EP0978908B1 - Electrical and mechanical connector module for electrical receiver - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electrical and mechanical connection module intended to allow the adaptation of an electric receiver, and more particularly an electric motor at a complementary device provided for this purpose, fixed or mobile, such as for example a handling device.

The invention finds more particularly its application in the field devices operating in a hostile atmosphere, and more specifically in heavily irradiated areas, which prohibit the access of any personnel in this type of area taking into account local radioactive radiation.

In fact, the invention finds an application in the context of the use of handling equipment in nuclear engineering.

In nuclear power plant enclosures, whether they are production of electrical energy, or of experimentation, a certain number of materials of handling are implemented, in particular in the irradiated areas, these equipment being remotely controlled or remotely controlled from protected areas. Such equipment must, where appropriate, be subjected to troubleshooting or maintenance, effectively requiring a design and an implementation allowing remote manipulation of parts likely to be subject to breakdowns, or damage, or in general to provide maintenance services minimum expected.

In addition to these handling parts and equipment, a number of sensors are also used to ensure the correct and safe operation of the installation in question. These sensors are also subjected to very strong radiation and require to be replaced periodically or simply repaired.

These maintenance or troubleshooting operations are therefore, taking into account hostility of the environment, carried out mechanically using handling equipment assisted by telemanipulators under visual control via video circuits or through armored portholes.

With regard to the handling equipment proper, these are generally actuated by means of an electric motor associated with a reduction gear, in order, in known manner, to reduce the speed or the amplitude of movement of the organs that they operate.

Experience shows that the sensitive part of the kinematic chain as well incorporated, resides more in the electric motor than in the part "Reducer". In fact, it should be regularly exchanged engine.

Traditionally, the connection of the engine with the rest of the chain kinematics of handling equipment, is carried out by through an external gear wheel, of sufficiently large module to allow the installation of the gear motor assembly or its removal without deterioration, and in order to be able to function with lubrication practically non-existent. The mechanical connection between the motor and the reducer and the corresponding electrical connection conveying electrical energy to the motor, were carried out distinctly by means of, on the one hand, an appropriate mechanical organ and, on the other hand, by a socket outlet with cylindrical surface contact of the type domestic power outlet.

The use of such an outlet with cylindrical surface contact and its eccentric location in relation to the main mechanical connection, imposes a particularly precise positioning of these various components. Setting in place of the engine and its electrical connection is most often made by gravity, and the offset of the mechanical and electrical connections respectively requires precise guidance, which is particularly difficult to implement. he the same is true for simple sensors.

In other words, the size and precision of the connectors or their components (pins) hardly match the play inherent in the coupling mechanical components.

The object of the invention is to overcome these various drawbacks. It offers a connection module for an electric receiver capable of to ensure the electrical or even mechanical connection, not requiring such a precision during connection, and hence facilitating maintenance operations or repair of the organs concerned. This is achieved by a connection module according to the characteristics of claim 1.

- une embase solidarisée audit support, munie d'au moins une zone de couplage électrique par contact frontal ;

- et un organe complémentaire ou flasque , solidarisé audit récepteur électrique, et susceptible de venir se plaquer contre ladite embase, ledit organe complémentaire étant également muni d'au moins une zone de couplage électrique disposée de telle sorte à entrer en contact frontal avec le contact électrique de l'embase lorsque l'organe complémentaire et ladite embase sont plaqués l'un contre l'autre, l'embase et l'organe présentant des éléments complémentaires, destinés à coopérer les uns avec les autres, de telle sorte à faire coïncider les zones de couplage lorsqu'ils sont plaqués l'un avec l'autre.

This module for connecting an electrical receiver to a support in a hostile atmosphere, and in particular irradiating atmosphere, said support comprising at least one source of electrical power, characterized in that it comprises:

- A base secured to said support, provided with at least one electrical coupling zone by frontal contact;

- And a complementary or flange member, secured to said electrical receiver, and capable of pressing against said base, said complementary member also being provided with at least one electrical coupling zone arranged so as to come into frontal contact with the contact electrical base when the complementary member and said base are pressed against each other, the base and the member having complementary elements, intended to cooperate with each other, so as to coincide the coupling zones when pressed against each other.

According to the invention, the base and the complementary member are provided with several electrical contacts distributed in a similar and complementary manner.

The connectors are received within a connector holder, which is itself integrated respectively within the base and the complementary member, and are consist of a cylindrical tube, one end of which is connected to wires electrical connection and the free end of which is intended to form frontal contact.

Advantageously, the connectors of the complementary member or of the base are mounted on a spring, integral with the corresponding connector holder so ensure permanent frontal contact when the complementary body and the base are coupled. In this way, it is possible to have more play when the installation of the electrical receiver at the base.

The connector holders on the base have a free end capable of cooperating with the free end of the connector holders of the member complementary, so as to favor the electrical connection at each of them.

According to the invention, the connection module also has the function ensuring the mechanical connection of the receiver, the base receiving for this purpose coupling elements of a motor or a reduction gear, and the complementary member receiving the complementary coupling elements from a reduction gear, or of a motor respectively, the mechanical coupling being central and the connectors ensuring the electrical coupling being distributed in a concentric circle by compared to mechanical coupling.

The manner in which the invention can be carried out and the advantages thereof arise, will emerge better from the example of embodiment which follows, given as indicative and not limiting, in support of the appended figures.

Figure 1 is a schematic sectional representation of the module electrical connection according to the invention, of which Figure 2 is a view schematic from above.

In Figure 1, there is shown the electrical connection module and mechanics of a brake motor (1) on a reduction gear, the motor-reduction-brake assembly thus constituted ensuring, for example, the movement of a robot within a heavily irradiated enclosure (zone 4 type). This brake motor (1), for example of the type asynchronous electric, is fixed by means of a rod (2), to a slide (3), capable of sliding on a guide bar (4), vertical in this case, to allow the release of said brake. This guide bar (4) serves also pulling with another parallel bar, connected, on the one hand to a flange (7), the function of which will be described in more detail later, and on the other hand, at their other end, to a gripping plate (5). In this way, the whole formed by the motor (1), the tie rods (4) and the flange (7) constitutes a single entity, susceptible to be handled, in particular by means of the gripping plate (5), in particular by remote-controlled devices.

The flange (7) is also secured to the motor (1), at its lower end, for example by means of fixing screws (12).

At the same time, the reducer at the level of which is intended to be coupled to the electric motor (1), has a base (6), in the form complementary to the flange (7) secured to the motor. This base (6) is fixed to the frame or to the frame of the installation, or even, if it is a mobile element, to the frame of said movable element. This base (6) frees a location (20), located in central position, and intended to receive the coupling member or members of the reducer with the motor shaft (8) of the electric motor (1), of the coupling type with toothings.

As can be observed, said axis (8) of the motor is secured to a pinion (9) intended to mesh in an additional element (10) actuating then in turn the shaft (11) of the reducer. Ball bearing type bearings (21) and (22) are provided at the level of the spacing (20) so that one may well observe it in FIG. 1, and intended to allow the rotation of the elements of connection of the reducer to the motor axis.

In parallel, the base (6) and the flange (7) also have recesses, respectively (23) and (24), located opposite when the flange (7) and the base (6) are placed side by side as shown in FIG. 1, and each intended to receive a connector holder respectively (13) and (14), of which the areas of cooperation are complementary as can be seen on Figure 1. These connector holders, made of an insulating material (for example High Density polyethylene), are used to maintain connectors electrical (15, 16), consisting of a metallic cylindrical tube, and in any case conductors of electricity. The respectively lower and upper ends of connectors (15, 16) is connected to an electrical connection wire (17, 18). The respectively upper and lower ends of said connectors (15, 16) are intended to come into frontal contact with each other, in order to ensure conduction the electrical current of the base (6), that is to say of the support at which the engine (1) has been placed in the direction of said engine in order to ensure the electric power supply thereof.

In the example described, the connectors held within the flange (7) are fixed on springs (25) of the “coil springs” type to allow them slight vertical travel to ensure, whatever happens, the electrical connection with the upper end of the connector of the base (6), that is to say in order to have a minimum margin of maneuver to take into account the inherent game mechanical connection.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the connector holders (13, 14) and therefore the connectors (15, 16) which they carry, are positioned in a circle concentric with respect to the mechanical connection.

It is thus observed that the electrical contact is no longer made on a surface cylindrical requiring great precision, but on a flat surface at the end of contact allowing to have a certain play on the level of the mechanical connection.

In fact, the electrical connections are made simultaneously with the mechanical connection.

In normal operation, the flange (7) is secured to the base (6), by example using a screw-nut assembly (19). When you want to a maintenance operation on the engine, or its replacement, it then simply unscrew the assembly (20) by means of a manipulator arm, then simply lift the motor unit by the gripping plate (5).

Once the desired maintenance operation has been carried out at said level engine, the engine unit is again routed above the base (6), then is gently lowered, until the motor axes coincide, then, we act by slight rotations at the level of the gripping plate (5) to achieve the cooperation of connectors between them.

Thus, this type of positioning ensures connections electrical at the interface of the two parts, fixed and mobile, constituting the organ considered, and to have a large volume for these links. Furthermore, and as already pointed out, the electrical connections being of the frontal type, the accuracy of positioning of the two parts relative to each other is much less restrictive.

If the example described shows the double connection both mechanical and electric motor at a gearbox, the invention also relates to the using the same principle of simple sensors at the level of which two types of electrical connection, namely power and control.

These sensors undergo significant damage linked to irradiation, and it is necessary to regularly change them. This one is carried out in the same way as that previously described in connection with the electric motors.

• la facilité de mise en place,
• un guidage simplifié,
• et par ailleurs, une étanchéité accrue, attendu que dans cette forme de réalisation, il n'existe plus d'engrenage nu, toute la transmission mécanique pouvant être maintenant un carter étanche avec bain d'huile

It emerges from the invention a certain number of advantages among which there may be mentioned in particular:

• ease of installation,
• simplified guidance,
• and moreover, an increased seal, since in this embodiment, there is no longer any naked gear, the entire mechanical transmission possibly now being a sealed casing with oil bath

Claims (8)

1. Module for connecting an electric receiver (1) to a support in a hostile atmosphere and, namely, in irradiated zones, said support comprising at least one electrical supply source, characterized in that it comprises:

   a base (6) secured to the said support, provided with at least one zone of electrical coupling (13, 15) by frontal contact;

   and a complementary member or flange (7), secured to said electric receiver (1), and able to be applied flat against said base (6), said complementary member also being provided with at least one zone of electrical coupling (14, 16) arranged in such a way as to come into frontal contact with the electrical contact (13, 15) of the base (6) when the complementary member and said base are applied flat one against the other,

   the base (6) and the member (7) exhibiting complementary elements (13, 14) intended to cooperate with one another, in such a way as to make the coupling zones coincide when they are applied flat against one another,
   the base (6) besides receiving elements for mechanical coupling of a motor or a reduction-gear to also ensure mechanical connecting of the receiver (1) to the support, while the complementary member or flange (7) receives the complementary elements for coupling of a reduction-gear or of a motor respectively.
2. Connecting module according to Claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical coupling is central and in that the connectors which ensure the electrical coupling are distributed over a concentric circle with respect to the mechanical coupling.
3. Connecting module according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the base (6) and the complementary member (7) are provided with several electrical contacts distributed in a similar and complementary manner.
4. Connecting module according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electrical connectors (15, 16) built into the electrical contacts are each received within a connector-holder (13, 14), itself built into the base (6) and into the complementary member (7) respectively, and consist of a cylindrical tube, one of the ends of which is linked to an electrical connection lead (17, 18), and the free end of which is intended to form frontal contact.
5. Connecting module according to Claim 4, characterized in that the electrical connectors (15, 16) of the complementary member or flange (7) or of the base (6) are mounted on a spring (25), secured to the corresponding connector-holder (13, 14), so as to ensure permanent frontal contact when the complementary member or flange (7) and the base (6) are coupled.
6. Connecting module according to one of Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the connector-holders (13) of the base (6) exhibit a free end able to cooperate with the free end of the connector-holders (14) of the complementary member or flange (7), in such a way as to favour electrical connection with regard to each of them.
7. Connecting module according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the movable part which the module constitutes, receiving the electric receiver (1), also comprises a gripping plate (5) secured to the complementary member or flange (7), and intended to favour the manipulation of said movable part.
8. Connecting module according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the electric receiver (1) consists of an electric motor and/or sensors.

Images