EP2260545B1 - Female connector element and connector including same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a female element (2) that comprises at least one terminal conduction component and a receptacle (20) for receiving a body (10) of a male element (1) along a longitudinal direction (X2-X′2). The female element (2) has a proximal portion (210) fitted to receive an electric power cable (C2). The receptacle (20) includes a guiding chamber (205) for said body (10) in translation along said longitudinal direction (X2-X′2), and at least one guiding edge for guiding said body (10) revolving around an axis (X1-X′1) of said body (10), the one or each guiding edge being disposed, along said longitudinal direction (X2-X′2), between said guiding chamber (205) and the one or each terminal component. The guiding chamber (205) has a cylindrical form with a circular base circumscribed on a triangular base of the body (10) of the male element (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a female connector element, which is intended to cooperate with a complementary connector male element to ensure the interconnection of electric power cables. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a connector comprising such a male element and such a female element for interconnecting electric power cables.

In the field of high power electrical energy transfer, particularly between a ship and a terminal such as a port facility, a device and a connection method, such as that described by WO-2007/107673 to provide interconnection of electric power cables. Such a connection device implements a connector whose male and female elements are sized according to the electrical power to be transferred.

The connection method according to WO-2007/107673 includes the steps of mooring a towing cable from a ship to a connector member mounted on an electrical power cable from a port terminal, towing this power cable to the ship and interconnecting the connector element equipping this electric power cable with a complementary connector element equipping an electric power cable from the ship.

When these two connector elements, male and female, are coupled, one can operate the transfer of electrical energy from the terminal to the ship, or vice versa.

As the electrical power is high, up to 30 megawatts (MW), such a connection device uses electric power cables having large diameters, of the order of 100 mm, and therefore a linear density of about 15 mm. kg / m, especially in the case where the power line is three-phase. Consequently, the connection device uses particularly heavy and bulky connection means to handle.

However, the connection operations and especially the disconnection of the power line must be able to be performed quickly. However, the weight and rigidity of the electric power cables make these connection operations delicate, so relatively slow to perform. Indeed, the correspondence of the phases of the electrical power cables of the ship and the terminal involves either the use of a connector indifferent to the relative angular orientation of its male and female elements, or the use of an auxiliary device performing the indexing of the phases at the end of the connection operations. In both cases, the connection system uses complex equipment, so expensive, to ensure the interconnection of the male and female elements respectively equipping the power cables.

The document US-A-4,610,564 discloses a female connector member which is adapted to cooperate with a male member for interconnecting electrical cables. The female element has a receptacle for the body of the male element 1. This receptacle comprises a guide chamber 4 of the body 3 in translation. This female connector does not guide the male element in rotation in the female element. The safety and reliability of the transmission of a high power electric current by the connector of US-A-4,610,564 are therefore relatively weak.

The invention aims in particular to remedy these drawbacks, by proposing a female connector element and a connector facilitating the connection operations of the electrical power cables and simplifying in particular the relative guidance of the male and female elements.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a female connector element intended to cooperate with a complementary connector male element for the interconnection of electric power cables, in particular between a ship and a terminal, the female element comprising at least one minus a terminal electrical conduction component and a receptacle which is intended to receive a body of said male element and which extends in a longitudinal direction, the female element having a proximal portion arranged to receive an electric power cable so as to feed electrically the or each terminal component, the receptacle comprising a guide chamber of said body in translation in said longitudinal direction, and at least one guide edge arranged to guide said body in revolution about a longitudinal axis of said body, the or each guide edge being disposed in said longitudinal direction between said guide chamber and the or each terminal component. This female element is characterized in that the guide chamber has a cylindrical shape with a circular base, said circular base being defined by a circle substantially circumscribed to a triangular base of said body of the male element, which is substantially in the form of a prism equilateral triangular basis, and the or each guide edge extends in a plane parallel to the axis of said cylinder, intersecting said cylinder and which is separated from the axis of said cylinder by a distance corresponding substantially to the apothem of said triangular base, the or each guide edge further extending in a direction inclined relative to the axis of said cylinder by an angle between 30 ° and 80 °, preferably between 50 ° and 70 °.

• l'élément femelle comporte, en outre, au moins un rouleau cylindrique, le ou chaque rouleau étant monté mobile en révolution par rapport audit réceptacle, la génératrice interne du ou de chaque rouleau étant apte à former la ou chaque arête de guidage ;
• l'élément femelle comporte trois rouleaux définissant trois arêtes de guidage s'étendant dans trois plans distincts et parallèles à l'axe dudit cylindre, les trois plans formant, en section par un plan perpendiculaire à l'axe dudit cylindre, un triangle correspondant sensiblement à ladite base triangulaire ;
• l'élément femelle comporte, en outre, un boîtier formant un logement pour le ou chaque composant terminal ;
• l'élément femelle comporte, en outre, un tube s'étendant à l'intérieur du boîtier, ledit tube étant adapté pour recevoir un moyen de traction tel qu'une chaîne ou un câble, et au moins un composant terminal présente des surfaces en forme de secteurs annulaires, pour le contact électrique avec le ou chaque organe terminal ;
• le boîtier présente une ouverture distale, l'extrémité distale du tube est équipée d'un collet d'obturation de ladite ouverture distale, ledit tube étant mobile en translation suivant l'axe dudit cylindre et l'élément femelle comporte un organe de rappel en position obturée dudit tube.

According to other advantageous but non-mandatory features of the invention, taken individually or in any technically permissible combination:

• the female element further comprises at least one cylindrical roller, the or each roller being rotatably mounted relative to said receptacle, the internal generatrix of the or each roller being adapted to form the or each guide edge;
• the female element comprises three rollers defining three guide edges extending in three distinct planes and parallel to the axis of said cylinder, the three planes forming, in section by a plane perpendicular to the axis of said cylinder, a substantially corresponding triangle; at said triangular base;
• the female element further comprises a housing forming a housing for the or each terminal component;
• the female element further comprises a tube extending inside the housing, said tube being adapted to receive a traction means such as a chain or a cable, and at least one terminal component has surfaces shaped annular sectors, for electrical contact with the or each terminal member;
• the housing has a distal opening, the distal end of the tube is equipped with a closure collar of said distal opening, said tube being movable in translation along the axis of said cylinder and the female element comprises a return member in the closed position of said tube.

On the other hand, the subject of the invention is a connector, for the interconnection of electrical power cables, in particular between a ship and a terminal, comprising a male element and a female element, characterized in that said female element is such as explained above, in that said male element comprises at least one terminal electrical conduction member and a body forming a housing for the or each terminal member, in that the male element has a proximal portion arranged to receive a electrical power cable, so as to electrically power the or each terminal member, in that said body is substantially in the form of an equilateral triangular base prism, and in that the or each terminal member and the or each terminal component respectively have complementary forms.

• le corps de l'élément mâle présente une face distale globalement perpendiculaire à l'axe dudit prisme, ladite face définissant au moins une arête distale rectiligne ou convexe avec une face dudit prisme ;
• l'élément mâle comporte, en outre, une colonne s'étendant à l'intérieur du corps et le long de l'axe du prisme, le ou chaque organe terminal étant monté sur ladite colonne et au moins un organe terminal présentant au moins une surface en forme de secteur annulaire pour le contact électrique avec le ou chaque composant terminal dudit élément femelle ;
• le corps présente une ouverture distale et l'élément mâle comporte des moyens d'obturation de ladite ouverture distale, lesdits moyens d'obturation étant mobiles à l'intérieur du corps et l'élément mâle comportant des moyens de rappel desdits moyens d'obturation en position obturée ;
• l'extrémité distale de la colonne se trouve dans la région centrale de ladite ouverture distale et définit une ouverture globalement annulaire, les moyens d'obturation comprennent une rondelle ayant la forme de ladite ouverture distale annulaire, ladite rondelle étant apte à coulisser le long de l'axe du prisme et lesdits moyens de rappel comprenant un ressort hélicoïdal travaillant en compression suivant la direction de l'axe ;
• la face distale du corps présente une surface lisse de forme plane ou convexe ;
• ladite colonne comporte un organe de fixation pour attacher un moyen de traction, tel qu'une chaîne ou un câble.

According to other advantageous but non-mandatory features of the invention, taken individually or in any technically permissible combination:

• the body of the male element has a distal face generally perpendicular to the axis of said prism, said face defining at least one rectilinear or convex distal edge with a face of said prism;
• the male element further comprises a column extending inside the body and along the axis of the prism, the or each end member being mounted on said column and at least one terminal member having at least one annular sector-shaped surface for electrical contact with the or each terminal component of said female element;
• the body has a distal opening and the male element comprises means for closing said distal opening, said closure means being movable inside the body and the male element comprising means for returning said closure means in closed position;
• the distal end of the column is in the central region of said distal opening and defines a generally annular opening, the closure means comprise a washer having the shape of said annular distal opening, said washer being able to slide along the axis of the prism and said biasing means comprising a helical spring operating in compression in the direction of the axis;
• the distal face of the body has a smooth surface of flat or convex shape;
• said column comprises a fixing member for attaching a traction means, such as a chain or a cable.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un connecteur conforme à l'invention, avec un élément mâle et un élément femelle conforme à l'invention, à l'état déconnecté ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective et à plus grande échelle d'une partie du connecteur de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de face et à plus grande échelle du connecteur de la figure 1, suivant la ligne IV à la figure 1 ;
• les figures 4, 5 et 6 sont des coupes, selon le plan π à la figure 1, du connecteur des figures 1 à 3 respectivement dans les états déconnecté, en cours de connexion et connecté ; et
• la figure 7 est une vue du connecteur de la figure 6, à plus grande échelle et en section suivant la ligne VIII-VIII à la figure 6.

The invention will be well understood and its advantages will also become apparent in the light of the following description given by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to the invention, with a male element and a female element according to the invention, in the disconnected state;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view and on a larger scale of a part of the connector of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a front view and on a larger scale the connector of the figure 1 following line IV to figure 1 ;
• the Figures 4, 5 and 6 are cuts, according to the plane π at the figure 1 , the connector of Figures 1 to 3 respectively in the disconnected, connected and connected states; and
• the figure 7 is a view of the connector of the figure 6 on a larger scale and in section along line VIII-VIII to figure 6 .

The figure 1 shows a connector C comprising a male element 1 and a female element 2 which are in the disconnected state, that is to say at the beginning of a connection operation or at the end of a disconnection operation.

The male element 1 has a proximal portion 110 arranged to receive a power cable C ₁ connected to a port terminal. Similarly, the female element 2 has a proximal portion 210 arranged to receive a power cable C ₂ connected to the electrical installation of a ship. The terms "proximal" and "distal" refer to the distance of a part relative to the electric power cable to which is connected the element, respectively male or female, to which this part belongs. Thus, a proximal piece is relatively close to the electric cable C ₁ or C ₂ , while a distal piece is further away.

The male element 1 comprises a body 10 which extends generally along an axis X ₁ -X ' ₁ and the female element 2 comprises a receptacle 20 which extends generally along an axis X ₂ -X' ₂ . The axes X ₁ -X ' ₁ and X ₂ -X' ₂ define respective longitudinal directions of the male 1 and female 2 elements. When the male 1 or female 2 elements are in the connected state, as illustrated in FIGS. figures 6 and 7 , the axis X ₁ -X ' ₁ coincides with the axis X ₂ -X' ₂ .

During the connection operations, to bring the male element 1 closer to the female element 2, as shown by the figures 2 and 4 a traction chain 240 is hooked to an attachment ring 140 provided at the distal end of the body 10, and an apparatus such as a winch tows the male element 1 into the female element 2.

As shown by figures 1 and 2 , the body 10 is substantially triangular equilateral base-shaped prism and axis X ₁ -X ' ₁ . By base, is meant a section of the body 10 by a plane perpendicular to the axis X ₁ -X ' ₁ The body 10 has a distal face 120, forming a base of the prism, and longitudinal faces 121, 122 and 123 which are parallel to the axis X ₁ -X ' ₁ . In the embodiment illustrated by the figures, the body 10 has longitudinal edges 104, 105 and 106, corresponding to prism generatrices, which are rounded or "blunted", so as to reduce the contact pressures, thus to facilitate guiding the body 10 on the receptacle 20. The longitudinal edges 104, 105 and 106 separate the longitudinal faces 121, 122 and 123 of the body 10. The latter share with the distal face 120 of the distal edges 124, 125 and 126.

As shown by figures 1 and 3 to 6 the receptacle 20 comprises a generally cylinder-shaped guide chamber 205 with a circular base and an axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ . By base, is meant here a section of the guide chamber by a plane perpendicular to the axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ . When the male 1 and female 2 elements are connected, the guide chamber 205 serves to guide the body 10 in translation along its longitudinal direction constituted here by the axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ . As shown more specifically figure 3 the circular base of the guide chamber 205 is defined by a circle circumscribing the triangular base of the prismatic body. In other words, the triangular base of the body 10 is adjusted, with a functional clearance, in the circular base of the guide chamber 205 of the receptacle 20. The distal end of the receptacle 20 comprises a part frustoconical 204, outwardly flared, which forms a primary guide zone for the body 10.

The receptacle 20 further comprises three similar rollers 221, 222 and 223 which each have a cylindrical shape. Each of the rollers 221, 222 and 223 is rotatably mounted relative to the receptacle 20 and about its respective axis Y ₂₂₁ , Y ₂₂₂ or Y ₂₂₃ . For this, as shown by the figures 2 and 3 , the ends of the rollers 221, 222 and 223 are each equipped with journals 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B and 223A, 223B inserted into respective orifices 221C, 221D, 222C, 222D and 223C, 223D machined in the receptacle 20.

As shown in figure 3 , the generatrices of the rollers 221, 222 and 223 which are turned towards the axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ define respective edges 231, 232 and 233 said internal, since oriented towards the axis X ₂ -X' ₂ . The three inner edges 231, 232 and 233 respectively extend in three distinct planes P ₂₃₁ , P ₂₃₂ and P ₂₃₃ parallel to the axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ . The planes P ₂₃₁ , P ₂₃₂ and P ₂₃₃ form, in section by a plane perpendicular to the axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ , a triangle which corresponds substantially to the triangular base of the body 10.

In addition, each plane P ₂₃₁ , P ₂₃₂ or P ₂₃₃ is separated from the axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ by a respective distance d ₂₃₁ , d ₂₃₂ or d ₂₃₃ which substantially corresponds to the apothem of the triangular base of the body 10. Apothem means the distance separating the center of gravity from the equilateral triangle from one or the other of its sides, in orthogonal projection. The distances d ₂₃₁ , d ₂₃₂ and d ₂₃₃ are defined in projection in a plane perpendicular to the axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ , such that the plane of the figure 3 .

Each inner edge 231, 232 or 233 extends in a direction inclined, with respect to the axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ of the guide chamber 205, of a respective angle α ₂₃₁ , α ₂₃₂ and α ₂₃₃ , represented on the figure 2 which is about 60 °. In practice, each angle α ₂₃₁ , α ₂₃₂ or α ₂₃₃ can be between 30 ° and 80 °, preferably between 50 ° and 70 °. Such an inclination of the edges 231, 232 and 233 makes it possible to print on the body 10 a revolution movement about the axis X ₁ -X ' ₁ .

When introduced into the receptacle 20, the body 10 is first guided by the frustoconical portion 204, then by the guide chamber 205. The X ₁ -X ' ₁ and X ₂ -X' ₂ axes coincide with the functional game near. However, the body 10 is not necessarily properly oriented about its axis X ₁ -X ' ₁ .

As illustrated in figures 2 and 3 , the edges 124, 125 and 126 then come into contact with the rollers 221, 222 and 223. Thanks to the inclination of the rollers 221, 222 and 223, the body 10 is rotated under the effect of the force exerted on the body 10 via the pull chain 240. This rotation combines with its translational movement along the axis X ₁ -X ' ₁ until the faces 121, 122 and 123 of the prism that form the body 10 arrive in angular coincidence with the triangular section defined by the planes P ₂₃₁ , P ₂₃₂ and P ₂₃₃ .

By cooperating with the edges 124, 125 and 126, the rollers 221, 222 and 223 make it possible to guide the body 10 in revolution about its axis X ₁ -X ' ₁ . Each generatrix of each roller 221, 222 and 223 can form a guide edge of the body 10. Following this angular coincidence, the body 10 is guided in translation only, since the inner edges 231, 232 and 233 of the rollers respectively belong to the planes. P ₂₃₁ , P ₂₃₂ and P ₂₃₃ corresponding to the faces 121, 122 and 123 of the prism formed by the body 10.

The orthogonal projections I ₂₃₁ , I ₂₃₂ and I ₂₃₃ of the respective inner edges 231, 232 and 233 of the rollers 221, 222 and 223 on a plane perpendicular to the axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ have lengths greater than those of the sides of the the triangular base of the prism, so that the distal edges 124, 125 and 126 come into contact with a generatrix of the rollers 221, 222 and 223 whatever the initial orientation of the body 10.

As soon as they cooperate with the body 10, the rollers 221, 222 and 223 rotate around their respective axes, which contributes to reducing the friction and thus to ensuring the durability of the device.

Moreover, as shown by Figures 4 to 7 , the male element 1 comprises end members 101, 102 and 103 conductors connected to the electrical cable C ₁ . The body 10 forms a housing for the end members 101, 102 and 103. The end members 101, 102 and 103 are arranged successively along the axis X ₁ -X ' ₁ and around a column 107 which extends inside and in the center of the body 10 and along the axis X ₁ -X ' ₁ .

Similarly, the female element 2 comprises terminal components 201, 202 and 203 conductors connected to the electrical cable C ₂ . The terminal components 201, 202 and 203 are housed inside a housing 206 of cylindrical shape and axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ . The terminal components 201, 202 and 203 are arranged successively along the axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ . In addition, the female element 2 comprises a tube 207 which extends inside the housing 206 and which is in this case coaxial with the axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ . The tube 207 is adapted to pass, in its hollow part, the pull chain 240 which can be attached to the fixing ring 140 located at the distal end of the column 107.

The end members 101, 102 and 103 each have at least one surface for electrical contact with a respective complementary surface of the terminal components 201, 202 and 203. In this case, as shown by the Figures 4 to 7 , the end members 101, 102 and 103 have an annular shape with an outer radial surface for the electrical contact of cylindrical shape and coaxial with the axis X ₁ -X ' ₁ . Likewise, the end components 201, 202 and 203 have an annular shape with an internal radial surface of cylindrical shape and coaxial with the axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ .

The diameter of the outer surface of each end member 101, 102 or 103 substantially corresponds to the diameter of the inner radial surface of each terminal component 201, 202 or 203, so that the electrical contact is made at these internal radial surfaces and external, when connector C is in the connected state, as shown in figures 6 and 7 .

In a known manner, the electrical contact can be achieved by means of conductive strips whose flexibility in the radial direction allows adjustment to the game.

The three end members 101, 102 and 103 of the male element 1 and the three terminal components 201, 202 and 203 of the female element 2 are intended for the interconnection of the electrical cables C ₁ and C ₂ .

The terminal member 103 is for a three-phase electrical connection. As shown in figure 7 it is in fact composed of three annular sectors 103A, 103B and 103C, each of which corresponds to a phase of the three-phase cable C ₁ . Similarly, the terminal component 203 is in fact composed of three annular sectors 203A, 203B and 203C, which each correspond to a phase of the three-phase cable C ₂ .

When the body 10 is correctly oriented about the axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ , the corresponding surfaces of the end member 103 and the terminal component 203 are brought into contact. The end members 101, 102 and the components terminals 201 and 202 can in turn serve to transmit signals between the ship and the terminal of a port facility.

Insofar as the rollers 221, 222 and 223 guide the body 10 during the connection of the male 1 and female 2 elements, the rollers 221, 222 and 223 are mounted, in the receptacle 20, between the guide chamber 205 and the end components 201, 202 and 203, in the longitudinal direction X ₂ -X ' ₂ . Thus, the rollers 221, 222 and 223 give the body 10 an angular orientation for interconnection of the end member 103 with the terminal component 203.

As shown by figures 6 and 7 , the housing 206, of cylindrical shape can fit with the corresponding central portion of the body 10. The body 10 and the housing 206 each have a distal opening to allow, when mutually interlocking, electrical contacts respectively between the terminal members 101, 102 and 103 and the terminal components 201, 202 and 203.

To ensure the tightness of the housing where the end members 101, 102 and 103 are located, with respect to the seawater and / or gas constituting an explosive atmosphere, the male element 1 comprises a washer 108 which is mounted around a neck distal of the column 107, so as to close the distal opening of the body 10.

During the connection illustrated by the Figures 5 and 6 , the washer 108 is movable inside the body 10 against a helical spring 109 working in compression. The spring 109 is mounted co-axially to the axis X ₁ -X ' ₁ , around the column 107 and within a cylindrical wall of the body 10. The spring 109 constitutes a return means of the washer 108 in position as shown in figure 4 . In this position, the distal face 120 of the body 10 is flat and smooth, which avoids the retention of liquid that can be introduced at the level of the electrical contacts during the connection. By smooth means a surface without relief or asperity, so without a liquid retention zone.

The distal collar of the column 107 occupies the central region of the distal opening of the body 10, thereby defining a generally circular annular opening.

Similarly, the female element 2 comprises a shutter assembly of the distal opening of the housing 206, so as to keep the housing of the terminal components 201, 202 and 203 with respect to seawater and / or gas constituting an explosive atmosphere. This closure assembly is formed by a distal collar of the tube 207 which coincides with an annular flange 211 forming the distal portion of the housing 206. The tube 207 is mounted movably inside the housing 206, along the axis X ₂ - X ' ₂ and against a helical spring 209 working in compression. The spring 209 is mounted co-axially to the axis X ₂ -X ' ₂ and around the tube 207, so as to return the tube 207, thus its distal collar, in the closed position, as illustrated in FIG. figure 4 .

During the connection of the male element 1 in the female element 2, the distal collar 111 of the column 107 comes into contact with the distal collar of the tube 207 ( figure 5 ), then pushes the tube 207 against the spring 209, until the end members 101, 102 and 103 come into contact with the terminal components 201, 202 and 203 ( figure 6 ). Conversely, the distal flange 211 of the housing 206 pushes the washer 108 inside the body 110 and against the spring 109. During the disconnection, the moving parts follow an opposite movement, until the sealing is closed. respective distal openings of the body 10 and the housing 206.

A connector according to the invention, which comprises a male element and a female element according to the invention, thus allows a simple and effective guidance of the male element in the female element for the purpose of interconnecting power cables. electric. The connector elements are of relatively simple construction and inexpensive. In addition, the revolution of the male element is limited to a maximum angle of 60 °, before this male element adopts a suitable angular orientation for the connection. Such a partial revolution limits the torsion experienced by the electric power cables to be connected, which increases their service life and that of the parts that connect them to the male and female elements.

The invention has been described herein with a male member body having straight distal edges 124, 125 and 126. Alternatively, these distal edges may be convex when they result from the intersection of the longitudinal faces with a convex or curved distal face. Advantageously, this distal face has a smooth surface, so without any roughness or relief capable of forming a liquid retention zone. Moreover, the present invention can also be applied to the interconnection of four-phase electrical cables. In this case, the body of the male element has the shape of a square-based prism.

Alternatively, the male element of the connector may be connected to a ship, while the female element is connected to a port terminal.

Claims (13)

1. A female connector (C) element (2) intended to engage with a complementary male connector (C) element (1) for the interconnection of electrical power cables (C₁, C₂), in particular between a ship and a terminal, the female element (2) having at least one electrically conductive terminal component (201, 202, 203) and a receptacle (20) intended to receive a body (10) of said male element (1) and extending in a longitudinal direction (X₂-X'₂), the female element (2) having a proximal part (210) designed to receive an electrical power cable (C₂) in order to electrically power the or each terminal component (201, 202, 203), the receptacle (20) including a chamber (205) for guiding said body (10) translationally in said longitudinal direction (X₂-X'₂), and also at least one guide edge (231, 232, 233) designed to guide said body (10) in rotation about a longitudinal axis (X₁-X'₁) of said body (10), the or each guide edge (231, 232, 233) being located, in said longitudinal direction (X₂-X'₂), between said guide chamber (205) and the or each terminal component (201, 202, 203), the female element (2) being characterized in that said guide chamber (205) is in the form of a cylinder having a circular base, said circular base being defined by a circle approximately circumscribed about a triangular base of said body (10) of the male element (1), which is approximately in the form of a prism having an equilateral triangular base, and in that the or each guide edge (231, 232, 233) extends in a plane (P₂₃₁, P₂₃₂, P₂₃₃) parallel to the axis (X₂-X'₂) of said cylinder, intersecting said cylinder and spaced apart from the axis (X₂-X'₂) of said cylinder by a distance (d₂₃₁, d₂₃₂, d₂₃₃) corresponding approximately to the apothem of said triangular base, the or each guide edge (231, 232, 233) extending, furthermore, in a direction (Y₂₂₁, Y₂₂₂, Y₂₂₃) inclined with respect to the axis (X₂-X'₂) of said cylinder at an angle (α₂₃₁, α₂₃₂, α₂₃₃) of between 30° and 80°, preferably between 50° and 70°.
2. The female connector (C) element (2) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it furthermore comprises at least one cylindrical roller (221, 222, 223), the or each roller (221, 222, 223) being mounted such that it can rotate with respect to said receptacle (20), the inner generatrix (231, 232, 233) of the or each roller (221, 222, 223) being able to form the or each guide edge (231, 232, 233).
3. The female connector (C) element (2) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that it comprises three rollers (221, 222, 223) defining three guide edges (231, 232, 233) extending in three different planes (P₂₃₁, P₂₃₂, P₂₃₃) parallel to the axis (X₂-X'₂) of said cylinder, the three planes (P₂₃₁, P₂₃₂, P₂₃₃) forming, in section through a plane perpendicular to the axis (X₂-X'₂) of said cylinder, a triangle corresponding approximately to said triangular base.
4. The female connector (C) element (2) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it furthermore comprises a case (206) forming a housing for the or each terminal component (201, 202, 203).
5. The female connector (C) element (2) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that it furthermore comprises a tube (207) extending inside the case (206), said tube (207) being suitable for holding a traction means such as a chain (240) or a cable, and in that at least one terminal component (201, 202, 203) has surfaces in the form of annular sectors (201A, 201B, 201C) for electrical contact with the or each terminal member (101, 102, 103).
6. The female connector (C) element (2) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the case (206) has a distal opening, in that the distal end of the tube (207) is equipped with a flange for closing off said distal opening, said tube (207) being able to move translationally along the axis (X₂-X'₂) of said cylinder, and in that the female element (2) has a member (209) for returning said tube (207) to the closed-off position.
7. A connector (C) for the interconnection of electrical power cables, in particular between a ship and a terminal, including a male element (1) and a female element (2), characterized in that said female element (2) is as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, in that said male element (1) has at least one electrically conductive terminal member (101, 102, 103) and a body (10) forming a housing for the or each terminal member (101, 102, 103), in that the male element (1) has a proximal part (110) designed to take an electrical power cable (C₁) in order to electrically power the or each terminal member (101, 102, 103), in that said body (10) is approximately in the form of a prism having an equilateral triangular base, and in that the or each terminal member (101, 102, 103) and the or each terminal component (201, 202, 203) have respectively complementary forms.
8. The connector (C) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the body (10) of the male element (1) has a distal face (120) which is generally perpendicular to the axis (X₁-X'₁) of said prism, said face (120) defining at least one rectilinear or convex distal edge (124, 125, 126) with a face (121, 122, 123) of said prism.
9. The connector (C) as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the male element (1) furthermore comprises a column (107) extending inside the body (10) and along the axis (X₁-X'₁) of the prism, in that the or each terminal member (101, 102, 103) is mounted on said column (107), and in that at least one terminal member (101, 102, 103) has at least one surface in the form of an annular sector for electrical contact with the or each terminal component (201, 202, 203) of said female element (2).
10. The connector (C) as claimed in one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the body (10) has a distal opening, in that the male element (1) has means (108) for closing off said distal opening, said closing-off means (108) being able to move inside the body (10), and in that the male element (1) has means (109) for returning said closing-off means (108) to the closed-off position.
11. The connector (C) as claimed in claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the distal end (111) of the column (107) is located in the central region of said distal opening and defines a generally annular opening, in that the closing-off means comprise a washer (108) having the form of said annular distal opening, said washer (108) being able to slide along the axis (X₁-X'₁) of the prism, and in that said return means include a helical spring (109) worming in compression in the direction of the axis (X₁-X'₁).
12. The connector (C) as claimed in one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the distal face (12) of the body (10) has a smooth surface having a planar or convex form.
13. The connector (C) as claimed in one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that said column (107) comprises a fastening member (140) for attaching a traction means such as a chain (240) or a cable.

Images