EP1111727B1 - Connector plug - Google Patents

Abstract

The connector includes additional rings ensuring accuracy of alignment for both fibres and cables. The connection terminal comprises a body (1) with a cylindrical bore (14) which is intended to receive a cylindrical insert (16). The insert (16) has a base (19) and a first roll (25) which is intended to allow its positioning on an insert support (20). A second roll (18) ensures the angular positioning of the insert in the body (1) with a conjugate female element (17). The insert support (20) is a piece formed from a hollow cylindrical component (21) followed by a cylindrical wall (23) extending along more than half of the peripheral length. This wall (23) is divided into two parts by an axial guide groove (24) co-operating with the first roll (25).

Description

The present invention relates to a connection plug intended to collaborate with a combined record to ensure the connection of first and second means of conduction of signals terminating in each of said plugs, said plug comprising at least one body provided with a cylindrical bore arranged to house an insert of cylindrical shape, said insert being equipped to receive each of the ends of the first conduction means signals and ensure their connection with ends of the second signal conduction means, said insert being also provided with a base and whose one of its radial walls allows its positioning on an insert holder and a first and a second bead, the second bead ensuring the angular positioning of the insert in said body in cooperation with a conjugated female element said body, said body having a shoulder against which the insert can be supported by the other its radial walls of the base, the support insert being a part formed of a hollow cylindrical part whose outside diameter corresponds to the diameter of the bore of said body.

EP-A-0 292 832 describes such a plug. The insert two parts is assembled and surrounded by an insert holder annular provided with an oblique slot. When inserting the insert into the body of the plug, the insert holder is deformed and is lodged in a obviously annular internal body.

Such connection plugs to ensure the connection, mainly but not exclusively, of electrical conductors or fiber optics or even a combination of the two are well known and must meet to very high quality requirements including relative to the positioning of the insert. Indeed, the precise and stable position of the insert is a requirement of the quality of such plugs because they must allow the interpenetration of the parts males and females of said cards with parts corresponding to the second file. Bad positioning inside the body of the insert or a positioning floating but not controlled, ie that the angular and / or axial displacement of the insert can not be confined within predetermined limits, compromises the quality of the connection, especially when it is a connection comprising optical fibers, and prevents the devices from working properly receiving the conducted signals.

These plugs are used in several areas such as civil and military aviation, different electronic equipment, etc. and are from different dimensions depending on the use and especially the power of the driven signals. In the framework of use in civil or military aviation in aircraft, these different elements are subject to certain constraints such as vibrations, sudden changes in acceleration and they must ensure a continuous link between the corresponding conduction means.

The plugs used in the aforementioned applications are mainly of two types. A first that called push-pull, including a plug and a socket, allow coupling between the two cards acting on an outer body of the Axially movable plug that allows control a locking sleeve, the lock between two conjugate type records obtained by pushing in one direction and unlocking by pulling on said body. The other type concerns cards that are coupled by other means, for example a simple snap one card in the other or equivalent. In both cases the precise angular and axial position of the insert and the absence of uncontrolled floating are required to obtain an easy and reliable connection.

As part of an electrical connection plug, the insert also has an insulator function and often in this area, this insert is called insulation itself when its function is not necessarily to isolate, by example when the connection only concerns optical fiber.

Usually the insert has a cylindrical shape and it is provided with axial passages in which come fit the rods and / or sockets connected to the side upstream at the ends of a cable or optical fibers. This insert is provided with a base and a bead which come to stay in the insert holder. The insert holder consists of two mid-cylindrical shells who have to marry at least partially the insert and to get its relative positioning to these half-shells. For this purpose, a groove comes marry the base while the positioning bead is housed in a female element, in particular a hole of dimensions and shape corresponding to the bead of the insert. One of the half-shells is provided also of a male element often having the form of an axial projection that comes to engage in a corresponding female element, in particular a notch, to the inside of the plug body to get the positioning angular of the insert assembly and insert holder. The insert is thus first positioned relative to the insert holder and then the insert holder ensures centering of the assembly inside the body of the card. Complementary elements such as washers and / or seals and a clamping means for example for the cable as well as a nut or chicken provide axial hold on the upstream side of the whole insert and insert holder.

This type of insert holder has a number disadvantages concerning the centering as well as the mounting the plug: firstly the two half-cylinders are manufactured by bar turning, for cost issues because this type of records should not be of a high cost, and manufacturing tolerances make that half-shells added around the insert, either do not form a complete cylinder and the shells float uncontrollably, are slightly larger than half a shell which night to the good behavior of the insert in its support. So when setting up inside the body depending on the situations mentioned above, the insert holder is not positioned accurately and it may have a play with respect to the insert holder, that is to say, float without being able to control this floating, which can have unfortunate consequences when connecting two plugs. In addition, a particular care must be taken when mounting for choose shells that fit as well as possible which increases the cost of labor and it has a impact on the cost price of the form. Else on the other hand, the assembly of the insert in its support and then inside the body requires several manipulations and often the insert floats, beyond the limits eligible because of manufacturing tolerances of its support, under the thrust of the cable what can the put in a skewed position and cause when the connection to the corresponding file a bad connection even deform the male parts and female in the presence.

The present invention aims to propose cards whether push-pull or not equipped with an insert and an insert holder to eliminate the disadvantages above.

The connection plug according to the invention is characterized by the clause characteristic of the claim 1.

l'insert est pratiquement identique aux inserts utilisés jusqu'à présent, à l'exception du premier bourrelet qui permet le positionnement angulaire de l'insert dans le support d'insert. Ainsi, le positionnement angulaire de l'insert avec le support d'insert à l'intérieur du corps et avec l'aide du premier bourrelet ne dépend plus de la fabrication par décolletage du support d'insert mais des tolérances de fabrication de l'insert qui sont beaucoup plus précises et faciles à respecter. La tenue de l'insert par le support d'insert ainsi que sa mise en place dans le support est très facile puisqu'il suffit d'insérer l'insert dans l'ouverture approximativement cylindrique formée par la paroi cylindrique en faisant attention de glisser le premier bourrelet de positionnement dans la rainure prévue à cet effet. Ainsi, le montage de l'insert dans le support d'insert est très facile et ne demande pas de manipulations compliquées. Le positionnement axial limite de l'insert sur le support d'insert est assuré par l'une des parois radiales de l'embase de l'insert contre le bord de la paroi cylindrique.

The advantages of the plug according to the invention and more particularly of the insert and the insert support are the following:

the insert is substantially identical to the inserts used until now, with the exception of the first bead which allows the angular positioning of the insert in the insert holder. Thus, the angular positioning of the insert with the insert support inside the body and with the aid of the first bead no longer depends on the manufacture by bar turning of the insert support but manufacturing tolerances of the insert which are much more precise and easy to respect. The holding of the insert by the insert support and its placement in the support is very easy since it is sufficient to insert the insert in the approximately cylindrical opening formed by the cylindrical wall, being careful to slip the first positioning bead in the groove provided for this purpose. Thus, mounting the insert in the insert holder is very easy and does not require complicated manipulations. The axial positioning limit of the insert on the insert support is provided by one of the radial walls of the base of the insert against the edge of the cylindrical wall.

In this case, the centering of the insert inside the body is realized by the elements which are its own, to know the different litters, those of the base and those of its downstream part inside the body which of course has diameter bores corresponding, and not by an accumulation of pieces as is the case with the half-shells mentioned previously. The insert is no longer floating uncontrolled under the pressure of the cable or system Clamping.

According to an alternative embodiment the cylindrical part hollow is provided on its outer surface with a bead guide intended to collaborate with a female element conjugate located upstream of said body. This bead of which is provided the hollow cylindrical part of the support insert upstream by collaborating with the element female conjugate located upstream of said body. This bead of which is provided the hollow cylindrical part of the support insert upstream by collaborating with the element female body ensures the angular positioning of the insert holder and at the same time reinforces the correct positioning angular of the insert.

According to an alternative embodiment, the two parts of the cylindrical wall are designed to pinch elastically insert, that is to say that this wall is slightly tapered which is easy to get since this cylindrical wall is in two parts because of the groove. This also facilitates manipulation during of the assembly because the insert is well held at the end of this cylindrical wall once its part corresponding cylindrical insert has been introduced in the cylindrical opening.

According to another embodiment, the insert holder is provided on its cylindrical part of a throat inside which can be arranged a seal, for example an O-ring which makes it possible to seal when it is necessary to plug the side downstream and it is not necessary to provide a filling seal that must be protected by a washer against the tightening of the chicken. In addition we do not risk not lose this trim when disassembling the plug.

When the card is intended to be used for optical fibers, the insert support is provided on its upstream part of a tubular part of a larger diameter low to enter the optical fiber or fibers and hold them in place, for example by injecting adhesive or a similar product.

When the plug is of the push-pull type, the two elements females are located in the inner socket of this plug that is in contact with the insert and also the insert holder.

Finally, to avoid the possible bad positioning of the insert relative to the insert support, the insert is provided with a bead of dimensions greater than those of the groove of the insert holder and arranged so that you can not mount the insert on the insert holder wrongly.

The invention will be described in more detail using the attached drawing.

Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of a form push-pull type male designed to connect fibers optics.

Figures 2 and 3 show the insert support of profile and plan.

Figures 4 and 5 are two views of the insert according to the invention.

Figure 6 shows in profile an insert support provided for a connection plug that is not planned to connect optical fibers.

Figure 7 is a partial sectional view of a form female type push-pull corresponding to the plug of Figure 1.

The card shown in Figure 1 is composed of a inner sleeve 1 on which is mounted a locking sleeve 2 provided with three projections elastics 3 ending in cleats 4 having to their downstream ends a slope 5. The bushing of locking 4 is surrounded by an outer body 6 provided of three windows 7 through which pass the cleats 4. Axial fixation in the downstream direction of the plug, both of the locking sleeve 2 that the outer body 6 is provided by an attached ring 12 coming to attach to the downstream end of the socket 1. The attached ring 12 is fixed by known medium, screwing, driving, welding, etc. The ring 12 has a shoulder 13 against which is supported the downstream end of the outer body 6. The socket of lock 2 comes into abutment against a shoulder 8 of the inner sleeve 1. The same shoulder 8 limits the axial displacement according to the arrow F of the outer body 6. The insert ring 12 is fixed on the bushing after have set up the locking sleeve 2 and the outer body 6.

This type of push-pull plug is known, which is why which a more precise description is not necessary.

By moving the outer body 6 in the direction of the arrow F the lugs 4 are pushed radially towards inside the card, so we get them closer to the inner socket 1 which disengages the card of the conjugate card. To put it in place just push the plug inside the corresponding matching plug and the slope 5 of the cleats pushes them inwards until they snap in, that is to say the engagement of the cleats 4 in a corresponding groove of the conjugate plug.

The inner sleeve 1 has a bore 14. This bore to the downstream end has a narrowing 15 whose diameter corresponds to the outside diameter of an insert 16. The shoulder thus formed by the narrowing of the diameter of the bore is provided with a notch 17 in which is positioned a bead 18 of an insert 16 which will be described using the Figures 4 and 5. The insert 16 has a base 19 by which the insert 16 can come to be positioned against the shoulder created by the difference of the diameters of bores 14 and 15 thus making it possible to set the limit of the axial position of the insert in the downstream direction of the sheet. The bead 18 ensures the angular positioning of the insert. The contact between the litter 16a downstream of the insert with the bore 15 ensures centering insert without floating or uncontrolled floating.

The insert 16 is supported by an insert holder 20 whose different elements will be described using FIGS. 3 and 4. The insert support 20 comprises a hollow cylindrical portion 21 provided with a bead 22 being housed in a notch 27 of the inner sleeve 1 which also allows angular positioning the insert holder and hence the insert. This bead 22 can be omitted depending on the use and dimensions of the form, but its presence improves the correct positioning of the insert and insert holder. The insert holder includes a wall cylindrical 23 extending over a little bit of the half of a peripheral length and located after of the cylindrical part 21. The wall 23 of the insert is separated in two parts by a groove 24, this groove having a width equal to that of a first bead 25 of the insert 16. The downstream end of the wall 23 abuts against the radial wall of the base 19, so when the fixing nut or chicken 26 is screwed on a thread 27 of the inner sleeve 1, the insert is positioned both axially and angularly in a stable and non-floating position in an uncontrolled way. The insert holder is provided, when is necessary, a throat 28 in which is housed a seal 29.

The plug thus described comprising the insert and the insert holder according to the invention ensures a good positioning of the insert since its positioning inside the socket 1 is provided by the staves of different surfaces of the insert 16 inside the bore 15 and the shoulder and its axial positioning after the setting up the nut 26 is also assured and does not does not depend on the manufacturing tolerances of the medium insert, but only the insert 16.

The described card concerns a connector for optical fibers and the upstream part of the insert holder is equipped with a tube 30 of a diameter smaller than that of cylindrical portion 21. This tube 30 is provided with a hole 31 through which we can inject an adhesive to fix the optical fibers inside this tube because we do not can not use a collet like when is an electrical cable.

We will now describe in a little more detail the insert holder and the insert using the drawings that follow.

The insert as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a cylindrical piece crossed by cylindrical passages 32 (see Figure 1) in which are housed rods and / or sockets to ensure the interconnection between means of conducting conduction in a form in collaboration with elements corresponding of another sheet. The insert 16 is provided with a base 19 and a first positioning bead 25 allowing him to position himself in the support. A second bead 18 in principle opposite to the first allows, as mentioned earlier, the positioning angular of the insert inside the socket 1. The radial wall upstream of the base 19 serves as a stop against the ends of the cylindrical wall 23 of the insert support 20, the bead 25 allows the angular positioning of the insert relative to the insert support by being inserted into the groove 24 located on the cylindrical wall 23 of the support. In the aim of avoiding a bad positioning of the insert in the insert holder, a bead 33 is provided on its side wall. The distance between this bead 33 and the bead 25 and its dimensions prevent that the wall 23 can be positioned incorrectly relative to the insert 16.

Figures 2 and 3 show, seen from the side and from on top of an insert support on which we distinguish the hollow portion 21 followed by a groove 28 for housing possible seal. The cylindrical wall 23 extends over a little over half of a peripheral length and is divided into two parts by a groove 24. A bead 22 on the part hollow 21 ensures the angular positioning of the support insert in the inner sleeve 1 in collaboration with the notch 32 mentioned above. In order to ensure a good hold of the insert when it is put at the downstream end of the bracket, the two parts of the wall 23 are slightly conical towards the part swallows to ensure a pinch effect on the insert and hold it when manipulating mounting the plug. The insert holder 20 also has between the tube 30 and the cylindrical portion 21 a surface of frustoconical transition 33 allowing in collaboration with a mating surface of the nut 26 to ensure a good axial clamping.

In Figure 6 we have represented a similar piece to that of Figure 2 except that in this case the plug connector is not intended for optical fibers thus the part upstream of the insert support is not necessary. We used the same references than for Figure 2 with the sign '. In this case, behind the cylindrical portion 21 'is introduced a cable clamp and a nut or chicken corresponding who comes to screw on the inner sleeve 1.

In Figure 7 is shown a female plug for to assemble with the plug of Figure 1.

To identify the different parts of this form which are the same as those in Figure 1, we have used the same numerical references preceded of 1. Thus, the insert holder is referenced 120, insert 116, etc. Of course, the insert does not have exactly the same dimensions but it is assembled at insert support 120 and the plug body 50 by the same means. The female plug has a body 50, a shoulder 51 in a bore 54 against which the insert 116 can be supported by the radial surface of its base 119. A notch 52 of the body 50 allows the positioning of the front bead 118 of the insert 116. downstream portion of the plug 50 has a cylindrical portion 57 of sufficient diameter to allow entry the downstream part of the plug. She presents also a bleed 58 to allow the engagement of cleats 4 of the plug and thus the locking of all. The insert and the insert holder are assembled as for the plug.

The description was made in connection with a form push-pull type but the same construction of the insert and the insert holder is valid for a connection plug normal except that the two female parts (notches) 17 and 23 of the socket are carried on the body of the plug to allow angular positioning insert and insert holder. Of course the inside of the body is provided with a bore with two different diameters to allow positioning axis of the insert by the radial surface of its base.

Claims (7)

1. Connector plug for co-operating with a conjugated connector to ascertain the connection of first and second signal conducting means ending in each one of said connectors, said connector comprising at least one body (1; 50) having a cylindrical bore (14; 54) adapted for receiving an insert (16; 116) of cylindrical shape, said insert being adapted for receiving each of the ends of the first signal conducting means and to ascertain their connection with the ends of the second signal conducting means, said insert (16; 116) being further equipped with a footing (19; 119), one of the radial walls of which allowing its positioning on a support (20; 20'; 120) of the insert and of a first and a second flange (25; 25'; 18; 118), the second flange (18; 118) ensuring the angular positioning of the insert in said body (1; 50) in co-operation with a conjugated female element (17; 51) of said body (1; 50), said body (1; 50) having a shoulder against which the insert (16; 116) is able to bear with the other of its radial footing walls (19; 119), the insert support (20; 20'; 120) being a piece formed from a hollow cylindrical portion (21; 21'; 121) whose external diameter corresponds to the diameter of the bore (14; 54) of said body (1; 50), characterised by the fact that said hollow cylindrical portion (21; 21'; 121) is followed by a cylindrical wall (23; 32'; 123) extending along a peripheral length greater than a peripheral half-length, said wall (23; 32'; 123) being divided in two parts by an axial guiding groove (24; 24') co-operating with the first flange (25; 15'; 125) of the insert (16; 116) for ensuring the angular positioning of the insert relative to said insert support.
2. The connector plug according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the exterior surface of the hollow cylindrical portion (20; 20'; 120) is provided with a guiding flange (22; 22'; 122) for co-operation with a conjugated female element (27; 27'; 127) situated upstream said body (1; 50).
3. The connector plug according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that the two portions of said cylindrical wall (23; 23'; 123) of the insert support are arranged for resiliently clamping the insert (16; 166).
4. The connector plug according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised by the fact that the hollow cylindrical portion (21; 21'; 121) of the insert support is provided with a groove (28; 28'; 128) for receiving a sealing gasket (29; 129).
5. The connector plug according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised by the fact the insert support (20; 20'; 120) is provided on its upstream end with a hollow cylindrical portion (21; 121) for receiving the signal conducting means.
6. The connector plug according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised by the fact that said connector plug is of the push-pull type, and that said female elements (17, 23) of the body are placed on the inner sleeve (1) of said plug.
7. The connector plug according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised by the fact that the insert (16; 116) is provided on its lateral surface with a flange (33) whose position and dimensions impede any false positioning of the insert (16) with respect to the insert support (20; 20').

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