Electrical connection and mechanical fastening device

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical connection and mechanical fastening device (1) between two parts (2a, 2b). This device is particular in that it comprises: - an internal element (3) having a U-shaped cross-section and comprising two electrical connection means (5), each disposed at the free end of one of the legs of the U, and - an external element (4), configured to be able to at least partially surround the internal element (3) in an assembled position of the device (1), and in that when said device is in the assembled position, the electrical connection means (5) are subjected to pressure from the external element (4), so that when the parts (2a, 2b) are arranged between the legs of the U, said pressure generates an electrical connection and a mechanical fastening of the parts to each other. The invention also relates to a method of using the device according to the invention. Figure for the abstract: Fig 1

Description

Title of the invention: Electrical connection and mechanical fastening device technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connection and mechanical fastening device for electrically connecting and mechanically fastening two parts together. The invention allows, for example, one of the parts to be automatically grounded during their assembly.

[0002] The invention finds a particularly advantageous application for the grounding of photovoltaic panel frames. Previous technique

[0003] The Applicant develops particularly relevant solutions for automatically grounding electrical equipment during its assembly.

[0004] He is notably the holder of patent EP2684252, which proposes a grounding connection device for an electrical installation. This device includes self-connection means enabling the automatic creation of an electrical connection during the mounting of electrical equipment, such as photovoltaic panel frames, on their supports.

[0005] In this context, the installation of the connection devices must be carried out after the photovoltaic panel frames have been mechanically fixed to their supports. These two successive steps take some time. Furthermore, once the mechanical fixing is complete, it is possible to forget to install the devices used for the electrical connection. If this is forgotten, equipment may not be grounded, which presents a significant safety risk. Description of the invention

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing an electrical connection and mechanical fixing device between two parts.

[0007] This device is special in that it comprises: - an internal element having a U-shaped cross-section and comprising two electrical connection means, each disposed at the free end of one of the legs of the U, and - an external element, configured to be able to at least partially surround the internal element in an assembled position of the device, and in that said internal element has a certain degree of flexibility, and the internal and external elements are dimensioned such that when said device is in the assembled position, the electrical connection means are subjected to pressure from the external element tending to bring them closer together so as to form a clamp, so that when a part of each of the pieces is placed between the legs of the U, said pressure generates an electrical connection from each of the electrical connection means to one of the two pieces, so as to generate an electrical connection of the pieces between them, and a mechanical fixing of the pieces between them.

[0008] Thanks to these arrangements, the mechanical fastening and electrical connection of the parts can be carried out in a single step. This step is also simple to implement and requires no special tools. These advantages are achieved by means of a simple and inexpensive manufacturing device.

[0009] Said internal element and / or said external element can be formed by cutting and / or bending an electrically conductive sheet, which is a simple and robust embodiment of the invention, providing the external element with the rigidity necessary for mechanical fastening, and the internal element with the flexibility required for simplified assembly. The amount of material required to manufacture a connection device according to the invention is also reduced, and the manufacturing process is simple.

[0010] At least one of the two electrical connection means may include at least one pointed tooth, the tip of said at least one pointed tooth being able to be configured to enter into the material of one of the parts, when the device is in the assembled position and the two parts are partially arranged between the legs of the U, which is a simple and robust embodiment of the invention, particularly suitable for manufacturing by cutting and / or bending an electrically conductive blade.

[0011] The tip of said at least one pointed tooth can be turned towards the inside of said U formed by the internal element, which allows the tooth to oppose a withdrawal of the parts of the U formed by the internal element.

[0012] For each of the legs of the U formed by the internal element, said external element may include at least one bearing surface configured to exert pressure on the outside of said leg of the U, said external element may further include at least one connecting element allowing the distance between the bearing surfaces exerting pressure on the different legs of the U to be fixed, which is a simple way of making the internal element subjected to pressure tending to bring the electrical connection means closer together.

[0013] Said connecting element may have a through opening configured to be traversed by a part of the parts, which allows the connecting element to extend over a greater length of the legs of the U, in particular beyond the edge of the parts, and thus to produce a greater pressure on the electrical connection means.

[0014] Said device may include a means for locking said device in the assembled position, which increases the reliability of the mechanical fixing of the parts by means of the device, and may also serve to guide the positioning of the internal and external elements relative to each other when putting the device into the assembled position.

[0015] The internal and external elements can be configured so that the assembled positioning of the device consists of a sliding of the internal element at least partially into the external element, in a direction parallel to the legs of the U, which is a simple and robust embodiment of the invention.

[0016] At least one leg of the U formed by the internal element may have a hole, and the external element may have a tab configured so that when the device is in the assembled position, the tab is located at least partially in the hole, so as to oppose the sliding of the external element around the internal element along the legs of the U and towards the base of the U, the hole and the tab forming said locking means, which is a simple and effective means of implementing the invention.

[0017] The internal element can be made of a more flexible material than the external element, which allows that, with equivalent thickness of the internal and external elements, the assembled positioning generates a deformation of the internal element and not, or very little, of the external element.

[0018] The present invention also relates to a method of using a device according to the invention, comprising the following steps: - The device is assembled by placing the external element around at least part of the internal element. - insertion of at least part of the parts between the legs of the U of the internal element, the pressure of the electrical connection means on the parts generating an electrical connection and a mechanical fixing between the parts.

[0019] Thanks to these arrangements, the mechanical fastening and electrical connection of the parts can be carried out in a single step. This step is also simple to implement and requires no special tools. These advantages are achieved by means of a simple and inexpensive manufacturing device. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] The present invention and its advantages will become more apparent from the following description of several embodiments given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] is a perspective view of a device according to a first mode of realization, in assembled position

[0022] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a side view of the device of [Fig.1],

[0023] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a cross-sectional view of the device of [Fig.1],

[0024] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of the internal element of the device [Fig.l],

[0025] [Fig. 5] [Fig. 5] is a perspective view of the external element of the device [Fig.l],

[0026] [Fig. 6] [Fig. 6] is a perspective view of a device in [Fig. 1], positioned on two pieces,

[0027] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a cross-sectional view of a detail of [Fig.6],

[0028] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of a device according to a second mode of realization, in assembled position. Description of the implementation methods

[0029] In the illustrated embodiments, identical elements or parts bear the same reference numbers. Furthermore, terms with a relative meaning, such as vertical, horizontal, right, left, front, back, above, below, etc., should be interpreted under normal conditions of use of the invention, and as shown in the figures. Moreover, the geometric positions indicated in the description and the claims, such as "perpendicular," "parallel," and "symmetrical," are not limited to the strict sense defined in geometry, but extend to geometric positions that are close, that is, that allow a certain tolerance within the technical field considered, without affecting the result obtained. This tolerance is notably introduced by the adverb "substantially," without this term necessarily being repeated before each adjective.

[0030] With reference to the figures, the electrical connection and mechanical fixing device 1 allows the electrical connection and mechanical fixing to be carried out between two parts 2a, 2b.

[0031] Figure 6 illustrates an example of the application of the invention in a photovoltaic panel installation, parts 2a and 2b being a support rail and a photovoltaic panel frame. Of course, the invention is not limited to photovoltaic panel installations but extends to any application using parts requiring mechanical fastening and equipotential bonding, such as thermal panels, hybrid thermal / photovoltaic panels or the like, inverters or micro-inverters, metal structures of all kinds, cable trays, Faraday cages, machine frames, technical work booths (e.g., paint booths), etc. These examples are not exhaustive.

[0032] Parts 2a, 2b are generally made of electrically conductive materials, essentially metallic, sometimes anodized, that is to say coated in surface of an insulation layer. In particular, parts 2a, 2b are generally made of aluminum, and covered with an anodized layer.

[0033] Thus, in the present description, the expression "to connect" or "to electrically connect" parts together means to establish an electrical connection between the conductive parts of parts 2a, 2b.

[0034] The device 1 comprises an internal element 3 and an external element 4.

[0035] The internal element 3, particularly visible in [Fig. 4], has a U-shaped cross-section. For the purposes of this invention, a "U-shaped" means a shape comprising two legs, each leg having a free end and an end connected to the other leg by means of a base. The legs of the U may be symmetrical or different. In particular, the legs may be the same length, as illustrated in [Fig. 1] to [Fig. 3] and [Fig. 7], or different lengths, as illustrated in [Fig. 8]. The base may be flat, as illustrated in the figures, or rounded. The angle formed by the legs with the base may be the same for both legs, for example, a right angle, or different for each leg. The legs may be parallel to each other or form an angle, for example, an angle of less than 20°, preferably less than 10°.This angle can be arranged so as to bring the free ends of the legs closer together, or to move them further apart, relative to their ends located on the bottom side of the U.

[0036] The U-shaped section can be observed along the entire length of the internal element 3, as illustrated in [Fig. 4], which is simpler to manufacture. However, the U-shaped section may be observed along only a portion of the length of the internal element 3 for various reasons, for example, to add other functional sections to the internal element 3, for example, for positioning during assembly.

[0037] In the following description, the expression "leg of the U" designates the part of the internal element whose section corresponds to a leg of the U defined previously.

[0038] The internal element 3 has two electrical connection means 5. The electrical connection means 5 are each disposed at the free end of one of the legs of the U formed by the internal element 3.

[0039] The external element 4 is configured so that it can at least partially surround the internal element 3. When the external element 3 is arranged around the internal element 4, the device 1 is said to be in the assembled position, as illustrated by way of example in Figures 1 to 3 and 6 to 8.

[0040] The volume located inside the external element 4 and at least partially housing the internal element 3 is dimensioned to be slightly narrower than the volume occupied by the internal element 3, or the part of the internal element 3 intended to occupy this volume. In this way, the external element 4 exerts pressure on the internal element 3 when the device 1 is in the assembled position. This pressure tends to bring together at least part of the legs of the U, and in particular it tends to bring together the electrical connection means 5, thus forming a clamp.

[0041] The internal element 3 is configured to accommodate, between the legs of the U presented by its section, a part of each of the parts 2a, 2b. This part can for example be a rim of a part 2a, 2b, such as the rim of the frame 2a illustrated in [Fig.6], or the rim of a light 6 such as that made in the rail 2b illustrated in [Fig.6].

[0042] When the device 1 is in the assembled position and a part of each of the parts 2a, 2b is arranged between the legs of the U, as illustrated in figures 6 and 7, the pressure tending to bring the electrical connection means 5 closer together generates: - an electrical connection of each of the electrical connection means 5 to one of the parts 2a, 2b, in order to electrically connect the parts 2a, 2b together, and - a mechanical fixing of the parts 2a, 2b together.

[0043] The internal element 3 and / or the external element 4 may comprise or be made of a strip cut from a band of electrically conductive material. This material is preferably metallic and elastic, for example, a band of stainless spring steel. This band of material may have a relatively small thickness, for example, between 0.5 mm and 1 mm, without these values ​​being limiting. Of course, any other technically equivalent material having good electrical conductivity and elasticity properties may be suitable. This material may also have or not have a thermal and / or chemical surface treatment to add properties, for example, protective properties depending on the nature of the parts 2, 3 in the presence of the ambient environment.

[0044] The internal element 3 and external element 4 are preferably made of two distinct materials, the material of the internal element 3 being more flexible than the external element 4.

[0045] At least one of the two electrical connection means 5 may include at least one pointed tooth 7, formed, for example, by cutting and bending an electrically conductive blade as previously mentioned. One of the two electrical connection means 5 may include a plurality of teeth 7 aligned in the same plane, for example, nine teeth 7 each. The teeth 7 are configured to penetrate the material of the parts 2a, 2b, optionally after passing through an anodized layer, in order to produce a reliable electrical connection.

[0046] The tip of at least one tooth 7 preferably extends inwards towards the inside of the U. The angle formed by the tooth with the leg of the U to which it is attached may be less than 90°, preferably between 40° and 50°, for example 45°. In other words, the tip of at least one tooth 7 preferably extends inwards towards the inside of the U, in the direction of the bottom of the U. Thus, the tooth 7 offers little resistance to the insertion of the pieces 2a, 2b in the U, and conversely, it opposes the extraction of pieces 2a, 2b from inside the U.

[0047] The external element 4 preferably comprises at least two bearing surfaces 8. Each bearing surface 8 is configured to be in contact with the outside of one of the legs of the U when the device 1 is in the assembled position. The external element 4 also comprises a connecting element 9, configured to fix the distance between the bearing surfaces 8 in contact with each of the legs of the U. The bearing surfaces 8 and the connecting element 9, taken together, maintain the internal element 3 under pressure.

[0048] The connecting element 9 preferably has a through opening 10, configured to be traversed by the parts 2a, 2b. The through opening 10 is aligned with the spacing between the legs of the U, and allows the bearing surfaces 8 to extend along the legs of the U, over a certain length towards the electrical connection means 5, while allowing the insertion of the parts 2a, 2b mounting of the device 1. In particular, the bearing surfaces 8 can thus extend beyond the edge of the parts 2a, 2b, for example to the right on the [Fig.7].

[0049] In the examples illustrated in [Fig. 1] to 3 and 5 to 8, when the device 1 is in the assembled position, the external element 4 is configured to extend along each of the legs of the U formed by the cross-section of the internal element 3, over the same length for each of said legs. In other embodiments not shown, the external element 4 may extend along each of the legs of the U formed by the cross-section of the internal element 3, over two different lengths, one length for each of said legs. More specifically, the opening 10, in the examples shown, is symmetrical about a plane parallel to the legs of the U, although this is not a limitation: it is possible, in other embodiments, that the opening 10 is not symmetrical about such a plane.

[0050] The internal element 3 and external element 4 are preferably configured so that their assembly consists mainly of a sliding of the internal element 3, at least in part, in the external element 4. This sliding is carried out in a direction parallel to the legs of the U, or if these are not parallel to each other, in a direction presenting an identical angle with each of the legs of the U.

[0051] The device 1 preferably includes a locking means for the assembled position. When the internal element 3 and external element 4 are slidably joined, this locking means consists, for example, of a hole 11 and a tab 12. The hole is made in the internal element 3, preferably in one of the legs of the U. The tab 12 belongs to the external element 4. The tab 12 is, for example, obtained by cutting and bending the sheet of material forming the external element 4. The free end of the tab 12 is preferably oriented towards the bottom of the U. When the device 1 is in the assembled position, the tab 12 is located in the hole 11, so as to oppose relative sliding of the internal element 3 and external element 4.

[0052] In the example illustrated in [Fig. 4], the internal element 3 is made from a rectangular strip of conductive material, comprising: - at each of its ends, a cutout to form the teeth 7, - at each of its ends, just before the teeth 7, a fold to orient the teeth 7 towards the inside of the U, - two folds at right angles, each fold defining on one side the base of the U, and on the other side one of the legs of the U, - a rectangular hole 11 made in one of the legs of the U.

[0053] Each of these four features may be present in an embodiment of the invention, in combination or not with one or more of the other three.

[0054] In the example illustrated in [Fig. 5], the external element 4 is made from a rectangular strip of conductive material, comprising: - starting from each of its ends, a first right-angled fold delimiting a first support surface 8 and a connecting element 9, - on each connecting element 9, a through opening 10 opening onto the same long side of the conductive material strip, - starting from each connecting element 9, a second right-angled fold delimiting the connecting element 9 and a second unique bearing surface 8, - a tab 12 extending inwards from the external element 4, obtained by cutting and folding a rectangle in the second support surface 8.

[0055] Each of these four features may be present in an embodiment of the invention, in combination or not with one or more of the other three.

[0056] The device according to the invention can be used in a process comprising the following steps: - - putting the device 1 into the assembled position, by placing the external element 4 around at least part of the internal element 32. This step is carried out, for example, by sliding the internal element 3 and external element 47 relative to each other, - partial insertion of parts 2a, 2b between the legs of the U of the internal element 3, the pressure of the electrical connection means 5 on parts 2a, 2b generating both an electrical connection, and a mechanical fixing between the parts.

[0057] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described but extends to any modification and variant obvious to a person skilled in the art, within the limits of the appended claims. Furthermore, the technical features of the various embodiments and variants mentioned above may be combined, in whole or in part.

Claims

Demands

1. An electrical connection and mechanical fastening device (1) between two parts (2a, 2b), characterized in that it comprises: - an internal element (3) having a U-shaped cross-section and comprising two electrical connection means (5), each disposed at the free end of one of the legs of the U, and - an external element (4), configured to be able to at least partially surround the internal element (3) in an assembled position of the device (1), and in that said internal element (3) has a certain degree of flexibility, and the internal (3) and external (4) elements are dimensioned such that when said device is in the assembled position, the electrical connection means (5) are subjected to pressure from the external element (4) tending to bring them closer together so as to form a clamp, so that when a portion of each of the parts (2a, 2b) is disposed between the legs of the U,said pressure generates an electrical connection from each of the electrical connection means (5) to one of the two parts (2a, 2b), so as to generate an electrical connection of the parts (2a, 2b) between them, and a mechanical fastening of the parts (2a, 2b) between them.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said internal element (3) and / or said external element (4) is formed by cutting and / or folding an electrically conductive blade.

3. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that at least one of the two electrical connection means (5) comprises at least one pointed tooth (7), the tip of said at least one pointed tooth (7) being configured to enter into the material of one of the parts (2a, 2b), when the device (1) is in the assembled position and the two parts (2a, 2b) are partially arranged between the legs of the U.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the tip of said at least one pointed tooth (7) is turned towards the inside of said U formed by the internal element (3).

5. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that for each of the legs of the U formed by the internal element (3), said external element (4) comprises at least one bearing surface (8) configured to exert pressure on the outside of said leg of the U, said external element (4) further comprising at least one connecting element (9) allowing the distance between the bearing surfaces (8) exerting pressure on the different legs of the U to be fixed.

6. Device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said connecting element (9) has a through opening (10) configured to be traversed by a part of the parts (2a, 2b).

7. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a means for locking said device (1) in the assembled position.

8. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the internal (3) and external (4) elements are configured so that the assembled positioning of the device (1) consists of sliding the internal element (3) at least partially into the external element (4), in a direction parallel to the legs of the U.

9. Device (1) according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that at least one leg of the U formed by the internal element (3) has a hole (11), and the external element (4) has a tab (12) configured so that when the device (1) is in the assembled position, the tab (12) is located at least partially in the hole (11), so as to oppose the sliding of the external element (4) around the internal element (3) along the legs of the U and towards the base of the U, the hole (11) and the tab (12) forming said locking means.

10. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the internal element (3) is made of a more flexible material than the external element (4).

11. A method of using a device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the following steps: - putting the device (1) into the assembled position, by placing the external element (4) around at least a part of the internal element (3), - inserting at least a part of the parts (2a, 2b) between the legs of the U of the internal element (3), the pressure of the electrical connection means (5) on the parts (2a, 2b) generating an electrical connection and a mechanical fixing between the parts (2a, 2b).

Images