EP3669424B1

EP3669424B1 - Connector for printed circuit board

Info

Publication number: EP3669424B1
Application number: EP18752764.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tom Adrianus Henricus VAN DER KANT
Original assignee: Prodrive Technologies BV; Prodrive Technologies Innovation Services BV
Current assignee: Prodrive Technologies Innovation Services BV
Priority date: 2017-08-14
Filing date: 2018-08-10
Publication date: 2021-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2038-08-10
Also published as: NL2019415B1; WO2019034565A1; HUE057730T2; ES2908551T3; CN111033898A; EP3669424A1

Description

Technical field

The present invention is related to a connector for a printed circuit board, in particular to a connector for a high current connection.

Background art

A printed circuit board (PCB) requires connectors to transfer electrical power to and from the PCB to perform its function. Connectors for power connections to a PCB are known. A first kind of known connectors (e.g. DE 10 2008 024 446 A1 , DE 102008 050 668 A1 ) are typically produced from sheet metal and are provided with pins that are fastened to the PCB. This is mostly achieved by a process called press-fitting, which is the pressing of a pin through a matched plated through-holes in the PCB that is smaller than the pin. Subsequently, the pins protruding the PCB may be soldered and/or bent to fasten the connector. This type of fastening ensures a tight connection between the connector and the PCB and thereby enables the attachment of a power connection to the connector by means of a screw connection. Nonetheless, the screw connection can only be tightened to a limited degree, because the connector pins are used for both electrical and mechanical connection to the PCB. Only limited mechanical loads can be applied without affecting the electrical connection. Another disadvantage of these type of connectors is that they require the described additional step of press fitting in the manufacturing process of the PCB that is difficult to automate and results in a higher production cost and time.
DE 10 2013 022 242 A1 describes a connector that eliminates the need for the additional step of press-fitting during the production process by providing larger surfaces that can be soldered onto the PCB without requiring pins to be press-fitted. However, the disadvantage of the described connector is that the soldering connection to the PCB is exposed to a mechanical load when applying torque to the connector. This is in particular problematic in situations where the screw connection needs to be robust (e.g. because of external vibrations) and therefore requires it to be applied using a high torque.
EP 1447882 A1 describes a connector that increases the connection reliability composed of a disk from which pins fall that are inserted into holes obtained in the printed circuits, wherein the cage is equipped with a hole for passing a screw stem.

Summary of the invention

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a PCB connector which is more robust and which does not suffer from the mechanical load used for attaching the connector, e.g. the torque that is applied to screw the connection.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is therefore provided a connector as set out in the appended claims.
The connector comprises a first member and a second member. The first member comprises engagement means with the printed circuit board configured to transfer a torque to the printed circuit board, an abutting surface and a connecting means. The first member further comprises a flange arranged at an end thereof, wherein the flange is interposed between the abutting surface and the engagement means. The second member is made of an electrically conductive material, and comprises at least one connector pin for electrical connection to the printed circuit board and a bracket extending from the connector pin to at least partially overlap the abutting surface.
Connectors according to aspects described herein advantageously provide means for transmitting any torque exerted on the connector to the PCB and separate means for electrical connection to the PCB (via the connector pins). As a result, the electrical connections are not affected by torque during screwing of a connector plug, and a higher fastening force can be used for attaching the connector plug, such that the connector better withstands environments with high degree of vibration.

Advantageous aspects are set out in the dependent claims

Brief description of the figures

Aspects of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, wherein same reference numerals illustrate same features and wherein:

Figure 1 represents an exploded perspective view of a connector according to aspects described herein;
Figure 2 represents a cross sectional view of the connector of Fig. 1 with a connecting plug attached;

Description of embodiments

Referring to Figs. 1 - 2, a connector 10 according to aspects described herein is formed of two parts 11, 12. A first part 11 will be referred to as a locking member extending from a top end 118 to a bottom end 119. Locking member 11 comprises a surface 111 referred to as a locking surface, advantageously arranged proximal to the bottom end 119. Locking member 11 further comprises an abutting surface 113, which is advantageously flat and advantageously forms the top end of locking member 11.The abutting surface 113 may be formed as the top surface of a shoulder 112 or flange which projects radially from the locking surface 111.
Locking member 11 is arranged to co-operate with PCB 30. A hole 31 with dimensions mating those of locking surface 111 is provided in PCB 30. The (cross section) shape of locking surface 111 - and hence the shape of hole 31 - is configured to prevent rotation of locking member 11 about an axis perpendicular to the plane of PCB 30. Useful examples of locking surface 111 are surfaces having a polygonal (e.g. hexagonal) or star-shaped cross section.
Shoulder 112 advantageously prevents locking member 11 to fall through PCB 30 when the member is assembled. Therefore, shoulder 112 has a size advantageously larger than the size of hole 31 of PCB 30.
Locking member 11 further comprises a connecting means 114, in particular a connecting socket member for attachment of a connecting plug member 20 to it. Connecting means is advantageously of the type comprising screw thread, and may comprise a female (internal) or male (external) threaded connecting member. In the figures, locking member 11 is depicted with a hole comprising internal screw thread for accepting a connecting plug member 20 provided with matching external thread. Alternatively, the connecting means of the locking member may be formed as a threaded stud accepting a connecting plug member provided with internal thread.
A second part 12 of the connector 10 will be referred to as a retaining member. Retaining member 12 comprises one or more connector pins 122 for insertion in corresponding holes 32 of the PCB 30. Connector pins 122 are configured to be soldered or otherwise electrically fixed to PCB 30. In the figures, connector pins 122 are provided at opposite ends of retaining member 12, but this is not a requirement. Connector pins 122 may be provided at one end only. A bracket 121 extends from the connector pin(s) 122 to overlap the abutting surface 113 at least partially. A through hole 123 is advantageously provided through the bracket at a location corresponding to connecting socket member 114. Through hole (123) has a diameter which is advantageously substantially smaller than an external diameter or dimension of abutting surface (113), so that locking member 11 is retained by retaining member 12. In the figures, the bracket has a C-shape forming a portal structure over the locking member 11. Connector pins 122 are provided at both ends of the C-shape.
Referring to Fig. 2, when the connecting plug member 20 is screwed to the connecting socket member 114, the locking member 11 is lifted from hole 31 until the abutting surface 113 abuts against the bracket 121. By so doing, an intimate contact can be ensured between member 20 and the retaining member 12. Retaining member is advantageously made of an electrically conductive material, providing for an electrical path from member 20 to connector pin 122. Preferably, the locking member 11 is arranged such that the locking surface 111 traverses hole 31 when the abutting surface 113 abuts against the bracket 121. The mating between hole 31 and locking surface 111 can be a tight fit or a loose fit, as long as it allows for appropriate torque transmission and allows for lifting the locking member 11 towards the bracket 121.
It will be convenient to note that other kinds of engagement means can be provided for torque transmission instead of the locking surface 111, e.g. one or more pins.
With the connectors according to aspects described herein, connector plug member 20 can be fastened on connector 10 with sufficient torque, which may even exceed 8 Nm for an M6 screw connection. The torque is completely borne by the locking surface 111 and transferred to the PCB via hole 31 with no torque loading of the electrical connection at the connector pins 122.
Connectors according to aspects described herein additionally have the advantage that the connector pins can be attached to the PCB 30 using both the SMD soldering technique and the wave soldering technique. Therefore, the soldering technique can be adapted on the basis of the other components present on the PCB.
Connectors according to aspects described herein can be used for electrical connections up to 50 A or even higher.

Claims

Connector (10) for a printed circuit board (30), comprising:
a first member (11) comprising engagement means (111) with the printed circuit board configured to transfer a torque to the printed circuit board, an abutting surface (113) and a connecting means (114), and

a second member (12) made of an electrically conductive material, comprising at least one connector pin (122) for electrical connection to the printed circuit board and a bracket (121) extending from the connector pin to at least partially overlap the abutting surface,

characterised in that the first member (11) comprises a flange (112) arranged at an end thereof, wherein the flange is interposed between the abutting surface and the engagement means (111).
Connector of claim 1, wherein the connecting means (114) comprises a threaded connecting element.
Connector of claim 2, wherein the connecting means (114) is a female thread arranged in a hole of the first member (11).
Connector of claim 2, wherein the connecting means (114) is a threaded stud projecting from the abutting surface in a direction opposite the engagement means.
Connector of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abutting surface (113) is located at an end of the first member (11), remote from the engagement means.
Connector of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engagement means comprises a locking surface (111) enabling to transmit a torque.
Connector of claim 6, wherein the locking surface (111) comprises a polygonal or star-shaped cross section.
Connector of claim 7, wherein the locking surface (111) comprises a hexagonal cross-section.
Connector of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second member (12) comprises a first through hole (123) in correspondence of the connecting means (114).
Connector of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abutting surface (113) is flat and the bracket (121) comprises a flat bottom surface in correspondence of the abutting surface.
Connector of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second member (12) is C-shaped and comprises at least one connector pin (122) at each end of the C-shape.
Kit, comprising the connector (10) of any one of the preceding claims and a printed circuit board (30) comprising a torque transmitting means (31) cooperating with the engagement means (111).
Kit of claim 12, wherein the torque transmitting means (31) is a second through hole configured to engage with the engagement means (111) for torque transmission.
Kit of claim 13, wherein the flange (112) is larger than the second through hole (31).
Kit of claim 13 or 14, comprising a connecting plug member (20).