Aircraft and electrical connector for connecting electrical conductors in an aircraft

An electrical connector for connecting electrical conductors in an aircraft, the electrical connector comprising:

• a pin having a first contact surface;
• a socket configured to receive the pin, the socket having a second contact surface that is in contact with the first contact surface of the pin when the pin is in the socket;
• and
• a securing part made of a shape memory alloy configured to exist in a martensite phase and an austenite phase depending on a temperature of the securing part;
• wherein the securing part has a first pre-set shape when the temperature of the securing part is below a first temperature threshold;
• wherein the securing part has a second pre-set shape when the temperature of the securing part is above a second temperature threshold, which is higher than the first temperature threshold;
• wherein the securing part is positioned such that, at least when in the second pre-set shape, the securing part applies a contact force or a clamping force that presses the first contact surface and the second contact surface against each other when the pin is in the socket;
• wherein the contact force or the clamping force applied by the securing part, when in the second pre-set shape, is greater than when the securing part is in the first pre-set shape;
• and
• wherein either:
• the pin comprises:
• a guide part;
• and
• a contact part that includes the first contact surface and is coupled to the guide part to be movable relative to the guide part along a central axis of the pin;
• the contact surface of the pin or the socket includes an inner surface section, and the contact surface of the other one of the pin and the socket includes an outer surface section;
• the inner surface section extends tapered and forms a recess arranged coaxially to the central axis of the pin when the pin is in the socket;
• the outer surface section is formed complementary to the inner surface section, so the recess is configured to receive the outer surface section;
• and
• the securing part is positioned between the guide part and the contact part of the pin and is configured to deform parallel to the central axis, so the securing part, in the second pre-set shape, has a greater axial length than in the first pre-set shape to urge the inner surface section and the outer surface section against each other to increase the clamping force;
• or:
• the pin comprises:
• a shaft;
• and
• a head having a greater outer diameter than the shaft;
• the socket includes an inner space having an opening to receive the head;
• and
• the securing part comprises a canted coil spring, which, when the pin is in the opening, surrounds the shaft of the pin, and, when in the second pre-set shape, defines a smaller inner diameter than when in the first pre-set shape.

An electrical connector for connecting electrical conductors in an aircraft, the electrical connector comprising:

• a pin having a first contact surface;
• a socket configured to receive the pin, the socket having a second contact surface that is in contact with the first contact surface of the pin when the pin is in the socket;
• and
• a securing part made of a shape memory alloy configured to exist in a martensite phase and an austenite phase depending on a temperature of the securing part;
• wherein the securing part has a first pre-set shape when the temperature of the securing part is below a first temperature threshold;
• wherein the securing part has a second pre-set shape when the temperature of the securing part is above a second temperature threshold, which is higher than the first temperature threshold;
• wherein the securing part is positioned such that, at least when in the second pre-set shape, the securing part applies a contact force or a clamping force that presses the first contact surface and the second contact surface against each other when the pin is in the socket;
• wherein the contact force or the clamping force applied by the securing part, when in the second pre-set shape, is greater than when the securing part is in the first pre-set shape;
• and
• wherein the securing part at least partially forms the first contact surface or the second contact surface.