Transmission shaft for extendable power plug and extendable power plug
The transmission shaft with spiral chutes and abutment blocks simplifies the retractable power plug design, addressing complexity and reliability issues, reducing costs and space usage.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2025004329U
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2025-08-21
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-13
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-12-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing retractable power plug designs are complex, leading to increased production difficulty, mechanical reliability issues, and space constraints due to multiple independent retraction mechanisms and locking devices.
A transmission shaft with spiral chutes and abutment blocks for synchronized retraction and locking, eliminating the need for extra driving elements and reducing parts, using a rotational drive mechanism for plug expansion and contraction.
Simplifies assembly, reduces manufacturing costs, enhances durability, and minimizes space usage while ensuring reliable operation of the retractable power plug.
Smart Images

Figure 0003254719000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of electrical connectors, and more particularly to a transmission shaft applied to a retractable power plug. [Background technology]
[0002] With the widespread use of portable electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, and power tools, the chargers and power adapters that come with them have become essential items for people to use when they go out on a daily basis. One of the core components of these chargers is the AC power plug for connecting to a commercial power source.
[0003] Currently, mainstream charger plugs on the market often feature a fixed, exposed metal pin (also referred to as bayonet or pin). This design has significant drawbacks, including the pins being easily damaged during transportation, storage, and post-use storage, making them difficult to carry and prone to damage. To address these issues, several solutions using retractable plugs have been proposed in the industry, aiming to enhance portability and protection by storing the pins inside a case. However, traditional retractable plug designs generally suffer from a significant drawback: their complex structure. These designs typically require multiple independent retraction mechanisms (e.g., springs, buckles, sliders, links, etc.), complex locking devices, and precise guide structures to achieve synchronized retraction and secure locking of single or multiple pins. This complexity leads to the following problems:
[0004] 1. The assembly process is complicated, which increases production difficulty and manufacturing costs.
[0005] 2. Reliability is a challenge. Too many moving parts and connection points increase the risk of potential mechanical failure, wear and tear, and it is difficult to guarantee stability and durability over long-term use.
[0006] 3. A complex internal structure may take up valuable internal space, which is detrimental to the miniaturization of the charger design. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0007] The present invention provides a transmission shaft applicable to a retractable power plug to solve the problems proposed in the background art. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention uses the following technical solutions.
[0009] The transmission shaft applied to the retractable power plug is: a shaft body, the outer surface of which is provided with a first spiral chute and a second spiral chute along the axial direction; orthogonal projections of the first spiral chute and the second spiral chute in the same direction intersect with each other, and a transition groove segment is formed at the intersection of the projections; The first spiral chute is engaged with a first abutment block to rotate the shaft body around its axial direction; a shaft body in which the second spiral chute is used to guide a second abutment block that fits therewith so that the second abutment block moves along the axial direction of the shaft body; a connecting member installed at one end of the shaft body for rotatably mounting the transmission shaft on the extendable power plug and allowing the transmission shaft to rotate around the axial direction of the shaft body, wherein the transmission shaft is linked to the drive structure of the extendable power plug, the first abutment block is structured to be fixed relatively to the base case of the extendable power plug, and the second abutment block is structured to be linked to the socket body of the extendable power plug.
[0010] Based on the above solution, the connecting member is rod-shaped, and its cross-sectional area gradually decreases along the direction away from the shaft body.
[0011] Based on the above solution, the first spiral chute and the second spiral chute are chamfered at the intersections between the inner wall and the bottom wall.
[0012] Based on the above solution, the groove depth of the first spiral chute is equal to or greater than the groove depth of the second spiral chute.
[0013] The present invention further includes a retractable power plug. Based on the above solution, further including a base case on which the first abutment block is fixedly attached; the first abutment block is fitted within the first helical chute, and the first abutment block can move the shaft body to rotate around its axial direction when moving along the path of the first helical chute; Here, when the first abutment block slides along the path of the first spiral chute and moves the shaft body to rotate, the second abutment block located within the second spiral chute moves along the axial direction of the shaft body.
[0014] Based on the above solution, the first abutment block includes a receiving portion and an abutment portion, the receiving portion fits the inner cavity shape of the first spiral chute, and the abutment portion is a concave curved surface and contacts the bottom end surface of the first spiral chute.
[0015] Based on the above solution, further comprising a drive assembly and a socket body; The drive assembly and the socket body are both installed in a base case, and the drive assembly is used to move the socket body so as to move along a preset direction; The socket body is a main body case having at least one first passage hole; a moving table slidably installed within the main body case; a plug terminal fixed on the movable base and corresponding to the position of the first passage hole; the second abutment block is fixedly installed on the movable table, and the second abutment block is fitted into the second spiral chute; When the socket body moves, the first abutment block forcibly rotates the shaft body by engaging with the first spiral chute, and the rotation of the shaft body drives the moving base to move axially relative to the shaft body by engaging with the second spiral chute and the second abutment block, thereby causing the plug terminal to extend or retract from the first through hole.
[0016] Based on the above solution, the drive assembly includes a drive ring and an upper rotating cover; a receiving cavity having an open top is formed in the base case, the drive ring is rotatably installed in the receiving cavity, and the upper rotary cover covers the opening of the receiving cavity and is transmission-connected to the drive ring to rotate synchronously therewith; The socket body is movably installed within the receiving cavity, a drive slider is provided on the outside of the socket body, and an elevation guide rail is provided on the inner wall of the drive ring. The drive slider slidably engages with the elevation guide rail, so that the drive ring pushes the socket body to move along a preset direction when it rotates.
[0017] Based on the above solution, the upper rotary cover is provided with a first engaging protrusion, and the driving ring is provided with a first engaging groove that fits the first engaging protrusion. [Effects of the Invention]
[0018] The present invention has the following beneficial effects compared to the prior art:
[0019] The up-and-down movement of the socket body is forcibly converted into the expansion and contraction movement of the plug terminal by the engagement of the contact block with the spiral groove of the transmission shaft. This eliminates the need for an extra driving element and replaces the conventional multi-stage independent mechanism (such as a combination of springs, buckles, and links), reducing the number of parts and significantly reducing the difficulty of assembly and manufacturing costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0020] The drawings in the specification that form a part of this application are intended to provide further understanding of the present invention, and the illustrative embodiments of the present invention and the description thereof are intended to interpret the present invention and do not constitute undue limitations on the present invention. [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded schematic view of a plug according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded schematic view of a plug according to the present invention at another angle; FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of A shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a plug according to the present invention; [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of B shown in FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a plug according to the present invention; [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of BB shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of C shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a plug according to the present invention; [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of the socket body shown in FIG. [Figure 12] 12 is an exploded schematic view of the socket body shown in FIG. 11 at a different angle. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 3 is a structural schematic diagram of the moving table and transmission shaft shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of D shown in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of E shown in FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 14 is a structural schematic diagram of the transmission shaft in FIG. [Figure 17] 17 is a structural schematic diagram of the transmission shaft in FIG. 16 at another angle. [Figure 18] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a transmission shaft in which the two sets of spiral grooves have the same groove depth. [Figure 19] 1 is a view showing the socket of the present invention in use; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is explanatory in nature and does not in any way limit the present invention and its application or use. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without any creative effort are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0022] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for describing modes for implementing the invention and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present application. As used herein, the singular is intended to include the plural unless the context or clearly indicates otherwise. It should be understood that when the terms "comprise" and / or "include" are used herein, it specifies the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, assemblies, and / or combinations thereof.
[0023] Furthermore, unless specifically stated otherwise, the relative arrangement of components and steps, digital expressions, and numerical values described in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention. At the same time, it should be understood that for ease of description, the sizes of each part shown in the drawings are not drawn to scale. Techniques, methods, and equipment known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but, where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and equipment should be considered part of the permitted specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values should be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting. Therefore, other examples of the illustrative embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that like symbols and letters represent similar items in the following drawings, so that once an item is defined in one drawing, it need not be further discussed in subsequent drawings.
[0024] The present invention relates to the technical field of electrical connectors, particularly to an expandable plug structure for electronic device power adapters or chargers, which has an ingenious design and integrates functions such as rotational drive, linear lift, internal plug expansion and contraction, and automatic return.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the plug mainly includes a base case 1, a driving ring 2, an upper rotating cover 3, a fixed cover 4, a socket body 5 and a bottom cover 6.
[0026] The base case 1 is the basic framework of the plug 100, and its main body is composed of a bottom plate 11 and an annular side wall 12 extending upward from the edge of the bottom plate 11. The bottom plate 11 and the side wall 12 together surround and form a receiving cavity 13 that is open at the top. An annular chute 131 is provided on the inner surface of the bottom plate 11 facing the receiving cavity 13, and a bottom cover 6 is disposed on the side of the bottom plate 11 facing away from the receiving cavity 13. The bottom cover 6 is used to seal the bottom plate 11 and improve the overall appearance.
[0027] The driving ring 2 is an annular part and is installed in the receiving cavity 13. Under normal conditions, the driving ring 2 rests on the annular chute 131 on the bottom plate 11 by relying on its own gravity. When driven by an external force, the driving ring 2 can smoothly rotate in the circumferential direction along the annular chute 131, and the annular chute 131 limits the movement trajectory of the driving ring 2.
[0028] Referring to Figures 4, 5, and 6, the open end of the receiving cavity 13 of the base case 1 is covered by a rotatable upper rotary cover 3. The upper rotary cover 3 has a plurality of evenly spaced first engagement protrusions 31 (shown in Figure 6) on its end surface facing the drive ring 2. Accordingly, the drive ring 2 has a plurality of evenly spaced first engagement grooves 21 on its end surface facing the upper rotary cover 3, which fit the first engagement protrusions 31. The first engagement protrusions 31 on the upper rotary cover 3 precisely fit into the first engagement grooves 21 on the drive ring 2, ensuring reliable connection and torque transmission between the two. This connection allows the user to directly and synchronously rotate the lower drive ring 2 by rotating the upper rotary cover 3. It should be noted that the number of first engagement grooves 21 and first engagement protrusions 31 does not necessarily need to be multiple; a single first engagement groove 21 and a single corresponding first engagement protrusion 31 may be provided in a specific design. The engagement of the single protrusion and the groove achieves a secure connection and synchronous rotation between the upper rotary cover 3 and the drive ring 2. In some embodiments, the drive ring 2 and the upper rotary cover 3 may be designed and manufactured as a single, inseparable, integrated member, while in other embodiments, the drive ring 2 and the upper rotary cover 3 may be connected via a fastener. For example, the upper rotary cover 3 and the drive ring 2 may be locked and fixed with fasteners such as bolts or screws. This method facilitates assembly, removal, and maintenance, but requires the design of corresponding mounting hole locations on the members.
[0029] A circular central hole 32 is drilled in the center of the upper rotating cover 3, and the fixed cover 4 is assembled within this central hole 32, its shape fitting the central hole 32. An upper stopper flange 33 is provided around the inner wall of the central hole 32, and a corresponding lower stopper flange 42 is provided around the outer periphery of the fixed cover 4. The lower stopper flange 42 is located above the upper stopper flange 33 (i.e., on the side away from the drive ring 2) and abuts against the upper stopper flange 33. A central fixed shaft 41 extends from the inside of the fixed cover 4 toward the receiving cavity 13. The central fixed shaft 41 passes through the receiving cavity 13, and its end is fixedly connected to the bottom plate 11 of the base case 1 via a bolt. The fixation of the central fixed shaft 41 and the abutting engagement between the lower stopper flange 42 and the upper stopper flange 33 together provide axial support for the synchronous rotation of the upper rotating cover 3 and the drive ring 2. This structure allows the upper rotating cover 3 to rotate freely relative to the fixed cover 4, and the abutting lower stopper flange 42 and upper stopper flange 33 effectively restrict the axial displacement of the upper rotating cover 3. It should be noted that a bolt passes through the bottom plate 11 of the base case 1 and is threadedly connected to the end of the central fixed shaft 41. The head of the bolt is located outside, away from the receiving cavity 13 of the bottom plate 11, and the bottom cover 6 is used to seal the bottom plate 11 and shield the head of the bolt to enhance the aesthetic appearance.
[0030] Referring to Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10, The socket body 5 is movably installed in the receiving cavity 13. A socket extension hole 43 that fits the shape and size of the socket body 5 is opened on the fixed cover 4, and in this embodiment, the socket body 5 is arranged so that it can extend outward through the socket extension hole 43 or retract into the receiving cavity 13.
[0031] Specifically, a drive slider 51 is fixedly mounted on the outside of the socket body 5. A specific arc-shaped lifting guide rail 22 is installed on the inner wall of the drive ring 2, i.e., the side closest to the socket body 5. The drive slider 51 abuts against the arc-shaped wall of the lifting guide rail 22. When the drive ring 2 is rotated by the upper rotary cover 3, the arc-shaped wall of the lifting guide rail 22 acts on the drive slider 51, forcing the socket body 5 to move along a predetermined direction (vertical in this embodiment). At this time, the socket body 5 can extend outward through the socket extension hole 43. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the lifting guide rail 22 can be designed as a groove structure. At this time, the drive slider 51 acts on the inner wall of the groove (i.e., the arc-shaped wall of the lifting guide rail 22) to drive the socket body 5 to move along the predetermined direction as well. This structure can extend the socket body 5 during forward rotation, and can also drive the socket body 5 to retract into the receiving cavity 13 when the upper rotary cover 3 is rotated in the reverse direction. In some other embodiments, multiple sets of end-to-end connected lifting guide rails 22 may be installed on the inner wall of the drive ring 2. In this way, when the upper rotary cover 3 is continuously rotated in the same direction, the socket body 5 can be forced to perform a reciprocating (cyclic) movement of extension and retraction along a preset movement trajectory.
[0032] To ensure that the socket body 5 moves along a precise linear trajectory for vertical movement within the receiving cavity 13, at least one guide rod 8 is installed within the cavity. Both ends of this guide rod 8 are fixed to the inner surface of the fixed cover 4 and the bottom plate 11 of the base case 1, respectively, thereby establishing a firm vertical guide reference within the receiving cavity 13. A guide collar 52 is fixedly attached to the socket body 5 and precisely fitted onto the guide rod 8. When the socket body 5 moves up and down, the guide collar 52 slides smoothly along the longitudinal direction of the guide rod 8, effectively restricting the movement path of the socket body 5 and preventing it from shifting or rotating. It should be noted that there are various ways to fix the guide rod 8 in the receiving cavity 13. In some embodiments, both ends of the guide rod 8 are fastened to the fixed cover 4 and the bottom plate 11 by bolts, respectively, to achieve a secure fixation. In other embodiments, positioning grooves are drilled on both the inner surface of the fixed cover 4 facing the bottom plate 11 and the upper surface of the bottom plate 11 facing the fixed cover 4. When installed, both ends of the guide rod 8 are locked into these positioning grooves, so that the guide rod 8 can be firmly installed in the receiving cavity 13.
[0033] To precisely control the lifting stroke and final position (when the socket body 5 is fully extended or fully retracted) of the socket body 5 and limit the rotation angle of the drive ring 2, at least one stopper stop block 132 is installed on the annular chute 131 of the base case 1, and a corresponding stopper notch 23 is drilled at the bottom of the drive ring 2. When the user rotates the drive ring 2 to a preset angle, for example, to the end position where the corresponding socket body 5 is fully extended or fully retracted, the stopper stop block 132 fits into the stopper notch 23 and forms a mating contact. This mating state effectively locks the relative position between the drive ring 2 and the base case 1, thereby mechanically preventing the drive ring 2 from continuing to rotate and ensuring that the socket body 5 accurately reaches and stably maintains the set position. It should be emphasized that when the stopper stop block 132 is positioned within the stopper notch 23, the user can apply a slightly large rotational force to the drive ring 2 to disengage the stopper stop block 132 from the stopper notch 23. Once disengaged, the drive ring 2 can resume free rotation, allowing the user to again adjust the angle and control the stroke. This design provides clear stroke end positioning while retaining operational flexibility.
[0034] A first fixed rod 9 is installed in the base case 1. One end of the first fixed rod 9 is fixed to the side of the fixed cover 4 that is closest to the receiving cavity 13. A slide bush 53 is fixedly installed on the outer wall of the socket body 5. The slide bush 53 is precisely fitted onto the first fixed rod 9 and slides along its axial direction. A return spring 68 is fitted onto the first fixed rod 9 between the slide bush 53 and the fixed cover 4. When the socket body 5 needs to be extended outward, the outer slide bush 53 moves along the first fixed rod 9 accordingly. This movement process compresses the return spring 68 located between the slide bush 53 and the fixed cover 4, causing elastic potential energy to be stored in the return spring 68. The extension stroke of the socket body 5 is finally precisely limited by the stopper stop block 132. When the socket body 5 is fully extended and blocked by the stopper block 132, the return spring 68 is in a preset compressed state, ready to provide a return force. When the socket body 5 needs to be retracted into the receiving cavity 13, the drive constraint against it can be released. At this time, the compressed return spring 68 quickly releases its stored elastic potential energy and generates a return force. This return force acts directly on the slide bush 53, pushing the slide bush 53 along the first fixed rod 9 toward the bottom plate 11. Because the slide bush 53 is fixed on the socket body 5, the return force of the return spring 68 effectively moves the entire socket body 5 so that it gently and reliably retracts into the receiving cavity 13 of the base case 1. This design, which uses the return spring 68 to assist return, greatly simplifies user operation and ensures that the socket body 5 automatically and smoothly returns.
[0035] Referring to Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, Specifically, the socket body 5 includes a main body case 54, which includes an upper case 541 and a lower case 542. An accommodation space 55 is formed inside the main body case 54, and two first passage holes 56 are formed at the top of the main body case 54. A movable base 57 and two sets of plug terminals 58 mounted on the movable base 57 are disposed inside the accommodation space 55, and the plug terminals 58 are used to connect with an external power source to realize power supply, and their positions respectively correspond to the two first passage holes 56.
[0036] A transmission shaft 61 is installed in the receiving space 55, and both ends of the transmission shaft 61 are supported on the inner wall of the receiving space 55 by bearings or other movable connection means, so that the transmission shaft 61 can rotate around its own axis. A second through-hole 60 is drilled on the movable base 57, and the transmission shaft 61 passes through the second through-hole 60 of the movable base 57, and its longitudinal direction defines the moving direction of the socket body 5. A specially designed spiral chute is machined on the outer periphery of the transmission shaft 61. More precisely, the transmission shaft 61 includes a shaft body 69, which constitutes the main body of the transmission shaft and has a cylindrical or approximately cylindrical basic outline. A first spiral chute 63 and a second spiral chute 65 are machined on the outer cylindrical surface of the shaft body 69 along its axial direction (i.e., the FF direction shown in Figure 17). The orthogonal projections of the screws of the first spiral chute 63 and the second spiral chute 65 in the same circumferential direction (generally referring to a drawing perpendicular to the axial direction) are arranged to intersect with each other, and a transition groove segment 70 is formed at the intersection of the projections. In the first spiral chute and the second spiral chute, the edges where their inner walls and bottom walls intersect are both chamfered to ensure a smooth transition between the internal contours of the first spiral chute 63 and the second spiral chute 65.
[0037] A pair of connecting members 71 is provided at each end of the shaft body 69, which is used to securely and rotatably mount the entire transmission shaft 61 on the fixed socket body, allowing the transmission shaft 61 to rotate freely around its own axis (i.e., the axial direction of the shaft body 69). The two pairs of connecting members 71 form the rotation support points for the transmission shaft 61.
[0038] The first set of connecting members is located at one end of the shaft body 69. This set of connecting members 71 is designed like a rod, with the notable feature that its cross-sectional area gradually decreases in the direction away from the center of the shaft body 69, forming a generally tapered or stepped shaft structure. This design contributes to stress distribution, weight reduction, easy bearing insertion, and meeting specific space constraints. The second set of connecting members is located at the other end of the shaft body 69. This set of connecting members 71 also has a rod-like structure. A rotation groove 72 is machined on the end face of the end away from the shaft body 69. The function of this rotation groove 72 is generally to accommodate and position a rotation pin, locking ring, or driving key, which is used to transmit torque (to drive the transmission shaft 61 to rotate) or realize an axial stop, ensuring precise control and transmission of the rotational movement of the transmission shaft 61 in the socket body.
[0039] The socket body 5 is mounted in the receiving cavity 13 of the base case 1. A second fixed rod 10 is fixed to the bottom plate 11 of the base case 1. The rod extends upward, with one end passing through the bottom of the main body case 54 and deeply inserted into the receiving space 55. A first abutment block 62 is fixed to the end of the second fixed rod 10 located within the receiving space 55. The first abutment block 62 includes a receiving portion 66 and an abutment portion 67. The receiving portion 66 precisely fits the inner cavity of the first spiral chute 63 and is inserted into the first spiral chute 63. This ensures that the first spiral chute 63 can effectively transmit motion to the transmission shaft 61. The abutment portion 67 is located on the side of the receiving portion 66 facing the center of the transmission shaft 61 and is designed with an inwardly curved surface. This curved surface comes into contact with the bottom end surface of the first spiral chute 63, significantly improving the stability and uniformity of the force received when the transmission shaft 61 rotates, and reducing vibration and wear. It should be noted that the groove depth of the first spiral chute is set to be equal to or greater than the groove depth of the second spiral chute, so that when the first abutment block 62 moves along the first spiral chute, it can avoid detaching from the first spiral chute and entering the second spiral chute.
[0040] The movable carriage 57 has a second abutment block 64 installed on the inner wall of the second through-hole 60, the second abutment block 64 having an arc-shaped belt structure, and the second abutment block 64 is fitted into the second spiral chute 65 on the outer periphery of the transmission shaft 61. It should be noted that the position of the second abutment block 64 on the movable carriage 57 can be customized according to actual production needs, for example, the second abutment block 64 can be installed on the side wall of the movable carriage 57.
[0041] When the user rotates the upper rotary cover 3 and the drive ring 2, the entire socket body 5 moves relative to the base case 1. At this time, the second fixed rod 10 and its first abutment block 62 fixed on the base case 1 remain stationary. As the socket body 5 moves, the first abutment block 62 fitted into the first spiral chute 63 moves, guided by the first spiral chute 63 (spiral groove). This movement forces the transmission shaft 61 to rotate around its own axis.
[0042] As the transmission shaft 61 rotates, the second abutment block 64 fixed on the movable base 57 is fitted into the second spiral chute 65. Therefore, the second abutment block 64 moves while being guided by the second spiral chute 65 (which is also a spiral groove and is designed to interlock with the first spiral chute 63), ultimately driving the second abutment block 64 and the entire movable base 57 to move linearly along the longitudinal direction of the transmission shaft 61. The linear movement of the movable base 57 moves the two sets of plug terminals 58 thereon in a synchronous operation, thereby enabling the plug terminals 58 to extend from the power supply position or retract to the storage position, and to precisely align and pass through the first passage hole 56 at the top of the main case 54.
[0043] Specifically, a core circuit board (not shown) is placed in the receiving cavity 13. A charging connector (not shown) is attached to a specific position on the circuit board. To facilitate external connection, the bottom plate 11 and bottom cover 6 of the base case 1 have openings precisely located at positions corresponding to the charging connector. When a plug is connected to an external power socket via its plug terminal 58, the associated charging device is inserted through the openings in the bottom plate 11 and bottom cover 6 to form a physical and electrical connection with the charging connector on the circuit board, thereby introducing external power into the device and realizing power supply.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 19, the operation of the plug 100 is an intuitive rotary drive process, which allows the entire socket body 5 to rise and fall and the internal plug terminals 58 to automatically extend and retract.
[0045] When to use: Step 1: Rotate the top cover---The user grasps and rotates the top cover 3 clockwise (or counterclockwise).
[0046] Step 2: The driving ring 2 is interlocked---the first engaging protrusion 31 at the bottom of the upper rotating cover 3 moves the engaging driving ring 2 to rotate synchronously.
[0047] Step 3: The socket body 5 moves up and down - the lifting guide rail 22 on the inner wall of the driving ring 2 acts on the driving slider 51 fitted therein, converting the rotary motion into linear motion, overcoming the resistance of the return spring 68, and pushing the entire socket body 5 to move up along the guide rod 8. This process compresses the return spring 68 and stores energy.
[0048] Step 4: Drive the transmission shaft 61 to rotate---the whole socket body 5 moves upward, and at the same time, the second fixed rod 10 fixed to the bottom plate 11 and the first abutment block 62 at its end move downward relative to the moving socket body 5. The first abutment block 62 moves along the first spiral chute 63 on the transmission shaft 61, and due to the spiral structure of the chute, forces the transmission shaft 61 to rotate around its axis.
[0049] Step 5: The plug terminals 58 extend --- The rotational movement of the transmission shaft 61 is converted into linear movement along the screw axis direction of the movable table 57 (i.e., the upward vertical direction) by the engagement of its second spiral chute 65 with the second abutment block 64 of the movable table 57. The movable table 57 moves the two sets of plug terminals 58 thereon so that they move upward synchronously.
[0050] Step 6: Reaching the predetermined position and locking --- When the socket body 5 rises and fully extends from its position, the stopper notch 23 at the bottom of the driving ring 2 engages with the stopper stop block 132 on the annular chute 131 of the base case 1, creating a clear feeling of reaching the predetermined position and preventing the driving ring 2 from continuing to rotate. At this time, the plug terminal 58 has already moved accurately to reach the predetermined position, passing through the first through-hole 56 at the top of the main body case 54 and is ready to be inserted into the power socket. At this time, the socket body 5 is fully extended and locked, and the internal plug terminal 58 is fully extended.
[0051] When storing: Step 1: Unlock and rotate the top cover --- The user applies a relatively large rotational force to the rotating cover 3, causing the stopper notch 23 of the drive ring 2 to overcome the detachment / engagement prevention state of the stopper stopper block 132. Then, when the top rotating cover 3 extends, rotate it in the opposite or same direction.
[0052] Step 2: The drive ring 2 is engaged---the upper rotating cover 3 moves the drive ring 2 to rotate.
[0053] Step 3: The socket body 5 moves up and down --- the compressed return spring 68 releases the stored energy, generating a downward restoring force that acts on the slide bush 53 and pushes the entire socket body 5 along the guide rod 8 so that it smoothly and quickly retracts into the receiving cavity 13 of the base case 1.
[0054] Step 4: Drive the transmission shaft 61 to rotate in the reverse direction—The entire socket body 5 retracts and moves downward, and at the same time, the second fixed rod 10 fixed to the bottom plate 11 and the first abutment block 62 at its end move upward relative to the downward moving socket body 5. The first abutment block 62 moves in the reverse direction along the first spiral chute 63, forcing the transmission shaft 61 to rotate in the reverse direction.
[0055] Step 5: The plug terminal 58 retracts --- The reverse rotation of the transmission shaft 61 drives the movable table 57 and the plug terminal 58 to retract into the inside of the main case 54 along the screw axial direction (i.e., the downward vertical direction) due to the engagement of the second spiral chute 65 with the second abutment block 64.
[0056] Step 6: Arrives in position and locks --- When the socket body 5 is completely retracted into the receiving cavity 13, another stopper notch 23 or the same stopper notch 23 at the bottom of the driving ring 2 rotates to another position to engage with the corresponding stopper stop block 132, locking the position again. At this time, the socket body 5 is completely hidden, and the plug terminals 58 are also completely retracted and protected.
[0057] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention, and those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes to the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]
[0058] 100 - plug, 1 - base case, 11 - bottom plate, 12 - side wall, 13 - receiving cavity, 131 - annular chute, 132 - stopper stop block, 2 - drive ring, 21 - first engaging groove, 22 - lifting guide rail, 23 - stopper notch, 3 - upper rotating cover, 31 - first engaging protrusion, 32 - center hole, 33 - upper stopper flange, 4 - fixed cover, 41 - center fixed shaft, 42 - lower stopper flange, 43 - socket extension hole, 5 - socket body, 51 - drive slider, 52 - guide collar, 53 - slide bush , 54 - main body case, 541 - upper case, 542 - lower case, 55 - receiving space, 56 - first passage hole, 57 - moving base, 58 - plug terminal, 60 - second passage hole, 61 - transmission shaft, 62 - first abutment block, 63 - first spiral chute, 64 - second abutment block, 65 - second spiral chute, 66 - receiving portion, 67 - abutment portion, 68 - return spring, 69 - shaft body, 70 - transition groove segment, 71 - connecting member, 72 - rotation groove, 6 - bottom cover, 8 - guide rod, 9 - first fixed rod, 10 - second fixed rod.
Claims
1. A transmission shaft applied to an extendable power plug, a shaft body, the outer surface of which is provided with a first spiral chute and a second spiral chute along the axial direction; orthogonal projections of the first spiral chute and the second spiral chute in the same direction intersect with each other, and a transition groove segment is formed at the intersection of the projections; The first spiral chute is engaged with a first abutment block to rotate the shaft body around its axial direction; a shaft body in which the second spiral chute is used to guide a second abutment block that fits therewith so that the second abutment block moves along the axial direction of the shaft body; a connecting member installed at one end of the shaft body, for rotatably mounting the transmission shaft on the extendable power plug and allowing the transmission shaft to rotate around the axial direction of the shaft body, wherein the transmission shaft is interlocked with the drive structure of the extendable power plug, the first abutment block is structured to be fixed relatively to the base case of the extendable power plug, and the second abutment block is structured to be interlocked with the socket body of the extendable power plug.
2. The power transmission shaft applicable to the retractable power plug according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member is rod-shaped, and the cross-sectional area thereof gradually decreases along a direction away from the shaft body.
3. The power transmission shaft applicable to the retractable power plug according to claim 1, wherein the first spiral chute and the second spiral chute are both chamfered at the intersections between the inner walls and the bottom walls.
4. The power transmission shaft applicable to the retractable power plug according to claim 1, wherein the groove depth of the first spiral chute is equal to or greater than the groove depth of the second spiral chute.
5. An extendable power plug, comprising a transmission shaft adapted to the extendable power plug according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further including a base case on which the first abutment block is fixedly attached; the first abutment block is fitted within the first helical chute, and the first abutment block can move the shaft body to rotate around its axial direction when moving along the path of the first helical chute; wherein when the first abutment block slides along the path of the first spiral chute and moves the shaft body so as to rotate, the second abutment block located within the second spiral chute moves along the axial direction of the shaft body.
6. 6. The retractable power plug according to claim 5, wherein the first abutment block includes a receiving portion and an abutment portion, the receiving portion fits into the internal cavity shape of the first spiral chute, and the abutment portion is a curved surface concave inward and contacts the bottom end surface of the first spiral chute.
7. further comprising a drive assembly and a socket body; The drive assembly and the socket body are both installed in a base case, and the drive assembly is used to move the socket body so as to move along a preset direction; The socket body is a main body case having at least one first passage hole; a moving table slidably installed within the main body case; a plug terminal fixed on the movable base and corresponding to the position of the first passage hole; the second abutment block is fixedly installed on the movable table, and the second abutment block is fitted into the second spiral chute; 6. The retractable power plug of claim 5, wherein when the socket body moves, the first abutment block forcibly rotates the shaft body by engaging with the first spiral chute, and the rotation of the shaft body drives the moving base to move axially relative to the shaft body by engaging the second spiral chute with the second abutment block, thereby causing the plug terminals to extend or retract from the first through-holes.
8. The drive assembly includes a drive ring and a top rotating cover; a receiving cavity having an open top is formed in the base case, the drive ring is rotatably installed in the receiving cavity, and the upper rotary cover covers the opening of the receiving cavity and is transmission-connected to the drive ring to rotate synchronously therewith; 8. The retractable power plug of claim 7, wherein the socket body is movably installed within the receiving cavity, a driving slider is provided on the outside of the socket body, and an elevating guide rail is provided on the inner wall of the driving ring, and the driving slider is slidably engaged with the elevating guide rail, so that the driving ring pushes the socket body to move along a predetermined direction when it rotates.
9. 9. The retractable power plug according to claim 8, wherein the upper rotating cover is provided with a first engagement protrusion, and the drive ring is provided with a first engagement groove that fits onto the first engagement protrusion.