Connecting element

Abstract

A connecting element with a screw-in element and a contact element. The screw-in element is pin-shaped and extends along a longitudinal axis, has a thread on its first free end, a drive profile and a reception on its second free end, wherein the contact element is arranged in the reception with its first free end and has a connecting pin on its second free end that extends beyond the screw-in element in the direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the contact element has a spring that is arranged between the screw-in element and the connecting pin.

Claims

1. A connecting element with a screw-in element (1) and a contact element (2), wherein the screw-in element (1) is pin-shaped and extends along a longitudinal axis (L), wherein the screw-in element (1) comprises a thread (100) on its first free end (10) and comprises a drive profile (110,112) and a reception (111,114;115) on its second free end (11), wherein the contact element (2) is arranged in the reception (111,114;115) with its first free end (20) and comprises a connecting pin (210) on its second free end (21) which extends beyond the screw-in element (1) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L), characterized in that the contact element (2) comprises a spring (200) which is arranged between the screw-in element (1) and the connecting pin (210).

2. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the drive profile of the screw-in element (1) comprises an inner profile (110), wherein the reception of the screw-in element (1) comprises a peripheric reception (111) and wherein the first free end (20) of the contact element (2) comprises the spring (200) and is arranged in the peripheric reception (111) with the spring (200).

3. The connecting element according to claim 2, wherein the peripheric reception (111) is identical with the thread (100) and extends along the entire length of the screw-in element (1).

4. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the drive profile of the screw-in element (1) comprises an external profile (112), wherein the screw-in element (1) comprises a fixation pin (113) with a peripheric reception (114) on its second free end (11) and wherein the first free end (20) of the contact element (2) comprises the spring (200) and is arranged in the peripheric reception (114) with the spring (200).

5. The connecting element according to claim 4, wherein the fixation pin (113) is formed integrally in a single piece with the screw-in element (1).

6. The connecting element according to claim 4, wherein the fixation pin (113) is arranged in a centric reception (115) in the screw-in element (1).

7. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the drive profile of the screw-in element (1) comprises an outer profile (112), wherein the screw-in element (1) comprises a centric reception (115) on its second free end (11), wherein the first fee end (20) of the contact element (2) comprises the spring (200) and a fixation pin (201) and is arranged in the centric reception (115) with the fixation pin (201).

8. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein in the region of the reception (111,114;115), the contours of the contact element (2) are essentially congruent with the reception (111,114;115) and constitute a precisely fitting connection.

9. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the screw-in element (1) and the contact element (2) are made from an electrically conductive material and are electrically connected to each another.

10. A connecting assembly comprising a first component (3), wherein the first component (3) comprises at least one tap hole (30,31), characterized in that a connecting element according to claim 1 is screwed in the at least one of the tap holes (30).

11. The connecting assembly according to claim 10, further comprising at least one second component (4), wherein each second component (4) comprises at least one socket (40), wherein the connecting pin (210) of the at least one connecting element, in its intended use position, is arranged in the at least one socket (40).

12. The connecting assembly according to claim 11, wherein the socket (40) is designed as such that connectors (5,6) of the first component (3) can be electrically connected to terminals (41) of the second component (4) by means of the connecting elements and the sockets (40).

13. The connecting assembly according to claim 12, wherein a front side on the first free end (10) of the screw-in element (1) of the respective connecting element is in an electric contact with the corresponding connector (5,6) of the first component (3).

14. The connecting assembly according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the tap holes (30) comprises a sink (300), in which the contact element (2) is arranged, at least partially.

15. The connecting assembly according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the tap holes (30) comprises a sink (300), in which the contact element (2) is arranged, at least partially.

16. The connecting assembly according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the tap holes (30) comprises a sink (300), in which the contact element (2) is arranged, at least partially.

17. The connecting assembly according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the tap holes (30) comprises a sink (300), in which the contact element (2) is arranged, at least partially.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the current invention are described in more detail in the following with reference to the figures. These are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting. It shows

(2) FIG. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a connecting element according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2A a schematic sectional view through the longitudinal axis of an embodiment of a connecting element according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C show alternative detail views of FIG. 2A;

(5) FIG. 3 a schematic sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a connecting element according to the invention;

(6) FIG. 4 a schematic sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a connecting element according to the invention;

(7) FIG. 5 a schematic sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a connecting element according to the invention;

(8) FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D show various embodiments of connecting pins of connecting elements according to the invention; and

(9) FIG. 7 a schematic sectional view through a connecting assembly according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a connecting element according to the invention. The connecting element comprises a screw-in element 1 and a contact element 2 that is arranged on the screw-in element 1. The screw-in element 1 is pin-shaped and extends along a longitudinal axis L. A thread 100 is provided on a first free end 10 of the screw-in element 1 and a drive profile 110 in the form of an internal hex profile is provided on a second free end 11. The contact element 2 comprises a spring 200 on a first free end 20 and a connecting pin 210 on a second free end. The contact element 2 is arranged on the second free end 11 of the screw-in element by means of the spring 200.

(11) FIG. 2A shows a schematic sectional view through the longitudinal axis L of an embodiment of a connecting element according to the invention, wherein a first embodiment of the screw-in element 1 is shown on the right side and wherein a second embodiment is shown on the left side. The first embodiment of the screw-in element 1 comprises a thread 100 on its lateral surface 101 which thread extends from the first free end 10 on and a reception 111 which extends from the second free end 11 on.

(12) The reception 111 is a spiral-shaped recess with a circular cross-section. The outer contours of the reception 111 are congruent with the inner contours of the spring 200 of the contact element 2. The thread 100 is designed finer than the reception 111. In inner profile 110 is provided on the second free end. At the second embodiment of the screw-in element 1, the thread 100 is identical to the reception 111 and extends from the first free end 10 to the second free end 11. The outer contours of the thread 100 and the reception 111 respectively, are congruent with the inner contours of the spring 200 of the contact element 2. Generally, all combination of threads 100 and springs 200 are suitable, in which the pitch of the thread 100 equals the pitch of the spring 200. FIG. 2B shows a combination of a thread 100 and a reception 111 respectively, with the shape of a V-thread and spring 200 with a spring wire with a circular cross-section. FIG. 2C shows a combination of a V-shaped thread 100 with a spring 200 with a spring wire with a trapezoidal cross-section. Generally, all known kinds of thread are possible as a reception 100, such as, for example, trapezoidal thread, round thread or flat thread. Springs 200 with spring wires with round, oval or polygonal cross-sections can be used as well.

(13) FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a connecting element according to the invention. A outer profile 112 is provided on the second free end 11 of the screw-in element 1 as a drive profile, for example a hexagonal profile. Adjacent to it, a mounting pin 113 with a peripheric reception 114 is arranged, wherein the mounting pin 113 is formed integrally in a single piece with the screw-in element 1. The peripheric reception 114 is a spiral-shaped recess. The spring 200 of the contact element 2 is arranged in the peripheric reception 114. The outer contours of the reception 114 are congruent with the inner contours of the spring 200.

(14) FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a connecting element according to the invention. In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 3, the pin 113 is arranged in a centric reception 115 which is formed frontal on the second free end 11 of the screw-in element 1. The centric reception is a recess in the form of a borehole. The pin 113 comprises the peripheric reception 114 and the spring 200 is arranged in the peripheric recess 114.

(15) FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a connecting element according to the invention. The screw-in element 1 comprises a peripheric drive profile 112 on the second fee end 111 and a frontally arranged centric reception 115. The contact element 2 comprises the spring 200 and a mounting pin 201 on the second fee end 20. The contact element 2 is arranged in the centric reception 115 of the screw-in element 1 by means of the mounting pin 201.

(16) FIGS. 6A-6D show different embodiments of connecting pins 210 of contact elements 2 according to the invention.

(17) FIG. 6A shows a simple straight pin with an end face on the free end. Alternatively, the free end may be rounded.

(18) FIG. 6B shows a simple bent pin, wherein the two shanks adjoining the bend extend parallel to each other and are abutting each other.

(19) FIG. 6C shows a U-shaped pin, wherein the two shanks adjoining the middle part extend parallel to each other and at a distance to one another and wherein the middle part extends essentially perpendicular to the two shanks.

(20) FIG. 6D shows a U-shaped pin, wherein the two shanks adjoining the middle part converge in a direction away from the middle part and the middle part being inclined, i.e. is not oriented perpendicularly to the two shanks.

(21) FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional view through a connecting assembly according to the invention. The assembly comprises a first component 3 which is connected to a second component 4 by means of connecting elements 1,2. The first component 3 comprises a first connector 5 which is fixed in the first component 3 by means of fixation elements 7. Depicted is a toothed rack as connector 5, which can be, for example, the movable Z-axis of a manipulator. The toothed rack 5 is fixed to the housing of the first component 3 by a threaded pin 7. The threaded pin 7 is screwed in a tap hole 31 of the first component 3. The connecting element 1,2 is screwed in a further tap hole 30, wherein the front face of the screw-in element 1 is electrically conductive in contact with the toothed rack 5. The further tap hole 30 comprises a sink 300 on its side oriented towards the second component 4, wherein the diameter of the sink is bigger than the one of the sections of the further bore hole with the thread. The spring 200 of the contact element 2 is partially arranged in the sink 300. The spring 200 and the connecting pin 210 extend from the first component 3 away. A second connector 6 is fixed in the housing of the first component 3 by means of a threaded pin 7 with an internal hex, separated from the first connector 5. A connecting element 1,2 according to the invention is in electric contact with the second connector 6. The second component 4 comprises sockets 40, in which the connecting pins 210 of the connecting elements 2 can be inserted to provide an electric contact. The second component 4 further comprises terminals 41 which are electrically connected to the sockets. The first connector 5 of the first component 3 is electrically connectable with the second connector 6 of the second component 4 by means of the connecting elements 1,2, the sockets 40 and the terminals 41.

(22) TABLE-US-00001 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 screw-in element 10 first free end 100 thread 101 lateral surface 11 second free end 110 centric screw drive profile 111 peripheric reception 112 peripheric screw drive profile 113 pin 114 peripheric reception 115 centric reception 2 Contact element 20 first free end 200 spring 201 fixating pin 21 second free end 210 connecting pin 3 first component 30 tap hole 300 sink 31 tap hole 4 second component 40 socket 41 terminal 5 first connector 6 second connector 7 fixation element L longitudinal axis