CONNECTOR WITH FUSE ELEMENT

Description

[0001] The invention is based on a connector according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0002] Such connectors are required to reversibly connect cables. Connectors are attached to the ends of cables, and individual conductors in the cable are provided with contact elements that are housed in the connector. When the connector is connected to another mating connector, the contact elements can contact corresponding contact elements in the mating connector.

[0003] To ensure a secure connection with a mating connector, connectors usually have locking devices that allow the connectors to lock together. Various mechanisms are known from the state of the art to release the locking. A frequently used mechanism is the so-called push-pull locking mechanism. With this mechanism, the connector locks automatically when connected to the mating connector. Locking is achieved by pressing (push). The locking is released by pulling on a sliding element that at least partially forms the connector housing. When the sliding element is moved against the plugging direction, the mechanism for locking the connector is activated and the connector is released from the mating connector.

[0004] Various push-pull connectors are known from the prior art, all of which engage and disengage according to a similar principle. By plugging a connector onto a mating connector, the two are locked together. By pulling on a sliding element, the locking mechanism is released, and the connector can be removed.

[0005] A disadvantage of the existing solutions is that the simplicity of the design can also have negative consequences. Simply removing the connector can detach it from the mating connector and cause it to become disconnected. Depending on the application, this can have negative and unwanted consequences. For example, with a large number of push-pull connectors arranged in a very small space, removing one connector can inadvertently detach and deconnect a neighboring connector.

[0006] The publication WO 2007 / 071479 A1 discloses an electrical connector with a male plug, a female plug, and a locking sleeve that is axially displaceably guided on a contact carrier of the female plug and secures the two plugs in their mated position. Based on this, the publication proposes that the contact carrier of the female plug have at least one locking element that can be deflected or expanded outwardly by the male plug transversely to the mating direction. Furthermore, when the plugs are fully mated, the locking element is locked to the male plug and can be blocked from unlocking by the locking sleeve that is displaced over the locking element.

[0007] The document US 2009 / 0264003 A1 discloses a connector with a jacket member and a push-pull mechanism.

[0008] The publication WO 2015 / 063048 A1 The invention relates to a plug for a plug-in connector, comprising an inner assembly, an outer sleeve which is mounted displaceably with respect to the inner assembly and at least partially encloses the inner assembly, and first locking means for locking the plug to an associated plug-in connector part when the plug is plugged onto the plug-in connector part, wherein the locking can be released by displacing the outer sleeve with respect to the inner assembly. An additional locking element is provided which is displaceably mounted and can be brought into at least one stable locking position, in which the displacement of the outer sleeve with respect to the inner assembly is blocked, and at least one stable release position, in which the displacement of the outer sleeve with respect to the inner assembly is released.

[0009] The document US 7,632,130 B2 discloses a push-pull connector with a retractable locking element which, when folded in, is capable of blocking the unlocking movement of the outer sleeve.

[0010] The invention is based on the object of presenting a push-pull connector that can be secured against accidental unlocking and de-contacting. The connector should be designed so that at least one additional movement is required to release the connector. However, for ease of use, one-handed operation should still be possible.

[0011] The problem is solved with a connector of the type mentioned at the outset by the features of the characterizing part of independent claim 1.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0013] The invention is a so-called push-pull connector, as is known from the prior art. The connector has a base body in which a cable to be connected and contact elements are accommodated. The base body is surrounded by a sliding element, which acts as the actuator of the connector and simultaneously unlocks a locking mechanism with a mating connector.

[0014] The connector has a mating side and a connection side. The connection side allows a cable to be inserted into the connector body. The cable wires are connected to contact elements within the connector. The contact elements, in turn, are routed to the mating side of the connector, where they enable contact with a mating connector. A mating axis extends centrally through the connector from the mating side to the connection side.

[0015] To ensure secure locking with a mating connector, the connector is equipped with locking elements that interact with the mating connector and prevent accidental disconnection. A sliding element is provided on the connector to separate the connector and the mating connector. The sliding element is mounted on the base body and can be moved within a defined range. By moving the sliding element in the opposite direction to the plugging direction, away from the plug-in side and toward the connection side, the sliding element acts on the locking elements of the connector. This releases the locking between the connector and the mating connector.

[0016] According to the invention, the connector has an additional locking element, which is also attached to the connector body. The locking element is arranged so that it can move between two positions: an open position and a locked position. When the locking position is in the locked position, the locking element blocks the movement of the sliding element from a mating end position to a connection end position. In the open position, the locking element releases the movement of the sliding element, allowing the connector to be de-contacted and released from the mating connector.

[0017] According to the invention, the locking element is rotatably mounted on the connector. This allows the locking element to be rotated from the open to the locked position and vice versa. This allows for particularly easy handling, eliminating the need for a second hand. The locking element is expediently designed in a ring shape and surrounds the connector so that it can be rotated around the plug-in axis.

[0018] To block movement of the sliding element, the locking element has at least one locking area. In the locked position of the locking element, the locking area is located within the movement range of the sliding element. This prevents the sliding element from being moved to release the lock. The locking area is designed to extend radially away from the locking element and the plug-in spindle. Depending on the position of the locking element (open or locked position), the locking area is located in the movement path of the sliding element or releases it.

[0019] In particularly preferred embodiments, the securing element has two or four locking areas. The locking areas are arranged evenly around the circumference of the securing element. Particularly advantageous are four locking areas that, when opened, can be moved into four corners of a square connector and its sliding element. Thus, the rectangular sliding element can be moved so that the four locking areas are received and inserted into its corner areas.

[0020] A special embodiment provides for the securing element to be arranged on the base body of the connector between the sliding element and a cable gland on the connection side of the connector. This arrangement is particularly advantageous because the securing element is thus located in the movement path of the sliding element for unlocking the connector. The inventive design of the connector with a rotatable securing element achieves the object of the present invention particularly advantageously and eliminates the problems known from the prior art. Accidental loosening and de-contacting of the connector can be prevented in a simple manner, while the connector remains easy to handle. Example

[0021] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. They show: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a connector according to the invention with a securing element in the open position; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a connector according to the invention with a securing element in the locked position; Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a connector according to the invention with an actuated sliding element; Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of a connector according to the invention through an opened securing element; and Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of a connector according to the invention through a locked securing element.

[0022] The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. In some cases, identical reference symbols are used for identical, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of identical elements may be scaled differently.

[0023] The Figure 1shows a perspective view of a connector according to the invention with securing element 2 in the open position. The connector is formed from a base body which extends along a plug-in axis A. In the rear, left area of the Figure 1 The connector forms a plug-in side. Opposite, in the front right area, the connector forms a connection side. The connection side is formed by a cable gland.

[0024] The connector body is surrounded by a sliding element 1. The sliding element 1 can be moved a certain distance along the plug-in axis A. By moving the sliding element 1 toward the connection side, a locking mechanism in the connector is opened, and the connection to a mating connector can be released.

[0025] According to the invention, the securing element 2 is arranged between the sliding element 1 and the cable gland on the connection side of the connector. The ring-shaped securing element 2 surrounds the connection area of the connector and is rotatably attached thereto. The securing element 2 has two (only one visible here) locking areas 3. The locking areas 3 are formed opposite one another on the securing element 2. In the open position of the securing element 2 shown here, the locking areas 3 are located in the corner areas of the sliding element 1. The sliding element 1 can thus be moved over the locking areas 3 towards the connection side of the connector.

[0026] The Figure 2shows a perspective view of a connector according to the invention with a locking element 2 in the locked position. The locking element 2 on the connector is rotated approximately 45° relative to the open position. Due to the rotation of the locking element 2, the locking areas 3 are positioned in front of the sliding element 1 such that they can no longer be moved toward the connection side. The connector cannot be loosened and unlocked.

[0027] A perspective view of a connector according to the invention with actuated sliding element 1 is shown in the Figure 3 Here, the safety element 2 is in the open position, according to the Figure 1At the same time, the sliding element 1 is moved toward the connection side of the connector. The connector's internal locking elements are thus released. Visible are the locking areas 3 (only one visible), which engage the corners of the sliding element 1 and thus release the movement of the sliding element 1.

[0028] The open and locked position of the safety element 2 is in the Figure 4 or Figure 5 shown again in a sectional view. The sectional view is taken through the securing element 2 perpendicular to the plug-in axis A.

[0029] In the Figure 4 The blocking areas 3 are clearly visible as they fit into the corner areas of the sliding element 1. In the Figure 5The locking element 2 is rotated by approximately 45° so that the locking areas 3 are rotated in front of the sides of the sliding element 1. This blocks movement of the sliding element 1 and prevents the connector from becoming loose.

[0030] In the Figure 4 and the Figure 5 A locking mechanism for the securing element 2 is also visible on the base body. For this purpose, the base body has nubs 4, which define the open and locked positions, respectively. The securing element 3 can engage with corresponding grooves 5 on the nubs 4 to engage in the two positions. The securing element 2 can thus lock in both the open and locked positions. This prevents the sliding element 1 from being accidentally released or locked.

Claims

1. Plug-in connector, which has a main body, a sliding element (1) and latching means for secure latching to a mating plug-in connector, wherein the main body has a plug-in side and a connection side, wherein the plug-in connector forms a plug-in axis (A) which extends through the plug-in connector from the plug-in side to the connection side, wherein the sliding element (1) comprises the main body and is arranged thereon so as to be movable along the plug-in axis (A) in order, owing to its displacement in the direction of the plug-in side, to act on the latching means of the plug-in connector and to release the latching between the plug-in connector and the mating plug-in connector in this way, wherein the plug-in connector has a securing element (2) in order to block the displacement of the sliding element from a plug-inside end position to a connection-side end position when it is in the locked position, and to secure the plug-in connector against inadvertent unlocking in this way, wherein the securing element (2) is arranged between the sliding element (1) and the connection side of the plug-in connector, and wherein the securing element (2) is arranged on the main body so as to be movable between an open position and a locked position, wherein the securing element (2) can be latched to the main body both in the open and in the locked position, wherein the securing element (2) is arranged on the plug-in connector so as to be rotatable about the plug-in axis (A), wherein the securing element (2) is of annular form and surrounds the main body, wherein the securing element (2) has at least one blocking region (3), characterized in that the at least one blocking region (3) extends away from the securing element (2) radially from the plug-in axis (A), and in that, after the securing element (2) has been positioned, the blocking region is situated in the movement path of the sliding element (1) or clears said movement path.

2. Plug-in connector according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the securing element (2) has two blocking regions (3).

3. Plug-in connector according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the blocking regions (3) are arranged on two opposite circular segments of the securing element (2).

4. Plug-in connector according to Claim 2, characterized in that the securing element (2) has four blocking regions (3) which are arranged so as to be distributed uniformly over the periphery of the securing element (2).

5. Plug-in connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one blocking region (3) releases the movement of the sliding element (1) in the open position, and in that the at least one blocking region (3) blocks the movement of the sliding element (1) in the locked position.

6. Plug-in connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the securing element (2) is arranged between the sliding element (1) and a cable gland of the plug-in connector.