connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of simply separating a socket from a plug when simply just the plug or the socket is rotated.SOLUTION: A socket body 31 includes: an annular outwardly projecting part 31a; and a lock release projecting part 31b projecting from the annular outwardly projecting part 31a toward the other side of the socket body 31 and having an approximately same height as a projection height of the annular outwardly projecting part 31a. A plug body 21 includes an elastic engagement piece 23b elastically deformable in a radial direction and configured to engage a lock claw part 23c provided at a tip part with the annular outwardly projecting part 31a so as to prevent the lock claw part from being detached from the socket body 31. Rotating the socket body 31 or the plug body 21 around the axis line in a state that the socket body 31 and the plug body 21 are connected to each other, causes the lock claw part 23c to run over the lock release projecting part 31b at a predetermined position so as to release engagement with the annular outwardly projecting part 31a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a locked connector used for connecting cables.

Background Art

[0002] A connector includes a plug connected to a cable (electric wire) and a socket that can be electrically connected and separated axially with respect to the plug. For example, the locked connector described in Patent Document 1 has a locking claw portion (similarly, locking claw 7) provided at the tip of an elastic engagement piece (similarly, elastic engagement piece 6) provided on a plug (in Patent Document 1, plug 2) that engages with an inward annular ridge portion (similarly, engaged portion 8) provided on a socket (similarly, socket 3), thereby having a configuration in which the plug and the socket are axially prevented from coming off each other and connected. Further, the locked connector externally fits a sliding cylinder (similarly, sliding cylinder 9) slidable axially on the outer periphery of the plug, and by sliding this sliding cylinder axially, a part of the sliding cylinder slidably contacts an inclined surface (similarly, inclined surface 9b) provided at the middle portion of the elastic engagement piece, and elastically deform the elastic engagement piece inward, so that the locking claw portion of the elastic engagement piece is disengaged from the inward annular ridge portion, and a configuration that enables the separation of the plug and the socket from each other is provided.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the locking connector described in Patent Document 1, when the plug and socket are connected to each other, the locking claw portion of the elastic engaging piece on the plug side engages with the inwardly facing annular projection on the socket side, thus securely locking the connection between the plug and socket. Furthermore, by sliding the sliding cylinder on the plug side, the engagement between the locking claw portion and the inwardly facing annular projection can be released, making it easy to separate the plug and socket. However, this requires a configuration in which the sliding cylinder is slidably provided on the outer circumference of the plug, which leads to an increase in the number of parts, resulting in a more complex structure and higher costs.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a connector that has a simple structure, reliably locks the connection between a plug and a socket, and allows for easy separation of the plug and socket. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present invention, the above problem is solved as follows. A connector comprising a socket having a conductive member provided on a substantially bottomed cylindrical socket body with one end open and the other end closed, and a plug having a conductive member provided on a substantially bottomed cylindrical plug body facing the socket body with one end open and the other end closed, wherein the socket body and the plug body are connected axially to each other so that the conductive members of each are electrically connected, wherein the socket has an outwardly projecting annular projection on the outer circumference of one side of the socket body, and a projection extending from the outwardly projecting annular projection toward the other side of the socket body, and the outwardly projecting annular projection The plug has a release projection that is approximately the same height as the protruding ridge, and the plug has an elastic engaging piece on one side of the plug body that is radially elastically deformable and has a locking claw at its tip that engages with the outward-facing annular projection of the socket body into which the plug body is inserted, thereby preventing it from coming out of the socket body, and the socket body and the plug body are connected to each other, and by rotating the socket body or the plug body around its axis, the locking claw rides up onto the release projection at a predetermined position and disengages from the outward-facing annular projection.

[0007] Preferably, the side of at least one of the locking claw portion and the unlocking projection portion that faces in the circumferential direction is inclined in the circumferential direction.

[0008] Preferably, the plug body includes a body connected to a cable and an outer cylinder coupling rotatably fitted onto the outer circumference of the body, and the elastic engaging piece is provided on the outer cylinder coupling.

[0009] Preferably, the plug body has a projection on the outer circumference of an insertion portion that can be inserted into the socket body, and the inner circumferential surface of the socket body is provided with an inclined cam portion that guides the projection when the insertion portion is inserted into the socket body, thereby aligning the rotational positions of the socket body and the plug body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, the locking claw portion of the elastic engaging piece provided on the plug body engages with the outward-facing annular projection provided on the socket body, thereby securely locking the connection between the plug and the socket. Furthermore, by rotating the plug body or the socket body around its axis, the locking claw portion of the elastic engaging piece rides onto the unlocking projection provided on the socket body, releasing the engagement between the locking claw portion and the outward-facing annular projection, allowing the plug and socket to be separated with minimal force. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a connector in which a plug and a socket according to one embodiment of the present invention are connected to each other. [Figure 2] Similarly, this is a perspective view of a connector with the plug and socket separated from each other. [Figure 3] Similarly, this is a plan view of a connector with the plug and socket connected to each other. [Figure 4] Similarly, this is a plan view of a connector with the plug and socket separated from each other. [Figure 5] Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the VV line. [Figure 6] Figure 3 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view along the line VI-VI. [Figure 7] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the connector corresponding to the cross-section of line VII-VII in Figure 5. [Figure 8] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Figure 4. [Figure 9] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the plug or socket rotated by a predetermined angle from the state shown in Figure 5. [Figure 10] This is an enlarged view of section A in Figure 7. [Figure 11] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the plug or socket after it has been rotated by a predetermined angle from the state shown in Figure 10. [Figure 12] This is a front view of the plug. [Figure 13] Figure 12 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view along line XIII-XIII. [Figure 14] It is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in FIG. 12. [Figure 15] It is a front view of the socket. [Figure 16] It is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15. [Figure 17] It is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII in FIG. 15. [Figure 18] It is a developed view of the inner peripheral surface of the socket body.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and includes those appropriately modified by those skilled in the art within the obvious range from the following embodiment.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the connector 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plug 2 connected to one end of a cable 4 and a socket 3 that can be connected and separated in the axial direction with respect to the plug 2. By inserting the plug 2 into the socket 3 in the axial direction, the locking claw portion 23c of the elastic engagement piece 23b provided on the plug 2, which will be described later, engages with the outward annular ridge portion 31a provided on the socket 3, which will be described later. Thus, the plug 2 and the socket 3 can be connected and held in a locked state with each other, and by pulling in the axial direction while rotating the plug 2 or the socket 3 around the axis, the engagement between the locking claw portion 23c and the outward annular ridge portion 31a is released, and the plug 2 and the socket 3 can be easily separated. This configuration will become clear from the following description.

[0014] Among the terms used in the following description, one side and one end of the plug 2 are defined as the side facing the socket 3 and its end, and the other side and the other end of the plug 2 are defined as the side opposite to the one side and its end, respectively. One side and one end of the socket 3 are defined as the side facing the plug 2 and its end, and the other side and the other end of the socket 3 are defined as the side opposite to the one side and its end, respectively. Further, the axial direction refers to, for example, the left-right direction in FIG. 3.

[0015] Plug 2 includes a plug body (unreferred to as such) which is a bottomed cylindrical body 21 made of synthetic resin connected (fixed) to one end of a cable 4 through which an electric wire passes, and a cylindrical outer coupling 23 that is rotatably fitted to the outer surface of the body 21 via a ring 24 fitted to the outer surface of the body 21 approximately in the axial direction center of the body 21, and elements such as a plurality of conductive female pins (conductive members on the plug side) 22 that are inserted through the inside of one end of the body 21 and electrically connected to the electric wire of the cable 4. All elements of Plug 2 except for the female pins 22 are made of insulators. Although the body 21 and the outer coupling 23 that form the plug body are actually formed by joining multiple members, for the sake of simplicity, they are described here as a single unit. The same applies to the socket body 31 of the socket 3 described later.

[0016] A cable 4 is inserted through the other end of the body 21, and a cylindrical insertion portion 21a protruding toward the socket 3 is provided at one end. Multiple axial insertion holes 21b are provided in the insertion portion 21a. A female pin 22 is inserted into each insertion hole 21b. A projection 21c protruding outward is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the insertion portion 21a.

[0017] The outer cylinder coupling 23 is rotatably fitted onto the outer circumference of the body 21 via a ring 24. One end of the outer surface of the outer cylinder coupling 23 is provided with a plurality of slits 23a having a predetermined length extending axially from one end to the other. As a result, a plurality of elastic engaging pieces 23b, which are elastically deformable in the radial direction of the outer cylinder coupling 23, are provided between adjacent slits 23a of the outer cylinder coupling 23 and spaced a predetermined distance outward from the insertion portion 21a.

[0018] In this embodiment, four elastic engaging pieces 23b are formed by creating four slits 23a at equal intervals (90-degree intervals) in the circumferential direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the number of slits 23a and elastic engaging pieces 23b can be changed as needed.

[0019] As shown in Figures 5, 9-14, each elastic engaging piece 23b has a locking claw portion 23c that protrudes inward by a predetermined amount from the inner circumferential surface of one end of the elastic engaging piece 23b. In particular, as is clear from Figures 5, 9, the locking claw portion 23c is provided approximately in the center of the elastic engaging piece 23b in the width direction (circumferential direction). Preferably, one end of the locking claw portion 23b has an inclined portion 23d that slopes inward from one end to the other, as shown particularly in Figures 10, 11. In this way, as will be described later, when connecting the plug 2 and the socket 3 to each other, the locking claw portion 23c can easily overcome the outward annular projection 31a provided on the socket 3, and the locking claw portion 23c can be reliably engaged with the outward annular projection 31a in the disengagement direction.

[0020] Socket 3 comprises a bottomed cylindrical socket body 31 with one end open and the other end closed, and elements such as a plurality of conductive male pins (power transmission members on the socket 3 side) 32 that penetrate the other end of the socket body 31. All elements of socket 3, except for the male pins 32, are formed of an insulator.

[0021] The socket body 31 has a bottomed cylindrical shape at one end, which can be inserted between the elastic engaging pieces 23b of the outer cylinder coupling 23 of the plug 2 and the insertion portion 21a of the body 21.

[0022] On the outer circumferential surface of the socket body 31 near one end, there is an outwardly projecting annular ridge 31a so that the locking claw portion 23c of the plug 2 can engage in the axial direction, and a plurality of unlocking protrusions 31b are provided on the back side (the other side) of the outwardly projecting annular ridge 31a so that the locking claw portion 23c of the plug 2 can ride up on from the rotational direction.

[0023] The outward-facing annular projection 31a is provided in an annular shape, protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface 31c near one end of the socket body 31. When the plug 2 and the socket 3 are connected to each other, the locking claw 23c engages axially with the back surface of the outward-facing annular projection 31a, thereby preventing the plug 2 and the socket 3 from coming loose in the axial direction.

[0024] In particular, as can be understood from Figures 5, 9-11, the relationship between the unlocking projection 31b and the locking claw portion 23c is such that, starting from a state in which the plug 2 and the socket 3 are connected to each other (as shown in Figures 5 and 10, where the locking claw portion 23c of the plug 2 is engaged with the outward-facing annular projection 31a of the socket 3), if the outer cylinder coupling 23 is rotated by a predetermined angle in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 5 (counterclockwise), as shown in Figures 9 and 11, each locking claw portion 23c is formed to be able to ride up onto each unlocking projection 31b from the direction of rotation. Preferably, the unlocking projection 31b is located on the outer peripheral surface 31c of the socket body 31, protruding from the back surface of the outward-facing annular projection 31a toward the other, and is formed to be approximately the same height as the outward-facing annular projection 31a so as not to create a step between it and the outward-facing annular projection 31a. Furthermore, preferably, in order to facilitate the rotational movement of the locking claw portion 23c onto the unlocking projection 31b, both circumferentially facing surfaces of the unlocking projection 31b and / or both circumferentially facing surfaces of the locking claw portion 23c are made inclined surfaces. The inclined surfaces of the unlocking projection 31b are indicated as reference numeral 311b in Figures 5 and 9.

[0025] In this embodiment, four unlocking protrusions 31b are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, but the number of unlocking protrusions 31b can be changed as appropriate. For example, if eight unlocking protrusions 31b are provided at equal intervals (45-degree intervals) in the circumferential direction, it has the effect of reducing the amount of rotational operation required to unlock the locking claw portion 23c of the plug 2 and the outward-facing annular projection portion 31a of the socket 3.

[0026] One end of each male pin 32 protrudes into the socket body 31 and can be electrically connected to the female pin 22 of the plug 2, while the other end protrudes axially from the other end of the socket body 31 and can be electrically connected to other cables or electrical equipment to which the cable 4 is to be electrically connected.

[0027] As can be seen from Figure 18 (unfolded view of the inner surface of the socket body 31), the inner surface of the socket body 31 is provided with a plurality of inwardly facing protrusions 31e located near one end, which form a plurality of insertion passages 31d through which the protrusion 21c of the plug 2 can be inserted from one side, and an inclined cam portion 31f located on the other end of each protrusion 31e, which, when the insertion portion 21a of the plug 2 is inserted into the socket body 31, causes the protrusion 21c to slide against it as a cam follower, so that the body 21 of the plug 2 and the socket body 31 are rotated relative to each other and positioned in the correct position in the rotational direction around their axes.

[0028] Both ends of each protrusion 31e in the axial direction are pointed. By making the tips of each protrusion 31e pointed in this way, one side of the insertion passage 31d formed between adjacent protrusions 31e, 31e expands in the circumferential direction of the socket body 31. As a result, when inserting the insertion portion 21a of the plug 2 into the socket body 31, the protrusion 21c of the plug 2 can be smoothly guided into one of the insertion passages 31d.

[0029] The top of the inclined cam portion 31f facing one side is pointed, and the bottom of the other side is provided with an entry groove 31g that allows the projection 21c of the plug 2 to enter in the axial direction.

[0030] As described above, by providing a projection 21c on the insertion portion 21a of the plug 2, and a ridge 31e and an inclined cam portion 31f on the inner circumferential surface of the socket body 31, when the insertion portion 21a of the plug 2 is inserted into the socket body 31, the projection 21c of the insertion portion 21a is guided by the inclined cam portion 31f and finally enters the entry groove 31g. This positions the insertion portion 21a of the plug 2 and the socket body 31 in the rotational direction, ensuring that each male pin 32 on the socket 3 side is securely inserted into the corresponding insertion hole 21b on the plug 2 side, and enabling each female pin 22 and each male pin 32 to be electrically connected to each other.

[0031] Next, we will explain the process of connecting plug 2 and socket 3, and the process of disconnecting them. First, let's explain the process of connecting plug 2 and socket 3. To connect plug 2 and socket 3, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, insert the insertion portion 21a of plug 2 into the socket body 31 with one side of plug 2 and one side of socket 3 facing each other. Note that in this case, insertion should be performed at a rotational position where the locking claw portion 23c of plug 2 and the unlocking projection 31b of socket 3 do not align with each other.

[0032] When the insertion portion 21a of the plug 2 is inserted into the socket body 31, immediately thereafter, regardless of the rotational position of the projection 21c of the insertion portion 21a around its axis, the projection 21c enters one of the multiple insertion passages 31d within the socket body 31, and is then guided by the inclined cam portion 31f into the insertion groove 31g. As a result, the insertion portion 31d enters the socket body 31 with its rotational position around its axis fixed, ensuring that each female pin 22 on the plug 2 side and the corresponding male pin 32 on the socket 3 side are reliably connected. In this case, when the plug 2 and the socket 3 are aligned around their respective axes, the body 21 of the plug 2 rotates relative to the socket body 3 due to the reaction force, but because the outer peripheral coupling 23 is rotatably provided on the outer circumference of the body 21, the gripped outer peripheral coupling 23 does not rotate. Therefore, the worker holding the outer coupling 21 can insert the plug 2 into the socket 3 without any discomfort.

[0033] Next, as the insertion portion 21a is inserted near the back of the socket body 31, the inclined portion 23d provided on the locking claw portion 23c of the elastic engaging piece 23b comes into contact with the surface of the outward-facing annular projection 31a of the socket body 31, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 10. As a result, the elastic engaging piece 23b elastically deforms in the expanding diameter direction, and the locking claw portion 23c overcomes the outward-facing annular projection 31a. Then, as shown by the solid line in Figure 10, it elastically returns to its original position and engages with the back side of the outward-facing annular projection 31a. As a result, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 6, and 7, the plug 2 and the socket 3 are locked together and connected in a state where they are prevented from coming loose in the axial direction. When the plug 2 is fully inserted into the socket 3, the female pin 22 on the connector 2 side is electrically connected to the male pin 32 on the socket 3 side in the correct positional relationship.

[0034] Next, we will explain the process of separating plug 2 and socket 3 from their connected state. To separate the plug 2 and the socket 3 from each other, while gripping the outer cylinder coupling 23 of the plug 2, pull the outer cylinder coupling 23 of the plug 2 or the socket body 31 in the axial direction while rotating it by a predetermined angle. As a result, the locking claw portion 23c of the elastic engaging piece 23b on the plug 2 side is in a position that does not align with the unlocking projection 31b on the socket 3 side, as shown in Figure 5, and rotates around the axis from a state in which it is engaged with the back surface of the outward-facing annular projection 31a, as shown in Figure 10, to the elastic engaging piece as shown in Figure 9. 23b As the locking claw portion 23c undergoes elastic deformation and rides up onto the unlocking projection 31b, the engagement between the locking claw portion 23c and the back surface of the outward-facing annular projection 31a is released, as shown in Figure 11. Therefore, by pulling the plug 2 and the socket 3 in opposite directions at that point, the plug 2 is separated from the socket 3.

[0035] As described above, by simply rotating the outer cylinder coupling 23 or socket body 31 of the plug 2 by a predetermined angle and pulling it axially, the engagement between the locking claw portion 23c and the outward-facing annular projection portion 31a is released, allowing the plug 2 and socket 3 to be separated with minimal force. Furthermore, even if the connection point between the plug 2 and socket 3 is not visible, the connection and separation operations can be performed easily and quickly, even by touch.

[0036] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, various modifications and changes can be made to the above embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. (a) The automatic rotation alignment configuration (the protruding portion 31e, the inclined cam portion 31f, the entry groove 31g on the socket 3 side, and the protruding portion 21c on the plug 2 side) is omitted, and the female pin 22 on the plug 2 side is provided as a single unit at the center of the plug body, and the male pin 32 on the socket 3 side is provided as a single unit at the center of the socket body 31. In this case, it is not necessary to rotatably fit the outer cylinder coupling 23 of the plug 2 onto the body 21, so the plug body of the plug 2 can be integrated with the body 21 and the outer cylinder coupling 23. This simplifies the configuration of the plug 2 and reduces costs. (b) A modified version in which the elastic engaging piece 23b and the locking claw portion 23c in the above embodiment are provided on the socket 3 side, and the outward-facing annular projection portion 31a is provided on the plug 2 side. In this case, the modified version can be fully understood by interpreting the above embodiment by replacing the plug with a socket and the socket with a plug. (c) As in the embodiment described above, the female pin 22 on the plug 2 side and the male pin 32 on the socket 3 side are of the multi-pole type, and instead of the automatic rotation alignment configuration, a keyway is provided in either the plug body or the socket body 31, and a keying structure is used in which the plug 2 and the socket 3 are keyed together when connecting them, so that the plug 2 is inserted into the socket 3. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0037] 1 Connector 2 Plug 21 Body (socket body) 21a Insertion part 21b Insertion hole 21c Protrusion 22 Female pin (conductive component) 23 Outer cylinder coupling (socket body) 23a Slit 23b Elastic engaging piece 23c Locking claw section 23d Inclined section 24 Ring 3 Socket 31 Socket body 31a Outward-facing annular projection 31b Lock release projection 311b Inclined surface 31c Outer surface 31d Insertion passage 31e Protruding section 31f Inclined cam section 31g entry groove 32 mail pin (conductive material) 4 Cables

Claims

1. A connector comprising a socket having a substantially bottomed cylindrical socket body with one end open and the other end closed, and a conductive member provided on the socket body, and a plug having a substantially bottomed cylindrical plug body with one end open and the other end closed, and a conductive member provided on the plug body opposite the socket body, wherein the conductive members of each are electrically connected by connecting the socket body and the plug body axially to each other, The socket has an outward-facing annular projection on the outer circumference of one side of the socket body, and four or eight lock-release projections that project from the outward-facing annular projection toward the other side of the socket body and are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at approximately the same height as the projection height of the outward-facing annular projection. The plug has elastic engaging pieces located on one side of the plug body, which are radially elastically deformable and arranged in four or eight equal intervals in the circumferential direction, with locking claws at their tips that engage with the outward-facing annular projection of the socket body into which the plug body is inserted, thereby preventing it from coming loose from the socket body. The plug body includes a body to which a plurality of the conductive members are connected to a cable, and a cylindrical outer coupling rotatably fitted onto the outer circumference of the body, wherein the elastic engaging piece is formed by providing four or eight slits having a predetermined length in the axial direction from one end to the other on one end of the outer surface of the outer coupling, The socket comprises a plurality of conductive members that penetrate the other end of the socket body, and the plug body has a cylindrical insertion portion that can be inserted into the socket body, and a projection provided on the outer circumference of the insertion portion, inside the outer cylinder coupling. The inner circumferential surface of the socket body has a plurality of inward-facing protrusions that form a plurality of insertion passages through which the one projection provided on the insertion portion can be inserted from one side in the axial direction, and a single inclined cam portion that, when the insertion portion is inserted into the socket body, guides the one projection in the axial direction to align the rotational positions of the socket body and the plug body. The inclined cam portion has one entry groove into which one projection of the plug can enter in the axial direction, When the plug is fully inserted into the socket, the plurality of conductive members of the plug and the plurality of conductive members of the socket are properly electrically connected in their correct positional relationship. A connector characterized in that, with the socket body and the plug body connected to each other, the socket body or the plug body is rotated around the axis so that at a predetermined position the locking claw rides onto the unlocking projection and disengages from the outward-facing annular projection.

2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the locking claw portion and the unlocking projection portion has a side facing the circumferential direction inclined toward the circumferential direction.

3. The connector according to claim 2, characterized in that when the insertion portion is inserted to near the back of the socket body, the inclined portion provided on the locking claw portion of the elastic engaging piece comes into contact with the surface of the outward-facing annular projection of the socket body, causing the elastic engaging piece to elastically deform in the expanding diameter direction, and after the locking claw portion overcomes the outward-facing annular projection, it elastically returns to its original position and engages with the back side of the outward-facing annular projection.

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