Underwater plug connector

Abstract

The utility model provides an underwater plugging connector. The underwater plug connector comprises: a socket; the plug is provided with an accommodating cavity for inserting the socket; the auxiliary identification structure is installed on the socket and located on the plugging path of the plug, the auxiliary identification structure comprises a plugging matching piece, and the plugging matching piece has an unfolding state in which a preset angle is formed between the plugging matching piece and the outer wall of the socket and a folding state in which the plugging matching piece is folded in the accommodating cavity. The end, close to the socket, of the plug can exert extrusion acting force on the plug-in matching piece so that the plug-in matching piece can be switched from the unfolded state to the folded state, and when the plug-in matching piece is in the folded state, the plug and the socket are plugged in place. The underwater plugging connector provided by the technical scheme of the utility model can solve the problem that whether the plug and the socket of the connector are plugged in place cannot be judged when an ROV performs plugging operation of the plugging connector underwater.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of plug-in structures, in particular to an underwater plug-in connector. Background Art

[0002] There are two difficulties when ROV (underwater robot) performs plug-in and plug-out operations of connectors underwater: (1) Due to the complex underwater environment and poor visibility, it is difficult to see the specific position of the connector plug and socket through the underwater camera with only ROV light source illumination, which makes it difficult to align the plug and socket; (2) After the ROV aligns the plug and socket underwater, it is difficult to determine whether the connector plug and socket are plugged in place through the underwater camera. At present, underwater marking coatings are set at the corresponding positions on the surfaces of the plug and socket to assist the underwater camera in determining the exact position of the connector plug and socket, but it is still impossible to determine whether the connector plug and socket are plugged in place. Utility Model Content

[0003] The main purpose of the utility model is to provide an underwater plug-in connector, which can solve the problem that when an ROV (underwater robot) performs a plug-in connector plugging operation underwater, it is impossible to determine whether the connector plug and the socket are plugged in place.

[0004] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, according to one aspect of the utility model, an underwater plug-in connector is provided, comprising: a socket; a plug, the plug having a accommodating cavity for inserting the socket; and an auxiliary identification structure, which is installed on the socket and located on the plug-in path of the plug, the auxiliary identification structure comprising a plug-in mating piece, the plug-in mating piece having an expanded state at a preset angle to the outer wall of the socket and a contracted state in the accommodating cavity, during the plug-in process, the end of the plug close to the socket can apply an extruding force to the plug-in mating piece to switch the plug-in mating piece from the expanded state to the contracted state, and when the plug-in mating piece is in the contracted state, the plug and the socket are plugged into place.

[0005] Furthermore, the underwater plug connector also includes an underwater camera device, which is located on the side of the plug away from the socket. When the plug-in fitting is in the unfolded state, projection is performed along the plugging direction, and the outer edge of the plug-in fitting protrudes beyond the outer edge of the end of the plug close to the socket.

[0006] Furthermore, the plug-in fitting is made of elastic material.

[0007] Furthermore, the auxiliary identification structure is made of elastic material, and the auxiliary identification structure also includes a mounting section, which is constructed to be sleeved on the outer periphery of the socket, and the plug-in fitting is connected to the mounting section.

[0008] Furthermore, the plug-in fitting includes a transition section and a flange, wherein the transition section is connected between the mounting section and the flange, the flange extends a preset length radially along the mounting section, and the flange is constructed to be bendable in a direction away from the plug relative to the transition section.

[0009] Furthermore, a plurality of openings are arranged on the outer periphery of the flange, and the plurality of openings are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the flange.

[0010] Furthermore, the thickness of the transition section is greater than the thickness of the flange.

[0011] Furthermore, the surface of the auxiliary identification structure is provided with a reflective coating and / or a colored coating.

[0012] Furthermore, an indicator arrow is provided on the plug, and the indicator arrow indicates the plugging direction.

[0013] Furthermore, the indicating arrow is coated with a reflective coating.

[0014] The technical solution of the utility model is applied, and a plug, a socket and an auxiliary identification structure are provided. The auxiliary identification structure includes a plug-in fitting, and the plug-in fitting has an expanded state with a preset angle to the outer wall of the socket and a contracted state contracted in the accommodating cavity. Before the plug and the socket are plugged in, the plug-in fitting is in the expanded state. When the plug-in fitting is in the expanded state, the underwater camera can identify and capture the existence of the plug-in fitting. Through the cooperation between the plug and the plug-in fitting, the plug can apply a squeezing force to the plug-in fitting during the plugging process to switch it from the expanded state to the contracted state. At this time, the underwater camera cannot identify the plug-in fitting, thereby realizing the judgment of whether the plug and the socket are plugged in place. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The drawings constituting part of the present invention are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute an improper limitation on the present invention. In the drawings:

[0016] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of an underwater plug connector according to an embodiment of the utility model is shown;

[0017] Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of a socket according to an embodiment of the utility model is shown;

[0018] Figure 3 A side view of the plug and the socket of the embodiment of the utility model during the plugging process is shown;

[0019] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 A partial enlarged view of the middle A;

[0020] Figure 5 A side view of the plug and the socket of the embodiment of the utility model during the plugging process is shown;

[0021] Figure 6 Shows Figure 5 A partial enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0022] Figure 7 A side view showing the plug and socket of the embodiment of the utility model during the plugging process; and

[0023] Figure 8 Shows Figure 7 A partial enlarged view of point C in the middle.

[0024] The above drawings include the following reference numerals:

[0025] 10. Plug; 11. Slide; 20. Socket; 21. Bump; 30. Auxiliary identification structure; 31. Plug-in fitting; 311. Transition section; 312. Flanged edge; 313. Opening; 32. Installation section; 40. Indicator arrow. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments and features of the embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other. The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in combination with the embodiments.

[0027] See also Figures 1 to 8 As shown, the utility model provides an underwater plug-in connector, which includes: a socket 20; a plug 10, the plug 10 having a housing cavity for inserting the socket 20; and an auxiliary identification structure 30, which is installed on the socket 20 and located on the plug-in path of the plug 10, the auxiliary identification structure 30 includes a plug-in mating piece 31, the plug-in mating piece 31 has an expanded state at a preset angle to the outer wall of the socket 20 and a contracted state contracted in the housing cavity, during the plug-in process, the end of the plug 10 close to the socket 20 can apply an extruding force to the plug-in mating piece 31 to switch the plug-in mating piece 31 from the expanded state to the contracted state, and when the plug-in mating piece 31 is in the contracted state, the plug 10 is plugged into the socket 20.

[0028] In this embodiment, the plug-in fitting 31 has an extended state with a preset angle to the outer wall of the socket 20 and a retracted state retracted in the accommodating cavity. Before the plug 10 is plugged into the socket 20, the plug-in fitting 31 is in an extended state (i.e., the extended state is the initial state of the plug-in fitting 31). When the underwater plug connector of the present application is plugged in underwater, it needs to be used with an underwater camera. The underwater camera is located on the side of the plug 10 away from the socket 20. When the plug-in fitting 31 is in an extended state, the underwater camera can observe the existence of the plug-in fitting 31. During the process of the ROV plugging the plug 10 and the socket 20 underwater, the plug 10 gradually approaches the location of the socket 20, the socket 20 is gradually inserted into the accommodating cavity, the plug 10 continues to move along the plugging direction, one end of the plug 10 contacts the plug-in fitting 31 and applies a squeezing force to the plug-in fitting 31, so that the plug-in fitting 31 switches from the unfolded state to the retracted state. At this time, the plug-in fitting 31 is retracted in the accommodating cavity, and the underwater camera cannot observe the plug-in fitting 31, indicating that the plug 10 and the socket 20 are plugged in place at this time. As can be seen from the above, the present application can apply a squeezing force to the plug-in fitting 31 during the plugging process through the cooperation between the plug 10 and the plug-in fitting 31, so that it switches from the unfolded state to the retracted state, so that the underwater camera cannot observe the plug-in fitting 31, thereby realizing the judgment of whether the plug 10 and the socket 20 are plugged in place.

[0029] It should be noted that the size and shape of the auxiliary identification structure 30 can be set according to the external dimensions of the plugs 10 of different specifications.

[0030] See also Figures 1 to 8 As shown, in one embodiment of the utility model, the underwater plug connector also includes an underwater camera device, which is located on the side of the plug 10 away from the socket 20. When the plug-in fitting 31 is in the unfolded state, it is projected along the plugging direction, and the outer edge of the plug-in fitting 31 protrudes from the outer edge of the end of the plug 10 close to the socket 20.

[0031] In this embodiment, the plug-in fitting 31 is located on the observation path of the underwater camera equipment. Within the observation range of the underwater camera equipment, the outer edge of the plug-in fitting 31 protrudes from the outer edge of the end of the plug 10 close to the socket 20. This arrangement allows the underwater camera equipment to always observe the plug-in fitting 31 when the plug 10 and the socket 20 are not plugged in place. When the plug 10 approaches and contacts the plug-in fitting 31 and applies a squeezing force to it to switch the plug-in fitting 31 from the expanded state to the contracted state, the plug-in fitting 31 is contracted in the accommodating cavity of the plug 10, and the underwater camera equipment cannot observe the plug-in fitting 31, indicating that the plug 10 and the socket 20 are plugged in place.

[0032] In one embodiment, the plug-in mating component 31 is an annular structure.

[0033] In one embodiment, the underwater imaging device is an underwater camera.

[0034] See also Figures 1 to 8 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the plug-in fitting 31 is made of elastic material.

[0035] In this embodiment, the plug-in fitting 31 is made of an elastic material. Thus, when the plug 10 contacts the plug-in fitting 31 and applies a squeezing force to the plug-in fitting 31 during plugging, the plug-in fitting 31 is more easily squeezed and contracted in the accommodating cavity. When the plug 10 is pulled out of the socket 20, the plug-in fitting 31 can elastically return to the expanded state.

[0036] See also Figures 1 to 8 As shown, in one embodiment of the utility model, the auxiliary identification structure 30 is made of elastic material, and the auxiliary identification structure 30 also includes a mounting section 32 , which is constructed to be able to be sleeved on the outer periphery of the socket 20 , and the plug-in fitting 31 is connected to the mounting section 32 .

[0037] In this embodiment, the plug-in fitting 31 is made of elastic material, so that the plug 10 can squeeze the plug-in fitting 31 to change it from an expanded state to a contracted state, and when the plug 10 is pulled out of the socket 20, the plug-in fitting 31 can elastically return to the expanded state. The installation section 32 is provided to install the auxiliary identification structure 30 on the socket 20. The installation section 32 is made of elastic material, has a certain deformation amount, and can be mounted on sockets 20 of various specifications.

[0038] In one embodiment, the auxiliary identification structure 30 is made of rubber.

[0039] See also Figures 1 to 8 As shown, in one embodiment of the utility model, the plug-in fitting 31 includes a transition connection section 311 and a flange 312, the transition connection section 311 is connected between the mounting section 32 and the flange 312, the flange 312 extends a preset length along the radial direction of the mounting section 32, and the flange 312 is constructed to be bendable relative to the transition connection section 311 in a direction away from the plug 10.

[0040] In this embodiment, the setting of the transition connection section 311 realizes the connection between the flange 312 and the installation section 32. During the process of plugging the plug 10 into the socket 20, the plug 10 gradually moves toward the socket 20 and contacts the flange 312. The plug 10 continues to move along the plugging direction. The plug 10 applies an extrusion force to the flange 312, so that the flange 312 bends in the direction away from the plug 10 relative to the transition connection section 311. The entire plug-in fitting 31 is contracted in the installation cavity. At this time, the underwater camera cannot observe the plug-in fitting 31, and it can be judged that the plug 10 and the socket 20 are plugged in place.

[0041] See also Figures 1 to 8 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of openings 313 are provided on the outer periphery of the flange 312 , and the plurality of openings 313 are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the flange 312 .

[0042] In this embodiment, the provision of the opening 313 enables the flange 312 to be more easily squeezed and deformed by the plug 10 and then contracted in the accommodating cavity.

[0043] See also Figures 1 to 8 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the thickness of the transition section 311 is greater than the thickness of the flange 312 .

[0044] In this embodiment, the thickness of the transition connection section 311 is greater than the thickness of the flange 312 , which can ensure the connection strength between the flange 312 and the installation section 32 .

[0045] In one embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the auxiliary identification structure 30 is provided with a reflective coating and / or a colored coating.

[0046] In this embodiment, a reflective coating is provided on the surface of the auxiliary identification structure 30, or a colored coating is provided on the surface of the auxiliary identification structure 30, or a reflective coating and a colored coating are provided on the surface of the auxiliary identification structure 30. The underwater light source irradiates the reflective coating or the colored coating, so that the auxiliary identification structure 30 is more easily observed by the underwater camera.

[0047] In one embodiment, the auxiliary identification structure 30 is made of orange rubber material.

[0048] See also Figures 1 to 8 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, an indicating arrow 40 is provided on the plug 10, and the indicating arrow 40 indicates the plugging direction.

[0049] In this embodiment, an indicating arrow 40 is provided on the plug 10 to indicate the plugging direction.

[0050] In one embodiment, a protrusion 21 is provided on the socket 20, and a slide groove 11 is provided on the plug 10. When the two are plugged in, the protrusion 21 on the socket 20 slides into the slide groove 11, and an indicator arrow 40 is provided on the plug 10. The extension direction of the indicator arrow 40 is the same as the extension direction of the slide groove 11. During the plugging process, the underwater camera captures the indicator arrow 40, and the ROV adjusts the direction and angle of the plug 10 so that the indicator arrow 40 on the plug 10 is aligned with the protrusion 21, ensuring that the protrusion 21 can slide into the slide groove 11, thereby ensuring smooth plugging.

[0051] In one embodiment of the present invention, the indicator arrow 40 is coated with a reflective coating.

[0052] In this embodiment, a reflective coating is coated on the indicator arrow 40 , so that the underwater camera can capture the indicator arrow 40 and observe the location of the plug 10 under the illumination of an underwater light source.

[0053] In one embodiment, the material of the reflective coating applied on the indicator arrow 40 is reflective paint.

[0054] From the above description, it can be seen that the above-mentioned embodiments of the utility model achieve the following technical effects: a plug, a socket and an auxiliary identification structure are provided, the auxiliary identification structure includes a plug-in fitting, the plug-in fitting has an expanded state at a preset angle to the outer wall of the socket and a contracted state contracted in the accommodating cavity, and before the plug and the socket are plugged in, the plug-in fitting is in the expanded state. When the plug-in fitting is in the expanded state, the underwater camera can identify and capture the existence of the plug-in fitting. Through the cooperation between the plug and the plug-in fitting, the plug can apply an extruding force to the plug-in fitting during the plugging process to switch it from the expanded state to the contracted state. At this time, the underwater camera cannot identify the plug-in fitting, thereby realizing the judgment of whether the plug and the socket are plugged in place.

[0055] Obviously, the embodiments described above are only some embodiments of the utility model, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of the utility model.

[0056] It should be noted that the terms used herein are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present application. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. In addition, it should be understood that when the terms "comprise" and / or "include" are used in this specification, it indicates the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0057] The above description is only the preferred embodiment of the utility model, and is not intended to limit the utility model. For those skilled in the art, the utility model can have various modifications and changes. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the utility model shall be included in the protection scope of the utility model.

Claims

1. An underwater plug connector, characterized in that: include: Socket (20); A plug (10), the plug (10) having a receiving cavity for the socket (20) to be inserted into; as well as An auxiliary identification structure (30) is installed on the socket (20) and is located on the plug-in path of the plug (10). The auxiliary identification structure (30) includes a plug-in mating piece (31). The plug-in mating piece (31) has an expanded state at a preset angle to the outer wall of the socket (20) and a contracted state contracted in the accommodating cavity. During the plug-in process, the end of the plug (10) close to the socket (20) can apply a squeezing force to the plug-in mating piece (31) so that the plug-in mating piece (31) switches from the expanded state to the contracted state. When the plug-in mating piece (31) is in the contracted state, the plug (10) and the socket (20) are plugged into place.

2. The underwater plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The underwater plug connector further comprises an underwater camera device, which is located on a side of the plug (10) away from the socket (20). When the plug-in fitting (31) is in the unfolded state, a projection is performed along the plugging direction, and an outer edge of the plug-in fitting (31) protrudes from an outer edge of an end of the plug (10) close to the socket (20).

3. The underwater plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plug-in fitting (31) is made of elastic material.

4. The underwater plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The auxiliary identification structure (30) is made of elastic material, and further comprises a mounting section (32). The mounting section (32) is configured to be sleeved on the outer periphery of the socket (20), and the plug-in fitting (31) is connected to the mounting section (32).

5. The underwater plug connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The plug-in fitting (31) comprises a transition connection section (311) and a flange (312), wherein the transition connection section (311) is connected between the mounting section (32) and the flange (312), the flange (312) extends along the radial direction of the mounting section (32) by a preset length, and the flange (312) is constructed to be bendable in a direction away from the plug (10) relative to the transition connection section (311).

6. The underwater plug connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: A plurality of openings (313) are provided on the outer periphery of the flange (312), and the plurality of openings (313) are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the flange (312).

7. The underwater plug connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: The thickness of the transition connection section (311) is greater than the thickness of the flange (312).

8. The underwater plug connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The surface of the auxiliary identification structure (30) is provided with a reflective coating and / or a colored coating.

9. The underwater plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plug (10) is provided with an indication arrow (40), and the indication arrow (40) indicates the plugging direction.

10. The underwater plug connector according to claim 9, characterized in that: The indicator arrow (40) is coated with a reflective coating.

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