Electrical connector and returning jig

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9812820-B2
Application number	US-201615142296-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2016
Priority date	Jul 14, 2015
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

A connector includes: a locking lever; a switching mechanism that includes a switch configured to generate a signal capable of establishing conduction between the connector and an inlet when operated by the locking lever and is arranged so as to be movable between a first position and a second position; an outer shell configured to accommodate the locking lever and the switch therein; a cover including a cover-side protrusion and being arranged on the outer shell so that at least a part of the cover is exposed to an outside of the outer shell; and a movable-plate-side protrusion arranged in the switching mechanism and configured to retain the switching mechanism at the first position through contact with the cover-side protrusion. The locking lever includes an operating portion capable of operating the switch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector, comprising:
a locking lever, which is rotatable and configured to lock a fitting state between the electrical connector and a mating connector;
a switching mechanism, which is arranged so as to be movable between a first position and a second position, the switching mechanism comprising a switch that generates a signal capable of establishing conduction between the electrical connector and the mating connector when operated by the locking lever, and the switch generates a signal for interrupting the conduction between the electrical connector and the mating connector, or does not generate the signal capable of establishing the conduction between the electrical connector and the mating connector under a state in which the switch is not operated by the locking lever;
a shell, which is configured to accommodate the locking lever and the switching mechanism therein;
a cover comprising a cover-side retaining portion, the cover being arranged on the shell so that at least a part of the cover is exposed to an outside of the shell; and
a switch-side retaining portion, which is arranged in the switching mechanism and configured to retain the switching mechanism at the first position through contact with the cover-side retaining portion, the locking lever comprising:
a rotation shaft defining a center of rotation;
a locking portion to be brought into contact with the mating connector; and
an operating portion, which is arranged on an opposite side of the locking portion across the rotation shaft, and is capable of operating the switch,

wherein, when the switching mechanism is located at the first position, the locking lever is rotated so that the operating portion is capable of operating the switch,
wherein, when the cover-side retaining portion and the switch-side retaining portion are in a non-contact state, the switching mechanism is arranged at the second position, and
wherein, when the switching mechanism is located at the second position, the operating portion is incapable of operating the switch.

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the switching mechanism comprises:
a movable plate arranged on the switch; and
a movable-plate-side protrusion formed on the movable plate and serving as the switch-side retaining portion to be brought into contact with the cover, and

wherein the cover-side retaining portion comprises a cover-side protrusion to be brought into contact with the movable-plate-side protrusion.

3. An electrical connector according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a spring arranged on the movable plate and configured to apply a force to the movable plate from the first position to the second position;
a stationary plate arranged on the shell and configured to retain the spring; and
a movable-plate retaining shaft configured to rotatably retain the movable plate on the shell.

4. An electrical connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the switch comprises a spring piece,
wherein, when the spring piece is pressed by the operating portion, the switch generates the signal capable of establishing the conduction between the electrical connector and the mating connector, and
wherein, under a state in which the spring piece is not pressed by the operating portion, the switch one of generates the signal for interrupting the conduction between the electrical connector and the mating connector, and does not generate the signal capable of establishing the conduction between the electrical connector and the mating connector.

5. An electrical connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the shell has a forcibly releasing jig insertion hole formed in an end portion of the shell on a side opposite to a direction in which the electrical connector is fitted to the mating connector, and
wherein the cover is mounted to the shell so as to cover the forcibly releasing jig insertion hole, and is dismountable from the shell by being moved in a direction opposite to the direction in which the electrical connector is fitted to the mating connector.

6. An electrical connector according to claim 5 , wherein, when the cover-side retaining portion and the switch-side retaining portion are in a non-contact state, the locking lever is located at a position at which the locking lever is visually recognizable through the forcibly releasing jig insertion hole.

7. An electrical connector according to claim 2 ,
wherein the movable plate comprises a guide portion serving as a guide when the switching mechanism is moved from the second position to the first position, and
wherein the shell has a returning hole that enables the guide portion to be visually recognized from the outside of the shell when the switching mechanism is located at the second position.

8. A returning jig, comprising:
an insertion portion having a shaft shape to be inserted into the returning hole of the electrical connector of claim 7 ; and
a plate-like key portion, which is formed at a distal end portion of the insertion portion so as to protrude in a radial direction of the insertion portion, and is configured to be brought into contact with the guide portion when inserted into the returning hole,
wherein, under a state in which the switching mechanism is located at the second position, the insertion portion is inserted into the returning hole so that the plate-like key portion is brought into contact with the guide portion, and
wherein the plate-like key portion is rotated to press the guide portion toward the first position so that the switching mechanism is arrangeable at the first position.

Assignees

• Japan Aviation Electronics Ltd
• Japan Aviation Electronics Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Takagi Youhei

Classifications

• H01R13/713

  the switch being a safety switch · CPC title

• H01R13/701 Primary

  the switch being actuated by an accessory, e.g. cover, locking member · CPC title

• H01R13/6275

  Latching arms not integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60L53/16

  Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles · CPC title

• Y02T10/7072

  Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors · CPC title