Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R1/00—Details of instruments or arrangements of the types included in groups G01R5/00 - G01R13/00 and G01R31/00
  • G01R1/02—General constructional details
  • G01R1/06—Measuring leads; Measuring probes
  • G01R1/067—Measuring probes
  • G01R1/06788—Hand-held or hand-manipulated probes, e.g. for oscilloscopes or for portable test instruments
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
  • G01R31/50—Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections
  • G01R31/66—Testing of connections, e.g. of plugs or non-disconnectable joints
  • G01R31/68—Testing of releasable connections, e.g. of terminals mounted on a printed circuit board
  • G01R31/69—Testing of releasable connections, e.g. of terminals mounted on a printed circuit board of terminals at the end of a cable or a wire harness; of plugs; of sockets, e.g. wall sockets or power sockets in appliances
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R2201/00—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications
  • H01R2201/20—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications for testing or measuring purposes

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an electrical test socket. It also relates to an apparatus and a system implementing such an outlet.
• Electrical test equipment is used for control and maintenance operations of any electrical, industrial, private or public installation, wherever said installation includes various electrical junction points provided by connection terminals which allow a test socket.
• test sockets consist of contact tips held pressed in contact with the screws or any other metallic test point for connection terminals, in contact with the electrical conductors and accessible without disassembly, generally for perform the electrical verification and measurement operations (voltage, current measurement, detection of open or closed contact, impedance measurement, etc.), which characterize the electrical installations and their operating state.
• connection terminals on which the tests are carried out momentarily may be in particular connection bars (of the “domino” type), or terminal blocks (or connection blocks or any electrical device from which a point of the circuit is accessible); these blocks are generally mounted by simple snap-fastening on rails or fixing profiles.
• connection terminals are of variable shape and size according to their origin and manufacture and according to the nature of the installation circuit.
• This circuit can be a power circuit which distributes the mains voltage to the various pieces of equipment in the installation. It can be a so-called low current circuit intended to convey the command, measurement, control signals, etc. necessary for the operation of the installation.
• test sockets provided with automatic holding means of the clamp type.
• the mechanical means used are complex and costly (production of a mold, assembly operations, etc.).
• no test taking of this type has been developed commercially.
• the document FR 1 600 124 describes a device for the connection and fixing of electrical conductors consisting in bringing two magnetic masses of opposite poles into contact, said masses being coated with a layer of electrically conductive material and wires of connection being connected to said masses.
• the object of the present invention is in particular to propose an automatic maintenance solution which is simple to implement and therefore inexpensive.
• test or measurement is only part of the verification (or diagnostic, control or measurement) operation and needs to be correlated with one or more events caused or likely to occur at another point in the installation, the operator must be in constant contact with a second operator who causes or observes the said event or events.
• operators are then able to analyze the relationship (reaction to the event, coincidence, delay, etc.) between event and change of electrical state on the terminals to conclude their verification , diagnosis or control.
• a first operator holds the contact tips pressed on the screws of two terminals of a connection cabinet of an electrical installation and constantly monitors the dial of his multimeter (or any other measuring device) while waiting the appearance of the expected signal, while a second operator forces the actuation of an actuator (or monitors the indicator light of a detector, or the initiation of a conveyor belt, or the passage of a vehicle, or energizes part of an installation).
• the two operators are then either in direct view or within earshot to exchange their observations or actions, or if they are neither in direct view nor, able to speak easily, equipped with phonic transmitters / receivers necessary for their immediate exchanges (in real time) and the confrontation of their findings.
• the present invention also aims to simplify this type of control operations. It offers a test socket for the connection terminal of an electrical installation comprising:
• At least one contact tip intended to come into contact with a test point of said terminal in contact with the electrical conductors of said electrical installation, said contact tip being adapted to pick up an electrical signal;
• the socket is characterized in that the contact tip is made of soft magnetic metallic material, the automatic holding means comprising a permanent magnet cooperating with said contact tip.
• the permanent magnet cooperates by any of its magnetic poles with the contact tip which is made of soft magnetic material, capable of channeling the magnetic flux of the magnet, in which the magnetic field circulates practically without resistance and transmits the magnet attracting force on any piece of ferrous material such as said test point.
• an existing part of the circuit is used which is not polarized and the holding force is provided by a permanent magnet.
• a permanent magnet There are in particular permanent rare earth magnets whose “strength / volume / weight” ratio is very favorable for carrying out a small volume test taking and easy to implement (they can be roughly molded with the other constituents of the plug in an insulating synthetic material to form the body of the plug).
• the contact is established between a contact tip and an existing part of any circuit of an installation, without having to modify the terminations. Furthermore, as we have seen the polarity of the magnetic circuit is indifferent, this being brought into contact with an existing part of the circuit which is not magnetically polarized. Furthermore, the test socket according to the invention may only support a low current such as those necessary for voltage measurements, continuity detection, etc. According to the invention, moreover, provision should be made for the contact between the contact tip and the screw head to be only punctual since very often the clamping screws have generally undergone multiple mechanical interventions and consequently have roughness.
• the present invention therefore provides a simple and inexpensive solution.
• test socket can be unipolar intended for one terminal, bipolar intended for two juxtaposed or superimposed terminals or multipolar adapted to a greater number of juxtaposed or superimposed connection terminals.
• the operator also advantageously does not need any tool to install and remove the test socket and does not need to cut, even momentarily, the monitored electrical circuit.
• means for preprocessing the signal picked up by the tip (s) of the test socket will be provided in the body of the socket before transporting it to the detection means and / or measurement, thus protecting the signal against the risk of being disturbed by the electromagnetic environment which may prevail in the cabinets the most sensitive signals.
• the box is further provided with transmitter means capable of automatically transmitting to receiver means data representative of the signal received, data representative of the test carried out which may be an electrical measurement value, in which case the apparatus may also include measurement means, crossing of a pre-established lower or upper threshold (voltage amplitude, frequency threshold, etc.), a detection value for closing or opening a monitored electrical circuit, etc. .
• the apparatus may include several test sockets, for example to adapt to the case where the two connection terminals of an electrical circuit to be tested are not juxtaposed.
• the present invention also provides a system comprising on the one hand an apparatus as defined above and, on the other hand, a housing provided with receiving means.
• the representative data transmitted may be translated on the housing by a visual signal, an audible signal, a display of data, or an oral message by speech synthesis which has the advantage of releasing the operator from the obligation to monitor a screen or dial.
• the system may further include means for processing this data, for example analysis means, display means, storage or comparison with prerecorded data.
• the test apparatus comprises removable means for connecting the socket, for example by plugging in. This advantageously makes it possible to use the same switchgear box with different models of test portion.
• the apparatus can also include several connection points to allow simultaneous connection, possibly removable, for several test sockets thus making it possible to carry out the simultaneous test of several electrical circuits whose results are likely to be correlated with one or more events.
• FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of a socket according to the invention, of the unipolar type with double contact tips and characterized by a magnetic flux in closed circuit, and a connection terminal to which it is intended;
• FIG. 2 is a side view along arrow II of Figure 1;
• FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a socket according to the invention characterized by a magnetic flux in open circuit and a connector type "domino" for which it is intended;
• FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a system implementing a test apparatus according to the invention, comprising a test socket according to the invention, this socket being an alternative embodiment of the socket in FIGS. 1 and 2, provided with a single contact tip and removable connection means to said test apparatus;
• - Figure 5 schematically illustrates an application of the system of Figure 4 to an industrial electrical installation;
• FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing an alternative embodiment of the body of the socket for installing offset of several of these sockets on juxtaposed connection terminals;
• FIG. 7 is a top view showing another alternative embodiment of the body of the socket also making it possible to install several of these sockets on juxtaposed connection terminals.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown a single-pole test socket 1 intended to be mounted on a connection terminal 2 installed on a fixing profile 3.
• connection terminal 2 is of the known type comprising two conductors 4a, 4b, each connected to using a fixing screw 5a, 5b, the head 6a, 6b of which is accessible via a conduit 7a, 7b, opening out to the outside of the terminal. Electrical continuity between the screws 5a, 5b is ensured by a conductive tab 5c connecting the rear of said screws. Like the tongue 5c, the screws 6a, 6b are made of ferromagnetic material and their heads constitute electrical test points directly accessible without tools or disassembly operations. Test plug 1 is unipolar.
• the automatic holding means comprise two contact tips 10a, 10b. It has a body 8 made of insulating coating material, of small thickness as seen in the side figure 2 to adapt to the thickness of the connection terminal 2 for which the socket is intended here.
• a permanent magnet 9 In the body 8 of the socket is housed a permanent magnet 9 whose poles are extended by two parallel contact points 11a, 11b, made of soft magnetic material, here ferromagnetic, and forming a horseshoe whose ends 10a, 10b are protruding and each establish a point of contact with one of the screw heads 6a, 6b of the connection terminal 1.
• the ends have a flat surface treated to ensure the best possible contact with said screw heads and also the best magnetic exchange necessary for a good hold.
• Magnetic flux in closed circuit (thanks to the presence of the conductive tab 5c), reinforces the maintenance of the socket on the connection terminal.
• the electrical signal picked up on the contact tips 10a, 10b is conveyed to an output cable 12 via a conductive wire 13 for interconnecting the two contact elements 11a, 11b.
• This conductive wire 13 is itself extended to the output conductor.
• means 14 for pre-processing the electrical signal picked up on the contact tips 10a and 10b consisting of an electronic circuit for protection against the risk of electromagnetic disturbance.
• This circuit consists either of an amplifier or of an impedance adapter, their output signal being emitted at low impedance which is conducive to the transport of the signal to the means for detecting and / or measuring the test equipment, thereby minimizing the risk of electromagnetic disturbance.
• FIG. 3 A second embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. It is a test socket 20 shaped to adapt more particularly to a “domino” type connector 21.
• the screw heads here 22a, 22b are located at the bottom of cylindrical projecting housings 23a, 23b.
• the body 27 of the socket is itself shaped with complementary receiving cavities 24a, 24b in the bottom of which protrude the contact points made of soft magnetic material here 25a, 25b (without protruding cavities) so as to cover the housings 23a, 23b and ensuring contact between the screw heads 22a, 22b and the points 25a and 25b.
• This interlocking contributes in part to maintaining the socket and advantageously also makes it possible to protect users against the risks of electrical contact.
• each contact tip 25a 25b there is a permanent magnet 28a, 28b, said magnets being connected via a strip 29.
• This thus achieves a splitting of the contact points each magnetically connected to a permanent magnet.
• a conducting wire 30a, 30b ensures the electrical continuity between the contact tip 25a, 25b respectively and a receiver housing 31 formed in the body 27 of the socket for receiving a removable connection plug 33 connected to a test apparatus. This advantageously makes it possible to choose and adapt a given socket on the apparatus according to the test to be carried out.
• the test port is characterized here by two so-called “open” magnetic fluxes.
• the domino 21 comprises an inner body 37 defining the space 34 in which the conductive wires are inserted here 35a, 35b cooperating with the clamping screws here 36a, 36b generally produced in an agnetic material.
• the magnets 28a and 28b are chosen so that sufficient and safe mechanical contact as well as reliable electrical contact are ensured.
• the body of the test socket may have thickness variations so that several sockets of this type can be installed on connection terminals juxtaposed on a profile.
• the lower part I ⁇ ⁇ I 3 of the socket P 1 -P 3 has a reduced thickness and corresponding to that of the terminal B 1 -B 3 so that the sockets can be installed alternately on a high test point and a low test point.
• FIG. 7 is shown an alternative embodiment where alternately the rear part Ar or front Av of the socket P1-P3 has a reduced thickness so that the sockets can be installed side by side on test points juxtaposed connection terminals B1-B3 high.
• FIG. 4 shows an example of an embodiment of a test system according to the invention implementing a test apparatus comprising a socket 50 and a transmitter box 61, and a receiver box 80.
• the socket 50 has an alternative embodiment with respect to the socket of FIG. 3: it has only one contact element 51 cooperating with a permanent magnet 52, the projecting point 53 of the element 51 being intended to be put in contact either with the screw 6a or 6b of the connector to be tested, here also forming with said screw and the other ferromagnetic metal parts of the connection terminal a magnetic circuit with open flow.
• This embodiment of a socket with a single contact tip has the advantage of being compatible with a majority of terminal types, regardless of their dimensions and their calibers.
• the socket 50 also includes removable connection means 60 to the housing 61, comprising a receiver housing 62 formed in the body 56 of the socket 50 electrically connected to the contact tip 51 by a conductive wire 46 for example by a solder 47 and connection means 63 of the plug type connected by a cord 64 to the housing 61.
• the transmitter unit 61 comprises, autonomous supply means 66 by battery or electric battery, electronic means 67 for detecting the signal picked up on the contact tip (s) of the connected socket, and transmitter means 68 of a signal representative of said detected signal. Transmission can take place over the air, in which case the housing 61 will include an antenna 69. It can also be of the ultrasonic or infrared type.
• the box 61 can be completed by:
• means of printing 73 of said data means of protection 74 of the means of transmission necessary to guarantee the security of the transmission, by coding or by encryption of the data or signals.
• the receiver unit 80 is autonomous and portable, provided with:
• - autonomous supply means 81 by battery or electric battery, receiver means 82, wireless (in which case supplemented by a receiving antenna 83), ultrasonic or infrared according to the transmitting means of the transmitting unit 61, - means of decoding 84 of the transmitted data,
• means 85 for informing the operator of said transmitted data for example in the form of a visual indication (for example the lighting of a diode or the display of a data), an audible alarm or a oral message generated by voice synthesis.
• the receiver unit 80 can be supplemented by: external display means 81 (switches and display members) necessary for commissioning and related checks, - data processing means 83 comprising in particular memory means containing pre-recorded data which can be used for carrying out comparisons, means for recording the transmitted data, printing means, calculation means, etc.
• FIG. 5 shows the application of the system according to the invention to an electrical installation comprising four stations S1-S4 each provided with a set of connection terminals B1-B4, its own detection members D1-D4 and means d actuation A x -A 4 . Initially, the operator installs one or more P test sockets, single-pole or multi-pole, depending on the type of connection terminal, which he plugs into his test equipment T.
• He energizes the latter, determines the various parameters, for example if a measurement should be made, its type, etc., the transmission frequency, etc.
• the operator can then place himself in another station of the installation, here S 4 , possibly triggering an event using the actuation means A 4 and observing at the same time what is happening locally, for example using the detection member D 4 , and also knowing in real time thanks to the signal received on its receiver unit R what is happening at the level of the test socket (s).
• the data received can then, if necessary, be interpreted, compared, printed, etc. at the receiver unit, using the means described above.
• alternative embodiments are possible, in particular as we have seen with regard to the shape of the socket.
• the apparatus could be implemented with a test port provided with mechanical holding means.
• the apparatus can be more or less sophisticated and include optional means such as data processing means, depending on the applications.
• the system according to the invention can be reduced to a test socket with automatic maintenance connected by an output cord to a apparatus fitted for example with simple means of detection and alarm.

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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ID=8845592

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Family Cites Families (7)

• 2000
  • 2000-01-04 FR FR0000030A patent/FR2803389B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-01-03 AU AU31829/01A patent/AU3182901A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-01-03 EP EP01903858A patent/EP1259828A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-01-03 WO PCT/FR2001/000013 patent/WO2001050140A2/fr not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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