EP1213792B1 - Bistable electrical terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The bistable connection connector has a reception cover (1) for a wire conductor. Connection is effected by gripping between the cover wall and the wire. There is a spring (3) pushing the wire onto the cover wall and having to stable positions, lock and unlock, with movement between the two positions using a half step command helical movement.

Description

The present invention relates to a connection connector bistable of at least one conductor to an electrical device which is team. As the name suggests, this connector can have two stable states, corresponding respectively to tightening and loosening of the conductor (s). The difference in state is actually obtained by a rotary-looking action exerted on means of connector control, according to a stroke which is close to a half-turn.

The fact of being able to change position or state by exercising in general by means of a tool, half a rotation indifferently in a one way or the other gives the connector of the invention great maneuverability, and significantly improves the ergonomics of this type of bistable connector.

We already know bistable connectors allowing the connection of conductors to electrical devices, especially in the field of strong currents see document US 4,416,500 which corresponds to the preamble of claim 1. Thus, for example, the document DE-198 17 924 describes a connection terminal controlled by a threaded shaft which can rotate between two fixing and release positions respectively conductors. More precisely, this terminal is configured in the form a kind of bracket, and it allows the fixing of a conductor between a rail which develops in the direction of plugging in of the conductor and a song lower of the stirrup, whose horizontal upper plate cooperates by elsewhere with the end of a return spring, the other end of which rests on said rail.

The threaded shaft transforms the rotary movement communicated by a tool into a axial stroke allowing the opening or closing of the connection terminal.

The difference in position between the two stable positions of opening and closure corresponds in this case to a complete rotation of the threaded shaft. It is note that in this configuration, stability is obtained, in the position corresponding to the closing of the terminal, by the return force of the spring. In the other position, corresponding inversely to the compression of the spring, a cleat keeps the threaded shaft in the low position, compressed spring. The opening of the terminal is therefore obtained by a double action, a first action of rotation by means of a tool, concluded by a second action aimed at blocking using the stopper the threaded shaft in the low position. Conversely, the release of the cleat causes the threaded shaft to rise under the effect of the spring return force.

The connector of the invention leads to simplify considerably the above-mentioned operating mode, since only one operation is necessary to change the state of the terminal, concretely a rotation of half a turn, whatever the direction conferred on said rotation. The reversibility of the sense of rotation constitutes an additional difference compared to the device cited in German patent application DE-198 17 924. In the configuration described in this document, the existence of the external thread equipping the rotary shaft imposes the direction of rotation both for closing and for opening the contact.

The bistable connection connector of the invention, comprising in particular a receiving cage of at least one conductor and a plate constituting a conductive terminal capable of undergoing a relative displacement intended to allow the connection of the conductor (s) by tightening between a wall of the cage and said terminal, is characterized in that it comprises means for reminder of the terminal in contact with said wall of the cage and the means of control of the position of said terminal between two stable positions, one first stable clamping position of the conductor (s) in contact with the wall and a second stable position for loosening the remote conductor (s) from the latter, the difference in position being obtained by a helical movement of the order of half a step of said control means.

The part of the connector ensuring the actual contact is an invoice classic, with cage and terminal that can be animated with a relative movement of translation allowing tightening / loosening of the conductor in the connector.

More precisely, the cage is defined by a frame with peripheral walls in which are made two opposite windows inside which adjusts a plate of parallel appearance to two opposite walls of the frame, constituting in fact the bollard, the plate and the cage then being animated by a relative directional movement parallel to the other two sides of said frame.

Finally, the return means consist of a spring disposed between the plate and one of the walls which is parallel to it.

This mechanical configuration, quite classic in its design, is however essential in the context of the invention because it operates in close correlation with the means for controlling the change of position of the connector, which it also allows definition.

Thus, these tightening / loosening control means consist of a mechanism transforming a helical movement printed by a tool with a head for operating said means in a translational movement reflected at the cage.

This is the requirement for a translational movement of the cage, associated with the need to tighten the conductor (s), which results in the use of a traditional cage, terminal and spring configuration.

In fact, the control mechanism more precisely comprises a member central movable in rotation relative to two end elements to which said central organ is connected, the displacement of half a helix pitch of said organ allowing an axial expansion of the mechanism, secured by means of a end pieces to the wall of the cage against which the means rest return, the operating head being accessible at the level of the other element end.

For expansion to take place in a certain direction and direction, it is necessary understood that the other end piece is fixed relative to a defined reference frame.

At this stage, the important concept is that of axial expansion, said expansion being used to achieve the relative movement between the cage and the clamping terminal. This is why it is necessary that one of the end pieces of the mechanism is secured to the cage, which is the organ on which a translative movement.

According to an even more precise configuration, said mechanism comprises a central trunnion inserted in an equally cylindrical envelope divided into three parts by two identical and parallel sections, each taking the form of two connected portions of helicoid corresponding to two half-steps of propeller successive arranged at the same level and connected by rounded portions, the middle part of the envelope being more integral with the central pin.

When printing a helical movement to the maneuvering head fitted the end of the central pin, the middle part of the envelope which is joined together slides through its helical surfaces generated by said sections on the homologous surfaces of the two end parts of the envelope, until after an axial turn an axial expansion maximum, equal to one pitch of the propeller.

For this expansion to take place, it is understood that at least one of the two end parts must be fixed, and the other blocked in rotation. This point will discussed in more detail below, with reference to the insertion of such connector in a particular device.

According to a possible configuration, the top portions respectively upper and lower of the two surfaces resulting from the sections delimiting the middle part of the envelope secured to the central pin have a obviously rounded.

This geometrical peculiarity in fact makes it possible to give the whole the stability required in the expanded phase. In the retracted phase, the helicoid delimiting the three portions of the envelope are indeed naturally in contact one from the other, which gives great stability to the retracted configuration. In the expanded phase, after a half-turn rotation of the central journal and by consequent of the middle part of the envelope, the contact between the helicoid delimiting the three parts would be linear in the absence of such recesses. These allow however to perform a setting in the deployed phase.

Preferably, the means of. tightening / loosening control of conductors and the return means are arranged coaxially, the terminal and the cage walls parallel to said terminal being perpendicular to said axis and centered on him.

Bistable connectors as described above can of course be employees with a large number of electrical devices and in particular, according to the invention, with modular electrical devices of the circuit breaker type or equivalents.

The present invention therefore also relates to an apparatus modular fitted with a bistable connection connector as mentioned above, characterized in that the clamping / loosening terminal is fixed relative to the housing of the apparatus, to which are also fixed the control means, the cage being driven in a translational movement guided by a housing provided for the connector in said housing and through the terminal, the side wall of said housing, forming one of the walls of said housing, being provided with an orifice whose dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis of said wall is close to the distance between the terminal of the cage wall in the loosening position of the conductor (s).

Attaching the control means to the housing of the device does not imply not heard their immobility in relation to said housing. Indeed, this fixation aims to obtain a frame of reference for the axial expansion movement printing a translational movement to the cage, and does not concern the susceptible parts to be deployed.

The modular apparatus of the invention further includes an opening in its facade accessible to the user, allowing access to the control means of the relative position of the cage and the terminal.

More specifically, if the control means take the form of the pin central surrounded by a three-part envelope, the operating head of said pin is accessible via said orifice.

In this case, the end piece of the control mechanism is not secured to the cage is fixed to the housing of the device.

• la figure 1 est une vue en élévation en section d'une bande selon l'invention, en position fermée ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective de la même borne, toujours en position fermée ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en élévation en section de la borne en position ouverte ;
• la figure 4 représente la borne ouverte de la figure 3 en perspective ;
• la figure 5 montre un appareil électrique modulaire muni d'une borne selon l'invention, en position fermée ; et
• la figure 6 est équivalente à la précédente, la borne étant cependant représentée en position ouverte.

The invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended figures, for which:

• Figure 1 is an elevational sectional view of a strip according to the invention, in the closed position;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same terminal, still in the closed position;
• Figure 3 is an elevational sectional view of the terminal in the open position;
• Figure 4 shows the open terminal of Figure 3 in perspective;
• FIG. 5 shows a modular electrical appliance provided with a terminal according to the invention, in the closed position; and
• Figure 6 is equivalent to the previous one, the terminal is however shown in the open position.

Referring to Figure 1, the connection members are composed of a cage (1), of a plate (2) constituting the conductive terminal of the electric appliance equipped of the connector of the invention, and of a spring (3), the latter urging the plate or terminal (2) against the bottom wall of the cage (1). The plate (2) is extended by a vertical portion (4) intended to be fixed in the housing of the electrical appliance provided with the terminal of the invention. The upper wall of the cage (1) is provided a lug (5) for centering and holding the spring (3).

The bottom wall has rounded edges (6), as does the end free (7) of the terminal (2), intended in particular to assist in guiding and jamming of the conductor during the tightening phase.

The control means appear at the top of the cage (1). The part visible in Figures 1 and 2 consists of a sectioned envelope (8) in three parts (8a, 8b, 8c) respectively upper, middle and lower. The sectioning separation of said parts is carried out according to a curve which is in fact the connection of two portions of propellers each representing a half-step, said portions being placed at the same level. The contact surface which results from this sectioning takes the form of a helicoid allowing relative sliding of the different parts, as will be shown in more detail below. A recess (10) formed in the upper end of the part (8b) ensures the stability in the deployed position, as will be explained in more detail in the after.

In Figure 2, the upper part of the portion (8a) appears hollow, showing well that the envelope (8) is a hollow cylinder, the upper orifice (9) making it possible to have access to the operating head.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the connector of the invention in the open position, the direction of insertion of the conductors being shown diagrammatically by the arrow appearing on the left of figure 3. The control means are here in an expanded state, resulting in the opening of the terminal. The three parts (8a, 8b, 8c) of the envelope (8) are disjoint, having undergone a relative rotation of the order of 180 °, using a tool applied to the operating head (11) of the central pin (12) secured to the middle part (8b). The sliding of a half-turn of the helicoid results in matching the upper and lower ends respectively middle parts (8c, 8b, 8a). Stability is notably ensured by the existence of the recess (10 ') made in the lower end of the part (8b), and which houses the summit area of the part (8c). In the event that the party end (8a) is fixed, the expansion of the envelope (8) results in pushing towards the bottom part (8b) and part (8C), by a distance equivalent to one propeller pitch. This movement is passed on to the cage (1), which is integral with the part (8c). The terminal (2) being also fixed, relative to the same reference as the part (8a), the spring (3) is compressed between it and the upper wall of the cage (1).

To implement the bistable terminal of the invention, for example in a modular electrical device as shown in Figures 5 and 6, it is good heard important to fix the end portion (8a) relative to the housing (B) of said device, and allow guiding in translation of the cage (1), or even parts (8a, 8c). The housing (L) of the cage (1), which extends in the upper part to the front (F) of the modular product, is configured to allow such guidance.

Of course, the housing (B) must include an orifice located in said facade (F) (not shown), to allow access to the operating head (11) of the pin (12). This orifice must correspond to the orifice (9) appearing in the upper part (8a) of the envelope (8).

Said housing, in its lateral facade (A), must include an orifice (13) arranged opposite the volume formed between the terminal (2) and the bottom wall of the cage (1), when the connector is open. The height of this hole is planned in a way such that when the connector is closed, as shown in FIG. 5, said bottom wall of the cage (1) is located at the top edge of the orifice (13).

The operation is as follows: when a user exercises, using a tool, a helical movement on the central pin (12), there is an expansion of the envelope (8) by sliding the helicoid separating the portions (8a, 8b, 8c). This expansion causes the downward movement of the cage (1) guided in translation in the housing (L), and the opening of the connector by establishment of a free volume between the terminal (2), fixed relative to the housing (B), and the wall lower of the cage (1). It is then possible to insert a conductor via the hole (13) made in the side face (A) of the case (B). This open position is stable because the rounded lower end of the portion (8A) adjusts in the recess (10) of the portion (8b), while the rounded upper end of the portion (8c) fits in the recess (10 ') made in the lower end of the middle part (8b).

The exercise of an additional half-turn, whatever its meaning, results in close the connector by shrinking the casing (8). This position is also stable because the helical surfaces bordering the parts (8a, 8b, 8c) of the envelope (8) are in contact with each other.

The above description is of course only an example of the invention, which is not limitative thereof. The invention, on the contrary, encompasses all the configuration and shape variants which are within the reach of those skilled in the art.

Claims (11)

1. Bistable connector, including a cage (1) for reception of at least one conductor and a conductive terminal (2) which can undergo relative displacement for the purpose of allowing connection of the conductor or conductors by the exercise of clamping between a wall of the cage (1) and the said terminal (2), characterised by the fact that it includes means (3) for returning the terminal (2) into contact with the said wall of the cage (1) and means for controlling the position of the said terminal (2) between two stable positions, a first stable position clamping the conductor or conductors in contact with the wall and a second stable position unclamping the conductor or conductors at a distance from it, the difference in position being obtained by a helical movement of the order of half a pitch of the said control means.
2. Bistable connector as described in the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that the cage (1) is defined by a frame with peripheral walls in which are formed two opposite windows inside which fits a plate (2) parallel with two opposite walls of the frame, forming the terminal, the plate (2) and the cage (1) having a relative movement in a direction parallel with the two other sides of the said cage.
3. Bistable connector as described in the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that the return means consist of a spring (3) arranged between the plate (2) and one of the walls which is parallel with it.
4. Bistable connector as described in any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the means for controlling clamping / unclamping consist of a mechanism (8, 12) transforming a helical movement imparted by a tool to an operating head (11) of the said control means into a movement of translation passed on to the cage (1).
5. Bistable connector as described in the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that the said mechanism includes a central part (12, 8b) moveable in rotation relative to two end elements (8a, 8c) to which the said central part (11, 8b) is connected, the displacement of half a helical pitch of the said part (12, 8b) allowing axial expansion of the said mechanism, rigidly attached by means of one of the end pieces (8c) to the wall of the cage (1) against which the return means (3) rest, the operating head (11) being accessible at the level of the other end element (8a).
6. Bistable connector as described in the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that the said mechanism includes a central swivel pin (12) inserted in an also cylindrical casing (8) divided into three parts (8a, 8b, 8c) by two identical and parallel divisions each taking the form of two connected helical portions corresponding to two successive helical half pitches arranged at the same level and connected by rounded portions, the median part of the casing being rigidly attached to the central swivel pin.
7. Bistable connector as described in the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that the upper and lower peak portions respectively of the two surfaces resulting from the divisions defining the median part (8b) of the casing (8) rigidly attached to the central swivel pin (12) are provided with a rounded cavity (10, 10').
8. Bistable connector as described in one of claims 5 to 7, characterised by the fact that the means for controlling clamping / unclamping of the conductors and the return means

   (3) are arranged coaxially, the terminal (2) and the walls of the cage (1) parallel with the said terminal being perpendicular to the said axis and centred on it.
9. Modular apparatus provided with a bistable connector as described in one of claims 2 to 8, characterised by the fact that the clamping / unclamping terminal (2) is fixed relative to the case (B) of the apparatus, to which are also fixed the control means, the cage (1) being moved in translation guided by a housing of the connector formed in the said case (B) and by the terminal (2), the lateral wall (A) of the said case (B), forming one of the walls of the said housing, being provided with an orifice (13) the dimension of which parallel with the longitudinal axis of the said wall (A) is close to the distance separating the terminal (2) from the wall of the cage (1) in the position unclamping the conductor or conductors.
10. Modular apparatus provided with a bistable connector as described in the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that it includes an orifice, in its front (F) accessible to the user, permitting access to the means for controlling the relative position of the cage (1) and the terminal (2).
11. Modular apparatus provided with a bistable connector as described in one of claims 5 to 8, characterised by the fact that the terminal (2) is fixed relative to the case (B) of the apparatus, and the cage (1) is moved in translation guided by a housing of the connector formed in the said case (B) and by the terminal (2), the lateral wall (A) of the said case (B) forming one of the walls of the said housing being provided with an orifice (13) the dimension of which parallel with the longitudinal axis of the said wall (A) is close to the distance separating the terminal (2) from the wall of the cage (1) in the position unclamping the conductor or conductors, the end piece (8a) of the control mechanism (8, 12) not rigidly attached to the cage (1) being fixed to the case (B) of the apparatus, which guides the said mechanism upon expansion.

Images