AU2003264621B2

AU2003264621B2 - Device for electrical connection of a modular electrical equipment unit to a connecting comb or similar

Info

Publication number: AU2003264621B2
Application number: AU2003264621A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jean Caire; Didier Lebouc; Catherine Maulat
Original assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Current assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Priority date: 2002-11-29
Filing date: 2003-11-28
Publication date: 2007-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-28
Also published as: UA78205C2; FR2848029B1; MA26170A1; DE60310351T2; EP1424756A1; DE60310351D1; EA006288B1; EA200301196A1; AU2003264621A1; FR2848029A1; CN1518164A; ES2278130T3; EP1424756B1; ATE348428T1; TNSN03093A1; CN1518164B; SI1424756T1

Abstract

The axis of precise rotation and the point of connection of the conductors (8) of the apparatus with the conductors of the connection terminal P, are situated from one same side of the rear face (3) of the apparatus A w.r.t the central support axis. The connection device for electrically connecting a modular electric apparatus A to a connection terminal P, this apparatus A being lodged in a casing (1) in a parallelopiped form having a rear face (3) of fixation to a mounting support and having a rigid conductor (8) situated on this rear face of the apparatus, this apparatus A and this connection terminal P both adapted, at the moment of operation of the connection, to be mounted in rotation one with respect to the other between a position of disconnection and a position of connection of the conductors (8) of the apparatus, with conductors belonging to the connection terminal P.

Description

DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTION OF A MODULAR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT UNIT TO A CONNECTING COMB OR SIMILAR.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to a device for electrical connection of a modular electrical equipment unit to a connecting comb or similar, said equipment unit being housed in a case of substantially parallelepipedic shape comprising a rear panel for fixing to a mounting support and comprising at least one rigid conductor located on said rear panel of the equipment unit, said unit and said comb being able, when the connection operation is performed, to be fitted rotationally with respect to one another around a rotation axis between a disconnected position and a connected position of the conductor(s) of the equipment unit with a conductor (conductors) belonging to the comb.

Electrical power supply of the modular equipment units can be performed by combs equipped with teeth that are secured in connection terminals or screws. In order to simplify this connection and make it reliable, the connection can be achieved by plugging the conductors of the equipment units into flexible grips provided inside the combs. This plugin operation can be performed by means of a translation movement. This type of plug-in requires a fairly appreciable force from the operator and results in a large thrust being exerted on the comb and its support. This operation is therefore irksome and may give rise to deformations of the supports such as the rails or the combs, as these supports are achieved in the form of sections presenting a good flexural strength but a very low torsional strength. This operation may moreover result in incomplete and therefore dangerous assembly. This plug-in operation can also be performed by means of a rotation O movement. Modular equipment units are for example known comprising on their N rear panel for fixing to a fixing support, a conductor in the form of a grip and a means, also in the form of a grip, for mounting the equipment unit in rotation around a spindle provided on the comb, this conductor and these means for S 5 mounting in rotation being located respectively at the two opposite ends of the rear panel of the unit respectively near to the top panel and the bottom panel of c the unit. In this type of equipment unit, the plug-in forces have been geared down using the leverage principle. This results in the forces required to perform plug-in N and the forces transmitted to the supports being reduced. These forces still 0 10 however remain too high.

Summary of the invention The present invention solves these problems and proposes a device for electrical connection of a modular equipment unit to a connecting comb, wherein the forces transmitted to the mechanical supports are reduced, the convenience for the operator is improved, and the reliability of plug-in is greater.

For this purpose, the object of the present invention is to provide a device for electrical connection of the previously mentioned kind, this device being characterized in that the axis of rotation and the connection point of the conductor(s) with the conductor(s) of the comb are located on the same side of the rear panel of the equipment unit with respect to the central axis of the support.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for electrical connection of a modular electrical equipment unit to a power supply comb, said equipment unit being housed in a case of substantially parallelepipedic shape including a rear panel for fixing to a mounting rail and including at least one rigid conductor located on said rear panel of the unit, said unit and said comb being able, at the time the connection operation is performed, to be fitted rotationally with respect to one another around a rotation axis between a disconnected position and a connected position of the conductor(s) of the equipment unit with one of the conductor(s) belonging to the comb, wherein the above-mentioned axis of rotation and the connection point of the conductor(s) of the equipment unit with the conductor(s) of the comb are located on the rear panel of the unit, on the 2a same side of said rear panel of the equipment unit with respect to the central axis c< of the rail.

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3 According to a particular carrying out of the invention, the above-mentioned axis of rotation is located farther from the central axis of the support than from the connection point of the conductor(s) on the comb.

According to a particular feature, the above-mentioned connection point is located between the axis of rotation and the central axis of the support.

According to another feature, this device comprise a swivel-pin provided on the equipment unit or on the comb designed to cooperate with a bearing surface provided on the comb or respectively the equipment unit, so that said surface performs guiding of the swivel-pin in rotation with respect to the comb between the two above-mentioned positions of the equipment unit.

Brief description of the drawings But other advantages and features of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description which refers to the accompanying drawings given for example purposes only and in which: -Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a modular electrical equipment unit comprising a part of a connecting device according to the invention, -Figures 2, 3 and 4 are partial perspective views of a modular equipment unit and of a connecting comb equipped with a connecting device according to the invention, the figures 4 respectively illustrating the device in a position prior to connection, in an intermediate connection position and in a connected position, -Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a comb and of a modular equipment unit equipped with a connecting device according to the invention, in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the comb, in a connected position of the connecting device, -Figure 6 is a partial top view of a comb and of a modular electrical equipment unit equipped with a connecting device according to the invention, in the connected position of the connecting device, and -Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a modular equipment unit connected to a comb by means of a device according to the invention, illustrating the torsion torque exerted on the rail.

Description of a preferred embodiment In the figures, a modular electrical equipment unit A, a circuit breaker, can be seen designed to be electrically supplied by a connecting comb P by means of an electrical connecting device D according to the invention. This electrical equipment unit A is housed in a case 1 of substantially parallelepipedic shape comprising a front panel 2 comprising actuating means of the equipment unit A, a rear panel 3 by means of which the equipment unit A can be fixed onto a fixing rail R (represented in figure two parallel side panels via which two equipment units A fitted side by side on the rail can be adjoined, a top panel 6 and a bottom panel 7. This equipment unit A comprises, on its rear panel 3, two electrical conductors 8,9 formed by pins designed to be brought into contact respectively with two conductors of the comb P (only one 10 whereof can be seen in figure said conductors being formed by contact grips.

This connecting comb P is also housed in a case comprising five compartments 11,12,13, 14,15 each designed to cooperate with an equipment unit A of the above-mentioned type.

As can be seen in figures 2 to 5, each compartment 11 to 15 comprises two orifices 16,17 in the form of slots designed to respectively enable the two conductors 8,9 of the equipment unit A to be inserted, each orifice 16,17 being located facing a grip 10 located inside the compartment, as can be seen in figure 5, the connection achieved being of the plug-in type.

The above-mentioned electrical connection device D comprises means for fitting the equipment unit A in rotation with respect to the comb P around an axis X (figure 7) substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the comb P and to the mid-axis Y of the rail R. According to the invention, the axis of rotation X and the above-mentioned conductors 8,9, i.e. the connection point C, are located on one and the same side of the rear panel 3 of the equipment unit A with respect to the mid-axis Y of the rail R. For this purpose, the equipment unit A comprises a salient part 18 located at the intersection between its top panel 6 and its rear panel 3, said salient part 18 comprising the abovementioned conductors 8,9 and a centering swivel-pin 19, said swivel-pin 19 constituting the above-mentioned axis of rotation X. Said conductors 8,9 and the centering swivel-pin 19 are salient from the rear panel 3 of the equipment unit A. The centering swivel-pin 19, constituting the above-mentioned axis of rotation, is moulded with the case 1 of the equipment unit and is therefore made of non-conducting material. This swivel-pin is 6 located at one of the ends of the rear panel 3, and the conductors 8,9 are located between the swivel-pin 19 and the rail R.

This centering swivel-pin 19 is fitted at the end of an arched-shaped arm 20 extending from the rear panel 3 of the equipment unit A. This swivel-pin 19 is formed by a grip with a cross-section in the form of a water droplet, the rounded part 21 being oriented towards the rear panel 3 of the equipment unit, whereas the pointed part 22 is oriented towards the side opposite the rear panel 3.

This swivel-pin 19 is designed to cooperate with a bearing surface 23,24,25,26,27 provided on the comb P and forming a support for said swivel-pin 19 in rotation. This bearing surface 23 to 27 is provided at the bottom of an opening 28,29,30,31,32 made in each compartment 11 to 15 and presents a funnel shape. This particular shape of the bearing surface 23 to 27, in cooperation with the shape of the swivel-pin 19, constitutes means for centering the swivel-pin and therefore the equipment unit A with respect to the comb P, designed to achieve good lateral positioning of the equipment units A in a direction parallel to the axis of the comb P, and in particular of the conductors 8,9 with respect to the grips belonging to the comb P. The electrical connection operation of a modular equipment unit A onto a comb P by means of a device D according to the invention will be described in the following: The equipment unit A is first of all moved close to the comb P and the centering swivel-pin 19 inserted in the opening 28 to 32 of the corresponding compartment 11 to 15, in such a way that this swivel-pin 19 is in contact with the bearing surface 23 to 27 provided in this compartment 11 to 15, which forms a support for the swivel-pin 19 in rotation. Then the equipment unit A is moved in clockwise rotation. During this movement, the conductors 7 8,9 are inserted in the slots 16,17 and are received in the contact grips 10 so as to make the connection of the equipment unit A to the comb P.

As can be seen in figure 7, the torsion torque T of the rail R during this connection operation is practically zero as illustrated by the following formula: T=(D 1 xF 1 )+(D2xF2).

In this formula, D1 represents the distance between the connection point C and the midaxis Y du rail R. Fl represents the plug-in force. D2 represents the distance between the axis of rotation X of the equipment unit A with respect to the comb P and the mid-axis Y of the rail R. F2 represents the force exerted at the level of the swivel-pin.

The axis of rotation X of the equipment unit A is in fact situated farther from the mid-axis Y of the rail R than from the plug-in point C on the comb P.

This new positioning of the axis of rotation X thus procures a greater reduction of the plugin forces. The proposed embodiment neutralizes the torsion efforts on the rail and comb.

This results in a reduction of the stresses transmitted to the mechanical supports that the rail and comb represent, and an improved convenience for the operator who performs a gentler natural movement exerting less force. The reliability of the plug-in position is also enhanced, which is independent from the force exerted by the operator but is then guaranteed by the construction.

It can also be noted that the necessity of providing securing on the DIN rail is eliminated on the side where the bearing point is located, i.e. on the centering swivel-pin side. The abovementioned swivel-pin, whether it be arranged on the equipment unit or, according to another embodiment, on the comb, in fact cooperates with a bearing surface of the comb or respectively of the equipment unit, to perform securing of the equipment unit on the O support, in conjunction with a catch situated on the other side of the rear panel Swith respect to the support and cooperating with the support.

O The position and the lateral securing of each equipment unit are performed by the bearing point system achieved by the swivel-pin.

S 5 The salient part of the modular equipment unit not only allows an easier rotational movement of the equipment unit, but also provides a better accessibility N and enhanced ergonomics when the equipment unit is plugged-in.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and N illustrated which have been given for example purposes only.

Thus the swivel-pin could equally as well have been provided on the comb Sand cooperate with a bearing surface achieved on the equipment unit, and thus the comb could have been fitted in rotation with respect to the equipment unit fitted beforehand on the rail, the conducting grips equally as well being able to be provided on the equipment unit as on the comb, as is true of the contact pins.

On the contrary, the invention extends to encompass all the technical equivalents of the means described and any combinations thereof if the latter are achieved according to the spirit of the invention.

Comprises/comprising and grammatical variations thereof when used in this specification are to be taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

1. A device for electrical connection of a modular electrical equipment unit to a power supply comb, said equipment unit being housed in a case of substantially Oparallelepipedic shape including a rear panel for fixing to a mounting rail and including at least one rigid conductor located on said rear panel of the unit, said unit and said comb being able, at the time the connection operation is performed, to be fitted rotationally with respect to one another around a rotation axis between c a disconnected position and a connected position of the conductor(s) of the Sequipment unit with one of the conductor(s) belonging to the comb, wherein the above-mentioned axis of rotation and the connection point of the conductor(s) of the equipment unit with the conductor(s) of the comb are located on the rear panel of the unit, on the same side of said rear panel of the equipment unit with respect to the central axis of the rail.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of the equipment unit with respect to the comb is farther from the central axis of the rail than from the above-mentioned connection point.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the above-mentioned connection point is located between the axis of rotation of the equipment unit with respect to the comb and the central axis of the above-mentioned rail.

4. The device according to any one of the foregoing claims, further including a swivel-pin provided on the equipment unit or on the comb and designed to cooperate with a bearing surface provided on the comb, or respectively on the equipment unit, so that said bearing surface performs guiding of the swivel-pin in rotation between the two above-mentioned positions of the equipment unit.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the above-mentioned swivel-pin and the comb include means for centering the equipment unit with respect to the comb, said means performing lateral positioning of the equipment unit with respect to the comb in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the comb. t--

6. The device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the above-mentioned swivel- Spin being supported by the equipment unit, this swivel-pin is moulded with the Scase of the equipment unit.

7. The device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the above- mentioned swivel-pin, arranged on the equipment unit or on the comb, N cooperates with a bearing surface of the comb or respectively of the equipment unit, to perform securing of the equipment unit on the rail, in conjunction with a INO Scatch situated on the other side of the rear panel with respect to the rail and Scooperating with the rail.

8. The device according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the above-mentioned connection is of the plug-in type.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the conductor(s) of the equipment unit is/are formed by a pin/pins, whereas the conductor(s) of the comb is/are formed by a contact grip/grips.

10. An electrical connection device substatically as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS P23343AU00