EP2866306A1 - Contact socket for an electric plug - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical connection means (1) comprising a female part (10) having a female portion (14) adapted to receive a male part (12) into the female portion (14), the male part (12) opening in the region of the base (40) (44) and the bushing portion (14) has projections (36) which project into the openings (44), the projections (36) in the openings (44) being positively connected to the male part.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical connection means having a female part which has a socket portion for receiving a plug contact and a male part inserted into the socket portion for contacting a plug-in contact inserted into the female part.

Such a two-piece trained connecting means is basically known. While the male part inserted into the female portion is for contacting a male contact inserted in the female portion, the female part is typically formed so that the connecting means can be connected to an electrical lead. The electrical path from the line to the plug thus leads through the female part and the male part. In the known connection means, the male part and the female part are welded together to produce an improved electrical and mechanical connection. The weld joint can be formed punctiform, for example by a laser welding process, at several points. The connection means can then be connected to an electrical conductor, for example an electrical line. When assembling electrical lines, ultrasound-based connection techniques are often used. However, fasteners which have been improved by means of welded joints are sensitive to vibrations. Welding points can break up due to the vibrations generated during ultrasonic welding, which also continue up to the welding points on the connecting means. Breaking up the welds is not predictable and changes the electrical and mechanical properties of the bonding agent. This makes it impossible to meet quality standards in cable assembly.

The invention has for its object to provide an electrical connection means of the type mentioned above, which is insensitive to vibration, withstands increased flow of electricity and can be produced at the same time with less economic effort.

The object is achieved by an electrical connection means having the features of claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

An electrical connection means having a female part comprising a socket portion adapted to receive a male part into the socket portion, the male portion having openings in the region of the base and the socket portion having projections which project into the openings, the projections in the openings being positively engaged with the socket male part are connected.

An electrical connection means wherein from a part of the wall of the socket portion, an elastic latching projection is formed which projects outwardly.

An electrical connection means wherein on one side of the latching projection a nose is formed to project into a wall opening of the socket portion.

An electrical connection means wherein the wall opening is larger than the nose, so that the latching projection is movable.

An electrical connection means, wherein the male part comprises at least one spring arm, resilient at its distal end, adapted to abut the inner surface of the female part.

An electrical connection means wherein the male part is sleeve-shaped.

An electrical connection means, wherein the female part has in its interior a retaining key which cooperates with a mounting opening in the male part.

An electrical connection means wherein the male part has at least one expression on its inside.

An electrical connection means wherein the female part and the male part are made of different metals or alloys.

An electrical connection means wherein the female part and the male part have different wall thicknesses.

• bereitstellen eines Weiblichen Teils das an einem Ende einen Hohlraum sowie Vorsprünge aufweist, einbringen eines männliches Teils, welches Öffnungen aufweist, in das des Weiblichen Teil, wobei die Teile so ausgerichtet werden, dass die Vorsprünge in die Öffnungen ragen, verformen der Vorsprünge.

A method of making a bonding agent comprising the steps of

• providing a female part having at one end a cavity and protrusions, inserting a male part having openings into which of the female part, the parts being oriented so that the protrusions protrude into the openings deform the protrusions.

A method for producing a connecting means, wherein the material of the projections is deformed, which corresponds to the material thickness, at least at the punching surfaces, substantially the material thickness of the male part.

A method of making a bonding agent, wherein the protrusions are bent into the openings as they are aligned.

A method for producing a connecting means, wherein the material of the projections is deformed so that the projecting into the openings projections in the openings are positively connected to the male part

A connection line comprising an electrical connection means and an electrical conductor.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Verbindungsmittels gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform;
• Fig. 2 einen Schnitt entlang der Längsachse des Verbindungsmittels
• Fig. 3 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Teils des Buchsenabschnitts nahe der Einführöffnung gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform (ohne männliches Teil);
• Fig. 4 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines männliches Teils gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform;
• Fig. 5 eine perspektivische Darstellung des Buchsenabschnitts;

The invention will be described below by way of an advantageous embodiment purely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings
described. Show it:

• Fig. 1 a perspective view of a connecting means according to a first embodiment;
• Fig. 2 a section along the longitudinal axis of the connecting means
• Fig. 3 a perspective view of a portion of the female portion near the insertion opening according to a first embodiment (without male part);
• Fig. 4 a perspective view of a male part according to a first embodiment;
• Fig. 5 a perspective view of the socket portion;

In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail. Similar or corresponding details of the subject invention are provided with the same reference numerals.

In the in the FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrated connecting means 1 according to the invention is a two-piece designed electrical connection means 1, which comprises a female part 10 and a male part 12. The female part 10 and the male part 12 are each formed as a stamped and bent part and each have an electrically conductive material.

As FIG. 1 shows, the female part 10 comprises a socket portion 14 for receiving a plug contact, not shown, and a crimping section 16 with first and second Crimplaschen 18, 20, for the electrical and mechanical connection of the connecting means 1 with an electrical line, not shown. In the socket portion 14, the male part 12 is inserted. The female part 10 has two webs 38 in the bushing section 14, which extend from two opposite side walls 26, 30, in the direction of the insertion opening 62. The male part 12 is located between the webs 38. The male part 12 is inserted into the socket portion 14 so that it bears with a stop surfaces 48 on the stop surfaces 24 of the socket portion , The projections 36 are bent inwardly to fit into the openings 44, the Base 40, the male part 12 protrude and caulked there. The projections 36 are connected to each other after caulking in the holding portions 60, where the punching surfaces 22,46 of the projections 36 and openings 44 opposite each other.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the connecting means 1 along the cutting axis A. The male part 12 lies with its base 40 between the webs 38 of the female part 10. From the base 40, opposite the insertion opening 62, two contact spring arms 50, 52 extend. Starting from the Base 40 run the contact spring arms 50, 52 toward each other in the direction of their free ends 54. In a contact area 56 (not shown) for electrical and mechanical contacting of a plug-in contact (not shown) provided in the socket section 14, the contact spring arms 50, 52 have a minimum distance from each other. In the region of the contact region 56, the contact spring arms 50, 52 are each provided with a longitudinal gap 58 extending in the plug-in direction, which results in a plug contact (not shown) inserted into the socket section 14 making contact in total in four different regions through the contact spring arms 50, 52 and thereby the reliability of the contact is increased. Starting from the contact region 56, the contact spring arms 50, 52 run apart in the direction of their free ends 54 in order to facilitate the insertion of a plug-in contact. The contact spring arms 50,52 are pressed with inserted plug contact against the inner sides of the female part 10 whereby additional contact points between the male part 12 and the female part 10 result.

As FIG. 3 and 4 show, the socket portion 14 has a substantially cuboidal basic shape with an approximately square cross-section in the illustrated embodiment on. The female portion 14 includes four side walls 26, 28, 29, 30 defining a receiving space 32 for the male contact and the male part 12. The base 40 also has a substantially cuboidal basic shape, with an approximately square cross-section, so that it rests against the inner sides of the webs 38 when the male part is inserted into the female part 10. The base 40 includes four side walls 42 having openings 44 in the walls 42. The projections 36 and the openings 44 have a rectangular shape in this embodiment. The punching surfaces 22, which surround the projections 36 are located with the male part 12 and bent projections 36 against the punching surfaces of the openings 44 of the base 40. After the male part 12 is inserted into the socket portion 14 and the projections 36 of the female portion 14 in the openings 44 of the base 40 protrude does not yet form-fitting connection between socket portion 14 and male part 12. Between the parts there is still a small gap. By a mechanical process pressure is now exerted on the projections 36 to deform the material. The pressure is exerted in such a way that the wall thickness of the projections 36, at the points of pressurization, decreases and the metal flows in the direction of the punched edges. The flow is stopped when the punching surface 22 of the projection 36 abuts against the punching surface 46 of the opening 44 of the base 40. If the material can no longer flow when the pressure is applied, the surfaces are pressed together. This condition persists even after the pressure has been removed and holds the parts together. This process is known by the name caulking. In the mechanics, caulking (English: press-fit stem) refers to the production of a non-positive and positive connection between two individual workpieces by plastic deformation.

FIG. 5 show that the bushing portion 14 has been formed from four wall sections 26, 28, 29, 30 into a box-shaped bushing area. The side walls of the box forming sheet sections were formed by three 90 ° bends to a closed outer surface. The outer edge that closes the box after bending is connected to the latter by a laterally protruding tab 78, which projects into a window 80 into a side wall 29, by means of a press fit. From the upper side wall 26, a latching projection 70 is formed by cutting a strip out of the side wall 26, leaving an area connected to the upper side wall 26. As a result, the latching projection 70 is movable against the upper side wall 26. On one side of the latching projection 70, a first lug 74 and a second lug 75 are formed, which project into a respective first side wall opening 76 and a second side wall opening 77. The side wall openings 76,77 are sized so that the lugs 74,75 have a small distance to the edges of the side wall openings 76,77. This allows the lugs 74, 75 to move within the sidewall openings 76, 77. The range of movement of the locking projection 70 is determined by the sizes of the lugs 75,75 and the side wall openings. The latching projection 70 is bent outwardly at the end with which it is not attached to the upper side wall, as far as side wall openings 76, 77 are allowed. When inserting the connecting element 1 in a housing (not shown), the locking projection 70 can move inwardly and when the connecting element has reached the end position in the housing, move again and hold the connecting element 1 in the housing chamber (not shown). The pull-out force needed for inadvertently pulling out increases in comparison to a conventional latching device, as the lugs 74, 75 of the latching projection 70 in the side wall openings 76, 77 and prevents the locking projection 70 is bent.

As in FIG. 2 and 3 can be seen, the female part has a retaining key 33 in a web 38 which cooperates with a mounting hole 34 in the base 40 to prevent accidental slippage of the male part in the female part, as long as the projections 36, in the manufacture, not in the openings 44 are bent. When male part 12 is inserted, the retaining key 33 protrudes into the mounting opening 34 and thus prevents accidental slipping of the male part 12.

FIG. 4 shows that the male part 12 within the base 40 has a curved shape 49 in a side wall, which serves as an insertion aid for a plug contact (not shown). If the plug contact is not centered inserted into the insertion opening 62, it abuts against the expression 49 and is guided by the curved shape in a more favorable insertion position.

The base of the male part itself is not intended for contacting a plug-in contact inserted into the socket section. It can therefore be formed independently of the design of the contact spring arms for a stable connection to the socket portion. When caulking the two parts are partially connected to each other at their punching surfaces. This results in a relatively large contact area between the parts. This not only provides a secure mechanical connection between the male part and the female part, but also an improved electrical and thermal coupling of the male part and the female part compared to a welded joint. Thus, larger currents can flow through the connection without the connection means being substantially in the area of the connection heated. Consequently, the maximum current that can flow through the connecting means according to the invention, is substantially higher than in a connecting means in the insert part and receiving part are welded together.

Moreover, the disclosed connection is easier to make than a welded joint. In particular, it is not necessary to invest in a welding device, for example a laser welding device. Instead, the caulking connection may be e.g. be produced by a stamping and bending device, which is also used for the production of the male part or the female part. The reduced investment costs contribute to the fact that the connecting means according to the invention can be produced overall with a lower economic outlay.

According to one embodiment, the female part and the male part can be executed as a stamped and bent part, which contributes to a cost-effective production. The male part and the female part are connected only to punching surfaces whereby no further holding devices or contacting devices must be provided. Thus, a connecting means can be provided which is free of parts projecting into the receiving space, which reduces the overall cross-section of the connecting means.

Preferably, the female part and the male part are made of different metals or alloys, because the requirements for the male part is to contact a complementary contact part which is inserted into the connecting means safely and permanently, whereas the female part has the task of the male part and to provide the contact with a conductor (electrical line) and the To fix connecting means in a housing. Preferred materials for the male part are, for example, copper-nickel-silicon alloys because they have particularly good spring properties. The female part can be inexpensively made of a sheet of bronze, with good electrical conductivity between the male part and connecting cable is guaranteed.

Preferably, the female part and the male part may have different wall thicknesses. The female part may have a slightly larger wall thickness than the male part. This has the effect that the wall thicknesses at the punched edges of both parts after caulking are about the same. This is advantageous because then the entire contact surface between the parts, for holding and electrical contacting can be used. In addition, no corners are formed in which can collect dirt that leads to corrosion. A promising combination consists of a male part with a material thickness of 0.15 mm and a material thickness of 0.20 mm for the female part. Of course, it would also be conceivable to use the same wall thicknesses and to design the caulking process in such a way that the wall thickness is maintained at the punching surfaces, but at other points the material becomes thinner. However, this process may be harder to control in production.

According to a further embodiment, the electrical contacting of the female section and the male part takes place mainly on the punching surfaces of both parts, because so a large-area contact surface is achieved, which has a low electrical resistance and is largely resistant to corrosion, since moisture does not enter the separation surface. It is formed further current bypass paths when portions of the male portion are pressed against the female portion after a male contact has been inserted into the connector. The additional junctions between the male and female parts further reduce the overall resistance of the lanyard.

Preferably, the male base forms the insertion opening of the female portion, so the area which represents the insertion opening for the complementary plug contact, can be adapted to the plug contact to him, during insertion, optimally lead into the male part.

According to another embodiment, the female part and the projections are integrally formed from a metal sheet. The female part is punched from a sheet and folded into shape. As a result, a cost-effective production is possible. The male part can also be stamped from a sheet and put into shape. The openings of the male part are introduced during punching in the male part.

Preferably, the protrusions protrude from one or more sidewalls of the bushing section to fit into the openings of the male part. The arrangement of the projections can be realized in diverse ways. Prerequisite, however, that a projection must be arranged so that it protrudes into an opening in the wall of the male part, and fixed by caulking in the opening and can be contacted electrically.

According to a further embodiment, the projections of a side wall of the female portion in the insertion direction or protrude perpendicular to the plug-in direction. As already mentioned, the projections can project from the female part at different angles. The bushing portion may have webs extended to side walls suitable for mechanical support of the male part. These webs extend from the side walls. From the webs in turn extend the projections. In this embodiment, the projections do not protrude into the openings after insertion of the male part but are bent into the openings before caulking. This construction increases the mechanical stability of the connecting means.

Preferably, the socket portion has a rectangular upper square cross section so that it can be held against rotation in a housing. However, it is conceivable to provide a bushing section with a circular or oval cross-section and to form the male part.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

connecting means

10

female part

12

male part

14

bushing section

16

crimp

18

First crimping bag

20

Second crimping bag

22

cutting surface

24

stop surface

26

Upper sidewall

28

Side wall,

29

Side wall

30

Lower side wall

32

accommodation space

34

mounting hole

36

head Start

38

web

40

Base

42

Side wall

44

openings

46

cutting surface

49

shaping

48

stop surface

50

contact spring

52

contact spring

54

free ends

56

contact area

58

longitudinal gap

60

holding area

62

insertion

70

catch projection

74

first nose

75

second nose

76

first side wall opening

77

second side wall opening

78

flap

80

Fenste

Claims (15)

An electrical connection means (1) comprising a female part (10) having a female portion (14) adapted to receive a male part (12) into the female portion (14), the male part (12) opening in the region of the base (40) (44) and the bushing portion (14) has projections (36) which project into the openings (44), the projections (36) in the openings (44) being positively connected to the male part. An electrical connection means (1) according to claim 1, wherein from a part of the wall (26) of the socket portion (14) an elastic locking projection (70) is formed which projects outwards. An electrical connection means (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein on one side of the latching projection (70) a lug (74) is formed to project into a wall opening (76) of the socket portion. An electrical connection means (1) according to claim 3 wherein the wall opening (76) is larger than the tab (74) so that the latching projection (70) is movable. An electrical connection means (1) according to claim 1, wherein the male member (12) comprises at least one spring-loaded contact spring arm (50, 52) adapted is to abut the inner surface of the female part (10). An electrical connection means (1) according to claim 1, wherein the male part (12) is sleeve-shaped. Electrical connection means (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the female part (10) has in its interior a retaining button (33) which cooperates with a mounting opening (34) in the male part (12). Electrical connection means (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the male part (12) has on its inside at least one expression (49). An electrical connection means (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the female part (10) and the male part (12) are made of different metals or alloys. An electrical connection means (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the female part (10) and the male part (12) have different wall thicknesses. Method for producing a connecting means (1) characterized by the following steps: providing a female part (10) having at one end a cavity (32) and projections (36), introducing a male part (12) which has openings (44) in which the female part (10), wherein the parts are aligned in that the projections (36) protrude into the openings (44) deform the projections (36). A method of producing a connecting means (1) according to claim 11, wherein the material of the projections (36) is deformed corresponding to the material thickness, at least at the punching surfaces (22,46), substantially the material thickness of the male part (12). A method of making a connecting means (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 12, wherein the projections (36) are bent into the openings (44) during alignment. A method of producing a connecting means (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the material of the projections (36) is deformed such that the projections (36) projecting into the openings (44) in the openings (44) form-fit with the male Part (12) are connected. Connecting line comprising an electrical connection means (1) according to claim 1 and an electrical conductor.

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