EP2636099B1

EP2636099B1 - Quick spring connection system for electrical contacts

Info

Publication number: EP2636099B1
Application number: EP11791069.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: José manuel do nascimento MARTINHO; Marco Renato Marques Duarte
Original assignee: Efapel - Empresa Fabril De Produtos Electricos S A; Efapel - Empresa Fabril De Produtos Electricos Sa
Current assignee: EFAPEL - EMPRESA FABRIL DE PRODUTOS ELECTRICOS S
Priority date: 2010-11-03
Filing date: 2011-10-26
Publication date: 2017-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 2031-10-26
Also published as: PT2636099T; ES2659996T3; HRP20180236T1; WO2012060727A1; EP2636099A1; PT105364A

Description

Technical Field

The present invention refers to a quick connection system for electrical contacts by incorporation of a spring for fixing the direct fit conducting wire in the electric current conduction metallization without using any other components or any subsequent folding process, thus allowing a greater simplicity and modularity when compared to the existing systems in the market, as it will be described further ahead.

State of the Art

In the quick connection systems known in the market the connection between the metallization and the spring that fixes the conducting wire against said metallization la made in several different ways.
In some cases three metallic components are required: spring, electric current conduction metallization and a third one whose only function is to ensure the fixing and support of the spring in the metallization. Usually this third component comprises an area, which allows the housing of the spring as well as other areas that ensures the fixing of the spring in the metallization by fit. To ensure the fitting of the set, the contact metallization comprises openings through which thin areas existing in the support metallization go through. After the positioning, these areas are folded in order to prevent the detachment of the set. The assembly process referred herein implies the handling of a higher number of components when compared to the invention, apart from involving a bending process to ensure the fit.
In other cases three components are also used but, instead of a third metallic component there is a plastic support or fixation component. In these cases it is the contact metallization that comprises a spring housing area. However, the correct positioning of the spring is only guaranteed after the assembly of the set comprising the spring and metallization on the third plastic component that prevents the spring to leave the metallization. This solution implies a greater metallization complexity due to the need of a place to accommodate the spring and a third plastic component.
Another solution currently in the market is the use of spring and metallization only. Here the spring does not incorporate any specific fitting place, the metallization having a place of spring settlement. After the positioning of the spring, a fold in the metallization that traps the spring is made. This solution implies a folding process in the assembly of the set.
Document EP1536519 discloses a quick connection system comprising a spring incorporating support places in a claw shape, two securing tabs and a contact metallization with an opening.
US3497923 discloses a U-shape cable clip comprising two outwardly splayed limbs and an aperture.

Description of the Invention

The quick connection system invented allows a quick installation by using a spring, which ensures the contact of the conducting wire on the electric current conduction metallization, being innovative in the solution used for its fixation (Fig. 2), which makes the system simpler when considering several aspects that will be described further ahead, also allowing a high modularity and compact dimensions, important advantages in systems that might have little space to accommodate the referred connection system.
The present invention is characterized in that it comprises a spring (Fig.3) incorporating support places in a claw shape (1) and (3), the first of which, as well as the conducting wire securing tabs- (2), is flexible. The flexion of this support (1) allows the passage of both supports through an existing opening (4) in the contact metallization (Fig. 4) . After the entry of the spring and the force that causes the flexion of the claw-shaped support (1) has ended, it recovers the initial position being fitted in the metallization together with the support on the opposite side (3), preventing the exit of the spring through said opening (4). In addition to the flexion of the claw-chaped support (1) there is also the flexion of the tabs (2) that at the end of the proper assembly of the set are responsible for ensuring the fixing of the conducting wire against the metallization. These tabs (2) are folded along with the claw-shaped support (1) in such a way that after the fitting in the metallization is ensured, they remain folded against the metallization at the end of the spring fitting and before the insertion of the conducting wires. Thus in a single moment, the fixation of the spring as well as the correct position of the securing tabs (2) is encured.
By exerting force against the contact metallization, securing tabs (2) ensure the position of the claws (1) and (3) on the opposite side of the metallization immediately after the assembly and during the use of the system without the need to support the spring from below or sideways. In a situation in which the force of the tabs (1) and (3) against the opening sides (4) is not sufficient to ensure the accommodation of the spring or when additional stability of the set is required, there can be made, as shown on Fig. 5, recesses (5) and (6) on the periphery of the opening (4) on the sides where the claws (1) and (3) are filled. Thus with the claws (1) and (3) entering said recesses (5) and (6), its positioning is more stable.
As previously demonstrated, the whole conception of this system was thought to allow a simplified manufacturing process since the whole assembly of the set is figured to be easy even in a manual assembly, besides allowing the disassembly of the system if necessary, since the assembly does not imply any kind of permanent connection (riveting, bending, etc.) as in other solutions existing in the market, which is an advantage given the fact that the spring and the metallization are processed in different materials, which implies their separation to recover the components.
As referred, this invention, by being simpler in the assembly than others, assumes a particular importance bearing in mind that all of the componento involved in this type of systems present small sizes and complex shapes.

Description of the Figures

The attached drawings show.

Figure 1, a perspective viewed from above showing both the front and the right side view, a spring according to the invention assembled in a metallization;
Figure 2, the representation of the top view (figure 2.3) of the spring assembled in a metallization according to the invention, a right side cross section view (figure 2.1) and a view showing the front (figure 2.2);
Figure 3, the representation of the top view (figure 3.4) of the spring according to the invention, a right side view (figure 3.1), a front view (figure 3.2) and a view in perspective displaying both the front view and the right side view (figure 3.3);
Figure 4, the representation of the top view (figure 4.3) of a metallization according to the invention, a right side cross section view (figure 4.1) and a view in perspective seen from above (figure 4.2) showing either the front either the right side view;
Figure 5, the representation of the top view (figure 5.3) of a metallization with places to accommodate the spring claws, adjacent to the opening according to the invention, a right side cross section view (figure 5.1) and of a perspective view (figure 5.2) seen from above displaying both the front and the right side.

Claims

Quick connection system for electric contacts comprising a spring for fixing a conducting wire which incorporates a first and a second support in a claw shape (1, 3) and two securing tabs for the conducting wire (2), and also comprising a contact metallization with an opening (4), wherein the first claw-shaped support (1) and the conducting wire securing tabs (2) are flexible, so that a flexion of the first claw-shaped support (1) moves it towards the second claw-shaped support (3) and allows the passage of both supports through the opening. (4), and after the passage, the first claw-shaped support (1) recovers its initial position by moving away from the second claw-shaped support, wherein the claw-shaped supports (1, 3) pass through the opening (4) and stay fitted on the metallization on opposite sides of the opening (4), thus preventing the spring to exit through said opening (4), wherein by flexibly exerting force against the contact metallization, the securing tabs (2) ensure the position of the claw-shaped supports (1,3) on the opposite side of the metallization without the need to support the spring underneath or sideways.
Quick connection system for electric contacts according to claim 1, characterized in that the metallization has recesses (5, 6) on the periphery of the opening (4) where the claws will fit.