GB2446049A - Connector with a stepped flange having a groove retaining a seal - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector having a water barrier comprising a main body 2 to be assembled on a partition 17. The connector comprises a sealing joint 23, which may be an o-ring, ensuring leak tightness of the connection. The flange has a large rim 4 defining a wall 6 and a small rim 5 defining a wall 7. The two rims are offset from each other and between them is a concave groove 25 locating the seal 23. Preferably the width of groove in the axial direction is less width of the seal to allow compression against the panel 17. The distance between the first and second rims defining the width of the groove may be greater than the raduis of the o-ring 23 and ideally is between 75% and 80% of the o-ring diameter. The seal may be retained within the groove in a relaxed state or slightly stressed and held in place by the lip 27 of the groove 25.

Description

I

Connector with a water barrier and method of manufacturing such a connector.

The present invention relates to a connector with a water barrier.

The use of electrical connectors in more and more varied fields and situations requires stricter and stricter security measures. Therefore, for example, electrical connections installed on the outside must be impermeable. More generally, such leak tightness may be necessary in cases where a connector is mounted on a partition, in order to prevent any intrusion of liquid or other undesirable outside elements into the same connection.

Several solutions are known are known to the person skilled in the art to fix an impermeable connection onto a partition, such a partition may be a wall, a connection box or any other flat surface onto which a connector must be fixed. The most conventional solution consists of using a sealing joint. Such a sealing joint is mounted on the connector. After fixation of the connector onto the partition, this joint is compressed between the partition and said connector. This compression of the joint between the connector and the partition ensures leak tightness between the partition and the connector, and more generally, leak tightness of the connection itself.

Several methods and devices exist to introduce such a joint on a connector before fixation on a partition. A conventional configuration to assemble such joints on a connector consists of creating a groove in a wall of this connector. The wall of the connector in which this groove is made is a wall situated facing the partition, after said connector is fixed on the partition.

After the connector is fixed on the partition, the wall in which the groove is created is pressed against the partition, parallel to this partition. The joint is housed in the groove made in the wall of the connector. In order to correctly fulfill its role, the joint emerges from the groove, that is, the height of the joint, taken along a direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the wall in which this groove is made, is greater than the depth of the groove taken along this same direction. This height of the joint ensures contact, and thus leak tightness, between the joint and the partition during assembly of the connection. The facing and contact between this wall of the connector and the partition allows the joint to ensure leak tightness of the connection by being compressed by the wall and the partition.

However, such a solution presents several disadvantages. In fact, this type of impermeable barrier is, because of the location of the groove, difficult to make in connectors manufactured by molding. Such molding necessitates a special and very complex mold. In addition, blind installation of such a type of connector to a groove is, in fact, difficult if the groove is not very deep, as the joint is going to tend to leave the groove, but if the groove is deep, the joint will be slightly compressed and the leak tightness of the connection will not be as good.

A second solution known to the person skilled in the art for placing such a joint on a connector is to make a flange on said connector. Such a flange presents a large rim and a small rim against which the joint may be pressed. Contact of the joint against these rims provides a certain stability to the position of the joint. In addition, the height of the joint taken along the direction of depth of the small rim is greater than the depth of the small rim against which the joint is pressed. Thus, the joint emerges from the small rim and may enter into contact with the partition during assembly of the connection. Contact between the joint, a wall of the large rim of the flange and the partition thus ensures the leak tightness of the connection. After assembly, the partition and the wall of the large rim of the flange are parallel.

However, if the small rim against which the joint is pressed is deep, that is, if the joint only slightly emerges above the flange, compression of the joint will be low. This low compression does not ensure leak tightness of the weak connection. Conversely, if the depth of the small rim is shallow, the joint is not held sufficiently by the flange. This defective holding may lead to difficulties in assembly; the joint may become dislodged during manipulation of the connector. During blind installation, for example when such a connector is fixed in a cabling connection box, if the joint is not held well and is dislodged, then the connector must be taken out again, the joint must be reinstalled and connection installation must be tried again.

One conceivable solution to resolve this problem, in the case of a joint applied on a flange connector, may consist of slightly reducing the size of the joint with relation to that of the small rim. Reducing the size of the joint is understood to refer to the fact that the joint must be stretched to correctly surround said small rim. In this case, the joint remains in a stretched position throughout its use. This stretching constrains the joint to remain stuck against the small rim. However, such constant stretching of the joint significantly weakens the joint. This weakening may produce significant damage, or even a rupture, in the joint when the connection is assembled, further to the pressure that this joint will undergo. In addition, with such stretching, as the joint is prestressed, the joint may more easily slip out from its housing during manipulation.

Another solution may consist of choosing a particular type of joint that only presents a low level of compression. As such a joint only offers slight compression, it is not necessary to cause the joint to overshoot the groove or rim much to obtain good leak tightness. However, such a solution adds the constraints of selecting the joint to use.

Thus, this solution does not appear to be suited to making an impermeable connection that has no risk of displacement of the joint from its housing, that can be made by molding and that may be incorporated in any type of joint.

To resolve these problems, the invention provides the positioning of a device that correctly holds any type of joint in place and that can be made for molded connectors. For this purpose, the invention provides the presence of a flange on a connector. This flange comprises a large rim and a small rim. The large rim comprises a first wall forming a flat surface. The small rim comprises a second wall forming a flat surface. The two flat surfaces formed by these rims are parallel. The invention provides for the presence of a partition on which the connector will be fixed. This partition forms a flat surface parallel to the two walls formed by the rims of the flange of the connector during assembly. The invention provides for the presence of a joint groove. In addition, the invention provides for the presence of a sealing joint housed in said groove. More particularly, the invention provides that the groove has a shape such that the groove connects the first wall and the second wall through a surface at the concave profile.

A preferential embodiment of the invention provides that said surface has a truncated profile.

According to a preferential embodiment of the invention, the sealing joint is partially enclosed in the groove at rest. More particularly, a part of the contour of the sealing joint is enclosed by projection, along a direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the first wall, in the concavity formed by the surface of the groove.

This inclusion by projection of part of the contour of the joint in the concavity of said surface of the groove holds the joint in place when the connector is manipulated during installation of said connector against a partition. In fact, during installation of the connector, the joint is held prestressed in the groove and thus cannot be dislodged. The joint is slightly stretched to be introduced into the groove. However, the joint, once housed in the groove, returns to its position of rest. The stretching requirement for puffing the joint in position is also present when the joint is removed from the groove. Thus, removal of the joint is impossible without applying a particular stress on the joint. The joint then cannot be dislodged during manipulation, for example during blind installation in a connection box. Furthermore, the invention is simply achievable on connectors made by molding, for example, by using a mold presenting two shells.

Thus, the object of the invention is a connector comprising a main body, this main body comprising a flange with a large rim and a small rim, the large rim comprises a first wall forming a flat surface, the small rim comprises a second wall forming a flat surface parallel to the first wall, the connector is intended to be fixed on a partition, the first wall and the second wall are parallel to the partition after the connector is fixed on said partition, a sealing joint, a joint groove situated on the main body, the sealing joint being housed in this groove, characterized in that the joint groove connects the first wall to the second wall through a surface at the concave profile.

The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. The figures are presented for indication purposes only and in no way limit the invention. The figures show: -Figure 1: A schematic perspective view of a conventional flange connector.

-Figure 2: A schematic perspective view of a conventional flange connector to be assembled on a partition.

-Figure 3: A partial view with cutout of a flange connector assembled on a partition.

-Figure 4: A partial sectional view of a connector and a joint according to the invention.

Figure 1 represents a schematic perspective view of a conventional flange connector. Connector I comprises a main body 2, which may be cylindrical or rectangular. This main body 2 is separated into two parts by a large flange 3. The large flange 3 comprises a large nm 4 and a small rim 5.

The large rim 4 comprises a first wall 6 forming a flat surface. The small rim 5 comprises a second wall 7 forming a plane surface parallel to the first wall 6.

In conventional flange connectors 1, a third wall connects the first wall 6 and the second wall 7. This third wall is then formed along an axis perpendicular to the planes formed by the first wall 6 and the second wall 7.

The front part 8, at the bottom in Figure 1, of the main body 2 is intended to receive by socketing a connector plug compatible with said connector 1. The rear part 9, at the top in Figure 1, of the main body 2 is the part that receives the cables to be connected.

The front part 8 is itself divided into two parts, a front extremity 10, at the bottom in Figure 1, and a rear extremity 11, at the top in Figure 1. The front extremity 10 has a diameter that is slightly less than the diameter of the rear extremity 11.

The front extremity 10 is presented in the general form of a hollow cylinder. The hollow part of the front extremity 10 serves as housing for connection arms of connector 1. The front part 8 is intended to receive a connector plug (not represented in the figures). Such a connector plug comprises a plug body engaging in the front extremity 10. This plug body is fitted along a longitudinal axis 12 of connector 1. The inner wall 13 of the front extremity 10 comprises guide channels 14. These guide channels 14 correspond with guide ribs present on the plug body. During socketing, said guide ribs are introduced in guide channels 14, thus socketing the plug body along the longitudinal axis 12 of connector 1.

In addition, the front extremity 10 comprises pins 16 on an outer wall 15. These pins correspond with the plug so as to block said plug along axis 12 after said plug is socketed in connector 1. For this purpose, the plug comprises a retainer clip. This retainer clip is assembled in rotation around the plug body and is fixed in translation along axis 12, after socketing.

Typically, this is a conventional bayonet system. The retainer clip is equipped with channels able to receive pins 16. The pins 16 block the plug along axis 12 after having carried out a rotation of the retainer clip after the plug is socketed in connector 1.

Figure 2 represents a schematic perspective view of a conventional flange connector to be assembled on a partition. Such a connector I is fixed on a partition 17. The partition 17 comprises a hole 18.

Hole 18 is such that the connector I may fit into said hole 18. The partition 17 may be a wall or even a box, such as a connection box.

Rear extremity 10 of the front part 8 of connector I comprises a flat section 19. Flat section 19 coincides with flat section 20 made in hole 18.

These flat sections 19 and 20 have the object of preventing connector I from turning on itself during fixation of connector 1. Furthermore, rear extremity 10 comprises a threading 21. The object of this threading 21 is to enable fixation of connector I on partition 17 by using a hole 22, see Figure 1. Typically, connector I is fitted in hole 18, then nut 22 is screwed on rear extremity 10 by using the presence of a corresponding inner threading on nut 22.

Figure 3 represents a partial view with a cutout of a flange connector assembled on a partition. Partition 17 is compressed between the second wall 7 of the small rim 6 and the nut 22 screwed on connector 1. This compression holds connector I fixed against partition 17. A sealing joint 23 is compressed between the first wall 6 and the partition 17. The contact of the partition 17 on the second wall 7 ensures a crushing stress of the calibrated joint. In fact, the second wall 7 prevents partition 17 from compressing joint 23 too strongly. Such too strong compression risks damaging the joint 23 or even deforming the joint to such a point that this joint 23 can no longer correctly ensure its role as a water barrier. This calibrated compression of joint 23 ensures the leak tightness of the connection, for example in cases where the connector I is fixed on a partition or on a connection box situated outside.

Figure 4 represents a partial sectional view of a connector and joint according to the invention. The invention provides for making a connector I that ensures good leak tightness while ensuring good holding of joint 23 in its housing during installation and that is easily workable, even with connectors I made by molding.

For this purpose, the invention provides a conventional flange connector I comprising a large flange 3. This flange 3 is of the same type as that described above, that is, the flange comprises a large rim 4 and a small rim 5. However, contrary to conventional flange connectors where joint 23 only is pressed against both the large rim 4 and against the small rim 5 in order to comprise a water barrier, the invention provides for the presence of a joint 24 groove.

In the prior art, such a joint 24 groove is made on the first wall 6 of the large rim 4. The joint 23 is then housed in said joint 24 groove. However, for connectors I made by molding, such a groove 24 is only attainable by utilizing complex equipment. Furthermore, with this type of groove 24, the joint 23 may slip out of its housing when connector I is installed against partition 17.

The invention also provides for the presence of a groove 24 in which joint 23 is housed. However, contrary to the conventional connectors I described above, the invention provides for making this groove 24 not on the first wall 6 of the large rim 4, but between said first wall 6 of the large rim 4 and the second wall 7 of the small rim 5. More particularly, the groove of joint 24 according to the invention connects the first wall 6 of the large rim 4 and the second wall 7 of the small rim 5. The groove 24 extends so as to not traverse the plane formed by the first wall 6.

The groove 24 according to the invention connects the first wall 6 and the second wall 7 through a surface 25 at the concave profile. When pressure is applied to joint 23, for example, when the connector I is fixed on a partition 17 and this partition 17 compresses joint 23, thus forming a water barrier, deformation of joint 23 is such that this joint 23 is formed inside the groove 24 by hugging the inner contours of said groove 24. This deformation is produced especially as the joint 23 at rest is stretched, at least slightly, for its placement against the entrance of groove 24. A preferential embodiment of the invention provides that groove 24 presents a truncated curved surface 25. Such a connector I according to the invention may easily be made by molding.

To ensure good holding of joint 23 in groove 24 at rest, the invention provides that joint 23 is partially enclosed in groove 24. More particularly, a part 26 of the contour of joint 23 is enclosed, by perpendicular projection to the plane formed by the first wall 6, in the concavity formed by surface 25 of groove 24.

To be positioned in groove 24, the joint 23 must be slightly stretched to pass beyond a junction 27 between the groove 24 and the second wall 7 of the small rim 5. The junction 27 prevents the joint 23, at rest, from dislodging by holding it in the groove 24. Once this joint 23 is housed in groove 24, the joint 23 is prestressed by this junction 27. To dislodge and pass above this junction 27, joint 23 must be stretched. The groove 24 is such, because of its concave shape, that once it is housed in said groove 24, the joint 23 is in a position of rest. In the rest position, joint 23 may be unstretched, but preferably the joint is still slightly stretched. This slight stretching, associated with the calibration of the compression performed by partition 17 as well as the shape and depth of groove 24, ensures the holding in position of the joint 23 as well as the forming of this joint 23 in groove 24 during compression deformation of said joint 23 by partition 17.

The junction 27 between the second wall 7 and the concave surface 25 of groove 24 forms a nose 28, also called a nosing 28. Junction 29 between the first wall 6 and the concave surface 25 of groove 24 does not form a nosing. This nose 28 ensures good stress at the joint 23 in order to hold the joint housed in groove 24. In fact, such a nose 28 enters in contact with joint 23 in an area further apart from the first wall 6 than, for example, the contact area of a rounded surface. This farther apart contact area enables a larger part of the joint 23 to be enclosed in the concavity formed by surface 25 of groove 24. This larger part enclosed in the concavity formed by surface 25 of groove 24 enables a larger stress of groove 24 on joint 23. This larger stress ensures better holding of joint 23 in groove 24, thus preventing joint 23 from being dislodged from groove 24 during installation.

To ensure an effective stress on joint 23, joint 23 must be partially enclosed in groove 24. For this purpose, an offset distance 29, along a direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the first wall 6 of large rim 4, between the first wall 6 of large rim 4 and the second wall 7 of small rim 5 must be less than the height 30, taken along said same direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the first wall 6, of sealing joint 23.

Preferentially, the sealing joint 23 may be an 0-ring. Furthermore, it is also preferable, more particularly in the case of an 0-ring 23, that the offset distance 30 is greater than the radius of such an 0-ring 23. Thus, the offset distance 30 between the first wall 6 and the second waIl 7 is preferentially between the height 31 of the joint 23 and half of this same height 31 of joint 23. More particularly, an offset distance 30 enabling optimal holding of a joint 23 in groove 24 may be between 75% and 80% of the height 31 of such a joint 23. Such an offset distance 30 between 75% and 80% of the height of joint 23 ensures a calibrated compression of joint 23. This calibrated compression prevents too much deformation of joint 23 while ensuring sufficient deformation to ensure leak tightness of the connection.

Connectors I according to the invention thus ensure good leak tightness by being compressed by partition 17 on which connector I is fixed.

In addition, a connector I according to the invention ensures good holding of joint 23, being prestressed, in its housing, which is particularly advantageous during blind installation of said connector I in a connection box. Furthermore, a connector I according to the invention is easily attainable according to a manufacturing method comprising a molding step utilizing two molding shells.

Unmolding a connector I molded according to such a method is done by separating the shells from the mold along an axis perpendicular to axis 12, which in the case of a groove 23 made in the first wall 6 of the large rim 4 of flange 3 is impossible to do simply. Such a connector I is made by molding a plastic or metallic material.

Claims (1)

1. I -A connector comprising -a main body, this main body comprising a flange with a large rim and a small rim, -the large rim comprises a first wall forming a flat surface, -the small rim comprises a second wall forming a flat surface parallel to the first wall, -the connector is intended to be fixed on a partition, the first wall and the second wall being parallel to the partition after the connector is fixed on said partition, -a sealing joint, -a joint groove situated on the main body, the sealing joint being housed in this groove, characterized in that the joint groove connects the first wall to the second wall through a surface at the concave profile.

   2 -The connector according to claim I characterized in that the surface of the groove connecting the first wall and the second wall is truncated.

   3 -The connector according to one of claims I to 2 characterized in that the sealing joint is partially enclosed in the groove at rest, a part of the contour of the sealing joint is enclosed, by projection perpendicular to a plane formed by the first or second wall, in the concavity formed by the surface of the groove.

   4 -The connector according to one of claims I to 3 characterized in that a junction between the concave surface and the second wall forms a nose, or nosing, a junction between the first wall and said concave surface does not form a nosing.

   -The connector according to one of claims I to 4 characterized in that an offset distance, along a direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the first wall, between the first wall and the second wall, is less than a height, taken along said same direction, of the sealing joint.

   6 -The connector according to one of claims I to 5 characterized in that the sealing joint is an 0-ring.

   7 -The connector according to claim 6 characterized in that the offset distance, along a direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the first wall, between the first wall and the second wall is greater than the radius of this 0-ring.

   8 -The connector according to one of claims I to 7 characterized in that the offset distance is between 75% and 80% of the height of the joint.

   9 -A method of manufacturing a connector according to one of claims I to 7 characterized in that the connector is made by molding a plastic or metallic material.