EP0518762B1 - Device for assisting in electric cabling and electrical installation relating thereto - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical wiring assistance device.

The present invention also relates to an electrical installation equipped with such a wiring assistance device.

In electrical installations such as electrical cabinets, there are most often very many wires which connect very many connection points to each other or to the outside.

During the manufacture of the installation, it is frequent that part of the wiring is already carried out while certain apparatuses are not yet in place, and the corresponding connection end pieces therefore remain on standby until these apparatuses can be mounted and then the wiring completed. This leads to wiring in several stages, which greatly increases the risk of errors.

In addition, in the event of an intervention on the installation, to dismantle certain equipment, it is first necessary to disconnect the corresponding cable ends. This results in the risk of errors during reassembly.

All these risks are aggravated when there are multiple identical devices, placed side by side, for example along a rail or on a common base.

There are devices which make it possible to electrically disconnect the switchgear from the wiring as, for example, in DE-A-358 617. This document presenting a male plug having an electrically connected position and an electrically disconnected position. The problem remains whole because the plug is not physically disconnected from the switchgear, it cannot be dismantled (for maintenance for example) without the plug being put on hold. No distinctive sign or specific positioning identifying it, the reconnection after reassembly of the device may be erroneous.

There are devices for connecting a set of conductive wires to one or a set of devices. US-A-3,090,936 describes an electrical connector in the form of a support strip comprising a plurality of connection wires. FR-A-2 584 240 describes a device comprising a plurality of cable ends suitable for receiving wires to be connected. These tips are connected and held together. If these devices make it possible to keep a given wiring order, they do not solve the risk of errors in an installation having multiple identical devices.

The object of the invention is to propose a device for assisting in electrical wiring which facilitates operations on installations with complex wiring, in particular but not limited to when the installation comprises multiple identical or similar apparatuses mounted side by side.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the device for assisting in electrical wiring, comprising a connection end piece intended to be fixed to the end of an electrical conductor and to be introduced into a connection terminal of an electrical apparatus. removably arranged on a base, a guide that can be positioned opposite the service position of the connection terminal of the electrical equipment. According to the invention, the guide is fixed relative to the base, and comprises means for retaining the end piece in a retracted position allowing the dismantling of the electrical equipment from the base and for guiding the end piece from the position cleared at an engagement position of the nozzle in the connection terminal of the apparatus in the service position.

In the absence of the apparatus, the endpiece is placed in the erased position in the guide, which in a way constitutes a memory of the position of the connection terminal to which the endpiece must be connected. Once the equipment is in place, simply slide the end piece from the erased position to the position of engagement in the connection terminal. This guidance promotes the proper introduction of the tip into the terminal. If subsequently the equipment has to be dismantled to be inspected or replaced, we start by passing the tip from the engagement position to the erased position, we remove the equipment, we replace the new or inspected equipment, and the tip is redone in the engagement position in the connection terminal of the newly mounted apparatus.

Thus, even if several devices are dismantled simultaneously, the cabling does not risk being reversed.

Preferably, the guide is part of a rack comprising several such aligned guides.

This is useful for identical or similar equipment mounted side by side. The rack is placed along the service position of the aligned connections of these similar devices.

The rack can then be a separate piece, intended to be positioned by several end pieces because of their fixing in the connection terminals of several devices, so that when a end piece is in the retracted position, the rack remains in place thanks to the fixing of the other ends to the other apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the electrical installation comprising a base and a withdrawable and plug-in switchgear in a pinout direction, the switchgear comprising at least one connection terminal on a face parallel to the pinout direction, is characterized in that it further comprises a wiring assistance device according to the first aspect, opposite said at least one connection terminal, so that the guide and the end piece in the erased position allow the pinout and the drawout of the apparatus.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description below, relating to nonlimiting examples.

• la figure 1 est un schéma électrique partiel d'une installation selon l'invention, dans l'exemple des entrées actives d'un automate programmable ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'un dispositif selon le schéma de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de face du dispositif de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique en élévation et coupe partielle du dispositif des figures 2 et 3 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'un râtelier des figures 2 et 3 ;
• les figures 6, 7 et 9 sont des vues en coupe montrant un embout de connexion à trois stades successifs de son engagement dans le râtelier de la figure 5, vu en coupe ; et
• la figure 8 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne VIII VIII de la figure 7.

In the accompanying drawings:

• FIG. 1 is a partial electrical diagram of an installation according to the invention, in the example of the active inputs of a programmable controller;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of a device according to the diagram of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a front view of the device of Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a schematic elevational view in partial section of the device of Figures 2 and 3;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of a rack of Figures 2 and 3;
• Figures 6, 7 and 9 are sectional views showing a connection nozzle at three successive stages of its engagement in the rack of Figure 5, seen in section; and
• FIG. 8 is a sectional view along line VIII VIII of FIG. 7.

In the example shown in Figure 1, a programmable controller 1 which is only shown partially and very schematically receives on its signal inputs 2 signals which are a function of the state of detectors 3a-3f generally placed on the installation 10 that the PLC 1 must control.

The state of the detectors 3a-3f is transmitted to the signal inputs 2 of the automaton 1 via the interface device 11 which comprises, between installation signal terminals 24a and processing signal terminals 25a , relays which in the example are electromechanical relays 4a or an optocoupler 4b. The interface device 11 comprises four common conductors 34a to 34d each connected to a respective supply terminal 35 of the interface device. Outside the interface device 11, an "installation" power source 7 and a "treatment" power source 9 are each mounted between two respective power terminals 35. For each input, there are signal 2 from the automaton 1 a processing circuit 5 and a detection circuit 6 each located partly in the interface device 11 and partly outside of it. In the detection circuit 6, the detector 3a-3f is in series with the control member of the relay 4a or 4b and with the "installation" power source 7 or an external source 12. In the input circuit 5, the processing means 8 of the programmable controller 1 associated with the input 2 considered are in series with the controlled member of the relay 4a or 4b and with the "processing" power source 9. Each input circuit 5 or detection 6, for its connection to the source 7 or 9, is in practice connected to the corresponding conductors 34a to 34d in the interface device 11.

It can also be seen in FIG. 1 that the detection circuits 6 are not all connected in the same way to the source 7. The detectors 3a, 3b, 3e and 3f are mounted between their "installation" signal terminal 24a and a respective "installation" common terminal 24b, connected directly in the interface device 11 to one of the conductors common 34d. The detector 3c is mounted between a signal terminal 24a of the interface device 11 and the fixed potential terminal of the detector 3b. The 3d detector cooperates with its own source 12 and is not at all connected to the source 7.

The "installation" common terminals 24b are all connected together by the same contact 41d to the common conductor 34d.

The processing means 8 are each mounted between a “processing” signal terminal 25a and a “processing” common terminal 25b. The terminals 25b are all connected together by the same contact 41a to the common conductor 34a.

As shown in Figure 3, the interface device 11 comprises a base 28 having a face wall 29 through which are formed four rows of windows 31a, 31b, 31c and 31d. The windows 31a to 31d are also arranged in columns perpendicular to the rows, each column having a window in each row.

Under each of the rows of windows 31a to 31d, a respective copper wire 34a to 34d is arranged which embodies the conductors 34a to 34d of FIG. 1.

As FIGS. 2 and 3 also show, the base 28 carries at one of its ends a power supply unit 36 which extends parallel to the window columns 31a-31d and includes the power supply terminals 35.

The interface device further comprises interface modules 39 which are mounted against the wall face 29 of the base and have, in the direction of this wall, contact clamps which plug into some of the windows 31a to 31d of the same column of the face wall 29, in a broaching direction perpendicular to this face , see the arrow to the right of FIG. 2, and pinch the common conductors 34a to 34d located opposite these windows.

Such a module with three contact clamps passing through the windows 31a, 31b and 31c can for example provide the interface between the detector 3f in FIG. 1 and the corresponding signal input 2 of the automaton, since such a module must be connected to conductors 34a, 34b and 34c.

In the case of the other detectors represented in FIG. 1, where a connection with the negative terminal of the "installation" source 7 and a single connection with the positive terminal of the "processing" source 9 is sufficient, the module will only have two clips to pass through the windows 31b and 31c.

The "installation" signal terminals 24a are constituted by wire clamps 20 provided on the modules 39 themselves.

The "installation" common terminals 24b are wire clamps 320 provided on a common module 72 interposed between the interface modules.

The signal and common "processing" terminals 25a and 25b are constituted by pins 220 of a connector 61 fixed to the base and intended to receive a complementary connector carried by the end of a cable coming from the automaton. . Flexible wires 91 extending in a cavity 77 behind the connector 61 and in a chute 78 along the base connect each pin 220 with another wire clamp 20 of each interface module 39 or respectively with a wire clamp 320 of a common "treatment" module 73.

The wire clamps 20 on the "processing" side and the wire clamps 20 constituting the "installation" signal terminals 24a are in a symmetrical position on two opposite faces of the modules and therefore form two rectilinear rows, one above and the another below the modules.

According to the invention, the device comprises racks made of insulating material 79 each of which supports several adjacent connection ends 81, corresponding to several wire clamps 20 aligned side by side. These racks 79 are separate parts of both modules and end pieces and they are only held in place by tightening the connection end pieces 81 in the respective wire clamps 20.

As shown in FIG. 5, the racks 79 are obtained from a strip of molded plastic material which is cut to the desired length by means of sectioning primers 82 formed between neighboring cells 83 each provided for receiving a nozzle. . The repeating step of the cells 83 corresponds to the repeating step of the window columns on the base.

Each cell 83 is constituted by a cylindrical conduit open laterally over most of its height, except in a base 84 of the rack, adjacent to a face of the rack intended to rest against the wall of the modules.

The lateral opening of each cell is such that the cell is substantially semi-cylindrical at its end remote from the base and gradually closes in the direction of the base.

The side wall of each cell has at its end opposite the base 84 a boss 86.

This rack 79 is provided for conventional connection end pieces 81 (FIG. 6) comprising for example a plastic body 87 extended by a label holder 88 and molded onto a metal tube 89 in which it is possible to engage, through the body 87 the stripped end (not shown) of a flexible wire 91. When the stripped end of the wire 91 is engaged in the projecting part of the metal tube 89, and that the latter is clamped between the jaws 92 of a clamp wire 20, the stripped end of the wire is pinched in the tube 89 when the latter is flattened by the clamping of the jaws 92.

For the installation of a nozzle 81 equipped with its flexible wire 91 in the rack 79, the nozzle 81 is presented in the inclined position as shown in FIG. 6 so that the body 87 engages laterally in the upper part semi-cylindrical of the cell 83. The inclined position comes from the fact that the body 87 abuts laterally against the boss 86. Then, the tip 81 is moved axially towards the base 84, which forces the tip to align with the socket as shown in FIG. 7 and to snap behind the boss 86, because the body 87 reaches a less open region of the socket 83, as shown in FIG. 8.

In this so-called erased position, the free end of the tube 89 does not yet protrude from the base 84 of the rack 79. On the other hand, the boss 86 prevents the tip 81 from being easily extracted by pulling axially in the direction opposite to the base 84. The face of the module which is provided with the terminal 20 and the face of the base 84 which is adjacent to the terminal 20 are parallel to the pinout direction in which the module can be plugged in and out of the base 28 Thus, when the endpiece 81 is in the retracted position, it allows the module to be plugged in and out. You can, from the cleared position, push the tip 81 axially towards the position of engagement in the wire clamp 20 (Figure 9). The body 87, which can therefore no longer leave the cell 83, is guided axially by the cell 83, while the projecting part 89 of the tube has a large radial clearance in the orifice of the base 84. When the position engagement is reached, the base of the label holder 88 abuts against the upper face of the base 84, while the projecting part 89 of the tube protrudes relative to the base 84. The jaws 92 of the clamp can then be tightened wire 20 and this immobilizes not only the end piece 81 but also the rack 79 which is trapped between the base of the label holder 88 and the outer wall of the module to which the wire clamp 20 belongs.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the racks 79 allow, with a view to the removal of a module for its replacement and repair, after having loosened the corresponding wire clamp 20, to bring the end piece 81 in the erased position and to leave in this position in the absence of the module (tip 81 on the right in Figure 2) so that the location of the terminal to which the tip 81 must be connected is not lost in the absence of the module. This is important if you dismantle several modules at the same time: all the risks of incorrect wiring swapping on this occasion are eliminated. To completely release the end piece 81, it suffices to tilt the end piece (FIG. 6) to cross the hard point caused by the boss 86. The racks 79 also make it possible to pre-schedule the wires and end pieces during assembly. initial interface device, while the modules are still missing.

As again shown in Figure 4, there is provided in the chute 78, holes 66 for receiving the cable ends corresponding to the pins of the connector 61 which are not used in the assembly carried out.

One of the advantages of the racks 79 is also to angularly position all of the end pieces 81 so that the label holders 88 are oriented towards the observer. In fact, as illustrated in FIG. 8, each endpiece is angularly wedged by its label holder 88 projecting into the lateral opening of the cell 83 of the rack. At the same time, the lateral opening allows the label fixed in service on the label holder to be read.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown.

The invention is applicable to very diverse installations, for example to rows of contactors.

Claims (13)

1. Device for assisting electrical wiring, comprising a connecting end-fitting (81) intended to be attached to the end of an electrical conductor (91) and to be introduced into a connecting terminal (20) of an electrical apparatus (39) dismountably disposed on a socket (28), a guide (79) being able to be positioned facing the use position of the connecting terminal (20) of the electrical apparatus (39), characterised in that the said guide (79) is fixed in relation to the socket (28) and comprises means (83, 86) for retaining the end-fitting (81) in a set-back position allowing the dismounting of the electrical apparatus (39) from the socket (28) and for guiding the end-fitting (81) from the set-back position to a position for engaging the end-fitting (81) in the connecting terminal (20) in the use position of the apparatus (39).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the guide comprises hard-spot means (86) which have to be crossed over by the end-fitting (81) in order to be extracted from the guide (79) beyond the set-back position.
3. Device according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the guide (79) and the end-fitting (81) comprise mutual-stop means (84, 88) preventing the end-fitting from going beyond the engagement position.
4. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the end-fitting comprises an insulating body (87) and a conducting end (89), characterised in that the means (83) for retaining and guiding the end-fitting interact with the body (87) of the end-fitting, whereas the end (83) of the end-fitting has a radial play with respect to the guide.
5. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the end-fitting comprises a label holder (88), characterised in that the guide has a lateral opening for permitting the observation of the label holder.
6. Device according to Claim 5, characterised in that the width of the lateral opening of the guide (79) corresponds to the width of the label holder (88) in order, in use, to position angularly the end-fitting about its axis into an orientation for good visibility of the label holder.
7. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the guide comprises an opening for the insertion and the extraction of the end-fitting relative to the guide in the vicinity of the set-back position and in order, from the engagement position, to prevent the extraction of the end-fitting other than by passing via the set-back position.
8. Device according to Claim 7, characterised in that the guide means comprise a substantially cylindrical guide cavity (83) and the opening comprises a lateral opening of this cavity and in that the said lateral opening narrows in the direction of movement from the set-back position to the engagement position.
9. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the guide completely surrounds the end-fitting in the vicinity of that one face of the guide intended to be adjacent to the connecting terminal (20) of the equipment.
10. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the guide forms a portion of a rack (79) comprising several aligned retention and guide means for simultaneously retaining and guiding several end-fittings.
11. Device according to Claim 10, characterised in that the rack (79) is a separate part intended to be positioned by several end-fittings (81) on account of their attachment in the connecting terminals of several apparatuses (39), so that when and end-fitting is in the set-back position and a corresponding apparatus (39) is absent, the rack (79) remains in place by virtue of the attachment of the other end-fittings (81) to the other apparatuses (39).
12. Device according to Claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the rack (79) is a section of a moulded part cut to length in order to have the desired number of retention and guide means.
13. Electrical system comprising a socket (28) and an apparatus (39) which can be unplugged and plugged in along a plugging direction, the apparatus comprising at least one connecting terminal (20) on a face parallel to the plugging direction, characterised in that it furthermore comprises a device (79, 81) for assisting wiring according to one of Claims 1 to 12, facing the said "at least one" connecting terminal (20), so that the guide and the end-fitting in the set-back position enable the apparatus to be plugged in and unplugged.

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