FR3101202A1 - electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical connector (100) for connecting at least one electrical wire with a cylindrical terminal (1), the electrical connector (100) comprising: - a housing (10) intended to receive the terminal (1) along an axis main (z), - at least one terminal (20) having a connection end (26) intended to connect the electric wire, and a deformable loop (25) arranged in the housing (10) in a plane (x, y) normal to the main axis (z) and of which a curved segment (23) is intended to surround the terminal (1), - a locking system (30) comprising a connecting axis (31), carried by the housing (1) ) and movable in rotation relative to the latter, and a push element integral with the connecting pin (31); the locking system (30) being configured so that, in a locked state of the connector (100), the push element bears on the deformable loop (25), causing the curved segment (23) to be clamped around the terminal (1). Figure to be published with the abstract: F igure 1a

Description

electrical connector

The present invention relates to the field of electrical connectors. The invention relates in particular to a grounding connector for a motor vehicle.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the automotive field or other fields requiring an electrical power supply, electrical connectors are conventionally used. In particular, they make it possible to connect electric wires to a terminal.

There are many solutions in the state of the art for making this connection. The document EP2830161 proposes in particular a connector allowing a quick, simple and reliable connection between a wire and a coupling terminal. This electrical connector comprises a housing body to receive the terminal and a blocking latch to cooperate with a recess of the terminal, in a locking position.

Other state-of-the-art electrical connectors include spring or deformable means aimed at making the electrical connection more reliable, without having to resort to screwed systems. For example, the document EP969558 proposes an open ring intended to surround the coupling terminal of a battery, and a cam and lever system integral with the free ends of the ring, which allows the tightening of the ring on the terminal, thereby securing the electrical connection.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes an alternative solution to those of the state of the art. The invention proposes in particular an electrical connector allowing a reliable, fast and simple connection of implementation, between a terminal and one or more wires.

The present invention is particularly suitable for grounding connections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an electrical connector for connecting at least one electrical wire with a cylindrical terminal, the electrical connector comprising:
- a box intended to accommodate the terminal along a main axis,
- at least one lug having a connection end intended to connect the electric wire, and a deformable loop arranged in the box according to a plane normal to the main axis and of which a curved segment is intended to surround the terminal,
- A locking system comprising a connecting pin, carried by the housing and rotatable relative to the latter, and a pusher element integral with the connecting pin; the locking system being configured so that, in a locked state of the connector, the pusher element bears against the deformable loop, causing the curved segment to be tightened around the terminal.

According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the invention, taken alone or in any technically feasible combination:

• the deformable loop comprises a first branch, secured to the connection end, the curved segment secured to the first branch and a second branch secured to the curved segment, the pusher element resting on the second branch to cause the segment to be tightened curved around the terminal, when the connector is in its locked state;
• the deformable loop comprises a connecting branch, a first end of which is integral with the second branch and a second end of which passes through an opening provided in the first branch;
• the second end is provided with a hook to keep the deformable loop closed, in a rest position, in particular when the connector is in an unlocked state;
• the connection branch has a portion capable of sliding in the opening of the first branch, to allow deformation of the deformable mouth when the pusher element is resting on the second branch in a locked state of the electrical connector;
• the electrical connector includes two, three or four lugs;
• the connecting pin and the pusher element are formed by a single piece;
• the housing includes a rib to guide the insertion of the deformable loop of each terminal into the housing, when the electrical connector is in an unlocked state;
• the locking system comprises a flap of generally parallelepipedal shape having a first side secured to the connecting axis and a second side parallel to the first side and provided with a closure clip, the closure clip being configured to lock onto a edge of the case so as to hold the electrical connector in its locked state;
• the edge of the box on which the closing clip is blocked when the connector is in its locked state, is arranged on a side of the box adjacent to that substantially parallel to the flap;
• the flap comprises a third side perpendicular to the other two, carrying a lock, the lock being configured to fit into a recess located in an end part of the terminal, when the connector is in its locked state;
• the lock comprises a plate integral with the third side of the flap and extending in a plane normal to the main axis, said plate having a notch, designed to cooperate with the recess.

The invention further relates to the use of an electrical connector as above, to connect at least one electrical wire to a ground terminal, in particular in the automotive field.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of the invention which will follow with reference to the appended figures in which:

Figures 1a, 1b and 1c show perspective views of an electrical connector according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows an electrical connector according to the invention, connected in a locked state on a terminal;

Figures 3a, 3b and 3c show three positions of the locking system, in rotation on the connecting axis, between an unlocked state (Figure 3a) and a locked state (Figure 3c), of an electrical connector in accordance with invention;

Figure 4a shows a lock of an electrical connector according to the invention, cooperating with a recess of a terminal;

Figure 4b shows a closing clip of an electrical connector according to the invention.

In the descriptive part, the same references in the figures may be used for elements of the same type. The figures are schematic representations which, for the purpose of readability, are not necessarily to scale.

The present invention relates to an electrical connector 100 for connecting at least one electrical wire (not shown) with a cylindrical terminal 1. Terminal 1, metallic, is usually attached to a base 1a or an electrically conductive part.

The electrical connector 100 according to the invention particularly finds a use for connecting one or more electrical wires to a grounding terminal 1, in particular in the automotive field. This use should of course not be considered as limiting, the electrical connector 100 being capable of being used to electrically connect any wired element to any preferably cylindrical terminal.

As illustrated in Figures 1a and 1b, the electrical connector 100 comprises a box 10, intended to accommodate the terminal 1 along a main axis z. The box 10 typically has the general shape of a hexahedron, for example cubic or parallelepipedic. It has four lateral faces 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d which can be solid or totally or partially perforated, in particular to allow the assembly of the other elements of the electrical connector 100. The perforation of certain faces of the box 10 can also be favorable for limiting weight and material costs. The box 10 could for example be formed from one or more materials chosen from thermoplastic polymers and thermosetting polymers.

The electrical connector 100 also comprises at least one terminal 20 having a connection end 26 and a deformable loop 25. The connection end 26 is intended to connect and hold the electric wire to be connected to the terminal 1. The deformable loop 25, arranged in the box 10 along a plane (x,y) normal to the main axis z, comprises a curved segment 23 intended to surround the terminal 1.

The (at least one) lug 20 may be formed in a metallic material chosen from among steel, bronze, copper, aluminum, etc.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the deformable loop 25 comprises a first branch 21, secured to the connection end 26, a curved segment 23 secured to the first branch 21 and a second branch 22 secured to the curved segment 23. The first 21 and second 22 branches are substantially parallel and facing each other, in a rest position of the deformable loop 25. By rest position is meant a position where the deformable loop 25 does not undergo deformation by another element, in particular by another element of the electrical connector 100. The deformable loop 25 is for example in a rest position in FIG. 1a, when it is outside the box 10, before its assembly in the latter ; it is also in a rest position in FIG. 3a, when it is placed in the box 10, in an unlocked state of the electrical connector 100. We will come back later to the definition of the unlocked state and the locked state of the electrical connector 100.

Still according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the deformable loop 25 comprises a connecting branch 24, a first end of which is integral with the second branch 22 and a second end of which passes through an opening provided in the first branch 21. This connecting branch 24 enables a deformable closed loop to be obtained. Note that in the absence of the connecting branch 24, the deformable loop 25 would form an open loop.

Preferably, when the connecting branch 24 is present, its second end is provided with a hook to hold the deformable loop 25 closed, in its rest position; this in particular avoids the entanglement of the branches, for example during the storage of the terminals 20, before their assembly in the box 10. The connection branch 24 also has a portion able to slide in the opening of the first branch 21, to allow the deformation of the deformable loop 25, which will occur when the electrical connector 100 is in its locked state.

The electrical connector 100 according to the invention may comprise one or more terminals 20, for example two, three or four terminals 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b, or even more. This characteristic is advantageous in that several electrical wires can easily be connected to the same terminal 1, without greatly increasing the size of the electrical connector 100. In practice, the deformable loops 25 of the terminals 20 are arranged one above the other. , in planes parallel to the plane (x,y) and perpendicular to the main axis z, which optimizes the size of the electrical connector 100.

Preferably, as shown in Figure 1c, the box 10 includes a rib 11 to guide the insertion of the deformable loop 25 of each terminal 20 in the box 10, at its face 10b. As clearly seen in Figures 1a, 1b and 1c, the electrical connector assembly 100 is operated in an unlocked state.

Returning to the general description of the electrical connector 100, it further comprises a locking system 30 whose role is to place and maintain the connector 100 in its locked state. By locked state of the electrical connector 100, is meant a state in which the connector 100 is kept locked on terminal 1 (FIG. 2), it therefore cannot be removed from terminal 1 by the application of a force of extraction along the main axis z. Advantageously, it is also locked in rotation around the main axis z. The locked state is required to establish a reliable electrical connection between the electrical wire(s) and terminal 1. In its unlocked state, the electrical connector 100 can be removed from terminal 1 by translation in one direction. extraction along the main axis z; it is also capable of rotating on itself, along the main axis z, when terminal 1 is placed in box 10 and surrounded by curved segment 23 of deformable loop 25 of each terminal 20.

The locking system 30 comprises a connecting pin 31, carried by the housing 10 and rotatable relative to the latter, and a pusher element 32 secured to the connecting pin 31 (Figures 3a, 3b, 3c). The locking system 30 is configured so that, in a locked state of the connector 100, illustrated in FIG. 3c, the pusher element 32 bears against the deformable loop 25, causing the curved segment 23 to tighten around the terminal. 1. The tight contact of the curved segment 23 against the terminal 1 makes it possible to block the connector 100 in a locked state.

In the locking system 30 of the electrical connector 100 according to the present invention, the deformation of the deformable loop 25 by the pusher element 32 is such that it tightens the curved segment 23 of said loop 25 around the terminal 1, thus ensuring a locked state of the connector 100.

According to the advantageous embodiment described previously, in which the deformable loop 25 comprises two branches 21,22 extending on either side of the curved segment 23, the pusher element 32 bears against the second branch 22, to deform the deformable loop 25 and cause the tightening of the curved segment 23 around the terminal 1, in the locked state of the connector 100 (FIGS. 3b and 3c).

The connecting pin 31 and the pusher element 32 may for example be formed from at least one material chosen from thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers, and metals. To simplify their manufacture, the connecting pin 31 and the pusher element 32 may be formed by a single piece.

The rotation on itself of the connecting pin 31 of the locking system 30 will thus make it possible to pass the connector 100 from an unlocked state to a locked state, and vice versa (FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c). Maintaining the connecting pin 31 in an angular position allowing the pusher element 32 to deform the deformable loop 25 to ensure tight contact of the curved segment 23 against the terminal 1 can be done by any known means. Mention may be made, for example, of a notching system making it possible to maintain the aforementioned angular position.

According to a particular embodiment, the locking system comprises a flap 33 of generally polygonal and in particular rectangular shape. The flap 33 has a first side secured to the connecting pin 31 and a second side parallel to the first side and provided with a closing clip 34.

The closure clip 34 is configured to lock onto a rim 12 of the case 10 so as to hold the connecting pin 31 in an angular position allowing the pusher element 32 to deform the deformable loop 25, placing the electrical connector 100 in its locked state.

Advantageously, the rim 12 of the box 10, on which the closure clip 34 is blocked, is arranged on one side (face 10d) of the box 10 adjacent to that (face 10a) substantially parallel to the flap 33. As can be seen in FIGS. 3a and 4b, the closure clip 34 has an S-shape in the plane (x,y) normal to the main axis z, and is capable of deforming elastically to pass over the rim and then get stuck against a blank of said rim and against face 10d of case 10, thus maintaining the locked state of electrical connector 100.

The closure clip 34 may include a grip tab forming an angle of between 30° and 60° with the third side of the flap, and extending towards the outside of the case 10 when the electrical connector 100 is in its locked state. Such a tongue facilitates the opening and closing of the clip 34 by the operator.

Still according to the particular embodiment, the flap 33 may comprise a third side perpendicular to the other two, carrying a lock 35, the lock 35 being configured to fit into a recess 2, generally circular, located in an end part of the terminal 1, when the connector 100 is in its locked state. The lock 35 makes it possible to reinforce the resistance to tearing of the electrical connector 100, along the main axis z, in an extraction direction.

Preferably, the lock 35 comprises a plate integral with the third side of the shutter 33 and extending in a plane (x,y) normal to the main axis z. The plate has an indentation whose shape is designed to cooperate with recess 2 of terminal 1 (Figures 3c, 4a). This configuration is simple to implement, the lock 34 being able to be manufactured in one piece with the flap 33, for example by cutting and bending or by injection of thermoplastic or thermosetting materials.

The flap 33 is advantageously formed from at least one material chosen from thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers, and metals.

Note that the locking system 30 comprising the connecting pin 31, the pusher element 32, the flap 33, the closing clip 34 and the lock 35 can advantageously be manufactured in one piece.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments and examples described, and variant embodiments can be added thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (13)

Electrical connector (100) for connecting at least one electrical wire with a cylindrical terminal (1), the electrical connector (100) comprising:
- a box (10) intended to accommodate the terminal (1) along a main axis (z),
- at least one terminal (20) having a connection end (26) intended to connect the electric wire, and a deformable loop (25) arranged in the case (10) along a plane (x,y) normal to the axis main (z) and of which a curved segment (23) is intended to surround the terminal (1),
- a locking system (30) comprising a connecting pin (31), carried by the casing (1) and rotatable relative to the latter, and a pusher element (32) integral with the connecting pin (31 ); the locking system (30) being configured so that, in a locked state of the connector (100), the pusher element (32) bears against the deformable loop (25), causing the curved segment (23) to tighten around terminal (1). Electrical connector (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the deformable loop (25) comprises a first branch (21), secured to the connection end (26), the curved segment (23) secured to the first branch (21 ) and a second branch (22) secured to the curved segment (23), the pusher element (32) resting on the second branch (22) to cause the curved segment (23) to tighten around the terminal (1) , when the connector (100) is in its locked state. Electrical connector (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the deformable loop (25) comprises a connecting branch (24), a first end of which is integral with the second branch (22) and a second end of which passes through an opening provided in the first branch (21). Electrical connector (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the second end is provided with a hook to hold the deformable loop (25) closed, in a rest position, in particular when the connector (100) is in an unlocked state. Electrical connector (100) according to one of the two preceding claims, in which the connecting branch (24) has a portion able to slide in the opening of the first branch (21), to allow deformation of the deformable mouth ( 25) when the pusher element (32) bears against the second branch (22) in a locked state of the electrical connector (100). Electrical connector (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising two, three or four terminals (20). Electrical connector (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the connecting pin (31) and the pusher element (32) are formed by a single piece. Electrical connector (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the casing (10) comprises a rib (11) to guide the insertion of the deformable loop (25) of each terminal (20) into the casing (10) , when the electrical connector (100) is in an unlocked state. Electrical connector (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the locking system (30) comprises a flap (33) of generally parallelepipedal shape having a first side secured to the connecting axis (31) and a second side parallel to the first side and provided with a closure clip (34), the closure clip (34) being configured to lock onto a rim (12) of the case (10) so as to hold the electrical connector (100) in its locked state. Electrical connector (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the flange (12) of the housing (10) on which the closing clip (34) is blocked when the connector (100) is in its locked state, is arranged on one side (10d) of the box (10) adjacent to that (10a) substantially parallel to the flap (33). Electrical connector (100) according to one of the two preceding claims, in which the flap (33) comprises a third side perpendicular to the other two, carrying a lock (35), the lock (35) being configured to be inserted into a obviously (2) located in an extreme part of the terminal (1), when the connector (100) is in its locked state. Electrical connector (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the lock (35) comprises a plate integral with the third side of the shutter (33) and extending in a plane (x,y) normal to the main axis (z) , said plate having an indentation, designed to cooperate with the recess (2). Use of an electrical connector (100) according to one of the preceding claims, for connecting at least one electrical wire to a ground terminal (1).