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EP1537630B1 - Electrical contact terminal comprising an elastic contact blade - Google Patents

Electrical contact terminal comprising an elastic contact blade Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1537630B1
EP1537630B1 EP03775496A EP03775496A EP1537630B1 EP 1537630 B1 EP1537630 B1 EP 1537630B1 EP 03775496 A EP03775496 A EP 03775496A EP 03775496 A EP03775496 A EP 03775496A EP 1537630 B1 EP1537630 B1 EP 1537630B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
blade
cage
contact terminal
blades
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP03775496A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1537630A2 (en
Inventor
Claude Casses
Jean-François CLERC
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
FCI SA
Original Assignee
FCI SA
Framatome Connectors International SAS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by FCI SA, Framatome Connectors International SAS filed Critical FCI SA
Publication of EP1537630A2 publication Critical patent/EP1537630A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1537630B1 publication Critical patent/EP1537630B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02Contact members
    • H01R13/10Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades
    • H01R13/11Resilient sockets
    • H01R13/113Resilient sockets co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular transverse section
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R43/00Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
    • H01R43/16Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an electrical contact terminal provided with an elastic contact blade whose flexibility ensures better electrical contact with a complementary contact terminal.
  • the invention relates to a female electrical contact terminal with elastic contact blade, made in one piece in a cut and folded strip, and for receiving a complementary male contact terminal.
  • the invention has applications in the field of electrical or electronic connectivity and, in particular, in the field of connectivity dedicated to the automotive industry.
  • connectors In the field of connectivity, we seek to make connectors less and less expensive. For this, we seek to design connectors requiring, on the one hand, the least possible material and, on the other hand, the simplest possible manufacturing. To meet these requirements, it is known to make connectors, or contact terminals, female or male, in one piece from a single plate of sheet metal or electrically conductive metal, called strip, cut and folded to form the desired connector.
  • female electrical contact terminals of the cage type are produced.
  • Such a contact terminal comprises a rear portion in which is fixed, by crimping, an electrical wire to be connected with another electrical wire fixed in a complementary male contact terminal.
  • This female contact terminal also comprises a cage-shaped front part intended to receive the male contact terminal.
  • the female contact terminal may also include a transition portion connecting the front portion with the rear portion.
  • Such a female contact terminal is described in the patent application EP-A-0 959 531.
  • the cage of this contact terminal is made from a metal plate, or strip, in which are cut and formed a bottom , two flanks (or side walls) and a ceiling.
  • the ceiling is made in two parts placed side by side. In each side, is cut and folded a tongue intended to form a contact blade by which electrical contact is established between the female terminal and the complementary male terminal.
  • the tongue intended to form the contact blade is cut in the extension of the side of the cage and folded towards the inside of the cage. This is particularly the case in the patent application EP-A-0 959 531.
  • the contact blade can also come from a tongue cut in the rear part of the cage and folded towards the front of said cage.
  • each side of the cage also has an orifice through which the contact blade is placed.
  • the orifice is intended to receive a locking pin of the terminal in a cell a connector housing receiving this terminal.
  • the contact blades of the known contact terminals are simply folded towards the inside of the cage. Also, when the contact tail of the male contact terminal is introduced between the two contact blades, it is important that the two contact blades remain in permanent contact with the contact tail. It is therefore necessary that the contact blades are flexible or flexible.
  • the female contact terminal is weakened in narrow places and in particular at the intersections of the cutting lines. Indeed, due to the cutting, forming and folding of the strip, when it is thin, intersections of the cutting lines can be sheared and / or tear under the action of a lateral mechanical thrust on a wall or parallel to this wall. The risk of cutting and shearing the contact blades is further increased if, for any reason, the Male and female contact terminals must be disassembled before being reassembled.
  • the contact blades do not have a great flexibility. However, if the contact blades are not flexible then, under the thrust of the contact tail being introduced between the contact blades, they depart from each other and the electrical contact with the tail contact is poorly established.
  • US-A-5 941 741 discloses a contact terminal according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the invention proposes an electrical contact terminal, in which the resilient contact blades are made more flexible by means of one or more stampings made in the folding zone of said contact blades.
  • the invention relates to the female contact terminals, made in one piece in a strip, in which the contact blades are bent inwardly of said contact terminal.
  • the contact terminal of the invention may also comprise reinforcing blades bearing against the contact blades to reinforce the latter in the area in contact with the contact tail of the complementary male terminal.
  • the invention relates to a female electrical contact terminal according to claim 1.
  • FIG. 1 represents a view from above of a female electrical contact terminal according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • This contact terminal 2 is shown when it is ready to be crimped around an electrical conduction wire 1.
  • the female contact terminal 2 is represented when its front part 3 is cut and folded. and that its rear portion 5 and its transition portion 4 are cut and waiting for the introduction and crimping of an electric wire 1.
  • the rear portion 5 of the female contact terminal 2 has a bottom and two sides, of complementary shapes, forming crimping wings. These flanks are shown in Figure 1 open, that is to say in the position in which they are after folding of the strip forming the contact terminal but before crimping the electrical wire. These flanks are intended to be folded and tightened around the insulator 1a of the electrical wire 1 to maintain it in a fixed position in the contact terminal.
  • the transition portion 4 of the female contact terminal 2 also has a bottom and two flanks of complementary shapes. As for the rear part, the flanks of the transition part are shown in FIG. 1, open, that is to say in the position in which they are located after folding of the strip forming the contact terminal but before crimping. electrical wire. These flanks are intended to be folded and tightened around the stripped zone 1b of the electrical wire 1 so that an electrical contact is established between the stripped portion of the electrical wire 1 and the transition portion 4 of the contact terminal.
  • the female contact terminal of the invention has dimensions and an external shape identical to those of the female contact terminals of the prior art. It can thus be inserted into a conventional male contact terminal, commonly used in the field of connectors.
  • the male contact terminal, complementary to the female contact terminal of the invention, will therefore not be described here.
  • the front portion 3 of the contact terminal 2 forms a cage having a bottom 16 and a ceiling 6 formed of two parts 6a and 6b joined together to form a substantially flat surface.
  • the two parts 6a and 6b fit one into the other, thereby stiffening the ceiling 6 of the cage.
  • the portion 6a of the ceiling has protrusions forming tenons 7a and 7b and the other part of the ceiling may comprise notches forming mortises 7c, receiving the tenons of the portion 6a.
  • Parts 6a and 6b can also be simply placed side by side, without interlocking from one part to the other.
  • the cage has two sidewalls or sidewalls 8 and 8 ', of which only the sidewall 8 is visible in FIG. 1.
  • Each sidewall has a tongue on the front part of the cage, this tongue being folded towards the inside of the cage to form a contact blade.
  • the contact blades of this female terminal are not visible in this figure. They will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.
  • the sidewall 8 of the cage has an orifice 9 and a second tongue intended to form a reinforcing blade 10.
  • This sidewall 8 and the sidewall 8 ', identical to the sidewall 8, will be described in more detail later.
  • FIG. 2 shows, in profile, according to a view from the rear of the contact terminal, the inside of the cage of the contact terminal of Figure 1.
  • Figure 2 shows the cage of the contact terminal of Figure 1, in which the ceiling 6 has been removed. The fact that there is no ceiling on this cage does not constitute an embodiment of the invention; this is simply intended to allow a better understanding of the invention by the reader.
  • the contact blade 11 is separated from the blade 11 'by a gap, or air gap, the size of which is adapted to receive the contact tail of the complementary male contact terminal.
  • the tongue forming the contact blade 11 comprises stampings 12, located in the area where the tongue is folded towards the inside of the cage. These stampings 12 are made by stamping on the strip, after cutting thereof, but before folding the strip and, in particular, before folding the tongue forming the contact blade 11.
  • stampings give the contact blades some flexibility, thus making the contact blades more elastic.
  • stampings have the advantage of enlarging the portion of the tongue which is folded, which lengthens the contact blade inwards and increases the contact area with the contact tail of the male terminal, without requiring a larger amount of strip.
  • stampings also have the advantage of reduce the constraints of the contact blades in their folding zone.
  • a single stamp can be made in each contact blade.
  • several stampings are made in each contact blade. The number of stampings made depends essentially on the thickness of the strip as well as the desired flexibility for the contact blades.
  • FIG. 2 also shows two tongues forming reinforcing blades 10 and 10 '. These reinforcing blades 10 and 10 'are cut in the sides 8 and 8' of the cage of the female contact terminal. Once cut, these second tabs 10 and 10 'are folded a first time towards the inside of the cage with an angle of the order of 45 °, then folded again so as to make them substantially parallel to the sidewalls 8 and 8 . The free end of each of these tongues forming the reinforcing blades 10 and 10 'is then in abutment against the inner face of one of the contact blades 11 and 11', respectively. Each contact blade 11 and 11 'is thus reinforced, by a bearing on its free end, a reinforcing blade 10 and 10', which ensures the maintenance in position of the contact blades 11 and 11 '.
  • the contact blades 11 and 11 ' are sufficiently flexible to facilitate the introduction of the contact tail but they are not likely to remain separated from each other after the introduction of the contact tail.
  • the flexibility given to the contact blades 11 and 11 'by the stampings ensures an easy introduction of the contact tail between said blades and the reinforcing blades 10 and 10' ensure their retention in position against this contact tail.
  • the contact blades can thus remain in permanent contact with the contact tail of the male terminal.
  • the reinforcing blades 10 and 10 ' are made with portions of the strip which are usually cut in the sidewalls 8 and 8' to make the orifices 9 and 9 '.
  • the reinforcing blades are thus made with a portion of the strip which is generally considered as waste. This provides a reinforcement of the contact blades without this requiring a quantity of additional strip.
  • they may be the width of the orifices 9 and 9 '. These orifices 9 and 9 'may, in this case, be of rectangular shapes.
  • FIG. 3 there is shown a cut strip 13, intended to be shaped to achieve a female contact terminal according to the invention.
  • this strip there is shown in thick lines the blanks of the strip and in fine lines the folding zones of the strip, that is to say the locations where the strip will be folded during its shaping.
  • FIG. 3 thus shows the cutouts 7a-7c intended to form the tenon / mortise assembly of the ceiling 6, the cutouts 10 and 10 'of the tongues intended to form the reinforcing blades, the cutouts 9 and 9' of the orifices and the tongues 11 and 11 'for forming the contact blades.
  • the contact blades 11 and 11 ' are made from tabs cut outside the portion of the strip intended to form the cage of the contact terminal.
  • the locations e3 and e3 'of the first folds of the tongues 10 and 10' intended to form the reinforcement strips and the locations e4 and e4 'of the second folds of these tongues 10 and 10' are represented.
  • the tongues 11 and 11 ' are stamped, with one or more stampings, in the fold zones e1 and e1'. These tongues are then folded a first time at the zones e2 and e2 'and then a second time at the zones e1 and e1', that is to say stamped areas.
  • the reinforcing blades may also include one or more stampings made at the folding zones e3 and e3 ', before folding the strip.
  • Figure 4 is shown, in profile, in a view from the front of the contact terminal, the strip of Figure 3 after folding.
  • the stampings may be in the form of grooves made in the width of the tongue forming the contact blade. These stampings may also have other forms that may depend on the flexibility sought for the contact blade.
  • FIG. 4 also shows, through the orifice 9 ', the reinforcing blade 10' coming from the side 8 'of the cage and folded towards the inside of the cage so as to bear against the contact blade 11' .
  • the reinforcing blade 10 ' may comprise one or two lateral fins 15' cut in the strip at the same time as the tongue forming the reinforcing blade.
  • FIG 4 only one fin has been shown for each reinforcing blade.
  • These lateral fins 15 'and 15 are intended to abut in windows 14' and 14 formed in the ceiling 6 of the cage.
  • they abut, on the one hand, in a window made in the ceiling of the cage and, on the other hand, in a window made in the bottom 16 of the cage.
  • These windows of sizes adapted to the fins have the role of receiving the fins and, thus, to maintain the reinforcing blades against the contact blades with a predefined set, depending on the width of the window.
  • This clearance corresponds to the clearance allowed for the contact blades, that is to say to the movement allowed to the contact blades during the introduction of the contact tail of the male terminal.
  • these sets of vanes and windows can limit the movement of the opening contact blades and protect against a stress exceeding their elastic capacity, when introducing a tail contact. They thus define an air gap between the contact blades.
  • the bottom 16 and the ceiling 6 each comprise a cantilevered front portion, located opposite the U-shaped section having the folding zone of the contact blade.
  • FIG. 5 it is the contact blades 11 and 11 'which each comprise one or two lateral fins.
  • This embodiment is shown in FIG. 5 in the form of a cut strip, ready to be folded.
  • the example strip of Figure 5 comprises a portion for forming the bottom 16 of the cage and two parts 6a and 6b for forming the ceiling 6 of the cage.
  • the two parts 6a and 6b of the ceiling are folded and positioned side by side to form the ceiling.
  • fins 15, 18 and 15 ', 18' are cut on either side of the free end 19, 19 'of the contact blades 11 and 11'.
  • the fins 15 and 18 can thus abut in windows 14 and 17 provided, respectively, in the ceiling 6 and in the bottom 16 of the cage.
  • the fins 15 'and 18' can abut in windows 14 'and 17' formed, respectively, in the ceiling 6 and in the bottom 16 of the cage.
  • the contact blades may also each comprise a single fin; in this case, the fins abut either in the windows 14 and 14 'of the ceiling 6 or in the windows 17 and 17' of the bottom 16.
  • these fins and these windows make it possible to limit the deflection of the opening contact blades and to protect them against a load exceeding their elastic capacity, when an additional contact terminal is introduced. They thus define a precise gap between the contact blades. It will be noted that this embodiment in which the fins are made on the contact blades is easier to implement than the previous embodiment because there is more material available around the contact blades than around the reinforcing blades. . In addition, this embodiment makes it possible to obtain a better accuracy of the gap, that is to say the distance between the internal faces of the contact blades.
  • the contact blades are made by tongues cut in the extension of the front part of the cage.
  • the invention can also be implemented in female contact terminals whose contact blades are made by tongues cut in the rear extension of the cage.
  • the stampings are then made at the back of the cage.
  • the reinforcing blades which are formed by tabs cut in the extension of the front part of the cage are supported on the outer face of the contact blades. It is then the reinforcing blades that form the drain.
  • These reinforcing blades have the advantage, in this case, to also include one or more stampings, making the drain more flexible.
  • stampings can be carried out in all the contact terminals comprising a folded elastic contact blade, whether male terminals or female terminals, cage type or not .

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Electrical Connectors (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Connections By Means Of Piercing Elements, Nuts, Or Screws (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical contact terminal which is obtained by cutting and folding a small electrically-conductive metal plate ( 13 ), consisting of a rear part ( 5 ) which can be used to connect an electric wire ( 1 ) and a front part ( 3 ) comprising a first folded blade which forms a contact blade ( 11, 11' ) with a complementary contact blade, said contact blade ( 11, 11' ) comprising at least one formed part ( 12, 12' ) which is disposed in a fold area of the aforementioned contact blade.

Description

Domaine de l'inventionField of the invention

L'invention concerne une borne de contact électrique munie d'une lame de contact élastique dont la flexibilité assure un meilleur contact électrique avec une borne de contact complémentaire. En particulier, l'invention concerne une borne de contact électrique femelle à lame de contact élastique, réalisée d'une seule pièce dans un feuillard découpé et plié, et destinée à recevoir une borne de contact mâle complémentaire.The invention relates to an electrical contact terminal provided with an elastic contact blade whose flexibility ensures better electrical contact with a complementary contact terminal. In particular, the invention relates to a female electrical contact terminal with elastic contact blade, made in one piece in a cut and folded strip, and for receiving a complementary male contact terminal.

L'invention trouve des applications dans le domaine de la connectique électrique ou électronique et, en particulier, dans le domaine de la connectique dédiée à l'industrie automobile.The invention has applications in the field of electrical or electronic connectivity and, in particular, in the field of connectivity dedicated to the automotive industry.

Etat de la techniqueState of the art

Dans le domaine de la connectique, on cherche à réaliser des connecteurs de moins en moins chers. Pour cela, on cherche à concevoir des connecteurs nécessitant, d'une part, le moins de matière possible et, d'autre part, une fabrication la plus simple possible. Pour répondre à ces exigences, il est connu de réaliser des connecteurs, ou bornes de contact, femelle ou mâle, en une seule pièce à partir d'une unique plaquette de tôle ou de métal électriquement conducteur, appelée feuillard, découpée et pliée pour former le connecteur désiré.In the field of connectivity, we seek to make connectors less and less expensive. For this, we seek to design connectors requiring, on the one hand, the least possible material and, on the other hand, the simplest possible manufacturing. To meet these requirements, it is known to make connectors, or contact terminals, female or male, in one piece from a single plate of sheet metal or electrically conductive metal, called strip, cut and folded to form the desired connector.

On réalise, en particulier, des bornes de contact électriques femelles du type à cage. Une telle borne de contact comporte une partie arrière dans laquelle est fixé, par sertissage, un fil électrique à connecter avec un autre fil électrique fixé dans une borne de contact mâle complémentaire. Cette borne de contact femelle comporte aussi une partie avant en forme de cage, destinée à recevoir la borne de contact mâle. La borne de contact femelle peut aussi comporter une partie de transition reliant la partie avant avec la partie arrière.In particular, female electrical contact terminals of the cage type are produced. Such a contact terminal comprises a rear portion in which is fixed, by crimping, an electrical wire to be connected with another electrical wire fixed in a complementary male contact terminal. This female contact terminal also comprises a cage-shaped front part intended to receive the male contact terminal. The female contact terminal may also include a transition portion connecting the front portion with the rear portion.

Une telle borne de contact femelle est décrite dans la demande de brevet EP-A-0 959 531. La cage de cette borne de contact est réalisée à partir d'une plaquette de métal, ou feuillard, dans laquelle sont découpés et formés un fond, deux flancs (ou parois latérales) et un plafond. Le plafond est réalisé en deux parties placées côte à côte. Dans chaque flanc, est découpée et pliée une languette destinée à former une lame de contact par laquelle le contact électrique est établi entre la borne femelle et la borne mâle complémentaire.Such a female contact terminal is described in the patent application EP-A-0 959 531. The cage of this contact terminal is made from a metal plate, or strip, in which are cut and formed a bottom , two flanks (or side walls) and a ceiling. The ceiling is made in two parts placed side by side. In each side, is cut and folded a tongue intended to form a contact blade by which electrical contact is established between the female terminal and the complementary male terminal.

Très souvent, la languette destinée à former la lame de contact est découpée dans le prolongement du flanc de la cage et repliée vers l'intérieur de la cage. C'est le cas notamment dans la demande de brevet EP-A-0 959 531.Very often, the tongue intended to form the contact blade is cut in the extension of the side of the cage and folded towards the inside of the cage. This is particularly the case in the patent application EP-A-0 959 531.

Dans d'autres bornes de contact femelles, la lame de contact peut aussi provenir d'une languette découpée dans la partie arrière de la cage et repliée vers l'avant de ladite cage.In other female contact terminals, the contact blade can also come from a tongue cut in the rear part of the cage and folded towards the front of said cage.

Généralement, chaque flanc de la cage comporte aussi un orifice en travers duquel est placée la lame de contact. Quelle que soit la façon de réaliser la lame de contact (pliage vers l'avant ou vers l'arrière de la cage), l'orifice, généralement de forme carrée, est destiné à recevoir un ergot de verrouillage de la borne dans une alvéole d'un boîtier de connecteur recevant cette borne.Generally, each side of the cage also has an orifice through which the contact blade is placed. Whatever the way of making the contact blade (folding towards the front or towards the rear of the cage), the orifice, generally of square shape, is intended to receive a locking pin of the terminal in a cell a connector housing receiving this terminal.

Ainsi, lorsque la borne de contact complémentaire mâle est introduite dans la borne de contact femelle, la queue de contact de la borne mâle est pincée entre les deux lames de contact de la borne de contact femelle.Thus, when the male complementary contact terminal is introduced into the female contact terminal, the contact tail of the male terminal is clamped between the two contact blades of the female contact terminal.

Or, les lames de contact des bornes de contact connues sont simplement repliées vers l'intérieur de la cage. Aussi, lorsque la queue de contact de la borne de contact mâle est introduite entre les deux lames de contact, il est important que les deux lames de contact restent en contact permanent avec la queue de contact. Il faut donc que les lames de contact soient souples ou flexibles.However, the contact blades of the known contact terminals are simply folded towards the inside of the cage. Also, when the contact tail of the male contact terminal is introduced between the two contact blades, it is important that the two contact blades remain in permanent contact with the contact tail. It is therefore necessary that the contact blades are flexible or flexible.

Pour cela on peut choisir un feuillard fin qui offre une grande souplesse aux lames de contact. Cependant, avec un feuillard fin, il y a de forts risques de déchirement ou de cisaillement des lames de contact au niveau de la zone de pliage. En effet, d'une façon générale, la borne de contact femelle est fragilisée aux endroits étroits et en particulier au niveau des intersections des lignes de coupe. En effet, du fait des découpes, formages et pliages du feuillard, lorsque celui-ci est de faible épaisseur, des intersections des lignes de coupe peuvent se cisailler et/ou se déchirer sous l'action d'une poussée mécanique latérale exercée sur une paroi ou parallèlement à cette paroi. Le risque de découpe et de cisaillement des lames de contact est encore accru si, pour une raison quelconque, les bornes de contact mâle et femelle doivent être désassemblées avant d'être ré-assemblées.For this we can choose a thin strap that offers great flexibility to the contact blades. However, with a thin strip, there is a high risk of tearing or shearing of the contact blades at the folding zone. In fact, in general, the female contact terminal is weakened in narrow places and in particular at the intersections of the cutting lines. Indeed, due to the cutting, forming and folding of the strip, when it is thin, intersections of the cutting lines can be sheared and / or tear under the action of a lateral mechanical thrust on a wall or parallel to this wall. The risk of cutting and shearing the contact blades is further increased if, for any reason, the Male and female contact terminals must be disassembled before being reassembled.

Au contraire, si on choisit un feuillard épais, alors les lames de contact ne présentent pas une grande souplesse. Or, si les lames de contact ne sont pas souples alors, sous la poussée de la queue de contact s'introduisant entre les lames de contact, celles-ci s'écartent l'une de l'autre et le contact électrique avec la queue de contact est mal établi.On the contrary, if one chooses a thick strip, then the contact blades do not have a great flexibility. However, if the contact blades are not flexible then, under the thrust of the contact tail being introduced between the contact blades, they depart from each other and the electrical contact with the tail contact is poorly established.

On comprend ainsi qu'il est difficile de trouver un compromis dans l'épaisseur du feuillard pour que l'ensemble de la borne femelle soit suffisamment rigide pour ne pas être fragilisée aux zones d'intersections des lignes de coupe et pour que les lames de contact soient suffisamment souples pour rester en contact permanent avec la queue de contact de la borne de contact mâle.It is thus understood that it is difficult to find a compromise in the thickness of the strip so that the assembly of the female terminal is rigid enough not to be weakened at the intersection areas of the cutting lines and for the blades of contact are sufficiently flexible to remain in permanent contact with the contact tail of the male contact terminal.

Le document US-A-5 941 741 décrit une borne de contact conforme au préambule de la revendication 1.US-A-5 941 741 discloses a contact terminal according to the preamble of claim 1.

Exposé de l'inventionPresentation of the invention

L'invention a justement pour but de remédier aux inconvénients des bornes de contact électrique décrites précédemment. A cette fin, l'invention propose une borne de contact électrique, dans laquelle les lames de contact élastiques sont rendues plus flexibles au moyen d'un ou de plusieurs emboutis réalisés dans la zone de pliage desdites lames de contact. En particulier, l'invention concerne les bornes de contact femelles, réalisées d'une seule pièce dans un feuillard, dans lesquelles les lames de contact sont repliées vers l'intérieur de ladite borne de contact. Dans ce cas, la borne de contact de l'invention peut comporter aussi des lames de renfort venant en appui contre les lames de contact pour renforcer ces dernières dans la zone en contact avec la queue de contact de la borne mâle complémentaire.The purpose of the invention is precisely to remedy the disadvantages of the electrical contact terminals described above. To this end, the invention proposes an electrical contact terminal, in which the resilient contact blades are made more flexible by means of one or more stampings made in the folding zone of said contact blades. In particular, the invention relates to the female contact terminals, made in one piece in a strip, in which the contact blades are bent inwardly of said contact terminal. In this case, the contact terminal of the invention may also comprise reinforcing blades bearing against the contact blades to reinforce the latter in the area in contact with the contact tail of the complementary male terminal.

Plus précisément, l'invention concerne une borne de contact électrique femelle selon la revendication 1.More specifically, the invention relates to a female electrical contact terminal according to claim 1.

Brève description des dessinsBrief description of the drawings

  • La figure 1 représente une vue générale d'une borne de contact électrique femelle selon l'invention, avant que le fil électrique ne soit serti.Figure 1 shows a general view of a female electrical contact terminal according to the invention, before the electric wire is crimped.
  • La figure 2 représente une vue détaillée de l'intérieur de la cage de la borne de contact électrique femelle de la figure 1.FIG. 2 represents a detailed view of the inside of the cage of the female electrical contact terminal of FIG. 1.
  • La figure 3 représente un feuillard découpé destiné à être plié pour former la cage de la borne de contact de la figure 2.FIG. 3 represents a cut strip intended to be folded to form the cage of the contact terminal of FIG. 2.
  • La figure 4 représente le feuillard découpé de la figure 3 lorsqu'il est plié pour former la cage de la borne de contact.Figure 4 shows the cut sheet of Figure 3 when folded to form the cage of the contact terminal.
  • La figure 5 représente un autre exemple de feuillard découpé, prêt à être plié.Figure 5 shows another example of cut strip, ready to be folded.
Description détaillée de mode de réalisation de l'inventionDetailed description of embodiment of the invention

La figure 1 représente une vue de dessus d'une borne de contact électrique femelle conforme à un mode de réalisation de l'invention. Cette borne de contact 2 est représentée lorsqu'elle est prête à être sertie autour d'un fil de conduction électrique 1. Autrement dit, sur cette figure 1, la borne de contact femelle 2 est représentée lorsque sa partie avant 3 est découpée et pliée et que sa partie arrière 5 et sa partie de transition 4 sont découpées et en attente de l'introduction et du sertissage d'un fil électrique 1.FIG. 1 represents a view from above of a female electrical contact terminal according to one embodiment of the invention. This contact terminal 2 is shown when it is ready to be crimped around an electrical conduction wire 1. In other words, in this FIG. 1, the female contact terminal 2 is represented when its front part 3 is cut and folded. and that its rear portion 5 and its transition portion 4 are cut and waiting for the introduction and crimping of an electric wire 1.

La partie arrière 5 de la borne de contact femelle 2 comporte un fond et deux flancs, de formes complémentaires, formant des ailes de sertissage. Ces flancs sont représentés, sur la figure 1, ouverts c'est-à-dire dans la position dans laquelle ils se trouvent après pliage du feuillard formant la borne de contact mais avant sertissage du fil électrique. Ces flancs sont destinés à être repliés et serrés autour de l'isolant 1a du fil électrique 1 pour le maintenir en position fixe dans la borne de contact.The rear portion 5 of the female contact terminal 2 has a bottom and two sides, of complementary shapes, forming crimping wings. These flanks are shown in Figure 1 open, that is to say in the position in which they are after folding of the strip forming the contact terminal but before crimping the electrical wire. These flanks are intended to be folded and tightened around the insulator 1a of the electrical wire 1 to maintain it in a fixed position in the contact terminal.

La partie de transition 4 de la borne de contact femelle 2 comporte aussi un fond et deux flancs, de formes complémentaires. Comme pour la partie arrière, les flancs de la partie de transition sont représentés, sur la figure 1, ouverts c'est-à-dire dans la position dans laquelle ils se trouvent après pliage du feuillard formant la borne de contact mais avant sertissage du fil électrique. Ces flancs sont destinés à être repliés et serrés autour de la zone dénudée 1b du fil électrique 1 de façon à ce qu'un contact électrique soit établi entre la partie dénudée du fil électrique 1 et la partie de transition 4 de la borne de contact. Ainsi, lorsque le fil électrique 1 a été introduit dans les parties arrière et de transition 5 et 4 de la borne de contact femelle 2, ces parties arrière et de transition sont serties autour du fil électrique 1, ce qui permet de connecter électriquement ce fil 1 avec un autre fil électrique serti dans une borne de contact mâle, complémentaire de la borne de contact femelle de l'invention.The transition portion 4 of the female contact terminal 2 also has a bottom and two flanks of complementary shapes. As for the rear part, the flanks of the transition part are shown in FIG. 1, open, that is to say in the position in which they are located after folding of the strip forming the contact terminal but before crimping. electrical wire. These flanks are intended to be folded and tightened around the stripped zone 1b of the electrical wire 1 so that an electrical contact is established between the stripped portion of the electrical wire 1 and the transition portion 4 of the contact terminal. Thus, when the electric wire 1 has been introduced into the rear and transition parts 5 and 4 of the female contact terminal 2, these rear and transition parts are crimped around the electrical wire 1, which allows to electrically connect this wire 1 with another electric wire crimped into a male contact terminal, complementary to the female contact terminal of the invention.

La borne de contact femelle de l'invention a des dimensions et une forme extérieure identiques à celles des bornes de contact femelle de l'art l'antérieur. Elle peut ainsi être insérée dans une borne de contact mâle classique, couramment utilisée dans le domaine de la connectique. La borne de contact mâle, complémentaire de la borne de contact femelle de l'invention, ne sera donc pas décrite ici.The female contact terminal of the invention has dimensions and an external shape identical to those of the female contact terminals of the prior art. It can thus be inserted into a conventional male contact terminal, commonly used in the field of connectors. The male contact terminal, complementary to the female contact terminal of the invention, will therefore not be described here.

La partie avant 3 de la borne de contact 2 forme une cage comportant un fond 16 et un plafond 6 formé de deux parties 6a et 6b assemblées l'une avec l'autre pour former une surface sensiblement plane. Dans un exemple de réalisation, les deux parties 6a et 6b s'emboîtent l'une dans l'autre, rigidifiant ainsi le plafond 6 de la cage. Par exemple, comme montré sur la figure 1, la partie 6a du plafond comporte des parties saillantes formant des tenons 7a et 7b et l'autre partie du plafond peut comporter des entailles formant des mortaises 7c, recevant les tenons de la partie 6a. Les parties 6a et 6b peuvent aussi être simplement placées côte à côte, sans emboîtement d'une partie dans l'autre.The front portion 3 of the contact terminal 2 forms a cage having a bottom 16 and a ceiling 6 formed of two parts 6a and 6b joined together to form a substantially flat surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the two parts 6a and 6b fit one into the other, thereby stiffening the ceiling 6 of the cage. For example, as shown in Figure 1, the portion 6a of the ceiling has protrusions forming tenons 7a and 7b and the other part of the ceiling may comprise notches forming mortises 7c, receiving the tenons of the portion 6a. Parts 6a and 6b can also be simply placed side by side, without interlocking from one part to the other.

La cage comporte deux flancs ou parois latérales 8 et 8', dont seule le flanc 8 est visible sur la figure 1. Chaque flanc comporte une languette, sur la partie avant de la cage, cette languette étant repliée vers l'intérieur de la cage pour former une lame de contact. Les lames de contact de cette borne femelle ne sont pas visibles sur cette figure. Elles seront décrites en détail, par la suite, en référence aux figures 2 à 4.The cage has two sidewalls or sidewalls 8 and 8 ', of which only the sidewall 8 is visible in FIG. 1. Each sidewall has a tongue on the front part of the cage, this tongue being folded towards the inside of the cage to form a contact blade. The contact blades of this female terminal are not visible in this figure. They will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

Le flanc 8 de la cage comporte un orifice 9 ainsi qu'une seconde languette destinée à former une lame de renfort 10. Ce flanc 8 ainsi que le flanc 8', identique au flanc 8, seront décrits plus en détails par la suite.The sidewall 8 of the cage has an orifice 9 and a second tongue intended to form a reinforcing blade 10. This sidewall 8 and the sidewall 8 ', identical to the sidewall 8, will be described in more detail later.

Sur la figure 2, on a représenté, de profil, selon une vue depuis l'arrière de la borne de contact, l'intérieur de la cage de la borne de contact de la figure 1. Pour une meilleure compréhension de l'invention, la figure 2 représente la cage de la borne de contact de la figure 1, dans laquelle le plafond 6 a été retiré. Le fait qu'il n'y ait pas de plafond sur cette cage ne constitue pas un mode de réalisation de l'invention ; cela est simplement destiné à permettre une meilleure compréhension de l'invention par le lecteur.FIG. 2 shows, in profile, according to a view from the rear of the contact terminal, the inside of the cage of the contact terminal of Figure 1. For a better understanding of the invention, Figure 2 shows the cage of the contact terminal of Figure 1, in which the ceiling 6 has been removed. The fact that there is no ceiling on this cage does not constitute an embodiment of the invention; this is simply intended to allow a better understanding of the invention by the reader.

On peut ainsi voir sur cette figure 2, les lames de contact 11 et 11' réalisées par des languettes découpées dans le prolongement des flancs 8 et 8' de la cage 2. Ces languettes 11 et 11' sont symétriques l'une à l'autre. Aussi, seule la lame de contact 11 va maintenant être décrite. Cette lame de contact 11 est découpée dans le prolongement du flanc 8 et repliée vers l'intérieur de la cage selon un angle d'environ 135°, classique pour des lames de contact. Comme cela est classiquement le cas, cette lame de contact est ensuite pliée à son extrémité libre de façon à être sensiblement parallèle au flanc 8.It can thus be seen in this figure 2, the contact blades 11 and 11 'made by tabs cut in the extension of the sides 8 and 8' of the cage 2. These tongues 11 and 11 'are symmetrical one to the other. Also, only the contact blade 11 will now be described. This contact blade 11 is cut in the extension of the sidewall 8 and folded towards the inside of the cage at an angle of about 135 °, conventional for contact blades. As is conventionally the case, this contact blade is then folded at its free end so as to be substantially parallel to the sidewall 8.

Les deux lames de contact 11 et 11' forment ensemble un avaloir destiné à faciliter l'insertion d'une queue de contact de la borne de contact mâle à l'intérieur de la cage de la borne de contact femelle.The two contact blades 11 and 11 'together form a drain intended to facilitate the insertion of a contact tail of the male contact terminal inside the cage of the female contact terminal.

La lame de contact 11 est séparée de la lame 11' par un espace, ou entrefer, dont la dimension est adaptée pour recevoir la queue de contact de la borne de contact mâle complémentaire.The contact blade 11 is separated from the blade 11 'by a gap, or air gap, the size of which is adapted to receive the contact tail of the complementary male contact terminal.

Selon l'invention, la languette formant la lame de contact 11 comporte des emboutis 12, situés dans la zone où la languette est repliée vers l'intérieur de la cage. Ces emboutis 12 sont réalisés par emboutissage sur le feuillard, après découpe de celui-ci, mais avant pliage du feuillard et, en particulier, avant pliage de la languette formant la lame de contact 11. La lame de contact 11' comporte des emboutis 12', symétriques à ceux de la lame 11.According to the invention, the tongue forming the contact blade 11 comprises stampings 12, located in the area where the tongue is folded towards the inside of the cage. These stampings 12 are made by stamping on the strip, after cutting thereof, but before folding the strip and, in particular, before folding the tongue forming the contact blade 11. The contact blade 11 'comprises embossed 12 ', symmetrical to those of the blade 11.

Ces emboutis donnent aux lames de contact une certaine flexibilité., rendant ainsi les lames de contact plus élastiques. De plus, ces emboutis ont l'avantage d'agrandir la partie de la languette qui est repliée, ce qui allonge la lame de contact vers l'intérieur et augmente la zone de contact avec la queue de contact de la borne mâle, sans nécessiter une quantité plus importante de feuillard. Ces emboutis présentent en outre l'avantage de réduire les contraintes des lame de contact dans leur zone de pliage.These stampings give the contact blades some flexibility, thus making the contact blades more elastic. In addition, these stampings have the advantage of enlarging the portion of the tongue which is folded, which lengthens the contact blade inwards and increases the contact area with the contact tail of the male terminal, without requiring a larger amount of strip. These stampings also have the advantage of reduce the constraints of the contact blades in their folding zone.

Selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, un seul embouti peut être réalisé dans chaque lame de contact. Selon un autre mode de réalisation, plusieurs emboutis sont réalisés dans chaque lame de contact. Le nombre d'emboutis réalisés dépend essentiellement de l'épaisseur du feuillard ainsi que de la flexibilité souhaitée pour les lames de contact.According to one embodiment of the invention, a single stamp can be made in each contact blade. According to another embodiment, several stampings are made in each contact blade. The number of stampings made depends essentially on the thickness of the strip as well as the desired flexibility for the contact blades.

Cette figure 2 montre également deux languettes formant des lames de renfort 10 et 10'. Ces lames de renfort 10 et 10' sont découpées dans les flancs 8 et 8' de la cage de la borne de contact femelle. Une fois découpées, ces secondes languettes 10 et 10' sont pliées une première fois vers l'intérieur de la cage avec un angle de l'ordre de 45°, puis pliée à nouveau de façon à les rendre sensiblement parallèles aux flancs 8 et 8'. L'extrémité libre de chacune de ces languettes formant les lames de renfort 10 et 10' se trouve alors en appui contre la face intérieure d'une des lames de contact 11 et 11', respectivement. Chaque lame de contact 11 et 11' est ainsi renforcée, par un appui sur son extrémité libre, d'une lame de renfort 10 et 10', ce qui permet d'assurer le maintien en position des lames de contact 11 et 11'.This FIG. 2 also shows two tongues forming reinforcing blades 10 and 10 '. These reinforcing blades 10 and 10 'are cut in the sides 8 and 8' of the cage of the female contact terminal. Once cut, these second tabs 10 and 10 'are folded a first time towards the inside of the cage with an angle of the order of 45 °, then folded again so as to make them substantially parallel to the sidewalls 8 and 8 . The free end of each of these tongues forming the reinforcing blades 10 and 10 'is then in abutment against the inner face of one of the contact blades 11 and 11', respectively. Each contact blade 11 and 11 'is thus reinforced, by a bearing on its free end, a reinforcing blade 10 and 10', which ensures the maintenance in position of the contact blades 11 and 11 '.

De cette façon, les lames de contact 11 et 11' sont suffisamment flexibles pour faciliter l'introduction de la queue de contact mais elles ne risquent pas de rester écartées l'une de l'autre après l'introduction de la queue de contact. Autrement dit, la flexibilité donnée aux lames de contact 11 et 11' par les emboutis assure une introduction aisée de la queue de contact entre lesdites lames et les lames de renfort 10 et 10' assurent leur maintien en position contre cette queue de contact. Les lames de contact peuvent ainsi rester en contact permanent avec la queue de contact de la borne mâle.In this way, the contact blades 11 and 11 'are sufficiently flexible to facilitate the introduction of the contact tail but they are not likely to remain separated from each other after the introduction of the contact tail. In other words, the flexibility given to the contact blades 11 and 11 'by the stampings ensures an easy introduction of the contact tail between said blades and the reinforcing blades 10 and 10' ensure their retention in position against this contact tail. The contact blades can thus remain in permanent contact with the contact tail of the male terminal.

Selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, les lames de renfort 10 et 10' sont réalisées avec des parties du feuillard qui sont habituellement découpées dans les flancs 8 et 8' pour réaliser les orifices 9 et 9'. Les lames de renfort sont ainsi réalisées avec une partie du feuillard qui est généralement considérée comme du déchet. On réalise ainsi un renfort des lames de contact sans que cela nécessite une quantité de feuillard supplémentaire. Pour simplifier la réalisation de ces lames de renfort, celles-ci peuvent être de la largeur des orifices 9 et 9'. Ces orifices 9 et 9' peuvent, dans ce cas, être de formes rectangulaires.According to one embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing blades 10 and 10 'are made with portions of the strip which are usually cut in the sidewalls 8 and 8' to make the orifices 9 and 9 '. The reinforcing blades are thus made with a portion of the strip which is generally considered as waste. This provides a reinforcement of the contact blades without this requiring a quantity of additional strip. To simplify the realization of these reinforcing blades, they may be the width of the orifices 9 and 9 '. These orifices 9 and 9 'may, in this case, be of rectangular shapes.

Sur la figure 3, on a représenté un feuillard 13 découpé, destiné à être mis en forme pour réaliser une borne de contact femelle selon l'invention. Sur ce feuillard, on a représenté en traits épais les découpes du feuillard et en traits fins les zones de pliage du feuillard, c'est-à-dire les emplacements où le feuillard sera plié lors de sa mise en forme. On voit donc sur cette figure 3, les découpes 7a-7c destinées à former l'ensemble tenon/mortaise du plafond 6, les découpes 10 et 10' des languettes destinées à former les lames de renfort, les découpes 9 et 9' des orifices et les languettes 11 et 11' destinées à former les lames de contact. Comme on le voit sur cette figure 3, les lames de contact 11 et 11' sont réalisées à partir de languettes découpées en extérieur de la partie du feuillard destiné à former la cage de la borne de contact.In Figure 3, there is shown a cut strip 13, intended to be shaped to achieve a female contact terminal according to the invention. On this strip, there is shown in thick lines the blanks of the strip and in fine lines the folding zones of the strip, that is to say the locations where the strip will be folded during its shaping. FIG. 3 thus shows the cutouts 7a-7c intended to form the tenon / mortise assembly of the ceiling 6, the cutouts 10 and 10 'of the tongues intended to form the reinforcing blades, the cutouts 9 and 9' of the orifices and the tongues 11 and 11 'for forming the contact blades. As seen in this Figure 3, the contact blades 11 and 11 'are made from tabs cut outside the portion of the strip intended to form the cage of the contact terminal.

On a représenté aussi sur cette figure 3, les emplacement e1 et e1' des premiers pliages des languettes 11 et 11' destinées à former les lames de contact ainsi que les emplacement e2 et e2' des seconds pliages de ces languettes 11 et 11'. De même, on a représenté les emplacements e3 et e3' des premiers pliages des languettes 10 et 10' destinées à former les lames de renfort et les emplacements e4 et e4' des seconds pliages de ces languettes 10 et 10'.Also shown in this Figure 3, the locations e1 and e1 'of the first folds of the tongues 11 and 11' for forming the contact blades and the locations e2 and e2 'of the second folds of these tabs 11 and 11'. Similarly, the locations e3 and e3 'of the first folds of the tongues 10 and 10' intended to form the reinforcement strips and the locations e4 and e4 'of the second folds of these tongues 10 and 10' are represented.

Selon l'invention, les languettes 11 et 11' sont embouties, avec un ou plusieurs emboutis, dans les zones de pliage e1 et e1'. Ces languettes sont ensuite pliées une première fois au niveau des zones e2 et e2' puis une seconde fois au niveau des zones e1 et e1', c'est-à-dire des zones embouties.According to the invention, the tongues 11 and 11 'are stamped, with one or more stampings, in the fold zones e1 and e1'. These tongues are then folded a first time at the zones e2 and e2 'and then a second time at the zones e1 and e1', that is to say stamped areas.

Dans une variante de l'invention, les lames de renfort peuvent comporter aussi un ou plusieurs emboutis réalisés au niveau des zones de pliage e3 et e3', avant pliage du feuillard.In a variant of the invention, the reinforcing blades may also include one or more stampings made at the folding zones e3 and e3 ', before folding the strip.

Sur la figure 4 on a représenté, de profil, selon une vue depuis l'avant de la borne de contact, le feuillard de la figure 3 après pliage. On voit ainsi, sur cette figure 4, les lames de contact 11 et 11' pliées vers l'intérieur de la cage de la borne de contact femelle. Dans le pli de ces lames de contact, on voit une série d'emboutis 12 et 12'. Comme montré sur cette figure, les emboutis peuvent avoir la forme de rainures réalisées dans la largeur de la languette formant la lame de contact. Ces emboutis peuvent aussi avoir d'autres formes qui peuvent dépendre de la flexibilité recherchée pour la lame de contact.In Figure 4 is shown, in profile, in a view from the front of the contact terminal, the strip of Figure 3 after folding. Thus, in this figure 4, the contact blades 11 and 11 'folded towards the inside of the cage of the female contact terminal. In the fold of these contact blades, we see a series of embossed 12 and 12 '. As shown in this figure, the stampings may be in the form of grooves made in the width of the tongue forming the contact blade. These stampings may also have other forms that may depend on the flexibility sought for the contact blade.

Cette figure 4 montre aussi, à travers l'orifice 9', la lame de renfort 10' issue du flanc 8' de la cage et pliée vers l'intérieur de la cage de façon à venir en appui contre la lame de contact 11'.This FIG. 4 also shows, through the orifice 9 ', the reinforcing blade 10' coming from the side 8 'of the cage and folded towards the inside of the cage so as to bear against the contact blade 11' .

Selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, la lame de renfort 10' peut comporter une ou deux ailettes latérales 15' découpées dans le feuillard en même temps que la languette formant la lame de renfort. Sur la figure 4, seule une ailette a été représentée pour chaque lame de renfort. Ces ailettes latérales 15' et 15 sont destinées à venir en butée dans des fenêtres 14' et 14 ménagées dans le plafond 6 de la cage. Dans le cas où chaque lame de renfort comporte deux ailettes, celles-ci viennent en butée, d'une part, dans une fenêtre réalisée dans le plafond de la cage et, d'autre part, dans une fenêtre réalisée dans le fond 16 de la cage. Ces fenêtres de tailles adaptées aux ailettes ont pour rôle de recevoir les ailettes et, ainsi, de maintenir les lames de renfort contre les lames de contact avec un jeu prédéfini, dépendant de la largeur de la fenêtre. Ce jeu correspond au jeu autorisé pour les lames de contact, c'est-à-dire au déplacement permis aux lames de contact lors de l'introduction de la queue de contact de la borne mâle. En d'autres termes, ces ensembles d'ailettes et de fenêtres permettent de limiter le débattement des lames de contact en ouverture et de les protéger contre une sollicitation dépassant leur capacité élastique, lors d'une introduction d'une queue de contact. Ils définissent ainsi un entrefer entre les lames de contact.According to one embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing blade 10 'may comprise one or two lateral fins 15' cut in the strip at the same time as the tongue forming the reinforcing blade. In Figure 4, only one fin has been shown for each reinforcing blade. These lateral fins 15 'and 15 are intended to abut in windows 14' and 14 formed in the ceiling 6 of the cage. In the case where each reinforcing blade has two fins, they abut, on the one hand, in a window made in the ceiling of the cage and, on the other hand, in a window made in the bottom 16 of the cage. These windows of sizes adapted to the fins have the role of receiving the fins and, thus, to maintain the reinforcing blades against the contact blades with a predefined set, depending on the width of the window. This clearance corresponds to the clearance allowed for the contact blades, that is to say to the movement allowed to the contact blades during the introduction of the contact tail of the male terminal. In other words, these sets of vanes and windows can limit the movement of the opening contact blades and protect against a stress exceeding their elastic capacity, when introducing a tail contact. They thus define an air gap between the contact blades.

Selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, le fond 16 et le plafond 6 comportent chacun une partie avant en porte à faux, située en regard de la section en forme de U comportant la zone de pliage de la lame de contact.According to one embodiment of the invention, the bottom 16 and the ceiling 6 each comprise a cantilevered front portion, located opposite the U-shaped section having the folding zone of the contact blade.

Dans un autre mode de réalisation, ce sont les lames de contact 11 et 11' qui comportent chacune une ou deux ailettes latérales. Ce mode de réalisation est représenté sur la figure 5, sous la forme d'un feuillard découpé, prêt à être plié. L'exemple de feuillard de la figure 5 comporte une partie destinée à former le fond 16 de la cage et deux parties 6a et 6b destinées à former le plafond 6 de la cage. Dans cet exemple, les deux parties 6a et 6b du plafond sont pliées et positionnées côte-à-côte l'une de l'autre pour former le plafond.In another embodiment, it is the contact blades 11 and 11 'which each comprise one or two lateral fins. This embodiment is shown in FIG. 5 in the form of a cut strip, ready to be folded. The example strip of Figure 5 comprises a portion for forming the bottom 16 of the cage and two parts 6a and 6b for forming the ceiling 6 of the cage. In this example, the two parts 6a and 6b of the ceiling are folded and positioned side by side to form the ceiling.

Dans ce mode de réalisation, des ailettes 15, 18 et 15', 18' sont découpées de part et d'autre de l'extrémité libre 19, 19' des lames de contact 11 et 11'. Les ailettes 15 et 18 peuvent ainsi venir en butée dans des fenêtres 14 et 17 ménagées, respectivement, dans le plafond 6 et dans le fond 16 de la cage. De même, les ailettes 15' et 18' peuvent venir en butée dans des fenêtres 14' et 17' ménagées, respectivement, dans le plafond 6 et dans le fond 16 de la cage. Les lames de contact peuvent aussi ne comporter chacune qu'une seule ailette ; dans ce cas, les ailettes viennent en butée soit dans les fenêtres 14 et 14' du plafond 6, soit dans les fenêtres 17 et 17' du fond 16.In this embodiment, fins 15, 18 and 15 ', 18' are cut on either side of the free end 19, 19 'of the contact blades 11 and 11'. The fins 15 and 18 can thus abut in windows 14 and 17 provided, respectively, in the ceiling 6 and in the bottom 16 of the cage. Similarly, the fins 15 'and 18' can abut in windows 14 'and 17' formed, respectively, in the ceiling 6 and in the bottom 16 of the cage. The contact blades may also each comprise a single fin; in this case, the fins abut either in the windows 14 and 14 'of the ceiling 6 or in the windows 17 and 17' of the bottom 16.

Comme dans le mode de réalisation précédent, ces ailettes et ces fenêtres permettent de limiter le débattement des lames de contact en ouverture et de les protéger contre une sollicitation dépassant leur capacité élastique, lors d'une introduction d'une borne de contact complémentaire. Ils définissent ainsi un entrefer précis entre les lames de contact. On notera que ce mode de réalisation dans lequel les ailettes sont réalisées sur les lames de contact est plus facile à mettre en oeuvre que le mode de réalisation précédent car il y plus de matière disponible autour des lames de contact qu'autour des lames de renfort. De plus, ce mode de réalisation permet d'obtenir une meilleure précision de l'entrefer, c'est-à-dire de la distance entre les faces internes des lames de contact.As in the previous embodiment, these fins and these windows make it possible to limit the deflection of the opening contact blades and to protect them against a load exceeding their elastic capacity, when an additional contact terminal is introduced. They thus define a precise gap between the contact blades. It will be noted that this embodiment in which the fins are made on the contact blades is easier to implement than the previous embodiment because there is more material available around the contact blades than around the reinforcing blades. . In addition, this embodiment makes it possible to obtain a better accuracy of the gap, that is to say the distance between the internal faces of the contact blades.

Dans les modes de réalisation qui viennent d'être décrits, les lames de contact sont réalisées par des languettes découpées dans le prolongement de la partie avant de la cage. Cependant, l'invention peut aussi être mise en oeuvre dans des borne de contact femelle dont les lames de contact sont réalisée par des languettes découpées dans le prolongement arrière de la cage. Les emboutis sont alors réalisés à l'arrière de la cage. Dans ce cas, les lames de renfort qui sont réalisées par des languettes découpées dans le prolongement de la partie avant de la cage sont en appui sur la face extérieure des lames de contact. Ce sont alors les lames de renfort qui forment l'avaloir. Ces lames de renfort ont avantage, dans ce cas, à comporter aussi un ou plusieurs emboutis, rendant l'avaloir plus flexible.In the embodiments that have just been described, the contact blades are made by tongues cut in the extension of the front part of the cage. However, the invention can also be implemented in female contact terminals whose contact blades are made by tongues cut in the rear extension of the cage. The stampings are then made at the back of the cage. In this case, the reinforcing blades which are formed by tabs cut in the extension of the front part of the cage are supported on the outer face of the contact blades. It is then the reinforcing blades that form the drain. These reinforcing blades have the advantage, in this case, to also include one or more stampings, making the drain more flexible.

D'une manière générale, la réalisation d'emboutis peut être mise en oeuvre dans toutes les bornes de contact comportant une lame de contact élastique repliée, qu'il s'agisse de bornes mâles ou de bornes femelles, du type à cage ou non.In general, the drawing of stampings can be carried out in all the contact terminals comprising a folded elastic contact blade, whether male terminals or female terminals, cage type or not .

Claims (7)

  1. An electrical contact terminal obtained by cutting and folding a plate (13) of electrically conductive metal comprising
    - a rear part (5) permitting connection with an electric wire (1) and
    - a front part (3) comprising, on the one hand, a cage provided with a bottom (16), a top part (6) and two sides (8, 8') and, on the other hand, at least one first blade, forming contact blade (11, 11') with a complementary contact terminal, created in the extension of one of the sides and folded towards the inside of the cage, the contact blade (11, 11') comprising at least one coined recess (12, 12') created in a folding zone of said contact blade, each side comprising a second blade (10, 10') forming a reinforcing blade, folded towards a free end of the contact blade characterized in that the reinforcing blade is supported on the free end of this contact blade.
  2. The contact terminal according to claim 1, further characterized in that the coined recess is made on the contact blade before folding of the metal plate.
  3. The contact terminal according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the coined recesses are made in the folded zone of the contact blade towards the inside of the cage.
  4. The contact terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further characterized in that it comprises at least one lateral tab piece (15) created on at least one of the blades and received in at least one slot (14, 17) created in the top part and/or the bottom of the cage.
  5. The contact terminal according to claim 4, further characterized in that lateral tab piece (15) is made on one contact blade (11).
  6. The contact terminal according to claim 4, further characterized in that lateral tab piece (15) is made on one reinforcing blade (10).
  7. The contact terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further characterized in that the bottom and the top part comprise an overhanging front part, facing a U-shaped section comprising the folding zone of the contact blade.
EP03775496A 2002-08-27 2003-08-26 Electrical contact terminal comprising an elastic contact blade Expired - Lifetime EP1537630B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0210640A FR2844104A1 (en) 2002-08-27 2002-08-27 CONTACT TERMINAL WITH ELASTIC CONTACT BLADE
FR0210640 2002-08-27
PCT/FR2003/050041 WO2004021519A2 (en) 2002-08-27 2003-08-26 Electrical contact terminal comprising an elastic contact blade

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1537630A2 EP1537630A2 (en) 2005-06-08
EP1537630B1 true EP1537630B1 (en) 2006-10-11

Family

ID=31502935

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03775496A Expired - Lifetime EP1537630B1 (en) 2002-08-27 2003-08-26 Electrical contact terminal comprising an elastic contact blade

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US7140927B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1537630B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2005537617A (en)
CN (1) CN100414786C (en)
AT (1) ATE342589T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2003283522A1 (en)
DE (1) DE60309048T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2276127T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2844104A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2004021519A2 (en)

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US7291046B2 (en) * 2005-08-22 2007-11-06 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Electrical contact assembly
US7717759B2 (en) * 2006-01-06 2010-05-18 J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd. Female terminal with guiding piece
JP2007184171A (en) * 2006-01-06 2007-07-19 Jst Mfg Co Ltd Female terminal with guidance strip
US7402089B1 (en) * 2007-05-04 2008-07-22 Tyco Electronics Corporation Contact with enhanced transition region
KR101550924B1 (en) * 2009-05-19 2015-09-07 타이코에이엠피 주식회사 connector for the low-profile fuse
JP2012104338A (en) * 2010-11-09 2012-05-31 Yazaki Corp Power supply circuit breaker device
WO2012069499A1 (en) * 2010-11-23 2012-05-31 Fci Automotive Holding Electrical terminal
US8911253B2 (en) * 2011-06-13 2014-12-16 Tyco Electronics Corporation Receptacle contact
JP2013026155A (en) * 2011-07-25 2013-02-04 Yazaki Corp Waterproof connector terminal
JP6055173B2 (en) * 2011-09-27 2016-12-27 矢崎総業株式会社 Female terminal
EP2642598B1 (en) * 2012-03-19 2017-09-13 Yazaki Europe Ltd Electric terminal
JP5853908B2 (en) * 2012-08-29 2016-02-09 日立金属株式会社 Connector and wire harness
CN104348009A (en) * 2013-07-25 2015-02-11 凡甲电子(苏州)有限公司 Power source connector
CN104795657B (en) * 2014-01-16 2017-07-11 凡甲电子(苏州)有限公司 Rechargeable battery socket
AU2016204548A1 (en) * 2015-07-07 2017-02-02 Hayward Industries, Inc. Spade Connector and Associated Systems and Methods
CN109769403B (en) * 2016-08-01 2021-11-12 Lg伊诺特有限公司 Rear holder and motor including the same
KR102010328B1 (en) * 2017-07-12 2019-08-13 몰렉스 엘엘씨 Pock-in connector
FR3101732B1 (en) * 2019-10-04 2022-06-10 Aptiv Tech Ltd Electric contact
JP2022019423A (en) 2020-07-17 2022-01-27 日本圧着端子製造株式会社 contact

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ES2117799T3 (en) * 1994-07-27 1998-08-16 United Technologies Automotive ELECTRICAL TERMINAL.
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DE19705509C2 (en) * 1997-02-13 1999-04-29 Siemens Ag One-piece contact spring
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JP2001217013A (en) * 2000-02-02 2001-08-10 Sumitomo Wiring Syst Ltd Terminal fitting
JP3656547B2 (en) * 2000-12-21 2005-06-08 住友電装株式会社 Terminal bracket

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20060121797A1 (en) 2006-06-08
WO2004021519A2 (en) 2004-03-11
EP1537630A2 (en) 2005-06-08
DE60309048D1 (en) 2006-11-23
FR2844104A1 (en) 2004-03-05
ES2276127T3 (en) 2007-06-16
AU2003283522A8 (en) 2004-03-19
CN100414786C (en) 2008-08-27
AU2003283522A1 (en) 2004-03-19
US7140927B2 (en) 2006-11-28
CN1685574A (en) 2005-10-19
DE60309048T2 (en) 2007-05-31
JP2005537617A (en) 2005-12-08
WO2004021519A3 (en) 2004-04-08
ATE342589T1 (en) 2006-11-15

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