Contacting pin for a conductor track and corresponding conductor element

Abstract

The invention relates to a contacting pin (2) for connecting to a conductor track (102), comprising a pin head (6), a substantially cylindrical pin body (4) and a contacting region (10) formed in the direction of a longitudinal axis (12) between the pin body (4) and the pin head (6) for connecting to the conductor track (102), and is characterised in that the pin head (6) has, in particular on a side facing away from the contacting region (10), a first tooth structure (30) having at least one first tooth (32). When the contacting pin (2) is mounted on a conductor track (102), the contacting region (10) is preferably interlockingly connected to the conductor track (102), wherein the interlocking connection is formed by a plastic deformation of the material of the conductor track (102). The first tooth structure (30) enables an interlocking connection to an electrical insulator (106) during the overmoulding of the pin head (6). The invention further relates to a conductor element (100) in which at least one conductor track (102) is formed and at least one conductor track (102) is connected to a corresponding contacting pin (2). The contacting pin (2) improves the absorption of forces and torques into the conductor track (2) or the conductor element (100) such that the risk of damage to the conductor element (100) is reduced during mounting of a contact means (110) and / or a connection means (116) on the contacting pin (2).

Description

[0001] Contacting bolt for a conductor track and corresponding conductor element

[0002] The subject of the present invention is a contacting bolt for a conductor track and a corresponding conductor element with a contacting bolt.

[0003] It is particularly known to mechanically and electrically connect busbars using a threaded bolt, for example, from EP 1 345 284 A2. These threaded bolts, when used to connect overmolded conductor tracks in conductor elements, have the disadvantage that connecting the threaded bolt with a connecting means often results in damage to the conductor element, since the connection between the threaded bolt and the conductor element can only absorb a limited amount of forces and torque that may be applied to the threaded bolt during assembly. This often leads to damage to the conductor element, which is undesirable because it can impair the current-carrying properties of the conductor track or the conductor element.

[0004] Proceeding from this, the present invention is based on the object of specifying a contacting bolt for connection to a conductor track, in particular for a conductor element, which is improved with regard to the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0005] This problem is solved by the features of the present independent claim. Dependent claims are directed to advantageous developments.

[0006] The contacting bolt for connecting to a conductor track according to the present invention comprises a bolt head, a substantially cylindrical bolt body, and a contacting region formed in the direction of a longitudinal axis between the bolt body and the bolt head for connecting to the conductor track. The bolt head is characterized in that the bolt head, in particular on a side facing away from the contacting region, has a first tooth structure with at least one second tooth. A substantially cylindrical bolt body is understood to mean that it is at least partially cylindrical, wherein this region of the bolt body has a cylindrical outer surface or a cylindrical basic shape with a structured surface, for example in the form of an external thread.The bolt body is suitable and intended for mechanical and, if appropriate, electrical contacting of a contact means, which is correspondingly designed and is pushed over the bolt body and / or screwed onto it. The contact bolt is preferably made of an electrically conductive material, in particular a metal, preferably steel.

[0007] The bolt head can be designed in a step-like manner, with one step forming the stop surface, in particular the step closest to the bolt body.

[0008] According to the invention, the bolt head has a first tooth structure with at least one first tooth. Adjacent first teeth are preferably separated by recesses. The first tooth structure preferably has a plurality of first teeth that are distributed, in particular evenly distributed, in the circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal axis. Preferably, the first teeth do not project beyond the stop surface in the radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis. This facilitates overmolding with an electrical insulator.

[0009] By forming the first tooth structure, a positive connection is created between the conductor track and the bolt head when overmolding with an electrical insulator, for example a plastic, in particular a thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic. This ensures that the torque around the longitudinal axis is also supported in the electrical insulator, thus further reducing the risk of damage to the conductor track when establishing mechanical contact between the contacting bolt and the contact means. The conductor track preferably has a thickness of 0.5 mm [millimeters] and more, preferably 0.8 mm and more.

[0010] Preferably, a stop groove is formed in the contacting area, which limits the contacting area in the direction of the bolt body and the bolt head forms a stop surface, which limits the contacting area in the direction of the bolt head.

[0011] The contacting area of ​​the contacting bolt basically serves to create a positive and preferably also electrically conductive connection with a conductor track. The material of the contacting bolt is preferably matched to the material of the conductor track, so that the contacting bolt is made of a harder material than the conductor track. This results in plastic deformation of the conductor track material in the contacting area when the contacting bolt is pressed into the conductor track in a die, resulting in a positive connection between the conductor track and the contacting bolt. In this process, material of the conductor track is deformed into the stop groove so that the conductor track material rests against the outer groove wall of the stop groove facing away from the bolt head. This outer groove wall is preferably aligned parallel to the stop surface.The inner groove wall, which is connected to the outer groove wall via the groove base, can be parallel or inclined to the stop surface.

[0012] The positive connections between the conductor track on the one hand and the stop groove and the stop surface on the other ensure that the contacting bolt is secured in both directions along the longitudinal axis of the contacting bolt, which represents the axis of symmetry of the bolt body. This is advantageous with regard to the absorption of forces acting along the longitudinal axis. In particular, it reduces the risk of the contacting bolt being pushed toward the conductor track or pulled out of it.

[0013] According to an advantageous development, a second tooth structure with at least one second tooth is formed in the contacting area for a positive connection with the conductor track. The second tooth structure preferably has a plurality of second teeth that are distributed, in particular evenly, in a circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal axis. Due to the second tooth structure, which is located in the contacting area, the plastic deformation of the conductor track material during pressing in leads to the formation of a further positive connection between the conductor track and the contacting bolt. This connection is suitable for absorbing torques occurring during assembly of the contact means on the contacting bolt and thus represents an improved contact means for electrically contacting conductor elements.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment, the bolt head has a chamfer radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis. This chamfer forms an undercut after assembly on the conductor track, which, when overmolded with an electrical insulator, creates a further positive connection between the contacting bolt and the printed circuit board. This secures against forces in the direction of the longitudinal axis and prevents the contacting bolt from being pulled out.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the bolt body has an external thread. This allows a contact means to be screwed onto the bolt body to establish an electrical connection.

[0016] Furthermore, a conductor element is proposed which comprises at least one conductor track made of an electrically conductive material and at least one contacting stud according to the present invention, which is connected to the conductor track via its contacting region, wherein the conductor track and stud head are overmolded with an electrical insulator. The conductor element is in particular an overmolded current conduction element such as in particular a busbar; alternatively, the conductor element is a printed circuit board, in particular a circuit board or a PCB (printed circuit board). The printed circuit board can be populated with electronic components or not. If several conductor tracks are formed in the conductor element, at least one of the conductor tracks has a contacting stud according to the present invention.

[0017] By overmolding the bolt head of the contacting bolt, the second tooth structure creates a positive connection between the electrical insulator and the bolt head, which supports a torque acting on the contacting bolt when connecting the bolt body to a contact means in the electrical insulator. By creating at least one positive connection between the contacting bolt and the conductor track, the risk of damage to the conductor element when mounting a contact means on the bolt body is reduced. In particular, if the second tooth structure is formed in the contacting area of ​​the contacting bolt, a torque acting on the bolt body can also be effectively supported in the conductor track. A plastic is preferably used as the electrical insulator, in particular a thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic, particularly preferably a polyamide and / or a polyester.

[0018] The conductor track is preferably formed from a material comprising copper, in particular from copper or a copper-containing or copper-based alloy. These materials have good electrical conductivity and are readily plastically deformable during assembly of the contacting bolt, especially if the bolt is made of steel.

[0019] A polyamide, a polyester, epoxy resins, formaldehyde resins, and / or a polyurethane are preferably used as the electrical insulator. The electrical insulator is preferably fiber-reinforced, for example, using glass fibers.

[0020] Preferably, the thickness of the conductor track corresponds to the extent of the contacting area in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the contacting stud. A corresponding thickness means that the material of the conductor track plastically deforms into the contacting area during assembly and fills it. In particular, the thickness of the conductor track corresponds to the extent of the contacting area. This achieves a secure, positive connection in the direction of the longitudinal axis between the contacting stud and the conductor track.

[0021] The conductor element according to the present invention is preferably used in automotive construction, particularly in control units in automobiles. Components in automotive construction are exposed to high dynamic loads such as shocks or impacts and challenging environmental conditions, so that particularly durable electrical connections, i.e., those secure against unintentional loosening, are necessary, especially in automobiles that are at least partially electrically operated, since high currents can flow here simultaneously. Due to the support of the forces and moments in the conductor element, the present invention can absorb larger forces and moments when establishing the connection between a contact means and the bolt body of the contacting bolt, thus enabling more reliable electrical connections to the conductor track. The conductor element is preferably a busbar.

[0022] The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. It should be noted that the invention is not intended to be limited by the exemplary embodiments shown. In particular, unless explicitly stated otherwise, it is also possible to extract partial aspects of the facts explained in the figures and combine them with other components and findings from the present description and / or figures. In particular, it should be noted that the figures and in particular the illustrated proportions are only schematic. The same reference numerals denote the same objects, so that explanations for other figures can be used as a supplement if necessary. They schematically show:

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a contact bolt in a perspective view;

[0024] Fig. 2 shows an example of a conductor element with contacting bolts in section;

[0025] Fig. 3 the example of a conductor element in a perspective partially transparent view,

[0026] Fig. 4 shows very schematically an example of an alternative outer contour of the bolt body of a contacting bolt; and

[0027] Fig. 5 schematically shows an example of a conductor element with a contact means connected to a contacting bolt.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a contacting pin 2 in a perspective view. Fig. 2 shows an example of a conductor element 100 with a contacting pin 2 in section. Fig. 3 shows a partially transparent perspective view of the example of a conductor element 100. All three figures are described together below unless explicitly referenced to a figure.

[0029] The contacting bolt 2 has a substantially cylindrical bolt body 4 and a bolt head 6. In this exemplary embodiment, the bolt body 4 is shown with a smooth outer surface. Alternatively, the bolt body 4 can also have a structure such as an external thread. The bolt body 4 has a chamfer 8 at its end, which facilitates the attachment of a corresponding sleeve-shaped contact means (not shown here) for electrical contact and, if appropriate, a connecting means such as a screw nut for securing the contact means (see Fig. 5 and the description below). In the case of an external thread on the bolt body 4, this contact means and / or the connecting means are preferably screwed or pressed on.

[0030] The contacting stud 2 is designed as a press-in stud made of a metal, in particular a steel. The contacting stud 2 has a contacting area 10, which lies between the stud body 4 and the stud head 6 in the direction of a longitudinal axis 12 of the contacting stud 2. The contacting area 10 corresponds in its extent in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12 to the extent (thickness) of a conductor track 102 (see Fig. 2) to which the contacting stud 2 is connected in the installed state.

[0031] The connection of the contacting bolt 2 to the conductor track 102 (cf. Fig. 2) is achieved by pressing the contacting bolt 2 in the assembly direction 14 through a corresponding recess 103 in the conductor track 102 into a receptacle or die (not shown), which corresponds in terms of its dimensions to the bolt body 4. This results in a plastic deformation of the conductor track 102, which leads to the formation of positive connections between the conductor track 102 and the contacting area 10 of the contacting bolt 2. For this purpose, the contacting bolt 2 has a stop groove 16 and a second tooth structure 18 with second teeth 20 in the contacting area 10. The stop groove 16 acts as a stop for the conductor track 102 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12 (cf. in particular Fig. 2). The stop groove 16 thus ensures a positive connection in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12.The second tooth structure 18 with the second teeth 20 (for the sake of clarity, only some of the second teeth 20 are provided with reference numerals), which is designed here as a star toothing, forms a positive connection with the conductor track 102 (cf. Figs. 2 and 3) in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 12 and causes the support of a torque in the conductor track 102 that occurs during the assembly of a contact means (not shown) on the contacting bolt 2.

[0032] The bolt head 6 is stepped and thereby forms a stop surface 22 for the conductor track 102, so that a further positive connection is formed in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12. The distance in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12 between the stop surface 22 and an outer groove wall 24 of the stop groove 16 defines an axial extension 26 of the contacting area 10, which corresponds to a thickness 104 of the conductor track 102 and is dimensioned such that a plastic deformation of the conductor track 102 is achieved in the region of the stop groove 16, which fills the stop groove 16. The outer groove wall 24 is oriented essentially parallel to the stop surface 22, while in this example an inner groove wall 28 of the stop groove 16 is inclined both to the stop surface 22 and to the outer groove wall 24. The stop groove 16 is therefore designed to taper inwards.

[0033] The conductor track 102 (see Fig. 2) is overmolded with an electrical insulator 106 to form the conductor element 100, wherein contact areas 107 of the conductor track 102 are left out during the overmold process and are thus freely accessible on the surface of the conductor element 100. The electrical insulator 106 ensures the electrical insulation of the conductor track 102 and allows for easy handling and assembly of the conductor element 100. The conductor element 100 can comprise one or more conductor tracks 102, which can be electrically connected to one another or electrically separated from one another.

[0034] According to the invention, the bolt head 6 has a first tooth structure 30 with first teeth 32 separated by corresponding recesses 34 (each only partially provided with reference numerals for the sake of clarity). This is overmolded with the electrical insulator 106 during the overmolding process, so that the insulator 106 fills the recesses 34. This creates a positive connection with the electrical insulator 106; during the assembly of the contact means and / or connecting means (not shown) on the bolt body 4, the resulting torque can also be absorbed in the electrical insulator 106. Since the first teeth 32 do not project radially outwardly beyond the other elements of the bolt head 6 with respect to the longitudinal axis 12, the overmolding of the bolt head 6 with the electrical insulator 106 is simplified.

[0035] The bolt head 6 has a chamfer 36 radially outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis 12, which forms an undercut 108 by which the contacting bolt 2 is secured relative to the electrical insulator 106 against being pulled out in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12.

[0036] In the present embodiment, the contacting pin 2 is made of steel, and the conductor track 102 is made of copper or a copper alloy. A polyamide, a polyester, epoxy resin, formaldehyde resin, and / or a polyurethane, preferably filled with glass fibers, is preferably used as the electrical insulator 106.

[0037] Fig. 4 shows very schematically a section of an embodiment with an alternative design of the surface of the bolt body 4. The outer surface of the bolt body 4 is provided with a schematically shown external thread 38, so that a contact means and / or connecting means (not shown) with a corresponding internal thread can be screwed onto the bolt body 4 of the contacting bolt 2.

[0038] Fig. 5 schematically shows the connection of a contact means 110 to the conductor track 102 of the conductor element 100. The conductor element 100 is essentially designed as shown in Figures 1 to 3 and described above; reference is made to the above description to avoid repetition. In this example, an external thread (not shown here) is formed on the outer surface of the bolt body 4.

[0039] The contact means 110, which is designed, for example, as a cable lug or another conductor track, in particular a busbar, has a recess 112 that is significantly larger than the bolt body 4, so that the contact means 110 can be guided over the bolt body 4 without problems and, in the assembled state, is not in contact with the bolt body 4, or not in full contact with it. The contact means 110 lies with a contact surface 114 in an electrically conductive manner on the contact areas 107 of the conductor track 102. To fix the contact means 110 to the conductor element 100, a connecting means 116, here a screw nut, is designed, screwed to the bolt body 4 and presses the contact means 110 against the conductor element 100. The moments occurring when the connecting means 116 is screwed on are absorbed in the conductor track 102 and the electrical insulator 106.In this example, the contact means 114 establishes the electrical contact with the conductor track 102, while the connecting means 116 establishes the mechanical connection with the contact pin 2. Alternatively, a contact means can be formed that establishes both the electrical contact with the conductor track 102 and / or the contact pin 2 and the mechanical connection between the contact means and the pin body 4.

[0040] The invention relates to a contacting bolt 2 for connection to a conductor track 102, comprising a bolt head 6, a substantially cylindrical bolt body 4 and a contacting region 10 formed in the direction of a longitudinal axis 12 between the bolt body 4 and the bolt head 6 for connection to the conductor track 102 and is characterized in that the bolt head 6, in particular on a side facing away from the contacting region 10, has a first tooth structure 30 with at least one first tooth 32.

[0041] The contacting area 10 is preferably positively connected to the conductor track 102 during assembly of the contacting stud 2 on a conductor track 102, wherein the positive connection is formed by a plastic deformation of the material of the conductor track 102. The first tooth structure 30 enables a positive connection with an electrical insulator 106 during overmolding of the stud head 6. Furthermore, a conductor element 100 is proposed in which at least one conductor track 102 is formed and at least one conductor track 102 is connected to a corresponding contacting stud 2. The contacting stud 2 improves the absorption of forces and moments in the conductor track 2 or the conductor element 100, so that the risk of damage to the conductor element 100 is reduced when a contact means 110 and / or a connecting means 116 is mounted on the contacting stud 2. Reference numeral

[0042] 2 contact bolts

[0043] 4 bolt bodies

[0044] 6 bolt head

[0045] 8th phase

[0046] 10 Contact area

[0047] 12 Longitudinal axis

[0048] 14 Mounting direction

[0049] 16 Stop groove

[0050] 18 second tooth structure

[0051] 20 second tooth

[0052] 22 Stop surface

[0053] 24 outer groove wall

[0054] 26 Expansion

[0055] 28 inner groove wall

[0056] 30 first tooth structure

[0057] 32 first tooth

[0058] 34 Return

[0059] 36 chamfer

[0060] 38 external thread

[0061] 100 ladder elements

[0062] 102 conductor track

[0063] 103 Recess

[0064] 104 thickness

[0065] 106 electrical insulator

[0066] 107 Contact area

[0067] 108 undercut

[0068] 110 contact agents

[0069] 112 recess

[0070] 114 contact surface

[0071] 116 lanyards

Claims

Claims 1. Contacting bolt (2) for connection to a conductor track (102), comprising a bolt head (6), a substantially cylindrical bolt body (4) and a contacting region (10) formed in the direction of a longitudinal axis (12) between the bolt body (4) and the bolt head (6) for connection to the conductor track (102), characterized in that the bolt head (6), in particular on a side facing away from the contacting region (10), has a first tooth structure (30) with at least one first tooth (32).

2. Contacting bolt (2) according to claim 1, wherein a stop groove (16) is formed in the contacting area (10), which delimits the contacting area (10) in the direction of the bolt body (4) and the bolt head (6) forms a stop surface (22) which delimits the contacting area (10) in the direction of the bolt head (6).

3. Contacting bolt (2) according to claim 1, wherein a second tooth structure (18) with at least one second tooth (20) for positive connection to the conductor track (102) is formed in the contacting area (10).

4. Contacting bolt (2) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the bolt head (6) has a chamfer (8) radially outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis (12).

5. Contacting bolt (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bolt body (2) has an external thread (38).

6. Contacting bolt (2) according to one of the preceding claims, formed from a steel.

7. Conductor element (100) comprising at least one conductor track (102) made of an electrically conductive material and at least one contacting bolt (2) according to one of the preceding claims, which is connected to the conductor track (102) via its contacting region (10), wherein the conductor track (102) and bolt head (6) are overmolded with an electrical insulator (106).

8. Conductor element (100) according to claim 7, wherein the conductor track (102) is formed from a material comprising copper.

9. Conductor element (100) according to one of claims 7 to 8, wherein a thickness (104) of the conductor track (102) corresponds to an extension (26) of the contacting region (10) in the direction of a longitudinal axis (12) of the contacting bolt (2).

Images