INSULATION PIERCING CONNECTOR

Abstract

INSULATION-PERFORATION CONNECTOR The invention relates to a connector (100) comprising two jaws (102a-b), each having a channel (104a-b) for receiving a primary electrical cable and which are movable between an open and a closed position, clamping means (106) for holding the jaws (102a-b) in the closed position, at least one passage (108) for the insertion of a secondary electrical cable, for each jaw (102a-b), a sub-jaw with teeth arranged at the channel (104a-b), and for each sub-jaw, a spring element exerting a force against the sub-jaw at a bearing area, where each passage (108) opens at the bearing area and the spring element so as to allow the insertion of the secondary electrical cable (50) between the bearing area and the spring element. Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Insulation-piercing connector technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an insulation-piercing connector that provides an electrical connection between a main electrical cable with perforated insulation and at least one secondary electrical cable with one stripped end. Such a connector can be used, for example, to connect photovoltaic panels to a bus cable. PREVIOUS STATE OF THE ART

[0002] It is often necessary to ensure electrical continuity between different electrical cables. To do this, many types of connectors are used, which do not always provide complete satisfaction. Description of the invention

[0003] An object of the present invention is to propose a connector having a different architecture which ensures among other things simplified use and the concentration of a clamping force at the perforation of a main electrical cable.

[0004] To this end, a connector comprising: is proposed.

[0005] - two jaws, each having a channel for receiving an electrical cable main, where the jaws are movable between a spread position and a closed position,

[0006] - clamping means arranged to hold the jaws in a clamped position,

[0007] - for at least one jaw, at least one passage intended for the introduction of a secondary electrical cable

[0008] - for each jaw, a sub-jaw having teeth made of electrical material triangularly conductive, arranged at the level of the canal and oriented towards the other sub-jaw, and

[0009] - for each sub-jaw, a spring element arranged to exert a force against the under-jaw at the level of a support area of ​​the under-jaw, where for each passage, said passage opens at the level of the support area and the spring element so as to allow the insertion of the secondary electrical cable between the support area and the spring element.

[0010] With such an arrangement, the force used to perform the tightening is entirely applied to the teeth to pierce the sheath of the main electrical cable and not to the secondary electrical cables.

[0011] Advantageously, each sub-jaw is mobile in translation between a position a close position in which the teeth of the two sub-jaws are close together and a distant position in which the teeth of the two sub-jaws are far apart, and the force exerted by the spring element pushes the sub-jaw into the close position.

[0012] Advantageously, the spring element consists of at least one metallic elastic strip.

[0013] Advantageously, the spring element comprises at least one wall having a housing, for each housing, the sub-jaw has an outgrowth housing in said housing and the edges of the housing define the close and distant positions of the sub-jaw.

[0014] Advantageously, the connector comprises, for each sub-jaw, a seal attached to the corresponding jaw, presenting for each tooth, a tunnel through which said tooth passes, the seal is made of a flexible material.

[0015] Advantageously, the clamping means take the form of a threaded rod and at least one nut, each jaw has a chimney through said jaw, the threaded rod is disposed in the chimneys and said at least one nut is screwed onto the threaded rod so as to sandwich the two jaws.

[0016] Advantageously, the connector comprises at least one barrel integral with at least one jaw, made of a flexible material and disposed between the two jaws around the threaded rod.

[0017] Advantageously, at each end of each channel, the jaw considered has two arms, where each arm has a proximal end fixed to the jaw and a free distal end, and in the closed position, the arms are intended to be in contact with the main electrical cable. Brief description of the drawings

[0018] The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will become clearer upon reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0019] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a connector according to the invention in a spread-away position,

[0020] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the connector according to the invention in the tightened position,

[0021] [Fig.3] is a cross-sectional view along plane III of [Fig.2] of a jaw of the connector according to the invention,

[0022] [Fig.4] is a cross-sectional view along line IV-IV of [Fig.3],

[0023] [Fig.5] is a side view of the connector according to the invention,

[0024] [Fig.6] is a cross-sectional view along plane VI of [Fig.2] of the connector according to the invention, and

[0025] [Fig.7] is an exploded view of part of a jaw of the connector according to the invention.

[0026] DETAILED STATEMENT OF IMPROVEMENTS

[0027] Figs. 1 to 3 show a connector 100 according to the invention in different positions, namely in the spread position in [Fig.1], in the closed position in [Fig.2] and in the closed position and with a main electrical cable 52 in [Fig.5].

[0028] The connector 100 thus has two jaws 102a-b and each having a channel 104a-b in which the main electrical cable 52 is received, which can be, for example, a bus cable.

[0029] The jaws 102a-b are movable relative to each other between a spread position and a closed position. In the spread position, the two jaws 102a-b are spread apart to allow access to the channels 104a-b and to permit the insertion of the main electrical cable 52 into the channels 104a-b. In the closed position, the two jaws 102a-b are brought together to grip and hold the main electrical cable 52.

[0030] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the jaws 102a-b are mounted to rotate movably relative to each other about a pivot axis X which is generally parallel to an axis of the main electrical cable 52 when the latter is in place. In another embodiment not shown, the jaws 102a-b are mounted to translate movably relative to each other, for example by establishing a sliding connection between them whose direction of translation is perpendicular to the axis of the main electrical cable 52 when the latter is in place.

[0031] The connector 100 also includes clamping means 106 arranged to hold the jaws 102a-b in a clamped position. In the embodiment of the invention presented here, and as shown more precisely in [Fig. 6], the clamping means 106 take the form of a threaded rod 106a and at least one nut 106b screwed onto the threaded rod 106a.

[0032] Each jaw 102a-b is thus traversed by a channel 120 in which the threaded rod 106a is housed. In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig. 6], there is a screw head 106b at one end of the threaded rod 106a and a nut 106b screwed onto the other end of the threaded rod 106a. The screw head 106b and the nut 106b bear against a rim of a jaw 102a-b, and after tightening the nut 106b, the two jaws are sandwiched and clamped between the screw head 106b and the nut 106b. Of course, it is possible to replace the screw head with a nut screwed onto the threaded rod.

[0033] Tightening the nut(s) 106b ensures that the jaws 102a-b are tightened together in the closed position, and loosening the nut(s) 106b ensures that the jaws 102a-b can move to the open position.

[0034] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, each jaw 102a-b has two passages 108 which are provided to allow the introduction of a secondary electrical cable 50, which, as explained below, ensures electrical continuity between the main electrical cable 52 and each secondary electrical cable 50. Generally, at least one jaw 102a-b is equipped with at least one passage 108. Each secondary electrical cable 50 is, for example, a cable from a photovoltaic panel.

[0035] As can be better seen in [Fig.4], the passage 108 provides the passage between the outside and a free space 142 provided inside the jaw 102a-b considered.

[0036] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the connector 100 comprises, for each passage 108, a locking system 140 which locks the secondary electrical cable 50 in question. The locking system 140 here takes the form of a ring 140a screwed onto the jaw 102a-b and a locking wedge 140b.

[0037] The connector 100 also includes, for each jaw 102a-b, a sub-jaw 110 which is better seen in [Fig.7].

[0038] The sub-jaw 110 is housed in the free space 142 provided for this purpose in the jaw 102a-b and which is better seen in Figs. 3 and 6.

[0039] Each sub-jaw 110 has teeth 112 made of an electrically conductive material, typically metal, arranged in the channel 104a-b corresponding to said jaw 102a-b. The teeth 112 are oriented towards the other sub-jaw 110 and are arranged so that when the jaws 102a-b are in the closed position, they penetrate the sheath protecting the main electrical cable 52 in order to establish contact with the conductive part of said main electrical cable 52.

[0040] The connector 100 also includes, for each sub-jaw 110, a spring element 114, preferably made of an electrically conductive material. The spring element 114 is disposed in the free space 142 and bears against a wall delimiting the free space 142 of the jaw 102a-b under consideration. The spring element 114 is arranged to exert a force against the sub-jaw 110 at a bearing area 116 of said sub-jaw 110 and is disposed to push the teeth 112 of the sub-jaw 110 towards the teeth 112 of the other sub-jaw 110 to clamp the main electrical cable 52 together and make contact with its conductive part.

[0041] For each passage 108, the passage 108 opens into the free space 142 at the level of the bearing area 116 and the spring element 114 so as to allow the insertion of a stripped end of the secondary electrical cable 50 between the bearing area 116 and the spring element 114 so that the secondary electrical cable 50 is in contact with the teeth 112 at the level of the bearing area 116 and therefore with the cable main electrical 52 through the teeth 112.

[0042] The end of each secondary electrical cable 50 is thus pinched between the spring element 114 and the support area 116. The spring element 114 thus ensures the pressure of the secondary electrical cable 50 against the support area 116 and therefore the electrical connection with the sub-jaw 110 and thus the main electrical cable 52.

[0043] Thus such a connector 100 makes it possible to ensure the connection of each secondary electrical cable 50 with the main electrical cable 52. In addition, with such an installation, it is possible to prepare the secondary electrical cables 50 in the workshop and when tightening the clamping means 106, the force used to perform the tightening is entirely applied to the teeth 112 to pierce the sheath of the main electrical cable 52 and not on the secondary electrical cables 50 which therefore do not risk being damaged.

[0044] The jaws 102a-b are made of an electrically insulating material such as polyamide to enclose the sub-jaws 110 and thus prevent leakage currents.

[0045] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the teeth 112 are distributed in two groups parallel to the articulation axis X and the groups are connected by a connecting bar 144 parallel to the articulation axis X of the sub-jaw 110 also made of electrically conductive material and the bearing area 116 is disposed at the level of the connecting bar 144. In each group, there are several teeth 112 distributed perpendicular to the articulation axis X.

[0046] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the spring element 114 is made from a shaped and bent metal spring blade with two metal elastic strips 114a. Generally, there is at least one metal elastic strip 114a.

[0047] Here, there are two elastic strips 114a to ensure the placement of a secondary electrical cable 50 on each side and to ensure stability of the sub-jaw 110 by pushing at the level of the two support areas 116.

[0048] Due to the positioning of the spring element 114, the sub-jaws 110 are mobile in translation, here perpendicular to the axis of the main electrical cable 52 when it is in place, between a close position and a distant position.

[0049] The movement of the sub-jaws 110 is limited here, on one side, by a rim 146 formed by the jaw 102a-b in which the sub-jaw 110 is housed and, on the other side, by a seal 118 integral with said jaw 102a-b and whose primary function is explained below. The function of the seal 118 of limiting the movement of the sub-jaws 110 can be fulfilled by another rim of the jaw 102a-b arranged for this purpose.

[0050] In the close position, the teeth 112 of the two sub-jaws 110 are close together and in the distant position the teeth 112 of the two sub-jaws 110 are far apart from each other, and the force exerted by the spring element 114 pushes the teeth 112 into the close position.

[0051] Thus, the teeth 112 always tend to tighten around the main electrical cable 52 and the mobility of the teeth 112 makes it possible to compensate for any dimensional variations that may appear over time.

[0052] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the spring element 114 comprises at least one wall 114b having a housing 114c, and for each housing 114c, the sub-jaw 110 has a projection 110c, formed here in the connecting bar 144 and housed in said housing 114c, which here takes the form of a rectangular window. Here, there are two walls 114b, four housings 114c and 110c distributed in pairs on each wall 114b, and four projections 110c distributed in pairs on either side of the connecting bar 144.

[0053] The edges of the housing 114c define the close and distant positions of the sub-jaw 110 by butting the protrusion 110c against said edges.

[0054] The spring element 114 also has a base wall 114d to which the walls 114b and the elastic strips 114a are attached, and where the base wall 114d is fixed to the jaw 102a-b by the insertion of a stud 148 of the jaw 102a-b into a bore provided for this purpose in the base wall 114d. The base wall 114d bears against the wall delimiting the free space 142 of the jaw 102a-b considered.

[0055] To ensure electrical insulation of the teeth 112 from the view of a technician handling the connector 100, the latter includes for each sub-jaw 110, the seal 118 which is integral with the jaw 102a-b corresponding to the sub-jaw 110.

[0056] The seal 118 is made of a flexible electrically insulating material, such as TPE, and it has for each tooth 112, a tunnel 118a through which said tooth 112 passes. Thus, each tooth 112 passes through the seal 112. In a particular embodiment, in the spread position, each tooth 112 is globally flush with a contact surface 118b of the seal 118, where said contact surface 118b is the surface which is opposite the contact surface 118b of the other seal 118, that is to say the seal 118 which is on the other jaw 102b-a.

[0057] Due to the flexibility of the seal 118, when the jaws 102a-b move into the closed position, the seal 118 is progressively crushed by the sheath of the main electrical cable 52, revealing the teeth 112 which will pierce said sheath.

[0058] Each contact surface 118b partially delimits the channel 104a-b receiving the main electrical cable 52.

[0059] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, there is a tunnel 118a for several teeth 112.

[0060] To increase the creepage distance between the teeth 112 and the threaded rod 106a when the latter is made of electrically conductive materials, the connector 100 has at least one barrel 122a-b integral with at least one jaw 102a-b and disposed between the two jaws 102a-b around the threaded rod 106a.

[0061] The barrel or each barrel 122a-b is made of a flexible electrically insulating material, so that when the jaws 102a-b move apart or close together, the barrel or barrels 122a-b can adapt in length to the distance between the jaws 102a-b.

[0062] In the embodiment of the invention presented here and more particularly in [Fig.6], there is a barrel 122a-b for each jaw 102a-b and each barrel 122a-b is monobloc with the seal 118 associated with said jaw 102a-b.

[0063] To limit the possibility of contact with the teeth 112 when the main electrical cable 52 is in place, and thus increase the line of flight between the active parts and any other accessible part, it is provided that at each end of each channel 104a-b, the jaw 102a-b considered has two arms 130, where each arm 130 has a proximal end 130a attached to the jaw 102a-b and a free distal end 130b.

[0064] The arrangement of the arms 130 is such that in the closed position, the arms 130 are in contact with the main electrical cable 52.

[0065] In the embodiment of the invention presented here and more particularly in Figs. 2 and 5, the two arms 130 associated with the same jaw 102a-b form a Y, where the ends of the upper branches of the Y are the proximal ends 130a fixed to the jaw 102a-b diametrically opposite with respect to the channel 104a-b, while the middle branch of the Y is constituted by the two distal ends 130b arranged parallel to each other.

[0066] The two Ys on the same side of the channels 104a-b are arranged head-to-tail. The main electrical cable 52 is thus placed between the upper branches of the Ys, and the middle branches of the Y move apart as the jaws 102a-b close.

Claims

Demands

1. Connector (100) comprising: - two jaws (102a-b), each having a channel (104a-b) for receiving a main electrical cable (52), wherein the jaws (102a-b) are movable between an open position and a closed position, - clamping means (106) arranged to hold the jaws (102a-b) in the closed position, - for at least one jaw (102a-b), at least one passage (108) for the introduction of a secondary electrical cable (50), - for each jaw (102a-b), a sub-jaw (110) having teeth (112) of electrically conductive material, arranged at the channel (104a-b) and oriented towards the other sub-jaw (110), and - for each sub-jaw (110), a spring element (114) arranged so as to exert a force against the sub-jaw (110) at a support zone (116) of the sub-jaw (110), where for each pass (108),said passage (108) opens at the level of the support area (116) and the spring element (114) so ​​as to allow the insertion of the secondary electrical cable (50) between the support area (116) and the spring element (114).

2. Connector (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that each sub-jaw (110) is translationally movable between a close position in which the teeth (112) of the two sub-jaws (110) are close together and a far position in which the teeth (112) of the two sub-jaws (110) are far apart, and in that the force exerted by the spring element (114) pushes the sub-jaw (110) into the close position.

3. Connector (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring element (114) is made up of at least one metallic elastic strip (114a).

4. Connector (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring element (114) comprises at least one wall (114b) having a housing (114c), in that for each housing (114c), the sub-jaw (110) has a protrusion (110c) housed in said housing (114c) and in that edges of the housing (114c) define the close and distant positions of the sub-jaw (110).

5. Connector (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that it comprises for each sub-jaw (110), a joint (118) attached to the corresponding jaw (102a-b), presenting for each tooth (112), a tunnel (118a) through which said tooth (112) passes, in that the joint (118) is made of a flexible material.

6. Connector (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the clamping means (106) take the form of a threaded rod (106a) and at least one nut (106b), in that each jaw (102a-b) has a chimney (120) passing through said jaw (102a-b), in that the threaded rod (106a) is disposed in the chimneys (120) and in that said at least one nut (106b) is screwed onto the threaded rod (106a) so as to sandwich the two jaws (102a-b).

7. Connector (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises at least one barrel (122a-b) integral with at least one jaw (102a-b), made of a flexible material and disposed between the two jaws (102a-b) around the threaded rod (106a).

8. Connector (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at each end of each channel (104a-b), the jaw (102a-b) considered has two arms (130), where each arm (130) has a proximal end (130a) integral with the jaw (102a-b) and a free distal end (130b), and in that in the clamped position, the arms (130) are intended to bear against the main electrical cable (52).

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