ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND METAL PARTS THAT ARE ELECTRICALLY INSULATED FROM EACH OTHER

• US 20090227128A1
• Filed: 09/03/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aeroport International Marseille-Provence
• Original Assignee: Eurocopter
• Inventors: CARLAVAN, CEDRIC, Corre, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 7,753,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/92
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/06 for removing electrostatic charges carrying-off electrostatic charges in general H05F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/02 Lightning protectors; Static dischargers in general H01T
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/26 Connections in which at least one of the connecting parts has projections which bite into or engage the other connecting part in order to improve the contact H01R4/188, H01R4/203, H01R4/5075 take precedence; using shape memory materials H01R4/01
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/304 having means for improving contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/64 Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail

Abstract

An electrical connection (1) for electrically interconnecting adjacent first and second metal parts (2, 3) that are electrically insulated from each other, includes clamping elements (30) together with first and second metal inserts (10, 20) that are arranged respectively in first and second openings (4, 5) formed in the first and second metal parts (2, 3), the first and second inserts (10, 20) being secured to each other by the clamping elements (30) so as to be electrically in contact.

Claims

1. An electrical connection (1) for electrically interconnecting first and second adjacent metal parts (2, 3) that are electrically insulated from each other, the connection comprising clamping means (30) together with first and second metal inserts (10, 20) arranged respectively in first and second openings (4, 5) formed in the first and second metal parts (2, 3), at least one insert (10, 20) having a projecting periphery (11, 21) provided with an outer shoulder (12, 12′

, 22, 22″

) so as to present a guide zone, said first and second inserts (10, 20) being secured to each other by said clamping means (30) so as to be electrically in contact.

2. An electrical connection according to claim 1, wherein said first insert (10) is engaged by force in said first metal part (2).

3. An electrical connection according to claim 1, wherein said second insert (20) is engaged by force in said second metal part (3).

4. An electrical connection according to claim 1, wherein said first insert (10) has a first projecting periphery (11), said first projecting periphery (11) having a first maximum diameter (D1) greater than a first inside diameter (D11′

) of said first opening (4).

5. An electrical connection according to claim 4, wherein said first projecting periphery (11) has a first outer shoulder (12, 12″

) so as to present a first guide zone having a first minimum diameter equal to the first inside diameter (D11′

) of said first opening (4).

6. An electrical connection according to claim 5, wherein said first insert (10) has a first bottom base (15) and a first top base (16) that are interconnected by a side wall (17) presenting symmetry of revolution, said first shoulder (12, 12″

) being opened to one of said first bottom or top bases (15 or 16).

7. An electrical connection according to claim 4, wherein said first projecting periphery (11) has a plurality of teeth (11′

) that are pressed into the first metal part (2) while said first insert (10) is being engaged by force.

8. An electrical connection according to claim 1, wherein said second insert (20) has a second projecting periphery (21), said second projecting periphery (21) having a second maximum diameter (D2) greater than a second inside diameter (D22′

) of said second opening (5).

9. An electrical connection according to claim 8, wherein said second projecting periphery (21) has a second outer shoulder (22, 22″

) so as to present a second guide zone having a second minimum diameter equal to the second inside diameter (D22″

) of said second opening (5).

10. An electrical connection according to claim 9, wherein said second insert (20) has a second bottom base (25) and a second top base (26) interconnected by a side wall (27) having symmetry of revolution, said second shoulder (22, 22″

) being opened to one of said second bottom or top bases (25 or 26).

11. An electrical connection according to claim 8, wherein said second projecting periphery (21) has a plurality of teeth that are pushed into the second metal part (3) during engagement by force of said second insert (20).

12. An electrical connection according to claim 8, wherein said first insert (10) has a first bottom base (15) and a first top base (16) interconnected by a first side wall (17) having symmetry of revolution about a first passage (18), said second insert (20) has a second bottom base (25) and a second top base (26) interconnected by a second side wall (27) having symmetry of revolution about a second passage (28), and said clamping means (30) secures said first bottom base (15) to said second top base (26) by passing through said first and second passages (18, 28).

13. An electrical connection according to claim 1, wherein said first top base (16) is countersunk to co-operate with a head of said clamping means (30).

14. An electrical connection according to claim 1, wherein said first side wall (17) has a first groove (13).

15. An electrical connection according to claim 1, wherein said second side wall (27) has a second groove (23).

16. An electrical connection according to claim 1, wherein said first and second passages (18, 28) have respective first and second nominal diameters (D111, D222), and said first nominal diameter (D111) is greater than said second nominal diameter (D222).

17. An electrical connection according to claim 12, wherein said second passage (28) passes part of the way through said second insert (20).

18. An electrically interconnected assembly comprising adjacent first and second metal parts (2, 3) that are electrically insulated from each other, wherein said first and second metal parts (2, 3) are connected together electrically by an electrical connection according to claim 1.