Female connector for a relay

Abstract

The present invention relates to a female connector (100) for a relay having a housing (101), a contact wall (103), which is arranged in the housing (101), wherein the contact wall (103) has a first deformation (103-1) having at least one first contact elevation (103-2), and a spring tongue (105), which is arranged in the housing (101), wherein the spring tongue (105) faces the contact wall (103), wherein the spring tongue (105) has a second deformation (105-1) having a plurality of second contact elevations (105-2), wherein a second dip (105-3) is formed between each two successive elevations of the second contact elevations (105-2), and wherein the second contact elevations (105-2) are arranged opposite the at least one first contact elevation (103-2) and are provided for pressing contact pins (501, 702) of different contact pin lengths against the first contact elevations (103-2) in a sprung manner.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a socket connector, in particular a socket connector for use with a slim relay.

[0002] To electrically connect the contact pins of a relay, socket connectors designed as so-called tulip contacts are typically used. Such tulip contacts feature flat, curved springs that are designed to generate the contact force on a contact pin inserted into the socket connector.

[0003] However, due to the curvature of the flat-form springs, a large installation space is required for the socket connector. Furthermore, a large width of the flat-form spring is required to generate the contact force, which limits the arrangement density of the socket connectors in, for example, a terminal block.

[0004] Document DE 10 2006 053 152 B3 discloses a socket contact with a contact box, a contact base with two elevations, and a contact spring having two elevations opposite the other two elevations. Documents EP2894724A1 and US2016 / 141131A1 also disclose socket contacts.

[0005] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an improved socket connector for a relay.

[0006] This object is achieved by the features of independent claims 1 and 17. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying figures.

[0007] According to one aspect, the invention relates to a socket connector for a relay with a housing. The socket connector comprises a contact wall which is arranged in the housing, wherein the contact wall has a first deformation with at least one first contact elevation, and a spring tongue which is arranged in the housing, wherein the spring tongue faces the contact wall, wherein the spring tongue has a second deformation with a plurality of second contact elevations, wherein a second depression is formed between each two consecutive second contact elevations, and wherein the second contact elevations are arranged opposite the at least one first contact elevation and are provided for a spring-loaded pressing of contact pins of different contact pin lengths against the at least one first contact elevation, wherein in the rest state of the Federzunge the zweite A contact bump that is located lower in the socket along the insertion direction than the group of second contact bumps is closer to its respective first contact bump than the other contact bumps.

[0008] This provides the technical advantage that contact pins of different sizes, for example load and coil connections of a relay, can be held in the socket connector.

[0009] The socket connector is formed with a housing in which a contact wall and a spring tongue opposite the contact wall are formed.

[0010] A receiving space is formed between the contact wall and the spring tongue, into which a contact pin of a relay can be inserted. The contact wall has at least one first contact elevation, and the spring tongue has a plurality of second contact elevations, which serve to contact the contact pin inserted into the receiving space of the socket connector.

[0011] The spring tongue is suitable for exerting a spring force on the contact pin. If the contact pin is inserted into the receiving space of the socket plug via a housing opening in the housing that adjoins the receiving space, the spring tongue is elastically deformed by the contact pin and consequently exerts a spring force on the inserted contact pin, whereby the contact pin is resiliently pressed between the contact wall and the spring tongue. Contact between the contact pin and the contact wall or between the contact pin and the spring tongue takes place exclusively via the plurality of first and second contact elevations formed on the contact wall and the spring tongue. The at least one first contact elevation is formed within a first deformation on a surface of the contact wall facing the spring tongue.

[0012] The at least one first contact elevation is formed as a continuous elevation. The at least one first contact elevation faces the spring tongue and points into the contact space between the contact wall and the spring tongue.

[0013] The plurality of second contact elevations are formed as separate elevations within a second deformation on a surface of the spring tongue facing the contact wall, and have a second depression between each two adjacent elevations. The second contact elevations are formed as elevations, facing the contact wall, and extend into the receiving space between the contact wall and the spring tongue.

[0014] The first and second contact elevations serve to electrically contact the contact pin inserted into the receiving space of the socket connector and are made of a conductive material. The first and second contact elevations are also capable of holding the contact pin securely between the contact wall and the spring tongue by means of an elastic pressure based on the spring force of the spring tongue.

[0015] This achieves the technical advantage that, by means of the spring force of the spring tongue, a contact pin of a relay inserted into the socket plug is held in the socket plug via the first and second contact elevations contacting the contact pin, thus enabling a secure plug connection and electrical contact between the socket plug and the contact pin.

[0016] According to the invention, the first deformation of the contact wall comprises a plurality of first contact elevations, wherein a first depression is formed between each two consecutive first contact elevations, wherein a second depression is formed between each two consecutive second contact elevations; and wherein the second contact elevations are arranged in pairs opposite the first contact elevations.

[0017] This achieves the technical advantage that the contacting of the contact pins through the contact wall and the spring tongue can be achieved via a discrete number of contacted first and second contact elevations.

[0018] The first contact elevations are formed as separate elevations and have at least one depression formed between two adjacent contact elevations. The first contact elevations face the spring tongue and extend into the contact space between the contact wall and the spring tongue.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the contact wall has a first number of first contact elevations up to a first insertion depth of a first contact pin and a second number of first contact elevations up to a second insertion depth of a second contact pin, wherein the spring tongue has the first number of second contact elevations up to the first insertion depth of the first contact pin and the second number of second contact elevations up to the second insertion depth of the second contact pin, wherein the first number of first contact elevations and the second contact elevations are provided for holding the first contact pin, and wherein the second number of first contact elevations and the second contact elevations are provided for holding the second contact pin.

[0020] This achieves the technical advantage that the contact between the contact pin and the socket plug and the holding of the contact pin in the socket plug can be varied in discrete steps via the insertion depth of a contact pin inserted into the socket plug according to the invention.

[0021] If a contact pin is inserted into the socket connector to a first insertion depth, the contact pin contacts a first number of first contact protrusions formed on the contact wall and a first number of second contact protrusions formed on the spring tongue. In proportion to the number of contacted first and second contact protrusions, the inserted contact pin experiences a corresponding contact with the socket connector and a contact force exerted on the contact pin by the contact wall and the spring tongue, and is held in the socket connector according to the first contact force.

[0022] If, however, a contact pin is inserted into the socket plug up to a second insertion depth, the contact pin contacts a second number of first contact elevations formed on the contact wall and a second number of second contact elevations formed on the spring tongue and consequently experiences one of the second number from the socket plug and a second contact force and is held in the socket plug according to the second contact force.

[0023] The insertion and withdrawal forces, the contact forces and the contact resistances of the plug connections for different contact pins can thus be varied step by step via the insertion depth and the associated number of contacted first and second contact elevations.

[0024] According to one embodiment, a first contact force is exerted on a first contact pin by the contact wall and the spring tongue via the first number of first contact elevations and via the first number of second contact elevations, and a second contact force is exerted on a second contact pin by the contact wall and the spring tongue via the second number of first contact elevations and the second number of second contact elevations.

[0025] This achieves the technical advantage that the contact force acting on the contact pin can be varied in discrete steps via the insertion depth of a contact pin inserted into the socket connector and thus via the number of first and second contact elevations contacted by the contact pin.

[0026] Via the spring force of the spring tongue, a contact force is exerted on the contact pin by means of the first and second contact elevations of the contact wall and the spring tongue, which are contacted by the contact pin. Each of the contacted contact elevations 1,...,n exerts an individual contact force F K1 ,...,F Kn on the contact pin. The magnitudes of the individual contact forces depend on the deflection of the spring tongue by the contact pin and the spring force exerted by the spring tongue.

[0027] The main component of the individual contact forces runs perpendicular to the respective surface of the contact pin and is oriented along the normal direction of the contact pin surface. The contact force F Ktotal acting on the contact pin from the contact wall and the spring tongue is thus proportional to the number of first and second contact elevations 1,...,n contacted by the contact pin and results from the sum of the individual contact forces F K1 ,...,F Kn acting on the contact pin via the individual contacted contact elevations 1,...,n, according to the following relationship: F Kges = F K 1 + … + F Kn

[0028] A higher number of contact bumps contacted by the contact pin consequently leads to a higher contact force acting on the contact pin.

[0029] Furthermore, the technical advantage is achieved that the different requirements regarding the pulling and plugging forces of the load connections and the coil connections of a relay can be met via the insertion depth of the contact pin, since these are in direct relation to the contact forces acting on the contact pins.

[0030] According to one embodiment, a first contact resistance occurs between the first number of first and second contact elevations and the first contact pin, and a second contact resistance occurs between the second number of first and second contact elevations and the second contact pin.

[0031] This achieves the technical advantage that the contact resistance occurring between the contact pin and the socket plug can be varied in discrete steps via the insertion depth of a contact pin into the socket plug and thus via the number of first and second contact elevations contacted by the contact pin.

[0032] The contact resistance of two electrically conductive materials in contact is inversely proportional to the contact force with which the two materials are pressed together.

[0033] According to Holm, the following relationship between contact resistance RK and contact force FK applies to contact surfaces free of foreign layers and almost spherical: R K ∼ 1 F K

[0034] For the socket connector, the contact resistance R Kges is thus the sum of the individual contact resistances R K1 ,...,R Kn , which occur at the individual contacted contact elevations 1,... ,n, according to the following relationship: 1 R Kges = 1 R K 1 + ⋯ + 1 R Kn

[0035] The contact resistance is inversely proportional to the number of contacted first and second contact elevations, so that with a plurality of contacted first and second contact elevations a smaller contact resistance occurs between the contact wall, the spring tongue and the contact pin, while with a comparatively small number of contacted first and second contact elevations a correspondingly larger contact resistance R Kges occurs between the contact pin, the contact wall and the spring tongue.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the housing has a first housing wall and a second housing wall arranged opposite the first housing wall, and wherein a housing opening is defined between the first and second housing walls, through which the respective contact pin can pass.

[0037] This achieves the technical advantage that the housing gives the plug a structurally robust design. Furthermore, the dimensions of the socket connector are defined by the housing. Furthermore, the technical advantage is that the contact pin inserted into the socket connector through the housing opening is protected within the housing.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the housing is formed as a cuboid hollow body.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the housing is made of a sheet metal by means of a bending or folding process and has a weld point by means of which the bent or folded sheet metal ends are fixed to one another and by means of which the housing receives substantial structural strength.

[0040] This achieves the technical advantage of simplified production of the socket connector.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the second housing wall has, at the end of the second housing wall facing away from the housing opening, an elongated end region which extends beyond the corresponding end of the first housing wall.

[0042] This allows the connection and fastening area of the socket connector to be simplified into an elongated, bar-shaped sheet metal. Furthermore, this provides the technical advantage that the socket connector can be structurally secured in a relay terminal via the elongated end area and electrically connected to it.

[0043] According to the invention, the socket connector comprises a contact bracket which has a flat base section, a bent section connected to the base section and a bent-back bracket section connected to the bent section, wherein the spring tongue is formed by the bent-back bracket section and is resiliently arranged opposite the flat base section.

[0044] This achieves the technical advantage that the spring tongue is arranged inside the housing and is suitable for exerting a spring force.

[0045] The contact bracket is designed as a base section, a bent section connected to the base section, and a bent-back bracket section connected to the bent section. The bent-back bracket section is bent back such that it runs almost parallel to the base section and is arranged within the housing. Due to the bent section, which connects the base section and the bent-back bracket section, the bent-back bracket section is resiliently movable relative to the base section and is thus able to develop a spring force. The spring tongue, which is formed by the bent-back bracket section, is thus able to exert a spring force by means of which a contact pin inserted into the socket connector can be elastically pressed between the spring tongue and the contact wall.

[0046] According to the invention, the base section is formed on the second housing wall.

[0047] This provides the technical advantage of securely connecting the spring tongue to the socket connector housing. Furthermore, structural strength of the socket connector and a space-saving design are achieved by eliminating the need for additional connecting elements between the spring tongue and the socket connector housing.

[0048] According to one embodiment, a resilient end of the spring tongue faces away from the housing opening.

[0049] By arranging the bending section of the contact bracket in the direction of the housing opening, the insertion of a contact pin is facilitated, since the rounded area of the bending section guides a contact pin to be inserted into the housing opening.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the resilient end of the spring tongue has an end portion which is inclined towards the base portion.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the end portion of the spring tongue is designed to contact the base portion and to be pressed against it, and wherein the end portion is suitable for exerting a spring force.

[0052] The contact of the inclined end section with the base section stiffens the spring tongue and increases the spring force exerted by the spring tongue. This, in turn, increases the contact force exerted on a contact pin inserted into the socket connector.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the spring tongue is wave-shaped at least in sections.

[0054] This achieves the technical advantage of simplified production of the plurality of second contact protrusions of the spring tongue, as the contact protrusions can be created by appropriately bending the spring tongue. Furthermore, the plurality of second contact protrusions is formed integrally on the spring tongue, preventing contact protrusions from becoming detached from the spring tongue due to repeated insertion and removal of contact pins into the socket connector. Furthermore, the wave-shaped design of the spring tongue gives the contact protrusions gently rising and falling flanks, which facilitates the insertion of contact pins and prevents the ends of the contact pins from jamming against the contact protrusions.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the at least one first contact elevation and / or the plurality of first contact elevations are formed integrally on the contact wall as depressions in the first housing wall by means of a punching or embossing process.

[0056] This achieves the technical advantage of simplified manufacturing. Furthermore, the at least one first contact elevation and / or the plurality of first contact elevations are formed integrally on the contact wall, thereby preventing contact elevations from becoming detached from the contact wall due to repeated insertion and removal of contact pins into the socket connector.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the depressions of the contact wall formed between the first contact elevations are flat.

[0058] This ensures the contact wall is as flat as possible, which also ensures a flat design of the first housing wall. This contributes to the space-saving design of the socket connector.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the depressions of the contact wall formed between the second contact elevations are formed on the first housing wall, in particular in a materially bonded manner.

[0060] This achieves the technical advantage of securely connecting the contact wall to the housing, thus providing substantial structural strength. Furthermore, the socket connector is designed to be as space-saving as possible by eliminating the need for additional connecting elements between the contact wall and the first housing wall.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the first contact elevations of the contact wall and the second contact elevations of the spring tongue are arranged one behind the other along an insertion direction of a contact pin.

[0062] This achieves the technical advantage that the number of first and second contact elevations contacted by the contact pin can be varied by the insertion depth of a contact pin into the socket connector.

[0063] According to one embodiment, the insertion direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the contact wall and the spring tongue.

[0064] This achieves the technical advantage that the socket connector can be designed with the narrowest possible shape and thus saves as much space as possible.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the first contact elevations are formed centrally on the contact wall in the transverse direction.

[0066] This provides the technical advantage that contact pins that are not inserted centrally into the socket connector can also be contacted.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the second contact elevations extend transversely over the entire width of the spring tongue.

[0068] This achieves the technical advantage that a contact pin inserted into the socket connector is held securely in place and prevented from tilting around the longitudinal axis of the contact pin.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the insertion direction is perpendicular to the curvature axis of the bending section.

[0070] This achieves the technical advantage that a contact pin to be inserted is guided into the housing opening via the curvature of the bending section.

[0071] According to one embodiment, the contact wall and the spring tongue are made of electrically conductive material.

[0072] This ensures electrical contact with the contact pin inserted into the socket connector.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the number of first contact surveys corresponds to the number of second contact surveys.

[0074] This achieves the technical advantage that the first and second contact elevations can be arranged opposite each other in pairs. Furthermore, the identical number of first and second contact elevations allows for a precise determination of the contact force acting on an inserted contact pin based on the insertion depth by relating the insertion depth to the corresponding number of contacted first and second contact elevations.

[0075] According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a relay system comprising a relay having a first contact pin and a second contact pin, a first socket connector into which the first contact pin is inserted, and a second socket connector into which the second contact pin is inserted.

[0076] This achieves the technical advantage of providing a relay system whose load and coil terminals can be securely connected to a socket connector, which allows the insertion and withdrawal forces acting on the load and coil terminals to be varied in discrete steps via the insertion depths of the contact pins of the load and coil terminals.

[0077] According to one embodiment, the relay is a narrow relay, for example a relay with a width of 5mm to 6mm or 3mm.

[0078] According to one embodiment, the relay has a connection area which corresponds to a connection area of the relay terminal.

[0079] This enables a precise connection of the relay to the relay terminal.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the first and second contact pins are fixed with the second contact pin end in a connection area of the relay.

[0081] According to one embodiment, the socket connector can be fixed with the elongated end region of the second housing wall in a connection region of a relay terminal.

[0082] This ensures that the socket connector is securely fixed in the relay terminal.

[0083] According to one embodiment, in a relay system, the first contact pin is a coil terminal and the second contact pin is a load terminal of a relay.

[0084] This ensures that the load and coil terminals of a relay can be connected using the socket connector.

[0085] According to one embodiment, the first and second contact pins are bar-shaped contact pins each having a uniform thickness over their length and having a first contact pin end and a second contact pin end.

[0086] This ensures that the first and second contact pins each cause a uniform deflection of the spring tongue, regardless of the insertion depth.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the first and second contact pins are bar-shaped contact pins and have an isolated elevation.

[0088] This achieves the technical advantage of adjusting the thickness.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the first and second contact pins have tapered first contact pin ends.

[0090] This makes it easier to insert into the socket connector.

[0091] According to one embodiment, the first and / or second contact pins have tapered first contact pin ends.

[0092] This achieves the technical advantage of simplified production of the contact pins of the coil connections.

[0093] According to one embodiment, the second contact pins have tapered first contact pin ends and the first contact pins have tapered first contact pin ends.

[0094] Further embodiments are explained with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic side sectional view of a socket connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 1A a schematic side sectional view of a socket connector according to a further embodiment of the present invention along the section axis A in Fig. 2 ; Fig. 2 a schematic front view of the socket connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 a schematic plan view of the socket connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 a perspective schematic side view of the socket connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 a schematic front view of the socket connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein a first contact pin is inserted into the socket connector; Fig. 6 a schematic side sectional view of the socket connector according to an embodiment of the present invention along the section axis B in Fig. 5 , wherein a first contact pin is inserted into the socket connector; Fig. 6A a schematic side sectional view of the socket connector according to a further embodiment, wherein a first contact pin is inserted into the socket connector; Fig. 7 a schematic front view of the socket connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein a second contact pin is inserted into the socket connector; Fig. 8 a schematic side sectional view of the socket connector according to an embodiment of the present invention along the section axis C in Fig. 7 , wherein a second contact pin is inserted into the socket connector; Fig. 8A a schematic side sectional view of the socket connector according to a further embodiment, wherein a second contact pin is inserted into the socket connector; Fig. 9 a schematic front view of a relay system with a relay and a socket connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the relay is plugged into a relay terminal; Fig. 10 a schematic side sectional view of the relay system and the relay terminal along the section axis A in Fig. 9 ; Fig. 11 an enlarged schematic side sectional view of the cutout area of the relay system in Fig. 10 ; Fig. 12A a schematic front view of the relay system with a relay and a socket connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the contact pins of the relay are not inserted into the socket connectors; Fig. 12B a schematic side section view of the socket connector along the section axis C in Fig. 12A ; Fig. 12C a schematic side sectional view of the socket connector along the section axis D in Fig. 12A ; Fig. 13A a schematic front view of the relay system with a relay and a socket connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the contact pins of the relay are inserted into the socket connectors; Fig. 13B a schematic side sectional view of the socket connector along the section axis C in Fig. 13A ; Fig. 13C a schematic side sectional view of the socket connector along the section axis D in Fig. 13A .

[0095] According to Fig. 1 A socket connector 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing 101, a contact wall 103, which is arranged in the housing 101, wherein the contact wall 103 has a first deformation 103-1 with at least one first contact elevation 103-2, and a spring tongue 105, which is arranged in the housing 101, wherein the spring tongue 105 faces the contact wall 103, wherein the spring tongue 105 has a second deformation 105-1 with a plurality of second contact elevations 105-2, wherein a second depression 105-3 is formed between each two consecutive second contact elevations 105-2, and wherein the second contact elevations 105-2 are arranged opposite the at least one first contact elevation 103-2 and are designed for a spring-loaded pressing of contact pins 501, 702 different contact pin lengths against the first contact elevations 103-2.

[0096] After Fig. 1 The first housing wall 101-1 has a contact wall 103 formed on the inside of the first housing wall 101-1. The contact wall 103 has at least one first contact elevation 103-2 arranged in a first deformation 103-1.

[0097] The at least one first contact elevation 103-2 is formed on the inside of the contact wall 103 as a continuous elevation, facing the second housing wall 101-2 and extending along the insertion direction 117 of a contact pin.

[0098] In one embodiment, the at least one first contact elevation 103-2 is formed integrally on the contact wall 103 in that the at least one first contact elevation 103-2 is recessed into the first housing wall 101-1 by means of a punching or embossing process.

[0099] Fig. 1A shows a further schematic side sectional view of the socket connector 100 according to a further embodiment.

[0100] According to Fig. 1A the first deformation 103-1 of the contact wall has a plurality of first contact elevations 103-2, each of which is formed on the inside of the contact wall 103 as a plurality of separate elevations and faces the second housing wall 101-2.

[0101] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the contact wall 103 has a plurality of first depressions 103-3 arranged such that a first depression 103-3 is arranged between each two adjacent first contact elevations 103-2. The first depressions 103-3 are each formed as flat surfaces between the first contact elevations 103-2.

[0102] In Fig. 1A bis Fig. 13C In each case, only two first contact elevations 103-2 and correspondingly only one first depression 103-3 are shown. However, the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto; rather, a plurality of first contact elevations 103-2 and a plurality of first depressions 103-3 are possible.

[0103] As in Fig. 1A As can be seen, the first contact elevations 103-2 are formed one behind the other on the contact wall 103 along the insertion direction 117 of a contact pin.

[0104] The first deformation 103-1 of the contact wall 103 extends along the insertion direction 117 and includes all first contact elevations 103-2 and first depressions 103-3 of the contact wall 103.

[0105] After Fig. 1 the second housing wall 101-2, which is arranged opposite the first housing wall 101-1, has a contact bracket 107 which comprises a base section 109 arranged plane-parallel to the first housing wall 101-1, a bending section 111 adjoining the base section 109 and a bent-back bracket section 113 adjoining the bending section 111.

[0106] The bent-back bracket section 113 is arranged between the base section 109 and the first housing wall 101-1. The bent-back bracket section 113 is designed as a spring tongue 105. The spring tongue 105 has a plurality of second contact elevations 105-2 and a plurality of second depressions 105-3 arranged on a surface of the spring tongue 105 within a second deformation 105-1.

[0107] The second contact elevations 105-2 are formed as elevations on the surface of the spring tongue 105 facing the contact wall 103 and face the contact wall 103. The plurality of second contact elevations 105-2 are arranged one behind the other along the insertion direction 117, with two adjacent second contact elevations 105-2 each being separated by a second depression 105-3 arranged between them.

[0108] The second deformation 105-1 of the spring tongue 105 extends along the insertion direction 117 and encompasses all second contact elevations 105-2 and all second depressions 105-3. The second deformation 105-1 is wave-shaped, so that the second contact elevations 105-2 as well as the second depressions 105-3 are each formed with gently rising and falling flanks and thus merge continuously into one another.

[0109] In Fig. 1 bis Fig. 13C Only two second contact elevations 105-2 and only one second depression 105-3 arranged therebetween are shown. However, the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto; rather, a plurality of second contact elevations 105-2 and a plurality of second depressions 105-3 are also possible.

[0110] The at least one and / or the plurality of first contact elevations 103-2 are arranged on the contact wall 103 facing the spring tongue 105, while the plurality of second contact elevations 105-2 are arranged on the spring tongue 105 facing the contact wall 103. Both the first contact elevations 103-2 and the second contact elevations 105-2 thus extend into a receiving space 119 arranged between the contact wall 103 and the spring tongue 105. The plurality of first contact elevations 103-2 and the plurality of second contact elevations 105-2 are arranged in pairs opposite one another and facing one another.

[0111] The spring tongue 105 further has an end portion 115, which is arranged at the resilient end of the spring tongue 105 opposite the bent portion 111. The end portion 115 is inclined toward the base portion 109 of the contact bracket 107 of the second housing wall 101-2.

[0112] In one embodiment, the end portion 115 of the spring tongue 105 is configured to contact the base portion 109 of the contact clip 107. In this way, the spring force exerted by the spring tongue 105 is increased.

[0113] The second housing wall 101-2 further has an elongated end region 101-4, which adjoins the end of the base section 109 of the contact bracket 107 facing away from the bent section 111. The elongated end region 101-4 of the second housing wall 101-2 extends beyond the corresponding end of the opposite first housing wall 101-1.

[0114] Furthermore, the housing 101 of the socket connector 100 has a housing opening 101-3 which communicates with the receiving space 119 arranged between the contact wall 103 and the spring tongue 105 and which is arranged between the bending section 111 of the contact bracket 107 of the second housing wall 101-2 and the corresponding end of the first housing wall 101-1.

[0115] The bending section 111 of the contact bracket 107 of the second housing wall 101-2, whose axis of curvature is oriented perpendicular to the insertion direction 117 and to the longitudinal direction of the socket connector 100, forms the lower boundary of the housing opening 101-3 and thus facilitates, via the curved surface of the bending region, the insertion of a contact pin via the housing opening 101-3 into the receiving space 119 arranged between the contact wall 103 and the spring tongue 105, in that the end of a contact pin to be inserted is guided through the curved surface of the bending region 111 into the receiving space 119.

[0116] As in Fig. 1 As shown, the insertion direction 117 corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the socket connector 100.

[0117] Fig. 2 shows a schematic front view of the socket connector 100. The viewing direction of the Fig. 2 is oriented opposite to the insertion direction 117. As in Fig. 2 As shown, in one embodiment, the housing 101 of the socket connector 100 is formed as a cuboid hollow body, which is formed by means of a bending or folding process and has a weld 201-5, by means of which the cuboid hollow body is connected to form a structurally stable body. The spring tongue 105 is formed via the spring clip 107 on the inside of the second housing wall 101-2 centrally in the interior of the housing 101. Opposite the spring tongue 105, the at least one or the plurality of first contact elevations 103-2 are formed centrally on the contact wall 103. The vertical line and the two horizontal arrows define the section axis and the viewing direction of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 1A .

[0118] Fig. 3 shows a schematic top view of the socket connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the first contact elevations 103-2 are recessed into the first housing wall 101-1 as oval depressions.

[0119] Fig. 4 shows a perspective schematic view of the socket connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0120] Fig. 5 shows a schematic front view of the socket connector 100, into which a first contact pin 501 is inserted. The viewing direction of the Fig. 5 is oriented opposite to the insertion direction 117. The first contact pin 501 is elastically pressed between the spring tongue 105 and the contact wall 103. The vertical line and the two horizontal arrows define the cutting axis and the viewing direction of the Fig. 6 .

[0121] Fig. 6 shows a schematic side sectional view of the socket connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, into which a first contact pin 501 is inserted to a first insertion depth. In Fig. 6 the socket connector 100 is shown according to an embodiment with two first contact elevations 103-2.

[0122] According to Fig. 6 The first contact pin 501 is a rod-shaped contact pin and has a first contact pin end 601-1 and a second contact pin end 601-2. The first contact pin 501 is inserted with the first contact pin end 601-1 into the receiving space 119 between the contact wall 103 and the contact tongue 105 via the housing opening 101-3 along the insertion direction 117.

[0123] The first contact pin 501 is inserted into the socket connector 100 to a first insertion depth and contacts a first number of first and second contact bumps 103-2, 105-2. As in Fig. 6 As shown, the first number corresponds to only one of the two first contact elevations 103-2 of the contact wall 103 and only one of the two second contact elevations 105-2 of the spring tongue 105. However, it is also conceivable that the first number corresponds to a different number of contacted first and second contact elevations 103-2, 105-2.

[0124] Represented by the arrows running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first contact pin 501, a first contact force 603 acts on the first contact pin 501 via the two first and second contact elevations 103-2, 105-2. The first contact force 603 results from the sum of the individual contact forces acting on the first contact pin 501 via the individual first and second contact elevations 103-2, 105-2, which are each represented by the two black arrows facing each other and running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first contact pin 501, wherein the length of the arrows symbolizes the magnitude of the individual contact forces.

[0125] Fig. 6A shows a schematic side sectional view of the socket connector 100 according to a further embodiment, wherein according to this embodiment the first deformation 103-1 comprises the at least one first contact formation 103-2, and wherein a first contact pin 501 is inserted into the socket connector 100.

[0126] Fig. 7 shows a schematic front view of the socket connector 100, into which a second contact pin 702 is inserted. The viewing direction of the Fig. 7 is oriented opposite to the insertion direction 117. The second contact pin 702 is elastically pressed between the spring tongue 105 and the contact wall 103. The vertical line and the two horizontal arrows define the cutting axis and the viewing direction of the Fig. 8 .

[0127] Fig. 8 shows a schematic side sectional view of the socket connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, into which a second contact pin 702 is inserted to a second insertion depth. In Fig. 8 the socket connector 100 is shown according to an embodiment with two first contact elevations 103-2.

[0128] As in Fig. 8 As can be seen, the second contact pin 702 is also a rod-shaped contact pin and has a first contact pin end 802-1 and a second contact pin end 802-2.

[0129] The second contact pin 702 is inserted with the first contact pin end 802-1 into the receiving space 119 between the contact wall 103 and the contact tongue 105 via the housing opening 101-3 along the insertion direction 117.

[0130] However, the second contact pin 702 is inserted into the socket connector 100 to a greater second insertion depth and thus contacts a larger second number of first and second contact elevations 103-2, 105-2. In the present case, the second number corresponds to the two first contact elevations 103-2 of the contact wall 103 and the two second contact elevations 105-2 of the spring tongue 105. However, it is also conceivable that the second number corresponds to a different number of contacted first and second contact elevations 103-2, 105-2.

[0131] The second contact force 804 acting on the second contact pin 702 inserted into the socket connector 100 up to a second insertion depth results from the sum of the number of contacted first contact elevations 103-2 of the contact wall 103 and the number of contacted second contact elevations 105-2 of the spring tongue 105 and is indicated by the four vertical arrows oriented parallel and facing each other. The second contact force 804 acting on the second contact pin 702 inserted up to the second insertion depth is accordingly greater than the first contact force 603 acting on the first contact pin 702 inserted up to the first insertion depth.

[0132] Fig. 8A shows a schematic side sectional view of the socket connector 100 according to a further embodiment, wherein according to this embodiment the first deformation 103-1 has at least one first contact formation 103-2, and wherein a second contact pin 702 is inserted into the socket connector 100.

[0133] As in Fig. 6 , Fig. 6A , Fig. 8 and Fig. 8A As shown, the first and second contact pins 501, 702 each have tapered first contact pin ends 601-1, 802-1 according to one embodiment.

[0134] Fig. 9 shows a schematic front view and Fig. 10 und Fig. 11 each show a schematic side sectional view of a relay system 900 with a relay 901 having a first contact pin 501 and a second contact pin 702, a first socket connector 100 into which the first contact pin 501 is inserted, and a second socket connector 100 into which the second contact pin 702 is inserted, wherein the relay is plugged into a relay terminal 903. The Fig. 9 The vertical line shown and the two horizontal arrows define the cutting axis and the viewing direction of the Fig. 10 und Fig. 11 .

[0135] According to Fig. 11 According to one embodiment, relay 901 is a narrow relay, preferably a relay with a width between 6 mm and 3 mm. Furthermore, relay 901 has a connection area 1101-2 that corresponds to a connection area 1103-2 of relay terminal 903 in such a way that a precise connection of relay 901 to relay terminal 903 is enabled.

[0136] According to one embodiment, the second contact pin 702 is fixed with the second contact pin end 802-2 in a connection area 1101-1 of the relay 901. Furthermore, in a connected state of relay 901 and relay terminal 903, the second contact pin 702 is inserted with the first contact pin end 702-1 into the socket connector 100 up to a second insertion depth.

[0137] According to one embodiment, the socket connector 100 is fixed with the elongated end region 101-4 of the second housing wall 101-2 in a connection region 1103-1 of the relay terminal 903.

[0138] Fig. 12A shows a schematic front view of a relay system 900 with a relay 901 and a socket connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the contact pins of the relay 901 are not inserted into the socket connector 100. The vertical lines and the two horizontal arrows define the section axes and the viewing directions of the Fig. 12B und Fig. 12C .

[0139] According to one embodiment, the first contact pins 501 of the relay 901 are coil terminals and the second contact pins 702 are load terminals of the relay 901.

[0140] As in Fig. 12A As can be seen, according to one embodiment, the second contact pins 702 as load connections are substantially wider and longer than the first contact pins 501 as coil connections.

[0141] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the second contact pins 702 have tapered first contact pin ends 702-1, while the first contact pins 501 as coil terminals have first contact pin ends 501-1 without taper.

[0142] Fig. 12B und Fig. 12C show schematic side sectional views of the socket connectors of the 900 relay system.

[0143] Fig. 13A shows the relay system 900 with a socket connector 100 from Fig. 12A in a connected state.

[0144] The first two contact pins 501 as coil connections of the relay 901 are, as in Fig. 13B visible, inserted into the socket connectors 100 to a first insertion depth and the three second contact pins 702 are used as load connections of the relay 901, as shown in Fig. 13C visible, inserted into the socket connectors 100 to a second insertion depth. Bezugszeichenliste

[0145] 100Socket connector 101Housing 101-1First housing wall 101-2Second housing wall 101-3Housing opening 101-4Elongated end area 103Contact wall 103-1First deformation 103-2First contact elevation 103-3First depression 105Spring tongue 105-1Second deformation 105-2Second contact elevation 105-3Second depression 107Contact bracket 109Base section 111Bending section 113Returned bracket section 115End section 117Insertion direction 119Receiving space 201-5 Weld point 501first contact pin 601-1First contact pin end 601-2Second contact pin end 603First contact force 702second contact pin 802-1first contact pin end 802-2second contact pin end 804second contact force 900Relay system 901Relay 903Relay terminal 1101-1Connection area 1101-2Connection area 1103-1Connection area 1103-2Connection area

Claims

1. Female connector (100) for a relay with: a housing (101); a contact wall (103) which is arranged in the housing (101), wherein the contact wall (103) has a first deformation (103-1) having at least one first contact elevation (103-2); a spring tongue (105), which is arranged in the housing (101), wherein the spring tongue (105) faces the contact wall (103), wherein the spring tongue (105) has a second deformation (105-1) having a plurality of second contact elevations (105-2), wherein a second dip (105-3) is formed between two successive second contact elevations (105-2), and wherein the second contact elevations (105-2) are arranged opposite the at least one first contact elevations (103-2) and are provided for pressing of contact pins (501, 702) of different contact pin lengths against the first contact elevation (103-2) in a sprung manner, wherein, in the resting state of the spring tongue (105), the second contact elevation (105-2), which is located lower in the connector along the insertion direction (117) than the group of second contact elevations (105-2), is closer to its respective first contact elevation (103-2) than the remaining contact elevations (105-2); and with a contact clip (107) which has a flat base section (109), a bent section (111) connected to the base section (109) and a bent-back bracket section (113) connected to the bent section (111), wherein the spring tongue (105) is formed by the bent-back bracket section (113) and is resiliently arranged opposite the flat base section (109), wherein the base section (109) is formed on a second housing wall (101-2) arranged opposite to a first housing wall (101-1), wherein the first deformation (103-1) of the contact wall (103) comprises a plurality of first contact elevations (103-2), wherein a first dip (103-3) is formed between two successive first contact elevations (103-2), wherein a second dip (105-3) is formed between two successive second contact elevations (105-2); and wherein the second contact elevations (105-2) are arranged opposite the first contact elevations (103-2) in pairs.

2. Female connector (100) according to claim 1, wherein the contact wall (103) has a first number of first contact elevations (103-2) up to a first insertion depth of a first contact pin (501) and has a second number of first contact elevations (103-2) up to a second insertion depth of a second contact pin (702), wherein the spring tongue (105) to the first insertion depth of the first contact pin (501) comprises the first number of second contact elevations (105-2) and up to the second insertion depth of the second contact pin (702) comprises the second number of second contact elevations (105-2), wherein the first number of first contact elevations (103-2) and the second contact elevations (105-2) are provided for holding the first contact pin (501), and wherein the second number of the first contact elevations (103-2) and the second contact elevations (105-2) is provided for holding the second contact pin (702).

3. Female connector (100) according to claim 2, wherein a first contact force (603) is exerted on a first contact pin (501) via the first number of first contact elevations (103-2) and via the first number of second contact elevations (105-2) from the contact wall (103) and the spring tongue (105), and wherein a second contact force (804) is exerted on a second contact pin (702) via the second number of first contact elevations (103-2) and via the second number of second contact elevations (105-2) from the contact wall (103) and the spring tongue (105).

4. Female connector (100) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a first contact resistance occurs between the first number of first and second contact elevations (103-2, 105-2) and the first contact pin (501), and a second contact resistance occurs between the second number of first and second contact elevations (103-2, 105-2) and the second contact pin (702).

5. Female connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (101) has a first housing wall (101-1) and a second housing wall (101-2) arranged opposite the first housing wall (101-1), and a housing opening (101-3) is defined between the first and second housing walls (101-1, 101-2) through which the respective contact pin (501, 702) can pass.

6. Female connector according to claim 5, wherein the second housing wall (101-2) has, at the end of the second housing wall (101-2) facing away from the housing opening (101-3), an elongated end region (101-4) which extends beyond the corresponding end of the first housing wall (101-1).

7. Female connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a resilient end of the spring tongue (105) faces away from the housing opening (101-3).

8. Female connector according to claim 7, wherein the resilient end of the spring tongue (105) has an end section (115) which inclines towards the base section (109).

9. Female connector according to claim 8, wherein the end section (115) of the spring tongue (105) is adapted to contact the base section (109) and to be pressed against it, and wherein the end section (115) is suitable for exerting a spring force.

10. Female connector according to claims 1 and 5, 6, 8 or 9, wherein the first dips (103-3) of the contact wall (103) formed between the first contact elevations (103-2) are formed, in particular integrally formed, at the first housing wall (101-1).

11. Female connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring tongue (105) is at least partially shaped like a wave.

12. Female connector according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first dips (103-3) of the contact wall (103) formed between the first contact elevations (103-2) are flat.

13. Female connector (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4 or 12, wherein the first contact elevations (103-2) of the contact wall (103) and the second contact elevations (105-2) of the spring tongue (105) are arranged one behind the other along an insertion direction (117) of the contact pin.

14. Female connector (100) according to claim 13, wherein the insertion direction (117) runs perpendicular to the axis of curvature of the bent section (111).

15. Female connector (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact wall (103) and the spring tongue (105) are made of electrically conductive material.

16. Female connector (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4 or 12, 13, wherein the number of first contact elevations (103-2) corresponds to the number of second contact elevations (105-2).

17. Relay system (900) with: a relay (901), which has a first contact pin (501) and a second contact pin (702); a first female connector (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first contact pin (501) is inserted; and a second female connector (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the second contact pin (702) is inserted.

18. Relay system (900) according to claim 17, wherein the first contact pin (501) is a coil connection and the second contact pin (702) is a load connection of the relay (901).

19. Relay system (900) according to claims 17 or 18, wherein the first and second contact pins (501, 702) have tapered first contact pin ends (601-1, 802-1).

20. Relay system (900) according to claims 17, 18 or 19, wherein the first and second contact pins (501, 702) have taper-free first contact pin ends (601-1, 802-1).

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