WO2024023477A1

WO2024023477A1 - Protective insulator intended to be mounted on an electrical connector, and assembly comprising such protection

Info

Publication number: WO2024023477A1
Application number: PCT/FR2023/051217
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vincent CHAPERON; Jean-Laurent DIEVART; Raïs M'FUMU AMBIL; Samir NEHME
Original assignee: Safran Electrical & Power
Priority date: 2022-07-29
Filing date: 2023-07-28
Publication date: 2024-02-01
Also published as: FR3138558A1

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a protective insulator (PI) intended to be fixed on an electrical connector, the electrical connector comprising a base, at least a first terminal and a second terminal, the protective insulator (PI) comprising a fixing means (CR) configured to be able to be fixed on the electrical connector in such a way as to at least partially cover the base, and an insulating separation means (P1, P2) arranged in such a way as to completely separate the first terminal from the second terminal when the protective insulator is fixed on the electrical connector.

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Insulating protection intended to be mounted on an electrical connector and assembly comprising such protection

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The technical field of the invention is that of electrical connections in aircraft.

[0002] The present invention relates to insulating protection and in particular insulating protection making it possible to increase the length of leakage paths in order to limit the risk of short circuit or partial discharges.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Aircraft with electric or hybrid propulsion constitute a very promising market with prospects and significant demand in intra-urban and inter-urban transport for goods or people. Many projects are regularly launched either by established players or by new entrants. Propulsion is carried out by one or more electric motors, the number varying depending on the architecture of the aircraft, and these electric propulsion systems use ever higher voltage levels, which poses the problem of partial discharges at altitude.

[0004] Indeed, traditionally, connectors do not need protection because their characteristics specify the limits in terms of insulation distances. However, the use of ever smaller connectors to pass ever higher voltages and at altitude brings constraints that must be anticipated in terms of partial discharges. In particular, the use of very high level voltages (up to 1000V) at altitude leads to the appearance of partial discharge phenomena more quickly than on conventional alternating or direct voltages (115Vac / 230Vac / 28Vdc) mainly used in the aeronautics.

[0005] Given these high voltages, the insulation distances (potentials/potentials and potentials/mass) must be increased. The same goes for the leakage lines between the HVDC (for high direct voltages) or HVAC (for high alternating voltages) potentials. Otherwise, systems that have connectors with male or female pins connected to high voltage (AC or DC) may experience problems. insulation distances too low or creepage distances (path along the connector materials between the two potentials) too short causing the appearance of partial discharges.

[0006] There is therefore a need to be able to adapt the connectors currently used in aeronautics to applications requiring high voltages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention offers a solution to the problems mentioned above, by offering insulating protection which makes it possible to greatly reduce the risk of discharge and to increase the length of the creepage distance between the different connection terminals.

[0008] For this, one aspect of the invention relates to an insulating protection intended to be fixed on an electrical connector, the electrical connector comprising a base, at least a first terminal and a second terminal, the insulating protection comprising a fixing means configured to be able to be fixed on the electrical connector so as to at least partially cover the base, and an insulating separation means arranged so as to completely separate the first terminal from the second terminal when the insulating protection is fixed on the electrical connector. A first electrode is said to be separated from a second electrode when no part of the first electrode faces any part of the second electrode.

[0009] Thanks to the invention, the risk of short circuit (or partial discharge) between the terminals of the electrical connector or between a terminal of the electrical connector and its base is reduced or even eliminated. In addition, the length of the creepage distance between the terminals or between each terminal and the base is increased taking into account in particular the presence of the separation means.

[0010] In addition to the characteristics which have just been mentioned in the previous paragraph, the insulating protection according to a first aspect of the invention may have one or more complementary characteristics among the following, considered individually or in all technically possible combinations.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the fixing means and the separation means are distinct from each other. According to one embodiment, the separation means only comprises at least one plate (i.e. plates) extending outside the hollow body from an external surface of the top of the hollow body. This external surface is radial with respect to the opening of the hollow body, that is to say perpendicular to an axis of a cylindrical wall in the case of a cylindrical hollow body.

According to one example, the plates comprise at least one radial free edge connecting two free surfaces and a free edge forming a top of the plate.

[0014] In one embodiment: the fixing means comprises a hollow body of insulating material comprising a first vertex and a second vertex opposite the first vertex and: at the level of the first vertex, comprising a first surface a first opening and a second opening ; at the level of the second summit, a main opening; the separation means comprises a plate of insulating material in contact with the first vertex and arranged perpendicular to the surface of this first vertex between the first opening and the second opening.

[0015] According to one example, the plate of insulating material extends outwards from the surface of the first vertex in the direction opposite to the second vertex.

[0016] In one embodiment, the fixing means comprises, at the level of the first vertex, a third opening and a fourth opening; and the separation means comprises a second plate of insulating material, said second plate being in contact with the first vertex and arranged perpendicular to the surface of this first vertex between the first opening and the fourth opening on the one hand, the second opening and the third opening on the other hand, the first plate of insulating material being arranged between the first opening and the second opening on the one hand, the fourth opening and the third opening on the other hand.

[0017] A second aspect of the invention relates to an assembly comprising an insulating protection according to the first aspect of the invention and an electrical connector, the electrical connector comprising a base, at least a first terminal associated with a first polarity and a second terminal associated with a second polarity different from the first polarity, the first terminal and the second terminal being projecting from the base, the means of fixing the insulating protection being fixed on the electrical connector so as to at least partially cover the base, and the means for separating the insulating protection being arranged so as to completely separate the first terminal from the second terminal.

[0018] In addition to the characteristics which have just been mentioned in the previous paragraph, the assembly according to the second aspect of the invention may present one or more complementary characteristics among the following, considered individually or in all technically possible combinations.

[0019] In one embodiment, the electrical connector comprises a third terminal associated with a third polarity different from the first and second polarities, and a fourth terminal associated with a fourth polarity different from the first polarity, from the second polarity and the third polarity, the separation means being arranged so as to completely separate the terminals from each other.

The invention and its various applications will be better understood on reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0021] The figures are presented for information purposes only and in no way limit the invention.

[0022] The [Fig. 1A] to [Fig. 1 E] show insulating protection according to one embodiment of a first aspect of the invention.

[0023] The [Fig. 2A] to [Fig. 2D] and [Fig. 3] show insulating protection according to one embodiment of the first aspect of the invention.

[0024] [Fig. 4] shows an assembly according to one embodiment of the second aspect of the invention.

[0025] [Fig. 5] shows an assembly according to one embodiment of the second aspect of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing in different figures presents a unique reference.

[0027] A first aspect of the invention illustrated in [Fig. 1A] in [Fig. 1 E] concerns a PI insulating protection intended to be fixed on a CE electrical connector. Generally speaking, as shown in [Fig. 1 A] (side view) and [Fig. 1 B] (top view), the electrical connector CE comprises a base EM, at least a first terminal BR1 (intended to be associated with a first polarity) and a second terminal BR2 (intended to be associated with a second polarity different from the first polarity), the first terminal BR1 and the second terminal BR2 preferably projecting from the base EM. Of course, as will be detailed below, the electrical connector CE can include additional terminals BR3, BR4 (see [Fig. 2A] and [Fig. 2B] introduced below). In such a CE electrical connector, when too high a voltage is applied to the first terminal BR1 and the second terminal BR2, there is a risk of a DC short circuit (or partial discharge), this risk being even higher at altitude. The PI insulating protection according to the invention aims in particular to reduce or even eliminate this risk.

[0028] To this end, as illustrated in [Fig. 1 C] (side view) and [Fig. 1 D] (top view), the insulating protection PI according to the invention comprises a fixing means MF configured to be able to be fixed on the electrical connector CE so as to at least partially cover the base EM. By covering the base in this way, the PI insulating protection according to the invention makes it possible to reduce or even eliminate the risk of short circuit between a terminal BR1/BR2 of the electrical connector CE and the base EM which is generally at the potential of the mass. The insulating protection PI according to the invention also comprises an insulating separation means MS arranged to completely separate the first terminal BR1 from the second terminal BR2 when the insulating protection PI is fixed on the electrical connector CE. It is this separation means MS which will make it possible to reduce or even eliminate the risks of DC short circuit between terminals BR1/BR2 mentioned previously. In one embodiment, the insulating protection PI is manufactured, at least in part (for example the separation means MS and/or the fixing means MF), in an insulating material chosen from Polyarylamide (also known by the acronym PAA ), Polyamide (also known as acronym PA66), Polysulfone (also known by the acronym PSU), PEEK GLx. The fixing means MF and the separation means MS are distinct from each other.

More particularly, in the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 1 C] and [Fig. 1 D], the fixing means MF comprises a hollow body CR, preferably a hollow cylinder CR (for example a straight circular cylinder as illustrated in the figures), made of insulating material comprising a first vertex S1 and a second vertex S2 opposite the first summit. The hollow body CR thus comprises a cylindrical wall comprising a cylindrical internal surface defining the hollow and a cylindrical external surface. The hollow body CR finally comprises a radial external surface at the first vertex S1. The insulating separation means MS extends from this external surface outwards, that is to say in the direction opposite to the second vertex S2 of the hollow body. In addition, the hollow body CR comprises, at the level of the first vertex S1, a first opening 01 and a second opening 02, the first opening 01 being intended to receive the first terminal BR1 and the second opening 02 being intended to receive the second terminal BR2. It also comprises, at the level of the second vertex S2, a main opening OP intended to receive the base EM so that the base EM is inserted, at least in part, into the hollow body CR when the insulating protection PI is fixed on the CE electrical connector. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the separation means MS comprises a plate P1 of insulating material in contact with the first vertex S1 and arranged perpendicular to the surface of this first vertex S1 between the first opening 01 and the second opening 02 ( in other words, the projection of the plate P1 on the first vertex S1 forms a line located between the first opening 01 and the second opening 02 and entirely separates the two openings 01/02). This embodiment is particularly suitable for CE electrical connectors intended for single-phase for which a first terminal BR1 corresponds to the phase and a second terminal BR2 corresponds to the neutral. In one embodiment, the thickness of the plate P1 is greater than or equal to 1 mm in order to ensure that the latter has good mechanical strength, particularly with regard to vibrations. In one embodiment, the hollow body CR comprises, at the main opening OP, a thread, so as to be able to screw the insulating protection PI onto the base EM of the electrical connector CE. The plate P1 made of insulating material extends outwards from the surface of the first vertex S1 in the direction opposite to the second vertex. The separation means MS thus only comprises at least one plate P1 (that is, plates) extending outside the hollow body from an external surface of the top of the hollow body. The plates comprise at least one radial free edge connecting two free surfaces and a free edge forming a top of the plate.

[0030] As illustrated in [Fig. 1 E], once the PI insulating protection is mounted on the CE electrical connector, in addition to limiting the risk of DC short circuit, the separation means MS makes it possible to increase the length of the creepage distance LF between the first terminal BR1 and the second terminal BR2, the length of this leakage line LF being able to be modulated using the separation means MS, in particular by varying the dimensions of the latter.

[0031] In a second embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 2A] and [Fig. 2D], the electrical connector CE comprises a base EM, a first terminal BR1 (intended to be associated with a first polarity), a second terminal BR2 (intended to be associated with a second polarity different from the first polarity), a third terminal BR3 (intended to be associated with a third polarity different from the first and second polarities) and a fourth terminal BR4 (intended to be associated with a fourth polarity different from the first, second and third polarity), said BR1 -BR4 terminals protruding from the EM base. In this embodiment, the insulating protection PI is configured to limit or even eliminate the risk of a DC short circuit between the four terminals BR1 -BR4 or between the terminals BR1 -BR4 and the base EM of the electrical connector CE, said base EM generally being placed on the mechanical mass of the chassis which supports it.

[0032] For this, in this embodiment, as illustrated in [Fig. 2C] and [Fig. 2D], the fixing means MF comprises a hollow body CR, preferably a hollow cylinder CR (for example a straight circular cylinder as illustrated in the figures) comprising a first vertex S1 and a second vertex S2 opposite the first vertex S1. In addition, the hollow body CR comprises at the first vertex S1, a first opening 01, a second opening 02, a third opening 03 and a fourth opening 04, the first opening 01 being intended to receive the first terminal BR1, the second opening 02 being intended to receive the second terminal BR2, the third opening 03 being intended to receive the third terminal BR3 and the fourth opening 04 being intended to receive the fourth terminal BR4. It also includes, at the level of the second vertex S2, a main opening OP intended to accommodate the base EM so that the base EM is inserted, at least in part, into the hollow body CR when the insulating protection is fixed on the CE electrical connector. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the separation means MS comprises a first plate P1 of insulating material, said first plate P1 being in contact with the first vertex S1 and arranged perpendicular to the surface of this first vertex S1 between the first 01 and the second opening 02 on the one hand, the fourth opening 04 and the third opening 03 on the other hand. The separation means MS also comprises a second plate P2 made of insulating material, said second plate P2 being in contact with the first vertex S1 and arranged perpendicular to the surface of this first vertex S1 between the first opening 01 and the fourth opening 04 of on the one hand, the second opening 02 and the third opening 03 on the other hand. This embodiment is particularly suitable for CE electrical connectors intended for three-phase for which three terminals are each associated with a phase and a fourth terminal is associated with the neutral. An illustration of a PI insulating protection according to this embodiment manufactured by additive manufacturing is illustrated in [Fig. 3]-

[0033] A second aspect of the invention illustrated in [Fig. 4] and [Fig. 5] relates to an EN assembly comprising a PI insulating protection according to a first aspect of the invention and a CE electrical connector. In an embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 4], the electrical connector CE comprises a base EM, a first terminal BR1 associated with a first polarity and a second terminal BR2 associated with a second polarity different from the first polarity. A first electrical trace (electrically conductive bar) is connected to the first terminal BR1 and a second electrical trace is connected to the second terminal BR2. Each of the two traces can thus extend perpendicular to the plates and extend parallel from the external surface radially outwards. In addition, the first terminal BR1 and the second terminal BR2 project from the base EM. Furthermore, the insulating protection PI according to a first aspect of the invention is mounted on the electrical connector CE so that the separation means MS entirely separates the first terminal BR1 from the second terminal BR2 (in other words, no part of the first terminal BR1 is facing any part of the second terminal BR2). Preferably, the separation means MS comprises a plate P1 as described above separating the first terminal BR1 from the second terminal BR2. Preferably, the separation means MS is dimensioned so that the leakage path between the first terminal BR1 and the second terminal BR2 is greater than a threshold length chosen according to the constraints of use (in particular the altitude of use ), for example a threshold length greater than or equal to 5 cm, or even greater than or equal to 10 cm.

[0034] In an embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 5], the electrical connector CE further comprises a third terminal BR3 associated with a third polarity different from the first and second polarity, and a fourth terminal BR4 associated with a fourth polarity different from the first polarity, the second polarity and of the third polarity. A third electrical trace (electrically conductive bar) is connected to the third terminal BR and a fourth electrical trace is connected to the fourth terminal BR4. As we can see, the traces are accessible and each include a part which extends perpendicular to the plates forming the MS separation means. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the insulating protection PI being mounted on the electrical connector CE so that the separation means MS completely separates the terminals BR1 -BR4 from each other. Preferably, the separation means MS comprises a first plate P1 and a second plate P2 as described above separating the terminals BR1 -BR4 from each other. Preferably, the separation means MS is dimensioned so that the leakage path and/or the insulation distance between two terminals BR1 -BR4 is greater than a threshold length chosen according to the constraints of use (in particular the altitude of use or even the voltage level), for example a threshold length greater than or equal to 5 mm, or even greater than or equal to 10 mm.

Claims

[Claim 1] Insulating protection (PI) comprising a fixing means (MF) and a separation means (MS) in which:

- the fixing means (MF) comprises a hollow body (CR) made of insulating material comprising a first vertex (S1) and a second vertex (S2) opposite the first vertex (S1) and: o at the level of the first vertex (S1) comprising a first surface, a first opening (01) and a second opening (02); o at the level of the second vertex (S2), a main opening (OP);

- the separation means (MS) comprises a plate (P1) of insulating material in contact with the first vertex (S1) and arranged perpendicular to the surface of this first vertex (S1) between the first opening (01) and the second opening (02).

[Claim 2] Insulating protection (PI) according to the preceding claim in which:

- the fixing means (MF) comprises, at the level of the first vertex (S1), a third opening (03) and a fourth opening (04);

- the separation means (MS) comprises a second plate (P2) of insulating material, said second plate (P2) being in contact with the first vertex (S1) and arranged perpendicular to the surface of this first vertex (S1) between the first opening (01) and the fourth opening (04) on the one hand, the second opening (02) and the third opening (03) on the other hand, the first plate (P1) of insulating material being arranged between the first opening (01) and the second opening (02) on the one hand, the fourth opening (04) and the third opening (03) on the other hand.

[Claim 3] Insulating protection (PI) according to one of the preceding claims in which the insulating protection (PI) is manufactured from a material chosen from Polyarylamide, Polyamide, Polysulfone, PEEK GLx.

[Claim 4] Assembly comprising an insulating protection (PI) according to one of the preceding claims and an electrical connector (CE), the electrical connector (CE) comprising a base (EM), at least one first terminal (BR1) associated with a first polarity and a second terminal (BR2) associated with a second polarity different from the first polarity, the first terminal (BR1) and the second terminal (BR2) being projecting from the base (EM), the fixing means ( MF) of the insulating protection (PI) being fixed on the electrical connector (CE) so as to at least partially cover the base (EM) and the separation means (MS) of the insulating protection (PI) being arranged so to completely separate the first terminal (BR1) from the second terminal (BR2).

[Claim 5] Assembly according to the preceding claim in which the insulating protection is a protection according to claim 2 or claim 3 in its dependence on claim 2, and in which the electrical connector (CE) comprises a third terminal (BR3) associated to a third polarity different from the first and the second polarity, and a fourth terminal (BR4) associated with a fourth polarity different from the first polarity, the second polarity and the third polarity, the separation means (MS) being arranged so as to completely separate the terminals (BR1 -BR4) from each other.

[Claim 6] Assembly according to one of the two preceding claims in which the separation means (MS) of the insulating protection (PI) is dimensioned so that the leakage path and the insulation distance between any two terminals of the connector electrical (CE) is greater than a threshold length.

[Claim 7] Assembly according to the preceding claim in which the threshold length is greater than or equal to 5 mm.