Human-machine interface

Abstract

The invention relates to a human-machine interface comprising an assembly mechanism containing, for each lug (222) of a connector (200), a groove (214) shaped to receive the lug, said groove (214) comprising a rectilinear portion which extends mainly in a plane perpendicular to an insertion axis (44), this rectilinear portion comprising parallel upper and lower flat edges which, when a control member is in its mounted position, can lock the connector (200) against translation inside a cylinder (40) solely by means of form-fitting with the lug (222) received in the rectilinear portion, the length of the flat edges being greater than the width of the lug (222) received in the rectilinear portion in order to allow angular travel of the connector (200) about the insertion axis (44) before the control member reaches its mounted position, while keeping the connector (200) locked against translation inside the cylinder (40).

Description

[0001] Human-machine interface

[0002] [1] The invention relates to a human-machine interface, an assembly comprising this human-machine interface and another human-machine interface and a method for manufacturing this human-machine interface.

[0003] [2] This type of interface is used in particular to control aircraft, including a handle or a steering wheel.

[0004] [3] The prior art is known from FR3078174A1, W02023 / 203018A1 and DE1187094B.

[0005] [4] More specifically, application FR3078174 discloses such a human-machine interface comprising a shell with an outer face, a hollow plastic barrel extending from the outer face, and a movable control element between a position mounted in the hollow barrel and a position removed from the hollow barrel. This control element comprises a hollow body with a peripheral wall, a user-movable utensil, electrical contacts installed on a lower wall, and a transducer that transforms the movement of the utensil into a variation of an electrical signal.

[0006] [5] Maintenance of the human-machine interface described in application FR3078174 is facilitated by a rigid connector assembled at the lower end of the hollow barrel and connected to the electrical cables. This connector has electrical contacts. Specifically, when the control element is in the mounted position, its electrical contacts rest against those of the connector, allowing for simple electrical connection and easy disassembly. Furthermore, the human-machine interface described in application FR3078174 includes a snap-lock mechanism and keying features to ensure the secure and correct angular positioning of the components.

[0007] [6] Depending on the application, for example, for wear resistance issues, it is required that the hollow barrel be made of metal, and more specifically, aluminum. In this case, it is not possible to use the same snap-fit ​​mechanism as that described in application FR3078174. Indeed, firstly, it is difficult to produce in metal claws identical to those described and shown in Figure 6 of application FR3078174. Secondly, even if claws identical to those described and shown in Figure 6 of application FR3078174 were produced in the lower end of a hollow aluminum barrel, the snap-fit ​​mechanism would not function because aluminum does not deform elastically. Thus, when the barrel is made of a metal such as aluminum, the snap-fit ​​mechanism described in application FR3078174 must be replaced by another assembly mechanism.Furthermore, this alternative assembly mechanism must be simple and compatible with existing connectors currently assembled on plastic drums.

[0008] [7] The invention aims to satisfy this wish.

[0009] [8] The invention is set forth in the attached set of claims.

[0010] [9] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0011] - Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a machine control panel;

[0012] - Figure 2 is a schematic and perspective illustration of a handle of the desk in Figure 1;

[0013] - Figure 3 is a schematic illustration, in longitudinal section, of a control element of the handle of Figure 2;

[0014] - Figure 4 is a schematic and perspective illustration of a hollow body of the control organ of Figure 3;

[0015] - Figure 5 is a schematic illustration, in longitudinal section and in perspective, of an upper end of a shaft intended to receive the control element of Figure 3;

[0016] - Figure 6 is a partial schematic and perspective illustration of the lower end of the shaft in Figure 5;

[0017] - Figure 7 is a schematic and perspective illustration of an electrical connector intended to be assembled on the lower end of the barrel shown in Figure 6;

[0018] - Figure 8 is a schematic, partial, and perspective illustration of part of an assembly mechanism for the connector of Figure 7; - Figure 9 is a schematic, partial, and perspective illustration of the connector of Figure 3 assembled on the lower end of Figure 6;

[0019] - Figure 10 is a schematic illustration, in longitudinal section, of the electrical contacts of the control unit of Figure 3 and the connector of Figure 7;

[0020] - Figure 11 is a schematic illustration, in longitudinal section, of a pair of electrical contacts of the control unit of Figure 3 and of the connector of Figure 7;

[0021] - Figure 12 is a partial schematic and perspective illustration of another lower end of a drum, made of composite material or plastic, of a human-machine interface;

[0022] - Figure 13 is a flowchart of a manufacturing process for the handle in Figure 2;

[0023] - Figure 14 is a schematic illustration of an assembly including the handle of Figure 2 and another handle.

[0024]

[0010] In this description, the terminology, conventions, and definitions of the terms used in this text are introduced in Chapter I. Detailed examples of embodiments are then described in Chapter II with reference to the figures. Variants of these embodiments are presented in Chapter III. Finally, the advantages of the different embodiments are specified in Chapter IV.

[0025]

[0011] Chapter I: Definitions, terminology and conventions:

[0026]

[0012] In the figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0027]

[0013] In the remainder of this description, the well-known characteristics and functions of a person skilled in the art are not described in detail.

[0028]

[0014] The figures are oriented with respect to a retraction direction 46 of a control element. The following description is given in the specific case where this direction 46 is parallel to a vertical direction. Therefore, terms such as "above," "below," "top," "bottom," "upper," and "lower" are defined with respect to the retraction direction 46.

[0015] The expression "an element made of material A" or the expression "an element made of material A" means that material A represents 90% or 95% of the mass of this element.

[0029]

[0016] In this text, the width of a pin of a connector is equal to the largest dimension of this pin in a direction perpendicular to the direction 46 and perpendicular to the radius of the connector passing through the geometric center of this pin.

[0030]

[0017] The length of a horizontal portion of a groove formed in the lower end of a shaft is the length of the edge between a lower flat edge of this horizontal portion and the outer peripheral face of the shaft. Since the shaft is a cylinder with a circular cross-section, this edge is an arc of a circle.

[0031]

[0018] The lower flat edge of the horizontal portion of the groove is the flat edge which delimits this groove and which is closest to the lower end of the barrel.

[0032]

[0019] Chapter: Example of an embodiment

[0033]

[0020] The figure 1 represents a control console 2 of a machine to be piloted. For example, this machine is an aircraft such as a helicopter or an airplane or similar.

[0034]

[0021] This control panel 2 includes a control panel 3 equipped with a human-machine interface for operating the machine. This interface is connected to a machine control unit 5 to issue a machine control command when it is activated. In particular, the human-machine interface includes a control handle 4 that can be directly moved by hand by a user.

[0035]

[0022] Figure 2 represents in more detail an example of an embodiment of the handle 4. This handle 4 has a proximal part 10 connected mechanically and electrically to the dashboard 3, for example, via an interface allowing the handle 4 to be rotated relative to the dashboard 3 in different directions.

[0036]

[0023] The handle 4 also has a distal end 12. In this example, the end 12 has a control panel 14. This panel 14 has various control elements 16, each of which can be directly operated by hand by a user. Here, the panel 14 has, for example, eight different control elements.

[0037]

[0024] The handle 4 also includes a handle 20 which mechanically connects the distal end 12 to the proximal end 10. This handle 20 provides a means for gripping the handle 4 for a human being. The handle 20 also includes various control elements. Here, three control elements 22 to 24 are shown.

[0038]

[0025] In this figure, the control element 22 is shown in a disassembled position, while the control elements 16, 23, and 24 are shown in their positions mounted in the handle 4. Each control element 16, 22 to 24, when actuated by a user, generates a command different from that generated by the other control elements of the same handle. For this purpose, each control element is electrically connected to the unit 5 via respective electrical cables. These electrical cables run inside the handle 4.

[0039]

[0026] In this embodiment, the handle 4 comprises shells assembled together to form the mechanical frame of this handle, to which the various control elements are attached. For example, the handle 20 and the proximal end 10 are formed here by two shells 30, 32 assembled one on top of the other. In Figure 2, a portion of a joint plane 34 between these shells 30 and 32 is visible. Typically, a seal extends in this joint plane to ensure the watertightness of the handle 4 under normal operating conditions.

[0040]

[0027] Each shell has an outer face directly accessible to the user and an inner face located on the opposite side. The joining of the inner faces of the shells defines a hollow space inside the handle 4. The connecting cables of the control elements are located inside this hollow space.

[0041]

[0028] Here, each control element is housed inside a barrel fitted in the hull.

[0042]

[0029] A barrel 40 and the control element mounted inside this barrel are described in more detail in the particular case of the control element 22. However, the teaching given in this particular case applies to all control elements of the handle 4. This part of the description is made with reference to figures 3 to 11.

[0043]

[0030] Figure 3 shows the control member 22 in its mounted position inside the barrel 40. To facilitate the manufacture and maintenance of the handle 4, the member 22 can be reversibly moved between the disassembled position shown in Figure 2 and the mounted position shown in Figure 3. In the disassembled position, the member 22 is disconnected from the cables that connect it to the unit 5. It is also mechanically separated from the handle 20 and the shell 32. Thus, in the disassembled position, the member 22 is mechanically independent of the handle 4.

[0044]

[0031] In the mounted position, on the contrary, the member 22 is electrically connected to the cables which link it to the unit 5 and is integral with the shell 32. In the mounted position, the member 22 is also mechanically retained inside the barrel 40 by a locking mechanism described later.

[0045]

[0032] The component 22 moves from its disassembled position to its assembled position by being moved, in an insertion direction 42, by translation along an insertion axis 44. The axis 44 is fixed to the handle 4. Conversely, the component 22 moves from its assembled position to its disassembled position by being moved along the axis 44 in an extraction direction 46. Hereafter, terms such as "above," "below," "upper," and "lower" are defined with respect to the direction 46. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity, the axis 44 is assumed to be vertical.

[0046]

[0033] The organ 22 comprises a hollow body 50 (Fig. 5) which is essentially cylindrical. Here, the cross-section of the body 50 is circular and its axis of revolution coincides with the axis 44. The hollow body 50 comprises a lower wall 52 (Fig. 3), an upper part 54 and a cylindrical peripheral wall 56 located between the upper part 54 and the lower wall 52. The lower wall 52 extends mainly in a horizontal plane.

[0047]

[0034] The upper part 54 has a shoulder 58 which bears mechanically directly against an upper edge 60 (Fig. 5) of the shaft 40 when the component 22 is in its mounted position. Here, the shoulder 58 is a collar whose axis of revolution coincides with the axis 44. Typically, the shoulder 58 and the wall 56 form a single block of material.

[0048]

[0035] In its upper part, the component 22 includes a tool 59 (Fig. 3) that can be moved directly by hand by the user. For this purpose, the tool 59 generally protrudes beyond the outer face of the casing in the mounted position of the component 22.

[0049]

[0036] In the particular case described here, the component 22 is a push button. In this case, the tool 59 is therefore a button that can only be moved in translation relative to the hollow body 50 along the axis 44 between a rest position, shown in Figure 3, and a pressed position. In the pressed position, the tool 59 is further inserted into the hollow body 50 than in the rest position. The tool 59 is constantly returned to its rest position by return means 62 housed inside the hollow body 50. For example, the return means 62 include a spring. To simplify the representation of the component 22, some of these known functional components are shown as simple function blocks in Figure 3, and the mechanical relationships between these function blocks are simply represented by lines.

[0050]

[0037] The component 22 also includes electrical contacts fixed without any degree of freedom to the lower wall 52. In Figures 3 and 11, only two electrical contacts 64, 66 are visible. Each of these electrical contacts 64, 66 is intended to be electrically connected to a corresponding end of a cable located inside the handle 4. Here, each electrical contact 64, 66 has a pin, respectively 67, 68, which extends parallel to the axis 44 in the direction 42 from the wall 52.

[0051]

[0038] The component 22 also includes a transducer 70 capable of transforming the movement of the utensil 59 into an electrical signal delivered on the electrical contacts 64, 66. For example, conventionally, in the case of a push button, the transducer 70 switches the electrical resistance, between the electrical contacts 64, 66, between a first value RI corresponding to the rest position and a second value R2 corresponding to the pressed position of the utensil 59. The transducer 70 is housed inside the hollow body 50.

[0052]

[0039] The barrel 40 has an upper end 80 (Fig. 5) which opens onto the outer face of the shell 32 and a lower end 82 (Fig. 6) located at least 1 cm or 2 cm inside the handle 4. The barrel 40 is fixed without any degree of freedom to the shell 32 by means of its end 80. The end 80 includes in particular the upper edge 60.

[0053]

[0040] The ends 80 and 82 are mechanically connected by a cylindrical portion 84 (Fig. 3). The horizontal cross-section of the portion 84 is circular, and its axis of revolution coincides with the axis 44. In the assembled position, the clearance between the inner diameter of the portion 84 and the outer diameter of the wall 56 is sufficiently large to allow the insertion of the component 22 into the barrel 40. This clearance is, however, typically less than 1 mm.

[0041] The handle 4 includes a locking mechanism that can be moved reversibly between:

[0054] - a locked position in which it cooperates with the wall 56 of the hollow body 50 to retain the control member 22 in its mounted position, and

[0055] - an unlocked position in which it allows the movement of the control member 22 from its mounted position to its dismounted position.

[0056]

[0042] Here, this locking mechanism is identical to that described in application FR3078174 and is therefore not described in detail. It is simply recalled here that it comprises a circular groove 88 (Fig. 5), an O-ring 90 (Fig. 3), and a bead 130 (Fig. 4). The circular groove 88, facing the axis 44, is cut into the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 84. The axis of revolution of this groove 88 coincides with the axis 44. Typically, the groove 88 is closer to the upper end 80 than to the lower end 82.

[0057]

[0043] The seal 90 is housed inside the groove 88. Part of this seal 90 protrudes inside the barrel 40 to bear against the cylindrical wall 56 of the component 22 when the latter is in its mounted position.

[0058]

[0044] The bead 130 is arranged on the wall 56 of the body 50. This bead 130 includes in particular a sloping face 132 which flares out in the direction of introduction, this sloping face being able to permanently compress the seal 90 over its entire periphery when the control member is in its mounted position.

[0059]

[0045] The handle 4 includes a keying feature 140 (Figures 4 and 5) which allows only one angular position of the component 22 around the axis 44 when it is in its mounted position. Here, the keying feature 140 includes:

[0060] - a vertical rib 142 (figure 4) formed in the upper part 54 of the hollow body 50, and

[0061] - a vertical groove 144 (figure 5) made in the upper end 80 of the barrel 40.

[0062]

[0046] This rib 142 and this groove 144 cooperate with each other, by cooperation of form, so that the member 22 can reach its mounted position only if the rib 142 slides inside the groove 144.

[0063]

[0047] The upper edge 60 and the shoulder 58 are shaped so that, in the mounted position of the component 22, there is a gap between this shoulder 58 and this upper edge 60. This gap is large enough to allow the insertion of a tool blade, such as a screwdriver. This blade is used to form a lever that allows the component 22 to be extracted without pulling on the tool 59. Typically, this gap is at least 0.5 mm or 1 mm in the direction 42. To this end, in this embodiment, the upper edge 60 of the barrel 40 has a notch 150 (Figure 5) that opens onto the outer face of the shell 32. This notch 150 also opens under the shoulder 58 when the component 22 is in its mounted position. Here, the notch 150 is dimensioned to allow the insertion, from outside the handle 4, of the blade of a tool, such as a screwdriver, between the upper edge 60 and the shoulder 58 when the component 22 is in its mounted position.

[0064]

[0048] A connector 200 (Fig. 7) is assembled on the lower end 82 of the barrel 40. In its lower part, the connector 200 is mechanically and electrically connected to the end of the cables intended to electrically connect the component 22 to the unit 5. For example, the ends of the cables are welded or crimped onto the lower part of the connector 200 or fixed by any other suitable vibration-resistant means.

[0065]

[0049] In its upper part, the connector 200 has electrical contacts 202 and 204 (Fig. 10-11) each intended to cooperate with a corresponding electrical contact of the member 22 to establish the electrical connection between this member 22 and the connector 200 when the member 22 is in its mounted position.

[0066]

[0050] The electrical contacts 202 and 204 are each permanently electrically connected, through the body of the connector 200, to the end of a respective cable. The electrical contacts 202 and 204 are, for example, structurally identical. Thus, only one embodiment of the contact 202 is described in more detail here with reference to Figures 10 and 11.

[0067]

[0051] The contact 202 has a hole 206, inside which an electrode 208 is housed. The hole 206 is designed to slidably receive the pin 67 of the electrical contact 64. The electrode 208 is permanently electrically connected to the end of one of the cables located inside the handle 4. The electrode 208 protrudes inside the hole 206 so as to bear against the pin 67 when the component 22 is in its mounted position. This mechanical contact between the electrode 208 and the pin 67 allows the connector 200 to be locked against rotation, as described later. However, this mechanical contact does not serve to retain the component 22 in its mounted position. Thus, there are many simple ways to arrange this electrode 208 inside the hole 206.

[0052] The length, in the direction 42, of the peripheral portion 84 of the barrel 40 is adapted so that in the mounted position, i.e. when the shoulder 58 is in contact with the upper edge 60, the electrical contacts 64, 66 are electrically connected to the electrical contacts 202 and 204 and thus to the end of the cables via the connector 200. Conversely, when the member 22 is moved to its disassembled position, this automatically disconnects the electrical contacts 64, 66 from the electrical contacts 202 and 204 because the connector 200 remains fixed to the end 82 of the barrel 40.

[0068]

[0053] Here, the connector 200 is a removable rigid part made of an electrically insulating material such as plastic. The connector 200 can be moved by a maintenance operator between an assembled position, shown in Figure 3, and a disassembled position, and this can be done reversibly. In the assembled position, the connector 200 is fixed in translation inside the barrel 40 and free to rotate about the axis 44 thanks, in particular, to the space 246 (Fig. 8). In the disassembled position, the connector 200 is no longer fixed to the lower end 82 and can be freely removed from the barrel 40. For this purpose, the handle 4 includes an assembly mechanism 210 (Fig. 6-7) allowing the connector 200 to be moved reversibly between its assembled and disassembled positions.

[0069]

[0054] The mechanism 210 has grooves 212 and 214 (Fig. 6) formed in the lower end 82 of the barrel 40. The mechanism 210 also has two lugs 220, 222 (Fig. 7) formed in the upper part of the connector 200 and which project horizontally beyond the periphery of the connector 200. The grooves 212 and 214 are shaped to receive the lugs 220 and 222, respectively. More specifically, the grooves 212 and 214 each have an entry portion and a straight portion. The entry portion and the straight portion of the groove 212 are designated by the reference numerals 226 and 228, respectively (Figs. 6 and 8). The inlet portion and the straight portion of groove 214 are designated by the numerical references 230 and 232, respectively (Fig. 6). Groove 214 is structurally identical to groove 212 and differs from groove 212 only in some of its dimensions. Therefore, only groove 212 is described in detail hereafter.

[0070]

[0055] Here, each lug 220, 222 is a rectangular parallelepiped. The width l 22 the width of the lug 220 is at least 0.5 mm less than the width l 222 of the lug 222. For example, here, the width l 220 is equal to 1.5 mm and the width of the 222 is equal to 2.5 mm.

[0056] Figure 8 shows the groove 212 in more detail. The portion 226 extends vertically, in the direction 46, from a lower opening that leads into the lower edge of the end 82 to one end of the straight portion 228. Here, the portion 226 is delimited by two flat, vertical, straight, and parallel edges 236 and 238. The width l226 of the portion 226 is therefore equal to the shortest distance between the edges 236 and 238. The width l226 is greater than the width l 22o of the lug 220 so that the lug 220 can be pushed in, by sliding in the direction 46, into the portion 226. Here, the width l 226 is also less than the width l 222 of the lug 222. Thus, the lug 222 can only be received inside the groove 214. Consequently, in this embodiment, the mechanism 210 allows only one angular orientation of the connector 200 around the axis 44 in its assembled position. The mechanism 210 therefore also fulfills the function of a keying device.

[0071]

[0057] The straight portion 228 is adapted to lock the connector 200 in translation within the barrel 40 by means of a form-based cooperation with the lug 220 when the lug 220 is received in this portion 228. For this purpose, the portion 228 extends primarily in a horizontal plane. The straight portion 228 comprises an upper edge 240, a lower edge 242, and a bottom 244. These edges 240 and 242 are flat, horizontal, and parallel. The shortest distance between the edges 240 and 242 is equal to the height of the lug 220 plus a clearance £. The height of the lug 220 is the largest dimension of this lug in the direction 46. The clearance £ is chosen to allow the sliding introduction of the lug 220 inside the portion 228 while locking the vertical translation of the connector 44. Typically, for this purpose, the clearance £ is less than 0.2 mm or 0.1 mm.Under these conditions, as shown in Figure 8, when the lug 220 is received in the portion 228, this locks the translational movement of the connector 200. Indeed, the lug 220 comes to rest on the edge 240 when the connector 200 is pushed in the direction 46 and comes to rest on the edge 242 when the connector 200 is pulled in the direction 42.

[0072]

[0058] The bottom 244 connects the ends of the edges 240 and 242. For this purpose, the bottom 244 is flat, vertical, and straight. On the side opposite the bottom 244, the portion 228 opens into the interior of the portion 226.

[0073]

[0059] There is a theoretical angular position of the connector 200 in which all the pins are perfectly aligned with the corresponding holes so that, when the component 22 is moved into its mounted position, all the pins enter directly into the corresponding holes. This angular position is described as "theoretical" because it corresponds to the case where the manufacturing tolerances on the barrel 40, the component 22, and the connector 200 are zero. In practice, these manufacturing tolerances are not zero. Consequently, the actual angular position that the connector 200 must occupy for the holes to be perfectly aligned with the pins when the component 22 is mounted may be angularly offset from the theoretical angular position.To allow the movement of component 22 to its mounted position despite some uncertainty regarding the angular position of connector 200 around axis 44, mechanism 210 also permits, in the assembled position and before component 22 reaches its mounted position, an angular deflection of connector 200 around axis 44. This angular deflection is at least 1° or 1.5° in each direction of rotation relative to the theoretical angular position shown in Figure 8. To achieve this, the lengths of edges 240 and 242 are adjusted to create a gap 246 between the base 244 and the lug 220 when the latter occupies its theoretical angular position. Therefore, the length l242 of edge 242 is greater than l,l*l. er g or at l,2*l erg , where the erg is equal to the width of the widest lug 222. In this embodiment, the width I 246 (Fig. 8) of the space 246 is, here, greater than 0.49 mm or 0.6 mm. Preferably, the width l246 is also less than 1.5 mm or 1 mm so as to limit the amplitude of the angular deflection of the lug 220 in the assembled position. Here, l246 is equal to 0.5 mm. Thus, the length l_ 24 The width of edge 242 is equal to I220 + I246 + P, where p is greater than or equal to 0 mm or 0.1 mm. For example, here, p is equal to 1.2 mm in the case of lug 220. In the case of the straight portion 232 of groove 214, the width l 246 is equal to 0.49 mm and p is equal to 0.14 mm.

[0074]

[0060] To rotate the connector 200 while it is in its assembled position, the handle 4 has chamfers 250, 252 (Fig. 11) arranged, in this embodiment, on the end of each pin and around the perimeter of the entrance of each corresponding hole. Here, the chamfer 250 located at the end of the pin 67 makes an angle with the vertical of between 15° and 35° and, preferably, between 20° and 30°. The chamfer 252 makes an angle with the vertical of between 30° and 45°. Here, the chamfer 252 makes an angle of 45° with the vertical. When the component 22 is pushed into its mounted position, if the pin 67 is not perfectly opposite the hole 206, the tip of the pin 67 comes to rest on the chamfer 252, which causes the connector 200 to rotate around the axis 44 until the tip of the pin 67 begins to penetrate inside the hole 206.Next, the chamfer 250 comes into contact with an edge of the electrode 208, which finely centers the pin 67 on the axis of the hole 206.

[0075]

[0061] Finally, in this embodiment, the connector 200 is further shaped to be assembled onto the lower end of a drum, made of composite material or plastic, using a snap-fit ​​mechanism such as that described in application FR3078174. For this purpose, the connector 200 further comprises four recesses 268 to 271 (Figs. 7 and 9). Each of these recesses 268 to 271 is shaped to cooperate with a respective claw on the lower end 282 (Fig. 12) of a plastic drum identical to that described in application FR3078174. As can be seen in Figure 12, such a lower end 282 has four claws 284 to 287 suitable for retaining the connector 100 in its assembled position on the lower end 282 by cooperation of form with the recesses 268 to 271.Furthermore, the end 282 has housings 290, 292 suitable for receiving, respectively, the lugs 220 and 222 when the connector 200 is in its assembled position on the lower end 282. The width of the housing 290 is greater than the width l. 22 o and smaller than the width l 222 Thus, when the connector 200 is assembled onto the end 282, the tabs 220 and 222 are used solely for orientation and not to hold the connector 200 in its assembled position. Therefore, in this embodiment, the same connector 200 can be assembled on either the end of the metal drum 40 or the end 282 of a plastic drum.

[0076]

[0062] The manufacture of the handle 4 is now described with reference to the process in Figure 13.

[0077]

[0063] During a step 300, the ends of the cables of the handle 4 are fixed, for example by welding or by other means, onto a respective electrode of the connector 200.

[0078]

[0064] In a step 302, the cables are then arranged inside the shell 32 of the handle 4 and the connector 200 is assembled on the lower end 82 of the barrel 40 using the mechanism 210. At this stage, the angular position of the connector 200 is close to its theoretical angular position.

[0079]

[0065] In step 304, the component 22 is then moved from its disassembled position to its assembled position.

[0066] In parallel, in step 306, the connector 200 is slightly rotated around the axis 44 while remaining in its assembled position. Typically, for this purpose, the connector 200 is placed by an operator in an angular position where the tip of the spindle 67 comes into mechanical contact with the chamfer 252 of the hole 206. Then, the operator continues to push the member 22 in the direction 46. This causes, through the interaction between the tip of the spindle 67 and the chamfer 252 and then through the interaction between the chamfer 250 and the contact 202, the rotation of the connector 200 until the spindle is perfectly aligned with the axis of the hole 206. At this point, the operator can complete the movement of the member 22 to its mounted position.

[0080]

[0067] When the component 22 has reached its mounted position, the connector 200 is locked against rotation about the axis 44 by the shape cooperation between the pins and the electrodes housed inside the holes. Conversely, the grooves 210, 212 do not contribute to this rotational locking of the connector 200.

[0081]

[0068] At this stage, during step 308, the operator applies a dab of glue that immobilizes at least one of the lugs 220, 222 within the straight portion of the groove into which it is received. Such a dab of glue 310 is represented by a dashed circle in Figure 8. Preferably, the glue used is also one that can be easily removed, for example, by hand by the operator. For this purpose, a paste-like glue with the consistency of chewing gum is used, for example.

[0082]

[0069] During a step 312, the shell 30 is fixed onto the shell 32 to close the handle 4.

[0083]

[0070] During a maintenance step 314, the operator inserts the tip of the screwdriver blade into the notch 150 and then presses down on the handle of the screwdriver to lever it open. This single movement by the operator causes a displacement, in direction 46, of the component 22 which:

[0084] - moves the locking mechanism from its locked position to its unlocked position, and simultaneously,

[0085] - electrically disconnects electrical contacts 64, 66 from electrical contacts 202, 204.

[0086]

[0071] Next, the component 22 is completely removed from the barrel 40, for example, by pulling on the tool 59. Thus, the component 22 can be easily extracted. At this point, it is noted that after the component 22 has been extracted, the connector 200 is held in its angular position by the adhesive point 310.

[0087]

[0072] In step 316, once component 22 is repaired, it is moved from its disassembled position to its assembled position. At this stage, it is not necessary to adjust the angular position of connector 200 because the correct angular position has been maintained by the adhesive point 310.

[0088]

[0073] During a maintenance step 320, the housing 30 can be disassembled and the connector 200 moved to its disassembled position to remove the connector 200. To do this, the component 22 is first moved to its disassembled position, and then the adhesive dot(s) 310 are removed. Next, the connector 200 is rotated to engage the lugs 220, 222 in the entry portions of the grooves 212, 214, and then the connector 200 is pulled in the direction 42 to detach it from the barrel 40. This makes it possible to remove the cables from inside the handle 4 without having to detach them from the connector 200. This also facilitates cable maintenance.

[0089]

[0074] Figure 13 shows an assembly comprising handle 4 and handle 342. Handle 342 is, for example, identical to the handle described in application FR3078174. In particular, handle 342 has a barrel fitted with end 282. By way of illustration, handle 342 is identical to handle 4 except that the barrel 40 is replaced by a plastic barrel with end 282. In this assembly 340, the same connector 200 can be fitted to either end 82 of barrel 40 or end 282 of a barrel of handle 342.

[0090]

[0075] Chapter III: Variants:

[0091]

[0076] Variants of the assembly mechanism:

[0092]

[0077] The input portions 226, 230 of the assembly mechanism 210 do not necessarily extend parallel to the direction 46. Alternatively, they may extend along a direction inclined relative to the direction 46. In this case, when the lugs 220, 222 slide inside the portions 226, 230, this causes the connector 200 to rotate around the axis 44 before these lugs 220, 222 reach the straight portions 228, 232.

[0093]

[0078] Alternatively, the number of lugs on the connector is greater than two. In this case, the number of grooves in the lower end 82 of the barrel 40 and the number of recesses in the plastic barrel are adjusted to be equal to the number of lugs on the connector.

[0079] The widths of the lugs on the connector may be equal. In this case, the keying function is achieved by choosing, for each lug, an angular position around the axis 44 that allows only one angular position of the connector 200 around the axis 44 in its assembled position.

[0094]

[0080] When the angular positioning of the connector on the lower end of the barrel can be arbitrary, the keying function of the lugs is omitted. For example, the widths of the inlet portions of all the grooves are greater than the largest width of the lugs.

[0095]

[0081] The assembly mechanism described herein can also be used when the barrel is made of a material other than metal. For example, the assembly mechanism 210 can also be used when the barrel is made of plastic or composite material. In the latter case, the barrel and the casing in which it is fitted can form a single block of material. For this purpose, for example, the casing and the barrel are molded simultaneously and form a single block of material.

[0096]

[0082] The chamfers 250, 252 of the pins and / or holes may be omitted. When no chamfer is provided, during the manufacture of the human-machine interface, the connector must be manually rotated by an operator until the pins and holes are perfectly aligned to allow the component 22 to reach its mounted position.

[0097]

[0083] The glue point(s) 310 may be omitted.

[0098]

[0084] Other variants:

[0099]

[0085] The number of electrical contacts of the control element, and therefore the number of electrical contacts of the connector, can be arbitrary. However, in practice, the connector and the control element each have at least two separate electrical contacts.

[0100]

[0086] All the variants described in the "Control Element Variants" section of application FR3078174 apply to the human-machine interface described here, except for the variants relating to electrical contacts. In particular, the control element may, as an alternative, be a joystick rather than a push button.

[0101]

[0087] The casing can also be made of metal and, typically, of the same metal as the barrel. In this case, the metal barrel may form a single block of material with the casing in which it is fitted. The handle may also be a monocoque handle as described in application FR3078174.

[0102]

[0088] The cylindrical portion 84 of the barrel can also be replaced by several successive cylindrical portions of decreasing diameters going in the direction 42.

[0103]

[0089] All the variants described in the "Variants of the locking mechanism" section of application FR3078174 apply to the case of the human-machine interface described here.

[0104]

[0090] The human-machine interface is not necessarily an aircraft handle. What is described here also applies to handles equipped with control elements that can be found in other transport vehicles such as, but not limited to, automobiles or trains. Such a handle can also be used on a combine harvester.

[0105]

[0091] It can also be a handle used elsewhere than in a transport vehicle, such as in certain industrial machines or in certain lifting devices like a crane. For example, the handle described here can also be used in a remote control of a drone or a robot.

[0106]

[0092] Everything described here in the particular case of a handle applies to the case of a steering wheel.

[0107]

[0093] Finally, the teaching given here is not limited to the case where the housing is that of a handle or a steering wheel. The teaching given here applies generally to any human-machine interface comprising a housing in which one or more control elements are fixed. For example, the human-machine interface may be a control panel for a machine, this panel comprising a housing in which a control element is housed according to the principles described here in the specific case of a handle. The machine being controlled is, for example, an automatic washing system. In this case, the housing of the human-machine interface is, for example, a flat plate fixed without any degrees of freedom to a stationary frame. Under these conditions, during normal use of this human-machine interface, the housing cannot be moved manually by a user.

[0108]

[0094] Several of the variants described above can be combined in the same embodiment.

[0109]

[0095] Chapter IV: Advantages of the described embodiments:

[0096] The grooves are capable of receiving the same connector tabs as those used, in the case of a plastic barrel, to form a keying feature. Thus, the same connectors 200 can be used with a metal barrel and a plastic barrel identical to that described in application FR3078174. Furthermore, the fact that the length of the straight portion of each groove is chosen to be greater than the width of the tab it receives allows for angular movement of the connector around the axis 44 in its assembled position. This angular movement facilitates the mounting of the control element while the connector is already in its assembled position.Indeed, the fact that the connector can still be slightly rotated around axis 44 while remaining in its assembled position allows for fine adjustment of its angular position to correctly align the pins with the holes. Thus, the assembly mechanism functions correctly despite the existence of one or more of the following positioning errors:

[0110] - angular positioning errors of the electrical contacts of the control unit due to manufacturing tolerances on the various parts of this unit, and

[0111] - dimensional errors, particularly on the size of the lugs, due to the fact that the connector is a plastic part made by molding.

[0112]

[0097] The assembly mechanism described here is therefore compatible with existing plastic connectors, while the barrel can be made of metal.

[0113]

[0098] Furthermore, the mechanism for assembling the connector onto the barrel is particularly simple. It is limited to the creation of a few grooves in the lower end of the barrel, each of these grooves requiring only an entry portion and a straight portion to lock the connector in translation. Rotational locking of the connector inside the barrel is achieved by pins that bear mechanically against conductive electrodes housed in the holes. Thus, unlike a conventional bayonet fitting, it is not necessary to provide a recess at the end of the straight portion to prevent the connector from rotating when the tab is received in this recess. Nor is it necessary to provide a spring that constantly forces the tab towards the bottom of this recess when the connector is in its assembled position.

[0114]

[0099] The fact that the widths of the groove entry portions and the widths of the lugs are different allows them to be used as a keying device to ensure correct angular positioning of the connector on the metal barrel. Furthermore, these same lugs also ensure correct angular positioning of the connector when this same connector is assembled on the lower end 282 of the plastic barrel.

[0115]

[0100] Using a dab of glue to prevent the connector from rotating in its assembled position, in addition to the pins and holes, facilitates the assembly of the control element after it has first been disassembled. In this case, even when the control element is removed from the barrel, the connector remains rotationally locked in the straight sections of the grooves. Thus, when the control element is placed back in its assembled position, it is not necessary to readjust the angular position of the connector to allow the pins to be inserted into the holes.

[0116]

[0101] The fact that each of the glue points can be removed by hand makes it easier to disassemble the connector when it is necessary, for example, to replace it.

[0117]

[0102] Making the barrel out of aluminium makes it possible to reduce the weight of the human-machine interface while retaining the properties of a metal.

[0118]

[0103] The presence of a chamfer on the pin and / or the hole makes it easier to assemble the connector on the lower end of the barrel.

[0119]

[0104] The fact that the length of one of the lower flat edges is less than I erg +1 mm, allows the 200 connector to be pre-positioned at an angular position close to the theoretical angular position it must occupy so that the pins and holes are perfectly aligned. This therefore facilitates the manufacturing of the human-machine interface.

Claims

Demands 1. Human-machine interface, this human-machine interface comprising: - an outer face, - a hollow barrel (40) which extends, along an infeed axis (44), towards the interior of the human-machine interface for a distance of at least one centimeter, from the outer face to a lower end (82), - at least two cables, located outside the hollow drum and on the side opposite the outer face, each having one end, - a rigid connector (200) assembled on the lower end (82) of the barrel (40), this connector being mechanically connected to the ends of the cables and comprising: • at least two electrical contacts (202, 204) electrically connected each to the end of a respective cable, and • at least two protruding lugs (220, 222) on its outer periphery, - a control element (22) that can be reversibly moved between: • a mounted position in which the control element is received inside the hollow barrel, and • a disassembled position in which the control element is located outside the hollow barrel, this control element comprising: • a hollow body (50) extending between an upper part (54) and a lower wall (52), this hollow body comprising a peripheral wall (56) situated between the upper part and the lower wall, • a utensil (59), directly movable by hand by a user, protruding beyond the upper part of the hollow body, • at least two electrical contacts (64, 66) installed on the lower wall, each of the electrical contacts (64, 66) of the control element being capable of directly bearing mechanically on a corresponding electrical contact (202, 204) of the connector when the control element is in its mounted position for electrically connecting the control element to the ends of the cables, and in each pair comprising an electrical contact of the control element and the corresponding electrical contact of the connector, one One of the electrical contacts of this pair has a pin (67) and the other of the electrical contacts of this pair has a hole (206) inside which is housed a conductive electrode (208), the pin being: - capable of being slid into the hole to provide mechanical support against the conductive electrode housed in that hole when the control element is moved from its disassembled position to its assembled position, and - capable of being removed by sliding it inside the hole to be mechanically and electrically isolated from the conductive electrode housed in that hole by simply moving the control element from its mounted position to its dismounted position, • a transducer (70) housed inside the hollow body and capable of transforming a movement of the utensil into a variation of an electrical signal present on the electrical contacts, - an assembly mechanism (210) for assembling the connector onto the lower end of the barrel, - a keying device (140) adapted to allow only one angular positioning of the control member inside the barrel, this keying device being partly formed in the barrel and partly in the hollow body, characterized in that the assembly mechanism (210) comprises, for each lug (220, 222) of the connector (200), a groove (212, 214) shaped to receive this lug, this groove comprising an entry portion (226, 230) which opens into the lower end of the barrel and a straight portion (228, 232) which extends mainly in a plane perpendicular to the entry axis, this straight portion comprising parallel upper (240) and lower (242) flat edges which, when the control member is in its mounted position and solely by form cooperation with the lug received in this straight portion, are adapted to lock the connector in translation inside the barrel,the length of the flat edges being greater than the width of the connector lug received in this straight section to allow, before the control element reaches its mounted position, an angular movement of the connector around the insertion axis while keeping the connector locked in translation inside the barrel.

2. Human-machine interface according to claim 1, wherein: - the connector has a first lug (220) and a second lug (222), the width of the first lug being smaller than the width of the second lug, - the width of the entry portion (226) of the groove formed to receive the first lug is greater than the width of the first lug and less than the width of the second lug, the width of this entry portion being equal to the smallest dimension of this entry portion in the same measurement direction as the measurement direction used to measure the width of the first lug received in this entry portion.

3. Human-machine interface according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly mechanism comprises, for each lug, a dot (310) of glue which immobilizes this lug inside the straight portion of the groove at the location that this lug occupies when the control member is in its mounted position.

4. Human-machine interface according to claim 3, wherein each dot of glue is capable of being removed directly by hand by a human being.

5. Human-machine interface according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the barrel is made of metal.

6. Human-machine interface according to claim 5, wherein the barrel is made of aluminium.

7. Human-machine interface according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in each pair of electrical contacts, at least one of the spindle (67) and the hole (206) has a chamfer (250, 252) shaped to drive in rotation, by cooperation of form with the other of the spindle and the hole, the connector around the infeed axis when the spindle and the hole are not perfectly aligned.

8. Human-machine interface according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of one of the lower flat edges is less than 1 / 10 ... erg is the width of the widest pin (222) of the connector, the width of a pin being equal to the largest dimension of that pin in a direction perpendicular to the insertion axis and perpendicular to the radius of the connector passing through the geometric center of that pin.

9. Human-machine interface according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the lower flat edges (242) is greater than or equal to l,l*l er g, where the lower flat edge is the one closest to the lower end of the shaft and l er g is the width of the widest pin (222) of the connector, the width of a pin being equal to the largest dimension of that pin in a direction perpendicular to the insertion axis and perpendicular to the radius of the connector passing through the geometric center of that pin.

10. Human-machine interface according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the human-machine interface comprises a movable locking mechanism (88, 90, 130) reversibly between: - a locked position in which it cooperates with the peripheral wall of the hollow body to retain the control element in its mounted position, and - an unlocked position in which it allows the movement of the control element from its mounted position to its dismounted position.

11. Human-machine interface according to claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism comprises: - a groove (88) formed in one of the barrel and the peripheral wall of the hollow body, this groove extending mainly in a transverse plane perpendicular to the entry axis, the entry axis being parallel to an entry direction and the entry direction being the direction of movement of the control member when it moves inside the barrel towards its mounted position, - an elastically deformable seal (90) received in this groove and projecting beyond this groove, and - a bead (130) arranged on the other side of the shaft and the peripheral wall, this bead having a sloping face (132) which flares out in the direction of introduction, this sloping face being able to permanently compress the seal over its entire periphery when the control member is in its mounted position.

12. Human-machine interface according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the human-machine interface is a handle (4) or a steering wheel.

13. Set of human-machine interfaces comprising: - a first human-machine interface (342) comprising: - an outer face, - a hollow cylindrical barrel which extends, along an infeed axis, inwards from the first human-machine interface for a distance of at least one centimeter, from the outer face to a lower end (282), - at least two cables, located outside the hollow drum and on the side opposite the outer face, each having one end, - a rigid connector assembled on the lower end of the drum, this connector being mechanically connected to the ends of the cables and comprising: • at least two electrical contacts, each electrically connected to the end of a respective cable, and • at least two protruding lugs on its outer periphery, - a control element that can be reversibly moved between: • a mounted position in which the control element is received inside the hollow barrel, and • a disassembled position in which the control element is located outside the hollow barrel, this control element comprising: • a hollow body extending between an upper part and a lower wall, this hollow body comprising a peripheral wall situated between the upper part and the lower wall, • a utensil, directly movable by hand by a user, protruding beyond the upper part of the hollow body, • at least two electrical contacts installed on the lower wall, each electrical contact of the control element being capable of directly bearing mechanically on a corresponding electrical contact of the connector when the control element is in its mounted position for electrically connecting the control element to the ends of the cables, and in each pair comprising an electrical contact of the control element and the corresponding electrical contact of the connector, one of these electrical contacts of that pair has a pin and the other of the electrical contacts of that pair has a hole inside which a conductive electrode is housed, the pin being: - capable of being slid into the hole to provide mechanical support against the conductive electrode housed in that hole when the control element is moved from its disassembled position to its assembled position, and - capable of being removed by sliding it inside the hole to be mechanically and electrically isolated from the conductive electrode housed in that hole by simply moving the control element from its mounted position to its dismounted position, • a transducer housed inside the hollow body and capable of transforming a movement of the utensil into a variation of an electrical signal present on the electrical contacts, - a snap-fit ​​mechanism comprising claws (284-287) formed in the lower end of the barrel and allowing the connector to be assembled onto the lower end of the barrel by elastic deformation of these claws, - a keying device capable of allowing only one angular positioning of the control element inside the barrel, this keying device being partly made in the barrel and partly in the hollow body, - a second human-machine interface (4) conforming to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connectors of the first and second human-machine interfaces are identical.

14. A method for manufacturing a human-machine interface according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the method comprises: - assembling (302) the connector inside the barrel by positioning each of its lugs in the straight portion of a respective groove, then - the movement (304) of the control element from its disassembled position to its assembled position, - in parallel with the movement of the control element from its disassembled position to its assembled position, the rotation (306) of the connector around the insertion axis while keeping the lugs of the connector inside the straight portions of the grooves, until the pins and the holes are correctly aligned to allow the pins to slide inside the holes.

Images