Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO94/15380 213 8 2 9 3 PCT~3/03~0
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ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
The invention relates to an electrical connector with a socket
contact, formed by means of a sleeve body with attachment means
for the connecting leads, for the displaceable reception of a
contact pin, where a segmented cage, which can rest pressingly
against the pin contact, is housed in the sleeve body so as to
be fixed axially in position.
Sleeve-shaped socket contacts for the plugable reception of
contact pins are known in particular for circular connectors
(DE application P 35 31 845.7). To improve the contact between
socket contact and contact pin, the socket contacts are provided
with a segmented cage, which makes contact with the contact pin
so as to be frictionally engaged. The front outer strips of the
segmented cage exhibit ribs that are bent inwardly. Apart from
the fact that a relatively significant work of deformation must
be exerted on the ribs of the segmented cage during plugging
operations, the ribs also afford only small contact areas,
resulting in unreliable contacts.
The object of the invention is to make the contacting of an
electrical connector of the aforementioned class more reliable
and more effective.
The invention solves this problem by forming the segmented cage
by means of a cylindrically rolled flat sheet metal blank, whose
longitudinal outer strips are connected together by means of a
number of ribs, which extend side by side separated from each
WO94/15380 ~ PCT~3/03~0
?,~3~g 2
other, and where chamfered contact tabs, which are opposite one
another at the longitudinal outer strips, project into the free
spaces between the ribs, whereby a first segment of said contact
tab curves in the direction of the central longitudinal axis of
the segmented cage and whereby a second segment, formed by means
of the free ends, is bent back and is shorter than half the
length of the segmented cage. In the case of a connector designed
thus, a number of contact tabs come to rest simultaneously with
the contact pins in order to make a contact; said contact tabs
can be bent down separately independently of each other and can
be applied by pressing to the contact pin so as to engage
frictionally. Thus, reliable contact transitions and ease of
plugging are guaranteed especially when the contact pin is
misaligned or tilted.
The design of the connector provides that the ribs of the
segmented cage exhibit one depression each and that the
depressions form guide and support elements of the contact pin.
Thus, a central insertion of the contact pin into the socket
contact is guaranteed, whereby the contact tabs make contact
simultaneously with the contact pin with essentially identical
deflections. Furthermore, it is provided that depressions are
formed, for example, in the ribs of the segmented cage, which are
employed as stops to fix axially the same in position in the
sleeve body. It is obvious that the segmented cage can be axially
fixed in position in the sleeve body in a different manner, e.g.,
by attaching extensions, shoulders or the like to the sleeve
body.
Furthermore, measures for axial fixation of the sleeve body in
the connector housing are provided by the fact that the sleeve
body reaches, e.g., with a bend-out into a recess of the
connector housing. Preferably the recess can be formed by means
of an annular groove. Finally, other guide measures for the
contact pin during the contact period or plugging operation can
WO94/15380 2 I 3 ~ 2 9 3 PCT~3/03~0
be achieved, if a segment of the sleeve body projects at the
plug-in end beyond the segmented cage, whereby the segment is
bent down toward the plug-in direction and relative to the
central longitudinal axis of the segmented cage and serves as an
additional supporting or aligning element for the contact pin.
Thus, with the bend the contact pin can be pre-aligned during the
plugging operation; and when the contact pin is subsequently
actively connected to the depressions, the conditions for a
reliable alignment and guide of the contact pin in the segmented
cage of the socket contact are created.
The invention is explained with reference to an embodiment in the
drawings.
Figure l is a side view of a known segmented cage.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of a segmented cage of Figure l.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of a connector according to one
embodiment.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of another connector.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 depict roll downed segmented cages of
different diameter sizes; and
Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line VIII-VIII of Figure
5.
The known segmented cage l shown in Figures l and 2 exhibits
front outer strips 2 and 3, which are connected together by means
of ribs 4. The ribs 4 are curved in the direction of the central
longitudinal axis of the segmented cage l in order to achieve a
prestress and thus to enable them to rest pressingly against the
contact pin when a contact pin (not illustrated) is inserted. If
W094/15380 ~3 ~ ~ ~ 3 PCT~3103~0
the contact pin is tilted or inaccurately plugged in or when the
diameter sizes differ, the ribs 4 afford, however, only
inadequate or unreliable contact.
Figure 3 depicts a connector, whose plug housing 5 exhibits a
bore 6, which serves to receive a sleeve body 7. The illustrated
sleeve body 7 is provided with crimp extensions (not illustrated)
to fix in position the electrical leads or their insulation. The
sleeve body 7 is fixed in position in the plug housing 5, e.g. by
means of a bend-out 18 and can be made of any arbitrary material,
e.g. also a ferrous material, an alloyed material or the like and
can thus be fabricated relatively economically. A segmented cage
8, which is formed by means of a flat blank 9, which is shown in
Figures 5 to 8 for different diameter sizes and is made of a
material exhibiting high electrical conductivity, is put into the
sleeve body 7. As evident from Figures 5 to 8, the blank is
provided with two longitudinal outer strips 10, which are
connected together by means of a number of ribs 11. Contact tabs
13, which are opposite one another at the longitudinal outer
strips (10) and which extend in the flat blank appro~imately as
far as half the width of the segmented cage 8, are chamfered in
the regions of the free spaces 12 between the ribs 11. In
addition, the ribs 11 exhibit depressions 14. The flat blanks of
Figures 5 to 8 can be bent apart in the shape of a cylinder
(Figures 2 and 3), whereby now the contact tabs 13 extend
approximately as far as half the length of the segmented cage.
In addition, a first segment 13' of the contact tabs 13 is bent
inwardly and a second segment 13'', formed by the free ends, is
bent back outwardly. With the arched segments 13''' obtained
thus, the contact tabs 13 come to rest pressingly against a
contact pin 15. Furthermore, the contact tabs 13 enable the
contact pin to be plugged in without any hindrance. The
depressions 14 serve as supporting and guide elements for the
contact pin 15, thus guaranteeing that the contact tabs 13 rest
uniformly against the contact pin 15 and thus guaranteeing a
WO94/15380 213 8 2 9 3 PCT~3/03460
reliable contact. Furthermore, the end of the sleeve body 7 that
has approached the insertion opening 16 is pulled forward with a
subsegment 7' over the segmented cage 8; and this subsegment 7'
is bent so as to slope inwardly in the direction of the central
longitudinal axis 17. Thus, the free outer edge 7'' of the
subsegment 7' acts as an additional guide body, in particular at
the start of the plugging operation for the contact pin 15.
It is self-evident that an arbitrary number of ribs ll and
contact tabs 13 for the segmented cage 8 can be chosen. Even the
substantially trapezoidal shape of the contact tabs 13 selected
for the embodiment can vary.
