Abstract
An electrical plug connector for a vehicle comprises a plug with a plug casing in which a contact chamber is formed, an electrical contact part arranged in the contact chamber, a locking bolt for releasably attaching a plug-in contact to the contact part, and a socket to be plugged with the plug, a socket casing and a plug-in contact attached thereto. The plug connector has a locking slide attachable to the plug casing that is mounted on the casing for displacement at least into a locking position in a direction transverse to the plugging direction of the plug, to lock the plug to the socket. The locking slide has a guide slot extending substantially transversely to the plugging direction and having an inclined plane to guide the locking bolt of the contact part as it is moved into the locking position.
Claims
1-14. (canceled)
15. An electrical plug connector for a vehicle, comprising: a plug comprising a plug casing having a contact chamber; an electrical contact part arranged in the contact chamber, the contact part comprising a locking bolt for releasably attaching a plug-in contact to the contact part; a socket configured for coupling to the plug, the socket comprising a socket casing and the plug-in contact, the socket receiving the plug in a first direction; and a locking slide attached to the plug casing, the locking slide comprising a guide slot extending substantially transversely to the first direction, the guide slot having an inclined plane for guiding the locking bolt of the contact part in a displacement direction transverse to the first direction into a locking position, the locking position locking the plug to the socket.
16. The plug connector according to claim 15, wherein the guide slot comprises a first linear segment for receiving the locking bolt and a second linear segment, the inclined plane of the guide slot being arranged between the first linear segment and the second linear segment.
17. The plug connector according to claim 15, wherein the inclined plane comprises an angle of inclination of approximately 30° to 60°.
18. The plug connector according to claim 15, wherein the inclined plane comprises an angle of inclination of approximately 45°.
19. The plug connector according to claim 15, wherein the locking slide is configured to lock the contact part in the contact chamber in a secondary locking position upstream of the locking position.
20. The plug connector according to claim 15, wherein the locking slide comprises a secondary locking rib on a side facing the plug casing, the secondary locking rib being configured to lock the contact part in the contact chamber.
21. The plug connector according to claim 15, wherein the plug casing comprises a first longitudinal rib extending in the first direction and a second longitudinal rib arranged parallel to the first longitudinal rib, the first and second longitudinal ribs configured to interact with the locking slide.
22. The plug connector according to claim 21, wherein the locking slide comprises a detent lug configured to engage with at least one of the first longitudinal rib or the second longitudinal rib.
23. The plug connector according to claim 22, wherein the detent lug engages behind the second longitudinal rib viewed in the displacement direction, in a secondary locking position upstream of the locking position.
24. The plug connector according to claim 22, wherein the detent lug engages behind the first longitudinal rib viewed in the displacement direction, in an installation position upstream of the locking position.
25. The plug connector according to claim 24, wherein the contact chamber is open in the installation position.
26. The plug connector according to claim 21, wherein the locking slide comprises a resilient position-assurance arm engaged with at least one of the first longitudinal rib or the second longitudinal rib, the position-assurance arm being releasable from the engaged longitudinal rib by deflection to permit displacement into the locking position.
27. The plug connector according to claim 26, wherein the socket casing comprises an unlocking rib configured to release the position-assurance arm from the engaged longitudinal rib.
28. The plug connector according to claim 27, wherein the unlocking rib is guided between the first and the second longitudinal ribs when the plug is connected to the socket.
29. The plug connector according to claim 15, wherein the socket and the coupled plug are at least partly encased in a protective housing.
30. The plug connector according to claim 15, wherein the plug connector is a high-voltage plug connector.
31. An electrical plug for a high-voltage plug connector system in a vehicle, the electrical plug comprising: a plug casing having a contact chamber for encompassing at least part of an electrical contact part, the electrical part comprising a locking bolt; and a locking slide attached to the plug casing, the locking slide comprising a guide slot extending substantially transversely to a first direction, the guide slot having an inclined plane for guiding the locking bolt in a displacement direction transverse to the first direction into a locking position, the locking position locking the plug to a socket configured to receive the plug in the first direction.
32. The electrical plug according to claim 31, wherein the guide slot comprises a first linear segment for receiving the locking bolt and a second linear segment, the inclined plane of the guide slot being arranged between the first linear segment and the second linear segment.
33. The electrical plug according to claim 31, wherein: the plug casing comprises a first longitudinal rib extending in the first direction and a second longitudinal rib arranged parallel to the first longitudinal rib, the first and second longitudinal ribs configured to interact with the locking slide; and the locking slide comprises a detent lug configured to engage with at least one of the first longitudinal rib or the second longitudinal rib.
34. The electrical plug according to claim 33, wherein the locking slide comprises a resilient position-assurance arm engaged with at least one of the first longitudinal rib or the second longitudinal rib, the position-assurance arm being releasable from the engaged longitudinal rib by deflection to permit displacement into the locking position.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] In the drawings:
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of an exemplary electrical plug connector, with a plug that is locked by a locking slide to a socket affixed to a counterpart;
[0026] FIG. 2A is a perspective front view of an exemplary plug with a locking slide;
[0027] FIG. 2B is a perspective front view of an exemplary socket with plug-in contacts to plug together with a plug;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a lateral view of an exemplary plug with a locking slide, shown in position for installation;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a plan view of an exemplary plug with a contact chamber to receive an electrical contact part of the plug;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a lateral view of an exemplary plug with a locking slide, shown in a secondary locking position;
[0031] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an exemplary plug showing a secondary locking of an electrical contact part accommodated in a contact chamber;
[0032] FIG. 7 is a partial section through an exemplary plug and a socket connected to it, in which an unlocking rib of the socket is guided between two longitudinal ribs of the plug;
[0033] FIG. 8 is a lateral view of a partial section of he electrical plug connector, with a locking slide in a locking position; and
[0034] FIG. 9 is a perspective lateral view of an exemplary plug connector, in which a protective housing at least partially encases a plug and socket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] The drawings depict merely schematic representations and serve only to illustrate the present disclosure, The same or similar elements are provided throughout with the same reference numbers,
[0036] FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of an electrical plug connector 1 that is suitable for use as a high-voltage plug connector in a high-voltage wiring system of a vehicle,
[0037] The plug connector 1 comprises a plug 2 with a plug casing 3 and a mating socket 4, also referred to as a header, with a socket casing 5. At least one electrical contact part 7 (hidden in FIG. 1 by the plug casing 3; see FIG. 6) is accommodated in at least one contact chamber 6 (shown in FIG. 4) of the plug casing 3. In this embodiment the plug connector has three poles and therefore includes a total of three contact chambers 6 in the plug casing 3 and three contact parts 7. For this reason, the plug connector 1 also has three electric wires connected to the contact parts 7, The plug 2 and the socket 4 may be releasably plugged together in a plugging direction S. While in the plugged state, they may be optionally locked together to establish a plugged connection formed by the plug connector 1.
[0038] The contact part 7 has a sleeve 8 (see FIG. 6) that forms a receiving space for a plug-in contact 10 to be guided in a direction of insertion. A contact spring is attached in the interior of the sleeve 8 and is adapted to be pushed by a slid able locking bolt 12 in the direction of the receiving space for the plug-in contact 10. The plug-in contact 10 in this embodiment is part of the socket 4 (see FIG. 2B). As an example, the contact part 7 is described in further detail in German patent applications DE 10 2015 104 377.7 and DE 10 2015 114 080.2, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0039] FIG. 1 shows that the socket 4, acting as a header, is passed through a counterpart 13 with a section facing away from the plug 2, which could be a counter-housing of a motor or the like. The socket 4 is held in a clip connection on the counterpart 13 and lies on the counterpart 13 with a support flange (not shown). A locking slide 14 provided to lock the plug 2 on or to the socket 4 is attached to the plug casing 3 and is displaceable relative to the plug casing 3. The locking slide in this embodiment fulfils several functions, as described below. The plug 2 can also be directly attached to the counterpart 13 by locking it to the socket 4.
[0040] FIG. 2A shows a perspective front view of the plug 2 as an individual part with the locking slide 14 in position for installation. As shown, in this position the locking slide 14 is already being held on the plug casing 3, but a base part 15 of the locking slide 14 is spaced apart from the exterior of the plug casing 3. In this installation position no contact part 7 has yet been inserted into the plug casing 3.
[0041] FIG. 2B shows a perspective front view of the socket 4 as an individual part. As shown, the socket casing 5 has a total of three plug-in contacts 10 for the three-pole plug connector 1.
[0042] FIG. 3 shows a lateral view of a partial section of the plug 2 in its installation position. As shown, the base part 15 of the locking slide 14 is spaced apart from the outside of the plug casing 3. Furthermore, a side part 16 of the locking slide 14 extends from the base part 15 on which it is formed in a direction transverse to the plugging direction S of the plug 2. The locking slide 14 here is symmetrical, such that it has an additional side part (not shown or indicated). The side part 16 has a guide slot 17 with a first linear segment 18 and a second linear segment 19 delimiting an inclined plane 20 between the segments. The inclined plane 20 has an angle of inclination relative to the linear segments 18, 19 that measures approximately 45.sup.0, but other angles are also contemplated. The guide slot 17 accommodates, guides, and alternatively affixes an axial end of the locking bolt 12 of the contact part 7 (not visible in FIG. 3).
[0043] FIG. 3 shows that the side part 16 of the locking slide 14 has a first detent lug 21 and a second detent lug 22 projecting perpendicular to the plugging direction S, i.e. from the drawing plane of FIG. 3. Furthermore, the side part 16 has a position-assurance arm 23. The position-assurance arm 23 may be resilient such that the locking slide 14 performs the function of a connector position assurance (CPA), which is explained in greater detail below. The position-assurance arm 23 is formed at an axial end on the base part 15 and has a position-assurance lug 24 (see FIG. 5) that acts as a detent on an opposite free axial end. The position-assurance lug will is explained in greater detail below.
[0044] FIG. 3 also shows that the plug casing 3 has a molded-on first longitudinal rib 25 and a molded-on second longitudinal rib 26. The ribs 25, 26 are arranged in a parallel, spaced relationship to one another and extend in the plugging direction S of the plug 2. In the installation position of the locking slide 14 shown here, the two detent lugs 21, 22 are engaged between the first longitudinal rib 25 and the second longitudinal rib 26, so that the locking slide 14 is held on the plug casing 3. The position-assurance lug 24 may be pushed past the first longitudinal rib 25, since it has a recess on the side facing the position-assurance arm 23 (hidden in FIG. 3 by the first longitudinal rib 25).
[0045] In a plan view onto the plug 2, FIG. 4 shows that the contact chamber 6 is open as seen in the installation position of the locking slide 14 shown here. Therefore, in this position the contact part 7 may be introduced into the contact chamber 6 of the plug casing 3.
[0046] FIG. 5 shows a partial section of the plug 2 in a side view in which the locking slide 14 is in its secondary locking position. As shown in FIG. 5, the locking slide 14 is displaced in a displacement direction V relative to the installation position described above (see FIGS. 1 to 4), resulting in the base part 15 being situated closer to the exterior of the plug casing 3. In this position, the position-assurance lug 24 of the position-assurance arm 23 is arranged and engages between the first longitudinal rib 25 and the second longitudinal rib 26 of the plug casing 3. Thus, the locking slide 14 performs the function of a CPA of the plug connector 1, since continued displacement of the locking slide 14 in the direction of displacement V is blocked by the engagement. Furthermore, the two detent lugs 21, 22 are arranged behind the second longitudinal rib 26 in the direction of displacement V. The detent lugs 21, 22 are beveled to permit movement past the second longitudinal rib 26 on being displaced from the installation position into the secondary locking position.
[0047] FIG. 5 reveals that the axial end of the locking bolt 12 is received in the guide slot 17 of the locking slide 14 in the secondary locking position. The locking bolt 12 in this case is located in the first linear segment 18.
[0048] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a partial cut through a portion of the plug 2. The locking slide 14 has a secondary locking rib 27 on an inner side, i.e. on a side facing away from one of the detent lugs 21, 22. In the secondary locking position shown here, the secondary locking rib 27 undercuts the contact part 7 located in the contact chamber 6, with the result that it is secondarily locked by the locking slide 14. The secondary locking rib 27 thus lies on a face of the contact part 7. The secondary locking rib 27 here presses the contact part 7 against the plug casing 3. Prior to the secondary locking, for example, the contact part 7 is primarily locked in the contact chamber 6 by a retaining tab attached to it (not shown).
[0049] FIG. 7 shows a side view of a cut through a section of the plug 2 and the socket 4 in an intermediate position between the secondary locking position and a locking position of the locking slide 14 (see FIG. 8). The socket 4 has an unlocking rib 28 on its casing 5 that projects into the casing interior. The unlocking rib 28 in FIG. 7 is arranged and guided between the first longitudinal rib 25 and the second longitudinal rib 26 of the plug casing 3. As such, the unlocking rib 28 is arranged and embodied in such a manner that it can engage between the longitudinal ribs 25, 26. The unlocking rib 28 deflects the position-assurance arm 23 in the secondary locking position of the locking slide 14 (into the drawing plane of FIG. 7) to an extent that permits the position-assurance lug 24 to be pushed out of engagement with the second longitudinal rib 26. The locking slide 14 can thus be moved from the secondary locking position into the locking position only when the position-assurance arm 23 is deflected and released. The locking slide 14 and the socket casing 5 thus cooperate to act as a CPA when the plug 2 and the socket 4 are plugged together,
[0050] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a partial section of the plug 2 in which the locking slide 14 is in its locking position. In this position the position-assurance lug 24 of the position-assurance arm 23 has already been pushed beyond the second longitudinal rib 26 of the plug casing 3 and is no longer engaged. The base part 15 now abuts the exterior of the plug casing 3 for the most part. In addition, in this locking position, the locking bolt 12 of the contact part 7 will also have been pushed into its locking position when the locking slide 14 is moved through the guide slot 17, whereupon it is held or clamped fast in the second linear segment 19. Here the locking bolt 12 presses against the contact spring 11 on the plug-in contact 10, such that it is held in a friction fit in the receiving space. The inclined plane 20 between the linear segments 18, 19 keeps the pushing force required to move the locking bolt 12 at a relatively low level.
[0051] FIG. 9 shows a perspective front view of the plugged-together and locked plug connector 1 with a protective housing 29 of aluminum or an aluminum alloy covering the plug connector 1. The protective housing 29 shields the plug connector 1 from electric or electromagnetic fields. The protective housing 29 at least partially encases the plug 2 and the socket 4. The protective housing is affixed in a friction fit via an attachment flange 30 to a counterpart 13. The attachment flange 30 positively grips the support flange of the socket casing 4, which in turn is supported on the counterpart 13. The protective housing 29 also engages the plug casing 3 in a positive fit.
[0052] Having described aspects of the present disclosure in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of aspects of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims. As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of aspects of the present disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense,
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0053] 1 plug connector [0054] 2 plug [0055] 3 plug casing [0056] 4 socket (header) [0057] 5 socket casing [0058] 6 contact chamber [0059] 7 electrical contact part [0060] 8 sleeve [0061] 9 receiving space [0062] 10 plug-in contact(s) [0063] 11 contact spring [0064] 12 locking bolt [0065] 13 counterpart (e.g., housing) [0066] 14 locking slide [0067] 15 base part [0068] 16 side part(s) [0069] 17 guide slot [0070] 18 first linear segment [0071] 19 second linear segment [0072] 20 inclined plane [0073] 21 first detent lug [0074] 22 second detent lug [0075] 23 position-assurance arm [0076] 24 position-assurance lug [0077] 25 first longitudinal rib [0078] 26 second longitudinal rib [0079] 27 secondary locking rib [0080] 28 unlocking rib [0081] 29 protective housing [0082] 30 attachment flange [0083] S plugging direction [0084] V displacement direction
