EP2849287B1 - Electric connection device of at least one conductor in a terminal belonging to an electric apparatus - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a device for electrical connection of at least one electrical conductor in a terminal belonging to an electrical appliance, said connecting device comprising a stirrup-shaped part, said part comprising at least one orifice intended to receive an electrical conductor of such so that this conductor is in electrical contact with one of the connection areas of the device, and associated with the or each orifice, a spring bearing by one of its ends on a so-called fixed first portion of the range of connecting the device and at its other end to a so-called second fixed portion of the connection pad, at least in the rest position of the spring, and means for actuating the stirrup adapted to move the latter between a first position wherein said caliper compresses the spring so as to allow removal of the conductor from the aforementioned hole of the terminal, and a second position in which the pressure exerted by the stirrup on the spring is released, this second position allowing the introduction of a conductor, the latter being elastically retained in the terminal between the so-called second fixed portion of the connection range of the device and said spring.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

Three types of connection terminals are known at the present time, namely the screw-type connection terminals, the quick-connect type connection terminals and the self-stripping terminals.

The screw terminals allow the connection of one or two wires in the same terminal, but do not constitute a means of quick connection.

The quick-type connection terminals use one or more springs to lock the wire in the connected position. Several methods can be used to release the conductor by compressing the spring. These terminals use to compress the spring is a screwdriver, a sliding lever, a rotary lever cam or others, etc .... The document US2011 / 0207361 discloses an electrical connection device according to the preamble of claim 1, using a connection terminal equipped with a cam to compress the spring.

These connection terminals of the fast type have the disadvantage that they do not allow two conductors to be connected at the same time, and that it is then necessary to use two separate terminals which must be actuated separately.

In most cases, these quick-connect type terminals are arranged side by side and have their own conductor release devices.

However, in the case where the terminals need to be aligned one behind the other, that is to say in a direction perpendicular to the plane of attachment of the apparatus, it is necessary to have a means of maneuvering unique.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves these disadvantages and proposes a fast type electrical connection device of simple design, compatible with auxiliary devices usually connected by means of screws.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connection device that can be used to quickly connect or disconnect either one or two or more than two conductors quickly and simultaneously.

The invention also relates to a connection terminal comprising such a device, and an electrical protection device comprising at least one such terminal.

For this purpose, the present invention relates to a device for electrical connection of at least one electrical conductor in a terminal belonging to an electrical protection device, as defined in claim 1. In such a device, among others, the or each said spring comprises a spring blade supported by one of said first of its free end portions, on the so-called first fixed portion of the connection area of the apparatus, and by its second free end portion, the absence of conductors in the terminal, on the so-called second fixed portion of the connection pad, this second free end portion being also intended to be brought into elastic support on the conductor when it is inserted into the orifice corresponding, after the displacement of the aforementioned actuating means in the second position, so as to retain the conductor inside the terminal.

Thanks to these characteristics, a fast coupling device of simple design is obtained.

According to a particular preferred feature, the aforesaid caliper comprises two housings each for receiving a conductor and each associated with a spring, the activation of the actuating means for actuating the two springs at the same time.

Thanks to these characteristics, the connection is made of one or two conductors at the same time, quickly. It is thus possible to keep all the elastic systems open so as to be able to restart the auxiliary, which has at least two conductors, easily and quickly, because it is possible to remove all the conductors at the same time.

According to a particular preferred feature, the two aforementioned insertion orifices are aligned in a direction extending substantially perpendicular to the attachment plane of the apparatus on a mounting bracket. This arrangement is particularly suitable for connecting an auxiliary device such as a differential protection device.

According to another preferred feature, the aforesaid bracket is slidably mounted between the two aforementioned positions relative to the housing of the apparatus.

Advantageously, the aforementioned actuating means comprise a cam lever.

According to another preferred characteristic, said stirrup has a portion forming a U and comprising a base and two flanges, said flanges extending substantially perpendicularly to said base, said base cooperating with said actuating means, and each flange comprising at least one notch allowing the inward folding of the apparatus of a portion of said flange so that this portion constitutes a folded portion forming a bearing surface capable of cooperating with the second end portion of said blade aforementioned spring when activating the actuating means.

According to another preferred feature, the above-mentioned stirrup has two notches located respectively on the free end edge of the flange and on one of the lateral edges of said flange, in the middle of its length, said notches being intended to form two folded portions. intended to cooperate respectively with two so-called second end portions of two spring blades respectively associated with two insertion holes of a conductor.

In the device according to the invention, the or each spring is substantially shaped in S or U.

The present invention also relates to an electrical connection terminal for an electrical protection device comprising a connection device comprising the previously mentioned features taken alone or in combination.

The present invention further relates to a low voltage electrical protection device comprising at least one terminal having the above-mentioned characteristics taken alone or in combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• La figure 1 est une vue partielle en plan d'un appareil de protection électrique équipé d'un dispositif de raccordement selon une réalisation particulière préférée de l'invention, ledit dispositif étant en position fermée permettant l'insertion de deux conducteurs,
• La figure 2 est une vue similaire à la figure précédente, le dispositif de raccordement étant en position ouverte autorisant le retrait des conducteurs,
• La figure 3 est une vue similaire à la précédente, le dispositif de raccordement étant en position ouverte, deux conducteurs ayant été introduits sous les plages de raccordement de l'appareil,
• La figure 4 est une vue similaire à la figure 3, le dispositif de raccordement ayant été amené en position fermée après la mise en place des conducteurs,
• La figure 5 est une vue partielle, en perspective, illustrant le raccordement électrique d'un auxiliaire à un disjoncteur au moyen du dispositif de raccordement selon l'invention, et
• La figure 6 est une vue partielle en perspective illustrant seulement une partie de la borne comportant la cage, les deux lames ressort et la plage de raccordement.

But other advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent in the detailed description which follows and refers to the accompanying drawings given solely by way of example and in which:

• The figure 1 is a partial plan view of an electrical protection apparatus equipped with a connection device according to a particular preferred embodiment of the invention, said device being in the closed position allowing the insertion of two conductors,
• The figure 2 is a view similar to the previous figure, the connection device being in the open position allowing the withdrawal of the conductors,
• The figure 3 is a view similar to the previous one, the connection device being in the open position, two conductors having been introduced under the connection areas of the apparatus,
• The figure 4 is a view similar to the figure 3 , the connecting device having been brought into closed position after the conductors have been put in place,
• The figure 5 is a partial view, in perspective, illustrating the electrical connection of an auxiliary to a circuit breaker by means of the connecting device according to the invention, and
• The figure 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating only a portion of the terminal comprising the cage, the two leaf spring and the connection pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In the figures, there is shown an electrical protection and / or distribution apparatus, in particular a modular circuit breaker D, intended to be fixed on a mounting support such as a rail R. This apparatus is housed in a substantially parallelepiped-shaped housing B comprising a front face 1 having a nose N through which opens an operating lever M of the device, a rear face 2 through which the device is mounted on the rail R, two main faces 3,4 ( figure 5 ) by which the apparatus can be attached to other devices of the same type also mounted on the same support, and two side faces 5 usually positioned above and below the apparatus in a mounting cabinet and provided with means allowing the unit to be connected to a distribution network or to other electrical devices.

Thus, the conductors 34 internal to the device open into housings 16,17 provided in the housing of the device and are accessible through orifices 9,10 in which can be inserted external conductors 11,12. These housings include connection means, allowing the clamping of flexible or rigid cables, or other, to keep them in contact with a portion of the internal conductors of the device to complete the electrical installation. However, it happens that the same terminal of an electrical apparatus requires to be electrically connected to two conductors, for example in the case where the circuit breaker needs to be electrically connected downstream on one side, to a differential auxiliary, and on the other side, another auxiliary of the contactor type pre-wired.

The connecting device according to this preferred embodiment described herein of the invention allows for this double connection (or disconnection) and comprises a stirrup-shaped part 13 slidably mounted relative to the housing of the device and able to be displaced in translation by the intermediate of an actuating means comprising a rotary lever 14 to cam 15. This cam in the open position, is able to maintain the stirrup in the open position through a neutral system. Thus, it is possible to operate the two cams of two juxtaposed terminals and to keep the two stirrups in the open position. This stirrup 13 also comprises two housings 7, 8 intended to receive respectively two conductors, said housings being aligned in a direction extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane P of fixing the apparatus. Inside each of these housings 7,8 is placed a spring blade 18,19 substantially S-shaped, each leaf spring being supported by a 20,21 of its end portions said first, on a fixed part said second 24,31 of the range of connection, and its opposite end portion 22,23, said second, on a so-called first fixed portion 24,31 of the connection range of the device.

For this purpose, the stirrup 13 comprises opposite each of the leaf springs, a notch 25,26 intended to allow the creation of a portion 27,28 folded towards the inside of the apparatus, this portion being intended for come to bear on the so-called first end portion 20,21 of the corresponding leaf spring, so as to allow the compression of the leaf spring by the stirrup.

This stirrup 13 is formed of a base 29 cooperating with the cam 15 of the lever 14 and two flanges 30 extending from the base, each flange 30 having the aforesaid first indentation 25 located on the free edge 32 located at the bottom. end of the flange and a second notch 26 located on one of the 33 side edges of the flange substantially in the middle of its length.

Each of the leaf springs is placed and dimensioned inside the apparatus with respect to the corresponding conductor insertion hole and with respect to the yoke, so that when the cam lever 15 is in position. open position as illustrated in the figures 2 , 3 and 5 the access to the driver introduction ports 9, 10 and to the housings 7, 8 inside the stirrup 13 is released and thus allows either the introduction of the conductors or the withdrawal of said conductors, while when the lever 14 is in the closed position, as illustrated on the figures 1 and 4 these orifices are partially closed off by the first parts 20, 21 of the leaf springs, but nevertheless allow the introduction of the conductors until the conductors are brought into contact with the corresponding ranges of the apparatus, the said conductors being then held firmly between the first end portion 20,21 of the spring blade 18,19 and a so-called second fixed portion 24,31 of the corresponding connection pad.

Thus, in operation, when the lever 14 to cam 15 is in the closed position as illustrated on the figures 1 and 4 , the stirrup is in the high position, that is to say that the stirrup exerts no action on the leaf-springs 18,19, whereas when the lever 14 is in the open position, as illustrated on the figures 2 , 3 and 5 , the stirrup 13 is in the low position and compresses the spring-blades 18, 19 so as to substantially completely release the insertion orifices 9, 10 of the conductors 11, 12, so as to allow their removal or even an introduction of these conductors 11,12, although such an introduction can also be made in the second position of the stirrup corresponding to a closed position of the cam lever 14, as already mentioned above.

When the lever moves from the open position to the closed position, the cam releases the pressure on the leaf springs, which push the caliper upward, that is to say toward the lever.

Thus, according to the invention, a connection device has been made which makes it possible to electrically connect standard auxiliaries with rigid conductors which are usually connected to the terminals of the apparatus by means of a screw system.

As particularly illustrated on the figure 5 it can be seen that the connection device according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to connect a differential auxiliary to a circuit breaker.

The invention makes it possible to connect one or two conductors quickly. The invention also makes it possible to keep all the elastic systems open so as to be able to restart the auxiliary easily and quickly because the invention makes it possible to remove all the conductors at the same time. The invention is advantageously applicable to any apparatus requiring the connection of conductors of small section.

The invention applies in particular to circuit breakers having at least two poles, for example three-pole and four-pole circuit breakers.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated which have been given by way of example.

Thus, the invention also relates to a connection device comprising only an insertion orifice, a spring, etc ..., that is to say adapted to achieve the electrical connection of a single conductor .

Claims (7)

1. Device for electrically connecting at least one electrical lead (11, 12) in a terminal belonging to an electrical appliance (D), said connection device including an element forming a yoke (13), said element including at least one opening (9, 10) intended to receive an electrical lead (11, 12) in such a way that this lead (11, 12) is in electrical contact with one of the connection areas of the appliance, and associated with the or each opening (9, 10), a spring bearing by one of its ends on a so-called first fixed part (24, 31) of the connection area of the appliance and by its other end on a so-called second fixed part (31) of the connection area, in the rest position of the spring, and means (14, 15) for actuating the yoke (13) able to move the latter between a first position in which this yoke (13) compresses the spring by way of a cam (15) in such a way as to allow the removal of the lead (11, 12) from the aforementioned opening (9, 10) of the terminal, and a second position in which the pressure exerted by the yoke (13) on the spring is released, this second position authorizing the introduction of a lead (11, 12), the latter being held elastically in the terminal between the so-called second fixed part (31) of the aforementioned area and said spring, the or each aforementioned spring including a spring leaf (18, 19) bearing in the second position of the yoke (13) by the so-called first (20, 21) of its free end parts, on the aforementioned so-called second fixed part (31) of the area of the appliance, and by its second free end part (22, 23), in the absence of leads in the terminal, on the so-called first fixed part (31, 24) of the area, this first free end part (20, 21) being also intended to be brought to bear elastically on the lead (11, 12) when the latter is introduced into the corresponding opening (9, 10), after the movement of the aforementioned actuating means (14, 15) in the second position, in such a way as to retain this lead (11, 12) inside the terminal, the aforementioned yoke (13) being mounted sliding between the two aforementioned positions with respect to the housing (B) of the appliance, characterized in that the aforementioned actuating means (14, 15) include a lever of cam type, and in that the or each aforementioned spring is formed substantially in the shape of an S or U and interacts with a U-shaped connection area in which it is housed such that, when the lever (14) of cam (15) type is in the open position, access to the openings (9, 10) for introducing the leads (11, 12) inside the yoke (13) is freed, each leaf spring (18, 19) bearing, by the free edge of a so-called first (20, 21) of its end parts, on a portion (27, 28) of the yoke (13), and by the free edge of its opposite so-called second end part (22, 23), on the so-called first fixed part (24, 31) of the corresponding connection area, whereas, when the lever (14) is in the closed position, the leads (11, 12) are then held firmly between the free edge of the first end part (20, 21) of the leaf spring (18, 19) and the so-called second fixed part (31) of the corresponding connection area.
2. Connection device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned yoke (13) includes two seats (7, 8), each intended to receive a lead (11, 12) and each associated with a spring (18, 19), the activation of the actuating means (14, 15) making it possible to actuate the two springs (18, 19) at the same time.
3. Connection device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the two aforementioned introduction openings (9, 10) are aligned in a direction extending substantially perpendicular to the plane (P) of fixing of the appliance (D) on a mounting stand (R).
4. Connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned yoke (13) includes a part forming a U and including a base (29) and two washers (30), said washers (30) extending substantially perpendicular to said base (29), said base co-operating with the aforementioned actuating means (14, 15), and each washer (30) including at least one notch (25, 26) allowing the folding towards the inside of the appliance of a part of said washer in such a way that this part constitutes a folded part forming a bearing surface (27, 28) able to co-operate with the aforementioned second end part (22, 23) of the aforementioned spring leaf (18, 19) upon the activation of the actuating means (14, 15).
5. Connection device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the aforementioned yoke (13) includes two notches (25, 26) situated respectively on the edge of the free end (32) of the washer and on one (33) of the lateral edges of said washer, in the middle of its length, said notches (25, 26) being intended to form two folded portions (27, 28) intended to co-operate respectively with two so-called second end parts (22, 23) of two spring leaves (18, 19) associated respectively with two openings (9, 10) for introducing a lead (11, 12).
6. Electrical connection terminal for an electrical protection appliance, characterized in that it includes a connection device according to any one of the preceding claims.
7. Low-voltage electrical protection appliance, characterized in that it includes at least one electrical connection terminal according to Claim 6.

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