EP1199779A1 - Connector with flexible terminals, in particular for an electrical apparatus and electrical connector comprising such terminals - Google Patents

Abstract

There is an electric connector (140) for a whole electric equipment to bring it back in a conveyor. There is a front and rear functional parts located in metallic blades for an electric connection. There is a bearing (141,142) holding at least one connection blade (150). On the side of the bearing there is at least one metallic contact (151), which is inserted in the rear part of the equipment via an orifice located in its deep wall in order to connect it with the metallic blade.

Description

The present invention relates generally to connectors devices for electrical equipment to be brought into a trunking routing of electrical conductors, such as a strong current outlet or weak, a switch, a television socket, a fuse holder and an indicator luminous.

It relates more particularly to an electrical connector for a electrical equipment comprising a functional front part and a part rear housing metal blades for electrical connection.

Such electrical equipment can advantageously constitute a modular switchgear which can be combined with another electrical switchgear complementary so as to constitute a strip of electrical equipment.

The present invention also relates to an electrical system comprising, on the one hand, electrical equipment to be brought in a chute, and, on the other hand, such an electrical connector.

Document FR 2 727 801 already discloses electrical equipment modular which includes, for its power supply, a terminal block able to be positioned on an end face of said electrical equipment.

This terminal block has a closed upper front face in order to prohibit all access to the inside of the terminal block when it is installed, and a rear face lower closed.

It further comprises a contact support comprising, at one end, means for fixing the electrical conductors to be connected to the apparatus electric. These fixing means are for example screw studs.

These screw studs are secured to conductive blades placed at the opposite end of the terminal block contact support. These conductive blades are intended to come into contact with the ends of the metal blades of electrical connection of electrical equipment, when the terminal block is coupled to the latter by one of its end faces.

Besides the fact that the aforementioned electrical connector is relatively complex, it is positioned in the chute at the same level as the switchgear to which it is connected in line with it. It is therefore necessary to provide, in such an electrical connector, arrangements to prohibit access to its means of electrical connection. In addition, it takes a certain place in the chute, which becomes unavailable for the installation of another electrical apparatus therein.

Document FR 2 691 846 also discloses an apparatus electric comprising a front part adapted to receive a plug electrical connection and a rear part with contact parts females adapted to receive the pins of said plug and to connect to a power supply cable.

According to this document, the rear part of this electrical equipment has metal insulation displacement contacts equal in number to the number conductors of the power supply network, to connect said electrical equipment to the power supply network.

This electrical equipment also includes a cover made of material insulation which can be fitted on its rear part, this cover comprising guides arranged in correspondence with the metal insulation displacement contacts of the rear part of the body of the electrical apparatus and adapted to receive the electrical conductors of the power supply network to position them opposite the slots of said metal insulation displacement contacts and make them penetrate said slots during the fitting of said cover on the part back of the body of the electrical equipment.

Such an electrical switchgear and electrical connector system is relatively complex and difficult to implement in a chute, without the intervention of a special pliers to help the installation of the cover on the rear part of the electrical equipment, in order to insert said conductors that the door cover in the slots of the metal insulation displacement contacts of the said electrical equipment.

Finally, we know an electrical connector of the "vampire" type for electrical equipment with screw terminals, which includes an insulating housing a connection blade comprising, on one side of the housing, a pair of contacts metal insulation stripping for connection to an electrical conductor circulating in a chute, and, on the other side of the case, contacts metal for the connection of a terminal connected to an electric wire connected to one of the terminals of said electrical equipment.

The main disadvantage of such an electrical connector is that it requires a pre-wiring of the electrical equipment with the electric wire provided with the terminal of connection to said connector.

Compared to the aforementioned prior art, the present invention provides a new electrical connector for electrical equipment including a functional front part and a rear part housing metal blades of electrical connection, which is simple to implement in the trunking for electrically connect the electrical equipment in question to the network power supply.

More particularly, the present invention provides a connector electric of the type defined in the introduction, characterized in that it includes an insulating housing housing at least one connection blade comprising, on one side of the housing, a pair of metal contacts insulation displacement devices for the connection of an electrical conductor circulating in said chute, and, on the other side of the housing, at least one metallic contact intended to be inserted into the rear part of the electrical equipment, via a orifice provided in its bottom wall, for engaging with one of the blades metallic electrical connection of said electrical equipment.

Thus, according to the invention, the electrical connector is advantageously positioned on the rear side of the electrical equipment to be attached to the base a chute, so it becomes difficult to access when it is installed on the electrical equipment placed in the chute and takes up no space additional in the longitudinal direction of said chute, place can be reserved for the installation of another electrical appliance of the same type.

In addition, the electrical connector according to the invention, comprising the metal insulation displacement contacts, is easily installed on electrical conductors already circulating in the chute and then allows to transplanting to an existing electrical network.

The direct connection of each connection blade of the electrical connector according to the invention, on each metal blade of electrical connection of electrical equipment, avoids pre-wiring of the latter.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the electrical connector according to the invention, each connecting blade is arranged so that the pair of insulation displacement metal contacts and said metal contact extend along the same direction in opposite directions.

According to a first embodiment of the conforming electrical connector according to the invention, each connection blade of the electrical connector is arranged so that said pair of metal insulation displacement contacts and said contact are aligned.

According to a second preferred embodiment of the connector electric according to the invention, each connection blade is arranged to so that said pair of metal insulation displacement contacts is offset laterally with respect to said metallic contact intended for connection with a metal blade for electrical connection of the electrical equipment.

This lateral offset of the metal insulation displacement contacts with respect to metal contact intended for connection with a metal blade electrical connection of the electrical equipment, allows to release, at the right of these metal insulation displacement contacts, space for intervention if necessary by the installer with pliers to tighten the metal contacts insulation stripping on the electrical conductor to be connected and ensuring stripping perfect of it.

• chaque lame de connexion comprend une paire de contacts métalliques destinée à être enfichée sur une des lames métalliques de connexion électrique dudit appareillage électrique ;
• ledit boítier isolant comprend au moins une partie avant globalement en forme de U dont les deux branches logent chaque contact métallique d'une lame de connexion destiné au raccordement avec une lame métallique de connexion électrique de l'appareillage électrique, chaque partie avant étant apte à être insérée dans la partie arrière dudit appareillage électrique, via ledit orifice prévu dans sa paroi de fond ;
• au moins une des branches de chaque partie avant dudit boítier isolant comporte, sur un côté extérieur, une dent d'encliquetage pour le maintien dudit connecteur sur la partie arrière de l'appareillage électrique ;
• le boítier isolant comprend, d'une part, une partie support logeant chaque lame de connexion, ouverte à l'arrière pour laisser émerger chaque paire de contacts métalliques autodénudants et portant à l'avant, en saillie, chaque partie avant logeant chaque contact métallique d'une lame de connexion , et, d'autre part, une partie couvercle montée à pivotement sur la partie support de manière à fermer l'ouverture arrière de cette dernière ;
• l'axe de pivotement de la partie couvercle dudit boítier isolant s'étend perpendiculairement à la direction selon laquelle s'étendent les contacts métalliques autodénudants de chaque lame de connexion ;
• la partie couvercle est reliée à la partie support du boítier isolant par l'intermédiaire d'une charnière d'articulation qui vient de formation par moulage d'une matière plastique avec lesdites parties couvercle et support ;
• la partie couvercle du boítier isolant comporte, en correspondance, avec chaque paire de contacts métalliques autodénudants, un berceau de réception et de maintien d'un conducteur électrique à insérer dans lesdits contacts métalliques autodénudants ; et
• ledit boítier isolant se présente sous la forme d'une barrette allongée logeant une pluralité de lames de connexion disposées en parallèle et destinées à établir de manière simultanée la connexion électrique entre une pluralité de conducteurs électriques circulant dans la goulotte et une pluralité de lames métalliques de connexion électrique d'un appareillage électrique.

Other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the electrical connector according to the invention are the following:

• each connection blade comprises a pair of metal contacts intended to be plugged into one of the metal blades for electrical connection of said electrical equipment;
• said insulating housing comprises at least one generally U-shaped front part, the two branches of which accommodate each metal contact of a connection blade intended for connection with a metal blade for electrical connection of the electrical equipment, each front part being capable of be inserted into the rear part of said electrical equipment, via said orifice provided in its bottom wall;
• at least one of the branches of each front part of said insulating housing comprises, on an external side, a snap-in tooth for holding said connector on the rear part of the electrical equipment;
• the insulating housing comprises, on the one hand, a support part housing each connection blade, open at the rear to let emerge each pair of metal insulation displacement contacts and carrying at the front, projecting, each front part housing each metal contact a connection blade, and, on the other hand, a cover part pivotally mounted on the support part so as to close the rear opening of the latter;
• the pivot axis of the cover part of said insulating housing extends perpendicular to the direction in which extend the metal insulation displacement contacts of each connection blade;
• the cover part is connected to the support part of the insulating housing by means of a hinge which comes from formation by molding a plastic material with said cover and support parts;
• the cover part of the insulating housing comprises, in correspondence, with each pair of metal insulation displacement contacts, a cradle for receiving and holding an electrical conductor to be inserted into said metal insulation displacement contacts; and
• said insulating housing is in the form of an elongated bar housing a plurality of connection blades arranged in parallel and intended to establish simultaneously the electrical connection between a plurality of electrical conductors circulating in the trough and a plurality of metal blades electrical connection of electrical equipment.

Finally, the present invention provides an electrical system comprising, on the one hand, an electrical apparatus to be brought back into a chute routing of electrical conductors, said electrical equipment comprising a functional front part and a rear part housing metal blades for electrical connection, and, on the other hand, a connector electric as mentioned above.

The description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, given to title of nonlimiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be achieved.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un système électrique selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe longitudinale d'un connecteur électrique selon l'invention ; et
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective de trois quarts d'une lame de connexion du connecteur électrique de la figure 2.

In the accompanying drawings:

• Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical system according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrical connector according to the invention; and
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of three quarters of a connection blade of the electrical connector of FIG. 2.

In Figure 1 there is shown an electrical apparatus 100 to report in a conduit for electrical conductors (not shown).

Here, the electrical apparatus 100 is a modular apparatus comprising mechanical and electrical interconnection means with other equipment additional modular, so as to constitute for example a strip of several modular devices.

The electrical apparatus 100 is a power module intended to be connected to the electrical network, i.e. to electrical conductors circulating in the chute in which it is reported.

The electrical apparatus 100 is generally parallelepiped and includes a functional front part 120, here the front part of a socket strong currents female according to French standard.

This front part of parallelepiped shape is made of material insulator, for example plastic.

It includes, in the central part, a recess 121 intended to accommodate a male outlet (not shown) and has, in its bottom 122, circular openings 123 in which are intended for insert the connection pins of the male socket to be electrically connected to said electrical equipment 100.

On two opposite side walls 124 of the front part 120, it is provided teeth 126 for mounting the electrical apparatus 100 in the chute, such an assembly which can be carried out by means of a support of electrical equipment or be carried out directly on the wing returns side of the base of the chute.

In addition, the side walls 124 of the front part 120 include openings 125 for snap-on mounting of the front part 120 of the electrical apparatus 100 on a rear part 110 of the apparatus electric 100.

The rear part 110 of the electrical apparatus 100 includes a housing insulator of parallelepiped shape, generally similar to that of the part before, to constitute with it a set, and housing blades metallic electrical connection 131, 132, 133.

The insulating housing of the rear part 110 of the electrical equipment 100 comprises, on two parallel side walls 116, snap teeth 115 intended to cooperate with the openings 125 of the front part 120 for assembling the front 120 and rear 110 parts of the electrical equipment 100.

The insulating housing of the rear part 110 further comprises internally, different partitions 114 delimiting housings in which are inserted the metal electrical connection blades 131, 132, 133 of said equipment.

In addition, the insulating housing of the rear part 110 comprises, in a end wall, slots 112, 113, 111 to allow the coupling of a other modular electrical equipment, via metal connection blades electric of it.

Opposite the end wall comprising the slots 112, 113, 111, the insulating housing has a closed wall 117. It is further provided in the insulating housing of the rear part 110, near this closed wall 117, slots 118 for holding the metal blades for electrical connection 131, 132, 133 introduced into the housing.

The metal blades of electrical connection 131, 132, 133 extend generally in parallel planes.

Each of the metal blades for electrical connection 131, 132, 133 comprises, on the one hand, an end intended to engage in the slots 118 of the insulating housing of the rear part 110 to be held in position in this housing, and, on the other hand, an end shaped clamp 131A, 132A, 133A intended to be positioned opposite the slots 111, 112, 113 of the insulating housing to accommodate the ends of metal blades for electrical connection of a other modular electrical equipment for electrical coupling with the electrical apparatus 100 constituting the power module.

Here, the metallic electrical connection blades 131 and 132 are pole plates, a phase plate and a neutral plate. The blades metallic electrical connection 131 and 132 frame a central blade 133 which is the earth blade. Metal blades for electrical phase connection and neutral 131, 132 carry, laterally, inward, housing reception 131B and 132B intended to come next to the openings 123 of the front part 120 of the electrical apparatus 100, to receive the pins of phase and neutral of the male plug introduced in said openings 123 to make electrical contact.

The metallic blade of electrical connection 133, which is the ground blade, carries for this purpose, laterally, a console 134 supporting the earth pin 135 intended to engage in an opening 123 of the front part 120, for protrude inside the recess 121 of the front part. This brooch earth 135 is intended to engage in the earth connection housing from the male socket outlet connected to said electrical equipment 100.

The receiving housings 131B, 132B are placed in housings 114B, 114A of the insulating housing of the rear part 110 of the electrical equipment 100.

Advantageously, an electrical connector 140 is provided intended for electrically connect electrical equipment 100 to conductors electrical circulating in the chute on which said electrical equipment 100 is reported.

According to the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, this electrical connector 140 comprises an insulating housing 141, 142 housed here three connection blades 150 arranged in parallel. This insulating housing 141, 142 is in the form of an elongated bar housing the blades of connection 150 arranged in parallel and intended to establish, so simultaneous, the electrical connection between three electrical conductors circulating in the trough and the three metal blades for electrical connection 131, 132, 133 of electrical equipment 100.

Advantageously, each connection blade 150 of the connector electric 140 comprises, on one side of the insulating housing 141, 142, a pair of insulation displacement metal contacts 152 for connecting a conductor electric circulating in the trough, and, on the other side of the insulating box 141, 142, a pair of metal contacts 151 intended to be inserted in the part rear 110 of said electrical apparatus 100, via an orifice provided in the wall from the bottom of the insulating housing constituting the rear part 110 of said apparatus electric 100, to be plugged into one of the metal connection blades 131, 132 of said electrical apparatus 100.

More particularly, the metal insulating contacts 152 define between them a slot 152A having a V-shaped opening and whose edges are cutting blades for cutting the insulating sheath of the electrical conductor inserted into said slot 152A.

The metal contacts 151 of each connection blade 150 delimit between them a slot 151A into which part of a blade is inserted metallic electrical connection of electrical equipment 100.

The holes for introducing the pairs of metal contacts 151 of each connection blade 150 of the electrical connector 140, in the part rear 110, are located near the slots 118 of the insulating housing of the part rear 110 of the electrical apparatus 100 and, more particularly, between these slots 118 and the closed end wall 117 of said insulating housing of the part rear 110 of electrical equipment 100.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 3, advantageously, each connection blade 150 of the electrical connector 140, produced in metallic material, is arranged so that the pair of metallic contacts insulation displacement 152 and the pair of metal contacts 151 intended to establish the connection with a metal blade for electrical connection 131, 132, 133, extend in the same direction in opposite directions, and preferably in parallel directions Y, X, so that the contacts insulation displacement metal 152 are laterally offset from the metal contacts 151.

Self-stripping metal contacts 152 and metal contacts 151 belong to the same metal part 150 and are connected by a part lateral 154.

This lateral offset of the metal insulation displacement contacts 152 by relative to the metal contacts 151 of each connection blade 150 of the electrical connector 140 advantageously makes it possible to free up space above and below the insulation displacement metal contacts 152 by compared to metal contacts 151, which facilitates intervention an installer to tighten the metal contacts using pliers insulation displacement 152 on the electrical conductor to be electrically connected to electrical equipment 100 via said connector 140, and provide stripping perfect of it.

The insulating housing of the electrical connector 140 comprises, on the one hand, a support part 141 housing each connection blade 150, open at the rear to allow each pair of self-stripping metal contacts 152 to emerge, and, on the other hand, a cover part 142 pivotally mounted on the part support 141 so as to close the rear opening of the latter.

Advantageously, the pivot axis of the cover portion 142 of said insulating housing extends perpendicular to the direction Y along which extend the self-stripping metal contacts 152 of each strip of connection 150.

Said cover part 142 is connected to said support part 141 of the housing. insulator of electrical connector 140 via a hinge joint 147 which has just formed by molding a plastic material with said parts cover 142 and support 141. This articulation hinge 147 is formed by a thin film.

In addition, the cover part 142 of the insulating housing of the connector electric 140 has, in its parallel side walls, in correspondence, with each pair of metal insulation displacement contacts 152 of each connection blade 150, a cradle 145 for receiving and holding of the electrical conductor to be inserted into said metallic contacts self-stripping 152.

Each cradle 145 is formed by the edge of a circular opening provided in the side walls of the cover portion 142. Advantageously, in line with the metal insulation-displacement contacts 152 of each strip of connection 150, on the support part 141 and the cover part 142 of the housing, there ribs 146 are provided for taking a clamp used by a installer to tighten the insulation displacement metal contacts 152 on the electrical conductors inserted in said metallic contacts insulation.

Advantageously, the support part 141 of the insulating housing of the connector electric 140 carries, projecting from the front, U-shaped front parts, each front part having two branches 143 which house said contacts metal 151 of a connection blade 150 intended for connection with a metal blade for electrical connection 131, 132, 133 of the apparatus electric 100.

Each connecting blade 150 has, at the base and on a lateral side of a metallic contact 151, a tooth 153 coming to hang in the material a branch 143 of a front part of the support part, to be maintained in the latter.

Each front part is capable of being inserted into the insulating housing of the rear part 110 of electrical equipment 100, via said orifice provided in its back wall.

To this end, at least one of the branches 143 of each front part of said insulating housing of the electrical connector 140 comprises, on an outer side, a latching tooth 144 for holding the electrical connector 140 on the rear part 110 of electrical equipment 100.

Such an electrical connector 140 forms, with the electrical apparatus 100 shown in Figure 1, an electrical system.

• il est simple et rapide à mettre en oeuvre ;
• il est peu encombrant du fait qu'il se loge dans une partie de la goulotte située en dessous de l'appareillage électrique 100 où circulent les conducteurs électriques et ne prend pas de place dans cette goulotte suivant son axe longitudinal ;
• il est une prise directe sur les lames métalliques de connexion électrique de l'appareillage électrique, ce qui permet d'éviter un précâblage de l'appareillage électrique pour son raccordement au réseau d'alimentation électrique ;
• une fois mis en place sur les conducteurs électriques circulant dans la goulotte, il peut, en cas de déplacement de l'appareillage électrique dans la goulotte, rester en place sur les conducteurs électriques, l'accès à ses lames de connexion pouvant être interdit par la mise en place d'un capuchon sur les parties avant du boítier isolant dudit connecteur électrique.

This electrical connector 140 has the following advantages:

• it is simple and quick to implement;
• it is compact because it is housed in a part of the trough located below the electrical apparatus 100 where the electrical conductors circulate and does not take up space in this trough along its longitudinal axis;
• there is a direct connection to the metal blades for electrical connection of the electrical equipment, which makes it possible to avoid pre-wiring of the electrical equipment for its connection to the electrical supply network;
• once installed on the electrical conductors circulating in the trunking, it can, in the event of movement of the electrical equipment in the trunking, remain in place on the electrical conductors, access to its connection blades being able to be prohibited by the establishment of a cap on the front parts of the insulating housing of said electrical connector.

The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and represented, but the person skilled in the art will be able to bring there any variant conform to his mind.

In particular, as a variant, provision may be made for each blade of electrical connector connection includes a single metal contact having the form of a blade or a point capable of fitting into a fitting in a clamp or slot of a metal connection blade electrical switchgear.

Claims (13)

Electrical connector (140) for an electrical apparatus (100) to be fitted in an electrical conductor trough, said electrical apparatus (100) comprising a functional front part (120) and a rear part (110) housing metal connection blades electric (131, 132, 133), characterized in that it comprises an insulating housing (141, 142) housing at least one connection blade (150) comprising, on one side of the housing (141, 142), a pair of metal insulation displacement contacts (152) for the connection of an electrical conductor circulating in said chute, and, on the other side of the housing (141, 142), at least one metal contact (151) intended to be inserted into the part rear (110) of said electrical equipment (100), via an orifice provided in its bottom wall, to engage with one of the metal blades for electrical connection (131, 132, 133) of said electrical equipment (100). Electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that each connection blade (150) is arranged so that the pair of metal insulation-displacement contacts (152) and said metal contact (151) extend in the same direction (Y, X ), in opposite directions. Electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that said pair of metal insulation displacement contacts (152) and said metal contact (151) are aligned. Electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that said pair of metal insulation displacement contacts (152) is offset laterally with respect to said metal contact (151). Electrical connector according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each connection blade (150) comprises a pair of metallic contacts (151) intended to be plugged into one of the metallic electrical connection blades (131, 132, 133 ) of said electrical equipment (100). Electrical connector according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the said insulating housing (141, 142) comprises at least one generally U-shaped front part, the two branches (143) of which house each metal contact (151) d '' a connection blade (150) intended for connection with a metal blade for electrical connection (131, 132, 133) of the electrical apparatus (100), each front part being able to be inserted in the rear part (110) of said electrical equipment (100), via said orifice provided in its bottom wall. Electrical connector according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one of the branches (143) of each front part of said insulating housing (141, 142) has, on an outer side, a snap-in tooth (144) for holding said connector (140) on the rear part (110) of the electrical equipment (100). Electrical connector according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the insulating housing comprises, on the one hand, a support part (141) housing each connection blade (150), open at the rear to allow each to emerge pair of metal insulation displacement contacts (152) and carrying at the front, projecting, each front part (143) housing each metal contact (151) of a connection blade (150), and, on the other hand, a part cover (142) pivotally mounted on the support part (141) so as to close the rear opening of the latter. Electrical connector according to claim 8, characterized in that the pivot axis of the cover part (142) of said insulating housing extends perpendicular to the direction (Y) in which extend the insulation displacement metal contacts (152) of each connecting blade (150). Electrical connector according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the cover part (142) is connected to the support part (141) of the insulating housing by means of an articulation hinge (147) which comes for molding a plastic material with said cover (142) and support (141) parts. Electrical connector according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the cover part (142) of the insulating housing comprises, in correspondence, with each pair of metal insulation-displacement contacts (152), a cradle (145) for receiving and maintenance of an electrical conductor to be inserted into said metal insulation displacement contacts (152). Electrical connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said insulating housing (141, 142) is in the form of an elongated strip housing a plurality of connection blades (150) arranged in parallel and intended to establish simultaneously the electrical connection between a plurality of electrical conductors circulating in the chute and a plurality of metal blades for electrical connection (131, 132, 133) of electrical equipment (100). Electrical system comprising, on the one hand, electrical equipment (100) to be brought into a conductor trough electrical, said electrical apparatus (100) comprising a front part functional (120) and a rear part (110) housing metal blades of electrical connection (131, 132, 133), and, on the other hand, an electrical connector (140) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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