Plug-in Connector

• US 20060033218A1
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murr-Elektronik Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung
• Original Assignee: Murr-Elektronik Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung
• Inventors: Schuffenhauer, Andreas, Junghanns, Friedemann, Hafner, Franz
• Granted Patent: US 7,364,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/778
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Abstract

A plug-in connector has a plug member and a locking device for securing the plug member on a counterpart. The locking device has at least one locking element having a release position and a locking position, wherein in the release position the plug member is removable from the counterpart and wherein in the locking position the plug member and the counterpart are locked relative to one another. An actuating element acting on the locking device is provided for moving the at least one locking element from the release position into the locking position in a radial direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the plug member.

Claims

1. A plug-in connector comprising:

a plug member;

a locking device for securing the plug member on a counterpart;

the locking device comprising at least one locking element having a release position and a locking position, wherein in the release position the plug member is removable from the counterpart and wherein in the locking position the plug member and the counterpart are locked relative to one another;

an actuating means acting on the locking device to move the at least one locking element from the release position into the locking position in a radial direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the plug member.

2. The plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the actuating means holds the at least one locking element in the locking position in a radially deflected position.

3. The plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element is arranged on the plug member and is adapted to interact with a threaded section provided on the counterpart, wherein the at least one locking element in the locking position engages the threaded section and in the release position is disengaged from the threaded section.

4. The plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element is springy and is in the release position when in an unloaded state.

5. The plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the plug member comprises a lock sleeve and a support body, wherein the at least one locking element is provided on the lock sleeve, wherein the lock sleeve is supported on the support body so as to be movable in at least one direction.

6. The plug-in connector according to claim 5, wherein several of the at least one locking element are provided and distributed uniformly in a circumferential direction of the lock sleeve.

7. The plug-in connector according to claim 6, wherein the lock sleeve has longitudinal slots and springs that are delimited by the longitudinal slots, wherein the springs are the locking elements.

8. The plug-in connector according to claim 5, wherein the actuating means is arranged on the support body.

9. The plug-in connector according to claim 5, wherein the plug member comprises a contact carrier comprising plug contacts, wherein the lock sleeve is supported on the contact carrier and wherein the at least one locking element in the locking position is deflected radially in an outward direction.

10. The plug-in connector according to claim 9, wherein the actuating means is a projecting portion on an outer circumference of the contact carrier.

11. The plug-in connector according to claim 5, wherein the support body is a bushing part and wherein the at least one locking element in the locking position is radially deflected in an inward direction.

12. The plug-in connector according to claim 11, further comprising an actuating sleeve, wherein the at least one locking element is positioned inwardly of an inner circumference of the actuating sleeve, and wherein the actuating means is a projecting portion of the inner circumference of the actuating sleeve.

13. The plug-in connector according to claim 12, wherein the actuating sleeve is a monolithic part of the bushing part.

14. The plug-in connector according to claim 5, wherein the lock sleeve is rotatable about the support body.

15. The plug-in connector according to claim 14, comprising at least one stop for limiting a relative rotational movement between the lock sleeve and the support body.

16. The plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the plug member is a plug having plug contacts and wherein the counterpart is a bushing part having bushing contacts, wherein the plug comprises a contact carrier surrounding the plug contacts and comprises a lock sleeve that is supported on the contact carrier so as to be movable in a longitudinal direction of the contact carrier but immobile in a radial direction of the contact carrier, wherein the lock sleeve has an outer thread, wherein the lock sleeve has a terminal area for engaging the bushing part, wherein the terminal area is radially moveable and defines the at least one locking element, wherein the actuating means are spreading means arranged on a leading end of the contact carrier to be inserted into the bushing part and acts on the at least one locking element to radially spread the terminal area and forcing the terminal area against an inner wall of the bushing part pushed onto the plug to lock the plug and the bushing part relative to one another.

17. The plug-in connector according to claim 16, wherein the terminal area of the lock sleeve has longitudinal slots and springs that are delimited by the longitudinal slots, wherein the spreading means are longitudinal bars interacting with the springs, wherein the springs have spring ends with an annular toothing and wherein the bushing part has an annular toothing matching in regard to shape and orientation the annular toothing of the spring ends, wherein the annular toothings of the spring ends and of the bushing part are threads.

18. The plug-in connector according to claim 17, wherein the plug further comprises a union nut having an annular shoulder interacting with the contact carrier and an inner thread interacting with an outer thread of the lock sleeve, wherein, when rotating the union nut, the contact carrier is axially moved relative to the union nut and moved farther into the bushing part and against an annular seal of the bushing part.

19. The plug-in connector according to claim 18, wherein the plug further comprises a sleeve-shaped housing connected to an end of the contact carrier remote from the leading end of the contact carrier, wherein the sleeve-shaped housing has a collar having a first side that is facing away from the bushing part and provides a counter ring stop for the annular shoulder of the union nut, wherein the annular shoulder and the counter ring stop each have a radial ribbing, wherein the plug further comprises a coil spring arranged between the lock sleeve and a second side of the collar facing the bushing part.

20. The plug-in connector according to claim 19, wherein the union nut is disengaged from the outer thread of the lock sleeve when the springs are not spread apart by the spreading means, wherein the sleeve-shaped housing and the union nut have locking means for locking the union nut relative to the sleeve-shaped housing when the springs are not spread apart, and wherein the sleeve-shaped housing and the union nut have stops for limiting rotation.

21. The plug-in connector according to claim 18, wherein the outer thread of the lock sleeve is divided into segments and wherein the inner thread of the union nut is divided into segments and wherein the segments of the lock sleeve and of the union nut are configured such that the lock sleeve and the union nut are axially slidable within one another when the inner thread of the union nut and the outer thread of the lock sleeve are not engaged.