BE1029170B1 - contact device - Google Patents

Abstract

Shown and described is a contact device (1) with a contact element (2), with a holder (3) in which the contact element (2) is slidably arranged, with a spring (4) and with a slidable relative to the holder (3). Actuating element (5), wherein the spring (4) can be transferred from a relaxed state to a tensioned state by means of the actuating element (5) and wherein the spring (4) acts on the contact element (2) with a force in the tensioned state, the contact device ( 1) is particularly suitable for use in direct current applications in that two locks (6, 7) are designed so that the contact element (2) can be locked by the first lock (6) against a first force (F1) of the tensioned spring (4 ) is held in a first position and, when the first locking mechanism (6) is released, is brought from the first position into a second position by the first force (F1) of the spring (4) such that the contact element (2) is held in the second position by the second lock (7) against a second force (F2) of the tensioned spring (4) acting on it, and by the second force (F2) of the spring (4) when the second lock (7) is released the second position is brought to the first position, and that the first force (F1) of the tensioned spring (4) and the second force (F2) of the tensioned spring (4) are directed in opposite directions.

Description

-1- BE2021/5157 Contact device The invention relates to a contact device with a contact element, with a holder in which the contact element is slidably arranged, with a spring and with an actuating element that can be slid relative to the holder, the spring consisting of a relaxed state can be converted into a tensioned state and the spring in the tensioned state acts on the contact element with a force. In plug connectors, contact elements are used to close a circuit by connecting the contact element to a corresponding mating contact element in a mating connector. Such plug connectors are known, for example, as round plug connectors, which as a rule have a multi-pole design, so that a contact carrier arranged in the plug housing has a plurality of contact elements. The individual contact elements are mostly designed as pin contacts or as socket contacts. In addition to round plug connectors, which are used extensively in field cabling, for example, there are a large number of other plug connectors which differ in structure depending on the application and area of use, in particular in their shape and size.

In addition, an electrically conductive contact element can also be used to connect or separate two contacts, for example two contact tongues. In one position of the contact element, the two contacts are then electrically conductively connected to one another via the contact element, while the two contacts are not electrically connected to one another in the other position of the contact element.

Irrespective of the specific design and arrangement of the contact element, there is a problem with DC voltage or direct current applications that when the circuit is interrupted, an arc occurs between the contacts that are not connected to one another, which can damage at least the contact element. Therefore, in direct current applications, the basic aim is to ensure that the contacts separate as quickly as possible, so that an existing arc is interrupted as quickly as possible. In practice, there are various approaches to solving this problem, mostly using springs, with the help of which the contacts are to be separated quickly. When using contact elements in direct current applications, however, it can not only be

-2- BE2021/5157 damage due to an arc occurring when the contacts are separated, but also when the contacts are connected, i.e. when the circuit is closed via the contact element.

Here, too, an arc can occur, which can lead to damage to the contact element or the contacts.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a contact device with a contact element that is slidably arranged in a holder, which is particularly suitable for use in direct current applications and minimizes the presence of an arc when a circuit is opened and closed quickly interrupts.

With the contact device described at the outset, this object is essentially achieved in that a mechanical preload can be generated on the contact element, which can be released in a defined manner by means of an unlocking, whereby the contact element is released from a first by the mechanical preload Position is placed in a second position.

In the contact device according to the invention, this principle is provided twice, in that two locks are formed, by which the contact element is held in one position against a force of a tensioned spring acting on it, while when the lock is released, the contact element is held by the Force of the spring is spent in a different position.

The contact element is held in a first position by the first locking mechanism against a first force of the tensioned spring acting on it and, when the first locking mechanism is released, is brought from the first position into a second position by the first force of the spring.

Correspondingly, the contact element is held in the second position by the second locking mechanism against a second force of the tensioned spring acting on it, and when the second locking mechanism is released, it is moved from the second position back to the first position by the second force of the spring.

The first force of the tensioned spring and the second force of the tensioned spring are directed in opposite directions, so that when the first latch is released, the contact element moves from the first position to the second position by the first force and when the second latch is released, it moves from the second position to the second position second position is brought to the first position.

The tensioned spring ensures that the contact element is quickly moved from its first position to its second position or quickly from its second position to its first position.

Thereby

-3- BE2021/5157 it is possible to ensure not only a quick separation but also a quick closing of second contacts by means of the contact element.

The contact device according to the invention has the advantage that it enables both rapid disconnection and rapid connection of the contact element to a mating contact element or two contacts via the contact element and is nevertheless of simple construction.

Advantageously, only one spring is required to bring the contact element both from the first position into the second position and from the second position into the first position, which spring must be correspondingly tensioned in each case.

The spring is preferably designed as a cylindrical compression spring that surrounds a section of the contact element.

The contact element is thus arranged with a section inside the compression spring, i.e. the longitudinal axis of the contact element and the longitudinal axis of the compression spring coincide.

This enables a compact arrangement of the contact device.

In addition, an additional holder for the spring can be dispensed with.

According to a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, two ring-shaped discs are mounted at a distance from one another on the contact element, with the spring being arranged between the two discs.

The two discs are mounted on the contact element in such a way that they can each be displaced in one direction, namely in the direction of the other disc.

As a result, by moving one disk, the distance between the two disks can be reduced and the spring arranged between the two disks can thus be tensioned.

If one disk is moved in the direction of the other disk by means of the actuating element, the other disk simultaneously serves as a stop for the spring, since the other disk is arranged on the contact element so that it can only be displaced in the opposite direction.

The above-described arrangement of the two ring-shaped discs on the contact element, which can only be moved in one direction, can be implemented particularly easily by fastening a fixing element to the contact element on the side of the two discs facing away from the opposite disc .

A securing ring or a similar component for one-sided axial fixing of the respective ring-shaped disk on the contact element can be used as a fixing element.

The securing ring is then preferably arranged in a corresponding groove or recess in the contact element.

Will be the first

For example, if the annular disc is displaced in the direction of the second disc, the first disc is simultaneously moved away from its associated circlip, while the second disc is held in position by its associated circlip.

As a result, the compression spring arranged between the two ring-shaped discs is then tensioned.

The contact device according to the invention has two locks, by means of which the contact element is held in the first position and in the second position, respectively, against the corresponding force of the tensioned spring.

The two locks are preferably each formed between the contact element and the holder.

This also has the advantage that the contact device can be made as simple and compact as possible.

Preferably, the two locks are each formed by a latching projection formed on the contact element and a spring element arranged on the holder.

The two latching projections on the contact element are preferably designed in the shape of a cone, as a result of which the two latches can each be transferred more easily into the latched or latched state.

In the locked state of a lock, the latching projection bears against the associated spring element, as a result of which displacement of the contact element in one direction is prevented.

If the spring element is deflected against its spring force so that it is no longer in engagement with the associated latching projection, the locking is released and the contact element can be moved from one position to another by the force of the tensioned spring.

In the contact device according to the invention, the actuating element serves to convert the spring from a relaxed state into a tensioned state.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the actuating element is additionally designed in such a way that the corresponding locking mechanism is released at the same time as the actuating element when the spring is stretched to such an extent that a defined force acts on the contact element.

For this purpose, an unlocking section is formed on each of the two end faces of the actuating element, so that in a first end position of the actuating element the first unlocking section releases the first lock by deflecting the first spring element so that it no longer engages with the first latching projection of the first lock works together.

In the second end position of the actuating element, the second locking by the

-5- BE2021/5157 the second unlocking section is released in that the second spring element is deflected in such a way that it no longer interacts with the second latching projection of the second locking mechanism. Such a design of the actuating element has the advantage that when the actuating element is moved in the direction of the first end position, the compression spring surrounding the contact element is initially tensioned and, when the end position is reached, the first lock is automatically released, whereby the contact element moves from its first position to its second position is shifted. Accordingly, when the actuating element is pushed back from the first end position in the direction of the second end position, the compression spring is tensioned again, with the second locking being released when the second end position is reached, so that the contact element can then be locked due to the second force acting on it tensioned spring is shifted from the second position back to the first position.

As previously explained, the actuating element not only serves to convert the spring from a relaxed state to a tensioned state, but also at the same time to unlock the first lock and the second lock. According to a structurally advantageous embodiment, the actuating element is U-shaped, so that it has two U-legs and a base as the U-back. The U-legs of the actuating element are preferably in turn U-shaped, wherein they each have two webs as U-legs, which are arranged opposite one another on both sides of the contact element. The actuating element is dimensioned in such a way that the two ring-shaped discs are arranged on the contact element between the U-legs of the actuating element. The two U-legs of the actuating element are thus each arranged on the side of one of the two disks facing away from the opposite disk, on which side the fixing elements are also fastened on the contact element.

The webs of a U-leg assigned to an annular disc are at a distance from one another that is greater than the corresponding dimension of the corresponding fixing element, so that the actuating element can be displaced both in relation to the holder and in relation to the contact element. When the actuating element is displaced, the two webs of a U-leg thus interact with the associated annular disc, as a result of which the spring can be tensioned. For simple actuation of the actuating element, it can have a handle section which

-6- BE2021/5157 can be easily gripped by a user with one hand or two fingers to move the actuator.

According to a preferred embodiment, the mounting of the contact device is also U-shaped, having two U-legs and a base as the U-back.

A bore with a guide element arranged therein is formed in each of the U-legs, with the guide element serving to guide the contact element in the bores of the U-legs.

If the contact element has a cone-shaped latching projection, the guide elements in the U-legs of the holder are preferably correspondingly cone-shaped, so that when the contact element is in the first position, the first latching projection is in the first guide element and in the second position of the contact element, the second Latching projection is arranged in the second guide element.

The spring elements used for locking are preferably each arranged on one of the two U-legs of the holder, which overall ensures both reliable guidance and secure locking of the contact element.

It is particularly advantageous if the contact element, the holder and the actuating element are dimensioned in such a way that when the contact element has been moved from the first position to the second position after the first lock has been released, the second lock is automatically locked. is resting.

This ensures that the contact element is not already moved in the direction of its first position when the actuating element is pushed back, but only when the actuating element is again in its second end position and the second locking is thereby released.

According to a variant of the contact device according to the invention, a second spring is provided and arranged in such a way that the second spring is in the tensioned state when the contact element is in its second position.

In its second position, the contact element is then subjected to a force by the tensioned second spring, by means of which the contact element can be moved from the second position into the first position.

In this embodiment, the second spring is tensioned when the actuating element is brought into its first end position, for which purpose a user has to move the actuating element accordingly.

By using a second spring, however, the actuating element does not have to be removed from the user

-7- BE2021/5157 be shifted from its first end position to its second end position when the contact element is to be brought back to its first position, but this movement is generated by the force of the second spring.

So that the contact element is not brought back into its first position unintentionally by the second spring, a locking section is preferably formed on the actuating section, which forms a lock with the second spring.

This ensures that the contact element is only moved from the second position into the first position by the force of the tensioned second spring if the locking between the locking section and the second spring has been released beforehand.

In detail, there are several possibilities for designing and developing the contact device according to the invention.

In this regard, reference is made both to the individual patent claims and to the following description

-8- BE2021/5157 of preferred embodiments in connection with the drawing.

The drawings show: FIG. 1 a perspective representation of an embodiment of the contact device, FIG. 2 a side view of the contact device according to FIG. 1, in four different states, FIG. 3 a longitudinal section of the contact device, in the four states according to FIG. 2, FIG. 4 a top view of the contact device with the first locking not yet released and an enlarged detail of the contact device, FIG. 5 an enlarged perspective detail of the contact device with the first locking not yet released, FIG of the first locking device, in section, Fig. 7 an enlarged detailed representation of the second locking device in section, Fig. 8 a second embodiment variant of a contact device according to the invention, in two different states, and Fig.9 two application variants of the contact device according to Fig. 1, in perspective view.

1 to 7 show a first exemplary embodiment of a contact device 1 according to the invention. The contact device 1 has a contact element 2 which is arranged in a holder 3 in a displaceable manner.

In addition, the contact device 1 also has a spring 4 which can be transferred from a relaxed state to a tensioned state by means of an actuating element 5 .

As can be seen in particular from the four representations in FIGS. 2 and 3, the actuating element 5 can be displaced relative to the holder 3 .

If the actuating element 5 from the shown in Figs. 2a and 3a

-9- BE2021/5157 moved to the position shown in FIGS. 2b and 3b, the spring 4 is transferred from a relaxed state to a tensioned state, in which the spring 4 presses the contact element with a first force F1 applied, which is directed in the representation according to FIGS. 2 and 3 to the right.

The contact device 1 also has a first locking mechanism 6, which holds the contact element 2 in a first position shown in FIGS. 2b and 3b against the first force F1 of the tensioned spring 4 acting on it. If the first lock 6 is released, then the contact element 2 is brought by the first force F1 of the spring 4 from the first position into the second position, which is shown in FIGS. 2c and 3c and also in FIG. In addition to the first lock 6, the contact device also has a second lock 7, by which the contact element 2 is held in the second position against a second force F2 of the tensioned spring 4 acting on it. If the second lock 7 is released, the second force F2 of the spring 4, which is directed to the left in the representation according to FIGS. 2 and 3, moves the contact element from the second position back into the first position . The first force F1 and the second force F2 are thus directed in opposite directions.

In the configurations of the contact device 1 illustrated in the figures, the spring 4 is designed as a cylindrical compression spring which surrounds a section of the contact element 2 so that the longitudinal axis of the contact element 2 and the longitudinal axis of the spring element 4 coincide. As a result, the space required by the contact element 2 and the compression spring 4 is minimal. In the state of the contact device 1 shown in FIGS. 2a and 3a, the contact element 2 is in its first position. In addition, the spring 4 is in the relaxed state. The first lock 6 is in the locked state, while the second lock 7 is in the released state. In the state of the contact device 1 shown in FIGS. 2b and 3b, the actuating element 5 has been displaced to the right, as a result of which the spring 4 is tensioned. Since the first lock 6 is still in the locked state, the contact element 2 is opposite to the first one acting on it

- 10 - BE2021/5157 Force F1 of spring 4 continues in its first position.

The second lock 7 is unchanged in the released state.

In the state of the contact device 1 shown in FIGS. 2c and 3c, the first lock 6 is in the released state, so that the contact element 2 has been pushed into its second position by the force F1.

The spring 4 is now back in the relaxed state.

By moving the contact element 2 into its second position, the second lock 7 is now in the locked state.

In the state of the contact device 1 shown in FIGS. 2d and 3d, the contact element 2 is still in its second position, while the actuating element 5 has been shifted to the left again, as a result of which the spring 4 is tensioned.

Since the second lock 7 is still in the locked state, the contact element 2 has not yet been pushed back into its first position against the second force F2 of the spring 4 acting on it.

If the actuating element 5 is now pushed into its second end position and the second lock 7 is thereby released, the contact element 2 is pushed back into its first position by the second force F2 of the spring 4 .

The state shown in FIGS. 2a and 3a is then present again.

Both from the side view according to FIG. 2 and from the sectional view according to FIG. 3 it can be seen that on the contact element 2 two ring-shaped discs 8, 9 are mounted at a distance from one another, the two discs 8, 9 each in the direction of the other disc 9, 8 are slidably arranged.

The pane 8 on the left in the figures can thus be displaced in the direction of the right pane 9 and the pane 9 on the right in the figures can be displaced in the direction of the left pane 8 on the contact element 2 .

So that the two disks 8 , 9 can only be displaced in one direction, a retaining ring 10 is fastened on the contact element 2 on the side of the two disks 8 , 9 facing away from the opposite disk 8 , 9 .

Since the spring 4 is arranged between the two discs 8, 9, the spring 4 can thereby be brought from the relaxed state into a tensioned state that either the first disc 8 in the direction of the second

"11 - BE2021/5157 pane 9 or the second pane 9 is displaced in the direction of the first pane 8.

This is done in the embodiment by a corresponding displacement of the actuating element 5. The two latches 6, 7, through which the contact element 2 is held in its respective position against a force F1 or F2 of the spring 4 acting on it, are each between the Contact element 2 and the holder 3 is formed.

For this purpose, two cone-shaped latching projections 11 are formed on the contact element 2 and two spring elements 12 are arranged on the holder 3 , with one latching projection 11 forming a lock 6 , 7 with a spring element 12 .

The design of the locks 6, 7 can be seen in particular from the enlarged detailed representations, with FIGS. 4b, 5 and 6 showing the first lock 6 and FIG. 7 showing the second lock 7 in the locked state.

In this case, the locking projection 11 rests with its stop edge on the spring element 12 so that further movement of the contact element 2 is prevented.

An unlocking section 15 is formed on each of the two end faces 13 , 14 of the actuating element 5 in order to release the two locks 6 , 7 .

In the first end position of the actuating element 5 according to FIGS. 2c and 3c, the spring element 12 of the first lock 6 is deflected by the unlocking section 15 in such a way that it no longer interacts with the latching projection 11 of the first lock 6.

As a result, the contact element 2 is then displaced from its first position into its second position by the first force F1 of the spring element 4 (cf.

2c and 3c). Accordingly, the spring element 12 of the second lock 7 is deflected by the second unlocking section 15 when the actuating element 2 is in its second end position, so that the spring element 12 no longer interacts with the corresponding locking projection 11 .

As can be seen in particular from the perspective view according to FIG. 1 as well as from the top view according to FIG. 4a and the enlarged detailed view according to FIG. when the actuating element 5 approaches its respective end position.

In the illustrated embodiment of the contact device 1, the actuating element 5 is U-shaped overall, so that it has two U-legs and a base 17 as a U-back.

The U-legs of the

The actuating elements 5 are in turn U-shaped and each have two webs 18 which are arranged on both sides of the contact element 2 opposite one another.

The actuating element 5 thus has a total of four webs 18 which protrude from the four feet of the base 17 .

The annular disks 8, 9 are arranged between the U-legs of the actuating element 5, so that when the actuating element 5 is displaced in one direction or the other, the corresponding disk 8, 9 is displaced along the contact element 2. whereby the spring 4 is tensioned at the same time.

The distance between the two webs 18 of a U-leg is chosen so large that the webs 18 interact with the disks 8, 9 on the one hand, but on the other hand the displaceability of the actuating element 5 is not impeded by the securing rings 10.

For easier actuation of the actuation element 5, a handle section 19 is formed on it, which a user can comfortably grip with one hand or two fingers.

The holder 3 of the contact device 1 is also U-shaped and has two U-legs 20, 21 and a base 22 as the U-back.

In each of the U-legs 20, 21 there is a bore 23 with a guide element 24 arranged therein, which serves to guide the contact element 2 in the respective bore 23 of the U-legs 20, 21.

The guide elements 24 in the U-legs 20, 21 of the holder 3 are designed to correspond to the cone-shaped locking projections 11 on the contact element 2, so that in the first position of the contact element 2 the first locking projection 11 in the first guide element 24 and in the second position of the contact element 2 the second latching projection 11 is arranged in the second guide element 24 .

From the detailed illustration according to FIG. 5 it can be seen that the spring elements 12 are each arranged on one of the two U-legs 20, 21 of the holder 3, with a guide being formed in the U-legs 20, 21, within which the L shaped spring element 12 is guided when the spring element 12 is deflected by the unlocking section 15 of the actuating element 5 .

FIG. 8 shows a variant of the contact device 1 which additionally has a second spring 25 .

According to FIG. 8a, the second spring 25 is in the tensioned state when the contact element 2 is in its second position.

The contact element 2 is acted upon by the tensioned second spring 25 with a force F3 which, in the illustration according to FIG. 8, is to the left

-13- BE2021/5157. Since a locking section 26 is formed on the actuating section 5, the contact element 2 is not shifted to the left into its first position, despite the force F3 of the second spring 25 acting on it. Only when the locking section 26 is deflected, as a result of which the locking with the spring 25 is released, is the contact element 2 displaced from the second position into the first position, which is illustrated in FIG. 8b, by the force F3. By using the second spring 25, the actuating element 5 does not have to be pushed by a user from its first end position into its second end position if the contact element 2 is to be brought back into its first position. This movement is created by the force F3 of the second spring 25 when the locking portion 26 is no longer in the locked position.

9 shows schematically two application variants for the contact device 1 according to the invention. In the application variant shown in FIG 2 is in the illustrated second position. When the contact element 2 is shifted back into the first position, the electrical connection between the two contact tongues 27 is separated. Since the movement of the contact element 2 is very fast both when connecting and when separating due to the respective force F1 or F2 of the spring 4, any arc that may be present is interrupted by also fast ones, so that damage to the contact element 2 is minimized or completely prevented.

In the application variant shown in FIG. 9b, the contact element 2 is also made of a conductive material and is connected to a corresponding socket 28 in the second position of the contact element 2 shown. When the contact element 2 is shifted back into the first position, the contact element 2 is pulled out of the socket 28 with a jerk, so that the electrical connection is separated correspondingly quickly.

-14- BE2021/5157 reference numbers

1. Contact device

2. Contact element

3. Bracket

4. Spring element

5. Actuator 6.7. Latches 8.9. slices

10. Circlip

11. Detent Protrusion

12. Spring element 13, 14 end faces

15. Unlocking section

16. Sloping

17th base

18. webs

19. Handle section 20, 21. U-leg bracket

22nd base

23. Bore

24. Guiding element

25. second spring

26. Locking section

27. Contact tongues

28. socket

Claims (13)

-15- BE2021/5157 patent claims 1. Contact device (1) with a contact element (2), with a holder (3) in which the contact element (2) is slidably arranged, with a spring (4) and with a relative to the holder (3) slidable actuator - tensioning element (5), wherein the spring (4) can be transferred from a relaxed state to a tensioned state by means of the actuating element (5) and wherein the spring (4) acts on the contact element (2) with a force in the tensioned state, characterized in that that two locks (6, 7) are formed, that the contact element (2) by the first lock (6) against a first force acting on it (F1) of the tensioned spring (4) is held in a first position and when released first locking (6) by the first force (F1) of the spring (4) from the first position to a second position is brought that the contact element (2) by the second locking (7) against a second force acting on it (F2) the strained Spring (4) is held in the second position and, with the second latch (7) released, is brought from the second position into the first position by the second force (F2) of the spring (4), and that the first force (F1) of the tensioned spring (4) and the second force (F2) of the tensioned spring (4) are directed in opposite directions. 2. Contact device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a cylindrical compression spring is provided as the spring (4), which surrounds a section of the contact element (2). 3. Contact device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that two ring-shaped discs (8, 9) are mounted on the contact element (2) at a distance from one another, that the spring (4) between the two discs (8 , 9) is arranged, and that the two discs (8, 9) are each arranged to be displaceable in the direction of the other disc (9, 8). 4. Contact device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that in each case on the opposite side facing away from the disc (9, 8). - 16 - BE2021/5157 of the two discs (8, 9) a fixing element, in particular a locking ring (10) is attached to the contact element (2). 5. Contact device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the two latches (6, 7) are each formed between the contact element (2) and the holder (3). 6. Contact device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the two locking mechanisms (6, 7) are each formed by a latching projection (11) formed on the contact element (2) and a spring element (12) arranged on the holder (3). are formed. 7. Contact device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that an unlocking section (15) is formed on the actuating element (5) on each of its two end faces (13, 14), that in a first end position of the actuating element (5) the first unlocking section (15) deflects the first spring element (12) so that it does not interact with the first locking projection (11) and that in a second end position of the actuating element (5) the second unlocking section (15) deflects the second spring element (12) so that it does not interact with the second locking projection (11). 8. Contact device (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the actuating element (5) is U-shaped and has two U-legs and a base (17) as a U-back, that the U - Legs of the actuating element (5) are in turn U-shaped and each have two webs (18) which are arranged opposite one another on both sides of the contact element (2), and that the two annular discs (8, 9) between are arranged on the U-legs of the actuating element (5). 9. Contact device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a handle section (19) is formed on the actuating element (5). 10. Contact device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the holder (3) is U-shaped and has two U-legs (20, 21) and a base (22) as a U-back has, where in the U -17- BE2021/5157 Legs (20, 21) each have a bore (23) with a guide element (24) arranged therein for guiding the contact element (2). 11. Contact device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the two spring elements (12) of the two locks (6, 7) are each arranged on a U-leg (20, 21) of the holder (3). 12. Contact device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a second spring (25) is provided, which is arranged such that the second spring (25) is in the tensioned state when the contact element (2) is in its second position, and that the contact element (2) is acted upon in its second position by the tensioned second spring (25) with a force by which the contact element (2) from the second position to the first Position can be brought. 13. Contact device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that on the actuating portion (5) a locking portion (26) is formed, which forms a lock with the second spring (25), and that the contact element (2) only when the locking between the locking section (26) and the second spring (25) is released, it can be brought from the second position into the first position by the force of the tensioned second spring (25).