Daimlerchrysler Aerospace Airbus Gmbh

Joachim Pfeiff

Safa Kirma

Wolfgang Erdmann

Heinz Stoever

A system of interconnected heating conductors, suitable for preventing freezing of water lines in an aircraft for example, includes a plurality of heater units (1, 12) electrically coupled together by respective coupling plugs (9, 10). Each heater unit comprises one or more heating conductor bands or cables (2, 21, 22), with a respective socket contact plug (9) connected to one end thereof and a respective pin contact plug (10) connected to the other end thereof. Each plug (9, 10) includes a housing (6) wherein the conductors of the heater band (2) are crimp-connected to electrical connectors (7), which include pin contacts (723) in the case of the pin contact plug (10) and socket contacts (77) in the case of the socket contact plug (9). The housing (6) is completely filled with a sealing compound (19) which is injected through a fill hole in the housing wall. The pin contacts (723) extend outwardly through contact chambers into a female cavity (411) of the plug (10), while the socket contacts (77) extend outwardly through contact chambers in a male plug member (412) of the plug (9). The two plugs may be matingly plugged together, and mechanically secured by locking bails (23) engaging retaining catches (24). This achieves a very effective seal against moisture penetration, and eliminates capillary action even when subjected to vibrations, shock, temperature variations, and low pressure conditions.

Interconnect system for heating conductors in an aircraft

A system of interconnected heating conductors, suitable for preventing freezing of water lines in an aircraft for example, includes a plurality of heater units (1, 12, 14) electrically coupled together by respective extension cables (3) and electrical coupling elements (42). Each heater unit comprises one or more heating conductor bands, tapes or strips (2, 21, 22) connected to respective connection modules (5, 51, 52, 52', 53) at the ends thereof. The connection modules may connect together several heater bands within one heater unit, and may connect the terminal ends of the heater bands of one heater unit to the extension cables by which several respective heater units may be connected together. Each connection module includes a housing (6) enclosing an inner chamber (61) therein, and at least one electrical connector element (7) such as a crimpable connector fixed within the housing (6). The respective conductors of the heater bands (2) and of the extension cables (3) extend into the housing through lead-in openings (64) and are connected together within the housing (6) by the respective connector elements (7). A complete and reliable seal against moisture penetration is achieved by injecting a sealing compound (19) into a fill hole through the housing wall, so that the inner chamber (61) of the housing (6) is completely filled with the sealing compound (19). The sealing effect eliminates capillary action even when subjected to vibrations, shock, temperature variations, and low pressure conditions. The assembly of the connection modules is simple and economical.

Growing community of inventors

Munich, Georgia

Joachim Pfeiff