EP0779679A1 - Distribution device - Google Patents

Abstract

The wiring connector is made up of a number of long metallic slabs (11). Each slab has a top screw (14A,14B) screwed in place and a hole to clamp a base wire end in position. Each slab has an outer isolating cover (15) which shields the metallic section, leaving a hole for the input wire. The metallic structures plus isolating covers are held in position by end isolating material sections, which plug into the lengthwise section.

Description

The present invention relates generally to distributors of the type comprising at least one metal bar, which is established between two support flanges of insulating material, from one to the other of these, and which forms, by itself, staggered along its length, several connection terminals.

One of these connection terminals is an arrival terminal, and the others are departure terminals, but all are at the same potential.

Usually, to date, the bar is naked, to the detriment of security.

The present invention generally relates to an arrangement which overcomes this drawback and leads to other advantages.

More specifically, it relates to a distributor of the type concerned, characterized in that, with the bar, is associated a partition made of insulating material, which, longitudinally, runs substantially over its entire length, being, like it, carried by the associated support flanges, and which, transversely, circumscribes it over at least part of its cross section.

Thus, this partition is opposed to direct contact with the bar, for the benefit of safety.

But, according to various developments of the invention, it is advantageously taken advantage of this partition.

According to a first development, this partition is equipped with a marker carrier (s).

It is thus advantageously possible to accompany the bar with any mention, and, for example, a mention allowing its identification or signaling the potential at which it is likely to be found.

According to another development of the invention, the bar being, in a manner known per se, engaged at its ends in housings provided for this purpose on the support flanges, the partition which is associated with it connects to one another these support flanges, by being coupled to them at its ends, so that the bar is simply sandwiched freely between these support flanges.

In other words, apart from the fitting of the bar into the housings of the support flanges, there is advantageously no particular means of securing this bar to these support flanges, which, in particular, advantageously simplifies the very realization of this bar.

At the same time, the necessary securing means are advantageously transferred to the partition, and they therefore intervene between the latter and the support flanges.

Preferably, these are snap-fastening means.

Thus, during assembly, it suffices to bring the support flanges together, by enclosing between them the bar and the partition associated with it, until this partition is snapped onto these support flanges .

This assembly is thus advantageously simplified.

To further facilitate this mounting, there is preferably provided between the bar and the partition, according to another development of the invention, interlocking means, so that this partition advantageously forms with this bar a sub-assembly unitary, which simplifies handling.

Besides that the partition or partitions provided according to the invention ensure by themselves the locking of the distributor once it has been assembled, they advantageously contribute to the rigidity of this distributor.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un répartiteur suivant l'invention ;
• la figure 2 en est une vue en perspective éclatée ;
• la figure 3 en est, à échelle supérieure, une vue en coupe transversale, suivant la ligne III-III de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 en est, à l'échelle de la figure 3, une vue partielle en coupe longitudinale, suivant la ligne IV-IV de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'un des barreaux que comporte ce répartiteur ;
• la figure 6 est, à l'échelle de la figure 5, une vue en perspective de la cloison associée suivant l'invention à ce barreau, vue de l'avant ;
• la figure 7 est une autre vue en perspective de cette cloison, vue de l'arrière, suivant la flèche VII de la figure 6 ;
• la figure 8 en est une vue en coupe transversale, suivant la ligne VIII-VIII de la figure 6 ;
• la figure 9 est, à échelle supérieure, une vue en perspective d'un des flasques de support que comporte le répartiteur suivant l'invention ;
• la figure 10 est une vue en coupe transversale, qui reprend, à échelle inférieure, celle de la figure 3, et illustre la mise en oeuvre d'un capot et d'un cache sur le répartiteur suivant l'invention ;
• la figure 11 est une vue en coupe transversale, qui, analogue à celle de la figure 3, se rapporte à une autre variante de réalisation ;
• la figure 12 est, à échelle inférieure, une vue en perspective du répartiteur suivant l'invention, vu de l'arrière, pour une autre variante de réalisation.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a distributor according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view;
• Figure 3 is a larger scale, a cross-sectional view along the line III-III of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is, on the scale of Figure 3, a partial view in longitudinal section along the line IV-IV of Figure 1;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the bars that includes this distributor;
• Figure 6 is, on the scale of Figure 5, a perspective view of the partition associated according to the invention with this bar, viewed from the front;
• Figure 7 is another perspective view of this partition, seen from the rear, along arrow VII of Figure 6;
• Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 6;
• Figure 9 is a larger scale, a perspective view of one of the support flanges that includes the distributor according to the invention;
• Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view, which shows, on a smaller scale, that of Figure 3, and illustrates the implementation of a cover and a cover on the distributor according to the invention;
• Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view, which, similar to that of Figure 3, relates to another alternative embodiment;
• Figure 12 is, on a smaller scale, a perspective view of the distributor according to the invention, seen from the rear, for another alternative embodiment.

As illustrated in these figures, and in a manner known per se, the distributor 10 according to the invention comprises, overall, at least one bar 11, made of metal, which is established between two support flanges 12 of insulating material, of the 'to one another of these, and which forms, by itself, staggered along its length, several connection terminals 14A, 14B.

In practice, and in a manner also known per se, several bars 11 are provided parallel to each other, at a distance from each other.

In the embodiment more particularly shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, there are thus two bars 11.

They are each respectively assigned to two different potentials.

For example, one corresponds to a phase potential, and the other to a neutral potential.

According to the invention, at least one of the bars 11, and, in practice, to each of these, is associated a partition 15, of insulating material, which, longitudinally, runs substantially over the entire length of this bar 11, being, like him, carried by the support flanges 12, according to arrangements described in more detail later, and which, transversely, and according to arrangements also described in more detail later, circumscribes this bar 11 on at least part of the cross section of it.

In the embodiments shown, and in a manner known per se, the bars 11 are identical to each other, and their cross section is quadrangular, and, more precisely, rectangular.

They thus have, along the side of greatest length of this cross-section, two faces 16, hereinafter called main faces, and, along its side of shortest length, two faces 18, hereinafter said side faces.

Let H1 be measured transversely, the height of the main faces 16 of a bar 11, and let L1, also measured transversely, be the width of its lateral faces 18.

The connection terminals 14A, 14B formed by such a bar 11 are in practice screw terminals.

For each of these connection terminals 14A, 14B, there is therefore, on the one hand, a bore 19A, 19B, which extends from one to the other of the two main faces 16, and which, in practice , is smooth, and, on the other hand, a bore 20, which, from one of the side faces 18, extends transversely with respect to the preceding bore 19A, 19B, and which, for its part, is tapped, for the implementation of a clamping screw 21.

In practice, all the holes 20 open onto the same lateral face 18.

In practice, too, the holes 19A, 19B are of two different types: there are holes 19A of relatively larger diameter, and holes 19B of relatively smaller diameter.

The foregoing provisions are well known in themselves, and, not pertaining specifically to the present invention, they will not be described in more detail here.

The distribution of the holes 19A, 19B along the bar 11 can be arbitrary.

In the embodiments shown, there is a bore 19B of relatively smaller diameter at each of its ends.

According to the invention, the partition 15 associated with a bar 11 comprises, generally, at right angles to one another, two wings 22, 24, namely, a main wing 22, which extends parallel to the 'one of the main faces 16 of this bar 11, at a distance from this main face 16, and a lateral wing 24, which extends parallel to one of the two other faces of this bar 11, and therefore to one of its side faces 18, which is in practice that opposite the holes 20.

Preferably, and as shown, the lateral wing 24 of the partition 15 extends in the immediate vicinity of the corresponding lateral face 18 of the bar 11.

In the embodiments shown, the main wing 22 of the partition 15 has, transversely, a height H2 greater than the height H1 of the main faces 16 of the bar 11, and, likewise, its lateral wing 24 a, transversely, in its main part, that is to say in its middle part 25, a width L2 greater than the width L1 of the lateral faces 18 of this bar 11.

Preferably, and as shown, between the bar 11 and the partition 15 intervene interlocking means, so that, as shown in FIG. 2, this partition 15 forms, with the bar 11, a sub-assembly unit 26.

In practice, in the embodiments shown, these interlocking means result from the fact that the lateral wing 24 of the partition 15 forms, longitudinally, in its central part 25, a groove 27 in which the bar 11 is forcibly engaged .

This groove 27 extends along the free edge of the lateral wing 24.

It therefore extends at a distance from the main wing 22, and, between the groove 27 and this main wing 22, the lateral wing 24 forms a flat 28.

Let L3 be the width of the groove 27.

It is substantially equal to the width L1 of the lateral faces 18 of the bar 11.

Preferably, the interlocking means intervening between the bar 11 and the partition 15 are locally reinforced by projections 29, 30, which, present on the sides of the groove 27, bite slightly on the internal volume thereof.

In practice, in FIG. 7, there are thus, at a distance from each other, two projections 29 on the side of the groove 27 closest to the free edge of the lateral wing 24, and, each arranged respectively with screws. with respect to these projections 29, two projections 30 on the opposite side of this groove 27.

The protrusions 29 are formed by plates 31, which, acting longitudinally, are externally level with the corresponding flank of the groove 27, locally extending upward thereof, and which, internally, are thicker than that. flank.

The projections 30 are formed by the ends of ribs 32, which, acting transversely on the flat 28, extend from the main wing 22 to the groove 27.

Preferably, the partition 15 associated with a bar 11 is equipped with a marker carrier (s) 33.

In practice, in the embodiments shown, this marker carrier (s) 33 extends in the middle part 34 of the main wing 22 of this partition 15, and it is in the form of a rod carried, at its ends, by two brackets 35, which project outwards on this main wing 22, at the edge of a notch 36 affecting the latter from its free edge .

In practice, also, on the lower surface of the rod thus forming the marker carrier (s) 33 there is a protruding partition 38 which extends from one to the other of the brackets 35, and which is intended to buttress the mark (s) attached to the marker holder (s) 33.

In the embodiment shown, notches 39 are also provided on the brackets 35, to allow to bring if desired on them a cover of a nature to protect the marker or markers possibly present on the marker carrier (s) 33 .

In the embodiments shown, this marker carrier (s) 33 has only a relatively reduced extension relative to the length of the partition 15.

Preferably, finally, and as shown, the bar 11 being, in a manner known per se, engaged, at its ends, in housings 42 provided for this purpose on the support flanges 12 according to methods described in more detail later, the partition 15 which is associated with it connects these support flanges 12 to one another, by being coupled to the latter at its ends according to methods also described in more detail later, so that the bar 11 is simply taken, freely, sandwiched, between these support flanges 12.

In the embodiments shown, the housing 42 which each of the support flanges 12 has for the engagement of a bar 11 is formed by an end piece 44, which protrudes from the internal face of this support flange 12, FIG. 9, and which generally forms a pocket of quadrangular cross section complementary to that of the bar 11.

To allow free access to the connection terminal 14B present at the ends of the bar 11, and thus use it over its entire length, the main faces 45 of this end pieces 44 are each perforated by a wide notch 46, and, likewise, its lateral face 47 corresponding to the lateral face 18 of the bar 11 on which the clamping screws 21 intervene is perforated by a wide notch 48.

On the other hand, the lateral face 49 opposite the previous one is full, and, in practice, it extends over a length greater than that of the others.

For its adaptation to such end pieces 44, the lateral wing 24 of the partition 15 associated with a bar 11 forms, at each of its ends, a bloom 50, the width L4 of which is greater than that L3 of its groove 27, and by which it is engaged longitudinally on the corresponding end piece 44, outside of the latter.

In the embodiments shown, the partition 15 is coupled to the two support flanges 12 by latching means 52, 53.

At each end of this partition 15, these latching means 52, 53 comprise, on the one hand, on the corresponding support flange 12, an elastically deformable tongue 52, which is shaped as a hook, with a notch 54 preceded by 'an engagement chamfer 55, and, on the other hand, on the partition 15, a notch 53, with which the preceding elastically deformable tongue 52 is engaged.

In the embodiments shown, the elastically deformable tongue 52 extends parallel to the end piece 44 of the support flanges 12, and, more precisely, parallel to the full side face 49 of this end piece 44, at a distance from it. this.

As a corollary, the notch 53 belongs to the contour of an opening 58 locally perforating the lateral wing 24 of the partition 15.

In the embodiments shown, this opening 58 more precisely affects the corresponding development 50 of this lateral wing 24.

In practice, in the embodiments shown, the length L5 of the main wing 22 of the partition 15 is less than the length L6 of its lateral wing 24 measured from one to the other of the openings 50 thereof.

In other words, the main wing 22 of this partition 15 projects from its lateral wing 24 at each of its ends.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, one of the bars 11 is, moreover, inclined, its main faces 16 extending obliquely to those of the other bar 11.

To do this, it suffices that the corresponding end piece 44 of the support flanges 12 is itself inclined, as shown.

In the embodiments shown, each of the support flanges 12 also forms, at its base, a base 60 by which it is adapted to be snapped onto a support rail not shown.

For example, and as shown, these base means 60 comprise, in a manner known per se, for snap-fastening on a support rail of the so-called hat type, two legs 61, 62, which, one and the other , comprise, at the same level, and in the direction of one another, a notch 63, and one of which is rigid while the other is elastically deformable.

In practice, the support flanges 12 are symmetrical to each other with respect to a transverse plane of symmetry which, common to the assembly, passes through the central region of the bars 11.

During assembly, and as shown in FIG. 2, it is firstly formed of unitary sub-assemblies 26 with each of the bars 11 and the partition 15 which is associated with such a bar 11.

According to the opposite arrows F in this FIG. 2, the support flanges 12 are then brought closer to each other, on either side of the unitary sub-assemblies 26, with engagement of their ends 44 on the bars 11, until, by the latching means 52, 53 provided for this purpose, the partitions 15 come into engagement with them.

The partitions 15 provided according to the invention then advantageously lock by themselves the entire distributor 10 thus obtained.

It follows from the above that the main wing 22 of the partition 15 associated with a bar 11 extends at a distance from the latter.

There therefore remains a space 64 between this main wing 22 and the bar 11, and, in service, and as shown diagrammatically in broken lines in FIG. 3 for a bar 11, this space 64 is used to check that the connection of an electrical conductor 80 to this bar 11 through one of its holes 19A, or 19B, was done correctly, ensuring that the stripped end of the conductive core 81 of this electrical conductor 80 emerges well in this space 64 after crossing the bar 11.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, provision is also made to associate the distributor 10 thus formed with a cover 65, on the side of the support flanges 12 opposite their legs 60.

To do this, each of the support flanges 12 has two notches 66, 67 oriented back to back.

The notch 66 laterally affects one of the end pieces 44, and the notch 67 is preceded by an oblique ramp 68 facilitating installation by simply snapping on the cover 65.

As will be noted, the cover 65 has only a reduced extension; in particular, it does not laterally cover the bars 11, so as not to compromise their ventilation.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 10, and it is also the same in the embodiment shown in Figure 11, it is finally expected to equip the distributor 10 with a cover 70 on the side of the base 60 of its support flanges 12.

To this end, there is provision, on these support flanges 12, for the engagement of a cover 70, a boss 71, which extends between the legs 61, 62 of their legs 60, and which has back to back two notches 72.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 11, four bars 11 are provided, parallel to each other, at a distance from each other.

As before, at least one of these bars 11 is inclined, its main faces 16 extending obliquely relative to those of at least another of these bars 11.

In practice, the two median bars 11 are inclined, while the two extreme bars 11 are straight.

For the rest, the provisions are of the same type as those previously described.

Finally, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, there is associated, with the distributor 10, an accessory 75, which, itself carrying at least one additional bar 11, is capable of being attached to it in a removable manner.

For example, this accessory 75 is able to snap onto the support flanges 12 of the distributor 10.

It has, for this purpose, laterally, elastically deformable tabs 76, which, shaped as a hook, are capable of engaging with notches provided for this purpose on these support flanges 12, and not visible in the figure.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any variant and / or combination of their various elements.

Claims (21)

Distributor of the kind comprising at least one metal bar (11), which is established between two support flanges (12) of insulating material, from one to the other of these, and which forms, by itself , staggered along its length, several connection terminals (14A, 14B), characterized in that, with the bar (11), is associated a partition (15) of insulating material, which, longitudinally, runs substantially over its entire length, in being, like him, carried by the support flanges (12), and which, transversely, circumscribes it over at least part of its cross section. Distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that, the bar (11) having a quadrangular cross section, with, for each of the connection terminals (14A, 14B), a bore (19A, 19B) which extends from the one to the other of two of its faces (16), hereinafter called main faces, the associated partition (15) comprises, generally at right angles to one another, two wings (22, 24), namely, a main wing (22), which extends parallel to one of the main faces (16) of the bar (11), at a distance from this main face (16), and a lateral wing (24), which extends parallel to one of the two other faces (18) of the bar (11), hereinafter called lateral faces. Distributor according to claim 2, characterized in that the height (H2) of the main wing (22) of the partition (15) is greater than the height (H1) of the main faces (16) of the bar (11). Distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the partition (15) is equipped with a marker carrier (s) (33). Distributor according to claims 2 and 4, taken together, characterized in that the marker carrier (s) (33) is in the form of a rod carried by two brackets (35) which project outwards on the 'main wing (22) of the partition (15), at the edge of a notch (36) affecting this main wing (22) from its free edge. Distributor according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the lateral wing (24) of the partition (15) extends in the immediate vicinity of the corresponding lateral face (18) of the bar (11). Distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, between the bar (11) and the partition (15), interlocking means intervene, so that this partition (15) forms with the bar ( 11) a unitary sub-assembly (26). Distributor according to claims 2 and 7, taken together, characterized in that said fitting means result from the fact that the lateral wing (24) of the partition (15) forms a longitudinal groove (27) in which the bar (11 ) is forcibly engaged. Distributor according to claim 8, characterized in that the groove (27) which has the lateral wing (24) of the partition (15) extends along the free edge of this lateral wing (24). Distributor according to any one of claims 8, 9, characterized in that the interlocking means intervening between the bar (11) and the partition (15) are locally reinforced by projections (29, 30) which, present on the sides of the groove (27) formed by the lateral wing (24) of the partition (15), bite slightly on the internal volume of this groove (27). Distributor according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the main wing (22) of the partition (15) extends away from the bar (11). Distributor according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, the bar (11) being engaged at its ends in housings (42) provided for this purpose on the support flanges (12), the partition (15 ) connects these support flanges (12) to each other, by being coupled to these at its ends, so that the bar (11) is simply sandwiched freely between the support flanges (12) . Distributor according to claim 12, characterized in that the partition (15) is coupled to the support flanges (12) by latching means (52, 53). Distributor according to claim 13, characterized in that, at each end of the partition (15), the latching means (52, 53) comprise, on the corresponding support flange (12), an elastically deformable tongue (52 ), which is shaped as a hook, and, on the partition (15), a notch (53) with which this elastically deformable tongue (52) is engaged. Distributor according to claims 2 and 14, taken together, characterized in that the notch (53) of the latching means (52, 53) belongs to the contour of an opening (58) locally perforating the lateral wing (24) of the partition (15). Distributor according to claims 2 and 12, taken together, characterized in that, the housing (42) that each of the support flanges (12) for the engagement of the bar (11) being formed by a projecting end piece (44) on the internal surface of this support flange (12), the lateral wing (24) of the partition (15) forms at each of its ends a development (50) by which it is engaged on such a nozzle (44), outside of it. Distributor according to claims 15 and 16, taken together, characterized in that the opening (58) to which belongs the notch (53) of the latching means (52, 53) affects the development (50) corresponding to the side wing (24) of the partition (15). Distributor according to claim 12, characterized in that, the housing (42) that each of the support flanges (12) for the engagement of the bar (11) being formed by a tip (44) projecting from the internal surface of this support flange (12), the main faces (45) of this end piece (44) are each perforated by a notch (46), and, likewise, its lateral face (47) corresponding to the lateral face (18) of the bar (11) on which the clamping screws (21) operate is perforated by a notch (48). Distributor according to claim 2, characterized in that, several bars (11) being provided parallel to each other, at least one of these bars (11) is inclined, its main faces (16) extending obliquely by compared to those of at least one other of these bars (11). Distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that each of the support flanges (12) forms a base (60) by which it is adapted to be snapped onto a support rail. Distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that it is associated with an accessory (75), which, carrying at least one additional bar (11), is capable of being attached to it removably .

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