LINEAR ACTUATOR SYSTEM WITH CONTROL CABLE CONNECTOR

Abstract

A linear actuator system with a controller, said controller comprising a controller and programmable means for controlling the operation of an electrical motor. The electrical linear actuator system comprises a user control unit (1), an electrical cord with a plug for connecting the user control unit (1) and the controller, where the controller and/or the user control unit comprises a socket (1a) for receiving the plug (2). The plug (2) comprises a locking ring (5), which is rotatable relative to the plug (2), and the socket (1 a) comprises an opening (16) for receiving the plug (2) including the locking ring (5) in the opening (16) of the socket (1 a). The socket (1 a) further comprises an aperture (4) through which a part of the locking ring (5) is accessible when the plug (2) including the locking ring (5) is inserted into the opening (16) of the socket (1a). The locking ring (5) and the opening (16) of the socket are adapted such that the locking ring (5), when inserted in the opening (16), can be rotated between an unlocked position and a locked position: where, in the unlocked position, a protrusion (8a, 8b) is received in and aligned with an axial part (12a, 12b) of a recess (12), such that the plug (2) may freely be inserted into or removed from the socket (1a), and where, in the locked position, the protrusion (8a, 8b) engages the radial part (12c,12d) of the recess (12), such that the plug (2) is prevented from being unplugged.

Claims

1. A linear actuator system comprising: at least one electric linear actuator, an electric motor for driving the linear actuator, a controller for controlling the operation of the electric motor, at least one user control unit (1), at least one electrical cord comprising at least one plug (2) for connecting the user control unit (1) and the controller, where the controller or the user control unit (1) comprises a socket (1a) for receiving the plug (2), wherein the linear actuator system comprises a locking ring (5) rotatably arranged relative to the plug (2), the socket (1a) comprises an opening (16) for receiving the plug (2) including the locking ring (5), and where the socket (1a) comprises an aperture (4) through which a part of the locking ring (5) is accessible when the plug (2) including the locking ring (5) is engaged with the socket (1a), where the locking ring (5) comprises at least one protrusion (8a, 8b) and the opening (16) of the socket (1a) comprises at least one recess, where the at least one recess comprises an axial part (12a,12b) and a radial part (12c,12d), and where the locking ring (5) and the opening (16) of the socket are adapted such that the locking ring (5) when inserted in the opening (16) can be rotated between a first position, an unlocked position, and a second position, a locked position: where, in the first position, the unlocked position, the at least one protrusion (8a,8b) is received in and aligned with the axial part (12a,12b) of the recess, such that the plug (2) may freely be inserted into or removed from the socket (1a), and where, in the second position, the locked position, the at least one protrusion (8a,8b) engages the radial part (12c,12d) of the recess, such that the plug (2) is prevented from being unplugged.

2. The linear actuator system according to claim 1, wherein the aperture (4) extends in the radial direction with a length corresponding to the distance between the first position, the unlocked position, and the second position, the locked position, of the locking ring (5).

3. The linear actuator system according to claim 1 wherein the locking ring (5) comprises a groove (6) accessible through the aperture (4).

4. The linear actuator system according to claim 1 wherein the plug (2) comprises a recess (5b) and the locking ring (5) comprises an opening between a first end (10a) and a second end (10b) which is smaller than the diameter of the recess (5b), and where the locking ring (5) is made of a resilient material, whereby the width of the opening between the first end (10a) and the second end (10b) can be widened to at least equal the diameter of the recess (5b).

5. The linear actuator system according to claim 4 wherein the locking ring (5) is provided with an inwardly extending protrusion (8c), and the recess (5b) of the plug (2) is provided with a first groove (8c1) and a second groove (8c2), where the first groove (8c1) is adapted for receiving the protrusion (8c), when the locking ring is in the second position, the locked position, and where the second groove (8c2) is adapted for receiving the protrusion (8c), when the locking ring is in the first position, the unlocked position.

6. The linear actuator system according to claim 1, wherein the aperture (4) extending in the axial direction has a width of less than five millimeters and preferably less than three millimeters.

7. The linear actuator system according to claim 1, wherein the controller can be arranged in a separate housing or be integrated in or with the linear actuator.

8. The linear actuator system according to claim 4 wherein the plug (2) comprises an electrical connector (18), a circular sealing ring recess (7) and a sealing ring (20), where the circular sealing ring recess (7) is placed between the recess (5b) and the electrical connector (18).

9. The linear actuator system according to claim 8, wherein the sealing ring (20) comprises two spaced apart outer lips.

10. The linear actuator system according to claim 8, wherein an inner side of the sealing ring (20) is provided with at least two spaced apart protrusions (22) having a half circular cross section protruding from its inner periphery.

Description

[0037] The plug/socket connection, according to the invention, will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a remote control with a detachable cord,

[0039] FIG. 2 shows the rear perspective view of a remote control with a detachable cord,

[0040] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of a plug inserted into a remote control,

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a plug with a locking ring mounted,

[0042] FIG. 5a shows the plug of FIG. 4 but without the locking ring,

[0043] FIG. 5b shows a side view of the plug of FIG. 5a,

[0044] FIG. 5c shows a different side view of the plug of FIG. 5a,

[0045] FIG. 6 shows the locking ring,

[0046] FIG. 7 shows the plug without the locking ring,

[0047] FIG. 8a shows a side view of the plug with the locking ring mounted,

[0048] FIG. 8b shows a different side view of the plug of FIG. 8a with the locking ring mounted,

[0049] FIG. 9a shows a rear view of the housing with a socket,

[0050] FIG. 9b shows a front view of the housing with a socket,

[0051] FIG. 10a shows a cross section through the assembled plug with the locking ring in the first position, i.e. the unlocked position,

[0052] FIG. 10b shows a cross section through the assembled plug with the locking ring in the second position, i.e. the locked position,

[0053] FIG. 11 shows a sealing ring, and

[0054] FIG. 12 shows a cross section through the sealing ring.

[0055] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a remote control 1 with a detachable cord. The cord consists of a plug 2 and a cable 3. The remote control 1 in this example is a handheld user control unit for an adjustable hospital bed.

[0056] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the remote control 1 having a housing with a socket 1a for a plug 2, here shown integrated. When the plug is plugged in, the aperture 4 in the socket 1a provides access to a part of the plug 2.

[0057] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the plug 2 including a locking ring 5 inserted into the socket 1a in the housing of the remote control 1. Through the aperture 4 in the socket 1a in the housing of the remote control 1, the locking ring 5 and a groove 6 in the locking ring 5 can be accessed by means of a tool (not shown). The locking ring 5 is a separate part, which can be rotated between two end positions by inserting a tool into the groove 6 and pushing the locking ring 5 in one or the other rotational direction.

[0058] FIG. 4 shows the plug 2 and illustrates the sealing ring recess 7 for a sealing ring surrounding the plug 2 (see FIG. 12 and FIG. 13), an electrical connector 18, which internally in the plug is connected to the wires of the cable 3, and a locking ring 5 with a groove 6 that can be used for manipulating the locking ring. More specifically a tool as e.g. a flat head screwdriver that fits the groove 6 can be used to rotate and shift the state of locked or unlocked of the locking ring 5 in its position in the socket 1a.

[0059] FIG. 5a illustrates the plug 2 without the locking ring 5 mounted. The plug 2 has a recess 5b adapted for receiving the locking ring 5.

[0060] FIG. 5b is a side view of the plug 2 illustrating the position grooves 8c1 and 8c2 in the circular recess 5b. In this embodiment, the plug 2 has a protrusion 11, which is received by the guiding recess 13 in the socket 1a (See FIG. 9a) thus keeping the main body of the plug 2 in a rotationally fixed position when plugged in.

[0061] FIG. 5c is a side view of the plug 2 illustrating the position grooves 8d1 and 8d2 in the recess 5b and the protrusion 11.

[0062] FIG. 6 illustrates the locking ring 5. The locking ring 5 is preferably made of a resilient plastic material. The plastic material preferably contains about 80% polypropylene and about 20% talc and is moulded in one piece. The locking ring 5 is shaped as an open ring with an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the recess 5b of the plug 2. The ring is open between the two ends 10a and 10b of the locking ring 5.

[0063] The locking ring 5 is provided with protrusions 8a,8b extending radially outwards from the outer surface of the locking ring 5. In a first position, i.e. the unlocked position of the locking ring 5, the protrusions 8a, 8b are received in or aligned with the axial part 12a,12b of the recess 12 (see FIG. 9a), such that the plug 2 may freely be inserted into or removed from the socket 1a.

[0064] When the plug 2 including the locking ring 5 is fully inserted in the opening 16 of the socket 1a, the locking ring 5 can be rotated between the first position and a second position, i.e. between the unlocked and locked position. In the second position, the locked position, the protrusions 8a,8b engage the radial part 12c,12d of the recess 12, such that the plug 2 cannot be removed from the socket 1a.

[0065] The locking ring 5 is made of a resilient material, which serve at least two purposes. One is to enable the protrusions 8c, 8d to engage the grooves 8c1, 8c2, 8d1, 8d2 of the plug 2. More precisely, the protrusions 8c and 8d of the locking ring 5 extend inwardly from the inner side of the locking ring 5. Since the locking ring 5 is made of a resilient material, the protrusion 8c engages the grooves 8c1 and 8c2 of the plug 2, respectively (See FIG. 5b), when the locking ring 5 is in the first or the second position, respectively. Likewise, the protrusion 8d engages the grooves 8d2 and 8d1, respectively, when the locking ring 5 is in the first or the second position, respectively (See FIG. 5c). Further, the resilient material enables elastic deformation of the locking ring, whereby the distance between the two ends 10a and 10b can be increased to at least equal to the inner diameter of the recess 5b of the plug 2, making it possible to mount the locking ring 5 on the plug 2 or remove it in a simple manner.

[0066] FIG. 7 is a front view of the main body of the plug 2 without the locking ring 5 mounted, displaying a guiding recess 15 and an opening 17 for the electrical connector 18 (shown on FIG. 8). The guiding recess 15 is adapted for receiving the protrusion 14 (see FIG. 9b) of the corresponding socket 1a. The main body of the plug 2 is preferably a moulded plastic part. In an embodiment, the plastic material comprises 80% polypropylene and about 20% talc.

[0067] FIG. 8a shows the plug 2 with the locking ring 5 mounted.

[0068] FIG. 8b shows the plug 2 with the locking ring 5 and the opening between the two ends 10a and 10b of the locking ring.

[0069] FIG. 9a illustrates the rear side of the housing of the remote control 1 with the socket 1a having a circular opening 16 for receiving the plug 2. The opening 16 has a guiding recess 13 for receiving the protrusion 11 of the plug 2 (See FIG. 5b). The socket 1a has an aperture 4 for providing access to a part of the locking ring 5, when this is plugged into the socket 1a.

[0070] The opening 16 for the plug 2 comprises two axial recesses 12a and 12b. Upon insertion of the plug 2, the protrusions 8a and 8b of the locking ring 5 are aligned with the protrusions 9a and 9b of the plug 2, both set of protrusions fit into the axial recesses 12a and 12b, respectively. After the insertion, the locking ring 5 is rotated from the first position, i.e. the unlocked position, into the second position, i.e. the locked position, by inserting a small flat tool (e.g. a screwdriver) through the aperture 4 and into engagement with the groove 6 and rotating the locking ring 5 by means of the tool. Hereby, the protrusions 8a and 8b are rotated into the radial recesses 12c and 12d, respectively. In this position, the plug 2 cannot be moved in the axial direction and is thus locked. When the plug 2 is inserted in the socket 1a, the protrusions 9a and 9b will remain in the axial recesses 12a and 12b and prevent the main body of the plug 2 from rotating.

[0071] FIG. 9b illustrates the socket 1a of the housing of the remote control 1 with the opening 16 for receiving the plug 2. The rear end of the opening 16 is furnished with a protrusion 14, which is received by the guiding recess 15 of the plug 2 (see FIG. 7).

[0072] The plug 2 can only be released by rotating the locking ring 5 into the first position, i.e. the unlocked position, by means of a tool through the aperture 4. In this first position, the unlocked position, the protrusions 8a and 8b are again aligned with the axial recesses 12a and 12b allowing the plug 2 to be moved in the axial direction, and thereby allowing the plug 2 to be removed.

[0073] FIG. 10a is a cross section through the assembled plug 2 placed in the corresponding socket 1a with the locking ring 5 in the first position, i.e. the unlocked position.

[0074] FIG. 10b is a cross section through the assembled plug 2 in the corresponding socket 1a with the locking ring 5 in the second position, i.e. the locked position.

[0075] FIG. 11 shows a sealing ring 20 arranged in the recess 7 (see FIG. 4) between the locking ring 5 and the connector 18 in order to prevent water/moisture ingress through the opening 16 and/or the aperture 4 in order to prevent water/moisture from getting in contact with the electrical connector 18. The sealing ring 20 is made of a resilient rubber or plastic material.

[0076] FIG. 12 shows a cross section through the sealing ring 20, having two spaced apart lips 21 protruding from its outer periphery and two inner protrusions 22 having a half circular cross section protruding from its inner periphery.