ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

Abstract: For an electrical connector with a socket contact, formed by means of a sleeve body with attachment means for the connecting leads, for the displaceable reception of a contact pin, where a segmented cage, which can rest pressingly against the pin contact, is housed in the sleeve body so as to be fixed axially in position, the segmented cage (8) is formed by means of a cylindrically rolled flat sheet metal blank (9), whose longitudinal outer strips (10) are connected together by means of a number of ribs (11), which extend side by side separated from each other, the chamfered contact tabs (13), which are opposite one another at the longitudinal outer strips (10), project into the free spaces (12) between the ribs (11), whereby a first segment (13') of said contact tab curves in the direction of the central longitudinal axis of the segmented cage (8) and whereby a second segment (13"), formed by means of the free ends, is bent back and is shorter than half the length of the segmented cage (8), in order to ensure a reliable and effective contact.

Description: ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR The invention relates to an electrical connector with a socket contact, formed by means of a sleeve body with attachment means for the connecting leads, for the displaceable reception of a contact pin, where a segmented cage, which can rest pressingly against the pin contact, is housed in the sleeve body so as to be fixed axially in position. Sleeve-shaped socket contacts for the plugable reception of contact pins are known in particular for circular connectors (DE application P 35 31 845.7). To improve the contact between socket contact and contact pin, the socket contacts are provided with a segmented cage, which makes contact with the contact pin so as to be frictionally engaged. The front outer strips of the segmented cage exhibit ribs that are bent inwardly. Apart from the fact that a relatively significant work of deformation must be exerted on the ribs of the segmented cage during plugging operations, the ribs also afford only small contact areas, resulting in unreliable contacts. The object of the invention is to make the contacting of an electrical connector of the aforementioned class more reliable and more effective. The invention solves this problem by forming the segmented cage by means of a cylindrically rolled flat sheet metal blank, whose longitudinal outer strips are connected together by means of a number of ribs, which extend side by side separated from each other, and where chamfered contact tabs, which are opposite one ano'ther at " the longitudinal outer strips, project into the free spaces between the ribs, whereby a first segment of said contact tab curves in the direction of the central longitudinal axis of the segmented cage and whereby a second segment, formed by means of the free ends, is bent back and is shorter than half the length of the segmented cage. In the case of a connector designed thus, a number of contact tabs come to rest simultaneously with the contact pins in order to make a contact; said contact tabs can be bent down separately independently of each other and can be applied by pressing to the contact pin so as to engage frictionally. Thus, reliable contact transitions and ease of plugging are guaranteed especially when the contact pin is misaligned or tilted. The design of the connector provides that the ribs of the segmented cage exhibit one depression each and that the depressions form guide and support elements of the contact pin. Thus, a central insertion of the contact pin into the socket contact is guaranteed, whereby the contact tabs make contact simultaneously with the contact pin with essentially identical deflections. Furthermore, it is provided that depressions are formed, for example, in the ribs of the segmented cage, which are employed as stops to fix axially the same in position in the sleeve body. It is obvious that the segmented cage can be axially fixed in position in the sleeve body in a different manner, e.g., by attaching extensions, shoulders or the like to the sleeve body. Furthermore, measures for axial fixation of the sleeve body in the connector housing are provided by the fact that the sleeve body reaches, e.g., with a bend-out into a recess of the connector housing. Preferably the recess can be formed by means of an annular groove. Finally, other guide measures for the contact pin during the contact period or plugging operation can be achieved, if a segment of the sleeve body projects at the plug-in end beyond the segmented cage, whereby the segment is bent down toward the plug-in direction and relative to the central longitudinal axis of the segmented cage and serves as an additional supporting or aligning element for the contact pin. Thus, with the bend the contact pin can be pre-aligned during the plugging operation; and when the contact pin is subsequently actively connected to the depressions, the conditions for a reliable alignment and guide of the contact pin in the segmented cage of the socket contact are created. The invention is explained with reference to an embodiment in the drawings. Figure 1 is a side view of a known segmented cage. Figure 2 is a sectional view of a segmented cage of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional view of a connector according to one embodiment. Figure 4 is a sectional view of another connector. Figures 5, 6 and 7 depict roll downed segmented cages of different diameter sizes; and Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 5. The known segmented cage 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 exhibits front outer strips 2 and 3, which are connected together by means of ribs 4. The ribs 4 are curved in the direction of the central longitudinal axis of the segmented cage 1 in order to achieve a prestress and thus to enable them to rest pressingly against the contact pin when a contact pin (not illustrated) is inserted. If the contact pin is tilted or inaccurately plugged in or when the diameter sizes differ, the ribs 4 afford, however, only inadequate or unreliable contact. Figure 3 depicts a connector, whose plug housing 5 exhibits a bore 6, which serves to receive a sleeve body 7.- The illustrated sleeve body 7 is provided with crimp extensions (not illustrated) to fix in position the electrical leads or their insulation. The sleeve body 7 is fixed in position in the plug housing 5, e.g. by means of a bend-out 18 and can be made of any arbitrary material, e.g. also a ferrous material, an alloyed material or the like and can thus be fabricated relatively economically. A segmented cage 8, which is formed by means of a flat blank 9, which is shown in Figures 5 to 8 for different diameter sizes and is made of a material exhibiting high electrical conductivity, is put into the sleeve body 7. As evident from Figures 5 to 8, the blank is provided with two longitudinal outer strips 10, which are connected together by means of a number of ribs 11. Contact tabs 13, which are opposite one another at the longitudinal outer strips (10) and which extend in the flat blank approximately as far as half the width of the segmented cage 8, are chamfered in the regions of the free spaces 12 between the ribs 11. In addition, the ribs 11 exhibit depressions 14. The flat blanks of Figures 5 to 8 can be bent apart in the shape of a cylinder (Figures 2 and 3), whereby now the contact tabs 13 extend approximately as far as half the length of the segmented cage. In addition, a first segment 13' of the contact tabs 13 is bent inwardly and a second segment 13' ', formed by the free ends, is bent back outwardly. With the arched segments 13' *' obtained thus, the contact tabs 13 come to rest pressingly against a contact pin 15. Furthermore, the contact tabs 13 enable the contact pin to be plugged in without any hindrance. The depressions 14 serve as supporting and guide elements for the contact pin 15, thus guaranteeing that the contact tabs 13 rest uniformly against the contact pin 15 and thus guaranteeing a reliable contact. Furthermore, the end of the sleeve body 7 that has« approached the insertion opening 16 is pulled forward with a subsegment 7' over the segmented cage 8; and this subsegment 7' is bent so as to slope inwardly in the direction of the central longitudinal axis 17. Thus, the free outer edge 7'' of the subsegment 7' acts as an additional guide body, in particular at the start of the plugging operation for the contact pin 15. It is self-evident that an arbitrary number of ribs 11 and contact tabs 13 for the segmented cage 8 can be chosen. Even the substantially trapezoidal shape of the contact tabs 13 selected for the embodiment can vary.

Claims: Patent Claims 1. Electrical connector with a socket contact, formed by means of a sleeve body with attachment means for the connecting leads, for the displaceable reception of a contact pin, where a segmented cage, which can rest pressingly against the pin contact, is housed in the sleeve body so as to be fixed axially in position, characterized in that the segmented cage (8) is formed by means of a cylindrically rolled flat sheet metal blank (9), whose longitudinal outer strips (10) are connected together by means of a number of ribs (11), which extend side by side separated from each other, and where chamfered contact tabs (13), which are opposite one another at the longitudinal outer strips (10), project into the free spaces (12) between the ribs (1), whereby a first segment (13') of said contact tab curves in the direction of the central longitudinal axis of the segmented cage (8) and whereby a second segment (13''), formed by means of the free ends, is bent back and iε shorter than half the length of the segmented cage (8). 2. Connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ribs (11) of the segmented cage (8) exhibit one depression (14) each and in that the depressions (14) form guide and support elements for the contact pin (15). 3. Connector as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the depressions (14) in the ribs (11) of the segmented cage (8) are useful as stops in order to fix axially the segmented cage (8) in position in the sleeve body (7). 4. Connector as claimed in claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the sleeve body (7) for axial fixation in the connector housing (5) reaches with a bend-out (18) into a recess (19) of the connector housing (5). 5. Connector as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the recess (19) is formed by means of an annular groove. 6. Connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a segment (7') of the sleeve body (7) projects at the plug-in end (16) beyond the segmented cage (18), and in that the segment (7') is bent down toward the plug-in direction and relative to the central longitudinal axis and serves as a supporting or aligning element for the contact pin (15).

Inventors: HOPF GUSTAV, HOPF, GUSTAV
Applicants: FRAMATOME CONNECTORS INT, HOPF GUSTAV, FRAMATOME CONNECTORS INTERNATIONAL, HOPF, GUSTAV
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13