Docking connector for adapting an opening of an electrical control cabinet

Abstract

A docking connector is provided for fitting into an opening of an electrical control cabinet, the docking connector (100, 100') comprising a female connector (2), a male connector (3) and a drawer frame (4), wherein the drawer frame (4) is mounted in an opening (11, 11') of a side wall (1, 1') of the drawer and the female connector (2) is mounted in an opening (51, 51') of a fixed panel (5, 5') of the electrical control cabinet; wherein the docking connector (100, 100') has an un-mated position, a test position and a working position, wherein the docking connector (100, 100') provides a relative travel (d) between the drawer frame (4) and the female connector (2) when in the working position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention is based on a mating connector for insertion into an opening in an electrical control cabinet. Background Technology

[0002] In power or communication cabinets (such as electrical control cabinets), drawers are usually provided. In order to enable power conduction or communication, one or more connectors are fixed on the outer surface of the front panel of the drawer for mating with the corresponding plug terminals in the cabinet, thereby enabling the circuit board inside the drawer to be quickly connected or disconnected from the cabinet circuit.

[0003] However, in certain application scenarios, connectors need to be installed on the drawer sidewalls. Because the space between the drawer sidewall and the cabinet sidewall is narrow, the connector must be narrow enough to facilitate installation in such confined spaces. Furthermore, some cabinet panels and drawer sidewalls have multiple openings of different sizes, requiring appropriately designed mating connectors to accommodate these openings. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a mating connector for installation into openings in electrical control cabinets. This mating connector features a small width, quick installation and removal, smooth movement, suitability for confined spaces within electrical control cabinets, compatibility with openings in the panel and drawer sidewalls of the electrical control cabinet, and the ability to simultaneously transmit electrical and communication signals. Furthermore, the working position of this mating connector has a relative travel of up to 35mm, thereby achieving a larger installation tolerance between the drawer and the electrical control cabinet. It also has a large installation tolerance in both the X and Y axes. The mating connector can be installed through gaps in the drawer and fixed panel, saving time in disassembling and assembling the cabinet and improving maintenance and installation efficiency.

[0005] The objective of this invention is achieved through a mating connector for insertion into an opening in an electrical control cabinet. The mating connector includes a female connector, a male connector, and a drawer frame. The drawer frame is installed in an opening in the side wall of a drawer, and the female connector is installed in an opening in a fixed panel of the electrical control cabinet. The mating connector has an unfitted position, a test position, and a working position. In the working position, the mating connector provides relative travel between the drawer frame and the female connector. That is, in the test position, there is no relative travel between the female connector and the drawer frame; in the working position, there is relative travel between the female connector and the drawer frame. Specifically, the female connector remains stationary, while the drawer frame moves.

[0006] The relative travel can reach 35mm. Of course, in other embodiments, the relative travel can also be other values. In addition, the mating connector has a floating tolerance of 34.5±1.5mm in the X direction and a floating tolerance of 36.0±3.0mm in the Y direction, thus ensuring smooth movement.

[0007] In one embodiment, the male connector is mounted in the drawer frame; in the unfitted position, the female connector and the male connector are not mated; in the test position and the working position, the female connector and the male connector are mated together; wherein, in the working position, the drawer frame is movable relative to the mated female connector and the male connector by the relative travel.

[0008] In one embodiment, the male connector includes a male insulator comprising a first receiving region for receiving a male module, a second receiving region for receiving other contacts, and a guide plate adjacent to the second receiving region; wherein the second receiving region of the male insulator has transverse ribs on each of its narrow sides. The male module may be a Domino module or a crimp module. Preferably, higher voltage or current carrying applications can also be achieved by reducing the number of terminals within the module or by employing special arrangements or combinations.

[0009] In one embodiment, the drawer frame includes a projecting mounting area for mounting in an opening in the side wall of the drawer, configured to fit the size of the opening, and a receiving area for receiving the male connector; wherein the mounting area is provided with a locking spring for locking the drawer frame to the side wall of the drawer; the receiving area includes a back plate adjacent to the mounting area, a pair of L-shaped ribs integral with the back plate and opposed to each other, a bottom plate perpendicular to the bottom end of the back plate, and a pair of cantilevers extending parallel to the L-shaped ribs from the bottom plate and opposed to each other; wherein each cantilever has a hook at its end and a protrusion spaced apart from the hook. Preferably, the cantilevers are spaced apart from the L-shaped ribs. "Configured to fit the size of the opening" means configured to conform to the size of the opening such that the mounting area matches the opening and can be inserted into the opening.

[0010] In one embodiment, when the male connector is installed into the drawer frame, the two narrow sides of the guide plate are respectively inserted into the guide grooves formed by the back plate and the L-shaped ribs. The transverse ribs cause the corresponding cantilever to deflect until the transverse ribs engage between the hook and the protrusion, thereby fixing the male connector in the drawer frame. Preferably, the width of the guide groove is greater than the thickness of the guide plate, so that the guide plate can have a floating tolerance in the X-axis direction; the distance between the guide grooves is greater than the width of the guide plate, so that the guide plate can have a floating tolerance in the Y-axis direction.

[0011] In one embodiment, the female connector includes a female insulator comprising a protruding mounting region for mounting in an opening in the mounting panel, configured to fit the dimensions of the opening; a first receiving region for receiving a female module; and a second receiving region for receiving other contacts; wherein the first receiving region has a retaining portion on each of its narrow sides for form-lockingly retaining a locking spring; and wherein the second receiving region has a protrusion on each of its narrow sides. The female module may be a Domino module or a crimp module.

[0012] In one embodiment, the locking spring includes a fixed end and a free end, the free end having a locking hook, and the fixed end being fixedly held in the retaining portion of the female connector.

[0013] In one embodiment, when the female connector and the male connector are mated together, the first and second receiving areas of the female insulator are aligned with the first and second receiving areas of the male insulator, respectively, and the locking hook at the free end of the locking spring locks into the locking portion located on each side of the narrow side of the first receiving area of ​​the male insulator. This provides sufficient retaining force to maintain the connection between the mated female and male connectors when the mating connectors are moved from the test position to the working position or vice versa by pushing or pulling the drawer frame, ensuring that the connected female and male connectors do not disconnect from each other and thus preventing power loss. Preferably, the female module in the first receiving area of ​​the female connector is mated with the male module in the first receiving area of ​​the male connector, such that the contacts within the modules are connected to transmit electrical signals and / or communication signals. The contacts in the second receiving area of ​​the female connector are connected with the contacts in the second receiving area of ​​the male connector. Preferably, when mating is complete, the protrusion of the female connector abuts against the hook of the drawer frame.

[0014] In one embodiment, the relative travel in the working position is limited by the cooperation of the protrusion and the hook, and by the cooperation of the guide plate and the base plate.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, in the test position, the protrusion abuts against the hook of the corresponding cantilever; in the working position, the protrusion opens the corresponding cantilever so that the drawer frame moves relative to the female and male connectors that are inserted together, until the base plate abuts against the guide plate.

[0016] In one embodiment, the unfitted position, the test position, and the working position of the mating connector are established by pushing and pulling the drawer.

[0017] In one embodiment, the mating connector has a relative travel of 35 mm.

[0018] In one embodiment, the first receiving area of ​​the male connector and the first receiving area of ​​the female connector are designed with corresponding chamfers, which have a guiding and correcting effect when the male and female connectors are mated, guiding the female connector and the male connector to mate correctly and meet the mating and unmating cycle requirements, such as more than 500 times. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings and explained in more detail below. In the drawings: Figure 1 A perspective view of the application state of a mating connector according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the mating connector is installed between the side wall of a drawer and the side wall of an electrical control cabinet; Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 Exploded view; Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 A 3D view of the mating connector; Figure 4 It shows Figure 3 A three-dimensional diagram of the female connector, configured to accommodate the female domino module; Figure 5 It shows Figure 3 Installation status diagram of the male connector and drawer frame; Figure 6 It shows Figure 3 A three-dimensional view of the male connector, configured to accommodate the male domino module; Figure 7 It shows Figure 6 Top view of the male connector; Figure 8 It shows Figure 3 A 3D view of the drawer frame; Figure 9 It shows Figure 8 A top view of the drawer frame and a 3D view of the locking spring; Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the docking connector's status is shown; Figure 11 A top view showing the application state of a mating connector according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 12 It shows Figure 11 Exploded view; Figure 13 It shows Figure 12 A perspective view of a female connector configured to accommodate a female crimp module; and Figure 14 It shows Figure 12 A three-dimensional view of the male connector, which is configured to accommodate a male crimp module.

[0020] The accompanying drawings contain simplified schematic diagrams. In some cases, the same reference numerals are used for the same but may not be the same elements. Different views of the same element may be scaled differently. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Figure 1 and Figure 2 Perspective and exploded views of the application state of the mating connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown respectively. The mating connector 100 is mounted between the side wall 1 of a drawer and the fixed panel 5 of an electrical control cabinet. The side wall 1 of the drawer has an opening 11, and the fixed panel 5 has an opening 51. Figure 3 As shown, the mating connector 100 includes a female connector 2, a male connector 3, and a drawer frame 4. (As indicated...) Figure 1 As shown, a portion of the drawer frame 4 is installed in the opening 11 of the drawer side wall 1, while a portion of the female connector 2 is installed in the opening 51 of the fixed panel 5. The female connector 2 and the male connector 3 can be installed through the gap between the drawer and the fixed panel 5, saving time in disassembling and assembling the cabinet and improving maintenance and installation efficiency.

[0022] The following reference Figures 3 to 9 The various components of the mating connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention and the connection relationships between them are described in detail.

[0023] Figure 3 The mating connector 100 is shown in the test position, with the female connector 2 and the male connector 3 interlocked, and the male connector 3 is mounted in the drawer frame 4.

[0024] Figure 4 A perspective view of the female connector 2 is shown. The female connector 2 includes a female insulator 21. The female insulator 21 includes a protruding mounting region 22 for mounting in an opening 51 of a mounting panel 5 and configured to fit the size of the opening. The mounting region 22 is generally rectangular, with two recesses 221 on its narrow side and a protrusion 222 located between the two recesses, and a groove 223 on its top side to fit the contour of the opening 51, thereby securing the mounting region 22 in the opening 51. Preferably, in Figure 4Corresponding structures are also provided on the other narrow side and bottom side (not shown). The female insulator 21 also includes a first receiving area 23 for accommodating the female module 29 (a female domino module, which can accommodate two different modules in the conventional module pre-reserved space, saving up to 50% of installation space) and a second receiving area 24 for accommodating other contacts. Preferably, the size of the second receiving area is smaller than that of the first receiving area. The first receiving area 23 is a hollow rectangle, and the slot inside is used to accommodate two modules, one of which can be used to accommodate contacts, and the other can be used to insert a standard RJ45 wire harness. Each of the narrow sides of the first receiving area 23 is provided with a retaining portion 231 for form-lockingly retaining a locking spring 25. The retaining portion 231 has an L-shaped cross section to form-lock the L-shaped fixed end 252 of the locking spring 25. The locking hook 251 of the free end of the locking spring 25 can swing in the X-axis direction. The second receiving area 24 has a receiving portion for accommodating contacts, and each of its narrow sides has a protrusion 241. A chamfer, a vertical plane, and an inclined plane are sequentially provided along the Z-axis.

[0025] Figure 6 and Figure 7 A perspective view and a top view of the male connector 3 are shown. The male connector 3 includes a male insulator 31. The male insulator 31 includes a means for receiving a male module 39 (see...). Figure 5 The device comprises a first receiving area 32, a second receiving area 33 for receiving other contacts, and a guide plate 34 adjacent to the second receiving area. The first receiving area 32 is a hollow rectangle with a slot therein for accommodating two modules, one of which can be used to accommodate contacts, and the other can be used to insert a standard RJ45 harness. The first receiving area 32 has a locking portion 321 on each of its narrow sides. The locking portion 321 has an L-shaped cross-section to lock with the locking hook 251 of the locking spring 25. The second receiving area 32 has a receiving portion for accommodating contacts, and has a transverse rib 331 on each of its narrow sides. The guide plate 34 is constructed as a rectangular thin plate, with its two sides protruding outwards relative to the transverse ribs. Preferably, the size of the second receiving area is smaller than the size of the first receiving area.

[0026] Figure 8 and Figure 9A perspective view and a top view of the drawer frame 4 are shown. The drawer frame 4 includes a protruding mounting area 41 for mounting in an opening 11 in the side wall 1 of the drawer and configured to fit the size of the opening. The mounting area 41 has a recess in the middle to receive a locking spring 47. The bottom of the recess has two parallel retaining ribs 411 to hold the retaining legs 471 of the locking spring 47 therebetween. When the mounting area of ​​the drawer frame is inserted into the opening in the side wall of the drawer, the locking legs 472 of the locking spring 47 clamp to the side wall of the drawer to lock the drawer frame to the side wall, thereby allowing the drawer frame to move with the drawer. The drawer frame 4 also includes a receiving area 42 for receiving a male connector 3. The receiving area 42 has a back plate 43 adjacent to the mounting area 41, a pair of L-shaped ribs 44 integral with the back plate and opposite to each other, a bottom plate 46 perpendicular to the bottom end of the back plate, and a pair of cantilever arms 45 extending parallel to the L-shaped ribs from the bottom plate and opposite to each other. The back plate 43 and the L-shaped rib 44 form a guide groove 48. The bottom plate 46 forms the end point of the guide groove 48. The cantilever 45 is preferably configured to be spaced apart from the L-shaped rib 44. The cantilever 45 is integrally formed on the bottom plate 46, and the end of the cantilever, i.e., the free end, has a hook portion 451 and a protrusion 452 spaced apart from the hook portion. The hook portion has a chamfered bevel, a vertical plane, and a horizontal plane in sequence against the Z direction. The horizontal plane of the angled protrusion 452 is spaced apart from the horizontal plane of the hook portion 451 by a certain distance, which corresponds to the width of the transverse rib 331.

[0027] The assembly process of the male connector 3 and the drawer frame 4 is now described. When the male connector 3 is installed onto the drawer frame 4, as follows... Figure 5 As shown, the two narrow sides of the guide plate 34 are respectively inserted into the guide grooves 48. The width of the guide grooves 48 is greater than the thickness of the guide plate, and the distance between the two guide grooves 48 is greater than the width of the guide plate, thereby enabling smooth movement of the guide plate in the guide grooves. At the same time, the transverse rib 331 causes the corresponding cantilever 45 to shift until the transverse rib engages between the hook 151 and the protrusion 452, thereby fixing the male connector in the drawer frame. At this time, the female connector has not yet been inserted with the male connector, and the mating connector is in an unfitted position.

[0028] The mating process of male connector 3 and female connector 2 is now described. When female connector 2 is mated to male connector 3, the first receiving area 23 and the second receiving area 24 of female insulator 21 are aligned with the first receiving area 32 and the second receiving area 33 of male insulator 31, respectively, to achieve mating of the received module and the received contacts. Simultaneously, the locking hook 251 of locking spring 25 locks into the locking portion 321 of the first receiving area 32 of male insulator 31, thereby providing sufficient retaining force to maintain the connection between the mated female and male connectors when the mating connectors are moved from the test position to the working position or from the working position to the test position by pushing or pulling the drawer frame. In other words, the male connector does not move with the drawer frame. Upon completion of mating, as... Figure 3 As shown, the protrusion 241 of the female insulator 21 abuts against the hook 451 of the cantilever 45. Specifically, the chamfer of the protrusion 241 abuts against the chamfered bevel of the hook 451. At this time, the mating connector is in the test position.

[0029] Figure 10 The diagram illustrates the states of the mating connectors, from left to right: unmating position, test position, and working position. In the unmating position, the female and male connectors are not mated together. In the test position, the female and male connectors are mated together. In the working position, when the drawer is pushed further, the drawer frame 4, fixed to the drawer side wall 1, moves further along the Z direction, and the protrusion 241 opens the cantilever 45; that is, the chamfered bevel of the hook 451 moves along the chamfer of the protrusion 241 to gradually open the cantilever 45. The drawer frame 4 moves relative to the mated female connector 2 and male connector 3; in other words, the female connector 2 and male connector 3 are stationary. When the base plate 46 abuts against the bottom end of the guide plate 34, the movement of the drawer frame stops, and its movement distance / relative stroke d can reach 35mm. Of course, the relative stroke can also be designed to other values ​​according to specific application scenarios.

[0030] Figure 11 and Figure 12A top view and exploded view of the application state of the mating connector 100' according to another embodiment of the present invention are shown. The drawer sidewall 1' is generally U-shaped, with an opening 11' on the bottom wall of the U-shape for mounting the drawer frame 4 of the mating connector 100', and one sidewall of the U-shape has a protruding tongue 12'. The fixed panel 5' of the electrical control cabinet is L-shaped, with one sidewall having an opening 51' for mounting the female connector 2 of the mating connector 100', and the other sidewall having a slot 52'. During installation, the tongue 12' is inserted into the slot 52' to guide the drawer sidewall 1' to move within the fixed panel 5'. The structure of this mating connector 100' is generally the same as that of the mating connector 100. The main difference lies in the modules it accommodates. The mating connector 100' is used to accommodate crimping modules, namely the female module 29' and the male module 39' (see...). Figure 13 and Figure 14 ).

[0031] Although various aspects or features of the invention are shown in combination in the figures, those skilled in the art will clearly understand that the illustrated and discussed combinations are not the only feasible combinations, unless otherwise stated. In particular, corresponding units or features in different embodiments are generally interchangeable.

[0032] List of reference numerals 100, 100' mating connector 1, 1' side wall of drawer 11, 11' Opening 2 Female connector 21. Cathode Insulator 22 Installation Area 23 First Accommodation Area 24 Second Accommodation Area 25 Locking Spring 251 Locking Hook 252 Fixed end 221 concavity 222 convex part 223 Groove 231 Maintenance Department 241 bump 29, 29' Yin module 3 Male connectors 31 Anode Insulator 32 First Accommodation Area 33 Second Accommodation Area 34 Guide Plate 321 Locking Unit 331 Transverse Rib 39, 39' Yang module 4 drawer frames 41 Installation Area 42 Accommodation Area 43 Back panel 44 L-shaped ribs 45 cantilever 46 base plate 47. Locking spring 411 Keep the ribs 451 Hook 452 protrusions 471 Keep your legs 472 Leg Lock 48 Guide slots 5, 5' Fixed panel 51, 51' Opening 52' slot 12' Tongue

Claims

1. A mating connector for insertion into an opening in an electrical control cabinet, characterized in that, The mating connector (100, 100') includes a female connector (2), a male connector (3), and a drawer frame (4), wherein the drawer frame (4) is installed in an opening (11, 11') in the side wall (1, 1') of the drawer and the female connector (2) is installed in an opening (51, 51') in the fixed panel (5, 5') of the electrical control cabinet; wherein the mating connector (100, 100') has an unfitted position, a test position, and a working position, wherein the mating connector (100, 100') provides a relative travel (d) between the drawer frame (4) and the female connector (2) in the working position.

2. The mating connector according to claim 1, wherein, The male connector (3) is installed in the drawer frame (4); in the unfitted position, the female connector (2) and the male connector (3) are not plugged in; in the test position and the working position, the female connector (2) and the male connector (3) are plugged in; wherein, in the working position, the drawer frame (4) is movable relative to the plugged female connector (2) and the male connector (3) by the relative stroke (d).

3. The mating connector according to claim 2, wherein, The male connector (3) includes a male insulator (31) comprising a first receiving area (32) for receiving a male module (39, 39'), a second receiving area (33) for receiving other contacts, and a guide plate (34) adjacent to the second receiving area; wherein the second receiving area (33) of the male insulator (31) has transverse ribs (331) on each of its narrow sides.

4. The mating connector according to claim 3, wherein, The drawer frame (4) includes a protruding mounting area (41) for mounting in an opening (11, 11') in the side wall (1, 1') of the drawer, configured to fit the size of the opening, and a receiving area (42) for receiving the male connector (3); wherein the mounting area (41) is provided with a locking spring (47) for locking the drawer frame (4) to the side wall (1, 1') of the drawer; the receiving area (42) is provided with a back plate (43) adjacent to the mounting area (41), a pair of L-shaped ribs (44) integral with the back plate and opposite to each other, a bottom plate (46) perpendicular to the bottom end of the back plate, and a pair of cantilevers (45) extending parallel to the L-shaped ribs from the bottom plate and opposite to each other; wherein each cantilever (45) has a hook (451) at its end and a protrusion (452) spaced apart from the hook.

5. The mating connector according to claim 4, wherein, When the male connector (3) is installed into the drawer frame (4), the two narrow sides of the guide plate (34) are respectively inserted into the guide grooves (48) formed by the back plate (43) and the L-shaped rib (44). The horizontal rib (331) causes the corresponding cantilever (45) to deflect until the horizontal rib engages between the hook (451) and the protrusion (452), thereby fixing the male connector (3) in the drawer frame (4). Preferably, the width of the guide grooves (48) is designed to have a tolerance relative to the thickness of the guide plate (34), and the distance between the guide grooves (48) has a tolerance relative to the width of the guide plate (34).

6. The mating connector according to claim 5, wherein, The female connector (2) includes a female insulator (21) having a protruding mounting area (22) for mounting in an opening (51, 51') of the fixed panel (5, 5'), configured to fit the size of the opening; A first receiving area (23) for receiving female modules (29, 29') and a second receiving area (24) for receiving other contacts; wherein the first receiving area (23) has a retaining portion (231) for shape-lockingly retaining a locking spring (25) on each of its narrow sides; wherein the second receiving area (24) has a protrusion (241) on each of its narrow sides.

7. The mating connector according to claim 6, wherein, When the female connector (2) and the male connector (3) are plugged into each other, the first receiving area (23) and the second receiving area (24) of the female insulator (21) are aligned with the first receiving area (32) and the second receiving area (33) of the male insulator (31), respectively, and the locking hook (251) of the free end of the locking spring (25) is locked into the locking portion (321) on each side of the narrow side of the first receiving area (32) of the male insulator (31), so that the locking spring (25) provides sufficient holding force to maintain the connection of the plugged female connector and the male connector when the mating connector is moved from the test position to the working position or from the working position to the test position by pushing or pulling the drawer frame.

8. The mating connector according to claim 7, wherein, The relative travel (d) in the working position is limited by the cooperation of the protrusion (241) and the hook (451) and the cooperation of the guide plate (34) and the base plate (46).

9. The mating connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The unfitted position, the test position, and the working position of the mating connector (100, 100') are established by pushing and pulling the drawer.

10. The mating connector according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, The mating connector has a relative travel (d) of 35 mm.

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