EP0871252B1 - Connecting arrangement for the connection of at least two electrical cables - Google Patents

Abstract

The connector includes a box (1) with rectangular shape and its transversal walls (4,5) presenting openings for the two cables which are to be connected. One of the openings (8) presents and elastic sleeve which covers the cable extremity. The other opening (9) has a U-shape and is parallel with a transversal partial wall (10) which forms a chicane. This prevents disconnection of the cable. The longitudinal wall (2) of the box has two reinforcements (2a,b) which define a recess housing a connection block. The box is covered by a lid.

Description

• un boítier comportant des moyens de maintien d'au moins un plot métallique de jonction présentant deux bornes de connexion, et doté d'une face supérieure ouverte, d'une paroi de fond, et d'une paroi périphérique présentant au moins deux échancrures ménagées à partir du bord supérieur de ladite paroi, adaptées pour permettre le passage de câbles électriques à raccorder aux bornes du (ou des) plot(s) métallique(s),
• un couvercle de forme adaptée pour obturer le boítier,
• et des moyens d'encliquetage du couvercle sur le boítier.

The invention relates to a connection device for connecting at least two electric cables of the type comprising:

• a housing comprising means for holding at least one metal junction stud having two connection terminals, and provided with an open upper face, a bottom wall, and a peripheral wall having at least two indentations from the upper edge of said wall, adapted to allow the passage of electric cables to be connected to the terminals of the metal stud (s),
• a cover of suitable shape for closing the housing,
• and latching means of the cover on the housing.

Such a device is known from document GB-A 2 260 864.

Such devices are intended for make a class II or class I insulating jacket on a bipolar electrical connection. They therefore guarantee compliance with the standards in force when connecting electrical cables because the metal studs of junction are inserted in the housing and therefore must be insulated once the lid is closed after connection. On the other hand, they have a drawback, for compared to classic domino type terminal blocks, due to the inaccessibility of the connection terminals which makes it difficult to connect cables to especially when the cables to be connected are high up requiring the electrician to be perched on a ladder or any equivalent means for carrying out this operation.

The present invention aims to overcome this disadvantage and has as its main objective to provide a connection device, of cost price appreciably equivalent to that of current devices, and allowing very easy connection of electrical cables.

To this end, the invention relates to a device of connection including the means for maintaining (or) metal stud (s) include a terminal block dimensions adapted to come and stay inside the housing, connected to the peripheral wall of said housing by a flexible hinge system arranged to allow rotate said terminal block between two positions: a position, known as of use, where the terminal block is found housed inside the case and authorizes the closing of the cover, and a so-called molding position, where said terminal block is outside the housing.

First, such a device can be made by plastic injection from a mold unique, such as current devices, because the housing and the terminal block due to their connection does not form only one and the same room. Therefore, the price of returns from this connection device is substantially equivalent to those of current devices.

In addition, such a connection device guarantees compliance with the standards in force. Indeed, the terminal block cannot be separated from the housing and the electrical connection is therefore integrated in a insulation after wiring, once the block junction housed in the housing and the cover closed.

Last but not least, the operations of wiring are greatly simplified by the fact that they can be performed while the terminal block is located outside the housing, position in which it also allows manufacturing by molding, and where connection terminals are easily accessible. Once this wiring done, then just switch the block junction inside the case, to position the cables in the notches of the peripheral wall of said case, and close the cover.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the terminal block has a base connected at the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the housing by the hinge system. This localization of the hinge optimally minimizes the length of the latter, and therefore, its size at inside the case.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the hinge system comprises at least one flexible strap hinged on the junction box.

In addition, each strap is advantageously also articulated on the case, so as to guarantee a perfect folding, and therefore a minimum footprint of this strap when installing the terminal block in said housing.

In addition, these flexible straps are preferably two in number, and connected to the block of junction and to the housing so as to extend from side and on the other side of said terminal block.

To this end, and advantageously, the terminal block is extended longitudinally, on both sides on the other, by two lateral appendages to which are connected each of the flexible straps.

This arrangement of flexible straps allows them not to interfere between the wall of the housing and the terminal block once the latter housed in said housing, and therefore allows to perform housings with optimized reduced dimensions and in particular an internal width equivalent to that of the block junction ensuring perfect lateral wedging thereof.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the peripheral wall of the housing comprises, at right of the connection of each flexible strap, a indentation and notch formed from its edge superior.

This provision has the advantage of ensure that straps when folded do not encroach outside the template of the case, and therefore do not form an obstacle opposing the closing of the cover. Of more, during its installation in the case, the block of junction is positioned between the shoulders internal facing formed by the recesses of the longitudinal wall of said housing, and is therefore wedged longitudinally.

According to an alternative embodiment aimed connection devices whose size does not have to be optimized, the hinge system has a strip flexible articulated respectively on the peripheral wall of the housing and on the terminal block.

In addition, this flexible strip then has advantageously a width substantially equivalent to the length of the terminal block.

According to another characteristic of the invention, each flexible strap or flexible strip includes, for its respective articulation on the box and on the terminal block, a transverse area thinner.

Furthermore, the terminal block includes preferably on either side of the base of said block junction, two deformable spring tabs extending longitudinally in the extension of said base, said tabs being shaped so as to be curved downward from the base of the block junction, and being able to deform to a so-called state flattened where they extend coplanarly with said base.

Such deformable spring tabs keep the terminal block above the box if the electrician wishes to carry out the wiring in this configuration, and are able to retract, that is to say to flatten against the bottom wall of the case when the cover is closed.

According to another characteristic of the invention relating to a housing having a free volume of housing of the terminal block of length L greater than the length of the base of said terminal block, said base and the tabs in their flattened state have a total length substantially equal to L.

As a result, the terminal block is located automatically centered longitudinally in the housing during its installation.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un dispositif de connexion conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 2 en est une coupe transversale par un plan A, représentant le bloc de jonction logé dans le boítier,
• la figure 3 en est une coupe transversale par un plan B, représentant le bloc de jonction logé dans le boítier et le couvercle fermé,
• les figures 4a à 4f sont des schémas représentant la mise en place du bloc de jonction à l'intérieur du boítier, respectivement en coupe transversale pour les figures 4a à 4d, et en coupe longitudinale pour les figures 4e et 4f,
• et la figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'une variante de réalisation d'un dispositif de connexion conforme à l'invention.

Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings which represent, by way of non-limiting examples, two preferred embodiments. On these drawings which form an integral part of this description:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connection device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a cross section thereof through a plane A, representing the terminal block housed in the housing,
• FIG. 3 is a cross section thereof through a plane B, representing the terminal block housed in the housing and the cover closed,
• FIGS. 4a to 4f are diagrams representing the positioning of the terminal block inside the housing, in cross section respectively for FIGS. 4a to 4d, and in longitudinal section for FIGS. 4e and 4f,
• and Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a connection device according to the invention.

The connection device shown in As an example in Figures 1, 2 is intended to allow the connection of two electric cables.

This connection device comprises, in first place, a housing 1 of parallelepiped shape rectangle with an open upper face, two longitudinal walls 2, 3, two transverse walls 4, 5 and a bottom wall 6 of substantially dimensions higher than those of the upper face and forming a external peripheral rim 7 at the base of said housing.

Each of the transverse walls 4, 5 has a notch allowing the passage of cables. According to the example shown, consisting of a housing for the connection to the network of an electrical appliance, one of these notches 8 arranged axially is intended to accommodate a flexible sleeve for sheathing the electric cable. In this effect, it has a lower area 8a of shape sleeve housing, and at the upper part of the wall 4 a passage 8b of radial insertion of said sleeve, of dimensions lower than the latter.

The other notch 9 intended for the passage of cable connected to the electrical device present, as for it, the shape of a U, and is attached to one of the walls longitudinal 3. In addition, opposite this notch 9, and at a short distance from the transverse wall corresponding 5, the housing 1 has a wall partial transverse 10 forming a baffle intended for maintain the cable in the event of disconnection of this latest.

The longitudinal wall 2 of this housing 1 has, in its middle portion, a height substantially lower than that presented by the end portions of said wall, and further comprises two recesses 2a, 2b spaced apart by a suitable distance to form a housing for the terminal block described below.

The longitudinal walls 2, 3 include, in addition, each, two projecting external studs, such as 11, intended for locking the cover described below. Each of these studs 11 has a cylindrical shape and has a front face inclined towards the housing 1 in its upper zone so as to form a ramp access.

Finally, the housing 1 comprises at minus an external hooking lane 12 coplanar with the bottom wall 6, provided with a light making it possible to fix this housing on a device or other.

The connection device comprises, in in addition, a terminal block 13 incorporating two studs metallic connection, connected to box 1 by a system flexible hinge, and designed to be made simultaneously with said housing by means of a mold unique. To this end, this junction block 13 is produced, during molding, as shown in Figure 1 in a position where it is located laterally with respect to the longitudinal wall 2 of the housing 1, and overturned by compared to its normal position of use.

This form 13 terminal block rectangular parallelepiped, has a base wall 14 axially pierced with a longitudinal lumen 15, four longitudinal walls such as 16, 17 arranged so as to define, on either side of light 15, two housings 18, 19 suitable for each receiving a metal stud connection 20, 21, and two transverse walls such 22, each with two notches 23, 24 in correspondence with each of the housings 18, 19.

In addition, each longitudinal wall internal 17 of the terminal block 13 has a lug, such that 25, projecting, able to allow the introduction of the stud connection 20, 21 in the corresponding housing 18, 19 by elastic deformation of said wall, and to be locked this connection pad once it is in place.

This terminal block 13 further comprises two lateral appendages 26, 27 extending in the longitudinal extension of the base wall 14.

Finally, it includes two axial tabs deformable 28, 29 extending longitudinally each in the extension of the base wall 14, and shaped so as to naturally present a curved shape. These tabs 28, 29 and the base wall 14 are designed to so as to have a developed length, when said tongues are deformed and extend coplanarly with said base wall, substantially identical to the distance separating the transverse wall 4 and the wall 9 forming case baffle 1.

The flexible hinge system connecting this Junction block 13 to the housing 1 is, meanwhile, consisting of two flexible strips 30, 31 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal wall 2 of said housing, each between an appendage 26, 27 of the block of junction 13 and the upper edge of a recess 2a, 2b of said longitudinal wall. These two flexible straps 30, 31 also have two transverse zones 32, 33 thinner at their junctions respective with appendix 26, 27 of terminal block 13 and the longitudinal wall 2 of the housing 1.

• une position intermédiaire éventuelle représentée à la figure 4e, où le bloc de jonction 13 se trouve au-dessus du boítier 1 et repose sur la paroi de fond 5 de ce dernier par l'intermédiaire des languettes déformables 28, 29, position dans laquelle peuvent également être effectuées les opérations de câblage,
• une position finale où le bloc de jonction 13 se trouve logé dans le boítier 1, et parfaitement positionné et centré à l'intérieur de ce dernier grâce à la présence des languettes déformables 28, 29. En outre, et tel que représenté à la figure 2, dans cette position finale, les lanières souples 30, 31 n'empiètent pas à l'extérieur du gabarit du boítier 1 grâce :
  • aux zones transversales 32, 33 de moindre épaisseur de ces lanières 30, 31 formant des articulations assurant le repliement compact de ces dernières,
  • la forme des renfoncements 2a, 2b de la paroi longitudinale 2 du boítier 1 qui permettent de loger la portion d'extrémité de chaque lanière souple 30, 31 repliée sur le bord supérieur de ladite paroi.

As shown in FIGS. 4a to 4f and in FIG. 2, such flexible strips 30, 31 allow the terminal block 13 to be tilted from its molding position in which the wiring operations can easily be carried out up to:

• a possible intermediate position shown in Figure 4e, where the terminal block 13 is located above the housing 1 and rests on the bottom wall 5 of the latter by means of the deformable tongues 28, 29, position in which can also be carried out the wiring operations,
• a final position where the terminal block 13 is housed in the housing 1, and perfectly positioned and centered inside the latter thanks to the presence of the deformable tongues 28, 29. In addition, and as shown in the figure 2, in this final position, the flexible strips 30, 31 do not encroach on the outside of the size of the housing 1 thanks to:
  • to the transverse zones 32, 33 of lesser thickness of these strips 30, 31 forming articulations ensuring the compact folding of the latter,
  • the shape of the recesses 2a, 2b of the longitudinal wall 2 of the housing 1 which allow to accommodate the end portion of each flexible strap 30, 31 folded over the upper edge of said wall.

Finally, the connection device has a cover 34 having an upper wall 35 connected to the peripheral edge 7 of the housing 1, plumb with the transverse wall 5 of the latter, by a strap flexible 36.

This cover 34 also has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has two walls longitudinal such as 37, and two transverse walls such as 38, of dimensions adapted so that said cover comes to cover the housing 1, and to extend to the proximity of the peripheral edge 7 of said housing.

The longitudinal walls 37 of this cover 34 further comprises four lights such only 39 arranged and of suitable dimensions to house each a stud 11 of the housing 1.

The transverse walls 38 include, each, a notch 40, 41, positioned and of suitable shape to be in front of notches 8, 9 of the transverse walls 4, 5 of the housing 1, in the closed position of said housing.

Finally, this cover 34 has two pins such as 42 projecting from the inner face of its upper wall 35, positioned to bear on the connection pads 20, 21 during the closing of said lid.

The connection device shown in Figure 5 is largely similar to the one above described, and the same references are therefore used to designate the elements common to these two devices of connection.

This connection device is different only by design of the hinge system flexible connecting the terminal block 13 to the housing 1. In effect, according to this variant, this hinge system consists of a flexible strip 43 of width equivalent to the length of terminal block 13, extending between the base 14 of the latter and the upper edge of the middle portion of the longitudinal wall 2 of the housing 1.

In addition, the flexible strip 43 has two transverse zones 44, 45 of less thickness at the level of its junction with the junction block 13 and the housing 1.

This variant leads to the same results than those of the connection device initially described, if this is only the size of the housing 1 can not be optimized by the fact that the flexible strip 43 is folded back, during the installation of the terminal block, between said terminal block and the longitudinal wall 2 of the housing 1.

Claims (12)

1. Connecting device for connecting at least two electric cables, comprising :

   a case (1) comprising holding means (13) for holding at least one metallic junction plug (20, 21) having two connecting terminals and provided with an open upper face, a bottom wall (6), and a peripheral wall (2 - 5) having at least two cut-outs (8, 9) provided from the upper edge of said wall and adapted to allow the passage of electric cables to be connected to the terminals of the metallic plug(s) (20, 21),

   a cover (34) the form of which is adapted to close the case (1),

   and snapping means (11, 39) for snapping the cover (34) onto the case (1),

   said connecting device being characterised in that holding means for holding the metallic plug(s) (20, 21) comprise a junction block (13) the dimension of which is adapted to come into the case (1), connected to the peripheral wall (2 - 5) of said case by a flexible hinge system (30, 31 ; 43) arranged so as to allow the swivelling of said junction block between two positions : one position, called use position, in which the junction block (13) is accommodated inside the case (1) and allows the closing of the cover (34), and one position, called forming position, in which said junction block is outside the case (1).
2. Connecting device according to claim 1, characterised in that the junction block (13) comprises a basis (14) connected to the upper edge of the peripheral edge (2 - 5) of the case (1) by the hinge system (30, 31 ; 43).
3. Connecting device according to anyone of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the hinge system comprises at least one flexible strap (30, 31) articulated on the junction block (13).
4. Connecting device according to claim 3, characterised in that each flexible strap (30, 31) is articulated on the peripheral wall (2 - 5) of the case (1).
5. Connecting device according to anyone of claims 3 or 4, characterised in that it comprises two flexible straps (30, 31) connected to the junction block (13) and to the case (1) so as to extend on both sides of said junction block.
6. Connecting device according to claim 5, characterised in that the junction block (13) is longitudinally extended by two lateral appendices (26, 27) to which each of the flexible straps (30, 31) is connected.
7. Connecting device according to anyone of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the peripheral wall (2 - 5) of the case (1) comprises at the level of the connection of each flexible strap (30, 31) a recess (2a - 2b) or a cut-out provided from its upper edge.
8. Connecting device according to anyone of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the hinge system comprises a flexible band (43) articulated respectively on the peripheral wall (2 - 5) of the case (1) and on the junction block (13).
9. Connecting device according to claim 8, characterised in that the width of the flexible band (43) is substantially equal to the length of the basis (14) of the junction block (13).
10. Connecting device according to anyone of claims 3, 4, 8 or 9, characterised in that each flexible strap (30, 31) or the flexible band (43) comprises, in view of its respective articulation on the case (1) and on the junction block (13), a transversal zone (32, 33 ; 44, 45) of lesser thickness.
11. Connecting device according to anyone of claims 2 to 10, characterised in that the junction block (13) comprises on both sides of the basis (14) of said junction block, two deformable spring tongues (28, 29), longitudinally extending in the extension of said basis, with said tongues being shaped so as to be bent downwards relative to the base (14) of the junction block (13), and able to be deformed up to a state, called flat state, in which they extend in the same plane as said base.
12. Connecting device according to claim 11, in which the case (1) has a free volume for accommodating the junction block (13) the length of which is superior to the length of the basis (14) of said junction block, characterised in that said base and the tongues (28, 29) have in their flat state a length substantially equal to L.

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