US 6,305,991 B1Granted

Method of connecting metallic conductors, and a line-bar connection produced in accordance with the method

AssigneeZurecon AG

InventorMax Gerster

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The invention is directed to connected metallic conductors which are flat and made from aluminum or aluminum-copper compounds. Oppositely-located contact surfaces (3) are provided with grooves (4), indentations or the like on the conductors. During assembly, the contact surfaces (3) are brought into direct contact, and the conductors are pressed together with such a strong force that a plastic deformation and, consequently, a metallic, electrically-conductive contact are effected at a plurality of locations at the contact surfaces. The plastic deformation effects a breaking open or splintering of oxide layers present at the contact surfaces, which exposes bare metal for producing the contact. The pressing force can be generated by tightening screws (in bores 2), which are led, for example, directly through the contact surfaces (3). A connection of line-bar segments with a plurality of parallel conductors is also described.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A line-bar connection comprising:

a first line-bar segment (9a) and a second line-bar segment (9b) each having a plurality of conductors (10, 10a, 10b, 10b′), each of the conductors having a contact surface;
corresponding conductors of the first line-bar segment and the second line-bar segment being oriented toward one another and connected by an intermediate plate (12;
the intermediate plate (12) having contact surfaces that respectively engage the contact surface of each of the corresponding conductors;
a first tensioning element (16a, 17a, 18a) being associated with the plurality of conductors of the first line-bar segment;
a second tensioning element (16b, 17b, 18b) being associated with the plurality of conductors of the second line-bar segment;
wherein either the contact surfaces of the intermediate plate (12) or the contact surface of each of the plurality of conductors has grooves, indentations, or notches(4);
and
wherein the first and second tensioning elements exert a pressing force between the corresponding conductors and the intermediate plate that results in a plastic deformation of engaged contact surfaces.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/461,817Filed 16 Dec 1999
Priority: CH 2486/9816 Dec 1998
Granted: 23 Oct 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

H01R 4/64
Characterised by the form or material of the contacting members: connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric…
H01R 4/26
Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or…:…
H01R 4/304
Utilising a screw or nut clamping member: having means for improving contact
H01R 25/162
Details: electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars