Electric contact element and method for producing an electric contact element

US8749330B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• UMICORE AG & CO. KG · DE
• Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Jens Heinrich · Radeberg, DE
• Ralf Hoffmann
• Peter Sandeck · Berlin, DE
• Martin Wieberger · Berlin, DE
• Peter Braumann · Alzenau, DE
• Andreas Koffler · Meißen, DE
• Bernd Kempf · Alzenau, DE
• Allen E. Molvar · Barrington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 14, 2011
• Grant date: Jun 10, 2014
• Expiry date: Jan 14, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/24314
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing an electric contact element from a semifinished product and to the electric contact element and the corresponding semifinished product. The method for producing an electric contact element (100), which can be electrically contacted by a mating contact, comprises the following steps: producing a wire (120) from a first electrically conductive material (112); coating the wire surface with a sheath (114) made of a second electrically conductive material; partially removing the sheath (114) in a direction along a longitudinal wire axis (118); forming at least one cylindrical semifinished product (110) by dividing the wire in a direction transverse to the longitudinal wire axis; fixing the semifinished product on a contact carrier (104) such that the second electrically conductive material is connected to the contact carrier; and reshaping the welded semifinished product so as to form the contact element (100), wherein a contact area (106), which is accessible for a mating contact, is formed by the first electrically conductive material.