JP3154464B2 - Method and apparatus for connecting power supply connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To automatically connect the power supplying side and the power receiving side and automatically cancel this connection by building an electric motor or an electromagnetic solenoid in the structure so as to move at least one of a male and female pair of connectors forward or backward in the fitting axial direction. CONSTITUTION: A motor 6 or a pair of solenoids are positioned in the depth of a housing 1 and it is not driven. In this condition, a handle 3 of a housing 2 is gripped and moved in the direction F, and the tip thereof is fitted to the tip of the objective housing 20. Fitting is continued till an engagement part 22 of the housing 20 is engaged with a locking park 10 of the housing 2. At this stage, when a switch 4 is operated so as to rotate the motor 6 counter clockwise, a gear 7 is rotated clockwise so as to push a rack 8 forward. With this movement, an internal housing 5 is moved forward, and the tip wall 5A of the housing 5 is slid along the inner wall of the housing 20. Consequently, the engagement part 22 is sealed by the locking part 10, and strongly locked with the housing 20. A connector 9 is connected to the objective connector 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power supply connector device, and more particularly to a power supply connector device capable of automatically fitting / disconnecting a connector for supplying a large current for supplying power to an electric vehicle or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A power supply connector device is used, for example, in a power supply station of an electric vehicle. As such a conventional power supply connector device, a lever-type hand-operated one as shown in FIG. 15 is known. In the figure, the power supply connector 100 has a connector housing 101 built-in, and the tip is applied to a connector (not shown) on the power receiving side.
The fulcrum, the pin 104 serves as a point of action, and the connector housing 101 is pushed out in the W direction via the handle 106 on the principle of a pusher, so that the power-supply-side connector is pushed into the power-receiving-side connector to be fitted, or at the time of disengagement. Similarly, the power supply connector is detached from the power receiving connector by operating the handle lever in the reverse direction.

[0003]

However, in the above-described configuration in which the connector is manually engaged or disengaged, there is a limit in the insertion / extraction force, and for a large connector for a large current, the manual engagement / disengagement is sufficient. There was a problem that does not work. That is, the manual insertion / removal force required for fitting / removing is insufficient. For this reason, there is a problem that it cannot cope with a large current or an application having a large insertion / extraction force such as a high-density multi-pole connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such problems and disadvantages, and a purpose thereof is to provide a power supply connector connection method for automatically connecting and disconnecting a connector, and a power supply connector device embodying the connection method. Is to provide.

[0005]

Connection of the power supply connector according to the present invention for realizing the object, according to an aspect of the electromagnetic to sequentially fitted or detached pair at a time with a time difference sets of connectors consisting of male and female pair Sequential fitting using moving means
Alternatively, they are separated . Further, the power supply connector device according to the present invention is characterized in that the power supply connector device is provided with an electromagnetic moving means for sequentially engaging or disengaging a plurality of sets of connectors comprising a pair of male and female one by one with a time lag.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for connecting a power supply connector, comprising the steps of: connecting at least one of a plurality of sets of a male and female connector;
Motor housing by connecting each housing
Can be moved back and forth by each drawing shaft to which
And the rotational torque of one of the drawing shafts reaches a predetermined value.
When reached, the clutch is disengaged by cam action and
Electromagnetic moving means for transmitting the rotational force of the motor to another drawing shaft
The plural sets of connectors are sequentially fitted or disconnected one by one with a time lag by using.
Further, the power supply connector device according to the present invention is a power supply connector device of at least one of the male and female connectors of a plurality of sets of male and female connectors.
Each housing is connected by a clutch to transmit the torque of the motor.
Formed to be able to move back and forth by each drawing axis reached
And the rotational torque of one of the drawing shafts reaches a predetermined value.
Then, the clutch is disengaged by the cam action to
By transmitting the rotational force of the
Electromagnetic moving means for sequentially connecting or disconnecting several sets of connectors one by one with a time difference therebetween is provided.

[0007]

1 shows the basics of a power supply connector device according to the present invention.
It is a see-through | perspective perspective view which shows a type | mold . 2 to 4 are top views illustrating the operation of the power supply connector device of FIG.
Hereinafter,-out based on FIGS. 1 through 4, illustrating the construction and operation of the feeding conductive connector connection method and the power feeding connector device. FIG.
In, feeding electric connector device 1 comprises a handle 3 and a switch 4 on the rear end, front end and the housing 2 of a substantially rectangular opening,
A motor 6 (electromagnetic moving means) fixed inside the housing 2 and having a spur gear mounted on a rotating shaft;
A gear 7 having a two-stage gear meshed with a spur gear mounted on the motor 6 and having a rack 8 meshed with the gear 7 is provided so as to be rotatable negatively inside, and moves inside the housing 2 in the front-rear direction. It is made up of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped internal housing 5 with a connector 9 mounted inside the tip. On both sides near the opening at the front end of the housing 2, concave locking portions 10 are provided.

A substantially rectangular parallelepiped mating housing 20 is provided with a mating connector 21 at the tip and a convex engaging portion 22 on both outer sides of the tip. The mating housing 20 is inserted from the opening of the housing 2 at the time of fitting,
The mating connector 21 is connected to the connector 9. Thus, the connector 9 constitutes a power supply connector, and the mating connector 21 constitutes a power receiving connector. The switch 4 of the power supply connector device 1 drives and stops the motor 6,
And the rotation direction of the motor 6 is switched.

Next, the operation will be described. In FIG. 2, the inner housing 5 is located at the back of the housing 2 and the motor 6
Is not driven. In this state, the user grips the handle 3 of the housing 2 and moves in the direction F in the figure to fit the tip of the housing 2 to the tip of the mating housing 20. If the fitting is continued in this state, the engaging portion 22 of the mating housing 20 is eventually engaged with the locking portion 10 of the housing 2 as shown in FIG.
Next, the switch 4 is operated to move the motor 6 to the position shown in FIG.
When the gear 7 is rotated counterclockwise, the gear 7 rotates clockwise and pushes the rack 8 forward. Along with this, the inner housing 5 moves forward, and the tip wall 5A of the inner housing 5 slides along the inner wall of the mating housing 20. As a result, the engaging portion 22 is sealed by the locking portion 10, and therefore the displacement of the engaging portion 22 in the direction of arrow G (see FIG. 3) is prevented. As a result, the mating housing 20 is firmly locked to the housing 2. When the motor 6 is further rotated counterclockwise, the inner housing 5 moves further forward, and the connector 9 is connected to the mating connector 21.

As described above, the connector 9 on the power supply side and the connector 21 on the power reception side are automatically connected by the electromagnetic moving means of the motor 6. To automatically disconnect the connector 9 on the power supply side and the connector 21 on the power reception side, the switch 4 is operated to rotate the motor 6 in the reverse direction clockwise.

[0011] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another basic type power supply connector according to the present invention. In the figure, a power supply connector device 1A has a rod 11 made of a non-magnetic material, for example, made of a synthetic resin, extending rearward from a rear end of an inner housing 5A.
Are connected. Two annular electromagnets 13 </ b> A and 13 </ b> B are provided in the axial direction in sliding contact with the outer periphery of the amateur 12 and the rod 11. That is, in this example , the electromagnetic moving means is achieved by the rod 11, the armature 12, and the electromagnets 13A and 13B which form an electromagnetic solenoid. In the state of FIG. 5, the armature 12 is located at the right end, and therefore, the inner housing 5A is located at the right end. Here, the other housing 20 is replaced with the housing 2A as in the previous example.
When the electromagnet 13A of the front ring is driven,
The amateur 12 is attracted by the electromagnet 13A and moves to the left in the figure. As a result, the inner housing 5A also moves to the left, and the connector 9 on the power supply side and the connector 21 on the power reception side are automatically connected. To release the connection, the rear electromagnet 13B is driven.

FIG. 6 shows a power supply connector device according to the present invention.
It is a sectional lineblock diagram of one example. 7 to FIG.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a connection operation of the power supply connector device of FIG. 6. 11 to 14 are explanatory diagrams of the release operation. In each of the drawings, the power supply connector device 31 according to the present invention includes a housing 32, a first terminal 35A at a front portion, and a first sheath 34A having a screw groove at an inner wall at a rear portion. First terminal housing 3 movable in the left-right direction)
3A, a second terminal housing 33B having a second terminal 35B at the front and a second sheath 34B having a screw groove at the inner wall at the rear and movable back and forth (left and right directions in the drawing); A third terminal housing 33C having a third terminal 35C and a third sheath 34C having a screw groove on an inner wall is provided at a rear portion and is movable back and forth (left and right directions in the drawing).

A first extraction screw portion 37A is screwed into the thread groove of the first sheath 34A, and a first extraction shaft 36A is connected to a rear portion of the first extraction screw portion 37A. First extraction shaft 36
A is fixed to the outer periphery of the first clutch 42A.
A first clutch spur gear 41A, which is slidable and rotatable, is inserted around the outer periphery of the extraction shaft 36A so as to face the first clutch 42A. Further, the first extraction shaft 36A has a first
The wire spring 43 is embedded, and the first wire spring 43 is composed of an inclined surface inclined downward and left from the center and an inclined surface inclined downward and right from the center.
It protrudes from the shaft. The first extraction screw portion 37A is rotated by the rotation of the first extraction shaft 36A, and the first sheath 34A screwed to the first extraction screw portion 37A is extracted back and forth. As a result, the first terminal housing 33A moves back and forth. ing.

A second extraction screw portion 37B is screwed into the screw groove of the second sheath 34B, and a second extraction shaft 36B is connected to the rear of the second extraction screw portion 37B. Second extraction shaft 36
A second clutch 42B is rotatably mounted on the outer periphery of the second extraction shaft 36B so as to rotate with the second extraction shaft 36B and move back and forth along the outer periphery of the second extraction shaft 36B. -Rotatable second clutch spur gear 41B
Is inserted facing the second clutch 42B.
Further, a second front wire spring 44 is embedded in the front inside the second extraction shaft 36B. The second front wire spring 44 includes a slope inclined from the center to the lower left and a slope inclined from the center to the lower right. The central portion is slightly protruded from the shaft. Further, a second rear wire spring 45 is embedded in the rear inside of the second extraction shaft 36B. The second rear wire spring 45 is composed of a slope inclined from the center to the lower left and a slope inclined from the center to the lower right. The central portion is slightly protruded from the shaft. The rotation of the second extraction shaft 36B rotates the second extraction screw portion 37B,
The second sheath 34B screwed to this is drawn back and forth, so that the second terminal housing 33B moves back and forth.

A third extraction screw portion 37C is screwed into the thread groove of the third sheath 34C, and a third extraction shaft 36C is connected to the rear of the third extraction screw portion 37C. Third extraction shaft 36
A third clutch 42C is fixedly attached to the outer periphery of C.
A slidably rotatable third clutch spur gear 41C is inserted around the outer periphery of the extraction shaft 36C so as to face the third clutch 42C. Further, the third extraction shaft 36C has a third
The wire spring 46 is embedded, and the third wire spring 46 is composed of an inclined surface inclined downward and left from the center and an inclined surface inclined downward and right from the center.
It protrudes from the shaft. The third extraction screw portion 37C is rotated by the rotation of the third extraction shaft 36C, and the third sheath 34C screwed with the third extraction screw portion 37C is extracted back and forth, and as a result, the third terminal housing 33C moves back and forth. Has become.

Further, a switch 50 is provided in the housing 32.
And a motor 38 having a first spur gear 39A fixed to the rotating shaft, and a first two-stage spur gear 40 meshing with the first spur gear 39A and the first clutch spur gear 41A. Further, a second spur gear 39B meshing with the first clutch spur gear 41A and the second clutch spur gear 41B, and a third spur gear 39C meshing with the second clutch spur gear 41B and the third clutch spur gear 41C are provided. You. Further, the first clutch spur gear 41A and the second clutch 42B can be moved while maintaining the positional relationship by the second gear slider 48,
Further, the second clutch spur gear 41B and the third clutch spur gear 41C are configured to be movable while maintaining the positional relationship by a third gear slider 49. The mating housing 60 locked to the housing 32 includes a mating first terminal 61.
A, the other party's second terminal 61B, and the other party's third terminal 61C
The first terminal 61A on the other side is connected to the first terminal 35A,
The partner second terminal 61B is connected to the second terminal 35B and the partner third terminal 61B.
The terminals 61C are connected to the third terminals 35C, respectively.

Next, the connection operation will be described. In FIG. 7, when the switch 50 is tilted forward, the motor 38 and the first spur gear 39A start rotating, and this rotation is transmitted to the first clutch spur gear 41A via the first two-stage spur gear 40. . Since the inner periphery of the first clutch spur gear 41A is in contact with the left inclined surface of the first wire spring 43 and is urged forward, the first clutch spur gear 41A and the first clutch 42A are engaged, and the first clutch 42A Rotates. With the rotation of the first clutch 42A, the first feed shaft 3
6A, the first extraction screw portion 37A rotates, and the first sheath 34
A and the first terminal housing 33A move forward.
In the above state, the first clutch spur gear 41A is located forward by the bias of the first wire spring 43, so that the first clutch spur gear 41A and the second spur gear 39B are disengaged from each other. The rotation is not transmitted to the second clutch spur gear 41B. Similarly, the engagement between the second clutch spur gear 41B and the third spur gear 39C is released, and the rotation of the motor 38 is not transmitted to the third clutch spur gear 41C.

Eventually, as shown in FIG.
Is connected to the first terminal 61A of the mating housing 60, the first terminal housing 33A reaches the left end and stops moving. But since the rotation of the motor 38 continues, the torque is increased, mosquito Therefore first clutch 42A
The first clutch spur gear 41A is pushed rearward by the action of the gear to disengage. As a result, the rotation is not transmitted to the first clutch 42A, and the rotation of the first extraction shaft 36A and the first extraction screw portion 37A is stopped. The first clutch spur gear 41 </ b> A pushed rearward is the first wire spring 4 </ b> A.
3 and comes into contact with the lower right slope of the first wire spring 43. The first clutch spur gear 41A moves rearward to allow the first two-stage spur gear 40 and the second
The spur gears 39B mesh with each other, and the rotation of the first two-stage spur gear 40 is transmitted to the second clutch spur gear 41B via the second spur gear 39B. On the other hand, the second movement of the second gear slider 48 caused by the backward movement of the first clutch spur gear 41A
The clutch 42B also rides on the second front wire spring 44.
And moves rearward, and as a result, the second clutch spur gear 41
B engages with the second clutch 42B to rotate the second extraction shaft 36B and the second extraction screw portion 37B, and the second sheath 34B and the second terminal housing 33B are extracted forward. In the state described above, the inner periphery of the second clutch spur gear 41B is in contact with the left-downward inclined surface of the second rear wire spring 45, and the inner periphery of the second clutch 42B is on the right-downward inclined surface of the second front wire spring 44. In contact.

Eventually, as shown in FIG.
Is connected to the counterpart second terminal 61B of the counterpart housing 60, the second terminal housing 33B reaches the left end and stops moving. But since the rotation of the motor 38 continues, the torque is increased, mosquito Therefore the second clutch 42B
The second clutch spur gear 41B is pushed rearward by the action of the gear to disengage the mesh. As a result, the rotation is not transmitted to the second clutch 42B, and the rotation of the second extraction shaft 36B and the second extraction screw portion 37B is stopped. The second clutch spur gear 41B pushed rearward crosses the center of the second rear wire spring 45 and comes into contact with the downward slope of the second rear wire spring 45, so that the second clutch spur gear 41B moves backward. As a result, the second clutch spur gear 41B and the third spur gear 39C mesh with each other. On the other hand, the third clutch spur gear 41C by rearward movement of the third gear slider 49 by rearward movement of the second clutch spur gear 41B is also the
3 overcame wire spring 46 moves rearward, the result together with the third clutch spur gear 41C and the third spur gear 39C meshes, a third抽送shaft 36C third clutch spur gear 41C is in third clutch 42C meshes The third extraction screw portion 37C rotates, and the third sheath 34C and the third terminal housing 33C are extracted forward. In the state described above, the inner periphery of the second clutch spur gear 41B is in contact with the left-downward inclined surface of the second rear wire spring 45, and the inner periphery of the second clutch 42B is in the right-downward inclined surface of the second front wire spring 44. In contact.

Eventually, as shown in FIG.
When C is connected to the mating third terminal 61C of the mating housing 60, the third terminal housing 33C reaches the left end and stops moving. However, since the rotation of the motor 38 continues, the torque greatly increases. When an overcurrent I flows through the motor 38 and a controller (not shown) detects this, the switch 50 is automatically opened. As described above, three sets of male and female terminals are sequentially fitted one by one with a time lag, but the torque of the motor as the electromagnetic moving means is 1 unit.
Slightly larger than required for connection of the terminals of the set is sufficient, so that miniaturization of components and cost reduction can be achieved.

The operations of disconnecting and disconnecting the connectors connected as described above are also described in FIGS.
As shown in (1), it is realized by following the reverse process. In FIG. 11, when the switch 50 is tilted backward, the motor 38 rotates in the reverse direction, the third extraction shaft 36C rotates in the reverse direction, and moves the third terminal housing 33C rearward.
C is separated from the third terminal 61C on the other side. Eventually Figure 1
As shown in FIG. 2, the third terminal housing 33C is
2A, the torque increases, and the third clutch 42C is actuated by the cam to act on the third clutch spur gear 41C.
To disengage by pushing forward, and the third clutch spur gear 4
1C moves forward over the third wire spring 46 to disengage with the third spur gear 39C, and
The movement of the gear slider 49 moves the second clutch spur gear 41B forward. Due to the forward movement of the second clutch spur gear 41B, the second clutch spur gear 41B rides over the center of the second rear wire spring 45 and comes into contact with the lower left inclined surface, and the second clutch spur gear 41B is attached forward. Urged to engage the second clutch 42B. As a result, the rotation of the motor 38 is transmitted to the second extraction shaft 36B via the second clutch spur gear 41B and the second clutch 42B, and the second terminal housing 33B starts moving backward, and contacts the second terminal 35B. It is detached from the second terminal 61B.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the second terminal housing 33B reaches the insertion wall 32A and stops, the torque increases, and the second clutch spur gear 41B pushes the second clutch 42B forward to disengage. . Second clutch 4
With the forward movement of 2B, the second gear slider 48 also moves forward to move the first clutch spur gear 41A forward. As a result, the first clutch spur gear 41A rides over the center of the first wire spring 43 and comes into contact with the downwardly inclined surface, and the first clutch spur gear 41A is urged forward to mesh with the first clutch 42A. As a result,
The rotation of the motor 38 is transmitted to the first extraction shaft 36A,
The terminal housing 33A starts moving backward to detach the first terminal 35A from the first terminal 61A. As shown in FIG. 14, when the first terminal housing 33A reaches the insertion wall 32A and stops, the torque greatly increases and an overcurrent I flows through the motor 38, and a controller (not shown) detects this and switches the switch 50. Is automatically opened and all disconnections are completed. As described above, the three sets of the male and female terminals are sequentially disconnected one by one with a time lag, but the torque of the motor, which is the electromagnetic moving means, is greater than that required to disconnect the set of terminals. A little larger is sufficient.

Of the three sets of terminals, for example, the terminal that is connected first and is released last is a ground terminal, the terminal that is connected and released second from the last is a main power supply terminal, It is desirable to configure a terminal that is connected to the terminal and released first as a signal terminal.

[0024]

As described above, in the power supply connector connecting method according to the present invention, a plurality of sets of connectors each comprising a pair of male and female are sequentially fitted or disconnected one by one with a time lag.
Since the connection and disconnection are sequentially performed using the electromagnetic moving means , connection or disconnection of all the connector sets can be executed with low insertion / extraction force. Also, by properly setting the order of the connector sets to be connected or released, for example, to connect the ground connector first and to release the connector last, it is possible to avoid an electric shock accident and to ensure safety. Further, the power supply connector device according to the present invention has a built-in electromagnetic moving means for sequentially fitting or disengaging a plurality of sets of connectors each comprising a pair of male and female with a time lag therebetween, so that the power supply side and the power reception side Can be automatically connected or released in a desired order.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a basic type of a power supply connector device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory view of the power supply connector device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of the power supply connector device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram of the power supply connector device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows another basic type of the power supply connector device according to the present invention.
It is a sectional view showing.

6 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a power supply connector according to the present invention.

7 is an explanatory diagram of a connection operation of the power supply connector device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a connection operation of the power supply connector device of FIG. 6;

9 is an explanatory diagram of a connection operation of the power supply connector device of FIG. 6;

10 is an explanatory diagram of a connection operation of the power supply connector device of FIG.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a releasing operation of the power supply connector device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a releasing operation of the power supply connector device of FIG. 6;

13 is an explanatory diagram of a releasing operation of the power supply connector device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a releasing operation of the power supply connector device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional power supply connector device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power supply connector device 2 Housing 3 Handle 4 Switch 5 Inner housing 6 Motor 7 Gear 8 Rack 9 Connector 10 Locking part 20 Mating housing 21 Mating connector 22 Engaging part

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Nobuaki Yoshioka 206-1 Nunobikihara, Haibara-cho, Haibara-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside Yazaki Parts Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-304878 (JP, A) JP-A Heisei 1-128386 (JP, A) JP-A-2-281580 (JP, A) JP-A 63-109469 (JP, U) JP-A 57-104478 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/629 H01R 43/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A small number of sets of connectors each comprising a pair of male and female.
At least one housing for one connector
Each connection to connect the motor to transmit the torque of the motor.
A shaft so as to be movable back and forth, and
When the two rotating torques reach the specified value,
Disengage the clutch to transfer the rotational force of the motor to another extraction shaft.
The plurality of sets of connectors using electromagnetic moving means for transmitting to the
A method of connecting a power supply connector, wherein the power supply connectors are sequentially fitted or disconnected one by one with a time lag. 2. A small number of sets of connectors comprising a pair of male and female.
At least one housing for one connector
Each connection to connect the motor to transmit the torque of the motor.
A shaft so as to be movable back and forth, and
When the two rotating torques reach the specified value,
Disengage the clutch to transfer the rotational force of the motor to another extraction shaft.
A power supply connector device, comprising: an electromagnetic moving means for sequentially connecting or disconnecting the plurality of sets of connectors one by one with a time lag by transmitting the sets of connectors to each other.