EP0251909B1 - Connection element for a monoconductor electrical cable with an axial connection - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a connection element for a single-conductor electric cable with an axial connection.

To ensure the connection of electric cables of the single-conductor type, connection elements with so-called transverse connection have been used to date. This type of connector or terminal-type connection element has a connection socket into which the conductor to be connected is inserted, the end of the latter having been stripped, and a clamping means, such as a screw oriented transversely with respect to to the axial direction of the conductor being implemented to ensure the mechanical blocking of the conductor against the socket and the electrical contact therewith.

This type of connector or connection element has hitherto been satisfactory, in particular in domestic applications or applications for which a reduced number of conductors must be connected, the connection elements being mechanically secured to form strips or bars forming connector.

However, these connection elements are ill-suited to industrial uses, in particular for the production of electrical control and power circuits of automata or industrial electronic circuits. Indeed, the forecourt blocking of the conductor to be connected produces a crushing of the latter on the contact area of the socket, which most often has the effect of causing poor quality contacts, in particular in the case where relative movements of the conductor and socket are produced periodically, for example by mechanical vibrations.

In addition, the mounting of the conductors to be connected cannot be carried out easily, the connection elements with transverse connection of the prior art generally having to be released from their housing or from their complementary connection element to allow the blocking of the conductor considered. by means of transverse life.

An improvement in the electrical contact qualities of this type of connection element has been obtained by the use of a male or female electrical connection element or connector by the Applicant. This connector was the subject of French patent application FR-A-2 466 883 filed on October 5, 1979 in the name of the Applicant.

However, the connection element or connector as described in this patent application does not provide a satisfactory solution to the problem of mounting a plurality of conductors to be connected since this type of connection element or connector remains a connection element or connector with transverse connection.

• - un étrier conducteur mobile, comportant au moins un orifice susceptible de venir en prolongement dudit conduit de connexion,
• - une lame souple, fixe par rapport au corps d'élément de connexion, ladite lame souple, permettant le guidage du conducteur à connecter en prolongement dudit conduit de connexion, étant engagée dans l'orifice dudit étrier,
• - des moyens d'entraînement et de blocage de l'étrier par rapport à la chambre de connexion et/ou à la lame souple de façon que, ledit conducteur à connecter étant engagé dans le conduit de connexion et dans l'orifice dudit étrier, le contact électrique entre le conducteur et la lame souple et/ou l'étrier soit assuré par coincement.

Document US-A-4 175 822 discloses a connection element for a single-conductor electric cable, comprising a connection element body made of insulating material, said element body having a substantially parallelepiped shape with a longitudinal axis, said body element comprising, formed in the infrastructure thereof, a connection chamber, said connection chamber having a connection conduit substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis abutting on one face of the body of connection element, by which the conductor to be connected is introduced, said connection element containing in said connection chamber:

• - a movable conductive bracket, comprising at least one orifice capable of coming in extension of said connection conduit,
• a flexible blade, fixed relative to the body of the connection element, said flexible blade, allowing the conductor to be connected to be connected in extension of said connection conduit, being engaged in the orifice of said bracket,
• means for driving and blocking the stirrup relative to the connection chamber and / or to the flexible blade so that said conductor to be connected being engaged in the connection duct and in the orifice of said stirrup, the electrical contact between the conductor and the flexible blade and / or the stirrup is ensured by wedging.

The object of the present invention is to implement a connection element or connector in which the crushing of the conductor to be connected by the screw is completely eliminated.

Another object of the present invention is the implementation of a connector, consisting of a plurality of connection elements, of great reliability of use, in which the effect of degradation of the electrical contacts, due for example mechanical fatigue, due to vibrations or relative movement of the contact between the conductor to be connected and the contact area of the connection element or connector is substantially eliminated.

Another object of the present invention is also the implementation of a connection element or connector of low cost.

• - ledit étrier conducteur est mobile en translation selon la direction de l'axe longitudinal,
• - ladite lame souple présente une partie plane de même inclinaison sensiblement que l'inclinaison de la face opposée de l'orifice dudit étrier,
• - lesdits moyens d'entraînement et de blocage assurent, par translation de l'étrier, ledit coincement entre la surface de ladite partie plane de la lame souple et la face opposée de l'orifice pour obtenir une zone de contact de caractère plan.

The connection element for a single-conductor electric cable, which is the subject of the present invention, is remarkable in that:

• said conductive stirrup is movable in translation along the direction of the longitudinal axis,
• said flexible blade has a flat part with the same inclination substantially as the inclination of the opposite face of the orifice of said stirrup,
• - Said drive and blocking means ensure, by translation of the stirrup, said wedging between the surface of said flat part of the flexible blade and the opposite face of the orifice to obtain a contact area of planar nature.

The invention finds application for connection electrical circuits of industrial electronics and in particular of automatons or industrial automatisms.

• - la figure 1a représente une vue en perspective d'un élément de connexion conformément à la présente invention,
• - la figure 1 b représente une vue en perspective arrachée de la figure 1a, suivant une section selon un plan P de la figure 1a,
• - la figure 2 représente une vue en coupe de la figure 1a selon un plan de coupe parallèle au plan P précédemment cité, contenant l'axe longitudinal de symétrie (Δ) de l'élément de connexion représenté en figure 1a,
• - la figure 3a représente un connecteur formé d'un arrangement d'une pluralité d'éléments de connexion tels que représentés en figure 1a,
• - la figure 3b représente une vue en coupe de la figure 3a selon un plan de coupe Q2 de symétrie de deux éléments de connexion en vis-à-vis.

It will be better understood on reading the description and on observing the drawings below in which:

• FIG. 1a represents a perspective view of a connection element in accordance with the present invention,
• FIG. 1 b represents a perspective view cut away from FIG. 1a, along a section along a plane P of FIG. 1a,
• FIG. 2 represents a sectional view of FIG. 1a according to a section plane parallel to the previously mentioned plane P, containing the longitudinal axis of symmetry (Δ) of the connection element shown in FIG. 1a,
• FIG. 3a represents a connector formed by an arrangement of a plurality of connection elements as shown in FIG. 1a,
• - Figure 3b shows a sectional view of Figure 3a along a sectional plane Q2 of symmetry of two connection elements facing each other.

The connection element for a single-conductor electric cable which is the subject of the invention will firstly be described in conjunction with FIGS. 1a and 1b above.

By single-conductor cable is understood, of course, any cable comprising a single conductor capable of being connected by means of the connection element object of the invention or also a plurality of single-conductor cables connected together so as to have a single end likely to be itself connected by the connection element object of the invention, all the conductors then being at the same electrical potential defined by the connection parts of the connection element object of the invention.

As shown in the figure in particular, the connection element object of the invention comprises a connection element body denoted 1 made of insulating material. The body of the connection element may have a substantially parallelepiped shape or at least an elongated shape with a longitudinal axis noted 4.

As it further appears in FIG. 1 b, the body of the connection element comprises formed in the infrastructure thereof, a connection chamber denoted 10. The connection chamber has a connection conduit denoted 100, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A and leading to one face of the body of the connection element 1. The conductor C to be connected can thus be introduced into the connection conduit 100, in order to reach the aforementioned connection chamber 10. In addition, as also shown in FIG. 1 b, the connection chamber 10 comprises a conductive stirrup denoted 101, movable in translation along the direction of the longitudinal axis 4. The movable stirrup 101 comprises at least one orifice denoted 1010, capable of extending from the aforementioned connection conduit 100. It will of course be understood that, depending on the position of the movable conductive stirrup 101, the orifice 1010 can thus be brought in extension of the connection conduit 100.

As it also appears in FIG. 1b, the connection chamber 10 comprises a flexible blade marked 102, fixed relative to the body of connection element 1. The flexible blade 102 allows the conductor C to be connected to be connected, in extension of the connection conduit 100; it is engaged in the orifice 1010 of the stirrup 101, the latter therefore being movable in translation in the longitudinal direction A relative to the body of connection element 1 and relative to the flexible blade 102.

As is also shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b above, the body of connection element 1 also has means for driving the stirrup 101 in translation, means denoted 2, also ensuring the locking of the caliper in position in the direction of longitudinal translation A above, relative to the connection chamber 10 and / or relative to the flexible lamp 102. Thus, the conductor C to be connected being engaged in the connection conduit 100 and in the orifice 1010 of the stirrup, the electrical contact between the conductor C and the flexible blade 102 and / or the stirrup 101, can be ensured by jamming.

A more detailed description of the respective arrangement of the movable stirrup 101 and of the flexible blade 102 in the connection chamber 10 will be described in more detail in connection with FIG. 2.

The above-mentioned FIG. 2 represents a sectional view of FIG. 1a, for example, the section plane being a plane parallel to the plane P shown in FIG. 1 a, but containing the longitudinal axis A of the connection element.

According to FIG. 2 above, the orifice 1010 of the stirrup 101 is advantageously inclined relative to the direction of the longitudinal axis 4, the inclination or angle of inclination being noted a in FIG. 2. Advantageously but non-limiting, the aforementioned angle of inclination can be taken equal to 45 °.

In addition, the orifice 1010 of the stirrup 101 advantageously has a substantially rectangular section, the short sides of the aforementioned section being substantially orthogonal to the direction of longitudinal axis 4. Thus, the engagement of the blade 102 in the rectangular orifice 1010 allows free play, during movement of the stirrup 101, of the latter, relative to the connection chamber 10 and relative to the flexible blade 102. For this purpose, the flexible blade 102 has a dimension , in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis A, substantially equal to the short side of the rectangular section of the orifice 1010 of the stirrup 101.

In order to produce the stirrup 101, it can be obtained by machining a bar of conductive material, provided with an axial orifice of rectangular section determined. This material is normally commercially available. In addition, the stirrup 101 can also advantageously be produced by molding a material such as the material known by the name of "ZAMAC" (registered trademark).

As it also appears in FIG. 2, with a view to guiding and electrically contacting the conductor to be connected C, the flexible blade can be shaped so as to have a first part denoted 1021, of slight inclination relative to the direction of the longitudinal axis 4. This first part is arranged as an extension of the connection conduit 100, substantially, and thus makes it possible to guide the cable or conductor to be connected C, as far as the orifice 1010 of the stirrup 101, when the latter is for example brought into abutment against the wall of the connection chamber 10. Advantageously without limitation, the first part 1021 of the flexible blade 102 can advantageously be engaged in a housing 12 formed in the body of connection element 1, so as to ensure good fixing of the blade 102 relative to the connection chamber 10 and relative to the body of the connection element 1.

In addition, the flexible blade 102 comprises a second part denoted 1022, in extension of the first part 1021, this second part 1022 having substantially the same inclination as the inclination of the orifice 1010 of the stirrup 101.

In addition, the flexible blade 102 comprises a third part 1023, as an extension of the second part 1022, this third part making it possible to substantially close off the orifice 1010 of the stirrup 101, at the end opposite to that of the connection conduit. The third part 1023, is also supported on a shoulder denoted 11 of the body of the connection element, as shown in FIG. 2. Of course, with a view to ensuring electrical contact with a corresponding male or female electrical contact, the third part 1023 of the flexible blade 102, can be extended by any corresponding female or male electrical contact respectively, as will be described later in the description.

As also shown in FIG. 2, the drive means 2 can advantageously include, without limitation, an assembly constituted by a screw 20 fixed relative to the body of the connection element 1, and a tapped orifice 21 , formed in the movable stirrup 101, and in which the screw is engaged. The screw 20 and the threaded orifice 21 have substantially a longitudinal axis of symmetry parallel to the longitudinal axis A previously described.

According to the invention and advantageously, the screw 20 ends on the same face of the body of the connection element as the connection conduit 100, through which the conductor to be connected C is introduced. The screw head of the aforementioned screw 20 can thus appear at an opening 13 formed on the aforementioned face of the body of the connection element.

In addition, the screw 20 has one end in contact with the flexible blade 102, the end in contact opposite the screw head previously described. Advantageously, the aforementioned end may have a conical shape whose half-angle of opening is substantially equal to the inclination a of the orifice 1010 of the stirrup 101, and thereby to the inclination of the second part 1022 of the flexible blade 102.

In order to ensure the translational movement of the stirrup 101 in the longitudinal direction when the screw 20 is engaged in the threaded orifice 21, the aforementioned screw 20 may have, in the vicinity of the screw head, a groove 200, allowing the fixing of this screw in the aforementioned direction A, but the free rotation of the latter relative to an edge 130 perpendicular to the direction 4 previously described. In FIG. 2, the longitudinal axis of the assembly constituted by the screw 20 and the threaded orifice 21 is denoted D.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the connection element that is the subject of the invention, the body 1 of connection element can be made, without limitation, of a plastic material such as polycarbonate.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the connection element that is the subject of the invention, the flexible blade 102 is made of an electrically conductive material, such as copper, brass, beryllium bronze. It may have at its second part 1022, intended to ensure electrical contact with the conductor C, a protective conductive coating, such as a gold coating, tinning or the like. Thus, the conductor C to be connected having been introduced at its stripped end as far as the orifice 1010 of the stirrup 101, the setting in motion of the screw 20 allows the stirrup 101 to move, which comes to secure the clamping of conductor C and making the desired electrical contact. It will of course be understood that due to the planar nature of the surface of the second part 1022 of the flexible blade 102 and of the opposite face of the orifice 1010 of the stirrup 101, the electrical contact takes place between the conductor C and the aforementioned second part 1022, and / or the opposite face of the stirrup 101, in the absence of any harmful crushing of the conductor C. In addition, the quality of the electrical contact is improved due to the large size of the zone of contact between the conductor C, the second part 1022 of the flexible blade 102 and the opposite face of the orifice 1010 of the stirrup 101.

In order to ensure good adhesion of the conductor C on the contact faces formed by the second part 1022 of the flexible blade 102 and by the opposite edge of the orifice 1010 of the stirrup 101, these faces or contact zones can advantageously have asperities, such as a groove allowing better retention of the conductor C. Of course, and in a nonlimiting manner, the asperities pre mentioned may have a sufficient dimension or relief, so as to allow the conductor connection to be made by displacement of insulation, the conductor C to be connected then being introduced into the connection conduit 100 and into the orifice 1010 of the bracket 101 , without stripping the end of it beforehand.

A connector comprising a plurality of connection elements as defined above will now be described in connection with FIGS. 3a and 3b.

In the aforementioned figures, the connection elements constituting the connector are respectively denoted Eci, Ecj.

Advantageously, as shown in particular in Figure 3a, the connection elements Eci, Ecj can be arranged one next to the other, in at least one row so as to form a strip or connector strip. It will be noted in particular in FIG. 3a, that the connector as defined may advantageously comprise two rows of connection elements, the current connection element of each row being respectively denoted Eci, Ecj. As it also appears in FIG. 3a, the connector as defined is such that two opposite connection elements denoted Eci, Ecj, of one and the other row are arranged symmetrically with respect to the plane median noted Q1.

In Figure 3b, there is also shown a cross-sectional view of the connector shown in Figure 3a, the section being taken along a plane Q2, plane of transverse symmetry of two connection elements opposite Eci, Ecj. It will of course be noted that in FIG. 3b, each Eci, Ecj connection element comprises the same elements as the elements represented in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3b, the elements common to each Eci, Ecj connection and in FIG. 2, have not been referenced, so as not to detract from the clarity of the drawing in FIG. 3b.

In addition, as already mentioned previously in the description, with a view to ensuring the electrical contact of the connector or of the connection elements constituting it with a corresponding male or female electrical contact, the third part denoted 1023i, 1023j of the blade flexible of each corresponding element Eci, Ecj can be extended by a female or male electrical contact respectively, this female or male electrical contact respectively being noted 1024i, 1025i, 1026i and 1024j, 1025j, 1026j. This electrical contact can for example be constituted by flexible blades, forming a lyre-type contact or the like. The connector defined above, as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, can then advantageously constitute a connector of the multi-conductor plug-in type. It will of course be understood that the use of such connectors is greatly improved insofar as the introduction of the cables or conductors to be connected can be carried out without displacement of the connector considered, since due to the axial nature of the connection, the screws allowing '' ensure the connection abouch on the same face as the corresponding connection conduits. In addition, due to the improved quality, both mechanically and electrically, of the contact between the conductors to be connected and the contact areas of the flexible blades or stirrups of each connection element, it is possible to use without drawback the connector described above, in the form of a plug-in connector without drawback for the connection or electrical contact between the conductors and the connector.

Claims (13)

1. Connecting element for a single conductor electric cable, comprising a connecting element body (1) made from insulating material, the said element body having a substantially parallelepipedal shape with a longitudinal axis (A), the said element body (1) having, provided in its infrastructure, a connecting chamber (10), the said connecting chamber having a connecting duct (100) substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (A) terminating on one face of the connecting element body (1), through which the conductor (C) to be connected is inserted, the said connecting element containing in the said connecting chamber (10):

- a movable conducting clamp (101), having at least one orifice (1010) capable of coming to form an extension to the said connecting duct (100),

- a flexible blade (102), fixed with respect to the connecting element body (1), the said flexible blade (102) allowing the guiding of the conductor (C) to be connected in an extension of the said connecting duct, being engaged in the orifice (1010) of the said clamp,

- means (2) for moving and locking the clamp (101) with respect to the connecting chamber (10) and/or the flexible blade (102) so that, the said conductor (C) to be connected being engaged in the connecting duct (100) and in the orifice (1010) of the said clamp, electrical contact between the conductor (C) and the flexible blade (102) and/or the clamp (101) is provided by pinching,
characterised in that:

- the said conducting clamp (101) is movable in translation along the direction of the longitudinal axis (A),

- the said flexible blade has a flat part (1022) with substantially the same inclination as the inclination of the opposite face of the orifice (1010) of the said clamp,

- the said moving and locking means (2) provide, by translational motion of the clamp (101), the said pinching between the surface of the said flat part (1022) of the flexible blade (102) and the opposite face of the orifice (1010) in order to obtain a contact area of a flat nature.

2. Connecting element according to claim 1, characterised in that the orifice (1010) of the said clamp is inclined with respect to the direction of the longitudinal axis (A).

3. Connecting element according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the orifice (1010) in the said clamp has a substantially rectangular cross section, the small sides of the said cross section being substantially orthogonal to the direction of the longitudinal axis (A).

4. Connecting element according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the said flexible blade (102) has a dimension, in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (A), substantially equal to the small side of the rectangular cross section of the orifice (1010) in the said clamp.

5. Connecting element according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that, for the purpose of providing the guiding and electrical contact of the conductor to be connected, the said flexible blade (102) has:

- a first part (1021) with a small inclination with respect to the direction of the longitudinal axis (n), the said first part being arranged in an extension of the connecting duct (100),

- the said flat part (1022) or second part, extending the first part, with substantially the same inclination as the inclination of the orifice (1010) in the said clamp,

- a third part (1023), extending the second part, making it possible substantially to close off the said orifice (1010) in the clamp at its end opposite to the end of the connecting duct, the said third part bearing against a shoulder (11) on the connecting element body.

6. Connecting element according to claim 5, characterised in that, for the purpose of providing electrical contact with a corresponding male or female electrical contact, the said third part (1023) of the flexible blade is extended respectively by a female or male electrical contact.

7. Connecting element according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the said means of moving (2) comprise an assembly consisting of a screw (20) fixed with respect to the connecting element body (1), a threaded orifice (21) provided in the movable clamp (101) and in which the screw (20) is engaged, the screw and the threaded orifice having substantially a symmetry axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of (A), the said screw (20) terminating on the same face of the connecting element body as the connecting duct (100).

8. Connecting element according to claim 7, characterised in that the screw (20) has one end in contact with the said flexible blade (102), conical in shape, the half-angle of the cone being substantially equal to the inclination (a) of the said orifice in the clamp and of the second part of the flexible blade, with respect to the direction of the longitudinal axis (A).

9. Connecting element according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the said flexible blade (102) is made from an electrically conducting material such as copper, brass or beryllium bronze and has, at its second part (1022) designed to provide the electrical contact with the conductor, a conducting coating.

10. Connecting element according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the said conducting clamp (101) is made in one piece.

11. Connecting element according to claim 10, characterised in that the single-piece conducting clamp (101) is formed by a machined bar of conducting material.

12. Connecting element according to claim 10, characterised in that the single-piece conducting clamp (101) is made from a cast material.

13. Connector, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of connecting elements (Eci) according to one of claims 1 to 12.

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