Plug-type connector having a radially acting latching device

A plug-type connector having an external conductor part, at least one internal conductor part, and a housing, wherein a radially acting latching device for mechanically releaseably locking the plug-type connector in a plugged-in state is provided on an outer circumference of the housing, the latching device being produced from a spring-elastic material in the form of a ring which has a gap in the circumferential direction, wherein a bolt which can be moved between a locking position and a release position is arranged on the housing such that the bolt engages in the gap in the ring preventing radial compression of the ring in the locking position, and, in the release position, releases the gap in the ring so that the ring can be radially compressed when a stop edge runs onto one of the chamfers on the sides of the ring when the plug-connected state is established or released.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a plug-type connector having an external conductor part which is formed on a cable-side end of the plug-type connector for electrical and mechanical connection with an external conductor of a cable and which forms an electromagnetic screen of the plug-type connector, having at least one internal conductor part which is formed on the cable-side end of the plug-type connector for electrical and mechanical connection with at least one internal conductor of a cable, and having a housing, wherein a radially acting latching device is provided on an outer circumference of the housing for locking the plug-type connector, in a mechanically releasable manner, in a plugged-in state in which the plug-type connector is plugged, with a plug-side end axially opposite the cable-side end, into a complementary plug-type connector and an electrical and mechanical contact is established between the internal conductor part of the plug-type connector and a complementary internal conductor part of the complementary plug-type connector as well as establishing an electrical and mechanical contact between the external conductor part of the plug-type connector and a complementary external conductor part of the complementary plug-type connector, wherein the latching device is manufactured from a spring-elastic material in the form of a ring which has a gap in the circumferential direction, wherein the ring is arranged on the outer circumference of the housing in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the plug-type connector, such that a first side of the ring faces the plug-side end of the plug-type connector and a second side of the ring faces the cable-side end of the plug-type connector, wherein the ring projects in a radial direction from the outer circumference of the housing, wherein an inner diameter of the ring is greater than an outer diameter of the housing in the section in which the ring is located, so that the ring can be compressed radially against a spring-elastic force, in accordance with the preamble to claim1.

2. Description of Related Art

An electrical plug-type connector is known from DE 38 23 617 C2 in which a metallic housing sleeve and a plug contact housing made of an electrically insulating material are clipped together via a snap ring.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,465 discloses a rapidly connectable and disconnectable electrical plug-type connector comprising a plug part and a socket part. A spring ring with a gap in the circumferential direction is arranged in a circumferential groove on the plug part, so that when the plug and socket are plugged together the spring ring is compressed radially. In the socket part, the spring ring snaps into a circumferential groove on an inner side of the socket part, providing a holding force between the plug part and socket part. In addition, the spring ring has a notch running in the circumferential direction which provides a part of the spring ring with an additional, radial spring effect, so that a double spring effect is available in a radial direction. A blocking device which blocks a radial compression of the spring ring is not provided.

EP 0 996 201 A2 discloses an electrical plug-type connector comprising a first connector part and a second connector part, wherein the first and second connector part can be plugged into one another, and an engaging device. The engaging device possesses on the first connector part a circumferential groove, a C-formed ring which can be expanded and compressed radially in a resilient manner and which is arranged in the circumferential groove, and possesses on the second connector part a pressure section with which the ring comes into contact when the parts are plugged together, and an engaging groove into which the ring snaps. A first projection is provided on the first connector part which engages with a notch on a rear end of the ring, preventing a displacement of the ring in a circumferential direction. A limiting part is also provided on the first connector part which extends into the circumferential groove and is of such a width that it covers a slit in the ring on the outer circumference of the ring. This prevents an excessive radial expansion of the ring. When plugging together the two connector parts, the ring is compressed radially and relaxes again through radial expansion as soon as it has reached the engaging groove. In order to release the plugged connection, an axially displaceable sleeve is provided on the second connector part which compresses the ring radially in a predetermined axial position, thus releasing the engagement between the ring and the engaging groove. No bolt is provided which blocks a radial compression of the ring.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are achieved in the present invention which is directed to a plug-type connector comprising an external conductor part which is formed on a cable-side end of the plug-type connector for electrical and mechanical connection with an external conductor of a cable and which forms an electromagnetic screen of the plug-type connector, having at least one internal conductor part which is formed on the cable-side end of the plug-type connector for electrical and mechanical connection with at least one internal conductor of the cable, and a housing including a radially acting latching device on an outer circumference of the housing for locking the plug-type connector in a mechanically releasable manner in a plugged-in state in which the plug-type connector is plugged, with a plug-side end axially opposite the cable-side end, into a complementary plug-type connector such that an electrical and mechanical contact is established between the internal conductor part of the plug-type connector and a complementary internal conductor part of the complementary plug-type connector as well an electrical and mechanical contact between the external conductor part of the plug-type connector and a complementary external conductor part of the complementary plug-type connector, the latching device comprising a resilient material in the form of a ring having a gap in the circumferential direction, wherein the ring is arranged on the outer circumference of the housing in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the plug-type connector, such that a first side of the ring faces the plug-side end of the plug-type connector and a second side of the ring faces the cable-side end of the plug-type connector, wherein the ring projects in a radial direction from the outer circumference of the housing, and the ring inner diameter is greater than the ring outer diameter in the section in which the ring is located, so that the ring can be compressed radially against a spring-elastic force, the ring having a chamfer on the first and second side such that the ring has a shorter axial length on its outer circumference than on its inner circumference, wherein a bolt which can be moved between a locking position and a release position is arranged on the housing in such a way that in the locking position the bolt engages in the gap in the ring and prevents radial compression of the ring, and in the release position releases the gap in the ring so that the ring can be radially compressed when a stop edge runs onto one of the chamfers on the sides of the ring when the plug-connected state is established or released.

The bolt may form a slider which can be moved in an axial direction. The bolt is designed to fit only into the gap in the ring when the ring is in a completely relaxed state, in a radial direction, without any radial restoring forces acting radially outwards. The bolt may a rocker made of a resilient material which is formed integrally with the bolt.

The housing may be part of the external conductor part. A radial groove runs around the outer circumference of the housing for receiving the ring. An elastic spring element may be used for applying an elastic spring force to the bolt in the direction of the locking position. The elastic spring element may comprise a helical spring which applies the spring-elastic force to the slider in an axial direction.

The plug-type connector may include a device for electrical testing of the complete establishment of a plugged connection between the plug-type connector and a complementary plug-type connector. The device for electrical testing of the complete establishment of a plugged connection reports a completely established plugged connection if, in the plugged-in state, the bolt is in its locking position.

The device for electrical testing of the complete establishment of a plugged connection may comprise an interrupted electrical conductor which is electrically closed when the plug-type connector is completely plugged into the complementary plug-type connector and the ring is locked by the bolt.

The device for electrical testing of the complete establishment of a plugged connection may comprise a reed contact which is electrically closed when the plug-type connector is completely plugged into the complementary plug-type connector and the ring is locked by the bolt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the problem of designing a plug-type connector of the aforementioned type in such a way that, on the one hand, a plugged-together state can be established simply and releasably, and on the other hand an undesired release of the plugged connection is reliably prevented.

According to the invention this problem is solved through a plug-type connector of the aforementioned type with the features identified in the claims.

According to the invention, in a plug-type connector of the aforementioned type the ring has a chamfer on the first and second side such that the ring has a shorter axial length on its outer circumference than on its inner circumference, wherein a bolt, which can be moved between a locking position and a release position, is arranged on the housing in such a way that in the locking position the bolt engages in the gap in the ring and prevents radial compression of the ring, and in the release position releases the gap in the ring so that the ring can be radially compressed when a stop edge runs onto one of the chamfers on the sides of the ring when the plug-connected state is established or released.

This has the advantage that the plug-type connector can be connected with a complementary plug-type connector in such a way that, on the one hand, this plugged connection can be released, but on the other hand it can only be released by means of special measures. An undesired release of the plugged connection, for example through vibrations, is effectively prevented, wherein at the same time the manual establishment and release of the plugged connection is achieved simply and with minimal application of force.

A particularly functionally reliable embodiment in terms of the locking of the ring is achieved in that the bolt takes the form of a slider which can be moved in an axial direction.

A particularly simple structure which makes the plug-type connector economical to manufacture and assemble is achieved in that the housing is a part of the external conductor part.

An axial fixing of the ring to the outer side of the housing is achieved in that a radial groove running around the outer circumference of the housing is formed in which the ring is arranged.

Due to the bolt being so designed that it only fits into the gap in the ring when the ring is in a completely relaxed state, in a radial direction, without any radial restoring forces acting radially outwards, the bolt at the same time makes it possible to check that a plugged connection of the plug-type connector with a complementary mating connector has been completely established, since otherwise the bolt cannot be moved into the locking position.

An automatic locking of the ring when plugging the plug-type connector into a complementary plug-type connector is achieved in that an elastic spring element is provided which applies an elastic spring force to the bolt in the direction of the locking position.

A particularly reliable locking is achieved in that the elastic spring element takes the form of a helical spring which applies the spring-elastic force to the slider in an axial direction.

A particularly simple structure allowing economical manufacture and assembly of the plug-type connector is achieved in that the bolt possesses a rocker made of a resilient material which is formed integrally with the bolt.

An additional security for the plugged connection and for a user of the plug-type connector is achieved in that a device for electrical testing of the complete establishment of a plugged connection between the plug-type connector and a complementary plug-type connector is additionally arranged on the plug-type connector. For example, this cuts off an electric voltage transmitted via the cable of the plug-type connector as soon as the device for electrical testing of the complete establishment of a plugged connection reports that a complete plugged connection no longer exists. In this way a user is protected from receiving an electric shock from any freely accessible electrical contacts of the plug-type connector.

A functionally reliable detection of the complete and locked plugged connection between the plug-type connector and the complementary plug-type connector is achieved in that the device for electrical testing of the complete establishment of a plugged connection is arranged on the bolt in such a way that the device for electrical testing of the complete establishment of a plugged connection only reports a completely established plugged connection if, in the plugged-in state, the bolt is in its locking position.

A particularly simple structure allowing economical manufacture and assembly of the plug-type connector is achieved in that the device for electrical testing of the complete establishment of a plugged connection is an interrupted electrical conductor which is arranged and designed such that the electrical conductor is electrically closed when the plug-type connector is completely plugged into the complementary plug-type connector and the ring is locked by the bolt.

A particularly functionally reliable detection of the complete plugged connection through a contact-free sensor is achieved in that the device for electrical testing of the complete establishment of a plugged connection is a reed contact which is arranged and designed such that the reed contact is electrically closed when the plug-type connector is completely plugged into the complementary plug-type connector and the ring is locked by the bolt.

The first preferred embodiment of a plug-type connector in accordance with the invention shown inFIGS. 1 to 5comprises an external conductor part10, which is formed on a cable-side end of the plug-type connector for electrical and mechanical connection with an external conductor12of a cable14and forms an electromagnetic screen of the plug-type connector. Several internal conductor parts16which are held radially at predetermined points within the external conductor part10by an insulating part18are arranged radially within the external conductor part10. The internal conductor parts16are designed for electrical and mechanical connection with at least one internal conductor (not shown) of the cable14. A housing20encloses the external conductor part10.

A ring24is arranged in a groove22on the outer circumference of the housing20which has a gap26in the circumferential direction (FIG. 1) and is manufactured of a resilient material. At the same time, an inner diameter of the ring24is greater than an outer diameter of the housing20in the region of the groove22. In this way the ring24can be compressed radially inwards, so that the outer diameter of the ring24is reduced. In contrast, the outer diameter of the ring24is greater than an outer diameter of the housing20adjacent to the groove22, so that the ring24projects outwards from the housing in a radial direction. This ring24serves as a radially acting latching device for mechanically releasable locking of the plug-type connector in a plugged-in state in which the plug-type connector is plugged into a complementary plug-type connector28, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, and an electrical and mechanical contact between the internal conductor part16of the plug-type connector and a complementary internal conductor part30of the complementary plug-type connector28is established, as well as an electrical and mechanical contact between the external conductor part10of the plug-type connector and a complementary external conductor part32of the complementary plug-type connector28. The housing20of the plug-type connector is hereby plugged into a complementary housing34of the complementary plug-type connector28. This mechanically releasable locking is explained in more detail in the following.

A radial circumferential latching groove38is formed on an inner wall36of the complementary housing34of the complementary plug-type connector28which interacts with the ring24. The inner wall36of the complementary housing34of the complementary plug-type connector28has an inner diameter which is, on the one hand, greater than the outer circumference of the housing20adjacent to the groove22and, on the other hand, is less than an outer circumference of the ring24in its relaxed state. The ring24also has chamfers40on its side surfaces which act as leading ramps for the inner surface36of the complementary housing34. When the housing20is plugged into the complementary housing34the complementary housing34comes into contact with one side of the ring24in the region of the chamfer40. Under the axial plugging force, the complementary housing34compresses the ring24radially inwards, so that the outer diameter of the ring24is reduced and the complementary housing34slides over the housing20, whereby the ring24slides along the inner wall36of the complementary housing34. The housing20is now pushed in an axial direction into the complementary housing34of the complementary plug-type connector28until the ring24reaches the latching groove38. Here, the ring snaps into place, widening radially outwards. In order to release the plugged connection, an axial force is applied to the plug-type connector and complementary plug-type connector in the opposite direction to the direction of plugging, whereby an edge of the latching groove38comes into contact with the corresponding opposing chamfer40of the ring24. The ring24is again compressed radially inwards, so that the housing20can be withdrawn from the complementary housing34of the complementary plug-type connector28. The chamfers40ensure, on the one hand, that the latching of the ring24in the latching groove38is releasable. On the other hand, the chamfers40determine the corresponding axial force which is necessary in order to plug together and unplug the plug-type connector and complementary plug-type connector28.

In order to prevent the plugged connection from being released unintentionally, an axially moveable bolt42is provided on the outer circumference of the housing20. This bolt42can be moved in an axial direction between a locking position, as shown inFIGS. 2 to 5, and a release position, as shown inFIG. 1. The bolt42is designed in such a way that, in the locking position, it engages in the gap26of the ring24and prevents the free ends of the ring24from being able to move towards one another in a circumferential direction. This blocks any radial compression of the ring24. In this locking position, an unplugging of the plugged-together plug-type connector and complementary plug-type connector is blocked, since the ring24cannot be released from the groove38of the complementary plug-type connector.

A helical spring44applies an elastic spring force to the bolt42in the direction of the locking position. In this way the bolt42automatically assumes the locking position as soon as the plug-type connector is completely plugged into the complementary plug-type connector28, without this requiring any additional action by an installer. In order to plug together and unplug the plug-type connector and complementary plug-type connector28it is simply necessary to move the bolt42against the force of the helical spring44from the locking position into the release position and hold it there until, when plugging the connectors together, the ring24is located in the housing34of the complementary plug-type connector28or, when releasing the plugged connection, until the ring24has left the groove38of the complementary plug-type connector28. In the intermediate stage, for example when plugging together the plug-type connector and complementary plug-type connector28, in which the ring24is already located within the housing34of the complementary plug-type connector28and is thus radially compressed, whereas, however, the ring has not yet snapped into the groove38of the complementary plug-type connector28, a movement of the bolt42into the locking position is blocked, since the gap26is too small to admit the bolt42. Only when the ring24snaps into the groove38of the complementary plug-type connector28, expanding radially, does the gap26become large enough so that, under the action of the force of the helical spring44, the bolt42slides from the release position into the locking position. This provides an installer with a simple means of checking optically whether or not the plug-type connector is pushed completely into the complementary plug-type connector28. If this is not the case, the bolt24is still in the release position. The installer therefore pushes the plug-type connector axially into the complementary plug-type connector28until the bolt42automatically snaps back into the locking position. This is the indicator for the installer that the plugged connection between the plug-type connector and complementary plug-type connector28has been completely and correctly established.

In the plugged-together state, electrical energy is transmitted via the internal conductor part16of the plug-type connector. This serves, for example, as a carrier of information, i.e., to transmit an electrical signal. However, it is also possible to transmit electrical energy in order, for example, to drive an electric motor via the plug-type connector in accordance with the invention. In the latter case, high electric currents are transmitted and correspondingly high electric voltages may be present in the internal conductor parts16of the plug-type connector and/or the complementary internal conductor parts30of the complementary plug-type connector28. It is therefore important that an installer or other person releasing the plugged connection is prevented from accidentally coming into contact with the internal conductor parts16or30of the plug-type connector or complementary plug-type connector which are carrying an electric voltage. For this purpose, the internal conductor parts16of the plug-type connector can, for example, be so designed that it is not mechanically possible to touch the internal conductor parts16of the plug-type connector with a part of the body, for example the fingers. Alternatively, when the plugged connection between the plug-type connector and complementary plug-type connector28is released, an electric voltage present in the internal conductor parts16of the plug-type connector is cut off. For this purpose, a corresponding detector is provided which detects the establishment or release of the plugged connection between the plug-type connector and complementary plug-type connector28and reports this to a corresponding control device which then activates or deactivates the electric voltage for the plug-type connector or the complementary plug-type connector accordingly.

FIGS. 6 to 8show, in a second preferred embodiment of a plug-type connector in accordance with the invention, such a detector46, which is referred to in the following as an “interlock”. This interlock46is arranged on the outside of the housing20and on the bolt42, so that the interlock46is moved axially together with the bolt42. A complementary interlock48is arranged on the complementary plug-type connector28, wherein the interlock46and the complementary interlock48interact to signal an established plugged connection. However, as soon as the interlock46and complementary interlock48are mechanically separated from one another, which is the case when the plug-type connector and complementary plug-type connector are released and pulled apart, a released plugged connection is indicated and an electric voltage shut off, so that the internal conductor parts16of the plug-type connector and the complementary internal conductor parts30of the complementary plug-type connector28can be touched without danger, without any risk of electric shock to a person touching the internal conductor parts16. It is particularly advantageous here that the interlock46is arranged in an axially moveable manner on the bolt42, because this means that a control device already detects that the plug-type connector and the complementary plug-type connector are about to be disconnected as the locking is released or as the bolt42moves into the release position, that is to say before the actual release of the plugged connection, so that additional time is available to shut off the transmission of electrical energy via the plug-type connector and the complementary plug-type connector.

The complementary interlock48on the complementary plug-type connector28is for example in the form of a reed relay, which selectively opens or closes an electrical circuit via electric cables50(FIG. 8). The interlock46on the plug-type connector is, accordingly, in the form of a magnet which switches the reed relay accordingly, depending on whether or not the magnet of the interlock46is located on the reed relay of the complementary interlock48, which is the case in the plugged-together state of the plug-type connector and complementary plug-type connector28with the bolt in the locking position.

No helical spring is shown in the second embodiment of a plug-type connector in accordance with the invention as shown inFIGS. 6 to 8. However, here too the arrangement of a helical spring analogous to the first embodiment of a plug-type connector in accordance with the invention as shown inFIGS. 1 to 5is possible.

In the second embodiment of a plug-type connector in accordance with the invention as shown inFIGS. 6 to 8, the bolt42possesses a rocker52made of a resilient material which is formed integrally with the bolt42. This rocker52locks the bolt42in the locking position. In order to move the bolt42into the release position, the rocker52must be deflected resiliently in order for the bolt42to be moveable in an axial direction.