Multiple size stamped male terminal

Abstract

Electrical connector (100) comprising a male terminal (9) and a female terminal (10), wherein:- the male terminal (9) has a first cylindrical conductive portion (1) with a first lateral contact surface having a first outer diameter, a second cylindrical conductive portion (2) with a second lateral contact surface having a second outer diameter, greater than the first outer diameter, and- the female terminal (10) has at least one flexible conductive portion (11) arranged to be in contact with at least one of the first lateral contact surface or the second lateral contact surface. Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Multiple-size stamped male terminal Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electrical connector for application fields such as the automotive industry or the aeronautical industry. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Electrical connectors are widely used in industry.

[0003] Document US6166615 discloses a connector with a male part and a female part.

[0004] A significant disadvantage is that the prior art connectors do not allow the use of the same male or female part when using a larger diameter connector. For example, for a connector diameter of 4 mm, the prior art uses a 4 mm male part and a 4 mm female part; and for a similar but smaller connector diameter, such as 3.60 mm, the prior art uses a 3.60 mm male part and a 3.60 mm female part. This multiplies the components and increases the costs and the diversity of components, which is neither desired nor desirable.

[0005] There is therefore a need for another type of connector which makes it possible to reduce the number of tips in the event of a change in diameter, in particular a change in a close diameter (for example two close diameters), so as to limit costs and the diversity of components, and which is a good compromise to overcome the various drawbacks of the prior art. Statement of the invention

[0006] The present disclosure thus relates to an electrical connector having a male terminal and a female terminal, in which: - the male terminal has a first cylindrical conductive portion with a first lateral contact surface having a first outer diameter, a second cylindrical conductive portion with a second lateral contact surface having a second outer diameter, greater than the first outer diameter, and - the female terminal has at least one conductive flexible portion arranged to be in contact with at least one of the first lateral contact surface or the second lateral contact surface.

[0007] This makes it possible to provide a common connector for different connection diameters, in particular for diameters close to each other, by reducing the number of components, and limiting costs while reducing the diversity of components.

[0008] Thus, taking the example of connectors with a diameter of 4 mm and a diameter of 3.6 mm, a single male terminal is thus proposed for the two diameters of 3.6 mm and 4 mm. In addition, it is possible to provide a single female terminal for the diameters of 3.6 mm and 4 mm. Alternatively, it is possible to provide two female terminals, one for the diameter of 3.6 mm and one for the diameter of 4 mm.

[0009] In this way, the number of components is reduced and diversity reduced, while optimizing costs and facilitating use.

[0010] Advantageously, the at least one flexible portion is arranged to be in contact with the first lateral contact surface in a first position of the male terminal or with the second lateral contact surface in a second position of the male terminal.

[0011] The first position is preferably a first connection position, and the second position is preferably a second connection position.

[0012] This makes it possible to provide a connector with a common male terminal and a common female terminal for different connection diameters.

[0013] Advantageously, the male terminal further has a cap, preferably made of plastic, at a base end (or free end) of the first cylindrical conductive portion.

[0014] Advantageously, the first cylindrical conductive portion has a first hollowed-out central portion and / or the second cylindrical conductive portion has a second hollowed-out central portion.

[0015] Advantageously, the first cylindrical conductive portion has a first solid central portion and / or the second cylindrical conductive portion has a second solid central portion.

[0016] This makes it easier to insert the male terminal into the female terminal, and to limit exposure to the environment (for example dust), in particular when the male terminal has a hollowed-out portion. In addition, this makes it possible to prevent a user from directly touching the conductive portion, in order to limit the risk of electrocution (for example in order to achieve a protection index called IP2X).

[0017] Advantageously, each of the at least one conductive flexible portion has a flexible contact portion.

[0018] Advantageously, the flexible contact portion has an internal diameter smaller than the first external diameter of the first lateral contact surface.

[0019] This makes it possible to ensure good contact of the flexible contact portion on the first lateral contact surface, by pinching.

[0020] Advantageously, the flexible contact portion has an inner diameter less than the second outer diameter of the second lateral contact surface but greater than the first outer diameter of the first lateral contact surface.

[0021] This makes it possible to ensure good contact of the flexible contact portion on the second lateral contact surface, by pinching. In particular, this makes it possible to ensure that the flexible contact portion does not touch the first lateral contact surface but does touch the second lateral contact surface. The difference between the inner and outer diameters can be adjusted according to the flexibility of the flexible contact portion, and this difference can be small.

[0022] Advantageously, the female terminal has a plurality of flexible conductive portions.

[0023] This makes it possible to ensure the correct passage of the current, by a reduction in resistance, by better contact at several supports, and by better balancing, which provides more stability to the current, in particular in the event of vibration of the components during which contact may be momentarily lost at a flexible conductive portion.

[0024] Advantageously, the second external diameter is 5% greater than the first external diameter, preferably 10% greater than the first external diameter, very preferably 20% greater than the first external diameter.

[0025] Advantageously, the male terminal and the female terminal each have a hooking portion arranged to hook the male terminal to the female terminal.

[0026] This allows the male terminal and the female terminal to be hooked together. The hooking portion may be a hook cooperating with a groove, or any other suitable fastening device, in particular reversible fastening devices.

[0027] Advantageously, the male terminal has a transition portion between the first cylindrical conductive portion and the second cylindrical conductive portion and the at least one flexible conductive portion is arranged to be in contact with the transition portion.

[0028] Advantageously, the conductive flexible portion is arranged to be in contact with the transition portion in a transition position of the male terminal.

[0029] This ensures better guidance when inserting the male terminal into the female terminal.

[0030] Advantageously, the conductive flexible portion is arranged to surround the first lateral contact surface or the second lateral contact surface.

[0031] Advantageously, the first cylindrical conductive portion and the second cylindrical conductive portion are aligned.

[0032] Advantageously, the first cylindrical conductive portion is a free end of the male terminal.

[0033] Advantageously, the transition portion has a chamfer.

[0034] This makes it easier to insert the male terminal into the female terminal.

[0035] Advantageously, the first cylindrical conductive portion and the second portion cylindrical conductor are electrically connected to each other.

[0036] Advantageously, the first cylindrical conductive portion and the second cylindrical conductive portion are formed from a single piece or are integral.

[0037] This makes it easier to manufacture while optimizing electrical operation.

[0038] Preferably, the male or female terminal is stamped. It is also possible to provide for the manufacture of the terminal by cutting and winding, or machining.

[0039] Advantageously, at least one of the first cylindrical conductive portion or the second cylindrical conductive portion is stamped.

[0040] Advantageously, at least one of the first cylindrical conductive portion or the second cylindrical conductive portion is manufactured by stamping.

[0041] Advantageously, the third cylindrical conductive portion is stamped.

[0042] Advantageously, the flexible conductive portions are stamped.

[0043] This makes it possible to limit tooling costs, particularly for a male terminal having several cylindrical conductive portions of different diameters. Thus, this makes it possible to have, for example, only one tool for two sizes instead of having two tools for two sizes. Brief description of the drawings

[0044] Other features, objects and advantages of the disclosure will become more explicit upon reading the detailed description of the non-restrictive embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0045] [Fig. 1] illustrates a connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0046] [Fig.2] illustrates a connector according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] [Fig.l] illustrates a connector 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] The electrical connector 100 has a male terminal 9 and a female terminal 10.

[0049] The male terminal 9 has a first cylindrical conductive portion 1 with a first lateral contact surface 1s having a first outer diameter. The first cylindrical conductive portion 1 is preferably made of a conductive material, such as a metal, for example copper or steel, or any other suitable material.

[0050] The male terminal 9 also has a second cylindrical conductive portion 2 with a second lateral contact surface 2s having a second outer diameter, greater than the first outer diameter. The second cylindrical conductive portion 2 is preferably made of a conductive material, such as a metal, for example copper or steel, or any other suitable material. Preferably, the first cylindrical conductive portion 1 and the second cylindrical conductive portion 2 are formed in one piece. The male terminal 9, in particular the first cylindrical conductive portion 1 and the cylindrical conductive portion 2, is manufactured by stamping.

[0051] For example, the first outer diameter is 3.6 mm and the second outer diameter is 4.00 mm.

[0052] The female terminal 10 has a plurality of conductive flexible portions 11 each with a flexible contact portion 12. The conductive flexible portions 11 are preferably made of a conductive material, such as metal, for example copper or steel, or any other suitable material.

[0053] The conductive flexible portions 11 are arranged to be in contact with the first lateral contact surface 1s or the second lateral contact surface 2s, at the flexible contact portions 12. Preferably, all the flexible contact portions 12 are in contact with one of the first lateral contact surface 1s or the second lateral contact surface 2s, but it is also possible to provide only one flexible contact portion 12 in contact among the plurality (or even several flexible contact portions 12 in contact but not the entire plurality).

[0054] In the representation of [Fig.l], the flexible portions are in contact with the first lateral contact surface 1s in a first position of the male terminal 9, which is a first connection position, i.e. an electric current can pass from the male terminal 9 to the female terminal 10, in particular between the first lateral contact surface 1s and the flexible contact portion(s) 12.

[0055] By further introducing the male terminal 9 into the female terminal 10, the terminal 9 is then in a second position of the male terminal 9, which is a second connection position. In this case, the conductive flexible portions 11 are in contact with the second lateral contact surface 2s in the second position of the male terminal 9, which is the second connection position, i.e. an electric current can pass from the male terminal 9 to the female terminal 10, in particular between the second lateral contact surface 2s and the flexible contact portion(s) 12.

[0056] The male terminal 9 may further have a cap 5, preferably made of plastic, at a base end (or free end) of the first cylindrical conductive portion 1. The cap 5 may be fixed in a cavity or hollow portion of the male terminal 9. That is, the male terminal 9 may be a hollow cylinder at the first lateral contact surface 1s and / or the second lateral contact surface 2s.

[0057] The flexible contact portions 12 have an inner diameter smaller than the first outer diameter of the first lateral contact surface 1s, which makes it possible to ensure the pinching of the female terminal 10 on the male terminal 9. A fortiori, in the case where the same female terminal 10 is used for the first position and the second position (that is to say for the first lateral contact surface 1s and the second lateral contact surface 2s), the pinching of the female terminal 10 will be even stronger on the second lateral contact surface 2s, when the male terminal 9 is even more inserted into the female terminal 10.

[0058] Thus, the flexible conductive portions 11 surround the first lateral contact surface 1s or the second lateral contact surface 2s depending on the position of the male terminal 9 in the female terminal 10.

[0059] Furthermore, the male terminal 9 has a (first) transition portion 1c between the first lateral contact surface 1s and the second lateral contact surface 2s, which in particular makes it easier to move from the first position to the second position.

[0060] In addition, the male terminal 9 has a (second) transition portion 2c between the second lateral contact surface 2s and a third lateral surface 3s of a third cylindrical conductive portion 3 of the terminal 9.

[0061] The third cylindrical conductive portion 3 may further have a stop portion 3c, in order to ensure that the terminal 9 will not be inserted further than necessary or useful into the female terminal 10.

[0062] For example, the first lateral contact surface 1s has a length of 5 mm and the second lateral contact surface 2s has a length greater than 5 mm, for example 6 mm.

[0063] [Fig.2] illustrates a connector according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0064] The reference signs are repeated as much as possible and necessary between the figures and the embodiments.

[0065] In the embodiment of [Fig.2], the male terminal 9 is identical to that of [Fig.l], but the female terminal 10 has a larger diameter.

[0066] Thus, the flexible contact portions 12 have an inner diameter smaller than the second outer diameter of the second lateral contact surface 2s but greater than the first outer diameter of the first lateral contact surface 1s. In this way, the female terminal 10 is adapted to the outer diameter of the male terminal 9.

[0067] In the representation of [Fig.2], at least one of the flexible contact portions 12 is in contact with the second lateral contact surface 2s, so as to allow electrical contact between the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 9.

[0068] It is understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art may be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the disclosure defined by the appended claims. The various embodiments may be combined whenever possible and / or necessary.

Claims

Claims

1. An electrical connector (100) having a male terminal (9) and a female terminal (10), wherein: - the male terminal (9) has a first cylindrical conductive portion (1) with a first lateral contact surface (1s) having a first outer diameter, a second cylindrical conductive portion (2) with a second lateral contact surface (2s) having a second outer diameter, greater than the first outer diameter, and - the female terminal (10) has at least one conductive flexible portion (11) arranged to be in contact with at least one of the first lateral contact surface (1s) or the second lateral contact surface (2s) wherein each of the at least one conductive flexible portion (11) has a flexible contact portion (12),and wherein the flexible contact portion (12) has an inner diameter less than the second outer diameter of the second lateral contact surface (2s) but greater than the first outer diameter of the first lateral contact surface (1s).,

2. Electrical connector (100) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible portion (11) is arranged to be in contact with the first lateral contact surface (1s) in a first position of the male terminal (9) or with the second lateral contact surface (2s) in a second position of the male terminal (9).

3. Electrical connector (100) according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the male terminal (9) further has a cap (5), preferably made of plastic, at a base end of the first cylindrical conductive portion (1).

4. An electrical connector (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the female terminal (10) has a plurality of conductive flexible portions (11).

5. Electrical connector (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the second outer diameter is 5% greater than the first outer diameter, preferably 10% greater than the first outer diameter, very preferably 20% greater than the first outer diameter.

6. An electrical connector (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the conductive flexible portion (11) is arranged to surround the first lateral contact surface (1s) or the second lateral contact surface (2s).

7. An electrical connector (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one of the first cylindrical conductive portion (1) or the second cylindrical conductive portion (2) is stamped.

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