EP2335318B1 - Electrical/mechanical assembly obtained by autogenous riveting - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates, in general, both the field of metalworking and that of electrical equipment.

More specifically, the invention relates to an electrical and mechanical assembly of a wire conductor and a flat conductor, the flat conductor extending at least partially in a median plane.

Although the electrical assembly of two electrical conductors by plastic deformation is known as an advantageous alternative to welding, this practice has so far been considered only in the case where the wire conductor could be sandwiched between two thicknesses of the flat conductor , at least one of which is plastically deformed.

A first example of this technique is given in the patent document FR 2,736,471 which proposes to simultaneously deform by pressing the two thicknesses of the flat conductor, according to a technique known to those skilled in the art under the name of "clinching".

A second example of this technique is given in the patent document DE 10 2006 013 347 , which proposes to deform the flat conductor so as to wrap around the wire conductor, and crimp the latter by trapping in the deformed flat conductor.

A third example of this technique is given in the patent document EP 0 634 810 , according to which the flat conductor is cut and deformed to constitute two layers defining between them a tunnel inside which is inserted the wire conductor, the two layers of this flat conductor being then again deformed to enclose the wire conductor.

An example according to the preamble of claim 1 is given in the patent document FR 2269210 .

The invention, which is in this context, aims to propose an electrical and mechanical assembly of two conductors which, without requiring the use of two thicknesses of the flat conductor, is nonetheless obtained autogenously, that is to say say without input of external matter.

To this end, the assembly of the invention, furthermore in accordance with the preamble above, is essentially characterized in that the wire conductor is riveted to the flat conductor by stamping this wire conductor through the light of the flat conductor.

Thus, contrary to what is described in the prior art documents previously mentioned, the assembly of the invention is obtained not by plastic deformation of the flat conductor, but by plastic deformation of the wire conductor.

Preferably, the light takes the form of a polygonal window.

For example, the window has a plurality of edges including a first edge, a second edge, and at least one other edge, the first and second edges being longer than each other edge.

It is then advisable to provide for the wired conductor to be applied to a first face of the conductor flat and traverses the light in a direction transverse to the flat conductor, oriented from the first face of this flat conductor towards its second face, and that the wire conductor overflows at least the first and second edges of the window on the side of the second face of the flat conductor.

It is also advantageous to provide that the first and second edges of the window are opposite to each other, and that the window is elongated along the length of the wire conductor.

The quality of the assembly of the invention can be further improved by providing that each other edge of the window partially conforms to the outer shape of the wire conductor prior to stamping.

In the embodiment that is easier to implement, the light is rectangular.

The wire conductor may typically consist of a copper wire of initially circular section, and the flat conductor may advantageously be made of brass.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un conducteur filaire et d'un conducteur plat, ces conducteurs étant utilisables pour réaliser un assemblage conforme à l'invention et observés avant assemblage ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective de deux assemblages conformes à l'invention et dont les conducteurs plats respectifs offrent à la vue deux faces différentes ;
• les figures 3A à 3C sont des vues schématiques partielles à échelle agrandie, respectivement en perspective, en coupe axiale et de face, d'un conducteur plat utilisable pour réaliser un assemblage conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique en perspective et en coupe d'un conducteur filaire, d'un conducteur plat et d'un outil, ces éléments étant utilisables pour réaliser un assemblage conforme à l'invention, et cet ensemble d'éléments étant observé avant réalisation de cet assemblage ;
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique en perspective et en coupe d'un conducteur filaire, d'un conducteur plat et d'un outil, cet ensemble étant observé après réalisation de l'assemblage ;
• la figure 6 est une vue schématique en perspective et en coupe d'un conducteur filaire et d'un conducteur plat assemblés conformément à l'invention, ces conducteurs étant observés suivant un premier angle d'incidence ; et
• la figure 7 est une vue schématique en perspective et en coupe d'un conducteur filaire et d'un conducteur plat assemblés conformément à l'invention, ces conducteurs étant observés suivant un deuxième angle d'incidence.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description which is given below, by way of indication and in no way limitative, with reference to the drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a wired conductor and a flat conductor, these conductors being usable to achieve an assembly according to the invention and observed before assembly;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view of two assemblies according to the invention and whose respective flat conductors offer two different faces to view;
• the FIGS. 3A to 3C are partial schematic views on an enlarged scale, respectively in perspective, in axial section and in front of a flat conductor used to achieve an assembly according to the invention;
• the figure 4 is a schematic view in perspective and in section of a wire conductor, a flat conductor and a tool, these elements being usable to produce an assembly according to the invention, and this set of elements being observed before realization of this assembly;
• the figure 5 is a schematic perspective view in section of a wire conductor, a flat conductor and a tool, this assembly being observed after completion of the assembly;
• the figure 6 is a schematic perspective view in section of a wire conductor and a flat conductor assembled in accordance with the invention, these conductors being observed at a first angle of incidence; and
• the figure 7 is a schematic perspective view in section of a wire conductor and a flat conductor assembled according to the invention, these conductors being observed at a second angle of incidence.

As previously announced, the invention relates to an electrical and mechanical assembly made by means of a wire conductor 1 and a flat conductor 2, the flat conductor 2 extending at least partially in a median plane P ( figure 3A ).

As shown by figures 1 and 3A to 3B , the flat conductor 2 is pierced with a light 20 and the wire conductor 1 consists of a single wire, for example of initially circular section.

As shown elsewhere figures 2 and 4 to 7 , the wire conductor 1 is riveted autogenously, that is to say without adding material, on the flat conductor 2 by stamping this wire conductor 1 through the light 20 of the flat conductor 2.

In the preferred embodiment, which corresponds to the figures, the light 20 takes the form of a window of polygonal shape, and for example of rectangular shape.

This window 20 thus has a plurality of edges such as 201a, 201b, 202a and 202b, in this case four in number, the edges 201a and 201b being longer than the other two edges 202a and 202b.

After completion of the assembly, the wire conductor 1, which is applied on a face 21 of the flat conductor 2 defining the upper face on the Figures 3A and 3C , passes through the light 20 in a direction Z transverse to the flat conductor 2, oriented from the upper face 21 of this conductor towards its lower face 22, that is to say towards the bottom and the right on the figure 3A .

To be able to make a connection with high mechanical strength and low electrical resistance, the wired conductor 1 overflows at least the longest edges, 201a and 201b, the window 20, the side of the lower face 22 of the flat conductor 2.

Since, in the illustrated embodiment, the window 20 is rectangular, the longer edges of this window, 201a and 201b, are opposite to each other.

In addition, this window 20 is elongated along the length of the wire conductor 1, so that the longer edges 201a and 201b of this window 20 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wire conductor 1.

As shown again figure 3A it is also advantageous to provide that the two other edges 202a and 202b of the window 20 partially match the initial external shape of the wire conductor 1, and in this case of partially cylindrical shape.

The wire conductor 1 is made of a material as ductile and conductive as possible, typically copper.

In contrast, the flat conductor 2 is preferably made of a material having a good electrical conductivity but a higher mechanical strength and elasticity than the wire conductor, for example brass.

The Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the use of a tool that can be used to produce an assembly according to the invention, this tool comprising a die 31, a blank press 32 and a punch 33.

First of all ( figure 4 ), the lower face 22 of the flat conductor 2 is placed on the die 31 which has clearances 310 facing and below the longer edges 201a and 201b of the window 20.

The wire conductor 1 is then placed on the upper face 21 of the flat conductor 2, then the blank 32 is deposited on the flat conductor 2 and around the wire conductor 1 in the area where the assembly is to be made, this press blank to prevent lateral creep of the wire conductor 1.

Finally ( figure 5 ), the punch 33 is applied to the wire conductor 1 through a well of the blank press 32 so as to locally deform the wire conductor 1 and to make it flow through the window 20 of the flat conductor 2, towards the clearances 310 of the matrix.

The Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the result of this operation after the removal of the tool 31, 32 and 33.

Claims (10)

1. Electrical and mechanical assembly of a wire conductor (1) and a flat conductor (2), the flat conductor (2) lying at least partly in a median plane (P), the flat conductor (2) being pierced by a slot (20) and the wire conductor (1) being made of a single wire, characterised in that the wire conductor is riveted to the flat conductor (2) by the pressing of this wire conductor (1) through the slot (20) of the flat conductor (2).
2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the slot (20) is in the form of a window with a polygonal shape.
3. Assembly according to claim 2, characterised in that the window (20) has a plurality of edges (201a, 201b, 202a, 202b) including a first edge (201a), a second edge (201b) and at least another edge (202a, 202b), and in that the first and second edges (201a, 201b) are longer than each other edge (202a, 202b).
4. Assembly according to claim 3, characterised in that the wire conductor (1) is applied to a first face (21) of the flat conductor (2) and passes through the slot (20) in a direction (Z) transverse to the flat conductor (2), directed away from the first face (21) of the flat conductor (2) towards its second face (22), and in that the wire conductor (1) protrudes from at least the first and second edges (201a, 201b) of the window (20) on the side of the second face (22) of the flat conductor (2).
5. Assembly according to any one of the previous claims, combined with claim 3, characterised in that the first and second edges (201a, 201b) of the window (20) are opposite each other.
6. Assembly according to claim 5, characterised in that the window (20) is elongated according to the length of the wire conductor (1).
7. Assembly according to any one of the previous claims, combined with claim 3, characterised in that each other edge (202a, 202b) of the window (20) partially takes on the outer shape of the wire conductor (1) before pressing.
8. Assembly according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the slot (20) is rectangular in shape.
9. Assembly according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the wire conductor (1) is made from copper.
10. Assembly according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the flat conductor (2) is made from brass.

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