Magnetic breakaway for off road applications

Abstract

A mounting housing (figure 1, 4) suitable for a plug connector system (figure 1, 2) comprises a first housing part 10 connectable to a separating wall 6, defining a bulkhead, and a second housing part

Description

The invention relates to a mounting housing for a plug connector system comprising a first housing part connectable or connected to a bulkhead defining a separating plane or wall, and a second housing part releasably connectable to the first housing part in a connected position, said first and said second housing part creating an inner housing area in the connected position, said mounting housing comprising a releasable fastening mechanism to releasably attach the second housing part to the first housing part in the connected position. Prior art Such electric connectors or plug connectors are, for example, used for connecting an accessory device via a cable and the juxtaposed connector to an energy provider, e.g. a tractor or the like. The invention specifically involves such mechanism for off-road and rugged applications, e.g. a tractor and accessory devices connected to such a tractor, namely in situations of rough environments, involving dirt and debris. Solutions according to the prior art usually provide a male member insertable into a female member, wherein the male member and the female member both include correspondingly designed electric connectors to be coupled with one another when the male member is introduced into the field female member to achieve electric connection between the two members and therewith achieve the electric connection. Solutions according to the prior art often comprise a grip, normally representing the female member including a push-pull locking mechanism designed to be connected to the male member, normally connected or representing the bulkhead. Several different solutions to achieve connections between the connectors of the connection element are provided. For example, a toroidal spring may be used. However, during development of the present invention, it was found that such toroidal springs are often not robust enough for dirty environments. In addition, solutions according to the prior art require a larger number of parts, especially moving parts, in consequence larger numbers of spare parts for maintenance purposes, making maintenance difficult, cumbersome and costly. Task The task of the present invention is therefore to at least partially avoid the disadvantages associated with the prior art and, especially, to provide an electric connector that avoids or at least largely reduces damages to the instruments or materials during use and is particularly reliable in dirty environments. Invention According to the invention this task is already solved by the features of the independent claim. Preferable features which are not mandatory for the invention in the most abstract sense but can improve operating and performance of the invention are included in the dependent claims. In the most abstract form, the task of the invention is already achieved by designing said fastening mechanism to attach or hold the first housing part to the second housing part with a holding force, said holding force being smaller than a breakaway force at which the housing parts disconnect. That means, the releasable mounting device allows for a releasable connection between the first housing part, not normally permanently connected to the bulkhead and therefore constituting the stationary housing part, and the second housing part, which is releasebly connectable to the first housing part and, thus, constitutes the removable or movable housing part. The connection means can be designed in different manners known to the person skilled in the art, namely may comprise magnets or magnetic parts, for example magnets located in both housing parts or magnets located only in one housing part and by designing the other housing part magnetic at least in the mating areas with the magnets in the respective other housing part. Another embodiment involves a ball-lock locking mechanism to achieve the releasable connection between the first and second housing part. The invention further differentiates between two different acting on the second, removable housing part, to which components can be connected. That means, that the forces acting on the second housing part can basically provide for two states of operation, namely the regular state of operation at which the device, for example an electric handle, socket or the like attached to the second housing part is held and the housing parts therefore remain connected to one another. A second force, namely the breakaway force, which can be achieved by all regular forces during operation, namely a pulling force, a shearing force or also torque forces that then can cause the second, movable housing part to do disconnected from the first, stationary housing part. It is to note that this is a destruction free disconnection of the housing parts and the housing parts can be attached with one another again after the breakaway force has been exceeded. In common product the breakaway force may be in the range of 4 to 8 times at, per 5 to 7 times as large as the holding force. In a practical embodiment the holding force can be between 75 to 200 N and the breakaway force can be between 500 to 800 N. Of course, depending on the components attached to the movable housing part, these values may vary and can be adapted according to the needs. On the particularly preferred embodiment the first housing part may comprise a first member of a plug connector consisting of plug members, namely a male plug member and correspondingly designed female plug member designed to receavingly engage with the male plug member to achieve electric connection between the attached plug members or the cables encompassed by the two plug members. Embodiments comprise the male plug member being designed as part of at least one housing part, preferably the first, stationary housing part. The particularly safe and easy to produce and assemble embodiment provides for one of the plug members to be integrally formed with the first housing part, preferably by means of injection molding. Hence, the housing parts can preferably be made of plastic. Of course, other solutions are possible in which the housing parts are made of metal or other materials or both kinds of materials for both kinds of housing parts. The preferred embodiment may comprise the inner housing part defined by the mounting housing to be primarily provided on the second housing part. The preferred embodiment provides for a sleeve on the second housing part which constitutes the inner housing part or defines the inner housing part. This sleeve defining the inner housing part may be provided on an outer flange at one end of the sleeve, this flange defining the mating areas to be connected to the first housing part designed as the corresponding flange area or plate area to which the flange on the second housing part can be releasebly connected. Hence, the first housing part can comprise the mounting plate, fixedly connected to the bulkhead and the second housing part may be designed as of the flange connectable to the plate and correspondingly designed to the mounting plate which also comprises the sleeve defining the inner housing part of the mounting housing. On the particularly preferred embodiment the stationary mounting plate may comprise parts of the connector, preferably the male side of the connector with one or more plug(s) arranged in an area which is in the attached of position, hence, when the tow parts of the mounting housing are connected to one another the mounting housing surrounds or encompasses these connectors or the part of the connector. The mounting plate or stationary mounting plate may comprise an extended section or risen section extending in to the mounting housing and including the plug components, preferably the socket(s). The mounting housing may comprise a cover, preferably a sealable cover or the like to close the inner housing part of the mounting housing when the mounting housing is not in use, namely when no component is connected to the mounting housing. To make the mounting housing especially suitable for use in hazardous dirty and wet environments sealing means can be provided on the mating surfaces between the first housing part and the second housing part which attached to one another in the assembled position. On the preferred embodiment the sealing means comprise an O-Ring or the like located in or between the mating surface. This one or more O-Rings, which can be provided on both housing parts or only one can also be located in sealing notches receiving the O-Ring. In the following detailed figure description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form part of this description of the invention, and in which are shown to illustrate specific embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as "top," "bottom," "front," "rear," "front," "rear," etc., is used in reference to the orientations of the figure(s) described. Since components of embodiments may be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is for illustrative purposes and is not limiting in any way. It is understood that other embodiments may be used and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. The following detailed description is not to be construed in a limiting sense. In the context of this description, the terms "connected", "connected" as well as "integrated" are used to describe both a direct and an indirect connection, a direct or indirect connection as well as a direct or indirect integration. Unless otherwise indicated, the indefinite article and definite article refer not only to a single component but are to be understood as "at least one". The terminology includes the previously mentioned words, variations thereof, and similar meanings. Further, it should be understood that the terms "about," "substantially," and similar terms in connection with the dimensions and a property of a component of the invention do not describe the described dimension and property as a strict limit or parameter and do not exclude minor variations thereof which are functionally similar. At a minimum, description parts with numerical parameters also include variations of these parameters according to mathematical and manufacturing principles in the prior art, e.g., rounding, deviations and other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc. In the figures, identical or similar elements are given identical reference numbers where this is appropriate. Reference mark lines are lines connecting the reference mark to the part in question. An arrow, on the other hand, that does not touch a part refers to an entire unit to which it is directed. Incidentally, the representations in the figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain areas may be shown exaggeratedly large to illustrate details. Furthermore, the drawings may be strikingly simplified and do not include every detail that may be present in the practical embodiment. All features of the respective embodiment are disclosed independently of other features of the respective embodiment example. Likewise, the above-mentioned features and the features described in further detail can each be used individually in accordance with the invention, or in any combination of several features. The embodiments shown and described are not to be understood as a conclusive list, but rather have an exemplary character for the description of the invention. The figures show: Fig. 1 a schematic view of a connection device comprising the mounting housing according to the invention for electrically connecting an accessory to a tractor; Fig. 2 an enlarged cross-sectional view of the mounting housing according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 an enlarged cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the mounting housing and a plug connected to the mounting housing; and Fig. 4 an enlarged cross-sectional view of the second embodiment according to claim 3 during a break-away scenario. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of the connection device 2, generally consisting of the mounting housing 4 attached to a separating wall 6 defining a bulkhead, preferably with a distance from 7 to 9 inches on the rear side, and an electric plug 8, in the present preferred embodiment comprising an angled handle 8.1 with an ergonomic rubber grip and a push-pull mechanism 8.2 slideably arranged on the angled handle 8.1 for connection to the mounting housing 4. The mounting housing 4 comprises a first - presently stationary - housing part, and a second - presently movable - housing part. The first housing part is presently designed as an inner mounting plate 10 for mounting against an inner side of a hole in a separating wall 6, and a plug protrusion 10.1. adapted to be inserted into the hole in the separating wall 10. On the front of plug protrusion 10.1 are connecting pins 10.2 forming the male part of a connection plug integrally formed on the mounting housing 4, specifically the inner mounting plate 10. The second housing part is designed as an outer mounting housing 12, comprising a sleeve 12.1 with an outer mounting plate 12.2 in a one-piece design. The sleeve 12.1 defines the inner housing area to receive the plug connector of parts thereof. Electrically connectable to the connecting pins 10.2 is a correspondingly designed socket, located in the front surface of the electric plug 8, presently surrounded by a push-pull mechanism 8.2 and not visible. The inner mounting plate 10 is attached to the inner side of a separating wall 6. Hence the inner mounting plate 10 sites inside a hole in the separating wall 6 and against the inner side of the separating wall 6. In the present embodiment the releasable connection mechanism comprises complementary magnets 14, 14’ arranged in the matting surfaces defined by the inner mounting plate 10 and the outer mounting plate 12.2. These magnets 14, 14’ are presently designed as ring magnets sitting in corresponding receiving grooves in the inner mounting plate 10 and the outer mounting plate 12.2. Attached to the outer mounting plate 12.2 of the outer mounting housing 12 is a sealing cover 28 to cover the opening of the sleeve 12.1 during non-use. Figures 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the mounting housing connected to the outside of a separating wall. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the first housing part is again designed as a plate-like mounting plate 16 having a central, inner protrusion 16.1 protruding inwardly from the plane defined by the mounting plate 16, and on which socket pins 16.3 forming the male socket are located. In addition, the mounting plate 16 also includes an outer protrusion 16.2 which rests against the separating wall 18. In the ring-space thus created between the outer protrusion 16.2 and the mounting plate 16 which is directed to the separating wall 18 in the mounting position a sealing ring 20 is inserted to seal the mounting plate 16 against the separating wall 18. The second housing part is again the movable or releasable housing part, also called a mounting housing 22, connected to the mounting plate 16 by means of magnets 23, 23’ located in the mating area between the mounting plate 16 and a mounting housing 22, in this case also comprising a mounting flange 22.1 connected on the inner end of the sleeve 22.2 creating the mounting housing 22 to receive the socket or it’s parts. This sleeve 22.2 further includes outer annular groove 22.3, into which a locking ball 24 on the push-pull mechanism 8.2 can lock to releasably connect the electric plug 8 to the mounting housing 22, specifically the sleeve 22.2. In addition, sealing means, preferably in the form of an O-Ring 26, may be located between the mounting flange 22.1 and them mounting plate 16, similar to the O-Ring 16 located beneath the push-pull a locking mechanism 8.2 on the electric plug 8. As shown in Figure 4, during break-away the electric plug 8 stays connected to the outer mounting housing 12 and the force between the ring magnets 14, 14' is exceeded. Reference numbers 2 connection device 4 Mounting housing 6 Separating wall 8 Electric plug 8.1 Angled handle 8.2 Push-pull mechanism 10 Inner mounting plate 10.1 Plug protrusion 10.2 Connecting pins 12 Outer housing 12.1 Sleeve 12.2 Outer mounting plate 14, 14’ Ring magnet 16 Mounting plate 16.1 inner protrusion 16.2 Outer protrusion 16.3 Socket pins 18 Separating wall 20 Sealing ring 20, 20’ Magnets 22 Mounting housing 22.1 Mounting flange 22.2 sleeve 22.3 Outer groove 23, 23’ magnet 24 Locking ball 26 O-Ring 28 Sealing cover

Claims

1. Mounting housing for a plug connector systemcomprisinga first housing part connectable or connected to a separating wall defining a bulkhead,and a second housing part releasably connectable to the first housing part in a connected position,said first and said second housing part creating an inner housing area in the connected position,said mounting housing comprising a releasable fastening mechanism to releasably attach the second housing part to the first housing part in the connected position,said fastening mechanism being designed to attach or hold the first housing part to the second housing part with a holding force, said holding force being smaller than a breakaway force at which the housing parts disconnect.

2. Mounting housing according to claim 1, whereinthe fastening mechanism comprises magnets, a ball-lock or the like.

3. Mounting housing according to claim 1, whereinthe breakaway force is 4 to 8 times, preferably 5 to 7 times as large as the holding force.

4. Mounting housing according to claim 11, whereinthe holding force is 75-100 Newtons and the breakaway force is 500 - 800 Newtons.

5. Mounting housing according to claim 1, whereinthe first housing part comprises a first member of a plug connector consisting of plug members, namely a male plug member and a female plug member designed to receivingly engage with the male plug member in a connection state.

6. Mounting housing according to claim 5, whereinthe first housing part comprises the male plug member.

7. Mounting housing according to claim 6, whereinone of the plug members is integrally formed with the first housing part, preferably be means of injection molding.

8. Mounting housing according to claim 1, whereinthe inner housing part is primarily provided on the second housing part.

9. Mounting housing according to claim 6, whereinthe inner housing part is provided by a sleeve provided on the second housing part.

10. Mounting housing according to claim 6, wherein the inner housing part is sealable by a cover or the like.

11. Mounting housing according to claim 1, whereinsealing means are provided on matting surfaces between the the first housing part and the second housing part.

12. Mounting housing according to claim 11, wherein the sealing means comprise an O-Ring or the like.

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