Contact arrangement and combination of a sleeve for a contact arrangement and a flexible conductor

Abstract

A contact arrangement (1) comprising a sleeve (3), a first contact piece (2, 2A) slidable within the sleeve (3), a second contact piece (2, 2B) opposite the first contact piece (2, 2A), and at least one spring-elastic element (4) that presses the first contact piece (2, 2A) towards a first stop (31) in the sleeve (3), wherein the sleeve (3) has a partially open outer surface (39) and is radially compressible at a center with respect to a longitudinal direction (L) of the sleeve (3), wherein the second contact piece (2, 2B) is slidable within the sleeve (3), and the spring-elastic element (4) presses the second contact piece (2, 2B) towards a second stop (32) in the sleeve (3), characterized in that the contact arrangement (1) includes at least one flexible conductor in an interior (7) of the sleeve (3) which is rigidly connected to the first and the second contact pieces (2). (5) exhibits.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a contact arrangement comprising a sleeve, a first contact element slidable within the sleeve, a second contact element opposite the first contact element, and at least one spring-elastic element that presses the first contact element towards a first stop in the sleeve. The invention further relates to a combination of a sleeve for such a contact arrangement and a flexible conductor.

[0002] Such contact arrangements, also known as pogo pins, serve to ensure reliable contact, especially when a high number of contact cycles are expected. A disadvantage of contact arrangements known from the prior art is that penetrating contaminants often lead to malfunctions.

[0003] The object of the invention is to provide a solution in which malfunctions occur less frequently.

[0004] This problem is solved by providing the sleeve with a partially open casing.

[0005] This solution allows any penetrating contaminants to easily migrate out of or be removed from the contact assembly. As a result, malfunctions may occur less frequently.

[0006] The casing should be partially open when assembled, i.e., when the contact pieces are arranged within it.

[0007] Contact arrangements are known in which the sleeve is radially compressible in the center. This has the advantage that when the contact arrangement is inserted into an external element, retaining elements can move inwards. This simplifies assembly.

[0008] Furthermore, contact arrangements are known in which the second contact piece is slidable within the sleeve and the spring-elastic element presses the second contact piece towards a second stop in the sleeve. This allows for a greater spring travel.

[0009] DE 103 16 385 A1 discloses a contact adapter for connecting a vehicle antenna structure, comprising spring-loaded contact elements. WO 2007 / 038 973 A1 discloses a method for manufacturing a contact element comprising a spring. DE 101 43 200 A1 discloses an electrical pressure contact. FR 2 063 662 A5 also discloses an electrical pressure contact. DE 20 2004 002 099 U1 discloses a test probe for electrical components. US 2004 / 0224571 A1 discloses a terminal that can be machined particularly easily by electroplating. US 2015 / 0111400 A1 discloses a connector with a spring. US 2004 / 0 077 225 A1 discloses a sleeve with two movable contact pieces.Further state of the art can be found in the documents JP 2013-134 181 A, US 2 724 096 A, JP H05-264 587 A, US 2009 / 0 093 171 A1, DE 102 61 733 A1, DE 10 2004 050 588 A1, JP 2002-231 361 A, KR 10 0 864 719 B1, JP 2006-153 723 A and US 2002 / 0 013 085 A1.

[0010] The solution according to the invention can be further improved by the following embodiments and developments, each of which is advantageous in itself and can be combined with each other as desired.

[0011] The second contact piece can be integrated with the sleeve for ease of manufacturing. Alternatively, the second contact piece can be a separate part that is inserted into or attached to the sleeve.

[0012] To allow for a greater spring travel, the second contact piece can be slidable within the sleeve, and the spring-elastic element can press the second contact piece towards a second stop in the sleeve. With such a symmetrical design, assembly can also be simplified, as it is no longer necessary to pay attention to the orientation in which the contact arrangement is mounted.

[0013] At least one stop can be integral with the sleeve to allow for simplified manufacturing. Alternatively, at least one stop can be a separate part that can be mounted inside the sleeve, for example to facilitate easier assembly.

[0014] The casing can be cage-shaped. It can be designed in such a way that elements located inside the casing cannot be lost through the open sheathing, but are trapped within it.

[0015] Guide struts can extend from one end of the sleeve to the other. This ensures reliable force transmission and a stable design. In particular, the guide struts can extend continuously from the first to the second end to allow for reliable force transmission. The guide struts can also serve to guide the contact pieces. Specifically, the guide struts can run in a straight line, particularly parallel to a longitudinal axis of the contact arrangement or parallel to a connecting line between the two contact pieces, to allow for good force transmission.

[0016] To stabilize the guide struts against each other, cross struts running perpendicular to the guide struts may be present.

[0017] The sleeve can have a truss structure to achieve high stability at a low weight.

[0018] The openings in the casing can be designed as slots. Such slots can be particularly easy to produce, for example, by sawing or cutting them out. Furthermore, a slot-shaped design can provide a larger opening than, for example, a hole-shaped design, without significantly affecting stability. The slots can be designed, in particular, as longitudinal slots extending along a longitudinal dimension of the contact arrangement or along a connection direction between the two contact pieces. This allows stability to be maintained, especially in the longitudinal direction, and only affected in a transverse direction. In particular, a design with longitudinal slots can also enable the sleeve to exhibit a spring effect in the transverse direction.This can be used, for example, to temporarily compress the sleeve during an insertion or insertion process, whereby the sleeve is subsequently held in a surrounding element by a force acting in a transverse direction, particularly in a radial direction. Such a spring effect of the sleeve can be especially advantageous if retaining elements are arranged on the outside of the sleeve, which project beyond the rest of the sleeve in an uncompressed state. The compression allows these retaining elements to be displaced radially inwards, thus making insertion easier, for example.

[0019] The first and / or second stop can be a modified part of the sleeve. For example, the contact pieces can be inserted into the sleeve, and the sleeve can then be modified at its ends, for example, by crimping or crimping. This has the advantage that additional elements that form a stop can be omitted.

[0020] The resilient element can be a spring, in particular a coil spring. Such a design is simple to manufacture and assemble.

[0021] At least one stop can be formed by a detent element. Such a detent element can be elastically compressible and / or elastically deflectable outwards, particularly radially outwards. This allows for easy insertion of the contact piece. For example, such a contact piece can be inserted into the sleeve, causing the detent element to deflect or compress outwards. The detent element then prevents the contact piece from falling out, as it holds the contact piece inside the sleeve unless it is deflected or compressed, for example, manually or mechanically. Simultaneously, the detent element can function as a stop that limits movement within the sleeve. The stop can, in particular, have a stop surface that runs perpendicular to a direction of movement of the contact piece within the sleeve to allow for a defined stop action.

[0022] A locking element can, in particular, have a radially inward-pointing projection. This projection can, especially in a force-free rest state, protrude into an opening such that the contact piece cannot be moved out of the sleeve. The locking element and / or the stop can be arranged at one end of the sleeve, for example, to allow for easy operation.

[0023] The locking element can be designed as a lever or arm, allowing for a simple construction. The lever or arm can extend, in particular, along a longitudinal direction of the contact arrangement or along a connecting direction between the first and second contact pieces.

[0024] In one embodiment of the contact arrangement, independent of whether the sleeve is open or closed, the contact arrangement can have at least one flexible conductor firmly connected to the first and second contact pieces inside the sleeve. Such an embodiment has the advantage of enabling a good electrical connection with low contact resistance. In the prior art embodiment, where the contact pieces are only electrically connected to each other via the spring-elastic element and / or through the sleeve, very high contact resistances often occur because the contact surfaces are not firmly connected but merely rest loosely against each other. This can lead to high and / or undefined contact resistances due to factors such as oxidation, contamination, and low contact forces.

[0025] The conductor can be positioned centrally within the sleeve to allow sufficient clearance on all sides. Even with the contact pieces fully inserted, it can still be spaced from the wall or sheathing to prevent unnecessary changes in contact resistance.

[0026] In a particularly space-saving design, the ladder can be arranged in the spring-elastic element.

[0027] The conductor can be plastically deformable or plastically deflectable. For example, it can deflect radially outwards in the middle between the two contact pieces when the contact pieces move towards each other. Between two ends of the conductor, it can follow an arc, so that the conductor is only slightly compressed and more likely deflected and / or bent. In an alternative embodiment, the conductor can also be elastically deformable or elastically deflectable and, for example, exert a spring force in the longitudinal direction.

[0028] The conductor can be connected to the first and / or second contact piece by means of a deformed portion. In this way, a connection between the conductor and the at least one contact piece can be achieved through purely mechanical action. Alternatively, other connection methods, such as welding or soldering, can of course be used, for example, if mechanical deformation is problematic.

[0029] The conductor can be connected to the first or second contact piece, in particular via a crimp connection. Such a connection is easy to make. A suitable contact piece can have a crimp section. This can, for example, include a cylindrical receptacle for the conductor.

[0030] More than one flexible conductor can be present. This can have the advantage that several, for example smaller, conductors can be deformed more easily and with less force, so that the elastic behavior of the contact arrangement is less affected by the conductor. Furthermore, the use of more than one flexible conductor can allow a higher current flow.

[0031] If more than one conductor is present, the conductors can form a cage-like structure, with the conductors spaced apart in the middle. This prevents the conductors from interfering with each other when they move due to the retracting contact pieces.

[0032] The flexible conductor can incorporate a fabric, which allows for a high degree of flexibility. Such a fabric can be braided, for example, from individual wires or bundles of wires. This enables high flexibility combined with good electrical properties.

[0033] The contact arrangement can be designed so that the conductor remains inside the sleeve even when the contacts are at their maximum deflection. This prevents unintentional contact with external elements.

[0034] The sleeve material can be either plastic or comprise a plastic component. This is particularly feasible when the two contact pieces are connected by a flexible conductor, as this eliminates the need for a current conductor through the sleeve. Even in a design without such a conductor, the sleeve can still be made of or comprise a plastic component if current can be conducted via the spring-elastic element or other components. A design using plastic can be lighter and more cost-effective to manufacture. For example, such a sleeve can be produced using an injection molding process.

[0035] A partially open coating can be achieved through one or more openings. To achieve a particularly good effect, at least 10%, preferably at least 20% or 30% of the coating surface can be open. Higher or lower percentages are also possible. The larger the openings, the better the self-cleaning effect. The proportion of open area depends on the application, especially on the size and type of dirt particles expected. The proportion of open area can also depend on the manufacturing technology and / or design possibilities.

[0036] The invention will now be explained in more detail by way of example using advantageous embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0037] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a contact arrangement according to the invention in an exploded view; Fig. 2 a schematic perspective view of parts of the contact arrangement in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a schematic perspective view of parts of the contact arrangement from the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a schematic perspective view of the contact arrangement according to Fig. 1 to 3 in a compound state; Fig. 5 a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a contact arrangement according to the invention without a sleeve; Fig. 6 a schematic perspective view of a third embodiment of a contact arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 7 A schematic perspective view of a detail of a possible embodiment of a flexible conductor.

[0038] In the Fig. Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a first embodiment of a contact arrangement 1 according to the invention. The contact arrangement comprises a sleeve 3, a first contact piece 2 slidable within the sleeve 3, a second contact piece 2 opposite the first contact piece 2 and also slidable within the sleeve 3, and a spring-elastic element 4 in the form of a coil spring 40, which presses the first contact piece 2 towards a first stop 31 in the sleeve 3 and the second contact piece 2 towards a second stop 32 in the sleeve 3. The sleeve 3 has a casing 38 that surrounds an interior 7. The casing 38 is partially open, so that although contaminants can penetrate, they can also easily fall out on their own or be selectively removed. Therefore, a contact arrangement 1 designed in this way can be less prone to defects than a contact arrangement with a closed sleeve.

[0039] The sleeve 3 is essentially cylindrical. The interior 7 has an essentially cylindrical inner surface 71, apart from the openings 33 in the casing 38. This allows the contact pieces 2 to be moved in a guided manner.

[0040] The sleeve 3 has a substantially cylindrical outer surface 39, disregarding the openings 33 in the casing 38. A retaining element 35 is also centrally arranged on the outside of the sleeve 3 to hold and / or position the sleeve 3, and thus the contact arrangement 1, on an external element. In other embodiments, such a retaining element 35 could also be positioned at a different location, for example, on an end face. The shape of the retaining element 35 can also vary. Besides the embodiment shown with a circumferential projection, it could, for example, also be designed as a flange with screw holes for large contacts.

[0041] The sleeve 3 also has contact openings 23 through which the contact pieces 2 protrude in the assembled state. Furthermore, the Fig. The lower contact opening 23 is used to insert the remaining elements of the contact arrangement 1 into the sleeve 3. Since locking elements 36 project into the lower contact opening 23, and the contact opening 23 is thus slightly smaller than the maximum diameter of the contact pieces 2, the contact pieces 2 must be pressed into the sleeve 3 with some force. This causes the locking elements 36 to be slightly compressed and / or deflected, slightly widening the contact opening 23. Once the contact pieces 2 are in the sleeve 3, the locking elements 36 engage behind a circumferential collar 22 that projects laterally from the contact piece 2. Counter-stop surfaces 21 of the lower contact piece 2, arranged on the collar 22, then come into contact with a lower stop 32 formed by the locking elements 36.

[0042] The upper contact piece 2 of the Fig. 1, however, strikes a completely circumferential stop 31 inside the sleeve 3.

[0043] In the example shown, the stops 31 and 32 are integral with the sleeve 3. In other embodiments, the stops 31 and 32 can also be separate elements that can be inserted into the sleeve 3. Such a multi-part embodiment can simplify assembly.

[0044] The spring-elastic element 4 pushes the two contact pieces 2 away from each other and against the stops 31, 32 in the assembled state along the connection direction V between the two contact pieces 2 and along the longitudinal direction L of the longitudinal extent of the contact arrangement 1. The spiral spring 40 rests with its ends on contact surfaces 27, which are also located on the circumferential collars 22.

[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, the openings 33 in the casing 38 are configured as slots 33A, in particular as longitudinal slots 33B, but in other embodiments they can also have other shapes and / or orientations. The configuration as a longitudinal slot 33B has the advantage that the sleeve 3 can be radially compressed in the center of the sleeve 3, i.e., at the level of the retaining element 35, so that when the contact arrangement 1 is inserted into an external element, the retaining elements 35 can move inwards and engage in a corresponding groove on the external element when the contact arrangement 1 is in the correct position. Stability in the longitudinal direction L is still ensured, since struts 34 in the form of longitudinal struts 34A guarantee stability in the longitudinal direction L. The longitudinal struts 34A are connected to each other at both ends of the sleeve 3 by annular end sections 37.The ring-shaped end sections 37 also form the contact piece openings 23. The struts 34 are designed as guide struts 34B, which guide the contact pieces 2.

[0046] To ensure good current flow and low contact resistance between the contact pieces 2, the contact arrangement 1 has three flexible conductors 5 fixedly connected to the first and second contact pieces 2 within an interior 7 of the sleeve 3. These conductors can be designed such that they remain spaced from the inner surface 71 even when the contact pieces 2 are fully inserted. In particular, they can also be designed so that they remain within the sleeve 3 when the contact pieces 2 are in their maximum deflected position, thus preventing contact with external elements through the openings 33. Furthermore, the flexible conductors 5 can also be designed such that, when the contact pieces 2 are in contact with the stops 31, 32, they already have a slightly curved shape, so that when the contact pieces 2 are deflected inwards, the conductors 5 are not compressed but rather bent or plastically deformed.Since the ladders are bent outwards and thus form a cage structure, they do not interfere with each other during movement.

[0047] In Fig. Figure 2 shows that the flexible conductors 5 are connected to the first and second contact pieces 2 by means of formed parts. These formed parts are crimp sections 25, so that the conductors 5 are connected to the first and second contact pieces 2 via a crimp connection. In alternative embodiments, other connection methods can of course be used, such as welding or soldering.

[0048] In Fig. 3 is in contrast to Fig. Figure 2 also shows the spring 40. It can be seen that the flexible conductors 5 are arranged inside the spiral spring 40, which makes a compact design possible.

[0049] In Fig. Figure 4 shows the contact arrangement 1 in an assembled state. The spiral spring 40 presses the first contact piece 2, 2A inside the sleeve 3 along a contact direction K1 against the first stop 31. Furthermore, it presses the second contact piece 2, 2B along a contact direction K2, which is opposite to the first contact direction K1, against several stops 32 formed by the detent elements 36.

[0050] In Fig. Figure 5 shows parts of a second embodiment of a contact arrangement 1. In contrast to the embodiment in the Fig. In parts 1 to 4, there is only a single flexible conductor 5 between the contact pieces 2, making assembly easier.

[0051] In Fig. Figure 6 shows a third embodiment of a contact arrangement 1 according to the invention. It differs from the embodiment according to the Fig. 1 to 4 are characterized by the presence of detent elements 36 at both the upper, first end 11 of the sleeve 3 and the lower, second end 12 of the sleeve 3, which form stops 31. This symmetrical design simplifies assembly, as it eliminates the need to consider which end is used to insert the remaining parts. Assembly can be performed from either side.

[0052] In Fig. Figure 7 shows a close-up of a possible embodiment of a flexible conductor 5. The embodiment shown here is a fabric 59 produced by weaving bundles 55 of individual wires 51. Such a fabric 59 can, for example, be tubular, flat, or ribbon-shaped. In this embodiment, easy deformability is achieved while maintaining good electrical properties.

[0053] A contact arrangement 1 can, regardless of whether the sleeve 3 is provided with a partially open sheath, also have only the feature of a connection between the two contact pieces 2 via at least one flexible conductor 5 firmly connected to the two contact pieces 2. For example, a closed sleeve 3 can also be used together with such a flexible conductor 5, which is firmly connected to the contact pieces 2, if only the advantage of a good electrical connection between the contact pieces 2 is desired.

[0054] The sleeves 3 shown in the figures are each cylindrical. However, other sleeve designs can also be used, for example, prismatic, angular, conical, or sleeves with other shapes. In particular, the sleeve 3 can also have thicker or varying wall thicknesses, as well as multiple walls.

[0055] The sleeve 3 can be made of various materials. In the prior art, conductive materials such as metals are particularly common. Alternatively, however, especially when a connection is made with a flexible conductor 5, non-conductive or poorly conductive materials can also be used, such as plastics or plastic-containing materials. Such designs can be, in particular, easier to manufacture and / or have a lower weight. Reference sign 1 Contact arrangement 2 contact pieces 2A first contact piece 2B second contact piece 3 Sleeve 4 spring-elastic element 5 flexible ladders 7 Interior 11 first end 12 second end 21 Counter-stop surface 22 collars 23 Contact piece opening 25 crimp section 27 contact area 31 attacks 32 stops 33 Opening 33A slot 33B Longitudinal slot 34 struts 34A Longitudinal strut 34B Leadership aspirations 35 retaining element 36 locking elements 37 Final section 38 Sheathing 39 Surface area 40 spiral springs 51 wire 55 bundles 59 tissues 71 interior surface L Longitudinal direction V Connection direction K1 first contact direction K2 second contact direction

Claims

[1] Contact arrangement (1) comprising a sleeve (3), a first contact piece (2, 2A) slidable within the sleeve (3), a second contact piece (2, 2B) opposite the first contact piece (2, 2A) and at least one spring-elastic element (4) that presses the first contact piece (2, 2A) towards a first stop (31) in the sleeve (3), wherein the sleeve (3) has a partially open circumferential surface (39) and is radially compressible at a center with respect to a longitudinal direction (L) of the sleeve (3), wherein the second contact piece (2, 2B) is slidable within the sleeve (3) and the spring-elastic element (4) presses the second contact piece (2, 2B) towards a second stop (32) in the sleeve (3), characterized by , that the contact arrangement (1) in an interior (7) of the sleeve (3) has at least one flexible conductor (5) firmly connected to the first and the second contact piece (2). [2] Contact arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve (3) is cage-like. [3] Contact arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein guide struts (34B) extend from a first end (11) of the sleeve (3) to a second end (12) of the sleeve (3). [4] Contact arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the partially open outer surface (39) is achieved by one or more openings (33) and wherein the openings (33) in the sleeve (3) are designed as slots (33A). [5] Contact arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first stop (31) and / or the second stop (32) are a formed part of the sleeve (3). [6] Contact arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one stop (31, 32) is formed by a locking element (36). [7] Contact arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the conductor (5) is connected to the first and / or second contact piece (2) by a deformed part thereof. [8] Contact arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the conductor (5) is connected to the first and / or the second contact piece (2) via a crimp. [9] Contact arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein more than one flexible conductor (5) is present. [10] Contact arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the flexible conductor (5) comprises a fabric (59). [11] Contact arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the conductor (5) remains inside the sleeve (3) in the maximally deflected state of the contact pieces (2). [12] Combination of a sleeve (3) for a contact arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11 and a flexible conductor (5) which can be arranged in an interior (7) of the sleeve (3) and which can be firmly connected to a first and a second contact piece (2), wherein the sleeve (3) has a partially open outer surface (39) and is radially compressible in a center with respect to a longitudinal direction (L) of the sleeve (3).

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