Attachment housing arrangement and method for unlocking

Abstract

Plug connections and in particular plug connections for use in an industrial environment are presented. An attachment housing arrangement has an attachment housing for accommodating a hood of a plug connector with plug contacts and a mechanical locking arrangement for mechanically locking the hood on the attachment housing. Also presented is a method for unlocking a mechanical locking of a hood of a plug connector with plug contacts on an attachment housing of an attachment housing arrangement. The attachment housing arrangement is provided with a fixing arrangement for fixing the mechanical locking arrangement at least in a locking state, and with a control unit for controlling the fixing arrangement, the control unit being configured to control the fixing arrangement so as to release a fixing of the locking arrangement only when the plug contacts are free of current and free of voltage within predefined tolerances.

Claims

1. An attachment housing arrangement (1), comprising: an attachment housing (11) for accommodating a hood (101) of a plug connector (100) with plug contacts (102); a locking arrangement (12) for mechanically locking the hood (101) to the attachment housing (11); a fixing arrangement (13, 13′) for fixing the mechanical locking arrangement (12) in a locking state; and a control unit (14) for controlling the fixing arrangement (13, 13′), wherein the control unit (14) controls the fixing arrangement (13, 13′) so as to release a fixing of the locking arrangement (12) only when the plug contacts (102) are free of current and free of voltage within predefined tolerances.

2. The attachment housing arrangement (1) as in claim 1, further comprising: a circuit interrupter (15) to interrupt a line (L1, L2, L3) that leads to a plug contact (102); and a voltage measuring unit (16) for measuring a voltage present at the plug contact (102), wherein the voltage measuring unit (16) is arranged, in terms of the line (L1, L2, L3) between the circuit interrupter (15) and the plug contact (102).

3. The attachment housing arrangement (1) as in claim 2, wherein the circuit interrupter (15) is a contactor.

4. The attachment housing arrangement (1) as in claim 1, wherein the mechanical locking arrangement comprises at least one locking clip (12) which engages with the hood (101) in the locked state, wherein the fixing arrangement (13) comprises a fixing slide (17) that is placed against the locking clip (12) by a spring loading, and a fastener (19) for the fixing slide (17) in a position lying against the locking clip (12) when in the locking state.

5. The attachment housing arrangement (1) as in claim 1, wherein the mechanical locking arrangement comprises at least one locking clip (12′) which engages with the hood (101) in the locked state, and wherein the locking arrangement has a spring-loaded latching hook (121′) which can be retracted into the locking clip (12′) for latching the locking clip (12′) at the attachment housing (11, 11′).

6. The attachment housing arrangement as in claim 5, wherein the fixing arrangement (13′) comprises an unlatching lever (131′) for retracting the latching hook (131′) into the locking clip (12′) to unlatch the locking clip (12′) from the attachment housing (11′).

7. The attachment housing arrangement (1) as in claim 1, further comprising a position capture (22) that is configured to ascertain whether the locking arrangement (12) is in the locking state.

8. The attachment housing arrangement (1) as in claim 7, further comprising a circuit interrupter (15) to interrupt a line (L1, L2, L3) that leads to a plug contact (102), wherein the control unit (14) is configured to control the circuit interrupter (15), wherein the control unit (14) only controls the circuit interrupter (15) to close the line (L1, L2, L3) when the position capture (22) ascertains that the locking arrangement (12) is in the locking state.

9. The attachment housing arrangement (1) as in claim 8, further comprising an operating unit (24), wherein the control unit (14) is configured only to control the circuit interrupter (15) to close the line (L1, L2, L3) in response to an operation of the operating unit (24).

10. The attachment housing arrangement (1) as in claim 1, wherein the attachment housing arrangement (1) comprises an operating unit (24), and wherein the control unit (14) is configured only to control the fixing arrangement (13) to release the fixing of the locking arrangement (12) in response to an operation of the operating unit (24).

11. The attachment housing arrangement (1) as in claim 1, further comprising a signal output unit (25) that is configured to output a signal that indicates an operating state of the attachment housing arrangement (1).

12. A non-transitory, computer readable storage device containing a computer program that causes the control unit (14) of an attachment housing arrangement (1) as in claim 1 to release the fixing of the locking arrangement (12) by the fixing arrangement (13) after checking (S9, S12) for a freedom of the plug contacts (102) from current and voltage within predefined tolerances if the plug contacts (102) are free of current and voltage within the predefined tolerances when the computer program is executed by the control unit (14).

13. A method for unlocking a mechanical locking of a hood (101) of a plug connector (100) with plug contacts (102) to an attachment housing (11) of an attachment housing arrangement (1), wherein the attachment housing arrangement (1) comprises a fixing arrangement (13) which fixes a mechanical locking arrangement (12) in a locking state, comprising the steps of: checking (S9, S12) for a freedom of the plug contacts (102) from current and voltage within predefined tolerances; releasing (S14) the fixing of the locking arrangement (12) by the fixing arrangement (13) after the check (S9, S12) if the plug contacts (102) are free of current and voltage within the predefined tolerances; and unlocking (S14) the locking (12) of the hood (101) after release of the fixing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a view of an attachment housing arrangement according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a further, partially transparently illustrated view of the attachment housing arrangement of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 shows an illustration of a cover with an attachment housing of the attachment housing arrangement of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a part of an attachment housing arrangement.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a functional block diagram illustrating elements of an attachment housing arrangement.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a schematic flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the method with a locking and unlocking of a hood at an attachment housing.

(7) FIGS. 7a-d show a locking clip with a latching mechanism in a further embodiment.

(8) FIGS. 8a-c show an associated fixing arrangement in the further embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) In the appended drawings and in the explanations for these drawings, elements that correspond to one another or are in relationship to one another are—to the extent useful—identified with mutually corresponding or similar reference signs, even when they are to be found in different exemplary embodiments.

(10) FIG. 1 shows a view of an attachment housing arrangement 1 according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(11) The attachment housing arrangement 1 comprises a mains connection 27 and an Ethernet connection 28, and is fitted with an operating unit 24 in the form of a button. An attachment housing 11 which—in the manner known per se—is fitted with locking clips 12 is located at the attachment housing arrangement 1.

(12) Deviating from the known solutions, the attachment housing arrangement 1 is also provided with a fixing arrangement 13 with which the locking clip 12 can be fastened in a locking state.

(13) Further elements of the attachment housing arrangement 1 are described further below with reference to further figures.

(14) The attachment housing arrangement 1 can also be referred to as a “wall box”, and is illustrated here with a plug 100 with a hood 101 plugged onto the attachment housing 11.

(15) The arrows show schematically the supply of power to the mains connection 27 and Ethernet signals to the Ethernet connection 28, wherein the cable (not illustrated) that is attached at the plug connector 100 is a hybrid cable for transmitting power and Ethernet signals together.

(16) The fixing arrangement 13 fixes the locking clip 12 and prevents the plug connector 100 from being withdrawn under load. Only when no current is flowing, and when there is no dangerous voltage present in the plug region, can the locking mechanism unlock (the fixing arrangement release the fixing of the locking clip) through the actuation of the button 24 as an example of an operating unit. The locking clip can now be opened and the plug withdrawn, which provides good protection to persons and the machine.

(17) FIG. 2 shows a further, partially transparently illustrated view of the attachment housing arrangement 1 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows an illustration of the cover 23 with the attachment housing 11 of the attachment housing arrangement 1 of FIG. 1.

(18) The attachment housing arrangement 1 comprises a cover 23 which is provided with the attachment housing 11. The cover 23 includes an interior space of the attachment housing arrangement 1 in which, inter alia, a circuit board with a circuit interrupter 15 in the form of a contactor, and also the fastener 19 of the fixing arrangement 13 are housed. The cover 23 is also provided with the button 24.

(19) The way in which the attachment housing 11 is provided with the locking clips 12 can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, wherein a fixing slide 17 which is held against the corresponding locking clip 12 by a spring (see FIG. 4) is provided in each case and, in combination with the fastener 19, holds it in place.

(20) The geometry of an attachment housing 11 is integrated into the cover 23; as a result, the corresponding hood 101 (see FIG. 1) is plug-compatible, and can be locked by the locking clip 12. The fixing mechanism 17, which can fix the clip 12 according to the operating state, is located underneath the locking clip 12 (on both sides).

(21) FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a part of an attachment housing arrangement 1.

(22) The plug connector 100, whose hood is fastened at the attachment housing by the locking clip 12 is shown, on the one hand, in FIG. 4.

(23) As already discussed above, the attachment housing arrangement 1 comprises a fixing slide 17, and is fitted in the region of the cover 23 with a solenoid magnet 20 and a plunger 21 as elements of the fastener 19. The cover 23 further comprises a position button 22 as a position detection means for the fixing slide 17 (and thus, indirectly, for the locking clip 12).

(24) The fixing slide 17 is spring-mounted, and follows the clip movement in the vertical direction. The spring deflection is big enough for the slide 17 to be able to follow the respective locking clip 12 as far as the locked position and still to exercise a force on the clip 12 there. In the locked position (see FIG. 3), the solenoid magnet 20 can fix the slide 17 and thus the locking clip 12. The plunger 21 of the solenoid magnet 20 is pushed for this purpose horizontally into the guide of the slide 17 (e.g. with a compression spring in the solenoid magnet 20). When in the idle state, the plunger 21 is extended, and is pulled in when subjected to current. The position button 22 detects the position of the slide 17.

(25) FIG. 5 shows a functional block diagram illustrating elements of an attachment housing arrangement 1.

(26) The attachment housing arrangement 1 comprises a mains connection 27, a current measuring unit 26, a contactor 15 as a circuit interrupter, a voltage measuring unit 16 and an attachment housing 11 (with a position detector 22) which extend through lines connected to the access lines L1, L2, L3 to the plug contacts 102 of a plug connector 100 that is plugged in at the attachment housing 11.

(27) The attachment housing arrangement 1 further comprises a control unit 14, an operating unit 24 (in the form, perhaps, of a button), an LED 25 as a signal output unit and the fixing arrangement 13.

(28) The interaction of the elements with one another will also become clear on the basis of the following description of FIG. 6.

(29) The disconnection 15 of the power circuit takes place between the current measurement 26 and voltage measurement 16 function blocks. As a result, the voltage on the machine side can be measured after disconnection of the power circuit.

(30) The function blocks in FIG. 5 also show the respective signal connections to one another.

(31) FIG. 6 shows a schematic flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the method with a locking and unlocking of a hood at an attachment housing.

(32) An initialization, including checking the state of the plug, lock and button, takes place in step S1.

(33) The LED, as an example of a signal output unit, indicates a signal sequence of “red”, “green”, “off”, in step S2, in order to signal a successful initialization S1.

(34) The attachment housing arrangement is ready for operation in step or state S3, wherein the contactor, as an example of a circuit interrupter, is opened and the LED is switched off.

(35) Whether the plug is inserted and the lock locked and fixed is checked in step S4. If the result of this check is negative, the process moves forward to step S5, where pressing the button as an example of an operating unit is also expected. Following the press, an unlocking then takes place in step S6, wherein the fixing is unlocked for 15 seconds while the LED flashes green. The process then returns to step S3.

(36) In the case of a positive test result in step S4, the process reaches the operating state (step S7) in which the contactor is closed (i.e. continuous) and the LED lights up green in order to in that way indicate the operating state.

(37) If a button is pressed in step S8, then a current measurement and a check of whether the current is smaller than a current allowable for the further method, is made in step S9.

(38) If the current is too high, the method continues to step S10, in which the LED flashes red and green in alternation for 10 seconds, after which the method returns to step S7.

(39) In step S11, which results from a positive result of the current check in step S9, the mains is switched off and the contactor is opened.

(40) The machine-side voltage (i.e. the voltage present in the plug connector) is measured for a period of, for example, 10 seconds in the following step S12, and a check is made as to whether the voltage has a magnitude that is lower than a predefined maximum permissible voltage.

(41) If the check in step S12 has a negative result, step S13 follows, in which the LED flashes red to give an appropriate indication, after which the method returns to step S8.

(42) If the voltage is sufficiently low, then after the check in step S12, unlocking follows in step S14 with release of the fixing of the locking clip by the fixing arrangement.

(43) A check of whether the plug has been withdrawn takes place in step S15.

(44) If the plug has not been withdrawn, the LED is switched off in step S16 for an appropriate signal output, and the method waits in step S17 for the button-push, after which it then continues to step S4.

(45) If the plug has been withdrawn according to the check in step S15, the method returns to step S3.

(46) A further embodiment of a locking and unlocking mechanism is shown in FIGS. 7a-d and 8a-c.

(47) FIG. 7a shows a locking clip 12′ in the further embodiment. This locking clip has a latching mechanism 127′. This latching mechanism 127′ has a sprung, retractable latching hook 121′ which, in the locked state, serves to block the pivoting movement by latching the locking clip 12′ to the attachment housing 11′. The latching hook 121′ can be retracted into the locking clip 12′ to release the locking clip 12′.

(48) The locking clip 12′ has a U-shaped basic form with an actuation handle 129′ and two side pieces, not referenced, which extend from it perpendicularly. A cylindrical through-hole 128′ is provided in each of the two side pieces as a fastening apparatus for a bearing axis, not illustrated. Although the bearing axis is not itself illustrated, it may run along the axis A′ which is drawn with a dashed line.

(49) FIG. 7b shows a sectional view of the locking clip 12′, wherein the section cut runs perpendicularly to the axis A′ through the latching mechanism 127′. The through-hole 128′ can, furthermore, be seen clearly. This through-hole 128′ forms the boundary between a locking region 12A and an actuation region 12B of the locking clip 12′, wherein the actuation handle 129′ and the latching mechanism 127′ belong to the actuation region 12B. The locking clip 12′ can be held at the attachment housing 11′ in a pivoting manner in the form of a rocker by means of the bearing axis.

(50) The latching mechanism is arranged centrally at the actuation region 12B, and has a receiving chamber 124′ to accommodate the latching hook 121′.

(51) FIGS. 7c and 7d show the latching mechanism 127′ in the locking and unlocking state.

(52) The receiving chamber 124′ has a window 120′. It has a retaining hole 123′ in the form of a cylindrical through-hole, located opposite the window 120. To make assembly easier, it is advantageous that this hole goes all the way through, i.e. emerges from the locking clip on the handle side.

(53) A cylindrical locking axis 126′ is held with its first end in a movable manner in this retaining hole 124′ and protrudes with its second end into the interior of the receiving chamber 124′. The latching hook 121′ is attached at this second end, e.g. being screwed or molded on.

(54) The locking axis 126′ reaches through a helical spring 122′. The helical spring engages at the one end in the region around the through-hole 123′ and at the other end at the latching hook 121′. It is configured to push the latching hook 121′ with a spring force corresponding to its deflection out of its unlatching position through the window 120′ of the receiving chamber 124′ into its latching position.

(55) At its end that protrudes from the window 120′, the latching hook 121′ has a slide slope oriented in the drawing to the left and downwards, and a latching surface, facing upwards in the drawing, by means of which it interacts in a latching manner when closing the locking clip 12′ with the corresponding fixing arrangement 13′. The slide slope and the latching surface have not been given a reference sign for reasons of clarity.

(56) The locked state of the latching mechanism 127′ illustrated in FIG. 7c is thus characterized in that the latching hook 121′ protrudes with its latching surface far enough out of the window 120′ that it latches with a latching recess or at least with a mating latching surface of the attachment housing 11′ (to be seen in FIG. 8c).

(57) The locked state of the latching mechanism 127′ illustrated in FIG. 7d is thus characterized in that the latching hook 121′ enters deeply enough into the receiving chamber 124′ to unlatch from the latching recess 134′ or the mating latching surface of the attachment housing 11′.

(58) FIG. 8a shows the solenoid magnet 20′ with its plunger 21′, and an unlatching lever 131′ attached via a pivoting axis movably to the plunger 21′. An unlatching hook 132′ is integrally formed at the end of the unlatching lever 131′.

(59) As can be seen from FIG. 8b, the unlatching lever 131′ and the unlatching hook 132′ are part of the modified fixing arrangement 13′. It can easily be seen that a plunger 21′ moving in the direction of the arrow automatically causes a lever movement of the unlatching lever 131′. As a result, the unlatching hook 132′ pushes the latching hook 121′ deep enough into the receiving chamber 124′ to remove it from a latching recess 134′ of the attachment housing 11′, and to separate its latching surface from the mating latching surface of a latching apparatus 133′ of the attachment housing 11′.

(60) FIG. 8c shows such an attachment housing 11′ with a latching apparatus 133′ through which a latching recess 134′ is formed. The unlatching lever 131′ is arranged therein with the unlatching hook 132′. It is easy to imagine how the locking clip 12′, which is latched with its latching mechanism 127′ to the latching apparatus 133′ can be unlatched with the aid of the unlocking pin 132′.

(61) Even though various aspects or features of the invention are respectively shown in combination in the figures, it is clear to the expert—except when otherwise stated—that the combinations illustrated and discussed are not the only possibilities. In particular, units corresponding to one another, or complexes of features from different exemplary embodiments, can be exchanged for one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(62) 1 Attachment housing arrangement 11, 11′ Attachment housing 12, 12′ Locking clip A′ Axis 12A Locking region 12B Actuation region 120′ Window 121′ Latching hook 122′ Locking axis 123′ Retaining hole 124′ Receiving chamber 126′ Helical spring 127′ Latching mechanism 128′ Through-hole 129′ Handle 13, 13′ Fixing arrangement 131′ Unlatching lever 132′ Unlatching hook 133′ Latching apparatus 134′ Latching recess 14 Control unit 15 Circuit interrupter 16 Voltage measuring unit 17 Fixing slide 18 Spring 19 Fastener 20, 20′ Solenoid magnet 21, 21′ Plunger 22 Position detector 23 Cover 24 Operating unit 25 Signal output unit 26 Current measuring unit 27 Mains connection 28 Ethernet connection 100 Plug connector 101 Hood 102 Plug contact L1, L2, L3 Mains line S1 Initialization S2 Signal output S3 Ready-to-operate state S4 Plug and locking check S5 Button press S6 Unlocking S7 Operating state S8 Button press S9 Current check S10 Signal output S11 Mains switch-off S12 Voltage check S13 Signal output S14 Unlocking S15 Plug check S16 Signal output S17 Button press