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EP-4742458-A1 - ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

EP4742458A1EP 4742458 A1EP4742458 A1EP 4742458A1EP-4742458-A1

Abstract

The invention is a new electrical connector (C), comprising at least one main body (1) suited to be mechanically coupled with a corresponding main body (1') of a corresponding electrical connector (C'), an electrical contact pin (3, 3') housed in said main body (1), a locking element (4) suited to lock the conductor of the cable in the contact pin (3, 3'), suited to fit around said contact pin (3), and wherein the connection of said locking element (4) to said contact pin (3, 3') results in that said locking element (4) is completely or partially inserted into at least one generically linear opening or slot (3f) or notch of said contact pin (3, 3').

Inventors

  • FREZZATO, Stefano

Assignees

  • Fanton Srl

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251106

Claims (6)

  1. Electrical connector (C), characterized in that it comprises at least one main body (1) for mechanical coupling with a corresponding main body (1') of a corresponding electrical connector (C'), a fixing nut (2), an electrical contact pin (3, 3') housed in said main body (1), a locking element (4) for locking the conductor of the cable (O) onto the contact pin (5), designed to be applied around said contact pin (5), and wherein the connection of said locking element (4) to said contact pin (3, 3') results in the complete or partial insertion of said locking element (4) into at least one generically linear opening or slot (3f) or notch of said contact pin (3, 3'), and wherein said main body (1) has, at its end (1b) opposite its end (1a) suitable for mechanical coupling with a corresponding electrical connector (C'), a substantially cylindrical portion (1b) whose outer part is provided with a threaded projection suitable for coupling with said nut (2).
  2. Electrical connector (C) according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking element (4) is elastic.
  3. Electrical connector (C) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said contact pin (3), proceeding from the end (3b) where the cable (O)is inserted towards the centre of the pin (3) itself, has: • a conical portion (3c) with circular cross section, designed to facilitate and guide the insertion of the end of the conductor of the cable (O), • a portion with U-shaped cross section (3d), open on one side of said contact pin (3, 3') and generically extending over half the circumference of said contact pin (3, 3'), • a tubular portion with circular cross section (3e), • a generically linear opening or slot (3f) or notch, orthogonal to the main axis of said contact pin (3, 3'), indicatively extending over at least half the circumference of the contact pin (3, 3') and arranged on the same side as the opening of said U-shaped cross-section (3d); and wherein said locking element (4) • is generically tubular with C-shaped cross-section, suited to fit around said contact pin (3, 3'); • has, at one end (4a), a first portion (4c), orthogonal to the main axis of the locking element (4)itself, generically extending from the median part of said C-shaped cross-section towards the open part of said C-shaped cross-section; • has, at the opposite end (4b), a second portion (4d), generically inclined from the median part of said C-shaped cross-section towards the inside and towards the centre of the locking element (4) itself; • and wherein the connection of said locking element (4) to said contact pin (3, 3') results in that said first portion (4c) of the locking element (4) is inserted in the generically linear opening or slot (3f) or notch of said contact pin (3, 3') and occupies the inner section of the contact pin (3, 3'), and in that said second portion (4d) of the locking element (4) is housed in the opening of the U-shaped portion (3d) of said contact pin (3, 3') and faces towards the first end area (3a) of the contact pin (3, 3') itself.
  4. Electrical connector (C) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that both said contact pin (3) and said locking element (4) are provided with elements, projections (3r), openings (4r) or other parts suited to prevent any translation or displacement between said locking element (4) and said contact pin (3, 3').
  5. Electrical connector (C) according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking element (4) is provided with tabs (4t), appendages, projections or similar parts on its outer surface, inclined and diverging with respect to its outer surface and facing towards said second portion (4d) of the locking element (4) itself.
  6. Electrical connector (C) according to claim 1, characterized in that said nut (2) and said second end (1b) of said main body (1) are suited to make it possible to attach the new connector (C, C') to a panel (P).

Description

The present patent concerns electrical connectors and in particular it concerns single-pole electrical connectors for live systems with terminals protected against accidental contact. More specifically, the present patent concerns a new type of electrical connector for potentially live systems with terminals protected against accidental contact, equipped with a tool-free locking mechanism for the conductor of the connection cable and suited to be installed on panels. In some electrical applications or uses the connectors, even when not connected, must not have potentially live parts with which a person could accidentally come into contact. Typically, said connectors are preferably used in photovoltaic systems, accumulators, etc., in which each photovoltaic panel is connected to other photovoltaic panels, accumulators, etc. Both during installation and during the replacement of each individual photovoltaic panel, electrical voltage is present at the ends of its conductors. Even once photovoltaic panels have been installed, during use, several hundred volts and a few dozen amperes, which are very dangerous, are present at the ends of the conductors of each photovoltaic panel. The connection of an electrical cable of a photovoltaic panel to the corresponding connector is a demanding operation, which requires a secure and stable connection notwithstanding the operating voltage, the temperatures to which the photovoltaic system may be subjected, the thermal and mechanical expansion to which the mechanical-electrical connection of the cable with the metallic parts of the connector and of each connector of the solar panel with the connector of the system may be subjected. The connection of each cable to the corresponding connector, carried out with a screw clamp terminal and/or a crimp terminal, is complex and certainly not straightforward, requires the use of a specific tool, typically a screwdriver or pliers, as well as the separation of at least one part of the connector for fastening the cable, and the reassembly of the various parts of the connector. In the case of connectors installed on a panel, each metal terminal must be separated from each insulating body of each connector, each insulating body must be fixed to the panel, each cable must be connected to its metal terminal, and finally each metal terminal connected to the cable must be reinserted into the respective insulating body of the corresponding connector. This involves various difficulties, including the need to connect each metal terminal to each potentially live cable, to reinsert each metal terminal connected to the cable into its insulating body without reversing the male and female terminals in the corresponding bodies of the female and male terminals. The subject of the present patent is a new connector for potentially live systems whose terminals are protected against accidental contact, having a tool-free locking mechanism for locking the conductor of the connection cable. It is one object of the present invention to provide a new connector that can be fastened to the connection cable with no need to separate any part of the connector itself. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new connector that can be fastened to the connection cable with no need to use specific tools. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new connector that ensures the electrical and mechanical connection of the cable to the metal contact part or parts even after significant temperature fluctuations. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new connector that can be connected to a corresponding electrical connector even after significant temperature fluctuations. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new connector that ensures the watertightness of the metal parts affected by the electrical connection both for the cable fastening and for its connection to a corresponding electrical connector. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new connector that can be fixed to a panel. These and other direct and complementary objects are achieved by the new connector for potentially live systems whose terminals are protected against accidental contact, having a tool-free locking mechanism for locking the conductor of the connection cable and suited to be installed on panels. For clarity of explanation, the new connector is described below making reference to the drawings, which are attached hereto by way of non-limiting examples. Figure 1 shows the separate parts of the new connector (C), whose main parts comprise: a main body (1, 1') suitable for mechanical coupling,a fixing nut (2),an electrical contact pin or bushing (3, 3'),a locking element (4) suited to lock the conductor of the electrical cable (O) to the contact pin or bushing (3, 3'), hereinafter referred to as the locking element (4). The main body (1) is generically cylindrical in shape and hollow. The main body (1, 1')