Electrical connector for power conductors

the Invention relates to an electrical connector particularly for use at a current compound and preferably for electrical interconnections between insulated conductors and a printed circuit board.

In the electric power industry, it is common that one so-called screwless Wire connector available has, so that a Wire may be used in an electrical connector, where a retaining screw is not needed. A retaining screw execution an interconnection with electrical sockets and the like, where a wire wrapped around a screw and tighten the retaining screw is, until the wire against its corresponding connection plate pressed is. Another version an interconnection is a Drahteinschließverbindung where a wire in the connector is included. This type of electrical connection requires, that this End of the insulation of an insulated wire is stripped, in generally up to a predetermined length, but that the conductor is not bent, so he arranged with a retaining screw is. The wire is rather arranged in a wire receiving opening in a connector housing, and an electrical terminal has an elastically bent tongue which during pressing of the wire in the position of the wire in place in electrical connection encloses with the elastic tongue. Pulling the wire or an elongation of the wire causes only a further tightening of the Compound, and it is therefore usual that he a slot adjacent to the elastically bent tongue has available, a tool to use to release the wire.

It It is also known that a Such an electric connector on a circuit board for a power connection is incorporated. For example, see US-A-4729740, the electrical a Connector comprising a housing illustrates that on at right angles to a printed circuit board can be mounted, the connector wire receiving openings to the stripped conductor incorporated, and an electrical Drahteinschließklemme includes, around the stripped connectors in a holding relationship when accommodate insertion.

During the Connector as is illustrated in the aforementioned patent, for the particular application is suitable, as shown, led other similar Connectors which have been used in various applications, arcing between the electrical terminals, in particular between the terminals connected to the circuit board connect, as a result of the distance between the electrical terminals. As mentioned above will be such terminals electricity connections used, for example with a throttle fluorescent lights connection and when the terminals to closely spaced, allows the air gap between them arcing between the terminals, which in turn can lead to premature failure of the choke.

The EP-A-0452061 discloses an electrical connector for mounting on a circuit board with two rows of staggered insertion holes. Of the includes connectors a housing having an elongated Cavity in which contacts in a side by side relationship to be assembled. Each contact includes a conductor sleeve which in Cavity is positioned, and a pair of laterally spaced rear Terminal ends by the housing the cavity protrude. The rear terminal ends are independently separable, whereby a rear terminal end of a contact in a hole in used two rows of staggered insertion holes in the printed circuit board can be.

The DE-A-19641845 describes an electrical connector for a circuit board, comprising: an insulative housing; at least two wall clamping bushes, the above in series and a are arranged the other; and contact pins for a connection from the housing protrude to the circuit board.

On Object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for use with current conductors, and the special for use with PCB terminals is present and the defects the connector in one embodiment, improved or eliminated by the prior art.

the Invention consists in a power connector for the electrical connection a plurality of wires with a printed circuit board, the connector comprising an insulating housing, one wire receiving face and a board mounting face opposite to the wire receiving face, said wire receiving face a All kinds of wire openings for the Receiving stripped electrical wires, and a plurality of having electrical contacts, each of which a wire contact portion and includes a circuit board contact portion, wherein the printed circuit board contact portions from the board mounting face extend in a staggered arrangement, in which the printed circuit board contact portions are alternately disposed on opposite sides of a longitudinal center line, characterized in that the wire openings are positioned in a staggered arrangement, with the openings alternately disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line so <?page 3?>are, that each wire opening on one side of the longitudinal center line opposite the printed circuit board contact portion corresponding to that positioned wire opening is.

at a preferred version of the power connector, the housing has a Plurality of juxtaposed contact receiving cavities on, said cavities by the board mounting face the housing are open. The housing has longitudinal side walls and End walls on, and the contact receiving cavities extend between the longitudinal side walls.

the Plurality of electrical contacts comprise first and second contact portions on, wherein the wire contact portion of the first contact includes a first Base portion and two upstanding arms, said Base portion angularly extending upwardly and toward the second longitudinal wall protrudes. The wire has contact portion of the second contact a second base portion and two upstanding arms, wherein the second base portion angularly extends upwardly and in the direction of the first longitudinal wall protrudes. Preferably, the wire contact portion of the first point and second contact on blade contact portions to be extending upwardly from one of the two upstanding arms, the blade contact portions below the other of the two upright Arms are bent in opposite directions. Also preferably, the wire openings in housing with an intersection of said blade contact portions and the other the two upright arms aligned.

at a further embodiment of the invention, the housing a plurality of adjacent cavities on, in which the number of the electrical contacts is positioned, and the contacts have their wire contact portions adjacent to the wire openings positioned on. The printed circuit board sections are staggered in a Arrangement disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line, and the electrical contacts are profiled such that the wire contact portions within the cavities, the close a printed circuit board contact portion in an adjacent cavity are to be raised within the cavity, the distance between the adjacent circuit board contact portions to enlarge.

the Invention will now by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings describes the show:

<figref idrefs="S8">1</figref> a perspective view of the electrical connector of the article the invention;

<figref idrefs="S9">2</figref> a perspective view from the lower side of the electrical connector out <figref idrefs="S8">1</figref>;

<figref idrefs="S10">3</figref> a bottom plan view of the electrical connector from <figref idrefs="S9">2</figref>;

<figref idrefs="S11">4</figref> a top plan view of the electrical connector from <figref idrefs="S8">1</figref> or <figref idrefs="S9">2</figref>;

<figref idrefs="S11">5</figref> a perspective view of the power contacts when he made the connector from <figref idrefs="S8">1</figref> or <figref idrefs="S9">2</figref> away is;

<figref idrefs="S12">6</figref> a Sectional view through the staggered lines <figref>6-6</figref> in <figref idrefs="S11">4</figref>; and

<figref idrefs="S13">7</figref> a alternative embodiments for use near adjacent metal housing.

First with reference to <figref idrefs="S8">1</figref> and <figref idrefs="S9">2</figref> becomes a electrical connector generally with <figref>2</figref> shown, the an insulative housing <figref>4</figref>. which consists of a material such as a plastic material, and comprises a plurality of electrical contacts generally at <figref>6</figref> to be shown. As described herein is, which is in <figref idrefs="S8">1</figref> and <figref idrefs="S9">2</figref> shown electrical connector for both receiving a plurality of stripped electrical Current conductors as well as for arranging and connecting profiled on a circuit board.

Still with reference to <figref idrefs="S8">1</figref> and <figref idrefs="S9">2</figref> is the insulative housing <figref>4</figref> detailed described. As in<figref idrefs="S8">1</figref> is shown, the insulating housing <figref>4</figref> in the generally an upper wire receiving face <figref>10</figref>, Longitudinal side walls <figref>12</figref> and <figref>14</figref> and End walls <figref>16</figref> and <figref>18</figref> on. The upper wire connecting surface <figref>10</figref> includes a Plurality of wire receiving openings <figref>20</figref>. a first bore section <figref>22</figref>, A stop surface <figref>24</figref> (<figref idrefs="S11">4</figref>) and a second bore portion <figref>26</figref> include, the smaller one Diameter than that of bore section <figref>22</figref> having. It should be noted that the Wire receiving openings <figref>20</figref> something are offset so that they located on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line (LC) alternate, As best seen in <figref idrefs="S11">4</figref> will be shown. As in<figref idrefs="S8">1</figref> and <figref idrefs="S12">6</figref> also shown is a Werkzeugeinsetzschlitz <figref>30</figref> shown herein is described in further detail. Referring now to<figref idrefs="S9">2</figref> the housing comprises <figref>4</figref> also a lower surface <figref>32</figref> With Corner spacers at <figref>34</figref> and a plurality of spacer ribs at <figref>36</figref>,

Now with reference to <figref idrefs="S9">2</figref> and <figref idrefs="S10">3</figref> has housing <figref>4</figref> also a Plurality of contact receiving cavities <figref>40</figref> on which to upwardly from the lower surface <figref>32</figref> extend, to the &lt;?page 4?&gt;electrical contacts <figref>6</figref> take. Each of the cavities<figref>40</figref> has Inner side walls at <figref>42</figref> and end walls at <figref>44</figref> on. Each of the side walls<figref>42</figref> also includes end slots at <figref>46</figref>, As best shown in <figref idrefs="S9">2</figref>. <figref idrefs="S10">3</figref> and <figref idrefs="S12">6</figref> seen is. Referring now to<figref idrefs="S11">5</figref> is the electrical contact <figref>6</figref> shown which is a stamped and formed metal contact is, the base portion a <figref>50</figref> with an arm portion <figref>52</figref>. extending from one side thereof, and an arm portion <figref>54</figref> includes extending extends from the opposite side thereof. A printed circuit board contact<figref>56</figref> becomes from the base portion <figref>50</figref> punched, resulting in a cut-out portion at <figref>58</figref> leads. The arm <figref>52</figref> and <figref>54</figref> have barbs <figref>60</figref> along margins for the Locks on the contacts, as described herein. The arm portion<figref>54</figref> extends be up in a position where it is bent oppositely a tongue or blade section <figref>62</figref> to form. It should be recognized that a end <figref>64</figref> the opposite curved tongue <figref>62</figref> together with an end face <figref>66</figref> of Armes <figref>52</figref> contact surfaces for the entrapped wire form, as will be described further herein.

Now with reference to <figref idrefs="S12">6</figref> is the arrangement of the connector described where each contact cavity <figref>40</figref> with one of terminals <figref>6</figref> is fitted, So that the poor <figref>52</figref>. <figref>54</figref> in the slots <figref>46</figref> used will. It should also be recognized that the slots have a width show where the barbs along of their side edges will intervene so that they secured therein. It should also be appreciated that the contacts be introduced in an alternating fashion so that each more contact the printed circuit board contact <figref>56</figref> along a other longitudinal side wall having. As in<figref idrefs="S12">6</figref> is shown, and during the contact <figref>6</figref> imported is, the wire receiving openings <figref>20</figref> just above the end <figref>64</figref> of contact <figref>6</figref> positioned, and slot <figref>30</figref> granted access into the cavity <figref>40</figref> and the top of the blade portion <figref>62</figref>,

Still with reference to <figref idrefs="S12">6</figref>To the electrical connector to use as it is described above, would be a stripped electrical conductor at its end, around the inner expose copper wire conductor, and the stripped portion would by the wire receiving opening <figref>20</figref> used. The stripped conductor of the wire would through the cylindrical bore section <figref>26</figref> employed, but would End the isolation of the section <figref>24</figref> abut, wherein isolation within the cylindrical bore section <figref>22</figref> remains. The insertion of the stripped end of the conductor forces the tongue <figref>62</figref> after down (in the counterclockwise direction, as shown in <figref idrefs="S12">6</figref> considered is) so that the Head now between the end <figref>64</figref> and the contact area <figref>66</figref> lies. This forms a Drahteinschließklemme, whereby pulling on the wire an additional locking engagement between the wire and the terminal causes. Rather to remove the wire from the connector, is a tool such as a knife in the slot <figref>60</figref> used to the tongue <figref>62</figref> to draw down, to release the wire.

Advantageously, then provides the connector as is described above, a construction of an electrical connector, both on printed circuit boards mounted as well as electricity wires can be used. This use is enhanced by a alternating arrangement of printed circuit board contacts on opposite Sides of the longitudinal center line provided. This brings a certain distance between adjacent board contacts. For example, with reference to<figref idrefs="S10">3</figref> is the distance between adjacent printed circuit board contacts in neighboring voids a Distance A, which is a diagonal distance. Whereas the distance between adjacent printed circuit board contacts on the same side the longitudinal center line a distance B. Both distances A and B are substantially greater than the distance between adjacent contacts when they are on the same Side of the longitudinal center line were. In addition, and with reference to <figref idrefs="S12">6</figref> due to the fact that the base portion <figref>50</figref> the terminal <figref>6</figref> raised , while He is the board contact <figref>56</figref> moved away, positioned the section of the electrical contact <figref>6</figref> with a greater distance from the nearest adjacent board contact <figref>56A</figref> (please refer <figref idrefs="S9">2</figref> and <figref idrefs="S12">6</figref>).

Now with reference to <figref idrefs="S13">7</figref> is an alternative embodiment of Invention as a connector <figref>102</figref> with a housing <figref>104</figref> shown. The housing <figref>104</figref> includes a barrier wall <figref>106</figref>Which stands upright from the housing, resulting in a Prevents arcing, in the event that the connector adjacent to a metal case, such as a throttle, must be arranged.