulfilling the visual recognition function for proper engagement between the plug housing and the socket housing.

[0004] The objective of this invention and the technical problem it solves are achieved by the following technical solution. A connector plug with visual positioning identification function, according to this invention, includes a plug housing 9 and a connecting nut 7 with locking threads. The front end of the connecting nut 7 is stopped and limited by the rear end face of the outer peripheral stop 92 of the plug housing 9, and the rear end is axially stopped and limited by a retaining ring positioned on the outer periphery of the plug housing 9. An elastic element 17 is also provided between the connecting nut 7 and the stop 92. When the plug housing is inserted into the matching socket housing and axially locked, there is still an axially movable gap between the connecting nut and the socket housing. When the connecting nut is rotated further to move towards the socket housing, the elastic element 17 is compressed and provides the plug housing 9 with the power to move towards the socket housing 11. When the connecting nut is locked by the socket housing, it can be determined that the plug housing is in a locked state by the socket housing.

[0005] The objectives of this invention and the technical problems it addresses can be further achieved by the following technical measures.

[0006] In the aforementioned connector plug with visual positioning recognition function, the elastic element 17 is an elastic washer.

[0007] In the aforementioned connector plug with visual positioning recognition function, the elastic element 17 is a corrugated spring.

[0008] The aforementioned connector plug with visual positioning recognition function achieves axial locking during insertion by the front face of the plug housing 9 cooperating with the front face of the adapter socket housing 11 through the front face of the stop 92.

[0009] When the aforementioned connector plug with visual positioning recognition function moves the connecting nut 7 to the locking position, the front end of the connecting nut 7 is locked by the forward-facing stop surface 112 on the outer periphery of the front end of the socket housing 11.

[0010] The aforementioned connector plug with visual positioning recognition function also has an axially extending guide groove 93 on the outer periphery of the front end of the plug housing 9. The guide groove 93 is used to cooperate with the guide key 113 in the adapter socket housing 11 to achieve guidance during insertion and circumferential anti-rotation cooperation when the insertion is in place.

[0011] The aforementioned connector plug with visual positioning recognition function also has a sealing ring groove on the outer periphery of the front end of the plug housing 9. The sealing ring groove has a first sealing ring 8 for cooperating with the adapter socket housing 11 to achieve radial sealing.

[0012] The aforementioned connector plug with visual positioning recognition function has a low insulating mounting plate 5 circumferentially anti-rotationally mounted in the front cavity of the plug housing 9, and a first insulating mounting plate 3 mounted in the rear cavity. A first retaining spring, positioned and mounted in the plug housing 9, presses the first insulating mounting plate 3 against the rear end face of the low insulating mounting plate 5. The pin 2 is positioned and mounted in the plug housing 9 through the low insulating mounting plate 5 and the first insulating mounting plate 3.

[0013] The objective of this invention and the technical problem it solves are achieved by the following technical solution. According to this invention, a connector assembly with visual positioning recognition function includes a plug 1 and a socket 10 that interlock at the front end. The plug is any of the plugs described above. When the plug and socket are inserted and the plug housing 9 and socket housing 11 are axially locked, the connecting nut 7 is not fully locked to the socket housing 11. When the connecting nut is continuously rotated to move it towards the locked position, the elastic element is compressed, providing the plug housing 9 with the power to move towards the socket housing 11. When the connecting nut is fully locked, its front end face is locked by the front stop surface 112 of the socket housing 11.

[0014] The objectives of this invention and the technical problems it addresses can be further achieved by the following technical measures.

[0015] The aforementioned connector assembly with visual positioning recognition function also includes a socket 13 positioned and assembled within the socket housing 11 via a high insulator 12 and a second insulating mounting plate 15.

[0016] The aforementioned connector assembly with visual positioning recognition function also includes a second sealing ring 14 on the outer periphery of the rear end of the socket housing 11 for axial sealing in conjunction with the tail accessory.

[0017] Compared with existing technologies, this invention has significant advantages and beneficial effects. Through the above technical solution, this invention achieves considerable technological advancement and practicality, and has broad industrial applicability, possessing at least the following advantages: This invention adds an elastic element between the connecting nut and the plug housing. When the plug and socket are engaged to the axially locked position, there is an axially movable gap between the connecting nut and the socket housing. Further rotation of the connecting nut eliminates this axially movable gap, resulting in a axially locked position. At this point, the elastic element 17 is compressed and provides an axial force to the plug housing, ensuring that as long as the connecting nut and socket housing are axially locked, the socket housing and plug housing are also locked. Therefore, by visually observing the locked position of the connecting nut and socket housing, it can be concluded that the plug and socket housing are properly engaged. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the connector plug structure with visual positioning recognition function of the present invention; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the connector plug adapter socket with visual positioning recognition function of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the plug and socket of the present invention when they are not locked in place. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the plug and socket of the present invention after they are inserted and locked together.

[0019] [Explanation of Key Component Symbols] 1--Plug, 2--Pin, 3--First insulating mounting plate, 4--First snap ring, 5--Short insulating mounting plate, 51--Raised key, 6--Retaining ring, 7--Connecting nut, 8--First sealing ring, 9--Plug housing, 91--Keyway, 92--Ring platform, 10--Socket, 11--Socket housing, 12--High insulator, 13--Socket hole, 14--Second sealing ring, 15--Second insulating mounting plate, 16--Second snap ring, 17--Elastic element. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To further illustrate the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve the intended purpose, the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, details the specific implementation, structure, features, and effects of the connector with visual positioning recognition function proposed according to the present invention.

[0021] Please see Figure 1-4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of each part of the connector assembly with visual positioning recognition function of the present invention. The connector assembly includes a plug 1 and a socket 10 that are plugged into each other at the front end. The plug 1 includes a plug housing 9. The plug housing 9 has a cavity that extends axially and is open at both ends. A low insulating mounting plate 5 and a first insulating mounting plate 3 are positioned and assembled in the cavity. The low insulating mounting plate 5 and the first insulating mounting plate 3 are distributed back and forth along the axial direction of the plug housing 9. The low insulating mounting plate 5 has a protruding key 51 on its outer periphery. The plug housing 9 has a keyway 91 that extends axially forward along the tail of the plug housing. The low insulating mounting plate 5 is assembled in the plug housing 9 from back to front through the cooperation of the protruding key 51 and the keyway 91, and has a circumferential anti-rotation cooperation with the plug housing 9. When the low insulating mounting plate 5 is installed in place, the front end face of its outer peripheral protruding key 51 is stopped and limited by the groove wall of the keyway 91, and the front end of the first insulating mounting plate 3 presses on the rear end face of the low insulating mounting plate 5. The rear end face of the first insulating mounting plate 3 is stopped and limited by the first retaining spring 4 positioned and assembled in the plug housing 9. The first retaining spring 4 is positioned and assembled in the annular groove in the plug housing 9.

[0022] The plug 1 also includes a plurality of pins 2, which are positioned and assembled inside the plug housing 1 by means of a low insulating mounting plate 5 and a first insulating mounting plate 3. Specifically, the low insulating mounting plate 5 and the first insulating mounting plate 3 together form a mounting hole adapted to the pin 2. The mounting hole is a stepped hole, which is used to axially limit the outer circumference of the pin 2 and realize the positioning of the pin 2.

[0023] The plug housing 9 is also provided with a connecting nut 7 on its outer periphery. An elastic element 17 is provided between the connecting nut 7 and the plug housing 9. The elastic element 17 is compressed when the connecting nut 7 is locked with the socket end, thereby providing the plug housing 9 with an elastic force that allows it to move axially forward relative to the connecting nut 7.

[0024] The plug housing 9 has a stop 92 on its outer periphery. The forward displacement of the elastic element 17 is axially restricted by the rear end face of the stop 92, and the backward movement is axially restricted by the retaining ring 6 positioned and assembled in the annular groove on the outer periphery of the plug housing 9. In this embodiment, the inner periphery of the tail of the connecting nut 7 has an annular protrusion 71. The annular protrusion 71 achieves axial positioning by engaging with the stop 92 and the retaining ring 6 on the outer periphery of the plug housing 9, respectively, through its front end face and rear end face. When its front end internal thread is fitted and locked with the front end external thread of the socket housing 11, the annular protrusion 71 axially presses the elastic element 17 forward, and the elastic element 17 ensures that the plug housing and the socket housing are properly inserted.

[0025] The socket 10 includes a socket housing 11. The outer periphery of the front end of the socket housing 11 is provided with an external thread 111 for fitting and locking with a connecting nut 7. The outer periphery of the socket housing 11 is also provided with a stop surface 112 for stopping and limiting the front end face 72 of the connecting nut, preventing it from moving excessively forward. When the plug 1 and socket 2 are inserted, and the connecting nut 7 and socket housing 11 are not fully locked, when the front end face 114 of the socket housing is stopped and limited (axially locked) by the stepped surface of the outer periphery of the plug housing 9, there is a gap between the front end face of the connecting nut 7 and the stop surface 112 on the outer periphery of the socket housing 11. At the distance Z, the connecting nut 7 is rotated to lock it threadedly with the socket housing 11. During this process, the connecting nut 7 compresses the elastic element 17, causing it to move axially forward. The elastic element 17 then provides the plug housing 9 with the axial forward movement, ensuring that the outer peripheral stepped surface of the plug housing 9 and the front end face 114 of the socket housing remain tightly fitted. Consequently, when the front end face 72 of the connecting nut is axially stopped and limited by the front end stop face 112 of the socket housing 11 (when the two are in contact), it can be directly determined that the front stepped surface of the plug housing 9 and the front end face 114 of the socket housing are in contact. Therefore, by observing the contact between the front end face 72 of the connecting nut and the front end stop face 112 of the socket housing 11, it can be directly determined that the plug housing and the socket housing are fully inserted and locked in place.

[0026] In this embodiment of the invention, the front end of the plug housing 9 is used to axially stop and limit the socket housing 11, and the stepped surface that limits the relative movement distance between the plug housing 9 and the socket housing 11 is the front end surface 921 of the stop. However, in other embodiments of the invention, the stepped surface may also be other surfaces on the outer periphery of the front end of the plug housing used to limit the axial forward movement of the socket housing 11. In this embodiment of the invention, the stop 92 is a ring-shaped structure, but in other embodiments of the invention, the stop 92 may also be one or more bosses extending circumferentially along the plug housing 9.

[0027] The outer periphery of the front end of the plug housing 9 is also provided with a sealing ring groove, and a first sealing ring 8 is provided in the sealing ring groove. The first sealing ring 8 is located at the lower front side of the stop 92, which can achieve radial sealing between the plug housing 9 and the socket housing 11 when the plug and socket are inserted.

[0028] The plug housing 9 is provided with at least one axially extending guide groove 93 on the outer periphery of its front end. The inner wall of the socket housing 11 is provided with a guide key 113 that is adapted to the guide groove 93. When the plug and socket are inserted, the plug housing 9 and the socket housing 11 are guided during insertion and anti-rotation after insertion through the cooperation of the guide key 113 and the guide groove 93.

[0029] The socket housing 11 also includes a high insulator 12 and a second insulating mounting plate 15. The high insulator 12 is positioned and assembled in the front cavity of the socket housing 11, and the second insulating mounting plate 12 is positioned and assembled in the rear cavity of the socket housing 11 by a second retaining ring 16. The socket housing 11 also contains several insertion holes 13, which are positioned and assembled within the socket housing 11 by the high insulator 12 and the second insulating mounting plate 15. Specifically, each insertion hole 13 has two annular platforms on its outer periphery. The front end face of the front annular platform is stopped and limited by the stepped surface inside the high insulator 12, and the rear end face of the rear annular platform is stopped and limited by the rear end face of the second insulating mounting plate 15. The rear outer periphery of the socket housing 11 also has a second sealing ring 14 for axial sealing in conjunction with a tail accessory.

[0030] In one embodiment of the invention, the elastic element 17 is an elastic washer, which is an integral annular rubber ring. However, in another embodiment, the elastic element 17 includes multiple elastic posts extending axially along the plug housing 9. These elastic posts can be made of elastic rubber or elastic metal, and are spaced apart axially along the plug housing 9. To prevent the elastic posts from falling off, they can be bonded to the rear end face of the outer peripheral stop 92 of the socket housing 9 or bonded to the front end face of the annular protrusion 71 on the inner side of the tail of the connecting nut 7. In other embodiments of the invention, the elastic element 17 can also be a corrugated spring or other elastic structure with a certain strength.

[0031] Please see Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the plug 1 and socket 10 in the unlocked state after being inserted. In this state, the elastic element 17 is uncompressed. Due to functional requirements, the front end face 114 of the socket housing and the front end face 921 of the outer peripheral stop of the plug housing 9 can be completely locked together (i.e., the gap is 0). At this time, there is a gap Z between the stop face 112 at the front end of the socket housing 11 and the front end face 72 of the connecting nut, and Z is greater than zero. Continue to rotate the connecting nut 7 to gradually compress the elastic element 17 until the Z value is 0. At this point, it is only necessary to visually determine that the connecting nut 7 and the socket housing 11 are "locked together" to obtain the conclusion that "it is in place". At this time, the front end face 921 of the outer peripheral stop of the plug and the front end face 114 of the socket housing, as well as the stop face 112 of the outer peripheral stop of the socket housing and the front end face 72 of the connecting nut, are all locked together. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 4 .

[0032] Furthermore, the internal thread of the connecting nut 7 of the present invention engages with the external thread of the socket housing 11, and the introduction of the elastic element 17 provides the plug with anti-loosening measures, preventing the connecting nut 7 from rotating in an excessively loose direction, thus achieving a certain anti-loosening function.

[0033] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to 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 technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. 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 connector plug with visual positioning recognition function, comprising a plug housing and a connecting nut with locking threads, wherein the plug housing restricts the axial forward movement of the connecting nut by a stop on its outer periphery, and restricts the axial backward movement of the connecting nut by a retaining ring on its outer periphery, characterized in that: An elastic element is provided between the connecting nut and the stop. When the plug housing is inserted into the adapter socket housing and axially locked, there is an axial relative movement gap between the connecting nut and the adapter socket housing. When the connecting nut is rotated further to move towards the adapter socket housing, the elastic element is compressed and provides the plug housing with the power to move towards the adapter socket housing. When the connecting nut is axially locked against the adapter socket housing, it is determined that the plug housing and the adapter socket housing are inserted into place.

2. The connector plug with visual positioning recognition function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic element is an integral annular elastic washer or a plurality of elastic columns or corrugated springs spaced apart along the circumference of the plug housing.

3. The connector plug with visual positioning recognition function according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that: The plug housing achieves axial locking during insertion by engaging the front face of the stop with the front face of the adapter socket housing.

4. The connector plug with visual positioning recognition function according to claim 3, characterized in that: When the connecting nut is moved to the locked position, the front end of the connecting nut is locked by the forward-facing stop surface of the front outer periphery of the adapter socket housing.

5. The connector plug with visual positioning recognition function according to claim 3, characterized in that: The plug housing is also provided with an axially extending guide groove on the outer periphery of the front end. The guide groove is used to cooperate with the guide key in the adapter socket housing to achieve guidance during insertion and circumferential anti-rotation cooperation when the insertion is in place.

6. The connector plug with visual positioning recognition function according to claim 3, characterized in that: The plug housing is also provided with a sealing ring groove on the outer periphery of the front end, and a first sealing ring is provided in the sealing ring groove for cooperating with the adapter socket housing to achieve radial sealing.

7. The connector plug with visual positioning recognition function according to claim 4, characterized in that: The front cavity of the plug housing is also equipped with a low insulating mounting plate that is circumferentially anti-rotating, and the rear cavity is equipped with a first insulating mounting plate. A first retaining spring, which is positioned and assembled in the plug housing, presses the first insulating mounting plate against the rear end face of the low insulating mounting plate. The pin is positioned and assembled in the plug housing through the low insulating mounting plate and the first insulating mounting plate.

8. A connector assembly with visual positioning recognition function, comprising a plug and a socket for front-end mating, characterized in that: The plug is any of the plugs described in claims 1-7. When the plug and socket are inserted and the plug housing and socket housing are axially locked together, there is an axially movable gap between the connecting nut and the socket housing. When the connecting nut is rotated further to move towards the socket housing, the elastic element is compressed and provides the plug housing with the power to move towards the socket housing. When the front end face of the connecting nut is locked by the front end stop face of the socket housing, it can be determined that the socket housing and the plug housing are locked together.

9. The connector assembly with visual positioning recognition function according to claim 8, characterized in that: The socket housing is also equipped with a socket hole positioned by a high insulator and a second insulating mounting plate.

10. The connector assembly with visual positioning recognition function according to claim 9, characterized in that: The outer periphery of the rear end of the socket housing is also provided with a second sealing ring for axial sealing in conjunction with the tail accessory.

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