Modular high-current connector

Abstract

A modular high-current connector (1) has a first housing part (7) and a second housing part (8) connected thereto. The high-current connector (1) has a pin contact (9), the pin contact (9) being substantially cylindrical and having a connection region (A′) and a contact region (K′) for making electrical contact with a device socket or a mating connector. The contact region (K′) of the pin contact (9) projects out of the high-current connector (1) on the plug-in side.

Claims

1.-18. (canceled)

19. A modular high-current connector (1), comprising: a first housing part (7); a second housing part (8) connected to the first housing part (7); and a substantially cylindrical pin contact (9), wherein the pin contact (9) has a connection region (A′) and a contact region (K′), wherein the contact region (K′) of the pin contact (9) protrudes from the high-current connector (1) on a plug-in side for establishing electrical contact with a device socket or a mating connector.

20. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 19, wherein the contact region (K′) of the pin contact (9) has a circumferential ring (15) and a circumferential thread (18), and wherein the circumferential thread (18) runs in a plug-in direction (SR) of the pin contact (9) starting from the circumferential ring (15).

21. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 20, wherein the high-current connector (1) has an insulating body (19) which is arranged at least in part in the first housing part (7) and which protrudes from the first housing part (7) on a plug-in side.

22. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 21, wherein the connection region (A′) of the pin contact (9) is at least partially enclosed by the insulating body (19).

23. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 21, wherein the insulating body (19) encloses the pin contact (9) against the plug-in direction (SR) starting from the circumferential ring (15).

24. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 21, wherein the pin contact (9) has two circumferential grooves (20, 20′), in each of which there is arranged a ring seal (21).

25. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 19, wherein the high-current connector has at least one connection contact element (5) for establishing an electrical connection to a line to be connected, and wherein the connection contact element (5) or the connection contact elements (5) are each electrically conductively connected to the pin contact (9).

26. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second housing part (8) has an open housing wall (10) which is closable by means of a housing cover (12) or to which a further housing part is fixable.

27. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 19, wherein the modular high-current connector (1) has a third housing part (13).

28. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 27, wherein the modular high-current connector (1) has further housing parts comprising a fourth housing part, a fifth housing part, and a sixth housing part, and wherein the further housing parts are embodied similarly to the third housing part (13).

29. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 28, wherein a connection contact element (5) is arranged in each case in the second housing part (8) and/or in the third housing part (13) and/or in the fourth housing part and/or in the fifth housing part and/or in the sixth housing part.

30. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 19, wherein all housing parts consist of an aluminum die-cast material.

31. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 21, wherein the insulating body (19) consists of polyamide.

32. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 19, wherein the pin contact (9) consists of pure copper.

33. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 25, wherein the connection contact element or the connection contact elements consist of pure copper.

34. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first housing part (7) and the second housing part (8) connected thereto are embodied in one part.

35. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 19, wherein at least one housing part has a thermochromic element.

36. The modular high-current connector (1) as claimed in claim 35, wherein the thermochromic element is designed to visually indicate an overloading of the high-current connector (1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is explained in more detail below.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of two high-current connectors,

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a lateral sectional view of a high-current connector,

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a pin contact which is in electrical contact with two connection contact elements,

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a pin contact which is in electrical contact with two connection contact elements,

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a connection contact element,

[0029] FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of a high-current connector, and

[0030] FIG. 7 shows a perspective sectional view of the first housing part of the high current connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. Identical reference signs are sometimes used for like but possibly non-identical elements. Different views of like elements might be scaled differently.

[0032] Directional indications such as “left”, “right”, “top” and “bottom” are to be understood with reference to the figure in question and may vary in the individual representations with respect to the object depicted.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of two high-current connectors 1, 1′. In the smaller version of the high-current connector 1, one electrical line (not shown) is connected. In the larger version 1′, two electrical lines are connected. The larger version of the high-current connector 1′ is thus capable of transmitting a higher amperage. FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the larger high-current connector version 1′. The electrical lines connected to the high-current connector 1, 1′ are fixed via a cable gland 6, 6′.

[0034] The high-current connector 1, 1′ has a first housing part 7, in which there is arranged a pin contact 9. The pin contact 9 can be seen in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. The pin contact 9 has a contact region K′ and a connection region A′. The contact region K′ of the pin contact 9 protrudes from the first housing part 7 on the plug-in side and forms the electrical contact with a device socket (not shown) in the plugged state.

[0035] The pin contact 9 protrudes with its connection region A′ into a second housing part 8 of the high-current connector 1, 1′. Here, the pin contact 9 is in electrically conductive contact with at least one connection contact element 5. An electrical line (not shown) is connected to each connection contact element 5 using crimping technology. The pin contact 9 and the connection contact element 5 or their main axes of symmetry are oriented orthogonally to each other. As a result, the plug-in direction and the cable connection direction of the high-current connector are also perpendicular to each other.

[0036] In FIG. 6 it can be seen that the second housing part 8 has an open housing wall 10. The edge of the open housing wall 10 is provided with a circumferential groove 11, in which a seal (not shown) is inserted for media sealing of the high-current connector 1, 1′. The open housing wall 10 can be closed via a housing cover 12. For modular expansion of the high-current connector 1′, a further housing part, namely a third housing part 13, can be fitted on the open housing wall 10.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows that the third housing part 13 is also provided with a connection contact element 5, which can be provided on the connection side with a further connected line (not shown) and is electrically contacted on the contact side with the pin contact 9.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a connection contact element 5. The connection contact element has a groove 16 on both sides. In the second housing part 8, integrally molded ribs 17 engage in these grooves 16, thus ensuring that the connection contact element is prevented from rotating. The connection contact element 5 is fixed in the second housing part 8 via a fixing means 14. The same fixing element 14 can of course also be used for other housing parts, for example a third housing part 13.

[0039] The connection contact element 5 has a connection region A and a contact region K. The connection region A has a cylindrical opening 2, which is provided for a crimp connection to an electrical line to be connected. The contact region K of the connection contact element 5 has a cylindrical through-opening 3. For the electrical connection between the connection contact element 5 and the pin contact 9, the pin contact 9 is inserted into this through-opening 3. A contact strip 4 is arranged inside the through-opening 3 and ensures reliable electrical contact between the connection contact element 5 and the pin contact 9.

[0040] The main axes of symmetry of the crimp opening 2 and the through-opening 3 are oriented orthogonally to each other. As a result, the plug-in direction SR and cable connection direction KA of the high-current connector 1, 1′ are oriented perpendicular to each other. The lines thus run flat away from the device, thereby allowing easy line routing or laying.

[0041] The contact region K′ of the pin contact 9 is closed off by a circumferential ring 15. Starting from the circumferential ring 15 in the direction of its contact tip, the contact pin 9 has a circumferential thread 20. When connecting the high-current connector 1, 1′ to a transformer, for example, an annular cable lug (not shown) is guided around the contact tip of the contact pin 9. Via at least one threaded screw (not shown), the cable lug is fixed and thereby pressed against the ring surface of the circumferential ring 15. Preferably, a second threaded screw or lock nut is used here to ensure optimum protection against vibration.

[0042] FIG. 7 shows a perspective sectional view of the first housing part 7 of the high-current connector 1. The contact pin 9 is oriented in such a way that it protrudes with its contact region K′ from the insulating body 19 in the plug-in direction SR. The insulating body 19 runs above the circumferential ring—against the plug-in direction SR—to the first housing part 7 of the high-current connector 1. In this case, the insulating body 19 protrudes from the first housing part 7 and is held by the first housing part 7 only in its upper region. This freely running part of the insulating body 19 later protrudes into a device wall or into the transformer housing.

[0043] The contact pin 9 has two circumferential grooves 20, 20′ in the region that runs inside the insulating body 19. Ring seals 21, 21′ are inserted one in each of these grooves 20, 20′. This provides the high-current connector 1 with a media-tight seal on the plug-in side.

[0044] The contact pin 9 protrudes—against the plug-in direction SR—out of the first housing part 7 into at least one second housing part 8 and possibly also into a third housing part 13. In this region, the above-mentioned connection contact elements 5 are connected to the pin contact 9.

[0045] The contact pin 9 has a shoulder 22 in the connection direction. Via this shoulder 22, the pin contact 9 can be fixed or clamped in the first housing part 7 with the aid of a fixing means 23.

[0046] The pin contact 9 is preferably made of pure copper to ensure a corresponding current-carrying capacity. The term ‘pure copper’ means that the material has a copper content of at least 99 percent by weight. The connection contact element or the connection contact elements can also consist of such pure copper.

[0047] Even though various aspects or features of the invention are each shown in combination in the figures, it is apparent to a person skilled in the art—unless otherwise indicated—that the combinations shown and discussed are not the only possible ones. In particular, corresponding units or feature combinations from different exemplary embodiments may be interchanged with each other.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0048] 1 high-current connector [0049] 2 opening [0050] 3 through-opening [0051] 4 contact strip [0052] 5 connection contact element [0053] 6 cable gland [0054] 7 first housing part [0055] 8 second housing part [0056] 9 pin contact [0057] 10 open housing wall [0058] 11 groove [0059] 12 housing cover [0060] 13 third housing part [0061] 14 fixing means [0062] 15 circumferential ring [0063] 16 groove [0064] 17 rib [0065] 18 thread [0066] 19 insulating body [0067] 20 groove [0068] 21 ring seal [0069] 22 shoulder [0070] 23 fixing means [0071] A, A′ connection region [0072] K, K′ contact region [0073] KA cable connection direction [0074] SR plug-in direction