A contact device and contact system

The invention relates to a contact device according to Claim 1 and a contact system according to Claim 14.

Many different configurations of sealed contact systems with contact devices are known, an inner space of the contact device being sealed from the environment of the contact system.

The problem of the invention is to provide an improved contact device and an improved contact system.

This problem is solved by means of a contact device according to Claim 1 and by means of a contact system according to Claim 14. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

It has been recognised that an improved contact device can be provided by the contact device comprising at least a contact element, an inner housing, an outer housing, a first sealing element and a second sealing element. The outer housing delimits a first inner space. The inner housing delimits a second inner space. The inner housing is arranged in the first inner space at least in sections. The contact element is arranged in the second inner space at least in sections. The first sealing element is arranged between the inner housing and the outer housing and seals off the first inner space from an environment of the contact device. The second sealing element is arranged between the contact element and the inner housing. The second sealing element seals off the second inner space from the environment of the contact device. This configuration has the advantage that the contact device seals off the inner spaces from the environment in a

particularly reliable manner. Furthermore, the contact device has a particularly small number of components and is

particularly easy to assemble. Furthermore, an automated assembly with simply formed machine tools is possible.

In a further embodiment, the inner housing has a first sealing receptacle at an outer peripheral surface. The first sealing element is arranged in the first sealing receptacle. The first sealing receptacle is open on a side which faces the outer housing. The outer housing is arranged on the outside of the first sealing receptacle. In a further embodiment, the inner housing has a first housing section, a second housing section, a first web and a second web. The first housing section abuts against the second housing section in the longitudinal direction. The first web and the second web are arranged offset to the first housing section in the longitudinal direction. The first housing section is formed wider than the second housing section in the transverse direction. The first web and the second web are arranged at the second housing section. The first sealing receptacle is delimited by the first web with a first side surface at a first longitudinal side and by the second web with a second side surface at a second

longitudinal side.

In a further embodiment, a second sealing receptacle is provided, wherein the second sealing element is arranged in the second sealing receptacle, wherein the second sealing element has a notch, wherein the contact element engages through the notch. The second sealing receptacle is open on a side which faces away from the outer housing.

In a further embodiment, the second sealing receptacle is delimited in the longitudinal direction at a first longitudinal side by a first shoulder of the inner housing and at a second longitudinal side by a third side surface of the outer housing. The second sealing receptacle is delimited by an inner first peripheral surface of the inner housing in the transverse direction.

In a further embodiment, the third side surface is arranged at a protrusion of the outer housing. The outer housing comprises a receptacle between the protrusion and an inner second peripheral surface of the outer housing. The inner housing engages in the receptacle.

In a further embodiment, the outer housing has a third shoulder. The third shoulder is arranged between the first sealing element and the second sealing element in the

longitudinal direction, the third shoulder having a stop surface, the stop surface being arranged on a longitudinal side which faces the first sealing element. The stop surface is formed to define an end position of a further contact device relative to the contact device.

In a further embodiment, a contact securing means is

provided, the contact securing means having a pin, a first recess and a second recess, the first recess being arranged in the inner housing. The contact element has a securing section on the outside, wherein the securing section has a second recess. The second recess at the contact element is arranged overlapping the first recess in the longitudinal direction. The pin engages in the first recess and the second recess and connects the inner housing to the contact element in a form-fitting manner.

In a further embodiment, the contact device has a contact securing means, wherein the contact securing means is arranged in the first inner space, the end face of said contact securing means resting on the inner housing, wherein the contact element comprises a securing section on the outside, the securing section having a second recess and a collar, wherein the collar delimits the second recess at a longitudinal side, wherein the contact securing means has a third recess and a fourth recess, and a pin with an engaging section, wherein the third recess and the engaging section are arranged abutting against each other, wherein the inner housing delimits the fourth recess in sections, wherein the engaging section engages in the second recess and in the fourth recess, wherein the collar engages in the third recess.

In a further embodiment, the outer housing has a first bearing surface and the inner housing has a second bearing surface. Furthermore, the contact device comprises a

tensioning means. The tensioning means is formed to push the bearing surfaces against each other. Preferably, the

tensioning means is arranged on the outside of the inner housing and presses the second bearing surface against the first bearing surface. Advantageously, the bearing surfaces are arranged between the first sealing element and the second sealing element in the longitudinal direction. The tensioning means is preferably formed as a thickening.

In a further embodiment, a guide means is provided, said guide means having at least one guide rail extending in the longitudinal direction and one guide receptacle extending in the longitudinal direction, the guide rail and the guide receptacle engaging each other. The guide receptacle is arranged on the inside of the outer housing and the guide rail is arranged on the outside of the inner housing.

Additionally or alternatively, the guide receptacle can also be arranged on the outside of the inner housing and the guide rail can be arranged on the inside of the outer housing. In a further embodiment, the contact device has a coding means, the coding means having a coding rail extending in the longitudinal direction, the coding rail being arranged on the outside of the outer housing, the coding rail being formed to engage in a coding receptacle of a further contact device and to guide the further contact device in the longitudinal direction and to prevent a polarity reversal of the contact device.

In a further embodiment, the contact device has at least one sealing plug, said sealing plug having an identical outer contour to the contact element in sections, said sealing plug closing off the second inner space from an environment.

In a further embodiment, the contact system has a contact device and a further contact device, the contact device being formed as described above, the further contact device having an outer housing, the outer housing of the further contact device delimiting the first inner space in sections, the outer housing of the further contact device comprising a housing engaging section, the housing engaging section engaging in the outer housing of the contact device, the housing engaging section being arranged between the first sealing element and the outer housing of the contact device. The further contact device is preferably formed just as described above. In a further embodiment, the contact securing means is arranged between the inner housing of the contact device and the inner housing of the further contact device, said contact securing means being formed to fix a predefined distance between the inner housing of the contact device and the inner housing of the further contact device.

The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to figures. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a perspective depiction of a contact system; Figure 2 shows an exploded depiction of the contact system shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a perspective longitudinal section through the contact system shown in Figures 1 and 2 ;

Figure 4 shows a first cut-out of the longitudinal section shown in Figure 3 through the contact system; Figure 5 shows a cross-section along a section plane A-A

shown in Figure 4 through the contact system shown in Figure 4 ;

Figure 6 shows a cross-section along a section plane B-B

shown in Figure 4 through the contact system shown in Figure 4 ;

Figure 7 shows a second cut-out of the longitudinal section shown in Figure 3 through the contact system; and

Figure 8 shows a cross-section along a section plane C-C

shown in Figure 7 through the contact system shown in Figure 7. In the following figures, a coordinate system 5 is referred to. The coordinate system 5 is formed by way of example as a right-handed trihedron and has an x-axis, a y-axis and a z- axis. The x-axis extends in the longitudinal direction. The y-axis extends in the transverse direction and the z-axis in the vertical direction. Of course, the coordinate system 5 can also be formed differently.

Figure 1 shows a perspective depiction of a contact system 10. The contact system 10 is formed to provide an electrical connection between a first electrical conductor 15 and a second electrical conductor 20. The first electrical conductor 15 and the second electrical conductor 20 have a plurality of conductor strands 25, 30 in the embodiment by way of example, wherein, in the embodiment, each of the conductor strands 25, 30 is formed as a coaxial conductor with a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor which is arranged coaxially to the first electrical conductor, for example. In the embodiment, the electrical conductor 15, 20 respectively has four conductor strands 25, 30 by way of example. Of course, a different number of conductor strands 25, 30 can also be provided which are electrically connected to each other by means of the contact system 10. The conductor strand 25, 30 can also be formed differently and comprise only one electrical

conductor, for example.

The contact system 10 has a first contact device 35 and a second contact device 40. The first contact device 35 is connected to the first electrical conductor 15. The second contact device 40 is connected to the second electrical conductor 20.

Figure 2 shows an exploded depiction of the contact system 10 shown in Figure 1.

The first contact device 35 has at least a first contact element 45, an inner housing 50, an outer housing 55, a first sealing element 60 and a second sealing element 65.

Furthermore, the first contact device 35 has a first contact securing means 285 by way of example. The second contact device 40, apart from small deviations which are referred to in Figures 7 and 8, is formed in its constructional features substantially identically to the first contact device 35 and has a second contact element 345, an inner housing 51, an outer housing 56, the first sealing element 60 and the second sealing element 65. Furthermore, the second contact device 40 has a second contact securing means 315 by way of example. The geometric configurations of the second contact device 40 and the first contact device 35 are coordinated.

Figure 3 shows a perspective longitudinal section through the contact system 10 shown in Figure 1.

The first contact element 45 is formed as a first coaxial contact element and has a first plug contact 70 and a first bushing contact 75 by way of example. In this case, the first plug contact 70 is arranged coaxially to the first bushing contact 75. Of course, it is also conceivable that the first contact element 45 is also formed differently.

In the embodiment, a first contact element 45 is provided for each first conductor strand 25 respectively by way of

example, the first contact element 45 being electrically connected to the first conductor strand 25. Correspondingly, four first contact elements 45 are provided respectively in the embodiment by way of example, which, at equal intervals, are offset relative to each other by way of example in the transverse direction and are arranged spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. In this case, two first contact elements 45 are arranged respectively in a common xy- plane by way of example. Of course, it is also conceivable that the first contact elements 45 are also arranged in a common plane.

Furthermore, the second contact device 40 has a second contact element 345 for every second conductor strand 30, instead of the first contact element 45. The second contact element 345 is formed similarly to the first contact element 45. The second contact element 345 has a second bushing contact 350 and a second plug contact 355. The second bushing contact 350 is arranged coaxially to the second plug contact 355. The second bushing contact 350 and the first plug contact 70 engage each other. The second plug contact 355 engages in the first bushing contact 75. As a result, a reliable electrical connection between the first contact element 45 and the second contact element 345 is guaranteed.

In the assembled state, the outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40 engages in the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35. In this case, the outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40 is arranged on the outside between the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35 and the first sealing element 60.

The outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40 has a housing engaging section 76. The housing engaging section 76 engages in the outer housing 50 of the first contact device 35. The outer housings 55, 56 delimit a first inner space 80. The inner housings 50, 51 are arranged in the first inner space 80. The inner housings 50, 51 delimit a second inner space 105.

The first sealing element 60 of the first contact device 35 is arranged between the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 and the outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40, and seals off the first inner space 80 from an environment 245. The first sealing element 60 of the second contact device 40 is arranged between the inner housing 51 of the second contact device 40 and the outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40, and seals off the first inner space 80 from the environment 245. The second sealing elements 65 of the two contact devices 35, 40 reliably seal off the second inner space 105 at the respective contact element 45, 345 and the inner housings 50, 51 from the environment 245. Figure 4 shows the first contact device 35 in a first cut-out of the longitudinal section shown in Figure 3 through the contact system 10. For reasons of clarity, in the following figures, a sealing plug 46, 346 is illustrated partially instead of the contact element 45, 345. The sealing plug 46, 346 and the contact element 45, 345 have a substantially identical outer geometry. The features described hereinafter for the contact element 45, 345 also apply to the sealing plugs 46, 346, with the exception that the sealing plugs 46, 346 do not provide an electrical connection and do not engage each other. The sealing plugs 46, 346 close off the contact device 35, 40 from the environment 245 and seal off the second inner space 105 from the environment 245. The sealing plug 46, 346 has a plastic as its material.

The outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35

substantially has by way of example a rectangular cross- section. Furthermore, the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35 has a first opening 90 at a first

longitudinal end and a second opening 95 at a second

longitudinal end. The first opening 90 is formed

corresponding to an outside, geometric configuration of a connection section 100 of the contact element 45, 345. The connection section 100 is connected to the associated

electrical conductor 15, 20 at one side and connected to a securing section 120 of the contact element 45, 345 at the other side. The securing section 120 is arranged on the outside of the contact element 45, 345. Furthermore, the connection section 100 engages through the first opening 90. The second opening 95 is arranged in the longitudinal direction opposite the first opening 90. In the second opening 95 of the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35, the outer housing 56 engages in the second contact device 40.

The second inner space 105 has a first inner space section 110 and at least one second inner space section 115. The second inner space section 115 is formed in a chamber ^¬ like manner. The securing section 120 of the contact element 45, 345 is arranged in the second inner space section 115. By way of example, the second inner space section 115 is

cylindrically formed. The second inner space section 115 opens out at a side which faces the first opening 90 at a third opening 125 of the inner housing 50 in the first inner space section 110. The first contact element 45 engages through the third opening 125.

The first inner space section 110 is formed wider than the second inner space section 115 in the transverse direction, such that at the first inner space section 110 a plurality of second inner space sections 115 can open out at a

longitudinal side of the first inner space section 110. The inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 has a fourth opening 130 in the longitudinal direction on the side which is opposite the first inner space section 110, at which fourth opening the second inner space section 115 similarly opens out. The second contact element 345 engages through the fourth opening 130.

The inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 has a first sealing receptacle 140 at a first outer peripheral surface 135. The first sealing receptacle 140 is open

outwardly towards the outer housings 55, 56 of the contact devices 35, 40 and preferably has a rectangular cross-section in the longitudinal section. The first sealing receptacle 140 is arranged circumferentially around the inner housing 50. The first sealing element 60 is arranged in the first sealing receptacle 140. The outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40 is arranged on the outside in the longitudinal direction at the level of the first sealing element 60 and the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35 is arranged on the outside of the outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40. The inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 has a first housing section 145, a second housing section 150, a first web 155 and a second web 156. The first housing section 145 and the second housing section 150 extend in the longitudinal direction. The first housing section 145 abuts against the second housing section 150 in the longitudinal direction. The first housing section 145 is formed wider than the second housing section 150 in the transverse direction. In this case, a first shoulder 160 with a shoulder surface 161 is arranged at a transition between the first housing section 145 and the second housing section 150. The shoulder surface 161 extends in a yz-plane by way of example .

The first web 155 and the second web 156 are arranged offset relative to the first shoulder 160 and relative to the first housing section 145 in the longitudinal direction. In this case, the second web 156 is arranged on the outside of the second housing section 150 between the first shoulder 160 and the first web 155. Furthermore, the first web 155 is arranged on the outside of the second housing section 150.

In the embodiment, the first web 155 and the second web 156 are arranged circumferentially at the first outer peripheral surface 135 of the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35. Of course, the first web 155 and/or the second web 156 can also have interruptions. By way of example, the first web 155 is formed shorter than the second web 156 in the transverse direction. Of course, the first web 155 can also be formed wider than or be the same width as the second web 156. The first web 155 delimits the first sealing receptacle 140 at a first longitudinal end with a first side surface 165, and the second web 156 delimits the first sealing receptacle 140 at a second longitudinal end with a second side surface 170. The first side surface 165 and the second side surface 170 are arranged by way of example parallel to each other in the embodiment and are perpendicular to the first outer peripheral surface 135 in the first sealing receptacle 140 by way of example. Furthermore, the first and the second side surfaces 165, 170 each extend in a yz-plane. Furthermore, the first sealing receptacle 140 is delimited by the first outer peripheral surface 135 of the second housing section 150 in the transverse direction and vertical direction. On the outside, the first sealing receptacle 140 is delimited by the outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40.

The contact device 35, 40 further has a second sealing receptacle 175. The second sealing element 65 is arranged in the second sealing receptacle 175. The second sealing

receptacle 175 is delimited on the outside by a first inner peripheral surface 180 of the first housing section 145. A first longitudinal end of the second sealing receptacle 175 is delimited by the first shoulder 160.

The outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35 is formed in a tiered manner and has a second shoulder 185 and a third shoulder 190. Furthermore, the outer housing 55 has a first outer housing section 205, a second outer housing section 210 and a third outer housing section 215. The second shoulder 185 is arranged between the first outer housing section 205 and the second outer housing section 210. The third shoulder 190 is arranged between the second outer housing section 210 and the third outer housing section 215.

The first outer housing section 205 has a smaller transverse extension than the second outer housing section 210. The second outer housing section 210 has a shorter transverse extension than the third outer housing section 215. The third shoulder 190 is arranged offset relative to the second shoulder 185 in the longitudinal direction. In this case, the second shoulder 185 abuts against the first opening 90 of the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35. A protrusion 195 is provided at the second shoulder 185 on a longitudinal side which faces the second sealing receptacle 175. A third side surface 200 is arranged at the protrusion 195. The protrusion 195 is arranged in the transverse

direction at the level of the first shoulder 160 of the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35. The third side surface 200 is preferably aligned parallel to the shoulder surface 161. The third side surface 200 delimits a second longitudinal end of the second sealing receptacle 175. A receptacle 220 is provided between the protrusion 195 and the second outer housing section 210 at the second shoulder 185. The receptacle 220 is delimited on the outside by a second inner peripheral surface 206 of the second outer housing section 210 and on the inside by the protrusion 195. The receptacle 220 is delimited by the second shoulder 185 in the longitudinal direction. In the assembled state of the first contact device 35, an end face of the first housing section 145 of the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 on a side which faces away from the first outer housing section 205 engages in the receptacle 220.

The third shoulder 190 is arranged between the first sealing element 60 and the second sealing element 65 in the

longitudinal direction. The third shoulder 190 is

substantially arranged by way of example at the level of the second web 156 in the longitudinal direction. In this case, the third shoulder 190 has a stop surface 225. The stop surface 225 is arranged on a longitudinal side, which faces the first sealing element 60, of the third shoulder 190. An end face 226 of the outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40 rests against the stop surface 225 of the first contact device 35. In order to guarantee an axial position of the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 relative to the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35 in the inserted state, the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35 can additionally comprise a first bearing surface 265 and the inner housing 50 can comprise a second bearing surface 270 and a tensioning means 275. The first bearing surface 265 and the second bearing surface 270 are, in this case, aligned conically and/or running obliquely towards the x-axis. In this case, a low inclination by a few degrees is enough for the bearing surface 265, 270 relative to the x-axis. In the embodiment, the bearing surface 265, 270 is arranged by way of example between the first sealing element 60 and the second sealing element 65 in the longitudinal direction. To form the tensioning means 275, the inner housing 50 has a thickening 280 on the outside of the second housing section 150. The thickening 280 is, in this case, arranged between the second web 156 and the first shoulder 160 in the

longitudinal direction. The thickening 280 connects the second web 156 to the first shoulder 160 by way of example. The second bearing surface 270 is arranged on the outside of the tensioning means 275.

Upon insertion of the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 into the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35, the tensioning means 275 is elastically tensioned in the transverse direction by means of the oblique alignment of the bearing surface 265, 270. In the end position, the tensioning means 275 presses the second bearing surface 270 in the transverse direction outwardly onto the first bearing surface 265 with a pretensioning force F _s and thus ensures an unwanted withdrawal, for example in the event of the contact system 10, the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 being released from the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35. Furthermore, a quick assembly option of the first contact device 35 is guaranteed by the tensioning means 275. Furthermore, the arrangement of the tensioning means 275 and the bearing surface 265, 270 in the longitudinal direction between the first sealing element 60 and the second sealing element 65 guarantees that the second sealing element 65 can reliably seal off the second inner space 105 and the first sealing element 60 can reliably seal off the first inner space 80 from the environment 245.

Figure 5 shows a cross-section along a section plane A-A shown in Figure 4 through the contact system 10.

In the embodiment, the sealing element 60, 65 is preferably made from an elastomer. The second sealing element 65 has a notch 230 for each contact element 45, 345 respectively. The notch 230 is selected corresponding to the geometric

configuration of the connection section 100, which is guided through the notch 230.

Additionally, the first sealing element 60 can have at least one first sealing lip 235 in the notch 230 in order to achieve a reliable seal at the contact element 45, 345 of the second inner space 105. At least one second sealing lip 240 is also provided at a second outer peripheral surface 236 of the second sealing element 65. In this case, the second sealing lips 240 rest on the first inner peripheral surface 180 in the second sealing receptacle 175. As a result, the second inner space 105 is reliably sealed off from the environment 245 of the contact system 10.

The first contact device 35 further has a guide means 250 by way of example. The guide means 250 has a guide rail 255 extending in the longitudinal direction and a guide

receptacle 260 extending in the longitudinal direction. The guide rail 255 and the guide receptacle 260 engage each other. The guide receptacle 260 is arranged on the outside, for example, of the second housing section 150. The guide rail 255 is arranged on the inside of the second outer housing section 210. The guide means 250 ensures that upon insertion of the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 into the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35, the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 is not canted and can be inserted as far as its end position, which is fixed by engaging the first housing section 145 in the receptacle 220. Of course, the guide receptacle 260 can also be arranged on the inside of the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35 and the guide rail 255 on the outside of the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35.

Figure 6 shows a cross-section along a section plane B-B shown in Figure 4 through the contact system 10 shown in Figure 4. The first contact securing means 285 comprises a first pin 290 and a first recess 295. Furthermore, a peripherally circumferential, groove-shaped second recess 310 is arranged on the outside of the securing section 120 of the first contact element 45.

The first recess 295 is arranged in the inner housing 50. In the embodiment, a first contact securing means 285 is provided respectively for each xy-plane with first contact elements 45. Through the two respective xy-planes, which are arranged offset in the z-direction with the first contact elements 45, the first contact device 35 respectively has two first contact securing means 285, which are arranged opposite each other in the z-direction. The first pin 290 has a first holding section 300 and a first engaging section 305. The first holding section 300 is formed wider than the first recess 295 and the first engaging section 305 in the transverse direction. The first engaging section 305 is formed corresponding at least in sections to the first recess 295 and the second recess 310. The second engaging section 330 is formed in this case such that the first engaging section 305 tapers from the first holding section 300 to a free end of the first engaging section 305. Preferably, a section of an outer contour of the first engaging section 305 is, in this case, formed running on a circular path. The first engaging section 305 engages through both the first recess 295 and the second recess 310, and thus secures the first contact element 45 in the inner housing 50.

It is particularly advantageous here, if the first pin 290 has a T-shaped configuration, for example, so that the first engaging section 305 can engage in two contact elements 45, 345 arranged adjacently side-by-side in two different second inner space sections 115 and is simultaneously attached securely against tilting in the first recess 295. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the first holding section 300 is formed wider than the first recess 295 in the

transverse direction, in order to thus prevent the first pin 290 from sliding into the first recess 295. Additionally, a coding means 311 can be provided, the coding means 311 having a coding rail 312 extending in the

longitudinal direction and a coding receptacle 313, the coding rail 312 being arranged by way of example on the outside of the outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40. The coding receptacle 313 is arranged by way of example on the inside of the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35. The coding rail 312 is formed to engage in the coding receptacle 313 and to guide the outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40. The coding rail 312 and the coding receptacle 313 are arranged such that the second contact device 40 can only be incorporated into the first contact device 35 in a single position. This is guaranteed, for example, by a geometry of the coding rail 312 and the coding receptacle 313 or by an off-centre arrangement of the coding means 311 at the outer housing 55, 56. Figure 7 shows the second cut-out of the contact system 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The second contact device 40 is substantially formed as a variant of the first contact device 35 described in Figures 1 to 6. By derogation, a second contact securing means 315 is provided instead of the first contact securing means 285 at the second contact device 40. Likewise, two second contact securing means 315, which are arranged opposite each other in the z-direction, are each provided by way of example for securing the second contact elements 345.

The second contact securing means 315 is arranged between the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 and the inner housing 51 of the second contact device 40 in the

longitudinal direction.

In order to avoid an unintentional release of the second contact device 40 from the first contact device 35, the contact system 10 additionally has a latching device 365. The latching device 365 has by way of example a latching clamp 370, which is provided at the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35, and a latching lug 375, which is provided at the outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40, the latching lug 375 engaging in a latching receptacle 380 of the latching clamp 370 in the assembled state, in order to prevent an unintentional release of the second contact device 40 from the first contact device 35. Figure 8 shows a cross-section through the second contact device 40 along a section plane C-C shown in Figure 7.

The second contact securing means 315 is formed similarly to the first contact securing means 285 and has a second pin 327 with a second holding section 326, a second engaging section 330 and a third recess 335, as well as a fourth recess 320. The fourth recess 320 is jointly delimited by the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 and the inner housing 51 of the second contact device 40.

The second engaging section 330 is connected to the second holding section 326. The second holding section 326 is arranged on the outside of the second engaging section 330. The second engaging section 330 is arranged abutting against the third recess 335 in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, at the securing section 120, the second contact element 345 has a collar 340 which delimits the second recess 310 at the second contact element 345. The collar 340 is arranged at a free end of the securing section 120 of the second contact element 345 and is formed circumferentially in the peripheral direction of the second contact element 345.

The collar 340 of the securing section 120 engages in the third recess 335 of the second pin 327. The second engaging section 330 engages in the second recess 310 of the second contact element 345 and in the fourth recess 320.

The second contact securing means 315 is connected to the inner housing 51 of the second contact device 40 by means of a latching connection 385. The latching connection 385 has a spring section 390 which is attached to the inside of the inner housing 51 of the second contact device 40 at a fixed end. The spring section 390 extends in a yz-plane. Two spring sections 390, which are arranged opposite each other, are preferably provided in a common yz-plane, wherein the second pin 327 is arranged between the spring sections 390.

The spring section 390 preferably has a plurality of fifth recesses 395 on a side which faces the second pin 327. The second contact securing means 315 has a further latching lug 405 at a fourth side surface 400 of the second holding section 326. The further latching lug 405 is formed

corresponding to the fifth recess 395. For assembly, the second contact securing means 315 is pressed in between the spring sections 390 in the transverse direction laterally from the outside, such that the second engaging section 330 engages in the second recess 310 and the fourth recess 320. Furthermore, the first engaging section 305 engages in the third recess 335. Moreover, the further latching lug 405 latches in the fifth recess 395 and secures the second pin 327 in the fourth recess 320. By means of the second contact securing means 315, a

predefined distance between the first inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 and the inner housing 51 of the second contact device 40 can also be fixed and a position of the second contact element 345 in the inner housing 51 of the second contact device 40 can simultaneously be fixed.

The configuration of the contact system 10 described above has the advantage that a particularly compact contact system 10 can be formed, which reliably seals the first inner space 80 and the second inner space 105 from the environment 245 of the contact system 10. In this way, the reliable prevention of corrosion of the contact element 45, 345 in the region of the electrical contact is guaranteed. Furthermore, as a result of this, the reliability and long durability of the contact system 10 are guaranteed.

By means of the offset arrangement of the sealing elements 60, 65 in connection with the guide means 250, upon insertion of the second contact device 40 into the first contact device 35, the tilting of the outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40 in relation to the first contact device 35 is avoided. Therefore, damage to the sealing element 60, 65 or crushing of the sealing element 60, 65 by the outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40 is, where applicable, reliably avoided and thus any possible leakage from the inner space 80, 105. A reliable multiple inserting and releasing and a reliable impermeability of the contact system 10 are also guaranteed by the offset arrangement of the sealing element 60, 65.

The first contact device 35 and the second contact device 40 can be particularly easily assembled. This can be carried out, for example, in that the first contact device 35 is assembled by the outer housing 55 being slid over the first electrical conductor 15 in a first method step. In a second assembly step, the sealing elements 60, 65 are inserted into the respectively associated sealing receptacles 140, 175 of the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35. Subsequently, in a third assembly step, the first contact element 45 is inserted into the respectively associated second inner space section 115.

In a fourth assembly step, the first contact securing means 285 is assembled in that the first pin 290 is introduced into the first recess 295, until the first holding section 300 rests on the outside of the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 and the first engaging section 305 engages in the second recess 310 of the first contact element 45. As a result, the position in the longitudinal direction of the first contact element 45 relative to the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 is reliably fixed. It is

particularly advantageous here if, upon insertion of the first pin 290 into the first recess 295, the first pin 290 is clamped in the first recess 295.

In a fifth assembly step, the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35 is slid over the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35, until the first housing section 145 of the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 engages in the receptacle 220 of the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35 and the bearing surfaces 265, 270 are tensioned by the tensioning means 275.

Furthermore, an unwanted release of the first pin 290 from the first recess 295 can be reliably avoided by the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35 being superimposed on the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35. In this case, it is particularly advantageous if a width a in the vertical direction of the first holding section 300 corresponds substantially to a distance al between the inner housing 50 and the outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40.

The assembly of the second contact device 40 is carried out substantially identically to the assembly of the first contact device 35. By derogation, in the fourth assembly step, it is not the first contact securing means 285, but the second contact securing means 315 as described in Figure 8 which is assembled and latched.

During the overall assembly of the contact system 10, the housing engaging section 76 of the outer housing 56 of the second contact device 40 is inserted between the inner housing 50 of the first contact device 35 and the outer housing 55 of the first contact device 35, such that the first sealing element 60 rests on the inside of the housing engaging section 76 and seals off the first inner space 80. Furthermore, the contact elements 45, 345 engage each other and form an electrical contact.

It is noted that the configuration of the contact system 10 described in Figures 1 to 8 is exemplary. Of course, it is also conceivable that the contact system 10 is formed

differently than described above. It is also conceivable that individual features can be dispensed with or additional features can be provided, however said features do not change anything in the functioning of the contact system 10.