EP2728677B1 - Secure locking system and connector comprising such a system - Google Patents

Secure locking system and connector comprising such a system Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2728677B1
EP2728677B1 EP13191680.1A EP13191680A EP2728677B1 EP 2728677 B1 EP2728677 B1 EP 2728677B1 EP 13191680 A EP13191680 A EP 13191680A EP 2728677 B1 EP2728677 B1 EP 2728677B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
spring
ball
orifice
locking
housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP13191680.1A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2728677A1 (en
Inventor
Pascal Ribeau
Serge Leroyer
Olivier Pasco
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Souriau SAS
Original Assignee
Souriau SAS
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Publication date
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Publication of EP2728677A1 publication Critical patent/EP2728677A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2728677B1 publication Critical patent/EP2728677B1/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/627—Snap or like fastening
    • H01R13/6276—Snap or like fastening comprising one or more balls engaging in a hole or a groove
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/639—Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R2201/00—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications
    • H01R2201/26—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications for vehicles
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T403/00—Joints and connections
    • Y10T403/21—Utilizing thermal characteristic, e.g., expansion or contraction, etc.

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a secure locking system for locking the system in the locked position when the ambient temperature is high and to unlock it when the environment is at ambient temperature.
  • the invention also relates to an electrical connector and a connector assembly comprising such a locking system.
  • the invention finds applications in all areas requiring the locking of a box on another element. It finds particular applications in the field of connectivity and, in particular, in the fields of aeronautical and automotive connectors, where the connectors are often subjected to strong vibrations in environments over 150 degrees Celsius.
  • connection assembly is a set of two connection elements (for example a male connection element and a female connection element) assembled with each other to provide an electrical connection.
  • connection elements comprises one or more electrical contacts (male or female) adapted to be assembled to complementary electrical contacts of the other connection element.
  • the strong environmental vibrations generate displacements of the connection elements relative to each other. These displacements can cause a loss of electrical connection between said connection elements of the same connector assembly.
  • each connector assembly with a locking system for locking the connection between the two connection elements and thus prevent inadvertent disconnections.
  • Such Locking system must maintain the connection even when the connector assembly is subjected to vibration.
  • connection elements it is known to install a locking system around one of the connection elements in order to lock each connection element relative to the other connection element of the same connector assembly.
  • Different locking systems currently exist.
  • the best known system consists of a generally cylindrical locking ring mounted at the end of one of the connecting elements to hold the two connection elements together.
  • This locking ring is generally a hollow and short cylinder, hereinafter referred to as a ring, equipped with a first holding means intended to keep the ring free to rotate on a first connection element and a second holding means for holding the ring on the second connector member of the connector assembly.
  • locking rings there are locking rings whose second holding means is a screw thread for screwing said ring on the connecting elements made at the inner wall of the ring.
  • locking rings cf. FR2961883 whose second holding means is completed by a succession of notches for housing around a locking element. These notches are also made in the inner wall of the ring, which is provided with a succession of notches intended to be housed around a locking element.
  • the blocking element can then be a simple blocking pin or a preponderance ball and spring device.
  • the locking element generally comprises an orifice opening on the surface of the connecting element and forming a transverse housing.
  • the locking element also comprises a spring placed transversely in the opening orifice, that is to say placed perpendicular to the direction of the electrical contacts of the connection element.
  • This locking element further comprises a ball placed above the spring so as to be partially in the housing. This ball is positioned to be partially in the housing when the spring is relaxed and fully in the housing when the spring is compressed.
  • the locking ring is mounted at the end of the connecting element so as to cover the housing.
  • each notch is an asymmetrical tooth, substantially in the shape of a right triangle.
  • Each notch therefore has a low side of low height and a high side of greater height. The height of the high side is substantially equal to the height of the portion of the ball that protrudes from the housing.
  • the ball is then fully housed in its housing and does not exceed said housing.
  • the locking ring continues to slide, the upper side of the notches is opposite the ball which can then out partially of the housing under the effect of the relaxation of the spring.
  • the ball is partially out of its housing, it is locked in the notch of the locking ring, ensuring the locking of the connector assembly.
  • the spring may involuntarily compress the ball into the housing, allowing the notches of the locking ring to slide so as to unlock said ring.
  • Such extreme conditions are encountered, for example, in the field of the automobile, when a vehicle passes over a pothole or other cavity of the roadway, or in the field of aeronautics, during holes of air in flight or shock on landing.
  • the invention proposes a ball lock system in which the spring can not relax when the ambient temperature is high.
  • the spring is manufactured in a shape memory material providing some spring stiffness when the environment is at elevated temperature and some elasticity to the spring when the environment is at ambient temperature. In this way, as long as the device on which the locking system is mounted operates, ensuring a relatively high environmental temperature, the locking system can not unlock inadvertently. On the contrary, when the environment returns to ambient temperature, the spring regains its elasticity allowing a normal unlocking by the operator.
  • the invention also relates to a connector comprising a locking system as described above.
  • the housing is generally a plug body.
  • the invention further relates to a connector assembly having a first and a second connecting element adapted to be connected to each other.
  • This connector assembly is characterized in that it comprises a locking system as described above, wherein the housing is a plug body or a base body of one of the connection elements and the locking ring ensures the locking the first connection element with the second connection element.
  • the base body or the plug body of each connection element of this connector assembly comprises at least one orifice in which are housed a spring and a ball, a single locking ring ensuring a locking of each of the balls in its housing. orifice.
  • the invention relates to a ball-and-spring preponderance locking system for providing secure locking as long as the device supporting the locking system is in operation.
  • An example of this locking system is shown on the figure 1 .
  • This locking system comprises a locking ring 20 having an inner wall 21 provided with asymmetrical notches 22.
  • This locking ring 20 is a conventional ring of the type of the notched wall locking ring described above.
  • This locking system further comprises a ball and spring preponderance device.
  • This preponderance device 30 is housed in a housing 33 formed in a housing 10 around which is mounted the locking ring 20.
  • This housing 10 may be a part of the device supporting the locking system. It is, however, an integral part of the locking system since it comprises the housing 33 intended to receive the preponderance device 30.
  • This housing 33 is an opening opening on the surface of the wall 11 of the housing 10.
  • This orifice is made transversely in the housing 10, that is to say that it is perpendicular to the wall 11 of the housing 10. In the case which will be described in more detail below where the housing is a plug body of an electrical connector, then the orifice is perpendicular to the direction of the electrical contacts mounted inside the plug body.
  • the preponderance device 30 comprises a spring 31 and a ball 32.
  • the spring 31 is installed in the housing 33 so as to be transverse to the wall of the housing.
  • the ball 32 is installed above the spring 31, that is to say at the mouth of the orifice. In this way, when the spring is compressed, the ball 32 is fully housed in the housing 33. In contrast, when the spring is relaxed, the ball 32 is only partially housed in the housing 33; in this case, the part of the ball 32 which is outside the orifice is trapped by a notch 22 of the locking ring 20.
  • the spring 31 of the preponderance device is made of a shape memory material.
  • the shape memory material may be, for example, a quasi-equiatomic NickeL-Titanium alloy.
  • the shape memory materials have the property of keeping an initial shape in memory and of returning to it even after deformation. Such materials offer the advantage of being able to alternate two forms or two behaviors when the temperature of the environment varies around a critical temperature.
  • shape memory materials allow the spring 31 to be in an elastic state when the environment is at a temperature less than or equal to a critical temperature, for example at room temperature, and in a hardened state when the temperature of the environment is above the critical temperature.
  • the critical temperature, or TC is the temperature at which the shape memory material changes state.
  • Some shape memory materials such as Nickel Titanium alloys, known as Nitinol®, have a critical temperature of about 36 ° C.
  • the spring 31 can pass successively from an elastic state to a hardened state.
  • TC temperature less than or equal to TC
  • the spring 31 is in an elastic state and can easily go from a compressed state to a relaxed state, which allows an operator to lock or unlock the lock ring.
  • the spring 31 is in a hardened state.
  • the spring 31 is fully open in its housing 33; it is no longer compressible.
  • the ball 32 can no longer fit completely in the housing 33 and remains partially outside said housing. In this way, the ball 32 is locked between the notch 22 of the locking ring and the spring 31 cured. It is understandable that whatever the external conditions (extreme vibrations, shaking, etc.), the locking ring can not unlock until the environmental temperature has fallen below the critical temperature. The lock is thus secured.
  • two or more preponderance devices 30 may be distributed over the contour of the box.
  • Such a variant may be particularly advantageous when the diameter of the housing is large.
  • the locking system which has just been described is applied to the electrical connectors.
  • the housing 33 is formed in the plug body or the connector base body.
  • the preponderance device 30 is then perpendicular to the electrical contacts mounted in the plug or socket body and the locking ring 20 rotates around the end of said plug body.
  • the locking system can also be mounted between two connection elements C1, C2 of a connector assembly, as shown in FIG. figure 2 .
  • a housing 33 is formed in the plug body 12 or the base body 13 of one of the connection elements and equipped with a preponderance device.
  • the locking ring 20 comprises a notched zone intended to close the housing 33.
  • a housing 33 is made in the plug body 10 of the connection element C2 or the base body 13 of the connection element C1 and a preponderance device 30 is installed in each of these housings 33 , perpendicular to the electrical contacts of each of the connection elements.
  • the inner wall 21 of the locking ring 20 then comprises two notched zones, opposite each other, at each end of the hollow cylinder forming the locking ring. Each notched zone, not visible on the figure 2 , ensures the closure of one of the housing 33 and thus the maintenance of one of the balls 32.
  • the system of the invention which has just been described has the advantage of providing security compared to conventional systems require the addition of any part or change the assembly lines connectors.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Description

Domaine de l'inventionField of the invention

L'invention concerne un système de verrouillage sécurisé permettant de bloquer le système en position verrouillée lorsque la température environnante est élevée et de le débloquer lorsque l'environnement est à température ambiante.The invention relates to a secure locking system for locking the system in the locked position when the ambient temperature is high and to unlock it when the environment is at ambient temperature.

L'invention concerne également un connecteur électrique et un ensemble connecteur comportant un tel système de verrouillage.The invention also relates to an electrical connector and a connector assembly comprising such a locking system.

L'invention trouve des applications dans tous les domaines nécessitant le verrouillage d'un boitier sur un autre élément. Elle trouve notamment des applications dans le domaine de la connectique et, en particulier, dans les domaines de la connectique aéronautique et automobile, où les connecteurs sont souvent soumis à de fortes vibrations dans des environnements à plus de 150 degrés Celsius.The invention finds applications in all areas requiring the locking of a box on another element. It finds particular applications in the field of connectivity and, in particular, in the fields of aeronautical and automotive connectors, where the connectors are often subjected to strong vibrations in environments over 150 degrees Celsius.

Etat de la techniqueState of the art

En connectique, on appelle « ensemble connecteur » un ensemble de deux éléments de connexion (par exemple un élément de connexion mâle et un élément de connexion femelle) assemblés l'une avec l'autre pour assurer une liaison électrique. Chacun des éléments de connexion comporte un ou plusieurs contacts électriques (mâles ou femelles) aptes à s'assembler à des contacts électriques complémentaires de l'autre élément de connexion.In connectivity, the term "connector assembly" is a set of two connection elements (for example a male connection element and a female connection element) assembled with each other to provide an electrical connection. Each of the connection elements comprises one or more electrical contacts (male or female) adapted to be assembled to complementary electrical contacts of the other connection element.

Dans certaines applications, notamment dans les domaines de la connectique aéronautique ou automobile, les fortes vibrations environnementales génèrent des déplacements des éléments de connexion l'un par rapport à l'autre. Ces déplacements peuvent entraîner une perte de liaison électrique entre lesdits éléments de connexion d'un même ensemble connecteur.In some applications, particularly in the fields of aeronautical or automotive connections, the strong environmental vibrations generate displacements of the connection elements relative to each other. These displacements can cause a loss of electrical connection between said connection elements of the same connector assembly.

Pour éviter tout déplacement d'un élément de connexion par rapport à un autre, il est connu de munir chaque ensemble connecteur d'un système de verrouillage permettant de verrouiller la liaison entre les deux éléments de connexion et ainsi empêcher des déconnexions intempestives. Un tel système de verrouillage doit permettre de maintenir la connexion, même lorsque l'ensemble connecteur est soumis à des vibrations.To prevent any displacement of one connection element relative to another, it is known to provide each connector assembly with a locking system for locking the connection between the two connection elements and thus prevent inadvertent disconnections. Such Locking system must maintain the connection even when the connector assembly is subjected to vibration.

Pour cela, il est connu d'installer un système de verrouillage autour d'un des éléments de connexion afin de verrouiller chaque élément de connexion par rapport à l'autre élément de connexion du même ensemble connecteur. Différents systèmes de verrouillage existent actuellement. Le système le plus connu consiste en une bague de verrouillage généralement cylindrique montée à l'extrémité d'un des éléments de connexion afin de maintenir les deux éléments de connexion assemblés. Cette bague de verrouillage est généralement un cylindre creux et court, appelé par la suite anneau, équipé d'un premier moyen de maintien destiné à maintenir l'anneau libre en rotation sur un premier élément de connexion et d'un second moyen de maintien destiné à maintenir l'anneau sur le second élément de connexion de l'ensemble connecteur.For this, it is known to install a locking system around one of the connection elements in order to lock each connection element relative to the other connection element of the same connector assembly. Different locking systems currently exist. The best known system consists of a generally cylindrical locking ring mounted at the end of one of the connecting elements to hold the two connection elements together. This locking ring is generally a hollow and short cylinder, hereinafter referred to as a ring, equipped with a first holding means intended to keep the ring free to rotate on a first connection element and a second holding means for holding the ring on the second connector member of the connector assembly.

Parmi les bagues de verrouillage, il existe des bagues de verrouillage dont le second moyen de maintien est un pas de vis permettant de visser ledit anneau sur les éléments de connexion réalisé au niveau de la paroi intérieure de l'anneau .Among the locking rings, there are locking rings whose second holding means is a screw thread for screwing said ring on the connecting elements made at the inner wall of the ring.

Ce pas de vis n'est pas toujours suffisant à assurer un maintien de la connexion pendant des vibrations, aussi il existe des bagues de verrouillage (cf. FR2961883 ) dont le second moyen de maintien est complété par une succession de crans destinés à se loger autour d'un élément de blocage. Ces crans sont réalisés aussi dans la paroi intérieure de l'anneau, qui est munie d'une succession de crans destinés à se loger autour d'un élément de blocage. L'élément de blocage peut alors être un simple pion de blocage ou bien un dispositif de prépondérance à bille et ressort. Dans cette deuxième variante, l'élément de blocage comporte généralement un orifice débouchant à la surface de l'élément de connexion et formant un logement transversal. L'élément de blocage comporte également un ressort placé transversalement dans l'orifice débouchant, c'est-à-dire placé perpendiculairement à la direction des contacts électriques de l'élément de connexion. Cet élément de blocage comporte de plus une bille placée au-dessus du ressort de façon à être partiellement dans le logement. Cette bille est positionnée de façon à être partiellement dans le logement lorsque le ressort est détendu et totalement dans le logement lorsque le ressort est comprimé. Dans cette variante, la bague de verrouillage est montée à l'extrémité de l'élément de connexion de façon à pouvoir recouvrir le logement.This screw pitch is not always sufficient to ensure a maintenance of the connection during vibrations, so there are locking rings (cf. FR2961883 ) whose second holding means is completed by a succession of notches for housing around a locking element. These notches are also made in the inner wall of the ring, which is provided with a succession of notches intended to be housed around a locking element. The blocking element can then be a simple blocking pin or a preponderance ball and spring device. In this second variant, the locking element generally comprises an orifice opening on the surface of the connecting element and forming a transverse housing. The locking element also comprises a spring placed transversely in the opening orifice, that is to say placed perpendicular to the direction of the electrical contacts of the connection element. This locking element further comprises a ball placed above the spring so as to be partially in the housing. This ball is positioned to be partially in the housing when the spring is relaxed and fully in the housing when the spring is compressed. In this alternatively, the locking ring is mounted at the end of the connecting element so as to cover the housing.

Lors du verrouillage du système, l'opérateur fait subir un mouvement de rotation à la bague de verrouillage autour de l'élément de connexion. La paroi intérieure de la bague de verrouillage coulisse, cran par cran, autour de l'extrémité de l'élément de connexion et donc de l'élément de blocage. Ainsi, la paroi intérieure crantée de la bague de verrouillage entraine un mouvement de la bille dans son logement. Ce mouvement est induit par les crans de la bague de verrouillage. En effet, chaque cran est une dent asymétrique, en forme sensiblement de triangle rectangle. Chaque cran comporte donc un coté bas de faible hauteur et un coté haut de plus grande hauteur. La hauteur du coté haut est sensiblement égale à la hauteur de la partie de la bille qui dépasse du logement. Ainsi, lorsque la bague de verrouillage est en rotation, le coté bas des crans appuie sur la bille, ce qui comprime le ressort. La bille se trouve alors totalement logée dans son logement et ne dépasse pas dudit logement. La bague de verrouillage continuant à coulisser, le coté haut des crans se trouve en regard de la bille qui peut alors sortir en partie du logement sous l'effet de la détente du ressort. Lorsque la bille est partiellement hors de son logement, elle se trouve bloquée dans le cran de la bague de verrouillage, assurant le verrouillage de l'ensemble connecteur.When locking the system, the operator rotates the locking ring around the connection member. The inner wall of the locking ring slides, notch by notch, around the end of the connecting element and therefore of the locking element. Thus, the notched inner wall of the locking ring causes a movement of the ball in its housing. This movement is induced by the notches of the locking ring. Indeed, each notch is an asymmetrical tooth, substantially in the shape of a right triangle. Each notch therefore has a low side of low height and a high side of greater height. The height of the high side is substantially equal to the height of the portion of the ball that protrudes from the housing. Thus, when the locking ring is rotating, the bottom side of the notches press on the ball, which compresses the spring. The ball is then fully housed in its housing and does not exceed said housing. The locking ring continues to slide, the upper side of the notches is opposite the ball which can then out partially of the housing under the effect of the relaxation of the spring. When the ball is partially out of its housing, it is locked in the notch of the locking ring, ensuring the locking of the connector assembly.

Toutefois, lors de conditions extrêmes et notamment à de fortes vibrations ou de fortes secousses à haute température, il arrive que le ressort se comprime involontairement entrainant la bille dans le logement, ce qui permet aux crans de la bague de verrouillage de coulisser de façon à déverrouiller ladite bague. De telles conditions extrêmes se rencontrent, par exemple, dans le domaine de l'automobile, lorsqu'un véhicule passe sur un nid de poule ou toute autre cavité de la chaussée, ou dans le domaine de l'aéronautique, lors de trous d'air en vol ou de chocs à l'atterrissage.However, under extreme conditions and in particular at high vibrations or strong shaking at high temperatures, the spring may involuntarily compress the ball into the housing, allowing the notches of the locking ring to slide so as to unlock said ring. Such extreme conditions are encountered, for example, in the field of the automobile, when a vehicle passes over a pothole or other cavity of the roadway, or in the field of aeronautics, during holes of air in flight or shock on landing.

Exposé de l'inventionPresentation of the invention

L'invention a justement pour but de remédier aux inconvénients des techniques exposées précédemment. A cette fin l'invention propose un système de verrouillage à bille dans lequel le ressort de ne peut se détendre lorsque la température ambiante est élevée. Pour cela, le ressort est fabriqué dans un matériau à mémoire de forme offrant une certaine rigidité au ressort lorsque l'environnement est à température élevée et une certaine élasticité au ressort lorsque l'environnement est à température ambiante. De cette façon, tant que le dispositif sur lequel le système de verrouillage est monté fonctionne, assurant une température environnementale relativement élevée, le système de verrouillage ne peut se déverrouiller de façon intempestive. Au contraire, lorsque l'environnement retourne à température ambiante, le ressort retrouve son élasticité permettant un déverrouillage normal par l'opérateur.The purpose of the invention is precisely to overcome the disadvantages of the techniques described above. To this end the invention proposes a ball lock system in which the spring can not relax when the ambient temperature is high. For this, the spring is manufactured in a shape memory material providing some spring stiffness when the environment is at elevated temperature and some elasticity to the spring when the environment is at ambient temperature. In this way, as long as the device on which the locking system is mounted operates, ensuring a relatively high environmental temperature, the locking system can not unlock inadvertently. On the contrary, when the environment returns to ambient temperature, the spring regains its elasticity allowing a normal unlocking by the operator.

De façon plus précise, l'invention concerne un système de verrouillage sécurisé comportant :

  • un boitier muni d'au moins un orifice transversal débouchant à la surface dudit boitier,
  • une bague de verrouillage à paroi crantée, apte à être verrouillée à une extrémité du boitier,
  • un ressort logé dans l'orifice du boitier,
  • une bille installée au moins partiellement dans l'orifice du boitier, au-dessus du ressort.
More specifically, the invention relates to a secure locking system comprising:
  • a housing provided with at least one transverse orifice opening on the surface of said housing,
  • a locking ring with notched wall, adapted to be locked at one end of the housing,
  • a spring housed in the orifice of the housing,
  • a ball installed at least partially in the orifice of the housing, above the spring.

Ce système se caractérise par le fait que le ressort est fabriqué dans un matériau à mémoire de forme apte à prendre :

  • un état élastique lorsqu'une température environnementale est inférieure ou égale à une température critique du matériau à mémoire de forme, cet état élastique permettant un déplacement de la bille dans l'orifice, et
  • un état durci lorsqu'une température environnementale est supérieure à une température critique du matériau à mémoire de forme, cet état durci empêchant tout déplacement de la bille dans l'orifice.
This system is characterized in that the spring is made of a shape memory material capable of taking:
  • an elastic state when an environmental temperature is less than or equal to a critical temperature of the shape memory material, this elastic state allowing a displacement of the ball in the orifice, and
  • a hardened state when an environmental temperature is greater than a critical temperature of the shape memory material, this hardened state preventing any movement of the ball in the orifice.

Ce système peut comporter une ou plusieurs des caractéristiques suivantes :

  • le matériau à mémoire de forme est un alliage quasi-équiatomique Nickel-Titane.
  • le boitier comporte plusieurs orifices équipés chacun d'un ressort et d'une bille.
This system may include one or more of the following features:
  • the shape memory material is a quasi-equiatomic nickel-titanium alloy.
  • the housing has several orifices each equipped with a spring and a ball.

L'invention concerne également un connecteur comportant un système de verrouillage tel que décrit précédemment. Dans un tel connecteur, le boitier est généralement un corps de fiche.The invention also relates to a connector comprising a locking system as described above. In such a connector, the housing is generally a plug body.

L'invention concerne en outre un ensemble connecteur comportant un premier et un second éléments de connexion aptes à être connectés l'un avec l'autre. Cet ensemble connecteur se caractérise par le fait qu'il comporte un système de verrouillage tel que décrit précédemment, dans lequel le boitier est un corps de fiche ou un corps d'embase d'un des éléments de connexion et la bague de verrouillage assure le verrouillage du premier élément de connexion avec le second élément de connexion.The invention further relates to a connector assembly having a first and a second connecting element adapted to be connected to each other. This connector assembly is characterized in that it comprises a locking system as described above, wherein the housing is a plug body or a base body of one of the connection elements and the locking ring ensures the locking the first connection element with the second connection element.

Avantageusement, le corps d'embase ou le corps de fiche de chaque élément de connexion de cet ensemble connecteur comporte au moins un orifice dans lequel sont logés un ressort et une bille, une unique bague de verrouillage assurant un blocage de chacune des billes dans son orifice.Advantageously, the base body or the plug body of each connection element of this connector assembly comprises at least one orifice in which are housed a spring and a ball, a single locking ring ensuring a locking of each of the balls in its housing. orifice.

Brèves description des figuresBrief description of the figures

  • La figure 1 représente une vue en coupe du système de verrouillage avec un dispositif de prépondérance à bille et ressort selon l'invention, lorsque la température environnementale est élevée.The figure 1 represents a sectional view of the locking system with a balance ball and spring device according to the invention, when the environmental temperature is high.
  • La figure 2 représente schématiquement un ensemble connecteur muni du système de verrouillage de la figure 1.The figure 2 schematically represents a connector assembly provided with the locking system of the figure 1 .
Description détaillée de modes de réalisation de l'inventionDETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

L'invention concerne un système de verrouillage à dispositif de prépondérance à bille et ressort permettant d'assurer un verrouillage sécurisé tant que le dispositif supportant le système de verrouillage est en fonctionnement. Un exemple de ce système de verrouillage est représenté sur la figure 1.The invention relates to a ball-and-spring preponderance locking system for providing secure locking as long as the device supporting the locking system is in operation. An example of this locking system is shown on the figure 1 .

Ce système de verrouillage comporte une bague de verrouillage 20 ayant une paroi intérieure 21 munie de crans asymétriques 22. Cette bague de verrouillage 20 est une bague classique du type de la bague de verrouillage à paroi crantée décrite précédemment.This locking system comprises a locking ring 20 having an inner wall 21 provided with asymmetrical notches 22. This locking ring 20 is a conventional ring of the type of the notched wall locking ring described above.

Ce système de verrouillage comporte en outre un dispositif 30 de prépondérance à bille et à ressort. Ce dispositif de prépondérance 30 est logé dans un logement 33 ménagé dans un boitier 10 autour duquel est montée la bague de verrouillage 20. Ce boitier 10 peut être une partie du dispositif supportant le système de verrouillage. Il fait toutefois partie intégrante du système de verrouillage puisqu'il comporte le logement 33 destiné à recevoir le dispositif de prépondérance 30. Ce logement 33 est un orifice débouchant à la surface de la paroi 11 du boitier 10. Cet orifice est réalisé transversalement dans le boitier 10, c'est-à-dire qu'il est perpendiculaire à la paroi 11 du boitier 10. Dans le cas qui sera décrit plus en détail par la suite où le boitier est un corps de fiche d'un connecteur électrique, alors l'orifice est perpendiculaire à la direction des contacts électriques montés à l'intérieur du corps de fiche.This locking system further comprises a ball and spring preponderance device. This preponderance device 30 is housed in a housing 33 formed in a housing 10 around which is mounted the locking ring 20. This housing 10 may be a part of the device supporting the locking system. It is, however, an integral part of the locking system since it comprises the housing 33 intended to receive the preponderance device 30. This housing 33 is an opening opening on the surface of the wall 11 of the housing 10. This orifice is made transversely in the housing 10, that is to say that it is perpendicular to the wall 11 of the housing 10. In the case which will be described in more detail below where the housing is a plug body of an electrical connector, then the orifice is perpendicular to the direction of the electrical contacts mounted inside the plug body.

Selon l'invention, le dispositif de prépondérance 30 comporte un ressort 31 et une bille 32. Le ressort 31 est installé dans le logement 33 de façon à être transversal à la paroi du boitier. La bille 32 est installée au-dessus du ressort 31, c'est-à-dire au niveau de l'embouchure de l'orifice. De cette façon, lorsque le ressort est comprimé, la bille 32 se trouve entièrement logée dans le logement 33. Au contraire, lorsque le ressort est détendu, la bille 32 n'est que partiellement logée dans le logement 33 ; dans ce cas, la partie de la bille 32 qui est hors de l'orifice se trouve prisonnière d'un cran 22 de la bague de verrouillage 20.According to the invention, the preponderance device 30 comprises a spring 31 and a ball 32. The spring 31 is installed in the housing 33 so as to be transverse to the wall of the housing. The ball 32 is installed above the spring 31, that is to say at the mouth of the orifice. In this way, when the spring is compressed, the ball 32 is fully housed in the housing 33. In contrast, when the spring is relaxed, the ball 32 is only partially housed in the housing 33; in this case, the part of the ball 32 which is outside the orifice is trapped by a notch 22 of the locking ring 20.

Dans l'invention, le ressort 31 du dispositif de prépondérance est réalisé dans un matériau à mémoire de forme. Le matériau à mémoire de forme peut être, par exemple, un alliage quasi-équiatomique NickeL-Titane. Les matériaux à mémoire de forme ont la propriété de garder en mémoire une forme initiale et d'y retourner même après déformation. De tels matériaux offrent l'avantage de pouvoir alterner deux formes ou deux comportements lorsque la température de l'environnement varie autour d'une température critique. En particulier, des matériaux à mémoire de forme permettent au ressort 31 d'être dans un état élastique lorsque l'environnement est à une température inférieure ou égale à une température critique, par exemple à température ambiante, et dans un état durci lorsque la température de l'environnement est supérieure à la température critique. On appelle température critique, ou TC, la température à laquelle le matériau à mémoire de forme change d'état. Certains matériaux à mémoire de forme tels que les alliages Nickel - Titane, connus sous le nom de Nitinol®, ont une température critique d'environ 36°C.In the invention, the spring 31 of the preponderance device is made of a shape memory material. The shape memory material may be, for example, a quasi-equiatomic NickeL-Titanium alloy. The shape memory materials have the property of keeping an initial shape in memory and of returning to it even after deformation. Such materials offer the advantage of being able to alternate two forms or two behaviors when the temperature of the environment varies around a critical temperature. In particular, shape memory materials allow the spring 31 to be in an elastic state when the environment is at a temperature less than or equal to a critical temperature, for example at room temperature, and in a hardened state when the temperature of the environment is above the critical temperature. The critical temperature, or TC, is the temperature at which the shape memory material changes state. Some shape memory materials such as Nickel Titanium alloys, known as Nitinol®, have a critical temperature of about 36 ° C.

Ainsi, dans l'invention, le ressort 31 peut passer successivement d'un état élastique à un état durci. Autrement dit, lorsque l'environnement est à une température inférieure ou égale à TC, par exemple à température ambiante, alors le ressort 31 est dans un état élastique et peut passer facilement d'un état comprimé à un état détendu, ce qui permet à un opérateur de verrouiller ou de déverrouiller la bague de verrouillage. Au contraire, lorsque l'environnement est à une température élevée, supérieure à TC, alors le ressort 31 est dans un état durci. Dans son état durci, le ressort 31 est totalement épanoui dans son logement 33 ; il n'est plus comprimable. La bille 32 ne peut donc plus rentrer en totalité dans le logement 33 et reste partiellement hors dudit logement. De cette façon, la bille 32 est bloquée entre le cran 22 de la bague de verrouillage et le ressort 31 durci. On comprend alors que quelles que soient les conditions extérieures (vibrations extrêmes, secousses, etc.), la bague de verrouillage ne peut pas se déverrouiller tant que la température environnementale n'est pas redescendue en-dessous de la température critique. Le verrouillage est ainsi sécurisé.Thus, in the invention, the spring 31 can pass successively from an elastic state to a hardened state. In other words, when the environment is at a temperature less than or equal to TC, for example at room temperature, then the spring 31 is in an elastic state and can easily go from a compressed state to a relaxed state, which allows an operator to lock or unlock the lock ring. On the contrary, when the environment is at a high temperature, higher than TC, then the spring 31 is in a hardened state. In its hardened state, the spring 31 is fully open in its housing 33; it is no longer compressible. The ball 32 can no longer fit completely in the housing 33 and remains partially outside said housing. In this way, the ball 32 is locked between the notch 22 of the locking ring and the spring 31 cured. It is understandable that whatever the external conditions (extreme vibrations, shaking, etc.), the locking ring can not unlock until the environmental temperature has fallen below the critical temperature. The lock is thus secured.

Dans une variante de l'invention, deux ou plusieurs dispositifs de prépondérance 30 peuvent être répartis sur le contour du boitier. Une telle variante peut être particulièrement intéressante lorsque le diamètre du boitier est de grande dimension.In a variant of the invention, two or more preponderance devices 30 may be distributed over the contour of the box. Such a variant may be particularly advantageous when the diameter of the housing is large.

Selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, le système de verrouillage qui vient d'être décrit est appliqué aux connecteurs électriques. Dans ce cas, le logement 33 est réalisé dans le corps de fiche ou le corps d'embase du connecteur. Le dispositif de prépondérance 30 se trouve alors perpendiculaire aux contacts électriques montés dans le corps de fiche ou d'embase et la bague de verrouillage 20 tourne autour de l'extrémité dudit corps de fiche.According to one embodiment of the invention, the locking system which has just been described is applied to the electrical connectors. In this case, the housing 33 is formed in the plug body or the connector base body. The preponderance device 30 is then perpendicular to the electrical contacts mounted in the plug or socket body and the locking ring 20 rotates around the end of said plug body.

Il est à noter que, dans les domaines de la connectique automobile et aéronautique, les connecteurs sont souvent dans l'environnement du moteur. En conséquence, dès que le moteur est en fonctionnement, la température de l'environnement augmente, dépassant facilement la température critique. Au contraire, dès que le moteur est à l'arrêt, la température environnementale diminue pour retourner à la température ambiante. Comme les opérateurs travaillent généralement à moteur arrêté, le système de verrouillage peut être manipulé de la même façon qu'un système de verrouillage classique.It should be noted that, in the fields of automotive and aeronautical connectivity, the connectors are often in the engine environment. As a result, as soon as the engine is running, the temperature of the environment increases, easily exceeding the critical temperature. On the contrary, as soon as the engine is stopped, the environmental temperature decreases to return to room temperature. Since operators usually work with the engine stopped, the system lock can be handled in the same way as a conventional locking system.

Le système de verrouillage peut également être monté entre deux éléments de connexion C1, C2 d'un ensemble connecteur, comme montré sur la figure 2. Dans ce cas, un logement 33 est réalisé dans le corps de fiche 12 ou le corps d'embase 13 d'un des éléments de connexion et équipé d'un dispositif de prépondérance. Dans ce cas, la bague de verrouillage 20 comporte une zone crantée destinée à venir fermer le logement 33.The locking system can also be mounted between two connection elements C1, C2 of a connector assembly, as shown in FIG. figure 2 . In this case, a housing 33 is formed in the plug body 12 or the base body 13 of one of the connection elements and equipped with a preponderance device. In this case, the locking ring 20 comprises a notched zone intended to close the housing 33.

Dans une variante, un logement 33 est réalisé dans le corps de fiche 10 de l'élément de connexion C2 ou le corps d'embase 13 de l'élément de connexion C1 et un dispositif de prépondérance 30 est installé dans chacun de ces logements 33, perpendiculairement aux contacts électriques de chacun des éléments de connexion. La paroi intérieure 21 de la bague de verrouillage 20 comporte alors deux zones crantées, opposées l'une à l'autre, à chaque extrémité du cylindre creux formant la bague de verrouillage. Chaque zone crantée, non visible sur la figure 2, assure la fermeture d'un des logements 33 et donc le maintien d'une des billes 32.In a variant, a housing 33 is made in the plug body 10 of the connection element C2 or the base body 13 of the connection element C1 and a preponderance device 30 is installed in each of these housings 33 , perpendicular to the electrical contacts of each of the connection elements. The inner wall 21 of the locking ring 20 then comprises two notched zones, opposite each other, at each end of the hollow cylinder forming the locking ring. Each notched zone, not visible on the figure 2 , ensures the closure of one of the housing 33 and thus the maintenance of one of the balls 32.

Le système de l'invention qui vient d'être décrit présente l'avantage d'assurer une sécurité par rapport aux systèmes classiques nécessiter l'ajout d'aucune pièce ni modifier les chaines de montage des connecteurs.The system of the invention which has just been described has the advantage of providing security compared to conventional systems require the addition of any part or change the assembly lines connectors.

Claims (6)

  1. A secure locking system comprising:
    - a case (10) with at least one transverse orifice (33) opening onto the surface of said case,
    - a locking ring (20) with a notched wall (22) designed to be locked at one end of the case,
    - a spring (31) placed in the orifice (33) of the case,
    - a ball (32) installed at least in part in the orifice (33) of the case, above the spring,
    characterized in that the spring (31) is manufactured in shape memory material that is designed to have:
    - an elastic condition when the environmental temperature is below or equal to a critical temperature of the shape memory material, which elastic condition allows the movement of the ball in the orifice, or
    - a hardened condition when the environmental temperature is above a critical temperature of the shape memory material, which hardened condition prevents the movement of the ball in the orifice.
  2. A locking system according to claim 1, characterized in that the shape memory material is a quasi-equiatomic nickel-titanium alloy.
  3. A locking system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the case (10) comprises several orifices (33), each equipped with a spring (31) and a ball (32).
  4. An electrical connector, characterized in that it comprises a locking system according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the case (10) is the body a plug or the body (12 or 13) of a fixed connector.
  5. A connector assembly comprising a first and second connecting element (C1, C2) designed to be connected to each other, characterized in that it comprises a locking system according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the case (10) is the body of a plug or a fixed connector (12, 13) of one of the connecting elements and the locking ring (20) locks the first connecting element (C1) to the second connecting element (C2).
  6. A connector assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the fixed connector or plug body (12, 13) of each connecting element (C1, C2) comprises at least one orifice (33) in which are placed a spring (31) and a ball (32), where a single locking ring (20) locks each ball in its orifice.
EP13191680.1A 2012-11-06 2013-11-05 Secure locking system and connector comprising such a system Not-in-force EP2728677B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1260545A FR2997800B1 (en) 2012-11-06 2012-11-06 SECURE LATCHING SYSTEM AND CONNECTOR HAVING SUCH A SYSTEM

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EP2728677B1 true EP2728677B1 (en) 2015-11-04

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FR2997800A1 (en) 2014-05-09
US9112307B2 (en) 2015-08-18
EP2728677A1 (en) 2014-05-07
FR2997800B1 (en) 2015-01-30
US20140127929A1 (en) 2014-05-08

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