EP0460038B1 - System for the connection of a common multiwire assembly and a branched multiwire assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

Electrical connection assembly between a control bundle (25) having n conductors (C1-Cn) and at least one branched bundle (30) having n conductors (D1-Dn), one at least of the conductors (D3) of the branched bundle being connected in parallel with one of the conductors (C3) of the control bundle, and two of the conductors of the branched bundle (D1-D2) being connected in series with one of the conductors (C2) of the control bundle. This assembly comprises a first clip (100) for fastening and connection on the control bundle (25), which clip is equipped with at least one contact (F3) ensuring an electrical contact with the conductor of the control bundle to be connected in parallel, at least one disconnection member (108) for disconnecting the conductor to be connected in series and at least two contacts (F1,F2) for ensuring electrical contacts on either side of the disconnection member with the conductor (C2) to be connected in series.

Description

The present invention relates to a connection assembly between a common multiconductor bundle and a bypass multiconductor bundle, a pair of conductors in each bundle being intended to carry out a "series" connection control.

In many applications, the problem arises of connecting a certain number of devices, or even a large number, in shunt on a common multiconductor bundle which emerges from a control unit.

As long as it is a question of carrying out simple connections in parallel between the conductors of the common bundle and those of the branch bundle, there are many solutions using, in particular, bundles in sheet and connectors with insulation perforation to pinch on the tablecloth. The documents FR-A-2 269 798 and EP-A-0 020 031 describe such systems.

The problem underlying the present invention is that of connection when two of the conductors of the common bundle must be used to carry out a control of connection in series, for which the techniques of connectors to be pinched on a ribbon do not provide a solution.

In order to solve this problem, the invention provides an electrical connection assembly between a control bundle with n conductors, and at least one branched beam with n conductors, at least one of the conductors of the branched beam being connected in parallel to one conductors of the control harness, and two of the conductors of the branched harness connected in series to one of the conductors of the control harness, the connection assembly comprising a first clamp for fixing and connection to the control harness, provided with '' at least one contact intended to ensure electrical contact with the conductor of the control harness to be connected in parallel, at least one cutting member intended to cut the conductor to be connected in series and at least two contacts intended to ensure electrical contacts of on either side of the cutting member with the conductor to be connected in series.

• la figure 1 est un schéma de raccordement entre un faisceau multiconducteur commun et des faisceaux dérivés ;
• la figure 2 illustre globalement les ensembles de connexion selon l'invention ;
• les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues de détail d'une pince de connecteur faisant partie de l'invention ;
• les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues de détail d'une seconde pince de connecteur faisant partie de l'invention ;
• les figures 7 et 8 illustrent les détails d'emboîtement des pinces des figures 3 à 6 ;
• la figure 9 est une vue en détail d'un contact de connecteur ; et
• la figure 10 est une coupe schématique de l'ensemble de connecteur.

The details and advantages of the invention will appear clearly on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a connection diagram between a common multiconductor bundle and derived bundles;
• FIG. 2 globally illustrates the connection assemblies according to the invention;
• Figures 3 and 4 are detail views of a connector clamp forming part of the invention;
• Figures 5 and 6 are detail views of a second connector clamp forming part of the invention;
• Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the nesting details of the clamps of Figures 3 to 6;
• Figure 9 is a detailed view of a connector contact; and
• Figure 10 is a schematic section of the connector assembly.

As illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1, the object of the present invention is to produce electrical connection assemblies 10 between a common multiconductor control bundle 12 and derived multiconductor bundles 14a, 14b, 14c, etc., which are of a simple and economical to manufacture and implement, without risk of error.

This type of network is intended to connect a single control unit 16, from which the common beam starts, and a plurality of devices 18a, 18b, 18c, etc., to which the derived beams end.

The common bundle comprises n conductors, 5 in the example illustrated, ie C₁, C₂, C₃, C₄ and C₅, two of which, C₁ and C₂, are intended for checking "serial" connection of all the devices 18, the others conductors C₃, C₄, C₅ used to convey analog or digital control instructions to the devices, by a "parallel" connection.

To do this, each derivative beam also has n conductors, the first two D₁ and D₂ being connected to the conductor C₂ of the common beam on either side of a cut-off 20 thereof, and the next three D₃, D₄, D₅ are respectively connected to the conductors C₃, C₄, C₅ of the common beam.

The conductor C₁ of the common harness is intended for the return of the "series" connection provided as described above on the conductor C₂. To this end, the conductors C₁ and C₂ are connected to each other by a short circuit 22 at their end opposite to the control unit, by means of a terminal connection assembly 24 also targeted by the present invention and described later.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the common multiconductor bundle 12 is produced in the form of a sheet 25 with n parallel conductors, provided on one of its edges with a coding means 26, advantageously constituted in the context of invention by a side strip 28 thicker than the web. The additional thickness may protrude on one side, or preferably both. As a variant, the coding means could consist simply of a visual indication, such as a side band of a color different from that of the sheet.

Thus, the conductors of the sheet are indexed from the side strip 28, the conductor C₁ being the closest and the conductor C₅ the most distant.

Likewise, the derivative bundles 14 are produced in the form of a sheet 30 of similar or preferably identical structure, their conductors D₁-D₅ being indexed in the same way with respect to the lateral strip 28.

Of course, for bundles with n conductors, it will be understood that the above enumerations will be expressed by C₁ ..... C _n and D₁ ..... D _n .

Each connection assembly 10 consists of two clamps 100 and 200, assembled respectively on the ply of the main bundle and on the ply of the derived bundle as will be described in relation to FIGS. 3 to 8.

The first clamp 100 intended for the main beam, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, comprises a base 102 made of insulating material provided with a substantially planar upper face 104 from which project a certain number of contacts and a punch 108 or cutting member.

The contacts are metal parts which will be described in more detail in relation to FIG. 9. They are received in housings 110 of the base substantially perpendicular to the upper face 104. Only their active ends 112, with a sharp double point, make protrusion of the upper face; they are intended to establish contact with the conductors of the sheet 25 by perforating the insulation.

The upper face 104 of the base comprises a peripheral ring 136 slightly projecting and intended to penetrate the insulation of the sheet to ensure the seal as will be seen below.

At one end of the upper face 104, the base comprises a step 114 intended to receive the lateral strip 28 of the ply 25. It is extended, beyond the step 114, by a guide member 116 extending perpendicularly to the upper side.

In the example illustrated, the guide member has a male profile with a T-shaped section, but it goes without saying that multiple variants are conceivable.

At the other end of the upper face 104, the base carries a projecting bridge 118, intended to constitute a holding member for a claw 120 of a cover 122 which will now be described.

The cover 122, also made of insulating material, has a substantially flat lower face 124 provided with recesses 126, 128 intended to receive respectively the sharp ends of the contacts and the head of the punch 108.

Likewise, the lower face 124 of the cover comprises a peripheral sealing ring 137.

The claw 120 projects laterally with respect to the cover at one end of the cover.

At the other end of the lower face 124, the cover also includes a step 130 intended to receive the lateral strip of the ply 25. It is extended, beyond the step, by a guide member 132 extending perpendicularly to the lower and complementary face of the guide member 116 of the base. In the example illustrated, the guide member 132 has a female profile with T-shaped section

In FIG. 4, the cover 122 is partially engaged on the base 102 by cooperation of their respective guide members 116, 132, so as to leave between their upper 104 and lower 124 faces a slot 134 through which the side can be introduced. tablecloth 25.

The base and the cover are then brought together until their flat faces 104, 124 or their rods (136, 137) come into contact with the faces of the sheet, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the lateral strip of the thicker ply which is received in the basins 114 and 130.

Note that it is therefore not possible to tighten the two parts of the clamp, if the side strip of the ply is presented on the wrong side.

In fact, this lateral strip will be an obstacle between the planar faces 104, 124 of the base and of the cover, in the vicinity of the trigger guard 118 and of the claw 120, and will prevent the base and the cover from coming together.

During tightening, the sharp points of the contacts pass through the insulation of the sheet to come into contact with the conductors, without interrupting them.

When the base and the cover are tightened on the ply, they remain in this condition thanks to the clipping of the claw 120 under the trigger guard 118. In addition, provision will advantageously be made for a snap-in arrangement also on the side of the guide members. 116, 132, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art and has therefore not been shown.

If we refer again to FIG. 3, we note that the contacts are arranged in two rows perpendicular to the step 114, therefore to the ply.

On the first row there are four contacts, F₅, F₄, F₃ and F₂, arranged at decreasing distances from the step 114, so that these contacts come exactly in correspondence of the conductors C₅, C₄, C₃ and C₂ of the ribbon cable. 25.

On the second row, there is a single contact F₁, arranged at the same distance from the step 114 as the contact F₂, therefore also Lement in correspondence of the conductor C₂ of the sheet 25.

The punch 108 is disposed between the two contacts F₁ and F₂.

Thus, when the base 102 and the cover 122 of the clamp 100 are assembled and tightened, the punch comes to punch the sheet facing the conductor C₂ by penetrating into the housing 128 and creating a cut on it, while the two contacts F₁, F₂ come into electrical contact with this conductor C₂ on either side of the cut.

Of course, the punch head must be made of insulating material, or at least covered with such a material.

The contacts extend towards the lower part of the base, as will be described later.

The second clamp 200 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 intended for the derived beam has a construction analogous to that of the first clamp and its analogous components will be designated therein by reference numbers increased by a value of 100.

It essentially differs from it only by the arrangement of the contacts and by the shape of the lower part of its base 202.

The contacts G₅, G₄, G₃ and G₂ are arranged in this case in the second row, facing the conductors D₅, D₄, D₃ and D₂ of the sheet 30; the contact G₁ is arranged alone on the first row facing the conductor D₁ and the base is devoid of punch.

The cover 222 is identical.

Note in FIGS. 7 and 8 the second clamp 200 tightened on the bypass ply 30.

In these same figures, we note the complementary nesting forms of the bases 102 and 202.

The base 102 is of the female type and comprises an internal cavity 140 bordered by grooves 138 open towards the interior of the cavity, in which the tails of the contacts 304 are received.

The base 202 is of the male type and comprises a block 240 on the periphery of which are grooves 238 open towards the outside and receiving the contact tails.

When the block 240 of the base 202 is received in the cavity 140, the grooves 138 and 238 correspond, so that the contact tails 304 can be applied one against the other laterally. An outer skirt 250 seals the socket.

More precisely, FIG. 9 shows the perspective shape of an individual contact F or G.

Such contact is obtained by punching / stamping a metal strip 300.

Its head 302 carrying the sharp points 112, 212 and its contact tail 304 are offset relative to each other by a distance equal to half the pitch P of the conductors of the plies. The tail 304 has bosses 305 projecting from the side.

As illustrated in the schematic section of FIG. 10, the two bases are designed so that the tails 304 of the contacts 300 are offset, relative to the conductors of the plies, in the following manner:
in the base 102 of the clamp 100, the four tails of the contacts F₅, F₄, F₃ and F₂ are offset in the direction of the side strip 28 of the ply 25, as is the tail of the contact F la located in the second row and shown for this reason in dotted lines in the figure.

In the base 202 of the clamp 200, the tails of the contacts G₅, G₄, G₃ and G₂ are offset also in the direction of the side strip, while the tail of the contact G₁ located in the second row is offset in the opposite direction.

Thus, when the two bases are fitted one inside the other, the contacts F₁ to F₅ are in electrical continuity with the contacts G₁ to G₅, thanks to the bosses of their respective tails, making the connections of the diagram in FIG. 1.

It will be noted that the connection assembly 10 according to the present invention is particularly simple, light, economical to manufacture and to implement.

The two clips that make it up are small, since in fact a sheet with 5 conductors spaced apart, for example in steps of a tenth of an inch, or 2.54 mm, has a total width, including the side band in excess thickness, less at 16 mm. Good of course, this width may be less if the chosen pitch is less.

The covers are identical and only the two bases differ, so that three molds are enough to make them.

Likewise, all contacts are identical and can easily be produced on continuous machines.

The clamps can be supplied preassembled, so that it is sufficient, after having introduced the ply between the cover and the base, to tighten them using a simple clamping tool, advantageously a hand tool.

It is finally remarkable. to note that the same assembly can be used to make the terminal connector 24.

Indeed, and we will usefully refer to FIG. 2, we will fix in the vicinity of the end of the ply 25 of the control beam a clamp identical to the clamp 200 described above, then, at some distance from that here, a clamp identical to the clamp 100, and we will fit the two clamps one on the other.

On examining FIG. 10, it will be seen that the conductors C₅, C₄, C₃ and C₂ are simply connected to themselves via the contacts F₅, F₄, F₃, F₂ and G₅, G₄, G₃, G₂ of the two clamps, while the conductors C₁ and C₂ will be short-circuited via the contacts F₁ and G₁.

Claims (12)

1. Electrical connection assembly (10) between a control assembly (12) with n conductors (C₁-C_b), and at least one branched assembly (14) with n conductors (D₁-D_n), at least one of the conductors (D₃) of the branched assembly (14) being connected in parallel with one of the conductors (C₃) of the control assembly (12), and two of the conductors (D₁, D₂) of the branched assembly being connected in series to one of the conductors (C₂) of the control assembly (12), the connection assembly comprising an initial fixing and connection clamp (100)on the control assembly (12), provided with at least one contact (F₃) to provide an electrical contract with the conductor of the control assembly to be connected in parallel, at least one cutting element (108) to cut the conductor (C₂) to be connected in series and at least two contacts (F₁, F₂) to provide electrical contracts on either side of the break (108) with the conductor (C₂) to be connected in series, and a second fixing and connecting clamp (200) on the branched assembly (14), provided with contacts (G₁-G_n) each one providing an electrical contact with one of the conductors of the branched assembly (14).
2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the first (100) and second (200) clamps comprise complementary housing elements (140, 240).
3. Assembly according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that each of the two clamps (100, 200) comprise a fixed connector (102, 202) provided with a face (104, 204) designed to come into contact with the assembly (25, 30) and the contacts (300) for perforating the insulating material projecting from the said face, and a cover (122, 222) provided with a face (124, 224) designed to come into contact with the assembly (12, 14) and with the fixing elements (120, 118, 116, 132, 220, 218, 216, 232) on the said fixed connector.
4. Assembly according to claim 3, characterised in that the contacts (300) in each clamp comprise a head (302) with sharp points (112, 212) projecting from the said face (104, 204) of the fixed connector, and a shank (304) extending into the said housing elements (140, 240).
5. Assembly according to claim 4, characterised in that the heads (302) and the shanks (304) of the contact (300) are offset by a distance (P/2) equal to one half of those (P) of the assembly conductors.
6. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the assemblies (12, 14) are made up of rows (25, 30) of parallel multiconductors.
7. Assembly according to claim 6, characterised in that the ribbon cables (25, 30) have an edge (28) with excess width.
8. Assembly according to claim 7, characterised in that the clamps (100, 200) have shoulders (114, 130, 214, 230) for housing the said edge (28) of excess width.
9. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the contacts (300) in each of the clamps (100, 200) are arranged in two parallel rows.
10. Assembly according to claim 9, characterised in that the first clamp (100) on the first row comprises a number of contacts F₂ to F_n equal to n - 1, and on the second row a single contact (F₁) opposite one of the contacts (F₂) of the first row, the cutting element (108) being arranged between these two contacts (F₁, F₂).
11. Assembly according to claim 10, characterised in that the second clamp (200) has on its second row a number of contacts G₂ to G_n equal to n - 1, and on the second row a single contact (G₁) offset in relation to the others.
12. Assembly according to claim 3, characterised in that the fixed connector (102) of the first clamp (100) and the cutting element (108) are made of insulating material and are made of one piece.

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