EP1014401B1 - Device to connect electrically a braid to a contact, mainly for a circuit breaker, contact and holder adapted to this device and breaking apparatus including this device - Google Patents

Device to connect electrically a braid to a contact, mainly for a circuit breaker, contact and holder adapted to this device and breaking apparatus including this device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1014401B1
EP1014401B1 EP99410165A EP99410165A EP1014401B1 EP 1014401 B1 EP1014401 B1 EP 1014401B1 EP 99410165 A EP99410165 A EP 99410165A EP 99410165 A EP99410165 A EP 99410165A EP 1014401 B1 EP1014401 B1 EP 1014401B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
sliding
opening
braided strip
designed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP99410165A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1014401A1 (en
Inventor
Noel Schneider Electric Industries Sa Le Corre
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Schneider Electric Industries SAS
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Schneider Electric Industries SAS
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Publication of EP1014401A1 publication Critical patent/EP1014401A1/en
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Publication of EP1014401B1 publication Critical patent/EP1014401B1/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/58—Electric connections to or between contacts; Terminals
    • H01H1/5822—Flexible connections between movable contact and terminal
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
    • H01R4/48—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member
    • H01R4/4809—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member using a leaf spring to bias the conductor toward the busbar
    • H01R4/4811—Spring details

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for electrical connection of a braid or the like on an electrical contact, in particular in a circuit breaker, an electrical contact and a contact carrier adapted to such a connection and a switching device such as a circuit breaker incorporating such a device.
  • a circuit breaker contains, in a manner known per se, a breaking chamber accommodating a fixed contact and a movable contact, an electromagnetic trigger capable of triggering the mechanism of the circuit breaker and thus causing the separation of the contacts during the appearance of a current. short circuit and a thermal trigger capable of triggering the mechanism when the occurrence of a current overload.
  • the moving contact is supported by a contact carrier mechanically connected to the circuit breaker mechanism, and is electrically connected to a braid itself electrically connected to a bimetallic strip belonging to the thermal trip unit.
  • the fixing of the movable contact on the contact carrier is carried out by introducing the movable contact into a recess provided for this purpose in the contact holder, then by carrying out the melting of the plastic material of the contact carrier around the contact. mobile.
  • the electrical connection between the movable contact and the braid is made by soldering the braid on said contact.
  • the present invention solves this problem and proposes a device for electrically connecting a braid on a contact making it possible to reduce the connection time and thus to perform the two operations respectively of connecting the braid and fixing the contact on the contact carrier. in a particularly short time.
  • the present invention relates to a connection device of the kind mentioned above, this device being characterized in that it comprises a slot formed at one end of the electrical contact, said slot being delimited by two opposite edges. forming at the end of the contact two substantially parallel branches and in that means are provided in part on the contact carrier and in part on the contact for retaining by wedging said braid between the aforementioned edges of the slot after the attachment of the contact on the contact carrier.
  • the aforementioned fixing means comprise a first opening provided in the contact carrier and intended to slidably receive said contact, and means for definitively fixing the contact in the contact carrier used at the end of sliding.
  • the inner wall of the aforementioned opening cooperates with the outer wall of the contact so that at the end of the sliding of the contact inside the contact carrier, the two branches ensure the retention of the braid between said edges.
  • the present invention further relates to an electrical contact formed mainly by an elongated portion, said elongated portion having at one of its ends a contact portion and at its opposite end, a slot extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the contact, said slot defining two branches capable of being deformed elastically.
  • a contact carrier comprising an opening intended to receive the end of a braid and an opening adapted to slidably receive a contact, said braid being intended to be electrically connected to said contact by means of a device comprising the previously described features taken alone or in combination.
  • the invention also relates to an electrical switching device comprising a breaking chamber, said chamber containing a fixed contact adapted to cooperate with a movable contact, said movable contact being supported by a contact carrier and electrically connected to a braid, said characterized in that the braid is electrically connected to said contact by means of a device having the preceding characteristics taken alone or in combination.
  • FIG. 1 we see a low voltage circuit breaker D for use in an electrical network to ensure the protection of said network against overloads or short circuits.
  • This apparatus comprises, in a manner known per se, a pair of detachable contacts 1.2 respectively fixed and movable, a control mechanism C of opening and closing of the circuit breaker actuated by a lever M, an electromagnetic release E intended to trigger the mechanism of the circuit breaker and thus cause the opening of the contacts 1.2 at the occurrence of a short-circuit current and a thermal trigger T able to trigger the mechanism when the occurrence of a current overload.
  • the electromagnetic trigger E is of the known type and mainly comprises a coil 3 through which the current to be monitored and able to act, via a movable core 4 slidably mounted inside the coil 3, on a striker 5 mechanically connected to a trigger lever 6 to cause the separation of the contacts 1,2 in the event of a short circuit.
  • the thermal trip unit T is also of the known type and comprises a bimetallic strip 7, the movement of bimetallic strip 7 following a current overload being capable of generating the separation of the contacts 1, 2.
  • the bimetallic strip 7 is connected, by one end 7a, to one end 9a of a braid 9 whose opposite end 9b is electrically connected to the movable contact 2.
  • This movable contact 2 is mounted in a door -contact 10 for cooperating with the release lever 6.
  • the movable contact 2 is fixed to the contact carrier 10 by fixing means which will be described in what follows.
  • the movable contact 2 is formed by an elongated part having at one of its ends a contact portion 11 and at its opposite end 2b a slot 12 extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the part and forming, at this end 2b of said contact 2, two substantially parallel branches 13,14. These two branches 13, 14 have at their free ends, latching means 15.
  • the fixing means of the movable contact 2 on the contact carrier 10 comprise, on the one hand, a first opening 16 formed in the contact carrier 10 and adapted to slidably receive said contact 2 introduced by its end 2b having the slot 12 and on the other hand, the aforementioned latching means 15 intended to cooperate with wall portions 20,21 of the contact carrier 10 provided in the opening 16 and extending perpendicular to the sliding direction T of the contact to the inside said opening 16.
  • the contact carrier 10 also comprises a second opening 18 intended to receive the end 9b of a braid 9.
  • the first and second openings 16 and 18 are shaped so that the direction D, T, respectively, of introduction of the braid 9 and contact 2 are perpendicular.
  • the second opening 18 is also shaped so as to immobilize the braid 9 perpendicular to the insertion direction D of the braid and parallel to the sliding direction T of the contact 2, and is located so that the end 9b of the braid 9, when introduced into the second opening 18, is in the sliding path of the contact 2.
  • the shape of the first opening 16 corresponds substantially to that of the part of the movable contact 2 comprising the slot 12, and the movable contact 2 is made of a material having a certain elasticity.
  • the aforementioned snap-fastening elements 15 are formed by beak-shaped retaining elements 19 extending towards the outside of the contact 2 perpendicularly to the sliding direction T of the contact, and are intended to bear at the end of the stroke. sliding, on respectively two surface portions 20,21 of said opening 16 of the contact carrier 10, extending perpendicularly to the sliding direction T.
  • the braid 9 is introduced by a 9b of its ends into the opening 18 provided for this purpose in the contact carrier 10.
  • the movable contact 2 is introduced into the opening 16, called first, the contact carrier 10 by its end 2b having the slot 12 and is driven to slide inside said opening 16.
  • the retaining elements 19 slide along the wall of the opening 16.
  • the moving contact 2 arrives at the level of the braid 9, the latter enters the slot 12.
  • the retaining elements 19 cooperate with the corresponding wall portions 20,21 located at one of the ends of the opening 16, to prevent the withdrawal of the contact 2 from said opening and ensure the final fixing of the contact 2 in the contact carrier 10.
  • the braid 9 is at the bottom of the slot 12 between two close edges 12a, 12b of said slot 12.
  • the inner wall delimiting the aforementioned opening 16 cooperates with the outer wall of the contact 2 so that in the sliding end position of the contact, the end of the braid 9 is positively retained by wedging between said edges 12a, 12b, or sdi branches 13,14 slightly close together, and the electrical connection of the braid 9 on the contact 2 is thus achieved.
  • the welding operation of the braid is removed and the electrical connection of the braid and the attachment of the contact on the contact carrier are made in a single operation.
  • This therefore makes it possible to significantly reduce the cost price per unit of the apparatuses in which the invention is implemented.
  • Another advantage inherent in the invention is that, since it is no longer necessary to merge the material of the contact carrier around the moving contact, this contact carrier can be made to be lighter.
  • the attachment of the contact could be made otherwise than by sliding and latching, for example by sliding of the movable contact in the opening of the contact carrier and screwing the contact on the contact carrier.
  • the invention thus applies to any device for making the connection of a braid to a contact by wedging said braid between the two edges of a slot in said contact, during the fixing operation.
  • the invention can advantageously, but not exclusively, be used in miniature circuit breakers having a size ranging from 10 to 25 A.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Breakers (AREA)
  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
  • Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)

Description

L'invention concerne un dispositif de raccordement électrique d'une tresse ou analogue sur un contact électrique notamment dans un disjoncteur, un contact électrique et un porte-contact adaptés à un tel raccordement et un appareil de coupure tel un disjoncteur incorporant un tel dispositif.The invention relates to a device for electrical connection of a braid or the like on an electrical contact, in particular in a circuit breaker, an electrical contact and a contact carrier adapted to such a connection and a switching device such as a circuit breaker incorporating such a device.

Un disjoncteur renferme principalement, de manière connue en soi, une chambre de coupure logeant un contact fixe et un contact mobile, un déclencheur électromagnétique apte à déclencher le mécanisme du disjoncteur et ainsi provoquer la séparation des contacts lors de l'apparition d'un courant de court-circuit et un déclencheur thermique apte à déclencher le mécanisme lors de l'apparition d'une surcharge de courant. Le contact mobile est supporté par un porte-contact relié mécaniquement au mécanisme du disjoncteur, et est relié électriquement à une tresse reliée elle-même électriquement à un bilame appartenant au déclencheur thermique. Selon une réalisation connue, la fixation du contact mobile sur le porte-contact est réalisée par introduction du contact mobile dans un évidement prévu à cet effet dans le porte contact, puis en réalisant la fusion de la matière plastique du porte-contact autour du contact mobile. La liaison électrique entre le contact mobile et la tresse s'effectue par soudure de la tresse sur ledit contact.
Ainsi, la fixation du contact mobile sur le porte-contact et le raccordement électrique de la tresse s'effectuent par deux opérations distinctes, la seconde étant relativement longue.A circuit breaker contains, in a manner known per se, a breaking chamber accommodating a fixed contact and a movable contact, an electromagnetic trigger capable of triggering the mechanism of the circuit breaker and thus causing the separation of the contacts during the appearance of a current. short circuit and a thermal trigger capable of triggering the mechanism when the occurrence of a current overload. The moving contact is supported by a contact carrier mechanically connected to the circuit breaker mechanism, and is electrically connected to a braid itself electrically connected to a bimetallic strip belonging to the thermal trip unit. According to a known embodiment, the fixing of the movable contact on the contact carrier is carried out by introducing the movable contact into a recess provided for this purpose in the contact holder, then by carrying out the melting of the plastic material of the contact carrier around the contact. mobile. The electrical connection between the movable contact and the braid is made by soldering the braid on said contact.
Thus, the attachment of the movable contact on the contact carrier and the electrical connection of the braid is effected by two separate operations, the second being relatively long.

La présente invention résout ce problème et propose un dispositif de raccordement électrique d'une tresse sur un contact permettant de diminuer le temps de raccordement et ainsi de réaliser les deux opérations respectivement de raccordement de la tresse et de fixation du contact sur le porte-contact, en un temps particulièrement réduit.The present invention solves this problem and proposes a device for electrically connecting a braid on a contact making it possible to reduce the connection time and thus to perform the two operations respectively of connecting the braid and fixing the contact on the contact carrier. in a particularly short time.

A cet effet, la présente invention a pour objet un dispositif de raccordement du genre précédemment mentionné, ce dispositif étant caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte une fente ménagée à l'une des extrémités du contact électrique, ladite fente étant délimitée par deux bords opposés formant à l'extrémité du contact deux branches sensiblement parallèles et en ce que des moyens sont prévus en partie sur le porte-contact et en partie sur le contact pour retenir par coincement ladite tresse entre les bords précités de la fente après la fixation du contact sur le porte-contact.For this purpose, the present invention relates to a connection device of the kind mentioned above, this device being characterized in that it comprises a slot formed at one end of the electrical contact, said slot being delimited by two opposite edges. forming at the end of the contact two substantially parallel branches and in that means are provided in part on the contact carrier and in part on the contact for retaining by wedging said braid between the aforementioned edges of the slot after the attachment of the contact on the contact carrier.

Selon une réalisation particulière, les moyens de fixation précités comprennent une première ouverture prévue dans le porte-contact et destinée à recevoir à coulissement ledit contact , et des moyens de fixation définitive du contact dans le porte-contact mis en oeuvre en fin de coulissement.According to a particular embodiment, the aforementioned fixing means comprise a first opening provided in the contact carrier and intended to slidably receive said contact, and means for definitively fixing the contact in the contact carrier used at the end of sliding.

Selon une caractéristique particulière, la paroi intérieure de l'ouverture précitée coopère avec la paroi extérieure du contact de manière qu'en fin de coulissement du contact à l'intérieur du porte-contact, les deux branches assurent la retenue de la tresse entre lesdits bords.According to a particular characteristic, the inner wall of the aforementioned opening cooperates with the outer wall of the contact so that at the end of the sliding of the contact inside the contact carrier, the two branches ensure the retention of the braid between said edges.

La présente invention a encore pour objet un contact électrique formé principalement par une partie allongée, ladite partie allongée comportant à l'une de ses extrémités une partie de contact et à son extrémité opposée, une fente s'étendant sensiblement parallèlement à la direction longitudinale du contact, ladite fente délimitant deux branches aptes à être déformées élastiquement.The present invention further relates to an electrical contact formed mainly by an elongated portion, said elongated portion having at one of its ends a contact portion and at its opposite end, a slot extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the contact, said slot defining two branches capable of being deformed elastically.

L'invention a encore pour objet un porte-contact comportant une ouverture destinée à recevoir l'extrémité d'une tresse et une ouverture adaptée à recevoir à coulissement un contact, ladite tresse étant destinée à être raccordée électriquement audit contact au moyen d'un dispositif comprenant les caractéristiques précédemment décrites prises seules ou en combinaison.Another subject of the invention is a contact carrier comprising an opening intended to receive the end of a braid and an opening adapted to slidably receive a contact, said braid being intended to be electrically connected to said contact by means of a device comprising the previously described features taken alone or in combination.

L'invention a encore pour objet un appareil de coupure électrique comprenant une chambre de coupure, ladite chambre renfermant un contact fixe apte à coopérer avec un contact mobile, ledit contact mobile étant supporté par un porte-contact et relié électriquement à une tresse, ledit appareil étant caractérisé en ce que la tresse est raccordée électriquement audit contact au moyen d'un dispositif comportant les caractéristiques précédentes prises seules ou en combinaison.The invention also relates to an electrical switching device comprising a breaking chamber, said chamber containing a fixed contact adapted to cooperate with a movable contact, said movable contact being supported by a contact carrier and electrically connected to a braid, said characterized in that the braid is electrically connected to said contact by means of a device having the preceding characteristics taken alone or in combination.

D'autres avantages et caractéristiques ressortiront plus clairement de la description suivante d'un mode particulier de réalisation, donné à titre d'exemple non limitatif, et représenté aux dessins annexés sur lesquels :

  • La figure 1 est une vue en plan illustrant la partie intérieure d'un disjoncteur miniature selon l'invention,
  • La figure 2 est une vue partielle, en perspective, illustrant le dispositif de raccordement selon l'invention, en position raccordée de la tresse,
  • La figure 3 est une vue éclatée dudit dispositif.
Other advantages and features will emerge more clearly from the following description of a particular embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and represented in the accompanying drawings in which:
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the interior portion of a miniature circuit breaker according to the invention,
  • FIG. 2 is a partial view, in perspective, illustrating the connection device according to the invention, in the connected position of the braid,
  • Figure 3 is an exploded view of said device.

Sur la figure 1, on voit un disjoncteur électrique basse tension D destiné à être utilisé dans un réseau électrique afin d'assurer la protection dudit réseau contre les surcharges ou les court-circuits. Cet appareil comprend, de manière connue en soi, une paire de contacts séparables 1,2 respectivement fixe et mobile, un mécanisme C de commande d'ouverture et de fermeture du disjoncteur actionné par une manette M, un déclencheur électromagnétique E destiné à déclencher le mécanisme du disjoncteur et ainsi provoquer l'ouverture des contacts 1,2 lors de l'apparition d'un courant de court-circuit et un déclencheur thermique T apte à déclencher le mécanisme lors de l'apparition d'une surcharge de courant.
Le déclencheur électro-magnétique E est du type connu et comprend principalement une bobine 3 traversée par le courant à surveiller et apte à agir, par l'intermédiaire d'un noyau mobile 4 monté coulissant à l'intérieur de la bobine 3, sur un percuteur 5 relié mécaniquement à un levier de déclenchement 6 pour provoquer la séparation des contacts 1,2 en cas de court-circuit. Le déclencheur thermique T est également du type connu et comprend un bilame 7, le mouvement du bilame 7 suite à une surcharge de courant étant susceptible d'engendrer la séparation des contacts 1,2. Le bilame 7 est relié, par l'une 7a de ses extrémités, à l'une 9a des extrémités d'une tresse 9 dont l'extrémité opposée 9b est reliée électriquement au contact mobile 2. Ce contact mobile 2 est monté dans un porte-contact 10 destiné à coopérer avec le levier de déclenchement 6. Le contact mobile 2 est fixé au porte-contact 10 par des moyens de fixation qui seront décrits dans ce qui suit.
Sur les figure 2 et 3, on voit que, conformément à l'invention, le contact mobile 2 est formée par une partie allongée comportant à l'une 2a de ses extrémités, une partie de contact 11 et à son extrémité opposée 2b, une fente 12 s'étendant sensiblement parallèlement à la direction longitudinale de la pièce et formant, à cette extrémité 2b dudit contact 2, deux branches sensiblement parallèles 13,14. Ces deux branches 13,14 comportent à leurs extrémités libres, des moyens d'encliquetage 15.
Les moyens de fixation du contact mobile 2 sur le porte-contact 10 comprennent d'une part, une première ouverture 16 ménagée dans le porte-contact 10 et adaptée à recevoir à coulissement ledit contact 2 introduit par son extrémité 2b présentant la fente 12 et d'autre part, les moyens d'encliquetage précités 15 destinés à coopérer avec des portions de paroi 20,21 du porte-contact 10 prévues dans l'ouverture 16 et s'étendant perpendiculairement à la direction de coulissement T du contact à l'intérieur de ladite ouverture 16.In Figure 1, we see a low voltage circuit breaker D for use in an electrical network to ensure the protection of said network against overloads or short circuits. This apparatus comprises, in a manner known per se, a pair of detachable contacts 1.2 respectively fixed and movable, a control mechanism C of opening and closing of the circuit breaker actuated by a lever M, an electromagnetic release E intended to trigger the mechanism of the circuit breaker and thus cause the opening of the contacts 1.2 at the occurrence of a short-circuit current and a thermal trigger T able to trigger the mechanism when the occurrence of a current overload.
The electromagnetic trigger E is of the known type and mainly comprises a coil 3 through which the current to be monitored and able to act, via a movable core 4 slidably mounted inside the coil 3, on a striker 5 mechanically connected to a trigger lever 6 to cause the separation of the contacts 1,2 in the event of a short circuit. The thermal trip unit T is also of the known type and comprises a bimetallic strip 7, the movement of bimetallic strip 7 following a current overload being capable of generating the separation of the contacts 1, 2. The bimetallic strip 7 is connected, by one end 7a, to one end 9a of a braid 9 whose opposite end 9b is electrically connected to the movable contact 2. This movable contact 2 is mounted in a door -contact 10 for cooperating with the release lever 6. The movable contact 2 is fixed to the contact carrier 10 by fixing means which will be described in what follows.
In FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that, in accordance with the invention, the movable contact 2 is formed by an elongated part having at one of its ends a contact portion 11 and at its opposite end 2b a slot 12 extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the part and forming, at this end 2b of said contact 2, two substantially parallel branches 13,14. These two branches 13, 14 have at their free ends, latching means 15.
The fixing means of the movable contact 2 on the contact carrier 10 comprise, on the one hand, a first opening 16 formed in the contact carrier 10 and adapted to slidably receive said contact 2 introduced by its end 2b having the slot 12 and on the other hand, the aforementioned latching means 15 intended to cooperate with wall portions 20,21 of the contact carrier 10 provided in the opening 16 and extending perpendicular to the sliding direction T of the contact to the inside said opening 16.

Le porte-contact 10 comprend également une seconde ouverture 18 destinée à recevoir l'extrémité 9b d'une tresse 9. Les première et seconde ouvertures 16 et 18 sont conformées de manière que les direction D,T respectivement, d'introduction de la tresse 9 et du contact 2 soient perpendiculaires. La seconde ouverture 18 est également conformée de manière à immobiliser la tresse 9 perpendiculairement à la direction D d'introduction de la tresse et parallèlement à la direction T de coulissement du contact 2, et est située de manière que l'extrémité 9b de la tresse 9, lorsqu'introduite dans la seconde ouverture 18, se trouve sur le trajet de coulissement du contact 2.
La forme de la première ouverture 16 correspond sensiblement à celle de la partie du contact mobile 2 comportant la fente 12, et le contact mobile 2 est réalisé en un matériau présentant une certaine élasticité.
Les éléments d'encliquetage précités 15 sont formés par des éléments de retenue 19 en forme de bec s'étendant vers l'extérieur du contact 2 perpendiculairement à la direction de coulissement T du contact, et sont destinés à venir en appui en fin de course de coulissement, sur respectivement deux portions de surface 20,21 de ladite ouverture 16 du porte-contact 10, s'étendant perpendiculairement à la direction de coulissement T.The contact carrier 10 also comprises a second opening 18 intended to receive the end 9b of a braid 9. The first and second openings 16 and 18 are shaped so that the direction D, T, respectively, of introduction of the braid 9 and contact 2 are perpendicular. The second opening 18 is also shaped so as to immobilize the braid 9 perpendicular to the insertion direction D of the braid and parallel to the sliding direction T of the contact 2, and is located so that the end 9b of the braid 9, when introduced into the second opening 18, is in the sliding path of the contact 2.
The shape of the first opening 16 corresponds substantially to that of the part of the movable contact 2 comprising the slot 12, and the movable contact 2 is made of a material having a certain elasticity.
The aforementioned snap-fastening elements 15 are formed by beak-shaped retaining elements 19 extending towards the outside of the contact 2 perpendicularly to the sliding direction T of the contact, and are intended to bear at the end of the stroke. sliding, on respectively two surface portions 20,21 of said opening 16 of the contact carrier 10, extending perpendicularly to the sliding direction T.

L'opération de raccordement va être maintenant brièvement décrite dans ce qui suit:The connection operation will now be briefly described in the following:

Dans un premier temps, la tresse 9 est introduite par l'une 9b de ses extrémités, dans l'ouverture 18 prévue à cet effet dans le porte-contact 10. Puis, le contact mobile 2 est introduit dans l'ouverture 16, dite première, du porte-contact 10 par son extrémité 2b comportant la fente 12 et est entraîné à coulisser à l'intérieur de ladite ouverture 16.
Pendant ce mouvement de coulissement, les éléments de retenue 19 coulissent le long de la paroi de l'ouverture 16. Lorsque le contact mobile 2 arrive au niveau de la tresse 9, cette dernière pénètre dans la fente 12. Lorsque le contact mobile 2 arrive en fin de coulissement, les éléments de retenue 19 coopèrent avec les portions de paroi 20,21 correspondantes situées à l'une des extrémités de l'ouverture 16, pour empêcher le retrait du contact 2 de ladite ouverture et assurer la fixation définitive du contact 2 dans le porte-contact 10. Dans cette position du contact mobile 2, la tresse 9 se trouve au fond de la fente 12 entre deux bords rapprochés 12a,12b de ladite fente 12. Ainsi, la paroi intérieure délimitant l'ouverture précitée 16 coopère avec la paroi extérieure du contact 2 de manière que dans la position de fin de course de coulissement du contact, l'extrémité de la tresse 9 soit retenue positivement par coincement entre lesdits bords 12a, 12b, ou lesdites branches 13,14 légèrement rapprochées, et le raccordement électrique de la tresse 9 sur le contact 2 soit ainsi réalisé.In a first step, the braid 9 is introduced by a 9b of its ends into the opening 18 provided for this purpose in the contact carrier 10. Then, the movable contact 2 is introduced into the opening 16, called first, the contact carrier 10 by its end 2b having the slot 12 and is driven to slide inside said opening 16.
During this sliding movement, the retaining elements 19 slide along the wall of the opening 16. When the moving contact 2 arrives at the level of the braid 9, the latter enters the slot 12. When the moving contact 2 arrives at the end of sliding, the retaining elements 19 cooperate with the corresponding wall portions 20,21 located at one of the ends of the opening 16, to prevent the withdrawal of the contact 2 from said opening and ensure the final fixing of the contact 2 in the contact carrier 10. In this position of the movable contact 2, the braid 9 is at the bottom of the slot 12 between two close edges 12a, 12b of said slot 12. Thus, the inner wall delimiting the aforementioned opening 16 cooperates with the outer wall of the contact 2 so that in the sliding end position of the contact, the end of the braid 9 is positively retained by wedging between said edges 12a, 12b, or sdi branches 13,14 slightly close together, and the electrical connection of the braid 9 on the contact 2 is thus achieved.

Ainsi, grâce à l'invention, l'opération de soudure de la tresse est supprimée et le raccordement électrique de la tresse et la fixation du contact sur le porte-contact sont réalisées en une seule opération. Ceci permet donc de réduire de manière significative le prix de revient à l'unité des appareils dans lesquels l'invention est mise en oeuvre.
Un autre avantage inhérent à l'invention tient en ce que, du fait que l'on est plus tenu de fusionner la matière du porte-contact autour du contact mobile, ce porte-contact peut être réalisé de façon à être plus léger.
Bien entendu, l'invention n'est pas limitée au mode de réalisation décrit et illustré qui n'a été donné qu'à titre d'exemple.
C'est ainsi, par exemple, que la fixation du contact pourrait être réalisée autrement que par coulissement et encliquetage, par exemple par coulissement du contact mobile dans l'ouverture du porte-contact et vissage du contact sur le porte-contact. L'invention s'applique ainsi à tout dispositif permettant de réaliser le raccordement d'une tresse à un contact par coincement de ladite tresse entre les deux bords d'une fente ménagée dans ledit contact, pendant l'opération de fixation.
L'invention peut avantageusement, mais pas exclusivement, être utilisée dans des disjoncteurs miniatures présentant un calibre allant de 10 à 25 A.Thus, thanks to the invention, the welding operation of the braid is removed and the electrical connection of the braid and the attachment of the contact on the contact carrier are made in a single operation. This therefore makes it possible to significantly reduce the cost price per unit of the apparatuses in which the invention is implemented.
Another advantage inherent in the invention is that, since it is no longer necessary to merge the material of the contact carrier around the moving contact, this contact carrier can be made to be lighter.
Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given by way of example.
Thus, for example, the attachment of the contact could be made otherwise than by sliding and latching, for example by sliding of the movable contact in the opening of the contact carrier and screwing the contact on the contact carrier. The invention thus applies to any device for making the connection of a braid to a contact by wedging said braid between the two edges of a slot in said contact, during the fixing operation.
The invention can advantageously, but not exclusively, be used in miniature circuit breakers having a size ranging from 10 to 25 A.

Au contraire, l'invention comprend tous les équivalents techniques des moyens décrits ainsi que leurs combinaisons si celles-ci sont effectuées suivant son esprit.On the contrary, the invention comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are carried out according to its spirit.

Claims (12)

  1. Device for electrical connection of a braided strip or the like to an electrical contact fixed to a contact holder by fixing means, in particular in a circuit breaker, characterized in that it comprises a slot (12) arranged at one (2b) of the ends of the electrical contact (2), said slot (12) being delineated by two opposite edges (12a, 12b) forming two substantially parallel branches (13, 14) at the end of the contact (2) and that means (16) are provided partly on the contact holder (10) and partly on the contact (2) to secure said braided strip (9) by jamming the latter between the above-mentioned edges (12a, 12b) of the slot (12) after the contact (2) has been fixed onto the contact holder (10).
  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the above-mentioned fixing means comprise a first opening (16) provided in the contact holder (10) and designed to receive said contact (2) with sliding, and final fixing means (15) of the contact in the contact holder implemented at the end of sliding.
  3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the inside wall of the contact holder delineating the above-mentioned opening (16) operates in conjunction with the outside wall of the contact (2) so that, at the end of the sliding travel of the contact (2) inside the contact holder (10), the two branches (13, 14) perform securing of the braided strip (9) between said edges (12a, 12b).
  4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the contact holder (10) comprises a second opening (18) designed to receive one (9b) of the ends of the braided strip (9) and oriented in such a way as to immobilize said braided strip (9) in translation substantially perpendicularly to the direction of insertion D of said end (9b), said direction D being substantially perpendicular to the direction of sliding T of the contact (2) and said end (9b) of the braided strip being situated on the sliding path of the contact (2).
  5. Device according to any one of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the final fixing means comprise clipping means (15) provided at the end of the two branches (13, 14) and designed to operate in conjunction with the inside wall of the first opening (16) to prevent withdrawal of the contact (2) from the first opening (16) of the contact holder (10) at the end of sliding travel of the contact (2), in the electrical connection position of the braided strip (9).
  6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the contact is made from a material presenting a certain elasticity and that the clipping means (15) comprise securing elements (19) provided at the end of the branches (13, 14) and extending substantially perpendicularly to the direction of sliding T of the contact (2), said elements (19) being able to slide along the walls of the first opening (16) during sliding of the contact (2) and to operate at the end of the sliding travel in conjunction with portions of inside wall (20, 21) of the first opening (16) extending perpendicularly to the direction of sliding T.
  7. Device according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the above-mentioned contact (2) is a contact called a movable contact designed to operate in conjunction with a stationary contact (1) in an electrical switchgear apparatus D to make or break an electrical circuit.
  8. Electrical contact designed to be connected to a braided strip by means of a device according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that it is formed mainly by an elongate part, said elongate part comprising a contact part (11) at one (2a) of the ends thereof, and, at the opposite end (2b) thereof, a slot (12) extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the contact (2), said slot (12) delineating two branches (13, 14) able to be elastically deformed.
  9. Contact according to claim 8, characterized in that the branches (13, 14) comprise clipping means (15) at the free ends thereof.
  10. Contact holder comprising an opening (18) designed to receive the end (9b) of a braided strip (9) and an opening (16) able to receive a contact (2) with sliding, said braided strip (9) being designed to be electrically connected to said contact (2) by means of a device according to any one of the claims 2 to 7.
  11. Electrical switchgear apparatus comprising an arc chute, said arc chute housing a stationary contact (1) designed to operate in conjunction with a movable contact (2), said movable contact (2) being supported by a contact holder (10) and electrically connected to a braided strip (9), characterized in that the braided strip is electrically connected to said contact (2) by means of a device according to any one of the claims 1 to 7.
  12. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the switchgear apparatus is a circuit breaker D.
EP99410165A 1998-12-23 1999-11-22 Device to connect electrically a braid to a contact, mainly for a circuit breaker, contact and holder adapted to this device and breaking apparatus including this device Expired - Lifetime EP1014401B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9816580A FR2787930B1 (en) 1998-12-23 1998-12-23 DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTION OF A BRAID TO AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT IN PARTICULAR IN A CIRCUIT BREAKER, CONTACT AND CONTACT HOLDER ADAPTED TO SUCH A CONNECTION AND CUTTING DEVICE INCORPORATING SUCH A DEVICE
FR9816580 1998-12-23

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1014401A1 EP1014401A1 (en) 2000-06-28
EP1014401B1 true EP1014401B1 (en) 2006-02-01

Family

ID=9534626

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99410165A Expired - Lifetime EP1014401B1 (en) 1998-12-23 1999-11-22 Device to connect electrically a braid to a contact, mainly for a circuit breaker, contact and holder adapted to this device and breaking apparatus including this device

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1014401B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69929671T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2257848T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2787930B1 (en)

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3268689A (en) * 1964-10-22 1966-08-23 Gen Electric Electric circuit breaker with novel flexible braid attachment
DE2517465C3 (en) * 1975-04-19 1978-12-07 Bach & Co, 7100 Heilbronn Connectors
DE29818571U1 (en) * 1998-10-17 1998-12-17 Stocko Metallwarenfab Henkels Contact element

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2787930A1 (en) 2000-06-30
DE69929671D1 (en) 2006-04-13
DE69929671T2 (en) 2006-09-07
FR2787930B1 (en) 2001-11-23
EP1014401A1 (en) 2000-06-28
ES2257848T3 (en) 2006-08-01

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