Sealing gasket for electrical connection, protection assembly for protecting electrical connection, and aircraft

Abstract

A sealing washer for electrical connections, a protection assembly for protecting electrical connections, and an aircraft. The invention relates to an anti-corrosion sealing gasket (1) made of a watertight material such as silicone and comprising two peripheral tabs (1c, 1d) configured to grip the sealing gasket (1), and at least two positioning pins (1a, 1b). The invention also relates to a protective assembly comprising: a sealing gasket (1); and a connecting gasket (12) which has a groove (12g) on the edge surface thereof; and a protective cap (13) having an inner annular projection (13r) having a shape complementary to the groove (12g) of the connection gasket (12). Advantageously, this makes it possible to protect electrical connection points, including screws and washers or connection terminals, from moisture and thus protect such electrical connections from corrosion without the need to apply a sealing adhesive.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a sealing gasket and a protective assembly for protecting electrical connections, the protective assembly comprising at least one such sealing gasket, a connecting gasket, and a cap. The invention also relates to an aircraft including such a sealing gasket or such a protective assembly. Background Technology

[0002] Aircraft have numerous mechanical and electrical connections that must be protected against corrosion. Sometimes, cables are used to establish electrical connections, with at least one end of the cable having a connecting washer (eyelet terminal) made of conductive material. A fastening screw is inserted through this washer. The fastening screw allows the connecting washer to be secured to the conductive connecting element, thus creating an electrical connection point. This could be a connection to ground or to an equipotential bonding point (such as a busbar). To prevent corrosion of the resulting connection point, a protective adhesive is applied to the screw head, the cable's connecting washer, and its immediate surroundings to protect all these components from moisture. This application of adhesive is limiting because the quality of the protection obtained depends on the quality of the localized application of the adhesive, and requires manipulating the adhesive and the tools used to apply it, in addition to manipulating the connecting element itself. Furthermore, this manipulation slows down operations and can be hindered in situations where operator maneuver is restricted and visibility is low. Another disadvantage is that the adhesive must be scraped off during disassembly, which is time-consuming, laborious, and generates adhesive debris or dust. Furthermore, this stripping operation often damages the component in question, necessitating its replacement.

[0003] This situation can be improved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One object of the present invention is to make it easier to protect electrical connection points from corrosion, especially in aircraft systems.

[0005] To this end, a sealing gasket is proposed, which is made of a watertight material and includes two peripheral tabs configured to grip the sealing gasket, and the sealing gasket also has at least two locating pins.

[0006] Advantageously, this allows for the correct and quick positioning of the sealing gasket against the end eyelet of the electrical connection cable, even in hard-to-reach locations.

[0007] According to one embodiment, locating pins are respectively arranged on the lugs of the sealing gasket.

[0008] Advantageously, and according to one embodiment, the watertight material used to manufacture the sealing gasket is silicone.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is a protective component comprising:

[0010] -The sealing gasket as described above,

[0011] - A second washer, referred to as a connecting washer, is preferably made of a conductive material, and

[0012] - Protective cap,

[0013] The component provides that the connecting washer has a groove on its edge surface and that the interior of the protective cap has an inner annular protrusion having a shape that is complementary or substantially complementary to the groove of the connecting washer.

[0014] Advantageously, the protective cap includes a slot, an opening, or a protrusion.

[0015] The present invention also relates to an aircraft comprising at least one sealing gasket as described above or a protective component as described above. Attached Figure Description

[0016] [ Figure 1 [Illustrated perspective view of a corrosion-resistant sealing gasket according to one embodiment, the corrosion-resistant sealing gasket being positioned facing the end hole terminal or the end portion of a busbar of an electrical connection cable;]

[0017] [ Figure 2 It is already Figure 1 The image shows a three-dimensional view of a sealing gasket positioned against a perforated terminal, which is also already in use. Figure 1 As shown in the image;

[0018] [ Figure 3 [Image caption: A perspective view of a washer, referred to as a connecting washer, having grooves on its edge face and configured, according to one embodiment, to press against a pre-existing [wafer / gear].] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The eyelet terminal is shown in the figure and is securely held against the eyelet terminal by means of screws or bolts;

[0019] [ Figure 4 It is already Figure 3 The connecting washer shown in the image is abutting against the already... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The image shown is a perspective view of the eyelet terminal being positioned.

[0020] [ Figure 5 [This is a perspective view of a screw head cap, which includes an inner annular protrusion having a...] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The grooves of the connecting washers shown in the diagram have complementary shapes and are configured to fit onto the connecting washers;

[0021] [ Figure 6a [This is based on an embodiment of an electrical connection point using a screw and] Figures 1 to 5 A perspective view of the components of the connecting elements already shown;

[0022] [ Figure 6b It is already Figure 6a A perspective view of the variant component of the connection point shown in the figure;

[0023] [ Figure 7a [This is based on an embodiment and is already in use] Figure 6a The connection points shown are in a 3D view after assembly.

[0024] [ Figure 7b It is already Figure 7a A three-dimensional view of the variant of the connection point shown in the figure;

[0025] [ Figure 8 It is already Figure 7a and Figure 7b A three-dimensional diagram of another variant of the connection point shown in the figure; and

[0026] [ Figure 9 [This is a side view of an aircraft including a sealing gasket or electrical connection point according to one embodiment.] Detailed Implementation

[0027] Figure 1 A sealing washer 1 is schematically shown positioned toward an eyelet terminal 11, which is the end portion of an electrical connection cable 10. The sealing washer 1 is a corrosion-resistant washer made of a watertight and more generally liquid-tight material, thereby preventing any corrosion of the sealing washer 1. According to one embodiment, the sealing washer 1 is made of silicone. Cleverly and advantageously, the sealing washer 1 includes two gripping tabs 1c and 1d (also referred to as “lugs”) projecting from the periphery of its body 1m, and two locating pins 1a and 1b located on the flat surface of the sealing washer body for contact with the eyelet terminal 11. The locating pins 1a and 1b enable the sealing washer 1 to be quickly positioned in a predetermined position on the eyelet terminal 11. For this purpose, and according to the described example, the eyelet terminal 11 has two through openings 11a and 11b configured to receive the locating pins 1a and 1b. Advantageously, the through opening 11a is arranged around a central axis 11a′, and the through opening 11b is arranged around a central axis 11b′. Advantageously, the spacing (or distance) between axes 11a′ and 11b′ is equal to the distance between the central axes of locating pins 1a and 1b, such that there is only one predetermined precise position that allows the sealing gasket to be positioned against the eyelet of the eyelet terminal 11, or more specifically against the face of the eyelet of the eyelet terminal 11, which is located on the side opposite to the face connected to the electrical connection cable 10.

[0028] Placing the sealing gasket 1 against the face of the eyelet terminal 11 protects this face from corrosion when the eyelet terminal 11 is fastened and held to a third-party connecting element, thus creating an electrical connection point. According to one embodiment, the gripping tabs 1c and 1d have a rectangular or square shape, and their respective dimensions are determined to allow them to be held between the thumb and forefinger of an operator assembling the electrical connection point. Cleverly, locating pins 1a and 1b protrude from the flat surface of the annular body 1m of the sealing gasket 1 at the outer edge of the face of the sealing gasket 1 that carries the locating pin, and their respective shapes allow the locating pins to be inserted into cavities or through openings formed at the outer edge of the eyelet terminal 11 of the connecting cable 10. According to a variant embodiment, instead of being arranged at the outer edge of the face of the sealing gasket 1 that carries the locating pin, the locating pins are arranged on peripheral lugs of any shape, arranged in a similar manner to the gripping tabs 1c and 1d, but in different positions. Advantageously, the sealing gasket 1 has a central through opening 1o arranged around a central axis 1′, and the eye of the eye terminal 11 has a through opening 11o arranged around a central axis 11′. Openings 1o and 11o allow fastening and retaining screws or bolts to pass through in order to form an electrical connection point.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the surface of the eyelet terminal 11 may have a flat shape surrounding the through opening 11o. According to a variant, the surface of the eyelet terminal 11 has a recessed or tapered surface surrounding the through opening 11o, which is configured to facilitate positioning or receiving a screw head passing through the through opening 11o.

[0030] Figure 2 A sealing washer 1 is shown positioned against a hole terminal 11 of an electrical connection cable 10. This example is non-limiting, and the cable may be replaced by a conductive element (e.g., a shaped metal sheet or busbar). It can be seen that the end of the locating pin is inserted into the through opening of the hole terminal 11 and thus positions it so as to quickly position the sealing washer 1 in a predetermined manner on the side of the hole terminal opposite to the side connected to the electrical connection cable 10.

[0031] Figure 3 A washer 12, referred to as a connecting washer 12, is shown. This washer has a groove 12g along its entire length of edge face (i.e., on the edge of the connecting washer 12 that separates its two faces). According to one embodiment, the connecting washer 12 is configured to press against the eyelet terminal 11 and is securely held onto the eyelet terminal 11 by means of a screw inserted into the aligned central opening of the sealing washer 1, the eyelet terminal 11, and the connecting washer 12. According to one embodiment, the total diameter of the connecting washer 12 is less than the distance between the central axis of the eyelet terminal 11 and the point on the locating pin closest to this axis.

[0032] Figure 4 The diagram shows the connecting washer 12 positioned on the eyelet terminal 11 when it is positioned against the sealing washer 1.

[0033] Figure 5 A cap 13 is shown for protecting the screw head and the connecting washer. According to one embodiment, the cap 13 includes an inner annular protrusion 13r having a shape complementary or substantially complementary to the groove 12g of the connecting washer 12. In this case, the shape substantially complementary to the groove 12g does not necessarily mean that it is strictly complementary to the shape of the groove 12g, but rather that it is sufficiently complementary to insert the inner annular protrusion 13r of the cap 13 into the groove to produce mechanical locking and liquid tightness or moisture resistance, which allows the cap 13 to remain in place on the connecting washer 12 covered by the cap 13. Thus, the cap 13 performs the function of sealing protection for the formed electrical connection point, as does the sealing washer 1. According to one embodiment, the precise position of the inner annular protrusion 13r within the cap 13 is designed such that the assembly of the cap 13 on the connecting washer 12 results in the edge of the cap 13 fully contacting the surface of the eyelet of the eyelet terminal 11 after the connection point is assembled, in order to achieve a moisture-resistant assembly.

[0034] Figure 6a The assembly process of an electrical connection point according to one embodiment is illustrated. The connection point is assembled using screws 14, which are inserted into aligned through-holes in various connecting elements (i.e., connecting washers 12, eyelet terminals 11, and sealing washers 1). A downward-pointing vertical arrow symbolizes the insertion of screws 14, used to hold the connecting elements to the plane or substrate of the connecting component (e.g., a ground plane or busbar-type equipotential bonding). Another arrow (dashed line) is shown... Figure 6a The image shows the positioning of the inner annular protrusion 13r of the cap 13 in the groove 12g of the connecting washer 12 when the cap 13 is positioned to protect the head of the screw 14 and the connecting washer 12.

[0035] Figure 6b A variation of the assembly process for electrical connection points is shown, which has been discussed regarding... Figure 6a The description is provided, and according to this variant, the inner annular protrusion 13r of the cap 13 is not intended to be received in the groove of the connecting washer 12, but is instead clamped directly below the edge of the head of the screw 14, which is... Figure 6b The dotted arrow indicates this. This advantageously allows the use of washers without grooves. According to this variant, screw 14 is preferably characterized by a generally circular screw head.

[0036] Figure 7a The connection point is shown after the insertion of screw 14 and after the installation of protective cap 13, which is held in place by a nut (not visible in the figure) or screwed into an internal thread (not visible in the figure).

[0037] Figure 7b It shows about Figure 7a A variant of the described connection point, according to which the cap 13 includes a strap 13l (also referred to as a "tether"), the end portion of which wraps around the cable 10, thereby advantageously preventing the cap from falling off during assembly or disassembly operations. Advantageously, when used in an aircraft, this reduces the risk of FOD (foreign debris) presence.

[0038] Figure 8 It has been shown that... Figure 7a and Figure 7b A variant of the described connection point, according to which the cap 13 includes a protruding or projecting surface 13b (also referred to as a tab 13b) and also has slots 13s defined along a plane parallel to the insertion (installation) and removal (removal) directions of the cap 13 on the screw head of the connection point. Advantageously, the cap 13 may have a cavity whose shape is complementary or substantially complementary to the end of the shank of a tool or flathead screwdriver, which advantageously allows the cap 13 to be removed by using a lever to move an actuating screwdriver or, more generally, a tool designed in this way. This allows for increased ease and speed during disassembly operations.

[0039] According to the variant, a portion of the cap 13 protrudes from the surface of the cap to form a tab or notch, so that the cap can be removed just as easily by using a tool as a lever against the tab or notch formed therefrom.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the cap 13 also includes the aforementioned elements (slots, tabs, etc., and connecting strips for securing to cables, metal sheets, or busbars).

[0041] According to one embodiment, the cap 13 may include at least one predefined weak area configured to tear or shear when a force is applied to the cap in order to remove the cap. This advantageously allows for demonstration of its previous use in protecting connection points.

[0042] Figure 9 An aircraft 100 is shown, which includes at least a sealing gasket 1 or a similar sealing gasket 1, or at least one electrical connection point as described above. This advantageously allows for the protection of all or part of the electrical connection point without the need for the application of a sealant. Such an assembly enables faster execution of assembly and maintenance operations related to electrical connection points of the described type.

Claims

1. A sealing gasket (1), characterized in that, The sealing gasket (1) is made of a watertight material and includes two peripheral tabs (1c, 1d) configured to grip the sealing gasket (1), and the surface of the sealing gasket (1) has at least two locating pins (1a, 1b).

2. The sealing gasket (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The positioning pins (1a, 1b) are respectively arranged on the lugs of the sealing gasket (1).

3. The sealing gasket (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein, The watertight material used to manufacture the sealing gasket is silicone.

4. A protective component, characterized in that, The protection components include: - The sealing gasket (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3. - A connecting washer (12) made of conductive material, and - Protective cap (13). The connecting washer (12) has a groove (12g) on ​​its edge surface, and the protective cap (13) has an inner annular protrusion (13r) inside, the inner annular protrusion having a shape that is complementary or substantially complementary to the groove (12g) of the connecting washer (12).

5. The protection component according to claim 4, wherein, The protective cap (13) includes a slot and / or an opening and / or a tab.

6. An aircraft (100), characterized in that, The aircraft includes at least one sealing gasket (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or a protective component according to any one of claims 4 and 5.

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