Abstract:
The invention concerns a locking device for a multi-part plug connector housing ( 1 ) comprising a housing upper portion ( 20 ) and a housing lower portion ( 10 ) fitting thereto, wherein the housing upper portion ( 20 ) and the housing lower portion ( 10 ) can be reversibly mechanically connected together by way of a spring plate ( 30 ), wherein the spring plate ( 30 ) is arranged in the interior of the housing upper portion ( 20 ) and/or of the housing lower portion ( 10 ), wherein the spring plate ( 30 ) is operatively connected to a single, outwardly disposed actuating knob ( 40 ).

Description:
This is a national stage of PCT/DE11/075138 filed Jun. 20, 2011 and published in German, which has priority of German no. 10 2010 038 266.3 filed Oct. 19, 2010, hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns a locking device for a multi-part plug connector housing comprising a housing upper portion and a housing lower portion fitting thereto, wherein the housing upper portion and the housing lower portion can be reversibly mechanically connected together by way of a spring plate, wherein the spring plate is arranged in the interior of the housing upper portion and/or of the housing lower portion. 
     Such locking devices are required in order for example to latch two plug connector housing portions together in non-losable fashion and to unlatch them again. The locking devices are of such a configuration that the insides of the plug connector housing are protected after locking from environmental influences such as for example liquids and dust. 
     The insides of a lockable and unlockable plug connector housing can comprise contact elements and/or so-called contact modules as are shown for example in as yet unpublished PCT/EP 2009/008779. 
     STATE OF THE ART 
     EP 2 194 217 A1 discloses a releasable locking means for a multi-part plug connector housing. A first housing portion includes on both sides actuating knobs which respectively act on elastic spring elements which are associated with them and which are arranged in the housing interior. The first and second housing portions are locked together by way of openings in the spring plate, which cooperate with inwardly disposed latching hooks on a second housing portion. 
     A disadvantage with such locking devices is that both actuating knobs have to be operated at the same time to implement locking or unlocking. In addition such a locking system takes up a large amount of space within the plug connector housing. As a result such plug connectors are relatively large and cumbersome. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to propose a locking system for multi-part plug connector housings, which is compact and at the same time reliable. 
     That object is attained in that the spring plate is operatively connected to a single, outwardly disposed actuating knob. 
     Advantageous configurations are recited in the appendant claims. 
     The locking device shown here is intended for a multi-part plug connector housing. Such a plug connector housing comprises a housing upper portion and a housing lower portion fitting thereto. The housing upper portion has an individual actuating knob operable from the exterior. In addition a spring plate is clamped in the interior of the housing upper portion in such a way as to be captively safeguarded against loss. 
     The actuating knob is disposed within a circular orifice on the housing upper portion. Upon actuation of the actuating knob it is pushed into the orifice. The force resulting therefrom is transmitted to the spring plate which is clamped in the housing interior. 
     Accordingly the outwardly disposed actuating knob is operatively connected to the inwardly disposed spring plate. The spring plate mechanically connects the two housing portions together. The housing portions can be locked together and unlocked by way of the force exerted on the spring plate. The mechanical connection between the two housing portions by way of the spring plate is accordingly reversible. The precise mechanism for that purpose is described hereinafter. 
     At least one latching nose is formed at at least one inside wall of the housing lower portion. In general two latching noses are formed at mutually opposite inside walls of the housing lower portion. 
     The spring plate includes at least one latching opening which engages over the latching nose or noses of the housing lower portion so that the housing upper portion and the housing lower portion are non-losably connected together. The number of latching openings necessarily corresponds to the number of latching noses. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The spring plate has a substantially rectangular, frame-shape base structure. Two mutually opposite parallel latching arms are arranged on the base frame of the spring plate, perpendicularly to the plane of the base structure. The two latching arms have the latching opening already mentioned hereinbefore. 
     When the outwardly disposed actuating knob of the plug connector is pushed in the force resulting therefrom is transmitted to the inwardly disposed spring plate. As a result the latching arms of the spring plate move towards each other in such a way that the latching openings of the latching arms slide over the latching noses of the housing lower portion. The latching opening of the latching arms no longer engage over the latching noses so that the spring plate (or the latching openings thereof) is no longer operatively connected to the latching noses. The housing portions can now be separated from each other. 
     If the actuating knob is actuated before the housing portions have been fitted together then the housing upper portion can be almost effortlessly fitted on to the associated housing lower portion. After the actuating knob is then released the latching openings of the spring plate engage (again) on to the latching noses of the housing lower portion. Accordingly, actuation of the actuating knob permits a locking connection or an unlocking connection between the two housing portions. 
     The two housing portions however can also be simply brought together—without actuation of the actuating knob. In that case the latching arms of the spring plate firstly slide over the latching nose contour until finally the latching noses engage into the latching openings. That process is also referred to “plugging together” the housing halves. 
     In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the actuating knob is in the form of a combined rotary and press knob. The actuating knob is locked by a quarter-turn rotation in any direction. That means that it is no longer possible to press in (that is to say actuate) the actuating knob. It is only by rotation in the opposite direction that the actuating knob is unlocked again. That prevents inadvertent actuation of the actuating knob. 
     Advantageously there is provided a direction of rotation in the counter-clockwise direction, for locking the actuating knob. 
     Advantageously the surface of the actuating knob is roughened so that the actuating knob can be easily rotated with the thumb. 
     It may however also be advantageous if the actuating knob includes an orifice, into which a tool can be inserted, with which the rotary movement can be produced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An embodiment by way of example of the invention is described in greater detail hereinafter and illustrated in the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a spring plate, 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a housing upper portion with integrated spring plate latched to a housing lower portion, 
         FIG. 3  shows a section III-III from  FIG. 2  through two housing halves which are latched together, 
         FIG. 4  shows the section III-III through the two housing halves which are still unlatched, 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective rear view of an actuating knob, 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective front view of the actuating knob, 
         FIG. 7  shows a section VII-VII through the housing portions of  FIG. 3 , which are locked together, 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective side view of the housing portions which are latched together, and 
         FIG. 9  shows a section IX-IX from  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modification within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a spring plate  30 . The spring plate  30  is stamped out of one piece of sheet metal and is shaped by means of a bending process into a substantially rectangular, frame-shaped base structure  31 . Projecting from that base structure  31  are two latching arms  32  which are mutually opposite and which are arranged in mutually parallel relationship. 
     The two latching arms  32  have a latching opening  33 . A respective latching hook  39  is shaped within the openings  33 . The latching hooks  39  are each bent slightly inwardly, that is to say towards each other. 
     A frame wall  31   a  has a raised portion  34  which at the end is bent outwardly. The frame wall  31   a  also includes a keyhole-shaped opening  35 . The opposite frame wall  31   c  is formed from two parts which come together and whose hook-shaped ends  36  overlap in such a way that they enclose an opening  37  with each other. 
     The frame walls  31   b  and  31   d  each include a respective orifice  38 . The orifice  38  represents a part of the fixing for the spring plate  30  in a housing upper portion  20  of a plug connector housing. 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the housing upper portion  20  which is latched to a housing lower portion  10 . The spring plate  30  is clamped captively within the housing lower portion  20  in such a way as to be safeguarded against loss. 
     The housing upper portion  20  is of a substantially box-shaped configuration. Formed at two mutually opposite side walls of the housing upper portion  20  are legs  25  which engage into the orifices  38  in the spring plate  30 . The orifices  38  are longer than the legs  25  so that the legs  25  have some clearance on both sides in the orifices  38  and thereby permit the application of force by the actuating knob to the spring plate. 
     The lower housing portion  10  latched to the housing upper portion  20  is also of a substantially box-shaped configuration. Two mutually opposite inside walls of the housing lower portion  10  include respective latching noses  11 . The latching noses  11  engage into the openings  33  of the spring plate  30  so that the housing halves  10 ,  20  are captively connected together by way of the spring plate  30 . 
     A housing wall of the housing upper portion  10  includes a bore, through which a pin  22  projects into the housing interior. The pin shank is enclosed by a fork-like structure  24  formed at the inside wall of the housing upper portion  20 . The hook-shaped ends  36  of the spring plate  30 , which enclose an opening  37  with each other, engage around the pin shank in the housing interior. The frame wall  31   c  of the spring plate  30  is disposed between the fork-like structure  21  and the housing inside wall. 
     The inside walls of the housing upper portion  20  which include the legs  25  and the inside walls of the housing lower portion  10  which include the latching noses  11  are aligned with each other when the housing halves  10 ,  20  are fitted on to each other. 
     Separation of the Housing Halves 
       FIG. 3  shows the section III-III of the latched housing halves  10 ,  20  of  FIG. 2 . When the actuating knob  40  is pressed in, in the direction of the housing interior, the latching arms  32  of the spring plate  30  are displaced along the inside walls of the housing lower portion  10  and the housing upper portion  20 . As already mentioned hereinbefore the orifices  38  afford the play necessary for that. The latching hooks  39  of the latching openings  33  slide down on the latching noses  21  of the housing lower portion  10 . As a result the latching arms  32  are bent towards each other so that the openings  33  in the latching arms  32  of the latching plate  30  are moved out of the condition of latching connection to the latching noses  11 . The housing halves can now be separated from each other. 
     Locking of the Housing Halves 
       FIG. 4  also shows the section III-III. It will be noted however that the housing halves  10 ,  20  are here still unlocked. By way of its inwardly bent region  32   b  the latching arm  32  of the latching plate  30  is pushed in the locking process over the latching nose  11  of the lower housing half  10 . In that case the latching arms  32  bend slightly inwardly towards each other. When the housing halves  10 ,  20  are brought further together the latching arms  32  snap back outwardly so that the openings  33  in the latching arms  32  engage over the latching noses  11 . That provides that the two housing halves  10 ,  20  are captively connected. 
     It is to be noted that a cover for the housing upper portion  20 , on which there is provided a so-called cable exit, is not shown in the Figures disclosed here, for the sake of clarity of the drawing. 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective rear view and  FIG. 6  shows a perspective front view of the actuating knob  40 . The actuating knob  40  substantially comprises a disk-shaped pressing surface  41 . A cloverleaf-shaped recess  47  is provided in the surface  41  at the operating side. A suitable tool for radial rotary movement of the actuating knob  40  can be inserted into the recess  47 . 
     Firstly a shoulder  43  with a peripherally extending groove  44  is formed on the rear side from the pressing surface  41 . The shoulder  43  includes two raised locking structures  45  which enclose a cylindrical portion  42  shaped thereon, which extends perpendicularly from the shoulder  43  and which projects (in the assembled condition) into the interior of the housing upper portion  20 . The locking structures  45  are approximately in the form of a truncated triangular pillar. 
     At the end the cylindrical portion  42  includes a locking hook  46 . Further beneath that so-called toggles  47  are provided on both sides on the cylindrical portion  42 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a section VII-VII from  FIG. 3  of the housing portions which are locked together. The cylindrical portion  42  of the actuating knob  40  projects into the interior of the locked plug connector housing. 
     The locking hook  46  on the cylindrical portion  42  also passes in this case through the keyhole-shaped opening  35  in the frame wall  31   a  of the spring plate  30  which is latched in the housing upper portion  20 . The toggles  47  of the shaped portion  42  remain on the other side of the frame wall  31   a . The spring plate  30  is arranged in that region between locking hook  46  and toggle  47 . 
     When the actuating knob  40  is pressed in a force is exerted on the spring plate  30  by way of the toggles  47 . As already described above as a result the openings  33  of the latching arms  32  of the spring plate  30  slide beyond the latching noses  11  of the housing lower portion  10 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a perspective side view of the housing portions  10 ,  20  which are latched together.  FIG. 9  shows the section IX-IX from  FIG. 8 . It is also possible to see two abutments  26  which are formed along the circular orifice  21  in the housing upper portion  20 . It is also possible to see through the orifice  21  blade portions  23  which are disposed further within the housing upper portion  20  than the abutments  26 . The function of the abutments  26  and the blade portions  23  is described hereinafter. In the assembled condition the locking structures  45  of the actuating knob  40  are disposed in a common plane with the abutments  26  of the circular orifice  21  of the housing upper portion  20 . 
     As already mentioned hereinbefore the actuating knob  40  can be locked to prevent inadvertent actuation. In the unlocked condition the locking structures  45  of the actuating knob  40  are disposed jointly in a plane which is oriented parallel to the base surface  12  of the housing lower portion  10 . 
     Upon a radial rotation of the actuating knob  40  through about 90° in the counter-clockwise direction the locking structures  45  of the actuating knob  40  are moved against the abutments  26  of the orifice  21  of the housing upper portion  20 . The plane of the locking structures  45  is now at an approximately right angle to the plane of the base surface  12 . The blade portions  23  prevent the actuating knob  40  from being pressed in (actuated) as the locking structures  45  of the actuating knob  40  now bear against the blade portions  23 . 
     Locking of the actuating knob  40  is released again by a radial rotary movement of the actuating knob  40  in the opposite direction. 
     For further details of the locking function of the actuating knob attention is directed here to EP 2 194 217 A1. 
     The housing lower portion  10  includes bores  13  which make it possible for the housing lower portion  10  to be mounted for example to a machine wall. 
     LIST OF REFERENCES 
     Locking Device for a Plug-In Connector Housing 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                  1 
                 plug connector housing 
               
               
                   
                 10 
                 housing lower portion 
               
               
                   
                 11 
                 latching noses 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 base surface 
               
               
                   
                 13 
                 bores 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 housing upper portion 
               
               
                   
                 21 
                 circular orifice 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 pin 
               
               
                   
                 23 
                 blade portion 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 fork-like structure 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 leg 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 abutment 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 spring plate 
               
               
                   
                 31 
                 frame-shape base structure 
               
               
                   
                 31a-d 
                 frame wall 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 latching arm 
               
               
                   
                 32b 
                 bent region of the latching arm 
               
               
                   
                 33 
                 latching opening 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 raised portion 
               
               
                   
                 35 
                 keyhole-shaped opening 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 hook-shaped end 
               
               
                   
                 37 
                 opening 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 orifices 
               
               
                   
                 39 
                 latching hook 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 actuating knob 
               
               
                   
                 41 
                 pressing surface 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 cylindrical portion 
               
               
                   
                 43 
                 shoulder 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 groove 
               
               
                   
                 45 
                 locking structure 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 locking hook 
               
               
                   
                 47 
                 toggle