EP3057181B1 - Contact assembly, isolation sleeve and use of a laser - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a contact arrangement according to the preamble of patent claim 1, an insulation sleeve provided in particular for such a contact arrangement and the use of a laser to form an information structure on such a contact arrangement or insulation sleeve.

From the DE 33 14 295 C1 a ferrule is known which is intended for crimping with a stripped cable end and in which a label or information carrier can be placed on the plastic collar. For this purpose, a holder is formed on the circumference of the plastic collar, into which the identification carrier can be inserted non-positively or positively.

A disadvantage of such a solution is that a considerable outlay in terms of device technology is required in order to attach the identification carrier to the plastic collar. In the event that the wire end ferrule is used without a label carrier, a separate wire end ferrule type without holder must generally be provided, as is shown in, for example DE 91 17 167 U1 is shown. When assembling, different wire end ferrule types (one with bracket and one without bracket) must be provided for the same cable cross-section.

From the WO 03/045616 A1 a machine for producing cable harnesses is known, in which an insulating layer of a wire can be provided with information by means of a laser.

The US 2005/0117211 A1 and the U.S. 4,677,734 A each show a method for introducing an information structure into an insulating layer of a cable by means of a laser.

It's from the US 2008/0113565 A1 known to provide socket wrench attachments with an annular sleeve with a display mounted thereon.

Solutions are also known in which the identification carrier is not applied to the wire end sleeve or some other contact element, but rather as a separate clip in a force-locking manner on the electrical conductor or the contact part. In such a solution, too, a considerable outlay in terms of manufacturing technology is required, since both the contact elements and the clips must be provided.

To overcome these disadvantages, solutions are also in use in which a printer, for example an inkjet printer or a thermal transfer printer, is provided during assembly in the production line, via which the information / identification is printed on the predetermined area of the electrical conductor (cable) or the contact element becomes.

The problem with such a solution, however, is that a considerable amount of space is provided for the printer in the production line. There is also the risk that the production line and in particular the components to be printed are contaminated by solvents, paint and the like.

In contrast, the invention is based on the object of creating an insulating sleeve and a contact arrangement with an insulating sleeve of this type, which can be provided with identification / information in a simple manner.

This object is achieved with regard to the insulation sleeve by the combination of features of claim 1 and with regard to the contact arrangement by the combination of features of the independent claim 2. The information structure defined in these claims can be formed with a laser according to patent claim 9.

According to the invention, an insulating sleeve for an electrical contact element, which is connected to a conductor, preferably a cable end, has a sleeve body made of plastic, which is designed with an inner bore through which the conductor extends at least in sections. The plastic of the sleeve body is equipped so that on the sleeve circumference through directed energy radiation and a associated predetermined reaction of the plastic material, an information structure contrasting in color with the other plastic material can be formed to convey information / identification. This can be, for example, a color change or a color shade.

In other words, the energy radiation creates a type of lettering that results from a chemical or physical reaction of the plastic material, this reaction being localized so that the information content can be passed on in the desired manner. The plastic does not experience any noteworthy structural or geometric change, but only a color change or graduation is formed in sections, which is so precise that even complex information such as bar codes, company logos or position markings of a control cabinet or the like can be formed.

According to the invention, a plastic additive is added to the plastic material, which in the irradiated area undergoes or effects a reaction associated with a change in color / graduation, preferably a chemical reaction. This chemical reaction can be carbonization, for example.

According to the invention, a contact arrangement has an insulating sleeve for an electrical contact element, which is connected to a conductor, preferably a cable end.

In one embodiment, the plastic material is designed to be relatively soft. For example, a Shore hardness in the range from 40 to 80, preferably 50 to 60 Shore (A) can be provided.

The insulation sleeve can be, for example, a collar of a wire end sleeve, such as the one mentioned above DE 91 17 167 U1 is shown. The geometry of the insulating sleeve is of course not limited to a cylindrical body, but can take on practically any suitable sleeve shape with flattened areas and the like.

The information can be, for example, a logo or a mounting / terminal position of a unit in which the contact arrangement is mounted.

In one embodiment, the plastic material is a TPE (thermoplastic elastomer).

The energy radiation can be generated by a laser, preferably a marking laser with a 3D scanner mirror.

As explained, the insulating sleeve according to claim 1 is made of a plastic material that is equipped with a plastic additive that partially, d. that is, forms a predetermined information structure in relatively exactly predetermined areas. This information structure is a flat structure in the manner of a print.

Part of the invention is also the use of a laser, preferably a marking laser, for forming an information structure on a contact arrangement or an insulating sleeve according to the above statements. Of course, however, other energy radiations can also be provided for forming the color change.

Figur 1

eine prinzipielle Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Kontaktanordnung;

Figur 2

eine Detaildarstellung der Kontaktanordnung gemäß Figur 1;

Figur 3

eine als Seal ausgebildete Isolationshülse und

Figur 4

eine als Aderendhülse ausgebildete Isolationshülse.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

Figure 1

a basic representation of a contact arrangement according to the invention;

Figure 2

a detailed representation of the contact arrangement according to Figure 1 ;

Figure 3

an insulating sleeve designed as a seal and

Figure 4

an insulation sleeve designed as a wire end sleeve.

Figure 1 shows a schematic arrangement of a contact arrangement 1, which is installed, for example, in a switch cabinet or the like. This contact arrangement 1 has a contact element 2 with an electrical conductor, for example a cable 4 is electrically connected. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection is made by crimping a stripped cable end with a crimp sleeve 6 of the contact element 2. Before crimping, the illustrated embodiment according to FIG Figure 1 an insulation sleeve 8 is put on, which is first moved backwards away from said cable end and then after crimping with the contact element 2 into the in Figure 1 illustrated contact position is brought to the contact element 2. In this contact position, the insulating sleeve 8 covers the crimp sleeve 6 and the area of the contact element 2 adjoining it, so that this area can also be sealed from the outside.

As in Figure 1 indicated, a laser beam 12 is directed by means of a laser 10, preferably a marking laser (a scanner mirror of the laser 10 is shown) onto a certain area, which can for example be flattened, the effective area of which is controlled by swiveling the mirror so that a predetermined information, for example a logo, proof of authenticity or technical information, such as a terminal position in a switch cabinet or the like, is formed. Accordingly, the focus diameter of the laser 10 and its control are designed in such a way that even the finest graphic structures can be formed.

The material of the insulating sleeve 8 is made of a suitable plastic, for example a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), which is mixed with plastic additives which cause a color change or a color graduation when irradiated. These plastic additives are shown in FIG Figure 1 provided with the reference number 14. These can be mixed with the actual plastic material during manufacture, for example during injection molding of the insulation sleeves 8. In principle, it is also possible to provide these plastic additives as a coating or the like on the outer circumference of the insulating sleeve 8, this then preferably only taking place in those areas in which the information is to be formed.

Depending on the orientation of the laser beam, the plastic additives 14 mentioned become a chemical / physical reaction due to the incident laser energy stimulated. This reaction can be, for example, carbonization, which leads to a color change in the plastic material used, this color change being essentially limited to the area which is acted upon by the laser beam 12.

In principle, it is also possible to apply the plastic additive 14 to the sleeve in a predetermined structure, for example in the form of a logo or an originality mark, so that this structure becomes visible as a color change when laser irradiated. In other words, an authenticity check can be carried out by irradiating a component that is neutral under normal lighting with a laser and thus distinguishing an original part from a plagiarism based on the logo introduced.

As in Figure 2 indicated, the laser 10, preferably an inscription laser 10, can be controlled such that the mentioned logo or the desired identification is formed in the irradiated area 15.

In the embodiment according to Figure 1 the insulating sleeve 8 has an essentially cylindrical base body which is provided with an inner bore 16 through which the cable 4 passes. Towards the contact element, the inner bore 16 is widened in the radial direction to form a receiving space 18, into which an end section of the contact element 2 and part of the crimp sleeve 6 then dip.

However, the invention is not limited to such an insulating sleeve, but differently designed sleeves, such as the so-called "seals", can also be provided with information in the manner according to the invention. Such a seal 20 has according to Figure 3 a sleeve body 22 and an adjoining, radially expanded, comparatively elastic sealing body 24, which is provided with circumferential ribs 26, via which a sealing effect can be brought about by radial or end-face contact with a contact element or the like. In the case of seals 20 of this type, it is advisable to form the identification area 15 on the sleeve body 22.

The insulation sleeve can according to Figure 4 For example, a plastic collar 28 of a wire end sleeve 30, which is connected to the crimp sleeve 6 by injection molding. In Figure 4 What is shown is what is known as a twin end sleeve, via which two cables can be provided with a common crimp sleeve 6. It is advisable to form the identification area 15 in the area of the flattened part of the plastic collar 28.

According to the invention, an insulating sleeve alone or an insulating sleeve of a contact arrangement is formed from a plastic material mixed with a plastic additive. This plastic material is designed so that it partially forms a predetermined information structure when exposed to energetic radiation.

Reference list:

1

Contact arrangement

2

Contact element

4th

electric wire

6

Crimp barrel

8th

Insulation sleeve

10

laser

12th

laser beam

14th

Plastic additive

15th

Identification area

16

Inner bore

18th

Recording room

20th

Seal

22nd

Sleeve body

24

Sealing body

26th

rib

28

Plastic collar

30th

Ferrule

Claims (10)

1. Isolation sleeve for an electrical contact element (2) which is connected to a cable (4), which has a sleeve body (22) produced from plastic which is configured with an internal bore (16) through which the cable (4) passes at least in sections, wherein the isolation sleeve (8) carries information and the plastic is designed such that an information structure, which is offset in color with respect to the other plastic material, can be formed on the sleeve circumference by directed energy radiation and a reaction of the plastic material associated therewith in order to convey the information carried in the isolation sleeve (8), characterized in that a plastic additive (14) is added to the plastic material, wherein said additive undergoes or causes a color change or color gradation in the irradiated region by a chemical or physical reaction.
2. Contact assembly with an isolation sleeve (8) according to patent claim 1 for an electrical contact element (2) which is connected to a conductor (4), preferably a cable end.
3. Contact assembly according to patent claim 2, wherein the reaction is a carbonization.
4. Contact assembly according to one of patent claims 2 or 3, wherein the plastic has a Shore hardness (A) in the range of 40 to 80, preferably 50 to 60 Shore.
5. Contact assembly according to one of patent claims 2 to 4, wherein the isolation sleeve (8) is a plastic collar (28) of a ferrule (30).
6. Contact assembly according to one of patent claims 2 to 5, wherein the information is a logo, a proof of originality or an indication of an assembly position.
7. Contact assembly according to one of patent claims 2 to 6, wherein the plastic material consists of a thermoplastic elastomer.
8. Contact assembly according to one of patent claims 2 to 7, wherein the plastic additive (14) is added to the plastic or the latter is coated with the plastic additive (14).
9. Use of a laser (10) for forming an information structure on a contact assembly (1) according to one of patent claims 2 to 8 or an isolation sleeve (8) according to patent claim 1.
10. Use according to patent claim 9, wherein the laser (10) is a marking laser.

Images