Bushing module and leaf spring connection structure for it
The socket module with a leaf spring connection structure addresses the issue of improper connection in high-current connectors by adjusting the gap via elastic arms, ensuring compatibility with terminals of varying thicknesses.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE202024106099
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-23
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-19
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-10-31
AI Technical Summary
Traditional high-current connectors face issues with improper connection due to varying terminal thicknesses, either forming gaps or being blocked, leading to deformation and improper use.
A socket module with a leaf spring connection structure that adjusts the gap between a movable bracket and an inner wall via elastic arms, allowing for flexible adaptation to terminals of different thicknesses by compressing or expanding to prevent excessive pressure.
Prevents deformation of terminals by adjusting the gap, ensuring proper connection regardless of terminal thickness, enhancing compatibility with various plug connections of different brands and models.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURETechnical Area
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a female terminal structure installed inside a terminal block or a connector, and more particularly to a female module and a leaf spring terminal structure therefor. Description of the related field
[0002] High-current connectors are generally installed inside terminal blocks and are used to connect the bus bars of a grid power device, unit base station, server, internet network device, or industrial power distribution device to printed circuit boards.
[0003] A conventional high-current connector primarily consists of a female component and a male terminal that connects to the female component. The female component contains conductive sheets and a multi-contact terminal. The conductive sheet is locked inside the terminal block and contains two arms extending from it, positioned opposite each other. The multi-contact terminal is installed on the arm, and when the male terminal is inserted into the terminal block, it is clamped by the multi-contact terminal to establish the electrical connection.
[0004] However, connector terminals of different brands or models available on the market have different thicknesses. If the thickness of the connector terminal is too thin, a gap may form in the multi-contact terminal, preventing it from properly connecting to the multi-contact terminal. On the other hand, if the thickness of the connector terminal is too thick, it may be blocked by the multi-contact terminal, preventing it from being easily inserted into the terminal block, resulting in improper use of the high-current connector.
[0005] In view of the above, the inventor strives to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages associated with the current technology and endeavors to provide an effective solution through extensive research along with the use of academic principles and knowledge. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present disclosure provides a female connector module and a leaf spring terminal structure therefor, wherein the leaf spring terminal structure can adjust a gap between a movable bracket and an inner wall via compression of elastic arms, so as to achieve the advantage of wide applicability of the female connector module and its leaf spring terminal structure of the present disclosure to various male connectors of different brands and models.
[0007] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides a jack module comprising: a conductive sheet having two arms, the two arms having two inner walls disposed opposite each other; and two leaf spring terminal structures respectively installed on the arms, each of the leaf spring terminal structures comprising: a movable bracket movably connected to the arm such that it moves toward or away from the inner wall; a plurality of terminals disposed on the movable bracket and extending in a direction away from the inner wall; and at least one elastic arm disposed on the movable bracket and extending in a direction toward the inner wall and abutting against the inner wall.
[0008] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the disclosure provides a leaf spring terminal structure installed on a conductive sheet, the conductive sheet having an inner wall, the leaf spring terminal structure comprising: a movable bracket movably connected to the conductive sheet to move toward or away from the inner wall; a plurality of terminals disposed on the movable bracket and extending in a direction away from the inner wall; and at least one elastic arm disposed on the movable bracket and extending in a direction toward the inner wall and abutting against the inner wall.
[0009] In view of the above, the leaf spring terminal structure can adjust a gap between a movable bracket and an inner wall through the compression of elastic arms, allowing the elastic arm and the movable bracket to collectively absorb the pressure applied to the terminal. Accordingly, when the female terminal module of the present disclosure is used in conjunction with a male terminal having different thicknesses, the situation of terminal deformation due to excessive compression or excessive pinching of the male terminal can be prevented, thereby achieving the advantage of wide applicability of the female terminal module and its leaf spring terminal structure of the present disclosure to diverse male terminals of different brands and models. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the jack module of the present disclosure installed on a terminal block; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the jack module of the present disclosure; Fig. 3 is a perspective assembly view of the jack module of the present disclosure; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a use state of the female module of the present disclosure with a male terminal having a relatively small thickness inserted therein; Fig. 5 is a plan view of another use state of the female module of the present disclosure, with a male terminal having a relatively small thickness inserted therein; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a use state of the female module of the present disclosure with a male terminal having a relatively small thickness inserted therein; Fig. 7 is a plan view of a use state of the female connector module of the present disclosure, with a male terminal having a relatively large thickness inserted therein; and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a use state of the female module of the present disclosure with a male terminal having a relatively large thickness inserted therein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The technical contents of this disclosure will become clear from the detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawings below. However, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
[0011] Now Fig. 1 to Fig. 8. The present disclosure provides a female module and a leaf spring terminal structure thereof used in a terminal block 100 and a male terminal 200. The female module 10 mainly includes a conductive sheet 1 and two leaf spring terminal structures 2. The leaf spring terminal structure 2 mainly includes a movable bracket 21, a plurality of terminals 22, and one or more elastic arms 23.
[0012] As in Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 8, the conductive sheet 1 is installed inside the terminal block 100. The conductive sheet 1 has a U-shape; however, it is not limited to such a shape. The conductive sheet 1 includes two arms 11, and the inner sides of the two arms 11 include two inner walls 12.
[0013] As in Fig. 1 to Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the leaf spring terminal structures 2 are respectively installed on the arms 11. When a plug terminal 200 is inserted into the terminal block 100, the plug terminal 200 is inserted between the two leaf spring terminal structures 2 and is electrically connected to the conductive sheet 1 via the two leaf spring terminal structures 2. Each of the leaf spring terminal structures 2 includes a movable bracket 21, a plurality of terminals 22, and one or more elastic arms 23.
[0014] A detailed description will be further provided below. Either each of the arms 11 or each of the movable brackets 21 includes one or more slots 3, the others of each of the arms 11 or each of the movable brackets 21 include one or more sliders 4, each slidingly engaging the one or more slots 3, thereby allowing the movable brackets 21 to be movably connected to the arms 11 such that they move toward or away from the inner wall 12. In other words, the movable brackets 21 can each move toward or away from the inner walls 12.
[0015] Furthermore, in this exemplary embodiment, the number of slots 3 and the number of sliders 4 are each 8, but they are not limited to only such a number. The four sliders 4 each protrude outwardly from a top and a bottom of each of the arms 11, and each of the movable brackets 21 includes two U-shaped ribs 211 respectively disposed corresponding to the inner walls 12. The two slots 3 are respectively formed at two ends of each of the U-shaped ribs 211 such that the U-shaped ribs 211 are fitted over the slots 3 on an outer side of the sliders 4 of the arms 11 and can slide with respect to the slider 4, thereby allowing the movable bracket 21 to move toward or away from the inner walls 12, respectively.
[0016] Furthermore, the inner surface of each of the sliders 4 includes an inclined surface 41 with a thickness that gradually increases in a direction toward the arm 11. The inclined surface 41 is used to guide the U-shaped rib 211 to be installed from the inner surface of the slider 4, such that the two ends of the U-shaped rib 211 can abut against and slide along the inclined surface 41 to reach the slider 4 disposed inside the slot 3.
[0017] Furthermore, the plurality of terminals 22 extend from each of the movable brackets 21 in a direction away from the inner wall 12. In this exemplary embodiment, two ends of each of the terminals 22 are integrally formed to extend and connect between the two U-shaped ribs 211, respectively, and are used to abut against a curved rib 221 of the male terminal 200. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. The two ends of each of the terminals 22 may also be integrally formed to extend and connect between the two U-shaped ribs 211, respectively, and be used to abut against a V-shaped or W-shaped rib, or a rib having any other geometric shape of the male terminal.
[0018] In addition, the elastic arm 23 extends from each of the movable brackets 21 in a direction toward the inner wall 12 and abuts the inner wall 12. In this exemplary embodiment, the number of elastic arms 23 is multiple. Each of the elastic arms 23 is a V-shaped rib 231 having one end extending from one of the U-shaped ribs 211 and another end forming a gap S with another of the U-shaped ribs 211. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. Each of the elastic arms 23 may also be a U-shaped or W-shaped rib 231, or a rib of any other geometric shape having one end extending from one of the U-shaped ribs 211 and another end forming a gap S with another of the U-shaped ribs 211.
[0019] Furthermore, in this exemplary embodiment, the plurality of curved ribs 221 and the plurality of V-shaped ribs 231 of each of the leaf spring terminal structures 2 are arranged alternately with each other. In other words, the plurality of terminals 22 and the plurality of elastic arms 23 are arranged alternately with each other. Since the leaf spring terminal structure 2 is formed by punching, cutting, and bending a conductive sheet, the alternate arrangement of the plurality of terminals 22 and the plurality of elastic arms 23 can prevent excessive punching and cutting of slits on a conductive sheet, so that the waste of copper plates and scrap generated by the manufacturing process can be significantly reduced.
[0020] Now Fig. 4 to Fig. 6, which illustrate the use state of the socket module 10 of the present disclosure, wherein a plug terminal 200 having a relatively small thickness is inserted therein. Since the movable brackets 21 can each move toward or away from the inner walls 12, they can each compress the elastic arms when the plug terminal 200 is inserted between the two leaf spring terminal structures 2, thereby allowing the leaf spring terminal structures 2 to adjust the gap between the movable bracket 21 and the inner wall 12 via the compressed elastic arm 23. Fig. 7 to Fig.8, which illustrate the use state of the female connector module 10 of the present disclosure, wherein a male terminal 200 having a relatively large thickness is inserted therein. Since the thickness of the male terminal is relatively large, when the male terminal 200 is inserted between the two leaf spring terminal structures 2, the elastic arms 23 are further compressed, respectively, allowing the movable bracket 21 to move toward the inner wall 12.
[0021] Accordingly, the leaf spring terminal structure 2 can adjust the clearance between the movable bracket 21 and the inner wall 12 through the compression of the elastic arms 23, allowing the elastic arm 23 and the movable bracket 21 to jointly absorb the pressure applied to the terminal 22. As a result, the situation of deformation of the terminal 22 due to excessive compression or excessive pinching of the plug terminal 200 when the receptacle module 10 of the present disclosure is used in conjunction with a plug terminal 200 having different thicknesses can be prevented, thereby achieving the advantage of wide applicability of the receptacle module 10 and its leaf spring terminal structure 2 of the present disclosure to various plug terminals 200 of different brands and models.
[0022] In view of the above, the jack module and its leaf spring terminal structure of the present disclosure can achieve the expected purpose and overcome known disadvantages.
Claims
[1] A socket module comprising: a conductive sheet (1) comprising two arms (11), the two arms (11) comprising two inner walls (12) arranged opposite each other; and two leaf spring connecting structures (2) each installed on the arms (11), each of the leaf spring connecting structures (2) comprising: a movable bracket (21) movably connected to one of the arms (11) such that it moves toward or away from the inner wall (12); a plurality of terminals (22) arranged on the movable bracket (21) and extending in a direction away from the inner wall (12); and at least one elastic arm (23) arranged on the movable bracket (21) and extending in a direction towards the inner wall (12) and resting against the inner wall (12). [2] A socket module according to claim 1, wherein either each of the arms (11) or each of the movable brackets (21) has at least one slot (3), the others of each of the arms (11) or each of the movable brackets (21) comprise at least one sliding element (4) which is in sliding engagement with the at least one slot (3), and the movable brackets (21) can each be moved near the inner walls (12) or away from them. [3] A socket module according to claim 2, wherein a number of the slots (3) and a number of the sliding members (4) are each eight, the four sliding members (4) each project outwardly from a top and a bottom of each of the arms (11), and the movable brackets (21) each comprise two U-shaped ridges (211) respectively disposed corresponding to the inner walls (12), and the two slots (3) are respectively defined on two ends of each of the U-shaped ridges (211). [4] A socket module according to claim 3, wherein each of the terminals (22) is a bent rib (221) with two ends each integrally connected between the two U-shaped webs (211). [5] A socket module according to claim 4, wherein a number of the elastic arms (23) is multiple, each of the elastic arms (23) being a V-shaped rib (231) having one end extending from one of the U-shaped ridges (211) and another end forming a gap (S) with respect to another of the U-shaped ridges (211). [6] The socket module according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of bent ribs (221) and the plurality of V-shaped ribs (231) of each of the leaf spring terminal structures (2) are arranged alternately with each other. [7] A leaf spring terminal structure installed on a conductive sheet (1), the conductive sheet (1) comprising an inner wall (12), the leaf spring terminal structure (2) comprising: a movable bracket (21) movably connected to the conductive sheet (1) such that it moves toward or away from the inner wall (12); a plurality of terminals (22) arranged on the movable bracket (21) and extending in a direction away from the inner wall (12); and at least one elastic arm (23) arranged on the movable bracket (21) and extending in a direction towards the inner wall (12) and resting against the inner wall (12). [8] The leaf spring terminal structure according to claim 7, wherein one of the conductive sheet (1) and the movable bracket (21) comprises at least one slot (3), the other of the conductive sheet (1) or the movable bracket (21) comprises at least one sliding member (4) slidably engaged with the at least one slot (3), and the movable bracket (21) can be moved toward or away from the inner wall (12). [9] The leaf spring terminal structure according to claim 8, wherein a number of the slots (3) and a number of the sliding members (4) are each four, the four sliding members (4) each project outwardly from a top surface and a bottom surface of the conductive sheet (1), and the movable bracket (21) comprises two U-shaped ridges (211) arranged correspondingly to the inner wall (12), and the two slots (3) are respectively defined on two ends of each of the U-shaped ridges (211). [10] A leaf spring terminal structure according to claim 9, wherein each of the terminals (22) is a bent rib (221) with two ends integrally connected between the two U-shaped webs (211). [11] A leaf spring connecting structure according to claim 10, wherein a number of the elastic arms (23) is plural, each of the elastic arms (23) being a V-shaped rib (231) having one end extending from one of the U-shaped ribs (211) and another end forming a gap (S) with respect to another of the U-shaped ribs (211). [12] The leaf spring connecting structure according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of bent ribs (211) and the plurality of V-shaped ribs (231) are arranged alternately with each other.