PLUG WITH A GUIDE PLATE

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention relates to a connector, in particular an electrical connector, with an electrically insulating guide plate. The connector has a plurality of electrical contact wires, in particular contact pins, which are in particular stamped. The contact wire has a rectangular, in particular square, cross-section and is guided through an opening in the guide plate and protrudes from the guide plate.

[0002] From US 700 47 66 B2, a guide plate for contact wires of a connector is known, wherein the guide plate has openings for passing contact wires, wherein the openings have an oval or diamond-shaped insertion funnel and a correspondingly shaped opening.

[0003] In connectors with stamped contact wires designed for soldering with a hole in a printed circuit board, burrs created during stamping of the contact wire can break off or detach when inserted into the printed circuit board or when passed through a guide plate, and cause short circuits in an electrical device as debris.

[0004] From GB 221 91 48 A a plug with a stepped retaining plate having holes is known, wherein the steps each form stop surfaces that prevent the retaining plate from slipping.

[0005] From EP 1 950 841 A2 a connector housing with through holes for the passage of contact elements is known, in which an inclined wall of the through hole prevents contact with a flat side of the contact element.

[0006] From US 2005 / 085 109 A1, a connector with a guide plate having through holes for contact elements is known, wherein the guide plate can prevent elastic deformation of a connector housing of the connector.

[0007] Patent application JP2019033012 A discloses an embodiment of a contact pin formed by a recess in a guide plate. The contact pin has a burr-like side with projecting burrs at the corners. Corresponding to the corners of the contact pin, the recess has clearances to space the projecting burrs away from the recess. Disclosure of the invention

[0008] According to the invention, each opening along a thickness extension of the guide plate has a guide shaft. Each guide shaft has at least one flat wall for guiding a flat side of the contact wire. Opposite the flat wall, each guide shaft also has at least one inclined wall section configured to contact a corner of the contact wire. Opposite the flat wall, each guide shaft has a wall section with an inclined cross-section, namely an arcuate, V-shaped, or roof-shaped section, configured to contact the corner of the burr side of the corresponding contact wire. Each guide shaft is configured such that, as the corresponding contact wire passes through it, the corner of the burr side is pressed against the inclined wall section, and the burrs are thereby angled relative to each other.Advantageously, the flat side of the guide shaft ensures good, flat guidance of the contact wire. The opposing, inclined wall section, in conjunction with the guidance provided by the flat wall section, enables high positioning accuracy of the contact wire within the guide plate and thus also between adjacent contact wires. Preferably, the contact wire is formed as a stamped sheet metal part, which is additionally bent and / or embossed, for example, by a forming process. In this process, a cutting tool is placed on one of the support surfaces of a raw sheet metal blank provided for the production of contact wires. This tool, in conjunction with a counter-cutting tool, such as a die, shears or cuts one or more contact wires from the raw sheet metal with a defined contour.Due to the manufacturing process, the burr side opposite the support side of the punching tool exhibits corresponding burrs at each shearing edge, which protrude from the respective shearing edge. Shearing off these burrs during the installation of the contact wires through the opening can be effectively prevented by its defined shape. For this purpose, the burr side of a contact wire faces the sloping wall area. Consequently, the support side of a contact wire faces the flat wall. In particular, this ensures that when the contact wire is guided through the opening, the contact side rests against the flat wall, and the contact wire is guided through the opening with minimal mechanical stress on its contact side.It has further been shown that the burrs on the burr side of a contact wire, which come into contact with the wall of the opening during insertion, are advantageously not sheared or cut off, but rather simply bent by the oblique contact forces acting upon them. Advantageously, the burr can thus remain attached to the contact wire, preventing the formation of detached burr particles as debris. Additionally, the bent burr assumes a more favorable position, which prevents it from breaking off so easily, even when the contact wire is subsequently inserted through an opening in a printed circuit board – for example, to form a solder contact. By being bent, the burr can be folded against the contact wire, particularly against a flat side of the wire, thus very easily and effectively preventing the formation of debris.Additionally, after the contact wire has been subsequently routed through a hole in a printed circuit board and a solder contact has been formed there, the contact wire can rest with its contact side on the flat wall formed in the hole. This can also be achieved, for example, by a corresponding arrangement of the contact wire towards the printed circuit board, in which a preload force is effective in the contact wire due to the arrangement, for example, as a result of tensioning the contact wire, so that the preload force moves the contact side towards the flat wall formed in the hole, preferably until contact is made. The flat contact surface significantly reduces the risk of whisker formation, which would otherwise become apparent over time under high point loads, since at the same time the burr side remains at a maximum distance from the sloping wall area.

[0009] Each contact wire is preferably a copper wire, in particular made of copper or a copper alloy. Additionally, it may be tinned – even if only partially – or have a solderable and / or solder-wetting coating. Advantageously, the contact wire can thus be produced cost-effectively.

[0010] Preferably, each opening runs perpendicular to a plate plane. Advantageously, the guide plate can then be slid onto the contact wires, especially contact pins.

[0011] In a first embodiment according to the invention, the wall area has an arcuate cross-section, in particular a circular arc. Advantageously, a semi-cylindrical opening wall can be formed in this way. Advantageously, with the arcuate or circular arc-shaped opening wall, the burr can be uniformly angled when pressed against the arcuate opening wall.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the wall area is V-shaped or roof-shaped. Advantageously, the ridge on the roof-shaped slope thus formed can be angled into a position corresponding to the slope.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the angle of the V-shape is between 60 and 160 degrees. More preferably, the angle of the V-shape is at least 90 degrees. Advantageously, the burr can thus be angled to a high degree with a relatively small opening dimension.

[0014] Each opening preferably has an insertion funnel to which the guide shaft is connected. The insertion funnel facilitates the insertion or threading of a contact wire through each opening. It also reliably compensates for any non-axis-centered alignment of the contact wire with respect to the opening. In a preferred embodiment, the insertion funnel is at least partially or completely conical. Advantageously, this allows the insertion funnel to accommodate a uniform positional displacement of the contact wire in all directions. In another preferred embodiment, the insertion funnel is at least partially or completely pyramidal. Advantageously, this allows the insertion funnel to guide the contact wire along a pyramidal corner, which forms a guide groove, to the guide shaft.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the insertion funnel has a flat slope in the region of the flat wall side, wherein the insertion funnel is formed on the opposite side by a conical section, in particular a truncated conical section. Advantageously, the contact wire can thus be guided into the guide shaft along the flat slope, more preferably by means of two V-shaped grooves delimiting the flat slope, and in the region of the conical section guided to the round or roof-shaped wall region to deform the burr.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the insertion funnel has a flat slope in the region of the flat wall side and one or two guide grooves on the opposite side. Advantageously, the contact wire can thus slide with one corner of the contact wire in a pyramid corner, in particular a V-shaped groove of the pyramid corner, towards the guide shaft.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the connector has a connector housing. The guide plate has a recess for plugging it into the connector housing. Advantageously, the guide plate can be plugged onto the contact wires and connected to the connector housing, in particular by a snap-fit ​​connection.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, a longitudinal dimension of each opening, particularly of the guide shaft, is equal to a transverse dimension of the opening – preferably in the cross-section of the opening. Advantageously, the insertion funnel, and more preferably the guide shaft, can be provided with small external dimensions.

[0019] Preferably, the guide plate or, additionally, the connector housing is made of plastic. The plastic is preferably a thermoplastic, for example, polyamide, PMMA (PMMA = polymethyl methacrylate), polycarbonate, POM (POM = polyoxymethacrylate), or ABS (ABS = acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), PBT (PBT = polybutadiene terephthalate), or ASA polymer (ASA = acrylonitrile styrene ester).

[0020] The invention will now be explained below with reference to figures and further exemplary embodiments. Further advantageous embodiments result from a combination of the features described in the figures and in the dependent claims. Figure 1 shows - schematically - an embodiment of a contact system comprising a guide plate for a plug and a contact wire, wherein the guide plate has an opening with a round wall area which is designed to deform a burr on the contact wire; Figure 2 shows - schematically - an embodiment of a contact system comprising a guide plate for a plug and a contact wire, wherein the guide plate has an opening with a roof-shaped wall area which is designed to deform a burr on the contact wire; Figure 3 shows - schematically - an embodiment of an opening in a guide plate, which is designed to deform a burr on a contact wire, wherein the opening has an insertion funnel with a funnel wall having flat and curved areas along the funnel circumference; Figure 4 shows - schematically - an embodiment of an opening in a guide plate, which is designed to deform a burr on a contact wire, wherein the opening has an insertion funnel with a funnel wall with guide grooves along the funnel circumference; Figure 5shows - schematically - an embodiment of an opening in a guide plate in a sectional view, which is designed to reshape a burr on a contact wire, wherein an insertion funnel is designed in a stepped manner; Figure 6 The figure shows - schematically - an embodiment of a plug with a guide plate through which the contact wires of the plug are passed.

[0021] Figure 1Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a contact system 1. The contact system 1 has a guide plate 2. The guide plate 2 has at least one opening 3. The opening 3 is designed to guide a contact wire 4 and forms a guide shaft for the contact wire 4. In this embodiment, the contact wire 4 has a rectangular cross-section. The contact wire 4 has a flat side 5. The flat side 5 corresponds, in particular, to a contact surface for a punching tool during the manufacture of the contact wire 4. The contact wire 4 has two corners 6 and 7 opposite each other on side 5. A burr 8 is formed at corner 6, and a burr 9 is formed at corner 7.In this embodiment, the burrs 8 and 9 are produced when the contact wire 4 is punched from a sheet metal part using a punching tool. The punching tool punches out the wire 4, enclosing side 5, from side 5 to corners 6 and 7. The burrs 8 and 9 are formed at the corners during this process. The side opposite the flat side 5 therefore corresponds to a burr side of the contact wire 4, which arises as a result of the manufacturing process.

[0022] The opening 3 has a flat opening wall 10, which forms a reveal of the opening 3. Opposite the flat wall 10, the opening 3, and thus also the guide plate 2, has a concave opening wall 11. The wall 10 and the concave wall 11 each form a circumferential section along the reveal of the opening 3.

[0023] The opening 3 has a longitudinal dimension 13 and a transverse dimension 14 extending perpendicular to it. In this embodiment, the longitudinal dimension 13 corresponds to the transverse dimension 14. A curvature of the concave opening wall 11, which is opposite the flat opening wall 10, has a radius of curvature 15 in this embodiment. The radius of curvature 15 is half the transverse dimension 14 in this embodiment, and thus also half the longitudinal dimension 13.

[0024] When inserted into the opening 3, the contact wire 4, with its flat side 5, which is positioned opposite the ridges 8 and 9, can rest against the flat wall 10 and slide into the opening 3. The ridges 8 and 9 are thereby angled towards each other at the rounded opening wall 11, particularly at the bevel 12 formed by the curve. Thus, the ridges 8 and 9 can no longer come into contact with an edge of the opening in the circuit board – especially when the contact wire 4 is further inserted into the opening – and be adversely broken off there.

[0025] Figure 2Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a guide plate 22, which has an opening 21. The opening 21 is designed for the passage of a contact wire 27 and forms a guide shaft for the contact wire 27. The opening 21 has a flat opening wall 23, which extends along one of the opening's perimeters as a circumferential section. Opposite the flat opening wall 23, the opening 21 has a V-shaped or roof-shaped opening wall in cross-section. The V-shaped opening wall comprises an opening wall 24 arranged at an angle to the flat opening wall 23, and an opening wall 25 extending to the opening wall 24 at a predetermined angle 26. The opening walls 24 and 25 each form a leg of the V-shape in the cross-section of the opening 21.A perpendicular line 20 extending from the intersection of the legs 24 and 25 to the opposite flat wall 23 extends orthogonally to the flat wall 23, and in this embodiment forms an angle bisector of the angle 26 which extends between the opening walls 24 and 25 which are arranged obliquely to the flat wall 23.

[0026] In this embodiment, a contact wire 27 is inserted into the opening 21. The contact wire 27 has a flat side 16 which, in this embodiment, conforms to the flat wall 23 when inserted into the opening 21. The flat side 16 corresponds, in particular, to a contact surface for a punching tool during the manufacture of the contact wire 27. Opposite the flat side 16 – in particular, a burr side of the contact wire – the contact wire 27 has two corners 28 and 29. A burr 31 is formed at corner 28 and a burr 30 at corner 29. When inserted into the opening 21, the burrs are bent at an angle by the V-shaped opening wall, formed by the wall sections 24 and 25, and thus bent towards each other.

[0027] In this embodiment, a transverse dimension 32 of the opening 21 corresponds to a longitudinal dimension 33 of the opening 21. In another embodiment, the opening 21 can have a maximum longitudinal dimension that is not equal to, in particular larger or smaller than, the maximum width dimension of the opening.

[0028] Figure 3Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a guide plate 17. The guide plate 17 has an opening 70 for receiving a contact wire. In this embodiment, the opening 70 forms a guide shaft for the contact wire. The opening 70 has an insertion funnel 34. The opening 70 also has a flat opening wall 69. The insertion funnel 34 has a flat inclined surface 37 in the area of ​​the flat wall 69, which extends at a predetermined angle to the flat wall 69. A contact wire can thus slide into the opening 70 with an edge formed on one end face along the flat inclined surface 37. The flat inclined surface 37 is bounded by two grooves 35 and 36, in particular guide grooves.

[0029] The channels 35 and 36 form a boundary between the inclined funnel wall 37 and the remaining funnel area along the funnel's circumference. In this embodiment, the inclined section 37, together with the channels 35 and 36 and the funnel wall adjoining the channels 35 and 36, forms part or half of a truncated conical pyramid. The insertion funnel 34 is semi-truncated, in particular semicircular, conical in shape, relative to the inclined funnel wall 37, which runs obliquely at a predetermined angle to the flat opening wall 69. Two corners of a contact wire can slide into the opening 70 on the funnel wall thus formed.

[0030] In this embodiment, the opening 70 has a longitudinal dimension 38 which is the same size as a transverse dimension 39 running perpendicular to it.

[0031] In another embodiment, the opening 70 can have a maximum longitudinal dimension that is not equal to, in particular larger or smaller than, the maximum width dimension of the opening.

[0032] The in Figure 3 The illustrated inlet funnel 34 can be attached to the in Figure 1 The illustrated guide plate 2 is formed at the opening 3. The opening 3 replaces the opening 70 in Figure 3 .

[0033] Figure 4 Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an insertion funnel 44. The insertion funnel 44 encloses an opening 71 and is designed to capture a contact wire for insertion through the opening 71.

[0034] The opening 71, which in this embodiment forms a guide shaft for the contact wire, and the insertion funnel 44 surrounding it are formed in a guide plate 18. The opening 71 has a flat opening wall 41, opposite which, in cross-section, two opening walls 47 and 48, each forming a V-shaped leg, are arranged. In this embodiment, the insertion funnel 44 has four grooves 42, 43, 45, and 46, in particular guide grooves, each of which extends into a corner of the opening 71. Advantageously, a corner of a guide wire can thus be guided into the opening 71 in one of the grooves along a longitudinal extension of the groove. Opposite the flat opening wall 41, the insertion funnel 44 has a rounded edge region 40. In this embodiment, the funnel wall region 40 is designed as a truncated conical segment, in particular a truncated conical circular segment.

[0035] In this embodiment, a transverse dimension 49 of the opening 71, extending perpendicular to a longitudinal dimension of the opening 41, is of the same length as the longitudinal dimension 50. In this embodiment, the longitudinal dimension 50 corresponds to the longitudinal extent of the flat opening wall 41 in the cross-section of the opening 71. In this embodiment, the transverse dimension 49 corresponds to a longitudinal dimension of a perpendicular line extending from a vertex formed by the inclined surfaces 47 and 48 to the flat opening wall 41.

[0036] In another embodiment, the opening 71 can have a maximum longitudinal dimension that is not equal to, in particular larger or smaller than, the maximum width dimension of the opening.

[0037] The in Figure 4 The illustrated inlet funnel 44 can be attached to the in Figure 2 The guide plate 22 shown is implemented. The one in Figure 2The breakthrough shown, 21, replaces the one in Figure 4 The breakthrough 71 shown. The inlet funnel 44 thus surrounds the opening in Figure 2 Breakthrough 21, as depicted. The one in Figure 4 The depicted flat opening wall 41 replaces the one shown in Figure 2 The flat opening wall 23 shown in the figure is replaced by the opening wall 47, which is arranged at an angle to the flat opening wall 41 and is opposite the opening wall 24, and the angled opening wall 48 replaces the opening wall 25. The contact wire 27 can thus be captured in the insertion funnel 44 and slide safely into the opening 21. The ridges 30 and 31 are then angled in the roof area of ​​the opening 71 formed by the angled opening walls 47 and 48.

[0038] Figure 5Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an opening 51 with an insertion funnel 52, which is formed in a guide plate 19. The opening 51 has a guide shaft 72. The guide shaft 72 has, for example, the cross-sectional shape and dimensions of one of the openings described above. Figure 1 or Figure 2 on.

[0039] The in Figure 5 The illustrated feed funnel 52 is designed with a stepped feed angle in this embodiment. The feed funnel 52 has a funnel wall section 55 which has a predetermined funnel angle 73.

[0040] In this embodiment, a longitudinal extent 53 of the guide shaft 72 of the opening in the guide plate 19 is larger than a longitudinal extent 54 of the insertion funnel 52 along the thickness extent of the guide plate 19.

[0041] The inlet funnel 52 has a funnel wall section 56, the funnel angle 74 of which is smaller than the funnel angle 73 of the funnel wall section 55. The funnel wall section 56 extends between the funnel wall section 55 and the guide shaft 72.

[0042] The funnel wall section 55 thus forms a first funnel stage, to which a second funnel stage, formed by the funnel wall section 56, adjoins. The second funnel stage, formed by the funnel wall 56, is designed to have a ridge, for example, the one in Figure 1 depicted ridge 8 or 9, or the one in Figure 2 The burr 30 or 31 shown is gradually bent at an angle when a contact wire 59, on which such a burr may be formed, is inserted, and thus folded against the contact wire 59. The burr 8 or 9 can be reshaped in this way.

[0043] In this embodiment, a longitudinal dimension 58 of the second funnel stage corresponds to a longitudinal dimension 57 of the first funnel stage, each along the thickness extension of the guide plate 19.

[0044] Figure 6 Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a connector 60, which is depicted in a sectional view. The connector 60 has a connector housing 62, in particular a plastic housing. The connector 60 also has a plurality of contact wires, in this embodiment four contact wires. One of the contact wires is, for example, the one shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 The contact wire 4, as already shown, extends with one end section into a socket of the plug 60 designed for contacting a mating plug. An opposite end of the contact wire 4 extends at an angle away from the housing 62 and is designed for soldering to a circuit board 61.

[0045] In this embodiment, the connector 60 comprises further contact wires 63, 64, and 65, each extending parallel to the contact wire 4 at a distance from the other. The contact wires 4, 63, 64, and 65 are each guided through an opening formed for the respective contact wire in a guide plate 2. The guide plate 2 is an integral part of the connector 60. For connection with the guide plate 2, the connector 60 has a projection 68, which is designed to engage in a recess 67 in the guide plate 2. The guide plate 2 can thus be placed onto the projection 68 and thereby connected to the housing 62 by friction and / or positive locking.

[0046] The contact wire 4 is guided through the opening 3 in the guide plate 2. The opening 3 can be configured according to the diagram in Figure 1The opening 3 shown in the guide plate 2 can be formed. Alternatively, the design can also be adapted to an opening as shown in the Fig. 2The device is disclosed. Burrs formed on the contact wire 4 or on the further contact wires 63, 64, or 65 can be deformed at an angle on the inclined wall region of the opening. The contact wires of the connector 60 can then be guided through the respective openings of the printed circuit board 61, in particular a THT printed circuit board (THT = Through-Hole Technology), and soldered to the printed circuit board 61 using a soldering medium 66. In the soldered state, the contact wires 4, 63, 64, 65 are in a particularly slightly tensioned arrangement between the connector and the printed circuit board 61, so that a preload force is effective in them, which moves the contact wires 4, 63, 64, 65 towards the respective flat wall 5, 16 in the opening 3, 21, and in particular causes them to bear against it.A contact wire 4, 63, 64, 65 is oriented within a through-hole 3, 21 in the guide plate 2, 22 such that the system side 5 of the contact wire 4, 63, 64, 65 faces the flat wall 10, 23 and the burr side faces the concave through-hole wall 11 or the inclined through-hole wall 24, 25.

[0047] With connector 60, no burrs or flakes protruding from a contact wire can cause a short circuit. Additionally, whisker formation during operation of connector 60 is significantly reduced.

Claims

1. Plug (60), with an electrically insulating guide plate (2, 22, 17, 18, 19), wherein the guide plate (2, 22, 17, 18, 19) has a plurality of stamped electrical contact wires (4, 27, 59, 63, 64, 65), wherein each contact wire (4, 27, 59, 63, 64, 65) has a square cross section and is guided through a corresponding aperture (3, 21, 51, 70, 71) in the guide plate (2, 22, 17, 18, 19) and protrudes from the guide plate (2, 22, 17, 18, 19), wherein each contact wire has a flat side and, situated opposite, a burr side, wherein burrs (8, 9) are formed at corners (6.7) of the burr side, and wherein each corresponding aperture (3, 21, 51, 70, 71) has a guide shaft (70, 71, 72) along a thickness extent of the guide plate (2, 22, 17, 18, 19), wherein each guide shaft (70, 71, 72) has at least one planar wall (10, 23, 41) for guiding the flat side of the corresponding contact wire (4, 27, 59, 63, 64, 65), wherein the guide shaft of the planar wall has, situated opposite, a, specifically arcuate or V-shaped or roof-like, wall region which runs obliquely to the planar wall in cross section and is designed to touch the corner of the burr side of the corresponding contact wire (4, 27, 59, 63, 64, 65) and wherein the guide shaft is designed in such a way as to press the corner of the burr side against the obliquely running wall region when the corresponding contact wire (4, 27, 59, 63, 64, 65) is guided through and to angle the burrs in relation to each other in the process.

2. Plug (60) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the arcuate wall region (11, 55, 56) is designed in the form of a circular arc.

3. Plug (60) according to Claim 1, characterized in that an angle (26) of the V shape is between 60 and 160 degrees.

4. Plug (60) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each aperture (3, 21, 51, 70, 71) has an insertion funnel (34, 37, 44, 52) which is adjoined by the corresponding guide shaft (70, 71, 72).

5. Plug (60) according to Claim 4, characterized in that each insertion funnel (34, 37, 44, 52) is designed at least partially in the form of a circular cone.

6. Plug (60) according to either of Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that each insertion funnel (34, 37, 44, 52) is designed at least partially in the form of a pyramid.

7. Plug (60) according to any of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that each insertion funnel (34, 44, 52) has a planar slope (37) in the region of the planar wall side (10, 23, 69, 41) and is formed by a conical portion (40) on the opposite side.

8. Plug (60) according to any of the preceding Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that each insertion funnel (34, 44, 52) has a planar slope (37) in the region of the planar wall side (10, 23, 69, 41) and has guide channels on the opposite side.

9. Plug (60) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug (60) has a plug housing (62) and the guide plate (2, 22, 17, 18, 19) has a recess (67) for plug-connection to the plug housing (62).

10. Plug (60) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a longitudinal dimension (13, 33, 38, 50) of each aperture (3, 21, 51, 70, 71) is equal to a transverse dimension (14, 32, 30, 49) of the aperture (3, 21, 51, 70, 71).