An electrical device includes a flat electrical conductor defining an aperture and an electrically conductive rivet with a body having a layer of a solder composition disposed on a first side and a tubular shaft extending from a second side of the body opposite the first side. A free end of the tubular shaft is flared such that the free end has a diameter larger than a diameter of the aperture.

The invention relates to a contact element (1) for a plug connector, comprising a crimp region having crimp wings (5), with which same is connected to an electrical conductor of a line, wherein the contact element (1) has a spring-like contact geometry for a counter contact element in a contact region, wherein this contact geometry is provided in duplicate, characterised in that one part of the double contact geometry is formed by an additional contact element (3), wherein this additional contact element (3) is produced separately from the contact element (1) and, after production, same is arranged on the contact element (1) via a connection (4).

A method for producing an electrical contact assembly includes. Providing a contact carrier of a first conductive material, the contact carrier having at least one depression or an aperture. Furthermore, a contact material support of a second conductive material is provided. This contact material support is pressed in the depression or the aperture while at the same time applying an electrical welding voltage to the contact material support and the contact carrier, a pressing-force/welding-current/time profile being chosen such that the contact carrier and the contact material support form a connection including interlocking and/or frictional engagement and a connection including material bonding in one working step.

A method for producing an electrical contact assembly includes. Providing a contact carrier of a first conductive material, the contact carrier having at least one depression or an aperture. Furthermore, a contact material support of a second conductive material is provided. This contact material support is pressed in the depression or the aperture while at the same time applying an electrical welding voltage to the contact material support and the contact carrier, a pressing-force/welding-current/time profile being chosen such that the contact carrier and the contact material support form a connection including interlocking and/or frictional engagement and a connection including material bonding in one working step.

The invention discloses an arrangement for mechanically and electrically contacting a glow wire of a thermal radiation source, comprising a glow wire made of refractory metal having at least one flat connection surface to be contacted, a contact surface on which the glow wire is contacted, and a contacting means which connects the glow wire to the contact surface. The invention also relates to a method for producing the contact according to the invention. The problem addressed by the invention, of providing a reliable and enduringly stable mechanical and electrical contact of glow wires made of refractory metals, is solved in that the flat connection surface has at least two perforations and/or at a circumferential edge of the connection surface of the glow wire at least two recesses are formed, wherein the contacting means is integrally connected to the contact surface at the location of the perforations and/or recesses and forms both an electrical and a mechanical connection to the glow wire at the location of the perforations and/or recesses by means of a flange-like design of the contacting means above the connection surface of the glow wire.

The invention discloses an arrangement for mechanically and electrically contacting a glow wire of a thermal radiation source, comprising a glow wire made of refractory metal having at least one flat connection surface to be contacted, a contact surface on which the glow wire is contacted, and a contacting means which connects the glow wire to the contact surface. The invention also relates to a method for producing the contact according to the invention. The problem addressed by the invention, of providing a reliable and enduringly stable mechanical and electrical contact of glow wires made of refractory metals, is solved in that the flat connection surface has at least two perforations and/or at a circumferential edge of the connection surface of the glow wire at least two recesses are formed, wherein the contacting means is integrally connected to the contact surface at the location of the perforations and/or recesses and forms both an electrical and a mechanical connection to the glow wire at the location of the perforations and/or recesses by means of a flange-like design of the contacting means above the connection surface of the glow wire.

An artificial muscle assembly includes an electronic device and a power supply. The electronic device includes a flexible terminal having a contact surface. The power supply includes a rigid power supply connector electrically coupled to the terminal of the electronic device. The power supply connector having a contact surface. A spacer provided between and in contact with the contact surface of the terminal and the contact surface of the power supply connector. The spacer is physically compliant and electrically conductive.

An artificial muscle assembly includes an electronic device and a power supply. The electronic device includes a flexible terminal having a contact surface. The power supply includes a rigid power supply connector electrically coupled to the terminal of the electronic device. The power supply connector having a contact surface. A spacer provided between and in contact with the contact surface of the terminal and the contact surface of the power supply connector. The spacer is physically compliant and electrically conductive.

The invention relates to an electrical connection arrangement (4) for the electrical and mechanical connection of a first electrical conductor (2) to a second electrical conductor (3), having an electrical connection element (8) with a first end and with a second end, wherein a press portion (9) is arranged at the first end, the press portion having at least one lateral contact surface (11) for electrical contact with an inner lateral surface (12) of a contact recess (13) of the first electrical conductor (2), and wherein a bearing portion (10) is arranged at the second end, the bearing portion having a bearing surface (14) for non-positive connection to a side surface (15) of the second electrical conductor (3). A connection bore (16) extends at least between the bearing portion (10) and the press portion (9) so that the connection element (8) can receive a first fastening means (17) or forms a first fastening means (17) itself, and can receive a second fastening means (18) which can be connected to the first fastening means (17) so that the non-positive connection is produced between the bearing surface (14) of the bearing portion (10) and the side surface (15) of the second electrical conductor (3). It is provided that the press portion (9) can be radially spread apart by the first fastening means (17) and/or by the second fastening means (18) in order to bring about a non-positive connection between the at least one lateral contact surface (11) and the inner lateral surface (12) of the contact recess (13), by the two fastening means (17, 18) being connected together.

A fastener for use in joining dissimilar materials manufactured by the process of producing the fastener with an external surface that forms an electrically insulating oxide layer when subjected to oxidation and, after manufacture and prior to use, subjecting the fastener to a pre-oxidation process to grow the desired oxide layer in situ on the external surface of the fastener. The present invention also provides a dissimilar material joint in which the pre-oxidized fastener is used to mechanically join dissimilar materials with the oxide layer electrically insulating the fastener from at least one of the dissimilar materials. The fastener may be a rivet used in friction self-piercing riveting (F-SPR). The fastener may be fabricated from an alloy capable of forming Al.sub.2O.sub.3 or Cr.sub.2O.sub.3 by thermal oxidation. The fastener may be pre-coated with Al or Cr that functions as a seed layer to form Al.sub.2O.sub.3 or Cr.sub.2O.sub.3.