High current connector system and method for adjusting its total separation force

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to enable the total separation force of a high-current connector system to be adjusted to a preset value by simple means, thereby enabling the corresponding retrofitting of existing high-current connector systems with as little effort as possible. To this end, it is proposed that the connector (1) and the counterconnector (2) of the connector system each comprise at least one additional mating contact (100) or at least one additional counter mating contact (200). The at least one additional mating contact (100) and the at least one additional counter mating contact (200) are matable with each other and, in the mated state, are separable from each other again by applying individual separation forces, and thus are configured together to generate a preset amount of the total separation force of the connector system. This allows the desired total separation force to be adjusted individually, for example, by an end user, with very little effort by selecting suitable additional mating contacts and counter mating contacts for this purpose, e.g., to adapt it to the current strength actually used, thereby making connections carrying particularly high currents particularly difficult to separate, especially for safety reasons.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The invention starts from a high current connector system as defined in the preamble of independent claim 1 .

[0002] Furthermore, the invention takes as its starting point a method for adjusting the total separation force of a high current connector system according to claim 14.

[0003] Furthermore, the invention takes as its starting point a method for adjusting the overall separation force of a high current connector system according to claim 15.

[0004] The term "total separation force" is used hereinafter to mean the force required to separate a connector and its mating counterpart, both components of a high current connector system.

[0005] Such a high-current connector system may be used, for example, to transmit electrical energy, in particular in this case, via the high-current connector system and thus the connector and the corresponding connector, a total current having a high total current strength of at least up to 16 A ("amperes"), for example at least up to 20 A, preferably at least up to 35 A, particularly preferably at least up to 70 A, in particular at least up to 125 A, for example at least up to 300 A, in particular even at least 900 A, can be transmitted.

[0006] Background technology In the prior art, connector systems are known, which consist of a connector and a counter-connector. The connector can be mated with the counter-connector and can be separated again from the counter-connector under a total separation force. In the prior art, the total separation force usually results from rather random frictional forces, for example, from the sum of the mating and unmating forces, particularly due to friction, of the electrically active contacts, friction of the seals of the connector housing, etc.

[0007] In practical use, there arises a demand for a given connector system to have a given overall separation force depending on its function, and in particular high-current connector systems, which are designed to transmit particularly high current strengths, are also required to have a particularly high overall separation force for safety reasons.

[0008] A drawback of the prior art is that existing high current connector systems do not allow for easy adjustment of the overall separation force strength.

[0009] In filing a priority application for this application, the German Patent and Trademark Office searched the following prior art: DE 102019111847 A1, DE 102019121975 A1, DE 11 2018 006 768 T5, DE 1465689 A1 and US 2021 / 0194167 A1.

[0010] Assignment The object of the present invention is to provide a high-current connector system and method that allows, in particular, individual adjustment of the total separation force of the high-current connector system to a preset value by means as simple as possible. Preferably, retrofitting of existing high-current connector systems should be possible as hassle-free as possible. It is particularly preferred that, for this purpose, existing high-current connector systems be supplemented or modified as little as possible with new components. In particular, it is preferred that the so-called "modularity" of the high-current connector system be maintained as fully as possible, i.e., that the components of the high-current connector system are, to as large a degree as possible, already present on the market and can be used, i.e., at least matable, and preferably also assembled together, with as many other commercially available components as possible, thereby forming a connector system, in particular a high-current connector system.

[0011] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

[0012] The high-current connector system includes a connector and a mating connector, which are not only matable with each other but also separable from each other under a combined separation force. The connector includes a plurality of similar high-current mating contacts. The mating connector includes a plurality of corresponding high-current mating contacts matable with the mating high-current contacts. In a mated state, each of the high-current mating contacts is mechanically and conductively connected to a respective one of the corresponding high-current mating contacts to transmit electrical energy, thereby forming a respective pair of high-current mating contacts.

[0013] Furthermore, the connector has at least one additional mating contact, and the mating connector has at least one additional corresponding mating contact. Each of the additional mating contacts forms a respective additional mating contact pair with a respective one of the additional corresponding mating contacts. The additional mating contact and the additional corresponding mating contact of each mating contact pair can be mated with each other by applying an individual mating force and, in a mated state, can be separated from each other again by applying an individual separation force. Thus, the additional mating contact and the additional corresponding mating contact are configured together to generate a predetermined amount of the combined separation force, and the individual separation force of each additional mating contact pair is at least 1.5 times the individual mating force of each additional mating contact pair.

[0014] It will be clear to those skilled in the art that hereinafter the term "individual separation force" relates to exactly one mated contact pair each.

[0015] Preferably, the individual separation force may be at least 1.75 times the individual mating force.

[0016] In particular, the individual separation force may be at least twice as great as the individual mating force.

[0017] For example, the individual separation force may be at least 2.5 times the individual mating force.

[0018] In particularly preferred configurations, the individual separation force may even be at least three times, in particular at least four times, and particularly preferably at least five times, the individual mating force.

[0019] Advantageous configurations of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0020] An advantage of the present invention is that it allows for particularly effortless retrofitting of existing high-current connector systems, in which one or possibly several high-current mating contact pairs only need to be replaced by one or more further mating contact pairs.

[0021] It is particularly advantageous that the so-called "modularity" of the high-current connector system is maintained as fully as possible, i.e., all components of the high-current connector system are already present on the market and can be used with other commercially available components, i.e., can be mated with commercially available connectors and preferably can be assembled with other commercially available components to form another connector system / high-current connector system. In this respect, the above-mentioned solution differs significantly from other possible solution approaches that are also less successful in this respect, for example, where one or more connector housings, locking systems or other components must be modified to change the overall separation force.

[0022] The advantage of the present invention is that the individual adjustment of the total separation force of the high-current connector system to a preset value is possible by extremely low-effort means: it is only necessary to replace at least one high-current mating contact of the high-current mating contacts of a commercially available high-current connector system with a further mating contact, and at least one high-current counter-mating contact of the high-current counter-mating contacts of a commercially available high-current connector system with a further counter-mating contact. In other words, the replacement of the mating contacts is a normal handling operation that is also frequently performed by the end customer, and therefore involves very little effort.

[0023] In an advantageous configuration, the further mating contacts and the further counter-mating contacts can already be correspondingly formed at the factory to generate a defined individual separation force, so that the total separation force corresponds to at least the load capacity of the high-current mating connection system, which has the advantage that the adaptation can already be carried out at the factory and the high-current connector system can be delivered to the end user in a pre-adjusted state due to this adaptation.

[0024] In a further advantageous configuration, the high-current connector system additionally comprises a complete set of different additional mating contacts and different additional counter mating contacts, which together may generate different overall separation forces. From this set, one or more suitable additional mating contacts and counter mating contacts may be selected and inserted into the connector and counter connector, in particular in combination with one another, to adjust the desired / preset overall separation force. This has the advantage that the end user can individually adjust the overall separation force to their respective application, for example, to the range of current strengths actually transmitted.

[0025] That is, the method for adjusting the total separation force of a high current connector system specifies that the preset total separation force is adjusted by selecting one or more suitable mating contacts and one or more suitable counter mating contacts from the set of different additional mating contacts and different additional counter mating contacts.

[0026] In a preferred configuration, the further mating contact and the further counter mating contact can be locked together in the mated state, so that the individual separation forces that occur when they are unlocked can generate the total separation force, or at least part of it. Alternatively or additionally, friction forces can play a role in this regard.

[0027] In a further preferred configuration, each high current mating contact pair may be designed to transmit a current strength of at least 10 A ("amperes") in the mated state, preferably at least 20 A, particularly preferably at least 40 A, in particular at least 60 A, for example at least 70 A, particularly or even at least 80 A.

[0028] In this configuration, the term "designed" means that each high current mating contact pair may be continuously loaded with a current strength "up to" the respective recited maximum, i.e., a current strength equal to or less than the respective recited maximum.

[0029] It is clear to those skilled in the art that a high current carrying capacity, especially at a preset voltage, is advantageous for transmitting as much electrical energy as possible.

[0030] In a further preferred configuration, the individual separation force may be at least 15 N ("Newtons"), preferably at least 20 N, particularly preferably at least 25 N, in particular at least 60 N, for example at least 75 N, for example at least 85 N, preferably even 97 N or more, for example at least 100 N, possibly even 110 N or more, i.e. even 120 N or more.

[0031] Thereby, the preset separation force may be, for example, 18N; 22N; 27N; 67N; 89N; 111N; 127N.

[0032] While connector manufacturers state and assign their maximum current carrying capacity, when installed by the end user, the total separation force may be adapted to the actual current strength carried by the entire high current connector system, which is derived from the sum of the current strengths of the individual currents flowing through each mated high current contact pair.

[0033] For example, for a total current strength of 15A actually used, the preset total separation force may be 18N.

[0034] For example, for a total current strength of 16A to 20A actually used, the preset total separation force may be 22N.

[0035] For example, for a total current strength of 21A to 35A that is actually used, the preset total separation force may be 27N.

[0036] For example, for a total current strength of 36A to 70A actually used, the preset total separation force may be 67N.

[0037] For example, for a total current strength of 71A to 125A that is actually used, the preset total separation force may be 89N.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the connector has at least one contact support made of an electrically insulating material. This contact support may be integrally formed as a component of a one-piece plug insert (a "monoblock"). However, the connector may also have multiple connector modules assembled into a single connector module frame, thus forming a modular plug insert. In the latter case, each connector module has a contact support, so that in this case the connector has multiple contact supports.

[0039] The connector has a contact chamber for each of the high-current mating contacts and also for each of the further mating contacts, which contact chambers are arranged in the contact carrier or distributed among several contact carriers and arranged in the several contact carriers.

[0040] Furthermore, the counter connector has at least one counter contact support made of an electrically insulating material. This counter contact support may be formed in one piece as a constituent part of the counter plug insert ("monoblock"). However, the counter connector may also have several further counter connector modules, which are integrated into one counter connector module frame, thereby forming a modular counter plug insert. In the latter case, each module has a counter contact support, so that in this case the counter connector has several counter contact supports.

[0041] The corresponding high-current connector has a corresponding contact chamber for each of the high-current corresponding mating contacts and also for each of the further corresponding mating contacts, which is arranged in a corresponding contact support or is distributed among several corresponding contact supports and arranged in these corresponding contact supports.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the contact chambers of the connectors are identical to one another. In a further advantageous embodiment, the corresponding contact chambers of the counterconnectors are identical to one another.

[0043] This benefits the modularity in terms of adaptability to further possible product components, since in this way each contact carrier / counter-contact carrier can be selectively fitted with not only high-current contacts / high-current counter-contacts, but also further mating contacts / counter-mating contacts, in particular in all contact housings.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one contact carrier has a cable connection side and a mating side opposite the cable connection side, and the contact chamber is formed as a through-opening connecting the cable connection side to the mating side.

[0045] Furthermore, at least one counter contact carrier may have a counter cable connection side and a counter mating side opposite the counter cable connection side, and the counter contact chamber may likewise be formed as a through-opening connecting the counter cable connection side to the counter mating side.

[0046] In this connection, it is worth noting that the terms "mating side" and "cable connection side" and "at mating side" and "at cable connection side" and "mating direction" always relate to the corresponding connector or counter-connector. The mating direction in the vector direction essentially describes the perfectly aligned mating axis of the connector and the counter-connector. The orientation always corresponds to the direction of mating, i.e., the direction towards the respective other connector / counter-connector. In the mated state, the mating side of the contact carrier and the counter-mating side of the counter-contact carrier face each other, with the respective cable connection sides pointing away from each other.

[0047] In a further preferred embodiment, the high current mating contact and one or more of the further mating contacts are arranged and held in a respective one of a plurality of contact chambers of a connector, and the high current corresponding mating contact and one or more of the further corresponding mating contacts are arranged and held in a respective one of a plurality of corresponding contact chambers of a counterconnector.

[0048] This has the advantage that the additional mating contacts, although different from the high-current mating contacts, can be accommodated in the same-shaped contact housing, which is beneficial to the modularity. For example, a conventional contact carrier can be used. Only one additional mating contact or as many additional mating contacts as desired need to be fitted into the contact chamber of this contact carrier, which was originally provided to accommodate the high-current mating contact. Naturally, the same applies analogously to the corresponding contact carrier and the additional corresponding mating contacts.

[0049] The high-current mating contact and the corresponding high-current mating contact may be made of one or more conductive materials, in particular metal, i.e., optionally one or more metals, and may each have a cable connection region on the cable connection side and a high-current mating region on the mating side for mechanically and conductively connecting them to each other in a mating manner.

[0050] The further mating contact and / or the further counter mating contact may certainly also consist of one or more conductive materials, in particular metal, but alternatively, depending on the shape and the required elasticity, they may also consist of one or more non-conductive materials, for example plastic, possibly several different plastics.

[0051] Preferably, the further mating contact and the further counter mating contact are each formed in one piece, in particular one piece, however, multi-piece, in particular assembled, designs are also possible.

[0052] In a preferred configuration, the further mating contact and / or the further counter mating contact each have a mating region on the mating side for a mutually mating mechanical connection, but do not have a cable connection region on the cable connection side. This has the advantage that the further mating contact and / or the further counter mating contact can be manufactured with less effort. Furthermore, this has the advantage that the further mating contact and / or the further counter mating contact are formed particularly stably in relation to their size.

[0053] In a preferred configuration, the mating region of the further mating contact can be configured as a contact pin and the mating region of the further counter mating contact can be configured as a contact socket, in particular, each contact socket of the at least one further counter mating contact can have a number of slits, whereby the mating region is formed with flakes oriented in the mating direction.

[0054] In a further preferred embodiment, the contact pin of the mating contact may have an annular groove.

[0055] Furthermore, the annular groove of the contact pin may have a retaining surface on the mating side, which may preferably be oriented substantially perpendicular to the mating direction in which the contact pin is naturally oriented, i.e. at an angle of 80° to 120°, in particular at an angle of 85° to 95° or 95° to 105°, ideally at a right angle of 90° or 100°. These values ​​have been found to be particularly suitable in experiments, although other angles may of course be significant under other environmental conditions.

[0056] Furthermore, the foil of the corresponding mating contact facing in the mating direction may have a locking hook directed radially inward at its mating end, and this locking hook may engage in the annular groove of the mating contact in the mated state.

[0057] The locking hooks each have one sliding slope and one locking surface, and the locking surface may be at an angle of 30° to 90°, preferably 40° to 50° or 55° to 65°, particularly preferably 42.5° to 47.5° or 57.5° to 62.5° relative to the mating direction, i.e., for example, an angle of approximately 45° or 60°.

[0058] The method is used to adjust the total separation force of a high current connector system, where the adjustment of the preset total separation force is based on at least the following parameters: - More mating contacts / more corresponding mating contacts, - flake material, - thickness of the flakes, - flake length, - the angle of the locking surfaces of the hooks of the foils relative to the mating direction; - the angle of the retaining surface of the mating side of the annular groove of the contact pin relative to the mating direction This is done by setting

[0059] Alternatively or additionally, adjustment of the preset total separation force may be performed by selecting one or more suitable further mating contacts and one or more suitable further mating counter contacts from said set of respectively different further mating contacts and respectively different further mating counter contacts.

[0060] Example An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0061] [Figure 1a] FIG. 2 is a view showing a connector housing. [Figure 1b] FIG. 10 shows the module frame after mounting. [Figure 1c] 13A-13C show further mating contacts. [Figure 1d] 13A-13C show further mating contacts. [Figure 2a]10A and 10B are diagrams showing a mating connector housing. [Figure 2b] FIG. 10 shows the corresponding module frame after installation. [Figure 2c] 13A-13C show further corresponding mating contacts. [Figure 3a] 13A and 13B are enlarged views of further mating contacts; [Figure 3b] 13A and 13B are enlarged views of further mating contacts; [Figure 4] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a further mating contact and a further corresponding mating contact in a mated state. [Figure 5a] FIG. 1 is a first cross-sectional view of a high current connector system without a high current mating contact pair. [Figure 5b] FIG. 12 is a first cross-sectional view of a mated high current connector system with high current mating contact pairs. [Figure 6a] FIG. 10 is a second cross-sectional view of the high current connector system without the high current mating contact pairs. [Figure 6b] FIG. 10 is a second cross-sectional view of the mated high current connector system with high current mating contact pairs.

[0062] The drawings include partially simplified schematic views. The same reference numerals are used for some, but not always identical, elements. Different drawings of the same elements may be scaled to different sizes. Directional designations, such as "left," "right," "top," and "bottom," should be interpreted relative to the respective drawings and may vary in the individual drawings relative to the objects shown.

[0063] FIG. 1a shows a connector housing 10 of a connector 1, which is a component of the high-current connector system (see FIGS. 5a, 5b, and 6a, 6b) described below. The tubular connector housing 10 is certainly not necessary for the functioning of the high-current connector system, but in the configuration shown here it is a useful optional safety and protective component of the connector 1 and thus of the high-current connector system. The connector housing 10 is made of plastic and has, on one side, a cable outlet with a cable outlet 11 and, on the other side, a rectangular mating opening 18 into which a plug insert 12 described below can be inserted and locked. Furthermore, the connector housing 10 has, on each of its narrower sides located opposite each other, a locking bracket 14 for locking to a corresponding connector housing 20 described below.

[0064] 1b shows the plug insert 12 described above. The plug insert 12 is formed as a module frame 120 to which connector modules 123 are attached. The plug insert 12 is therefore a modular plug insert 12. In the illustrated configuration, three connector modules 123 are provided, although in other configurations, any different number of connector modules 123 may of course be provided.

[0065] Each connector module 123 has a contact carrier 122 with two contact chambers 128. However, only one of these contact chambers 128 is visible in the drawing, because the other contact chamber 128 is equipped with a high-current mating contact 121. That is, both outer contact carriers 122 are completely equipped, i.e., with two high-current mating contacts 121 in this example. The middle contact carrier 122 is partially equipped, i.e., with one high-current corresponding mating contact 221, while the last contact chamber 128 for accommodating a further mating contact 100 remains free for the time being. Naturally, each contact carrier 122 may have a different number of contact chambers 128. The contact chambers 128 of the contact carriers 122 are formed identically to one another.

[0066] 1c and 1d show the aforementioned further mating contact 100, which is provided for introduction into the last unfilled contact chamber 128. This further mating contact 100 can be accommodated in the contact chamber 128 and can be held therein by the contact carrier 122, but differs from the aforementioned high-current mating contact 121 in particular in that, although it does have a holding area 108, this holding area 108 is solid and, as a result, the further mating contact 100 does not have a cable connection area.

[0067] Furthermore, the further mating contact 100 has a mating region formed as a contact pin 101. The contact pin 101 has an annular groove 106 with a mating-side retaining surface 107, which can be particularly well seen in the enlarged view in FIG. 1d and is labeled.

[0068] 2a shows the counter-connector housing 20 of the counter-connector 2, which is a component of the high-current connector system together with the previously described connector 1. The counter-connector housing 20, which is a tubular housing, is certainly not necessary for the functioning of the high-current connector system, but in the configuration shown here, it is a useful optional safety and protective component of the counter-connector 2 and thus of the high-current connector system. The counter-connector housing 20 is made of plastic and has, on one side, a cable outlet with a cable outlet 21 and, on the other side, a rectangular mating opening 28 into which a mating plug insert 22, described below, can be inserted and locked. Furthermore, the counter-connector housing 20 has, on both longitudinal sides, two locking pins 24 each for locking into both locking brackets 14 of the connector housing 10.

[0069] 2b shows the aforementioned mating plug insert 22. The mating plug insert 22 is formed as a modular frame 220 in which mating connector modules 223 are mounted. The mating plug insert 22 is therefore a modular mating plug insert 22. In the illustrated configuration, three mating connector modules 223 are provided, although in other configurations, any different number of mating connector modules 223 may of course be provided.

[0070] Each of the mating connector modules 223 has a mating contact carrier 222 with two mating contact chambers 228. However, only one of the mating contact chambers 228 is visible in the drawing, because the other mating contact chamber 228 is equipped with a high-current mating contact 221. That is, both outer mating contact carriers 222 are fully equipped, i.e., with two high-current mating contacts 221 in this example. The middle mating contact carrier 222 is only partially equipped, i.e., with one high-current mating contact 221, while the last mating contact chamber 228 for accommodating a further mating contact 200 remains free for the time being. Naturally, each of the mating contact carriers 222 may have a different number of mating contact chambers 228. The mating contact chambers 228 of the mating contact carriers 222 are identically shaped.

[0071] 2c shows the aforementioned further mating contact 200, which is provided for introduction into an unpopulated mating contact chamber 228. This further mating contact 200 can be accommodated in the mating contact chamber 228 and held therein by the mating contact support 222, but differs from the aforementioned high-current mating contact 221 in particular in that, although it does have a holding area 208, this holding area 208 is solid and, as a result, the further mating contact 200 does not have a cable connection area.

[0072] Furthermore, the further mating contact 200 has a mating region formed as a contact socket 201. The contact socket 201 has a number of slits 206 by means of which the foils 209 are provided with inwardly directed end-side locking hooks 207 (which can be seen in Figure 3b).

[0073] 3a shows a further mating contact 100 in an enlarged view, in which the retaining surface 107 of the annular groove 106 is hidden.

[0074] 3b shows an enlarged view of a further mating contact 200. The segmented cross-section in the upper right corner of the figure allows a good view of the locking hook 207 with its sliding ramp 2072 and locking surface 2071 inclined relative to the mating direction.

[0075] 3a and 3b, it is therefore clearly apparent to one skilled in the art that the individual separation force is significantly greater than the individual mating force: during mating, the sliding radius (not shown) of the further mating contact, shown on the right side of FIG. 3a, slides along the sliding ramp 2072 of the further corresponding mating contact 200, causing the laminae 209 of the further corresponding mating contact 200 to flex outwardly relative to one another over a portion of the mating stroke that is commensurate with the shape of the radius.

[0076] In contrast, the portion of the extraction stroke during which the retaining surface 107 of the further mating contact 100 pushes the lamellae 209 of the further mating contact 200 apart via the locking surface 2071 of each of the further mating contacts 200 when the further mating contact 100 is removed from the further mating contact 200 is sufficiently small. However, in this short stroke portion, the further mating contact must exert at least an equal mechanical energy, in accordance with the law of conservation of energy. Thus, the individual separation force, excluding frictional forces that further increase this effect, is already sufficiently higher than the aforementioned individual mating force, because the individual mating force provides a sufficiently larger stroke section to exert an equal mechanical clamping energy of the lamellae.

[0077] 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a further mating contact 100 and a further counter-mating contact 200 in the mated state. It can be easily seen that the locking hook 207 engages from behind with the retaining surface 107 of the groove 106 (not numbered in FIG. 4) with a locking surface 2071 inclined relative to the mating direction. This means that a corresponding individual separation force must be applied to separate them.

[0078] Figures 5a and 5b and Figures 6a and 6b show a mated high-current connector system having a connector 1 and a counterpart connector 2 in cross-sectional views with and without a high-current mating contact pair consisting of a high-current mating contact 121 and a high-current counterpart mating contact 221, respectively.

[0079] 5a and 5b it can be seen particularly well how the foil 209 of the further mating contact 200 surrounds the contact pin 101 of the further mating contact 100 all over in the area of ​​its groove 106. In Figures 6a and 6b it can be seen particularly well how the locking hook 207 of the foil 209 engages in the groove 106.

[0080] Furthermore, it can be clearly seen that the contact chambers 128 are identically shaped, regardless of whether the high-current mating contact 121 or the further mating contact 100 is fitted in the contact chamber 128. It can also be seen that the corresponding contact chambers 228 are identically shaped, regardless of whether the high-current counter mating contact 221 or the further mating contact 200 is fitted in the contact chamber 228. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1 connector 10 Connector housing 11 Cable Outlet 12 Plug Insert 18 Mating opening 121 High Current Mating Contacts 122 Contact support 123 Connector Module 128 Contact Room 100 more mating contacts 101 mating area, contact pin 106 Groove 107 Holding surface 108 Holding area 2 Compatible connectors 20 compatible connector housing 21 Cable Outlet 22 Compatible plug insert 28 Mating opening 221 High Current Mating Contact 222 Corresponding contact support 223 compatible connector module 228 Contact Room 200 more mating contacts 201 mating area, contact socket 206 Slit 207 Locking hook 2071 Locking surface 2072 Sliding slope 208 Holding area 209 Thin section

Claims

1. A high-current connector system comprising a connector (1) and a counter-connector (2), the connector (1) and the counter-connector (2) being not only mateable with each other but also separable from each other under a combined separation force, the connector (1) having a plurality of similar high-current mating contacts (121), the counter-connector (2) having a plurality of high-current mating contacts (221) mateable with the high-current mating contacts (121), and in a mated state, each of the high-current mating contacts (121) being mechanically and conductively connected to a respective one of the high-current mating contacts (221) for transmitting electrical energy, thereby forming a respective pair of high-current mating contacts.

1. A high-current connector system comprising: the connector (1) having at least one further mating contact (100); the counterpart connector (2) having at least one further mating contact (200); the at least one further mating contact (100) and the at least one further mating contact (200) being capable of mating with each other by applying an individual mating force; and, in the mated state, being capable of being separated from each other again by applying an individual separation force; and, thus, being configured together to generate a predetermined amount of the total separation force, the individual separation force being at least 1.5 times the individual mating force.

2. 2. The high current connector system according to claim 1, wherein said further mating contact (100) and said further corresponding mating contact (200) are locked together in said mated state.

3. 3. A high-current connector system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each high-current mating contact pair is designed to transmit, in the mated state, a current strength of at least 10 A ("amperes"), preferably at least up to 20 A, particularly preferably at least up to 40 A, in particular at least up to 60 A, for example at least up to 80 A, in particular even at least up to 100 A or more.

4. 4. A connector system for high currents according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the individual separation force is at least 75 N ("Newtons"), for example at least 85 N, preferably even 97 N, in particular even more than 97 N, for example more than 100 N, possibly even 110 N or more, i.e. for example more than 120 N.

5. 5. The high-current connector system according to claim 1, wherein the connector (1) comprises at least one contact support (122) made of an electrically insulating material, the contact support (122) or its entirety having a contact chamber (128) arranged for each of the high-current mating contacts (121) and for each of the further mating contacts (100), and the counter-connector (2) comprises at least one counter-contact support (222) made of an electrically insulating material, the counter-contact support (222) or its entirety having a contact chamber (228) arranged for each of the high-current mating contacts (221) and for each of the further mating contacts (200), the contact chambers (128) of the connector (1) being formed to be identical to one another, and the counter-connector (2) being formed to be identical to one another.

6. 6. A high-current connector system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one contact support (122) has a cable connection side and a mating side opposite the cable connection side, the contact chamber (128) is formed as a through-opening connecting the cable connection side to the mating side, the at least one corresponding contact support (222) has a corresponding cable connection side and a corresponding mating side opposite the corresponding cable connection side, and the corresponding contact chamber (228) is also formed as a through-opening connecting the corresponding cable connection side to the corresponding mating side.

7. 7. A high-current connector system according to claim 1, wherein the high-current mating contact (121) and one or more of the further mating contacts (100) are arranged and held in a respective one of a plurality of contact chambers (128) of the connector (1), and the high-current corresponding mating contact (221) and one or more of the further corresponding mating contacts (200) are arranged and held in a respective one of a plurality of corresponding contact chambers (228) of the counterpart connector (2).

8. 8. A high-current connector system according to claim 1, wherein the high-current mating contact (121) and the high-current counter mating contact (221) are made of one or more electrically conductive materials, in particular one or more metals, and each have a cable connection area on the cable connection side and a high-current mating area on the mating side for a mating mechanical and conductive connection therebetween; and wherein the further mating contact (100) and / or the further counter mating contact (200) are made of one or more electrically conductive materials, in particular metals, or one or more non-conductive materials, for example plastics, and each have a mating area on the mating side for a mating mechanical connection therebetween but no cable connection area on the cable connection side.

9. 9. A high current connector system according to claim 8, characterized in that the mating area of ​​the further mating contact (100) is formed as a contact pin (101) and the mating area of ​​the further corresponding mating contact (200) is formed as a contact socket (201).

10. 10. The high current connector system according to claim 9, characterized in that the contact socket (201) of the at least one further corresponding mating contact (200) has a plurality of slits (206) by which flakes (209) oriented in the mating direction are formed.

11. 11. High current connector system according to claim 10, characterized in that the contact pin (101) of the further mating contact (100) has an annular groove (106).

12. 12. A high-current connector system according to claim 11, characterized in that the contact pins (101) are oriented in a mating direction and the annular groove (106) has a mating-side retaining surface (107) oriented substantially perpendicular to the mating direction, i.e. at an angular relationship of 80° to 100°, in particular 85° to 95° or 95° to 105°, ideally at a right angle of 90°.

13. 13. A high-current connector system according to claim 12, characterized in that the foil (209) of the further mating contact (200) has a locking hook (207) directed radially inward at its mating end, the locking hook (207) engaging in the annular groove (106) of the further mating contact (100) in the mated state.

14. 14. The high current connector system according to claim 13, characterized in that the locking hooks (207) each have one sliding slope (2072) and one locking surface (2071), and the locking surface (2071) is in an angular relationship of 30° to 90°, preferably 40° to 50° or 55° to 65°, particularly preferably 42.5° to 47.5° or 57.5° to 62.5° with respect to the mating direction, i.e., for example, at an angle of 45° or 60°.

15. 15. The high-current connector system according to claim 1, further comprising a set of different further mating contacts (100) and different further corresponding mating contacts (200), which, in combination with each other, generate different individual separation forces to generate the predetermined total separation force, and which can be selectively inserted into a contact support (122) of the connector (1) or into a corresponding contact support (222) of the counterpart connector (2).

16. 16. A method for adjusting the total separation force of a high current connector system according to claim 14 or 15, comprising adjusting the preset total separation force according to at least the following parameters: - number of further mating contacts (100) / further corresponding mating contacts (200), - the material of the flakes (209), the thickness of said flakes (209), - the length of said flakes (209), the angle of the locking surface (2071) of the locking hook (207) of said leaf (209) relative to the mating direction; the angle of the retaining surface (107) of the mating side of the annular groove (106) of the contact pin (101) relative to said mating direction; This method is done by setting the

17. 16. A method for adjusting the total separation force of a high current connector system according to claim 15, wherein the preset total separation force is adjusted by selecting one or more suitable further mating contacts (100) and one or more suitable further mating counterpart contacts (200) from the set of different further mating contacts (100) and different further corresponding mating contacts (200).

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