Plug, mating plug and plug connector

Abstract

: The invention relates to a plug, a mating plug and a plug connector, in particular for a charging system of an electric vehicle, wherein a section (A) of the plug (2) designed for the electrical contacts (221) is hemispherical or ball head-type, and a contact surface (21) is formed on said section (A), on which contact surface at least two electrically separated contact regions (22) are formed which each form a separate contact (221) for electrically conductive connection to a corresponding mating contact (32) of a mating plug (3).

Description

[0001] Plugs, mating plugs and connectors

[0002] Description:

[0003] The invention relates to a plug, a mating plug and a connector.

[0004] Typically, the plug and mating plug of a connector are not movable relative to each other in a mounted state without interrupting the electrically conductive connection of the connector.

[0005] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a plug, a mating plug, and a connector in which the mating plug maintains electrically conductive contact with the plug in a mounted state, even during a predetermined movement. This objective is achieved by the combination of features according to claim 1.

[0006] The basic idea of ​​the invention is to provide a plug, a mating plug, and a connector which, in an assembled state, allows for an angled arrangement, tilting, and rotation of the mating plug relative to the plug, while continuously maintaining contact between the mating plug and two electrically separated contacts of the plug. Furthermore, the mating plug can be inserted into the plug in a horizontal direction as well as at a predetermined angle.

[0007] According to the invention, a plug for a plug connection, in particular for a charging system of an electric vehicle, preferably an electric bicycle, is proposed, in which the section of the plug designed for the electrical contacts is hemispherical or ball-shaped and a contact surface is formed on this section, on which at least two electrically separated contact areas are formed, each of which forms a separate contact for the electrically conductive connection with a corresponding counter-contact of a mating plug.

[0008] In an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that at least one of the at least two electrically separated contact areas, each forming a contact, is ring-shaped and extends in particular over an arc length of approximately 60 to 80° along the contact surface.

[0009] Preferably, the connector is designed such that one of the at least two electrically separated contact areas is arranged at the, in particular, a free end of the hemispherical or ball-shaped section. The corresponding contact area is preferably circular.

[0010] The advantage of this is that, due to the ring-shaped and circular contact area, a rotation of the mating connector on the plug by 360° is possible, during which a contact of the mating connector is continuously in contact with two electrically separated contacts of the plug.

[0011] In one embodiment of the invention, the contact guide of the connector is designed such that the separate contacts extend parallel within the interior of the hemispherical or spherical connector. In particular, the second annular contact area extends around the first contact area.

[0012] According to the invention, a mating connector is further proposed for a plug connection, in particular for a charging system of an electric vehicle, preferably an electric bicycle, with a plug according to the preceding disclosure. The mating connector has at least one complementary mating contact for each of the electrically separated contact areas of the plug for contacting the corresponding contact area.

[0013] The mating connector according to the invention is designed in one embodiment such that the respective mating contact of the mating connector is spring-loaded, in particular with at least one spring arm and / or a contact pin mounted on a compression spring. This ensures continuous contact between the mating contact and the corresponding contact of the connector when the mating connector moves relative to the connector.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment, the invention provides that one of the mating contacts has a contact cage with an annular base body and preferably at least two spring arms. The other mating contact is a contact pin mounted on a compression spring, which is arranged centrally and / or centrally along a longitudinal extension of the mating connector and extends, in particular, through the annular base body.

[0015] Furthermore, an embodiment is advantageous in which the mating connector, in particular a housing of the mating connector, has a connector receptacle designed at least partially corresponding to the hemispherical and / or spherical connector and a locking element for locking with the hemispherical and / or spherical connector. In particular, the locking element or the entire housing is made of a soft and / or flexible plastic, preferably polyolefins and / or polyvinyl chloride, and more preferably flexible PVC. In an advantageous embodiment, the locking element is a projection, in particular a full-circumference projection, which is arranged on the inner circumferential surface / surface of the housing of the mating connector in the area of ​​a receiving opening for the connector and has, at least partially, a locking geometry complementary to the connector.

[0016] Furthermore, according to the invention, a connector, particularly for a charging system of an electric vehicle, preferably an electric bicycle, is proposed, comprising a plug and a mating plug as described above. In an assembled state, the mating plug is movably held and / or mounted on the hemispherical and / or spherical plug, at least rotationally. Moreover, the respective contact area of ​​the plug is continuously, and in particular electrically conductively, contacted by at least one of the mating contacts during a predetermined rotational movement of the mating plug. In an advantageous embodiment, the mating plug is continuously adjustable on the plug.

[0017] It is further advantageous if the connector has a stop for the mating connector, such that, in the assembled state, when the mating connector is tilted by a predetermined angle, in particular 5° to 45°, preferably 10° to 20°, and more preferably 15°, with respect to a central axis of the connector, the mating connector abuts the connector or rests against the stop of the connector. If the mating connector is then tilted further in the same direction, the mating connector is levered out of the connection with the connector due to the contact with the stop and disengages from the locking connection.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mating connector is fixed so as to be rotatable around a plug axis, in particular by 360°.

[0019] Furthermore, an embodiment is advantageous in which a sealing element, in particular a sealing ring, is arranged on the mating connector, which, in the assembled state, is located at least partially behind the contact areas when viewed in the insertion direction of the mating connector and / or makes sealing contact with the connector. Preferably, the sealing element is also located at least in the area of ​​the dividing line in the assembled state. More preferably, the sealing element is located in the area of ​​the locking mechanism.

[0020] According to the invention, an electric vehicle, preferably an electric bicycle, is also proposed with a connector according to one of the preceding disclosures, wherein the connector is formed on the electric vehicle, in particular on a frame of the electric vehicle. The connector is, in particular, electrically connected to an energy storage device of the electric vehicle. It is further advantageous if a protective cap is provided which can be attached to the connector when it is not mounted.

[0021] The features disclosed above can be combined in any way, provided that this is technically possible and they do not contradict each other.

[0022] Other advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims or are described in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures. The figures show:

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a plug;

[0024] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a mating connector;

[0025] Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a connector with the plug and mating plug;

[0026] Fig. 4a shows another sectional view of the connector;

[0027] Fig. 4b shows a perspective view of the plug and mating contacts of the connector.

[0028] The figures are schematic examples. Identical reference symbols in the figures indicate identical functional and / or structural features.

[0029] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a plug 2 for a plug connection. A section A of the plug 2, designed for the electrical contacts 221, is hemispherical or ball-shaped, and a contact surface 21 is formed on this section A, on which at least two electrically separated contact areas 22 are formed, each forming a separate contact 221 for electrically conductive connection with a corresponding mating contact 32 of a mating plug 3.

[0030] According to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a first of the two electrically separated contact areas 22, each forming a contact, is annular in shape and extends over an arc length of approximately 60 to 80° along the contact surface. Furthermore, at least a second of the electrically separated contact areas 22 is arranged on the hemispherical or spherical section A and has a circular contact area 22.

[0031] Furthermore, the contact guide of the plug 2 is designed such that the separate contacts 221 extend parallel within the interior of the hemispherical or ball-shaped plug 2. The second annular contact area 22 extends around the first contact area 22.

[0032] Furthermore, the plug 2 includes a stop 24 for a mating plug, such that in a mounted state, when the mating plug is tilted by a predetermined angle of 15° with respect to a central axis MA of the plug, the mating plug abuts the plug.

[0033] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a mating connector 3 designed for a plug connection with the plug 2 shown in Figure 1. The mating connector 3 has at least one complementary mating contact 32 for each of the electrically separated contact areas 22 of the plug 2, for contacting the corresponding contact area 22. Furthermore, each mating contact 32 of the mating connector 3 is spring-loaded. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, one of the mating contacts has three spring arms, and the other mating contact 32 has a contact pin mounted on a compression spring. One mating contact 32 has a contact cage with an annular base body 321 and three spring arms. The other mating contact 32, with the contact pin mounted on the compression spring, is arranged centrally and / or centrally along a longitudinal extent of the mating connector 3.

[0034] Furthermore, a housing 31 of the mating connector 3 has a connector receptacle that is at least partially corresponding to the ball-shaped connector, as well as a locking element 33 for locking with the hemispherical or ball-shaped section A. At least the locking element 33 of the housing 31, or the entire housing 31, is made of a soft and / or flexible plastic, preferably polyolefins and / or polyvinyl chloride, in particular flexible PVC. In the present embodiment, the locking element 33 is a projection, in particular a full-circumference projection, which is arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the housing 31 of the mating connector 3 in the area of ​​a receiving opening for the connector 2, and has a locking geometry complementary to the connector, at least in part.

[0035] Furthermore, a sealing element 34 for sealing contact of a connector is arranged on the mating connector 3; this element is designed as a sealing ring. The sealing element 34 is located in the area of ​​the locking device 33.

[0036] Figure 3 shows a connector 1 of a charging system of an electric vehicle, preferably an electric bicycle, with the plug 2 shown in Figure 1 and the mating plug 3 shown in Figure 2. The plug 2 is formed on a frame of the electric vehicle and is electrically connected to an energy storage device of the electric vehicle (not shown).

[0037] In this process, the respective contact area 22 of the plug 2 is continuously electrically contacted during a predetermined rotational movement of at least one of the opposing contact 32 on the annular contact section.

[0038] Furthermore, the mating connector 3 can be continuously aligned with the connector 2 and is fixed in a rotatable manner around a plug axis.

[0039] Furthermore, one of the mating contacts 32 has an annular base body 321 with three spring arms, and the other of the mating contacts 32 is a contact pin mounted on a compression spring, which is arranged centrally and / or centrally along a longitudinal extension of the mating connector. The contact pin of the other mating contact 32, mounted on the compression spring, extends through the annular base body 321 of the first mating contact 32.

[0040] Furthermore, the connector 2 has a stop 24 for the mating connector 3, such that in the assembled state, if the mating connector 3 is tilted by a predetermined angle with respect to a central axis MA of the connector 2, the mating connector 3 abuts the connector 2. In the embodiment of connector 1 and connector 2 shown in Figure 3, the predetermined angle is 15°.

[0041] Furthermore, a sealing element 34, designed as a sealing ring, is arranged on the mating connector 3. In the assembled state, this sealing element is located at least partially behind the contact areas 22 when viewed in the insertion direction of the mating connector 3 and / or makes sealing contact with the connector 2. The sealing element 34 is also located in the area of ​​the locking element 33.

[0042] Figure 4a shows another sectional view of the connector 1 shown in Figure 3. Figure 4b shows a perspective view of the plug 2 and the mating contacts 32 of the mating plug 3 of the connector 1. In Figures 4a and 4b, the mating plug 3 is tilted by the predetermined angle of 15° with respect to the central axis MA of the plug 2. The mating plug 3 rests against the stop 24 of the plug 2. During and after tilting by the predetermined angle, the respective contact area 22 of the plug 2 is contacted by the corresponding mating contacts 32 of the mating plug 3.

[0043] The invention is not limited in its implementation to the preferred embodiments specified above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable which make use of the solution presented even in fundamentally different designs.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Plug (2) for a plug connection, in particular for a charging system of an electric vehicle, wherein a section (A) of the plug (2) designed for the electrical contacts (221) is hemispherical or ball-shaped and a contact surface (21) is formed on this section (A) on which at least two electrically separated contact areas (22) are formed, each forming a separate contact (221) for electrically conductive connection with a corresponding mating contact (32) of a mating plug (3).

2. Connector (2) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrically separated contact areas (22) forming a contact is ring-shaped and extends in particular over an arc length of approximately 60° to 80° along the contact surface.

3. Plug (2) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein at least a second of the electrically separated contact areas (22) is arranged at the, in particular a free end of the, hemispherical or ball-head shaped section (A), wherein the corresponding contact area (22) is preferably circular.

4. Plug (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a contact guide of the plug (2) is designed such that the separate contacts (221) extend parallel in an interior of the hemispherical or ball-shaped plug (2), wherein in particular the second annular contact area extends around the first contact area.

5. Mating connector (3) designed for a plug connection, in particular for a charging system of an electric vehicle, comprising a plug (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the mating plug (3) has at least one complementary mating contact (32) for each of the electrically separated contact areas (22) of the plug (2) for contacting the corresponding contact area (22).

6. Counter connector (3) according to claim 5, wherein the respective counter contact (32) of the counter connector (3) is spring-elastic, in particular with at least one spring arm and / or a contact pin mounted on a compression spring.

7. Mating connector (3) according to claim 6, wherein one of the mating contacts (32) has a contact cage with an annular base body (321) and preferably at least two spring arms, wherein the other of the mating contacts (32) is a contact pin mounted on a compression spring, which is arranged centrally and / or centrally along a longitudinal extension of the mating connector.

8. Mating connector (3) according to any one of the preceding claims 5 to 7, wherein the mating connector (3), in particular a housing (31) of the mating connector (3), has a connector receptacle formed at least partially corresponding to the hemispherical or spherical section (A) of the connector (2) and a locking means (33) for locking with the hemispherical or spherical section, wherein preferably the locking means is formed from a soft and / or flexible plastic, preferably polyolefins and / or polyvinyl chloride, preferably soft PVC.

9. Connector (1), in particular for a charging system of an electric vehicle, with a plug (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4 and a mating connector (3) according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein in a mounted state the mating connector is held at least rotatorily movable on the ball head and wherein the respective contact area (22) of the connector (2) is continuously, in particular electrically conductively, contacted by at least one of the mating contacts (32) on the annular contact section during a predetermined rotary movement.

10. Connector (1 ) according to claim 9, wherein the plug (2) has a stop (24) for the mating plug, such that in the assembled state, when the mating plug (3) is tilted by a predetermined angle, in particular 5° to 45°, preferably 10° to 20°, more preferably 15°, with respect to a central axis (MA) of the plug (2), the mating plug (3) abuts and / or rests against the plug (2).

11. Connector (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the mating connector (3) is rotatably fixed about a plug axis.

12. Connector (1 ) according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein a sealing means (34), in particular a sealing ring, is arranged on the mating connector (3), which in the assembled state is at least partially arranged behind the contact areas (22) in the insertion direction of the mating connector (3) and / or makes sealing contact with the connector (2).

13. Connector (1 ) according to the preceding claim, wherein the sealing element (34) is arranged in the assembled state at least in the area of ​​the locking means (33).

14. Electric vehicle, in particular electric bicycle, with a connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 9 to 13, wherein the plug (2) is formed on the electric vehicle, in particular on a frame of the electric vehicle, wherein the plug (2) is in particular electrically conductively connected to an energy storage device of the electric vehicle.

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