An electrical connector push structure

Abstract

This invention provides an electrical connector pushing structure, belonging to the field of rail transit technology, used to drive the electrical connector body to complete pushing and resetting actions. The structure includes a bracket, a worm gear, a worm wheel, a rotating shaft, and a pushing component. The worm gear is connected to an electric drive mechanism and can be driven to rotate. The worm wheel meshes with the worm gear for transmission. The rotating shaft is rotatably mounted on the bracket and fixedly linked with the worm wheel. The pushing component connects the rotating shaft and the electrical connector body. During operation, the worm gear drives the worm wheel and the rotating shaft to rotate synchronously. The pushing component converts the circular rotational motion of the rotating shaft into linear reciprocating translational motion, thereby driving the electrical connector body to smoothly perform pushing and resetting operations. The overall transmission is stable, and the action control is precise.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of rail transit technology, and specifically to an electrical connector push-out structure. Background Technology

[0002] Rail transit trains need to use electrical connectors to reliably transmit various control signals. These connectors are the core connecting components that ensure the stability of train formations and the normal operation of the electrical system.

[0003] Electrical connectors rely on a pushing mechanism to complete automatic docking and disconnection. The self-locking performance, operational stability, adaptability, and reliability of the pushing mechanism directly determine the connection accuracy and safety of the electrical connectors, which is crucial to the overall stability and safety of train operation.

[0004] Currently, the automatic push-locking mechanisms of existing electrical connectors are mainly divided into two mainstream structural forms: direct push-locking mechanism and torsion angle-locking mechanism. In addition to defects in locking reliability and adaptability, both types of mechanisms generally suffer from high structural complexity and difficult assembly and maintenance. At the same time, they cannot achieve stable push-locking across the entire range, making it difficult to adapt to the current requirements of high-speed trains and intelligent train formations for lightweight, universal, highly reliable, and easy-to-maintain electrical connectors. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to at least solve one of the above-mentioned technical problems and provide an electrical connector push structure.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: An electrical connector pushing structure for pushing an electrical connector body includes: support; Worm gear: Connected to an electric drive mechanism, it can be driven to rotate by an electric drive structure; Worm gear: meshes with the worm; Rotating shaft: Rotatably connected to the bracket and connected to the worm gear, capable of rotating synchronously with the worm gear; Push structure: connected to the rotating shaft and the electrical connector body; the push component rotates synchronously with the rotating shaft and converts the circular rotational motion into linear reciprocating translational motion, so as to drive the electrical connector body to achieve push and reset.

[0007] Compared to existing direct-push and torsion-angle electrical connector pushing mechanisms, this application adopts a worm gear rotary drive combined with a rotary-to-linear translation pushing structure design, fundamentally solving the technical defects of existing pushing and locking mechanisms, such as unreliable locking, complex structure, easily damaged drive components, poor adaptability, and high maintenance difficulty. Relying on the inherent reverse self-locking characteristics of the worm gear, unlike the traditional direct-push mechanism which relies on pressure-bearing self-locking of the drive element and the torsion-angle mechanism which only limits locking at extreme positions, stable self-locking can be achieved at any position throughout the entire stroke of the pushing mechanism. After pushing into position, the reverse force of the load cannot drive the worm gear to reverse, continuously locking the pushing position of the electrical connector. This avoids problems such as connector loosening under train vibration and impact conditions, completely solving the defects of traditional mechanisms with a single locking position and high risk of locking failure, and improving the stability and safety of the electrical connector connection. At the same time, it simplifies the overall mechanical structure and reduces assembly and maintenance complexity.

[0008] In some embodiments of this application, the push structure includes: Rotary arm: The rotating arm is axially connected to the rotating shaft; Adapter rod assembly: Rotatably connected to the rotating arm and rotatably connected to the electrical connector body.

[0009] This application employs a simplified articulated transmission structure using a swing arm and adapter rod assembly to convert rotary motion into linear pushing motion. It abandons the complex linkage transmission structure of traditional torsion-angle mechanisms with multiple levels, hinges, and limits, resulting in fewer parts, a shorter transmission link, and a compact and orderly overall structural layout. Compared to traditional structures that require numerous matching limit components and customized linkage accessories, this solution achieves a smooth pushing and resetting action through a simple articulation between the swing arm and adapter rod. This results in a simpler structural hierarchy, fewer assembly and positioning points, and lower assembly complexity.

[0010] In some embodiments of this application, the adapter rod assembly includes: Adapter beam: Rotatably connected to the swing arm, and the adapter beam is provided with rod holes; Adapter rod: Its first end passes through the rod hole on the adapter beam, and the first end of the adapter rod is equipped with a restraint to prevent the adapter rod from coming out of the rod hole; the second end opposite to the first end is rotatably connected to the electrical connector body; Elastic element: fitted onto the adapter rod.

[0011] The adapter rod assembly of this application adopts a sliding fit structure between the adapter beam and the adapter rod. The elastic element fitted on the outside of the adapter rod can provide a flexible buffer during the connector docking process, effectively absorbing the docking impact load and achieving a flexible fit docking. When the pushing mechanism completes the unlocking and retraction action, the elastic element can use its own elastic deformation restoring force to actively drive the adapter rod, adapter beam and electrical connector body back to the initial reset position, assisting in the automatic reset and rebound of the structure.

[0012] In some embodiments of this application, the dimensions of the rotating arm and the adapter rod assembly are configured as follows in the mounting space between the electrical connector body and the rotating shaft: When the electrical connector body is pushed into place, the rotating arm moves clockwise towards the adapter rod, and the rotating arm and the adapter rod form an angle greater than 180°. When the electrical connector body retracts into place, the rotating arm moves clockwise towards the adapter rod, with the rotating arm and the adapter rod forming an angle of less than 90°.

[0013] This application enhances the reliability of connector mating by matching the angle configuration of the rotating arm and the adapter rod to create a mechanical dead-point self-locking effect. By differentiating the angles of the rotating arm and adapter rod assemblies, when the electrical connector body is pushed into place, the angle between the rotating arm and the adapter rod clockwise is greater than 180°, allowing the linkage transmission mechanism to pass the motion dead point and enter a mechanical self-locking posture. In this configuration, the reverse rebound load and train vibration impact load on the electrical connector are converted into internal structural holding forces, preventing the rotating arm from rotating in the reverse direction. This, combined with the worm gear transmission self-locking, forms a double self-locking protection, completely eliminating the problems of connector loosening, retraction, and increased gap after mating. Meanwhile, when the electrical connector retracts into place, the angle between the rotating arm and the adapter rod is less than 90°, and the mechanism is in a smooth unlocking and resetting posture without any dead points or jamming resistance. This ensures that the retraction and separation action is light and smooth and the reset is complete. It effectively solves the defects of traditional push mechanisms that are prone to springback when in place, rely solely on drive components for locking, and lack mechanical posture self-locking protection, thus greatly improving the locking safety and adaptability of the mechanism to working conditions.

[0014] In some embodiments of this application, the lead angle of the worm is smaller than the equivalent friction angle of the worm wheel.

[0015] This application achieves self-locking controllability and flexible unlocking of the mechanism by limiting the worm gear lead angle to be smaller than the worm wheel equivalent friction angle, thus balancing locking reliability and separation smoothness. In the electrical connector docking locking condition, reliable passive self-locking is achieved through the aforementioned mechanical configuration of the rotating arm and adapter rod with a dead point exceeding 180°, resisting external vibration and reverse impact. When separation and reset are required, the limitation of the worm gear's own irreversible locking is eliminated, and the electric drive mechanism can directly drive the worm gear to rotate in the forward direction, easily driving the mechanism to complete the retraction and reset action.

[0016] In some embodiments of this application, a first limiting member is provided on the rotating shaft, and a second limiting member is provided on the bracket. The second limiting member is located in the rotational stroke of the rotating shaft in the direction in which the electrical connector body is pushed out. The positions of the first limiting member and the second limiting member are configured such that when the electrical connector body is pushed out to a preset position, the first limiting member contacts the second limiting member to limit the rotation of the rotating shaft.

[0017] This application achieves mechanical hard-limit locking at the extreme push position through the precise cooperation of the first and second limiting components, preventing overshoot displacement and improving docking positioning accuracy and structural safety. The application sets a first limiting component on the rotating shaft and a corresponding second limiting component on the bracket. The contact cooperation of the two limiting components physically constrains the forward rotation stroke of the rotating shaft. When the electrical connector body is pushed to the preset working position, the first and second limiting components precisely abut against each other, forcibly restricting the rotating shaft from continuing to rotate, completely eliminating problems such as overshoot and displacement exceeding tolerances. This mechanical hard-limit structure is independent of the worm gear drive self-locking and connecting rod dead-point self-locking, forming a multi-layered protection and locking system.

[0018] In some embodiments of this application, the electric drive component is configured with a self-locking structure.

[0019] This application utilizes a self-locking structure configured in the electric drive assembly to achieve active locking at the drive end, constructing a multi-dimensional redundant self-locking protection system to further enhance the operational stability of the mechanism. This application integrates a dedicated self-locking structure into the electric drive assembly, which can actively lock and constrain the drive end after the electrical connector is pushed into place and the mechanism completes docking and locking, limiting no-load reverse rotation, accidental start-up, and minute displacement slippage of the drive mechanism.

[0020] In some embodiments of this application, the rotating shaft and the support member are provided with a first detection component, the first detection component including a first sensor and a first sensing element; The first sensor is mounted on the bracket, and the first sensing element is mounted on the rotating shaft. or, The first sensing element is mounted on the bracket, and the first sensor is mounted on the rotating shaft; The detection direction of the first detection component and the shape of the first sensing element are configured such that the first sensing element can be detected by the first sensor when the electrical connector body is pushed out to a preset position.

[0021] This application achieves precise real-time detection of the pushing stroke and the position status by placing a first detection component between the bracket and the rotating shaft, realizing closed-loop linkage between mechanical action and electrical control. The first sensor and the first sensing element are respectively positioned at the relative movement positions of the bracket and the rotating shaft. Utilizing the correspondence between the rotation angle of the rotating shaft and the pushing stroke of the electrical connector, the pushing displacement status of the mechanism is monitored in real time. No additional external detection bracket or sensing structure is required, resulting in a highly integrated and compact overall structure.

[0022] In some embodiments of this application, the electrical connector body is mounted on the coupler body; a second detection component is provided between the electrical connector body and the coupler body; The second sensor is mounted on the bracket, and the second sensing element is mounted on the rotating shaft. or, The second sensing element is mounted on the bracket, and the second sensor is mounted on the rotating shaft; The detection direction of the second detection component and the shape of the second sensing element are configured such that the second sensing element can be detected by the second sensor when the electrical connector body is pushed out to a preset position.

[0023] This application adds a second detection component between the coupler body and the electrical connector body, forming a dual-detection redundant monitoring mechanism to further improve the accuracy and fault tolerance of the push-in detection. This application integrates the second detection component into the overall structure, with the second sensor and second sensing element correspondingly positioned at the relative movement positions of the bracket and the rotating shaft. Based on the linkage between the rotating shaft's rotation angle and the electrical connector's push-in stroke, the application synchronously collects the push-in status signal of the mechanism.

[0024] In some embodiments of this application, the electric drive structure includes a motor, and a third sensor is disposed within the motor, the third sensor being used to detect the number of rotations of the motor coil.

[0025] This application integrates a third sensor inside the motor of the electric drive structure. The third sensor collects the rotation number of the motor coil in real time. Combined with the worm gear transmission ratio and the transmission parameters of the rotating arm connecting rod, the rotation angle of the shaft and the real-time push stroke of the electrical connector can be accurately calculated, realizing dynamic displacement monitoring throughout the process.

[0026] Other features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. The objects and other advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the structures pointed out in the description and the drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the electrical connector structure according to an embodiment of this application.

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the electrical connector and the coupler body in an embodiment of this application.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the electrical connector and the coupler body in an embodiment of this application.

[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the electrical connector and the coupler body in an embodiment of this application.

[0032] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing the state of the electrical connector body being pushed into place according to an embodiment of this application.

[0033] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing the retracted state of the electrical connector body in an embodiment of this application.

[0034] In the above figures: 1. Bracket; 2. Worm gear; 3. Motor; 4. Worm wheel; 5. Shaft; 6. Adapter beam; 7. Adapter rod; 8. Elastic element; 9. Limiting plate; 10. Limiting beam; 11. First sensor; 12. First sensing element; 13. Second sensor; 14. Swing arm; 15. Electrical connector body; 16. Coupler body. Detailed Implementation

[0035] To make the technical problems to be solved, the technical solutions, and the beneficial effects of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0036] The prefixes such as "first" and "second" used in this application embodiment are merely for distinguishing different descriptive objects and do not limit the position, order, priority, quantity, or content of the described objects. The use of ordinal numbers and other prefixes used to distinguish descriptive objects in this application embodiment does not constitute a limitation on the described objects. The description of the described objects is given in the claims or the context of the embodiments, and should not constitute unnecessary restrictions due to the use of such prefixes. Furthermore, in the description of this embodiment, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more.

[0037] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise stated, " / " means "or," for example, A / B can mean A or B; the term "and / or" in this document is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone.

[0038] In this application, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0039] Currently, the automatic push-locking mechanism of existing electrical connectors is mainly divided into two mainstream structural forms: direct push-locking mechanism and torsion angle-locking mechanism. However, both traditional structures have inherent technical defects and are difficult to adapt to the current high-speed train and intelligent train formation requirements for high reliability, high adaptability and long service life of electrical connectors.

[0040] Among them, the direct-push self-locking mechanism mainly relies on the tightening force of the end-lock cylinder or electric push rod to achieve self-locking. The overall structure is simple and the operation is intuitive. However, this locking method has extremely high requirements for the output force value, sealing performance and operational reliability of the driving components. During train operation, the electrical connector is subjected to vibration and impact loads for a long time, and the end-locking structure is under continuous stress. It is very easy for cylinders to leak air, depressurize and fail, and electric push rods to jam and power to decrease. This can lead to the failure of the self-locking mechanism, causing problems such as loosening of electrical connectors, excessive mating gaps, and signal transmission interruption. The equipment has a high failure rate, high maintenance costs and poor overall operational reliability.

[0041] The torsion-angle self-locking mechanism abandons the direct force-locking method of the drive element. Instead, it uses a cylinder or electric push rod to reach its limit position and then works with a linkage mechanism to achieve mechanical limit locking, thus avoiding the long-term force-induced defects of the drive element in the direct-push structure to some extent. However, this structure still has obvious technical shortcomings: First, the mechanism's locking relies entirely on the drive element reaching its limit position, and locking can only be achieved at the single position of extension. There is no self-locking capability at other positions within the pushing stroke, resulting in extremely poor adaptability to working conditions. Second, the drive element needs to be customized to match different pushing strokes, resulting in low versatility and high processing and assembly costs. Third, the mechanism relies on the mechanical limit of the linkage to achieve locking, which requires a high pushing force value from the drive element, resulting in high drive energy consumption. Long-term high-frequency reciprocating operation can easily cause linkage wear and limit failure, affecting the accurate docking and stable locking of the electrical connector.

[0042] Existing push-lock mechanisms for direct-push and twist-angle electrical connectors generally suffer from technical problems such as a single locking position, easy wear and tear of drive components, insufficient reliability, poor versatility, and limited adaptability to various working conditions. They cannot achieve stable locking at any position throughout the entire stroke of the push mechanism, and it is difficult to balance the protection of drive components, low drive force requirements, and multi-stroke adaptability, which seriously restricts the development of automation, high reliability, and versatility of electrical connectors.

[0043] To address the above problems, this application proposes an electrical connector push structure to overcome many shortcomings in the prior art.

[0044] The electrical connector pushing structure disclosed in this application is integrally assembled in the train mechanical coupler body area to realize the automatic pushing, docking, and retraction reset actions of the electrical connector body, thereby completing the reliable connection and disconnection of power and control signals between train formations. The electrical connector body adopts a front-plug, rear-drive partitioned layout structure, where the front end of the electrical connector body is designated as the electrical connector plug docking functional area, with an independently arranged electrical connector plug at the front end. This plug is a direct docking end used to achieve precise insertion and matching with the electrical connector socket of the opposite coupler, completing the electrical circuit conduction. The entire pushing structure used to drive the reciprocating motion of the electrical connector body is centrally arranged at the rear end of the electrical connector body.

[0045] refer to Figures 1 to 4 The electrical connector push structure includes a bracket 1, on which a worm gear 4 and a worm 2 push structure are integrated.

[0046] Specifically, the bracket 1, as a load-bearing structure, is installed on the mechanical coupler body 16 to provide stable installation support and operating benchmark for various transmission and motion components.

[0047] In this embodiment, the bracket 1 adopts a split symmetrical structure, including two opposing bracket plates. The bracket plates are arranged along the direction perpendicular to the surface of the mechanical coupler body 16, and both bracket plates are arranged in a vertical direction perpendicular to the surface of the mechanical coupler body 16, resulting in a regular structure and balanced force distribution.

[0048] The worm gear 2 is the power input component, directly connected to the electric drive mechanism, and can rotate in either the forward or reverse direction under the drive of the electric drive mechanism. In this embodiment, the electric drive mechanism preferably uses a drive motor 3, which is fixedly mounted on the outer wall of a single-sided support plate. The installation layout is compact and reasonable, making full use of the installation space of the support 1. The worm wheel 4 meshes with the worm gear 2, forming a worm wheel 4-worm gear 2 reduction transmission pair. The two work together to achieve power reversal, speed reduction, and torque amplification.

[0049] The rotating shaft 5 is rotatably connected to the bracket 1 and connected to the worm gear 4, enabling it to rotate synchronously with the worm gear 4. For example, the rotating shaft 5 is rotatably mounted between the two side bracket plates, forming a rotatable connection structure with the bracket 1. At the same time, the rotating shaft 5 is coaxially and fixedly connected to the worm gear 4, so that the worm gear 4 and the rotating shaft 5 can maintain synchronous rotation without relative movement, ensuring the accuracy and synchronicity of power transmission.

[0050] The push structure is connected to the rotating shaft 5 and the electrical connector body 15; the push component rotates synchronously with the rotating shaft 5 and converts the circular rotational motion into linear reciprocating translational motion, so as to drive the electrical connector body 15 to achieve push and reset.

[0051] The push structure is the core structure for realizing motion mode conversion and driving the electrical connector to move. For example, the push component can adopt an eccentric swing arm structure, a linkage structure, a cam push structure, etc.

[0052] When the mechanical coupler needs to complete the docking operation and the electrical connector needs to extend for docking, the drive motor 3 is started and rotates in the forward direction. The motor 3 outputs power to drive the worm gear 2 to rotate in the forward direction around its own axis. The worm gear 2 drives the matching worm wheel 4 to rotate through tooth meshing. Relying on the transmission characteristics of the worm wheel 4 and worm gear 2, the high-speed rotational power of the motor 3 is converted into low-speed, high-torque rotational power of the worm wheel 4 and the rotating shaft 5. At this time, the rotating shaft 5, which is fixed to the worm wheel 4, rotates synchronously in the forward direction with the worm wheel 4. The rotating shaft 5 drives the pushing component to perform a synchronous circular oscillating motion. Driven by the rotation of the rotating shaft 5, the pushing component, combined with its connection and limiting relationship with the electrical connector body 15, efficiently converts the circular rotational motion of the rotating shaft 5 into a horizontal linear pushing motion, thereby smoothly pushing the electrical connector body 15 linearly towards the docking direction, completing the extension and pushing action of the electrical connector, realizing circuit docking and conducting, and meeting the electrical connection requirements after the mechanical coupler docking.

[0053] When the mechanical coupler needs to be separated and the electrical connector needs to be retracted and reset, the drive motor 3 is controlled to rotate in reverse, which in turn drives the worm gear 2 to rotate in reverse. Through meshing transmission, the worm wheel 4 and the rotating shaft 5 are driven to rotate synchronously in reverse. During the reverse rotation of the rotating shaft 5, the pushing component is driven to move in reverse, completing the change of motion mode again, converting the circular rotational motion into a reverse linear retraction motion, pulling the electrical connector body 15 to move in reverse and reset, so that the electrical connector is disengaged from the docking state, realizing the circuit disconnection, and adapting to the separation condition of the mechanical coupler.

[0054] In some embodiments of this application, the push structure specifically includes a rotating arm 14 and an adapter rod 7 assembly. The rotating arm 14 is axially connected to the rotating shaft 5; the adapter rod 7 assembly is rotatably connected to the rotating arm 14 and rotatably connected to the electrical connector body 15.

[0055] For example, the rotating arm 14 includes a first side rotating arm 14 and a second side rotating arm 14 symmetrically arranged at both ends of the rotating shaft 5, forming a shaft-connected fixed structure with the rotating shaft 5, and can follow the rotating shaft 5 to swing in a defined angle without relative slippage or displacement deviation; the rotating shaft 5, the rotating arm 14 and the adapter rod 7 assembly form an integral hinged linkage transmission mechanism.

[0056] During operation, the rotation of the shaft 5 can synchronously drive the first side rotating arm 14 and the second side rotating arm 14 at both ends to swing synchronously. The symmetrical rotating arms 14 on both sides synchronously drive the corresponding adapter rod 7 assembly to perform angle adaptive hinge rotation. Compared with the single-sided transmission structure, the symmetrical transmission method on both sides can form a balanced and symmetrical driving force and traction force on the electrical connector body 15.

[0057] In some embodiments of this application, the adapter rod 7 assembly includes: an adapter beam 6, an adapter rod 7, and a rotating arm 14.

[0058] The adapter beam 6 is rotatably connected to the rotating arm 14, and the adapter beam 6 is provided with rod holes; for example, the adapter beam 6 is installed between the first side rotating arm 14 and the second side rotating arm 14.

[0059] The first end of the adapter rod 7 passes through the rod hole on the adapter beam 6. A limiting element is installed on the first end of the adapter rod 7 to prevent the adapter rod 7 from coming out of the rod hole. The second end of the adapter rod 7, which is opposite to the first end, is rotatably connected to the electrical connector body 15. For example, to achieve a more stable pushing effect, multiple adapter rods 7 can be provided; in this embodiment, there are two. Correspondingly, the adapter beam 6 has two rod holes, and each adapter rod 7 passes through one rod hole. The restraining element can be a bolt, with a bolt diameter larger than the diameter of the rod hole, to prevent the adapter rod 7 from disengaging from the rod hole.

[0060] The elastic element 8 is mounted on the adapter rod 7. For example, the elastic element 8 is a spring. A spring is mounted on each of the two adapter rods 7, and the springs are clamped between the adapter beam 6 and the electrical connector body 15. During the electrical connector push-and-connection process, the motor 3 drives the linkage structure forward, and the spring gradually compresses with the stroke, providing flexible buffer preload to absorb the impact load at the moment of connection, avoiding structural wear, pin misalignment, or hard jamming caused by hard contact impact of the electrical connector; at the same time, the spring preload can compensate for mechanical assembly gaps, ensuring a tight fit and reliable contact of the electrical connector. During the electrical connector reset and retraction process, the spring gradually rebounds and releases deformation potential energy, assisting the adapter rod 7 to quickly and smoothly retract and reset, eliminating the shaking and lag problems caused by movement gaps, and improving the smoothness and stability of the overall reciprocating motion.

[0061] refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 In some embodiments of this application, the dimensions of the rotating arm 14 and the adapter rod 7 assembly are configured as follows in the mounting space between the electrical connector body 15 and the rotating shaft 5: When the electrical connector body 15 is pushed into position, the rotating arm 14 rotates clockwise towards the adapter rod 7, and the rotating arm 14 forms an angle greater than 180° with the adapter rod 7. ; When the electrical connector body 15 retracts to its position, the rotating arm 14 rotates clockwise towards the adapter rod 7, forming an angle of less than 90° with the adapter rod 7. .

[0062] When the coupler is engaged and the electrical connector extends outward, the worm gear 4, driven by the worm 2, drives the rotating shaft 5 to rotate synchronously. The rotating shaft 5 further drives the fixedly connected rotating arm 14 to rotate clockwise. As the rotating arm 14 continues to swing clockwise, it drives the adapter beam 6 and adapter rod 7 assembly to push forward synchronously until the electrical connector and its body 15 extend into place and complete the docking and locking. At this time, the angle between the rotating arm 14, the adapter rod 7, and the spring integral rod structure is... It is in a state greater than 180°. This included angle configuration allows the linkage mechanism to pass the dead point position. Combined with the preload buffer force of the spring, it can form a stable mechanical limit and anti-backward effect, and achieve a certain self-locking function.

[0063] Furthermore, in order to improve the self-locking effect, in some embodiments of this application, the lead angle of the worm 2 is smaller than the equivalent friction angle of the worm wheel 4.

[0064] When the lead angle of the worm 2 is designed to be less than or equal to the equivalent friction angle of the turbine, the worm 2 will form a mechanical self-locking mechanism. That is, the worm 2 can drive the turbine to rotate, but the turbine cannot drive the worm 2 to rotate. This design ensures that the electrical connector can only be extended or retracted by the push mechanism driven by the motor 3 and cannot move on its own. This ensures the safety and reliability of the electrical connection of the coupler and avoids abnormal operation of the electrical connector.

[0065] If the lead angle of worm 2 is designed to be greater than the equivalent friction angle of worm wheel, the inherent self-locking characteristic of worm wheel 4 and worm 2 is broken, enabling the transmission mechanism to have flexible forward and reverse transmission capabilities. The pushing mechanism can adopt a "dead point" structure, as mentioned earlier, the angle This can be further combined with a mechanical limiting structure to achieve self-locking of the pushing structure, ensuring the safety of the electrical connector pushing, thus achieving structural self-locking in another form. In some embodiments of this application, the mechanical limiting structure is implemented as follows.

[0066] A first limiting member is provided on the rotating shaft 5, and a second limiting member is provided on the bracket 1. The second limiting member is located in the rotational stroke of the rotating shaft 5 in the direction of pushing out the electrical connector body 15. The positions of the first limiting member and the second limiting member are configured such that when the electrical connector body is pushed out to a preset position, the first limiting member contacts the second limiting member to limit the rotation of the rotating shaft 5.

[0067] For example, the first limiting member is a protrusion on the outer wall of the rotating shaft 5, such as a limiting plate 9. The second limiting member is a limiting beam 10 disposed between the two side support plates. As the rotating shaft 5 rotates, the limiting plate 9 rotates with it. When the rotating shaft 5 reaches the position where the limiting plate 9 contacts the limiting beam 10, the rotating shaft 5 will be unable to rotate. The installation position of the limiting plate 9 on the axial plane of the rotating shaft 5 determines the pushing stroke of the connector body. In application, the installation position of the limiting plate 9 is designed according to the required pushing stroke of the connector body.

[0068] This structure eliminates the self-locking of the worm gear 4 and worm 2 by matching parameters, and forms a new self-locking system by relying on the connecting rod over-dead point structure and mechanical rigid limit, which not only ensures flexible transmission and smooth operation during the pushing process, but also achieves stable locking after docking.

[0069] Whether the connector body is pushed into position determines the reliability of the electrical connector structure. In order to detect the pushing position of the connector body, this application embodiment further designs a status detection device, which can detect the positioning status of the electrical connector in real time through direct or indirect means, and feed back a positioning signal to the vehicle, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the coupler electrical connection.

[0070] The condition detection device can be implemented through a variety of structures.

[0071] In some embodiments of this application, the rotating shaft 5 and the bracket 1 are provided with a first detection component, which includes a first sensor 11 and a first sensing element 12.

[0072] It should be understood that the first sensor 11 and the first sensing element 12 can be installed in various ways. For example, the first sensor 11 can be installed on the bracket 1 and the first sensing element 12 can be installed on the rotating shaft 5, or the first sensing element 12 can be installed on the bracket 1 and the first sensor 11 can be installed on the rotating shaft 5. Both methods can enable the first sensor 11 to detect the first sensing element 12 at a specific position.

[0073] The detection direction of the first detection component and the shape of the first sensing element 12 are configured such that when the electrical connector body is pushed out to a preset position, the first sensing element 12 can be detected by the first sensor 11.

[0074] The overall configuration logic is as follows: when the electrical connector body is pushed out to the preset docking station, the first sensing element 12 rotates exactly into the effective detection range of the first sensor 11, is stably detected and identified by the first sensor 11, and outputs a positioning signal; when the electrical connector is in the reset state or not pushed to the position, neither of them outputs an effective sensing signal, ensuring that the detection signal is unique and accurate.

[0075] For example, the first sensing element 12 can be a cam structure, a sensing plate, a sensing protrusion, or other follower sensing components. Taking the cam structure as an example, the cam is fixedly sleeved on the outer wall of the rotating shaft 5 and can rotate synchronously and coaxially with the rotating shaft 5. The outer contour of the cam is designed as a specific arc surface according to the actual detection angle and stroke requirements, and the corresponding sensor is a proximity sensor. During the pushing action of the rotating shaft 5 driving the rotating arm 14 and the electrical connector body 15, the cam rotates continuously with the rotating shaft 5. When it is not in position, the cam contour is far away from the sensor detection surface, and the sensor has no signal trigger. When the electrical connector body 15 is pushed into position and the mechanism enters the over-dead-point locking state, the effective sensing contour of the cam is exactly facing the detection end face of the first sensor 11. The sensor senses the cam component and immediately outputs a position detection signal. After receiving the signal, the control system can promptly shut down the drive motor 3 and stop the pushing action to avoid over-travel compression of the structure.

[0076] In some embodiments of this application, considering that relative movement will occur between the electrical connector body 15 and the coupler body 16 during the pushing and retraction process, the relative movement between the two can be further detected to determine whether the electrical connector body 15 has been pushed into place.

[0077] The electrical connector body 15 is mounted on the coupler body 16; a second detection component is provided between the electrical connector body 15 and the coupler body 16. It should be understood that the second sensor 13 and the second sensing element can be installed in various ways. For example, the second sensor 13 can be installed on the bracket 1 and the second sensing element can be installed on the rotating shaft 5, or the second sensing element can be installed on the bracket 1 and the second sensor 13 can be installed on the rotating shaft 5. The detection direction of the second detection component and the shape of the second sensing element are configured such that when the electrical connector body is pushed out to the preset position, the second sensing element can be detected by the second sensor 13.

[0078] For example, the second sensing element may be a marker disposed on the upper surface of the coupler body 16, and the second sensor 13 may be disposed facing the upper surface of the coupler body 16.

[0079] The detection logic is as follows: when the electrical connector body 15 has not reached the preset docking position during its push stroke, the second sensing element and the second sensor 13 are in a misaligned and separated state, and no sensing signal is output; only when the electrical connector body is fully pushed to the preset docking position and the docking posture positioning is completed, the second sensing element just enters the effective detection area of ​​the second sensor 13, is stably sensed and detected by the second sensor 13, and outputs a positioning signal. By directly detecting the relative displacement state of the electrical connector body 15 and the coupler body 16, the actual extension position of the electrical connector can be effectively verified, forming a dual detection redundancy mechanism with the aforementioned first detection component, which greatly improves the accuracy of equipment position detection and operational safety.

[0080] In some embodiments of this application, considering that the stroke of the motor 3 reflects the pushing stroke to a certain extent, a third sensor can be further provided in the motor 3. The third sensor is used to detect the number of rotations of the coil of the motor 3.

[0081] A third sensor is integrated inside the motor 3 of the electric drive structure. The third sensor collects the rotation number of the motor 3 coil in real time. Combined with the transmission ratio of the worm gear 4 and worm 2 and the transmission parameters of the connecting rod of the rotating arm 14, the rotation angle of the rotating shaft 5 and the real-time push stroke of the electrical connector can be accurately calculated, realizing dynamic displacement monitoring throughout the process.

[0082] One or more detection devices can be selected in combination. The status detection device proposed in this invention can detect the positioning status of the electrical connector in real time, either directly or indirectly, and feed back a positioning signal to the vehicle. The extension and retraction signals are redundant, and the positioning status of the electrical connector can be comprehensively judged by combining the signal conditions, thereby further improving the safety and reliability of the coupler electrical connection.

[0083] The proposed push-up structure for the electrical connector in a mechanical coupler comprises a support frame 1, a worm gear 4 and worm 2 transmission mechanism, a linkage push-up actuator, a mechanical limit mechanism, and a dual-path position detection mechanism, forming a complete automated push-up and reset system. The overall solution uses a motor 3 to drive the worm gear 4 and worm 2 to achieve power reversal, deceleration, and torque amplification. Then, via a rotating shaft 5, it drives a hinged linkage mechanism consisting of symmetrical rotating arms 14 on both sides and an adapter rod 7, converting the rotational motion into the linear reciprocating translational motion of the electrical connector body 15, reliably achieving automatic push-up, docking, and retraction reset of the electrical connector.

[0084] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electrical connector push-out structure, characterized in that, For pushing the electrical connector body, including: support; Worm gear: Connected to an electric drive mechanism, it can be driven to rotate by an electric drive structure; Worm gear: meshes with the worm; Rotating shaft: Rotatably connected to the bracket and connected to the worm gear, capable of rotating synchronously with the worm gear; Push structure: connected to the rotating shaft and the electrical connector body; the push component rotates synchronously with the rotating shaft and converts the circular rotational motion into linear reciprocating translational motion, so as to drive the electrical connector body to achieve push and reset.

2. The electrical connector push structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The push structure includes: Rotary arm: The rotating arm is axially connected to the rotating shaft; Adapter rod assembly: Rotatably connected to the rotating arm and rotatably connected to the electrical connector body.

3. The electrical connector push structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The adapter rod assembly includes: Adapter beam: Rotatably connected to the swing arm, and the adapter beam is provided with rod holes; Adapter rod: Its first end passes through the rod hole on the adapter beam, and the first end of the adapter rod is equipped with a restraint to prevent the adapter rod from coming out of the rod hole; the second end opposite to the first end is rotatably connected to the electrical connector body; Elastic element: fitted onto the adapter rod.

4. The electrical connector push structure according to any one of claims 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that, A first limiting member is provided on the rotating shaft, and a second limiting member is provided on the bracket. The second limiting member is located in the rotational stroke of the rotating shaft in the direction in which the electrical connector body is pushed out. The positions of the first limiting member and the second limiting member are configured such that when the electrical connector body is pushed out to a preset position, the first limiting member contacts the second limiting member to limit the rotation of the rotating shaft.

5. The electrical connector push structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The push structure includes: Rotary arm: The rotating arm is axially connected to the rotating shaft; Adapter rod assembly: Rotatably connected to the rotating arm and rotatably connected to the electrical connector body. In the mounting space between the electrical connector body and the rotating shaft, the dimensions of the rotating arm and the adapter rod assembly are configured as follows: When the electrical connector body is pushed into place, the rotating arm moves clockwise towards the adapter rod, and the rotating arm and the adapter rod form an angle greater than 180°. When the electrical connector body retracts into place, the rotating arm moves clockwise towards the adapter rod, with the rotating arm and the adapter rod forming an angle of less than 90°.

6. The electrical connector push structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lead angle of the worm is smaller than the equivalent friction angle of the worm wheel.

7. The electrical connector push structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electric drive assembly is equipped with a self-locking structure.

8. The electrical connector push structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating shaft and the support component are provided with a first detection component, which includes a first sensor and a first sensing element. The first sensor is mounted on the bracket, and the first sensing element is mounted on the rotating shaft. or, The first sensing element is mounted on the bracket, and the first sensor is mounted on the rotating shaft; The detection direction of the first detection component and the shape of the first sensing element are configured such that the first sensing element can be detected by the first sensor when the electrical connector body is pushed out to a preset position.

9. The electrical connector push structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrical connector body is mounted on the coupler body; a second detection component is provided between the electrical connector body and the coupler body; The second sensor is mounted on the bracket, and the second sensing element is mounted on the rotating shaft. or, The second sensing element is mounted on the bracket, and the second sensor is mounted on the rotating shaft; The detection direction of the second detection component and the shape of the second sensing element are configured such that the second sensing element can be detected by the second sensor when the electrical connector body is pushed out to a preset position.

10. The electrical connector push structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electric drive structure includes a motor, and a third sensor is installed inside the motor. The third sensor is used to detect the number of rotations of the motor coil.

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