EP1923960B1 - Blade receptacle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a blade receptacle, which consists of a conductor connection region for connecting the blade receptacle with an electrical conductor and a box-shaped contact area for receiving and contacting a complementary contact blade. The contact region has a first contact zone designed as a base plate and two side walls arranged on the longitudinal edges of the base plate. On the side walls are each a plate-shaped second contact zone, which is opposite to the bottom plate, whereby a box-shaped insertion channel is formed. At least one of the plate-shaped second contact zones is provided with at least one contact spring tongue, which is cut out of the plate-shaped second contact zone and connected in one piece to the plate-shaped second contact zone in the insertion region of the tab receptacle, wherein the contact spring tongue points in the direction of the bottom plate.

In many areas of the industry, it is necessary to make electrical contacts to transfer electricity. In this case, different requirements are placed on an electrical contact for different applications. In particular, in the automotive industry, for example, contacts are necessary, which ensure a safe power transmission even with vibrations. For this purpose, typically used in the automotive industry flat receptacles, which are equipped with resilient elements, so that vibrations acting on contact points can be intercepted.

Generic tabs are known from the prior art. The EP 1 345 286 A1 describes, for example, a blade receptacle with a bottom plate and two arranged on the longitudinal edges of the bottom plate side walls. On the side walls are each a second contact zone, which lies opposite the bottom plate. The vibrations are absorbed by the rounded sidewalls. However, this embodiment of the side walls can lead to interruption of the contact with strong vibrations, since the contact surface is relatively small.

The DE 198 28 985 A1 shows a blade receptacle with two U-shaped spring tongues cut out on one side, these spring tongues protrude into the plug-in space and abut a plugged into the plug-in blade contact. A disadvantage of this embodiment, the lack of limitation of the spring travel of the spring tongues, so that when an oblique insertion of the contact blade, the spring tongues can bend, resulting in a loss of elasticity of the spring tongue.

The EP 0 820 120 B1 describes a blade receptacle in whose contact zones embossments are provided, which protrude into the plug-in space of the blade receptacle. These embossments are on the contact blade when it is inserted into the blade receptacle and provide electrical contact between the blade receptacle and blade. The embossments are designed such that they act as a spring and thereby vibrations can be absorbed. A contact blade pushes the embossments when pushed into the plug-in space of the blade receptacle to the side. If the blade receptacle is made of steel or a similar material with low elasticity, the necessary force for inserting the contact blade is However, very high, since the embossing performed as a spring are very inelastic.

In addition, in the international patent application WO 98/21784 A an electrical contact having a contact portion with a spring contact element, a Einklinkabschnitt with a resilient latching element and Einklinkelementschutzabschnitt, wherein the electrical contact is characterized in that the Einklinkelementschutzabschnitt comprises: an outer wall portion which extends from a side wall of Einklinkelementenschutzabschnitts upwards ; an inner wall portion extending downwardly from an upper end of the outer wall portion; and an overstress protection member extending from an inner end of the inner wall portion to the other side wall of the latching member protecting portion so that the overstressing member can be engaged with the elastic latching member. In this case, overstretching of the elastic Einklinkelements be well prevented.

In the European patent application EP 0 232 103 A2 a contact arrangement for a further electrical connector is described which comprises a plug contact pin and a socket. The socket here has resilient contact rails, which can better clamp the plug contact pin within the socket. However, the resilient contact rails can be overstretched in improper insertion of the plug contact pin into the socket, whereby a good and secure electrical connection between the plug contact pin and the socket can hardly be guaranteed.

The U-Patent 2,738,485 also describes an electrical contact member having a narrow channel with a Floor forms, in which a contact blade can be introduced. In order to ensure a secure electrical connection between the electrical contact part and the contact blade permanently, a contact strip is formed with a locking lug on the ground. This locking lug can correspond to a depression of the contact blade. In this respect, a good connection between the electrical contact part and the contact blade can be established. The disadvantage, however, is that always a precisely matched to the detent contact blade must be used to ensure a durable and good connection can.

The British patent GB 1 571 601 shows a robust electrical contact, in particular a receiving part, inside which a contact blade can be inserted. In the interior of the receiving part protrudes a bent contact fingers, whereby the contact blade can be clamped well inside the receiving part. However, there is a risk that the bent contact finger will be overstretched if the contact blade is carelessly inserted into the receiving part. In such a case, a permanent and good electrical connection between the receiving part and an electrical contact blade could no longer be guaranteed.

Starting from the prior art, it is the object of the invention to improve a blade receptacle made of a material with very low elasticity such that when an oblique insertion of a complementary contact blade projecting into the contact space spring tongues can not be bent so far that the required elasticity of the spring tongues no longer exists. It should be the plug for the Contact blade in the blade receptacle necessary forces should be as low as possible.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a blade receptacle having the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous developments of the blade receptacle emerge from the dependent claims 2-8.

The blade receptacle according to the invention consists of a conductor connection region for connecting the blade receptacle to an electrical conductor and a box-shaped contact region for receiving and contacting a complementary contact blade. The contact region has a first contact zone designed as a base plate and two side walls arranged on the longitudinal edges of the base plate, wherein a respective plate-shaped second contact zone is located on the side walls, which lies opposite the base plate, whereby a box-shaped insertion channel is formed. In at least one of the plate-shaped second contact zones is at least one contact spring tongue, which is cut out of the plate-shaped second contact zone and connected in the insertion region of the blade receptacle in one piece with the plate-shaped second contact zone. The contact spring tongue points in the direction of the bottom plate, with a stop on the side of the plate-shaped second contact zone which points towards the conductor connection region, limiting the deflection of the contact spring tongue in a direction pointing away from the base plate. In a connecting region between the side walls and the second contact zones embossments are arranged, wherein the embossments are present in a bending radius between the respective side wall and the adjoining second contact zone and wherein the embossments extend transversely to the insertion direction of the contact blade in the blade receptacle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stop is formed by an overlap of the contact spring tongue with the plate-shaped second contact zone.

Preferably, at least one contact spring tongue is located in each plate-shaped, second contact zone.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the mutually facing edges of the two plate-shaped, second contact zones are spaced apart by a slot. In addition, in a further embodiment of the invention, a free-cut side of the contact spring tongue form a side boundary of the slot.

It has also proven to be advantageous that the contact spring tongue is connected only in the insertion region of the blade receptacle in one piece with the plate-shaped second contact zone.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the stop is formed as an embossment on the plate-shaped second contact zone. Preferably, embossing is provided on the contact spring tongue of the flat receptacle according to the invention.

The flat receptacle according to the invention can be manufactured, for example, in such a way that a conductor connection region is used for connection the blade receptacle with an electrical conductor and a box-shaped contact area for receiving and contacting a complementary contact blade are integrally formed from a sheet metal strip. The box-shaped contact region is formed by a first contact zone embodied as a base plate, at the longitudinal edges of which two side walls and two adjoining plate-shaped second contact zones are formed by bending operations. At least one contact spring tongue is cut out of one of the plate-shaped second contact zone. Subsequently, the contact spring tongue is bent out of the plane of the plate-shaped second contact zone to subsequently produce an overlap between the free end of the contact spring tongue and the plate-shaped second contact zone.

Advantageously, the overlap is produced by introducing at least one embossing into the plate-shaped second contact zone.

In another embodiment of a possible manufacturing method, the overlap is produced by introducing at least one embossment into the contact spring tongue.

An advantage of the invention is that a permanent deformation of the contact spring tongue is prevented by limiting the deflection of the at least one contact spring tongue. If a contact blade is inserted obliquely into the blade receptacle according to the invention, it prunes the contact spring tongue, so that the contact spring tongue is pressed against the stop. However, the stop prevents further bending of the contact spring tongue, whereby a permanent deformation can be prevented.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that a material with a high modulus of elasticity, such as steel, can be used for producing the flat receptacle according to the invention, without the spring property of the contact spring tongue being severely impaired.

Another advantage is the distribution of the insertion forces for the contact blade which is expedient for this purpose. Due to the arrangement of the contact spring tongues, the forces that exert the contact spring tongues on the contact blade, only at the end of the insertion process.

Further advantages, features and expedient developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines besonders bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Flachsteckhülse mit eingeschobenem Kontaktmesser;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines besonders bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Flachsteckhülse;

Fig. 3

eine Seitenansicht der in Figur 2 gezeigten Flachsteckhülse;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines weiteren, besonders bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Flachsteckhülse;

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht der in Figur 4 gezeigten Flachsteckhülse; und

Fig. 6

eine Vorderansicht der in Figur 4 gezeigten Flachsteckhülse.

From the pictures shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the blade receptacle with inserted contact blade;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the blade receptacle;

Fig. 3

a side view of in FIG. 2 shown blade receptacle;

Fig. 4

a perspective view of a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the blade receptacle;

Fig. 5

a side view of in FIG. 4 shown blade receptacle; and

Fig. 6

a front view of in FIG. 4 shown blade receptacle.

Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention the flat receptacle, in which a contact blade 3 is inserted. The blade receptacle consists of a contact region 1 and a conductor connection region 2, the two regions being connected to one another. Preferably, it is a one-piece connection, so that the contact region and the conductor connection region have been formed for example from a sheet metal part. However, the two areas can also be formed independently of each other and then connected to each other.

The conductor connection region 2 is designed in this embodiment as a crimp connection, consisting of a Leitungscrimp and an Isoliercrimp. The conductor connection region can also be designed, for example, as an insulation displacement terminal or soldering contact. The primary function of the conductor connection area is the contacting of a mostly insulated conductor.

The contact region 1 is designed box-shaped in this embodiment, so that a slide-in channel is formed. In this insertion channel, a contact blade 3 is inserted.

Fig. 2 shows a flat receptacle without inserted contact blade 3. The box-shaped contact area 1 comprises a first contact zone 10, which may also be referred to as a bottom plate. On this bottom plate 10 is to be contacted contact blade 3, after it has been inserted. The contact zone 10 may have means for better guidance of an inserted contact blade 3. These agents can be used for example in Fig. 2 not explicitly illustrated embossments, which protrude from the surface of the bottom plate 10 and cause a reduction in the frictional forces, which occur by the sliding of the contact blade 3 on the bottom plate 10. As a result, the necessary forces for inserting the contact blade can be reduced in the blade receptacle.

In the bottom plate 10 and means for locking the contact blade 3 may be provided with the blade receptacle according to the invention. In the embodiment of Fig. 3 is provided as latching means, for example, a cut out of the bottom plate latching tongue 18 with an embossment which engages in a corresponding hole of the contact blade 3 when the contact blade 3 is fully inserted into the blade receptacle.

At the longitudinal edges 20 of the bottom plate 10, two side walls 11 and 11 'are mounted, which preferably project at an angle of about 90 ° from the bottom plate 10 and the bottom plate 10 laterally limit. The defined by the side walls 11 and 11 'width of the bottom plate 10 should correspond approximately to the width of the contact blade 3, so that the contact blade 3 is guided laterally during insertion into the blade receptacle.

On each side wall in each case a second contact zone 12 and 12 'is mounted, which is approximately parallel to the first contact zone 10 designed as a bottom plate. The side walls 11 and 11 'form in this embodiment with the second contact zone each an angle of about 90 °. In the region of the connection between the side walls and the second contact zones embossments 22 are present, which increase the stability of the blade receptacle. The embossments 22 are present in the bending radius between the respective side wall 11 and 11 'and the adjoining second contact zone 12 and 12' and extend transversely to the insertion direction of the contact blade 3 in the flat receptacle according to the invention.

The angles between the individual wall surfaces of the contact region can also be designed differently from 90 °, for example to accommodate contacts with different geometry. In a further possible embodiment of the box-shaped insertion channel is not formed by two strips of material for two side walls and adjoining second contact zones, but it is only a strip of material which connects laterally to the bottom plate. This strip of material is bent around several edges, that also a box-shaped insertion channel is formed.

With the second contact zones 12 and 12 'and the side walls 11 and 11' formed as a bottom plate first contact zone 10 forms in the in Fig. 2 disclosed embodiment, a box-shaped contact area. 1

Fig. 3 shows in a side view of the insertion area 4, in which the contact blade 3 in the box-shaped contact area 1 of the flat receptacle according to the invention is introduced. The insertion area 4 is also referred to below as the front area of the contact area. The contact blade 3 is inserted when inserted into the box-shaped contact area 1 to a stop. The stop is located in the transition zone between contact area 1 and conductor connection area 2. This stop is also referred to below as the rear area of the contact area.

At least one contact spring tongue 13 is formed in at least one second contact zone 12 or 12 '. The contact spring tongue 13 is cut free on both sides parallel to the insertion direction of the contact blade 3 in the contact region 1 of the blade receptacle. At the rear end of the blade receptacle, the contact spring tongue 13 is cut free transversely to the insertion direction of the contact blade 3 in the contact region 1 of the blade receptacle. Through the entire U-shaped cutout of the contact spring tongue 13, the connection 14 of the contact spring tongue 13 is located exclusively in the front region, the insertion region 4 of the contact region of the blade receptacle. The contact spring tongue 13 projects inwardly into the box-shaped contact area 1. It thus points into the space which is filled by the contact blade 3 when it is inserted into the contact region 1 of the blade receptacle.

If the contact blade 3 is inserted into the contact region 1 of the blade receptacle, the contact spring tongue 13 is bent out of the contact region and lies on a surface of the contact blade 3 after complete insertion of the contact blade 3 into the contact region 1 of the blade receptacle 3. The contact spring tongue 13 causes at fully inserted contact blade 3 in the contact region 1 of the blade receptacle an increase in the contact force between the first Contact zone 10 and the contact blade 3 and a high contact force between the second contact zones 12 and 12 'and the contact blade 3. Due to the high contact forces a reliable power transmission is ensured even with vibration of the blade receptacle or blade 3.

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 show an embodiment in which on at least one of the second contact zones 12 and 12 ', an embossment 15 is introduced, which causes material of the respective contact zone protrudes beyond the freely movable end of the contact spring tongue 13 and forms a stop 17, the spring travel of Contact spring tongue 13 limited in one direction. The contact spring tongue 13 can be deflected during the insertion of the contact blade 3 only up to a maximum, determined by the stop 17, position. By the stop 17 prevents the contact spring tongue 13 is bent so much by obliquely inserting the contact blade 3 that an overstretching of the contact spring tongue 13 takes place, which can lead to a lower contact force and thus to failure of the entire contact in vibration.

Between the stop 17 and the freely movable end of the contact spring tongue 13, a distance is present in the non-contacted state. If the contact blade 3 is inserted into the contact region 1 of the blade receptacle, the distance between the stop 17 and the freely movable end of the contact spring tongue 13 is reduced. If the contact blade 3 is fully inserted, the freely movable end of the contact spring tongue 13 abuts the stop 17.

Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 disclose an embodiment of the invention the blade receptacle, the stop 17 via a Embossment 16 is realized in the contact spring tongue 13. By embossing 16, the length of the contact spring tongue 13 is increased. Thus, the second contact zone 12 or 12 'overlaps with the contact spring tongue 13.

In the embodiments shown in all figures, a contact spring tongue 13 is present in the two second contact zones 12 and 12 '. Between the contact spring tongues 13, a slot 19 is formed, as for example in Fig. 6 is shown. The slot 19 separates the upper second contact zones 12 and 12 'from each other, so that the edges of the respective second contact zone are cut free. The slot ensures that the upper second contact zones 12 and 12 'can exert an additional spring force on the contact blade 3 by means of this flexible design. In the embodiments disclosed in all the figures, the free edges of the second contact zones are identical to the longitudinal edges of the contact spring tongues 13. In another, not diagrammatically disclosed embodiment, a web could be located between the free edge of the upper second contact zones and a longitudinal side of the contact spring tongue 13.

To produce the flat receptacle according to the invention, the contours of the receptacle are first worked out of a flat metal strip. This is done for example by a punching process. To produce the contact spring tongue 13, a tongue is first punched out of the region of the second contact zones 12 and 12 'by a U-shaped cut. The tongue lies after the first punching process in the same plane with the second contact zones. Subsequently, in a further processing process, the tongue is bent out of the plane of the second contact zone 12. The freely movable end of the tongue is offset after the bending process to the plane of the second contact zones. The tongue is bent out of this plane in such a way that, after the box-shaped insertion channel has formed, it points inwards into the box-shaped contact region.

This in Fig. 3 illustrated embodiment can be realized by an embossing 15 subsequent to the bending process on the second contact zone, so that the material displaced by the embossment 15 slides over the free end of the hanging down from the plane of the second contact zone 12 contact tongue 13. The contact tongue 13 can not be pressed beyond the stop in the plane of the second contact zones after this embossing process.

Fig. 5 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention the blade receptacle, which illustrates the arrangement of the stopper 17. In this embodiment, an embossment 16 is applied to the contact spring tongue 13 after the bending process, which presses the contact spring 13 from the plane of the second contact zone. This embossment 16 causes a displacement of the material of the contact spring tongue 13, so that the length of the contact spring tongue 13 increases. The contact spring tongue 13 pushes through the embossment 16 under the second contact zone 12 and forms the stop 17th

The imprints 15 and 16 in the in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 disclosed embodiments of the blade receptacle according to the invention are advantageously carried out so that the displaced by the embossing process material is guided by counter bearing and side boundaries.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Contact area of the blade receptacle, insertion channel

2

Solder contacts

3

contact blade

4

insertion region

10

First contact zone, bottom plate

11.11 '

sidewall

12.12 '

Second contact zone

13

Contact spring tongue

14

Connection of the contact spring tongue

15

Embossing on second contact zone

16

Embossing on contact spring tongue

17

attack

18

catch tongue

19

slot

20

Longitudinal edge of the bottom plate

21

Free edge of the second contact zone

22

Embossing

Claims (8)

1. A blade receptacle consisting of a conductor connection area (2) to connect the blade receptacle to an electric conductor and consisting of a box-shaped contact area (1) to hold and contact a complementary contact blade (3), whereby the contact area (1) has a first contact zone (10) configured as a baseplate and two side walls (11; 11') arranged on the lengthwise edges (20) of the baseplate (10), and, on each of the side walls (11; 11'), there is a plate-shaped second contact zone (12; 12') that is situated opposite from the baseplate (10), as a result of which a box-shaped plug-in channel is formed, and, at least in one of the plate-shaped second contact zones (12; 12'), there is at least one contact spring tab (13) that is cut out of the plate-shaped second contact zone (12; 12') and that is connected in one piece to the plate-shaped second contact zone (12; 12') in the plug-in area (4) of the blade receptacle, whereby the contact spring tab (13) faces in the direction of the baseplate (10), and whereby, on the side of the plate-shaped second contact zone (12; 12') facing the conductor connection area (2), there is a stop (17) that delimits the deflection of the contact spring tab (13) in a direction facing away from the baseplate,
   characterized in that,
   in a connection area between the side walls (11; 11') and the second contact zones (12; 12'), there are stamped-out sections (22), whereby the stamped-out sections (22) are present in a bending radius between the appertaining side wall (11; 11') and the adjacent second contact zone (12; 12'), and whereby the stamped-out sections (22) run crosswise to the plug-in direction of the contact blade (3) into the blade receptacle.
2. The blade receptacle according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the stop (17) is formed by an overlapping of the contact spring tab (13) with the plate-shaped second contact zone (12; 12').
3. The blade receptacle according to one or both of claims 1 and 2,
   characterized in that
   there is at least one contact spring tab (13) in each plate-shaped second contact zone (12; 12').
4. The blade receptacle according to one or more of claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that
   the edges (21) of the two plate-shaped second contact zones (12; 12') facing each other are separated from each other by a slit (19).
5. The blade receptacle according to one or more of claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that
   the contact spring tab (13) is connected to the plate-shaped second contact zone (12; 12') exclusively in the plug-in area (4) of the blade receptacle.
6. The blade receptacle according to one or more of claims 1 to 5,
   characterized in that
   one side of the contact spring tab (13), which is cut open, forms a side delimitation of the slit (19).
7. The blade receptacle according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in that
   the stop (19) is configured as a stamped-out section of the second contact zone (12; 12').
8. The blade receptacle according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in that
   a stamped-out section (16) is present on the contact spring tab (13).

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