Electrical connector and connector part

Abstract

Electrical connector (1) comprising a first connector part (10) with a first housing (11) and at least one first contact (12), wherein the at least one first contact (12) is arranged in a touch-proof manner in the first housing (11), and a second connector part (20) with a second housing (21) and at least one second contact (22), wherein the at least one second contact (22) is arranged in a touch-proof manner in the second housing (21), wherein the first connector part (10) and the second connector part (20) are plugged into each other, wherein the electrical connector (1) has a device (40) which is designed such that the first housing (11) and the second housing (22) are positively connected to each other. characterized by the fact that the first contact (12) is comb-shaped and the second contact (22) is comb-shaped, wherein at least one insulating rib is arranged between the prongs (16, 26) which is longer than the prongs (16, 26), wherein the electrical contact is made by connecting the prongs (16, 26).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electrical connector and a connector part for forming an electrical connector.

[0002] Especially with electrical connectors for high-voltage applications, e.g., above 60 V DC, sufficiently large contact surfaces and contact forces are necessary. One design that meets these requirements is, for example, a screw connection. Here, sufficiently large surfaces can be screwed together with high contact force. For example, a cable lug is screwed to a busbar. To ensure protection against accidental contact, the screw connection is then fitted with an insulating cap. However, a disadvantage is that when the connection is loosened and the cap is removed, the contacts are not protected against accidental contact.

[0003] To solve this problem, screw connections have been replaced by plug connections. One such plug connection is known, for example, from DE 10 2009 053 605 B4. This discloses an electrical connector comprising a first connecting part with a first housing and a first contact, wherein the first contact is arranged in a touch-proof manner within the first housing. A second connecting part with a second housing and a second contact is also provided, wherein the second contact is arranged in a touch-proof manner within the second housing. The electrical connector is then formed by plugging the first and second connecting parts together, with the first and second contacts coming into electrical contact. A disadvantage of such connectors is that it is difficult to achieve sufficient contact force between the first and second contacts.One possibility is to spring-load at least one of the contacts to ensure sufficient contact force despite housing tolerances. However, this presents the problem that the contact surfaces slide against the spring force when inserted, potentially damaging a surface coating.

[0004] DE 10 2014 219 352 A1 discloses an electrical connector arrangement comprising - an electrical connector, with - a conductive contact element and - an insulating area that at least partially encloses the conductive contact element on all sides except at a contact surface of the conductive contact element, wherein at the contact surface of the conductive contact element the insulating area extends away from the conductive contact element and the insulating area does not at least partially cover the conductive contact element at the contact surface; and - a complementary electrical connector, with - a complementary conductive contact element and - a complementary insulation area that at least partially encloses the complementary conductive contact element on all sides except at the complementary contact surface of the complementary conductive contact element, wherein at the contact surface of the complementary conductive contact element the complementary insulation area extends away from the complementary conductive contact element and the complementary insulation area does not at least partially cover the complementary conductive contact element at the complementary contact surface; - wherein, in the electrically connected state of the electrical connector and the complementary electrical connector, the contact surface of the conductive contact element and the complementary contact surface of the complementary conductive contact element touch, the insulation area of ​​the electrical connector extends into at least one complementary protective opening in the complementary contact surface of the complementary conductive contact element, and the complementary insulation area of ​​the complementary electrical connector extends into at least one protective opening in the contact surface of the conductive contact element.

[0005] The GB 808 916 A also shows a connector consisting of two parts, comprising contacts and insulating rods.

[0006] Furthermore, a terminal block from US 3,670,295 A has several parallel openings for receiving contact pins of various connector types. One connector type is U-shaped and has two contact pins arranged substantially parallel to each other, connected at their bases. Each contact pin has a positioning projection. Another connector type is a flat connector with two spaced-apart, coplanar contact pins connected to a coplanar base portion of the flat connector. Several notches are formed on one side of the terminal block, each located next to and opening into one of the openings. A slot extends into the side of the block between at least two adjacent openings and is connected to them.The protrusions interact with the notches to hold each contact pin of a U-shaped connector centered in the opening into which it is inserted, preventing the contact pins from slipping against the side wall of the opening. The slot accommodates the base of the flat connector, whose contacts sit in the two adjacent openings.

[0007] The invention addresses the technical problem of creating an electrical connector that is touch-proof and achieves sufficient contact force without damaging the contact surface. A further technical problem is the creation of a suitable connector component.

[0008] The object of the invention is achieved by an electrical connector having the features of claim 1 and by a connector part having the features of claim 5. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

[0009] The electrical connector comprises a first connector part with a first housing and at least one first contact, wherein the at least one first contact is arranged in a touch-proof manner within the first housing. The electrical connector further comprises a second connector part with a second housing and at least one second contact, wherein the at least one second contact is arranged in a touch-proof manner within the second housing. The first connector part and the second connector part are inserted into one another. The electrical connector further comprises a device designed such that the first housing and the second housing are frictionally connected to each other. This device presses the two housings against each other in such a way that the contacts are pressed together with sufficient contact force. Thus, the two connector parts can be inserted into one another without friction, which protects the contact surface.After the insertion process, the force is then transferred via the device to the housing and thus indirectly to the contacts.

[0010] According to the invention, the first contact and the second contact are both comb-shaped, with at least one insulating rib, longer than the ribs, arranged between the teeth of each comb. The insulating ribs, and in particular their spacing, ensure safe contact. When the two contacts are joined, preferably one tooth of the first contact contacts one tooth of the second contact. The insulating ribs are arranged, for example, such that they slide past each other when the first connector part is joined to the second connector part.

[0011] In one embodiment, the device is designed as a screw clamp. Alternatively or additionally, the device is designed as a spring clamp and / or as a spring assembly.

[0012] In another embodiment, the insulating webs between the prongs of the first contact are designed as U-shaped double webs, and the insulating webs between the prongs of the second contact are designed as T-shaped insulating webs, with the T-shaped webs being inserted into the U-shaped double webs. Besides providing additional mechanical stability, this also aligns the prongs with each other. A connector can also be configured with alternating U-shaped double webs and T-shaped webs.

[0013] Preferably, the connector is designed as a high-voltage electrical connector.

[0014] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments. The figures show: Fig. 1a a first and a second connector part of a first embodiment before being joined together, Fig. 1b a first and a second connector part according to Fig. 1a after assembly, Fig. 1c a schematic representation of an electrical connector with a screw terminal, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of an electrical connector with a spring clamp, Fig. 3 a schematic representation of an electrical connector with a spring arrangement, Fig. 4 a schematic representation of another screw clamp, Fig. 5 a schematic representation of a first and second connector part before assembly in a second embodiment, Fig. 6 a schematic representation of a first and second connector part after assembly and Fig. 7 a schematic representation of a connector part with a test component.

[0015] In the Fig. 1a is a first connector part 10 and a second connector part 20 of an electrical connector 1 (see Fig. Figure 1c) shows a cross-sectional view. The first connector part 10 has a first housing 11 and a first contact 12. Similarly, the second connector part 20 has a second housing 21 and a second contact 22. The first contact 12 is located in the first housing 11, and the second contact 22 is located in the second housing 21, ensuring touch safety. Touch safety means, for example, that a touch-protection finger 30 (e.g., IPXXB) used as a test probe does not come into contact with contact 12 or 22. The two connector parts 10 and 20 have an identical design.

[0016] In the embodiment not covered by the claims in Fig. Figure 1b shows how the two connector parts are joined together. The two planar contacts 12, 22 overlap over a certain length L, ensuring a sufficiently large contact area between them. Preferably, the two contacts 12, 22 are not preloaded against each other; that is, when joining them, only any frictional force that may occur needs to be overcome, so that only minimal abrasive forces act on the surface of the contacts 12, 22.

[0017] The necessary contact force between the first contact 12 and the second contact 22 is generated by a device 40 in the form of a screw terminal 41. The screw terminal 41 has a screw 42 which moves a clamping jaw 43 towards a support 44. This allows the two housings 11 and 21 to be pressed against each other, and thus also the contacts 12 and 22. Fig. In Figure 1c, conductors 13 and 23 are shown, which are connected to contacts 12 and 22. Conductors 13 and 23 can also be configured as a busbar or similar, in which case the busbar may also form contact 12 or 22. Electrical connector 1 thus represents a combination of a plug and screw connection.

[0018] In the Fig. Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a device 40 for force-fit connection of the first connector part 10 and the second connector part 20. In this embodiment, the device is designed as a spring clamp 45. The spring clamp 45 has a rigid receptacle 46 in which the two connector parts 10 and 20 are inserted together, with a spring 47 clamping the two connector parts 10 and 20. A screw clamp, not shown, can also be used.

[0019] In the Fig. Figure 3 shows a further alternative embodiment of a device 40 in the form of a spring assembly 48. The housing 21 of the second connector part 20 differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 3. Fig. 1 slightly modified. In particular, the second housing has an additional leg 24, wherein the spring assembly 48 is arranged between the leg 24 and the first housing 11.

[0020] Finally, in Fig. Figure 4 shows another alternative embodiment of a device 40 as a screw clamp 41, which has a receptacle 49, a bracket 50 and two screws 51. The bracket 50 can then be moved towards the receptacle 49 by means of the screws 51.

[0021] In the Fig. Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the invention for a first connector part 10 and a second connector part 20. The first contact 12 of the first connector part 10 is comb-shaped. The contact 12 has a base 15 from which prongs 16 extend perpendicularly. A U-shaped double web 17 is arranged between each pair of prongs 16. The second contact 22 of the second connector part 20 is also comb-shaped and also has a base 25 and prongs 26, with a T-shaped web 27 arranged between each pair of prongs 26. The comb-like design provides a large contact area, which is protected from contact by the webs 17 and 27 (see also Figure 5). Fig. 7 for the second connector part 20). The distance between the webs 17, 27 or a web 17, 27 and the housing wall is dimensioned such that the contact protection finger 30 cannot touch the prongs 16, 26. When assembled, the T-shaped webs 27 then fit between the U-shaped double webs 17. The assembled state is in Fig. Figure 6 is shown. Subsequently, the two connector parts 10, 20 are pressed against each other by a device 40 to establish sufficient contact force.

Claims

[1] Electrical connector (1) comprising a first connector part (10) with a first housing (11) and at least one first contact (12), wherein the at least one first contact (12) is arranged in a touch-proof manner in the first housing (11), and a second connector part (20) with a second housing (21) and at least one second contact (22), wherein the at least one second contact (22) is arranged in a touch-proof manner in the second housing (21), wherein the first connector part (10) and the second connector part (20) are plugged into each other, wherein the electrical connector (1) has a device (40) which is designed such that the first housing (11) and the second housing (22) are positively connected to each other. characterized by , that the first contact (12) is comb-shaped and the second contact (22) is comb-shaped, wherein at least one insulating rib is arranged between the prongs (16, 26) which is longer than the prongs (16, 26), wherein the electrical contact is made by connecting the prongs (16, 26). [2] Electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized by that the device (40) is designed as a screw clamp (41) or as a spring clamp (45) and / or as a spring assembly (48). [3] Electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the insulating bridges between the prongs (16) of the first contact (12) are formed as U-shaped double bridges (17) and the insulating bridges between the prongs (26) of the second contact (22) are formed as T-shaped insulating bridges (27), wherein the T-shaped bridges (27) are immersed in the U-shaped double bridges (17). [4] Electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the connector (1) is designed as a high-voltage electrical connector. [5] Electrical connector part (10, 20) with a housing (11, 21) and at least one contact (12, 22), wherein the contact (12, 22) is arranged in a touch-proof manner in the housing (11, 21), wherein the contact (12, 22) is comb-like, wherein at least one insulating rib is arranged between the teeth (16, 26) of the comb-like contact (12, 22), which is longer than the teeth (16, 26). characterized by , that the insulation bridges are designed as U-shaped double bridges (17) or the insulation bridges are designed alternately as U-shaped double bridges (17) and T-shaped bridges (27).

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