Power outlet

Abstract

Socket (1) for connecting a plug (2) in the exterior of a motor vehicle with a socket housing (5) in which a plug receiving opening (4) with electrical contacts (14) is formed for plugging in a plug (2) and establishing an electrical connection, and with a cover (6) hinged to the socket housing (5), which in its closed position seals the plug receiving opening (4) and is pre-tensioned in the closing direction, wherein a locking mechanism (7) is provided which increases the holding force of the lid (6) in its closed position, which locking mechanism has a holding element (21) which deflects against a restoring force and which applies an additional holding force to the lid (6) in its closed position in the closing direction and engages in a receiving opening (23) in the closed position, wherein a locking bracket (8) of the socket (1) is pivotally connected to the socket housing (5), which locking bracket can be folded over the cover (6) in its closed position and cooperates with the holding element (21), characterized in that the holding element (21) is mounted in the socket housing (5) and the receiving opening (23) is formed in the locking bracket (8), wherein the locking bracket (8) and the cover (6) are hinged to opposite sides of the socket housing (5) and the locking bracket (8) has at least one arm (9) which can be pivoted over an edge of the lid (6) and which, in the closed position of the lid (6) and the locking bracket (8), rests on a rounded pressing surface (10) of the lid (6), wherein the pressing surface (10) is formed on the edge of the cover (6) in such a way that the pressing surface (10) is located in the center of the plug receiving opening (4) in the closed position of the cover (6) in a direction which runs transversely to the pivot axes of the cover (6) and the locking bracket (8) and points from the pivot axis of the cover (6) to the pivot axis of the locking bracket (8).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a socket for connecting a plug in the exterior of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1, comprising a socket housing in which a plug receiving opening is formed with electrical contacts for plugging in a plug and establishing an electrical connection, and comprising a cover hinged to the socket housing, which, in its closed position, seals off the plug receiving opening and is pretensioned in the closing direction. In the closed position, a seal accommodated in the cover interacts with the edge of the plug receiving opening as a sealing surface, so that no water can enter the plug receiving opening when the socket is not connected to a plug and the plug receiving opening is covered by the cover.

[0002] The covers attached to the socket housing are usually hinged and loaded in the closing direction by a leg spring. Therefore, the moment acting on the cover in the closing direction is greater in the open position than in the closed position. The spring force of the leg spring must be just high enough, whether the cover is fully or partially open, for the cover to close again when released. To improve the tightness of the socket between the closed cover and the wall of the plug opening, it is generally desirable for the spring force to be as high as possible even in the closed position.This could be achieved with a sufficiently strong leg spring, but this would then develop such a strong closing force in the open position of the cover that there is a significant risk of injury if the cover is accidentally released in the open position and a finger is trapped between the cover and the socket housing. To minimize the risk of injury, the closing force of the cover is limited for sockets currently on the market.

[0003] DE 44 13 141 A1 discloses an electrical installation device with a hinged lid that is pivotably connected to the device cover via an insertion opening. A pivot guide with a leaf spring is provided, which engages a locking projection located on the associated pivot axis, thereby applying an additional closing force to the hinged lid into a stable closed position. However, this closing force is not sufficient to achieve reliable sealing of the contact area.

[0004] DE 44 16 992 A1 similarly describes a watertight closure arrangement for charging connection devices with a leaf spring that acts on a cam portion of a cover to increase its closing force. Furthermore, the cover, which is not subjected to a preload in the closing direction, is intended to be held open in its open position by the leaf spring. In its closed position, a retaining element mounted on the cover also engages in a suitable receiving opening in the socket housing. However, the closure mechanism shown is comparatively complex and does not reliably achieve the desired additional closing force.

[0005] Similar state of the art with sockets that can be closed by a hinged cover is described in DE 202 02 423 U1, DE 298 06 587 U1 and DE 10 75 698 A.

[0006] DE 140 376 A, the generic prior art, describes a closure for a housing with a hinged lid and a locking lever arranged opposite. When a lever handle of the locking lever is moved, the lid is pressed onto the housing. To ensure the closure is firmly closed, the lever handle has a spring-loaded tongue that secures the lever handle against the housing. US 187 768 A describes a similar socket with a lid and a locking lever. A pressing surface of the lid is located in the center of a receiving opening closed by the lid.

[0007] In practice, the insufficient closing force leads to sealing problems, especially when the sockets are used in agriculture or on trucks, as trucks and agricultural equipment often become heavily soiled during use and may be cleaned with high-pressure cleaners. The force of the water jet can lift the cover from its closed position, allowing moisture to enter the contact area of ​​the socket, which can cause short circuits during subsequent use.

[0008] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a socket that achieves improved lid retention when the lid is closed. According to an important application, the sealing of the contact area is to be improved by increasing the closing force of the lid resting on the wall of the plug-in opening.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention with the features of claim 1. A locking mechanism is provided on the socket which increases the holding force of the cover in its closed position. According to the invention, this locking mechanism does not form a rigid lock that must be unlocked by means of a bolt before opening, but rather an arrangement with a holding element that only engages the cover or a locking bracket in the closed position and is designed to be movable against a force that is in particular adjustable. This holding element engages the cover or locking bracket in the closed position and holds the cover or the locking bracket supporting the cover closed with an additional force acting in particular in the closing direction, which force must be overcome when the cover is opened. According to the invention, however, this additional holding force does not further pretension the cover in the closing direction.A separate unlocking of the cover or the locking bracket, for example by manually loosening or actuating a release element, is not necessary according to the invention. However, in an open position of the cover that is different from the closed position, no additional force acts in the closing direction of the cover. The closed position of the cover does not necessarily have to be the position of the cover in which the cover rests with maximum force on a wall of the plug receiving opening or a seal for sealing the contact area. The closed position of the cover can also be a position in which the cover rests with a defined contact pressure on the seal or the wall of the plug receiving opening, regardless of the preload force acting in the closing direction. This position can, for example,be defined by a defined distance of the cover from the wall of the plug receptacle opening and serve to set the contact pressure on the seal in a defined manner so that, on the one hand, a reliable seal is achieved and, on the other hand, the force acting on the seal is not so great that the seal is damaged over time due to the force acting on it. In general terms, the invention therefore relates to increasing the holding force of the cover in a previously defined closed position. The closed position does not necessarily have to be a position in which the cover rests on a wall of the plug receptacle opening with maximum closing force. Rather, the closed position is a position of the cover in which the cover should be in its closed position, even if the opening to be closed is not completely closed or not closed with maximum force in this position.In a preferred application, the additional holding force represents a closing force of the cover for sealing a plug receiving opening.

[0010] To build up the holding force according to the invention, the locking mechanism has a holding element that deflects against a restoring force and applies an additional holding force to the lid in its closed position in the closing direction. After this holding force has been overcome, the holding element deflects into a guide provided for this purpose. After a separate locking bracket, which is part of the locking mechanism and engages the lid, is moved from the closed position, no further holding force acting in the closing direction of the lid is exerted on the lid. This is achieved after the locking bracket is opened by a small opening angle from the closed position, for example, from 5 to 10°. In this context, it is particularly advantageous if the guide is designed such that the holding element is moved in the guide essentially perpendicular to the additional holding force.

[0011] For this purpose, the holding element engages in a receiving opening when the lid and locking bracket are in the closed position. The holding element received in the receiving opening is designed in such a way that it rests on the edge or inner wall of the receiving opening in order to exert the additional holding force on the lid and increase the closing force of the lid in its closed position. However, if a force is exerted on the holding element in the opening direction that overcomes the additional holding force, the holding element in the guide gives way against its own restoring force. It is pressed out of the receiving opening and guided in the guide provided for it. When the holding element is fully engaged in the guide or

[0012] If the cover is received in a guide opening, it preferably rests against a wall or guide surface which absorbs the restoring force of the retaining element and against which the retaining element is pressed by its restoring force. When the retaining element moves relative to this surface, only a small frictional force acts compared to the additional holding force in the closed position. If the locking bracket of the cover is in an open position different from the closed position, the locking bracket can therefore be moved relative to the socket housing without any significant additional effort. In particular, this frictional force does not exert any force in the closing direction of the locking bracket.

[0013] The additional holding force in the closed position of the lid or the locking bracket can be advantageously achieved if the holding element has a rounded and / or beveled surface for transmitting force to a surface absorbing the additional holding force. A suitable bevel or rounding with a suitable radius of curvature ensures that the holding force is preferably exerted at a point or surface area, e.g. the receiving opening, so that the force and its direction are easily controllable. In particular, the bevel or rounding can be designed such that, in the closed position, the force exerted during the opening movement acts largely in the direction of the surface absorbing the additional holding force and only to a small extent obliquely or, in particular, perpendicular to the holding direction.This force, acting either diagonally or perpendicularly to the holding force, then moves the holding element out of the receiving opening against its restoring force, releasing the locking bar for an opening movement. The force ratios can be optimally adjusted by adjusting the angle between the tangential direction of the rounded or beveled portion and the point of application on the surface absorbing the holding force, also known as the holding surface. This dynamic angle of engagement, developed according to the invention, allows the additional holding force to be precisely adjusted and designed so that it acts selectively only in the desired position of the locking bar.

[0014] It has been found that in a particularly preferred embodiment according to the invention the holding element is a ball. This ball can be movably received in the guide or guide opening, which in particular has an inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of the ball. As a result, the ball is freely movable in the guide opening. According to a simply designed embodiment the guide opening can be designed in the manner of a blind bore, i.e. have an open and a closed end. As an element generating the restoring force of the holding element a spring, in particular a spiral spring, can be received in the guide opening, which is supported on the closed end of the guide opening and at the opposite end abuts the ball which is also received in the guide opening. The length of the guide opening orThe spring is dimensioned in such a way that the spring and the ball abutting against it are not fully received in the guide opening when the spring is not tensioned. When the spring is tensioned, the ball can then be pressed fully into the guide opening so that the spring, with its restoring force, pre-tensions the ball in the direction of the open end of the guide opening. When the socket or the locking mechanism according to the invention is assembled, the ball rests against a wall or guide surface closing the open end of the guide opening, in which the receiving opening is designed to partially accommodate the ball or, in general, the holding element. When the locking bracket is in the closed position, the holding element partially enters the receiving opening and, by resting against the (inner) wall of the receiving opening, generates the additional holding force provided for according to the invention.

[0015] The retaining element does not have to be a sphere, as already indicated, but can in principle also be designed as a differently shaped retaining element. However, the sphere is particularly advantageous because the retaining element cannot tilt in the guide opening, simple assembly is possible without a preferred direction of the retaining element, and only a low frictional force is generated when the retaining element is moved out of the receiving opening in the closed position and rests against the wall or guide surface. In addition, the sphere ensures that the retaining force is only exerted at one point on the wall or edge of the receiving opening, namely in the tangential direction and a direction normal to the tangential direction.

[0016] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the inner diameter of the receiving opening is smaller than the outer diameter of the ball. Preferably, however, the receiving opening is only slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the ball, i.e. preferably approximately 5 to 15% smaller. This has the effect that the tangent on the spherical surface is aligned almost parallel to the wall of the receiving opening when the cover or locking bracket is in the closed position, so that a large force component acts in the direction of the holding force against the wall of the receiving opening, and only a small force component is exerted perpendicular to this in the direction opposite to the restoring force of the spring. This generates a particularly high additional holding force and achieves only a minimal force component opposite to the restoring force, so that the force required to overcome the holding force when the cover or locking bracket is opened is very high.

[0017] In another embodiment of the invention, the holding element can also be formed integrally with a flexible element and have a preferably rounded or bevelled region for engaging in a receiving opening. The flexible element can be made of plastic or designed as a spring leaf. In this embodiment, the holding elements and spring for generating the restoring force are therefore preferably made of one material, with sufficient restoring space being formed in the socket, the locking mechanism or the cover or the locking bracket itself in order to move the flexible element with the holding element formed integrally thereto or fixed thereto from its position in a receiving opening into a position in which the opening movement of the cover or locking bracket is released.

[0018] According to the invention, the retaining element, with its element that generates the restoring force, is mounted in the socket housing. There is generally sufficient space there to accommodate the retaining element and, for example, a spring for generating the restoring force in the guide opening of the guide. The receiving opening is formed in the locking bracket, which is pivotally connected to the socket housing and can be folded over the cover in its closed position. In this position, the retaining element engages the receiving opening of the locking bracket, which then secures the cover.

[0019] What is crucial is that the holding element and the locking bracket interact according to the invention in the closed position of the lid and a corresponding securing position of the locking bracket in order to increase the holding force of the lid in its closed position.

[0020] The locking bracket is easy to handle and ensures a secure closing action because the locking bracket is hinged to a side of the socket housing opposite the plug receptacle opening. The cover and locking bracket thus fold toward each other, with the cover being pre-tensioned in the closing direction and, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking bracket must then be manually operated. To open the cover from the closed position, the locking bracket can first be opened manually against the additional holding force of the locking mechanism. However, it is also possible to release the locking bracket by pulling the cover upwards with a sufficiently high force.

[0021] According to the invention, the locking bracket has at least one, but preferably two arms pivotable over the edge of the lid, which arms rest on a pressure surface of the lid in the closed position of the lid and the locking bracket in order to exert the additional holding force on the lid.

[0022] The contact or pressure surface between the arm(s) of the locking bracket and the socket is designed in a direction transverse to the pivot axes of the cover and the locking bracket, and in the closed position of the cover, is centered relative to the plug receptacle opening. This achieves a uniform contact pressure, which can be adjusted if necessary using elongated holes in the cover bearing and the cover spring for preloading the cover in the closing direction.

[0023] Further features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments and the drawings.

[0024] They show: Fig. 1 a socket according to the invention in three-dimensional view with a locking mechanism according to the invention having a locking bracket in the closed position of the cover and the locking bracket; Fig. 2 the socket according to Fig. 1 with locking bracket open; Fig. 3 the socket according to Fig. 1 with lid and locking bracket open; Fig. 4 the socket according to Fig. 1 with plug inserted; Fig. 5 the socket according to Fig. 1 with plug secured by the locking bracket; Fig. 6 the socket according to Fig. 1 in an exploded view; Fig. 7 a partial sectional drawing of the socket according to Fig. 1 in the area of ​​the locking mechanism with the cover closed and the locking bracket closed; Fig. 8 a partial sectional drawing according to Fig. 1 in the area of ​​the locking mechanism when the plug is inserted and the locking bracket is closed; Fig. 9 a partial sectional drawing of the socket according to Fig. 1 with locking bracket partially open; Fig. 10 a schematic diagram of the locking mechanism in the open position; Fig. 11 a schematic diagram of the locking mechanism during the closing process in a first position; Fig. 12 a schematic diagram of the locking mechanism during the closing process in a second position; Fig. 13 a schematic diagram of the locking mechanism in the closed position; Fig. 14 the socket according to Fig. 1 in a three-dimensional side view and Fig. 15 the socket in the view according to Fig. 14 in a sectional view.

[0025] The Fig. 1 socket 1 is used to connect a plug 2, which is Fig. 4. The socket 1 is typically mounted on the exterior of a vehicle and used to connect trailers or other electrical devices to the vehicle's electrical circuit. For this purpose, the socket 1 can be screwed to the vehicle through the mounting holes 3 using screws (not shown).

[0026] The present invention is particularly suitable for use in towing vehicles used in agriculture or construction machinery, to which trailers or other machines with their own electrical circuits can be connected. To supply electrical power to the trailers or machines, they are equipped with a plug 2 that can be plugged into the socket 1.

[0027] In Fig. 1, the socket 1 is shown in a state in which no plug 2 is inserted into the socket 1. A plug receiving opening 4 provided for inserting the plug 2, as shown in Fig. 3 is shown in Fig. 1 is sealed with a cover 6 hinged to the socket housing 5. The cover 6 is pre-tensioned in the closing direction and additionally secured by a locking mechanism 7, which increases the holding or closing force of the cover 6 in its closed position. For this purpose, the locking mechanism 7 has a locking bracket 8 with two arms 9, each of which overlaps an edge of the cover 6. In the closed position of the cover 6 and the locking bracket 7, the arms rest on a pressure surface 10 of the cover 7 in order to exert the additional holding force provided according to the invention on the cover 6.

[0028] The locking bracket 8 is hinged to the socket housing 5 in a similar way to the cover 6, wherein the pivot axes of the cover 6 and the locking bracket 8 are aligned parallel and spaced from one another, so that the pivoting directions of the cover 6 and the locking bracket 8 lie in parallel planes to one another.

[0029] The cover 6 is, as Fig. 2, the locking bracket 8 is connected to the socket 1 via a cover holder 11 that is integrally connected to the socket housing 5, and the locking bracket 8 is connected to the socket 1 via a bracket holder 12 that is integrally connected to the socket housing 5. The cover holder 11 and bracket holder 12 are located on opposite sides of the plug receiving opening 4 and are arranged such that the pivot axes for the cover 6 and the locking bracket 8 are arranged parallel in the manner described. As a result, the cover 6 and the locking bracket 8 are folded over the plug receiving opening 4 from different sides. Fig. 2, the cover 6 is pre-tensioned in the closing direction on the plug receiving opening 4. The locking bracket 8 with the two arms 9, however, is shown in an open position. Since the locking bracket 8 is neither pre-tensioned in the direction of its open position nor in the direction of its closed position, the locking bracket 8 remains in the position shown in Fig. 2 shown position.

[0030] The arms 9 of the locking bracket 8, which are straight or flat on their side facing the cover 6, come to rest on rounded pressing surfaces 10 of the cover 6 in the closed position of the cover 6 and locking bracket 8, wherein the pressing surfaces 10 are arranged in a direction transverse to the pivot axes of the cover 6 and locking bracket 8 in the center of the plug receiving opening 4, so that the arms 9 exert a uniform contact pressure in the center of the cover 6 in the closed position of the locking bracket and achieve a reliable sealing effect.

[0031] If the locking bracket 8, as shown in Fig. 2, the lid can be opened against its pre-tensioning force exerted by a lid spring 13, as Fig. 3. This releases the connector receiving opening 4 with the contacts 14 arranged therein for plugging in the connector 2. To seal the connector receiving opening 4 in the closed position of the cover 6, an annular seal 15 is arranged in the cover 6, which interacts with the front wall of the connector receiving opening 4 as a sealing surface in the closed position of the cover 6.

[0032] In Fig. 4 schematically shows a plug 2 plugged onto the socket 1, which has a flange-like projection 16 at a position corresponding to the contact surfaces 10 of the cover 6. This makes it possible to fold the locking bracket 8 back towards the plug receiving opening in such a way that the arms 9 rest on the flange-like projection 16 and also apply an additional holding force to the plug 2 in its state plugged into the socket 1. This is shown in Fig. 5 shown.

[0033] In the following Fig. 6, the socket 1 with the cover 2 and the locking mechanism 7 are shown in an exploded view, which explains in more detail the structure and functioning of the locking mechanism 7 according to the invention, according to which the locking bracket 8 and the holding element 21 cooperate to generate an additional holding force in the closed position of the locking bracket 8 or the cover 6.

[0034] The cover 2 of the socket 1 is secured to the cover holder 11 by means of a spiral tension pin 17. The spiral tension pin additionally accommodates a cover spring 13, designed as a leg spring, to preload the cover 6 toward its closed position. Thus, the cover 6 rests on the front wall of the plug receiving opening 4 when no plug 2 is plugged into the socket 1. This protects the contacts 14 located in the plug receiving opening 4 from the ingress of moisture, since the annular seal 15 arranged in the cover 6 rests on the front wall of the plug receiving opening 4.

[0035] However, the preload of the cover spring 13 can only be so great that no serious injuries (crushing) occur if the cover 4 is accidentally released from its open position and a finger is crushed between the cover 6 and the front wall of the connector opening 4. However, the closing force achievable under this condition is generally insufficient to reliably hold the cover 6 in its closed position when the towing vehicle is cleaned with a pressurized water jet, for example. In this case, it regularly happens that the cover 6 is slightly lifted, allowing moisture to enter the connector opening 4. This can lead to short circuits during later use.

[0036] In order to apply an additional holding force to the cover 6 in its closed position, the invention provides an additional locking mechanism 7, which has a locking bracket 8, which is hinged to the bracket holder 12 by means of two spiral tension pins 17. Furthermore, the locking mechanism 7 has a guide 18 with two guide openings 19 arranged axially on opposite sides of the guide 18, the axes of which preferably run parallel to the pivot axis of the locking bracket 8 defined by the spiral tension pins 17 in the bracket holder 12.

[0037] A compression spring 20 and a ball 21 are each received in the guide opening 19, which is designed like a blind hole, such that the ball 21, serving as a holding element, can be pressed into the guide opening 19 against a restoring force of the compression spring 20. In the assembled state of the locking bracket 8, the balls 21 are held in the guide opening 19 against the restoring force of the compression spring 20, since the balls 21 are supported on a wall or guide surface 22 of the locking bracket 8. In the closed position of the locking bracket 8, receiving openings 23 provided in the wall surface 22 are located in front of each of the guide openings 19 and allow the balls 21 to partially emerge from the guide openings 19 into the receiving openings 23.

[0038] For this purpose, the guide openings 19 and the receiving openings 23 are arranged coaxially in the closed position of the locking bracket 8 and thus also of the cover 6, wherein the diameter of the receiving openings 23 is smaller than the diameter of the guide openings 19, so that the balls 21 cannot completely emerge from the guide opening 19. Nevertheless, the balls interact with the inner wall or edge of the receiving openings 23, so that in the closed position of the locking bracket 8, an additional holding force is exerted on the locking bracket 8 or cover 6 in that the arms 9 rest on the pressure surfaces 10 of the cover 6 and the annular seal arranged in the cover 6 presses onto the front wall of the plug receiving opening.

[0039] This is in the Fig. 7 to 9 are clarified once again. Fig. Figure 7 shows the locking bracket 8 in its closed position, in which its arms 9 rest on the contact surface 10 of the cover 6. The compression spring 20 and the ball 21 serving as a retaining element are accommodated in the guide 18 of the socket housing 5 with the two guide openings 19, each compression spring 20 being compressed, generating a restoring force when the ball 21 is fully received in the guide opening 19.

[0040] This restoring force of the compression springs 20 causes the balls, in the closed position of the locking bracket 8, to partially enter the receiving openings 23 positioned in front of the guide opening 19 in the wall or guide surface 22, so that to open the locking bracket 8, an additional force must be generated, which pushes the ball 21 completely back into the guide opening 19. This exerts an additional holding force on the cover 6 without it being locked with a rigid lock, which would break off if excessive force were applied and lead to damage to the socket 1 or the additional locking mechanism 7.

[0041] If the force applied to the locking bracket 8 becomes too great, the additional holding force on the locking bracket 8 is overcome and the locking bracket 8 opens in the same way as occurs when the locking bracket 8 is intended to be opened by pulling on the pulling surfaces 24 of the locking bracket 8, which are designed on the arms 9 of the locking bracket 8 to protrude outwards, in particular laterally.

[0042] A corresponding situation with regard to the locking mechanism 7 arises when the plug 2 is inserted into the socket and the locking bracket 8 is in its closed position. This is Fig. 8 illustrates this.

[0043] Fig. 9 shows the locking bracket 8 in a partially open position, in which the arms 9 of the locking bracket 8 are slightly lifted from the contact surfaces 10 of the cover 6. In this position of the locking bracket 8, the balls 21 are pressed through the wall surface 22 of the locking bracket 8 into the guide opening 19 against the restoring force of the compression springs 20, so that the locking bracket 8 can be moved freely except for a slight frictional force of the balls 21 on the wall surface 22. A significant additional holding force is exerted on the locking bracket 8, and in particular, no restoring force acts on the locking bracket 8 in the direction of its closed position.

[0044] The preferred kinematics of the locking mechanism 7 is explained below using the schematic sketches of the Fig. 10 to 13, with reference to a ball 21 as the retaining element. However, the same function can be achieved with differently shaped retaining elements, for example, rounded or beveled.

[0045] In Fig. 10 shows a guide 18 for the ball 21, which is subjected to a restoring force Fb by the compression spring 20 and serves as a holding element according to the invention. Fr represents the reaction force to the restoring force Fb, which is determined according to the Fig. 10 is received by the wall surface 22, which is part of the locking bracket 8. This corresponds to an open position of the locking bracket 8. In the coordinate system shown, the axis P is parallel to the axis of rotation of the cover 6 or the locking bracket 8, and the axis S is perpendicular thereto.

[0046] According to Fig. 10, the ball 21 is completely received in the guide opening 19. The reaction force Fr is then opposite to the restoring force Fb, with the forces Fr and Fb each aligned parallel to the axis P.

[0047] As soon as the ball lands on 21, as in Fig. 11, begins to enter the receiving opening 23, the reaction force Fr is aligned in the normal direction to the tangent of the ball 21 at the point of contact of the ball 21 with the wall or guide surface 22 (edge ​​of the receiving opening 23). This creates an angle of engagement θ between the restoring force Fr and the axis P, so that the reaction force Fr has a force component Fa in the direction of the axis S, which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation P, which exerts an additional holding force when opening the lid. This additional component Fa is shown in the Fig. 11, the force component Fa is still comparatively small, since the ball is only minimally received in the receiving opening 23. The force component Fa increases when the receiving opening 23 is aligned essentially parallel to the guide opening 19, as Fig. 12 illustrates.

[0048] When the receiving opening 23 and the guide opening 19 are aligned completely parallel, which corresponds to a closed position of the locking bracket 8, the ball 21 enters the receiving opening 23 as far as possible, which has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the ball 21. In this case, the force component Fa increases considerably in the direction of the axis S, although the restoring force Fb of the spring decreases due to the deflection of the ball 21. A particularly high additional holding force is generated on the cover.

[0049] A very high reaction force Fr must be applied to the lid in order to generate a force component in the direction of the axis P that overcomes the restoring force Fb. This achieves the very high additional holding force in the closed position of the locking bracket without exerting an additional restoring force on the lid in the open position of the locking bracket.

[0050] The additional holding force according to the invention thus occurs selectively only in the state of a closed locking bracket, so that the risk of injury due to unintentional closing of the locking bracket is minimized and at the same time a particularly high closing force of the cover is ensured, which prevents the ingress of moisture into the plug receiving opening 4.

[0051] Fig. 14 shows the interaction of the arm 9 of the locking bracket 8 of the first embodiment with the rounded pressing surface 10 of the cover 4, whereby, as shown in the sectional drawing Fig. 15, a particularly uniform pressing force is exerted on the ring seal 15 of the cover, which rests on the front wall of the plug receiving opening 4. An additional seal 32 can be applied to this front wall. List of reference symbols: 1 socket 2 plugs 3 Mounting opening 4 plug-in opening 5 socket housings 6 lids 7 Locking mechanism 8 locking brackets 9 Arm 10 Pressure surface 11 lid holders 12 hanger holders 13 cover spring 14 contacts 15 Ring seal 16 flange-like projection 17 Spiral spring pin 18 Guide 19 Guide opening 20 compression spring 21 Ball, retaining element 22 Wall or guide surface 23 Receiving opening 24 train area 32 Seal

Claims

[1] Socket (1) for connecting a plug (2) in the exterior of a motor vehicle with a socket housing (5) in which a plug receiving opening (4) with electrical contacts (14) is formed for plugging in a plug (2) and establishing an electrical connection, and with a cover (6) hinged to the socket housing (5), which in its closed position seals the plug receiving opening (4) and is pre-tensioned in the closing direction, wherein a locking mechanism (7) is provided which increases the holding force of the lid (6) in its closed position, which locking mechanism has a holding element (21) which deflects against a restoring force and which applies an additional holding force to the lid (6) in its closed position in the closing direction and engages in a receiving opening (23) in the closed position, wherein a locking bracket (8) of the socket (1) is pivotally connected to the socket housing (5), which locking bracket can be folded over the cover (6) in its closed position and cooperates with the holding element (21), characterized by , that the holding element (21) is mounted in the socket housing (5) and the receiving opening (23) is formed in the locking bracket (8), wherein the locking bracket (8) and the cover (6) are hinged to opposite sides of the socket housing (5) and the locking bracket (8) has at least one arm (9) which can be pivoted over an edge of the lid (6) and which, in the closed position of the lid (6) and the locking bracket (8), rests on a rounded pressing surface (10) of the lid (6), wherein the pressing surface (10) is formed on the edge of the cover (6) in such a way that the pressing surface (10) is located in the center of the plug receiving opening (4) in the closed position of the cover (6) in a direction which runs transversely to the pivot axes of the cover (6) and the locking bracket (8) and points from the pivot axis of the cover (6) to the pivot axis of the locking bracket (8). [2] Socket (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the holding element (21) has a rounded and / or bevelled surface. [3] Socket (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that the holding element is a ball (21). [4] Socket (1) according to claim 3, characterized by that the inner diameter of the receiving opening (23) is smaller than the outer diameter of the ball (21).

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