LOCKING FASTENING DEVICE FOR TWO-PART ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS WITH AXIAL COUPLING

Abstract

The locking fastening device for two-part electrical connectors with axial coupling includes two male mistake-proofing mechanisms and two female mistake-proofing mechanisms included in the parts. The mistake-proofing mechanisms are positioned on both sides of the contacts of the two parts of the male and female electrical connector and respectively includes at least a protuberance and a bore axially cooperative to produce the fastening of the parts, during coupling.

Claims

1. A locking fastening device for two-part electrical connectors with axial coupling, the device comprising: two male mistake-proofing mechanisms; and two female mistake-proofing mechanisms in respective parts, the mistake-proofing mechanisms being positioned on both sides of contacts of the respective parts of the male and female electrical connector and respectively comprising at least a protuberance and a bore axially cooperative to produce the fastening of the parts during coupling, wherein the protuberance of the male mistake-proofing mechanism comprises at least one flexible element protruding from its surface and abutting with the female mistake-proofing mechanism, able to be axially inserted into the bore of said female mistake-proofing mechanism and being comprised of at least one axial blocking member by radial expansion of the flexible element in said bore, wherein the bore of the female mistake-proofing mechanism comprises an expansion space for the flexible element of the male mistake-proofing mechanism, provided with axial blocking means for the blocking member of the male mistake-proofing mechanism; and wherein a push-piece is associated with the female mistake-proofing mechanism, movable within the latter and guided between an inactive position without axial blocking and an active position with axial blocking of the two mistake-proofing mechanisms by insertion of the push-piece into the flexible element of the male mistake-proofing mechanism to push it back radially, guide means actuating locking means of the axial blocking.

2. The locking fastening device for electrical connectors, according to claim 2, wherein the locking means of the push-piece include return means inserted between the female mistake-proofing mechanism and the push-piece stressing the push-piece in rotation, the guide means initiating the rotation actuating the locking of the push-piece in the female mistake-proofing mechanism.

3. The locking fastening device for electrical connectors, according to claim 2, wherein said guide means of the push-piece in the female mistake-proofing mechanism being comprised of radial studs, one cooperating with L-shaped housings of the other, performing a bayonet-type connection.

4. The locking fastening device for electrical connectors, according to claim 1, wherein the flexible element of the axial protuberance of the male mistake-proofing mechanism comprise at least one axial flexible wall of the protuberance, said wall being provided at its free end with a rim protruding toward the outside of the protuberance, said rim then forming the axial blocking member of the male mistake-proofing mechanism.

5. The locking fastening device for electrical connectors, according to claim 4, wherein the protuberance comprises two flexible elements being comprised of the wall of a hollow cylindrical barrel divided in two by axial slits formed up to the vicinity of the abutment surface of the male mistake-proofing mechanism at the female mistake-proofing mechanism, said barrel being provided with an end collar, oriented radially toward the outside of the barrel and the outer diameter of which does not exceed that of the bore, the collar portions of the half-barrels making up the flexible elements forming the axial blocking members of the male mistake-proofing mechanism.

6. The locking fastening device for electrical connectors, according to claim 1, wherein the bore of the female mistake-proofing mechanism comprises a radial space widening its inner diameter and able to house the blocking member of each flexible element, said space having a projection situated at a distance from its abutment surface with the male mistake-proofing mechanism substantially equal to the distance separating the blocking members from the abutment surface of the male mistake-proofing mechanism.

7. The locking fastening device for electrical connectors, according to claim 3, wherein a torsion spring is inserted between the female mistake-proofing mechanism and the push-piece, continuously stressing the push-piece in rotation, studs protruding radially from the push-piece, each being guided in a notch formed in the inner wall of the female mistake-proofing mechanism, said notch having a locking flank provided with a first rectilinear portion emerging after a hard spot in a rounded portion that loops over a rounded unlocking flank ending with a second rectilinear portion across from the first.

8. The locking fastening device for electrical connectors, according to claim 7, wherein a ring equips the perimeter of the push-piece, movable in a cylindrical peripheral recess of the female mistake-proofing mechanism defined on one side by a rim in which the notches emerge, and on the other side by a shoulder situated at a distance from the rim adjacent to the axial length of said notches.

9. The locking fastening device for electrical connectors, according to claim 7, wherein the torsion spring is positioned in an annular housing of the body of the push-piece between a central cylindrical core whereof the free end is provided to push the flexible elements back and a low cylindrical peripheral wall, branches of said spring being housed one in an axial orifice of the female mistake-proofing mechanism and the other in an axial slit formed in the periphery of a low wall, as well as in the retaining ring housed in a peripheral recess of the body of the push-piece adjacent to the low wall, and lastly in the portion of said body adjacent to the other side of said recess and from which the studs protrude.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The invention will now be described in more detail, in reference to the appended figures.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a partial axial sectional view of a connection device according to the invention.

[0037] FIGS. 2 to 5 show perspective views of the different components of said connection device, namely, respectively, the male mistake-proofing mechanism (FIG. 2), the female mistake-proofing mechanism (FIG. 3), the push-piece (FIG. 4) and the torsion spring (FIG. 5).

[0038] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the interaction between the mistake-proofing mechanisms in the non-blocked and unlocked position.

[0039] FIG. 7 shows another enlarged sectional view equivalent to FIG. 6, showing the interaction between the mistake-proofing mechanisms in the blocked and locked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] In reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, the device according to the invention applies to secure electrical connectors including a female part 1 provided with female mistake-proofing mechanisms 3 (only one of which is visible in the partial view) and a male part 2 provided with male mistake-proofing mechanisms 4 (only one of which is visible for the same reason). The male mistake-proofing mechanism 4 includes a cylindrical main body 40 from which a protuberance 41 made up of two flexible elements 42, 43 axially protrudes. In practice, the protuberance 41 is made up of a divided hollow barrel in said flexible elements 42, 43 by the removal of two portions of the peripheral wall of the barrel 41 up to the base of the latter, at the abutment surface 44 of the male mistake-proofing mechanism 4. At the free end of the flexible elements 42, 43, portions 45, 46 of an outer collar of the barrel extend toward the outside of the latter, in a substantially radial direction. The mistake-proofing mechanism 4 also includes a hexagonal head 47 housed in a recess 21 with a corresponding shape of the male part 2 of the connector, preventing any relative rotation.

[0041] A ring 22 is positioned in a peripheral recess 48 of the mistake-proofing mechanism 4, for the axial retention of the latter in the part 2. Axial blocking also results from a nut 23 and a blocking washer 24.

[0042] The female mistake-proofing mechanism 3 includes a first hexagonal portion 31 that blocks its rotation in a housing 11 of the part 1 making up the female connector. The hollow barrel 32 includes an inner bore 33 and an annular recess 34 intended to receive an axial retaining ring 12 clipped on a shoulder 13 of the part 1. The hexagonal portion 31 of the mistake-proofing mechanism 3 also has L-shaped notches 35 for the bayonet-type connection, positioned opposite one another and only one of which is visible in FIG. 3.

[0043] The push-piece 5 includes a cylindrical core 51, defining, with a low peripheral wall 52, a housing 50 for the spiral body 61 of the spring 6. The push-piece 5 also includes a peripheral annular recess 53 for the retaining ring 54. Only one stud 55 from among the two situated opposite one another is visible in FIG. 4, said studs 55 being provided to cooperate with the notches 35 of the female mistake-proofing mechanism 3, in the bayonet guiding connection. A gripping handle 56 allows manipulation by the operator, which therefore does not require any tools. An axial slit 57 is used to house one of the branches 62, 63 of the torsion spring 6.

[0044] In the state of FIG. 1, the connection is not finalized, it is not axially blocked or locked, it is in the same state as in FIG. 6, i.e., with the hub 51 of the push-piece located near the flexible elements 42, 43 of the male mistake-proofing mechanism 4. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the small circle corresponds to the axial blocking zone, and the large circle corresponds to the locking zone in the blocked position. The state of the connection is intermediate, one is in the presence of an activated state that has begun, an axial thrust of the push-piece 5 already having been initiated.

[0045] First examining the zone shown by the small circle in FIG. 6, the outer collar 45, 46 of the flexible elements 42, 43 is not yet pushed radially into the expansion space 36 provided in the female mistake-proofing mechanism 3. As shown, in this inactivated state, because the outer diameter of these collars 45, 46 is not larger than the inner diameter d of the bore 33, no axial blocking is yet possible.

[0046] In the lower part “covered” by the large circle, the studs 55 are already engaged in a rectilinear portion of the notches 35, below the hard spots 37 marking the directional change of the push-piece 5. The latter is indeed stressed in rotation as of the beginning of the movement by the torsion spring 6, which is compressed between the slit 57 of the push-piece 5 and an orifice (not shown) inside the female mistake-proofing mechanism 3, but it cannot rotate when it is upstream from the hard spots 37. The ring 54 does not oppose the movement, it is movable in a cylindrical peripheral recess 38 of the female mistake-proofing mechanism 3 closed by a rim 39a in which the slots 35 emerge, and limited in the upper part by a shoulder 39b. The distance between them is close to the axial length of the slots 35, which guarantees that when the device is deactivated, the push-piece 5 is retained such that the studs 55 are ready to be activated, and are situated at the inlet of the notches 35, thereby allowing the accumulation of energy in the spring. 6. In the unlocking phase, which involves the excursion of the push-piece 5 furthest from the inside of the female mistake-proofing mechanism 3, the stop formed by the shoulder 39b does not oppose the upward movement of the ring 54.

[0047] In reference to FIG. 7, the connection is activated, i.e., the parts 1 and 2 of the connector are axially blocked and locked. The movement in the axial direction of the push-piece 5 in the female mistake-proofing mechanism 3 triggers the self-locking in the manner explained below. In reference to the zone covered by the small circle, more particularly related to the axial blocking function, the latter results from the fact that the core 51 of the push-piece 5 has moved axially enough to separate the flexible elements 42, 43 such that the collar portions 45, 46 are now in the space 36, with a facing surface of a projection 136 of the expansion space 36 that prevents any axial withdrawal of one of the parts 1, 2 relative to the other 2, 1.

[0048] At the same time, the studs 55 having arrived at the hard spots 37, the push-piece 5 is rotated by the spring 6, which releases its energy at the entry for the studs 55 in the non-rectilinear portions of the slots 35. Past the hard spots 37, said studs descend again slightly into the rounded part of the openings, locking the connection by releasing axial energy, for example, by an elastic seal inserted between the two parts 1, 2 of the connector according to the invention. The unlocking is done very simply by reverse rotation and pulling of the push-piece is (to block the latter in the non-locking zone) by the operator.

[0049] The configuration described in reference to the figures is of course not exhaustive with respect to the invention, which on the contrary encompasses the shape and structure alternatives that relate to the various components and organize the same functions, inasmuch as they fall within the definition of the claims.