Plug connector having push-button unlocking

Abstract

For convenient unlocking of a motor plug (1), having an attachment plug (2) and a cable plug (3), an unlocking mechanism (24) having only a single unlocking button (22) is proposed. The actuation button (22) is arranged in an actuation side (21) of the connection plug (2), wherein the actuation side (21) of the attachment plug (2) lies opposite its plug-in side (22).

Description

[0001] Title: CONNECTOR WITH PUSH BUTTON RELEASE

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention is based on a connector with a push-button lock according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0004] Such connectors are required to conveniently lock and unlock a plug with a mating plug.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] The publication DE 10 2008 060 516 A1 discloses a locking device for at least two housing parts of a connector, in which a latching and locking of the housing parts is effected by means of a correspondingly designed rotary and push-button function. For this purpose, an actuating button is arranged on each of two opposite side walls of a housing upper part, which in turn acts on a spring lever arranged on the inner wall of the housing upper part. When the housing upper part is pushed together with a housing lower part, the two housing parts are forcibly latched and can only be released by pressing the actuating buttons on both sides. If the actuating buttons are rotated 90° in the locked position, the two housing halves are locked together by means of a correspondingly designed mechanism and cannot initially be separated from each other.Unlocking is only possible by rotating the actuating knob a further 90°, and then derusting—i.e., detaching the two housing halves—is possible by pressing the actuating buttons. The disadvantage of this locking device is that it requires actuation from both sides, which still results in an undesirably high level of effort and is also impractical or even impossible in many applications.

[0007] The German Patent and Trademark Office has searched the following prior art in the priority application for the present application: EP 3 396 786 A1 , DE 10 2018 101 789 B4, EP 0 791 987 A2 and DE 10 2008 060 561 A1 .

[0008] Task

[0009] The object of the invention is to simplify the operation of unlocking a connector. In particular, the connector should be usable as a motor connector, i.e., for supplying power to an electric motor.

[0010] The problem is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1.

[0011] A connector, in particular a motor connector, has a connector plug that has a connector plug housing and an unlocking mechanism arranged at least partially in or on the connector plug housing. The connector plug housing has a plug-in side, a connection side, and an actuation side. The connector plug has at least one actuation element arranged on the actuation side for actuating the unlocking mechanism.

[0012] The connector also has a locking mechanism.

[0013] In addition, the connector has a plug-in side with the

[0014] Connector pluggable and reversibly separable

[0015] Cable connector. The cable connector has a cable connector housing. The cable connector housing has a mating side for mating with the mating side of the connector plug, as well as a cable connection side.

[0016] The connection plug and the cable plug can be locked to each other and unlocked from each other when mated together by means of the locking mechanism and the unlocking mechanism.

[0017] The actuating side of the connector plug is arranged opposite its plug-in side.

[0018] This is particularly advantageous, especially when the connector is a motor connector whose connection plug is preferably mounted on the motor housing of an electric motor and can thus be locked and unlocked particularly easily with just the push of a button from the corresponding cable connector. In particular, the actuating side is particularly easily accessible. Because this actuating side is located opposite the plug-in side, unlocking at multiple points is possible with a single push of a button, requiring only minimal mechanical effort.

[0019] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the connector has exactly one actuating element.

[0021] In a further advantageous embodiment, the actuating element consists of a push button which can be pressed into the connector housing - in particular in the direction of the plug-in side - in a spring-loaded manner as an actuation for unlocking the cable plug from the connector plug.

[0022] In a further preferred embodiment, the connection side of the connection plug connector can have at least one cable outlet for connection to and in particular also for fastening, e.g., to an electric motor. The connection plug can preferably have at least one fastening element, e.g., at least one fastening screw arranged in particular on the connection side and in particular fastened thereto. The fastening screw has a screw thread and, with a lock nut, can be inserted through a screw opening in the motor housing and thus also screwed thereto. The connection plug preferably has at least two such fastening screws.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the connection side runs perpendicular to the plug-in side of the connection plug.

[0024] The locking of the cable plug to the connection plug can advantageously be done automatically by simply plugging the cable plug into the connection plug.

[0025] For this purpose, the locking mechanism can comprise two elastic or at least movable locking arms arranged opposite one another in the cable connector housing, each of which has at least one locking means. In particular, the locking arms can be made of elastic sheet metal and, for example, can be designed as stamped and bent parts.

[0026] Furthermore, the connector plug can have a counter-locking means, in particular a locking pin, in the direction of each of the two locking arms of the cable connector. The counter-locking means of the counter-connector, in particular the locking pin, can be beveled in the direction of each of the two locking arms of the cable connector, and each locking arm can have a sliding bevel at the end that corresponds to this bevel. This advantageously ensures that each locking arm slides onto the counter-locking means, deforming elastically when the cable connector is plugged into the connector plug, and automatically springs back into a locking position when the locking means and counter-locking means are brought together.

[0027] This has the advantage that the cable connector only needs to be mated with the connector plug to automatically lock onto it. The cable connector and connector plug are then mated and locked.

[0028] In a further preferred embodiment, the unlocking mechanism of the connector plug can have two unlocking arms, which, upon actuation of the actuating element in the plugged-in state, deform one of the two locking arms from the locking position into a de-rusting position in order to unlock the cable connector from the connector plug. This allows multiple rustings to be removed simultaneously with a single push of a button.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the two release arms can be connected to each other in one piece, particularly in a forked configuration. This increases their stability and simplifies their manufacture and assembly.

[0030] For unlocking, the unlocking arms can be held in the connector housing so that they can move in the plugging direction. This is particularly advantageous for unlocking the locking arms together. In a preferred embodiment, the unlocking mechanism can be arranged at least partially in the connector housing.

[0031] In a preferred development, the locking mechanism can be arranged at least partially in the connector housing.

[0032] In a further embodiment, the unlocking mechanism can be arranged partly in or on the connection plug and partly in or on the cable plug and in particular fastened thereto.

[0033] In a further embodiment, the locking mechanism can be arranged partly in or on the connection plug and partly in or on the cable plug and in particular fastened thereto.

[0034] In particular, the locking mechanism can have at least one expandable cage arranged in or on the connector housing or at least on the connector and in particular fastened thereto.

[0035] In an advantageous further development, the unlocking mechanism can consist of at least one spreading pin arranged in or on the cable connector and in particular fastened thereto.

[0036] Furthermore, the spreading pin can serve to interact with at least the aforementioned cage. For example, when plugging the cable plug into the connection plug, the at least one spreading pin can be inserted into the cage to spread the cage open. The spread-open cage can then lock on the cable plug housing, for example on locking edges provided for this purpose on the cable plug housing. In particular, each cage can lock at several points by spreading open, in particular at two points opposite each other. The cable plug can then rust on the connection plug in several places, e.g., four places, whereby this rusting can advantageously be released with a single push of the push button.

[0037] It is also particularly advantageous if the cage and / or the locking arms are electrically conductive and, for example, consist of at least one metallic material, e.g., elastic sheet metal, or at least comprise such a sheet metal, and / or if they are at least partially electrically conductive, e.g., consist of electrically conductive or conductively coated plastic or at least comprise such a plastic. This allows them to contribute to an electrically conductive ground connection / earth connection between the connector plug and the cable plug.

[0038] It is particularly advantageous if the actuating element can be locked in its locked position. This advantageously prevents accidental unlocking.

[0039] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the actuating element can be locked in its locking position by a rotary movement. This is particularly space-saving.

[0040] For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous if the actuating element is the said push button, in particular if it is advantageously round.

[0041] Example

[0042] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. They show: Fig. 1a, b an electric motor with a motor connector;

[0043] Fig. 2a - c a connection plug;

[0044] Fig. 3a, b a cable connector;

[0045] Fig. 4a - c the connection and cable plug in section in the unmated, plugged and locked as well as in the plugged and unlocked state;

[0046] Fig. 5a - d the locking and unlocking mechanism in an enlarged sectional view;

[0047] Fig. 6a - c the locking and unlocking mechanism in a second embodiment;

[0048] Fig. 7a, b the connection and cable plug in section with the locking and unlocking mechanism in the second version in the plugging process and in the unlocking process.

[0049] The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. In some cases, identical reference symbols are used for identical, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of identical elements may be scaled differently.

[0050] Directional indications such as “left”, “right”, “top” and “bottom” are to be understood with reference to the respective figure and can vary in the individual representations compared to the object depicted.

[0051] Figs. 1a and 1b show an electric motor 5 with a motor housing 50 and a connector 1. The connector 1 has a connection plug 2 mounted on the motor housing 50 and, in this illustration, a cable connector 3 plugged into it, to which two cables 4 are connected. The connection plug 2 has a connection plug housing 20, which is mounted on the motor housing 50, namely screwed thereto. The cable connector 3 has a cable connector housing 30 with a double cable outlet, having two cable glands.

[0052] Figs. 2a-c show the connector plug 2 as a separate part in the unplugged state and not yet mounted on the motor housing 50. The connector plug 2 has a plug-in side 23 and, opposite the plug-in side 23, an actuating side 21 shown in Fig. 2a. A push button 22 is arranged on the actuating side 21 as the actuating element.

[0053] In Fig. 2b, the connection side 25 with two cable outlets 29 arranged therein is particularly clearly visible. Also located on this side are two fastening screws 28 as fastening means for attachment to the motor housing 50.

[0054] Fig. 2c provides a view of the plug-in side 23.

[0055] Figs. 3a and 3b show the cable connector 3 from two different views. Fig. 3a provides a view of the cable outlet. Furthermore, the cable connector 3 has a mating connector side 32, shown in Fig. 3b, for mating connection with the connector side 23 of the connection plug 2.

[0056] Fig. 4a shows the connection plug 2 and the cable plug 3 in cross section in the unplugged and therefore unlocked state.

[0057] The connector 1 has a locking mechanism comprising two locking arms 34 arranged in the cable connector housing 30 of the cable connector 3 shown on the right, each having a locking window 340 as a locking means and a sliding bevel 342, as well as two corresponding locking pins 23 arranged in the connection connector housing 20 of the connection connector 2 shown on the left. The push button 22 arranged on the actuation side 21 is connected to a fork-shaped unlocking mechanism 24 which has two unlocking arms 243.

[0058] Fig. 4b shows the connector 1 in the plugged-in and locked state. The locking pins 27 engage in the locking windows 340, and the sliding bevels 342 are arranged at the inclined end regions of the release arms 243. By turning the push button 22, it can be locked and unlocked again in its locking position shown here, preventing accidental unlocking.

[0059] In Fig. 4c, the push button 22 has been pressed into the connector housing 20. This moves the fork-shaped release mechanism 24 to the right in the drawing—that is, toward the cable connector 3. The locking arms 34 are pressed together at their ends by their sliding bevels 342, thus moving toward each other, and their locking windows 340 detach from the locking pins 27. The cable connector 3 is thus unlocked from the connector 2.

[0060] Figs. 5a to 5d each show this process in an enlarged section of the previous illustration.

[0061] Figs. 6a to 6c show the locking / unlocking mechanism 24' in a different embodiment. An expandable cage 240 with an expansion opening 248 is arranged at each end of the unlocking arms 243'. The cable connector 3 has two expansion pins 31, each of which has a locking cone 314 and a derusting groove 318. When the locking cones 314 engage the respective expansion opening 248, the respective cage 240 expands to lock onto the cable connector housing 30.

[0062] However, if the expansion pin 31 is inserted deeper into the cage 240, the derusting groove 318 enters the expansion opening 248 and the cage 240 reduces its dimensions again.

[0063] Fig. 7a shows the panel connector 2 and the cable connector in a sectional view during the plugging process.

[0064] Fig. 7b shows how an existing locking action is released by pushing the push button 22 into the connector housing 20. For this purpose, as previously described, the cage 240 is pushed further over the expansion pin 31, and the rust removal groove 318 of the expansion pins enters the respective expansion opening 248.

[0065] This removes rust from the cable connector 3 of the connection plug 2 at four different locations by simply pressing a button.

[0066] Although various aspects or features of the invention are shown in combination in the figures, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art—unless otherwise stated—that the illustrated and discussed combinations are not the only possible ones. In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes from different embodiments can be interchanged.

[0067] 1 connector

[0068] 2 connection plugs

[0069] 20 connector housings

[0070] 21 Operating side

[0071] 22 Push button / actuating element

[0072] 23 Plug-in side

[0073] 24, 24' release mechanism

[0074] 240 cage

[0075] 243, 243' release arms

[0076] 248 Spreading opening

[0077] 25 Connection side

[0078] 27 locking pin / counter-locking device

[0079] 28 fixing screw(s) / fixing element(s)

[0080] 29 Cable outlet

[0081] 3 cable connectors

[0082] 30 cable connector housings

[0083] 31 Spreader pin

[0084] 314 locking cone

[0085] 318 Release groove

[0086] 32 Counter-side

[0087] 34 locking arm(s)

[0088] 340 locking window / locking device

[0089] 342 Sliding slope

[0090] 4 cables

[0091] 5 Electric motor

[0092] 50 engine housings

Claims

Claims 1 . Connector (1 ), comprising a connection plug (2), which o a connection plug housing (20) and o a connector housing (20) which is arranged at least partially in or on Connector housing (20) has an unlocking mechanism (24), wherein ■ the connector housing (20) has a plug-in side (23), a connection side (25), and an actuation side (21), wherein o the connector (2) has at least one actuation element (22) arranged on the actuation side (21) for actuating the unlocking mechanism (24), wherein the connector (1) further comprises a locking mechanism, and a cable plug (3) which can be plugged into the connector (2) on the plug-in side and reversibly separated therefrom, wherein o the cable plug (3) has a cable plug housing (30), wherein ■ the cable connector housing (30) has a mating plug-in side (32) for plugging into the plug-in side (23) of the connecting plug (2) and a cable connection side, wherein the connecting plug (2) and the cable connector (3) can be locked to one another and unlocked from one another by means of the locking mechanism and the unlocking mechanism (24) in the mutually plugged state, characterized in that that the actuating side (21) of the connecting plug (2) is arranged opposite its plug-in side (23).

2. Connector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection plug (2) has exactly one actuating element (22).

3. Plug connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element is formed by a push button (22) which can be pressed into the connector housing (20) under spring load as an actuation for unlocking the cable plug (3) from the connection plug (2).

4. Plug connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection side (25) of the connection plug (2) for connection and fastening to an electric motor (5) has at least one cable outlet (29) and at least one fastening element (28), wherein the connection side (25) runs perpendicular to the plug-in side (23) of the connection plug (2).

5. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking mechanism is arranged at least partially in the cable connector housing (30).

6. Connector (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking mechanism has two elastic locking arms (34) arranged opposite one another in the cable connector housing (30), each having at least one locking means (340).

7. Connector (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the connecting plug (2) has a counter-locking means (27) for each of the two locking arms (34) of the cable plug (3).

8. Connector (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the counter-locking means (27) is beveled towards each of the two locking arms (34) of the cable plug and that each locking arm (34) has a sliding bevel (342) at the end to ensure that each locking arm (34) slides elastically deforming onto the counter-locking means (27) when the cable plug (3) is plugged together with the connection plug (2) and automatically locks thereon by springing back into a locking position when the locking means (340) and the counter-locking means (27) are brought together.

9. Connector (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the unlocking mechanism (24, 24') has two unlocking arms (243, 243') which, when actuated by the actuating element (22) in the plugged-in state, deform from the locking position into a derusting position in order to unlock the cable plug (3) from the connection plug (2).

10. Connector (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the two unlocking arms (243, 243') are connected to one another in one piece.

11. Connector (1) according to one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that the two unlocking arms (243, 243') are held in the connector housing (20) so as to be movable in the plugging direction for unlocking.

12. Connector (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking mechanism is arranged at least partially in the connector housing (20).

13. Connector (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the locking mechanism has at least one expandable cage (240).

14. Connector (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the locking mechanism has at least one spreading pin (31) for cooperation with the at least one cage (240).

15. Connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (22) can be locked in its locking position.

16. Connector (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that the actuating element (22) can be locked in its locking position by a rotary movement.

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