FR2599561A1 - DEVICE FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING BETWEEN TWO ORGANS IN PARTICULAR FOR SUPPLYING LOGOMETERS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. - Google Patents

Abstract

THE PRESENT INVENTION CONCERNS A DEVICE FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING BETWEEN TWO ORGANS INCLUDING ON THE ONE HAND, A SUPPORTING BODY10 WHICH DEFINES A CHANNEL50 RECEIVING A PIN CONNECTED ELECTRICALLY TO A FIRST MEMBER AND WHICH HAS A SUPPORT BASE20 TO BE USED ON THE SECOND ORG AND ON THE OTHER HAND, AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE WIRE CONTACT PART HAVING AT LEAST TWO U-BENDED BRANCHES, A FIRST BRANCH OF WHICH THE FREE END IS INTENDED TO BE FIXED IN THE SECOND ORGANE AND WHICH ARRIVES FREELY, AND A SECOND BRANCH HOUSED IN CHANNEL 50 OF THE SUPPORT BODY TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE SPINDLE.

Description

The present invention relates to the field

electrical connectors.

  The present invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to an electrical connection device for the supply of logometers for motor vehicles. The main object of the present invention is to provide a simple and economical electrical connection device making it possible to reliably and quickly connect two electrical members, the positioning of which

  relative can admit wide tolerances.

  For this, the present invention provides an electrical connection device between two members which comprises: - a support body which defines: a channel receiving by sliding engagement a pin intended to be electrically connected to a first member, and which has. a support base intended to rest on the second member, formed for example of a printed circuit, to keep the axis of the channel fixed relative to the latter when the spindle is engaged in the channel, and - A contact piece of electrically conductive wire 25 having at least two branches bent in a U, a first branch whose free end is intended to be fixed to the second member and which can flex freely, and. a second, shorter branch, housed in the channel of the support body to come into contact

with the pin.

  The electrical connection provided between the branch of the contact piece housed in the channel and the pin engaged in sliding in the latter can admit wide tolerances between the two members to be connected in the direction of the axis of the channel. Furthermore, the bending of the first branch of the contact piece allows a wide positioning tolerance between the two members to be connected, in any transverse direction.

to the axis of the canal.

  According to an advantageous characteristic of the present invention, the elbow of the contact piece connecting the two branches rests against the edge 10 of the channel to avoid any deformation of the contact piece during the insertion of the pin into the channel. According to another advantageous characteristic of the present invention, the contact piece of electrically conductive wire 15 has four "W" branches, two side branches having a free end intended to be fixed to the second member and two shorter, central branches, housed in the channel of the support body, to come into contact with the spindle, the elbows between each of the lateral branches

  and the adjacent central branch resting against the edge of the channel of the support body.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows and with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of nonlimiting example and in which: - Figure 1 shows a schematic view in section of a support body according to the present invention according to a cutting plane referenced II in FIG. 2, - FIG. 2 represents a top view of the support body, - FIG. 3 represents a bottom view of the support body , - Figure 4 shows a schematic side view of the support body, - Figure 5 shows a schematic view in vertical section of the support body according to a sectional plane referenced VV in Figure 2 and orthogonal to the above-mentioned sectional plane II, - the 6 shows a side view of a contact piece of electrically conductive wire according to the present invention, - Figure 7 shows a schematic sectional view 10 of this contact piece according to a cutting plane r referenced VIIVII in Figure 6, - Figure 8 shows an end view of this contact piece, and - Figure 9 shows a schematic view of a pin

  used in an electrical connection device according to the present invention.

  We will first describe the structure

  of the support body shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.

  This support body 10 comprises, as indicated above, a support base 20 and a channel 50.

  The support base comprises two generally parallel lateral webs 22, 24 interconnected by a median web 26 which is perpendicular to them. The free edges 23, 25, 27 of the three aforementioned webs 22, 24, 26, 25 furthest from the channel 50 are coplanar and determine the bearing surface of the base 20 on the second member

  to be connected, for example a printed circuit.

  Opposite the abovementioned bearing edges 23, 25, 27 the base 20 is provided with a wall 30 which carries the channel 50. 30 The wall 30 extends substantially parallel to the bearing plane delimited by the edges 23, 25 and 27 of the sails 22,

24 and 26.

  The channel 50 is formed by a sleeve 51 having a through central bore 52 whose axis 53 extends perpendicular to the support plane delimited by the

free edges 23, 25 and 27.

  More specifically, the sleeve 51 is carried by

the aforementioned wall 30.

  On the outside of the sleeve 51 the wall 30 is provided with two through holes 31, 32, substantially diametrically opposite with respect to the axis 53 of the channel. The orifices 31, 32 are intended to receive the branches of the contact piece 100 shown on the

  Figures 6, 7 and 8 connected to said second member.

  As shown in FIG. 1, preferably, the orifices 31, 32 are flared at 33, 34 at the level of the surface 35 of the wall 30 directed towards

channel 50.

  The edge of the channel 50 opposite the support base has two grooves 54, 55 substantially diametrically opposite with respect to the axis 53. The grooves 54, 55 are intended to receive the contact piece as will be

explained later.

  More specifically, the plane of symmetry of the grooves 54, 55, parallel to the web 26 of the base passes through the axes 36, 37 of the orifices 31, 32 formed in the wall 30. 25 Furthermore, it will be noted that the edge of the channel 51 opposite the support base 20 is rounded to facilitate the insertion of the pin 150 shown on the

figure 9 in the canal.

  Finally, it will be noted, in particular on examining FIG. 5, that the support base 20 is provided, opposite

  of the bore 52 of the channel 50, of a hooking lug 40.

  This lug 40 is intended to serve as a point of attachment for the branch or branches of the contact piece 100 housed in the bore 52 of the channel in order to maintain the contact piece 100 on the support body 10 in the form of 'a

unitary set.

  More specifically, the lug 40 is integral with the internal surface 38 of the web 26. The plane of symmetry of the lug 40 passes through the axis 53 of the bore 52 of the channel. The lug 40 has a hooking surface 41 parallel to the support plane defined by the free edges 23, 25 and 27, that is to say perpendicular to the axis 53. 10 The lug 40 also has a surface engagement 42 opposite the web 26. The engagement surface 42

  diverges from the web 26 in approach to the attachment surface 41 on which it ends.

  According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the axis 53 of the bore 52 of the channel 50 is perpendicular to the bearing surface delimited by the edges 23, 25, 27 of the base 20. However, the

  where appropriate, the axis 53 of the bore 52 of the channel 50 may be oblique on the support plane delimited by the edges 20 23, 25 and 27 of the base 20.

  We will now describe the structure of the contact piece 100 shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

  This contact piece 100 is made of electrically conductive wire.

  According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the contact piece 100 has 4 branches 110, 120, 130 and 140 folded in the general shape of W. More specifically, the contact piece 100 comprises two lateral branches 110 , 140 parallel to each other, whose free end 111, 141, is intended to be fixed to the second member to be connected, for example a printed circuit. Preferably, said free ends 111, 141 of the lateral branches 110, 140 are intended to be engaged in orifices of the printed circuit to be

welded on it.

  The contact piece 100 also has two shorter central branches 120, 130. The central branches 120, 130 are connected together by an elbow 122. In addition, one of the central branches 120 is connected to the adjacent lateral branch 110 by an elbow 112 while the other central branch 130 is connected to the

  adjacent lateral branch 140 by a symmetrical elbow 142 10 of the above-mentioned elbow 112.

  The central, parallel, branches 120, 130 are intended to be engaged in the bore 52 of the channel 50 to come into contact with the spindle 150. During such engagement of the branches 120, 130 in the bore 52 of the channel, the elbow 122 comes into the hooking position on the lug 40, to retain the contact piece 100 on the support body 10. In parallel, the branches

  lateral 110, 140 are engaged in the orifices 31, 32 of the wall 30 connecting the support base 20 to the channel 20 50.

  The elbows 112, 142 are engaged respectively in the grooves 54, 55 provided at the edge

of the canal.

  For this, the distance D shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6 corresponding to the projection parallel to the longitudinal axis of the branches 110, 120, 130, 140, of the distance separating the bottom of the concave surface of the elbow 122 from the bottom of the surface concave of one or the other of the elbows 112 or 142 symmetrical must be equal to the play near 30 to the distance separating on the support body 10 the bottom of the

  grooves 54, 55 of the attachment surface 41 of the lug 40.

  In addition, preferably, as appears in particular on examining FIGS. 7 and 8, each of the central branches 120, 130 of the contact piece 100 is provided near the elbow 112, 142 which connects it to a lateral branch 110 , 140 with a camber 123, 133 facilitating the

  contact between these branches 120, 130 and the pin 150 engaged in the channel.

  Pin 150 shown in Figure 9 is

formed of a cylindrical barrel 151.

  The two ends 152, 153 of the spindle 150 intended to be engaged, one in one of the members to

  connect, the other in the bore 52 of the channel are preferably tapered.

  In FIG. 9, the end 152 is tapered in a frustoconical shape while the other end 153 is

tapered spherical cap.

  Preferably, the spindle 150 is moreover provided, substantially in the middle of a projecting peripheral rib 154 limiting the engagement of the spindle 150 in

  both of the member to be connected and of the support body 10.

  To use the electrical connection device comprising in combination the support body 10 and the contact piece 100 which have just been described, it is first necessary to place the contact piece 100

on the support body 10.

  For this, the ends 111, 141 of the branches

  lateral 110, 140 of the contact part are placed opposite the orifices 31, 32 and pushed into them.

  The elbow 122 and the shorter central branches 120 then penetrate into the bore 52 of the channel 50. During this insertion the elbow 122 comes to bear against the engagement surface 42 and slides thereon inducing a elastic deformation of the central branches, 130. When the elbow 122 escapes the engagement surface 42 by coming to bear against the attachment surface 41 the central branches 120, 130 resume their rest position. The contact piece 100 is then hung on the support body 10 thanks to the elbow 122 and the latching lug 40. The support body 10 and the contact piece 1G0 form a unitary assembly. In this position, the free end 111, 141 of the longest side branches 110, 140 protrude beyond the support plane of the base 20 delimited by the edges 23, 25 and 27. These ends 111, 141

  lateral branches can be engaged in the orifices of a printed circuit and soldered thereon.

  It then suffices to engage in the bore 52, in contact with the central branches 120, 130 a pin 150 connected to an accessory to be supplied to electrically connect this accessory and the electrically conductive tracks

of the aforementioned printed circuit.

  It will be noted that, during the engagement of the spindle 150 in the bore 52 of the channel 50, the support surface 20 of the base delimited by the edges 23 25, .27 maintains the axis 53 of the channel 52 in a fixed position relative to the aforementioned printed circuit, and preferably perpendicular thereto. Furthermore, the elbows 112 and 142 rest in the grooves 54, 55 of the edge 25 of the channel 50. These provisions prevent the introduction of the spindle 150 into the bore 52 of the channel 50 leading to deformation of the part. Contact 100. Conversely when the pin 150 is removed from the bore 52 of the channel 50, the contact piece 100 is held firmly on the printed circuit by its lateral branches 110, 140, which allows a simple and quick disconnection of the spindle and side branches 120, 130 without deterioration

of these.

  The electrical connection device according to the present invention which has just been described allows

  to reliably connect two electrical components, for example a printed circuit and a logometer for motor vehicles, despite wide positioning tolerances between these components.

  The tolerances between these members in a direction parallel to the axis 53 of the bore of the channel are made up by inserting more or less the pin 150 in the bore. 10 The positioning tolerances between these same two members in all directions transverse to the axis 53 of the bore

  52 of the channel are caught by elastic bending of the lateral branches 110, 140 of the contact piece.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which has just been

  described but extends to any variant in accordance with its spirit.

  As indicated previously, although it is currently considered preferential for the axis 53 of the channel 52 to be perpendicular to the support plane delimited by the free edges 23, 25, 27, the axis 53 may be oblique on

this support plan.

  Furthermore, according to the embodiment which has been described previously, the contact piece 100 has 4 branches folded in W. Nevertheless, the contact piece 100 could comprise only two branches folded in U, of which a first branch 110 would have one end free 111 intended to be fixed to the printed circuit, while being able to flex freely, and of which a second branch 120, shorter, 30 would be intended to be housed in the channel 50 of the body

  support 10 to come into contact with pin 150.

  1 0 According to yet another alternative embodiment, the contact piece 100 could comprise 3 branches folded in Z, generally parallel to each other, of which a first branch 110 would have a free end 111 intended to be fixed to the printed circuit and the second and third 120, 130, shorter, would be intended to be housed in the channel 50 of the support body

  to come into contact with pin 150.

  Furthermore, according to the embodiment shown in the figures, the support body 10 is provided with a single channel 50 and associated with a single contact piece 1 00. However, the support body 10 can if necessary

  have a plurality of channels 50 and be associated with an i5 same number of contact parts 100. Such an arrangement proves to be advantageous for supplying a multipole accessory.

  Preferably, the support body 10 is produced

by plastic molding.

  Of course, in the case where the support piece has a plurality of channels 50 and is associated with the same number of contact pieces 100, it is imperative that the support body 10 is made of a material

electrically insulating.

1 1

Claims (10)

  _____________5 1. Electrical connection device between two members, characterized in that it comprises: - a support body (10) which defines: a channel (50) receiving by sliding engagement a pin (150) intended to be electrically connected 10 to a first member, and which has a support base intended to rest on the second member, formed for example of a printed circuit, to keep the axis (53) of the channel (50) 15 fixed relative to the latter ci, when the spindle (150) is engaged in the channel (50), and - a contact piece (100), made of electrically conductive wire, having at least two branches (110, 120) bent in a U, a first branch (110) whose free end 20 (111) is intended to be fixed to the second member and which can flex freely, and. a second branch (120), shorter, housed in the channel (50) of the support body to come into contact with the pin (150). 25 2. Electrical connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the elbow (112) of the contact piece (100) connecting the two branches (110,   ) rests against the edge (54, 55) of the channel (50).   3. Electrical connection device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the   contact part (100) made of electrically conductive wire has at least three branches (110, 120, 130) in Z, generally parallel to each other, of which a first branch (110) has a free end (111) intended to be fixed to the second organ, and a second and third branches (120, 130), shorter, housed in the channel (50) of the support body (10) to come in contact with the spindle (150).   4. Electrical connection device according to   one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that   that the contact piece (100) made of electrically conductive wire, has 4 branches in W (110, 120, 130, 140), two lateral branches (110, 140) of which have a free end (111, 141) intended to be fixed to the second member, and two shorter central branches (120, 130), housed in the channel (50) of the support body, to come into contact with the spindle (150), the elbows between each of the lateral branches (110, 140 ) and the adjacent central branch (120,   ) resting against the edge (54, 55) of the channel.   5. Electrical connection device according to   one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that   that each of the branches (120, 130) of the contact piece (100) housed in the channel (50) of the support piece (10) is provided near the elbow (112, 142) which connects it to a branch (110 , 140) fixed to the second member, with a camber 25 (123, 133) facilitating contact between said branch (120, 130) and the spindle (150).   6. Electrical connection device according to   one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the support base (20) of the support body (10) has a wall (30) transverse to the axis of the channel (50) having at least one bore (31) to receive each branch   (120, 130) of the contact piece (100) connected to the second member. 7. Electrical connection device according to claim 6, characterized in that the   transverse wall (30) is produced at the junction zone between the support base (20) and the channel (50).   8. Electrical connection device according to   one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support base (20) is provided opposite   of the channel (50), of a hooking lug (40) for the branch (es) of the contact piece (100) housed in the channel (50) in order to keep the contact piece in the channel (50) and to maintain the contact piece (100) on the support body (10) in the form of a unitary whole.   9. Electrical connection device according to   one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that   that it comprises a plurality of channels (50) and a same number of contact parts (100).   10. Electrical connection device according to   one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the support base (20) holds the axis (53) of the channel   (50) perpendicular to a main bearing surface of the second organ.