EP3579348A1 - Contact brush for an electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a contact sleeve (10) in the form of a hollow cylinder with a jacket wall (12) and a central longitudinal axis (14) for an electrical connector for establishing electrical contact with a mating connector (32), the contact sleeve (10) being attached to the jacket wall ( 12) has at least two pairs of contact spring plates (18), the contact spring plates (18) of a pair being arranged radially opposite one another on the contact sleeve (10), each contact spring plate (18) having a radial elevation (20) which has an electrical contact surface (22 ), the elevations (20) of a pair of opposing contact spring plates (18) being arranged in the axial direction with respect to the contact sleeve (10) at the same point in such a way that their contact surfaces (22) lie on a straight line (24) that defines the central longitudinal axis ( 14) the contact sleeve (10) cuts vertically. The elevations (20) of at least a first pair of contact spring plates (18) are relative to the elevations (20) of at least a second pair of contact spring plates (18) in the axial direction with respect to the contact sleeve (10) by a predetermined axial offset length (26 ) arranged offset, the elevations (20) rising radially outwards over the contact sleeve (10).

Description

The invention relates to a contact sleeve in the form of a hollow cylinder having a lateral surface and a central longitudinal axis for an electrical connector for making electrical contact with a mating connector, wherein the contact sleeve has on its lateral surface at least two pairs of contact spring blades, each pair arranged contact spring blades on the contact sleeve radially opposite wherein each contact spring blade having a radial projection which forms an electrical contact surface, wherein the elevations of a pair of opposing contact spring blades in the axial direction with respect to the contact sleeve at the same location are arranged such that their contact surfaces lie on a straight line perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the contact sleeve cuts, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Connectors, in particular coaxial connectors, serve for the detachable connection of coaxial cables. Coaxial connectors, such as coaxial cables, are coaxial to have the advantages of coaxial cables, namely low electromagnetic interference and radiation, as well as good electrical shielding and impedance equal to that of the coaxial cable connected, to reflect reflections at the interface between coaxial connectors and coaxial cables avoid. A coaxial cable, or coaxial cable for short, is understood to mean a two-pole cable with a concentric construction, which has an inner conductor (also called a core) which is surrounded at a constant distance by a hollow-cylindrical outer conductor. The outer conductor shields the inner conductor from electromagnetic interference. In the space between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, an insulator or dielectric is arranged.

Coaxial connectors are adapted to a predetermined characteristic impedance, for. B. of 50 Ω, to provide a reflection-free transmission of RF signals. The characteristic impedance of a coaxial connector depends inter alia on the ratio of the inner diameter of the outer conductor and the diameter of the inner conductor. An electrical connection of a coaxial cable to a coaxial connector therefore requires the respective inner diameter and outer diameter of the coaxial cable adapted coaxial connector.

From the US 4 550 972 A is a bush-shaped stamped and bent part known as a contact socket for mating with a contact pin (contact pin) at a plug-side end. wherein the contact socket has a cylindrical portion between two rings. This cylindrical portion is composed of a plurality of pairs of axially extending contact spring blades (beams). Each contact spring blade has an inwardly uplifting, spherical contact boss. The contact surfaces of an opposite pair of contact spring blades are arranged at the same distance from the plug-side end, wherein the contact surfaces on the contact spring blades are both arranged at a slightly greater distance from the plug-side end.

The publication DE 20 2015 006 807 U1 relates to a contact blade part and a connector with contact blade part. The contact lamella part has a plurality of contact lamellae which run approximately parallel next to one another and each extend between a first connection body in the form of a carrier strip and a second connection body in the form of a carrier strip. The contact blades each extend web-like in a longitudinal direction L, while the connecting bodies formed integrally therewith extend approximately perpendicular thereto in the transverse direction. The transverse direction and the longitudinal direction span a lamellar plane which corresponds to the plane of the paper. By annular rolling of the carrier strip with the intervening contact blades a straight lamellar cage is formed. Each contact blade has a contact zone for contacting two contact elements. The contact zones of each two adjacent contact blades are arranged offset from one another in the longitudinal direction. This results in a total of an alternating arrangement of contact zones in the direction of extension of the connecting body.

The publication US 8 821 170 B1 shows an electrical contact socket with contact spring blades, each serving as electrical contact bending regions 2 have. The bending regions of adjacent contact spring blades are spaced apart in the axial direction.

The publication US 5,667,413 A relates to an electrical contact socket with a contact cage, which has a plurality of contact spring blades. Each contact spring blade has a contact point, which is formed by a bent and thereby radially inwardly elevating part of the spring blade itself. The contact points of adjacent contact spring blades are spaced longitudinally relative to each other.

The invention has for its object to improve a contact sleeve in terms of manual handling when plugging with a mating connector.

This object is achieved by a contact sleeve of o. G. Art solved with the features characterized in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the further claims.

For this it is in a contact sleeve of o. G. Art provided according to the invention, that the axial offset length between the elevations of axially adjacent pairs of Kataktfederlamellen 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm and that the contact surfaces are rectangular and extend at right angles to the central longitudinal axis.

This has the advantage that upon insertion of the contact sleeve in a mating connector in the axial direction, the surveys first successively contact the mating connector mechanically and electrically, so that insertion forces are reduced, with a gradation of insertion force when inserting the contact sleeve is achieved in a mating connector.

For the corresponding electrical and mechanical contacting of the mating connector radially inward or outward with respect to the contact sleeve, the elevations rise radially inwardly and / or outwardly beyond the contact sleeve or beyond the jacket wall.

A particularly good reduction of the insertion forces at the same time many electrical contact surfaces are achieved in that three pairs Kontaktfederlamellen are formed with respective projections on the contact sleeve, the elevations of each pair is offset relative to the elevations of all other pairs offset relative to the axial direction.

An especially easy to manufacture contact sleeve is achieved in that the contact spring lamellae are formed by circumferentially spaced apart arranged recesses in the contact sleeve or the jacket wall of the contact sleeve.

Particularly stable and mechanically resistant contact spring blades with high spring forces for a good electrical contact with high contact force is achieved in that the contact spring blades are positively connected at both axial ends with the contact sleeve or with the jacket wall of the contact sleeve.

A contact surface with low mechanical stresses during compression of the contact spring blades is achieved by the fact that the elevations are arcuate.

A particularly advantageous gradation of the insertion force when inserting the contact sleeve into a mating connector is achieved in that the axial offset length between the elevations different or axially adjacent pairs of contact spring blades 0.2 mm, or a multiple thereof.

A symmetrical arrangement of the contact spring lamellae on the contact sleeve is achieved in that n, with n ≥ 2, pairs of contact louvers are formed on the contact sleeve, wherein the contact spring lamellae are circumferentially spaced by an angle of 360 (2 * n).

Fig. 1

eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Kontakthülse in Seitenansicht;

Fig. 2

die bevorzugte Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Kontakthülse gemäß Fig. 1 in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 3

die bevorzugte Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Kontakthülse gemäß Fig. 1 in Seitenansicht vor einem Einstecken in einen Gegensteckverbinder;

Fig. 4

die bevorzugte Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Kontakthülse gemäß Fig. 1 in Seitenansicht bei dem Einstecken in einen Gegensteckverbinder in einem ersten teilgesteckten Zustand;

Fig. 5

die bevorzugte Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Kontakthülse gemäß Fig. 1 in Seitenansicht bei dem Einstecken in einen Gegensteckverbinder in einem zweiten teilgesteckten Zustand und

Fig. 6

die bevorzugte Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Kontakthülse gemäß Fig. 1 in Seitenansicht bei dem Einstecken in einen Gegensteckverbinder in einem vollständig gesteckten Zustand.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. This shows in

Fig. 1

a preferred embodiment of a contact sleeve according to the invention in side view;

Fig. 2

the preferred embodiment of a contact sleeve according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in perspective view;

Fig. 3

the preferred embodiment of a contact sleeve according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in side view before plugging into a mating connector;

Fig. 4

the preferred embodiment of a contact sleeve according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in side view when plugged into a mating connector in a first partially inserted state;

Fig. 5

the preferred embodiment of a contact sleeve according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in side view when plugged into a mating connector in a second partially inserted state and

Fig. 6

the preferred embodiment of a contact sleeve according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in side view when plugged into a mating connector in a fully inserted state.

In the Fig. 1 and 2 illustrated preferred embodiment of a contact sleeve 10 according to the invention is in the form of a hollow cylinder with casing wall 12 and a central longitudinal axis 14 is formed. By circumferentially uniformly spaced recesses 16 three pairs of contact spring blades 18 are formed, wherein each of the two contact spring blades 18 of a pair are arranged radially opposite to the jacket wall 12. Each contact spring blade 18 extends substantially in the axial direction Parallel to the central longitudinal axis 14. Respective axial ends of each contact spring blade 18 are positively formed with the jacket wall 12 of the contact sleeve 10.

Each contact spring blade 18 has a radial elevation 20 is formed on the arcuate. In the illustrated embodiment, the survey protrude radially outwardly beyond the jacket wall 12 of the contact sleeve 10 also. Each radial elevation forms at its highest point a contact surface 22 (indicated by dashed lines), which is designed for electrical and mechanical contacting of a mating connector. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact surfaces 22 are rectangular and extend substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis 14. The elevations of a pair of radially opposite contact spring blade 18 are located on a straight line 24 which intersects the central longitudinal axis 14 at a right angle.

The elevations 20 or contact surfaces 22 of different pairs of contact spring blades 18 are spaced from one another in the axial direction with respect to the contact sleeve 10 by a predetermined axial offset length 26. In the present example according to the Fig. 1 and 2 three pairs of contact spring blades 18 are arranged on the contact sleeve 10 and the respective contact surfaces 22 are axially spaced from each other by the axial offset length 26. This axial offset length 26 extends substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis 14.

In the illustrated embodiment, the contact sleeve 10 is formed as a stamped and bent part and accordingly has a joining slot 28. Furthermore, the contact sleeve 10 is made of an electrically conductive and resilient material, so that the contact spring blades 18 are resiliently deflectable. When inserting the contact sleeve 10, as in the Fig. 3 to 6 2, the contact surfaces 22 of the elevations 20 contact an inner surface 30 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) of a mating connector 32 ( Fig. 3 ) Such that the corresponding corresponding to the elevations 20 contact spring blade 18 is elastically deflected radially inwardly. The resulting restoring force of the contact spring blade 18 accordingly generates a contact force with which the contact surface 2 is pressed against the inner side 30 of the mating connector 32, so that an electrical contact between the contact spring blade 18 and the inner side 30 of the mating connector 32 with contact force and contact surface 22 is formed is. A corresponding contact pressure then results from the quotient of contact force to contact surface 22.

When inserting the contact sleeve 10 in the mating connector 32 so the contact spring blades 18 are deflected radially inward, resulting in a corresponding necessary Insertion force leads, which must be overcome when inserting the contact sleeve 10 in the mating connector 32. Since according to the invention, the elevations 20 are arranged axially offset from one another, this necessary insertion force is reduced.

The plug-in process is described below with reference to Fig. 3 to 6 explained. The Fig. 3 shows the contact sleeve 10 according to the invention with a corresponding mating connector 32 immediately before mating. Contact sleeve 10 and mating connector 32 are aligned with their respective longitudinal axes aligned and are moved to plug axially towards each other in the direction of arrow 36 toward each other.

In Fig. 4 the first mechanical contact between contact sleeve 10 and mating connector 32 is shown. In this case, the elevations 20 of a first pair of contact spring blades 18 contact the inner surface 30 of the mating connector 32, as indicated by arrows 34, at the same time the elevations 20 of the other two pairs of Kontaktfederlamellen 18 are still axially spaced from the inner surface 30 of the mating connector 32, so that these still have no mechanical contact with the mating connector 32. Accordingly, when inserting only the contact spring blades 18 of the first pair of contact spring blades 18 must be deflected radially inwardly, which accordingly requires less force than if all contact spring blades 18 of all pairs of contact spring blades 18 would have to be deflected radially inward simultaneously.

In Fig. 5 the contact spring blades 18 of the first pair of contact spring blades 18 are already fully deflected radially inwardly and the elevations 20 of a second pair of contact spring blades 18 mechanically contact the inner surface 30 of the mating connector 32, as indicated by arrow 38. Accordingly, upon further insertion of the contact sleeve 10 into the mating connector 32, only the contact spring louvers 18 of the second pair of contact louvers 18 need to be deflected radially inwardly. At the same time, the elevations 20 of the remaining third pair of contact spring lamellae 18 are still axially spaced from the inner surface 30 of the mating connector 32, so that they still have no mechanical contact with the mating connector 32. The contact spring blades 18 of the first pair of contact spring blades 18 contribute only with a frictional resistance to the insertion force, so that overall the insertion force is smaller even at this stage of mating, as if all Kontaktfederlamellen 18 of all pairs of contact spring blades 18 would have to be deflected radially inwardly simultaneously ,

In Fig. 6 are now the contact spring blades 18 of the second pair of contact spring blades 18 already completely deflected radially inward and the elevations 20 of the third pair contact spring blades 18 now mechanically contact the inner surface 30 of the mating connector 32, as indicated by arrow 40. The contact spring blades 18 of the second pair of contact spring blades 18 now contribute as well as the contact spring blades 18 of the first pair of contact spring blades 18 only with a Reibungswiederstand to the insertion force. Accordingly, only the contact spring blades 18 of the third pair of contact spring blades 18 must be deflected radially inwards at this stage of the mating. Furthermore, overall, the insertion force is smaller even at this stage of the mating, as if all contact spring blades 18 of all pairs of contact spring blades 18 would have to be simultaneously deflected radially inwardly.

As a result, thus resulting from the axially staggered arrangement of the elevations 20 of the pairs of Kontaktfederlamellen 18 over the entire axial plug a reduced insertion force compared to a mating operation in which all contact spring blades 18 of all pairs of contact spring blades 18 must be deflected radially inward simultaneously.

The predetermined axial offset length 26 is, for example, 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. In the illustrated embodiment, the axial offset length 26 has a value of 0.2 mm.

Claims (7)

Contact sleeve (10) in the form of a hollow cylinder having a jacket wall (12) and a central longitudinal axis (14) for an electrical connector for making electrical contact with a mating connector (32), wherein the contact sleeve (10) at the outer wall (12) at least two A pair of contact spring lamellae (18), wherein the contact spring lamellae (18) of a pair on the contact sleeve (10) are arranged radially opposite each contact spring lamella (18) having a radial projection (20), which forms an electrical contact surface (22) the elevations (20) of a pair of opposing contact spring blades (18) in the axial direction with respect to the contact sleeve (10) are arranged at the same point such that their contact surfaces (22) lie on a straight line (24), the central longitudinal axis (14) of the contact sleeve (10) cuts vertically,
characterized in that the elevations (20) of at least a first pair of contact spring blades (18) relative to the protrusions (20) of at least a second pair of contact spring blades (18) in the axial direction with respect to the contact sleeve (10) by a predetermined axial offset length (26) are arranged offset, wherein the elevations (20) rise radially outwardly beyond the contact sleeve (10). Contact sleeve (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that three pairs of contact spring blades (18) with respective projections (20) on the contact sleeve (10) are formed, wherein the elevations (20) of each pair relative to the elevations (20) of all other pairs is arranged offset in the axial direction. Contact sleeve (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact spring lamellae (18) are formed by circumferentially spaced apart arranged recesses (16) in the contact sleeve (10). Contact sleeve (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact spring lamellae (18) are positively connected at both axial ends with the contact sleeve (10). Contact sleeve (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elevations (20) are arcuate. Contact sleeve (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axial offset length (26) between the elevations (20) of axially adjacent pairs of contact spring blades (18) 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm, in particular 0.2 mm , is. Contact sleeve (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that n, with n> 2, pairs of contact spring blades (18) on the contact sleeve (10) are formed, wherein the contact spring blades (18) in the circumferential direction by an angle of 360 (2 * n) are spaced apart from each other.

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