Plug connection for transmitting electrical energy

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connection for transmitting electrical energy by releasable contact, said plug connection comprising at least one plug contact pin and at least one contact socket, the at least one contact socket being received in a plug connector housing and the plug connector housing interacting with a slider which is movable relative thereto, so that the plug connection partners are housed in an inserted and secondarily locked contacting position. At least one detent and support geometry is integrated into the plug contact pin and interacts with the plug connector housing, so that the contacting partners are disconnected from one another when the positions thereof relative to one another are outside the secondary locking position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a plug connection for transmitting electrical energy by detachable contact, comprising at least one plug contact pin and at least one contact socket, wherein the at least one contact socket is accommodated in a plug connector housing and the plug connector housing interacts with a slider movable relative thereto, so that the plug connection partners are housed in the plugged and secondary-locked contacting position.

[0002] Plug connectors, contacting elements, pole connectors, receptacles, etc., in a wide variety of designs and variants are used to make contact or create detachable electrically conductive connections. Particularly, but not exclusively, for electrical contacting tasks in the higher power range, contact systems have been developed that are based on round contact geometries for accommodating a contact pin, plug-in contact pin, plug-in pin, contact pin, or ground pin. Their starting material consists of a flat contact grid that is formed into the round contact geometry with a hyperbolic twist. These contact systems, known as RADSOK, are characterized by robust and high-density contact due to the substantial contact surface with the respective contact pin. Alternatively, instead of the hyperbolic twist situation, inward-facing lamellar geometries are known, whose lamellar contact grid is aligned radially symmetrically.

[0003] These contact geometries, which are preferably used as high-current contact sockets, are known as radial contact sockets or hyperbolic contact sockets, socket contacts.

[0004] RADSOK contact systems of the aforementioned type are accommodated in connector sockets via their generally cylindrical outer contours and realize the further contacting on the outside via the cylindrical surfaces. Contact systems of this type are typically composed of at least one lamellar socket, contact socket, socket contact, and at least one plug-in contact pin, plug-in pin, or contact pin.

[0005] The contact partner of the contact socket is usually a plug-in contact pin, plug-in bolt, or contact pin with a geometry compatible with the lamellar socket. Since the outer surface of the contact pin serves as the functional surface for the lamellar sleeve, it cannot be, or cannot be, directly enclosed or housed in a housing.

[0006] To secure the connector, consisting of a laminated socket and contact pin, in its mated, current-connecting position, various locking devices and positioning measures, known as secondary locking, have been designed with force and / or positive locking. The same applies to enclosure measures, sealing measures, corrosion protection, and various other requirements that arise depending on the application.

[0007] Housings for the plug connection and / or its connector partners often serve to protect against accidental contact. For example, DE 10 2012 105 771 A1 discloses a plug with a contact socket that aims to protect against accidental contact as well as the ingress of dirt and water. For this purpose, it is proposed to close the insertion opening of the contact socket with a pivoting cover element. By pivoting the cover element, the socket contact arranged in the contact socket is completely exposed, allowing the pin contact to be inserted into the socket contact.The protective cover is a pivotally mounted aperture element with an associated spring, so that the aperture element is held in a closed position by the spring, in which it closes an insertion opening of the contact socket, and the aperture element is pivoted by inserting a pin contact against the force of the spring into an insertion position in which it releases the insertion opening.

[0008] WO 03 / 047047 A1 proposes a solution for the locking task that involves different insertion forces for connecting and releasing the plug from the contact socket. A socket element designed as a housing, enclosing the plug connection, has a bore with a groove arranged on an inner surface of the bore. The bore creates a shoulder between a groove base and a bore. A flat spring is arranged in the groove to define a spring cavity between the flat spring and the shoulder and a circularly inclined coil. Another helical or spiral spring is arranged in the spring cavity. The contact pin is designed with a conical end such that it interacts with the spring combination and can be pushed in and out of the arrangement.During the insertion movement, the force required by the helical spring for its elastic deformation to release the bore must be overcome; during the extension movement, the elements of the flat spring must be deformed.

[0009] To ensure reliable contact in plug connections and to enable removal of the plugged connection without the use of tools, DE 10 2005 016 265 A1 proposes a plug connection with a plug and a socket, whereby the plug locks into the socket when plugged in. For this purpose, a locking mechanism is provided on the circumference of the plug or socket. The locking mechanism can be released preferably with the use of a tool, and the socket and plug can then be separated. This locking mechanism poses a risk of destruction under mechanical stress, especially in conjunction with low temperatures.

[0010] JP 2006 260920 A discloses a connection assembly comprising a socket connector consisting of a slider and a housing with a female electrical contact, wherein the slider has elastic portions that lock a projection of the male electrical contact.

[0011] The socket element in the form of a laminated socket has a socket body. The socket body has a circular-cylindrical connector receiving space and a conductor receiving space. The connector receiving space has an inner connector receiving space and an outer connector receiving space. The inner connector receiving space has a smaller diameter than the outer connector receiving space. The outer connector receiving space thus has a larger diameter than the inner connector receiving space. A stop is formed at the transition from the outer connector receiving space with the larger diameter to the inner connector receiving space with the smaller diameter. The stop is realized by reducing the diameter.

[0012] Locking means are arranged on the outer circumference of the socket body. The locking means are arranged on the outside of the socket body in the area of ​​the stop arranged on the inside of the socket body. The conductor receiving space serves to accommodate a conductor with which the socket element can be connected to an electrical circuit. A locking element is provided in the outer plug receiving space adjacent to the stop. The locking element is preferably followed by an intermediate space on the side opposite the stop. Adjacent to the existing intermediate space in the outer plug receiving space is a contact socket. The contact socket is in abutment with the socket body on the outside, preferably flush. The contact socket is electrically connected to the socket body of the socket element. This creates an electrically conductive connection from the contact socket to the conductor arranged in the conductor receiving space.

[0013] The contact socket is press-fitted into the outer plug receptacle. The gap serves to accommodate tolerances, ensuring that the locking element still has sufficient play once the socket element is assembled. The outer diameter of the locking element is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the outer plug receptacle.

[0014] This allows the locking element to be inserted into the outer plug receptacle when assembling the socket element. The socket body is a cylindrically shaped turned part with a cylindrical plug receptacle and a cylindrical conductor receptacle. The contact socket is a cylindrical RADSOK socket. Individual contact surfaces located inside the contact socket form cylindrical contact surface means. The locking element is a disc made of thermoplastic material, particularly plastic. The locking element can also be made of bent wire or a suitably slotted metal disc. The locking element has a recess in the form of a hole.

[0015] The contact pin has a first section with a first diameter. The first section is followed by a second section with a second diameter. The second diameter is smaller than the first diameter. The second section is followed by a third section. Adjacent to the second section, the third section has locking means. The third section has a diameter towards the second section that is larger than the first diameter, but smaller than or at most equal to the first diameter. With increasing distance from the second section or the locking means, the diameter of the third section decreases, i.e. the third section is conical. The surface of the first section forms a contact surface of the contact pin.

[0016] Many of the known connector solutions are optimized and conditioned for a specific requirement. The disadvantage of most solutions is that both connector partners must have a housing, which is complex and costly. Furthermore, the functional surfaces of the connector, both in the contact socket and in the connector pin, require complex geometric shapes in both connector partners.

[0017] In addition to the requirements and functions already mentioned, it can be particularly important for a plug-in connection that the detachable plug-in connection only establishes or realizes electrical contact in the locked, secured, or locked end position. This requirement and function can be important to prevent damage to the electrical components being contacted, arcing, or unreliable contact.

[0018] The object of the invention is to further develop existing plug-in contact connections, plug-in connection, plug-in contact system, and contact system and at least partially reduce the existing disadvantages. In particular, a plug-in connection is to be created that prevents electrical contact between the plug-in connection partners before reaching the locking position.

[0019] To achieve this object, the invention proposes a plug connection according to claim 1.

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment in which the plug contact pin is designed as a ground connection, in conjunction with the figures. In the figures: Fig. 1: A sectional front view of the plug connection with a plug pin designed as a ground connection and the contacting partner in the form of a lamellar bushing in the relative position to each other before the plugging process; Fig. 2: A sectional front view of the plug connection with a plug pin designed as a ground connection and the contacting partner in the form of a lamellar bushing in a partially plugged-in situation; Fig. 3: A sectional front view of the plug connection with a plug pin designed as a ground connection and the contacting partner in the form of a lamellar bushing in a plugged-in situation; Fig. 4: A sectional front view of the plug connection with a plug pin designed as a ground connection and the contacting partner in the form of a lamellar bushing in a plugged-in and locked, secondary-locked situation.

[0021] Figure 1shows a sectional front view of the plug connection 100 with a plug pin 10 configured as a ground connection and the contact partner in the form of a lamella socket 20 in their relative positions prior to the plugging process. The position of the contact pin 10, aligned and perpendicular to the contact socket 20, is the position prior to the plugging process, i.e., the contact partners are not (yet) engaged. The assembly unit, consisting of at least the slider 110, the socket housing 120 and the socket contact 20 accommodated therein, as well as the spring 101, is brought into the plugging position over the plug pin 10.

[0022] The spring 101 is designed as a helical spring, compression spring and is preloaded accordingly, so that the slide 110 is displaced in the position shown into an end position relative to the socket housing 120 and against the stop, formed by at least one shoulder 112 and at least one projection 122.

[0023] In this positioning situation, the slider 110 is supported with its at least one support hook 111 against the cone 11 and / or the bevel 12 of the contact pin 10, so that the assembly unit consisting of at least the slider 110, the socket housing 120 and the socket contact 20 accommodated therein, as well as the spring 101, is arranged in a defined position relative to the plug pin 10. Likewise, the support of the at least one support hook 111 is relevant to the force flow for the compression of the spring 101, since it acts as an abutment for the spring 101 with respect to the movement force and the relative movement path of the housing 120.

[0024] The electrical contact can be extended to a voltage source, an electrical load, or a ground connection via a cover 130. For this purpose, the socket housing cover 130 is equipped with contacting means for the lamellar contact socket 20, which at least partially encompass the outer contour of the lamellar contact socket 20.

[0025] On the contact pin side, ie on the plug side of the connector 100, all locking and support geometries 11, 12 are integrated into the contact pin 10 itself; there is no surrounding additional geometry in the form of a contact pin housing or the like in which these functions are accommodated. Figure 1 shows a free-standing ground bolt 10, for example welded to a vehicle body.

[0026] Figure 2Includes a sectional front view of the plug connection 100 with a plug pin 10 configured as a ground connection and the contact partner in the form of a lamellar socket 20 in a partially plugged-in state. The plug connection 100 is partially plugged in that the plug pin 10 has not (yet) fully extended into the lamellar contact socket 20 to its end position in the contact socket 20. Preferably, the end position is reached after the maximum possible plug-in distance, and the locking mechanism, secondary locking, is preferably also implemented in the end position.

[0027] The amount of the partial plug-in path, shown in Figure 2, corresponds to the distance that the plug pin 10 is inserted into the multi-lam contact socket 20. The slider 110 is axially displaced relative to the housing 120 with the plugging movement and against the spring force of the spring 101. In this plugging situation, the at least one locking hook 121 rests against the bevel 12 of the cone 11 with a hook bevel 121'. The hook bevel 121' and the bevel 12 are coordinated with one another in terms of their bevel such that the deflection of the locking hook 121 is supported during further plugging in towards the end position of the plug pin 10 in the multi-lam contact socket 20. For this purpose, it is necessary that the angle of attack of the hook bevel 121' is small enough relative to the axial line so that self-locking of the beveled surface on the bevel 12 is reliably excluded. Typically, and depending on the surface condition and smoothness of the surfaces moving relative to each other, an oblique angle of less than 45° is possible.

[0028] If the plugging process, for example in the Figure 2 The situation shown is interrupted because the external insertion force is no longer exerted to overcome further compression of the spring 101 against its already reached spring preload, resulting in the plug connection and the contacting situation being terminated. Due to the stored spring force, the achieved preload, and the force flow support of at least one support hook 111 on the chamfer 12 of the cone 11, the spring 101 pushes the housing 120 with the laminar bushing 20 in the axial direction out of the contacting position.

[0029] Figure 3shows the sectional front view of the plug connection 100 with plug pin 10 and the contact partner in the form of a lamella socket 20 in the mated position in the end position. The contact pin 10 is inserted into the contact socket 20 to the maximum possible insertion distance. The spring 101 is compressed to near the block, the housing 120 is retracted into the slide 110 to its maximum extent, and rests against the slide base at its front end.

[0030] The at least one support hook 111 of the slide 110 is in a partially deflected position, which is caused by the inner sleeve 123 of the housing 120 depending on the insertion path of the plug pin 10 into the lamella bushing 20. In the deflected position shown, the support hook 111 (still) functions as an abutment for the spring 101 and holds the slide 110 in the position in which it accommodates and encompasses the housing 120, as far as geometrically possible.

[0031] The locking function, ie the secondary locking of the plug connection 100, is achieved in the end position according to this embodiment and is effected by the locking hook 121 engaging behind the cone 11 on its conical surface 11' as seen in the plugging direction and releasably holding the housing 120 in a force-locking manner.

[0032] Figure 4Illustrates the sectional front view of the plug connection 100 with a plug pin 10 designed as a ground connection and the contact partner in the form of a lamella socket 20 in a plugged-in and locked, secondary-locked state. With the deflection of at least one support hook 111 out of its support position on and against the cone 11 and / or the bevel 12 of the contact pin 10 and consequently out of its abutment function, the slide 110 is displaced axially and relative to the housing 120 by the preloaded spring 101, so that the previously exposed part of the plug pin 10 is enclosed. The slide end position is preferably defined by a stop; the position shown is that of a vehicle body part. A stop on the housing 120 of the plug connection is also possible.

[0033] The residual spring preload as well as the length ratios of the housing 120 and the slide 110 in the axial direction are matched to one another in such a way that the plug contact system 100 is stress-free in the secondary-locked end position. Reference symbol

[0034] 10Contact pin, plug-in contact pin, plug-in bolt, contact pin, ground bolt 11Cone, locking geometry 11'Cone surface, locking surface 12Chamfer, support geometry 20Contact socket, lamellar socket, socket contact 21Receiving space for plug contact pin 100Plug connection, plug contact system, contact system 101Spring 110Slide 111Support hook 112Heel 120Socket housing, connector housing, housing 121Locking hook 121Hook bevel 122Protrusion 123Inner sleeve 130Cover, socket housing cover

Claims

1. Plug connection (100) for transmitting electrical energy by means of a releasable contacting arrangement, having at least one plug contact pin (10) and at least one contact socket (20), wherein the at least one contact socket (20) is received in a plug connector housing (120) and the plug connector housing (120) has a slider (110) which is movable relative thereto, with the result that the plug connector partners (10, 20) are housed in a plugged and secondary-locked contacting position, wherein a socket contact (20) and a spring (101) are arranged in the plug connector housing (120), and at least one latching and support geometry (11, 12) is integrated in the plug contact pin (10) and the plug connector housing (120) is supported on the latching and support geometry by at least one latching hook (121) of the plug connector housing (120), with the result that the contacting partners (10, 20) are separated from one another if their relative position with respect to one another is outside the secondary-locking position and the force for separating the contacting partner (10, 20) is a spring force of the spring (101).

2. Plug connection (100) for transmitting electrical energy according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one latching hook (121) having the at least one support geometry, designed as a cone (11), realizes a releasable, at least non-positive latching arrangement, secondary-locking arrangement.

3. Plug connection (100) for transmitting electrical energy according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one latching and support geometry (11, 12) cooperates with at least one support hook (111) of the slider (110), with the result that the slider (110) is pushed in at least in part into the plug connector housing (120) during the insertion movement of the at least one plug contact pin (10) into the contact socket (20).

4. Plug connection (100) for transmitting electrical energy according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one support hook (111) is outward deflected by means of at least one inner sleeve (123) in the secondary-locking position of the contacting partners (10, 20), with the result that the slider (110) is movable out of the plug connector housing (120) in the direction of the enclosing position.

5. Plug connection (100) for transmitting electrical energy according to Claim 4, characterized in that the movement of the slider (110) out of the plug connector housing (120) is limited by means of a stop, formed by at least one shoulder (112) and at least one protrusion (122).

6. Plug connection (100) for transmitting electrical energy according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the spring force is brought about by means of a spring (101) that is a compression or helical spring.

7. Plug connection (100) for transmitting electrical energy according to any of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the spring (101) is arranged at least in part in the slider (110) of the plug connection (100).

8. Plug connection (100) for transmitting electrical energy according to Claim 1, characterized in that the plug contact pin (10) is a mass pin, fixed by welding to a vehicle body.

9. Plug connection (100) for transmitting electrical energy according to Claim 1, characterized in that the socket housing (120) has a socket housing cover (130) having contacting means for electrically contacting the contact socket (20).

10. Plug connection (100) for transmitting electrical energy according to Claim 1, characterized in that the contact socket (20) is a lamella contact socket.

11. Plug connection (100) for transmitting electrical energy according to Claim 1, characterized in that the secondary-locking contacting position of the plug connection partners (10, 20) is an end position of the plug connection (100) at the end of the plugging movement.

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