Patent Publication Number: US-2022231458-A1

Title: Electrical connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly, to an electrical connector that can prevent the plug and the socket from separating by a locking component. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Connectors are connecting components and accessories for electrical signals, and the electronic devices translate and transmit the signal to each other through cables and connectors. That is to say, the connectors are the communicating bridges for the signals. The connectors are widely applied to cars and computer peripheral and communicating data applications, industries, military and aerospace industry, transportation, consumer electronics, medical treatments, instruments, commercial equipment and so on. Therefore, the connectors play an important role in many fields. 
     Radio frequency coaxial connectors (PAL connectors) are one of the common types of electrical connectors and applied for electronic control modules (MCU), motors, batteries, vehicle chargers, etc. The PAL connector is also applied for the equipment of energy storage power stations. Since the energy storage cabinet of the energy storage power station has a better volume utilization rate, the electrical connector has been more widely used in the energy storage cabinet. The main components configured in the energy storage cabinet are power electronic devices such as batteries, inverters, and cables. In general, the batteries of the energy storage cabinet need to be grouped into a battery module, and multiple battery modules are combined by electrical connectors to form an energy storage system. However, in the period when the signal transmission speed continues to develop towards high speed, people have more requirements on the volume and energy density of the energy storage cabinet. Therefore, the requirement for electrical connectors connecting each battery module is constantly increasing. 
     The electrical connector usually includes a plug and a socket matching with the plug, and the plug and the socket are engaged to each other to realize the electrical connection of the electronic products. In the connection of the PAL connector, the case and the pin of the socket are clamped in the case of the plug, and then the plug is connected and fixed to the socket. However, the general PAL connector does not have a reliable locking device. When the connected PAL connector is pulled, twisted or vibrated to a certain extent, the plug may be separated from the socket to make the electrical connector fail to operate, thereby reducing the efficiency of the electrical connector. If the connector plug touches other components to generate a short circuit, the electrical connector may generate sparks, thereby reducing the safety of the device. 
     Therefore, it is necessary to provide an electrical connector to prevent the plug and the socket from falling off, so as to improve the safety and efficiency of the electrical connector. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the present invention provides an electrical connector applied for a power storage device. The electrical connector includes a socket, a plug and a locking component. The socket includes a socket case and a socket terminal. The outer surface of the socket case has a fixing groove, and the socket terminal is disposed in the socket case. The plug is matched to the socket and configured to connect to the socket, and the plug includes a plug case and a plug terminal. The plug case has a containing space and a locking hole communicated with the containing space, and the containing space is configured to contain the plug case of the plug. The plug terminal includes a first plug terminal and a second plug terminal. The first plug terminal has an axis and configured in the containing space, and the second plug terminal is vertically coupled to the first plug terminal. The locking component is disposed in the locking hole of the plug case and configured to move in the locking hole. When the plug is connected to the socket, the socket terminal embeds into the first plug terminal along the axis direction, so that the socket case is located between the plug case and the first plug terminal and the fixing groove is corresponding to the locking hole. Then, the locking component moves perpendicularly to the axis direction and engages to the fixing groove of the socket to fix the plug and socket. 
     Wherein, the plug case has a sleeve structure disposed in the containing space and sleeved the first plug terminal. When the plug is connected to the socket, the socket case is located between the plug case and the sleeve structure. 
     Furthermore, the plug includes a back cover connected to the plug case and perpendicular to the first plug terminal. The second plug terminal is configured in the back cover. 
     Wherein, the first plug terminal and the second plug terminal are integrally formed. 
     In one embodiment, the first plug terminal includes a protruding structure, and the second plug terminal includes a hole. The size of the protruding structure is greater than that of the hole, and the protruding structure is riveted to the hole. 
     Wherein, the plug includes a contacting terminal with cylindrical shape. The contacting terminal is disposed in the first plug terminal and contacts the first plug terminal. When the socket is connected to the plug, the socket terminal of the socket contacts the contacting terminal to electrically connect to the first plug terminal. 
     Moreover, the contacting terminal has two fixed ends and an elastic portion located between the two ends. When the socket is connected to the plug, the elastic portion resists the socket terminal of the socket with an elastic force. 
     Wherein, the locking component has a locking structure, and the wall of the locking hole has a first locking groove and a second locking groove corresponding to the locking structure and arranged along the direction perpendicular to the axis. The second locking groove is located on a side adjacent to the first plug terminal. When the locking structure is located in the second locking groove, the locking component is locked in the fixing groove of the socket. 
     Wherein, the extending direction of the locking hole and the axis direction of the first plug terminal are perpendicular to each other. 
     Wherein, the shape of the locking component is corresponding to the shape of the fixing groove of the socket. 
     In summary, the electrical connector of the present invention can fix the socket and the plug in a moving manner perpendicular to the connection direction of the socket and the plug by the locking component, so as to improve the safety and efficiency of the electrical connector. Moreover, the electrical connector of the present invention can prevent the plug terminal from deforming due to compression during installation via the sleeve structure of the socket case, thereby improving the installation efficiency. Furthermore, the electrical connector of the present invention can clamp the socket terminal of the socket by the contacting terminal to improve the stability. In addition, the electrical connector of the present invention can produce plug terminals in different process methods to save costs and improve stability. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPENDED DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a structure schematic diagram illustrating an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded diagram illustrating the socket in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded diagram illustrating the plug and the locking component in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional diagram illustrating the plug and the locking component in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional diagram illustrating the locking component of the electrical connector un-engaged to the fixing groove according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional diagram illustrating the locking component of the electrical connector engaged to the fixing groove. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded diagram illustrating the plug terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     For the sake of the advantages, spirits and features of the present invention can be understood more easily and clearly, the detailed descriptions and discussions will be made later by way of the embodiments and with reference of the diagrams. It is worth noting that these embodiments are merely representative embodiments of the present invention, wherein the specific methods, devices, conditions, materials and the like are not limited to the embodiments of the present invention or corresponding embodiments. Moreover, the devices in the figures are only used to express their corresponding positions and are not drawing according to their actual proportion. 
     In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms “a specific embodiment”, “another specific embodiment” or “parts of specific embodiments” etc. means that the specific feature, structure, material or feature described in conjunction with the embodiment include in at least one embodiment of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above-mentioned terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, the described specific features, structures, materials or characteristics can be combined in any one or more embodiments in a suitable manner. 
     In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the orientations or positional relationships of the terms “longitudinal, lateral, upper, lower, front, rear, left, right, top, bottom, inner, outer” and the like are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. It is merely for the convenience of the description of the present invention and the description of the present invention, and is not intended to indicate or imply that the device or component referred to has a specific orientation, is constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limitations of the invention. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 1  is a structure schematic diagram illustrating an electrical connector  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an exploded diagram illustrating the socket  11  in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is an exploded diagram illustrating the plug  12  and the locking component  13  in  FIG. 1 . As shown from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the electrical connector  1  of the present invention includes a socket  11 , a plug  12  and a locking component  13 . The socket  11  includes a socket case  111  and a socket terminal  112 . The outer surface of the socket case  111  has a fixing groove  113 , and the socket terminal  112  is configured in the socket case  111 . The plug  12  is matched to the socket  11  and configured to connect to the socket  11 . The plug  12  includes a plug case  121  and a plug terminal  122 . The plug case  121  has a containing space  1211  and a locking hole  1212  communicated with the containing space  1211 , and the plug terminal  122  is disposed in the containing space  1211 . The locking component  13  is disposed in the locking hole  1212  of the plug case  121  and configured to move in the locking hole  1212 . 
     In this embodiment, the socket case  111  of the socket  11  includes a fixed plate  1111  and a cylindrical structure  1112 . The cylindrical structure  1112  extends outward from one side surface of the fixed plate  1111 , and the fixed plate  1111  has a through hole (not shown in figure) in the cylindrical structure  1112 . The fixing groove  113  is disposed on the outer surface of the cylindrical structure  1112 . The socket terminal  112  is approximately cylindrical shape. The socket terminal  112  passes through the through hole of the fixed plate  1111 , and one end of the socket terminal  112  is located in the cylindrical structure  1112 . In practice, the fixed plate  1111  can be fixed on a component of a device or circuit board. When the plug terminal  122  embeds into the socket case  111 , the cylindrical structure  1112  of the socket case  111  and the end of the socket terminal  112  located in the cylindrical structure  1112  are configured to connect to the plug  12 , and the other end of the socket terminal is located on the other side of the fixed plate  1111  and can be connected to cables or pads on the circuit board. 
     In this embodiment, the containing space  1211  of the plug case  121  is approximately cylindrical shape, and the containing space  1211  is configured to receive and contain the cylindrical structure  1112  of the socket case  111 . Furthermore, the plug case  121  includes a cavity located below the plug case  121 , and the cavity is perpendicularly communicated with the containing space  1211 . The bottom of the plug case  121  also includes an opening communicated with the cavity. The plug terminal  122  includes a first plug terminal  1221  and a second plug terminal  1222 , and the first plug terminal  1221  and the second plug terminal  1222  are cylindrical shape. The first plug terminal  1221  has an axis  1223  and is configured in the containing space  1211 , and the second plug terminal  1222  is configured in the cavity. That is to say, the extending directions of the first plug terminal  1221  and the second plug terminal  1222  are perpendicular to each other. In practice, the first plug terminal  1221  and the second plug terminal  1222  of the plug terminal  122  can be integrally formed. When the plug terminal  122  embeds into the plug case  121 , part of the second plug terminal  1222  is exposed outside of the opening. The shape of the containing space  1211  of the plug case  121  is corresponding to the shape of the cylindrical structure  1112  of the socket case  111 , and the position of the socket terminal  112  configured in the cylindrical structure  1112  is corresponding to the position of the first plug terminal  1221  configured in the containing space  1211 . When the socket  11  is connected to the plug  12 , the socket case  111  of the socket  11  embeds into the containing space  1211  of the plug  12  along the axis  1223  of the first plug terminal  1221 , and the socket terminal  112  embeds into the first plug terminal  1221  along the axis  1223  of the first plug terminal  1221 . At this time, the socket case  111  is located between the plug case  121  and the first plug terminal  1221  of the plug  12 . The materials of the socket case  111  and the plug case  121  are the insulating materials, and the materials of the socket terminal  112 , the first plug terminal  1221  and the second plug terminal  1222  are metal or conductive materials. Therefore, when the socket  11  is connected to the plug  12  and the socket terminal  112  embeds into the first plug terminal  1221 , the socket terminal  112  is electrically connected to the first plug terminal  1221 . 
     Moreover, the plug  12  includes a back cover  123  connected to the plug case  121  and sleeved the opening located below the plug case  121 . The second plug terminal  1222  is configured in the back cover  123 . In practice, the material of the back cover  123  can be an insulating material and connected to the plug case  121  in a locking manner. Furthermore, the back cover  123  can includes a perforation configured for the cable to pass through and connected to the second plug terminal  1222 , to prevent the cable and the second plug terminal  1222  from being exposed. When the socket  11  is connected to the plug  12 , the cable connected to the second plug terminal  1222  can electrically connect to the device component or circuit board via second plug terminal  1222 , the first plug terminal  1221 , the contacting terminal  124  and the socket terminal  112  to transmit the data and signals. 
     Please refer from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a sectional diagram illustrating the plug  12  and the locking component  13  in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , in this embodiment, the locking hole  1212  of the plug case  121  is configured above the first plug terminal  1221 . Moreover, the extending direction of the locking hole  1212  is perpendicular to the direction of the axis  1223  of the first plug terminal  1221 . Therefore, when the locking component  13  is configured in the locking hole  1212 , the locking component  13  can move along the direction perpendicular to the axis  1223  of the first plug terminal  1221  to be close to or away from the containing space  1211  of the plug case  121 . In practice, the position of the locking hole  1212  is not limited to the top of the plug case  121 , and the locking hole  1212  can also be configured on the side or bottom of the plug case  121 . 
     Moreover, the hole wall  1213  of the locking hole  1212  of the plug case  121  includes a first locking groove  1213 A and a second locking groove  1213 B. The first locking groove  1213 A and the second locking groove  1213 B are arranged along the extending direction of the locking hole  1212 . That is to say, the first locking groove  1213 A and the second locking groove  1213 B are arranged along the direction perpendicular to the axis  1223  of the first plug terminal  1221 . The second locking groove  1213 B is located on the side adjacent to the first plug terminal  1221 . Furthermore, the locking component  13  has a locking structure  131 , and the shapes of the first locking groove  1213 A and the second locking groove  1213 B are corresponding to the shape of the locking structure  131 . The locking component  13  can be engaged with the first locking groove  1213 A or the second locking groove  1213 B by the locking structure  131  to move in the locking hole  1212 . In practice, the locking structure  131  may be a bump, a trapezoid or a guiding structure. The first locking groove  1213 A or the second locking groove  1213 B is corresponding to the shape of the locking structure  131 . Furthermore, the locking structure  131  may also have elasticity. Therefore, the user can move the locking component  13  by pulling up or pressing down, so that the locking structure  131  of the locking component  13  can be engaged in the first locking groove  1213 A or the second locking groove  1213 B. 
     Please refer from  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 5  is a sectional diagram illustrating the locking component  13  of the electrical connector  1  un-engaged to the fixing groove  113  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6  is a sectional diagram illustrating the locking component  13  of the electrical connector  1  engaged to the fixing groove  113 . In this embodiment, the locking component  13  has an embedded end  132 , and the shape of the embedded end  132  is corresponding to that of the fixing groove  113  of the socket case  111 . Furthermore, when the socket  11  is connected to the plug, the fixing groove  113  of the socket case  111  is corresponding to the locking hole  1212  of the plug case  121 . In practice, the positions of the fixing groove  113  of the socket case  111  and the locking hole  1212  of the plug case  121  can be designed according to requirements. When the socket  11  is connected to the plug  12 , the socket case  111  embeds into the containing space  1211  of the plug case  121 . At this time, the fixing groove  113  disposed on the outer surface of the socket case  111  is located at the inner wall of the plug case  121  and corresponding to the locking hole  1212  of the plug case  121 , so that the fixing groove  113  is exposed to the locking hole  1212 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , when the user fixes the plug  12  to the socket  11 , the user pulls the locking component  13  in a direction away from the containing space  1211  to embed the locking structure  131  of the locking component  13  to the first locking groove  1213 A of the plug case  121 . At this time, the embedded end  132  of the locking component  13  is located in the locking hole  1212  and does not protrude from the containing space  1211 . Then, the user inserts the plug  12  into the socket  11  along the axis direction of the first plug terminal  1221  to connect the plug  12  and the socket  11 . When the socket  11  is connected to the plug  12 , the user presses down the locking component  13  in a direction toward the containing space  1211  to engage the locking structure  131  of the locking component  13  to the second locking groove  1213 B of the plug case  121 . At this time, the embedded end  132  is protruded from the containing space  1211  and embedded in the fixing groove  113  of the socket case  111 . That is to say, the locking component  13  is engaged with the socket case  111  and the plug case  121  simultaneously to fix the socket  11  and the plug  12 . Because the socket  11  and the plug  12  are connected along the axis direction of the first plug terminal  1221 , and the locking component  13  is moved in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the first plug terminal  1221  and engaged to the fixing groove  113  of the socket case  111 , the plug  12  cannot be separated from the socket  11  because the sidewall of the embedded end  132  of the locking component  13  resists against the sidewall of the fixing groove  113  when the locking component  13  fixes the plug  12  and the socket  11 . Therefore, the electrical connector of the present invention can fix the socket and the plug by the locking component in a moving manner perpendicular to the connection direction of the socket and the plug, thereby increasing the safety and efficiency of the electrical connector. 
     Similarly, when the user separates the plug  12  from the socket  11 , the user can pull the locking component  13  in a direction away from the containing space  1211  to embed the locking structure  131  of the locking component  13  to the first locking groove  1213 A of the plug case  121 . At this time, the embedded end  132  of the locking component  13  is separated from the second locking groove  1213 B of the plug case  121  and moves to the locking hole  1212 . Then, the user pulls the plug  12  out of the socket  11  in the direction along the axis of the first plug terminal  1221  to separate the plug  12  from the socket  11 . 
     Please refer from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the plug case  121  further includes a sleeve structure  1214  disposed in the containing space  1211 , and the sleeve structure  1214  is configured to sleeve the first plug terminal  1221 . In this embodiment, the size of the sleeve structure  1214  is corresponding to that of the first plug terminal  1221 , and the sleeve structure  1214  is configured on the outer surface of the first plug terminal  1221 . When the socket  11  is connected to the plug  12 , the socket case  111  of the socket  11  embeds into the containing space  1211  of the plug  12 , and the socket case  111  is located between the plug case  121  of the plug  12  and the sleeve structure  1214 . In practice, since the first plug terminal  1221  is configured between the plug case  121  and the sleeve structure  1214 , the sleeve structure  1214  can avoid the socket case  111  from contacting the first plug terminal  1221  directly when the socket  11  obliquely is connected to the plug  12 , so as to prevent the first plug terminal  1221  from being compressed and deformed by the socket case  111 , thereby improving the installation efficiency. 
     In this embodiment, the plug  12  further includes a contacting terminal  124  with cylindrical shape configured in the first plug terminal  1221  along the axis  1223  of the first plug terminal  1221  and contacted the first plug terminal. Furthermore, the contacting terminal  124  has two fixed ends  1241  and an elastic portion  1242  disposed between the two fixed ends  1241 . The size of the contacting terminal  124  is corresponding to that of the socket terminal  112 . When the socket  11  is connected to the plug  12 , the socket terminal  112  of the socket  11  inserts and contacts the contacting terminal  124 , and the elastic portion  1242  of the contacting terminal  124  resists against the socket terminal  112 . In practice, the material of the contacting terminal  124  may be a metal or a conductive material. When the contacting terminal  124  is disposed in the first plug terminal  1221 , the two fixed ends  1241  contact the first plug terminal  1221 . The elastic portion of the contacting terminal  124  may include multiple elastic plates, and the elastic plates can be bent toward the axial direction of the contacting terminal  124 . When the socket  11  is connected to the plug  12 , the socket terminal  112  of the socket  11  embeds into the contacting terminal  124  and stretches the elastic portion  1242  of the contacting terminal  124 . At this time, the elastic portion  1242  of the contacting terminal  124  is compressed by being pressed. The compressed elastic portion  1242  will generate an elastic force to resist and contact the socket terminal  112 , so that the socket terminal  112  and the first plug terminal  1221  are electrically connected. Since the elastic force generated by the elastic portion  1242  will resist the plug terminal  112 , the plug  12  can clamp the socket terminal  112  of the socket  11 , thereby increasing the stability. 
     Moreover, the socket  11  further includes a sealing gasket  114  and an insulating component  115 . The sealing gasket  114  is disposed on the other side of the fixed plate  1111  relative to the cylindrical structure  1112 , and the insulating component  115  is disposed on the end of the socket terminal  112  of the cylindrical structure  1112 . In practice, the sealing gasket  114  is configured at the junction of the socket case  111  and the equipment component to increase the sealing and prevent foreign matter from entering the socket  11  or equipment component. The insulating component  115  can prevent the user from directly contacting the socket terminal  112 , so as to avoid accidents such as electric shock, thereby improving safety. 
     In addition to the plug terminal of the plug can be integrally formed in the aforementioned embodiment, the plug terminal can also be in other types. Please refer to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  is an exploded diagram illustrating the plug terminal  222  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , in this embodiment, the first plug terminal  2221  includes a protruding structure  2223 , and the second plug terminal  2222  includes a hole  2224 . The size of the protruding structure  2223  is greater than that of the hole  2224 . In practice, the protruding structure  2223  is disposed on one end of the first plug terminal  2221  connected to the second plug terminal  2222 , and the hole  2224  is disposed on one end of the second plug terminal  2222  connected to the first plug terminal  2221 . The protruding structure  2223  may be riveted to the hole  2224  to reliably connect the first plug terminal  2221  and the second plug terminal  2222  to form the plug terminal  222 , thereby saving costs and increasing stability. 
     In summary, the electrical connector of the present invention can fix the socket and the plug in a moving manner perpendicular to the connection direction of the socket and the plug by the locking component, so as to improve the safety and efficiency of the electrical connector. Moreover, the electrical connector of the present invention can prevent the plug terminal from deforming due to compression during installation via the sleeve structure of the socket case, thereby improving the installation efficiency. Furthermore, the electrical connector of the present invention can clamp the socket terminal of the socket by the contacting terminal to improve the stability. In addition, the electrical connector of the present invention can produce plug terminals in different process methods to save costs and improve stability. 
     With the examples and explanations mentioned above, the features and spirits of the invention are hopefully well described. More importantly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein. Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.