FR2846474A1 - SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING A SUB-ASSEMBLY OF A VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical connection system, to a main electrical circuit distributed inside the body structure of a vehicle, of an auxiliary electrical circuit associated with a sub-assembly, such as in particular a vehicle seat , for supplying electrical equipment belonging to this sub-assembly, this system comprising: - a first upper connector (10) formed by a body (12), carried by the sub-assembly, and by a carrying element -contacts (14), which is movably mounted in the body (12) between an original high position and a low connection position; - and a second lower connector (18), complementary to the upper connector (10) and, formed a body (12), carried by the body structure of the vehicle, and a contact carrier (24), housed in the body (20) and of the type in which the coupling of the two connectors takes place in a vertical coupling direction during a mounting operation of the so us-together on the structure characterized in that the upper connector (10) comprises a mechanism, operated from outside the body (12), and which causes the displacement of the upper contact carrier (14) from its original position towards its connection position, in order to establish the connection between the two contact carriers (14, 24).

Description

SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING A SUB-ASSEMBLY OF A VEHICLE

  The present invention relates to an electrical connection system. More particularly, it relates to an electrical connection system, to a main electrical circuit distributed inside the body structure of a vehicle, of an auxiliary electrical circuit associated with a sub-assembly, such as in particular a seat of the vehicle, for the supply of electrical equipment belonging to this subassembly, this system comprising: a first upper connector formed by a body carried by the sub15 assembly, and by a contact-carrying element, which is movably mounted in the body between an original high position and a low connection position; and a second lower connector, complementary to the upper connector, formed by a body, carried by the vehicle body structure, and by a contact carrier, housed in the body and of the type in which the coupling of the two connectors takes place in a vertical coupling direction during a

  assembly operation of the sub-assembly on the structure.

  Currently, on vehicle assembly lines, the connection operation of two complementary connectors, in a connection system, is generally carried out manually. The operator performs several manipulations such as gripping and assembling the two connectors. However, the execution times being very short on the workstations, the operator must handle the connectors very quickly, which risks leading to poor performance.

  connection, or hardware degradation.

  To solve this problem, automatic connection systems 5 have been made. Document FR-A-2 786 933 describes an arrangement for the automatic connection of two electrical circuits of a motor vehicle. This system offers a fully automatic connection between the seat connector and the body connector, when the seat is mounted on the body. However, this system is only applicable for certain types of vehicles having

particular recenters.

  To overcome these drawbacks, the invention provides an electrical connection system of the type described above, characterized in that the upper connector includes a mechanism, operated

  from outside the body, and which causes the upper contact carrier to move from its original position to its connection position, in order to establish the connection between the two contact carriers.

  The device, according to a first characteristic, comprises a mechanism comprising an operating member linked in translation with the movable upper contact carrier. In a particular embodiment, the mechanism is of the

cam and cam follower element.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the cam is a light produced

  in an operating lever which is mounted articulated on the body.

  In another embodiment, the upper connector comprises a spring which biases the contact carrier towards its low connection position, and a retractable zipper which retains the contact carrier in the original high position, against the force exerted by the spring, of which a part forming a handle extends outside

of the body for its maneuver.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the contact carrier is mounted mobile, along the coupling axis, in the body of the connector

  lower, against a return spring in the high position.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, given solely by way of example, and for the understanding of which reference will be made.

to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic representation, in section in a vertical plane, of the system which is the subject of the invention which is illustrated before coupling of the two connectors.

  Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 after

coupling of the two connectors.

  Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 after

connection of the two contact carriers.

  Figure 4 is a view similar to those of Figures 2 and 3 which illustrates an alternative embodiment of the drive mechanism of the contact holder of the upper connector.

  In the description and the views which follow, the terms "vertical", "horizontal", "lower" and

  upper ", with reference to the figures in order to facilitate the

  understanding of the description and the claims.

  FIG. 1 is a view of the electrical connection system according to the invention, applied to a seat, offering electrical services,

in a vehicle.

  This connection system comprises an upper connector 10, comprising a body 12 and a contact carrier 14, which consists of an insulating block 15 and of electrical contact elements, such as male pins 17. The body 12 of the connector upper 10 is 15 integrated, in part, in the seat 16 of the vehicle. For example, it is mounted fixed in the lower part of the seat, to be placed in

  look at the lower connector 18, located below the seat 16.

  This connector 18, complementary to the upper connector 10, 20 comprises a body 20, carried by the body structure 22 of the vehicle, for example in a vehicle floor element, on which the seat 16 is mounted. This body 20 comprises a part upper flared 21, designed to receive the free lower end of the body 12 of the upper connector 10, when the seat 16 descends. The body 20 of the lower connector 18 comprises a contact carrier 24, the insulating block 25 of which carries contact cards 19,

  complementary to pins 17 of contact carrier 14.

  As shown in diagram 1, the upper connector includes an operating member 26 for actuating the mechanism causing the movement of the upper contact carrier 14 from its original high position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, towards its 5 position bass connection shown in Figure 3. This body 26

  is placed so as to be accessible, on the assembly line, to an operator, or a robot, who will actuate it in order to cause the movement of the contact carrier 14. Advantageously, this member 26 is a pull tab fixed to the carrier contacts 14, and which can be operated along a slot made in the body 12 of the connector.

  Starting from the position of FIG. 1, the coupling of the two connectors (10, 18) takes place in a vertical coupling direction, represented by the right (AA), during the operation of mounting the seat. in the vehicle. This operation consists in introducing, for example automatically and by means of robots, the seat 16 into the vehicle, according to the determined coordinates which depend on the final position of the seat in the vehicle, and thus orienting the upper connector along the vertical direction of coupling (AA) relative to the lower connector. This leads to the position illustrated in Figure 2, which shows the electrical connection system according to the invention in the coupling position. In this diagram, the seat is in the final position, in the vehicle, relative to the body floor 22, and the body 12 of the upper connector is assembled to the body 20 of the lower connector 18. The contact carrier 14 is always in the high position original in the body 12. In this position, it can be seen that the pins 17 and the plugs 19 are aligned with a view to the step or

final connection operation.

  When the seat 16, and consequently the body 12 of the upper connector 5, is in the final position, the connection of the two contact carriers (10, 18) is then carried out by means of the mechanism, operated from outside the body 12, manually or automatically, which causes the upper contact carrier 14 to move from its original high position to its low connection position, in order to establish the connection between the two contact carriers (14, 24).

  FIG. 3 illustrates the connection system described above, in the connection position in which the upper contact carrier 15 is in the lower connection position and is connected with the lower contact carrier 24, that is to say that the contact pins 17 of the upper insulating block 15 are inserted in the plugs

  19 of electrical contact of the lower insulating block 25.

  Alternatively, the operating mechanism may include a

  cam which gives movement to a cam follower element to cause the lower contact carrier to descend to the lower contact carrier.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cam is a light 28, produced in an operating lever 26, which is articulated on the body 12 of the upper connector 10. When the operator actuates the lever 26, for example by pushing it towards the lower connector, a transverse lug 32 of the upper contact carrier 14 received by sliding 30 in the slot 28, causes the movement of the insulating block 15 of the upper contact carrier 14, vertically downwards in the direction of the

lower contact carrier.

  In another embodiment, not shown, the upper connector 5 includes a spring which permanently urges the contact carrier to its low connection position, and a retractable pull tab which retains the contact carrier in the original high position.

  When the operator or the robot removes the zipper, the spring relaxes and pushes the upper contact carrier towards the lower contact carrier, 10 in order to make the connection of the two entities.

  In another variant of the invention, not shown, an elastic means, such as a spring, is placed under the contact carrier 24, of the lower connector 18 in order to permanently apply to it a vertical thrust, in the direction of coupling, from the contact carrier 24 to the upper connector 10, and thus guarantee a good connection of the two contact carriers whatever the

  manufacturing and assembly tolerances.

Claims (6)

  1. Electrical connection system, to a main electrical circuit 5 distributed inside the body structure of a vehicle, of an auxiliary electrical circuit associated with a subassembly, such as in particular a seat of the vehicle, for the supply of electrical equipment belonging to this sub-assembly, this system comprising - a first upper connector (10) formed by a body (12), carried by the sub-assembly, and a contact-carrying element (14), which is movably mounted in the body (12) between an original high position and a low connection position; - And a second lower connector (18), complementary to the upper connector (10) and, formed of a body (12), carried by the vehicle body structure, and of a contact carrier (24), housed in the body (20) and of the type in which the coupling of the two connectors takes place in a vertical direction of coupling during an operation of mounting the sub20 assembly on the structure   Characterized in that the upper connector (10) includes a mechanism, operated from outside the body (12), which causes the upper contact carrier (14) to move from its original position to its connection position, in order to establish the connection between the two contact carriers (14, 24).   2. Electrical connection system according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanism comprises an operating member (26) linked in translation with the upper contact carrier (14) 30 mobile.   3. Electrical connection system according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanism is of the cam and element type cam follower.   4. Electrical connection system according to claim 3, characterized in that the cam is a light (28) produced in a lever (30) for maneuver which is movably mounted on the body (12) of the upper connector.   5. An electrical connection system according to claim 1, the upper connector (10) comprises a spring which urges the contact holder (14) towards its low connection position, and a retractable pull tab which retains the contact carrier in the original high position. , 15 against the force exerted by the spring, and part of which   extends outside the body for its maneuver.   6. electrical connection system according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the contact carrier (24) of the lower connector 20 (18) is mounted movable, along the coupling axis, in the body   (20), against a return spring in the high position.