EP0265339A1 - Electrical terminal block, manufacturing method of such a block and electrical connector making use of such a block - Google Patents

Abstract

Useable for connecting connectors the block is formed by a strip folded over on itself at its middle, comprising a central zone (14) forming a connecting area and lugs (16, 16a) projecting on each side of the central zone distributed at regular intervals and bent in such a way that two lugs which are symmetrical with respect to the central zone constitute a female terminal. At least one of the lugs has at least one finger cut out and folded over towards the inside in order to immobilize a male terminal inserted into the female terminal. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to the general field of electrical connection connectors and it finds a particularly important application in connectors intended to receive terminal plugs of wires to be connected to each other. Such connectors are widely used in aeronautics: they consist of an insulating housing containing female electrical contacts. Each of its contacts is designed to receive a male terminal contact of a wire. The female contacts intended to receive a supply wire (or more) and the corresponding starting wires are connected together by permanent short-circuit elements. Often the insulating boxes are reduced to molded modules mounted on rails provided in a central cabinet.

The very large number of connections to be made in numerous installations, and in particular on large commercial aircraft, leads to the search for a unit price as low as possible for the contacts. But at the same time it is necessary that the insertion and removal of the terminal contacts of the wires can be carried out in a simple and rapid manner and that the terminal contacts, once inserted, are retained with certainty.

To this end, the invention proposes in particular a strip of female electrical contacts connected to each other constituted by a strip folded back on itself in the middle, comprising a central zone forming a connecting track and tabs projecting from each side of the central zone. , distributed at regular intervals and arched so that two legs symmetrical with respect to the central zone constitute a female contact, at least one of the tabs having at least one cut finger folded inwardly to immobilize a male contact introduced into the female contact.

The term "bar" must be interpreted broadly and as covering both the case of a flat-shaped element and that of a rollable element.

The invention also provides a method of manufacturing such a bar, according to which, successively: a flat strip of metal strip is cut to form, on each edge, tabs each having an oblique finger, the said tabs are arched to give them a semi-cylindrical shape in a direction such that the legs are directed towards the interior of the camber; and the strip is folded in the middle to form a female contact from each pair of corresponding tabs.

Each tab advantageously comprises two fingers whose free ends are opposite, making it possible to trap a flange or projections of a male terminal contact.

In the strip are advantageously made a middle row of holes embodying the fold line, and two lateral rows of holes staggered relative to the central holes and coming to juxtapose during folding.

The invention finally proposes a connector which can be produced in a modular manner, comprising a housing made of insulating material pierced with several rows of holes for introducing the contacts of a strip opening into a rear cavity for receiving the strip of each strip section and corresponding a row of holes and possible jumpers for short-circuiting several contacts, said cavity being able to be filled with potting insulating material.

• - la figure 1 est une vue en plan d'une bande destinée à réaliser une barrette par le procédé suivant l'invention, après découpage et avant cambrage ;
• - la figure 2 montre un tronçon de la bande de la figure 1 dans l'état où il se présente après pliage de la bande et cambrage des pattes ;
• - la figure 3 est une coupe suivant la ligne III-III de la figure 2 ;
• - la figure 4 est une vue de dessus de la figure 2 ;
• - la figure 5 est une vue en élévation et en coupe partielle montrant un connecteur suivant un mode particulier de réalisation de l'invention, un seul des contacts femelles étant représenté avec le contact mâle qui coopère avec lui ;
• - la figure 6 est une vue en coupe suivant la ligne VI-VI de la figure 5, montrant un mode possible de mise en court-circuit de contacts appartenant à des rangées différentes, à l'aide de cavaliers ;
• - la figure 7 est une vue de dessous de la figure 5, montrant un mode possible de réalisation de liaisons entre contacts femelles sur un connecteur à trois rangées.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of a particular embodiment given by way of example. The description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• - Figure 1 is a plan view of a strip intended to produce a bar by the method according to the invention, after cutting and before bending;
• - Figure 2 shows a section of the strip of Figure 1 in the state it occurs after folding the strip and arching the legs;
• - Figure 3 is a section along line III-III of Figure 2;
• - Figure 4 is a top view of Figure 2;
• - Figure 5 is an elevational view in partial section showing a connector according to a particular embodiment of the invention, only one of the female contacts being shown with the male contact which cooperates with it;
• - Figure 6 is a sectional view along line VI-VI of Figure 5, showing a possible mode of short-circuiting contacts belonging to different rows, using jumpers;
• - Figure 7 is a bottom view of Figure 5, showing a possible embodiment of connections between female contacts on a three-row connector.

We will first describe the process for manufacturing a contact strip from a strip of material commonly used to form electrical contacts, such as beryllium copper. The bars can be manufactured in any length but often it will be advantageous to provide a number of contacts per bar making it possible to obtain, by cutting, groups of contacts in number equal to those which must be connected together in a connector.

The first operation to be carried out consists in cutting a strip 10 of generally symmetrical constitution around a central line 12 in the strip. After cutting, the bar blank obtained is in the form of a central zone 14 extended on each side by legs 16 and 16a. These tabs are distributed at regular intervals and the tabs 16a are directly opposite the tabs 16. Three rows of holes are made in the strip 14. The holes 18, placed in the center of the strip, halfway between successive tabs, aim to facilitate subsequent folding. The holes 20 and 20a, placed in line with the tabs 16 and 16a, are equidistant from the central row 18. They are placed one above the other after folding the strip and making it possible to improve the retention of the contacts, as we will see later.

All the legs 16 and 16a have the same shape. Their parts intended to be arched have a width such that they are contiguous, to the nearest cutting interval. In these parts 22 are cut two fingers or tongues 24 and 26, the free parts of which face each other, slightly folded so as to project from the rest of the strip. The spacing between the free ends of the fingers 24 and 26 is chosen as a function of the flange or the projection of the male contacts 27 which must be inserted and retained in the female contacts of the finished strip (FIG. 5). This wide part of each tab is connected to the strip 14 by an area having one or more constrictions. In the case illustrated in Figure 1, a first constriction 28 is provided immediately behind the wide part to allow its bending. A second constriction 30 is provided at the connection with the strip 14 and makes it possible to easily cut one or more tabs or to form the bottom of a contact.

The length of the part between the two throttles 28 and 30 will depend on the diameter to be given to the female contact once completed.

It will often be advantageous to give each leg a constriction 32 between the fingers 24 and 26.

This constriction constitutes the border between the zone of the female contact which will constitute socket (at the base of the contact) and the part which will constitute retaining clip.

The following manufacturing operation consists in arching the tabs to give them the semicircular section which appears in FIGS. 3 and 4. This bending can be carried out in a simple manner on automatic presses, several tabs at the same time.

The following operation, which can be inverted with the previous one, consists in folding the blank obtained around the center line 12, to apply the two halves of the strip 14 one against the other and arrive at the bar shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. In the illustrated embodiment, it can be seen that the part forming an elastic locking clip has a smaller thickness than the part forming a sleeve, from the neck 32. This arrangement is however not essential.

Strip sections of the type shown in FIG. 2 to 4 can be inserted in a connector housing 34 of the type shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 4 are shown only one of the female contacts and a section of the strip 14. Each contacts is provided to be housed in a stepped passage 36 of the housing 34, generally made of molded material. All the passages open into a cavity 30 for receiving the strip 14, having a depth less than the distance between the contacts and the center line 12. Each stepped passage may include a shoulder 40 for supporting the constriction 32 of the female contact which is housed.

The housing shown in Figures 5 and 6 is of modular construction. It has recesses and a lateral projection in which is formed a dovetail groove 42 for retaining. Modules of the kind shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, having any number of parallel rows, can be glued and mounted on the same fixing rail.

The electrical connection between all the contacts in the same row can be ensured by the strip which connects them. The strip sections each corresponding to one of the rows can be short-circuited by welded jumpers, such as that shown at 44 in FIG. 6. Once these junctions have been made, the cavity 38 can be filled with poured potting material. .

The connector strips according to the invention allow great flexibility of implementation. We can for example, as in the case illustrated in Figure 7:
- Provide three rows of parallel female contacts, each occupying a fraction of the length of the connector, the contacts of each row remaining connected together by their strip section 14;
- place another set of three contacts in the form of a crossbar section at 46;
- fold back a bar section of six contacts, so as to maintain an electrical connection between these six contacts, then removing the middle tabs at location 48 by truncation at the level indicated at 50 in FIG. 1.

Claims (7)

1. Strip of female electrical contacts connected to each other, characterized in that it is constituted by a strip folded back on itself in the middle, comprising a central zone (14) forming a connection track and lugs (16, 16a) protruding on each side of the central zone, distributed at regular intervals and arched so that two legs symmetrical with respect to the central zone constitute a female contact, at least one of the legs having at least one finger cut out and folded towards the inside to immobilize a male contact inserted in the female contact. 2. Bar according to claim 1, characterized in that each tab has two fingers whose free ends are opposite, allowing to trap a flange or projections of a male terminal contact. 3. Bar according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the strip are formed a middle row of holes materializing the fold line, and two lateral rows of holes staggered relative to the central holes and coming to be juxtaposed during the folding. 4. Bar according to claim 2, characterized in that each tab has a constriction (32) in the area between the fingers. 5. Bar according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each tab has a wide part constituting the contact and an at least locally choked part connecting with the strip. 6. A method of manufacturing a bar according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, successively, a flat strip of metal strip is cut to constitute, on each edge, legs each having an oblique finger, said legs are arched to give them a semi-cylindrical shape in a direction such that the legs are directed towards the inside of the camber; and the strip is folded in the middle to form a female contact from each pair of corresponding tabs. 7. Connector, characterized in that it comprises a housing made of insulating material pierced with several rows of holes for introducing the contacts of a strip according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the holes opening into a rear cavity of reception of the strip of each strip section corresponding to a row of holes and possible jumpers for short-circuiting several contacts, said cavity being able to be filled with potting insulating material.

Images