plug connection

Abstract

Connector (12) for establishing an electrical connection between electrical contact elements (18, 24), the connector (12) comprising: a housing (16) for receiving contact elements (18), wherein the housing (16) is designed to be plugged into a complementary housing (20) of a complementary connector (14) so ​​that the contact elements (18) in the housing of the connector (12) come into contact with contact elements (24) in the complementary housing (14); a locking element (26) coupled to the housing (16) and which can be moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the contact elements (18) in the housing (16) and the contact elements (24) in the complementary housing (24) are separated from one another and in the closed position the contact elements (18) in the housing and the contact elements (24) in the complementary housing (14) are connected to one another; characterized in that the connector (12) comprises a blocking element (36) which is movable between a blocking position and a release position; wherein the blocking element (36) blocks the locking element (26) in an intermediate position when the locking element (26) is moved from the closed position to the open position, wherein the housing (16) has a stop (46) against which a bolt (42) of the blocking element (36) rests in the blocking position, and / or wherein the housing (16) has a guide element (44) which, when the locking element (26) is moved from the open position to the closed position, receives a bolt (42) of the blocking element and moves the blocking element (36) into the blocking position.

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a connector for establishing an electrical connection between electrical contact elements and a plug connection comprising such a connector. Background of the invention

[0002] In electric or hybrid vehicles with an electric motor that powers the vehicle, the electric motor must be connected to a load circuit, which may include, for example, an inverter and batteries. To establish the electrical connection, a connector or plug can be used. This connector is connected to a cable of the load circuit and must be plugged into an interface or socket on the electric motor or hybrid motor.

[0003] When opening such high-current connectors, for example, for maintenance purposes, it is generally necessary to ensure that the electrical charges can drain away and that the connector is de-energized before breaking the electrical contacts. This is intended to prevent accidents after the connector is opened.

[0004] From CN 1 764 017 A a connector with a locking element and a blocking element arranged thereon is known.

[0005] Another connector is known from JP 2012 - 119 292 A.

[0006] Another connector is known from JP 2003 - 257 546 A.

[0007] Another connector is known from JP 2001 - 068 223 A.

[0008] Another connector is known from WO 2012 / 007 343 A1. Summary of the invention

[0009] The object of the invention is to provide a simple and safe plug connection for load contacts.

[0010] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0011] One aspect of the invention relates to a connector for establishing an electrical connection between electrical contact elements. The connector or plug can be connected to a cable or cable harness of a vehicle, which can be part of a load circuit of the vehicle. The cable can contain several electrical lines designed to conduct high currents or load currents. For example, the cable can carry three phases of an alternating current. Each of the lines can be connected to a contact element (for example, a pin).

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the connector comprises a housing for receiving contact elements, wherein the housing is designed to be plugged into a complementary housing of a complementary connector, so that the contact elements in the connector housing connect with contact elements in the complementary housing. For example, the connector can be plugged into an interface on an electrical device that is to be connected to the vehicle's load circuit. The contact elements of the connector (e.g., pins) are plugged into corresponding complementary contact elements (e.g., pin receptacles) of the interface.

[0013] The connector further comprises a locking element that is coupled to the housing and that can be moved between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the contact elements in the housing and the contact elements in the complementary housing are separated from one another, and in the closed position, the contact elements in the housing and the contact elements in the complementary housing are connected to one another. The locking element can, for example, be a lever that can be rotated about a rotation axis on the housing. The locking element can also be a sliding element that is movable in a direction transverse to a plug-in direction of the connector.

[0014] The connector also includes a blocking element or a blocking latch that can be moved between a blocking position and a release position. The blocking element is designed to block the locking element in an intermediate position when the locking element is moved from the closed position to the open position. As long as the blocking element is in the blocking position, the locking element cannot be moved any further towards the open position. The blocking element must first be moved into the release position, which requires additional time. In this way, the total time required to detach the connector from the interface can be extended, allowing any charges present to flow away more effectively. The plug connection therefore has an extended opening time, which could then be a total of five seconds, for example.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the blocking element is attached to the locking element and is movable relative to the locking element between the blocking position and the release position. Thus, only the locking element needs to be modified if a connector with an extended opening time is to be provided. The other components of the connector, such as the housing, the cable connection, or the contact elements, do not need to be modified. This allows for a plug connection with a blocking element as an optional design.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the blocking element is manually movable between the blocking position and the release position. For example, the blocking element can be attached laterally to the locking element so that a side surface of the blocking element faces outwards. A person wishing to release the connector must then move the locking lever or the locking slider into the intermediate position, then, for example, grasp the side surface of the blocking element with a finger and slide the blocking element into the release position. The person can then move the locking lever or the locking slider completely into the open position. In this way, the requirements for operating safety are met.

[0017] It is possible to mount the blocking element on two (e.g., opposite) sides of the locking element. This allows the opening time to be extended if necessary by doubling (multiplying) the system.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the blocking element comprises a slider attached to the locking element. For example, the blocking element can be slid in an opening in the locking element, being guided in the locking element by means of grooves.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the blocking element is locked in the locking element in the blocking position and in the release position. For example, the blocking element can have a lug, and the locking element can have recesses attached to the locking element in such a way that the lug holds the blocking element to the locking element in the blocking position and in the release position, respectively. The blocking element cannot move from the respective position without the application of additional force.

[0020] The housing has a stop against which a bolt of the locking element rests in the locking position. The bolt can be moved past the stop when the locking element is moved from the locking position to the release position. The stop can be attached to the side of the connector housing and protrude outwards, for example.

[0021] Alternatively or additionally, the housing has a guide element that, when the locking element is moved from the open position to the closed position, receives a bolt of the blocking element and moves the blocking element into the blocking position. The guide element can also be attached to the side of the connector housing and, for example, protrude outward. In this way, the blocking element is automatically moved back to the blocking position when the connector is closed. Furthermore, no additional operating time is required to close the connector.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the locking element has a groove designed to receive a projection or bolt on the complementary housing, so that when the locking element is moved from the open position to the closed position, the housing and the complementary housing are pulled toward each other. The locking element can serve as a lever with which the movement of the locking element can be converted into a movement in the plugging direction for connecting or disconnecting the contact elements.

[0023] If the projection on the complementary housing is in the groove in the intermediate position, the connector can be designed in such a way that the connector cannot be released in the intermediate position.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the connector has at least one load contact, which in the intermediate position makes electrical contact with a complementary load contact. Furthermore, the connector can have a safety contact, which in the intermediate position is electrically separated from a complementary safety contact. The safety contact is separated from the complementary safety contact when the locking element is moved from the closed position to the intermediate position. In this way, a controller that detects separation of the safety contacts can deactivate the electrical device (for example, an electric motor), so that the charge can flow away via the load contacts while the blocking element is released.

[0025] In summary, the blocking element can be used to block the opening stroke of the locking lever or locking slide at a specific position (i.e., the intermediate position). It is possible that the connector cannot be removed in this position. A control circuit comprising two safety contacts in the connector can switch off the load or main current through the connector in this position. The residual charges of the main current can flow away through the blocking element for the duration of the blocking. The blocking of the locking lever or locking slide is released by opening the blocking element. The connector can then be opened.

[0026] Another aspect of the invention relates to a plug connection for establishing an electrical connection between a cable and an electric drive motor of a vehicle. The vehicle can be, for example, a car, truck, or bus.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the plug connection comprises a connector (e.g., a plug) as described above and below. Furthermore, the plug connection may comprise a complementary connector (e.g., an interface) on the electric drive motor. Short description of the characters

[0028] In the following, embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Fig. 1 shows a plug connection according to an embodiment of the invention in a closed position. Fig. 2 shows the plug connection from the Fig. 1 in an intermediate position with blocking blocking element. Fig. 3 shows the plug connection from the Fig. 1 in an intermediate position with the blocking element released. Fig. 4 shows the plug connection from the Fig. 1 in an open position. Fig. 5 shows the plug connection from the Fig. 1 in the intermediate position when closing. Fig. 6 shows a plug connection according to another embodiment of the invention in a closed position. Fig. 7 shows the plug connection from the Fig. 6 in an intermediate position with blocking blocking element. Fig. 8 shows the plug connection from the Fig. 6 in an intermediate position with the blocking element released. Fig. 9 shows the plug connection from the Fig. 6 in an open position. Fig. 10 shows the plug connection from the Fig. 6 in the intermediate position when closing.

[0029] In principle, identical or similar parts are provided with the same reference symbols. Detailed description of implementation examples

[0030] Fig. Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a plug connection 10 comprising a connector or plug 12 and an interface 14, i.e., a complementary connector 14. The connector 12 has a housing 16 that can accommodate the end of a cable, the lines of which are electrically connected to contact elements 18. The interface 14 also has a housing 20, onto whose collar 22 the connector 12 can be plugged. Located in the housing 20 of the interface are additional contact elements 24 that can be plugged together with the contact elements 18.

[0031] For example, the contact elements are 24 pins and the contact elements are 18 pin receptacles.

[0032] The connector 12 further includes a locking element 26 in the form of a locking lever 28. The locking lever 28 is pivotable about a pivot axis 30 between a closed and an open position. The locking lever 28 has a groove 32 that can accommodate a bolt or projection 34 attached to the collar 22 of the interface 14. When the locking lever 28 is moved between the open and closed positions, the pivoting movement of the locking lever 28 is converted by the groove 32 and the bolt 34 into a linear movement in the plug-in direction of the connector 10.

[0033] In the Fig. 1, the locking lever 28 is shown in the closed position, with the bolt 34 at the end of the groove 32. The contact elements 18 and the contact elements 24 are inserted into one another and electrically connected. The plug connection 10 is thus completely closed.

[0034] Furthermore, the connector 12 has a blocking element 36 on the locking element 26. The blocking element 36 is a slider that is received in an opening 38 in the locking lever 28 and that can be manually displaced in the radial direction with respect to the axis 30 between a blocking position and a release position.

[0035] In the Fig. 1 the blocking element 36 is shown in the blocking position.

[0036] On the housing 16 of the connector 12, there is a guide slot 40 for a bolt 42, which protrudes laterally from the blocking element 36. The guide slot 40 comprises a guide element 44 and a stop 46.

[0037] As in the Fig. 1, in the closed position of the locking lever 28, the guide element 44 prevents the blocking element 36 from being moved from the blocking position to the release position.

[0038] Fig. 2 shows the plug connection 10 after the locking element 26 has been removed from the Fig. 1 has been manually moved into an intermediate position. The opening process of the locking lever 28, indicated by the arrow, is stopped by the locking lever 28 being blocked by the blocking element 36. This occurs when the bolt 42 of the blocking element 36 comes to rest on the stop 46. The end face of the stop 46 extends in a radial direction with respect to the rotation axis 30.

[0039] The blocking element 36 has two lugs 48 which hold it in two recesses 50 on the locking element 26 so that it cannot slip into the release position on its own.

[0040] The contact elements 18 and the contact elements 24 each have a safety contact 18a, 24a and load contacts 18b, 24b. In the intermediate position, the electrical connection between the load contacts 18b, 24b is still present, but the electrical connection between the safety contacts 18a, 24a has already been broken. In this position, the load current through the load contacts 18b, 24b is switched off by a control circuit via the safety contacts 18a, 24a. The residual charges of the load current can therefore flow through the blocking element 36 for the duration of the blocking.

[0041] In the Fig. Figure 3 shows how the blocking element 36 was pushed into the release position in the direction of the arrow. To do this, a sufficient force had to be exerted on the blocking element 36 so that the lugs 48 could leave the recesses 50. In the release position, the lugs are now located in a further recess 52, which prevents the blocking element 36 from slipping back into the blocking position.

[0042] The bolt 42 of the blocking element can now be moved past the stop 46. The blocking of the locking lever 28 has been released by opening the blocking element 36. The locking lever 28 can now be opened further to the end stop in the open position.

[0043] In the Fig. Figure 4 shows the connector 10 in the open position. The contact elements 18 and 24 are separated from each other. The connector 12 can be removed from the interface 14.

[0044] In the open position of the locking lever 28, the blocking element 36 is supported on a support surface 54, which is connected to the stop 46 and extends in a circumferential direction relative to the rotation axis 30. In this way, the blocking element 36 cannot be pushed into the blocking position.

[0045] As in the Fig. 4, the locking lever 28 can be moved back from the open position to the closed position. The bolt 34 at the interface 14 engages in the groove 32 and pushes the connector 12 toward the interface, so that the contact elements 18, 24 connect with each other.

[0046] In the Fig. 5, the plug connection is again shown in an intermediate position. The guide element 44 is curved around the rotation axis 30 such that, when the locking lever 28 is closed, the bolt 34 slides under the guide element 44 and is pressed toward the rotation axis 30. The distance between the guide element 44 and the rotation axis 30 thereby shortens in the circumferential direction. Thus, the blocking element 36 is automatically closed by means of the guide element 44.

[0047] The Fig. Figure 6 shows a longitudinal section through a plug connection 10, in which the plug connector 12 extends from the Fig. 1 to 5 in that it has a locking element 26 in the form of a locking slide 28'.

[0048] The interface 14 can be constructed in the same way as the one in the Fig. 1 to 5. The connector 12 may differ only in the locking element 26, the guide slot 40, and the groove 32.

[0049] The Fig. 6 to 10 show the plug connection 10 with the locking slide 28' analogous to the Fig. 1 to 5 in the same positions of the locking element 26 and the blocking element 36.

[0050] The locking slide 28' is pivotable in a direction transverse to the plug-in direction between a closed and an open position. When the locking slide 28' is moved between the open and closed positions, the movement of the locking slide 28' is converted by the groove 32 and the bolt 34 into a linear movement in the plug-in direction of the plug connection 10.

[0051] In the Fig. 6, the locking slide 28' is shown in the closed position, in which the bolt 34 is located at the end of the groove 32, and the blocking element 36 is shown in the blocking position.

[0052] The Fig. Figure 7 shows the plug connection 10 with the locking slide 28' in an intermediate position. The opening process is stopped by the locking slide 28' being blocked, since the blocking element 36 rests against the stop 46. The end face of the stop 46 extends essentially orthogonally to the direction of movement of the locking slide 28'.

[0053] Just as with regard to the Fig. 2, the load current is switched off in the intermediate position.

[0054] In the Fig. Figure 8 shows how the blocking element 36 has been pushed into the release position in the direction of the arrow. The blocking of the locking slide 28' is released by opening the blocking element 36. The locking slide can now be opened further to the end stop.

[0055] As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 9, the plug connection is then fully opened and can be removed. The blocking element 36 is supported on a support surface 54, which is connected to the stop 46 and runs essentially parallel to the direction of movement of the locking slide 28'.

[0056] As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the guide element 44 has a shape such that the bolt 34 slides under the guide element 44 when the locking slide 28' is closed and is pressed into the blocking position. A first section of the guide element 44 is arranged obliquely to the direction of movement of the locking slide 28'.

[0057] Additionally, it should be noted that "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and "one" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limitations.

Claims

[1] Connector (12) for establishing an electrical connection between electrical contact elements (18, 24), the connector (12) comprising: a housing (16) for receiving contact elements (18), wherein the housing (16) is designed to be plugged into a complementary housing (20) of a complementary connector (14) so ​​that the contact elements (18) in the housing of the connector (12) come into contact with contact elements (24) in the complementary housing (14); a locking element (26) coupled to the housing (16) and which can be moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the contact elements (18) in the housing (16) and the contact elements (24) in the complementary housing (24) are separated from one another and in the closed position the contact elements (18) in the housing and the contact elements (24) in the complementary housing (14) are connected to one another; characterized by , that the connector (12) comprises a blocking element (36) which is movable between a blocking position and a release position; wherein the blocking element (36) blocks the locking element (26) in an intermediate position when the locking element (26) is moved from the closed position to the open position, wherein the housing (16) has a stop (46) against which a bolt (42) of the blocking element (36) rests in the blocking position, and / or wherein the housing (16) has a guide element (44) which, when the locking element (26) is moved from the open position to the closed position, receives a bolt (42) of the blocking element and moves the blocking element (36) into the blocking position. [2] Connector (12) according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element (36) is attached to the locking element (26) and is displaceable relative to the locking element (26) between the blocking position and the release position. [3] Connector (12) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the blocking element (36) is manually movable between the blocking position and the release position. [4] Connector (12) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the blocking element (36) comprises a slider attached to the locking element (26). [5] Connector (12) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the blocking element (36) is locked in the locking element (26) in the blocking position and / or in the release position. [6] Connector (12) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking element (26) has a groove (32) which is designed to receive a projection (34) on the complementary housing (20) so that when the locking element (26) is moved from the open position to the closed position, the housing (16) and the complementary housing (20) are drawn towards each other. [7] Connector (12) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking element (26) comprises a lever (28) which can be rotated about a rotation axis (30) on the housing (16); [8] Connector (12) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking element (26) comprises a sliding element (28') which is movable in a direction transverse to a plugging direction of the connector (10). [9] Connector (12) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connector (12) has at least one load contact (18b) which, in the intermediate position, makes electrical contact with a complementary load contact (24b); wherein the connector (12) has a safety contact (18a) which is electrically separated from a complementary safety contact (24a) in the intermediate position. [10] Plug connection (10) for establishing an electrical connection between a cable and an electric drive motor of a vehicle, the plug connection (10) comprising: a connector (12) according to one of claims 1 to 9; and a complementary connector (14) on the electric drive motor.

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