1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a plug-in connector having a receiving sleeve containing axially parallel contacts and having a plug or plug-in part containing insulation for the axially parallel counter contacts that can be plugged together, so that the receiving sleeve and the plug-in part are arranged one inside the other in the axial direction in some areas in the use position and are secured to prevent axial releasing movement.
2. State of the Art
Various embodiments of plug-in connectors are known. For mutual connection, there are known union nuts, which prevent an unintentional releasing movement after being screwed on, but they require an appropriate thread. Furthermore, an increased assembly effort is required to attach and activate the union nuts.
Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a plug-in connector of the type previously defined, wherein a connection of the intermatable parts and securing them against unintentional axial releasing movements is permitted without requiring union nuts.
To achieve this object, a plug-in connector as previously defined is characterized in that it has an outside of the plug-in part and an inside of the receiving sleeve having non-round cross sections or peripheries in some portions, so that the non-round cross portions fit together with one inside the other in a form-fitting manner and are offset axially with respect to one another in the use position. On the receiving sleeve, the non-round portion (region) is provided on the inside of a rotating sleeve that can be twisted in relation to the receiving sleeve. On the plug part, an undercut or a groove running along at least a portion of the circumference (e.g., a peripheral ring groove) is provided in the axial or plug-in direction behind the non-round region. In a coupling position, the rotating part of the receiving sleeve extends with its non-round inside cross-section in a form-fitting manner into the region of the undercut, groove or ring groove. By relative rotation, the regions having a non-round cross section can be adjusted out of their position.
The non-round region of the plug-in part may thus be inserted so deeply into the receiving sleeve in the axial direction in relation to the non-round region of the receiving sleeve so that the two non-round regions are offset axially relative to each other. During this displacement movement, they fit inside one another in a form-fitting manner and may be plugged into one another and displaced axially in relation to one another and then twisted in relation to one another, so that they thereby engage behind one another and thus prevent any axial releasing movement unless they are twisted back.
An advantageous embodiment of the invention may thus provide that the non-round region of the plug-in part is displaceable axially in relation to the non-round region of the receiving sleeve from the form-fitting arrangement, to such an extent that the non-round region of the plug-in part is situated adjacent to the non-round region of the receiving sleeve in the axial direction and is thus outside of the region of the receiving sleeve but inside the area of the undercut, thereby enabling a relative rotation of the two non-round regions into their undercutting positions. After the displacement movement, the twist in the two non-round regions relative to one another is sufficient to secure the form-fitting coupling of the two parts in relation to one another in the axial direction, wherein the rotary part of the receiving sleeve and the plug-in part, for example, experience this mutual relative movement.
It may be advantageous for good releasability from the coupling position if the rotary part of the receiving sleeve can be rotated against a restoring force into the open position and can be releasably secured in this position. If this secured position is released, the arrangement as a whole enters the coupling position or closed position, i.e., the rotary part of the receiving sleeve is then automatically rotated back into the closed position contrary to the opening direction so that the plug-in part is secured in the receiving sleeve.
A spring that is or can be put under tension in rotating the rotary part, or a helical spring that is curved to conform to the circumference and runs along a portion of the circumference may be provided between the rotary part of the receiving sleeve and this receiving sleeve itself. A helical spring in particular is an inexpensive component and has the advantage over a torsion spring, which may also be used. The inside and/or outside diameter of these springs themselves are not altered when they are activated.
An especially advantageous embodiment of the invention may provide that the non-round cross-sectional shape of the non-round region of the receiving sleeve and that of the non-round region of the plug-in part are formed by at least one flattened area of an originally circular circumference of the coupling regions. In particular, they may be formed by two or three flattened areas that are offset in relation to one another in the circumferential direction, such that the plug-in part and the receiving sleeve can be plugged together in the axial direction when the flattened area(s) of the one part are arranged coaxially with the flattened areas of regions that are adjacent in the circumferential direction. The flattened areas are thus shaped and arranged so that when plugged together the flattened areas of the one part can be displaced along the non-flattened regions of the other part, after which the non-flattened regions of both parts then come to lie one behind the other in the axial direction due to the relative rotation, which serves the purpose of coupling.
Thus the parts of the non-round region of the receiving sleeve that protrude with respect to the flattened area(s) and the parts of the plug-in part in coupling position in the axial direction advantageously engage behind one another, wherein the use position of the plug-in connector is defined without using a union nut or a similar additional part.
The outside dimensions of the plug-in part may be larger in the non-flattened region than the inside dimensions of the non-flattened region of the receiving sleeve, and the dimensions may be selected so that each of the flattened regions can be advanced past one another in the axial direction on the non-flattened regions. For the form-fitting connection of the plug-in part to the receiving sleeve, these two parts are thus arranged in relation to one another so that the flattened regions come to lie in a coaxial position with the protruding non-flattened regions, after which the parts can be displaced axially into their coupling positions with no problem. Once this plug-in movement has been performed, the relative rotation can then take place, by means of which the non-flattened regions come to lie one behind the other in the axial direction, whereby a form-fitting connection against the plug-in direction is established.
The axial extent or dimension of the non-round region of the rotary sleeve or rotary part of the receiving sleeve may be the same as or smaller than the axial width of the undercut or groove or ring groove on the plug-in part. This achieves the result that with a relative rotation, this undercut or the like can receive the non-round region of a larger radial dimension of the rotary part and can be brought behind the non-round region of a larger radial dimension of the plug-in part.
The rotation of the rotary part of the receiving sleeve may be limited by an interior stop, and the stop may block a relative rotation beyond the coupling position. Thus the coupling movement is simplified for the user because the user need only rotate until the stop itself prevents further rotation. Then the coupling position has been reached.
It is desirable for the turning distance of the rotary sleeve or of the rotary part to correspond to approximately one-half the circumferential distance between two adjacent flattened areas on the plug-in part along its circumference. A large circumferential portion of the non-flattened regions one behind the other in an axial direction is thereby achieved.
A protrusion or locking cam which engages in a counter opening in the rotary part in the coupling position in the radial direction and is adjustable or is particularly pushed radially inward for releasing may be provided for fixation of the coupling position of the rotary part. It is also or additionally possible for the rotary part to have a groove or a recess in which the protrusion or locking cam engages in the open position for fixation. The open position of the rotary part can thus be secured releasably in a defined position in relation to the receiving sleeve, which can facilitate the plugging or coupling operation.
It is advantageous if the protrusion or the locking cam engages in the counter opening of the rotary part for securing the coupling position of the rotary part against a restoring force or a spring force and for releasing the locked position against this restoring force out of the counter opening, is particularly radially inwardly adjustable or movable. The user need only depress this protrusion or locking cam against this restoring force to release the relative rotational movement between the rotary part and the receiving sleeve in order to thereafter be able to perform the desired rotational movement—whether into the closed position or into the open position.
It should be noted that instead of the rotation of the rotary sleeve and/or of the rotary part, the plug-in sleeve itself could be rotated with respect to the secured rotary part because these two parts are capable of rotating in relation to one another. However, since the rotary part has a lower mass and is smaller than the remaining plug-in sleeve, it is expedient to twist the rotary part with respect to the plug-in sleeve in performing the coupling movement.
It is advantageous if the transition from the larger radial dimension to the smaller dimension or the flattened area is designed to be steady, continuous or particularly rounded in the case of the non-round circumferential areas. The largest radial dimension may thus develop steadily into the smaller radial dimension in at least some areas and then back again to prevent sharply protruding radial protrusions with a corresponding risk of breakage, despite the non-round cross section. Larger regions of the circumferences may accordingly engage behind one another entirely or partially in the coupling position.
Another advantageous embodiment of the invention of considerable importance exists in that the plug-in part has an outside thread in its non-round region, the thread being entirely or partially flattened or removed or sanded down or ground off in the region(s) of smaller outside dimensions or flattened areas. It is thereby possible to also use this plug-in part in another form or for other purposes in which it can be screwed into a counter piece or provided with a union nut.
A combination of one or more of the features and measures described above, results in a plug-in connector for electric contacts in which an axial plug-in movement of a plug-in part into a receiving sleeve is possible, this plug-in part being secured in its coupling position by the rotation of a rotatable sleeve or the rotary part of the receiving sleeve so no union nut or screw connection is necessary on flanges or the like, but nevertheless wherein a form-fitting connection contrary to the releasing direction of this plug-in connector is achieved.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in greater detail below with reference to the drawings which are partially schematic diagrams.
A whole plug-in connector labeled as 1 has a receiving sleeve 2 containing axially parallel contacts 4 and a plug-in part 3 or a plug 3, which can be plugged together with the receiving sleave, and contains insulation 5 for axially parallel counter contacts 6. The receiving sleeve 2 and the plug-in part 3 can be plugged together in the axial direction according to
As shown clearly in
On the receiving sleeve 2, the non-round region is provided on the inside of a rotary sleeve 7, which can be rotated in relation to the receiving sleeve 2. According to
The rotary sleeve 7 forms a rotary part of the receiving sleeve 2 and has non-round internal cross sections 7a of a larger radial thickness. In the coupling position according to FIG. 5—even before completion of the coupling movement—and according to
Upon comparing
At the same time, the plug-in part 3 is sealed in the axial direction in contact with a stop 9 of the receiving sleeve 2 and is sealed on its outside with the help of a sealing ring, namely an O-ring 10 in the exemplary embodiment.
The rotary part of the receiving sleeve 2, which is referred to above as a rotary sleeve 7, is rotatable into the open position against a restoring force according to
The illustrated embodiment has the advantage that due to the restoring force, the coupling position cannot be opened inadvertently by an unintentional releasing movement.
It can be seen in
The releasable fixation of the rotary sleeve 7 in relation to the receiving sleeve 2 is explained in greater detail below.
The non-round cross-sectional shape of the non-round region 7a of the receiving sleeve 2 and/or the rotary sleeve 7 which is arranged on the receiving sleeve 2 and belongs to it, and the cross-sectional shape of the non-round region 3a of the plug-in part 3, correspond in the manner already mentioned above. As a result, they can be inserted one into the other. The non-round region defines at least one flattened area 12, and in the exemplary embodiment three such flattened areas 12 that are offset with respect to one another are provided in the circumferential direction and are evenly distributed. Thus, the plug-in part 3 and the receiving sleeve 2 can be plugged together in the axial direction on the rotary sleeve 7 as shown in
Due to the overall arrangement of the axial extent and the dimension of the non-round regions 3a and 7a as well as the flattened areas 12, the parts of the non-round regions 7a of the receiving sleeve 2 and/or the rotary sleeve 7 protrude with respect to the flattened area(s) 12 as well as the non-round regions 3a of the plug-in part 3 in the coupling position in the axial direction engage behind one another, i.e., after performing the turning of the rotary sleeve 7, as illustrated in
When
From the comparison of
The axial extent or dimension of the non-round region 7a of the rotary part 7 of the receiving part 2 is the same as or smaller than the axial width of the undercut or the groove or the ring groove 8 on the plug-in part 3. These dimensional relationships can be seen well in
The rotation of the rotary part 7, i.e., the rotary sleeve 7 of the receiving sleeve 2, is limited by a stop 13 on its inside, i.e, the stop 13 on the inside of the rotary sleeve 7 blocks a rotation beyond the coupling position. In
For the coupling position of the rotary part 7, a protrusion or locking cam 15 is provided on the receiving sleeve 2 engaging in a counter opening forming the stop 13 in the coupling position in the radial direction as shown in
A chamfered face 22 on the recess forming the stop 13 allows rotation into the open position without having to depress the pushbutton 16.
It is provided in the exemplary embodiment that, for securing its open position, the rotary sleeve or the rotary part 7 also has a corresponding stop 13 in the form of a groove or a recess or an opening, in which the protrusion or locking cam 15 engages in the open position, as illustrated in
It is clear here that in this open position, the helical spring 11 is compressed in the circumferential direction, whereas it is loosened in the closed coupling position. The user can thus insert the plug-in part 3 into the rotary sleeve 7 of the receiving sleeve 2 when the sleeve is in the open position and can then depress the pushbutton 16 radially inward, whereby the locking cam 15 leaves the stop 13 in the interior of this rotary sleeve 7 and releases it so that the rotary sleeve is automatically rotated by the force of the spring 11 into the closed position of
Especially in
The support of the rotary sleeve 7 on the receiving part 2 can be seen in the longitudinal cross sections of
In the exemplary embodiment according to
At the same time,
The plug-in connector 1 having a receiving sleeve 2 which encloses insulation for contacts 4 and having a plug-in part 3, which also contains insulation 5 for mating contacts 6 and can be plugged together with the former, can be coupled in the plug-in position and secured there without requiring threading with a counter thread or a locking nut. To this end, the outside of the plug 3 and the inside of the rotary sleeve 7 of the receiving sleeve 2 each have a non-round cross section in some regions that can be rotated in relation to the receiving sleeve 2. These non-round cross sections of the plug areas that can be plugged one into the other sit in a form-fitting manner with one another in the circumferential direction and thus allow the parts to be plugged together into their use position. In the use position they are offset axially in relation to one another so that the non-round of the one part engages axially behind that of the other part when the rotary sleeve is rotated into its locked position.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20 2011 004 089.5 | Mar 2011 | DE | national |
This application claims priority from PCT/EP2012/000723 filed on Feb. 17, 2012, and DE 20 2011 004 089.5 filed on Mar. 17, 2011, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP12/00723 | 2/17/2012 | WO | 00 | 12/19/2013 |