EP3301764A1 - High-voltage electrical connector for an electric compressor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical connector (100, 200) comprising a skirt (110) made of an electrically insulating material, extending from a first portion (111) to a second portion (112), and at least one pin Electrically conductive (120, 130) having a distal portion (123, 133) and a proximal portion (121, 131). The invention is characterized in that the proximal portion (121, 131) of each pin is held by the skirt (110), so that a first end (125, 135) of the pin is accessible at the level of the second partp of the skirt (110) to electrical connection means, and in that the distal portion (123, 133) of each pin forms a protruding angle with its proximal portion (121, 131).

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the technical field of electronics and more particularly to an electrical connector for a power electronics circuit, such as, for example, a power electronics circuit for an electric motor vehicle compressor. The invention also relates to an electric compressor provided with said electrical connector.

State of the art

The use of electronic circuits in motor vehicles improves comfort and safety of use. To facilitate their handling and installation, the electronic circuits can be previously housed in electronic modules which are then mounted inside the vehicle in dedicated housing. Once mounted, each electronic module is connected to the vehicle's electronic circuit via an electrical connector present on its surface. Advantageously, the interface of the electrical connector is standardized to allow rapid connection of the electronic module to the electronic circuit of the vehicle.

Of course, the electrical connector comprises electrical conductors connecting its connection interface to an electronic circuit present in the electronic module. In known manner, the electrical conductors are generally electrical son whose first ends are attached to the connection interface. Advantageously, the flexibility of the electrical wires facilitates the connection of their second end to an electronic circuit. The second ends are thus welded one after the other at different points of the electronic circuit. Sometimes, it is necessary to pass the electrical son through through openings of the support of the electronic circuit before soldering to a printed circuit. This step of connecting the electrical wires to an electronic circuit is therefore long and careful and involves human intervention which increases the manufacturing costs of such electronic modules.

In addition, the electrical connections between the electrical connector and the electronic circuit must be rigorously performed to ensure that the connection interface is functioning properly. For this, it is generally associated with a specific color insulating sheaths surrounding the electrical son according to their role, to limit the risk of error when connecting to the electronic circuit. However, the welding of an electric wire requires the withdrawal of its insulating sheath to update its conductive core. Too much shrinkage of the sheath can cause risks of short circuit between the core and the other components of the electronic circuit. Conversely, if the core is not sufficiently exposed, the sheath can melt and mix with the filler metal during the welding step. The quality of the welding is then greatly deteriorated.

Presentation of the invention

In order to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, the present invention proposes, according to its first aspect, a high-voltage electrical connector for an electric compressor, the electrical connector comprising a skirt extending between a first portion located inside the electric compressor and a second part located outside the electric compressor. The electrical connector also comprises at least one electrically conductive pin having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and a base forming a sleeve for holding the skirt, the base comprising at its side walls holding means for maintaining the electrical connector on a wall of the electric compressor. The terms "proximal" and "distal" denote different parts of the same pin, respectively present inside the skirt (at least partly) or outside the skirt.

The invention is characterized in that the proximal portion of each pin is held by the skirt, preferably at its first portion, so that a first end of the pin is accessible at the second portion of the skirt electrical connection means forming part of an electric circuit located in the electric compressor, and in that the distal portion of each pin forms a projecting angle with its proximal portion.

In other words, an electrical connector according to the present invention is arranged to hold one or more pins in the skirt and form a connection interface. The term "connection interface" here designates the second part of the skirt accessible to the connection means, such as for example a socket of the male or female type. According to the invention, the pin or pins are sufficiently rigid so that their position varies little or no with respect to the skirt of the electrical connector. Thus, advantageously, the distal portions of several pins can easily and quickly be embedded in one or more electronic circuit supports.

According to another advantage, the fact that the position of the pins varies little or not with respect to the connection interface makes it possible to associate each pin with a role as a function of its position relative to the other pins. As a result, it is no longer necessary to use an insulating jacket of color to identify each pin. Indeed, the skirt provides sufficient electrical insulation between the pins keeping them apart. The risk of erroneous switching between two electrical conductors of the electrical connector when it is connected to the electronic circuit is thus eliminated.

Advantageously, the skirt and / or the base of the electrical connector is made at least in part of an electrically insulating material.

According to a preferred embodiment, each pin comprises at least one stripped portion. Eventually, at least one pin is completely stripped. Thus, the end of the distal portions of the pins are welded more easily and more quickly to a printed circuit, while limiting the risk of error when connecting the electrical connector to an electronic circuit.

According to another embodiment, at least one pin comprises an intermediate portion connecting its proximal portion to its distal portion, the intermediate portion being curved so as to form an angle between its proximal portion and its distal portion of between 30 ° and 120 ° preferably of the order of 90 °. Preferably, the proximal and distal portions are rectilinear or substantially rectilinear. Thus, the electrical connector can be positioned below or above an electronic circuit, which allows greater freedom in the arrangement of the electronic circuit in a housing. In particular, this particular arrangement of the proximal portions of the pins relative to their respective distal portions makes it possible to establish a direct electrical connection and more easily between an electronic circuit located inside a case and the electrical connector located on a facade. of the case. According to another advantage, it is possible to modify the point of contact between a pin and an electronic circuit by modifying the value of the angle formed between its proximal portion and its distal portion and / or the length of its proximal portion. According to another advantage, several pins may form angles of different values between their proximal portion and their distal portion, so as to associate a specific function to one or more pins depending on the value of the angle they form.

According to another embodiment, the intermediate portion of at least one pin forms an open loop so that its distal portion is positioned above or below its proximal portion. The open loop then gives some flexibility to the spindle so as to be able to slightly vary the angle formed between its proximal portion and its distal portion. Thus, the electrical connector offers a certain tolerance when attached to an electronic circuit.

According to another embodiment, at least one pin comprises a second end arranged to be able to fit into a housing present in a printed circuit support of the electric compressor. Of course, the second end is preferably aligned with the distal portion of the pin when its distal portion forms an angle of the order of 90 ° with its proximal portion. Conversely, the second end may be bent to facilitate insertion or embedding in a holder, when the distal portion of the pin is not normal to said support.

According to another embodiment, the skirt comprises, at its second portion, a housing for inserting the electrical connection means in the skirt. Preferably, the housing is of complementary shape to the electrical connection means commonly used in the field of electronics and / or electricity. The housing also serves as protection for the pins against shocks, when their first end opens into said housing.

According to another embodiment, at least one pin comprises at its first end an intermediate connector, arranged to mechanically couple the pin to the skirt to ensure the mechanical coupling between the skirt and the at least one pin, allowing to keep it in position inside the skirt and limit its movement in the skirt. By way of non-limiting example, the intermediate connector collaborates with corresponding surfaces at the level of the skirt, for example by collaboration of shapes, snap-fastening and / or fitting.

On the side of its first end, at least one pin advantageously comprises an electrical connector arranged to provide an electrical connection to the electrical connection means. Thus, advantageously, the skirt may include one or more intermediate connectors for facilitating the connection of the pins to standardized connection means. By way of non-limiting example, the electrical connector may take the form of a female-type electrical connection element according to any electrical connection standard.

According to another embodiment, the electrical connector comprises at least two pins, preferably four pins. Preferably, each pin is arranged to be able to conduct a different electrical signal. In this case, the electrical connector comprises electrical isolation means between each pin at a potential different from at least one other pin. Advantageously, the skirt is made of an electrically conductive material to ensure electrical insulation between each pin.

According to another embodiment, the pins are parallel to each other in order to facilitate their connection to an electronic circuit. Optionally, at least a portion of the pins are parallel to each other, for example the distal portion.

According to another preferred embodiment, the distal portions of the pins pass through an electrically insulating holding plate so as to preserve the gap between the pins and to avoid any electrical contact between two adjacent pins.

Preferably, the sections of at least two pins are different. For example, the sections between the pins may vary and be of square, rectangular, oval or circular type. The sectional area between two pins may also vary depending on their role. Preferably, the pins whose section is of the same surface are aligned to facilitate their identification. The transverse section of each pin is preferably identical. Optionally, the cross section of at least a portion of the pins is different from that of the other pins, for example depending on the intensity of the electric current flowing through them.

Advantageously, the transverse section of the pins of the electrical connector is preferably between X and Y.

Advantageously, the electrical connector comprises a seal located between the base and the skirt, the seal being arranged to electrically isolate the skirt of the wall of the electric compressor.

According to a second aspect, the present invention also relates to an electric compressor comprising on at least one of its walls an electrical connector according to the first aspect of the invention or to any of its improvements to enable connection means of electrical connections present outside the electric compressor to at least one electronic circuit present in the electric compressor, through at least one pin of the electrical connector.

The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an electric compressor as described above.

Of course, the features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be associated with each other, in various combinations, to the extent that they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other. It will be possible to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics subsequently described in isolation from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention compared in the state of the prior art.

In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described are combinable with each other if nothing stands in the way of this combination at the technical level.

Description of Figures and Embodiments

• la FIGURE 1 est une vue schématique de trois quart arrière d'un connecteur électrique selon l'invention ; et
• la FIGURE 2 une vue schématique arrière d'un connecteur électrique représenté selon la FIGURE 1 ;
• la FIGURE 3 est une vue avant d'un connecteur électrique représenté selon la FIGURE 1;
• la FIGURE 4 est une vue de dessus schématique des broches maintenues par un connecteur électrique représenté selon la FIGURE 1 ;
• la FIGURE 5 est une variante de réalisation d'un connecteur électrique représenté selon la FIGURE 1.

The features of the invention mentioned above as well as others will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the following accompanying drawings:

• the FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of three quarter rear of an electrical connector according to the invention; and
• the FIGURE 2 a schematic rear view of an electrical connector represented according to the FIGURE 1 ;
• the FIGURE 3 is a front view of an electrical connector shown as FIGURE 1 ;
• the FIGURE 4 is a schematic top view of the pins held by an electrical connector shown in FIG. FIGURE 1 ;
• the FIGURE 5 is an alternative embodiment of an electrical connector represented according to the FIGURE 1 .

The FIGURE 1 illustrates an embodiment of an electrical connector 100 according to the present invention. The electrical connector comprises a skirt 110 made of an electrically insulating plastic material. The skirt is delimited by a first portion 111 and a second portion 112, interconnected by a side wall 113. The skirt 110 holds two pairs of pins at its first portion 111.

A first pair of pins 120 is held at its proximal portion 121 by the skirt 110 via an intermediate connector 150 visible on the FIGURE 4 and which makes it possible to mechanically couple each pin to the skirt, for example by snapping the intermediate connector 150 into complementary shapes of the skirt 110. It should be noted that the pins 120 are held at a first wall 114 delimiting the first portion 111 of the skirt 110. The pins 120 have an intermediate portion 122 present outside the skirt and connecting their proximal portion to a distal portion 123. The intermediate portion 122 forms an open loop so that the proximal portions 121 and distal 123 are substantially perpendicular to each other. The distal portions 123 terminate at an end 124 configured to snap or snap into a housing or an opening in a not shown electronic circuit carrier. Advantageously, the intermediate portion 122 forms an open loop so as to allow a slight tilting of the distal portion 123 relative to its proximal portion 121 to allow a certain tolerance during entrapping the end 124 in an electronic circuit support of the electric compressor.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2 a second pair of pins 130 is held at its proximal portion 131 by the skirt 110 via an intermediate connector 150 visible on the FIGURE 4 and which makes it possible to mechanically couple each pin to the skirt, for example by snapping the intermediate connector 150 into complementary shapes of the skirt 110. The second pair of pins 130 is held at a second wall 115 set back from to the first wall 113. The first and second walls delimit the first portion 111 of the skirt. The pins 130 have an intermediate portion 132 located beyond the skirt 110 and connecting their proximal portion to a distal portion 133. The intermediate portion 132 forms an open loop similar to the loop 122. However, the loops 132 are slightly offset along proximal parts so that their distal portion do not touch each other. The distal portions 133 end with an end 134 configured to snap or fit into a housing or an opening in an electronic circuit carrier of the electric compressor not shown.

The section of the pins is sufficient to allow them to have a certain rigidity during their handling. Thus, the position of the ends 124 and 134 are substantially the same with respect to the skirt 110. Therefore, it is possible to easily encase all the ends of the pins in housings formed in an electronic circuit support. of the electric compressor. This saves time when connecting the electrical connector 100 to an electronic circuit and reduce the costs associated with wiring the electric compressor.

Pins 120 and 130 are preferably made from conductive materials such as tin, copper, etc. The cross sectional area of the pins may be between X and Y in order to allow the conduction of an electric current between X and Y. Of course, this value depends on the nature of the material used. The area of the section of a pin may also be proportional to the value of the electric current to pass through said pin. According to the present example, the first pins 120 are of larger section than the second pins 130 because the first pins are intended to supply high voltage to an electronic circuit while the second pins are intended to exchange information with said circuit at lower voltages. More specifically, the sections of the first pins 120 are of rectangular shape while the sections of the second pins 130 are of square shape. This allows an operator to more easily identify each pin pair. According to another advantage, the shape of the sections are different between the first and the second pins to prevent the first pins can snap into slots for the second pins.

The length of the pins is between X and Y. The length of their different parts are chosen so that their end 124 and 134 do not touch to facilitate their connection on the same support. Of course, their lengths are chosen according to the desired position of the support in an electric compressor and the position of the skirt 110 on a wall of said electric compressor.

The connector 100 also comprises a base 140 arranged to hold the skirt 110 on a wall of an electric compressor or a box, so that its first part 111 opens into the electric compressor and that its second part 112 is present at outside said electric compressor. For this, the base 140 comprises a radial wall 141 extending radially from the side wall 113 of the skirt 110. The radial wall 141 comprises openings 142 allowing fixing means to maintain the radial wall 141 - and the base - on an edge of the electric compressor, such as for example fixing screws. The base 140 also includes a side wall 143 so as to form a sheath around the second portion 112 of the skirt 110 as shown in FIG. FIGURE 3 .

The second portion 112 of the skirt 110 forms a housing 116 into which the proximal portions 121 of the first pair of pins 120 and the ends 135 of the proximal portions 131 of the second pair of pins 130 open to allow the establishment of a electrical connection between each of the pins 120, 130 with standardized electrical connection means.

The intermediate connectors 150 for mechanically coupling each of the pins with the skirt 110 to hold them in position in the electrical connector 100, 200. As illustrated in FIG. FIGURE 4 , the intermediate connectors 150 are fixed at the ends 125 of the proximal portions 121 of the first pair of pins 120 and at the ends 135 of the proximal portions 131 of the second pair of pins 130. The intermediate connectors comprise fins 151 for fixing by snap with complementary shapes of the skirt 110.

The FIGURE 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of an electrical connector 200 as described above, comprising an electrically insulating holding plate 160 located at the distal ends 123, 133 of the pins 120, 130. The holding plate comprises openings through which the distal portions of the pins 120 and 130 pass through. Advantageously, the holding plate 160 makes it possible to ensure that the pins can not come into contact. Thus, it is not necessary to cover said pins with a sheath insulating. As shown on the FIGURE 5 , the holding plate 160 may comprise lugs 161 or openings 162 at its faces to facilitate its holding and / or its centering with respect to an electronic circuit holder inside an electric compressor.

Claims (14)

A high voltage electric power connector (100, 200) for an electric compressor, the electrical connector (100, 200) comprising: a skirt (110) extending between a first portion (111) located inside the electric compressor and a second portion (112) located outside the electric compressor; and at least one electrically conductive pin (120, 130) having a distal portion (123, 133) and a proximal portion (121, 131); a base (140) forming a sleeve for holding the skirt (110), the base (140) comprising at its lateral walls (143) holding means (141, 142) for holding the electrical connector on a wall electric compressor; characterized in that the proximal portion (121, 131) of each pin (120, 130) is held by the skirt (110), so that a first end (125, 135) of the pin is accessible at the second portion of the skirt (110) to electrical connection means forming part of an electrical circuit in the electric compressor, and in that the distal portion (123, 133) of each pin forms a protruding angle with its proximal portion (121, 131). Electrical connector (100, 200) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the skirt and / or the base is made at least partly of an electrically insulating material. Electrical connector (100, 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each pin (120, 130) comprises at least one stripped portion. Electrical connector (100, 200) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one pin (120, 130) is completely stripped. Electrical connector (100, 200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one pin (120, 130) comprises an intermediate portion (122, 132) connecting its proximal portion (121, 131) to its distal portion (123,133), the intermediate portion (122,132) being curved to form an angle between its proximal portion and its distal portion of between 30 ° and 120 °. Electrical connector (100, 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one pin (120, 130) comprises a second end (124, 134) arranged to be able to fit into a housing present in a printed circuit support of the electric compressor. Electrical connector (100, 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the skirt (110) comprises, at its second portion (112), a housing (116) for inserting the connection means electric in the skirt (110). Electrical connector (100, 200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one pin (120, 130) comprises at its first end (125, 135) an intermediate connector (150) arranged for mechanically coupling the pin (120, 130) to the skirt (110). Electrical connector (100, 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two pins. Electrical connector (100, 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pins (120, 130) are parallel to each other. An electrical connector (200) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the distal portions (123, 133) of the pins (120, 130) pass through an electrically insulating holding plate (160) to preserve the gap between the pins. (120, 130). Electrical connector (100, 200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sections of at least two pins are different. Electrical connector (100, 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a seal located between the base and the skirt (110), the seal being arranged to isolate electrically the skirt (110) of the wall of the electric compressor. Electric compressor comprising on at least one of its walls an electrical connector (100, 200) according to any one of the preceding claims for enabling electrical connection means present outside the electric compressor to be connected to at least one electronic circuit present in the electric compressor, through at least one pin (120, 130) of the electrical connector (100, 200).

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