WO2018215026A1

WO2018215026A1 - Contact carrier for receiving and fixing contact elements

Info

Publication number: WO2018215026A1
Application number: PCT/DE2018/100493
Authority: WO
Inventors: Koen Cyriel Jan MADDENS; David Antoine Bernard OLIVEIRA; Hans-Ulrich Müller; Olaf Wolfgang EICHLER; Xiafu Wang
Original assignee: Fep Fahrzeugelektrik Pirna Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2017-05-23
Filing date: 2018-05-23
Publication date: 2018-11-29

Abstract

The invention relates to a contact carrier (1) for receiving and fixing contact elements (2) for the production of an electrical contact-connection, which contact carrier is characterized in that a contact chamber (8), into which the contact element can be inserted in a y-direction, is formed in the contact carrier (1), wherein latching means having a primary locking stop (5) for primary locking of the contact element (2) in the contact carrier (1) are formed on the contact element (2) and in that a corresponding primary locking stop face (9) is formed on the contact carrier (1) and in that the contact carrier (1) additionally has latching means having a secondary locking stop (10) for secondary locking of the contact element (2), which latching means are formed as part of the contact carrier (1) and in that a secondary locking stop face (6) is formed on the contact element (2).

Description

Contact carrier for receiving and fixing of

contact elements

The invention relates to a contact carrier, which serves for receiving and fixing as well as electrical contacting of contact elements. Generic contact carriers are used for example in motor vehicles to securely connect electrical components to each other electrically. As a result of the stress in motor vehicles, especially in relation to the safety of the electrical connections, special demands are made in connection with the realization of an adequate operational and traffic safety, it is extremely important to mechanically secure the electrical connections against unintentional and uncontrolled disconnection ,

In order to realize this, various ways of mechanical contacting and securing are used, but which are sometimes complex constructed or complicated in the assembly and costly realized.

Especially for mobile applications in motor vehicles, special demands are made on the electrical connection of cables via contact elements and contact carriers. Strong vibrations and sometimes high temperatures require an exceptionally high level of mechanical safety of the electrical connections, which, in addition, must withstand thermal loads.

For the realization of these high demands and for the solution of the associated problems are secured mechanical connections in the Known in the art.

For example, locking connections of contact carriers and contact elements are known, which, however, sometimes do not meet the safety requirements in various respects.

The object of the invention is now to provide a contact carrier available, which makes it possible to mechanically position contact elements in the contact carriers and thereby to allow easy and comfortable installation and secure electrical contact with the compounds.

The object is achieved by an article having the features according to patent claim 1. Further developments are specified in the dependent claims.

The invention consists in particular in that a contact carrier for a secure fixing of contact elements is configured such that a corresponding number of contact chambers is formed in the contact carrier depending on the contact elements to be connected, in which the contact elements in a y-direction can be inserted. On the contact element locking means are formed with a primary locking stop for primary locking of the contact element in the contact carrier. The contact carrier has a primary locking stop surface corresponding to the primary locking stop of the contact element. The contact element thus engages in the contact carrier by means of the locking elements of the primary lock.

To ensure the high demands on the mechanical connection of the contact element and the contact carrier, the contact carrier additionally locking means with a secondary locking stop for secondary locking of the contact element in the contact carrier. The additional locking means with the secondary locking stop are formed as part of the contact carrier, wherein the secondary locking stop corresponding to a Sekundärverriegelungsanschlagfläche on Contact element communicates.

According to the concept, the contact element in the contact carrier is thus twice mechanically secured against the release of the connection between the contact element and the contact carrier. If the contact element is stressed in the opposite direction to the y-direction, then both the primary locking with primary locking stop and the primary locking stop surface and the secondary locking with the secondary closing stop and the secondary locking stop surface prevent movement of contact carrier and contact element relative to one another.

Particularly preferred as a locking means of the contact element for primary locking a spring tongue is used, which is formed on the contact element. Preferably, the spring tongue of the contact element is formed opposite to a z-direction latching, wherein the contact element is moved in the y-direction until it engages the spring tongue.

The additional locking means of the contact carrier, however, is designed as a locking element which is actively moved in the assembly of contact element and contact carrier after the primary lock.

Advantageously, the locking element is formed latching against the locking direction of the primary lock in the z-direction.

The latching means of the contact carrier is designed to be movable relative to the contact carrier. Particularly preferably, the latching means of the contact carrier is formed via a predetermined breaking point to the contact carrier on this and releasably formed for secondary locking of the contact carrier by breakage. Particularly preferably, the locking means for secondary locking is irreversibly formed on the contact carrier latched. By this is to be understood that the secondary locking of the locking element is not destructively releasably connected to the contact carrier in the latter and simultaneously fixed the contact element such that the contact element is not pulled out of the contact carrier, even if the locking means of the contact element would be unlocked. Alternatively, the locking means for secondary locking is formed reversibly latched, wherein the locking connection in the z-direction and the release of the connection in an x-direction. Under a reversibly latchable connection is thus a mechanical and positive connection to understand, which is designed to be non-destructive for the components of the compound solvable. The special feature of the connection is that the locking connection for fixing in a different direction than the unlocking to solve the fixation.

Particularly preferably, the contact carrier is designed to receive a plurality of contact elements.

Advantageously, the contact carrier is provided with a shield to secure the connection also electromagnetically with respect to the E MV criteria. A particularly advantageous embodiment is that the contact carrier is formed of plastic. Particularly preferably, the contact carrier is designed as an injection molded part.

Particularly preferred is achieved by the design of the combination of primary locking and secondary locking a mechanical and positive locking by two independent locking elements a diverse redundancy. The latching operation of the primary locking takes place here by the locking means on the contact element against the z-direction, wherein the force for locking connection in the elasticity of the locking lug of the contact element, whereas the locking means for secondary locking must be actively moved during the assembly process relative to the contact carrier to the latching process perform. It should be emphasized that the latching operation of the locking element in the z-direction is independent of the latching operation of the latching lug or the spring tongue of the contact element and the latching direction opposite to the z-direction.

However, the secondary locking is not caused by an additional latching operation between the contact element and contact carrier but by a latching operation of the latching element of the secondary latch, for example, the locking element and thus a sub-element of the contact carrier, on the contact carrier itself. The latching operation of the secondary locking causes the fixation of the locking element in one place, in which positively locked simultaneously the position of the contact element and thus fixed. The latching operation of the locking element and the locking of the contact element are thus two simultaneously occurring but functionally separated from each other operations.

Further details, features and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1: contact carrier in perspective view,

2: contact element in perspective view,

Fig. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d: contact carrier and contact element in different

Installation stages,

4: contact carrier in perspective view and sectional view with received contact element in unlocked position,

Fig. 5: contact carrier with recorded contact element in locked Position,

6: contact carrier in the initial position in longitudinal section,

7: contact carrier in plan view,

8: Detail of the contact carrier with locking element,

9a: contact carrier with received contact element,

9b: like FIG. 9a with shielding of the contact carrier, FIG.

Fig. 10: contact carrier with unlocking of the locking element, in perspective in plan view. In Fig. 1, a contact carrier 1 is shown in a perspective view. The contact carrier 1 is made of a plastic and consists of one piece as shown. Preferably, this component is designed as an injection molded part. The contact carrier 1, in addition to the cavities formed in it for receiving the contact elements, not shown, on a locking element 3, which serves as a latching means for secondary locking of the contact elements and which is integrally formed on the contact carrier 1. In the production, the locking element 3 is a part of the contact carrier 1 and is produced with this in one operation, for example by injection molding. From this, the advantage derives that the locking element is captively connected to the contact carrier 1 and is forcibly available when mounting the connection with the contact element. Another advantage of the illustrated embodiment is that the locking element 3 in the state of manufacture and prior to mounting clearly haptically perceptible, which is recognizable to the fitter without additional visual inspection that the secondary lock has not yet taken place. The front side, the contact carrier 1 corresponding to the number of receivable contact elements plug contact guides 22 as recesses, can be introduced through which plug contacts in the contact carrier 1 and in this contact elements located for making electrical contact.

Fig. 2 shows a contact element 2, which for receiving a not is formed, after which the contact element 2 in the contact carrier 1 according to FIG. 1 for forming an electrically conductive connection with further contact elements 2 can be inserted. The contact element 2 has at its end a cable fixation 7 for fixing the cable, not shown, on the contact element 2. Furthermore, a spring tongue 4 is formed as a latching means for primary locking of contact element 2 and contact carrier 1 for producing a latching connection on the contact element 2. The spring tongue 4 projects in the initial position before mounting upwards and springs through the elasticity of the material during assembly of the connection down before the spring tongue 4 springing back up detent.

On the spring tongue 4, a primary locking stop 5 is formed, which rests in the locked position on a corresponding locking stop surface of the contact carrier and prevents withdrawal of the contact element 2 from the contact carrier after the latching operation as intended.

Furthermore, a secondary locking stop surface 6 is formed on the contact element 2, on which the locking element of the contact carrier rests in the fixing position and thereby prevents withdrawal of the contact element 2 from the contact carrier.

In Figs. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d, a contact carrier 1 is shown with contact element 2 in the various phases of assembly.

Fig. 3a shows the contact carrier 1 and the contact element 2 prior to assembly. Fig. 3b shows the contact carrier 1 with this recorded contact element 2 after successful locking connection and primary locking between the contact element 2 and contact carrier 1, but before the secondary locking means of the locking element 3, which is still in the unlocked position on the contact carrier 1 and recognizable protrudes upward. The contact element is completely absorbed by the contact carrier 1 and no longer visible in this representation.

Fig. 3c shows the contact carrier 1 with recorded contact element 2 in the fully locked position. In this case, the locking element 3 is pressed as a locking means for secondary locking in the contact carrier 1 and additionally locks the locking connection of the primary locking by the secondary locking by the locking element 3, the position of the contact element 2 in the contact carrier. 1

Fig. 3d shows the contact carrier 1 shown in Fig. 3c in perspective in section, whereby now the contact element 2 in the illustrated contact chamber 8 is visible. In this position, the contact element 2 is secured via a primary and a secondary locking redundant mechanically and positively secured in the contact carrier 1 and can not be pulled out of the contact chamber 8 of the contact carrier 1.

In Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view and sectional view of the contact carrier 1 is shown, wherein the individual elements are shown in their operative connection. The contact carrier 1 has in its interior in the longitudinal direction of two contact chambers 8, one of which is shown in section. In the sectional view of the contact chamber 8 and the contact element 2 is visible in sectional view. The contact element 2 was previously introduced in the insertion direction 20, which is also referred to as the y-direction, in the contact carrier 1 and locked in this with a primary lock. The contact element 2 has the front side a plug-in contact receptacle 21 for receiving and electrical contacting of plug contacts and the end of the cable fixing 7, which holds a cable, not shown, in the contact element 2. The contact element 2 further comprises a spring tongue 4, which abkragt up in the latched position as locking means for primary locking after successful insertion of the contact element 2 in the contact carrier 1 upwards. The primary locking stop 5 of the spring tongue 4 interacts when retracting the contact element 2 against the insertion direction 20 with the primary locking stop surface 9 of the contact carrier 1 and prevents the withdrawal of the contact element 2 in the engaged position.

In the illustrated, not yet locked position of the locking element 3, the secondary locking stop surface 6 of the contact element 2 is visible.

Fig. 5 shows the contact carrier 1 in the same position of the contact element 2, which is inserted to the insertion stop 19 in the y direction in the contact carrier 1 and its contact chamber 8. Now, in contrast to the representation according to FIG. 4 in FIG. 5, now also the locking element 3 is pressed in as locking means for secondary locking and locked inside the contact carrier 1. Now lie corresponding to the secondary locking abutment surface 6 of the contact element 2 and the secondary locking stop 10 of the locking element 3 against and it is now form-locking by the locking element 3, a withdrawal of the contact element 2 from the contact carrier 1 prevented. Both locks, the primary and the secondary lock, act independently of each other and thus increase the safety of the mechanical connection of the contact carrier 1 and contact element. 2

Fig. 6 shows the contact carrier 1 without contact element in the side view in longitudinal section. The cavity of the contact chamber 8 is thereby cut and it is the primary locking stop surface 9 of the contact carrier 1 and the locking lug 12 of the contact carrier 1 visible for the locking connection of the locking element 3 in the contact carrier 1 in the locked position. The locking element 3 is formed as shown on the contact carrier 1 and connected in the illustrated case, two predetermined breaking points 14 with the contact carrier 1. The locking element 3 is formed as a part of the contact carrier 1, which is separated from the contact carrier 1 for locking at the predetermined breaking points 14 during the process of activation of the lock. In the locking element 3, an undercut 13 is further formed, in which engages the latching lug 12 of the contact carrier 1 and a return movement of the locking element 3 against the locking direction, the z-direction 11, prevented. With appropriate lateral limitation of Locking element 3 is caused by the configuration of locking lug 12 and the undercut 13 an irreversible connection of the locking element 3 in the contact carrier 1 in the locked state, which can not be undone without destroying. The plug contact guide 22 is shown as an opening of the side wall and allows the positioning of the plug contacts, not shown in the contact carrier. 1

In Fig. 7, the contact carrier 1 is shown in plan view with the locking element 3.

Fig. 8 shows a detail of Figure 7, wherein on the contact carrier 1, in contrast to the description of FIG. 6, a release stop 18 is formed offset in the x direction. In this embodiment, it is an alternative embodiment in which the irreversible locking connection of the locking element 3 is reversibly formed in the contact carrier 1. In this case, the locking element 3 is guided for unlocking the secondary locking of the contact element 2 in the direction of Entriegelungsanschlags 18, whereby the Sekundärverriegelungsanschlagfläche the contact element is released.

In Fig. 9a, a contact carrier 1 is shown with a received contact element, wherein the contact element receives a cable 16 with in this case two wires. In Fig. 9b a particular embodiment is shown, according to which the contact carrier 1 according to FIG. 9a is now sheathed with a shield 17 in order to avoid electromagnetic interference and to improve the electromagnetic compatibility. In Fig. 10, the unlocking of the contact elements 2 in the contact carrier 1 by moving the locking element 3 in the unlocking direction 15, which is also referred to as the x-direction, in the plan view of the perspective shown contact carrier 1 shown.

In summary, the operation of contact carrier 1 and contact element 2 is that contact elements 2 are inserted into the contact chamber 8, wherein at the end of the insertion movement automatically a primary locking of the contact elements 2 in the contact chamber 8 by snapping the spring tongue 4. By additionally activating the secondary locking means of the locking element 3, the position of the contact elements 2 in the contact carrier 1 is additionally secured. The coordinate system of the movements is defined such that the insertion direction 20 corresponds to the y-direction in which the contact elements 2 are inserted into the contact carrier 1. Thus, this is also the mounting direction. When inserting the contact element 2 in the contact carrier 1, the spring tongue 4 of the contact element 2 in the latching direction 11, the z direction, depressed by the shape of the contact chamber 8, which by the corresponding formation of the cavity of the contact chamber 8, a spring back and thus locking the spring tongue 4 takes place in the contact carrier 1 against the z-direction 11, whereby the primary locking is realized automatically. The x-direction within the motion coordinate system is the unlocking direction 15 for the locking element in the case of reversible unlocking of the locking element 3. In this case, the locking element 3 in the x-direction is so far displaced that the contact element 2 is released. As a result, a primary and secondary locking of the two components is made possible by the configuration of the contact carrier 1 and the contact element 2 with each other, which is an adequate, secure, mechanical and positive connection to ensure an electrical connection. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 contact carrier

2 contact element

3 locking element, locking means for secondary locking

4 spring tongue, locking means for primary locking,

5 primary interlock stop

6 secondary locking stop surface

7 cable fixing

8 contact chamber

9 primary locking stop surface

10 secondary locking stop

11 snap direction, z direction

12 locking lug, locking means for secondary locking

13 undercut

14 predetermined breaking point

15 unlocking direction, x-direction

16 cables

17 shielding

18 Release stop in x-direction

19 insertion stop in y-direction

20 insertion direction, y-direction

21 plug contact

22 plug contact guide

Claims

claims

1 . Contact carrier (1) for receiving and fixing contact elements (2) for the production of an electrical contact, characterized in that in the contact carrier (1) a contact chamber (8) is formed, in which the contact element is insertable in a y-direction, wherein on the contact element (2) locking means with a primary locking stop (5) for primary locking of the contact element (2) in the contact carrier (1) are formed and that a corresponding primary locking stop surface (9) on the contact carrier (1) is formed and that the contact carrier (1) additionally locking means with a secondary locking stop (10) for secondary locking of the contact element (2), which are formed as part of the contact carrier (1) and that a secondary locking stop surface (6) on the contact element (2) is formed.

2. Contact carrier (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the latching means of the contact element (2) is designed as a spring tongue (4).

3. Contact carrier (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the spring tongue (4) opposite to a z-direction (11) is formed latching.

4. Contact carrier (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the latching means of the contact carrier (1) is designed as a locking element (3).

5. Contact carrier (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the locking element (3) in the z-direction (11) is formed latching.

6. Contact carrier (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the latching means of the contact carrier (1) is designed to be movable relative to the contact carrier (1).

7. Contact carrier (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the latching means of the contact carrier (1) via a predetermined breaking point (14) formed on the contact carrier (1) and for secondary locking of the contact carrier (1) is detachably formed.

8. contact carrier (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the latching means for secondary locking irreversible in the contact carrier (1) is formed latchable.

9. contact carrier (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the latching means is formed reversibly latchable for secondary locking, wherein the latching connection in a z-direction (11) and the release of the compound in an x-direction (15 ) he follows.

10. contact carrier (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the contact carrier (1) for receiving a plurality of contact elements (2) is formed.

11. Contact carrier (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the contact carrier (1) is provided with a shield (17).

12. Contact carrier (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the contact carrier (1) is formed from plastic.

13. Contact carrier (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the contact carrier (1) is designed as an injection molded part.