Socket, plug pin and connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector socket (10), a connector pin (20), and a plug (1), particularly for transmitting high currents in a vehicle (2). The connector socket has a hollow body (13), several grooves (15), a retaining ring, and a sealing element (6). One end of the hollow body (13) is configured to receive a connector pin (20). The grooves (15) are formed into the inner surface of the hollow body (13) and extend circumferentially over the entire circumference of the hollow body (13). The retaining ring (5) and the sealing element (6) are arranged in the grooves (15). The connector pin is produced by drawing a hollow body without additional machining of the contact surface.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a connector socket, a connector pin, and a plug, particularly for the transmission of high currents. The invention further relates to a vehicle with such a plug, a manufacturing method for a connector socket, and a manufacturing method for a connector pin. Technical background

[0002] A connector can be used for holding or locking, as well as disconnecting or unlocking. It is particularly useful for electrical connections. The design of the connector can depend on the specific requirements and intended use. Factors such as the currents to be transmitted, environmental influences like humidity, vibrations, or temperature, and the frequency of connection and disconnection can all affect the connector design. Furthermore, the connector should provide reliable contact between the two components—the socket and the pin—ensuring a consistent electrical connection.

[0003] Connector sockets and pins can be machined, resulting in tight tolerances between the two components and ensuring good contact. Furthermore, the connection between the socket and pin can be made via a retaining ring, which establishes a conductive connection at multiple points and simultaneously compensates for vibrations or temperature fluctuations.

[0004] US 2006 / 270277A1 describes an electrical connection for electrical connections that is manufactured by metal stamping and consists of a helical spring interface.

[0005] DE 10 2011 077165 A1 describes an electrical connector that can establish an electrical connection between the connector and an electrical plug. The connector comprises an electrically conductive body part stamped from a sheet metal part and an elastic, conductive element.

[0006] JP 2011 204607 A describes a connector having a cylindrical contact that receives the pin-shaped terminal of a mating connector.

[0007] US 2012 / 009828 A1 describes a connector pin that has an electrical contact section and an insulating element made of insulating material.

[0008] EP 3 211 722 A1 describes a contact bolt, a connection and a contact arrangement, especially for automotive engineering.

[0009] WO 2010 / 066618 A1 describes a unipolar high-current connector for a wind turbine, comprising a plug contact in a plug housing and a coupling contact in a coupling housing. Summary of the invention

[0010] One objective of the invention is to provide a connector for high currents which can be manufactured inexpensively compared to known systems.

[0011] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Embodiments and further developments can be found in the dependent claims, the description, and the figures.

[0012] A first aspect of the invention relates to a connector socket, particularly for the transmission of high currents, for a vehicle connector. This connector socket has a tubular hollow body with a first end and a second end, designed to receive a connector pin. A groove is provided, extending between the first and second ends through the inner surface of the hollow body in its circumferential direction. Furthermore, the connector socket has a ring spring arranged in the groove for electrical contact of the connector pin that can be inserted into the hollow body. The tubular hollow body is formed, at least partially, into an outwardly directed bulge to create the groove.

[0013] The connector is particularly suitable for transmitting high currents, e.g., 500 A at 1000 V. Furthermore, the connector socket can be manufactured by forming processes, such as bead rolling or hydraulic expansion. This means the starting material is reshaped without adding or removing any material. Therefore, the connector socket can be manufactured quickly, easily, with minimal material usage, optimized weight, and cost-effectively. For this purpose, a groove can be machined into the inside of a hollow body, such as a tube (with various cross-sections). A hollow blank, e.g., a tube, can serve as the starting material for the connector socket. The connector socket can be cut to the desired length either before or after the groove is machined. The groove can be machined around the entire circumference of the hollow body and is parallel to the detachable contact.Alternatively or additionally, the groove for the ring spring may not be parallel to the detachable contact. The groove can be designed to accommodate a ring spring. This ring spring can then establish the electrically conductive connection between a connector pin and the connector socket. Current can flow through the coils of the ring spring and the respective contact surfaces of the inner surface of the connector socket and the outer surface of the connector pin. Furthermore, the ring spring can compensate for tolerances in both the connector socket and the connector pin. These tolerances can be caused by manufacturing, temperature fluctuations (thermal expansion), vibrations, or wear. The hollow body has an opening to accommodate the connector pin, forming the detachable contact. The other end of the hollow body can form a fixed contact, which may be connected to an electrical conductor.The fixed contact can be crimped, welded, or soldered to a busbar or cable, for example. Furthermore, the hollow body can have an angle, so that the detachable and fixed contacts are not aligned. By using a hollow body and manufacturing it through forming processes, the wall thickness of the connector socket can be reduced, thus saving weight. Additionally, the hollow body, with its large inner and outer surfaces, has a large surface area, which allows for efficient heat dissipation.

[0014] It should be noted that the ring spring establishes electrical contact at several points between the socket and the connector pin, allowing current to flow. Furthermore, it should be noted that ring springs with different numbers of turns can be inserted into the groove, thus providing different numbers of contact points. When the connector pin is inserted into the socket, the ring spring is compressed radially, exerting a counterforce on the socket groove and the releasable contact of the connector pin, ensuring a reliable connection.

[0015] According to one embodiment, a bulge is formed into the outer surface of the hollow body's lateral surface by means of the forming process. This bulge extends outwards from the surface of the lateral surface to form the groove inside the hollow body. In other words, the groove is an internal groove, so the inner diameter of the hollow body is smaller than the inner diameter of the groove.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the ring spring and the groove have dimensions that are matched to each other, and the ring spring is at least displaceable or deformable by the plug pin when the plug pin is inserted into the hollow body, such that the plug pin can be inserted over the ring spring arranged in the groove.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the hollow body is reshaped to form the groove by hydraulic widening or bead rolling.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the hollow body has a plurality of parallel grooves between the first and second ends.

[0019] According to one embodiment, a sealing element is arranged in at least one of the grooves, which is made of a material different from the ring spring.

[0020] According to one embodiment, at least three grooves are formed in the hollow body and the ring element is arranged in at least one of the outer grooves of the at least three grooves relating to the first and / or second end.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the first or second end of the hollow body is connected to a conductor, for example in the form of a plate-shaped or sheet-like contact part, which is designed for attaching an electrical conductor. The end can, in particular, be bonded to the contact part by means of a material bond.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the contact part has a through-opening in which the end of the hollow body is arranged at least section by section.

[0023] According to one embodiment, an inner surface and / or an outer surface of the hollow body is coated with a second metallic material which has a higher electrical conductivity than a first metallic material from which the hollow body is made.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the connector socket is manufactured from a tube by forming. The tube can serve as the starting material. Furthermore, it is possible to first cut the tube to the appropriate length and then create the groove by forming, or alternatively, to first create the groove by forming and then cut the tube with the groove to length.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the hollow body is a drawn tube which is cut to length and then the inner groove is created by forming.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the hollow body is preferably cylindrical. However, the hollow body can also have other shapes and cross-sections. For example, the hollow body can have an oval, triangular, or rectangular cross-section. It should be noted that in a connector with multiple sockets, the respective hollow bodies can also have different cross-sections. This allows for reverse polarity protection.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the groove is introduced into the outer surface of the hollow body by means of hydraulic widening or beading rollers.

[0028] According to another embodiment, the fixed contact part is designed to be connected to an electrical conductor by crimping, welding, or soldering. It should be noted that crimping, in particular, allows the cross-section of the fixed contact part of the connector socket to be changed. Thus, the cross-sections of the connector socket and / or the connector pin refer to cross-sections before the fixed contact part was made. In other words, the cross-section refers to a manufactured connector socket.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the solid contact part, similar to a tubular cable lug, is flattened to form a terminal. This terminal can then be welded, soldered, or screwed to make contact with an electrical conductor.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the fixed contact part has an angle between 90° and 180° with respect to the detachable contact. In other words, the connector socket can form an angle. Thus, the connector socket can be used in a variety of ways, depending on the specific application scenario.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the hollow body further comprises at least a second groove with a second ring spring, which is arranged parallel to the groove with the ring spring. The second groove allows for a larger contact area and / or redundancy in the connector. Alternatively or additionally, the second groove can also be arranged at a different location than the first. It should be noted that three, four, or more ring springs can also be arranged in corresponding grooves of the connector socket.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the plug socket further comprises an inner and an outer touch guard. The touch guard is designed to prevent a person from touching a live part of the plug socket with their finger. This touch guard increases safety when handling the plug, as it prevents a person from touching live areas of the plug socket with their hands. The plug socket's touch guard can be made of an insulating material, such as plastic. Furthermore, the touch guard can have an outer housing and an inner pin. This effectively prevents a person from touching a live area of ​​the plug socket with their finger. It should be noted that the plug socket's touch guard is aligned with the touch guard of the corresponding plug pin, and vice versa, so that the plug socket can accommodate the plug pin with its touch guard.

[0033] Another aspect of the invention relates to a connector pin, particularly for the transmission of high currents, for a vehicle connector. It has a tubular hollow body with a first end and a second end, designed for insertion into a connector socket. An electrically insulating cap is provided at the first end of the hollow body, and the second end of the hollow body, opposite the cap, can be connected to a plate-shaped or sheet-metal contact part designed for attaching an electrical conductor.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the tubular hollow body has a contact surface that is produced by drawing a tube without having been additionally machined (before and / or after), in particular without turning or grinding.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the cap partially surrounds the first end of the hollow body and a radial outer surface of the cap is essentially flush with an outer surface of the hollow body.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the cap is held to the first end of the hollow body in a form-fit, force-fit, or form-fit and force-fit manner.

[0037] According to one embodiment, an inner surface and / or an outer surface of the hollow body is coated with a second metallic material which has a higher electrical conductivity than a first metallic material from which the hollow body is made.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the hollow body has an arithmetic mean roughness value, Ra, of 0.5 to 1.1, preferably of 0.8, on an outer surface which at least partially forms a contact section for electrical contact with the plug socket.

[0039] The connector pin can have a fixed contact with a first outer diameter and a detachable contact with a second outer diameter. Both diameters can also be identical. The detachable contact of the connector pin is designed to engage with a detachable contact of a connector socket. If the first outer diameter of the fixed contact or a hollow body is larger than the second outer diameter of the detachable contact, the second outer diameter of the detachable contact can be created by forming, by compressing, pressing, or squeezing the hollow body accordingly.

[0040] The connector pin can also be manufactured using forming processes. For example, a connector pin can be formed from a tube by compressing, squeezing, or pressing, creating a detachable contact with a second, smaller outer diameter than the first outer diameter of the hollow body. This allows for simple, quick, weight-optimized, material-saving, and cost-efficient production of the connector pin. Furthermore, a hollow connector pin allows for heat dissipation due to the increased surface area. Advantageously, the second outer diameter of the detachable contact is smaller than the inner diameter of the corresponding connector socket.

[0041] It should be noted that the properties and embodiments described in connection with the socket also apply to the plug pin.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the connector pin is a hollow body and is manufactured from a tube by forming. For example, the tube can be a tubular cable lug.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the hollow body of the connector pin is preferably cylindrical. However, the hollow body can also have other shapes and cross-sections. For example, the hollow body can have an oval, triangular, or rectangular cross-section. It should be noted that in a connector with multiple pins, the respective hollow bodies can also have different cross-sections. This allows for reverse polarity protection.

[0044] According to a further embodiment, the plug pin also has a touch guard in the form of a cap. The touch guard is designed to prevent a person from touching a live part of the plug pin with their finger. This touch guard increases safety when handling the plug, as the person can no longer touch live areas of the plug pin with their hands.

[0045] The contact protection of the plug pin can, for example, consist of an insulating material such as plastic. Furthermore, the contact protection can include an inner lining of the plug pin and a collar, with the collar extending beyond the end of the removable contact of the plug pin. It should be noted that the distance between the collar and the removable contact of the plug pin can be designed such that the plug socket with contact protection can be inserted, but a person's finger cannot fit into this gap. This prevents a person from touching a live area of ​​the plug pin with their finger.

[0046] Another aspect concerns the connector, especially for transmitting high currents. The touch protection of a connector pin can have a larger inner diameter than the contact-bearing outer diameter of the connector pin. The touch protection thus incorporates a locking mechanism designed to prevent the connection from being released until a disconnecting force on the connector exceeds a predefined threshold, which is significantly higher than the mere sliding force of the connector pin in the socket.

[0047] The touch protection of the plug pin and the plug socket can be designed to interact with each other, so that a safety mechanism against unintentional opening can be implemented.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the plug has a plug pin and a plug socket described above and below.

[0049] In other words, the socket and pin together form the plug. This plug can be used to connect and disconnect two current-carrying elements, such as an electrical cable. The plug can be used, in particular, in a vehicle to connect battery cells or the battery to the vehicle's electrical system, but this is not its only application. It should be noted that the socket can also function as a plug with a pin that was not formed using a forming process. For example, in the latter case, the pin can be manufactured using a machining process.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the socket, pin, and / or plug are made of copper and optionally coated, at least partially, with a conductive material. Alternatively or additionally, the socket and pin can also be made of another conductive material, such as a metal like silver, aluminum, or gold, or an alloy.

[0051] Another aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle with a connector as described above and below. The connector can be used, in particular, to connect battery components or the battery to the vehicle's electrical system.

[0052] One aspect concerns a method for manufacturing a socket for a plug, in particular a plug as described above and below, of a vehicle, especially for the transmission of high currents, comprising the steps: Producing a tubular hollow body having a first end and a second end and designed to receive a plug pin; at least partially forming the tubular hollow body to create a groove in an outwardly directed bulge between the first and second ends; arranging a ring spring in the groove for electrical contact of the plug pin that can be inserted into the hollow body.

[0053] One aspect concerns a method for manufacturing a connector pin, in particular a connector pin as described above and below, for a vehicle connector, especially for the transmission of high currents, comprising the steps: Drawing a tube; cutting the tube to length to produce a tubular hollow body having a first end and a second end, designed to be inserted into a plug socket; shaping the first end of the hollow body and fitting an electrically insulating cap to the first end of the hollow body; connecting the hollow body at the second end of the hollow body, opposite the cap, to a plate-shaped or sheet-like contact part designed to accommodate an electrical conductor.

[0054] Further features, advantages, and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the exemplary embodiments and figures. The figures are schematic and not to scale. If the same reference numerals are used in different figures in the following description, they denote identical or similar elements. Brief description of the characters

[0055] Fig. 1shows a perspective view of a plug socket according to one embodiment. Fig. 2 shows a quarter-section view of a plug socket according to one embodiment. Fig. 3 shows an enlarged section of a groove for a ring spring according to the main design form. Fig. 4 shows a ring spring. Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a connector pin according to one embodiment. Fig. 6 shows a quarter-section view of a connector pin according to one embodiment. Fig. 7 shows an exploded view of a connector according to one embodiment. Fig. 8 shows a sectional view of a connector according to one embodiment. Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of a plug according to one embodiment. Fig. 10 shows a plug socket with touch protection according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 11 shows a connector pin with touch protection according to one embodiment. Fig. 12shows a perspective view of a plug with touch protection in the disconnected state according to one embodiment. Fig. 13 shows a sectional view of a plug with touch protection in the disconnected state according to one embodiment. Fig. 14 shows a sectional view of a plug with touch protection in the connected state according to one embodiment. Fig. 15 shows a vehicle with a connector according to one embodiment. Fig. 16 shows a flowchart for a process for manufacturing a plug socket according to one embodiment. Fig. 17 shows a flowchart for a process for manufacturing a connector pin according to one embodiment. Fig. 18A-E Show several views of a plug with plug pin and plug socket according to one embodiment. Fig. 19A-E show several views of a plug with plug pin and plug socket according to another embodiment. Detailed description from Designs

[0056] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a connector socket 10. The connector socket 10 is essentially a cylindrical hollow body 13 with a first and a second end. It should be noted that the hollow body 13 can also have a different cross-section, for example, oval, triangular, or rectangular. In particular, various geometries can be provided for the connector socket 10 as reverse polarity protection. The first end forms a fixed contact 11, which can be permanently connected to an electrical conductor, for example, a cable or a busbar. The connection to an electrical conductor can be made by crimping, welding, or soldering, or the fixed contact 11 can be flattened to create a terminal. The second end of the hollow body 13 forms a detachable contact 12 and is designed to receive a connector pin. Furthermore, in Fig. 1A circumferential groove 15 is visible, which was formed into the outer surface of the hollow body by means of forming. The groove 15 can be formed into the outer surface of the hollow body 13 by hydraulic expansion or bead rolling. Furthermore, the groove 15 is parallel to the end of the detachable contact 12. The groove 15 is an internal groove, so that the inner diameter of the hollow body is smaller than the inner diameter of the groove 15. The groove is also designed to accommodate a retaining ring, allowing current to flow between the connector pin and the connector socket 10 via the retaining ring. The hollow body 13 can, for example, be a drawn tube into which the groove is subsequently formed. Furthermore, the hollow body 13 can be made of a conductive material, preferably copper. The hollow body 13 allows for better heat dissipation because its surface area is significantly larger compared to a solid body.By producing the groove through forming, material can be saved, as the wall thickness of the hollow body 13 can be reduced compared to a milled or turned part. Furthermore, the material savings lead to a reduction in weight and costs. A forming process also reduces waste. Additionally, forming can reduce machining time compared to machining, thus lowering production costs.

[0057] Fig. 2 shows a quarter-section view of connector socket 10. Furthermore, in Fig. 2The hollow body 13 is visible. This body has two ends and is hollow throughout. For example, the hollow body 13 can be a tube. The first end of the hollow body can form a fixed contact 11, and the second end can form a detachable contact 12. The fixed contact 11 is located on the side facing away from the groove 15. This fixed contact 11 is designed to be connected to an electrical conductor, such as a cable or busbar, by crimping, welding, or soldering. Alternatively or additionally, the fixed contact 11 can also be flattened like a tubular cable lug to form a terminal. Furthermore, the groove 15 is designed to receive a retaining ring. The detachable contact 12 can be designed to receive a connector pin, allowing current to flow between the connector pin and the connector socket via the retaining ring.Furthermore, a groove 15 is formed into the hollow body 13 by means of forming. This groove 15 is arranged circumferentially and parallel to the releasable contact 12.

[0058] The hollow body 13 made of Fig. 2 For example, it has an outer diameter of 20 mm.

[0059] The wall thickness of the hollow body is, for example, 2.25 mm, resulting in an inner diameter of 15.5 mm. Fig. 2 Furthermore, a phase is visible at the fixed contact 11 and the detachable contact 12, which facilitates the insertion of the plug pin or the cable. The plug socket 10 can be made of a conductive material, e.g., copper. However, other metals or alloys, such as iron, aluminum, silver, or gold, are also conceivable. The total length of the plug socket 10 is Fig. 2 The distance is, for example, 49.5 mm, with the center of the groove being, for example, 43 mm from the fixed contact 11 and 6.5 mm from the removable contact 12.

[0060] Fig. 3shows a detailed view from point A Fig. 2 The groove 15 in the hollow body 13 of the connector socket 10 is shown here. The groove 15 was formed in the connector socket 10 by means of a forming process, for example, hydraulic expansion or bead rolling. The forming process creates a bulge on the outer surface of the hollow body 13, which extends outwards from the surface of the hollow body to form the groove 15 inside the hollow body 13. Furthermore, the groove 15 has an angle of approximately 135° between its two inner surfaces. It should be noted that the forming process exerts pressure on the hollow body 13, causing it to partially deform and form the groove 15. In the example shown, the groove can have a width of 3.55 mm and a maximum depth of 2.4 mm.

[0061] Fig. 4Figure 5 shows a ring spring for insertion into a connector socket. This ring spring 5 is made of a conductive material, such as copper, a copper alloy, or silver. Furthermore, the ring spring 5 forms a torus with a hole in its center that can accommodate a connector pin. The ring spring 5 is also spirally constructed. In other words, a spiral spring is joined at its two ends to form the ring spring 5. The ring spring 5 can transmit current between the connector socket and the connector pin via each of its contact points and can simultaneously compensate for their tolerances, thus ensuring a consistently good contact. When the connector pin is inserted into the connector socket, the ring spring 5 is compressed by the releasable contact of the connector pin, thereby exerting a counterforce on the groove of the connector socket and on the releasable contact of the connector pin.

[0062] Fig. 5Figure 1 shows a connector pin 20 for a plug. The connector pin 20 has a hollow body 23 with a first and a second end. It should be noted that the hollow body 23 can, for example, have an oval, round, triangular, or square cross-section. In particular, various geometries can be provided for the connector pin 20 as reverse polarity protection. The first end of the hollow body 23 forms the fixed contact 21, which can be permanently connected to an electrical conductor, for example, a cable or a busbar. The connection to an electrical conductor can be made by crimping, welding, or soldering, or the fixed contact 21 can be flattened to create a terminal. The second end of the hollow body 23 forms a detachable contact 22 and is designed to be received by a plug socket. Fig. 5It can be seen that the outer diameter of the detachable contact 22 is smaller than the outer diameter of the hollow body 23. Here, the outer diameter of the hollow body 23 is reduced accordingly by forming, e.g., pressing, in order to obtain the outer diameter of the detachable contact 22. The hollow body 23 can, for example, be a drawn tube, the outer diameter of which is subsequently reduced accordingly. Furthermore, the hollow body 23 can be made of a conductive material, preferably copper. The hollow body 23 allows for better heat dissipation due to its increased surface area. Manufacturing the plug pin 20 by forming allows for material savings, as the wall thickness of the hollow body 23 can be reduced compared to a milled or solid part. This material saving also leads to a reduction in weight and costs. Furthermore, a forming process for manufacturing the component reduces waste.Furthermore, forming can reduce the processing time compared to machining, thus reducing manufacturing costs.

[0063] Fig. 6 shows a quarter-section view of connector pin 20. Furthermore, in Fig. 6The hollow body of the connector pin 20 is visible. This has two ends and is hollow throughout. For example, the hollow body can be a tube. The first end of the hollow body can form a fixed contact 21, and the second end can form a detachable contact 22. The fixed contact 21, or the hollow body, has a first outer diameter d1. The detachable contact 22 has a second outer diameter d2, which is smaller than the first outer diameter d1. The second outer diameter d2, or the detachable contact 22, is formed from the hollow body 23 by deformation. This fixed contact 21 is designed to be connected to an electrical conductor, such as a cable or busbar, by crimping, welding, or soldering. Alternatively or additionally, the fixed contact 21 can be flattened like a tubular cable lug to form a terminal.It should be noted that the first outer diameter d1 is described before connection with the electrical conductor, since subsequently, especially during crimping, the cross-section of the fixed contact 21 is changed.

[0064] The hollow body made of Fig. 6 For example, it has a first outer diameter d1 of 20 mm. The wall thickness of the hollow body can be 2.25 mm, resulting in an inner diameter of 15.5 mm at the fixed contact 21. The second outer diameter can be 15 mm, allowing the plug pin 20 to be received by the plug socket. Fig. 6Furthermore, a chamfer is visible on the fixed contact 21, which facilitates the insertion of the cable. Additionally, the tip of the detachable contact 22 has a radius of, for example, 2.5 mm. This radius is also formed in the detachable contact 22 of the connector pin 20 by means of forming. The radius may be present, in particular, if the connector pin does not have touch protection. This facilitates insertion into the connector socket. The connector pin 20 can be made of a conductive material, such as copper. However, other metals or alloys, such as iron, aluminum, silver, or gold, are also conceivable. The total length of the connector pin 20 is... Fig. 6The diameter can be 55 mm, with the fixed contact 21 having a length of 35 mm and the detachable contact 22 having a length of 14 mm. Between the fixed contact 21 and the detachable contact 22 is a transition area in which the hollow body transitions from the first outer diameter d1 to the second outer diameter d2.

[0065] Fig. 7Figure 1 shows a connector 1, specifically a connector 1 for transmitting high currents in a vehicle. The connector 1 has a socket 10 with a retaining ring 5 in a groove and a pin 20. The pin 20 can be engaged by the socket 10, thus closing the connector 1 and establishing an electrical contact. The two parts are joined along their longitudinal axis. Furthermore, the connector 1 can be disconnected, so that no current flows between the socket 10 and the pin 20. A high current can flow through the connector 1, e.g., 500 A at 1000 V. The contact between the releasable contact of the socket 10 and the releasable contact of the pin 20 is established by the retaining ring 5. The retaining ring 5 compensates for manufacturing tolerances in the socket 10 and / or the pin 20.Furthermore, the ring spring 5 can establish a contact with many contact points, thereby creating a reliable contact between the plug socket 10 and the plug pin 20.

[0066] Fig. 8 Figure 1 shows a sectional view of the closed plug 1. Here, the detachable contact 22 of plug pin 20 is inserted into the detachable contact 12 of plug socket 10. Furthermore, it can be seen that the retaining ring 5 is positioned in the groove of plug socket 10 and surrounds plug pin 20, thus creating an electrical contact between plug socket 10 and plug pin 20. The total length of plug 1 in Fig. 8The length can be, for example, 90 mm, with 35 mm each being occupied by the hollow bodies or the fixed contacts 11, 21 of the socket 10 and the connector pin 20, respectively. The removable contact 22 of the connector pin 20 has a second outer diameter over a length of 12 mm, which is smaller than the inner diameter of the removable contact 12 of the socket 10. The ring spring 5 contacts the removable contact 22 of the connector pin 20 at its center on this section.

[0067] Fig. 9 Figure 1 shows an isometric view of the detached plug 1. Here, the ring spring 5 is arranged in the groove 15 of the plug socket 10 and is designed to receive the detachable contact 22 of the plug pin 20.

[0068] Fig. 10Figure 1 shows a plug socket 10 with a touch guard 14, 14a, 14b. This touch guard 14, 14a, 14b consists of an insulator (e.g., a plastic) and surrounds the live areas of the plug socket 10, preventing a person's finger 3 from touching any live area of ​​the plug socket 10. The touch guard 14, 14a, 14b can consist of a housing 14a and an inner pin 14b, preventing the finger 3 from being inserted into the plug socket 10. The housing 14a encloses the plug socket 10, and the inner pin 14b is located centrally within the hollow body of the plug socket 10.

[0069] Fig. 11Figure 24 shows a connector pin 20 with a touch guard 24, 24a, 24b. This touch guard 24, 24a, 24b consists of an insulator and surrounds live areas of the connector pin 20, preventing a person's finger 3 from touching a live area of ​​the connector pin 20. The touch guard 24, 24a, 24b can consist of a collar 24a, which surrounds the connector pin 20, and an inner lining 24b for the inside of the connector pin 20, preventing the finger 3 from reaching the connector pin 20. The collar 24a has a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the detachable contact 22 of the connector pin 20. In other words, the collar 24a surrounds the detachable contact 22 of the connector pin 20 at a certain distance. The inner lining 24b lies against the inside of the detachable contact 22 of the connector pin 20 and extends beyond the end of the detachable contact 22, so that a person's finger 3 cannot touch the inside of the connector pin 20.

[0070] Fig. 12 Figure 1 shows an isometric view of connector pin 20 and connector socket 10 with touch guards 14, 14a, 14b, 24. Figure 24a, 24b are shown in the open and separated states, respectively. Here, connector socket 20, including the touch guard (only the housing 14a is shown here), fits into the collar 24a of the touch guard 24 of connector pin 20. The respective fixed contacts are connected to an electrical conductor.

[0071] Fig. 13Figure 1 shows a sectional view of connector pin 20 and connector socket 10 with touch guards 14, 14a, 14b, 24, 24a, 24b in the open position. It can be seen that connector pin 20 fits into connector socket 10, the touch guards 24, 24a, 24b of connector pin 20 accommodate connector socket 10 including its touch guards 14, 14a, 14b, and the inner pin 14b of the touch guard 14 of connector socket 10 can be inserted into the hollow, removable contact of connector pin 20. Furthermore, the housing 14a of the touch guard 14, 14a, 14b of connector socket 10 fits into the collar 24b of the touch guard 24, 24a, 24b of connector pin 20.

[0072] Fig. 14Figure 1 shows a sectional view of connector pin 20 and connector socket 10 with the touch guard 14, 14a, 14b, 24, 24a, 24b in the closed position. The connector 1 and its live areas cannot be touched by a person's finger, whether open or closed. Furthermore, it can be seen that a conductive connection between connector pin 20 and connector socket 10 is nevertheless possible via the ring spring 5.

[0073] Fig. 15 Figure 1 shows a vehicle with at least one connector 1 as described above and below. This connector 1 can have a described connector pin and a described connector socket. In particular, the connector can be used to connect battery elements to each other or to connect the battery to the vehicle's electrical system, but is not limited to this.

[0074] Fig. 16Figure 1 shows a flowchart of a process for manufacturing a socket for a plug. In step S11, a hollow body is produced. This hollow body can be, for example, a tube or a tubular cable lug. Furthermore, the hollow body can be produced by extrusion or drawing, or it can already be a pre-assembled tube. In step S12, a groove is formed into the inside of the hollow body's outer surface, for example, by bead rolling or hydraulic expansion. This groove is designed to accommodate a retaining ring. Cutting the hollow body to the desired length can take place between steps S11 and S12 or after step S12. In step S13, a fixed contact part is formed at one end of the hollow body. The end of the fixed contact part can be the end opposite the groove.

[0075] Fig. 17Figure 2 shows a flowchart for the production of a connector pin. In step S21, a hollow body with a first outer diameter is produced, for example, by drawing a tube, followed by a cutting or parting-off step. Alternatively, the hollow body can be produced by extrusion or may already be a pre-fabricated tube. In step S22, one end of the hollow body is machined, for example, by milling. Cutting the hollow body to the desired length can take place between steps S21 and S22 or after step S22. In step S23, a fixed contact part is attached to the other end of the hollow body.

[0076] Fig.18A-E Figure 1 shows several views of a plug 1 with plug pin 20 and plug socket 10 according to an embodiment having two slots 15. Fig. 18AThe plate-shaped or sheet-like contact part 100, which is connected to the end of the hollow body 13 and is designed for attaching an electrical conductor, is also shown. The plate-shaped or sheet-like contact part 101, which is connected to the hollow body 102 of the connector pin, is also shown. A retaining ring 5 is provided in each of the grooves 15. The cap 24 is fitted onto the front end of the pin 20 and is held in place by a circumferential protrusion in the form of a snap-fit ​​connection. A sealing element 6 may be provided in place of one of the retaining rings 5. The front end of the connector pin 20 protrudes from the connector socket 10.

[0077] Fig.19A-E shown are several views of a plug 1 with plug pin 20 and plug socket 10 according to a further embodiment which has three slots 15, but is otherwise the embodiment of Fig.18A-EThis corresponds to the following: A sealing element 6 is provided in each of the outer grooves, and a ring spring 5 is provided in the middle groove 15.

[0078] The sealing elements 6 serve to dampen vibrations and provide a seal. This extends the service life of the connector even under heavy mechanical stress.

[0079] It should be further noted that "comprehensive" and "comprising" do not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite articles "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. It should also be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above without exceeding the scope of the appended claims. Reference numerals in the claims are not to be considered limitations.

Claims

1. A plug socket (10) for establishing an electrically conductive connection of a connector (1) for a vehicle, in particular for transmitting high currents, comprising: a tubular hollow body (13) which is hollow throughout and has a first end and a second end and is adapted to receive a plug pin (20); a groove (15) formed between the first and second end through the inner surface of the tubular hollow body by forming it in the circumferential direction of the body; and a ring spring (5) arranged in the groove for making electrical contact with the plug pin insertable into the tubular hollow body; wherein the tubular hollow body is formed, at least in sections, into an outwardly directed bulge to form the groove; wherein the hollow body (13) is formed such that the groove (15) is formed in the inner surface of the hollow body by hydraulic expansion or beading with an angle of approximately 135° between the two inner surfaces of the groove.

2. A plug socket (10) according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body (13) has a plurality of grooves (15) extending parallel to one another between the first and second end.

3. A plug socket (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a sealing element (6) is arranged in at least one of the grooves (15), which sealing element is made of a material different from that of the ring spring (5).

4. A plug socket (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least three grooves (15) are formed in the hollow body (13) and a sealing element (6) is arranged in at least one of the outer grooves of the at least three grooves relative to the first and / or second end.

5. A plug socket (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first or second end of the hollow body (13) is connected to a plate-shaped or sheet-shaped contact part (100), in particular by press-fitting or laser welding, which is adapted for attaching an electrical conductor.

6. A plug socket (10) according to claim 5, wherein the contact part (100) has a through-opening in which the end of the hollow body (13) is disposed at least in part.

7. A plug socket (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an inner surface and / or an outer surface of the hollow body is coated with a second metallic material that has a higher electrical conductivity than a first metallic material from which the hollow body is made.

8. Use of a plug socket (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 for establishing an electrically conductive connection with a plug pin (20), in particular for transmitting high currents, comprising: a tubular hollow body (13) that is hollow throughout and has a first end and a second end and is designed to receive a plug pin (20); a groove (15) formed between the first and second end through the inner surface of the tubular hollow body by forming it in the circumferential direction thereof; and a ring spring (5) arranged in the groove for making electrical contact with the plug pin insertable into the tubular hollow body; wherein the tubular hollow body is manufactured from a tube and is formed, at least in sections, into an outwardly directed bulge to form the groove; and wherein the hollow body (13) is formed such that the groove (15) is created in the inner surface of the hollow body by hydraulic expansion or beading; and wherein the plug pin (20) comprises: a tubular hollow body (102) having a first end and a second end and being configured to be inserted into the tubular hollow body (13) of the connector socket (10); an electrically insulating cap (24) arranged at the first end of the tubular hollow body (102) of the plug pin (20); wherein the tubular hollow body (102) of the plug pin (20) is connected at the second end of the hollow body, which is opposite of the cap, to a plate-shaped or sheet-shaped conductor (101).

9. Use according to claim 8, wherein the tubular hollow body (102) has a contact surface produced by drawing a tube without having been additionally machined.

10. Use according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the cap (24) partially surrounds the first end of the hollow body (20) and a radial outer surface of the cap is substantially flush with an outer surface of the hollow body.

11. Use according to any one of claims 8 through 10, wherein the cap is held on the first end of the hollow body in a form-fit, a force-fit, or both a form-fit and a force-fit manner.

12. Use according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein an inner surface and / or an outer surface of the hollow body is coated with a second metallic material that has a higher electrical conductivity than a first metallic material from which the hollow body is made.

13. Use according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the tubular hollow body (102) has, on an outer surface that forms, at least in sections, a contact section for electrical contact with the plug socket (10), an arithmetic mean roughness value, Ra, of 0.5 to 1.1, preferably 0.8.

14. A method for manufacturing a plug socket (10) for establishing an electrically conductive connection of a connector (1) for a vehicle, in particular for the transmission of high currents, comprising the steps: forming a tubular hollow body (13) that is hollow throughout, has a first end and a second end, and is configured to receive a plug pin (20); at least sectionally deforming the tubular hollow body by hydraulic expansion or beading to form a groove (15) extending circumferentially in its peripheral direction between the first and second ends through the inner surface of the tubular hollow body into an outward-facing circumferential bulge between the first and second ends; providing the tubular hollow body with a galvanic surface, in particular silver; arranging an annular spring (5) in the groove for electrical contact with the plug pin insertable into the hollow body.

15. Vehicle (2) with a plug (1) that has a plug socket (10) according to claims 1 through 7.

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