Quarter turn connector for connecting electrical conductors and corresponding connector connection method

Abstract

This connector (1) for connecting electrical conductors comprises two mating parts (2, 3), male and female respectively, each comprising a connector body made of insulating material having a passage (10) in which a contact is mounted, comprising an insulating contact body and a contact element (8, 9), respectively a pin and a socket. The contact body and the connector body include rotationally locking assembly means (15, 16).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking electrical connector for the electrical connection of conductors comprising in particular at their end to be connected a contact tip.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a connector comprising two conjugate parts, respectively male and female.

[0003] On connectors of this type, each part of the connector generally includes a connector body made of insulating material, a contact body, also made of insulating material and in which is mounted a contact element, consisting of a pin, with regard to the male part of the connector and a socket, with regard to the female part of the connector.

[0004] For example, reference can be made to document FR 2 764 127 which describes a two-part locking electrical connector.

[0005] Connectors of this type are also equipped with insulation means which are provided in particular at the level of the two conjugate male and female parts, in particular at the level of the front part of the contact body through which the contact element is accessible and at the level of the rear part of the connector body through which the conductor is inserted into the connector.

[0006] Generally, the contact element is inserted into the connector body and held in place using snap-locking means. Since the contacts are removable, they are retained by a clip retention system that can be opened to release the contact element by inserting a pen-like tool.

[0007] As one might expect, this type of connector must necessarily leave space for the passage of the tool used to unlock the contact element.

[0008] However, the current trend, particularly with regard to aircraft powered by hybrid or hydrogen propulsion systems, involves conveying increased electrical power, which requires the use of increasingly large connectors and, in particular, contacts.

[0009] Current connectors generally do not allow the mounting of standard size contact elements larger than size 8, which corresponds to currents of around 46 amps.

[0010] The aim of the invention is therefore to overcome this drawback and to offer a connector which allows the mounting of larger contact elements, while retaining the removable nature of the contact element and while retaining the insulators provided at the level of the contact element and the connector body.

[0011] The invention therefore relates to a connector for connecting electrical conductors, comprising two conjugate parts, respectively male and female, each comprising a connector body made of insulating material including a passage in which a contact is mounted comprising an insulating contact body and a contact element, respectively a pin and a socket.

[0012] The contact body and the connector body include means for rotationally locking assembly.

[0013] In one embodiment, the rotation-locking assembly means include a quarter-turn lock.

[0014] Thus, locking and unlocking the contact body in the connector body does not require inserting a tool between the connector body and the element, so that it is possible to use contacts of increased dimensions, using the volume dedicated to the passage of the tool in the prior art.

[0015] For example, the contact body has an external helical groove into which a pin carried by the inner face of the passage made in the connector body engages.

[0016] Advantageously, the front face of the contact body is equipped with an insulating sealing insert.

[0017] The rear face of the connector body may also be fitted with an insulating sealing insert.

[0018] It should be noted that the connector body may externally include snap-on means for mounting on a connector in a housing.

[0019] Advantageously, the connector is a connector with a capacity of at least 46 amps.

[0020] The invention also relates to a method for assembling a connector as defined above, for connecting electrical conductors.

[0021] This process includes the steps of, for each part of the male and female connectors: Assemble the contact element in the contact body; insert the contact body into the connector body opening; and lock the contact body in the connector body by rotating it.

[0022] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: there [ Fig 1 ] is a perspective view of a connector according to the invention showing the two conjugate male and female parts: the [ Fig 2a ] And [ Fig 2b ] illustrate the structure of the male and female parts, respectively; the [ Fig 3a ], [ Fig 3b ], [ Fig 3c ], [ Fig 3d] et [Fig 3e ] illustrate the assembly of the male part of the connector according to the invention; the [ Fig 4 ] is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a connector according to the invention; the [ Fig 5 ] shows the connector of the figure 4 in connection position; and the [ Fig 6 ] illustrates the connector of the figure 5 mounted in a case.

[0023] We will first refer to figures 1 , 2a And 2b which illustrate a connector according to the invention, designated by the general numerical reference 1.

[0024] Such a connector is intended to ensure the electrical connection of electrical conductors of an onboard electrical network of an aircraft.

[0025] It is specifically designed to ensure the connection of electrical conductors carrying currents that can reach or even exceed 46 amps.

[0026] This is a connector that accommodates a standard-sized contact of at least 8.

[0027] As illustrated in the figures, the connector according to the invention comprises two conjugate parts, namely a male part 2 and a female part 3.

[0028] The male and female parts are each designed to receive a conductor, including one end for connection to a contact tip. As illustrated, the male and female parts have a front end I through which the two connector parts are matched, and a rear end II through which a conductor is inserted into the connector.

[0029] Each part 2 and 3 of the connector comprises a connector body 4 and 5 made of insulating material and a contact consisting of a contact body 6 and 7 made of insulating material and a contact element 8 and 9 which is mounted in an axial passage 10 made in the connector body.

[0030] Regarding the male part, the contact element 8 consists of a pin.

[0031] As regards the female part, the contact element 9 consists of a socket into which the corresponding pin is inserted during electrical connection.

[0032] The insulating contact body 4 and 5 of the male and female parts 2 and 3 has a shoulder 11, a cylindrical extension 12 extending from the shoulder 11 and an insulating sealing insert 13 mounted on the shoulder 11, on the front side.

[0033] An additional insulating sealing insert 14 is also provided at the rear end of the connector body of each part 2 and 3 to ensure sealing around the conductor.

[0034] The sealing inserts provide electrical insulation and also water tightness when the male and female parts of the connector are mated.

[0035] Additional sealing means are provided, including a seal 21 which ensures a seal between the connector and the housing 20 ( figure 6 ), as well as a nipple on the male insulating contact body which ensures a seal between the male and female parts.

[0036] As for the male part, the pin is mounted from the rear side to extend protruding, on the front side, through the insulating sealing insert 13.

[0037] As for the female part, the socket 9 is accessible through a passage made in the insulating sealing insert 13.

[0038] As illustrated on the figures 2a And 2b The male and female parts of the connector are equipped with rotation-locking assembly means.

[0039] These are assembly means which ensure the locking of the conjugate connector parts by a relative rotational movement.

[0040] This is advantageously a quarter-turn lock.

[0041] In the embodiment illustrated on the figures 2a And 2b, the axial cylindrical extension 12 of the contact body of the male and female parts has a helical groove 15 while the passage 10 of the connector body has a radial point 16 which is intended to fit into the helical groove 15.

[0042] Of course, the groove could be made in the passage 10 of the connector body and the pin carried by the axial cylindrical extension 12, without going out of the scope of the invention.

[0043] As illustrated, this groove comprises an axial portion 17 extended by a helical portion 18. With reference to the figures 3a à 3c , with regard to the male connector part, the connector assembly is carried out by first inserting pin 8 into contact body 6 and then inserting the assembly into connector body 4, ensuring that the assembly is locked by quarter-turn locking ( figures 3cà 3eThe female part is assembled in a similar sequence, by inserting the socket into the contact body and then inserting the assembly into the connector body 5, securing the assembly with a quarter-turn lock.

[0044] As illustrated in 2a and 2b, the connector body is externally provided with snap-on means comprising tabs, such as 19, which snap into corresponding recesses to lock the connector assembled in a housing 20.

[0045] For example, it could be an electromagnetic shielding box.

Claims

1. Connector (1) for connecting electrical conductors, comprising two conjugate parts (2, 3), respectively male and female, each comprising a connector body (4, 5) made of insulating material including a passage (10) in which a contact is mounted comprising an insulating contact body (6, 7) and a contact element (8, 9), respectively a pin and a socket, characterized in that the contact body and the connector body include assembly means (15, 16) for rotation locking.

2. Connector according to claim 1, wherein the assembly means comprise a quarter-turn lock.

3. Connector according to claim 2, in which the contact body is externally provided with a helical groove (15) in which a pin (16) carried by the inner face of the passage (10) made in the connector body engages.

4. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the front face of the contact body is provided with an insulating sealing insert (13).

5. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rear face of the connector body is provided with an insulating sealing insert.

6. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the connector body externally comprises snap-in means (19) for mounting the connector in a housing (20).

7. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the connector is a connector with a capacity of at least 46 amps.

8. Method for assembling a connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, for connecting electrical conductors, characterized in thatIt includes the steps of, for each part of male and female connector: - assembling the contact element in the contact body; - inserting the contact body into the passage of the connector body; and - locking the contact body in the connector body by rotation.

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