Connector for Supplying Electric Power

Abstract

A connector for supplying electric power to a machine or other devices that require electrical energy, the connector facilitating and securing the connection, thereby preventing possible accidental disconnection. The connector comprises a male connector element, a protective piece, and a blocking device that, in a closed position of the connector, provides double blocking on a single element forming part of the male connector element, to prevent the connector of the invention from disconnecting. The blocking device is configured to block pins from tilting in the closed position of the connector, wherein the blocking device comprises rear projections solidly connected to the protective piece, and end portions solidly connected to the pins.

Claims

1. A connector for supplying electric power, comprising: at least one male connector element comprising a main body and a plurality of protruding pins attached centrally to the main body, the plurality of protruding pins further comprising longitudinal ribs, end flanges, and end portions having inclined areas and located opposite to the end flanges on the main body; a protective piece having a tubular structure and configured for being coupled to and moving axially in a guided manner along the at least one male connector element, the protective piece further comprising rear projections having inclined areas which form a wedged fitting when coming into contact with the inclined areas of the end portions of the plurality of protruding pins of the at least one male connector element when the connector is in a closed position, such that the rear projections of the protective piece and the end portions of the protruding pins form a blocking device configured to block the protruding pins from tilting in the dosed position of the connector; and at least one female connector element comprising flanges into which the end flanges of the at least one male connector element can anchor when the connector is in a closed position, wherein the protective piece is located in a forward position towards the at least one female connector element.

2. The connector for supplying electric power according to claim 1, wherein the at least one male connector element further comprises lugs, and wherein the protective piece further comprises holes configured to receive the lugs of the at least one male connector element when the connector is in a closed position, such that the protective piece is immobilized with respect to the at least one male connector element.

3. The connector for supplying electric power according to claim 2, wherein the holes of the protective piece are located at the ends of guides located on inner surfaces of the protective piece, wherein the lugs are housed and guided in the guides.

4. The connector for supplying electric power according to claim 1, further comprising a cover that is attached to the male connector element in one and the same axial direction.

5. The connector for supplying electric power according to claim 4, wherein the protective piece comprises inner surfaces which are configured for contacting the longitudinal ribs of the pins an open position of the connector, and wherein an open position of the connector is a position in which the protective piece is located in a backward position, towards the cover, opposite the forward position of the protective piece.

6. The connector for supplying electric power according to claim 1, wherein the protective piece further comprises front projections, wherein the front projections and the rear projections are located in opposite end openings of the protective piece with a tubular structure.

7. The connector for supplying electric power according to claim 1, further comprising an axial retention device configured for preventing the separation of the protective piece with respect to the male connector element; the axial retention device comprising front projections solidly connected to the protective piece and front steppings located in the longitudinal ribs of the pins of the male connector element, wherein in an axial retention position of the protective piece and the front projections abut against the front steppings of the longitudinal ribs of the pins.

8. The connector for supplying electric power according to claim 2, further comprising a cover that is attached to the male connector element in one and the same axial direction.

9. The connector for supplying electric power according to claim 2, wherein the protective piece further comprises front projections, wherein the front projections and the rear projections are located in opposite end openings of the protective piece with a tubular structure.

10. The connector for supplying electric power according to claim 2, further comprising an axial retention device configured for preventing the separation of the protective piece with respect to the male connector element; the axial retention device comprising front projections solidly connected to the protective piece and front steppings located in the longitudinal ribs of the pins of the male connector element, wherein in an axial retention position of the protective piece and the front projections abut against the front steppings of the longitudinal ribs of the pins.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the connector for supplying electric power, object of the invention.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector in which a male connector element is attached to a female connector element in a closed position with blocking.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector in a disconnected position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0036] Taking into consideration the numbering adopted in the figures, the connector for supplying electric power comprises a male connector element 1, a cover 2, and a protective piece 3 with a tubular structure which is configured for being coupled to and moved axially in a guided manner along the assembly of the male connector element 1 and the cover 2, wherein the male connector element 1 is attached to the cover 2 by means of screws 16.

[0037] The male connector element 1 is configured for being able to be connected to a female connector element 4, such that when the male connector element 1 and the female connector element 4 are connected to one another, the connection thereof is secured by means of a blocking device that includes elements of the protective piece 3 and other elements of the male connector element 1; all of this is in accordance with the description below.

[0038] The male connector element 1 includes two protruding pins 5 attached to opposite regions of said male connector element 1 by means of attachment elements 6, wherein each of said pins 5 includes a first part 5a and a second part 5b, such that the pins 5 can tilt, in a first direction of rotation G1 or in a second direction of rotation G2, so as to be placed in different planes depending on the axial positioning of the protective piece 3 along the assembly of the male connector element 1 and the cover 2.

[0039] Each of the attachment elements 6 comprises pairs of side appendages located in an intermediate region in which the first part 5a and the second part 5b of the respective pin 5 come together, wherein said side appendages are solidly connected to the second part 5b having a larger width than the first part 5a of said pin 5.

[0040] The first parts 5a of the pins 5 include end flanges 7 that are complementary to other flanges 4a solidly connected to the female connector element 4 to enable ensuring that the male connector element 1 is anchored to the female connector element 4 in the closed position of the connector of the invention. In contrast, the second parts 5b of the pins 5 include wedge-shaped longitudinal ribs 8.

[0041] The protective piece 3 can move axially forward in a first axial direction D1, i.e., towards the female connector element 4, to enable blocking the closure of the connector to ensure that the male connector element 1 engages the female connector element 4; and the protective piece 3 can also move axially backward (towards the cover 2) in a second axial direction D2 to enable releasing said closure, and thereby opening the connector so as to enable separating the male connector element 1 from the female connector element 4.

[0042] The protective piece 3 includes front projections 9 that are complementary to front steppings 10 located in the longitudinal ribs 8 of the male connector element 1.

[0043] The protective piece 3 includes rear projections 11 that are complementary to end portions of the pins 5 constituting the blocking device which secures the connection and blocking of the connector when the male connector element 1 is attached to the female connector element 4 in the closed position.

[0044] The front projections 9 and the rear projections 11 are located in opposite end openings of the protective piece 3 with a tubular structure.

[0045] Said front projections 9 and the front steppings 10 constitute an axial retention device configured for preventing the separation of the protective piece 3 with respect to the male connector element 1 when said protective piece 3 is moved axially in the second axial direction D2 guided in the male connector element 1 until the front projections 9 abut against the front steppings 10 of the longitudinal ribs 8 solidly connected to the pins 5 of the male connector element 1. In this situation, the protective piece 3 is located in a rear end position limited by the described retention device.

[0046] During the axial movement of the protective piece 3 in the second axial movement direction D2, inner surfaces of the protective piece 3 contact the longitudinal ribs 8 of the pins 5, causing said pins 5 to tilt in the second direction of rotation G2; wherein in this operation of axial movement of the protective piece 3, the end flanges 7 of the pins 5 disengage from the flanges 4a of the female connector element 4, whereby the disassembly or unplugging of the connector is facilitated in this situation, separating the male connector element 1 from the female connector element 4.

[0047] The contact of the inner surfaces of the protective piece 3 on the longitudinal ribs 8 of the pins 5 also facilitates the assembly of the connector. In this situation, the contact between the inner surfaces of the protective piece 3 on the longitudinal ribs 8 of the pins 5 causes the distance between the end flanges 7 of the pins 5 to be greater than when the end flanges 7 are engaged in the flanges 4a of the female connector element 4, facilitating attachment between the male connector element 1 and the female connector element 4.

[0048] When the inner surfaces of the protective piece 3 are in contact with the longitudinal ribs 8 of the pins 5, the connector is in an open position prepared for carrying out both the assembly or plugging-in of the connector and the disassembly or unplugging of the connector.

[0049] In contrast, when the male connector element 1 is plugged in or connected to the female connector element 4 in the closed position in which the end flanges 7 are engaged in the flanges 4a of the female connector element 4, to secure the blocking of said closure, the protective piece 3 is moved axially towards the first axial direction D1 until the first inclined areas 11a of the rear projections 11 of the protective piece 3 contact the second inclined areas 15 of the end portions of the second parts 5b of the pins 5, such that said rear projections 11 tend to drive the tilting of the pins 5 in the first direction of rotation G1 to secure and block said pins 5 in the closed position of the connector.

[0050] Contacts between the first inclined areas 11a of the rear projections 11 of the protective piece 3 and the second inclined areas 15 of the end portions of the second parts 5b of the pins 5 are inclined contacts, providing a wedged fitting which reinforces the closure of the connector.

[0051] Finally, to more reliably assure closure blocking, the male connector element 1 includes lugs 12 that are complementary to holes 13 located in the protective piece 3, wherein the holes 13 are located at the end of guides 14 located on inner surfaces of said protective piece 3.

[0052] The lugs 12 are housed and guided in said guides 14, such that in the closed position of the connector the lugs 12 are inserted in the holes 13 arranged at the end of the guides 14 of the protective piece 3, blocking the movement of said protective piece 3. The lugs 12 and the holes 13 constitute an anchoring device which immobilizes the protective piece 3 in the closed position of the connector of the invention.

[0053] The protective piece 3, which is moved axially guided along the outside of the assembly formed by the male connector element 1 and the cover 2 ensures the protection of the pins 5, facilitates the release of said pins 5 when the protective piece 3 is moved axially backward in the second axial direction D2 towards the cover 2, and assures the blocking of the pins 5 when the protective piece 3 is moved axially forward in the first axial direction D1 towards the female connector element 4.

[0054] With the connector of the invention, the connection quality of the hot melt adhesive equipment/machines and the quality of said equipment/machines are improved.