In the prior art, various types of plug type contact

connections are known in which a first electrically

conductive plug type contact element, a plug type contact sleeve, is connected or inserted in a mechanically and

electrically conductive manner to a second electrically conductive plug type contact element, plug type contact pin or blade. A significant function of the plug type contact connection is to produce a conductive connection with low electrical resistance between the plug type contact elements.

Generally, plug type contact elements have a connection region, at which they are connected to an electrical

conductor by means of crimping or by means of a cutting clamping region. They are in most cases part of a plug type connector system having complementary housings with receiving chambers in which the plug type contact elements are received. By joining together the complementary housings, the plug type contact elements are then also joined together and an

electrical plug type contact connection is produced.

An object of the invention is to enable an improvement of the electrical plug type contact connection.

The object of the invention is achieved by the plug type contact connection according to patent claim 1 and by the method for producing a plug type contact connection according to patent claim 13.

Other advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

An advantage of the plug type contact connection described is that the electrical resistance between the electrical conductor and the plug type contact element is reduced. This advantage is achieved by electrically conductive particles being arranged between the plug type contact elements. The electrically conductive particles are between the plug type contact elements and improve the electrically conductive connection between the plug type contact elements.

Tests have shown that the particles preferably have a

diameter which is less than 100 pm, in particular less than 60 pm. The particles preferably have such a size that the diameter thereof is less than 60 pm and preferably greater than 10 pm. Owing to the orders of magnitude selected, the particles are particularly suitable for the production of an electrically conductive connection without impairing the plug type contact operation or damaging the plug type contact elements .

In another embodiment, the particles are in the form of a mechanically crushed, in particular broken, powder. The mechanical crushing produces angular structures of the particles which are advantageous for the production of the electrically conductive connection between the plug type contact elements. In another embodiment, the electrically conductive particles are at least partially formed from an electrically conductive metal, in particular from copper. Owing to the metal

construction of the particles, a good electrical connection between the metal conductors is formed during the insertion operation .

Copper alloys are particularly suitable for the construction of the particles. In this instance, it is preferably possible to use binary compounds of copper and zinc or ternary

compounds of copper and zinc with another element from the following group: tin, aluminium, iron, nickel, silver, titanium, magnesium or chromium. Good electrical conductivities are achieved with particles which are made of brass, the zinc content preferably being between 10% and 70%.

In another embodiment, a plug type contact element which is surrounded by a tin layer is used. The tin layer brings about a shielding of the electrical conductor from the atmospheric oxygen in the region of the connection, whereby good long- term stability is achieved. In another embodiment, the plug type contact element is coated at least in the contacting region with silver or gold, whereby high electrical conductivity is ensured. In the case of gold, the formation of an oxide layer is further reduced. The electrical particles are introduced between the plug type contact elements prior to the plug type contact operation. In this instance, the electrical particles can be scattered in the form of a powder or be applied with a carrier agent in which the electrical particles are mixed, for example, to the plug type contact element. For example, organic solvents, in particular petroleum, alcohol, acetone, oils or greases are suitable as a carrier agent.

The electrical particles can be applied by means of a brush, a stamp or using an air flow. The electrical particles which are mixed with a carrier agent can be applied by means of a spraying or dispensing method, such as, for example, inkjet or micro-dispensing.

The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the Figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a plug type contact pin,

Figure 2 shows a plug type contact socket which complements the pin of Figure 1,

Figure 3 shows a plug type contact blade and a complementary plug type contact sleeve,

Figure 4 shows a plug type contact system with the plug type contact element of Figure 3 and the associated complementary housing, respectively.

Figure 1 shows a plug type contact pin 1 which comprises a cutting clamping contact region 2 for contacting the

electrical conductor 3 with an insulation securing region 4 and a pin 5 and a securing region 6 for fixing in a receiving chamber of a housing. The pin 5 comprises the contacting region 7. In this region, the contact between the plug type contact pin 1 and the plug type contact socket 10 (see Figure 2) is produced. Electrically conductive particles 8 are applied to the pin 5 at least in the contacting region 7. The electrically conductive particles may also be introduced into the contacting region of the plug type contact socket 10. The plug type contact socket 10 has a plurality of contacting springs 11, which are surrounded by a sleeve 12. Furthermore, a crimp region 13 is provided for fixing the conductor 14.

The application of the particles is best carried out during the production operation when the plug type contact socket 10 is punched. The contacting springs 11 are then still freely accessible with the contacting region and not surrounded by the sleeve 12.

In another embodiment, the electrical particles 8 are at least partially produced from an electrically conductive metal, in particular at least partially from copper. For example, the particles are made of brass, the zinc content preferably being between 10 and 70%.

Ternary copper alloys for electrically conductive particles which can be used include compounds of copper and zinc with another element from the following group: tin, aluminium, iron, nickel, silver, titanium, magnesium or chromium.

The electrically conductive particles are, for example, at least partially composed of one of the following copper alloys: CuSn, CuFe, CuNiSi, CuAl+XY.

The plug type contact elements 1, 10 are produced from an electrically conductive material, for example, from a metal. Depending on the embodiment selected, the plug type contact element 1 is provided at least in the contacting region 7 with a tin layer or a silver or gold layer. The plug type contact elements 1, 10 may, for example, be produced from one of the following materials: Cu, CuSn, CuZn, CuZnSn, CuFe, CuNiSi, CuNiZn. The electrical particles 8 preferably have a diameter which is not greater than from 5 to 30% of the diameter of a single strand 5, preferably in the region of from 5 to 20% of the diameter of the individual strand. With conventional orders of magnitude of the line strands 5, this substantially corresponds to a diameter which is between 10 and 100 pm, preferably between 10 and 60 pm.

The particles 8 are preferably produced by means of

mechanical crushing as a powder. During the mechanical crushing operation, the particles are provided with edges, which enable an improvement of the electrical contacting. The transition resistance between the plug type contact elements is significantly reduced. Depending on the selected embodiment, particles 8 which have a spherical surface can also be used.

The electrical particles 8 are applied to the plug type contact element 1 or 10, for example, by means of an air stream. In addition, the application of the electrical particles 8 can also be carried out by means of a brush or a stamp. Furthermore, it is possible to use a carrier agent into which the electrical particles are introduced. For example, organic solvents, such as, for example, petroleum, alcohol, acetone, oils, etcetera, are suitable as carrier agents. In addition, the particles can be introduced into a grease with or without the organic solvent, which is then applied in a metered manner to the plug type contact elements 1, 10. The metering can be applied by means of a spraying or dispensing method, such as, for example, inkjet or micro- dispensing . After the introduction of the electrical particles 8, the plug type contact elements are inserted. This can also be carried out long after the application of the particles.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the plug type contact elements, having a plug type contact sleeve 20 and a plug type contact blade 30. The plug type contact sleeve 20 has a contacting region 21 with contacting arms 22 and a crimp region 23 having an insulation crimp 24 and a conductor crimp 23 for securing the conductor 27. The plug type contact sleeve 20 is suitable for receiving a plug type contact blade 30. The plug type contact blade 30 and plug type contact sleeve 20 engage with each other at the catch projection 31 and catch opening 26. The powder with the particles 8 for improving the electrical conductivity can be introduced onto the plug type contact blade 30 or the contacting region of the contact sleeve 21.

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of an example of the plug type contact connection of Figure 3 with the associated housings .