FR2869729A1 - ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT SUCH AS AN ELECTRIC STARTER - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an electrical connection device (10) of the type comprising an eyelet (12) which comprises a lower tubular body (16) intended to extend axially through a hole in a support made of material and of which a first end axial upper is shaped as an outer radial flange (18), and a lug (14) which comprises a washer (22) whose lower annular face (29) bears axially on a portion of the upper face of the support and which is connected to the flange (18) of the eyelet (12), characterized in that the flange (18) of the eyelet (12) is integral with the washer (22) to constitute a one-piece device (10) for connection in in which electrical continuity between the washer (22) of the terminal (14) and the upper flange (18) of the eyelet (12) is ensured.

Description

"Electrical connection device, in particular for a

  TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electrical connection device, used in particular in the automotive field, and more particularly for the connection of certain electrical equipment of motor vehicles, and or components of such equipment.

  The invention is particularly applicable to a motor vehicle starter.

  STATE OF THE ART The invention relates more particularly to a connection device of the type comprising: an eyelet which comprises a lower tubular body, in particular intended to extend axially through a hole of a support of insulating material to which the eyelet is fixed, whose first axial end is formed in an outer radial flange; - And a pod which comprises a washer, whose lower annular face 20 is in particular in axial bearing on a portion vis-à-vis the upper face of the insulating support, which is electrically connected to the collar of the eyelet.

  Such a type of electrical connection is for example known from FR-A-2,082,379 in which the washer of the lug is traversed centrally by the tubular body of the eyelet, and it is interposed axially between the lower annular face of the flange of the eyelet and a portion vis-à-vis the upper face of the insulating support.

  The washer of the terminal and the eyelet constitute two independent components whose electrical continuity to ensure the electrical connection between the eyelet, or an electrical conductor connected thereto and, secondly, the terminal, or an electrical conductor connected thereto, is established at the end of the assembly and fixing of the various components, ie after the fixing of the eyelet on the insulating body with axial interposition of the puck of the pod.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention proposes such a device characterized in that the upper flange of the eyelet is integral with the washer of the terminal to form a monobloc connection device in which the electrical continuity between the washer of the terminal and the upper flange of the eyelet is provided, in particular regardless of the operation of fixing the eyelet on an insulating support.

  According to other features of the invention: - the washer of the lug and the upper flange of the eyelet are made in one piece so as to ensure electrical continuity regardless of any technique of assembly and fixing of the washer on the eyelet; the tubular lower body of the eyelet and its upper collar forming a washer are advantageously made in one piece by stamping, along the axis of the tubular body of the eyelet - when the intensity of the currents requires sections of important passages, the tubular lower body of the eyelet and its upper collar forming a washer are advantageously made in one piece by cutting, folding and rolling the tubular lower body of the eyelet in a thick conductive sheet; according to another family of solutions, the tubular lower body of the eyelet extends axially through the washer, the lower annular face of the upper collar of the eyelet bears axially on the upper face of the washer, and the washer is attached to the eyelet; - The washer is for example attached to the upper flange of the eyelet by welding, allowing in particular to use components according to the state of the art; the washer is fixed to the eyelet by crimping; for this purpose, the tubular lower body of the eyelet comprises an intermediate radial outer shoulder on which the ring of the pod is axially supported by its lower annular face, and the upper collar is formed by crimping the free end section. upper tubular body which extends axially above the upper face of the washer of the pod; the lug may comprise at least one connecting lug which extends from the peripheral edge of the washer, vertically or horizontally in the plane of the washer; - The other lower axial end of the tubular body of the eyelet can be crimped for fixing the eyelet on the insulating support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

  Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of the description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a sectional view through a plane transversal and vertical which illustrates a connection device according to the state of the art; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of a connecting lug according to the prior art; - Figure 3 is a sectional view through a vertical plane of a connecting eyelet according to the state of the art adapted for use with the connection terminal of Figure 2 for the embodiment of the device of Figure 1; FIG. 4 is a sectional view through a longitudinal and vertical plane of a first embodiment of a connection device according to the teachings of the invention, according to which the terminal and the connecting eyelet are made in a single coin stamping; FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2 which illustrates a second embodiment of a connection device according to the teachings of the invention, according to which the terminal and the connecting eye are made in one single piece by cutting, folding and rolling the tubular body of the connecting eyelet; FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 4 which illustrates a third embodiment of a connection device according to the teachings of the invention according to which the lug of the lug and the upper flange of the lug eyelets are fixed to each other by welding; - Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6 which illustrates a fourth embodiment of a connection device according to the invention wherein the terminal and the connecting eye are fixed to one another by crimping; - And Figure 8 is a sectional view of a vertical plane of the connecting eyelet of Figure 7, before its fixing by crimping on the washer of the connecting lug.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

  In the description and the claims which follow and in order to facilitate understanding thereof, the terms vertical, horizontal, transverse, upper, lower, etc., will be adopted in a non-limiting manner. in particular with reference to the trihedron L, V, T indicated in the figures.

  Identical, similar or similar elements will be designated by the same references.

  The electrical connection devices which will now be described in detail are for example used in motor vehicle starters, for example to connect a power supply wire of an electromagnetic contactor and an associated element of the wiring harness of the vehicle.

  As can be seen in FIG. 1, as well as in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electrical connection device 10 essentially consists of a tubular eyelet 12 and a connecting lug 14.

  The tubular eyelet 12 is a part made by deep drawing in an electrically conductive metal sheet so that it comprises a cylindrical tubular lower body 16 of circular generatrix and vertical axis XX and an upper flange 18 which is extends radially outwardly from the upper end of the lower tubular body 16.

  In its state illustrated in Figure 3, that is to say prior to its assembly with the lug 14 and an insulating support, the lower end portion 20 of the tubular body 16 is rectilinear.

  The lug 14 is a part made by cutting and bending in a conductive metal sheet.

  It comprises a horizontally lower horizontal portion 22 in the form of a generally circular contour connecting washer and which comprises a central hole 24 intended to receive the tubular lower body 16 of the eyelet 12.

  The washer 22 is delimited by an annular upper face 26 and an opposite annular bottom face 29.

  From a portion of the peripheral edge 28, the connecting washer 22 extends vertically upwards, here for example, by a tab 30 which is itself bent at 90 degrees to extend horizontally and longitudinally by an upper horizontal connecting lug 32 which is also in the form of a washer with, for example, a central claw hole 34 of vertical axis YY.

  As a variant not shown, the tabs 30 and 32 may also extend in the horizontal plane of the washer 22 or according to any other orientation depending on the applications.

  As can be seen in FIG. 1, the tubular lower body 16 of the eyelet 12 is designed to be received in a complementary through-hole 36 formed in an insulating support 38 which is, for example, a wall of an insulating cover. an electromagnetic starter contactor (not shown).

  The insulating support 38 is delimited by two horizontal upper 40 and lower 42 faces.

  Advantageously, at its lower part 44, the opening hole 36 is of frustoconical shape by flaring in the lower face 42.

  The washer 28 of the lug 14 is sandwiched between the lower annular face 19 of the collar 18 of the eyelet 12 and lo a portion facing the upper face 40 of the insulating support 38.

  The lower end portion 20 of the tubular body 16 of the eyelet 12 is crimped into the lower portion 44 of the hole 36.

  This ensures the assembly of the various components which are positioned as illustrated in Figure 1 and which are maintained in this position through the crimping operation of the eyelet 12.

  The electrical continuity, that is to say the transmission of the current between the eyelet 12 and the lug 14, is ensured by the mutual contact between the surfaces 19 and 26, as well as between the surface of the hole 24 of the washer. 22 and the outer convex cylindrical surface 17 of the upper portion of the tubular body 16 which extends through the hole 24 of the washer 22.

  It is therefore only after assembly and crimping that the electrical continuity is ensured.

  By way of example, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, the eyelet 12 centrally receives a conductive wire 46 whose upper end portion 48 is brazed by soldering 50 to the inner concave cylindrical wall 15 of the tubular body 12.

  In the first embodiment according to the invention illustrated in Figure 4, the eyelet 12 and the lug 14 are made in one piece by deep drawing, cutting and bending.

  More specifically, the upper flange 18 and the washer 22 constitute one and the same piece.

  Thus, the electrical connection device 10 consists of a single piece in which the electrical continuity between the eyelet 12 and the connecting lug 14 is ensured from the outset, that is to say independently of the subsequent fixing. of the device 10 on the insulating support 38.

  For this attachment, it is sufficient to introduce the tubular body 16 of the eyelet 12 vertically up and down in the hole 36 until the lower horizontal face 19-28 common to the collarettel8-washer 22 bears on the upper horizontal face 40 of the insulating support 38. Advantageously, the lower portion 20 of the tubular lower body 16 is crimped as previously.

  Thus, whatever the mechanical or physicochemical stresses to which the device 10 is subjected, these do not affect in any way the electrical continuity between the elements 12 and 14.

  These constraints are particularly important in the automotive industry, and for example in the case of a starter whose components or components are subjected to vibrations, large temperature variations and an aggressive physicochemical environment which causes in particular appearance of different phenomena of corrosion.

  Compared to the state of the art, assembly and fixing are further simplified and the quality of the electrical continuity is independent of the crimping force, this being particularly advantageous when it is desired to have a rotation relative to the connecting device 10 in the hole 36, about the axis XX.

  The forming of the tubular lower body 16 by deep drawing makes it possible to produce the latter with a thickness which is smaller than that of the original component sheet of the other parts of the device 10, that is to say of the 18-washer collar 22. and tabs 30 and 32 so as to reduce its dimensions.

  According to the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the eyelet 12 is made in one piece with the lug 14, by cutting, folding and rolling operations of the sheet until for example obtaining a complete tubular body with a helical connection zone 54.

  In order to dispose of the material for rolling the lower tubular body 16, the horizontal upper part of the eyelet 12 constituting its upper flange 18 and the washer 22 is "incomplete" and is for example here in the form of three lo branches. radially external and regularly distributed at 120 degrees.

  If it is estimated that the bearing surface of the collar 18-washer 22 on the portion vis-à-vis the upper horizontal face 40 of the insulating support 38, is insufficient, it is then possible to interpose a ring washer , conductive or non-conductive (not shown), between the collar 18-washer 22 and the upper face 40.

  If it is desired to have an eyelet 12 whose tubular body 16 has a reduced thickness, it is possible to stamp the corresponding part of the sheet before the rolling operation to obtain a localized reduction of the thickness of the sheet. .

  In the third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the tubular eyelet 12 and the cossel4 are again made initially in the form of two separate and distinct components similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, which are then fixed to the one to the other to form a monobloc assembly before the assembly and the fixing of the connecting device 10 on the insulating support 38.

  In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the fastening is carried out by welding the upper flange 18 onto the washer 22.

  More specifically, and preferably, electrical welding is performed between the lower face 19 of the collar 18 and the portion opposite the upper face 26 of the washer 22.

  It is also possible to carry out and / or complete the welding operation by forming a peripheral weld bead (not shown) around the flange 18.

  Once the subassembly 10 has been made, its mounting and fixing on the insulating support 38 are similar to those of the connection devices of FIGS. 4 and 5.

  According to the last embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the tubular eyelet 12 is initially with its two straight upper and lower end sections, ie without any crimping.

  It also comprises a collar forming an external radial shoulder 56 which constitutes a support, axially downwards, for the lower face 29 of the washer 22, while the upper portion passes through the hole 24 and extends axially upwardly above of the upper face 26 to be able to undergo a crimping operation to ensure the fixing of the washer 22 on the eyelet 12.

  After crimping, the upper end of the eyelet 12 is shaped in the outer collar 18.

  The two parts 12 and 14 are thus made integral and are in electrical contact to form a connection device within the meaning of the invention.

  The assembly is of a very high rigidity and it allows the eyelet 12 and the lug 14 in materials of different thickness and / or composition.

  The hole 36 can be modified at its upper end 30 for the passage of the collar 56, or it is the latter which bears axially on the portion vis-à-vis the upper face 40. io

Claims (11)

  1. Device (10) for electrical connection of the type comprising: - an eyelet (12) which comprises a lower tubular body 5 (16) whose first axial end is formed as an outer radial flange (18); - And a lug (14) which comprises a washer (22) which is electrically connected to the collar (18) of the eyelet (12), characterized in that the upper flange (18) of the eyelet (12) io is integral with the washer (22) of the lug (14) to constitute a monobloc device (10) connection in which the electrical continuity between the washer (22) of the lug (14) and the upper flange (18) of the eyelet (12) is provided.   2. Electrical connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the washer (22) of the lug (14) and the upper flange (18) of the eyelet (12) are made in one piece.   3. Electrical connection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the tubular lower body (16) of the loop (12) and its upper collar (18) forming a washer (22) are made in one piece by stamping.   4. Electrical connection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the tubular lower body (16) of the loop (12) and its upper flange (18) forming a washer (22) are made in one piece by cutting, folding and rolling the tubular lower body (16) of the eyelet (12).   5. Connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular lower body (16) of the loop (12) extends axially through the washer (22), in that the lower annular face of the collar upper eyelet (12) bears axially on the upper face of the washer (22), and in that the washer (22) is fixed to the eyelet (12).   2869729 He 6. Electrical connection device according to claim 5, characterized in that the washer (22) is fixed to the upper flange of the eyelet (12) by welding.   7. Electrical connection device according to claim 5, characterized in that the washer (22) is fixed to the eyelet (12) by crimping.   8. Electrical connection device according to claim 7, characterized in that the tubular lower body (16) of the eyelet (12) has an outer radial shoulder (56) io intermediate on which the washer (22) of the pod ( 14) is axially supported by its lower annular face (29), and in that the upper flange (18) is formed by crimping the upper free end section of the tubular body (16) of the eyelet (12) which extends axially above the upper face (26) of the washer (22) of the lug (14).   9. Connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lug (14) comprises at least one lug (30) connecting which extends from the peripheral edge (28) of the washer (22). ).   10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower tubular body (16) is intended to extend axially through a hole (36) of a support (38) of insulating material to which the eyelet is fixed, in that the lower annular face (29) of the washer bears axially on a portion facing the upper face (40) of the insulating support (38), the electrical continuity between the washer (22) of the lug (14) and the upper flange (18) of the eyelet (12) being provided independently of the fixing operation of the loop on the insulating support.   11. Electrical connection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the other lower axial end (20) of the tubular body (16) of the eyelet (12) can be crimped for fixing the loop (12). on the insulating support (38).