BE1026787B1 - Connection device for electrical conductors - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical connection device (2) for connecting conductors, with a housing body (10) which has a receiving space (8) in which a plurality of contact elements (6, 6 ') are arranged electrically separated from one another. In this case, a respective contact element (6, 6 ') contacts a conductor end which is fed to the latter via an insertion opening (4). According to the invention, at least one electrical bridge element (24) is provided, which is set up, designed and inserted into the receiving space (8) such that it has a first contact element (6) and at least a second contact element (6 ') of the plurality of contact elements (6 , 6 ') electrically connected to each other. For this purpose, the bridge member (24) is arranged between the first contact element (6) and the second contact element (6 '). The invention also includes a method for producing the connection device (2) and also a printed circuit board (60).

Description

Connection device for electrical conductors

The invention relates to a connection device for electrical conductors according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention comprises a method for producing such and a corresponding printed circuit board.

Connection devices of the type in question are generally known and are used to electrically connect conductors to mating contacts by means of contact elements.

A counter contact can be formed in various ways, for example also by a contact arranged on a plug connector, as well as by contact points, for example pin contacts, which are arranged on conductor tracks of a printed circuit board.

Electrical connection devices of the type in question are known, for example, from DE10 2006 015 435 A1 and have a housing body with a receiving space in which a plurality of contact elements are arranged in an electrically separate manner. The contact elements are set up and designed to make electrical contact with a conductor end of the conductor (hereinafter abbreviated also referred to as conductor end) supplied to the respective contact element via an insertion opening, in order to electrically connect it to a mating contact contacted by the contact element.

Furthermore, different methods for producing a connection device of the type in question are known, in which a connection device can be implemented by providing a housing body with a receiving space for a plurality of contact elements and inserting a plurality of contact elements in the receiving space.

Furthermore, printed circuit boards are generally known, on which electrical or electronic components are arranged and are connected to one another electrically or by signal technology via conductor tracks. In order to be able to connect the conductors to the conductor tracks, connection devices of the aforementioned type are required

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BE2018 / 5803, contact the mating contacts provided on the circuit board accordingly.

The invention is based on the object of an electrical

Specify connection device that enables a simple, safe and flexible configuration of a connection device in order to achieve a high degree of variability for the electrical connection of electrical conductors to counter-contacts and optionally allows an electrical connection of at least two contact elements to one another, by means of which they are equated with electrical potential .

To achieve the object, the invention moves away from the idea of making a connection outside the housing body and, for example, using switches or connecting cables to achieve a desired distribution of electrical current or signal flows

Furthermore, the invention turns away from the idea of designing the contact elements as a function of the desired electrical connection between the conductor and mating contact (s).

The invention solves the problem set with the features of claim 1. Useful embodiments and advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The solution of the invention is based on the fact that at least one separate electrical bridge member is provided, which is set up, designed and inserted into the receiving space such that it electrically connects a first contact element of the plurality of contact elements and at least a second contact element of the plurality of contact elements to one another.

To this end, the invention provides that the at least one separate electrical bridge element is arranged or inserted at least in sections, preferably completely, in the receiving space between a first contact element and at least a second contact element of the plurality of and electrically connects them to one another.

The aforementioned contact elements are arranged in the receiving space, preferably completely, in the installation position of the bridge member,

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BE2018 / 5803 in order to be able to electrically connect or connect the conductor and mating contact.

In the context of the invention, a contact element is an electrical contact element which serves for the electrical contacting of a conductor with at least one mating contact for the electrical conduction of electrical currents and signals between them.

For this purpose, the conductors are introduced with their respective conductor ends into the receiving space via an insertion opening and fed to the contact element arranged therein for electrical contacting, as a result of which an electrical connection is or is achieved.

In the case of a connecting device according to the invention, the electrical bridge member is designed as a separate component which is arranged or inserted in the receiving space as described above or can be arranged or inserted.

This is preferably between an end face of the housing body, on which the electrical leads with their conductor ends are introduced into the respective connection chamber via a respective insertion opening and fed to the respective contact element, and a further end face, on which the mating contacts are fed to the contact elements in order to connect them with the respective Connect contact elements. The aforementioned end face and the further end face of the housing body are preferably arranged opposite one another on the housing body.

Contacting between a contact element and a mating contact can take place in different ways. For this purpose, plug connections are preferred in which the contact elements have plug connections for the mating contacts, which are set up and designed for plug connection with one another. The counter contacts can, for example and in particular, be designed as pin contacts which are arranged on a printed circuit board and are electrically connected to conductor tracks. For this purpose, a plug-in strip (base strip) can be provided on the circuit board, in which the connection device can be plugged in / plug-in, in order to carry out the aforementioned arrangement on the circuit board for an electrical connection.

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A contact point on the contact element is therefore designed, at least in sections, to be electrically complementary to the mating contact for electrical contacting by plug-in connections.

The invention leads to the advantage that an electrical current or signal flow between the conductor and the mating contact (s) can be configured in a simple manner by means of one or more electrical bridge elements, in that this is inserted or inserted between the contact elements to be electrically connected to one another in the installed position. is arranged. Therefore, one or more conductors can be connected to a common counter contact or common counter contacts by means of an electrical bridge element or a plurality of electrical bridge elements.

The invention advantageously allows the number of different components to be kept low. The connection device according to the invention is implemented in accordance with a modular design, so that a large number of different connection devices can be implemented without increasing the contact element variants.

In addition, the invention makes it possible to carry out different equipping of connecting devices with bridge elements, as a result of which none, all or a selection of contact elements can be electrically connected to one another or connected via one or a plurality of bridge elements.

The invention thus advantageously allows a high degree of flexibility in the configuration of a connection device according to the invention. At the same time, the invention offers an inexpensive possibility for flexible production of connection devices according to the invention and also printed circuit boards equipped with them.

In the context of the invention, it is provided in particular that the contact elements have the same design and are implemented as identical parts. However, the invention is not limited to this, so that differently designed contact elements can also be inserted in the receiving space.

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The same applies to the design of the bridge members used, if a plurality is used for a connection device according to the invention. Likewise, the bridge members are preferably formed as identical parts. This results in advantages in terms of design, storage and also handling advantages in the production of a connection device according to the invention.

The invention leads to the advantage that a connection device according to the invention can be flexibly adapted to different connection requirements and at a late time of manufacture, in particular near the completion. This favors a flexible configurability of a connection device according to the invention.

Furthermore, the invention makes it possible to be able to change the configuration of a connection device even after its manufacture by removing or inserting one or more electrical bridge members between the contact elements in question.

Furthermore, the invention leads to the advantage that a secure electrical connection is established between the contact elements, by means of which they are set electrically equal to one another. This allows currents and signals to be distributed from the conductors to one or more counter contacts in accordance with the desired configuration by means of an electrical connection device according to the invention.

This is achieved according to the invention in that the contact elements are electrically connected to one another directly by means of the at least one bridge member in its installation position and are therefore set electrically equal to one another. An indirect electrical connection of the contact elements via the conductor ends is thus dispensed with, as a result of which the function of contacting the conductor end from the function of electrically connecting the relevant contact elements or conductors to one another is achieved. In this respect, the functions are independent of each other and can therefore be implemented safely.

The housing body is designed, for example, and in particular in several parts, preferably consisting at least of an upper part and a lower part.

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The invention provides, for example, and in particular, on one

To provide the insertion openings for the conductor ends on the front side of the upper part, in order to supply the conductor ends to the respective contact elements for electrical contacting, and to provide further openings for the mating contacts on a further end side on the lower part, in order to use these openings to provide the mating contacts to the respective contact elements for electrical contacting feed together.

To avoid undesired electrical connections or current flows, the housing body is formed at least in sections from an insulating material or has such an insulating material at least in sections.

In the following, an electrical bridge element is also referred to as a bridge element. The same applies to an electrical connection device, which is also referred to below as the connection device.

In the context of the invention, a conductor denotes an electrical conductor, which can be formed by a wire / a strand (wire) as well as a plurality of conductive wires or strands (wires). The conductor is a component of a cable that comprises at least one, preferably several, conductors. For electrical insulation, the conductor is covered at least in sections by an insulating layer.

In the context of the invention, the conductor is preferably partially sectioned from insulation at its conductor end and thus uninsulated in order to make electrical contact with the contact element in a simple manner.

For this purpose, a so-called wire end sleeve can also be arranged on the conductor end, which serves for a reliable electrical contact and is preferably attached to the conductor end in the case of conductors formed from a plurality of strands or wires. Wire end sleeves are generally known and do not require further explanation.

The bridge link can be designed in a variety of ways. So that the bridge member takes up as little space as possible in the receiving space, it is provided according to the invention that the bridge member

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Contacted contact element on an outer side, which, according to the invention, in particular faces away from the conductor end which is fed to the contact element.

It is thus possible within the scope of the invention to make the contact space of the contact element, to which the conductor end is supplied for electrical contacting, sufficiently large, even with small dimensions of the contact element. This also enables simple feeding of the conductor end.

For this purpose, it is provided in the context of the invention that the electrical bridge member is set up and designed as well as inserted into the housing body in the installation position in such a way that it is on a section of an outer surface of the first contact element and on a section of an outer surface of the second contact element, which are preferably mutually exclusive are arranged facing in the receiving space, is brought into electrical contact.

Against this background, it is provided in a further advantageous development of the invention that the bridge member in the installed position contacts at least the first contact element on an outer surface and / or the second contact element on an outer surface.

According to the invention, an outer surface of a contact element is, in particular, one which, in the installed position, faces a wall delimiting the receiving space. According to the invention, it is preferably provided that the bridge member contacts the first and second contact elements arranged in the receiving space on a portion of their respective outer surface that face each other.

This has the effect that the bridge member can be designed with little material expenditure and also small dimensions, as a result of which the production costs can also be kept low. This leads to the advantage that the bridge member has only a small space requirement. The space requirement of a connection device according to the invention can thus also be reduced.

In addition, this results in small spatial distances to be overcome between the at least first and second contact elements, which are also suitable for

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BE2018 / 5803 contribute to a good electrical connection of the contact elements via the bridge link.

To design the bridge member, in a further advantageous development of the invention it is provided that the bridge member has at least one first spring leg with which it contacts the first contact element and a second spring leg with which it contacts the second contact element, which has, in particular arcuate, connecting portion are interconnected.

According to the invention, the at least first and second spring legs are set up and designed such that, when the bridge member is in the installed position, the first spring leg presses at least against the first contact element and the second spring leg at least against the second contact element and contacts them electrically.

The free ends of the spring legs can be elastically deflected to their respective respective free ends or to each other, so that the bridge member can be elastically deformed.

The connecting section thus enables good spring properties, so that the spring legs can be moved elastically with their respective free ends relative to one another. This makes it possible for the bridge member to be clamped between at least the first and second contact element, as a result of which it is correspondingly securely held in the installation position in the receiving space.

Advantageously, the bridge member in the installed position thus provides good contacting of the contact elements with one another, which is also unaffected by temperature influences, vibrations, for example by impacts, and also design tolerances of the contact elements or the receptacle.

Due to its design, the bridge link can also automatically compensate for geometric tolerances and shape deviations in the receiving space or the contact elements. Furthermore, when installed, it offers a good hold between the contact elements and thus secures their electrical connection to one another.

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The bridge member is therefore formed according to the invention in particular in the manner of a leg spring or designed as a leg spring.

In the context of the invention, an arcuate also includes a bow-shaped design of the connecting section, which can be designed, for example, in a V-shape as well as a U-shape. According to the invention, this is an arcuate one

Preferred connecting section that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

According to the invention, it is particularly provided that in the unloaded state of the bridge member, the first spring leg and the second spring leg are angled to one another, preferably at an acute angle. According to the invention, the free ends of the spring legs are not deflected towards one another in the unloaded state of the bridge member.

In a further advantageous development of the invention, the spring legs extend in the same direction from the connecting cut to their respective free ends, which results in a compact design of the bridge member. This ensures short electrical connection paths or good electrical connection properties.

For a simple and inexpensive realization of a bridge member, this is in particular formed in one piece, as is taken into account in a further advantageous development of the invention. In addition to advantages in production, this also creates logistical advantages. Furthermore, inexpensive manufacture of the bridge member is made possible.

The bridge member can be manufactured in a variety of ways within the scope of the invention. It is preferably provided in the context of the invention to use a sheet metal strip to form the bridge member. In the simplest case, this can be done by cutting or punching and forming processes.

To this end, the advantageous development of the invention takes into account the fact that the bridge member is formed in one piece, in particular from a curved strip part, for example and in particular from a sheet metal strip.

The bridge member is preferably formed from a strip-shaped stamped and bent part. For this purpose, it is also recorded according to the invention that the

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As an alternative or in addition, the bridge member is formed at least in sections from a bent element comprising one or more wires or consisting of it.

In addition to the advantages of simple and inexpensive production, this also leads to a low weight of the bridge member.

The choice of the material for producing a pontic can be made from a wide range. The bridge member is preferably formed at least in sections from a conductive material, in particular a metal, or has a conductive material at least in sections.

In the context of the invention, the contact elements are arranged in the receiving space of the housing body in an electrically separate manner. The electrical separation of the contact elements from one another can be achieved according to the invention in various ways, for example by spatially spacing the contact elements from one another, this taking place in particular while maintaining clearances and creepage distances.

Furthermore, it is possible, for example and in particular by housing ribs or walls, to subdivide the receiving space into connection chambers in order to arrange the contact elements in the receiving space more easily and, as it were, to be able to electrically separate the contact elements from one another.

For this purpose, in an advantageous development of the invention it is provided that the contact elements are arranged separately from one another in connection chambers in the receiving space, the electrical bridge member being inserted at least in sections in an intermediate space formed between at least two adjacent connection chambers in the receiving space. In the context of the invention, connection chambers are adjacent if they are arranged next to one another and in particular no further connection chamber is arranged between them.

It is thus achieved in a simple manner to specify an alignment, spacing and arrangement of the electrical contact elements in the receiving space through the connection chambers. In the context of the invention, each contact element is arranged in a connection chamber,

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BE2018 / 5803 so that the first contact element is arranged in a connection chamber and the second contact element in a further, in particular adjacent connection chamber.

To connect them, the electrical bridge member bridges an electrical separation between the relevant contact elements in order to thereby electrically connect at least one first contact element, which is arranged in a connection chamber, to a second contact element, which is arranged in a further, adjacent connection chamber.

A space formed between the connection chambers can be used to arrange the bridge member in the receiving space. This makes it possible to keep the space requirement of the housing body low. Furthermore, it is possible to keep the space requirements as well as the material expenditure for the bridge members low. As a result, it is advantageously possible to keep the line losses of the electrical bridge member small.

According to the invention, for example and in particular, it is provided that a contact element is assigned to each insertion opening. In order to simplify the introduction of the conductor end into the respective connection chamber in which the electrical contact element is arranged, a further advantageous development of the invention provides that a connection chamber is assigned, in particular in each case, to an insertion opening. Thus, according to the invention, a plurality of insertion openings can also open into a common connection chamber. However, according to the invention, a clear association between the insertion opening and the connection chamber or contact element is preferred, as a result of which a connection chamber or a contact element is assigned to exactly one insertion opening.

For this purpose, a clear association between an insertion opening and a connection chamber is preferably provided within the scope of the invention, into which the insertion opening opens in order to be able to feed the conductor end to the contact element. In this respect, it is included in the scope of the invention that an insertion opening for the conductor end is assigned to a connection chamber.

In the context of the invention, an advantageous further development provides that at least one connection chamber has at least one contact window,

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BE2018 / 5803 through which the contact element and the electrical bridge element are brought into contact with each other in the installation position for electrical contacting and thus contact one another.

According to the invention, the contact window is formed on a wall of the connection chamber by a recess which opens from the connection chamber into the space in which the bridge member in question is arranged and thus spatially connects the space and the connection chamber.

Accordingly, a further advantageous development of the invention provides that a contact window is formed between the connection chamber and the intermediate space, via which the electrical bridge element in the installed position and the contact element arranged in the connection chamber come into electrical contact with one another or contact one another.

According to the invention, the insertion openings can be arranged in different ways with respect to one another on the housing body. For optimal use of space, it is thus possible for the insertion openings to be arranged at an equal distance from one another in a row and / or column arrangement.

For this purpose, a further advantageous development of the invention provides that the insertion openings on an end face of the housing body, in particular in a row arrangement and / or

Column arrangement, in particular in the manner of a matrix, are arranged on the housing body. This makes it possible to keep the available space small or to make the best possible use of it and also to ensure that an undesired electrical potential equalization does not occur even if a conductor is damaged. This also creates handling advantages of a connection device according to the invention, for example for inserting conductors into the respective insertion opening.

For a good and simple supply of a conductor to a contact element, for example and in particular it is provided in the context of the invention that the contact element is shaped in such a way that it forms a channel section into which the conductor end supplied to the contact element can be inserted or introduced via an insertion opening. The contact element can, for example

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BE2018 / 5803 and in particular be shaped at least in sections like a beech.

For this purpose, the channel section formed on the contact element can, for example and in particular, have an open, in particular U-shaped, profile cross section. In addition to material savings, this also results in weight advantages and advantages in the handling of a contact element for creating a connection device according to the invention.

According to the invention, the contacting of a conductor by means of the contact element can take place in a variety of ways.

The respective contact element can also be the conductor connection, for example, as a compression spring connection (so-called push-in connection) or as a tension spring connection, as an insulation-penetrating contact or as

Screw connection set up and formed as well as have a contact pin or a contact socket for the conductor end of the conductor supplied to this.

In a further advantageous development of the invention, for simple as well as reliable contacting, it is provided that the contact element is shaped in such a way that it uses a spring force against a stop formed on the contact element by means of at least one clamping spring to feed the conductor end supplied to the contact element via a spring force (acting on spring force) presses. The conductor end contacts a contact surface formed on the stop. This advantageously results in a simple as well as reliable manner of contacting.

For this purpose, according to the invention, for example and in particular, it is provided that the clamping spring has at least one clamping spring leg, which is designed and designed such that it presses the conductor end introduced into the connection chamber with a spring force against the contact surface formed on the stop. According to the invention, the contact element for secure contacting of a conductor end can thus be produced inexpensively and with little material.

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For a compact design of an electrical connection device or a contact element provided therefor, the invention takes into account that the clamping spring, in particular its

Clamping spring leg, is arranged at least in sections in the previously described channel section.

The stop thus limits the aforementioned channel section in one direction. The contact surface thus forms a wall of the channel section, which on the one hand makes it easier for the conductor end to be arranged on the contact element and also serves to make electrical contact with the conductor.

To shorten the current flow, it is provided within the scope of the invention that the bridge member makes electrical contact with an outer surface of the stop in the installed position, as is taken into account in a further advantageous development of the invention. For this purpose, the bridge member is brought into contact with the outer surface at least in sections. This can be done, for example, with one of the aforementioned spring legs, which at least in sections press against the outer surface of the stop under the action of a spring force.

This results in advantages for the electrical current flow between the first and second contact element, which are expressed, for example, by a low electrical resistance.

In a further advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the housing body has at least one insertion channel for the bridge member, which opens into the receiving space from an outside of the housing body, via which the at least one bridge member can be inserted or inserted into the receiving space, preferably the insertion channel can be closed to the outside by means of a cover element.

This results in the advantage that a connection device according to the invention can be configured at a late time of manufacture in that the bridge member can be inserted into the receiving space after the housing body with contact elements arranged therein for a previously described electrical connection. In there close

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Manufacturing and cost advantages. The insertion channel for the bridge link can be arranged, for example, on the upper part, which has the advantage that even after the connection device has been installed, for example on a printed circuit board, the electrical configuration can be changed by subsequently inserting one or more bridge links without the connection device having to be dismantled must become.

A connecting device according to the invention can be designed in many different ways, as a result of which it can be used for many applications. An electrical connection device can thus serve as an electrical coupling in order to connect the contacts of a connector with those of a mating connector.

Furthermore, in a further advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that an electrical connection device is set up and designed to form a conductor connection on a printed circuit board. It is thus possible to implement a circuit board connection with the aforementioned advantages by means of a connection device according to the invention.

Following this idea, in a further advantageous development of the invention, a printed circuit board with conductor tracks is provided, to which electrical conductors can be connected or are connected via an electrical connection device, as described above. A circuit board with a connection device according to the invention thus also has the aforementioned features, properties and advantages, so that repetition at this point can be omitted.

The invention also includes a method for producing a connection device according to the invention, comprising the steps of: providing a housing body with a receiving space for a plurality of contact elements, inserting the plurality of contact elements into the receiving space, inserting at least one electrical bridge element into the receiving space for the electrical connection or for electrical connection of at least a first contact element and a second contact element to one another.

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A method according to the invention therefore also has the abovementioned features, properties and advantages, so that again there is no need to repeat it at this point.

An advantageous development of a method according to the invention provides for a housing body consisting of at least one upper part and one lower part to be provided with the upper part and lower part spaced apart, the upper part and the lower part being arranged together and connected to one another after the contact elements have been inserted, the at least one bridge member can be inserted or inserted via an insertion channel, which is formed on the housing body and opens into the receiving space from an outside of the housing body.

To simplify the insertion of the bridge member into the intermediate space, the housing body according to the invention consists at least of an upper part and a lower part, between which the receiving space for the contact elements or the intermediate space for the bridge member is formed.

Before the upper part and lower part of the housing body are brought together and joined, the respective bridge member can be inserted in the space provided for this purpose. As a result, the arrangement of the electrical contact elements in the receiving space is correspondingly simplified by a multi-part housing body.

The establishment of a contact between the bridge member and the respective contact element can be achieved according to the invention in various ways.

For this purpose, an advantageous development of a method according to the invention is characterized in that a housing body consisting of at least one upper part and one lower part is provided with the upper part and lower part spaced apart, the upper and lower part being arranged one after the other after insertion of the contact elements and the at least one bridge member and be connected to each other.

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The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which two exemplary embodiments of a connection device according to the invention are shown representative of a large number of connection devices according to the invention. This also shows an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention and of a printed circuit board according to the invention, to which the following statements can likewise be transferred accordingly.

All the features claimed, described and shown in the drawing, taken by themselves and in any combination with one another, form the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the patent claims and their references, and regardless of their description or illustration in the drawing. Therefore, the features are not tied to the constellation explained below, but can also form a connection device according to the invention, a printed circuit board according to the invention and also a method according to the invention in isolation from one another and in a different or arbitrary combination.

The figures of the drawing each show the exemplary embodiments of a connection device according to the invention in a schematic representation. The representations in the figures are therefore in particular not necessarily to scale, so that the scales chosen in each case in the figures can also differ from one another.

For a better overview, the representations are reduced to the elements / components / components which support understanding, the same or corresponding components / components or elements being provided with the same reference symbols in the figures. For a better overview, not all elements / components / components are always provided with reference numerals in the figures, the assignment resulting from the same representation or a representation adapted to the view.

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Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a connection device according to the invention in a

Perspective view, wherein the connection device is shown in a sectional view,

Fig. 2 shows the embodiment of an inventive

1 again in a sectional view and in the same representation as in FIG. 1 but in a view identified by A in FIG. 1,

Fig. 3 shows the embodiment of an inventive

Connection device in the same representation and view as in FIG. 1, arranged on a printed circuit board housed in an electronics housing,

4 shows the exemplary embodiment of a connection device according to the invention in the same representation as in FIG. 3, but in a view identified by A in FIG. 3,

5 shows a second embodiment of a connection device according to the invention in the same representation and view according to FIG. 1,

6 shows the second exemplary embodiment of a connecting device according to the invention in the same representation as in FIG. 5, but in a view identified by A in FIG. 5,

7 shows an arrangement of the second exemplary embodiment of a connection device according to the invention on an electronics housing in a perspective view according to FIG. 5,

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8 to

12 shows different embodiments for a bridge member designed as a leg spring, such being shown in each case under a) in a perspective view and under b) as in a view identified by a) by B in a schematic representation.

Furthermore, with the same or a similar structure, the description is reduced to the differences between figures for a better overview.

The features illustrated with the aid of the figures also apply analogously or in a manner analogous to one another and also isolated from one another for further connection devices formed according to the invention, and also printed circuit boards formed according to the invention and methods for producing a connection device formed according to the invention. The invention is therefore not limited to the exemplary embodiments or relationships described and shown.

The further description of the figures is based on the illustrated installation position of the bridge member, so that a special mention is not made at every point concerned.

1 shows an embodiment of a connection device 2 for electrical conductors according to the invention in a perspective view in a schematic representation. The connection device 2 is set up and designed to connect a plurality of conductors of a cable, the respective end of which is fed via an insertion opening 4 to a contact element 6 which is assigned to the insertion opening 4 and is arranged in a receiving space 8 of a housing body 10 of the connection device 2. A contact element 6 is assigned to each insertion opening 4, so that there is a one-to-one assignment between contact element 6 and insertion opening 4.

The insertion openings 4 are identified by the same reference numerals. The same applies to the contact elements 8. Cables, conductors and conductor ends are not shown in the figures for a better overview.

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The connection device 2 for electrical conductors according to the invention is also referred to below as the connection device 2. As already mentioned, the connection device 2 is provided with a housing body 10 which has a receiving space 8 in which a plurality of contact elements 6 are arranged at a distance from one another or 6 electrically separated from one another, a respective contact element 6 being provided via an insertion opening 4 supplied conductor end of a conductor electrically contacted.

The housing body 10 consists of an upper part 12 and a lower part 14, between which the receiving space is formed. The insertion openings 4 are arranged on the top part 12 on an end face 15, via which the respective conductor ends are fed to the contact elements 6 assigned to them.

On the lower part 14 there are supply openings 16 (uniformly identified by the reference number 16) on a further end face 18 of the housing body, via which a mating contact (not shown in FIG. 1) for electrical contacting can be supplied to the contact element 6. The end face 15 located on the upper part 12 and the end face 18 located on the lower part 14 are located opposite one another on the housing body 10.

The respective counter contact is clamped between two elastically resilient contact legs 20, 20 “(uniformly identified by the reference number 20, 20 '), between which a gap 22 (uniformly identified by the reference number 22) is formed for the counter contact 6. The contact end of the mating contact is inserted into this gap 22 in order to thereby establish a secure electrical contacting of the mating contact.

The respective contact element 6 extends from the one end face 16 to the further end face 18 for an electrical connection of the conductor fed to it and the mating contact contacted by it. The respective contact element 6 is completely accommodated in the receiving space 8.

In order to connect at least two contact elements 6 with the same potential, at least one electrical bridge element 24 (uniform with the

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Reference numeral 24) is provided, which is set up, designed and inserted into the receiving space 8 in the installed position such that it electrically connects a first contact element 6 of the plurality and at least one second contact element 6 ″ of the plurality of contact elements 6, 6 ″. For this purpose, in the installation position shown in FIG. 1, it is arranged at least in sections in the receiving space 10 between a first contact element 6 and at least a second contact element 6 ', these being electrically connected to one another. In this exemplary embodiment, a respective electrical bridge element 24 thus serves for a paired electrical connection of contact elements 6, 6 'to one another. Its design can be kept simple.

The first and the second contact element 6, 6 'are arranged adjacent to one another in the receiving space 8, as a result of which no further contact element 6, 6' is arranged between them. The electrical bridge member 24 is thus designed with small dimensions, so that it takes up little space.

In the context of the invention, the electrical bridge member 24 is also referred to in short as the bridge member 24.

The contact elements 6, 6 'are arranged in the receiving space 10 in connection chambers 26, 26', a contact element 6, 6 'being accommodated in each connection chamber 26, 26.

The bridge member 24 is designed and constructed in the same way as it is inserted into the receiving space 8 of the housing body 10, which is arranged on an outer surface 28 of the first contact element 6 and on an outer surface 28 'of the second contact element 6', which are arranged facing one another in the receiving space 8 , is brought into contact in electrical contact and thereby contacts them. For this purpose, the electrical bridge element 24 is inserted in an intermediate space 30, which is formed in the receiving space 8 of the housing body 10 between two connection chambers 26, 26 ′ arranged adjacent to one another, in which the first and second contact elements 6, 6 ′ are arranged.

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In order to achieve an electrical connection of the aforementioned contact elements 6, 6 'by means of the bridge member 24, the respective connection chamber 26, 26' each has a contact window 32, 32 'through which the respective one

Terminal chamber 26, 26 'arranged contact element 6, 6' and the electrical bridge member 24 inserted into the housing body 10 are brought into contact with one another for electrical connection and thus contact one another.

The bridge member 24 is in one piece and formed from a curved strip part 34, which consists of a strip-shaped stamped and bent part. The respective bridge member 24 is set up and designed as a leg spring and has first spring legs 36 and a second spring leg 38, which are set up and designed such that in an installed position of the

Bridge member 24 between the first and second contact elements 6, 6 'to be electrically connected to one another, the first spring leg 36 against the first contact element 6 and the second spring leg 38 against the second

Press contact element 6 'to load the spring force and thereby bring it into contact. As a result, the contact elements 6, 6 'are electrically connected to one another via the bridge member 24. The structure of the bridge member is shown and explained with the aid of various variants in FIGS. 8 to 12.

In this exemplary embodiment, the insertion openings are arranged in a row and column arrangement in the manner of a matrix on one end face 16 of the housing body 10, which is located on the upper part 12.

FIG. 1 shows how two contact elements 6, 6 ′, which are arranged in a common column 40 (represented by a chain line in FIG. 1), are electrically connected to one another by means of the bridge element 26 arranged between them.

The respective contact element 6, 6 'is shaped such that it forms a channel section 42 into which the conductor end fed to the contact element 6, 6' via the insertion opening can be inserted or inserted. The channel section 42 has an open, U-shaped profile cross section for easy contacting and feeding the conductor end of a conductor.

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The respective contact element 6, 6 'each has a clamping spring 46 with a clamping spring leg 48 which, under the action of a spring force, presses the conductor end of the conductor inserted into the connection chamber 8 against a contact surface 50, which on a stop 52 formed on the contact element 6, 6' is formed, presses. The stop 52 is bent from a base 54 of the respective contact element 6, 6 'and is arranged transversely thereto. At the respective stop 52, the bridge member 24 contacts the outer surface 28, 28 ″ of the respective contact element 6, 6 ″.

For a compact design of the contact element 6, 6 ', the clamping spring 46 is arranged in the respective channel section 42. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the clamping spring 46 is set up and arranged on the contact element 6, 6 “or the receiving space 10 in such a way that it acts on the conductor end supplied to the contact element 6, 6 ′ with a spring force (spring force acting) in the direction of Bridge member 24 presses.

In order to be able to detach the conductor from the contact element, is a

Actuator 56 provided that can be actuated from outside the housing body 10 to act on the clamping spring leg 48 and to relieve the conductor of the spring force with which it is pressed against the contact surface 50 for contacting. This solution is also known as a so-called push-in terminal, so that its structure is revealed by the illustration in FIG. 1.

2 to 4 show the first exemplary embodiment of a connection device according to the invention for further clarification in further views.

3 shows the first exemplary embodiment of a connection device 2 according to the invention in an arrangement on a printed circuit board 60 housed in an electronics housing 58. The respective mating contact 62 is designed as a pin contact 64 and fed to the corresponding contact element 6, 6 'via the feed opening 16. The respective mating contact 62 contacts a conductor track (not shown) of the circuit board 60 and forms a circuit board connection.

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As can be seen in FIG. 3, not every contact element 6, 6 is a

Counter contact 62 supplied. A closure 66 formed on the housing body 12 closes the visible feed opening 16 to the first contact element 6 in order to avoid undesired contacting with the latter. The mating contact 62 is contacted by the second contact element 6 ′, which is electrically connected to the first contact element 6 by the bridge member 24.

In FIG. 3, the electronics housing is represented by two side walls 68, 70 spaced apart from one another in parallel, between which the printed circuit board 60 is arranged parallel to it.

5 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a connecting device 2 according to the invention, in which, in contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, there is no closure 66 for a supply opening 16 on the housing body, so that each contact element 6, 6 'can be supplied with a mating contact 62 via a supply opening 16 assigned to it . Otherwise, the structural design of the second exemplary embodiment of a connection device 2 according to the invention corresponds to that of the first exemplary embodiment. The bridge member 24 is not shown in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the second exemplary embodiment of a connection device 2 according to the invention in further views, the bridge element 24 again not being shown.

In FIG. 7 this is again shown on an electronics housing, on the housed circuit board 60 of which the connection device 2 forms a circuit board connection.

8 to 12 show different embodiments for a as

Leg spring designed bridge member 24. The respective bridge member 24 in turn has a first spring leg 36 and a second

Spring leg 38, which by means of an arcuate connecting section

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Reference list

Connection device 2

Insertion opening4

Contact element 6.6 '

Recording room8

Housing body 10

Top12

Bottom 14

Face on the top 15

Feed opening 16

Face on the lower part 18

Contact leg 20

Gap 22

Bridge link24

Connection chamber 26.26 '

Outer surface (of a contact element) 28.28 '

Space30

Contact window 32.32 '

Strip element 34

First spring leg36

Second spring leg 38

Column 40

Channel section 42

Clamp spring46

Clamp spring legs 48

Contact surface50

Stop52

Base area54

Actuator 56

Electronics housing58

PCB 60

Mating contact 62

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Pin contact64

Closure on housing body 1266

side walls

68.70

Connection section 72

Free end of the first spring leg 3674

Free end of the second spring leg 3876

Direction, R in which the spring legs 36, 38 extend from the connecting section 72

Claims (17)

Expectations 1. Connection device (2) for electrical conductors with a housing body (10), which has a receiving space (8) in which a plurality of contact elements (6, 6 ') are arranged at a distance from one another, a respective contact element (6, 6') ) electrically contacts a conductor end supplied to the latter via an insertion opening (4), characterized in that at least one separate electrical bridge member (24) is provided, which is set up and designed in such a way that in an installation position it is at least partially in the receiving space (8) in the receiving space (8) a first contact element (6) and at least one second contact element (6) which is electrically connected to one another. 2. Connection device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bridge member (24) in the installed position at least the first contact element (6) on an outer surface (28) and / or the second contact element (6 ') on an outer surface (28' ) electrically contacted. 3. Connection device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bridge member (24) at least a first spring leg (36) with which it contacts the first contact element (6) in the installed position, and a second spring leg (38), with which it contacts the second contact element (6 ') in the installed position, which are connected to one another via an, in particular arc-shaped, connecting section (72). 4. Connection device (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring legs (36, 38) extend in the same direction (R) from the connecting section (72) to their respective free end (74, 76). 2018/5803 BE2018 / 5803 5. Connection device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical bridge member (24) in one piece, in particular from a bent element having one or more wires or a bent strip part (34), preferably from a strip-shaped stamped and bent part, is formed. 6. Connection device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact elements (6, 6 ') are arranged separately from one another in connection chambers (26, 26') in the receiving space (8), the electrical bridge member (24) is inserted at least in sections in an intermediate space (30) formed between at least two adjacent connection chambers (26, 26 ') in the receiving space (8) 7. Connection device (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that a connection chamber (26, 26 '') is assigned to an insertion opening (4). 8. Connection device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that between the connection chamber (26,26 ') and the intermediate space (30) a contact window (32,32') is formed, via which the electrical bridge member (24) and in of the connection chamber (26, 26 ') arranged contact element (6, 6') come into electrical contact with one another. 9. Connection device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insertion openings (4) on an end face (15) of the housing body (8), in particular to one another in a row arrangement and / or column arrangement, preferably arranged in the manner of a matrix are. 10. Connection device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact element (6, 6 ') is shaped such that it is supplied to the contact element (6, 6') via the insertion opening (4) Presses the end of the conductor against a stop (52) formed on the contact element (6, 6 ') by means of a spring force acting on the spring force. 2018/5803 BE2018 / 5803 11. Connection device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bridge member (24) in the installed position contacts the contact element (6,6 ″) on an outer surface (28,28 ″) of the stop (52). 12. Connection device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing body (10) has at least one insertion channel which opens from an outside of the housing body (10) into the receiving space (8), via which the at least one bridge member (24) can be inserted or inserted into the receiving space, the insertion channel preferably being closable to the outside by means of a cover element. 13. Connection device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection device (2) for connecting a conductor to a printed circuit board (60) is designed and constructed. 14. Printed circuit board (60) with conductor tracks to which electrical conductors can be connected or connected via a connecting device (2) according to one of the preceding claims. 15. A method for producing a connection device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 13 with the steps a) providing a housing body (10) with a receiving space (8) for a plurality of contact elements (6,6 '), b) inserting the plurality of contact elements (6,6 ') into the Recording space (8) characterized by c) inserting at least one electrical bridge member (24) into the Receiving space (10) for electrically connecting at least a first contact element (6) and a second contact element (6 ″) to one another. 2018/5803 BE2018 / 5803 16. The method according to claim 15, characterized by providing a housing body (10) consisting of at least one upper part (12) and one lower part (14) with the upper part (12) and lower part (14) being spaced apart, the upper part and after inserting the contact elements (6, 6), the lower part 5 (12, 14) are arranged together and connected to one another, the at least one bridge member (24) via an insertion channel which is formed on the housing body (10) and from an outside of the Housing body (10) opens out into the receiving space (8), is insertable or inserted. 17. The method according to claim 15, characterized by providing a housing body (10) consisting at least of an upper part (12) and a lower part (14) with a spacing of the upper part 15 (12) and lower part (14) from one another, the upper and lower part (12, 14) being arranged and connected to one another after insertion of the contact elements (6, 6 ') and the at least one bridge member (24).