EP1560301B1 - Electrical connection terminal and application in an electrical socket - Google Patents

Abstract

The terminal has a socket (22) for electrical connection along a direction (A) of a prong of an electrical apparatus. A female connector (11) receives, along a direction (B) opposite and not parallel to the direction (A), an electric supply conductor. A housing receives through an input opening a conducting terminal end (41) of an accessory device (4) along a direction (C) parallel and opposite to the direction (A). An independent claim is also included for a utilization of an electric connection terminal in an electric current transmission apparatus.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of connectors for power supply apparatus of the kind switches or socket-outlets. The invention more particularly relates to an electrical connection terminal and its use in such devices.

Many accessory electronic devices are known, for example for protecting the effects of lightning on electrical appliances, for varying current intensity for light intensity variation applications or for the speed of electric motors (fans, drills). These electronic devices are now sufficiently powerful and miniaturized to be relocated from the distribution board to dedicated points of use, whether they are control points by switch or distribution points by socket . Thus, for protection of the effects of lightning, a socket outlet dedicated to powering a computer equipment in an office or a room can be equipped with a device known as surge arrester, arranged in the immediate vicinity of the base fixed in a box. Similarly, these devices may be equipped with a so-called dimmer device for varying the luminous intensity of the luminaire of a bedroom or living room via a socket outlet or a dedicated switch.

These devices naturally have their own connection points that should be connected to switchgear power supply devices or socket outlet. There is therefore a need to connect in a most simple way these accessory devices to the power supply equipment.

In the prior art, the connection terminals of the power supply devices are generally not well adapted to accept this connection supplement.

This is particularly the case of connection terminals called without screws, which involve, for the maintenance of the conductor and provide electrical continuity, elastic metal means and not a screw. A screwless terminal is thus generally constituted by a metal cage in which is housed another elastic metal element V-shaped or U whose function is to hold by pinching the core of the power supply conductor to be connected, against the one of the internal faces of the cage.

In order to ensure sufficient guiding of the driver's core when it is introduced into the cage, a cradle is generally designed to increase the number of generators in contact with the core of the power supply conductor and thus to avoid it escapes laterally under the stress of the elastic element.

The socket-outlets widely encountered in the housings generally comprise at least two electric poles, or two electric poles and one pole for connection to the ground. Thus, a socket socket may comprise two or three electrical connection terminals, depending on whether it is a base with or without an earthing contact. In the case where said base is provided with screwless terminals which can each accommodate two power supply conductors, the connection possibilities are therefore limited to two conductors and it is not possible to connect a third driver if the need is makes you feel.

In addition, it can not reasonably be envisaged to add a third cradle juxtaposed to the first two in a screwless terminal because the congestion of the terminal thus designed would become problematic for application in a socket socket for home use which would become very bulky.

It is thus known from EP 0 654 864 a device for electrical installation of modular construction and for plugging additional modules. Such modules can be connected to a socket, a switch or a button for example. The resulting assembly requires a bulky volume that limits the domestic use of this type of device.

The present invention therefore aims to remove one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art by defining a connection terminal electrical connector providing additional electrical connection for connecting an accessory device to the electrical equipment.

To this end, the invention relates to an electrical connection terminal, of the screwless type and connectable to a power supply source, comprising at least one connecting cage of conductive material including a cell provided for the electrical connection according to a first orientation a pin of a plug of an electrical appliance to be powered and at least one socket for receiving, in a second opposite orientation and not parallel to said first orientation, a power supply conductor, characterized in that a housing is provided in said cage to allow electrical connection of an accessory device, the housing being adapted to receive by an inlet port a conductive tip of an accessory device in a third orientation parallel and opposite direction to the first orientation .

According to another feature of the invention, said housing is positioned adjacently between the cell and two female electrical power receptacles arranged in parallel manner so as to reduce the size of the connection cage.

The invention thus makes it possible to connect an additional accessory device without unduly increasing the size of the equipment, while simplifying such a connection.

According to another particularity of the invention, first elastic clamping means are provided in said socket for retaining a power supply conductor, the housing being constituted by an at least partly cylindrical cavity provided with second elastic clamping means provided to retain a conductive tip of an accessory device.

According to another feature, the connection cage is metallic, while the first and second clamping means consist of a one-piece elastic metal piece.

According to another feature, said elastic metal piece comprises a "U" profile and a first end divided into at least two portions, each of the portions being adapted to bear, in a socket, on a power supply conductor.

According to another feature, the elastic metal piece is secured to the connection cage and disposed between the housing and the sockets so as to ensure the simultaneous pinching and independent of each power supply conductor and the conductive tip of a accessory device.

According to another feature, the housing and the cell form parallel cavities whose axes are included in a median plane to a pair of female power supply sockets.

According to another feature, the connection cage has a determined thickness substantially equal to the depth of the cell and the depth of the housing.

According to another feature, the connecting cage comprises a central surface extending on each side by so-called lateral wings folded at 90 ° with respect to the central surface and at the center between the wings by a tongue both perpendicular to the surface and perpendicular to the wings, the housing being delimited between a groove formed in the tongue and the second resilient clamping means.

Another object of the present invention is to use the connection terminal in power supply equipment.

For this purpose it is advantageously proposed a use of the electrical connection terminal according to the invention, characterized in that at least two of said electrical connection terminals are incorporated in a socket-type system socket.

According to another feature, two of the electrical connection terminals are disposed adjacently in a socket-outlet socket. current to have aligned housing adapted to receive at the rear of said base of the connection points of an electronic device accessory to the electrical equipment, while allowing the introduction to the front of the base of a plug of a electrical apparatus to be fed into the respective cells of the terminals.

• la figure 1 montre selon une coupe longitudinale un socle de prise de courant muni des bornes de connexion selon l'invention et un dispositif accessoire connecté à l'arrière dudit socle ;
• la figure 2 représente une vue en perspective de l'arrière du socle de prise de courant et un dispositif accessoire pouvant se connecter sur l'arrière ;
• la figure 3 représente une vue analogue à celle de la figure 1, le socle et le dispositif accessoire n'étant pas connectés ;
• la figure 4 montre un agrandissement de l'intérieur de la cage de connexion avec le profil de la pièce métallique élastique prévue pour retenir les conducteurs introduits par l'arrière ;
• la figure 5 représente une vue en perspective d'une borne de connexion sans vis selon l'invention ;
• la figure 6 montre un socle de prise de courant muni de ses bornes et un dispositif accessoire, selon une coupe perpendiculaire à celle de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 7 représente une vue de face d'un socle prise de courant pouvant incorporer deux bornes de connexion selon l'invention.

The invention, with its features and advantages, will emerge more clearly on reading the description given with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting examples in which:

• Figure 1 shows in longitudinal section a socket base provided with connection terminals according to the invention and an accessory device connected to the rear of said base;
• Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the rear of the socket outlet and an accessory device that can be connected to the rear;
• Figure 3 shows a view similar to that of Figure 1, the base and the accessory device are not connected;
• Figure 4 shows an enlargement of the interior of the connection cage with the profile of the elastic metal piece provided to retain the conductors introduced from the rear;
• FIG. 5 represents a perspective view of a screwless connection terminal according to the invention;
• Figure 6 shows a socket outlet with its terminals and an accessory device, in a section perpendicular to that of Figure 1;
• FIG. 7 represents a front view of a plug socket able to incorporate two connection terminals according to the invention.

The type of screwless terminal contemplated in the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The screwless type electrical connection terminal (1) comprises, as shown in FIG. 5, a connection cage (2) allowing a plurality of connections. The connection cage (2), made of conductive material, has one or more sockets (11) each adapted to the connection of a power supply conductor. Two female sockets (11) can be provided to enable the transposition in the direction (B) shown in FIG. 4 to be performed. From a normative point of view, it is indeed necessary to be able to connect at least two conductors to an electrical connection terminal (1) as shown in Figure 5, to achieve what is common to call in the electrical language, a subculture. These conductors are connected for example on the rear part of the terminal (1), the front part of the terminal (1) comprising a cell (22) provided for the electrical connection of a pin of a plug of an electrical appliance. to supply, according to the direction (A) as shown in Figure 5. The electrical connection terminal (1) is of the plug-in type, used in electrical power transmission equipment and connectable to a power source.

It is recalled here that the subconnection allows for example the connection of first conductors from the power supply to the terminals of a first socket base, while second conductors are then connected to the terminals of the first base to allow power supply. a second base. The subcapping operation consists, for example, in connecting the terminals of socket-outlets in series, the operation being able to be repeated practically as much as necessary. Transplanting thus has the advantage of being able to connect several bases on the same electric circuit, without having to supply each base individually with a separate circuit.

In the embodiment of Figure 5, the terminal (1) without screws, to perform such a transplanting, and comprises two female sockets (11) formed by cradles (23) arranged in parallel. This type of electrical connection terminal (1), intended for transplanting, is particularly practical for ease of wiring and congestion of said terminal in the socket outlet.

The invention will now be described more specifically with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

As shown in FIG. 1, the connection cage (2) of the terminal (1) according to the invention includes a specific housing (12) located between the location of the cell (22) and at least one socket (11). Preferably, two female sockets (11) are arranged in parallel position adjacent an edge of the connection cage (2), as illustrated in FIG. 2. In a preferred embodiment, the housing (12) comprises a inlet port (24, Figure 5) opposite the opening of the cell (22) and allows the electrical connection of an accessory device (4) at the rear of the electrical connection terminal (1).

The cell (22) allows electrical connection of a pin of a plug of an electrical appliance to be fed in a first orientation (A), shown in FIG. 1. The connection cage (2) is for example provided with two sockets (11) each adapted to receive in a second orientation (B) opposite and not parallel to said first orientation (A), a power supply conductor. Each cradle (23) makes it possible to receive and guide a power supply conductor which is inserted on the rear of the terminal (1) and retained by first resilient clamping means (31) provided in said socket (11). ). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the housing (12) is designed to receive, via an inlet (24), a conductive end (41) of an accessory device (4) in a third parallel orientation (C) and opposite direction to the first orientation (A).

The positioning of the housing (12), adjacent to the cell (22) and the two parallel female power supply sockets (11), makes it possible to reduce the size of the connection cage (2). In the embodiment of Figure 5, the housing (12) is constituted a cavity at least partly cylindrical. This cavity is equipped with second resilient clamping means (32) provided for retaining the conductive tip of an accessory device (4). According to the invention it can be advantageously envisaged to incorporate at least two of the electrical connection terminals (1) in a socket-type system (6), as shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7. Two of the terminals electrical connection means (1) are for example arranged adjacently in a socket-outlet socket (6) to have aligned recesses (12) able to receive at the rear of the base (6) connection points of a electronic device accessory to the electrical equipment. As shown in Figure 7, the cells (22) are separated by a determined distance allowing the plugging of the pins of a plug of an electrical device.

The connection of a socket outlet (6), equipped with terminals (1) without screws according to the invention, can be achieved by means of power supply conductors whose end is previously stripped a few millimeters. The core of each conductor can then be introduced into each of the sockets (11) through the orifices (61) corresponding arranged on the back of the base (6). To connect an accessory device (4), the conductive tips (41) of said device (4) are simply introduced into each of the housings (12) of each terminal (1) through the holes (62) arranged on the back of the base (6). ), as shown in Figure 2. The back of the base (6) can instead cover, by a portion forming a bottom (220), the rear end of the cell (22).

According to a preferred embodiment, the spacing between the orifices (24) of the housings (12) corresponds to the spacing between the conductive tips (41) of the accessory device (4), in order to allow easy placement and easy electrical connection. of the accessory device (4) on the base (6). Such an assembly allows the introduction into the respective cells (22) of the terminals (1), that is to say in a conventional manner in front of the base (6), the pins of a plug of a device electric power.

In one embodiment of the invention, the connection cage (2) is metallic and the first and second clamping means (31, 32) consist of a one-piece elastic metal piece (3). An elastic metal piece (3) having a U-shaped profile can be introduced into the connection cage (2), as shown in FIG. 4. This metal piece (3) is elastic to ensure, for example, the independent pinching of each electrical conductor inserted in said terminal (1) against one of the internal faces of the cage (2), whether it be the power supply conductors or conductive tips (41) of an accessory device (4).

The elastic metal piece (3) can be secured to the cage and positioned so that it is easy to introduce each conductor, but it is more difficult to pull it out. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, such a feature is obtained by the characteristic shape of one of the ends (31) of the elastic metal piece (3) which forms a certain angle with the longitudinal axis of the supply conductor electric in place in the cradle (23). This angle is sufficiently acute to facilitate the insertion of the conductor core between said cradle (23) and the end (31) of the elastic piece (3). This acute angle is further favorable to an unpleasant removal of the conductor in the opposite direction of the introduction, due to the pressure exerted by the elasticity of said elastic metal piece (3) on the core of the driver. Auxiliary means not shown, of the push button type, may be arranged to allow unlocking of this end (31) to facilitate the removal of the power supply conductor. In the variants with several female sockets (11) per terminal (1), this first end (31) can be divided into at least two portions. Each of the portions is then designed to bear, in a socket (11), on a power supply conductor. This end (31) may also, in a variant, consist of a single flap-shaped portion distributed over the different female sockets (11).

Referring to Figures 3 to 5, the housing (12) is delimited on one side by a groove formed in a tongue (25) substantially adjacent to the location of the cell (22). This groove is arranged to form a connection cradle (26) for a conductive tip (41) of an accessory device (4) of electrical equipment. The groove can be obtained in the form of a boss on the tongue (25) to facilitate the introduction of the conductive tip (41). Such a conductive tip (41) passes through the cage (2) through the orifice (24) and is held pressed against the cradle (26) by the other end (32) of the elastic metal piece (3). To minimize the bulk of the electrical connection terminal (1), the connection cage (2) has for example a thickness (20) determined substantially equal to the depth of the cell (22) and the depth of the housing ( 12). This thickness (20) can be between 5 and 12 mm.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the female sockets correspond to two grooves (11 a, 11 b) comprising respective notched "V" edges, only one of the notched edges (111 a) being shown. This double notch accommodates the end (31) of the elastic piece (3). The piece (3) may be in the form of an elastic blade for locking a stripped conductor, for example by means of an end flap positioned at the notch. The other end (32) of the metal part (3) has for example a shape of C and is clamped against the inner wall (260) of the connection cradle (26) the conductive end (41) of the accessory device (4). ) to connect.

With reference to FIG. 5, the housing (12) and the cell (22) form parallel cavities whose axes (51, 52) are included in a median plane to the pair of electrical power sockets (11). . The parallel axes (50) of the cradles (23) are therefore distributed symmetrically with respect to the housing (12) and to the cell (22). In the embodiment of Figure 5, the metal cage (2) comprises a central surface (27) extending on each side by wings (21a, 21b) said side folded at 90 ° relative to the central surface (27). At first end of the cage (2), each of the wings (21a, 21b) is extended by a loop returning inwardly and axis perpendicular to the central surface (27). The end of each loop (211a, 211b) ends with a concavity (212a, 212b) forming with the concavity of the loop on the opposite side the cell (22). The central surface (27) is extended centrally between the wings (21a, 21b) by the tongue (25) which is both perpendicular to the surface (27) and perpendicular to the wings (21a, 21b). The elastic metal piece (3), as shown in FIG. 4, can be held in the cage (2) by leaning both on the central surface (27) and on the inner wall (260) of the connection cradle. (26) and on the edges of the grooves (11a, 11b) near the notches.

At the end of the cage (2) opposite the loops (211a, 211b), the wings (21a, 21b) are extended by grooves (11a, 11b) parallel to each other and symmetrical with respect to a median plane of the connection cage (2). The grooves (11a, 11b), forming the power supply sockets (11), are inclined with respect to the axis of symmetry (51) of the cell (22) of a given angle (V), as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

One of the advantages of the invention is to provide a simple and compact supplement connection in a connection terminal, adaptable to many electrical equipment.

It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention allows embodiments in many other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Therefore, the present embodiments should be considered by way of illustration, but may be modified within the scope defined by the scope of the appended claims, and the invention should not be limited to the details given above.

Claims (11)

1. Plug-in electrical connector terminal (1) for electrical equipment for transmitting electrical current, of the type without screw and connectable to a power supply source, comprising at least one connector cage (2) made of conducting material including a cell (22) provided for the electrical connection, in a first orientation (A), of a pin of a plug of an electrical appliance to be supplied and at least one socket (11) for receiving, in a second orientation (B) not parallel to said first orientation (A), a power supply conductor, characterised in that said second orientation (B) is also opposite the first orientation (A) and in that a housing (12) in a position adjacent to the cell (22) is provided in said cage (2) to allow the electrical connection of an accessory device (4), the housing (12) being designed to receive, via an access port (24), a conducting end-fitting (41) of an accessory device (4) in a third orientation (C) parallel and in the opposite direction to the first orientation (A).
2. Electrical connector terminal (1) according to Claim 1, in which said housing (12) is positioned in an adjacent manner between the cell (22) and two power supply sockets (11) arranged in parallel so as to reduce the overall dimensions of the connector cage (2).
3. Electrical connector terminal (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, in which first elastic clamping means (31) are provided in said socket (11) in order to hold a power supply conductor, the housing (12) being constituted by an at least partly cylindrical cavity equipped with second elastic clamping means (32) provided in order to hold a conducting end-fitting of an accessory device (4).
4. Electrical connector terminal (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the connector cage (2) is metal, while the first and second clamping means (31, 32) are constituted by a one-piece elastic metal part (3).
5. Electrical connector terminal (1) according to Claim 4, in which said elastic metal part (3) comprises a "U"-shaped profile and a first end (31) divided into at least two portions, each of the portions being designed in order to bear, in a socket (11), on a power supply conductor.
6. Electrical connector terminal (1) according to Claim 4 or 5, in which the elastic metal part (3) is integral with the connector cage (2) and arranged between the housing (12) and the sockets (11) so as to ensure that each power supply conductor and the conducting end-fitting (41) of an accessory device (4) are pinched simultaneously and independently.
7. Electrical connector terminal (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the housing (12) and the cell (22) form parallel cavities, the axes (51, 52) of which are comprised in a plane median to a pair of power supply sockets (11).
8. Electrical connector terminal (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, in which the connector cage (2) has a given thickness (20) substantially equal to the depth of the cell (22) and to the depth of the housing (12).
9. Electrical connector terminal (1) according to any one of Claims 3 to 8, in which the connector cage (2) comprises a central surface (27) extended at each side by wings (21 a, 21 b) described as lateral bent at 90° to the central surface (27) and to the centre between the wings (21 a, 21 b) by a tab (25) perpendicular at the same time to the surface (27) and to the wings (21 a, 21 b), the housing (12) being delimited between a throat formed in the strip (25) and the second elastic clamping means (32).
10. Use of the electric connector terminal (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that at least two of said electric terminals (1) are incorporated into a system of the socket-outlet base type (6).
11. Use of the electric connector terminal (1) according to Claim 10, in which two of the electric terminals (1) are arranged in an adjacent manner in a socket outlet base (6) in order to have aligned housings (12) suitable for receiving, at the back of said base (6), points for connecting an accessory electronic device to the electrical installation, while allowing the introduction, at the front of the base (6), of a plug of an electrical appliance to be supplied from the cells (22) of the respective terminals (1).

Images