EP0779679B1 - 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 distributors of the kind comprising at least one bar in metal, which is established between two flanges of material support insulating, from one to the other of these, and which forms, by itself, staggered along its length, several terminals of connection.

One of these connection terminals is a terminal and the rest are departure terminals, but all are at the same potential.

Usually, to date, the bar is bare, at detriment to security.

The present invention generally has for object a provision which overcomes this drawback and leads to other benefits.

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

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

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 holder (s).

It is thus advantageously possible to support the bar of any mention, and, for example, of a statement allowing its identification or signaling the potential which he is likely to be.

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

In other words, apart from the nesting of the bar in housings of the support flanges, it is not advantageously provided no particular means of joining from this bar to these support flanges, which, in particular, advantageously simplifies the very construction of this bar.

Jointly, the means of solidarity advantageously are carried over to the partition, and they therefore intervene between it and the support flanges.

Preferably, these are means latching.

Thus, during assembly, it suffices to bring one of the other the support flanges, enclosing between them the bar and the partition associated with it, up to the latching of this partition on these support flanges.

This assembly is thus advantageously simplified.

To further facilitate this mounting, provision is made, preferably, between the bar and the partition, according to a another development of the invention, nesting means, so that this partition advantageously forms with this bar a unitary subset, which simplifies the handling.

In addition to the following partition (s) the invention by themselves ensure the locking of the distributor once assembled, they contribute advantageously 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, on 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 known manner 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, one to the other of these, and that 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 others, at a distance from each other.

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

They are each assigned to two different potentials.

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

According to the invention, at 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 provisions described in more detail later, and which, transversely, and also according to provisions described in more detail later, circumscribes this bar 11 over at least part of the cross section of this one.

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

They comprise, thus, according to the side of larger length of this cross section, two faces 16, called below main faces, and, according to its smaller side length, two faces 18, hereinafter said side faces.

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

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

For each of these connection terminals 14A, 14B, there 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 by compared to the previous hole 19A, 19B, which is threaded, for the implementation of a clamping screw 21.

In practice, all the holes 20 lead to a same side face 18.

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

The foregoing provisions are well known by themselves, and, not specifically falling under this invention, they will not be described in more detail here.

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

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

According to the invention, the partition 15 associated with a bar 11 has, generally, at right angles to one another to the other, two wings 22, 24, namely, a main wing 22, which extends parallel to 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 faces side 18, which is in practice that opposite to the holes 20.

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

In the embodiments shown, the wing main 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 current 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 means interlocking, so that, as shown in the figure 2, this partition 15 forms, with the bar 11, a sub-assembly unit 26.

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

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

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

Let L3 be the width of the groove 27.

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

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

In practice, figure 7, there is thus, remotely one on the other, two projections 29 on the side of the groove 27 the closest to the free edge of the side wing 24, and, arranged each respectively with respect to these projections 29, two projections 30 on the opposite side of this groove 27.

The projections 29 are formed by plates 31, which, acting longitudinally, are externally level with the corresponding side of groove 27, in locally extending this upward, and which, internally, are thicker than this side.

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 portion median 34 of the main wing 22 of this bulkhead 15, and there comes in the form of a baguette worn at its ends, by two consoles 35, which project towards the exterior on this main wing 22, bordering a notch 36 affecting the latter from its free edge.

In practice, too, on the lower surface of the rod thus forming the marker carrier (s) 33 is located a partition 38 protrudes from one to the other of the consoles 35, and which is intended to counterbalance the one or more marks reported on the marker carrier (s) 33.

In the embodiment shown, notches 39 are also provided on the consoles 35, to allow to bring a hood on them if desired protect the marker (s) possibly present on the marker (s) 33.

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

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

In the embodiments shown, the housing 42 that each of the support flanges 12 has for the engagement of a bar 11 is formed by a tip 44, which is projecting from the internal face of this support flange 12, Figure 9, and which generally forms a section pocket quadrangular transverse 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 this over its entire length, the main faces 45 of this end piece 44 are each perforated by a wide notch 46, and, likewise, its lateral face 47 corresponding to the face side 18 of the bar 11 on which the screws intervene clamp 21 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 spans a longer than others.

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

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, a tongue elastically deformable 52, which is hook shaped, with a notch 54 preceded by an engagement chamfer 55, and, on the other share, on the partition 15, a notch 53, with which the tongue elastically deformable 52 previous is engaged.

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

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

In the embodiments shown, this aperture 58 more specifically affects development 50 correspondent 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 flourishes 50 of this one.

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

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

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

In the embodiments shown, each 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 means of base 60 comprise, in a manner known per se, for a latching on a support rail of the so-called cap type, two legs 61, 62, which both have, at one same level, and towards each other, 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 whole, passes through the middle zone bars 11.

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

According to the opposite arrows F in this figure 2, the support flanges 12 are then brought together, on either side of the unitary subsets 26, with engagement of their end pieces 44 on the bars 11, until that, 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 advantageously lock the assembly by themselves of the 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 of the last.

There therefore remains a space 64 between this wing main 22 and bar 11, and, in service, and as shown schematically in broken lines in Figure 3 for a bar 11, this space 64 is used to control by sight that the connection of an electrical conductor 80 to this bar 11 with one of its holes 19A, or 19B, was made properly, making sure that the bare end of the core conductor 81 of this electrical conductor 80 emerges well in this space 64 after crossing the bar 11.

In the embodiment shown in the Figures 1 to 10, it is also planned to associate the distributor 10 thus constituted by a cover 65, on the side of the support flanges 12 opposite their base 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 one reduced extension; in particular, it does not wrap laterally the bars 11, so as not to compromise the breakdown of these.

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

For this purpose, it is provided on these support flanges 12, for the engagement of a cover 70, a boss 71, which extends between the legs 61, 62 of their base 60, and which has back to back two notches 72.

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

As before, 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.

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 the FIG. 12, it is associated, with the distributor 10, with an accessory 75, which itself carries at least one additional bar 11, may be removably attached to it.

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

It has, for this purpose, laterally, legs elastically deformable 76, which, in the form of a hook, are able to engage 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 includes any variant and / or combination of their various elements.

Claims (21)

1. A distributor of the kind comprising at least one bar (11) of metal, which is established between two support end plates (12) of insulating material, from one thereof to the other, and which by itself forms, spaced over its length, a plurality of connecting terminals (14A, 14B), characterised in that associated with the bar (11) is a partition (15) of insulating material, which, longitudinally, extends substantially over its entire length, being like same carried by the support end plates (12), and which transversely circumscribes it over a part at least of its cross-section.
2. A distributor according to claim 1 characterised in that, the bar (11) being of a quadrangular cross-section, with an aperture (19A, 19B) for each of the connecting terminals (14A, 14B), which apertures extend from one of two of its faces (16), referred to hereinafter as the main faces, to the other thereof, the associated partition (15) comprises generally in right-angled relationship with each other two limbs (22, 24), namely a main limb (22) which extends parallel to one of the main faces (16) of the bar (11) at a spacing from said main face (16), and a lateral limb (24) which extends parallel to one of the other two faces (18) of the bar (11), referred to hereinafter as lateral faces.
3. A distributor according to claim 2 characterised in that the height (H2) of the main limb (22) of the partition (15) is greater than the height (H1) of the main faces (16) of the bar (11).
4. A distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the partition (15) is fitted with a marker carrier or carriers (33).
5. A distributor according to claims 2 and 4 in combination characterised in that the marker carrier or carriers (33) is or are in the form of a rod carried by two brackets (35) which project outwardly on the main limb (22) of the partition (15) at the edge of a recess (36) extending into said main limb (22) from its free edge.
6. A distributor according to any one of claims 2 to 5 characterised in that the lateral limb (24) of the partition (15) extends in the immediate proximity of the corresponding lateral face (18) of the bar (11).
7. A distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterised in that engagement means are operatively disposed between the bar (11) and the partition (15) in such a way that said partition (15) forms a unitary sub-assembly (26) with the bar (11).
8. A distributor according to claims 2 and 7 in combination characterised in that said engagement means result from the lateral limb (24) of the partition (15) longitudinally forming a groove (27) into which the bar (11) is a force fit.
9. A distributor according to claim 8 characterised in that the groove (27) with which the lateral limb (24) of the partition (15) is provided extends along the free edge of said lateral limb (24).
10. A distributor according to either one of claims 8 and 9 characterised in that the engagement means operatively disposed between the bar (11) and the partition (15) are locally reinforced by projections (29, 30) which, disposed on the flanks of the groove (27) which is formed by the lateral limb (24) of the partition (15), extend slightly into the internal volume of said groove (27).
11. A distributor according to any one of claims 2 to 10 characterised in that the main limb (22) of the partition (15) extends at a spacing from the bar (11).
12. A distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 11 characterised in that, the bar (11) being engaged at its ends in housings (42) provided for that purpose on the support end plates (12), the partition (15) connects said support end plates (12) together, being coupled to same at the ends thereof, in such a way that the bar (11) is simply freely sandwiched between the support end plates (12).
13. A distributor according to claim 12 characterised in that the partition (15) is coupled to the support end plates (12) by latching means (52, 53).
14. A distributor according to claim 13 characterised in that, at each of the ends of the partition (15), the latching means (52, 53) comprise, on the corresponding support end plate (12), an elastically deformable tongue portion (52) which is of a hook configuration and, on the partition (15), a catch (53) with which said elastically deformable tongue portion (52) is in engagement.
15. A distributor according to claims 2 and 14 in combination characterised in that the catch (53) of the latching means (52, 53) belongs to the contour of an opening (58) which locally apertures the lateral limb (24) of the partition (15).
16. A distributor according to claims 2 and 12 in combination characterised in that, the housing (42) with which each of the support end plates (12) is provided for engagement of the bar (11) being formed by an end portion (44) in projecting relationship on the internal surface of said support end plate (12), the lateral limb (24) of the partition (15) forms at each of its ends an enlargement portion (50) by way of which it is engaged on to such an end portion (44) at the exterior thereof.
17. A distributor according to claims 15 and 16 in combination characterised in that the opening (58) to which the catch (53) of the latching means (52, 53) belongs involves the corresponding enlargement portion (50) of the lateral limb (24) of the partition (15).
18. A distributor according to claim 12 characterised in that, the housing (42) with which each of the support end plates (12) is provided for engagement of the bar (11) being formed by an end portion (44) in projecting relationship on the internal surface of said support end plate (12), the main faces (45) of said end portion (44) are each apertured by a notch (46) and likewise its lateral face (47) corresponding to the lateral face (18) of the bar (11) on which clamping screws (21) act is apertured with a notch (48).
19. A distributor according to claim 2 characterised in that, a plurality of bars (11) being provided in mutually parallel relationship, one at least of said bars (11) is inclined, its main faces (16) extending obliquely with respect to those of another at least of said bars (11).
20. A distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 19 characterised in that each of the support end plates (12) forms a support leg arrangement (60), by means of which it is adapted to be latched on to a support rail.
21. A distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 20 characterised in that associated therewith is an accessory (75) which, carrying at least one supplementary bar (11), is capable of being removably fitted thereto.

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