PLUG-IN CONNECTION AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING, IN PARTICULAR, ELECTRICAL LINES

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug-in connection (1) for connecting, in particular, electrical lines, comprising at least a female connecting element (2) and a male connecting element (3), wherein the female connecting element (2) interlockingly receives the male connecting element (3) and wherein the two connecting elements (2, 3) can be detachably frictionally connected while in interlocking contact, wherein a region (4) of the male connecting element (3) that enters into connection is coaxially tapered and comprises at least one slidable contact body (5), which is arranged within the male connecting element in a first position and protrudes from the male connecting element (3) in a second position. The invention further relates to a use of such a plug-in connection (1). The invention further relates to a method for connecting, in particular, electrical lines by means of a plug-in connection (1).

Claims

1. A plug-in connection (1) for connecting in particular electric lines, comprising at least one female connecting element (2) and one male connecting element (3), wherein the female connecting element (2) receives the male connecting element (3) in an interlocking manner, and wherein the two connecting elements (2, 3) are detachably frictionally connected while in interlocking contact, characterized in that a region (4) of the male connecting element (3) that enters into connection is embodied in a coaxially tapering manner and comprises at least one slidable contact body (5) which is arranged within the male connecting element (3) in a first position and protrudes from the male connecting element (3) in a second position.

2. The plug-in connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, while the two connecting elements (2, 3) are in interlocking contact, the at least one contact body (5) of the male connecting element (3) can be interlockingly connected to at least one contact layer (6) of the female connecting element (2) with an application of force, wherein a connection region is disposed within the female connecting element (2).

3. The plug-in connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact body (5) and the contact layer (6) of the respective connecting elements (2, 3) are essentially round in a cross-section through the elements.

4. The plug-in connection (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that a multiphase electrical connection is present, wherein for each phase respectively one contact body (5) that is essentially round in a cross-section through the connecting elements (2, 3) is provided per male connecting element (3) and one essentially round contact layer (6) is provided per female connecting element (2), and wherein these contact bodies (5) and layers (6) are respectively arranged offset from one another in cross-section through the connecting elements (2, 3).

5. The plug-in connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting elements (2, 3) are each embodied conically on a joinable side, wherein the region (4) of the male connecting element (3) that enters into connection is embodied such that, when the region (4) is joined with the female connecting element (2), it automatically engages with said element.

6. The plug-in connection (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that an end (7) of the region (4) of the male connecting element (3) that enters into connection is embodied in a blunt manner.

7. The plug-in connection (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the female connecting element (2) is arranged in a polygonal, particularly in a hexagonal, cell.

8. The plug-in connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a spring (8) is provided for the frictional connection of the connecting elements (2, 3).

9. The plug-in connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, in each connecting element (2, 3), multiple contact bodies (5) and/or contact layers (6) are provided, which are respectively arranged alternatingly with insulating layers (9), wherein the insulating layers (9) of both connecting elements (2, 3) bear against one another during interlocking contact.

10. The plug-in connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, in a cross-section through the female connecting element (2), at least one essentially round recess (10) is provided in said element, in which recess (11) the at least one contact layer (6) of the female connecting element (2) is arranged.

11. The plug-in connection (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that contact layers (6) are arranged in a cross-section through the female connecting element (2) at a distance from an upper end of the female connecting element (2).

12. The plug-in connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more female connecting elements (2) are arranged on an electrical vehicle.

13. A use of a plug-in connection (1) according to claim 1 to connect power supply lines, in particular in the charging of an electrical vehicle.

14. A method for connecting in particular electrical lines by means of a plug-in connection (1), wherein at least one male connecting element (3) is received by at least one female connecting element (2) in an interlocking manner and the connecting elements (2, 3) are detachably frictionally connected while in interlocking contact, characterized in that a coaxially tapered region (4) of the male connecting element (3) is connected to the female connecting element (2), after which at least one contact body (5) of the male connecting element (3) is released from a position within the male connecting element (3) and slid into a position protruding from the male connecting element (3), in order to connect the contact body (5) of the male connecting element (3) to at least one contact layer (6) of the female connecting element (2).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, in an interlocking connection of the at least one contact body (5) to the at least one contact layer (6) in a contact region within the female connecting element (2), the two connecting elements (2, 3) are automatically detachably frictionally connected in particular by a spring (8).

16. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that at least one contact body (5) of the male connecting element (3) that is embodied in an essentially round manner in a cross-section through said element is slid into at least one recess (10) of the female connecting element (2) that is embodied in an essentially round manner in a cross-section through said element, in order to connect the contact body (5) to the contact layer (6) of the female connecting element (2), which contact layer (6) is arranged in the recess (10).

17. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the connecting elements (2, 3) are frictionally connected by an application of a pressure to an upper side of the male connecting element (3).

18. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, after the interlocking connection of the at least one contact body (5) to the at least one contact layer (6) and the frictional connection of the connecting elements (2, 3), electrical energy is transmitted.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, after a completion of the transmission of electrical energy, the frictional connection is preferably automatically released.

Description

[0038] Additional features, advantages and effects of the invention follow from the exemplary embodiment described below. The drawings which are thereby referenced show the following:

[0039] FIG. 1 A section through a plug-in connection according to the invention;

[0040] FIG. 2 An additional view of a section through a plug-in connection according to the invention;

[0041] FIG. 3 A section through a plug-in connection according to the invention with connected contact bodies;

[0042] FIG. 4 An additional view of a section through a plug-in connection according to the invention with connected contact bodies;

[0043] FIG. 5a A view of a male connecting element;

[0044] FIG. 5b An additional view of a male connecting element;

[0045] FIG. 5c A section through a male connecting element according to FIG. 5a;

[0046] FIG. 6a A view of a male connecting element with displaced contact bodies;

[0047] FIG. 6b An additional view of a male connecting element with displaced contact bodies;

[0048] FIG. 6c A section through a male connecting element according to FIG. 6a;

[0049] FIG. 7a A conductive part of a male connecting element;

[0050] FIG. 7b An additional view of a conductive part of a male connecting element;

[0051] FIG. 7c An additional view of a conductive part of a male connecting element;

[0052] FIG. 8 A bottom view of a section through a male connecting element.

[0053] FIGS. 1 and 2 each show a section through a plug-in connection 1 according to the invention, which plug-in connection 1 comprises a female connecting element 2 and a male connecting element 3. The male connecting element 3 is thereby received in an interlocking manner by the female connecting element 2, wherein a region 4 of the male connecting element 3 that enters into connection is embodied in a coaxially tapering or conical manner. Furthermore, the male connecting element 3 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises three contact bodies 5 which are arranged offset from one another and coaxially within the male connecting element 3 in a ring-shaped manner. Additionally, in the female connecting element 2, three contact layers 6 are provided which are likewise embodied in a ring-shaped and coaxial manner. These layers are preferably arranged in recesses 10 at a distance from an upper end of said recesses.

[0054] In FIGS. 1 and 2, it is additionally shown that the female connecting element 2 has a layered structure. For this purpose, it can preferably be provided that the contact layers 6 are respectively arranged alternatingly with an insulating layer 9. If there are three contact layers 6, four insulating layers 9 are provided which terminate the female connecting element 2 at the top and at the bottom. The insulating layers 9 are thereby made of an electrically nonconductive material, for example plastic. In FIGS. 1 and 2, a conductive connection between the contact bodies 5 and the contact layers 6 has not been produced.

[0055] FIGS. 3 and 4 each show a section through a plug-in connection 1 according to the invention, in which plug-in connection 1 a conductive connection between the female connecting element 2 and the male connecting element 3 has been produced. For this purpose, the contact bodies 5 are slidably disposed within the male connecting element 3 and, when the connecting elements 2, 3 are in interlocking contact, are slid into a position protruding from the male connecting element 3, wherein the bodies thus enter into connection with the contact layers 6 arranged in the female connecting element 2 in order to produce a conductive connection and then consequently to transmit voltage, for example. However, a plug-in connection 1 for transmitting data or light can also be provided.

[0056] FIGS. 5a through 5c respectively show a male connecting element 3 or a section through a male connecting element 3. The male connecting element 3 is embodied with the region 4 that enters into connection or with a positioning cone which, when joined with the female connecting element 2, is slid into said element. The region 4 that enters into connection is thereby preferably formed from an electrically nonconductive material with a certain strength so that it is not bent when joined with the female connecting element 2. It can be advantageously provided that the region 4 that enters into connection is embodied with a blunt end 7 or a blunt tip. As a result of the blunt end 7 of the region 4 that enters into connection, the male connecting element 3 can then also be joined with the female connecting element 2 when it impacts the female connecting element 2 in a non-optimal manner. For example, if the male connecting element 3 impacts the female connecting element 2 diagonally, the male connecting element 3 slips into the female connecting element 2 due to the blunt end 7 of the region 4 that enters into connection, or the positioning cone, and ultimately moves into an interlocking position in the conical recess 10 of the female connecting element 2. Furthermore, in the positioning cone, recesses 11 are provided through which the contact bodies 5 can be slid into a second position.

[0057] In the section through the male connecting element 3 according to FIG. 5c, a spring 8 is provided for producing a frictional connection of the connecting elements 2, 3 or a conductive connection between the contact bodies 5 and the contact layers 6. During an actuation of the spring 8, the contact bodies 5 are slid out of the region 4 that enters into connection, or the positioning cone. As an alternative to the spring 8, another means of producing a detachable frictional connection can be provided, for example a clamp or a screw.

[0058] Furthermore, it is expedient if, on a side opposite of the tip or the end 7 of the positioning cone, a pressure device 12 for actuating the spring 8 is provided, with which device the contact bodies 5 can, by an application of force, be brought out of the region 4 of the male connecting element 3 that enters into connection, wherein the contact bodies 5 are preferably releasably fixable in this position outside of the male connecting element 3. It can thereby be provided that the contact bodies 5 can be released from this position and returned to their initial position within the male connecting element 3 by a further actuation of the pressure device 12. In FIG. 5b, the pressure device 12 is shown in an initial position or released position.

[0059] A second position of the contact bodies 5 of the male connecting element 3 is shown in FIGS. 6a through 6c. The contact bodies 5 are thereby slid out of the region 4 that enters into connection, in order to produce a conductive connection during or after interlocking contact of the male connecting element 3 with the female connecting element 2. Preferably simultaneously with a production of the conductive connection, a frictional connection of the connecting elements 2, 3 occurs in order to maintain without interruption the connection for a duration of a transmission of voltage or data, for example. To do so, the pressure device 12 is actuated.

[0060] FIGS. 7a through 7c show a conductive part of a male connecting element 3. It has proven successful that each coaxial contact body 5, as shown in FIGS. 7a through 7c, is divided into six sections or segments in order to increase a flexibility of the contact bodies and thus to increase a transition contact with the female connecting element 2. However, a different number of segments of contact bodies 5 can also be provided, for example three. It is however favorable if the contact body 5 is divided into six or more segments. Furthermore, the contact bodies 5 can comprise an upper, conductive region and a lower, insulating region. Through the coaxial embodiment of the contact bodies 5, the bodies can be embodied to be thin, for example thinner than 2 mm, in particular approximately 1 mm or less, and still have a large cross-sectional area, since a circumferential length of the respective contact body 5 is at least one order of magnitude larger than the respective thickness thereof. Because of the large cross-sectional area, a large charging capacity can be achieved during a transmission of electrical energy, which can reduce a charging duration during the charging of a consumer.

[0061] In FIG. 8, a bottom view of a section through a male connecting element 3 is shown. Connections or lines adjoining the contact bodies 5 and the pathways thereof are thereby shown. It is favorable if a transition between the hollow-cylindrical contact bodies 5 and the connections is embodied with a largest possible continuous cross section.

[0062] In all FIGS. 1 through 8, the plug-in connection 1 is embodied such that it can be used to transmit three-phase alternating voltage. Each of the contact bodies 5 and contact layers 5 arranged in a ring-shaped manner thereby corresponds to one phase. However, the plug-in connection 1 can thereby also be embodied such that it can be used to transmit five-phase alternating voltage. For this purpose, five contact bodies 5 can be arranged in the male connecting element 3 and five contact layers 6 in the female connecting element 2, wherein each contact body 5 and each contact layer 6 then represents one phase.

[0063] A plug-in connection 1 according to the invention can also be embodied for a transmission of direct current. For this purpose, two male connecting elements 3 and two female connecting elements 2 can be provided, in each of which one contact body 5 and one contact layer 6 having one phase each is arranged, respectively.

[0064] Furthermore, the plug-in connection 1 can also be embodied such that it can be used to transmit data or light.

[0065] In a method according to the invention for connecting in particular electrical lines, a female connecting element 2 is joined with a male connecting element 3 in order to ultimately produce a conductive connection. In addition to the connection of electrical lines, lines for transmitting data or light, for example, can also be connected to one another with the method according to the invention.

[0066] To do so, a region 4 that enters into connection, or a positioning cone, of the male connecting element 3 is in a first step interlockingly joined with the female connecting element 2. As a result of the region 4 of the male connecting element 3 that enters into connection being embodied in a coaxially tapering or conical manner, the region 4 slips, even when non-optimally joined with the female connecting element 2, into said element and is thus positioned in the desired position. For this purpose, the female connecting element 2 is embodied such that the male connecting element 3 is interlockingly received by said element. An end 7 or a tip of the positioning cone can be embodied in a blunt manner, so that the slipping of the male connecting element 3 is facilitated.

[0067] The two connecting elements 2,3 are joined by hand, for example. Alternatively, one or both connecting elements 2, 3 can be arranged on a device that joins the connecting elements. To move into a final position in the female connecting element 2, it can be expedient if the male connecting element 3 is deflected about one or two axes. If the connecting elements 2, 3 are joined by hand, a deflection of this type is carried out by one hand. If a device for joining the connecting elements 2, 3 is present, the male connecting element 3 can be arranged on this device such that it can be deflected on one or more axes. Alternatively, the female connecting element 2 can also be deflected.

[0068] After the interlocking connection of the two connecting elements 2, 3, if multiple contact bodies 5 that are arranged within the positioning cone in the male connecting element 3 are present, they are slid into a position protruding from the male connecting element 3. For this purpose, recesses 11 are provided in the region 4 that enters into connection, through which recesses 11 the contact bodies 5 are slid or move forward. To produce a conductive connection, the contact bodies 5 are brought into connection with at least one contact layer 6 of the female connecting element 2. If multiple contact layers 6 are present, they are disposed in recesses 10 of the female connecting element 2, wherein the layers terminate at a distance from an upper end of the female connecting element 2. Insulating layers 9 are preferably arranged between the contact layers 5 to prevent flashovers or the like.

[0069] It is expedient if the frictional connection of the connecting elements 2, 3 is produced by means of a spring 8. It can thereby be provided that the spring 8 is arranged within the male connecting element 3 on a side of the male connecting element 3 that is opposite of the positioning cone. As an alternative to the spring 8, the frictional connection can also be produced by another means, for example by a clamp or a screw. A production of the frictional connection or an actuation of the spring 8 can be carried out by means of a pressure device 12.