EP0895315A1 - Electrical connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

The electrical connector plug has a female section (26) with rear connector and threaded outer nut coupling (34) with inner electrical plug connectors. The matching male section (18) has an outer screw thread (36) into which the female nut is screwed. The matching male pins are plugged into place, and the outer nut section clamps the two sections together.

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical connection device.

More specifically, the invention relates to a connection device electrical consisting of a fixed part or base capable of cooperating with a part mobile or plug, corresponding electrical conductors being wired to each of the two elements of the electrical connector.

Even more precisely, the invention relates to devices for industrial type connection, the different elements of the two elements of this connector being compatible with standard connectors commonly used in industry.

With such connectors, it is desirable that the wiring of the conductors electrical on the sockets of the female element and on the conductive pins of the male element can be made as simple as possible.

It is also desirable that the connection device comprises provisions to be able to mount the insulators of the base without risk of error and of the form in an easily identifiable manner in particular with regard to the various electrical conductors connected to the terminals.

It is also desirable to have a connection device electrical in which the coupling and the mechanical connection between the male element and the female element of the connector can be made simply and reliably so that the user can be sure that the electrical coupling is correct got.

It is also desirable that the two connector elements be as simple as possible for ease of use and for reduce the manufacturing cost.

Finally, it is desirable that in particular with regard to the sockets conductive of the female element, these are protected against risks mechanical deterioration during the coupling between the male element and the female element.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connection device electrical consisting of a male element and a female element which satisfy to the main requirements mentioned above.

• un corps de fiche
• un raccord arrière muni de moyens de fixation sur la partie arrière du corps de fiche ;
• un écrou d'accouplement monté sur la face externe dudit corps de fiche et solidaire en translation du corps de fiche ;
• un corps d'embase muni sur sa face externe de moyens par filetage pour coopérer avec ledit écrou d'accouplement ;
• un isolant mâle destiné à recevoir des broches conductrices et apte à être monté dans ledit corps d'embase ou dans ledit corps de fiche et muni sur sa partie arrière de moyens de solidarisation avec ledit corps d'embase ou de fiche ; et
• un isolant femelle destiné à recevoir des douilles conductrices comprenant un isolant femelle arrière et un isolant femelle avant muni de moyens de solidarisation avec l'isolant femelle arrière, ledit isolant femelle étant apte à être monté dans ledit corps de fiche ou ledit corps d'embase, ledit isolant femelle arrière étant muni de moyens de solidarisation avec ledit corps de fiche ou d'embase.

To achieve this object according to the invention, the electrical connection device is characterized in that it comprises:

• a plug body
• a rear connector provided with fixing means on the rear part of the plug body;
• a coupling nut mounted on the external face of said plug body and integral in translation with the plug body;
• a base body provided on its outer face with threaded means for cooperating with said coupling nut;
• a male insulator intended to receive conductive pins and capable of being mounted in said base body or in said plug body and provided on its rear part with means for securing with said base or plug body; and
• a female insulator intended to receive conductive sockets comprising a rear female insulator and a front female insulator provided with means of attachment to the rear female insulator, said female insulator being able to be mounted in said plug body or said socket body , said rear female insulator being provided with means for securing with said plug or socket body.

We understand that in particular thanks to the fact that the female insulator is consisting of two insulating sub-assemblies, good protection can be obtained conductive sockets. We also understand that the joining of insulators on the plug body or the socket body is obtained by simple means preferably by clipping, which simplifies the use of such devices electrical connection.

We also understand that the male and female insulators are interchangeable relative to the base body and the plug body, which makes use of this very flexible connection device.

la figure 1 est une vue en coupe longitudinale montrant l'ensemble du dispositif de connexion avec son élément mâle et son élément femelle ;

les figures 2a et 2b montrent en perspective selon différents points de vue l'élément isolant femelle arrière ;

les figures 3a, 3b et 3c montrent l'isolant femelle avant en perspective selon différents points de vue ;

la figure 4 montre en perspective l'isolant femelle assemblé ;

les figures 5a et 5c montrent l'isolant mâle en perspective respectivement selon sa face avant et selon sa face arrière et la figure 5b est une vue de côté de l'isolant mâle ;

les figures 6a et 6b sont des vues en perspective du corps d'embase ;

les figures 7a à 7c sont des vues en perspective selon différents angles du corps de fiche ;

les figures 8a à 8c sont des vues en perspective selon différents angles de l'écrou d'accouplement entre l'élément entre le corps d'embase et le corps de fiche ; et

la figure 9 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un mode préféré de réalisation du raccord arrière du dispositif de connexion.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear better on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example. The description refers to the appended figures in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the entire connection device with its male element and its female element;

Figures 2a and 2b show in perspective from different points of view the rear female insulating element;

Figures 3a, 3b and 3c show the front female insulator in perspective from different points of view;

Figure 4 shows in perspective the assembled female insulation;

FIGS. 5a and 5c show the male insulator in perspective respectively along its front face and along its rear face and FIG. 5b is a side view of the male insulator;

Figures 6a and 6b are perspective views of the base body;

Figures 7a to 7c are perspective views from different angles of the plug body;

Figures 8a to 8c are perspective views from different angles of the coupling nut between the element between the base body and the plug body; and

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the rear connector of the connection device.

Referring first to Figure 1, we will describe the entire electrical connection device according to the invention.

The electrical connection device 10 comprises on the one hand a base 12 intended to be fixed to a panel or any other suitable wall 14 and a removable plug 16 connected to an electric cable not shown in the figures. The base 12 is constituted by a base body 18 in which is mounted in the particular example describes a male insulator 20 in which are pierced housings 22 intended to receive the male electrical contact pins. The face external rear of the base body has a thread 23 for receiving a nut fastening 24 on a suitable panel. In case the fixing of the base is made using the plate 25, the thread 23 can be used for mounting a rear manifold connection.

Regarding sheet 16, it includes a sheet body 26 in which is mounted a female insulator bearing the general reference 28. According to a characteristic of the invention, the female insulator 28 consists of two parts by a front female insulator 30 and a rear female insulator 32. On the external face of the plug body 26, is mounted a coupling nut 34 intended to cooperate with a thread 36 formed on the external face of the base body 18 as is will explain it later. The electrical connection device comprises also a rear connector 37 which can be of any suitable type and which is attached to the rear end of the plug body. As is well known, the rear connector 37 serves to protect the electrical conductors of the cable in their wiring area on the conductive terminals of the plug and to secure the connection mechanical between the electric cable and the plug of the connection device electric.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 4, we will describe a mode preferred embodiment of the female insulator 28 which it has already been explained that it consists by a front female insulator 30 and a rear female insulator 32.

The rear female insulator 32 has a rear face 40 in which open out from the housings 42 for the electrical connection sockets not shown. As can be seen in this figure, each housing 42 is marked by a letter 44 or an acronym 45. In addition, a number referenced 47 identifies the connector coding. On the lateral face 46 of its rear part, the female insulator rear is provided with four elastic tabs 48 ending in a notch 50, this notch 50 being intended to cooperate with a housing provided in the plug body or the base body as will be explained later. The front part 53 of the rear female insulation has a lateral face 53a of cylindrical shape on which are provided with two clipping lugs 54. The front face 58 of the insulation rear female present in the embodiment described two flanges cylindrical 60 and 62 which project into the front face 58 and which surround the outlet of the housings 42 for the sockets. Preferably again, these two flanges are connected by a segment also projecting 64. These reliefs have aim to increase the length of the creepage distances in the joint plane of the two parts of the female insulation.

Preferably, the rear female insulating element as well as the other insulating elements of the electrical connection device are made by injection molding of an insulating thermoplastic material which makes it possible to produce all the shapes already described in a single piece.

Referring now to Figures 3a to 3c, we will describe the insulation front female 30. The rear end 70 of the front female insulation constitutes a cylindrical skirt mounted at the end of the body itself 72 of this element insulating. The cylindrical skirt 70 defines by cutting two elastic tabs 74 and 76. Each of the tabs 74 and 76 is provided with a recess 78 which cooperates with the lugs 54 of the rear female insulation to secure the two parts of the female element. In Figure 4, there is shown the insulator front female 32 and rear female insulation 34 snapped together as we explained it previously. It can be seen in particular that the lateral face 70a of the cylindrical skirt 70 defines the positioning diameter of the female insulator in the base body or the plug body as will be explained later.

The rear face 73 of the front female insulator comprises recesses 75 corresponding to the raised portions 62, 64 and 66 of the anterior face of the front female insulation.

It should also be noted that the front end of the housing 69 extending the housings 42 of the rear female insulation and intended to receive the conductive sockets have a reduced diameter, smaller than that of sockets, to protect the front edge of these sockets. In addition, the front end of the housings 69 has a chamfer 71 to facilitate the insertion of the pins conductive in the sockets.

As shown in Figure 4, when the two parts of the insulation female are assembled, they define an external annular groove 77 intended to receive a seal.

Referring now to Figures 5a to 5c, we will describe a mode preferred embodiment of the male insulator 22 which is as already explained constituted in one piece preferably obtained by injection molding of a thermoplastic material.

The male insulation, which is made in a single molded part, has a shape general cylindrical and is intended to be mounted of course in the base body or the plug body.

The cylindrical portions 80 and 82 of the lateral face of the male insulator 28 define the centering diameters of the insulation in the plug body or the base body. The insulator 22 is of course provided with housings 84 for placing place the conductive pins of the male element of the connector. The side face of the male insulator 22 has four elastic tabs such as 86 which terminate by locking notches 88 intended as will be explained later to cooperate with housings provided in the base body or the body of plug. As can also be seen in the figure, the rear face 90 of the insulation male comprises locating elements 92 of the various housings 84 and coding digits 93 of the connector. We also see that the lateral face of the male insulator comprises an annular groove 94 intended to receive an O-ring to seal between the insulation and the plug or socket body.

Referring now to Figures 6a and 6b, we will describe a mode preferred embodiment of the base body 18.

The base body 18 has a generally circular shape and has a internal cylindrical recess intended to receive the male insulator or the female insulator that we described earlier. The base body 18 comprises a part front 100 whose external lateral face is provided with a thread 102, intended as it will be explained later, to cooperate with the coupling nut. This thread preferably has three equidistant notches 104 receiving the notch locking the coupling nut.

With regard to the rear part 106 of the base body, there are on the one hand four grooves arranged at 90 ° from each other and referenced 108 which are intended to receive the elastic tabs for fixing the male insulation or female in the manifold body. These grooves 108 are associated with windows 110 which are intended to receive the ends of the elastic tabs of the insulators forming a rear stop. In addition, these 110 lights make it possible to verify the correct snap on the insulators on the base body.

This rear part 106 of the base body also has on its external face different means of fixing the rear connector depending on the nature of this one. There is for example a thread 112 for fixing a rear connection to using a nut (not shown) and four tabs 114 ending in notches 116 intended to cooperate with conjugated forms of the rear connector or another device. Other types of rear connection are also found fixing notches 118. These notches will be used in particular to fix a rear connection of the type which will be described in connection with FIG. 9.

The rear part 106 also includes an indexing plate 119 and for immobilizing the base body in rotation in the panel on which the base is mounted when the screen 24 is used.

It is also important to note that on its periphery, the part rear 106 of the base body has a protruding index 120 which provides a angular location and allows in relation to the coding information of different housing already described to achieve the correct positioning of the insulation with its conductive terminals relative to the base body.

As is better visible in Figure 6b, we see that in the face internal part of the front part 100 of the base body, there are axial grooves such as 122 and 124 which allow for coupling keys between the base and the plug, the plug having corresponding ribs as well as will describe it later.

Referring now to Figures 7a to 7c, we will describe a mode preferred embodiment of the plug body 26. This plug body 26 comprises a front part 130 having a cylindrical external shape on which are provided ribs such as 132 and 134 which define coupling keys or compatibility with the base in relation to the grooves 122 and 124 present by the base. On its external lateral face, the plug body also has a circular rib 136 which serves as a stop for the coupling nut as well as the shows Figure 1. Between the annular flange 136 and the ribs 132 and 134, we finds a zone 137 intended to receive the mass spring, not shown, which is used to ensure electrical continuity between the base and the plug when these parts are assembled. As best shown in the upper part of Figure 1, this zone is frustoconical. When the base and the plug are coupled using the nut, the front periphery of the base body tends to push back the spring by relative to its rest position. The taper causes the radial expansion of the spring, referenced 139 in FIG. 1, which ensures the electrical contact between the spring and the plug body despite the clearance between the plug body and the spring when this one is at rest. In addition, the front periphery of the base body is necessarily in electrical contact with the spring 139 due to the taper. Thus, we reelect the electrical continuity between the plug body and the body despite the initial play between the spring and the plug body, the nut of coupling being of course made of an insulating material. The rear part 138 of the plug body 26 is identical to that of the base body already described. Onne will therefore not return to the description thereof. Note, however, that the periphery of this rear part 138 also has a locating index angular 140 whose function is the same as that which has been described in connection with the base body.

A specific tool can be used to separate the male insulation or the female insulation of the socket body or the plug body in the event of angular positioning of the insulation relative to the base or plug body by relative to the coding of the connector.

Referring now to Figures 8a to 8c, we will describe a mode preferred embodiment of the coupling nut 34.

As best shown in Figure 8a, the coupling nut 24 has at one of its ends on its circular internal face 142 three threaded sectors 143 equidistant and corresponding to an angle at the center substantially equal to 60 °. These three threaded segments 143 are intended to cooperate with the thread provided on the base body which bears the reference 36 in FIG. 1. On this internal face, there is also finds three identical relief sets each carrying the reference 144, these three sets in relief also corresponding to an angle at the center of the order of 60 ° and being angularly offset from the sector threaded 143. Each raised portion 144 comprises on the one hand a notch 146 intended to snap the nut onto the plug body, a guide sector 147 forming a shoulder is intended to cooperate with the annular rib 136 of the body plug and three tactile and auditory locking notches 148, these notches 148 provide that the locking of the nut on the base has been correctly carried out.

Referring now to Figure 9, we will describe a preferred mode of the rear connection 37. It goes without saying, however, that the rear connection could be of a standard type. It also goes without saying that the rear connection described in conjunction with Figure 9 could be used with another connection device electric.

The rear connector 37 consists of a half-shell lower 150, upper half-shell 152 and a flange for fixing the cable 154. The two half-shells are joined together by the cooperation of the peripheral belts 156 and 158 and of screws, not shown, engaged in holes 160 and 162.

The fixing ends 164 and 166 of the two half-shells have a semicircular orifice limited by dishes 168 used for the location and maintenance of the assembled fitting on the base or plug body.

Once the two half-shells are assembled, these dishes are defined to exert a constraint on the base or plug body in order to promote mechanical and electrical connections between fittings 37 and the base or the sheet.

The wall of each half-shell has a first breakable half-seal 170 and 172 arranged along the longitudinal axis of the connector 37. When these covers are broken, the outlet of the electric cable is axial. Wall side of each half-shell has a second half-seal breakable 174 and 176. These second half-lids are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the fitting 37. When the second half-lids are broken, the cable outlet is at right angles to the axis of the fitting.

Near each breakable half-seal, there is a half-thread 180, 182, 184 and 186. After having broken the half-lids suitable and assembled the two half-shells, the thread resulting from the two half-threads allows the optional fixing of an accessory.

Figure 9 shows that the lower half-shell 150 is provided with three fixing holes 188, 190 and 192 to fix the reversible flange 154 opposite of the broken half-seal to ensure the mechanical connection of the cable electrical connection 37.

The bottom of the upper half-shell 152 comprises advantageously a breakable cover 194. After the two half-shells 150 and 152 were assembled together and on the plug or socket body and after having broken the seal 194, it is possible to inject into the volume limited by the two half-shells an insulating compound intended to seal the the assembly thus produced.

The lower half-shell 150 has a hole in its bottom blind 195 for fixing a ground or earth conductor wire.

Also preferably, the reversible fixing flange 154 has, on its portion in the form of a cylindrical surface portion 196 intended to enter into contact with the cable, notches 198 to improve the retention of the cable.

Claims (12)

Electrical connection device, characterized in that it comprises: a plug body; a rear connector provided with fixing means on the rear part of the plug body; a coupling nut mounted on the external face of said plug body and integral in translation with the plug body; a base body provided on its outer face with threaded means for cooperating with said coupling nut; a male insulator intended to receive conductive pins and capable of being mounted in said base body or in said plug body and provided on its rear part with means for securing with said base or plug body; and a female insulator intended to receive conductive sockets comprising a rear female insulator and a front female insulator provided with means of attachment to the rear female insulator, said female insulator being able to be mounted in said plug body or said socket body , said rear female insulator being provided with means for securing with said plug or socket body. Electrical connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for securing the rear female insulator to the insulator female front and the means of securing male and female insulators, the body plug or the base body are means by clipping. Electrical connection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the male and female insulators are made of material thermo-plastic, and in that the means by clipping comprise elastically deformable tongues forming an integral part of said insulators. Electrical connection device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said front female insulator comprises a plurality of housings to receive the conductive sockets and in that the front portion of each housing opening into the front face of the insulation front female has a reduced diameter smaller than that of electric sockets. Electrical connection device according to claim 4, characterized in that the front face of the front female insulation is provided with chamfers associated with the end of the housings of the conductive sockets opening into said front face. Electrical connection device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the rear face of the front female insulation or the front face of the rear female insulation is provided with a plurality of flanges annulars protruding from said face and surrounding the through end at least certain housings for said sockets and in that the other of the two faces is provided with corresponding annular recesses. Electrical connection device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the rear face of the male insulator and the face rear of the rear female insulation are provided with identification elements of each housing for sockets and pins and in that the periphery of the end rear of plug body and socket body is provided with a marking index angular. Electrical connection device according to claim 7, characterized in that the front face of the front female insulation is provided with means for identification of the various housings for the conductive sockets. Electrical connection device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said coupling nut has on its internal face a plurality of discontinuous threaded sectors capable of cooperating with a thread formed on the external lateral face of the front end of the base body. Electrical connection device according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said rear connection comprises two half-shells assembled together. Electrical connection device according to claim 10,
characterized in that the wall of each half-shell comprises a first breakable half-seal disposed orthogonally to said first half-seal. Electrical connection device according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the lateral external face of said body sheet has a frustoconical portion capable of receiving an annular spring, said spring being pushed back onto said frustoconical surface by the front periphery of the manifold body when the manifold body and the plug body are coupled to using said coupling nut.

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