SAFETY ELEMENT AND PLUG CONNECTOR

Abstract

A safety element (10) for an electrical connector (100), wherein the safety element (10) is designed such that it is electrically insulating below a limit temperature (T.sub.Limit), and wherein the safety element (10) is designed such that it is electrically conductive above the limit temperature (T.sub.Limit)

Claims

1. A safety element for an electrical connector, the safety element being designed in such a way that it is electrically insulating below a limit temperature and electrically conductive above the limit temperature.

2. The safety element according to claim 1, wherein the safety element is a secondary interlock for locking together a first connector element and a second connector element of the connector.

3. The safety element according to claim 1, wherein the limit temperature lies in a range from 200? C. to 250? C.

4. The safety element according to claim 1, wherein the safety element is formed from a polymer that is electrically conductive above the limit temperature.

5. The safety element according to claim 1, wherein the safety element comprises a base body made of a polymer having a melting temperature corresponding to the threshold temperature.

6. The safety element according to claim 5, wherein the base body has at least one bore that holds at least one electrically conductive element formed from a conductive polymer or a metal, so that, when the limit temperature is exceeded, the polymer from which the base body is formed melts and the at least one electrically conductive element is exposed, and the safety element is electrically conductive when the limit temperature is exceeded.

7. The safety element according to claim 1, wherein the safety element comprises an element made of a bimetallic material designed to change electrical resistance as a function of temperature in such a way that it is electrically insulating below a limit temperature and is electrically conductive above the limit temperature.

8. The safety element according to claim 1, wherein the safety element comprises a shape-memory alloy element that changes shape above the limit temperature so that the safety element becomes electrically conductive when the limit temperature is exceeded.

9. The safety element according to claim 1, wherein the safety element is a 3D printing element that is designed in such a way that it changes its shape above the limit temperature, so that the safety element is electrically conductive when the limit temperature is exceeded.

10. A safety connector comprising a safety element according to claim 1.

11. The safety connector according to claim 10, wherein the connector is an HV connector.

12. The safety connector according to claim 10, wherein the connector comprises a first plug-in connection element and a second plug-in connection element, and the safety element is designed as a secondary interlock for locking together the first plug-in connection element and the second plug-in connection element.

13. The safety connector according to claim 12, wherein in a secondary locked position of the connector, the safety element is in the hottest zone of the connector and is electrically conductive above the limit temperature, so that a planned malfunction of the connector occurs above the limit temperature.

Description

[0033] Further details and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following embodiments described with reference to a drawing in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a safety element of a first embodiment according to the invention,

[0035] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a safety element of a second embodiment according to the invention,

[0036] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a safety element of a third embodiment according to the invention,

[0037] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective sectional view of a second plug-in connection element and the second embodiment of the safety element according to the invention,

[0038] FIG. 5 is a schematic partial sectional view of the connector according to the invention with second embodiment of the safety element according to the invention, and

[0039] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective partial sectional view of the connector according to the invention with second embodiment of the safety element according to the invention.

[0040] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a safety element 10 of a first embodiment according to the invention. The safety element 10 according to the invention is a safety element 10 for an electrical connector 100. The safety element 10 is designed in such a way that it is electrically insulating below a limit temperature T.sub.Limit. The safety element 10 is further configured such that it is electrically conductive above the limit temperature T.sub.Limit. A part of the safety element 10 is preferably in a hottest zone H of the electrical connector 100 when installed in the electrical connector.

[0041] The safety element 10 according to FIG. 1 is a secondary locking device.

[0042] Such a secondary interlock is preferably configured to lock together a first connector element 110 and a second connector element 120 of the connector 100.

[0043] The limit temperature T.sub.Limit is preferably in a range from 200? C. to 250? C., further preferably in a range from 210? C. to 240? C., in particular in a range from 220? C. to 230? C.

[0044] The safety element 10 according to FIG. 1 has a base body 10 made of a polymer. It can be provided that the polymer is electrically conductive above the limit temperature T.sub.Limit.

[0045] Alternatively, the safety element 10 may comprise a base body 10 made of a polymer having a melting temperature corresponding to the limit temperature T.sub.Limit. This ensures that the base body melts when the limit temperature is exceeded, exposing conductive elements of the safety element so that electrical contact is established.

[0046] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the safety element 10 has two projecting parts 16 that serve to lock together the first connector element 110 and the second connector element 120 of the connector 100. Outer ends 16E of the projecting parts 16 extend such that they are in the hottest zone H of the electrical connector 100.

[0047] Further, the safety element 10 comprises at least one guide 18 for guiding and properly positioning the safety element 10 in the connector 100 or in the first connector element 110 and the second connector element 120 of the connector 100.

[0048] Furthermore, the safety element 10 has at least one latching surface that serves to latch the safety element in the connector 100 or in the first connector element 110 and the second connector element 120 of the connector 100.

[0049] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a safety element 10 of a second embodiment according to the invention. The second embodiment is based on the safety element 10 of the first embodiment, whereby only the differences to the first embodiment of the safety element 10 are described below.

[0050] The base body 10 is formed with at least one bore 12. In general, the bore 12 accommodates an electrically conductive rod element 14. The safety element 10 is designed in such a way that, when the limit temperature T.sub.Limit is exceeded, the polymer from which the base body 10 is formed melts and the at least one electrically conductive element 14 is exposed, so that the safety element 10 is electrically conductive when the limit temperature T.sub.Limit is exceeded.

[0051] Preferably, the conductive element is formed as a pin 14 and, as shown in FIG. 2, each hole 12 accommodates a respective pin 14 formed of a conductive polymer or metal. The safety element 10 is formed such that above the limit temperature T.sub.Limit, the polymer from which the base body 10 is formed melts and the pins 14, in particular their outer ends 14E, are exposed so that the safety element 10 becomes electrically conductive when the limit temperature T.sub.Limit is exceeded.

[0052] As can be seen from FIG. 2, two bores 12 are formed each holding a respective pin 14. The outer ends 14E of the pins are in the hottest zone H of the electrical connector 100. As can be seen from FIG. 2, each pin 14 is press fitted into the respective bore of the base body 10.

[0053] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, two holes 12 are formed in the base body 10 and an electrically conductive element, preferably a pin 14, is formed in each of the holes 12.

[0054] In this regard, the holes 12 are each formed in the projections 16 that serve to lock together the first connector element 110 and the second connector element 120 of the connector 100.

[0055] Preferably, the at least one bore 12 is designed as a blind hole or blind bore, so that it is only open at one end and so that the at least one electrically conductive element 14 can be pressed in through the open end. In the pressed-in state, the electrically conductive element 14 is surrounded by a uniformly thick material layer of the base body 10 and only the opening through which the conductive element 14 was pressed in remains open.

[0056] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a safety element 10 of a third embodiment according to the invention. The third embodiment is based on the safety element 10 of the second embodiment, where only the differences to the first embodiment of the safety element 10 are described below.

[0057] Deviating from the second embodiment, only a single electrically conductive element 14 is formed in the third embodiment. The electrically conductive element 14 is formed such that it has a plurality of outer ends 14E, each outer end 14E being associated with a respective bore 12. Thus, the electrically conductive element 14 engages in all bores 12. When the limit temperature T.sub.Limit, is exceeded, the polymer from which the base body 10 is formed melts and the electrically conductive element 14, in particular the outer ends 14E of the electrically conductive element 14 are exposed, so that the safety element 10 becomes electrically conductive when the limit temperature T.sub.Limit is exceeded. In the case of the third embodiment example according to FIG. 3 for example, a short circuit can be made.

[0058] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective sectional view of a second plug-in connection element 120 and a safety element 10 of the second embodiment according to the invention. However, it is also possible that a safety element 10 of another embodiment is used.

[0059] The second plug-in connection element 120 of the connector 100 has two electrical contacts 122, 124. The hottest zone H of the electrical connector 100 is located in the area of these electrical contacts 122, 124. The projecting parts 16 of the safety element 10 engage each of these electrical contacts 122, 124. If an impermissibly high temperature is reached at one of the electrical contacts 122, 124 in the form of the limit temperature T.sub.Limit being exceeded, the polymer of the respective projecting part 16 melts and electrical contact occurs. This is achieved by the pin 14 coming into electrical contact with the electrical contact 122, 124 of the second connector element 120. This triggers a measurable malfunction that can be detected so that it can be determined that the limit temperature T.sub.Limit in the connector 100 has been exceeded.

[0060] Preferably, the connector according to FIGS. 4 to 6 is a high-voltage connector (HV connector).

[0061] FIG. 5 is a schematic partial sectional view of the connector 100 according to the invention with the safety element 10 according to the invention of the second embodiment. However, it is also possible that a safety element 10 of another embodiment is used.

[0062] The connector 100 has a first connector element 110 and the second connector element 120 already described with reference to FIG. 4. The safety element 100 is configured as a secondary interlock to lock together the first connector element 110 and the second connector element 120.

[0063] FIG. 5 is the connector 100 in a secondary locked position. The safety element 10 that is designed as a secondary locking device is an intermediate element between the first plug-in connection element 110 and the second plug-in connection element 120 for locking the first plug-in connection element 110 and the second plug-in connection element 120.

[0064] As described above with reference to FIG. 4, the safety element 10 is in the hottest zone H of the connector 100 and is electrically conductive above the limit temperature T.sub.Limit, so that a planned malfunction of the connector 100 occurs above the limit temperature T.sub.Limit.

[0065] As already explained above, the safety element 10 has the guide 18. This guide 18 is formed as a groove, as can be seen clearly in FIG. 5. The guide groove can have a T-shaped cross-section as shown in FIG. 5.

[0066] As can also be seen well in FIG. 5, the second plug-in connection element 120 has a complementary guide formation 128. This complementary guide formation 128 is formed as a ridge, as can be seen well in FIG. 5. The guide projecting part may have a T-shaped cross-section as shown in FIG. 5.

[0067] Furthermore, the guide 18 and complementary guide formation 128 are configured such that the safety element 10 is guided relative to the second plug-in connection element 120 by the guide 18 and complementary guide formation 128.

[0068] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective partial sectional view of the connector according to the invention, which is already shown in FIG. 5, with the safety element according to the invention of the second embodiment. However, it is also possible that a safety element 10 of another embodiment is used.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0069] 10 Safety element [0070] 10 Base body [0071] 12 Bore [0072] 14 Pin [0073] 14E Outer end of the pin 14 [0074] 16 Projecting part [0075] 16E Outer end of the bar [0076] 18 Guide [0077] 100 Connector [0078] 110 first connector element [0079] 120 second connector element [0080] 122 Electrical contact [0081] 124 Electrical contact [0082] 128 Counter guide formation [0083] F Press-in force [0084] H hottest zone [0085] T.sub.Limit Limit temperature