EP2854222A1 - Contact électrique en deux parties - Google Patents

Contact électrique en deux parties Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2854222A1
EP2854222A1 EP20130186002 EP13186002A EP2854222A1 EP 2854222 A1 EP2854222 A1 EP 2854222A1 EP 20130186002 EP20130186002 EP 20130186002 EP 13186002 A EP13186002 A EP 13186002A EP 2854222 A1 EP2854222 A1 EP 2854222A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electrical contact
deformation
deformation zone
per
zone
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
EP20130186002
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2854222B1 (fr
Inventor
Alexander Weiss
Bart Colpaert
Bart Kerckhof
Patrick De Volder
Jos De Man
Dries Nollet
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 Belgium BVBA
Original Assignee
Tyco Electronics Belgium EC BVBA
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 Tyco Electronics Belgium EC BVBA filed Critical Tyco Electronics Belgium EC BVBA
Priority to EP13186002.5A priority Critical patent/EP2854222B1/fr
Publication of EP2854222A1 publication Critical patent/EP2854222A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2854222B1 publication Critical patent/EP2854222B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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
    • H01R13/04—Pins or blades for co-operation with sockets
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/06—Riveted connections
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/26—Connections in which at least one of the connecting parts has projections which bite into or engage the other connecting part in order to improve the contact
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a modular electrical contact.
  • the present invention relates to a two-part electrical contact, and the method of manufacture and assembly of such a modular electrical contact.
  • Electrical contacts have become ubiquitous in the various electrical and electronic products of all shapes and sizes. Different needs associated with the contacting of various components of such devices determine the features that need to be present on the electrical contacts. While one end of different electrical contacts may look essentially the same, for example a wire crimping end of an electrical contact; the contact portions of such terminals may need to differ substantially.
  • the design of the contact portion depends upon the corresponding electrical or electronic component being contacted by the electrical contact. Depending upon the particular intended application, the contact portion may be formed in a large variety of shapes and cross sections, enabling a similarly diverse use. Square or rectangular cross-sectional contact portions are often utilized for applications requiring wire-wrapping or in male-female contact terminal combinations. Round or square cross-sectional contact portions are often used in contacting circuit board connecting features. Compliant pin shaped contact portions are utilized most often for applications where direct circuit board connections are required.
  • Interference fixation or frictional holding of two parts together to form an electrical contact is typically traumatic to the material and surfaces that are in contact. Such a fixation also causes corresponding scratching or deformation of surfaces when in an intermediate stage of the insertion of one part into the other. This can lead to additional problems such as surface shavings or whiskers being formed, and can lead to contact failure or short circuiting of adjacent electrical contacts, which would be highly undesirable. Interference fixation utilizing ridges or barbs or the like being formed on one part that may be inserted into a corresponding second part to form an electrical contact would be particularly susceptible to such trauma or surface erosion related failures. Other ways of fixation may require the manufacture of complicated locking features, and may therefore drive up the costs of manufacture; or may require additional steps such as crimping, which itself may not always be an option, depending upon the particular location and status of the two parts being joined.
  • An easy to assemble two-part electrical contact may utilize different materials or even different configurations of one part of an electrical contact while allowing the corresponding other part to be 'standardized'. This makes available the added advantage of at least such a 'standardized' part being easily mass-produced. This would lead not only to economies of scale helping reduce the costs of manufacture, but would also enable the use of different materials better suited to the intended use of said half of the two-part electrical contact. As an example, certain applications may require the use of high strength materials in the contacting region and may function satisfactorily even with a less than perfect electrically conducting material elsewhere; whereas other applications may require an optimal material in terms of electrical properties in the contacting region, with the strength of the material not being of paramount importance.
  • the electrical contact housing comprises two parts or halves.
  • a first part may be configured with a first contacting zone that is at least partially inserted into a second part configured with a second contacting zone.
  • the first part may be inserted into an opening in the second part to allow the fixation of the first part and the second part together in mechanical and electrical engagement according to this invention.
  • the second part may be configured to have at least one recess that may be provided on an internal surface of the opening.
  • Such a recess may be capable of receiving displaced electrical contact material from the first part, when a bending or flowing of material occurs in this region, for example by the application of an insertion or extraction force.
  • the first part may be configured to have at least one deformation zone formed on it that may be capable of being deformed upon the application of such a force. When deformed, such a deformation zone may cause the material forming it to be bent or to flow to at least partially occupy any available nearby spaces, such as the recess.
  • the at least one deformation zone may be made of an appropriate shape to allow it to undergo deformation by an abutment of the two parts together. Such an abutment may occur during an insertion or extraction/removal action of the first part with respect to the second part.
  • the force that is applied to deform the deformation zone may be applied in either direction depending upon the particular features present on the two contact terminal parts or halves that allow an abutment to occur.
  • the deformation that occurs in the deformation zone as described above may cause the material forming the electrical contact to be bent or deformed such as to flow in a radially outward direction.
  • a flow may be enabled by the provision of appropriate guiding features on either of the parts.
  • the guidance may be achieved by the only available space for the bent or deformed material to move or flow into being provided in this radially outward direction.
  • This fixation may be particularly advantageous, for example, to ensure that the fixation of the two parts does not require the scratching or gouging of material on any other surface.
  • the physical interaction that may be considered even marginally traumatic to the surfaces in contact may therefore be restricted to the areas close to the deformation zone and the recess.
  • Such a physical interaction may take place, for example, in the case of flat-tab like contact halves at the 'bottom' of the opening in the second part.
  • a simple application of an additional force or the continued application of the force inserting the first part into the second part may cause the deformation of the deformation zone as per this exemplary embodiment.
  • the deformation zone may, as an example, be formed as a semicircular feature that has a central region congruent with the rest of the flat-tab and have at least partially curving 'legs' extending in either direction within the overall breadth of the tab.
  • Such legs may remain within the overall breadth of the tab and allow contact-free insertion into the second part.
  • a semicircular feature might be thought of as a cross-section of a dome, supported at the top. This may be explained as a connection to the tab body along a tangent instead of along a diameter of a semi-circular cross section of a dome, for example.
  • the material forming the deformation zone would be displaced and would seek to fill nearby available empty space.
  • a recess may be appropriately configured on the inside surface of the opening, such that the arrangement may cause the material to flow in this radial direction.
  • the two contact halves may be formed to have a round cross-section.
  • the deformation zone may indeed be a semispherical or dome-shaped structure instead of a cross section thereof as described above.
  • the curved semispherical structure may have its concave face facing in the forward direction, or towards the insertion end, while being supported at a tangential location closer to the body of the contact half. It may indeed also be formed as a protruding partially convex structure facing backwards or opposite to the insertion direction, in which latter case the dome might be imagined to be supported and formed with the inside surface in congruity with the contact half. In either of these configurations, i.e.
  • convex or concave having the deformation zone provided at the insertion end of the first part allows for an advantageously simple method of manufacture.
  • the first part and the second part can be locked together in electrical and mechanical engagement simply by continuing the insertion process till the fully inserted position is reached.
  • the deformation zone is formed as a convex structure, the locking together of the first and second parts would require a small removal-direction movement of the first part so that appropriate features on the inside surface of the opening may abut the deformation zone and cause the fixation to be achieved.
  • the two contact halves may be formed to have a square or rectangular cross-section.
  • the deformation zone may be formed as upstanding lance-like structures that would be suitable to abut either a front-facing surface if these are formed at the insertion end of the first part.
  • These may indeed also be backwards-facing so that the action that locks the first and second parts together may be similar to a removal action intended to remove the first part from the opening in the second part.
  • the movement itself may need to only be a small one in such a case, similar to the explanation above.
  • the first half and the second half of the electrical contact may be formed having dissimilar cross sections.
  • a first part formed with a round or circular cross section may be inserted into a flat-tab like second part or vice versa, or indeed any possible permutation or combination in which the two electrical contact halves may be manufactured.
  • the deformation zone that may lock the two parts together may or may not be present on both sides of the flat tab implementation.
  • the deformation zone may be provided on a first radial side of the flat tab while the other side may not have such a deformation zone provided.
  • it may exemplarily not be provided along the full circumference or outside surface of the other three-dimensional implementations of this invention. It may be possible, for example, to provide the deformation zone only along a predetermined part of the outer surface, and have it absent from other parts.
  • a round cross sectional first part may have a deformation zone along a portion of its total surface, and absent from the rest.
  • a section having the deformation zone may be provided at opposite ends of the first part, which may alternate with sections that do not have the deformation zone, along the circumference of the first part.
  • the provision of one or more deformation zones may be restricted to only a first radial side of the first part, and may be absent from another radial side of the first part.
  • the provision of the deformation zone may be in any direction, with or without a symmetrical distribution of the same.
  • such an arrangement could allow keying-in the first part into the second part and then causing their locking together by a rotational movement, similar to a traditional lock and key mechanism.
  • the rotational movement may be accompanied by a pushing or pulling movement.
  • the corresponding features present on the inner surface of the opening against which protrusions forming a deformation zone may abut may be formed as surfaces perpendicular to the insertion direction.
  • such surfaces on the inside surface of the opening which are abutted by the deformation zone(s) may be tilted slightly from the plane perpendicular to the insertion direction. This may enable the three dimensional deformation zones to experience additional forces, when, for example, they are rotated to cause the keying-in movement to be achieved. In such an exemplary embodiment, the rotational movement too could cause the force required to deform those immediately abutting deformation zone features and/or the deformation zone features present at other locations to be exerted; thereby causing the deformation zone to deform.
  • the rotation may also arise from the angling of the protruding deformation zones in an appropriate manner to interact with a relatively flat surface provided in the opening.
  • the rotation may cause the first part to be inserted further into the opening or withdrawn from it, depending upon the angles provided on the deformation zones.
  • Such a configuration could be used, for example, to reinforce or add to the insertion forces that may cause a forward facing insertion end deformation zone to deform.
  • the deformation zone may be formed as a helical protrusion that is angled forward or backward, to allow its deformation by the action of pressing inward or pulling outward, respectively, with reference to the direction of insertion being considered a forward or inward movement.
  • the first part may be configured to be inserted at least partially into the second part by a rotational 'screw' action. Such an exemplary embodiment would interact with corresponding screw-like features present on the internal surface of the opening of the second part during the rotational action.
  • the first part may be made to abut the second part, either by a pushing action further inserting it into the opening, as may be required for deforming a forward-angled deformation zone; or by pulling it in an outward direction to remove it from the opening, as may be required for deforming a backward-angled deformation zone.
  • more than one deformation zones may be provided on the first part and may have corresponding structures provided on the internal surface of the opening as may be required.
  • Such a configuration may, for example, enable the fixing of the first part in the second part at different depths as may be required for particular applications.
  • Such a provision of two, three or more deformation zones as have been described above may also be useful to ensure greater pull-out forces being required before failure of the fixation may occur. For applications that may subject the electrical contact to a pulling force that may tend to cause failure of the fixation, it may be advisable to have a higher number of such deformation zones and corresponding features on the opening surface being provided.
  • the two or more deformation zones may be of dissimilar shapes.
  • a front facing deformation zone formed as a semicircular or partial dome shape having a concave face at the front may be combined with a deformation zone formed as a forward angled helical protrusion on the body of the first part. Both of these deformation zones may be actuated and be deformed by a force exerted in the insertion direction. Any combination of the various deformation zones possible according to this invention may be provided. The actuation of more than one deformation zones may also be caused to occur by movements of the first part in opposite directions, and not only along the same direction.
  • Such a combination may be useful, for example, to provide a secondary 'backup' deformation zone in a first part that may be actuated and deformed to cause the material forming the deformation zone to flow to fill an appropriately configured recess only when the first or first set of deformation zones may have disengaged.
  • a disengagement may be caused by any reason, for example a material failure, or a predetermined sequence of locking having been configured into the two contact halves.
  • Such a sequence may be configured to have staged locking that may only actuate once a preceding locking stage has failed either deliberately or as a failure.
  • a combination of two or more deformation zones may therefore be utilized as a fail-safe, as a double or multi-point fixation of the first part in the second part, or as a controlled series of possible engagement and disengagement between the first part and the second part.
  • one or more deformation zones may be formed in different ways to achieve the physical shapes and properties suitable for the intended location of the deformation zones.
  • the deformation zone may be formed as a section of the first part with a different cross-sectional dimension than the other sections of the first part, for example. In a flat tab implementation, this may be provided as a narrowing down of the width of the tab-like first part. In a three dimensional implementation, this may be provided as a thinner section of the first part that may then flare outward before or after the thin section to form the actual deformation zone legs or protrusions.
  • Such bend-guiding features may be formed as etchings on the flat/rounded/square/rectangular surface of the first part which may be provided using any known method.
  • known methods may be processes such as coining, the use of different material properties in predetermined sections of the first part, the use of laser or other radiation based methods to form of weakened tracks in the material. Any such known method may be utilized to ensure that when the buckling of the material occurs, it first occurs at the predetermined locations intended to form the deformation zones.
  • a combination of flat-tab like halves with three dimensional parts are also enabled by this invention, and require appropriately formed deformation zones as required by the two halves forming the electrical contact.
  • the second part may be provided with a number of recesses located at axially-separated locations on the inner surface of the opening.
  • Such recesses may extend through the full circumference of the opening, or may be provided only on one or more predetermined radial sides of the opening in the second part.
  • Such a non-congruous or non-symmetrical configuration may be utilized, for example, to ensure the keying-in feature as described above.
  • such an axially separated provision of the recess may enable the use of similar second parts to receive a variety of first parts, where the first parts may differ in the depths to which they are inserted into the second part, thereby engaging different recesses to receive the flow of material from their deformation zones.
  • a predetermined series of features against which deformation zones may abut may also be provided, in conjunction with the axially-separated recesses, wherever required.
  • the fixation of the first part with the second part may be required to be done with the first or the second part being surrounded by a surrounding material.
  • the second part may be stitched into a connector housing and the first part may then be inserted into the second part to form the electrical contact as per this invention.
  • Such an assembly of the electrical contact may be required, for example, where it is not possible to stitch the whole electrical contact through the material forming the connector housing, and insertion of the two parts is required from opposite ends into the material forming the connector housing.
  • the second part may be configured to have regions susceptible to bulging outwards upon the application of a force from the inside, directed in a radial direction.
  • a force may be exerted by the flow of material that forms the deformation zone upon deforming.
  • This material may occupy the recess provided on the inner surface of the opening in the second part, and may in addition cause the second part to bulge outward at the locations where it is being pressed from the inside.
  • This bulging outwards of the second part may cause a change in the external profile of the second part. This change in the external profile at one or more locations may be advantageous to ensure the secure fixation of the finished electrical contact within the material surrounding it.
  • the bulging may additionally provide further functionality, such as improving the sealing properties of the interface between the electrical contact and the surrounding material.
  • the bulging of external profile of the second part may be utilized to fix the finished electrical contact in place in a variety of surrounding materials.
  • the needs of the application may, for example, exclude the stitching of the second and first parts through material such as plastic and may instead require the insertion through a pre-formed hole in a comparatively harder material.
  • two such bulgings may be configured to occur at locations that would be suitable to fix the finished electrical contact through a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).
  • PCB Printed Circuit Board
  • Two bulge features just above and just below the upper and lower surface planes of the PCB would enable the secure fixation of the terminal in its intended location. Any permutation and combination of features and function may be provided according to this invention without detracting from the inventive concept disclosed herein.
  • an electrical contact as described above may be assembled by inserting a first part of an electrical contact terminal configured with a first contacting zone into a surrounding material, then inserting a second part of the electrical contact terminal configured with a second contacting zone into the surrounding material such that the first part end up being at least partially inserted into the second part.
  • the first part may then be fixed to second part and they may both be fixed in the surrounding material.
  • Such a fixing may be achieved by moving the first part into abutment with the second part where the first part is at least partially inserted into the second part, and then causing a localized bulging of the outer cross sectional dimension of said second part at one or more locations.
  • Such a movement may be a pushing action, a pulling action, a rotating or any similar movement of the first part, including combination movements.
  • the number of locations where such a bulging may be configured to occur may depend upon the specific requirements of the application, the nature of the surrounding material as well as the specific aim intended to be achieved. For example, for certain purposes, the provision of a single bulge may be sufficient. Examples of such a purpose may be, for example, any one or more of; the prevention of movement of the assembled electrical contact in any or in a particular direction as may be the case when used with PCBs, or an improvement of the holding forces holding the assembled electrical connector within a connector housing, or the improvement of the sealing characteristics of the interface between the electrical contact and the surrounding material such as the plastic of a connector housing, etc.
  • the bulging of the outer cross sectional dimension of the second part may be caused by a deformation of at least one deformation zone of the first part and engagement of the deformed deformation zone with an at least one recess in the second part.
  • the location of the recess and the end-position of the deformation zone of the first part can be used to determine the locations where such bulging occurs on the second part.
  • the material forming the deformation zone deforms and flows into the recesses and the forces involved may cause the outward bulging of the outside surface of the second part that is closest to the recess on the inner surface of the second part.
  • the bulging of the outer cross sectional dimension of the second part may be configured to occur at two axially-separated locations.
  • the axial separation may be directly correlated to the thickness of the PCB into which the electrical contact is intended to be held, such that the two bulges abut an upper and a lower surface of the PCB.
  • movement of the electrical contact in either direction may be prevented once the second part has been inserted into a hole present in the PCB and the first part has been inserted in to the opening and brought to its final position.
  • the actual steps of the insertion may be changed to have the first part inserted into the opening first and the second part then being assembled over this. All movements and steps are relatively described and may be implemented by one or the other part being stationary and the corresponding part being moved.
  • a further exemplary embodiment may be the requirement of forming a holding surface in the electrical contact which may be abutted after assembly, for example by a retaining slide or any other form of fixation feature, to hold the electrical contact at a certain location. This may be particularly advantageous when other means of fixing the position of an electrical contact may be unavailable. In such an example, the bulge may be 'free standing' and not surrounded by any material when formed, and the electrical contact may then be held in such a position by the aforementioned slider or other means as may be required in a particular intended application.
  • a method of assembling an electrical contact assembly may comprise a number of steps.
  • the steps may comprise inserting a first part of an electrical contact terminal that is configured with a first contacting zone into a surrounding material such as plastic or a hole in a PCB or a metallic sleeve in a PCB hole.
  • the second part of the electrical contact terminal configured with a second contacting zone may then be inserted into the surrounding material such that the first part is at least partially inserted into the second part when an end-position is reached.
  • the first part and the second part may then be fixed to each other and the surrounding material by moving the first part into abutment with the second part such that the first part is at least partially inserted into the second part.
  • the abutment may then cause a localized bulging of the outer cross sectional dimension of said second part at an at least one location. As described above, such a bulging at one or more locations may enable the holding of the assembled electrical contact in a given desirable position by providing a feature that may be used for mechanical fixation of the electrical contact.
  • the bulging of the outer cross sectional dimension of said second part is caused by a deformation of at least one deformation zone of the first part and engagement of the deformed deformation zone with an at least one recess in the second part.
  • the outward force exerted by the deformed material forming the deformation zone may cause the outer cross section of the second part to bulge outward.
  • the outwardly expressed bulging may correspond with the location of the recess provided on the inner surface of the opening in the second part.
  • such a bulging may also be configured to be expressed at a location close to, but not directly corresponding with the location of the recess, and may be indirectly subjected to an outwards-tending force.
  • Such an indirect direction of force may be enabled by rigidity-influencing features being provided on the inner surface of the opening in the second part, such as ribs or ridges or any other known form of mechanical load transmitting features that may enable the movement of force from one location to another.
  • the bulging of the outer cross sectional dimension of said second part may be caused at two axially-separated locations.
  • Such an expansion of the cross section of the second part may be enabled by two separate deformation zones causing the bulging at corresponding locations, or alternatively, also by a single deformation zone acting in conjunction with mechanical force transmitting structures as mentioned above being provided on the inner surface of the opening.
  • first part being inserted into the second part, but this is a relative description. It would be obvious that the first part may actually be stationary and the second part may be moved so as to receive the first part within the opening in the second part.
  • Figs. 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d show a schematic perspective and cross-sectional view of an electrical contact 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a first part 5 is positioned within a second part 10 by insertion into an opening 15 of the second part.
  • a penultimate position of assembly is exemplified in Figs 1a and 1c , which show a deformation zone 20 provided on the first part 5 being positioned close to a recess 25 configured on an internal surface 30 of the second part 10.
  • An application of force in the direction P which corresponds with a forward or insertion direction, may bring the first part 5 and second part 10 into the final position as illustrated in Figs 1b and 1d .
  • the deformation zone 20 on the first part 5 is cased to deform by the application of the force. This results in the material of the first part 5 forming the deformation zone 20 to deform and be caused to flow outwards to occupy the recess 25 present on the inner surface of the opening 15 formed on the second part 10.
  • the deformation zone 20 is formed as a semicircular feature with a concave face at the forward or insertion end of the first part 5. This flow of deformed material from the deformation zone 20 causes the fixation of the first part 5 with the second part 10 both mechanically and by virtue of being made of a conductive material, electrically as well.
  • FIGS. 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d illustrate the electrical contact to be a tab-contact, being assembled from opposite ends of a terminal carrying medium such as a printed circuit board.
  • shoulders 35 formed on the first part 5 provide a fixation of the first part 5 relative to the surrounding terminal-carrying medium or surrounding material.
  • the second part 10 assembled onto the first part 5 and pressed downwards after achieving the penultimate position shown in figures 1a and 1c results in the fixation of the two parts together to form electrical contact 1.
  • Fig. 2a and 2b show a schematic perspective and cross-sectional view, respectively, of an embodiment of a round contact according to the present invention.
  • the electrical contact 1 is provided with a semi-spherical or dome-shaped deformation zone 20 feature at the front or insertion end of the first part 5.
  • the second part 10 is assembled onto the first part 5 such that the first part 5 is at least partially received into the opening 15. After the penultimate position is reached, a final application of a force that tends to push the first part 5 and the second part 10 together causes a deformation of the semi-spherical deformation zone 20.
  • the material forming the deformation zone comes to be deformed and flows into the recess 25 formed on the inner surface of the opening 15 of the second part 10.
  • Figs. 3a and 3b show a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a square/rectangular contact according to the present invention.
  • the electrical contact 1 is formed of the first part 5 being assembled onto a surrounding material such as a PCB, and the second part 10 being positioned thereon in a penultimate position as shown in Fig 3a .
  • a final application of force tending to push the two parts together leads to the assembly of the electrical contact as shown in Fig. 3b .
  • the deformation zone 20 that may be formed as a feature with a semi-circular cross section may be deformed by the final application of force and the material forming the deformation zone may be deformed and caused to flow outwards to occupy the recess 25 formed on the inner surface of the opening 15 of the second part 10.
  • Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective and cross-sectional view of a variety of embodiments of electrical contact halves according to the present invention.
  • the assembly of dislike halves to form the electrical contact 1 is also possible and is illustrated here, for example, with a round contact first half 5 being assembled with a square contact second half 10.
  • the assembly of this hybrid contact remains similar to the other embodiments described above.
  • the use of different cross-sections of the first half 5 and the second half 10 may be based, for example, on the particular geometry and space available on each side of a surrounding material.
  • Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective and cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a round contact with two axially separated deformation zones according to the present invention.
  • the deformation zone 20 is formed at a front or insertion end of the first part 5
  • a second deformation zone 50 is formed at an axially separated location on the first part 5.
  • both the deformation zones 20 and 50 may be caused to deform by a force applied in the penultimate stage of assembly.
  • Such a first part 5 with two deformation zones 20 and 50 would require a correspondingly configured second part 10 with two abutment surfaces where each of the deformation zones 20 and 50 may abut and be deformed by the force.
  • the opening 15 of the second part 10 may be formed with a stepped inner surface, presenting the step 55 as the surface against which deformation zone 50 may abut.
  • the step 55 may be configured with an adjacent recess 58 that may receive material forming the deformation zone 50 once it is deformed.
  • Figs. 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d show a schematic perspective view of a variety of embodiments showing various keying-in configurations according to the present invention.
  • the final force that may cause the first part 5 and the second part 10 to move from the penultimate position to their final relative position after the deformation of the deformation zone 20, 50 may be provided by an external means that tends to push the two parts together, or it may be enable by other features.
  • a keying in feature as shown in Fig 6a may be formed on the second part 10 such that the insertion of the first part 5 into the opening 15 of the second part may only be enabled for a particular orientation of the first part.
  • the protrusions 65 may be provided with a slanted surface with respect to the direction D perpendicular to the direction P, say, along the direction S, as shown, and formed like the threads of a screw along a part of the outer circumference of the first part 5.
  • These protrusions 65 may be configured to abut the inside surface of the keyhole and the material forming the surrounding surface of the opening 15 when rotated, such that it tends to move the first part 5 in the direction P when rotated.
  • the final force required to assemble the first half 5 and second half 10 together to deform the deformation zone 20, 50 and form the electrical contact 1 may be provided by this screw-in configuration of the keyhole 60 and protrusions 65.
  • the keyhole 60 may also be provided in the second part 10 to make available an abutment surface such as the step 55 for deformation zones 50 formed as protrusions 65 shown in Figs. 6c .
  • the protrusions 65 are shown to be angled in the forward or insertion direction, i.e. in the direction P, to be suitable for deformation by a force acting in the insertion direction along the direction P.
  • the invention may further exemplarily enable an application requiring a deformation zone that may be actuated by a removal force, i.e. one that acts in the direction opposite to direction P.
  • the first part 5 with protrusions 65 that are angled in the backward or removal direction as shown in Fig. 6d may be inserted through the keyhole 60, rotated 90° to bring the protrusions 65 away from the keyhole 60, and then caused to deform by a force acting in the backwards, removal direction.
  • the step 55' provides the surface of abutment, in such a case.
  • Recesses 25 may therefore be provided at appropriate locations on the inner surface of the opening 15 both before and after the keyhole 60. Such recesses may be located along the inner circumference of the opening 15 or at selective locations such as 90° away from the openings forming the keyhole 60.
  • Fig. 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an electrical contact according to the present invention, after it has been assembled.
  • the first part 5 upon full insertion into the second part 10, results in the deformation zones 20 and 50 being deformed and the material forming these deformation zones flows into the recesses 25 and 58, respectively.
  • This flow of material may force the outside surface of the second part to bulge at locations corresponding with the locations of the recesses in the inside surface of the second part 10.
  • the formation of bulges 70 on the outside surface of the second part 10 may be utilized to securely hold the electrical contact 1 in position within the surrounding material, which may be a connector housing or a PCB or may indeed be free-standing to provide holding features for any alternate form of fixation.

Landscapes

  • Manufacturing Of Electrical Connectors (AREA)
EP13186002.5A 2013-09-25 2013-09-25 Contact électrique en deux parties Active EP2854222B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP13186002.5A EP2854222B1 (fr) 2013-09-25 2013-09-25 Contact électrique en deux parties

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP13186002.5A EP2854222B1 (fr) 2013-09-25 2013-09-25 Contact électrique en deux parties

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2854222A1 true EP2854222A1 (fr) 2015-04-01
EP2854222B1 EP2854222B1 (fr) 2020-01-15

Family

ID=49226095

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP13186002.5A Active EP2854222B1 (fr) 2013-09-25 2013-09-25 Contact électrique en deux parties

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2854222B1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102016105470A1 (de) * 2016-03-23 2017-09-28 Te Connectivity Germany Gmbh Leistungselektrische Kontakteinrichtung; austauschbares, leistungselektrisches Kontaktmodul sowie leistungselektrischer Verbinder
DE102016206914A1 (de) * 2016-04-22 2017-10-26 Phoenix Contact E-Mobility Gmbh Leistungskontakt mit auswechelbarem Kontaktbereich
FR3102015A1 (fr) 2019-10-10 2021-04-16 Baud Industries Contact électrique de puissance en deux pièces pour un circuit de recharge d’un véhicule électrique

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2075722A5 (fr) * 1970-01-20 1971-10-08 Bunker Ramo
US5399110A (en) 1994-02-04 1995-03-21 General Motors Corporation Two piece male pin terminal
EP0948088A2 (fr) 1998-04-01 1999-10-06 Tri-Star Electronics International Inc. Contact à fiche et douille en deux parties
US8070502B2 (en) * 2007-07-12 2011-12-06 Odu Steckverbindungssysteme Gmbh & Co. Kg Electrical connectors and coupling device for such a connector

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2075722A5 (fr) * 1970-01-20 1971-10-08 Bunker Ramo
US5399110A (en) 1994-02-04 1995-03-21 General Motors Corporation Two piece male pin terminal
EP0948088A2 (fr) 1998-04-01 1999-10-06 Tri-Star Electronics International Inc. Contact à fiche et douille en deux parties
US8070502B2 (en) * 2007-07-12 2011-12-06 Odu Steckverbindungssysteme Gmbh & Co. Kg Electrical connectors and coupling device for such a connector

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102016105470A1 (de) * 2016-03-23 2017-09-28 Te Connectivity Germany Gmbh Leistungselektrische Kontakteinrichtung; austauschbares, leistungselektrisches Kontaktmodul sowie leistungselektrischer Verbinder
US10256565B2 (en) 2016-03-23 2019-04-09 Te Connectivity Germany Gmbh Power-electric contact device; exchangeable power-electric contact module as well as power-electric connector
DE102016206914A1 (de) * 2016-04-22 2017-10-26 Phoenix Contact E-Mobility Gmbh Leistungskontakt mit auswechelbarem Kontaktbereich
US10717368B2 (en) 2016-04-22 2020-07-21 Phoenix Contact E-Mobility Gmbh Power contact having exchangeable contact region
FR3102015A1 (fr) 2019-10-10 2021-04-16 Baud Industries Contact électrique de puissance en deux pièces pour un circuit de recharge d’un véhicule électrique
DE112020004849T5 (de) 2019-10-10 2022-08-04 Baud Industries Zweiteiliger elektrischer leistungskontakt für einen ladestromkreis eines elektrofahrzeugs

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2854222B1 (fr) 2020-01-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10270198B2 (en) Canted coil springs, connectors and related methods
US11296475B2 (en) Connector housings, use of, and method therefor
JP4076157B2 (ja) 同軸電気コネクタ
JP5193888B2 (ja) コネクタ
EP2511989A1 (fr) Connecteur et son procédé d'assemblage
JP5579213B2 (ja) 雌端子、及び接続構造
JP2005510038A (ja) 電気コネクター格子アンカー及びその製造方法
JP2009529686A (ja) コンタクトピンおよびその製造法
EP2157669A1 (fr) Connecteur et son procédé d'assemblage
EP2854222B1 (fr) Contact électrique en deux parties
JPS63250074A (ja) 複合雌型接点デバイス
EP2670001A2 (fr) Contact à deplacement d'isolant
WO2015105680A1 (fr) Connecteur électrique doté de contacts conformes et ensemble de carte de circuit qui en est équipé
CN109698417A (zh) 内插器组件
JP2017162792A (ja) 圧着接続端子及びその製造方法
CN107230885B (zh) 带锁定机构的连接器
EP2658036B1 (fr) Ensemble formant connexion électrique
US20170040732A1 (en) Pin with angled retention member
JP5665585B2 (ja) 電気コネクタ
US10985474B2 (en) Grounding connector with lock joint
JP2010129319A (ja) ジャック構造
JP5146759B2 (ja) 端子金具、端子金具付き電線、及び端子金具付き電線の製造方法
JP2014093197A (ja) 雌端子及びその成形方法
US20130337704A1 (en) Connector
EP2164132A1 (fr) Raccord terminal, connecteur et son procédé d'assemblage

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

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20130925

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

R17P Request for examination filed (corrected)

Effective date: 20151001

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

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

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20170124

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

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

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: H01R 4/06 20060101ALI20170606BHEP

Ipc: H01R 13/10 20060101ALI20170606BHEP

Ipc: H01R 4/26 20060101AFI20170606BHEP

Ipc: H01R 13/04 20060101ALI20170606BHEP

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20170627

GRAJ Information related to disapproval of communication of intention to grant by the applicant or resumption of examination proceedings by the epo deleted

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSDIGR1

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

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

INTC Intention to grant announced (deleted)
GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

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

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20190912

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

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

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602013065067

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 1225984

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20200215

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20200115

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

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 FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: RS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200607

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200415

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

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

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200515

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200415

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200416

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602013065067

Country of ref document: DE

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

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: SM

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1225984

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20200115

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

Effective date: 20201016

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 FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

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

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

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

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

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

Effective date: 20200925

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20200930

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

Ref country code: LU

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

Effective date: 20200925

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: 20200930

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: 20200925

Ref country code: IE

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

Effective date: 20200925

Ref country code: LI

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

Effective date: 20200930

Ref country code: BE

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

Effective date: 20200930

Ref country code: CH

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

Effective date: 20200930

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

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: MT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

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

Ref country code: MK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

Ref country code: AL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200115

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20240702

Year of fee payment: 12