Contact tube with lamella

Technology area

The invention relates to contact tubes located in sockets and plugs properly furnished with pins providing electric current transmission. This comes under automotive equipment with electric joining parts such as truck tractors for trailers and/or semi- trailers.

Present technology status

Till now, the contact tubes were manufactured as simple turned part made from rod material of circular cross section or shaped from sheet metal originating a long tube with 2 cut grooves fixed in the broken part from outside by a ring. Compression results in cross-section reduction and thus in contact with a plug pin. However, oval shape arising from original circular cross section fails to provide this contact in a perfect way. The second disadvantage consists in greater length of tube resulting in higher material consumption.

Invention subject matter

The invention subject-matter is a contact tube with lamella comprising a tube of cylindrical shape with external surface of constant or various diameters, inside equipped with a lamella comprising flexible plates anchored in a rim. The tube of cylindrical shape with constant or various diameters of external surface is equipped from one side with long sectioned part with 3 different gradually reducing diameters of cavity and inlet cavity while the largest diameter passes to a middle cavity conically tapering under 60° angle and the narrowest third cavity is conically ended and from opposite side it comprises a short part starting by turned inlet under 45° angle and ended by conical end that is aligned with centre line of conical end of hollow long part and a different distance occurs between conical ends. The lamella is seated in the middle cavity.

The contact tube with lamella with constant diameter of external surface of tube with cylindrical shape is equipped with two openings, i.e. venting hole located above a base of conical tapering and fixing hole located in hollow short part.

The subject matter of invention is also a contact tube with lamella comprising the tube of cylindrical shape with various diameters of external surface while the part of smaller diameter is

contacting one and the part with larger diameter is connecting one. The connecting part is equipped with a groove that is covered with a locking spring with locking lamellas uniformly spaced in circumference. Venting holes go through connecting as well as contacting part and venting hole of connecting part is located in the groove.

Fixation of conductor that is inserted in the short hollow part is feasible by two ways, i.e. using a screw passing through the fixing hole or by crimping.

The lamella provides better conductive connection with a pin. An advantage comparing with present solution consists in material saving.

Summary of figures in drawings

Figure 1 shows the long contact tube with lamella for pin of 6.4 mm diameter. Figure 2 shows the short contact tube with lamella for pin of 4.8 mm diameter. Figure 3 shows the long contact tube with lamella for pin of 4.8 mm diameter. Figure 4 shows the tube with lamella for pin of 4.0 mm diameter intended for conductor with cross section ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 mm .

Examples of implementation

Example 1:

This is an example of turned long contact tube with a lamella (Figure 1). The long contact tube has external diameter of 6.8 mm and length of 40 mm comprising tube 1 of cylindrical shape equipped with 2 openings namely venting hole 1_J_ and fixing hole Y2 _. with hollow longer part sectioned with 3 different gradually reducing diameters of cavity while the inlet short cavity with the largest diameter passes to the second cavity conically tapering under angle of 60° and the narrowest third cavity is conically ended while venting hole 1_J_ opens above the basic conical taper and from the opposite side of contact tube, shorter hollow part is located starting with turned inlet under 45° and ended with conical end that is aligned with conical end of hollow longer part.

The distance between conical ends is about 10 mm.

Venting hole 1_J_ serves for air release when the pin is being inserted and fixing hole \2_ serves for fixation the position of conductor in shorter part of contact tube using screw 1.2.1. Lamella 2 comprises flexible plates 2J_ anchored in ring rim 2 _^ 2. Lamella 2 is to be inserted into the long part of contact tube namely into the central cavity up to the part with narrowest diameter while the largest part is bended by compression preventing lamella 2 from extraction. Such equipped

contact tube serves for final application after insertion the pin up to its conical part. This type of contact tube is intended for pin of 4.8 mm diameter.

The long contact tube is produced from brass. It is intended for connection the light loop between the car and trailer and it is proper for plugs 7 pol, 24 V.

The contact tube with lamella provides better conductive connection due to lamella application. To produce the tube, less material is used comparing with contact tube with 2 cut grooves.

Example 2

This is an example of thick turned contact tube. The thick contact tube is similar to that from Example 1 but it has 8 mm external diameter for identical length of 40 mm. Minimum non- drilled area should remain between tops of conical ends. Internal lamella 2 is to be inserted into the longer part of contact tube similarly to Example 1. This type of contact tube is intended for pin of 6.4 mm diameter. It is proper for plugs 7 pol, 24V.

Example 3

This is an example of short turned contact tube. The short contact tube is similar to that of Example 1 but it has 6.8 mm external diameter for identical length of 32.5 mm. Minimum non- drilled area should remain between tops of conical ends. Internal lamella 2 is to be inserted into the longer part of contact tube similarly to Example 1. This type of contact tube is intended for pin with 6.4 mm diameter. It is proper for plugs 7 pol, 24V.

Example 4

This is an example of turned contact tube with various external diameters for 4 mm pin (Figure 4) comprising a part with smaller diameter - contacting part equipped with venting hole 1.1 wherein the conductor is inserted and a part with larger diameter - connecting part equipped with groove j_3 with venting hole 1_J_ wherein a counter-pin is inserted to originate electrical connection. Locking spring 3 _. is slid over the groove locking the contact tube in the body by locking lamellas. The connecting part comprises marking stripes for conductor cross-sections. The stripes are for identification only. The connecting part without strips is intended for conductor with cross section ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 mm ² , 1 strip identifies conductor with cross section of 2.5 mm ² , 2 strips identify conductor with cross section of 4 mm ² and 3 strips identify a conductor with cross section of 6 mm . Conductor fixation inside the contacting part is provided by crimping.

This type of contact tube is intended for pin with 6.4 mm diameter. It is proper for plugs 5 pol ABS, 24 V, 7 pol EBS 24 V, 13 pol and 15 pol, 24 V for lighting systems.

Industrial applicability

The contact tube with lamella is used for 24 V into plugs 15 pol, 13 pol for lighting of trailers, 5 pol for brakes ABS and/or EBS and 7 pol only for lighting circuit.

List of reference marks

1. tube

1.1 venting hole

1.2 fixing hole 1.2.1 screw

1.3 groove

2. lamella

2.1 plates

2.2 ring rim

3. locking spring 3.1 locking lamella