Test device and method

Abstract

Test device (5) for testing at least one plug connector (10) of a test piece (9) for continuity and high-voltage breakdown without damaging its novelty by means of at least one adapter piece (1), wherein the at least one adapter piece (1) is arranged on a holding device (6), wherein the holding device (6) is arranged on a displaceable guide device (8) with which the holding device (6) can be displaced in the direction of the test piece (9), wherein the at least one adapter piece (1) is arranged on the holding device (6) in such a way that it engages positively in the at least one plug connector (10) of the test piece (9) when the holding device (6) is displaced on the guide device (8) in the direction of the test piece (9), characterized in thatthat the at least one fitting piece (1) is designed as a counterpart of the plug connector (10) for contacting the contacts of the plug connector (10) in a way that is not detrimental to novelty when testing the contacts of the plug connector (10) for continuity and high-voltage breakdown, and is made of a shape-elastic material and has recesses (2) at the positions of the contacts of the plug connector (10), wherein contact elements for contacting the contacts of the plug connector (10) are arranged in the recesses (2), wherein the shape-elastic material is an elastomer, wherein the contact elements are contact pins (3), wherein the shaft of the contact pin (3) is enclosed in the shape-elastic material, wherein the fitting piece (1) has at least two recesses (2) for a signal contact and a main contact of the plug connector (10),insertion recesses (4) for reducing the surface in contact with the connector and a fastening element (7) for fastening the fitting (1) to a test device (5), wherein the fastening element (7) is a magnetic material for fastening the fitting (1) to a metallic material of the test device (5).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a test device for testing at least one connector of a test object for continuity and high-voltage breakdown by means of at least one adapter piece, and to a test method using the test device and such an adapter piece.

[0002] Such a testing device is previously known from DE 10 2019 004 532 A1. Reference is also made to the other prior art, WO 2014 / 117926 A1, EP 1 998 411 A2, DE 10 2010 037 498 A1, DE 10 2004 034 102 A1, and DE 10 2021 202 196 A1.

[0003] With the electrification of road traffic and the increase in the number of different electric vehicles from different manufacturers, different connectors and power cables have been developed to supply electric vehicles with power.

[0004] Such high-performance power cables and their connectors must be tested for continuity and high-voltage breakdown due to the immense power flowing through them, depending on the vehicle and charging type.

[0005] However, power cables and their connectors are no longer considered new after they have been mated for the first time. This means that the plug contacts of a power cable connector must not come into contact with the corresponding mating connector during testing. To solve this problem, spring-loaded test contacts, particularly Ingun probes, are usually used to contact the plug contacts during testing.

[0006] Based on this problem, the invention described here has the object of providing a fitting piece as a counterpart of a connector, with which positioning tolerances when inserting the fitting piece into a connector can be compensated and arcing can be prevented during testing, as well as enabling parallel testing of several connectors of a test object, while at the same time allowing easy replacement of the test object.

[0007] This object is achieved by a testing device according to claim 1. Furthermore, this object is achieved by the independent method claim 4. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

[0008] A test device is provided for testing at least one connector of a test object for continuity and high-voltage breakdown by means of at least one adapter piece, in a manner that does not damage novelty, wherein the at least one adapter piece is arranged on a holding device, wherein the holding device is arranged on a displaceable guide device with which the holding device can be displaced in the direction of the test object, wherein the at least one adapter piece is arranged on the holding device in such a way that it engages positively in the at least one connector of the test object when the holding device is displaced on the guide device in the direction of the test object, characterized according to the invention in thatthat the at least one fitting piece is designed as a counterpart of the plug connector for contacting the contacts of the plug connector in a way that does not impair novelty when testing the contacts of the plug connector for continuity and high-voltage breakdown and consists of a shape-elastic material and has recesses at the positions of the contacts of the plug connector, wherein contact elements for contacting the contacts of the plug connector are arranged in the recesses, wherein the shape-elastic material is an elastomer, preferably a silicone, wherein the contact elements are contact pins, preferably resilient contact pins, wherein the shaft of the contact pin is enclosed in the shape-elastic material, wherein the at least one fitting piece has at least one recess for a signal contact and a main contact of the plug connector,insertion recesses for reducing the surface in contact with the connector and a fastening element for fastening the fitting to a test device, wherein the fastening element is a magnetic material for fastening the fitting to a metallic material of the test device.

[0009] To achieve the object according to the invention, the adapter is characterized in that it is made of a dimensionally elastic material and has recesses at the positions of the contacts of the connector, wherein contact elements for contacting the contacts of the connector are arranged in the recesses. Due to the dimensionally elastic material, the adapter has the necessary tolerance to be able to be inserted into the connector and to ensure contact even in the event of existing deviations. Furthermore, any mechanical measures to compensate for any tolerances or the position of the connectors on a test specimen can be dispensed with. By arranging contact elements in the recesses of the adapter, the contacts, in particular signal contacts and main contacts, of the connector can be contacted, supplied with current, and the connector can be tested for continuity and high-voltage breakdown.

[0010] In one embodiment of the fitting according to the invention, the shape-elastic material is an elastomer, preferably silicone. The formability or stiffness of the fitting can be influenced and adapted to the respective requirements by selecting a suitable elastomer, as well as its length and density. Silicone is particularly suitable for this purpose because its stiffness and formability are highly adaptable and, in addition, it is an electrical insulator, maintaining its electrically non-conductive properties over a wide temperature range.

[0011] In order to accommodate tolerances in the contacting of the contacts of a connector, the invention provides for the adapter piece to have contact elements that are contact pins, preferably spring-loaded contact pins. Various types of contact pins are conceivable, in particular in-circuit test contact pins, functional test contact pins, high-current contact pins, low-resistance contact pins, high-frequency and dipole contact pins, switching contact pins, screw contact pins, pneumatic contact pins, and a combination of one or more of the aforementioned contact pins.

[0012] To ensure that the contact pin also has a certain degree of mobility and lockability during contacting, its shaft is encased in the elastic material. In the case of a spring-loaded contact pin, the tip of the contact pin can be pushed into the shaft of the contact pin when it comes into contact with the connector contact to be tested, as well as deflected in the xy plane, without damaging the adapter, as the adapter exhibits a certain degree of flexibility due to the elastic material.

[0013] In an embodiment according to the invention, the invention provides for the fitting piece to have both at least one recess for a signal contact and at least one recess for a main contact of the connector.

[0014] In order to achieve better movement when inserting the adapter, the invention provides for the adapter to have insertion recesses in order to reduce the surface that comes into contact with the connector.

[0015] Furthermore, the invention provides for the adapter to have a fastening element for attaching the adapter to a testing device. The fastening element is preferably a magnetic material for attaching the adapter to a metallic material of a testing device. In one conceivable embodiment, the fastening element, for example a magnet, is located flat on one side of the adapter so that it can be attached to a metal plate.

[0016] This is a test device for testing at least one connector of a test piece using at least one adapter. The test device is characterized in that the at least one adapter is arranged on a holding device for holding at least one adapter, wherein the holding device is arranged on a displaceable guide device with which the holding device can be displaced in the direction of the test piece, wherein the at least one adapter is arranged on the holding device in such a way that, when the holding device is displaced along the guide device in the direction of the test piece, it engages positively with the at least one connector of the test piece. This ensures both simple and quick replacement of adapters and simple and quick testing of connectors.

[0017] In a first advantageous embodiment, the holding device comprises a plate with a surface made of galvanized sheet steel. This has the advantage that adapters made of magnetic material can be easily attached to and removed from the holding device.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment, the test piece with the at least one connector is arranged on a plate that is adjustable in at least two spatial directions. This ensures that, in the event of deviations or tolerances in the adapter, the at least one adapter arranged on the holding device of the test apparatus can still positively engage the at least one connector of the test piece when the holding device is displaced along the guide device in the direction of the test piece.

[0019] A final aspect of the invention relates to a testing method using a testing device according to the invention for testing at least one connector of a test object. The testing method is characterized in that the at least one adapter is inserted into the at least one connector while the testing device is in a first position at a distance from the test object. The testing device is then displaced along the guide device into a second position in which the holding device grasps the adapter and arranges it on the holding device. The testing device is then displaced back along the guide device into the first position. The testing device is then displaced back along the guide device into the second position.so that the fitting arranged on the holding device engages positively in the connector and, by means of the contact elements, contacts the contacts of the at least one connector of the test object, is supplied with current and the test of the at least one connector is carried out, wherein after testing the connector, the test device is moved back along the guide device into the first position.

[0020] The insertion of at least one adapter into the at least one connector of the test object can be carried out manually by a user, for example, or automatically by a robot arm.

[0021] This allows for a quick and automated test of at least one connector of a test object as well as several connectors of a test object to be tested simultaneously for their functionality.

[0022] The invention is explained in more detail below using two exemplary embodiments.

[0023] It shows: Fig. 1: an embodiment of a fitting according to the invention, and Fig. 2 an embodiment of a test device according to the invention with a fitting piece according to Fig. 1.

[0024] Fig. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a fitting 1 according to the invention in a perspective side view. The fitting 1 has recesses 2, in which contact pins 3 are embedded, which serve to contact the contacts of the connector 10 of the test piece 9. Furthermore, the fitting 1 has insertion recesses 4, which result from a corresponding contour in the mold from which the fitting 1 originates. These insertion recesses 4 reduce the surface area that comes into contact with the connector 10, which in particular reduces friction when inserting the fitting 1 into the connector 10 and allows manufacturing tolerances to be compensated.

[0025] Fig. Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the test device 5 according to the invention with adapters 1 according to the invention. The adapters 1 are attached to a holding device 6 by means of fastening elements 7, for example magnets. The holding device 6 is arranged on a guide device 8, for example a guide carriage. Opposite the holding device 6, a test piece 9 with connectors 10 complementary to the adapters 1 is arranged on a plate 11 adjustable in two axes. The holding device is located in Fig.1 in a first position in which no contact is established between the adapters 1 and the connectors 10. When testing the connectors 10, however, the holding device 6 is moved along the guide device 8 in the direction of the test piece 9 into a second position in which the adapters 1 and their contact pins 3 are in contact with the connectors 10 and their contacts, i.e. the adapters 1 engage with the connectors 10. In this second position, the testing of the connectors 10 of the test piece 9, in particular the testing for continuity and high-voltage breakdown, can then be carried out. After the test has been completed, the holding device 6 can then be moved along the guide device 8 back to the first position so that the adapters 1 no longer engage with the connectors 10 and the adapters can be replaced, repositioned, etc. if necessary.

[0026] Thus, a test device and a test method using a fitting for testing connectors are described above, in which positioning tolerances when inserting the fitting into a connector are compensated and arcing during the test is prevented, and a parallel testing of several connectors of a test object is made possible, while at the same time the test object can be easily changed. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 1 fitting piece 2 recesses 3 contact pins 4 insertion recesses 5 Test device 6 Holding device 7 Fastening element 8 Guide device 9 candidates 10 connectors 11 Adjustable plate

Claims

[1] Test device (5) for testing at least one connector (10) of a test piece (9) for continuity and high-voltage breakdown without damaging its novelty by means of at least one adapter piece (1), wherein the at least one adapter piece (1) is arranged on a holding device (6), wherein the holding device (6) is arranged on a displaceable guide device (8) with which the holding device (6) can be displaced in the direction of the test piece (9), wherein the at least one adapter piece (1) is arranged on the holding device (6) in such a way that it engages positively in the at least one connector (10) of the test piece (9) when the holding device (6) is displaced on the guide device (8) in the direction of the test piece (9), characterized bythat the at least one fitting piece (1) is designed as a counterpart of the plug connector (10) for contacting the contacts of the plug connector (10) in a way that is not detrimental to novelty when testing the contacts of the plug connector (10) for continuity and high-voltage breakdown, and consists of a shape-elastic material and has recesses (2) at the positions of the contacts of the plug connector (10), wherein contact elements for contacting the contacts of the plug connector (10) are arranged in the recesses (2), wherein the shape-elastic material is an elastomer, wherein the contact elements are contact pins (3), wherein the shaft of the contact pin (3) is enclosed in the shape-elastic material, wherein the fitting piece (1) has at least two recesses (2) for a signal contact and a main contact of the plug connector (10),insertion recesses (4) for reducing the surface in contact with the connector and a fastening element (7) for fastening the fitting (1) to a test device (5), wherein the fastening element (7) is a magnetic material for fastening the fitting (1) to a metallic material of the test device (5). [2] Test device according to claim 1, characterized by that the holding device (6) is a plate with a surface made of galvanized sheet steel. [3] Test device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the test specimen (9) is arranged on a plate (11) which is adjustable in at least two spatial directions. [4] Testing method using a testing device (5) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 3 for testing at least one connector (10) of a test piece (9) for continuity and high-voltage breakdown without damaging the novelty, characterized bythat the at least one adapter (1) is inserted into the at least one plug-in connector (10) while the holding device (6) is in a first position at a distance from the test object (9), wherein the test device (5) is subsequently displaced along the guide device (8) into a second position in which the holding device (6) grips the adapter (1) and arranges it on the holding device (6), wherein the test device (5) is subsequently displaced along the guide device (8) back into the first position, wherein the test device (5) is subsequently displaced along the guide device (8) back into the second position so that the adapter (1) arranged on the holding device (6) engages in the plug-in connector (10) in a form-fitting manner and contacts the contacts of the at least one plug-in connector (10) of the test object (9) by means of the contact elements,is supplied with current and the test of the at least one connector (10) is carried out, wherein after testing the connector (10) the test device (5) is moved along the guide device (8) back into the first position.,

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