ELECTRICAL PLUG CONNECTOR.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- MX2023008591
- Authority / Receiving Office
- MX · MX
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2021-10-06
- Filing Date
- 2023-07-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-25
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-01-20
AI Technical Summary
Existing electrical plug connectors lack a simple and cost-effective method for optical coding monitoring to ensure secure mechanical and electrical connections, particularly in applications requiring safety against accidental separation.
A locking element composed of two movable parts, each carrying a subsection of an optical code, which forms a complete code when in the correct position, allowing automatic detection by an optical reading device.
Ensures secure and reliable connection verification through optical coding without interruptions, enhancing safety and ease of detection.
Smart Images
Figure MX431222B0
Abstract
Description
ELECTRICAL PLUG CONNECTOR The invention relates to an electrical plug connector having a plug connector housing, a connecting lever with two parallel lever pieces connected to each other being located in the plug connector housing and being able to rotate and / or move with respect to the plug connector housing between an initial position and a final position, each of the lever pieces having a guide path into which the guide pin is inserted, which is integrally formed in a plug connector housing for a locking coupling, in the initial position of the connecting lever, and which by rotation and / or displacement of the connecting lever can be moved in the guide path, the connecting lever having a locking element that can be moved relative to the plug connector housing.and that in a displacement position called the locking position it mechanically locks the connecting lever, in its final position, in the plug connector housing, and the locking element has an optical code that an optical reading device can detect and fully decode precisely when the locking element is in the locking position. The correct mechanical and electrical connection of plug connectors is important for safety in many applications. Therefore, after connection, it is often necessary to secure plug connectors against accidental disconnection using a locking device. In order to determine and also document that a locking element in a plug connector arrangement has reached its correct locking position, there is evidence that an optical encoding, coupled to the locking element, is detected by using an optical reading device. This type of plug connector is disclosed in the German utility model DE 20 2016 008 846 01.The plug connector arrangement described herein has a display feature, which has a housing, with a visual mark located thereon, and a cover feature having the housing; the display feature and the cover feature can be moved relative to each other between a hidden position and an exposed position, the cover feature hiding at least a portion of the visual mark in the hidden position, the visual mark being exposed or being able to be exposed in the exposed position; and the display feature being in the hidden position relative to the cover feature when the housing is not fully connected to the mating plug and the display feature being in the exposed position relative to the cover feature when the housing is fully connected to the mating plug. Therefore, a visual mark can be recognized in this case when a display feature and a cover feature are in a certain configuration relative to each other, while in other configurations the visual mark is at least partially hidden. Such interaction of a display feature with a visual mark and a cover feature is neither convenient nor easy to achieve for any type of plug connector. The objective is to provide a generic electrical plug connector in a simple and cost-effective manner, in which optical encoding monitoring can take place in an alternative way. This object is achieved according to the invention since the locking element is composed of two pieces that can be displaced relative to each other and where each one carries a respective subsection of the optical code, the optical code being complete when the two pieces are in a displacement position and one of the pieces is fixed to the connecting lever with retention means. Therefore, it is anticipated that each of the two movable parts of a locking element will possess a portion of an optical code. Because the two parts are joined, the optical code is seamless and can therefore be detected by an automatic reading device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS From the dependent claims and the following description of the invention, advantageous embodiments and improvements arise, with reference to the figures. In the figures: Figure 1 shows a plug connector housing with a connecting lever in an initial position, Figure 2 shows a plug connector housing with a connecting lever in a final position, Figure 3 shows a plug connector housing with a connecting lever in the final position, along with a locking element of the assembly, Figure 4 shows a view according to Figure 1 from another perspective, Figure 5 shows a view according to Figure 2 from another perspective, Figure 6 shows a view according to Figure 3 from another perspective, Figure 7 shows the individual parts of a locking element, Figure 8 shows the interconnected individual parts of the locking element, Figure 9 shows a locking element together with an optical code, Figure 10 shows the locking element when fixed to the plug connector housing,Figure 11 shows the locking element attached to the plug connector housing, Figure 12 shows the unlocked locking element attached to the plug connector housing, Figure 13 shows a locking clip in a first position, Figure 14 shows a locking clip in a second position, Figure 15 shows a cross-sectional view of a plug connector housing according to Figure 6, Figure 16 shows a first alternative embodiment of the plug connector with an unlocked locking element, Figure 17 shows the first alternative embodiment of the plug connector with a locked locking element, Figure 18 shows a second alternative embodiment of the plug connector with an unlocked locking element and an additional data matrix code, Figure 19 shows the second alternative embodiment of the plug connector with a locked locking element and an additional data matrix code,Figure 20 shows a third alternative embodiment of the plug connector with an unlocked locking element and an additional data matrix code on the locking element, and Figure 21 shows the third alternative embodiment of the plug connector with a locked locking element and an additional data matrix code on the locking element. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Each of Figures 1-6 shows a plug connector housing 1 with a connecting lever 3. The connecting lever 3 is composed of two side lever pieces 4 that are connected to each other via a connecting rod 2 and that on two side surfaces of the plug connector housing 1 each are supported so that they can rotate about a pivot pin 6. Each of Figures 1-3 illustrates one of the lever pieces 4. Each of the lever pieces 4 has an integrally formed curved guide path 5, into which a guide pin of a coupling plug connector housing, not illustrated in the figures, can be inserted. When the connecting lever 3 rotates from an initial position, illustrated in Figure 1, to a final position depicted in Figure 2, the plug connector housing and the mating plug connector housing are mechanically brought closer together, and the electrical contact elements located in the housings are electrically connected to each other. The connection of a plug connector housing to a mating plug connector housing by means of a rotary lever is not shown in detail here, as this operation is assumed to be known. This connection is illustrated and described, for example, by reference to Figure 3 of the aforementioned publication DE 20 2016 008 846 U1. Figures 4-6 show corresponding views of a plug connector housing 1 that has been rotated 90°, in which both lever pieces 4 and the connecting bar 2 between the lever pieces 4 can be distinguished in each case. In the initial position of the connecting lever 3 illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, the guide pins of a coupling plug connector housing can be inserted into the guide paths 5 of the lever parts 4. After pivoting the connecting lever 3 to the final position shown in Figures 2 and 5, the plug connector housing 1 and the coupling plug connector housing, not shown here, are fully connected. However, in this case, the connecting lever 3 is not yet secured to the plug connector housing 1. The connection lever 3 is secured to the plug connector housing 1 by means of a locking element 7 located, with the permitted displacement, on the connection lever 3. Figures 3 and 6 show the housing of the plug connector 1, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, with the connecting lever 3 in its final position. Furthermore, when the locking element 7 is pressed towards the connecting bar 2, it moves to a position where it locks the connecting lever 3 into the housing of the plug connector 1. This position of the locking element 7 is henceforth referred to as the locking position. The locking element 7 thus performs the known function of housing safety lock or connector position assurance (CPA) lock. It is essential that the locking element 7 has an optical code 9, from which an optical reading device can recognize the correct position of the locking element 7 on the connecting lever 3, in particular without the need for means that conceal or expose the optical codes 9. To achieve this, the locking element 7 is expected to be composed of two pieces 8a, 8b that can be displaced relative to each other, the two pieces possessing only one subsection 9a, 9b of the optical code 9 respectively, so that in a displacement position of the two pieces 8a, 8b relative to each other, the two subsections 9a, 9b of the optical code 9 are located without interruption. As shown in Figure 6, the locking element 7 in locking position 7 has an optical code 9. In particular, this optical code 9 can be a geometric symbol, a one-dimensional barcode, or, as illustrated here, a two-dimensional data matrix code. This type of optical code 9 can be automatically detected by an optical reading device, not shown here. In the present case, it is understood that a geometric symbol implies a graphic symbol preferably of simple structure that can be designed, for example, as a character similar to a letter or also as a geometric figure, such as a circle, a triangle or a rectangle. A complete symbol is typically composed of one or more lines or surfaces. In the case of multiple lines or surfaces, these do not necessarily have to be connected; they can have a designated geometric configuration relative to one another, for example, parallel, aligned, or in an uninterrupted arrangement. An example of such a symbol is the equal sign, which is composed of two parallel straight lines. In particular, it can also be anticipated that multiple lines and / or surfaces must maintain certain distances from each other in order to form a complete symbol. The reading device can check for the presence of these properties, for example, by comparing the detected symbol with a pre-stored representation of the symbol. If the locking element 7 is not in the locked position, with the connecting lever 3 displaced, as illustrated in Figure 5, the optical code 9 is split into two separate subsections 9a, 9b, which the optical reading device cannot recognize as a valid optical code 9. When the connecting lever 3 does not move or does not move completely, as illustrated in Figure 4, for example, no optical code 9 appears in the area detected by the optical reading device. The locking element 7 together with the optical code 9 is described in more detail below with reference to Figures 7-12. As shown in Figure 7, the locking element 7 is composed of two individual parts 8a, 8b. A first part 8a of the locking element 7 has the form of a bar having two spring hooks 10, integrally formed on one longitudinal side of the bar, and two retaining hooks 13 integrally formed on the other longitudinal side of the bar. The second part 8b of the locking element 7 has two parallel guides 15 connected to each other by a crossbar 12, each having a molded guide groove 16. The first part 8a can be inserted, with the permitted offset, into the two guide grooves 16. The crossbar 12 has two recesses 11 between the guides 15. According to the installed state of the connecting and locking element illustrated in Figure 8, the edge sections of the first piece 8a are inserted into the guides 15 of the second piece 8b, and the first piece 8a is pushed until it stops against the crossbar 12 of the second piece 8b. The end sections of the elastic hook 10 are thereby engaged in the recesses 11 of the crossbar 12 of the second piece 8b. Thus, the first and second pieces 8a, 8b are connected to each other, as a result of which the outer surface of the first piece 8a rests against the outer surface of the crossbar 12 in a virtually continuous alignment. In a subsequent manufacturing step of the locking element 7, an optical code 9 is laser-engraved on the parts 8a, 8b thus connected to each other, in particular in such a way that the extension of the optical code 9 from the outer surface of the crossbar 12 extends to the outer surface of the first part 8a. Optical code 9 can be a one-dimensional binary code or a two-dimensional code, which for simplicity is referred to in this case as a barcode or data matrix code, respectively. Therefore, optical code 9 preferably forms a code that individualizes the locking element 7, based on which each individual locking element 7 can be distinguished and recognized again if necessary. The completed locking element 7, shown in Figure 9, is subsequently installed on the connecting bar 2 of the connecting lever 3 (Figure 10). The retaining hooks 13, integrally formed in the first part 8a of the locking element 7, are thereby engaged in the retaining recesses 14 of the connecting lever 3. The optical code 9 can be recognized in a window recess 18 in the connecting lever 3. Since the retaining hooks 13 are designed with a considerably greater material thickness than the spring hooks 10, they establish a strong, virtually inseparable connection between the locking element 7 and the connecting lever 3. In contrast, the retaining force between the spring hooks 10 and the recesses 11 in the second piece 8b of the locking element 7 is much lower, so that this retaining connection can be separated with a force that can be easily applied manually. During this operation, the second piece 8b is pushed against the first piece 8a of the locking element 7, while the first piece of the locking element 7 remains on the connecting lever 3. This results in the position of the first and second pieces 8a, 8b relative to each other, illustrated in Figure 12, in which the previously complete optical code 9 is now split into two separate subsections 9a, 9b. When the connecting lever 3 is in its final position (illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6), the two parts 8a, 8b, which can be moved relative to each other, can lock or release the connecting lever 3 in the housing of the plug connector 1. This is achieved by means of a locking clip 17 (Figure 9) which is integrally formed in the second part 8b of the locking element 7. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, in each case in a cross-section view of the plug connector housing 1, the locking clip 17 moves together with the second part 8b of the locking element 7; in the locked position illustrated in Figure 14, an outer section 19 of the locking clip 17 is positioned between two retaining springs 20 integrally formed in the plug connector housing 1 and thereby presses the two retaining springs 20 apart. Figure 15 illustrates the installed state depicted in Figure 14, in a 90° rotated representation, resulting in section AA of the view of the plug connector housing 1 according to Figure 6. It is evident from Figure 15 that the two retaining springs 20, pressed by the outer section 19 of the locking clip 17, lock two housing sections 21 that form part of the plug connector housing 1. Therefore, the rotational ability of the connecting lever 3 is eliminated, so that it remains in its folded position within the plug connector housing 1 while the locking element 7 is in the locked position. Thus, the locking element 7 fulfills its function as a position safety lock or CPA lock. Figures 16 and 17 illustrate another embodiment of the plug connector in which the optical code 9 does not necessarily have to be a barcode or a data matrix code, but can also be formed by a simple symbol 22. In principle, the symbol 22 can be implemented using any differentiable representation. The symbol can be particularly advantageously designed as a simple geometric figure, henceforth referred to as the geometric symbol. The geometric symbol 22 in this case is composed, by way of example, of a rectangular surface that has fixed dimensions and / or proportions. The rectangular surface is divided into two subsections 22a, 22b, which are located on two pieces 8a, 8b, respectively, of the locking element 7 and which are joined when pieces 8a and 8b are brought together to form a complete geometric symbol 22 in the shape of a complete rectangular surface. Alternatively, the geometric symbol 22 can also be formed by a circular surface, a triangular surface, or some other geometric shape that is subdivided into subsections, and that is completed by joining pieces 8a and 8b together. This embodiment is particularly advantageous, since the recognition of a geometric symbol 22 composed of subsections 22a, 22b is much less sensitive to tolerance than the correct recognition of a data array or barcode joined from subsections 9a, 9b. As shown in Figures 18 and 19, in addition, an undivided data matrix or barcode 23 can be placed on a part of the plug connector housing 1 or the connection lever 3 to allow individual detection of the plug connector. However, a reading device does not read and / or accept this data matrix or barcode 23 as valid until the reading device has previously recognized a fully joined geometric symbol 22. Figures 20 and 21 illustrate another embodiment of the plug connector. In this case, an additional data matrix code 23 is located on the movable part 8b of the locking element 7. A reading device also does not read and / or accept the data matrix code 23 as valid until the reading device has previously recognized a fully joined geometric symbol 22 composed of two subsections 22a, 22b. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS plug connector housing connecting rod connecting lever lever parts guide paths pivot pin locking element 8a first piece (of the locking element) 8b second piece (of the locking element) optical code 9a, 9b subsections (of the optical code) elastic hook recesses Ί 2 crossbar retaining hook retaining recess (13, 14) retaining means guides guide slots locking clip window recess outer section retaining springs housing sections symbol 22a, 22b subsections data matrix or barcode (undivided) It is hereby stated that, as of this date, the best method known to the applicant for putting the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.
Claims
1. An electrical plug connector having a plug connector housing (1), a connecting lever (3) with two parallel lever pieces (4) connected to each other, located in the plug connector housing (1) and rotatable and / or movable relative to the plug connector housing (1) between an initial position and a final position, each lever piece (4) having a guide path (5) into which the guide pin, integrally formed in a plug connector housing for locking coupling, is inserted in the initial position of the connecting lever (3), and which, by rotation and / or displacement of the connecting lever (3), can be moved in the guide path (5), the connecting lever (3) having a locking element (7) movable relative to the plug connector housing (1),and that in a displacement position called the locking position it mechanically locks the connecting lever (3) in its final position in the plug connector housing (1), and the locking element (7) having an optical code (9) that can be detected and decoded in its entirety by an optical reading device just when the locking element (7) is in the locking position, characterized in that the locking element (7) is composed of two parts (8a, 8b) that can be displaced relative to each other and each has a respective subsection (9a, 9b) of the optical code (9), the optical code (9) being completed when the two parts (8a, 8b) are in the displacement position, and one of the parts (8a) is fixed to the connecting lever (3) by retaining means (13, 14).
2. The electrical plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical code (9) is a barcode.
3. The electrical plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical code (9) is a data matrix code.
4. The electrical plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical code (9) is a symbol (22).
5. The electrical plug connector according to claim 4, characterized in that the symbol (22) is a geometric figure or a character.
6. The electrical plug connector according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that an additional undivided data matrix code or barcode (23), or some other scannable code, is located on the plug connector housing (1) or on the connecting lever (3) or on a part (8a, 8b) of the locking element (7).
7. The electrical plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical code (9) is laser engraved on the two movable parts (8a, 8b) of the locking element (7).
8. The electrical plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical code (9) is printed on the two movable pieces (8a, 8b) of the locking element (7) or is applied as an adhesive sticker.