ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE FOR AT LEAST ONE BRANCH CABLE TO A PRINCIPAL CABLE

Abstract: The object of the invention is an electrical connection device of at least one branch cable to a principal cable, comprising at least one pair of upper half jaws (14-1; 16-1) and a pair of lower half jaws (14-2; 16-2) facing each other, each of the jaws being provided with an electrical contact blade for piercing insulation, as well as means (22) for gripping the half jaws, characterized in that it comprises a first plate (18-1) for connecting the upper half jaws and a second plate (18-2) for connecting the lower half jaws, said plates receiving the gripping means (22).

Description: ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE FOR AT LEAST ONE BRANCH CABLE TO A PRINCIPAL CABLE The present invention relates to a device for the electrical connection of at least one branch cable to a principal cable. There are known devices for the connection of branch cables to principal supply cables. U.S. Patent 4,247, 1 59 discloses a connector comprising two jaws siidably mounted relative to each other in the manner of jaws of a vise, a bolt permitting bringing the two jaws together so as to ensure a gripping effect. These jaws preferably have a T shape and the wings on either side of the central axis permit gripping cables. An electric contact blade, of the insulation perforating type, comprising in known manner perforating teeth, is interposed between the two facing wings of the jaws. This blade comprises two portions connected by a flexible bridge. Such a connection does not have any insulating protection for the electrical contacts. Another electrical connector with jaws is described in French patent application FR 2,760,570. This connector comprises two jaws gripped together by a bolt with a head having a point of weakness for gripping with a predetermined couple. This application seeks to solve the problem of play between the shank of the screw and the bodies of the jaws. The arrangement of the jaws is identical to that of the connector described above, but with insulating sleeves in which are disposed the electrical connection blades for perforating the insulation. Such connectors do not permit any modularity of the arrangements. A type of connector is necessary for each type of cable without being able to use standardized pieces from one connector to the other. Moreover, in certain circumstances, it is necessary to be able to have several branch connectors of this type one behind the others. Modularity thus finds all its interest not only in production, because the number of molds is reduced, but also in the reduction of the volume of the stock of pieces necessary to provide all types operations required. There is also known patent application FR 2,436,509, which relates to the production of insulation piercing blades connected by plates directly to the gripping means, on opposite sides of the conductor with which they are associated. The blades are in this case interconnected by a same plate. The object of the invention is to provide an electrical connection device for at least one branch cable to a principal cable, which is modular, which can be multiple with common handling means, which is adapted to conditions of adjustment, to the diameter of cables, and to the number of cables. The present invention is described hereafter according to a particular embodiment, non-limiting, with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which the different figures represent: - Figure 1 , a schematic perspective view of a connection device according to the present invention, - Figure 2, a perspective view of a half jaw and of an end frame of the principal embodiment of the same device, - Figure 3, a schematic front view of two half jaws in mounted position with an end frame, without either an internal cable or a gripping screw, - Figure 4, an exploded perspective view of a complete connection device as assembled in Figure 1 , - Figure 5, an exploded perspective view of a modification of the device of Figure 4, - Figure 6, an exploded perspective view of a modification with three pairs of half jaws and two gripping screws, - Figure 7A, a detailed view of a particular arrangement of holding means for the insulating sleeves in the half jaws, - Figure 7B, a perspective view of the male portion of this holding means, and - Figure 8, a perspective view of another embodiment of the frame according to the present invention with different pins. In Figure 1 , there is shown a connection device according to the present invention which comprises two pairs 1 0, 1 2 of half jaws 1 4-1 and 1 4- 2; 1 6-1 and 1 6-2. Thus, each pair comprises an upper half jaw and a lower half jaw, disposed facing each other. Such a half jaw is shown separately and in detail in Figure 2. This connection device also comprises connection plates 1 8-1 and 1 8-2, respectively for the upper and lower half jaws. At the ends of each of the connection devices, there is provided an end frame 20-1 and 20-2. Gripping means 22 ensure the connection of the assembly. These gripping means 22 comprise a bolt, and preferably, the nut coacting with the screw is connected to controlled rupture manipulating means so as to exert a suitable gripping couple. Each half jaw comprises a body 24 with concave recesses 26 and 28, provided each to receive a principal cable 30 or a branch cable 32. The upper portion of the body 24 is of concave shape and carries at its two ends retaining means 34. In this instance, these retaining means are composed by resilient fingers 36 for snap-in securement. A recess 38-1 constituting a portion of connection means indicated at 40 and in this case 40-1 , for one of the half jaws 1 6-1 shown in Figure 2, is made by molding with each half jaw. This recess is more particularly disposed on a surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the connector, corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the cables 30 and 32. This recess is of the blind type and opened on the side of the external surface of each half jaw. Each recess carries a groove 42 arranged parallel to the Y gripping direction, forming a guide rail 44. The width of each recess is indicated at I. Each end plate 20-1 ; 20-2 has a substantially X shape, defining two pairs of branches 46-1 , 46-2 and 48-1 , 48-2, grooved on their internal portion and forming two substantially C shaped recesses. On one of the surfaces of each end plate, two pins 50-1 and 50-2 project, each with a transverse oblong head 52-1 and 52-2, respectively in the upper and lower portion. These heads have a greatest dimension less than I and greater than the width of the grooves 42-1 and 42-2 and a height h less than the width of these same grooves such that each head can slide in a recess such as 38. Moreover, as will further on be indicated, this particular dimensioning permits insertion of the head in the groove and the rail 44 when the half jaw has its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis Y and a retention when it is brought into its perpendicular position, which is to say ready for gripping. As is shown in Figure 3 and in exploded form in Figure 4, each half jaw comprises in known fashion a blade 54-1 ; 54-2 of conductive material, provided with indentations adapted to pierce the insulation of the electrical cables when subjected to mechanical pressure. These blades are inserted into the jaws 56-1 ; 56-2 of insulating material, themselves adapted to be disposed in the half jaws. These sleeves can preferably be fixed in half jaws by holding means 57. Such means in a particular embodiment comprise a male clip 57-1 and a female clip 57-2. The female clip is received in the corresponding half jaw. The sleeve 56 is then disposed in this half jaw from above the female clip and the male clip 57-1 is in turn mounted from above to maintain the sleeve between the two clips, pressed into its half jaw. The branches of the clips are disposed on opposite sides of the sleeve. This jaw is moreover shown without a blade for the sake of simplicity, but the latter can be preliminarily positioned because the introduction of the blade takes place from below, with the sleeve out of the half jaw. There is thus obtained half jaw/sleeve/blade assemblies, disposed pairwise, facing each other. Covers such as the cover 58 of insulating material are provided to be disposed removably in the end plates 20-1 or 20-2, on the principal or branched cable side, so as to insulate the end from it if need be. Each cover has a truncated conical form and a peripheral lip adapted to engage in the grooved portion of the parts of the branches constituting the C shaped recesses. Preferably, notches are provided concentrically in each cover to adapt it to various dimensions of the cables. The emplacement takes place as will now be explained. Prior to use, in production, the complete connector is assembled, ready to be mounted on a cable. In this instance, there is a principal cable 30 and a branch cable 32 which it is desired electrically to connect at two separate points. To this end, there is used a suitable connection which will be subject to the following mounting steps: In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, a first frame is hooked to a first half jaw, for example the lower half jaw, by introducing the pin 50 through the outer surface side opening of the groove 42 of this half jaw. The oblong shape of the frame prevents disassembly of the frame and the half jaw by rotation. The same steps are carried out with the other lower half jaw and the other frame. The lower half jaws are assembled by the lower holding plate 1 8-2, which closes the grooves 42. This subassembly them permits assembling the upper half jaws according to three possibilities: - either one by one, orienting each one at an angle relative to the subassembly and hence to the corresponding pins of the plates already in place such that the small sides of the pins penetrate transversely into the grooves 42. The upper half jaws are then brought each into a position such that they are facing the lower half jaws, the pins remaining trapped by the rails 44. The upper holding plate is then emplaced to connect the two upper half jaws, which thus closes the grooves 42, - or one by one by sliding the pins in the grooves through the opening from the outer surface and by connecting them by the corresponding connection plate, - or else by connecting the two half jaws by their holding plate and by spacing the frames to permit the emplacement of the pins. It is then possible to arrange the gripping means, in this case the bolt whose screw passes through the connection plates, in the corresponding oblong holes. The connector is then unitary and can be applied to the principal and branch cables even if the principal cable is charged, which is generally the case. It then suffices to space the upper and lower half jaws to pass by one side the branch cable into the recess 28. Then, the operator slightly swings the two half jaws, which spaces the half jaws on the opposite side. The principal cable is in turn introduced, this time into the recess 26. The two cables being in place, gripping force is exerted by screwing the screw into the bolt of the gripping means 22, until the element calibrated to the sought gripping couple is broken. Simultaneously with gripping, the teeth of the blades penetrate through the insulation and enter into contact with the conductors, thereby ensuring the electrical connection of the principal and branch cables, without any risk for the operator. The fact of having half jaws articulated about the bolt permits compensating the differences in thickness, as is seen in Figure 1 . In the case in which one of the cables, for example the branch cable, has a free end, the access to this end can be protected and it is then necessary first to arrange a cover 58 on this end. The cover is disposed in the end plate by sliding the peripheral lip into the corresponding groove of the portion of the branches of the corresponding end plate. In Figures 5 and 6, there is shown a modified embodiment in which the connection means 60 are modified. The end plates are each provided with an opening 62-1 ; 62-2 oriented along the Y axis and substantially over all their height. The pins 64 are this time carried by the half jaws and not by the end plates. These pins 64 are substantially identical to the preceding pins 50 described above and are also provided with an oblong head. The heads of the pins can be inserted through the openings but only when the larger axis of the head is parallel to the Y axis, which is to say parallel to the longitudinal axis of the opening. The mounting of the connector takes place in the same fashion as before, except for the introduction of the pin which requires in a first instance the positioning at 90° of the end plate relative to the half jaw to permit the introduction of the pin, then a rotation to return the two pieces into their working orientation as shown in Figure 5. In the case of Figure 6, the mounting is maintained but there is interposed a supplemental half jaw to bring to three the number of pairs of jaws, this when it is desired for example to increase the number of contact points. In this case, the central half jaws are retained only by the upper and lower connection plates during mounting. First the central half jaws are mounted before securing the end half jaws. The gripping means should be adapted and two bolts should be provided, each being introduced between the two pairs of juxtaposed half jaws. The use remains identical. In Figure 8, there is shown a modified embodiment of an end frame with a lower pin 50-2 identical in oblong shape and an upper pin of substantially parallelepipedal shape. This particular shape facilitates the emplacement because it permits holding the frame perpendicular to the inserted half jaw, because the side surfaces of the parallelepiped coact with the associated groove 42 and rails 44. When the cables are to be inserted between the half jaws, it is the lower half jaws that are spaced by swinging, because the upper half jaws are substantially immobilized in rotation but relative to the frames that carry them. It will be seen that in the different embodiments, it is possible to adjust the number of half jaws with a reduced stock of pieces because the half jaws are the same, the bolts are the same, as are the end pieces, only the connection members changing. Moreover, the end plates permit providing monolithic connectors and easy manipulation whilst permitting a great liberty of adjustment of the mounting, before gripping.

Claims: C L A I M S 1 . Electrical connection device for at least one branch cable to a principal cable, comprising at least one pair of upper half jaws (1 4-1 ; 1 6-1 ) and a pair of lower half jaws (14-2; 1 6-2) facing each other, each of the jaws being provided with an electrical contact blade (54) for piercing insulation, as well as gripping means (22) for the half jaws, characterized in that it comprises a first plate (1 8-1 ) for connecting the upper half jaws and a second plate (1 8-2) for connecting the lower half jaws, said plates receiving said gripping means (22). 2. Electrical connection device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the half jaws ( 1 4, 1 6) comprise means (34) for retaining and abutting by snapping in the connecting plates (1 8). 3. Electrical connection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connection plates (1 8) and the surfaces of the half jaws (1 4, 1 6) facing each other are convex. 4. Electrical connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises end frames (20) disposed parallel to the Y direction of gripping and connection means (40, 60) for each frame to each of the end half jaws. 5. Electrical connection device according to claim 4, characterized in that the connection means (40, 60) comprise a pin (50) with a head (52), oriented perpendicular to the frame, toward the corresponding half jaw, and a recess (38) provided in the half jaw with a groove (42) forming a rail (44) oriented parallel to the Y gripping direction, of a profile complementary to that of the head so as to permit the translation of said pin relative to the half jaw. 6. Electrical connection device according to claim 5, characterized in that the head of at least one pin (50) has its greatest dimension less than I and greater than the width of the grooves and h less than the width of these same grooves such that each head slides and penetrates into the corresponding recess (38) through the groove with its longitudinal axis parallel to the Y axis and is retained when this half jaw is brought to its perpendicular position. 7. Electrical connection device according to claim 4, characterized in that the end half jaws (14, 1 6) comprise a T shaped pin (64), oriented perpendicular to the gripping direction (Y) and toward the end frame, this pin being provided with a head inscribed within a rectangle of length L and width I and each frame comprises an opening (62) oriented parallel to the gripping direction, provided siidably to receive said pin. 8. Electrical connection device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the end frame comprises branches (46, 48) forming open C shaped recesses and covers (58) of an insulating material. 9. Electrical connection device according to claim 8, characterized in that each branch (46, 48) comprises a groove provided on its section and each cover comprises a peripheral lip of a profile of a metal complementary to that of said groove. 1 0. Electrical connection device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that each cover (58) has a truncated conical shape, so as to adapt to different cross sections of cable. 1 1 . Electrical connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping means (22) are comprised by a bolt whose nut has a gripping head with controlled rupture.

Inventors: BIASOTTO MARION, BRULE FRANCOIS, COUVERT JEAN-LUC, BIASOTTO, MARION, BRULE, FRANCOIS, COUVERT, JEAN-LUC
Applicants: BIASOTTO MARION, BRULE FRANCOIS, COUVERT JEAN LUC, FRAMATOME CONNECTORS INT, BIASOTTO, MARION, BRULE, FRANCOIS, COUVERT, JEAN-LUC, F.C.I. - FRAMATOME CONNECTORS INTERNATIONAL
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H01R4
IPC codes: H01R4, H01R13