Contact element for electrically

• US 20060148338A1
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motortech GmbH (Generac Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Florian Virchow
• Inventors: Virchow, Florian
• Granted Patent: US 7,455,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/851
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/187 with spring member in the socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4538 Covers sliding or withdrawing in the direction of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2101/00 One pole
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/20 Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 13/04 Means providing electrical connection to sparking plugs

Abstract

The object of the invention is a contact element, in particular of ignition voltage parts in internal combustion engines, with an outer sleeve in whose inside an axially acting compression spring is provided.

Claims

1. Contact element for the electrical contacting of components, in particular ignition voltage parts in internal combustion engines, with an outer sleeve (2) in whose inside (3) is provided an axially acting compression spring (4) whose one spring end (7) rests upon a first stop (6) inside the outer sleeve (2), and whose other spring end (8) engages inside the outer sleeve (2) in a cup (12) with which this other spring end (8) is displaceable under the action of the compression spring (4) as far as a second stop (16), which is preferably still located inside the outer sleeve (2).

2. Contact element according to claim 1, characterised in that the second stop (16) for the cup (12) is provided with the other spring end (8) on a bush (13) which is inserted in the outer sleeve (2).

3. Contact element according to claim 2, characterised in that the bush (13) and outer sleeve (2) are connected together by means of a screw connection.

4. Contact element according to claim 2, characterised in that the bush (13) inside the outer sleeve (2) is extended so that it guides the compression spring (4) in the outer sleeve (2).

5. Contact element according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a contact section (5a), active as a supply part, is connected to the end (5) of the outer sleeve (2) with the first stop (6), which section exhibits an axial hole (18) about which extends a collar (21) which is surrounded by a preferably removable spring clamp (23) which contacts an ignition voltage supply (19, 20) in the hole (18) with contact pieces (24) through wall openings (22) in the collar (21).

6. Contact element according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the parts of the contact element (1) consist of any electrically conducting material.

7. Contact element according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that all parts of the contact element (1) preferably consist of a material insensitive to corrosion.

8. Contact element according to claim 7, characterised in that all parts of the contact element (1) consist of an alloy steel which is marketed, for example, under the commercial name of V2A or V4A.

9. Contact element according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the outer sleeve (2) can be placed on a spark plug (2) with the end (12) in which the cup (13) is displaceable, in that the contact end of the spark plug (30) preferably penetrates the contact element against a mechanical resistance during displacement of the cup (13), and in that, independently of this, the other end (8) of the outer sleeve (2) can be connected too an ignition voltage supply (19, 32).(19,32).

10. Contact element according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the ignition voltage supply takes place directly via an ignition voltage contact (19) of an ignition coil (25).

11. Contact element according to claim 10, characterised in that the entire area of the ignition voltage supply is surrounded, preferably sealed with the ignition voltage contact (19) and the contact element (1), apart from at least the contact face of the cup (6), by means of insulating material.

12. Contact element according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the ignition voltage supply is provided via a resistance element (31) which is located in a cover (32), in particular of ceramic, which is in turn surrounded by a cover (35) of a fluoropolymer, in particular PTFE, based material, wherein one resistance end (31) is connected to the contact element (1) and the other resistance end (33) is connected to a connecting piece (34) to an ignition cable (20).

13. Contact element according to claim 12, characterised in that the connecting piece (34) is surrounded, preferably sealed with the ignition cable (20) and the resistance element (32) by means of an insulating material.

14. Contact element according to claim 12, characterised in that the contact element (1) is sealed with the resistance element (32) by means of an insulating material.

15. Contact element according to claims 11, 13 and 14, characterised in that the sealing compound consists of a two-component epoxy resin.

16. Contact element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the element (1) is part of a spark plug socket.

17. Contact element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the contact element is surrounded on the outside essentially, apart from the outer conducting contact face of the cup (9), by a fluorinated polymer material, in particular PTFE.

18. Spark plug cover exhibiting the contact element (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the spark plug attachment is preferably arranged on the spark plug shank.

19. Spark plug cover according to claim 18, characterised in that the spark plug cover also exhibits an ignition current guide (20), in which high voltage pulses are guided, and an insulating element, and in that the insulating element is formed at least in the region of contact with the spark plug shank.

21. Spark plug cover according to one or more of claims 18 and 19, characterised in that the spark plug cover exhibits a lower insulating sleeve which surrounds at least the upper section of the spark plug (30) with the spark plug contact, in that the contact element (1) is received for making a contact with the spark plug contact, preferably centrically along the axis of the sleeve, and further in that the insulating sleeve preferably consists of a fluoropolymer material.

22. Spark plug cover according to one or more of claims 18 to 21, characterised in that the spark plug cover exhibits the resistance element (31) according to claims 12 to 14.