WO2018224088A1

WO2018224088A1 - Electrical contact device and metal receptacle for an electrical contact device

Info

Publication number: WO2018224088A1
Application number: PCT/DE2018/100520
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Ecker; Klaus Wegscheider
Original assignee: Lisa Dräxlmaier GmbH
Priority date: 2017-06-07
Filing date: 2018-05-29
Publication date: 2018-12-13
Also published as: DE102017112548B4; DE102017112548A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical contact device (7), comprising a plurality of lamellar contact elements (1), each having two contact legs (2) with curvatures (5) facing each other in the region of their free longitudinal ends (4), for receiving a mating contact and two connection extensions (6) lying opposite the free longitudinal ends (4), for attaching the contact elements (1) to a component; a metal receptacle (8) in which the contact elements (1) are stacked laterally with their contact legs (2) lying against one another at least substantially congruently, and which fixes the contact elements (1) in position such that the contact elements (1) are prevented from fanning out. The invention further relates to a metal receptacle (8) for an electrical contact device (7).

Description

ELECTRICAL CONTACT DEVICE AND METALLIC RECORDING FOR ONE

ELECTRICAL CONTACT DEVICE

Technical area

The invention relates to an electrical contact device and a metallic receptacle for an electrical contact device.

State of the art

Usually, so-called lamellar contacts are used for contacting fuses and relays on printed circuit boards, for example in high-current applications in power distributors. Such lamellar contacts are lamellar

Contact elements, which usually have two contact legs, which in the region of their free longitudinal ends facing each other vaults for receiving a

Having mating contact. In DE 10 2004 017 605 B3, for example, a plurality of fin contacts, which are referred to in the patent as fork contacts, shown. The fork contacts are spaced apart from each other and arranged in individual chambers of a housing part.

Such lamellar contacts usually have a high current carrying capacity, but they have the disadvantage that they must be guided by means of relatively complicated plastic chambers. This is a fanning and mismating a mating connector can be avoided in such lamellar contacts. Often such lamellar contacts are also packaged, so that several such lamellar contacts are used adjacent to each other. Such a packaging of lamellar contacts is relatively complicated and requires a high accuracy in the production. Description of the invention

It is the object of the present invention to provide a solution by means of which fin contacts can be used particularly easily and reliably for electrical contacting.

This object is achieved by an electrical contact device and by a metallic receptacle for an electrical contact device with the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The electrical contact device according to the invention comprises a plurality of lamellar contact elements each having two contact legs, which in the region of their free longitudinal ends facing each other bulges for receiving a mating contact and

opposite to have two connection extensions for attaching the contact elements to a component from their free longitudinal ends. The lamellar contact elements are therefore the lamellar contacts mentioned above. The connection extensions of the lamellar contact elements can serve, for example, as soldering pins, so that the lamellar contact elements can be inserted and soldered, for example, into a printed circuit board. For the electrical contact device according to the invention also includes a metallic receptacle, in which the contact elements laterally to their

Contact legs are added to each other stacked at least substantially congruent and which fixes the contact elements such that a fanning of the contact elements is prevented.

In the electrical contact device, it is thus provided according to the invention, a molded around the lamellar contact elements metallic box in the form of

provide metallic receptacle, which receives the lamellar contact elements and leads simultaneously, as a result of fanning the recorded by means of the metallic receptacle contact elements is prevented. A separate packaging of the lamellar contact elements can thus be omitted and they can also move within certain limits independently within the metallic receptacle. It caused by the individual lamellar contact elements many independent contacts or springs, which are mechanically decoupled from each other. at Vibrations during use of the electrical contact device can be ensured that at least always a certain number of the lamellar contact elements is engaged with a mating contact. In addition, formed by the packet-like lamellar contact elements within the metallic receptacle a plurality of individual contact points. Due to the multitude of parallel

switched contact points decreases according to Ohm's law of total resistance, since the total resistance is always smaller than the smallest individual resistance.

In addition, in the electrical contact device according to the invention for contacting the lamellar contact elements, ie for receiving a mating contact by means of the lamellar contact elements, no complicated plastic housing is needed. The electrical contact device as such can be mounted directly, for example, on a printed circuit board and then, for example, directly into a mating connector, for example, from a relay or a fuse, plugged without the aforementioned elaborate plastic guide is required at all.

The metallic receptacle surrounds the lamellae received therein

Contact elements so that the lamellar contact elements do not rotate relative to each other, so therefore can not fanned. The electric

Contact device brings a high current carrying capacity with it. As a result of the metallic receptacle in the form of a metallic encircling box formed circumferentially around the lamellar contact elements, the electrical contact device as such can stand upright, even before the electrical contact device

for example, has been soldered to a circuit board. By the aforementioned omission of the otherwise required plastic guide for the lamellar contact elements between the electrical contact device and the component, such as a circuit board or a printed circuit board, in a particularly simple manner

Linear expansion differences are compensated. The metallic receptacle is preferably designed to be open so that heat generated on the lamellar contact elements or also on the metallic receptacle can be dissipated particularly easily. Furthermore, the electrical contact device according to the invention provides a relatively low ohmic resistance, is very resistant to vibration and very robust in itself. An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the receptacle in each case surrounds outer longitudinal sides of the contact elements on the side and the free longitudinal ends of the contact elements on the front. Preferably, the lamellar

Contact elements at least partially clamped laterally through the metallic receptacle. In addition, the longitudinal ends of the lamellar contact elements may rest on the inside of the metallic receptacle. The lamellar contact elements received by means of the metallic receptacle are thus delimited both laterally and on the front side by the metallic receptacle, as a result of which the lamellar

Contact elements are kept particularly secure within the receptacle. This also contributes to the fact that the contact elements do not fan out, so they can rotate against each other.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the receptacle is open on the back and thereby allows a length extension of the contact elements. Open on the side here means that the lamellar contact elements in the region of their connection extensions, which can serve as soldering pins, for example, are not limited by the metallic receptacle. As already mentioned, the metallic receptacle is preferably designed as a kind of metallic box, the metallic receptacle preferably enclosing the lamellar contact elements at least partially laterally and in the vertical direction, wherein the metallic receptacle in the longitudinal direction

recorded lamellar contact elements preferably only on one side, so at the free longitudinal ends of the contact elements on the front, limited. On the one hand, the lamellar contact elements can thereby be fixed particularly well by means of the metallic receptacle. On the other hand, different length expansions in the lamellar contact elements and the metallic receptacle can be compensated stress-free.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the receptacle has at least one flexible locking tab which in its closed position surrounds the contact elements received in the receptacle on the upper side or underside. It can also be provided that one of said flexible closure tabs is provided on the upper and lower sides of the metallic receptacle, so that when the closure tabs are raised, the lamellar ones are provided

Inserted contact elements in the metallic receptacle and then by closing or bending down the flexible closure tabs in their respective closed position, the recorded lamellar contact elements within the metallic receptacle on the top and bottom can be particularly well fixed. In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the receptacle has a snap element which engages through an opening of the locking tab bent into its closed position and fixes it in its closed position. In other words, the snap element and the locking tab go in their

Lock position a snap connection. This allows the locking tab in a particularly simple manner in its closed position on the remaining metallic

Recording be fixed. The snap element may be formed, for example, as a kind of barb, which engages through the said opening of the locking tab and engages on a limiting edge of the opening, so that the locking tab can be particularly easily fixed. The snap connection thus formed can also be relatively easily solved by the snap member is moved away accordingly from its rest position.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the receptacle has four connection extensions for attaching the receptacle to the component, which abut the outside on each of the outer connection extensions of the contact elements. The metallic receptacle itself can thus itself serve as soldering pins, for example

Having terminal extensions, so that the metallic receptacle itself can be inserted and soldered, for example, to a circuit board or the like. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the receptacle is made of stainless steel. As a result, the recording can be made particularly thin-walled, since stainless steel has a high strength. In addition, the metallic inclusion is relatively inexpensive. According to an alternative advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the receptacle is made of copper. This has the advantage that the metallic receptacle itself is particularly good current conducting. In the case, in particular when the receptacle has said attachment extensions for attaching the receptacle to a component, such as a printed circuit board or the like, the receptacle even without the lamellar contact elements used form an independent contact with the power supply. If necessary, therefore, in this preferred embodiment, in which the metallic receptacle is made of copper, the metallic receptacle can also be very well used alone as an electrical contact.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the contact elements are made of copper. As a result, the lamellar contact elements can conduct electricity particularly well. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the receptacle is a stamped and bent part. The metallic receptacle can be produced in a particularly cost-effective manner in large quantities.

The inventive metallic receptacle for the inventive electrical

Contact device or an advantageous embodiment of the invention

Contact device is adapted to the lamellar contact elements of

Contact device at the side of their contact legs to each other at least in

To accommodate substantially congruent adjacent stacked and enclose them so that a fanning of the recorded contact elements is prevented. As previously mentioned, the metallic receptacle, in particular if it is made of copper and has said own terminal extensions for attaching the metallic receptacle to a component such as a printed circuit board, even without the lamellar contact elements arranged therein used as a stand-alone electrical contact become. Furthermore, it is of course equally possible to use the metallic receptacle together with the package-like summarized lamellar contact elements as an electrical contact.

Description of the Figures Further advantages, features and details emerge from the following

Description of preferred embodiments and with reference to the drawing. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and combinations of features shown below in the description of the figures and / or in the figures alone are not only in the specified combination, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The drawing shows in:

1 is a perspective view of a plurality of lamellar contact elements, which are arranged laterally stacked on their respective contact legs at least substantially congruent to each other;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an electrical contact device comprising the blade-like contact elements and a metallic receptacle in which the contact elements are received stacked adjacent to each other;

Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view of the metallic receptacle;

Fig. 4 is a front perspective view of the metallic receptacle;

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the metallic receptacle, wherein these in the

In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, there are additionally four rear connection extensions for attaching the metallic receptacle to a component, such as a component

Printed circuit board having; and in

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the electrical

Contact device, which in contrast to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the metallic receptacle with said rear terminal extensions according to FIG. 5 has.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements have been provided with the same reference numerals. Several lamellar contact elements 1 are shown in a perspective view in FIG. The lamellar contact elements 1 each comprise two contact legs 2, which are connected to each other via a kind of web 3. The contact legs 2 and the web 3 form a substantially U-shaped shape. In the region of their free longitudinal ends 4, the contact legs 2 facing each other buckles 5 for receiving a

Against contact. The mating contact may be, for example, a so-called contact blade which, according to the present illustration, can be pushed in between the bulges 5 from the right, as a result of which the bulges 5 are easily spread open. Said contact blade may for example belong to a fuse or to a relay.

The lamellar contact elements 1 also have, opposite their free longitudinal ends 4, two connection extensions 6 for attaching the contact elements 1 to a component. The connection extensions 6 can serve, for example, as soldering pins, so that the connection extensions 6 can be inserted, for example, into a printed circuit board and then soldered to it. In other words, the lamellar contact elements 1 are so-called lamellar contacts. These have a high

Current carrying capacity. Everywhere, where high currents, small space and low

Contact resistance are required, such lamellar contact elements 1 are particularly advantageous. For such lamellar contact elements 1 can be packaged depending on the purpose in different numbers, for example, 2-, 3-, 4- or even 6-fold.

The lamellar contact elements 1 are preferably made of copper, wherein as contact surfaces, for example, gold, silver and tin can be used. The thickness of the lamellar contact elements 1 is preferably between 0.8 mm and 1 mm.

2, an electrical contact device 7 is shown in a perspective view. The electrical contact device 7 comprises, on the one hand, the lamellar contact elements 1 and, on the other hand, a metallic receptacle 8, in which the contact elements 1 are laterally stacked adjacent to one another at their contact limbs 2, at least substantially congruently, and which fixes the contact elements 1 such that a fanning of the Contact elements 1 is prevented. The metallic receptacle 8 thus forms a kind of metallic box, which receives the lamellar contact elements 1 and simultaneously leads, as a result, a fanning of recorded in the metallic receptacle 8 contact elements 1 is prevented. A separate packaging of the contact elements 1 can be omitted. In addition, the lamellar contact elements received within the metallic receptacle 8 can still move independently of one another, at least within certain limits. For contacting the lamellar contact elements 1, so for receiving a mating contact between the respective bulges 5, no separate guide is also required. As can be seen, respective side surfaces, not designated here, of the metallic receptacle 8 are shaped relatively similar to the lamellar contact elements 1. Only the terminal extensions 6 of the lamellar contact elements 1 protrude from the rear of the metallic receptacle 8. Otherwise surrounds the metallic receptacle 8, the recorded contact elements 1 side, front, from above and from below. Each outer longitudinal sides of the contact elements 1 are thus laterally surrounded by the metallic receptacle 8, wherein the free longitudinal ends 4 of the contact elements 1 are frontally surrounded by the receptacle 8.

The metallic receptacle 8 is a stamped and bent part, which is preferably made of stainless steel. The metallic receptacle 8 has upper and lower sides of respective flexible closure tabs 9, which in their closure position shown here surround the contact elements 1 accommodated in the receptacle 8 on the upper side and underside. Further, the metallic receptacle 8 has respective upper side and lower side

Snap elements 10 which engage through respective openings 1 1 of the closure tabs 9 bent into their closure position shown here and these in their

Fix the lock position. Before the lamellar contact elements 1 are inserted into the metallic receptacle 8, the closure tabs 9 can still be bent upwards or downwards so that the metallic receptacle 8 is still open both on the underside and on the top side. As a result, the lamellar contact elements 1 can be particularly easily inserted into the metallic receptacle 8. Alternatively, it is also possible that only one of the flexible closure tabs 9 is provided, wherein on the opposite side, the metallic receptacle 8, for example, can be permanently closed by a corresponding metallic tab. In Fig. 3, the metallic receptacle 8 is shown in a perspective rear view. In the present illustration, front side parts 12, end faces 13 and rear side parts 14 are also identified separately. As can be seen, the metallic receptacle 8 has a rear opening 15. When unfolded closure tabs 9, not shown here lamellar contact elements 1 quite simply within the

metallic receptacle 8 are arranged. Once the lamellar contact elements 1 have been positioned in the intended arrangement within the metallic receptacle 8, the flexible closure tabs 9 can be bent into their respective closed positions, in which the snap elements 10 pass through the respective openings 1 1 of the flexible closure tabs 9 and thus a snap connection enter with the respective locking tabs 9. By the end faces 13 of the

Movement of the lamellar contact elements 1 front limited. The front side parts 12 each lie laterally on the outermost lamellar

Contact elements 1 on. In addition, it may be provided that at the latest when closing the flexible closure tabs 9, the rear side panels 14 are slightly compressed, so that in the transverse direction between the rear side panels 14 less space than between the front side panels 12. In the case, the lamellar contact elements 1 received within the metallic receptacle 8 are clamped between the rear side parts 14 and thereby fixed.

There may still be some play between the front side parts 12 and the lamellar contact elements 1. Because of that, the lamellar

Contact elements 1 by means of the metallic receptacle 8 from five sides, so apart from the rear opening 15, are limited reliably fanning the recorded within the metallic receptacle 8 lamellar contact elements 1 is prevented.

In Fig. 4, the metallic receptacle 8 is shown in a front perspective view. In the present illustration, all elements of the metallic receptacle 8 can again be seen well.

In Fig. 5, another possible embodiment of the metallic receptacle 8 is shown in a perspective view. The embodiment of the metallic receptacle 8 shown here differs from the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 metallic receptacle 8 in that the embodiment shown here additionally has itself four connection extensions 16, which are located directly on the rear side members 14. The terminal extensions 16 can serve, for example, as soldering pins, so that the embodiment of the metallic receptacle 8 shown here can be easily inserted, for example, into a printed circuit board and soldered to it by means of the connection extensions 16. In addition, it can be provided that the metallic receptacle 8 shown here is not made of stainless steel but of copper, so that it is particularly well electrically conductive. FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the contact device 7, which differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 only in that the embodiment of the metallic receptacle 8 shown in FIG. 5 is used to receive the lamellar contact elements 1. If no such high current carrying capacity is required, it is also possible to use the embodiment of the metallic receptacle 8 with the terminal extensions 16 alone, ie without the use of the lamellar contact elements 1, as electrical contact. In the case, therefore, only the box-like metallic receptacle 8 is used alone without the lamellar contact elements 1 for current conduction.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 lamellar contact element

2 contact legs

3 footbridge

4 free longitudinal end

5 vaulting

6 Terminal extension

7 contact device

8 metallic intake

9 flexible locking tab

10 snap element

1 1 opening

12 front side panel

13 front side

14 rear side panel

15 back opening

16 connection extension

Claims

Electrical contact device (7), comprising

- Several lamellar contact elements (1), each with two contact legs (2) facing each other in the region of their free longitudinal ends (4)

Domes (5) for receiving a mating contact and opposite from their free longitudinal ends (4) have two connection extensions (6) for attaching the contact elements (1) on a component;

- A metallic receptacle (8), in which the contact elements (1) laterally at their contact legs (2) to each other at least substantially

congruent adjacent stacked are added and which the

Contact elements (1) fixed such that a fanning of the contact elements (1) is prevented.

Electrical contact device (7) according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the receptacle (8) in each case surrounds outer longitudinal sides of the contact elements (1) on the side and the free longitudinal ends (4) of the contact elements (1) on the front.

Electrical contact device (7) according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that

the receptacle (8) is open at the back and thereby allows a longitudinal expansion of the contact elements (1).

Electrical contact device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the receptacle (8) has at least one flexible locking tab (9), which in its closed position surrounds the contact elements (1) accommodated in the receptacle (8) on the top or bottom sides.

Electrical contact device (7) according to claim 4,

characterized in that the receptacle (8) has a snap element (10) which engages through an opening (1 1) of the closure flap (9) bent into its closed position and fixes it in its closed position.

the receptacle (8) has four connection extensions (16) for attaching the receptacle (8) to the component, which bear against the outer connection extensions (6) of the contact elements (1) on the outside.

the receptacle (8) is made of stainless steel.

Electrical contact device (7) according to one of claims 1 to 6,

characterized in that

the receptacle (8) is made of copper.

the contact elements (1) are made of copper.

the receptacle (8) is a stamped and bent part.

Metallic receptacle (8) for an electrical contact device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the contact elements (1) of the

Contact means (7) are laterally at their contact legs (2) against each other at least substantially congruent contiguous accommodated and by means of which the contact elements (1) are encompassed such that a fanning of the contact elements (1) is prevented.