CN109659193B

CN109659193B - Assembly comprising a modular electrical device and an associated modular auxiliary device

Info

Publication number: CN109659193B
Application number: CN201811092002.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: C.伯诺特
Original assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Current assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Priority date: 2017-10-12
Filing date: 2018-09-19
Publication date: 2022-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-19
Also published as: EP3471128A1; CN109659193A; FR3072510B1; FR3072510A1; EP3471128B1; ES2855675T3

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a modular electrical device and an auxiliary module associable with the electrical device on a mounting rail, the electrical device being housed in a parallelepiped-shaped casing comprising a set of upstream terminals on one face thereof and a set of downstream terminals on the opposite face with respect to the rail. The first housing (3) comprises a void (i) receiving the auxiliary module (2) or a trim-shaped portion having the same footprint as the auxiliary device (2), the first set of terminals (5) comprising terminals having a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the standard comb (P) and extending over the entire width of the device (1), the second set of terminals (6) comprising terminals having a pitch smaller than the preceding set of terminals and extending over only a portion of the length of the device (1), so that the association of the auxiliary module (2) with the device (1) does not increase the footprint of the device with which it is associated, and allows the terminals of the first set of terminals (5) to be electrically connected to the standard comb.

Description

Assembly comprising a modular electrical device and an associated modular auxiliary device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an assembly comprising a modular electrical device housed in a substantially parallelepiped-shaped casing and comprising on one face thereof a set of so-called upstream terminals and on the face opposite the preceding face with respect to the rail a set of so-called downstream terminals, and a modular auxiliary device associable with said device on a mounting rail.

Background

Modular contactors are well known, having a width of 54mm, which can be equipped on the right-hand side thereof with an auxiliary module for signaling the open or closed state of the device, called OC auxiliary device, having a width of 9mm, each having a length of 63mm.

In this type of assembly, the starting device can be electrically connected to the contactor directly by a cable or by a cable connected to a connecting comb, which is electrically connected to said starting device.

It is therefore not possible to connect these starting devices directly to the contactor by means of a standard comb.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention solves these problems and proposes an assembly comprising a modular electrical apparatus and an auxiliary module intended to be associated with said apparatus, this association not increasing the footprint of the apparatus and allowing the starting apparatus to be connected downstream of the electrical apparatus by means of a standard connecting comb.

To this end, one subject of the invention is an assembly of the type described above, which is characterized in that the above-mentioned so-called first housing comprises a void able to receive the above-mentioned auxiliary module and in that a first set of terminals of said sets of terminals comprises terminals having a pitch corresponding to that of a standard comb and extending over substantially the entire width of the device, while a second set of terminals of the two sets of terminals comprises terminals having a smaller pitch than the previous set of terminals and extending over only a portion of the length of the electrical device, so that the association of this auxiliary module with the above-mentioned electrical device does not increase the footprint of the device with which it is associated, and allows the terminals of said first set of terminals to be electrically connected to the standard comb.

According to a particular feature, the aforementioned interspace is able to receive, instead of the aforementioned auxiliary device, a decorative shaped portion having substantially the same footprint as the aforementioned auxiliary device, when the latter is not intended to be used.

According to a particular feature, the so-called first housing comprises a connection portion housing the so-called first set of terminals, which connection portion extends parallel to the rails beyond the so-called side face of the first housing, said face being intended to be attached to an auxiliary module.

According to another feature, the auxiliary module is housed in a so-called second casing of substantially parallelepiped shape for mounting on the aforementioned rail, comprising a lateral face attachable to a lateral face of the aforementioned so-called first casing, a so-called upper face capable of abutting against a so-called inner face belonging to the aforementioned connection portion, and a so-called lower face comprising an electrical connection terminal.

According to another feature, the auxiliary module or the decorative shaped portion is associated with the right-hand side of the electrical device.

According to a particular feature, the electrical device is an electrical contactor.

According to a particular feature, the auxiliary module is an auxiliary device for signaling the open or closed position of the electrical device.

According to another feature, the auxiliary module is actuated by transmission means for transmitting the movement of the contact supporting shaft belonging to the electrical apparatus.

According to another feature, the electrical device is of the tripolar or quadrapole type.

According to another feature, the connection terminal of the so-called first set of terminals is the downstream terminal of the device.

According to another feature, the aforesaid standard comb is of the tripolar or quadripolar type, in which the neutral teeth are interposed between two consecutive phase teeth.

Another subject of the invention is an assembly comprising the above features, alone or in combination, the electrical device being a contactor.

Another subject of the invention is an electrical switchgear comprising at least one assembly comprising the above features, alone or in combination.

Another subject of the invention is a signal assistance module in an assembly comprising the above features, alone or in combination, the module being characterized in that it is housed in a so-called second casing of substantially parallelepiped shape, said casing enclosing two circuits, each comprising a switch, each circuit being electrically connected by one of its ends to a power supply terminal and by its opposite end to a terminal for connection to signaling means, one of which is used for signaling the open state of the device and the other for signaling the closed state of the device, the two switches being commanded by transmitting means for transmitting the movement of the shaft for driving the contacts of the electrical device, so that the transmitting means are movable between a first position in which the first electrical switch is closed and the second electrical switch is open and a second position in which the first electrical switch is open and the second electrical switch is closed.

Another subject of the invention is a modular electrical device housed in a substantially parallelepiped-shaped casing and comprising, on one face thereof, a set of so-called upstream terminals and, on the face opposite the front face with respect to the track, a set of so-called downstream terminals, the device being characterized in that the aforementioned casing comprises a void able to house an auxiliary module or a trim-forming portion having substantially the same footprint as the aforementioned auxiliary module, and in that one of the sets of terminals, called the first, comprises terminals having a pitch corresponding to that of a standard comb and extending substantially over the entire width of the device, while the other of the sets of terminals, called the second, comprises terminals having a pitch smaller than the previous one and extending over only a portion of the length of the electrical device, so that the auxiliary module, after association with the aforementioned electrical device, does not increase the footprint of the device with which it is associated, and allows the terminals of the first set of terminals to be electrically connected to the standard comb.

According to a particular feature, the device is a contactor.

According to another particular feature, the device has a width of about 63mm.

Drawings

However, other advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of example only, and in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an assembly according to a particular embodiment of the invention, including contactors associated with an auxiliary module, for signaling the open or closed state of the contactors,

fig. 1a is a view similar to fig. 1, showing the contactor and the auxiliary module respectively,

fig. 2 is a view similar to the previous figures, showing an assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention, in which the signalling aid is replaced by a decorative shaped element,

fig. 3 is a perspective view showing an assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention, mounted alongside a number of actuating devices on a mounting rail, these devices being electrically connected by means of a standard comb,

figure 4 is a perspective view of the auxiliary module itself,

fig. 5 is a plan view showing the inside of such an auxiliary module.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an assembly E comprising, in a manner known per se, a contactor 1 of the four-pole type associated with a signal auxiliary module 2, all intended to be mounted on a mounting rail.

The contactor 1 and the auxiliary module 2 are mounted in

housings

3, 4, respectively, the assembly of the two housings associated together having a substantially parallelepiped shape.

The contactor 1 comprises on one side of the mounting rail a so-called first set of connection terminals 5 for allowing the electric connection of the contactor 1 with a starting device D intended to be mounted on the right-hand side of the contactor, and on the other side of the rail a so-called second set of connection terminals 6 for the electric connection to a power supply cable, the contactor thus being of the type that is supplied with power from below.

According to the invention, the terminals of the so-called first set of terminals 5 have a pitch that allows them to be connected to a so-called standard connection comb P of the four-pole type, while the terminals of the so-called second set of connection terminals 6 have a pitch that is specific to the contactor, that is to say that does not allow them to be connected to a connection comb P of the standard type. This connection portion R, which comprises a so-called first set of connection terminals 5, therefore comprises a first neutral terminal 7 for receiving a first neutral tooth of the comb P, and then three-phase terminals 8, 9, 10 for respectively receiving the three-phase teeth P of the comb P, with two consecutive phase terminals for receiving the interspace e of the neutral tooth n of the comb P, said comb comprising, in a manner known per se, a set of consecutive phase teeth P between which the neutral tooth n is interposed.

In order to allow such a connection with the standard comb P, the width of the so-called first connection portion R comprising the so-called first set of terminals 5 is greater than the width of the so-called second connection portion S accommodating the terminals of the so-called second set of terminals 6, so that this first connection portion R extends beyond the connection face a of the housing 3 of the contactor 1, this face being intended to be attached to the auxiliary module 2. The so-called first housing 3 of the contactor 1 therefore has a substantially parallelepiped-shaped interspace i for receiving a so-called second housing 4 belonging to a corresponding form of the auxiliary module 2, which is supported on the housing 3 of the contactor 1 firstly by a side b that can be brought into contact with a side a located on the same side belonging to the contactor 1 and secondly by a so-called upper face c that can be brought into contact with an inner face d facing a rail U belonging to the first connection portion R of the contactor.

It can thus be seen that the auxiliary module 2 comprises only connection terminals on one side of the mounting rail U.

Advantageously, the assembly thus formed has a width of 63mm, the lower part of which corresponds to that of the assembly according to the prior art and only the upper part of which is different, so as to allow the downstream terminals of the device 1 to be electrically connected to a standard comb P.

In this particular embodiment of the invention, the auxiliary module 2 is a module for signaling the open or closed state of the modular electrical apparatus 1, the modular electrical apparatus 1 being an electrical contactor.

According to another embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 2, instead of a signalling aid module 2, the assembly E according to the invention comprises a decorative shaped part 14 for replacing the aid module 2 when it is not intended to use it. This portion is formed by a casing 15, which casing 15 has substantially the same shape as the above-mentioned auxiliary module 2 and can be placed in the above-mentioned interspace i so that the footprint of the contactor 1 does not increase, which is already the case when the auxiliary module is associated with the contactor.

Fig. 3 shows an assembly comprising a contactor 1 mounted on the same mounting rail U, the right-hand side of which is associated with a signal auxiliary module 2, which assembly is intended to be supplied from below by means of a cable and is intended to be electrically connected downstream to a number of starting devices D, acting as devices such as circuit breakers or other devices, by means of standard three-pole and neutral connecting combs P.

Fig. 4 and 5 show that the signal auxiliary module 2 is housed in a casing 4, the casing 4 having a surface f comprising a clearance g allowing the casing to be mounted on the rail U, the auxiliary module 2 being intended to be fixed to the casing 3 of the contactor 1. The housing 4 comprises a connection portion T comprising three

terminals

11, 12, 13 located on one side of the aforementioned gap g, which terminals are present in a layered manner for facilitating the connection.

These three terminals, i.e. the first, second and third terminal, respectively, are intended to be electrically connected to means for signaling the open state of the modular electrical apparatus, the power supply means and means for signaling the closed state of the modular apparatus, respectively, which various apparatuses are not shown in these figures.

The so-called second housing 4 encloses two

circuits

16, 17, each comprising a

switch

18, 19, of which a first circuit 16 is connected at one end thereof to a so-called first terminal 11 and at the other end thereof to a so-called second terminal 12, while said second circuit 17 is connected by one end thereof to a so-called third terminal 13 and by the other end thereof to a so-called second terminal 12.

The so-called second casing 4 also encloses transmission means 20 for transmitting the movement of the contact bearing shaft of the contactor 1 to the auxiliary module 2, which transmission means comprise a support 21, which support 21 is mounted to slide relative to the so-called second casing 4 and is able to actuate the two

switches

18, 19, so that when the contacts of the contactor are closed, the switch 19 of the second circuit 17 is closed and the switch 18 of the first circuit 16 is open, and when the contacts of the contactor are open, the switch 18 of the first circuit 16 is open and the switch 19 of the second circuit 17 is closed. This support 21 is advantageously formed by two

flanges

22, 23 connected to each other by a cross-member 24 distributed over the length of the flanges, said cross-member 24 being able to interact with the

switches

18, 19, this support 21 being mechanically connected to the aforementioned shaft.

Thus, by means of the invention, an auxiliary module 2 can be associated with the right-hand side of the modular contactor 1 in order to signal the open or closed position of the contactor 1. After association, this auxiliary module does not increase the footprint of the contactor 1 with which it is associated and allows to connect the starting device D through the comb P downstream of the contactor 1.

This auxiliary device 2 for signaling the contact status can advantageously be associated with the right-hand side of the contactor 1 after removal of the trim-forming portion 14. These contactors are advantageously of the tripolar or quadrapole type. However, it is possible to envisage applying the invention to a contactor comprising two poles and two terminals, in which case the combs are of the phase and neutral type.

The invention is advantageously applicable to any equipment comprising a gang-head modular contactor, such as an electrical switchgear.

This new contactor preserves the possibility of connecting upstream and downstream by cables.

The device does not change the working principle of the current contactor. The measuring, monitoring, verification and validation means will be the same as those of the contactors.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, which are given as examples only.

On the contrary, the invention includes all technical equivalents of the means described and combinations thereof, provided that they are implemented according to the spirit thereof.

Claims

1. Assembly comprising a modular electrical apparatus and an auxiliary module associable with said apparatus on a mounting rail, said electrical apparatus being housed in a first housing (3) of substantially parallelepiped shape and comprising on one of its faces a group of terminals called upstream terminals and on the face opposite the preceding face with respect to the rail a group of terminals called downstream terminals,

characterized in that the above-mentioned so-called first housing (3) comprises a void (i) able to receive the above-mentioned auxiliary module (2) and in that a first set of terminals (5) of said sets of terminals comprises terminals having a pitch corresponding to that of a standard comb (P) and extending over substantially the entire width of the device (1), while a second set of terminals (6) of the two sets of terminals (5, 6) comprises terminals having a smaller pitch than the terminals of the previous set and extending over only a portion of the length of the electrical device (1), so that the association of this auxiliary module (2) with the above-mentioned electrical device (1) does not increase the footprint of the device with which it is associated and allows the terminals of said first set of terminals (5) to be electrically connected to the standard comb (P).

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, when the auxiliary module (2) is not intended to be used, said interspace (i) is capable of receiving, instead of said auxiliary module (2), a decorative shaped portion (14) having substantially the same footprint as said auxiliary module (2).

3. Assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the so-called first housing (3) comprises a connection portion (R) accommodating the so-called first set of terminals (5), which connection portion (R) extends parallel to the rails (U) beyond a side face (a) of the so-called first housing (3) for attachment to the auxiliary module (2).

4. Assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the auxiliary module (2) is housed in a second substantially parallelepiped-shaped casing (4) for mounting on said rail (U), the so-called second casing (4) comprising a side face (b) which can be attached to a side face (a) of said so-called first casing (3), a so-called upper face (c) which can abut against a so-called inner face (d) belonging to said connecting portion (R) and a so-called lower face (f) comprising electrical connection terminals (11, 12, 13).

5. Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that said auxiliary module (2) or said ornamental shaped portion (14) is associated with the right-hand side of said electrical device (1).

6. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the auxiliary module (2) is an auxiliary device for signaling the open or closed position of the electrical device (1).

7. Assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the auxiliary module (2) is actuated by transmission means (20) for transmitting the movement of the contact-bearing shaft belonging to the electrical device (1).

8. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said electrical device (1) is of the tripolar or quadrapole type.

9. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection terminals of the so-called first set of terminals (5) are the downstream terminals of the electrical device (1).

10. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said standard comb (P) is of the tripolar or quadripolar type, in which the neutral teeth (n) are interposed between two consecutive phase teeth (P).

11. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical device (1) is an electrical contact.

12. An electrical switchgear comprising at least one assembly according to claim 11.

13. A signal assistance module in an assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that it is housed in a second substantially parallelepiped-shaped housing (4) which encloses two circuits (16, 17), each circuit comprising a switch (18, 19), each circuit (16, 17) being electrically connected by one of its ends to a power supply terminal (12) and by its opposite end to a terminal (11, 13), the terminals (11, 13) being intended to be connected to signalling means, one of which is intended to signal the open state of the device and the other is intended to signal the closed state of the device, the two switches (18, 19) being commanded by transmission means (20) for transmitting the movement of the shaft for driving the contacts of the electrical device (1) so that the transmission means (20) is movable between a first position in which the first electrical switch (18) is closed and the second electrical switch (19) is open, and a second position in which the first electrical switch (18) is open and the second electrical switch (19) is closed.

14. A modular electric apparatus, housed in a first case (3) of substantially parallelepiped shape, comprising on one of its faces a group of terminals called upstream terminals (6) and on the face opposite the preceding face with respect to a track (U) a group of terminals called downstream terminals (5),

characterized in that the aforementioned first housing (3) comprises a void (i) able to receive the auxiliary module (2) or a trim-shaped portion (14) having substantially the same footprint as the aforementioned auxiliary module (2) and in that a first set (5) of said sets of terminals comprises terminals having a pitch corresponding to that of the standard comb (P) and extending substantially over the entire width of the electrical apparatus (1), while a second set (6) of the two sets of terminals comprises terminals having a smaller pitch than the previous set and extending over only a portion of the length of the electrical apparatus (1), so that this auxiliary module (2) does not increase the footprint of the apparatus with which it is associated after it is associated with the aforementioned electrical apparatus (1) and allows the terminals of said first set (5) to be electrically connected to the standard comb (P).

15. The electrical device according to claim 14, characterised in that it is a contactor (1).

16. An electrical device according to claim 15, characterised in that it has a width of 63mm.