The present invention relates to an electrical connection device and, more particularly, to an electrical connection device for a flat, flexible, electrically conductive element.
Flat, flexible, electrically conductive elements are known in the art and recognized for their interesting thermal properties, for example, in the field of vehicle heating. These elements can have electrically conductive paths in the form of surface-impregnated metal layers. In that respect, conductive graphite or carbon paths may be printed by screen printing on cotton textiles or synthetic fiber materials.
The conductive paths of said flat, flexible elements can emit, when powered, a heat which is quasi-instantaneous and independent of the state of a vehicle, in particular independent of the temperature of a cooling liquid of an engine. The emission of heat by ohmic heating related to the resistance of the conductive paths can, in particular, consume a power inferior to that necessary to operate, for example, a vehicle ventilation system. The flat, flexible electrically conductive elements can moreover be installed under various surfaces and evenly distribute a heat in accordance with surface geometry. Thanks to their varied flexibility and applicability, they can therefore be particularly advantageous. Thus, the use of such flat, flexible elements in the field of vehicle heating can be assimilable to a passenger comfort vector and vehicle energy efficiency.
The powering of flat, flexible electrically conductive elements can entail a particular difficulty linked to a structural fragility of the material of the flat, flexible element. Indeed, the fine and flexible nature of such elements can pose a risk of deformation and rupture under mechanical stress, for example under stress of pressure forces caused by metal, electrical connectors or contacts. These risks can be amplified in vehicle environments subjected, for example, to mechanical vibrations, accelerations and decelerations, or occasional impacts.
A first device for electrically connecting a textile to at least one electrical contact is disclosed in patent application FR3105615A1, enabling a solution with an opening for insertion of the textile and with said textile being extended along a body and folded around an end of said body. During its insertion in its corresponding casing, the friction of an electrical contact of the casing on the textile extended along the body. Furthermore, this device leads to an establishment of an electrical connection by the perpendicular pressure of said electrical contact on the electrically conductive textile against a bearing surface of the device. However, there is a need to further improve the long-term reliability of the electrical contact established with an electrically conductive textile.
An electrical connection device includes a first jaw and a second jaw facing the first jaw in a closed state. The first jaw has a first insertion surface perpendicular to an insertion direction into a connection casing, a first surface facing the second jaw that is substantially parallel to the insertion direction, and an opposite first surface opposite the first insertion surface. The first jaw has a first recess. The second jaw has a second surface facing the first jaw and extending substantially parallel to the insertion direction, a second insertion surface introduced over the connection casing and perpendicular to the insertion direction, and an opposite second surface opposite to the second insertion surface. The second jaw has a second recess facing the first recess in the closed state. The first recess and/or the second recess has a rod at the first edge and/or the second edge.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which:
Below, the same references in the figures are used to identify elements of the same nature. The figures are schematic representations with the aim to be legible, which can be not to scale. In particular, the dimensions of the elements represented in a Cartesian direction can be not to scale, neither relatively to one another, nor relatively to the dimensions of said elements in another Cartesian direction.
A perspective observation view of an assembly 1 of an electrical connection system 3 is represented in
The assembly 1 represented is in a final electrical connection state in
The assembly 1 moreover has a wired connection of four electrical conductors 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d connected to the casing 7 through openings in the surface 27 opposite to the opening 23 of the casing 7. The electrical conductors 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d are conventional cables, for example, insulated copper or aluminum wires.
The flat, flexible, electrically conductive element 9 has a thickness d along the normal direction z perpendicular to the insertion direction x which is very thin, for example less than 1%, relative to all the other dimensions in the x-y plane of the flat, flexible element. The flat, flexible element 9 can, for example, be constituted of an organic or synthetic textile, or of a flexible plastic.
The flat, flexible element 9, as shown in
The positioning of the device 5 in the casing 7 is ensured by a snap-fitting device 29 achieved by a projection 31 at the device 5 which enters into a through hole 33 in the casing 7 to thus achieve a connection by form-fitting, as shown in
This embodiment of an assembly 1 according to the invention establishes an electrical connection between the conductive paths 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d of the flat, flexible element 9, for example an electrically conductive textile, and electrical conductors 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, for example, wires. The implementation of this assembly 1 leads to an electrical connection solution for a flat, flexible, electrically conductive element 9, in particular an electrically conductive textile, more stable and less expensive than known in the art as explained in more detail below.
The electrical connection device 5 illustrated in
The first jaw 15 comprises a surface 35, which in the closed state of the jaws 15 and 17 illustrated in
The first jaw 15 comprises four rectangular recesses 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d which extend from said edge 43 partially to the opposite surface 39, and partially along the insertion surface 37. The recesses 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, in an embodiment, have a depth x1 of 1 to 2 cm, a height z1 of 2 to 4 mm and a width y1 of 0.5 cm to 2 cm.
The first jaw 15 further comprises several, here six, protrusions 85 on the surface 35 facing the second jaw 17. In this embodiment, the protrusions 85 are arranged on the surface 35 three-by-three, on the one hand between the recesses 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, and on the other hand towards the center of the surface 35. Other arrangement with more or less protrusions 85 are possible. The first jaw 15 comprises, in addition, projections 77, over each side surface 79a, 79b, here two.
The second jaw 17 comprises four rectangular recesses 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d, shown in
In the closed state of the device 5, the recesses 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d are arranged facing the recesses 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d of the first jaw 15 such as illustrated in
The second jaw 17 comprises depressions 87, here for example six, on the surface 45 facing the first jaw 15. The depressions 87 are, for example, arranged on the surface 45 three-by-three, on the one hand between the recesses 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d, and on the other hand in the center of the surface 45, such that their positions are complementary to the protrusions 85 of the first jaw 15, in particular in the closed state of the device 5. The depressions 87 are moreover wider in the x-y plane that the protrusions 85. This is shown in
The second jaw 17 has, on each side edge 83a, 83b, depressions 81, here two, each depression 81 forming a passage hole in the side edge 83a, 83b. The depressions 81 are arranged on the side edges 83a, 83b, so as to be complementary to the projections 77 of the first jaw 15. Thus, the projections 77 and the depressions 81 together form a snap-fitting device 75 between the first 15 and the second 17 jaw to ensure in a form-fitting way, the relative positioning of the two jaws 15 and 17 in the closed state, such as illustrated in
The projection 31, illustrated in
In this embodiment of the device 5 and according to the invention, the recesses 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d of the second jaw 17 comprise at their edge 53, formed by junction of the surface 45 facing the first jaw 15 in the x-y plane and of the insertion surface 47 in the y-z plane, a rod 55, as shown in
The cross-section of the rod 55 has a substantially rectangular shape and two chamfers 57, arranged on the edge 59 of the rod 55 oriented in the insertion direction x, such as illustrated in
In other variants of the device 5 of the invention, the number and the shape of the recesses 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d of the jaws 15, 17 can vary. Thus, other embodiments can have a greater or reduced number of recesses, which are, for example, hemispherical or rounded, rather than rectangular. The relative dimensions of the recesses can themselves also vary according to other embodiments of the device of the invention.
In other embodiments of the device of the invention, the rod 55 can be comprised by a recess 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d of the first jaw 15 at the edge 43, rather than by a recess 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d of the second jaw 17. It can thus, for example, extend along the edge 43 on the first jaw 15. As an alternative, it can also be comprised in a recess 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d such as described in reference to
The described device 5 performs a connector module function for a flat, flexible, electrically conductive element 9 configured to be inserted in a connection casing 7 for the establishment of a sustainable electrical connection. Thus, the device 5 has the function of fixing the flat, flexible element 9 in place between two jaws 15, 17 in view of said insertion. The quality of the fixing of the element 9 in the device 5 is directly related to the general strength of the electrical connection established following insertion in a connection casing 7.
This device 5 is a particularly stable connector module, in particular in the comparison with the state of the art, by virtue of the distribution of compression forces on either side of said element 9 and the advantageously increased compression surfaces. The increase of the compression surfaces enables to distribute the compression forces advantageously, and therefore to reduce the punctual forces. The device 5, in addition, does not require the folding of the flat, flexible, electrically conductive element 9 around a body such as previously known. This enables an immediate saving in material costs for the implementation of the device 5. The quantity of flat, flexible element material necessary for a connection can be decreased. Thus, further, the costs induced by the acquisition of conductive materials such as graphite can be reduced.
In the device 5 arranged such as described, thanks to the recesses 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d which face one another in the closed state, the flat, flexible element compressed between the jaws 15, 17 is doubly exposed inside each pair of recesses. This makes a double electrical contact possible on either side of the flat, flexible element 9 as described below. The rod 55, comprised in a recess 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d and arranged along an edge 43, 53, has a hardness greater than that of the flat, flexible element 9. It thus protects said element 9 during its insertion in the insertion direction x in the opening 23 of the casing 7. In particular, it protects the flat, flexible element 9 of a wrinkling or curving following an impact.
The snap-fitting device 75 comprising the projections 77 and the depressions 81 establishes a connection by mechanical form-fitting in the closed state of the device 5. Thus, a flat, flexible, electrically conductive element 9, such as an electrically conductive textile, can be immobilized stably and sustainably between the two jaws 15, 17 of the device. The complementary protrusions 85 and depressions 87 on the inner surfaces 35, 45 of the jaws 15, 17 establish pressure points on the flat, flexible element 9, which are added to the base compression of the jaws 15, 17 once the projections 77 are housed in the depressions 81. These pressure points temporarily increase the friction forces and prevent the flat, flexible element 9 compressed between the two jaws 15, 17 from being moved. The protrusions 85 and depressions 87 may be placed in the proximity of the recesses 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d and 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d, as it is at these recesses that the electrical connection of the flat, flexible element 9 is implemented.
Below, an embodiment of an assembly method according to the invention is described, in reference to
The casing 7 has inside it, an electrical contact 61 comprising two branches 63, 65 forming a pincer 67, such as a timer-type electrical contact, for example a TYCO Junior Power Timer (JPT). The electrical contact 61 is connected to an electrical conductor 25 inserted through the face 27 opposite to the opening 23 of the casing 7, such as illustrated in
The electrical contact 61 is, on each branch 63, 65, equipped with a leaf spring 69a and 69b. Each leaf spring 69a and 69b has an end 74a, 74b bearing against an inner edge 70a and 70b of the casing 7. Thus, a force can be exerted at the other end 72a, 72b of the springs 69a and 69b, at the pincer location 67 where the branches 63 or 65 pince together. Thus, by having two springs 69 opposite one another on the branches 63, 65, two forces F1 and F2 can be exerted at the pincer 67 in the opposite direction. Thus, the two branches 63, 65 press in the direction opposite one another, bestowing a pincer position 67 closed at rest, to the electrical contact 61.
After having, in a first step resulting in the illustration in
The extended and rounded edges of the ends 71, 73 enable a sliding in the direction z substantially normal to the insertion direction x of the edges of the ends 71, 73 on the rod 55. The chamfers 57 arranged on the rod 55 are used to reduce the sliding friction and therefore amplify the opening effect of the branches during the insertion of the device 5 in the casing 7. The chamfered rod 55 can dampen a mechanical impact on the rod 55 during the insertion of the device in the connection casing along the insertion direction x.
Once the branches 63 and 65 are sufficiently spaced apart, the rod 55 can pass behind the pincer 67 and enter further into the casing 7. This is illustrated in
Thus, in the inserted state of the assembly 1, the branches 63, 65 of the electrical contact 61 of the casing 7 bear on either side of the flat, flexible element 9 compressed in the device 5 to achieve a double electrical contact by the pincer 67.
The snap-fitting device 29 illustrated in
Such as illustrated in
By virtue of the double contact 69, the adherence of the electrical contact is greater by the doubling of the pressure points, and the electrical conductivity is improved by the doubling of electrical conduction surface. In particular, two points of double contact of opposite polarity can be established in two different places of a conductive path, thus obtaining the subsequent closing of an electrical circuit. This can enable the powering of the different conductive paths by one single device. This can also allow the distribution of the intensity of the current supplied to several locations of a flat, flexible electrically conductive element 9, thus increasing the total transmissible power in accordance with the thermal resistance at each location.
In addition, each of the branches 63, 65 of the pincer-forming electrical contact 61 being metal, the bearing force of the metal double contact is more homogenous and more precise than would be possible, for example, such as known in the state of the art. The solutions of the state of the art have a unilateral bearing force of a metal contact between a bearing surface, in particular made of plastic. Plastics can be deformable materials, or have non-homogeneities flatness, and therefore have non-homogenous supports for electrical contacts which degrade the quality of the contact. Moreover, the two branches 63, 65 of the electrical contact 61 have a degree of flexibility in the direction normal z to the insertion direction x. This enables to adapt the connection system 3 to different thicknesses d of the flat, flexible element 9, without exchanging or modifying components.
The method described enables to obtain a connection system assembly 1 which represents an electrical connection solution of a flat, flexible element which is more stable and less expensive than the known solutions of the prior art. In particular, this solution saves the necessary quantity of flexible element, such as the electrically conductive textile. This solution moreover reduces the frictions created on the flexible element during a connection insertion. The solution also improves the unilateral metal contact against a bearing surface by implementing a metal double contact on either side of the flexible element.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2110654 | Oct 2021 | FR | national |
This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of French Patent Application No. 2110654, filed on Oct. 7, 2021.