DE102019106926A1 - Electrical contact element - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical contact element (1) which is designed as a pin contact or a socket contact and which has a metallic plug-in area (ST) and a metallic connection area (AN), with a section between the plug-in area (ST) and the connection area (AN) is surrounded by a collar (3), the collar being designed as a separate component. The invention also relates to a method for producing a contact element (1) with the following process steps: a first piece of wire of a defined length is separated from a first roll of wire, - Contours are carved out of the first piece of wire with the help of the turning technique, whereby a workpiece (2) with a metallic plug-in area (ST) and a metallic connection area (AN) is created, molded in an injection molding process, the plastic ring or the metal ring having a collar (3) forms, which is arranged between the plug area (ST) and the connection area (AN).

Description

The invention is based on an electrical contact element according to the preamble of independent claim 1. The invention also relates to a method for producing an electrical contact element according to the preamble of independent claim 8.

Such contact elements are required in order to establish an electrical connection between an electrical conductor, in particular a stranded conductor, and a connection end of a pin or socket contact.

State of the art

From the DE 1 992 567 A1 electrical contact elements are known which have a crimping area for connecting stranded conductors. Contact elements of this type are manufactured, for example, by cutting off a piece of wire of a defined length and carving out the contours of the contact element from this piece of wire, for example with the help of turning technology. Depending on the geometry of the contact elements, such a production method creates a lot of material waste.

Task

The object of the invention is to propose an electrical contact element which can be produced simply and inexpensively.

The object is achieved by the subject matter of independent claim 1 and by a manufacturing method according to claim 8.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description.

The electrical contact element according to the invention can be designed as a pin contact or as a socket contact. As is known, a pin contact has an essentially cylindrical plug-in area. The plug-in area of a socket contact is usually provided with so-called contact blades. A large number of different contact element variants are, for example, in the EP 2 569 825 B1 shown.

The contact element has a metallic plug-in area and a metallic connection area. A section is surrounded by a collar between the plug-in area and the connection area. One could also say that the collar is arranged between the plug-in area and the connection area, but of course does not separate them from one another. The plug area and connection area are connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner. The collar is, for example, shaped like a disk and is generally used to fix the contact element in a matching shape in an insulating body and / or in a contact carrier of a connector.

The collar is designed as a separate component. The collar is pressed onto a prepared workpiece during the manufacturing process, for example. As a result, the contact element is designed in at least two parts. The workpiece forms a first part and the collar forms a further (second) part.

The workpiece and the collar are advantageously made of different materials. For example, the collar consists of a plastic material. Since the collar does not play a role in the current carrying capacity of the contact element, a material saving can be achieved. The federal government can also consist of a metallic material. For example, the workpiece can consist of a metal with a noble metal coating (a silver and / or gold alloy). The collar can consist of a different or even the same metal without this coating. As a result, the contact element can be produced more cheaply without impairing functionality.

In the manufacture of a contact element according to the invention, a piece of wire of a defined length is separated from a wire roll. The wire wound on the wire reel has a diameter D. The length of the severed piece of wire essentially corresponds to the length of the finished contact element, so that there is no significant material waste here either.

Contours are carved out of the piece of wire using the turning technique, creating a workpiece with a metallic plug-in area and a metallic connection area. The area of the workpiece with the largest diameter has a diameter K. This is usually the plug-in area of the contact element.

The diameter D of the wire advantageously corresponds to the area with the largest diameter K of the workpiece (D≈K). The contours usually cause only minimal waste of material, so this variant is particularly gentle on raw materials.

According to the invention, the metallic plug-in area and the metallic connection area are formed from a one-piece workpiece. This ensures easy further processing.

A plastic ring or a metal ring is pressed over the workpiece or, alternatively, a plastic ring is injected or molded onto the workpiece in an injection molding process. The plastic ring or the metal ring forms the collar already described above, which is arranged between the plug-in area and the connection area.

The collar is advantageously designed as a plastic part or metal ring surrounding the workpiece. The geometry of the collar can be designed differently, as can be seen, for example, from the cited publications.

The workpiece can preferably be manufactured from a first piece of wire with a diameter D1. The collar can, for example, be made from a second piece of wire with a diameter D2. The diameter of the second piece of wire D2 is larger than the diameter of the first piece of wire D1 (D2> D1). This significantly reduces the material removal during the manufacturing process for the contact element. The workpiece can, for example, be further treated in parallel, in particular alloyed with a noble metal coating.

Here, a second piece of wire of a defined length is separated from a second roll of wire and the metal ring is formed from this piece of wire. As already mentioned above, the diameter of the second wire piece is larger than the diameter of the first wire piece.

The workpiece advantageously has at least one circumferential groove in the region of the collar. The circumferential groove is worked into the workpiece using the turning technique. Afterwards, this area is provided with the plastic ring or metal ring that forms the said collar. Due to the circumferential groove, the fixing of the plastic ring or metal ring and thus the entire contact element in the insulating body or in the contact carrier is very stable.

In a preferred variant of the invention, a pin aligned in the insertion direction is formed on the plug-in area of the contact element.

Viewed in the plugging direction, the pin protrudes beyond the plugging area. A contact tip made of plastic material is preferably attached to the pin. Alternatively, the contact tip is molded on directly in an injection molding process.

The contact tip formed on the plug-in side of the plug-in area is made of a plastic material. It serves as protection against contact for a connector which has at least one contact element according to the invention. The contact elements according to the invention are suitable for the transmission of high currents, as a result of which contact protection offers advantages in terms of safety.

Embodiment

• 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Werkstücks und
• 2 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Kontaktelements.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is explained in more detail below. Show it:

• 1 a perspective view of a workpiece and
• 2 a perspective view of a contact element according to the invention.

The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. In some cases, identical reference symbols are used for identical, but possibly not identical elements. Different views of the same elements could be scaled differently.

The 1 shows a perspective view of a workpiece 2 , which with the help of additional components and / or plastic moldings to a contact element 1 is processed. The contact element shown here 1 is designed as a pin contact. A socket contact can have a similar structure.

The contact element 1 has a plug-in area ST and a connection area ON on that by a covenant 3 are optically, but not electrically, separated from each other. The mating area ST is provided for making electrical contact with a mating contact element, in this case a contact socket. The connection area ON consists essentially of a hollow cylinder to which an electrical conductor, in particular a stranded conductor, can be crimped. The crimping technique is well known and is therefore not explained in more detail.

In the federal area 3 are on the workpiece 2 two circumferential grooves 4th , 4 ' intended. The Bund 3 can for example be made by a ring element that extends over the workpiece 2 is pushed over. Alternatively, the collar can be applied directly to the workpiece in an injection molding process 2 be injected. The ring element can consist of a metallic or a plastic material. In both cases the grooves bear 4th , 4 ' the mechanical stability of the federal government 3 at.

To the mating area ST the workpiece then points in the direction of insertion 2 a peg 5 on. On the tenon 5 or on the workpiece 2 is a contact tip on the plug side 6th intended. The contact tip 6th can as a prefabricated part on the tenon 5 pressed or in an injection molding process directly on the pin 5 be injected. In In both cases, the pin serves to mechanically stabilize the contact tip 6th . The contact tip 6th offers contact protection for a connector that uses the contact elements according to the invention 1 used. The contact tip is made of a non-conductive plastic material.

Even if various aspects or features of the invention are each shown in combination in the figures, it is clear to the person skilled in the art - unless otherwise stated - that the combinations shown and discussed are not the only possible ones. In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes from different exemplary embodiments can be exchanged with one another.

List of reference symbols

1

Contact element

2

workpiece

3

Federation

4th

Circumferential groove

5

Cones

6th

Contact tip

ST

Mating area

ON

Connection area

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 1992567 A1 [0003]
• EP 2569825 B1 [0007]

Claims (14)

Electrical contact element (1) which is designed as a pin contact or a socket contact and which has a metallic plug-in area (ST) and a metallic connection area (AN), a section between the plug-in area (ST) and the connection area (AN) being supported by a collar ( 3) is surrounded, the collar being designed as a separate component. Electrical contact element (1) according to Claim 1 characterized in that the metallic plug-in area (ST) and the metallic connection area (AN) are formed from a one-piece workpiece (2). Electrical contact element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical contact element (1) is designed in at least two parts. Electrical contact element (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the collar (3) and the workpiece (2) consist of different materials. Electrical contact element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collar (3) is designed as a plastic part or metal part enclosing the workpiece (2). Electrical contact element according to Claim 2 characterized in that the workpiece (2) has at least one circumferential groove (4, 4 ') in the region of the collar (3). Electrical contact element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a contact tip (6) which is formed from a plastic material is formed on the plug-in side of the plug-in area (ST). Process for the production of a contact element (1) with the following process steps: - a first piece of wire of a defined length is separated from a first roll of wire, - Contours are worked out from the first piece of wire with the help of the turning technique, whereby a workpiece (2) with a metallic plug-in area (ST) and a metallic connection area (AN) is created, - A plastic ring or a metal ring is pressed over the workpiece (2) or molded in an injection molding process, the plastic ring or the metal ring forming a collar (3) which is arranged between the plug-in area (ST) and the connection area (AN). Method for producing a contact element (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the diameter of the wire corresponds to the diameter (K) of the plug-in area (ST) of the workpiece (2). Method for producing a contact element (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that a circumferential groove (4, 4 ') is first made in the workpiece (2) and only then is a collar (3) formed in this area. Method for producing a contact element (1) according to one of the three preceding claims, characterized in that a second piece of wire of a defined length is separated from a second wire roll and the metal ring is formed from this piece of wire and that the diameter of the second piece of wire is greater than the diameter of the first Piece of wire. Method for producing a contact element (1) according to one of the four preceding claims, characterized in that a pin (5) aligned in the insertion direction is formed on the plug-in region (ST). Method for producing a contact element (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a contact tip (6) made of plastic material is attached to the pin (5) or is molded on in an injection molding process. Method for producing a contact element (1) according to one of the six preceding claims, wherein the method for producing a contact element (1) according to Claim 1 is executed.

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