EP1429423A2 - Electrical plug connector having a casing and a heavy current contact - Google Patents

Abstract

The connector has an insulating housing (2) with an opening (16) for a high-current socket (3) with a contact section comprising multiple contact pieces (7). A fixing section (6) for fixing the socket to a circuit board has a guide projection (9) and guide grove (10). The thickness of the fixing section is larger than that of an intermediate section and the contact section. An abutment surface (11) is formed on the housing. Independent claims are included for a housing and for a high-current socket.

Description

The present invention describes an electrical Connector according to the preamble of Claim 1.

Plug-in connections of this type are used in order in particular to obtain electrical contacting for high current flows, ie with a large number of amperes. For this purpose, electrically conductive plugs in the form of pins are inserted into the contact section of a high-current socket of this plug-in connection in order to obtain an electrically conductive connection with other components via the high-current socket.
The high-current socket is inserted in a recess of an insulating housing surrounding the high-current socket or in the body of the housing and is usually fixed therein. For this purpose, the high-current socket is inserted through the opening in the recess and z. B. attached via a snap connection.

The high current socket is divided into three sections, the at the manufacture of the high-current socket in one piece with each other are trained. The first section is a contact section, where the actual electrical connection to a additional connector / pin is made. The contact section exists from several, in particular spring-elastic, tongues, between which the pen is inserted. The second section is the intermediate section at which elastic spring tongues are formed to the one described above To enable snap-in connection in the surrounding housing. The third section is the mounting section with which the High-current socket or the same together with the housing the electrical plug connection on other components, preferably circuit boards / boards or the like., Can be attached.

The high-current sockets are made from a flat metal plate punched out, the punching already in the later desired shape of the high-current socket. suitable Metallic materials that conduct electricity well are Known specialist. Then this level Material cutting z. B. rolled around a mandrel or on it pressed to the essentially in axial extension of the High current socket seen hollow cylindrical outer Get shape. The contact section and the intermediate section is approximately closed Cylinder shape bent towards each other and the Fastening section is only a half or Bent three quarters of a circle so that lateral areas of the Fastening section substantially perpendicular to Longitudinal extension of the high-current socket protrude to with connect these areas to other components enable.

DE 693 21 708 T2 describes such an electrical Plug connection, here on the contact tongues of the Contact section for clamping the associated pin the electrical connection near the free ends of the Tongues a bend in the tongues is provided to enclose this pin. Furthermore mounting legs are provided on the fastening section, with which the high-current socket on another base is attachable. Inside the recess of the case, that surrounds this high-current socket are elongated Centering guide elements in one piece with the housing trained with which a guide of the contact tongues of the Contact section takes place in the recess. Furthermore are formed in the recess locking projections with Interacting tongues on the high current socket to to fix them in the housing. A definition in axial Longitudinal extension of the cavity bushing relative to the housing takes place here only in a longitudinal direction. Introducing it too far the cavity socket in the housing is not avoided here.

The person skilled in the art is based on this prior art given the task of having an electrical connector a housing and a high-current socket improve that the manufacture of the high current socket and especially the contact tongues simplified, a Damage to the contact tongues when inserted into the Housing avoided and the alignment in the longitudinal direction the high-current socket relative to the housing in the desired Location can be determined.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a Plug connection solved according to claim 1. The Claims 3 and 6 disclose a new inventive designed high current socket and an associated housing for this connector. Further advantageous configurations the invention are the subject of Dependent claims.

The main idea of the invention is that a Guiding / alignment of the high-current socket relative to Housing not with guiding devices inside the Recess takes place, but with guide devices that in the area of the opening of the recess, in particular are arranged outside / in front of the recess. So that is avoided that the spring-elastic contact tongues incorrect insertion of the high-current socket into the Recess through the arranged therein Leadership facilities bent and thus the High current socket or the entire plug connection become unusable. By already in the area of the opening the recess in the housing of the electrical Plug connection arranged guide devices are the Contact tongues in the recess, during further insertion, already arranged in the correct position. The resilient tongues on Intermediate section are preferably by a Get flat embossing in order to continuously reduce the Cross-section and thus a better spring action receive.

In addition, the high-current socket or the material cut, from which the high-current socket is made, such trained that the material thickness of the Fastening section is greater than the material thicknesses of the Intermediate and the contact sections. That’s how gradual transition between the respective Material thicknesses in the area between the intermediate section and the mounting portion obtained, this step as Stop surface serves that with a counter stop surface in the recess of the housing of the electrical Plug connection interacts.

This means that the high-current socket is only so far into the Recess in the body of the housing can immediately until the respective stop surfaces abut each other. With a suitable choice of the respective location along the length of the high current socket and the mutual distance between adjacent high current sockets in Longitudinal extension, seen between the spring tongue on Intermediate section and the stop surface between Intermediate section and fastening section and the Counter stop surface in the body of the housing and one further stop surface for the spring tongue on Intermediate section, the high current socket can be in the desired Position set in the axial direction in the housing become. That means the depth at which the High current socket is inserted into the housing is desired selectable and adjustable.

For this purpose there is the housing of the electrical connector made of an insulating material, e.g. B. an injection molded part made of a suitable plastic, as the expert is known, which forms a body. There is one in the body Provided recess through the opening of the The high-current socket can be inserted through the recess. In the recess are in a manner known per se Locking projections formed with the above described spring tongues at the intermediate section of the High current socket cooperate to avoid that the high current socket out of the recess can be pulled out.

To align the high-current socket relative to the recess in the body of the housing are in the area of the opening in the Body guide grooves formed on the housing in the appropriately trained leadership projections of High current sockets can be brought into engagement, so that the High current socket before the insertion of the Contact tongues in the recess is aligned in the correct position and bending of the contact tongues is avoided. Of The body also has a counter-stop surface, the one with the stop surface on the high current socket, the by changing the material thickness of the high-current socket is formed, interacts to the depth at which the High current socket is inserted into the recess limit. Such is the axial position of the high current socket in the housing together with those described above Locking projections and spring tongues in the desired manner fixable. The case itself is about more Fasteners, such as. B. press-in pins with other components such as Printed circuit boards or circuit boards connectable.

To ensure permanent and reliable electrical contact between the resilient Contact tongues and the pin described above suggested that inside the recess of the body of the housing further projections or one in the Recess continuously formed projection are. On the one hand, these can serve the depth at which the high-current socket is inserted into the recess, limit by placing the tabs on the ledge nudge. On the other hand, the projections can also be used as continuous cross-sectional narrowing of the recess be designed so that the contact tongues from which narrowing cross section of the recess during insertion towards each other evenly, d. H. in the radial direction inside, so as to make a pen pinch an electrically conductive connection and to contact reliably. This will be done when punching out slots are formed between adjacent contact tongues. With Such a projection can also be precentered the one to be inserted into the housing from the other side Pin serve to damage the contact tongues avoid.

The high current socket is as described above trained, d. H. it has a leadership advantage on the mounting section with which the high-current socket in the correct position for the recess in the body of the housing can be aligned. Furthermore, the transition from Intermediate section to the fastening section gradual increase in the material thickness of the blank, from which the high current socket is obtained. This step serves as an abutment surface with the above described counter stop surface in the housing interacts. Such a stage in material cutting can z. B. can be obtained by cutting a material in the thickness of the fastening section in the areas that form the later intermediate and contact sections a milling process is reduced in material thickness. Then the punching process and the forming process respectively.

The contact tongues are preferably above their respective ones Longitudinal extension straight or straight trained, that is, seen in the longitudinal direction have no kinks or curves, so their manufacture through a single reshaping of a flat Material cutting to a high-current socket is possible.

In an advantageous development of the invention several guide projections on the fastening section trained, e.g. B. two opposite to each other Sides of the fastening section are formed. A corresponding design of the housing with a corresponding number and arrangement of the guide grooves then also advantageous.

The attachment of the Fastening section on other components, in particular Printed circuit boards or circuit boards, in that the Fastening device either as solder pins attached to the Components are soldered, trained or as Press-in zone, d. H. that this part of the mounting section with an appropriately trained section further Component is pressed together to make a permanent Get connection. Furthermore, the fastening device be designed as an SMD contact area.

For permanent contact with an electrical pin further suggested that the reeds to their free end are inclined towards each other, so that the clear width of the cavity bushing towards the free end reduced. This can pinch the electrical pin become. This tendency is either already in the Manufacture of the cavity bushing by appropriate Forming processes specified or is by a appropriately trained recess in the body of the Housing whose cross section is reduced.

To facilitate the introduction of the pen in the Cavity socket are with the free ends of the contact tongues inclined surfaces that together form a conical Form widening.

Fig. 1:

eine elektrische Steckverbindung in teilweise geschnittener Darstellung,

Fig. 2:

eine in ein Gehäuse eingeschobene Hochstrombuchse in geschnittener Darstellung,

Fig. 3:

eine Hochstrombuchse beim Einschieben in ein Gehäuse,

Fig. 4a, 4b:

eine Hochstrombuchse im Querschnitt und in perspektivischer Darstellung, und

Fig. 5:

eine weitere Ausführung der Hochstrombuchse in perspektivischer Darstellung.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention are listed in the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in more detail with reference to drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1:

an electrical connector in a partially sectioned illustration,

Fig. 2:

a high-current socket inserted into a housing in a sectional view,

Fig. 3:

a high-current socket when inserted into a housing,

4a, 4b:

a high-current socket in cross section and in perspective, and

Fig. 5:

a further embodiment of the high-current socket in a perspective view.

The one shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4a and 4b Embodiment of the invention is a electrical connector 1 consisting of a Housing 2 and a high-current socket 3. The housing 2 is from a body 15, e.g. B. a plastic injection molded part, educated. A recess 16 is in shape in the body 15 of a breakthrough. The metallic High current socket 3 is from one side in the insertion direction E inserted into the body 15. To make one electrical connection is a not shown here Plug / pin inserted into the recess 16 from the left and contacted by the contact tongues 7.

For the correct alignment of the high-current socket 3 relative to the body 15, guide projections 9 are formed on the fastening section 6 of the high-current socket 3, which cooperate with guide grooves 10 on the body 15. The guide grooves 10 are arranged outside / in front of the opening of the recess 16 in order to align the high-current socket 3 when it is inserted.
To determine the axial position of the high-current socket 3 in the recess 16, spring tongues 8 are used, which are formed on the intermediate section 5 and project in the radial direction beyond the intermediate section 5 and interact with locking projections 17 in the interior of the recess 16 in a manner known per se. The spring tongues 8 are preferably stamped flat. A step 14 on the high-current socket 3, which cooperates with a counter-abutment surface 11 on the housing 2 or in the recess 16 of the body 15, serves to fix it in the opposite direction. This definition in both axial directions of the longitudinal extent of the high-current socket 3 means that it can be fixed in the desired position in the housing 2 without play.

The stage 14, as can be seen from FIG Change in the material thickness t1 of the intermediate section 5 and the contact section 4 with respect to the material thickness t2 of the mounting section 6 obtained. This level 14 can e.g. before punching / forming the high-current socket 3 a milling of the material blank can be obtained.

The contact section 4 is preferred among several resilient contact tongues 7 formed at their free ends have an inclined surface 21, so that on this free end of the contact section 4 a conical Enlargement to facilitate the introduction of a electric pin from the other side of the recess 16 forth into the electrical connector 1 is facilitated.

There are preferably several in one housing 2 High-current sockets 3 arranged next to and / or one above the other, to get a variety of electrical contacts.

To attach the electrical connector 1 or Fastening section 6 on other components, such as Printed circuit boards or circuit boards are used in this embodiment an SMD contact area 12 with openings 13 in the Fastening section 6 is formed. The SMD contact area 12 is designed in a manner known per se. The Breakthroughs 13 are required to spread the Solder tin over the whole contact when soldering avoid. For attachment, however, could also be solder pins or serve a press-fit zone on the fastening section 6.

Further fastening devices can also be attached to the housing 2 18, e.g. B. a press pin may be provided to to connect the housing 2 itself with other components.

As can be seen from Figure 1, inside the Recess 16 further projections 20 or a collar continuous projection 20 formed. This can serve on the one hand to increase the insertion depth of the Limit high-current socket 3 in the housing 2 by the contact tongues 7 are in contact with him. On the other hand, one such projection 20 when in the form of a continuous cross-sectional narrowing of the recess 16 is designed to serve the spring tongues 7, as from the Cross-sectional view in Figure 4a can be seen to their respective free ends towards each other so that the clear width of the high-current socket 3 to its free Reduced towards the end. Thus, electrical pins in the High-current socket 3 clamped by the contact tongues 7 become. For this purpose, between the contact tongues 7 punching slots 19 provided.

The projection 20 can also be designed such that he is on the side facing the pin to be inserted has an inclined surface so as to center to work for this pen to damage the Avoid contact tongues 7.

All of the features mentioned in the above description and also the features that can be inferred solely from the drawings are further components of the invention, even if they are not particularly emphasized and mentioned in the claims.
The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment, but is variable in many ways within the scope of the disclosure. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the transition section 6 'of the fastening section 6 of the power socket 3' facing the contact area 12 'has a further embodiment. The high-current socket 3 'shown in FIG. 5 is designed differently in details from the high-current socket 3 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4b. In this embodiment, a guide groove 9b is machined on each end, that is to say in the direction of the intermediate section 5, at each provided transition section 6 'of the fastening section 6 directed towards the contact area 12'. In addition, a guide projection 9a is provided laterally in the rear section, at approximately the same height as the guide groove 9b. The guide groove 9b and the guide projection 9a have the same function as the guide projection 9 in the embodiment variant according to FIGS. 1 to 4b.
In the assembled state, the guide projection 9a lies in the guide groove 10 of the housing 2. The guide groove 9b on the fastening section 6 of the high-current socket 3 'overlaps a pin which is arranged on the counter stop surface 11 of the housing 2 and is not shown in the figures.
In this perspective view, the two SMD contact areas 12 'are placed on a circuit board 22; 23 denotes the soldering field in question on the circuit board 22. The breakthroughs regarding the influence of the solder are designated here with 13 '.
This embodiment variant of a high-current socket will be used in particular if the overall length in the axial direction, that is to say seen in the plug-in direction, must be kept short and the height of the plug-in connection, that is to say the height of the fastening section, can be more variable.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

electrical connector

2

Housing from item 1

3, 3 '

High current socket from item 1

4

Contact section of item 3

5

Intermediate section of item 3

6

Fastening section from item 3

6 '

Transitional section from item 3 '

7

Contact tongue of item 4

8th

Tongue at item 5

9

Leading lead at pos. 6

9a

Leading projection at pos. 6 '

9b

Guide groove in pos. 6 '

10

Guide groove at item 2

11

Counter stop surface at item 2

12, 12 '

SMD contact area at pos. 6

13, 13 '

Breakthrough in pos. 12

14

Step at item 3

15

Body of item 2

16

Recess in item 15

17

Locking projection in pos. 16

18

Fastening device at item 2

19

Slots between item 7

20

Head start in pos. 16

21

inclined surface at item 7

22

circuit board

23

solder field

e

Direction of insertion from item 3 to item 2

t1, t2

Material thicknesses from item 3

Claims (13)

Electrical plug connection (1) with an insulating housing (2) with a recess (16) and a high-current socket (3; 3 ') arranged therein with a contact section (4), an intermediate section (5) and a fastening section (6), which are in one piece are formed together from a material blank, wherein the contact section (4) is formed by a plurality of contact tongues (7), A spring-elastic tongue (8) for fixing the high-current socket (3; 3 ') in the surrounding housing (2) is provided on the intermediate section (5), Devices for fastening the high-current socket (3; 3 ') to a further component, in particular to a printed circuit board, are provided on the fastening section (6), and with a plug / pin which can be inserted into the high-current socket (3; 3'), characterized in that a guide projection (9) is formed on the fastening section (6) and a guide groove (10) is formed on the housing (2) in the region of an opening in the recess (16), the material thickness (t2) of the fastening section (6) is greater than the material thickness (t1) of the intermediate section (5) and the contact section (4), a counter abutment surface (11) is formed on the housing (2). Electrical plug connection (1) according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the guide projection (9) is a material characteristic (9a), which is arranged in the rear area of a transition area (6 ') of the fastening section (6) facing away from the housing (2) and the position of which is matched to the guide groove (10), and, that a guide groove (9b) is arranged in the end face of the transition region (6 ') facing the housing (2). Housing (2) of an electrical plug connection (1) made of an insulating material with a body (15), in which a recess (16) for receiving a high-current socket (3; 3 ') is formed, with locking projections (16) in the recess (16). 17) are provided for fixing the high-current socket (3; 3 '),
characterized in that a guide groove (10) is provided on the body (2) in the region of the opening of the recess (16), a counter abutment surface (11) is formed on the body (15). Housing (2) according to claim 3,
characterized in that further fastening devices (18) are formed on the housing (2). Housing (2) according to claim 3 or 4,
characterized in that further projections (20) are formed in the recess (16). High-current socket (3) with a contact section (4), an intermediate section (5) and a fastening section (6), which are formed in one piece from one another from a material blank, wherein the contact section (4) is formed by a plurality of resilient contact tongues (7), a resilient tongue (8) is provided on the intermediate section (5), Devices for fastening the high-current socket (3) to a further component, in particular to a printed circuit board, are provided on the fastening section (6), characterized in that a guide projection (9) is formed on the fastening section (6), the material thickness (t2) of the fastening section (6) is greater than the material thickness (t1) of the intermediate section (5) and the contact section (4). High-current socket (3 ') according to claim 6,
characterized in that
the guide projection (9) is a material expression (9a), which is arranged in the rear area of the transition area (6 ') of the fastening section (6) facing the free end, and in the end face of the transition area (6') facing the intermediate section (5) ) a guide groove (9b) is arranged. High-current socket (3; 3 ') according to claim 6 or 7,
characterized in that the contact tongues (7) are straight over their longitudinal extent, in particular have no kinks. High-current socket (3; 3 ') according to claim 6, 7 or 8,
characterized in that a plurality of guide projections (9) or guide projections and guide grooves (9a and 9b) are formed on the fastening section (6), in particular two each. High-current socket (3; 3 ') according to one of claims 6 to 9,
characterized in that the devices for attachment to the attachment section (6) are solder pins, a press-in zone or an SMD contact area (12; 12 '). High-current socket (3; 3 ') according to one of claims 6 to 10,
characterized in that the contact tongues (7) are inclined towards one another evenly towards their free end. High-current socket (3; 3 ') according to one of claims 6 to 11,
characterized in that the contact tongues (7) have a conical widening at their free ends. High-current socket (3; 3 ') according to one of claims 6 to 12,
characterized in that the tongues (8) are embossed flat on the intermediate section (5).

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