Electrical connector for connecting a cable for transmitting electric energy and a conductor

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical connector (1) for connecting an electrical power transmission cable and a second conductor, comprising two arms (1A, 1B) made of an elastomeric material with an internal longitudinal cavity. The first arm (1A) is designed to receive the cable and has an end portion adapted to be inserted into a correspondingly shaped portion of the cavity in the first arm (1A). The second arm (1B) is designed to receive the second conductor and has an end portion adapted to be screwed into the cable end portion. According to the invention, the cavity in the first arm (1A) includes a longitudinal locking means (4) for the cable (5) installed in the cavity.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electrical connection comprising an electrical connector for connecting an electrical power transmission cable and a conductor.

[0002] Such an angled electrical connector is described in US patent document 4,234,757.

[0003] It comprises two hollow perpendicular branches made of elastomeric material, a first branch of which is intended to receive a cable with at its end an eccentric part capable of being inserted into a cavity part of the connector of corresponding shape and a second branch capable of receiving a conductor whose end is screwed into this end part of the cable.

[0004] Mounting such a connector on a cable is carried out using lubricating grease and is relatively complex.

[0005] Depending on the fit of the cable inside the connector and the amount of grease applied, the installer must hold the connector body firmly, to prevent it from pushing away from the cable, before the conductor is screwed in. EP 1 612 890 A1 describes a connector according to the preamble of claim 1. Other relevant connectors are known from EP 0 655 805 A1 and WO 98 / 45901 A1.

[0006] The invention solves this problem and provides an electrical connector for the connection of two conductors for particularly easy installation.

[0007] To this end, the invention proposes an electrical connector intended for the connection of an electrical energy transmission cable and a said second conductor, comprising two branches made of elastomeric material with an internal longitudinal cavity, a first branch of which is intended to receive said cable with at its end an end part capable of being inserted into a correspondingly shaped part of the cavity of said first branch and a second branch capable of receiving said second conductor, the end of which is capable of being screwed into said end part of the cable, connector characterized in that said cavity of said first branch comprises a means for longitudinally locking the cable installed in this cavity.

[0008] The cable is thus held longitudinally and can easily remain in place, without the need for manual restraint, and the second conductor can easily be screwed on.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, said locking means is carried by a conductive elastomer insert capable of receiving said end portion of the cable.

[0010] Said locking means is a flange arranged on the inner surface of the internal longitudinal cavity capable of receiving said cable.

[0011] The connector is angled, its two branches being perpendicular.

[0012] The invention relates to an electrical connection comprising such a connector, said electrical energy transmission cable comprising a said first conductor surrounded by a dielectric layer, characterized in that the end of said first conductor is stripped of said dielectric layer and connected to an eccentric conductive adapter and in that said locking flange is arranged in abutment against a surface of said adapter.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, said adapter projects radially from said cable and said locking flange is arranged in abutment against the end surface of said adapter facing said dielectric layer.

[0014] Advantageously, said locking flange is arranged in abutment against the end surface of said flat facing said dielectric layer.

[0015] Said dielectric layer of said cable is preferably surrounded by a matching dielectric sheath.

[0016] The invention is described below in more detail with the aid of figures representing only one preferred embodiment of the invention. There figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrical connector according to the invention. The figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrical connection according to the invention. The figures 3 to 5are longitudinal sectional, cross-sectional and top views of a detail of an electrical connection according to the invention.

[0017] As shown in the figure 1 in longitudinal section, an angled electrical connector 1 intended for the connection of an electrical energy transmission cable and a second conductor, comprises two perpendicular branches 1A, 1B made of elastomeric material with an internal longitudinal cavity 2, 3.

[0018] The first branch 1A is intended to receive a cable having at its end an end part capable of being inserted into a correspondingly shaped part 2A of the cavity of the first branch 1A and a second branch 1B capable of receiving a second conductor whose end is capable of being screwed into the end part of the cable.

[0019] This connector 1 is made of dielectric elastomer material, preferably ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) or silicone, coated with an external layer 1C of conductive elastomer, preferably of the same nature but loaded with carbon black particles. The part 2A of the cavity capable of receiving the end part of the cable is also formed in an insert 2B of conductive elastomer.

[0020] According to the invention, the cavity 2 of the first branch 1A comprises a means for longitudinally locking the cable installed in this cavity and carried by the insert 2B made of conductive elastomer capable of receiving the end part of the cable.

[0021] Preferably, this locking means is a flange 4 arranged on the surface of the internal longitudinal cavity 2 capable of receiving the cable.

[0022] There figure 2 represents in longitudinal section an electrical connection comprising such a connector 1.

[0023] The electrical energy transmission cable 5 comprises a said first conductor 5A surrounded by a dielectric layer 5B, the end of the first conductor 5A is stripped of the dielectric layer 5B and connected to an eccentric conductive metal adapter 6 and the locking flange 4 is arranged in abutment against a surface of the adapter 6. The dielectric layer 5B of the cable is here surrounded by a dielectric adaptation sheath 5C commonly called a cable reducer.

[0024] The adapter 6 projects radially from the cable 5 equipped with the adapting dielectric sheath 5C and the locking flange 4 is arranged in abutment against the end surface of the adapter 6 facing the adapting dielectric sheath 5C and towards the dielectric layer 5B.

[0025] On this figure 2 , the second conductor 8, preferably a contact rod or pin, is being installed.

[0026] The eccentric conductor adapter 6 is also shown in detail on the Figure 3 to 5 .

[0027] The cylindrical adapter 6 has a longitudinal flat 6A carrying a threaded orifice 6B into which the end of the second conductor 8 is screwed.

[0028] The adapter 6 has an eccentric longitudinal cavity 6C receiving the end of the first conductor 5A secured by means of a radial tenon 7 screwed into a radial bore 6D opening onto the flat 6A.

[0029] The locking flange 4 is arranged in abutment against the end surface 6A1 of this flat 6A facing the adaptation dielectric sheath 5C and towards the dielectric layer 5B.

[0030] It is straight and can be of a height of the order of one millimeter to two millimeters and a length of the order of 20 millimeters.

[0031] Connector 1 is equipped as follows.

[0032] The end of the cable 5 is stripped of its dielectric layer 5B to leave the end of the conductor 5A free and the dielectric adaptation sheath 5C is arranged at this end. The end of the conductor 5A is introduced into the longitudinal cavity of the adapter 6 and is fixed there by screwing the radial tenon 7.

[0033] The cable thus equipped with its adapter 6 is introduced into the first branch 1A in a single possible position taking into account the shape of the cavity of the insert 2B in conductive elastomer and the eccentricity of this adapter 6.

[0034] Due to its dimensions and the elastomer which is a rigid material with a hardness of around 78 Shore A and a tensile strength of around 12.7 MPa, the flange 4, like the end of the insert 2B made of conductive elastomer, can deform elastically when passing the adapter which is thus arranged in the position shown in the figure. figure 2, where the flange 4 is housed in abutment against the end surface 6A1 of the flat 6A of the adapter.

[0035] The cable thus retained can easily remain in place, without the need for manual restraint, and the second conductor can be screwed into the threaded hole 6B of the adapter.

Claims

1. Electrical connection comprising an electrical energy transmission cable (5) and an electrical connector (1) intended for connecting said electrical energy transmission cable (5) and a said second conductor (8), the connector being angled and comprising two perpendicular branches (1A, 1B) consisting of an elastomer material with an internal longitudinal cavity, a first branch (1A) of which is intended for receiving said cable (5) with, at its end, an end part that is capable of being inserted in a part of the cavity of said first branch (1A) having a corresponding shape, and a second branch (1B) that is capable of receiving said second conductor (8), the end of which is capable of being screwed into said end part of the cable, said cavity of said first branch (1A) comprising a means for longitudinally locking the cable (5) that is fitted in said cavity, said locking means is a flange (4) arranged on the inner surface of the internal longitudinal cavity and capable of receiving said cable (5), said cable comprising a first conductor (5A) surrounded by a dielectric layer (5B), such that the end of said first conductor (5A) is stripped of said dielectric layer (5B) and is connected to said end part of the cable consisting of an eccentric conductive adapter (6) and said locking flange (4) being arranged against a surface of said adapter (6), characterised in that said adapter (6) has a longitudinal flat portion (6A) having a threaded hole (6B) in which the end of said second conductor (8) is screwed, and has an eccentric longitudinal cavity (6C) that receives the end of said first conductor (5A), which is secured by means of a screwed radial pin (7), and said radial pin (7) being screwed into a radial bore (6D) that opens out onto said flat portion (6A).

2. Connection according to claim 1, characterised in that said locking means is supported by a conductive elastomer insert (2B) that is capable of receiving said end part of the cable (5).

3. Electrical connection according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said adapter (6) projects radially from said cable (5) and in that said locking flange (4) is arranged against the end surface of said adapter (6) that faces said dielectric layer (5B).

4. Connection according to claim 3, characterised in that said locking flange (4) is arranged against the end surface (6A1) of said flat portion (6A) that faces said dielectric layer (5B).

5. Connection according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said dielectric layer (5B) of said cable is surrounded by a dielectric adapter sheath (5C).

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