Electrical normally open contact

Abstract

An electric closer, in particular for a motor vehicle line, in particular a motor vehicle power line, comprising a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal, a first contact element which is electrically connected to the first terminal, a second contact element which is electrically connected to the second terminal, a connecting element with which an electrical connection can be established between the two contact elements, and a drive which effects a relative movement between the contact elements and connecting element, characterised in that the connecting element or the contact elements are formed at least in parts from an electrically conductive, porous metal.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. Electrical normally open contact (NO contact), in particular for a motor vehicle cable, in particular a motor vehicle power line, comprising: a first electrical terminal; a second electrical terminal, a first contact element electrically connected to the first terminal; a second contact element electrically connected to the second terminal; a connecting element with which an electrical connection can be established between the two contact elements; and a drive configured to cause a relative movement between at least one of the contact elements and the connecting element, wherein the connecting element or the contact elements are formed at least in part from an electrically conductive, porous material wherein the at least one contact element immersed into the electrically conductive material is circumferentially enclosed by the electrically conductive material of the connecting element or the connecting element immersed into the electrically conductive material of at least one of the contact elements is circumferentially enclosed by the respective electrically conductive material of at least one of the contact elements.

15. Electrical normally open contact according to claim 14, wherein the relative movement of at least one of the contact elements causes the contact elements to immerses into the electrically conductive material of the connecting element, or the connecting element immerses into the porous material of at least one of the contact elements.

16. Electrical normally open contact according to claim 14, wherein an end region of the at least one contact element is completely enclosed by the electrically conductive material, or a respective end region of the connecting element is completely enclosed by the respective electrically conductive material.

17. Electrical normally open contact according to claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive material is a porous metal, in particular an open-pored or closed-pored metal foam, in particular made of an aluminium material or a copper material.

18. Electrical normally open contact according to claim 17, wherein the porous metal has an average pore diameter between 0.2 and 4 mm.

19. Electrical normally open contact according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the contact elements is formed in the shape of a mandrel and its tip is directed towards the connecting element, or in that the ends of the connecting element are formed in the shape of a mandrel and their tips are directed towards the respective contact element.

20. Electrical normally open contact according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the contact elements is formed integrally with at least one of the terminals.

21. Electrical normally open contact according to claim 14, wherein the connecting element is formed as a conductor bridge and in that the relative movement causes the connecting element to be immersed into the electrically conductive material of at least one of the contact elements.

22. Electrical normally open contact according to claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive material is completely enclosed by a housing and the connecting element and/or the contact elements break through the housing wall when immersed into the electrically conductive material.

23. Electrical normally open contact according to claim 22, wherein the housing is made of an insulating material.

24. Electrical normally open contact according to claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive material completely encloses the connecting element and/or the contact elements after immersion, thus forming a force fit connection between the connecting element or the contact elements and the electrically conductive material.

25. Electrical normally open contact according to claim 14, wherein the drive is electric, electromechanical, magnetic, pneumatic and/or pyrotechnical.

26. Electrical normally open contact according to claim 17, wherein the porous metal is formed by foaming a blowing agent in a metal-blowing agent mixture or by washing out a salt in a cast metal-salt mixture.

Description

[0030] In the following, the subject matter will be explained in more detail by means of a drawing showing examples. In the drawing show:

[0031] FIG. 1a a NO contact in an open position according to a first embodiment;

[0032] FIG. 1b a NO contact in a closed position as shown in FIG. 1a;

[0033] FIG. 2a a NO contact in an open position according to an embodiment;

[0034] FIG. 2b the NO contact as per FIG. 2a in a closed position;

[0035] FIG. 3a a NO contact according to an example in an open position;

[0036] FIG. 3b the NO contact as shown in FIG. 3a in a closed position.

[0037] FIG. 1a shows a normally open contact 2 with a first terminal 4a and a second terminal 4b. The terminals 4a, b can be flat or round parts. The terminals 4a, b can be formed in particular as terminal lugs, terminal studs, crimp terminals, solder terminals, welding terminals or similar. The terminals 4a, b may be bimetallic or made of a metal. In particular, the terminals 4a, b may be made of a copper material or an aluminium material.

[0038] Contact elements 6a, 6b may be provided in one piece with which the terminals 4a, b or only electrically contacted with them. The contact elements 6a, b can be made of the same metal or a different metal as the terminals 4a, b. The contact elements 6a, 6b can be metallically coated. In particular, the contact elements 6a, b can be made of a copper material or an aluminium material.

[0039] The contact elements 6a, b can be formed in the shape of a mandrel on the front side and point in the direction of a connecting element 8.

[0040] A connecting element 8 can have a housing 8a and a metal foam 8b arranged in the housing 8a. The metal foam 8b is described in the following representative of a porous metal, so the following description is also applicable to any other porous metal.

[0041] The housing 8a is made of an insulating material, especially plastic, and preferably completely encases the metal foam 8b. On the side of the connecting element 8 facing away from the contact elements 6a, b , a drive 10 in the form of a squip can be provided. An electrical impulse can trigger the drive 10 via ignition wires 12, whereupon a gas pressure accelerates the connecting element in the direction of the contact elements 6a, b.

[0042] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1a, the connecting element 8 is movably arranged in a channel 14 and can be moved in particular in the direction of movement 16 in channel 14. The movement of connecting element 8 in channel 14 in direction of movement 16 is triggered by drive 10.

[0043] In case of triggering, an ignition impulse is transmitted via the ignition wire 12 and the drive 10 ignites. Due to the gas pressure generated, connecting element 8 moves in direction of movement 16. The impulse of connecting element 8 is sufficiently large so that the contact elements 6a, b penetrate the housing 8a and immerse into the metal foam 8b. A mechanical and electrical connection is formed between the front faces of the contact elements 6a, b and the metal foam 8b. A short circuit is formed between the contact elements 6a, b via the metal foam 8b and the normally open contact 2 is in a closed position.

[0044] The connection element 8 remains in this closed position. Since the tips of the contact elements 6a, b are mechanically completely enclosed by the metal foam 8b, the connecting element 8 sticks to the contact elements 6a, b and a reset is prevented. Barbs or undercuts can also be arranged at the tips of the contact elements 6a, b (not shown) which prevent the connecting element 8 from moving against direction 16.

[0045] FIG. 2a shows another embodiment in which a contact element 6a is pivotally mounted about an axis 6c around the connecting element 4b. The contact element 6a is connected to the connecting element 8, in particular the metal foam 8b. In particular, the connecting element 8 including the metal foam 8b is captively arranged at the contact element 6a, for example by a material-locking joining of the metal foam 8b with a surface of the contact element 6a.

[0046] The drive 10′ is formed by a spring, which can be released electromagnetically, for example.

[0047] In case of triggering, the drive 10′ is triggered by an ignition impulse and the contact element 6a together with connecting element 8 is accelerated in the direction of the contact element 6b. Due to this relative movement, the contact element 6b immerses the metal foam 8b as shown in FIG. 2b and a short circuit is formed between the contact element 6a and the contact element 6b.

[0048] According to another embodiment, the contact elements 6a, 6b can also be accelerated in a direction of movement 16 in the direction of the connecting element 8, as shown in FIG. 3a, b. The contact elements 6a, b are connected to the connecting elements 4a, b in such a way that the contact elements 6a, b are movable in a direction of movement 16. A bolt 18 can be provided between the drive 10 and the contact elements 6a, b to ensure uniform acceleration of the contact elements 6a, b.

[0049] An insulation layer 8c can be provided between the front ends of the contact elements 6a, b and the connecting element 8. FIG. 3a shows an open position of the normally open contact 2. In the event of triggering, the drive 10 is triggered and the contact elements 6a, b are accelerated in the direction of movement 16 in the direction of the connecting element 8 via the bolt 18. The movement impulse is so large that the contact elements 6a, b penetrate the insulation layer 8c and immerse into the metal foam 8b. FIG. 3b shows the closed position in which a short circuit is formed between the contact elements 6a, b via the metal foam 8b.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0050] 2 NO contact [0051] 4a, b Terminals [0052] 6a, b Contact elements [0053] 6c Axis [0054] 8 Connecting element [0055] 8a Housing [0056] 8b Metal foam [0057] 8c Insulation layer [0058] 10, 10′ Drive [0059] 12 Ignition wire [0060] 14 Channel [0061] 16 Direction of movement [0062] 18 Bolt