DE102007055040A1 - Contact element and method for producing a contact element - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical contact element, comprising a cylindrical socket contact and a contact holder, which is non-positively and positively connected by thermal shrinking with the socket contact.

Description

The The invention relates to an electrical contact element comprising a socket contact and a contact holder, according to the preamble of claim 1. Connector, in particular connector sockets of the type mentioned above, are also called RADSOK connectors designated and are in particular characterized in that their contact area Caged, that is, a designed cylindrical or semi-cylindrical hollow body is, preferably in the longitudinal direction contact blades own or contact spring arms for contacting with a pin. For cost reasons, socket contacts are called the input Type usually as stamped / bent parts from a sheet produced.

in the State of the art are various cylindrical socket contact elements known, which are also stamped from a sheet, the cylindrical Socket body by rolling or bending and rolling of the punching plate is generated.

Such a connector is for example from the DE 197 34 524 C2 known. Here, a cylindrical socket contact, consisting of a contact part and a connector, shown, wherein the contact part has a cylinder shell and the cylinder jacket is formed at least one stamped from the jacket contact spring tongue, which dive into the receiving area of the cylinder, so that a pin with these spring contact elements can contact as soon as it is plugged into the cylindrical socket contact.

Furthermore, from the WO98 / 43321 a likewise substantially cylindrical contact is shown, which shows as a female connector, with a plurality of contact areas hyperbolically arranged in a contact section of the plug socket for electrically contacting a plug part which can be coupled to the plug socket. The plug-in bush is here formed in one piece and in particular made of a one-piece stamped part, which is bent into the shape of the socket, with simultaneous punching of a contact suitable for the connection portion which is formed here as a crimp connection with a plurality of Crimplappen. An electrical cable of different cable diameters can be attached to this connection area. However, the receiving area of the smallest male conductor cross-section and the largest male conductor cross-section to be accommodated is limited by the specific geometry of the crimp terminal.

in principle However, the question always arises as to how the appropriate actual contact with an electrical connection to be connected thereto Line can be connected. On the one hand plays the geometry of the Terminal area relative to the contact arrangement a role, so that simple rectilinear contact connection areas can be formed, On the other hand, it also desirable by mounting positions is to create a different connection geometry. Another requirement A good contact system is the requirement for high current carrying capacity at safe contact holding force of the contact on a corresponding pin or counterpart. That is, it is desirable to create a contact geometry as possible, that this solid and stable, on the other hand, but cheap to produce and is. At the same time, the requirement is in space, a contact system like this to create that different outlet angles of the connection areas can be realized without a variety of different contact elements to stockpile. Already for reasons of posture and cost efficiency, it is therefore desirable, if possible depict a variety of installation situation with a contact element in which the connection geometry on the installation situation to vote accordingly. One uses insofar one additional contact holder that fulfills these requirements and connects this with the contact element in one to the application desired arrangement, so you get the Variety of the desired installation options, but with the accompanying disadvantage that an additional electrical transition point between the contact holder and the actual contact that should be avoided.

In the prior art, for example, discloses WO00 / 70713 Such a contact system, consisting of a contact element which is formed as a hyperbolic notated contact element, which in turn is pressed in a substantially cylindrical contact holder. This contact holder can, as in this document in 9 and 10 shown to be rectilinear and depending on the requirements in different lengths.

Alternatively, such as in 11 , Also, a 90 ° angled connection area, that is, a connection geometry, be formed perpendicular to the insertion direction of the contact element. Generic connector systems is therefore common that they have a contact transition region between the contact element and contact holder, ie connection area, which is typically regarded as a weak point of the overall system. On the one hand, this transition region limits the service life of the contact system and, on the other hand, limits the electrical transmission properties. Regarding the life duration can cause failures at the transition area due to thermal, mechanical or corrosive stresses that make the contact inoperable, or the contact holder with its connection area separate from the contact element. With regard to the electrical properties, this simultaneously leads to the fact that the current carrying capacity decreases and the electrical resistance increases steadily, so that the system is constantly under thermal stress due to thermal overheating. These effects are to be considered as undesirable effects of such generic connector systems and it is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and to connect a contact element with a contact holder safely, permanently and inexpensively.

Further Object of the present invention is the connection of the contact element to make with the contact holder so that one and the same contact element with a variety of similar but afflicted with manufacturing tolerances Contact holder can be brought into a secure and high-strength connection can.

A additional object of the present invention therein, known contact systems with the invention To be able to equip contact holders without the previous ones Change manufacturing processes for such contact systems to have to; speak the production-related shape and position tolerances existing systems through the contact holder to eliminate.

Farther It is an object of the present invention to provide a method to a contact holder according to the invention with a connect the contact element according to the invention and thereby overcome the tolerance problem.

The The above objects are achieved by the features of claim 1 and claim 12. In the subclaims preferred embodiments of the invention are characterized.

According to the invention a contact element consisting of a socket contact and a contact holder provided, which formed as Aufschrumpfkontakthalter is.

Of the Socket contact itself consists of a cylindrical Socket contact cage, also called a RADSOK cage designated, and a cylindrical bushing sleeve, in which the cylindrical socket contact cage is formed. The contact cage and socket contact sleeve form the socket contact, which with the Aufschrumpfkontakthalter is connected in a suitable manner.

According to the invention thus the cylindrical socket contact with a thermal Shrinkable contact holder, also as shrink-fit contact holder referred to, connected by thermal shrinking. It is the contact holder is provided with a substantially cylindrical opening, which is made smaller in its inner diameter, like the outer diameter of the corresponding cylindrical Socket contact. By heating the contact holder can reach a widening of the hole diameter in the contact holder so that the mounting of the contact holder at the socket contact is made possible at short notice. This expansion allows that Inserting the socket contact into the contact holder. By deliberate cooling or quenching of the compound the thermally expanded contact holder together, thereby the inner diameter is reduced and when cooling on the cylindrical tube shell of the socket contact is shrunk. Through the targeted geometric Design of the inner diameter of the contact holder can, if appropriate Choice of temperature when heating and when cooling the normal force Set defined on the cylindrical tube jacket become. This gives a very tight interference fit between the contact holder and the socket contact, which permanently is stable and has a high current carrying capacity. In Further embodiments of the invention, the inner surface can be the contact holder, which as a contact surface to the cylindrical Tube jacket is used, also geometrically structure, in the example a variety of finest grooves along the inner surface be attached, which then formed when cooling in the tube Imprint coat, and to an enlarged Investment surface and thus lead to improved current carrying capacity.

in the The invention will be described below with reference to the description of an embodiment explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Therefore show:

1 a side view of a socket contact according to the invention with connected Aufschrumpkontakthalter,

2 a view from below of the contact element according to the invention according to 1 ;

3 represents a section through the contact element according to 1 group;

4 shows a perspective view of a contact element with contact holder.

In 1 is a contact element 1 shown. This consists of a substantially cylindrical socket contact 2 and one attached to it contact holder 3 , The contact holder 3 is fixed with a cable 4 connected. The socket contact 2 is formed as a substantially cylindrical socket contact with a cylindrical tube jacket 21 , In the cylindrical tube jacket 21 is a contact cage 20 fitted, as in 3 shown. The contact holder 3 is designed here as Aufschrumpfkontakthalter and is essentially as an annular element 30 and a connection section 31 educated. The connection section 31 connects the ring element 30 with the cable 4 , In the in 1 shown representation is the contact holder 3 designed so that a cable 4 in the 90 ° departure, that is perpendicular to the insertion direction S of the contact element 1 is arranged. The outer diameter of the pipe jacket 21 is defined as diameter D1. The inner diameter of the ring element 30 is provided with a diameter D2, wherein the diameter D2 of the ring element 30 is formed smaller, such as the diameter D1 of the tube shell 21 , Preferably, the inner diameter D2 is formed only slightly smaller than the outer diameter D1 of the tube shell 21 , To increase the normal forces of the contact holder 3 to the socket contact 2 the diameter D2 can also be formed significantly reduced compared to the outer diameter D1, so that in the process of applying the contact holder 3 on the socket contact 2 a high temperature is necessary to the ring element 30 correspondingly widened from diameter D2 to a diameter greater than D1. In the 2 is a bottom view of the contact element according to the invention 1 , according to 1 , shown. In the inner area is the middle contact cage section 23 shown, with the diameter D3, which can be widened when plugging with a corresponding mating connector. At the upper edge there are retaining slats 25 around another cylindrical tube section, namely the cylindrical tube sleeve 22 bent back backwards and thus are firmly connected to the tube sleeve. The outer sections of the retaining slats 24 support themselves with their outer surface 26 on the inner wall surface 27 of the cylindrical tubular jacket 21 from. Between the contact blades 24 and the retaining slats 25 are essentially annular sections 28 , which as ring bridges 28 are formed. These ring bridges 28 are located at the top and bottom of the socket contact 2 , In this respect, the socket contact, both from the one, as well as from the other direction can be because it is on both sides of an opening 29 features. The opening 29 tapers to the middle contact cage section 23 increasingly by torsion of the contact cage 20 , as in 3 clearly visible. This is caused by a relative movement, thus a twisting of the upper ring land 28 opposite the lower ring land 28 to a defined angle. This torsion becomes the middle contact cage section 23 formed, which can be formed with increased torsion either with a smaller diameter or weaker torsion with a larger diameter. The cylindrical tube sleeve 22 is in the cylindrical tube jacket 21 fitted and using the retaining slats 25 squeezed with this. In 4 can be seen, is the perspective view of a contact element according to the invention, in which the contact holder as a 90 ° outlet with a cable 4 connected is. Alternatively, of course, any other geometric connection angle or shape can be chosen. It is also possible to use a ring element 30 formed with stepped inner diameter D2, so that when expanding to a diameter greater D1, a plurality of preferably parallel circumferential ring sections arise with different inner diameter and the contact holder on cooling 3 in accordance with the outer diameter D1 optimally by means of the formed ring sections on the pipe material 21 can shrink and connect with a press fit.

1

contact element

2

female contact

3

contact holder

4

electric wire

20

contact cage

21

cylindrical pipe casing

22

cylindrical tubular sleeve

23

middle Contact cage section

24

Multilams

25

holding slats

26

outer surface the retaining slats

27

inner wall

28

ring lands

30

ring element

31

connecting section

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 19734524 C2 [0003]
• WO 98/43321 [0004]
• WO 00/70713 [0006]

Claims (12)

Electrical contact element ( 1 ) comprising a cylindrical socket contact ( 2 ) and a contact holder ( 3 ), which with the socket contact ( 2 ) is positively and positively connected. Electrical contact element ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the socket contact ( 2 ) via a contact cage ( 20 ) and has a cylindrical tube jacket ( 21 ), in which the contact cage ( 20 ) is introduced. Electrical contact element ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact holder ( 3 ) with a ring element ( 30 ) is provided, which the cylindrical socket contact ( 2 ) on the cylindrical tube shell ( 21 ) encloses. Electrical contact element ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer diameter D1 of the cylindrical tubular jacket ( 21 ) of the socket contact ( 2 ) in the unconnected state with the contact holder ( 3 ) is formed enlarged with respect to the inner diameter of the ring element ( 30 ) of the contact holder ( 3 ). Electrical contact element ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact holder ( 3 ) is formed as Aufschrumpfkontakthalter and by thermal heating and subsequent cooling to the cylindrical tube shell ( 21 ) is shrinkable, so that this with the pipe jacket ( 21 ) is positively and non-positively connected. Electrical contact element ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner diameter D2 of the ring element ( 30 ) is formed profiled. Electrical contact element ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner wall section of the ring element ( 30 ) has a plurality of ring sections with different diameters, of which at least two smaller than the outer diameter D1 of the cylindrical tubular jacket ( 21 ) are formed. Electrical contact element ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact cage ( 20 ) is formed as a cylindrical hyperbolic contact cage, comprising a plurality of substantially parallel contact blades ( 24 ). Electrical contact element ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the socket contact ( 2 ) via two diametrically opposite insertion openings ( 29 ), by means of which the contact element ( 1 ) with a corresponding contact pin optionally with one of the two openings ( 29 ) can be associated. Electrical contact element ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact holder ( 3 ) via a connection section ( 31 ), which positively with the ring element ( 30 ) connected is. Electrical contact element ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cylindrical tube jacket ( 21 ) by means of retaining slats ( 24 ) with the contact cage ( 20 ) and a cylindrical cage tube surrounding the contact cage ( 22 ) connected is. Method for producing an electrical contact element ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the following steps: a) forming a cylindrical socket contact ( 2 ) with a cylindrical tube jacket (FIG. 21 ) with an outer diameter D1; b) choosing a contact holder ( 3 ) with a ring element ( 30 ), which has an inner diameter D2 which is slightly smaller than the outer diameter D1; c) heating the contact holder ( 3 ) and thermal expansion of the ring element ( 30 ); d) applying the thermally enlarged contact holder ( 3 ) on the cylindrical tube shell ( 21 ) in a suitable position; e) cooling the contact holder ( 3 ) for shrinking onto the pipe jacket ( 21 ).