Locking device for a plug connection

Abstract

A system is provided comprising of a first plug module and a second plug module, which can be plugged together, wherein the first plug module has a locking arrangement, whereby the plug modules can be reversely locked to each other. The system can be arranged within the housings of industrial plugs and is thus better protected from mechanical loads.

Claims

1. A system comprising a first plug connector module having a first plurality of electrical contact elements and a second plug connector module having a second plurality of electrical contact elements, which first and second plug connector modules can be plugged together with the first plurality of electrical contact elements engaged with the second plurality of electrical contact elements to exchange signals and/or data, wherein the first plug connector module has a locking arrangement that is motor-driven, as a result of which the first and second plug connector modules can be reversibly locked to one another with the first plurality of electrical contact elements engaged with the second plurality of electrical contact elements to exchange signals and/or data, and wherein the locking arrangement of the first plug connector module includes an elongate camshaft that extends longitudinally into a receiver of the second plug connector module when the first and second plug connector modules are plugged together.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein an axis of rotation of the camshaft is oriented parallel to a plug direction of the first plug connector module.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first plug connector module has an electric motor with which a rotational movement of the camshaft can be brought about.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first plug connector module has a pin which projects in a plug direction and in which the camshaft at least partially runs.

5. A system comprising a first plug connector module and a second plug connector module which can be plugged together, wherein: the first plug connector module has a locking arrangement, as a result of which the plug connector modules can be reversibly locked to one another; the locking arrangement comprises a camshaft; the first plug connector module has a pin which projects in a plug direction and in which the camshaft at least partially runs; and the pin has at an end side at least one hole which runs transversely to a direction of extension of the pin.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein a ball is arranged in the hole.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the second plug connector module has a receiver for the pin of the first plug connector module.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the receiver has at least one hole which corresponds to the hole of the pin.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the ball arranged in the pin of the first plug connector module can be pushed by a rotational movement of the camshaft at least partially into the hole located in the receiver of the second plug connector module, as a result of which the first plug connector module and the second plug connector module are locked to one another.

10. A system comprising a first plug connector module and a second plug connector module which can be plugged together, wherein: the first plug connector module has a locking arrangement, as a result of which the plug connector modules can be reversibly locked to one another; the locking arrangement comprises a camshaft; and the first plug connector module has at least two buttons, a first button and a second button.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first button is in touching contact with the camshaft if the first plug connector module and the second plug connector module are not locked to one another, and wherein the second button is in touching contact with the camshaft if the first plug connector module and the second plug connector module are locked together.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plug connector modules have in each case an interface, as a result of which, in the plugged together state, signals and/or data can be exchanged.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first plug connector module and/or the second plug connector module has/have an interface, as a result of which signals and/or data can be exchanged with a further adjacent plug connector module.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An exemplary embodiment of the invention is represented in the drawings and is explained in greater detail below. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a system comprising a first plug connector module and a second plug connector module;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a sectional representation of the first plug connector module; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sectional representation of the first plug connector module and of the second plug connector module in the plugged state.

(5) The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. Identical reference numbers are used in part for similar, but possibly not identical elements. Different views of similar elements could have different scales.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a system 1 comprising a first plug connector module 2 and a second plug connector module 3. Plug connector modules 2, 3 have a substantially cuboid basic form. Plug connector modules 2, 3 have on their narrow sides in each case holding pins 4 with which they can be fixed in a holding frame (not shown) of an industrial plug connector (not shown). The fixing process of plug connector modules 2, 3 in a holding frame is adequately described in DE 10 2013 113 976 B4.

(7) First plug connector module 2 has a pin 5 which projects in the plug direction. Pin 5 is configured to be substantially cuboid. Holes 6 are incorporated or formed in the narrow sides of pin 5, in which holes 6 in each case a ball 7 is arranged. In the plugging process, pin 5 is guided into a receiver 8, provided for this, of second plug connector module 3. Holes 9 are incorporated or formed in the narrow sides of receiver 8. In the plugged state, holes 6 of pin 5 of first plug connector module 2 are flush with associated holes 9 of receiver 8 of second plug connector module 3.

(8) A camshaft 10 is arranged in first plug connector module 2. Axis of rotation 11 of the camshaft 10 runs parallel to the plug direction of first plug connector module 1. Camshaft 10 extends largely within pin 5. At the end which is distant from pin 5, camshaft 10 is connected to an electric motor 12 with which a rotational movement of camshaft 10 can be brought about.

(9) Camshaft 10 has two cams, a first cam 10A and a second cam 10B. Cams 10A, 10B essentially involve widened portions of the rod-shaped base form of camshaft 10. Cams 10A, 10B are perpendicular to one another in cross-section. Second cam 10B extends largely in pin 5 of first plug connector module 2. If second cam 10B is brought into touching contact with balls 7 by a rotational movement of camshaft 10, balls 7 are pushed out of holes 6 of pin 5 of first plug connector module 2 at least partially into holes 9 of receiver 8 of second plug connector module 3. In this state, plug connector modules 2, 3 plugged together can no longer be pulled apart. Plug connector modules 2, 3 are regarded as locked to one another in this state.

(10) Two buttons 13, 14 are arranged in first plug connector module 2. Buttons 13, 14 have in each case a switch 13A, 14A via which respective buttons 13, 14 can be activated. First button 13 is located at the interface between electric motor 12 and camshaft 10 at the height of first cam 10A. Second button 14 is located distant therefrom in the plug direction at the height of second cam 10B of camshaft 10.

(11) As already mentioned above, cams 10A, 10B of camshaft 10 are perpendicular to one another in cross-section. If first button 13 is activated via first cam 10A, balls 7 are not pushed by second cam 10B out of holes 7 of pin 5 into holes 9 of receiver 8. Plug connector modules 2, 3 are then in an unlocked state and can be pulled apart. If second button 14 is activated via second cam 10B, balls 7 are pushed by second cam 10B out of holes 7 of pin 5 into holes 9 of receiver 8. Plug connector modules 2, 3 are now in a locked state and cannot be pulled apart. The above-mentioned locking states can be monitored and also initiated via a microprocessor 20. Microprocessor 20 can correspondingly actuate electric motor 12. The locking states can be detected via buttons 13, 14.

(12) First plug connector module 2 has a plugging extension 15 arranged next to pin 5. Contact elements are arranged in the plugging extension. Second plug connector module 3 has a socket 16 into which plugging extension 15 can be inserted in the plugging process. Plugging extension 15 and socket 16 form in each case an interface via which plug connector modules 2, 3 can exchange signals and/or data.

(13) Second plug connector module 3 has, on a narrow side, an interface 17 which can be connected to a holding frame (not shown). Interface 17 has three contact pins 18. Via interface 17, second plug connector module 3 can communicate with other plug connector modules located in the holding frame and/or receive signals and/or data from a different point or transmit them to there. Via said interface 17, for example, the above-mentioned locking states can be communicated and/or a command to lock or unlock can be received.

(14) Both plug connector modules 2, 3 have a circuit board 19, 19′ and further electronic components, such as, for example, microprocessors 20, 20′. Via these components, plug connector modules 2, 3 can act independently according to programming and/or be actuated from the outside and execute commands.

(15) Even if different aspects or features of the invention are shown in each case in combination in the figures, it is apparent for the person skilled in the art, unless indicated otherwise, that the represented and discussed combinations are not the only ones possible. In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes from different exemplary embodiments can be mutually exchanged.

(16) In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.