TITLE: Cable connection
TECHNICAL FIELD: The present invention relates to a cable connection for enabling an electrical connection between an electrical contact point and several electrical conductors according to the preamble to claim 1.
BACKGROUND ART: There are a plurality of different ways of connecting an electrical conductor to an electrical contact point, all of which are well known to the person skilled in the art. A connection can be unipolar or multipolar. For multipolar connections, some form of connector is normally used in which the conductors are connected to contact pins or socket contacts in the connector. Unipolar connections are used primarily when the connection is to carry high currents and/or voltages or when a number of components are to be connected to the same contact point, for example when a plurality of units are to be earthed at the same point on a vehicle.
A common unipolar connection is a crimpable cable shoe that is connected to a conductor by a crimped connection or compression joint. The cable shoe can then be connected to a corresponding connector. Normal cable shoes are often provided with flat pins or round pins in suitable dimensions that are connected to corresponding connectors.
Another common unipolar connection is a crimpable cable shoe that is connected by a screw connection. In this case, the cable shoe is often designed as a ring cable shoe or fork cable shoe. When connecting such a cable shoe, the cable shoe is clamped against an opposing surface by a screw connection so that an electrical contact is created.
In particular for earth connections on a vehicle, but also for other contact points where several conductors are to be connected at the same time, it is common for a plurality of cable shoes to be stacked on top of each other and then clamped by the same screw connection. In certain cases, a relatively large number of cable shoes can be stacked at the same contact point. The advantage of such a method is that any number of cable shoes can be connected to one and the same contact point and that it is simple to add an additional connection if this should be required at a later date.
Such a method has, however, a number of disadvantages. Several stacked cable shoes reduce the reliability of the connection. As the cable shoes are manufactured of a relatively soft material, for example copper, in order to provide a good electrical contact and in order to provide a good crimped connection or compression joint to the connected conductor, a plurality of stacked cable shoes can be deformed over time so that the clamping force of the mechanical connection is reduced. As a result, there can be a deterioration in the electrical contact.
By stacking a plurality of cable shoes on top of each other, the resistance can also increase between the bottommost cable shoe and the uppermost cable shoe, depending upon the height of th~e~stack. This resistance can increase over time, for example, as a result of oxidization of the contact surfaces.
When a vehicle after-sales constructor is going to use the same contact point for his own connections, this can lead to a deterioration in the electrical connection. The vehicle after-sales constructor can, for example, connect more cable shoes than the number for which the contact point is designed or use an incorrect torque to tighten the connection. In addition, use of a combination of cable shoes with
different surface treatments can lead over time to a deterioration in the electrical contact.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION: The object of the invention is therefore to provide a cable connection that enables an electrical screw connection between an electrical contact point and several electrical conductors in as simple and reliable a way as possible.
The solution to this problem according to the invention is described in the characterizing part of claim 1. The other claims contain advantageous further developments of the cable connection according to the invention.
With a cable connection that comprises a first connection part and an assembly part, where the first connection part comprises a first compression joint part for making a crimp connection to a conductor, where the assembly part comprises a first contact surface, a second contact surface facing in the opposite direction and an opening for interaction with a connection means, the invention solves the problem by means of the cable connection comprising a second connection part.
By means of this first embodiment of the cable connection according to the invention, a cable connection is obtained that makes it possible for two conductors to be connected to one and the same contact point in a simple and reliable way. The advantage of this is that a reliable cable connection for two conductors is obtained that can be assembled in a simple, reliable and cost-effective way.
In an advantageous first further development of the cable connection according to the invention, the cable connection is adapted to connect more than two conductors to a contact point. The advantage of this is
that a reliable cable connection for a plurality of conductors is obtained that can be assembled in a simple, reliable and cost-effective way.
In an advantageous second further development of the cable connection according to the invention, the assembly part of the cable connection comprises an assembly opening that is fork-shaped. The advantage of this is that the cable connection can be threaded onto a connection block sideways in a simple and quick way.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will be described in greater detail in the following, with reference to the embodiments that are shown in the attached drawings, in which
Figure IA shows an advantageous first embodiment of a cable connection according to the invention, Figure IB shows a view from the side of the cable connection according to Figure IA, Figure 1C shows a view from above of the cable connection according to Figure IA, Figure 2 shows the cable connection according to Figure IA in assembled state, Figure 3 shows an advantageous second embodiment of a cable connection according to the invention, and Figure 4 shows an advantageous third embodiment of a cable connection according to the invention.
MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The embodiments of the invention and further developments described in the following are only to be regarded as examples and are in no way to restrict the scope of the protection provided by the patent claims. In the embodiments described here, the same reference numerals in the different figures refer to the same component. Each component is therefore not described in detail in all the embodiments.
The first embodiment shown in Figures IA, IB and 1C of a cable connection 1 according to the invention comprises a first connection part 2, a second connection part 3 and an assembly part 4. Figures IB and 1C show the cable connection from the side and from above, respectively.
The first connection part 2 has a first tubular compression joint part 9 and the second connection part 3 has a second tubular compression joint part 10. An assembly part 4 joins the first connection part 2 and the second connection part 3. The first connection part 2 is intended to be connected to an electrical conductor by means of a crimp connection or compression joint. The second connection part 3 is also intended to be connected to an electrical conductor by means of a crimp connection or compression joint. It is not necessary for the compression joint parts 9 and 10 to be tubular, but they can be any shape that is suitable for making a crimp connection or compression joint. The design is determined depending, among other things, upon the method of manufacturing the cable connection. The compression joint part can also comprise a strain relief (not shown) for the conductor.
The assembly part 4 is intended to be connected to an electrical component by means of a screw connection. It has a first contact surface 5 and a second contact surface 6 facing in the opposite direction. The contact surfaces 5 and 6 are advantageously parallel. When a cable connection is to be connected to a contact point, the first contact surface 5 is intended to make contact with the connected component and the second contact surface 6 is intended to make contact with the screw connection, that is with the head of a screw or with a nut.
The assembly part 4 is provided with an opening 7 for assembling the cable connection. The assembly is
carried out by means of a screw connection, either with a screw or with a nut that is threaded on a bolt. The opening is either circular or fork shaped. The advantage of a circular opening is that it sits securely on the screw connection and does not fall off when the screw is loosened. The advantage of a fork- shaped opening is that it can be threaded onto a screw connection without the screw or nut needing to be removed.
The cable connection 1 is manufactured in a material that is electrically conductive, preferably of a soft metal such as copper, so that a conductor can be connected by means of a crimp connection or compression joint in a reliable way. Such crimp connections or compression joints are known to experts in the field.
In the first embodiment, the cable connection 1 is intended to connect two conductors to an electrical component, preferably on a heavy goods vehicle. For example, they can be two earth connections that are laid in the same cable loom and are to be earthed at the same point. Another suitable connection where it is expedient to use the cable connection according to the invention is with a starting motor or a generator. These components are equipped with screw terminals by means of which several conductors must often be connected. These conductors are generously dimensioned in order to be able to carry high currents and therefore require heavy-duty cable shoes, which means that several separate cable shoes require a long screw terminal which results in reduced reliability. The advantage of connecting the two conductors to the same cable connection is that the assembly is simpler and also that the height of the connection is lower, which leads to a shorter screw connection being able to be used. It can also be the case that an existing connection block on a standard component can be used without the screw incorporated in this needing to be
lengthened. There is thereby no danger of the screw- fitting being used with too few threads. There is also an increase in reliability. The angle between the two connection parts can be matched to the layout of the conductors in the cable looms.
Figure 2 shows a cable connection according to the invention connected to two conductors 15 and 16 and assembled with a nut 17 on a connection means 8 comprising a bolt 18.
A second embodiment of a cable connection according to the invention is shown in Figure 3. Here the cable connection is provided with a third connection part 11 comprising a third compression joint part 13. By means of this cable connection, three conductors can be connected to a contact point in a simple way. This cable connection is here provided with a fork-shaped assembly opening so that the cable connection can be threaded on the screw connection block sideways without the clamping nut and washers needing to be removed. This can make the assembly easier. The fork-shaped assembly opening means that the assembly part resembles the assembly part on a conventional fork cable shoe.
A third embodiment of a cable connection according to the invention is shown in Figure 4. Here the cable connection is provided with a third connection part 11 and a fourth connection part 12 comprising a fourth compression joint part 14. By means of this cable connection, four conductors can be connected to a contact point in a simple way.
When more conductors are to be connected to a connection point, the cable connection according to the invention can also be combined with normal cable shoes and/or with more cable connections according to the invention.
The invention is not to be regarded as being restricted to the embodiments and further developments described above, a number of additional variants and modifications being possible within the framework of the following patent claims. The cable connection can, for example, be used with all types of vehicle and also with practically any electrical apparatus in which several conductors are to be connected to one and the same contact point.
Key to figures :
1 cable connection 2 first connection part 3 second connection part 4 assembly part 5 first contact surface 6 second contact surface 7 opening 8 connection means 9 first compression joint part 10 second compression joint part 11 third connection part 12 fourth connection part 13 third compression joint part 14 fourth compression joint part 15 conductor 16 conductor 17 nut 18 bolt