Electrical Connector Screw Layout for Safer HV Plugging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors for high-voltage and high-current applications, such as battery cell module connectors, require complex touch protection due to screw connections aligned with the insertion direction, increasing complexity and necessitating additional contact sleeves.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design with a screw arrangement perpendicular to the plugging direction, allowing end-face insertion and detachment without intermediate contact sleeves, utilizing an insulating housing for comprehensive touch protection and integrating the screw assembly within the connector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the screw direction is aligned with the insertion direction, then the connector can be compactly designed, but additional contact sleeves are required which increases touch protection complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the screw direction from axial (aligned with insertion direction) to radial (perpendicular to insertion direction). This dimensional change allows the contact element and mating contact element to be directly connected without intermediate contact sleeves, thereby simplifying touch protection while maintaining compact design
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional contact sleeves are provided for touch protection, then safety is improved, but the geometric structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate contact sleeves from the connector assembly. By changing the screw direction to radial, the contact elements can be directly fastened without requiring additional contact sleeves for touch protection, thus maintaining safety while simplifying the geometric structure
3Reliability
If intermediate contact sleeves are used, then electrical connection is enabled, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate contact sleeves from the connector assembly by changing the screw fastening direction to radial. This eliminates unnecessary components while maintaining reliable electrical connection between the contact element and mating contact element through direct fastening
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~2C
Figure 2D~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to an electrical connector. The present invention further relates to an electrical plug connection. Finally, the present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly. An electrical connector (5; 5') for electrical and mechanical connection with a corresponding mating electrical connector (7) comprises an electrically insulating housing (11), a contact element (9), and a fastening arrangement for fastening the contact element (9) to a mating contact element (32) of the mating connector (7). The fastening arrangement is designed as a screw arrangement (15; 15') to fasten the contact element (9) to the mating contact element (32) in a screw direction that is perpendicular, preferably orthogonal, to a plugging direction of the connector (5; 5').The screw arrangement (15; 15') has a screwing means (16) which can be inserted into the housing (11) in the screwing direction, and a counter screwing means (17) arranged in the housing (11) and screwable to the screwing means (16).