PLUG CONNECTOR WITH LOCKING SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking system for connectors for connecting and locking a plug to its plug partner, comprising a primary lock formed by at least one bayonet ring with at least one control gate, coupled to a connector plug and designed for functional cooperation with at least one pin associated with the control gate on a connector mating plug, wherein the control gate has a Z-shaped course so that a two-stage movement kinematics of the primary locking is supported. Furthermore, the invention relates to a plug connection for making a detachable electrically conductive connection, comprising a connector plug and a connector mating plug with a locking system.

Claims

1. A locking system for connectors for connecting and locking a plug to its plug partner, the locking system comprising: a primary locking formed by at least one bayonet ring having at least one control gate coupled to a connector plug and designed for cooperation with at least one pin, associated with the control gate, on a connector mating plug, wherein the control gate has a Z-shaped course, such that a two-stage movement kinematics of the primary locking is supported.

2. The locking system for connectors according to claim 1, wherein the bayonet ring has at least one recess associated with the combination of a gate and a pin, respectively.

3. The locking system for connectors according to claim 1, wherein the bayonet ring is movable between two positions, which are dead-center positions, wherein one position supports an unlocking state and one position supports a locking state of the locking system.

4. The locking system for connectors according to claim 1, wherein an intermediate latching position is arranged in the center section of the Z-shaped course of the control gate, such that retarded separation of the plug connection is supported or a separation of the connector from the mating plug is possible only by the superposition of an axial and a radial displacement of the bayonet ring relative to the mating plug.

5. The locking system for connectors according to claim 1, wherein the primary lock is coupled to a secondary lock for locking the primary lock in its locked position.

6. The locking system for connectors according to claim 5, wherein the secondary locking is formed by a locking slide.

7. The locking system for connectors according to claim 6, wherein the locking slide is movable between an open position and a closed position.

8. The locking system for connectors according to claim 6, wherein the movement kinematics of the locking slide is formed axial-linear to the connector housing, which represents a movement in and against an insertion direction.

9. The locking system for connectors according to claim 6, wherein each locking slider has an engagement associated with the combination of the slider and the pin.

10. The locking system for connectors according to claim 9, wherein the engagement is shaped as a contour-congruent counterpart for the recess, as well as the Z-curved configuration of the bayonet gate.

11. The locking system for connectors according to claim 6, wherein the locking slide is movable with its at least one engagement into the closed position when the associated pin in the gate is in its locked position so that the primary locking is locked.

12. The locking system for connectors, comprising; a receptacle with a bayonet lock, wherein at least one rotatably arranged bayonet ring with a receptacle contour is provided for receiving a back and forth movable locking slide on the plug, which then prevents the bayonet ring from rotating when the bayonet ring is in a locked position and inserted in the receptacle, wherein a gate for guiding the pin of the mating plug is arranged at least partially in the area of the receptacle contour and the movement of the locking slide into the locking position is possible only if the pin is located within a region in the gate outside the receptacle contour.

13. A plug connection for making a releasable electrically conductive connection, comprising a connector plug and a connector mating plug with a locking system according to claim 1.

14. The plug connection for making a releasable electrically conductive connection according to claim 13, wherein the plug connection is a high voltage circular connector.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The invention is explained in more detail below by means of an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the figures. Showing:

[0035] FIG. 1 the perspective and front view of the connector housing with locking system for connectors in an open position (“unlock”) of the locking system;

[0036] FIG. 2 the three-dimensional as well as the top view of the socket mating plug with pin and sleeve section;

[0037] FIG. 3 the side views of the connector housing with locking system for connectors and the secondary locking in unlocked (upper figure, “unlock”) and locked (lower figure, “lock”) position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] FIG. 1 includes the perspective and front views of the connector housing 140 with locking system for connectors 100 in an open position (“unlock”) of locking system 100. Primary components of the locking system 100 of this embodiment are the primary locking formed by the bayonet ring 110, cooperating with at least one pin 151 of the connector mating plug 150, and the secondary locking formed by the locking slide 160.

[0039] In this example, the connector housing 140 is made in one piece with the bayonet ring 110, for example made in a plastic injection molding process using a corresponding multi-part mold with sliders. Assembled arrangements are also possible, in which the overall arrangement is constructed and joined in several parts.

[0040] Following the bayonet principle, the movement kinematics of the primary locking is rotational in the circumference of a pitch circle movement and combined with an axial-linear movement component as a result of the Z-shaped gate 116, the secondary locking obeys a linear movement in the axial direction of the connector housing 140. The secondary locking, implemented as a locking slide 160, is annular in shape with at least one engagement 161 and is coupled externally to and movable with the connector housing 140.

[0041] The connector contacting is axially centered with a preferably round plug contact. In the example shown, contacting is provided by means of a lamellar contact bush 141.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of three gates, inlet/outlet grooves 116, 116′ symmetrically distributed around the circumference of the connector housing 140 or evenly distributed around the circumference. This design, which is often advantageous for static reasons, can also be designed differently depending on the area of application or environmental conditions, for example asymmetrically or with one, two or more than three functionally interacting gate arrangements. Corresponding and congruent to the number and position of the gates, inlet/outlet grooves 116, 116′ are provided for both the engagements 161 of the locking slide 160 and the recesses 113 of the bayonet ring 110.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows the three-dimensional as well as the top view of the socket mating plug 150 with pin 151 and sleeve section 152. Concentric with an ring gap disposed in the front side of the connector housing 140, the sleeve section 152 is inserted therein and the at least one pin 151 extending radially outwardly is threaded into the inlet/outlet groove 116′ to initially accomplish primary locking and, after reaching the end position, is secured by secondary locking. Preferably, the contacting elements for establishing the electrically conductive connection are arranged inside the socket mating plug 150 (not shown). For the realization of the plug connection, it is irrelevant whether the kinematics of the primary locking is performed by the connector housing 140 or the socket mating plug 150 or a combination of movements—sequential or superimposed—of both plug partners. In the illustrated possible embodiment of the mating plug as a socket mating plug 150, this is preferably fixed via drillings 154 so that the movement kinematics are fully accomplished by the connector housing 140.

[0044] FIG. 3 includes side views of the connector housing with locking system for connectors 100 and the secondary locking 160 in unlocked (upper figure, “unlock”) and locked (lower figure, “lock”) positions, wherein both illustrations represent the primary locking in its connected end position in that the at least one associated pin 151 is in the end latching position, locked position 117 in the gate 116.

[0045] The secondary locking is activated by moving the locking slide 160 axially from the open position “unlock” to the closed position “lock” and retracting the engagement 161 into the recess 113 of the bayonet ring 110. The engagement 161 is the contour-congruent counterpart to the recess 113 as well as the Z-curved configuration of the bayonet gate 116 and locks the associated pin 151 in its locked position 117 with an engagement shoulder, so that the rotational kinematics of the primary locking is locked.