FR2803442A1 - SELF-STRIPPING CONNECTING PIECE THAT CAN BE CONNECTED TO A NEIGHBORING CONNECTING PIECE - Google Patents

Abstract

This part (2) comprises a section-shaped part having a hollow polygonal section along which a stripping and retaining slot (6) is provided longitudinally for at least one wire. A face (8) of the polygonal section is extended by a tab (18) bent towards the connection piece, a space intended to receive a tooth (24) of an interconnection comb (26) remaining between the bent tab (18) and the connection piece (2) .

Description

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  The present invention relates to a self-connecting piece

  stripping which can be electrically connected to a neighboring connection part. It is known in the field of electrical connection equipment to have electrical components, for example terminal blocks, aligned next to each other. It is thus usual to align on a

  same rail a series of identical terminal blocks.

  It is also known, moreover, to interconnect electrical members such as terminal blocks aligned one next to the other. These electrical components generally include a reception structure which is possibly constituted by a female part specifically designed to receive a type of clamp. A device is then used, called an interconnection comb, which comprises, one next to the other, several clamps electrically connected to each other. The comb is then plugged into the

  reception structures for aligned electrical components.

  In the case of blocks for sensor-actuators aligned on the same mounting rail, it is necessary to make an interconnection between all the blocks in order to have a common electrical reference. Then it exists

  different solutions to ensure electrical contact with a neighboring block.

  A first solution consists in providing each block on one face with a female socket and on its opposite lateral face with a male socket. Thus, by aligning the blocks one next to the other, each male plug comes to take place in a female socket, thus creating electrical continuity

between the aligned blocks.

  Another solution consists in mounting the different blocks on a base in which there is a rail which has been molded. An electrical connection is then provided to each block mounted on this base with the overmolded rail. We thus obtain a common potential for

all the blocks aligned.

  These solutions of the prior art are all made with spring or screw type connections. They are not intended for

self-stripping connections.

  The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a self-stripping connection terminal which can be easily connected.

  electrically with a connection terminal of the same neighboring type.

  This connection terminal will preferably have a minimum size. To this end, it offers a self-stripping connection piece comprising a section in the form of a profile having a hollow polygonal section along which is provided a stripping and retaining slot for at least one wire. According to the invention, one face of the polygonal section is extended by a curved tab towards the connection piece, a space intended to receive a tooth of an interconnection comb remaining between the

  curved tab and connecting piece.

  This solution makes it possible to produce a connection piece which can be easily connected to a neighboring room. In addition, it can

  be carried out in a small footprint.

  The face of the profile carrying the curved tab is preferably the face opposite to the stripping and retaining slot. However, it is

  possible to choose another face of the profile.

  In a first embodiment, the tab is curved about 90 and faces a section of the profile. It is either the section of the profile through which an electrical wire to be connected is introduced, or the section opposite to it. In order not to hinder the introduction of the wire, we will choose to place the tab on the side opposite to the side intended for the introduction of the wire. However, if a reduced overall height is imposed, the other

solution can be chosen.

  To promote better electrical contact and ensure that the contact area between an interconnection device and the connection part is known, the faces of the profile not carrying the edges of the stripping and retaining slot and not carrying the curved tab for example have a recess on the side of the curved tab. Contact is then made at the faces of the connection piece carrying the edges of the

stripping and retaining slot.

  In another embodiment, the tab is for example

  curved about 180 and faces the face of the profile that carries it.

  To promote better electrical contact, the curved tab advantageously has a boss near its free end.

  projecting from the side of the connecting piece.

  To favor the introduction of a tooth of an interconnection comb between the curved tab and the connecting piece, the free end of the curved tab is advantageously inclined relative to the general direction of the tab while moving away of the connecting piece. The present invention also relates to a connection device for at least one electric wire, comprising a conductive connection piece with stripping and retaining slot as well as an insulating housing having a housing in which the conductive connection piece is immobilized and provided with '' on the one hand an oblong opening substantially parallel and located opposite the slot and on the other hand an opening possibly coincident with the oblong opening intended for the passage of a tooth of an interconnection comb, characterized in that that the conductive connection piece is a connection piece such that

described above.

  In this connection device, the casing also includes, for example, an opening formed in the extension of the profiled part of the connection piece and intended for the passage of an external tool tip intended to allow the introduction of a wire. in the stripping and retaining slot. We can then make a connection using a

  tool as described for example in document EP-O 265 321.

  In any case, the invention will be well understood using the

  description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing,

  showing by way of nonlimiting examples two embodiments

  a connection terminal according to the invention.

  Figure 1 is a perspective view of three terminals according to the invention and an interconnection comb, Figure 2 is a side view of the assembly shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a sectional view showing from the side all of Figures 1 and 2 mounted in a terminal block, and Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 for a

variant.

  We recognize in Figure 1 three connection pieces arranged one next to the other of the same type as those described for example in

document EP-0 247 360.

  Each of these connection pieces 2 is intended to be integrated into electrical equipment to ensure the connection of one or more electrical wires, not shown. These parts 2 are conventionally immobilized in a housing provided for this purpose in a box 4 (FIG. 3) of the electrical equipment, which is for example constituted by an assembly of two complementary half-shells made integral by welding, for example ultrasonic welding, after

  introduction of various organs, such as conductive connection parts.

  Each connecting piece 2 is a profiled piece and has a stripping and retaining slot 6 which is here rectilinear and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the corresponding profiled connecting piece 2. Such a part is, for example, obtained from a flat side by stamping resulting in cutting, then folding and possibly making

localized thinning.

  Each connection piece 2 here has a hollow polygonal cross section which corresponds to a U comprising a base 8 and two branches 10 whose free ends have been obliquely and also folded towards one another. The free end of each folded part 12 forms an edge of the stripping and retaining slot 6. These

  parts 12 are eventually gradually thinned towards the slot 6.

  The slot 6 has a stripped mouth 14 formed at one of its ends. This mouthpiece 14 is obtained by cutting

  symmetrical oblique of the folded parts 12 at one of their ends.

  This stripped mouth 14 is flared and has two edges 16, one at each oblique cut. The folded parts 14 are gradually thinned towards the edges 16 so as to allow them

  to start a sheath of a wire introduced into the slot 6.

  The base 8 is extended, on the side opposite to the mouth 14, by a tab 18 folded at 90. If we consider that the axis of the profiled part is vertical and that the mouth 14 is on the upper part of the profiled part, the tab 18 extends below the connection part 2. It s' extends over substantially the entire length of this part 2. At the folded parts 12, the tab 18 has a boss 20 which projects towards the connection part 2. The free end 22 of the tab 18 is inclined relative to the direction of extension of lug 18 and away from connection piece 2. This inclination is intended to facilitate the introduction into the free space left between lug 18 and connection piece 2 of a tooth

24 of an interconnection comb 26.

  To ensure good contact between the connection piece 2 and the tooth 24 of the interconnection comb 26, the lower part of the branches 10 has a recess 28 so as to avoid contact between the edge

  lower part of branches 10 and tooth 24.

  As shown in Figure 3, the housing 4, made of an insulating synthetic material, has a housing 30 for a connection piece 2. It also has an orifice 32 to allow a wire to be introduced from outside the housing towards the mouth 14 of the corresponding connection piece 2. This orifice 32 is located above the connection piece 2 and is extended downwards by a slot 34 which extends substantially parallel and facing the slot 6 of the connection piece 2. The slot 34 is long enough to also allow

  the introduction of a tooth 24 between the tab 18 and the connection piece 2.

  The housing 4 also includes an opening 36 intended for the passage of a tool end allowing the introduction of the wire into the slot 6. This opening 36 is placed in the extension of the profiled part of the connection piece 2, on the side stripping mouth 14. It is intended for the passage of a tool tip not shown and not described in detail here. Reference is made to patent EP-O 247 360 or EP-0 265 321

  for the description of the tool and its tip. The shape of the opening 36

  is adapted to the shape of the tip of the tool.

  In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the insulating housing 4 is mounted on a block for sensor-actuator. For such blocks, it is always necessary to make at least for a connecting piece an interconnection with a connecting piece of a neighboring block. We use

  then the interconnection comb 26.

  The interconnection comb 26 comprises the teeth 24 which all extend parallel to each other and are spaced apart by a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the connection pieces 2 mounted aligned next to each other. The teeth 24 are made of a metallic material and are connected to each other by a metallic base 38 made of the same material. The latter is snapped into an insulating sheath 40. This sheath 40 is a profiled part made of synthetic material and having a general U-shaped section. The base 38 of the interconnection comb 26 is housed between the branches of the U of the sheath 40. The assembly of these two parts is carried out by sliding the

  base 38 in the sheath 40 and the maintenance is done by concordance of shape.

  In addition, the sheath 40 has a longitudinal groove 42 extending on each outer face of the branches of the U. As can be seen in FIG. 3, this groove 42 allows a grip on a tool, here the end of a blade 44 of a screwdriver. Easy removal of the interconnect comb

  thanks to the presence of these grooves 42.

  In FIG. 3, the interconnection comb 26 is engaged in contact with the connection part 2. The corresponding tooth 24 is pinched between the lower part of the folded parts 12 of the connection part 2 and the boss 20 of the tab 18 The folding of the tab 18 gives a certain elasticity to the latter. It is therefore possible to provide that at rest the space between the connection piece 2, and more precisely the lower edge of the folded parts 12, and the boss 20 is less than the thickness of a tooth 24. In this way, the tab 18 exerts an elastic contact force on tooth 24 towards the connection piece. We then realize a

better electrical contact.

  Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a connection piece 2. Here we find a connection piece of the same type as that described above. This connecting piece is also a profiled piece having a polygonal section and split longitudinally. On the side opposite to the slot, the connection piece has a base 8 to which are attached two lateral branches 10, the free ends of which are folded back, thus forming folded portions delimiting the slot of the connection piece on either side. We do not find here a recess 28 at the branches 10 of the connection piece. However, there is also a tab 18 which extends the base 8 on the side opposite the mouth 14 of the slot. The difference here, compared to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, is that the tab 18 is folded about 180 and in the opposite direction to the fold previously

  described. The tab 18 here extends substantially parallel to the base 8.

  This tab 18 extends over substantially the entire height of the profiled part 2. It includes, as described above, a boss and a free end 22 inclined away from the part of

connection 2.

  While in the first embodiment, the teeth 24 of the interconnection comb extended substantially parallel to a connected wire, here the teeth 24, in the connection position, extend substantially perpendicular to a connected wire and parallel to the stripping and retaining slot of the connection piece 2. This alternative embodiment of FIG. 4 allows the introduction of the interconnection comb 2 by a face of the housing 4 different from that by which the interconnection comb 26 is introduced for the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3. Here, the teeth 24 of the interconnection comb are placed along the base 8 of the connection piece 2. As previously described, preferably between the base 8 and the boss 20, when the connection piece is at rest and is not connected with a

  neighboring connecting piece, a space less than the thickness of a tooth 24.

  In this way, the tab 18 then exerts an elastic contact force.

  on tooth 24 promoting better electrical contact.

  It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the two preferred embodiments described above by way of nonlimiting example; on the contrary, it embraces all variants within the framework

of the claims below.

  Thus for example the folded tab does not necessarily start from the base of the profiled part or even from the face opposite to the stripping slot. One could possibly have a tab extending from a lateral face of the profiled part. However, this embodiment has not been described because it has some drawbacks compared to the embodiments described above. Indeed, with such a connecting piece, there would be either a larger overall width, or a folded tab having a lower elasticity than that of the legs

described above.

  The folded tab does not necessarily start from the side opposite to the thread introduction mouth. In the variant of FIGS. 1 to 3, one could imagine a tab folded upwards, extending from the base of the profiled part. We could then use the opening allowing the introduction of a wire to also carry out the interconnection

of several connecting pieces.

Claims (9)

  1. Self-stripping connection piece (2) comprising a profile-shaped part having a hollow polygonal section along which a stripping and retaining slot (6) is provided longitudinally for at least one wire, characterized in that 'one face (8) of the polygonal section is extended by a tab (18) curved towards the connection piece, a space intended to receive a tooth (24) of an interconnection comb (26)   remaining between the bent tab (18) and the connecting piece (2).   2. Connection piece according to claim 1, characterized in that the face of the profile carrying the curved tab (18) is the face (8)   opposite the stripping and retaining slot (6).   3. Connection piece according to claim 2, characterized in that the tab (18) is curved about 90 and faces a section of the profile.   4. Connection piece according to claim 3, characterized in that the faces of the profile not carrying the edges of the stripping and retaining slot (6) and not carrying the bent tab (18) have a   recess (28) on the side of the curved tab.   5. Connection piece according to claim 2, characterized in that the tab (18) is curved about 180 and faces the face (8) of the profile that carries it.   6. Connection piece according to one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that the curved tab (18) has, near its free end, a boss (20) projecting from the side of the workpiece connection (2).   7. Connection piece according to one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that the free end (22) of the curved tab is inclined relative to the general direction of the tab away from the connecting piece (2).   8. Connection device for at least one electric wire, comprising a conductive connection part (2) with stripping and retaining slot (6) and an insulating housing (4) having a housing (30) in which the part conductive connection is immobilized and provided on the one hand with an oblong opening (32, 34) substantially parallel and situated opposite the slot and on the other hand with an opening possibly coincident with the oblong opening intended for the passage of a tooth (24) of an interconnection comb, characterized in that the connecting piece   (2) conductive is a connecting piece according to one of claims 1   to 7. 9. Connection device according to claim 8, characterized in that the housing (4) further comprises an opening (36) formed in the extension of the profiled part of the connection piece and intended for the passage of a nozzle external tool designed to allow   The introduction of a wire into the stripping and retaining slot (6).