EP2697867B1 - Plug-type connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector, in particular charging plug or high-current plug, having a housing made of an electrically insulating material and having at least one disposed in the housing first contact element made of an electrically conductive material, wherein the housing has a plug-side end, which for plug-in connection with a Complementary connector is formed, and has a cable-side end, which is designed for electrical and mechanical connection with an electrically conductive cable, and wherein the at least one first contact element has a free end, which faces the plug-side end, according to the preamble of claim 1 ,

From the DE 20 2010 010 827 U1 For example, a high current connector for transmitting electrical currents is known. This has a housing made of electrically conductive material, which is designed for mechanical and electrical connection to a cable and has an open side for insertion of a mating connector made of an electrically conductive material. Furthermore, a contact element is provided, which is arranged in the housing and is formed so that it makes an electrical contact with contact surface and contact pressure between the housing and the mating connector inserted therein. The contact element has at least one annular coil spring.

The invention has for its object to provide a connector of o.g. Art improved to the effect that against each other movable contacts within the connector are possible.

This object is achieved by a connector of o.g. Art solved with the features characterized in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the further claims.

In a connector of the aforementioned type, it is provided according to the invention that at least one second contact element electrically conductively connected to the first contact element is disposed of an electrically conductive material in the housing, wherein the first contact element has a first plate-shaped portion and the second contact element has a second plate-shaped Section, wherein the second contact element has a cable-side end of the connector facing the end, which is designed for electrical connection to the cable, wherein the plate-shaped portions of the two contact elements are arranged parallel to each other and facing each other such that the plate-shaped portions in the direction perpendicular to these overlap in an overlap region at least partially and are separated by a predetermined distance, wherein the electrically conductive connection of the first contact element with the second K ontaktelement between the mutually facing plate-shaped sections in the overlapping region is provided at least one coil spring made of an electrically conductive and resilient material which electrically contacts the first contact element in the first plate-shaped portion at least a first contact surface with a first contact pressure and the second electrical contact element in the second plate-shaped portion electrically contacted at least one second contact surface with a second contact pressure.

This has the advantage that it is possible to move the first contact element relative to the housing and to the second contact element without negatively influencing the electrical contact between the two contact elements. As a result, the electrical contact point is particularly suitable for the transmission of high electrical currents, for example, with a current of 100 to 400 A or more, and can be equipped by the movable first contact element simultaneously with a Berührschutz for the electrical contacts of the connector.

A particularly good electrical contact is achieved by a high contact pressure, characterized in that the coil spring has obliquely wound turns.

A particularly high number of contact surfaces with a corresponding improvement in the electrical properties of the connector is achieved by the fact that the coil spring is annular.

A particularly uniform distribution of the contact pressure on the contact surfaces is achieved in that the annular coil spring between the two plate-shaped sections in the overlap region is arranged such that at least a portion of a first axial side of the annular coil spring electrically and mechanically contacts the first plate-shaped portion and at least a portion of a first axial side opposite second axial side of the coil spring electrically and mechanically contacted the second plate-shaped portion.

A particularly high number of contact surfaces between the coil spring and the plate-shaped sections of the contact elements in the overlapping region is achieved in that the annular coil spring within the ring defines a surface in space, the surface is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the coil spring at the boundary to the coil spring wherein the coil spring is such is arranged, that this surface is at least partially disposed between and parallel to the plate-shaped portions in the overlapping region.

A mechanically particularly good fixation of the coil spring on the first contact element is achieved in that the helical spring is arranged such that the surface partially surrounds the first contact element.

A further increase in the contact pressure with a corresponding improvement in the electrical properties of the connector by tilting the turns of the coil spring relative to a longitudinal axis of the screw spring is achieved in that a distance between the plate-shaped portions of the contact elements is smaller than an outer diameter of the coil spring.

Fig. 1

eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Steckverbinders in einem Zustand mit eingefahrenen Kontaktelementen in perspektivischer Ansicht,

Fig. 2

den Steckverbinder gemäß Fig. 1 in einem Zustand mit vollständig ausgefahrenen Kontaktelementen in perspektivischer Ansicht,

Fig. 3

den Steckverbinder gemäß Fig. 1 in teilweise aufgebrochener, perspektivischer Ansicht,

Fig. 4

den Steckverbinder gemäß Fig. 1 mit einem ersten Kontaktelement in einer zweiten, ausgefahrenen Position und

Fig. 5

den Steckverbinder gemäß Fig. 1 mit einem ersten Kontaktelement in einer ersten, eingefahrenen Position.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. This shows in:

Fig. 1

a preferred embodiment of a connector according to the invention in a state with retracted contact elements in a perspective view,

Fig. 2

the connector according to Fig. 1 in a state with fully extended contact elements in perspective view,

Fig. 3

the connector according to Fig. 1 in a partially broken, perspective view,

Fig. 4

the connector according to Fig. 1 with a first contact element in a second, extended position and

Fig. 5

the connector according to Fig. 1 with a first contact element in a first, retracted position.

The in the Fig. 1 to 5 illustrated, preferred embodiment of a connector according to the invention comprises a housing 10 having a plug-side end 12 and a cable-side end 14. On the housing 10, a cover 16 is provided at the plug-side end 12. The plug-side end 12 is designed for plug-in connection or mating with a complementary plug connector (not shown), wherein at least one electrical contact between the plug connector according to the invention and the complementary plug connector is to be produced. For this purpose, at least one pair of contact elements made of an electrically conductive material with a first contact element 18 and a second contact element 20 is provided in the housing 10, as shown Fig. 3 seen. In Fig. 3 For purposes of clarity, a pair of these contact elements 18, 20 are shown, however, the exemplary embodiment has seven such pairs. The storage and management of the contact element 18, 20 in the housing 10 is not shown for reasons of clarity in all figures. The first contact element 18 has a free end 22, which faces the plug-side end 12. At one end face of the free end 22, a completely covering end cap 24 made of an electrically insulating material is arranged.

The respective first contact element 18 of a pair is movable relative to the housing 10 and the second contact element 20 between a first position, as in FIG Fig. 1 and 5 represented, and a second position, as in Fig. 2 and 4 shown, movable. The second contact element 20 is arranged fixed with respect to the housing 10. In the figures, a mechanism for moving the first contact elements 18 for reasons of clarity is not shown. In the first position, the first contact element 18 is retracted into a space bounded by the housing 10 and the cover 16. In the second position, the first contact element 12 is pushed out of the housing 10 through a respective opening 26 in the cover 16 and projects beyond the cover 24 or the housing 10 in the direction of the plug-side end 12.

In the first position, a protection against unwanted contact of the first contact elements 18 is thus given by an operator when the connector according to the invention is not plugged into a complementary connector and thus the plug-side end 12 is freely accessible. At the plug-in end 12, only the electrically insulating cover 16 or the electrically insulating housing 10 and the end caps 24 are exposed. Thus, even in the unmated state of the connector according to the invention, an electrical voltage applied to the first contact elements 18, without causing a danger to an operator by accidental contact of the first contact elements 18 at an electrically conductive point.

After the connector according to the invention is plugged together with a complementary connector, the first contact elements 18 are extended from the first position through the cover 16 into the second position, so that the first contact elements 18 of each pair electrically contact corresponding contact elements in the complementary connector , Conversely, before pulling back again from the connector according to the invention and the complementary connector, the first contact elements 18 are withdrawn from the second position back to the first position. Preferably, a corresponding first securing mechanism is provided, which only allows a movement of the first contact elements 18 from the first position to the second position when the connector according to the invention is fully inserted into the complementary connector. Furthermore, a second securing mechanism is preferably provided, which prevents disassembly of the connector according to the invention and the complementary connector, as long as the first contact elements 18 are outside the first position.

The connector according to the invention is connected at its cable end 14 with at least one electrically conductive cable. To decouple the movement of the first contact elements 18 of the cable-side end 14 and the cable is to each movable first contact element 18, each with respect to the Housing 10 fixed second contact element 20 is provided as in Fig. 3 to 5 shown. In the Fig. 3 to 5 For reasons of better clarity, only one pair of first and second contact elements 18, 20 is shown.

The first contact element 18 and the second contact element 20 of a pair are each plate-shaped and in each case a pair of first and second contact element 18, 20 are arranged parallel to each other such that respective wide sides 28 of the first and second contact element 18, 20 facing each other. Furthermore, in an overlapping area 30 (FIG. Fig. 4 and 5 ) between the plate-shaped contact elements 18, 20 of a pair of first and second contact element 18, 20 arranged at least one coil spring 32 made of an electrically conductive and resilient material. A diameter of the coil spring 32 and a spacing of the plate-shaped contact elements 18, 20 and the wide sides 28 of a pair of first and second contact elements 18, 20 in the overlap region 30 is selected such that respective screw turns of the coil spring 32 with a first radial outside the first contact element 18 and with a second outer side opposite the first radial outer side abut the second contact element 20, so that between the turns of the coil spring 32 and the respective contact element 18, 20 results in an electrical contact point with contact surface and contact pressure. The contact pressure adjusts itself in that the turns of the helical spring 32 are deflected out of a respective rest position relative to a longitudinal axis of the helical spring 32 or are tilted relative to the longitudinal axis of the helical spring 32. This is achieved in that a distance of the plate-shaped contact elements 18, 20 of a pair of first and second contact element 18, 20 is smaller than an outer diameter of the coil spring 32nd

The coil spring 32 is attached to the first contact element 18, so that the coil spring 32 moves with the first contact element 18. Accordingly, the turns of the helical spring 38 grind along the second contact element upon movement of the first contact element 18 20 and thereby maintain a sufficient electrical connection between the two contact elements 18, 20 upright.

The second contact elements 20 each have a free end with an end face 34, this free end facing the cable end 14 of the connector according to the invention. The front end face 34 serves, for example, for electrical contacting with a wire or electrical line of a cable to be connected to the connector according to the invention.

The helical spring 32 is preferably annular and defines within this ring an area space. This surface is aligned at the boundaries of the coil spring 32 parallel to a longitudinal axis of the coil spring 32 at the appropriate location. Due to the annular design of the coil spring 32, this forms in principle a torus in space, which has two opposite axial end sides. According to the invention, the helical spring 32 is arranged in the overlapping region 30 between the two contact elements 18, 20 such that the helical spring 32 strikes the second contact element 20 with turns at one axial end on the first contact element 18 and with turns on the other, opposite axial end , like out Fig. 3 seen. In other words, none of the contact elements 18, 20 engages through the surface in the ring of the annular coil spring 32, but the electrical contact between the coil spring 32 and the contact elements 18, 20 takes place on axial end sides of the annular coil spring 32. This allows the coil spring 32nd be securely attached to the first contact element 18 and is secured against slipping or twisting during a movement of the first contact element 18 relative to the second contact element 20. How to continue Fig. 3 can be seen, the enclosed in the ring of the coil spring 32 partially surrounds the first contact element 18. This additionally supports the fixation of the coil spring 32 not only at the location of the first contact element 18 but also against a deformation of the annular arrangement of the coil spring 32 between the contact elements 18th , 20.

In Fig. 4 and 5 the annular coil springs 32 are not fully illustrated due to the cut. The ring or in this limited area surrounds the first contact element 18 on the narrow side of the plate-like configuration of the first contact element 18. According to the exemplary illustration of Fig. 4 and 5 four coil springs 32 are provided. However, any other number may also be provided in an overlapping region 30 of a pair 18, 20, such as one, two, three, five or six coil springs 32.

Claims (4)

1. Insertion-type connector, and in particular a charging connector or high-current connector, having a housing (10) of an electrically insulating material and having at least one first contact-making member (18) which is of an electrically conductive material and which is arranged in the housing, the housing having an insertion end (12) which is designed for connection by insertion to a complementary insertion-type connector and having a cable end (14) which is designed for electrical and mechanical connection to an electrically conductive cable, and the at least one first contact-making member having a free end which is adjacent the insertion end, characterised in that at least one second contact-making member (20) which is of an electrically conductive material and which has an electrically conductive connection to the first contact-making member is arranged in the housing (10), the first contact-making member (18) having a first blade-like portion and the second contact-making member (20) having a second blade-like portion, the second contact-making member having an end, adjacent the cable end of the insertion-type connector, which is designed for electrical connection to the cable, the blade-like portions of the two contact-making members being arranged parallel to one another and to face towards one another in such a way that, in a direction perpendicular to themselves and in a region of overlap (30), the blade-like portions at least partly overlap and are at a predetermined distance from one another, there being provided, in the region of overlap (30), between the blade-like portions which face towards one another and for the electrically conductive connection of the first contact-making member (18) to the second contact-making member (20), at least one helical spring (32) which is of an electrically conductive and resilient material and which makes electrical contact with the first contact-making member (18) with a first contact-making pressure, on the first blade-like portion, at at least one first contact surface and which makes electrical contact with the second contact-making member with a second contact-making pressure, on the second blade-like portion, at at least one second contact surface, the helical spring (32) being of an annular form, the annular helical spring (32) defining an area in space within the annulus, the area being parallel to a longitudinal axis of the helical spring (32) at its boundary relative to the helical spring, the helical spring being so arranged that at least part of this area is arranged between and parallel to the blade-like portions in the region of overlap (30), and the helical spring being arranged in such a way that it fits partly round the surface of the first contact-making member (18).
2. Insertion-type connector according to claim 1, characterised in that the helical spring (32) has turns wound at an oblique angle.
3. Insertion-type connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the annular helical spring (32) is arranged between the two blade-like portions, in the region of overlap (30), in such a way that at least one portion of a first axial side of the annular helical spring (32) makes electrical and mechanical contact with the first blade-like portion and that at least one portion of a second axial side of the annular helical spring (32) which is opposite from the first axial side makes electrical and mechanical contact with the second blade-like portion.
4. Insertion-type connector according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the distance between the blade-like portions of the contact-making members (18, 20) is smaller than the outside diameter of the helical spring (32).

Images