EP0153257B1 - Pluggable electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pluggable electrical connector, of the type comprising a generally U-shaped connection cage delimited by two metal cheeks between which a pin, for example a pin, can be inserted, by the top opening of this U blade or a cylindrical fuse cartridge, intended to control or cut the electrical supply of a circuit or an apparatus, including a meter, and at least one contact cage in the form of an enclosure in which is placed and maintained an electrically conductive cable, for powering the circuit or the device.

It is known to use plug-in electrical connectors which are fixed on a plate, on an electrical panel or inside a box, in order to control or cut on demand the electrical supply of circuits or of devices from one or more electrically conductive cables which are held in the or in the contact cages of the connector by means of one or as many studs, the end of which either rests directly on the conductive core of a bare cable, or is perforated with insulation and in this case rests on the core after having crossed the insulating sheath, and whose rod or head is electrically linked to the cheeks of the cage connection.

Such connectors have been designed to operate with different types of pins, and more particularly with blade-shaped pins, also known as “knife” or cylindrical pins, with fusible cartridges.

• - une cage de connexion destinée à recevoir la broche et à la retenir par pression, élastique,
• - une ou plusieurs cages de contact destinées chacune à recevoir un fil ou câble électrique, dénudé ou isolé, et qui est maintenu dans sa cage par le plot qui lui correspond, à contact direct ou à contact après perforation de l'isolant.

All the plug-in connectors used for the aforementioned purposes have in common that they are made from a metal sheet, made of a conductive material, preferably copper or brass, sheet which is folded several times on itself in order to form:

• - a connection cage intended to receive the pin and to retain it by pressure, elastic,
• - One or more contact cages each intended to receive an electric wire or cable, stripped or insulated, and which is held in its cage by the stud which corresponds to it, in direct contact or in contact after perforation of the insulation.

The plug-in electrical connectors made of folded sheet metal are in theory with an unlimited number of contact cages, each receiving and retaining a cable carrying the same phase. However, in practice, for the reasons which will be given below, the connectors in question are limited to a contact cage and, consequently, to a supply by a single cable.

In non-insulated cables, the known connectors are used with conductors whose cross section can vary between approximately 1.5 mm ² and 240 mm ² . With insulation perforation, the known connectors are used with conductors whose section can vary between approximately 16 mm ² and 150 _MM ² .

A connector of the aforementioned type, obtained by successive bending of a metal sheet, has been shown in its construction with insulation perforation, in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, so as to better understand the criticisms which will follow concerning this type of material.

In the first place, it will be appreciated that such a connector is difficult to produce, since it involves a succession of sheet bending operations which, all of them, must be carried out with great precision, and that it makes it compulsory to use of complicated tools: its manufacturing cost is therefore necessarily high.

Second, making the connector from a folded sheet requires the use of a malleable metal, copper or brass, therefore an expensive metal.

Thirdly, the mechanical resistance of the pin, by spring effect between the two cheeks, is quite poor insofar as it has been verified that, if the various contacts cause the connector to heat up, the metal which constitutes it loses stiffness , and, consequently, the return by elasticity of the metal between the two cheeks is more and more bad.

Fourth, the connectors currently on the market are of limited use at relatively low amperages, of the order of a hundred amps. For example, when referring to French standards, we know that the temperature of the connector should never exceed 120 ° C.

To avoid temperature rises if the amperage increases, an obviously thicker sheet is needed. However, in this regard, there is a limit in the thickness of the sheet metal constituting the connector insofar as it is necessary to be able to work and bend it.

These considerations therefore make it possible to understand the reasons for which the known connectors are of use limited to relatively low amperages.

Fifth, we observe that the stud which ensures contact with the conductive part of the cable by maintaining it by pressure in the contact cage is itself held between two folds of the sheet by means of a nut produced in the form a plate, two end tabs of which are housed in congruent openings pierced in said folds; a first drawback results from the difficulty of correctly placing opposite the lights which will receive the nut tabs; second drawback, if the tightening torque of the stud becomes too large, in particular if it is necessary to perforate a large thickness of insulation, there is an obvious risk of causing a separation of the folds of the sheet and consequently a separation between the connector on the one hand, the stud and its - nut on the other.

Sixth, in the particular case where the bent sheet metal connector must be provided to perforate the insulation sheath of the electrical conductor, provision is made to multiply the number of contact points to be established between the threaded stud and the conductive core of the cable as much as possible, so as to guarantee the best possible “electrical contact”.

In this spirit, the stud carries a piece in the form of a bowl crimped by its bottom at the end of said stud, the edges of said bowl being provided with a plurality of teeth each capable of perforating the cable insulation sheath; similarly, the bottom of the contact cage is punctured from the outside, by means of a punch, so that it also has teeth, prominent inside the cage.

It is clear then that the production of such a puncture requires an additional operation and that, in addition, it generates a zone of obvious weakness in the central part of the bottom of the contact cage.

Seventh, the connector fixing support is formed by two lateral tabs which extend the bottom of the connection cage and / or the bottom of the contact cage; the mechanical weakness of such a fixing means is also obvious when one remembers that the sheet which is used for the construction of the connector is necessarily thin.

Eighth, the connector corresponding to the construction shown in Figure 1 is in practice limited to a supply by a single cable because, by construction, that is to say by bending, it is extremely difficult to provide a second cage. contact beyond the first cage. In addition, due to the thinness of the folded sheet, it is in practice impossible to guarantee the construction of a connector which does not deform as it is elongated, that is to say when it must have several contact cages arranged one after the other.

US patent 3,027,440 describes a variant of this known type of connector produced by successive bending of one or two metal sheets. For the most part, the drawbacks developed above are found in this known variant of connector.

The present invention overcomes all the aforementioned drawbacks and, to this end, it provides the production of a plug-in electrical connector, which, all at the same time: is of an easy production; is of lower manufacturing cost; allows the use of a metal as good conductor as copper or brass, but less expensive than these materials; is mechanically extremely resistant, without limit as to its thickness and without zone of weakness; consequently suitable for very large amperages since from now on the thickness limit no longer intervenes; suitable for feeding from several cables carrying the same phase, insofar as said connector can include a plurality of contact cages without losing its rigidity or its quality as regards the contact between the pin and the cheeks which delimit the connection cage; and finally easily adapts, by a simple manual adjustment, to spindles, knives or cylindrical cartridges, of different widths.

To this end, the connector object of the present invention is partly implemented according to a technique applied in neighboring fields, such as that of branch connectors for power lines and that of connectors intended to equip batteries associated with combustion engines. internal.

According to patent FR-A-2,498,016, it is in fact known to produce branch connectors, in particular for live electrical lines, from elements cut in a metal profile obtained by extrusion; each sectioned element comprises housings each intended to receive a conductor, either the live line, or a branched conductor.

According to GB-A-2.110.128, it is known to produce connectors for batteries from elements also cut in a metal profile obtained by extrusion, profile which, before the cutting operation, is pierced with orifices perpendicular to the direction of extrusion such that they each form on the subsequently cut element a connection cage orthogonal to a contact cage formed during the extrusion and consequently parallel to the direction of said extrusion.

The present invention therefore has for first object a plug-in electrical connector of the type comprising: a) a generally U-shaped connection cage delimited by two metal cheeks between which can be inserted, by the upper opening of this U, a pin , for example a blade or a cylindrical fuse cartridge intended to control or cut the electrical supply of a circuit or an appliance, b) at least one contact cage in the form of an enclosure in which is placed and maintained an electrically conductive cable, for supplying the circuit or apparatus, and c) a central wall common to the connection cage and to at least one contact cage, said connector being produced from a sectional element of metal profile obtained by extrusion, and being characterized in that one of the wings of the U-shaped connection cage is internally doubled by an additional wing which forms one of the two cheeks, a spring being placed between said wing and this jo eu, and in that the common central wall is constituted by the wing of the connection cage other than that which is doubled by the additional wing.

This first embodiment of the connector according to the invention, made accordingly into its final form at the time of its manufacture by extrusion, immediately shows the advantages obtained in terms of improving the mechanical characteristics, the non-deformability of the profile, the quality of the contact between the pin and the cheeks which border the connection cage, and the possibility of admitting henceforth unlimited amperages since, by definition, the thickness of the extruded metal profile is conceived without upper limit.

In this first embodiment, the extruded metal profile is, in cross section, such that its common central wall separates the two cages by type, on the one hand the connection cage and on the other hand the contiguous contact cage or cages each of which has the form of an enclosure, the wall of at least one of which is formed by said common central wall and of which another wall of each of them can then be pierced with a transverse orifice allowing passage and depth adjustment a stud.

In other words, the contact cage or all the contact cages joined together in a block are arranged next to the connection cage, the first contact cage of each line having in common with the connection cage the common central wall. .

Thanks to this one-piece construction, reduced in width to its lowest expression, the connector according to the invention avoids electrical losses and guarantees its characteristics of excellent mechanical strength and non-deformability at any point whatsoever.

Advantageously, the connection cage and the contact cage (s) may have the same dimension in the direction of extrusion of the metal profile, perpendicular to its cross section.

But, moreover, we know that any electrical connector constitutes the arrival of the general cable, or an auxiliary power cable, and the departure of the fuse which will have to be used later by the installer responsible for ensuring current distribution to the meter placed downstream of the connector.

However, in a certain number of applications, for example for the production of unipolar bases with insulation perforation intended to receive knife fuses, it turns out that with the aforementioned first embodiment, when the knife of the fuse in the connection cage, the fuse body obstructs all or part of the adjacent contact cage (the first in the upper row in the case of multiple cages), thereby preventing cable penetration into this contact cage on the same side as the fuse.

This is why, in connection conditions which require the positioning of the fuse and of the electrical supply cable on the same side of the connector, normal use of a connector with a single contact cage is no longer possible, and it It is then advisable to have recourse: either to a curvature of the cable, which is always difficult in reduced volumes (the cable is generally a solid aluminum cable of 35 mm ² of section, that is to say approximately 6.7 mm in diameter, without counting the insulating sheath); either the use of a flexible intermediate nozzle, which, if it facilitates the implementation, on the other hand adds an additional electrical contact detrimental to the quality of the connection; or again with the use of a connector with multiple contact cages in which it is the extreme cage, the furthest from the connection cage, which receives the cable.

Although this latter solution appears the most satisfactory in terms of implementation (because it provides a direct connection) and in terms of the quality of the connection (due to the reduction in the number of intermediate contacts), however, it has a major drawback, namely the large front space requirement of the connector in the direction perpendicular to the wings of the connection cage, which space requirement prevents making a four-pole connection in the volume of the connection boxes meeting the standards in force.

The present invention therefore has as a second object a plug-in electrical connector which overcomes the last aforementioned drawback and which, for this purpose, is constructed like the connector defined in the preamble of claim 1 and is characterized in that one of the wings of the U-shaped connection cage is internally doubled by an additional wing which forms one of the two cheeks, a spring being placed between said wing and this cheek, and in that the central wall common to the connection cage and to the cage contact is formed by the bottom wall of the U of the connection cage.

Thanks to this arrangement, the ease of implementation of the connector is improved and the front space requirement is reduced while maintaining the original structure which constitutes the essential object of the invention.

Indeed, this structure is well preserved since the connector is always made from an extruded profile and, due to the association in the same metal mass of a connection cage and one or more contact cages , the quality of its connection is generally improved compared to the prior art, due to the elimination of intermediate contacts, the greater reliability of the contact (in the case of a perforation of insulation), better heat dissipation (radiator effect due to the metallic mass) and, subsequently, the reduction in potential drops.

The ease of implementation of the connector is improved insofar as its new structure allows the direct connection of the cable to the connection, since, once this cable is in place in the contact cage, the positioning of the fuse in the connection cage can this time be done without any difficulty, the cable being far below the lowest connection position that the fuse can occupy.

Finally, the positioning of the contact cage below the connection cage (more precisely below the bottom of its U-shaped profile) considerably reduces the front dimensions of the connector (division by almost 3 by relative to a connector with a row of several contact cages on the side of the connection cage as shown by way of example in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the main patent), which thus makes it possible to make four-pole connections in reduced volumes fully compatible with current standards in force.

In a particular embodiment of this second construction derived from the first construction, in which the contact cage is pierced with a transverse orifice allowing the passage and the depth adjustment of a stud whose end rests on the conductive core of the cable and whose rod or head is electrically linked to the cheeks of the connection cage, it is provided that, in the direction of extrusion of the metal profile, perpendicular to its cross section, the contact cage has a larger dimension than the connection cage, the central wall thus extending projecting beyond this connection cage, and that it is in this projecting part of the central wall that the orifice receiving the stud is drilled . Thus, once the cable has been introduced into the contact cage and the stud tightened on this cable, the fuse can easily be positioned in the connection cage. Preferably, said dimension of the contact cage is of the order of magnitude twice that of the connection cage.

In a third construction variant, provision may be made for the contact cage to constitute a solid mass which is traversed, in the direction of extrusion of the metal profile, by a cylindrical passage of diameter substantially equal to that of the end piece. a flexible conductive cable, said end piece being crimped in this passage under and in constant electrical connection with the cheeks of the connection cage. This arrangement has the advantage of eliminating in the connections an additional contact since then this contact is replaced by crimping. This design, in addition to the improvement in the quality of the contact, due to the crimping of the cable on the starting connector, brings an additional improvement in terms of implementation by eliminating the physical or material realization of a connection. As a variant, a second cylindrical passage can be provided, in the same direction, in which the end piece of a second flexible conductive cable is crimped. The connector thus equipped with one or two flexible cables, called a “whip connector”, can be used in particular as a departure from a single-pole base intended to receive knife fuses, each flexible cable making the connection to a material located in downstream, usually a counter. A connector of this type can therefore be placed upstream of a counter and downstream of a connector meeting the definitions given for the first or the second variant embodiment, so for example that it will be visible in FIG. 12.

• a) que l'aile supplémentaire de la cage de connexion est constituée par une pièce distincte, également profilée, sur laquelle s'appuie le ressort. De préférence, ce ressort est constitué par des rondelles Belleville engagées sur une entretoise cylindrique fixée sur l'aile de la cage de connexion qui est doublée par et est sensiblement parallèle à l'aile supplémentaire. Avantageusement, l'aile supplémentaire indépendante peut présenter, à son extrémité opposée au fond du U de la cage de connexion, un bord en retour à 90° dirigé vers l'aile de la cage de connexion qui est doublée par cette aile, ce qui facilite l'introduction du fusible à couteau en le guidant et aussi évite le basculement de cette aile supplémentaire, en particulier au début de cette introduction du couteau. L'aile supplémentaire peut également présenter, à son pied en contact avec le fond du U de la cage de connexion, un siège sur lequel viendra s'appuyer le fusible, ledit siège étant formé d'un retour à 90° dirigé dans le sens opposé à celui du retour supérieur.
• b) que la seconde aile de la cage de connexion de forme générale en U est elle-même conformée en U, pour constituer l'aile supplémentaire qui forme alors la joue, un ressort travaillant en compression étant placé entre les ailes de ce second U.

Furthermore, particularly advantageously, and as well for the three embodiments presented above, it can be provided to guarantee perfect contact of the two cheeks around the spindle:

• a) that the additional wing of the connection cage is constituted by a separate part, also profiled, on which the spring is supported. Preferably, this spring is constituted by Belleville washers engaged on a cylindrical spacer fixed to the wing of the connection cage which is doubled by and is substantially parallel to the additional wing. Advantageously, the additional independent wing may have, at its end opposite the bottom of the U of the connection cage, a 90 ° return edge directed towards the wing of the connection cage which is doubled by this wing, which facilitates the introduction of the knife fuse by guiding it and also prevents the tilting of this additional wing, in particular at the start of this introduction of the knife. The additional wing may also have, at its foot in contact with the bottom of the U of the connection cage, a seat on which the fuse will rest, said seat being formed by a 90 ° return directed in the direction opposite to that of the upper return.
• b) that the second wing of the generally U-shaped connection cage is itself U-shaped, to constitute the additional wing which then forms the cheek, a spring working in compression being placed between the wings of this second U .

Alternatively, in the two variants of complementary wing, the two cheeks of the connection cage can be slightly convergent towards the bottom of the U.

To respect the one-piece nature of the connector, the orifice allowing the passage and the depth adjustment of the stud is pierced on one of the walls of the contact cage which is therefore indeed a non-deformable enclosure, instead of being pierced in a nut attached between two walls of said contact cage as is done in the current technique. The hole drilled in the wall of the contact cage is therefore tapped using the same thread as that existing on the stud rod.

According to another particularly advantageous variant of construction, the wall of the contact cage opposite to that pierced with the orifice for the passage of the stud is provided with longitudinal teeth, obtained during extrusion, and the end of the stem of the stud receives a counter plate also provided with teeth which extend longitudinally, that is to say in the direction of the electric power cable.

This construction is particularly advantageous when it is to provide a connector with insulation perforation.

Indeed, the perforation is more easily achieved using this multiplicity of teeth and in addition the electrical contact between the conductor on the one hand and the connector and / or its stud on the other hand is extremely satisfactory since it defined according to several contact lines defined by as many tops of teeth provided in the bottom of the contact cage and on the counter-plate crimped at the end of the stud rod.

All the connectors offered by the invention being produced by extrusion, this time aluminum can be used, a material which is known to be as good a conductor as copper or brass, while being less expensive than these two other materials. .

Finally, according to another preferred variant, the connector in its three variant embodiments may include a foot with a straight T-shaped section, the head of which is slightly convex. This construction allows an improved fixing on a plate, and more particularly a slightly oscillating fixing which allows to ensure a perfect alignment between the grooves of several connectors intended to receive a common pin, whether it is knife or cylinder.

In conclusion, whatever the type of connector produced, it is observed that it is easy to manufacture since it is spun, and therefore that it is of low cost price.

We also note that each connector offered by the invention has no upper limit as far as tolerable amperage is concerned, since the material thickness limit no longer applies: we can extrude a profile as thick as we want .

It is also noted that the stud and tapping system in a wall of the connector, which replaces the nut of the prior art with folded sheet, is of material: there is therefore no more possible breakage, even when the tightening torque is very important.

Likewise, the longitudinal teeth which replace the puncture are made of material: there is therefore no longer any area of fragility.

There is also an excellent quality in the contact between the pin and the connector, because the two cheeks are by construction perfectly flat, an arrangement which was never certain with the folded copper sheet.

Finally, as regards the connector with multiple contact cages, it is observed that it is mechanically as strong as the connector with a single cavity, and that it simultaneously guarantees excellent electrical continuity.

• - la Figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un connecteur connu, fabriqué selon la technique actuelle, par pliage,
• - la Figure 2 est une vue en coupe transversale d'une première réalisation du connecteur selon l'invention, à une cage de contact disposée à côté de la cage de connexion, et à perforation d'isolant,
• - la Figure 3 est une vue en perspective éclatée du connecteur de la Figure 2 apte à recevoir une broche à couteau et apte à être monté légèrement oscillant sur sa platine,
• - la Figure 4 est une vue selon la flèche IV du connecteur des Figures 2 et 3 monté oscillant sur sa platine,
• - la Figure 5 est une vue en coupe transversale de l'élément profilé du connecteur de la Figure 2,
• - les Figures 6 et 7 sont des vues en coupe transversale de variantes de réalisation du connecteur -des Figures 2 à 4, à plusieurs cages de contact, toutes disposées à côté de la cage de connexion, respectivement selon une ligne horizontale et selon une colonne verticale,
• - les Figures 8 et 9 sont des représentations schématiques en coupe transversale d'autres variantes de la première réalisation du connecteur des Figures 2 à 4, montrant respectivement : une construction à trois cages de contact disposées selon une même colonne verticale, à côté de la cage de connexion, et une construction à six cages de contact disposées selon deux lignes horizontales de trois cages chacune, le bloc de cages de contact ainsi formé étant disposé à côté de la cage de connexion, une paroi étant commune à cette cage de connexion et à la première cage de contact de chaque ligne,
• - la Figure 10 est une vue en coupe transversale d'une variante du connecteur profilé de la Figure 5 dans laquelle les joues délimitant la cage de connexion sont aptes à recevoir une cartouche-fusible cylindrique,
• - la Figure 11 est une vue en perspective d'une deuxième réalisation du connecteur selon l'invention, à une cage de contact disposée sous la cage de connexion,
• - la Figure 12 est une vue de côté de ce connecteur, associé par exemple en aval à un connecteur du type de ceux représentés en Figures 16 et 7,
• - la Figure 13 est une vue de face du connecteur de la Figure 11,
• - les Figures 14 et 15 représentent schématiquement, en coupes transversales, d'autres variantes de la deuxième réalisation du connecteur des Figures 11 à 13, à plusieurs cages de contact toutes disposées sous la cage de connexion, une paroi étant commune à cette cage de connexion et à la première cage de contact de chaque colonne, et
• - les Figures 16 et 17 sont des vues en perspective, perspectives analogues à celles de la Figure 11, d'une troisième réalisation du connecteur selon l'invention, dans lequel chaque cage de contact constitue une masse pleine.

In order to better understand the object of the present invention, various embodiments of the plug-in electrical connector will be described below, by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a known connector, manufactured according to the current technique, by folding,
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the connector according to the invention, with a contact cage placed next to the connection cage, and with insulation perforation,
• FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of FIG. 2 able to receive a knife spindle and able to be mounted slightly oscillating on its plate,
• FIG. 4 is a view along arrow IV of the connector of FIGS. 2 and 3 mounted oscillating on its plate,
• FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the profiled element of the connector of FIG. 2,
• - Figures 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of alternative embodiments of the connector - Figures 2 to 4, with several contact cages, all arranged next to the connection cage, respectively along a horizontal line and along a column vertical,
• - Figures 8 and 9 are schematic cross-sectional representations of other variants of the first embodiment of the connector of Figures 2 to 4, showing respectively: a construction with three contact cages arranged in the same vertical column, next to the connection cage, and a construction with six contact cages arranged in two horizontal lines of three cages each, the block of contact cages thus formed being placed next to the connection cage, a wall being common to this connection cage and at the first contact cage of each line,
• FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a variant of the profiled connector of FIG. 5 in which the cheeks delimiting the connection cage are capable of receiving a cylindrical fuse cartridge,
• FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the connector according to the invention, to a contact cage arranged under the connection cage,
• FIG. 12 is a side view of this connector, associated for example downstream with a connector of the type of those shown in FIGS. 16 and 7,
• FIG. 13 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 11,
• - Figures 14 and 15 schematically show, in cross-section, other variants of the second embodiment of the connector of Figures 11 to 13, with several contact cages all arranged under the connection cage, a wall being common to this cage connection and to the first contact cage of each column, and
• - Figures 16 and 17 are perspective views, perspectives similar to those of Figure 11, of a third embodiment of the connector according to the invention, in which each contact cage constitutes a solid mass.

This connector manufactured according to current technology is completed with a nut plate 18, two end tabs, respectively 19 and 20, fit into slots, respectively 21 and 22, pierced in the upper central part of the vertical wings, 17a and 17b, respectively, of the contact cage. A stud 23, the threaded rod of which crosses the nut 18 at its center, through an orifice 24 threaded with the same thread as that of the stud 23.

The role of the pad 23 is to hold the electrical supply cable against the bottom 17c of the contact cage. To do this, the stud is therefore in direct contact 25 when the conductor is stripped and it is completed with a part 26, in the form of a bowl, the edges of which are provided with teeth 27 and the bottom 26 'of which is crimped to the 'end 25 of the stud 23, when the conductor is wrapped in an insulating sheath and it is therefore, to establish contact, to perforate the insulation using an annex piece directly linked to the stud.

In order to improve the contact in the case where the connector is perforated with insulation, the bottom 17c of the contact cage 16 is punched from the outside so as to form a puncture 28 as well as a plurality of teeth 28 ' prominent inside the contact cage and able to pass through the insulation sheath of the supply conductor to be maintained. Such a punctured 28 and such teeth 28 ′ are shown in FIG. 1 in the bottom of a second contact cage (shown in phantom in 30) obtained by folding at the end of the first contact cage 16. This construction, theoretically feasible, however is in practice impracticable because, if there are several supply conductors to maintain, the connector is deformed and the contact around the pin is no longer satisfactorily ensured by the cheeks 13 and 14.

• - la mauvaise tenue mécanique du ressort que doivent former autour de la broche les deux joues parallèles 13 et 14,
• - les limites d'utilisation aux ampérages faibles du fait de l'obligation d'utiliser une tôle mince pour réaliser par pliage le connecteur 11,
• - la mauvaise tenue de l'écrou 18 en cas de couple de serrage important par le plot 23,
• - la fragilité du connecteur autour du crevé 28,
• - la faiblesse mécanique du support de fixation du connecteur que constituent les pattes 29 qui, dans l'exemple représenté, prolongent le fond de la cage de connexion 12,
• - l'impossibilité à fabriquer et à utiliser un connecteur à deux cages de contact 16 et 30. Les connecteurs selon l'invention représentés aux Figures 2 à 17 éliminent les inconvénients dont il vient d'être question.

With the aid of the representation given in FIG. 1, it is easier to understand the drawbacks exposed in the preamble to the present description with regard to such a type of connector made of folded sheet metal, and in particular:

• the poor mechanical strength of the spring which the two parallel cheeks 13 and 14 must form around the spindle,
• the limits of use at low amperages due to the obligation to use a thin sheet to produce the connector 11 by bending,
• the poor resistance of the nut 18 in the event of significant tightening torque by the stud 23,
• the fragility of the connector around the punctured 28,
• the mechanical weakness of the connector fixing support constituted by the lugs 29 which, in the example shown, extend the bottom of the connection cage 12,
• - The impossibility of manufacturing and using a connector with two contact cages 16 and 30. The connectors according to the invention shown in Figures 2 to 17 eliminate the drawbacks which have just been mentioned.

Each connector proper is obtained by extruding metal through a shaped die to deliver a profile, the section of which advantageously corresponds to the shape shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5 to 10 for the first embodiment in cage (s) of contact placed next to the connection cage, in Figures 11 to 15 for the second embodiment, contact cage (s) arranged under the connection cage and in Figures 16 and 17 for the third embodiment in which the contact cage constitutes a solid mass disposed under the connection cage.

For such extrusion, the use of aluminum is advisable insofar as this material is less expensive than copper or brass while having equivalent qualities of conductor of electricity.

It is good to remember here that aluminum could not be used in the traditional technique because it is mechanically more fragile, and therefore cannot be folded, and in addition it has no spring effect, which would make the cheek contact around the spindle very random, even illusory.

In its first embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 10, the extruded metal section 31 has in cross section a central wall 32 separating the two cages by type, on the one hand, the connection cage 33 and, on the other hand, the contact cage (s) 34. The contact cage or the block of contact cages is thus placed next to the connection cage. The wall 32 constitutes the first of the two cheeks of the connection cage.

The connection cage has the general shape of a U obtained by successive extensions 35 and 36 of the central wall 32, respectively perpendicular and parallel to this wall 32.

The wall 36 can constitute the second of the two cheeks of the connection cage 33. However, to obtain improved contact, the second wing 36 of the cage 33 is itself shaped as a U, facing the wall 32 and then towards the bottom. 35 of the cage 33, so as to give a better spring effect between the cheek 32 and the second cheek 37 thus formed opposite the first cheek. Advantageously, a spring 38 working in compression, for example a coil spring, is placed between the wing 36 and the additional wing 37 of this second U and is held in position by means of a cover 39 set in the bottom of an orifice 40 pierced in the wing 36.

In another variant, as can be provided for by the shape of the die, the two cheeks 32 and 37 may be slightly convergent towards the bottom 35.

Moreover, for better implementation, the extruded profile 31 is, during manufacture, closed in the lower part of the two cheeks 32 and 37, as shown at 41 in Figure 5. After extrusion, the cage connection 33 is opened by removing the part marked with 41 with a milling cutter, which, by elasticity, has the effect of immediately making the two cheeks 32 and 37 slightly convergent towards the bottom 35 of said cavity.

The contact cage 34 is, by extrusion, shaped so that it has the shape of a quadrangular enclosure, the bottom of which is formed by the central wall 32 and one of the other three walls of which is pierced with a transverse orifice. 42 allowing passage of a stud 43.

The wall 44 thus pierced fulfills the same role as the nut plate 18, namely that it simultaneously allows the depth adjustment of the stud. The orifice 42 is therefore tapped according to a thread corresponding to that which is formed at 45 on the rod of the stud 43.

In its variant designed to promote the increase in electrical contact between the conductor 46, on the one hand, and the connector 31 and / or its stud 43 on the other hand, in particular if the conductor is wrapped in an insulating sheath 47 which '' it is necessary to perforate to obtain the required electrical contact, the wall 48 of the contact cage 34 opposite the wall 44 pierced with the orifice 42 for passage of the stud is provided with longitudinal teeth 49 obtained during extrusion . In the attached figures, these teeth 49, in the name bre of three, are symmetrical for the two lateral ones and the central tooth is lower so as to reproduce by the vertices of the three teeth a concave curved bearing surface which substantially respects the curvature of the conductive core of the power cable 46 .

Symmetrically, the end 50 of the rod of the stud 43 is associated by crimping with a counter-plate 51 also with teeth 52, three in number, which extend longitudinally, that is to say in the direction that has the power cable 46 in the bottom of the contact cage.

Given the most advantageous shape which must be assigned to the counter plate 51, it is also manufactured by aluminum extrusion, the profile obtained being subsequently cut to a length equal to that of the contact cage for which it will be reserved.

In its simplest manufacturing and mounting mode, the extruded metal profile is, before cutting, pierced at a determined pitch with its multiple orifices 40 and 42, the latter being additionally tapped. At the same time, the extruded profile is milled at 41 so as to open its connection cage 33.

After cutting to the desired length of the extruded profiles from which the connectors 31 and the counter plates 51 are formed, each connector receives a stud 43 of which, after screwing into the orifice 42, the end 50 is optionally provided with the counter plate 51 which is then crimped at the end 50 of stud 43, on the contact cage 34.

The stud 43 can then be manipulated using its wide head 53, which in addition can be pierced with a hexagonal blind hole capable of cooperating with an operating key of the so-called “hexagon” type. For its fixing on a plate, one can provide under the base 35-48 of the connector thus defined a T-shaped foot whose head largely extends beyond the sides 36 and 54 so that it can be crossed by two or four bolts which thus ensure so conventional clamping with immobility of the connector on its plate.

However, in an advantageous variant shown in FIGS. 2 to 17, the foot with a straight T-shaped section 55 which extends downwards the base of the connector is with a narrow head 56 and domed at 57.

This type of connector embodiment shows under its sole 35-48 two longitudinal grooves, respectively 58 and 59, capable of cooperating with two flexible strips 60 which each have a notch 61 for the passage of the foot 55 and which each projects beyond the connector 31 to allow the operation of the means for fixing this type of connector in its plate.

In the space reserved, on the plate, for each connector 31 to be fixed, three housings are provided, two lateral housings 62 for the fixing means 63 and a central housing 64 in which a spring plunger 65 is placed.

The connector 31 being slightly recessed in the plate, as shown in FIG. 4, said connector is wedged using the two flexible strips 60 brought towards each other, as shown schematically by the arrows 66 in FIG. 3, then said strips are fixed to the plate by screws 63 which pass through the smooth orifices 74 provided in the central zone of the parts projecting from the strips 60.

The flexibility of the slats 60, which only slightly imprison the foot 55, associated with the presence of the spring plunger 65 under the T-foot 55 allows the connector 31 to be mounted slightly oscillating transversely with respect to the plate 67.

This slight oscillation, indicated by the arrow 68 in FIG. 5, ensures perfect alignment between the grooves 69 of several connectors intended to receive a common pin 70, just as it allows to ensure perfect alignment between the groove of the connector thus fixed and the pin 70 which, connected moreover to a circuit or to an apparatus, goes downhill to control the electrical supply of said circuit or of said apparatus.

From the above description, it follows that the connector 31 is suitable by design for both blade pins 70 (representations of Figures 2 to 5) and cylindrical fuse cartridge pins 71 (representation of Figure 10). By construction, that is to say in the realization of the appropriate die, the only differences to be expected to obtain a contact by blade or a contact by cylindrical fuse relate to the height of the first extension 135 of the central wall 32 (Figure 10) which must allow a significantly larger connection cage width 133. For the rest, the cheeks 137 and 32 of such a connector 131 will advantageously comprise two longitudinal notches arranged opposite one another, respectively 72 and 73, thanks to which the contact and the retention of the cylindrical fuse are greatly improved. .

By virtue of its production by aluminum extrusion, the connector according to the invention, 31 or 131, is completely non-deformable, whatever its dimensions. Also, by simple extrapolation of the construction to a contact cage 34, multiple variants have been designed in which the electrical supply is ensured by several conductors, it being understood of course that any contact cage of the connector with several stages cannot receive . that one and only one conductor and that in addition all the conductors associated with the same connector necessarily convey the same phase.

Starting from these obligations, it was first made two connectors 231 and 331 with two contact cages each, respectively 234 and 334, arranged next to the common central wall 32, for the first along a line perpendicular to this wall 32 and for the seconds along a line parallel to this wall 32.

By extrusion, all the cages 234 and 334 are enclosures, generally rectangular in shape. In addition, the two cages 234, as well as the two cages 334, are contiguous.

Consequently, it is clear that it suffices to pierce each cage with an orifice of type 42 and to integrate there a stud of type 43 to, after having established contact with a conductor of type 46, bring the current up to cheeks 32 and 37 where, on request, the connection will be made using a blade or cylinder pin.

In construction 231 of FIG. 6, the two enclosures 234 are opened by orifices 242 formed in the upper wall 44. Each orifice 242 is tapped so as to be able to cooperate with the threading of a stud 43. In addition, for the variant with multiple linear contacts, also usable for perforating the insulation, the wall 48 common to the two enclosures 234 which is opposite to the wall 44 pierced with the orifices 242 is provided opposite each cage 234 with a plurality of longitudinal teeth 249 which will facilitate the perforation of insulation, as well as the teeth 52 of the counter-plate 51, as and when tightening in each contact cage of a stud 43 on the conductor engaged in said cage.

In construction, in FIG. 7, the orifices 342 are made in the sidewall 54. Longitudinal teeth 349 are then advantageously provided, protruding in each cage 334 from the central wall 32.

From the preceding constructions, it is noted that it is essential that all the contact cages are contiguous, that they each have the shape of an enclosure, preferably quadrangular, and that they each receive a conductor on which the contact is established using a stud that can be operated from outside the cavity. Thus, constructions of connectors with more than two contact cages are easily achievable, for example from the diagrams given in FIGS. 8 and 9.

In Figure 8, a connector 431 has three contact cages 434, the common walls, respectively 54 and 32, are pierced with holes and provided with teeth which extend longitudinally.

In Figure 9, a connector 531 has two superimposed lines 75 and 76 of three contact cages 534 each. The horizontal central wall 77 common to the six enclosures is provided with prominent teeth inside each enclosure 534, these being in addition open on the wall 78 for the three of the upper horizontal line 75 and on the wall 79 for the three from the horizontal bottom line 76.

The connector of Figs. 11 to 13 consists of a sectional element of aluminum metal profile 631, obtained by extrusion like the connector of FIGS. 2 to 9, an additional wing 637 consisting of a sectioned element of the same type, and a stud 43 for tensioning.

The element 631 is extruded in an extrusion direction (D) which is therefore perpendicular to its cross section 600. It has a general parallelepiped shape whose largest lateral face 601, parallel to the direction (D), is very approximately square, and from which was cut off, by cutting, the upper left quarter. Thus, the upper part, of length parallel to the direction (D), limited, constitutes a connection cage 633 of general U shape and delimited by two metal cheeks or wings 636 and 632, between which can be inserted, by the 'upper opening of this U, a spindle, for example a blade 70 or a cylindrical fuse cartridge 71, not shown here. The lower part, of greater length in the direction (D), constitutes a contact cage 634 in the form of an enclosure in which is located and maintained a connection cable 46.

The bottom 635 of the U-shaped connection cage 633 constitutes this time the central wall which is common to the two cages, this central wall 635 extending projecting, in 602, beyond the connection cage.

On the other hand, as for the first alternative embodiment, the wing 636 of the connection cage 633 is doubled internally by the additional wing 637 which is disposed in its immediate vicinity, a spring 603 being placed between this wing 636 and this wing additional 637.

In the direction (D), a fairly large cavity is formed in the lower part of the element 631 to form the contact cage 634, the bottom 648, or part opposite to the upper wall 602 of this cage having, facing towards 'interior of the cavity 634, longitudinal ribs 649 with tooth-shaped section. The cable 46 consists of an electrically conductive cable, extends inside the cavity 634, over the entire length thereof, resting on the ribs 649 on which it is clamped by the lower end 50 stud 43 whose threaded rod 45 is screwed into a thread 642, or transverse orifice, which is formed in the upper wall 602 of the contact cage which extends the bottom 635 of the connection cage 633. This thread or transverse orifice 642 allows the passage and the depth adjustment of the stud 43 whose head 53, which serves to effect this tightening, remains above the wall 602.

Optionally, the lower end 50 of the stud 43 can be associated with a counter plate 51 provided with longitudinal teeth 52 which, placed in the contact cage 634, under the wall 602, can contribute to perforating the insulation of the cable 46.

The additional wing 637 has at its foot a seat 613 bent at 90 ° which comes substantially into contact with the opposite wing 632 of the connection cage 633, while on the other side this foot leaves a slight clearance 604 by compared to wing 636 that this additional wing 637 comes to double. At its other end, opposite the bottom 635 of the connection cage, this additional wing 637 has a head also constituted by a part 605 bent at 90 ° and directed towards the wing 636 which it doubles, leaving it there also a slight play 611. It thus appears between the seat 613 and the head 605 a cheek on which the spring 603 comes to bear which is constituted by Belleville washers whose axis is perpendicular to the large faces 601 of the connector, substantially at center of the connection cage 633, these Belleville washers 603 being engaged on a cylindrical spacer 606 which is fixed, in a housing provided for this purpose, on the wing 636 of the connection cage, the fixing being effected by means of a screw 607 whose head rests on this spacer and the end of the threaded rod 608 of which is screwed into a threaded orifice 609 substantially at the center of the cheek of the additional wing 637.

This additional wing arrangement 637, movable in transverse displacement relative to the wing 636, allows contact by knives 70 of different widths.

It will be noted more particularly in FIG. 12 that the cable 46 engages in the contact cage 634 from the right of the latter, while the clamping using the stud 43 is carried out on the left side and that the knife fuse 70, shown diagrammatically and in broken lines in this same figure, is introduced into the connection cage 633, also on the right thereof, that is to say on the same side as the cable 46, but without any discomfort from the part of it or its clamping pin which is on the opposite side.

The third embodiment of FIG. 16 differs from the previous one in that the contact cage or lower part 734 of the connector 731 has the same dimension, in the direction (D) of extrusion, as the connection cage 733 or upper part, therefore constituting no projection relative to to this, while this same contact cage 734 constitutes a solid mass which is crossed, in the direction (D), by a cylindrical passage 700 of diameter substantially equal to that of the end of a flexible conductive cable 746 which is set in 701 in this passage 700.

In the variant of FIG. 17, there is provided in the same direction (D) a second cylindrical passage 700 'in which is crimped at 701' the end of a second flexible conductive cable 746 '.

As in the embodiment of Figs. 11 to 13, the additional wing 737 of this embodiment of FIGS. 16 and 17 is constituted by a separate part from the main section 731 and which has the same structure and the same operation as the part 637 seen previously.

As shown in Figure 12, the connector of the third type 731 can be used downstream of a connector of the first or second type, for the connection of an auxiliary cable 646 to a counter not shown, - even placed downstream of connector 731.

• - selon la Figure 14, un connecteur 831 à deux cages de contact 834 contiguës disposées côte à côte sous la cage de connexion 833 ; dans cette réalisation, la paroi centrale 835 commune aux trois cages se prolonge en saillie au-delà de la cage de connexion et est percée de deux orifices 842 qui chacun vont recevoir un plot 43, tandis que chaque fond 848 est doté de dents 849 ;
• - selon la Figure 15, un connecteur 931 à plusieurs cages de contact 934 superposées, toutes disposées selon une même colonne sous la cage de connexion 933 ; dans une réalisation à trois cages 934 superposées, la paroi centrale 935 commune à la cage de connexion et à la cage de contact supérieure se prolonge en saillie au-delà de la cage de connexion et est percée d'un orifice 942 placé en surplomb d'un fond 948 doté de dents 949 ; la cage de contact inférieure présente un fond percé également d'un orifice 942 placé à l'aplomb d'une paroi dotée de dents 949 ; enfin, la cage centrale est percée dans sa paroi 901 d'un orifice 942 percé en regard de dents 949 qui font saillie dans la cage 934 depuis l'autre paroi 901 ;
• - un connecteur combinant les réalisations des Figures 14 et 15, à deux colonnes d'au moins deux cages de contact chacune, toutes les cages de contact étant alors disposées sous la cage de connexion et débordant largement celle-ci pour permettre le passage des plots 43.

Finally, as a variant to the connector 631 to a contact cage 634 as described above and shown in Figures 11 to 13, it can be produced:

• - According to Figure 14, a connector 831 with two contiguous contact cages 834 arranged side by side under the connection cage 833; in this embodiment, the central wall 835 common to the three cages protrudes beyond the connection cage and is pierced with two orifices 842 which each will receive a stud 43, while each bottom 848 is provided with teeth 849;
• - According to Figure 15, a connector 931 with several contact cages 934 superimposed, all arranged in the same column under the connection cage 933; in an embodiment with three superimposed cages 934, the central wall 935 common to the connection cage and to the upper contact cage protrudes beyond the connection cage and is pierced with an orifice 942 placed overhanging d 'a bottom 948 provided with teeth 949; the lower contact cage has a bottom also pierced with an orifice 942 placed perpendicular to a wall provided with teeth 949; finally, the central cage is pierced in its wall 901 with an orifice 942 pierced opposite teeth 949 which protrude into the cage 934 from the other wall 901;
• a connector combining the embodiments of FIGS. 14 and 15, with two columns of at least two contact cages each, all the contact cages then being placed under the connection cage and extending well beyond it to allow the passage of the pads 43.

It is clear in particular that the invention also covers any plug-in electrical connection part which comprises a profiled connector of one of the aforementioned types and, by contact cage, a stud with a threaded rod whose end is bare or provided with a counter plate, and in the latter case a counter plate preferably provided with longitudinal teeth.

It is also clear that it covers each of the three profile constructions (with contact cage (s) arranged under or next to the connection cage, with contact cage (s) constituting a solid mass) that whatever the type of complementary wing (U-shaped return or independent wing obtained from profiling) with which it is associated, even if it is not shown in the accompanying drawings.

Claims (25)

1. Pluggable electrical connector, of the type comprising a) a connection case or cage (33, 133) in the general form of a U bounded by two metal cheeks (37, 137) and (32) respectively between which there can be inserted, through the top aperture (69) of this U, a plug element for example a blade (70) or a cylindrical fuse cartridge (71) intended to control or cut off the electrical supply of a circuit or an apparatus, b) at least one contact cage (34, 234, 334, 434, 534) in the form of a chamber wherein there is arranged and held an electrical conductor cable (46), for the supply of the circuit or apparatus, and c) a central wall common to the connection cage and to at least one contact cage, the said connector (31, 131, 231, 331, 431, 531) being made from an element cut to length from a metallic section produced by extrusion, and being characterised in that one of the flanges (36) of the U-shaped connection cage (33, 133) is duplicated internally by a supplementary flange which forms one of the two cheeks (37, 137), a spring (38) being situated between the said flange (36) and this cheek (37, 137), and in that the common central wall is constituted by the flange (32) of the connection cage other than that (36) which is duplicated by the supplementary flange (37, 137).

2. Connector according to claim 1, characterised in that the connection cage (33, 133) and the contact cage or cages (34, 234, 334, 434, 534) are of the same size in the direction of extrusion (D) of the metallic section, perpendicular to its cross-section (600).

3. Connector according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the contiguous contact cages (334, 434) are arranged in one and the same vertical column, the central wall (32) being common to the connection cage (33, 133) and to all these contact cages.

4. Connector according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the contiguous contact cages (234, 534) are arranged in one or two horizontal lines, the central wall (32) being common to the connection cage (33, 133) and to the first contact cage (234, 534) of each line.

5. Pluggable electrical connector, of the type comprising : a) a connection cage (633, 733, 833, 933) in the general form of a U bounded by two metal cheeks (637, 637, 737, 837, 937) and (632, 732, 832, 932) respectively between which there can be inserted, through the top aperture of this U, a plug element for example a blade (70) or a cylindrical fuse cartridge (71) intended to control or cut off the electrical supply of a circuit or an apparatus, b) at least one contact cage (634, 734, 834, 934) in the form of a chamber in which is arranged and held an electrical conductor cable (46, 746) for supplying the circuit or apparatus, and c) a central wall common to the connection cage and to at least one contact cage, the said connector (631, 731, 831, 931) being made from an element cut to length from a metallic section produced by extrusion, and being characterised in that one of the flanges (636, 736, 836, 936) of the U-shaped connection cage (633, 733, 833, 933) is duplicated internally by a supplementary flange which forms one of the two cheeks (637, 737, 837, 937), a spring (603) being positioned between the said flange (636, 736, 836, 936) and this cheek (637, 737, 837, 937), and in that the central wall common to the connection cage (633, 733, 833, 933) and to the contact cage (634, 734, 834, 934) is constituted by the bottom wall (635, 735, 835, 935) of the U of the connection cage.

6. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that one wall of each contact cage (34, 234, 334, 434, 534, 634, 834, 934) is perforated with a transverse orifice (42, 242, 342, 642, 842, 942) allowing the reception of and the adjustment of depth of a contact stud or terminal (43) whose end bears on the conductive core of the cable (46) and whose shank (45) or head (53) is connected electrically to the cheeks (32, 632, 832, 932) and (37,137,637,737, 837, 937) respectively of the connection cage.

7. Connector according to claim 6, combined with any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it is a wall of the contact cage or cages other than the central wall (32) which is perforated with the orifice (42, 242, 342) receiving the terminal (43).

8. Connector according to claim 6, combined with claim 5, characterised in that, in the direction of extrusion (D) of the metallic section (631, 831, 931), perpendicular to its cross-section (600), the contact cage or cages (634, 834, 934) is/are larger in dimension than the connection cage (633, 833, 933), the common central wall (635, 835, 935) thus extending out to project (602) relatively to this connection cage, and in that it is this projecting portion of the common central wall which is perforated with the orifice or orifices (642, 842, 942) each receiving the terminal (43).

9. Connector according to claim 8, characterised in that the size of the contact cage or cages (634, 834, 934) in the extrusion direction (D) is of the order of magnitude of double that of the connection cage (633, 833, 933).

10. Connector according to any one of claims 5, 8 and 9, characterised in that at least two contiguous contact cages (834) are arranged in a horizontal line, under the connection cage (833).

11. Connector according to any one of claims 5, 8 and 9, characterised in that at least two contiguous contact cages (934) are arranged in one and the same vertical column, under the connection cage (933).

12. Connector according to claims 10 and 11, characterised in that the contiguous contact cages (834, 934) are arranged in a block along at least two horizontal lines and at least two vertical columns, under the connection cage.

13. Connector according to any one of claims 6 to 12, characterised in that the shank (45) of the terminal (43) is screwthreaded, and in that the corresponding orifice (42, 242, 342, 642, 842, 942) formed in the wall of each contact cage (34, 234, 334, 434, 534, 634, 834, 934) is screwthreaded with the same threading.

14. Connector according to any one of claims 6 to 13, characterised in that the wall of the contact cage opposite from that perforated with the orifice receiving the terminal (43) is provided with longitudinal teeth (49, 249, 349, 649, 849, 949) produced at the time of extrusion.

15. Connector according to any one of claims 6 to 14, characterised in that on the end (50) of the shank of the terminal (43) there is crimped a counter-plate (51) also provided with teeth (52) which extend longitudinally, that is to say in the direction of the electrical supply cable (46).

16. Connector according to claim 1, characterised in that the contact cage (734) constitutes a solid mass through which extends, in the direction (D) of extrusion of the metallic section (731), at least one cylindrical passage (700, 700') the diameter of which is substantially equal to that of the end piece of the conductor cable (746, 746'), each end piece being crimped (at 701, 701') in its passage (700, 700', respectively).

17. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the supplementary flange (637, 737, 837, 937) which duplicates the flange (636, 736, 836, 936) of the connection cage (633, 733, 833, 933) is constituted by a separate piece preferably made likewise of an element cut from a metallic section produced by extrusion, a spring (603) being supported between the said first flange (636, 736, 836, 936) and the supplementary flange (637, 737, 837, 937).

18. Connector according to claim 17, characterised in that the independent supplementary flange has, at its end opposite from the bottom (635, 735, 835, 935) of the U of the connection cage, a rim (605) bent over at 90° directed towards the flange (636, 736, 836, 936) of the connection cage which is duplicated by this supplementary flange.

19. Connector according to any one of claims 17 and 18, characterised in that the independent supplementary flange comprises, at its end nearest the bottom of the U of the connection cage, a seat (613) formed of a portion bent over at 90° towards the flange (632, 732, 832, 932) other than that which is duplicated by this supplementary flange.

20. Connector according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterised in that the spring (603) is constituted by Belleville washers engaged on a cylindrical spacer element (606) fixed on the flange (636, 736, 836, 936) of the connection cage (633, 733, 833, 933) which is duplicated by the supplementary flange (637, 737, 837, 937), the means (607) fixing this spacer element to the flange being themselves fixed in the said supplementary flange.

21. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the flange (36, 636, 736, 836, 936) of the connection cage of U-shaped general form is itself shaped as a U to constitute the supplementary flange (37, 637, 737, 837, 937), which forms a cheek, and in that a coil spring (38) working in compression is arranged between the flanges (36, 636, 736, 836, 936) and (37, 637, 737, 837, 937) respectively of this second U.

22. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 21, characterised in that the two cheeks of the connection cage are slightly convergent towards the bottom (35, 635, 735, 835, 935) of the U.

23. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterised in that it is made by extrusion from aluminium.

24. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterised in that it comprises, for fixing on a mounting plate (67), a foot portion (55) with a T-shaped cross-section whose head (56) is slightly convex (at 57).

25. Pluggable electrical connection piece, characterised in that it comprises: a) the connector (31, 131, 231, 331, 431, 531, 631, 831, 931) profiled according to any one of claims 1 to 15 and 17 to 24, and b) per contact cage (34, 234, 334, 434, 534, 634, 834, 934), a terminal (43) with a screwthreaded shank (45) whose end is bare or provided with a counter-plate, and in the latter case a counter-plate (51) provided preferably with longitudinal teeth (52).

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