CN108736187B

CN108736187B - Electrical contact element for a circuit board and electrical current interface provided with such an electrical contact element

Info

Publication number: CN108736187B
Application number: CN201810361904.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 雷纳·皮奥克; 朱尔根·维尔德
Original assignee: Lisa Draexlmaier GmbH
Current assignee: Lisa Draexlmaier GmbH
Priority date: 2017-04-20
Filing date: 2018-04-20
Publication date: 2020-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2038-04-20
Also published as: DE102017108444B4; DE102017108444A1; CN108736187A

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical contact element (120) for attachment to a circuit board (110), having a receptacle (121) in which a contact spring (124) and a contact plate (125) are held such that a receiving space (128) for an electrical mating contact element is formed between the contact spring and the contact plate, which electrical mating contact element is to be inserted into the receptacle (121) in an insertion direction (R) on a first end face (122). According to the invention, at least one contact pin (131) which is formed separately from the insertion opening (121) and is intended for insertion into the circuit board (110) projects from a second end face (123) of the insertion opening (121) opposite the first end face (122). The invention further relates to a galvanic interface (1) having a circuit board (110) and a contact element (120).

Description

Electrical contact element for a circuit board and electrical current interface provided with such an electrical contact element

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electrical contact element into which a mating contact element can be inserted for attachment to a circuit board. The invention also relates to a galvanic interface with a circuit board and a contact element mounted on the circuit board. The invention can be used, for example, in power supply distributors for motor vehicles, in which the circuit board can also perform switching functions.

Background

In the prior art, electrical contact elements for attachment to circuit boards are known.

For example, DE 102016206336 a1 discloses a box-shaped electrical contact element which is suitable for being attached to a circuit board. The contact element has an outer wall enclosing an interior space, wherein the outer wall comprises an upper end and a lower end. A pair of tabs extend upwardly from the outer wall toward an upper end of the outer wall, wherein the pair of tabs extend at least partially within the interior space. One end of each of the pair of tongues is arranged vertically spaced from the upper end of the outer wall. This has the disadvantage that, in the contact element, the tongue has to fulfill two functions inside the interior space, namely, electrically connecting with a mating contact element that can be inserted into the interior space, and applying a mechanical contact force to the mating contact element. Thus, a conductive material with good conductivity is used for both functions, which is correspondingly expensive for the required amount.

Another contact element is known, for example, from DE 10351540B 3. The contact element is a flat socket with a plug-in socket for receiving a flat plug in an electrical contact manner. The plug-in slot has at least one set of contact webs arranged in a comb-like manner on the long sides (Breitsiete) of the plug-in slot, which are substantially parallel and extend in the plug-in direction (verlaufen). Here, the contact tabs are bent towards the center of the plug socket. For attachment to the circuit board, the contact elements have solder legs which are designed as extensions of the long sides of the flat socket. Here, it is also disadvantageous that, by the one-piece construction of the flat interface, a greater amount of electrically conductive material with good electrical conductivity is required.

DE 10047457 a1 discloses a plug-in sleeve which is produced from a metal sheet by stamping and bending. Which comprises two contact elements with planes substantially parallel to each other, which are connected to each other in the region of their one end by a U-shaped bridge. In their opposite, non-contacting regions, the two contact elements are provided with a plurality of contact pins which can be pressed into plated-through holes of the circuit board. An opening is provided in the region of the connection between the two contact elements, through which opening a plug is inserted between the two contact elements.

DE 19724581 a1 describes a plug-in sleeve for a circuit board. The plug sleeve comprises a clamping element in the housing, which clamping element projects from a surface of the housing by means of two projections. By means of these projections, the crimp element can be pressed into the plated-through hole of the circuit board. By this press-in, the housing is also fixed to the circuit board.

Furthermore, a contact element according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from the patent document DE 102016201103 a1, which is published below, but is not suitable for mounting on a circuit board.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to achieve an electrical contact element for attachment to a circuit board which is formed in a manner as simple as possible in terms of construction, wherein electrically conductive material can be saved.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

The electrical contact element according to the invention is suitable for being attached to a circuit board and has a box-shaped interface in which a contact spring and a contact plate are held such that a receiving space for an electrical mating contact element is formed between the contact spring and the contact plate, which electrical mating contact element is inserted into the interface in an insertion direction on a first end face. The contact springs and/or the contact plate faces are formed from sheet metal material by stamping/bending and extend parallel to one another. The socket is formed separately therefrom and has mounting options for the contact spring and the contact plate to hold the contact spring and the contact plate along the insertion direction and perpendicular to the insertion direction, i.e. at a spacing in which accommodation spaces are formed. The mating contact element can be, for example, a flat plug or a contact blade, which is to be electrically connected to the circuit board via the contact element.

According to the invention, at least one contact pin formed separately from the socket for insertion into the circuit board projects on a second end face of the socket opposite the first end face. Here, the insertion direction of the mating contact element into the socket and the mounting insertion direction of the contact element into the circuit board are parallel to one another and are preferably oriented identically.

Since the contact pins are independent of the structure of the socket, the socket does not have to be made of the same material as the contact pins, which preferably has good electrical conductivity. More specifically, the most cost-effective and/or most functional material may be selected for each component individually, thereby improving either development costs or manufacturability, or both.

The contact plate has at least one supporting arm extending in the interior of the socket opposite to the direction of extension of the contact pin, which supporting arm engages with the socket. This requires that the contact elements are inserted into the circuit board parallel and in the same orientation with respect to the insertion direction of the mating contact element. So that the socket can not fall out of the contact plate after attachment to the circuit board, since it is held form-fittingly on the contact plate. In this case, the support arm can be guided through the receiving space, leaving room for the mating contact element.

A particularly advantageous development of the invention consists in that the contact pins are formed integrally with the contact plate. The contact pins are advantageously (material) extensions of a normally sheet-like contact plate and are therefore made of the same metallic material with good electrical conductivity properties. The contact webs can be designed with full-surface or partial coatings, depending on the electrical conductivity required. The coating may be of tin, nickel, silver or gold, for example. Thus, when a mating contact element is inserted, an electrical current path is created, for example from the conductive path of the circuit board via the contact pin and the contact plate, towards the mating contact element. The reverse is of course also applicable to the current feed through the mating contact element.

Ideally, the contact plate may have a contact surface for abutting a mating contact element, which contact surface opens as far as the contact pin towards the second end surface. The contact plate is also preferably formed with its contact face with a planar contact with a planar face of a mating contact element, wherein the contact spring exerts the required contact force onto the other planar face of the mating contact element facing away from the contact plate.

In order to achieve as large a surface contact as possible and an attachment and/or fixing on the circuit board, at least one pair of first contact pins and one pair of second contact pins may project. The contact plate can also be provided with a total of four or more contact pins which are preferably all capable of making electrical contact with the circuit board and are also fixed to the circuit board by means of a soldered connection. Thereby, the contact element is securely and firmly placed on the circuit board.

In order to achieve a tilt-proof attachment, the first and second contact pins may be spaced apart from one another in a direction transverse to the insertion direction, so that they together form a contact plane. The contact planes then illustratively form polygons, particularly quadrilaterals and preferably trapezoids.

In order to prevent the socket from moving relative to the contact plate or even pushing onto the surface of the circuit board during the attachment of the contact element, which is preferably done by insertion or soldering on the circuit board, the contact plate can have at least one projection projecting from its narrow side, which projection rests on the edge of the second end face. In other words, the projection is formed as a stop for the socket on the contact plate.

In order to ensure good performance and/or cost-effective development of the individual components of the contact element, the contact plates can be made of a material having higher electrical conductivity than the material of the contact spring. The material of the contact spring may be, for example, a metal material with good elastic properties, so that a good elastic or contact force is exerted on the inserted counterpart contact element during the entire life of the contact element. The contact plate is preferably made of copper or a copper alloy, e.g. E-Cu.

For insertion mounting on the circuit board, the contact pin can be designed as a soldering pin with a solderable coating arranged on the longitudinal end side. The coating may consist of tin, nickel or silver, for example. Furthermore, the coating is preferably applied partially to the portion of the contact pin projecting from the socket, since only the free end of the contact pin facing away from the socket is soldered.

Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the coating to design the contact pin as a welded pin with a weldable welded sleeve arranged on the longitudinal end side. The welding sleeve can be inserted, for example, onto the contact pin, in particular pressed onto the contact pin. For good solderability, the solder sleeve may be composed of tin, nickel or silver.

The invention also relates to a current interface with a circuit board and one or more electrical contact elements of the above-described embodiments, which are fixed to the circuit board by means of a plug-in mounting. The circuit board can also be arranged in a power distributor, for example, and can also have a switching function here in order to be able to supply electrical energy to the electrical consumers of the motor vehicle via the plug connections to the contacts.

Drawings

In the following, advantageous embodiments of the invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. Shows that:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a current interface according to the invention with a circuit board and electrical contact elements mounted on the circuit board,

fig. 2 shows the galvanic interface of fig. 1, wherein the socket of the contact element is hidden for better illustration,

fig. 3 is a sectional view of an electrical contact element according to the present invention.

The drawings are only schematic illustrations and serve only to illustrate the invention. Elements that are the same or that function the same have the same reference number throughout.

List of reference numerals

100 current interface

110 circuit board

120 electric contact element

121 socket

122 first end face

123 second end face

124 contact spring

125 contact plate

126 holding plate

127 another retaining plate

128 space for accommodating

129 bump

130 contact surface

131 contact pin

132 projection

133 support arm

134 recess

135 joint sheet

R direction of insertion

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a current interface 100, which is arranged, for example, in a power distributor (not shown) of a motor vehicle and is used to supply an electrical consumer load (not shown) of the motor vehicle. The electrical connector has a circuit board 110 with electrically conductive paths (not shown) and electrical contact elements 120 in the form of barrel contacts, which are attached to the circuit board 110 by means of a plug-in mounting.

The contact element 120 is adapted for insertion of an electrical mating contact element (not shown) in an insertion direction R and has a box-shaped socket 121 which is made as a stamped/bent piece from sheet metal material. The socket 121 has a first end face 122 that is open and a second end face 123 opposite the first end face that is likewise open. The first end face 122 is used for insertion of an electrical mating contact element (not shown) such as a contact blade or the like into the socket 121. The contact element 120 is fixed to the circuit board 110 via the second end face 123, as will be described in more detail below. Inside the socket 121, a contact spring 124 and a contact plate 125 are arranged and held, the contact spring 124 being largely covered by the socket 121 in this illustration. For holding the contact spring 124, the socket 121 has two inwardly bent holding webs 126 on the first end face 122, which surround the end face and hold the contact spring 124 in a form-fitting manner. In a similar manner, the contact plate 125 is held form-fittingly by a further holding plate 127 arranged on the first end face 122. Both the contact spring 124 and the contact plate 125 are made of sheet metal material and are designed as stamped/bent parts. The material of the contact spring 124 is a metal material having elastic properties, such as spring steel. While the contact plate 125 is used first for the electrical connection of the contact element 120 and is thus made of a conductive metallic material with good electrical conductivity, such as E-Cu.

In fig. 2, the socket 121 is hidden for better illustration of the current interface 100 in fig. 1, and the construction and arrangement of the contact spring 124 and the contact plate 125 can be seen. The contact spring 124 and the contact plate 125 extend parallel to one another and form between them a receiving space 128 for inserting a mating contact element, wherein the contact spring 124 presses the mating contact element towards the contact plate 125 and onto the contact plate 125 for functional reasons. For this purpose, the contact spring 124 has two projections 129 which extend in the direction of the receiving space 128. The contact plate 125 has a contact face 130 facing the projection 129, which contact face represents an abutment face for the flat side of the mating contact element.

In the direction of the second end face 123, i.e. in the direction of the circuit board 110, the contact surface 130 transforms into a plurality of contact pins 131, which are thus embodied as integral with the contact plate 125. As can be seen from the outline shown in fig. 1, the contact pins 131 protrude from the sockets 121 so that they can contact the circuit board 110. Here, the contact pins 131 are arranged in pairs such that a first pair of contact pins 131 is arranged opposite (here only the hidden socket 121) on the edge side and a second pair of contact pins 131 is arranged in the central area between the first pair. The two pairs of contact pins are spaced apart from one another not only in a first direction perpendicular to the insertion direction R, but also in a second direction perpendicular to the insertion direction R, so that they spread apart to form a contact pin plane. The contact pins 131 are each designed as soldering feet, wherein the free ends inserted into the circuit board 110 are provided with a solderable coating, for example consisting of tin. Alternatively, to achieve weldability, a weldable welding cylinder may be inserted or pressed onto the free end.

From the base (not designated) of the contact plate 125, from which the contact pins 131 extend away, a projection 132 is formed on the narrow side of the contact plate 125 projecting laterally therefrom, which projection forms a stop for abutment with the edge of the second end face 123 of the interface 121. Furthermore, in a direction opposite to the direction of extension of the contact pins 131, two support arms 133 extend from the base in the direction of the receiving space 128 on the edge side, respectively. The free ends of the two support arms 133 arranged here are curved for a form-fitting engagement with the socket 121.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the contact element 120, from which it can be seen that the corresponding support arms 133 of the contact plate 125 snap into recesses 134 on the cover layer of the socket 121. In the recess 134, an engagement plate 135 is formed, with which the respective support arm 133 engages in a form-fitting manner.

Claims

1. Electrical contact element (120) for attachment to a circuit board (110), with a socket (121) in which a contact spring (124) and a contact plate (125) are held such that a receiving space (128) for an electrical mating contact element is formed between the contact spring and the contact plate, which electrical mating contact element is to be inserted into the socket (121) in an insertion direction (R) on a first end face (122),

wherein at least one contact pin (131) formed separately from the socket (121) for insertion into the circuit board (110) projects on a second end face (123) of the socket (121) opposite the first end face (122),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the contact plate (125) has at least one support arm (133) extending in the socket (121) in a direction opposite to the direction of extension of the contact pin (131), and the support arm engages with the socket (121).

2. The electrical contact element (120) according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact pin (131) is integrally formed with the contact plate (125).

3. The electrical contact element (120) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact plate (125) has a contact face (130) for abutting the electrical counter-contact element, which faces the second end face (123) as far as the contact pin (131).

4. The electrical contact element (120) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a pair of first contact pins (131) and a pair of second contact pins (131) protrude.

5. The electrical contact element (120) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact plate (125) has at least one projection (132) projecting from its narrow side, which projection rests on an edge of the second end face (123).

6. The electrical contact element (120) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact plate (125) is made of a material having a higher electrical conductivity than the material of the contact spring (124).

7. The electrical contact element (120) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact pin (131) is designed as a soldering pin with a solderable coating arranged at a longitudinal end side.

8. The electrical contact element (120) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact pin (131) is designed as a soldering pin with a soldering sleeve arranged at a longitudinal end side.

9. A current interface (100) having a circuit board (110) and an electrical contact element (120) according to any one of the preceding claims fixed on the circuit board by means of a plug-in mounting.