EP1794770B1 - Connector for connecting a cable conductor to a conducting bar or fuse link and terminal box comprising one such connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector (10) which is used to connect a cable conductor (A<sub

Description

The invention relates to a connector for connecting a cable conductor to a fuse knife or a conductive bar knife. The invention also relates to a connection box comprising connectors of this type.

It is known to use connectors for connecting upstream and downstream conductor cables via a fuse or a conductive bar whose knives are respectively engaged in jaws provided on the upstream and downstream connectors. It is known to FR-A-1,359,746 , FR-A-2,817,400 and FR-A-2,848,732 defining in a connector a receiving volume of the end of a cable to be connected, while a clamping screw is provided to press this end against a perforation toothing of the insulating sheath of this cable. These materials are satisfactory in many installation configurations but have certain limitations. Otherwise, US-A-3,259,877 discloses a connector for connecting a cable conductor to a fuse knife or conductor bar, this connector defining a receiving cage of the end of the conductor and a jaw receiving the knife, the cage being adapted to receive the end of the conductor introduced by a first side or a second side of the opposite cage to the first side. The connector comprises a support formed by a plate of electrically conductive material forming a branch of the jaw, while an elastically deformable blade is attached to the plate and constitutes the other branch of the jaw, the plate and the blade defining together the cage.

When these connectors are to be installed in a box in which the upstream and downstream conductors arrive on the same side, specific connectors must be provided for the connection areas of the upstream cables, whereas specific connectors must be provided for the connection areas. downstream cables. This induces the design, manufacture and management of two types of connectors, which is disadvantageous in terms of production cost and imposes on people working on construction sites, the first commissioning of these boxes or during operations. subsequent maintenance, to have different types of connectors. In addition, these connectors dedicated to the upstream and downstream connection areas are relatively complex, which has a negative impact on their cost price.

It is these drawbacks that the invention intends to remedy more particularly by proposing a new connector that can be used interchangeably for connecting an upstream cable or a downstream cable to a fuse or a conductive bar and whose cost manufacturing can be particularly attractive.

In this spirit, the invention relates to a connector for connecting a cable conductor to a fuse knife or conductor bar, this connector defining a receiving cage of the end of the conductor and a receiving jaw of the knife, while the aforesaid cage can receive the conductor end introduced by a first side or a second side of the opposite cage to the first side. This connector can be mounted on the rear wall of a connection box in two distinct positions in which the first side or the second side of the aforementioned reception volume is oriented towards a conductive cable entry zone in such a box. It comprises a support formed by a plate of material electrically conductive forming a branch of the jaw, while an elastically deformable blade is attached to this plate and constitutes the other branch of the jaw The plate and the blade together define the cage, the plate forms a perforation toothing of a insulating sheath surrounding the end of the cable and the blade is secured to the plate, by bolting or crimping, in a transition zone between the cage and the jaw where the blade is in surface abutment on the plate.

Thanks to the invention, it is no longer necessary to provide dedicated connectors for upstream cable conductors or downstream cable conductors, which saves time and simplifies the manufacturing and maintenance of a box connection equipped with such connectors.

According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects, such a connector may incorporate one or more of the features mentioned in claims 2 to 8.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un coffret conforme à l'invention équipé de connecteurs conformes à l'invention avant son installation sur site ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de face du coffret de la figure 1 dont le panneau de fermeture a été retiré et alors que les câbles conducteurs sont en place ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective de deux connecteurs utilisés dans le coffret des figures 1 et 2 pour le raccordement des conducteurs de câble de neutre amont et aval, le barreau conducteur les reliant étant représenté en traits mixtes ;
• la figure 4 est une vue analogue à la figure 3 mais représente les connecteurs dépourvus de leurs enveloppes isolantes respectives ;
• la figure 5 est une vue de face d'un connecteur tel que représenté à la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue de côté dans le sens de la flèche VI à la figure 5 ;
• la figure 7 est une vue à plus grande échelle du détail VII à la figure 1, certains connecteurs ayant été enlevés pour plus de clarté ;
• la figure 8 est une représentation schématique d'un branchement effectué dans le coffret des figures 1 et 2 grâce au connecteur des figures 3 à 6 et
• la figure 9 est une représentation analogue à la figure 8 pour un second branchement pouvant être obtenu avec les connecteurs des figures 3 à 6.

The invention also relates to a box for electrical connection of at least one upstream cable with at least one downstream cable between which is disposed a fuse or a conductive bar. This box is characterized in that it comprises at least two identical connectors as described above, the knives of a fuse or a conductive bar being respectively introduced into the jaws of these connectors, while the end of an upstream cable conductor enters the corresponding receiving cage of the upstream connector through a first side of this first cage and the end of a downstream cable conductor enters the downstream connector cage through the second side of this second cage that belongs to the downstream connector.
Advantageous but non-mandatory characteristics of this box emerge from claims 10 to 13.
The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of an embodiment of a connector and a box in accordance with its principle, given only to by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a box according to the invention equipped with connectors according to the invention prior to its installation on site;
• the figure 2 is a front view of the cabinet of the figure 1 the closure panel has been removed and the conductor cables are in place;
• the figure 3 is a perspective view of two connectors used in the box of figures 1 and 2 for connecting the upstream and downstream neutral cable conductors, the conductive bar connecting them being shown in phantom;
• the figure 4 is a view similar to the figure 3 but represents the connectors devoid of their respective insulating envelopes;
• the figure 5 is a front view of a connector as shown in FIG. figure 4 ;
• the figure 6 is a side view in the direction of arrow VI to the figure 5 ;
• the figure 7 is a larger-scale view of detail VII to the figure 1 some connectors have been removed for clarity;
• the figure 8 is a schematic representation of a connection made in the box of figures 1 and 2 thanks to the connector of Figures 3 to 6 and
• the figure 9 is a representation similar to the figure 8 for a second connection that can be obtained with the connectors of Figures 3 to 6 .

The box 1 represented in figures 1 and 2 is provided for the connection of four conductors A ₁ to A ₄ belonging to an upstream cable A with four conductors B ₁ to B ₄ belonging to a downstream cable B, the conductors A ₁ and B ₁ conveying the neutral, then the conductors A ₂ A ₄ and B ₂ to B ₄ convey the three phases of an electric current. A conductor bar 2 is provided to ensure the continuity of the circuit of the conductors A ₁ and B ₁ , while three fuses 3, 3 'and 3 "are provided to ensure the continuity of the phase conductors circuit The bar 2 and the fuses 3, 3 'and 3''are each provided with knives 21 and 22, respectively 31 and 32, each intended to be engaged in a jaw formed by an upstream or downstream connector.

The connectors 10 used to connect the ends of the conductors to the bar 2 or the fuses 3, 3 'and 3''are mounted in two rows parallel to each other. More specifically, four upstream connectors 10 are arranged in a first row R ₁ located in the upper part of the box 1 parallel to its upper face 101, while four downstream connectors 10 are arranged in a second row R ₂ parallel to the first and located below it.

The connectors used in rows R ₁ and R ₂ are identical. Each connector 10 comprises metal parts visible to Figures 4 to 6 and which comprise a bent plate 11 comprising two generally parallel portions 111 and 112 connected by a zone 113 in which two 90 ° bends are provided, 114 and 115. Another bent zone 116 connects the flat portion 112 to a portion 117 in which a toothing 118 is formed by folding the cut edges of the portion 117.

An elastic blade 12 made of spring steel or of another elastic material is attached to the plate 11 and comprises two generally parallel webs 121 and 122 connected by a web 123 perpendicular to these two webs and parallel to the part 112 of the plate 11. A web 124 parallel to the web 123 is connected by an inclined transition zone 125 to a generally flat portion 126.

The web 121 is engaged under the part 117 of the plate 11, while an opening 127 is provided in the transition curve zone between the webs 121 and 123, this opening 127 making it possible to receive the end 119 of the part 117, which allows a locking of the respective lower portions of the plate 11 and the blade 12 one on the other, the web 121 covering the portion 117.

The web 124 of the blade 11 is in surface abutment on the part 112 of the plate and is immobilized thereon by a bolt 13. Thus, a cage 14 is formed delimited by the parts 112, 117, 123 and 122 of the plates. parts 11 and 12, this cage 14 being intended to receive the end of a cable conductor A ₁ to B ₄ or B ₁ to B ₄ . On the other hand, from the zone 125, the portion 126 of the blade 12 extends at a distance from the portion 111 of the plate 11, these parts 111 and 126 constituting the branches of a jaw 15 for receiving one of the knives 21, 22, 31 or 32.

A clamping screw 16 is mounted in a threaded puncture 122a formed in the web 122. In a variant, the threaded puncture 122a can be replaced by a threaded insert fixed in an orifice passing through the web 122.

Thus, it is possible to introduce into the cage 14 a connector 10 represented in FIG. figure 3 , the end E ₁ of the conductor A ₁ by moving this end in the direction of the arrow F ₁ to Figures 3 and 4 , that is to say by penetrating the internal volume V ₁₄ of the cage 14 by the side C ₁ of this cage visible at the figure 5 , which will be considered in the following as a first side of this cage 14. In the same way, and as represented at the bottom of the figure 3 it is possible to introduce the end E ' ₁ of the conductor B ₁ into the cage 14 of a second connector 10 by the side C ₂ visible for the connector shown in the lower part of the figure 4 and which will be considered in the following as the second side of the cage 14 of the second connector. The insertion movement of the end E ' ₁ into the corresponding cage 14 is represented by the arrow F ₂ Figures 3 and 4 . The C ₂ side of the cage 14 is not visible at the figure 5 .

X _{14 is} the middle axis of the cage 14 of a connector 10. The end of a cable conductor introduced into such a cage 14 extends generally along this axis, regardless of its insertion side.

It is noted X ₁₅ a central longitudinal axis of the jaw 15, that is to say an axis that is oriented knife 21, 22 of the bar 2 or knife 31 or 32 of one of the fuses 3, 3 'or 3 '' introduced into this jaw. The X axes X ₁₄ and X ₁₅ are substantially parallel and offset with respect to each other, in a direction YY 'parallel to the main direction of the rows R ₁ and R ₂ and perpendicular to these axes, a distance d nonzero. This distance corresponds to the offset between the center of the end of a conductor introduced into the cage 14 and the center of a knife introduced into the jaw 15.

As is clear from the Figures 3 and 4 It is possible to mount two connectors 10 substantially aligning their respective jaws 15 so that their axes are coincident respective X ₁₅ but by returning one of the connectors 10 relative to each other, so that the C side ₁ of the jaw 14 of one of these connectors faces the lower portion 103 of the box 1 through which the cables A and B arrive, while the C ₂ side of the cage 14 of the other connector faces this same lower part 103. Such an assembly takes advantage of the fact that it is possible to introduce into the cage 14 of a connector 10 according to the invention the end of a cable conductor by one or the other of its sides C ₁ or C ₂ .

As is clear from the figure 3 , an insulating casing 18 is attached around the metal parts of each connector 10, which allows to isolate them from the outside. The envelope 18 forms, in particular, two sleeves 181 and 182 each defining a zone Z ₁ or Z ₂ for access to the cage 14 of the connector 10. Removable grommets 183 are provided to be mounted on the sleeves 181 and 182 to close the area Z ₁ or Z ₂ which is not used for the connection of a conductor and to define, after having been cut or smashed, a passage of conductor on the side of the zone Z ₁ or Z ₂ used. On the side of the zone Z ₁ or Z _{2 which is} not used, the grommet 183 constitutes a stop when the end of the conductor is driven into the cage 14.

More specifically, the grommet 183 of the connectors of the row R ₁ mounted on their sleeve 182 is kept intact and closes their zone Z ₂ , while the grommet 183 of these connectors is cut to let the end of an upstream conductor A ₁ to A ₄ to their zone Z ₁ . Similarly, the grommets 183 mounted on the sleeves 181 of the connectors 10 of the row R ₂ are kept intact while the grommets mounted on their sleeves 182 are cut to provide a passage for the ends of the downstream conductors B ₁ to B ₄ to their zones Z ₂ .

As is clear from the figure 8 the value of the distance d between the respective central axes of the cages 14 and the jaws 15 makes it possible to separate from one another the respective central axes of the conductors A ₁ and B ₁ connected by the bar 2 by a distance of which the value is equal to twice that of the distance d. Thus, the mounting of the cables C ₁ and C ₁ in the box 1 is facilitated and the risk of errors are reduced.

The casing 18 forms a sole 184 which protrudes laterally with respect to the part of the casing 18 which surrounds the cage 14. This sole 184 is designed to be inserted into a rail 20 fixed to the rear wall 102 of the casing 1 by means of of screws 21 represented only by their centerlines at the figure 7 . The rail 20 defines two rails 22 for receiving the protrusions 184A and 184B of the sole 184 visible respectively on the connectors represented in the upper and lower parts of the figure 3 . Thus, it is possible to put a connector 10 in the box 1 by sliding the parts 184A and 184B of its sole 184 in the slideways 22, in the direction of the arrow F ₃ to the figure 7 .

Each rail 20 is provided with an elastic strip 23 intended to be pressed towards the wall 102 during the introduction of a sole 184 in the direction of the arrow F ₃ , the strip 23 taking up its position shown in FIG. figure 7 by elasticity and thus opposing a movement of the connector 10 in the opposite direction of the arrow F ₃ .

The mounting of the connectors 10 in the box 1 is thus greatly facilitated with respect to the case where connectors must be immobilized by screws on the bottom of a box.

A tab 19 is immobilized by the bolt 13 on the plate 11. The tab 19 comprises two parts 191 and 192 generally perpendicular. The portion 191 is pressed against the portion 111 of the plate 11 by the bolt 13, while the portion 192 is pierced with an orifice 193 traversed by the rod of a screw 194 intended to form a plug or temporary connection interface on the connector 10.

The envelope 18 includes a flip cap 185 which cap the shank of the screw 194 and can be lifted when it is necessary to access it to make a temporary connection.

Alternatively, the bolt 13 may be replaced by other assembly methods, for example crimping.

Thanks to the structure of the connectors of the invention, it is possible to mount them on the end of the conductors A ₁ , B ₁ , A ₂ , B ₂ etc. before immobilizing them on the rear wall 102 of the box 1. The connectors 10 are threaded, by their sides C ₁ or C ₂ , on the ends of the cable conductors according to whether they are upstream conductors or downstream conductors, as indicated above. When a connector has been threaded on a conductor, it is then possible to fix this connector on the wall 102 of the box 1 through the cooperation of the sole 184 and the corresponding rail 20, then to tighten the screw 16 to immobilize the end of the conductor in the cage 14 of the connector in question. The upstream and downstream connectors being in place, it is then possible to insert in their jaws 15 the knives of the conductor bar or fuse.

As is clear from the figure 9 , the connectors according to the invention are also compatible with an installation in which the upstream conductors A ₁ and downstream B ₁ arrive on two opposite sides. In this case, the connectors 10 can be arranged in the same configuration as in the figure 8 , The upstream and downstream conductors A ₁ B ₁ penetrating into the cages 14 from the same side, namely the side C ₁ in the example shown.

Claims (13)

1. Connector for connecting a cable conductor to a fuse knife or conductor bar, wherein:

   - said connector defines a cage (14) for receiving the end of said conductor, and a clamp (15) for receiving said knife,

   - said cage (14) is capable of receiving said end (E₁, E'₁) of the conductor (A₁-A₄, B₁-B₄), said end being introduced via a first side (C₁) or second side (C₂) of said cage opposite said first side,

   - said connector is capable of being fitted on the rear wall (102) of a connection box (1) in two distinct positions, in which said first side (C₁) or said second side (C₂) is oriented towards an entry area (103) for cables (A, B) into said box,

   - said connector includes a support formed by a plate (11) of electrically conductive material, forming a leg (111) of said clamp (15), while an elastically deformable blade (12) is carried on said plate and forms the other leg (126) of said clamp,

   - said plate (11) and said blade (12) together delimit said cage (14),

   - said plate forms toothing (118) for perforating an insulating sheath which surrounds said end of cable (E₁, E'₁), and

   - said blade (12) is positively connected to said plate (11), by bolting or crimping, in a transition area between said cage (14) and said clamp (15) where said blade is supported on the surface (124/112) of said plate.
2. Connector according to Claim 1, characterized in that the median axis (X₁₄) of said cage (14), according to which said end (E₁, E'₁) extends when it is received into the interior volume (V₁₄) of said cage (14), is offset relative to the median axis (X₁₅) of said clamp (15), according to which said knife (21, 22, 31, 32) extends when it is received into said clamp, and which is itself parallel to said median axis of said cage.
3. Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastically deformable blade (12) includes a diaphragm (124) which is supported on the surface of a part (112) of the plate, this diaphragm (124) being connected via an inclined transition area (125) to a part (126), which is overall plane, of the blade which forms one of the legs of said clamp (15).
4. Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (11) includes two parts (111, 112), which are overall parallel, and which are connected via an area (113) in which two 90° bends (114, 115) are provided.
5. Connector according to Claim 4, characterized in that a bent area (116) connects one (112) of the overall parallel parts, which is plane, to a part (117) in which the toothing (118) is made by folding back the cut edges of this part.
6. Connector according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said elastic blade (12) covers part (121/117) of said plate (11), and is provided with an aperture (122a) for the passage of a screw (16) to clamp said end of cable (E₁, E'₁) in place in said cage.
7. Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a lug (19) which defines or supports an interface (194) for temporary connection onto said connector (10), said lug being immobilised on said plate (11) by the means (13) of positive connection of said blade (12) and said plate.
8. Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is equipped with an insulating housing (18) which defines an area (Z₁, Z₂) for access to each of said sides (C₁, C₂) for introducing a conductor end (E₁, E'₁) into said cage (14), a grommet (183) being mounted on said housing at the level (181, 182) of each of said access areas, one of said grommets being capable of sealing the area at the level of which it is mounted.
9. Electrical connection box for at least one upstream cable and at least one downstream cable, between which a fuse or conductor bar is arranged, characterized in that it includes at least two identical connectors (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, the knives (21, 22, 31, 32) of a fuse (3, 3', 3'') or of a conductor bar (2) being respectively introduced into the clamps (15) of said connectors, while the end (E₁) of an upstream cable conductor (A₁-A₄) penetrates into the corresponding cage (14) of the upstream connector (10) via a first side (C₁) of said cage of said upstream connector, and while the end (E'₁) of the corresponding downstream cable connector (B₁-B₄) penetrates into the corresponding cage (14) of the downstream connector via the second side (C₂) of said cage of said downstream connector.
10. Box according to Claim 9, characterized in that the first side (C₁) of the cage (14) of the upstream connector (10) and the second side (C₂) of the cage of the downstream connector are oriented towards the same area (103) for entry of cables into said box (1).
11. Box according to Claim 10, characterized in that the area (103) for entry of cables into said box is its lower area.
12. Box according to any one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the clamps (15) of said upstream and downstream connectors (10) are aligned (X₁₅) according to the longitudinal direction of the fuse (3, 3', 3'') or conductor bar (2) which they receive, and in that said cages (14) of said upstream and downstream connectors are arranged on one side and the other of said clamps, at a distance (d') from each other.
13. Box according to any one of Claims 9 to 12, characterized in that said connectors are provided with a projecting bedplate (184) which is capable of being slid into at least one immobilised slideway on the rear wall (102) of said box (1), an elastic bolt (23) being capable of locking said bedplate into said slideway.

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