Locking device for plug connectors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11245225-B2
Application number	US-201716089308-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2017
Priority date	Apr 1, 2016
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

Abstract

A locking arrangement for plug connectors, comprising a first locking device and a second locking device. The two locking devices can be plugged together and engaged with one another. At least one blocking element is provided for engaging the first locking device with the second locking device. The blocking element is suitable for mechanical engaging and can be actuated and released via an actuator. In addition, another actuator is arranged in the first locking device or in the second locking device to protect against failure of the locking arrangement. The engaging of the two locking devices can be released by the actuator, even when the actuator fails. The first locking device and the second locking device are provided for use in a plug and a corresponding counter plug.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A locking arrangement for plug connectors, having a first locking device and a second locking device,
wherein the first locking device has at least one blocking element,
wherein the first locking device and the second locking device are capable of being locked to one another by the blocking element,
wherein the first locking device has an electrically operated actuator adapted to act on the blocking element to unlock the blocking element,
wherein the activator is in the form of an electrically actuated screw bolt, which is arranged in the first locking device in rotatable and linearly movable fashion,
wherein the actuator is fitted on the activator and is arranged so as to be linearly movable therewith,
wherein the locking arrangement has a limit switch adapted to be switched when the first and second locking devices are completely in contact with one another,
wherein the limit switch is electrically connected to the actuator via the contact elements, and
wherein the locking device has an opening configured for providing access to the actuator so that the actuator may be manually moved in the event electrical power supply to the actuator is interrupted.

2. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuator is in the form of an electric motor.

3. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuator is in the form of a linear solenoid.

4. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a pneumatically operated actuator.

5. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first locking device and the second locking device have corresponding contact elements.

6. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the contact elements are in the form of electrical contacts, pneumatic contacts or combined electrical and pneumatic contacts.

7. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the limit switch is arranged in the second locking device and is adapted to be activated by the first locking device.

8. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the limit switch is electrically connected to the actuator via the contact elements.

9. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the activator is adapted to act on the actuator and the blocking element is thus adapted to be unlocked indirectly.

10. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the activator is arranged in the first plug part and is accessible from the plugging direction of the first locking device.

11. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first locking device and the second locking device are each a plug connector module adapted to be received in a modular plug connector.

12. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the first locking device and the second locking device have receivers, which are adapted to receive the locking device in a plug connector.

13. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first locking device has a first plug part, and the second locking device has a second plug part,
wherein the first plug part and the second plug part are pluggable one inside the other.

14. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first plug part and the second plug part are pluggable one inside the other in a form-fitting manner.

15. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first plug part is in a form of a pin and the second plug part is in a form of a socket, or vice versa.

16. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the blocking element is formed on the first plug part of the first locking device.

17. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the blocking element is adapted to engage in the second plug part of the second locking device.

18. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 13 ,
wherein the first plug part of the first locking device is designed, together with the blocking element, as a so-called quick release ball lock pin,
wherein the blocking element is in a form of a ball, and in that the second plug part of the second locking device is in a form of a receptacle for the quick release ball lock pin.

19. The locking arrangement as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the quick release ball lock pin has two blocking elements in the form of balls.

Assignees

• Harting Electric Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Troeger Lutz
• Riechmann Till

Classifications

• H01R13/7036

  the switch being in series with coupling part, e.g. dead coupling, explosion proof coupling · CPC title

• H01R13/6276 Primary

  comprising one or more balls engaging in a hole or a groove · CPC title