Connection device for an electrical component

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection device (2) for an electrical component, which device comprises: - a housing (6), - an electrical component (4) accommodated in the housing (6), - at least one electrical pin (12) comprising a portion (14) connected to the electrical component (4) and a free portion (16), and - a connection interface (10) attached to the housing (6), the connection interface (10) comprising at least one opening (22) for enabling the free portion (16) of the at least one electrical pin (12) to pass therethrough and the free portion (16) of the at least one electrical pin (12) to be locked in place in the at least one opening (22), one end of the free portion (16) of the at least one electrical pin (12) extending at a predetermined distance from the at least one opening (22). The at least one electrical pin (12) further comprises a deformable portion (18) located between the free portion (16) and the portion (14) connected to the electrical component (4).

Description

Connection device for electrical component

[0001] The invention relates to electrical connections in the automotive field, in particular to electrical connections of electrical and electronic components in a motor vehicle, for example, the electrical components of a vehicle tank. More particularly, the invention relates to a connection device for an electrical component and a method for manufacturing such a connection device.

[0002] The use of electrical components in motor vehicles to perform various functions related to the use of a vehicle tank is known in the prior art. Non-limiting examples include components such as electrically controlled valves or sensors designed to take measurements in the tank. These electrical components are connected to an electrical network designed to supply these components with energy and / or to control them. For this purpose, the vehicle must be equipped with elements allowing these electrical components to be electrically connected to the electrical network.

[0003] To this end, it is known to equip an electrical component with a connection device whose function is to enable this connection. It may comprise electrical pins, made of an electrically conductive material, electrically connected to the electrical component and facilitating the electrical connection with the electrical network. The part of the electrical network intended to be connected with the electrical pins may be made in the form of a female member that can be attached to the electrical pins in order to ensure the electrical connection. The female member is held in a coupling member, while the electrical component and the electrical pins are contained in a housing. Documents FR 3 073 987 A1, WO 2006 / 123915 A1 and FR 3 095 899 A1 disclose such connection devices, the first of these documents disclosing a connection device according to the preamble of claim 8.

[0004] A problem with this type of connection lies in the cooperation between the electrical pins and the female member. The housing and the coupling member must be able to cooperate with each other in order to allow a good electrical connection between the electrical pins and the female member. In other words, the electrical connection depends on the good cooperation between the housing and the coupling member. It is therefore necessary to control the position of the free ends of the electrical pins relative to the housing so that the connection of the coupling member to the housing allows a good connection of the electrical pins to the female member, which is not guaranteed in the case where the coupling member and the housing are manufactured separately.In particular, the coupling member and / or the female member may be defined by standards, in particular connection standards, which must be taken into consideration to produce the connection device so that it is suitable and compatible with the coupling member.

[0005] One solution to this problem is to add an additional intermediate element dedicated to ensuring the connection between the electrical pins and the female member. Depending on the configuration of these, a suitable type of intermediate element can be chosen from known devices, such as an electrical domino and complementary electrical pins. However, this solution is not satisfactory since it requires the use of an additional element, which results in an increase in the manufacturing cost of the electrical component. In addition, the interior space of a vehicle generally offers very little empty space, so it is preferable not to increase the number of elements in order to better be able to respect this space constraint. In addition, different types of coupling members will require different types of intermediate elements, which would complicate the use of the electrical component.

[0006] The invention aims in particular to remedy these problems by making it possible to ensure compatibility for an electrical connection between the electrical component and the coupling member without having to provide an additional element dedicated to this function.

[0007] To this end, the invention provides a method for manufacturing a connection device for an electrical component, the device comprising a housing, an electrical component housed in the housing, and at least one electrical pin, the at least one electrical pin comprising a part connected to the electrical component and a free part, in which the following step is implemented:

[0008] - a connection interface comprising at least one opening is provided on the housing so that the free part of the at least one electrical pin passes through the at least one opening,

[0009] the at least one electrical pin further comprises a deformable part located between the free part and the part connected to the electrical component and in that the following step is implemented:

[0010] - the deformable part of the at least one electrical pin is deformed and the free part of the at least one electrical pin is blocked in the at least one opening so that a free end of the free part of the at least one electrical pin extends at a predetermined distance from the at least one opening.

[0011] Thus, thanks to the deformable part of the at least one electrical pin, the at least one electrical pin can be slid into the opening to a predetermined position ensuring good cooperation with a female member which would cooperate with the connection interface, before locking the at least one electrical pin in this position. It is thus understood that it is not necessary to provide an additional element to ensure the good connection of the at least one electrical pin in the interface. In addition, this solution makes it possible to adapt the electrical pins to different configurations of the female member without it being necessary to modify the architecture of the connection device, which makes the invention very flexible and adaptable. Ultimately, this solution makes it possible to compensate for the clearances and dimensional dispersions of the elements of the electrical connection assembled together.

[0012] Advantageously, the deformable part of the at least one electrical pin comprises at least two bends arranged so that the free part and the part connected to the electrical component extend along respective axes forming between them an angle α, such that the angle α is between 0° and 30°.

[0013] The flexible part of the at least one electric pin is thus easy to produce and easy to deform.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the angle α is equal to 0° so that the axes are parallel to each other.

[0015] Thus, the presence of the deformable part does not modify the general orientation of the electrical pin in the connection device, which means that the general architecture of the connection device is not impacted.

[0016] Advantageously, the free part of the at least one electrical pin is locked in the at least one opening by crimping, welding, snap-fitting, snap-fastening or shape cooperation.

[0017] The blocking of the at least one electrical pin in the at least one opening is thus easy to implement, with means which can be chosen to better adapt to the architecture of the connection device.

[0018] Advantageously, the connection interface forms a protective cover sized to close the housing.

[0019] The electrical component is thus protected in the housing.

[0020] Advantageously, a coupling member, comprising at least one orifice, is attached to the connection interface so that the at least one orifice of the coupling member communicates with the at least one opening of the connection interface.

[0021] The connection interface is thus provided with a coupling member for coupling a female member for connection with the free part of the electrical pins. This facilitates the creation of the electrical connection between the electrical pins and the female member.

[0022] Preferably, the coupling member is made in one piece with the connection interface.

[0023] This reduces the number of parts making up the connection device, which helps to make it inexpensive and simple to produce.

[0024] Advantageously, the connection device comprises several electrical pins identical to each other and several openings identical to each other.

[0025] The invention is thus adaptable to different architectures for the connection device.

[0026] The invention also provides a connection device for an electrical component, comprising:

[0027] - a case,

[0028] - an electrical component housed in the housing,

[0029] - at least one electrical pin comprising a part connected to the electrical component and a free part, and

[0030] - a connection interface attached to the housing, the connection interface comprising at least one opening allowing the passage of the free part of the at least one electrical pin and the blocking of the free part of the at least one electrical pin in the at least one opening, a free end of the free part of the at least one electrical pin extending at a predetermined distance from the at least one opening,

[0031] the at least one electrical pin further comprises a deformable portion located between the free portion and the portion connected to the electrical component.

[0032] Advantageously, the deformable part of the at least one electrical pin comprises at least two bends arranged so that the free part and the part connected to the electrical component extend along respective axes forming between them an angle α, such that the angle α is between 0° and 30°.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment, the angle α is equal to 0° so that the axes are parallel to each other.

[0034] Advantageously, an angle β formed between the deformable part and a plane perpendicular to the connected part is less than 45° or less than 30°.

[0035] This configuration allows for a significant variation in the position of the free end of the free part in the direction of the free part. This effectively compensates for play in the direction of the free part in the connection device without generating mechanical stresses that could damage the electrical pin.

[0036] Advantageously, the free part of the at least one electrical pin is blocked in the at least one opening by crimping, welding, snapping, snap-fastening or shape cooperation.

[0037] Advantageously, the connection interface forms a protective cover sized to close the housing.

[0038] Advantageously, the device further comprises a coupling member, comprising at least one orifice, attached to the connection interface so that the at least one orifice of the coupling member communicates with the at least one opening of the connection interface.

[0039] Preferably, the coupling member is made in one piece with the connection interface.

[0040] Advantageously, the connection device comprises several electrical pins identical to each other and several openings identical to each other. Brief description of the figures

[0041] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0042] is a sectional view of a connection device for an electrical component according to one embodiment of the invention,

[0043] is a schematic view of the connection device of the,

[0044] is a perspective view of a housing of the connection device of the,

[0045] is a perspective view of a connection interface of the connection device of the,

[0046] Figures 5a and 5b are side views of an electrical pin of the connection device in two different configurations, and

[0047] is a sectional view illustrating the electrical pin arrangement of the device in the connection interface.

[0048] Figures 1 and 2 show a connection device 2 for an electrical component 4 according to the invention. The connection device 2 and the electrical component 4 are here intended to equip a vehicle tank (not shown), the electrical component 4 being provided to perform a function in the tank. According to one embodiment, it is an electrically controlled valve, commonly referred to by the expression “e-valve”, but it is possible to provide for producing the electrical component in a completely different form.

[0049] The connection device 2 comprises a housing 6, here made of plastic, in which the electrical component 4 is housed as shown in the figure. The housing 6 comprises a support 8 configured to support and hold the electrical component 4 stationary in a determined position of the housing 6. According to one embodiment, the support 8 is fixed in the housing 6 and the electrical component 4 is fixed in the support 8.

[0050] The housing 6 is open on one of its sides, in this case the upper side which may correspond to the side facing upwards when the housing 6 is installed in a vehicle. This open part of the housing 6 is closed by a connection interface 10, shown in , which is attached to the housing 6 so as to form an internal volume 11 defined by the housing 6 and the connection interface 10. In other words, the connection interface 10 forms a protective cover sized to close the housing 6. The housing 6 and the connection interface 10 form two separate parts. The connection interface 10 is fixed to the housing 6 by any means, and it can be provided that this fixing is removable, in the sense that it is possible to disassemble the connection interface 10 from the housing 6 without these elements being destroyed or damaged.

[0051] The connection device 2 comprises at least one electrical pin 12 made of an electrically conductive material. The number of electrical pins 12 is arbitrary. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the connection device 2 comprises three electrical pins. If the number of electrical pins is greater than or equal to 2, the electrical pins are preferably identical.

[0052] Each electrical pin 12 comprises a part connected to the electrical component, called connected part 14, a free part 16 and a deformable part 18 located between the free part 16 and the connected part 14. The connected part 14 is fixed to the electrical component 4, passes through the support 8 and extends entirely into the housing 6. The free part 16 extends partially inside the internal volume 11 and partially outside it. The connected part 14 and the free part 16 each have the shape of a straight rod, at least in an area contiguous to the deformable part 18. In particular, the free part 16 defines a main axis 17 of the electrical pin 12. The deformable part 18 comprises at least two elbows 20 arranged so that the free part 16 and the connected part 14 extend along respective axes, at least in the area contiguous to the deformable part 18, forming between them an angle α, such that the angle α is between 0° and 30°.In the configuration illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 5a and 5b, the angle α is equal to 0° so that the connected part 14 and the free part 16 extend along axes parallel to each other. By bending the elbows 20 more or less, the shape of the deformable part 18 can be changed and thus the position of the free part 16 relative to the connected part 14 can be changed.

[0053] One of the electrical pins 12 is shown in more detail in Figures 5a and 5b. In these figures, the angle β is defined as being the angle formed between the deformable part 18 and the plane perpendicular to the connected part 14. This angle makes it possible to provide a definition of the expression “deformable” characterizing the deformable part 18 of the electrical pin 12, in that it is possible to deform the electrical pin 12 and vary the angle β, without the electrical pin 12 breaking.

[0054] In the configuration of Figure 5a, the angle β1 is greater than 45°, or even greater than 60°. As represented by the broken lines, a variation of the angle β1 moves the free end of the free part 16 of the electrical pin 12. This free end is slightly displaced along the main axis 17 (A1), that is to say in the direction of the free part 16, and strongly displaced in a direction perpendicular to the main axis 17 (L1). In this way, this configuration only allows for a small possible variation in the axial position of the free end of the free part 16.

[0055] In the configuration of Figure 5b, the angle β2 is less than 45°, or even less than 30°. As represented by the broken lines, a variation of the angle β2 moves the free end of the free part 16 of the electrical pin 12. This free end is greatly displaced along the main axis 17 (A2), that is to say in the direction of the free part 16, and slightly displaced in a direction perpendicular to the main axis 17 (L2). In this way, this configuration makes it possible to have a significant possible variation of the axial position of the free end of the free part 16, which is preferable in the context of the invention compared to the configuration of Figure 5a.

[0056] In other words, it is advantageous for the angle β to be less than 45°, or even less than 30°, for example approximately equal to 15°. A geometrically equivalent definition is to choose the angle β so that a variation of this angle, by deformation of the deformable part 18, makes it possible to obtain a displacement of more than 0.3 mm of the free end of the free part 16 along the main axis 17. Such a value makes it possible to effectively compensate for axial play in the connection device 2, taking into account the conventional dimensions of the connection device, without generating mechanical stresses which could damage the electrical pin 12.

[0057] In order to further reduce mechanical stresses that could damage the electrical pin 12, provision may be made for the connected portion 14 to also be deformable. As shown by dotted lines in Figure 5b, the small displacement of the free end of the free portion 16 in the direction perpendicular to the main axis 17 (L2) may be compensated by a small deformation of the connected portion 14 (see the dotted curve) when the free end of the free portion 16 must remain on the main axis 17.

[0058] The connection interface 10 comprises three openings 22, that is to say a number equal to the number of electrical pins 12, each allowing the passage and then the blocking of the free part 16 of one of the electrical pins 12. Thus, the free part 16 of each electrical pin 12 extends partially into the internal volume 11 and partially outside this internal volume 11 beyond the openings 22. The blocking of the free part 16 of each electrical pin 12 in the openings is carried out in such a way that a free end of each free part 16 extends at a predetermined distance D from the openings 22 as shown in the. The blocking of the free part 16 of each electrical pin 12 is carried out by crimping, welding, riveting, snap-fastening or form cooperation.

[0059] The connection device 2 comprises a coupling member 24 which comprises at least one orifice 26 and which is attached to the connection interface 10 so that the at least one orifice 26 of the coupling member 24 communicates with the openings 22 of the connection interface 10. The number of orifices 26 is here equal to the number of openings 22, but it is possible to provide a coupling member 24 comprising a single orifice, for example in the form of a slot, communicating with each of the openings. The free parts 16 of the electrical pins 12 pass through the openings 22 and the orifices 26. The coupling member 24 forms a housing for receiving a female member (not shown) configured to be electrically connected to the free parts 16 of the electrical pins 12, which then function as an electrical socket.The dimensions of the coupling member 24 are generally standardized and known, so that a distance D' separating the free end of the free parts 16 of the electrical pins 12 from a free end of the coupling member 24 can be deduced from the distance D defined above.

[0060] In the illustrated embodiment, the coupling member 24 and the connection interface 10 are made in one piece. According to an alternative embodiment, the coupling member is attached to the connection interface and fixed thereto.

[0061] To manufacture the connection device 2, the following steps are implemented:

[0062] - the connection interface 10 is attached to the housing 6 so that the free parts 16 of the electrical pins 12 pass through the openings 22, and

[0063] - the deformable parts 18 of the electrical pins 12 are deformed and the free parts 16 of the electrical pins 12 are blocked in the openings 22 so that the free ends of the free parts 16 of the electrical pins 12 extend at a predetermined distance D from the openings 22.

[0064] The invention is not limited to the embodiment presented and other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0065] The openings in the connection interface, provided for each of the electrical pins, can be replaced by a single opening allowing all the electrical pins to be received and locked in the opening.

[0066] The deformable portion of the at least one electrical pin may have more than two bends, which allows for more freedom to move the free portion relative to the connected portion. This increases the adaptability of the connection device. List of references

[0067] 2: connecting device4: electrical component6: housing8: support10: connecting interface11: internal volume12: electrical pin14: connected part16: free part

[0068] 17: main axis18: deformable part20: elbow22: opening24: coupling member26: orifice

Claims

Method of manufacturing a connection device (2) for an electrical component, the device comprising a housing (6), an electrical component (4) housed in the housing (6), and at least one electrical pin (12), the at least one electrical pin (12) comprising a part connected (14) to the electrical component (4) and a free part (16), in which the following step is implemented: - a connection interface (10) comprising at least one opening (22) is brought onto the housing (6) such that the free part (16) of the at least one electrical pin (12) passes through the at least one opening (22),characterized in that at least one electrical pin (12) further comprises a deformable portion (18) situated between the free portion (16) and the portion connected (14) to the electrical component (4), and in that the following step is implemented: the deformable portion (18) of at least one electrical pin (12) is deformed, and the free portion (16) of at least one electrical pin (12) is blocked in at least one opening (22) such that one end of the free portion (16) of at least one electrical pin (12) extends to a predetermined distance from at least one opening (22). A method according to the preceding claim, wherein the deformable part (18) of at least one electrical pin (12) has at least two bends (20) arranged so that the free part (16) and the part connected (14) to the electrical component (4) extend along respective axes forming an angle α between them, such that the angle α is between 0° and 30°. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the free part (16) of at least one electrical pin (12) is locked in at least one opening (22) by crimping, welding, riveting, snap-fitting or form cooperation. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection interface (10) forms a protective cover sized to close the housing (6). A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a coupling member (24), comprising at least one orifice (26), is brought onto the connection interface (10) such that at least one orifice (26) of the coupling member (24) communicates with at least one opening (22) of the connection interface (10). Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the coupling member (24) is made in one piece with the connection interface (10). A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection device (2) comprises several identical electrical pins (12) and several identical openings (22). A connection device (2) for an electrical component, comprising: - a housing (6), - an electrical component (4) housed in the housing (6), - at least one electrical pin (12) comprising a portion connected (14) to the electrical component (4) and a free portion (16), and - a connection interface (10) attached to the housing (6), the connection interface (10) comprising at least one opening (22) allowing the passage of the free portion (16) of the at least one electrical pin (12) and locking the free portion (16) of the at least one electrical pin (12) in the at least one opening (22), one end of the free portion (16) of the at least one electrical pin (12) extending to a predetermined distance from the at least one opening (22), characterized in that the at least one electrical pin (12) further comprises a deformable portion (18) situated between the free portion (16) and the connected portion (14) to the electrical component (4). Connection device (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein the deformable part (18) of at least one electrical pin (12) has at least two bends (20) arranged so that the free part (16) and the part connected (14) to the electrical component (4) extend along respective axes forming an angle α between them, such that the angle α is between 0° and 30°. Connection device (2) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein an angle β formed between the deformable part (18) and a plane perpendicular to the connected part (14) is less than 45° or less than 30°. Connection device (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the free part (16) of at least one electrical pin (12) is locked in at least one opening (22) by crimping, welding, riveting, snap-fitting or form cooperation. Connection device (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the connection interface (10) forms a protective cover dimensioned to close the housing (6). Connection device (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 12, further comprising a coupling member (24), comprising at least one orifice (26), reported on the connection interface (10) so that at least one orifice (26) of the coupling member (24) communicates with at least one opening (22) of the connection interface (10). Connection device (2) according to the preceding claim, in which the coupling member (24) is made in one piece with the connection interface (10). Connection device (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 14, comprising several identical electrical pins (12) and several identical openings (22).

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