Crimp contacts

Abstract

The invention relates to a crimping contact for crimping a conductor, comprising: a crimping side surface that can be crimped and is used to surround the conductor after crimping, and a receiving portion for the conductor, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the crimping contact to a receiving end. The crimping side surface extends in the longitudinal direction to a front end on the receiving end, and the front area of ​​the crimping contact is arranged between the receiving end and the front end. The crimping contact has at least one structured area in the front area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a crimping contact for crimping a conductor, a method for producing such a crimping contact and a crimping connection. Background Art

[0002] Crimping contacts are known from the prior art. These usually have two crimping sides arranged on both sides of the crimping back. When the crimping contact is contacted by the conductor end, the conductor end is positioned between the crimping sides and above the crimping back. Then, for example using crimping pliers or a crimping tool, the crimping side is bent around the end of the conductor. During this crimping process, the conductor is mechanically and electrically connected to the crimping contact. Such a crimping contact is disclosed, for example, in the printed document DE 102015 224 219 A1.

[0003] During crimping, the upper edge of the crimping flank hits the inside of the crimping flank. The crimping flank can then roll up and in this way take on a spiral shape after crimping. However, it can happen that the upper edge slips on the inside of the crimping tooth flank, resulting in an unsatisfactory crimped connection. Summary of the invention

[0004] The problem of the present invention is to modify the crimping contact so that the possibility of the upper edge sliding from the inner side of the crimping side is reduced, or such sliding is completely avoided. Another problem of the present invention is to propose a manufacturing method for such a crimping contact. Another problem of the present invention is to propose a crimping connection made of such a crimping contact and a conductor.

[0005] These problems are solved with the crimp contact, the production method and the crimp connection of the independent claims. Advantageous configurations are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] A crimping contact for crimping a conductor comprises: a crimping side surface that can be crimped and is used to surround the conductor after crimping, and a receiving portion for the conductor, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the crimping contact to a receiving end. The crimping side surface extends in the longitudinal direction to the front end on the receiving end. The front area of ​​the crimping contact is arranged between the receiving end and the front end. The crimping contact has at least one structured area in the front area.

[0007] In this case, it is conceivable that, when the crimping flanks are crimped, a friction connection and / or a positive connection is produced due to the structured region, as a result of which the enclosure of the conductor can be improved by means of the crimping flanks.

[0008] In this case, the conductor can in particular be a multi-core conductor. It is conceivable that the crimping contact consists of metal. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the conductor also consists of metal, and that the metal of the conductor and the metal of the crimping contact are different from each other. It is conceivable that the receiving end is arranged to be aligned with one end of the conductor.

[0009] In one embodiment, the crimping contact is formed from a metal sheet. In this case, the sheet thickness is a maximum of three millimeters. Preferably, the sheet thickness may be in the range of 150 micrometers to two millimeters. A particularly preferred embodiment has a sheet thickness in the range of 200 to 400 micrometers.

[0010] In this case, the term metal sheet includes metal, the sheet thickness of which is smaller than other dimensions of the metal sheet. Thus, in this embodiment, the crimping contact comprises metal, the metal of the metal sheet. The specified sheet thickness makes it possible in particular to produce crimping profiles that can be crimped, since above a certain sheet thickness, for example greater than three millimeters, a corresponding bending of the metal sheet during the crimping process and during the production of the crimping contact is no longer possible.

[0011] In one embodiment, the structured area is arranged on the inner side of the crimping flank. In this case, the inner side of the crimping flank can be the side of the crimping flank that faces the conductor after the conductor has been inserted into the crimping contact. The upper edge of the crimping flank can then hit the structured area during crimping and can thus produce a friction and / or form-fit connection with the inner side of the crimping flank, so that during the crimping process, the possibility of the upper edge slipping from the inner side of the crimping flank is reduced or such a slip is completely avoided.

[0012] In one embodiment, the structured area can be formed in the form of one or more protrusions on the inner side of the crimped side. In an alternative embodiment, the structured area can be formed by one or more depressions on the inner side of the crimped side. In this case, the height of the protrusions can be up to 200 microns and the depth of the depression can be up to 200 microns. If the upper edge of the crimped side hits the protrusion or the depression, the upper edge can be better maintained at the space provided during crimping due to the protrusion, so the rolling of the crimped side can be improved accordingly. In an alternative embodiment with a depression, the upper edge can hit the depression and can be maintained in its predetermined position by the depression, so the rolling can also be improved.

[0013] In one embodiment, the crimping flank has a structured upper edge in the front region. By structuring the upper edge, a structured region can also be formed. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the structured upper edge forms a further structured region in the front region. The upper edge can be roughened, for example, in the front region and can thus cause increased friction during impact on the inner side of the crimping tooth flank, thereby improving the rolling up of the crimping flank.

[0014] In one embodiment, the crimping side has a wing protruding from the crimping side in the front region. In this case, the wing can be used to provide additional material to the crimping side in order to provide a seal of the conductor in front of the conductor during the crimping process. This is particularly useful when the metal of the crimping contact and the metal of the conductor are identical to one another and, therefore, a seal of the contact point of the crimping contact and the conductor is advantageous, since otherwise the penetration of water and / or oxygen due to the different metals would lead to corresponding corrosion. This is particularly true when the two metals differ greatly in terms of their electrochemical potential, for example when the crimping contact consists of copper and the conductor consists of aluminum.

[0015] In this case, the upper edge can be extended until it is above the wing, and the structuring of the upper edge can be achieved by roughening the wing end. Furthermore, in embodiments in which the upper edge engages a protrusion / recess on the inside, it is conceivable that the dimensions of the wing end and the dimensions of the protrusion or recess match each other. As a result, an improved rolling up of the wing and thus an improved sealing of the contact surface between the conductor and the crimping contact can be achieved.

[0016] In one embodiment, the structured area is formed so that when the crimping contact is crimped, the friction between the two sub-areas of the crimping side increases. For example, this can be done by roughening the inside of the crimping side or roughening the upper edge. The friction is then increased relative to the non-rough crimping side.

[0017] In one embodiment, the crimping contact has a sealant reservoir in the front region, which makes the sealant available. If gaps occur during crimping when the crimping side is rolled up, these can be closed by the sealing device. As a result, the sealing can be improved, which is particularly advantageous when the crimping contact and the conductor are composed of different metals. As a result, corrosion can be reduced, because due to the sealing by the sealant, air or water cannot easily enter the intersection between the different metals, so the possibility of corrosion is reduced.

[0018] All embodiments have in common that the crimping contact can be configured symmetrically on the two crimping sides. All features of one crimping side can then be conceived on the other crimping side, so that for example corresponding structuring is conceived on the two inner sides of the crimping side, or the two upper edges of the crimping side are roughened.

[0019] The crimping contact can also have a contact body, with which the plug contact can be produced, so that after crimping an overall connection is formed between the contact body and the conductor.

[0020] In the manufacturing method of a crimping contact, a crimping contact is first provided, which has a crimping side that can be rolled and pressed for closing the conductor after crimping and a receiving portion for the conductor. In this case, the receiving portion extends in the longitudinal direction of the crimping contact all the way to the receiving end. The crimping side extends along the longitudinal direction on the receiving end to the front end, and the front area of ​​the crimping contact is arranged between the receiving end and the front end. In a second method step, a structured area is constructed in the front area of ​​the crimping contact. In this case, the structuring can be carried out on the upper edge of the crimping side and / or the inner side of the crimping side. It is conceivable that the structuring includes roughening and / or the generation of protrusions and / or depressions.

[0021] In one embodiment of the method, providing the crimping contact first comprises providing a metal sheet having a sheet thickness of at most three millimeters, subsequently cutting the metal sheet to size, and thereafter subsequently bending the cut-to-size metal sheet to form the crimping contact. In this case, the sheet thickness may preferably be in the range of 150 micrometers to 2 millimeters, and particularly preferably in the range of 200 micrometers to 400 micrometers.

[0022] In one embodiment, the cutting to size of the metal sheet is performed by a punching process, which can be configured as a cutting and structuring step. The punching tool used for punching can then include a die and can thus be used as a combined cutting and structuring tool, wherein the structuring of the surface is performed by the die. Thus, for example, by means of the cutting and structuring tool, the metal sheet can be cut to size at the same time and corresponding depressions or protrusions can be punched into the metal sheet at the desired locations on the inside for one or more crimping profiles.

[0023] This enables an advantageous production method in which the production of the crimp contact and the structuring of the structured region or regions can be carried out in one working step.

[0024] The invention also comprises a crimping connection between a crimping contact according to the invention and a conductor extending in the longitudinal direction of the crimping contact. In this case, the crimping side faces crimp around the conductor. The front region of the crimping contact covers the conductor. In one embodiment, in this case, the crimping contact and the conductor are of different metals. The crimping contact consists, for example, of copper and the conductor of aluminum. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The problem of the invention, the technical implementation of the solution and the advantages of the invention will become clear with reference to exemplary embodiments, which will be described below with the aid of the accompanying drawings. In the schematic drawings:

[0026] Figure 1 A perspective view showing a crimp contact;

[0027] Figure 2 A cross section through a crimp contact is shown;

[0028] Figure 3 A cross section through another crimp contact is shown;

[0029] Figure 4 shows a cross section through a crimping contact in a crimping tool during the crimping process;

[0030] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of another crimp contact;

[0031] Figure 6 shows a perspective view of another crimp contact;

[0032] Figure 7 shows a perspective view of another crimp contact;

[0033] Figure 8 shows a crimped contact within a crimping tool during the crimping process;

[0034] Fig. 9 shows the crimped contacts within the crimping tool after the crimping process is completed;

[0035] Fig.10 is a flow chart of a manufacturing method;

[0036] Fig.11 A flow chart showing another manufacturing method;

[0037] Fig.12 shows a cross section through a punching tool during the manufacturing method;

[0038] Fig.13 shows another section through the punching tool after punching; and

[0039] Fig.14 A crimp connection is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Figure 1 A crimping contact 100 is shown, which is suitable for crimping Figure 1 The crimping contact 100 has at least one crimping side 110 that can be crimped. Figure 11 shows two such crimping flanks 110. In this case, the crimping flanks 110 serve to surround the conductor after crimping. The crimping contact 100 also has a receptacle 120 for the conductor, which extends in the longitudinal direction 101 of the crimping contact 100 up to a receiving end 121. The crimping flanks 110 extend along the longitudinal direction 101 at the receiving end 121 to a front end 111. A front region 112 of the crimping contact 100 is arranged between the receiving end 121 and the front end 111. In the front region 112 of the crimping contact 100, it has a structured region 130.

[0041] Figure 1 Two crimping sides 110 are shown forming a crimping sleeve 102 into which a conductor can be inserted before crimping. In addition, the crimping contact 100 has a contact body 108 for forming a plug connection. The crimping contact 100 also has a carrier strip 109 by which a plurality of crimping contacts can be connected to one another during the manufacturing method and which can be removed before use, i.e. before crimping of the crimping contact 100. It is envisaged that the receiving end 121 is arranged to be aligned with one end of the conductor.

[0042] It is conceivable that the crimping contact 100 is formed from a metal sheet. In this case, the metal sheet is a metal-containing material that has a greater range in both extension directions than the thickness of the material (and therefore the sheet thickness). In this case, the sheet thickness can be a maximum of three millimeters. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the sheet thickness is in the range of 150 microns to two millimeters. In a particularly preferred exemplary embodiment, the sheet thickness is in the range of 00 to 400 microns. Figure 1 The illustrated crimp contact 100 is formed from a suitable sheet metal material.

[0043] Figure 1 The depiction in FIG. 1 shows that the structured region 130 is arranged on the inner side 113 of the crimping side 110. Figure 1 In the perspective view in FIG. 1 , the structured region 130 can be seen only on one of the two crimping sides 110. However, a corresponding structured region can also be arranged on the opposite crimping side 110, which is hidden from view.

[0044] The structured region 130 is formed by a plurality of structural elements 131 arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis 101. In this case, the structural elements 131 do not necessarily have to be arranged exactly parallel to the longitudinal direction 101. However, an arrangement of the structural elements 131 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 101 is not feasible. When the crimping contact 100 is crimped, the upper edge 114 of the crimping side 110 can be guided by a suitable crimping tool so that the upper edge 114 on the inner side 113 of the crimping side 110 hits the structured region 130. By means of the structural elements 131, the upper edge 114 can be interlocked with the inner side 113 of the crimping side 110 during the crimping process, so that the slippage of the upper edge 114 at the inner side 113 of the crimping side 110 can be avoided and / or the possibility of slippage can be reduced. As a result, an improved crimping connection can be produced.

[0045] exist Figure 1 In FIG. 1 , four structure elements 131 are arranged in the structured region 130 . A different number of structure elements 131 is also conceivable, in particular only one structure element 131 per structured region 130 and thus in each case one structure element 131 on each crimping side 110 .

[0046] Figure 2 The front region 112 is shown passing through Figure 1 1. The two crimping sides 110 stand symmetrically relative to each other. The crimping sides 110 are connected to each other via a crimping back 116. Both crimping sides 110 have a structured area 130 adjacent to the crimping back 116, which is designed in the form of a structural element 131. In this case, the structural element 131 is configured as a projection 132.

[0047] Here, a structural element 131 , ie a projection 132 , is arranged in each case on the inner side 113 of the crimping flank 110 .

[0048] In one exemplary embodiment, the protrusions 132 have a height of at most 200 micrometers, which in this case indicates how far the protrusions 132 protrude on the inner side 113 of the crimping flank 110 .

[0049] Figure 3 A section through a front region of a further crimping contact 100 is shown, which corresponds to Figure 1 The crimp contact 100 has the following differences. Figure 2 Conversely, Figure 3 The structural element 131 in FIG. 1 is configured as a recess 133 .

[0050] In an exemplary embodiment, the depth of the recess 133 is at most 200 micrometers, wherein the depth is defined as the depth of the recess 133 relative to the inner side 113 of the crimping side surface 110 .

[0051] exist Figure 2 and 3 In the two exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when the crimping contact 100 is inserted into a suitable crimping tool, the upper edge 114 of the corresponding crimping side 110 is guided onto the inner side 113 of the corresponding crimping side 110 and strikes the inner side 113 in the structure area 130. By means of the structural element 131, in this case, the slipping of the upper edge 114 from the inner side 113 of the crimping side 110 is reduced or completely avoided. This is independent of whether the structural element 131 is configured as a protrusion 132 or a depression 133.

[0052] Figure 4 shows the process of passing through during the crimping process Figure 2 The cross section of the crimping contact 100 is shown in FIG. 1 . For this purpose, the crimping contact 100 is inserted into a crimping tool 200 , wherein the crimping tool 200 consists of a lower part 201 and an upper part 202 . Figure 4 In the cross section, the cross section is depicted at a specific moment, at which the upper edge 114 of the crimping side 110 hits the structured area 130. The upper edge 114 hooks into the protrusion 132, thereby avoiding the upper edge 114 from sliding downwards, or reducing the possibility of such sliding. If the crimping tool 200 is further closed, that is, the upper part 202 is further moved toward the lower part 201, the crimping side 110 is further rolled up and forms an airtight closed area in the front area 112 of the crimping contact 100, so that the conductor inserted into the crimping contact 100 can no longer be approached via the front area 112. In this case, the crimping tool 200 can be configured as described in the specification US 9,331,446 B2. However, alternative configurations of the crimping tool 200 are also feasible.

[0053] Instead of the structural elements 131, it is also conceivable that the inner side 113 is roughened in the structured area 130, so that a slippage of the upper edge 114 is also avoided or the possibility of such a slippage is reduced when striking the roughened structured area 130. In this case, the roughening can increase the friction between the structured area 130 and the upper edge 114 on the inner side 113 of the crimping side 110 compared to a smooth inner side 113 of the crimping side 110.

[0054] Figure 5 A perspective view of another crimping contact 100 is shown, which corresponds to Figure 1The crimping contact 100 of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 1 , except for the differences described below. No structured area is arranged on the inner side 113 of the crimping side 110 . Instead, the structured area 130 is formed at the upper edge 114 by a roughened area 134 of the upper edge 114 . Due to the roughening of the upper edge 114 , during crimping, when the upper edge 114 strikes the inner side 113 of the crimping side 110 , the possibility of slipping is reduced or even completely prevented.

[0055] It is conceivable that Figure 1 The structured region 130 with structural elements 131 and the structured region 130 with a roughened region 134 at the upper edge 114 are both present, so that in addition to Figure 5 In addition to the positive effects of the crimping contact 100, Figure 1 The positive effect of the crimping contact 100.

[0056] Figure 6 Another exemplary embodiment of a crimping contact 100 is shown, which corresponds to Figure 1 , except for the differences described below. In the front region 112, the crimping side 110 has a wing 115 protruding from the crimping side 110. Since both the structured region 130 and the wing 115 are arranged in the front region 112 of the crimping side 110, the upper edge 114 of the crimping side 110 extending on the wing 115 engages in the structural element 131 of the structured region 130 during crimping, i.e. during the crimping process. By means of the wing 115, additional material of the crimping contact 100 is available in the front region 112, with which material the sealing of the crimping contact 100 can be improved after crimping in the front region 112. Additionally or alternatively, it is conceivable that the upper edge 114 of the crimping side 110 is structured, for example roughened, in the region of the wing 115 and, as a result, a further improvement of the crimping properties of the crimping contact 100 is achieved.

[0057] Figure 7 Shows Figure 6 1 , wherein the crimping contact 100 has an additional sealant reservoir 140 in the region of the wing 115. The sealant reservoir 140 provides available sealant, by means of which the sealing of the crimping contact 100 in the front region 112 can be further improved during the crimping process.

[0058] in this case, Figure 6 and Figure 7 The crimping contact 100 is again symmetrically constructed so that both crimping sides 110 have wings 115. The structural element 131 can be similar to Figure 2 and Figure 3Furthermore, as an alternative to the structure elements 131 in the structured region 130, roughening is conceivable, as has already been described above for the crimp contact 100 without the wing 115. Figure 6 and 7 In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is conceivable that the dimensions of the wing 115 and the dimensions of the structural element 131 match one another. For example, it is conceivable that the extension of the structural element 131 in the longitudinal direction 101 corresponds to the width of the wing 115 in the longitudinal direction 101, or that the extension of the structural element 131 in the longitudinal direction 101 and the width of the wing 115 in the longitudinal direction 101 deviate from one another by a maximum of 20%. It is also conceivable that the spacing of the structural elements 131 in the region of the wing 115 corresponds to the sheet thickness, in particular if the structural elements 131 are configured as protrusions 132. If the structural element 131 is configured as a depression 133, the dimension of the depression 133 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 101 can correspond to the sheet thickness in the region of the wing 115.

[0059] Figure 8 The crimping tool 200 is shown in FIG. Figure 7 The crimping contact 100, wherein the crimping tool 200 is similar in construction to Figure 4 The upper edge 114 of the crimping side 110 is guided on the wing 115. During the crimping process, the upper edge 114 hits the structured area 130 of the inner side 113 of the crimping side 110 and similarly Figure 4 , so that the possibility of the upper edge 114 or the wing 115 slipping from the inner side 113 of the crimping side surface 110 can be avoided or reduced.

[0060] Fig. 9 The crimping tool 200 is shown after it is fully closed. Figure 8 The cross section of the crimping contact 100 is shown. The wings 115 make so much material available that the crimping contact 100 can achieve a complete seal of the crimp connection from the front. In this case, Figure 8 The sealant reservoir 140 shown in FIG. 1 is used to provide additional sealant, with which any intermediate spaces within the rolled-up crimping flank 110 can be additionally sealed.

[0061] Fig.10A flow chart 210 of a method for producing a crimping contact 100 is shown, with which one of the described crimping contacts 100 can be produced. In a first providing step 211, in this case, a crimping contact 100 is provided, which has a crimpable crimping side 110 for enclosing a conductor after crimping and a receptacle 120 for the conductor, which receptacle 120 extends in the longitudinal direction 101 of the crimping contact 100 up to a receiving end 121. In this case, the crimping side 110 extends in the longitudinal direction 101 at the receiving end 121 to a front end 111. In this case, the front region 112 of the crimping contact 100 is arranged between the receiving end 121 and the front end 111. In a first structuring step 212, the structured region 130 in the front region 112 of the crimping contact 100 is now structured. This may include roughening the structured region 130 , forming depressions 133 on the inner side 113 of the crimped flank 110 , or forming protrusions 132 on the inner side 113 of the crimped flank 110 .

[0062] Fig.11 A flow chart 210 of a preferred method for producing a crimp contact 100 is shown, wherein, in a second providing step 221, a metal sheet is first provided, the sheet thickness of which is a maximum of three millimeters. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the sheet thickness is in the range of 150 micrometers to two millimeters. In a particularly preferred exemplary embodiment, the sheet thickness is in the range of 200 to 400 micrometers. In a size-cutting step 222 following the second providing step 221, the metal sheet is appropriately cut to size. A second structuring step 223 is now carried out, which may correspond to Fig.10 In the first structuring step 212 of the embodiment of the present invention, the metal sheet cut to size is bent in a final bending step 224, thereby forming the crimping contact 100. This means that the structuring of the structured region 130 can already be carried out during the production of the crimping contact 100, in particular while the crimping contact 100 has not yet been formed into its final form. This enables the crimping contact 100 to be produced efficiently and inexpensively. Fig.11 , the depiction also shows that the cutting-to-size step 222 and the second structuring step 223 can be performed in a parallel cutting and structuring step 225 .

[0063] Fig.12The metal sheet 300 is shown in a cutting and structuring tool 310. The cutting and structuring tool 310 has an upper part 311 and a lower part 312. In this case, the upper part 311 has two cutting edges 313 and two pressing dies 314. The lower part 312 is configured so that when the upper part 311 moves towards the lower part 312, the cutting edges 313 can be guided through the lower part 312 of the cutting and structuring tool 310 and in the process a cut to size of the metal sheet 300 can be carried out. The pressing dies 314 are configured so that using these pressing dies, depressions can be punched into the metal sheet 300, which depressions can then correspond to Figure 3 The depression 133 in the.

[0064] Fig.13 The metal sheet 300 is shown after the cutting and structuring tool 310 has been closed. The metal sheet 300 is shaped by means of the cutting edge 313 and the pressing die 314 is pressed into the metal sheet 300. As a result, depressions 133 are produced in the metal sheet 300. If the metal sheet 300 is now bent so that the crimping back 116 is located between the depressions 133, a similar Figure 3 In this case, it is irrelevant whether the crimping contact 100 has a wing 115 or not. In this case, the cutting edge 313 can be configured such that the described shape of the crimping side surface 110 of the crimping contact 100 is produced by the cutting edge 313 .

[0065] As an alternative to the die 314 for forming the depression 133, the upper part 311 can also have a depression and the lower part 312 can also have a corresponding protrusion, thereby producing Figure 2 The protrusion 132 in the.

[0066] Fig.14 A crimp connection 105 is shown, in which a conductor 150 is surrounded by two crimping sides 110 of a crimping contact 100. In this case, Fig.14 The cross sections are guided through Figure 1 , 5 , 6 and 7. The conductor 150 is particularly configured as a multi-core conductor having a plurality of cores 151. As an alternative, the conductor 150 may also be a single-core conductor ( Fig.14 not shown).

[0067] like Fig.14 As shown, since the crimping contact 100 surrounds the conductor 150, wherein the crimping side faces 110 are in contact with each other and thus result in covering the conductor 150, and at the same time result in covering the conductor in the front area 112, in particular when the crimping contact 100 has Figure 6 and Figure 7When the wing shown is formed, this results in the conductor 150 being completely covered by the crimping contact 100. This means in particular that gases and / or liquids cannot enter from the outside into the contact area where the conductor 150 and the crimping contact 100 touch each other. This is particularly advantageous when the crimping contact 100 and the conductor 150 consist of different materials, because if there is no complete covering, oxygen can reach the connection between the crimping contact 100 and the conductor 150, which can thus contribute to oxidation. In particular, in the automotive industry, where aluminum conductors 150 are used for weight reasons, they can then be combined with copper crimping contacts 100. Compared to aluminum, copper is preferably suitable for the crimping contact 100 because copper has significantly better bendability and can therefore improve the performance during the crimping process. Any holes in the front area 112 can be additionally sealed by an additional sealant reservoir 140. This is therefore particularly meaningful because in the electrochemical series, copper and aluminum have significantly different potentials and therefore the material bridging from copper to aluminum is particularly susceptible to corrosion.

[0068] Although the present invention has been described and depicted in more detail by means of preferred exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. Other variations may be derived therefrom and from the description of the present invention without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A crimping contact (100) for crimping a conductor (150), comprising a crimping side (110) for surrounding the conductor (150) after crimping, and a receiving portion (120) for the conductor (150), the receiving portion (120) extending along the longitudinal direction (101) of the crimping contact (100) to a receiving end (121), wherein: The crimping side surface (110) extends along the longitudinal direction (101) to the front end (111) on the receiving end (121), wherein a front region (112) of the crimping contact (100) is arranged between the receiving end (121) and the front end (111), characterized in that the crimping contact (100) has at least one structured region (130) in the front region (112); The inner side (113) of the crimping side (110) has an upper edge (114), and the at least one structured area (130) is formed by a plurality of structural elements (131) arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction (101), so that the upper edge (114) is guided by a crimping tool so that the upper edge (114) hits the at least one structured area (130), and through the plurality of structural elements (131), the upper edge (114) is interlocked with the inner side (113) of the crimping side (110) during the crimping process.

2. The crimping contact (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The crimping contact (100) is formed from a metal sheet (300), wherein the sheet thickness is at most 3 mm.

3. The crimping contact (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The structured region (130) is arranged on an inner side (113) of the crimping side (110).

4. The crimping contact (100) according to claim 3, wherein: The structured region (130) is formed by at least one projection (132) on the inner side (113) of the crimping side (110).

5. The crimping contact (100) according to claim 4, wherein: The height of the protrusion (132) is at most 200 microns.

6. The crimping contact (100) according to claim 3, wherein: The structured region (130) is formed by at least one depression (133) on the inner side (113) of the crimping side (110).

7. The crimping contact (100) according to claim 6, wherein: The maximum depth of the depression (133) is 200 micrometers.

8. The crimping contact (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The upper edge (114) is structured in the front region (112) and thus forms the structured region (130) or a further structured region (130).

9. The crimping contact (100) according to claim 1, wherein: In the front region (112), the crimping side (110) has a wing (115) protruding from the crimping side (110).

10. The crimp contact (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The structured region (130) is formed in such a way that when the crimping contact (100) is crimped, the friction between two sub-regions of the crimping side surface (110) is increased.

11. The crimp contact (100) according to claim 1, further comprising a sealant reservoir (140), wherein: The sealant reservoir (140) is arranged in the front region (112) and makes sealant available.

12. The crimping contact (100) according to claim 2, wherein: The sheet thickness ranges from 150 microns to 2 millimeters.

13. The crimp contact (100) according to claim 12, wherein: The sheet thickness is in the range of 200 microns to 400 microns.

14. A method for manufacturing a crimping contact (100), comprising the following steps: A crimping contact (100) is provided, the crimping contact having a crimpable crimping side surface (110) for surrounding a conductor (150) after crimping, and having a receiving portion (120) for the conductor (150), the receiving portion (120) extending along the longitudinal direction (101) of the crimping contact (100) to a receiving end (121), wherein: The crimping side surface (110) extends along the longitudinal direction (101) to the front end (111) on the receiving end (121), wherein the front region (112) of the crimping contact (100) is arranged between the receiving end (121) and the front end (111), Structuring (212, 213) a structured region (130) in a front region (112) of the crimping contact (100); The inner side (113) of the crimping side (110) has an upper edge (114), and at least one of the structured regions (130) is formed by a plurality of structural elements (131) arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction (101), so that the upper edge (114) is guided by a crimping tool so that the upper edge (114) hits the at least one structured region (130), and through the plurality of structural elements (131), the upper edge (114) is interlocked with the inner side (113) of the crimping side (110) during the crimping process.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein: Providing the crimping contact (100) comprises the following steps: Providing a metal sheet (300), wherein the sheet thickness of the metal sheet is at most 3 mm; cutting (222) the metal sheet (300) to size; A metal sheet (300) cut to size is bent (224) to form the crimp contact (100).

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein: The cutting (222) of the metal sheet (300) to size is performed by a cutting and structuring step (225), wherein the cutting and structuring tool (310) for punching comprises a stamp (314), wherein the structuring of the surface is performed by the stamp (314).

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein: The sheet thickness ranges from 150 micrometers to 2 millimeters.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein: The sheet thickness is in the range of 200 microns to 400 microns.

19. A crimp connection (105) between a crimp contact (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and a conductor (150) extending in a longitudinal direction (101) of the crimp contact (100), wherein: The crimping side (110) is crimped around a conductor (150), wherein a front region (112) of the crimping contact (100) covers the conductor (150).

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