Device for connecting an electric conductor to an electric connector, wherein the device is equipped with a visual indicator for correct arrangement.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a connection device for electrically connecting a terminal of a battery module to an electrical conductor. This conductor can be used to electrically connect several modules together. The invention finds a very particular application in the field of electric vehicles. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In high-voltage electrical energy storage systems, particularly those used in electric vehicles, it is common to combine several battery cells to form individual battery modules. Each module usually has two terminals or posts with different poles. The battery modules are connected to each other, i.e., brought into electrical contact with each other, via a busbar, usually made of copper.

[0003] Typically, a busbar is screwed or welded to the terminals of the modules it connects, which is not always suitable for high-volume manufacturing. Documents WO2019242917 and US10333117 disclose connection devices that assemble a busbar to a terminal by simple clipping. However, these devices have no means of confirming that the connection is properly locked. It is therefore not possible, particularly on an automatic assembly line, to easily detect whether the connections between the busbar and the terminals are correctly made.

[0004] Other connection devices are known from documents EP2830162A1, US2006094281A1, US8235292B2 and WO2021050499A1.

[0005] It is therefore desirable to have a connection device equipped with a visual indicator that it is correctly installed. SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An aim of the invention is to propose a device for connecting an electrical connector to a terminal which is simple to use and provided with a visual indicator of correct assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In order to achieve this aim, the subject of the invention provides a device for connecting an electrical conductor to an electrical connector. The connection device comprises: a housing defining an internal housing in which the electrical connector resides, the housing having an opening to allow the insertion of the electrical conductor into the internal housing and its contact with the electrical connector; a lock disposed partly in the housing, the lock comprising a first arm and a second arm, the two arms respectively comprising two upper portions disposed at the opening and capable of moving apart from each other to close on notches in the electrical conductor and place the lock in a locking configuration in which the upper portions of the first arm and the second arm have a determined spacing;a visual locking indicator formed from at least one pattern arranged on at least one of the upper portions of the arms of the lock, the visual locking indicator being fully exposed only when the lock is in the locking configuration and the two arms have the determined spacing.;

[0008] According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the invention, taken alone or in any technically feasible combination: the housing is formed of two parts that can be assembled together; the housing comprises a groove for guiding the upper portions of the first and second arms; the upper portions of the first and second arms are respectively associated with flexible return branches; the housing comprises two secondary compartments configured to respectively accommodate the flexible return branches of the first and second arms; each upper portion is provided with a spacing stop configured to be inserted into a notch in the electrical conductor; each upper portion of the arms also comprises a contour piece defining in combination at least part of a passage allowing the electrical conductor to be inserted into the opening; the contour pieces overlap one another at least in one masked area, when the electrical conductor is not inserted into the connection device;at least one pattern is arranged on the masked area; the connection device comprises two patterns forming in combination a code detectable by a reading device; the code comprises at least one detection marker only exposed when the lock is in the locking configuration; the code is a QR code.; BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0009] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of the invention which follows with reference to the appended figures in which: [ Fig. 1 ] There figure 1 represents an example of a second part compatible with a connection device according to the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] There figure 2 represents an overall view of a connection device according to the invention; [ Fig. 3 ] There figure 3 represents an exploded view of a connection device according to the invention; [ Fig. 4A ] [ Fig. 4B ] [ Fig. 4C ] [ Fig. 4D] THE Figures 4A to 4D represent the different stages of pre-assembly of the connection device according to the invention. Fig. 5A ] [ Fig. 5B ] [ Fig. 5C ] [ Fig. 5D ] THE Figures 5A to 5D represent, in a sectional view, the different stages of assembly of an electrical connector to a terminal via a connection device according to the invention, these figures also illustrate, for each of these stages, a zoomed sectional view at the level of the contact branches of the lock as well as a top view of the locking indicator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The subject of the present description relates to a connection device 100 of an electrical conductor 2 to an electrical connector 1. The electrical conductor 2 may be the end of a busbar, and the connection device 1 associated with a terminal of a battery module. As is clearly visible in the figure 1, the electrical conductor 2 is provided with a pair of notches 2a, 2b. The notches are arranged opposite each other, so that the electrical conductor 2 has, at the notches, a section of reduced size. The electrical conductor 2 has a chamfered end to facilitate its insertion into the connection device 100 and cause the progressive separation of the arms of a lock intended to engage in the notches 2a, 2b to lock the connection, as will be detailed in more detail in the remainder of this description. General presentation of the connection device

[0011] THE Figures 2 and 3 respectively represent an overall view and an exploded view of a connection device 100 according to one embodiment. The figure 2represents in particular the connection device 100 in the so-called “delivery” configuration. The connection device 100 is formed of a housing 3 defining an internal housing in which the electrical connector 1 resides, a lock 4 arranged partly in the housing 3 and a visual locking indicator 5 carried by the lock 4.

[0012] In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical connector 1 is formed from a plurality of pairs of flexible blades (3 pairs of flexible blades on the connector 1 of the figure 1), the blades of a pair of blades facing each other. The electrical connector 1 is assembled to the terminal of the battery module, here by screwing, and is retained in a connector compartment of the internal housing of the case 3. The electrical connection between the conductor 2 and the connector 1 is obtained by inserting the conductor 2 into the space defined between the flexible blades of the pairs of blades. The flexible nature of the blades of the electrical connector 1 makes it possible to maintain electrical contact between the two elements.

[0013] The housing 3 has an opening 32 opening onto the internal housing 30 to allow the insertion of the electrical conductor 2 and its plugging into the electrical connector 1, that is to say its placing in electrical contact with this connector. The housing 3 is advantageously formed from an insulating material such as a plastic material.

[0014] The role of the lock 4 is to retain the electrical conductor 2 assembled to the housing 3 and to the electrical connector 1. The lock 4 is formed of a first arm 4a and a second arm 4b. Each arm consists of an upper portion associated with two flexible return branches 40. The upper portions are arranged at the opening 32 of the housing 3. In the delivery configuration, shown in the figure 2 , the upper portions of the lock arms define a passage allowing the electrical conductor 2 to be inserted into the opening 32 of the housing 3. The two flexible return branches 40 are respectively arranged in two secondary compartments of the internal housing of the housing 3.

[0015] The upper portions are capable of moving away from each other to close on notches 2a, 2b of the electrical conductor 2 and place the lock 4 in the locking configuration. In this configuration, the upper portions of the first arm 4a and of the second arm 4b have a determined spacing.

[0016] The visual locking indicator 5 is formed of at least one pattern 5a, 5b arranged on at least one of the upper portions of the arms 4, the indicator being fully exposed only when the lock is in the locking configuration. Outside of this configuration, the locking indicator 5 may be masked, at least in part. Advantageously, and as shown in the figures, the visual indicator is formed of two complementary patterns 5a, 5b respectively arranged on the upper portions of the arms 4a, 4b of the lock 4. These two patterns 5a, 5b form a visual code, here a QR code, only interpretable when the lock 4 is in the locking configuration, that is to say when the upper portions of the first arm 4a and of the second arm 4b have the determined spacing.

[0017] It is recalled that a QR code has a plurality of detection markers (3 markers in the standardized version of this code) which allow to quickly identify the presence of this code in a pattern and its orientation. The markers are located at the three corners of the pattern and allow a scanner to recognize the code precisely.

[0018] In the context of the present description, it will be said that when the device 100 is in the locking configuration, the locking indicator 5 is “integral”. In other words, in this configuration, the detection markers are visible and arranged relatively to one another, so that the code can be detected by a scanner or any other reading device. It is thus possible to automatically and reliably detect the locking state of the connection of the connection device 100. Outside of the locking configuration, the two patterns 5a, 5b cannot be interpreted. In the embodiment shown, the upper portions of the lock arms overlap in the delivery position, so that a portion of the patterns 5a, 5b carried by these arms, and in particular at least one of the detection markers, is not entirely visible so that the exposed part of the patterns 5a, 5b cannot be decoded.

[0019] Of course, the indicator 5 does not necessarily correspond to a QR code. More generally, the pattern(s) 5a, 5b that make up the indicator 5 may correspond to any code, such as a one-dimensional bar code (for example, UPC code, EAN code, code 39, code 128, ITF, code 93, codabar, GS1 databar, MSI Plessey, etc.), a two-dimensional bar code (for example the QR code taken as an example, a datamatrix code, PDF417, AZTEC, etc.), a holographic code, a human-readable alphanumeric code, other codes known in the art and interpretable by a reading device equipped with a vision device and / or by an operator. It may also be a simple pattern, a color, a reflective material or any other form of marker allowing it to be visually detected.

[0020] In a very general manner therefore, the locking indicator 5 is intact when it can be recognized and thus indicate that the device is indeed in the locking configuration. Detailed description of the connection device:

[0021] The housing 3 is formed of a first part 3a and a second part 3b which can be assembled together, for example by clipping. For this purpose, each part is provided with closing elements 34a, 34b, here a notch 34a / light 34b system. Suitably closed, the housing 3 defines an internal housing 30 onto which opens a housing opening 32 through which the electrical conductor 2 is intended to be inserted. The housing 3 also comprises a secondary opening 32' opening into the connector compartment and making it possible to accommodate the terminal of the battery module.

[0022] The two-part configuration of the housing facilitates the assembly of the electrical connector 1 and the latch arms 4a, 4b to form the connection device 100.

[0023] The housing 3 also comprises at least one guide groove 33 in which the upper portions of the arms of the lock engage. In this configuration, the upper portions can slide in the guide groove 33 and move apart or towards each other. The guide groove is oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the electrical connector 2 into the housing. This guide groove 33 prevents any movement of the lock 4 other than that of moving the upper portions of the arms of the lock apart and towards each other.

[0024] In the embodiment shown, the internal housing comprises two secondary compartments 31, 31' configured to respectively accommodate the flexible return branches 40 of the first and second arms 4a, 4b. Housed in their secondary compartments and bearing against the walls of the housing 3, the flexible return branches 40 make it possible to keep the upper portions of the locking arms close to each other, in the delivery configuration, in the absence of any effort tending to separate the two upper portions from each other.

[0025] Each upper portion of an arm 4a, 4b of the lock 4 takes the form of a jaw intended to close on the notches of the electrical conductor. The bottom of the jaw forms a spacing stop 42 on which the end of the electrical conductor 2 is likely to bear during its insertion into the connection device 100. This support causes the separation of the upper portions of the arms 4a, 4b when the insertion of the electrical conductor 2 through the opening 32 of the housing 3 is continued to connect it to the electrical connector 1. The connection device 100 is configured so that the spacing stops 42 are inserted into the notches 2a, 2b of the electrical conductor 2 when the end of this conductor 2 is suitably inserted into the electrical connector 1 residing in the housing of the housing 3. The lock 4 is thus placed in the locking configuration.In this configuration, it is impossible to remove the electrical conductor 2 from the connector 1, except by manually moving the upper portions of the arms apart from each other to release the spacing stops 42 from the notches 2a, 2b.

[0026] The connection device 100 is sized to impose a determined spacing on the upper portions of the arms 4a, 4b when the lock 4 is in the locking configuration and thus fully reveal the locking indicator 5. When this indicator is composed of several patterns 5a, 5b these form in combination a visual code integrated in the locking configuration.

[0027] The spacer stop 42 carried by a locking arm 4a, 4b forms the bottom of the jaw constituted by two guides 42' intended to be housed in the grooves 33 of the housing 3.

[0028] The upper portions of the arms 4a, 4b also each comprise a contour piece 41a, 41b, defining in combination at least part of the passage allowing the electrical conductor 2 to be inserted into the opening 32 of the housing 3. The contour pieces 41a, 41b are not arranged in the housing of the housing, when the arms 4a, 4b are suitably assembled to this housing to form the device 100, but surround the opening. When the electrical conductor 2 is not inserted into the connection device 100, that is to say in the delivery configuration of this device, the contour pieces 41a, 41b overlap each other. A part of one of the contour pieces, called the “masked zone”, therefore resides under another part of the other contour piece. The contour pieces 41a, 41b can thus have complementary bevels which overlap at the level of the masked zones, in the delivery configuration as shown in the figures.

[0029] At least one pattern 5a, 5b forming the locking indicator 5 is arranged on a masked area of ​​one of the contour parts 41a, 41b. In this way, in the delivery position, the visual locking indicator is not entirely visible. When several patterns 5a, 5b are present, these form in combination a visual code integrated in the locking configuration only, that is to say when the upper portions of the first arm 4a and the second arm 4b have the determined spacing, exposing the masked areas.

[0030] In the embodiment shown, the patterns 5a, 5b form complementary portions of a QR code, at least one detection marker of this code being arranged on a masked area of ​​the contour pieces 41a, 41b. Implementation of the connection device

[0031] During a pre-assembly stage ( Figures 4A to 4D) of the connection device 100, the arms 4a, 4b of the lock 4 and the connection device 1 are arranged in the internal housing 30 of the first part 3a of the housing 3. More particularly, the flexible return branches 40 of each arm 4a, 4b are respectively arranged in one of the secondary compartments 31, 31' and the guides 42' are placed in the guide groove 33 ( Figure 4B And 4C ). Then the second part of the housing 3 is assembled by clipping to the first part 3a, the notches 34b of the second part being inserted into the slots 34a of the first part 3a ( figure 4D ).

[0032] In the absence of the electrical connector 2, the contour pieces 41a, 41b are kept overlapping one another thanks to the spring effect of the flexible return branches 40. In this delivery configuration, a portion of the pattern 5b carried by the second arm 4b is covered by the first arm 4a and the visible portion of the patterns 5a, 5b does not form an integrated locking indicator 5, here an interpretable QR code.

[0033] In a subsequent assembly step, the electrical conductor 2 is inserted along an insertion axis I through the opening 32 of the housing 3. The chamfered end of the electrical conductor 2 (see the areas surrounded by a circle on the Figures 5B to 5D), gradually forces the arms 4a, 4b of the lock 4 apart by pressing on the spacing stops 42 and is inserted between the flexible blades of the connector 1. The flexible return branches 40 deform to allow the upper portions of the two arms of the lock 4 to be separated ( Figure 5C ).

[0034] At the end of the assembly step, the electrical conductor 2 is engaged in the electrical connector 1 and the spacing stops 42 are closed on the notches 2a, 2b of the conductor 2. In this locking configuration, the spacing stops 42 impose a determined spacing on the contour parts 41a, 41b of the lock 4 exposing the patterns 5a, 5b so that the latter form a readable QR code ( Figure 5D ) indicating the proper locking of the connection between electrical connector 2 and terminal 1.

[0035] If it is desired to disconnect the electrical conductor 2 from the connection device 1, it is sufficient to apply a separation force to the upper portions of the locking arms 4a, 4b. In this way, the separation stops 42 are released from the notches 2a, 2b to release the electrical conductor 2 and allow it to be extracted from the housing 3.

[0036] Of course, the invention is not limited to the method of implementation described and variant embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Device (100) for connecting an electrical conductor (2) to an electrical connector (1), the connection device (100) comprising: - a housing (3) defining an internal recess in which the electrical connector (1) is located, the housing (3) having an opening (32) to allow the electrical conductor (2) to be inserted into the internal recess (30) and come into contact with the electrical connector (1); - a lock (4) arranged in part in the housing, the lock comprising a first arm (4a) and a second arm (4b), the two arms (4a, 4b) respectively comprising two upper portions arranged at the opening (32) and able to be moved away from one another to close on notches (2a, 2b) of the electrical conductor (2) and place the lock (4) in a locking configuration in which the upper portions of the first arm (4a) and the second arm (4b) have a specific separation; - a visual locking indicator (5) formed by at least one pattern (5a, 5b) arranged on at least one of the upper portions of the arms (4a, 4b) of the lock (4), the visual locking indicator (5) being exposed in integrity only when the lock is in the locking configuration and the two arms have the specific separation.

2. Connection device (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the housing (3) is formed by two parts (3a, 3b) that can be assembled together.

3. Connection device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (3) comprises a guide groove (33) for the upper portions of the first and second arm (4a, 4b).

4. Connection device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper portions of the first and second arms (4a, 4b) are respectively associated with flexible return branches (40).

5. Connection device (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the housing (3) comprises two secondary compartments (31, 31') configured to respectively accommodate the flexible return branches (40) of the first and second arms (4a, 4b).

6. Connection device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each upper portion is provided with a separation stop (42) configured to fit into a notch (2a, 2b) of the electrical conductor (2).

7. Connection device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each upper portion of the arms (4a, 4b) also comprises a contour part (41a, 41b) combining to define at least part of a passage allowing the electrical conductor (2) to be inserted into the opening (32).

8. Connection device (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein, when the electrical conductor (2) is not inserted into the connection device (100), the contour parts (41a, 41b) overlap one another at least at one concealed area.

9. Connection device (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one pattern (5a, 5b) is arranged on the concealed area.

10. Connection device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising two patterns (5a, 5b), the two patterns (5a, 5b) combining to form a code detectable by a reading device.

11. Connection device (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the code comprises at least one detection marker that is only exposed when the lock is in the locking configuration.

12. Connection device (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the code is a QR code.