Contact

Abstract

The invention describes and illustrates a contact having two opposite side walls, having a rear wall arranged between the side walls and having an insertion gap, the side walls and the rear wall together forming a contact cage. The plug-in gap is formed by two contact lips which are opposite each other, each contact lip forms a contact surface, the contact surfaces of the contact lips face each other, each contact lip is arranged in the contact cage in a manner of being oriented basically parallel to the side wall, each contact lip is formed by a side wall section which is bent into the contact cage, and the contact surface of the contact lips faces the contact surface of the contact lips. The side wall section forms a free end facing away from the bending region thereof, the contact part has a first insertion direction in which the mating contact part can be inserted into the insertion gap, and wherein each contact lip is equipped with at least one contact dome part facing each other, and the contact dome part of each contact lip is provided with a corresponding contact surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a contact portion. - has two side walls facing each other, - having a rear wall arranged between the side walls, wherein the side walls together with the rear wall form a contact cage, - With plug-in clearance, The plug-in gap is formed by two mutually opposing contact lips, wherein: - Each contact lip forms a contact surface, wherein - the contact surfaces of the contact lips face each other, wherein - Each contact lip is arranged in the contact cage in such a manner as to be oriented substantially parallel to the side wall, wherein - Each contact lip is formed by a side wall section bent into the contact cage, wherein the side wall section forms a free end facing away from its curvature region, and A first plug-in direction is provided, along which the mating contact portion can be inserted into the plug-in gap. Background Art

[0002] Contacts according to this general category are known from the prior art, which cannot be documented. These contacts usually accommodate flat blade contacts in their plug-in gaps and, in particular, use flat plug-in connectors, which are usually used in motor vehicles.

[0003] Such contacts are typically manufactured using a stamping and bending process. The contact lips that form the plug-in gap are formed slightly closer together in the plug-in direction. When the mating contact is inserted, ideally, the contact lips open so that they are oriented almost parallel to each other and rest over a large area on the mating contact, in particular the flat blade contact. This ensures sufficient contact surface to transmit sufficient current intensity from the contact to the mating contact.

[0004] In reality, this ideal state is rarely achieved. First, production tolerances during contact part manufacturing play a role. Material tolerances of the flat blade contact part also play a role. Finally, specific installation conditions often require the flat blade contact part to be inserted into the contact part with an offset relative to the center plane of the insertion gap, with a certain tilt, or even with a certain twist. This often results in the two contact lips not being able to ensure full-surface contact on the flat blade contact part to be inserted.

[0005] In the case of a lateral offset relative to the center plane of the insertion gap, although one of the contact lips usually rests flatly on the flat blade contact portion, the other contact lip usually rests linearly on the flat blade contact portion with the edge of its free end.

[0006] In the case of an inclined flat blade contact portion relative to the center plane of the plug-in gap, with a corresponding configuration of the contact lip, up to two diagonally opposite subsurfaces of the contact lip can rest against the flat blade contact portion. However, usually, only the edges of the contact lip, which are ideally broken off during the stamping process, rest against the flat blade contact portion.

[0007] Twisting of the flat blade contact portion about its vertical axis also precludes full-surface contact of the contact lip on both sides.

[0008] Therefore, if the contact portion and its mating contact portion are inserted into each other in a manner that deviates from the ideal orientation relative to each other, the contact surface between them is reduced, and the transition value from the contact portion to the mating contact portion is significantly deteriorated. Therefore, with the contact portions of the prior art, the theoretical electrical transmission capacity, especially for the transmission of high currents, is reduced in order to meet safety requirements.

[0009] The increasing electrification in various fields (in the automotive sector, for example due to various control units or even battery-electric drive components, in mechanical engineering and plant engineering due to the use of electronic control units and servomotors) increasingly requires the transmission of high currents at sometimes relatively low voltages in order to provide sufficient energy for the operation of the various electrical components. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The object of the present invention is therefore to optimize the connection between contacts according to this category and their mating contacts in the form of flat blade contacts, in particular between contacts of a fuse carrier and a flat plug-in fuse, so that high currents of up to 50 amperes can also be safely transmitted, in particular at high ambient temperatures.

[0011] This object is achieved by a contact part having the characteristic features described below, according to which each contact lip is equipped with at least one contact dome, which contact domes face one another and the contact dome of each contact lip forms a corresponding contact surface.

[0012] The design of the contact dome in the form of a curvature extending into the plug-in gap can compensate for the three initially discussed deviations from the ideal orientation of the contact portion and the flat blade contact portion. The radius of the curvature ensures a definable minimum contact surface for each of these deviations and also for the ideal orientation, allowing the transmittable current intensity to be precisely calculated and ensured in actual operation.

[0013] In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that each contact dome extends parallel to the vertex line of the bending region of the side wall section which is bent into the contact cage in order to produce the contact lip.

[0014] In other words, the ideal contact dome for the contact portion according to the present invention is elongated and forms almost a subsection of the side surface of a cylinder. Particularly preferably, the contact dome extends over the entire length or width of the contact lip, depending on the reference direction. This maximizes the contact surface area of ​​the contact dome with the flat blade contact portion serving as the counter-contact portion. Furthermore, selecting a large radius for the contact dome curve can have a positive impact on the contact surface.

[0015] It is provided that each side wall section has at least one recess which is introduced parallel to the apex line and the contact lip is arranged between the recess and the free end of the side wall section.

[0016] Here, it is particularly provided that each contact lip forms a lip end in the region of the recess of the associated side wall section, which flares out along a bending axis extending transversely to the apex line in such a way as to widen the plug gap, wherein two mutually opposing lip ends form a funnel-shaped plug guide.

[0017] This embodiment is distinguished by two advantages: On the one hand, this embodiment enables the insertion of the flat blade contact portion in a simplified manner.

[0018] Furthermore, this design of the contact lip is a prerequisite for enabling further plugging directions for insertion into the plug gap in addition to the first plugging direction mentioned above for the mating contact configured as a flat blade contact. This will be discussed in detail later.

[0019] It is particularly preferred if the respective contact dome projects into the flared lip end.

[0020] If the contact dome extends into the flared lip end, the mutual contact surface of the contact and mating contact can be further improved in arrangements deviating from the ideal orientation, in particular when the mating contact is inserted into the plug gap at an angle.

[0021] It is particularly preferred that each side wall section has two notches, which are arranged on a notch line parallel to the apex line, each contact lip thus forming two lip ends opposite each other, and the lip ends opposite each other forming two funnel-shaped plug-in guides opposite each other.

[0022] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the insertion gap is arranged opposite to the rear wall.

[0023] According to the present invention, the first plug-in direction is directed transversely to the rear wall.

[0024] This embodiment essentially has the advantage that the curved area of ​​the side wall, which is produced by bending into the contact cage to produce the contact lip, forms a first, trumpet-shaped lead-in contour for the mating contact. Consequently, no additional plug-in guide is required to achieve the first plug-in direction.

[0025] However, it is possible to orient the second plug-in direction parallel to the apex line; in particular, the third plug-in direction can also be parallel to the apex line, but opposite to the second plug-in direction.

[0026] In particular, when the aforementioned trumpet-shaped plug guide is created by flaring the lip ends of the contact lip, the two complementary plugging directions can also be realized. Thus, in addition to the first plugging direction, up to two further plugging directions can be realized, which enables a contact that can be used very universally.

[0027] The contact portion according to the invention is provided as part of a circuit board equipped with components. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the contact cage is configured with at least one solder attachment terminal on the underside.

[0028] The soldering attachment end can not only be provided for passing through the plated through-hole of the circuit board. It is also possible to configure the soldering attachment end as an attachment end and to configure a positioning projection on the contact portion, which ensures that the contact portion is oriented correctly on the circuit board for equipping the circuit board.

[0029] In this sense, the second plug-in direction points in the direction of the bottom side of the contact cage, wherein it can additionally be provided that the third plug-in direction points in the direction of the top side of the contact cage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Further advantages of the present invention and a better understanding of the present invention will be apparent from the description of the exemplary embodiments. The accompanying drawings show: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a contact portion according to the present invention in the direction of the plug gap, Figure 2 is in the direction of the rear wall of the contact portion according to Figure 1 The contact part, Figure 3 is based on Figure 2 The arrow III in the view is in the direction of the side wall of the contact portion according to Figure 1 The contact part, Figure 4 is based on Figure 1 The contact part is based on Figure 2 The view of the view arrow IV in the Figure 5 is based on Figure 1 The plug-in clearance of the contact part is based on Figure 3 The view of the view arrow V in the Figure 6 is based on Figure 5 The view of the section line AA in Figure 7 is based on Figure 4 The view of the section line BB in Figure 8 is based on Figure 4 The view of the section line CC in Figure 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a contact portion according to the present invention in the direction of the plug gap, Figure 10 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a contact portion according to the present invention in the direction of the plug gap of the contact portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In the figures, the contact according to the invention is always provided with the reference numeral 10. Since this contact 10 is provided for transmitting high currents due to its embodiment according to the invention, it is also referred to as a high-current contact 10.

[0032] exist Figure 1 1 shows a high-current contact 10 in a perspective view. The high-current contact has a rear wall 11 which is arranged between a first side wall 12 and a second side wall 13. The side walls 12, 13 together with the rear wall 11 form a contact cage 14.

[0033] The first side wall 12 has a first side wall section 15 which is bent inwardly by approximately 165 to 180 degrees into the contact cage 14 and thus forms a first bending region 16 . In this way, the free end of the first side wall section 15 points in the direction of the rear wall 11 .

[0034] The second side wall 13 forms a second side wall section 17. The second side wall section 17 is also bent into the contact cage 14 by approximately 165 to 180 degrees, thereby producing a second bending region 18. Here, the free end of the second wall section 17 also points toward the rear wall 11 of the high-current contact 10.

[0035] The first side wall section 15 of the first side wall 12 forms a first contact lip 19, and the second side wall section 17 of the second side wall 13 forms a second contact lip 20. The contact portion 10 forms a plug-in gap S between the contact lips 19, 20.

[0036] Finally, the contact portion 10 is Figure 1 In the embodiment of FIG. 2 , the soldering terminal 21 has two soldering attachment ends 21 in the form of soldering legs 22 which are provided for being inserted into corresponding openings in the circuit board and for being soldered therein.

[0037] Figure 2 A view showing the rear wall 11 of the contact portion 10 is shown. Figure 1 It is clear that the rear wall is attached to the side walls 12 , 13 via a respective bent section 23 .

[0038] A support tab 24 projects towards the underside of the contact portion 10, which carries the solder attachment end 21, and which is connected to the side walls 12, 13 (see FIG. Figure 1 )'s supporting fingers 25 work together.

[0039] Figure 3 is based on Figure 2 Side view according to the view arrow III in FIG. Here, the first side wall 12 is seen, wherein the following also applies to the second side wall 13. Firstly, the curved section 23 is also seen here, to which the side wall 12 of the rear wall 11 is attached. Figure 3 Also visible are the support tabs 24 of the rear wall 11 and the weld attachment ends 21, which in this embodiment are designed as weld legs 22. On the front side facing away from the rear wall 11, the first bending region 16 can be seen, which is produced by bending the first side wall section 15 into the contact cage 14.

[0040] The first side wall 12 forms supporting fingers 25 toward the bottom of the contact portion. For this purpose, bending cutouts B are provided so that the supporting fingers 25 are formed below the bending region 16. In other words, the bending cutouts B are arranged between the first bending region 16 and the supporting fingers 25 and enable the first side wall section 15 to be bent into the contact cage without deforming the supporting fingers 25.

[0041] In addition, from Figure 10 It can be seen that the supporting webs 24 and the supporting fingers 25 terminate towards the bottom side of the contact in a common supporting plane A. This plane contains the top side of the circuit board on which the contact 10 is arranged. The supporting webs 24 and the supporting fingers 25 of the side walls 12 , 13 ensure a vertical orientation of the contact 10 on the circuit board.

[0042] Figure 4 The bottom side of the contact portion 10 is shown. Figure 2 , according to the perspective arrow IV in FIG. This figure first shows that the side wall sections 15 and 17 are not bent completely 180 degrees into the contact cage 14, but rather have a slightly smaller bending angle, here, for example, 175 degrees. This results in a wedge-shaped narrowing of the plug-in gap S, which is initially widened by the insertion of mating contacts (not shown), in particular flat blade contacts. This ensures the contact pressure of the contact lips 19, 20 on the flat blade contacts.

[0043] In addition, you can Figure 4 As can be seen in the figure, the two contact lips 19 and 20 each form a first contact dome 26 or a second contact dome 27. The two contact domes 26 and 27 point toward each other and further narrow the plug gap S. The contact domes have a curved surface, which can be formed as a subsection of the cylinder side surface.

[0044] Figure 5 The front side of the contact part 10, which is opposite the rear wall 11, is shown. Here, the interior of the plug-in gap S is visible, in which the contact domes 26, 27 are formed on the contact lips 19, 20 so as to point toward each other. In addition, the vertex line L is shown (see also Figure 1 ), the vertex lines L respectively indicate the vertices of the bending regions 16 and 18.

[0045] Figure 8 is based on Figure 4 . A sectional view along section line CC in FIG. shows an interior view of the contact cage 14, looking toward the inner surface of the first side wall 12. It is shown here that the first side wall section 15 has two recesses 28. The recesses 28 are located on a recess line Z, which is oriented parallel to the vertex line L. The first recess 28 is introduced into the first side wall section 15 from the upper side of the contact portion. The second recess 28 is introduced into the first side wall section 15 from the lower side of the contact portion. Material webs 29 remain between the recesses 28. Thus, the first contact lip 26 is formed between these recesses 28 and the free end of the first side wall section 15.

[0046] The first contact lip 19 forms an upper or lower lip end 30 in the region of each recess 28. Each lip end 30 opens along a bending axis Y in the direction of the first side wall 12. The bending axis Y extends orthogonally to the apex line L.

[0047] The second side wall 13 and its second side wall section 17 are designed accordingly.

[0048] If you look back now Figure 5, it can be seen that the expanded lip ends 30 of the contact lips 19, 20 form a funnel-shaped plug-in guide F not only from the upper side of the contact part, but also from the lower side of the contact part. This facilitates the insertion of a mating contact part, especially a flat blade contact part, not only from the upper side of the contact part, but also from the lower side of the contact part.

[0049] In observation Figure 8 and 1 5 and 7 , it is noteworthy that the contact domes 26 , 27 extend over their entire length parallel to the apex line, up to the flared lip end 30 .

[0050] Figure 6 The contact portion 10 is shown based on Figure 5 . This schematic diagram shows how the plug gap S is narrowed by the contact domes 26, 27 that penetrate into the plug gap S. It is very easy to imagine that the contact domes 26, 27 can always produce a defined contact surface even when the mating contacts are inserted in an offset, tilted or twisted manner and thus can also reliably ensure the transmission of high currents.

[0051] Figure 7 It is based on Figure 4 . The view is taken from the rear wall 11 in the direction of the front side of the contact part or in the direction of the plug gap S. This diagram also shows how the plug gap S is formed between the contact lips 19, 20, whose lip ends 30, which are open relative to the respectively adjacent side walls 12, 13, form the upper and lower plug guides F.

[0052] Now, with reference to the remaining drawings, especially with reference to Figure 1 It is clear that the first plug-in direction extends orthogonally from the contact front end in the direction of the rear wall 11. Along this first plug-in direction, the flat blade contact can be pushed into the high-current contact part 10 and contacted via the contact domes 26, 27.

[0053] The second plugging direction and the third plugging direction can be defined from the contact top or from the contact bottom, ie perpendicular to the first plugging direction or parallel to the apex line L. Along these plugging directions, flat blade contacts can also be introduced into the high-current contact 10 .

[0054] A circuit board arranged on the underside of the high-current contact 10 can have a slot flush with the plug-in gap S, so that a flat blade contact can be pushed through such a circuit board into the high-current contact 10 .

[0055] Figure 9A second embodiment of a high-current contact 10 according to the present invention is shown. This embodiment is largely identical to the high-current contact 10 described above. In particular, there are no significant differences in the area of ​​the contact lips 19 and 20 that form the plug-in gap S. Instead of soldering legs 22, this embodiment has contact pins 31 that are designed to rest on a contact surface of a circuit board and to be soldered thereto. Positioning mandrels 32 extend from the support tabs 24 and position the high-current contact 10 correctly on the circuit board for subsequent soldering of the contact pins 31 to the contact surface.

[0056] according to Figure 10 The third embodiment of Figure 9 It should also be noted that the configuration of the contact lips 19, 20 and the plug-in gap does not differ from the first embodiment. Figure 9 Compared with the high current contact part 10, according to Figure 10 The embodiment of the present invention omits the positioning mandrel 32. Reference Signs List

[0057] 10 Contact part / high current contact part 11 Posterior wall 12 First side wall 13 Second side wall 14 Contact Cage 15 First side wall section 16 First bending area 17 Second side wall section 18 Second bending area 19 First contact lip 20 Second contact lip 21 Welding attachment end 22 Welding legs 23 curved sections 24 Support tab 25 Support finger 26 Second contact dome 27 Second contact dome 28 notches 29 Material splices 30 lip tip 31 Contact foot 32 Positioning mandrel F Plug guide S Insertion gap L Vertex Line B Curved incision A Support plane Z Notch Line Y bending axis

Claims

1. Contact part (10), - has two side walls (12, 13) facing each other, - having a rear wall (11) arranged between the side walls (12, 13), wherein The side walls (12, 13) together with the rear wall (11) form a contact cage (14), - has a plug-in gap S, The plug-in gap S is formed by two mutually opposing contact lips (19, 20), wherein: Each contact lip (19, 20) forms a contact surface, wherein - the contact surfaces of the contact lips (19, 20) face each other, wherein Each contact lip (19, 20) is arranged in the contact cage (14) in such a manner as to be oriented substantially parallel to the side walls (12, 13), wherein - Each contact lip (19, 20) is formed by a side wall section (15, 17) bent into the contact cage (14), wherein - the side wall sections (15, 17) are configured with free ends facing away from their bending regions (16, 18), - having a first plug-in direction, along which the mating contact portion can be inserted into the plug-in gap S, It is characterized by: - each contact lip (19, 20) is equipped with at least one contact dome (26, 27), - the contact domes (26, 27) face each other, The contact dome (26, 27) of each contact lip (19, 20) forms a corresponding contact surface.

2. The contact portion according to claim 1, wherein: Each contact dome (26, 27) extends parallel to a vertex line L of a curved region (16, 18) of a side wall section (15, 17) that is bent into the contact cage (14) to produce the contact lip (19, 20).

3. The contact portion according to claim 2, wherein: Each side wall section (15, 17) has at least one recess (28) which is introduced parallel to the apex line L, and the contact lip (19, 20) is arranged between the recess (28) and the free end of the side wall section (15, 17).

4. The contact portion according to claim 3, wherein: Each contact lip (19, 20) is configured in the region of a recess (28) of the associated side wall section (15, 17) with a lip end (30), which is expanded along a bending axis Y extending transversely to the apex line L in such a way as to widen the plug-in gap S, wherein two mutually opposing lip ends (30) form a funnel-shaped plug-in guide F.

5. The contact portion according to claim 2 or 4, characterized in that The respective contact domes (26, 27) extend into the flared lip ends (30).

6. The contact portion according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that - each side wall section (15, 17) has two notches (28), said notches being arranged on a notch line Z parallel to said vertex line L, - each contact lip (19, 20) is thus formed with two lip ends (30) lying opposite one another, The mutually opposite lip ends ( 30 ) form two mutually opposite, funnel-shaped plug guides F.

7. The contact portion according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The insertion gap S is arranged in a manner opposite to the rear wall (11).

8. The contact portion according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The first plug-in direction is directed transversely to the rear wall (11). 9 . The contact according to claim 1 , wherein the second plug-in direction is oriented parallel to the apex line.

10. The contact portion according to claim 9, wherein: The third plug-in direction is likewise parallel to the apex line, but opposite to the second plug-in direction.

11. The contact portion according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The contact cage (14) is configured with at least one weld attachment end (21) on the underside.

12. The contact portion according to claims 9 and 11, characterized in that The second plug-in direction points in the direction of the underside of the contact cage (14).

13. The contact portion according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that The third plug-in direction points in the direction of the upper side of the contact cage (14).

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