EP2876734B1

EP2876734B1 - Connector assembly

Info

Publication number: EP2876734B1
Application number: EP13193849.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thilo Simonsohn
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem GmbH
Current assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem GmbH
Priority date: 2013-11-21
Filing date: 2013-11-21
Publication date: 2018-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 2033-11-21
Also published as: WO2015075110A1; CN105745790B; CN105745790A; AU2014351982A1; EP2876734A1; AU2014351982B2

Description

The present invention relates to a connector assembly according to claim 1.
Connector assemblies for disconnecting electric circuits carrying high currents and medium voltages in the range of 1 kV to 70 kV during installation and service conditions are known in the state of the art. The EP 0 147 979 B1 describes a connector assembly that allows to disconnect an electric circuit without moving a cable. It is known to provide such contact assemblies with spring contacts which provide separable electric connections. Such contacts are expensive to produce in order to provide reliable electrical connections over a long lifetime and a high number of switch cycles. Mating metal parts usually require surface platings such as silver platings.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector assembly. This objective is achieved by a connector assembly according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims.
A connector assembly according to the invention comprises a cable terminal having a contact ring, an inner plug having a contact section and an outer plug being movable in a longitudinal direction. The outer plug comprises a thrust face. The contact section comprises an abutment face oriented towards the thrust face. The contact section can be clamped between the outer plug and the contact ring. The thrust face abuts on the abutment face when the contact section is clamped between the outer plug and the contact ring. Advantageously, clamping the contact section of the inner plug between the outer plug and the contact ring may ensure a defined contact pressure between a contact section of the inner plug and the contact ring of the cable terminal which provides a defined and reliable electric connection between the contact ring of the cable terminal and the contact section of the inner plug.
The contact ring comprises a first screw thread. The outer plug comprises a second screw thread mating the first screw thread. The first screw thread of the contact ring and the screw thread of the outer plug allow to screw the outer plug into the contact ring of the cable terminal to move the outer plug in the longitudinal direction. Screwing the outer plug into the contact ring of the cable terminal thus allows to clamp the contact section of the inner plug between the outer plug and the contact ring. Advantageously, this allows to adjust a contact pressure between the contact section of the inner plug and the contact ring of the cable terminal.
The first screw thread is an internal screw thread and the second screw thread is an external screw thread. Advantageously, this allows to screw the external second screw threads of the outer plug into the internal first screw threads of the contact ring of the cable terminal.
In an embodiment of the connector assembly, the contact ring comprises a ring contact face. The contact section comprises a plug contact face oriented towards the ring contact face. Advantageously, clamping the contact section of the inner plug between the outer plug and the contact ring of the cable terminal presses the plug contact face of the contact section of the inner plug against the ring contact face of the contact ring of the cable terminal to ensure a reliable electric connection between the contact section of the inner plug and the contact ring of the cable terminal.
In an embodiment of the connector assembly, the abutment face of the contact section of the inner plug comprises the shape of a circular ring. The abutment face is thus rotationally symmetric, allowing to arrange the inner plug at arbitrary angular orientations.
In an embodiment of the connector assembly, the abutment face comprises the shape of a slotted circular ring. Advantageously, the slots decrease the total area of the abutment face, thus increasing a pressure force exerted on the remaining parts of the abutment face by the thrust face of the outer plug. This also increases a contact force exerted between the plug contact face of the contact section of the inner plug and the ring contact face of the contact ring of the cable terminal.
Furthermore, the slots arranged in the abutment face of the contact section of the inner plug increase the flexibility of the contact section of the inner plug, thus allowing the plug contact face of the contact section of the inner plug to closely adapt to the shape of the ring contact face of the contact ring of the cable terminal, for example to surface roughnesses. Advantageously, this may equalize manufacturing tolerances.
In an embodiment of the connector assembly, the plug contact face and/or the ring contact face comprise an embossment. The embossment may for example comprise a number of ridges. The embossment reduces a contact area between the plug contact face of the contact section of the inner plug and the ring contact face of the contact ring of the cable terminal and thus allows for increased contact pressure between the plug contact face and the ring contact face.
In an embodiment of the connector assembly, the plug contact face and/or the ring contact face comprise an impression corresponding to the embossment. For example, the plug contact face may comprise an impression and the ring contact face may comprise a corresponding embossment. Alternatively, the plug contact face may comprise an embossment and the ring contact face may comprise a corresponding impression. It is also possible to provide both the plug contact face and the ring contact face with mutually corresponding impressions and embossments. Advantageously, the impressions and embossments provide areas of the plug contact face and the ring contact face that are inclined with respect to a normal direction of the plug contact face and the ring contact face. This increases the size of the contact area between the plug contact face and the ring contact face and increases a contact pressure resulting from a given force exerted on the contact section of the inner plug by the outer plug.
In an embodiment of the connector assembly, an electrically conductive interim piece is arranged between the ring contact face and the plug contact face. The interim piece may for example comprise a metal or be provided with an electrically conductive coating. The interim piece may be designed to increase a contact area between the ring contact face and the plug contact face or to increase a contact pressure between the ring contact face and the plug contact face. The interim piece may be rigid and stiff or may be flexible like films or elastic like wavy washers. The interim piece may also serve to level imperfections and irregularities of the plug contact face and/or the ring contact face. The interim piece may comprise a metal or a metal alloy, for example copper beryllium, or another conductive material and/or may comprise a conductive coating, for example a silver plating.
In an embodiment of the connector assembly, the thrust face and the abutment face are at least partially inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The thrust face and the abutment face may be inclined about a positive or a negative angle. The inclination of the thrust face and the abutment face advantageously increases the areas of the thrust face and the abutment face and increases a contact pressure between the thrust face and the abutment face at a given force exerted on the contact section of the inner plug by the outer plug.
In an embodiment of the connector assembly, the plug contact face and the ring contact face are at least partially inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The plug contact face and the ring contact face may be inclined about a positive or a negative angle. The inclination of the plug contact face and the ring contact face advantageously increases the size of the plug contact face and the ring contact face and may increase a contact pressure between the plug contact face and the ring contact face that results from a given force exerted on the contact section of the inner plug by the outer plug.
In an embodiment of the connector assembly, the connector assembly comprises a conductor. The inner plug comprises an inner contact interface for contacting the conductor. Advantageously, the inner plug may provide an electric connection between the conductor of the connector assembly and the cable terminal of the connector assembly.
In an embodiment of the connector assembly, the connector assembly comprises a housing. The cable terminal, the inner plug and the outer plug are at least partially arranged in the housing. The conductor may also be at least partially arranged in the housing. The housing may for example be manufactured by a molding process. The housing may provide an electric insulation.
In an embodiment of the connector assembly, the housing comprises an elastomeric material, in particular silicone or EPDM, or a thermoplastic elastomer. Advantageously, this allows for a simple and cost-effective manufacture of the connector assembly.
In an embodiment of the connector assembly, the cable terminal and the conductor are molded-in in the housing. Advantageously, the connector assembly allows to electrically connect and disconnect the cable terminal and the conductor without moving the cable terminal or the conductor.
The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the Figures, in which:

Figure 1: shows a schematic sectional view of a part of a first connector assembly;
Figure 2: shows a schematic sectional view of a part of a second connector assembly;
Figure 3: shows a schematic sectional view of a part of a third connector assembly;
Figure 4: shows a schematic sectional view of a part of a fourth connector assembly;
Figure 5: shows a schematic sectional view of a part of a fifth connector assembly;
Figure 6: shows a schematic top view of an inner plug; and
Figure 7: shows a schematic top view of an inner plug having slots.

Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional drawing of a part of a first connector assembly 10. The first connector assembly 10 may be used for providing a separable electric connection in an electric network. The electric network may for example be a medium voltage network with voltages between 1 kV and 70 kV. The electric network may for example be a 24 kV network or a 36/42 kV network. The first connector assembly 10 may for example be arranged in a cabinet above the ground or an underground unit to be accessed from above the ground.
The first connector assembly 10 comprises a cable terminal 200. The cable terminal 200 comprises an electrically conductive material, for example copper. The cable terminal 200 extends mostly in parallel to a lateral direction 12. An outer end of the cable terminal 200, that is not shown in the partial depiction of Figure 1, may be designed for being connected to a cable. The outer part of the cable terminal 200 may for example be connected to a cable using a suitable cable joint.
The first connector assembly 10 furthermore comprises a conductor 300. The conductor 300 comprises an electrically conductive material. The conductor 300 is arranged mostly in parallel to the lateral direction 12. The conductor 300 is arranged below the cable terminal 200 and is spaced from the cable terminal 200 in a longitudinal direction 11 which is perpendicular to the lateral direction 12.
The first connector assembly 10 serves to establish and to interrupt an electric connection between the cable terminal 200 and the conductor 300. The electric connection between the cable terminal 200 and the conductor 300 can be established and interrupted without moving the cable terminal 200 and the conductor 300. The electric connection between the cable terminal 200 and the conductor 300 that is provided by the first connector assembly 10 may for example be interrupted for installation and service purposes.
The conductor 300 of the first connector assembly 10 may be connectable to further cable terminals by means of further first connector assemblies. In this case the first connector assemblies serve to provide interruptible electric connections between the cable terminals via the conductor 300.
The first connector assembly 10 comprises a housing 100. The cable terminal 200 and the conductor 300 are at least partially arranged in the housing 100. The housing 100 comprises an electrically insulating material. The housing 100 may for example comprise an elastomeric material. The housing 100 may for example comprise an elastomeric material with a Shore A hardness between 20 and 60. The housing 100 may for example comprise a silicone or EPDM or may be made from TPE, a thermoplastic elastomer. The housing 100 may for also comprise a conductive coating or a thicker outer conductive layer.
The housing 100 may be produced using a molding process. It is possible to mold-in the cable terminal 200 and the conductor 300 already during the fabrication of the housing 100. The housing 100 may be integrally formed or be composed out of more than one piece.
The cable terminal 200 may partially be enclosed in a first shielding 130. In this case, the first shielding 130 is arranged between the cable terminal 200 and the housing 100. The first shielding 130 may serve to shield electromagnetic fields caused by electric currents flowing in the cable terminal 200. The first shielding 130 may also serve as a Faraday cage to do e.g. stress grading. Similarly, the conductor 300 may partially be enclosed in a second shielding 140 that partially covers the conductor 300 and is arranged between the conductor 300 and the material of the housing 100. The second shielding 140 may serve to shield electromagnetic fields caused by electric currents flowing in the conductor 300. The first shielding 130 and the second shielding 140 may be omitted.
The conductor 300 and the parts of the housing 100 that house the conductor 300 together form a busbar 110 of the first connector assembly 10. The busbar 110 is arranged mostly in parallel to the lateral direction 12.
The first connector assembly 10 further comprises a dome 120 that extends in the longitudinal direction 11 which is arranged perpendicular to the lateral direction 12. The dome 120 comprises the part of the housing 100 housing the cable terminal 200 and a part of the housing 100 arranged between the cable terminal 200 and the busbar 110.
The cable terminal 200 comprises an inner end that is opposed to the outer end of the cable terminal 200. The inner end of the cable terminal 200 is arranged inside the housing 100. The inner end of the cable terminal 200 comprises a contact ring 210. The contact ring 210 comprises an opening 240. The opening 240 preferably comprises a circular shape with an axis that is arranged in parallel to the longitudinal direction 11. In the example shown in Figure 1, the contact ring 210 is closed about the opening 240 and the axis that is parallel to the longitudinal direction 11.
The contact ring 210 comprises a tubular portion 220 and a discoid portion 230. The discoid portion 230 is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 11. The opening 240 is arranged centrally in the discoid portion 230 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200. The tubular portion 220 of the contact ring 210 extends from an outer circumference of the discoid portion 230 in the longitudinal direction 11 away from the conductor 300. In the example shown in Figure 1, the tubular portion 220 and the discoid portion 230 of the contact ring 210 are integrally formed.
The first connector assembly 10 comprises an inner plug 400 that serves to provide an electric connection between the cable terminal 200 and the conductor 300. The inner plug 400 comprises an electrically conductive material, for example a metal. Parts of the surface of the inner plug 400 may be coated or overmolded with an electrically insulating material. The inner plug 400 can be inserted into the housing 100 of the first connector assembly 10 to establish an electric connection between the cable terminal 200 and the conductor 300. The inner plug 400 can be removed from the housing 100 to interrupt the electric connection between the cable terminal 200 and the conductor 300.
The inner plug 400 comprises a elongate portion 410 with an inner end 411 and an opposed outer end 412. The elongate portion 410 may comprise a conical shape. When the inner plug 400 is arranged in the housing 100 of the first connector assembly 10, the elongate portion 410 of the inner plug 400 is arranged in parallel to the longitudinal direction 11.
The inner end 411 of the elongate portion 410 of the inner plug 400 comprises an inner contact interface 420 that serves to provide an electric connection between the inner plug 400 and the conductor 300. In the example shown in Figure 1, the inner contact interface 420 comprises a threaded boss 430 that extends in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate portion 410 of the inner plug 400 at the inner end 411 of the elongate portion 410. The conductor 300 comprises a contact interface 310 that matches the inner contact interface 420. In the example depicted in Figure 1 the contact interface 310 of the conductor 300 comprises a threaded bore 320.
The inner contact interface 420 of the inner plug 400 can be mechanically and electrically connected to the contact interface 310 of the conductor 300 by screwing the threaded boss 430 of the inner plug 400 into the threaded bore 320 of the conductor 300. This can be performed by rotating the inner plug 400 around an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction 11. This installation of the inner plug 400 can be carried out from a distance using an operating rod of for example about 1 m length.
When the inner plug 400 is installed in the housing 100 of the first connector assembly 10, the elongate portion 410 of the inner plug 400 extends through the opening 240 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200. At the outer end 412 of the elongate portion 410 of the inner plug 400, the inner plug 400 comprises a contact section 440. The contact section 440 serves to provide an electric connection between the inner plug 400 and the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200. The contact section 440 comprises a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the elongate portion 410 of the inner plug 400 and larger than the diameter of the opening 240 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200.
Figure 6 shows a schematic top view of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400. In the depiction of Figure 6 the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 comprises a circular disc shape. On the side of the contact section 440 that is opposed from the elongate portion 410 of the inner plug 400, the contact section 440 comprises an abutment face 460. In the depiction of Figure 6, the abutment face 460 comprises the shape of a circular disc.
Figure 7 shows a schematic top view of a modified implementation of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400. In the depiction of Figure 7, the contact section 440 is generally disc-shaped but comprises a plurality of slots 452 that extend radially into the contact section 440 from an outer circumference of the contact section 440. In the example shown in Figure 7, the contact section 440 comprises four slots 452. Each slot 452 spans an angle of approximately 45 degrees. The slots 452 may however span smaller or larger angles and different angles. The contact section 440 may comprise fewer or more than four slots 452. Due to the slots 452 the area of the abutment face 460 is smaller in the implementation of the contact section 440 depicted in Figure 7 than in the implementation of the contact section 440 depicted in Figure 6.
Referring now to Figure 1 again, the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 comprises a plug contact face 450 that is opposed to the abutment face 460. The plug contact face 450 may be ring-shaped if the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 is designed as shown in Figure 6. If the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 is designed as in the example shown in Figure 7, the plug contact face 450 comprises one or more sectors of a circular ring.
The discoid portion 230 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200 comprises a ring contact face 250. The plug contact face 450 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 faces the ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200.
When the inner plug 400 is installed in the housing 100 of the first connector assembly 10 and the inner contact interface 420 of the inner plug 400 is connected to the contact interface 310 of the conductor 300 as well as the inner end 411, the plug contact face 450 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 is in contact with the ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200. A pressure between the plug contact face 450 of the inner plug 400 and the ring contact face 250 of the cable terminal 200 may however be insufficient for providing a reliable electric connection between the inner plug 400 and the cable terminal 200. There may even be a small gap between the plug contact face 450 of the inner plug 400 and the ring contact face 250 of the cable terminal 200 of up to 4 mm.
The first connector assembly 10 comprises an outer plug 500 that is installed after installation of the inner plug 400. The outer plug 500 may comprise an electrically insulating material. The outer plug 500 comprises a elongate portion 510 with an inner end 511. Arranged at the inner end 511 of the elongate portion 510 of the outer plug 500 is an end portion 520. The end portion 520 preferably comprises a mechanically robust material, for example a metal, a ceramic material or a reinforced plastic.
The end portion 520 comprises a thrust face 540. The thrust face 540 may for example comprise a circular disc shape. When the outer plug 500 is arranged in the first connector assembly 10, the thrust face 540 is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 11 and faces the abutment face 460 of the inner plug 400.
The tubular portion 220 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200 comprises a first screw thread 260. In the example depicted in Figure 1, the first screw thread 260 is an internal screw thread arranged on the inner side of the tubular portion 220 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200. The end portion 520 of the outer plug 500 comprises a second screw thread 530 that matches the first screw thread 260 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200. In the example depicted in Figure 1 the second screw thread 530 is an external screw thread arranged on an outer circumference of the end portion 520.
The second screw thread 530 of the outer plug 500 can be screwed in the first screw thread 260 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200. This procedure can be performed from a distance using an operating rod of for example 1 m length. Screwing the outer plug 500 in the tubular portion 220 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200 of the first connector assembly 10 moves the outer plug 500 in the longitudinal direction 11 such that the thrust face 540 of the outer plug 500 moves towards the abutment face 460 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400.
When the thrust face 540 of the outer plug 500 abuts on the abutment face 460 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400, the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 is pressed towards the discoid portion 230 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200 such that the plug contact face 450 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 is pressed against the ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200. Screwing the second screw thread 530 of the outer plug 500 further in the first screw thread 260 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200 allows to apply a defined pressure between the plug contact face 450 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 and the ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200. The outer plug 500 may for example be screwed in the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200 until a torque of 20 Nm has been reached.
As the plug contact face 450 of the inner plug 400 approaches the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200 during the installation of the outer plug 500, the housing 100 may undergo a minor elastic deformation. Such an elastic deformation is possible with low forces as the housing 100 preferably comprises an elastomeric material and the entire movement of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 in the longitudinal direction 11 is usually less than 4 mm. The elongate portion 410 of the inner plug 400 may for example comprise a total length of about 60 mm in longitudinal direction 11.
After installation of the outer plug 500, the thrust face 540 of the outer plug 500 presses against the abutment face 460 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 and the plug contact face 450 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 consequently presses against the ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200 with a defined pressure force. This pressure force is sufficient to ensure a reliable electric connection between the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200 and the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400. The cable terminal 200 is thus electrically connected to the conductor 300 via the inner plug 400. A current of for example 400 A, 630 A or 1250 A may be transmitted over a lifetime of up to 40 years.
If the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 is designed as shown in the example of Figure 6, the inner plug 400 may be produced in a simple and cost-effective manner. If the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 is designed as shown in the example of Figure 7, the contact section 440 may comprise an increased elastic flexibility in comparison to the design of Figure 6. This may enable the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 to adapt to slight unevennesses of the thrust face 540 of the outer plug 500 and the ring contact face 250 of the cable terminal 200 and may ensure an improved contact and an increased contact pressure in case of such unevennesses. Furthermore, the plug contact face 450 and the abutment face 460 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 comprise smaller areas in the design of Figure 7 in comparison to the design of Figure 6. Smaller areas of the plug contact face 450 and the abutment face 460 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 may result in higher pressures at the interface between the thrust face 540 of the outer plug 500 and the abutment face 460 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 and at the interface between the plug contact face 450 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 and the ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200.
One or more of the ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200, the plug contact face 450 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400, the abutment face 460 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 and the thrust face 540 of the outer plug 500 may be coated with a metal or another material. The ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200 and/or the plug contact face 450 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 may for example be coated with a tinning or a silver plating to reduce a contact resistance between the plug contact face 450 and the ring contact face 250 and to improve a long-term stability.
In the following, further connector assemblies will be explained with reference to Figures 2 to 5. These further connector assemblies comprise similarities to the first connector assembly 10 depicted in Figure 1. Components of the further connector assemblies that are equivalent to components of the first connector assembly 10 or that have the same effect as components of the first connector assembly 10 are given the same reference numerals in Figures 2 to 5 as in Figure 1 and will not be explained in detail again. The following discussion will emphasize on the differences between the further connector assemblies and the first connector assembly 10 of Figure 1.
The modifications explained in the following with references to Figures 2 to 5 may individually be incorporated into the first connector assembly 10 shown in Figure 1 or may be combined with each other.
Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a part of a second connector assembly 20. In the second connector assembly 20, the plug contact face 450 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 comprises a plurality of embossments 451. The embossments 451 extend from the otherwise mostly planar plug contact face 450. The embossments 451 may for example be designed as a plurality of ridges.
The embossments 451 arranged on the plug contact face 450 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 reduce a nominal contact area between the plug contact face 450 of the inner plug 400 and the ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200. The reduction of the nominal contact area between the plug contact face 450 and the ring contact face 250 may increase a contact pressure between the parts of the plug contact face 450 and the ring contact face 250 that are in contact. This may ensure and improve an electric connection between the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 and the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200.
The embossments 451 may have different shapes which are for example mainly rounded or mainly sharp at the top ends. The number, distribution and orientation of the embossments 451 may be adjusted in order to achieve an optimal effect.
Figure 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a part of a third connector assembly 30. In the third connector assembly 30, the plug contact face 450 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 comprises an embossment 451. In the third connector assembly 30, the embossment 451 is designed as a ring-shaped embossment with an approximately trapezoidal cross section. The embossment 451 of the plug contact face 450 may however be designed differently.
The ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200 of the third connector assembly 30 comprises an impression 251 that corresponds to the embossment 451 of the plug contact face 450 such that the embossment 451 of the plug contact face 450 may be received in the impression 251 of the ring contact face 250.
The combination of the embossment 451 of the plug contact face 450 and the matching impression 251 of the ring contact face 250 increase a contact area between the plug contact face 450 and the ring contact face 250. An increased contact area between the plug contact face 450 of the inner plug 400 and the ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200 may help to ensure a reliable electric connection between the inner plug 400 and the cable terminal 200.
Furthermore, the approximately trapezoidal cross sections of the embossment 451 of the plug contact face 450 and the impression 251 of the ring contact face 250 comprise sections that are inclined with respect to the lateral direction 12 and are consequently not oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 11. In the inclined sections of the plug contact face 450 and the ring contact face 250 an increased contact pressure may be achieved at a given torque of the outer plug 500 in comparison to sections of the plug contact face 450 and the ring contact face 250 that are arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 11.
Figure 4 shows a schematic sectional drawing of a part of a fourth connector assembly 40. In the fourth connector assembly 40 an interim piece 600 is arranged between the plug contact face 450 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 and the ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200.
The interim piece 600 may comprise a metal or a metal alloy, for example copper beryllium, or another conductive material and/or may comprise a conductive coating, for example a silver plating. The interim piece 600 may be rigid and stiff or may be flexible like a film or a blank or elastic like a wavy washer or a spring.
The interim piece 600 may be designed in a way to increase a contact area between the plug contact face 450 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 and the ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200 and/or to increase a contact pressure between the plug contact face 450 and the ring contact face 250. The interim piece 600 may also serve to even out minor unevennesses in the plug contact face 450 and/or the ring contact face 250.
It is possible to provide more than one interim piece 600 between the plug contact face 450 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 and the ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200.
Figure 5 shows a schematic sectional view of a part of a fifth connector assembly 50. In the fifth connector assembly 50 the ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200, the plug contact face 450 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400, the abutment face 460 of the contact section 440 of the inner plug 400 and the thrust face 540 of the end portion 520 of the outer plug 500 all are at least partially inclined with respect to the lateral direction 12 about an angle 700. The angle 700 may be a positive or a negative angle between -90 degrees and +90 degrees.
The inclination of the ring contact face 250 and the plug contact face 450 increases a contact area between the ring contact face 250 and the plug contact face 450. The inclination of the ring contact face 250 and the plug contact face 450 may also result in an increased contact pressure at a given torque of the outer plug 500 in comparison to an orientation of the ring contact face 250 and the plug contact face 450 that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 11.
The inclination of the abutment face 460 of the inner plug 400 and the thrust face 540 of the outer plug 500 increases a contact area between the abutment face 460 and the thrust face 540. The inclination of the abutment face 460 and the thrust face 540 may also increase a contact pressure between the abutment face 460 and the thrust face 540.
It is possible to arrange only the plug contact face 450 of the inner plug 400 and the ring contact face 250 of the contact ring 210 of the cable terminal 200 with an inclination about the angle 700 with respect to the lateral direction 12 and to arrange the abutment face 460 of the inner plug 400 and the thrust face 540 of the outer plug 500 in parallel to the lateral direction 12. Contrarily it is also possible to only incline the abutment face 460 of the inner plug 400 and the thrust face 540 of the outer plug 500 about the angle 700 with respect to the lateral direction 12 and to arrange the ring contact face 250 of the cable terminal 200 and the plug contact face 450 of the inner plug 400 in parallel to the lateral direction 12.

Reference symbols

10: first connector assembly
11: longitudinal direction
12: lateral direction
20: second connector assembly
30: third connector assembly
40: fourth connector assembly
50: fifth connector assembly

100: housing
110: busbar
120: dome
130: first shielding
140: second shielding

200: cable terminal
210: contact ring
220: tubular portion
230: discoid portion
240: opening
250: ring contact face
251: impression
260: first screw thread (internal)

300: conductor
310: contact interface
320: threaded bore

400: inner plug
410: elongate portion
411: inner end
412: outer end

420: inner contact interface
430: threaded boss
440: contact section
450: plug contact face
451: embossment
452: slot
460: abutment face

500: outer plug
510: elongate portion
511: inner end
520: end portion
530: second screw thread (external)
540: thrust face

600: interim piece

700: angle

Claims

A connector assembly (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) comprising
a cable terminal (200) having a contact ring (210), wherein the contact ring (210) comprises a first screw thread (260),
an inner plug (400) having a contact section (440) and an outer plug (500) being movable in a longitudinal direction (11),
wherein the outer plug (500) comprises a second screw thread (530) mating the first screw thread (260), wherein the first screw thread (260) is an internal screw thread and the second screw thread (530) is an external screw thread,
wherein the outer plug (500) comprises a thrust face (540),
wherein the contact section (440) comprises an abutment face (460) oriented towards the thrust face (540),
wherein the contact section (440) can be clamped between the outer plug (500) and the contact ring (210),
characterized in that
the thrust face (540) abuts on the abutment face (460) when the contact section (440) is clamped between the outer plug (500) and the contact ring (210) .
The connector assembly (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) according to claim 1,
wherein the abutment face (260) comprises the shape of a circular ring.
The connector assembly (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) according to one of the previous claims,
wherein the abutment face (260) comprises the shape of a slotted circular ring.
The connector assembly (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) according to one of the previous claims,
wherein the contact ring (210) comprises a ring contact face (250),
wherein the contact section (440) comprises a plug contact face (450) oriented towards the ring contact face (250).
The connector assembly (20, 30) according to claim 4,
wherein the plug contact face (450) and/or the ring contact face (250) comprise an embossment (451).
The connector assembly (30) according to claim 5,
wherein the plug contact face (450) and/or the ring contact face (250) comprises an impression (251) corresponding to the embossment (451).
The connector assembly (40) according to one of claims 4 to 6,
wherein an electrically conductive interim piece (600) is arranged between the ring contact face (250) and the plug contact face (450).
The connector assembly (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) according to one of claims 4 to 7,
wherein the plug contact face (450) and the ring contact face (250) are at least partially inclined with respect to a direction (12) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (11).
The connector assembly (50) according to one of the previous claims,
wherein the thrust face (540) and the abutment face (460) are at least partially inclined with respect to a direction (12) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (11).
The connector assembly (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) according to one of the previous claims,
wherein the connector assembly (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60) comprises a conductor (300),
wherein the inner plug (400) comprises an inner contact interface (420) for contacting the conductor (300) .
The connector assembly (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) according to one of the previous claims,
wherein the connector assembly (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) comprises a housing (100),
wherein the cable terminal (200), the inner plug (400) and the outer plug (500) are at least partially arranged in the housing (100).
The connector assembly (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) according to claim 11,
wherein the housing (100) comprises an elastomeric material, in particular silicone or EPDM, or a thermoplastic elastomer.
The connector assembly (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) according to one of claims 11 and 12,
wherein the cable terminal (200) and the conductor (300) are molded-in in the housing (100).