Patent Application
20220360008
This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of German Patent Application No. 102021112143.4, filed on May 10, 2021.
The present invention relates to an electrical contact element and, more particularly, to an electrical contact element with a support ring.
Electrical contact elements are used for various applications from the low-frequency range to the high-frequency range for electrically contacting a mating contact element. In the high-frequency range in particular, high normal contact forces are required to ensure reliable and constant contact. High normal contact forces lead to high plugging forces due to the increased friction caused by the normal contact force between the contact element and mating contact element. There is a need for an electrical contact element that simultaneously ensures high contact normal forces with low plugging forces.
An electrical contact element includes a common base and a plurality of spring arms extending away from the common base along a longitudinal direction. The spring arms are arranged around an opening in a circumferential direction and are spaced from one another in a contactless relaxed initial state. An end of at least two of the spring arms facing away from the common base forms an annular segment projecting in the circumferential direction on at least one side of the end. The annular segments form a support ring and mutually support each other in a fully compressed state.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which:
In the following, the invention shall be described by way of example in more detail using embodiments with reference to the appended figures. Elements in the figures that correspond to one another in terms of structure and/or function are provided with the same reference characters. The combinations of features shown and described in the individual embodiments are for explanatory purposes only. A feature of an embodiment can be dispensed with if its technical effect is of no significance for a particular application. Conversely, a further feature can be added in an embodiment should its technical effect be advantageous or necessary for a particular application.
An electrical contact element shall first be explained in more detail by way of an embodiment with reference to
Electrical contact element 1 according to the embodiment comprise a plurality of spring arms 4 which are spaced from one another in a contactless relaxed initial state 2 shown in
At least two annular segments 12 can be spaced from one another in circumferential direction U, at least in the relaxed initial state 2, so that a slot 14 is formed between annular segments 12, as shown in
However, not all spring arms 4 need to be provided with a separate annular segment 12. For example, in another embodiment, at least two spring arms 4 can be connected to one another by way of a common annular segment and one spring arm 4 can be provided with a separate annular segment which is spaced from the common annular segment in the circumferential direction at least in relaxed initial state 2. Although the connection of two spring arms 4 by way of a common annular segment can lead to an increase in the plugging forces compared to several separate annular segments, the stability of the spring arms 4 and the normal contact forces, however, can be increased by the common annular segment.
In another embodiment, the electrical contact element 1 can comprise at least three spring arms 4 with annular segments 12 to improve the impedance as well as the EMC properties, where two of the three spring arms are rigidly connected to one another by way of a common annular segment.
Spring arms 4 are configured such that they are compressed radially inwardly to a fully compressed state 16, shown in
Contact element 1 can be a punched and bent member 20 for ensuring efficient production, in particular in large numbers. For example, a plurality of contact elements 1 can be molded onto a support strip 22 shown in
Annular segments 12 can project, in particular, in circumferential direction U on both sides. In particular, annular segments 12 can be longer in circumferential direction U than a remaining section 24 of respective spring arm 4, shown in
Accordingly, contact element 1 can comprise a recess 26 which is defined by base 8, two adjacent spring arms 4, and at least one annular segment 12. In an embodiment, slot 14 can open into corresponding recess 26, at least in relaxed initial state 2.
Annular segments 12 can be substantially of equal length in the circumferential direction U. However, as shown in the embodiment, at least two annular segments 12 can have different lengths in circumferential direction U. In order to increase the stability of individual spring arms 4 and to prevent spring arms 4 from being compressed during the plugging process, the annular segments can extend by an angle of at least about 45°, or at least about 90°, at least in relaxed initial state 2. According to the embodiment, for example, an annular segment in the relaxed state can extend in circumferential direction U by an angle of approximately 130°.
In order to prevent spring arms 4, in particular annular segments 12, from canting, annular segments 12 can comprise side surfaces 28, shown in
Spring arms 4 can be used to establish electrical contact with a mating plug connector 30, shown in
The contact curvatures 38 of spring arms 4 are arranged along longitudinal direction L at a common height or at a height plane oriented to be perpendicular to longitudinal axis L. Accordingly, spring arms 4 can be contacted simultaneously and compressed uniformly during the plugging process. Spring arms 4 of this type prove to be particularly fail-safe even when vibrations or impacts arise.
By separating annular segments 12 in the relaxed state, the plugging force required for the plugging process can be drastically reduced, at least until the ring closure. After the ring closure, the plugging force increases because the friction between spring arms 4 and mating plug connector 30 is increased by a supporting force applied by the support ring 18. The force acting upon the support ring 18 is divided among the plurality of annular segments 12.
If the number of contact points with which the contact element 1 contacts mating plug connector 30 is to be increased without additionally increasing the plugging force after ring closure, contact element 1 can comprise at least one intermediate spring 42 arranged in recess 26 between two spring arms 4. Intermediate spring 42 can extend from common base 8 along longitudinal direction L and can be equidistant from two spring arms 4 that are adjacent in circumferential direction U.
Within the meaning of the application, a plurality of spring arms 4 or intermediate springs 42 means two to ten spring arms 4 or intermediate springs 42. In an embodiment, the number of intermediate springs 42 be fewer than the number of spring arms 4. This leads to an advantageous ratio between the plugging force and the normal contact force. As shown in this embodiment, contact element 1 can comprise three spring arms 4 and two intermediate springs 42 which are arranged around opening 6 in the circumferential direction.
In order to prevent intermediate springs 42 from rubbing against annular segments 12 or support ring 18 and possibly canting, intermediate springs 42 can have a shorter length along longitudinal direction L than spring arms 4 and form no annular segment. In particular, an end 44 facing away from the base 8 can be spaced from annular segment 12 or support ring 18 by a gap 46 along longitudinal direction L, shown in
Intermediate springs 42 can also be provided with contact curvatures 38 which project radially outwardly. In an embodiment, contact curvatures 38 can be disposed at the same height or on a vertical plane arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, respectively, with contact curvatures 38 of spring arms 4. Accordingly, simultaneous contacting of spring arms 4 and intermediate springs 42 can be ensured. The annular segments 12 of the spring arms 4, between which the intermediate springs 42 are arranged, can abut against one another in the fully compressed state 16 in the circumferential direction U at the height of the intermediate spring 42.
In an embodiment, the at least one intermediate spring 42 can be spaced from spring arms 4 on three narrow sides. Accordingly, the at least one intermediate spring 42 can be configured to be self-supporting, where the at least one intermediate spring 42 is protected from mechanical loads by the adjacent spring arms 4.
As can be seen in plug assembly 50 shown in
With high-frequency plug connectors, there are high demands on the contact capability and contact normal force, which are obtained with conventional plug connectors at the expense of high plugging forces. Due to the division into individual annular segments 12, the plugging force can be reduced, while at the same time the required contact capability and normal contact force are ensured by support ring 18 that forms in fully compressed state 16.
In the radially fully compressed state 16, the contour of the contact element 1 corresponds to a conventional closed contact sleeve. Consequently, existing plug connector systems can easily be retrofitted with the contact element 1. There is no need to redesign the entire plug connector system for contacting a contact element.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102021112143.4 | May 2021 | DE | national |
