FR2842656A1 - ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR, PARTICULARLY FOR VEHICLE HEATING DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical connector comprising a housing (30), made of electrically insulating material, provided with at least one female contact (20) comprising a metal terminal (22) formed by a crimping ring (24) intended to receive an electric cable (26) and an annular plug comprising an annular shoulder crossed by a cylindrical sleeve (30) intended to receive a male contact. The housing (30) comprises a plurality of substantially cylindrical barrels (34) which extend from a housing bottom (31), each intended to receive a female contact (20), and fastening means (36), distributed around of the shank (34) and extending from the bottom (31) of the housing, being provided to pre-hold said female contact (20) in position, the shank (34) having an upper internal part intended to cooperate with said shoulder.

Description

Background of the invention The invention relates to an electrical connector

with a

  casing made of electrically insulating material provided with at least one female contact.

  The field of application of the invention is more particularly that of vehicle heating and / or air conditioning devices, in particular

  passenger, utility and heavy goods vehicles.

  Generally, the connection to high power electrical devices or devices in a motor vehicle is made by a male-female system. In particular, the female contact is formed by a metal lug comprising at its free end a ring crossed by a cylindrical sleeve intended to receive the male contact. The cylindrical sleeve is preferably a connector manufactured by Konnektech Corporation and marketed under the brand RADSOK described for example, in US Pat. No. 5,562,490.

  Usually, the female contact is wrapped in a protective housing 20 forming a unitary connector. Thus, when connecting an electrical appliance to several channels, several connectors are necessary, having the drawback of requiring assembly in several operations and of being of a high cost price due to the number of constituent parts and the assembly time required.

Subject and summary of the invention

  The object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector for a vehicle heating or air conditioning device or, more generally for any power device. The connector holds several female connectors of the RADSOK type together with defined and specific male connectors without the need for additional parts to ensure good cohesion of the assembly.

  Another object of the present invention is to facilitate the mounting of the

  connector on the electrical appliance.

  These aims are achieved by means of an electrical connector comprising a casing made of electrically insulating material provided with at least one female contact comprising a metal lug formed by a crimping ring intended to receive an electrical cable and by a plug comprising an annular shoulder. crossed by a cylindrical sleeve intended to receive a male contact, characterized in that the housing comprises a plurality of substantially cylindrical threads which extend from a bottom of the housing, each intended to receive a female contact, and fixing means, distributed around the ft and extending from the bottom of the housing, being provided to pre-maintain in position said female contact, the ft having an upper internal part intended to cooperate with said shoulder. Thus, in a compact structure, an easy mounting 15 of a plurality of contacts is obtained in a single operation avoiding any error of

  connection and therefore having an increased level of security.

  Advantageously, said internal part of each ft has a frustoconical shape on its upper part and the external part of the shoulder has a complementary frustoconical shape, so that the ft cooperates without play with the shoulder when the female contact receives the

male contact.

  Thus, a seal is ensured between the inside and the outside of the

  female contact, even when the male contacts are hollow.

  According to a feature of the invention, the fts have

identical heights.

  Advantageously, the legs have variable heights so that each height is associated with a particular female contact defined by the position of its annular shoulder relative to the cylindrical sleeve.

  The height of the ft intended to receive the female contact connected to the

  cable associated with a ground potential, may be different from those of the fts intended to receive the female contacts connected to the cables associated with supply potentials.

  The fixing means can be clips distributed around each ft so as to leave a free space for the passage of the part of the terminal connected to the cable.

  According to a feature of the invention, the free space at the level of the ft crossed by the part of the terminal connected to the cable associated with the ground potential, is arranged on one side of the housing substantially opposite to that comprising free spaces at the levels of fts crossed by the parts of the terminals connected to the cables associated with the supply potentials.

  The passage spaces of the parts of the terminals connected to the cables 10 on the same side of the housing are separated by ribs so as to avoid any contact between the metal terminals, and the housing comprises vanes for protecting the outputs of the metal terminals.

  According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the box has four fts. According to a feature of the invention, the fts are arranged to

  aligned in a longitudinal direction of the housing.

  Advantageously, the housing receives a cover of electrically insulating material.

  The invention also relates to a heating and / or air conditioning installation comprising a heating device for a motor vehicle comprising an electrical connector as defined above, the connector being assembled on the heating device.

Brief description of the drawings

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description made

  below, by way of indication but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a very schematic partial view of a heating installation for a motor vehicle; Figures 2 is a perspective view of a female connector; - Figure 3 is a perspective view of an electrical connector comprising a housing and female contacts, according to the invention; - Figure 4 is a partial detail view of a connection pin of Figure 3; - Figure 5 is a perspective view of a cover comprising the female contacts according to the invention; - Figure 6 is a plan view passing in the axes of the fts of the housing according to the invention; and - Figure 7 is a perspective view of the housing of Figure 3

mounted on the cover of figure 5.

  Detailed description of the embodiments

  The invention relates to the electrical connection to high power electrical devices or devices, in particular for devices through which an air flow passes in a vehicle heating and / or air conditioning installation.

  An embodiment of the invention will be described below in the

  part of the application to an electric heater or radiator.

  Figure 1 shows a part of a motor vehicle heating installation, comprising an air conditioning unit 2 defining a channel 3 for the passage of the air to be heated. Channel 3 brings the air to the 20 heating and demisting / defrosting vents to be selectively distributed in the passenger compartment according to the positions of the mixing and distribution flaps 6. The air flow in channel 3 is produced by a fan 7, or extractor, receiving outside air or recirculating air from the passenger compartment. The heating of the air, when necessary, is ensured by an optional liquid heat exchanger 8, using the engine coolant as coolant and by an electric radiator 10. The exchanger 8 and the radiator electrical 10 are arranged in the channel 3, the first being located upstream of the second. In the absence of exchanger 8, the air is heated by the only electric radiator

10.

  A method of mounting an electric radiator in a heating and air conditioning device is described in particular in French patent application No. 01 09 076 of the applicant.

  The electric radiator can occupy all or part of the passage section of the channel 3. In the latter case, only part of the air flow produced by the blower 7 passes through the electric radiator, the other part being derived outside of it.

  The electric heater 10 is mounted in a known manner inside

  a support frame arranged so that the electric radiator 10 is traversed by the whole of the air flow to be heated. The support frame of the electric radiator comprises on one of these edges an electric control module connected to supply potentials and to a ground potential through electric cables by means of an electric connector according to the invention. The electrical connector is mounted on the outside of the air conditioning unit 2. Therefore, it is recommended that the connector be airtight.

  FIG. 2 shows a female contact 20 comprising a metal lug 15 formed by a crimping ring 24 tightening a stripped part of an electric cable 26 and an annular plug 28 on its free part, crossed by a cylindrical sleeve 21 , preferably of the RADSOK type. According to the invention, the plug 28 of the terminal 22 has an annular shoulder 29 having an outer part 29a of particular shape.

  An exemplary embodiment of an electrical connector in accordance with

  the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.

  As shown in Figure 3, the electrical connector comprises a housing 30 delimited by a bottom 31 of the housing and a flange 32. The housing 30 is of a substantially rectangular shape elongated in one direction

longitudinal.

  The housing 30 comprises a plurality of sockets 34, for a plurality of substantially cylindrical connection pins which extend from the bottom 31 of the housing and which are arranged, for example, aligned in the longitudinal direction in order to ensure compactness optimal. As an example, four threads 34 are shown in the figure, but this number can be any. Furthermore, the housing 30 is made of electrically insulating material, preferably of synthetic material, such as plastic.

  Each ft 34 is intended to ensure the centering and positioning of a female contact 20. In addition, fastening means, distributed around the ft 34 and also extending from the bottom 31 of the housing, are provided to pre-maintain in position said female contact 20.

  The fixing means can be clips 36 which deform elastically to receive the annular plugs 28 of the female contacts 20. Thus, these clips 36 maintain the female contacts 20 before the latter receive electrodes or male contacts coming from the radiator. The clips 36 are circumscribed around each ft 34 and are arranged on a part of its periphery so as to leave a free space 38 at each ft for the passage of the part of the pod 22 connected to the cable. For example, three clips 36 can be distributed regularly around one half of each ft 34 at angular intervals of approximately 900, thus leaving a free space 38 at the level of the other half of the ft 34 for the passage of the

  part of the terminal connected to the cable.

  In order to differentiate the cable 26a connected to ground from those 26b connected to the supply potentials, the free space 38 at the level of the ft crossed by the part of the terminal connected to the cable 26a to ground, is arranged on one side 32 of the housing 30 substantially opposite to that comprising free spaces at the 20 levels of the fts 34 traversed by the parts of the terminals connected to the power cables.

  Advantageously, the free spaces 38 for passage of the parts of the terminals connected to the cables 26b on the same side of the housing 30 are separated by ribs 40 so as to avoid any contact between the terminals 22.

  Indeed, the example of FIG. 3 comprises three wires, separated in pairs by a rib 40, receiving three female contacts 20 fixed to power cables 26b oriented in a direction substantially transverse to the elongated side of the housing 30 The last ft 34 is intended to receive a female contact (not shown) fixed to a cable 26a of

  mass oriented in a direction opposite to the other three.

  In addition, the housing comprises a first blade 42a for output protection from the terminal connected to the ground cable 26a and a second blade 42b

  for protecting the outputs of the three lugs connected to the power supply cables 26b.

  FIG. 4 shows that each ft 34 has an upper internal part 34a intended to cooperate with the shoulder 29 of the female terminal 20. In particular, the internal part 34a of the ft 34 has on its upper part a frustoconical shape and the external part 29a of the shoulder has a complementary frustoconical shape thus ensuring good cohesion of the assembly. The upper part of ft 34 can be made by annular overmolding. Advantageously, when the female contact 20 receives the male contact, the upper internal part 34a of the ft 34 cooperates without play with the shoulder 29 of the terminal 22. Thus, even when hollow male contacts originating from a manufacturing process of the type rolling are introduced into the sleeves 21, a seal is provided between the inside and the outside of the female contact preventing any leakage of the air flow from the air conditioning unit

  towards the passenger compartment of the vehicle which may be unpleasant for passengers.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a cover 50, made of synthetic material of the same elongated shape as the housing and which is intended to be mounted on the housing 30 (see FIG. 7), the connector thus formed being inserted in the 20 male contacts of an electric heater or radiator (see also Figure 6). In fact, the male contacts 42 of the radiator 10 penetrate into the sleeves 21 of the female contacts 20 which are pre-maintained in the housing 30.

  The centers of the holes 52 of the cover 50 coincide with the centers 25 of the threads 34 of the housing 30 and the sleeves 21 of the female contacts are supported

on the edges of the holes 52.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a section passing in the plane of the axes of the connection pins of the heating device or electric radiator 10 showing a part of the electric radiator 10, the cover 50 and the housing 30.

  The example in FIG. 6 shows that the fts 34 have variable heights so that each height is associated with a particular female contact 20. Indeed (see also Figure 5) the position of the plug 28 and therefore of the annular shoulder 29, relative to the cylindrical sleeve 21 determines the height of the part of the sleeve 21 intended to be received by the ft 34. So positions variables of the annular plugs 28 can define different female contacts associated with variable heights of the fts 34. Thus, the height of the ft 34 coupled with the position of the annular plug 28 undermines the nature of each female contact.

  In particular, the height of the ft 34a intended to receive the female contact connected to the ground cable 26a, is different from that of the fts 34b intended to receive the female contacts connected to the supply cables 26b.

  In this way, a standardization of a base portion of the electric radiator 10 can be achieved. Furthermore, different electrical devices can be differentiated by configuring the height, orientation and arrangement of the female contacts in the housing 30.

  Of course, it is also possible that the heights of the fts

are all identical.

  The cover 50 is fixed to the housing 30 (see also FIG. 7) by

  fixing means for example by two screws (not shown) through two holes 56 located at the ends of the housing 30 and which are housed in fixing studs 58 of the cover. Similarly, other fixing means, such as clipping, are possible.

  The assembly between the connector and the electric heater 10 is

  provided by fixing means for example by two screws (not shown) through two holes 54 located at the ends of the cover 50 and which are housed in fixing studs (not shown) of the electrical device 10.

  Note that the housing, the cover and the radiator can be fixed

  all at once with the same fixing means. Thus, screws can pass through the housing 30 and the cover 50, for example through the holes 56 and the holes 60, and come to be housed in studs for fixing the radiator.

  Similarly, screws for fixing the electric heater 10 to the air conditioning unit (not shown) can also be used to fix the connector to the electric heater 10. It is also possible to mount the connector on the electric heater 10 by clipping , buttressing, or any other means of attachment.

  In addition, as illustrated in Figure 7, the housing 30 has lights 62 at the feet of the clips which allow the release. This has the advantage of not having additional movements during demolding.

Claims (15)

  1. Electrical connector comprising a housing (30), made of electrically insulating material, provided with at least one female contact (20) comprising a metal lug (22) formed by a crimping ring (24) intended to receive a cable ( 26) electrical and an annular plug (28) comprising an annular shoulder (29) crossed by a cylindrical sleeve (21) intended to receive a male contact (42), characterized in that the housing (30) comprises a plurality of substantially cylindrical fts (34) which extend from a housing bottom (31), each intended to receive a female contact   (20), and fixing means (36), distributed around the ft (34) and extending from the bottom (31) of the housing, being designed to pre-maintain in position said female contact (20), the ft (34 ) having an upper internal part (34a) intended to cooperate with said shoulder (29).   2. An electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal part (34a) of each ft has a frustoconical shape on its upper part and the external part (29a) of the shoulder (29) has a frustoconical shape complementary to so that the ft (34) cooperates without play with the shoulder (29), when the female contact (20) receives the male contact (42).   3. Electrical connector according to any one of claims   1 and 2, characterized in that the fts (34) have identical heights.   4. Electrical connector according to any one of the claims   1 and 2, characterized in that the feet (34) have variable heights 25 so that each height is associated with a particular female contact (20) defined by the position of its annular shoulder (29) relative to the sleeve (21 ) cylindrical.   5. Electrical connector according to claim 4, characterized in that the height of the ft (34) intended to receive the female contact (20) connected to the cable (26a) associated with a ground potential, is different from that of the fts intended receiving the female contacts (20) connected to the cables (26b) associated with supply potentials.   6. Electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that   that said fixing means are clips (36).   7. Electrical connector according to claim 6, characterized in that the clips (36) are distributed around each ft (34) so as to leave a free space (38) for the passage of the part of the terminal (22) connected to the cable.   8. An electrical connector according to claim 7, characterized in that the free space (38) at the level of the ft crossed by the part of the terminal connected to the cable (26a) associated with the ground potential, is arranged on one side of the housing (30) substantially opposite to that comprising free spaces at the level of the wires (34) crossed by the parts of the terminals connected to the cables (26b) associated with the supply potentials.   9. Electrical connector according to claim 8, characterized in that said free spaces (38) for passage of the parts of the terminals connected to the cables (26b) on the same side of the housing are separated by ribs (40)   so as to avoid any contact between the metal lugs (22).   10. Electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the housing (30) comprises vanes (42a, 42b) for protecting the outputs of the metal lugs.   11. Electrical connector according to any one of   Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the housing (30) has four struts (34).   12. An electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the fts (34) are arranged   aligned in a longitudinal direction of the housing (30).   13. Electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the housing (30) receives a cover   (50) in electrically insulating material.   14. Heating device (10) for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises an electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 13, the connector being assembled on the heating device (10).   15. A heating and / or air conditioning installation for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a heating device (10) according to claim 14.