Mounting sleeve for a spring contact pin and spring contact device

Abstract

Mounting sleeve for a spring contact pin (1), which is designed to receive and hold the spring contact pin (1) at least partially, wherein the spring contact pin (1) can be inserted into a rear end of the mounting sleeve and can be detachably connected to the mounting sleeve, characterized in that the mounting sleeve is designed in two parts and has a sleeve-shaped base body (7) and a sleeve-shaped end piece (8), wherein the end piece (8) has a surface coloration different from that of the base body (7) at least on its outer surface (8a) and is connected to the rear end (7a) of the base body (7) by a form-fit and / or force-fit and / or material-fit connection.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a mounting sleeve for a spring contact pin, which is designed to receive and hold the spring contact pin at least partially, wherein the spring contact pin can be inserted into a rear end of the mounting sleeve and can be detachably connected to the mounting sleeve.

[0002] Spring-loaded contact pins are a well-known type of device. They are used to establish a contact connection with an electrical test object (e.g., electronic components, circuit boards, or cable harnesses). This contact creates an electrical connection to the test object, allowing it to undergo an electrical functional test or similar procedure.

[0003] In the testing of wiring harnesses, for example in the automotive sector, test benches are used that contain test modules equipped with spring-loaded contact pins. These spring-loaded contact pins are also referred to as locking pins in cable testing. Besides making electrical contact, these locking pins, using sometimes quite high spring forces, are responsible for testing the mechanical locking of the electrical contacts within their respective housings. Depending on the size and geometry of the contacts, different spring forces are used, precisely matched to the connector type to test the mechanical locking without damaging the good components with excessive spring force.

[0004] During the assembly of the locking pins (spring contact pins) in the test module, the exact spring force of otherwise identical types can currently only be determined by a marking, possibly applied by laser engraving. Once installed, the spring force is not visible. If, during maintenance, a worn locking pin needs to be replaced with a new one, it is possible that a locking pin with the wrong spring force will be used. This can lead to an incorrect test result if the spring force is too weak, or damage to the test specimen if the spring force is too high.

[0005] One known solution is to apply a colored marking, e.g., using a waterproof marker, to the end face of the spring contact pin, which is just visible in the test module. Each color corresponds to a specific spring force. The underlying principle is that a spring contact pin marked, for example, blue, can be replaced with another spring contact pin marked blue with the same spring force.

[0006] To mount a spring contact pin, for example, on a contact head of a test module, it is known to insert the contact pin into a mounting sleeve. At its mounting end inserted into the mounting sleeve, spring contact pins typically have an external thread that engages with an internal thread of the mounting sleeve, allowing the spring contact pin to be screwed into the mounting sleeve for fastening. The spring contact pin is then guided and held by the mounting sleeve and can be easily removed and replaced by unscrewing it if necessary. This is advantageous, for example, for maintenance or repair procedures, especially with a contact head that holds a large number of such spring contact pins.

[0007] The object of the invention is to improve the handling when inserting color-coded spring contact pins into mounting sleeves with as little effort as possible.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention in a mounting sleeve of the type described above by the fact that it is designed in two parts and has a sleeve-shaped base body and a sleeve-shaped end piece, wherein the end piece has at least on its outer surface a surface coloring that differs from that of the base body and is connected to the rear end of the base body by means of a form-fit and / or force-fit and / or material-fit connection.

[0009] The mounting sleeve is color-coded so that each sleeve in the test module is assigned to a test object that requires a spring contact pin with properties that have an identical color marking. Thus, a spring contact pin with a colored marking is screwed into a mounting sleeve with the same colored marking, greatly simplifying handling. The mounting sleeve consists of a sleeve-shaped base, which can be a conventional mounting sleeve without surface coloring, and a sleeve-shaped end piece connected to the base. Therefore, only the end piece needs to be surface-colored; the sleeve-shaped base can be a standard mounting sleeve. This also makes it easy to retrofit existing mounting sleeves by equipping them with an end piece.

[0010] A preferred embodiment provides that the end piece has a longitudinal slot. The end piece can then be clipped onto the rear end of the base body of the mounting sleeve. Alternatively, the end piece can also have a thread and be screwed onto the base body.

[0011] In a further embodiment, a clamping spring is integrated into the end piece. If the material of the end piece, e.g., aluminum, does not possess sufficient spring properties and the end piece could detach during use, a section of tension spring can be provided to increase the clamping force, for example, by sliding it over part of the end piece. Alternatively, a different clamping spring, e.g., in cage form, can be used.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the surface coloring is achieved through an electrochemical coating. The end piece of the mounting sleeve can be automatically coated with an electrochemical surface coating, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual color marking. Depending on the type of electrochemical coating applied to the outer surface of the end piece and the material of the end piece, different color schemes can be created. Such a surface coating is uniform, easily visible, and abrasion-resistant.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment, the electrochemical coating is an anodic coating.

[0014] It is particularly preferred that the end piece is made of aluminium and that the electrochemical coating is a coloured anodised finish.

[0015] Alternatively, the electrochemical coating could be an electrophoretic deposition of colored lacquer particles or a galvanic coating.

[0016] The invention also relates to a spring contact device with a mounting sleeve as described above and a spring contact pin with an electrically conductive tubular housing in which an electrically conductive piston, acted upon by a compression spring, is guided, the free end of which, projecting from the housing, can be brought into electrical contact with an electrical test specimen. The housing is provided, at least in certain areas, with a surface coloration on its outer surface that differs from the rest of the housing.

[0017] Preferably the housing is designed in two parts and has a tubular housing body and a sleeve-shaped closure piece, wherein the closure piece has a surface coloring at least on its outer surface.

[0018] As with the end piece of the mounting sleeve, the surface coloring of the housing or the closure piece can be designed as an electrochemical coating.

[0019] The electrochemical coating is preferably an anodic coating.

[0020] In a further embodiment, it is provided that the housing and / or the closure piece is made of aluminium and the electrochemical coating is a coloured anodising.

[0021] Alternatively, the electrochemical coating of the housing or the closure piece can be an electrophoretic deposition of colored lacquer particles or a galvanic coating.

[0022] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows each figure enlarged to a certain extent. Fig. 1 an exploded view of a mounting sleeve in side view, Fig. 2 a side view of the mounting sleeve, Fig. 3. a cut along line III - III in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 a perspective view of the mounting sleeve, Fig. 5 a side view of a modified second mounting sleeve, Fig. 6 a perspective view of the second mounting sleeve, Fig. 7 a perspective exploded view of a spring contact device and in Fig. 8 a perspective view of the spring contact device according to Fig. 7.

[0023] A mounting sleeve for a spring contact pin 1 is generally designated by 2 in the figures. The mounting sleeve 2 is designed to receive and hold the spring contact pin 1, at least partially, wherein the spring contact pin 1 can be inserted into a rear end of the mounting sleeve 2 and can be detachably connected to the mounting sleeve 2.

[0024] The mounting sleeve 2 is inserted or driven into a test module (not shown), with an indicated stepped collar 3 serving as a stop. The mounting sleeve 2 has an external thread 4 at its front end and an internal thread 5 axially adjacent to it. The spring contact pin 1 has an external thread 6 and can be screwed into the internal thread 5 of the mounting sleeve 2.

[0025] It is essential that the mounting sleeve 2 is designed in two parts and comprises a sleeve-shaped base body 7 and a sleeve-shaped end piece 8. The end piece 8 has a surface coloration that differs from that of the base body 7, at least on its outer surface 8a, and is connected to the rear end 7a of the base body 7 by a form-fit, force-fit, and / or material-fit connection.

[0026] The base body 7 is preferably made of a copper alloy and the end piece 8 of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The surface coloring of the outer surface 8a of the end piece 8 is then preferably designed as colored anodizing.

[0027] For connection with the rear end 7a of the base body 7, the end piece 8 has a longitudinal slot 9, so that the end piece 8 can be clamped onto the rear end 7a of the base body 7 in a clip-like manner.

[0028] In Fig. 5 and Fig. Figure 6 shows a second modified mounting sleeve 2. To increase the clamping force, a clamping spring 10 is integrated into the end piece 8, which in the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 is a section of tension spring strand that is partially pushed over the end piece 8. Alternatively, another clamping spring can be used, e.g. in cage form.

[0029] In the Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 8 shows a spring contact device 11 with a mounting sleeve 2 and a spring contact pin 1. The spring contact pin 1 has an electrically conductive tubular housing 12 in which an electrically conductive piston 13, acted upon by a compression spring, is guided, the free end 13a of which protrudes from the housing 12 and can be brought into electrical contact with an electrical test specimen.

[0030] The housing 12 is provided on its outer surface, at least in certain areas, with a surface coloration that differs from the rest of the housing 12. For this purpose, the housing 12 is preferably designed in two parts and comprises a tubular housing body 14 and a sleeve-shaped closure piece 15, which is preferably connected to the housing body 14 by means of a screw connection.

[0031] The housing body 14 is made, for example, of brass with a gold-plated outer surface. The outer surface 15a of the locking piece 15 is electrochemically coated in color, the locking piece 15 being made, for example, of aluminum and the outer surface 15a being anodized in the desired color. The surface color is adapted to the respective properties of the spring contact pin 1, i.e., all spring contact pins 1 with identical properties (in particular, identical spring force) have the same surface color.

[0032] The color scheme of the mounting sleeve 2 is chosen so that each mounting sleeve 2 in the test module is assigned to a test object that requires a spring contact pin 1 with properties that have an identical colored marking. Thus, a spring contact pin 1 with a colored marking can be screwed into a mounting sleeve 2 with an identical colored marking, which greatly simplifies handling.

[0033] Of course, the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Further embodiments are possible without departing from the basic concept. Reference symbol list: 1 spring contact pin 2 Mounting sleeve 3 collars 4 external threads 5 internal threads 6 external threads 7 sleeve-shaped base bodies 7a rear end 8 sleeve-shaped end piece 8a outer surface 9 longitudinal slots 10 clamping springs 11 Spring contact device 12 cases 13 pistons 13a Piston end 14 tubular housing body 15 sleeve-shaped closure piece 15a outer surface

Claims

[1] Mounting sleeve for a spring contact pin (1) designed to receive and hold the spring contact pin (1) at least partially, wherein the spring contact pin (1) can be inserted into a rear end of the mounting sleeve and can be detachably connected to the mounting sleeve, characterized by , that it is formed in two parts and has a sleeve-shaped base body (7) and a sleeve-shaped end piece (8), wherein the end piece (8) has at least on its outer surface (8a) a surface coloration different from that of the base body (7) and is connected to the rear end (7a) of the base body (7) by form-fit and / or force-fit and / or material-fit connection. [2] Mounting sleeve according to claim 1, characterized by , that the end piece (8) has a longitudinal slot (9). [3] Mounting sleeve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that a clamping spring (10) is integrated into the end piece (8). [4] Mounting sleeve according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized bythat the surface coloring is formed as an electrochemical coating. [5] Mounting sleeve according to claim 4, characterized by that the electrochemical coating is an anodic coating. [6] Mounting sleeve according to claim 5, characterized by , that the end piece (8) is made of aluminium and the electrochemical coating is a coloured anodising. [7] Mounting sleeve according to claim 4, characterized by that the electrochemical coating is an electrophoretic deposition of colored lacquer particles or a galvanic coating. [8] Spring contact device with a mounting sleeve (2) according to one or more of claims 1 to 7 and a spring contact pin (1) with an electrically conductive tubular housing (12) in which an electrically conductive piston (13) acted upon by a compression spring is guided, the free piston end (13a) of which protrudes from the housing (12) can be brought into electrical contact with an electrical test specimen, characterized by , that the housing (12) is provided at least in certain areas on its outer surface with a surface coloration that differs from the rest of the housing (12). [9] Spring contact device according to claim 8, characterized by , that the housing (12) is formed in two parts and has a tubular housing body (14) and a sleeve-shaped closure piece (15), wherein the closure piece (15) has a surface coloring at least on its outer surface (15a). [10] Spring contact device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by that the surface coloring is formed as an electrochemical coating. [11] Spring contact device according to claim 10, characterized by that the electrochemical coating is an anodic coating. [12] Spring contact device according to claim 11, characterized by , that the housing (12) and / or the closure piece (15) is made of aluminium and the electrochemical coating is a coloured anodising. [13] Spring contact device according to claim 9, characterized by that the electrochemical coating is an electrophoretic deposition of colored lacquer particles or a galvanic coating.

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