EP0969554B1 - Connection terminal with two connection devices - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connection terminal block comprising two connection devices.

Such a terminal block is for example used in a cabinet electric to connect two ends of electric wires. Both connection devices are then electrically connected to each other. Such double connection devices are already known. The patent EP-0 087 158 shows for example a device comprising two self-stripping connection arrangements.

US Patent 4,223,971 is considered to be the state of the art closest and describes a terminal block with two connection devices.

Known devices of this type have a space requirement relatively large.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a terminal block for connection provided with two connection devices to carry out the connection of two (or more) electrical wires whose overall dimensions are reduced.

Preferably, the terminal block according to the invention could be easily realized and will have a low cost price.

For this purpose, the terminal block it offers is a terminal block connection comprising two connection devices, each connection device connection comprising a stripping and holding slot provided with a wire entry at one end, as well as an insulating box in which are mounted the connection devices and having facing the slots of stripping and holding each time an opening allowing the introduction of a wire facing the wire entry of the slot and the sliding of this thread in the slot.

According to the invention, the stripping slots are substantially parallel, the wire entries facing each other or having an offset transverse to the direction of the slots; the terminal block includes in addition to a double pusher placed between the two connection devices, slidably mounted parallel to the direction of the stripping slots between an interpenetration position with a first connection device and an interpenetration position with the other connection device.

A single button is sufficient here to allow connection at the two connection devices. The space saving is important compared to known solutions which all use as much pushers that there are connection devices.

In a preferred embodiment, the terminal block pusher according to the invention is shaped so that when it is in position of interpenetration with respect to a connection device it located in a position allowing the introduction of a wire through the opening provided for this purpose in the housing and the positioning of this wire at the level from the wire entry of the stripping and holding slot. The race of pusher then corresponds to the stroke necessary for the introduction of a wire in a connection device.

In a simple embodiment of the connection terminal block according to the invention, the pusher is a part symmetrical with respect to a plane median perpendicular to the stripping and holding slots.

You can also have stripping and holding slots aligned and then the pusher is advantageously a symmetrical piece with respect to a median plane containing the stripping and maintenance.

The two connection devices are for example connected by a connecting bar on which the pusher slides. The pusher is then guided by the connecting bar and possibly the insulating housing of the terminal.

In this latter embodiment, the terminal block connection according to the invention is advantageously such that the strip of connection has a projection and such that the pusher has on its face in contact with the bar two notches, the projection and the notches being arranged so that the projection is in a notch when the pusher is in the interpenetration position with respect to a connection device. The interpenetration positions of the pusher by connection devices are then indexed.

The pusher is advantageously actuated using a blade a screwdriver inserted into the housing from outside the terminal block connection. In this case, the insulating housing has for example a converging then diverging opening towards the inside of the case and, facing this opening, the pusher has a groove intended to receive the end of a screwdriver blade. By rotating the screwdriver blade at the level of the smallest cross-sectional area of the housing opening, the pusher is driven in translation.

The connection terminal block according to the invention uses advantageously connection devices such as those revealed by the document EP-0 247 360. In this case, each connection device comprises a conductive part having a cross section corresponding to a U whose free ends have been obliquely and also folded towards each other so as to provide a space corresponding to the width of the stripping and holding slot.

When a terminal block for connection with such connection is used, the pusher advantageously has each of its ends a substantially T-shaped profile, narrowed to level of the junction of the two branches of the T, so that slide in the conductive part, on both sides and between the edges of the stripping and holding slot being guided inside the conductive part. There is thus a very good guidance of the pusher during the stripping and connection and also a good push of the connected wire because it is pushed on either side of the stripping slot and maintenance.

Figure 1 montre en perspective éclatée un dispositif de connexion et un poussoir correspondant,

Figure 2 à 5 montrent en coupe longitudinale un bornier de connexion selon l'invention dans différentes positions de connexion, et

Figure 6 est une vue en coupe partielle à échelle agrandie selon la ligne de coupe VI-VI de la figure 4.

In any case, the invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing, representing by way of nonlimiting example a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows in exploded perspective a connection device and a corresponding push-button,

FIGS. 2 to 5 show in longitudinal section a connection terminal block according to the invention in different connection positions, and

FIG. 6 is a view in partial section on an enlarged scale along the section line VI-VI of FIG. 4.

Figure 1 shows a self-stripping connection jaw 2 as well as a pusher 4 allowing the introduction of a wire 6 into jaw.

The jaw 2 is made of a conductive material. She corresponds for example to the jaw described in the patent EP-0 247 360.

The jaw 2 has a stripping and stripping slot 8 holding a wire 6. The slot 8 is here rectilinear and is provided longitudinally along a shaped part of the jaw 2, which is obtained here, for example from a flat side, by stamping causing it to be cut, folded and possibly thinned located.

The profiled part of the jaw 2 has a cross section hollow polygon which corresponds to a U whose free ends have been obliquely and also folded towards each other.

The profiled part thus obtained has two folds 10 ends corresponding to the free ends obliquely and also folded up mentioned above. These two folds 10 border the slot 8 which they delimit and eventually are thinned gradually towards this slit 8.

The profiled part of the jaw 2 has two walls parallels 12 which form the two branches of the U. Each of these walls carries a fold 10 and ensures the immobilization of the jaw 2 when the latter is placed in a housing made in a connection terminal block, together with a bottom wall 14 forming the base of the U. The walls parallels 12 are perpendicular to the bottom wall 14.

One end of the slot 8 has a mouth stripping 16. Here, the profiled part has only a mouth stripped but it is of course possible to have a mouthpiece stripped at each end to form a connection arrangement to two entrances.

The stripped mouth 16 provided here is obtained by oblique and symmetrical cutting of the folds 10 at their ends. This oblique cut to obtain a flared mouth. The folding subsequent folds 10 relative to the walls 12 which carry them respectively, creates an edge 18 sufficient to start the sheath of a wire 6 pushed into this mouth.

The pusher 4 is a part for example made of material synthetic and obtained by molding. It comes in the form of a elongated block having two profiled ends 20 connected to an area central 22.

The profiled ends have a cross section of general shape in T. Part 24 corresponding to the vertical bar of the T is intended to slide inside the hollow profile of a jaw 2. Part 26 corresponding to the crossbar of the T extends perpendicular to part 24. The two parts 24 and 26 are connected by a narrowed area 28.

The shape of the ends 20 of the pusher 4 is such that each of its ends 20 can slide in a jaw 2. The part 24 forming the vertical bar of the T then slides inside the part profiled jaw 2 while the crossbar corresponding to the part 26 of the end 20 slides outside the profiled jaw 2, while the narrowed area moves into the slot 8.

The central zone 22 connects the two ends 20 of the pusher 4. These two ends 20 are aligned profiled zones. On his part upper, i.e. on the side of the parts 26 of the ends corresponding to the cross bars of the T-profile, the central area has a transverse groove 30 intended to receive the end of a screwdriver blade. On its underside, the central area has two transverse notches 32 each located near one end profile 20 of the pusher. The role of these section notches substantially triangular will be described below with reference to Figures 2 to 5.

Figures 2 to 5 show in section a connection terminal block 34 intended to ensure the connection of one or more electric wires 6. This terminal block 34 has two slotted jaws 2 which are connected electrically via a connecting bar 36. This the latter is substantially flat and connects the jaws 2 by extending the bottom wall 14 of each of these jaws 2.

The jaws 2 are conventionally immobilized in housings provided for this purpose in an insulating housing 38 of the terminal block 34, which is for example formed by assembling two half-shells complementary joined together by ultrasonic welding after introduction of the internal organs which it must contain.

This assembly of half-shells is carried out for example with for joint plane the median longitudinal plane of the housing 38 whose trace also shares the views of Figures 2 to 5.

The housing 38 and the various equipment placed inside these present for the most part a symmetry with respect to the joint plane or a plane parallel to it but also in relation to a plane perpendicular to this joint plane. We then find in Figures 2 to 5 elements on the left in these figures similar to the elements located at right in these figures. For the sake of clarity of description, the same references will be taken to designate elements found on the left and on the right in a figure, but the references of the elements located on the right in these figures will bear an apostrophe.

The insulating housing 38 has in its upper part a opening 40 centrally arranged. This opening is intended for allow the passage of a screwdriver blade 42 and the guiding thereof. For this purpose, the opening 40 has in the direction from the outside of the housing 38 towards the interior thereof a convergent zone 44 then a divergent zone 46. Thus, the screwdriver blade 42 can pivot around the area of smallest cross-section between two extreme positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The convergent 44 and divergent 46 zones therefore define the angle of rotation of the screwdriver blade 42. The opening 40 is intended to allow access to the screwdriver blade 42 to the groove 30 of the pusher 4.

The lower part of the insulating housing 38 is shaped so as to allow the mounting of the housing on a mounting rail. This lower part of the housing 38 is not described in detail here because it can take various and varied forms in order to adapt to the form of various mounting rails.

In the insulating housing 38, the two jaws 2 and 2 'are made face and the stripped mouths 16 and 16 'face each other. The slots of the two jaws 2 and 2 'are aligned. Pusher 4 is mounted sliding between the two jaws 2 and 2 'and its underside slides on the connecting bar 36.

In Figure 2, the pusher 4 is in position of interpenetration with respect to the jaw 2. The part 24 of the end 20 the pusher 4 is located inside the profiled body of the jaw 2. Between the end 20 'of the pusher 4 and the jaw 2' is a space sufficient free to accommodate the end of a 6 'electric wire. This 6 'wire is introduced inside the insulating housing through an opening 48 'located at side of the opening 40 allowing the insertion of the screwdriver blade 42. An opening 48 is made in the insulating housing symmetrically at the opening 48 'relative to the opening 40.

In top view (not shown in the drawing), the openings 48 and 48 ′ each have, in known manner, a "hole hole" shape lock ", that is to say that it has a circular shape at one end extended towards the other end by a rectilinear slit of width less than the diameter of the circular part. The circular opening is faces the wire entry, or stripped mouth 16 or 16 ', while that the straight slit faces the stripping and holding slit matching 2 or 2 'jaw. The edges of the straight slot are bordered by two lips 49 (Figure 6) which are intended to maintain the sheath 6b of a connected wire. It can be seen in FIG. 6 that the stripping slot and holding 8 provides electrical contact at the core 6a of the wire and maintenance at the level of the sheath 6b and how the lips 49 contribute to perfect the maintenance of the wire by slightly incising the sheath 6b without however, strip the core 6a.

When the end of the wire 6 'is introduced into the insulating housing the screwdriver blade 42 is pivoted in the opening 40 to the position shown in Figure 3. During this movement, the screwdriver blade 42 causes the pusher 4 to translate thanks to the groove 30 produced in this one. The pusher 4 then pushes the end of the wire 6 'into the 2 'jaw. This end of wire 6 'is then stripped and a contact electric is established between the core of this wire 6 'and the edges of the slot of this 2 'jaw. Pusher 4 is in an interpenetration position with the 2 'jaw. The part 24 'of the end 20' of this pusher is found in the hollow part of the profiled jaw 2 '. During the introduction of the end of the wire 6 'into the jaw 2', the wire 6 'is fine guided by pusher 4 because the latter exerts its pushing action on either side of the jaw slot 2 '.

When the pusher 4 is in the position of interpenetration with the 2 'jaw (Figure 3) just enough space to accommodate the end of a wire 6 is located between the jaw 2 and the end 20 of the pusher 4. notes that when the pusher is in the interpenetration position with one of the jaws 2 or 2 ', it is in a position allowing the introduction of one end of the wire opposite the other jaw 2 'or 2. These two positions of the pusher 4 are indexed using the notches 32. A projection 50 is produced on the connecting bar 36 transversely to it. The shape of the projection 50 corresponds to the shape of the notches 32. The size of the notches 32 and the projection 50 is exaggerated in the figures in order to allow a better visualization of these notches and of this projection.

When the pusher 4 is in the position of interpenetration with the jaw 2 ', it is possible to introduce the end of a wire 6 by the opening 48 in the housing 38 between the jaw 2 and the end 20 of the push-button 4. To ensure connection of wire 6, simply rotate the screwdriver blade 42 being inserted into opening 40 to move the pusher 4 in translation. The end 20 of the pusher therefore acts on the end of the wire 6 to introduce the latter into the jaw 2. The end of the wire 6 is stripped at the stripping mouth of the jaw 2 and the electrical contact between the core of the wire and the jaw 2 is secured at the slot of this jaw by the edges of the slot. When the pusher 4 moves towards the jaw 2, it does not cause not with it the end of the wire 6 'introduced into the jaw 2' because the latter is retained by the stripping slot and at the opening 48 '. We is then in the situation shown in FIG. 4.

In this figure 4, there is shown a wire 6 "inserted between the end 20 'of the pusher 4 and the jaw 2'. If the length of the slit of the jaw 2 'is sufficient, this jaw 2' can ensure without problem connecting two wires 6 'and 6 ". Relative to the position shown in Figure 4, then simply rotate the screwdriver blade 42 so as to bring the pusher 4 into the position of interpenetration with the 2 'jaw. When the end of the wire 6 "is pushed by the pusher 4 between the edges of the jaw slot 2 ', this end of wire 6 " in turn pushes the end of the 6 'wire already in the jaw 2 '. We then find ourselves in the configuration shown in Figure 5.

The connection terminal block according to the invention also makes it possible to disconnect a wire. We then use the screwdriver blade 42 to come push the wire you wish to disconnect from the outside. In the example in Figure 5 it is wire 6. The end of wire 6 to be disconnected is push until it is out of the jaw slot 2 or 2 '. It then suffices to remove it from the housing 38.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the form of preferential embodiment described above by way of nonlimiting example; on the contrary, it embraces all the variant embodiments in the scope of the claims set out below.

So for example, the shape of the jaws and the pusher might be entirely different. The stripping slot is not example not necessarily performed on a profile but can be performed at a fork, also called a lyre. The shape of the pusher is then adapted to the shape of the connection device. This pusher does not not necessarily push the end of a wire on both sides of the edges delimiting the stripping and holding slot and at this slot.

The pusher stroke in the embodiment described above has been reduced. This allows you to go from an extreme position of the pusher to the other extreme position of the pusher by performing a rotation relatively limited screwdriver blade. In practice we arrive at a rotation between 60 and 70 °. The stroke of this pusher can be extended. It is thus possible to have an intermediate position in which the pusher would be in position allowing the entry of a wire opposite the two self-stripping jaws.

Claims (9)

1. Terminal block comprising two connection devices (2, 2'), each connection device having a stripping and retaining slot (8) provided with a wire entry (16) at one end, as well as an insulating casing (38) into which the connection devices (2, 2') are fitted, which casing has each time, opposite the stripping and retaining slots (8), an opening (48, 48') allowing a wire (6, 6', 6") facing the wire entry of the slot to be inserted and slid into the slot (8), the stripping slots (8) being approximately parallel, the wire entries (16) facing each other or being offset transversely with respect to the direction of the slots, characterized in that the casing also has, placed between the two connection devices (2, 2'), a double pusher (4) fitted so as to slide parallel to the direction of the stripping slots (8) between a position of interpenetration with respect to a first connection device and a position of interpenetration with respect to the other connection device.
2. Terminal block according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pusher (4) is shaped in such a way that when it lies in a position of interpenetration with respect to a connection device (2, 2') it lies in a position making it possible to insert a wire (6, 6', 6") via the opening provided for this purpose in the casing (38) and to position this wire at the wire entry (16) of the stripping and retaining slot (8).
3. Terminal block according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the pusher (4) is a piece which is symmetrical with respect to a mid-plane perpendicular to the stripping and retaining slots (8).
4. Terminal block according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stripping and retaining slots (8) are aligned and in that the pusher (4) is a piece which is symmetrical with respect to a mid-plane containing the stripping and retaining slots (8).
5. Terminal block according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the two connection devices (2, 2') are connected by a linking strip (36) on which the pusher (4) slides.
6. Terminal block according to Claim 5, characterized in that the linking strip (36) has a projection (50) and in that the pusher (4) has two notches (32) on its face in contact with the strip, the projection (50) and the notches (32) being arranged in such a way that the projection (50) lies in a notch (32) when the pusher (4) lies in a position of interpenetration with respect to a connection device (2, 2').
7. Terminal block according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the insulating casing (38) has an opening (40) which converges and then diverges towards the inside of the casing (38) and in that, opposite this opening (40), the pusher (4) has a recess (30) intended to take the end of a screwdriver blade (42).
8. Terminal block according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each connection device (2, 2') has a conducting piece with a cross section corresponding to a U, the free ends (10) of which have been folded obliquely and equally towards each other so as to leave between them a space corresponding to the width of the stripping and retaining slot (8).
9. Terminal block according to Claim 8, characterized in that the pusher (4) has at each of its ends a substantially T-shaped profile (20, 20') which is narrowed at the junction between the two arms of the T, so as to be able to slide in the conducting piece (2, 2') on both sides and between the edges (10) of the stripping and retaining slot (8) by being guided inside the conducting piece (2).

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