Interlock structure of a connector

Abstract

The utility model discloses an interlocking structure of connector for locking male end sheath and female end sheath that mutually plug in, include: first connecting body on male end sheath, second connecting body on female end sheath, when male end sheath and female end sheath plug in to the place, and first connecting body and second connecting body butt joint along the axial direction and constitute a locking portion, locking part, the outside of locking portion is sheathed, be provided with connecting structure between locking part outer wall and locking part inner wall, and locking part locks locking portion through connecting structure, and then lock male end sheath and female end sheath that mutually plug in, the utility model discloses be provided with connecting structure between locking part outer wall and locking part inner wall of locking part, and locking part locks locking portion through connecting structure, and then lock male end sheath and female end sheath that mutually plug in, make male end sheath and female end sheath unlocking and locking operation simple.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electrical connections, and more specifically, to an interlocking structure for a connector. Background Technology

[0002] As the automotive industry demands increasingly higher reliability from connector mating, most connectors require interlocking between male and female connectors during mating to prevent them from disengaging during vehicle operation and causing safety accidents. Traditional interlocking structures often employ snap-fit ​​mechanisms of varying complexity, requiring tools for disassembly and making operation inconvenient. This is especially true for large-size connectors, where the interlocking operation requires significant force, typically necessitating the addition of an auxiliary lever to complete the interlocking action. This leads to increased product complexity and cost, and consequently, makes unlocking more complicated and difficult. Utility Model Content

[0003] One objective of this invention is to provide a new technical solution for the interlocking structure of a connector to solve the problems of difficulty in locking and unlocking caused by the complex interlocking structure when locking the male and female end sheaths in traditional connectors.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an interlocking structure for a connector is provided for locking interlocking male end sheaths and female end sheaths, comprising: a first connecting body disposed on the outer wall of the male end sheath; a second connecting body disposed on the outer wall of the female end sheath, wherein when the male end sheath and the female end sheath are inserted into place, the first connecting body and the second connecting body are axially aligned to form a locking portion; a locking member sleeved on the outside of the locking portion; a complementary connecting structure is provided between the inner wall of the locking member and the outer wall of the locking portion, wherein the locking member locks the locking portion through the connecting structure, thereby locking the interlocking male end sheath and female end sheath.

[0005] Optionally, the locking element is a locking ring, and the connecting structure is a threaded pair disposed between the inner wall of the locking ring and the outer wall of the locking part; the locking ring tightens the first connecting body and the second connecting body by screwing the threaded pair.

[0006] Optionally, the first connecting body is a first protrusion protruding from the outer wall of the male end sheath, and the second connecting body is a second protrusion protruding from the outer wall of the female end sheath. The first protrusion and the second protrusion engage with each other when the male end sheath and the female end sheath are inserted into place, together forming the locking part.

[0007] Optionally, the first boss is disposed on the top wall or side wall of the male end sheath, and correspondingly, the second boss is disposed on the top wall or side wall of the female end sheath.

[0008] Optionally, the outer wall of the male end sheath and the outer wall of the female end sheath are provided with recessed grooves corresponding to the boss, so as to accommodate at least part of the boss and part of the locking member sleeved thereon.

[0009] Optionally, the cross-sectional dimension of the recessed groove is larger than the outer diameter of the locking member.

[0010] Optionally, one of the opposing surfaces of the first boss and the second boss is provided with a positioning groove, and the other is provided with a positioning protrusion that matches the positioning groove. When the male end sleeve and the female end sleeve are inserted into place, the positioning protrusion is engaged with the positioning groove, so that the first boss and the second boss together form a locking part with a continuous outer contour.

[0011] Optionally, the male end sheath has a first mating surface, and a plug-in tube extends from the first mating surface toward the female end sheath. The female end sheath has a second mating surface, and a plug-in space is opened on the second mating surface toward the male end sheath. When the male end sheath and the female end sheath are plugged into place, the first mating surface and the second mating surface fit together.

[0012] Optionally, an annular sealing groove is provided on the first mating surface or the second mating surface, and a sealing ring is embedded in the sealing groove. When the first mating surface and the second mating surface are in contact, the sealing ring is compressed to form a seal between them.

[0013] Optionally, the outer peripheral surface of the locking member is provided with an anti-slip structure.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0015] The interlocking structure of the connector of this utility model includes a first connector on the outer wall of the male end sheath and a second connector on the outer wall of the female end sheath. When the male end sheath and the female end sheath are inserted into place, the first connector and the second connector are axially aligned to form a locking part. A locking member is also included, sleeved on the outside of the locking part. A complementary connecting structure is provided between the inner wall of the locking member and the outer wall of the locking part. The locking member locks the locking part through the connecting structure, thereby locking the male end sheath and the female end sheath that are inserted into each other. This design uses a locking member to lock the locking part to complete the locking process. It is simple to operate, requires little operating force, and provides a firm lock after locking. It can adapt to connectors of various shapes and sizes, and its effect is particularly noticeable on large-size connectors. It can effectively save on auxiliary mechanisms such as auxiliary rods, reduce product costs, and also makes unlocking convenient, fast, and simple.

[0016] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with their description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the interlocking structure of the connector of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 2 This is an exploded structural diagram of the male end sheath and the female end sheath of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the interlocking structure of the connector of this utility model.

[0021] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the interlocking structure of the connector of this utility model.

[0022] The diagram is marked as follows:

[0023] 10. Male end sleeve; 11. First boss; 111. Positioning groove; 12. Embedded groove; 13. First mating surface; 14. Insert sleeve; 20. Female end sleeve; 21. Second boss; 211. Positioning protrusion; 22. Second mating surface; 221. Insertion space; 222. Annular sealing groove; 30. Locking ring; 31. Threaded pair; 32. Anti-slip structure; 40. Sealing ring; a. Cross-sectional dimension of the embedded groove; b. Outer diameter of the locking element. Detailed Implementation

[0024] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention.

[0025] The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its application or use.

[0026] Techniques, methods, and equipment known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and equipment should be considered part of the specification.

[0027] In all the examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values.

[0028] According to the first aspect of this utility model, as Figures 1-4As shown, an interlocking structure for a connector is provided for locking a male end sheath 10 and a female end sheath 20 that are plugged into each other. The structure includes: a first connecting body disposed on the outer wall of the male end sheath 10; a second connecting body disposed on the outer wall of the female end sheath 20; when the male end sheath 10 and the female end sheath 20 are plugged into place, the first connecting body and the second connecting body are axially aligned to form a locking portion; a locking member sleeved on the outside of the locking portion; a complementary connecting structure is provided between the inner wall of the locking member and the outer wall of the locking portion, and the locking member locks the locking portion through the connecting structure, thereby locking the plugged-in male end sheath 10 and the female end sheath 20.

[0029] As the automotive industry demands increasingly higher reliability from connector mating, most connectors require interlocking between male and female connectors during mating to prevent them from disengaging during vehicle operation and causing safety accidents. Traditional interlocking structures often employ snap-fit ​​mechanisms of varying complexity, requiring tools for disassembly and making operation inconvenient. This is especially true for large-size connectors, where the interlocking operation requires significant force, typically necessitating the addition of an auxiliary lever to complete the interlocking action. This leads to increased product complexity and cost, and consequently, makes unlocking more complicated and difficult.

[0030] The interlocking structure of the connector of this utility model includes a first connector on the outer wall of the male end sheath 10 and a second connector on the outer wall of the female end sheath 20. When the male end sheath 10 and the female end sheath 20 are inserted into place, the first connector and the second connector are axially aligned to form a locking part; and a locking member, sleeved on the outside of the locking part; a complementary connecting structure is provided between the inner wall of the locking member and the outer wall of the locking part. The locking member locks the locking part through the connecting structure, thereby locking the male end sheath 10 and the female end sheath 20 that are inserted into each other. This design uses the locking member to lock the locking part to complete the locking. It is simple to operate, requires little operating force, and is firmly locked after locking. It can adapt to connectors of various shapes and sizes. It is particularly effective on large-size connectors. It can effectively save the need for auxiliary mechanisms such as auxiliary rods, reduce product costs, and make unlocking convenient, fast and simple.

[0031] In some embodiments, the locking member is a locking ring 30, and the connecting structure is a threaded pair 31 disposed between the inner wall of the locking ring 30 and the outer wall of the locking part; the locking ring 30 tightens the first connecting body and the second connecting body by screwing the threaded pair 31.

[0032] The connection structure is a threaded pair 31 between the inner wall of the locking ring 30 and the outer wall of the locking part. The locking ring 30 tightens the first connecting body and the second connecting body by screwing the threaded pair 31. The locking of the male and female end sheaths 20 can be locked or unlocked by screwing the threaded pair 31. The operation is simple and requires little force. It is particularly effective on large-size connectors and can effectively save the need for auxiliary mechanisms such as auxiliary rods, thus reducing product costs.

[0033] In some embodiments, the first connector is a first protrusion 11 protruding from the outer wall of the male end sheath 10, and the second connector is a second protrusion 21 protruding from the outer wall of the female end sheath 20. The first protrusion 11 and the second protrusion 21 engage with each other when the male end sheath 10 and the female end sheath 20 are inserted into place, and together form the locking part.

[0034] In some embodiments, the first boss 11 is disposed on the top wall or side wall of the male end sheath 10, and correspondingly, the second boss 21 is disposed on the top wall or side wall of the female end sheath 20.

[0035] The positions of the first boss 11 and the second boss 21 can be adaptively adjusted on the top or side wall of the corresponding sheath, depending on factors such as the spatial layout of the connector in the usage environment and the size and model of the connector.

[0036] In some embodiments, the outer wall of the male end sheath 10 and the outer wall of the female end sheath 20 are provided with an embedded groove 12 corresponding to the boss, so as to accommodate at least part of the boss and a portion of the locking member sleeved thereon.

[0037] The recessed groove 12 can effectively reduce the overall space occupied by the boss after it is connected to the male end sheath 10 or the female end sheath 20, which is more conducive to the lightweighting and miniaturization of the connector.

[0038] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional dimension a of the inner groove 12 is greater than the outer diameter b of the locking member.

[0039] The cross-sectional dimension of the recessed groove 12 is larger than the outer diameter of the locking member, so that the locking member can be screwed into the space of the recessed groove 12. It can be locked to the root of the corresponding locking part on the bottom side of the recessed groove 12 by screwing, so that the locking is more secure.

[0040] In some embodiments, one of the opposing surfaces of the first boss 11 and the second boss 21 is provided with a positioning groove 111, and the other is provided with a positioning protrusion 211 that matches the positioning groove 111. When the male end sleeve 10 and the female end sleeve 20 are inserted into place, the positioning protrusion 211 is engaged with the positioning groove 111, so that the first boss 11 and the second boss 21 together form a locking part with a continuous outer contour.

[0041] The positioning protrusion 211 engages with the positioning groove 111, ensuring accurate alignment of the first protrusion 11 and the second protrusion 21 after mating, thereby ensuring that the two together form a locking part with a continuous outer contour after mating.

[0042] In some embodiments, the male end sheath 10 has a first mating surface 13, and the first mating surface 13 extends toward the female end sheath 20 with a plug-in tube 14. The female end sheath 20 has a second mating surface 22, and the second mating surface 22 has a plug-in space 221 opening toward the male end sheath 10. When the male end sheath 10 and the female end sheath 20 are plugged into place, the first mating surface 13 and the second mating surface 22 fit together.

[0043] Specifically, when the male end sleeve 10 and the female end sleeve 20 are inserted into place, the insertion tube 14 is inserted into the insertion space 221, and the first mating surface 13 and the second mating surface 22 are in contact with each other, so that the first connector and the second connector are axially connected to form a locking part. Further, in some embodiments, the end face of the first connector facing the second connector is in the same plane as the first mating surface 13, and the end face of the second connector facing the first connector is in the same plane as the second mating surface 22. When the male end sleeve 10 and the female end sleeve 20 are inserted into place, the insertion tube 14 is inserted into the insertion space 221, and the first mating surface 13 and the second mating surface 22 are in contact with each other. At the same time, the opposite end faces of the first connector and the second connector are axially connected to form a locking part.

[0044] In some embodiments, an annular sealing groove 222 is provided on the first mating surface 13 or the second mating surface 22, and a sealing ring 40 is embedded in the sealing groove. When the first mating surface 13 and the second mating surface 22 are in contact, the sealing ring 40 is compressed to form a seal between them.

[0045] The sealing ring 40 can play a sealing role, preventing moisture and impurities from entering the connector from between the first mating surface 13 and the second mating surface 22, which could lead to electrical risks and damage to the internal conductive components.

[0046] In some embodiments, an anti-slip structure 32 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the locking member.

[0047] The anti-slip structure 32 can increase the friction of the outer circumference of the locking part, making it easier for the operator to operate the locking part during the locking process and accelerating the tightening process.

[0048] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail by way of examples, those skilled in the art should understand that the above examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An interlocking structure for a connector, used to lock mutually mated male end sheaths and female end sheaths, characterized in that, include: The first connector is disposed on the outer wall of the male end sheath; The second connector is disposed on the outer wall of the female end sheath. When the male end sheath and the female end sheath are inserted into place, the first connector and the second connector are axially connected to form a locking part. A locking member is sleeved on the outside of the locking part; a complementary connection structure is provided between the inner wall of the locking member and the outer wall of the locking part, and the locking member locks the locking part through the connection structure, thereby locking the male end sheath and the female end sheath that are inserted into each other.

2. The interlocking structure of the connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The locking element is a locking ring, and the connecting structure is a threaded pair disposed between the inner wall of the locking ring and the outer wall of the locking part; the locking ring tightens the first connecting body and the second connecting body by screwing the threaded pair.

3. The interlocking structure of the connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first connecting body is a first protrusion protruding from the outer wall of the male end sheath, and the second connecting body is a second protrusion protruding from the outer wall of the female end sheath. The first protrusion and the second protrusion engage with each other when the male end sheath and the female end sheath are inserted into place, together forming the locking part.

4. The interlocking structure of the connector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first boss is disposed on the top wall or side wall of the male end sheath, and correspondingly, the second boss is disposed on the top wall or side wall of the female end sheath.

5. The interlocking structure of the connector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The outer wall of the male end sheath and the outer wall of the female end sheath are provided with recessed grooves corresponding to the protrusions to accommodate at least a portion of the protrusions and a portion of the locking member sleeved thereon.

6. The interlocking structure of the connector according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cross-sectional dimension of the embedded groove is larger than the outer diameter of the locking element.

7. The interlocking structure of the connector according to claim 3, characterized in that, One of the opposing surfaces of the first boss and the second boss is provided with a positioning groove, and the other is provided with a positioning protrusion that matches the positioning groove. When the male end sleeve and the female end sleeve are inserted into place, the positioning protrusion is engaged with the positioning groove, so that the first boss and the second boss together form a locking part with a continuous outer contour.

8. The interlocking structure of the connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The male end sheath has a first mating surface, and a plug-in tube extends from the first mating surface toward the female end sheath. The female end sheath has a second mating surface, and a plug-in space is opened on the second mating surface toward the male end sheath. When the male end sheath and the female end sheath are plugged into place, the first mating surface and the second mating surface fit together.

9. The interlocking structure of the connector according to claim 8, characterized in that, An annular sealing groove is provided on the first mating surface or the second mating surface, and a sealing ring is embedded in the sealing groove. When the first mating surface and the second mating surface are in contact, the sealing ring is compressed to form a seal between them.

10. The interlocking structure of the connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer circumferential surface of the locking component is provided with an anti-slip structure.

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