Abstract:
An electrical connection element for connecting supply lines, in particular in an aircraft. The connection element comprises a connector socket and a connector that can be inserted into the connector socket, wherein the connector is axially rotatable in the connector socket, as a result of which a non-positive connection between the connector and the connector socket is established. An independent solution provides for the connection element to be made in a single piece and to comprise two clamping receptacles for the ends of the supply lines to be connected.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of German Patent Application No. 10 2004 056 648.8 filed Nov. 24, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an electrical connection element for connecting supply lines, in particular in an aircraft. 
     TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND 
     To connect and branch off electrical supply lines in an aircraft the use of distributors comprising a base plate and threaded pins arranged thereon is known (DE 41 02 318 C2). Each end of the lines to be connected is connected to a conductive eyelet. The eyelets are placed over the threaded pin and are attached using a nut, as a result of which electrical contact is established. To avoid short circuits, a cover is provided. The described arrangement is expensive; with connecting and disconnecting the connector and the connector socket being complicated and time-consuming. 
     Such a threaded connection element is known from DE 94 12 215 U. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     There may be a need to provide a simple electrical connection element which makes possible quick and secure connecting and disconnecting of the connection element. 
     This need may be met by a electrical connection element comprising the features of the independent claims. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment a connection element for connecting supply lines comprises a connector socket and a connector that is insertable into the connector socket, wherein the connector is axially rotatable in the connector socket, as a result of which a non-positive connection between the connector and the connector socket is established. 
     By using the rotary movement, a secure non-positive connection may be established in a simple manner. To establish the connection, the connector may be simply inserted into the connector socket and axially rotated, which may reduce the installation effort. The same may apply analogously for the disconnecting of the connection. Doing without a threaded pin may make it possible to reduce the expenditure and if need be to save weight. If need be it may be possible to do without a carrier for several connection elements. 
     Supply lines are lines to supply, in particular, aircraft components with electrical energy. The connection element according to the invention is therefore delimited in relation to electrical connectors for signal lines or control lines. 
     Connecting supply lines also includes the branching off of supply lines. Generally the invention includes the connection of any desired number of supply lines with any number of additional supply lines. 
     It may be particularly simple and therefore may be preferred if the electrical contact is generated by using non-positive connection between the connector and the connector socket. Therefore, the contact surfaces between the connector and the connector socket may be preferably electrically conductive, in particular metallic. 
     In another exemplary embodiment the connector and the connector socket comprise corresponding radially tapered contact surfaces. This may make it possible to provide the largest possible contact surfaces, and thus may secure contact, merely by axial rotation of the connector in the connector socket. Preferably, the number of the radially tapered contact surfaces of the connector and the connector socket respectively may be at least three so as to ensure an even mechanical load on the connector and the connector socket respectively. On the other hand, a large contact surface may be achieved by a small number of contact surfaces. The number of radially tapered contact surfaces of the connector and the connector socket respectively may be thus preferably at most five. 
     In an independent way of meeting the above need a connection element for connecting supply lines in aircraft may comprise, in particular, the connection element is essentially formed in one part and comprises two clamping receptacles for the ends of the supply lines to be connected. 
     The term “essentially” means “apart from parts that are insignificant in the context of the invention” and thus relates to the clamping receptacles and if necessary to a conductive adapter. For establishing the electrical and mechanical connection the supply lines may be simply inserted into the clamping receptacles and may be clamped into place. Doing without a threaded pin may make it possible to reduce the effort and to save weight. If need be, it may be possible to do without a carrier for several connection elements. 
     Further advantageous characteristics of the invention are provided in the dependent claims and in the following description of advantageous embodiments of the invention, with reference to the enclosed drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following are shown: 
         FIG. 1  a longitudinal cross section of a connector socket; 
         FIG. 2  a longitudinal cross section of a connector; 
         FIG. 3  a longitudinal cross section of a connection element; 
         FIG. 4  a cross section of a connection element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the case of the connector being in place in the connector socket; 
         FIG. 5  a cross section of a firmly connected connection element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; 
         FIG. 6  a longitudinal cross section of a unit comprising several connector sockets; and 
         FIG. 7  a longitudinal cross-section of an essentially single-piece connection element. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     In the figures identical or similar elements are labelled with identical or similar reference signs. 
     An electrical connection element  50  comprises a connector socket  10  and a connector  20 . The connector socket  10  is connected to an electrical supply line  11  and comprises a cylindrical metallic receptacle  14  that is connected to the supply line  11  by way of a metallic bottom part  45  and a metallic adapter  46 . The connector socket  10  comprises a housing  12  with a housing part  13  for the receptacle  14 , and with a housing part  15  for the adaptor  46 . An operating element  16  is attached to the housing part  15 . 
     The connector  20  comprises a metallic contact pin  24 , which by way of a metallic adaptor  34  is conductively connected to the supply line  21 , as well as a housing part  25  with an operating element  26 . In a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the connector  20 , the contact pin  24  comprises outer metallic contact surfaces  27 - 29 . The contact surfaces  27 - 29  of the contact pin  24  taper radially clockwise, as shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 : starting from the largest radial extension r 1  the radius of the contact surface  29  (see  FIG. 5 ) continuously diminishes clockwise until the minimum radial extension r 2  is reached. The same applies to the contact surfaces  27 ,  28  of the contact pin  24 . In each case the transition from the minimum to the maximum radial extension of the contact surfaces  27 ,  28 ,  29  is formed by an essentially radially aligned limit stop  30 ,  31 ,  32 . 
     The receptacle  14  of the connector socket  10  comprises inner metallic contact surfaces  17 - 19  that correspond to the outer contact surfaces  27 - 29  of the connector  20  and therefore also taper off radially in clockwise direction. In each case the transition from the minimum to the maximum radial extension of the contact surfaces  17 ,  18 ,  19  is formed by an essentially radially extending limit stop  40 ,  41 ,  42 . 
     For establishing the mechanical and electrical connection the contact pin  24  of the connector  20  is inserted into the receptacle  14  of the connector socket  10 . In this arrangement the contact pin  24  is expediently oriented such that the limit stops  40 - 42  of the connector socket  10  form guides for the limit stops  30 - 32  of the contact pin  24 . When the limit stops  40 - 42  of the connector socket  10  are in contact with the limit stops  30 - 32  of the connector  20 , the external radius of the contact pin  24  is somewhat smaller than the internal radius of the receptacle  14  of the connector socket  10  so that in total a clearance of a few mm, for example ranging from 0.5 to 2 mm, results. This makes possible non-problematic insertion of the contact pin  24  into the receptacle  14  of the connector socket  10 . 
     In the fully inserted position, for example, the face  33  of the contact pin  24  can rest against the bottom  43  of the receptacle  14  of the connector socket. In this position the connector socket  10  and the connector  20  are axially rotated clockwise against each other, i.e. on the longitudinal axis L of the connector  20  and the connector socket  10  respectively. This can for example take place by using tools applied to the operating elements  16 ,  26 . Manual rotation is also possible. Rotation takes place until, due to their radial taper, the contact surfaces  27 - 29  of the contact pin  24  establish a non-positive and/or frictionally engaged connection with the contact surfaces  17 - 19  of the receptacle  14  of the connector socket  10 . The closing angle, i.e. the angle between the limit stop and firm seating, as shown in  FIG. 5 , is for example 20° to 30°. By tightening the contact pin  24  in the receptacle  14  of the connector socket  10  at a suitable torque a mechanically and electrically secure connection between the contact pin  24  and the connector socket  10  can be achieved. Due to the identical shape of the contact surfaces  27 - 29  of the contact pin  24  and the contact surfaces  17 - 19  of the receptacle  14  of the connector socket  10 , a large-area overlap between the contact surfaces (see  FIG. 5 ) and thus safe contact even for high currents can be achieved. On the other hand, for given currents the design size of the connection element  50  can be kept small. 
     In order to improve operator comfort, a catch device can be provided so that the connector  20  in the closed position (see  FIG. 5 ) clicks into the connector socket  10 . To improve safety, in addition to the non-positive connection of the connector  20  and the connector socket  10 , a locking device can be provided so as to lock the connector  20  in the closed position in the connector socket  10 . 
     Preferably, the number of contact surfaces  17 - 19  and contact surfaces  27 - 29  respectively is at least three so as to ensure even loading of the connector  20  and of the connector socket  10  respectively. However, as shown in  FIG. 5 , four or more contact surfaces for each connector  20  and each connector socket  10  respectively at the same closing angle would reduce the contact surface overall. The number of radially tapering-off contact surfaces of the connector and of the connector socket respectively is thus preferably at most five, preferably precisely three. For reasons of stability, the contact surfaces  17 - 19  and  27 - 29  respectively are preferably arranged at even angular spacing, for example at 120° in the case of three contact surfaces (see  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ). 
     The connector  20  and the connector socket  10  form a disconnectable connection element  50 . To disconnect the connection element  50  the connector  20  is disconnected and rotated in the connector socket  10  in anticlockwise rotation, for example by using tools applied to the operating elements  16 ,  26 , until the limit stops  30 - 32  come to rest against the limit stops  40 - 42  of the connector socket  10 . In this position the contact pin  24  can be pulled with some play from the receptacle  14  of the connector socket  10 , wherein the limit stops  40 - 42  of the connector socket form guides for the limit stops  30 - 32  of the contact pin  24 . 
     Between the connector  20  and the connector socket  10  a seal or sealing means  51  for corrosion protection can be provided. Preferably, the housing  13 ,  15  of the connector socket  10  and the housing  25  of the connector  20  are insulating. Due to any complete insulation of the connection element  50  in the closed state no further measures to avoid short circuits and measures for corrosion protection are required. In addition, to provide corrosion protection or to provide an additional rotation safeguard, insulation  52  for the entire connection element  50  can be provided, for example in the form of a shrinkdown sleeve. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  a socket unit  60  is provided having a plurality of connector receptacles  14  each adapted to receive one connector  20 . All connector receptacles  14  are connected to a supply line  61  by way of a common electrically conductive carrier structure  62 . Insulated positions  63 - 65  are provided for the carrier structure. In this way a distributor can be implemented i.e. connecting of a plurality of supply lines to a supply line wherein each of the plurality of supply lines is connected to a connector. 
     In the alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  a single-piece connection element is provided, which comprises two clamping receptacles  71 ,  72  for the ends of two supply lines  73 ,  74  to be connected, which supply lines  73 ,  74  comprise insulation  75 . The clamping receptacles  71 ,  72  are conductively connected in a single piece by means of a metallic adaptor  76 . In order to establish a firm electrical and mechanical connection the free ends of the supply lines  73 ,  74  are inserted into the clamping receptacles  71 ,  72  and are clamped into place with a suitable tool. The connection element  70  is therefore preferably used for one-time connection of supply lines that need not be undone during the service life of the aircraft. Comprehensive insulation  77  for the connection element  70 , for example in the form of a shrinkdown sleeve, can be provided. 
     It should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.