Connection element for a potentiostat

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection element (1) for a potentiostat (2) for establishing an electrically conductive connection between an electrode (3) with a threaded hollow screw (5) and the potentiostat (2), wherein the connection element (1) comprises a housing (6) and a circuit board (7) arranged within the housing (6), the circuit board (7) being connectable to the potentiostat (2) via electrical conductors (8), a connector (9) for establishing a first electrical contact between the electrode (3) and the circuit board (7) by inserting the connector (9) into the hollow screw (5) is arranged in the center (Z) of the circuit board (7), at least one spring contact pin (10) for establishing at least one further electrical contact between the electrode (3) and the circuit board (7) by inserting the connector (9) into the hollow screw (5) is arranged on the circuit board (7), and the housing (6) is a spring element (11) features, which is designed toWhen the connector (9) is inserted into the hollow screw (5), it engages in the thread (4) and creates a positive connection. In this way, a connection element is provided for connecting a conventional electrode to a potentiostat, enabling quick and secure electrode mounting.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connection element for a potentiostat for establishing an electrically conductive connection between an electrode with a threaded hollow screw and the potentiostat.

[0002] A potentiostat is an electrical measuring device used in electrochemistry. Essentially, it is a special type of control amplifier that uses three electrodes for measurement: a working electrode, a high-impedance reference electrode, and a counter electrode. During operation, all three are connected to a galvanic cell under investigation. The potentiostat maintains a constant voltage between the working and reference electrodes by maintaining a constant current between the counter electrode and the working electrode. The potentiostat measures both the voltage and the current and outputs the measured values.

[0003] US-2010 / 233901 A1 discloses a connection element for a potentiostat for establishing an electrically conductive connection between an electrode with a threaded hollow screw and the potentiostat, wherein the connection element has a housing, and wherein the housing has a spring element designed to engage in the thread when the connector is inserted into the hollow screw and to create a positive connection.

[0004] The electrode is typically rod-shaped. At one end of the rod, the electrode has a fastening element. This fastening element consists primarily of a hollow screw, in addition to several threaded connections and / or nuts. The electrode is conventionally connected to a flat connector attached to the potentiostat via this screw connection. Besides the screw connection, the polarity of the individual contacts must also be correctly observed during assembly. Incorrect polarity poses a significant risk of damage, particularly to the container being protected. The container will corrode and leak after a short time. This results not only in a time-consuming but also error-prone installation process.

[0005] Based on this, the object of the invention is to provide a connection element for connecting a conventional electrode to a potentiostat, which enables quick and safe mounting of the electrode.

[0006] This problem is solved by the subject matter of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are found in the dependent claims.

[0007] According to the invention, a connection element for a potentiostat is provided for establishing an electrically conductive connection between an electrode with a threaded hollow screw and the potentiostat, wherein the connection element comprises a housing and a circuit board arranged within the housing, the circuit board can be coupled to the potentiostat via electrical conductors, a connector for establishing a first electrical contact between the electrode and the circuit board by inserting the connector into the hollow screw is arranged in the center of the circuit board, at least one spring contact pin for establishing at least one further electrical contact between the electrode and the circuit board by inserting the connector into the hollow screw is arranged on the circuit board, and the housing has a spring element which is designed toto engage the thread when inserting the connector into the hollow screw and create a positive fit.

[0008] In this context, an "electrically conductive connection" is understood to mean, in particular, a connection between two elements that are connected to each other by suitable means in such a way that a current flow can occur between the two elements.

[0009] In this context, "hollow screw" refers in particular to a screw which has a conventional thread on the outside and is at least partially hollow inside, the cavity being accessible from the outside so that a narrow and elongated component can be inserted into the cavity of the screw.

[0010] When the term "spring contact pins" is used, it refers to spring contacts, also known as pogo pins or SLC (spring-loaded contacts), which are suitable for reliably contacting uneven surfaces. Contact is made by tapping a spring-loaded pin. This technology offers high operational reliability with a very high number of cycles and is therefore particularly suitable for use in power and data transmission.

[0011] The electrode is preferably a titanium anode. In this case, the hollow screw is also made of titanium. Titanium is particularly distinguished by its durability, corrosion resistance, and strength.

[0012] A key aspect of the invention is that the connection between the electrode or the hollow screw and the circuit board is not made via a screw connection, but rather via a plug connection. Although the hollow screw has a thread, the connection is not achieved through a screwing motion, but rather by means of a positive locking mechanism. Instead, a spring element engages in the recesses of the thread, creating a positive locking connection at least in the longitudinal direction of the electrode, i.e., in the direction of movement during assembly. The connector is plugged onto the hollow screw connected to the electrode. When the connector is inserted into the hollow screw, the spring element is pushed back. Once the connector is attached to the hollow screw, the spring element is pressed onto the thread and engages in at least one recess of the thread, thus locking into the thread of the hollow screw.This allows for the use of a universal connector that snaps into place when attached to the electrode. This saves the installer considerable time during assembly, as the connection is made simply by pushing the connector onto the electrode. Furthermore, the risk of reverse polarity during installation is eliminated, since the electrical connections are made automatically via the spring-loaded contact pins upon insertion.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring element has two movable legs connected to each other by a rigid leg. Preferably, the connector is arranged between the movable legs. The movable legs preferably exert a spring force in the direction of the connector. The spring element is U-shaped. The two movable legs are connected to each other by a rigid leg. The connector is arranged between the movable legs, i.e., within the U-shape. When the connector is inserted into the hollow screw, the movable legs are first pushed apart against the spring force and then engage in the notches of the thread. The length of the rigid leg determines the distance between the movable legs.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing has a spring guide in which the spring element is arranged. The spring guide limits the movement of the legs towards the connector. The spring guide can be understood, in particular, as a recess in the housing in which the spring element or the legs move. The recess is designed such that the movable legs are limited both against and in the direction of the spring force. Thus, during assembly, the legs can only be pushed apart against the spring force up to a predetermined point, and during engagement, they can only press against the thread of the hollow screw up to a predetermined point in the direction of the spring force.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, one of the additional electrical contacts comprises the ground connection. Reverse polarity can thus be reliably prevented, since no polarity adjustment is required during assembly. The electrical contacts are automatically created by inserting the connector into the hollow screw.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector comprises a banana plug. A banana plug is a round plug pin with a contact spring for laboratory, measuring instruments, and experiments. It is a component of a connector system for low voltage. The plug is securely held by its spring but can be easily disconnected without tools. More preferably, the banana plug is a banana-type connector. The banana-type connector is a connector manufactured according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2000. It is characterized in particular by low contact resistance, high transmission capacity, reliable contact, and a robust design.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, several spring contact pins, preferably three, and particularly preferably five, are arranged circularly around the connector on the circuit board. The connection element can be designed as a multi-pole plug, as required. The multiple poles result from the number of spring contact pins. These are arranged along a circle with the connector at the center.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of a fluid surrounding the electrode is arranged on the circuit board. The heat of the fluid is conducted to the connection element via the hollow screw, which is located in the water. The central connector is inserted circumferentially into the bore or cavity of the hollow screw. The central connector is, in turn, soldered to the circuit board on which the temperature sensor is soldered. With a specific correction factor, the fluid temperature can thus be measured with minimal effort.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises a first opening, a second opening, and an intermediate plate arranged between the openings. The intermediate plate preferably has several recesses for the passage of the connector and the spring contact pins. The circuit board preferably rests flat against the side of the intermediate plate facing away from the first opening. The connector and the spring contact pins can be contacted on the side of the intermediate plate facing the first opening.

[0020] When the term "surface contact" is used here, it does not necessarily mean full-surface contact. Rather, it specifically means that the circuit board and the intermediate plate are arranged parallel to each other with little to no gap between them. Either the circuit board rests against the intermediate plate across its entire surface, or it only rests against individual protruding elements of the intermediate plate. However, the distance between the circuit board and the intermediate plate is chosen to be so small that the arrangement can be understood as "contact." This results in a flush and space-saving design.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring element is arranged on the side of the intermediate plate facing away from the first opening. The connection element therefore has two sides. From one side, i.e., through the first opening, only the spring contact pins and the connector are accessible. The circuit board and the spring element are located on the other side of the intermediate plate and are accessible only through the second opening. However, the second opening is preferably closed with a cover, so that the sensitive components are inaccessible and protected during assembly. Due to this design, the connection element is particularly robust and less susceptible to damage.

[0022] According to the invention, the use of a connection element described above is further provided for creating an electrically conductive plug connection between an electrode and a potentiostat. Consequently, a screw connection is no longer required when connecting the potentiostat to the electrode. The connection element according to the invention can be connected to any conventional electrode by simply pushing it on and snapping it into place.

[0023] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings and a preferred embodiment.

[0024] The drawings show Fig. 1 schematically shows an electrode and a connection element according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a perspective view, Fig. 2 schematically shows the housing of the connection element made of Fig. 1 In a perspective view, Fig. 2b schematically shows the circuit board of the connection element. Fig. 1 In a perspective view, Fig. 3 schematically shows the housing and circuit board of the connector element. Fig. 2a and 2b in a composite state in a perspective view, Fig. 4a, 4b schematically the connecting element made of Fig. 3 in a closed state, in a perspective view.

[0025] Out of Fig. 1 A schematic diagram shows a potentiostat 2 with a connection element 1 and a conventional electrode 3. The electrode 3 is rod-shaped and has a hollow screw 5 at one end as a fastening element. The hollow screw 5 has a thread 4 on its outer surface, which is used to create a conventional screw connection.

[0026] The connection element 1 has a housing 6 in which the circuit board 7 is mounted. The connection element 1 is shown in a slightly oblique top view. This means that the components mounted behind the intermediate plate 15 are not visible. The spring contact pins 10 and the centrally positioned connector 9 pass through the recesses 16. The spring element 11 is located behind the intermediate plate 15. The connection element 1 is connected to the potentiostat 2 via electrical conductors 8, thus enabling current flow and / or data transmission.

[0027] To show the structure of connection element 1 in more detail, connection element 1 is made of Fig. 1 in the Fig. 2a and 2b Shown in an open position from below. The area shown is that which is in Fig. 1 behind or under the intermediate plate 15.

[0028] The intermediate plate 15 has several recesses 16 for the spring contact pins 10 and the connector 9. The spring element 11 is arranged around the central recess through which the connector 9 passes. The spring element 11 consists of three legs 11a, 11b, 11c. Two legs 11a, 11b are movable and connected to each other by a rigid leg 11c. The legs 11a, 11b, 11c are arranged in a U-shape and enclose the recess through which the connector 9 passes. The spring element 11 is arranged in a spring guide 12. The spring guide 12 consists of a recess in the intermediate plate 15 in which the movable legs 11a, 11b can move. The spring force acts radially in the direction of the central recess 16 or in the direction of the connector 9.When the connector 9 is inserted into the hollow screw 5, the movable legs 11a, 11b are moved against the spring force until they reach the stop of the spring guide 12. As soon as the connecting element 1 is attached to the thread 4 of the hollow screw 5, the movable legs 11a, 11b engage in the notch of the thread 4 and lock the hollow screw 5 or the entire electrode 3.

[0029] Fig. 2b The circuit board 7 shows the connector 9 at its center Z and the four spring contact pins 10 arranged in a circle around the connector 9. The spring contact pins 10 and the connector 9 pass through the recesses 16 in the intermediate plate 15, so that the circuit board 7 lies almost flush against the intermediate plate 15. This condition is shown in Fig. 3 shown.

[0030] The connecting element 1 is shown in an oblique top view of the second opening 14, which is to be understood as the base and is closed with a cover (not shown here). The spring contact pins 10 and the connector 9 are passed through the recesses 16 of the intermediate plate 15 and are only accessible through the first opening 13, as shown in Fig. 1 The spring element 11 is positioned between the intermediate plate 15 and the circuit board 7, so that it is no longer freely accessible. As soon as the connector 9 is plugged onto the hollow screw 5, the movable legs 11a, 11b engage in the thread 4 of the hollow screw. In this state, electrical contacts are made between the spring contact pins 10 and the electrode 3, as well as between the connector 9 and the electrode 3, so that the potentiostat 2 is ready for use.

[0031] Fig. 3Figure 1 shows the connecting element 1 in its assembled state. The circuit board 7 is inserted into the housing 6. The connector 9 and the spring contact pins 10 are passed through the recesses 16 and point away from the second opening 14, located inside the housing 6. The spring element 11 is positioned between the intermediate plate 15 and the circuit board 7 such that it at least partially encloses the connector. This housing is closed with a cover 17. This state is shown in the Figures 4a and 4b shown.

[0032] The Figures 4a and 4bThe cable outlets differ in their position. The cable guard 18 is attached to the socket 17 via a movable connecting element 19. Movement is ensured by a joint with a locking mechanism, allowing the cable guard to be locked into place at different angles to the socket. This enables flexible installation, as the outgoing cable guard 18 can be positioned and fixed in any orientation between vertical and horizontal. Reference symbol list

[0033] 1 Connection element 2 Potentiostat 3 Electrode 4 Thread 5 Hollow screw 6 Housing 7 Circuit board 8 Electrical conductor 9 Connector 10 Spring contact pin 11 Spring element 11a Movable leg 11b Movable leg 11c Fixed leg 12 Spring guide 13 First opening 14 Second opening 15 Intermediate plate 16 Recess 17 Cover 18 Cable protection 19 Connecting element Z Center

Claims

1. Connecting element (1) for a potentiostat (2) for establishing an electrically conductive connection between an electrode (3) with a hollow screw (5) comprising a thread (4) and the potentiostat (2), wherein the connecting element (1) comprises a housing (6) and a circuit board (7) arranged inside the housing (6), the circuit board (7) can be coupled to the potentiostat (2) via electrical conductors (8), a plug connector (9) is arranged in the center (Z) of the circuit board (7) for establishing a first electrical contact between the electrode (3) and the circuit board (7) by inserting the plug connector (9) into the hollow screw (5), at least one spring contact pin (10) is arranged on the circuit board (7) for establishing at least one further electrical contact between the electrode (3) and the circuit board (7) by inserting the plug connector (9) into the hollow screw (5), and the housing (6) comprises a spring element (11) which is configured to hook into the thread (4) when the plug connector (9) is inserted into the hollow screw (5) and to establish a form fit.

2. Connecting element (1) according to claim 1, wherein the spring element (11) comprises two movable limbs (11a, 11b) which are connected to one another via a rigid limb (11c), the plug connector (9) is arranged between the movable limbs (11a, 11b), and the movable limbs (11a, 11b) exert a spring force in the direction of the plug connector (9).

3. Connecting element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing (6) comprises a spring guide (12) in which the spring element (11) is arranged, and the spring guide (12) limits the movement of the movable limbs (11a, 11b) in the direction of the plug connector (9).

4. Connecting element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the further electrical contacts comprises the ground connection.

5. Connecting element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug connector (9) comprises a banana plug.

6. Connecting element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of spring contact pins (10), preferably three spring contact pins (10), particularly preferably five spring contact pins (10), are arranged in a circle around the plug connector (9) on the circuit board (7).

7. Connecting element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of a fluid surrounding the electrode (3) is arranged on the circuit board (7).

8. Connection element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (6) comprises a first opening (13), a second opening (14) and an intermediate plate (15) arranged between the openings (13, 14), the intermediate plate (15) comprises a plurality of recesses (16) for passing through the plug connector (9) and the spring contact pins (10), the printed circuit board (7) lies flat against the side of the intermediate plate (15) facing away from the first opening (13), and the plug connector (9) and the spring contact pins (10) can be contacted on the side of the intermediate plate (15) facing the first opening (13).

9. Connecting element (1) according to claim 8, wherein the spring element (11) is arranged on the side of the intermediate plate (15) facing away from the first opening (13).

10. Use of a connecting element (1) according to one of the preceding claims for producing an electrically conductive plug-in connection between an electrode (3) and a potentiostat (2), wherein the connecting element (1) comprises a housing (6) and a circuit board (7) arranged inside the housing (6), the circuit board (7) can be coupled to the potentiostat (2) via electrical conductors (8), a plug connector (9) is arranged in the center (Z) of the circuit board (7) for establishing a first electrical contact between the electrode (3) and the circuit board (7) by inserting the plug connector (9) into the hollow screw (5), at least one spring contact pin (10) is arranged on the circuit board (7) for establishing at least one further electrical contact between the electrode (3) and the circuit board (7) by inserting the plug connector (9) into the hollow screw (5).

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