Contact device used to bring collector bars into contact

Abstract

The invention relates to a contact device for bringing slip bars into contact, comprising: a screw element and a threaded sleeve for creating a screw connection between a first slip bar and a second slip bar, and a contact element that can be positioned between the first and second slip bars, is lockable at the screw element, rotates with the screw element relative to the slip bars, and is pressable against the first and second slip bars by means of two opposing contact surfaces of the contact element, achieved by screwing the screw element into the threaded sleeve, thus creating a friction effect between the contact surfaces of the contact element and the surfaces of the slip bars. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Contact device for bringing busbars into contact

[0001] The invention relates to a contact device for contacting busbars.

[0002] In the case of busbar connections, particularly in vehicles, problems arise that, through coatings or soiling or the formation of surface layers, particularly through oxidation, of busbar surfaces, contact is impaired and contact resistance between the busbars is increased. In order to improve the electrical conductivity or contact resistance of the connection between the busbars, a pretreatment of the busbar surfaces is therefore necessary. Particularly in the case of aluminum / copper connections, such pretreatments of the busbar surfaces are necessary. Such a pretreatment is expensive and time-consuming.

[0003] The objective of the invention is to provide an improved contact device for contacting busbars.

[0004] The objective of the invention is achieved by means of a contact device for bringing busbars into contact, comprising:

[0005] a screw element and a threaded socket for producing a screwed connection between a first busbar and a second busbar, and

[0006] a contact element for producing mechanical and electrical contact between the first and second busbars, the contact element being positionable between the first and second busbars, the contact element being biocable at the screw element and being rotatable with the screw element relative to the busbars, the contact element being pressable by screwing the screw element into the threaded sleeve against the first and second busbars via two contact surfaces of the contact element arranged oppositely, wherein, by the joint rotation with the screw element and the pressure against the first and second busbars, a friction effect between the contact surfaces of the contact element and surfaces of the busbars is achievable.

[0007] Thus the technical advantage can be achieved that an improved contact device for contacting busbars can be provided, which is arranged to cause electrical and mechanical contacting of the busbars by a screw connection of the busbars to be contacted, and which is in particular arranged to generate improved electrical contacting by removing a coating from the surfaces of the busbars. For this purpose, the contact device has a contact element which is arranged to cause contact between the two busbars. The contact element can be locked at the screw element, so that, when screwing the screw element into the threaded sleeve, the contact element can be rotated together with the screw element and can therefore be rotated relative to the busbars. By screwing the screw element into the threaded sleeve, the contact element can therefore be pressed against the corresponding busbars and at the same time be rotated relative to the busbars. Thus, a friction effect is caused between contact surfaces of the contact element and the surfaces of the busbars correspondingly brought into contact by the contact element.This frictional effect due to the friction of the contact surfaces of the contact element on the busbar surfaces can cause existing coatings on the busbar surfaces to be abraded or removed. In particular, busbar coatings may contain oxidation layers of the busbars, which layers can lead to a deterioration of contact between the busbars and the contact element. By removing the coatings, the contact between the busbars and the contact element can therefore be improved. The contact device according to the invention therefore makes it possible to avoid a preliminary treatment to remove the interfering coatings from the busbars before the screw connection is made, since the coatings can be removed or stripped off simultaneously with the screwing of the screw connection.

[0008] The busbars can in particular be implemented as busbars in a vehicle and can in particular be used in electrical busbar systems. The busbars can in particular be used for supplying voltage and current to components inside the vehicle. The busbars can also be implemented as busbars. The busbars can furthermore be used in a high-current and high-voltage application.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the contact element may be manufactured from a metallic material which has a higher degree of hardness than the busbars.

[0010] Thus, the technical advantage can be achieved that improved removal of the busbar coatings can be achieved. The greater degree of hardness of the contact element compared to the busbars can have the consequence that in particular the busbar coatings are removed by the friction effect and conversely the contact surfaces of the contact element are not removed by the friction effect.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the contact element may have a locking element arranged at a passage opening for the passage of the screw element for locking by form-fitting or force of the contact element at the screw element.

[0012] Thus, the technical advantage can be achieved that the simplest possible locking of the contact element at the screw element is made possible. For this purpose, the contact element has a locking element arranged at a passage opening for the passage of the screw element, which locking element is arranged to provide a form-fitting or force-fitting locking of the contact element at the screw element when the screw element passes through the passage opening. The locking can be achieved by simply passing the screw element through the passage opening.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the locking element may be arranged to cause the contact element to be locked at the screw element until a maximum contact force between the contact element and the busbars is reached and to release the lock if the maximum contact force is exceeded.

[0014] Thus, the technical advantage can be achieved that a non-releasable screw connection of the two bus bars can be achieved. The locking of the contact element at the screw element is in this case caused by the locking element up to a maximum contact force between the contact element and the bus bars. Until this maximum contact force is reached, a joint rotation of the contact element with the screw element is consequently caused when the screw element is screwed into the threaded sleeve.If the maximum contact force between the contact element and the busbars is exceeded by correspondingly screwing the screw element into the threaded sleeve, the locking of the contact element at the screw element is released, so that when the screw element is further screwed in, the contact element is not further rotated together with the screw element, but is positioned immobile relative to the busbars. The screw element can therefore be screwed into the threaded sleeve up to a maximum pressure force that the screw element can provide, and the corresponding screw connection is generated. Thus, the maximum pressure force achievable by means of the screw connection can be achieved between the busbars and the contact element.The maximum pressure force achievable via the screw connection of the contact device is therefore not limited by the contact element or the locking element.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the screw element may have knurling provided with grooves oriented along a longitudinal axis of the screw element, the locking element having at least one snap-in lug intended to engage in the knurling.

[0016] Thus, the technical advantage can be achieved that as simple as possible force-locking of the contact element at the screw element can be achieved. Due to the elastic deformability of the force-engaging ring, force-locking of the contact element at the screw element can be achieved simply by passing the screw element through the through-opening and through the force-engaging ring.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the element may take the form of a force engagement ring which is elastically deformable by passage of the screw element through the passage opening.

[0018] Thus, the technical advantage can be achieved that a technically simple and effective form-fitting locking of the contact element at the screw element can be achieved. This can be achieved by means of the grooves, oriented along the longitudinal axis of the screw element, a corresponding knurling and the at least one latching lug of the locking element, by the fact that, by passing the screw element through the passage opening, the latching lug of the locking element engages in a groove of the knurling of the screw element.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the contact element may have a housing groove extending around the passage opening to house the locking element.

[0020] Thus, the technical advantage can be achieved that a technically simple and effective arrangement of the blocking element at the contact element can be provided.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the locking element may take the form of a half-ring, the housing groove comprising an expansion region, and the locking element being elastically deformable in the expansion region by means of the screw element.

[0022] Thus, the technical advantage can be achieved that the locking element is elastically deformable by means of the expansion region of the receiving groove, so that if the maximum pressure force between the bus bars and the contact element is exceeded, the at least one latching lug of the locking element can be pushed out of the knurling groove, so that the locking of the contact element at the screw element is thereby released and the screw element can rotate relative to the contact element.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the locking element may be arranged to fix the screw element in a screwed position in the threaded sleeve.

[0024] Thus, the technical advantage can be obtained that a screw safety of the screw element can be provided by means of the locking element, which security makes it possible to fix the screw element in a desired position.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the contact surfaces of the contact element may have a structure.

[0026] Thus, the technical advantage can be achieved that an improvement in the friction effect and an associated improvement in the removal of the coating from the busbars are made possible. By structuring the contact surfaces of the contact element, a removal of the coating from the busbars by the frictional movement of the contact surfaces on the respective surfaces of the busbars is improved.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the contact surfaces of the contact element may have a coating, the coating being suitable for improving a friction effect and / or an electrical contact between the contact element and the busbars.

[0028] Thus, the technical advantage can be achieved that a further improvement in the removal of the busbar coating by the frictional movement of the contact surfaces of the contact element on the busbar surfaces can be brought about. By coating the contact surfaces with, for example, a hard silver coating or a silver / graphite coating, the removal of the coatings from the busbar surfaces can be improved due to the coatings increasing the friction effect. The coating of the contact surfaces can further comprise inclusions that can improve an electrical conductivity or an electrical contact resistance. By means of the frictional movement of the contact surfaces on the busbar surfaces, the inclusions of the coating can be inserted into the busbar material.This way, contact between the busbars and the contact element can be improved.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the contact device may further comprise an elastic washer, the elastic washer being arranged to cause a pressure force serving to press the contact element against the busbars.

[0030] Thus, the technical advantage can be achieved that a pressure force between the contact element and the busbars can be improved.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the contact device may further comprise a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion, the first housing portion being arranged to surround the screw element, the contact element and an end region of the first bus bar, the second housing portion being arranged to surround the threaded socket and an end region of the second bus bar, the first housing portion having a first collar element and the second housing portion having a second collar element. collar, the first collar element and the second collar element being rotatably engageable with each other.

[0032] Thus, the technical advantage can be achieved that a compact contact device can be provided. By means of the rotatable latching of the first and second housing parts, the connection of the busbars to be contacted to each other can also be achieved in any orientation relative to each other by means of the screw connection of the contact device. The contact device can therefore contact the two busbars to be contacted at any angle relative to each other.

[0033] A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for contacting busbars by means of a contact device according to one of the preceding embodiments, the method comprising: the positioning of the contact element between the first and second busbars, the passage of the screw element through the screw opening of the first busbar, the passage opening of the contact element and the screw opening of the second busbar, locking the contact element at the screw element, screwing the screw element into the threaded sleeve, pressing the contact element against the first and second busbars and rotating the contact element relative to the first and second busbars, and the generation of a friction effect between the contact surfaces of the contact element and the surfaces of the collector bars.

[0034] Thus, the technical advantage can be achieved that an improved method for contacting busbars can be provided, which makes it possible to remove coatings from the busbars during the application of a contact device.

[0035] The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of the figures. In the figures:

[0036] [Fig.l] illustrates a schematic representation of a contact device for contacting busbars according to one embodiment,

[0037] [Fig.2] illustrates an exploded representation of the contact device of [Fig.l],

[0038] [Fig.3] illustrates another schematic representation of the contact device for contacting busbars according to another embodiment, the contact device being shown in a connected state,

[0039] [Fig.4] illustrates a schematic representation of a contact element of a contact device for contacting busbars according to a shape of realization,

[0040] [Fig.5] illustrates another schematic representation of the contact device for contacting busbars according to another embodiment, the contact device being shown in a connected state,

[0041] [Fig.6] illustrates another schematic representation of the contact device of [Fig.5], and

[0042] [Fig.7] illustrates a graphical representation of a resistance-force diagram of a contact resistance between busbars to be contacted and the contact element of the contact device.

[0043] [Fig.l] illustrates a schematic representation of a contact device 100 for contacting busbars 105, 107 according to one embodiment.

[0044] [Fig.l] illustrates the contact device 100 according to the invention in an unconnected state, in which no connection of the busbars 105, 107 has been made. The contact device 100 is arranged to cause a screw connection between a first busbar 105 and a second busbar 107. For this purpose, the contact device 100 comprises a screw element 101 and a threaded sleeve 103. The contact device 100 further comprises a contact element 109 which can be positioned between the two busbars 105, 107 to be connected. By screwing the screw element 101 into the threaded sleeve 103, a screw connection between the first and second busbars 105, 107 and contacting of the busbars 105, 107 via the contact element 109 can therefore be achieved.By means of the contact element 109, it is therefore possible to achieve both mechanical and electrical contacting of the two busbars 105, 107, the contact element 109 being positioned for this purpose between the two busbars 105, 107.

[0045] According to the invention, the contact element 109 can be locked at the screw element 101, so that in the event of rotation of the screw element 101 about a longitudinal axis L of the screw element 101, for example in the event of screwing the screw element 101 into the threaded sleeve 103, the contact element 109 can be rotated together with the screw element 101. Thus, the contact element 109 can be rotated relative to the first and second busbars 105, 107.

[0046] By screwing the screw element 101 into the threaded sleeve 103, it is therefore possible to achieve contact between the contact surfaces 110, 111 of the contact element 109 and corresponding surfaces 112, 114 of the busbars 105, 107. By further screwing the screw element 101 into the threaded sleeve 103, the contact element 109 can therefore be pressed against the busbars 105, 107 via the contact surfaces 110, 111. At the same time, by the By locking the contact element 109 at the screw element 101, the contact element 109 can be rotated together with the screw element 101 and thus be rotated relative to the busbars 105, 107. Thus, a friction effect between the contact surfaces 110, 111 of the contact element 109 and the surfaces 112, 114 to be contacted of the busbars 105, 107 can be achieved, by the fact that the contact surfaces 110, 111 of the contact element 109 are rubbed on the surfaces 112, 114 of the busbars 105, 107 along these surfaces. Due to the friction effect, the coatings or surface layers on the surfaces 112, 114 of the busbars 105, 107 can be removed and consequently contacting between the contact element 109 and the busbars 105, 107 can be improved.The surface coatings or layers of the surfaces 112, 114 of the busbars 105, 107 may, for example, consist of oxidation layers which occur by oxidation of the metallic material of the busbars 105, 107. By removing the corresponding coatings, the electrical conductivity or contact resistance of the contact between the contact element 109 and the two busbars 105, 107 is consequently improved.

[0047] The contact element 109 comprises a locking element 115 for locking at the screw element 101 in the illustrated embodiment. The locking element 115 is arranged around a through opening 113 of the contact element 109, through which the screw element 101 can be guided. The locking element 115 is further designed to cause, when the screw element 101 passes through the through opening 113, a positive locking or a force locking of the contact element 109 at the screw element 101.

[0048] The contact element 109 may further be fabricated from a metallic material and have a degree of hardness that is greater than a degree of hardness of the metallic material of the bus bars 105, 107. For example, the contact element 109 may be fabricated from copper, while the bus bars 105, 107 are fabricated from an aluminum material.

[0049] The contact surfaces 110, 111 of the contact element 109 may further have a structuring (not shown in [Fig. 1]), by means of which a friction effect on the surfaces 112, 114 of the busbars 105, 107 can be increased. Alternatively or additionally, the contact surfaces 110, 111 may have coatings which are arranged to increase the friction effect or have particles which are inserted into the contact surfaces 112, 114 during the frictional movement of the contact surfaces 110, 111 on the correspondingly contacted surfaces 112, 114 of the busbars 105, 107 and consequently increase a contacting between the contact element 109 and the busbars 105, 107 by increasing an electrical conductivity and reducing a resistance of electrical contact between the contact surfaces 110, 111 and the contacted surfaces 112, 114. The coating may, for example, comprise a hard silver coating or a silver / graphite coating and furthermore have conductivity-increasing particles, which may be inserted into the respective surfaces 112, 114 by frictional movement.

[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, the contact device 100 further comprises a spring washer 126 which is disposed between a screw head 144 of the screw element 101 and the first bus bar 105.

[0051] In the illustrated embodiment, the contact device 100 further comprises a housing 127 having a first housing part 129 and a second housing part 131. The first housing part 129 surrounds the screw element 101, the contact element 109, the first bus bar 105 and the spring washer 126. The second housing part 131 surrounds the threaded sleeve 103 and the second bus bar 107. The first housing part 129 comprises an upper housing half 129A and a lower housing half 129B, which can be connected to each other by means of a snap-in connection. Similarly, the second housing part 131 comprises an upper housing half 131A and a lower housing half 131B, which can also be snapped together.

[0052] The first housing part 129, in particular the lower housing half 129B, comprises a first flange element 137. The second housing part 131, in particular the upper housing half 131A, comprises a second flange element 139. The screw element 101 can be guided through the first and second flange elements 137, 139 and can be screwed into the threaded sleeve 103. By means of the first and second flange elements 137, 139, the first and second housing parts 129, 131 can be rotatably latched together. For this purpose, the first and second flange elements 137, 139 are designed cylindrically.By means of the cylindrical embodiment, a rotation of the first and second housing parts 129, 131 about the longitudinal axis L of the screw element 101 is therefore made possible, so that a screw connection of the first and second busbars 105, 107 at any angle of the first and second busbars 105, 107 relative to each other is made possible.

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, the contact element 109 is arranged in the first collar element 137 of the first housing part 129. For this purpose, the contact element 109 is also designed cylindrically.

[0054] According to the illustrated embodiment, the contact element 109 comprises a positioning edge 155 which is disposed at an outer periphery of the surfaces contact element 110. By means of the positioning edge 155, at which the contact element 109 has an enlarged diameter compared to the diameter at the contact surfaces 111, the contact element 109 can be positioned in the first collar element 137 and a sliding of the contact element 109 through the first collar element 137 can be prevented. The contact element 109 can therefore be positioned captively in the first housing part 129.

[0055] In the illustrated embodiment, the upper housing half 129A of the first housing part 129 comprises a third flange element 141. The screw element 101 and in particular the screw head 144 are positioned in the third flange element 141. The third flange element 141 further comprises a limiting element 143 which is arranged at an upper edge of the flange element 141 and is stopped inside the third flange element 141 by means of the screw element 101. For this purpose, the screw element 101 comprises at the screw head 144 an insulating cap 145 provided with a retaining edge 150. By means of the retaining edge 150 and the limiting element 143, a sliding of the screw element 101 out of the third flange element 141 and, in association, out of the housing 127 can be prevented.

[0056] The second housing part 131 and in particular the lower housing half 131B comprises a housing region 132 in which the threaded sleeve 103 is arranged. At an edge region 147 of an insertion opening 149 of the threaded sleeve 103 is formed an insulating collar 148 with the aid of which a finger guard for a user of the contact device 100 can be obtained.

[0057] In the illustrated embodiment, the contact element 109 further comprises a housing space 116 for housing the threaded sleeve 103 or the insulating collar 148 in a screwed state of the contact device 100.

[0058] For the provision of the screw connection, the first and second busbars 105, 107 have corresponding screw openings 106, 108 through which the screw element 101 or the threaded sleeve 103 can respectively be positioned.

[0059] In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second busbars 105, 107 or respectively an end region 133, 135 of the busbars 105, 107 are arranged in the housing 127. For this purpose, the first housing part 129 and the second housing part 131 respectively have openings 130, 134 through which the busbars 105, 107 can be inserted into the housing 127.

[0060] The housing 127 as well as the insulating cap 145 or the insulating collar 148 can be manufactured from synthetic material, in order to consequently be able to obtain an electrical insulation effect.

[0061] The screw element 101 further comprises a screw body 154 provided with an external thread 151. The threaded sleeve 103 correspondingly comprises an internal thread 153.

[0062] [Fig.2] illustrates an exploded representation of the contact device 100 of [Fig.l]

[0063] In the illustrated embodiment, the locking element 115 takes the form of a half-ring and comprises at least one latching lug 119. In addition, grooves 117, oriented along the longitudinal axis L, of a knurling are arranged on the screw body 154. By means of the grooves 117 and the at least one latching lug 119 of the locking element 115, a form-fitting locking of the contact element 109 at the screw element 101 can be achieved by passing the screw body 154 of the screw element 101 through the through-opening 113 of the contact element 109. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact element 109 has, for receiving the locking element 115, a groove of housing 125 which is arranged on the contact surface 110 around the passage opening 113 and which is arranged to house the locking element 115.The locking element 115 further has a plurality of positioning projections 120 which are arranged on an outer periphery of the half-ring. Similarly, the receiving groove 125 has a plurality of positioning receptacles 124 which are arranged to receive the positioning projections 120 of the locking element 115. By means of the positioning projections 120 and the positioning receptacles 124, the locking element 115 can be positioned in the receiving groove 125. A rotation of the locking element 115 within the receiving groove 125 can therefore be prevented.

[0064] The illustrated representation further illustrates the positioning edge 155 of the contact element 109, which edge is arranged at a periphery of the contact surface 110 and by means of which the contact element 109 can be positioned in the first flange element 137 of the lower housing half 129B.

[0065] The elastic washer 126 is, in the illustrated embodiment, disposed between the screw head 144 and the knurling, comprising the plurality of ridges 117, of the screw element 101.

[0066] [Fig. 3] illustrates another schematic representation of the contact device 100 for contacting busbars 105, 107 according to another embodiment, the contact device 100 being shown in a connected state.

[0067] In graph A of [Fig. 3], the contact device 100 of [Fig. 1] is shown in a screwed state in which the screw element 101 is screwed into the socket threaded 103. The contact element 109 is locked at the screw element 101 by means of the locking element 115 by the passage of the screw element 101 through the passage opening 113. In the illustrated positioning, contacting of the contact surfaces 110, 111 of the contact element 109 with the corresponding surfaces 112, 114 of the busbars 105, 107 is further achieved. By screwing the screw element 101 into the threaded sleeve 103, a pressure force F acts between the contact element 109 and the bus bars 105, 107. The pressure force F acts between all contacting contact surfaces 110, 111 of the contact element 109 and the corresponding surfaces 112, 114 of the bus bars 105, 107 even if the pressure force F is only shown at isolated points in [Fig. 3] for reasons of clarity.

[0068] In graph B of [Fig. 3], an enlarged top view of the contact device 100 along the section axis S shown in graph A is shown. In graph B, therefore, the second housing part 131 and the second bus bar 107 as well as the lower housing half 129B including the contact element 109, the locking element 115 arranged in the housing groove 125, and the screw body 154 are shown.

[0069] In the illustrated top view, it is clear that the locking element 115 takes the form of a half-ring. At the respective ends of the half-ring, a latching lug 119 is arranged in each case, which is oriented in the radial direction towards the inside of the half-ring. The locking element 115 further has three positioning projections 120, which are respectively arranged on an outer periphery of the half-ring. The receiving groove 125 correspondingly has four positioning receptacles 124, in which the positioning projections 120 of the locking element 115 are arranged. In the illustrated representation, the two latching lugs 119 of the locking element 115 are arranged to engage in two respective grooves 117 of the knurling of the screw element 101.By engaging the latching lugs 119 in the grooves 117, a form-fitting locking of the contact element 109 at the screw element 101 is achieved.

[0070] In the illustrated embodiment, the housing groove 125 further comprises an expansion region 128. The expansion region 128 is formed by a gap between an outer periphery of the housing groove 125 including the positioning recesses 124 and an outer periphery of the half-ring of the locking element 115. By means of the expansion region 128, the locking element 115 can therefore be expanded by means of the screw element 101. Due to an elastic deformability of the locking element 115 and the illustrated half-ring design, the release of the locking of the contact element 109 can be achieved. at the screw element 101, by the fact that, by rotation of the screw element 101, the latching lugs 119 are pressed out of the grooves 117 by expansion of the locking element 115 in the expansion region 128. This can take place in particular when the pressing force between the contact element 109 and the bus bars 105, 107 by screwing the screw element 101 into the threaded sleeve 103 exceeds a maximum value, so that the torque required for screwing in the screw element 101 is greater than that by which the locking element 115 can be retained.

[0071] By retaining the locking element 115 it is meant here that in the case of a maximum pressure force F, a frictional adhesion between the contact element 109 and the bus bars 105, 107 is so great that when the screw element 101 is further screwed into the threaded sleeve 103, the locking element 115 cannot transmit the torque from the screw element 101 to the contact element 109, in order to rotate the latter relative to the bus bars 105, 107. Instead, the locking element 115 releases the locking of the contact element 109 at the screw element 101, so that the latter is rotated relative to the contact element 109 and is screwed into the threaded sleeve, while the contact element 109 remains stationary relative to the bars collectors 105, 107.

[0072] If the corresponding torque is exceeded by means of the screw element 101, the latching lugs 119 are pressed out of the grooves 117 corresponding to a ratchet effect due to the elasticity of the locking element 115, so that the screw element 101 can rotate relative to the locking element 115 and thus relative to the contact element 109. Thus, the screw connection can be uninterrupted with the aid of a maximum pressing force by screwing in the screw element 101 until a pressing force that can be maximally generated by the screw element 101 is reached. The maximum torque of the screw element 101, which can be maintained by the locking element 115, can be adapted accordingly to the requirements by means of the configuration of the locking element 115 and in particular by means of the elasticity coefficients of the locking element 115.

[0073] As a variant of the embodiment, illustrated here, of the locking element 115, the number or positioning of the latching lugs 119 or the number and positioning of the positioning projections 120 can in particular be modified.

[0074] [Fig. 4] illustrates a schematic representation of a contact element 109 of a contact device 100 for contacting busbars 105, 107 according to one embodiment.

[0075] Only parts of the contact device 100 according to the invention are shown in [Fig. 4]. In particular, the screw element 101 and the contact element 109 with the locking element 115 are shown. Furthermore, the first and second bars col readers 105, 107 are represented or indicated. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking element 115 takes the form of a force-engaging ring 121. The force-engaging ring 121 comprises a plurality of deformation slots 123. Analogously to the embodiment of [Fig. 3], the locking element 115 can be positioned in the receiving groove 125 of the contact element 109. By passing the screw body 154 of the screw element 101 through the through-opening 113 of the contact element 109, the locking element 115 is elastically deformable via the screw body 154. Due to the elastic deformation of the locking element 115, a radius of an inner opening 156 of the locking element 115 designed as a force-engaging ring is expanded to a diameter of the screw body 154 of the screw element 101.Thus, the locking element 115 can exert a holding force on the screw body 154 of the screw element 101 and thereby cause a force-locking of the contact element 109 at the screw element 101. In the illustrated embodiment, in which the locking element 115 is designed as a force-engaging ring 121, the screw body 154 of the screw element 101 does not have any ridges 117, as in the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 3]. In addition, the receiving groove 125 is designed without a corresponding expansion region 128, so that an outer periphery of the locking element 115 bears directly against an outer periphery of the receiving groove 125.By means of the corresponding design of the force-engaging ring 121, in particular the dimensions of the diameter of the inner opening 156 as well as the number and positioning of the deformation slots 123 and the material used, the holding force of the locking element 115 that can be produced at the screw element 101 can be varied. Thus, the maximum pressing force or the maximum torque of the screw element 101, which can be maximally held by the locking element 115, can be varied.

[0076] By means of the locking element 115, both in the illustrated embodiment and in the embodiment in [Fig. 3], a screw security of the screw element 101 can further be achieved, so that, by means of the locking element 115, the screw element 101 can be held in the screwed position in the threaded sleeve 103.

[0077] [Fig. 5] illustrates another schematic representation of the contact device 100 for contacting busbars 105, 107 according to another embodiment, the contact device being shown in a connected state.

[0078] In [Fig. 5], the contact device 100 according to the invention is shown in a connection state in which the screw element 101 is screwed into the threaded sleeve 103. The illustrated embodiment is based on the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 3 and is therefore not described again in detail below. In the illustrated connection state, the screw element 101 is screwed to a position in the sleeve threaded sleeve 103, in which position a lower side 146 of the screw head 144 of the screw element 101 comes into contact with the spring washer 126 positioned between the screw head 144 and the first busbar 105. By further screwing the screw element 101 into the threaded sleeve 103, the spring washer 126 is consequently compressed. By compressing the spring washer 126, it exerts a pressing force on the first busbar 105. Thus, the first busbar 105 is pressed against the contact element 109 and the latter is in turn pressed against the second busbar 107. Thus, a pressing force F acts between the contact element 109 and the busbars 105, 107.By locking the contact element 109 at the screw element 101, the contact element 109 is further rotated together with the screw element 101 by further screwing the screw element 101 into the threaded sleeve 103. By means of the joint rotation of the contact element 109, the contact element 109 performs a relative movement with respect to the busbars 105, 107.Due to the pressure of the contact surfaces 110, 111 of the contact element 109 on the surfaces 112, 114 of the busbars 105, 107 and the simultaneous joint rotation of the contact element 109 with the screw element 101 and due to the associated movement of the contact surfaces 110, 111 relative to the surfaces 112, 114 of the busbars 105, 107, a friction effect is generated between the contact surfaces 110, 111 of the contact element 109 and the surfaces 112, 114 of the busbars 105, 107, by the fact that the contact surfaces 110, 111 of the contact element 109 are rubbed on the surfaces 112, 114 of the busbars 105, 107 along these surfaces. By means of the frictional movement of the contact surfaces 110, 111 along the surfaces 112, 114, coatings or inclusions or surface layers, for example oxidation layers, disposed on the surfaces 112, 114 of the busbars 105, 107 can be eroded or abraded or removed.Thus, a contact resistance between the contact surfaces 110, 111 of the contact element 109 and the surfaces 112, 114 of the bus bars 105, 107 can be reduced and an electrical conductivity can be improved. By means of the spring washer 126, the pressing force F by which the contact element 109 is pressed against the bus bars 105, 107 can be varied, so that before the maximum pressing force F that can hold the locking element 115 is reached and before a locking of the contact element 109 at the screw element 101 is released, as many rotations of the contact element 109 relative to the bus bars 105, 107 as possible are achieved.By means of as many rotations as possible of the contact element 109 relative to the busbars 105, 107, the friction effect can be maximized and, in association, the removal of coatings or inclusions or surface layers on the busbars 105, 107 can be maximized. Depending on the configuration. of the spring washer 126, in particular depending on the pressure force F provided by the spring washer 126, the number of possible rotations of the contact element 109 relative to the busbars 105, 107 until the final full tightening of the screw element 101 can therefore be varied, in order to achieve as efficient as possible removal of the coatings or inclusions or surface layers on the busbars 105, 107.

[0079] [Fig.6] illustrates another schematic representation of the contact device 100 of [Fig.5].

[0080] [Fig. 6] illustrates the contact device 100 of [Fig. 5] in the respective end position in which the screw element 101 is screwed completely into the threaded sleeve 103. In the end position, the spring washer 126 is furthermore able to exert a pressure force F on the busbars 105, 107 and the contact element 109. By means of the pressure force F of the spring washer 126, a relaxation effect that may occur after tightening the screw element 101 can be taken into account or neutralized. Thus, a loosening of the screw connection due to relaxation effects of both the contact element 109 and the busbars 105, 107 can be prevented, which can in particular have a substantial effect in the case of busbars manufactured from aluminum.

[0081] [Fig.7] illustrates a graphical representation of a resistance / force diagram of a contact resistance R between busbars 105, 107 to be contacted and the contact element 109 of the contact device 100 in relation to a normal contact force FN between contact surfaces 110, 111 of the contact element 109 and surfaces 112, 114 of the busbars 105, 107.

[0082] In [Fig. 7] the contact resistance R between the contact surfaces 110, 111 of the contact element 109 and the surfaces 112, 114 of the busbars 105, 107 with respect to the normal contact force FN is shown, the normal contact force FN corresponding to a pressure force between the contact element 109 and the busbars 105, 107 which extends perpendicular to the contact surfaces 110, 111 or to the surfaces 112, 114. For electrical conductivity or an electrical connection to be achieved between the busbars 105, 107 via the contact element 109, the illustrated contact resistance R must at least fall below a limit resistance RG. For this purpose, the normal contact force FN must at least exceed the value of a limit pressure force FG.By further screwing the screw element 101 into the threaded sleeve 103, a maximum pressure force Fmax can be achieved, which corresponds to the pressure force that can be maximally achieved via the screw element 101. Furthermore, the pressure force FA of the spring washer 126 is shown. Due to the material properties of both the bus bars 105, 107 and the contact element 109, the maximum pressure force Fmax of . the screw element 101 in the event of complete screwing of the screw element 101 into the threaded sleeve 103 is reduced over time due to relaxation effects Rel. Due to the pressure force FA provided by the spring washer 126, the relaxation Rel can however be stopped, by the fact that, by the pressure force FA of the spring washer 126, a neutralization of the relaxation effects of the bus bars 105, 107 and the contact element 109 can be brought about.Thus, despite the relaxation effects, it is also possible to achieve a maintenance of the pressure force FA between the contact element 109 and the busbars 105, 107 above the limit pressure force FG, so that the contact resistance R is also maintained below the limit resistance RG despite the relaxation Rel and that consequently an electrical conductivity or connection meeting the requirements between the busbars 105, 107 and the contact element 109 of the contact device 100 can be provided.

[0083] List of reference signs 100 contact device 101 screw element 103 threaded socket 105 first busbar 106 screw opening 107 second busbar 108 screw opening 109 contact element 110 contact surface 111 contact surface 112 surface 113 passage opening 114 surface 115 blocking element 116 housing spaces 117 streaks 119 snap-in lug 120 positioning projection 121 force engagement ring 123 deformation slot 124 positioning housing 125 housing groove 126 spring washer 127 case 128 dilation region 129 first part of the case 129A upper half case part 129B lower case half 130 opening 131 second part of the case 131A upper half housing part 13 IB half of lower housing part 132 housing region 133 end region 134 opening 135 end region 137 first collar element 139 second collar element 141 third collar element 143 limiting element 144 screw head 145 insulating cap 146 lower side 147 edge region 148 insulating collar 149 insertion opening 150 retaining edge 151 external thread 153 internal thread 154 screw bodies 155 positioning edge 156 interior opening The longitudinal axis R contact resistance Rg limit resistance Fn normal contact force The pressure force of the elastic washer Fmax maximum pressure force of the screw element Fg limit pressure force Rel relaxation S cutting axis F pressure force

Claims

Claims

1. Contact device (100) for contacting busbars (105, 107), comprising: a screw element (101) and a threaded sleeve (103) for producing a screw connection between a first busbar (105) and a second busbar (107), and a contact element (109) for producing mechanical and electrical contact between the first and second busbars (105, 107), the contact element (109) being positionable between the first busbar (105) and the second busbar (107), the contact element (109) being biocable at the screw element (101) and being rotatable with the screw element (101) relative to the busbars (105, 107), the contact element (109) being pressable by screwing the screw element (101) in the threaded sleeve (103) against the first and second busbars (105, 107) via two contact surfaces (110,111) of the contact element (109) arranged oppositely, wherein, by the joint rotation with the screw element (101) and the pressure against the first and second busbars (105, 107), a friction effect between the contact surfaces (110, 111) of the contact element (109) and the surfaces (112, 114) of the busbars (105, 107) is achievable, characterized in that the contact element (109) has a locking element (115) arranged at a passage opening (113) for the passage of the screw element (101) for the form-fitting or force-fitting locking of the contact element (109) at the screw element (101), and the contact element (109) has a receiving groove (125) extending around the passage opening (113) for housing the locking element (115).,

2. A contact device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the contact element (109) is made from a metallic material which has a higher degree of hardness than the bus bars (105, 107).

3. Contact device (100) according to claim 1, the locking element (115) being arranged to cause a locking of the contact element (109) at the screw element (101) until a maximum contact force between the contact element (109) and the bus bars (105, 107) is reached and to release the locking in the event of exceeding the maximum contact force.

4. Contact device (100) according to claim 3, the locking element (115) being in the form of a force engagement ring (121) which is elastically deformable by passage of the screw element (101) through the passage opening (113).

5. Contact device (100) according to claim 1 or 3, the screw element (101) having a knurling with ridges (117) oriented along a longitudinal axis (L) of the screw element (101), and the locking element (115) having at least one snap-in lug (119) intended to engage in the ridges (117) of the knurling.

6. A contact device (100) according to claim 5, the locking element (115) taking the form of a half-ring, the housing groove (125) comprising an expansion region (128), and the locking element (115) being elastically deformable in the expansion region (128) by means of the screw element (101).

7. Contact device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, the locking element (115) being arranged to fix the screw element (101) in a screwed position in the threaded sleeve (103).

8. Contact device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, the contact surfaces (110, 111) of the contact element (109) having a structure.

9. Contact device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, the contact surfaces (110, 111) of the contact element (109) having a coating, and the coating being suitable for improving a friction effect and / or an electrical contact between the contact element (109) and the busbars (105, 107).

10. Contact device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a spring washer (126), the spring washer (126) being arranged to cause a pressing force serving to press the contact element (109) against the busbars (105, 107).

11. Contact device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a housing (127) having a first housing part (129) and a second housing part (131), the first housing part (129) being arranged to surround the screw element (101), the contact element (109) and an end region (133) of the first bus bar (105), the second housing part (131) being arranged to surround the threaded bushing (103) and a region end (135) of the second busbar (107), the first housing part (129) having a first flange element (137) and the second housing part (131) having a second flange element (139), and the first flange element (137) and the second flange element (139) being rotatably snap-fittable with each other.

12. A method (200) for contacting busbars by means of a contact device (100) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, comprising: - positioning the contact element (109) between the first and second busbars (105, 107), - the passage of the screw element (101) through the screw opening (106) of the first busbar (105), the passage opening (113) of the contact element (109) and the screw opening (108) of the second busbar (107), - locking the contact element (109) at the screw element (101), - screwing the screw element (101) into the threaded sleeve (103), - pressing the contact element (109) against the first and second busbars (105, 107) and rotating the contact element (109) relative to the first and second busbars (105, 107), and - generating a friction effect between the contact surfaces (110, 111) of the contact element (109) and the surfaces (112, 114) of the busbars (105, 107).

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