Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
  • H01R4/24—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands
  • H01R4/2416—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type
  • H01R4/2445—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives
  • H01R4/245—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives the additional means having two or more slotted flat portions
  • H01R4/2454—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives the additional means having two or more slotted flat portions forming a U-shape with slotted branches

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a self-stripping connection device for two electric cables.
• a self-stripping connection device makes it possible to connect an electric cable to a conductive part without it being necessary beforehand to strip one end of the electric cable.
• the self-stripping connection device performs local stripping of the cable, for example by cutting the insulating sheath which is located around the conductive core, before making electrical contact between the conductive core thus locally stripped and the conductive part.
• the documents EP-0 247 360 or even FR-2 723 474 disclose self-stripping connection devices.
• a self-stripping connection device comprising two stripping slots is revealed by the document FR-2 675 953.
• the two holding and stripping slots are aligned and are intended for the connection of the same electric wire.
• the present invention therefore aims to provide a self-stripping connection device for connecting two cables of different diameters.
• the device which it offers is a self-stripping connection device for at least two electric cables having a conductive core and an insulating sheath, the device comprising a stripping and retaining slot.
• EP-0 247 360 discloses, for example, such a device.
• this device comprises: - at least one other so-called second stripping and retaining slot (1 8), substantially parallel to the first and offset with respect to the direction of the slots,
• a pusher intended to receive at least two electric cables and shaped so that each cable can be transversely facing a stripping and retaining slot, - connecting means between the slots and the pusher allowing relative movement of the slots and of the pusher and guiding this movement, and
• the two stripping and retaining slots are made on a blade folded in a U having two parallel branches of different lengths, each slot opening at the free end of each branch.
• the two stripping and retaining slots are then produced on the same conductive part.
• the pusher comprises for example two profiled parts extending in the plane containing the two slots, transversely with respect to the slots and openings are advantageously provided for the passage of each slot and of the corresponding edges in the profiled parts .
• the width of each opening is for example such that it allows the part carrying the corresponding slot to be guided and ensures that the edges of the slot are tightened in abutment on the metallic core of a connected cable.
• the material used for the blade can therefore be chosen essentially for its qualities of good conductor without taking much account of its elastic mechanical qualities necessary to ensure good support of the edges of the slot on the bare conductive metallic core and thereby good contact. electric.
• a screw is for example provided to ensure the displacement of the slots, this screw being engaged in a metal part connecting the two slots and immobile in translation relative to an insulating housing.
• the relative movement between the slots and the pusher is for example a translation or else a pivoting movement.
• the slots may be carried by parallel curved blades, for the pusher to be pivotally mounted and to have two housings which are substantially transverse to the slots, openings being provided for the passage of the blades carrying the slots.
• a screwdriver blade can be provided to ensure the pivoting movement of the pusher.
• a housing intended to receive the end of such a blade is then advantageously provided in the pusher.
• the present invention also relates to a terminal block in which is placed a connection device as described above.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the principle of a first embodiment, before connection of two electric cables,
• FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, the cables being connected
• FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the section line III-III of the device of FIG. 1, the latter being arranged in an insulating housing,
• Figure 4 is a sectional view along the section line IV-IV of Figure 3
• Figure 5 is a view corresponding to the view of Figure 4, the cables shown in Figure 4 being connected, and
• Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a second embodiment of a connection device according to the invention.
• Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a connection principle according to the invention while Figures 3 to 5 show the device of Figures 1 and 2 in place in an insulating housing 2.
• Figures 1 and 2 we can see a screw 4, a metal blade 6 folded into a U, a pusher 8 and two cables 10, each cable having a conductive core 10a and an insulating sheath 10b.
• the metal blade 6 has a base 1 2 to which are attached two parallel branches 14 and 1 6. It will be considered in the following description that the base 12 of the blade 6 is located in a horizontal plane while the branches 14 and 1 6 extend in a vertical plane.
• Each branch 14, 1 6 has a stripping and retaining slot 1 8 which is here rectilinear and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the corresponding branch 14, 1 6. Each slot 1 8 therefore extends vertically.
• the blade 6 is for example obtained from a flat flank by stamping resulting in cutting, then folding with possibly localized thinning.
• Each stripping and retaining slot 1 8 has at one end, the end corresponding to the free end of the branch 14, 1 6 corresponding, a stripping mouth 20. The latter is obtained by symmetrical oblique cutting of the edges of the slot 1 8. This oblique cut makes it possible to obtain a flared mouth, the edges of which form an edge making it possible to start the sheath 10b of an electric cable 10 pushed into the mouth 20.
• the blade 6 is for example made of copper or else of a copper alloy with a high proportion of copper.
• the branches 14 and 1 6 have a different length.
• branch 14 is the shortest.
• the two slots 1 8 are substantially identical. These two slots are therefore offset in height and spaced from each other by a distance of the order of a few millimeters, or even a few tens of millimeters.
• FIG. 1 an orthogonal coordinate system X, Y, Z has been represented, the Z axis defining the vertical and the X and Y axes a horizontal plane. It is assumed that the cables 10 extend parallel to the direction Y.
• the stripping and retainer 1 8 are then offset relative to each other on the one hand along the Y axis and on the other hand along the Z axis.
• the stripping slots are arranged in stairs or steps.
• the base 12 of the blade 6 has a thread intended to cooperate with the threaded part 22 of the screw 4.
• the pusher 8 has two profiled parts 24 and 26, the profiled part 24 being arranged above the profiled part 26.
• the two profiled parts 24, 26 extend substantially along the axis Y. They are open profiled parts, the open side of the profile being oriented upwards, that is to say towards the blade 6.
• the upper profiled part 24 is arranged, relative to the blade 6, so that it is crossed by the branch 1 6 but not by the branch 14.
• An opening 28 is provided to allow passage to the branch 1 6.
• the profiled parts 24 and 26 are thus in the form of a gutter extending horizontally, transversely to the branches 14 and 1 6 and serve as a housing for cables 10 to be connected.
• the two profiled parts 24, 26 are for example made of steel. They can be linked to each other or be independent. In fact, it is planned to move the blade 6 relative to the pusher 8. This movement is done in the direction Z, that is to say the direction given by the slots 1 8. If the blade 6 moves, the profiled parts 24 and 26 are for example independent of one another while if the pusher 8 moves towards the blade 6, it is preferable to have two profiled parts integral with one another.
• a cable 10 to be connected is introduced into each housing formed by the profiled parts 24 and 26.
• the cable 10 placed in the upper profiled part 24 is pushed in the direction of the axis Y until it comes into abutment against the branch 1 6.
• the cable placed in the lower housing of the profiled part 26 is associated with a stop not shown in the drawing. This stop is for example made in the insulating housing 2.
• each cable 10 is stripped and its conductive core 10a is introduced between the parallel edges of the slot 18. An electrical contact is then made between the conductive core 10a and the blade 6.
• the openings 30 and 32 respectively intended to receive these branches 14 and 1 6 respectively are dimensioned so that the edges of the slots 1 8 are each time tightened towards the conductive core 10a of the corresponding cable in the case of large conductors.
• the elasticity of the branches 14 and 1 6 is sufficient to ensure contact.
• the branches reinforced by the openings accept a wider connection range.
• Figures 3 to 5 we can see the device of Figures 1 to 2 in place in the insulating housing 2.
• Figure 3 shows how the insulating housing holds the screw 4 and the blade 6 in position.
• the screw 4 has a head 36 at the periphery of which is an annular rib 38. The latter is placed in a groove 40 of size and shape adapted to receive it.
• a core of synthetic material 42 is provided between the branches 14 and 1 6 so as to ensure perfect guidance of these branches during their translational movement. Any buckling phenomenon can thus be avoided during the stripping of a cable and its electrical connection.
• the core 42 can also serve as a support for the end of the screw 4 opposite its head 36.
• the screw 4 is unscrewed.
• the blade 6 rises, carrying with it the conducting cables 10.
• the upper cable 10 comes into abutment on the insulation of the housing 2 (FIG. 3) and the lower cable 10 on the profiled part 24.
• the blade 6 continues its ascent and the stripping of the cables 10 is carried out.
• Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a connection device according to the invention.
• the parts having a function similar to that of parts of FIGS. 1 to 5 use the same references as these parts but are increased by the number 100.
• the branches 1 14 and 1 16 are the folded and curved ends of a conductive metal strip. These branches 1 14 and 1 1 6 have a radius of curvature and extend parallel to one another. The center of curvature of these two branches 1 14 and 1 1 6 is substantially the same. These branches are offset on the one hand radially and on the other hand angularly.
• the blades 1 14 and 1 1 6 are held in place in a housing 102 by virtue of a core 142 integral with this housing 102.
• the pusher 108 is pivotally mounted around a point corresponding substantially to the center of curvature of the branches 1 14 and 126.
• Guide grooves are produced in the interior walls of the housing 102 to allow good guiding of the pusher 108.
• This pusher has three housings extending substantially radially relative to the pivot center. Two housings are provided for the cables 110 and a third housing 146 is intended to receive the end of a screwdriver blade 148.
• the pusher 108 also has openings 1 50 intended for the passage of the blades 1 14 and 1 1 6. In the position shown in Figure 6, before connecting the two cables 1 10, the mouths 120 of the blades 1 14 and 1 1 6 are at the entrance of the openings 1 50.
• These openings 1 50 are substantially perpendicular to the housing intended to receive the cables 1 10. They have a curved shape having for center of curvature substantially the same center of curvature as that of the branches 1 14 and 1 1 6.
• the width of the openings 1 50 may be such that in the connected position the edges of the stripping slots and retainers are tightened on the conductive core of the cable 1 10.
• the material of the branches 1 14 and 1 1 6 a material which is very good conductor without having excellent mechanical properties from the point of view elasticity.
• connection devices which allow an excellent connection of two cables, even if these are of different diameters.
• the cable of larger diameter does not prevent the connection of a cable of smaller diameter.
• the two stripping and retaining slots of the same connection device according to the invention can both be provided for the cable connection whose diameter lies within the same predetermined range.
• the connection of one electric cable has no influence on the connection of the other electric cable.
• the embodiments described show either a fixed pusher with slots moving in translation or fixed slots with a mobile pusher moving in rotation. It is of course possible to have a mobile pusher moving in translation or mobile blades moving in rotation. Other means for carrying out the displacement of the pusher or of the slots can be envisaged.
• connection device could allow the connection of three or more cables.
• connection device comprises as many stripping slots as there are cables to be connected, the stripping slots preferably being all aligned along the same plane and offset in two directions.
• the slots are arranged in stairs or steps.
• the device comprises as many receiving housings as there are cables to be connected. Each housing is then adapted to ensure the engagement of the cable which it receives in the corresponding stripping slot. It should be noted that, like the stripping slots, the housings are also arranged in stairs or steps.

Landscapes

• Processing Of Terminals (AREA)
• Cable Accessories (AREA)
• Connections By Means Of Piercing Elements, Nuts, Or Screws (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8846728

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (17)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2000
  • 2000-02-07 FR FR0001499A patent/FR2804797B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-02-06 US US09/937,343 patent/US6604956B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-02-06 EP EP01907711A patent/EP1166394A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-02-06 WO PCT/FR2001/000345 patent/WO2001057957A1/fr active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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