CN107799987B

CN107799987B - Electrical connection device and dual switching system comprising two such devices

Info

Publication number: CN107799987B
Application number: CN201710795375.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M·布吕耶尔
Original assignee: Somfy Activites SA
Current assignee: Somfy Activites SA
Priority date: 2016-09-06
Filing date: 2017-09-06
Publication date: 2020-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2037-09-06
Also published as: CN107799987A; EP3291376B1; FR3055746A1; FR3055746B1; EP3291376A1

Abstract

An electrical connection device and a dual switch system including two such devices. An electrical connection device (2) for cables (C2, C4, C6) comprises an electrically insulating housing (4) and at least one actuating lever (12) which is articulated on the housing about a pivot axis (X12) and comprises an elongate actuating lever arm (124) which extends along a longitudinal axis (A12) between the pivot axis and a free end of the actuating lever arm. The device-side surface (2C) is provided with at least one receptacle (10) for insertion of a stripped end of a cable along a cable insertion axis (Y10), the receptacle (10) opening into the inner volume of the housing (4). Pivoting of the lever enables the lever to move from a first position, referred to as the open position, in which it allows the stripped end of a cable (C2) to be inserted into the interior volume through the receptacle (10) of the side surface (2C), to a second position, referred to as the closed position, in which the lever prevents the stripped end of a previously inserted cable from coming out of the interior volume of the housing. The joystick (12) also includes a grip region (126) positioned at the free end of the joystick arm (124). When the lever (12) is in a second position, referred to as the closed position, the grip region (126) is laterally offset parallel to the pivot axis (X12) from an axis (Y22) that is radial with respect to the pivot axis and passes through an intersection point (P12) between the pivot axis (X12) and the arm longitudinal axis (a 12).

Description

Electrical connection device and dual switching system comprising two such devices

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electrical connection device for cables and a dual switching system comprising two such devices.

Background

In the field of connecting cables, there are a number of quick connector solutions which allow to simplify the cable installation with respect to connector solutions using screws in which the cable end tabs or the stripped ends of the wires are clamped between two metal elements by means of screws.

The connector element described below is an element for fixing at least two electrical elements. The stripped end of the cable, once inserted in an area of the quick-connect device, comes into contact with the electrical connection belonging to said device. Furthermore, the connection portion is connected with the electrical equipment member, for example, by means of electrical tracks of a printed circuit board on which the device is inserted, or the connection portion may be electrically connected with a second cable whose end is inserted in an adjacent region of the same device.

Different types of quick-connect devices are known and are mentioned below:

a quick-insertion device is provided for use with a rigid wire that has been previously stripped over a length. Simply pressing the wires into the device is sufficient to make the electrical connection. No simple wire removal is provided; a tool may be necessary.

Spring or "push-in" devices, for which it is necessary to press an element against the action of the spring in order to open a passage for the stripped end of the wire between the two jaws. When the element is released, the wire is held by the jaws.

Lever type devices, in which switching the lever to a first position, called the open position, allows opening of the jaws for receiving the stripped end of the electrical wire or the electrical contact, and returning the lever to a second position, called the closed position, allows closing of the jaws onto the stripped end of the electrical wire or the electrical contact, thus providing an electrical connection. The closed position of the lever is preferably an idle position, the other position being temporary. A spring or cam and spring assembly holds the lever in the closed position. It is therefore necessary to have access to the free end of the operating lever, also called the grip region, in order to lift it against the action of the spring. In particular in the case of a joystick, the electric wire may be inserted on the opposite side of the device or on the same side with respect to the grip region of the joystick. Which in turn may be part of a jaw holding the cable.

Lever-type quick-connect devices are known from document EP- ｃA-2325947. The device comprises an array of levers, each lever acting on a curved spring plate. The forward face of the device includes a receptacle for the stripped end of the cable. When the lever corresponding to the first hole is lifted, stress is applied to the spring plate and the hole is released to insert the stripped end of the cable therein. When the lever is depressed again, the stress on the spring tabs increases, which in turn locks the wires between the inner metal surface of the device and the spring seat. The spring plate also acts as an electrical conductor.

This makes the lever act on the spring plate and the claw for holding the electric wire in the device easier to open when the pivot axis of the lever is located directly above the insertion region of the stripped end of the cable, in other words when the grip region of the lever is located at the surface opposite to the side surface of the device where the electric wire is inserted.

However, in this case, actuating the lever can be awkward, especially if the two devices are placed back-to-back in the same mounting box to create, in particular, a double switch.

In fact, when two quick-connect devices comprising a lever to be lifted, the pivot axis of which is at the cable insertion region, are mounted adjacent to each other in a mounting box or in a small space, they must be mounted so that the electric wires are inserted on both sides of the assembly formed by the two devices. Thus, they are mounted back-to-back. In practice, it is not possible to insert wires between the two devices, since these are in close proximity so as to be able to fit in the mounting box of a standard switch. The grip areas of the joystick then face each other, while the free space between these areas is very small, it is rather difficult, if not impossible, to manipulate the stick without tools.

A deformable lever of a connecting device is also known from document DE-a-102014119416 for moving the lever from an open position to a closed position. In its closed position, the grip area of the lever is aligned with the arm of the lever, which makes it awkward to manipulate the lever for the same reasons as described previously.

Alternatively, the pivot axis of the lever may be disposed opposite the cable insertion region. In other words, the grip area of the lever is located on the side of the device-side surface where the electric wire is inserted. Actuation of the lever is adversely affected by the need to insert a finger or tool into an area below the grip area of the lever, which is positioned in alignment with the cable, particularly in the event of cable repositioning, and is therefore hindered by the presence of the cable itself.

In all three construction cases, the grip of the lever of the quick-connect device may appear awkward.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to solve the above problems and improve the existing solutions.

To this end, the invention relates to an electrical connection device for a cable, comprising an electrically insulating housing and at least one actuating lever, which is articulated on the housing about a pivot axis and comprises an elongate actuating lever arm, which extends along a longitudinal axis between the pivot axis and a first free end of the actuating lever arm. One side surface of the electrical connection device is provided with at least one cable insertion hole for insertion of a stripped end of a cable along a cable insertion axis, the cable insertion hole leading to the interior volume of the housing. Pivoting of the lever enables the lever to move from a first position, referred to as the open position, in which it allows the stripped end of the cable to be inserted into the internal volume through the receptacle of the side surface, to a second position, referred to as the closed position, in which it prevents the stripped end of the previously inserted cable from coming out of the internal volume of the housing. The joystick further includes a grip region positioned at the free end of the joystick arm. According to the invention, when the lever is in a second position, called the closed position, the grip region is laterally offset, parallel to the pivot axis, with respect to an axis radial to the pivot axis, passing through the intersection between the pivot axis and the longitudinal axis of said lever arm.

Thanks to the invention, when the lever is in the second position, called closed position, the grip region of the lever is laterally offset with respect to the radial axis, and it is easy to reach the grip region in different positions of the lever, in particular in its second position, called closed position, making the device easier to handle.

According to an advantageous, but optional aspect of the invention, such a device may comprise one or more of the following features, considered in any technically feasible combination:

said axis, radial with respect to the pivot axis of the lever, is parallel to the cable insertion axis, which in turn coincides with the axis of the respective cable insertion hole and is perpendicular to the side surface of the housing where the cable insertion hole is arranged.

Optionally, the housing comprises two cable receptacles for insertion of cables into the interior volume; the cable insertion axis is parallel to the central axes of the two cable insertion holes, is equidistant from the two central axes of the two cable insertion holes, and is perpendicular to the side surface of the housing where the cable insertion holes are provided; and said axis radial to the pivot axis of the lever is parallel to the cable insertion axis.

-the longitudinal axis of the lever arm and the axis radial to the pivot axis are contained in the same plane perpendicular to the pivot axis; the grip region of the joystick is offset along the pivot axis relative to the axis of the joystick.

-the longitudinal axis of the lever arm and said axis radial to the pivot axis are not parallel, the grip area of the lever being on an extension of the lever arm along the longitudinal axis.

When the lever is in a first position, called open position, or in a second position, called closed position, the grip region projects beyond the casing beyond one of the lateral surfaces of the casing.

When the lever is in the first position, called open position, or in the second position, called closed position, the grip region of the lever is inclined with respect to a plane parallel to the surface of the housing defining the pivot axis.

-the gripping area is inclined in a direction away from the surface of the housing defining the pivot axis with distance from the pivot axis.

When the lever is in a first position, called open position, or in a second position, called closed position, the grip area is positioned in line with the side surface of the casing where the cable insertion hole is provided.

Alternatively, when the lever is in a first position, called open position, or in a second position, called closed position, the gripping area is positioned in alignment with a side surface of the casing opposite to the side surface where the cable insertion hole is provided.

The device comprises at least one second joystick; the two levers are mounted side by side and the pivot axes of the two levers are parallel; and the grip regions of the two levers are each equally offset with respect to an axis passing through the intersection between the pivot axis of the respective lever and the longitudinal axis of the lever arm and radial with respect to the pivot axis. The fact that the grip areas of the two levers are equally offset makes these grip areas more easily accessible with the fingers, including in the case of devices comprising more than two levers, in particular with three levers, which corresponds to the case in which the central lever is clamped between the two end levers.

Each lever is monolithic and rigid and has the same geometry in a first position, called open position, and in a second position, called closed position.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a dual switching system comprising two devices, the system being such that:

-the device is an electrical connection device as described above,

the two devices are mounted on a support with their side surfaces provided with at least one cable insertion hole facing away from each other,

wherein two levers, each belonging to a respective one of the devices, are mounted facing each other,

-the axes that are radial with respect to the pivot axis and that pass through the intersection between the pivot axis of each of the two levers and the longitudinal axis of the lever arm are coincident into a common axis,

the levers of the two devices are arranged with their grip areas aligned with the facing side surfaces of the two devices,

the grip areas of the two levers facing each other are offset with respect to each other on both sides of a common axis along the pivot axis of one of the two levers.

Thanks to the invention, the levers of the dual switching system are arranged in a "chevron" shape, making it easier to lift the free end of the lever, in particular when the grip area of the lever is close to the middle area between the two devices. This facilitates the pivoting of the levers from their respective second positions to their respective first positions.

Advantageously, the two devices are mounted back-to-back and are identical. Due to the back-to-back mounting of the two devices, which is achieved by turning one of the two devices over, the grip areas of the levers arranged at the same height are laterally offset with respect to each other on both sides of the common axis without any other manipulation. The size of the dual switch system is thus optimized and the ease of access to the joystick is improved. A single device is necessary to construct a dual switching system, which is advantageous in the industrial field.

Drawings

The invention will be better understood and other advantages will be more clearly apparent from the following description of an embodiment of a two-switch system and device according to the invention, provided purely as a non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention;

figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of figure 1 from another angle;

figure 3 is a side view of the device shown in figures 1 and 2;

figure 4 is a rear side view of the device shown in figures 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line V-V in FIG. 4;

figure 6 is a perspective view of the device cut in the plane of figure 5;

figures 7 to 9 are cross-sectional views taken along the lines VII-VII, VIII-VIII and IX-IX, respectively, in figure 4;

figure 10 is a rear view similar to figure 4, with the device in a second operating configuration;

fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the joystick of the device in fig. 1 to 10;

fig. 12 is a perspective view of the joystick of fig. 1 to 11, with its insulating casing omitted;

figure 13 is a front perspective view of a dual switching system according to the present invention;

figure 14 is a rear view of the dual switching system of figure 13;

figure 15 is a rear view similar to figure 14, with the dual switching system in another operating configuration; and

figure 16 is a rear perspective view of the switching system in the configuration of figure 15.

Detailed Description

The device 2 shown in fig. 1 to 12 comprises a housing 4, the housing 4 being made of an electrically insulating material, i.e. a material that prevents the passage of electric current when it is subjected to a voltage corresponding to its normal conditions of use.

The device 2 is used to allow the connection of cables. As shown in fig. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 to 9 and 12, three cables C2, C4 and C6 are mounted on the device 2. These cables are omitted from figures 3, 6 and 10 to make the drawings clearer. In practice, the number of cables mounted on the device 2 depends on the desired application of the device.

In the example of the figures, the device 2 is part of a switch that can be used to control the motor driving the closing or sunshade screen during the upward or downward movement. For this purpose, the device 2 is equipped with two

push rods

6 and 8 which allow selective movement of contact pads, not shown, arranged in the housing 4.

The device 2 defines: a forward face 2A at which push

rods

6 and 8 are disposed; a rear surface 2B opposite the forward surface; a first side surface 2C and a second side surface 2D opposite to the first side surface 2C; a first front surface 2E and a second front surface 2F opposite to said first front surface 2E. The side surfaces are end surfaces, generally parallel to each other. The surfaces 2B to 2F correspond to the walls of the housing 4.

Six insertion holes 10 are provided on the side surface 2C for inserting the stripped ends of the cables into the housing. These insertion holes 10 are arranged in groups of two adjacent to the rear surface 2B.

The three

levers

12, 14, 16 are hinged on the casing, more particularly at the rear surface 2B, each about a pivot axis respectively denoted X12, X14 and X16. In this example, the axes X12 and X16 of the two end levers closest to the

surfaces

2E and 2F are coincident, while the axis X14 of the intermediate lever 14 is parallel to the axes X12 and X14, but offset with respect to the axes X12 and X14, while being further from the forward face 2A than these axes X12 and X14. This bias, associated with one possible design of the device, is an exemplary embodiment. This results from the stepped nature of the rear surface 2B, since the housing 4 comprises a projection 4B in which said axis X14 is defined centrally of the rear surface 2B. In practice, the axes X12, X14 and X16 are defined by the casing 4.

Alternatively, the axes X12 and X16 are not coincident, but are parallel to each other and laterally offset with respect to each other. Alternatively, the three axes X12, X14 and X16 coincide.

The

joysticks

12, 14 and 16 are identical. Only the joystick 12 will be described in detail with reference to fig. 11. The lever comprises two circular bearings 122 centred on an axis X12 and cooperating with a circular seat, not shown, provided in the housing 4 at the rear surface 2B of the device to guide the lever 12 in pivoting about this axis. The joystick 12 also includes an arm 124, the arm 124 extending along a longitudinal axis a12 that is radial to the axis X12. Reference P12 denotes the intersection between the axes X12 and a 12. The arm 124 extends from a sleeve 125 arranged between the two bearings 122 along the axis X12. More specifically, the arm 124 comprises a first end 124A connected to the sleeve 125, and a second end 124B opposite the first end 124A, the tongue 126 being connected to the second end 124B and constituting a gripping area of the lever 12 for pivoting thereof about the axis X12.

Reference C126 denotes the geometric center of the tongue 126. The tongue 126 is disposed on a single side of the arm a12 along the axis. Further, the center C126 is axially offset along the axis X12 relative to the axis a 12.

The lever 12 further comprises a heel 128, the heel 128 extending radially with respect to the sleeve 125 about said axis X12, the heel 128 being intended to interact with a resiliently deformable metal sheet provided in the casing 4 for electrically contacting the stripped end of the cables C2 to C6 inserted in said device, as will emerge from the following description.

The joystick 12 is monolithic. In other words, its

components

122, 124, 125, 126 and 128 are formed from a single piece.

Similarly, the

levers

14 and 16 each comprise an

arm

144 or 164, respectively, at the end of which a

tongue

146 or 166, respectively, is provided. As well as axes a12 and Y22 for the joystick 12, axes a14, a16, Y24, and Y26 for the

joysticks

14 and 16 are defined.

The

respective levers

12, 14 and 16 are moved between a first position, which is shown for lever 14 in fig. 1 to 9 and 12, and a second position, which is shown for

levers

12 and 16 in these figures. In fig. 10, the three

levers

12, 14 and 16 are all in the second position.

Each of the

levers

12, 14 and 16 is rigid, i.e. each lever maintains the same geometry without deforming when in the first and second positions, and when it is moved from one position to another.

Each

lever

12, 14 or 16 allows the insertion of the stripped end of the cable through one of said holes 10 into the internal volume of the housing 4 when each lever is in the first position.

When each lever is in the second position, each

lever

12, 14 or 16 acts so that the stripped end of the cable, previously inserted into the internal volume of the casing 4, is fixed within this internal volume.

More specifically, the housing comprises three

jumpers

22, 24 and 26, made of electrically conductive material, fixed in the housing 4, in each of which two conductive pads 28 are arranged. These components 22 to 28 are preferably made of metal, in particular drawn stainless steel, copper or steel.

The heel 128 of the lever 12, based on the angular position of said arm 124 about the pivot axis X12, allows to exert or not to exert an elastic deformation force on the conductive pads 28, bringing them into a configuration compatible with the movement of the stripped end of one of the cables C2 to C6 through one of the receptacles 10 in the insertion direction or in the extraction direction.

Considering that the casing has a generally parallelepiped shape, the reference Y22 designates an axis radial with respect to the axis X12, which passes through the point P12 and is parallel to the rear surface 2B, i.e. perpendicular to the side surfaces 2C and 2D. The axis Y22 extends along the axis X12 to the center of the transconnector 22. The axes a12 and Y22 are contained in the same plane pi 12 perpendicular to the pivot axis X12, which is the cut plane of fig. 5 and 6.

Reference numerals

10A and 10B also indicate cable insertion holes provided on both sides of the operating lever 12 along the axis X12, reference numeral Y10 indicates cable insertion axes into the two

insertion holes

10A and 10B in the volume V22 of the jumper 22, and the volume V22 is the volume inside the housing 4 corresponding to the operating lever 12. The cable insertion axis Y10 is parallel to the central axes Y10A and Y10B of the two

insertion holes

10A and 10B, which are perpendicular to the side surface 2C. The cable insertion axis Y10 is also equidistant from and between the two central axes Y10A and Y10B along the axis X12.

According to an aspect of the invention, not shown in the drawings, the fact that the two

receptacles

10A and 10B open into the volume V22 allows to permanently connect the two cables, independently of the operation of the switch, by inserting their respective stripped ends from the two receptacles into the volume V22.

In the case not shown, where a single cable insertion hole is provided facing volume V22, the cable insertion axis Y10 then coincides with the central axis of the single insertion hole, while being perpendicular to surface 2C.

In the second position of the lever 12 shown in fig. 5 to 7, the lever 12 is depressed towards the rear surface 2B until its arm 124 abuts the rear surface and its heel 128 exerts no force on the conductive pad 28. The conductive tabs are thus free to clamp the stripped end E2 of the cable C2 against the branches of the jumper 22, thereby securing the stripped end in the volume V22, as shown in fig. 7. In this position, lever 12 prevents stripped end E2 of cable C2 from coming out of volume V22, allowing conductive tab 28 to grip the stripped end.

In fig. 1 to 9, the lever 14 is in its first position in which its arms 144 extend from the rear surface 2B, generally in a direction parallel to the side surfaces 2C and 2D, while the heel 148 of the lever 14 exerts a force on the conductive pads 28 which allows them to deform elastically until the stripped end E4 of the cable is no longer caught by these conductive pads and can engage into the internal volume V24 of the jumper 24 or come out of the internal volume V24 of the jumper 24 through the receptacle 10 arranged in the surface 2C facing the internal volume V24. This volume V24 is the internal volume of the housing 4 corresponding to the operating lever 14.

Alternatively, in the first position of the lever, the heel of the lever does not act on the conductive pad, while in the second position of the lever the heel will act on the conductive pad.

The three

levers

12, 14 and 16 operate in the same manner as described above by pivoting about axes X12, X14 and X16, respectively, to interact with conductive pad 28.

It is important to be able to easily manipulate the levers 12 to 16 to rotate them from the first position to the second position and vice versa. To this end, the

tongues

126, 146 and 166 are indispensable components that must be easily, quickly and intuitively accessible.

This is possible due to the fact that the tabs 126 are laterally offset along the axis X12 with respect to the axis Y22. The same is true for

tabs

146 and 166.

As shown in fig. 10, the

tabs

126, 146 and 166 of the

joysticks

12, 14 and 16 are all offset on the same side of the axes Y22, Y24 and Y26 along the pivot axes X12, X14 and X16.

The lateral offset between the

tongues

126, 146 and 166 on the one hand and the axes Y22, Y24 and Y26 on the other hand occurs when the levers are in their second position, as shown in fig. 10. This biasing also occurs when the levers are in their first positions, as shown for the lever 14 in particular on fig. 1 to 4. This may be related to the fact that these joysticks are rigid and non-deformable.

It can also be noted in fig. 7 and 9 that, when the

levers

12 and 16 are in their second position, the

tongues

126 and 166 are laterally beyond the lateral surface 2D by a non-zero distance D. This makes it easier to grasp these levers by vertical movement of the fingers along the side surface 2D away from the front face 2A.

In these figures, each tab is inclined with respect to a plane pi' 12 containing the axes X12 and Y22, i.e. a plane parallel to the rear surface 2B. More specifically, the tongue 126 moves away from the end surface 2B as it moves away from the axis X12. Here again, this makes it easier to grip the levers 12 to 16 when in the second position.

In the example of the figures, the pivot axis X12, X14 or X16 of the 12, 14 or 16 of each lever is arranged close to the lateral surface 2C on which the receptacle 10 is arranged, so that in the second position of the lever the

heel

128, 148 or 168 of the lever acts on the conductive sheet 28 in the vicinity of the entry area of the stripped end of the cable into the volume V22 and similar volumes. Its

tongue

126, 146 or 166 is then positioned in alignment with the opposite side surface 2D. "aligned" means that the tongue piece is on an extension line of the side surface 2D in a direction parallel to the side surface 2D.

Alternatively, the pivot axis of the lever may be disposed adjacent side surface 2D, in which case tabs 126 to 166 are positioned in alignment with side surface 2C where the socket is disposed when the lever is in the second position.

As shown in fig. 13 and in the subsequent figures, the present invention allows to design a dual switching system 200 comprising two identical devices 2, into which cables C2 to C6 and C2 'to C6' are inserted, the number of cables being variable depending on the function of the desired device.

The devices 2 are mounted on a support 202 of the system 200 and are disposed on the rear surface of the system, with the decorative piece 204 on the forward face of the system. The trim piece 204 is not shown in fig. 15 and 16 for clarity of the drawings.

The devices 2 are mounted on the carrier with their respective first side surfaces 2C directed away from each other, i.e. outwardly, so as to facilitate the placement of cables C2-C6 and C2-C6' into the socket 10 through the outer sides of the two devices in the group. For clarity of the drawings, cables C2-C6 and C2 '-C6' are not shown in fig. 15 and 16.

The side surfaces 2D of the two devices 2 are positioned face to face, parallel and with a space e between them.

For a good compactness of the switching system, it is important that the spacing e between these side surfaces 2D is relatively small.

The axis Y22 of the first of the two devices 2 coincides with the axis Y26 of the second device. The reference Y2 denotes a common axis thus defined. Likewise, the axes Y24 of the two devices 2 coincide into a common axis Y4. Thus, the dual switching system 200 includes two common axes Y2 and one common axis Y4, which are all perpendicular to the pivot axes X12, X14, and X16 of the

joysticks

12, 14, and 16 and parallel to the rear surface 2B of the device 2.

As shown in fig. 14 to 16, the

tongues

126, 146 and 166 of the

respective levers

12, 14 and 16 may extend beyond the lateral surface 2D, but do not touch or interfere with each other during operation of the levers, and the value of the spacing e is therefore smaller due to the fact that these tongues are laterally offset along the pivot axes X12, X14 and X16. As shown in FIG. 15, the

tabs

126, 146 and 166 are biased into a "chevron" shape.

In this example, the spacing e has a value of about 5 mm. And the excess distance d has an included (comprised) value of about 2.3 mm.

It will be noted in fig. 14 to 16 that, due to the geometry of the device 2, the

tongues

126 and 166 of the

levers

12 and 16, each belonging to a different device 2, are offset on either side of the common axis Y2 along the pivot axes X12 and X16. Likewise, in the configuration of fig. 15 and 16, the tongues 146 of the two levers 14 belonging respectively to the two devices 2 are offset on either side of a common axis Y4 along the axis X14. This facilitates manipulation of the levers 12 to 16, in particular by moving the lever 14 from the second position shown in fig. 15 to the first position shown in fig. 14 and vice versa.

An alternative of the invention is shown only in fig. 10 with a mixing line in the form of a joystick 16' for the joystick 16. According to this alternative, the longitudinal axis a '16 of the arm 164' is not parallel to the axis Y26, the tongue 166' extending along the axis a '16 on the extension of the arm 164 '. In the context of a dual switching system 200, this alternative also allows the biasing of the tongues 126 to 166 of the devices 2 to be achieved when the devices are mounted back-to-back on the support 202.

The embodiments and alternatives presented above can be combined with each other to create new embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. An electrical connection device (2) for cables (C2, C4, C6), comprising an electrically insulating housing (4) and at least one lever (12) which is articulated on the housing about a pivot axis (X12), the lever comprising an elongated lever arm (124) which extends along a longitudinal axis (A12) between said pivot axis and a free end (124B) of the lever arm, one side surface (2C) of the electrical connection device being provided with at least one cable insertion opening (10) for the insertion of a stripped end (E2) of a cable along a cable insertion axis (Y10) which opens into an inner volume (V22) of the housing, pivoting of the lever enabling the lever to be moved from a first position, called open position, to a second position, called closed position, in which said lever allows the insertion of a stripped end (E2) of a cable (C2) into the inner volume (V22) through the cable insertion opening (10) of the side surface (2C) And in the second position, the lever prevents the stripped end of the previously inserted cable from coming out of the internal volume (V22) of the casing (4), the lever further comprising a gripping area (126) positioned at the free end (124B) of the lever arm (124), characterized in that the gripping area (126) is intended to be manipulated in order to bring the lever from a first position, called open position, to a second position, called closed position, and from the second position, called closed position, to the first position, called open position; and, when the lever (12) is in a second position, referred to as the closed position, the grip region (126) is laterally offset from, parallel to the pivot axis (X12), an axis (Y22) radial to the pivot axis, which passes through the intersection (P12) between the pivot axis (X12) and the longitudinal axis (a12) of the lever arm.

2. Electrical connection device according to claim 1, characterised in that said axis (Y22), which is radial with respect to the pivot axis (X12) of the lever, is parallel to a cable insertion axis (Y10) which in turn coincides with the axis of the respective cable insertion hole (10) and is perpendicular to the side surface (2C) of the housing (4) where the latter is arranged.

3. The electrical connection device of claim 1, characterized in that the housing comprises two cable insertion holes (10A, 10B) for insertion of cables into the internal volume (V22) of the housing (4); a cable insertion axis (Y10) is parallel to the central axes (Y10A, Y10B) of the two cable insertion holes, equidistant from the two central axes of the two cable insertion holes and perpendicular to the side surface (2C) of the housing (4) where the cable insertion holes are provided; and said axis (Y22), which is radial with respect to the pivot axis (X12) of the lever, is parallel to the cable insertion axis (Y10).

4. Electrical connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal axis (a12) of the lever arm (124) and the axis (Y22) radial with respect to the pivot axis are contained in the same plane (pi 12) perpendicular to the pivot axis (X12); and, the grip region (126) of the joystick is offset along said pivot axis (X12) with respect to the longitudinal axis (a12) of the joystick.

5. The electrical connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the longitudinal axis (A '16) of the lever arm (16') and said axis (Y22) radial with respect to the pivot axis are not parallel, the grip region (166') of the lever being on an extension of the lever arm (164') along the longitudinal axis (A ' 16).

6. Electrical connection device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the grip region (126) projects (D) beyond one of the lateral surfaces (2D) of the housing (4) when the lever (12) is in a first position, termed open position, or in a second position, termed closed position.

7. Electrical connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the grip region (126) of the lever (12) is inclined with respect to a plane (π'12) parallel to the surface (2B) of the housing (4) defining the pivot axis (X12) when the lever (12) is in a first position, termed open position, or in a second position, termed closed position.

8. Electrical connection device according to claim 7, characterised in that the gripping region (126) is inclined in a direction away from the surface (2B) of the housing (4) defining the pivot axis (X12) with distance from the pivot axis.

9. Electrical connection device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the grip area (126) is positioned in alignment with the lateral surface (2C) of the casing provided with the socket (10) of the cable (C2-C6) when the lever (12) is in the first position, called open position, or in the second position, called closed position.

10. Electrical connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the grip region (126) is positioned in alignment with a lateral surface (2D) of the casing opposite the lateral surface (2C) provided with the socket (10) for the cable (C2-C6) when the lever (12) is in a first position, called open position, or in a second position, called closed position.

11. The electrical connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises at least one second lever (14, 16); the two levers (12, 16) are mounted side by side and the pivot axes (X12, X14, X16) of the two levers are parallel; and the grip regions (126, 146, 166) of the two levers are each equally offset with respect to an axis (Y22, Y24, Y26) passing through the intersection point (P12) between the pivot axis of the respective lever and the longitudinal axis (A12, A14, A16) of the lever arm (124, 144, 164) and being radial with respect to the pivot axis.

12. Electrical connection device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each lever (12) is monolithic and rigid and has the same geometry in a first position, called open position, and in a second position, called closed position.

13. A dual switching system (200) comprising two devices (2),

-the device (2) is an electrical connection device according to any of the preceding claims,

-the two devices are mounted on a support (202) with their side surfaces (2C) provided with at least one cable (C2, C6) socket (10) facing away from each other,

-wherein two levers (12, 16), each belonging to a respective device (2), are mounted facing each other,

-axes (Y22, Y26) passing through an intersection point (P12) between the pivot axis of each of the two levers and the longitudinal axis of the lever arm and being radial with respect to the pivot axis (X12, X16) are recombined into a common axis (Y2),

-the two-device joystick is arranged such that the grip areas (126, 146, 166) of the two-device joystick are aligned with the face-to-face side surfaces (2D) of the two devices,

-the grip areas (126, 166) of the two levers facing each other are offset with respect to each other on both sides of a common axis (Y2) along the pivot axis (X4) of one of the two levers.

14. The dual switching system according to claim 13, wherein said two devices (2) are mounted back-to-back and are identical.