EP1148589B1 - Female connection element and female connector comprising such connection element - Google Patents

Female connection element and female connector comprising such connection element Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1148589B1
EP1148589B1 EP01400536A EP01400536A EP1148589B1 EP 1148589 B1 EP1148589 B1 EP 1148589B1 EP 01400536 A EP01400536 A EP 01400536A EP 01400536 A EP01400536 A EP 01400536A EP 1148589 B1 EP1148589 B1 EP 1148589B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
connection element
cage
base part
contact cage
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP01400536A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1148589A2 (en
EP1148589A3 (en
Inventor
Cyril Ginet
Jérôme Stéphane Carrier
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Tyco Electronics France SAS
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Tyco Electronics France SAS
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Publication date
Application filed by Tyco Electronics France SAS filed Critical Tyco Electronics France SAS
Publication of EP1148589A2 publication Critical patent/EP1148589A2/en
Publication of EP1148589A3 publication Critical patent/EP1148589A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1148589B1 publication Critical patent/EP1148589B1/en
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02—Contact members
    • H01R13/10—Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades
    • H01R13/11—Resilient sockets
    • H01R13/113—Resilient sockets co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular transverse section

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a female connection element, made by cutting and folding a conductive metal strip, of the type comprising a contact cage for the establishment of a detachable electrical and mechanical connection, by plugging, with a lamella contacting a male connection element, a connection part intended to be crimped on one end of a conductive wire, and a transition part between the contact cage and the connection part, said contact cage comprising a part rectangular base connected in one piece by a first side to said transition portion, two rectangular flaps which are connected in one piece respectively to second and third mutually opposite sides of the base portion and which extend perpendicularly at said base portion, at least one flap which is integrally connected to one of the two flaps and which extends perpendicular to said flap and parallel to said base portion, to form with it and with the two flaps a substantially parallelepiped cage closed on four sides, and two flexible contact blades which are connected in one piece by one end each to one of the two flaps on a edge of the corresponding flap which is perpendic
  • US-A-5,269,712 discloses a female electrical connection element corresponding to the preceding definition in which two flexible contact strips are connected in one piece by one end each to a flap parallel to said base part, and a third flexible contact blade is integrally connected at one end to said base portion, the three contact blades being folded into a hairpin so as to extend inside the contact cage.
  • the invention is generally applicable to female connectors intended to cooperate with male connectors or other electrical components having at least one plug-in contact strip in the contact cage of the connection element of the female connector.
  • Such connectors are commonly used in particular in the field of the automotive industry or in the field of household appliances.
  • Female connection elements of the aforementioned type are already known, in which the two contact blades of the cage elastically bear support, by their end opposite to that which is connected in one piece to the corresponding flap of the cage, against the inner face of said shutter corresponding, when the contact strip of a male connection element is inserted between the two contact blades of the cage.
  • Such a known female connection element offers the advantage of providing a large surface-to-surface contact pressure between the two contact blades, on the one hand, and the contact strip of the male connection element, somewhere else. This allows to obtain a large clamping force, ensuring the maintenance of the mechanical connection between the connection elements in time, even if these two elements are subjected to vibrations in service.
  • the aforementioned known female connector elements are relatively expensive to manufacture, both because they require a relatively large amount of conductive metal, with a relatively low utilization rate of the base material (conductive metal strip). .
  • the present invention therefore aims to at least partially overcome the disadvantages of female connection elements described above, by providing a female connection element, wherein the contact cage is less likely to heat up in service because of losses by Joule effect.
  • the present invention also aims to provide a female connection element in which the risk of penetration of foreign bodies between the contact blades of the cage and the risk of wear by small deflections of said contact blades are minimized.
  • each contact cage further comprises a third blade which is folded over the base portion of the contact cage and which is fixed to this base portion, the third blade and the base portion together form two parallel conductive paths that have an equivalent resistance substantially equal to half the resistance of the base portion alone.
  • the Joule losses due to parallel current flow in the base portion and in the third blade are substantially halved relative to the known connecting member whose cage is devoid of a third blade.
  • the heating of the contact cage is reduced.
  • the third blade and the base portion of the contact cage together have a larger mass and thermal conductivity than the base portion alone. As a result, the calories generated by the Joule effect in the two contact blades can be more easily and quickly evacuated by conduction outwards.
  • the third blade of the contact cage is taken from a portion of the conductive metal strip which constitutes a metal drop not used in the manufacturing process of the female connection elements known as described above. Consequently, the invention makes it possible to improve the utilization rate of the conductive metal strip from which the female connection elements according to the invention are formed.
  • each contact blade of the contact cage is maintained by a side by one of the two wings of the retaining bracket and, on the opposite side, by the male contact strip, the two contact blades are less likely to vibrate and are therefore less prone to wear by small deflections.
  • the median portion of the retaining yoke which is in a plane perpendicular to the base portion and the two flaps of the contact cage, can be advantageously dimensioned so that it substantially closes the housing end of the contact cage which is opposite to that through which the male contact strip is introduced between the two contact blades of said cage. The risks of penetration of foreign bodies into the contact cage are therefore reduced.
  • the invention also relates to a female connector comprising a housing of insulating material, which has at least one cell in which is disposed a female connecting member according to the invention.
  • connection element 10 comprises a contact portion 2, a connection portion 3, and a transition portion 4 between the parts 2 and 3 (see also Figures 5 to 7).
  • the strip 1 for example copper or a copper-based alloy, having optionally undergone a surface treatment against oxidation, is passed through a cutting station so as to form a succession of connection elements developed flat.
  • the element 10 of Figure 1 which are evenly spaced along the band 1 and which are attached to a bank strip 5, each by a material bridge 5a.
  • the edge strip 5 has a series of holes 5b, which are punched at regular intervals in the strip 1, preferably each halfway between two connection elements, and which can be used for the stepwise drive of the strip 1 in the cutting station and in the successive folding station or positions located after the cutting station.
  • each contact portion 2 comprises a rectangular base part 6, two rectangular flaps 7 and 8, two contact blades 9 and 11, a third blade 12, a T-shaped portion 13 and two rectangular flaps 14 and 15.
  • the base portion 6 is integrally connected by a first side 6a to the transition portion 4 which is in the shape of an isosceles trapezium.
  • the two flaps 7 and 8 are connected in one piece respectively to a second side 6b and a third side 6c of the base portion 6.
  • Each of the two flaps 7 and 8 has a side 7a or 8a which is aligned with the first side 6a of the base portion 6 and which is connected in one piece over a portion of its length, preferably about half its length, to the large base of the trapezoidal transition portion 4.
  • Each of the two flaps 7 and 8 further has a side 7b or 8b which is aligned with a fourth side 6d of the base portion 6, and a side 7c or 8c which is parallel to the side 6b or 6c of said base portion.
  • the flaps 14 and 15 are connected in one piece respectively to the sides 7c and 8c of the flaps 7 and 8.
  • Each window 16 or 17 preferably has a rectangular shape and its long sides extend from the side 6b or 6c of the base portion 6 to the side 7c or 8c of the corresponding flap 7 or 8, that is to say flap 14 or 15.
  • the two contact strips 9 and 11 extend perpendicular to the flaps 7 and 8 and are connected in one piece respectively to the sides 7b and 8b of said flaps.
  • the third blade 12 is integrally connected to the fourth side 6d of the base portion 6 and extends parallel to the two contact blades 9 and 11 therebetween.
  • the blade 12 has a width and a length which are substantially equal to the length of the side 6d and the length of the sides 6b and 6c respectively of the base portion 6.
  • two lugs 18 and 19 are formed to protrude respectively on the longitudinal edges of the blade 12 near its end farthest from the base portion 6, and two holes 21 and 22 are respectively formed in the connection areas between said base portion and each two flaps 7 and 8, near the side 6a of the base part.
  • the lugs 18 and 19, on the one hand, and the holes 21 and 22 on the other hand, are located at equal distances from the side 6d of the base portion 6 and their function will be explained later.
  • the T-shaped portion 13 has a medial portion 13a which extends the blade 12, and two lateral wings 13b and 13c which extend respectively in the direction of the contact blades 9 and 11.
  • the wingspan 13b and 13c is more large that the distance between the two contact blades 9 and 11. This is made possible by the fact that the two blades 9 and 11 and the two wings 13b and 13c are bevelled where they are closest to one on the other, as is clearly visible in Figure 1. This reduces the width of the band 1 should be used if the wings 13b and 13c were to pass beyond the free ends of the blades 9 and 11.
  • the width of the strip of metal 1 is defined by the distance between the two lines 1a and 1b in phantom.
  • the connecting portion 3 of the connecting element 10 has a base portion 23, of substantially rectangular shape, which is connected in one piece by a small side 23a to the small base of the transition portion 4 in the form of a trapezium, as well as two pairs of crimping claws 24, 25 and 26, 27, which project laterally on the long sides of the base portion 23.
  • the trapezoidal transition portion 4 of the connecting member 10 has a substantially rectangular base portion 28 which connects the side 6a of the base portion 6 of the contact portion 2 to the side 23a of the base portion 23 of the connection portion 3, as well as two substantially trapezoidal side portions 29 and 31, which are connected integrally with the base portion 28 respectively on either side thereof.
  • the lateral portion 29 connects the flap 7 of the contact portion 2 to the claw 24 of the connection portion 3, while the lateral portion 31 connects the flap 8 of the contact portion 2 to the claw 25 of the connection portion 3.
  • a window 32 is formed in the base portion or middle portion 28 of the transition portion 4.
  • the window 32 has the shape of a isosceles trapezoid, whose large base is substantially coincident with the side 6a of the base portion 6 of the contact portion 2 and has substantially the same length as this side 6a, preferably a slightly smaller length.
  • the small base of the isosceles trapezoid forming the window 32 is preferably substantially midway between the side 6a of the base part 6 and the side 23a of the base part 23.
  • the strip 1 After the strip 1 has been cut as shown in FIG. 1, it is passed through at least one workstation in which the following operations of folding, shaping and / or bending.
  • the flaps 14 and 15 are folded at right angles upwards, that is to say above the plane of the strip 1, by folding around fold lines substantially coinciding with the sides 7c and 8c of the flaps 7 and 8, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the two wings 13b and 13c of the T-shaped portion 13 are folded at right angles downwards, that is to say below the plane of the strip 1, by folding around parallel fold lines and respectively aligned with the longitudinal sides of the blade 12 as indicated by the arrows F in FIG. 2 and as shown in FIG. 3.
  • the middle portion 13a of the T-shaped portion 13 is folded obliquely downwards, for example at 45 °, around a fold line 33 parallel to the side 6d of the base portion, as shown in FIG.
  • the two contact blades 9 and 11 are shaped so as to successively present, from their end connected to the flaps 7 and 8 towards their opposite end, first planar contact portions 9a, 11a, then second portions 9b, 11b which extend obliquely with respect to the portions 9a, 11a, and finally third planar portions 9c, 11c, which are in a plane parallel to that of the first planar portions 9a, 11a ( Figure 2).
  • the two contact blades 9 and 11 are folded in hairpin respectively over the flaps 7 and 8, by bending around a folding line parallel to the sides 7b and 8b of the flaps 7 and 8, as shown in FIG. FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the blade 12 is bent 180 ° over the base portion 6 around a fold line substantially coinciding with the side 6d of the base portion 6, as indicated by FIG. arrow G in FIG. 3.
  • the blade 12 comes into contact, face-to-face, with the base part 6 and the lugs 18 and 19 are respectively placed in correspondence with the holes 21 and 22 .
  • the medial portion 13a of the portion 13 extends in an inclined plane which is at an angle of about 135 ° with respect to the plane of the base portion 6, and the two wings 13b and 13c of part 13 extend perpendicular to this inclined plane.
  • the base portions 23 and 28 of the connection part 3 and the transition part 4 are in the form of a chute whose longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the band 1, the claws crimping element 24, 25, 26 and 27 standing on the edges of the trough thus formed, as shown in FIG.
  • each of the two flaps 7 and 8 of the contact part 2 is folded at right angles to the base portion 6, by folding respectively around fold lines substantially coinciding with the sides 6b and 6c of the base portion 6, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
  • a contact cage 34 with a closed rectangular cross section (the flaps 14 and 15 are joined edge to edge - FIGS. 4 to 6), inside which the plane portions 9a and 11a of the two contact blades 9 and 11 extend substantially parallel to each other, while the portions 9b and 11b of the blades diverge relative to each other and the portions 9c and 11c of said blades are substantially parallel to each other as can be seen in Figure 4.
  • the two lugs 18 and 19 respectively enter the holes 21 and 22 (More exactly it is the outer edges of the holes 21 and 22 which come over the pins 18 and 19, as shown in Figure 7 for the pin 19 and the hole 22). It follows then that the blade 12 is also mechanically and electrically connected to the base portion 6 and the two flaps 7 and 8 by the lugs 18 and 19 respectively engaged in the holes 21 and 22.
  • the two contact blades 9 and 11 are pressed elastically towards each other, for example using a not shown clamp acting through the windows 16 and 17, then the middle part 13a of the part 13 is folded at right angles to the blade 12, by an additional folding around the folding line 33.
  • the pressure on the two contact blades 9 and 11 is released so that their flat parts d ends 9c and 11c resiliently bear respectively against the mutually opposite inner faces of the lateral flanges 13b and 13c of the part 13, which thus forms a retaining clip for the contact blades 9 and 11 as shown in FIG.
  • the contact blades 9 and 11 may be shaped so that their plane portions 9a and 11a converge towards one another towards their diverging portions 9b and 11b and have said predefined spacing only in the transition region between the converging portions and the diverging portions of said blades.
  • a sheathed conductor wire 35 may be attached as shown in FIG.
  • the stripped portion 36 of the conductor wire 35 is crimped to the connection portion 3 by means of the two claws 24 and 25 of the the latter, while the sheath 37 of the conductive wire 35 is crimped to the connection portion 3 by means of the two claws 26 and 27.
  • connection member 10 As also shown in FIG. 8, after the sheathed conductor wire 35 has been attached to the connection member 10, the latter can be placed in a cell 39 of a housing 41 of insulating material.
  • the cell 39 has a rectangular cross section and has a first pair of opposing walls 39a and 39b which respectively face the flaps 7 and 8 of the contact cage 34 of the connection element 10, as well as another pair of opposed walls, which are perpendicular to the walls 39a and 39b and which respectively face the base portion 6 (not visible in Figure 8) and the two flaps 14 and 15 of the contact cage 34.
  • At least one of the two walls 39a and 39b carries a primary lock 42 which cooperates with one or other of the two windows 16 and 17 formed in the flaps 7 and 8 of the contact cage 34 to retain the connecting element 10 in the cell 39.
  • Each primary latch 42 may for example be constituted by a flexible blade 42a, which is formed integrally with the housing 41 in its wall 39a or 39b and which carries a retaining finger 42b which snaps into the window e 16 or 17 of the contact cage 34 when the connection element 10 is fully inserted into the cell 39, as shown in Figure 8.
  • At least one of the other two walls of the cavity 39 of the housing 41 may also carry a secondary lock (not shown) able to cooperate with either the edge 43 of the contact cage 34 (this edge 43 is formed by an edge of the two flaps 14 and 15), or with the edge 44 of the window 32 in the form of isosceles trapezium (large base of the isosceles trapezium).
  • This secondary lock when provided, makes it possible to obtain, in combination with the primary lock (s) 42, a greater retention force of the connection element 10 in the cell 39 of the housing 41.
  • connection element 10 described above is reversible. That is to say, it can be introduced into the cell 39 of the housing 41 or with the two flaps 14 and 15 of the contact cage 34 facing towards the side upper case 41 as shown in Figure 8, with the two flaps 14 and 15 facing the bottom of the housing 41.
  • connection element 10 according to the invention also has the following advantages.
  • the width of the middle part 13a of the retaining stirrup formed by the part 13 is preferably chosen so that it is a little smaller than the sum of the widths of the two flaps 14 and 15 so that, after folding of the different parts of the connecting element 10, there remains, between each flange 13b or 13c of the retaining clip 13 and the flap 7 or 8 corresponding to the contact cage 34, a space sufficient for it to there is no contact between said wings and said flaps. Under these conditions, even if the flaps 7 and 8 are slightly deformed by the crimping operation of the claws 24 and 25, the abovementioned spaces between the flanges 13b and 13c and the corresponding flaps 7 and 8 prevent said flaps from coming into contact with each other. with said wings, thus ensuring that the predefined space between the contact blades 9 and 11, determined by the flanges 13b and 13c of the retaining clip 13 will not be modified by the aforementioned crimping operation.
  • the blade 12 instead of being fixed to the contact cage 34 by the pins 18 and 19 engaged in the holes 21 and 22, or in addition to this fixing, could be fixed to the part of base 6 by clinching, welding, riveting or other suitable means.
  • housing 41 shown in FIG. 8 has only one cell 39, it could have several cells, each cell then containing a female connection element such as the element 10, so as to form a connector multipoint female.

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  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Abstract

The female connector element is formed by cutting and folding a metal conductor and has a contact housing (34) providing detachable electrical and mechanical connection. The contact housing has a metallic strip (12) connected to the base (6), folded inside the housing and fixed to the contact housing. The metallic strip has a single holder which is connected to a contact element (13) folded inside the contact housing and opposite contact strips (9,11).

Description

La présente invention concerne un élément femelle de connexion, réalisé par découpage et pliage d'une bande de métal conducteur, du type comprenant une cage de contact destinée à l'établissement d'une liaison électrique et mécanique détachable, par enfichage, avec une lamelle de contact d'un élément mâle de connexion, une partie de connexion destinée à être sertie sur une extrémité d'un fil conducteur, et une partie de transition entre la cage de contact et la partie de connexion, ladite cage de contact comportant une partie rectangulaire de base reliée d'un seul tenant par un premier côté à ladite partie de transition, deux volets rectangulaires qui sont reliés d'un seul tenant respectivement à des second et troisième côtés mutuellement opposés de la partie de base et qui s'étendent perpendiculairement à ladite partie de base, au moins un rabat qui est relié d'un seul tenant à un des deux volets et qui s'étend perpendiculairement audit volet et parallèlement à ladite partie de base, pour former avec elle et avec les deux volets une cage sensiblement parallélépipèdique fermée sur quatre cotés, et deux lames flexibles de contact qui sont reliées d'un seul tenant par une extrémité chacune à un des deux volets sur un bord du volet correspondant qui est perpendiculaire à un quatrième côté de ladite partie de base, les deux lames de contact étant repliées en épingle à cheveux de manière à s'étendre à l'intérieur de la cage de contact en se faisant mutuellement face avec un espacement prédéfini.The present invention relates to a female connection element, made by cutting and folding a conductive metal strip, of the type comprising a contact cage for the establishment of a detachable electrical and mechanical connection, by plugging, with a lamella contacting a male connection element, a connection part intended to be crimped on one end of a conductive wire, and a transition part between the contact cage and the connection part, said contact cage comprising a part rectangular base connected in one piece by a first side to said transition portion, two rectangular flaps which are connected in one piece respectively to second and third mutually opposite sides of the base portion and which extend perpendicularly at said base portion, at least one flap which is integrally connected to one of the two flaps and which extends perpendicular to said flap and parallel to said base portion, to form with it and with the two flaps a substantially parallelepiped cage closed on four sides, and two flexible contact blades which are connected in one piece by one end each to one of the two flaps on a edge of the corresponding flap which is perpendicular to a fourth side of said base portion, the two contact blades being folded in hairpin so as to extend inside the contact cage by mutually facing each other with a predefined spacing.

Le document US-A-5 269 712 décrit un élément femelle de connexion électrique correspondant à la définition précédente dans lequel deux lames flexibles de contact sont reliées d'un seul tenant par une extrémité chacune à un rabat parallèle à ladite partie de base, et une troisième lame flexible de contact est reliée d'un seul tenant par une extrémité à ladite partie de base, les trois lames de contact étant repliées en épingle à cheveux de manière à s'étendre à l'intérieur de la cage de contact.US-A-5,269,712 discloses a female electrical connection element corresponding to the preceding definition in which two flexible contact strips are connected in one piece by one end each to a flap parallel to said base part, and a third flexible contact blade is integrally connected at one end to said base portion, the three contact blades being folded into a hairpin so as to extend inside the contact cage.

L'invention s'applique d'une manière générale aux connecteurs femelles destinés à coopérer avec des connecteurs mâles ou d'autres composants électriques ayant au moins une lamelle de contact enfichable dans la cage de contact de l'élément de connexion du connecteur femelle. De tels connecteurs sont couramment utilisés notamment dans le domaine de l'industrie automobile ou dans le domaine de l'électroménager.The invention is generally applicable to female connectors intended to cooperate with male connectors or other electrical components having at least one plug-in contact strip in the contact cage of the connection element of the female connector. Such connectors are commonly used in particular in the field of the automotive industry or in the field of household appliances.

On connaît déjà des éléments femelles de connexion du type sus-indiqué, dans lesquels les deux lames de contact de la cage prennent élastiquement appui, par leur extrémité opposée à celle qui est reliée d'un seul tenant au volet correspondant de la cage, contre la face interne dudit volet correspondant, quand la lamelle de contact d'un élément mâle de connexion est insérée entre les deux lames de contact de la cage. Un tel élément femelle de connexion connu offre l'avantage de procurer une pression de contact importante, surface contre surface, entre les deux lames de contact, d'une part, et la lamelle de contact de l'élément mâle de connexion, d'autre part. Ceci permet d'obtenir un effort de serrage important, assurant le maintien dans le temps de la liaison mécanique entre les éléments de connexion, même si ces deux éléments sont soumis en service à des vibrations. En outre, grâce à la forte pression de contact, il est possible de faire passer un courant relativement important entre les éléments mâle et femelle de connexion.Female connection elements of the aforementioned type are already known, in which the two contact blades of the cage elastically bear support, by their end opposite to that which is connected in one piece to the corresponding flap of the cage, against the inner face of said shutter corresponding, when the contact strip of a male connection element is inserted between the two contact blades of the cage. Such a known female connection element offers the advantage of providing a large surface-to-surface contact pressure between the two contact blades, on the one hand, and the contact strip of the male connection element, somewhere else. This allows to obtain a large clamping force, ensuring the maintenance of the mechanical connection between the connection elements in time, even if these two elements are subjected to vibrations in service. In addition, thanks to the high contact pressure, it is possible to pass a relatively large current between the male and female connection elements.

Toutefois, dans les éléments femelles de connexion connus, décrits ci-dessus, en présence d'un courant de forte intensité, il se produit un échauffement de la cage de contact en raison des pertes par effet Joule. A long terme ou en cas de fortes surintensités répétées, cet échauffement peut provoquer une dégradation des caractéristiques de flexibilité des deux lames de contact de la cage de contact, donc une diminution de la pression exercée par les deux lames de contact sur la lamelle de contact mâle insérée entre elles. Il en résulte alors une dégradation de la qualité du contact électrique et du maintien de ladite lamelle de contact mâle entre les lames de contact.However, in the known female connection elements, described above, in the presence of a high current, there is a heating of the contact cage due to Joule losses. In the long term or in case of repeated strong overcurrents, this heating may cause a degradation of the flexibility characteristics of the two contact blades of the contact cage, therefore a decrease in the pressure exerted by the two contact blades on the contact strip. male inserted between them. This then results in a degradation of the quality of the electrical contact and the maintenance of said male contact strip between the contact blades.

En outre, les éléments femelles de connexion connus précités sont relativement coûteux à fabriquer, à la fois parce qu'ils nécessitent une quantité de métal conducteur relativement importante, avec un taux d'utilisation relativement médiocre du matériau de base (bande de métal conducteur).In addition, the aforementioned known female connector elements are relatively expensive to manufacture, both because they require a relatively large amount of conductive metal, with a relatively low utilization rate of the base material (conductive metal strip). .

En outre, du fait des tolérances de fabrication des éléments mâles et femelles de connexion, il peut arriver qu'un faible jeu subsiste entre les extrémités libres des lames de contact et les volets de la cage de contact de l'élément femelle de connexion après insertion d'une lamelle de contact d'un élément mâle de connexion entre les lames de contact de ladite cage. Il en résulte que, lorsqu'un tel élément femelle de connexion est utilisé dans un environnement vibratoire, les lames de contact de la cage peuvent être soumises, en raison de leur flexibilité, à des vibrations qui peuvent entraîner une usure desdites lames de contact et/ou d'une lamelle de contact mâle insérée entre elles, par petits débattements, ce que les hommes de l'art appellent le "fretting corrosion".In addition, due to the manufacturing tolerances of the male and female connection elements, it may happen that a small clearance remains between the free ends of the contact blades and the flaps of the contact cage of the connecting female element after inserting a contact strip of a male connection element between the contact blades of said cage. As a result, when such a female connection element is used in a vibratory environment, the contact blades of the cage can be subjected, because of their flexibility, to vibrations which can cause wear of said contact blades and / or a male contact strip inserted between them, in small deflections, which the skilled in the art call the "fretting corrosion".

Enfin, avec les éléments femelles de connexion connus décrits plus haut, il existe un risque que des corps étrangers s'introduisent entre les lames de contact au cours du stockage desdits éléments de connexion ou au cours de leur manipulation pendant les opérations de câblage.Finally, with the female connection elements known as described above, there is a risk that foreign bodies are introduced between the contact blades during storage of said connection elements or during their handling during wiring operations.

La présente invention a donc pour but de remédier au moins partiellement aux inconvénients des éléments femelles de connexion décrits ci-dessus, en fournissant un élément femelle de connexion, dans lequel la cage de contact a moins tendance à s'échauffer en service en raison des pertes par effet Joule.The present invention therefore aims to at least partially overcome the disadvantages of female connection elements described above, by providing a female connection element, wherein the contact cage is less likely to heat up in service because of losses by Joule effect.

La présente invention a également pour but de fournir un élément femelle de connexion, qui peut être fabriqué avec un meilleur taux d'utilisation du matériau de base (bande de métal conducteur).It is also an object of the present invention to provide a female connector member, which may be manufactured with a better utilization rate of the base material (conductive metal strip).

La présente invention a également pour but de fournir un élément femelle de connexion dans lequel les risques de pénétration de corps étrangers entre les lames de contact de la cage ainsi que les risques d'usure par petits débattements desdites lames de contact sont minimisés.The present invention also aims to provide a female connection element in which the risk of penetration of foreign bodies between the contact blades of the cage and the risk of wear by small deflections of said contact blades are minimized.

A cet effet, l'invention a pour objet un élément femelle de connexion réalisé par découpage et plage d'une bande de métal conducteur et comprenant une cage de contact destinée à l'établissement d'une liaison électrique et mécanique détachable, par enfichage, avec une lamelle de contact d'un élément mâle de connexion, une partie de connexion destinée à être sertie sur une extrémité d'un fil conducteur, et une partie de transition entre la cage de contact et la partie de connexion, ladite cage de contact comportant une partie rectangulaire de base reliée d'un seul tenant par un premier côté à ladite partie de transition, deux volets rectangulaires qui sont reliés d'un seul tenant respectivement à des second et troisième côtés mutuellement opposés de la partie de base et qui s'étendent perpendiculairement à ladite partie de base, au moins un rabat qui est relié d'un seul tenant à un des deux volets et qui s'étend perpendiculairement audit volet et parallèlement à ladite partie de base pour former avec elle et avec les deux volets une cage sensiblement parallélépipédique fermée sur quatre côtés, et deux lames flexibles de contact qui sont reliées d'un seul tenant par une extrémité chacune à un des deux volets sur un bord du volet correspondant qui est perpendiculaire à un quatrième côté de ladite partie de base, les deux lames de contact étant repliées en épingle à cheveux de manière à s'étendre à l'intérieur de la cage de contact en se faisant mutuellement face avec un espacement prédéfini, ladite cage de contact comportant une troisième lame qui

  1. a) est reliée d'un seul tenant au quatrième côté de la partie de base,
  2. b) est repliée à l'intérieur de la cage de contact de façon à s'appliquer contre ladite partie de base,
  3. c) est fixée à la cage de contact par des moyens de fixation,
  4. d) a une longueur au plus égale à celle des second et troisième côtés de la partie de base de la cage de contact, et
  5. e) porte, d'un seul tenant avec elle, à son extrémité opposée à celle qui est reliée au quatrième côté de la partie de base, un étrier de retenue qui comporte une partie médiane et deux ailes parallèles qui sont repliées à l'intérieur de la cage de contact et qui ont des faces internes mutuellement opposées, sur lesquelles les lames de contact s'appuient élastiquement pour définir ledit espacement prédéfini.
To this end, the subject of the invention is a female connection element made by cutting and a range of a conductive metal strip and comprising a contact cage intended for the establishment of a detachable electrical and mechanical connection, by plugging, with a contact strip of a male connection element, a connecting part intended to be crimped on one end of a conducting wire, and a transition part between the contact cage and the connection part, said contact cage having a rectangular base portion connected in one piece by a first side to said transition portion, two rectangular flaps which are integrally connected to mutually opposite second and third sides of the base portion and which extend perpendicularly to said base part, at least one flap which is connected in one piece to one of the two flaps and which extends perpendicularly to said shutter and parallel same base part to form with it and with the two flaps a substantially parallelepiped cage closed on four sides, and two flexible contact blades which are connected in one piece by one end each to one of the two flaps on one edge the corresponding flap which is perpendicular to a fourth side of said base portion, the two contact blades being folded into a hairpin so as to extend inside the contact cage by facing each other with a spacing predefined, said contact cage comprising a third blade which
  1. a) is connected in one piece to the fourth side of the base part,
  2. b) is folded inside the contact cage so as to be applied against said base part,
  3. c) is fixed to the contact cage by fixing means,
  4. (d) has a length no greater than that of the second and third sides of the base portion of the contact cage, and
  5. e) carries, in one piece with it, at its end opposite to that which is connected to the fourth side of the base portion, a retaining clip which has a middle part and two parallel wings which are folded inside of the contact cage and which have mutually internal faces opposed, on which the contact blades elastically support to define said predefined spacing.

Grâce à l'invention, en particulier grâce au fait que chaque cage de contact comporte en outre une troisième lame qui est repliée par-dessus la partie de base de la cage de contact et qui est fixée à cette partie de base, la troisième lame et la partie de base forment ensemble deux trajets conducteurs parallèles qui ont une résistance équivalente sensiblement égale à la moitié de la résistance de la partie de base seule. En conséquence, les pertes par effet Joule dues au passage du courant en parallèle dans la partie de base et dans la troisième lame sont sensiblement réduites de moitié par rapport à l'élément de connexion connu dont la cage est dépourvue de troisième lame. Il en résulte que l'échauffement de la cage de contact est réduit. En outre, la troisième lame et la partie de base de la cage de contact ont ensemble une masse et une conductibilité thermique plus grandes que la partie de base seule. En conséquence, les calories engendrées par effet Joule dans les deux lames de contact peuvent être plus facilement et plus rapidement évacuées par conduction vers l'extérieur.Thanks to the invention, in particular thanks to the fact that each contact cage further comprises a third blade which is folded over the base portion of the contact cage and which is fixed to this base portion, the third blade and the base portion together form two parallel conductive paths that have an equivalent resistance substantially equal to half the resistance of the base portion alone. As a result, the Joule losses due to parallel current flow in the base portion and in the third blade are substantially halved relative to the known connecting member whose cage is devoid of a third blade. As a result, the heating of the contact cage is reduced. In addition, the third blade and the base portion of the contact cage together have a larger mass and thermal conductivity than the base portion alone. As a result, the calories generated by the Joule effect in the two contact blades can be more easily and quickly evacuated by conduction outwards.

En outre, il est à noter que, comme on le verra plus loin, la troisième lame de la cage de contact est prélevée sur une partie de la bande de métal conducteur qui constitue une chute de métal non-utilisée dans le procédé de fabrication des éléments femelles de connexion connus décrits plus haut. En conséquence, l'invention permet d'améliorer le taux d'utilisation de la bande de métal conducteur à partir de laquelle sont formés les éléments femelles de connexion selon l'invention.In addition, it should be noted that, as will be seen below, the third blade of the contact cage is taken from a portion of the conductive metal strip which constitutes a metal drop not used in the manufacturing process of the female connection elements known as described above. Consequently, the invention makes it possible to improve the utilization rate of the conductive metal strip from which the female connection elements according to the invention are formed.

En outre, grâce à la présence de l'étrier de retenue sur les ailes duquel les lames de contact s'appuient élastiquement, non seulement la conductibilité électrique et thermique du trajet conducteur entre chacune des deux lames de contact de la cage de contact et la partie de transition est encore améliorée, mais aussi la pression de contact exercée par les deux lames de contact sur une lamelle de contact mâle insérée entre elles est accrue de façon certaine, malgré d'éventuelles tolérances de fabrication, améliorant ainsi la qualité du contact électrique.In addition, thanks to the presence of the retaining bracket on the flanges of which the contact blades elastically support, not only the electrical and thermal conductivity of the conductive path between each of the two contact blades of the contact cage and the transition part is further improved, but also the contact pressure exerted by the two contact blades on a male contact strip inserted between them is definitely increased, despite any manufacturing tolerances, thus improving the quality of the electrical contact .

En outre, du fait de la plus grande pression de contact et du fait que, en service, chaque lame de contact de la cage de contact est maintenue d'un côté par l'une des deux ailes de l'étrier de retenue et, du côté opposé, par la lamelle de contact mâle, les deux lames de contact ont moins tendance à vibrer et sont donc moins sujettes à une usure par petits débattements.In addition, because of the greater contact pressure and the fact that, in use, each contact blade of the contact cage is maintained by a side by one of the two wings of the retaining bracket and, on the opposite side, by the male contact strip, the two contact blades are less likely to vibrate and are therefore less prone to wear by small deflections.

En outre, la partie médiane de l'étrier de retenue, qui se trouve dans un plan perpendiculaire à la partie de base et aux deux volets de la cage de contact, peut être avantageusement dimensionnée de telle façon qu'elle obture pratiquement complètement l'extrémité de la cage de contact qui est opposée à celle à travers laquelle la lamelle de contact mâle est introduite entre les deux lames de contact de ladite cage. Les risques de pénétration de corps étrangers dans la cage de contact sont donc réduits.In addition, the median portion of the retaining yoke, which is in a plane perpendicular to the base portion and the two flaps of the contact cage, can be advantageously dimensioned so that it substantially closes the housing end of the contact cage which is opposite to that through which the male contact strip is introduced between the two contact blades of said cage. The risks of penetration of foreign bodies into the contact cage are therefore reduced.

L'élément femelle de connexion selon l'invention peut en outre présenter une ou plusieurs des caractéristiques suivantes :

  • la troisième lame a une longueur sensiblement égale à celle des second et troisième côtés de ladite partie de base ;
  • la troisième lame a une largeur sensiblement égale à la longueur du quatrième côté de ladite partie de base ;
  • les moyens de fixation de la troisième lame à la cage de contact sont constitués par deux ergots qui font saillie respectivement sur les bords longitudinaux de la troisième lame et qui sont respectivement engagés dans des trous formés dans la cage de contact sur les second et troisième côtés de la partie de base, près du premier côté de celle-ci ;
  • les deux lames de contact sont mises en forme de manière à présenter successivement, depuis leur extrémité reliée aux volets correspondants vers leur extrémité opposée, des premières parties planes de contact, puis des secondes parties obliques qui divergent l'une par rapport à l'autre, et des troisièmes parties planes sensiblement parallèles l'une à l'autre, qui s'appuient élastiquement respectivement sur les ailes de l'étrier de retenue ;
  • les premières parties planes des deux lames de contact s'étendent sensiblement parallèlement l'une à l'autre avec ledit espacement prédéfini ;
  • à titre de variante, les premières parties planes des deux lames de contact convergent légèrement l'une vers l'autre, en direction des secondes parties obliques divergentes des deux lames de contact, et ont ledit espacement prédéfini dans leur zone de raccordement avec lesdites secondes parties obliques divergentes ;
  • il est prévu deux rabats qui sont reliés d'un seul tenant respectivement aux deux volets de la cage de contact et qui s'étendent perpendiculairement au volet correspondant et parallèlement à la partie de base de ladite cage de contact, chaque rabat ayant une largeur correspondant à la moitié de la largeur de ladite partie de base, de telle sorte que les deux rabats se joignent bord à bord pour fermer la cage de contact sur son côté opposé à ladite partie de base ;
  • l'élément femelle de connexion est placé dans un alvéole d'un boîtier en matière isolante, ledit alvéole ayant deux parois opposées qui font face respectivement aux deux volets de la cage de contact et dont au moins une porte un verrou primaire, et chaque volet de la cage de contact comporte une fenêtre apte à recevoir le verrou primaire du boîtier pour retenir l'élément femelle de connexion dans ledit alvéole ;
  • chaque fenêtre a une forme rectangulaire, dont les grands côtés s'étendent depuis le second ou le troisième côté de la partie de base de la cage de contact jusqu'au rabat attenant au volet correspondant de ladite cage de contact ;
  • une autre fenêtre, apte à recevoir un verrou secondaire, est formée dans la partie de transition de l'élément femelle de connexion, dans une région médiane de celle-ci qui est adjacente au premier côté de la partie de base de la cage de contact ;
  • ladite autre fenêtre a la forme d'un trapèze isocèle, dont la grande base est sensiblement confondue avec le premier côté de la partie de base de la cage de contact et a sensiblement la même longueur que ledit premier côté ;
  • ladite partie de transition a, sur toute sa longueur, une section transversale sensiblement en forme de U et comporte, de chaque côté de sa région médiane, une paroi latérale qui relie chaque fois d'un seul tenant l'un des deux volets de la cage de contact à la partie de connexion de l'élément femelle de connexion ;
  • chaque paroi latérale de la partie de transition a un bord libre dont une extrémité se raccorde à un bord du volet correspondant de la cage de contact sensiblement à mi-longueur du bord dudit volet ;
  • entre chaque volet de la cage de contact et l'aile adjacente de l'étrier de retenue est ménagé un interstice suffisant pour éviter un contact entre ledit volet et ladite aile.
The female connection element according to the invention may furthermore have one or more of the following characteristics:
  • the third blade has a length substantially equal to that of the second and third sides of said base portion;
  • the third blade has a width substantially equal to the length of the fourth side of said base portion;
  • the fixing means of the third blade to the contact cage are constituted by two lugs which protrude respectively on the longitudinal edges of the third blade and which are respectively engaged in holes formed in the contact cage on the second and third sides the base part, near the first side of it;
  • the two contact blades are shaped so as to successively present, from their end connected to the corresponding flaps towards their opposite end, first plane contact parts, then second oblique parts which diverge relative to each other , and third flat portions substantially parallel to each other, which bear elastically respectively on the wings of the retaining clip;
  • the first planar portions of the two contact blades extend substantially parallel to each other with said predefined spacing;
  • alternatively, the first planar portions of the two contact blades converge slightly toward each other, towards the second diverging oblique portions of the two contact blades, and have said spacing predefined in their zone of connection with said divergent second oblique portions;
  • two flaps are provided which are connected in one piece respectively to the two flaps of the contact cage and which extend perpendicular to the corresponding flap and parallel to the base portion of said contact cage, each flap having a corresponding width. at half the width of said base portion, such that the two flaps join edge to edge to close the contact cage on its side opposite to said base portion;
  • the female connection element is placed in a cell of a casing of insulating material, said cell having two opposite walls which face respectively the two flaps of the contact cage and of which at least one door a primary latch, and each flap the contact cage comprises a window adapted to receive the primary lock of the housing for retaining the female connection element in said cell;
  • each window has a rectangular shape, the long sides of which extend from the second or third side of the base portion of the contact cage to the flap adjacent to the corresponding flap of said contact cage;
  • another window, adapted to receive a secondary lock, is formed in the transition portion of the connecting female element, in a median region thereof adjacent to the first side of the base portion of the contact cage ;
  • said other window is in the form of an isosceles trapezoid, whose large base is substantially merged with the first side of the base portion of the contact cage and has substantially the same length as said first side;
  • said transition portion has, along its entire length, a substantially U-shaped cross-section and comprises, on each side of its central region, a side wall which connects, in one piece, one of the two flaps of the contact cage at the connection portion of the female connection member;
  • each side wall of the transition portion has a free edge whose end connects to an edge of the corresponding flap of the contact cage substantially mid-length of the edge of said flap;
  • between each flap of the contact cage and the adjacent flange of the retaining bracket is provided a gap sufficient to prevent contact between said flap and said flange.

L'invention a également pour objet un connecteur femelle comportant un boîtier en matière isolante, qui présente au moins un alvéole dans lequel est disposé un élément femelle de connexion selon l'invention.The invention also relates to a female connector comprising a housing of insulating material, which has at least one cell in which is disposed a female connecting member according to the invention.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention apparaîtront plus clairement à la lecture de la description suivante d'un mode de réalisation de l'invention donné à titre d'exemple en faisant référence aux dessins annexés sur lesquels :

  • La figure 1 est une vue en plan montrant une partie d'une bande de métal conducteur, qui a été découpée en vue de fabriquer des éléments de connexion conformes à la présente invention ;
  • Les figures 2 à 4 sont des vues en perspective illustrant des étapes successives de pliage pour la formation d'un élément de connexion à partir de la bande de métal conducteur découpée comme montré dans la figure 1, un arrachement étant fait dans la vue de la figure 4 pour montrer certains détails ;
  • La figure 5 est une vue en perspective de l'élément femelle de connexion à l'état fini, mais encore attaché à une bande de rive de la bande de métal conducteur ;
  • La figure 6 est une vue de dessus de l'élément femelle de connexion de la figure 5 ;
  • La figure 7 est une vue en élévation latérale de l'élément femelle de connexion des figures 5 et 6 ;
  • La figure 8 est une vue en perspective, avec arrachement montrant l'élément femelle de connexion inséré dans un boîtier en matière isolante d'un connecteur femelle ;
Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of example with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a portion of a conductive metal strip, which has been cut to manufacture connection elements according to the present invention;
  • FIGS. 2 to 4 are perspective views illustrating successive folding steps for the formation of a connection element from the cut conductive metal strip as shown in FIG. 1, a cutaway being made in the view of the figure 4 to show some details;
  • Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the finished state connection member but still attached to a edge strip of the conductive metal strip;
  • Figure 6 is a top view of the female connector member of Figure 5;
  • Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the female connector member of Figures 5 and 6;
  • Figure 8 is a perspective view, broken away showing the female connector member inserted into a housing made of insulating material of a female connector;

En se référant à la figure 1, on peut voir une partie d'une bande 1 en métal conducteur, qui a été découpée en vue de la fabrication en série d'éléments femelles de connexion, dont un seul a été représenté à plat dans la figure 1. Chaque élément de connexion 10 comprend une partie de contact 2, une partie de connexion 3, et une partie de transition 4 entre les parties 2 et 3 (voir aussi les figures 5 à 7).Referring to FIG. 1, there can be seen a portion of a conductive metal strip 1 which has been cut out for the series production of connection females, of which only one has been shown flat in the Figure 1. Each connection element 10 comprises a contact portion 2, a connection portion 3, and a transition portion 4 between the parts 2 and 3 (see also Figures 5 to 7).

La bande 1, par exemple en cuivre ou en un alliage à base de cuivre, ayant éventuellement subi un traitement de surface contre l'oxydation, est passée dans un poste de découpage de manière à former une succession d'éléments de connexion développés à plat comme l'élément 10 de la figure 1, qui sont régulièrement espacés le long de la bande 1 et qui sont attachés à une bande de rive 5, chacun par un pont de matière 5a. La bande de rive 5 présente une série de trous 5b, qui sont poinçonnés à intervalles réguliers dans la bande 1, de préférence chaque fois à mi-chemin entre deux éléments de connexion, et qui peuvent servir à l'entraînement pas à pas de la bande 1 dans le poste de découpage et dans le ou les postes successifs de pliage situés à la suite du poste de découpage.The strip 1, for example copper or a copper-based alloy, having optionally undergone a surface treatment against oxidation, is passed through a cutting station so as to form a succession of connection elements developed flat. as the element 10 of Figure 1, which are evenly spaced along the band 1 and which are attached to a bank strip 5, each by a material bridge 5a. The edge strip 5 has a series of holes 5b, which are punched at regular intervals in the strip 1, preferably each halfway between two connection elements, and which can be used for the stepwise drive of the strip 1 in the cutting station and in the successive folding station or positions located after the cutting station.

Comme montré à la figure 1, le découpage de la bande 1 est effectué de telle façon que chaque partie de contact 2 comporte une partie rectangulaire de base 6, deux volets rectangulaires 7 et 8, deux lames de contact 9 et 11, une troisième lame 12, une partie 13 en forme de T et deux rabats rectangulaires 14 et 15.As shown in FIG. 1, the cutting of the strip 1 is carried out in such a way that each contact portion 2 comprises a rectangular base part 6, two rectangular flaps 7 and 8, two contact blades 9 and 11, a third blade 12, a T-shaped portion 13 and two rectangular flaps 14 and 15.

La partie de base 6 est reliée d'un seul tenant par un premier côté 6a à la partie de transition 4 qui a la forme d'un trapèze isocèle.The base portion 6 is integrally connected by a first side 6a to the transition portion 4 which is in the shape of an isosceles trapezium.

Les deux volets 7 et 8 sont reliés d'un seul tenant respectivement à un second côté 6b et à un troisième côté 6c de la partie de base 6. Chacun des deux volets 7 et 8 a un côté 7a ou 8a qui est aligné avec le premier côté 6a de la partie de base 6 et qui est relié d'un seul tenant sur une partie de sa longueur, de préférence sur environ la moitié de sa longueur, à la grande base de la partie de transition 4 en forme de trapèze.The two flaps 7 and 8 are connected in one piece respectively to a second side 6b and a third side 6c of the base portion 6. Each of the two flaps 7 and 8 has a side 7a or 8a which is aligned with the first side 6a of the base portion 6 and which is connected in one piece over a portion of its length, preferably about half its length, to the large base of the trapezoidal transition portion 4.

Chacun des deux volets 7 et 8 a en outre un côté 7b ou 8b qui est aligné avec un quatrième côté 6d de la partie de base 6, et un côté 7c ou 8c qui est parallèle au côté 6b ou 6c de ladite partie de base.Each of the two flaps 7 and 8 further has a side 7b or 8b which is aligned with a fourth side 6d of the base portion 6, and a side 7c or 8c which is parallel to the side 6b or 6c of said base portion.

Les rabats 14 et 15 sont reliés d'un seul tenant respectivement aux côtés 7c et 8c des volets 7 et 8.The flaps 14 and 15 are connected in one piece respectively to the sides 7c and 8c of the flaps 7 and 8.

Deux fenêtres 16 et 17, dont l'utilité sera expliquée plus loin, sont respectivement formées dans les volets 7 et 8 par découpage de la bande 1. Chaque fenêtre 16 ou 17 a de préférence une forme rectangulaire et ses grands côtés s'étendent depuis le côté 6b ou 6c de la partie de base 6 jusqu'au côté 7c ou 8c du volet 7 ou 8 correspondant, c'est-à-dire jusqu'au rabat 14 ou 15.Two windows 16 and 17, whose utility will be explained later, are respectively formed in the shutters 7 and 8 by cutting the strip 1. Each window 16 or 17 preferably has a rectangular shape and its long sides extend from the side 6b or 6c of the base portion 6 to the side 7c or 8c of the corresponding flap 7 or 8, that is to say flap 14 or 15.

Les deux lames de contact 9 et 11 s'étendent perpendiculairement aux volets 7 et 8 et sont reliées d'un seul tenant respectivement aux côtés 7b et 8b desdits volets.The two contact strips 9 and 11 extend perpendicular to the flaps 7 and 8 and are connected in one piece respectively to the sides 7b and 8b of said flaps.

La troisième lame 12 est reliée d'un seul tenant au quatrième côté 6d de la partie de base 6 et elle s'étend parallèlement aux deux lames de contact 9 et 11, entre celles-ci. La lame 12 a une largeur et une longueur qui sont sensiblement égales respectivement à la longueur du côté 6d et à la longueur des côtés 6b et 6c de la partie de base 6. Lors du découpage de la bande 1, deux ergots 18 et 19 sont formés de manière à faire saillie respectivement sur les bords longitudinaux de la lame 12 près de son extrémité la plus éloignée de la partie de base 6, et deux trous 21 et 22 sont formés respectivement dans les zones de raccordement entre ladite partie de base et chacun des deux volets 7 et 8, près du côté 6a de la partie de base. Les ergots 18 et 19, d'une part, et les trous 21 et 22 d'autre part, sont situés à égales distances du côté 6d de la partie de base 6 et leur fonction sera expliquée plus loin.The third blade 12 is integrally connected to the fourth side 6d of the base portion 6 and extends parallel to the two contact blades 9 and 11 therebetween. The blade 12 has a width and a length which are substantially equal to the length of the side 6d and the length of the sides 6b and 6c respectively of the base portion 6. When cutting the band 1, two lugs 18 and 19 are formed to protrude respectively on the longitudinal edges of the blade 12 near its end farthest from the base portion 6, and two holes 21 and 22 are respectively formed in the connection areas between said base portion and each two flaps 7 and 8, near the side 6a of the base part. The lugs 18 and 19, on the one hand, and the holes 21 and 22 on the other hand, are located at equal distances from the side 6d of the base portion 6 and their function will be explained later.

La partie 13 en forme de T comporte une partie médiane 13a qui prolonge la lame 12, et deux ailes latérales 13b et 13c qui s'étendent respectivement en direction des lames de contact 9 et 11. L'envergure des ailes 13b et 13c est plus grande que la distance entre les deux lames de contact 9 et 11. Cela est rendu possible par le fait que les deux lames 9 et 11 et les deux ailes 13b et 13c sont biseautées à l'endroit où elles sont le plus proche l'une de l'autre, comme cela est clairement visible dans la figure 1. Cela permet de réduire la largeur de la bande 1 qu'il faudrait utiliser si les ailes 13b et 13c devaient passer au-delà des extrémités libres des lames 9 et 11. Dans l'exemple de réalisation représenté sur la figure 1, la largeur de la bande de métal 1 est définie par la distance entre les deux lignes 1a et 1b en traits mixtes.The T-shaped portion 13 has a medial portion 13a which extends the blade 12, and two lateral wings 13b and 13c which extend respectively in the direction of the contact blades 9 and 11. The wingspan 13b and 13c is more large that the distance between the two contact blades 9 and 11. This is made possible by the fact that the two blades 9 and 11 and the two wings 13b and 13c are bevelled where they are closest to one on the other, as is clearly visible in Figure 1. This reduces the width of the band 1 should be used if the wings 13b and 13c were to pass beyond the free ends of the blades 9 and 11. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the width of the strip of metal 1 is defined by the distance between the two lines 1a and 1b in phantom.

La partie de connexion 3 de l'élément de connexion 10 comporte une partie de base 23, de forme sensiblement rectangulaire, qui est reliée d'un seul tenant par un petit côté 23a à la petite base de la partie de transition 4 en forme de trapèze, ainsi que deux paires de griffes de sertissage 24, 25 et 26, 27, qui font latéralement saillie sur les grands côtés de la partie de base 23.The connecting portion 3 of the connecting element 10 has a base portion 23, of substantially rectangular shape, which is connected in one piece by a small side 23a to the small base of the transition portion 4 in the form of a trapezium, as well as two pairs of crimping claws 24, 25 and 26, 27, which project laterally on the long sides of the base portion 23.

La partie de transition 4, en forme de trapèze, de l'élément de connexion 10 comporte une partie de base 28, sensiblement rectangulaire, qui relie le côté 6a de la partie de base 6 de la partie de contact 2 au côté 23a de la partie de base 23 de la partie de connexion 3, ainsi que deux parties latérales 29 et 31, sensiblement trapézoïdales, qui sont reliées d'un seul tenant avec la partie de base 28 respectivement de part et d'autre de celle-ci. La partie latérale 29 relie le volet 7 de la partie de contact 2 à la griffe 24 de la partie de connexion 3, tandis que la partie latérale 31 relie le volet 8 de la partie de contact 2 à la griffe 25 de la partie de connexion 3.The trapezoidal transition portion 4 of the connecting member 10 has a substantially rectangular base portion 28 which connects the side 6a of the base portion 6 of the contact portion 2 to the side 23a of the base portion 23 of the connection portion 3, as well as two substantially trapezoidal side portions 29 and 31, which are connected integrally with the base portion 28 respectively on either side thereof. The lateral portion 29 connects the flap 7 of the contact portion 2 to the claw 24 of the connection portion 3, while the lateral portion 31 connects the flap 8 of the contact portion 2 to the claw 25 of the connection portion 3.

Lors du découpage de la bande 1, une fenêtre 32, dont la fonction sera expliquée plus loin, est formée dans la partie de base ou partie médiane 28 de la partie de transition 4. De préférence, la fenêtre 32 a la forme d'un trapèze isocèle, dont la grande base est sensiblement confondue avec le côté 6a de la partie de base 6 de la partie de contact 2 et a sensiblement la même longueur que ce côté 6a, de préférence une longueur légèrement plus petite. La petite base du trapèze isocèle formant la fenêtre 32 se trouve de préférence sensiblement à mi-distance entre le côté 6a de la partie de base 6 et le côté 23a de la partie de base 23.When cutting the strip 1, a window 32, whose function will be explained later, is formed in the base portion or middle portion 28 of the transition portion 4. Preferably, the window 32 has the shape of a isosceles trapezoid, whose large base is substantially coincident with the side 6a of the base portion 6 of the contact portion 2 and has substantially the same length as this side 6a, preferably a slightly smaller length. The small base of the isosceles trapezoid forming the window 32 is preferably substantially midway between the side 6a of the base part 6 and the side 23a of the base part 23.

Après que la bande 1 a été découpée comme montré dans la figure 1, on la fait passer dans au moins un poste de travail dans lequel on effectue les opérations suivantes de pliage, de mise en forme et/ou de cintrage. Les rabats 14 et 15 sont rabattus à angle droit vers le haut, c'est-à-dire au-dessus du plan de la bande 1, par pliage autour de lignes de pliage sensiblement confondues avec les côtés 7c et 8c des volets 7 et 8, comme montré dans la figure 2. En même temps, les deux ailes 13b et 13c de la partie 13 en forme de T sont rabattues à angle droit vers le bas, c'est-à-dire au-dessous du plan de la bande 1, par pliage autour de lignes de pliage parallèles et alignées respectivement avec les côtés longitudinaux de la lame 12 comme indiqué par les flèches F dans la figure 2 et comme montré dans la figure 3. En même temps, la partie médiane 13a de la partie 13 en forme de T est rabattue obliquement vers le bas, par exemple à 45°, autour d'une ligne de pliage 33 parallèle au côté 6d de la partie de base, comme indiqué dans la figure 3.After the strip 1 has been cut as shown in FIG. 1, it is passed through at least one workstation in which the following operations of folding, shaping and / or bending. The flaps 14 and 15 are folded at right angles upwards, that is to say above the plane of the strip 1, by folding around fold lines substantially coinciding with the sides 7c and 8c of the flaps 7 and 8, as shown in FIG. 2. At the same time, the two wings 13b and 13c of the T-shaped portion 13 are folded at right angles downwards, that is to say below the plane of the strip 1, by folding around parallel fold lines and respectively aligned with the longitudinal sides of the blade 12 as indicated by the arrows F in FIG. 2 and as shown in FIG. 3. At the same time, the middle portion 13a of the T-shaped portion 13 is folded obliquely downwards, for example at 45 °, around a fold line 33 parallel to the side 6d of the base portion, as shown in FIG.

Ensuite, les deux lames de contact 9 et 11 sont mises en forme de manière à présenter successivement, depuis leur extrémité reliée aux volets 7 et 8 vers leur extrémité opposée, des premières parties planes de contact 9a, 11a, puis des secondes parties 9b, 11b qui s'étendent obliquement par rapport aux parties 9a, 11a, et enfin des troisièmes parties planes 9c, 11c, qui sont dans un plan parallèle à celui des premières parties planes 9a, 11a (figure 2).Then, the two contact blades 9 and 11 are shaped so as to successively present, from their end connected to the flaps 7 and 8 towards their opposite end, first planar contact portions 9a, 11a, then second portions 9b, 11b which extend obliquely with respect to the portions 9a, 11a, and finally third planar portions 9c, 11c, which are in a plane parallel to that of the first planar portions 9a, 11a (Figure 2).

Ensuite, les deux lames de contact 9 et 11 sont repliées en épingle à cheveux respectivement par-dessus les volets 7 et 8, par cintrage autour d'une ligne de pliage parallèle aux côtés 7b et 8b des volets 7 et 8, comme montré dans les figures 2 et 3. En même temps, la lame 12 est repliée de 180° par-dessus la partie de base 6 autour d'une ligne de pliage sensiblement confondue avec le côté 6d de la partie de base 6, comme indiqué par la flèche G dans la figure 3. Au cours de cette opération de pliage, la lame 12 vient en contact, face contre face, avec la partie de base 6 et les ergots 18 et 19 viennent se placer respectivement en correspondance avec les trous 21 et 22.Then, the two contact blades 9 and 11 are folded in hairpin respectively over the flaps 7 and 8, by bending around a folding line parallel to the sides 7b and 8b of the flaps 7 and 8, as shown in FIG. FIGS. 2 and 3. At the same time, the blade 12 is bent 180 ° over the base portion 6 around a fold line substantially coinciding with the side 6d of the base portion 6, as indicated by FIG. arrow G in FIG. 3. During this folding operation, the blade 12 comes into contact, face-to-face, with the base part 6 and the lugs 18 and 19 are respectively placed in correspondence with the holes 21 and 22 .

Après l'opération de pliage de la lame 12, la partie médiane 13a de la partie 13 s'étend dans un plan incliné qui fait un angle d'environ 135° par rapport au plan de la partie de base 6, et les deux ailes 13b et 13c de la partie 13 s'étendent perpendiculairement à ce plan incliné.After the folding operation of the blade 12, the medial portion 13a of the portion 13 extends in an inclined plane which is at an angle of about 135 ° with respect to the plane of the base portion 6, and the two wings 13b and 13c of part 13 extend perpendicular to this inclined plane.

Ensuite, les parties de base 23 et 28 de la partie de connexion 3 et de la partie de transition 4 sont mises sous la forme d'une goulotte dont l'axe longitudinal est perpendiculaire à l'axe longitudinal de la bande 1, les griffes de sertissage 24, 25, 26 et 27 se dressant sur les bords de la goulotte ainsi formée, comme montré dans la figure 3.Then, the base portions 23 and 28 of the connection part 3 and the transition part 4 are in the form of a chute whose longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the band 1, the claws crimping element 24, 25, 26 and 27 standing on the edges of the trough thus formed, as shown in FIG.

Ensuite, ou en même temps que l'opération de mise en forme décrite ci-dessus, chacun des deux volets 7 et 8 de la partie de contact 2 est rabattu à angle droit par rapport à la partie de base 6, par pliage respectivement autour de lignes de pliage sensiblement confondues avec les côtés 6b et 6c de la partie de base 6, comme montré dans les figures 3 et 4.Then, or at the same time as the forming operation described above, each of the two flaps 7 and 8 of the contact part 2 is folded at right angles to the base portion 6, by folding respectively around fold lines substantially coinciding with the sides 6b and 6c of the base portion 6, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

A la fin de cette opération de pliage, on obtient une cage de contact 34 à section transversale rectangulaire fermée (les rabats 14 et 15 se rejoignent bord à bord - figures 4 à 6), à l'intérieur de laquelle les parties planes 9a et 11a des deux lames de contact 9 et 11 s'étendent sensiblement parallèlement l'une à l'autre, tandis que les parties 9b et 11b des lames divergent l'une par rapport à l'autre et les parties 9c et 11c desdites lames sont sensiblement parallèles l'une à l'autre comme on peut le voir dans la figure 4. En outre, lors de l'opération de rabattement des deux volets 7 et 8, les deux ergots 18 et 19 pénètrent respectivement dans les trous 21 et 22 (plus exactement ce sont les bords extérieurs des trous 21 et 22 qui viennent par dessus les ergots 18 et 19, comme montré sur la figure 7 pour l'ergot 19 et le trou 22). Il en résulte alors que la lame 12 est aussi reliée mécaniquement et électriquement à la partie de base 6 et aux deux volets 7 et 8 par les ergots 18 et 19 engagés respectivement dans les trous 21 et 22.At the end of this folding operation, a contact cage 34 with a closed rectangular cross section (the flaps 14 and 15 are joined edge to edge - FIGS. 4 to 6), inside which the plane portions 9a and 11a of the two contact blades 9 and 11 extend substantially parallel to each other, while the portions 9b and 11b of the blades diverge relative to each other and the portions 9c and 11c of said blades are substantially parallel to each other as can be seen in Figure 4. In addition, during the folding operation of the two flaps 7 and 8, the two lugs 18 and 19 respectively enter the holes 21 and 22 (More exactly it is the outer edges of the holes 21 and 22 which come over the pins 18 and 19, as shown in Figure 7 for the pin 19 and the hole 22). It follows then that the blade 12 is also mechanically and electrically connected to the base portion 6 and the two flaps 7 and 8 by the lugs 18 and 19 respectively engaged in the holes 21 and 22.

Ensuite, les deux lames de contact 9 et 11 sont pressées élastiquement l'une vers l'autre, par exemple à l'aide d'une pince non montrée agissant à travers les fenêtres 16 et 17, puis la partie médiane 13a de la partie 13 est rabattue à angle droit par rapport à la lame 12, par un pliage supplémentaire autour de la ligne pliage 33. Après cette dernière opération de pliage, la pression sur les deux lames de contact 9 et 11 est relâchée pour que leurs parties planes d'extrémités 9c et 11c viennent élastiquement en appui respectivement contre les faces internes mutuellement opposées des ailes latérales 13b et 13c de la partie 13, qui forme ainsi un étrier de retenue pour les lames de contact 9 et 11 comme montré dans la figure 4.Then, the two contact blades 9 and 11 are pressed elastically towards each other, for example using a not shown clamp acting through the windows 16 and 17, then the middle part 13a of the part 13 is folded at right angles to the blade 12, by an additional folding around the folding line 33. After this last folding operation, the pressure on the two contact blades 9 and 11 is released so that their flat parts d ends 9c and 11c resiliently bear respectively against the mutually opposite inner faces of the lateral flanges 13b and 13c of the part 13, which thus forms a retaining clip for the contact blades 9 and 11 as shown in FIG.

Dans cette position des lames 9 et 11, leurs parties 9a et 11a ont un espacement prédéfini. La valeur de cet espacement est déterminée de façon à être un peu plus faible que l'épaisseur d'une lamelle de contact mâle d'un composant électrique tel qu'un connecteur mâle destiné à être connecté par enfichage dans la cage de contact 34. Dans ces conditions, en service, on obtient un très bon contact électrique, surface contre surface, entre les lames de contact 9 et 11 de l'élément femelle de connexion 10 et la lamelle de contact mâle du connecteur mâle, ce qui permet de faire passer des courants de forte intensité entre les éléments mâle et femelle de connexion. En outre, la force nécessaire à l'insertion (ou à l'extraction) de la lamelle de contact mâle entre les deux lames de contact 9 et 11 est relativement élevée. Ceci constitue un avantage lorsque l'élément femelle de connexion selon l'invention est utilisé dans un environnement vibratoire, car les éléments mâles et femelles de connexion sont plus difficilement séparables l'un de l'autre et ils sont moins sujets à de petits déplacements relatifs l'un part rapport à l'autre (moins d'usure par petits débattements).In this position of the blades 9 and 11, their parts 9a and 11a have a predefined spacing. The value of this spacing is determined to be a little smaller than the thickness of a male contact strip of an electrical component such as a male connector intended to be connected by plugging into the contact cage 34. Under these conditions, in use, a very good surface-to-surface electrical contact is obtained between the contact strips 9 and 11 of the female connection element 10 and the male contact strip of the male connector, which makes it possible to Pass high currents between the male and female connection elements. In addition, the force required for insertion (or extraction) of the male contact strip between the two contact blades 9 and 11 is relatively high. This is an advantage when the female connection element according to the invention is used in a vibratory environment, since the male and female connection elements are more difficult to separate from one another and they are less subject to small displacements. relative to each other (less wear in small movements).

Dans le cas où il n'est pas nécessaire de faire passer de forts courants entre les éléments mâles et femelles de connexion et/ou dans le cas où il n'est pas nécessaire que les deux lames de contact 9 et 11 exercent une forte pression de contact sur la lamelle de contact mâle du connecteur mâle, les lames de contact 9 et 11 peuvent être conformées de telle façon que leurs parties planes 9a et 11a convergent l'une vers l'autre en direction de leurs parties divergentes 9b et 11b et présentent ledit espacement prédéfini seulement dans la région de transition entre les parties convergentes et les parties divergentes desdites lames. Avec une telle disposition, la force nécessaire à l'insertion d'une lamelle de contact mâle d'un connecteur mâle entre les lames de contact 9 et 11 est rendue progressivement croissante et on obtient un contact linéaire entre chaque lame de contact et la lamelle de contact mâle.In the case where it is not necessary to pass strong currents between the male and female connection elements and / or in the case where it is not necessary that the two contact blades 9 and 11 exert a strong pressure contacting the male contact strip of the male connector, the contact blades 9 and 11 may be shaped so that their plane portions 9a and 11a converge towards one another towards their diverging portions 9b and 11b and have said predefined spacing only in the transition region between the converging portions and the diverging portions of said blades. With such an arrangement, the force required to insert a male contact strip of a male connector between the contact blades 9 and 11 is progressively increased and a linear contact is obtained between each contact blade and the lamella male contact.

A la partie de connexion 3 de chaque élément femelle de connexion 10 fabriqué de la manière décrite plus haut peut être fixé un fil conducteur gainé 35 comme montré dans la figure 8.At the connection portion 3 of each female connector 10 made in the manner described above, a sheathed conductor wire 35 may be attached as shown in FIG.

Plus précisément, la partie dénudée 36 du fil conducteur 35 est fixée par sertissage à la partie de connexion 3 au moyen des deux griffes 24 et 25 de celle-ci, tandis que la gaine 37 du fil conducteur 35 est fixée par sertissage à la partie de connexion 3 au moyen des deux griffes 26 et 27. Ces opérations sont effectuées après que l'élément de connexion a été séparé 10 de la bande de rive 5 par sectionnement du pont de matière 5a par exemple suivant la ligne de coupe 38 (figures 5 et 6).More specifically, the stripped portion 36 of the conductor wire 35 is crimped to the connection portion 3 by means of the two claws 24 and 25 of the the latter, while the sheath 37 of the conductive wire 35 is crimped to the connection portion 3 by means of the two claws 26 and 27. These operations are performed after the connection element has been separated from the band edge 5 by sectioning the material bridge 5a for example along the section line 38 (Figures 5 and 6).

Comme cela est également montré dans la figure 8, après que le fil conducteur gainé 35 a été fixé à l'élément de connexion 10, ce dernier peut être placé dans un alvéole 39 d'un boîtier 41 en matière isolante. L'alvéole 39 a une section transversale rectangulaire et comporte une première paire de parois opposées 39a et 39b qui font respectivement face aux volets 7 et 8 de la cage de contact 34 de l'élément de connexion 10, ainsi qu'une autre paire de parois opposées, qui sont perpendiculaires aux parois 39a et 39b et qui font respectivement face à la partie de base 6 (non visible dans la figure 8) et aux deux rabats 14 et 15 de la cage de contact 34. Au moins une des deux parois 39a et 39b, de préférence chacune de ces deux parois, porte un verrou primaire 42 qui coopère avec l'une ou l'autre des deux fenêtres 16 et 17 formées dans les volets 7 et 8 de la cage de contact 34 pour retenir l'élément de connexion 10 dans l'alvéole 39. Chaque verrou primaire 42 peut être par exemple constitué par une lamelle flexible 42a, qui est formée d'un seul tenant avec le boîtier 41 dans sa paroi 39a ou 39b et qui porte un doigt de retenue 42b qui s'engage par encliquetage dans la fenêtre 16 ou 17 de la cage de contact 34 lorsque l'élément de connexion 10 est introduit à fond dans l'alvéole 39, comme montré dans la figure 8.As also shown in FIG. 8, after the sheathed conductor wire 35 has been attached to the connection member 10, the latter can be placed in a cell 39 of a housing 41 of insulating material. The cell 39 has a rectangular cross section and has a first pair of opposing walls 39a and 39b which respectively face the flaps 7 and 8 of the contact cage 34 of the connection element 10, as well as another pair of opposed walls, which are perpendicular to the walls 39a and 39b and which respectively face the base portion 6 (not visible in Figure 8) and the two flaps 14 and 15 of the contact cage 34. At least one of the two walls 39a and 39b, preferably each of these two walls, carries a primary lock 42 which cooperates with one or other of the two windows 16 and 17 formed in the flaps 7 and 8 of the contact cage 34 to retain the connecting element 10 in the cell 39. Each primary latch 42 may for example be constituted by a flexible blade 42a, which is formed integrally with the housing 41 in its wall 39a or 39b and which carries a retaining finger 42b which snaps into the window e 16 or 17 of the contact cage 34 when the connection element 10 is fully inserted into the cell 39, as shown in Figure 8.

Au moins une des deux autres parois de l'alvéole 39 du boîtier 41 peut aussi porter un verrou secondaire (non montré) apte à coopérer soit avec le bord 43 de la cage de contact 34 (ce bord 43 est formé par un bord des deux rabats 14 et 15), soit avec le bord 44 de la fenêtre 32 en forme de trapèze isocèle (grande base du trapèze isocèle). Ce verrou secondaire, lorsqu'il est prévu, permet d'obtenir en combinaison avec le ou les verrous primaires 42, une plus grande force de rétention de l'élément de connexion 10 dans l'alvéole 39 du boîtier 41.At least one of the other two walls of the cavity 39 of the housing 41 may also carry a secondary lock (not shown) able to cooperate with either the edge 43 of the contact cage 34 (this edge 43 is formed by an edge of the two flaps 14 and 15), or with the edge 44 of the window 32 in the form of isosceles trapezium (large base of the isosceles trapezium). This secondary lock, when provided, makes it possible to obtain, in combination with the primary lock (s) 42, a greater retention force of the connection element 10 in the cell 39 of the housing 41.

On notera que l'élément de connexion 10 décrit ci-dessus est réversible. C'est-à-dire qu'il peut être introduit dans l'alvéole 39 du boîtier 41 soit avec les deux rabats 14 et 15 de la cage de contact 34 orientés vers le côté supérieur du boîtier 41 comme montré dans la figure 8, soit avec les deux rabats 14 et 15 orientés vers le dessous du boîtier 41.Note that the connection element 10 described above is reversible. That is to say, it can be introduced into the cell 39 of the housing 41 or with the two flaps 14 and 15 of the contact cage 34 facing towards the side upper case 41 as shown in Figure 8, with the two flaps 14 and 15 facing the bottom of the housing 41.

En plus des avantages déjà mentionnés plus haut dans la description, l'élément de connexion 10 selon l'invention présente en outre les avantages suivants.In addition to the advantages already mentioned above in the description, the connection element 10 according to the invention also has the following advantages.

Grâce à la section transversale en forme de U de la partie de transition 4 avec de larges parois latérales 29 et 31, on obtient à la fois une plus grande rigidité (moment d'inertie) de cette partie de transition 4 et une augmentation de la section de passage du courant électrique dans cette partie de transition entre la cage de contact 34, d'une part, et la partie de connexion 3, d'autre part.Due to the U-shaped cross-section of the transition portion 4 with wide sidewalls 29 and 31, both the stiffness (moment of inertia) of this transition portion 4 and an increase in passage section of the electric current in this transition portion between the contact cage 34, on the one hand, and the connecting portion 3, on the other hand.

Cependant, à cause de la hauteur relativement importante des parois latérales 29 et 31 de la partie de transition 4 (vue dans la figure 7 cette hauteur est sensiblement égale à la moitié de la hauteur des volets 7 et 8 de la cage de contact 34), l'opération de sertissage des griffes 24 et 25 sur la partie dénudée 36 du fil conducteur 35 pourrait entraîner une déformation des parois de ladite cage de contact, en particulier de ses volets 7 et 8. Toutefois, l'influence, sur les volets 7 et 8, de l'opération de sertissage des griffes 24 et 25 est déjà limitée par le fait que les deux rabats 14 et 15 sont en contact bord à bord et empêchent par conséquent un rapprochement des volets 7 et 8 sous l'influence de ladite opération de sertissage. De plus, la largeur de la partie médiane 13a de l'étrier de retenue formé par la partie 13 est de préférence choisie de telle façon qu'elle soit un peu plus petite que la somme des largeurs des deux rabats 14 et 15 afin que, après pliage des différentes parties de l'élément de connexion 10, il subsiste, entre chaque aile 13b ou 13c de l'étrier de retenue 13 et le volet 7 ou 8 correspondant de la cage de contact 34, un espace suffisant pour qu'il n'y ait pas de contact entre lesdites ailes et lesdits volets. Dans ces conditions même si les volets 7 et 8 sont légèrement déformés par l'opération de sertissage des griffes 24 et 25, les espaces sus-mentionnés entre les ailes 13b et 13c et les volets 7 et 8 correspondants empêchent que lesdits volets viennent en contact avec lesdites ailes, garantissant ainsi que l'espace prédéfini entre les lames de contact 9 et11, déterminé par les ailes 13b et 13c de l'étrier de retenue 13 ne sera pas modifié par l'opération de sertissage sus-mentionnée.However, because of the relatively large height of the side walls 29 and 31 of the transition portion 4 (seen in Figure 7 this height is substantially equal to half the height of the flaps 7 and 8 of the contact cage 34) , the crimping operation of the claws 24 and 25 on the stripped portion 36 of the conductive wire 35 could cause deformation of the walls of said contact cage, in particular of its flaps 7 and 8. However, the influence on the shutters 7 and 8, the crimping operation of the claws 24 and 25 is already limited by the fact that the two flaps 14 and 15 are in edge-to-edge contact and thus prevent the flaps 7 and 8 from being brought together under the influence of said crimping operation. In addition, the width of the middle part 13a of the retaining stirrup formed by the part 13 is preferably chosen so that it is a little smaller than the sum of the widths of the two flaps 14 and 15 so that, after folding of the different parts of the connecting element 10, there remains, between each flange 13b or 13c of the retaining clip 13 and the flap 7 or 8 corresponding to the contact cage 34, a space sufficient for it to there is no contact between said wings and said flaps. Under these conditions, even if the flaps 7 and 8 are slightly deformed by the crimping operation of the claws 24 and 25, the abovementioned spaces between the flanges 13b and 13c and the corresponding flaps 7 and 8 prevent said flaps from coming into contact with each other. with said wings, thus ensuring that the predefined space between the contact blades 9 and 11, determined by the flanges 13b and 13c of the retaining clip 13 will not be modified by the aforementioned crimping operation.

Il est bien entendu que les modes de réalisation de l'invention qui ont été décrits ci-dessus ont été donnés à titre d'exemple purement indicatif et nullement limitatif, et que de nombreuses modifications peuvent être facilement apportées par l'homme de l'art sans pour cela sortir du cadre de l'invention.It is understood that the embodiments of the invention which have been described above have been given by way of purely indicative and non-limiting example, and that many modifications can be easily made by the man of the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

C'est ainsi notamment que la lame 12, au lieu d'être fixée à la cage de contact 34 par les ergots 18 et 19 engagés dans les trous 21 et 22, ou en plus de cette fixation, pourrait être fixée à la partie de base 6 par clinchage, soudage, rivetage ou autre moyen approprié.Thus, in particular, the blade 12, instead of being fixed to the contact cage 34 by the pins 18 and 19 engaged in the holes 21 and 22, or in addition to this fixing, could be fixed to the part of base 6 by clinching, welding, riveting or other suitable means.

En outre, bien que le boîtier 41 montré dans la figure 8 ne comporte qu'un seul alvéole 39, il pourrait en comporter plusieurs, chaque alvéole contenant alors un élément femelle de connexion tel que l'élément 10, de façon à former un connecteur femelle multipoints.In addition, although the housing 41 shown in FIG. 8 has only one cell 39, it could have several cells, each cell then containing a female connection element such as the element 10, so as to form a connector multipoint female.

Claims (17)

  1. A female connection element, produced by cutting and folding a strip (1) of conductive metal and comprising a contact cage (34) designed to establish a detachable electrical and mechanical connection, by plugging together, with a contact pin of a male connection element, a connection part (3) designed to be crimped onto one end of a conducting wire (35), and a transitional part (4) between the contact cage (34) and the connection part (3), said contact cage (34) comprising a rectangular base part (6) connected in one piece by a first side (6a) to said transitional part (4), two rectangular panels (7, 8) which are connected in one piece respectively to second and third, mutually opposing sides (6b, 6c) of the base part (6) and which extend perpendicularly to said base part (6), at least one flap (14, 15) which is connected in one piece to one of the two panels (7, 8) and which extends perpendicularly to said panel and parallel to said base part (6) so as to form therewith and with the two panels a substantially parallelepipedic cage closed on four sides, and two flexible contact tongues (9, 11) which are connected in one piece each by one end to one of the two panels (7, 8) at an edge of the corresponding panel which is perpendicular to a fourth side (6d) of said base part (6), the two contact tongues (9, 11) being folded in the manner of a hairpin so as to extend inside the contact cage (34) while facing one another with a predefined spacing, said contact cage (34) comprising a third tongue (12) which
    a) is connected in one piece to the fourth side (6d) of the base part (6),
    b) is folded inside the contact cage (34) so as to lie against said base part (6),
    c) is fixed to the contact cage (34) by fixing means (18, 19, 21, 22),
    d) has a length which is at most equal to that of the second and third sides (6b and 6c) of the base part (6) of the contact cage (34) and
    e) bears, in one piece therewith and at the opposite end thereof from that which is connected to the fourth side (6d) of the base part (6), a retaining clip (13) which comprises a median part (13a) and two parallel wings (13b, 13c) which are folded inside the contact cage (34) and which have mutually opposing inner faces on which the contact tongues (9, 11) lie resiliently to define said predefined spacing.
  2. A connection element according to claim 1, characterised in that the median part (13a) of the retaining clip (13) is dimensioned such that it virtually completely closes one end of the contact cage (34) on the transitional part (4) side.
  3. A connection element according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the third tongue (12) has a length substantially equal to that of the second and third sides (6b, 6c) of said base part (6).
  4. A connection element according to claim 1, characterised in that the third tongue (12) has a width substantially equal to the length of the fourth side (6d) of said base part (6).
  5. A connection element according to claim 1, characterised in that the means (18, 19, 21, 22) for fixing the third tongue (12) to the contact cage (34) consist of two lugs (18, 19) which project respectively on the longitudinal edges of the third tongue (12) and which are respectively engaged in holes (21, 22) formed in the contact cage, on the second and third sides (6b, 6c) of the base part (6), close to the first side (6a) thereof.
  6. A connection element according to claim 1, characterised in that the two contact tongues (9, 11) are shaped so as to exhibit successively, from their ends connected to the corresponding panels (7, 8) towards their opposite ends, first planar contact parts (9a, 11a), then second oblique parts (9b, 11b) which diverge relative to one another, and third planar parts (9c, 11c) substantially parallel to one another, which rest resiliently respectively on the wings (13b, 13c) of the retaining clip (13).
  7. A connection element according to claim 1, characterised in that the first planar parts (9a, 11a) of the two contact tongues (9, 11) extend substantially parallel to one another with said predefined spacing.
  8. A connection element according to claim 1, characterised in that the first planar parts (9a, 11 a) of the two contact tongues (9, 11) converge slightly towards one another, in the direction of the second, diverging oblique parts (9b, 11b) of the two contact tongues, and exhibit said predefined spacing in the zone in which they are connected with said second, diverging oblique parts.
  9. A connection element according to claim 1, characterised in that two flaps (14, 15) are provided, which are connected in one piece respectively to the two panels (7, 8) of the contact cage (34) and which extend perpendicularly to the corresponding panel and parallel to the base part (6) of said contact cage, each flap having a width corresponding to half of the width of said base part, such that the two flaps meet edge to edge to close the contact cage on the opposite side thereof from said base part.
  10. A connection element according to claim 1, characterised in that it is placed in a receptacle (39) in a casing of insulating material (41), said receptacle having two opposing walls (39a, 39b) which respectively face the two panels (7, 8) of the contact cage (34) and of which at least one bears a primary latch (42), and each panel of the contact cage comprises a window (16, 17) capable of receiving the corresponding primary latch of the casing to retain the female connection element (10) in said receptacle.
  11. A connection element according to claim 10, characterised in that each window (16, 17) takes the form of a rectangle, the major sides of which extend from the second (6b) or the third side (6c) of the base part (6) of the contact cage (34) as far as the flap (14 or 15) adjoining the corresponding panel (7 or 8) of said contact cage.
  12. A connection element according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that another window (32), capable of receiving a secondary latch, is formed in the transitional part (4) of the female connection element (10), in a median zone (28) thereof which is adjacent to the first side (6a) of the base part (6) of the contact cage (34).
  13. A connection element according to claim 12, characterised in that said other window (32) takes the form of an isosceles trapezium, whose major base substantially coincides with the first side (6a) of the base part (6) of the contact cage (34) and has substantially the same length as said first side.
  14. A connection element according to claim 1, characterised in that said transitional part (4) is of substantially U-shaped cross-section over its entire length and comprises, on each side of its median region (28), a side wall (29, 31) which connects each time in one piece one of the two panels (7, 8) of the contact cage (34) to the connection part (3) of the female connection element (10).
  15. A connection element according to claim 14, characterised in that each side wall (29, 31) of the transitional part (4) has a free edge, one end of which is joined to an edge (7a, 8a) of the corresponding panel (7, 8) of the contact cage (34) over substantially half the length of the edge of said panel.
  16. A connection element according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that there is formed between each panel (7, 8) of the contact cage (34) and the adjacent wing (13b, 13c) of the retaining clip (13) a gap sufficient to prevent contact between said panel and said wing.
  17. A female connector comprising a casing (41) of insulating material, which exhibits at least one receptacle (39) in which there is disposed a female connection element (10), characterised in that said female connection element (10) is a connection element according to any one of claims 1 to 16.
EP01400536A 2000-04-19 2001-03-01 Female connection element and female connector comprising such connection element Expired - Lifetime EP1148589B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0005066A FR2808130B1 (en) 2000-04-19 2000-04-19 FEMALE CONNECTION MEMBER AND FEMALE CONNECTOR COMPRISING SUCH CONNECTION MEMBER
FR0005066 2000-04-19

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1148589A2 EP1148589A2 (en) 2001-10-24
EP1148589A3 EP1148589A3 (en) 2002-06-12
EP1148589B1 true EP1148589B1 (en) 2007-01-03

Family

ID=8849433

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01400536A Expired - Lifetime EP1148589B1 (en) 2000-04-19 2001-03-01 Female connection element and female connector comprising such connection element

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1148589B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE350782T1 (en)
DE (1) DE60125633T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2278705T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2808130B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5480612B2 (en) * 2009-12-17 2014-04-23 矢崎総業株式会社 Terminal for fuse

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE8010133U1 (en) * 1980-04-14 1980-07-10 Grote & Hartmann Gmbh & Co Kg, 5600 Wuppertal FLAT SOCKET
US5269712A (en) * 1992-11-06 1993-12-14 The Whitaker Corporation Low-force receptacle contact and method of making same
JP2868405B2 (en) * 1994-02-16 1999-03-10 矢崎総業株式会社 Female terminal
US6083024A (en) * 1997-04-25 2000-07-04 The Whitaker Corporation Electrical connector assembly with reduced wear and mating forces

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE60125633D1 (en) 2007-02-15
EP1148589A2 (en) 2001-10-24
EP1148589A3 (en) 2002-06-12
FR2808130A1 (en) 2001-10-26
FR2808130B1 (en) 2002-06-28
DE60125633T2 (en) 2007-11-15
ATE350782T1 (en) 2007-01-15
ES2278705T3 (en) 2007-08-16

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