Source: http://patents.com/us-7175470.html
Timestamp: 2019-01-22 21:13:30
Document Index: 389405314

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'arts 4', 'art 4', 'arts 4', 'arts 4', 'arts 4']

US Patent # 7,175,470. Locking and detaching mechanism for plug-in unit - Patents.com
United States Patent 7,175,470
Kangas February 13, 2007
Locking and detaching mechanism for plug-in unit
Inventors: Kangas; Simo (Vaasa, FI)
Assignee: ABB Oy (Helsinki, FI)
Appl. No.: 10/555,697
PCT Filed: May 04, 2004
PCT No.: PCT/FI2004/000269
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: November 04, 2005
PCT Pub. No.: WO20/04/100634
May 06, 2003 [FI] 20030676
Current U.S. Class: 439/483 ; 439/160; 439/266; 439/372; 439/476.1
Current International Class: H01R 13/00 (20060101)
Field of Search: 439/157,160,266,372,476.1,483
5020151 May 1991 Sampei et al.
5791753 August 1998 Paquin
6231144 May 2001 Chen et al.
41 05 948 Aug., 1992 DE
0 369 025 May., 1990 EP
0 626 800 Nov., 1994 EP
International Search Report for PCT/FI2004/000269, dated Aug. 19, 2004. cited by other.
9. A plug-in unit assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said predetermined first angle is larger than or equal to 15.degree., but smaller than or equal to 45.degree., and wherein said predetermined second angle is larger than said predetermined first angle but smaller than or equal to 180.degree..
10. A plug-in unit assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the difference between said predetermined second angle and said predetermined first angle is larger than or equal to 45.degree..
FIGS. 1a to 1c show the plug-in unit assembly according to an embodiment of the invention seen obliquely from the front;
FIG. 2a shows the plug-in unit of the plug-in unit assembly of FIGS. 1a to 1c seen obliquely from the rear;
FIG. 2b shows an enlargement of the locking means of the plug-in unit of FIG. 2a;
FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate the use of handle means for opening the locking means when using the plug-in unit of FIG. 2a;
FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate the use of handle means for opening the locking means and for withdrawal of the plug-in unit outwards from the case when using the plug-in unit of FIG. 2a; and
FIGS. 5a and 5b show a simplified view of the principle according which the handle means achieve the movement of the plug-in unit outwards from the case.
FIGS. 1a to 1c show a plug-in unit assembly according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising a case 1 and a plug-in unit 2. In the plug-in unit 2, handle means 3 are installed pivotally and they comprise a release handle 6. In FIG. 1a, the handle means 3 of the plug-in unit 2 are in a normal position, in FIG. 1b they are in an unlocking position for locking means and in FIG. 1c in a position for detaching the plug-in unit. Herein, the angle of the release handle 6 in relation to its normal position is denoted by symbol .phi.. In the unlocking position for the locking means, the release handle 6 is at angle .phi.=.alpha..sub.2, and in the position for detaching the plug-in unit at angle .phi.=.beta..sub.2 compared with the normal position of the release handle 6.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 1a to 1c, the handle means 3 are pivoted to turn substantially around an axis parallel to the plane of the front surface of the plug-in unit 2. This pivoting axis 9 is placed horizontally and substantially in the middle of the square front surface of the plug-in unit 2. The release handle 6 is designed substantially U-shaped such that the pivoting axis 9 passes via the open ends of the U.
In FIG. 1a, the handle means 3 of the plug-in unit 2 are in the normal position, i.e. in the position where they remain during the normal use of the assembly. When the handle means 3 are in the normal position, the release handle 6 is located at a plane that is essentially parallel to the plane of the front surface of the plug-in unit 2. Herein, the front surface of the plug-in unit 2 refers to the surface of the plug-in unit 2 that remains visible in normal usage of the plug-in unit assembly, i.e. in a situation when the plug-in unit 2 is inserted into the case 1. When the handle means 3 are in the normal position, the plug-in unit 2 is locked into the case 1, and the connectors of the plug-in unit 2 are coupled to the mating connectors of the case.
When the release handle 6 is turned from its normal position to the unlocking position for the locking means according to FIG. 1b, the plug-in unit 2 is no longer locked into the case 1. In the situation according to FIG. 1b, the majority of the forces resisting the withdrawal of the plug-in unit 2 from the case 1 are caused by contact forces between the connectors of the plug-in unit 2 and the mating connectors of the case 1.
In FIG. 1c, the release handle 6 is turned to angle .phi.=.beta..sub.2 in relation to the normal position of the release handle 6, the handle means 3 of the plug-in unit being in the position for detaching the plug-in unit. As FIG. 1c shows, the turning of the handle means 3 to the position for detaching the plug-in unit has resulted in the plug-in unit 2 moving along distance D outwards from the case 1.
FIG. 2a shows the plug-in unit 2 of the plug-in unit assembly shown in FIGS. 1a to 1c, detached from the case 1. FIG. 2b shows an enlargement of the locking means of the plug-in unit 2 of FIG. 2a. The locking means of the plug-in unit 2 comprise a lock part 4 and a means 5 for using the lock part.
The lock part 4 is provided with spring means (not shown). In FIGS. 2a and 2b, the lock part 4 is in its outermost operational position, said spring means tending to return the lock part 4, provided it is pushed inward, from said outermost operational position. Herein, pushing the lock part 4 inward refers to moving the lock part 4 inward in relation to the plug-in unit 2, i.e. away in relation to the case 1. In the case of the embodiment presented, the lock part 4 and the means 5 for using the lock part, integral therewith, are pressed inwards in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the front surface of the plug-in unit 2. The lock part 4 of the plug-in unit 2 is arranged to co-operate with a counterpart of the lock part (not shown) installed in the case 1.
The shape and operation of the lock part 4 of the plug-in unit shown in FIGS. 2a to 3b resemble those of a latch bolt used in doors of buildings. The lock part 4 has a bevelled rear surface and a substantially straight front surface. Herein, the front surface of the lock part 4 is defined as the surface that is closer to the above-defined front surface of the plug-in unit 2. Correspondingly, the rear surface of the lock part 4 is the surface that is farther away from the front surface of the plug-in unit 2 than the front surface of the lock part 4.
In the plug-in unit assembly of the invention, the locking means that lock the plug-in unit 2 into the case 1 can be opened by using the handle means 3. FIGS. 3a to 4b illustrate the use of the handle means for opening the locking means.
In FIG. 3a, the release handle 6 of the handle means 3 is turned by angle .alpha..sub.1 in relation to the normal position of the release handle 6. In this case, engagement means 7 of the handle means 3 are being coupled to the means 5 for using the lock part. Angle .alpha..sub.1 may be in the range 0.degree..ltoreq..alpha..sub.1<45.degree., for example. The engagement means 7 of the handle means 3 comprise two projections located substantially on the opposite side of the pivoting axis 9 of the handle means relative to the release handle 6. Accordingly, in a manner of speaking, the engagement means 7 constitute extensions at the ends of the U-shaped release handle.
When the release handle 6 is turned, the engagement means 7 move at a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the plug-in unit 2. When the release handle 6 of the handle means 3 is turned to a position where its angle .phi. in relation to its normal position is larger than .alpha..sub.1, the engagement means 7 of the handle means 3 are coupled to the bevelled part of the means 5 for using the lock part such that the means 5 for using the lock part and the lock parts 4, integral therewith, move inward. When the angle of the release handle 6 is in the range .alpha..sub.1<.phi.<.alpha..sub.2, the means 5 for using the lock part move when the release handle is turned. The movements of the engagement means 7 and the means 5 for using the lock part occur in planes perpendicular to each other. The movement of the assembly constituted by the lock part 4 and the means 5 for using the lock part occurs substantially in parallel in relation to the pivoting axis 9 of the handle means.
When the release handle 6 reaches a position where its angle .phi. in relation to its normal position is .alpha..sub.2, the lock parts 4 reach their unlocked position, wherein they do not prevent the withdrawal of the plug-in unit 2 from the case 1. Angle .alpha..sub.2 is larger than angle .alpha..sub.1. Preferably, angle .alpha..sub.2 is smaller than 90.degree., allowing the plug-in unit 2 to be withdrawn from the case 1 when the release handle is at a 90.degree. angle in relation to its normal position. To facilitate the detachment of the plug-in unit 2, angle .alpha..sub.2 is preferably selected significantly smaller than 90.degree., whereby angle .alpha..sub.2 could be in the range 20.degree..ltoreq..alpha..sub.2.ltoreq.45.degree., for example.
The difference between angles .alpha..sub.2 and .alpha..sub.1 could be in the range 3.degree..ltoreq..alpha..sub.2-.alpha..sub.1.ltoreq.30.degree., for example. If the difference between angles .alpha..sub.2 and .alpha..sub.1 is too small, the engagement means 7 and the means 5 for using the lock part could be subjected to unnecessarily high stresses when the locking of the plug-in unit 2 is unlocked.
Preferably, the handle means 3 are arranged to push the lock parts 4 somewhat deeper than is required by the opening of the locking. In other words, the handle means 3 are preferably arranged to continue pushing the lock parts 4 inward also when the turning angle .phi. is somewhat larger than .alpha..sub.2. This ensures the desired operation of the locking means in all situations.
When the turning angle .phi. of the release handle 6 is larger than or equal to .beta..sub.1, and the turning of the release handle is continued in a direction where angle .phi. increases, the handle means 3 push the plug-in unit 2 outwards from the case 1. Angle .beta..sub.1 is preferably larger than or equal to angle .alpha..sub.2, i.e. the turning of the release handle 6 preferably starts to push the plug-in unit 2 out of the case 1 only when the locking of the plug-in unit 2 in relation to the case 1 is entirely removed.
FIGS. 4a and 4b show a situation where the handle means 3 are turned to the position for detaching the plug-in unit, where angle .phi. of the release handle 6 is .beta..sub.2 in relation to its normal position. In FIGS. 4a and 4b, the outermost end of the engagement means 7 is closer to the rear surface of the plug-in unit 2 than in FIGS. 3a and 3b. This change in the position of the engagement means 7 is used to achieve the movement of the plug-in unit 2. The principle, according to which the engagement means 7 achieve the movement of the plug-in unit 2 outwards from the case 1, is shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b in a simplified manner.
In FIGS. 5a and 5b, the release handle 6 and the engagement means 7 are shown by a line-like piece, and support means 8, installed in the case 1 and arranged to cooperate with the engagement means 7, are shown by a vertical wall. FIGS. 5a and 5b show the pushing out of the plug-in unit 2 seen from the direction of the pivoting axis 9 of the handle means 3. In this simplified example, the normal position of the release handle 6 is parallel to the wall constituting the support means 8. Since the combination of the release handle 6 and the engagement means 7 is shown by the same line-like piece, their angles in relation to the wall constituting the support means 8 are identical.
FIG. 5a shows a situation where the plug-in unit 2 is installed in the case 1 in its normal operational position, and the release handle 6 is in a position where its angle .phi. in relation to its normal position is .beta..sub.1. This being so, the engagement means 7 of the handle means 3 are coupled to the support means 8 installed in the case 1, the distance of the pivoting axis 9 from the support means 8 being L.sub..beta.1.
When angle .phi. is larger than or equal to .beta..sub.1, but smaller than .beta..sub.2, and the release handle 6 is turned in a direction where angle .phi. continues to increase, the engagement means 7 of the handle means 3 and the support means 8 installed in the case 1 cooperate to push the plug-in unit 2 outwards from the case 1.
FIG. 5b shows a situation where the release handle 6 has reached the position for detaching the plug-in unit, its angle .phi. in relation to its normal position being .beta..sub.2. This being so, the distance of the pivoting axis 9 of the handle means 3 from the support means 8 is L.sub..beta.2. Since the pivoting axis 9 is fixed in relation to the plug-in unit 2, and the support means 8 are fixedly installed in the case 1, the plug-in unit 2 has extended outwards from the case 1 along a distance equal to the difference between distances L.sub..beta.2 and L.sub..beta.1 as compared with its normal operational position.
When the plug-in unit 2 is pushed outwards from the case 1 by means of the engagement means 7, in the case of the example of FIGS. 5a and 5b, distance L of the pivoting axis 9 in relation to the support means 8 can be expressed by the formula L=L.sub.7sin.phi., wherein L.sub.7 is the distance of the end of the engagement means 7 from the pivoting axis 9. Consequently, distance D, along which the plug-in unit 2 extends outwards from the case 1 when the release handle 6 is turned from its normal position to the position for detaching the plug-in unit is obtained from the formula D=L.sub.7(sin.beta..sub.2-sin.beta..sub.1).
In the case of the example shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b, turning the release handle 6 to the position for detaching the plug-in unit decreases the force required in the detachment of the plug-in unit 2, since the handle means 3 utilize a lever arm. In order for the handle means 3 to operate as a lever arm in the desired manner, the point in the release handle 6 which the person detaching the plug-in unit 2 can grab has to be located substantially farther away from the pivoting axis 9 of the handle means 3 than the end of the engagement means 7 coupled to the support means 8. The distance of the point in the release handle 6 that the person detaching the plug-in unit 2 can grab in relation to the pivoting axis 9 is designated by L.sub.6 in FIGS. 5a and 5b.
In such plug-in unit assemblies according to the invention, wherein the handle means 3 are pivoted to turn substantially around an axis parallel to the plane of the front surface of the plug-in unit 2, such as in the embodiment shown in the figures, angle .beta..sub.2 may vary substantially in the range .beta..sub.1<.beta..sub.2.ltoreq.180.degree.. In the case of the embodiment shown in the figures, .beta..sub.2 is about 90.degree.. When designing the assembly, the difference between angles .beta..sub.2 and .beta..sub.1 is preferably selected sufficiently large in order for the force required for turning the release handle 6 to be sufficiently low.
It is evident to a person skilled in the art how the values of angles .beta..sub.1 and .beta..sub.2 can be determined by the design and placement of the handle means 3 and the support means 8. It is also evident how the values of angles .alpha..sub.1 and .alpha..sub.2 can be determined by the design and placement of the handle means 3 and the locking means.
In the plug-in unit assembly of the invention, the plug-in unit 2 can be withdrawn from the case 1 even if the handle means 3 are not turned up to the position for detaching the plug-in unit. In other words, the plug-in unit can be detached when .phi..gtoreq..alpha..sub.2.
If the aim is to minimize the force required for the withdrawal of the plug-in unit 2, the handle means 3 are turned to the detaching position for the plug-in unit before the plug-in unit 2 is withdrawn from the case. In assemblies wherein .beta..sub.2>90.degree., the plug-in unit 2 can be withdrawn by turning the release handle 6 first to angle .beta..sub.2 for detaching the connectors of the plug-in unit 2 and the case 1 from each other, and then turning the release handle 6 somewhat back such that the release handle takes an advantageous withdrawal angle, which in the case of the exemplary assembly shown in the figures is about 90.degree..
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