EP1670301B1 - Connection assembly comprising a holder with an aperture and a connector housing mounted on said holder - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly (1) has assembling units (25) with a cylindrical helical spring (27). The spring is elastically deformed for accompanying a displacement of an electrical connector case (3) in a direction parallel to a plane of an opening of the support (2) and for bringing the case to a rest position. A retention unit has a rod engaged between spires of the spring and connected to a head integrated with an end of the spring. An independent claim is also included for equipment embarked in an aircraft and having a connection assembly.

Description

The present invention relates to a connection assembly comprising a support, in particular a panel element, provided with an opening and a connector housing mounted on this support, as well as such a connector housing and equipment comprising the assembly. supra.

In the field of aeronautics, certain on-board equipment must be connected to a power supply and comprise for this purpose an electrical connector, male or female, to be coupled to a complementary electrical connector, during installation.

Such equipment may comprise for example a kitchen element such as an oven, a hot plate or a refrigerator.

The invention aims in particular to provide a connection assembly for improving the mechanical characteristics of the coupling of a connector with a complementary connector, particularly in the field of on-board equipment, especially on board an aircraft.

The present invention relates to a connection assembly as defined in claim 1.

US-A-5,397,244 discloses a connection assembly having the features in the preamble of claim 1.

The springs provided in the prior document are retained at their ends in sleeves that can slide relative to each other without the possibility of relative transverse displacement.

Other connection sets are described in the documents US-A-2,871,457 , US-A-2,289,514 , US-A-3,951,500 , EP-A-1139505 and US-B1-6,715,931 .

Thanks to the invention, the maintenance of the connector housing on the support is of floating type, allowing a correct coupling of the integral connector of the support with a complementary connector, even in case of misalignment of the aforementioned assembly relative to the complementary connector.

In addition, said at least one resilient return member makes it possible to return the connector housing to its rest position following the disengagement of the connectors.

In an exemplary implementation of the invention, in the rest position, the connector housing has no contact with an edge of the opening, being in particular centered with respect thereto.

The invention makes it possible, during the disconnection of the connectors, a spontaneous refocusing of the connector relative to the opening of the support.

In an exemplary implementation of the invention, in the rest position, the connector housing has no contact with the support.

Preferably, during a coupling, the connector housing according to the invention is moved in the direction of a distance from the support.

The elastic return member may allow to limit the floating amplitude of the connector housing relative to the support, in particular in the plane of the opening.

In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the elastic return member is arranged to work in compression. Alternatively, the elastic return member may be arranged to work in tension.

The elastic return member is in particular arranged to exert on the connector housing a force tending to bring it towards the support.

The elastic return member may be formed of a cylindrical helical spring or conical. As a variant, the elastic return member may comprise, for example, a block of a compressible material, for example an elastomeric material.

The elastic return member may allow to exert on the connector housing a force tending to apply against a complementary connector with which the connector housing is coupled.

Preferably, the elastic return member, in the form of a helical spring, is supported on a portion of the housing, without completely surrounding this housing.

Advantageously, the elastic return member is fixed on a portion of its height to the retaining member so that, on this portion of height, there remains substantially no radial play between the elastic return member and the member restraint.

In one embodiment of the invention, one or more turns of the spring or only a portion of a turn, are engaged, following a slight radial deformation, around the aforementioned head.

Thus, the spring can, on the one hand, be compressed in the axial direction of the rod and, on the other hand, develop a radial force, that is to say in a direction transverse to the rod, helping to reduce the connector housing in its rest position, when the housing is uncoupled.

If necessary, the elastic return member does not apply directly to the support.

Advantageously, the connector housing remains permanently engaged at least partially in the opening of the support, including when the housing is pushed completely away from the support.

The guide surfaces make it possible to ensure precise positioning of the connector housing relative to the support when the housing returns to its rest position.

The rod, the head and the base of the retaining member can be made in one piece. Alternatively, these different elements can be made separately and assembled.

In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the connector housing comprises an orifice through which at least partially extends said retaining member, the second aforementioned guide surface may in particular be adjacent to this orifice.

Preferably, the connector housing comprises a shoulder, in particular an annular shoulder, on which the resilient return member bears, this shoulder being able to be adjacent to the aforementioned orifice. More preferably, the elastic return member does not extend through said orifice.

In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the connector housing comprises a recess in which at least partially extends the elastic return member over a portion of its height, preferably without leaving radial play.

The elastic return member may in particular be engaged in the recess following a slight radial deformation.

Advantageously, the connector housing comprises at least one lateral slot opening into said orifice and arranged to allow the insertion of the retaining member into the orifice.

In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the assembly means comprise at least two resilient return members and at least two retaining members each associated with an elastic return member, for holding the connector housing in position. at least two locations of the support, for example in three or four locations.

The connector housing may comprise at least one guide stud projecting from a face of the housing and arranged to cooperate with a complementary connector.

The connector housing may comprise at least one cavity, in particular at least two cavities, each arranged to receive an insulating block for holding electrical contacts.

The invention also relates to a connector housing for forming an assembly as mentioned above, as well as a retaining member for this assembly.

The invention further relates to an electrical connector housing, having an orifice and a substantially frustoconical guide surface adjacent to the orifice.

The housing advantageously comprises a lateral slot opening into the orifice.

The connector may be of the rectangular or circular type.

The invention also relates to an equipment intended to be shipped including on board an aircraft, comprising a connection assembly as defined above.

• la figure 1 représente, schématiquement et partiellement, en vue de côté, un ensemble de connexion conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 2 représente, schématiquement et partiellement, en vue de dessus, l'ensemble de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 représente, schématiquement et partiellement, en coupe suivant III-III, l'ensemble de la figure 2,
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique et partielle, en perspective, d'un détail de l'ensemble de la figure 1,
• les figures 5 et 6 représentent, schématiquement et partiellement, en coupe suivant III-III, un détail de l'ensemble de la figure 3, dans deux positions différentes, et
• la figure 7 est une vue schématique et partielle d'un ressort hélicoïdal conique.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of an example of non-limiting implementation of the invention, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

• the figure 1 represents, schematically and partially, in side view, a connection assembly according to the invention,
• the figure 2 represents, schematically and partially, in top view, the whole of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 represents, schematically and partially, in section along III-III, the whole of the figure 2 ,
• the figure 4 is a schematic and partial view, in perspective, of a detail of the whole of the figure 1 ,
• the Figures 5 and 6 represent, schematically and partially, in section along III-III, a detail of the whole of the figure 3 , in two different positions, and
• the figure 7 is a schematic and partial view of a conical coil spring.

We have shown on the figure 1 a connection assembly generally designated 1 according to the invention, comprising a support 2 consisting of a panel element and a housing 3 of a rectangular electrical connector (not shown entirely).

The plane of the panel element 2 extends perpendicularly to an axis X.

The panel element 2 is made for example of metal, especially aluminum.

The panel element 2 has a rectangular opening 7, made for example in the center of the panel element 2.

The casing 3 is of the male type and comprises a casing body 6 defining two cavities 5, as can be seen in FIG. figure 3 especially.

Alternatively, the housing 3 may be of the female type.

The casing body 6, made of metal in the example in question, comprises two tubular walls 4 of axis X, of substantially rectangular section, each surrounding a cavity 5. The casing body 6 can, alternatively, be made of plastic or composite material.

Each cavity 5 is arranged to receive an insulating block (not shown) provided with passages for the insertion of electrical contacts (not shown).

These electrical contacts may each be connected to an electrical wire, for example.

In a variant not shown, the connector housing 3 may comprise a single cavity 5.

The housing 3 can receive retaining elements 18 arranged to cooperate with an insulating block (not shown) inserted into a cavity 5.

This retaining element 18 may comprise, for example, tabs 19 that are elastically deformable.

The connector formed by the housing 3 is intended to be coupled to a female-type complementary connector (not shown).

The housing 3 has a top view, as shown in FIG. figure 2 , a generally rectangular shape and comprises at each longitudinal end a projecting portion 10.

Each portion 10 is traversed by an orifice 11 extending substantially along the axis X, and has a lateral slot 16 opening into this orifice 11, as shown in FIG. figure 4 especially.

Each portion 10 has a recess 12 into which opens the orifice 11, this recess 12 defining an annular shoulder 13 substantially perpendicular to the axis X, as illustrated in FIGS. Figures 5 and 6 especially.

Each portion 10 further has, on a face opposite the support 2, a frustoconical guide surface 15 adjacent to the orifice 11.

The housing 3 comprises a guide pad 20 extending at the front of the housing 3 and arranged to cooperate with a complementary connector during coupling.

The guide pad 20 is disposed between the two tubular walls 4 and has a height greater than that of these walls 4.

The housing 3 may include an element 21 for attaching cables attached to the connector.

The housing 3 is mounted on the support 2 via assembly means 25 so that the tubular walls 4 extend through the opening 7 of the support 2.

The dimensions of the opening 7 are chosen so that the housing 3 partially engaged in the opening 7 can be moved in the plane of the support 2.

The assembly means 25 comprise, for each protruding portion 10 of the housing 3, an elastic return member 27 constituted, in this example, by a cylindrical helical spring working in compression.

Each spring 27 engages, at one end, in a housing 12, against a shoulder 13 of the housing 3 and is integral, at an opposite end, with a head 28 of a retaining member 29.

The dimensions of the recess 12 are chosen so that the spring 27 engages in it by deforming slightly in the radial direction over a certain height and is kept tight there without radial play.

The spring 27 is also held tight, over a certain height, around the head 28, without radial play.

This way of fixing the spring 27 at both ends allows it to develop a return force in a radial direction.

The head 28 is connected to a rod 30 extending parallel to the axis X and engaged between turns 31 of the spring 27.

The rod 29 is connected, at the end opposite the head 28, to a base 32 fixed on the support 2.

Each base 32 has a frustoconical guide surface 33 against which the guide surface 15 of the housing 3 can bear when it is in a rest position, as illustrated in FIG. figure 5 .

The rod 30 is engaged in the orifice 11 by introducing it through the lateral slot 16.

In the example, the head 28, the rod 30 and the base 32 are made in one piece.

As illustrated on the figure 3 , the rod 30 is hollow and has an internal thread for fixing the retaining member 29 on the support 2 by means of a screw 35 extending through an orifice 36 of the support 2.

The retaining member 29 may be fixed by any other suitable means on the support 2, for example by crimping.

In the rest position, the housing 3 has no contact with the annular edge 39 of the opening 7, being substantially centered relative thereto.

When the housing 3 is coupled to a complementary connector, the housing 3, in order to compensate for any misalignment, can be moved relative to the support 2, particularly in the plane thereof.

In the coupled position, the housing 3 can, if necessary, be displaced along the axis X so as to compress the springs 27.

When the connector housing 3 is uncoupled, the springs 27, because they are each secured to a head 28 of a rod 30 through the corresponding spring 27, can exert a radial return force, which allows to center the connector housing 3 with respect to the opening 7 of the support 2.

The support of the guide surfaces 15 and 33 allows precise final centering of the housing 3 in its rest position.

The invention is particularly advantageous in that it requires only a small number of parts to achieve the desired centering effect.

The connection assembly 1 is particularly intended to be integrated with an onboard equipment on board an aircraft, including equipment comprising a kitchen element. It should be understood that this is only a particular application, the connection assembly according to the invention can be used in fixed installations or embedded in other types of locomotion apparatus on the ground, for example. air or water.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the implementation example which has just been described.

The spring 27 may in particular be replaced by a conical coil spring 27 ', as illustrated in FIG. figure 7 .

Claims (16)

1. Connection assembly (1) comprising:

   - a support (2), in particular a panel element, comprising an orifice (7), the orifice extending approximately in one plane,

   - an electrical connection terminal (3),

   - means (25) for assembling the connection terminal with the support,

   in which the assembly means are provided to allow firstly the terminal to be supported in relation to the support in a rest position in which the terminal extends at least partly through the support orifice and secondly a displacement of the connection terminal in relation to its rest position in a direction perpendicular to the orifice plane, said assembly means comprising at least one resilient return element (27) formed by a helicoidal spring and at least one retaining element (29) comprising a rod (3) engaging between the windings (31) of the spring, the rod (30) connecting to a head (28) firmly attached to an end of the spring,
   wherein the resilient return element (27) is arranged to be able to deform elastically to accompany a displacement of the connection terminal in a direction parallel to the orifice plane and return the connection terminal to its rest position,
   characterised in that the assembly means comprise at least one first guide surface (33), preferably annular and substantially frustoconical, that the connection terminal (3) comprises at least one second guide surface (15), preferably annular and substantially frustoconical, the first and second guide surfaces (33, 15) being arranged to come to rest one on the other when the connection terminal (3) is in its rest position, the first guide surface (33) being produced on said retention element (29) which comprises a base (32) fixed to the support and on which is produced the first guide surface (33).
2. Assembly according to claim 1, in which the support comprises an edge defining the orifice, characterised in that in its rest position, the connection terminal (3) has no contact with the edge of the orifice (7).
3. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in its rest position, the connection terminal (3) has no contact with the support (2).
4. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the resilient return element (27) is arranged to work in compression.
5. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the resilient return element (27) is attached over a portion of its height to the retention element (29) such that over this portion of height, there is substantially no radial play between the resilient return element (27) and the retention element (29).
6. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the head (28) and the rod (30) are made from one piece.
7. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connection terminal (3) comprises an orifice (11) through which said retention element (29) extends at least partially.
8. Assembly according to claim 7, characterised in that said second guide surface (15) is adjacent to said orifice (11).
9. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connection terminal (3) comprises a shoulder (13), in particular annular, on which the resilient return element (27) comes to rest.
10. Assembly according to claim 9, characterised in that the shoulder (13) is adjacent to the orifice (11).
11. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connection terminal (3) comprises a recess in which the resilient return element (27) extends at least partially over a portion of its height, preferably without leaving any radial play.
12. Assembly according to claim 7, characterised in that the connection terminal (3) comprises at least one lateral slot (16) opening into said orifice and arranged to allow introduction of the retention element into this orifice (11).
13. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the assembly means comprise at least two resilient return elements (27) and at least two retention elements (29) each associated with one resilient return element (27), allowing the connection terminal (3) to be held in at least two support sites.
14. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connection terminal (3) comprises at least one guide stud (20) protruding from the face of the terminal and arranged to cooperate with a complementary connector.
15. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connection terminal (3) comprises at least one cavity (5), in particular at least two cavities, arranged each to receive an isolating block for holding electrical contacts.
16. Equipment intended to be placed on board in particular an aircraft, comprising a connection assembly according to any of claims 1 to 15.

Images