Sealing washer for an electrical connection, protective device for electrical connection and aircraft

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealing washer and an electrical connection protection assembly comprising at least one such sealing washer, a connecting washer, and a cap. The invention also relates to an aircraft comprising such a sealing washer or such a protection assembly. PREVIOUS STATE OF THE ART

[0002] An aircraft has many mechanical and electrical connections that must be protected against corrosion. Electrical connections are sometimes made using a cable with at least one end fitted with a ring terminal (ring terminal) made of an electrically conductive material, through which a fixing screw is inserted. The fixing screw secures the ring terminal to an electrically conductive connecting element, thus creating an electrical connection point. This could be, for example, a ground connection point or a connection point to an equipotential bonding point, such as a bus bar (or busbar ) .To prevent corrosion of the resulting connection point, a protective sealant is applied to the screw head, the cable connection washer, and the surrounding area to protect all these components from moisture. Applying sealant is cumbersome because the quality of the protection depends on the quality of the localized sealant application and requires handling the sealant and a sealant application tool, in addition to handling the connection components themselves. Furthermore, these manipulations slow down operations and are made difficult when the operator has limited access and poor visibility. Another drawback is the need to scrape off the sealant during disassembly, which is time-consuming, tedious, and generates sealant shavings or dust.Furthermore, such a stripping operation often damages the part in question, necessitating its replacement. DE 10 2013 204832 A1 discloses a known sealing washer.

[0003] The situation can be improved. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] One object of the present invention is to facilitate the protection against corrosion of electrical connection points, particularly in aircraft systems.

[0005] For this purpose, a sealing washer according to claim 1 is proposed, made of a watertight material and comprising two peripheral lugs configured for gripping the sealing washer, said sealing washer further having at least two keying pins.

[0006] Advantageously, this makes it possible to correctly and quickly position the sealing washer against the terminal eyelet of an electrical connection cable, even in a hard-to-reach place.

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

[0008] Advantageously and according to one embodiment, the waterproof manufacturing material of the sealing washer is silicone.

[0009] Another object of the invention is a protective assembly comprising: a first sealing washer, as previously described, a second connecting washer, preferably made of an electrically conductive material, and a protective cap, said assembly being such that the second washer has a groove on its edge, and the inside of the cap has an internal annular relief of complementary or substantially complementary shape to the groove of the second washer.

[0010] Advantageously, the cap includes a slot, an opening or a lug.

[0011] The invention also relates to an aircraft comprising at least one sealing washer as previously described or a connection assembly as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] [ Fig. 1 ] schematically illustrates, in perspective, an anti-corrosion sealing washer according to one embodiment, positioned opposite a terminal ring terminal of an electrical connection cable or a terminal part of a busbar; [ Fig. 2 ] illustrates in perspective the sealing washer already shown on the Fig. 1 positioned against the eyelet lug, which is also already shown on the Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 ] illustrates in perspective a washer called a connecting washer having a groove on its edge, configured according to an embodiment to be applied to the eyelet lug already shown on the Fig. 1 et Fig. 2 and to be held tightly against the eyelet lug by means of a screw or bolt; Fig. 4 ] illustrates in perspective the connecting washer already shown on the Fig. 3 when it is positioned on the eyelet lug already shown on the Fig. 1 et Fig. 2 ; Fig. 5 ] illustrates in perspective a screw head cap comprising an internal annular relief with a shape complementary to the groove of the connecting washer already shown on the Fig.3 And Fig.4 and configured to fit onto the connecting washer; [ Fig. 6a ] illustrates in perspective an assembly, according to one embodiment, of an electrical connection point using a screw, and the connection elements already shown in the figures Fig.1 à Fig. 5 ; Fig. 6b ] illustrates in perspective a variant of the assembly of the connection point already shown on the Fig. 6a ; Fig. 7a ] illustrates in perspective the connection point already represented on the Fig. 6a , after assembly, according to an embodiment; [ Fig. 7b ] illustrates in perspective a variant of the connection point already represented on the Fig. 7a ; Fig. 8 ] illustrates in perspective another variant of the connection point already represented on the Fig.7a And Fig. 7b ; And, [ Fig. 9 ] is a side view of an aircraft including a sealing washer or an electrical connection point according to one embodiment. DETAILED EXPLANATION OF IMPLEMENTATION METHODS

[0013] There Fig. 1 schematically represents a sealing washer 1 positioned opposite an eyelet lug 11 which is a terminal part of an electrical connection cable 10. The sealing washer 1 is an anti-corrosion washer insofar as it is made of a material that is watertight and more generally impervious to liquids, which prevents 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 lugs 1c and 1d, also called "ears", protruding from the periphery of its body 1m, as well as two keying pins 1a and 1b on a flat surface of the body of the sealing washer intended to come into contact with the eyelet lug 11. The keying pins 1a and 1b allow for quick positioning of the sealing washer 1 against the eyelet lug 11 in a predetermined position.To this end, and according to the example described, the ring terminal 11 has two through-holes 11a and 11b configured to receive the keying pins 1a and 1b. Advantageously, the through-hole 11a is arranged around a central axis 11a' and the through-hole 11b is arranged around a central axis 11b'. Advantageously, the center-to-center distance between the axes 11a' and 11b' is equal to the distance separating the central axes of the keying pins 1a and 1b, so that there is only one precise predetermined position for positioning the sealing washer against the eyelet of the ring terminal 11, or more precisely against the face of the eyelet of the ring terminal 11 that is opposite to the face connected to the electrical connection cable 10.

[0014] Placing the sealing washer 1 against this face of the eyelet of the eyelet lug 11 protects this face of the eyelet lug 11 from corrosion when the latter is fixed and held against a third-party connection element, thus creating an electrical connection point. In one embodiment, the gripping lugs 1c and 1d are rectangular or square and each has dimensions that allow them to be held between the thumb and forefinger of an operator assembling electrical connection points. Cleverly, the keying pins 1a and 1b protrude from a flat surface of the annular body 1m of the sealing washer 1, on the outer edge of the face of the sealing washer 1 which carries them, and each have a shape of such a nature as to be inserted into a cavity or a through opening made on the outer edge of the eyelet of the eyelet lug 11 of the connection cable 10.According to one embodiment, the keying pins are arranged not on the outer edge of the face of the sealing washer 1 that carries them, but on peripheral lugs of arbitrary shape, arranged similarly to the gripping lugs 1c and 1d, but not in the same locations. Advantageously, the sealing washer 1 has a central through-hole 1o arranged around a central axis 1', and the eyelet of the eyelet lug 11 has a through-hole 11o arranged around a central axis 11'. The openings 1o and 11o allow the passage of a screw or bolt for fixing and securing the connection to create an electrical connection point.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the surface of the eyelet lug 11 may have a flat shape around the through opening 11o. According to an alternative, the surface of the eyelet lug 11 has a recessed or flared surface around the through opening 11o, configured to facilitate the positioning or housing of a screw head passing through the through opening 11o.

[0016] There Fig. 2 This illustrates the sealing washer 1 positioned against the ring terminal 11 of the electrical connection cable 10. This example is not limiting, and the cable can be replaced by a conductive element (a shaped sheet of metal or a busbar, for example). The ends of the alignment pins inserted into the through-holes of the ring terminal 11 can be seen, thus providing a keying mechanism to ensure rapid, predetermined positioning of the sealing washer 1 on the face of the ring terminal opposite the face connected to the electrical connection cable 10.

[0017] There Fig. 3 The figure illustrates a washer 12, referred to as a connecting washer 12, having a groove 12g along the entire length of its edge, that is, on the border of the connecting washer 12 separating its two faces. In one embodiment, the connecting washer 12 is configured to be applied to the ring terminal 11 and to be held tightly against the ring terminal 11 by means of a screw inserted into the aligned central openings of the sealing washer 1, the eye of the ring terminal 11, and the connecting washer 12. In one embodiment, the overall diameter of the connecting washer 12 is less than the distance between the central axis of the eye of the ring terminal 11 and the nearest point of the alignment pins relative to this axis.

[0018] There Fig. 4 represents the connecting washer 12 positioned on the ring terminal 11 when the ring terminal 11 is positioned against the sealing washer 1.

[0019] The Fig. 5 represents a cap 13 for protecting the head of a screw and a connecting washer. In one embodiment, the cap 13 includes an internal annular relief 13r whose shape is complementary or substantially complementary to the groove 12g of the connecting washer 12. A shape substantially complementary to the groove 12g here means a shape that is not necessarily strictly complementary to the shape of the groove 12g but is sufficiently complementary so that the insertion of the internal annular relief 13r of the cap 13 into the groove provides a mechanical locking in position and a seal against liquids or moisture, allowing the cap 13 to be held in position on the connecting washer 12 covered by the cap 13. Thus, the cap 13 provides a watertight protective function for the electrical connection point, just as the sealing washer 1 does.According to one embodiment, the precise position of the internal annular relief 13r inside the cap 13 is provided so that an assembly of the cap 13 on the connecting washer 12 is such that the edge of the cap 13 is entirely in contact with the surface of the eyelet of the eyelet lug 11 after assembly of the connection point to obtain a moisture-tight assembly.

[0020] There Fig. 6a represents an assembly in progress of an electrical connection point, according to one embodiment. The connection point is assembled using a screw 14 inserted into the aligned through-holes of the various connection elements: the connecting washer 12, the ring terminal 11, and the sealing washer 1. A downward-pointing vertical arrow symbolizes the insertion of the screw 14 used to secure the connection elements to a plane or substrate of a connection piece, for example, a ground plane or a busbar-type equipotential bonding conductor. Another arrow, in dashed form, illustrates on the Fig. 6a the positioning of the inner annular relief 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.

[0021] There Fig. 6b represents a variant of the ongoing assembly of the electrical connection point, already described in relation to the Fig. 6a , and according to which the inner annular relief 13r of the cap 13 is not intended to fit into a groove of the connecting washer 12, but to clip directly under the edge of the head of the screw 13, which is represented by a dashed arrow on the Fig. 6b This allows the advantage of using a washer without a groove. According to this variant, it is preferable for screw 14 to have a screw head with a generally circular shape.

[0022] There Fig. 7a represents a connection point made after insertion of the screw 14, which is held by a nut (not visible in the figure) or tightened in a tapped hole (not visible in the figure) and after the protective cap 13 has been put in place.

[0023] There Fig. 7b represents a variant of the connection point described in relation to the Fig. 7a According to this design, the cap 13 includes a fastener 13l (also called a "leash"), the terminal portion of which encircles the cable 10, thus advantageously preventing its fall during assembly or disassembly. Advantageously, the risk of the presence of a FOD (Foreign Object Debris) is reduced during use in an aircraft.

[0024] There Fig. 8 represents a variant of the connection point already described in relation to the Fig. 7a And Fig. 7b The cap 13 comprises a prominent or projecting surface 13b (also called a lug 13b) and further has a slot 13s defined in a plane parallel to the direction of insertion (installation) and removal (removal) of the cap 13 on the screw head at the connection point. Advantageously, the cap 13 may have a cavity of a shape complementary or substantially complementary to the end of a shank of a tool or flathead screwdriver, which advantageously allows the cap 13 to be removed by actuating the screwdriver or, more broadly, the tool thus adapted with a levering motion. This results in increased ease and speed during disassembly.

[0025] According to one variant, part of the cap 13 protrudes on the surface of the cap so as to form a lug or a notch so that the cap can again be removed by simply levering with a tool gripping against the lug thus formed or in the notch thus formed.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the cap 13 includes both the aforementioned elements (slot, lug, etc.) and a connecting attachment for holding to a cable or to a sheet metal or bus bar.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the cap 13 may include at least one predefined area of ​​weakness configured to tear or shear when force is applied to the cap for the purpose of its removal. This advantageously demonstrates prior use for protecting a connection point.

[0028] There Fig. 9This illustrates an aircraft 100 comprising at least one sealing washer 1, or a sealing washer similar to washer 1, or at least one electrical connection point as previously described, which advantageously allows all or part of this electrical connection point to be protected without requiring the application of a waterproof sealant. Such an assembly increases the speed of assembly and maintenance operations related to the type of electrical connection point described.

Claims

1. Sealing washer (1), characterized in that said washer (1) is made of a moisture-tight material and comprises two peripheral tabs (1c, 1d) configured for gripping said sealing washer (1), and in that a surface of said washer (1) has at least two locating pins (1a, 1b) .

2. Sealing washer (1) according to Claim 1, wherein said locating pins (1a, 1b) are respectively arranged on lugs of said sealing washer (1).

3. Sealing washer (1) according to either of Claims 1 and 2, the moisture-tight manufacturing material of which is a silicone material.

4. Protective assembly (1, 12, 13) comprising: - a sealing first washer (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, - a connecting second washer (12) made of an electrically conductive material, and - a protective cap (13), said connecting second washer (12) having a groove (12g) on its edge face, and the inside of said cap (13) having an inner annular relief (13r) with a complementary or substantially complementary shape to said groove (12g) of said second washer (12).

5. Protective assembly according to Claim 4, wherein said cap (13) comprises a slot and / or an opening and / or a tab.

6. Aircraft (100) comprising at least one sealing washer (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3 or a protective assembly (1, 12, 13) according to either of Claims 4 and 5.