Multilayer power interconnector device and method for the interconnection of an electrical rack

Abstract

The invention relates to an interconnector device (2) for an electrical rack (1) of an aircraft equipped with electrical wiring, the interconnector device (2) comprising a bus bar (2b) and at least one cable connector (2a) mounted structurally on the bus bar (2b), said bus bar comprising at least one structural layer (2d) for attaching to the primary structure (1a) and for securing each connector (2a), as well as a conductive layer (2e).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] MULTILAYER POWER INTERCONNECTION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INTERCONNECTION OF AN ELECTRICAL FURNITURE

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The invention relates to a multi-layer power interconnection device in an aircraft and to a method for interconnecting an electrical unit in the aeronautical field. The power interconnection devices make it possible to produce a connection support between different connectors, in particular connecting the electrical units to the aircraft.

[0005] In the aeronautical field, a large part of the electrical and electronic equipment is installed in furniture. These furniture are connected to the electrical cables that extend throughout the aircraft and carry electrical current to power and control all of this equipment. Interfaces for connecting the aircraft's electrical cables to the furniture's electrical cables are therefore provided to interconnect the electrical furniture to the aircraft.

[0006] STATE OF THE ART

[0007] Generally speaking, electrical cabinets include a so-called cut-off plate in their structure. This cut-off plate acts as a mechanical support on which the electrical cables coming from the aircraft and from the equipment installed in the electrical cabinet meet and connect.

[0008] This approach has several drawbacks. Each cable in the electrical cabinet is individually interconnected to the aircraft. However, the number of cables in an electrical cabinet is significant, which means a long and complex installation, and therefore prone to connection errors. In addition, the disconnecting plate is physically limited in the number of cables it can support.

[0009] To overcome these drawbacks, laminated busbars or busbar assemblies are mounted on the structure of the electrical cabinet. These busbars simplify the electrical installation by reducing the number of components to be installed. In fact, these laminated busbars and busbar assemblies can be considered the equivalent of a printed circuit board suitable for power electrical installations.

[0010] However, the busbars are assembled and fixed to the electrical cabinet. The interconnection is then carried out on the one hand mechanically between the disconnecting plate and the busbars and, on the other hand, electrically between the busbars and the cables. Since the disconnecting plate and the busbars are assembled on the structure of the electrical cabinet, the interconnection therefore requires precise mechanical assembly which increases local mechanical constraints as well as installation times. In addition, the difficulties of access to the disconnecting plate and the busbars make the interconnection not very ergonomic, the structure of the cabinet remaining immobilized during the interconnection.

[0011] In the remainder of the document, the term “busbar” refers indifferently to laminated busbars or busbar assemblies.

[0012] STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In order to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art set out above, the main objective of the invention is to enable simplified and rapid interconnection of electrical furniture to the electrical wiring of an aircraft.

[0014] To do this, the invention provides for interconnecting the electrical cabinet to each connector of the aircraft's electrical wiring via a device separate from the structure of the electrical cabinet.

[0015] More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for interconnecting an aircraft electrical unit equipped with electrical wiring, the device comprising a bus bar and at least one cable connector structurally mounted on the bus bar.

[0016] In this device, the bus bar includes:

[0017] - at least one structural layer for attachment to a primary structure of the electrical furniture and for fixing each connector, and - a conductive layer.

[0018] Advantageously, the interconnection device is detachable because it is completely removable from the primary structure of the electrical cabinet, i.e. from the structure ensuring the mechanical strength of the cabinet. This device makes it possible to assemble the connectors to the bus bar in an open and accessible space before its installation on the electrical cabinet, thus saving time in manufacturing and integrating the cabinets as well as increasing production rates.

[0019] Also advantageously, the interconnection device allows for direct mounting of the bus bar, which can therefore be installed directly on the electrical cabinet, without specific adjustment of the latter.

[0020] Also advantageously, the cable connectors accompany the movements of the bus bar throughout the aircraft's flight cycles, thus reducing the stresses at the electrical junctions, which improves the reliability of the electrical connections.

[0021] Advantageously also, the structural layer also mechanically supports the connector(s) and the conductive layer directly ensures the electrical connection.

[0022] According to preferred embodiments, taken alone or in combination:

[0023] - the structural layer is positioned between the primary structure of the furniture and the conductive layer;

[0024] - the conductive layer has a section forming an angle between 90° and 180°;

[0025] - the conductive layer has an “L” shaped section forming a 90° angle;

[0026] - the conductive layer has an “S” and / or twisted section;

[0027] - the structural layer has a section forming an angle between 90° and

[0028] 180° ;

[0029] - the structural layer comprises at least one mounting interface to the primary structure;

[0030] - each mounting interface is reversible;

[0031] - a securing nut holds each connector on the structural layer; - the structural layer has an insulating ring for each connector;

[0032] - each connector is held in electrical contact on the conductive layer by a clamping screw;

[0033] - the structural layer and the conductive layer form a single interconnection layer which has an upper face and a lower face;

[0034] - the single interconnection layer has an electrical insulator on the upper and lower faces;

[0035] - the structural layer comprises a support plate on which each connector is fixed, and

[0036] - the support plate is made of insulating material.

[0037] The invention also relates to a method for interconnecting an electrical cabinet to the electrical wiring of an aircraft by an interconnection device as defined above. The method is carried out according to the following steps:

[0038] - insertion of each connector into the structural layer:

[0039] - contacting each connector with the conductive layer;

[0040] - fixing the structural layer on the primary structure of the electrical cabinet, and

[0041] - inserting a cable into each connector.

[0042] Advantageously, this method makes it possible to overcome the problems of accessibility to the bus bar during the electrical connection of the cabinet to the aircraft. Indeed, the connection of the bus bar is carried out after its installation on the cabinet, which allows in particular easy handling of the electrical connectors.

[0043] In certain preferred forms of implementation, additional steps may be planned:

[0044] - a step of securing each connector on the structural layer;

[0045] - a step of fixing each connector on the conductive layer, and

[0046] - a connection testing step before the step of fixing the structural layer on the primary structure of the electrical furniture.

[0047] PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following reading of a detailed exemplary embodiment without limiting its scope, with reference to the appended figures which represent, respectively:

[0048] - figure 1, a front view of an example of electrical furniture of the prior art;

[0049] - Figure 2, a sectional view of a connection interface of the prior art;

[0050] - figure 3, a front view of an electrical cabinet according to the present invention;

[0051] - Figure 4, an exploded view of an example of an interconnection device according to the present invention, and

[0052] - Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8 and Figure 9, a sectional view of examples of interconnection according to different variants of the present invention.

[0053] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] In the figures, identical reference signs refer to the same element as well as to the corresponding passages of the description.

[0055] Figure 1 illustrates a front view of an electrical cabinet 1 of the prior art. This electrical cabinet 1 of the prior art, installed in an aircraft, is built around a primary structure 1a which constitutes the structural framework of this electrical cabinet 1. In the example shown in Figure 1, the primary structure 1a of the electrical cabinet 1 comprises in this example three boxes 1b of varying dimensions, adapted to the electrical and / or electronic equipment that they house. These boxes 1b are connected to the electrical wiring of the aircraft by connectors 2a installed on a cut-off plate 1c of the primary structure to produce the connection interface.

[0056] Figure 2 represents a sectional view of this connection interface according to plane A defined in Figure 1. In this interface, the cut-off plate 1c has a front 1d and two side flaps 1e, only one of which is visible in this view. This cut-off plate 1c is an integral part of the primary structure 1a. The connector 2a is inserted into the front 1d of the cut-off plate 1c and is in electrical contact with the bus bar 1g which rests on the support 1f of the primary structure 1a.

[0057] The 1c cut-off plate and the 1g busbar are therefore integrated into the primary structure, and the connection interface then requires high-precision mechanical assembly.

[0058] Figure 3 shows an example of an interconnection device 2 according to the invention of an aircraft electrical cabinet 1 equipped with electrical wiring (not shown). This interconnection device 2 comprises a bus bar - the structural layer 2d of which is visible - and connectors 2a, three in number in the example, structurally mounted on the bus bar. This electrical cabinet 1 also comprises here three boxes 1b which constitute the primary structure 1a of the electrical cabinet 1, the interconnection device 2 being mounted on one of the boxes 1b. A section along plane B is shown in Figure 5 which is described further below.

[0059] Figure 4 first shows an exploded view of the interconnection device 2. The bus bar 2b comprises a structural layer 2d for fixing each connector 2a and for reversible attachment to the box 1b and therefore to the primary structure 1a of the cabinet, as well as a conductive layer 2e. The two layers 2d and 2e here comprise an “L”-shaped section forming a 90° angle. To do this, the structural layer 2d of the bus bar 2b here comprises two reversible mounting interfaces on the primary structure 1a of the electrical cabinet 1. These reversible mounting interfaces are constituted by two pierced tabs 2f extending on either side of the structural layer 2d and opposite holes 3a drilled in the box 1b, the mounting being ensured by screw-nut assemblies. Alternatively, other methods of fixing the bus bar are possible, in particular by a unique mounting interface such as drilling in the structural layer or by clipping.

[0060] Figure 5 shows a sectional view of the interconnection device 2 after assembly, the section being made along plane B of Figure 3. The structural layer 2d rests on the structure of the box 1b and is positioned between the primary structure 1a of the furniture and the conductive layer 2e. In addition, the structural layer 2d here comprises an “L”-shaped section in which the conductive layer 2e partially nestles with a section also in an “L”. Alternatively and as in the variant presented in Figure 8, the structural layer 2d can also be flat.

[0061] The connector 2a is supported on the structural layer 2d by abutting its middle flange 2g against the layer 2d. The structural layer 2d and the conductive layer 2e are then assembled and secured so as to bring the connector 2a into contact with the conductive layer 2e. The connector 2a is thus on the one hand secured to the structural layer by a securing nut 3b and on the other hand maintained in electrical contact on the conductive layer 2e by a clamping screw 3c. The insulation of the connector 2a with respect to the structural layer 2d is advantageously improved by the addition of an insulation ring 3d to the structural layer 2d.

[0062] Figure 6 shows a sectional view of a variant of the interconnection device 2 according to plane B of Figure 3. In this variant, the structural layer 2d and the conductive layer 2e are nested inside each other and form a laminated bus bar. This variant is suitable for connectors 2a' called "short" connectors compared to the connectors 2a.

[0063] In another variant of the interconnection device 2 illustrated in Figure 7, the structural layer and the conductive layer form a single interconnection layer 2h which has an upper face 2i and a lower face 2j. This single interconnection layer 2h has an electrical insulator on the upper face 2i and the lower face 2j outside the connection part with the connector 2a. The connector 2a is also secured by a securing nut 3b.

[0064] In another variant of the interconnection device 2 shown in Figure 8, the structural layer 2d is planar and comprises a support plate 2k on which each connector 2a is fixed. Usual fixing means (screw-nut, riveting) make it possible to secure the support plate 2k to the structural layer 2d. Like the first variant illustrated in Figure 5, the connector 2a is secured by a securing nut 3b and is held in electrical contact on the conductive layer 2e by a clamping screw 3c. To guarantee the electrical insulation of the interconnection device 2, the support plate 2k may be made of insulating material or comprise an insulating ring 3d. According to other variants of the interconnection device 2, the structural layer and the conductive layer comprise a section forming an angle of between 90° and 180°, thus making it possible to adapt the inclination of the connectors to the orientation of the electrical cables of the aircraft.The conductive layer may also comprise an “S”-shaped and / or twisted section, which allow the height and angle of the connectors to be adjusted respectively to the height and angle of arrival of the electrical cables from the aircraft to the bus bar. Indeed, an “S”-shaped section comprises two terminal plates 2m and 2n, parallel to each other in the variant illustrated in Figure 9, connected respectively to the box 1b and to the connector 2a. These plates create a difference in level advantageously used to adapt the bus bar to electrical cables of variable heights and angles of arrival relative to the box 1b. Alternatively, the terminal plates 2m and 2n of the “S”-shaped section may form a fold and / or twist angle. In addition, when the conductive layer comprises an “S”-shaped and / or twisted section, the structural layer of an interconnection device without a support plate also comprises an “S”-shaped and / or twisted section.

[0065] The interconnection of an electrical cabinet 1 to the electrical wiring of an aircraft with an interconnection device 2 of the present invention then takes place according to the following steps:

[0066] - insertion of each connector 2a into the structural layer 2d:

[0067] - bringing each connector 2a into contact with the conductive layer 2e;

[0068] - fixing the structural layer 2d on the primary structure 1a of the electrical cabinet 1, and

[0069] - inserting a cable into each connector 2a.

[0070] Furthermore, after the step of inserting the connectors 2a into the structural layer 2d, a step of securing each of these connectors 2a on the structural layer 2d can be advantageously carried out, in particular with the use of the securing nuts 3b.

[0071] Also, after the step of bringing the connectors 2a into contact with the conductive layer 2e, a step of fixing each connector 2a on the conductive layer 2e is also advantageously carried out, in particular with the clamping screws 3c. A step of testing the connections can also be advantageously added, this being carried out before the step of fixing the structural layer 2d on the primary structure 1a of the electrical furniture 1.

[0072] The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown. The bus bar may also comprise several separate interconnection zones, each being delimited by a conductive layer 2e. Several bus bars may also be installed on the same electrical cabinet.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Interconnection device (2) for an aircraft electrical cabinet (1) equipped with electrical wiring, the interconnection device (2) comprising a bus bar (2b) and at least one cable connector (2a) structurally mounted on the bus bar (2b), characterized in that the bus bar (2b) comprises at least one structural layer (2d) for attachment to a primary structure (1a) of the electrical cabinet (1) and for fixing each connector (2a) as well as a conductive layer (2e).

2. Interconnection device (2) according to the preceding claim, in which the structural layer (2d) comprises at least one interface (2f) for mounting to the primary structure (1a) of the electrical furniture (1).

3. Interconnection device (2) according to claim 2, in which each mounting interface (2f) is reversible.

4. Interconnection device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the conductive layer (2e) comprises an “S” and / or twisted section.

5. Interconnection device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the conductive layer (2e) comprises a section forming an angle of between 90° and 180°.

6. Interconnection device (2) according to claim 5, in which the conductive layer (2e) comprises an “L”-shaped section forming a 90° angle.

7. Interconnection device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the structural layer (2d) and the conductive layer (2e) form a single interconnection layer (2h) which comprises an upper face (2i) and a lower face (2j).

8. Interconnection device (2) according to claim 7, in which the single interconnection layer (2h) comprises an electrical insulator on the upper face (2i) and the lower face (2j).

9. Interconnection device (2) according to any one of claim 1 to claim 6, wherein the structural layer (2d) is positioned between the primary structure (1a) of the furniture (1) and the conductive layer (2e).

10. Interconnection device (2) according to any one of claim 5 to claim 9, in which the structural layer (2d) comprises a section forming an angle of between 90° and 180°.

11. Interconnection device (2) according to any one of claim 1 to claim 10, wherein a securing nut (3b) holds each connector (2a) on the structural layer (2d).

12. Interconnection device (2) according to any one of claim 1 to claim 11, wherein the structural layer (2d) comprises an insulation ring (3d) for each connector (2a).

13. Interconnection device (2) according to any one of claim 1 to claim 12, wherein each connector (2a) is held in electrical contact on the conductive layer (2e) by a clamping screw (3c).

14. Interconnection device (2) according to claim 9, in which the structural layer (2d) comprises a support plate (2k) on which each connector (2a) is fixed.

15. Interconnection device (2) according to claim 14, in which the support plate (2k) is made of insulating material.

16. Method for interconnecting an electrical unit (1) to the electrical wiring of an aircraft with an interconnection device (2) according to any one of Claim 1 to Claim 15, characterized in that the interconnection takes place according to the following steps: - insertion of each connector (2a) into the structural layer (2d); - bringing each connector (2a) into contact with the conductive layer (2e); - fixing the structural layer (2d) on the primary structure (1a) of the electrical cabinet (1), and - inserting a cable into each connector (2a).

17. Interconnection method according to claim 16, characterized in that it comprises a step of securing each connector (2a) on the structural layer (2d) after the step of inserting the connectors (2a) into the structural layer (2d).

18. Interconnection method according to any one of claims 16 to 17, characterized in that it comprises a step of fixing each connector (2a) on the conductive layer (2e) after the step of bringing the connectors (2a) into contact with the conductive layer (2e).

19. Interconnection method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that it comprises a step of testing the connections before the step of fixing the structural layer (2d) on the primary structure (1a) of the electrical furniture (1).

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