FR3048309A1 - DEVICE FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING A WIRE TO A CONDUCTIVE ELEMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

The electrical connecting device (1) comprises: - a body (2) of electrically conductive material having at least one cavity (4) having an opening (4a) and adapted to receive a wire (8); an envelope (5) for sealing and electrical insulation made of elastic material, placed around and against the body. The casing has a duct (52) positioned facing the opening of the cavity, configured to receive a wire and deformable between an expanded position in which it allows the insertion of the wire (8) into the cavity (4) and a sealing position in which it is adapted to grip the wire; - expansion means (6) removably mounted in the conduit, configured to maintain the conduit (52) in the expanded position and to form a passage for introducing the wire (8) into the cavity.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of electrical connection devices.

The electrical connection devices make it possible to electrically connect an electrically conductive wire to a conductive element, which may be in particular another wire or an end lug of the connecting device. These devices have many applications such as the creation of a bypass or the extension of a power line. In a known manner, the connecting devices comprise a body of electrically conductive material to which the wire is connected.

For safety reasons, it is known to cover the body with an insulating and waterproof protection.

A known connection device uses a rigid insulation shell associated with elastic joints. The rigid shell protects the body but requires the use of elastic joints to ensure the tightness of the device.

Another known connection device uses a flexible protection surrounding the body. This device uses lip seals to seal the bond between the wires and the body. However lip seals make it difficult to introduce the son into the device. In addition, the lip seals obscure the view inside the device and prevent a user from verifying that no foreign body has entered the device.

Also known is a connection device comprising, around the body, an insulating envelope which is elastic and cold shrinkable. The envelope is in the form of an elastic tube stretched to its maximum diameter on a guard that is removed at the last moment. The elastic tube then shrinks to seal elastically. This solution is very limited since the envelope can take only the shape of a tube (because of the extrusion manufacturing process). In addition, it provides significant waste since the guardian is as long as the envelope. A known variant comprises an envelope that the operator must roll up, which is particularly difficult in that the tube exerts an elastic force that prevents precisely to expand further. This solution is therefore difficult to implement in the field. In addition, the industrialization of this type of product, which involves making the expansion of a retractable tube and simultaneously roll up, is complex and requires heavy machinery.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrically insulated, sealed connection device for easy insertion of at least one conductive wire and visual control of the interior of the device. For this purpose, and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a device for electrically connecting at least one electrically conductive wire to a conductive element. The connecting device comprises a body of electrically conductive material which comprises at least one cavity configured to be electrically connected to the conductive member, the cavity having an opening and being adapted to receive the wire inserted through said opening.

According to a general definition of the invention, the connecting device comprises a sealing and electrical insulation casing made of elastic material, the casing being placed around and against the body and having a duct positioned opposite the casing. opening of the body cavity. The conduit is configured to receive the wire and is deformable between an expanded position in which it allows the introduction of the wire into the cavity and a sealing position in which it is adapted to grip the wire placed in the cavity. The connecting device further comprises expansion means removably mounted in the conduit, which are configured to maintain the conduit in the expanded position and to form a passage for introducing the wire into the cavity.

Providing an elastic envelope surrounding the body in contact with it, for example intimately, combined with expansion means allows to electrically isolate the body while facilitating access to the body cavities.

Indeed, the expansion means, when they are in place in the duct, make it possible to easily introduce a wire into each cavity, since they keep the duct in an expanded position, in which, in practice, the duct presents a diameter greater than the diameter of the wire. The expansion means being configured to form a passage for introducing the wire into the cavity, they themselves have a diameter greater than the diameter of the wire. Moreover, the expansion means also make it possible to visually control the interior of the cavity

In addition, the elastic envelope allows to electrically isolate the body and to make it waterproof.

In addition, when the expansion means are removed from the conduit, in which they were removably mounted, they allow the conduit to retract by elastic return to the sealing position, in which the conduit has a diameter. less than or equal to the diameter of the wire so as to be tight around the wire. It is specified that, in the sealing position, the conduit is preferably always a little expanded relative to its unstressed state, so as to grip the wire and seal. The invention finds its application when the conductive element is another electrically conductive wire - the body then generally having two cavities electrically connected to one another - or an end lug intended to be itself electrically connected to another component such as a power bar. The invention is not limited to the connection of a single wire to a single conductive element, but may for example be used for the electrical connection of more than two wires.

It can be provided that the envelope is made in one piece. Alternatively, the envelope could be made of several parts, for example two parts assembled by any suitable means (casing, welding, gluing, etc.) in a sealed manner. The envelope can be overmolded on the body. The use of an overmolded envelope, monobloc or not, optimizes the manufacture of the device by reducing costs and manufacturing time, and also allows the realization of complex shapes to give the envelope additional features.

Alternatively, it is conceivable to make a molded envelope, made apart from the body and then mounted on it.

The expansion means may comprise a ring positioned in the conduit of the envelope.

According to a particular arrangement, the ring may have at least one lubricated face. For example, this is achieved by placing a lubricated film on the relevant face or faces of the ring. The lubricated face may be the inner face of the ring, to facilitate the introduction of the wire, and / or the outer face of the ring, to facilitate the positioning of the ring in the conduit and its extraction from the conduit.

The ring may have an axial slot.

According to a particular arrangement, the ring may comprise two separable halves, for example on either side of a plane containing the axis of the ring. Thus, the ring can be easily removed from the conduit. For example, the ring may be separated at the axial slot, when present.

The connecting device may comprise a wire locking member in the cavity, said locking member having a screw inserted into a threaded hole of the body and configured to be able to clamp the wire into the cavity. The body may further comprise a recess communicating with the threaded hole and configured to receive a head of the screw, or more generally an end portion of the screw.

According to one possible embodiment, the screw comprises a head and the envelope comprises an orifice which is arranged facing the tapped hole of the body to allow access to the head of the screw to actuate it, the connecting device comprising plus a plug adapted to be placed in a closed position of the orifice. For example, the plug is configured to cover the end portion of the screw in the corresponding chamber. This extreme part may be the head of the screw, or an extreme zone of rupture, in the case of a screw having a self-breaking torque head.

The cap can be made in one piece with the rest of the envelope. Thus, the envelope and the cap can be manufactured at the same time, during the same operation, and the cap is captive. For example, the cap can be connected to the rest of the envelope by a flexible link.

Alternatively, the plug could be a separate part of the envelope. The envelope may comprise sealing means arranged in the vicinity of the orifice is configured to cooperate with the plug when the latter is in the closed position.

The connecting device can be configured so that, when the screw is in the clamping position of the wire in the cavity and the plug in the closed position, the plug is substantially flush with the outer face of the envelope or the remainder of the envelope . Thus, there is obtained a smooth and regular outer shape, without protrusion, for example substantially cylindrical.

According to a variant of the invention, the end portion of the screw may comprise an insulating cylinder which seals with the recess, and it is therefore not necessary to provide an additional plug.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a system comprising at least one electrically conductive wire and a connection device as previously described, intended to receive the wire in the conduit and the cavity, such that: in the expanded position, the conduit has a diameter greater than the diameter of the wire; and in the sealing position, the duct has a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the wire.

According to one possible embodiment, the system comprises a set of electrically conductive wires, having different diameters between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter, the connecting device being intended to receive in the conduit and the cavity any of the son of all. The duct has: in the expanded position, a diameter greater than the maximum diameter; and in the unconstrained state, a diameter smaller than the minimum diameter.

Thus, the connecting device according to the invention is suitable for a wide range of son, and guarantees for each of the water ease of insertion and required sealing in the retracted position. Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which show an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a connection device according to a first embodiment of the invention, comprising a body and an envelope, before the establishment of expansion means;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, the expansion means being implemented;

Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the establishment of a conductive wire in the device of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a connection device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the invention relates to an electrical connection device 1 for electrically conductive wires 8, intended for a range of wires 8 of different diameters.

The connecting device 1 comprises a body 2 made of electrically conductive material. The body may for example be made of metal according to a machining process, spinning or foundry. According to the embodiment presented here, the body 2 has for example a substantially cylindrical shape.

According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, the body 2 has two cavities 4 each adapted to receive a wire 8. According to other embodiments, the body 2 could have a different number of cavities, for example, one, three, four, five or six cavities 4. The cavities 4 open each outside the body 2 through an opening 4a and are electrically connected to each other.

According to the embodiment presented here, the cavities 4 are substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis 2a of the body 2, with the openings 4a opposite, and are separated by a substantially radial inner wall 21. However, according to other embodiments, the cavities could be arranged differently, for example to open into the same region of the body 2.

The two cavities 4 are electrically connected. According to the embodiment presented here, the electrical connection between the two cavities 4 is provided by the metal material of the body 2.

Preferably, the cavities 4 are non-communicating, therefore sealed with respect to each other, to ensure the sealing of a wire to the other, this being obtained by the wall 21. This wall 21 can be created by the fact that the cavities 4 are blind holes not communicating. In a variant, the body 2 could comprise a through bore in which the sealed wall 21 is subsequently added, at the factory, so as to form the cavities 4.

At its opening 4a, a cavity 4 may have a chamfer 4b converging towards the axis 2a away from the opening 4a, so as to facilitate and / or guide the insertion of the wire 8.

In addition, the body 2 has two holes 22 each through a wall of the body 2 to each open into a cavity 4. Each of the holes 22 is threaded and configured to receive a screw 7 to tighten the wire 8 in the corresponding cavity 4. The holes 22 may each have a recess 23.

As can be seen in Figures 1 to 3, each screw 7 has a threaded rod 71 and a head 72 which is accessible from outside the body 2 to be actuated by an operator so as to tighten a wire 8 in the corresponding cavity 4. In the tight position of the wire 8, the threaded rod 71 of the screw 7 cooperates with the threaded hole 22 and opens into the cavity 4. In a known manner, the cavity 4 may be, facing the screw 7, substantially smooth for the stripped wire, provided with insulating perforation teeth for insulated wires. The head 72 can be positioned in the recess 23. In a variant, the screw 7 can be provided with a self-breaking head 72 with a calibrated torque: in this case, as illustrated on the right part of FIG. extreme rupture zone 74 which is housed in the chamber 23.

The connecting device 1 further comprises a casing 5 of elastic and electrically insulating material. The envelope 5 may be made of a cold shrinkable material. For example, the envelope 5 is made of an elastomer, in particular a thermoplastic elastomer. The envelope 5 can be monobloc, that is to say made in one piece. It can be overmoulded on the body 2. The overmolding allows to create a casing 5 monobloc and tightened around the body 2, thus conferring the desired seal, without mounting difficulties The casing 5 may, for example, be manufactured by injection or plastic compression, which allows the creation of complex shapes to fulfill more functions.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the envelope 5 has a substantially cylindrical portion 51 which encloses the body 2.

Opposite each hole 22, the envelope 5 has an orifice 53 allowing access to the screw 7 and a plug 54. In the embodiment shown by way of example, each plug 54 is part of the monobloc envelope 5. being movable relative to the substantially cylindrical portion 51 between an open position where access to the screw 7 is released, and a sealing position of the orifice 54. For example, each plug 54 can be connected to the portion substantially cylindrical 51 by a flexible link 55.

As will be explained later, the movable plugs 54 are configured to cover an end portion (head 72 or end zone 74) of the screw 7 placed in the recess 23, and may for this purpose have a cavity facing the axis 2a, in the closed position. Thus, the movable plugs 54 contribute to guaranteeing the watertightness of the connection device 1. Sealing means are provided between the plug 54 and the substantially cylindrical portion 51, in the vicinity of the orifice 53. be a seal (for example a lip seal), a bead, a filling material (putty, gel, grease, etc.) or result from a force fitting or snap-fitting of the cap 54, this list not being limiting.

In addition, the casing 5 has a duct 52 positioned facing the opening 4a of each cavity 4 of the body 2.

According to the embodiment presented here, where the body 4 comprises two cavities 4, the casing 5 has two ducts 52. As can be seen by comparing FIGS. 1 and 3, each duct 52 presents in the unconstrained state ( Figure 1) a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the wire 8 that it is intended to receive (Figure 3). In addition, since the duct 52 is made of an elastic material like the rest of the casing 5, it can be elastically deformed from its unstressed state to an expanded position in which it has a diameter greater than the diameter of the wire 8 (FIG. ).

Once the casing 5 has been made, at the outlet of overmolding, the ducts 52 are elastically expanded at the factory towards their expanded position. An expansion means, here in the form of a ring 6, is placed in each conduit 52, preferably substantially coaxially with the cavity 4, to maintain the conduit 52 in the expanded position. Thus, the rings 6 allow the easy introduction of a wire 8 into the cavity 4 and allow a user to visually control the interior of the cavity 4. It can be provided that the inside diameter of the ring 6 is slightly less than maximum diameter of the chamfer 4b, to ensure that the operator introduces the wire 8.

More specifically, the connecting device 1 is usable for a wide range of son 8 having different diameters, between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter. For this purpose, the casing 5 and the ring 6 are provided so that the duct 52 has, in the unstressed state, a diameter smaller than the minimum diameter, so as to guarantee the seal for all the son 8 of the range. when they are mounted in the connecting device 1. In addition, the casing 5 and the ring 6 are provided so that the duct 52 has, in the expanded position, a diameter greater than the maximum diameter, to allow the insertion easy of all the son 8 of the range.

According to the embodiment presented here, with reference to FIG. 3, each ring 6 comprises two separable halves 61, for example along two diametrically opposite axial lines 62. The two separable halves 61 make it easy to remove each ring 6 from the respective conduit 52. In addition, the ring 6 may comprise an axial slot 63 which can form one of the axial lines 62 for separating the ring 6.

The ring 6 may have a lubricated external face and / or with a low coefficient of friction, so as to facilitate its removal from the conduit 52 of the envelope 5. In addition, the end of the ring 6 - opposite to the cavity 4 - may have grippers 64 to facilitate its extraction.

Referring now to Figure 3 to describe the establishment of a wire 8 in a cavity 4 of the connecting device 1.

In the connecting device 1 ready for use, the ring 6 keeps the conduit 52 in the expanded position. The wire 8 is introduced into the conduit 52 and into the cavity 4. The screw 7 makes it possible to tighten and hold the wire 8 in the cavity 4. After tightening the screw 7, the plug 54 is moved towards the closed position to cover the head 72 of screw 7 placed in the recess 23 - or the extreme zone of rupture 74.

Advantageously, the plug 54 can be flush with the outer face of the remainder of the envelope 5, so that one can obtain a smooth and regular outer shape, substantially cylindrical.

The ring 6 can then be withdrawn from the conduit 52, if necessary by separating the two halves 61. The withdrawal of the ring 6 allows the conduit 52 to pass into a retracted sealing position - but not in the unstressed state - wherein the conduit 52 has a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the conductive wire 8.

The same process is repeated to introduce a second wire 8 into the second cavity 4 of the connecting device 1, and thus electrically connect the two wires 8.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, in which the connection device 1 comprises a single cavity 4. This connection device 1 further comprises an end terminal 24 which, in the embodiment shown, is made of one piece with the body 2, and is situated opposite the opening 4a of the cavity 4. Such a device makes it possible to connect a wire 8, inserted in the cavity 4, to the lug 24 constituting a conductive element . The lug 24 may itself be electrically connected to another lug or other desired component, such as a power bar.

In this embodiment, the terminal 24 is not initially covered by the envelope 5, but may optionally be retrospectively. For example, when two products according to this second embodiment are connected to one another, the interconnection zone of the bare lugs 24 can be covered by an attached waterproof envelope.

Thus, the invention provides a connection device 1 electrically isolated, sealed, allowing easy introduction of one or more son 8 conductive and visual control of the interior of the device.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment of the device described above by way of example, it encompasses all the variants.

Thus, it is possible to set up several wires (for example two) in the same cavity, by adding a sealing component (putty, gel, resin, etc.). It is also specified that the body may have more than two cavities, and / or that the cavities may open into the same wall of the body.

Claims (14)

1. Device for connecting (1) electrically of at least one wire (8) electrically conductive to a conductive element, the connecting device (1) comprising a body (2) of electrically conductive material comprising at least one cavity (4) configured to be electrically connected to the conductive member, the cavity (4) having an opening (4a) and being adapted to receive the wire (8) inserted through said opening (4a), the connecting device (1) being characterized by it comprises a casing (5) for sealing and electrical insulation made of elastic material, the casing (5) being placed around and against the body (2) and having a duct (52) positioned facing the opening (4a) of the cavity (4) of the body, the conduit (52) being configured to receive the wire (8) and being deformable between an expanded position in which it allows the introduction of the wire (8) into the cavity (4) and a position of sealing in which it is adapted to grip the wire (8) placed in the cavity (4), the connecting device (1) further comprising expansion means (6) removably mounted in the conduit (52), which are configured to hold the conduit (52) in the expanded position and to form a passage for introducing the wire (8) into the cavity (4). 2. Connecting device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the envelope (5) is made in one piece. 3. Connecting device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the casing (5) is overmolded on the body (2). 4. Connecting device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the expansion means comprise a ring (6) positioned in the conduit (52) of the casing (5). 5. Connecting device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the ring (6) has at least one lubricated face. 6. Connecting device (1) according to claim 4 or 5 characterized in that the ring (6) has an axial slot (63). 7. Connecting device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the ring (6) comprises two halves (61) separable. 8. Connecting device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a wire locking member (8) in the cavity (4), said locking member comprising a screw (7). ) inserted into a hole (22) threaded body and configured to be able to tighten the wire (8) in the cavity (4). 9. Connecting device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the screw (7) comprises a head (72) and in that the envelope (5) comprises an orifice (53) which is arranged opposite the hole (22) tapped body (2) to allow access to the head (72) of the screw (7) to actuate, the connecting device (1) further comprising a plug (54) adapted to be placed in a closed position of the orifice (53). 10. Connecting device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the plug (54) is made in one piece with the rest of the casing (5) and connected to the rest of the casing (5) by a flexible link (55). 11. Connecting device (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the casing (5) comprises sealing means arranged in the vicinity of the orifice (53) configured to cooperate with the plug (54). when it is in the closed position. 12. Connecting device (1) according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that it is configured so that when the screw (7) is in the clamping position of the wire (8) in the cavity (4). ) and the plug (54) in the closed position, the plug (54) is substantially flush with the outer face of the envelope (5) or the remainder of the envelope (5). 13. System comprising at least one electrically conductive wire (8) and a connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, for receiving the wire (8) in the conduit (52) and the cavity (4), characterized in that: - in the expanded position, the conduit (52) has a diameter greater than the diameter of the wire (8); - And, in the sealing position, the conduit (52) has a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the wire (8). 14. System according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a set of electrically conductive wires (8) having different diameters between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter, the connecting device (1) being intended to receive in the conduit (52) and the cavity (4) any of the wires (8) of the assembly, the conduit (52) having: - in the expanded position, a diameter greater than the maximum diameter; and in the unconstrained state, a diameter smaller than the minimum diameter.