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
  • H01R13/22—Contacts for co-operating by abutting
  • H01R13/24—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted
  • H01R13/2407—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted characterized by the resilient means
  • H01R13/2421—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted characterized by the resilient means using coil springs

Definitions

• the present invention relates to electrical modules for a machine for preparing drinks. It relates more particularly to the electrical connection of such modules within a beverage preparation machine. It will find particular application as electrical modules for machines for preparing hot drinks and especially for coffee machines.
• a beverage preparation machine comprises several modules each providing at least one particular function.
• a machine generally comprises a boiler for heating a liquid and a pump for pressurizing the fluid.
• a pump for pressurizing the fluid.
• the machine may include a smaller or larger number of modules.
• Each of these modules comprises a body and at least one electrical member carried by the body and to be supplied with electricity to operate.
• the electric member may be a heating element producing heat when it is supplied with electricity.
• the electrical member needs to be connected to the electrical circuit of the machine.
• the conductive wires connected to the electrical component are electrically connected to wires connected to the power supply circuit of the machine by pods of faston lug type.
• this type of connection comprises a female lug secured to a first wire and a male lug secured to a second wire adapted to be inserted into the female lug to provide electrical contact.
• a machine generally has many electrical components (for example: a boiler, a pump, various sensors, various LEDs in addition to the power supply circuit) so that the number of pods can be relatively large. Therefore, the risk that two wires are connected to each other in a wrong way is far from negligible.
• connection means comprising at least one electrical contactor such as a contact pad intended to come into contact with a contact element carried by the feed circuit of the machine.
• connection means are arranged so that the positioning of the module in the machine, in its position of use, ensures contact between the pad of this module and the contact element of the machine, which consequently results in the electrical connection of the stud.
• the correct positioning of the module in the machine thus guarantees a correct connection of each of the phase, neutral and, if necessary, earth terminals of the module. Furthermore, the module is shaped so that it can be secured to the machine in one or positions corresponding to its or its proper positions of use.
• the electrical member can be supplied with electricity.
• This connection allows a much faster assembly and disassembly of the module since in just a few movements the module is secured and electrically connected to the machine.
• the electrical wires being removed, there is no need to identify a specific lug and assemble with its associated lug.
• the risks of erroneous connections are also reduced.
• the risk of damage to the machine is reduced and user safety is significantly improved.
• These characteristics of the boiler fit particularly well in an eco-design context. Indeed, the assembly and disassembly of the module being substantially facilitated and secure, the user can himself disassemble the module and return it for maintenance or exchange to a dedicated maintenance or recycling center. It can also replace this faulty module by a module in working order and put it back on the machine itself. Thus, there is no need to ship the machine as a whole which reduces the mass transported and therefore the emission of greenhouse gases accordingly.
• an electrical module for beverage preparation machine comprising a body and at least one electrical member which is carried by the body and which requires to be supplied with electricity to operate, and comprising at least one contact pad electrically connected to the electrical member, and intended to come into contact with a contact element carried by an electrical circuit of the machine to supply electricity to the electrical member, the elastic means being arranged to apply to the pad contact a force tending to move the latter out of the body of the module.
• the resilient means press the stud into contact with the contact element when the module is placed in its operating position. Therefore, this plating force ensures a stable connection between the module and the machine.
• the module according to the invention makes it possible to ensure a stable and easy and intuitive connection for powering the electrical component of this module. The risk of arcing or sparks is reduced.
• a module providing boiler functionality must be equipped with a high power density heating element.
• This type of heating element generally requires currents whose intensity is typically between 1 to 10 amps and whose power is typically between 1300 watts and 3500 watts.
• the invention is therefore particularly well suited for modules equipped with at least one electrical member requiring high power, such as, for example, heaters with a high power density.
• an unstable connection can cause a rapid deterioration of the module and limit the life of the latter. Indeed, the repetition of the sparks causes a "charbonnement" on the surface of the electrical contact pads. This local weathering increases the contact resistance at the passage of the current and causes a progressive power loss making the module quickly and inexorably inoperative. Thus, the invention tends to increase the life of the electric modules for beverage preparation machine.
• the module according to the invention may also optionally include at least any of the following features: - the contact pad has at least one degree of freedom with respect to the module body.
• the stud is arranged so as to remain in contact with the contact element while the module is moved relative to the machine in a direction substantially parallel to the normal to this contact, - the contact pad is arranged to slide in a bore formed in the body, the force generated by the elastic means tends to press the stud against the contact element, the elastic means comprise at least one compression spring disposed between a shoulder carried by the stud and a reduction of section bore,
• the module comprises stop means for limiting the amplitude of translation of the stud in the body in each of the two sliding directions,
• the module comprises a salient element carried by the stud and intended to come into contact with the body in a first direction corresponding to a movement of the stud out of the body, the projecting element is formed by a circlip housed in a groove made in the stud, the module comprises a connection member in contact with the
• a beverage preparation machine comprising an electrical circuit and at least one module requiring to be connected to the electrical circuit, and wherein the module comprises elastic means and a contact pad intended to be placed at the contact of a complementary contact element carried by the circuit to allow an electrical connection between the circuit and the module, the machine being arranged so that the elastic means apply to the contact pad a force tending to press and hold the pad against the complementary contact element.
• the machine comprises at least any of the following features:
• the complementary contact element is a contact surface carried by the electric circuit
• a beverage preparation machine comprising an electrical circuit and at least one module requiring to be connected to the electrical circuit, and wherein the circuit comprises elastic means and a contact pad intended to be placed at contact of a complementary contact element carried by the module to allow an electrical connection between the circuit and the module, the machine being arranged so that the elastic means apply to the contact pad a force tending to press and hold the pad against the complementary contact element.
• this machine may have at least one of the following features: the electrical circuit comprises a connection member electrically connected on the one hand with the stud and on the other hand with a spring power supply of the electrical circuit to ensure an electrical connection between the pad and the module, the connecting member is connected to the power supply source, the stud is slidably mounted in the electrical circuit and the connection is arranged to remain in contact with the pad when the latter slides relative to the circuit so as to maintain an electrical connection between the pad and the power supply source, the connection member slides on the pad, the pad comprises a flat part.
• connection member comprises an elasticity and a configuration adapted to press the connection member against the stud
• connection member comprises a first portion intended to be disposed in contact with the stud, a second portion intended to be arranged in contact with the module and a bend separating the the first and second portions, the bend ensures at least partly the elasticity of the connection member
• the electrical circuit comprises a plurality of pads, the electrical circuit comprises a pad connected to the phase and a pad connected to the neutral, the electrical circuit comprises a pad connected to the ground, a pad connected to the phase and a pad connected to the neutral, the earth pad is arranged to be disconnected last when the module is removed from the machine and so to be connected first when the module is connected to the machine, - the earth stud protrudes beyond the other studs, the earth stud is longer than the other studs,
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the boiler illustrated in FIG. 1 cut along a second plane parallel to the first plane
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a contact pad associated with a partially presented connection member
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the contact stud illustrated in FIG. 3 associated with a spring, a circlip and two partially represented connection members
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the connection member
• FIGS. illustrate two embodiments of the connection member shown in Figure 5.
• This module example relates to a boiler. It is not limiting. All the features described in this example can be applied to electrical modules having a different functionality of the boiler functionality. These characteristics may in particular be applied to a module acting as pump, cylinder, sensor, cooler, grain mill, visual or sound signaling or even milk frother.
• the module is a boiler 1. It comprises a body 10 comprising two flanges 12 forming an outer shell. Faced with each of the flanges 12 is a diffuser 13. The combination of a flange 12 and the outer face of the diffuser 13 associated therewith defines a heating chamber 17. Advantageously, this heating chamber forms a circulation channel 17 for the fluid. Preferably a peripheral seal 14 is disposed between the flange 12 and the outer face of the diffuser 13 and around the heating chamber 17, so as to seal the latter.
• the heating chamber 17 also comprises at least one inlet 16 and at least one outlet 16 intended to be connected to a fluidic network to allow the circulation of the fluid in the boiler 1.
• the inlet 16 of the boiler 1 is in communication with a pump fed by a tank and that the outlet 16 of the boiler 1 is connected to an extraction chamber of a product to be infused.
• the body 10 comprises a support 18 arranged to support the diffusers 13.
• This support 18 may also be shaped to receive the flanges 12 and define a one-piece assembly.
• Each diffuser 13 is associated with at least one electrical member intended to be supplied with electricity.
• the organ Electric is a heating element.
• the heating element is a resistive ink screen-printed resistor deposited on an internal face of the diffuser 13 opposite to the external face of the latter.
• the heating element may also be resistive wire type.
• Each heating element is electrically connected to a power source. When the heating element is supplied with electricity, it produces heat which propagates to the diffuser 13 and then to the liquid present in the heating chamber.
• Each heating element has at least two electrical terminals, one for the neutral and one for the phase.
• the boiler 1 also comprises a grounding terminal of the metal parts of the boiler 1. Note that this grounding terminal is useful only for reasons regulations for the protection of goods and persons, generally for modules involving liquid or visible metal parts.
• the module comprises electrical connection means. These means are arranged so that when the module, for example serving as a boiler is disposed in the machine in its position of use, the connection means establish an electrical contact between the terminals of the module with the electrical circuit of the machine.
• this specificity of the module allows particularly easy assembly and disassembly of the latter on the machine. It thus tends to significantly reduce maintenance, transport and manufacturing costs.
• it facilitates the design and production of modular machines. In these machines each function is provided by a dedicated module. This type of modular machine can reduce manufacturing and design costs since a wide range of machines can be obtained by varying the number and layout of common modules.
• connection means comprise a connection pad 2, 3, 4 for each of the phase, neutral and earth terminals.
• these pads 2, 3, 4 have substantially identical structures. The following description refers to only one of these pads, illustrated more particularly in Figures 3 and 4. It is also recalled that the earth pad is only optional.
• the stud 20 is made of a conductive material. It acts as contactor. It is electrically connected to at least one heating element. It is also arranged for making contact with a contact element carried by the electrical circuit of the machine to establish an electrical connection between the heating element and the contact element of the machine.
• the stud 20 extends in a main direction. In this direction, it has a first end and a second end. The first end forms a head 21, intended to come into contact with the contact element. Between the head 21 and the second end, the stud comprises a rod 22.
• the body 10 of the boiler 1 comprises a bore 30. As illustrated in the example shown, this bore 30 can be formed in the support 18. According to an alternative not shown, it can be provided that this bore 30 is formed in the outer shell of the boiler 1 formed for example by the flanges 12, or by a one-piece body. The bore 30 and the pad 20 are configured so that the pad 20 can be inserted into the bore 30.
• the bore 30 forms for the stud 20 a guide in translation along a sliding axis.
• the stud can slide in the bore 30 at a guide surface.
• the sliding axis defines a first direction designated plating direction 5 in which the stud 20 tends to exit out of the boiler 1, and a second direction opposite the first, designated insertion direction 6 and wherein the stud 20 penetrates inside the boiler 1.
• the bore 30 is open, so that the head 21 of the stud 20 is accessible from outside the boiler 1.
• the head 21 projects out of the outer casing of the boiler 1.
• the boiler 1 comprises elastic means arranged to exert a force on the stud 20 so as to push the latter in the plating direction 5.
• the stud 20 tends to come out of the body of the boiler 10.
• the boiler 1 is arranged so that in positioning operation, when the boiler 1 is positioned in the machine, the pad 20 is opposite the contact element associated therewith. Furthermore, the boiler 1 is shaped so that this force plates the head 21 of the stud 20 in contact with the contact element. Therefore, when relative movements between the boiler 1 and the machine occur, the pad admits a relative movement with respect to the boiler 1 but remains firmly in contact with the contact element. Thus, the electrical contact is maintained by this plating force.
• the electrical contact is thus not interrupted, especially when another module such as a pump generates vibrations which tend to cause relative movements, even of high amplitude, between the boiler 1 and the machine.
• the invention thus makes it possible to avoid these deletions of contact. It therefore offers a solution to power a boiler requiring a high power, subjected to vibrations and providing high temperatures and pressures. It thus effectively meets the specific constraints related to the preparation of espresso coffee.
• the rod 22 of the stud 20 has a predominantly cylindrical shape.
• the head 21 has a greater transverse dimension than the rest of the stud 20.
• the junction between the rod 22 and the head 21 forms a shoulder 23.
• the elastic means comprise a compression spring 32.
• this spring 32 is supported on the one hand on the shoulder 23 and on the other hand on a surface of the body 10 forming a first stop.
• this first abutment is formed by a reduction in the diameter of the bore 30. This reduction in diameter forms a bearing for guiding the stud 20 in translation.
• the spring 32 bears on the head 21 and on the first stop. It thus tends to move the head 21 away from the bore 30.
• the spring 32 is cylindrical and its dimensions are chosen so that it is threaded onto the rod 22 of the stud. The spring 32 and the first stop thus form for the block a translational stop in the direction of insertion 6.
• the elastic means are clipped at their associated contact element.
• the stud 20 also comprises a projecting element intended to come into contact with a second stop carried by the body 10 of the boiler 1 and forming for the stud 20 a stop in translation in the plating direction 5.
• This second stop is formed in the bore 30.
• it is defined by a reduction of section 31 of the bore 30.
• this section reduction 31 forms a translational guide surface for the stud within the bore 30.
• the projecting element is formed by the rod 22 of the stud or is, preferably, attached to the rod 22 of the stud. It can be provided that the latter has a groove 24 for receiving a circlip 33 acting as a projecting element.
• the stud 20 can slide in the bore 30, the length of its stroke being limited by the relative position of the stops of the head 21 and the projecting element.
• the electrical connection means comprise a connection member 50 arranged to provide an electrical connection between the stud 20 and the heating element forming an electrical member.
• the connection member 50 has a contact portion 56 integral with the heating element.
• this connection means are arranged so that the connection member 50 remains in contact with the stud and slide on it.
• connection member 50 comprises a first portion 51 having a substantially flat surface 52 intended to come into contact with a sliding contact zone formed on the pad.
• This sliding contact zone forms on the rod 22 a flat 25 adapted to define with the first portion 51 of the connection member 50 a plane-to-plane connection.
• the first portion 51 of the connection member 50 and the contact area of the pad 20 are arranged so that during sliding, the surface of their mutual contact is large enough to transmit large currents.
• the flat 25 extends along the main direction of the stud and from the second end of the latter.
• connection means comprise plating means arranged to press the connection member 50 against the stud.
• the main direction of this force is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the force exerted by the spring 32 on the stud.
• These plating means and generate a contact force tending to prevent any contact removal between the stud and the connection member 50.
• connection member 50 and the stud can be suppressed under the effect in particular of deformations of the boiler 1 which can be generated by the relatively high pressure prevailing inside the heating chamber or that can be generated by significant temperature variations.
• connection member 50 associated with the stud 20 thus offers an effective solution for ensuring electrical stability for working boilers. under high pressure, high temperature and subjected to vibrations.
• the combination of the elastic means and the connection member 50 thus makes it possible to generate plating forces in several directions and therefore ensures stability of the electrical contact even if the boiler 1 is moved relative to the machine in several directions.
• connection member 50 comprises a first portion 51 intended to ensure the sliding contact with the stud and a second portion 53 separated from the first portion 51 by a bend 55.
• This bend 55 obtained by deformation, gives the body Connection 50 has a good compressive elasticity when a force tends to bring the first and second portions together.
• the second portion 53 is extended by a contact portion 56 intended to ensure contact and maintenance between the connecting member 50 and the heating element.
• connection member 50 is arranged so that in the rest position, when in contact with the stud, it is slightly deformed so as to exert a prestress on the stud.
• the elbow will relax and the contact will be maintained.
• the elbow 55 will bend and tend to return the pad to its initial position while maintaining the electrical contact. Therefore, the constraints imposed on the boiler 1 are compensated by spring effect by the flexible connection member 50.
• connection member 50 as previously described by its functions or its various arrangements, in particular in the characterizing parts of claims 4 to 7, can be used on an electrical module not comprising the elastic means 32. By therefore, this connection member 50 cooperating with the stud 20 may be subject to independent protection.
• each stud is disposed in contact with two connecting members 50 disposed on either side of the stud. This configuration thus ensures a positioning of the pad and all the electrical connection means particularly stable.
• the boiler 1 comprises two diffusers 13 disposed on either side of the pad, each diffuser 13 being associated with a heating element connected to a respective connection member 50.
• the stud 20 then comprises two flats 25 each associated with a connection member 50 as illustrated in FIG. 4.
• the stud 20 is equipped with one, three, four or more connecting members 50, these connecting members 50 being connected to the same heating element, or a respective heating element.
• the pad is made of a material having good electrical conductivity, such as brass, tin, copper, silver, platinum or gold and their respective alloys or plating.
• the configuration of the stud 20 and its material are suitable for transmitting high power currents.
• the flexible connection member 50 is also made of a material having good electrical conductivity and adequate mechanical characteristics in elasticity such as alloys based on copper and nickel and / or silicon such as cupronickel or cuprosilicium.
• the basic material with adequate elastic characteristics can also be coated with another metal with high electrical conductivity such as copper, tin, silver, platinum or gold.
• an electrical member such as a heating element
• the invention finds in this application a particularly advantageous advantage since on the one hand it offers a connection per pad adapted to high power and since on the other hand it ensures effective stability of this connection.
• the module forming the boiler 1 comprises three pads, each of these pads acting respectively as earth terminal 2, neutral 3 and phase 4.
• the boiler 1 is arranged so that at its connection on the electrical circuit of the machine, the pad of the earth terminal 2 comes into contact with its associated contact element before the pads of the phase and neutral terminals 3, 4 come into contact with their contact element respective.
• the boiler 1 is arranged so that when connected to the electrical circuit of the machine, the contacts between the neutral and phase pads with their respective connection elements are removed before the contact between the ground pin and its associated contact element are deleted.
• the earth terminal 2 is always connected to the grounding of the machine.
• This variant makes it possible to significantly secure the assembly and disassembly of the boiler 1.
• the earth stud may be longer or the second stop may be shifted in the direction of plating relative to the second stops of the neutral and phase pads.
• the module has a symmetry so that it does not require a particular direction of assembly. Specifically, it is expected that it admits two symmetries in two perpendicular planes.
• the earth pad is disposed on each of the two planes of symmetry.
• the phase pad is symmetrically disposed to the neutral pad according to one of the planes, so that they are interchangeable.
• the electrical and fluidic components of the boiler module 1 are also symmetrical and arranged to allow different directions of assembly of the boiler 1 on the machine. Thus, each of these two pads can indifferently be connected to one of the phase or neutral contact elements of the electrical circuit of the machine.
• the boiler module 1 can be connected in a first position or in a second position by imposing, from the first position, a rotation of 180 degrees around the main axis of the grounding stud.
• This feature is particularly advantageous since it facilitates and greatly speeds up the mounting of the module on the machine. Moreover, it eliminates the risks of inversion of polarities. This characteristic thus allows the invention to fully register in the eco-design context mentioned above by reducing the number of components of the machine and consequently its environmental impact.
• the invention also offers great ease of assembly and disassembly for the module. Indeed, to assemble the module it is necessary to proceed in particular to the following steps.
• the spring 32 is arranged on the stud.
• the stud is inserted into the bore 30.
• the circlip 33 is placed on the stud.
• connection member 50 is positioned in its housing.
• the heating element 13 is arranged so that, at its contact, the connection member 50 deforms in order to exert prestressing both on the stud and on the heating element to ensure their mutual contact.
• the disassembly of the connection means is obtained by performing the preceding steps in the opposite direction.
• connection means are particularly simple.
• the invention thus contributes to reducing the manufacturing, maintenance and recycling costs of the electrical module. Furthermore, by facilitating the dismountability of the components of the boiler 1, the invention contributes to meet the criteria of eco-design in terms of recycling of materials at the end of life of the product.
• the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but extends to any embodiment within its spirit.
• the stud (s) 20 not to project on the boiler 1 and for the contact elements of the machine to be arranged to come into contact with a stud when the boiler 1 is in the operating position on the machine.
• the connection elements of the machine may thus have complementary shapes of the boiler 1, and may for example form complementary protuberances of the studs arranged recessed relative to the outer casing of the boiler 1.
• the head 21 of the pad is generally spherical.
• the contact element is substantially plane so that the contact is of point type.
• this contact is of linear type or plan on plan.
• the head of the stud may have a free end substantially flat or linear.
• the present invention can be applied for each of the modules requiring a power supply.
• all the characteristics relating to the pad and the connection member and to their functions and interactions can be applied to electrical modules other than boilers.
• the invention provides a particularly effective solution to improve the assembly and disassembly of beverage preparation machines.
• variants may be provided for the electrical connection between the connection member 50, 50a, 50b and the electrical member requiring the power supply. It is thus possible to adapt the shape of the contact portion 56, 57, 58 providing the electrical connection between the contact member 50, 50bis, 50ter and the electrical member.
• connection member 50ter has a contact portion 56 forming a termination directly crimped on the electric cable connected to the electrical member.
• This variant allows a continuity of power supply in a module that can be subjected to significant vibration and expansion and wherein the flexibility and flexibility of the electrical cable can overcome the effects of vibration and expansion.
• connection members 50bis and 50ter has the same characteristics and functions as those described for the connection member 50 except for the configuration of their contact portion termination 57, 58.
• the connection members 50bis and 50ter both provide a plating function to maintain a reliable electrical contact between the pad and the electrical member.
• the module is arranged so that the portion 51, 52 of the connection member 50, 50bis, 50ter intended to come into contact with the cooperating surface 25 of the stud 20 exerts on the latter a contact force.
• Each of these variants provides a particularly safe electrical connection between the module and the machine and considerably facilitates assembly and disassembly of the modules on the machine.

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• Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)

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• 2008
  • 2008-12-12 FR FR0858513A patent/FR2939628B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2009
  • 2009-12-09 WO PCT/EP2009/066673 patent/WO2010066760A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2009-12-09 EP EP09771339A patent/EP2384524B1/de active Active

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