CONNECTION DEVICE

Description

DOMAINE DE L'INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of modular batteries and more particularly to that of connectivity. In particular, the present invention relates to an inter-battery connection device. ARRIERE PLAN TECHNOLOGIQUE DE L'INVENTION

[0002] An inter-battery connection device known from the state of the art is described in document EP3358647.

[0003] In particular, and as illustrated in [ Fig.12 ] of document EP3358647, this device comprises a U-shaped connection clip defining a U-shaped channel into which a connection tab of a battery can be inserted and held by spring effect of the connection clip.

[0004] The connecting device also comprises a movable element capable of adopting either a disengaged position or an engaged position, and which is provided with at least one wedge engaged in the U-shaped channel.

[0005] The wedge is in particular arranged so that the connecting clip has a spacing dependent on the position of the movable element. In this regard, the disengaged position and the engaged position are positions of the movable element for which the wedge imposes on the wings of the connecting clip, respectively, a first spacing and a second spacing less than the first spacing.

[0006] Thus, when connecting the connection device to a connection tab of a battery, the movable element is initially in its disengaged position in order to provide sufficient spacing (the first spacing) of the wings of the connection clip and thus allow the insertion of the connection tab into the U-shaped channel. This insertion is then followed by a movement of the movable element from its disengaged position to its engaged position so that the wings of the connection clip tighten against the tab and hold the latter by spring effect.

[0007] Although easy to use, this device is not satisfactory.

[0008] Indeed, the connection clip proposed in document EP3358647 is subjected, when the mobile element passes from one of the engaged position and the disengaged position to the other of these two positions, to deformations likely to affect its mechanical strength.

[0009] Furthermore, the effect of holding the connection tab in the U-shaped channel (and therefore the effectiveness of the electrical connection) is ensured only by the spring effect of the connection clip.

[0010] Thus, an aim of the present invention is to propose a connection device for which the deformations undergone by the connection clip remain limited to less than those observed in document EP3358647.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a connection device for which the tightening of the connection tab is not supported exclusively by the connection clip. BREVE DESCRIPTION DE L'INVENTION

[0012] The present invention relates to a connection device which comprises: a housing provided with a parallelepiped main body, forming a main housing accessible through an insertion opening formed on a lower face of the housing; a connection element, arranged in the main housing, which comprises two connection wings connected to each other by a connection base; a clamping clip, arranged in the main housing, which comprises two clamping wings connected to each other by a clamping base, and arranged on either side of the connection element so as to apply a spring force to each of the connection wings tending to tighten them against each other when the clamping clip is in a free state;a movable element, arranged in the main housing, which comprises two lateral wings connected by a base, called the movable base, the lateral wings being arranged on either side of the clamping clip, the movable element being capable of adopting a high position or a low position, the low position being a position for which the movable element leaves the clamping clip in its free state, while the high position is a position for which the lateral wings have a spacing, called the first spacing, greater than the spacing, called the second spacing, observed in the low position, and exert on each of the clamping wings a force opposing the spring effect which leads to the spacing of said clamping wings. ;

[0013] According to one embodiment, each clamping wing comprises a series of longitudinal support tabs parallel to each other and terminating said clamping wing with an edge, called the support edge, opposite the clamping base, the support tabs of a given clamping wing being partially inserted by their free end into housings, called support housings, of the lateral wings so that when they move away from each other, the lateral wings drive the clamping wings in their movement in order to also move them apart.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the movable element is arranged so that its movement from the high position to the low position corresponds to a translation of said movable element from an upper face of the housing to its lower face, the upper face being parallel and opposite to the lower face.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the main housing of the box comprises on at least one of a front internal face and a rear internal face a shim, the rear internal face and the front internal face being parallel to each other, the shim being adapted to impose on the lateral wings the first spacing when the mobile element is in the high position and the second spacing when the mobile element is in the low position.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the lateral wings are perpendicular to the front internal face and to the rear internal face, each lateral wing comprising two lateral edges parallel to each other which extend from the base of the mobile element, at least one of the two lateral edges comprises a stop cooperating with the wedge to impose one or the other of the first and second spacing on the lateral wings when the mobile element is in, respectively, its high position and its low position.

[0017] According to one embodiment, said device comprises a lever arranged in the housing and capable of adopting one or the other of a deployed position and a folded position by pivoting around the pivot axis, the deployed position being a position for which the lever imposes its high position on the mobile element, and the folded position being a position for which the lever imposes its low position on the mobile element.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the lever comprises two lever arms parallel to each other, and integral with each other, each lever arm comprising a shaft passing through a slide formed in a wall of the housing, perpendicular to the pivot axis A, the shaft and the slide are arranged so that said shaft is guided in the slide when the lever pivots around the pivot axis, and the shaft cooperates with a groove formed in the mobile base in order to impose one or the other of the high position and the low position on the mobile element when the lever pivots.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the lever comprises two longitudinal elements which extend in a direction opposite to the lever arms and intended to cooperate with stops of a battery when the device is connected to a connection tab of said battery, said cooperation being provided to prevent disconnection of said device when the lever is in the folded position.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the housing includes a locking clip configured to lock the lever when in the folded position.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the main body comprises two walls, called side walls, arranged on either side of the side wings, and in each of which is cut a flexible tab ending in a free end flush with the lower face, each flexible tab comprises a stop, called a locking stop, projecting internally into the main housing, each flexible tab cooperating with the side wing which is directly adjacent to it so as to be able to impose on the device one or the other of a first state, and a second state, the first state being a state for which each side wing is in abutment against a stop plane of the locking stop of the flexible tab with which it cooperates so as to prevent the movable element from adopting its low position,whereas the second state is a state in which the flexible legs are bent so that each of the locking stops is in a so-called retracted position and thus allows the movable element to adopt its low position.

[0022] According to one embodiment, each lateral wing comprises a counter stop cooperating with the locking stop.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the locking stop of each flexible tab comprises, towards its free end and in order, the stop plane and a spacing plane, the spacing plane being arranged so that the sliding of an engagement tab against said spacing plane in a direction perpendicular to the lower face and in the plane of the side wall causes the flexible tab to bend and the locking stop to be placed in the retracted position.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the lateral leg comprises a laterally offset section which extends from the free end of said lateral leg and which is connected to a main section of said leg by an intermediate section partly carrying the spacing plane, the main section and the laterally offset section being parallel to each other.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the flexible tab comprises a generally flat section which extends uniformly from its base to its free end, the locking stop of said flexible tab comprises an inclined plane opposite the spacing plane relative to the stop plane, the inclined plane being configured so that the sliding of the counter stop against said inclined plane, when a force is exerted on the movable element in the direction of the lower face, imposes an intermediate bending on the flexible tabs making it possible to put the counter stop in abutment against the locking plane. Brève description des dessins

[0026] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of a device for connecting a terminal of a battery module which follows with reference to the appended figures in which: [ Fig.1 ] There [ Fig.1 ] is a partial and perspective representation of a connection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, on this [ Fig.1 ], the device is shown with a lever in a deployed position so as to impose on a mobile element (not visible in this figure) its high position; [ Fig.2 ] There [ Fig.2 ] is a perspective representation of the isolated housing of the connection device shown in [ Fig.1 ] ; [ Fig.3 ] There [ Fig.3 ] is a perspective representation of an isolated connection element of the connection device shown in [ Fig.1 ] ; [ Fig.4 ] There [ Fig.4 ] is a perspective representation of an isolated clamping clip of the connecting device shown in [ Fig.1 ] ; [ Fig.5 ] There [ Fig.5 ] is a perspective representation of an isolated moving element of the connection device shown in [ Fig.1 ] ; [ Fig.6 ] There [ Fig.6 ] represents the connection device of the [ Fig.1 ] according to a section plane perpendicular to the side walls and parallel to the front wall; [ Fig.7 ] There [ Fig.7 ] is a schematic representation of the connection device of the [ Fig.1 ], and according to a section plane perpendicular to the side walls and parallel to the front wall, the connection device is notably represented in a phase, called pre-connection, in this phase, the terminal of a battery module is inserted between the two connection wings, and the mobile element is in the high position; [ Fig.8 ] There [ Fig.8 ] is a schematic representation of the connection device of the [ Fig.1 ], and according to a section plane perpendicular to the side walls and parallel to the front wall, the connection device is notably represented in a phase, called connection, in this phase, the terminal of a battery module is inserted between the two connection wings, and the mobile element is in the low position; [ Fig.9 ] There [ Fig.9 ] is a schematic representation according to a perspective view of the movable element in which the clamping clip is inserted; [ Fig.10 ] There [ Fig.10 ] is a schematic representation according to a section plane perpendicular to the side walls and parallel to the front wall, the [ Fig.10 ] illustrates in particular the cooperation between the wedge and the stops, in particular, in this figure, the wedge and the stops impose on the lateral wings a spacing equal to the first spacing; [ Fig.11 ] There [ Fig.11 ] is a schematic representation according to a section plane perpendicular to the side walls and parallel to the front wall, the [ Fig.11 ] illustrates in particular the cooperation between the wedge and the stops, in particular, in this figure, the wedge is at a distance from the stops so that the lateral wings have a spacing equal to the second spacing; [ Fig.12 ] There [ Fig.12 ] is a representation of the connection device of the [ Fig.1 ] and according to a perspective view, in this figure the device is provided with a lever in the folded position; [ Fig.13 ] There [ Fig.13 ] is a representation of the connection device of the [ Fig.1 ] and according to a perspective view, in this figure the device is provided with a lever in the deployed position; [ Fig.14 ] There [ Fig.14 ] is a schematic representation of the isolated lever of the device shown in [ Fig.12 ] and to the [ Fig.13 ] ; [ Fig.15 ] There [ Fig.15 ] is a schematic representation of the connection device according to the first embodiment and provided with the lever, the lever is in particular represented in transparency so as to visualize the cooperation between the slide and the shaft; [ Fig.16 ] There [ Fig.16 ] is a schematic representation of the connection device of the [ Fig.1 ], and according to a section plane perpendicular to the side walls and parallel to the front wall, the connection device is notably represented in a phase, called pre-engagement, in this phase, the terminal of a battery module is inserted between the two connection wings, and the mobile element is in the high position; [ Fig.17 ] There [ Fig.17 ] is a schematic representation of the connection device of the [ Fig.1 ], and according to a section plane perpendicular to the side walls and parallel to the front wall, the connection device is notably represented in an engagement phase, in this phase, the terminal of a battery module is inserted between the two connection wings; [ Fig.18 ] There [ Fig.18 ] is a schematic representation of the connection device of the [ Fig.1 ], and according to a section plane perpendicular to the side walls and parallel to the front wall, the connection device is in particular shown in the connection state in accordance with the [ Fig.8 ] ; [ Fig.19 ] There [ Fig.19 ] is a partial and perspective representation of a connection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; [ Fig.20 ] There [ Fig.20 ] is a schematic representation of the connection device of the [ Fig.19 ], and according to a section plane perpendicular to the side walls and parallel to the front wall, the connection device is notably represented in a phase, called pre-engagement, in this phase, the mobile element is in the high position; [ Fig.21 ] There [ Fig.21 ] is a schematic representation of the connection device of the [ Fig.19 ], and according to a section plane perpendicular to the side walls and parallel to the front wall, the connection device is notably represented with flexible wings in partial bending; [ Fig.22 ] There [ Fig.22 ] is a schematic representation of the connection device of the [ Fig.19 ], and according to a section plane perpendicular to the side walls and parallel to the front wall, the connection device is notably represented in an engagement phase, in this phase, the terminal of a battery module is inserted between the two connection wings. [ Fig.23 ] There [ Fig.23 ] is a representation of the connection device of the [ Fig.19 ] in the connection phase. DESCRIPTION DETAILLEE DE L'INVENTION

[0027] The present invention relates to a connection device, and in particular to a connection device, intended to be implemented for establishing electrical connections between battery elements.

[0028] In particular, the connection device according to the present invention comprises a housing provided with a generally parallelepiped-shaped section, forming a main housing accessible via an opening formed on a lower face of the housing.

[0029] A connecting element is disposed in the main housing. This connecting element comprises two connecting wings connected to each other by a connecting base and which extend from said connecting base towards the opening of the housing.

[0030] A clamping clip is also arranged in the main housing. This clamping clip comprises two clamping wings connected to each other by a clamping base and which extend from said clamping base towards the opening. The two clamping wings are in particular arranged on either side of the connecting element and apply a spring force to each of the connecting wings tending to tighten them against each other as soon as the clamping clip is in a free state.

[0031] Finally, a movable element is arranged in the main housing. This movable element comprises two lateral wings connected by a base, called the movable base, and which extend from the movable base towards the opening. The lateral wings are arranged on either side of the clamping clip. The movable element is also capable of adopting a high position or a low position. The low position is, in this respect, a position for which the movable element leaves the clamping clip in its free state, while the high position is a position for which the lateral wings have a spacing, called the first spacing, greater than the spacing, called the second spacing, observed in the low position, and exert on each of the clamping wings a force opposing the spring effect which leads to the spacing of said clamping wings.

[0032] To the [ Fig.1 ], an example of a connection device 10 of a terminal of a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be seen.

[0033] The connection device 10 comprises in this regard a housing 20 made of an electrically insulating material.

[0034] The case 20, also shown isolated at [ Fig.2 ], comprises a main body 21 of generally parallelepiped shape.

[0035] In particular, the main body 21 comprises two side walls 22, 23, parallel to each other, as well as a front wall 24 and a rear wall 25 connecting the two side walls 22 and 23 to each other.

[0036] The main body 21 also delimits a main housing 26 accessible through an opening, called an insertion opening 27, formed on a lower face of the housing 20. It is understood that the lower face of the housing 20 is perpendicular to each of the side, front and rear walls.

[0037] The housing 20 may also comprise an extension 28 also of parallelepiped shape. The extension 28 is in particular contiguous to the rear wall 25 of the main body 21. The extension 24 forms, in this respect, an open passage between two opposite faces of said extension 24 and communicating with the main housing 26, via an opening provided in the rear wall 25 of the main body 21.

[0038] The connection device 10 of the [ Fig.1 ] also comprises a connection element 30 disposed in the main housing 26.

[0039] The connection element 30, shown in isolation in [ Fig.3 ], comprises two wings, called connection wings 31 and 32, connected together by a base, called connection base 33. More particularly, the connection element 30 is arranged in the main housing 26 so that the connection wings 31 and 32 extend from the connection base towards the insertion opening 27. It is understood, without it being necessary to specify it, that the connection element 30 is kept fixed in the main housing 26 (in fixed connection). In particular, maintaining the connection element 30 in fixed connection in the main housing 26 may involve a bus bar 34 ("Bus bar", according to Anglo-Saxon terminology), crossing the open passage. In particular, the bus bar may cross, at least partially, the extension 28, in order to come into contact with the connection element.Clamping against the walls of the extension 28 of the connection element 30 and / or the bus bar makes it possible to keep said connection element 30 fixed in the main housing 26.

[0040] The connection element 30 may comprise an electrically conductive material and in particular copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, or even an aluminum alloy.

[0041] The connection device 10 also comprises a clamping clip 40 arranged in the main housing 26 ([ Fig.4 ]). The clamping clip 40 comprises two wings, called clamping wings 41, 42, connected to each other by a base, called clamping base 43 and which extend from said clamping base 43 towards the insertion opening 27. The two clamping wings 41 and 42 are in particular arranged on either side of the connection element 30 and are intended to apply a spring force to each of the connection wings 31, 32 tending to tighten them against each other as soon as the clamping clip 40 is in a state called the free state.

[0042] It is understood that the connection element 30 and the clamping clip 40 each have a U-shaped section, and are arranged in a “concentric” manner (so that the clamping clip houses, between its clamping wings, the connection element 30). The clamping base 43 and the connection base 33 may, in this respect, be in contact with each other.

[0043] It is also understood that the clamping clip is held fixed in the main housing 26. In this regard, the clamping clip 40 can be fixed to the connecting element 30.

[0044] The connection device 10 comprises a movable element 50 also arranged in the main housing 26 ([ Fig.5 ]). The mobile element 50 comprises two wings, called lateral wings 51, 52 connected by a base, called mobile base 53. Each lateral wing extends from the mobile base, between two edges called lateral edges, towards the insertion opening 27. The lateral wings 51, 52 are also arranged on either side of the clamping clip 40.

[0045] Thus, and as illustrated in the [ Fig.6 ], the connecting element 30, the clamping clip 40, and the movable element 50 are arranged concentrically in the main housing 26 of the main body 21. More particularly, the connecting element 30 is arranged between the clamping wings 41, 42, while the clamping clip 40 is for its part placed between the lateral wings 51, 52.

[0046] Furthermore, the movable element 50 is capable of adopting either a high position or a low position. The low position is a position for which the movable element 50 leaves the clamping clip 40 in its free state. In other words, the low position is a position for which the clamping wings 41, 42 exert a force on the connecting wings tending to tighten them against each other, and consequently, reduce their spacing.

[0047] The high position is a position for which the lateral wings have a spacing, called the first spacing, greater than the spacing, called the second spacing, observed in the low position, and exert on each of the clamping wings a force opposing the spring effect which leads to the spacing of said clamping wings.

[0048] In other words, the passage of the movable element 50 from the high position to the low position makes it possible to release the tension exerted by the clamping clip so that the latter applies a force tending to tighten the connection wings. Conversely, the passage of the movable element from the low position to the high position results in a separation of the lateral wings. The latter in their movement drive the clamping wings which then no longer exert any clamping force on the connection wings.

[0049] The implementation of the connection device 10 according to the present invention for the connection of a terminal 110 of a battery module 100 is illustrated in [ Fig.7 ] and to the [ Fig.8 ].

[0050] In particular, the [ Fig.7 ] is a schematic representation of the connection device 10 in a phase, called pre-connection. In this phase, the terminal 110 is inserted between the two connection wings 31, 32, and the movable element 50, in the high position, keeps the clamping wings at a distance from the connection wings. In other words, the clamping wings 41, 42 do not exert any force on the connection wings 31, 32.

[0051] There [ Fig.8 ] is a schematic representation of the connection device of the [ Fig.7 ] in a so-called connection phase. In this phase, the terminal 110 is inserted between the two connection wings 31, 32, and the movable element 50 is in the low position. In other words, the lateral wings are separated according to their second separation, and no longer exert any force on the clamping wings opposing the spring effect. The clamping wings 41, 42 are thus free to exert a force (by spring effect) on the connection wings 31, 32 tending to tighten them against each other so that the latter retain the terminal 110.

[0052] It is understood that the passage of the movable element from one of the high position or the low position to the other of these positions corresponds to a movement of said movable element in the main housing 26 in a direction perpendicular to the lower face, called the direction of movement. More particularly, the passage from the high position to the low position corresponds to a movement of the movable element in the direction of movement and in a direction going from an upper face of the main body to its lower face, the upper face being opposite the lower face. Equivalently, the passage from the low position to the high position corresponds to a movement of the movable element in the direction of movement and in a direction going from the lower face to the upper face.

[0053] In a particularly advantageous manner, each clamping wing 41, 42 comprises a series of longitudinal support tabs 44 parallel to each other and terminating said clamping wing with an edge, called the support edge, opposite the clamping base ([ Fig.4 ] And [ Fig.9 ]). The support tabs 44 of a given clamping wing are partially inserted by their free end into housings, called support housings 54 ([ Fig.5 ] , And [ Fig.9 ]), side wings. Thus, when they move away from each other, the side wings pull the clamping wings in their movement in order to move them apart as well.

[0054] The level of separation of the lateral wings 51, 52 of the movable element 50, whether it is in the high position or in the low position, is imposed by one or two shims 29 (hereinafter "the shims"). In particular, the shims may be arranged, respectively, on one and the other of the front wall and the rear wall and project internally to the main housing 26. In other words, a front internal face of the front wall comprises one shim, while a rear internal face of the rear wall comprises the other shim.

[0055] More particularly, the profile of each of the shims is adapted to impose on the lateral wings, the first spacing when the mobile element is in the high position, and the second spacing when the mobile element is in the low position.

[0056] In this regard, each lateral wing may comprise on its lateral edges a stop cooperating with one of the wedges to impose one or the other of the first and second spacing on the lateral wings when the mobile element is in, respectively, its high position and its low position.

[0057] For example, and as illustrated in [ Fig.10 ] and to the [ Fig.11 ], the movable element 50 is shown with two stops 56 and 57 facing each other and arranged on the two directly adjacent lateral edges of the internal front face of the main body.

[0058] The shim 29 is arranged on the internal front face so as to cooperate with the stops 56 and 57 in order to impose one or the other of the first and second spacings when the movable element 50 is, respectively, in its high position and in its low position. More particularly, as soon as the movable element 50 is in its high position, the shim 29 is interposed between the stops 56 and 57 so as to maintain a spacing of the two lateral wings equal to the first spacing.

[0059] Equivalently, as soon as the movable element 50 is in its low position, the wedge is set back from the stops 56 and 57, thus allowing the lateral wings to move closer to each other until they have a spacing equal to the second spacing.

[0060] Furthermore, in order to facilitate the transition from one to the other of the high position and the low position, the wedge 29 and / or the stops 56 and 57 may have rounded or beveled corners.

[0061] The aspects described above in relation to the front internal face and the lateral edges (called front lateral edges) which are directly adjacent to it are also applicable to the rear internal face and the lateral edges, called rear lateral edges, opposite the front lateral edges.

[0062] The connection device 10 may advantageously comprise a lever 60, mounted on the housing. The lever 60 is capable of adopting one or the other of a deployed position and a folded position by pivoting around a pivot axis A. More particularly, the lever 60 is configured to impose one or the other of the high position and the low position on the movable element.

[0063] In particular, the deployed position ([ Fig.13 ]) is a position for which the lever 60 imposes on the movable element 50 its high position, while the folded position ([ Fig.12 ]) is a position for which the lever 60 imposes its low position on the movable element 50.

[0064] The lever 60 may comprise two lever arms 61, 62 parallel to each other, and integral with each other ([ Fig.14 ]). Each lever arm 61, 62 may comprise a shaft 63, 64 passing through a slide 65 ([ Fig.15 ]) formed in a side wall of the main body (it is understood that each shaft opens into the main housing). The shaft and the slide are arranged so that, on the one hand, said shaft is guided in the slide when the lever pivots around the pivot axis, and on the other hand the shaft cooperates with a groove 58 formed in the movable base 53 in order to impose one or the other of the high position and the low position on the movable element when the lever pivots.

[0065] Still advantageously, the lever comprises two longitudinal elements 66 which extend in a direction opposite to the lever arms and intended to cooperate with stops of a battery when the device is connected to a connection terminal of said battery, said cooperation being provided to prevent disconnection of said device when the lever is in the folded position.

[0066] The housing may also be provided with a locking clip 70 configured to lock the lever when it is in the folded position ([ Fig.12 ]).

[0067] The connection device according to this first embodiment may also comprise engagement means intended to block the passage of the mobile element from its high position to its low position as long as the connection terminal of the battery module is not correctly inserted between the connection wings 31, 32.

[0068] In particular, and as illustrated in [ Fig.16 ], to the [ Fig.17 ], and to the [ Fig.18 ], the engagement means may comprise two flexible tabs 81, 82 cut out respectively in each of the side walls 21, 22 of the main body 20. The flexible tabs 81 and 82 are thus arranged on either side of the side wings 51, 52. The flexible tabs 81, 82 extend from their base towards their free end 81a, 82a in the direction of movement and in the direction going from the upper face towards the lower face.

[0069] More particularly, the free end 81a, 82a of each flexible leg 81, 82 is flush with the lower face.

[0070] Each flexible leg also comprises a stop, called a locking stop 81b, 82b, projecting internally into the main housing 26, and each flexible leg 81 and 82 cooperates with the lateral wing 51, 52 which is directly adjacent to it so as to be able to impose on the device one or the other of a first state, and a second state. The first state is a state for which each lateral wing 51, 52 is in abutment against a stop plane of the locking stop of the flexible leg 81 and 82 with which it cooperates so as to prevent the movable element 50 from adopting its low position. The second state is a state for which the flexible legs 81 and 82 are bent so as to allow the movable element to adopt its low position. In other words, the second state is a state in which the lateral wings 51, 52 are no longer in abutment against the locking stops 81b, 82b.

[0071] The bending of the flexible tabs 81 and 82 may in particular be initiated during a push of the connection element 10 towards the terminal to be plugged in. More particularly, the flexible tabs 81, 82 may be configured to bend during the push by cooperating with tabs, called engagement tabs 121, 122, arranged near the terminal 110, and each in alignment with a flexible tab 81, 82.

[0072] Each lateral wing may comprise a counter stop 51b, 52b cooperating with the locking stop.

[0073] More particularly, the locking stop of each flexible leg 81, 82 may comprise, in the direction of its free end 81a, 82a and in order, the stop plane 83a, 84a and a spacing plane 83b, 84b ([ Fig.16 ]). The spacing plane 83b, 84b is in particular arranged so that the sliding of an engagement tab 121, 122 against said spacing plane 83b, 84b in a direction perpendicular to the lower face and in the plane of the side wall causes the flexible tab to bend and the locking stop 81b, 82b to be placed in the retracted position. It is understood, without it being necessary to specify it, that the spacing plane 83b, 84b forms an oblique plane relative to the direction of elongation of the flexible tab 81, 82.

[0074] According to this first embodiment, the spacing plane 83b, 84b of a flexible leg 81, 82 is notably carried by an intermediate section 85b, 86b of the flexible leg connecting a main section 85a, 86a and an end section 85c, 86c of said flexible leg ([ Fig.17 ]). More particularly, the terminal section 85c, 86c is laterally offset. By laterally offset, we mean laterally offset relative to the direction of elongation of the main section.

[0075] Thus, the implementation of the connection device 10 according to this first embodiment can comprise at least two phases called respectively pre-engagement phase and engagement phase.

[0076] In this regard, the [ Fig.16 ] illustrates the pre-engagement phase. When performing this phase, the connection device 10 is positioned by its lower face opposite a terminal 110 of a battery module 100, and so as to partially insert said terminal between connection wings. At the end of this phase, each of the terminal sections 85c and 86c laterally contacts an engagement tab 121, 122, and so that each engagement tab bears against a spacing plane 83b, 84b.

[0077] The pre-engagement phase is then followed by the engagement phase ([ Fig.17 ]). This phase makes it possible to induce a bending of the flexible tabs in order to put the locking stops 81b, 82b in the retracted position. This bending occurs in particular when a pushing force is exerted on the connection device in a direction going from the upper face to the lower face. More particularly, during the execution of the pushing force, each engagement tab imposes a bending of the flexible tabs.

[0078] The lever 60 can then be actuated to move the movable element from its high position to its low position ([ Fig.18 ]).

[0079] The invention also relates to a second embodiment. This second embodiment essentially incorporates the elements of the first embodiment. This second embodiment does not, however, necessarily implement a lever 60. More particularly, the movable element 50 may form a push button accessible directly from the upper face ([ Fig.19 ]). In other words, a simple pressure force exerted on the moving element allows the latter to move from its high position to its low position.

[0080] Furthermore, still according to this second embodiment, the flexible legs 81, 82 extend uniformly from their base to their free end 81a, 82a. In other words, the flexible legs 81, 82 do not include a laterally offset end section 85c, 86c ([ Fig.20 ]). Thus, in the pre-engagement phase, the engagement tabs 121, 122 are each located in the extension of a flexible tab 81, 82 and thus prevent any movement of the connection device aimed at establishing the connection with the terminal 110.

[0081] Furthermore, according to this second embodiment, the locking stops each comprise an inclined plane 87a, 88a opposite the spacing plane relative to the stop plane. These inclined planes 87a, 88a are arranged so that sliding of the counter stops against one and the other of the sliding planes 83b, 84b, according to the direction of movement and the direction going from the upper face to the lower face, induces a partial bending of the flexible tabs. In particular, the partial bending makes it possible to separate the flexible tabs from the engagement tabs ([ Fig.21 ]). An additional force exerted on the connection device 10 then makes it possible to bring each of the spacing planes 83b, 84b into contact with the engagement tabs 121, 122.

[0082] The continuation of the engagement, illustrated in the [ Fig.22 ], follows a mechanism equivalent to that described in relation to the first embodiment.

[0083] A final push (illustrated in [ Fig.23 ]) allows the mobile element 50 to move into its low position.

[0084] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and variant embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Connection device (10) which comprises: - a housing (20) provided with a main parallelepiped-shaped body (21), forming a main housing (26) that can be accessed through an insertion opening (27) located on the bottom side of the housing (20); - a connection element (30), disposed in the main housing (26), comprising two connection wings (31, 32) connected to each other by a connection base (33); - a clamping clip (40), arranged within the main housing (26), comprising two clamping wings (41, 42) connected by a clamping base (43), and disposed on either side of the connection element (30) in such a way that, when the clamping clip (40) is in a free state, it exerts a spring-effect force on each of the connection wings (31, 32), pressing them toward each other; - a movable element (50), disposed in the main housing (26), comprising two lateral wings (51, 52) connected by a base, referred to as the movable base (53), the lateral wings (51, 52) being disposed on either side of the clamping clip (40), the movable element (50) being capable of adopting a high position or a low position, the low position being a position for which the movable element (50) leaves the clamping clip (40) in its free state, characterised in that the high position is a position in which the side wings (51, 52) have a separation, referred to as the first separation, that is greater than the separation, referred to as the second separation, observed in the low position, and exert on each of the clamping wings (41, 42) a force that opposes the spring effect responsible for separating said clamping wings (41, 42).

2. Device according to claim 2, wherein each clamping wing comprises a series of longitudinal support tongues (44) parallel to each other and terminating said clamping wing in an edge, referred to as the support edge, opposite to the clamping base (43), the support tongues (44) of a given clamping wing being partially inserted, by their free end, into recesses referred to as support recesses (54) of the lateral wings (51, 52), so that when the lateral wings (51, 52) are spaced apart from one another, they drive the clamping wings (41, 42) in their movement, thereby also spacing them apart.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movable element (50) is arranged so that its movement from the upper position to the lower position corresponds to a translation of said movable element (50) from an upper face of the housing (20) to its lower face, the upper face being parallel and opposite to the lower face.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the main recess (26) of the housing (20) comprises, on at least one of a front inner face and a rear inner face, a shim (29), the rear inner face and the front inner face being parallel to each other, the shim (29) being adapted to impose on the lateral wings (51, 52) the first separation when the movable element (50) is in the upper position and the second separation when the movable element (50) is in the lower position.

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the lateral wings (51, 52) are perpendicular to the front inner face and to the rear inner face, each lateral wing comprising two lateral edges parallel to each other that extend from the base of the movable element (50), at least one of the two lateral edges comprises a stop (56, 57) cooperating with the shim (29) to impose either of the first and second separations on the lateral wings (51, 52) when the movable element (50) is in its high position and its low position, respectively.

6. Device according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said device comprises a lever (60) disposed in the housing (20) and capable of adopting either of a deployed position and a folded position by pivoting about the pivot axis, the deployed position being a position for which the lever (60) imposes on the movable element (50) its upper position, and the folded position being a position for which the lever (60) imposes on the movable element (50) its lower position.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the lever (60) comprises two lever arms (61, 62), parallel and integral with each other, each lever arm (61, 62) comprising a shaft (63, 64) that passes through a slide (65) formed in a wall of the housing (20), perpendicular to the pivot axis A, the shaft and the slide being arranged such that the shaft is guided within the slide during pivoting of the lever (60) about the pivot axis, and the shaft cooperates with a groove (58) formed in the movable base (53) in order to impose either of the high position and the low position on the movable element (50) when the lever (60) is rotated.

8. Device according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the housing (20) comprises a locking clip (70) configured to lock the lever (60) when it is in the folded position.

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the main body (21) comprises two walls, referred to as side walls (22, 23), disposed on either side of the side wings (51, 52), and in each of which a flexible tab terminated by a free end flush with the lower face is cut, each flexible tab comprises a stop, referred to as a locking stop, projecting internally into the main housing (26), each flexible tab cooperating with the lateral wing which is directly adjacent to it so as to be able to impose on the device either of a first state and second state, the first state being a state in which each lateral wing abuts against a stop plane of the blocking stop (81b, 82b) of the flexible tab (81, 82) with which it cooperates to prevent the movable element (50) from adopting its low position, while the second state is a state in which the flexible tabs (81, 82) are deflected, such that each of the blocking stops (81b, 82b) is in a so-called retracted position, thereby allowing the movable element (50) to adopt its low position.

10. Device according to claim 9, wherein each lateral wing comprises a counter-stop (51b, 52b) cooperating with the locking stop (81b, 82b).

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the blocking stop (81b, 82b) of each flexible tab comprises, in the direction of its free end and in order, the stop plane and a separation plane (83b, 84b), the separation plane being arranged such that sliding an engagement tongue (121, 122) against said separation plane, in a direction perpendicular to the lower face and within the plane of the side wall, causes the flexible tab to bend and the locking stop to move into the withdrawn position.

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein the flexible tab comprises a laterally offset section, extending from the free end of said flexible tab and connected to a main section of said tab by an intermediate section that partially bears the separation plane, advantageously with the main section and the laterally offset section being parallel to each other.

13. Device according to claim 11, wherein the flexible tab comprises a generally flat section that extends uniformly from its origin to its free end, the locking stop (81b) of said flexible tab comprising an inclined plane (87a) positioned opposite the separation plane (83b) with respect to the stop plane (83a), the inclined plane being configured such that sliding of the counter-stop (51b) against said inclined plane, when a force is exerted on the movable element (50) in the direction of the lower face, causes an intermediate bending of the flexible tabs, enabling the counter-stop (51b) to abut against the stop plane (83a).