EP3182524A1 - Elektrisch leitfähige anschlussklemme - Google Patents
Elektrisch leitfähige anschlussklemme Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3182524A1 EP3182524A1 EP15201307.4A EP15201307A EP3182524A1 EP 3182524 A1 EP3182524 A1 EP 3182524A1 EP 15201307 A EP15201307 A EP 15201307A EP 3182524 A1 EP3182524 A1 EP 3182524A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- contact
- electrically conductive
- terminal
- spring
- conductive terminal
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
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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
- H01R13/10—Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades
- H01R13/11—Resilient sockets
- H01R13/112—Resilient sockets forked sockets having two legs
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
- H01R43/16—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an electrically conductive terminal, which is adapted to receive a respective counter-terminal, for example of an automotive fuse.
- a proper electrical connection between two different components is important for many applications.
- fuses are typically inserted into a fuse socket, such that the terminals of the fuses are mated with respective terminals of the fuse socket.
- the resulting connection between the fuse terminals of the fuses and the fuse socket should thereby be such that the corresponding electrical connection is maintained securely.
- the electrical connection should withstand all ranges of temperatures, vibration and shock, which the connection is typically subjected to.
- busbars with tuning forks to conduct electricity.
- Typical busbars can thereby withstand currents of up to 18 A. Due to a low temperature dissipation of the busbars, higher currents are typically not applicable, as the resulting high temperatures my damage the busbars.
- German patent DE 10 2008 005 078 B3 describes a current bridge with a first and second plurality of contacts, which lie on different planes. This allows for spatially grouping different types of fuses, such as for example F-and C-fuses, at the same or even increased packing density.
- fuses such as for example F-and C-fuses
- the design cannot withstand high currents of, for example, 32 A.
- a tight connection between the fuse and the contacts is not provided, and the instable fuse positioning may lead to voltage jumps and overheating.
- US patent 5,049,095 is directed to an automotive fuse socket and to electrically conductive terminals that may be mounted in the socket.
- the terminals disclosed therein are not suited for big-sized terminals or contacts, which may withstand high currents.
- the present invention relates to an electrically conductive terminal, which is adapted to receive a counter-terminal.
- the counter-terminal may be any terminal suited for being mated with the electrically conductive terminal of the present invention.
- the counter-terminal may be a blade or plate terminal, having a blade- or plate-like structure.
- the counter-terminal may have a planar portion adapted to be mated with the electrically conductive terminal of the present invention.
- the counter-terminal may be of an automotive fuse in a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- the electrically conductive terminal may be provided in form of a female terminal.
- the electrically conductive terminal comprises a spring contact having two opposed spring legs, and a fork-shaped contact having two opposed arms.
- the spring contact and the fork-shaped contact are provided to each receive the counter-terminal, when the counter-terminal is mated with the electrically conductive terminal.
- the skilled person understands that the mating may be achieved by inserting the counter-terminal into the electrically conductive terminal of the present invention.
- the legs of the spring contact and the arms of the fork-shaped contact may be oriented into the same direction for receiving the counter-terminal during the mating process.
- the main orientation of the legs and of the arms may be essentially parallel to a mating or insertion direction of the counter-terminal.
- two contact pairs are used to improve thermal and electrical conductance, so the terminal does not overheat during high current usage.
- the spring contact may thereby provide a relatively high contact area and relatively small normal forces, compared to the fork-shaped contact.
- the fork-shaped contact may provide a relatively small contact area and relatively large normal forces, compared to the spring contact. Thereby, a high quality electrical connection may be achieved.
- the high normal contact forces of the fork-shaped contact provide a secure connection even during vibration and shock.
- the large contact area of the spring contact allows for an electrical connection of high quality.
- the fork-shaped contact may have a tuning-fork structure.
- the two opposed arms of the fork-shaped contact may extend into the same direction and may define contact surfaces at a minimum-dimensioned gap there between.
- the fork-shaped contact may have a generally U-shaped structure.
- the counter-terminal In the mated state, the counter-terminal may be at least partially in direct contact with the inner sides of the opposed arms.
- the counter-terminal may come into contact with the arms of the fork-shaped contact and may thereby cause the two opposed arms to deflect, such that the counter-terminal can be inserted into the gap defined between the arms of the fork-shaped contact.
- the arms of the fork-shaped contact are formed and positioned such, that the counter-terminal having a predefined strength can be received by the fork-shaped contact without or only marginally deflecting the arms of the fork-shaped contact.
- the spring contact may be configured such that the two opposed spring legs can be deflected symmetrically upon insertion of the counter-terminal into the spring contact.
- the counter-terminal may come into contact with the spring legs of the spring contact and may thereby cause the two opposed spring legs to deflect, such that the counter-terminal can be inserted in between the legs of the spring contact.
- a retention force of the fork-shaped contact is greater than a retention force of the spring contact.
- the retention force of the fork-shaped contact is at least 10% greater, more preferably at least 20% greater, more preferably at least 50% greater, more preferably at least 100% greater, and most preferred at least 200% greater than the retention force of the spring contact.
- a bending-apart or spreading stiffness of the two opposed arms of the fork-shaped contact is preferably higher than a bending-apart or spreading stiffness of the two opposed spring legs of the spring contact.
- a gap defined between contact areas of the spring contact is less than a gap defined between contact areas of the fork-shaped contact.
- the terms contact areas of the spring contact and of the fork-shaped contact used herein may be those parts of the legs or arms of the respective contacts, which are in contact with the counter-terminal, when the counter-terminal is mated with the electrically conductive terminal.
- the spring contact defines a first contact plane.
- the contact areas of the spring contact may be provided such that the counter-terminal is in a predefined orientation relative to the electrically conductive terminal, when being mated.
- the two arms of the fork-shaped contact are provided on opposing sides of the first contact plane defined by the spring contact.
- the spring contact and the fork-shaped contact are designed to both connect to the same counter-terminal mated with the electrically conductive terminal.
- a solid grip of the counter-terminal is provided due to the fork-shaped contact, while an electrical connection of high quality is provided due to the spring contact.
- the spring contact and the fork-shaped contact are integrally formed.
- both contacts may be formed of a common base material.
- a single metal plate may be used for forming the electrically conductive terminal comprising both the spring contact and fork-shaped contact.
- the spring contact and fork-shaped contact may be provided as a single member.
- the electrically conductive terminal is less prone to deterioration, as the electrically conductive terminal does not feature vulnerable connections between the spring contact and the fork-shaped contact.
- the contact area of the spring contact is offset to the contact area of the fork-shaped contact.
- the contact area of the fork-shaped contact is located behind the contact area of the spring contact. Accordingly, when inserting the counter-terminal into the electrically conductive terminal, the counter-terminal may first be electrically connected to the spring contact before it is connected to the fork-shaped contact.
- the offset between the contact areas is in the range of 1-25mm, more preferably in the range of 3-15mm, more preferably in the range of 5-12mm, more preferably in the range of 7-10mm, and most preferred in the range of 8-9mm.
- the spring legs of the spring contact may be longer in length than the arms of the fork-shaped contact. Thereby, a better flexing of the spring contact and therefore a better electrical connection of the spring contact may be achieved, while maintaining a proper positioning of the counter-terminal within the electrically conductive terminal due to the stiff fork-shaped contact.
- a width of each of the two opposed arms at the contact area of the fork-shaped contact is less than a width of each of the two spring legs at the contact area of the spring contact.
- the term "width” used herein denotes to a dimension which is measured in a direction perpendicular to a mating direction of the counter-terminal into the electrically conductive terminal and parallel to a contact plane of the electrically conductive terminal defined by the spring contact and/or fork-shaped contact. Accordingly, a high quality electrical connection is provided, as in particular the spring contact provides improved thermal performance, such that the electrically conductive terminal is suited for high currents.
- a thickness of the spring legs at a contact area of the spring contact is essentially the same as a width of the arms of the fork-shaped contact.
- the term "thickness” used herein denotes to a dimension which is measured in a direction perpendicular to a mating direction of the counter-terminal into the electrically conductive terminal and perpendicular to a contact plane of the electrically conductive terminal defined by the spring contact and/or fork-shaped contact.
- the spring legs and the arms may be formed of the same base material, wherein the spring legs are bended and twisted with respect to the arms such that the width of the arms matches the thickness of the spring legs.
- a thickness of the spring legs at the contact area of the spring legs and/or a width of the arms at a contact area of the fork-shaped contact is at least 0.6 mm, preferably at least 0.8 mm, more preferably at least 1.0 mm and most preferably at least 1.2 mm.
- a sheet metal with a respective strength of, for example, 1.0 mm may be used for manufacturing the electrically conductive terminal of the present invention. Thereby, the electrically conductive terminal can withstand high currents and provide a stable positioning of the counter-terminal.
- a width of the first one of the opposed spring legs at a contact area of the spring contact is greater than a width of the second one of the opposed spring legs at the contact area of the spring contact.
- the first one of the two opposed spring legs comprises two parallel beams.
- at least one of the two opposed spring legs of the spring contact may be divided or split such as to form two parallel beams.
- the two parallel beams thereby may extend into the same direction as the other one of the two opposed spring legs.
- the two parallel beams of the first one of the two opposed spring legs may be provided on one side of the counter-terminal, while the other one of the two opposed spring legs may be provided on the opposed side.
- the width of one of the two parallel beams at a contact area of the spring contact is essentially the same as the width of the second spring leg at the contact area of the spring contact.
- the width of each of the two parallel beams at the contact area of the spring legs is essentially the same as the width of the second spring leg at the contact area of the spring contact. Accordingly, the beams may have similar dimensions and provide a proper electrical connection and enhance the stable positioning of the counter-terminal. By separating one of the spring contacts into two separate beams, the stable positioning of the counter-terminal is advantageously enhanced.
- the electrically conductive terminal when the counter-terminal is mated with the electrically conductive terminal, the electrically conductive terminal withstands a current of at least 18 A, preferably at least 20 A, more preferably at least 24 A, more preferably at least 32 A, more preferably at least 40 A, and most preferably at least 60 A applied across the electrically conductive terminal and the counter-terminal.
- the large contact area of the spring contact may thereby allow for the good thermal performance of the electrically conductive terminal, thereby allowing the application of such currents.
- the present invention further relates to a metallic busbar comprising an elongated base plate and a plurality of electrically conductive terminals as described above.
- Each of the plurality of electrically conductive terminals may be provided in a row along the elongated base plate.
- the base plate and the plurality of electrically conductive terminals are integrally formed.
- the spring contacts of the plurality of electrically conductive terminals are provided in a first row and the fork-shaped contacts of the plurality of the electrically conductive terminals are provided in a second row, which is parallel to the first row. Accordingly, when inserting a respective counter-terminal into any one of the electrically conductive terminal of the busbar, an electrical connection may first be established with the spring contacts.
- the present invention further relates to a fuse socket, comprising a first and a second metallic busbar as described above.
- the first and second metallic busbar may be aligned parallel to each other, such that, for example, an automotive fuse may be used to interconnect the electrically conductive terminals of the first and second metallic busbar.
- the present invention relates to an electrical assembly comprising an electrically conductive terminal as described above and a respective counter-terminal, which is preferably provided in form of a blade or plate terminal.
- the electrical assembly may be part of an electrical center of an automotive vehicle, for example.
- the present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a terminal, and preferably for manufacturing an electrically conductive terminal as described above.
- the method comprises the step of providing a sheet metal plate.
- the sheet metal plate may be an essentially two-dimensional plate, with a defined strength.
- this strength is at least 0.6 mm, more preferably at least 0.8 mm, more preferably at least 1.0 mm and most preferably at least 1.2 mm.
- the strength is at most 10 mm, more preferably at most 5 mm, and most preferably at most 2 mm.
- the resulting terminal can withstand high currents due to the strength of the sheet metal plate.
- the method further comprises the step of cutting the sheet metal plate for forming two legs and for forming a fork-shaped contact having two opposed arms between the two legs.
- a spring contact will be formed of the two legs.
- the method comprises the step of bending the two legs so as to form the spring contact, wherein bend lines of the legs are angled with respect to each other.
- bend lines of the legs are angled with respect to each other.
- the two legs are reconfigured to form the spring legs of the spring contact.
- the person skilled in the art understands that a plurality of spring contacts and fork-shaped contacts may be manufactured in this manner. Due to the angling of the bend lines, the contacts can be cut and bent such that the resulting plurality of terminals may be positioned close to each other (if required).
- the present invention further relates to the use of the electrically conductive terminal described above for securing a counter-terminal of a fuse, particularly an automotive fuse, to an automotive electrical center.
- Fig. 1 illustrates the schematic structure of an electrically conductive terminal 10 according to an embodiment of the invention.
- the terminal 10 generally comprises two contact pairs.
- the top contact, i.e. spring contact 20, comprises two spring arms 21, 22.
- the first spring arm 21 is split to form two beams 23, 24.
- the first spring arm 21, i.e. the two beams 23, 24 of the first spring arm 21, and the second spring arm 22 are in electrical contact with the counter-terminal.
- the electrically conductive terminal 10 of fig. 1 comprises a bottom contact, i.e. a fork-shaped contact 30.
- the fork-shaped contact 30 may be a typical tuning fork contact with small contact area and big normal forces.
- the fork-shaped contact 30 comprises two opposed arms 31, 32. When the counter-terminal is inserted into the electrically conductive terminal 10, both arms 31, 32 are in electrical contact with the counter-terminal.
- Fig. 2 shows a top view of the electrically conductive terminal 10 of fig. 1 mated with a respective counter-terminal 40 or blade terminal 40.
- the counter-terminal 40 is inserted between the two spring legs 21, 22 of spring contact 20 and between the two opposed arms 31, 32 of the fork-shaped contact 30.
- at least the two beams 23, 24 of the first spring leg 21, and the second spring leg 22 are in electrical contact with the counter-terminal 40.
- Figs. 3a and 3b show two different embodiments of an electrically conductive terminal 10 according to the present invention.
- the terminal 10 is mated with a respective counter-terminal 40, which is part of an automotive fuse 2.
- the electrically conductive terminal 10 is adapted to be mounted to a PCB.
- the electrically conductive terminal 10 is adapted to be part of a busbar.
- Fig. 4 shows schematically a bending process which takes place during manufacturing of the electrically conductive terminal 10 according to the present invention, e.g. for manufacturing the electrically conductive terminals 10 of figs. 1-3 .
- a sheet metal plate is cut to form a plurality of legs 21', 22', and for forming a fork-shaped contact 30 having two opposed arms, whereby each fork-shaped contact 30 is provided between two legs 21', 22'.
- Bending lines 51, 52 of the legs 21', 22' are angled with respect to each other.
- spring legs of a spring contact are formed as illustrated in step (B) of fig. 4 .
- As the bend lines 51, 52 are angled, it is possible to cut and bend the sheet metal such that the plurality of electrically conductive terminals 10 are positioned close to each other.
- Fig. 5 shows the analysis of an electrical assembly according to the present invention.
- the electrical assembly comprises a busbar 1 with a plurality of electrically conductive terminals 10 according to the present invention.
- a second busbar 1' comprises a plurality of terminals 10' of the prior art.
- An automotive fuse 2 is mated to the busbars 1, 1', i.e. one blade terminal 40 of the fuse 2 is mated with an electrically conductive terminal 10 of busbar 1, while another blade terminal 40 is connected with a terminal 10' of the prior art busbar 1'.
- Fig. 5 further shows the results of an FEA simulation, with which the temperature of the electrical assembly was analyzed.
- the busbar temperature of the prior art busbar 1' is higher compared to the busbar temperature of the busbar 1 of the present invention comprising the inventive electrically conductive terminals 10.
- the inventive electrically conductive terminals 10 result in improved thermal performance, and thus allow for the application of higher currents.
- an improved electrically conductive terminal is provided, which is easy to manufacture and low in cost.
- Now special adapters are needed for providing a solid positioning of a respective counter-terminal, and for allowing the terminal to withstand high currents. Thermal and electrical conductance is improved.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP15201307.4A EP3182524A1 (de) | 2015-12-18 | 2015-12-18 | Elektrisch leitfähige anschlussklemme |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP15201307.4A EP3182524A1 (de) | 2015-12-18 | 2015-12-18 | Elektrisch leitfähige anschlussklemme |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3182524A1 true EP3182524A1 (de) | 2017-06-21 |
Family
ID=54850446
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP15201307.4A Withdrawn EP3182524A1 (de) | 2015-12-18 | 2015-12-18 | Elektrisch leitfähige anschlussklemme |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3182524A1 (de) |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5049095A (en) | 1990-06-04 | 1991-09-17 | Molex Incorporated | Automotive fuse socket and terminals therefor |
JPH04109579A (ja) * | 1990-08-30 | 1992-04-10 | Yazaki Corp | 端子金具及びその製造方法 |
US5416972A (en) * | 1992-12-10 | 1995-05-23 | Yazaki Corporation | Method of manufacturing joint terminals for bus bars |
JPH07230865A (ja) * | 1994-02-16 | 1995-08-29 | Kansei Corp | 中継端子及びその成形方法 |
JPH10241769A (ja) * | 1997-02-24 | 1998-09-11 | Yazaki Corp | 接続端子 |
DE102008005078B3 (de) | 2008-01-18 | 2009-06-10 | Audi Ag | Strombrücke mit mehreren Kontaktebenen |
-
2015
- 2015-12-18 EP EP15201307.4A patent/EP3182524A1/de not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5049095A (en) | 1990-06-04 | 1991-09-17 | Molex Incorporated | Automotive fuse socket and terminals therefor |
JPH04109579A (ja) * | 1990-08-30 | 1992-04-10 | Yazaki Corp | 端子金具及びその製造方法 |
US5416972A (en) * | 1992-12-10 | 1995-05-23 | Yazaki Corporation | Method of manufacturing joint terminals for bus bars |
JPH07230865A (ja) * | 1994-02-16 | 1995-08-29 | Kansei Corp | 中継端子及びその成形方法 |
JPH10241769A (ja) * | 1997-02-24 | 1998-09-11 | Yazaki Corp | 接続端子 |
DE102008005078B3 (de) | 2008-01-18 | 2009-06-10 | Audi Ag | Strombrücke mit mehreren Kontaktebenen |
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Effective date: 20171222 |