WO2015189509A1

WO2015189509A1 - Electrical connector for a trailer hitch assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2015189509A1
Application number: PCT/FR2015/051511
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sylvain Giraud; Arnaud TRANCHANT; Anthony Sanchez
Original assignee: A Raymond Et Cie
Priority date: 2014-06-10
Filing date: 2015-06-08
Publication date: 2015-12-17
Also published as: FR3022084B1; CN204732573U; CN105281079A; FR3022084A1

Abstract

Electrical connector for a trailer hitch assembly. A female electric socket (1) of a connector for hitching a trailer comprises an opening, defined by an annular inner wall and a base, in which a corresponding male electrical plug (2) is axially inserted, a plurality of electrical contacts arranged in the opening and a blank plug (10) which closes the opening in the absence of the male electrical plug (2) in the female electrical socket (1). The electrical contacts are blade contacts arranged on the surface of the annular wall of the opening and the blank plug (10) has a convex surface. The blank plug is mounted so as to move in axial translation in the opening and a return spring is provided between the base of the opening and the blank plug (10) to oppose the axial displacement of the blank plug (10) towards the base of the opening.

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR A TRAILER HITCH

TECHNICAL FIELD The field of the invention is that of electrical connectors comprising a male electrical outlet and a female electrical outlet, the male electrical outlet being able to be the electrical outlet of a trailer hitch.

The invention more particularly relates to a female electrical socket comprising an orifice defined by an annular inner wall and a bottom in which is intended to be inserted axially a corresponding plug, several electrical contacts disposed in the orifice and a shutter which closes the orifice in the absence of a plug in the socket.

Prior art

It is known that a trailer hitch is hooked to the rear of a towing vehicle via a towing hook attached to the vehicle body.

When the coupling of the trailer is hooked to the vehicle, the light signals such as turn signals, brake lights or rear lights of the rear of the vehicle are hidden by the trailer and a transfer of these light signals from the towing vehicle to the trailer must be made through an electrical connector including a socket usually attached to the towing vehicle and a male electrical outlet connected by an electric cable to the trailer lights.

US2011 / 165787, US2,986,612 and US3,233,203 are examples of electrical connectors with a female part and a male part. There are now coupling hooks that are removable so that they do not protrude from the rear of the vehicle in the absence of the trailer.

Nevertheless, the electrical socket of the electrical connector is not removable, it remains visible at the rear of the towing vehicle in the absence of the trailer, making its presence unattractive.

This is why we seek to arrange the female socket so that it is the least visible from the rear of the towing vehicle when the trailer is not hooked to the motor vehicle.

In general, the electrical coupling between the male electrical outlet and the female electrical outlet is via pin electrical contacts of the plug which engage by friction in metal blade electrical contacts housed in the housing. hole of the female electrical socket.

Trailer or caravan users find that the insertion of the movable plug in the orifice of the fixed socket, which is usually done by horizontal translation, is often delicate.

In addition, when the trailer hitch is not attached to the rear of the towing vehicle, the electrical contacts of the socket, if unprotected, may be damaged by being subjected to environmental conditions such as the intrusion of moisture and dirt.

To protect the electrical contacts of the female electrical socket, it is possible to position a shutter on the socket of the female electrical socket as described in patent documents WO1997012784 or US7125269.

In these published patent documents, the shutter is a flip cap that must be lifted before inserting the male electrical plug into the female electrical socket. The shutter can also be constituted by one or more cover flaps pivotally mounted and which automatically fold back by rotation in front of the electrical contacts to prevent access when disconnecting the two plugs and male, such as as described in the patent document FR2685981.

EP2269845 also proposes to protect the electrical contacts of the socket by electrically insulating them with an insulating molding material.

Nevertheless all these types of shutters have either a mechanical complexity or a manufacturing complexity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing another type of electrical connector for connecting for example a hitch, in particular a trailer hitch, to a towing vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle such as a car.

The basic idea of the invention is to provide a female electrical socket designed to be fixed discretely under the body of the towing vehicle by orienting the hole of the female electrical socket in the direction of the ground.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a female electrical socket, comprising an orifice defined by an annular inner wall and a bottom in which is intended to insert axially a corresponding male electrical socket, a plurality of electrical contacts disposed in the orifice and a shutter which closes the orifice in the absence of a plug in the socket, characterized in that the electrical contacts are lamellar contacts disposed on the surface of the annular wall of the orifice, in that the shutter has a surface which is curved and in that the obturator with convex surface is mounted to move in axial translation in the orifice, a return spring being provided between the bottom of the orifice and the shutter to oppose the axial displacement of shutter towards the bottom of the hole when inserting the male electrical plug into the socket.

With such an arrangement, the insertion of the male electrical plug can be done transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, that is to say from the bottom upwards thus allowing to conceal the socket female under the body of the vehicle.

The attachment of the female electrical socket can be done in particular flush with the rear bumper of the vehicle, so that the socket does not protrude from the underside of the vehicle and so it is not visible.

With such an arrangement, there is in addition a female electrical outlet which is always closed by a shutter when the electrical plug is not inserted into the female electrical socket, thus protecting the electrical contacts of the electrical socket which are in the hole space of the female electrical socket.

The curved surface shutter may be cup-shaped with a circular contour, the bending being in the center of the cup. The shutter could also have an angular shape, for example with a square, rectangular or triangular contour and with a pyramidal bending in the center.

The female electrical socket according to the invention may advantageously have the following particularities:

the electrical lamellar contacts each extend in the axial direction of insertion of the male electrical plug into the female electrical socket; - Each lamellar electrical contact is arranged to be wired by lug.

The invention extends to an electrical connector, characterized in that it comprises a female electrical socket and a male electrical socket arranged to fit axially into the orifice of the female electrical socket.

The electrical connector according to the invention may advantageously have the following particularities:

the male electrical socket comprises a connection pad defined by an annular outer wall and a head, this connection pad comprising a plurality of lamellar electrical contacts disposed on the surface of the outer annular wall of the connection pad, the head of the connection pad having a curved surface complementary to the domed surface of the shutter of the female electrical socket;

- The electrical contacts of the male electrical outlet are slatted with a spring area;

the connection pad and the orifice have complementary cylindrical annular surfaces;

a tongue and groove keying system is provided arranged on the male electrical socket and the female electrical socket;

the female electrical socket and the male electrical socket comprise a magnetic mutual attraction system;

- there is provided a pull lock system for locking the male electrical socket in axial position in the socket;

- The male electrical outlet has a handle, the pull being arranged in the grip handle; - The male electrical outlet is a towing hitch including trailer;

- The curved surface of the shutter is curved towards the inside of the hole of the socket.

With all these features, we get an electrical connector that includes a female electrical outlet that can be hidden behind a towing vehicle, and whose electrical contacts are well protected in the absence of a plug in the socket female electric.

In an electrical connection according to the invention, there is a first polarizer constituted by the curved surface of the shutter of the female electrical socket and the curved surface of the head of the plug of the male electrical socket.

Furthermore, there is a second polarizer constituted by the tongue and groove system.

It can be understood that even without visual control of the socket, the user will first be able to easily and quickly position the plug of the plug at the entrance of the port of the socket seeking by a tactile control coincidence the convex surface of the plug head of the plug with the curved surface of the plug of the socket.

From this coincidence, the user will be able to rotate axially the plug in the socket to achieve a coincidence of position between the groove, for example on the plug, and the tab on the socket.

It will also be helped to obtain this coincidence by the fact that normally, in the coincidence position, the handle of the plug will be oriented along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. After matching the groove with the tongue, the depression of the plug in the socket will be achieved all the more easily as the magnet system will attract to each other the plug and socket female.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will be better understood and other advantages will appear on reading the detailed description of the embodiments taken as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the male electrical plug before insertion into the socket female;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the electrical connector according to the invention with the male electrical plug inserted into the female electrical socket;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatically exploded view of the female electrical socket according to the invention;

- Figure 4 is a schematic exploded view of the male electrical socket according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view from below of the female electrical socket;

- Figure 6 is a schematic view from above of a portion of the male electrical outlet;

- Figure 7 is a schematic view of the electrical contacts of the female electrical socket inserted in the male electrical outlet.

Description of the embodiments FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of an electrical connector according to the invention which here comprises a female electrical socket 1 intended to be fixed under a body of a motor-driven tractor vehicle (not shown) and an electrical socket. male 2 which fits in the direction of the arrow F in the female electrical socket 1, from the bottom to the top, from below the body of the towing vehicle.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the male electrical plug 2 inserted and locked in the female electrical socket 1.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show numerical references which will be discussed later in the description.

In Figure 3 is shown in an exploded view of the female electrical socket 1. It is shown here in several parts that fit into each other. It consists of a housing 3, shown in Figure 1, molded plastic for example.

This housing comprises a cover 4 with a circular central hole, a grip body 5 with a bore and an annular cage 6 'inserting into the bore of the grip body 5. The grip body 5 and the cage 6 form an orifice 7 with a background.

A cover 8 with a circular central hole engages in the socket body 5. Electrical contacts 9 with a metal strip are arranged inside the annular wall of the cage 6.

Each lamellar electrical contact is wired by standard crimp lug. In the case of example 13 metal strips are arranged around the cage 6.

A shutter 10 closes the orifice 7.

The shutter 10 is here in the form of a circular cup with a curved surface in the direction of the inside of the orifice 7. It is understood that the curved surface is defined as a surface having a projecting top (or a hollow) and may be in a form different from that of a circular cup, such as a pyramidal shape for example.

The shutter 10 is mounted to move axially in the orifice 7 by a return spring 12 which surrounds a piston 11 extending from the internal face of the shutter 10 towards the bottom of the cage 6.

Magnets 24, 24 'and 24' 'are arranged at the periphery of the socket body 5.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the male electrical socket 2. It comprises a plastic shell for example, which comprises several parts assembled to define a handle for gripping the male electrical socket 2, a connection pad 13 formed of a cylindrical stud with annular outer surface defining a kind of cage receiving on its outer surface of the electrical contacts 14 to the plate with a spring zone.

Each lamellar electrical contact can be wired with a standard crimp lug.

The head 15 of the connection pad 13 has an outwardly curved surface, here a curved disc.

This connection pad head 13 has a shape complementary to the curved surface shutter 10, here in the form of a circular cup curved towards the outside of the socket of the male electrical socket. It is understood that the direction of bending of the curved complementary surfaces could be reversed without changing the scope of the invention.

In the case of example in Figure 4, there is illustrated a connection pad head 13 with thirteen electrical contacts 14 according to ISO 11446. The shell of the male electrical plug 2 comprises two half-shells 16 and 16 'which form the handle and a support 17 of connection pad 13 in which is arranged a locking system, here with pull 18, which controls two connecting rods 19 and 19 'which extend in the retracted position in the connection pad 13 or protruding from the connection pad 13 in two slots 23 arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the connection pad 13.

Magnets 20, 20 'and 20' 'are arranged in the support

17 of connection pad 13, at the periphery of the support 17.

The support 17 of connection pad 13 fits into the two half-shells 16 and 16 'and a housing is provided in the handle to move longitudinally the pull tab 18 from a locking or rest position to a position of unlocking.

When the pull tab 18 is at rest, the connecting rods 19 and 19 'are in the advanced position in the slots 23.

When the pull tab 18 is in the unlocking position by action of the user on the pull tab 18, the connecting rods 19 and 19 'are in the retracted position in the connection pad 13.

In Figure 5 there is shown a bottom view of the female socket 1 showing the parts described above nested. On the female electrical socket 1, shown here without the shutter 10, it is possible to visualize the electrical contacts 9 each extending in the axial direction of the orifice 7.

A groove 21 extends axially along the cage 6 from the cover 8 of the female electrical socket 1.

FIG. 6 shows a view from above of a portion of the male electrical plug 2 showing the connection pad 13 assembled in the support 17 and the head 15 of the connecting pad 13 having a curved surface complementary to the curved surface of the shutter 10.

A tongue 22 extends axially along the annular outer surface of the connection pad 13. This tongue 22 has a shape complementary to the groove 21 of the female electrical socket 2.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the housings of the magnets 24, 24 ', 24' 'arranged in the socket body 5 of the female electrical socket 1 and the housings of the magnets 20, 20', 20 '' arranged in the support 17 of the connection pad 13 are distinguishable by circles at the peripheries of the two elements 5 and 17. The magnets 24, 24 ', 24 "and 20, 20', 20" are positioned so as to attract each other at the same time. inserting the male electrical plug 2 into the female electrical socket 1.

FIG. 7 schematically shows the electrical lamellar contacts 9 of the cage 6 of the female electrical socket 1 making contact with the electrical lamellar contacts 14 of the male electrical plug 2.

The electrical contacts 14 may have a spring zone which makes it possible to ensure good electrical contact between the lamellae of the respective electrical sockets.

The female electrical socket 1 according to the invention can be fixed flush with the rear bumper of the vehicle, under the vehicle body, so as not to be visible from the rear of the vehicle.

The electrical connector according to the invention therefore comprises a male electrical socket 2 arranged to fit axially easily in the orifice 7 of the female electrical socket 1 without visual control.

In particular when the female electrical socket 1 is fixed under the body of the motor vehicle that will tow the trailer, the insertion of the male electrical socket 2 of the trailer into the female electrical socket 1 can be done "Blind", that is to say without the user having to put his head under the vehicle.

In the absence of a male electrical plug 2 in the female electrical socket 1, the shutter 10 closes the orifice 7 of the female electrical socket 1. The peripheral outer surface of the shutter 10 is in a flush position with the orifice 7 protecting thus the electrical contacts 9 arranged on the annular wall of the orifice 7 of the female electrical socket 1.

The shutter 10 moves in axial translation only upon insertion by the user of the male electrical plug 2 into the female electrical socket 1, thus automatically revealing the electrical contacts 9 to the lamella of the orifice 7 of the socket electrical female 1. Thus it is not necessary to remove a protective cover of the female electrical socket 1 prior to the insertion of the male electrical outlet 2.

According to the invention, the positioning of the connection pad 13 facing the shutter 10 is first of all facilitated by a mechanical guidance thanks to the curved shape of the head 15 of the connection pad 13 of the male electrical plug 2 which is complementary to the curved surface of the shutter 10 of the female electrical socket 1.

The user holding the male electrical plug 2 by its grip handle will move the male electrical outlet 2 without having to look under the vehicle until it feels the interlocking of two complementary curved surfaces one of the other.

Then the meeting of the tongue 22 with the groove

21 simply ensures that the head 15 of the connection pad 13 is positioned correctly facing the orifice 7. It will be understood that the user can push the connection pad 13 of the electrical plug 2 on the shutter 10 of the female electrical socket 1.

The shutter 10 mounted to move axially in the orifice 7 is moved axially by the head 15 of the connection pad 13 towards the bottom of the orifice 7, the return spring 12 being compressed towards the bottom of the orifice 7 .

The insertion of the head 15 of the connection pad 13 into the orifice 7 is facilitated by the cylindrical complementary annular surfaces of the connection pad 13 of the male electrical socket 2 and the orifice 7 of the female electrical socket 1.

During insertion of the connection pad 13 of the male electrical plug 2 into the orifice 7 of the female electrical socket 1, the lamellar electrical contacts 9 and 14 arranged on the cages formed by the cylindrical annular surfaces, come into contact with each other. frictional contact.

According to the invention, the tongue 22 sliding by translation in the groove 21 of complementary shape prevents the rotation of the connection pad 13 in the orifice 7.

When the support 17 of the connection pad 13 of the male electrical socket 2 is close to the cover 8 of the female electrical socket 1, the magnets 24, 24 'and 24' 'arranged in the periphery of the socket body 5 of the female electrical socket 1 attract the magnets 20, 20 ', 20' 'arranged in a complementary position in the periphery of the support 17 connection pad 13, thus forming a mutual attraction system and a magnetic connection to properly plate the catches against each other and facilitate the connection of the two sockets.

It is understood that this magnetic connection gives way when the user exerts on the handle of the male electrical socket a sufficient axial traction to disconnect the plug male electric. This axial traction is generally relatively low.

Instead of or in addition to a connection by magnetic attraction, provision could be made for a connection by suction or snap-fastening.

The support 17 of connection pad 13 of the male electrical socket 2 then being in abutment of the cover 8 of the female electrical socket 1, the user can lock the connection pad 13 in the orifice 7 by actuating the pull tab 18 of the locking system housed in the handle, from its unlocking position to its locking position. The rods 19 and 19 'are then in the advanced position so that they protrude into the cage 6 of the female electrical socket 1. The axial translation of the male electrical plug 2 in the female electrical socket 1 is then blocked.

It is understood that the locking system can be as a button to press or a wheel to turn. One could also control the correct locking by adding to the locking system a tactile and / or visual indicator.

According to the invention, the electrical contacts are distributed around the periphery of the two cages, internally for the female electrical socket 1 and externally for the male electrical socket 2. The electrical connection according to the invention is therefore not done by inserting pins which is often difficult to fit into the holes a socket. The lamellar electrical contacts of the male 2 and female 1 electrical sockets according to the invention extend in the axial direction of insertion of the male electrical plug 2. The electrical contacts of the male electrical plug 2 slide along the electrical contacts of the plug. the female electrical socket 1. At the end of insertion of the socket connection 13 in the orifice 7, the good contacting of the electrical contacts 9 and 14 lamellae is guaranteed by the choice to use spring zone strips for the electrical contacts 14 of the male electrical outlet 2.

It goes without saying that the present invention can not be limited to the foregoing description of one of its embodiments, may undergo some modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Female electrical socket (1), comprising an orifice (7) defined by an annular inner wall and a bottom in which is intended to be inserted axially a corresponding male electrical socket (2), a plurality of electrical contacts (9) arranged in said orifice (7) and a shutter (10) which closes said orifice (7) in the absence of said plug (2) in said socket (1), characterized in that said electrical contacts (9) are lamellar contacts disposed on the surface of said annular inner wall of said orifice (7), in that said shutter (10) has a surface which is curved and in that said curved surface shutter (10) is mounted to be movable in translation axial in said orifice (7), a return spring (12) being provided between the bottom of said orifice (7) and said shutter (10) to oppose the axial displacement of said shutter (10) towards the bottom of said orifice (7). ) when inserting said p electric outlet (2) in said female electrical socket (1) ·

2. Female electrical socket (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said lamellar electrical contacts (9) each extend in the axial direction of insertion of said plug (2) in said female electrical socket (9). 1).

3. Female electrical socket (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each lamellar electrical contact (9) is arranged to be wired by lug. 4. Electrical connector, characterized in that it comprises a female electrical socket (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3 and a male electrical socket (2) arranged to fit axially into said orifice (7) of said female electrical socket (1).

Electrical connector according to claim 4, characterized in that said male electrical socket (2) comprises a connection pad (13) defined by an annular outer wall and a head (15), said connection pad (13) comprising a plurality of electrical contacts (14) lamellae arranged on the surface of said outer annular wall of said connection pad (13), said head (15) of the connection pad (13) having a curved surface complementary to the curved surface of said shutter (10) of said female electrical socket (1).

Electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that said electrical contacts (14) of said plug (2) are lamellar with a spring zone.

Electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that said connection pad (13) and said orifice (7) have cylindrical complementary annular surfaces.

Electrical connector according to Claim 7, characterized in that a tongue-and-groove (22) and slot-type keying system (21) is provided on said male electrical socket (2) and said socket (1).

Electrical connector according to one of Claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the said female electrical socket (1) and the said male electrical socket (2) comprise a magnetic mutual attraction system.

10. Electrical connector according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that there is provided a pull lock system (18) for locking said plug (2) in axial position in said socket (1). ).

11. Electrical connector according to claim 10, characterized in that said plug (2) has a grip handle, said pull tab (18) being disposed in said handle. 12. Electrical connector according to one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that said plug (2) is a towing hitch including trailer.

13. Electrical connector according to one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that said curved surface of said shutter of said socket is curved inwardly of said orifice of said socket.