TAPE OR RIBBON SWITCH

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to tape or ribbon switches and more particularly to such switches designed to be attached to gates, doors etc. as part of security systems as set forth in the preamble of claim 1. The invention furthermore relates to a manufacturing process for such switches and to an in-situ tailoring method to be used to fit the switch to a specific application.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

[0002] Various types of tape- or ribbon switches have been known within the art for many years. Thus US 2,770,696 discloses a tape switch comprising a one-piece outer jacket preferably made of a rubber or plastics material, which tape switch can also be sued outdoors. Within said outer jacket there is contained two juxtaposed substantially plane contact strips separated from each other by means of strips of insulating material placed between the contact strips along the outer edges thereof.

[0003] US 4,293,752 discloses a self adhering tape switch the outer shape of the cover somewhat resembling that of the present invention, but as in the above mentioned case also provided with strips of insulating material placed between the contact strips along the outer edges of these for separation of the contact strips.

[0004] In US 4,551,595 the outer cover is not formed as a one-piece unit but rather welded together comprising separate top- and bottom portions. Also in this case strips of insulating material are placed between the contact strips along the outer edges of these for separation of the contact strips.

[0005] Neither of the above references discloses specific methods recommended for in-situ tailoring the switches to specific applications.

[0006] Prior art tape- or ribbon switches have typically suffered from a number of problems. One of these problems have been penetration of moisture through the outer insulating cover of the switch due for instance to the application of a hygroscopic (water-absorbing) material for the cover or to improper or unreliable tailoring of the switch during the specific application hereof. The penetration of water through the outer cover and into the contact region of the switch have often led to corrosion of the electrical contact surfaces in cases where the contacts have for instance been made of copper, leading to an unreliable electrical contact and hence possibly to dangerous situations, if the switch has formed part of a security system, for instance in connection with a heavy gate.

[0007] Document US 3 812 313 discloses a ribbon switch according to the preamble of claim 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to the preceding description of some prior art problems it is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved tape switch component that does not suffer from the above problems of moisture penetration through the outer cover of the switch and into the contact region of the switch.

[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tape switch component that can be manufactured in a simple manner.

[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tape switch comprising said tape switch component and appropriate terminating means so that said tape switch does not suffer from the above problems of moisture penetration through the terminating means (electrical leads to the contact strips of the tape switch and electrical terminating impedance) and into the interior of the tape switch.

[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system for in-situ tailoring of the switch to various specific applications.

[0012] These and other objects are attained with a tape switch component according to claim 1, a tape switch according to claim 5 and an in-situ tailoring method according to claim 10.

[0013] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a tape switch component comprising a pair of parallel extending contact strips one of which is provided with a laterally extending corrugation in order to improve mechanical stability, said contact strips being completely surrounded by an outer cover to electrically isolate the contact strips from the surroundings and furthermore to prevent moisture from reaching the contact strips. The contact strips are held apart by suitable spacer means extending longitudinally over a portion of the surfaces of the contact strips facing one another, which spacer means according to the invention are formed as an integral part of said outer cover to provide a reliable spacing of the contact strips and furthermore to provide a simple and effective manufacturing process of the tape switch. In order to prevent moisture from penetrating the outer cover and reach the contact strips resulting in corrosion of these the outer cover is made of a water-impermeable (hygroscopic) material of suitable mechanical flexibility. In order to ensure reliable contact function throughout the life of the tape switch the contact strips are made from a material that is resistant against corrosion and that is not attacked by cleaning agents, oils etc. used in industries. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the contact strips are made of stainless steel.

[0014] A manufacturing process for said tape switch comprising component comprises the steps of providing two ribbons of metal sheets and passing one of said ribbons through a corrugation machine to provide said ribbon with a pattern of corrugations substantially lateral relative to the longitudinal extension of the ribbon and feeding said two ribbons into a torpedo provided in a transversal extruder head provided with an inlet for a melted plastics material supplied by an extruder. At the outlet of the torpedo the melted plastics material is joined with the metal ribbons and passed through a nozzle section to provide the desired cross section of the tape switch including the spacer means provided between the two metal ribbons as mentioned in the preceding paragraph. On leaving the transversal extruder head the tape switch finally passes through a water bath, whereby the temperature of the switch is reduced from its manufacturing temperature (for instance around 160 degrees centigrade) to room temperature. The fact that said spacer means are formed as integral parts of the outer cover provides for a very simple and straight forward manufacturing process.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a tape switch comprising a suitable length of said tape switch component and furthermore provided with suitable terminating means. One end of the cut off tape switch component is thus provided with electrical contact leads to establish electrical contact to the two contact strips of the tape switch and the electrical leads and a suitable length of the tape switch component is surrounded by a body of heat shrinking foil, the inner surface of which is provided with an adhesive agent that when initially heated and subsequently cooled down to ambient temperature adheres firmly to the outer surface of said outer cover of the tape switch and to the outer surface of terminal lead electrically connected to the contact strips of the switch. The other end of the cut off tape switch component is sealed in a similar manner and may instead of said electrical leads be provided with an electrical terminating impedance component, such as a resistor of suitable electrical resistance. The end could also be left electrically open if desired for specific applications.

[0016] According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an in-situ tailoring method for said tape switch, said tailoring method comprising the following main steps:

Providing an appropriate length of tape switch according to the specific application;

Providing a first contact plate provided with electrical contact leads to establish electrical contact to the two contact strips of the tape switch;

Insertion of said contact plate provided with electrical contact leads into a first end of the switch into the region between the two contact strips;

Providing a tubular body of heat shrinking foil, the inner surface of said body being provided with an adhesive agent that when initially heated and subsequently cooled down to ambient temperature adheres firmly to the outer surface of said outer cover of the tape switch and to the outer surface of terminal leads etc. electrically connected to the contact strips of the switch;

Pushing said body of heat shrinking foil over said first end in such a manner that said body covers both an appropriate length of the tape switch and an appropriate length of said electrical contact leads;

Providing heat for instance by means of an appropriate shrinking tool to said tubular body thereby melting the glue provided on the inside of said tube and shrinking the tube until a tight seal is established between the tape switch and the tubular body and between the tubular body and the contact leads respectively;

Providing a second contact plate provided with an electrical component for providing an appropriate electrical terminating impedance between the two contact strips of the tape switch;

Insertion of said second contact plate into a second end of the switch into the region between the two contact strips;

Providing a tubular body of heat shrinking foil, the inner surface of said body being provided with an adhesive agent that when initially heated and subsequently cooled down to ambient temperature adheres firmly to the outer surface of said outer cover of the tape switch and also covers and provides a tight seal around said second contact plate and said terminating impedance component.

[0017] Providing heat for instance by means of an appropriate shrinking tool to said tubular body until a tight seal is established between the tape switch and the tubular body and around said second contact plate with said terminating impedance component;

[0018] The claimed tape switch component and corresponding tape switch adapted to specific applications using said tailoring method offers the advantageous effects of highly reduced humidity intrusion through the outer cover and the end portions of the switch. An error free operation is furthermore ascertained by the choice of contact material of stainless steel. The described in-situ tailoring method and a corresponding system comprising the necessary components and tool's provide for an easy and reliable fitting of the switch for the specific application. Furthermore the switch is characterised by a lack of deformation by bending up to 90 degrees and by a small activation force of approximately 3N.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1a is a perspective view of the tape switch component according to the invention;

Figure 1b is a cross-sectional view of the tape switch component shown in figure 1a;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a tape switch based on the tape switch component shown in figure 1a and 1b; and

Figure 3a and 3b is a schematic representation of in-situ tailoring of a tape switch according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] In the following a detailed description of the invention is given.

[0021] With reference to figure 1a and 1b there is shown a tape switch component according to the invention generally referred to by reference numeral 1. The tape switch component comprises two juxtaposed electrical contact strips 5, 6 of which one in the present embodiment of the invention is provided with a laterally oriented corrugation provided in order to increase mechanical stability of the switch. According to this specific embodiment of the invention the contract strips 5, 6 are made of thin sheets of stainless steel, which is considerably more resistant to oxidation than other materials normally used in such switches such as copper. According to this specific embodiment of the invention the upper contact strip has a thickness of 0,05 mm and the lower contact strip 0,1 mm, although it is understood that other choices of thickness of the contact strips could also be made.

[0022] Surrounding and tightly encapsulating said contact strips there is provided an outer cover 2 formed as one longitudinally extending piece by means of a suitable extrusion process. The cover 2 is provided with an outwardly extending longitudinal protrusion 3 provided in order to ensure a reliable contact action of the switch, when this is exposed to an external pressure, and two internal longitudinally extending thin protrusions 4 acting as spacer means between the two contact strips 5, 6. Formation of these spacer means 4 as an integral part of the outer cover 2 is advantageous both from a manufacturing and a reliability point of view.

[0023] With reference to figure 2 there is shown a tape switch comprising a suitable length of the tape switch component 1 described above and furthermore comprising terminating means 8, 9 at either end of the tape switch component. As described in the summary of the invention - and in detail in the subsequent section on in-situ tailoring of the switch - these terminating means 8, 9 are formed by pieces of heat shrinking foil, the inner surfaces of which are provided with an adhesive agent which heat shrinking foil and adhesive agent upon heating and subsequent cooling to ambient temperature forms a tight seal around the ends of the tape switch component 1. The terminating means 8 comprises an electrical lead 10 broad in contact with the contact strips 5, 6 in the tape switch component for instance by the method described in the following. Similarly the other terminating means 9 may comprise an electrical terminating impedance element, such as a resistor, although an open ended electrical termination could also be conceived (i.e. infinite impedance).

[0024] With reference to figure 3a and 3b there is very schematically shown the main steps to be performed during tailoring of the tape switch according to the invention for a specific application. These steps comprises:

(a) Provision of an appropriate length of the tape switch component 1;

(b) Removal of an appropriate length (for instance 10-mm) of the protrusion 3 from a first end of the tape switch component 1;

(c) Pushing a tongue-formed contact plate 11 made from a dielectric material and provided with upper and lower layers 12, 13 of an electrically conducting material, where the two electrical conductors 10' and 10" of an electrical lead 10 are conductively connected (for instance by soldering) to each of said layers 12, 13 respectively, into the switch in the region 7 between the two contact strips 5, 6 of the switch;

(d) Pushing a heat shrinking foil tube 8' over the end of the switch component 1 until contact with the protrusion 3;

(e) Providing heat by means of an appropriate shrinking tool to said tube 8' (this process not shown in the figure) thereby melting the adhesive agent provided on the inside of said tube 8' and shrinking the tube 8', until a tight seal is established between the switch 1/the lead 10 and the tube 8';

(f) Removal of an appropriate length (for instance 10-mm) from the second - nontailored - end of the tape switch component 1;

(g) Pushing a tongue-formed contact plate 14 made from a dielectric material and provided with upper and lower layers 15, 16 of an electrically conducting material, between which layers 12, 13 there is electrically connected an appropriate electrical impedance element 17, such as a resistor, into the switch component 1 in the region 7 between and around the two contact strips 5, 6 of the switch;

(h) Squeezing the end of the heat shrinking foil tube 9' together (for instance by means the metal clamp or similar tool, not shown in the figure) and pushing the heat shrinking foil tube 9' over the second end of the tape switch component 1 until contact with the protrusion 3 on the tape switch component 1;

(i) Providing heat by means of an appropriate shrinking tool to said tube 9' (this process not shown in the figure) thereby melting the adhesive agent provided on the inside of said tube 9' and shrinking the tube 9', until a tight seal is established between and around the switch 1/the impedance element 17 and the tube 9';

(j) After appropriate cooling of the heat shrinking foil tube 9' removal of the clamp herefrom;

[0025] Although various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in the preceding parts of the detailed description it is understood that a person skilled in the art may conceive other embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A ribbon switch comprising two longitudinally extending juxtaposed electrical contact strips surrounded by an outer cover (2) which is formed as one piece comprising spacer means (4) to establish a predetermined gab (7) between said two contact strips (5,6) where first and second longitudinal ends of said ribbon switch component are provided with first and second sealing means (8,9) characterised in that said sealing means (8,9) are formed by means of a heat shrinking foil (8', 9').

2. A ribbon switch according to claim 1, characterised in that said electrically conducting material is stainless steel.

3. A ribbon switch according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that one of said contact strips (5,6) is corrugated in a substantially lateral direction of the longitudinally extending contact strips (5,6).

4. A ribbon switch according to claim 1, characterised in that said heat shrinking foil (8', 9') on the inner circumferential surface hereof is provided with an adhesive agent.

5. A ribbon switch according to claim 1, characterised in that said first terminal means (8) comprises first contact means (11, 12, 13) for providing electrical contact between each of the two contact strips (5, 6) and corresponding electrical conductors (10', 10") in an electrical lead (10).

6. A ribbon switch according to claim 5, characterised in that said first contact means comprises a substantially flat plate (11) of dielectric material on opposing sides provided with electrically conductive layers (12, 13), where said conductors (10', 10") are connected to each of said layers (12, 13) respectively.

7. A ribbon switch according to claim 1, characterised in that said second terminal means (9) comprises second contact means (14, 15, 16) for providing electrical contact between each of the two contact strips (5, 6) and an electrical impedance element (17) provided between said contact strips (5, 6).

8. A ribbon switch according to claim 7, characterised in that said second contact means comprises a substantially flat plate (14) of dielectric material on opposing sides provided with
electrically conductive layers (15, 16).

9. A ribbon switch according to claim 7, characterised in that said electrical impedance element (17) is a resistor.

10. A method of tailoring a ribbon switch according to claim 1 or 4, characterised in that said first and second longitudinal end of said ribbon switch component (1) is sealed by application of a heat shrinking process to said first and second sealing means (8,9).

11. A method of tailoring a ribbon switch according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that said method comprises the following steps:

(a) Provision of an appropriate length of the ribbon switch component (1);

(b) Removal of an appropriate length, for instance 10-mm, of the protrusion (3) from a first end of the ribbon switch component (1);

(c) Pushing a tongue-formed contact plate (11) made from a dielectric material and provided with upper and lower layers (12, 13) of an electrically conducting material, where the two electrical conductors (10' and 10") of an electrical lead (10) are conductively connected (for instance by soldering) to each of said layers (12, 13) respectively, into the switch in the region (7) between the two contact strips (5, 6) of the switch;

(d) Pushing a heat shrinking foil tube (8') over the end of the switch component (1) until contact with the protrusion (3);

(e) Providing heat by means of an appropriate shrinking tool to said tube (8'), this process not shown in the figure, thereby melting the adhesive agent provided on the inside of said tube (8') and shrinking the tube (8'), until a tight seal is established between the switch (1)/the lead (10) and the tube (8');

(f) Removal of an appropriate length, for instance 10-mm, from the second - nontailored - end of the ribbon switch component (1);

(g) Pushing a tongue-formed contact plate (14) made from a dielectric material and provided with upper and lower layers (15, 16) of an electrically conducting material, between which layers (12, 13) there is electrically connected an appropriate electrical impedance element (17), such as a resistor, into the switch component (1) in the region (7) between and around the two contact strips (5, 6) of the switch;

(h) Squeezing the end of the heat shrinking foil tube (9') together, for instance by means the metal clamp or simllar tool, not shown in the figure, and pushing the heat shrinking foil tube (9') over the second end of the ribbon switch component (1) until contact with the protrusion (3) on the ribbon switch component (1);

(i) Providing heat by means of an appropriate shrinking tool to said tube (9'), this process not shown in the figure, thereby melting the adhesive agent provided on the inside of said tube (9') and shrinking the tube (9'), until a tight seal is established between and around the switch (1)/the impedance element (17) and the tube (9');

(j) After appropriate cooling of the heat shrinking foil tube (9') removal of the clamp herefrom;

Ansprüche

1. Bandschalter mit zwei sich in Längsrichtung erstreckenden, angrenzenden elektrischen Kontaktstreifen, die durch eine äußere Abdeckung (2) umgeben sind, die als ein Stück mit Abstandsmitteln (4) gebildet ist, um einen vorbestimmten Spalt (7) zwischen den zwei Kontaktstreifen (5, 6) herbeizuführen, wobei ein erstes und ein zweites Längsende des Bandschalterbauteils mit ersten und zweiten Dichtmitteln (8, 9) versehen sind, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Dichtmittel (8, 9) mittels einer Wärmeschrumpffolie (8', 9') gebildet sind.

2. Bandschalter nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das elektrisch leitende Material rostfreier Strahl ist.

3. Bandschalter nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass einer der Kontaktstreifen (5, 6) im Wesentlichen in einer Querrichtung der sich in Längsrichtung erstreckenden Kontaktstreifen (5) gewellt ist.

4. Bandschalter nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Wärmeschrumpffolie (8', 9') an der inneren Umfangsfläche hiervon mit einem Klebstoff versehen ist.

5. Bandschalter nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die ersten Anschlussmittel (8) erste Kontaktmittel (11, 12, 13) zum Bereitstellen eines elektrischen Kontakts zwischen jedem der zwei Kontaktstreifen (5, 6) und entsprechenden elektrischen Leitern (10', 10'') in einer elektrischen Leitung (10) aufweist.

6. Bandschalter nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die ersten Kontaktmittel eine im Wesentlichen ebene Platte (11) aus dielektrischem Material aufweisen, die auf gegenüberliegenden Seiten mit elektrisch leitfähigen Schichten (12, 13) versehen ist, wobei die Leiter (10', 10'') mit jeder der jeweiligen Schichten (12, 13) verbunden sind.

7. Bandschalter nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zweiten Anschlussmittel (9) zweite Kontaktmittel (14, 15, 16) zum Bereitstellen eines elektrischen Kontakts zwischen jedem der zwei Kontaktstreifen (5, 6) und einem elektrischen Impedanzelement (17), das zwischen den Kontaktstreifen (5, 6) vorgesehen ist, aufweisen.

8. Bandschalter nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zweiten Kontaktmittel eine im Wesentlichen ebene Platte (14) aus dielektrischem Material aufweisen, die auf gegenüberliegenden Seiten mit elektrisch leitfähigen Schichten (15, 16) versehen ist.

9. Bandschalter nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das elektrische Impedanzelement (17) ein Widerstand ist.

10. Verfahren zum Herrichten eines Bandschalters nach Anspruch 1 oder 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass erste und zweite Längsende des Bandschalterbauteils (11) durch Anwendung eines Wärmeschrumpfverfahrens auf die ersten und die zweiten Dichtmittel (8, 9) abgedichtet wird.

11. Verfahren zum Herrichten eines Bandschalters nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte aufweist:

(a) Bereitstellen einer geeigneten Länge des Bandschalterbauteils (1);

(b) Beseitigen einer geeigneten Länge, beispielsweise 10 mm, des Vorsprungs (3) von einem ersten Ende des Bandschalterbauteils (1);

(c) Schieben einer zungenförmigen Kontaktplatte (11), die aus einem dielektrischen Material hergestellt ist und mit einer oberen und einer unteren Schicht (12, 13) aus einem elektrisch leitfähigen Material ausgestattet ist, wo die zwei elektrischen Leiter (10', 10'') einer elektrischen Leitung (10) leitend (beispielsweise durch Löten) mit jeder der Schichten (12, 13) verbunden sind, in den Schalter in der Region (7) zwischen den zwei Kontaktstreifen (5, 6) des Schalters;

(d) Schieben eines Wärmeschrumpffolienschlauchs (8') über das Ende des Schalterbauteils (1), bis zu einem Kontakt mit dem Vorsprung (3);

(e) Bereitstellen von Wärme mittels eines geeigneten Schrumpfwerkzeugs auf den Schlauch (8'), wobei dieser Vorgang in der Figur nicht gezeigt ist, wodurch der innerhalb des Schlauchs (8') vorgesehene Klebstoff geschmolzen und der Schlauch (8') geschrumpft wird, bis eine enge Abdichtung zwischen dem Schalter (1)/der Leitung (10) und dem Schlauch (8') herbeigeführt ist;

(f) Beseitigen einer geeigneten Länge, beispielsweise 10 mm, von dem zweiten - nicht hergerichteten - Ende des Bandschalterbauteils (1);

(g) Schieben einer zungenförmigen Kontaktplatte (14), die aus einem dielektrischen Material hergestellt ist und mit einer oberen und einer unteren Schicht (15, 16) aus einem elektrisch leitfähigen Material versehen ist, zwischen welchen Lagen (12, 13) ein geeignetes elektrisches Impedanzelement (17) wie ein Widerstand, elektrisch verbunden ist, in das Schalterbauteil (1) in der Region (7) zwischen und um die zwei Kontaktstreifen (5, 6) des Schalters;

(h) Zusammenquetschen des Endes des Wärmeschrumpffolienschlauchs (9'), beispielsweise mittels einer Metallklammer oder eines ähnlichen Werkzeugs, das in der Figur nicht gezeigt ist, und Schieben des Wärmeschrumpffolienschlauchs über das zweite Ende des Bandschalterbauteils (1) bis zu einem Kontakt mit dem Vorsprung (3) an dem Bandschalterbauteil (1);

(i) Bereitstellen von Wärme mittels eines geeigneten Schrumpfwerkzeugs auf den Schlauch (9'), wobei dieser Vorgang in der Figur nicht gezeigt ist, wodurch der innerhalb des Schlauchs (9') vorgesehene Klebstoff geschmolzen und der Schlauch (9') geschrumpft wird, bis eine enge Abdichtung zwischen und um den Schalter (1)/das Impedanzelement (17) und dem Schlauch (9') herbeigeführt ist;

(j) nach geeignetem Abkühlen des Wärmeschrumpffolienschlauchs (9'), Beseitigen der Klammer hiervon.

Revendications

1. Contacteur en ruban comprenant deux bandes de contact électrique juxtaposées s'étendant longitudinalement, entourées d'une coiffe externe (2) qui est formée d'une seule pièce comprenant des moyens d'espacement (4) pour établir un intervalle prédéterminé (7) entre lesdites deux bandes de contact (5, 6), où les première et seconde extrémités longitudinales dudit composant de contacteur en ruban sont munies d'un premier et d'un second moyen de scellage (8, 9), caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de scellage (8, 9) sont formés au moyen d'un film thermorétractable (8', 9').

2. Contacteur en ruban selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit matériau conducteur de l'électricité est de l'acier inoxydable.

3. Contacteur en ruban selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce qu'une desdites bandes de contact (5, 6) est ondulée dans une direction sensiblement latérale des bandes de contact (5, 6) s'étendant longitudinalement.

4. Contacteur en ruban selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit film thermorétractable (8', 9') est pourvu, sur sa surface circonférentielle interne, d'un agent adhésif.

5. Contacteur en ruban selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit premier moyens terminal (8) comprend des premiers moyens de contact (11, 12, 13) pour établir un contact électrique entre chacune des deux bandes de contact (5, 6) et des fils électriques correspondants (10', 10") d'un conducteur électrique (10).

6. Contacteur en ruban selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que lesdits premiers moyens de contact comprennent une plaque sensiblement plate (11) de matériau diélectrique munie, sur les faces opposées, de couches conductrices de l'électricité (12, 13), lesdits fils (10', 10") étant connectés à chacune desdites couches (12, 13), respectivement.

7. Contacteur en ruban selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit second moyen terminal (9) comprend des seconds moyens de contact (14, 15, 16) pour établir un contact électrique entre chacune des deux bandes de contact (5, 6) et un élément d'impédance électrique (17) aménagé entre lesdites bandes de contact (5, 6).

8. Contacteur en ruban selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que lesdits seconds moyens de contact comprennent une plaque sensiblement plate (14) de matériau diélectrique pourvue, sur les faces opposées, de couches conductrices de l'électricité (15, 16).

9. Contacteur en ruban selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément d'impédance électrique (17) est une résistance.

10. Procédé d'adaptation d'un contacteur en ruban selon la revendication 1 ou 4, caractérisé en ce que ladite première et ladite seconde extrémité longitudinale dudit composant de contacteur en ruban (1) sont scellées par application d'un procédé de rétraction à chaud auxdits premier et second moyens de scellage (8, 9).

11. Procédé d'adaptation d'un contacteur en ruban selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, caractérisé en ce que ledit procédé comprend les étapes suivantes :

(a) on met en oeuvre une longueur appropriée de composant de contacteur en ruban (1);

(b) on retire une longueur appropriée, par exemple 10 mm, de la saillie (3) d'une première extrémité du composant de contacteur en ruban (1);

(c) on presse une plaque de contact (11) en forme de languette fabriquée à partir d'un matériau diélectrique et munie de couches supérieure et inférieure (12, 13) d'un matériau conducteur de l'électricité, les deux fils électriques (10' et 10") d'un conducteur électrique (10) étant connectés de façon conductrice (par exemple par soudage) à chacune desdites couches (12, 13), respectivement, dans le contacteur, dans la région (7) située entre les deux bandes de contact (5, 6) du contacteur;

(d) on presse un tube (8') formé d'un film thermorétractable sur l'extrémité du composant de contacteur (1) jusqu'à ce qu'il soit en contact avec la saillie (3);

(e) on applique de la chaleur au moyen d'un outil de rétraction approprié audit tube (8') par un procédé non représenté sur les figures, faisant fondre de la sorte l'agent adhésif appliqué à l'intérieur dudit tube (8') et rétractant le tube (8') jusqu'à ce qu'un joint étanche soit établi entre le contacteur (1), le conducteur (10) et le tube (8');

(f) on retire une longueur appropriée, par exemple 10 mm, de la seconde extrémité - non adaptée - du composant de contacteur en ruban (1);

(g) on presse une plaque de contact (14) en forme de languette fabriquée à partir d'un matériau diélectrique et munie de couches supérieure et inférieure (15, 16) d'un matériau conducteur de l'électricité, entre lesquelles couches (12, 13) est connecté électriquement un élément d'impédance électrique (17) approprié, tel qu'une résistance, dans le composant de contacteur (1), dans la région (7) située entre les deux bandes de contact (5, 6) du contacteur et autour de celles-ci;

(h) on assemble par serrage l'extrémité du tube de film thermorétractable (9), par exemple en utilisant une pince métallique ou un outil similaire, non représenté(e) sur les figures, et on presse le tube de film thermorétractable (9') sur la seconde extrémité du composant de contacteur en ruban (1) jusqu'à ce qu'il soit en contact avec la saillie (3) sur le composant de contacteur en ruban (1);

(i) on applique de la chaleur au moyen d'un outil de rétraction approprié audit tube (9') par un procédé non illustré sur les figures, faisant fondre de la sorte l'agent adhésif appliqué à l'intérieur dudit tube (9') et rétractant le tube (9') jusqu'à ce qu'un joint étanche soit établi entre le contacteur (1), l'élément d'impédance (17) et le tube (9') et autour de ceux-ci; et

(j) après avoir refroidi de manière appropriée le tube de film thermorétractable (9'), on en retire la pince.

Drawing