Current conductor

Abstract

The invention relates to a current conductor, in particular for motor vehicles, to which at least one electrically conductive connector element can be fastened to make an electrical contact, with the current conductor having a recess which includes a wall section which is pierced by at least one plug opening for the connector element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-restricting embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and will be described in the following. There are shown, schematically in each case:

FIGS. 1 a, 1 b are perspective views, partly in cross-section, of a current conductor in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 2 a, 2b are perspective views, partly in cross-section, of an arrangement in accordance with the invention with the current conductor of FIG. 1 and an electrically conductive connector element; and

FIG. 3 is a top view of a further aspect of a current conductor in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The electrically conductive current conductor 11 shown in a perspective view in FIG. 1a and in a sectioned view in FIG. 1b first has a pot-like recess 13 which is manufactured by deep drawing and which is made rotationally symmetrical around a center axis. The recess 13 includes a peripheral wall section 15 and a recess base 17.

The wall section 15 is pierced by two plug openings 19 and 21 which are oppositely disposed with respect to the center axis of the recess 13. The plug openings 19 and 21 manufactured by stamping out are each formed as an elongate hole and their longitudinal extents are each oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of the current conductor 11. The recess base 17 is pierced by a circular contact opening 23 which was likewise manufactured by stamping out.

The current conductor 11 has a thickness d which amounts, for example, to 0.6 mm. In the region of the recess 13, the current conductor 11 has an effective or functional height h which corresponds to the total height of the recess 11 and is larger than the thickness d of the current conductor 11. The effective height h is that part of the total height of the current conductor 11 which contributes to the fastening of a connector element explained in the following to the current conductor 11.

An electrically conductive connector element 25 can be fastened to the current conductor 11 shown in FIG. 1 while forming a press-in connection, as can be seen in the perspective view in accordance with FIG. 2a and in the sectioned view with respect to the current conductor 11 in accordance with FIG. 2b. The connector element 25 includes a plate-like contact portion 27 whose two narrow sides are pressed into the plug openings of the current conductor 11 formed in the recess 13 to effect a fastening of the connector element 25 at the current conductor 11.

The connector element 25 furthermore includes a spigot 29 which is plugged through the contact opening 23 of the current conductor 11 in the recess base 17 in a shape matched manner or with oversize with respect to the contact opening 23 while forming a press-in connection to create an electrical contact between the connector element 25 and the current conductor 11.

The current conductor 11 in accordance with a further aspect shown in a plan view in FIG. 3 has a respective adjacent further opening 31a, 31b on both sides of the plug opening 19 with respect to its longitudinal extent, said openings each piercing the current conductor 11. The further openings 31a and 31b are positioned such that a respective web portion 35a, 35b is formed between the plug opening 19 and the laterally arranged further openings 31a and 31b. The web portions 35a and 35b each act as bending beams in this respect which can escape in the direction of the further openings 31a, 31b to facilitate the pressing in on the pressing in of a connector element which has oversize with respect to the plug opening 19. In an analogous manner, adjacent further openings 33a and 33b for the plug opening 21 as well as associated web portions 37a, 37b are provided. The further openings 31a, 31b, 33a, 33b are each manufactured by stamping out.

The recess is formed first in the manufacture of the current conductor in accordance with the invention. Then the plug openings 19, 21, the contact opening 23 and the further openings 31a, 31b, 33a, 33b are stamped out, preferably simultaneously. Basically, however, stamping out can also be carried out first and then the deep drawing.

Overall, a particularly secure fastening for an electrically conductive connector element results with the current conductor in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. A current conductor, to which at least one electrically conductive connector element can be fastened to form an electrical contact, wherein the current conductor has a recess that includes a wall section that is pierced by at least one plug opening for the connector element.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein two plug openings each piercing the wall section are provided.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the plug openings are oppositely disposed with respect to a central axis of the recess.

4. An apparatus in accordance with at claim 1, wherein at least one adjacent opening is provided for the plug opening, said adjacent opening piercing the current conductor, and wherein the adjacent opening is positioned such that a web portion is formed that is arranged in the region of the wall section.

5. An apparatus in accordance with at claim 1, wherein the recess is pot-shaped.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the recess includes a recess base that is pierced by a contact opening into which a spigot of the connector element can be plugged or pressed to form an electrical contact.

7. An arrangement comprising at least one current conductor in accordance with claim 1, to which at least one electrically conducting connector element is fastened to form an electrical contact, said connector element including a contact section that is pressed into the at least one plug opening of the current conductor.

8. An arrangement in accordance with claim 7, wherein the connector element includes a spigot that is plugged or pressed into a contact opening of the current conductor piercing a recess base of the recess to form an electrical contact.

9. A method of manufacturing a current conductor, to which at least one electrically conductive connector element can be fastened to form an electrical contact, wherein: a region of the current conductor is selected for the fastening of the connector element;in that the region is worked, in particular by deep drawing, such that a recess is formed; andin that a marginal section or wall section of the region is worked, in particular by stamping out, such that at least one plug opening is formed;wherein a contact section of the connector element is able to be pressed into the at least one plug opening.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein first the recess is made and then the plug opening, or vice versa.

11. An apparatus in accordance with at claim 1, wherein at least one adjacent opening is provided for the plug opening, said adjacent opening piercing the current conductor, and wherein the adjacent opening is positioned such that a web portion acts as a bending beam between the plug opening and the adjacent opening.

12. An apparatus in accordance with at claim 1, wherein the recess is tub-shaped.

13. An apparatus in accordance with at claim 1, wherein the recess is rotationally symmetrical with respect to a central axis.

14. An apparatus in accordance with at claim 1, wherein the recess is pot-shaped and is rotationally symmetrical with respect to a central axis.