Electrical contacts and methods of forming electrical contacts

Abstract

To provide an electric contact or the like capable of suppressing conduction failure by firmly fixing a connection part.SOLUTION: An electric contact having airtight performance includes a pin, a socket connected by insertion of the pin, a sleeve covering a connection part between the pin and the socket and provided over an insertion direction of the pin, and an inorganic insulator filled in a space where the connection part in the sleeve is located in the insertion direction. The inorganic insulating material is a powder of an oxidized metal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to electrical contacts and methods of forming electrical contacts. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, connector terminals that are connected to other connectors have been known as electrical contacts (see, for example, Patent Document 1). These connector terminals include a connector body and a connector pin member, and the connector body has an outer case and an insulator fitted therein, and the connector pin member is fitted into the insulator. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 6-2576 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, electrical contacts may be required to be airtight, or the connection may be fixed so that it cannot be removed. The connector terminal of Patent Document 1 does not ensure airtightness at the portion where the connector pin member and the insulator are fitted together. For this reason, in order to secure the connection while ensuring airtightness, it is conceivable to thermally cure the connection with epoxy resin.

[0005] However, when the connection portions are thermally cured with epoxy resin, the epoxy resin expands thermally and the connection portions separate, resulting in poor electrical continuity.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an electrical contact and a method for forming an electrical contact that can firmly fix the connection portion and suppress poor conduction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The electrical contact of the present disclosure is an airtight electrical contact comprising: a pin; a socket into which the pin is connected when inserted; a sleeve that covers the connection portion between the pin and the socket and is provided across the insertion direction of the pin; and an inorganic insulator that fills the space within the sleeve in which the connection portion is located in the insertion direction.

[0008] The method for forming an electrical contact disclosed herein is a method for forming an electrical contact having airtight properties, and includes the steps of inserting and connecting a pin into a socket, positioning a sleeve covering the connection portion between the pin and the socket along the insertion direction of the pin, and filling the space in the sleeve where the connection portion is located in the insertion direction with an inorganic insulator. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present disclosure, the connection portion can be firmly fixed, thereby suppressing poor electrical conduction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrical contact according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a connecting portion of the electrical contact according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a method for forming an electrical contact. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially identical. Furthermore, the components described below can be combined as appropriate, and when there are multiple embodiments, the respective embodiments can also be combined.

[0012] [Present embodiment] (electrical contacts) Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical contact according to the present embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connection portion of the electrical contact according to the present embodiment.

[0013] The electrical contact 1 of this embodiment is an airtight connection part and is provided, for example, in the housing 5. In other words, the electrical contact 1 is an airtight connection part in order to airtightly seal the inside of the housing 5. A plurality of electrical contacts 1 are provided protruding from the outside of the housing 5.

[0014] The electrical contact 1 includes a plurality of pins 11, a plurality of sockets 12, a plurality of lead wires 13, a plurality of sheaths 14, a sleeve 15, an inorganic insulator 17, and a sealing material 18.

[0015] The multiple pins 11 are provided protruding from the housing 5 toward the outside. The pins 11 are cylindrical conductors protruding in an axial direction I. The axial direction I of the pins 11 is preferably perpendicular to the surface of the housing 5. The pins 11 are made of, for example, thermocouple wire such as chromel or alumel, or copper material connected to the resistance thermometer sensor, and are therefore highly hard. The multiple pins 11 are provided at predetermined intervals in a predetermined arrangement pattern.

[0016] The multiple sockets 12 are connected to the multiple pins 11, respectively. The sockets 12 are electrically conductive. The sockets 12 include a pin-side portion 12a into which the pins 11 are inserted, a lead-side portion 12b to which the lead wires 13 are connected, and a connecting portion 12c that integrally connects the pin-side portion 12a and the lead-side portion 12b. The pin-side portion 12a is, for example, a cylindrical split pin with a slit formed therein. The pin 11 is inserted into the pin-side portion 12a, and the pin 11 is connected by sandwiching the pin 11 therebetween. The lead-side portion 12b is formed in a cylindrical shape that covers the end of the lead wire 13. The lead-side portion 12b is connected by being crimped while the end of the lead wire 13 is accommodated in the lead-side portion 12b. The contact portions between the multiple pins 11 and the multiple sockets 12 form the connection portions. The lead-side portion 12b may also be connected by being soldered while the end of the lead wire 13 is accommodated in the lead-side portion 12b.

[0017] The multiple lead wires 13 are provided to the multiple sockets 12, respectively. The lead wires 13 extend from the connection portion, specifically, from the end on the outer side of the socket 12 (opposite the side where the pin 11 is inserted), toward the outside. The lead wires 13 are so-called core wires and are electrically conductive. Like the pins 11, the lead wires 13 are made of thermocouple wire such as chromel or alumel, as well as copper, which is connected to the resistance temperature detector. The lead wires 13 include a curved portion 13a that curves from the socket 12 and a straight portion 13b that extends linearly from the curved portion 13a toward the outside. The curved portion 13a is three-dimensionally curved so that the multiple lead wires 13 are separated from each other. The straight portion 13b is linear so that the multiple lead wires 13 are parallel to each other. The straight portion 13b also extends parallel to the sleeve 15 toward the outside of the housing 5. The linear portion 13b extends in the axial direction I of the pin 11.

[0018] The plurality of sheaths 14 are provided for the plurality of lead wires 13. Each sheath 14 is a covering member that bundles and covers the plurality of lead wires 13. The sheath 14 is provided at the outer end of the straight portion 13b of the lead wire 13.

[0019] The sleeve 15 covers the connection portion between the pin 11 and the socket 12. The sleeve 15 is provided along the insertion direction of the pin 11 inserted into the socket 12, i.e., the axial direction I. The sleeve 15 is formed in a cylindrical shape and houses the pin 11, the socket 12, and the lead wires 13 inside. The sleeve 15 has a base-side sleeve 21 provided on the housing 5 side (base side), and an outer-side sleeve 22 connected to the base-side sleeve 21.

[0020] The base side sleeve 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is arranged so that its central axis is in the same direction as the axial direction I of the pin 11. The end of the base side sleeve 21 on the housing 5 side is joined to the housing 5. The length of the base side sleeve 21 in the axial direction I of the central axis is long enough to cover the connection portion between the pin 11 and the socket 12 and the curved portion 13a of the lead wire 13. Furthermore, the length of the base side sleeve 21 in the axial direction I of the central axis is shorter than that of the outer side sleeve 22.

[0021] The outer sleeve 22, like the base-side sleeve 21, is formed in a cylindrical shape and is arranged so that its central axis is in the same direction as the axial direction I of the pin 11. The outer sleeve 22 is formed to be longer than the base-side sleeve 21. The opening diameter of the outer sleeve 22 is slightly larger than that of the base-side sleeve 21, and the end portion on the side connected to the base-side sleeve 21 is positioned and fixed on the outer periphery of the base-side sleeve 21. The length of the outer sleeve 22 in the axial direction I of its central axis is long enough to cover the straight portion 13b of the lead wire 13 and the base side of the sheath 14.

[0022] The inorganic insulator 17 is a powder of an oxide-based metal, for example, magnesium oxide powder. The inorganic insulator 17 is not particularly limited to magnesium oxide powder, and alumina powder may also be used. The inorganic insulator 17 is filled in the space in the axial direction I where the connection portion between the pin 11 and the socket 12 is located inside the sleeve 15. Specifically, the inorganic insulator 17 is filled on the housing 5 side inside the base-side sleeve 21.

[0023] The sealant 18 fills the space outside the inorganic insulator 17 in the sleeve 15 in the axial direction I, hermetically sealing the inside of the housing 5 from the outside. Specifically, the sealant 18 fills the base sleeve 21 and the outer sleeve 22, and includes a first sealant 18a filled in the base sleeve 21 and a second sealant 18b filled in the outer sleeve 22. The first sealant 18a and the second sealant 18b are made of the same resin-based sealant, such as epoxy resin. That is, the first sealant 18a and the second sealant 18b are formed by filling them in two separate steps using the electrical contact formation method described below. Note that the first sealant 18a and the second sealant 18b may be made of different materials. The first sealant 18a fills the area around the curved portion 13a of the lead wire 13 in the base sleeve 21. The second sealing material 18b is filled around the straight portion 13b of the lead wire 13 inside the outer sleeve 22. At this time, in the direction in which the lead wire 13 extends (axial direction I), the length of the second sealing material 18b filled around the straight portion 13b is longer than the length of the first sealing material 18a filled around the curved portion 13a. Note that a portion of the second sealing material 18b may be filled inside the base sleeve 21.

[0024] (Method of forming electrical contacts) Next, a method for forming the electrical contact 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the method for forming the electrical contact 1. In the method for forming the electrical contact 1, the electrical contact 1 is formed with the housing 5 positioned vertically downward and with multiple pins 11 protruding vertically upward from the housing 5.

[0025] In the method for forming the electrical contact 1, first, a plurality of sockets 12 are connected to a plurality of pins 11 protruding from the housing 5 (step S1). In step S1, a plurality of sockets 12 are inserted into the plurality of pins 11, thereby forming a connection portion where each pin 11 contacts each socket 12. Furthermore, a lead wire 13 extends from the outer (upper) end of each socket 12. Note that in step S1, a lead wire 13 having a curved portion 13a and a straight portion 13b formed in advance may be used, or the curved portion 13a and the straight portion 13b may be formed on a straight lead wire 13 after connection. Furthermore, the outer end of the straight portion 13b of the lead wire 13 is covered with a sheath 14.

[0026] Next, in the method of forming the electrical contact 1, the sleeve 15, specifically the base sleeve 21, is placed so as to cover the connection portion between the pin 11 and the socket 12 (step S2). In step S2, the end of the base sleeve 21 on the housing 5 side is joined to the housing 5 so as to be airtight. Also, in step S2, the base sleeve 21 is placed so that its central axis is aligned with the axial direction I of the pin 11.

[0027] Thereafter, in the method for forming the electrical contact 1, the inorganic insulator 17 is filled into the base-side sleeve 21 (step S3). Because the inorganic insulator 17 is an oxide metal powder, in step S3, the inorganic insulator 17 is vibrated using a vibrator or the like to increase the packing density of the inorganic insulator 17, thereby filling the base-side sleeve 21 with the inorganic insulator 17 without any gaps. Then, in step S3, after the inorganic insulator 17 has been filled, it is pressed to harden the inorganic insulator 17.

[0028] Next, in the method for forming the electrical contact 1, the sleeve 15 is filled with the sealant 18, specifically, the base-side sleeve 21 is filled with the first sealant 18a (step S4). In step S4, the first sealant 18a may be filled until it reaches the outer edge of the base-side sleeve 21, or it may be filled without reaching the outer edge of the base-side sleeve 21, leaving room for the second sealant 18b to be filled. Also, in step S4, the first sealant 18a is filled into the curved portion 13a of the lead wire 13 inside the base-side sleeve 21. Then, in step S4, the first sealant 18a is thermally cured to hermetically seal the inside of the housing 5 from the outside.

[0029] Next, in the method of forming the electrical contact 1, the outer sleeve 22 is connected and arranged on the base sleeve 21 (step S5). In step S5, the outer sleeve 22 and the base sleeve 21 are arranged so that their central axes are coaxial. Also in step S5, the lower end of the outer sleeve 22 (the base sleeve 21 side) is positioned and fixed to the outer periphery of the base sleeve 21. The base sleeve 21 and the outer sleeve 22 may be fixed by fitting together or by screw fastening.

[0030] Then, in the method of forming the electrical contact 1, the second sealing material 18b is filled into the outer sleeve 22 (step S6). In step S6, the second sealing material 18b is filled until it reaches the outer end of the outer sleeve 22. Also in step S6, the second sealing material 18b is filled into the straight portion 13b of the lead wire 13 and the base side of the sheath 14 within the outer sleeve 22. Then, in step S6, the second sealing material 18b is thermally cured, thereby more airtightly sealing the inside of the housing 5 from the outside and suppressing the force applied to the curved portion 13a of the lead wire 13.

[0031] As described above, the electrical contact 1 and the method for forming the electrical contact 1 according to this embodiment can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0032] The electrical contact 1 of the first embodiment is an airtight electrical contact comprising a pin 11, a socket 12 into which the pin 11 is inserted to connect, a sleeve 15 that covers the connection portion between the pin 11 and the socket 12 and is provided along the insertion direction (axial direction I) of the pin 11, an inorganic insulator 17 that fills the space in the sleeve 15 where the connection portion is located in the insertion direction, and a sealing material 18 that fills the space outside the inorganic insulator 17 in the sleeve 15 in the insertion direction to provide an airtight seal against the outside.

[0033] With this configuration, the connection between the pin 11 and the socket 12 can be filled with the inorganic insulator 17, which can prevent poor electrical continuity caused by the connection separating due to thermal expansion. Also, the sealing material 18 can ensure airtightness. Therefore, the connection can be firmly fixed while maintaining airtightness.

[0034] As a second aspect, in the electrical contact 1 according to the first aspect, the inorganic insulator 17 is a powder of an oxide-based metal.

[0035] According to this configuration, even if the space around the connection portion is narrow, the inorganic insulating material can be appropriately filled, and the insulating material can be made to be less susceptible to thermal expansion.

[0036] As a third aspect, in the electrical contact 1 according to the first or second aspect, the sealing material 18 is a resin-based sealing material.

[0037] According to this configuration, a material that can adequately ensure airtightness can be used. Note that epoxy resin or the like is used as the resin-based sealing material.

[0038] As a fourth aspect, the electrical contact 1 according to any one of the first to third aspects further comprises a lead wire 13 extending from the connection portion toward the outside, the sleeve 15 covers the lead wire 13, the sealing material 18 is filled inside the sleeve 15 where the lead wire 13 is located, the lead wire 13 includes a curved portion 13a that curves from the connection portion and a straight portion 13b that extends linearly from the curved portion 13a along the sleeve 15, and in the direction in which the lead wire 13 extends, the length of the sealing material 18 where the straight portion 13b is located is longer than the length of the sealing material 18 where the curved portion 13a is located.

[0039] According to this configuration, by increasing the length of the sealing material 18 where the straight portion 13b is located, the force applied to the curved portion 13a can be reduced, and the stress on the socket 12 can be reduced, thereby suppressing deformation around the connection portion.

[0040] As a fifth aspect, in the electrical contact 1 relating to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the sleeve 15 has a base side sleeve 21 that covers the connection portion provided on the base side, and an external side sleeve 22 that is connected to the base side sleeve 21 and is longer than the base side sleeve 21, and the inorganic insulator 17 is filled in the base side sleeve 21, and the sealing material 18 is filled in the base side sleeve 21 and the external side sleeve 22.

[0041] According to this configuration, by dividing the sleeve 15 into the base sleeve 21 and the outer sleeve 22, when forming the electrical contact 1, the work can be divided into work on the base sleeve 21 and work on the outer sleeve 22. Therefore, the workability in forming the electrical contact 1 can be improved.

[0042] As a sixth aspect, in the electrical contact 1 relating to the fifth aspect, the sealing material 18 has a first sealing material 18a filled in the base side sleeve 21 and a second sealing material 18b filled in the outer side sleeve 22.

[0043] According to this configuration, after the first sealing material 18a is filled in the base-side sleeve 21, the second sealing material 18b can be filled in the outer-side sleeve 22. Therefore, it is possible to perform the filling operation of the sealing material 18 while checking that the sealing material 18 is properly filled.

[0044] The method for forming an electrical contact 1 according to the seventh aspect is a method for forming an electrical contact 1 having airtight properties, and includes the steps of: step S1 of inserting and connecting a pin 11 into a socket 12; steps S2 and S5 of arranging a sleeve 15 covering the connection portion between the pin 11 and the socket 12 along the insertion direction of the pin 11; step S3 of filling an inorganic insulator 17 into the space in the sleeve 15 where the connection portion is located in the insertion direction; and steps S4 and S6 of filling an insulating material 18 that hermetically seals the space outside the inorganic insulator 17 in the sleeve 15 in the insertion direction.

[0045] With this configuration, the connection between the pin 11 and the socket 12 can be filled with the inorganic insulator 17, which can prevent poor electrical continuity caused by the connection separating due to thermal expansion. Also, the sealing material 18 can ensure airtightness. Therefore, the connection can be firmly fixed while maintaining airtightness.

[0046] As an eighth aspect, in the method for forming an electrical contact 1 according to the seventh aspect, the sleeve 15 has a base side sleeve 21 that covers the connection portion provided on the base side, and an external side sleeve 22 that is connected to the base side sleeve 21 and is longer than the base side sleeve 21, and steps S2 and S5 of positioning the sleeve 15 include step S2 of positioning the base side sleeve 21 that covers the connection portion and step S5 of positioning the external side sleeve 22 connected to the base side sleeve 21, and step S3 of filling the inorganic insulator 17 fills the inorganic insulator 17 into the base side sleeve 21, and steps S4 and S6 of filling the sealing material 18 include step S4 of filling the base side sleeve 21 with a first sealing material 18a and step S6 of filling the external side sleeve 22 with a second sealing material 18b.

[0047] According to this configuration, by dividing the sleeve 15 into the base sleeve 21 and the outer sleeve 22, when forming the electrical contact 1, the work can be divided into work on the base sleeve 21 and work on the outer sleeve 22. Furthermore, after filling the base sleeve 21 with the first sealing material 18a, the outer sleeve 22 can be filled with the second sealing material 18b. Therefore, the work of filling the sealing material 18 can be performed while checking that the sealing material 18 is properly filled, and the workability of forming the electrical contact 1 can be improved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1 Electrical Contacts 5. Cabinet 11-pin 12 sockets 13 Lead wire 13a Curved area 13b Straight line part 14 Sheath 15 sleeve 17 Inorganic insulators 18 Encapsulating materials 21 Base sleeve 22 Outer sleeve

Claims

1. In an electrical contact having gas-tight performance, Pin, a socket into which the pin is inserted and connected; a sleeve covering a connection portion between the pin and the socket and extending in the direction of insertion of the pin; an inorganic insulator filling a space in the sleeve where the connection portion is located in the insertion direction.

2. 2. The electrical contact according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic insulator is a powder of an oxide-based metal.

3. The sleeve is a base-side sleeve that covers the connection portion provided on the base side; an outer sleeve connected to the proximal sleeve and longer than the proximal sleeve; 2. The electrical contact according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic insulator is filled in the base sleeve.

4. 1. A method for forming a hermetic electrical contact, comprising: inserting and connecting the pins into the socket; a step of disposing a sleeve covering a connection portion between the pin and the socket in an insertion direction of the pin; filling a space in the sleeve where the connection portion is located in the insertion direction with an inorganic insulating material.

5. The sleeve is a base-side sleeve that covers the connection portion provided on the base side; an outer sleeve connected to the proximal sleeve and longer than the proximal sleeve; The step of disposing the sleeve comprises: placing the proximal sleeve over the connecting portion; and positioning the external sleeve in connection with the proximal sleeve; The step of filling the inorganic insulating material includes:

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the inorganic insulating material is filled into the base sleeve.

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