ELECTRICAL PLUG-IN CONNECTOR COMPRISING A RAISED RELEASE ELEMENT, AND METHOD FOR REVERSIBLY CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING PLUG PARTS OF A PLUG-IN CONNECTOR

• US 20130122735A1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Te Connectivity Industrial Gmbh (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Intercontec Pfeiffer GmbH
• Inventors: Pfeiffer, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 8,939,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/372
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/625 Casing or ring with bayonet engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62905 comprising a camming member H01R13/62933 and H01R13/641 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/633 for disengagement only in combination with safety switch H01R13/7132
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/923 Separation or disconnection aid

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug-in connector comprising a first and a second plug part which can be reversibly coupled and disconnected, wherein a connection device is designed that has at least one spring element, at least one spring piece of which engages with a sliding guide in the second plug part in order to connect the plug parts. The sliding guide and the spring element are designed such that the plug parts are automatically disconnected when a release threshold value is exceeded. A raised release element which is embraced by the spring piece in the plugged state of the plug parts is formed on the sliding guide. Said raised release element is rectilinear in the circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis (A) and extends on the same axial sectional level across the width of the release element when viewed in the axial direction in such a way that when a tensile force that is greater than the release threshold value is applied to the plug parts, the spring piece is guided over the raised release element exclusively in the axial direction in order to automatically disconnect the plug parts. The invention also relates to a method for connecting and disconnecting plug parts.

Claims

1. Plug in A plug-in connector with a first and a second plug part, which can be reversibly coupled and disconnected, wherein a connection device is formed, which has at least one spring element, which engages with a sliding guide in the second plug part with at least one spring piece for connecting the plug parts, wherein the sliding guide and the spring element are formed such that upon exceeding a release force threshold value automatic disconnection of the plug parts is provided, characterized in that wherein a raised release element is formed on the sliding guide, which is embraced by the spring piece in the plugged state of the plug parts, wherein the raised release element is formed rectilinearly in a circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis (A) and extends on the same axial sectional level over its width viewed in an axial direction, such that upon occurrence of a tensile force greater than the release force threshold value on the plug parts, the spring piece is guided over the raised release element exclusively in an axial direction for automatic disconnection of the plug parts.

2. The plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the raised release element has an upper release edge, which transitions into a first abutment flank downwardly sloping when viewed in an axial direction on the side facing away from the front end of the second plug part, wherein the first abutment flank leads to the bottom of the sliding guide.

3. The plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the raised release element has an upper release edge, which transitions into a second abutment flank downwardly sloping when viewed in an axial direction on the side facing the front end of the second plug part, which in particular terminates at the front end of the second plug part.

4. The plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the raised release element has a width corresponding at least to the width of the spring piece.

5. The plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein a hollow-cylindrical retaining sleeve is disposed on the first plug part and is rotatable relative to the first plug part.

6. The plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the spring element is received in the interior of a retaining sleeve and is disposed rotationally fixedly on the retaining sleeve.

7. The plug-in connector according to claim 6, wherein at a lower border of the spring element, a wall extension only partially circumferential over the length of the lower border is formed, which is formed for introducing into a detent on the inner side of the retaining sleeve.

8. The plug-in connector according to claim 6, wherein the retaining sleeve is disposed on the first plug part in its initial position non-operated by a user in a locking position preloaded with respect to the connection of the two plug parts by a spring.

9. The plug-in connector according to claim 8, wherein the disconnection and the connection of the two plug parts can be also effected by rotating the retaining sleeve from the locking position into a release position and axially moving the plug parts towards each other besides the axial movement and the axial guide of the spring piece over the raised release element effected thereby, and wherein the spring piece is guided past the raised release element in axial direction in a guide path section of the sliding guide formed next to the raised release element, in particular bounded by the raised release element on one side.

10. The plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the sliding guide has a guide path section horizontal in circumferential direction, which is bounded by the raised release element on one side and in which the spring piece is retained by the preloaded locking position of the retaining sleeve in the plugged state of the plug parts.

11. The plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the spring element is a hollow-cylindrical annular section, in which the at least one spring piece is integrally formed and disposed in a hole of a wall (21) of the annular section.

12. The plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the spring piece has two strip parts movable angled to each other and reversibly to each other and connected to each other, wherein the release force threshold value is adjustable at least by a presettable deformability upon pressing the spring piece to an inner side of the retaining sleeve upon guiding the spring piece over the raised release element upon automatic disconnection.

13. The plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein a rear border of a plug housing of the second plug part is inwardly oriented towards the longitudinal axis (A) and a diameter restriction of the plug housing is formed by the border, in particular and wherein a retaining device for axial positional fixation of components introduced into the plug housing is formed by the inwardly oriented border.

14. A method for reversibly connecting and disconnecting plug parts of a plug-in connector, wherein a connection device is formed, which has at least one spring element, which engages with a sliding guide in the second plug part with at least one spring piece for connecting the plug parts, wherein upon exceeding a release force threshold value automatic disconnection of the plug parts is effected, wherein a raised release element is formed on the sliding guide, which is embraced by the spring piece in the plugged state of the plug parts, and upon occurrence of a tensile force greater than the release force threshold value on the two plug parts upon automatic disconnection of the plug parts, the spring piece is pulled off exclusively in axial direction over the raised release element formed rectilinearly in a circumferential direction and extending on the same axial sectional level over its width viewed in an axial direction.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the spring element is disposed internally in a retaining sleeve rotatably disposed on the first plug part in a rotationally fixed manner to the retaining sleeve and the embracement of the raised release element by the spring piece is retained by a state of the retaining sleeve preloaded in circumferential direction by means of a spring viewed in the circumferential direction.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein in addition to the automatic disconnection, user-directed disconnection can be performed such that a retaining sleeve rotatably disposed on the first plug part is brought from its locking position preloaded by a spring into a release position by gripping the retaining sleeve and rotating by a user, whereby the spring piece is moved past the raised release element horizontally in a circumferential direction, and then upon reaching the release position, it is moved along an axial guide path section of the sliding guide extending past the raised release element and adjoining to the raised release element by axially moving, and the plug parts are disconnected.