FEMALE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH MEANS FOR TIGHTENING THE MALE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS
The female electrical connector with clamping means addresses wear-related issues in aircraft ground power connections by ensuring secure closure of male contacts, maintaining electrical continuity and preventing arcs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2024000625
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-16
- Estimated Expiration
- 2044-01-23
AI Technical Summary
Existing male electrical contacts in aircraft ground power connections wear out due to frequent insertions and withdrawals, leading to poor electrical continuity and potential electrical arcs.
A female electrical connector with clamping means, featuring movable conductive strips, a piston, actuator, and a flexible mattress, ensures tight closure of male contacts by transitioning between loose and tight positions.
Guarantees consistent electrical contact despite wear, preventing electrical continuity issues and arcs by securely clamping male contacts.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: FEMALE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH MEANS FOR TIGHTENING THE MALE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to a female electrical connector comprising clamping means which clamp the male electrical contacts when they are in the female electrical connector. PREVIOUS STATE OF THE ART
[0002] Conventionally, when an aircraft is on the ground, it is necessary to supply it with electricity so that the onboard electrical equipment can function. For this purpose, a male electrical connector is provided, which has male electrical contacts and is located outside the aircraft.
[0003] A ground power supply is disposed near the aircraft and the ground power supply has an electrical power cable with a female electrical connector which has female electrical contacts and which is intended to connect to the male electrical connector.
[0004] Due to the large number of insertions and withdrawals that a male electrical contact undergoes during its life, it may wear out and its diameter decrease until the electrical contact with the female electrical contact is no longer made correctly, which can create problems of electrical continuity or electrical arcs between the electrical contacts.
[0005] It is therefore necessary to find an arrangement which ensures good electrical contact over time. Description of the invention
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a female electrical connector comprising clamping means which clamp the male electrical contacts when they are in the female electrical connector.
[0007] To this end, a female electrical connector is proposed for electrical connection to a male electrical connector comprising at least one male electrical contact, where the female electrical connector comprises:
[0008] - a housing delimiting a compartment with a connecting wall drilled for each male electrical contact, with an opening into said housing and arranged to receive the male electrical contact,
[0009] - for each orifice, a female electrical contact having an end proximal intended to be electrically connected to an electrical conductor and a distal end arranged in said housing in the form of a hollow cylinder opening at the orifice, where said hollow cylinder is made of electrically conductive strips that are movable alternately between a tight position in which the strips are pressed against the male electrical contact and a loose position in which the strips are moved away from the male electrical contact,
[0010] - a piston mounted to move in translation within the housing between a position a close position in which it is close to the connecting wall and a distant position in which it is far from the connecting wall,
[0011] - a movable actuator between a first position and a second position and arranged to move the piston from the furthest position to the closest position when it moves from the first position to the second position,
[0012] - a locking system arranged to lock the actuator in the second position, And
[0013] - a mattress made of a flexible material, housed in said housing around the slats and arranged to move each slat from the loose position to the tight position when the piston moves from the far position to the close position.
[0014] Such an arrangement ensures that the male electrical contacts are tightly closed by the female electrical contacts.
[0015] Advantageously, the piston has a connecting rod and the actuator has a movable handle between the first position and the second position and a cam integral with the handle and having a cam face bearing against the connecting rod and arranged to move the piston from the distant position to the close position when the handle moves from the first position to the second position.
[0016] Advantageously, for each proximal end, the mattress has a hole through which said proximal end passes.
[0017] Advantageously, the mattress has internal cavities within its mass.
[0018] Advantageously, the mattress has on its face opposite the piston and / or on its face opposite the connecting wall, external cavities opening at the level of said face, and for each external cavity, the piston and / or the connecting wall has an outgrowth which fits into the external cavity.
[0019] Advantageously, for at least one proximal end, the female electrical connector comprises a split sleeve into which said proximal end is inserted.
[0020] Advantageously, for at least one proximal end, the female electrical connector includes a switch arranged to transition from an isolated position in which electrical continuity between said proximal end and the associated distal end is interrupted to a conductive position in which electrical continuity between said proximal end and the associated distal end is ensured, and The female electrical connector includes actuation means arranged to move the switch(es) from the insulated position to the conductive position when the piston moves from the distant position to the near position and vice versa. Brief description of the drawings
[0021] 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:
[0022] [Fig-1] shows an aircraft connected to a ground power supply,
[0023] [Fig.2] shows a perspective view of a female electrical connector according to the invention,
[0024] [Fig.3] shows a perspective view of the female electrical connector of [Fig.3] from another viewing angle,
[0025] [Fig.4] shows a cross-sectional view by plane IV of the female electrical connector of [Fig.3],
[0026] [Fig.5] shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the female electrical connector according to the invention in an untightened position,
[0027] [Fig.6] shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the female electrical connector according to the invention in a clamped position,
[0028] [Fig.7] shows an example of a female electrical contact,
[0029] [Fig.8] shows a perspective view of a compressible cushion implemented in the female electrical connector according to the invention,
[0030] [Fig.9] shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the female electrical connector according to variants of the invention in a clamped position, and
[0031] [Fig.10] shows a perspective view of a sheath implemented in the invention.
[0032] DETAILED STATEMENT OF IMPROVEMENTS
[0033] Figure 1 shows an aircraft 10 that is stationary on the ground. The aircraft 10 is supplied with electricity by a ground power supply 20 using a power cable 30 which has several electrical conductors 60 and at the end of which is provided a female electrical connector 100 according to the invention and having a female electrical contact for each electrical conductor. A ground power supply 20 can be a generator set or a specific airport electrical network.
[0034] The female electrical connector 100 is intended to be electrically connected to a male electrical connector 50 having at least one male electrical contact 50a downstream of which is electrically connected an on-board conductor 14 and to which is electrically connected at least one electrical device 12 of the aircraft 10.
[0035] Figs. 2 to 4 show the female electrical connector 100 which comprises a housing 102 delimiting a recess 102b with a connection wall 102a drilled for each male electrical contact 50a, of an orifice 104 opening into said housing 102b and arranged to receive the male electrical contact 50a.
[0036] The diameter of each orifice 104 is provided to ensure the insertion of the associated male electrical contact 50a and the diameters of the different orifices 104 can be different from each other depending on the diameters of the associated male electrical contacts 50a.
[0037] The housing 102 here takes the form of a rectangular prism.
[0038] For each orifice 104, the female electrical connector 100 has a female electrical contact 106 arranged and fixed in the housing 102. [Fig.7] shows an example of an embodiment of a female electrical contact 106 implemented in the invention.
[0039] The female electrical contact 106 has a proximal end 106a which is electrically conductive, in particular made of metal, and electrically connected to an electrical conductor 60 of the power cable 30. In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig. 4], the end of the electrical conductor 60 is inserted and secured in a hole 106c of the proximal end 106a through additional holes 107 in the housing 102, which are arranged opposite the connecting wall 102a. The securing of each electrical conductor 60 is effected by any known means such as welding, clamping, etc.
[0040] In another embodiment not shown, the female electrical connector 106 constitutes a nested socket and the additional ports 107 allow the insertion of an additional male electrical connector, each additional male contact of which is electrically connected to an electrical conductor 60 of the power cable 30 and is inserted into an additional port 107 to connect electrically to a proximal end 106a. In this latter case, the electrical connection of each proximal end 106a is made indirectly through the additional male contact of the additional male electrical connector.
[0041] The female electrical contact 106 has a distal end 106b which is in the form of a hollow cylinder opening at the orifice 104 and where the distal end 106b is in the housing 102b. In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the female electrical contact 106 has, between the proximal end 106a and the distal end 106b, a base 106d fixed to the housing 102.
[0042] The hollow cylinder forming the distal end 106b consists of electrically conductive strips 108, in particular made of metal, and movable alternately between a clamped position in which the strips 108 are clamped against the male electrical contact 50a and a loosened position in which the strips 108 are moved away from the male electrical contact 50a. Preferably, the transition from the clamped position to the loosened position occurs naturally, for example, by elastic return.
[0043] Here, each lamella 108 has a first end fixed to the base 106d and a second end which is free and at the level of the orifice 104. Each lamella 108 is sufficiently elastic to be able to move around its first end.
[0044] The loosened position is the rest position, that is to say when no external force is applied to the slats 108.
[0045] Preferably, the transition from the tightened position to the loosened position occurs naturally, for example, by elastic return of each slat 108.
[0046] The female electrical connector 100 also includes a piston 110 which is mounted to move in translation within the housing 102, and more particularly within the housing 102b between a close position in which the piston 110 is close to the connection wall 102a and a far position in which the piston 110 is far from the connection wall 102a relative to the close position.
[0047] The direction of translation of the piston 110 is here perpendicular to the connecting wall 102a.
[0048] For each distal end 106b, the piston 110 is traversed by a window 110b through which the distal end 106b passes.
[0049] The female electrical connector 100 also includes an actuator 112 that is movable between a first position and a second position and is arranged to move the piston 110 from the distant position to the close position when it moves from the first position to the second position. In the embodiment of the invention shown here, the actuator 112 has a handle 112a that is accessible and manipulable from outside the housing 102 by a technician. In another embodiment of the invention not shown, the actuator may be an electric actuator, such as a cylinder pushing the piston 110.
[0050] The female electrical connector 100 also includes a locking system which is arranged to lock the actuator 112 in the second position and hold it there until a deliberate action by a technician, for example, moves the actuator 112 into its first position.
[0051] The locking system can take different forms such as for example a friction element 113 attached to the housing 102 and against which the actuator 112, here the handle 112a, rubs in the second position.
[0052] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the transition from the first to the second position of the actuator 112 consists of a rotation of 90° around an axis of rotation represented here by the arrow 115 and the transition from the second to the first position of the actuator 112 consists of a reverse rotation.
[0053] The female electrical connector 100 also includes a mattress 114 made of a flexible material, for example silicone, which is housed in the housing 102b around the fins 108 and between the piston 110 and the connecting wall 102a. Thus, when the As piston 110 moves from the distant position to the close position, it compresses the mattress 114 in the direction of translation, i.e., perpendicular to the connecting wall 102a. Consequently, the mattress 114 expands in the direction perpendicular to the direction of translation, i.e., parallel to the connecting wall 102a. This expansion has the effect of pushing the slats 108 towards the male electrical contact 50a, bringing them into the closed position.
[0054] The mattress 114 is thus arranged to move each slat 108 from the loose position to the tight position when the piston 110 moves from the distant position to the close position.
[0055] The operation of the female electrical connector 100 is then as follows. In [Fig. 5], the actuator 112 is in the first position, which corresponds to the extended position of the piston 110 and the loosened position of the tabs 108. The female electrical connector 100 is brought close to the male electrical connector 50 so that each male electrical contact 50a enters a female electrical contact 106 through an opening 104 in the connecting wall 102a. The actuator 112 is then moved to the second position, which moves the piston 110 to the extended position by compressing the pad 114, which pushes back the tabs 108, which move into the closed position, clamping the male electrical contacts 50a as shown in [Fig. 6].
[0056] Conversely in [Fig.6], the actuator 112 is in the second position and is moved to the first position, which releases the piston 110. The mattress 114 is then no longer constrained and returns to its initial shape, which releases the slats 108 which return to the loosened position and pushes the piston 110 back to its distant position as shown in [Fig.5].
[0057] Thus, regardless of the wear of the male electrical contacts 50a, the tightening of the male electrical contacts 50a by the female electrical contacts 106 is ensured, and the electrical contact is guaranteed.
[0058] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the height of the mattress 114 is equal to the distance between the connecting wall 102a and the piston 110 in the distant position, to return the piston 110 to its distant position when the actuator 112 is in the first position.
[0059] In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig.4], the piston 110 has a connecting rod 110a which forms an assembly with the piston 110. The connecting rod 110a extends parallel to the direction of translation of the piston 110 between a distal end fixed to the piston 110 and a proximal end.
[0060] As mentioned above, the actuator 112 here comprises the handle 112a which is movable in rotation about an axis of rotation 70 between the first position and the second position, and a cam 112b which is fixed to the handle 112a at the level of the axis of rotation 70.
[0061] The cam 112b has a cam face 112c which is in contact with the connecting rod 110a and more particularly with the proximal end of the connecting rod 110a.
[0062] The cam face 112c is arranged to move the piston 110 from the extended position to the extended position when the handle 112a moves from the first position to the second position. In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the cam face 112c takes the form of a circular segment where the chord defines the extended position of the piston 110 and where the circular portion defines the extended position of the piston 110 and serves here as a locking system that prevents the rotation of the actuator 112 by friction with the connecting rod 110a in the extended position of the piston 110.
[0063] The rotation of the handle 112a causes the rotation of the cam 112b and the cam face 112c to act on the proximal end of the connecting rod 110a and therefore of the piston 110.
[0064] Figure 8 shows an embodiment of the mattress 114 which is made in one piece. Of course, it is possible to make the mattress 114 in several pieces arranged side by side in the housing 102b.
[0065] When the mattress 114 is in one piece, for each proximal end 106a, said mattress 114 has a hole 114a through which said proximal end 106a passes.
[0066] Fig. 9 shows different variants which allow the expansion of the mattress 114 to be improved in the direction perpendicular to the direction of translation.
[0067] According to one embodiment of the invention, the mattress 114 comprises internal cavities 114b formed within its mass, which here take the form of oblong cavities whose major axis is parallel to the direction of translation. In the embodiment of the invention presented here, there is an internal cavity 114b in the lateral parts of the mattress 114, but there may also be one in the central part.
[0068] According to one embodiment of the invention, the mattress 114 has on its face opposite the piston 110 and / or on its face opposite the connecting wall 102a, external cavities 114c opening at the level of said face, and for each external cavity 114c, the piston 110 and / or the connecting wall 102a has an outgrowth 111, 103 which fits into the external cavity 114c.
[0069] Here, each protrusion 111, 103 and each external cavity 114c take the form of a trapezoid whose large base is at the level of the piston 110 and / or the connecting wall 102a and whose small base is in the mass of the mattress 114. The sloping sides of the trapezoids promote the expansion of the mattress 114.
[0070] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, there is a projection 111, 103 at the piston 110 and / or the connecting wall 102a, but there may be only one. Similarly, the projections 111, 103 and the cavities ex exterior 114c are in the central part of mattress 114 but there may also be some in the lateral parts of mattress 114.
[0071] Fig. 10 shows a split sleeve 120 which is elastic and which can be threaded around a proximal end 106a. The split sleeve 120 is thus arranged between the proximal end 106a and the mattress 114. The split sleeve 120 provides mechanical protection to the proximal end 106a and, as it is split, it can be compressed to compress the slats 108 into a tight position.
[0072] In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig.4], for a proximal end 106a, the female electrical connector 100 includes a switch 122. The switch 122 is arranged to move from an isolated position in which the electrical continuity between the proximal end 106a and the associated distal end 106b is interrupted and a conductive position in which the electrical continuity between the proximal end 106a and the associated distal end 106b is ensured.
[0073] The female electrical connector 100 further includes actuation means 124 arranged to move the switch 122 from the insulated position to the conductive position when the piston 110 moves from the distant position to the close position and vice versa.
[0074] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the actuation means 124 take the form of a set of rods mounted between the connecting rod 110a and the switch 122, so that a movement of the connecting rod 110a, and more generally of the piston 110, acts on the switch 122 to open or close it according to the position of the piston 110.
[0075] Such an arrangement ensures that the male contacts 50a are tightly closed before current flows. This arrangement can be implemented for all proximal ends 106a or only some of them, depending, for example, on the voltage of the current flowing through the proximal end 106a.
Claims
Demands
1. A female electrical connector (100) intended to be electrically connected to a male electrical connector (50) having at least one male electrical contact (50a), wherein the female electrical connector (100) has: - a housing (102) delimiting a compartment (102b) with a connection wall (102a) drilled for each male electrical contact (50a), with an opening (104) leading into said compartment (102b) and arranged to receive the male electrical contact (50a), - for each orifice (104), a female electrical contact (106) having a proximal end (106a) intended to be electrically connected to an electrical conductor (60) and a distal end (106b) arranged in said housing (102b) in the form of a hollow cylinder opening at the orifice (104), where said hollow cylinder is made up of electrically conductive and movable strips (108), alternately between a tight position in which the strips (108) are tight against the male electrical contact (50a) and a loose position in which the strips (108) are away from the male electrical contact (50a), - a piston (110) mounted to move in translation within the housing (102b) between a close position in which it is close to the connecting wall (102a) and a distant position in which it is distant from the connecting wall (102a), - an actuator (112) movable between a first position and a second position and arranged to move the piston (110) from the distant position to the close position when it passes from the first position to the second position, - a locking system (112c) arranged to lock the actuator (112) in the second position, and - a mattress (114) made of a flexible material, housed in said housing (102b) around the slats (108) and arranged to move each slat (108) from the loose position to the tight position when the piston (110) moves from the distant position to the close position.
2. Female electrical connector (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the piston (110) has a connecting rod (110a), and in that the actuator (112) comprises a handle (112a) movable between the first position and the second position and a fixed cam (112b) of the handle (112a) and having a cam face (112c) bearing against the connecting rod (110a) and arranged to move the piston (110) from the distant position to the close position when the handle (112a) moves from the first position to the second position.
3. Female electrical connector (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that for each proximal end (106a), the mattress (114) has a hole (114a) through which said proximal end (106a) passes.
4. Female electrical connector (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the mattress (114) has internal cavities (114b) within its mass.
5. Female electrical connector (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the mattress (114) has on its face opposite the piston (110) and / or on its face opposite the connecting wall (102a), external cavities (114c) opening at the level of said face, and in that for each external cavity (114c), the piston (110) and / or the connecting wall (102a) has an outgrowth (111, 103) which fits into the external cavity (114c).
6. Female electrical connector (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that for at least one proximal end (106a), the female electrical connector (100) comprises a split sleeve (120) into which said proximal end (106a) is inserted.
7. Female electrical connector (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that for at least one proximal end (106a), the female electrical connector (100) comprises a switch (122) arranged to move from an isolated position in which electrical continuity between said proximal end (106a) and the associated distal end (106b) is interrupted and a conductive position in which electrical continuity between said proximal end (106a) and the associated distal end (106b) is ensured, and in that the female electrical connector (100) comprises actuating means (124) arranged to move the switch or each switch (122) from the isolated position to the conductive position when the piston (110) moves from the distant position to the close position and vice versa.