CA2589111A1 - Connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

Connecting device comprising a first and a second support for electrically contact an electrical device which electrical device comprises at least one side provided with connection surfaces, which connection includes a first and a second support, knowing that the first support of the connection device is provided to support the device electrical connection, the second support of the connection device is provided for receive at least two conductors to contact two groups of surfaces of connection such that the first driver is willing to contact the first group of connecting surfaces and the second conductor is intended to contact the second group of connection surfaces, and the device for connection comprises means for locking the first support on the second support by making a pressure of the two drivers on the two groups of connection surfaces.

Description

CONNECTING DEVICE

Technical area The present invention relates to devices electrical connection, and in particular to electrical connection devices to connect conductors to a flexible thermal band.

State of the art Regarding the connection device, it is known use round pods drilled in the center. These pods are connected to their electrical wire then they are mounted in spider to be fixed on each driver by a grommet. These measures has many disadvantages such as loss time during assembly, the unsightliness of the wires apparent and especially the risk of short circuit.
Presentation of the invention Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a connection device that overcomes some or all of the problems of the prior art.
In particular, it is a device for connection that connects two drivers to a thermal band so as to ensure contact effective between the conductors and the surfaces of connection of the thermal band, while guaranteeing the safety of the device vis-à-vis the user.
According to one aspect of the present invention, it is introduced a connection device including a

two first and second support contact electrically an electrical device which electrical device comprises at least one side provided with of connection surfaces, which device connection includes a first and a second support, knowing that the first support of the connection device is provided to support the electrical device, the second support of the connection device is provided to receive at minus two drivers to contact two groups connection surfaces such as the first driver is willing to contact the first group of connecting surfaces and the second driver is expected to contact the second group of connection surfaces, and the device of connection includes means to ensure the locking the first support on the second support by making a pressure of both conductors on the two groups of surfaces of connection.
Thus, the connection device ensures a pressure between the drivers and the two groups connection surfaces to achieve a efficient electrical conduction.
According to another aspect of the invention, the means ensure locking include elements males, arranged on the first support, and female elements, arranged on the second support, that fit together to block the male elements in the female elements.

3 Thus, the locking means allow a easy mounting of the connection device.

According to another aspect of the invention, protuberances are arranged on the second support to achieve pressure from both groups of connection surfaces on the conductors when the first support covers the second support.
So the protuberances push the groups of connection surface to the drivers for make an effective contact.

According to another aspect of the invention, when the first support covers the second support, the location of the protuberances coincide with the location of the connection surface groups.
Thus, the protuberances act only on the connection surface groups.

According to another aspect of the invention, the first and the second support are connected by a hinge.
Thus, when the first support covers the second support, both support remain kept between them. Moreover, the position of this hinge helps ensure pressure additional drivers on the groups of connection surfaces.

According to another aspect of the invention, the device connection comprises a mask disposed on the drivers to mask some of the drivers

4 and to avoid the electrical contact of the conductors with one or more connection surfaces.
So, depending on the mask chosen the drivers will be in contact with all connection surfaces or with some connection surfaces in each of two groups of connection surfaces.

According to another aspect of the invention, the means of locking ensure a permanent closure of the first support on the second support.
Thus, the connection device can no longer open after closing. Only a destruction of the device will allow access inside the device.
According to another aspect of the invention, provision is made a heating system comprising a heating device connection to electrically contact a electrical device according to one of the aspects previous embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the figures The aims, objects and characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description made with reference to the drawings in which :
FIG. 1 represents the device of electrically powered connection and now the band FIG. 2 represents the conductive strip opened - Figure 3 represents three different types band FIG. 4 represents a mask disposed on the band

5 - Figure 5 shows the device of open connection - Figure 6 shows the driver Detailed description of the invention Figure 1 shows a connection device 1 connected to a power supply 100. Cétte power supply can be of the order of 12V for example or 220V as we will describe by the after. The connection device maintains the end of a band 2. This band 2 is rectangular and its thickness is 200 microns.
As shown in Figure 2, this band 2 is composed of a first layer 3 and a second layer 4 of plastic film or more generally of insulation film about 75 microns thick each. Between these two layers 3 and 4, bands of aluminum 5 are arranged. These aluminum strips 5, of a thickness of about 50 microns, are also parallel to band 2 and are all parallel to each other. Between each of these bands of aluminum is a layer of fluid or pasty 6 which is electrically resistant or conductive. This material is also present between the aluminum strips 5 and the edge of the band 2 WO 2006/05666

6 PCT / FR2005 / 001738 So when the connection device is connected to a power supply, the fluid and pasty 6, electrically conductive or resistant behaves as a heating resistor. The heat is thus diffused on all the surface of the band 2.
On one end of this band 2, shapes 7 are regularly cut into the film layer plastic 3 covering the aluminum strips 5.
The surface of the aluminum strips 5 is then visible in some places. These forms 7 are regularly distributed according to each band of aluminum 5 so as to represent two groups of aluminum surfaces.
Thus, as shown in Figure 2, the surfaces of aluminum 8 belong to the first group of area. -Alike, aluminum surfaces 9 belong to the second surface group.

The number of these visible surfaces 8 and 9 varies in according to the desired voltage for the device heater.
Thus, we can use types of bands 2 different that include a number of visible surfaces 8 and 9. For example, according to the FIG. 3, for a desired voltage of 12V
will use band 10, for 38V band 11 and for 220V the band 12.

The width of the end of the strip 2 on which the shapes 7 are cut out corresponds to the width of the connecting device 1. Surfaces 8 and 9

7 are divided along two parallel lines between they. On either side of one of these lines, slots 13 are provided. These slots 13 are also arranged in two lines parallel to each other and parallel to the lines described by the surfaces 8 and 9 of aluminum.

To vary the supply voltage, you can also use a mask 14 as shown on FIG. 4. This mask 14 also comprises shapes 7 and slots 13. This mask 14 is arranged on a band 2 adapted for a power supply electric 220V. There are different types of masks according to the desired voltage for the device electric, in the same way that there are different type of strips for the desired voltage.

The open connection device 1 is presented on Figure 5. It consists of two supports 15 and 16 rectangular and very thin. These supports are made of plastic by example. The first support 15 has two dwellings 17 rectangul = areas dug in the material of the support. These housings 17 have a thickness constant. The sides of these dwellings are parallel two by two alongside the support. The length of these dwellings is almost equal to the length of support 15. At each end of housings are lugs 18 located from and else from the end of the dwellings.

8 These dwellings each contain a driver detachable 19 shown in Figure 6. This driver 19 is conductive material. The shape of this driver is identical to that of slot 17 for better stability of the driver in the housing. At its ends, the driver possesses a rectangular shape. This form 20 is perpendicular to the plane of the driver. The width of this shape is less than that of the driver 19 and therefore to that of dwellings 17.

Along the longitudinal sides of dwellings 17 find salient elements 21 arranged on the support. These elements 21 are regularly spaced one another.
The direction of each of these elements is perpendicular to that of dwellings.
elements 21 are arranged along a parallel line at the longitudinal side of the housing 17 and therefore the support 15. These elements 21 have a shape cuboid. This parallelepipedic form has a flange 22 on the surface opposite to that who is in contact with the support 15.

This first support 15 has a regular outline 23 on all sides. This support 15 is linked to a second support 16 by a hinge 24. This hinge 24 is arranged along the entire length of the first support 15. This length corresponds to side of the first support 15 for which the elements protrusions 21 are absent at the periphery of the support 15.

9 This hinge 24 is also arranged on any the length of the second'support 16. This second support 16 has on three of these sides a flange 25 located a few millimeters from the edge 16. The only side that does not have flange 25 is the one on which the hinge 24 is arranged.
Along this hinge 24, on the second support 16, there are protuberances 26. These protuberances 26 are square in shape but they can also be oval, rectangular Or other. These protuberances 26 have a certain height. These protuberances regularly spaced apart from each other are arranged on two lines parallel to the longitudinal side of the support 16. Between these two parallel lines of protuberances 26 are parallelepipeds 27. These parallelepipeds have an opening on their two faces horizontal and parallel to the plane 16. This opening consists of a slot which runs through the entire height of the form parallelepipedic 27.

The width of the slot on the upper side of the parallelepipedic form 27 is narrower that the width of the slot on the face lower parallelepipedic shape 27, this last face being the one in contact with the surface the second support 16.

This second support 16 includes, on each of its widths, two rectangular slots 30. These slots 30 are parallel to the slits of the forms parallelepiped 27. Near these slots 30, at the four corners of this second support 16, holes 31 are provided.

Following this description of these different elements, the method of assembly will be described below.

10 after.
For the installation of the heating device, the band 2 provided with connection surfaces 8 and 9 is placed on the second support 16. The non cut out of strip 2 extends beyond the width of the second support 16, on the side where this support does not has no collar 25.
The band 2 is located on the second support 16 of so that the connecting surfaces 8 and 9 are visible and that the forms parallelepipedic 27 can fit into the slots 13 provided for this purpose on the plastic film of band 2.
Then the ends 20 of the conductors 19 are inserted in the slots 30 at the ends of the second support 16. These drivers 19 are then in contact with the connecting surfaces 8 and 9. Thus, a first driver is in contact with surfaces 8 and a second conductor is in contact with surfaces 9. The first support 15 is then folded down on the second support 16.

11 We can also proceed in another way to setting up drivers 19. Drivers 19 are inserted each in their respective housing 17 on the first support 15 so that the ends 20 of the conductors are directed towards the top. These conductors 19 are immobilized by the holding pins 18.
When closing the connection device 1, the ends 20 of the drivers then enter in the slots 30 at the ends of the second support 16. In this way, band 2 is maintained by drivers 19.

Whatever the way of arranging the drivers 19 on tape 2, these conductors are in contact with aluminum surfaces 8 and 9 when the connection device is closed. These surfaces of aluminum 8 and 9 are located exactly above protuberances 26 arranged on the second support 16. Thus, these protuberances 26 exert a pressure on aluminum surfaces 8 and 9.
contact of these faces 8 and 9 with the conductors 19 is reinforced.

It is also possible to use the mask 14 in order to connect the drivers with the surfaces of connection 8 and 9. This mask 14 is used on a strip having the number of surfaces 8 and 9 visible during operation with a voltage 220V power supply. Depending on the mask chosen, final voltage applied to the device will be different from 220V.

12 When closing the connection device, each projecting element 21 of the first support 15 fits in the corresponding opening 28 located in each parallelepipedic form 27 of the second 16. The connection device will thus be completely locked.

Indeed, after this insertion, the elements protrusions 21 can not get out of the openings 28 realized in parallelepipedic forms. These openings 28 are too narrow to leave highlight the salient features 21 given the flange 22 that each of these salient elements possesses. Thus the pressure of the driver 19 on the aluminum surfaces 8 and 9 of band 2 and the security of the connection device 1 are ensured.
Finally, when this closure of the connection, the hinge 24 further enhances the maintaining contact between the drivers 19 and the 8 and 9 aluminum surfaces by pressure additional.

Depending on the type of band chosen, one can apply at the terminals of the heater a voltage power supply between 12V and 220V.
The connection of the drivers to the power supply electric will be carried out so that a driver will be connected to phase (+) and the other driver will be connected to the neutral (-) If one wishes to apply a very low voltage of safety, ie a voltage lower than 50V

13 and that the power source has a voltage greater than 50V then a transformer is necessary in order to allow connection to the power supply.
In this case a connection device additional that contains the transformer is added then:
- the heater is integrated in the connection device bigger than that of the heating device, - the heating device is located at a certain distance from the connection device while being connected to this same device connection.

If one wishes to apply a voltage of the order of 220V, no transformer is needed so the heating device can directly be connected at the power source. The device connection of the heating device can then be fixed directly on the support. where he has to be used.

This heater can be used in all following cases:
- heating for homes - industrial type heating (sheds, warehouses, ...) This device can also be integrated

14 - furniture (for anti-fog mirrors, hospital beds, for example) and clothing (for bikers, for example) - in vehicles: on seats of cars, in a caravan or on a boat for example As soon as a power source is Proximity, the device can be installed; the examples cited above are not exhaustive.

Claims (8)

1. Connecting device for electrically contacting a electrical device which electrical device comprises at least one side provided with connection surfaces, which device connection comprises a first and a second support, characterized in that the first support of the connection device is provided for support the electrical device, the second support of the connection device is provided to receive at least two drivers to contact two groups of connection surfaces such as the first driver is willing to contact the first group of connection surfaces and the second conductor is intended to contact the second group of connection surfaces, and the connection device comprises means for ensuring locking the first support on the second support in realizing a pressure. of the two drivers on both groups of connection surfaces. 2. Connecting device for electrically contacting a electrical device according to claim 1, characterized in that what the means which ensure the lock include male elements, arranged on the first support, and female elements, arranged on the second support, which snap together to block the male elements in the elements females. 3. Connecting device for electrically contacting a electrical device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that protuberances are arranged on the second support to pressure both groups connection surfaces on the conductors when the first support covers the second support. 4. Connecting device for electrically contacting a electrical device according to claim 3, characterized in that what when the first medium covers the second support, the location of the protuberances coincide with the location of the connection surface groups. 5. Connecting device for electrically contacting a electrical device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the first and second carriers are connected by a hinge. 6. Connection device for electrically contacting an electrical device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the connection device comprises a mask, arranged on drivers to hide part conductors and to avoid the electrical contact of conductors with one or more connection surfaces. 7. Connecting device for electrically contacting a electrical device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the locking means provide a permanent closure of the first support on the second support. 8. Heating system comprising a heating device connection for electrically contacting a device electric motor according to one of the preceding claims.