EP1351343B1 - Electrical apparatus with a fast electrical connection to the mains, specially for waterproofed lamp holders - Google Patents

Abstract

The electrical wire connector has a sealed container with a connection support (3). The connection support can be placed inside or outside the container and clipped (21) in position. A sealing mechanism (6) traps the passage of fluids from the outside to the inside.

Description

The present invention relates to electrical apparatus requiring for their operating a connection by external electrical wires to a power supply external, comprising a sealed housing inside which is a device electrical device intended to be powered by said external electrical wires, said housing having an opening through which said external power supply via said electrical wires is destined to pass.

With this type of electrical device, it is necessary to open the housing or the envelope of the device in order to connect it, and more particularly the device electrical located inside the housing, the power supply. Indeed, the opening has the function of allowing the electrical wires to pass through the wall of the housing sealed, via a watertight crossing, the electrical connection of the wires being effected on appropriate terminal blocks inside the housing. Once the electrical connection is made, the operator closes the housing of the device which is then functional. The luminaries such a structure and impose an opening or reopening of the housing to make the electrical connection to the network, after being fixed on their support, usually a wall or a ceiling. As a result, the operation of electrical connection requires time, which is repeated many times corresponding to the equipment of a building is far from negligible. Moreover, the operation of opening or reopening the housing may cause risks of deterioration of the connection means of the housing, generally consisting of a fixed shell the support and a translucent basin for the luminaires, the latter being fixed at hull, or risks of faulty sealing of the housing when reassembling it. An electrical appliance of this type is described in EP0905829.

• un support de connexion électrique, lié à ladite ouverture, permettant un raccordement électrique entre un réseau de distribution électrique interne au dit appareil et lesdits fils électriques externes, ledit support de connexion étant mobile entre deux positions,
     une première position, dite de fonctionnement, dans laquelle ledit support de connexion se trouve à l'intérieur dudit boítier étanche, et
     une deuxième position, dite de raccordement électrique, dans laquelle ledit support se trouve au moins en partie à l'extérieur dudit boítier étanche, de manière à permettre notamment une opération de raccordement desdits fils électriques externes d'alimentation au dit appareil,
• des moyens de verrouillage dudit support de connexion dans ladite première position,
• des moyens d'étanchéité permettant d'empêcher le passage d'un fluide de l'extérieur vers l'intérieur dudit boítier via ladite ouverture dans la position de fonctionnement dudit support de connexion.

The present invention proposes to overcome these disadvantages. More specifically, it consists of an electrical apparatus requiring a connection by external electrical wires to an external power supply, comprising a sealed housing inside which there is an electrical device intended to be supplied by said external electrical wires, said housing comprising a opening through which said external power supply via said electrical wires is intended to pass, said electrical apparatus being characterized in that it comprises

• an electrical connection support, connected to said opening, allowing an electrical connection between an electrical distribution network internal to said apparatus and said external electrical wires, said connection support being movable between two positions,
  a first operating position, in which said connection support is inside said sealed housing, and
  a second position, called electrical connection, wherein said support is located at least partly outside said sealed housing, so as to allow such a connection operation of said external power supply son to said apparatus,
• means for locking said connection support in said first position,
• sealing means for preventing the passage of a fluid from the outside to the inside of said housing via said opening in the operating position of said connection support.

The apparatus according to the invention allows an electrical connection thereof to the power supply without opening or dismounting the waterproof case thanks to its mobile connection support, advantageously extractable, which allows a connection, to the outside of the waterproof housing, external electrical wires to the device via the electrical connection support. Once the electrical connection is made, it is sufficient to an operator to place the connection support in its operating position and the lock. The sealing means cooperate with the connection support when it is in the operating position, and advantageously with the locking means, in order to seal the fluid opening in this position, conferring on the the apparatus according to the invention the qualifier fluid-tight and more particularly to liquids.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the apparatus according to the invention comprises means for guiding the displacement of said electrical connection support through said opening, from said first to said second position.

The means for guiding the displacement of the support advantageously allow to facilitate the extraction operation of the support and the maintenance of the support in the second position in which the operator realizes, on the outside of the sealed housing, the connection between the external electrical supply wires and the internal electrical network of the device.

According to another advantageous characteristic, said guide means comprise means for guiding said support in translation in said opening, giving the connection medium mobility similar to that of a drawer.

According to another advantageous characteristic, said sealing means comprise a sealing element adapted to be associated with a part of said support of electrical connection which protrudes outside said sealed housing in said first position of the support, said sealing member forming, when associated with said portion electrical connection bracket, sealing on the power cable external and on said waterproof housing.

Thus, this characteristic allows the operator to achieve a quick seal and easy in the operating position of the connection support, by means of a single element ensuring when it is put in place all the necessary seals.

According to another advantageous characteristic, said locking means further comprise clip attachment means of said connection support in said opening and in the first position.

According to another advantageous characteristic, said fastening means by clip said connection support in said opening and in the first position comprise at least two elastic flexible tabs placed in opposition, capable of engage in said opening so as to define said first position of the support and ensure the fixing of the latter in said first position.

According to another advantageous characteristic, said fastening means by clip said electrical connection support in said opening and in the first position comprise at least one part protruding outside said sealed housing, with a view to allow their input by an operator to release said fastening means by clip and allow said operator a displacement of said electrical connection support of the first to second position.

According to another advantageous characteristic, said sealing element comprises security means cooperating with said clip fixing means for the purpose of secure the locking of said support in the first position.

According to another advantageous characteristic, said electrical connection support comprises a stop capable of limiting its movement to said second position and defining thus said second position of the support.

According to another advantageous characteristic, said opening adopts a section circular and in that said electrical connection support adopts a cylindrical shape of partially circular cross section complementary to the cross section of said opening.

This characteristic allows the apparatus according to the invention to provide a support electrical connection which can be installed in a relatively circular opening small, for example the size of that equipping the known waterproof devices requiring an opening of their housing to make the connection to the power supply, and in which the opening is intended for the passage of electrical supply wires via a grommet or the like.

According to another advantageous characteristic, said connection support comprises a plurality of terminal blocks allowing a wire-to-wire connection between said electrical wires external power supply and said power distribution network internal to said device, respectively.

The present invention is particularly applicable to waterproof luminaires.

La figure 1 est une vue en perspective partielle et en éclaté d'un exemple de mode de réalisation d'un appareil électrique selon l'invention.

La figure 2 est une vue en perspective partielle de l'exemple de la figure 1, le support de connexion étant représenté dans la première position.

La figure 3 est une vue en perspective partielle de l'exemple de la figure 1, le support de connexion étant représenté dans la première position, avec des moyens d'étanchéité en place.

La figure 4 est une vue en perspective partielle de l'exemple de la figure 1, le support de connexion étant représenté dans la première position, avec des moyens d'étanchéité démontés du support et enfilés sur un câble d'alimentation électrique.

La figure 5 est une vue en perspective partielle de l'exemple de la figure 1, le support de connexion étant représenté dans la deuxième position, avec des moyens d'étanchéité démontés du support et le raccordement de l'alimentation électrique réalisé.

La figure 6 est une vue en perspective partielle de l'exemple de la figure 1, le support de connexion étant représenté dans la première position, avec des moyens de d'étanchéité en place et le raccordement de l'alimentation électrique réalisé.

La figure 7 est une vue en coupe longitudinale partielle de l'exemple de la figure 1.

The present invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will become apparent on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment of an electrical appliance according to the invention, accompanied by the appended drawings, an example given for illustrative purposes. non-limiting.

Figure 1 is a partial perspective and exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of an electrical apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the example of FIG. 1, the connection support being represented in the first position.

Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the example of Figure 1, the connection support being shown in the first position, with sealing means in place.

Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the example of Figure 1, the connection support being shown in the first position, with sealing means removed from the support and threaded onto a power supply cable.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the example of FIG. 1, the connection support being represented in the second position, with dismounted sealing means of the support and the connection of the electrical power supply made.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the example of FIG. 1, the connection support being represented in the first position, with sealing means in place and the connection of the power supply made.

FIG. 7 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the example of FIG. 1.

• un support 3 de connexion électrique, apte à être lié à l'ouverture 2, comme représenté sur les figures 2 à 7, permettant un raccordement électrique entre un réseau de distribution électrique 4 interne à l'appareil et les fils électriques externes, le support de connexion 3 étant mobile entre deux positions,
     une première position, dite de fonctionnement, comme représenté sur la figure 2, 3, 4, 6 ou 7, dans laquelle le support de connexion 3 se trouve à l'intérieur du boítier étanche 1, et
     une deuxième position, dite de raccordement électrique, comme représenté sur la figure 5, dans laquelle le support 3 se trouve au moins en partie à l'extérieur du boítier étanche 1, de manière à permettre notamment une opération de raccordement des fils électriques 5 externes d'alimentation à l'appareil,
• des moyens de verrouillage 20 du support 3 de connexion dans la première position,
• des moyens d'étanchéité 6 permettant d'empêcher le passage d'un fluide de l'extérieur vers l'intérieur du boítier 1 via l'ouverture 2 dans la position de fonctionnement du support de connexion.

The electrical apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 requires a connection by external electrical wires to an external power supply, and comprises a housing or sealed envelope 1, partially shown in the figures in order to simplify them, inside which is an electrical device (not shown), for example one or more lamps in the case of a sealed luminaire, intended to be powered by the external electrical wires, the housing 1 having an opening 2 through which the external power supply via the electrical wires is intended to pass. In the figures the housing has been shown only in the vicinity of the opening. The electrical apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 further comprises:

• a support 3 for electrical connection, able to be connected to the opening 2, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, allowing an electrical connection between an electrical distribution network 4 internal to the apparatus and the external electrical wires, the support connection 3 being movable between two positions,
  a first operating position, as shown in FIG. 2, 3, 4, 6 or 7, in which the connection support 3 is inside the watertight housing 1, and
  a second position, called electrical connection, as shown in Figure 5, wherein the support 3 is located at least partly outside the sealed housing 1, so as to allow in particular a connecting operation of the external electrical son 5 power to the device,
• locking means 20 of the connection support 3 in the first position,
• sealing means 6 for preventing the passage of a fluid from the outside to the inside of the housing 1 via the opening 2 in the operating position of the connection support.

It should be noted that FIG. 1 represents the connection support 3 and the housing 1 separately, the connection support 3 being in position to be inserted into the opening 2 of the housing, this following a movement of the support in the direction 7, this insertion operation of the support in the housing via the opening 2 being normally performed at the factory during assembly of the electrical appliance.

Figure 2 illustrates the following step in the factory assembly of the device, the connection support being put in place in the opening 2 of the housing and immobilized in the first position, as will be explained later. In addition, in Figure 2 we have represented the internal electrical distribution network 4 connected to the connection support Electric 3.

Figure 3 illustrates another step of factory assembly of the apparatus consisting of to set up a sealing element 6 on the connection support 3 connected to the opening 2, as will also be explained later.

The apparatus as partially shown in Figure 3 is ready to be placed on a support (not shown), wall or ceiling for example in the case of a luminaire sealed, then to be connected to the power supply wires 5, operations shown in Figures 4 to 6.

Figure 4 shows the electrical apparatus in place on its support (no shown), from which the sealing element 6 has been removed in order to allow the extraction of the connection support out of the housing 1, as will be explained later, and the electrical connection with the power wires 5 which have been shown in Figure 4 adjacent to the connection support.

FIG. 5 illustrates the connection support in its second position, outside the casing 1 waterproof, in which the electrical connection with the supply leads electrical 5 is actually made, as shown in the figure.

FIG. 6 shows the connection support 3 in its operating position, the connection support having been pushed inside the housing after having made the electrical connection to the power supply and the sealing means having been put in place, as shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, the opening 2 adopts, for example, a section circular, corresponding to the opening section generally used for the passage electrical supply wires in an electrical appliance, and the support 3 of electrical connection comprises a main body 11 which adopts the shape of a wall cylindrical 13 of semicircular cross-section complementary to the section transverse opening 2, so that the circular border 8 defining the opening 2 serves advantageously means for guiding the support 3 in translation during its moving from the first to the second position. As shown in the figures, the main body of the support 3 is hollow so that the terminal blocks 9 of the network connection internal power distribution with the external power cables are attached to the semicircular wall of the support and can register in the circular section of passage of the opening 2.

The connection support 3 comprises a plurality of terminal blocks 9 allowing a wire-to-wire connection between the external electrical wires 5 of the external power supply and the power distribution network 4 internal to the device, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5 or 6. The length of the connection support 3 is therefore defined in a manner appropriate according to the number of terminal blocks 9 to be placed on the support 3 according to the network internal electrical distribution and the type of power supply. For example, three terminal blocks 9 are required at least, representing the phase, the neutral, and the earth, for a current household power supply, as shown in the figures.

The connection support 3 advantageously comprises a part 10 suitable for making protruding outside the housing 1 waterproof in the first position of the support 3, as shown in FIG. 2 for example, this part being tubular with a circular section and extending along the longitudinal axis 12 of the cylindrical section of the main body 11 of 3. The junction between the tubular portion 10 and the semicircular wall 13 is performed for example by means of a transverse connecting disc 14, as shown in Figure 1 for example.

The sealing means comprise a sealing element 6 adapted to be associated with the tubular portion of the electrical connection support 3 which protrudes out of the casing 1 sealed in the first position of the support, the sealing element 6 forming, when associated with the part 10 of the electrical connection support 3, a seal on the external power supply cable 14 and the waterproof housing 1, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

The sealing element 6 adopts the shape of a cabochon comprising at a end 15 a hole 16 with a diameter slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the cable power supply 14 so as to ensure fluid tightness between the hole 16 and the cable 14, and at the other end an outer surface 17 in the form of a ring intended to bear on the housing 1 to ensure fluid tightness between the outer surface 17 in the form of a ring and the housing 1 waterproof. The sealing element 6 is made of a flexible waterproof material, for example rubber, elastomer etc. ... Alternatively, the sealing element 6 may be made of a material rigid (not shown) or semi-rigid which can be fixed by clipping on the part tube of the connection support, and having flexible parts in the zones of contact with the power cable and the waterproof housing, intended to ensure watertightness with these. The seal element 6 further comprises a flange 18 circular interior intended to be housed in a complementary groove 19 of the part tubular connection support, to ensure a connection between the support 3 and the sealing element, as shown in Figure 7. The connection of the element 6 with the tubular portion 10 of the connection support 3 is preferably tight as it can thus advantageously double a first sealing provided at the end 15 of the sealing member.

The locking means further comprise clip fastening means 20 of the support 3 of electrical connection in the opening 2 and in the first position of the support or operating position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 especially. The fixing means 20 for clip 20 of the connection support 3 in the opening comprise two elastic flexible tabs 21 placed in opposition, adapted to to engage in the opening 2 so as to define the first position of the support 3 and ensure the fixation of the latter in this first position, as shown on Figures 2 or 7. The tabs 21 extend in the longitudinal extension of the wall semicircular 13 and diametrically opposite, on the side of the tubular portion 10, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, in order to stand on a diameter of the opening 2 and allow the fixing of the support 3 in the opening between stops 22 and 24 placed on the outer surface of each lug 21 facing the edge 8 of the opening. The stops 22 and 24 on each of the legs 21 are spaced a distance of the order of, or slightly less than, the thickness of the wall of the sealed housing 1 so to immobilize this wall between the stops 22 and 24 as shown in FIG. two stops 22 of the two tabs 21 closest to the end thereof, respectively, are provided with a gentle slope 23 intended to allow a deflection each leg 21 under the action of a thrust of the support in the opening 2 made by the operator, until the wall of the sealed housing crosses the stops 22. Then, by elasticity, the legs return to their initial position and the wall comes to a standstill between the stops 22 and 24 of each leg 21. Thus, the connection support 3 is totally bound in the opening 2 of the housing, no degree of freedom between the two parts.

The fastening means 20 for clip 20 of the support 3 for electrical connection in the opening 2 and in the first position have at least one projecting portion 25 outside the sealed housing 1, to allow their input by an operator for release the fixing means by clip and allow the operator a displacement of the support 3 electrical connection from the first to the second position. Indeed, as represented in FIGS. 2 and 7, the tabs 21 extend advantageously beyond the opening 2 to the outside of the housing, so that an operator can, between two of fingers, for example, grasping the two legs and bringing them closer to one another their flexibility in order to release the wall of the housing 1 from the stops 22 and 24 of each leg, and to be able to remove the connection support to the outside of the housing in its second position, as shown in Figure 5, and make the electrical connection in this position.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, the end of the support of connection 3 opposite to that carrying the tubular portion 10 comprises a stop 26 adapted to limit the movement of the support to the second position and thus define this second position of the support, for example by taking support on the wall of the housing 1 waterproof when the support is extracted from the housing in second position. In the example shown, this stop adopts the shape of a half-disc of diameter greater than that of the opening 2 of the housing. Thus, the support 3 is assembled in the housing through the interior of this one. The semicircular wall 13 makes it possible to form a connection in a single degree of freedom in translation of the support, the stop 26 makes it possible to limit this displacement by translation in the direction of the extraction of the support out of the housing, and the flexible tabs 21 allow to limit, via stops 22 and 24, the displacement in translation towards the first position, and further prevent the support 3 from falling into the housing. Note than any other additional stop means (not shown) preventing the support is projected in the sealed housing 1 following a bad maneuver of the operator, can be used, for example a removable stop (not shown) placed behind the stop 26 which would be put in place after the insertion of the support 3 in the opening 2.

The sealing element 6 further comprises safety means 27 cooperating with the clip fixing means 20 for securing the locking of the support 3 in the first position, as shown in Figure 7. These security means adopt in the example the form of a tubular ring 28 longitudinal capable of surrounding the tubular portion 10 of the support 3, and come to be housed when the sealing element 6 is inserted around the tubular portion 10 of the support, between the latter and the flexible tabs 21 of the support to prevent the legs 21 from being released from the wall of the casing inadvertently once the support 3 is in its first position, and when the sealing element 6 is in place on the tubular part of the support, as represented in FIG. 7. Thus, a secure link is obtained which avoids any release accidental connection of the connection support, either during shocks against the power supply, or when placing the sealing element on the connection support. For the latter effect, it will be ensured that the tabs 21 are locked under the effect of the tubular ring 28 before the sealing element 6 is in position to be fixed on the tubular part of the connection support, that is to say that the tubular ring 28 must be long enough for being inserted between the legs 21 and the tubular portion 10 before the flange circular 18 is in position to enter the groove 19.

The tubular portion 10 of the support is advantageously provided with a chamfer 29 ending with a rounded 30 to facilitate the crossing of the end of this tubular part by the ring 28 of the sealing element 6, and also by the flange circular 18.

• l'appareil peut être toute sorte d'appareil électrique étanche, par exemple un luminaire étanche ;
• le support de connexion 3 est inséré dans l'ouverture 2 du boítier 1 étanche par l'intérieur du boítier, et immobilisé dans la première position, lors de l'assemblage en usine de l'appareil ; avant ou après cette opération, le réseau de distribution électrique interne est connecté sur les borniers 9 du support 3 ; ces opérations étant illustrées sur les figures 1 et 2 ;
• toujours en usine, l'élément d'étanchéité est mis en place sur le support de connexion, de manière à sécuriser avantageusement l'immobilisation du support dans la première position ; opération illustrée sur la figure 3 ;
• l'appareil électrique est ensuite installé sur chantier et fixé à l'emplacement de fonctionnement auquel il est destiné ;
• afin de réaliser le raccordement électrique de l'appareil électrique au réseau d'alimentation, l'élément d'étanchéité 6 est retiré afin d'être enfilé sur le câble d'alimentation électrique 14 ; les fils électriques 5 d'alimentation sont dégagés de la gaine de câble et dénudés à leurs extrémités respectives ; ces opérations étant illustrées sur la figure 4 ;
• le support de connexion est ensuite extrait du boítier pour être placé dans la deuxième position, par l'opérateur qui pour se faire pince les pattes flexibles 21, et tire via ces dernières sur le support 3 jusqu'à ce qu'il arrive en butée, c'est à dire dans la deuxième position dite de raccordement électrique, le support se déplaçant à la manière d'un tiroir guidé dans l'ouverture 2 du boítier ; les fils électriques 5 et le câbles 14 sont enfilés dans la partie tubulaire 10 du support et les fils électriques 5 aisément raccordés à leurs borniers respectifs situés maintenant hors du boítier étanche ; ces opérations étant illustrées sur la figure 5 ;
• le support 3 de connexion est ensuite repoussé à l'intérieur du boítier par l'opérateur jusqu'à ce que les pattes flexibles 21 soient en prise sur la paroi du boítier entre les butées 22 et 24, c'est à dire que le support soit dans sa première position, dite de fonctionnement, puis l'élément d'étanchéité 6 est glissé le long du câble électrique 14 jusqu'à ce qu'il soit mis en place sur la partie tubulaire 10 du support 3, comme représenté sur les figures 6 et 7, les étanchéités aux fluides étant alors réalisées entre les jonctions de l'élément d'étanchéité avec d'une part le câble électrique 14 et d'autre part la paroi du boítier 1 étanche.

The electrical apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is mounted, installed and connected in the following manner:

• the apparatus can be any kind of sealed electrical apparatus, for example a waterproof luminaire;
• the connection support 3 is inserted into the opening 2 of the housing 1 sealed from the inside of the housing, and immobilized in the first position, during assembly at the factory of the apparatus; before or after this operation, the internal electrical distribution network is connected to the terminal blocks 9 of the support 3; these operations being illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;
• always at the factory, the sealing element is put in place on the connection support, so as to advantageously secure the immobilization of the support in the first position; operation illustrated in Figure 3;
• the electrical appliance is then installed on site and attached to the operating site for which it is intended;
• in order to make the electrical connection of the electrical appliance to the supply network, the sealing element 6 is removed in order to be threaded onto the power supply cable 14; the power wires 5 are disengaged from the cable sheath and stripped at their respective ends; these operations being illustrated in Figure 4;
• the connection support is then extracted from the housing to be placed in the second position, by the operator who to pinch the flexible tabs 21, and pulls via the latter on the support 3 until it comes to a stop , ie in the second so-called electrical connection position, the support moving in the manner of a drawer guided in the opening 2 of the housing; the electrical son 5 and the cable 14 are threaded into the tubular portion 10 of the support and the electrical son 5 easily connected to their respective terminal boards now out of the sealed housing; these operations being illustrated in Figure 5;
• the connection support 3 is then pushed inside the housing by the operator until the flexible tabs 21 are engaged on the wall of the housing between the stops 22 and 24, that is to say that the support either in its first position, said operating, then the sealing member 6 is slid along the electric cable 14 until it is placed on the tubular portion 10 of the support 3, as shown on the FIGS. 6 and 7, the fluid seals being then made between the junctions of the sealing element with firstly the electric cable 14 and secondly the wall of the sealed housing 1.

The operation of electrical connection of the apparatus according to the invention has been performed without opening the device.

It should be noted that the apparatus according to the invention can be disconnected from the network external power supply by the reverse operations of those described above, ie also without opening the device.

Claims (12)

1. Electrical apparatus necessitating a connection through external electrical wires (5) to an external electrical supply, said apparatus comprising a sealed housing (1) inside which is situated an electrical device which is intended to be supplied by said external electrical wires, said housing including an aperture (2) through which said external electrical supply via said electrical wires is intended to pass, said electrical apparatus being characterised in that it comprises:

   an electrical connection support (3), which is capable of being connected to said aperture and permits an electrical connection between an electrical distribution network (4) internal to said apparatus and said external electrical wires, said connection support being displaceable between two positions,
      a first position, called an operative position, in which said connection support is situated inside said sealed housing, and
      a second position, called an electrical connection position, in which said support is situated at least partially outside said sealed housing, so as to permit, more especially, a connection operation between said external electrical supply wires and said apparatus,

   locking means (20) for locking said connection support in said first position, and

   sealing means (6) which permit a fluid to be prevented from passing from the exterior to the interior of said housing via said aperture in the operative position of said connection support.
2. Electrical apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises guide means (8) for the displacement of said electrical connection support (3) through said aperture (2), from said first position to said second position.
3. Electrical apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that said guide means comprise guide means (8) for moving said support in said aperture (2).
4. Electrical apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said sealing means comprise a sealing element (6), which is capable of being associated with a portion (10) of said electrical connection support (3), which protrudes to the outside of said sealed housing (1) in said first position of the support, said sealing element forming, when it is associated with said portion of the electrical connection support, a watertight seal on the external electrical supply cable (14) and on said sealed housing.
5. Electrical apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that said locking means comprise clip fixing means (20) for securing said electrical connection support (3) in said aperture (2) and in the first position.
6. Electrical apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that said clip fixing means (20) for securing said connection support in said aperture (2) and in the first position comprise at least two resilient flexible tabs (21), which are placed in opposition and are capable of being retained in said aperture so as to define said first position of the support and to ensure the fixing of said support in this said first position.
7. Electrical apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that said clip fixing means (20) for securing said electrical connection support in said aperture and in the first position include at least one portion (25), which protrudes to the outside of said sealed housing (1), so as to permit their being grasped by an operator to free said clip fixing means and to permit said operator to effect a displacement of said electrical connection support (3) from the first position to the second position.
8. Electrical apparatus according to claim 4 and any of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that said sealing element (6) comprises securing means (27), which co-operate with said clip fixing means (20) with a view to securing the locking of said support (3) in the first position.
9. Electrical apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that said electrical connection support (3) comprises a stop member (26), which is capable of limiting its displacement to said second position and thus defining said second position of the support.
10. Electrical apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that said aperture (2) assumes a circular cross-section, and in that said electrical connection support (3) assumes a cylindrical configuration of a partially circular cross-section complementary to the cross-section of said aperture.
11. Electrical apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that said connection support (3) comprises a plurality of terminal holders (9), which permit a wire-to-wire connection between said external electrical wires (5) from the external electrical supply and said electrical distribution network internal to said apparatus, respectively.
12. Use of an electrical apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 11 for sealed light fittings.

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