EP0700122B1 - Prise électrique - Google Patents

Prise électrique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0700122B1
EP0700122B1 EP95113791A EP95113791A EP0700122B1 EP 0700122 B1 EP0700122 B1 EP 0700122B1 EP 95113791 A EP95113791 A EP 95113791A EP 95113791 A EP95113791 A EP 95113791A EP 0700122 B1 EP0700122 B1 EP 0700122B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
arms
terminal
electrical receptacle
receptacle terminal
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP95113791A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0700122A2 (fr
EP0700122A3 (fr
Inventor
Harald Michael Lutsch
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.)
Whitaker LLC
Original Assignee
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 Whitaker LLC filed Critical Whitaker LLC
Publication of EP0700122A2 publication Critical patent/EP0700122A2/fr
Publication of EP0700122A3 publication Critical patent/EP0700122A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0700122B1 publication Critical patent/EP0700122B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • H01R13/113—Resilient sockets co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular transverse section
    • 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
    • H01R13/15—Pins, blades or sockets having separate spring member for producing or increasing contact pressure
    • H01R13/18—Pins, blades or sockets having separate spring member for producing or increasing contact pressure with the spring member surrounding the socket

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electrical receptacle terminals requiring multiple points of engagement with a mating tab terminal.
  • the multiple contact points assure that adequate interconnection is established for transmitting the signal therebetween. Examples of where multiple contact points are advantageous are high power applications where the multiple contact points are necessary to transmit the power or where the interconnection between the mating terminals is likely to be misaligned so that not all of the contact points will be established for every insertion, in this case the multiple contact points provide sufficient redundancy to assure adequate signal transmission.
  • US 4 990 110 discloses an electrical receptacle terminal for mating with a tab terminal having the features of the pre-characterizing part of claim 1. Specifically, there are provided plural pairs of contact arms having contact surfaces which are spaced from one pair of contact arms to another pair of contact arms in the insertion direction of a tab terminal.
  • an electrical receptacle terminal having provisions for multiple points of contact with a mating tab terminal that ensures reliable engagement of a sufficient number of the contact points to transmit the desired electrical signal.
  • an electrical receptacle terminal that exerts sufficient normal force at the contact points to retain the mating tab terminal therein.
  • the receptacle terminal does not require so much insertion force that interconnection is difficult herein.
  • the receptacle terminal must be economical to produce.
  • an electrical receptacle terminal comprising a conductor engaging end for interconnecting to an electrical conductor, and a contact portion connected thereto, the contact portion having a plurality of contact arms having contact surfaces thereupon for electrically engaging a mating tab terminal, the receptacle being characterized in that adjacent contact arms have different stiffness.
  • the electrical connector 2 includes a conductor engaging end 4 and a contact end 6 interconnected by an intermediate portion 8.
  • the conductor engaging end 4 of the present embodiment is adapted for crimp engagement of an insulated conductor by what is commonly known as an F-crimp.
  • the conductor engaging end 4 could take on any desired configuration depending upon the type of conductor to be engaged and the physical characteristics required of the engagement. Possible configurations would include, for wire, an insulation displacement contact (IDC) for engaging an insulated wire, different crimp structures, or solder structures, while it would be also possible to incorporate structure for direct engagement of pads on a printed circuit board or another connector structure.
  • IDC insulation displacement contact
  • the contact end 6 includes an outer shell 10 that generally surrounds an inner contact 12.
  • the outer shell 10 is a stamped and formed sheet metal component joined together along seam 14 by conventional techniques, such as laser welding, to form a protective box about the inner contact 12.
  • At the front end of the outer shell 10 extend forwardly a pair of opposing guide tabs 16 that are folded backwards and inwardly to define a mouth 18 therebetween for receiving the mating tab terminal (not shown).
  • the guide tabs 16 act to assist in blind mating and to protect the inner contact 12 during insertion of the tab terminal (not shown).
  • a rear end 20 which extends out over the intermediate portion 8 to define side receiving regions 22.
  • These side receiving regions 22 may receive a secondary locking member (not shown) of a connector housing (not shown) in order to provide positive retention of the terminal within the housing, as is well known in the art.
  • a secondary locking member not shown
  • the inner contact 12 includes three pairs of opposed contact arms at 24a,b; 26a,b; 28a,b including respectively thereupon contact surfaces 30a,b; 32a,b; 34a,b.
  • Correspondingly disposed contact arms of the outer pairs 24a,28a; 24b,28b are advantageously, although not necessarily, interconnected at their forward end by a tie bar 36a,36b respectively.
  • Each tie bar 36a,36b is integrally formed with opposing side rails 38a,38b that act to stiffen the corresponding contact arms 24a,b;28a,b as will be described below.
  • the receptacle terminal need not be formed of opposing pairs of contact arms and it is envisioned that the receptacle structure could include an opposite side that is a seat with contact surfaces thereupon having no or different resiliency characteristics than the side illustrated here in Figure 3 incorporating the present invention.
  • the contact arms 24b,26b,28b and the oppositely opposed side rails 38b extend from a common base portion 40b.
  • the outer contact arms 24b,28b and the opposing side rails 38b are interconnected at the tie bar 36b.
  • the side rails 38 are folded normal to the plane from which the contact arms 24b,28b are formed disposed transversely to act as stiffening members for re-enforcing the cantilevered nature of the contact arms 24b,28b.
  • the side rails 38b provide additional stiffness beyond what would be realized if the contact arms 24b,28b were simply cantilevered from the base 40.
  • tie bar 36b interconnects corresponding contact arms 24b,28b, when forces resulting from the insertion of a tab terminal are exerted upon one of the contact arms 24b,28b, the tie bar 36b transmits at least a portion of reactionary forces through to the opposite contact arm 24b,28b and side rail 38b.
  • the centre contact arm 26b is located between the outer contact arms 24b,28b in a freely cantilevered manner extending forwardly from the base 40.
  • This contact arm 26 is defined by a U-shaped opening 42 that defines a free end 43 of the contact arm 26b.
  • the outer contact arms 24a,b;28a,b extend forwardly from the base 40 and converge towards the opposing arm of the pair to define a first receiving region 44 between the opposed contact surfaces 30a,b and 34a,b of the respective contact arms before diverging outwardly.
  • the first contact receiving region 44 is forward a second receiving region 46 defined by the contact surfaces 32a,b of the middle pair of contact arms 26a,b which converge and diverge in a manner similar to that described with respect to the outer contact arms.
  • the contact surfaces 30a,b;34a,b of the outer pairs of contact arms 24a,b;28a,b are spaced further apart, thereby defining a larger first receiving region than the contact surfaces 32a,b of the middle contact arms. It may be desirable in some instances to have the opposing contact surfaces 30a,b;34a,b and 32a,b that define the first and second receiving regions 44,46 respectively in contact with each other prior to insertion of the mating tab terminal.
  • the second receiving region 46 slightly smaller than the first receiving region 44 is may be assured that these contact arms 26 will engage the tab terminal and the amount of normal forces generated.
  • the central pair of contact arms 26 being freely cantilevered they have a greater elastic range enabling these arms to compensate for misalignment of the mating tab terminal.
  • these arms are located at the centre position where the minimal amount of displacement occurs if the tab terminal is misaligned, thereby assuring that at least two points of contact will be formed on each side of the tab terminal.
  • stiffer outer contact arms 24a,b;28a,b are reinforced by side rails
  • other stiffening structure could be used, for example: a back up spring; forming techniques, such as coining or stamping; or alternative structural configurations that would enable stiffening of a contact arm from its freely cantilevered stiffness characteristic.
  • a receptacle terminal is produced that is especially suited for ensuring that multiple points of contact are established with a mating tab terminal, in order to enable adequate signal transmission, even where the mating tab terminal is misaligned.
  • the receptacle terminal has good insertion force characteristics in relation to the number of contact points.
  • the receptacle terminal generates sufficient normal force to retain the mated tab terminal therein.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Borne de prise électrique (2) destinée à être accouplée avec une borne de fiche, comprenant une extrémité d'engagement d'un conducteur (4) en vue de l'interconnexion à un conducteur électrique, et une partie de contact (6) qui y est connectée, la partie de contact (6) comportant plusieurs bras de contact (24a, b; 26a, b; 28a, b) comportant des surfaces de contact (30a, b; 32a, b ; 34a, b) destinées à s'engager électriquement dans la borne de fiche d'accouplement, la borne de prise étant caractérisée en ce que les bras de contact adjacents ont une rigidité différente.
  2. Borne de prise électrique selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en outre en ce que la partie de contact englobe trois bras de contact (24a, b; 26a, b; 28a, b), le bras de contact central (26a, b) étant moins rigide qu'au moins un des bras de contact externes (24a, b; 28a, b).
  3. Borne de prise électrique selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en outre en ce que le contact central (26a, b) est moins rigide que les deux bras de contact externes (24a, b; 28a, b).
  4. Borne de prise électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en outre en ce que la partie de contact englobe des paires opposées de bras de contact.
  5. Borne de prise électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en outre en ce que les bras de contact plus rigides sont interconnectés et supportés par un rail latéral (38a, b).
  6. Borne de prise électrique selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en outre en ce que les bras de contact externes (24a, b; 28a, b) sont interconnectés par une barre de raccordement (36a, b).
  7. Borne de prise électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en outre en ce que les bras de contact plus rigides définissent une première région de réception de contacts (44) par l'intermédiaire de leurs surfaces de contact, le bras de contact moins rigide (26a, b) définissant une deuxième région de réception de contacts (46), la deuxième région de réception de contacts (46) étant plus petite que la première région de réception de contacts.
  8. Borne de prise électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en outre en ce que le bras de contact moins rigide (26) est soumis à un fléchissement plus important lors de l'engagement de la borne de fiche.
  9. Borne de prise électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en outre en ce que les bras de contact plus rigides (24a, b; 28a, b) définissent une première région de réception de contacts (44) par l'intermédiaire de leurs surfaces de contact, les bras de contact moins rigides (26a, b) définissant une deuxième région de réception de contacts (46) décalée dans la direction de l'insertion de la fiche d'accouplement par rapport à la première région de contact (44).
  10. Borne de prise électrique selon la revendication 9, caractérisée en outre en ce que la borne de prise englobe deux paires opposées de bras de contact rigides (24a, b; 28a, b), une paire de bras moins rigides (26a, b) étant positionnée entre elles.
EP95113791A 1994-09-02 1995-09-01 Prise électrique Expired - Lifetime EP0700122B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9417702A GB9417702D0 (en) 1994-09-02 1994-09-02 Electrical receptacle terminal
GB9417702 1994-09-02

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0700122A2 EP0700122A2 (fr) 1996-03-06
EP0700122A3 EP0700122A3 (fr) 1999-03-03
EP0700122B1 true EP0700122B1 (fr) 2001-11-14

Family

ID=10760755

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95113791A Expired - Lifetime EP0700122B1 (fr) 1994-09-02 1995-09-01 Prise électrique

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0700122B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69523839T2 (fr)
GB (1) GB9417702D0 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3859899A1 (fr) * 2020-01-28 2021-08-04 TE Connectivity Services GmbH Contact de douille pour connecteur électrique

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5938485A (en) * 1996-09-30 1999-08-17 The Whitaker Corporation Electrical terminal
EP0833409B1 (fr) * 1996-09-30 2003-04-09 The Whitaker Corporation Borne à connexion électrique
DE19828985B4 (de) * 1998-06-29 2008-01-24 The Whitaker Corp., Wilmington Elektrischer Buchsenkontakt
DE29906652U1 (de) * 1999-04-15 2000-08-24 Bosch Gmbh Robert Federarmkontaktelement
EP1148588A3 (fr) * 2000-01-31 2001-11-14 Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH Douille de contact
EP1122831A3 (fr) * 2000-01-31 2001-09-26 Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH Douille de contact
EP1122830A1 (fr) * 2000-01-31 2001-08-08 Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH Douille de contact
JP5630655B2 (ja) 2011-02-04 2014-11-26 住友電装株式会社 多接点型端子金具
JP2013016359A (ja) * 2011-07-04 2013-01-24 Sumitomo Wiring Syst Ltd 端子金具
JP2013168302A (ja) * 2012-02-16 2013-08-29 Yazaki Corp ジョイント端子及びジョイントコネクタ

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6358776A (ja) * 1986-08-27 1988-03-14 アンプ　インコ−ポレ−テツド レセプタクルコンタクト
FR2621180B1 (fr) * 1987-09-28 1990-01-12 Francelco Sa Borne de contact electrique de type cage
FR2647602A1 (fr) * 1989-05-25 1990-11-30 Amp France Contact femelle
US4975066A (en) * 1989-06-27 1990-12-04 Amp Incorporated Coaxial contact element
GB9208205D0 (en) * 1992-04-14 1992-05-27 Amp Gmbh Electrical socket terminal

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3859899A1 (fr) * 2020-01-28 2021-08-04 TE Connectivity Services GmbH Contact de douille pour connecteur électrique
US11201427B2 (en) 2020-01-28 2021-12-14 TE Connectivity Services Gmbh Socket contact for an electrical connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69523839D1 (de) 2001-12-20
DE69523839T2 (de) 2002-05-29
EP0700122A2 (fr) 1996-03-06
EP0700122A3 (fr) 1999-03-03
GB9417702D0 (en) 1994-10-19

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