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
  • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
  • H01R13/627—Snap or like fastening
  • H01R13/6277—Snap or like fastening comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
• • 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
  • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
  • H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of waterproof lockable connectors of the "push-pull" type.
• this type of connector is characterized by a series of resilient strips integral with the end of a movable sleeve which covers the body of one of the two connector elements.
• a disadvantage resulting from the principles currently used lies in the fact that the slats are strongly stressed when lateral forces are exerted on the connector, for example during pulls or oscillations exerted on the cable. Because of the space provided under the slats to allow their folding during unlocking, the slats gradually undergo a crash which can promote accidental unlocking of the connector.
• a solution to this problem is to reduce the length of the slots between the slats or, alternatively, to increase the width of the slats, in order to make them more rigid, thus more resistant to crushing. This approach is however not satisfactory because it makes the disconnection of the connector more difficult.
• FIG. 1 represents, by way of example, a "push-pull" type connector combining both a locking mechanism and a fluid-tightness. This type of design has been used for a long time in many applications as indicated above.
• the connector comprises in particular in zone 1, which is that of the cable 6, a tubular body 1 forming with a locking sleeve 2 which is axially movable on the body 1 the male part 5 and serves to perform the locking.
• zone 1 which is that of the cable 6, a tubular body 1 forming with a locking sleeve 2 which is axially movable on the body 1 the male part 5 and serves to perform the locking.
• a socket 3 which is attached to said body in the manners indicated below, all belonging to the male part 5.
• the female part 4 of the connector in which the male part 5 comes to be introduced.
• Sealing is a generally expensive operation and may, depending on the chosen method, require a test to check the tightness.
• FIG 2 the sequence A and B of mounting the three elements 1 to 3 identified above and belonging to the male part 5 is illustrated.
• said sleeve comprising a locking portion 2a (for example lamellae) whose diameter must be larger. small as the diameter of the sleeve 3 to operate the locking mechanism, according to the principles known for such connectors of the type "push-pull" (see publications mentioned above).
• the sleeve 3 is thus reported last in the assembly sequence and serves to separate the slats of the locking portion 2a of the sleeve 2 as known in the state of the art. Therefore the joining of the sleeve 3 on the body 1 must be sealed, which can be done by various means, for example with seals, or with the aid of adhesives or else by a welding process or by deformation mechanical, even hunting.
• An object of the invention is to overcome the problem of cost, by eliminating the need to seal parts, and therefore to test them.
• Another object of the invention is to improve the known connectors.
• an object of the invention is to provide a connector that is efficient and easy to produce without significant increase in cost.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a connector system which is easy to implement and which retains the locking and sealing properties of the connector.
• Figure 1 illustrates an example of a push-pull connector of the state of the art in section.
• Figure 2 illustrates side views of the mounting sequence (sequence A and B) of the plug of a connector similar to that of Figure 1.
• Figure 3 illustrates side views in section of the mounting sequence of the plug of a connector according to the invention.
• Figure 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the connector.
• Figure 5 illustrates a third embodiment of the connector.
• the body 10 forming the plug comprises a first cylindrical portion 10 'and a second cylindrical portion 10 ". It further comprises at its end a profile 11 corresponding to exactly the shape of the sleeve 3 used previously (see Figures 1 and 2) .
• the sleeve 3 is therefore no longer required here since it is replaced by the profile 11 which is part of the body 10.
• the sleeve 12 comprises a first portion 12 'intended to surround the first portion 10' of the body 10 and a second portion 12 'intended to surround the second portion 10 "of the body 10, comprising the lamellae separated by slots 13 and providing the locking function, as described above.
• the end of the sleeve 12 comprises bumps 14 on the lamellae forming part 12 "which make it possible to perform the locking function of the mounted connector, in a manner known in the state of the art.
• the part 15 may or may not be required and its characteristics dictated inter alia by the choice of materials constituting in particular the sleeve 12. Once assembled (see Figure 3 sequence D) the plug has the same characteristics as its conventional version of Figure 1 .
• the sleeve 12 is made diametrically resilient to allow its mounting, this elasticity being obtained either by an elongation of the slots 13 for example over most of the axial length of the sleeve 12, or by increasing the number of slots, or by combining these two ways of doing things.
• one of the slots 13 may be extended over the entire length of the sleeve 12.
• the additional piece 15 is necessary to "close” the sleeve 12 and prevent it from becoming detached from the plug 10 .
• the socket according to the invention does not have the principle of bumps as taught in US Patent 6,290,525, all their disadvantages are avoided: more complicated manufacturing, special assembly, reduction of the number of locking slats etc.
• This known socket does not provide sealing because this part is cut therefore is not waterproof on a seal placed as shown in Figure 1 of this application.
• the plug 20 comprises a first cylindrical portion 20 'and a second cylindrical portion 20 "of smaller diameter.
• the portion 20' comprises an annular groove 21 extending around the periphery of the plug in which an annular element 22 of the sleeve 23 is intended.
• the first portion 20 'further comprises an axial notch 24 which extends into the body 20 "' of the plug 20.
• the sleeve comprises also an axial extension 25 of complementary shape to the notch 24 which allows, once the sleeve 23 mounted on the plug 20 to prevent relative rotation of these two elements. It is therefore easy to orient the plug 20 relative to the socket 4 (see Figure 1) to align the contacts at the time of connection by turning the sleeve.
• groove 21 and the annular element 22 can be interchanged. Similarly, it is also possible to invert notch 24 and extension 25.
• FIG. 5 shows the mounting sequence A to D of another embodiment of the invention.
• the plug 30 comprises a first portion 30 'and a second portion 30 "of reduced diameter
• the first portion further comprises at least one cavity 31 (two cavities are shown in FIG. to receive a protrusion 32 of the sleeve 33.
• the mounted state is schematically represented in the sequence D of FIG.
• the slots 13/28/36 it is also possible to extend only one of the slots 13/28/36 over the entire length of the sleeve 12/23/33 to facilitate its further assembly.
• an additional means to ensure the closure of the sleeve once mounted, for example glue, or else through the additional piece 15/29/37 which slides over the sleeve 12/23/33.
• the materials used for the sleeve 12/23/33, and for the additional piece 15/29/37 may be metal or plastic or other materials such as composites etc.
• the additional piece can be driven on the sleeve or glued or fixed by another equivalent means.

Landscapes

• Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
• Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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ID=36499194

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2006
  • 2006-01-09 US US11/794,332 patent/US20080113556A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-01-09 WO PCT/IB2006/050077 patent/WO2006075282A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2006-01-09 WO PCT/IB2006/050076 patent/WO2006075281A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2006-01-09 EP EP06710646A patent/EP1844528A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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