JPH0247575Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for an electrical connector for locking the connection between a connector plug and a connector socket.

In general, the coupling screw type and the bayonet type are well known as locking mechanisms for electrical connectors that lock the connection between this type of connector plug and connector socket. However, in each of these conventional systems, the operations of inserting and removing the plug and socket, and connecting and releasing the lock, must be performed separately, and the operations are troublesome. In addition, a locking mechanism for electrical connectors has been previously proposed and used, which solves the problems of this method and allows insertion and removal between the plug and socket, as well as coupling and release of the plug, in a single operation. It has been done. An example of the locking mechanism of such a conventional electrical connector is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the attached drawings.
This will be briefly explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partial half-sectional view showing an example of the locking mechanism of a conventional electrical connector, showing the connector plug and connector socket in a state before they are fitted together, and FIG. It is a partial half sectional view showing a fitted state. In this conventional connector lock device, an elastic leg portion 11 is provided at the tip of the plug body of the connector plug 10, and a locking portion 12 is formed at the tip of the elastic leg portion 11.
Furthermore, a sleeve 13 that is slidable in the axial direction is provided on the outside of the plug body. This sleeve 13 is provided with a hole 14 through which the locking portion 12 of the elastic leg portion 11 passes, and the front end wall of the hole 14 engages with the taper 12A on the front surface of the locking portion 12 to The tapered portion 14A is configured to elastically shift the leg portion 11 inward. On the other hand, a locking step 22 is formed on the inner surface of the outer peripheral wall 20A at the front end of the socket body of the connector socket 20. Furthermore, on the inner surface of the front end of the outer peripheral wall portion 20A,
A cam surface 21 is formed. In the connector lock device having such a configuration, by inserting the connector plug 10 into the connector socket 20, the taper 12A of the locking portion 12 provided on the elastic leg portion 11 of the connector plug 10 is inserted into the connector socket 20.
0, and the locking portion 12 is pushed down inward. Connector socket 20
When the locking surface 12B of the locking part 12 reaches the locking step 22 of the locking part 12, the locking part 12 is restored by the spring action of the elastic leg part 11 and locks with the locking surface 12B of the locking part 12. The stepped portion 22 is engaged with the connector plug 10, and the connection between the connector plug 10 and the connector socket 20 is completed, and the connector plug 10 and the connector socket 20 are locked in this state. FIG. 2 shows this state. When removing the connector plug 10 from the connector socket 20, press the slidable sleeve 13 with your fingers and pull it upward to remove the tapered portion 14A of the hole 14 of the sleeve 13 and the taper 12A of the locking portion 12. The locking portion 12 is pushed down inward again by the action of The connection between the connector plug 10 and the connector socket 20 can be released. This conventional connector lock device is capable of inserting and pulling out the plug and socket and connecting and releasing the lock in a single operation, as clearly shown in Figure 2. When inserting and removing the connector, the elastic legs 1
It is necessary to provide a gap G to allow the first locking part 12 to move inward. Therefore, even when the connector is in the locked state, the gap G remains as it is, so if you try to pull out the entire connector plug 10 by grasping the cable or the like instead of pulling up the sleeve 13 with your fingers, or for some reason. Even if a pushing force is applied to the locking part 12 from the outside, the elastic leg part 11 will shift into the gap G due to the gap G, and the locking surface 12B will be pushed into the locking step part 22. out of the
There were cases where the connector came uncoupled.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the conventional devices as described above, and to provide an electrical connector in which the plug does not easily come off from the socket when the mating is locked, even if external force is applied to other than the designated location. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a locking mechanism.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with regard to embodiments of the present invention based on FIGS. 3 to 17 of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a half-sectional front view showing a connector plug and a connector socket to which an electrical connector locking mechanism is applied as an embodiment of the present invention in an uncoupled state. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the connector plug 100 mainly includes a plug front end 110 formed of a plastic material or the like, and a similarly plastic plug connected to the rear end of the plug front end 110 by threaded engagement or the like. A plug rear end portion 120 formed of a material etc., and this plug front end portion 110
and a movable sleeve 130, also made of plastic material or the like, which is movable in the mating direction of the connector mounted between the plug rear end 120 and the plug rear end 120.

FIG. 4 shows a connector plug 100 to show the structure of the connector plug 100 in FIG. 3 in more detail.
FIG. 5 is a half-sectional side view of the plug front end 110 of the connector plug 100, FIG. 6 is a half-sectional side view of the movable sleeve 130 of the connector plug 100, and FIG. The figure is number 5
8 is a sectional view taken along line AA in the figure, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. Figures 4, 5, 7 and 8
As best shown in the figure, the plug front end 11
On the outer periphery of the tip of the 0, elastic legs 111 are formed at two diametrically opposed locations in the form of approximately inverted U-shaped grooves 111A. A plurality of male terminals 113 are arranged in the insulator section 112 at the rear end of the plug front end section 110. A locking protrusion 114 is formed on the outer periphery of the tip of each elastic leg 111. Slanted surfaces 114A and 114B are formed on the front and rear sides of the locking protrusion 114 in the connector fitting direction to perform a camming action as described later. Furthermore, a male thread 115 for screwing the plug rear end 120 is formed on the outer periphery of the rear end of the plug front end 110 .

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the movable sleeve 130 is provided with two diametrically opposed elastic spacer pieces 131 extending forward from the inner wall near the front end in the connector mating direction. It is being Inside the tip of each elastic spacer piece 131,
A protrusion 132 is formed that performs a function as described later. As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the elastic spacer piece 131 extends inward from the inner circumferential wall of the movable sleeve 130 at a position behind the tip thereof, and then extends forward in a cantilever shape. It extends between the inner surface of the distal end of the movable sleeve 130 and the outer surface of the elastic spacer 131 to create a space into which the rear end portion of each elastic leg 111 is inserted, as will be described later. .

As shown in FIG. 4, a female thread 121 is formed on the inner periphery of the front end of the plug rear end 120 to engage with a male thread 115 on the outer periphery of the rear end of the plug front end 110. As shown in FIG.

These plug front ends 110, movable sleeves 1
30 and the plug rear end portion 120 to form the connector plug 100, first, the movable sleeve 130 is placed over the rear end of the plug front end portion 110 to connect them loosely. At this time, each elastic spacer piece 131 of the movable sleeve 130 is
Each corresponding elastic leg 111 of the plug front end 110
Position it so that it supports the inside surface of the next,
In this embodiment, as best shown in FIG. 4, a coiled deflection spring 140 is attached to the movable sleeve 130.
After the plug is installed into the rear end, the female screw 121 on the inner periphery of the front end of the plug rear end 120 is screwed into engagement with the male screw 115 at the rear end of the plug front end 110 . At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the deflection spring 1
40 is a shoulder portion 133 on the inner circumference of the movable sleeve 130;
(See FIG. 4) and the front edge 1 of the rear end portion 120 of the plug.
22 (see Fig. 4), and in this assembled state, the movable sleeve 13
0 is elastically deflected by this deflection spring 140 so that the elastic spacer piece 131 is always at the backing position supporting the inner surface of the elastic leg portion 111.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the connector socket 200 that engages with the connector plug 100 has an elastic spacer piece 13 at its tip that includes the elastic legs 111 and protrusions 132 of the connector plug 100.
A peripheral wall portion 20 that creates a gap G that exactly receives 1.
1 is provided, and a locking engagement part 202 that engages with the locking protrusion 114 is formed inside this outer peripheral wall part 201. An inclined surface 201A is formed inside the front end of the outer circumferential wall portion 201, and serves as a cam as will be described later. The connector socket 200 is preferably integrally formed of a plastic material or the like, and the central insulator portion 203 includes:
A plurality of openings 204A are provided for receiving the male terminals 113 of the connector plug 100, and female terminals 204 that come into contact with the male terminals 113 are disposed within these openings 204A. Further, a recess 205 is formed on the outer periphery of the front end of the central insulator portion 203 to receive the tip of the elastic spacer piece 131 of the movable sleeve 130 of the connector plug 100. The rear wall of this recess 205 is preferably formed into an inclined surface 205A that exerts an outward camming action on the tip of the elastic spacer piece 131, as will be described later.

The operation of fitting and disengaging the connector plug 100 and the connector socket 200 having such a structure will be explained with particular reference to FIGS. 9 to 12.

FIG. 9 is a partially sectional front view showing a state immediately before the connector plug 100 and the connector socket 200 are fitted together. From the state shown in FIG. 9, the connector plug 100 is further inserted into the connector socket 2.
When pressed against 00, the connector plug 100
The inclined surface 114A on the front surface of the locking protrusion 114 of the elastic leg portion 111 of the front end portion 110 of the plug comes to engage with the inclined surface 201A inside the front end of the outer peripheral wall portion 201 of the connector socket 200, and these inclined surfaces Due to the cam action, each elastic leg 111 is elastically deflected radially inward, thereby causing each elastic spacer piece 131 to be elastically deflected radially inward as well. At this time, the tip of each elastic spacer piece 131 shifted inward, especially the protrusion 132
is the central insulator portion 20 of the connector socket 200
In this state, the connector plug 100 is inserted into the recess 205 on the outer periphery of the front end of the connector socket 200 so that the tip of the elastic spacer piece 131 contacts the inclined surface 205A of the rear wall of the recess 205. It is inserted until it is. This state
It is shown in FIG.

From the state shown in FIG. 10, further connect the connector plug 100 to the connector socket 200.
When inserted, the tip of the elastic spacer piece 131 is in contact with the inclined surface 205A, so the movable sleeve 130 moves backward relative to the plug front end 110 against the deflection force of the deflection spring 140. It becomes a forced shape. This state is shown in FIG.
From this state shown in Fig. 11, further connect connector socket 2.
When the connector plug 100 is pushed into the connector socket 00, when the locking protrusion 114 of the elastic leg 111 passes over the locking part 202 of the connector socket 200, the elastic leg 111 is released by its own elasticity. When the locking protrusion 114 engages with the locking part 202, the elastic spacer piece 131 of the movable sleeve 130
also returns outward to its original state due to its own elasticity, and the deflection force by the deflection spring 140 and the recess 2
The movable sleeve 13 is allowed to move forward due to the cam guiding action of the inclined surface 205A of the rear wall of 05.
0 is moved forward and back into position relative to the plug front end 110. Therefore, the elastic spacer piece 131 is again in the position of backing the elastic leg part 111, and together with the elastic leg part 111, the elastic spacer piece 131 is located between the outer peripheral wall part 201 of the connector socket 200 and the outer periphery 203A of the central insulator part 203. The gap G is filled to prevent the elastic legs 111 from shifting inward. FIG. 12 shows a state in which the plug 100 and the socket 200 are completely connected.

In the fully connected state shown in FIG.
11 is completely lined by the elastic spacer piece 131, so that the movable sleeve 130
No matter how much force is applied to the connector plug 100 and the connector socket 200, the locking projection 114 and the locking part 202 will not be locked unless the Connector plug 10
0 and the connector socket 200 are completely locked.

From the fully mated and locked state shown in FIG. 12, the connector plug 100 and connector socket 2 are
To separate the plug 100 from the socket 200, move the movable sleeve 130 backward against the deflection spring 140 so that the tip of the elastic spacer piece 131 can fall into the recess 205, and then insert the entire plug 100 into the socket 200. All you have to do is pull it out. In this case, since the elastic spacer piece 131 is in a state where it can be elastically displaced inward, the elastic leg portion 111 is attached to the inclined surface 11 behind the locking protrusion 114.
4B and the locking part 202, the locking protrusion 114 is elastically shifted inward together with the elastic spacer piece 131, and the locking protrusion 114 gets over the locking part 202, and the lock is released. Because I can use it,
connector socket 200 to connector plug 10
0 can be easily removed. For such a release operation, instead of providing the sloped surface 114B behind the locking protrusion 114, a similar sloped surface may be provided on the locking portion 202.

FIG. 13 is a third diagram showing a connector plug and a connector socket to which the locking mechanism of an electrical connector is applied as another embodiment of the present invention in an uncoupled state.
It is a half-sectional front view similar to the figure. The connector plug and connector socket of the embodiment of FIG. 13 are substantially the same as the connector plug and connector socket of the embodiment of FIG. 3, except for the following two points. In the figure, the third
Corresponding like reference numerals are used for corresponding parts of the illustrated embodiment.

First, the first difference is that in the embodiment of FIG.
While a recess 205 is formed on the outer periphery 203A of the central insulator section 203 of the connector socket 200, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
is that no such recess is provided at all.

A second difference is that in the embodiment of FIG. 3, each elastic spacer piece 131 extends forward beyond the bottom of the locking projection 114 of the elastic leg 111, whereas in the embodiment of FIG. In the embodiment, each elastic spacer piece 131 is attached to the locking protrusion 11 of the elastic leg 111.
4. It is considered to be shorter than the one that ends before the lower side of 4.

Connector plug 1 with structure as shown in Fig. 13
00 and connector socket 200 will be described with particular reference to FIGS. 14 to 17.

FIG. 14 is a partially sectional front view showing a state immediately before the connector plug 100 and the connector socket 200 are fitted together. When the connector plug 100 is further pushed into the connector socket 200 from the state shown in FIG.
The inclined surface 114A on the front surface of the locking protrusion 114 of the elastic leg section 111 of the plug front end section 110 of the connector socket 200 comes to engage with the inclined surface 201A on the inside of the front end of the outer peripheral wall section 201 of the connector socket 200. Due to the camming action of the surfaces, each elastic leg 111 is elastically deflected radially inward, thereby
Each elastic spacer piece 131 is also elastically deflected radially inwardly. At this time, the tip of each elastic spacer piece 131 shifted inward, especially the protrusion 1
32 enters radially inward from the front end outer periphery 203A of the central insulator portion 203 of the connector socket 200, and in this state, the connector plug 100 has the tip of the elastic spacer piece 131 with respect to the connector socket 200. Front edge 20 of central insulator section 203
It is inserted until it comes into contact with 3B. This state is shown in FIG.

From the state shown in FIG.
0, the tip of the elastic spacer piece 131 is in contact with the front edge 203B of the central insulator section 203, so the movable sleeve 130
The plug is retracted relative to the front end 110 of the plug against a displacement force of zero. This state is shown in FIG. When the connector plug 100 is further pushed into the connector socket 200 from this state shown in FIG. Legs 11
1 returns outward to its original state due to its own elasticity, and the locking protrusion 114 engages the locking part 2.
02, the elastic spacer piece 131 of the movable sleeve 130 also returns outward to its original state due to its own elasticity, and the deflection spring 140
The movable sleeve 130 is allowed to move forward due to the deflection force caused by the movement and the cam guiding action of the protrusion 132.
is moved forward relative to the plug front end 110 to its original position. Therefore, the elastic spacer piece 131 is again in the position of backing the elastic leg 111, and together with the elastic leg 111, the elastic spacer piece 131 is attached to the connector socket 2.
00 and the outer circumference 203A of the central insulator section 203.
11 is prevented from shifting inward. FIG. 17 shows a state in which the plug 100 and the socket 200 are completely connected.

In the completely connected state shown in FIG.
Since most of the inner surface of connector plug 100 is fully lined by resilient spacer piece 131, connector plug 100 and connector socket are No matter how much force is applied to the socket 200, the locking engagement between the locking protrusion 114 and the locking part 202 will not be disengaged. is considered complete.

From the fully mated and locked state shown in FIG. 17, the connector plug 100 and connector socket 2 are
00, move the movable sleeve 130 backward against the deflection spring 140 so that the tip of the elastic spacer piece 131 can fall inward from the outer periphery 203A of the central insulator section 203. Then, the entire plug 100 can be pulled out from the socket 200. In this case, since the elastic spacer piece 131 is in a state where it can elastically shift inward, the elastic leg portion 111 is connected to the inclined surface 114B behind the locking protrusion 114 and the locking portion 202. Due to the cam action of the connector socket 200, the locking protrusion 114 is elastically deflected inward together with the elastic spacer piece 131, and the locking protrusion 114 overcomes the locking part 202, allowing the lock to be released. The connector plug 100 can be easily removed.

Since the locking mechanism of the electrical connector of the present invention has the above-described structure, it is possible to insert and remove the plug and socket and connect and release the lock in a single operation, and it also allows the locking mechanism to remain in the mated and locked state. In this case, it is possible to prevent the plug from easily coming off from the socket even if external force is applied to areas other than the predetermined locations. Furthermore, in the structure of the locking mechanism of the electrical connector of the present invention, the elastic spacer piece is provided inside the elastic leg, and the elastic leg has an inverted U-shaped groove cut out from the outer periphery of the tip. Therefore, even when the connector plug and the connector socket are mated and connected, there is no risk that excessive force will be directly applied to the elastic legs and the elastic spacer piece. The elastic spacer pieces will not be deformed or damaged. Further, according to the present invention, since the elastic spacer piece is configured to have a protrusion inside its tip, it is possible to easily reduce the thickness of other parts and have sufficient elasticity. When the connector is mated, the protrusion of the elastic spacer piece is connected to the inclined surface 205A or the front edge 203 of the central insulator section.
B, and the fitting of the connector can always be completed reliably. Furthermore,
According to the present invention, since the elastic spacer piece extends forward in a cantilever shape from a position behind the tip on the inner circumferential wall of the movable sleeve, the axial length of the elastic spacer piece can be reduced by that amount. Even if the overall length of the connector is reduced,
It can be an elastic spacer piece with sufficient elasticity. Furthermore, since the rear end of the elastic leg can be inserted into the space formed between the inner surface of the tip of the movable sleeve and the outer surface of the elastic spacer piece, the axis of the elastic leg can be inserted accordingly. A sufficient length in the direction can be ensured, and similar to the elastic spacer piece, it can have sufficient elasticity. In addition, the axial length of the outer circumferential surface of the movable sleeve is not shortened by providing an elastic spacer piece, so even if the overall length of the connector is made as short as possible, it is still long enough to be held by hand. A large area can be given to the outer circumferential surface of the movable sleeve, and therefore, the unlocking and pulling operation can be easily performed despite the small size.

The locking mechanism of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 has the following drawbacks: a recess must be provided on the outer periphery of the front end of the central insulator of the connector socket, and the elastic spacer piece must be made somewhat long. Although the locking mechanism of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 13 is somewhat more difficult to process and the length of the connector is somewhat longer, the embodiment shown in Fig. 13 uses an elastic spacer piece. There is a slight risk that the tip of the center insulator may remain stuck to the front edge of the central insulator, making it difficult to fit properly or damaging the elastic spacer piece.
This fear can be completely eliminated.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the elastic leg portion and the elastic spacer piece were provided on the connector plug, and the locking portion was provided on the connector socket, but the present invention improves these relationships. Reverse the connector plug, and place the locking part on the side of the connector plug.
A similar effect can be obtained by providing an elastic leg portion and an elastic spacer piece on the connector socket side.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a partial half-sectional view showing an example of the locking mechanism of a conventional electrical connector, showing a connector plug and a connector socket in a state before they are fitted together, and Figure 2 is a diagram showing the connector plug and connector socket of Figure 1. FIG. 3 is a partial half-sectional view showing a connector plug and a connector socket in an uncoupled state, to which the locking mechanism of an electrical connector is applied as an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a half-sectional front view of the disassembled parts arrangement of the connector plug to show the structure of the connector plug shown in Figure 3 in more detail, Figure 5 is a half-sectional side view of the front end of the connector plug, and Figure 6 is a half-sectional side view of the front end of the connector plug. The figure is a half-sectional side view of the movable sleeve of the connector plug, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 5, FIG.
10, 11, and 12 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the connector shown in FIG. 3 when mating and disconnecting, and FIG. 13 is an illustration of an electrical connector as another embodiment of the present invention. 14 and 15; a half-sectional front view similar to FIG. 3 showing a connector plug to which a locking mechanism is applied and a connector socket in an uncoupled state; FIGS. 14 and 15;
16 and 17 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the connector shown in FIG. 13 during fitting and disconnection. 100... Connector plug, 110... Front end of plug, 111... Elastic legs, 114... Locking protrusion, 114A, 114B... Inclined surface, 12
0...Plug rear end, 130...Movable sleeve,
131...Elastic spacer piece, 132...Protrusion, 1
40... Deflection spring, 200... Connector socket, 201... Outer peripheral wall, 201A... Inclined surface,
202...Lock retaining part, 203...Central insulator part, 203A...Outer periphery, 203B...Front edge, 2
05...Concavity, 205A...Slope, G...Gap.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a locking mechanism of an electrical connector for locking the connection between a connector plug and a connector socket, there is a substantially inverted U-shaped outer periphery of the front end of one of the connector plug and connector socket that fit together. A movable sleeve is provided with an elastic leg cut out from the outer periphery of the distal end of the groove, and has an elastic spacer piece movable along the inner surface of the elastic leg in the direction of the mating axis of the connector. The elastic spacer piece extends inwardly from the inner circumferential wall of the movable sleeve at a position rearward from the distal end of the movable sleeve, and then extends further forward in a cantilever shape. A space is created between the inner surface and the outer surface of the elastic spacer, into which the rear end portion of the elastic leg can be inserted, and a protrusion is formed inside the tip of the elastic spacer piece, The movable sleeve is normally elastically shifted so that the elastic spacer piece is in a backing position supporting the inner surface of the elastic leg, and a locking protrusion is provided on the outer periphery of the tip of the elastic leg. An outer circumferential wall is provided on the outside of the outer periphery of the other central insulator portion of the connector plug and the connector socket, and the outer peripheral wall has a locking portion on the inside of the tip that engages with the locking protrusion. The gap size between the outer periphery of the central insulator and the locking part of the outer peripheral wall is equal to the thickness of the elastic leg excluding the locking protrusion. The thickness is equal to or slightly larger than the sum of the thickness of the elastic spacer piece including the protrusion, and the thickness is equal to or slightly larger than the sum of the thickness of the elastic spacer piece including the protrusion. The front end and the locking portion are formed with inclined surfaces that act as cams to elastically shift the elastic leg portions and the elastic spacer pieces inward when the connector is mated and disengaged. At the time of fitting, when the elastic spacer piece is shifted inward in accordance with the inward shift of the elastic leg, the protrusion of the elastic spacer piece comes into contact with the outer periphery of the central insulator. , the locking protrusion of the elastic leg portion is configured to cross over and engage with the locking portion of the outer circumferential portion, and after the connector plug and the connector socket are fitted, the elastic The spacer piece is located at the backing position and fills the gap together with the elastic legs, and prevents the elastic legs from shifting inward to lock the connector. A locking mechanism for an electrical connector, characterized in that when the movable sleeve is moved back against the elastic deviation during detachment, it is moved back from the backing position to allow the elastic legs to move inward.