The present invention has as its object a method for connecting together contact surfaces for electric connections.

This invention has been devised for carrying out the mutual connection between contact surfaces of two pieces of different nature (materials, shape, dimensions, etc.) in order to thus make up electric connectors.

Said mutual connection for the formation of electric connectors has been carried out so far by welding through a supply of heat and fusible material or by friction welding through heat generation, this being a drawback.

GB 2 328 804 A discloses a method for connecting together contact surfaces for electric connections in the formation of electric connectors being made up of two pieces of different nature as regards mainly the type of material, the shape, the dimensions and other aspects, wherein one of the pieces is tubular and effects the connection of the electrical lead of the corresponding cable and the other piece is elongated and effects the contact for establishing the connection of items of equipment of the type of transformers, electrical switchboards and the like; the method comprising the following stages: aligning the two pieces in such a way as to have the tubular piece and the elongated piece positioned in a coaxial arrangement; riveting the elongated piece against the tubular piece.

The invention is a method according to claim 1.

With the method of the invention it is not necessary to carry out a weld of any description whatsoever, whether through a supply of fusible material or by friction, since the mutual connection is carried out by means of a riveting operation.

The respective surfaces of the elongated piece and the introduction end of the tubular piece may be smooth and the fitting and introduction of the elongated piece into the inside of the tubular piece through said end may be carried out by snugly sliding it thereinto.

The method may incorporate an intermediary piece between the portion of the elongated piece being located in the inside of the tubular piece and the cavity of the tubular piece adjacent to the introduction end and effects the riveting of said intermediary piece between the two pieces namely being the elongated one and the tubular one.

These and other characterising features will be best made apparent by the following detailed description whose understanding will be made easier by the accompanying sheet of drawings showing a practical embodiment being cited only by way of example not limiting the scope of the present invention.

In the drawings:

• Each of Figs. 1 through 3 illustrates a respective longitudinal section of the mutual connection of two elements of an electric connector as per the method in question.
• Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the area IV of Fig. 3.
• Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the electric connector with its two elements mutually connected.

According to such figures a connector (1) being known in the corresponding art is illustrated in them, this type of connectors comprising a tubular body (2) one of whose ends forms an open end (4), and a connecting element (5) being formed by an elongated piece as a by way of stud having an intermediary annular stop collar (7).

According to the method of the invention this connecting element (5) is previously arranged (see Fig. 1) in an aligned arrangement with respect to the tubular body (2), with its threaded back end (5') facing the also threaded open end (4) of the body (2), to thereupon and in a second stage (Fig. 2) have it threadingly engaged into said open end till the stop collar (7) comes into abutment with it.

The end (5') of the connecting element (5) is sufficiently long as from the stop collar (7) as to once having been fitted to the body (2) project in its inside from the back portion of the open end (4) so as to in a third and last stage (Fig. 3) be riveted against this latter, the body (2) and the element (5) thus being perfectly and solidly connected together.

The detail IV of Fig. 4 illustrates the riveted mutual connection of the method of the present invention.

The tubular body (2) conventionally has in its cylindrical surface a threaded hole (8) with a countersunk outer opening for the fitting of a screw (not shown) preferentially being of the dynamometric screw type and having a predetermined torque for its rupture when being tightened, for the fastening of the electrical lead of the cable to the electric connector, all this in order to prevent any tampering after the fitting operation, said screw being operable for gripping against the inner portion of the body (2) the pertinent electrical lead of the cable (neither shown) being introduced into said body through the free open end being opposite to the open end (4).

The invention provides if necessary for the use of an intermediary piece between the elongated connecting element (5) and the tubular body (2), said intermediary piece being subjected to a riveting operation and being thus deformed and thus connecting together the contact surfaces of both pieces or elements namely being the elongated one (5) and the tubular one (2).