FR2872636A1 - Sealed connector for electrical conductors, has joint of material having fluid properties, whose shape is such that cover installation causes compression of joint leading to creeping deformation by exerting sealing pressure on conductors - Google Patents

Abstract

The connector has a cover (9, 9`) delimiting an inner space via which electrical conductors (8, 8`) pass. A joint (12) made of a material having fluid properties has flow-through openings (13, 13`) for the conductors. The volume of the joint corresponds to the space while its shape is such that cover installation causes compression of the joint leading to a creeping deformation by exerting a sealing pressure on the conductors.

Description

The present invention relates to a waterproof connector. It applies more

  particularly, but not exclusively, to a sealed connector at the output of electrical conductors.

  In general, an electrical connector comprises a housing of electrically insulating material traversed from one side by a plurality of parallel orifices in each of which can engage and attach an electrical connection pin male or female type attached to the end of a conductive wire sheathed with insulating material.

  Said housing mainly comprises the following means: means for positioning and locking the electrical contacts, means for isolating the contacts between them, means for positioning a seal situated at the outlet of the electrical wires.

  Usually, the housing is closed by a cover consisting of a grid comprising cells for the output of the electrical wires. This grid generally comprises the following means: - means for locating and marking the cells, - means of orientation and indexing of the contacts.

  To obtain a sealed electrical connector, several levels of sealing are required: a so-called inter-housing seal between the housing of this connector and that of the connector with which it comes to couple, this seal being often obtained by compression of a joint such as, for example, a lip seal, a flat gasket or even an O-ring, a seal at the passage of the electrical wires inside the housing by means of multiple pass type or single pass type seals , a seal around the electrical wires with respect to an insulating sheath, - a seal between a base and the support plate of a housing comprising it.

  Now, the wire-type seal ensuring sealing at the output of the electrical wires and inside the housing is either held in position between the housing and the cover, or left free at the rear of the housing.

  Thus, a tensile force and angular deformation or deformation in the axis exerted on electrical son quickly causes a loss of sealing by deformation of the seal and a reduction of the lateral contact pressure or even a loss of local contact.

  Furthermore, the grids are not intended to counterbalance the deformation of the joint generated by a tensile force.

  The object of the invention is to solve these drawbacks by using in particular a seal made of an elastically deformable material which comprises fluidic properties, that is to say malleable but quasi-incompressible.

  Thus, compression on a portion of the seal results in creep deformation of said seal which retains a substantially constant volume.

  For this purpose, it proposes a sealed connector comprising: a housing made of an electrically insulating material, at least one wall of which is traversed through at least one orifice in which a type connection pin can be engaged and fixed; male or female fixed to the end of an electrical conductor, this housing being shaped so as to be coupled to a second connector, a removable cover adapted to close the housing opposite said wall, this cover comprising orifices and delimiting an interior space through which said electrical conductors pass, this cover comprising locking means able to engage in complementary locking means provided on the housing, a seal made of a material having fluidic properties which engages in said interior space and which has orifices for the passage of electrical conductors, the volume of this gasket substantially corresponding to that of the interior space, while its shape is such that the introduction of the cover causes the compression of the gasket which undergoes creep deformation by exerting a sealing pressure on the electrical conductors at the above-mentioned orifices passage and walls of said interior space.

  Of course, the housing may comprise a plurality of parallel orifices.

  The section of the orifices of the housing may for example be circular, ovoid, square, rectangular ...

  The locking means of the cover on the housing may consist of hooks on the cover and / or the housing adapted to be inserted by elastic deformation in notches or grooves provided for this purpose on the housing and / or the cover.

  The housing may for example be parallelepipedal, cylindrical ...

  Alternatively, the cover locking means on the housing may comprise at least one inverted C or C-shaped clip whose first end is fixed to the housing by means of a hinge and whose second end is engaged in force on the outer face of the cover using elasticity induced by the shape of the clip.

  This second end may possibly come into abutment on a notch provided for this purpose on the outer face of the cover or have a projecting portion being housed in a groove or notch provided for this purpose.

  This clip may also include biasing means for tilting said clip in case of disassembly of the cover.

  According to another variant, the locking means will be reversed, the end of the clip with the hinge being on the lid.

  It should be noted that the locking means may also consist of a lug / lever or rotary cam or lug / stirrup assembly.

  According to a first advantage of the invention, the portions of the seal and / or the cover and / or the housing facing each other may comprise protuberances possibly associated with recesses situated opposite said portions of the cover. and / or the housing and / or the seal and having shapes and / or dimensions allowing deformation of the compression seal.

  For example, a protuberance of rectangular shape and a recess trapezoidal shape may be envisaged.

  These protuberances / recesses assemblies may be aligned and form for example a grid around the electrical conductors or be arranged circularly around each electrical conductor.

  Thus, during the locking of the cover on the housing, the protuberances fit together by deforming the recesses thereby resulting in a better lateral distribution of the pressure of the seal over the entire portion of electrical conductor passing through the seal and on the walls of the interior space. .

  According to a second advantage, the cover and the housing may comprise additional guide means: These guide means may comprise at least one through-hole complementary to at least one projecting portion.

  According to a third advantage, the passage openings of the electrical conductors in the joint may comprise protuberances so as to reduce the contact surface between the electrical conductors and / or the connection pins and the seal and consequently the force required for the connection. passing said electrical conductors and / or pins.

  The operation of the device according to the invention is as follows: the electrical conductors and the connection pins are passed successively through the cover, the seal and the orifices of the housing, the cover is locked on the housing so as to come to constrain the seal and increase the contact pressures between the gasket, the housing and the electrical conductors.

  The pins will preferably be secured to the electrical leads for example by crimping or soldering prior to passage through the cover and seal.

  Embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional representation of a multipin connector assembly having pins female connector / multipin connector having male connection pins, one being locked, the other not; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional representation of a single-spindle connector assembly having a female connection pin / single-spindle connector having a male connector pin, one being latched, the other not; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional representation of a variant of a multi-pin connector assembly having female connection pins / multipin connector having male connection pins, one being locked, the other not.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional representation of a connector 1 having female connection pins and a connector 1 'having male connection pins interconnected and adapted for the passage of a plurality of electrical conductors; this effect, we speak of multi-pin connectors.

  Each connector comprises the following elements: a parallelepiped-shaped overall housing 2, 2 'made of an electrically insulating material, a wall 3, 3' of which is traversed from one side by two parallel orifices 4, 4 'in which can engage and attaching a male or female type connecting pin 7 crimped to the end of an electrical conductor 8, 8 'sheathed with an electrically insulating material, this housing being shaped so as to be able to couple to a second connector a removable cover 9, 9 'adapted to close the housing opposite said wall 3, 3', this cover comprising orifices 10, 10 'and delimiting an interior space 11, 11' through which said electrical conductors pass, this cover comprising locking means adapted to engage in complementary locking means provided on the housing, a seal 12, 12 'made of a material having fluid properties which engages in said inner space 11, 11 'and which has openings for the passage of the son 13, 13', the volume of this seal substantially corresponding to that of the interior space 11, 11 'while its shape is such that the installation of the cover 9, 9 'causes compression of the gasket 12, 12' which undergoes creep deformation by exerting a sealing pressure on the electrical conductors 8, 8 'at the aforementioned passage orifices 13 , 13 'and on the walls of said interior space 11, 11'.

  The connecting means between two connectors comprise, for the connector 1, a protruding portion 14 engaging in a corresponding housing 15 at a face of the connector 1 '.

  In general, the two connectors comprise means for mechanically locking them to each other such as a tongue / lug device 10 or lug / cam.

  The orifices 10, 10 'of the cover 9, 9' are of dimensions slightly greater than those of the electrical conductors 8, 8 'so as to guide them as accurately as possible and avoid a too large clearance, but of sufficient size for the passage of connection pins.

  The cover 9, 9 'also comprises guiding means for positioning it with respect to the housing 2, 2' so as to then be able to lock the assembly, these means comprising through orifices 16, 16 'complementary to the guide means situated on the housing comprising for example two projecting portions 17, 17 'opposite and parallel.

  The locking means of the cover on the housing consist of hooks C, C 'on the cover 9, 9' adapted to be inserted by elastic deformation in notches 18, 18 'provided for this purpose on the housing 2, 2' . These hooks are formed by the extension of two of the sides of the lid, perpendicular to said cover, this extension being terminated by a pin adapted to engage in one of the notches 18, 18 'provided on the side walls of the housing 2, 2'.

  The connector 1 is in the unlocked position and the connector 1 'in the locked position.

  The connector 1 comprises female connection pins 7 and the connector 1 'comprises male connection pins 6.

  In the unlocked position, these crimped pins on the sheathed electrical conductors 8, 8 'are inserted through the cover 9, 9', the seals 12, 12 ', and the orifices 4, 4'.

  The pins 6, 7 are inserted into the orifices 4, 4 'so that the crimping between the electrical conductor and the pin is in the orifice 4, 4' of the housing. Thus, only the electrical conductors are at the passage orifices 13, 13 'of the seal 12, 12'.

  It should be noted that the through holes 13, 13 'comprise protuberances 19 so as to reduce the friction surface and thus facilitate the insertion of said electrical conductors.

  It may also be envisaged that the seal has protuberances at the portions in contact with the side walls of the inner space 11, 11 '.

  The female pins 7 are inserted and positioned so that their ends are at the opening of the orifices 4 of the housing.

  The male pins 6 are inserted so that their ends open into the housing 15 of the connector 1 '.

  The faces 20 and 21 respectively of the lid and the seal facing each other comprise protuberances 22 for the first and recesses 23 for the second shape and / or substantially different dimensions, in this case, the protuberances 22 of the face 20 of the cover 9, 9 'are of rectangular shape and the recesses 23 of the face 21 of the seal 12, 12' of trapezoidal shape.

  Thus, during the locking of the cover 9, 9 'on the housing 2, 2', the protuberances 22 of the face 20 of the cover fit together by deforming the recesses 23 of the face 21 of the seal, thus resulting in a better distribution of the pressure of the seal at the passage openings 13, 13 'and on the walls of the interior space 11, 11'.

  The protuberances 19, 22 and the recesses 23 may have all kinds of shapes, square, triangular, ...

  The example of FIG. 2 illustrates a single-spindle connector 24 having a female connection pin / single-spindle connector 24 'having a male connection pin.

  Each connector comprises the following elements a box of parallelepipedal general shape 25, 25 'made of an electrically insulating material of which a wall 26, 26' is traversed right through by an orifice 27, 27 'in which can engage and fixing a male-type or female-type connection pin 29 crimped to the end of an electrical conductor 30, 30 'sheathed in an electrically insulating material, this housing being shaped so as to be able to couple to a second connector, a removable cover adapted to close the housing opposite said wall 26, 26 'and separable into two parts 31, 31', 32, 32 'in a plane perpendicular to the section plane of Figure 2 and splitting in two a hole 33, 33 ', this cover delimiting an interior space 34, 34' through which said electrical conductor 30, 30 'passes and comprising locking means able to engage in complementary locking means provided on the housing, a seal 35, 35 'specific to the electrical conductor 30, 30' made of a material having fluidic properties which engages in said inner space 34, 34 'and which has a through hole 36, 36' for the electrical conductor 30, 30 ', this seal comprising two parts, a first part 37 whose section is of dimension substantially equal to that of the orifice 27, 27', the second part 38 having a volume substantially corresponding to that of the interior space 34, 34 'while its shape is such that the establishment of the cover causes the compression of the seal 35, 35' which undergoes creep deformation by exerting a sealing pressure on the electrical conductors 30, 30 ' at the aforesaid passage orifices 36, 36 'and on the walls of said interior space 34, 34', this second part 38 comprising, all around its periphery, a groove 39, 39 '.

  The housing 25 has three parts 40, 41, 42, a portion 40 located at one end of the housing 25 acting as a plug and a central portion 41 of wider section than the portion 40 to serve as a stop for the connecting means of the connector 24 ', the portion 42 constituting the second end of the housing.

  The housing 25 'has two parts including an enlarged recessed portion 43 to form a housing complementary to the male connector portion 40 of the housing 25. The lid locking means on the housing consist of at least four extensions of the sides of the lid parallel to the side faces of the housing, these extensions being provided on their inner face with a tenon so as to form a hook 44, 44 'adapted to engage by elastic deformation in notches 45 provided on the side faces of the housing.

  For a better distribution of the sealing pressure, a lip 46, 46 'in relief is provided around the opening 33, 33' of the cover of the inner space 34, 34 'side.

  In this example, the electrical conductor is inserted through the gasket 35, 35 '.

  The pin 28, 29 is crimped at the end of the electrical conductor 30, 30 'and the seal 35, 35' is crimped or positioned on the electrical conductor so as to be in the vicinity of the crimp point / electrical conductor. The pin / electrical conductor / seal assembly is inserted into the hole 27, 27 'of the housing as illustrated for the connector 24.

  The cover is then locked on the housing by insertion of the hooks 44 in the notches 45 which causes the compression of the seal 35, 35 'on the electrical conductor at the passage hole 36, 36' and on the walls of the housing. interior space 34, 34 'as illustrated for the connector 24'.

  The orifice 27, 27 'may comprise two parts of different sections: a first portion 47 having a section substantially equal to the portion 38 of the seal, a second portion 48 having a section of dimensions 10 slightly greater than those of the pins 28, 29 .

  It will also be possible to envisage a stop within the orifice of the casing to increase the compression of the seal.

  A variant of the example of Figure 2 may consist of a multi-spindle connector having a seal of the joint type 35, 35 'for each of the electrical conductors.

  The example illustrated in Figure 3 is a variant of that of Figure 1. In fact, the protuberances are not on one side of the cover but on the face 50 of the housing facing the seal.

  It may also be envisaged that the protuberances are on the face of the cover and on the face of the housing facing the seal.

  The invention is not limited to the examples described above. For example, the sealing of the connection between the housings may be provided by a seal 51, 52 located around the projecting portion 14, 40 of the connector 1, 24 (Figures 1 and 2). Indeed, the protruding portion engaging the housing 15, 43 of the connector 1 ', 24', constrains the seal against the side walls of said housing.

  This seal may also be composed of a material having fluidic properties.

  Alternatively, the lid locking means on the housing may comprise two inverted C or C-shaped clips, a first end of which is fixed to the housing by means of a hinge and the second end of which is provided by means of a hinge. forcibly engaging the outer face of the cover using elasticity induced by the shape of the staple.

  This clip also comprises return means.

  This second end may possibly come into abutment on a notch provided for this purpose on the outer face of the cover or have a projecting portion being housed in a groove or notch provided for this purpose.

  In the absence of an electrical conductor to be inserted into an orifice of the housing, a plug seal without a through hole may be put in place to seal the connector. Then, the lid locked on the housing prevents the plug seal from ejecting due to an overpressure inside the connector at the time of assembly.

Claims (12)

- 13-Claims   1. Watertight connector, characterized in that it comprises: a housing (2, 2 ', 25, 25') made of an electrically insulating material of which at least one wall (3, 3 ', 26, 26') is crossed through at least one orifice (4, 4 ', 27, 27') into which a male-type (6, 28) or female (7, 29) -connected pin (7, 29) attached to the end of an electrical conductor (8, 8 ', 30, 30'), this housing being shaped so as to be able to couple to a second connector, a removable cover (9, 9 ', 31, 31', 32 , 32 ') adapted to close the housing opposite said wall, this cover comprising orifices (10, cover having locking means adapted to engage in complementary locking means provided on the housing, a seal (12, 12 ', 35, 35') made of a material having fluidic properties which engages said interior space (11, 11 ', 34, 34') and which has pitch orifices wise (13, 13 ', 36, 36') electrical conductors, the volume of this seal corresponding substantially to that of the interior while its shape is such that the establishment of the cover causes the compression of the joint which undergoes a creep deformation by exerting a sealing pressure on the electrical conductors at the aforementioned passage orifices and walls of said interior space.   Connector according to Claim 1, characterized in that portions of the gasket (12, 12 ', 35, 35') and / or the cover (9, 9 ', 31, 31', 32, 32 ') and / or the housing (2, 2 ', 25, 25') comprise protuberances (19, 22).   3. Connector according to claim 2, 10 ', 33, 33') and delimiting an interior space (11, 11 ', 34, 34') through which said electrical conductors (8, 8 ', 30, 30') pass, characterized in that said protuberances are associated with recesses (23) located opposite said portions of the cover (9, 9 ', 31, 31', 32, 32 ') and / or the housing (2 , 2 ', 25, 25') and / or the seal (12, 12 ', 35, 35') and having shapes and / or dimensions allowing deformation of the compression seal.   4. Connector according to claim 3, characterized in that said sets protuberances / recesses are aligned and form for example a grid around the electrical conductors or are arranged circularly around each electrical conductor.   5. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that said removable cover is separable into two parts (31, 31 ', 32, 32') in a plane splitting in two the passage opening (33, 33 ') d an electrical conductor (30, 30 ').   Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that said housing (2, 2 ', 25, 25') comprises a plurality of parallel orifices (4, 4 ').   7. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid locking means on the housing comprise hooks (C, C ', 44, 44') on the cover and / or the housing adapted to be inserted by deformation elastic in notches or grooves (18, 18 ', 45) provided for this purpose on the housing and / or the cover.   8. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid locking means on the housing comprise at least one C-shaped or inverted C-shaped clip whose one end is fixed to the housing by means of a hinge and the second end comes into force on the outer face of the cover using the elasticity induced by the shape of the staple.   9. The connector of claim 1, characterized in that the locking means comprise a device pin / lever or rotary cam or lug / yoke.   10. The connector of claim 1, characterized in that the cover and the housing comprise complementary guide means (16, 16 ', 17, 17').   11. The connector of claim 10, characterized in that said guide means comprise at least one through hole (16, 16 ') complementary to at least one projecting portion (17, 17').   12. The connector of claim 1, characterized in that said passage holes (13, 13 ', 36, 36') of the electrical conductors in the seal comprise protrusions (19) so as to reduce the contact surface between the conductors. electrical and gasket.