EP2787579A1 - Quick-attachment device for a two-part connector with quick disconnection - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention proposes a device (1) for detachable attachment comprising a first bushing (3) and a second bushing (2) intended to be inserted into the first bushing (3), and an elastic element (12) able to lock axially the two sleeves relative to each other and retractable radially during the insertion of the second sleeve (2) in the first sleeve (3). One of the sockets (3) comprises an actuator (19) movable axially with respect to the sleeve (3), between a first position of axial locking of the two sockets (2, 3) by the elastic element (12), and a second unlocking position of the sleeves by radial retraction of the elastic element (12).

Description

The invention relates to connecting devices, including cable connection devices comprising a connector in two parts, intended to come together on either side of a support wall, which is traversed by the cables.

Such connectors conventionally serve to provide the connection of electrical cables but could be used to connect other types of cables, such as optical cables.

These connectors can be used to connect a wiring harness between the inside and outside of a device defined by the support wall, and can be used in transport vehicles, for example in aircraft, to provide power and the exchange of data of onboard electrical or electronic elements.

The connectors of this type generally comprise two paired connector parts, which are fixed on one another by trapping between them a portion of the support wall.

In order to ensure a correct connection of the cables, the connectors are often provided with coding means so that an operator can assemble a connector part only on the associated connector part, and that he can assemble it only in only one position.

These foolproofing means may at the same time comprise means for securing the two connector parts together, as for example in the French patent application. FR 2 814b 967 .

In this document, the polarizers comprise a hexagonal head inserted into a hexagonal housing of one of the connector parts and comprises a socket provided with a keying shape protruding from this connector portion. A screw of fixation is hooked directly into the first polarizing element, which faces it, the screw being guided by a second complementary keying element element of the first keying element. Fixing the screw requires the use of a suitable tool and the screwing operation can be time-consuming. The device described requires the handling of at least three different parts: a first keying part, a second keying part, and a fixing screw.

The French patent application FR 2,887,079 proposes to use a quarter-turn screw, and to pre-assemble the quarter-turn screw in the second coding element.

It is then necessary, at the time of assembly, groping to be convinced that the good gesture was made so that the quarter turn screw is locked. If the operator is not used to handling this type of securing means, it can incorrectly lock the quarter turn screw.

The invention proposes a clamping device at the same time serving as a keying element, which can be set up very quickly and intuitively, and can be assembled and disassembled without tools.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a removable fastening device comprising a first bushing, a second bushing intended to fit into the first bushing, and an elastic element able to axially lock the two bushes relative to each other. the other and retractable radially upon insertion of the second bushing into the first bushing. One of the bushings is assembled to an actuator which is axially movable relative to the bushing, between a first position of axial locking of the two bushings by the elastic element, and a second position of unlocking the bushings by radial retraction of the bushing. elastic element. One of the sockets is therefore part of a socket device comprising the socket itself and the actuator.

In other words, the actuator is able to move axially between a first position in which, when the second bushing is inserted in the first bushing, the interaction between the actuator and the elastic element allows the axial locking of the two bushings by the elastic element, and a second position, in which, when the second bushing is inserted into the first bushing, the interaction between the actuator and the elastic member causes the radial retraction of the elastic element so as to axially unlock the second sleeve relative to the first sleeve. According to an advantageous embodiment, the elastic element can be assembled to one of the sockets, and the actuator can be assembled to the other sockets. According to a preferred embodiment, when the two sockets are inserted into one another, the movement of the actuator from the first locking position to the second unlocking position can be obtained, for at least one angular position of the actuator, pressing the actuator towards the assembly of the two sockets. Unlocking the two sockets is easy even with oiled hands for example, because the actuator can be moved by a pusher inserted into the socket.

Each socket may comprise a guide body terminated at the front by an assembly end and terminated at the rear by an enlarged stopper, the assembly end of the second socket being configured to axially insert. in the assembly end of the first socket. By front element and rear element, here means elements located along the sleeve respectively on the side of the end and the side of the head of the sleeve. Preferably, the elastic element is assembled to one of the bushings, and said bushing comprises a keying shape allowing only a relative angular position of assembly between the two bushings, the keying shape being included axially between the elastic element and the head of the sleeve. In some embodiments, the elastic member itself acts as a keying shape. In other embodiments, the keying shape is integral with the bushing, and is located behind the elastic element. In this way, the keying shape does not interfere with the access of the actuator to the elastic element.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the elastic element is configured to retract radially by compression in the second sleeve, during the insertion of the end of the second sleeve into the first sleeve, and then to relax elastically. inside the first socket, so as to axially lock the second socket relative to the first socket.

The elastic element may be an axially split ring, retracting into a circumferential groove of the second bushing, and facing a first frustoconical surface converging towards the first bushing. The frustoconical surface can then act as a ramp at the time of insertion into the first socket, or at the time of unlocking by means of the actuator.

By "radially retract" the elastic element in the second socket, here is meant to compress the elastic element so as to reduce its radial size, enough to unlock the second socket relative to the first sleeve, even if the elastic element remains in relief relative to an outer surface of the second socket.

Advantageously, one of the bushings comprises a pusher inserted axially from an enlarged stop head of the bushing and making it possible to move the actuator axially by acting manually on the pusher. The pusher may be movable only in translation relative to the enlarged stop head, or may be movable both in rotation and in translation. Preferably, the pusher, the head of the bushing and the actuator are configured so that for at least one angular position of the pusher, a simple hand pressure on the pusher moves the actuator from the first position of locking at the second unlocking position. In certain embodiments, the pressure on the pusher always causes the actuator to be brought into its second position. In other embodiments, the pressure on the pusher can bring the actuator to the second position only for certain initial angular positions of the pusher. Angular position or angular rotation of the pusher means a rotation about the axis of the sleeve to which the pusher is assembled.

According to a preferred embodiment, the actuator is configured to compress the elastic ring radially when exerting axial pressure on the pusher. The actuator may comprise a portion of a tube, for example concentric with the elastic ring. According to alternative embodiments, the retraction of the elastic element can be done by exerting a pressure tending to close or on the contrary tending to widen the ring, or can be done on the contrary when one releases a pressure on the ring or on the elastic element. According to an advantageous embodiment, the pusher comprises a biasing element configured to return the axial actuator towards the rear of the sleeve in which it is inserted. Through the rear of the first bushing is meant in the direction from the assembly end to the enlarged head of the first bushing.

According to another embodiment, the pusher can slide inside the head of the first bushing along at least one surface of the pusher or the bushing, having a texture or reliefs so as to limit an accidental progression. axial pusher relative to the head. To return the pusher in the locked configuration prior to a new assembly operation of the two sockets, it is then necessary to pull the pusher to extract it again from the head of the first socket. For example, a peripheral surface of the pusher may be provided with circumferential reliefs defined from a radial sawtooth section. It is necessary to exert a first predefined force to insert the pusher, and a second predetermined force to emerge, the second force being for example greater than the first, or the two forces being substantially identical.

The pusher may comprise an actuator in the form of a hollow tube whose inner diameter corresponds to one of the diameters of the frustoconical portion of the ring, other than the maximum diameter of the frustoconical portion.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first bushing is pierced by a first substantially cylindrical guiding portion having a first inner diameter, followed by a second expansion portion of inner diameter greater than the first diameter. In this embodiment, the second bushing passes axially through the first guide portion and axially passes through at least a portion of the expansion portion.

In this embodiment, the pusher passes axially through at least a portion of the expansion portion, and the actuator has an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the expansion portion. The pusher can thus be guided in its axial displacement by a portion of the actuator bearing radially on the expansion portion of the first sleeve. The actuator is configured to move axially relative to the expansion portion. According to an alternative embodiment, the pusher can be depressed until it passes axially through the entire expansion portion. The pusher then reduces in the depressed position, the radial support inner diameter available within the entire extension portion. According to other embodiments, the actuator is movable relative to the hands expansion portion can not be depressed so as to pass through the entire expansion portion. By external diameter of the actuator is meant here the diameter of the smallest circle in which may be inscribed the portion of the actuator acting on the elastic element, that is to say the outer diameter in the case of a tube. In another variant where the actuator comprises a group of axial pins, the outer diameter of the actuator could be the diameter of a circle circumscribed to the pins. The expansion portion and the guide portion are preferably separated by a radial shoulder surface configured to retain the elastic member when the elastic member is relaxed, ie in the locked position, within the first socket. According to an alternative embodiment, the actuator may comprise an end whose outer diameter is reduced relative to the diameter of the expansion portion, for example a portion of diameter less than or equal to the inside diameter of the portion of the guiding, so that the actuator can not only pass through the expansion portion but also fit into a portion of the guide portion. In this embodiment, the pusher axially passes through the expansion portion and at least one axial portion of the guide portion. According to other simpler embodiments, the actuator has an outer diameter allowing it to be guided by the expansion portion, without allowing it to penetrate into the guide portion.

Preferably, the maximum outside diameter at rest of the elastic ring or element / group of elastic elements, has a diameter greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the expansion portion. According to a preferred embodiment, the inner guiding portion of the first bushing is traversed by an axial groove trough, and the assembly end of the second bushing comprises an axial axial slideway adapted to be inserted axially into the groove. axial groove of the first bushing. According to another possible embodiment, the guide portion of the first bushing comprises a raised axial slide, and the assembly end of the second bushing comprises a hollow axial groove lying angularly aligned with the slot of a bushing. elastic ring for interlocking the two sockets.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the internal diameter of the actuator is substantially equal to the diameter of the guide portion. According to an alternative embodiment, the internal diameter of the actuator may be smaller than the diameter of the guide portion. By internal diameter of the actuator is meant the diameter of the largest circle that can be inscribed inside the areas of the actuator that come into contact with the elastic element or elements of the second sleeve. In the case where the actuator is a tube, it is the inside diameter of the tube.

The pusher may comprise a portion of metal hollow tube overmolded by an end portion of polymeric material, the end portion comprising one or more portions of a skirt axial side axially covering a portion of the tube, and providing a cylindrical space between the tube and the skirt.

The pusher may then comprise a coil spring inserted between the tube and the skirt. More generally, the pusher may comprise an elastic return means configured to return the pusher to the unlocking position.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the free end of the head of the first bushing comprises a retaining flange extending radially inside the head so as to locally reduce the section of a substantially cylindrical housing provided to the rear of the head, in which is inserted the pusher. The cylindrical housing may be a cylindrical housing of revolution, or a cylindrical housing of any section, for example a cylindrical housing of square or hexagonal section. The holding flange may be a continuous flange or may comprise one or more distinct radial protuberances together reducing the section available for passage of the pusher into the housing. Preferably, the skirt has several distinct axial portions, at least two of which are configured to serve as clipping tabs and retain the pusher inserted axially inside the head of the first sleeve. To this end, the clipping lugs may comprise radial reliefs configured to be inserted behind a radial retaining flange formed at the end of the head of the first sleeve.

According to another variant embodiment, the pusher may comprise a one-piece piece comprising a first hollow tube portion defining the actuator, and comprising at least one axial portion provided with a circumferential groove receiving a resilient retaining ring positioned outside. , radially speaking, of the hollow tube portion. Preferably, the elastic ring is positioned radially outside the axial portion, whose diameter may be greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the hollow tube. In this embodiment, the retaining rim may be discontinuous or may be circular, and the outer diameter of the rim may be the free state is then greater than or equal to the smallest inlet diameter allowed by the radial retaining flange. If the holding flange is circular, the outer diameter of the ring is greater than the inside diameter of the retaining flange. The pusher may comprise other elastic retention means that clipping tabs or an elastic ring, for example may be provided with elastically compressible radial protuberances on its outer circumference.

According to a preferred embodiment, the axial portion is defined on a second hollow tube portion encircling the first hollow tube portion. A spring can then be housed in a radial gap between the two portions of hollow tubes. According to another embodiment, the axial portion carrying the retaining ring can be part of the same tube with variable radial thickness, the tube portion defining the actuator. A spring can then be placed around a portion of the tube of smaller outer diameter, and be axially supported on a shoulder corresponding to a zone of change of thickness of the tube. The holding groove is then formed in the vicinity of the shoulder, on the outside of the thicker portion of the tube. According to yet another embodiment, the one-piece piece is a tube of substantially constant thickness, but having a larger diameter at the axial portion carrying the ring, and a smaller diameter at the actuator portion of the tube. A spring can then be arranged around a portion of the smaller diameter tube, and be in axial abutment on a shoulder corresponding to a zone of diameter change of the tube. The holding groove is then formed in the vicinity of the shoulder, on the outside of the wider portion of the tube.

The head of the first bushing may comprise an inner cylindrical end volume, of third internal diameter greater than the diameter of the expansion portion, the inner cylindrical end volume being limited towards the rear of the bushing by a flange of maintaining, tightening towards the axis of the sleeve, the retaining rim being of minimum diameter smaller than the third diameter but greater than the diameter of the expansion portion. Volume cylindrical end is configured to accommodate the end of the clipping tabs of the pusher.

In an advantageous embodiment, the pusher is provided with a shape capable of being inserted into a counter-shape formed on the head of the socket in a first angular position of the pusher relative to the socket, and capable of preventing the depressing the pusher in the socket for at least a second angular position of the pusher.

The invention also proposes a connection assembly for connecting cables arriving on either side of a support plate. The connection assembly comprises a fixing device as described above, comprising a first connector portion pierced with an orifice terminating in a polygonal countersink of complementary shape to an enlarged head of the second socket, comprising a second connector part. pierced with a hole terminating in a polygonal countersink of complementary shape to an enlarged head of the first socket, the two connector parts being able to be secured axially with the aid of the fixing device. Preferably, the connection assembly comprises at least two fixing devices as described above. According to a preferred embodiment, the assembly end of the second bushing and the assembly end of the first bushing comprise complementary keying reliefs allowing only an angular insertion position of the second bushing in the first bushing. first socket. The device can then serve as an assembly device at the same time acting as a keying device, to assemble a connection assembly.

• la figure 1 est une vue éclatée en perspective d'un dispositif de fixation et de détrompage selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe d'un élément d'un dispositif de fixation et de détrompage selon l'invention.
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe d'un élément d'un autre dispositif de fixation et de détrompage selon l'invention.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of nonlimiting example, and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a fixing and polarizing device according to the invention,
• the figure 2 is a sectional view of an element of a fixing and polarizing device according to the invention.
• the figure 3 is a sectional view of an element of another fixing and polarizing device according to the invention.

As illustrated on the figure 1 , the fastening system 1 according to the invention comprises a second male socket 2 and a first female socket 3. The male socket 2 comprises an axial slideway 10 which is in relief relative to the generally cylindrical outer surface 28 of the end of FIG. assembly 6a of the second bushing. The axial slideway 10 is complementary to an inner axial groove 11 (not visible on the figure 1 but visible on the figure 2 ) to the first socket. Each of the bushes 2, 3 comprises a guide body, respectively 6, 7, substantially cylindrical, and a stopper head, respectively 4, 5, whose contour is of polygonal shape, for example hexagonal. More generally, the head is shaped to prevent rotation of the sleeve about its axis xx 'when the stopper head 4, 5 is inserted in a complementary housing of a connector portion (not shown), this shape allowing several distinct positions of the head in the housing dedicated to it. The outer diameter of each guide body, respectively 6, 7, substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of an assembly bore, respectively 51, 52, visible only on the figure 2 - formed in one of the two connector parts to assemble.

Throughout the description, the axial direction means the direction xx 'common to the axes of the two bushes, and which is also the insertion direction of the second bushing 2 in the first bushing 3.

Throughout the description the back of a socket is on the side of the stop head of the socket, and the front of the socket corresponds to the axially opposite side of the stop head.

The second bushing 2 comprises an assembly end 6a located in the extension of the guide body 6, and carrying the axial slideway 10. The guide body 7 of the first sleeve comprises an assembly end 7a, which may in certain cases represent the entire length of the guide body 7, and which is hollow so as to be able to insert the end of the guide body. assembly 6a of the second bushing.

The guide body 6 of the second bushing is traversed by a circumferential groove 38 in which is inserted a rod 8, in the form of a split elastic ring, having a frustoconical portion 8a narrowing towards the front of the bushing, and having on its rear side a radial portion 8b, adapted to come axially against a shoulder formed inside the connector when the sleeve is inserted into the connector, and that the rod 8 elastically relaxes there.

Similarly, the first bushing 3 is traversed by a circumferential groove 39 in which is housed a rod 9 having at the front a frustoconical portion 9a and at the rear a radial support zone 9b.

The assembly end 6a of the second bushing comprises a front portion 20 which is chamfered so as to facilitate the relative centering of the two bushes 2, 3, during the insertion of the second bushing 2 into the first bushing 3. chamfered portion may optionally be replaced by a conical portion or by another profile forming part of a cone portion, for example three or four ribs joining on the axis xx ', and registered in a frustoconical portion.

Behind the chamfered portion 20, the assembly end 6a is traversed by a circumferential groove 14, in which is inserted an assembly rod 12 split axially, having as the rods 8 and 9 a frustoconical portion 12a at the front and a radial support zone 12b at the rear.

The circumferential grooves 38, 39 and 14 may run over the entire circumference of the bushing or may be interrupted - as here in the case of the groove 39 - at the opening of the corresponding ring. The interruption of the groove circumferential outer 39 to the first sleeve makes it possible to provide inside the first sleeve the necessary space for the axial groove 11.

The heads 4 and 5 may each be provided with an angular mark, visible here in the form of an orientation slot 22 on the head 5. This angular mark makes it possible to identify visually the angular position of the socket when the latter is in inserted position in the connector.

The first bushing 3 is traversed axially from one end to the other by a substantially cylindrical bore, the front portion of which constitutes a housing 16 into which the assembly end 6a of the second bushing can be inserted and whose rear end forms a housing 17. in which is inserted axially a pusher 13 providing a radial bearing zone at the rear axial end 21 of the pusher. The housing 16 comprises at the front of the bushing a first guide portion-keying 46, connected by a radial shoulder 47 with an expansion portion 48 of diameter greater than the diameter of the guide portion, the expansion portion 48 lying behind the guide portion 46.

The radial depth of the groove 14, the inner and outer diameters of the ring 12, are chosen so that the ring 12 can radially erase in the groove 17, enough to axially insert the assembly portion 6a of the second sleeve 2 in the housing 16 of the first sleeve 3 for a distance sufficient for the rod 12 to cross axially the guide portion 46 and come to elastically relax inside the expansion portion 48. The outer diameter at rest of the 12 being greater than the minimum diameter of the annular locking shoulder 48, the ring 12 is then locked axially inside the first sleeve 3. The circumferential groove 14 is delimited towards the front of the sleeve 2, by a radial portion 14a, and at the rear by a radial portion 14b. The outside diameter of the front radial portion 14a is greater than the inside diameter of the ring 12 when it is elastically relaxed inside the portion 48. In expanding, the ring 12 also locks axially the second sleeve relative to the first sleeve. The outer diameter of the rear radial portion 14 is preferably greater than the inner diameter of the rod 12, in an elastically unstressed state, so as to axially push the rod 12 axially inside the housing 16 of the first sleeve. The outer diameters of the radial portions 14a and 14b may be equal, or the outer diameter of the front portion 14a may be smaller than that of the rear portion 14b.

The pusher 13 has a shape 33 creating a relief in the axial direction. This shape is complementary to a counter form 32 formed on the head 5 of the first sleeve. The shape and the counter form are arranged so as to allow greater axial displacement of the pusher inside the head 5 when the shape and the counter form face each other, than when the shape and the counter form are angularly offset, one by report to the other. The raised shape can of course be arranged on the head 5 and face a counter-shaped hollow on the pusher 13.

The pusher 13 comprises an axial actuator, here in the form of a hollow tube 19, which is coaxial, in the assembled position, at the assembly end 7a of the second bushing 2, and more particularly, which is coaxial with the portion The hollow tube is metallic here, but could also be made of polymer material, for example. The axial actuator is configured to bear axially on the frustoconical portion 12a of the assembly ring 12, when exerting an axial pressure on the pusher, for example at the radial portion of the end 21 of the push rod, the ring 12 being elastically expanded inside the expansion portion 48. The frustoconical portion 12a of the ring 12 acts as a ramp, and the axial force of the actuator 19 is converted at least partly into effort In this way, when pressing the pusher 13, a radial retraction of the ring 12 is obtained, and it becomes possible to disengage the second socket 2 from the first socket 3.

The pusher 13 comprises a return spring 15 placed here around the tube 19, and whose diameter corresponds to the diameter of a radial shoulder zone 18 formed inside the first sleeve 3, for example inside the the head 5 of the first bushing 3. The spring may be facing the radial shoulder zone 18 or be supported thereon.

The pusher 13 comprises three axial clipping lugs 25, each carrying at their end a radially outwardly oriented retention lug 27, configured to come to a stop in front of a retaining rim 29 forming a radial constriction at the exit of the housing 17 receiving the pusher 13. Each clipping lug 25 comprises an axial portion in the form of a tongue forming an angular portion of a hollow cylinder, the different tongues being circumferentially aligned so as to form a cylindrical skirt 23 perforated with axial openings 24. The skirt 23 surrounds the spring 15 which is thus held radially between the tube 19 and the skirt 23, which define a guide housing 31 of the spring.

The axial length of the tube 19, clipping lugs 23 and the axial length of the spring 15 are chosen so that, when the spring 15 is at its maximum length allowed by the clipping lugs 25, the tube 19 is forward. assembly rod 12, that is to say exerts by axial force on the ring, or exerts an axial force less than that necessary to retract the assembly ring 12 enough to unlock the two sockets. The tube 19 may then be just in contact with the ring to limit the axial size of the device, or may instead be axially separated from the ring, to limit the risk that the tube accidentally interact with the ring 12.

The figure 2 , on which is illustrated in section the fixing device of the figure 1 , makes it possible to understand in a more immediate manner the operating mode of the fixing device. We find on the figure 2 elements common to the figure 1 , the same elements being designated by the same references.

Note that on the figure 1 , the device is shown in broken disassembled mode, the pusher 13 being out of the head 5 of the first socket, while the device is intended to be delivered with the pusher clipped inside the head, the pusher remaining clipped during all subsequent modes of operation of the device.

On the figure 2 on the other hand, the fixing device is illustrated in assembled and locked mode. The second bushing 2 is thus inserted into a bore 51 of a first connector portion 42 in which the second bushing is held by means of the retaining ring 8, whose rear radial face 8b bears axially against a radial shoulder. 44 of the bore 51. The first bushing 3 is inserted into a bore 52 of a second connector portion 43 in which it is held by means of the rod 9, whose rear radial face 9b bears axially on a shoulder inner radial 45 of the bore 52.

The axial thickness of the first connector portion traversed by the second bushing here substantially corresponds to the cumulative axial length of the guide body 6 of the second bushing and at least a portion of the stopper head 4 of the second bushing. . The axial thickness of the second connector portion 43 traversed by the first bushing substantially corresponds to the cumulative axial length of the guide body 7 of the first bushing and the axial thickness of the head 5 of the first bushing. In this way, the assembly end 7a of the second bushing protrudes from the first connector portion 42 when the first and second connector parts are separated, and the housing 16 of the first bushing 3 receiving this assembly end 7a is flush with the surface of the second portion of the connector 43, thus facilitating the centering of the second socket relative to the first socket.

It is of course possible to envisage embodiments where the lengths of the guide bodies 6 and 7 of the first and second sleeves do not correspond to the respective thicknesses of the connector parts in which they are inserted.

The central axial bore 16 of the first bushing 3 comprises a first guide-coding portion 46 having a first diameter d2, and having an inner axial guide groove 11 adapted to receive the axial slide 10 of the assembly end of the second socket.

This guide-coding portion 46 is followed by a radial annular locking shoulder 47, and by a substantially cylindrical expansion portion 48, of diameter d3 greater than the diameter of the guide portion.

In the locked locked position illustrated on the figure 2 , the assembly rod 12, after its insertion into the first sleeve, and after crossing the guide portion 46, elastically relaxes, and occupies a diameter which is the smaller of the two values: diameter at rest of the rod 12, and diameter of the expansion portion 48.

In embodiments where, as on the figure 2 , the diameter d2 of the guide portion is strictly less than the diameter d3 of the expansion portion, the locking shoulder 47 may be limited to a radial surface joining the diameters d2 and d3. It is also possible to envisage variant embodiments in which the diameter d2 is greater than or equal to the diameter d3, the guide portion 46 then being separated from the expansion portion by a ring of material of the bushing projecting inside the central drilling 16 of the socket.

The diameter d0 of the circumferential groove 14 of the second bushing 2 in which the ring 12 is housed, as well as the angular opening of the slot of the ring 12, are provided so that the ring 12 can, by elastic deformation, to be reduced to a diameter less than or equal to the minimum diameter of the shoulder 47, which may correspond to the diameter d2, as for example on the figure 2 .

The diameter d1 of the front end of the second bush, defined as the maximum diameter of the front face 14a of the circumferential groove 14, in which the ring 12 is housed, is chosen to be greater than the inside diameter of the ring 12 when it is in the expanded position at the level of the expansion portion 48. In order to avoid losing the ring 12 during the pre-assembly of the fixing device, the diameter d1 is also greater than the inside diameter of the ring 12 in its unconstrained state.

When inserting the second bushing in the first, the elastic ring 12 retracts elastically, either upon entry into the guide portion 46, or when crossing a narrowing preceding the locking shoulder 47. Then the ring extends inside the expansion portion 48, and then prevents axial displacement of the second sleeve relative to the first, being braced between the shoulder 47 and the front face 14a of the groove 14 In this locked state of the device, the tube 19 is at the front of the assembly ring 12, possibly in contact with the frustoconical portion 12a of the ring but preferably without exerting force on this portion 12a. It is possible to envisage embodiments in which, in the locked position, the tube 19 would already exert a prestressing force on the rod 12, but it is then necessary that the outside diameter of the rod 12 thus obtained remains sufficient to lock the rod at the level of the shoulder 47.

It is possible to envisage embodiments in which the tube 19 is not directly in contact with the rod 12, in other words is in front of the rod 12. The spring 15 exerts on the pusher 13 a return force to the rear the first bushing which tends to move the tube 19 away from the ring 12. For this, the spring 15 is arched between the bearing shoulder 18 and a radial bearing surface 50 formed at the pusher 13 at the bottom of the space delimited between the clipping lugs 25 and the tube 19. The outside diameter of the tube 19 substantially corresponds to the diameter of the expansion portion 48, which makes it possible to center the movement of the tube 19 when it is actuated to unlock the device.

To unlock the device, the operator exerts, with respect to the second connector portion 43 in which is inserted the first sleeve 3, a pressure on the pusher 13, axially moving the tube 19 towards the rear of the second socket 2 and exercising a pressure on the frustoconical portion 12a of the rod 12, which then acts as a ramp converting the axial force into a radial force leading to the elastic retraction of the diameter of the rod 12.

The ring 12 is then able to cross the shoulder 47, and the second bushing 2 can be disengaged from the first bushing 3. In order to facilitate the sliding of the tube 19 on the bushing 12 during the retraction thereof, inner end of the tube 19 may be chamfered so that its inner angle approaches the angle of the frustoconical portion 12a of the rod 12 as in its position inside the expansion portion 48.

The dimensions at rest of the ring 12 may in fact be chosen so that the diameter at rest of the ring is slightly greater than the diameter of the expansion portion 48. According to another variant embodiment, the inside diameter of the portion of the ring expansion 48 may be greater than or equal to the outer diameter at rest of the rod 12.

As illustrated on the figure 2 , the ring 12 may have, at the rear of its radial zone 12b, a cylindrical portion 12c of diameter less than its maximum diameter. When the fastening device is locked, the outer diameter of this cylindrical portion may come into radial abutment against a zone of reduced section preceding the shoulder 47. According to the radial difference in height between the maximum diameter of the rod and the cylindrical portion 12c, the diameter in the locked position of the ring may be imposed either by a radial contact at a zone of maximum diameter of the ring, located between the frustoconical portion 12a and the radial shoulder 12b, or by a radial contact at the portion 12c.

The cylindrical portion 12c can facilitate the crossing of the necking zone by the rod 12, both at the time of assembly and during disassembly of the device.

It is thus possible to envisage variant embodiments in which the diameter d2 corresponds to both the inside diameter of the guide portion 46 of the first bushing 3 and corresponding substantially to the outside diameter of the assembly end 6a. the second sleeve - is greater than the minimum diameter of the shoulder 47. The axial locking of the ring 12 is then provided at an inner annular protuberance of the first sleeve, located in front of the shoulder 47 relative to this first socket.

In this variant embodiment, it is possible to envisage placing the axial slideway 10 at the inside of the first bushing and to produce a corresponding guide groove at the outside of the guide-coding portion 46. of the second socket.

In some embodiments, the outer diameter of the assembly end 6a of the second bushing may be smaller than the inside diameter of the guide portion 46 of the first bushing.

In case of frequent assembly / disassembly, however, the inner annular protuberance may wear out, and the device may lose its efficiency more rapidly than in the case where the diameter d2 of the guiding-coding portion 46 remains smaller than the diameter d3. expansion portion 48.

The operation of the fixing device is as follows. The second bushing 2 is inserted into a bore 51 of a first connector portion 42. The bore 51 comprises a polygonal housing of complementary shape to that of the head 4 of the bushing in order to prevent rotation of the bushing in the connector , while allowing several angular positions of assembly of the sleeve 2 inside the first connector portion 42. The rod 8 whose outer diameter at rest is greater than the diameter of the bore 51 of the first connector portion 42 is deforms radially in compression and then, once crossed a shoulder 44 radial inside the bore 51, relaxes and thus locks the second sleeve 2 in the first part of the connector 42. Similarly, the first sleeve 3 is inserted into a dedicated bore 52 of the second connector portion 43, in an angular position such that once the two connector portions 42 and 43 are assembled, the angular positions of the axial slide 10 of the second bush, and the inner groove 11 of the first bushing, allow the engagement of the axial slideway 10 in the inner groove 11.

The first bushing 3 is locked axially inside the second connector portion 43 with the aid of the elastic ring 9, once it has relaxed after having axially crossed a radial shoulder 45, inside the bore 52 When the two parts 42 and 43 of the connector are brought together, thus equipped in advance with their assembly and coding bushes 2 and 3, the assembly end 6a of the second bushing is inserted axially. in the guiding-coding portion 46 of the first socket 3. If an error has been made in the pairing of the two connector parts, the angular position of the slideway 10 does not correspond to the angular position of the inner groove 11. With the same geometry of the bushing torque 2-bushing 3, it is thus possible to discriminate six different configurations of each connector assembly device. The connector generally comprising at least two assembly devices arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the connector -where the bundles of cables are joined-is obtained, by means of an assembly designed to receive two identical connectors, thirty six possible combinations of different combinations of angular positions of the pair of foolproof devices.

Let the distance e1 between the base of the head 4 of the second bush 2 and the radial bearing zone 8b of the bush 8. If this distance is equal to the distance e2 between the base of the head 5 of the first bushing and the radial bearing area 9b of the first sleeve 3, this number of combinations is multiplied by two. Indeed, it is possible to insert for certain connection configurations, the second socket in a second connector portion 43 and the first socket in a first connector portion 42.

Once the second bushing is inserted in abutment in the first bushing, the ring 12 elastically relaxes after having crossed the shoulder 47 and opposes axial disengagement of the second bushing from the first bushing. In this configuration, the Pusher 13 protrudes axially from the second connector portion 43. To disassemble the first connector portion 42 from the second connector portion 43, an operator presses the pusher 13 to move the tube 19 against the frustoconical portion 12a. rod 12, and to exert a radial compressive force on the rod 12, to bring the outer diameter of the rod 12 below the minimum diameter of the shoulder 47. It then becomes possible to move the two connector portions away , the sleeves 2 and 3 are no longer locked by the ring 12.

In the case where the first bushing 3 is provided with the form 33 and counterforms 32, the operator must first turn the end of the pusher 13 until the shape 33 faces the counter form 32, in order to have a sufficient axial stroke of the pusher 13. Typically, the axial height of the shape 33 is chosen so that, when this shape bears on an area of the head 5 other than the counterfoil 32, even if the tube 19 is in position. contact with the ring 12, the outer diameter of the ring 12 remains greater than the minimum diameter of the shoulder 47. It is thus angularly lock the pusher by placing it in a position where accidental axial action on the pusher does not separate the two sockets .

To ensure both a good guide tube 19 and a sufficient stroke of the pusher 13, the first sleeve 3 comprises, on the inside of its head 5, an inner cylindrical rim 35 axially extending the expansion portion 48 beyond the guide body 7 in the head 5 of the first sleeve. The rim 35 is inserted radially, at the end of travel of the pusher 13, between the tabs 25 and the tube 19. At the end of the pusher stroke, the tabs 25 come into axial abutment on a radial surface 49 surrounding the rim 35.

In the absence of the form-counterform system, or, in the case where after assembly of the two connector parts 42 and 43, the form 33 has not been shifted with respect to the counterfoil 32, the return spring 15 maintains all likewise the pusher 13 in its position corresponding to the locked configuration of the device.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the tube 19 is for example a metal tube closed at one end, made by stamping, and on which is molded, at the closed end, a plastic head having axial clipping lugs 25 , and a radial bearing portion at the end 21 covering the bottom of the metal tube. This configuration makes it possible to obtain a good rigidity and a good dimensional stability of the element of the axial actuator 19. It is possible to envisage variant embodiments in which the axial actuator would consist of one or more other elements, different from one another. a tube. For example, it is conceivable to replace the tube 19 by a series of pins simultaneously pressing at different points of the circumference of the ring 2.

The figure 3 illustrates another fixing device and coding according to the invention, wherein the pusher 13 is made differently. In this version, the tube 19 acting as an axial actuator is integral with the rear axial end 21 of the pusher, and with an axial skirt 30 surrounding the tube 19. The axial skirt 30, integral with the tube 19, here replaces the axial skirt 23 of the figure 2 formed by the clipping lugs 25. The spring 15 is held radially between the tube 19 and the skirt 30. The axial skirt 30 forms a cylindrical portion which extends, circumferentially in a continuous manner, around the central tube 19 of the pusher 40 The retention of the pusher 40 inside the head 5 of the first sleeve is ensured by means of a resilient holding gasket 41 encircling the axial end of the skirt 30. The rod 41 is inserted into a holding groove. 34 of the skirt 30. The rod, in its elastic rest position, forms a radial relief with respect to the radially outer surface of the skirt 30. The depth of the groove 34 and the radial thickness of the rod 41 are such that the The ring may fade inside the groove 34 at the moment when the pusher 40 is inserted axially inside the head 5 of the first bushing. The head 5 of the first bushing comprises a retaining flange 29 extending radially inside the head towards the axis of the bushing, and locally reducing the section of a cylindrical opening provided at the rear of the head. The outer diameter of the rod 41 is greater than or equal to the inside diameter of the retaining rim 29 of the pusher. The pusher 40 monobloc can be made of metal. It can also be made of polymeric materials, for example thermosetting polymer materials.

Once the pusher 40 inserted into the head 5 of the first bushing, the pusher 40 is retained axially inside the bushing by the rod 41. It is not removed from the invention if the axial metal skirt 30 comprises one or more axial openings. An advantage of this one-piece configuration of the pusher is to ensure a better hold of the pusher 40 in the second socket and to avoid being unable to remove the fixing device in case of accidental loss of the pusher.

The assembly of the two connector parts 42 and 43 is therefore very fast, since it is done by simply compressing the two connectors paired against each other, emphasizing the areas of engagement of the cables, and then exerting manual support on the heads 4 and 5 of the fastening device 1. The disengagement of the connector can also be very fast, and is done without the use of additional tool. The disengagement can be done by simply pressing on the pusher accompanied by a pull tending to move the two connector portions away if the pusher is not provided with a form / counterfoil imposing a particular angular position of the pusher to actuate the latter. this. Otherwise, the disengagement can be done by first rotating to position face to face the form 33 and counterform 32, for example, and then by a simple pressure on the pusher accompanied by a pull tending to move the two connector portions.

In order to facilitate the separation of the two connector parts 42 and 43 when the connector comprises several fasteners 1 close together, the counterfoil can be provided sufficiently wide-in the circumferential direction-with respect to the shape, to allow a slight rotation of the pusher once the tube 19 has reduced the diameter of the ring 12 to its unlock value. This rotation can bring face to face a circumferential portion of outer relief of the pusher 13, and a complementary portion of circumferential relief formed inside the head 5, the relief of the pusher being then axially in front of the relief of the head. Thus, the pusher 13 can be retained in its locking position, releasing the fingers of the operator so that he can more easily put the other fasteners also in the unlocked position, and then that he can pull the two parts of connector 42 and 43 to separate them from each other. More generally, the head of the first sleeve and the pusher may be provided with complementary reliefs for axially locking the pusher relative to the head in an axial position corresponding to the unlocking position of the actuator. According to a preferred embodiment, the engagement and disengagement of these locking means is by rotation of the pusher relative to the head. Other configurations of the complementary means can be envisaged, for example an external notching of the pusher and an indentation of the head, according to reliefs like "sawtooth".

Thanks to the simplicity of its structure, the device can occupy a small volume, for example having a length of between 15mm and 50mm, preferably between 20mm and 40mm, and a diameter of between 4mm and 10mm at the guide portions of the sleeves . The rods 8, 9 and especially the rod 12 may be made of a polymer material, for example polyetheretherketone (Peek), so that their radial elastic return force ensures good axial locking of each sleeve in its connector portion, as well as the second bushing in the first bushing, and so that the effort to exert on the pusher to retract the ring 12 is however moderate and can be exerted by a pressure of a single finger of the operator or operator performing the disassembly of the connector. Preferably, the axial force to which the rods 8 and 9 are able to withstand once locked in their respective connector portion, is greater than the axial force required to insert the end of the second bushing in the first bushing at the time where the end of the portion of guidance is pressed on the frustoconical portion of the front ring 12 to retract it in the groove 14. In this way, at the time of assembly of the connector, the operator does not have to worry about the state of sockets or to press the ends of the sockets, provided that they are correctly matched, since they come premounted in the connector, to ensure the keying function. It is only at the moment of disassembly that a manipulation of the first bushing is necessary. Advantageously, the angle of the frustoconical portion of the rods 8, 9, 12 with respect to the axis xx 'of the sockets, can be between 6 degrees of angle and 15 degrees of angle, and preferably between 8 degrees angle and 12 degrees angle. The guide bodies of the sleeves are preferably metallic, but could also be made of polymer material, for example thermosetting polymer to ensure a good dimensional accuracy of docking between the two sockets.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and can be declined in many variants.

The return spring 15 could be dimensioned shorter, and come to be inserted axially between the ends of the clipping lugs 25 or the skirt 30 of the pusher, and a bearing surface 49 substantially radial inside the head 5 of the first bushing 3, which instead of being at the end 18 of the expansion portion 48 of the first bushing, would be located axially behind this end.

The ring 12 may not have a rear cylindrical portion 12c. The frustoconical front surface 12a of the rod 12 can be replaced by two ramp surfaces at the inlet of the first bushing, at the inside of the end of the actuator 19, which can then comprise frustoconical surfaces. flaring towards the second socket. The ring 12 may then have, for example, a rectangular section in a radial plane.

The ring 12 could be replaced by one or more elastic elements of the second sleeve having a shape other than annular, for example, several elastic lugs of the second axially-extending harpoon-shaped bush, and able to unfold radially to retain the second bush in the first bush, these elastic elements presenting at the front a ramp surface flaring towards the back of the second socket. The lugs may be connected in rotation with respect to the second bushing, for example being in one piece with the end of the second bushing if the latter is made of polymer material. They may not all be of the same width / not be of the same radial height, and / or not be regularly distributed around the second bushing, and serve as a keying relief to impose the orientation of the second bushing relative to at the first socket.

It is possible to envisage an elastic ring 12 whose elastic resting position or of least elastic stress corresponds to an unlocked configuration of the sleeves, for example a rod which at rest would bear against the circumference of the expansion portion, the actuator permitting to compress the ring radially to lock the two sockets relative to each other. In this case, the pusher does not include a return spring to the outside of the sleeve. It may instead comprise reliefs or radial pins for axially locking the pusher inside the socket in the absence of external action to pull it out of the socket.

The outer surface 28 of the assembly end 6a could be different from a cylinder of revolution modified locally by a relief or a guide recess 10: it could be a cylinder of any cross section, for example a cylinder of cross section polygonal, complementary shape to a polygonal cylindrical bore of the guide portion 46 of the first sleeve.

We can consider an unlocking system with an elastic ring, which would not come close by compressing it, but instead open. This could be done by axially inserting an unlocking element at the slot of the elastic ring, in order to erase the inner diameter of the elastic ring in a circumferential groove outside the ring.

Foolproof forms other than a slide 10 on the male socket and an internal groove 11 on the female socket, for example a slideway in relief on the female socket and a recessed groove on the male socket, may be envisaged.

A tube-shaped actuator may be associated with one or different elastic elements of a connecting rod, for example associated with a group of elastic axial clipping lugs.

Preferably, the polarization shape 10 of the assembly end 6a of the second bushing is placed behind the rod 12, so as to facilitate the accessibility of the rod 12 by the unlocking element 19.

The device described can be used to assemble something other than connectors, and then do not have polygonal heads 4 and 5, and / or do not have complementary shaped keying elements 10 and 11.

The device can also, in this case, be devoid of external rods 8 and 9.

The fastening device according to the invention allows an almost instantaneous assembly and disassembly also very fast two connector parts, without specific tools, and can simultaneously provide a keying function, limiting the number of parts to produce and manage when the manufacture of the connector.

Claims (10)

Device (1) for detachably fixing a first sleeve (3),
a second socket (2) intended to be inserted into the first socket (3),
and an elastic member (12) adapted to axially lock the two sockets relative to one another and retractable radially upon insertion of the second bushing (2) into the first bushing (3), characterized in that one of the bushes (3) is assembled with an actuator (19) axially movable relative to the bushing (3), between a first position where the elastic element (12) axially locks the two bushes (2, 3), and a second position where the actuator causes the unlocking of the sleeves by radial retraction of the elastic element (12). Device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic element (12) is configured to retract radially into the second sleeve (2) under the effect of a radial compressive force during insertion of the end ( 6a) of the second bushing (2) in the first bushing (3), and is configured to then elastically relax inside the first bushing (3), so as to axially lock the second bushing (2) relative to at the first socket (3). Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the resilient member (12) is an axially split ring configured to retract into a circumferential groove (14) of the second bushing (2), and presenting to the outside the ring facing the first sleeve (3) a frustoconical surface (12a) whose outer diameter is smaller on the side facing the first sleeve (3) than the opposite side to the first sleeve. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the sockets (3) comprises a pusher (13) inserted axially into the socket from an enlarged stop head (5) of the sleeve (3) and for axially moving the actuator (19) by manually acting on the pusher (13). Device according to claims 3 and 4 combined, wherein the pusher (13) comprises an actuator (19) in the form of a hollow tube whose inner diameter corresponds to one of the diameters of the frustoconical surface of the ring (12), other than the maximum diameter of the frustoconical surface (12a). Device according to one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the pusher (13) comprises an actuator (19) in the form of hollow tube, wherein the first sleeve (3) is pierced by a first portion (46) of substantially cylindrical having a first inner diameter (d2), followed by a second expansion portion (48) of inner diameter (d3) greater than the first diameter (d2), and wherein the pusher (13) passes axially through the portion of expansion (48), and the actuator (19) has an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter (d3) of the expansion portion (48). Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the internal diameter of the actuator (19) is substantially equal to the diameter (d2) of the guide portion (46). Device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the pusher (40) comprises a one-piece piece comprising a hollow tube portion (19) defining the actuator, and comprises at least one axial portion (30) provided with a circumferential groove (34) receiving a resilient retaining ring (41) positioned radially outwardly from the hollow tube portion (19). Device according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the pusher (13) is provided with a shape (33), adapted to be inserted into a counterform (32) formed on the head (5) of the socket (3) in a first angular position of the pusher (13) relative to the sleeve (3), and adapted to prevent the axial depression of the pusher (13) in the sleeve (3) for at least a second angular position of the pusher (13). Connection assembly for connecting cables arriving on either side of a support plate, comprising a Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a first connector portion (42) pierced with an orifice (51) terminating in a polygonal countersink of complementary shape to an enlarged head (4) of the second socket , having a second connector portion (43) pierced with an orifice (52) terminating in a polygonal countersink of complementary shape to an enlarged head (5) of the first socket (3), the two connector parts (42, 43) being able to be secured axially with the aid of the fixing device (1).

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