Release mechanism and method for release for a primary locking of a plug

Abstract

The invention relates to a release mechanism for a primary locking of a plug with a contact carrier (1) having a plurality of contact chambers (2), into each of which a crimp (4) or terminal (4) arranged on a line (3) is inserted or can be inserted, wherein the crimp (4) has an elastic locking lance (6) which is configured to engage in a locking opening (7) in the contact carrier (1) so that the crimp (4) is secured or can be secured against being pulled out in the contact chamber (2), wherein at least one release strip (8) is arranged or can be arranged on the contact carrier (1), which is configured to be pressed against a spring force from the outside into the locking openings (7) in order to displace the locking lance (6) from the locking opening (7) so that the crimp (4) can be pulled out of the contact chamber (2), wherein the release mechanism has a gripper (10) for gripping,Combining and moving the lines (3) in the direction (R) towards and away from the contact carrier (1) and at least one actuator (11) designed to press the release strip (8) into the associated locking openings (7).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a release mechanism for a primary locking of a plug according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for releasing a primary locking of a plug according to the preamble of claim 8.

[0002] Devices for collecting cables with primary locking mechanisms are known, but release tools are required to release the primary locking mechanism. These are special tools that manually open a chamber. Collecting devices with snap clamps that can be released using compressed air are also known.

[0003] DE 10 2011 052 213 A1 describes an electrical contact insert arrangement for detachably attaching insertion into an electrical plug connector arrangement having a plug and a socket, with a first contact insert which can be inserted modularly into the plug or the socket and a second contact insert which can be inserted modularly into the socket or the plug, wherein the first contact insert has a first electrical contact and a locking device, the second contact insert has a second electrical contact, the second electrical contact has a locking element, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are each inserted in the first contact insert or the socket in such a way thatare arranged in the second contact insert and are designed such that when the first contact insert is plugged together with the second contact insert, an electrically conductive connection is produced between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, and the locking device is designed such that when the contact inserts are plugged together, applying an electrical voltage to the locking device causes the locking device to be locked or unlocked with the locking element, so that the contact inserts are not separable from one another or can be separated from one another.

[0004] The invention has for its object to provide a novel release mechanism for a primary locking of a plug and a novel method for releasing a primary locking of a plug.

[0005] The object is achieved according to the invention by a release mechanism for a primary locking of a plug having the features of claim 1 and a method for releasing a primary locking of a plug having the features of claim 8.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0007] A release mechanism is proposed for a primary locking of a plug with a contact carrier, which has a plurality of contact chambers, into each of which a crimp or terminal, which is arranged on a line, is plugged or can be plugged, wherein the crimp has an elastic locking lance which is configured to engage in a locking opening in the contact carrier, so that the crimp is secured or can be secured against being pulled out in the contact chamber, wherein at least one unlocking strip is arranged or can be arranged on the contact carrier, which is configured to be pressed into the locking openings from the outside against a spring force in order to displace the locking lance from the locking opening, so that the crimp can be pulled out of the contact chamber.According to the invention, the release mechanism has a gripper for gripping, gathering and moving the lines towards and away from the contact carrier and at least one actuator which is designed to press the release bar into the associated locking openings in order to displace the locking lances therefrom and thus release the primary locking.

[0008] In one embodiment, the actuator has an inclined surface for engagement with one of the elastic elements.

[0009] In one embodiment, the actuator can be guided along the contact carrier in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the contact chambers and / or can be folded laterally to press in the release bar.

[0010] In one embodiment, the actuator is arranged on a plug side facing away from the gripper or on a gripper side of the contact carrier facing the gripper.

[0011] In one embodiment, at least one elastic element is arranged on the unlocking strip, which is supported on the contact carrier.

[0012] In one embodiment, two elastic elements are arranged on the release strip in such a way that they form the shape of a pointed roof, at the ridge of which the release strip is arranged pointing downwards, with the eaves being supported on the contact carrier.

[0013] In one embodiment, the locking lances and / or the crimps are formed from an elastic material and / or respective springs are arranged on the locking lances.

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for releasing a primary locking mechanism of a connector using the release mechanism described above is proposed. The wires are gripped and gathered with the gripper, with the at least one release bar being pressed into the associated locking openings by a respective actuator to displace the locking lances therefrom and thus release the primary locking mechanism. The wires with the crimps can then be pulled out of the contact carrier by the gripper.

[0015] In one embodiment, the gripper presses the cables and their crimps towards the contact carrier before pressing the release bar with the actuator, so that the locking lances are safely released.

[0016] The wires may contain a stripped area offset from the crimps or continuous with the crimp, where the wires can be connected in a further processing step.

[0017] The contact chambers can be arranged in one, two or more rows, with the locking openings being accessible in particular from the outside in order to be able to release the locking lances with a release bar.

[0018] The contact chambers can be the same size or different sizes.

[0019] The release mechanism according to the invention releases the primary locking mechanism, which makes it possible to remove all plugged-in cables.

[0020] Existing contact carriers can be used, and integration into existing machines can be achieved with minimal effort.

[0021] The plug can be used, for example, in a vehicle, in particular a passenger car, a commercial vehicle or a bus.

[0022] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.

[0023] Showing: Fig. 1 schematic views of a contact carrier having a plurality of contact chambers, Fig. 2 schematic views of the contact carrier with a crimp of a cable inserted into one of the contact chambers, Fig. 3 schematic views of the contact carrier with crimps of several wires inserted into the contact chambers, Fig. 4 schematic views of the contact carrier from Fig. 3 during a dismantling process, with a gripper gripping the cables, Fig. 5 schematic views of the contact carrier from Fig. 4, whereby the gripper grips the cables in the retracted position, Fig. 6 schematic views of the contact carrier from Fig. 5, whereby release strips are pressed by actuators and locking lances of the crimps are thus displaced from locking openings, and Fig. 7 schematic views of the contact carrier after removing the wires with the crimps from the contact chambers.

[0024] Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows schematic views of a contact carrier 1 having a plurality of contact chambers 2, which may be of the same size or different sizes. A wire 3 with a crimp 4 or terminal 4 attached thereto is inserted into each of these contact chambers 2. The terminals 4 may have an elastic locking lance 6 configured to engage, like a barb, in a locking opening 7 in the contact carrier 1, so that the crimp 4 is secured against being pulled out of the contact chamber 2. The wires 3 may contain a stripped area 5 that is offset from the crimps 4 or continuous with the crimp 4, at which stripped area the wires 3 can be connected in a further processing step.

[0026] The contact chambers 2 can be arranged in one, two or more rows.

[0027] At least one release strip 8 is arranged on the contact carrier 1, which is configured to be pressed into the locking openings 7 against an external spring force in order to displace the locking lances 6 from the locking opening 7 so that the crimp 4 can be pulled out of the contact chamber 2. The spring force can be provided, for example, by at least one elastic element 9 arranged on the release strip 8, which is supported on the contact carrier 1. In particular, two elastic elements 9 are arranged on the release strip 8 such that they form the shape of a pointed roof, at the ridge of which the release strip 8 is arranged pointing downwards, wherein the eaves are supported on the contact carrier 1.

[0028] Fig. 2 shows schematic views of the contact carrier 1 with a crimp 4 of a cable 3 inserted into one of the contact chambers 2, wherein the locking lance 6 of the crimp 4 engages in the locking opening 7 in the contact carrier 1, so that the crimp 4 is secured against being pulled out in the contact chamber 2.

[0029] Fig. 3 shows schematic views of the contact carrier 1 with crimps 4 of multiple lines 3 inserted into the contact chambers 2, wherein the locking lances 6 of the crimps 4 engage in respective locking openings 7 in the contact carrier 1, so that the crimps 4 are secured against being pulled out of the contact chambers 2. In the embodiment shown, all contact chambers 2 are occupied by crimps 4. In other embodiments, not all contact chambers 2 need to be occupied by crimps 4.

[0030] Fig. 4 shows schematic views of the contact carrier 1 from Fig. 3 during a disassembly process, wherein a gripper 10 grips the cables 3. The gripper 10 can move from the plug or contact carrier 1 and align the cables 3 in a retracted position in order to grasp all cables 3.

[0031] Fig. 5 shows schematic views of the contact carrier 1 from Fig. 4, wherein the gripper 10 grips the cables 3 in the retracted position. One or two actuators 11 are arranged to actuate an unlocking mechanism, i.e., to press in one of the unlocking strips 8. The actuators 11 each have, for example, an inclined surface 12 for engagement with one of the elastic elements 9, wherein the actuators 11 can be guided along the contact carrier 1 in a direction R parallel to a longitudinal direction of the contact chambers 2. Pressing in the unlocking strip 8 ensures that the primary locking by the locking lances 6 is released and the cables 3 with the crimps 4 can be removed from the contact chambers 2 again. The unlocking strip 8 can be pressed, actuated by the actuator 11 or a slider on a plug side 13 of the contact carrier 1, or by the actuator 11 or a slider on a gripper side 14 of the contact carrier 1.Attachment to the gripper side 14 is particularly advantageous, as the plug side 13 can thus remain completely passive.

[0032] Fig. 6 shows schematic views of the contact carrier 1 from Fig. 5, whereby the release bars 8 are pressed by the actuators 11 and the locking lances 6 of the crimps 4 are thus displaced from the locking openings 7. The gripper 10 pulls the cables 3 with the crimps 4 out of the contact chambers 2 and thus removes them from the contact chambers 2.

[0033] Fig.Figure 7 shows schematic views of the contact carrier 1 after the leads 3 with the crimps 4 have been removed from the contact chambers 2. The release mechanism is designed to spring back to its original position. In particular, the locking lances 6 return to their original position. This can be achieved by additional springs attached to the locking lances 6 or by elastic properties of the material of the locking lances 6 and / or the crimps 4 themselves.

[0034] The slider or actuator 11 on the gripper side 14 can be fixed by moving the gripper 10 further than necessary to allow the locking lances 6 of the crimps 4 to overcome the undercut or the locking openings 7. In reality, this may be a matter of a few millimeters.

[0035] It can be provided that the gripper 10 first grips the cable bundle of cables 3 and presses the cables 3 and their crimps 4 in a plug-in direction of the crimps 4, i.e. towards the contact carrier 1, so that the locking lances 6 are safely released.

[0036] In a further embodiment, the at least one actuator 11 can also be designed to fold from the side. List of reference symbols 1 contact carrier 2 contact chamber 3 Line 4 Crimp, Terminal 5 stripped area 6 locking lance 7 locking opening 8 Release bar 9 elastic element 10 grippers 11 actuators 12 inclined surface 13 Plug side 14 Gripper side R direction

Claims

[1] Release mechanism for a primary locking of a plug with a contact carrier (1) having a plurality of contact chambers (2), into each of which a crimp (4) or terminal (4) arranged on a line (3) is inserted or can be inserted, wherein the crimp (4) has an elastic locking lance (6) configured to engage in a locking opening (7) in the contact carrier (1) so that the crimp (4) is secured or can be secured against being pulled out in the contact chamber (2), wherein at least one unlocking strip (8) is arranged or can be arranged on the contact carrier (1), which is configured to be pressed against a spring force from the outside into the locking openings (7) in order to displace the locking lance (6) from the locking opening (7) so that the crimp (4) can be pulled out of the contact chamber (2), characterized bythat the release mechanism has a gripper (10) for gripping, gathering and moving the lines (3) in the direction (R) towards the contact carrier (1) and away therefrom, as well as at least one actuator (11) which is designed to press the release strip (8) into the associated locking openings (7). [2] Release mechanism according to claim 1, characterized by that at least one elastic element (9) is arranged on the unlocking bar (8) and is supported on the contact carrier (1). [3] Release mechanism according to claim 2, characterized by that the actuator (11) has an inclined surface (12) for engagement with one of the elastic elements (9). [4] Release mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the actuator (11) can be guided along the contact carrier (1) in a direction (R) parallel to a longitudinal direction of the contact chambers (2) and / or can be folded laterally to press in the release bar (8). [5] Release mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the actuator (11) is arranged on a plug side (13) facing away from the gripper (10) or on a gripper side (14) of the contact carrier (1) facing the gripper (10). [6] Release mechanism according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by that two elastic elements (9) are arranged on the release strip (8) in such a way that they form the shape of a pointed roof, at the ridge of which the release strip (8) is arranged pointing downwards, the eaves being supported on the contact carrier (1). [7] Release mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the locking lances (6) and / or the crimps (4) are formed from an elastic material and / or that respective springs are arranged on the locking lances (6). [8] Method for releasing a primary locking of a plug with a release mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the lines (3) are gripped and combined with the gripper (10), wherein the at least one unlocking strip (8) is pressed into the associated locking openings (7) with a respective actuator (11). [9] Method according to claim 8, characterized by that the gripper (10) presses the cables (3) and their crimps (4) towards the contact carrier (1) before the release bar (8) is pressed in with the actuator (11), so that the locking lances (6) are safely released.

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