ELECTRICAL CONTACT ASSEMBLY

Abstract

An electrical contact assembly, in which a first and a second contact element are electrically insulated from one another by at least one insulation element or an electrically insulating coating. In both contact elements, a through hole is formed, into each a pin can be introduced. On the first contact element and/or the first pin and the inner lateral surface of the second contact element and/or the outer lateral surface of the second pin, a groove-shaped depression is formed, having at least one annular spring element inserted which is formed from an electrically conductive and elastically deformable material, it is geometrically formed and dimensioned such that the wall facing radially outwards and/or radially inwards acts with a pressure force against the surface of a pin and the surface of the contact elements in a groove-shaped depression. The contact elements and pins are connected to an electrical voltage source.

Claims

1. An electrical contact arrangement having a first contact element and a second contact element, which are arranged electrically insulated from one another by means of at least one insulation element or an electrically insulating coating formed on a surface of at least one of the contact elements and a through hole being formed in each of the first and second contact elements, into which through hole a first mandrel and a second mandrel can be inserted and a groove-shaped recess each being formed on the first contact element and/or the first mandrel and an inner shell of the second contact element and/or an outer shell of the second mandrel, in each of which at least one ring-shaped spring element is located in a form-fitting manner and the at least one spring-shaped spring element is formed from an electrically conductive and elastically deformable material and its inner and outer dimensions are geometrically designed and dimensioned such that the radially outward and/or the radially inward-facing wall act against the surface of a mandrel and the surface of the first and second contact element in the region of the groove-shaped recess with the application of compressive force when the first and second mandrels are inserted into the through holes to produce an electrically conductive connection and the first electrical contact element or the first mandrel is connected to one pole of an electrical voltage source and the second electrical contact element or the second mandrel is connected to an another pole of the electrical voltage source.

2. The electrical contact arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ring-shaped spring element(s) is/are hollow in form and cylindrical having an inner and outer diameter that is constant over its/their length and a constant cross-section in an unloaded state.

3. The electrical contact arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first and second mandrel(s) is/are designed in the form of a sleeve or socket.

4. The electrical contact arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ring-shaped spring element is a helical spring.

5. The electrical contact arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the groove-shaped recesses are dimensioned so that the at least one ring-shaped spring element(s) is/are deformed so that a spring compression of at least 10%, compared to an original state of the at least one spring-shaped spring element(s) is achieved when the first and second mandrels are inserted into the through holes of the first and second contact elements.

6. The electrical contact arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the groove-shaped recesses are formed concave, trapezoidal or as a V-shaped groove.

7. The electrical contact arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a groove-shaped recess is formed in the region an inner shell of the through hole in the first contact element.

8. The electrical contact arrangement according to claim 1, wherein when a groove-shaped recess is formed both in a mandrel and in a through hole of a contact element, one of the groove-shaped recesses of a recess pair can be dimensioned smaller than the respective other groove-shaped recess.

9. The electrical contact arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one insulation element is made as a sleeve on which a radially outwardly pointing flange is present and the sleeve is arranged between an outer shell of at least one of the first and second mandrels and an inner shell in the region of one of the first and second contact elements and the flange is arranged between the first and second contact elements.

10. The electrical contact arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first and second mandrels and the through holes formed in the first and second contact elements have a complementary cross-sectional geometry which is rotationally symmetrical, elliptical or polygonal.

11. The electrical contact arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second mandrels is made in the form of a sleeve into which the other first or second mandrel and a sleeve-shaped region of the at least one insulation element is inserted.

12. The electrical contact element according to claim 1, wherein a ring-shaped groove-shaped recess is made on a surface of a flange formed circumferentially on the first mandrel, the corresponding surface points in a direction of a surface of the first contact element and a ring-shaped spring element is inserted in this groove-shaped recess.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The invention is to be explained in more detail below by way of example. Individual features that can be found in the examples or figures are not limited to the respective example or figure. Features can be combined with one another regardless of the respective example or figure.

[0039] Shown Are:

[0040] FIG. 1 a first example of a contact arrangement according to the invention;

[0041] FIG. 2 a second example of a contact arrangement according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 3 a third example of a contact arrangement according to the invention;

[0043] FIG. 4 a fourth example of a contact arrangement according to the invention;

[0044] FIG. 5 a fifth example of a contact arrangement according to the invention and

[0045] FIG. 6 a diagram from which one can see a tolerance field for the compression of helical springs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] In the example shown in FIG. 1, a ring-shaped electrical contact element 1 is connected in a form (not shown) to a pole of an electrical voltage source. In the contact element 1, a bore is formed as a through hole into which a first mandrel 4 is inserted with clearance. The first mandrel forms the inner conductor. On the outer shell of the first mandrel 4, a groove-shaped recess is formed, into which a helical spring interconnected at the end faces is inserted and held in a form-fitting manner as an example of a ring-shaped spring element 6.1. The groove-shaped recess is dimensioned such that the helical spring 6.1 is securely held and compressed by means of the inner shell of the first contact element 1 in the region of the through hole such that compressive forces between the windings of the helical spring 6.1 and the corresponding surfaces of the first contact element 1 and the first mandrel 4 act and the helical spring 6.1 has been elliptically deformed. The windings of the helical spring 6.1 can also be tilted laterally.

[0047] An electrically conductive connection is established in this position of the first mandrel 4. If the first mandrel 4 is moved in a translatory manner in the axial direction, the groove-shaped recess with the first helical spring 6.1 moves into a position in which the helical spring 6.1 no longer has any contact with the first contact element 1 and the electrically conductive connection can thereby be separated.

[0048] The electrically conductive connection can also be separated when the first contact element 1 is moved in a translatory manner such that there is no touching contact with the first helical spring 6.1.

[0049] In this example, a second contact element 2 is connected to one pole of an electrical voltage source (not shown). A bore is also formed as a through hole in the second electrical contact element 2. To establish an electrically conductive connection, a second mandrel 5 having little clearance can be inserted into this through hole, which in this example is sleeve-shaped in form. A sleeve-shaped insulation element 3.1, in which a circumferential flange is formed on an end face pointing in the direction of the first electrical contact element 1, is guided as electrical insulation to the first mandrel 4 and the first electrical contact element 1 through the interior of the sleeve.

[0050] A groove-shaped recess is also formed on the outer shell of the second mandrel 5, into which recess a helical spring has been inserted as an example of a ring-shaped spring element 6.2, analogous to helical spring 6.1. It is also held in a form-fitting manner in the groove-shaped recess and produces an electrical current flow between the second electrical contact element 2 and the second mandrel 5 when the second mandrel 5 has been positioned as shown in FIG. 1. In this example, the electrically conductive connection can alternatively be achieved by means of a translational movement of the second contact element 2, which is guided to such an extent that there is no longer any touching contact between the second contact element 2 and the helical spring 6.2.

[0051] It becomes clear that the windings of the helical springs 6.1 and 6.2 can be deformed in the form of an ellipse because of the pressure forces acting in relation to the axis of rotation of the contact system in the radial direction if an electrical current is to flow via the outer conductor and inner conductor.

[0052] If at least one of the mandrels 4 or 5 or the first contact element 1 or the second contact element 2 is moved in a translatory manner such that the position of the helical spring 6.1 or 6.2 is changed such that there is no touching contact with the first or second electrical contact element 1 or 2, there is a separation of the electrical current flow to an electrical load, which is connected to the mandrels 4 and 5 in an electrically conductive manner in a form not shown. Of course, the electrical contact elements 1 and 2 can also be connected in an electrically conductive manner to an electrical load and the mandrels 4 and 5 can each be connected to a pole of an electrical voltage source.

[0053] The second example shown in FIG. 2 differs from the example according to FIG. 1 in that a second insulation element 3.2 is present. This is also partially sleeve-shaped in form and provided with a circumferential flange which forms an electrical insulation between the first and second electrical contact elements 1 and 2. The sleeve-shaped region of the second insulation element 3.2 forms an electrical insulation between the first electrical contact element 1 and the first mandrel 4 in a region in which no groove-shaped recess is formed. In contrast to the example according to FIG. 1, this example has an advantageous blind assembly capability.

[0054] The first and second examples do not otherwise differ.

[0055] In the third example shown in FIG. 3, the position of the groove-shaped recesses for receiving the helical springs 6.1 and 6.2 is reversed compared to the two previously described examples. A groove-shaped recess for the helical spring 6.1 is formed in the inner wall of the through hole of the first electrical contact element 1 and not on a surface of the first mandrel 4 and a further groove-shaped recess is formed in the inner wall of the through hole of the second electrical contact element 2 and not on a surface of the second mandrel 5.

[0056] Further version: Groove-shaped recess both in the contact element and in the mandrel/socket (combination of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3)

[0057] The fourth example shown in FIG. 4 differs from the example according to FIG. 1 in that two groove-shaped recesses are formed, such that two helical springs 6.1 and 6.2 can respectively be inserted side by side in two grooveshaped recesses and can be fixed therein, whereby the contact points or area available for an electrical current flow is enlarged and greater electrical currents can be switched. Radially available installation space can also be better used. In a form not shown, the groove-shaped recesses can also be made longer, such that two helical springs 6.1 and 6.2 can be inserted into each groove-shaped recess.

[0058] The example shown in FIG. 5 differs from the example according to FIG. 1 in that a ring-shaped, groove-shaped recess is formed on a surface of a flange formed circumferentially on the first mandrel 4. The corresponding surface points in the direction of a surface of the first electrical contact element 1. An axially tiltable or already tilted helical spring 6.1 is inserted into the grooveshaped recess, through which the electrical current flow occurs when the first mandrel 4 has been positioned, as shown in FIG. 5. This electrical current flow can be interrupted when the first mandrel 4 has been moved upwards in the form shown here, that is, away from the first electrical contact element 1.

[0059] The electrical current flow can also be interrupted when the second mandrel 5 has been moved until there is no longer any direct touching contact between the helical spring 6.2 and the second mandrel 5.

[0060] In the second example, at least one of the mandrels 4 or 5 can be moved in the through hole until there is no longer any touching contact between the helical spring 6.1 or 6.2 and the first mandrel 4 or second mandrel 5 in order to terminate the electrical current flow.

[0061] When switching on, the movement can take place in the opposite direction, such that an electrical current can flow through the electrical contact elements 1 and 2, the helical springs 6.1 and 6.2 to the mandrels 4 and 5 or vice versa.

[0062] In all examples, helical springs 6.1 and 6.2, the coils of which are oval-shaped, can be used.