阅读说明：本技术 接触环和接触系统 (Contact ring and contact system ) 是由 I.伊万诺夫 M.伯格哈特 H.施密特 H.波洛克 S.萨克斯 M.沃尔夫 C.科斯马尔 于 2021-04-27 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于至少连接第一和第二导电接触元件(1、2)的接触环(10、100),该接触环(10、100、1000)包括：包括导电材料的条带(12),其中,所述条带(12)在至少一个纵向侧上包括多个突起(14、104、1004),其中,所述突起(14、104)构造为使得它们接触所述接触元件(1、2)的导电材料并在它们之间建立导电连接。本发明还涉及一种接触系统,其包括接触环(100)、接地圆柱体(200)和具有定心突起的屏蔽圆柱体(300),其中接触环设置在这两个圆柱体之间,并且其中接地圆柱体(200)和屏蔽圆柱体(300)通过压配合彼此连接。(The invention relates to a contact ring (10, 100) for connecting at least a first and a second electrically conductive contact element (1, 2), the contact ring (10, 100, 1000) comprising: a strip (12) comprising an electrically conductive material, wherein the strip (12) comprises a plurality of protrusions (14, 104, 1004) on at least one longitudinal side, wherein the protrusions (14, 104) are configured such that they contact the electrically conductive material of the contact element (1, 2) and establish an electrically conductive connection between them. The invention further relates to a contact system comprising a contact ring (100), a grounding cylinder (200) and a shielding cylinder (300) with a centering projection, wherein the contact ring is arranged between the two cylinders, and wherein the grounding cylinder (200) and the shielding cylinder (300) are connected to each other by a press fit.)

1. A contact ring (10, 100, 1000) for connecting at least a first and a second electrically conductive contact element (1, 2), the contact ring (10, 100, 1000) comprising:

comprising a strip (12) of electrically conductive material,

wherein the strip (12) comprises a plurality of protrusions (14, 104, 1004) on at least one longitudinal side,

wherein the protrusions (14, 104, 1004) are configured such that they contact the electrically conductive material of the contact element (1, 2) and establish an electrically conductive connection between them.

2. The contact ring (10, 100, 1000) according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions (14, 104, 1004) penetrate an electrically insulating surface layer of the contact element.

3. Contact ring (10, 100, 1000) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each protrusion (14, 104) comprises a tapered end portion which can be connected to a contact element (1, 2).

4. The contact ring (10, 100, 1000) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the strips (12) are closed to form a circular ring structure or a structure topologically equivalent thereto.

5. The contact ring (10, 100, 1000) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the protrusions (14, 104, 1004) is bent to form a spring contact.

6. The contact ring (10, 100, 1000) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the contact ring (10, 100, 1000) comprises a copper alloy.

7. The contact ring (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the strips (12) are closed to form a circular ring structure or a structure topologically equivalent thereto and arranged in a cylindrical shape.

8. The contact ring (10) of claim 7, wherein the contact ring (10) comprises 24 protrusions on each side.

9. The contact ring (10) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the protrusions (14) have an S-shaped cross-section.

10. The contact ring (10) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, further comprising a coil spring (18) engaged around the strip.

11. The contact ring (100, 1000) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the strips are closed to form a circular ring structure or a structure topologically equivalent thereto and arranged at least partially in a flat manner.

12. The contact ring (100, 1000) of claim 11, wherein the protrusions (104, 1004) have edge portions with sharp edges.

13. The contact ring (100) according to any one of claims 11 or 12, wherein the contact ring (100) comprises 15 protrusions (104) with sharp edges on one side.

14. A contact system comprising a contact ring (100) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, a grounding cylinder (200) and a shielding cylinder (300), wherein the contact ring is arranged between the two cylinders, and wherein the grounding cylinder (200) and the shielding cylinder (300) are connected to each other by a press fit.

15. The contact system of claim 14, wherein the shielding cylinder (300) comprises three centering protrusions (302) to center the shielding cylinder (300) with respect to the grounding cylinder (200).

16. The contact system of any one of claims 14 or 15, wherein at least one of the cylinders comprises aluminum, an electrically conductive material.

17. The contact ring (1000) according to any of claims 11 or 12, wherein the strips have a meandering structure with alternately inwardly and outwardly directed portions, wherein the inwardly directed portions are bent upwards or downwards from the plane of the ring and form the protrusions (1004).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a contact ring which connects contact elements in an electrically conductive manner, and to a contact system comprising a grounding cylinder, a shielding cylinder and a contact ring which connects the two cylinders in an electrically conductive manner.

Background

The known contact ring is in the form of a compression spring contact which is made of an electrically conductive material and can thus establish an electrically conductive connection between the contact elements. These contact rings are generally flat and have, for example, a wave shape, so that they touch the surface of the contact element alternately.

Fig. 1A and 1B show a conventional arrangement of two contact elements 1 and 2 without a connecting member (fig. 1A) and two contact elements 3 with a connecting member 3 (fig. 1B). The connecting member 3 in fig. 1B is a typical contact ring 3 known from the prior art. The contact ring 3 is flat and undulated and is usually made of spring steel which has good mechanical properties but poor electrical heating properties, which are also difficult to compensate by thick silver plating. The contact portions of the known contact rings also do not reliably penetrate the electrically insulating surface layer, such as aluminum oxide, with typical contact forces. They are also susceptible to corrosion.

The contact elements, although comprising an electrically conductive material whose surface is made of an electrically insulating layer, such as natural oxide, cannot be connected in a sufficiently electrically conductive manner by the contact elements described in the prior art. Furthermore, the contact elements are not configured to avoid air gaps between the contact elements. Thus, the electromagnetic shielding of such connections is inefficient at high frequencies. There is therefore a need for a connection member which provides an electrically conductive connection and an effective electromagnetic shielding between contact elements having surfaces made of an electrically insulating layer.

Disclosure of Invention

This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

For connecting contact elements having a conductive core and an electrically insulating surface layer, the invention is based on the idea of: contact members are used which are made of an electrically conductive material and which penetrate the electrically insulating surface layer of the contact element, respectively.

The contact member according to the invention has the shape of a ring, wherein the term "ring" in the present application refers to a circular ring structure as well as a structure topologically equivalent to a circular ring structure. This includes, for example, non-overlapping polygonal structures. To ensure a better understanding, the term "ring" is used only below, without further explanation. The figures show a circular ring structure by way of example, although structures that are topologically equivalent to the circular ring structure are also included.

The annular shape of the contact member enables in particular an effective connection of the cylindrical contact element with the respective bottom region, since the latter has a suitable architecture for use in a limited annular mounting space. This results in a strip of conductive material (e.g. copper alloy) which may be silver plated being enclosed to form a ring-shaped structure. The use of a copper alloy which can be silver plated is advantageous because it represents a good compromise between mechanical and electrothermal properties.

The strip comprises a protrusion on at least one longitudinal side. The protrusions have a pointed or sharp edge which penetrates the electrically insulating surface layer of the contact element, thereby establishing an electrically conductive connection between the conductive cores of the contact element. By using a large number of short protrusions, the contact member according to the invention benefits from the advantages of multi-contact physics and has advantageous electrothermal properties. Each protrusion establishes an electrically conductive contact, thereby establishing a plurality of electrically conductive connections between the contact elements, which results in a number of short current flows and redundant contacts.

In contrast to known contact rings having a planar contact portion for a touch contact element, the contact portion of the contact ring according to the invention is very limited, so that the occurrence of corrosion is reduced.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the strips of the contact ring are arranged in the shape of a cylinder and can thus be well adapted to a cylindrical contact element.

The protrusion of this embodiment tapers to a tip and has an S-shaped cross-section such that its tip affects the surface of the contact element at an obtuse angle. This avoids a larger lateral or surface contact of the protrusion with the surface of the contact element. This in turn reduces the occurrence of fretting corrosion.

At least one pair of adjacent projections has a flat section disposed between the two projections. The flat section serves as overstretch protection for the protrusion during pre-assembly and final assembly between the contact elements. The contact ring on the cylindrical contact element may optionally be even more stable by means of a helical spring engaging around the cylindrically arranged strip.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the strip is closed to form a ring-shaped structure and arranged in a flat manner.

The contact ring according to the second embodiment may be used as part of a contact system comprising, in addition to the contact ring according to the invention, a grounding cylinder and a shielding cylinder, which are shaped such that a gapless assembly with a flat contact ring is possible, thereby achieving a perfect electromagnetic shielding. The connection is established by a double press fit and is therefore particularly robust. In addition, it reduces relative motion and vibration. Due to this connection, the contact system according to the invention comprises an effective electromagnetic shielding, in particular at high frequencies, and can be advantageously used in a multi-position connector.

The shielding cylinder according to the invention also has three centering projections which enable the shielding cylinder to be effectively centered with respect to the grounding cylinder and prevent relative movements and vibrations between them, thus additionally stabilizing the connection.

The cylinder of the contact system preferably comprises the electrically conductive material aluminum. Other materials are also conceivable.

According to a third advantageous embodiment, the strip is also closed to form a ring-shaped structure and arranged in a flat manner, but also has a meandering structure with alternately inwardly and outwardly facing portions, wherein the inwardly facing portions are bent upwards or downwards from the plane of the ring and form projections for the electrically conductive contact of the contact element.

The contact ring according to all embodiments has a high degree of flexibility in the orientation, arrangement, number and configuration of the protrusions.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Like elements are denoted herein by like reference numerals and like component numerals. Furthermore, some features or combinations of features of the different embodiments shown and described may per se also be separate inventive solutions or solutions according to the invention.

Drawings

Fig. 1A shows first and second contact elements.

Fig. 1B shows the two contact elements of fig. 1A connected by a contact ring in a known embodiment.

Fig. 2A shows a strip according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2B shows an alternative closure according to the first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2C shows a contact ring according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 shows a configuration of two contact elements and a contact ring according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 shows a contact ring according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 shows a contact system according to a second embodiment of the invention, comprising a contact ring according to the second embodiment, a grounding cylinder and a shielding cylinder.

Fig. 6A shows a grounding cylinder of a contact ring and contact system according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 6B shows a detail of the contact ring and the grounding cylinder of the contact system of the second embodiment.

Fig. 7A shows a contact system comprising a shielding cylinder with a centering protrusion according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7B shows a cross-section of a contact system comprising a shielding cylinder with a centering protrusion according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7C shows an enlarged detail of a contact system comprising a shielding cylinder with a centering protrusion according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 shows a contact ring according to a second embodiment, alternatively with teeth instead of internal protrusions.

Fig. 9A shows a strip according to a third embodiment of the invention closed in a loop-like manner with a meandering structure.

Fig. 9B shows a contact ring according to a third embodiment of the invention, with protrusions pointing in the same direction.

Fig. 9C shows a contact ring according to a third embodiment of the invention, with protrusions pointing in different directions.

Fig. 10 shows a possible application of the contact ring according to the third embodiment.

Fig. 11A shows a contact ring according to a third embodiment with an attachment protrusion having a flat shape.

Fig. 11B shows a contact ring according to a third embodiment with attachment protrusions having curved protrusions.

Fig. 11C shows a contact ring according to the third embodiment in a second variant, with an attachment protrusion having a flat shape.

Fig. 11D shows a contact ring according to the third embodiment in a second variant with an attachment protrusion having a curved protrusion.

Fig. 11E shows a contact ring according to the third embodiment in a third variant, with an attachment protrusion having a flat shape.

Fig. 11F shows a contact ring according to the third embodiment in a third variant with an attachment protrusion having a curved protrusion.

Fig. 12A shows a contact ring according to the third embodiment in an exemplary variant having a flat shape.

Fig. 12B shows a contact ring according to the third embodiment in an exemplary variant with curved protrusions.

Fig. 12C shows a contact ring according to the third embodiment in another exemplary variant having a flat shape.

Fig. 12D shows a contact ring according to the third embodiment in another exemplary variant with curved protrusions.

Fig. 13A shows a contact ring according to a third embodiment as part of a contact system in a first variant.

Fig. 13B shows a contact ring according to a third embodiment as part of a contact system in a second variant.

Fig. 13C shows a contact ring according to a third embodiment as part of a contact system in a third variant.

Fig. 13D shows a contact ring according to the third embodiment as part of a contact system in a fourth variant.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to fig. 2A to 13D.

Fig. 2A to 2C show a contact ring 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 2A, the contact ring 10 includes a strip 12 of electrically conductive material. The strip 12 is provided with a protrusion 14 on at least one longitudinal side. The projection 14 is tapered and pointed at its end. Fig. 2B shows that the strip 12 may be equipped with a closure 16 at the end, which allows the strip 12 to be closed to form a structure of annular cylindrical arrangement, as can be seen in fig. 2C. This construction allows a simple and inexpensive production of the contact ring 10 by stamping and bending. As shown in fig. 2C, the protrusion 14 is bent outward and has an S-shaped cross section.

A helical spring (not shown) may optionally concentrically surround the contact ring 10, so that the connection between the contact ring 10 and the cylindrical contact element 2 is even more stable.

In addition, it is also possible to have the strip open at the end without a closure. In this case, the helical spring may optionally hold the straps together. Another possibility is that the strip is somewhat longer without a closure and includes an overlap at the ends.

The material of the contact ring 10 preferably comprises a copper alloy which may be silver plated. Compared with spring steel, the material has good mechanical property and good electric heating property.

Fig. 3 shows an example of an application of the contact ring 10. The contact ring 10 is arranged between the two contact elements 1 and 2 such that it touches the oppositely situated surfaces of the contact elements 1 and 2 with the tips of the S-shaped projections 14. If the contact elements 1 and 2 are pressed against each other, the tips of the protrusions 14 penetrate an electrically insulating surface layer, such as an aluminum oxide layer, which is naturally formed on the surface of the contact element made of conductive aluminum.

Thus, even if the contact elements 1 and 2 comprise insulating surfaces that electrically isolate them from each other, an electrically conductive connection can be established between the conductive core of the first contact element 1 and the conductive core of the second contact element 2 by means of the contact ring 10. As shown in fig. 2C, a large number of protrusions 14 (e.g. 24) on both sides of the contact ring 10 has a physically positive effect on the electrical heating properties of the connection between the two contact elements 1 and 2.

The structure of the contact ring 10 with its sharp protrusions 14 for touching the contact elements 1 and 2 also minimizes the area of the contact portions of the contact elements 1 and 2 where the protective surfaces are damaged. Corrosion of the contact elements 1 and 2 can thereby be counteracted.

Fig. 4 shows a contact ring 100 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The contact ring 100 comprises a flat ring made of an electrically conductive material. The flat ring is provided with protrusions 104 at both narrow sides. The protrusion 104 tapers towards its end. The protrusions 104 are curved such that they point out of the plane spanned by the ring 100, wherein the protrusions 104 on the outside of the ring 100 point in opposite directions to the protrusions 104 on the inside of the ring 100. The projections 104 are preferably, but not necessarily, arranged at regular intervals, wherein the inner projections 104 may also have a single larger interval.

The projections 104 on the outside of the ring 100 have an S-shaped cross-section. They are oriented such that they surround a common inscribed circle that they touch through the flat side. The protrusions 104 on the inside of the ring 100 are oriented such that they each touch a common inscribed circle by an edge. The edge is sharp and thus able to penetrate the insulating surface. The protrusions 104 on the outside of the ring may also be optionally oriented so that they each touch a common inscribed circle with a sharp edge and may thus penetrate the insulating surface.

As with the contact ring 10 according to the first embodiment, the material of the contact ring 100 according to the second embodiment preferably comprises a copper alloy, which can be silver plated and has good mechanical properties as well as good electrical heating properties.

The structure of the contact ring 100 can be formed in a simple and inexpensive manner as a roll-to-roll strip by stamping and bending.

Fig. 5 shows how the contact ring 100 according to the second embodiment is arranged in a contact system 400 together with a grounding cylinder 200 and a shielding cylinder 300. The projections 104 on the outside of the ring engage around the shielding cylinder 300. The protrusions 104 on the inside of the ring expand from the inside against the grounding cylinder 200. The connection is established by press-fitting so that the contact ring 100, the grounding cylinder 200 and the shielding cylinder 300 touch each other without any air gap therebetween.

As shown in fig. 6A and 6B, the contact ring 100 contacts the grounding cylinder 200 by the sharp edges of the protrusions 104 on the inside of the ring. Due to the pressure of the press fit, the sharp edge penetrates the surface of the grounding cylinder 200. This establishes a conductive connection between the contact ring 100 and the conductive core of the grounding cylinder 200, as described in relation to the contact ring 10 according to the first embodiment. Corrosion is further reduced due to the extended contact portion between the contact ring 100 and the grounding cylinder 200.

As shown in fig. 7A to 7C, the shielding cylinder 300 includes three centering protrusions 302. The shielding cylinder 300 is connected to the contact ring 100 such that the centering protrusions 302 are each positioned where the contact ring 100 includes inner protrusions 104 having a larger spacing. As a result, the centering protrusions 302 may bend around the contact ring 100 such that they contact the grounding cylinder 200 from the inside without being obstructed by the protrusions 104 of the contact ring 100.

The centering protrusions 302 hold the shielding cylinder 300 firmly at the grounding cylinder 200. As a result, they help to center shielding cylinder 300 relative to grounding cylinder 200 and stabilize contact system 400. The press fit of the centering protrusions 302 and the contact system 400 thereby ensures that the connection made by the contact ring 100, the grounding cylinder 200 and the shielding cylinder 300 is free of any air gaps and also free of any relative movement and vibration of the components. As a result, an effective electromagnetic shielding can be ensured, in particular at high frequencies.

As shown in fig. 8, the contact ring 100 according to the second embodiment may alternatively include teeth 106 instead of the inner protrusions 104. Such an alternative of the contact ring 100 according to the second embodiment can be produced in a simple and inexpensive manner by deep drawing, stamping and bending.

Fig. 9 shows a contact ring 1000 according to a third embodiment of the invention. As with the contact ring 100 of the second embodiment, the contact ring 1000 is constructed from a strip that is closed to form a flat annular structure. Additionally, the contact ring 1000 of the third embodiment has a serpentine configuration with portions pointing alternately inward 1008 and outward 1009. This is due to the fact that the strip is provided with cut-outs 1010 and 1011, which cut-outs 1010 and 1011 start alternately from the inner and outer edges of the strip and extend to the inside of the strip (see fig. 9A). The inwardly directed meanders bend out of the plane of the ring and in this way form a protrusion 1004 for the conductive contact of the contact element. The protrusions 1004 may point in the same direction, as shown in FIG. 9B, or in a different direction, as shown in FIG. 9C.

Fig. 10 shows a possible application of a contact ring 1000 according to a third embodiment for connecting two contact elements 1 and 2. Due to its structure, the contact ring 1000 is resilient in multiple expansion directions. In one aspect, the expansion of contact ring 1000 from the plane of the ring can be changed by changing the angle between outer portion 1009 and curved inner portion 1008 by moving contact elements 1 and 2 toward or away from each other. On the other hand, the radius of the contact ring 1000 can be changed by expanding or compressing the tortuous structure, thereby increasing or decreasing the circumference of the contact ring 1000. In the example of the contact element 1 shown in fig. 10, this feature allows the radially elastic contact ring 1000 to be pulled over a latching step 1012, which latching step 1012 is provided with a ramp 1014 on one side. In the target position, the contact ring 1000 rests on the retaining ring 1015 and is prevented from sliding out of the contact element 1 by the latching step 1012.

The meandering structure according to the third embodiment allows a mechanically advantageous connection of the contact elements, since they can be effectively separated and thus vibrations can be reduced. The construction is also very variable and can be easily adapted to given spatial conditions. For example, fig. 11A to 11F show a variant of a contact ring 1000 according to the third embodiment, which comprises an additional part of the outer curve 1016 that points out of the plane of the ring, and is thus suitable for attachment to a cylindrical contact element. The length and shape of the inwardly and outwardly directed slits can then be varied, so that the spatial elastic properties of the contact ring 1000 can be adapted to the respective conditions. Fig. 12A to 12D also show a variant of an attachment protrusion, which may be connected to the contact element, for example by welding.

As shown in fig. 13A to 13D, the contact ring 1000 according to the third embodiment may also be used as part of a contact system for connecting the grounding cylinder 200 and the shielding cylinder 300.

List of reference numerals

1. 2 contact element

3 contact ring in the known embodiment

10. 100, 1000 contact ring

12 strips

14. 104, 1004 protrusion

15 flat section

16 closure

18 coil spring

102 increased interval

106 teeth

200 ground cylinder

300 shield cylinder

302 centering protrusion

400 contact system

1007 attachment projection

1008 inwardly facing portion

1009 outwardly facing part

1010 inwardly facing slits

1011 outwardly facing cut-out

1012 latching steps

1013 internal slope

1014 outer slope

1015 retaining ring

1016 parts in the outer part out of the plane of the ring