Electrical connector and plug-in connection, high voltage system and method for locking an electrical plug-in connection

An electrical plug-in connection comprising:

• an electrical connector;
• and
• an electrical mating connector;
• and
• the electrical connector has,
• a connector housing having a locking safeguard, and the locking safeguard has a first stop and defines a recess,
• a securing element that is guided by the connector housing and movable between an initial position and a securing position, the securing element further having a latching lug that communicates with the first stop of the locking safeguard to block the securing element in the initial position,
• an actuating element that is carried by the connector housing and is movable between a home position and a locking position, to lock the electrical connector to the electrical mating connector, and the actuating element has a release body, that enters the recess defined in the locking safeguard to displace the latching lug of the securing element relative to the first stop of the locking safeguard, so that the securing element is movable, along a displacement path, between the initial position and the securing position, and
• the securing element, when in the securing position, blocks the actuating element in the locking position;
• and
• the electrical mating connector corresponds to the electrical connector and the electrical mating connector has at least one guide lug, that acts in combination with the actuating element of the electrical connector and the actuation element is movable in an arc of movement between the home position and the locking position so that the electrical connector, starting from a pre-latching position, assumes a locking position with the electrical mating connector when the actuating element is moved through the arc of movement from the home position into the locking position;
• and
• a connector body of the mating connector, and the connector body is configured to receive a contact means therein;
• and
• shielding carried by the connector body;
• and
• the connector body is insertable into an opening defined in a housing part of a housing of an electronics unit;
• and
• the connector body comprises an inner connector body and an outer connector body and the inner connector body and the outer connector body are positioned on opposite sides of the housing part;
• and
• the inner connector body is fixed in the housing of the electronics unit, independently of the housing part;
• and
• fastening means connect the inner and outer connector bodies to each another in such a manner that the housing part is fixed between the inner and outer connector bodies.

A high-voltage system, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising:

• an electrical connector, the electrical connector having,
• a connector housing having a locking safeguard, and the locking safeguard has a first stop and defines a recess,
• a securing element that is guided by the locking safeguard of the connector housing and movable between an initial position and a securing position, the securing element further having a latching lug that communicates with the first stop of the locking safeguard to block the securing element in the initial position,
• an actuating element that is carried by the connector housing and is movable between a home position and a locking position in an arc of movement about a pair of pivot axles carried on opposing side portions of the connector housing, to lock the electrical connector to the electrical mating connector, and the actuating element has a release body, that enters the recess defined in the locking safeguard to displace the latching lug of the securing element relative to the first stop of the locking safeguard, so that the securing element is displaced, along a displacement path, between the initial position which is distal from the pair of pivot axles, and the securing position which is toward the pair of pivot axle, and
• the securing element, when in the securing position and positioned toward the pair of pivot axles, blocks the actuating element in the locking position;
• and
• a housing having a high voltage electronic unit;
• the housing having a housing part to which an electrical mating connector is fixed;
• and
• the electrical mating connector is configured for connection to the electrical connector.

A method for locking an electrical plug-in connection comprising the steps:

• providing an electrical connector, the electrical connector having,
• a connector housing having a locking safeguard, and the locking safeguard has a first stop and defines a recess,
• a securing element that is guided by the connector housing and movable between an initial position and a securing position, the securing element further having a latching lug that communicates with the first stop of the locking safeguard to block the securing element in the initial position,
• an actuating element that is carried by the connector housing and is movable between a home position and a locking position in an arc of movement about a pair of pivot axles carried on opposing side portions of the connector housing, to lock the electrical connector to the electrical mating connector, and the actuating element has a release body, that enters the recess defined in the locking safeguard to displace the latching lug of the securing element relative to the first stop of the locking safeguard, so that the securing element is displaced, along a displacement path, between the initial position which is distal from the pair of pivot axles, and the securing position which is toward the pair of pivot axles, and
• the securing element, when in the securing position and positioned toward the pair of pivot axles, blocks the actuating element in the locking position;
• and
• providing a mating connector, the mating connector corresponding to the electrical connector and the electrical mating connector has a guide means, that acts in combination with the actuating element of the electrical connector as the actuating element is moved through the arc of movement between the home position and the locking position so that the electrical connector, starting from a pre-latching position, assumes a locking position with the electrical mating connector when the actuating element is moved from the home position into the locking position;
• positioning the electrical connector and the electrical mating connector in a pre-latching position, wherein the actuating element is positioned in the home position;
• moving the actuating element through the arc of movement from the home position into the locking position, wherein the actuating element acts in combination with the guide means of the electrical mating connector, and wherein the release body of the actuating element enters the recess defined in the locking safeguard and responsively displaces the latching lug of the securing element relative to the first stop of the locking safeguard so as to release displacement of the securing element from the initial position, into the securing position when the actuating element is in the locking position;
• and
• moving the securing element along a displacement path from the initial position, which is distal from the pair of pivot axles, into the securing position, which is toward the pair of pivot axles, so that the securing element engages with the actuating element so that the actuating element is blocked in the locking position.

An electrical plug-in connection comprising:

• an electrical connector;
• and
• an electrical mating connector;
• and
• the electrical connector has,
• a connector housing having a locking safeguard, and the locking safeguard has a first stop and defines a recess,
• a securing element that is guided by the connector housing and movable between an initial position and a securing position, the securing element further having a latching lug that communicates with the first stop of the locking safeguard to block the securing element in the initial position,
• an actuating element that is carried by the connector housing and is movable between a home position and a locking position, to lock the electrical connector to the electrical mating connector, and the actuating element has a release body, that enters the recess defined in the locking safeguard to displace the latching lug of the securing element relative to the first stop of the locking safeguard, so that the securing element is displaced, along a displacement path, between the initial position and the securing position, and
• the securing element, when in the securing position, blocks the actuating element in the locking position;
• and
• the electrical mating connector corresponds to the electrical connector and the electrical mating connector has at least one guide lug, that acts in combination with the actuating element of the electrical connector and the actuation element is movable between the home position and the locking position so that the electrical connector, starting from a pre-latching position, assumes a locking position with the electrical mating connector when the actuating element is moved from the home position into the locking position;
• and
• toothing carried by the electrical connector, and the toothing is arranged on a single surface of the electrical connector and around a central axis of the electrical connector;
• and
• mating toothing carried by the electrical mating connector, and the mating toothing is arranged on a single surface of the electrical mating connector and around a central axis of the electrical mating connector that corresponds to the toothing of the electrical connector;
• and wherein
• the toothing and the mating toothing are in engagement with each other and the single toothing carrying surface of the electrical connector and the single toothing carrying surface of the electrical mating connector are immediately adjacent one another when the actuating element is in the locking position.