WO2021074362A1

WO2021074362A1 - Mounting system for a contact pin for contacting a test object

Info

Publication number: WO2021074362A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/079156
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lorenz GAUSS; Mark FLIK; Jürgen ROHNER
Original assignee: Feinmetall Gmbh
Priority date: 2019-10-18
Filing date: 2020-10-16
Publication date: 2021-04-22
Also published as: DE202019105814U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mounting system (1) for a contact pin (2) for contacting an electric/electronic test object, comprising a mounting sleeve (6) which can be secured to a contact head and which is designed to receive and hold the contact pin (2), in particular a spring-loaded contact pin, wherein a securing end (12) of the contact pin (2) can be inserted into the mounting sleeve (6), and the contact pin can be releasably connected to the mounting sleeve (6) by the securing end (12). According to the invention, the mounting sleeve (6) has at least one taper (10), and the securing end (12) has at least one latching protrusion (13) which can be elastically displaced in a radial direction and which is designed to axially engage behind the taper (10) of the mounting sleeve (6) in order to secure the contact pin (2) in the mounting sleeve (6).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Mounting system for a contact pin for touch contact of a test object

The invention relates to a mounting system for a contact pin for touch contact of an electrical / electronic test object, with a mounting sleeve which can be fastened to a contact head and which is designed to receive and hold a contact pin, in particular a spring contact pin, the contact pin being insertable into the mounting sleeve with one fastening end and is releasably connectable to the mounting sleeve through the fastening end. The invention also relates to a contact pin for such a mounting system and to a mounting sleeve for such a mounting system.

Mounting systems of the type mentioned are known from the prior art. In order to mount a contact pin, in particular a spring contact pin, on a contact head of a test device, it is known to introduce the contact pin into a mounting sleeve. At its fastening end inserted first into the mounting sleeve, the known spring contact pin has an external thread which cooperates with an internal thread of the mounting sleeve so that the spring contact pin can be screwed into the mounting sleeve for its fastening. The spring contact pin is then guided and held by the mounting sleeve and, if necessary, can be exchanged simply by loosening the screw connection or by unscrewing the spring contact pin from the mounting sleeve. This is advantageous, for example, for maintenance operations or repair operations, in particular in the case of a contact head that holds a large number of such contact pins.

In order to detach the contact pin from the mounting sleeve, however, it must be provided with a structure at its free end which enables the contact pin to be gripped by a tool for the simple application of a torque for loosening the screw connection. For this purpose, a known contact pin has, for example, a polygonal contour for a wrench at its free end. The invention is based on the object of creating an improved assembly system for a contact pin which ensures simple assembly of the contact pin in the assembly sleeve and simple detachment of the spring contact pin from the assembly sleeve.

The object on which the invention is based is achieved by an assembly system having the features of claim 1. The assembly system according to the invention has the advantage that a hexagonal or octagonal contour or polygonal shape can be dispensed with on the contact pin because it is no longer necessary to rotate the contact pin to release the connection with the assembly sleeve. Instead, the assembly process and the disassembly process can be carried out without rotation for a user, because the contact pin only has to be pushed into the assembly sleeve for fastening and pulled out of the assembly sleeve to loosen it. This is achieved according to the invention in that the mounting sleeve has at least one taper, and that the fastening end of the contact pin has at least one radially elastically displaceable locking projection which is designed to axially engage behind the taper for fastening the contact pin in the mounting sleeve. The assembly system thus offers a latching device which enables the contact pin to be releasably latched in the assembly sleeve. As a result of the radially displaceable latching projection, the contact pin with the fastening end can be pushed axially past the taper of the mounting sleeve, with elastic radial displacement of the latching projection. As soon as the locking projection has passed the taper, it is moved back radially outwards into its starting position by elasticity, so that it engages behind the taper of the mounting sleeve. The tapering of the assembly sleeve is thus to be understood as an axially and optionally in the circumferential direction of the assembly sleeve, in which the jacket wall of the assembly sleeve protrudes radially inward into the sleeve interior or the receiving space for the contact pin. As a result, the taper is in the path of movement of the fastening end of the contact pin and displaces the latching projection of the contact pin radially when the contact pin is pushed past the taper. A latching or snap connection is thus formed. The interaction of the latching projection and the taper defines the force that has to be applied to push the contact pin into the mounting sleeve for fastening or to pull it out of the mounting sleeve to release the fastening. The larger the locking projection - viewed radially - and / or the further the taper protrudes into the receiving space or the movement path of the contact pin, the greater the force that is necessary to attach and loosen the contact pin in the mounting sleeve. The elasticity of the radial displaceability of the locking projection also has an effect the necessary loosening or fastening force. This makes it possible to adapt the assembly system to different applications for increasing or reducing the fastening and loosening forces.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the taper in the mounting sleeve is designed as a taper extending over the entire circumference of the mounting sleeve. The extension of the taper in the circumferential direction of the mounting sleeve is therefore not limited, so that regardless of a rotational position of the contact pin, the latching projection always interacts with the taper when the contact pin is pushed into the mounting sleeve. This reliably prevents the locking projection from being pushed past the taper and thus reliably prevents incorrect assembly.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the tapering of the mounting sleeve is designed as a flange. As a result of the flanging, the tapering is cost-effectively implemented in the mounting sleeve by deforming the jacket wall of the mounting sleeve. Because of the flanging, the depth of penetration of the taper into the receiving space of the mounting sleeve can be adjusted easily and inexpensively.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the contact pin has a pin sleeve for guiding and holding an electrically conductive contact element for making contact with the test object, and that the fastening end of the contact pin is formed by a slotted end of the pin sleeve. The slotted design of the pin sleeve at its end enables the remaining sleeve areas, which are separated from one another by the slot, to be compressed radially. This compression allows the remaining sleeve parts to be displaced radially inward, in particular with elastic deformation of the remaining sleeve parts themselves. Preferably, a locking projection is formed at the free ends of the remaining sleeve parts to interact with the tapering of the mounting sleeve. If the contact pin is pushed into the mounting sleeve, the locking projections and thus the remaining sleeve parts are moved radially towards each other at their free ends, so that the clear width of the slot is reduced with elastic deformation of the sleeve parts.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the fastening end has at least one longitudinal section which lies in a plane with a longitudinal center axis of the contact pin. The pin sleeve of the contact pin is thus symmetrically divided by the longitudinal slot, so that the remaining Sleeve parts or the locking projections are elastically displaceable on both sides with the same or almost the same amount of force.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the longitudinal slot has a clear width which at least corresponds to the reduction in the inner diameter of the mounting sleeve due to the taper. This ensures that when the contact pin is inserted into the mounting sleeve, the radial can be displaced sufficiently far radially before jumps in order to axially pass the taper, in particular the flanging, of the mounting sleeve.

The fastening section preferably has at least one radial recess for receiving the taper in the mounting sleeve. The radial recess thus creates a receiving space for the tapering of the mounting sleeve, so that the locking projection enables the tapering of the mounting sleeve to be easily reached behind while ensuring a compact design of the mounting system. In particular, the radial recess on the fastening section is designed as a recess extending over the entire circumference of the pin sleeve, in particular with a U- or V-shaped contour, in particular concave.

The longitudinal slot preferably extends axially into the pin sleeve, at least as far as the area of the radial recess, so that the length of the sleeve parts, which should be elastically displaceable, is maximized, whereby the elasticity of the sleeve parts and thus the displacement of the respective locking projection is increased. The effort required to insert the contact pin into the mounting sleeve is reduced by simple means.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the fastening section has an insertion bevel at its free end, in particular at the respective radial protrusion. The insertion chamfer makes it easier for the respective radial projection to be pushed back against the spring force of the respective sleeve part due to the tapering of the assembly sleeve. The bevel acts as a run-up bevel which, when the contact pin is pushed in, urges the locking projections radially inward, reliably preventing tilting at the taper. As a result, a simple replacement or simple installation of a contact pin in the mounting sleeve can be carried out easily even for an inexperienced user.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the pin sleeve has a gripping groove at its end facing away from the fastening section, which groove is in the mounting sleeve attached state of the contact pin is outside the mounting sleeve. Thus, the gripping groove is always outside the mounting sleeve and can be used to exert a tensile force on the contact pin that is sufficient to release the contact pin from the engagement with the taper and the mounting sleeve. In particular, the gripping groove is used to receive a tool, such as a fork-shaped tension wrench, for loosening the contact pin. So that the gripping groove lies outside the mounting sleeve in the assembled state, the axial distance between the gripping groove and the fastening section, in particular the recess in the pin sleeve assigned to the radial jump, is selected to be greater than the axial distance between the taper of the mounting sleeve and the inlet end facing away from the taper the assembly sleeve into which the contact pin is inserted during assembly.

The assembly sleeve and the pin sleeve are preferably designed to be electrically conductive at least in some areas, so that in the assembled state of the contact pin, the contact pin and the assembly sleeve are connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner. This forms a current path from the contact pin into the mounting sleeve and into the contact head to which the mounting sleeve is fastened or can be fastened.

The assembly sleeve preferably has a further taper, axially spaced from the taper, which serves to accommodate a connector plug or cable of the contact head. In particular, the further taper has an inner diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of the taper for the latching. The further tapering forms a receiving channel for an electrically conductive contact pin attached to the contact head, which is simply pushed into the receptacle when the mounting sleeve is mounted on the contact head in order to electrically connect the mounting sleeve to the contact head or to an electrical / electronic device assigned to the contact head Connect test device. The contact element of the contact head can optionally be welded, soldered or clamped in or on the receptacle in order to ensure reliable electrical contact.

Optionally, the mounting sleeve has an axially protruding connection tab, in particular a soldering connection tab, at its end assigned or assignable to the contact head, or to which a connection cable or contact element of the contact head can be soldered. This ensures simple contact with a large contact area or soldering area.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. To show Figure 1 shows an advantageous assembly system for a contact pin for

Touch contacting of a device under test, and

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the assembly system.

FIG. 1 shows, in a simplified representation, an advantageous assembly system 1 for a contact pin 2 which, according to the present exemplary embodiment, is designed as a spring contact pin. The spring contact pin 2 has a needle-shaped contact element 3 which is arranged so as to be axially resiliently displaceable in a pin sleeve 4, as indicated by a double arrow 5 in FIG.

The mounting system 1 has a mounting sleeve 6 into which the contact pin 2 can be pushed axially, as indicated by an arrow 7. For this purpose, the mounting sleeve 6 has an insertion opening 7 at a first end. At a second end facing away from the first end, the mounting sleeve 6 has a soldering connection 8 to which a contact element or cable of a contact head, in which the mounting sleeve 6 can be preassembled, can be permanently and electrically connected by soldering. For this purpose, the mounting sleeve 6 has an axially protruding contact tab 9 at the end of the solder connection.

The present assembly system 1 also provides that the assembly sleeve 6 has a taper 10 at a distance from the solder connection 9, but assigned to the same end of the assembly sleeve 6, so that the inside diameter of the assembly sleeve is reduced. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the taper 10 extends over the entire circumference of the mounting sleeve 6 and in the present case is designed as a flange. The jacket wall of the mounting sleeve 6 is deformed by the flanging 11 or tapering 10 in such a way that it protrudes radially inward in some areas.

Furthermore, the assembly system 1 provides that the pin sleeve 4 of the contact pin 2 has two radially elastically displaceable latching projections 13 on its fastening end 12 facing away from the contact element 3. The locking projections 13 are formed in the present case that the pin sleeve 4 has a longitudinal slot 14 at the fastening end 12, which extends centrally through the pin sleeve 4 - seen in cross section - and has a clear width that is at least the diameter reduction of the mounting sleeve 6, which by the taper 10 is conditional, corresponds. In the area of the longitudinal slot 14, the fastening end 12 of the pin sleeve 4 also has a recess 15 extending over the entire circumference, the contour of which corresponds in particular to the contour of the taper 10. In particular, the recess 15 - viewed in longitudinal section - has a concave or U-shaped contour. The longitudinal slot 14 extends beyond the recess 15 into the pin sleeve 4. What is achieved hereby is that the locking projections 13 of the fastening end 12 can be displaced radially inward, with elastic deformation of the sleeve parts 16 of the pin sleeve 4 formed by the longitudinal slot 14.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged illustration of the assembly system 1 in the area of the fastening end 12 and the taper 10 in a perspective sectional illustration.

Due to the advantageous design of the latching projections 13, the recess 15 and the tapering 10, it is achieved that the pin sleeve 4 can be pushed past the tapering 10 with elastic deformation of the latching projections 13. If the contact pin 2 is pushed into the assembly sleeve 6 for assembly, the locking projections 13 are pushed radially inward by the taper 10, so that they can be pushed past the taper 10. As soon as they have passed the taper 10, they are pushed or moved radially outward again by the elasticity of the pin sleeve 4, so that they engage behind the taper 10. As a result, the contact pin 2 is advantageously held or latched in the mounting sleeve 6 with a positive fit in the axial direction. The taper 10 and the latching projections 13 thus form a snap connection or latching connection 17 which acts between the mounting sleeve 6 and the contact pin 2.

The latching connection 17 can be released simply by pulling the contact pin 2 axially out of the mounting sleeve 6 in the opposite direction to the insertion direction when the latching projections 13 displace the taper 10 radially inward. Only the force necessary for the radial displacement of the locking projections 13 must be overcome by tensile force. In this way, mounting and dismounting of the contact pin 2 in the mounting sleeve 6 can be carried out with little expenditure of force and a short expenditure of time. As a result, a simple exchange of the contact pin 2, for example for maintenance purposes or the like, is possible at any time, even for unskilled users. Because the taper 10 is designed as a flange 11 which extends over the entire circumference of the assembly sleeve 6, incorrect assembly of the contact pin 2 in the assembly sleeve 6 is also reliably prevented.

In order to enable the contact pin 2 to be easily removed from the mounting sleeve 6, the pin sleeve 4 preferably has a gripping groove 18 at its end facing the contact element 3. The gripping groove 18 is axially further spaced from the recess 15 than the insertion opening 7 is spaced from the taper 10, so that the gripping groove 18 is always outside the mounting sleeve 6 in the assembled state. A fork-shaped pulling tool can now be inserted into the gripping groove 18, with which a pulling force can simply be applied to the contact pin 2 in order to release the latching or the snap connection.

The pin sleeve 4 is optionally an adapter sleeve in which a contact pin, in particular a spring contact pin, can be fastened. Alternatively, the pin sleeve 4 is the jacket sleeve of the contact pin 2 itself.

Optionally, the assembly sleeve 6 also has a further taper 19 at its end facing the solder connection 9, into which, for example, the contact element and / or the cable of the contact head can be introduced in some areas in order to ensure reliable electrical contacting of the assembly 6 through the contact element or the cable guarantee.

As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the radial in front of cracks 13 also preferably each have an insertion bevel 20 at their free ends, which together with the taper 10 acts as a bevel, by means of which an easier radial compression of the locking projections 13 is made possible. Depending on the design of the insertion bevel 20, the contact pin 2 with the pin sleeve 4 can be pushed through the taper 10 more easily or less easily.

Claims

EXPECTATIONS

1. Mounting system (1) for a contact pin (2) for making contact with an electrical / electronic test object, with a mounting sleeve (6) which can be fastened to a contact head and which is designed to receive and hold the contact pin (2), in particular a spring contact pin, wherein the contact pin (2) can be pushed into the mounting sleeve (6) with one fastening end (12) and can be detachably connected to the mounting sleeve (6) through the fastening end (12), characterized in that the mounting sleeve (6) has at least one taper (10 ), and that the fastening end (12) has at least one radially elastically displaceable locking projection (13) which is designed to axially extend the taper (10) of the mounting sleeve (6) for fastening the contact pin (2) in the mounting sleeve (6) to reach behind.

2. Mounting system according to claim 1, characterized in that the taper (10) in the mounting sleeve (6) is designed as a taper (10) extending over the entire circumference of the mounting sleeve (6).

3. Mounting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the taper (10) is designed as a flange (11) in the mounting sleeve (6).

4. Mounting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact pin (2) has a pin sleeve (4) for guiding and holding an electrically conductive contact element (3) for making contact with the test object, and that the fastening end (12) of the contact pin ( 2) is formed by a slotted end of the pin sleeve (4).

5. Mounting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening end (12) has at least one longitudinal slot (14) which extends through the center of the pin sleeve (4) - seen in cross section.

6. Mounting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal slot (14) has a clear width which corresponds at least to the reduction in the inner diameter of the mounting sleeve (6) by the taper (10).

7. Mounting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening section (12) has at least one radial recess (15) for receiving the

Has taper (10) of the mounting sleeve (6).

8. Mounting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal slot (14) extends at least into the region of the radial recess (15) into the pin sleeve (4).

9. Mounting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening section (12) has an insertion bevel (20) at its free end.

10. Mounting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pin sleeve (4) has a gripping groove (18) at its end facing away from the fastening portion (12), which in the mounted in the mounting sleeve (6) state of the contact pin (2) outside of the mounting sleeve (6).