Electrical Connection Device
20230109845 ยท 2023-04-13
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
H01R13/434
ELECTRICITY
H01R12/81
ELECTRICITY
International classification
Abstract
An electrical connection device includes a first jaw and a second jaw facing the first jaw in a closed state. The first jaw has a first insertion surface perpendicular to an insertion direction into a connection casing, a first surface facing the second jaw that is substantially parallel to the insertion direction, and an opposite first surface opposite the first insertion surface. The first jaw has a first recess. The second jaw has a second surface facing the first jaw and extending substantially parallel to the insertion direction, a second insertion surface introduced over the connection casing and perpendicular to the insertion direction, and an opposite second surface opposite to the second insertion surface. The second jaw has a second recess facing the first recess in the closed state. The first recess and/or the second recess has a rod at the first edge and/or the second edge.
Claims
1. An electrical connection device, comprising: a first jaw having a first insertion surface introduced into a connection casing, the first insertion surface is substantially perpendicular to an insertion direction in which the electrical connection device is inserted into the connection casing; and a second jaw facing the first jaw in a closed state, the first jaw has a first surface facing the second jaw that is substantially parallel to the insertion direction and an opposite first surface opposite the first insertion surface, the first jaw has a first recess extending from a first edge formed by a junction between the first surface facing the second jaw and the first insertion surface at least partially toward the opposite first surface, the second jaw has a second surface facing the first jaw and extending substantially parallel to the insertion direction, a second insertion surface introduced over the connection casing and perpendicular to the insertion direction, and an opposite second surface opposite to the second insertion surface, the second jaw has a second recess extending from a second edge formed by a junction between the second surface facing the first jaw and the second insertion surface at least partially toward the opposite second surface, the first recess faces the second recess in the closed state, the first recess and/or the second recess has a rod at the first edge and/or the second edge.
2. The electrical connection device of claim 1, wherein the first jaw has an additional first recess and the second jaw has an additional second recess, the additional first recess faces the additional second recess in the closed state.
3. The electrical connection device of claim 1, wherein the rod has a chamfer at an edge of the rod that is oriented in the insertion direction.
4. The electrical connection device of claim 1, further comprising a coupling device compressing a flat, flexible, electrically conductive element between the first jaw and the second jaw.
5. The electrical connection device of claim 4, wherein the flat, flexible, electrically conductive element is an electrically conductive textile.
6. The electrical connection device of claim 4, wherein the coupling device has a snap-fitting device between the first jaw and the second jaw.
7. The electrical connection device of claim 6, wherein the snap-fitting device has a projection on a side surface of the first jaw or the second jaw and a depression complementary to the projection on a side edge of the other of the first jaw or the second jaw.
8. The electrical connection device of claim 1, wherein the first jaw or the second jaw has a protrusion on the first surface facing the second jaw or the second surface facing the first jaw and the other of the first jaw or the second jaw has a depression complementary to the protrusion on the first surface or the second surface.
9. An electrical connection system, comprising: a connection casing having an opening; and a device including: a first jaw having a first insertion surface introduced into the connection casing, the first insertion surface is substantially perpendicular to an insertion direction in which the electrical connection device is inserted into the connection casing; and a second jaw facing the first jaw in a closed state, the first jaw has a first surface facing the second jaw that is substantially parallel to the insertion direction and an opposite first surface opposite the first insertion surface, the first jaw has a first recess extending from a first edge formed by a junction between the first surface facing the second jaw and the first insertion surface at least partially toward the opposite first surface, the second jaw has a second surface facing the first jaw and extending substantially parallel to the insertion direction, a second insertion surface introduced over the connection casing and perpendicular to the insertion direction, and an opposite second surface opposite to the second insertion surface, the second jaw has a second recess extending from a second edge formed by a junction between the second surface facing the first jaw and the second insertion surface at least partially toward the opposite second surface, the first recess faces the second recess in the closed state, the first recess and/or the second recess has a rod at the first edge and/or the second edge.
10. The electrical connection system of claim 9, wherein the connection casing has an electrical contact arranged in the opening, the electrical contact having a pair of branches forming a pincer.
11. The electrical connection system of claim 10, wherein the branches are inserted on either side of the rod in the first recess and the second recess during insertion of the device in the casing in the insertion direction through the opening.
12. The electrical connection system of claim 11, wherein each of the branches has an end opposite the insertion direction with a substantially rounded extended rim.
13. The electrical connection system of claim 10, wherein the electrical contact has a spring closing the branches of the contact at rest.
14. The electrical connection system of claim 9, further comprising a coupling device coupling the connection casing with the device, the coupling device has a snap-fitting device between the device and the connection casing.
15. The electrical connection system of claim 14, wherein the snap-fitting device has a projection and a hole complementary to the projection.
16. The electrical connection system of claim 10, further comprising a flat, flexible, electrically conductive element compressed between the first jaw and the second jaw.
17. The electrical connection system of claim 16, wherein the device is introduced into the connection casing such that the branches press on either side of the flat, flexible, electrically conductive element.
18. The electrical connection system of claim 17, wherein a pair of ends of the branches are arranged behind the rod in the insertion direction.
19. A method for assembling an electrical connection system, comprising: providing a connection casing having an opening and a device, the device including: a first jaw having a first insertion surface substantially perpendicular to an insertion direction in which the electrical connection device is inserted into the connection casing; and a second jaw facing the first jaw in a closed state, the first jaw has a first surface facing the second jaw that is substantially parallel to the insertion direction and an opposite first surface opposite the first insertion surface, the first jaw has a first recess extending from a first edge formed by a junction between the first surface facing the second jaw and the first insertion surface at least partially toward the opposite first surface, the second jaw has a second surface facing the first jaw and extending substantially parallel to the insertion direction, a second insertion surface introduced over the connection casing and perpendicular to the insertion direction, and an opposite second surface opposite to the second insertion surface, the second jaw has a second recess extending from a second edge formed by a junction between the second surface facing the first jaw and the second insertion surface at least partially toward the opposite second surface, the first recess faces the second recess in the closed state, the first recess and/or the second recess has a rod at the first edge and/or the second edge; and compressing a flat, flexible element between the first jaw and the second jaw, an edge of the flat, flexible element is in contact with the rod.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising inserting the device in the connection casing, the connection casing has an electrical contact with a pair of branches, the branches are inserted in the first recess and the second recess and press on either side of the flat, flexible element.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which:
[0009]
[0010]
[0011]
[0012]
[0013]
[0014]
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)
[0016] Below, the same references in the figures are used to identify elements of the same nature. The figures are schematic representations with the aim to be legible, which can be not to scale. In particular, the dimensions of the elements represented in a Cartesian direction can be not to scale, neither relatively to one another, nor relatively to the dimensions of said elements in another Cartesian direction.
[0017] A perspective observation view of an assembly 1 of an electrical connection system 3 is represented in
[0018] The assembly 1 represented is in a final electrical connection state in
[0019]
[0020] The assembly 1 moreover has a wired connection of four electrical conductors 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d connected to the casing 7 through openings in the surface 27 opposite to the opening 23 of the casing 7. The electrical conductors 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d are conventional cables, for example, insulated copper or aluminum wires.
[0021] The flat, flexible, electrically conductive element 9 has a thickness d along the normal direction z perpendicular to the insertion direction x which is very thin, for example less than 1%, relative to all the other dimensions in the x-y plane of the flat, flexible element. The flat, flexible element 9 can, for example, be constituted of an organic or synthetic textile, or of a flexible plastic.
[0022] The flat, flexible element 9, as shown in
[0023] The positioning of the device 5 in the casing 7 is ensured by a snap-fitting device 29 achieved by a projection 31 at the device 5 which enters into a through hole 33 in the casing 7 to thus achieve a connection by form-fitting, as shown in
[0024] This embodiment of an assembly 1 according to the invention establishes an electrical connection between the conductive paths 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d of the flat, flexible element 9, for example an electrically conductive textile, and electrical conductors 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, for example, wires. The implementation of this assembly 1 leads to an electrical connection solution for a flat, flexible, electrically conductive element 9, in particular an electrically conductive textile, more stable and less expensive than known in the art as explained in more detail below.
[0025] The electrical connection device 5 illustrated in
[0026] The first jaw 15 comprises a surface 35, which in the closed state of the jaws 15 and 17 illustrated in
[0027] The first jaw 15 comprises four rectangular recesses 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d which extend from said edge 43 partially to the opposite surface 39, and partially along the insertion surface 37. The recesses 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, in an embodiment, have a depth x1 of 1 to 2 cm, a height z1 of 2 to 4 mm and a width y1 of 0.5 cm to 2 cm.
[0028] The first jaw 15 further comprises several, here six, protrusions 85 on the surface 35 facing the second jaw 17. In this embodiment, the protrusions 85 are arranged on the surface 35 three-by-three, on the one hand between the recesses 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, and on the other hand towards the center of the surface 35. Other arrangement with more or less protrusions 85 are possible. The first jaw 15 comprises, in addition, projections 77, over each side surface 79a, 79b, here two.
[0029]
[0030] The second jaw 17 comprises four rectangular recesses 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d, shown in
[0031] In the closed state of the device 5, the recesses 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d are arranged facing the recesses 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d of the first jaw 15 such as illustrated in
[0032] The second jaw 17 comprises depressions 87, here for example six, on the surface 45 facing the first jaw 15. The depressions 87 are, for example, arranged on the surface 45 three-by-three, on the one hand between the recesses 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d, and on the other hand in the center of the surface 45, such that their positions are complementary to the protrusions 85 of the first jaw 15, in particular in the closed state of the device 5. The depressions 87 are moreover wider in the x-y plane that the protrusions 85. This is shown in
[0033] The second jaw 17 has, on each side edge 83a, 83b, depressions 81, here two, each depression 81 forming a passage hole in the side edge 83a, 83b. The depressions 81 are arranged on the side edges 83a, 83b, so as to be complementary to the projections 77 of the first jaw 15. Thus, the projections 77 and the depressions 81 together form a snap-fitting device 75 between the first 15 and the second 17 jaw to ensure in a form-fitting way, the relative positioning of the two jaws 15 and 17 in the closed state, such as illustrated in
[0034] The projection 31, illustrated in
[0035] In this embodiment of the device 5 and according to the invention, the recesses 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d of the second jaw 17 comprise at their edge 53, formed by junction of the surface 45 facing the first jaw 15 in the x-y plane and of the insertion surface 47 in the y-z plane, a rod 55, as shown in
[0036] The cross-section of the rod 55 has a substantially rectangular shape and two chamfers 57, arranged on the edge 59 of the rod 55 oriented in the insertion direction x, such as illustrated in
[0037] In other variants of the device 5 of the invention, the number and the shape of the recesses 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d of the jaws 15, 17 can vary. Thus, other embodiments can have a greater or reduced number of recesses, which are, for example, hemispherical or rounded, rather than rectangular. The relative dimensions of the recesses can themselves also vary according to other embodiments of the device of the invention.
[0038] In other embodiments of the device of the invention, the rod 55 can be comprised by a recess 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d of the first jaw 15 at the edge 43, rather than by a recess 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d of the second jaw 17. It can thus, for example, extend along the edge 43 on the first jaw 15. As an alternative, it can also be comprised in a recess 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d such as described in reference to
[0039] The described device 5 performs a connector module function for a flat, flexible, electrically conductive element 9 configured to be inserted in a connection casing 7 for the establishment of a sustainable electrical connection. Thus, the device 5 has the function of fixing the flat, flexible element 9 in place between two jaws 15, 17 in view of said insertion. The quality of the fixing of the element 9 in the device 5 is directly related to the general strength of the electrical connection established following insertion in a connection casing 7.
[0040] This device 5 is a particularly stable connector module, in particular in the comparison with the state of the art, by virtue of the distribution of compression forces on either side of said element 9 and the advantageously increased compression surfaces. The increase of the compression surfaces enables to distribute the compression forces advantageously, and therefore to reduce the punctual forces. The device 5, in addition, does not require the folding of the flat, flexible, electrically conductive element 9 around a body such as previously known. This enables an immediate saving in material costs for the implementation of the device 5. The quantity of flat, flexible element material necessary for a connection can be decreased. Thus, further, the costs induced by the acquisition of conductive materials such as graphite can be reduced.
[0041] In the device 5 arranged such as described, thanks to the recesses 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d which face one another in the closed state, the flat, flexible element compressed between the jaws 15, 17 is doubly exposed inside each pair of recesses. This makes a double electrical contact possible on either side of the flat, flexible element 9 as described below. The rod 55, comprised in a recess 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d and arranged along an edge 43, 53, has a hardness greater than that of the flat, flexible element 9. It thus protects said element 9 during its insertion in the insertion direction x in the opening 23 of the casing 7. In particular, it protects the flat, flexible element 9 of a wrinkling or curving following an impact.
[0042] The snap-fitting device 75 comprising the projections 77 and the depressions 81 establishes a connection by mechanical form-fitting in the closed state of the device 5. Thus, a flat, flexible, electrically conductive element 9, such as an electrically conductive textile, can be immobilized stably and sustainably between the two jaws 15, 17 of the device. The complementary protrusions 85 and depressions 87 on the inner surfaces 35, 45 of the jaws 15, 17 establish pressure points on the flat, flexible element 9, which are added to the base compression of the jaws 15, 17 once the projections 77 are housed in the depressions 81. These pressure points temporarily increase the friction forces and prevent the flat, flexible element 9 compressed between the two jaws 15, 17 from being moved. The protrusions 85 and depressions 87 may be placed in the proximity of the recesses 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d and 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d, as it is at these recesses that the electrical connection of the flat, flexible element 9 is implemented.
[0043]
[0044] Below, an embodiment of an assembly method according to the invention is described, in reference to
[0045] The casing 7 has inside it, an electrical contact 61 comprising two branches 63, 65 forming a pincer 67, such as a timer-type electrical contact, for example a TYCO Junior Power Timer (JPT). The electrical contact 61 is connected to an electrical conductor 25 inserted through the face 27 opposite to the opening 23 of the casing 7, such as illustrated in
[0046] The electrical contact 61 is, on each branch 63, 65, equipped with a leaf spring 69a and 69b. Each leaf spring 69a and 69b has an end 74a, 74b bearing against an inner edge 70a and 70b of the casing 7. Thus, a force can be exerted at the other end 72a, 72b of the springs 69a and 69b, at the pincer location 67 where the branches 63 or 65 pince together. Thus, by having two springs 69 opposite one another on the branches 63, 65, two forces F1 and F2 can be exerted at the pincer 67 in the opposite direction. Thus, the two branches 63, 65 press in the direction opposite one another, bestowing a pincer position 67 closed at rest, to the electrical contact 61.
[0047] After having, in a first step resulting in the illustration in
[0048] The extended and rounded edges of the ends 71, 73 enable a sliding in the direction z substantially normal to the insertion direction x of the edges of the ends 71, 73 on the rod 55. The chamfers 57 arranged on the rod 55 are used to reduce the sliding friction and therefore amplify the opening effect of the branches during the insertion of the device 5 in the casing 7. The chamfered rod 55 can dampen a mechanical impact on the rod 55 during the insertion of the device in the connection casing along the insertion direction x.
[0049] Once the branches 63 and 65 are sufficiently spaced apart, the rod 55 can pass behind the pincer 67 and enter further into the casing 7. This is illustrated in
[0050] Thus, in the inserted state of the assembly 1, the branches 63, 65 of the electrical contact 61 of the casing 7 bear on either side of the flat, flexible element 9 compressed in the device 5 to achieve a double electrical contact by the pincer 67.
[0051] The snap-fitting device 29 illustrated in
[0052] Such as illustrated in
[0053] By virtue of the double contact 69, the adherence of the electrical contact is greater by the doubling of the pressure points, and the electrical conductivity is improved by the doubling of electrical conduction surface. In particular, two points of double contact of opposite polarity can be established in two different places of a conductive path, thus obtaining the subsequent closing of an electrical circuit. This can enable the powering of the different conductive paths by one single device. This can also allow the distribution of the intensity of the current supplied to several locations of a flat, flexible electrically conductive element 9, thus increasing the total transmissible power in accordance with the thermal resistance at each location.
[0054] In addition, each of the branches 63, 65 of the pincer-forming electrical contact 61 being metal, the bearing force of the metal double contact is more homogenous and more precise than would be possible, for example, such as known in the state of the art. The solutions of the state of the art have a unilateral bearing force of a metal contact between a bearing surface, in particular made of plastic. Plastics can be deformable materials, or have non-homogeneities flatness, and therefore have non-homogenous supports for electrical contacts which degrade the quality of the contact. Moreover, the two branches 63, 65 of the electrical contact 61 have a degree of flexibility in the direction normal z to the insertion direction x. This enables to adapt the connection system 3 to different thicknesses d of the flat, flexible element 9, without exchanging or modifying components.
[0055] The method described enables to obtain a connection system assembly 1 which represents an electrical connection solution of a flat, flexible element which is more stable and less expensive than the known solutions of the prior art. In particular, this solution saves the necessary quantity of flexible element, such as the electrically conductive textile. This solution moreover reduces the frictions created on the flexible element during a connection insertion. The solution also improves the unilateral metal contact against a bearing surface by implementing a metal double contact on either side of the flexible element.