Vibration-damping contact mechanism for high-voltage connections

Abstract

This invention relates in particular to a contact mechanism for high-voltage electrical connections that is highly resistant to wear. [Solution] The contact mechanism (1) comprises a contact socket (2), a contact bolt (6) that can be inserted into the contact socket along the insertion direction (4), a spring mechanism (10) that is positioned between the contact socket and the contact bolt when the contact bolt is inserted into the contact socket and has a spring (12) that is compressed radially (14), and a support surface mechanism (8) that has at least one support surface (16, 16a, 16b, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d) inclined with respect to the insertion direction, the compressed spring is supported by the support surface mechanism, and the compressed spring supported by the support surface mechanism generates an axial spring force (36) directed toward the insertion direction in the support surface mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a contact mechanism for high-voltage electrical connections.

Background Art

[0002] A contact mechanism typically has a contact socket and a contact bolt that can be inserted into the contact socket. In an environment with a lot of vibration, such as inside a vehicle, relative movement may occur between the contact socket and the contact bolt inserted into the contact socket, and the electrical contact wears out over time. This wear causes deterioration or interruption of electrical contact. Particularly when transmitting high current or high voltage, arc discharge occurs due to contact interruption, and the contact mechanism may be damaged.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the present invention is based on the problem of designing a contact mechanism with higher wear resistance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] This problem is a contact mechanism for high-voltage electrical connections (contact configuration for electrical HV connection), comprising a contact socket, a contact bolt that can be inserted into the contact socket along the insertion direction, a spring arrangement that is disposed between the contact socket and the contact bolt when the contact bolt is inserted into the contact socket and is compressed in the radial direction, and a support surface arrangement having at least one support surface inclined with respect to the insertion direction and The compressed spring is supported by a support surface mechanism, and the compressed spring supported by the support surface mechanism generates an axial spring force directed towards the insertion direction of the support surface mechanism, which is resolved by a contact mechanism.

[0005] The spring mechanism allows the contact socket to be held in place by applying force in the insertion direction while the contact bolt is inserted into the contact socket. The spring mechanism resists forces generated by vibrations that cause relative movement between the contact socket and the contact bolt.

[0006] The above invention can be further improved by the following features, each of which is advantageous in itself and can be combined with one another as needed.

[0007] The support surface mechanism may be part of the contact pin and / or contact socket, or it may extend across the contact pin and / or contact socket. In one embodiment, only the contact socket or only the contact bolt may have at least one support surface. Preferably, both the contact socket and the contact bolt have at least one support surface. In particularly simple designs, the contact bolt and the contact socket each have just one support surface.

[0008] At least one support surface of the support surface mechanism may be inclined at an acute, obtuse, or right angle with respect to the insertion direction.

[0009] In an advantageous embodiment, the contact bolt may have at least one stopper surface, and the contact socket may have at least one stopper surface, and the at least one stopper surface of the contact bolt and the at least one stopper surface of the contact socket are pressed against each other by an axial spring force when the contact bolt is inserted into the contact socket. These stopper surfaces simply form a stopper that limits the depth to which the contact bolt is inserted into the contact socket along the insertion direction.

[0010] To achieve a self-centering effect between the contact socket and the contact bolt, at least one stop face of the contact socket and / or at least one stop face of the contact bolt may have a normal that extends obliquely with respect to the insertion direction. A particularly good self-centering effect is achieved between the contact socket and the contact bolt when the normals of the stop faces of the contact socket and / or the stop faces of the contact bolt are inclined at an angle between approximately 10° and approximately 45° with respect to the insertion direction. The term "approximately" may indicate a deviation of 5 percent points.

[0011] If at least one stop face of the contact bolt is inclined at the same angle of inclination as at least one stop face of the contact socket with respect to the insertion direction, a large contact surface is achieved between at least one stop face of the contact socket and at least one stop face of the contact bolt.

[0012] To simplify the manufacturing of the contact mechanism and to enable self-alignment, the stop faces of the contact bolts and / or the stop faces of the contact sockets may be at least partially conical. The contact sockets and / or contact bolts may have a conical portion on which a conical stop face is positioned or on which a conical stop face is formed.

[0013] To establish a clear contact point between the contact bolt and the contact socket, the stop face of the contact bolt and / or the stop face of the contact socket may be at least partially curved, and in particular may be convexly curved. The contact socket and / or contact bolt may have a curved portion, particularly a spherical portion, on which at least a partially curved stop face of the contact bolt or at least a partially curved stop face of the contact socket is positioned, or on which at least a partially curved stop face is formed. The above embodiments are cost-effective because good contact between the contact bolt and the contact socket is achieved even with high manufacturing tolerances.

[0014] Naturally, if the mating surfaces are designed to be at least partially curved, the normals to at least one mating surface of the contact socket and / or at least one mating surface of the contact bolt may also extend at an angle with respect to the insertion direction.

[0015] In a further advantageous design, the spring mechanism may have an additional spring positioned between the contact socket and the contact bolt and compressed radially when the contact bolt is inserted into the contact socket, thereby generating a radial spring force perpendicular to the axial spring force. In this way, the contact bolt is radially supported relative to the contact socket, and relative movement between the contact bolt and the contact socket in the radial direction, and in particular vibration, is reduced to some extent. In addition, the additional spring makes secure contact with both the contact bolt and the contact socket. This makes it possible to connect the contact bolt to the contact socket in a particularly secure manner via the additional spring.

[0016] In designs requiring particularly high conductivity, additional springs are made of copper alloy, at least partially.

[0017] To allow springs to flexibly adapt to different roles and functions, springs are designed to... - Outer diameter measured perpendicular to the insertion direction, - Winding diameter, and - Electrical conductivity At least one characteristic from this set of characteristics may differ from that of any other spring.

[0018] The coil diameter of the spring or any additional spring can be measured along the insertion direction. Preferably, the coil diameter and outer diameter of the spring and any additional spring are measured under no-load conditions. This is especially true when the contact bolt with the spring is not inserted into the contact socket.

[0019] In a further embodiment, as an alternative or in addition to at least one of the characteristics from the above-described group of characteristics, the spring may differ from a further spring in wire diameter.

[0020] The spring and / or the further spring may be at least partially made of a material having a conductivity greater than the conductivity of the contact bolt and / or the contact socket. Thereby, mainly, the flow of current between the contact bolt and the contact socket through the spring or the further spring is ensured. Thereby, the electrical contact between the contact bolt and the contact socket is improved.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment, the spring can fulfill the function of a locking spring and the further spring can fulfill the function of a contact spring. The locking spring can ensure the tension between the contact socket and the contact bolt in the insertion direction, and the contact spring can ensure the electrical contact between the contact socket and the contact bolt.

[0022] Preferably, the further spring has a higher conductivity than the spring. Particularly in this embodiment and also in an embodiment independent thereof, the spring may additionally have a smaller outer diameter and / or a larger coil diameter and / or may be made of a mechanically more stable material than the further spring.

[0023] The spring is preferably made of stainless steel in order to achieve a large axial spring force.

[0024] To fix the contact bolt to the contact socket, especially to prevent the contact bolt from coming out of the contact socket along the insertion direction, the contact socket may have at least one protrusion that protrudes between the spring and the additional spring and protrudes between the spring and the additional spring in the insertion direction. At least one protrusion may protrude radially inward. A further advantage of this design is that the spring and the additional spring are fixed to the contact bolt in at least one axial direction.

[0025] At least one protrusion may be formed, for example, by a bead-like thickened portion or a cylindrical portion of the contact socket. The protrusion may extend continuously or without interruption so as to surround the insertion direction. At least one protrusion may also be designed as a bolt protruding radially inward or a rib protruding radially inward. In these designs, it is preferable to provide a plurality of protrusions arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, and these protrusions are preferably arranged at equal intervals.

[0026] According to the space-saving design of the contact mechanism, the spring and / or the additional spring may be annular and extend so as to surround the contact bolt. The spring and / or the additional spring may particularly be toroidal. Preferably, the spring and / or the additional spring extend continuously so as to surround the contact bolt, ensuring the generation of a uniform spring force along the circumferential direction that surrounds the insertion direction.

[0027] The annular spring may be, for example, a ring spring or a coil spring because it is space-saving and easy to install. However, of course, other types of springs are also possible.

[0028] To ensure the generation of sufficient force, the coil diameter of the spring may correspond to approximately one-third of the diameter of the contact bolt measured perpendicular to the insertion direction. The diameter of the contact bolt may be measured at an axial height corresponding to the axial height of the spring.

[0029] To securely fasten the spring and / or additional springs to the contact bolt and to protect the spring and / or additional springs from damage, the contact bolt may have at least one groove extending to surround the insertion direction, in which at least one of the springs of the spring mechanism is at least partially received in this groove. The spring of the spring mechanism refers to both the spring and the additional spring.

[0030] The groove can be designed to complement the spring housed within it, and may, for example, be annular in shape.

[0031] To align a spring or further springs in a groove, the cross-section of at least one groove, extending along the insertion direction, may be angled. The cross-section may be polygonal, for example, triangular, rectangular, or pentagonal. Naturally, the cross-section of the groove may be at least partially curved, for example, round, elliptical, or U-shaped. This cross-section may be measured along a cross-sectional plane extending along the insertion direction.

[0032] When each spring of the spring mechanism is received in the groove of the contact bolt, a spring mechanism that is particularly well fixed and protected is realized according to further embodiments. Thus, in this embodiment, the spring and the further spring are each located in the groove of the contact bolt. Preferably, the spring is located in a different groove from the further spring. However, it is also conceivable that the spring and the further spring are located in the same one or more grooves.

[0033] To achieve advanced functional integration and structurally simplify the contact mechanism, at least one support surface of the support surface mechanism may be at least partially formed by at least one groove. Therefore, if the support surface mechanism has only one support surface positioned on a contact bolt, this support surface may be formed by at least one groove. When the support surface mechanism has two or more support surfaces positioned on a contact bolt, at least one of these two or more support surfaces may be formed by at least one groove. Preferably, each support surface positioned on a contact bolt is formed by at least one groove.

[0034] In a structurally simple design of the contact mechanism, at least one support surface of the support surface mechanism may be at least partially formed by an undercut in the contact socket. The undercut preferably extends perpendicular to the insertion direction. As described above, if the support surface mechanism has only one support surface located in the contact socket, this support surface may be located in an undercut. If the support surface mechanism has two or more support surfaces located in the contact socket, at least one of these two or more support surfaces may be formed by at least one undercut. Preferably, each support surface located in the contact socket is located in or formed by at least one undercut.

[0035] The undercut may be located at the axial end of the contact socket, facing away from the insertion opening of the contact socket. The insertion opening of the contact socket can be understood as an opening into which a contact bolt can be inserted. In one embodiment, the undercut of the contact socket may be formed by a recess extending perpendicular to the insertion direction, or a recess provided in the contact socket that extends perpendicular to the insertion direction.

[0036] In cost-effective designs, the contact socket may have a funnel-shaped flared portion along the insertion direction, and the undercut may be at least partially formed by the funnel-shaped flared portion. The inner diameter of the funnel-shaped flared portion, measured perpendicular to the insertion direction, may increase in the insertion direction, particularly linearly or progressively. In particularly cost-effective designs that are easily automated, the funnel-shaped flared portion may correspond to or have a chamfer.

[0037] In embodiments of a contact mechanism that are at least compact in the insertion direction, at least one stop face of the contact socket and / or at least one stop face of the contact bolt may be positioned between a spring and a further spring in the insertion direction. Preferably, at least one stop face of the contact socket and / or at least one stop face of the contact pin is positioned in the center between the spring and the further spring to prevent, for example, the contact pin or contact socket from tilting.

[0038] In a further advantageous embodiment, the contact bolt may have at least one opening extending in the insertion direction. In this way, the contact bolt can accommodate further elements, such as cables, electronic components such as sensors, or at least a portion of the touch guard. The opening also saves material and, consequently, reduces weight. The opening is preferably designed as a through-opening.

[0039] The opening may be configured to accommodate at least a portion of the touch protection. In one embodiment, the contact mechanism has such a touch protection fitted into the opening. The touch protection may also be at least partially positioned within the opening.

[0040] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Individual features present in the following embodiments may be omitted if the technical effects associated with those features are not relevant to the above embodiments. Conversely, features described above but not present in subsequent embodiments may be added to these embodiments if the technical effects associated with those features are important for a particular application.

[0041] In the following, the same reference numeral is used for elements that correspond to each other in terms of structure and / or function. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0042] [Figure 1] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a contact mechanism according to a possible embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the contact socket of the contact mechanism. [Figure 3] Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the contact bolt of the contact mechanism. [Figure 4] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a contact socket according to a further possible embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a contact bolt according to another possible embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a contact socket according to another possible embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a contact mechanism according to a further possible embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a contact bolt with a spring and an additional spring, according to a further possible embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0043] Figure 1 shows a contact mechanism 1 comprising a contact socket 2 and a contact bolt 6 inserted into the contact socket 2 along the insertion direction 4. For clarity, the contact bolt 6 and the contact socket 2 are shown separately in Figures 2 and 3, respectively. The contact mechanism 1 further comprises a support surface mechanism 8 and a spring mechanism 10. In this embodiment, the spring mechanism 10 has a spring 12 positioned between the contact socket 2 and the contact bolt 6 and compressed radially 14. In this embodiment, the spring 12 is supported, for illustrative purposes only, between support surfaces 16, 16a positioned on the contact socket 2 and a plurality of support surfaces 16, 16b positioned on the contact bolt 6. The support surfaces 16, 16a, 16b are inclined with respect to the insertion direction 4.

[0044] Naturally, according to other embodiments, only the contact socket 2 or only the contact bolt 6 may have one or more support surfaces 16. Similarly, both the contact socket 2 and the contact bolt 6 may each have at least one support surface 16.

[0045] In this embodiment, the support surface 16a positioned on the contact socket 2 is, as an example, formed by or positioned on an undercut 18 of the contact socket 2. The undercut 18 may be formed by a portion 20 that widens in a funnel shape in the insertion direction 4. Widening in a funnel shape can be understood as meaning that the inner diameter 22 of the portion 20, measured perpendicular to the insertion direction 4, increases in the insertion direction 4. In this embodiment, the inner diameter 22 of portion 20 increases progressively in the insertion direction 4, so the funnel-shaped portion 20 of the contact socket 2 resembles the bell of a trumpet. Naturally, in other embodiments, the inner diameter 22 of portion 20 may increase linearly. Therefore, as can be seen in Figure 4, in a cost-effective embodiment, the funnel-shaped portion 20 can correspond to a chamfered portion 24.

[0046] The support surfaces 16, 16b of the contact bolt 6 may be formed, for example, by a groove 30 of the contact bolt 6 that extends to surround the insertion direction 4. The contact bolt 6 may have, in particular, a first support surface 16, 16b, 26a, a second support surface 16, 16b, 26b, a third support surface 16, 16b, 26c, and a fourth support surface 16, 16b, 26d. The first support surface 16, 16b, 26a and the second support surface 16, 16b, 26b may each face in the opposite direction to the insertion direction 4, while the third support surface 16, 16b, 26c and the fourth support surface 16, 16b, 26d may face the insertion direction 4. In the designs shown in Figures 1 to 3, the first support surfaces 16, 16b, 26a and the fourth support surfaces 16, 16b, 26d of the contact bolt 6 are, as an example, opposed to each other when viewed along the insertion direction 4 and both extend perpendicular to the insertion direction 4. The second support surfaces 16, 16b, 26b and the third support surfaces 16, 16b, 26c may be, for example, V-shaped, and in particular may converge at an obtuse angle to form a corner 28 in which the spring 12 is at least partially received. Such arrangement of the support surfaces 16 contributes to the self-alignment of the spring 12 in the groove 30.

[0047] However, the groove 30 does not necessarily have to have an angled cross-section 32; it may be rounded, for example, circular, especially semicircular, or particularly complementary to the outer shape of the spring 12 housed in the groove 30. The cross-section 32 of the groove 30 can be measured in a cross-sectional plane 34 extending along the insertion direction 4.

[0048] The compression of the spring 12 between the contact socket 2 and the contact bolt 6 generates an axial spring force 36 in the insertion direction 4 at the support surface mechanism 8 that supports the spring 12. The axial spring force 36 is schematically shown in Figure 1. In the design shown in Figures 1 to 3, in which the contact bolt 6 has, for example, multiple support surfaces 16, 16b, 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d, a portion of the axial spring force 36 acting on the contact bolt 6 can be transmitted to each of the support surfaces 16, 16b, 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d of the contact bolt 6. For clarity, some of these axial spring forces 36 are shown in Figure 1 as partial axial spring forces 38. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3, the contact socket 2 has only a single support surface 16, 16a, as an example, and the spring 12 transmits the entire axial spring force 36 to the contact socket 2 through this support surface 16, 16a.

[0049] The axial spring force 36 transmitted to the contact socket 2 by the spring 12 is in the opposite direction to the axial spring force 36 transmitted to the contact bolt 6 by the spring 12, so the spring 12 pushes the contact socket 2 and the contact bolt 6 apart along the insertion direction 4. However, in this embodiment, since the contact bolt 6 and the contact socket 2 each have a stopper surface 40 that presses against each other due to the axial spring force 36, no relative movement occurs between the contact socket 2 and the contact bolt 6 in the insertion direction 4 due to the axial spring force 36. The stopper surface 40 absorbs the axial spring force 36 transmitted between the spring 12 and the support surface 26 of the support surface mechanism 8, thereby clamping the contact socket 2 to the contact pin 6 in the insertion direction 4. Therefore, the stopper surfaces 40, 40a of the contact bolt 6 and the stopper surfaces 40, 40b of the contact socket 2 form a stopper portion 42 that limits the depth to which the contact bolt 6 can be inserted into the contact socket 2.

[0050] The retaining surfaces 40, 40b of the contact socket 2 and the retaining surfaces 40, 40a of the contact bolt 6 each have normals 44a, 44b that extend obliquely with respect to the insertion direction 4 and obliquely with respect to the axial spring force 36, respectively. The inclination angle 46 in which the normals 44a of the retaining surfaces 40, 40b of the contact bolt 6 and / or the normals 44b of the retaining surfaces 40, 40a of the contact socket 2 are inclined with respect to the insertion direction 4 can be, for example, between approximately 10° and approximately 45°. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3, both the retaining surfaces 40, 40a of the contact bolt 6 and the retaining surfaces 40, 40b of the contact socket 2 are inclined at an inclination angle 46 of 45°.

[0051] In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3, the stop surfaces 40, 40a of the contact bolt 6 and the stop surfaces 40, 40b of the contact socket 2 are designed conically, as an example. The conical stop surfaces 40, 40a, 40b may be formed by a conical portion 48 of the contact socket 2 or a conical portion 50 of the contact bolt 6, which may be designed to be complementary to each other. Naturally, the stop surfaces 40, 40b of the contact socket 2 and the stop surfaces 40, 40a of the contact bolt 6 do not necessarily have to be positioned between the spring 12 and the additional spring 52 in the insertion direction 4, as shown in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3. In other embodiments, the stop faces 40, 40b of the contact socket and / or the stop faces 40, 40a of the contact bolt 6 may be located, for example, at the axial end 54 of the contact socket 2 or the axial end 56 of the contact bolt 6. An embodiment in which the stop faces 40, 40a of the contact bolt 6 are located at one of the axial ends 56 of the contact bolt 6 is shown, for example, in Figure 7.

[0052] According to other embodiments, at least one stopper face 40, 40a of the contact bolt 6 and / or at least one stopper face 40, 40b of the contact socket may be at least partially curved, and in particular may be convexly curved. Figures 5 and 6 show, as mere examples, a contact socket 2 and a contact bolt 6, respectively, each having a convexly curved stopper face 40, 40a, 40b. The curved stopper faces 40, 40a, 40b may be formed by the arc portion 58 of the contact socket 2 or the arc portion 60 of the contact bolt 6, or may be positioned on the arc portion 58 of the contact socket 2 or the arc portion 60 of the contact bolt 6. When a spring 12 is added to the contact bolt 6 shown in Figure 5, and the contact bolt 6 is inserted into the contact socket 2 shown in Figure 6, the convexly curved retaining surfaces 40, 40a of the contact bolt 6 are pressed against the convexly curved retaining surfaces 40, 40b of the contact socket 2 by the axial spring force 36 generated by the spring 12. In this way, even if the manufacturing tolerances of the retaining surfaces 40, 40a, 40b are high, reliable contact between the retaining surfaces 40, 40a of the contact bolt 6b and the retaining surfaces 40, 40b of the contact socket 2 is ensured. Therefore, such a design is cost-effective in manufacturing.

[0053] As can be seen in Figure 7, for the contact bolt 6 to be clamped to the contact socket 2 by the spring mechanism 10, the contact bolt 6 and the contact socket 2 do not necessarily each have retaining surfaces 40, 40a, and 40b. In fact, Figure 7 shows a contact mechanism 1 in which the contact socket 2 does not have retaining surfaces 40 and 40b. In this design, only the contact bolt 6 is provided with retaining surfaces 40 and 40a, which are located on one of the axial ends of the contact bolt 6. The spring 12 is supported on the support surface 16 of the support surface mechanism 8, as in the designs shown in Figures 1 to 3, and presses the contact bolt 6 against the axial retaining portion 62 in this design (which, for illustrative purposes only, is not part of the contact socket 2). The axial stopper 62 may correspond to an element separate from the contact mechanism 1, to which the contact mechanism 1 is attached nearby. The axial stopper 62 absorbs the axial spring force 36 generated by the spring 12, thereby supporting the contact bolt 6 in the insertion direction 4.

[0054] As can be seen in Figure 1, the spring mechanism 10 may also include a further spring 52, which in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 is partially positioned in a groove 30 extending to surround the insertion direction 4. When the contact bolt 6 is inserted into the contact socket 2, the further spring 52 is positioned between the contact socket 2 and the contact bolt 6 and is compressed radially 14. The compression of the further spring 52 between the contact socket 2 and the contact bolt 6 generates a radial spring force 82 (shown here only schematically) perpendicular to the axial spring force 36. The radial spring force 82 is perpendicular to the insertion direction 4. The radial spring force 82 firmly presses the additional spring 52 against both the contact socket 2 and the contact bolt 6, thereby firmly clamping the contact socket 2 and the contact bolt 6 together in the radial direction 14. This improves or ensures electrical contact between the contact socket 2 and the contact bolt 6, especially when the additional spring 52 is used as a contact spring 84. Such an additional spring 52 designed as a contact spring 84 is preferably made of a conductive material, such as a copper alloy.

[0055] On the contact socket side, an additional spring 52 may be supported on the inner wall 64 of the contact socket 2 extending along the insertion direction 4, as shown in Figure 1. As is particularly clear in Figure 2, the inner wall 64 may be part of the hollow cylindrical portion 66 of the contact socket 2. On the contact pin side, an additional spring 52 may be supported on the inner surface 68 of the groove 30, for example, as is clearly visible in Figure 3. The arrangement of the inner surface 68 may correspond to the arrangement of a first support surface 26a, a second support surface 26b, a third support surface 26c, and a fourth support surface 26d.

[0056] In the embodiment of the contact bolt 6 shown in Figure 8, the outer diameter 70 of the additional spring 52 is larger than the outer diameter 72 of spring 12. The outer diameters 70 and 72 are measured in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction 4. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, spring 12 and the additional spring 52 may each have winding diameters 74 and 76, respectively, measured along the cross-section 86 of spring 12 or the cross-section 88 of the additional spring 52. In this embodiment, the winding diameter 74 of the additional spring 52 may be smaller than the winding diameter 76 of spring 12. Naturally, in other embodiments, the winding diameters 74 and 76 and / or outer diameters 70 and 72 of the two springs 12 and 52 may also be identical or have different size ratios than those described above.

[0057] Furthermore, as can be seen in Figure 1, the contact socket 2 may have at least one projection 78 positioned between the spring 12 and the further spring 52 in the insertion direction 4, projecting between the spring 12 and the further spring 52. In this embodiment, the conical portion 48 of the contact socket 2, where the stop faces 40, 40b of the contact socket 2 can be formed, may be part of this projection 78. Naturally, the projection 78 may be designed in a different form, for example, as a bead-shaped thickened portion or a cylindrical portion of the contact socket 2. Similarly, the projection 78 does not need to be seamless or extend continuously to surround the insertion direction 4. For example, there may be multiple (individual) projections 78 projecting inward in the radial direction 14.

[0058] Furthermore, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 3, the contact bolt 6 may have at least one opening 80 extending in the insertion direction 4. The opening 80 is preferably designed as a through opening extending between the axial ends 56 of the contact bolt 6. The opening 80 of the contact bolt 6 may be designed, for example, to accommodate at least partially a touch protection portion. At least a portion of the touch protection portion may protrude into the opening 80 of the contact bolt 6 at one of the axial ends 56. The touch protection portion can prevent a person's finger or test finger, such as a VDE test finger, from being inserted into the opening 80. The opening 80 also has the advantage of saving material and thus reducing weight. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0059] 1. Contact mechanism 2 Contact sockets 4. Insertion direction 6 Contact bolts 8 Support surface mechanism 10 Spring mechanism 12 springs 14 Radial direction 16 Support surface 16a Support surface located in the contact socket 16b Support surface located on the contact bolt 18 Undercut 20. Funnel-shaped part 22 Inner diameter of the funnel-shaped section 24 Chamfered section 26a First support surface 26b Second support surface 26c Third support surface 26d Fourth support surface 28 Corner 30 grooves 32 Cross-section of the groove 34 Cross-sectional plane of the groove 36 Axial spring force 38. Partial axial spring force 40 Stopping surface 40a Retaining surface of contact bolt 40b Retaining surface of contact socket 42 Stopper 44a Normal to the retaining surface of the contact bolt 44b Normal to the retaining surface of the contact socket 46 Inclination angle of the stopping surface 48. The conical part of the contact socket 50. Conical part of the contact bolt 52 Further springs 54 Axial end of contact socket 56 Axial end of contact bolt 58. Arc portion of the contact socket 60. Arc portion of the contact bolt 62 Axial stopper 64 Inner wall of contact socket 66 Hollow cylindrical portion of the contact socket 68 Inner surface of the groove 70 Further spring outer diameter 72 Outer diameter of the spring 74 Further spring winding diameter 76. Spring coil diameter 78. Protrusion of the contact socket 80 Opening 82 Radial spring force 84 Contact spring 86 Cross-section of a spring 88 Further cross-sections of springs

Claims

1. A contact mechanism (1) for high-voltage electrical connection, Contact socket (2), A contact bolt (6) that can be inserted into the contact socket (2) along the insertion direction (4), When the contact bolt (6) is inserted into the contact socket (2), a spring mechanism (10) is provided, which is positioned between the contact socket (2) and the contact bolt (6) and includes a spring (12) that is compressed radially (14). A support surface mechanism (8) having at least one support surface (16, 16a, 16b, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d) inclined with respect to the insertion direction (4) and Equipped with, The compressed spring (12) is supported by the support surface mechanism (8), and the compressed spring (12) supported by the support surface mechanism (8) generates an axial spring force (36) on the support surface mechanism (8) that is directed in the insertion direction (4), in the contact mechanism (1).

2. The contact mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein the contact bolt (6) has at least one stopper surface (40, 40a), and the contact socket (2) has at least one stopper surface (40, 40b), and the at least one stopper surface (40, 40a) of the contact bolt (6) and the at least one stopper surface (40, 40b) of the contact socket (2) are pressed against each other by the axial spring force (36) when the contact bolt (6) is inserted into the contact socket (2).

3. The contact mechanism (1) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one stopper surface (40, 40b) of the contact socket (2) and / or the at least one stopper surface (40, 40a) of the contact bolt (6) have normals (44a, 44b) that extend obliquely with respect to the insertion direction (4).

4. The spring mechanism (10) has a further spring (52) positioned between the contact socket (2) and the contact bolt (6) and compressed in the radial direction (14) when the contact bolt (6) is inserted into the contact socket (2). The contact mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a radial spring force (82) perpendicular to the axial spring force (36) is generated by the further spring (52) that is supported and compressed.

5. The aforementioned spring (12) is - Outer diameter (70, 72) measured perpendicular to the insertion direction (4), - Winding diameter (74, 76), and - Conductivity The contact mechanism (1) according to claim 4, wherein at least one characteristic from the set of characteristics is different from that of the further spring (52).

6. The contact mechanism (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the contact socket (2) is positioned between the spring (12) and the further spring (52) in the insertion direction (4) and has at least one protruding portion (78) that protrudes between the spring (12) and the further spring (52).

7. The contact mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the spring (12) and / or the further spring (52) are annular and extend to surround the contact bolt (6).

8. The contact bolt (6) has at least one groove (30) extending to surround the insertion direction (4), and at least one spring (12, 52) of the spring mechanism (10) is at least partially received in the groove (30), the contact mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The contact mechanism (1) according to claim 8, wherein the cross section (32) of at least one groove (30) that extends along the insertion direction (4) has an angle.

10. The contact mechanism (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein each spring (12, 52) of the spring mechanism (10) is received in the groove (30) of the contact bolt (6).

11. The contact mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein at least one support surface (16, 16a, 16b, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d) of the support surface mechanism (8) is at least partially formed by the at least one groove (30).

12. The contact mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein at least one support surface (16, 16a, 16b, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d) of the support surface mechanism (8) is at least partially formed by the undercut (18) of the contact socket (2).

13. The contact mechanism (1) according to claim 12, wherein the contact socket (2) has a funnel-shaped portion (20) that widens along the insertion direction (4), and the undercut (18) is at least partially formed by the funnel-shaped portion (20).

14. The contact mechanism (1) according to claim 4 in combination with any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein the at least one stopper surface (40, 40b) of the contact socket (2) and / or the at least one stopper surface (40, 40a) of the contact bolt (6) is positioned between the spring (12) and the further spring (52) in the insertion direction (4).

15. The contact mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the contact bolt (6) has at least one opening (80) extending in the insertion direction (4).

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