CN110729570B

CN110729570B - Electrical connection device

Info

Publication number: CN110729570B
Application number: CN201910639448.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: S.古因达; G.勒尤德; O.蒂森; D.维古鲁克斯
Original assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Current assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Priority date: 2018-07-17
Filing date: 2019-07-16
Publication date: 2022-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2039-07-16
Also published as: ES2882004T3; EP3598582A1; EP3598582B1; CN110729570A; FR3084214B1; FR3084214A1; RU2019122161A

Abstract

An electrical connection device for connecting at least one cable comprises a fixed connector (4) and at least one connection terminal mounted in the fixed connector (4), the connection terminal comprising a conductive member, a body (14) and at least one spring adjusted to keep the at least one cable in contact with the conductive member. The body (14) of the terminal is divided into two half-shells assembled together, the fixed connector (4) defines a housing (40) housing the body (14) of each terminal, a conductive piece is fastened in the housing (40), and the conductive piece includes an attachment part (104) retaining the body (14) in the housing (40) of the fixed connector (4) by elastically fitting with a portion (140) of the body (14).

Description

Electrical connection device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electrical connection device.

Background

An electrical connection device, in particular known from FR 2 792 778 or EP 1341 261, comprises a terminal for connecting an electrical cable, said terminal being provided with a spring pressing the end of the cable against an electrically conductive metal piece of the terminal. To connect the cable, a tool must be used to release the spring so that the cable can be inserted into the conductive member.

Furthermore, the known connection devices do not allow large cable sections, in particular 2.5mm, to be connected while maintaining standard space requirements and satisfactory electrical safety parameters ² A cable section of (a).

Furthermore, the mounting of the connecting element in the fixed connector of the connecting device requires a number of operations.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing an electrical connection device which guarantees electrical safety and whose assembly is simplified.

Disclosure of Invention

To this end, the invention relates to an electrical connection device for connecting at least one electrical cable, comprising a fixed connector and at least one connection terminal mounted in the fixed connector, the connection terminal comprising: a conductive member, a body, and at least one spring, the at least one spring being adjusted to maintain at least one cable in contact with the conductive member. The device is characterized in that the body of the terminal is divided into two half-shells assembled together, and in that the fixed connector defines a housing the body of each terminal, in which a conductive member is fastened, and in that the conductive member comprises an attachment component which retains the body in the housing of the fixed connector by elastic engagement with a portion of the body.

Thanks to the invention, the distance in air and the creepage distance are guaranteed while maintaining reduced space requirements, and the fastening of the terminal in the fixed connector is simple, fast and requires only one operation.

According to advantageous but not necessary aspects of the invention, such connection means may comprise one or more of the following features, according to any technically acceptable combination:

each terminal for connecting two cables comprises a module formed by two half-shells, each of which is assembled with a spring blade, and two spring blades, each terminal also comprising a conductive member which ensures electrical contact with the two cables and holds the module in a fixed connector.

The half-shells of each module comprise side walls defining an internal space,

assembling the half-shells of the same module so as to form a single internal space delimited by the side walls of the half-shells,

the modules are juxtaposed to each other by the cooperation of the respective outer surfaces of the side walls of the half-shells of the first module and of the second module.

The conductive member is fastened to the fixed contact of the fixed connector by means of a screw.

The portion of the body cooperating with the attachment member is formed by a deformable strip, the free end of which has a projection received in an aperture of the attachment member, so as to retain the body in the fixed connector.

When the connection terminal is inserted into the fixed connector, the deformable strip is deformed until the projection is received in the aperture.

The protrusion of the deformable strip is kept housed in the aperture of the conductive member by the spring blade.

The terminal comprises an operable element for deforming the spring blade, which moves the spring blade away from a deployed position, in which the cable is held against the conductive piece, to a retracted position, in which the cable can be released from the conductive piece and withdrawn from the connection terminal.

The manipulatable element is a button that applies a load to the spring blade to move the spring blade away from the conductive member.

Drawings

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will emerge more clearly from the description of a connection device following its principle, described as a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a connection device according to the invention, with the cover exploded;

figure 2 is a perspective view, with a modular exploded view, of the connection device of figure 1;

fig. 3 is a perspective view of the fixed connector of the connection device of fig. 1, with the conductive element and the fastening screw exploded;

figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the connection device of figure 1, in an unloaded configuration;

figure 5 is a view similar to figure 4, in a connected configuration of the cables;

figure 6 is a view similar to figure 4, in a disconnected configuration;

figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the module of figure 2.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an electrical connection device 2 for connecting at least one cable C. The device 2 comprises a fixed connector 4 and at least one connection terminal 6 mounted in the fixed connector 4. In the example shown, the device 2 comprises two rows of five connection terminals 6.

The device 2 further comprises a cover 8, the cover 8 being mounted on the fixed connector 4 while covering a portion thereof and being provided with an opening 80 allowing the connection of a cable.

The device 2 is intended, for example, to be fastened in a wall and connected to a network for distributing electric power on the rear face 2a and to various electric devices on the front face 2b by means of electric cables, the cover 8 being positioned towards the front face 2 b.

The cover 8 may be used to mount and connect electrical attachments.

Each connection terminal 6 comprises a conductive element 10 and at least one spring 12, the spring 12 being adjusted to keep at least one cable C in contact with the conductive element 10.

In this example, each connection terminal 6 comprises two

poles

60 and 61, each of which allows the connection of a cable C.

Each connection terminal 6 comprises a body 14, the body 14 being formed by a rigid piece made of insulating material that holds the different components of the connection terminal 6. Each connection terminal 6 comprises a conductor 10, the conductor 10 ensuring electrical contact with two cables C and retaining the module 16 in the fixed connector 4.

The conductive member 10 is fastened to the fixed connector 4. The fixed connector 4 defines, for each connection terminal 6, a housing 40 housing the body 14. The conductive member 10 is fastened in the housing 40, for example, by screws 18. The fixed connector 4 comprises fixed contacts 42, the fixed contacts 42 being formed by metal sheets located below the conductors 10 and allowing the current to circulate between the upstream and downstream of the device, that is to say between the network and the device connected to the device 2. The conductive member 10 is formed of a folded metal member including a central portion 100, which is pressed against the fixed contact 42 in the bottom portion 40a of the housing 40. The central portion 100 includes a hole 100a, and the screw 18 is inserted into the hole 100 a.

The conductor 10 also comprises a blade 102 folded with respect to the central portion 100 and the blade 102 is intended to come into contact with the cable C, as shown in fig. 5.

At the other end of the central portion 100, the conductive member 10 includes an attachment part 104 for holding the main body 14 in the housing 40 of the fixed connector 4 by elastically fitting with a portion of the main body 14.

The body 14 includes a deformable strip 140 that resiliently mates with the attachment member 104. The free end of the deformable strip 140 has a projection 142, the projection 142 being received in the aperture 104a of the attachment member 104 so as to retain the body 14 in the fixed connector 4.

The main axis X2 of the connecting device 2 is defined. The main axis X2 is vertical in the figures, but in practice of installation of the device 2, the axis may correspond to a horizontal axis.

When the connection terminal 6 is inserted into the fixed connector 4 parallel to the main axis X2 along the arrow F1 in fig. 4, the deformable strip 140 is deformed until the projection 142 is received in the aperture 104 a. The projection 142 has an inclined surface 142a that is fitted by sliding with the inclined surface 104b of the attachment member 104. This surface engagement deforms the deformable strip 140 when the body 14 is inserted into the fixed connector 4 so that the body 14 can move forward in the housing 40. When the projection 142 is once again opposite to the aperture 104a, the deformable strip 140 resumes its shape, the projection 142 is inserted into the aperture 104a and the body 14 is retained by the attachment means 104 at the stop surface 104c orthogonal to the main axis X2.

The spring 12 is formed from a folded metal leaf and bent into a circular shape to form two

portions

12a and 12b and a circular central portion 12c located between the

portions

12a and 12 b. The central portion 12c fits around the circular portion 144 of the body 14. Circular portion 12c defines an axis of rotation Y12 orthogonal to main axis X2.

In the free state, that is to say without any mechanical load other than the prestress required for installation in the body 14, the spring 12 is deployed as shown in fig. 4. The part 12a is pressed against the projection 142 and the part 12b is moved away, in contact with the blade 102 and blocks the hole 146 of the body 14 for housing the cable C. The projection 142 of the deformable strip 140 is kept housed in the aperture 104a by the portion 12a of the spring 12.

When inserting the cable C in fig. 5, the portion 12b is moved from its deployed position by rotation of the stripped end Cd of the cable C about the axis Y12 along the arrow F2. The cable C can then be inserted into the connection terminal 6 and, once the end Cd of the cable C has passed the end of the portion 12b of the spring 12, can be pressed against the conductive plate 10. The spring 12 exerts an elastic load E which tends to return it to the deployed position of fig. 4 and which presses the cable C against the blade 102 of the conductive piece 10. This load E ensures a mechanical retention and a satisfactory electrical contact of the cable C. At the same time, the mechanical stress in the spring 12 exerted by the cable C tends to exert an elastic load in the part 12a, which in addition locks the attachment of the projection 142 in the attachment part 104 and the mechanical retention of the connection terminal 6 in the fixed connector 4.

Such a system for connecting the cable C in the connection terminal 6 by simply inserting the cable C into the hole 146 (referred to as a plug-in type) does not require any tool, and can save a lot of time during the electrical installation operation. Furthermore, the rotational mobility of the part 12b allows a certain latitude in the possible choice of cable sections. Larger cable sections than known devices can be used, and the thicker the cable C, the more the spring 12 deforms and exerts a significant pressure E on the cable C and strengthens the mechanical retention of the deformable strip 140 by the attachment member 104.

Optionally, the connection terminal 6 comprises a manipulable element for deforming the spring 12, which moves the spring 12 away from its deployed position to a retracted position, as shown in fig. 6, wherein the cable C can be released from the conductor 10 and withdrawn from the connection terminal 6.

The manipulable element is a button which applies a load to the spring 12 to move the portion 12b away from the conductive member 10 and release the cable C. The push-button is mounted in the main body 14 with sliding capability along the main axis X2 between an upward position (fig. 4 and 5) and a push position (fig. 6). By action of the tool (for example a screwdriver), the installer pushes the button to its pushed position along arrow F3, overcoming the elastic load of portion 12b of spring 12. This causes the portion 12b of the blade 102 to move away along the arrow F2 in a more distinct manner than in fig. 5, after which the installer can withdraw the cable C from the connection terminal 6.

Each connection terminal 6 comprises a module 16 formed by a body 14 of the connection terminal 6, which is divided into two half-

shells

16a and 16b assembled together. Each module 16 also comprises two springs 12, each spring 12 being assembled with one of the two half-

shells

16a and 16b. In the alternative case where the device 2 comprises a manoeuvrable element for evacuating the cable, the module 16 also comprises two manoeuvrable elements 20, each assembled with one of the two half-

shells

16a and 16b. The structure of the connection terminals 6 with the module 16 allows saving time when assembling the device. The modules 16 can be assembled and distributed individually on the assembly line of the device and then mounted in the fixed connector 4 in a simple and quick manner thanks to the assembly method by elastic cooperation between the body 14 and the conductive elements 10, in which the conductive elements 10 have been previously fastened.

The half-

shells

16a and 16b of each module 16 are assembled by means of fastening elements. For example, these fastening elements may comprise fingers 148 provided on half-shell 16a (which fingers 148 are inserted in hollow projections of half-shell 16b, not visible), and a similar system comprising holes 149 in half-shell 16a and projecting elements 150 provided in half-shell 16b (fig. 5).

The two half-

shells

16a and 16b are held in the fixed connector 4 by the same conductive member 10. For this purpose, each half-

shell

16a and 16b comprises a deformable strip 140, which deformable strip 140 is provided with a projection 142 at its end. The width of the aperture 104a corresponds to the width of the two coupled projections 142 of the two assembled half-

shells

16a and 16b.

The half-

shells

16a and 16b comprise

respective side walls

160a and 160b defining an internal space V of the connection terminal 6. The half-

shells

16a and 16b of the same module 16 are assembled so as to form a single internal space V delimited by the

side walls

160a and 160b of the half-

shells

16a and 16b.

The modules 16 are juxtaposed to each other by the cooperation of one outer surface S160a of the side wall 160a of the half-shell 16a of the first module 16 and an outer surface S160b of the side wall 160b of the half-shell 16b of the second module 16. As can be seen in fig. 1, the connection terminals 6 are juxtaposed by surface contact between the external surfaces S160a and S160b of the half-

shells

16a and 16b belonging to two juxtaposed different modules 16.

These

side walls

160a and 160b separate the two

poles

60 and 61 of the two different connection terminals 6, so that the minimum distance required in the air and the creepage distance of this type of electrical connection device can be guaranteed. In particular, these

side walls

160a and 160b have a thickness e160 visible in fig. 7, taken along the axis Y12, which increases the amount of insulating material of the body 14 and the distance between the portions liable to conduct electric current, i.e. between the conductive sheets 10 and the springs 12 of the two different connection terminals. The length of the creepage distance between the two connection terminals 6 is equal to at least twice the thickness e 160.

Claims

1. Electrical connection device (2) for connecting at least one electrical cable (C), comprising a fixed connector (4) and at least one connection terminal (6) mounted in the fixed connector (4), the connection terminal (6) comprising: an electrically conductive member (10), a body (14) and at least one spring (12), said at least one spring (12) being adjusted to keep at least one cable (C) in contact with the electrically conductive member (10),

characterized in that the body (14) of the connection terminals (6) is divided into two half-shells (16946 b) assembled together, and in that the fixed connector (4) defines a housing (40) housing the body (14) of each connection terminal (6), the conductive element (10) being fastened in this housing (40), and the conductive element (10) comprising an attachment part (104) retaining the body (14) in the housing (40) of the fixed connector (4) by elastic cooperation with a portion of the body (14).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each connection terminal (6) is intended to connect two cables (C) and comprises:

-a module (16) formed by two half-shells (1691, 1694) and two springs (12), each of the two half-shells (1694 ) being assembled with a spring (12);

-an electrically conductive member (10) ensuring the electrical contact with the two cables (C) and retaining the module (16) in the fixed connector (4).

3. The apparatus of claim 2,

-the half-shells (1691, 1694) of each module (16) comprise side walls (160a, 160b) defining an internal space (V),

assembling half-shells (1691, 1694) of the same module (16) so as to form a single internal space (V) delimited by the side walls (160a, 160b) of the half-shells (1694 ),

-the modules (16) are juxtaposed to each other by the cooperation of the respective outer surfaces (S160 a, S160 b) of the side walls (160 a) of the half-shell (16 a) of the first module and the side walls (160 b) of the half-shell (16 b) of the second module.

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductive member (10) is fastened to the fixed contact (42) of the fixed connector (4) by means of a screw (18).

5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the portion of the body (14) cooperating with the attachment member (104) is formed by a deformable strip (140) whose free end has a projection (142) received in an aperture (104 a) of the attachment member (104) so as to retain the body (14) in the fixed connector (4).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that, when the connection terminal (6) is inserted in the fixed connector (4), the deformable strip (140) is deformed until the projection (142) is housed in the aperture (104 a).

7. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the protrusion (142) of the deformable strip (140) is kept housed in the aperture (104 a) of the conductive member (10) by means of a spring (12).

8. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connection terminal (6) comprises an operable element (20) for deforming the spring (12), which moves the spring (12) away from a deployed position, in which the cable (C) is held against the conductive member (10), to a retracted position, in which the cable (C) can be released from the conductive member (10) and withdrawn from the connection terminal (6).

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the manipulatable element is a button which applies a load to the spring (12) to move the spring (12) away from the conducting member (10).