Interface for a plug-in connection

Abstract

The invention relates to an interface designed as an intermediate plug-in connection element for a plug-in connection for releasably contacting electrically conductive plug-in contact pins of a device to be contacted and a plug-in contact plug, comprising four lamella contact sockets, two each of the lamella contact sockets within the interface being oriented in longitudinal extension of their plug-in direction in the direction of their respective plug-in axis centre lines, and each pair of the lamella contact sockets oriented in plug-in axis centre lines being brought into electrically conductive contact with one another by a contact adapter. The invention also relates to a plug-in connection having such an interface.

Description

[0001] January 19, 2026

[0002] -1-

[0003] Description

[0004] Interface for a plug connection

[0005] The invention relates to an interface for a plug connection for the detachable contacting of electrically conductive plug contact pins of a component to be contacted and a plug contact connector, comprising at least two lamellar contact sockets. The invention further relates to a plug connection with such an interface.

[0006] For contacting or creating detachable, electrically conductive connections, plug connectors, contact elements, pole connectors, sockets, etc., are used in a wide variety of designs and variants. Particularly, but not exclusively, for electrical contacting tasks in the higher power range, contact systems have been developed that are based on circular contact geometries for receiving a contact pin, plug-in contact pin, plug stud, contact pin, or ground stud. The starting material for these systems consists of a planar contact grid that is hyperbolically twisted into the circular contact geometry. These contact systems, known as RADSOK, are characterized by robust and high-density contact formation due to the considerable contact area with the respective contact pin. Alternatively, instead of the hyperbolic twist, inwardly directed lamellar geometries are known, whose lamellar contact grid is radially symmetrical.

[0007] These contact geometries, preferably used as high-current contact sockets, are known as radial contact sockets or hyperbolic contact sockets, lamellar contact sockets and are used within RADSOK contact systems.

[0008] RADSOK contact systems of the aforementioned type are received into lamellar contact socket sleeves via their generally cylindrical outer contours and achieve further contact externally via the cylindrical surfaces. Contact systems of this design typically consist of at least one lamellar contact socket and at least one plug-in contact pin. January 19, 2026

[0009] -2-

[0010] DE 102020 107295 A1 discloses a connector system with a contact arrangement consisting of a lamellar contact socket which has a touch protection solution.

[0011] The lamellar contact socket is inserted into a lamellar socket sleeve, which supports the lamellar contact socket against radially acting spreading forces and also provides connection options for, for example, busbars or electrically conductive cables. The resulting assembly is enclosed in a connector housing.

[0012] The respective mating contact of a lamellar contact socket is designed as a contact pin and is either fixed in a connector plug or on the connecting device as an interface. Variants with contact pins are also found, for example, on printed circuit boards, circuit boards, busbars, or electronic assemblies.

[0013] DE 102021 129676 A1 presents a plug connection for the detachable contacting of electrically conductive contact elements with a plug connector and a mating plug connector for the electrically conductive connection of a busbar to an interface, in which the contact elements have a plugging direction orthogonal to the plane of extension of the busbar. The contact socket, as a contact element, is fixed in a bore with a collar in the busbar.

[0014] DE 102015216543 A1 presents a contacting solution for a busbar in the form of a plug connection, which has a contact arrangement with a mating direction aligned with the busbar. The connector is used for contacting a busbar with touch protection, comprising a fastening element for securing the contact arrangement to the busbar, and a contact element having a hole through which the fastening element extends. The connector further comprises a busbar contact sleeve made of electrically conductive material for direct contact with the busbar, the fastening element extending through the busbar contact sleeve. An insulating element is arranged between the fastening element and the contact element, isolating the fastening element from the contact element.The insulating element is pressed into the rail contact sleeve and simultaneously forms the holder for the bolt of the plug connection. 19, January 2026.

[0015] -3-

[0016] DE 102021 123635 A1 presents a high-current connection clamping screw device. The clamping screw device connects a contact arrangement, consisting of a plug-in element and a mating plug-in element, which is aligned orthogonally to a busbar, to a current conductor. The clamping screw device comprises a clamping screw extending in an axial direction, which is divided into a rotatable screw head, a screwable screw body, and a screw base. The screw head has external electrical insulation, which includes electromagnetic shielding and / or a seal.

[0017] Especially when lamellar contact socket sleeves with lamellar contact sockets are mechanically and electrically conductively fixed to printed circuit boards, circuit boards, busbars, or electrical assemblies, these connections are complex, must be accessible for assembly, and require sufficient installation space within an enclosure. If primary and secondary locking mechanisms are required within the connector, additional installation space may be needed, further increasing the complexity. The same applies if shielding solutions or sealing requirements must be implemented.

[0018] The object of the invention is to further develop plug connections in such a way that both the assembly effort on the connection side of the contact elements on devices or electrical components is reduced, the space requirement of the plug connection is reduced, and the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art are at least partially reduced.

[0019] To solve the problem, the invention proposes an interface for plug connections in the form of an adapter with at least two lamellar contact sockets, which are fixed both mechanically and electrically conductively within an interface housing.

[0020] To best support minimizing the installation space of the interface, it is provided that the at least two lamellar contact sockets within the interface are arranged in alignment with their common plug axis centerline. Arrangements of the at least two lamellar contact sockets within the interface with an axial offset of their respective plug axis centerlines relative to each other are also possible and encompassed by the invention. January 19, 2026

[0021] -4-

[0022] The interface according to the invention with at least two lamellar contact sockets represents an adapter which, as an intermediate connector element, implements at least one lamellar contact socket pair in the sense of a double-Radsok arrangement and thus requires plug-in contact elements in the form of plug-in contact pins on the side of the components to be contacted, such as devices, circuit boards, circuit boards, busbars, electrical assemblies, etc., and plug-in connectors. The design of the interface as an intermediate connector element means that the interface is arranged within the connector arrangement between the component to be contacted and the plug-in connector and its contact elements, here the plug-in contact pins.

[0023] Plug-in contact pins are typically much easier to mechanically and electrically secure, thus reducing assembly effort and space requirements on the component side. Plug-in contact pins also improve accessibility on the component side. This allows for simple and cost-effective design of components such as devices, circuit boards, busbars, electrical assemblies, etc., and plug-in connectors within their contact areas, resulting in better assembly conditions because complex screwing or welding processes of the current paths are unnecessary.

[0024] By arranging at least two lamellar contact sockets aligned with each other along their common insertion axis centerline, the respective plug contact pins of the components to be contacted are also positioned aligned in the mated state. Alternatively, solutions with an axial offset of the insertion axis centerlines of the plug contact pins relative to each other, depending on the axial offset of the lamellar contact sockets at the interface, are also supported.

[0025] The interface according to the invention is easy and quick to assemble as an intermediate connector element, since only the plug-in contact pins of the components to be connected need to be inserted into the lamellar contact sockets. Disassembly, for example in the event of servicing, is also quick and easy. January 19, 2026

[0026] -5-

[0027] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the figures. These show:

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a three-dimensional sectional view of a plug connection with an interface;

[0029] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the interface from the viewpoint of the interface cover housing;

[0030] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the interface from the viewpoint of the interface housing receiving space;

[0031] Fig. 4 shows the section front view of the interface.

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a three-dimensional sectional view of a connector 1 with interface 5. In this exemplary embodiment, the connector is formed by a component 2 to be contacted, which can be, for example, a device, printed circuit board, circuit board, busbar, electrical assembly, electronic component, etc., and a plug connector 3, here exemplarily designed with a 90° cable exit angle relative to the insertion direction. Both the component 2 to be contacted and the plug connector each have at least one plug contact pin 4.

[0033] The interface 5 according to the invention is designed as an intermediate connector between the component 2 to be contacted and the plug connector 3 and provides detachable and electrically conductive contact to the plug contact pins 4 of the component 2 to be contacted and the plug connector 3. In this embodiment, the contact of the plug contact pins 4 of the component 2 to be contacted and the plug connector 3 is made along a common centerline xx and is therefore aligned with each other. This arrangement is advantageous with regard to reduced installation space requirements; however, arrangements with offset plug axis of the plug contact pins 4, and thus of the plug axis of the at least two lamellar contact sockets 10 within the interface 5, are also supported by the invention. January 19, 2026

[0034] -6-

[0035] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the interface 5 from the viewpoint of the interface cover housing 7. This exemplary embodiment features a pairing of at least two lamellar contact sockets 10 with aligned plug axis center lines xx and additionally a second pairing of at least two lamellar contact sockets 10 with aligned plug axis center lines xx. The plug axis center lines xx of the two pairings of lamellar contact sockets 10 are axially parallel. At least one lamellar contact socket 10 can optionally be inserted into a lamellar contact socket sleeve 9 for radial support of the elastic clamping forces with respect to the plug axis center line xx in conjunction with the associated plug contact pin 4 (not shown) inserted into the lamellar contact socket 10, so that the interface housing 6 and / or the interface cover housing 7 are radially relieved of forces.As an alternative to using at least one lamellar contact socket sleeve 9, the lamellar contact socket 10 can have an integrated socket.

[0036] The interface 5 has an interface housing 6 for at least partially enclosing the lamellar contact sockets 10 and can, as shown here, optionally be supplemented with an interface cover housing 7. The interface housing 6 can also optionally, depending on the design of the connector 1 and / or the functional requirements, have a flange 12 and / or a preferably circumferential seal 11.

[0037] The flange 12 shown in Fig. 2 can have a rectangular base shape with four mounting holes. Alternatively, round or any other base shape is also possible, as is the variation in the number of mounting holes. The seal 11 can, as shown, provide a sealing effect in the axial direction and parallel to the center line xx of the plug shaft. Alternatively, a radial sealing effect is also possible with a correspondingly aligned seal arrangement. The axial direction of the sealing effect is advantageous because then no double centering is required for aligning the center line xx of the plug shaft relative to the plug contact pin(s) 4 and simultaneously for the radial seal positioning relative to its contact surface. January 19, 2026

[0038] -7-

[0039] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the interface 5 from the perspective of the interface housing receiving space 8. At least one of the lamellar contact sockets 10 is accommodated within the interface housing receiving space 8. Fig. 3 shows an optional embodiment in which at least one additional lamellar contact element 13 is arranged concentrically to a lamellar contact socket 10. This at least one lamellar contact element 13 provides an additional contact function, for example, for further current-carrying contact or shielding.

[0040] It is optionally possible for the interface 5 to have devices or means that interact with a primary and / or secondary locking mechanism of the plug connection 1 and thus prevent unintentional disconnection of the plugged-in plug connection 1 by a user or by operating forces.

[0041] Fig. 4 shows the sectional front view of the interface 5 with a first pair of first and second lamellar contact sockets 10 arranged in alignment with the plug axis centerline xx. Optionally, and shown here, further lamellar contact socket pairings can be provided.

[0042] It is possible that both lamellar contact sockets 10 of a lamellar contact socket pair, arranged in alignment along the centerline xx of the plug axis, are accommodated within the interface housing receiving space 8 of the interface housing 6. An optional variant is shown here in which the interface housing 6 is supplemented by an interface cover housing 7, and at least one of the lamellar contact sockets 10 of the at least one lamellar contact socket pair, consisting of first and second lamellar contact sockets 10 arranged in alignment along the centerline xx of the plug axis, is accommodated. This simplifies the assembly of the lamellar contact sockets 10 into the interface housing 6 and reduces the complexity of the housing geometry.To ensure the aligned arrangement of the lamellar contact sockets 10 of the lamellar contact socket pair, at least one centering aid in the form of a housing projection 14 can be machined onto the interface housing 6, so that the interface cover housing 7 is positioned and fixed in a defined, centered position relative to the interface housing 6. January 19, 2026.

[0043] Within the interface housing 6 and optionally the interface cover housing 7, a bore is provided for receiving the respective lamellar contact socket 10 or, optionally, for receiving a lamellar contact socket sleeve 9. The lamellar contact sockets 10 and optional lamellar contact socket sleeves 9 shown in Fig. 4 in the upper area of ​​the interface 5 project beyond the outer contour of the interface 5 in the direction of the plug axis centerline xx and can facilitate the insertion of the associated plug contact pins 4 of the component 2 to be contacted or the plug connector 3. A plug positioning aid for the purpose of plug-in centering can be provided on the inside or outside of the interface housing 6 and / or the interface cover housing 7.

[0044] Since the interface housing 6 and the optional interface cover housing 7 are preferably electrically non-conductive, it is necessary that the at least one pair of lamellar contact sockets, consisting of a first and at least one second lamellar contact socket 10, be electrically conductively connected to each other, either aligned or alternatively with an axial offset to a plug axis centerline xx. For this purpose, at least one contact adapter 15 is arranged within the interface 5 between the first and the at least one second lamellar contact socket 10, which electrically connects the lamellar contact sockets 10 of the respective lamellar contact socket pair. The contact adapter 15 is made of an electrically conductive material, such as a copper alloy, while the interface housing 6 and the optional interface cover housing 7 can be made of an electrically non-conductive plastic.

[0045] The interface 5 according to the invention and the specific arrangement of at least one pair of lamellar contact sockets, consisting of a first and at least one second lamellar contact socket 10, aligned or alternatively with an axial offset to a plug axis centerline xx, enable very reliable high insertion forces to be achieved. The assembly and disassembly of the plug connection 1 is simplified, and, in particular, reductions in installation space can be achieved on the side of the component 2 to be contacted and the plug connector 3. January 2026

[0046] -9-

[0047] Reference symbol list

[0048] 1 plug connection

[0049] 2. Component to be contacted

[0050] 3 plug connectors

[0051] 4 plug contact pins

[0052] 5 Interface

[0053] 6 interface housings

[0054] 7 Interface cover housings

[0055] 8 Interface housing mounting space

[0056] 9 lamellar contact socket sleeve

[0057] 10 lamellar contact sockets

[0058] 11 Seal

[0059] 12 flange

[0060] 13 lamellar contact element

[0061] 14 Housing protrusion

[0062] 15 contact adapters

[0063] xx axle centerline

Claims

January 19, 2026 -1- Claims 1. Interface (5), designed as an intermediate connector element for a plug connection (1) for the detachable contacting of electrically conductive plug contact pins (4) of a device (2) to be contacted and a plug contact plug (3), comprising four lamellar contact sockets (10), characterized in that two lamellar contact sockets (10) within the interface (5) are aligned in their plug-in direction longitudinal extent in the direction of their respective plug-in axis center lines xx and wherein two of the lamellar contact sockets (10) aligned in plug-in axis center lines xx are brought into electrically conductive contact with each other by a contact adapter (15).

2. Interface (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the two lamellar contact sockets (10) are arranged in alignment in their plug-in direction extension substantially on the plug-in axis center line xx.

3. Interface (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the two lamellar contact sockets (10) are arranged in their plug-in direction extension aligned with the plug-in axis center line xx and with an axis offset to each other.

4. Interface (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the two lamellar contact sockets (10) is inserted into a lamellar contact socket sleeve (9).

5. Interface (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one lamellar contact element (13) is arranged in a substantially concentric position to one or preferably one of the two aligned lamellar contact bushings (10).

6. Interface (5) according to claim 5, characterized in that the lamellar contact element (13) is configured as a shielding contact for a cable shield. 19 January 2026 7. Interface (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lamellar contact sockets (10) are enclosed at least partially in an interface housing (6) in an interface housing receiving space (8).

8. Interface (5) according to claim 7, characterized in that the interface housing (6) has an interface cover housing (7) which is preferably mounted on a housing projection (14) of the interface housing (6).

9. Interface (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lamellar contact bushings (10) are each sectionally inserted into a cylindrical receptacle in the respective contact adapter (15).

10. Interface (5) according to claim 7, characterized in that one lamellar contact socket (10) of each of the two lamellar contact sockets (10) which are aligned axially to the plug axis center line xx protrudes from the interface housing (6) at one end.

11. Plug connection (1) for detachable contacting of electrically conductive plug contact pins (4) of a component (2) to be contacted and a plug contact connector (3), comprising at least one interface (5) according to one of the preceding claims.

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