EP3367513A1

EP3367513A1 - Electrical connector system

Info

Publication number: EP3367513A1
Application number: EP18159012.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Salvatore Prochilo
Original assignee: Wuerth Elektronik Stelvio Kontek SpA
Current assignee: Wuerth Elektronik Stelvio Kontek SpA
Priority date: 2017-02-28
Filing date: 2018-02-27
Publication date: 2018-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-27
Also published as: EP3367513B1; IT201700022191A1; ES2902144T3

Abstract

The invention describes an electrical connector system comprising at least a first connector device and at least a second connector device slidably couplable to the first connector device, in a "male-female" configuration, along a predetermined coupling/uncoupling direction. Each connector device comprises a casing of insulating material and one or more connection elements of conductive material, arranged for an electrical connection. Each connection element of the first connector device is a female connection element and each connection element of the second connector device is a male connection element. Each female connection element is provided with a plurality of elastically deformable lamellar contacts (18), formed in a single piece with a base portion (20). Each lamellar contact (18) is provided with a respective curved contact portion (22A) configured to elastically adhere against the surface of a male connection element. Each female connection element is provided with four opposite lamellar contacts (18), equally spaced apart by twos, wherein each curved contact portion (22A) has a cylindrically shaped surface with generatrix straight lines parallel to the coupling/uncoupling direction.

Description

The present invention refers in general to an electrical connector system and, more specifically, to mobile connection elements of an electrical connector system able to be used on electronic boards.
In the field of electrical connections so-called "male-female" connector devices are known. These connector devices are coupled with one another to carry out the circuit function of electrical signals.
In particular, in order to carry and/or draw electrical power and/or signals from a certain electronic board towards other electronic and/or electrical apparatuses suitable interface devices are used. These interface devices typically consist of female mobile connection elements, used as terminals of electric cables, which couple with corresponding fixed male terminals, in other words welded on respective electronic boards.
In mobile connection elements, used as terminals of electric cables or of other supports and that couple with male terminals welded on electronic boards, there is a need to create the electrical connection by means of elastic tabs made of an electrically conductive material. These elastic tabs, together with a respective support container, made of an insulating material, and completed with other possible connection components (trolley and locking screw, spring, male terminal of various types, another female terminal, etc.) form the mobile female connection element.
The elastic tabs of the mobile female connection element ensure a predetermined contact pressure with the terminal of the respective mobile male connection element. This contact pressure, together with the contact surface, influences the so-called "contact" electrical resistance that is generated in the areas in which the aforementioned elastic tabs touch the corresponding male terminal.
Currently, on the market there are electrical connector systems in which the female connection element is generally provided with a pair of elastic tabs configured to contact the corresponding male terminal at two respective contact points. As known, in electrical connector systems the contact resistance is inversely proportional to the contact surface and to the pressure with which the two parts adhere. Consequently, the fact that it is possible to have only two contact points results in a considerable contact resistance, which limits the amount of current transmitted through the electrical connector system and generates overtemperatures.
The purpose of the present invention is therefore to make an interconnected electrical connector system, in particular mobile connection elements of an electrical connector system able to be used on electronic boards, which is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in an extremely simple, cost-effective and particularly functional manner.
In detail, a purpose of the present invention is to make an interconnected electrical connector system that is capable of reducing the contact resistance between the respective male and female connection elements.
Another purpose of the present invention is to make an interconnected electrical connector system that is capable of facilitating the centring and the connection of each male connection element with respect to the corresponding female connection element.
These purposes according to the present invention are accomplished by making an interconnected electrical connector system, in particular mobile connection elements of an electrical connector system able to be used on electronic boards, as outlined in claim 1.
Further characteristics of the invention are highlighted by the dependent claims, which are an integral part of the present description.
The characteristics and advantages of an interconnected electrical connector system according to the present invention will become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a section view of an electrical connector device belonging to the interconnected electrical connector system according to the present invention;
figure 2 is a perspective view of a single female connection element of the electrical connector device of figure 1, in which such a female connection element is provided with a relative terminal;
figure 3 is a perspective view of the female connection element of figure 2;
figure 4 is another perspective view of the female connection element of figure 2, coupled with a corresponding male connection element;
figure 5 is a plan view of the female connection element and of the corresponding male connection element of figure 4; and
figures 6-10 show respective embodiments of the female connection elements of the electrical connector device of figure 1.

With reference to the figures, an interconnected electrical connector system according to the present invention is shown. The electrical connector system comprises at least a first connector device 10 and at least a second connector device (not shown) slidably couplable to the first connector device 10, in a "male-female" configuration, along a predetermined coupling/uncoupling direction A-A.
Each first connector device 10 comprises a portion 12 of insulating material, which constitutes the casing of the first connector device 10 itself, as well as one or more connection elements 14 arranged for an electrical connection. Each connection element 14 is made of an electrically conductive material, typically a metal material, and in this specific case it consists of a female connection element.
Each first connector device 10 is normally connected, in final use, with a corresponding second connector device, also consisting of a respective portion of insulating material and of one or more respective connection elements 16 arranged for an electrical connection. As an example, figures 4 and 5 show a connection element 16 of the second connector device, which consists of a male connection element and it is obviously made of an electrically conductive material, typically a metal material.
The first connector device 10 and the second connector device, once connected to one another, constitute the minimum elements for the joining of an electrical connection system adapted for transporting one or more electric signals. In particular, the first connector device 10 is preferably a female connector, fixed or mobile, arranged to couple with a second male connector device, typically fixed and welded onto an electronic board.
As shown from figure 2, each female connection element 14 is provided with a plurality of elastically deformable lamellar contacts 18, formed in a single piece with a base portion 20 of such a female connection element 14. Each lamellar contact 18 is provided with a respective curved contact portion 22A configured to elastically adhere against the surface of a male connection element 16.
According to the invention, each female connection element 14 is provided with four opposite lamellar contacts 18, equally spaced apart by twos, in which each curved contact portion 22A has a cylindrically-shaped surface with generatrix straight lines parallel to the coupling/uncoupling direction A-A. In addition, each lamellar contact 18 is provided with a respective flat end contact portion 22B, connected to the corresponding curved contact portion 22A and configured to cooperate with such a curved contact portion 22A to elastically adhere against the surface of the male connection element 16. Each flat end contact portion 22B also extends along a direction substantially parallel to the coupling/uncoupling direction A-A.
The fact that it is possible to ensure that each female connection element 14 and the respective male connection element 16 adhere for surfaces 22A and 22B and not at a single point determines a reduction in the contact resistance that, as known, is inversely proportional to the contact surface and to the pressure with which the two corresponding connection elements 14 and 16 adhere. This characteristic of the electrical connector system makes it possible, with the same current, not to increase the temperature of the system itself and, with the same overtemperature requirement, which may or may not be imposed by the standards of the field, to be able to reach a higher nominal current value of the coupling between each female connection element 14 and the respective male connection element 16.
The base portion 20 of each female connection element 14 is made in the form of a wall developed on a plane substantially orthogonal to the coupling/uncoupling direction A-A. At least one through hole 24 is thus obtained on the base portion 20 of each female connection element 14.
Each through hole 24 has a shape compatible with the shape in section, in other words the shape obtained along a section orthogonal to the coupling/uncoupling direction A-A, of a respective male connection element 16. Since each male connection element 16 has a substantially circular shape in section, each through hole 24 also has a circular, or ellipsoidal, shape as shown for example in figures 2 and 5. Each through hole 24 also has a diameter, or a minor axis in the case of an ellipsoidal shape, which is slightly greater than the diameter of a respective male connection element 16.
Each through hole 24 therefore has a guiding and centring function of a respective male connection element 16. This characteristic of the electrical connector system makes it possible to hold each male connection element 16 in position irrespective of the clearances that the respective female connection element 14 can have inside the plastic insulating containment casing 12. This therefore results in an electrical connector system that is more stable and independent from misalignments and clearances that could be present in the mechanics of the apparatus, usually consisting of an electronic board, which will contain the system itself.
Figures 3 to 5 show a female connection element 14 provided with an integrated second connection element 26. This second connection element 26 can be configured to carry out the electrical connection between the first connector device 10 and any electrical or electronic apparatus that is distinct from the second connector device. For example, this second connection element 26 can be configured to carry out the electrical connection, mobile or permanent, between the first connector device 10 and an electronic board on which such a first connector device 10 is installed.
Each second connection element 26 is preferably formed in a single piece with the base portion 20 of the respective female connection element 14. Each second connection element 26 can in turn be both of the female type, and of the male type.
In the embodiment of figures 3 to 5, the second connection element 26 consists of a tab 28 made of an electrically conductive material, typically a metal material. The tab 28 is arranged to cooperate with a respective terminal 30, for example of the screw type, to make a second female connection element 26.
The embodiment of figures 3 to 5 should not however be considered to be limiting, since the second connection element 26 can be made in any suitable shape. For example, figures 6 to 10 show respective embodiments, different from one another, of the second connection element 26 integrated in the female connection element 14.
In detail, in the embodiment of figure 6 the second connection element 26 is made in the form of a tab with substantially rectangular cross section, thus being a male connection element. In the embodiment of figure 7 the second connection element 26 is made in the form of a clip, with a pair of elastically deformable tabs 32. In the embodiment of figure 8 the second connection element 26 is made in the form of a plug totally similar to the male connection element 16 described above. Finally, in the embodiments of figures 9 and 10 the second connection element 26 is made in the form of respective containment cages, able to be operated elastically to obtain an electric contact with a corresponding external connection element (not shown) having a shape compatible with the shape of such containment cages.
It has thus been seen that the interconnected electrical connector system according to the present invention achieves the purposes outlined earlier.
The interconnected electrical connector system of the present invention thus conceived can in any case undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the same inventive concept; moreover, all of the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the shapes and sizes, can be whatever according to the technical requirements.
The scope of protection of the invention is therefore defined by the attached claims.

Claims

Electrical connector system comprising at least a first connector device (10) and at least a second connector device slidably couplable to said first connector device (10), in a "male-female" configuration, along a predetermined coupling/uncoupling direction (A-A), each of said first connector device (10) and said second connector device comprising a casing (12) of insulating material and one or more connection elements (14; 16) of conductive material, arranged for an electrical connection, wherein each connection element (14) of said first connector device (10) is a female connection element and each connection element (16) of said second connector device is a male connection element, wherein each female connection element (14) is provided with a plurality of elastically deformable lamellar contacts (18), formed in a single piece with a base portion (20) of said female connection element (14), and wherein each lamellar contact (18) is provided with a respective curved contact portion (22A) configured to elastically adhere against the surface of a male connection element (16), the system being characterized in that each female connection element (14) is provided with four opposite lamellar contacts (18), equally spaced apart by twos, wherein each curved contact portion (22A) has a cylindrically shaped surface with generatrix straight lines parallel to the coupling/uncoupling direction (A-A).
System according to claim 1, characterized in that each lamellar contact (18) is further provided with a respective flat end contact portion (22B), connected to the corresponding curved contact portion (22A) and configured to cooperate with said curved contact portion (22A) to elastically adhere against the surface of the male connection element (16), wherein also each flat end contact portion (22B) extends along a direction substantially parallel to the coupling/uncoupling direction (A-A).
System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the base portion (20) of each female connection element (14) is formed as a wall developed on a plane substantially orthogonal to the coupling/uncoupling direction (A-A), at least one through hole (24) being therefore formed on the base portion (20) of each female connection element (14).
System according to claim 3, characterized in that each through hole (24) has a shape compatible with the sectional shape, namely the shape obtained along a section orthogonal to the coupling/uncoupling direction (A-A), of a respective male connection element (16), so that each through hole (24) has a guiding and centring function for a respective male connection element (16).
System according to claim 4, characterized in that each male connection element (16) has a substantially circular sectional shape, whereas each through hole (24) also has a circular shape, wherein said through hole (24) has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of said male connection element (16).
System according to claim 4, characterized in that each male connection element (16) has a substantially circular sectional shape, whereas each through hole (24) has an ellipsoidal shape, wherein said through hole (24) has a minor axis that is greater than the diameter of said male connection element (16).
System according to any claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each female connection element (14) is provided with a built-in second connection element (26), said second connection element (26) being configured to implement the electrical connection between the first connector device (10) and any electrical or electronic apparatus that is distinct from the second connector device.
System according to claim 7, characterized in that each second connection element (26) is formed in a single piece with the base portion (20) of the respective female connection element (14).
System according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that each second connection element (26) consists of a tab (28) made of an electrically conductive material, said tab (28) being arranged to cooperate with a corresponding terminal (30) to implement a second female connection element (26).
System according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that each second connection element (26) consists of a male connection element.
System according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that each second connection element (26) is made in the form of a clip, with a pair of elastically deformable tabs (32).
System according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that each second connection element (26) is made in the form of a containment cage, elastically operable to obtain an electrical contact with a corresponding external connection element having a shape compatible with the shape of said containment cage.