FR2768562A1 - CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - Google Patents

Abstract

Connector (1) for electrical conductors comprising at least two housings (2, 3) for receiving and immobilizing the end (4, 5) of a conductor (6, 7), said housings being accessible from the same face of said connector, said front face (1a), characterized in that said front face is inclined (alpha1) with respect to the direction (F) of introduction of said ends of said conductors into said housings. This connector can be produced by extrusion of a section comprising at least two internal channels and cutting in a direction (D1) oblique with respect to the direction of extrusion.

Description

The invention relates to a connector for conductors.

  electrical and a method of manufacturing such a connector.

  In the field of public lighting boxes, and more generally for the connection of electrical conductors, it is known to use connectors comprising at least two housings for receiving and immobilizing the end of a conductor, these housings being accessible by the same

  face of the connector, commonly known as the front face.

  A known connector 151 is shown in FIG. 6. It comprises two parallel holes 152 and 153 intended to each receive the stripped end 154 or 155 of a conductor

  156 or 157. Screws 158 and 159 are inserted in the taps

  ges 160 and 161 perpendicular to the holes 152 and 153. It is noted that the screws 158 and 159 are of different lengths, so that they are not interchangeable. The length of the stripped parts 154 and 155 must be provided different, because the part 154 must not abut and deform against the screw 161, while the part 155 must be long enough to cooperate with this screw 161. In particular, account held of the

  length of the stripped portion 155, the positioning of the conduc-

  tor 157 is delicate because it is done blind over a long length. In addition, when the system must be dismantled after several months, or even several years of operation, the operator who accesses the connector 151 from above has no simple or memotechnical means of knowing which conductor corresponds which screw. Thus, if it wishes to extract the conductor 157, it does not necessarily know whether it must unscrew the screw 158 or the screw 159. This can lead to handling errors likely to result in the

  sectioning of a stripped part 154 or 155.

  It is to these disadvantages that we hear more particularly

  remedy the invention by proposing a connector for conduc-

  electric torers of the aforementioned type in which the positioning of each conductor in its corresponding housing is easy while the installation and tightening of the fixing screws is easy for an operator. Another object of the invention is to provide a lighter and simpler connector than those of

  prior art, therefore of lower cost price.

  In this spirit, the invention relates to a connector for electrical conductors comprising at least two receptacles for receiving and immobilizing the end of a conductor,

  the housings being accessible by the same face of the connector

  tor, known as the front face, characterized in that this front face is inclined relative to the direction of introduction of the

  ends of the conductors in the housings.

  The connector according to the invention achieves the aforementioned aims in so far as the inputs of the receiving and immobilizing housings of the ends of the conductors can be shifted forward thanks to the inclination of the

front face.

  According to a first advantageous aspect of the invention, the connector is produced from an extruded profile, sectioned along an oblique plane. This aspect of the invention allows a particularly economical embodiment of the connector of the invention. According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the angle of inclination of the front face or of the cutting plane with respect to the direction of introduction of the ends of the conductor is between 30 and 60, preferably of the order of 45. These values of the angle of inclination make it possible to obtain an adequate offset of the inlet orifices of the

housing considered.

  According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the connector comprises at least a first rib provided with a tapping for receiving a locking screw, this tapping being shifted forward relative to the front edge by one second.

  rib located immediately above the first rib.

  The offset of the receiving threads of the locking screws allows easy access to these screws without requiring the drilling of one or more ribs located immediately above the

rib considered.

  According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the connector comprises at least three receiving and immobilizing housings, each housing separating rib being provided with a thread offset forwardly relative to the front edge of another rib located immediately above

of the separation rib.

  According to a practical embodiment of the invention, the ribs for separating the housings comprise two substantially parallel sails, the tapping of each rib being provided in a first veil, a screw being inserted in this tapping to immobilize the end of a received conductor in a housing without protruding, in the locked position, beyond the surface of the second web of the rib facing an adjacent housing. Thanks to this aspect of the invention, the immobilization screws of the various conductors do not protrude into the housings of the neighboring conductors, which avoids

  deforming the stripped end of a conductor during intro

duction in an adjacent accommodation.

  In this case, the second veil advantageously comprises a recess in line with the tapping in order to allow the setting

place and operation of the screw.

  According to an advantageous variant of the invention, the housings are offset from each other in a

  direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of intro

  duction of the ends of the conductors and perpendicular to the locking screws. This facilitates access to these screws and allows

  to nest two adjacent connectors.

  The invention also relates to a manufacturing method

  a connector as previously described and, more specifically

  cally, a method characterized in that it consists in extruding a profile comprising at least two internal channels and in cutting this profile in an oblique direction relative to the direction of extrusion. This particularly simple and economical process makes it possible to obtain, at a lower cost, a connector

reliable and light.

  According to an advantageous aspect, the method also consists in producing, in each rib separating said channels, at least one internal thread for receiving a conductor immobilization screw. It is also possible to provide that the method consists in making the tapping in a first veil of the rib and in cutting a recess in a second veil of the rib at

right of this tapping.

  The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the

  description which follows of two embodiments of a

  connector for electrical conductors conforming to its principal

  pe, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the invention;

  - Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the connector

  the figure 1; - Figure 3 is a section similar to Figure 2 for a connector according to a second embodiment of the invention; - Figure 4 is a front view of a connector according to a third embodiment of the invention; - Figure 5 is a longitudinal section along the plane V-V in Figure 4; - Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 for

  a connector according to the prior art.

  The connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises two housings 2 and 3 for receiving the stripped ends 4 and two electrical conductors 6 and 7. Two screws 8 and 9 are respectively provided in threads 10 and 11 for

  immobilize the ends 4 and 5 in the housings 2 and 3.

  A plate 12 is provided on an upper part of the connector.

  tor 1 for connecting the connector to a fuse, not shown,

by means of a cable 13.

  According to the invention, the front face of the connector 1 is inclined at an angle a, relative to the direction of introduction of the ends 4 and 5 into the housings 2 and 3 represented by the arrow F. Thanks to the inclination of the surface la, the inputs 2a and 3a of the housings 2 and 3 are offset on either side of a

  axis XX 'passing through the center of the front face and overall

  perpendicular to the arrow F. Thus, the screws 8 and 9 can be located approximately the same distance from the inputs 2a and 3a while being accessible, so that the length of the stripped ends 4 and 5 of the cables 6 and 7 can

be substantially identical.

  The internal thread 11 intended to receive the screw 9 is formed in a rib 14 consisting of a first web 15 bordering the housing 3 and a second web, or upper web, 16 bordering the housing 2. It is noted that the web 16 has a recess 16a at the right of the housing 16. In addition, the axis YY 'of the thread 11 is shifted forward, that is to say in the direction of the inlet

  3a relative to the front edge 17a of a second rib 17 bor-

  in the housing 2. Thus, when the end 4 of the conductor 6 is not immobilized in the housing 2, it is possible to access the head of the screw 9 without interfering with the rib 17. It is even possible to '' access the head of screw 9

  when the end 4 of the conductor 6 is in place by repelling

  laterally sant this end with the tip of a turner

screw.

  The length of the screw 9 is provided so that in the tight position, that is to say when the cable is immobilized

  7 in the housing 3, the head of the screw 9 does not protrude

  above the surface of the web 16 facing the housing 2.

  Thus, the screw 9 does not risk interfering with the end 4 of the conductor 6, when the latter is placed in the

housing 2.

  Note that the screws 8 and 9 can have the same length, which means that only one screw reference can be used with the

connector of the invention.

  The connector 1 is made very simply by extruding an aluminum profile comprising two internal channels, intended to form the housings 2 and 3 and extending in the direction of extrusion, and by cutting this profile according to a direction Dl which is inclined relative to this direction of extrusion. Indeed, the direction of extrusion is generally parallel to the arrow F, so that the inclination of the direction D1 results in the desired inclination for the front face la. The threads 10 and 11 are then produced in the ribs 14 and 17. The thread 11 is produced after cutting the recess 16a in the web 16. It is noted that the angle cl is of the order of 30, which gives a good

accessibility to the screw 9.

  In the second embodiment of the invention represented

  felt in Figure 3, elements similar to those of the

  embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 bear identi fi ed references

  ques increased by 50. In this embodiment, a connector

  teur 51 comprises three housings 52, 53 and 53 'for receiving the stripped ends 54, 55 and 55' of three conductors 56, 57 and 57 '. Screws 58, 59 and 59 'are respectively provided in threads 60, 61 and 61' respectively formed in ribs 67, 64 and 64 '. The ribs 64 and 64 'each consist of two walls 65 and 66, respectively 65' and 66 ', substantially parallel. Recesses 66a and 66'a are provided

  in sails 66 and 66 'for the passage of screws 59 and 59'.

  As before, the front face 51a of the connector 51 is inclined, in a direction D2 relative to the direction of introduction of the ends 54, 55 and 55 'in the housings 52, 53 and 53' represented by the arrow F. In this case, the angle c2 of inclination of the front face 51a is of the order of 45, so that the total width L2 of the connector 51 is approximately identical to the total width L1 of the connector 1 of the mode of

  realization of Figures 1 and 2. In other words, the increase

  value of the angle of inclination of the front face

  of the connector increases its compactness.

  However, the angle CL should not be too large because the threads 61 and 61 ′ should remain offset forwards with respect to the front edge 67a or 64a of the rib 67 or 64 located immediately above the rib 64 or 64 'in which they are made. In practice, this angle is

kept below 60.

  As before, the connector 51 is produced by extruding an aluminum profile comprising three internal channels intended to form the housings 52, 53 and 53 '. This section is sectioned in the direction D2, which makes it possible to obtain the angle of inclination a2 of the front face 51a. The manufacturing range of connector 51 is similar to that of

connector 1.

  In the third embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5, elements similar to those of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 bear analog references increased by 100. In this embodiment, a connector 101 comprises three housings 102, 103 and 103 'for receiving the stripped ends 104, 105 and 105' of three conductors 106, 107 and 107 '. Screws 108, 109 and 109 'are respectively provided in threads 110, 11 and 111'

  respectively formed in ribs 117, 114 and 114 '.

  As before, the front face 101a of the connector 101 is inclined, in a direction D3 relative to the direction of introduction of the ends 104, 105 and 105 'in the housings 102, 103 and 103' represented by the arrow F. In this case, the angle a3 of inclination of the front face 10la is

around 600.

  As appears more clearly in FIG. 4, the housing 103 is offset in a direction De perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 5. This facilitates access to the screw 109 by a screwdriver T. It is noted that two adjacent connectors can be partially nested one inside the other, which guarantees

  a precise relative positioning of one with respect to the other.

  This connector is manufactured in a similar manner to the previous ones, the extrusion die of the housing 103 being simply offset in the direction D4 relative to those

housing 102 and 103 '.

Claims (11)

  1. Connector (1; 51; 101) for electrical conductors (6, 7; 56, 57, 57 '; 106, 107, 107') comprising at least two housings (2, 3; 52, 53, 53 '; 102 , 103, 103 ') for receiving and immobilizing the end (4, 5; 54, 55, 55'; 104, 105, ') of a conductor, said housings being accessible by the same face of said connector, said front face (la, 51a, 101a), characterized in that said front face is inclined (ol, î2, î3) relative to the direction (F) of introduction   of said ends of said conductors in said housings.   2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that it is produced from an extruded, sectioned profile according to an oblique plane (Dl, D2, D3).   3. Connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the angle (l, CA, c3) of inclination of said front face (la, 51a, 101a) or of said cutting plane (D1, D2, D3) with respect to said direction of introduction (F) is understood   between 30 and 60, preferably around 45.   4. Connector according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it comprises at least a first rib (14; 64, 64 '; 114, 114') provided with a thread (11; 61, 61 '; 111, 111') for receiving a screw blocking (9; 59, 59 '; 109, 109'), said thread being offset forward relative to the front edge (17a; 64a, 67a) of a second rib (17; 64, 67; 114, 117 ) located immediately above said first rib.   5. Connector according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises at least three housings (52, 53, 53 '; 114, 114') for reception and immobilization, each rib (64, 64 '; 102, 103 , 103 ') for separating said housings being provided with a thread (61, 61'; 111, 111 ') offset forward relative to the front edge (64a, 67a) of another rib (64, 67; 114, 117) located immediately above said separation rib.   6. Connector according to one of claims 4 or 5,   characterized in that the ribs (14; 64, 64 ') for separating said housings (2, 3; 52, 53, 53') comprise two substantially parallel webs (15, 16; 65, 66, 65 ', 66') , said tapping (11; 61, 61 ') of each rib being provided in a first web (15; 65, 65'), a screw (9; 59, 59 ') being inserted in said tapping to immobilize the end ( 5;, 55 ') of a conductor (7, 57, 57') received in a housing (3; 53, 53 ') without protruding, in the locked position, beyond the surface of the second web (16; 66, 66 ') of said rib   facing an adjacent dwelling (2; 52, 53).   7. Connector according to claim 6, characterized in that said second web (16; 66, 66 ') comprises a recess (16a; 66a, 66'a) in line with said tapping (11; 61, 61') in order to allow placing and operating said screw (9; 59, 59 ').   8. Connector according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that said housings (102, 103, 103 ') are offset from each other in a direction (D4)   substantially perpendicular to said direction (F) of introduction   tion of said ends (104, 105, 105 ') of said conductors (106, 107, 107') and substantially perpendicular to screws blocking (108, 109, 109 ').   9. A method of manufacturing a connector (1, 51; 101) for electrical conductors (4, 5; 54, 55, 55 '; 104, 105,'), characterized in that it consists in extruding a profile comprising at least two internal channels (2, 3; 52, 53, 53 '; 102, 103, 103') and to cut said profile in a direction (Dl, D2, D3) oblique to the direction of extrusion. 10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that it consists in producing, in each rib (14; 64, 64 '; 114, 114') separating said channels (2, 3; 52, 53, 53 '; 102 , 103, 103 '), at least one internal thread (11; 61, 61'; 111, 111 ') for receiving a immobilizing screw (9; 59, 59'; 109, 109 ')   conductor (7, 57, 57 '; 107, 107').   11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that it consists in producing said tapping (11; 61, 61 ') in a first web (15; 65, 65') of said rib (14; 64, 64 ') and cutting a recess (16a; 66a, 66'a) in a second web (16; 66, 66 ') of said rib in line with said tapping.