EP3477783A1 - Contact brush for an electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a contact socket (100) for an electrical connector, comprising an elongate receiving portion (101) of substantially cylindrical shape defining a longitudinal axis and extending from a first end portion (102) to an open end (103 ) extends. The receiving portion (101) is provided with an inner space (104) formed with Kontaktierungsstegen (110) on the inner periphery toward the open end (103), wherein the receiving portion (101) manufactured in a punching / bending process and movable over a material toothing (109) held in the form that with the Kontaktierungsstegen (110) formed on the inner circumference interior space (104) can be spread resiliently, in particular when a contact pin is inserted or inserted into the open end of the contact socket.

Description

The invention relates to a contact socket for an electrical connector.

The invention is based on a prior art, according to which electrical connectors usually have a contact insert block, in which one or more elongated contact sockets are each arranged as a single contact. Such electrical connectors are mechanically and electrically connectable with complementary electrical connectors in which one or more elongated pins are arranged as individual contacts in a contact insert block.

Accordingly, the contact bushes used for mechanical and electrical coupling with a respective complementary trained contact pin. An elongated contact pin is thus mechanically and electrically coupled to an elongate contact socket, i. the contact socket takes on the inside of the contact pin or picks up the contact pin on its outer circumference on the contact socket.

Such electrical contact sockets, which are also referred to as individual contacts, are described in particular in the standards DIN EN 62196 and DIN EN 60309.

Such contact sockets for an electrical connector thus also consist essentially of an electrically conductive material, conventionally of a metal.

The section of a contact socket which serves for coupling or for receiving a contact pin is hereinafter and in the claims also referred to as a receiving section.

Such a receiving portion extends from a first end portion, which usually serves for the mechanical and electrical coupling or for receiving an electrical connecting conductor, for example a strand or a wire or a cable. Furthermore, the receiving portion is usually shaped substantially cylindrical and defines a longitudinal axis of the contact socket.

The receiving portion of such a contact socket further has along the longitudinal axis of the electrically conductive material encased, cylinder-like interior with an opposite end of the first end portion into which the electrical contact end of a contact pin, for electrically and mechanically contacting the surfaces of the contact pin with the surfaces in the interior of the receiving portion, to insert or insert is.

To improve the mechanical and electrical connection between a contact socket and a contact pin, it is known to arrange in the cylinder-like interior of the contact sockets individual wires or lamellae bands or the like of electrically conductive material, preferably also resilient. Often, separate inserts are provided for this purpose, to which such wires or slats are attached, that is fixed or arranged. A complementary, cylindrical Contact pin can thus safely inserted or inserted between the wires or lamellae, that is received and held. The surfaces of the wires or lamellae are thus brought into a mechanical as well as electrical contact with the surface of the contact pin.

The wires or fins thus serve to improve both the mechanical and the electrical contact between a contact socket and a contact pin and provide a high number of contact surfaces due to the large number of individual applied to the inserted contact pin wires or fins, which consequently also a low electrical contact resistance to a Contact pin as well as to the interior of the contact socket offers.

However, it has been shown that a permanently low contact resistance can not always be guaranteed because oxidation layers, as well as dirt layers, can form on the surfaces of the wires or lamellae as well as on the contact pins, which substantially increase the electrical contact resistance over time can.

It is therefore an object of the invention in such a cost and form a cost-contact socket of the generic type described above, so that this over a very high number of mating cycles a permanently powerful, in particular continuous, allows power transmission, the electrical contact resistance preferably permanently low and the Cleaning effect are preferably permanently high, yet small as possible applied plug and pull forces.

The object is achieved in each case with an article according to one of the independent claims. Advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The object is accordingly achieved by an inventively embodied contact socket for an electrical connector with a substantially cylindrically shaped from an electrically conductive material and a longitudinal axis defining, elongated receiving portion extending from a first end portion to an open end, solved. The receiving portion thus serves for receiving and for the mechanical and electrical coupling of an electrical contact end of a complementary to the contact socket formed and inserted over the open end contact pin of the electrical connector to mating connector. The receiving portion provides towards the open end a trained with Kontaktierungsstegen on the inner circumference interior. The receiving portion is further manufactured in a punching / bending process and held in such a way by means of a material toothing that the interior formed with the Kontaktierungsstegen on the inner circumference can be spread resiliently, especially when the contact pin is inserted or inserted into the open end of the contact socket becomes.

Thus, there is the advantage that plug and pull forces extremely low and impurities and / or Nevertheless, oxidation layers can be effectively removed by means of the contacting webs and via the interspaces between the contacting webs, in particular with already small twisting of a contact pin to be inserted, whereby defined contact surfaces for good contacting are predetermined via the contacting webs. Furthermore, the defined contact surfaces in the stamped and bent bushing can be influenced particularly well already during embossing, and intermediate spaces can preferably be formed with respect to the finished bent state in an axial, oblique or even thread-like orientation. Consequently, in practical implementation by means of the Kontaktierungsstege removed dirt from both the contact pin and the webs themselves, easily accumulate in the interstices but also fall out easily to the open end or can be removed.

Overall, thus, the longevity of a contact socket according to the invention over the prior art is improved and it must be carried out neither complex cleaning nor lubrication processes for maintenance of the contact socket even in harsh environment.

The invention thus makes it possible that a contact socket can be produced inexpensively, in which an undesirable oxide layer between inner surfaces of the contact socket and the surface of a contact pin is avoided, so that wear-free surfaces and a permanently low contact resistance of the contact socket according to the invention, especially at a high Number of mating cycles are guaranteed. By at least one material pin and on the other hand a corresponding window opening are formed to the material toothing at the material edges guided by bending material on the other hand, in which the material pin is movably caught between two positions, the spring travel, in particular in the region of the contact socket input advantageously be tuned so that based on the smallest and largest possible diameter always low insertion and removal forces can be guaranteed.

In order to provide a clamping effect which has been increased again by way of the contacting webs arranged in the receiving section, the receiving section can not be pushed in when the contact pin is not inserted, i. in the initial state, suitably form a concave inner surface, so that this, in particular over the Kontaktierungsstege formed therein, resiliently bear against the contact pin during the entire insertion process and can develop its clamping effect optimally.

By using a special material for the receiving portion and / or by a compensation of the receiving portion, in particular of its inner surface, for example by galvanic treatment and / or heat treatment, the electrical contact resistance can be further improved and a high wear resistance even with a high number of mating cycles be achieved.

Suitably, for receiving a connection conductor at the first end portion additionally arranged a special connection device to which an electrical conductor is actually fixed, the electrical conductor is in particular either to screw, or by spring technology, by crimping and / or by a soldering or welding technology the connection device is fixable.

The invention also includes connectors with at least one contact socket, which is designed according to one of the above-described embodiments.

Fig. 1a

eine erste Teilansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Kontaktbuchse mit im Wesentlichen axial verlaufenden Kontaktierungsstegen,

Fig. 1b

eine zweite, gegenüber Fig. 1a um 180° gedrehte Teilansicht der Ausführungsform nach Fig. 1a,

Fig. 2a

eine erste Teilansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Kontaktbuchse mit im Wesentlichen gewindeartig verlaufenden Kontaktierungsstegen,

Fig. 2b

eine zweite, gegenüber Fig. 2a um 180° gedrehte Teilansicht der Ausführungsform nach Fig. 2a,

Fig. 3a

eine erste Teilansicht einer dritten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Kontaktbuchse mit im Wesentlichen schräg verlaufenden Kontaktierungsstegen,

Fig. 3b

eine zweite, im Wesentlichen gegenüber Fig. 3a um 180° gedrehte Teilansicht der Ausführungsform nach Fig. 3a,

Fig. 4a und Fig. 4b

zwei Teilansichten einer erfindungsgemäßen Kontaktbuchse zur Veranschaulichung des Mechanismus gemäß der Erfindung zum Definieren eines Kleinst- bzw. Größtmaßes des Durchmessers der Kontaktbuchse,

Fign. 5a bis 5e

verschiedene Teilansichten des durch die erfindungsgemäße Kontaktbuchse gebildeten Kontaktbereichs, und

Fign. 6a bis 6c

drei Teilansichten von möglichen, eine erfindungsgemäße Kontaktbuchse gegenüber zum Kontaktbereich angeordneten Anschlussende.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to some preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings, from which above-mentioned and further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent again. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1a

1 is a first partial view of a first embodiment of a contact socket according to the invention with substantially axially extending Kontaktierungsstegen,

Fig. 1b

a second, opposite Fig. 1a rotated by 180 ° partial view of the embodiment according to Fig. 1a .

Fig. 2a

1 is a first partial view of a second embodiment of a contact socket according to the invention with substantially thread-like extending Kontaktierungsstegen,

Fig. 2b

a second, opposite Fig. 2a rotated by 180 ° partial view of the embodiment according to Fig. 2a .

Fig. 3a

1 is a first partial view of a third embodiment of a contact socket according to the invention with substantially obliquely extending Kontaktierungsstegen,

Fig. 3b

a second, essentially opposite Fig. 3a rotated by 180 ° partial view of the embodiment according to Fig. 3a .

Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b

two partial views of a contact socket according to the invention to illustrate the mechanism according to the invention for defining a miniature or the maximum size of the diameter of the contact socket,

FIGS. 5a to 5e

different partial views of the contact area formed by the contact socket according to the invention, and

FIGS. 6a to 6c

three partial views of possible, a contact socket according to the invention with respect to the contact region arranged connection end.

Hereinafter, features of the invention and possible variations of preferred embodiments will be discussed in more detail with reference to the embodiments sketched in the drawings.

A contact socket 100 according to the invention for an electrical connector, such as in the Fig. 1a and 1b has an elongated receiving portion 101, which is formed from an electrically conductive material substantially cylindrically shaped and defining a longitudinal axis, which extends from a first end portion 102 to an open end 103. The first end portion 102 serves to connect an electrical conductor (not shown for reasons of clarity). For fixing the conductor, a connecting device 200 is expediently arranged on the first end section 102, which in particular, as with the FIGS. 6a to 6c sketched as a spring clip ( Fig. 6a ), as crimp terminal ( Fig. 6b ) or as a screw terminal ( Fig. 6c ) may be formed. Instead of screwing the electrical conductor to fix by spring or crimping, this can be fixed depending on the embodiment by other types of the connection device, for example by soldering or welding.

The receiving portion 101 is used for receiving and for mechanical and electrical coupling of an electrical contact end of a complementary to the contact socket formed and inserted over the open end 103 contact pin 108 (see. Fig. 5d, 5e ) of a connector to be mated with the electrical connector.

For this purpose, the receiving portion 101 to the open end 103 toward a provided with Kontaktierungsstegen 110 on the inner circumference interior 104 ready, in which the electrical contact end of the contact pin on the open end 103 of the receiving portion 101 is to be inserted. As can be seen from the figures, the receiving portion 101 at the open end 103 is further preferably formed with an insertion chamfer 105, so that when inserting or inserting the contact pin is not so to speak "blunt" to set, but can be easily introduced on the Einführfase 105. As can also be seen from the figures, the contact webs 110 formed on the inner circumference thus preferably extend as far as the open end 103, wherein, with an insertion bevel 105 formed on the open end 103, the insertion bevel 105 can also be free of these contacting webs 110 (FIG. Fig. 3a, 3b ). Moreover, the contacting webs 110 extend axially in an expedient configuration (cf. FIGS. 1a, 1b . 4a, 4b . 5a to 5e ) or alternatively also obliquely (cf. FIGS. 3a, 3b ) or thread-like (cf. FIGS. 2a, 2b ) on the inner circumference. This has the advantage that adhering to the pin and / or on the Kontaktierungsstegen dirt that is removed during the insertion of the pin into the socket as a result of mutual contacting the pin and the Kontaktierungsstege of these, are easily absorbed in the spaces between the webs consequently existing can and can be easily removed again when pulling the pin out of the socket, or depending on the specific design and by itself from the spaces to "front" from the open end 103 can fall out. Such dirt may for example be present on the pin and / or the Kontaktierungsstegen and be removed by means of slight rotation of the pin in the socket of this and / or the webs for cleaning purposes and as a result of improved contacting in the simplest manner.

Such Kontaktierungsstege 110 can in practical implementation by embossing of corresponding spaces in the material has to be worked out. Furthermore, in this case can be taken optimally influence on the thus formed contact surfaces in the stamped bending sleeve especially when embossing and spaces can be selectively formed in which dirt can accumulate but also easily falls out or can be removed. Also can be done by means of such Kontaktierungsstege and the intermediate between the Kontaktierungsstegen spaces a vent and a flow of accumulated water, so that it comes to a lower overall oxidation.

Consequently, by means of the contacting webs 110 defined contact surfaces are predetermined for good contacting, as previously known only in lamellae described according to the prior art. Moreover, the contacting webs 110 require little plugging and pulling force in inserting or removing a contact pin without suffering the cleaning effect. This is particularly due to the reduced contact area, since the pressure exerted on the remaining contact surface pressure increases accordingly and the cleaning effect is retained or even increases.

In addition, at least the receiving portion 101 is manufactured in a punching / bending process and held in such a movable manner over a material toothing 109 that the formed with the Kontaktierungsstege 110 on the inner circumference interior space 104 can be spread resiliently, especially when the contact pin in the open end of the female connector is inserted or inserted.

Instead of a conventionally produced by a punching / bending process cylindrical receiving portion with an interior, in which a contact pin is to be inserted, the receiving portion 101 according to the invention thus no cutting joint, on which produced by the punching and bent towards each other Known the punched or cut Materials, so-called cutting edges, permanently abutting.

Rather, elastic material properties of the pre-set by the punching / bending process rest shape of the receiving portion are deliberately exploited and thus can cut edges according to the invention with corresponding radially outward force application resiliently move away from each other, so that therefore increases the inner diameter of the inner space 104. Without corresponding application of force, the receiving section remains in its preset rest shape or returns to this rest shape due to the resilient material properties back into this. Can a form of rest (cf., eg Fig. 4a ) thus pretend in principle the smallest inner diameter of the inner space 104 and thus the smallest diameter of a contact pin which can be received correctly in the socket, contact pins with a larger diameter can also be formed by widening the inner diameter of the inner space 104 (cf. Fig. 4b ) are still recorded in the contact socket. In particular, in order to ensure a limitation in the direction of an overstretching of the material with widening of the inner diameter of the inner space 104, it is provided that the notches produced by the punching and bent towards each other of the punched out or cut out material are at least partly interlocked with one another to form an overstress stop.

Thus, it is expedient to form at least one material journal 109 'for the toothing 109 on the material edges guided by bending to one another and, on the other hand, a corresponding window opening 109 ", in particular in FIGS FIGS. 4a and 4b to see. As a result, a respective material pin 109 'is movably caught between two positions in the corresponding window opening 109 " FIGS. 4a and 4b can therefore also form a respective material pin 109 'and the corresponding thereto window opening due to the guided by bending the cut surfaces to each other material edges of the receiving portion 101 continue to substantially completely always a part of the interior 104 with.

Furthermore, in particular the FIGS. 4a and 4b it can thereby be expediently limited both the spring travel and a possible coincidence of the contact socket by stops 112 and 111.

In such a manner, therefore, in practical implementation by the stop 112, there is a limitation in the direction of an overstretching and by the stop 111 in the direction of a collapse of the contact socket. By the stop 111 is therefore according to the preferred embodiment (see. Fig. 4a ) Furthermore, a defined small diameter specified to minimize the insertion forces and by the stop 112 a defined maximum dimension of a contact diameter. As can be seen from the figures, the receiving section 101 may point towards the open end 103, but in particular the contacting webs 110 formed in the inner space 104 may form a concave surface. The Kontaktierungsstege 110 are thus formed into the cylindrical inner space 104 in and thus ensure a long lasting good contact with an inserted contact pin for a secure contact between the contact pin and contact socket even after a variety of insertion and removal cycles.

To further increase the elasticity of the spring action and defined setting of the forces to be applied during insertion and removal or the pressures acting on an inserted contact pin, a particularly axially extending slot 107 may be formed on the receiving portion 101 according to a particularly preferred embodiment. As can be seen from the figures, such a slot 107 is in particular substantially axially formed on a side facing away from the material toothing 109 and coming from the open end 103, partially extending axially on the receiving section 101. The greatest pressure and consequently the highest cleaning effect are consequently given in a middle region between the mutually bent edges of the punched-out or cut-out material and the slot 107. On the other hand, by the additional formation of such a slot, the spring action can be preferably adjusted so that always low insertion and removal forces are ensured based on the smallest and largest possible diameter, without affecting the system of Kontaktierungsstege negative.

The contact socket according to the invention can be arranged as part of a connector, in particular as a single contact in a contact insert block of a connector. Since such connectors and contact insert blocks are known per se to the person skilled in the art, a corresponding figurative representation has been dispensed with.

Reference numerals:

100

Contact bush,

101

Elongated receiving section,

102

First end section,

103

Open end,

104

Cylinder-like interior,

105

chamfer,

107

Slot,

108

Pin,

109th

toothing

109 '

Material cones,

109 '

Window opening,

110

Kontaktierungsstege,

111, 112

attacks

200

Connection device,

L

Longitudinal axis.

Claims (6)

A female connector (100) for an electrical connector having an elongated receiving portion (101) substantially cylindrically shaped and defining a longitudinal axis of electrically conductive material extending from a first end portion (102) toward an open end (103), namely for receiving and for the mechanical and electrical coupling of an electrical contact end of a complementary to the contact socket formed and over the open end (103) to be inserted contact pin of a mating with the electrical connector connector,
wherein the receiving portion (101) towards the open end (103) towards an axially, obliquely or thread-like Kontaktierungsstegen (110) formed on the inner circumference formed inner space (104), wherein formed on the inner circumference Kontaktierungsstege (110) to the open end (103 ), and wherein the receiving portion (101) is manufactured in a punching / bending process and held in such a way by means of a material toothing (109) in such a way that the formed with the Kontaktierungsstegen (110) formed on the inner circumference of the inner space (104) resiliently on leaves, in particular when the contact pin is inserted or inserted into the open end of the contact socket; An electrical contact socket (100) according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion (101) at the open end 103) is formed with a Einführfase (105), which may also be free from the Kontaktierungsstegen (110). An electrical contact socket (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the receiving portion (101) substantially on one side of the material toothing (109) facing away from the open end (103) coming partially formed with an axially extending slot. Electrical contact socket (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one material pin (109 ') and on the other hand a corresponding thereto window opening (109 ") are formed on the material edges guided by bending to each other, wherein the material pin in the window opening between two Positions movable is caught. Electrical contact socket (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at the first end portion (102) a connection device (200) is arranged, on which an electrical conductor is fixable, wherein the electrical conductor in particular either screw, by spring technology, by crimping technology and / or by a soldering or welding technique on the connecting device (200) is fixable. Plug connector with a contact socket (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 6.

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