FR2849967A1 - FIXING DEVICE FOR CONNECTOR COMPRISING TWO PARTS. - Google Patents

Abstract

A fixing device for a two-part connector (40, 41) comprises first and second keys adapted to be fixed to the parts (40, 41) of the connector, each key comprising fixing means (3, 11, 22, 34 ) on a part of the connector with a position chosen from among a plurality of possible positions, each keying device being provided with mutual fixing means (27, 16) with the other keying device. A keying device comprises a socket (1, 20) provided with at least one tooth provided on one side of the socket, or a row of teeth (3, 34) located in the same radial plane and spaced circumferentially, the tooth or the row teeth being adapted to cooperate with a part (40, 41) of the connector for insertion of the sleeve (1, 20) in an orifice (47) of the part, in a selected position, and fixing of the sleeve in the 'snap-fit hole.

Description

Fixing device for connector comprising two parts.

  The present invention relates to a connector fixing device comprising two parts, in particular for connectors 5 intended for the connection of cable harnesses, for example of an avi on.

  In transport vehicles, an increasing number of cables are necessary to connect electrical or electronic elements (lighting, sensors, actuators, etc.), whether for their electrical supply or for data exchanges between these elements. Connector tables are generally used and group a plurality of connections. In an aircraft, such connector panels are generally arranged just aft of the cockpit. These tables include housings in which are disposed connector parts (female or male), corresponding connector parts which can be plugged into the other part to ensure electrical contact according to a desired scheme between cable bundles associated with the parts. male and cable bundles associated with the corresponding female parts. These connector tables are useful for making specific connections allowing the realization of a particular wiring diagram or for maintenance.

  Each cable harness connected to a part of a connector contains specific cables to be plugged in with specific corresponding contacts. Marking means are provided on the parts of a connector so that an operator can recognize the connector parts which correspond. Coding means are provided in association with the marking means so that the operator can fix a connector part only on the corresponding connector part.

  However, such polarizing fixing devices increase the number of parts for manufacturing the connectors, which complicates the manufacture and assembly of the connectors, as well as the assembly of the parts of the connectors together. In addition, polarizing devices can increase the weight of the connectors.

  Given the very large number of connectors in an aircraft, 5 and the essential nature of the weight in the design and operation of an aircraft, the contribution to the aircraft weight of all the connectors is not negligible.

  The subject of the present invention is a fixing device for a connector comprising two parts allowing reliable marking of the parts and a polarization for fixing the parts.

  The present invention also relates to a connector fixing device comprising two parts which is safe, light, and which can be obtained with a limited number of parts, each part being obtained from a limited number of operations.

  The invention also relates to a fixing device making it possible to simplify operations for preparing connectors when cables are connected to a connector part, as well as operations for fixing the connector parts to each other and to a connector board. .

  Such a fastening device for a two-part connector comprises first and second polarizers designed to be fixed to the parts of the connector, each polarizing device comprising means for fixing to a part of the connector in a position chosen from a plurality of possible positions, each the polarizing device being provided with means for mutual fixing with the other polarizing device, the first and second polarizing devices being designed to be fitted one into the other in a defined position allowing cooperation of the mutual fixing means, the polarizing devices being provided with polarizing means for preventing the interlocking of the polarizers in another position. According to one aspect of the invention, a polarizing device comprises a socket provided with at least one tooth provided on one side of the socket, or a row of teeth situated in the same radial plane and circumferentially spaced, the tooth or the row of teeth being able to cooperate with a part of the connector for insertion of the sleeve into an orifice of the part, in the chosen position, and fixing of the sleeve in the orifice by snap-fastening.

  The snap-on fixing of the polarizing part on the connector part is quick and simple. An isolated tooth provided on one side is formed in a limited angular sector of the periphery of the sleeve, in other words on a limited arc. A tooth provided on one side or a row of circumferentially spaced teeth can be obtained simply by being in one piece with the socket or formed on an insert on the socket, without prejudice to the mechanical strength of the socket or of the insert , simply, and without additional manufacturing steps of the sleeve. The teeth or rows of teeth allow secure fixing by snap-fastening. In addition, the snap-fastening allows the fixing of the polarizers and the parts without an operator having to handle separate fastening elements, at the risk of losing them.

  A socket can be provided with at least two teeth or rows of ratcheting teeth which are axially distant, a tooth or row of 20 teeth being able to cooperate with a part of the connector in order to keep the keying piece on the part in the chosen position, and the other tooth or row of teeth being able to cooperate with a hole in a switchboard to fix the part of the connector provided with the polarizer on the switchboard, by snap-fastening.

  In one embodiment, a polarizing device comprises a sleeve provided with at least one tooth or a row of teeth adapted to be fixed on the socket. In this case, the sleeve can be made of plastic and overmolded on a sleeve, of metallic or plastic material. In this second case, the sleeve can be co-molded with a bush made of a different plastic material.

  In one embodiment, the sleeve is metallic, the teeth or rows of teeth being formed by cutting the walls of the sleeve and folding. To allow its attachment to the socket, the sleeve may include an axial slot to increase its radial elasticity. The sleeve may be arranged in an annular groove provided on an exterior surface of the sleeve.

  Advantageously, a socket is made of plastic and has monobloc teeth with the socket.

  Optionally, one can provide a tooth or row of teeth integral with the bush, and a tooth or row of teeth offset axially and provided on an element attached to the bush. It is also possible to provide teeth or rows of teeth provided on two inserts, and fixed on a bush while being axially offset.

  In one embodiment, a keying device comprises a flanged head, intended to be inserted into a flanged entry section of the orifice of the connector part when fixing the polarizing element on the part.

  In one embodiment, one key has one tooth or row of snap teeth, the other key has two teeth or rows of snap teeth axially spaced apart. Thus, a connector part is provided with a polarizing device with two rows of teeth fixed to the part with an orientation chosen as a function of the cable bundle associated with the part. Then the part provided with the polarizing device is fixed on a table using the second row of teeth. The second part, provided with the corresponding polarizing device fixed in a position chosen as a function of the cable bundle associated with the part and plugged into the other part, provided that the polarizing plates allow it, then the polarizing plates are fixed mutually.

  In one embodiment, a socket of a polarizer includes an axial passage, and axial ribs projecting into the passage, the axial ribs defining a wide angle portion and a small angle portion in the large diameter area of the passage, the other polarizing device comprising a polarizing guide which can be inserted into the wide angle area without being able to be inserted into the small angle area.

  The present invention and its advantages will be better understood on studying the description of an embodiment taken by way of example 5 which is in no way limitative and illustrated by the appended figures in which: - Figures 1 and 2 are views in perspective and exploded view of a fixing device according to one aspect of the invention, from different angles of view; - Figure 3 is an exploded axial sectional view of a fixing device according to Figure 1; - Figure 4 is a sectional view of the fixing device according to Figure 1, arranged on a two-part connector; - Figure 5 is a sectional view along 5/5 of Figure 4; and FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the connector provided with the fixing device, according to FIG. 4.

  In FIGS. 1 to 3, the fixing device comprises a "female" polarizing device comprising a first bush 1 comprising a tubular portion 2 provided with fixing means provided in the form of a row of teeth 3.

  A tooth 3 is in the form of an elastic tongue 4 formed in an opening in the wall of the tubular portion 2 and integral with the tubular portion 2. A tongue 4 comprises one end connected to the tubular portion 2, and opposite end free and provided with an additional thickness 5 projecting radially outwards. The extra thickness 5 has an inclined surface 5a oriented radially outward and axially on the side of the fixed end 4a of the tongue 4, and a radial surface 5b (FIGS. 2 and 3) oriented axially on the opposite side and forming a stop surface at the free end of the tongue 4. The tongue 4 thus obtained is radially elastic 30 to allow a retraction radially inward of the extra thickness 5 during the insertion of the sleeve into an orifice, axially in the direction from the free end of the tongue towards the "fixed" end.

  The teeth 3, here three in number, are circumferentially spaced by being located in the same radial plane, and regularly 5 distributed over the circumference of the outer surface 2a of the tubular portion 2.

  The tubular portion 2 comprises a central passage 2b delimited by a bore 6. Two internal axial ribs 7, 8 are provided on the bore 6, and protrude in the central passage 2b. The two axial ribs 7, 8 are not diametrically opposite so as to define, in a zone of larger diameter of the passage 2b, a zone of wide angle 9 and a zone of small angle 10.

  The first sleeve 1 comprises at one end on the side of the stop surface 5b of the teeth 3 a hexagonal head 11, a flap being provided with a notch 12 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The hexagon head 11 is provided with a cylindrical central passage 13 (FIGS. 2 and 3) communicating with the passage 2b of the tubular portion 2 of the first sleeve 1.

  The first polarizing device comprises a screw 14 comprising a screw head 15, a threaded portion 16 opposite the screw head 15, and an intermediate portion 17 smooth, and having an outside diameter smaller than the diameter of the threaded portion 16. The screw 14 is provided to be fixed idly axially on the sleeve 1, by inserting the screw 14 in the orifice 13 of the head 11 so that the threaded portion 16 screws in the central passage of the tubular portion 2, the screw head being 25 disposed on the opposite side of the hexagon head 11. To do this, the orifice 13 (fig. 2 and 3) of the hexagon head 11 has a diameter substantially less than the diameter of the threaded portion 16 of the screw 14 and the diameter of the screw head 15, while being greater than the outside diameter of the smooth intermediate portion 17 of the screw 14.

  To allow the introduction of the screw 14 through the orifice 13 (FIGS. 2 and 3), provision may be made for the orifice 13 to be provided with a thread capable of cooperating with the threaded portion 16 of the screw 14, or that the sleeve 1 is made of plastic and that the screw 14 is self-tapping. A corrugated washer 18 is provided to be placed between the hexagon head 11 of the first socket 1 and the screw head 15 of the screw 14.

  The fixing device comprises a second "male" polarizing device comprising a second bush 20 having a tubular intermediate portion 21, a hexagonal head 22 provided at a first end of the tubular portion 21, and of which a section comprises a notch 23, and a keying guide 24 provided at the opposite axial end 10 of the tubular portion 21, and being in the form of an angular portion of a tubular part.

  In FIG. 3, the second socket 20 has a central opening 25 axially passing through the second socket 20. A bore 26 of the central opening 25 comprises a smooth portion located on the side of the hexagon head and an end portion threaded 27, located on the side of the keying guide 24, provided with a thread capable of cooperating with the thread of the threaded portion 16 of the screw 14.

  The tubular portion 21 of the second sleeve 20 has a cylindrical outer surface 28 provided with a single annular groove 29 20 extending axially over the major part of the cylindrical outer surface 28. The groove 29 is axially limited by a first radial surface shoulder 30 on the side of the hexagon head 22 and a second radial shoulder surface 31 on the opposite side.

  In FIGS. 1 to 3, the second polarizing device comprises a metal sleeve 33 comprising first and second rows of teeth 34, 35 projecting radially outwards. A row of teeth 34, 35 here comprises three teeth situated in the same axial plane and circumferentially spaced. The rows of teeth 34, 35 are axially spaced.

  A tooth is obtained, in the illustrated embodiment, by cutting a tongue in the wall of the sleeve 33 and deformation radially outward of a tongue thus formed, the tongue remaining connected to the sleeve 33 by an axial end. Elastic tongues are obtained radially, and being able in particular to fold in an elastic manner towards the inside when they are stressed in this direction, and then return to their rest position.

  A tooth has an inclined surface 36, oriented radially outward and axially towards a first end of the sleeve 33, and a substantially radial stop surface 37 oriented on the side opposite to the first axial end of the sleeve 33. The sleeve 33 is also provided with an axial slot 38 extending over its entire axial length to give the sleeve 33 a certain radial elasticity for its mounting.

  It will be noted that the teeth of the two rows of teeth have inclined surfaces 36 oriented on the same side and radial stop surfaces 37 oriented on the same side. Furthermore, as can best be seen in FIG. 3, the first row of teeth 34 of the sleeve 33, whose stop surfaces 37 are oriented on the opposite side to the second row of teeth 35, has less pronounced teeth. , so that the diameter defined by a generatrix passing through the free radial ends of the teeth of the first row of teeth 34 is less than a generatrix passing through the free ends of the teeth of the second row of teeth 35.

  The sleeve 33 is designed to be placed on the second bush 20 while being inserted in the groove 29, so that the tooth stop surfaces 37 of the rows of teeth 34, 35 are oriented towards the hexagonal head 22. The sleeve 33 disposed in the annular groove 29 is retained axially by the radial shoulders 30, 31 delimiting the annular groove 29.

  The keying guide 24 of the second socket 20 is designed to be inserted into the central passage 2b of the first socket. The keying guide 24 has an outer surface which is a portion of cylindrical surface whose generator has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the central passage 2b of the tubular portion 2 of the first sleeve 1. The guide 24 is defined on a portion angular allowing the introduction of the guide 24 into the wide angle portion 9 defined in the central passage 2b by the axial ribs 7 and 8 of the polarization of the first socket 1, while it is not possible to insert the guide 24 in the second small angle portion 10. Thus, the guide 24 can be inserted axially in the first socket 1 only if a certain angular orientation is respected between the first and second sockets 1 and 20.

  In addition, the lengths of the keying guide 24 and of the screw 10 14 are such that the screw 14 which has previously been mounted idly on the first socket 1 can only cooperate with the thread 27 for fixing the second socket 20 only when the the polarizing guide will have been at least partially introduced into the first bush 1. Thus, the guide 24 prevents any fixing between the bushes when the latter are not correctly angularly oriented, and axially brought together.

  Figures 4 and 5 are described below, keeping the references used for Figures 1 to 3.

  A connector shown partially comprises a female part 40 and a male part 41 having fixing lugs 42, 43 respectively. A part of a connector generally comprises two fixing lugs located on either side of pins. For reasons of simplification of the drawings, only one tab for each part has been shown in the drawing.

  As shown in Figure 4, the male and female parts 40, 41 of the connector are plugged into each other being arranged on either side of a plane defined by a table 44 in the form a plate provided with a main bore 45 (FIG. 5) for the passage of the pins and their mutual connections, 30 as well as lateral passages, a passage 46 of which is visible in FIG. 4, for the passage of the fixing device described previously.

  The tabs 42, 43 of the male 41 and female 40 parts each comprise apertures or orifices 47 for the insertion of the first and second sockets 1, 20 of the fixing device, the orifices 47 having similar profiles in axial section.

  An orifice 47 of a tab is described below from an inlet end intended to be opposite the other tab towards the end intended to be oriented towards the side of the other tab. An orifice 47 has a first section or entry section 48, the internal surface of which has flaps 49 corresponding in number with the flaps 10 of a socket head of a fixing device, a second section having a bore 51 of diameter less than the diameter of the first section, the first and second sections being separated by a first radial shoulder 52, and a third section 53 having a bore 54 of diameter greater than the bore 51 of the second section 50, and separated from the second section 50 by a second radial shoulder 55 oriented towards the side of the third section 53.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sleeve 33 has been placed in the annular groove 29 of the second socket 20. Then, the second socket 20 has been inserted in the orifice 47 of the tab 43 of the male part 41 of the connector through the input section 48.

  The diameter of the second section 50 of the orifice 47 is greater than the outside diameter of the tubular portion 21 of the second bushing but less than the diameter of a cylindrical generator passing through the free ends of the first row of 25 teeth 34 of the sleeve 33. During the insertion of the second sleeve 20, the teeth of the sleeve 33 come into contact through their inclined surfaces 36 with the bore 51 of the second section 50. The radial elasticity of the teeth allows the latter to fall back . To complete the insertion, it is necessary to orient the hexagon head 22 of the second socket 20 so as to arrange it opposite the sides of the interior surface of the first section 48. As can best be seen in the figure 6, each section 49 of the inner surface of the first section 48 can be associated with a number to allow identification and marking of the male part 41 of the connector as a function of the orientation of the socket 20, by virtue of the notch 23 provided in the hexagon head 22. The orientation chosen for the socket depends on the cable bundle associated with the male part 41.

  Returning to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the second bush 20 is oriented properly, the insertion of the bush 20 is continued until the free ends of the teeth of the first row of teeth 34 exceed the second section 50 and are released radially and deploy. The diameter of the bore 54 of the third section of the orifice 47 is substantially greater than or equal to the diameter of a cylindrical generator passing through the free ends of the first row of teeth 34 of the sleeve 33 for sufficient deployment of the teeth, substantially to their rest position. Then, the first row of teeth 34 of the sleeve 33 prevents reverse axial movement of the second bushing 20. In fact, if a reverse axial movement of the second bushing is engaged, the teeth of the first row of teeth 34 come into contact by their stop surface 37 with the shoulder 55 connecting the bore 54 of the third section 53 and the bore 51 of the second section 50, which stops the sleeve 33, the sleeve 33 itself stopping the second bushing 20 by its end opposite the hexagon head 22 bearing on the second shoulder 31 delimiting the groove 29.

  It will be noted that the teeth of the first row of teeth 34 can only deploy when the hexagon head 22 is engaged in the inlet section 48 of the orifice 47, so that the orientation of the second socket can no longer be changed. The second socket 20, depending on the orientation indicated by the notch 23, allows a marking of the male part 41. The possibilities of differentiation of the 30 parts are increased if a different number of sections is used on the head 22 of the second socket 20 and correspondingly on the first section 48 of the orifice 47, or if the connector parts are connected using two fixing devices with polarization according to one aspect of the invention, or more than two devices of fixing, to increase possibilities of combination.

  Then, to arrange the male part of the connector 41 on the table 44, the male part 41 is inserted so as to be able to penetrate into the main bore 45 (FIG. 4), the portion of the second socket 20 on the side of the guide 24 coming from projecting from the orifice 47 of the tab 42 and penetrating into the lateral hole 46. It will be noted that the second row of teeth 35 of the sleeve 33 projects from the orifice 47.

  The generator passing through the free ends of the teeth of the second row has a diameter greater than the diameter of the lateral hole 46 of the table 44. During insertion, the teeth of the second row of teeth 35 come into contact through their inclined surfaces 36 with the edges of the lateral hole 46, and fold inwards to allow the passage of the sleeve 33, until the teeth have completely passed through the lateral hole 46, and are released radially and prevent reverse axial movement of the second socket 20 relative to the lateral hole 46. Thus, the male part 41 of the connector is fixed to the table 44.

  We proceed in a similar way to the insertion of the first socket 1 provided with the screw 14 and the corrugated washer 18 in the corresponding orifice 47 of the tab 42 female part 40.

  In the case of the first bush 1, the teeth 3 are adapted to be able to be inserted in a first axial direction through the second section 51 of the orifice 47 of the tab 43, and to deploy radially outwards and subsequently prevent reverse axial movement of the first socket 1 when the teeth 3 have passed the second section 51 of the orifice 47. As in the case of the second socket 20, the first socket cannot be correctly inserted into the orifice 47 only if the first socket is oriented in a position chosen to allow the insertion of the head 11 of the first socket 1 in the inlet section 48 of the orifice 47.

  Then, the female part 40 of the connector is approached from the male part 41 for their mutual connection. The first socket 1 comes opposite the second socket 20. If the first and second sockets 1 and 20 are not correctly oriented relative to each other, in the case, for example, of the female part 40 does not correspond to the male part 41, the axial ribs 7, 8, (FIGS. 1 to 3) prevent the axial insertion of the guide 24 of the second socket 20 into the passage of the socket 1. Otherwise, the first and second socket 1 and 20, and therefore the female part 40 and the male part 41 can be plugged into one another.

  When the sockets 1 and 20 are correctly fitted, the screw 14, which is mounted idly axially on the first socket 1, is pushed until it comes into contact at its end opposite the screw head 15 with the end of the portion threaded 27 of the bore of the second bushing 20. Then the screw 14 is screwed so that its threaded portion 16 cooperates with the threaded portion 27 of the second bushing 20.

  The parts 40 and 41 of the connector are thus fixed mutually.

  It will be noted that the orifices 47 of the lugs 42, 43 of the male 41 and female 40 parts advantageously have identical profiles, so that the sockets 1, 20 of the fixing device can be inverted.

  An embodiment has been described in which the sleeve 33 is a metal sleeve inserted in a groove of the second sleeve. Of course, provision could be made for the sleeve to be made of plastic and molded onto the sleeve to avoid additional mounting operations and to ensure better retention of the sleeve on the sleeve.

  Provision may also be made for the second socket to be in one piece, as is the case for the first socket. Teeth 30 or rows of teeth can be formed in the same way as on the first socket. In the case of a single-piece socket, provision may be made for the second socket to be made entirely of metal or plastic.

  In the case of a second plastic bushing, a bore capable of cooperating with the screw associated with the first bushing will be provided, or the insertion of an internally threaded metal sleeve capable of cooperating with the screw. A socket made entirely of plastic, or plastic and fitted with a metal insert, makes it possible to reduce the weight of the fixing device.

  In the case of a second metal socket, the teeth 10 may be formed by cutting tabs in a wall of the socket, and folding.

  Thanks to the invention, a connector fixing device is obtained which allows the coding of the connectors to avoid a bad connection of the female and male parts, comprising a small number of parts, each part being easily obtained with few different operations. In addition, the mounting of the fixing device is simple and avoids superfluous manipulations, painful for an operator, and sources of errors and loss of time.

Claims (10)

  1. Fixing device for two-part connector (40, 41) comprising first and second polarizing members designed to be fixed on the parts (40, 41) of the connector, each polarizing 5 comprising fixing means (3, 11, 22 , 34) on a part of the connector in a position chosen from among a plurality of possible positions, each polarizer being provided with means of mutual fixing (27, 16) with the other polarizer, the first and second polarizers being designed to be fitted l '' in each other in a defined position authorizing a cooperation of the mutual fixing means (27, 16), the polarizers being provided with polarizing means (7, 8, 24) to prevent an interlocking of the polarizers in another position , characterized in that a polarizing device comprises a socket (1, 20) provided with at least one tooth provided on one side of the socket, or a row of teeth (3, 34) located in the same radial plane and spaced cir according to the invention, the tooth or the row of teeth being able to cooperate with a part (40, 41) of the connector for insertion of the socket (1, 20) into an orifice (47) of the part, in a chosen position, and fixing the sleeve in the orifice 20 by snap-fastening.   2. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a socket 20 is provided with at least two teeth or rows of latching teeth (34, 35) axially distant, a tooth or row of teeth (34) being able to cooperate with a part (41) of the connector for holding the keying piece on the part in the chosen position, and the other tooth or row of teeth being able to cooperate with a hole (46) of a table (44) for fixing the part (41) of the connector provided with the polarizing device on the table (44), by snap-fastening.   3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one polarizing device has one tooth or row of snap-fit teeth (3), the other polarizing device having two teeth or rows of teeth (34, 35) axially remote locking.   4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 5, characterized in that a polarizing device comprises a sleeve (33) provided with at least one tooth or a row of teeth adapted to be fixed on the bush (20).   5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve is made of plastic and overmolded on the sleeve (20).   6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve (33) is metallic, the teeth or rows of teeth (34, 35) being formed by cutting the walls of the sleeve and folding.   7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the sleeve comprises an axial slot to increase its radial elasticity.   8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a bush (1) has monobloc teeth (3) with the bush (1).   9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a polarizing device comprises a flanged head (11, 22), intended to be inserted in an inlet section (48) flanged from the orifice (47) of the connector part when fixing a key on said part.   10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sleeve (1) of a polarizing device comprises an axial passage (2b) and axial ribs (7, 8) projecting into the passage and defining a wide angle portion (9) and a small angle portion (10) in the large diameter area of the passage, the other polarizing device comprising a polarizing guide (24) which can be inserted into the wide angle area without being able be inserted in the small angle area.