Sealing washer for an electrical connection, electrical connection protection kit and aircraft

Abstract

The invention relates to a corrosion-resistant sealing washer (1) made of a water-resistant material, such as silicone, and comprising two peripheral lugs (1c, 1d) configured for gripping the sealing washer (1), as well as at least two keying pins (1a, 1b). The invention further relates to a protective assembly (1, 12, 13) comprising a sealing washer (1) and a second connecting washer (12) having a groove (12g) on ​​its edge and a protective cap (13) having an internal annular relief (13r) with a shape complementary to the groove (12g) of the connecting washer (12). Advantageously, it is thus possible to protect against moisture an electrical connection point comprising a screw and a connecting washer or lug and consequently to preserve such an electrical connection against corrosion without requiring the application of a sealant. Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: SEALING WASHER FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION, ELECTRICAL CONNECTION PROTECTION ASSEMBLY AND AIRCRAFT. technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealing washer and an electrical connection protection assembly comprising at least one such sealing washer, a connecting washer, and a cap. The invention also relates to an aircraft comprising such a sealing washer or such a protection assembly. PREVIOUS STATE OF THE ART

[0002] An aircraft includes numerous mechanical and electrical connections that must be protected against corrosion. Electrical connections are sometimes made using a cable, at least one end of which is fitted with a ring terminal (ring lug) made of an electrically conductive material through which a fixing screw is inserted. The fixing screw secures the ring terminal to an electrically conductive connecting element, thus creating an electrical connection point. This could be, for example, a ground connection point or a connection point to an equipotential bonding point, such as a busbar. To prevent corrosion of the connection point thus created, a protective sealant is applied to the screw head, the ring terminal, the cable, and its immediate surroundings to provide moisture protection for all these components.Applying sealant in this way is cumbersome because the quality of the protection achieved depends on the quality of the localized sealant application and requires handling the sealant and a sealant application tool, in addition to handling the connecting elements themselves. Furthermore, these manipulations slow down operations and are made difficult when the operator has limited access and poor visibility. Another drawback is the need to scrape off the sealant during disassembly, which is time-consuming, tedious, and generates sealant shavings or dust. Moreover, such a stripping operation often damages the affected part, necessitating its replacement.

[0003] The situation can be improved. Description of the invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to facilitate the protection against corrosion of electrical connection points, particularly in aircraft systems.

[0005] For this purpose, a sealing washer made of a watertight material and comprising two peripheral lugs configured for gripping the sealing washer is proposed, said sealing washer also having at least two keying pins.

[0006] Advantageously, it is thus possible to position the sealing washer correctly and quickly against the terminal eyelet of an electrical connection cable, including in a hard-to-reach place.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the keying pins are respectively arranged on lugs of the sealing washer.

[0008] Advantageously and according to one embodiment, the water-resistant manufacturing material of the sealing washer is a silicone.

[0009] Another object of the invention is a protective assembly comprising:

[0010] - a first sealing washer, as previously described,

[0011] - a second washer, called a connecting washer, preferably made of a material electrically conductive, and,

[0012] - a protective cap,

[0013] said assembly being such that the second washer has a groove on its edge, and the inside of the cap having an internal annular relief of a shape complementary or substantially complementary to the groove of the second washer.

[0014] Advantageously, the cap includes a slot, an opening or a lug.

[0015] The invention also relates to an aircraft comprising at least one sealing washer as previously described or a connection assembly as described above. Brief description of the drawings

[0016] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates in perspective an anti-corrosion sealing washer according to an embodiment, positioned opposite a terminal eyelet lug of an electrical connection cable or a terminal part of a bus bar;

[0017] [Fig.2] illustrates in perspective the sealing washer already illustrated on [Fig.1] positioned against the eyelet lug, also already shown on [Fig.1];

[0018] [Fig.3] illustrates in perspective a washer called a connecting washer having a groove on its edge, configured according to an embodiment to be applied to the eyelet lug already shown in [Fig.1] and [Fig.2] and to be held tight against the eyelet lug by means of a screw or a bolt;

[0019] [Fig.4] illustrates in perspective the connecting washer already shown in [Fig.3] when it is positioned on the eyelet lug already shown in [Fig.1] and [Fig.2];

[0020] [Fig. 5] illustrates in perspective a screw head cap comprising a relief inner annular of complementary shape to the groove of the connecting washer already shown in [Fig.3] and [Fig.4] and configured to fit onto the connecting washer;

[0021] [Fig.6a] illustrates in perspective an assembly, according to one embodiment, of a electrical connection point using a screw, and connection elements already shown in figures [Fig.1] to [Fig.5];

[0022] [Fig.6b] illustrates in perspective a variant of the connection point assembly already represented on [Fig.6a];

[0023] [Fig.7a] illustrates in perspective the connection point already shown on [Fig.6a], after assembly, according to a method of embodiment;

[0024] [Fig.7b] illustrates in perspective a variant of the connection point already shown on [Fig.7a];

[0025] [Fig.8] illustrates in perspective another variant of the connection point already represented in [Fig.7a] and [Fig.7b]; and,

[0026] [Fig.9] is a side view of an aircraft including a sealing washer or a electrical connection point according to an embodiment.

[0027] DETAILED STATEMENT OF IMPROVEMENTS

[0028] Fig. 1 schematically represents a sealing washer 1 positioned opposite an eyelet lug 11 which is a terminal part of an electrical connection cable 10. The sealing washer 1 is an anti-corrosion washer insofar as it is made of a material that is impermeable to water and more generally to liquids, which prevents any corrosion of the sealing washer 1. According to one embodiment, the sealing washer 1 is made of silicone. Cleverly and advantageously, the sealing washer 1 includes two gripping lugs le and Id, also called "ears" protruding from the periphery of its body 1m, as well as two keying pins la and 1b on a flat surface of the body of the sealing washer intended to come into contact with the eyelet lug 11. The keying pins la and 1b allow for quick positioning of the sealing washer 1 against the eyelet lug 11 according to a predetermined position.To achieve this, and according to the example described, the eyelet lug 11 has two through-holes 1la and 11b configured to receive the keying pins 1la and 1b. Advantageously, the through-hole 1la is arranged around a central axis 1la' and the through-hole 11b is arranged around a central axis 11b'. Advantageously, the center-to-center distance between the axes 1la' and 11b' is equal to the distance separating the axes. central of the keying pins a and 1b, so that there is only one precise predetermined position allowing the sealing washer to be positioned against the eyelet of the eyelet lug 11 or more precisely against the face of the eyelet of the eyelet lug 11 which is opposite to that connected to the electrical connection cable 10.

[0029] Placing the sealing washer 1 against this face of the eyelet of the eyelet lug 11 protects this face of the eyelet lug 11 from corrosion when the latter is fixed and held against a third-party connection element, so as to create an electrical connection point. In one embodiment, the gripping lugs le and Id are rectangular or square and each has dimensions that allow them to be held between the thumb and forefinger of an operator assembling electrical connection points. Cleverly, the keying pins 1a and 1b protrude from a flat surface of the annular body 1m of the sealing washer 1, on the outer edge of the face of the sealing washer 1 which carries them, and each have a shape of such a nature as to be inserted into a cavity or a through opening made on the outer edge of the eyelet of the eyelet lug 11 of the connection cable 10.According to one embodiment, the keying pins are arranged not on the outer edge of the face of the sealing washer 1 that carries them, but on peripheral lugs of arbitrary shape, arranged similarly to the gripping lugs le and Id, but not in the same locations. Advantageously, the sealing washer 1 has a central through opening lo arranged around a central axis 1' and the eyelet of the eyelet lug 11 has a through opening 1 lo arranged around a central axis 11'. The openings lo and 1 lo allow the passage of a screw or bolt for fixing and securing the connection to create an electrical connection point.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the surface of the eyelet lug 11 may have a flat shape around the through opening 110. According to another variant, the surface of the eyelet lug 11 has a recessed or flared surface around the through opening 110, configured to facilitate the positioning or housing of a screw head passing through the through opening 110.

[0031] Figure 2 illustrates the sealing washer 1 positioned against the ring terminal 11 of the electrical connection cable 10. This example is not limiting, and the cable can be replaced by a conductive element (a shaped sheet of metal or a busbar, for example). The ends of the alignment pins inserted into the through-holes of the ring terminal 11 can be seen, thus providing a keying function to ensure rapid predetermined positioning of the sealing washer 1 on the face of the ring terminal opposite the face connected to the electrical connection cable 10.

[0032] Figure 3 illustrates a washer 12, referred to as a connecting washer 12, having a groove 12g along the entire length of its edge, i.e., on the border of the connecting washer 12 separating its two faces. In one embodiment, the connecting washer 12 is configured to be applied to the ring terminal 11 and to be held tightly against the ring terminal 11 by means of a screw inserted into the aligned central openings of the sealing washer 1, the eye of the ring terminal 11, and the connecting washer 12. In one embodiment, the overall diameter of the connecting washer 12 is less than the distance between the central axis of the eye of the ring terminal 11 and the point closest to the alignment pins with respect to this axis.

[0033] Fig. 4 represents the connecting washer 12 positioned on the eyelet lug 11 when the eyelet lug 11 is positioned against the sealing washer 1.

[0034] Figure 5 shows a cap 13 for protecting the head of a screw and a connecting washer. In one embodiment, the cap 13 includes an internal annular relief 13r whose shape is complementary or substantially complementary to the groove 12g of the connecting washer 12. A shape substantially complementary to the groove 12g here means a shape that is not necessarily strictly complementary to the shape of the groove 12g but is sufficiently complementary so that the insertion of the internal annular relief 13r of the cap 13 into the groove provides a mechanical locking in position and a seal against liquids or moisture, allowing the cap 13 to be held in position on the connecting washer 12 covered by the cap 13. Thus, the cap 13 provides a watertight protective function for the electrical connection point, just as the sealing washer 1 does.According to one embodiment, the precise position of the internal annular relief 13r inside the cap 13 is provided so that an assembly of the cap 13 on the connecting washer 12 is such that the edge of the cap 13 is in full contact with the surface of the eyelet of the eyelet lug 11 after assembly of the connection point to obtain a moisture-tight assembly.

[0035] Figure 6a shows an assembly in progress of an electrical connection point, according to one embodiment. The connection point is assembled using a screw 14 inserted into the aligned through-holes of the various connection elements, namely the connecting washer 12, the ring terminal 11, and the sealing washer 1. A downward-pointing vertical arrow symbolizes the insertion of the screw 14 used to secure the connection elements to a plane or substrate of a connection piece, for example, a ground plane or a busbar-type equipotential bonding conductor. Another arrow, in dashed form, illustrates in Figure 6a the positioning of the inner annular relief 13r of the cap 13 in the groove 12g of the connecting washer 12, when the cap 13 is positioned to protect the head of the screw 14 and the connecting washer 12.

[0036] Figure 6b shows a variant of the current assembly of the electrical connection point, already described in relation to Figure 6a, in which the inner annular relief 13r of the cap 13 is not intended to fit into a groove in the connecting washer 12, but rather to clip directly under the edge of the head of the screw 13, as indicated by a dashed arrow in Figure 6b. This advantageously allows the use of a washer without a groove. According to this variant, it is preferable for the screw 14 to have a generally circular head.

[0037] Fig. 7a represents a connection point made after insertion of the screw 14, which is held by a nut (not visible in the figure) or tightened in a thread (not visible in the figure) and after the protective cap 13 has been put in place.

[0038] Figure 7b represents a variant of the connection point described in relation to Figure 7a, in which the cap 13 includes a fastener 131 (also called a "leash"), the terminal portion of which encircles the cable 10, thus advantageously preventing its falling during assembly or disassembly. Advantageously, the risk of the presence of a FOD (Foreign Object Debris) is reduced during use in an aircraft.

[0039] Figure 8 represents a variant of the connection point already described in relation to Figures 7a and 7b, in which the cap 13 comprises a prominent or projecting surface 13b (also called a lug 13b) and further has a slot 13s defined in a plane parallel to the direction of insertion (installation) and removal (removal) of the cap 13 on the screw head of the connection point. Advantageously, the cap 13 may have a cavity of a shape complementary or substantially complementary to the end of a shank of a tool or flathead screwdriver, which advantageously allows the cap 13 to be removed by actuating the screwdriver or, more generally, the tool thus adapted with a levering motion. This results in increased ease and speed during a disassembly operation.

[0040] According to one variant, a part of the cap 13 protrudes on the surface of the cap so as to form a lug or a notch so that the cap can again be removed by simply levering with a tool gripping against the lug thus formed or in the notch thus formed.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the cap 13 includes both the aforementioned elements (slot, lug, etc.) and a connecting attachment for holding to a cable or to a sheet metal or bus bar.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the cap 13 may include at least one predefined and configured area of ​​weakness designed to tear or shear when a Force is applied to the cap in order to remove it. This advantageously demonstrates a previous use for protecting a connection point.

[0043] Figure 9 illustrates an aircraft 100 comprising at least the sealing washer 1 or a sealing washer similar to washer 1, or at least one electrical connection point as previously described, which advantageously allows all or part of this electrical connection point to be protected without requiring the application of a waterproof sealant. Such an assembly increases the speed of assembly and maintenance operations related to the type of electrical connection point described.

Claims

Demands

1. Sealing washer (1) characterized in that said washer (1) is made of a moisture-proof material and includes two peripheral lugs (le, Id) configured for gripping said sealing washer (1), and in that a surface of said washer (1) has at least two keying pins (la, 1b).

2. Sealing washer (1) according to claim 1, wherein said keying pins (la, 1b) are respectively arranged on lugs of said sealing washer (1).

3. Sealing washer (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the moisture-proof manufacturing material is a silicone-type material.

4. Protective assembly (1, 12, 13) comprising: - a first sealing washer (1), according to any one of claims 1 to 3, - a second connecting washer (12), made of an electrically conductive material, and, - a protective cap (13), said second connecting washer (12), having a groove (12g) on ​​its edge, and the inside of said cap (13) having an internal annular relief (13r) of a shape complementary or substantially complementary to said groove (12g) of said second washer (12).

5. Protective assembly according to claim 4, wherein said cap (13) includes a slot and / or an opening or a lug.

6. Aircraft (100) comprising at least one sealing washer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or a protective assembly (1, 12, 13) according to any one of claims 4 and 5.

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