Clamp electrical contact

Abstract

An electrical connector comprising:-a female contact (10) having a central element (12) with an inner axial housing (121) and a ring (14) arranged around said central element (12), the ring (14) being mounted so as to be movable relative to the central element (12), an inner wall (143) of the ring (14) delimits an opening of a constricted shape complementary to the contour of an outer region (125) of the central element over which the inner wall of the ring can slide, the constricted shape being generally conical, said ring (14) being connected to the central element (12) by an elastic element (25) arranged between the ring (14) and the central element (12), and the elastic element tends to push the central element of the ring.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electrical connectors provided with a male contact portion designed to engage with a female contact portion. The present invention relates to an improved connector and is particularly suitable for connectors arranged to withstand high currents. Background Art

[0002] When connectors are designed to carry high currents, it is even more critical to maintain the quality of the electrical contact between the male and female portions of the connector due to losses and overheating.

[0003] Documents US10312612B2 and CN204668541A1 disclose different electrical connector structures.

[0004] In order to improve the electrical contact, it is known to provide a resilient structure in the inner receiving portion for receiving the female contact, and the resilient structure deforms when the male contact is inserted. Such a structure ensures an improved contact pressure on the male contact.

[0005] In this case, the elastic structure is an electrically conductive material with a given stiffness. Such an elastic structure is sensitive to high temperatures and has limited properties, so that a balance must be achieved between the electrical properties of the elastic structure on the one hand and the mechanical properties of the elastic structure on the other hand.

[0006] Another type of connector is also conceivable in which an external spring structure is arranged around the female contact.

[0007] Therefore, the concave part around the male part is made slightly deformable, and the outer spring structure ensures that the concave part is clamped onto the male part of the electrical connector.Since the spring does not have a conductive function here, the spring can be optimized in terms of mechanical properties.

[0008] However, clamping tends to create friction between the contact surfaces during insertion, thus damaging the contact surfaces if the clamping is too tight.

[0009] Usually, a compromise is sought between a contact pressure that is high enough to achieve good electrical conduction between the contacts and low enough that the contact surface is not too damaged when the male contact is inserted to establish a connection or when it is removed during disconnection.

[0010] The object is to find a new and improved electrical connector structure with respect to the above-mentioned disadvantages. Summary of the invention

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an electrical connector, comprising:

[0012] - a concave contact portion, the concave contact portion being provided with:

[0013] - a central element defining on the inside an inner axial housing for receiving the male contact portion,

[0014] The inner axial housing extends along the longitudinal axis and has a so-called open area and a so-called bottom area, the male contact portion is designed to pass through the open area, the male contact portion is designed to be located in a first position of the connector opposite to the bottom area, the first position is called the clamping position,

[0015] a ring arranged around the central element and separate therefrom, the ring being mounted so as to be movable relative to the central element and being arranged so that its inner wall can slide against an outer zone of the central element, said inner wall of the ring delimiting an opening of a constricted shape complementary to the contour of said outer zone of the central element, the constricted shape being in particular a frustoconical or conical shape, said constricted shape having a cross section that decreases moving parallel to the longitudinal axis from the open zone towards the bottom zone,

[0016] Such complementary shapes prevent friction at the male / female electrical contact surfaces during connection when the male contact is inserted and during disconnection when the male contact is removed.

[0017] To facilitate the insertion and removal of the male contact portion, an elastic element is arranged between the ring and the outer region of the central element. The elastic element is usually in the form of at least one spring tending to push the central element.

[0018] The elastic element is typically connected to the outer region of the ring.

[0019] The male contact portion is received in the inner axial receiving portion and passes through the open area before reaching the bottom area.

[0020] When the male contact portion is pushed towards the bottom area of ​​the inner axial housing of the female contact portion, the elastic element tends to push the central element of the ring.

[0021] Advantageously, the central element of the recessed contact portion may be provided with a plurality of fingers defining at least a portion of the inner axial housing portion at an open area of ​​the inner axial housing portion, each finger having a free end and another end opposite to the end and attached to the seat portion, the free end of each finger being separated from the corresponding free ends of the other fingers.

[0022] This makes it possible to improve the radial flexibility of the central element of the female contact portion.

[0023] According to a possible embodiment, the outer area of ​​the central element has a protrusion at the upper end of the central element, said elastic element being arranged between said protrusion and the upper edge of the ring. Such an arrangement takes up very little space.

[0024] According to a possible embodiment of the connector, the connector may be provided with a convex contact portion having:

[0025] - a conductive base, the upper edge of the central element of the female contact being intended to be arranged opposite to the conductive base,

[0026] - A conducting rod designed to pass through the inner axial housing, the conducting rod having a shape complementary to that of the inner axial housing, in particular the shape of a cylinder of revolution.

[0027] The electrical connector may also generally include a housing for receiving the contact portion. The housing may be provided with a component having an internal space, the internal space being provided with a first volume and a second volume, the male contact portion being designed to be inserted into the first volume, and the female contact portion being designed to be accommodated in the second volume.

[0028] The cross-section of the second volume is typically smaller than the cross-section of the first volume.

[0029] Advantageously, the ring is movable relative to the part of the housing and is attached to the part by a second elastic element, in particular in the form of at least one further spring. Such a second elastic element can be arranged to compensate for play and expansion while maintaining pressure on the ring.

[0030] Advantageously, the second elastic element is attached to a second end region of the ring opposite to the end region, and wherein the second volume of the component of the housing is arranged between the first volume and a third volume, the third volume being narrower than the second volume, the housing having a stop region around a boundary region between the second volume and the third volume, the stop region being arranged at the narrowing portion, the second elastic element being attached to the stop region.

[0031] According to a possible embodiment of the housing, said component of the housing has an internal thread in the first inner volume for receiving an external thread arranged transversely on the male contact portion.

[0032] Alternatively, the male contact portion is located in the component of the housing provided with the protruding region having an internal thread, and the female contact portion is located in another component of the housing having an external thread.

[0033] The base of the male contact may be surrounded by an enclosure of insulating material, and the enclosure has an external thread to enable the male contact to be screwed into the component of the housing.

[0034] The central element of the female contact may be mounted so as to be movable in said part of said housing.

[0035] According to a possible embodiment of the electrical connector, in the clamped position of the electrical connector the upper end of the central element of the female contact is located in the second volume and in the released position the upper end of the central element of the female contact extends into the first volume. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The invention will be better understood by reading the description of exemplary embodiments given for illustrative purposes only and which are in no way limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0037] Figure 1A and Figure 1B An exemplary connector implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and shown in a so-called first "clamped" position.

[0038] Figure 2A and Figure 2B The connector is shown in a so-called second "release" position.

[0039] Figure 3 An exemplary embodiment of a housing for receiving a female contact of a connector is shown.

[0040] Figure 4 An exemplary embodiment of a female contact of a connector is shown.

[0041] Furthermore, in the following description, terms that depend on the orientation of structures (eg, "lateral," "longitudinal," "transverse," etc.) are applied assuming that the structures are oriented as shown in the figures.

[0042] Identical, similar or equivalent components of different figures have the same reference numerals to make it easier to move from one figure to another. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Figure 1A to Figure 1B (longitudinal section view and cross-sectional view, respectively) show an exemplary electrical connector implemented according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is in a so-called first "clamping" position, in which electrical contact (especially optimal electrical contact) is ensured.

[0044] The connector may be intended for use in a voltage range that is particularly high relative to the conventional voltages 28 VDC and 115 VAC commonly used in aerospace: 500 V and higher.

[0045] The connector may in particular be used within a DC voltage range (eg between 400 VDC and 2000 VDC) and at high currents (in particular greater than 50 A, for example between 80 A and 1000 A).

[0046] The connector is provided with a rectangular male contact portion 30, which is generally provided with a conductive rod 33, which may be in the shape of a rotating cylinder. The conductive rod 33 has a smooth coating and is made of a metallic conductive material (eg, silver-plated copper).

[0047] To ensure electrical contact, the conductive rod 33 is inserted into the concave contact portion 10 ( Figure 4 The axial housing 121 extends along the longitudinal axis A'A (an axis extending parallel to the x-axis of the orthogonal coordinate system [O; x; y; z] shown in the figure). In the clamped position, the male contact part 30 is as close as possible to the female contact part 10.

[0048] In this exemplary embodiment, the conductive rod 33 of the male contact 30 extends from a base 31 which is wider than the rod 33. The lateral surface 31A of the base 31 positioned around the rod 33 is intended to be arranged opposite the upper end 122 of the central element 12 of the female contact 10 and possibly abut against or be in contact with the upper end of the central element of the female contact.

[0049] The male contact rod 33 may have a significant length L (dimension measured parallel to the x-axis of the orthogonal coordinate system [O; x; y; z]), for example comprised between 10 mm and 40 mm, in particular between 15 mm and 30 mm.

[0050] The central element 12 of the female contact 10 defines on the inside an inner axial housing 121 for receiving the male contact 30. This inner axial housing 121 has a shape complementary to that of the rod 33, preferably with a constant cross section S1 (dimension measured orthogonally to the longitudinal axis A'A and parallel to the plane [O; x; y]). Thus, the inner axial housing 121a may in particular have the shape of a cylinder of revolution. The inner wall of the central element 12 delimiting this inner axial housing 121a is provided with a coating, which is preferably smooth and made of a material that is a good electrical conductor, in particular a metallic material, such as silver-plated copper.

[0051] like Figure 4 As shown in the simplified view in Figure 4 1 ), the central element 12 of which has a so-called "open" area 121A, through which the convex contact 30 is designed to pass and to extend to a so-called "bottom" area 121B, which defines the inner receiving portion and is located opposite to the open area 121A. Figure 1A to Figure 1B In the position shown, the male contact portion 30 is inserted into the axial receiving portion 121, passing through the open area 121A before reaching the bottom area 121B.

[0052] Outside the clamped position, the connector has a gap between the male contact 30 and the inner wall of the central element 12 of the female contact 10. This gap (for example of the order of a few tenths of a millimeter) allows the two contacts 10, 30 to be assembled together while limiting friction, especially at the beginning of the assembly phase.

[0053] The central element 12 of the female contact 10 may advantageously have a cutout on a portion of the side of the central element. The cutout may be such that the portion of the central element 12 having the cutout is provided with a plurality of fingers 129. Each finger 129 is referred to as a "branch" and has a free end. The free end of each of the fingers is separated from the corresponding free ends of the other fingers 129. This arrangement gives radial flexibility to this component 12 of the female contact 10 of the connector.

[0054] The fingers 129 can each have the shape of a portion of a cylinder of revolution. The free end of the finger 129 is located at the "open" area 121A, while the other end opposite the free end is attached to a seat 128 of the central element 12, which forms a bottom area 121B of the inner axial housing.

[0055] Here, one characteristic of the female contact part 10 is in particular that it is provided with a part or element in the form of a ring 14, also called a “barrel”, separate from the central element 12, which is arranged around the central element 12 and is movable relative to the central element 12. The ring 14 can be moved in translation relative to the central element 12, in particular during the phase of inserting the male contact part 30 to reach the so-called “clamping” position or during the phase of removing the male contact part 30.

[0056] The ring 14 is provided with an inner wall 143 designed to slide against the outer zone 125 of the central element 12. This inner wall 143 of the ring 14 delimits an opening of a constricted shape complementary to the shape of the contour of the outer zone 125 of the central element 12.

[0057] The inner open portion of the ring 14 has a cross section S2 (dimension measured orthogonal to the longitudinal axis A'A and parallel to the plane [O; x; y] of the orthogonal coordinate system [O; x; y; z]) that decreases as one moves parallel to the longitudinal axis A'A from the open area 121A towards the bottom area 121B. This constricted shape is advantageously frustoconical or cone-shaped. In this case, the outer area 125 of the central element 12 is shaped like a complementary cone or frustoconical portion. This shape limits friction during the disconnection phase when the contacts are initially assembled together or when the male contact is about to leave the female contact.

[0058] When the contacts are assembled to achieve the clamped position, the ring 14 slides on the central element 12 of the female contact 10, which itself has an external shape complementary to the cone of the ring 14. Thus, the clamping force on the male contact 30 increases as the contact 12 moves in the ring 14. The angle of the cone is chosen so that an axial displacement of a few millimeters during insertion and clamping of the connector results in a large radial clamping, with a deformation of a few tenths of a millimeter to compensate for the initial clearance. The two conical surfaces in contact are preferably hard and smooth.

[0059] The ring 14 is here connected to the central element 12 via an elastic element 25, which may be in the form of at least one spring. The elastic element may in particular be arranged between the end edge 142 of the ring 14 and the outer region of the central element 12. The elastic element 25 may be a spring formed, for example, of 316 type stainless steel.

[0060] The elastic element 25 is designed to push the central element 12 of the ring 14. Therefore, when the elastic element 25 is relaxed, the tapered area of ​​the outer area 125 of the central element 12 on the outside and the tapered area of ​​the inner wall 143 of the ring 14 on the inside do not press against each other. As a result, no radial force is induced on the surface 121 of the element 12 and therefore no clamping on the part 33 of the male contact. When the element 25 is tightened, there is a progressive clamping force of the central element 12 on the male contact 30.

[0061] The elastic element 25 facilitates the release operation of the contacts, during which the male contact 30 may be removed from the female contact 10. When the contacts 10 and 30 are separated, the elastic element 25 ensures that the ring is detached from the outer area of ​​the central element by releasing the pressure on the central element even before the female contact 10 begins to slide on the male contact 30.

[0062] The elastic element 25 , which is generally in the form of a spring, has sufficient elongation to cover the travel of the ring 14 and has a sufficiently large stiffness that the ring 14 can be released from the central element 12 of the female contact 10 regardless of the previous clamping situation.

[0063] In the particular exemplary embodiment shown, the elastic element 25 is attached to a protrusion 127 arranged on the outer side wall of the central element 12, in particular at a finger 129 of the central element. The elastic element 25 can be connected to the ring 14 by means of the so-called "upper" edge 142 of the ring. Therefore, the elastic element 25 occupies a limited space.

[0064] The connector is also generally provided with at least one housing 60 for receiving the contacts. This housing 60 may be formed of two distinct and separable main parts, namely a part 40 attached to the female contact 10 and a part 50 attached to the male contact 30.

[0065] The component 40 of the housing 60 may be made, for example, at least at the inner surface, of an insulating material, for example a high-performance plastic, for example polyetheretherketone (denoted by the acronym PEEK), Plastic, or materials such as ceramic).

[0066] The male contact portion 30 is usually surrounded by a part 50 of a housing 60 which forms an insulating enclosure at least at the inner surface in the vicinity of the contact portion 30 and which is made, for example, of an insulating material, such as a high-performance plastic material, such as polyetheretherketone (denoted by the acronym PEEK), Plastic, or such as ceramic material), and the part 50 of the housing is arranged around the base 31 of the male contact part.

[0067] In this exemplary embodiment, and as Figure 3 As shown in the partial view in Figure 3 In the figure, only part 40 of the housing 60 is shown, the interior space of the housing 40 has a first volume 410, into which the enclosure of the male contact 30 is intended to be inserted. In this case, the first volume 410 of the housing 40 conforms to the shape of the assembly formed by the base 31 and the insulating enclosure 50.

[0068] In the internal space of the part 40 of the housing, a second volume 420 having a cross section S42 different from the cross section S41 of the first volume 410 (S42 and S41 are dimensions measured parallel to the plane [O; x; y] of the coordinate system [O; x; y; z] and in this case smaller than the dimensions of the first volume 410) is able to accommodate the female contact 10. In this second volume 420, in particular a portion of the central element 12 is arranged, which has an inner housing for receiving the male contact.

[0069] In the inner space of the part 40 of the housing, a third volume 430 , which is narrower than the second volume 420 and is arranged behind the second volume 420 , is provided to accommodate the seat 128 of the central element 12 of the female contact 10 .

[0070] In this case, the part 40 of the housing has a stop area 461 around the interface area 460 between the second volume 420 and the third volume 430. The stop area 461 can be arranged to block the travel of the ring 14 in particular when the ring 14 is subjected to a thrust from the elastic element 25, which itself is compressed by the central element 12 when the convex contact portion 30 exerts a force on the central element.

[0071] At the cross-sectional change between the first volume 410 and the second volume 420 , an offset at the inner wall of the part 40 of the housing may form a further stop 451 which is intended for its part to stop the male contact 30 when it is clamped.

[0072] Advantageously, the connector can be provided with a second elastic element 27. The second elastic element 27, generally in the form of at least one spring, is arranged between the ring 14 and the part 40 of the housing. This second elastic element 27 is used to compensate for differential play and expansion to keep the ring 14 pressed against the central element 12 of the female contact 10. This spring is generally provided with low elongation and high stiffness. For example, the second elastic element 27 can be made of 316 type stainless spring steel.

[0073] According to one possible arrangement, the second elastic element 27 is attached to the stop region 461 of the part 40 of the housing. The second elastic element 27 may also be attached to the second end region 144 of the ring 14 opposite to the region to which the elastic element 25 is attached.

[0074] The connector can be clamped by screwing. Therefore, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the part 40 of the housing has an internal thread 481 on the inner wall of the part and in the first inner volume 410, which is used to receive the external thread 51 formed on the peripheral part of the male contact part 30, in particular the external thread formed on the enclosure 50 arranged around the base 31.

[0075] The force provided by the operator or the tool for locking the connector brings the parts 50 and 40 of the housing closer together and clamps the parts 50 and 40 of the housing. And only once the two contacts are fully engaged and abut against each other, but not before the two contacts are fully engaged and abut against each other, the ring 14 slides on the element 12 to compress the elastic element 25 and tighten the element 12, thereby causing the female contact to apply pressure to the male contact.

[0076] exist FIG. 2A to FIG. 2B Between the clamped position and the released position shown, the female contact 10 moves axially relative to the connector housing part 40. When the male contact 30 or the housing part 50 is unlocked or unscrewed, the central element 12 is pushed by the elastic element 25 toward the first volume 410 of the housing part 40.

[0077] In the release position, the upper end 122 of the central element 12 can thus protrude into the first volume 410 of the part 40 of the housing, whereas when the connector is in the clamping position, this upper end 122 is retained in the second volume 420 of the part 40 of the housing.

[0078] The arrangement as described above can be applied to a single pole contact as well as a contact with multiple poles, each pole being formed by a combination of a male contact and a female contact.

[0079] The arrangement described above can also be applied where the internal and external threads between parts 40 and 50 of housing 60 are reversed (so part 50 sits on top of part 40 ).

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising: - a concave contact portion (10), said concave contact portion being provided with: - a central element (12) which defines on the inside an inner axial housing (121) for receiving the male contact portion (30), The inner axial housing extends along the longitudinal axis (A'A) and has a so-called open area (121A) and a so-called bottom area (121B), the male contact portion is designed to pass through the open area, the male contact portion is designed to be located in a first position of the connector relative to the bottom area, the first position being called the clamping position, and the female contact portion (10) is also provided with a ring (14) arranged around the central element (102) and separate therefrom, the ring (14) being mounted so as to be movable relative to the central element (12) and arranged so that an inner wall (143) of the ring can slide against an outer region (125) of the central element, The inner wall (143) of the ring (14) defines an opening of a constricted shape complementary to the contour of the outer zone (125) of the central element, the constricted shape being in particular frustoconical or conical, with a cross section that decreases moving parallel to the longitudinal axis from the open zone towards the base zone, The ring (14) is connected to the central element (12) by means of an elastic element (25) which is arranged between an end region (142) of the ring and an outer region (125) of the central element (12).

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The central element (12) of the concave contact portion (10) is provided with a plurality of finger-like portions (129), which define at least a portion of the inner axial receiving portion (121) at an open area (121A) of the inner axial receiving portion, each finger-like portion (129) having a free end (129A) and another end opposite to the end and attached to the seat (128), the free end of each finger-like portion being separated from the corresponding free ends of the other finger-like portions.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The outer region (125) of the central element (12) has a protrusion (127) at the upper end (122) of the central element (12), and the elastic element (25) is arranged between the protrusion (127) and the upper edge (142) of the ring (14).

4. The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a convex contact portion, and wherein: The convex contact portion (30) has: - an electrically conductive base (31) opposite to which the upper edge (122) of the central element (12) of the female contact (10) is intended to be arranged, A conducting rod (33) designed to pass through the inner axial housing (121), the conducting rod (33) having a shape complementary to that of the inner axial housing, in particular the shape of a cylinder of revolution.

5. An electrical connector according to any one of the preceding claims, the electrical connector also includes a shell (60), the shell is provided with a component (40), the component has an internal space and forms an enclosure around the ring, the internal space is provided with a first volume (410) and a second volume (420), the convex contact portion (30) is designed to be inserted into the first volume, and the concave contact portion (10) is designed to be accommodated in the second volume.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 5, wherein: The ring (14) is movable relative to the part (40) of the housing (60) and is attached to the part (40) of the housing by means of a second elastic element (27).

7. The electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein: The second elastic element (27) is attached to a second end region (144) of the ring (14) opposite the end region (142), and wherein the second volume (420) of the part (40) of the housing is arranged between the first volume (410) and a third volume (430), the third volume being narrower than the second volume (420), The part (40) of the housing has a stop area (461) surrounding a boundary area between the second volume (420) and the third volume (430), the stop area (461) being arranged at the narrowing portion, and the second elastic element (27) is attached to the stop area (461).

8. The electrical connector according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein: The part (40) of the housing has an internal thread (481) in the first internal volume (410) for receiving an external thread (51) arranged transversely on the male contact portion (30), or wherein, The male contact portion is located in a component of the housing provided with a protruding region having an internal thread, and the female contact portion is located in another component of the housing having an external thread.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 8, wherein: The base (31) of the male contact portion is surrounded by the second part (50) of the housing (60) made of insulating material and has the external thread (51).

10. The electrical connector according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein: The central element (12) of the female contact portion is mounted so as to be movable in the part (40) of the housing.

11. The electrical connector according to claim 10, wherein: In the clamped position, the upper end (122) of the central element (12) of the concave contact portion (10) is located in the second volume (420), and wherein, in the released position, the upper end (122) of the central element (12) of the concave contact portion (10) extends into the first volume (410).

12. The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein: The convex contact portion is received in the inner axial accommodation portion (121) and passes through the open area (121A) before reaching the bottom area (121B), and when the convex contact portion (30) is pushed toward the bottom area (121B) of the inner axial accommodation portion of the concave contact portion, the elastic element (25) tends to push the central element of the ring.

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