EP0308068A1 - Système de contact à faible usure - Google Patents

Système de contact à faible usure Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0308068A1
EP0308068A1 EP88307553A EP88307553A EP0308068A1 EP 0308068 A1 EP0308068 A1 EP 0308068A1 EP 88307553 A EP88307553 A EP 88307553A EP 88307553 A EP88307553 A EP 88307553A EP 0308068 A1 EP0308068 A1 EP 0308068A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
terminal
electrical terminal
contact
matable
resilient
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP88307553A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0308068B1 (fr
Inventor
Hermanus Petrus Johannes Gilissen
Lucas Soes
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TE Connectivity Corp
Original Assignee
AMP Inc
Whitaker LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AMP Inc, Whitaker LLC filed Critical AMP Inc
Publication of EP0308068A1 publication Critical patent/EP0308068A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0308068B1 publication Critical patent/EP0308068B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02—Contact members
    • H01R13/10—Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades
    • H01R13/11—Resilient sockets

Definitions

  • the invention is directed to an electrical contact system which allows for many insertions and withdrawals of a first electrical contact with respect to a second electrical contact.
  • the electrical contact system is configured such that as the first electrical contact is inserted and withdrawn from the second electrical contact, only minimal wear occurs on the surfaces of the contact areas of the contacts.
  • U.S. Patent Numbers 3,836,947 and 4,030,804 are representative of what is available in the market place today. Both of these connectors are directed to a system in which the male terminal is plugged into the female terminal. As the insertion occurs, the contact section of the female terminal engages the contact surface of the male terminal. This results in the contact sections of the male terminal being slidably engaged with the contact section of the female terminal, This sliding engagement of the surfaces of the contact sections results in wear of the surface of the contact sections. This wear also results during withdrawal of the male terminal from the female terminal. As the insertion and withdrawal are repeated many times, the wear of the surfaces of the contact sections become significant, which could result in the contacts not being placed in electrical engagement as insertion occurs.
  • the invention is directed to an electrical terminal having a base plate which has resilient members extending therefrom.
  • Each resilient member has a first major surface and an oppositely facing second major surface.
  • a fixed end of each resilient members is adjacent the base plate and a free end of each resilient members has a contact sections provided proximate thereto. The contact sections are provided to cooperate with a matable electrical terminal.
  • the electrical terminal is characterized by wing means which are provided at the free end of the resilient members, adjacent the contact sections.
  • the wing means extend at an angle from the contact section.
  • the wing means are provided such that as the electrical terminal is mated with the matable electrical terminal, the wing means engage the matable terminal, causing the wing means to spread apart. This in turn causes the resilient members to spread apart.
  • the wing means cooperates with the surface of the matable electrical contact to prevent the first major surfaces of the contact sections from engaging contact surfaces of the matable terminal until the wing means are moved past the matable terminal.
  • the resilient members are urged to resiliently return toward their undeformed position, causing the contact sections to engage the contact surfaces of the matable terminal, thereby placing the electrical terminal in electrical engagement with the matable terminal.
  • Figures 1 through 3 show one embodiment of an electrical connection system which has a male terminal 2 and a female terminal 4.
  • the system allows for many insertions and withdrawals of female terminal 4 from male terminal 2 with only minimal wear occurring at contact sections 6, 8 of terminals 2, 4 respectively.
  • Male terminal 2 has a cylindrical configuration, as shown in Figures 1 through 3. Proximate a top end 10 of male terminal 2 is a recessed section 12. Recessed section 12 has a rectangular cross section as viewed from top end 10. Opposed side surfaces 13 of recessed section 10 defines contact section 6 of male terminal 2. A bottom end (not shown) of terminal 2 is placed in electrical engagement with a circuit board or the like in a manner well known in the industry.
  • Female terminal 4 is stamped and formed from a piece of sheet metal having the desired resilient and electrical characteristics.
  • Female terminal 4 has a base plate 14 and two resilient arms 16, 18.
  • a support portion 20 of base plate 14 extends from one resilient arm 16 to the other resilient arm 18, thereby providing the support necessary to maintain resilient arms 16, 18 in position.
  • a curved portion 22 of base plate 14 extends from support portion 20 outwardly.
  • a mating portion 24 is provided at the end of curved portion 22 which is opposite support portion 20. Mating portion 24 is provide to allow a mating connector or the like to be placed in electrical engagement with female terminal 4.
  • resilient arms 16, 18 Positioned on either side of support portion 20 of base plate 14 and integrally attached thereto, are resilient arms 16, 18.
  • Resilient arms 16, 18 extend in a plane which is essentially perpendicular to the plane of support portion 20 of base plate 14.
  • Resilient arms 16, 18 also extend from support portion 20 in the opposite direction as does mating portion 24.
  • resilient arms 16, 18 are not parallel to each other. Free ends 26 of resilient arms 16, 18 are positioned closer to each other than the ends of resilient arms 16, 18 which are integrally attached to support portion 20.
  • Resilient arms 16, 18 have wide sections which are positioned proximate to support portion 16 of base plate 14.
  • Narrow contact sections 30 are provided on resilient arms 16, 18 proximate free ends 26 thereof.
  • Gradual transition sections 32 are provided between wide sections 28 and narrow contact sections 30.
  • Slots 34 are provided in wide sections 28, proximate mating portion 24. Slots 34 are provided to cooperate with a mating connector (not shown). The mating connector is inserted onto mating portion 24 and maintained in position by the frictional engagement of the mating connector with surfaces of slots 34. It should be noted that the other mating connectors may be attached to mating portion 24 in any number of different ways.
  • Wing members 36 extend from narrow contact sections 30, in the opposite direction as wide sections 28. Wing members 36 are wider than narrow contact sections 30, and extend at an angle from narrow contact sections 30. This angle allows wing members 36 to act as a lead in surface when female terminal 4 is inserted onto male terminal 2, as will be discussed. It should be noted that wing members 36 are wider than recessed section 12 of male terminal 2.
  • Each narrow contact section 30 has a first major surface 38 and a second major surface 40.
  • Resilient arms 16, 18 of a respective female terminal 4 has first major surface 38 of narrow contact sections 30 facing each other.
  • Plating is performed on first major surface 38 of each narrow contact section 30, the plating providing the enhanced electrical characteristics required to insure a reliable electrical connection.
  • These plated first major surfaces 38 define contact sections 8 of female terminals 4.
  • FIGS 1 through 3 The operation of the connector system is shown in Figures 1 through 3.
  • female terminal 4 is positioned proximate male terminal 2, such that narrow contact sections 30 of female terminal 4 are essentially in alignment with recessed section 12 of male terminal 2.
  • a force is then applied to female terminal 4, causing female terminal 4 to engage male terminal 2.
  • wing members 36 of female terminal 4 engage the outside circumference of male terminal 2. Consequently, as wing members 36 are wider than recessed section 12, wing members 36 do not engage side surfaces 13 of recessed section 12 as insertion of female terminal 4 onto male terminal 2 occurs.
  • wing members 36 are slid past the surface of male terminal 2.
  • the resilient nature of resilient arms 16, 18 forces wing members 36 to spring back toward their original position, as shown in Figure 3.
  • the resilient nature of resilient arms 16, 18 insures that first major surfaces 38 of narrow contact sections 30 are positioned in electrical engagement with side surfaces 13 of recessed section 12 of male terminal 2.
  • Wing members 36 are positioned proximate recessed section 12, but do not engage any surface of male terminal 2. Therefore, narrow contact section 30 and the surfaces of recessed section 12 are placed in electrical engagement.
  • the cooperation of wing members 36 with the outside surface of male terminal 2 allows female terminal 4 to be easily inserted onto male terminal 2. However, even more important is the fact that nothing slidably engages narrow contact surfaces 36 or the surfaces of recessed section 12. As these are the only plated surfaces, this lack of engagement prevents wear to the plated areas, allowing reliable use of this system over many cycles.
  • connection system which is capable of withstanding 10,000 insertions/withdrawals without the need for a thick layer of very costly plating material.
  • Figures 4 through 6 show an alternative embodiment of the invention.
  • the configuration of female terminal 104 is essentially the same as the embodiment previously described. However, when viewed from above, male terminal 102 has a square shape rather than a round shape, as was previously described.
  • the insertion of female terminal 104 onto male terminal 102 is essentially identical to the operation described above. It is, therefore, deemed unnecessary to explain this embodiment in detail.
  • the references numerals used in Figures 4 through 6 are identical to those used in the previous description, with the exception that one hundred has been added to each numeral.
  • connection system has a male terminal 202 and a female terminal 204.
  • the overall operation is very similar to that previously described. However, differences are present.
  • Female terminal 204 is essentially identical to female terminal 4 described previously. However, wing members 236 extend from narrow contact portion 230 in a different direction as wing member 36. As shown in Figure 7, wing members 236 also extend inward, toward each other, rather than away from each other. Resilient arms 216, 218 have the same configuration as was previously describe, except that in this embodiment, resilient arms 216, 218 are essentially parallel to each other.
  • Male terminal 202 has many differences to male terminal 2 previously described.
  • Male terminal 202 of this embodiment has a right angle provided therein.
  • Contact surfaces 231 are provided proximate an end 215 of male terminal 202.
  • Contact surfaces 213 are not of reduced width, but rather are positioned below a cavity 212 positioned in a top surface 210 of male terminal 202.
  • wing engagement surfaces 217 Positioned between cavity 212 and end 215 are wing engagement surfaces 217.
  • Wing engagement surfaces 217 have lead in surfaces 219 provided at the end thereof.
  • female terminal 204 is positioned proximate male terminal 202, as shown in Figure 7.
  • a force is applied to female terminal 204, causing wing members 236 to engage lead in surfaces 219 of wing engagement surfaces 217.
  • wings slide along the surfaces of wing engagement surface causing wing members 236 and resilient arms 216, 218 to open, as shown in Figure 8.
  • the various embodiments may vary some what in physical appearance, the principal of each is the same.
  • the insertion and removal process of the terminals insures that only a very small amount of sliding motion occurs in the contact areas of the terminals.
  • the lack of sliding motion across the contact areas significantly reduces the amount of wear in these areas.
  • Low wear allows thin layers of plating to be used in the contact areas, even if many insertions and removals are planned for the terminals. This is a significant cost savings, as current terminals have a large portion of the cost associated with the thick plating layers which must be used in order to insure a positive electrical connection in the high wear contact areas.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
EP19880307553 1987-09-14 1988-08-15 Système de contact à faible usure Expired - Lifetime EP0308068B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB878721575A GB8721575D0 (en) 1987-09-14 1987-09-14 Low wear contact system
GB8721575 1987-09-14

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0308068A1 true EP0308068A1 (fr) 1989-03-22
EP0308068B1 EP0308068B1 (fr) 1995-11-02

Family

ID=10623744

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19880307553 Expired - Lifetime EP0308068B1 (fr) 1987-09-14 1988-08-15 Système de contact à faible usure

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0308068B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE3854638T2 (fr)
GB (1) GB8721575D0 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0884803A2 (fr) * 1997-06-13 1998-12-16 Framatome Connectors International S.A. Borne électrique
US6000975A (en) * 1997-12-12 1999-12-14 3M Innovative Properties Company Canted beam electrical contact and receptacle housing therefor
DE19912426B4 (de) * 1998-03-19 2006-10-19 CCS Technology, Inc., Wilmington Kontaktbauteil einer Verteilereinrichtung, mit mindestens einer Kontaktfeder
DE202016106423U1 (de) * 2016-11-16 2018-02-19 Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG Steckverbindung aus Kontaktstift- und Kontaktbuchse, Kontaktstift Kombination aus Stiftleiste und Buchsenleiste
US10965051B2 (en) * 2018-04-27 2021-03-30 Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. Connector terminal and connector for easier insertion of a terminal into a housing

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6083024A (en) * 1997-04-25 2000-07-04 The Whitaker Corporation Electrical connector assembly with reduced wear and mating forces

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3110609A1 (de) * 1981-03-18 1982-10-07 Siemens Ag Mechanisch-elektrische steckverbindung
DE8207036U1 (de) * 1982-03-12 1984-02-16 Ramel, Elisabeth, 8190 Wolfratshausen Elektrischer Steckverbinder

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3110609A1 (de) * 1981-03-18 1982-10-07 Siemens Ag Mechanisch-elektrische steckverbindung
DE8207036U1 (de) * 1982-03-12 1984-02-16 Ramel, Elisabeth, 8190 Wolfratshausen Elektrischer Steckverbinder

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0884803A2 (fr) * 1997-06-13 1998-12-16 Framatome Connectors International S.A. Borne électrique
EP0884803A3 (fr) * 1997-06-13 1999-09-01 Framatome Connectors International S.A. Borne électrique
US6000975A (en) * 1997-12-12 1999-12-14 3M Innovative Properties Company Canted beam electrical contact and receptacle housing therefor
DE19912426B4 (de) * 1998-03-19 2006-10-19 CCS Technology, Inc., Wilmington Kontaktbauteil einer Verteilereinrichtung, mit mindestens einer Kontaktfeder
DE202016106423U1 (de) * 2016-11-16 2018-02-19 Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG Steckverbindung aus Kontaktstift- und Kontaktbuchse, Kontaktstift Kombination aus Stiftleiste und Buchsenleiste
US10965051B2 (en) * 2018-04-27 2021-03-30 Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. Connector terminal and connector for easier insertion of a terminal into a housing

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8721575D0 (en) 1987-10-21
DE3854638T2 (de) 1996-06-20
DE3854638D1 (de) 1995-12-07
EP0308068B1 (fr) 1995-11-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4820182A (en) Hermaphroditic L. I. F. mating electrical contacts
EP0036264B1 (fr) Contact terminal électrique et un connecteur électrique à force d'insertion nulle contenant ces contacts terminaux
US4221448A (en) Connector for printed circuit boards
US5647755A (en) Electrical connector
US3497866A (en) Electrical connector
EP0460198B1 (fr) Systeme de calage de connecteurs
EP0685120B1 (fr) Borne a lame a dispositif de verrouillage passif
EP0472006A1 (fr) Connecteur électrique avec moyens pour garantir une connexion électrique fiable
US4747794A (en) Electrical connector
EP0158413A2 (fr) Connecteur électrique à faible force d'insertion avec contrôle des contraintes de contacts
AU591635B2 (en) Electrical connector
US4781611A (en) Zero insertion force electrical contact assembly
EP0340952A1 (fr) Boîtier de connexion avec des bornes mobiles
EP0407864B1 (fr) Connecteur de bordure pour plaque de circuit imprimé
EP0191539A2 (fr) Borne de connexion électrique pour connecteur
US5009606A (en) Separable electrical connector
EP0308068A1 (fr) Système de contact à faible usure
US4869685A (en) Electrical connector having terminals with positive retention means and improved mating zones
JPS63102183A (ja) コネクタ装置
EP0065357B1 (fr) Connecteur à faible force d'insertion
US3663930A (en) Disengageable electrical connector
US5151046A (en) Electrical terminal which has overstress protection
US5147214A (en) Electrical terminal which has overstress protection
EP0199619B1 (fr) Contact de branchement avancé et de déconnexion différée pour système de connexion à faible force d'insertion
EP0132070A2 (fr) Connecteur électrique de bord

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19890918

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: AMP INCORPORATED (A PENNSYLVANIA CORPORATION)

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: AMP INCORPORATED

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19920406

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: THE WHITAKER CORPORATION

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: BUZZI, NOTARO&ANTONIELLI D'OULX

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3854638

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19951207

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19980702

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19980806

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19980827

Year of fee payment: 11

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990815

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19990815

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20000428

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20000601

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20030707

Year of fee payment: 16

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050301

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20050301

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20050815