Quarter-turn connector for connecting electrical conductors and corresponding connector connection method

Abstract

This connector (1) for connecting electrical conductors comprises two mating parts (2, 3), male and female respectively, each comprising a connector body made of insulating material having a passage (10) in which a contact is mounted, comprising an insulating contact body and a contact element (8, 9), respectively a pin and a socket. The contact body and the connector body include assembly means (15, 16) for rotational locking. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig 2a

Description

Title of the invention: Quarter-turn connector for connecting electrical conductors and method for connecting corresponding connectors

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking electrical connector for the electrical connection of conductors comprising in particular at their end to be connected a contact tip.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a connector comprising two conjugate parts, respectively male and female.

[0003] On connectors of this type, each part of the connector generally comprises a connector body made of insulating material, a contact body, also made of insulating material and in which is mounted a contact element, consisting of a pin, with regard to the male part of the connector and a socket, with regard to the female part of the connector.

[0004] Reference may be made, for example, to document FR 2 764 127 which describes a two-part locking electrical connector.

[0005] Connectors of this type are further provided with insulation means which are provided in particular at the level of the two conjugate male and female parts, in particular at the level of the front part of the contact body through which the contact element is accessible and at the level of the rear part of the connector body through which the conductor is inserted into the connector.

[0006] Generally, the contact element is inserted into the connector body and held there using snap-lock means. Since the contacts are removable, they are retained by a clip retention system which can be moved apart to release the contact element by inserting a pen-type tool.

[0007] As can be conceived, this type of connector must necessarily provide space for the passage of the unlocking tool of the contact element.

[0008] However, the current trend, particularly with regard to aircraft powered by hybrid or hydrogen propulsion systems, involves conveying increased electrical power, which requires the use of increasingly large connectors and, in particular, contacts.

[0009] Current connectors generally do not allow the mounting of standard size contact elements larger than size 8, which corresponds to currents of the order of 46 amperes.

[0010] The aim of the invention is therefore to overcome this drawback and to provide a connector which allows the mounting of larger contact elements, while retaining the removable nature of the contact element and while retaining the insulators provided at the level of the contact element and the connector body.

[0011] The invention therefore relates to a connector for connecting electrical conductors, comprising two conjugate parts, respectively male and female, each comprising a connector body made of insulating material including a passage in which a contact is mounted comprising an insulating contact body and a contact element, respectively a pin and a socket.

[0012] The contact body and the connector body include rotation-locking assembly means.

[0013] In one embodiment, the rotation-locking assembly means include a quarter-turn lock.

[0014] Thus, locking and unlocking the contact body in the connector body does not require inserting a tool between the connector body and the element so that it is possible to use contacts of increased dimensions, using the volume dedicated to the passage of the tool in the prior art.

[0015] For example, the contact body is externally provided with a helical groove in which engages a pin carried by the inner face of the passage made in the connector body.

[0016] Advantageously the front face of the contact body is provided with an insulating sealing insert.

[0017] The rear face of the connector body may also be provided with an insulating sealing insert.

[0018] It should be noted that the connector body may externally include snap-on means for mounting on a connector in a housing.

[0019] Advantageously, the connector is a connector with a capacity of at least 46 amps.

[0020] The invention also relates to a method of assembling a connector as defined above, for the connection of electrical conductors.

[0021] This method comprises the steps of, for each part of the male and female connectors: - assemble the contact element into the contact body; - insert the contact body into the passage of the connector body; and - lock the contact body into the connector body by rotating it.

[0022] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to the invention showing the two conjugate male and female parts: - Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b illustrate the structure of the male and female parts, respectively; - Figs. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d and 3e illustrate the assembly of the male part of the connector according to the invention; - [Fig.4] is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a connector according to the invention; - Figure 5 shows the connector of Figure 4 in the connection position; and - Fig. 6 illustrates the connector of Fig. 5 mounted in a housing.

[0023] Reference will first be made to figures 1, 2a and 2b which illustrate a connector according to the invention, designated by the general numerical reference 1.

[0024] Such a connector is intended to ensure the electrical connection of electrical conductors of an on-board electrical network of an aircraft.

[0025] It is specifically intended to ensure the connection of electrical conductors in which currents of up to or even exceeding 46 amperes flow.

[0026] This is a connector accommodating a contact of standardized size of at least 8.

[0027] As illustrated in the figures, the connector according to the invention comprises two conjugate parts, namely a male part 2 and a female part 3.

[0028] The male and female parts are each intended to receive a conductor having an end to be connected to a contact tip. As illustrated, the male and female parts have a front end I through which the two connector parts are matched, and a rear end II through which a conductor is inserted into the connector.

[0029] Each part 2 and 3 of the connector comprises a connector body 4 and 5 made of insulating material and a contact consisting of a contact body 6 and 7 made of insulating material and a contact element 8 and 9 which is mounted in an axial passage 10 made in the connector body.

[0030] With regard to the male part, the contact element 8 is constituted by a pin.

[0031] With regard to the female part, the contact element 9 consists of a socket into which the corresponding pin is inserted during electrical connection.

[0032] The insulating contact body 4 and 5 of the male and female parts 2 and 3 has a shoulder 11, a cylindrical extension 12 extending from the shoulder 11 and an insulating sealing insert 13 mounted on the shoulder 11, on the front side.

[0033] An additional insulating sealing insert 14 is also provided at the rear end of the connector body of each part 2 and 3 to ensure sealing around the conductor.

[0034] The sealing inserts provide electrical insulation and also water tightness when the male and female parts of the connector are mated.

[0035] Additional sealing means are provided, including a seal 21 which ensures sealing between the connector and the housing 20 ([Fig.6]), as well as a nipple on the male insulating contact body which ensures sealing between the male and female parts.

[0036] As regards the male part, the pin is mounted from the rear side to extend protruding, on the front side, through the insulating sealing insert 13.

[0037] As regards the female part, the socket 9 is accessible through a passage made in the insulating sealing insert 13.

[0038] As illustrated in Figures 2a and 2b, the male and female parts of the connector are provided with rotation-locking assembly means.

[0039] These are assembly means which ensure the locking of the conjugate connector parts by a relative rotational movement.

[0040] This is advantageously a quarter-turn lock.

[0041] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2a and 2b, the axial cylindrical extension 12 of the contact body of the male and female parts is provided with a helical groove 15 while the passage 10 of the connector body has a radial point 16 which is intended to fit into the helical groove 15.

[0042] Of course, the groove could be made in the passage 10 of the connector body and the pin carried by the axial cylindrical extension 12, without going out of the scope of the invention.

[0043] As illustrated, this groove comprises an axial portion 17 extended by a helical portion 18. With reference to Figures 3a to 3c, for the male connector portion, the connector assembly is carried out by first inserting the pin 8 into the contact body 6 and then inserting the assembly into the connector body 4, securing the assembly by quarter-turn locking (Figures 3c to 3e). The female portion is assembled in a similar sequence, likewise inserting the socket into the contact body and then inserting the assembly into the connector body 5, securing the assembly by quarter-turn locking.

[0044] As illustrated in 2a and 2b, the connector body is externally provided with snap-on means comprising tabs, such as 19, which snap into corresponding recesses to lock the connector assembled in a housing 20.

[0045] For example, it could be an electromagnetic shielding housing.

Claims

Demands

1. Connector (1) for connecting electrical conductors, comprising two conjugate parts (2, 3), respectively male and female, each comprising a connector body (4, 5) made of insulating material comprising a passage (10) in which a contact is mounted comprising an insulating contact body (6, 7) and a contact element (8, 9), respectively a pin and a socket, characterized in that the contact body and the connector body comprise rotation-locking assembly means (15, 16).

2. Connector according to claim 1, wherein the assembly means comprise a quarter-turn lock.

3. Connector according to claim 2, wherein the contact body is externally provided with a helical groove (15) in which a pin (16) carried by the inner face of the passage (10) made in the connector body engages.

4. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the front face of the contact body is provided with an insulating sealing insert (13).

5. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rear face of the connector body is provided with an insulating sealing insert.

6. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the connector body externally comprises snap-in means (19) for mounting the connector in a housing (20).

7. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the connector is a connector with a capacity of at least 46 amps.

8. A method for assembling a connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, for connecting electrical conductors, characterized in that it comprises the steps of, for each male and female connector part: - assembling the contact element in the contact body; - inserting the contact body into the passage in the connector body; and lock the contact body into the connector body by rotating it.

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