DE102013008767B4 - Connector socket for outdoor applications with a mounting device and a compression spring - Google Patents

Abstract

Connector socket (1) for outdoor applications with a mounting device (40) and a compression spring (20) for fastening the connector socket (1) to agricultural machinery, the connector socket (1) having a socket housing (2) with a rotatably mounted protective cap (20) for protection of a receiving space in the connector socket (1) for a mating plug, the protective cap (20) being designed with an internal radial or axial sealing element, with a locking bracket (21) of the connector socket (1) being rotatably mounted on the socket housing (2) with the the protective cap (20) can be locked in its closed position, the socket housing (2) being mounted on the mounting device (40) so that it can move axially by means of the compression spring (30) and the mounting device (40) having coding grooves (42) in the coding ribs (22) of the socket housing (2) and the socket housing (2) can be moved axially against the spring force of the compression spring (30) to such an extent that the coding ribs (22) can be moved completely out of the coding grooves (42).

Description

The present invention relates to a connector socket for outdoor applications with a mounting device and a compression spring, which is resiliently mounted against a mounting device.

The present invention relates in particular to a connector socket for outdoor applications such as agricultural machinery used in trailer operation of towing vehicles and agricultural machinery.

From the documents EP 2 515 384 A1 , US 6,179,654 B1 , US 4,580,862A , DE 20 2012 009 781 U1 , U.S. 2,638,575A and WO 2012/160807 A1 Connector systems are known which can be fastened either to a housing wall or to a mounting device and are partially equipped with a device for preventing dirt from entering the interior of the connector.

The publications mentioned EP 2 515 384 A1 and US 6,179,654 B1 each describe a connector socket with a mounting device and a movable dirt flap, the socket housing being mounted so that it can move axially relative to the mounting device by means of a compression spring.

The WO 2012/160807 A1 also describes a solution with a protective cap and a rotatably mounted locking bracket for locking and opening the protective cap.

It is known in the prior art that a towing vehicle and its trailer are coupled to one another via detachable electrical connections. In the case of towing vehicles and their trailers, particularly in the agricultural sector between tractors and trailer devices, there is not only the need to electrically connect the trailer to the towing vehicle, but also the need to be able to securely lock the corresponding connector pairs together and be able to use them safely during operation.

For this it is necessary on the one hand that a fully sealed plug connection suitable for outdoor use is provided. There is also the problem that the plug-in connections known in the prior art generally do not provide sufficient means to prevent the plug-in connector pairs from being unintentionally and destructively separated. Basically, it is known that the towing vehicle is equipped with power and signal contacts via an electrical connector socket in order to supply the trailer with voltage or with signals. In short, an electrical connection of the electrical components of the trailer is to be connected to the power supply of the towing vehicle and to the control system.

In the harsh and also damp and dirty environment in which agricultural machinery or construction vehicles are used, there is a need for the plug connection with the mating plug, so to speak the plug with the socket, to be securely locked and latched and permanently sealed. Furthermore, the tightness must also exist when the towing vehicle is in motion and is exposed to significant movements and vibrations, particularly in rough terrain.

In the prior art, for example, a bayonet lock is provided to lock the connector pairs.

In this case, the trailer, which is connected to the cable, is plugged into the socket, which is usually fixed to the towing vehicle, and then secured by means of a rotatable bayonet lock.

However, such a connection leads to a rigid connection on the towing vehicle, in which vibrations are transmitted directly to the connector pairs and insofar as the sealing systems partially fail. Not only can damage occur during the vibrations, but dirt can also get into the gaps created by the vibration movements and damage the connector.

Furthermore, it is common to use a connector z. B. consisting of device socket and cable connector by pulling on the cable. However, such a solution should also be used for connectors with large cable cross-sections. So far it is known in the prior art to screw the device socket to a box on an agricultural machine. Inside the preferably sealed box are the cables. Various screws lead the cables to the outside. Due to the extremely limited space and the movement of the device socket within the box in relation to the housing wall, it is not possible to use large cable cross-sections.

Another disadvantage of the existing solutions can be seen in the fact that the seals between the device socket and the housing wall of the box are damaged due to shock and vibration movements and moisture penetrates into the box.

So shows z. B. the EP 2 515 384 A1 a connector with a locking device, whereby the connector socket is stored in a box against a housing wall and it is necessary to ensure that no moisture reaches the connection side of the connector.

In the embodiment according to the prior art, this takes place in that a seal is arranged between the connector and the housing wall, against which the connector is resiliently supported.

The problem here, however, is that with movements, i. H. when the connector is pulled and when there are vibrations, dirt can get between the sealing surface of the housing wall and the seal, causing the overall sealing system to fail and moisture penetrating the box. In addition, there is a need to reduce the number of parts and to completely eliminate a wall or box with wall.

Against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide a connector socket that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages and that is particularly securely sealed against dirt and moisture, while at the same time being easy to assemble and withstanding the expected mechanical vibrations and loads.

If the same reference symbols are used in the description of the figures, they indicate the same components.

The basic idea of the present invention is to support a connector socket in an axially movable manner by means of a compression spring on a mounting device and to seal the openings of the connector tightly at the front and the connection side.

In this way it can be ensured that there is no need for a housing on which a socket connector is typically mounted and the problems of the seal between the connector socket and the housing are eliminated.

According to the invention, therefore, a connector socket for outdoor applications with the features of claim 1 is proposed. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The socket housing advantageously protrudes through an opening in the mounting housing. In this way, a particularly space-saving arrangement can be created in which the connector socket is mounted within the mounting device and no additional space is required as a result.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the connector socket is designed in such a way that the mounting housing has coding grooves into which the coding ribs of the socket housing engage (non-rotatably). In this way, the connector socket on the mounting housing can be moved back and forth axially along the coding grooves, but rotation in the circumferential direction can be prevented. As a result, the socket housing is fixed against rotation on the mounting housing.

It is also advantageous if an annular stop is arranged on the socket housing, on which one (first) end of the compression spring is mounted, while a receiving groove is provided on the mounting device, on which the other (second) end of the compression spring is mounted. In this way, a simple axial spring mounting of the connector socket on the assembly device can be achieved by clamping the compression spring between the annular stop on the socket housing and the receiving groove on the assembly device and fixing the connector socket in its prestressed initial position.

The connector socket can be moved back and forth axially against the axial preload of the compression spring, so that actuations on the cable and any vibrations that occur are intercepted, since the connector socket is, as it were, resiliently mounted in the assembly device.

Advantageously, the mounting device is L-shaped, with the opening being provided on one leg through which the socket housing protrudes, while at least one, preferably several, mounting openings are provided on the other leg.

The L-shaped embodiment results in a particularly compact design, in which one leg runs parallel to the longitudinal extent of the connector socket, while the other leg has an opening for the connector socket.

Furthermore, a semi-cylindrical cover plate is advantageously arranged over the compression spring in the area facing away from one leg, so that the compression spring is covered by the cover plate. This ensures that there is no risk of injury to an operator when reaching into the compression spring. One accessible side is protected from direct access by means of the cover plate, while the cover plate is against overlying side is covered by one leg of the mounting device.

In a further advantageous embodiment it is provided that a tight closing plate, in particular a closing plate sealed to IP-67, is arranged at the connection-side end of the connector socket. This ensures that the connector is sealed overall, thus representing an IP-67-tight design.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the seals are formed to provide an IP-68 sealed connector socket. In this way, it is further ensured that no special connection box has to be provided on the system or on the agricultural machine for the connector socket and the connection side, and complex assembly of the connector socket and sealing problems no longer arise.

Rather, the connector socket according to the invention can be freely attached to a suitable access point on the device or on an agricultural machine, namely on its leg at the mounting openings.

Furthermore, it is provided that the closure plate has at least one, preferably several, cable passages, each of which is designed with a sealing element for a cable.

This has the advantage that the connector socket can be freely assembled, in that the cables tailored to the application can be inserted through the cable passages into the connector socket on the connection side.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the coding grooves are designed such that the connector socket housing can be moved axially resiliently against the mounting device to such an extent that the coding ribs can be moved completely out of the coding grooves and the connector housing can be partially rotated relative to the mounting device. This ensures that in the event of an unintentional, excessive deflection of the connector socket in relation to the mounting device, the coding ribs will come into contact with the front side of the mounting device and the user can immediately see that maintenance work is required to bring the connector back into its originally installed position. On the other hand, it is ensured that intended axial deflections remain without damaging effects on the relative position of the connector socket.

• 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Steckverbinderbuchse;
• 2 eine weitere perspektivische Ansicht der Steckverbinderbuchse gemäß 1 von einer Ansicht von schräg vorne.

Further advantages, features and embodiments of the present invention result from the following description of the figures, the patent claims and the figures. These show:

• 1 a perspective view of a connector socket according to the invention;
• 2 another perspective view of the connector socket according to FIG 1 from an oblique front view.

In 1 an embodiment of a connector socket 1 according to the invention is shown. The connector socket 1 is designed with a mounting device 40 or has a mounting device 40 . The connector socket 1 comprises a socket housing 2 with a rotatably mounted protective cap 20 at its front end. The cap 20 is in the 1 and 2 each shown in their closed and locked position by means of a locking bracket 21 .

The locking bracket 21 is rotatably mounted on the socket housing 2 on bearing cams 5 . The protective cap 20 is rotatably mounted on a rotary hinge 6 , which in turn is arranged on hinge arms 7 on the socket housing 2 . In this way, the protective cap 20 can be replaced by one, as in 1 and 2 closed position and locked position, are converted into an open position by opening the locking bracket 21, so that a corresponding mating connector can be inserted into the connector socket 1.

The receiving space for the mating connector and thus the contact space is completely sealed by the protective cap 20 in the closed state. The protective cap 20 is preferably designed with an internal radial or axial sealing element, so that an overall IP-67 or IP-68-tight connection can be established, depending on the application.

It can also be seen that the connector socket housing 2 protrudes through an opening 41 in the assembly device 40 . The coding grooves 42 and coding ribs 22 can also be seen. The coding ribs 22 are formed by the socket housing 2 and engage in the semi-circular coding grooves 42 of the mounting housing in a rotationally fixed manner. The socket housing 2 can be moved back and forth in the axial direction A via the compression spring 30 . The first end of the compression spring 30 is mounted against an annular stop 23 of the socket housing 2 .

Furthermore, the assembly device 40 has an inner circumferential receiving groove 43 into which the other, second, opposite end of the compression spring 30 is introduced or against which the connector with the compression spring 30 rests.

It is also from the 1 and 2 It can be seen that the assembly device 40 is L-shaped and forms a first leg 44a and a second leg 44b. The opening 41 through which the socket housing 2 protrudes is located in the first leg 44a. The second leg 44b forms a plurality of assembly openings 8 . A cover plate 45, which covers the compression spring 30, is arranged in the area facing away from the leg 44b.

Furthermore, a closure plate 25 is shown at the connection-side end 24 of the connector socket 2, in which several cable passages 26 with sealing elements 27 are shown. The sealing elements 27 are used for sealing with a cable, not shown.

Like in the 2 As can be seen, the coding grooves 42 are designed in such a way that an axial movement in direction A is possible. However, if the connector socket housing 2 is actuated axially in direction A in the direction of the protective cap 20 so far that the coding ribs 22 are moved completely out of the coding grooves 42, an at least partially twisting movement of the connector socket 1 relative to the mounting device 40 is possible.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described above, but also includes all combinations of individual features that have not been explicitly mentioned.

Reference List

1

connector socket

2

socket housing

3

locking device

5

bearing cam

6

rotary hinge

7

hinge arms

8th

mounting hole

20

protective cap

21

locking bracket

22

coding rib

23

annular stop

24

connection end

25

locking plate

26

cable passage

27

sealing element

30

compression spring

40

assembly device

41

opening

42

coding groove

43

receiving groove

44a

first leg

44b

second leg

45

cover plate

A

axial direction

Claims (8)

Connector socket (1) for outdoor applications with a mounting device (40) and a compression spring (20) for fastening the connector socket (1) to agricultural machinery, the connector socket (1) having a socket housing (2) with a rotatably mounted protective cap (20) for protecting a receiving space in the connector socket (1) for a mating plug, the protective cap (20) being designed with an internal radial or axial sealing element, with a locking clip (2 1) the connector socket (1) is rotatably mounted, with which the protective cap (20) can be locked in its closed position, the socket housing (2) being axially movably mounted on the mounting device (40) by means of the compression spring (30) and the mounting device (40) having coding grooves (42) into which coding ribs (22) of the socket housing (2) engage and the socket housing (2) axially against the spring force of the compression spring (30) is movable in that the coding ribs (22) can be moved completely out of the coding grooves (42). Connector socket (1) with a mounting device (40) and a compression spring (20) according to claim 1 , wherein the socket housing (2) protrudes through an opening (41) in the mounting device (40). Connector socket (1) with an assembly device (40) and a compression spring (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an annular stop (23) is arranged on the socket housing (2), on which a first end of the compression spring (30) is mounted. Connector socket (1) with a mounting device (40) and a compression spring (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein on the mounting device (40) is provided with a receiving groove (43) against which a second end of the compression spring (30) rests. Connector socket (1) with an assembly device (40) and a compression spring (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly device (40) is L-shaped from a first leg (44a) and a second leg (44b), the opening (41) for the socket housing (2) being provided on the first leg (44a), while at least one assembly opening (8) is attached to the second leg (44b). Connector socket (1) with a mounting device (40) and a compression spring (20) according to claim 5 , A semi-cylindrical cover plate (45) covering the compression spring (30) on a side of the socket housing (2) facing away from the second leg (44b). Connector socket (1) with a mounting device (40) and a compression spring (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an IP-67 sealed closure plate (25) of the connector socket (1) is arranged at the connection-side end (24) of the connector socket (1), according to the definition of IP-67 applicable at the time of the filing date of the application. Connector socket (1) with a mounting device (40) and a compression spring (20) according to claim 7 , wherein the closure plate (25) has at least one cable passage (26) with a sealing element (27) for a cable.

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