EP3707779A1

EP3707779A1 - Electrical connection device for an electrical apparatus and connection method using said device

Info

Publication number: EP3707779A1
Application number: EP18814865.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roger Dumont
Original assignee: Socomec SA
Current assignee: Socomec SA
Priority date: 2017-12-21
Filing date: 2018-12-04
Publication date: 2020-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-04
Also published as: US20210013635A1; WO2019120978A1; EP3707779B1; CN111542968B; US10892570B1; FR3076098A1; CN111542968A; FR3076098B1

Abstract

The invention concerns an electrical connection device (10) for an electrical apparatus (2), and comprises a connection pad (11) and two attachment flanges (12, 13) arranged on either side of the connection pad (11), the attachment flanges (12, 13) and the connection pad (11) comprising opposing imprints (17) for delimiting four recesses (L1, L2, L3, L4) capable of receiving at most four conductors (C1, C2, C3, C4). Pass-through clamping means, formed by two lateral tie rods (14) and a central rod (15), pass through the assembly constituted by superposition of the attachment flanges (12, 13) and the connection pad (11). The lateral tie rods (14) comprise a support abutment arranged between the connection pad (11) and one of the attachment flanges (12) so that it is possible to differentiate the tightening, recess by recess, facilitating the placing of conductors, said conductors being able to have different diameters.

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE FOR APPARATUS

ELECTRICAL AND CONNECTING METHOD WITH

WORK LEDIT DEVICE

Technical area :

The present invention relates to an electrical connection device for an electrical appliance, this device comprising a connection pad and two fixing flanges, including an upper fixing flange and a lower fixing flange, arranged on each side of the connection pad and arranged for fixing at least one conductor on said connection pad.

The invention also relates to a connection method for electrical apparatus, in which at least one conductor is fixed to a connection pad by means of a fastening flange.

Prior art:

Electrical devices, such as switches, circuit breakers, and the like, have external connection pads, which are coupled to internal electrical contacts. The connection areas leave the housing of said devices by faces, to allow to connect conductors ensuring arrival and departure of current. In a standard way, the connection pads are flat and traversed by a fixing hole. They are supplemented by accessories, or connection kits, in which is fixed the stripped end of said conductors. These accessories are superimposed on said connection areas to be fixed via the through hole. Depending on the power of the electrical appliances, a connection pad may receive a number of conductors greater than one and for example two, four, or six, which may be in the form of single or multi-strand cables of diameters identical or different, or flat busbars. To meet these different connection configurations, the operator must assemble different accessories each adapted to the driver he receives, these different accessories being superimposed in staircase to be fixed on said connection range. This solution requires a sufficient space in the electrical cabinets, on either side of the electrical device to accommodate the connection ranges extended by said accessories stacked staircase. For example, it must provide at least 100mm on each side, a total of at least 200mm per electrical device. In addition, this solution has many disadvantages. The connection of each conductor in these accessories and the mounting of the accessories on each connection range is tedious and takes time considering the number of fastening screws to be tightened. It poses ergonomic problems to access the clamping screws. The clamping force is not the same depending on the type of conductor considered (single-stranded cable, multi-stranded cable, bar). The tightening needs to be checked periodically to compensate for the accidental maladjustment due to the fatigue of the fasteners, and the vibrations generated for example in the event of a short circuit.

The publication JP S50 26388 U proposes a solution making it possible to connect on the same connection pad a main conductor and two bypass conductors parallel to each other, by means of two fixing clamps arranged on either side of the connection pad and each provided with dedicated clamping screws, a total of three screws to tighten for three conductors, which does not solve the whole problem.

The publication US 2016/226159 A1 proposes a versatile solution for connecting two to eight conductors on the same connection pad, by means of two T-clamps arranged on either side of a T-connection pad. , and a single central clamping screw through. This solution is attractive from the point of view of the number of screws to tighten but complicates considerably the installation of the conductors which must be maintained in the connecting device before and during the tightening of the single screw.

The publications CN 206 022 666 U and CN 206 180 132 U describe connection solutions limited in number of conductors, not solving the problem.

To date, there is no ergonomic, user-friendly and versatile solution that can accommodate a wide variety of connection configurations. Presentation of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by proposing a new compact connection device because it offers significant space saving in electrical cabinets, ergonomic, user friendly, easy and quick to implement thanks to the few components to screw, versatile to be able to answer several configurations of connection, multifunction because it makes it possible to add functionalities, reliable and secure because of an automatic compensation of the tightening in the event of fatigue or vibrations. For this purpose, the invention relates to a connecting device of the kind indicated in the preamble, characterized in that each fastening flange comprises two open and parallel indentations, in that said connection pad has on each of its faces two open-ended cavities and parallel, opposed to the fingerprints of said fixing flanges for delimiting between said fingerprints four housings for conductors, including two lower housings and two upper housings, and in that said clamping means are through and arranged to pass through the assembly formed by superposition of the upper fastening flange, the connecting flange and the lower fastening flange, and comprise a bearing abutment disposed between the connecting flange and one of the fastening flanges so said clamping means make it possible to differentiate the clamping between at least the two lower housings and the two upper housings, or conversely.

In a first embodiment, the through clamping means may comprise a single central tie rod. In this case, the fixing flanges and the connection pad comprise a single central through hole disposed between the parallel impressions to receive said single central tie rod, and said single central tie rod comprises said support stop so that said clamping means allow to differentiate the clamping between the two lower housing and the two upper housing.

In a second embodiment, the through clamping means may comprise two lateral tie rods. In this case, the fastening flanges and the connection pad comprise two through-holes arranged outside the parallel cavities, to each receive a lateral tie, and said lateral tie rods each comprise a bearing stop so that said means for tightening makes it possible to differentiate the tightening between the four housings.

The single central tie rod or the lateral tie rods advantageously comprise a shoulder forming said abutment stop disposed between said connection pad and the upper attachment flange. They are preferably threaded at least on two end sections, including an upper section and a lower section, the lower section cooperating with a tapping provided in the lower flange, the upper section cooperating with a clamping nut, and said upper section. having an axial imprint for a tool.

According to the variants, the through clamping means may further comprise a central rod parallel to said lateral tie rods. In this case, the fixing flanges and the connection pad further comprise a third through hole arranged between the parallel impressions to receive said rod. central, and said central rod has a thread at least on a lower end section arranged to cooperate with a thread provided in the lower fastening flange so as to tighten the four housings simultaneously. The tapping provided in the lower fastening flange may advantageously consist of a captive nut housed in a corresponding recess of said lower fastening flange. In this case, the connecting device may comprise a cover fixed to the lower fixing flange for retaining said captive nut. In a preferred embodiment, the connecting device comprises return means arranged between the fixing flanges and the connection pad to keep said housings open when the clamping means are not tight. These return means may comprise two return members disposed around said single central tie rod or said central rod between respectively the connection pad and each of the fastening flanges. They may comprise four return members arranged in pairs around the lateral tie rods respectively between the connection pad and each of the clamps. They may finally comprise a single return member disposed around the central rod between the fastening flanges and freely passing through the connection pad.

Preferably, at least the upper attachment flange comprises a countersink whose depth corresponds at least to the thickness of said bearing abutment or said compressed return member.

According to the configuration variants of the connecting device, the connection pad may consist of a one-piece piece, or of two parts symmetrical with respect to a median plane parallel to the fastening flanges, including an upper piece and a lower piece each comprising two of the four parallel footprints. In this configuration, the connection pad may be arranged to receive between its two parts a flat conductive bar.

To achieve the goal set, the invention also relates to an electrical appliance comprising an electrical connection device as defined above in which the connection pad is an integral part of said electrical appliance.

The object of the invention is then achieved by a connection method, for which a first connecting device is used, the through-clamping means of which comprise a single central tie rod, and in which the following steps are chronologically carried out. connect four conductors:

a first conductor is positioned in one of the lower housings, said first housing,

positioning a second conductor in the other lower housing said second housing,

the single central tie rod is screwed by means of a first tool engaged with the axial recess, to bring the lower fastening flange closer to the connection pad and to clamp only said first and second conductors in said first and second housings ,

a third conductor is positioned in one of the upper housing units, said third housing,

a fourth conductor is positioned in the other upper housing said fourth housing,

the central tie is screwed only by means of a second tool engaged with the clamping nut to bring the upper fastening flange closer to the connection pad and tighten only the third and fourth conductors in said third and fourth housings .

The object of the invention is also achieved by a connection method, for which a second connection device is used, the clamping means of which traverses comprise two lateral tie-rods, and in which the following steps are chronologically performed to connect four conductors:

the lateral tie rod located on the side of the first housing is screwed by means of a first tool engaged with the corresponding axial recess to bring the lower fixing flange closer to the connection area on the side of the said first housing and to tighten only said first conductor in said first housing,

positioning a second conductor in the other lower housing, said second housing,

the lateral tie rod located on the side of the second housing is screwed by means of the said first tool engaged with the corresponding axial cavity to bring the lower fastening flange closer to the connection pad on the side of the said second housing and to tighten only the said second conductor in said second housing,

the lateral tie rod located on the side of the third housing is screwed by means of a second tool engaged with the corresponding clamping nut to bring the upper fastening flange closer to the connection pad on the side of said third housing and tighten only said third conductor in said third housing,

the lateral tie rod located on the side of the fourth housing is screwed by means of the said second tool engaged with the corresponding clamping nut in order to bring the upper fastening flange closer to the connection pad on the side of the said fourth housing and to tighten only the said fourth conductor in said fourth housing. In this case, the connection method can be completed by screwing the central rod with a third tool formed by a torque wrench to simultaneously tighten the four conductors in their housings.

The invention achieves the goals set by the use of the connecting device as defined below to connect a number of conductors greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to six, these conductors may have different diameters between the lower dwellings and the upper dwellings.

This connection device can also be used to connect a busbar. It can also be used as a current distributor.

Brief description of the drawings:

The present invention and its advantages will appear better in the following description of several embodiments given as non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical apparatus equipped on one of its poles with a connection device according to the prior art, and on the other pole with a connection device according to the invention, showing the differences between the two technologies,

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the connection device according to the invention of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a tightening tie rod of the connection device of FIG. 2,

Figures 4 to 11 are perspective views of the connection device of the invention in different connection configurations detailed in the description, and Figures 12 to 17 are views in axial section of the connecting device of the invention showing the different steps of the method of connecting four conductors. Illustrations of the invention and different ways of making it:

In the exemplary embodiments illustrated, the elements or identical parts bear the same reference numbers.

FIG. 1 makes it possible to clearly illustrate the differences in design between a connection device 1 according to the prior art and a connection device 10 according to the invention, and the results obtained in particular in terms of ergonomics for accessing the screws of fixing, user-friendliness as to the number of fastening screws to screw, and congestion in an electrical cabinet (not shown), in accordance with the disadvantages of the state of the art and advantages of the invention described above. These two connection devices 1, 10 are illustrated side by side and each equip a pole P1, P2 of an electrical appliance 2 of the switch type, circuit breaker, or any other electrical device requiring a power supply. They each comprise four housings L1, L2, L3, L3 (jointly or individually L) for connecting four conductors C1, C2, C3, C4 (not shown, referred to jointly or individually C).

The connecting device 1 of the prior art has a flat connection area 3 which comes out of a wall 4 of the housing 5 of the electrical appliance 2, and an accessory 6, in the form of a two-level staircase, attached and attached to the connection area 3 by a fixing screw 7. The accessory 6 comprises four housings L, including two lower housings L1, L2 at the first level which cooperate with two fixing screws 7, and two upper housings L3, L4 at second level which cooperate with two other clamping screws 7. The connection of four conductors C therefore requires to screw five fixing screws 7, the two of the lower level located at the rear of the upper level may be more difficult to access. The connecting device 10 of the invention comprises a connection pad 11 which leaves a wall 4 of the housing 5 of the electrical appliance 2, and two fixing flanges 12, 13, including an upper fixing flange 12 and a lower fixing flange 13, arranged on each side of the connection pad 11 and retained by through clamping means. The terms "upper" and "lower" used in the description are in relation to the vertical position of the device shown in the figures, which is not necessarily the actual position of its use, these terms not to be interpreted in a sense restrictive. In the examples shown, the fastening flanges 12 and 13 consist of identical parts, making it possible to simplify the manufacture, without this exemplary embodiment being limiting. The traversing clamping means comprise, in the example shown, three threaded rods common to the two fastening flanges 12, 13, of which two identical ones called lateral tie rods 14 and a central rod 15, which are parallel, aligned, on the same level and thus easily accessible. The connection of four conductors C therefore requires only the three threaded rods which pass through the entire connection device 10 to be screwed in. Furthermore, and as explained below with reference to FIGS. 12 to 17, the connection device 10 of the The invention is designed to facilitate the connection operation since it makes it possible to differentiate the tightening of the conductors C, housing by housing L, by selectively tightening the two lateral tie rods 14, then the central rod 15. The operator can thus put in place one conductor C after the other, by tightening or at least pre-tightening each conductor C in its housing L before setting up the next, thus reducing the difficulty of the operation. The exemplary embodiment illustrated corresponds to the preferred form of the invention, but is not the only one possible. Indeed, the two lateral tie rods 14, without the central rod 15, or a Single central pull 14 could be sufficient to allow the invention to solve the problem posed.

The electrical connection device 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 to 10 is an equipment part of an electrical appliance 2, while the electrical connection device 120 illustrated in FIG. 11 is used alone, not connected to a electrical apparatus, as a current distributor between for example a power supply network and one or more electrical appliances 2. These examples show the flexibility of use of said device.

Referring more particularly to Figure 2 which corresponds to an exploded connection device 10 according to the invention of Figure 1, the connection pad 11 consists of a single piece connected to the electrical apparatus 2, while the Fastening flanges 12, 13 are removable parts and reported on the connection pad 11. These three parts (connection pads 11 and clamps 12, 13) have a general shape which is part of a rectangular parallelogram, without this form is not limiting, and each comprise three through holes 16, aligned and regularly distributed, preferably smooth holes, to allow the passage of the lateral rods 14 and the central rod 15. These parts have the function of conducting the current and are therefore made of an electrically conductive material, such as, for example, aluminum, copper, an alloy of these materials. The fastening flanges 12, 13 further include on their side facing the connection pad 11 two parallel and outgoing cavities 17, and the connection pad 11 has on each of its faces opposite the fastening flanges 12, 13 same indentations 17 open and parallel opposed to the footprints 17 of the clamps 12, 13 to delimit between each pair of opposite cavities 17 a housing L passing through a conductor C, a total of four housings L1, L2, L3, L4 for four conductors C1, C2, C3, C4, including two upper housings L3, L4 and two lower housings L1, L2 (see Figures 12-17). The number of housing units L Four are provided, which allows a symmetrical distribution up / down, right / left, and a differentiated housing-by-housing clamping as explained below. The length of the housing L corresponds to the depth of the connecting device 10 and defines the clamping length of the conductors C which is standardized for a given tightening torque depending on the type of cable and its material. These cavities 17 have in the example shown a generally semi-cylindrical recessed shape, making it possible to form substantially cylindrical housings L corresponding to the circular section of the majority of the conductors C. Moreover, the diameter of these housings L is self-supporting. adaptable and thus compatible with several diameters of conductors C, since they consist of two opposing half-cylinders whose spacing is adjustable by the clamping means therethrough. The semi-cylindrical shape of the housing L is of course not limiting and extends to any other form compatible with the shape of the conductors C to be connected. The impressions 17 may be coated with a material promoting electrical contact, such as for example silver or the like. The indentations 17 may further comprise a structured surface state to increase their anchoring capacity between the bare metal part of the conductor C and the housing L during tightening in order to prevent the extraction of the conductor C from the housing L by traction . This structured surface state can be achieved by a relief obtained by striations, a grid, pins, or any other design having the same technical effect.

The purpose of the through clamping means is to maintain the clamps 12, 13 on the connection pad 11 on the one hand in a passive position in which the housings L are open and empty (see FIGS. 11 and 12), and secondly in an active position in which the housings L are closed on conductors C with a sufficient clamping force to secure the conductors C to the connecting device 10. This clamping force is normally adjusted to a normalized value, for example using a torque wrench. The lateral rods 14 of the clamping means, an example of which is shown in detail in FIG. 3, comprise a cylindrical rod provided with a shoulder between its lower and upper ends, this shoulder forming a bearing abutment 18 arranged to be arranged. between the connection pad 11 and the upper clamp 12 in the example shown, or between the connection pad 11 and the lower clamp 13 if the lateral rods 14 are inserted into the connecting device 10 from bottom to top . The lateral tie rods 14 are threaded at least on their two end portions, including an upper section 19 and a lower section 20, without this example being limiting, these threads being able to extend as far as the abutment stop 18. The upper section 19 is arranged to cooperate with a clamping nut 21 via a washer 22, which may advantageously be a spring washer Belleville type to automatically compensate for dimensional changes due to thermal expansion. The lower section 20 cooperates with either a tapping provided in the lower flange 13 (not shown) or with a captive nut 23 housed in a corresponding recess 24 (see Fig. 12) of the lower fastening flange 13, in accordance with FIG. example shown. The upper portion 19 further comprises an axial recess 25 arranged to cooperate with a first tool 26 (see Fig. 13), provided for example with a hexagon Allen key-type bit, without this example being limiting. The clamping nut 21 is arranged to cooperate with a second tool 27 (see Fig. 15), provided for example with a hexagon socket, without this example being limiting. Indeed, the shape of the axial recess 25 and that of the clamping nut 21 are not restricted to those shown and can extend to any other form adapted to the tools used.

The central rod 15 of the clamping means (FIG. 2) comprises a cylindrical rod terminated at its upper end by a head 28 which bears on the upper flange 12 via a washer 22, preferably a Belleville type washer, as for the lateral tie rods 14. The head 28 is for example hexagonal to cooperate with a third tool 29, provided with a hexagon socket, without this example is not limiting. It is threaded at least on its lower section 30, without this example being limiting, this thread being able to extend to the head 28. The lower section 30 cooperates with either a tapping provided in the lower flange 13 (not shown) or with a captive nut 23 housed in a recess 24 (see Fig. 12) corresponding to the lower fastening flange 13, as for the lateral tie rods 14.

The connecting device 10 according to the invention further comprises return means disposed between the clamps 12, 13 and the connection pad 11 to automatically maintain the open housing L when the clamping means are not tight (see fig. 1, 8, 10, 11 and 12 to 15), thus facilitating insertion of the conductors L into said housings L. The return means as illustrated in the figures comprise two return members 31, of helical spring type without that this example is not limiting, arranged around the central rod 15 between respectively the connection pad 11 and each of the clamps 12, 13 (Figure 2). The two return members 31 may be replaced by a single return member disposed around the central rod 15 between the two fastening flanges 12, 13, and passing freely through the connection pad 11. They can still be replaced by four return members arranged in pairs around the lateral tie rods 14 respectively between the connection pad 11 and each of the fastening flanges 12, 13. The fastening flanges 12, 13 each comprise three countersinks 32, the depth of which corresponds at least to 1 the thickness of the bearing abutment 18 and the return member 31 compressed to avoid the realization of a hyperstatic assembly that would prevent proper tightening of the conductors C in their housing L. The two countersinks 32 side of the fastening flange 12 are provided to fully accommodate the bearing abutment 18 of the lateral rods 14 when they are screwed and the upper housings L3 and L4 are empty (see fi 4) allowing the upper fastening flange 12 to bear on the connection pad 11. The central countersink 32 of the upper and lower fastening flanges 13 is provided for axially positioning the return member 31 corresponding, and to completely accommodate said return member 31 as well as the abutment 18 when the upper housing L3, L4 are empty. To facilitate the manufacture of parts constituting the connecting device 10 of the invention, reduce the cost and simplify management, the clamps 12, 13 are identical and interchangeable. This is the reason why they have the same recesses 24 and the same counters 32, even if they are not useful according to the position in which they are used. Similarly, the connection pad 11 is symmetrical with respect to a median plane parallel to said clamps 12, 13 to be reversible.

The connecting device 10 also comprises a cover 33 fixed to the lower attachment flange 13 for retaining the captive nuts 23 (FIG. 2). This cover 33 has three smooth through holes 16 in the extension of the through holes 16 of the clamps 12, 13 and the connection pad 11 to receive the end of the lower sections 20, 30 of the lateral rods 14 and the central rod 15 (see Fig. 12). The cover 33 is fixed to the lower fastening flange 13 by two clips 34 in opposition and engaged with an outer flange 35 provided on the corresponding faces of said flange. Of course, any other reversible attachment means may be suitable.

Figures 4 to 11 illustrate some examples of connection configurations permitted by the connecting device 10 of the invention to show the versatility of this device and the possible variations, these examples are not limiting. FIG. 4 shows the connection of two single conductors C1, C2 of the same diameter, in the two lower housings L1, L2, leaving the upper housings L3, L4 vacant. This configuration shows that after tightening the lateral tie rods 14 and the central rod 15, the upper fastening flange 12 bears tightly on the connection pad 11 while the lower fastening flange 13 is tightened on the stripped ends of the conductors. C1, C2 leaving a gap with the connection pad 11. Figure 5 shows the connection of four C1, C2, C3, C4 conductors of the same diameter, in the four slots L1, L2, L3, L4. It also shows a voltage tap 36 fixed by a screw 37 in a threaded hole 38 provided on the front face of the connection pad 11. For this purpose, the connection pad 11 has three threaded holes 38 parallel to one another, perpendicular to the through holes 16, including two side holes and a central hole. FIG. 6 shows the connection of four conductors C1, C2, C3, C4 in the four housings L1, L2, L3, L4, the two upper conductors C3, C4 having a diameter smaller than that of the lower conductors C1, C2. This configuration shows that the displacement of the fastening flanges 12, 13 with respect to the connection area 11 may be different in order to adapt the section of the housings L to the diameter of the conductors C. In the preceding figures, the conductors C arrive opposite of the electrical apparatus 2 parallel to the axis of the housing L of the connecting device 10. FIG. 7 shows the case where the conductors C arrive from below perpendicularly to the axis of the housings L of the connecting device 10. In this In this case, the same connection device 10 is not used, but a connection device 100 with a bevel gear is designed, by mounting on the connection area 11 coming out of the electrical apparatus 2, an extended connection area 11 '. oriented perpendicularly and fixed by three screws 37 in the three threaded holes 38 of the connection pad 11. Next, the fixing of the four conductors C1, C2, C3, C4 is effected in the same manner. in FIG. 5 by means of the fixing flanges 12, 13 attached to the extended connection pad 11 'with the lateral tie rods 14 and the central rod 15.

Figure 8 shows an alternative configuration for connecting more than four conductors and for example six conductors C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6. In this case, the same connection device 10 is not used, but an increased connecting device 110 is designed, by mounting on the connection pad 11 coming out of the electrical appliance 2, an extended connection area 11 '. oriented parallel and fixed with the upper attachment flange 12 by three threaded rods 14, 15, which may be constituted by three rods 15, in threads or captive nuts provided in the extended connection range 1 G (but not visible). The fixing of the first four conductors C1, C2, C3, C4 is carried out in the same way as in FIG. 5 by means of the fastening flanges 12, 13 attached to the extended connection pad 11 'with the lateral tie rods 14, and the central rod 15. Then the fixing of the two complementary conductors C5, C6 takes place in the two upper housings L3, L4 defined between the connection pad 11 and the upper attachment flange 12 with the two lateral tie rods 14, and the central stem 15 corresponding.

In the configuration of FIG. 10, the electrical apparatus 2 is supplied not by conductors C in the form of cables, but by a conducting bar B. In this case, the connection device 10 is used, in the closed position, c that is to say the lateral tie rods 14 and the central rod 15 screwed to close the housing L, and the corresponding end of the busbar B is fixed by three screws 37 in the three threaded holes 38 on the front face of the beach The conducting bar B may have a width different from that of the connecting device 10. FIG. 11 shows a connecting device 120 used alone, not linked to an electrical appliance, to form a current distributor, without additional room . In this configuration, the connection pad 11 "consists of two pieces 1a, 1b symmetrical with respect to a median plane parallel to the fixing flanges 12, 13, including an upper piece 1a and a lower piece 1b 1 each comprising two of the four parallel footprints. In the illustrated example, the two pieces lla, l lb are identical to the clamps 12, 13, to simplify the manufacture, without this embodiment being limiting. The connection area 11 "can thus accommodate between its two parts the end of a flat conducting bar B. The latter must be provided with through holes facing the through holes 16 for the passage of the lateral rods 14 and the rod 15 through the assembly formed by the upper attachment flange 12, the upper part 11a, the conductive bar B, the lower part 1b and the lower attachment flange 13. FIGS. axial section of the connecting device 10 of the invention illustrating the different steps of the connection method applied to four conductors C1, C2, C3, C4. In FIG. 12, the connection device 10 is empty and the four housings L1, L2, L3, L4 are open thanks to the work of the return members 31 which tend to move the fastening flanges 12, 13 away from the connecting range. 11. In this position, the assembly is retained by the central rod 15 and its two supports A1, A2 in opposition, respectively formed by its captive nut 23 in contact with the bottom of the recess 24 of the lower fastening flange 13 , and by its head 28 in contact with the upper face of the upper attachment flange 12 via the washer 22. The lateral tie rods 14 are inactive and each retained by their support A3 formed by their captive nut 23 in contact with the bottom of the recess 24 of the lower fastening flange 13.

Figure 13 shows the connection of a first conductor C1 in a first housing L1 located in the lower part of the device. With the aid of a first tool 26 in engagement with the axial recess 25 of the lateral tie rod 14 located on the left in the figure, the operator screws the lateral tie rod 14 into his captive nut 23 which makes the bearing abutment go down. 18 to come into contact with the connection pad 11 creating a new support A5, causing the lower fixing flange 13 to rise towards the connection pad 11 according to the arrow T1 until clamping the conductor C1 in its housing L1 . During this first clamping step, and thanks to the design of the device, the lower clamping flange 13 can swing slightly clockwise around its support Al with the central rod 15. The result is a differentiated clamping, concentrated only at the first housing Ll, the other housing L2, L3, L4 remaining open. Figure 14 shows the connection of a second conductor C2 in a second housing L2 located in the lower part of the device. With the aid of the same first tool 26 in engagement with the axial recess 25 of the lateral tie rod 14 located this time on the right in the figure, the operator screws the lateral tie rod 14 into his captive nut 23 which makes the stop 18 to contact the connection pad 11 creating the same support A5 as before, causing the lower attachment flange 13 to rise towards the connection pad 11 according to the arrow T2 until the driver is tightened. C2 in his home L2. During this second clamping step, and thanks to the design of the device, the lower fastening flange 13 slightly tilts counterclockwise around its support Al with the central rod 15. The result obtained is a differentiated clamping, concentrated this time only at the second housing L2, the first housing Ll remaining tight, and the other two housing L3, L4 remaining open. Figure 15 shows the connection of a third conductor C3 in a third housing L3 located in the upper part of the device. With the aid of a second tool 27 in engagement with the tightening nut 21 of the lateral tie rod 14 located on the left in the figure, the operator screws the tightening nut 21 onto the upper section 19 of the lateral tie rod 14 which descends to come into contact with the upper fastening flange 12 via its washer 22 forming a new support A6, then drives the upper fastening flange 12 with it towards the connection pad 11 according to the arrow T3 to tighten the driver C3 in his dwelling L3. During this third tightening step, and thanks to the design of the device, the upper attachment flange 13 slightly tilts counterclockwise around the central rod 15 relative to its through hole 16, eliminating the support A2 of its head 28, for generating a differentiated clamping only at the third housing L3, the first and second housing Ll, L2 remaining tight, and the last housing L4 remaining open.

Figure 16 shows the connection of a fourth conductor C4 in a fourth housing L4 located in the upper part of the device. With the help of same second tool 27 in engagement with the tightening nut 21 of the lateral tie rod 14 located on the right in the figure, the operator screws the tightening nut 21 on the upper section 19 of the lateral tie rod 14 which goes down to enter contact with the upper attachment flange 12 via its washer 22 forming the same support A6, then drives the upper attachment flange 12 with him towards the connection pad 11 according to the arrow T4 until tighten the conductor C4 in its housing L4. During this fourth tightening step, and thanks to the design of the device, the upper attachment flange 13 slightly rotates clockwise around the central rod 15 relative to its through hole 16, to generate a differentiated clamping only at the level of the fourth housing L4, the other three housing Ll, L2, L3 remaining tight.

Thus, the connection device 10 makes it possible to individually tighten or pre-tighten each conductor C1, C2, C3, C4 in its housing L1, L2, L3, L4, and to complete this assembly by a global safety tightening made in a last step of the connection method according to the invention illustrated in Figure 17. With the aid of a third tool 29 engaged with the head 28 of the central rod 15, the operator screws the central rod 15 in its captive nut 23 which descends to come into contact with the upper fastening flange 12 via its washer 22 reforming the initial support A2, and generates the raising of the lower fastening flange 13 to the upper fastening flange 12, which allows simultaneous tightening , controlled and uniform on the four conductors C1, C2, C3, C4, this effort being determined by the torque wrench of the third tool 29.

It is clear from this description that the invention achieves the goals set, namely a simple connection method, practical, ergonomic, efficient, user friendly, can reduce the handling and duration of intervention of the operator , for an optimized result in terms of connection quality, durability of this connection, compactness of the device and a multitude of possible connection options. The present invention is not limited to embodiments described but extends to any modification and variation obvious to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

claims

Electrical connecting device (10, 100, 110, 120) for electrical apparatus (2), this device comprising a connection pad (11) and two fixing flanges, including an upper fixing flange (12) and a flange lower fastening means (13) arranged on each side of the connection pad (11) and arranged to fix at least one conductor (C) on said connection pad by clamping means, characterized in that each clamp ( 12, 13) comprises two open and parallel recesses (17), in that said connection pad (11) has on each of its faces two open and parallel cavities (17), opposite to the cavities (17) of said fixing flanges ( 12, 13) for delimiting between said indentations (17) four housings (L1, L2, L3, L4) for conductors (C), including two lower housings (L1, L2) and two upper housings (L3, L4), and in that said clamping means are through and age Ncés to cross the assembly formed by superposition of the upper fastening flange (12), the connection pad (11) and the lower fastening flange (13), and comprise a bearing abutment (18) disposed between the connection area (11) and one of the fixing flanges (12) so that said clamping means make it possible to differentiate the clamping between at least the two lower housings (L1, L2) and the two upper housings (L3, L4) , Or vice versa.

2. Connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that said through clamping means comprise a single central tie rod, in that the fixing flanges (12, 13) and the connection pad (11) comprise a central through hole single disposed between the recesses (17) parallel to receive said single central tie rod, and in that said single central tie rod comprises said abutment stop (18) so that said clamping means can differentiate the clamping between the two lower housings (L1, L2) and the two upper housings (L3, L4).

3. Connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that said through clamping means comprise two lateral tie rods (14), in that the fastening flanges (12, 13) and the connection pad (11) comprise two holes. therethroughs (16) arranged on the outside of the parallel tracks (17), each for receiving a lateral pull (14), and in that said lateral tie rods (14) each comprise a bearing stop (18) so that said clamping means make it possible to differentiate the clamping between the four housings (L1, L2, L3, L4).

4. Connection device according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the single central tie rod or the lateral tie rods (14) comprise a shoulder forming said abutment stop (18) disposed between said connection pad ( 11) and the upper fastening flange (12), in that they are threaded at least on two end sections, including an upper section (19) and a lower section (20), in that the lower section ( 20) cooperates with a tapping provided in the lower flange (13), in that the upper section (19) cooperates with a clamping nut (21), and in that said upper section (19) comprises an axial recess (25). ) for a tool (26).

5. Connecting device according to claim 3, characterized in that said through clamping means further comprise a central rod (15) parallel to said lateral tie rods (14), in that the clamps (12, 13) and the connection pad (11) further comprises a third through hole (16) disposed between the parallel cavities (17) for receiving said central rod (15), and in that said central rod (15) has a threading at least on one lower end section (30) arranged to cooperate with a tapping provided in the lower attachment flange (13) so as to clamp the four housings (L1, L2, L3, L4) simultaneously.

6. Connection device according to any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that said tapping provided in the lower fastening flange (13) is consisting of a captive nut (23) housed in a corresponding recess (24) of said lower fastening flange (13).

7. Connecting device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a cover (33) attached to the lower fixing flange (13) for retaining said captive nut (23).

8. Connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises return means disposed between the fixing flanges (12, 13) and the connection pad (11) to keep said housings open ( L) when the through clamping means are not tight.

9. Connecting device according to claim 8, characterized in that said biasing means comprise two return members (31) disposed around said single central rod or said central rod (15) respectively between the connection pad (11) and each of the fastening flanges (12, 13).

10. Connecting device according to claim 8, characterized in that said return means comprise four return members arranged in pairs around the lateral tie rods (14) respectively between the connection pad (11) and each of the fastening flanges ( 12, 13).

11. Connecting device according to claim 8, characterized in that said biasing means comprise a single return member disposed around the central rod (15) between the clamps (12, 13) and freely passing through the connecting range (11).

12. Connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the upper fastening flange (12) comprises a countersink (32) whose depth corresponds at least to the thickness of said stopper. support (18) or said compressed return member (31).

13. Connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection pad (11) consists of a single piece.

Connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection area (11 ") consists of two symmetrical parts with respect to a median plane parallel to the fixing flanges (12, 13), including a top piece ( 1a) and a lower piece (1b) each having two of the four parallel indentations (17), and in that said connection pad (11 ") is arranged to receive between its two pieces (1a, 1b) a busbar (B) flat.

Electrical apparatus (2), characterized in that it comprises an electrical connection device (10) according to any preceding claim and in that said connection pad (11) is an integral part of said electrical apparatus (2). ).

16. A method of connecting conductors (C) in an electrical connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the connecting device is used, the through clamping means comprise a single central tie rod , and in that the following steps are chronologically performed to connect four conductors (C1, C2, C3, C4):

a first conductor (C1) is positioned in one of the lower housings, said first housing (Ll),

a second conductor (C2) is positioned in the other lower housing, said second housing (L2),

- the single central tie rod is screwed by means of a first tool (26) engaged with the axial recess (25), to bring the lower fastening flange (13) closer to the connection pad (11) and clamping only said first and second conductors (C1, C2) in said first and second housings (L1, L2), a third conductor (C3) is positioned in one of the upper housings, said third housing (L3),

a fourth conductor (C4) is positioned in the other upper housing known as the fourth housing (L4),

- the central tie rod is screwed only by means of a second tool (27) engaged with the clamping nut (21) to bring the upper fastening flange (12) closer to the connection pad (11) and clamping only said third and fourth conductors (C3, C4) in said third and fourth housings (L3, L4).

17. A method of connecting conductors (C) in an electrical connection device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that one uses the connecting device (10) whose clamping means having two lateral tie-rods (14), and that the following steps are chronologically performed to connect four conductors (C1, C2, C3, C4):

the lateral tie rod (14) on the side of the first housing is screwed by means of a first tool (26) engaged with the corresponding axial recess (25) to cause the lower fixing flange (13) to move towards the first housing; the connection pad (11) on the side of said first housing and only clamping said first conductor (C1) in said first housing (Ll),

the lateral tie rod (14) located on the side of the second housing is screwed by means of the said first tool (26) in engagement with the corresponding axial recess (25) in order to bring the lower fastening flange (13) closer to the beach; connection (11) on the side of said second housing and tighten only said second conductor (C2) in said second housing

(L2),

a third conductor (C3) is positioned in one of the upper housings, said third housing (L3),

- the lateral tie rod (14) located on the side of the third housing is screwed by means of a second tool (27) engaged with the corresponding clamping nut (21) to bring the upper fastening flange (12) closer together towards the connection pad (11) on the side of said third housing and clamp only said third conductor (C3) in said third housing (L3),

the lateral tie rod (14) on the side of the fourth housing is screwed by means of the said second tool (27) engaged with the corresponding clamping nut (21) in order to bring the upper fastening flange (12) closer to the connecting range (11) on the side of said fourth housing and tighten only said fourth conductor (C4) in said fourth housing (L4).

18. The method of connection of claim 17, characterized in that one terminates said connecting method by screwing the central rod (15) by means of a third tool (29) formed of a torque wrench to simultaneously tighten the four conductors (C1, C2, C3, C4) in their housings (L1, L2, L3, L4).

19. Use of the connecting device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14 for connecting a number of conductors (C) greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to six.

20. Use of the connecting device according to claim 19, for connecting conductors (C) of different diameters between the lower housing (L1, L2) and the upper housing (L3, L4).

21. Use of the connecting device according to any one of claims 19 and 20, for further connecting a conductive bar (B).

22. Use of the connection device according to claim 21, as a current distributor.