EP1744406A1 - Socket for making an electrical connection to a counter contact as well as a connector having such a socket - Google Patents

Abstract

Socket contact is bipartite and the parts are separated from each other. The first part is formed in the form of contact pin (2) and a connector. Connector is attachable to an electric wire (4) and comprises a contact part (5). The second part is formed as contact sleeve and comprises the contact spring (16). Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) Contact chamber for admission of a socket contact; and (B) Plug connector for forming a plug connection with a counter contact.

Description

• einem Anschlussteil zur Aufnahme eines elektrischen Leiters,
• einem Kontaktteil zur Herstellung der elektrischen Verbindung mit dem Gegenkontakt,
• und einer Anpressfeder zur Herbeiführung einer Kontaktnormalkraft für den einzuführenden Gegenkontakt, sowie

eine Kontaktkammer für einen Steckverbinder, der mit dem Buchsenkontakt ausgebildet ist.The invention relates to a socket contact for producing an electrical plug connection with a mating contact, consisting of

• a connector for receiving an electrical conductor,
• a contact part for establishing the electrical connection with the mating contact,
• and a pressing spring for bringing about a contact normal force for the mating contact to be inserted, as well as

a contact chamber for a connector which is formed with the female contact.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a connector with the socket contact according to the invention.

State of the art

Contact systems in the formation of connectors are known in particular in the automotive sector, wherein a plug is formed, for example, as a harness connector and having contact elements which are formed like a knife or post and the mating contact corresponding thereto so-called female contacts, which are designed such that within the Mating connector chambers are provided, in which socket contacts are arranged, which at least partially slipped in the contacted state, the knife or post-like structures of the respective connector.

These socket contacts are known in various designs, which, however, have in common that they have the task, without interaction with the surrounding contact chamber, in which the socket contact is arranged to apply the necessary for the secure electrical contacting of the two contact partners normal contact force. To meet this task, the socket contacts are formed as one-, two- or multi-sided contact clamps each provided with Kontaktkuppen, which are plugged and spread from the top of the knife or post-like construction of Gegenkontaktpartners forth. This in turn causes the contact tips provided in the socket contact to press against the surface of the knife or post-like construction of the contact partners. Because of this design principle is for the time being From the prior art realized socket contacts characterizing that the outer contour of the maximum cross-sectional area of the contact body significantly exceeds both the cross-sectional area of the knife-like or post-like contact partner, as well as the insulation cross section, the line attached to the contact. In particular, if the contact partners to be introduced into the socket contact have wide blades, the aforementioned mismatch is of importance, since the large cross-section jump of contact body to significantly thinner cable diameter cost-effective space-saving sealing principles can not be safely applied.

Due to the large cross-sectional difference between the maximum contact outer diameter and the minimum diameter of the electrical line, the developer of contact systems is forced to use so-called single-point seals, which, however, higher individual costs for the seals, a higher assembly cost and associated greater space.

Object of the invention

The object of the invention is to form the known from the prior art contact system, consisting of a female contact and an inserting into the socket contact mating contact in the formation of a knife or post-like construction such that regardless of the formation of the knife or post-like construction the socket contact can be standardized.

Solution of the task

The core idea of the solution of the problem is, instead of a socket contact, which has a contact, the knife or post-like formations everting to strike a slender, rigid and knife-like pin to the electrical line and to introduce them into the contact chamber of a connector such that he comes to lie in mated condition with the mating connector next to the knife or post-like contact pin of the mating connector and so performs the necessary contact and provides the necessary contact normal force.

According to the invention it is therefore proposed that the socket contact is essentially divided into two parts and the parts are mounted separately from each other in a contact chamber of a plug, wherein the first part is formed like a knife knife in the form of a contact pin. It comprises a connection part to which an electrical line can be struck and a contact part, which in the inserted state makes contact with a contact pin of the mating contact. The second part is designed as a contact sleeve which comprises a contact pressure for pressing the contact pin against the contact pin inserted in the socket contact.

Further, a contact chamber is proposed which consists of a contact carrier lower part with a cavity for receiving the contact sleeve and a contact carrier shell, wherein the bore is dimensioned smaller within the contact carrier part in diameter than the diameter of the cavity of the contact carrier lower part and a pressure plate, wherein within the contact chamber the socket contact according to the invention can be arranged.

Furthermore, a connector is proposed which has the socket contact according to the invention within at least one contact chamber.

Advantages of the invention

The socket contact according to the invention for receiving a contact pin of a mating contact, which preferably has knife or post-like constructions, is arranged within a contact chamber. For mounting the socket contact is provided to form the second part of the socket contact, namely the contact sleeve, preferably as a stamped part, wherein the stamped part is bent in a further process step to a sleeve, wherein preferably before the bending process, the contact sleeve comprehensive contact surface with the contact pin the mating connector corresponds in the inserted state, is to be processed accordingly.

For example, it may be provided as a processing to gild the contact surface to ensure better electrical conductivity or the contact surface is to be machined so that friction welds caused by vibrations acting on the electrical connector can be avoided.

Furthermore, the contact sleeve has so-called insertion and counterbreaks, which are formed by single or multiple bending or folding be so that the contact sleeve is inserted into the contact chamber and disposed within the contact chamber with virtually no play.

Furthermore, the contact sleeve has a latching element which is designed such that this latching element is latched to the first part of the socket contact, namely the contact pin, in the mounted state within a contact chamber. For this purpose, it is advantageously provided that the free end of the contact pin engages with inserted contact pin within the contact chamber in a recess in the contact sleeve and locked there. To solve this locking connection again, a bore is provided within the contact chamber, which corresponds to the region of the latch, such that a pin-like design can be introduced into this hole and the latched two parts separated from each other, so that when disassembling the contact sleeve of the contact pin can be disconnected again.

The contact pin is preferably formed like a lance. It is divided into a first area, in the so-called connection part and the wider area, in the so-called contact part. At the connection part, an electrical conductor is preferably already struck before the assembly. The contact pin itself is a stamped and bent part that can be produced in several individual steps. Preferably, the contact pin has no sharp edges, so that when loading, for example, the sealing mat is not damaged.

Thus, the contact sleeve of the socket contact primarily has the function as a latching element for the contact pin serve and on the other hand, the contact sleeve takes on the further task of providing the necessary contact normal force with the corresponding contact surface, which acts in the fully mated condition on the mating connector or the contact pin. By these provided spring forces of the inserted contact system, consisting of female contact and contact pin, the contact pin of the socket contact and the contact sleeve align with the contact pin.

Advantageously, the contact chamber for the socket contact according to the invention is specially designed. The contact chamber of the electrical connector has a cavity with a defined diameter. In addition, the contact chamber comprises a contact opening into which a contact pin of a mating connector can penetrate. For mounting it is provided that the contact sleeve is inserted into the contact chamber in such a way that in the region of the contact opening, a latching can be done with the still to be inserted pin. First, a contact carrier shell is placed on the contact chamber, said contact carrier shell has a smaller diameter than the actual contact chamber. The diameter is dimensioned such that only the contact pin with its connection part and the connected to the connecting part electrical line can be inserted. Due to this, the cavity in which the contact sleeve is arranged is partially closed, so that the contact sleeve inside the contact chamber can not be moved out. Immediately after application of the contact carrier upper part, a seal can be arranged whose diameter is again smaller than the diameter of the opening of the contact carrier upper part. This is a fluid-tight seal created the contact chamber with respect to the external environment of the connector. A pressure plate presses the seal against the contact carrier upper part or the contact carrier upper part against the actual contact chamber. After the connector is preassembled in the present manner, the contact pin is inserted through the pressure plate, through the seal and through the contact carrier upper part in the contact chamber and locked there with the contact sleeve.

The inventive design of the contact chamber has the advantage that so-called collection mat seals can be applied instead of single seals, wherein a single seal has a plurality of openings, which in each case seal the openings to the contact chambers. The pressure plate may be formed such that a single pressure plate is provided which presses in terms of area the collection mat seals on the preferably also integrally formed contact carrier upper part. The prepared in this way connector is available after mounting the contact sleeve and the contact carrier shell for applying a collection mat seal and the pressure plate.

By using the slender contact pin, a large jump in cross section between the contact part and the connection part or the lines arranged on the connection part is thereby avoided for the first time, thereby creating a possibility of using a single seal for all contact chambers.

Thus, a significant advantage of the inventive design of the socket contact together with the invention Design of the contact chamber is given in such a way that a so-called collection mat compatibility is ensured even for contacting large contact pins as mating contacts, for example in the knife or post-like construction. Furthermore, the construction has the advantage that a very small pitch between the individual contact chambers can be achieved and a significant advantage is given by the invention that simple and producible in series and thus a cost-effective design of the individual components is allowed.

Due to the fact that the contact pin is held only by a simple, but efficient latching within the contact chamber and that it is provided that the contact pin is simply removable from the latch and thus removed from the contact chamber, the pad can, if necessary, within the contact chamber simply replaced and replaced without opening the previously described connector design.

Further advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the following description, the drawings and the claims.

drawings

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht auf den Kontaktstift des erfin-dungsgemäßen Buchsenkontakts;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf den Kontaktstift gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 A-E

eine schematische Darstellung des Herstellungsprozesses der Kontakthülse des Buchsenkontakts von einem gestanzten Bauteil zum zu montierenden Bauteil in eine Kontaktkammer;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung der Montage der in Fig. 3 dargestellten Kontakthülse in ein Kontaktträgerunterteil einer Kontaktkammer;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung der Montage der Kontaktkammer, bestehend aus Kontaktträgerunterteil, Kontaktträgeroberteil, Dichtung sowie Andruckplatte und der in dem Kontaktträgerunterteil angeordneten Kontakthülse;

Fig. 6

schematische Darstellung eines montierten Zustands der Kontaktkammer eines Steckkontakts gemäß dem Herstellungsvorgang von Fig. 4 und Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 A-F

ein Montageablaufplan des Buchsenkontakts, insbesondere der Montage des Kontaktstifts des Buchsenkontakts in die gemäß Fig. 6 bereits hergestellte Kontaktkammer;

Fig. 8 A-D

eine schematische Darstellung des Einführens eines Gegenkontakts in der Ausbildung eines Kontaktpins in den erfindungsgemäßen Buchsenkontakt, der innerhalb einer Kontaktkammer angeordnet ist;

Fig. 9 A-H

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ablaufplans über das Entrasten des Kontaktstifts des Buchsenkontakts mit einem Hilfsmittel und Herausnehmen des Kontaktstifts aus der Kontaktkammer.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a side view of the contact pin of the inventive socket contact;

Fig. 2

a plan view of the contact pin of FIG. 1;

Fig. 3 AE

a schematic representation of the manufacturing process of the contact sleeve of the socket contact of a stamped component to be assembled component in a contact chamber;

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of the assembly of the contact sleeve shown in Figure 3 in a contact carrier lower part of a contact chamber ..;

Fig. 5

a schematic representation of the assembly of the contact chamber, consisting of contact carrier lower part, contact carrier upper part, seal and pressure plate and arranged in the contact carrier lower part contact sleeve;

Fig. 6

schematic representation of an assembled state of the contact chamber of a plug contact according to the manufacturing process of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 AF

an assembly plan of the socket contact, in particular the mounting of the contact pin of the socket contact in the already shown in Figure 6 contact chamber.

Fig. 8 AD

a schematic representation of the insertion of a mating contact in the formation of a contact pin in the socket contact according to the invention, which is arranged within a contact chamber;

Fig. 9 AH

a schematic representation of a flowchart on the unlatching of the contact pin of the socket contact with an aid and removing the contact pin from the contact chamber.

Description of an embodiment

FIG. 1 shows a contact pin 2 of a socket contact 1 according to the invention, as shown in FIG. The contact pin 2 has two areas, namely a connection part 3, to which an electrical line 4 is struck, preferably crimped. Further, the contact pin 2, a contact part 5, which corresponds to a contact pin 6 shown in Figure 8 of a mating contact, not shown. The contact part 5 has a contact surface 7, which, as shown in Figure 2, is preferably embossed and preferably also gold-plated. The contact pin 2, shown in Figures 1 and 2, is formed like a knife in the embodiment shown here and has at its side facing away from the connection part 3 free end 8 a locking element 9. This locking element 9 is formed as a latching window 10 which cooperates with the contact sleeves 11 shown in Figures 3 to 9. The contact surface 7 is preferably formed as a dome, wherein the raised part of the dome points to the side of the contact pin 6 to be inserted (according to FIG. 8).

The further part of the socket contact 1 according to the invention consists of the contact sleeve 11, as shown in Figure 3 AF. From a stamped part, as shown in the illustration A, the bending processes shown in Figure 3, representation F. Contact sleeve 11 created. In the process step according to illustration A, which shows the contact sleeve 11 immediately after the punching process, a contact surface 12 and import counterbias 13 as well as the preliminary stage of a latching element 14 are already shown. The contact surfaces 12 are preferably gold plated. In addition, it can be provided that these are additionally designed as contact studs. The counter-tabs 13 are bent according to the method step according to illustration B and yield spacers 13 '. The locking element 14 is also formed by bending and folding processes according to the representations B and C. By multiple bending and folding processes, the contact sleeve 11 shown in Figure 3 F, wherein the contact sleeve 11 has a contact opening 15 and the contact pressure shown in cross-section 16, which projects into the free space 17 of the contact sleeve 11 inside. In the region of the contact opening 15, the latching element 14 'is formed, which should correspond in the assembled state with the latching window 10 of the contact pin 2.

The spacers 13 'are used to introduce the contact sleeve 11 shown in Figure 4 in a contact chamber 18 of a connector housing, not shown, in particular in the lower contact part 19 of the contact chamber 18 in the direction of arrow 20. The contact carrier lower part 19 has a contact opening 21, which corresponds to the contact opening 15 of the contact sleeve 11. The contact sleeve 11 is dimensioned in its width such that it corresponds approximately to the diameter 22 of the cavity 23 of the contact carrier lower part 19. After insertion of the contact sleeve 11 into the cavity 23 of the contact carrier lower part 19, a contact carrier upper part 24 in the direction of arrow 25 on the contact carrier lower part 19 attached (Fig. 5). The contact carrier upper part 24 has a continuous bore 26, wherein the diameter 27 of the bore 26 is dimensioned smaller than the diameter 22 of the cavity 23. Due to the fact that the diameter 27 of the bore 26 is smaller than the diameter 22 of the cavity 23, the once inserted contact sleeve 11 is fixed within the cavity 23 of the contact carrier lower part 19 of the contact chamber 18.

Immediately after placing the contact carrier upper part 24 on the contact carrier lower part 19, a seal 28 is placed on the contact carrier upper part 24, wherein additionally in the direction of arrow 29, a pressure plate 30 acts on the seal 28, on the contact carrier upper part 24 and thus on the contact carrier lower part 19. The opening provided in the seal 28 is substantially smaller than the diameter 27 of the bore 28 and corresponds approximately to the diameter or is smaller than the diameter of the emerging from the contact chamber 18 electrical line. 4

FIG. 6 shows the assembled state of a contact chamber 18 with a part of the mounted socket contact, namely the part of the contact sleeve 11. In a subsequent manufacturing process, which is shown in FIG. 7 AF, the contact pin 2, already provided with crimped electrical line 4 in the direction of arrow 31, is introduced into the contact chamber 18 shown in FIG. 6 through the pressure plate 30, through the seal 28 and also through the contact carrier upper part 24 inserted into the filled with the contact sleeve 11 cavity 23. The free end of the contact part 2 is latched with the latching element 14 '(FIG. 7 F), then a subelement 39 of the contact sleeve 11 is pivoted into a free space 32 additionally provided in the contact carrier lower part 19. This free space is in turn connected to a bore 33 in connection, wherein the bore 33 terminates in the embodiment shown here in the region of the contact opening 21 of the contact chamber 18. In the latched state, the locking lug 14 'provided in the contact sleeve 11 engages in the latching window 10 of the contact pin 2.

In order to produce an electrical plug connection, according to FIG. 8, the contact pin 6 enters the contact chamber 18 via the contact opening 21 of the contact chamber 18 or the contact opening 15 of the contact sleeve 11 in the direction of the arrow 38. In this case, the surface 34 of the contact pins 6 first slides on the pressure spring 16 until the contact pin 6 is inserted so far that the pressure spring 16 presses the contact pin 6 against the contact surface 7 of the contact pin 2.

In order for an electrical connection between the contact pin 6 and the contact pin 2 is made, wherein the contact normal force F is generated by the contact pressure spring 16 in the direction of the contact surface 7 of the contact pin 2.

In FIGS. 9AH, a distance of the contact pin 2 from the latching with the contact sleeve 11 is shown. By introducing an auxiliary means 35 in the direction of arrow 36 via the additional bore 33 which is provided in the contact base 19, projecting into the free space 32 sub-element 39 of the contact sleeve 11 is further bent into the free space 32, so that the locking lug 14 'from the latching window 10 of the contact pin 2 emerges (Until representation D) and thus the contact pin 2 in the direction of arrow 37 releases. Due to the fact that the contact pin 2 is formed like a knife, it is possible to extract this also by the smaller diameter 27 of the bore 26 of the contact carrier upper part 24 and by the seal 28 and the pressure plate 30.

The novel contact construction thus has the significant advantage that connectors having socket contacts can use a single seal extending across all openings. In addition, it is no longer necessary to form the socket contact in such a way that it covers the entire circumference of the contact pin, so that a smaller locking measure (distance of the individual contact chambers from each other) within a connector can be achieved.

Claims (9)

Socket contact for producing an electrical plug connection with a mating contact, consisting of - A connection part for receiving an electrical conductor - A contact part for establishing an electrical connection with the mating contact
and a pressure spring for bringing about a contact normal force for the mating contact to be inserted, characterized in that the socket contact (1) is essentially divided into two parts and the parts can be mounted separately from each other, and the first part is knife-like in the form of a contact pin (2) and a connection part (3) is connected to an electrical line (4). can be abutted and comprises a contact part (5) and the second part is designed as a contact sleeve (11), which comprises the pressure spring (16). Socket contact according to claim 1, characterized in that the free end (8) of the contact pin (2) has a latching element (7) which engages with the contact sleeve (11). Socket contact according to Claim 1, characterized in that the contact pin (2) is latched with a latching element provided in a contact chamber (18). Socket contact according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact sleeve (11) is formed as a stamped and bent part and is dimensioned such that it can be arranged in a contact chamber (18) of a plug housing. Socket contact according to claim 2, characterized in that the latching is formed such that the contact part (5) of the contact pin (2) in the region of the free end (8) has a latching window (10) into which a latching lug (14 '), which is arranged on the side of the contact sleeve (11) engages. Socket contact according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact part (5) of the contact pin (2) has a contact surface (7) which is formed as a contact tip and the elevation in the contacted state with a contact pin (6) on the side the contact pin (6) indicates. Contact chamber for receiving a socket contact according to claim 1 and / or according to one of the further claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the contact chamber (18) consists of a contact carrier lower part (19) with a cavity (23) for receiving the contact sleeve (11) and a contact opening (21) for insertion of a contact pin (6) and on the side opposite the contact opening (21) a contact carrier upper part (24) is arranged, which has a bore (26), wherein the diameter (27) of the bore (26) is smaller than the diameter (22) of the cavity (23 ). Connector for making an electrical connector having a mating connector having one or more mating contacts in the formation of knife or pinartige training, characterized in that the connector is a female contact (1) according to claim 1 and / or at least one of claims 2 to 6 includes. Connector for making an electrical connector having a mating connector having one or more mating contacts in the training of knife or pinartige training, characterized in that the connector has a female contact (1) according to claim 1 and / or a contact chamber according to claim 7 and / or claim 8.

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