LOCKING DEVICE DRIVEN BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR

Abstract

A locking device for a plug connector half, whereby the locking device is driven by an electric motor, for establishing an electrical connection to another plug connector half in order to charge an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle by plugging the other plug connector half into the plug connector half. The locking device comprises a movable locking pin for locking the other plug connector half that has been plugged into the plug connector half, and a sensor element that is arranged on the locking pin and is in the form of a conductor track structure, it being possible to establish an electrical contact with the conductor track structure by means of resilient contact tabs and to provide a means for protecting the contact tabs at least in the region of the contact tabs.

Claims

1. An electric motor driven locking device of a plug connector half for establishing an electrical connection to another plug connector half in order to charge an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle by plugging the another plug connector half into the plug connector half, the locking device comprising: a movable locking pin for locking the another plug connector half plugged into the plug connector half, a sensor element that is arranged on the locking pin and is configured as a conductor track structure including resilient contact tabs, an electrical contact being established with the conductor track structure by the resilient contact tabs, and a protection for protecting the contact tabs that is provided at least in a region of the contact tabs.

2. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the protection is a protective wall shielding the contact tabs.

3. The locking device according to claim 2, wherein the protective wall is arranged at least in regions parallel to a course of the contact tabs.

4. The locking device according to claim 2, wherein two contact tabs arranged in parallel are provided and the protective wall encloses the contact tabs in a U-shaped manner.

5. The locking device according to claim 2, wherein the protective wall is arranged on the locking pin.

6. The locking device according to claim 2, wherein the locking pin is made from plastic and the protective wall is formed integrally with the locking pin.

7. The locking device according to claim 1, further comprising a switch, wherein the contact tabs are brought into engagement with conductor tracks of a housing for the locking device to form the switch.

8. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the conductor track structure is clipped to and/or inserted into the locking pin.

9. The locking device according to claim 2, wherein the protective wall at least partially encloses the conductor track structure and only one end of the contact tabs projects beyond the protective wall.

10. The locking device according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical component carrier, wherein the contact tabs are brought into engagement with the electrical component carrier.

11. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the contact tabs are bent portions of the conductor track structure that are pretensioned relative to a base plate of the conductor track structure.

12. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the protection includes two symmetrically arranged protective walls that run parallel to and at a distance from the contact tabs, and that forms an insertion opening for the conductor track structure.

13. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the conductor track structure is fastened directly to the locking pin.

14. The locking device according to claim 13, wherein a rear wall of the conductor track structure is fastened to the locking pin and the contact tabs extend at an angle in a direction of the locking device.

15. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the locking pin includes a mounting groove and the conductive track structure is inserted into the mounting groove.

16. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the conductor track structure includes a ratchet connection that holds the contact tabs on the locking pin.

17. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein locking pin includes a stop that guides positioning of the conductor track structure.

18. A motor vehicle charging structure comprising: a locking device according to any of claims 1-17, an electric motor that electrically drives movement of the locking pin of the locking device, the plug connector half being configured as a plug socket, wherein the locking device is arranged in the plug socket, and wherein the plug socket is configured to receive the another plug connector half and the locking pin is driven to lock the another plug connector half in the plug socket.

Description

IN THE FIGURES

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a plug connector half in the form of a socket as a socket for an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle with a locking device arranged on the housing for the plug connector half,

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the locking device in the region of the locking pin with a view of the conductor track structure,

[0025] FIG. 3 shows the locking pin detached from the locking device with the contact tabs of the conductor track structure arranged on the locking pin, and

[0026] FIG. 4 shows another three-dimensional view of the locking pin and the contact tabs in a side view of the locking pin.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a plug connector half 1 in the form of a socket 1 of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. The socket or plug connector 1 is shown from a front side, wherein a further plug connector half in the form of a plug for charging the electric or hybrid vehicle, which is not shown, can be inserted into the front side of the plug connector half 1. In this respect, the contacts 2, 3 for charging or rapid charging of the vehicle can be seen. If the plug has been inserted into the plug connector half 1, the further plug connector half inserted into the plug connector half 1 can be locked by means of a locking device 4. For this purpose, a locking pin 5 moves in the direction of an opening 6 for the further plug connector half in such a way that it is possible to prevent the further plug connector half from being pulled out. A frame 7 encloses the opening 6 and can be used to rest against the further plug connector half and/or to seal the plug connector halves.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows the locking device 4 with a housing cover 8. FIG. 2 shows the opened state of the locking device 4 in a view of the locking pin, a part of the conductor track structure 9 and an electrical component carrier 10. On the electrical component carrier 10, for example, a printed circuit board with the designation PCB-A, conductor tracks 11 are arranged in turn, which can be brought into engagement with the contact tabs 12, 13. The locking pin 5 can be moved in such a way that the contact tabs 12, 13 can be brought into engagement or out of engagement with the conductor tracks. As a result of the movement of the locking pin 5, a switching means can thus be provided in order to detect the position or a movement of the locking pin 5. For this purpose, the locking pin 5 has a cylindrical extension 14, which can be moved out of the housing 15 of the locking device 4. The locking pin 5 further has a toothing 16, into which, for example, a gear of a transmission for moving the locking pin 5 can engage.

[0029] In this embodiment, a part of the conductor track structure 9 is arranged on the locking pin 5. A ratchet connection 17 holds the contact tabs 12, 13 as part of the conductor track structure 9 on the locking pin 5. The contact tabs 12, 13 project beyond a protective wall 18 in such a way that the free ends 19, 20 of the contact tabs 12, 13 can come into contact with the conductor tracks 11.

[0030] In the present embodiment of the invention, the protective wall 18 encloses the conductor track structure 9 and, in particular, the contact tabs 12, 13 in a U-shaped manner in such a way that a circumferential protection around the contact tabs 12, 13 can be ensured. Mechanical stresses, such as pulling on the plug in the locked state, consequently do not act on the contact tabs 12, 13, but can at most cause the protective wall 18 to rest against the electrical component carrier 10. The protective wall 18 thus prevents a mechanical stress on the contact tabs 12, 13 and can thus serve to provide a high level of contact security. In particular, the contact tabs 12, 13 can be assembled independently of external influences on the locking pin 5, thus ensuring reliability over the entire product cycle of the locking device 4.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the protective wall 18 and the arrangement of the contact tabs 12, 13 or of the part of the conductor track structure 9. As can be clearly seen, the free ends 19, 20 project beyond the protective wall 18 and can thus be brought into engagement with the conductor tracks 11 on the printed circuit board 10. In this embodiment, the free ends 19, 20 of the contact tabs project beyond the protective wall 18 to such an extent that safe contacting of the conductor track 11 can be ensured. The projection of the free ends 19, 20 of the contact tabs 12, 13 is referenced as a spacing A in FIG. 1.

[0032] By protecting the contact tabs 12, 13 circumferentially or circumferentially at least in regions, it is possible, on the one hand, to ensure easy assembly of the conductor track structure 9 and, at the same time, provide maximum protection for the contact tabs 12, 13. In the present embodiment, an assembly groove 21 is provided, into which the ratchet connection 17 can be inserted and into which a clip connection can engage. For this purpose, a further recess can be provided in the assembly groove 28. A stop 22 on the locking pin 5 can serve as an assembly aid for guiding and securely positioning the conductor track structure 9. By means of the stop 22, form-fitting connecting of the conductor track structure with the locking pin 5 can likewise be carried out if, for example, the conductor track structure 9 can be inserted or pushed into a rear wall behind the stop 22. Thus, a structurally favorable and secure connection of the conductor track structure 9 in the locking pin 5 can be ensured.

[0033] In particular, the orientation of the contact tabs 12, 13 in the direction of the cylindrical extension 14 of the locking pin 5 can ensure a structurally favorable connection to the conductor tracks 11 and limit the length of the conductor track 11 in the locking device 4 to a minimum. Thus, a switching means for the locking pin 5 can be provided with the least possible structural effort. On the side of the locking pin 5 opposite the toothing 16, guides 24, 25 are provided, which enable a stabilization of the locking pin 5 and, at the same time, can serve as support for engagement of a gear in the toothing 16.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0034] 1 Plug connector half [0035] 2, 3 Contacts [0036] 4 Locking device [0037] 5 Locking pin [0038] 6 Opening [0039] 7 Frame [0040] 8 Housing cover [0041] 9 Conductor track structure [0042] 10 Electrical component carrier, printed circuit board [0043] 11 Conductor track [0044] 12, 13 Contact tabs [0045] 14 Cylindrical extension [0046] 15 Housing [0047] 16 Toothing [0048] 17 Ratchet connection [0049] 18 Protective wall [0050] 19,20 Free ends [0051] 21 Assembly groove [0052] 22 Stop [0053] 23 Rear wall [0054] 24, 25 Guides [0055] A Spacing