EP3975342B1 - Stackable unit for a reduced height control unit - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

• une vis de fixation du bloc à un autre composant ; et
• un poussoir apte à se déplacer d'une position de repos vers une position d'actionnement pour transmettre un effort de translation à un composant attaché à la face inférieure du boîtier, le poussoir comprenant une tête d'actionnement en forme de cale apte à coopérer en translation avec un bouton-poussoir ou un rotation avec un bouton-tournant,
• le boîtier comprenant une cavité de guidage du poussoir entre ses positions de repos et d'actionnement dans laquelle est reçu le poussoir.

The present disclosure concerns a stackable electrical contact or signaling block comprising a housing which delimits its volume, the housing having upper and lower faces for connecting the block to another component,
the box housing the following elements:

• a screw for fixing the block to another component; And
• a pusher capable of moving from a rest position to an actuation position to transmit a translation force to a component attached to the underside of the housing, the pusher comprising an actuating head in the form of a wedge capable of cooperating in translation with a push button or rotation with a turn button,
• the housing comprising a cavity for guiding the pusher between its rest and actuation positions in which the pusher is received.

Prior art

Such electrical contact blocks are known. The document DE2064706A1 discloses an electrical contact block according to the preamble of claim 1. An example is the electrical contact block sold by the applicant under the reference ZB2BE. THE figures 1 to 3 illustrate this known electrical contact block. There figure 1 is a perspective overview of the contact block, the figure 2 is a sectional view according to arrows II-II of the figure 1 , and the Figure 3 is an exploded view.

This electrical contact block 100 serves as a component of a control and signaling unit. It allows you to establish or break an electrical contact. It finds a classic application for example in an emergency stop button. Such buttons are used in particular to quickly cut off the power supply to installations or machines in the event of an accident or damage.

The contact block 100 shown in the figures 1 to 3 is of the “normally open” type (NO type). It has two electrical terminals 101 and 103 which are integrated in a housing 102. The housing 102 is provided with a fixing screw or nesting screw 104. Thanks to the fixing screw 104, it is possible to fix the contact block 100 to other components, such as example a button body.

A pusher 106 is arranged in a sliding manner in the housing 102. The pusher 106 comprises an actuating head 108. By pressing on the actuating head 108, the pusher 106 is pushed into the housing 102. Thus, contact is established electrical between the two electrical terminals 101 and 103.

This known contact block 100 has certain advantages. It is stackable and compatible with push buttons and turn buttons. In addition, thanks to the pull-out screw, it has a very reliable means of fixing. In addition, its electrical insulation distances are sufficient for applications at a usual supply voltage of 230 V.

However, this known contact block has the disadvantage that it requires considerable height. Indeed, the pusher 106 must have a pronounced height, that is to say a slender shape, to ensure its smooth sliding in the guide cavity. If the height of the pusher is not sufficient, then it risks leaning into the cavity, which would cause the contact block 100 to fail. For it to remain functional, the known contact block 100 must therefore have a minimum height. Because of this minimum height, it is often impossible to stack more than two contact blocks 100 in the same control unit.

The same problem arises for signal blocks which are also used as components of control and signaling units. Indeed, a stack of a signaling block and two contact blocks 100 or more is often not possible due to the excessively high height of the resulting stack.

All this goes against the miniaturization taking place on the market.

Summary

An aim of the present disclosure is therefore to propose a stackable electrical contact or signaling block, which, by its construction, does not have such a limitation as to its height and retains as much as possible the advantages of the known blocks described above. .

According to the present disclosure, this goal is achieved by providing the electrical contact or signaling block defined in § [0001] with a device for guiding the pusher in the guide cavity comprising a guide tongue received in a complementary guide slot passing through the actuating head.

This guiding device in the form of a set of complementary tongue and slot, the slot passing through the actuating head, ensures precise and reliable guidance of the pusher, in particular when the latter is of low height. Thus, there is no longer any risk of the pusher bracing, which makes it possible to considerably reduce the contact or signaling block.

• Le poussoir comporte une base portant la tête d'actionnement, et dans lequel la fente de guidage traverse également la base ;
• Le dispositif de guidage comprend deux languettes de guidage dont chacune est reçue dans une fente de guidage complémentaire traversant la tête d'actionnement ;
• Chaque languette de guidage fait partie du boîtier ;
• Le poussoir a une section transversale sensiblement en forme de H ;
• Le poussoir a une face externe, une face interne et deux faces latérales, et chaque fente de guidage est réalisée dans l'une des faces latérales ;
• Le boîtier accueille en outre au moins un ressort de rappel du poussoir, le ressort de rappel étant situé à côté de l'une des faces latérales du poussoir ;
• Le boîtier accueille deux ressorts de rappel du poussoir distincts, l'un des deux ressorts de rappel étant situé à côté de l'une des deux faces latérales du poussoir, et l'autre étant situé à côté de l'autre des deux faces latérales du poussoir ;
• Le bloc est un bloc de contact électrique, et le poussoir porte un pont de contact électrique mobile qui se déplace ensemble avec le poussoir ;
• Le pont mobile a une forme sensiblement en U ;
• Le pont mobile est guidé dans sa course par des parois de guidage du boîtier ;
• Le boîtier accueille en outre deux bornes électriques, le pont mobile étant adapté à, par son déplacement, rompre ou établir un contact électrique entre les deux bornes électriques, les deux bornes électriques et le pont mobile se situent ensemble dans une chambre de coupure, et la chambre de coupure est entourée d'un coffre d'isolation électrique qui fait partie du boîtier.

The characteristics explained in the following paragraphs can, optionally, be implemented. They can be implemented independently of each other or in combination with each other:

• The pusher comprises a base carrying the actuating head, and in which the guide slot also passes through the base;
• The guide device comprises two guide tabs, each of which is received in a complementary guide slot passing through the actuating head;
• Each guide tab is part of the housing;
• The pusher has a substantially H-shaped cross section;
• The pusher has an external face, an internal face and two side faces, and each guide slot is made in one of the side faces;
• The housing further accommodates at least one return spring of the pusher, the return spring being located next to one of the side faces of the pusher;
• The housing accommodates two separate pusher return springs, one of the two return springs being located next to one of the two side faces of the pusher, and the other being located next to the other of the two side faces of the pusher;
• The block is an electrical contact block, and the pusher carries a movable electrical contact bridge which moves together with the pusher;
• The movable bridge has a substantially U shape;
• The movable bridge is guided in its course by guide walls of the housing;
• The housing further accommodates two electrical terminals, the movable bridge being adapted to, by its movement, break or establish electrical contact between the two electrical terminals, the two electrical terminals and the movable bridge are located together in a switching chamber, and the breaking chamber is surrounded by an electrical insulation box which is part of the housing.

• une vis de fixation du bloc à un autre composant ; et
• un poussoir apte à se déplacer d'une position de repos vers une position d'actionnement pour transmettre un effort de translation à un composant attaché à la face inférieure du boîtier,

le poussoir portant un pont de contact électrique mobile qui se déplace ensemble avec le poussoir, le pont mobile ayant une forme sensiblement en U.The present disclosure also relates to a stackable electrical contact block comprising a housing which delimits its volume, the housing having upper and lower faces for connecting the block to another component, the housing accommodating the following elements:

• a screw for fixing the block to another component; And
• a pusher capable of moving from a rest position to an actuation position to transmit a translation force to a component attached to the underside of the housing,

the pusher carrying a movable electrical contact bridge which moves together with the pusher, the movable bridge having a substantially U shape.

Preferably, the U-shaped movable bridge is guided in its course by guide walls of the housing.

Brief description of the drawings

• Fig. 1
  [Fig. 1] montre un bloc de contact électrique selon l'art antérieur.
• Fig. 2
  [Fig. 2] est une vue en coupe du bloc de contact connu de la figure 1.
• Fig. 3
  [Fig. 3] est une vue éclatée du bloc de contact connu de la figure 1.
• Fig. 4
  [Fig. 4] est une vue d'ensemble en perspective d'un bloc de contact électrique selon un mode de réalisation de la présente divulgation.
• Fig. 5
  [Fig. 5] est une vue frontale selon la flèche V du bloc de contact de la figure 4, avec une partie du boîtier enlevée.
• Fig. 6
  [Fig. 6] est une vue de dessous selon la flèche VI du bloc de contact de la figure 4, avec une partie du boîtier enlevée.
• Fig. 7
  [Fig. 7] est une vue de dessus selon la flèche VII du bloc de contact de la figure 4, avec une partie du boîtier enlevée.
• Fig. 8
  [Fig. 8] est une vue éclatée du bloc de contact de la figure 4, certains éléments étant omis.
• Fig. 9
  [Fig. 9] est une vue en perspective d'une unité de contact mobile du bloc de contact de la figure 4.
• Fig. 10
  [Fig. 10] est une vue de côté d'une unité de commande à bouton comportant quatre blocs de contact selon la figure 4 empilés.
• Fig. 11
  [Fig. 11] est une vue en coupe de l'unité de commande de la figure 10.
• Fig. 12
  [Fig. 12] est une vue d'ensemble en perspective d'un bloc de signalisation selon un mode de réalisation de la présente divulgation.
• Fig. 13
  [Fig. 13] est une vue en coupe longitudinale selon les flèches XIII du bloc de signalisation de la figure 12.
• Fig. 14
  [Fig. 14] est une vue en coupe transversale selon les flèches XIV du bloc de signalisation des figures 12 et 13.
• Fig. 15
  [Fig. 15] est une vue de dessous selon la flèche XV du bloc de signalisation des figures 12 et 13, certains éléments étant omis.
• Fig. 16
  [Fig. 16] est une vue éclatée du bloc de signalisation de la figure 12.
• Fig. 17
  [Fig. 17] est une vue de côté d'une unité de commande à bouton comportant un bloc de signalisation selon la figure 12 et deux blocs de contact selon la figure 4 empilés.
• Fig. 18
  [Fig. 18] est une vue en coupe de l'unité de commande de la figure 17.

Other characteristics, details and advantages will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the appended drawings, in which:

• Fig. 1
  [ Fig. 1 ] shows an electrical contact block according to the prior art.
• Fig. 2
  [ Fig. 2 ] is a sectional view of the contact block known from the figure 1 .
• Fig. 3
  [ Fig. 3 ] is an exploded view of the contact block known from the figure 1 .
• Fig. 4
  [ Fig. 4 ] is a perspective overview of an electrical contact block according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
• Fig. 5
  [ Fig. 5 ] is a front view according to arrow V of the contact block of the Figure 4 , with part of the casing removed.
• Fig. 6
  [ Fig. 6 ] is a bottom view according to arrow VI of the contact block of the Figure 4 , with part of the casing removed.
• Fig. 7
  [ Fig. 7 ] is a top view according to arrow VII of the contact block of the Figure 4 , with part of the casing removed.
• Fig. 8
  [ Fig. 8 ] is an exploded view of the contact block of the Figure 4 , some elements being omitted.
• Fig. 9
  [ Fig. 9 ] is a perspective view of a movable contact unit of the contact block of the Figure 4 .
• Fig. 10
  [ Fig. 10 ] is a side view of a button control unit having four contact blocks according to the Figure 4 stacked.
• Fig. 11
  [ Fig. 11 ] is a sectional view of the control unit of the Figure 10 .
• Fig. 12
  [ Fig. 12 ] is a perspective overview of a signaling block according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
• Fig. 13
  [ Fig. 13 ] is a longitudinal sectional view according to arrows XIII of the signaling block of the Figure 12 .
• Fig. 14
  [ Fig. 14 ] is a cross-sectional view according to arrows XIV of the signaling block of figures 12 And 13 .
• Fig. 15
  [ Fig. 15 ] is a bottom view according to arrow XV of the signaling block of the figures 12 And 13 , some elements being omitted.
• Fig. 16
  [ Fig. 16 ] is an exploded view of the signal block of the figure 12 .
• Fig. 17
  [ Fig. 17 ] is a side view of a button control unit having a signaling block according to the Figure 12 and two contact blocks according to the Figure 4 stacked.
• Fig. 18
  [ Fig. 18 ] is a sectional view of the control unit of the Figure 17 .

Description of embodiments

To begin with, reference is made to figures 4 to 9 . These figures show an exemplary embodiment 100 of a stackable electrical contact block according to the present disclosure.

The electrical contact block 100 is intended to be integrated into a control unit. By operating the electrical contact block 100, electrical contact can be established between two electrical terminals contained in the contact block. In industrial applications, it is thus possible to supply electric current to an electrical installation.

Conventionally, there are two types of electrical contact blocks, namely normally open electrical contact blocks and normally closed electrical contact blocks (“ normally open ”, or NO, and “ normally closed ”, or NC, in English).

The electrical contact block 100 of figures 4 to 9 is of the normally open type (NO type). Of course, the present disclosure also applies to normally closed type (NC type) electrical contact blocks.

With reference to figures 4 And 5 , the electrical contact block 100 includes a housing 102, a movable contact unit 104, a fixing screw 106, two electrical terminals 108, as well as a pair of return springs 110.

The housing 102 is made in two parts: a first part 102a and a second part 102b. The two parts 102a and 102b can be separated, which allows access to the interior of the electrical contact block 100. It will be noted that in the figures 5 to 8 , the second part 102b of the housing 102 is absent. In these figures, we therefore see only the first part 102a of the housing 102. The first part 102a of the housing 102 accommodates the fixing screw 106.

The housing 102 delimits the volume of the electrical contact block 100. It has a substantially parallelepiped shape. It has upper 112 and lower 114 faces for connecting the electrical contact block 100 to another component. It also has an external face, 103, an internal face 105 and two lateral faces 107.

The external face 103 of the housing 102 is defined as the face located outside the battery when the electrical contact block 100 is stacked (see the figures 10 And 11 ). The internal face 105 of the housing 102 is the face which is located in the center of the battery. The upper face 112 of the housing 102 is the face by which the electrical contact block 100 is fixed to the rest of the battery during its assembly. The lower face 114 allows another component to be connected to the electrical contact block 100 already stacked.

The housing 102 has several reception zones for the different elements of the electrical contact block 100. With reference to the figure 8 , we can distinguish a first zone 116 for receiving the electrical terminals 108, a second zone 118 reception of the mobile contact unit 104, A third zone 120 for reception of the fixing screw 106, and a fourth zone 122 for reception of the return springs 110.

As we see in the Figure 4 , the fixing screw 106 is received in a through hole 124 of the housing 102.

Preferably, the fixing screw 106 is a nesting screw. That is to say that the head 126 of the screw 106 has a tapping 128. Thanks to the tapping 128, it is possible to connect another component to the electrical contact block 100, by screwing one screw on the other component in the thread 128. In particular, it is thus possible to connect or stack several electrical contact blocks 100 in this way. The head 126 of the fixing screw 106 is located here on the side of the lower face 114 of the housing 102 .

In reference to the figure 8 , the two electrical terminals 108 each include an electrical conductor 108a and a clamping screw 108b. The electrical conductors 108a are installed in the housing 102 in the reception area 116. Using the clamping screws 108b, it is possible to connect an electrical wire to each conductor 108a. Each conductor 108a is here made of a folded metal sheet. Each metal sheet 108a has a fixing section 109 which cooperates with the clamping screw 108b, and an electrical contact section 111, preferably blade-shaped. Each blade 111 carries an electrical contact point 113 at its free end.

The movable contact unit 104 is able to move inside the housing 102. It is shown in perspective in the Figure 9 . This movable contact unit 104 includes a pusher 130, two spring stops 132, a bridge support 134, a movable electrical contact bridge 136 carried by the bridge support 134, and a movable bridge spring 138.

The pusher 130 comprises an actuating head 140 in the form of a wedge and a base 142 which carries the actuating head 140. The pusher 130 has an external face 144, an internal face 146, and two lateral faces 148.

In a frontal view, cf. there Figure 5 , the wedge shape of the actuating head 140 is in the form of a triangle. In other words, the actuating head 140 has the shape of an arrowhead. This particular form with two side ramps allows the pusher 130 to cooperate with both a push button and a turn button. Thus, the electrical contact block 100 can be operated either by a push button or by a turn button. In the case of applications with a turning button, the actuating head 140 behaves like a cam which makes it possible to transform a rotational movement of the turning button into a translation movement of the mobile contact unit 104.

Note that the pusher 130 is crossed by two guide slots 150, cf. there Figure 7 . Each guide slot 150 is made in one of the side faces 148 of the pusher 130. The guide slots 150 pass through the actuating head 140, and preferably also the base 142.

As we see in figures 6 And 7 , the pusher 130 has a substantially H-shaped cross section. In other words, the cross section of the pusher is made up of two branches which are connected by a crosspiece. The gaps between the two branches correspond to the guide slots 150.

Note that, in the example illustrated, the pusher 130, the stops 132 and the bridge support 134 are made in the form of a single, single piece.

By means of the support 134, the pusher 130 supports the movable bridge 136. The movable bridge 136 is a separate part from the pusher 130. Here, it has a substantially U shape (see the Figure 5 ). The movable bridge 136 comprises a central contact plate 136a which is extended, at each of its ends, by a branch 136b for fixing the movable bridge 136 to the support 134. The underside of the central plate 136a is shown in Figure 6 . There are two electrical contact points 137 which are capable of cooperating with the contact points 113 of the electrical terminals 108 (see the Figure 5 ).

Preferably, the movable bridge 136 is made of metal, since it must conduct an electric current.

The movable bridge spring 138 is a support spring. The support spring 138 forces the movable bridge 136 downward and thus ensures reliable contact between the bridge mobile 136 and the terminals 108 during actuation of the electrical contact block 100.

The spring stops 132 serve to support the two return springs 110. They are located on either side of the pusher 130. In other words, the stops 132 frame the pusher 130. Each stop 132 is made in the form a tab which extends from the support 134 towards the external face 103 of the housing 102 (see the Figure 7 ).

Each return spring 110 is located next to one of the side faces 148 of the pusher 130. The upper end 110a of each spring 110 rests on one of the stops 132 of the movable contact unit 104. lower end 110b of each return spring 110 rests on a bottom 152 of the housing 102 (see the figure 5 ). Each return spring 110 is received in a corresponding housing 122 of the housing 102.

The first part 102a of the housing 102 comprises a cavity 115 for guiding the pusher 130 (see the figures 7 And 8 ). The pusher 130 is movably received in the guide cavity 115. It is able to move in translation in the guide cavity 115. The guide cavity 115 has a rectangular cross section. It communicates with the rest of the housing 102 through an oblong opening 117. The oblong opening 117 is in the form of a slot. It is defined by the extent of two guide tongues 119 which partly delimit the guide cavity 115. The two guide tongues 119 are located opposite each other and separated by the oblong opening 117.

Each guide tab 119 is received in one of the two guide slots 150 of the pusher 130. Each guide tab 119 has a shape complementary to that of its associated guide slot 150. In other words, each guide tab 119 is inserted into its complementary guide slot 150. Thus, there are two pairs 119, 150 of tongue and slot. These two couples 119, 150 together form a device for guiding the pusher 130 in the guide cavity 115. It will be noted that each guide tongue 119 comes from the material of the housing 102 and is therefore an integral part thereof.

As we see in the Figure 5 , the two electrical conductors 108a and the movable bridge 136 are located together in a breaking chamber 154. The breaking chamber 154 is surrounded by an electrical insulation box which is part of the housing. To figures 5 And 8 , we can see two partitions 156 of the first part 102a of the housing 102. These partitions 156 form a section of the electrical insulation box.

In reference to the Figure 6 , we note that a lower section of the first part 102a of the housing 102 comprises a central receptacle 121. This receptacle 121 serves to accommodate an actuation head of another component which is connected to the lower face 114 of the housing 102. The actuation head receptacle 121 is here in the form of a rectangular enclosure. The walls of the enclosure 121 are made in the first part 102a of the housing 102. We see in the Figure 6 that the guide tabs 119 extend into the enclosure 131. When an actuation head is inserted into the receptacle 121, it is surrounded on all sides by the walls of the receptacle 121. The receptacle 121 defines therefore an electrical insulation cage which electrically isolates the inserted actuation head from the switching chamber 154. This insulation cage includes a protector 123. In the example illustrated, cf. there Figure 6 , the protector 123 is made in the form of a guard plate. This guard plate 123 masks a lower part of the guide cavity 115. The guard plate 123 projects relative to the main body of the first part 102a of the housing 102. Thanks to the guard plate 123, a technician does not risk to be electrocuted if he inadvertently inserts one of his fingers or a metal part related to his fingers into the receptacle 121.

We will now describe the operation of the electrical contact block 100 of the figures 4 to 9 .

By pressing on the actuating head 140, the pusher 130 is moved from a rest position to an actuation position (note that the figures only show the rest position). When moving towards its actuation position, the pusher sinks into the housing 102. In order to achieve this translation of the pusher 130, the resistance of the two return springs 110 must be overcome. The pusher 130, and consequently the movable contact unit 104, slides towards the lower face 114 of the housing 102, until establishment a mechanical and electrical contact between the contact points 137 of the movable bridge 136 and the contact points 113 of the electrical conductors 108a. As soon as the pusher 130 is released, it is returned to its rest position thanks to the action of the return springs 110. Thus, the movable bridge 136, which moves together with the pusher 130, breaks or establishes a electrical contact between the two electrical terminals 108.

Thanks to the guiding device according to the present disclosure, namely the two tongue/slot pairs 119,150, the back and forth of the pusher 130 within the housing 102 is well controlled. In particular, it is excluded that the mobile contact unit 104 braces or gets stuck in the housing during its translation, in particular when the actuating head 140 is rotated by a turning button. The guiding device with complementary tongue and slot minimizes the play and the degrees of freedom of the pusher 130. The latter is therefore forced to follow exactly the desired translation movement. This makes it possible to reduce the height of the pusher 130 and therefore the height of the electrical contact block 100.

As we see it in the figure 5 , during the stroke between the rest position and the actuation position, the movable bridge 136 is guided by the partitions 156 which thus form walls for guiding the movement of the movable bridge 136.

THE figures 10 And 11 show an example of a control unit 200 comprising a stack of four electrical contact blocks 100 of the type illustrated in figures 4 to 9 . The control unit 200 consists of a push button 202, a base 204, and a stack 206 of four electrical contact blocks 100. Figure 10 is a side view of the control unit 200. The Figure 11 is a longitudinal section. The four electrical contact blocks 100 are connected to each other using their nesting screws 106. More precisely, the two upper contact blocks of the battery 206 are screwed with their nesting screws 106 into the lower face of the base 204. The two lower contact blocks of the stack 206, for their part, have their nesting screw 106 screwed into a thread of a nesting screw 106 of one of the upper contact blocks.

In the Figure 11 , we can clearly see the four pushers 130. The actuating heads 140 of the lower pushers are located in the receptacles 121 upper contact blocks. Also, the actuating heads 140 of the lower pushers 130 touch the bases 142 of the upper pushers.

By pressing push button 202 in the vertical direction (see arrow V in the Figure 11 ), we thus press the two upper pushers into their contact blocks against the return springs 110. During this operation, the upper pushers move from their rest position towards their actuation position and transmit a force of translation to the pushers 130 of the lower contact blocks of the stack 206. The pushers of the lower contact blocks are therefore also moved towards their actuation position. Thus, by pressing the push button 202, all four electrical contact blocks 100 are activated at the same time.

THE figures 12 to 16 show an exemplary embodiment 300 of a stackable signaling block according to the present disclosure. This is an indicator block capable of emitting a light signal to indicate an operating state of a control unit of which it is a part.

In reference to the Figure 16 , the indicator block 300 comprises a light guide 302, a housing 304, two pushers 306 with their return springs 308, two electrical terminals 310 with their tightening screw 311, two fixing screws 313, a printed circuit 316 carrying a diode electroluminescent 318, and a cover 320.

The housing 304 has upper 312 and lower 314 faces for connecting the indicator block 300 to other components, such as for example the electrical contact blocks 100 of the figures 4 to 9 . The two pushers 306 of the indicator block 300 each have an actuation head 340 which has the same shape as the actuation head 140 of the electrical contact block 100 of the figures 4 to 9 . The actuating heads 340 therefore also have a wedge shape and are crossed by two guide slots 350 facing each other. The device for guiding the pushers 306 is comparable to that of the electrical contact blocks 100. We therefore also find, for each pusher 306, two guide tabs 319. As can be seen in Figure 15 , each pusher 306 also has a substantially H-shaped cross section.

Each pusher 306 has a stop element 332 serving as a support for its return spring 308. Note that the longitudinal axis of each return spring 308 is offset relative to the longitudinal axis of its corresponding pusher 306. Also, each return spring 308 is arranged laterally relative to its pusher 306.

The housing 304 is provided with two guide cavities 315, one for each pusher 306.

There Figure 14 illustrates how an actuating head 440 of a pusher from another block is housed in the indicator block 300 during stacking. We can clearly see the way in which the actuation head 440 is inserted into the receptacle 321 of the housing 304 of the indicator unit 300. The tip of the actuation head 440 touches the base of the pusher 306 of the indicator unit 300.

THE figures 17 And 18 show an exemplary embodiment 500 of a control unit incorporating two electrical contact blocks 100 and an indicator block 300. As for the control unit 200 of the figures 10 And 11 , the control unit 500 comprises a push button 502 and a base 504. The indicator block 300 is screwed onto the base 504 using its nesting screws 313. The two electrical contact blocks 100 are screwed onto the lower face 314 of the indicator block 300 using their nesting screws 106.

By pressing push button 502 in the vertical direction (see arrow V in the Figure 18 ), the two pushers 306 are pushed inside the indicator block 300. The pushers 306 transmit this translation force to the pusher 130 of the contact blocks 100.

We therefore understand that, thanks to its pushers 306, the indicator block 300 can be stacked with contact blocks 100.

The control unit 500 not only makes it possible to establish electrical contacts by pressing the push button 502, but is also capable of displaying its status to a user thanks to the LED of the indicator block 300, and all this a very compact and integrated way.

• une petite hauteur, ce qui permet d'empiler un grand nombre de blocs dans un espace restreint ;
• une grande solidité des piles formées à partir des blocs grâce aux vis de fixation ;
• une comptabilité avec les boutons-poussoir et les boutons-tournant grâce à la forme en cale des têtes d'actionnement ;
• une isolation électrique conforme aux normes en dépit de leur compacité et de leur faible hauteur.

The electrical contact and signaling blocks according to the present disclosure have in particular the following technical advantages:

• a small height, which allows a large number of blocks to be stacked in a limited space;
• great strength of the piles formed from the blocks thanks to the fixing screws;
• compatibility with push buttons and turn buttons thanks to the wedge shape of the actuating heads;
• electrical insulation complies with standards despite their compactness and low height.

The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above only by way of example, but it encompasses all the variants that those skilled in the art may consider in the context of the protection sought, as defined by the claims following.

Claims (12)

1. Stackable electric contact (100) or signalling (300) block comprising a casing (102, 304) that defines its volume, the casing (102, 304) having upper (112, 312) and lower (114, 314) faces for connecting the block to another component, the casing accommodating the following elements:

   - a screw (106, 313) for fixing the block to another component; and

   - a press rod (130, 306) capable of moving from a rest position to an activation position for transferring a translation force to a component attached to the lower face (114, 314) of the casing, the press rod (130, 306) comprising an activation head (140, 340) in the form of a wedge capable of translationally engaging with a push-button (202, 502) or of rotationally engaging with a rotary knob;

   the casing (102, 304) comprising a cavity (115, 315) for guiding the press rod between its rest and activation positions, in which cavity the press rod (130, 306) is accommodated,

   characterized by a device (119, 150; 319, 350) for guiding the press rod into the guide cavity comprising at least one guide tab (119, 319) accommodated in a matching guide slot (150, 350) passing through the activation head.
2. Block (100, 300) according to Claim 1, wherein the press rod (130, 306) comprises a base (142) supporting the activation head, and wherein the guide slot (150, 350) also passes through the base.
3. Block (100, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide device comprises two guide tabs (119, 319), each of which is accommodated in a matching guide slot (150, 350) passing through the activation head.
4. Block (100, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each guide tab (119, 319) forms part of the casing.
5. Block (100, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the press rod (130, 306) has a substantially H-shaped transverse section.
6. Block (100, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the press rod (130, 306) has an external face (144), an internal face (146) and two lateral faces (148), and wherein each guide slot (150, 350) is produced in one of the lateral faces (148).
7. Block (100, 300) according to Claim 6, wherein the casing (102, 304) also accommodates at least one return spring (110, 308) for the press rod, with the return spring (110, 308) being located next to one of the lateral faces (148) of the press rod.
8. Block (100) according to Claim 7, wherein the casing accommodates two separate return springs (110) for the press rod, with one of the two return springs being located next to one of the two lateral faces (148) of the press rod and the other one of the return springs being located next to the other one of the two lateral faces (148) of the press rod.
9. Block (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, the block being an electric contact block, wherein the press rod (130) supports a movable electric contact bridge (136) that moves together with the press rod.
10. Block (100) according to Claim 9, wherein the movable bridge (136) has a substantially U-shape.
11. Block (100) according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the travel of the movable bridge (136) is guided by guide walls (156) of the casing.
12. Block (100) according to any one of Claims 9 to 11, wherein:

    - the casing (102) also accommodates two electric terminals (108), the movable bridge (136) being adapted, by the movement thereof, to break or establish an electric contact between the two electric terminals (108);

    - the two electric terminals (108) and the movable bridge (136) are located together in an arc extinguishing chamber (154); and

    - the arc extinguishing chamber (154) is surrounded by an electrical insulation enclosure that forms part of the casing.

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