FR2816116A1 - ELECTRICAL CONNECTION CONNECTOR AND ELECTRICAL ELEMENT OF A ROAD VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH SUCH A CONNECTOR - Google Patents

Abstract

This connector (12), intended to equip an electrical element (2) of a road vehicle, comprises: - a first connector part (14) provided with fixing means on a wall (16) of said electrical element (2), and a housing for receiving electrical connection elements, able to cooperate with electrical strands extending inside the electrical element (2), - a second connector part (18), which can be received in the first part, this second part defining a housing for receiving second electrical connection elements, which can cooperate with the first electrical connection elements and which can be connected to second electrical strands, - means (94) for removable fixing of the first (14) and second (18) parts, and- means ensuring the sealing of the first and second housings.

Description

The present invention relates to a connector for connection-

  electric, as well as an electrical element of a vehicle

road provided with such a connector.

  In a road transport vehicle, such as in particular a truck trailer, the electrical supply is

  ensured by means of a junction box.

  The latter receives, on the one hand, power cables

  tion and is, on the other hand, in electrical communication with ancillary elements such as lights, for

  through several additional conducting cables.

  The mounting of a conductor cable on an electrical element

  that, such as the junction box or the aforementioned lights, consists first of all in providing an orifice in the wall of this element. Then, it is a matter of passing the conductive strands through this orifice and connecting them to a connecting member, such as a tongue. Finally, there is a cable gland between the conductive strands and the walls opposite the orifice ensuring both maintenance

  mechanical, years that a sealing function.

  This known solution however involves certain drawbacks. In fact, according to a first alternative, it is possible to proceed with the mounting of the electrical elements and their conductive cables, within the manufacturing plant itself. The installation by the customer of the assembly thus formed is then delicate and painful, and moreover proves impossible in certain configurations of the road vehicle. Alternatively, the customer is able to fix the various lights, not connected, on the road vehicle. Then, it passes the conductive strands of the cable through the orifice and connects them to the connection member with which the light is provided. He must then proceed with the assembly of a

  bulb, as well as a fire protection hood.

  Such an installation is particularly long and tedious for the user. It also implies the need to store and deliver many accessories

  separate, which is disadvantageous in terms of maintenance.

  The invention proposes to overcome all of the

  disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above.

  For this purpose, it relates to a connector for connection-

  electric ment, intended to equip an electric element of a road vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: - a first connector part comprising a first mechanical connection element provided with fixing means on a wall of said electric element, this first mechanical connection element defining a first housing for receiving first electrical connection elements, which can be connected with first electrical strands, extending inside the electrical element, - a second connector part comprising a second connection element mechanical connection, able to cooperate with the first mechanical connection element, this second mechanical connection element defining a second housing for receiving second electrical connection elements, capable of being connected to the first electrical connection elements, these second electrical connection elements can be linked to second bri ns electrical, intended to be connected to said first strands, - means for removable fixing of the first and second parts, and - means ensuring the tightness of said first

and second housing.

  According to other characteristics of the invention: - one of the mechanical connection elements has a hollow body which can receive, at least partially, the other of these mechanical connection elements; - The removable fixing means comprise a nut, a tapped portion of which is capable of being screwed onto a threaded part of said hollow body, this nut having a

  axial retaining neck of said other mechanical coupling element

  than; - The connector further comprises a mechanical protection member of said second strands, extending through said neck and being able to abut against a seat of said other mechanical connection element; the sealing means comprise internal grooves of said protection member, capable of cooperating with a sheath covering said second strands; - The sealing means comprise an intermediate ring interposed between said nut and said mechanical protection member; the connector comprises means making it possible to prevent relative pivoting between said first and second connector parts, in particular a lug which is provided with one of the mechanical connection elements, which can penetrate a groove formed on the other of the mechanical connection;

  the means for fixing to said wall,

  nent a threaded neck of the first mechanical connection element, as well as a nut adapted to be fixed on the threaded neck, this

  nut which can be received in the wall of said electric element

  than; The invention also relates to a road electrical element of a road vehicle, in particular an electric light, comprising a body, characterized in that it is provided with at least a first connector part belonging to a connector as defined above. , each electrical connection element of said first part being connected with a corresponding first conductive strand, received in the

  internal volume of the electrical element.

  According to other characteristics of the invention: - each first connector part is removably fixed to a wall of said electrical element; - Each first connector part is housed in an orifice in said wall, this orifice being able to receive, in a removable manner, a cable gland; - Each first connector part is housed in said orifice, with the interposition of a diameter adapter; the element further comprises at least a second connector part, belonging to a connector as defined above, each second connector part being removably fixed on a corresponding first connector part, each electrical connection element of the second connector part being connected with a second

corresponding conductor strand.

  The invention will be described below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given only by way of nonlimiting example and in which: - Figure 1 is a top view, in partial section, illustrating an electrical element of a road vehicle according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, exploded exploding the various components of a connector fitted to the electrical element of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, illustrating the connector of Figure 2, in an intermediate phase of its assembly; and - Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, illustrating the connector of Figures 2 and 3 once mounted on

the aforementioned electrical element.

  Figure 1 shows an electrical element 2

  nant to a road vehicle such as a truck trailer.

  In the present example, this electrical element is a fire, but it can also be, among other things, a junction box. The light 2 comprises a body 4, closed by a translucent cover 6. It is conventionally equipped with a bulb 8, intended to be powered by connection tabs

electric 10.

  This light 2 is provided with two electrical connection connectors, each of which is designated as a whole by the reference 12. Each connector comprises a first part 14, secured to the wall 16 of the body 4, opposite the cover 6. Furthermore, a second part 18 of connector 12 is capable of being joined to a corresponding first part 14, as explained in the following, in

reference to Figures 2 to 4.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first part 14 of the connector 12 comprises a mechanical connection element 20, of roughly cylindrical shape. This element 20 comprises a threaded neck 22 terminated by a peripheral shoulder 24, itself extended by a barrel 26. The latter has a hexagonal actuating section 28, adjacent to the neck 22 and capable of engaging with a six-point tool framed, not shown. Furthermore, this barrel 26 has a threaded part 30, opposite the neck 22, the inner walls of which define a seat 32

receiving a seal.

  The neck 22 is provided with a median web 34, defining two re-entrant flanges 36, allowing the attachment of an electrical connection element. Note 38 the housing extending in the vicinity of these re-entrant flanges 36. Furthermore, the inner wall of this element 20 is provided with an axial lug 40 for indexing, intended to penetrate into a groove of a connecting element complementary, as will be described below. The first part 14 of the connector 12 also comprises a hexagonal nut 42, the internal threaded wall of which is intended to accommodate the threaded neck 22. This nut is capable of being inserted in a corresponding hexagonal orifice, formed in the wall 16 of the light 2. A flat seal 44 is also provided, capable of being interposed between the walls opposite

the nut 42 and the shoulder 24.

  The first part 14 finally comprises several electrical connection elements, or lugs, each of which is designated by the reference 46. Each terminal is provided with an end 48 for attachment to a conductive strand not shown, as well as a rod 50 intended enter a female connection element. Finally, each terminal 46 is provided with a re-entrant branch 52, intended to cooperate with a corresponding flange 36. The second part 18 of the connector 14 comprises a mechanical connection element 54, of cylindrical shape. The latter comprises a barrel 56 whose outer periphery is provided

  of reinforcement ribs 58. This barrel is terminated by a shoulder-

  peripheral ment 60, intended to form a stop for an O-ring 61. This shoulder delimits an end neck 62,

  the interior walls of which form a seat 64.

  As shown in Figure 1, this barrel 56 is hollowed out

  axial groove 66, intended to cooperate with the lug 40.

  Referring again to FIG. 2, the element 54 is provided with a median veil 68 extending, beyond the neck 62, by an axial projection 70, intended for separation

  of two conductive strands not shown.

  Finally, the barrel 56 is provided, on its inner wall, re-entrant fingers 72, intended to receive an electrical connection element. These fingers 72 define, with the veil

  68, cells 74 for receiving these connection elements.

  Two electrical connection elements 76, or terminals, are provided, each of which is intended to cooperate with a corresponding element 46. Each terminal 76 includes an end 78 for fixing a conductive strand, as well as a portion

  tubular 80 capable of receiving a corresponding rod 50

  you. Each terminal 76 is further provided with a notch

  median 82, intended to be fixed on a corresponding finger 72

  ing. There is also provided a mechanical protection member 84, which comprises a tubular body 86 terminated by a flange 88. This body is provided with a peripheral boss

  external 90, as well as internal end ridges 92.

  The connector 12 also includes an element 94 ensuring the mutual fixing of the first and second parts 14, 18. This fixing element 94 is a nut comprising a threaded portion 96 extended by frustoconical walls 98 converging, defining an end neck 100, smaller cross section. There is also provided an intermediate ring 102 comprising, at a first end, a peripheral bead 104 and, at its opposite end, a

peripheral chamfer 106.

  Figure 3 illustrates an intermediate step of mounting the connector 12 on the light 2, in which only the first

  part 14 is secured to the wall 16.

  In this configuration, each terminal 46 is linked,

  conventionally, to a corresponding electrical strand 108, itself

  even integral with an additional terminal 110 intended to be

  connected to a tab 10 on the light 2.

  Each branch 52 of a terminal 46 is fixed axially against a corresponding flange 36. Furthermore, the neck 22 is screwed into the nut 42, itself housed in an orifice of the

fire wall 16 2.

  As regards the second part 18, in the above-mentioned intermediate configuration, the seal 61 bears against the shoulder 60. Furthermore, the flange 88 of the protective member 84 bears against the seat 64 of the element connection 54. This flange also receives

the bead 104 of the ring 102.

  The nut 94 is free to slide along the outer wall of the protective member 84. However, its axial movement is limited, due to the presence of the boss

restraint 90.

  Each terminal 76 is fixed on a corresponding finger 72,

  by cooperation of the notch 82 with the finger considered.

  It receives, in a conventional manner, an electrical strand 112 belonging to a conductive cable 114. These two strands are separated from each other by means of the projection 70,

  while the sheath 116 of this cable 114 is partially surrounded-

  ment by the end of the protective member 84.

  The complete assembly of the connector 12 consists in bringing the second part 18 axially towards the first part 14. Once this operation has been carried out, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the rods 50 of the lugs 46 penetrate into the tubular portions 80 of the lugs 76 , which allows the

  electrical connection of strands 108 and 112.

  The mutual mechanical fixing of the connecting elements and 54 is ensured by cooperation of the nut 94 with the threaded part 30 of the element 20. In this configuration,

  the seal 61 is crushed between the seat 32 and the shoulder 60.

  It should be noted that the intermediate ring 102 makes it possible to avoid any contact between the nut 94 and the protective member 84. This is advantageous, insofar as contact between the two aforementioned elements 84 and 94 would be likely to induce distortion of the strands 112, when

disassembly of this nut 94.

  The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown. In fact, it is possible to connect an external conductor, similar to that of 114, provided with any number of strands, in particular seven, with a corresponding number of strands similar to those 108 housed in the light 2. Furthermore, there it is conceivable to add a diameter adapter to the threaded neck 22 of the connection element 20, in order to cooperate with an orifice in the wall 16,

  whose diameter would be different from that shown.

  It is also possible to connect the conductive cable 114, at its end opposite to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with another connector part, similar to that 18. There is then a cable, the two ends of which are capable of being connected to two electrical components, such as lights, or a light and a

junction box.

  The invention makes it possible to achieve the objectives mentioned above. Indeed, the connector of the invention provides a particularly easy electrical connection for a user. Thus, it is possible to deliver to the latter, on the one hand, a certain number of electrical elements provided with first connector parts and, on the other hand, a certain number of conducting cables provided, to at least one of their ends, of a second connector part, susceptible

  to cooperate with a corresponding first party. Read-

  the user then only has to plug in each end of

  cable on an electrical element of the road vehicle.

  Such mounting is therefore considerably simplified by art

  prior. Indeed, according to the invention, it is not necessary

  to allow the user to pass a conductor through the wall of the electrical element. Furthermore, thanks to the invention, this user is in charge of a relatively small number of elements, which are of manipulation

simple.

  The invention is also advantageous in that it offers an alternative to the prior art. Indeed, the connector of the invention is capable of being mounted on an anterior electrical element, since the first part 14 of this connector can be housed in an orifice intended

  originally to accommodate a known cable gland.

  The invention is also advantageous in that it provides a very satisfactory seal. By doing in particular in Figure 4, it can be seen that there are four levels

  sealing imparted by the connector of the invention.

  It is first of all that provided by the streaks 92, extending at the outer periphery of the sheath 116 of the

driver 114.

  In addition, the bead 104 of the ring 102 is crushed, by the action of the nut 94, against the flange 88 of the member

protection 84.

  In addition, the O-ring 61 guarantees an additional degree.

  sealing cover, by its crushing between the seat 32 and

shoulder 60.

  Finally, the flat seal 44 provides a complementary seal.

  keep quiet, being disposed between the wall 16 and the shoulder 24

of the connecting element 20.

Claims (13)

RESELL I CATIONS   1. Connector (12) for electrical connection, intended to equip an electrical element (2) of a road vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: - a first connector part (14) comprising a first mechanical connection element ( 20) provided with means (22, 42) for fixing on a wall (16) of said electrical element (2), this first mechanical connection element (20) defining a first housing (38) for receiving first electrical connection elements ( 46), which can be connected with first electrical strands (108), extending inside the electrical element (2), - a second connector part (18) comprising a second mechanical connection element (54) , able to cooperate with the first mechanical connection element (20), this second mechanical connection element (54) defining a second housing (74) for receiving second electrical connection elements (76), able to be connected to the first elements of electrical connection (46), these second electrical connection elements which can be connected to second electrical strands (112), intended to be connected to said first strands (108), - means (94) for removable fixing of the first (14) and second (18) parts, and - means (44, 61, 88, 92, 104) ensuring   the sealing of said first (38) and second (74) housings.   2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that one (20) of the mechanical connection elements (20, 54)   has a hollow body which can receive, at least partially-   ment, the other (54) of these mechanical connection elements.   3. Connector according to claim 2, characterized in that the removable fixing means comprise a nut (94), a tapped portion (96) of which is capable of being screwed onto a threaded part (30) of said hollow body (20), this nut (94) having a neck (100) for retaining said other axially   mechanical connection element (54).   4. Connector according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises a member (84) for mechanical protection of said second strands (112), extending through said neck (100) and being capable of abutting against a seat (64) of said other mechanical connection element (54). 5. Connector according to claim 4, characterized in that the sealing means comprise internal grooves (92) of said protective member (84), able to cooperate with   a sheath (116) covering said second strands (112).   6. Connector according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the sealing means comprise an intermediate ring (102) interposed between said nut (94) and said   mechanical protection member (84).   7. Connector according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it comprises means (40, 66) allowing   both to prevent relative pivoting between said first and second connector parts (14, 18), in particular a lug   (40) which is provided with one (20) of the mechanical coupling elements   that, being able to penetrate a groove (66) formed on   the other (54) of the mechanical connection elements.   8. Connector according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the fixing means on said wall comprise a threaded neck (22) of the first mechanical connection element (20), as well as a nut (42) capable of being fixed on the threaded neck, this nut being able to be received in the wall (16) of said electrical element (2).   9. Electric element (2) of a road vehicle, in particular an electric light, comprising a body (4), characterized in that it is provided with at least a first connector part (14) belonging to a connector (12) conforming to one   any of the preceding claims, each element of   electrical connection (46) of said first part being connected with a corresponding first conductive strand (108),   received in the interior volume of the electrical element (2).   10. Element according to claim 9, characterized in that each first connector part (14) is fixed   removably on a wall (16) of said electrical element.   11. Element according to claim 10, characterized in that each first connector part (14) is housed in an orifice of said wall (16), this orifice being able to   in addition, removably receiving a cable gland.   12. Element according to claim 11, characterized in that each first connector part (14) is housed in   said orifice, with the interposition of a diameter adapter very.   13. Element according to one of claims 9 to 12,   characterized in that it further comprises at least a second connector part (18), belonging to a connector (12)   according to any one of claims 1 to 8, each   second connector part (18) being fixed so   removable on a first connector part (14) corresponding   dante, each electrical connection element (76) of the second connector part (18) being connected with a   second corresponding conductor strand (112).