ES2374990T3 - BLOCKING DEVICE FOR A FIXING DEVICE OF TWO ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND APPLIANCE THAT INCLUDES SUCH DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

Locking device of the fixing device of two electrical devices designed to be mounted on the same mounting bracket, said devices being housed in a box of substantially parallelepipedic shape and each composed of a rear face of fixing to the support, two connecting faces , a front face comprising means for controlling the devices and two side faces by means of which the devices are coupled to each other, where one of the devices, called first, comprises a part that forms a wing, said part comprising a first part that extends from the connection face of said first apparatus facing this connection face and a second part capable of being moved so as to face the connection face of the other of the apparatus, called second, located in the same side as the previous one, characterized in that the fixing device (19) comprises a sliding element (20) movable in the interior of said wing (15) and the box of the second device D between an inactive position and a fixation position of the two devices D, B, a mobile lock (26) between an inactive position and a locked position of said device of fixation (19) in the fixation position and so-called irreversible retention means (27, 30, 33, 45, 46, 50, 51) which allow said insurance (26) to be irreversibly retained in the aforementioned blocking position.

Description

Locking device of a fixing device for two electrical devices and an apparatus comprising such a device

The invention relates to a locking device for the fixing device of two electrical devices designed to be mounted on the same mounting bracket, said devices being housed in a box of substantially parallelepipedic shape and each consisting of a rear fixing face to the support, two connecting faces, a front face comprising means for controlling the devices and two side faces by means of which the devices are coupled to each other, where one of the devices, called first, comprises a part that forms a wing , said part comprising a first part extending from the connection face of said first apparatus facing this connection face and a second part capable of being moved so as to face the connection face of the other of the apparatus, called second, located on the same side as the previous one.

Several solutions are known to achieve the blocking of the fixing of a differential block on its associated circuit breaker. One of the solutions is to use a bolt that automatically breaks when it is screwed on, which definitely makes it impossible to separate the differential block from the circuit breaker. With this solution, the mounting of the differential block in the circuit breaker requires the definitive installation of fixing means. In the case of disassembly of the product, it will be damaged and its reuse will be a source of danger.

A solution is also known which consists in the use of a bolt cover for the downstream terminals of the irreversibly mounted circuit breaker, which definitely prevents the disassembly of the electrical connections that associate the differential block to the circuit breaker. In this solution, the blocking is achieved indirectly by definitively blocking other functions of the assembly, for example access to the bolts of the circuit breaker terminals, which leads to a risk of forgetting to tighten the conductors of the differential block and prevents Performing a new preventive tightening during start-up or during maintenance of the installation.

Likewise, a solution is known which consists in carrying out a conventional sealing with a wire that is cut after the sealing, which allows the differential block of the associated circuit breaker to be disassembled. In this case, a component not integrated in the mounted device, the sealing wire, is used. The solution described in FR 2779269 is also known, which consists in using a locking mechanism by means of a button that blocks a sliding drawer mounted in the box of one of the devices. This mechanism comprises a push button of a rod, wherein said rod cooperates with the drawer. This solution consists of several pieces, which results in a complex system.

The present invention solves these drawbacks and discloses a locking device of a fixing device that makes the association cannot be disassembled, but that leaves a visible mark in the case of intentional disassembly, which is used without tools, which is independent of the other functions of the device, which is integrated in the mounted device, and all this being formed by a minimum number of pieces and can be activated after the complete tests of the association or the installation.

In this regard, the present invention aims at disclosing a locking device of the aforementioned class, this device being characterized in that the fixing device comprises a mobile sliding element inside said wing and the box of the second apparatus between an inactive position and a fixing position of the two devices, a mobile safety device between an inactive position and a blocking position of said fixing device in the fixing position and so-called irreversible retention means that allow irreversibly retaining said insurance in the lock position mentioned above.

According to a particular feature, the device comprises reversible retention means that allow said sliding element to be reversibly retained in the aforementioned fixation position.

In accordance with a particular embodiment, the sliding element is movably mounted in translation between the two positions mentioned above.

According to a particular feature, the sliding element comprises a rod and a clamping part, said rod being capable of successively passing through a hole, called first, arranged in the second part of said wing and a hole, called second, arranged in the Second device box.

In accordance with another feature, the aforementioned reversible retention means comprise a projection formed on the rod of the sliding element and capable of cooperating with a recess followed by a ramp arranged in the delimitation wall of the first opening mentioned above for the purpose of retaining said sliding element reversibly in the fixing position.

In accordance with another feature, the sliding element has a section that is substantially T-shaped and because the clamping part is formed by a flat part capable of contacting the outer face of the aforementioned wing in the fixing position.

According to another feature, the lock comprises a plate that can slide along the outer face of the wing box between a first position in which the fixing device is not locked and a second position in which the plate cooperates with the clamping part of the sliding element in order to lock said fixing device in the fixing position.

In accordance with another feature, the irreversible retention means of the lock in the locked position comprises a sheet mounted inside an opening, called a third, arranged in the wing box, said sheet being connected through one of its ends to said plate and cooperating through its opposite end with a ramp formed in the delimitation wall of said third opening in order to irreversibly retain said lock in the aforementioned locked position.

In accordance with another feature, the aforementioned sheet is substantially bent in a V-shape.

According to another feature, the insurance comprises two branches that extend from the plate perpendicularly to the plane of the plate and which comprise at its ends anchoring elements on a part of the wing box in order to allow reversible anchoring of the insurance in its inactive and irreversible position in the active position.

According to another embodiment, the rod of the sliding element comprises two notches that form three grooves designed to cooperate with an elastic tongue integral with the delimitation wall of a third opening arranged in said wing, in order to retain the sliding element, respectively for the three slots, in an open position, in a reversible fixing position and in an irreversible locking position, where said flange and the third slot constitute the irreversible locking means.

According to another feature, from the end of the rod located on the side of the apparatus, the first slot corresponds to the open position, the second to the fixation position, and the third to the irreversible locking position.

According to another embodiment, the rod of the sliding element comprises a bolt that extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of the rod and is designed to cooperate with a ramp fixed on a wall belonging to a third opening disposed in said wing so that , after translation of the sliding element and the bolt through the first opening arranged in the wing, the sliding element can be dragged in rotation between a first position corresponding to a non-fixed state of the apparatus and a second position in the that, after going through the ramp, the bolt is located on the other side of the ramp, a position in which it ensures the irreversible locking of the insurance.

According to another feature, the rod of the sliding element comprises a projection designed to cooperate with a part of the wall belonging to the first hole mentioned above so as to form, respectively, a stop point in the non-fixed position and a point of stop in the reversible fixing position of the sliding element.

Advantageously, the devices are electrical protection devices.

Advantageously, the first device is a differential block and the second device is a circuit breaker.

It is also an object of the invention to disclose an apparatus comprising a device comprising the aforementioned characteristics, either alone or in combination.

However, other advantages and features of the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description, which refers to the accompanying drawings, included by way of example only, and in which:

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 Figures 1 to 8 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention.

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 Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating two devices fixed to each other by means of a locking device of a fixing device according to the invention.

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 Figure 2 is a view identical to the preceding one, but comprising a section showing the device of

locking of the fixing device according to the invention.

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 Figures 3, 4 and 4a are partial and sectional views of the preceding figures, in which the locking and locking devices in an inactive position are illustrated.

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 Figure 4 is a sectional view along IV-IV of Figure 3.

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 Figure 4a is a sectional view along IVa-IVa of Figure 3.

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 Figures 5 and 6 are identical views to the previous views, except for the fact that the fixing device is in the active position and the locking device is in an inactive position.

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 Figures 7, 8 and 8a are identical views to the previous views, in which the locking device and the locking device are in an active position and the locking device is in a locked position.

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 Figure 8 is a sectional view along VIII-VIII of Figure 7 and Figure 8a is a sectional view along VIIIa-VIIIa of Figure 7.

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 Figures 9 to 11 are partial and sectional views illustrating another embodiment of a locking device of a fixing device according to the invention.

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 Figures 12 to 22 illustrate another embodiment of the invention.

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 Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the fixing device in a fixed, unblocked position.

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 Figure 13 is a partial view illustrating the fixing device in a fixed, unblocked position.

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 Figure 14 is a partial view illustrating the fixing device in the irreversible locking position.

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 Figure 15 is a front view of the two devices fixed to each other and comprising a section showing the fixing device in the fixed and locked position.

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Figure 16 is a perspective view illustrating the two devices fixed by means of the fixing device according to the invention in an irreversible locking position.

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 Figures 17 and 18 are partial and sectional views, along respectively AA and CC of Figure 19, illustrating the device according to the invention in the non-fixed position.

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 Figure 19 is a partial view illustrating the device according to the invention in the same position seen from the rear.

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 Figure 20 is a partial and sectional view along AA of Figure 22 illustrating the same device in the fixed and locked position.

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 Figure 21 is a partial and sectional view along CC of Figure 22 illustrating the locking device in a fixed and locked position.

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 Figure 22 is a partial view illustrating the device according to the invention in the same position seen from the rear.

In Figures 1 and 2, a circuit breaker D can be seen coupled to a differential block B, the two devices being designed to be mounted on a mounting rail (not shown). The two devices are housed in parallelepipedic boxes. These boxes comprise a rear face 1 for fixing to the rail, a lower face 3, 4 and an upper connection face 5, 6 comprising the connection terminals 18 of the apparatus, four side faces 7, 8, 9, 10, a through two 8.9 of which the two devices are designed to engage in the position mounted on the rail, and a front face 11, 12 comprising the control commands 13, 14. The differential block B comprises a control command 14 of an activation lock mechanically connected to the circuit breaker lock D, which can also be operated by means of a control 13. In Figures 1 and 2, it can be seen that the housing of block B comprises a wing 15 formed by a part narrow 16 that extends over the connection face 4 of the differential block B and a less narrow part 17 that extends over the connection face 3 of the circuit breaker D. These parts that form a wing are designed to accommodate the conductors of the differential block B, which are designed to be electrically connected to the connection edges 18 of the circuit breaker D.

These two devices B, D are fixed to each other by means of a fixing device 19 according to the invention. Referring to Figures 1 to 8, it can be seen that this device 19 comprises a sliding element 20 that has a substantially T-shaped shape and comprises a rod 21 and a clamping portion 22 that extends substantially perpendicularly to said stem. This rod 21 is designed to be inserted in two holes 23, 24 arranged respectively in the wide part 17 that forms the wing of the differential block B and in the case of the circuit breaker D in order to prevent the relative movement between the two devices B, D in cooperation with a clamp (25) that ensures the connection of the connection faces 5, 6.

Referring to Figures 3 to 8a, it can also be seen that this rod 21 comprises a projection 55 designed to cooperate with a recess 56 and a shoulder 57 arranged in the hole 23 of the wing 15 in order to form a stop point for the sliding element 20 in its translation towards the inside of the holes 23, 24. The projection 55, the recess 56 and the shoulder 57 constitute a reversible retention means of the fixing device 19 in its fixing position. The sliding element 20 further comprises a clamp 59 that cooperates with a recess of the box 15 in order to achieve a means of retaining the sliding element in the open position.

This device 19 is locked in its fixing position by means of a locking device 26 or secure. This device 26 comprises a plate 27 slidably mounted along the outer face 32 of the wide part 17 of the wing 15 and a part 28 extending from one of the ends of said plate 27 in the direction of the element slide 20 and in a slightly offset plane with respect to the plane of the aforementioned plate 27. This part 28 is designed to cooperate with a recess 29 arranged in the clamping portion 22 of the sliding element 20.

This blocking device 26 also comprises a means for retaining the blocking device 26 irreversibly (Figure 1 and Figure 2). This means comprises a sheet 30 substantially bent in a V-shape integral with said plate 27, said sheet 30 being designed to be inserted in a third opening 31, arranged in said wing 15, while the plate 27 extends in support on the box of the wing 15. Thus, the assembly is slidably mounted with respect to said wing 15, the sheet 30 sliding inside the opening 31 and the plate 27 sliding along the outer face 32 of said wing 15. Inside the second aforementioned opening 31 is a ramp 33 formed by the box and together with which the end 34 of the aforementioned sheet is designed to cooperate in the manner explained below. The operation of the fixing and locking device according to the invention is described below with reference to Figures 1 to 8.

In Figures 3, 4 and 4a, the two devices B D have been approximated in order to achieve their mechanical coupling. The fixing devices 19 and locking devices 26 are in an open state.

In Figures 5 and 6, the sliding element of 20 has been fully inserted in the holes 23,24 of the wing 15 and of the circuit breaker box D. At the end of the translation (Figure 8a), the projection 55 has passed to the other side of the shoulder 57. This shoulder 57 which constitutes a stopping point now retains the sliding element 20 inside the holes 23, 24, the clamping portion 22 of the sliding element 20 resting against the outer face 32 of the wing being located

15. In this position, it can be seen that the end of the rod 21 of the sliding element 20 is located above the lower position 35 of the circuit breaker housing D and, therefore, keeps the two devices B assembled,

D.

In this position, the locking device 26 is in the inactive position. The end 34 of the sheet 30 is supported against the part that forms the ramp 33 of the wing 15. It can be seen in Figure 6 that the plate 27 of the locking device also comprises two branches 36, 37 that extend respectively from the two ends of the plate 27, said branches 36, 37 comprising at their ends anchoring elements 38, 39 designed to cooperate together with, respectively, two walls 40, 41 located inside the opening 31, arranged in the wing 15 with in order to retain said device inside the opening 31.

In Figures 7, 8 and 8a, the locking device 26 has been brought to an active position in which the part 28 of the plate 27 engages in the recess 29 disposed for this purpose of the clamping part 22 of the sliding element 20 and the end 34 of the sheet 30 is retained by a wall 58 formed at the end of the ramp 33. On the other hand, the branches 36, 37 are trapped, respectively, between the walls 40, 62 and 41, 63 of the box, which makes it impossible to unscrew in this position. In this position, an operator no longer has the possibility of withdrawing the insurance without damaging the latter and, therefore, without leaving a visible trace of the attempt. Consequently, the closure is in an irreversible locking position. It can be seen that the insurance according to the invention is formed by a single piece that is coupled to the circuit breaker housing by a simple manual pressure. It moves until the head of the sliding fastener is locked. This insurance is irreversibly blocked by a non-return system.

In Figures 9, 10, 11, another embodiment of the invention can be seen, in which the fixing device 19 is formed by a sliding element 20 which has a T-shaped section and which comprises along its rod 21 two notches 41, 42 forming three grooves 43, 44, 45 designed to cooperate with an elastic tongue 46 integral with the wing box 15. In these figures it can be seen that two of these grooves 43, 44 are formed of such that the sliding element 20 can easily pass from one slot 43 to the other 44. On the contrary, the third 45 of these slots 43, 44, 45 has a wall 65 extending perpendicularly to the axis of the rod 21 of the sliding element 20 so that when the tongue 46 is in this slot 45, the sliding element 20 can no longer move into the holes 23,

24. In this embodiment, the locking device 26 is constituted by the tongue 46 cooperating with the third groove 45 located near the crossbar of the T that forms the sliding element 20.

The operation of these fixing and locking devices according to this embodiment is described below, referring to figures 9, 10, 11.

In Figure 9, the fixing devices 19 and locking devices 26 are in an inactive state, and the two devices B, D have simply been approximated in order to achieve their mechanical coupling. The tab 46 is in the first slot 43, that is, the slot 43 that is in the position closest to the circuit breaker

D.

To carry out the fixing of the apparatus, the operator presses the sliding element 20. During this movement, the tongue 46 passes from the first 43 to the second slot 44, a position in which the fixing device 19 is in a state active (figure 10). In this position, the sliding element 20 is held in this position reversibly by the tongue 46 which is engaged in the second slot 44. In Figure 11, the sliding element 20 is fully inserted in the holes 23, 24 and the tongue 46 has moved to the third slot 45, which ensures the blocking of the sliding element 20. In this position, and due to the shape of the slot 45, the sliding element 20 can no longer be removed from the holes 23, 24 without deteriorate the tab 46 and, therefore, without leaving traces.

According to the embodiment of Figures 12 to 22, the sliding element 20 is formed by two cylindrical pieces 47, 48, one of which, of larger diameter, constitutes a clamping part, while the other 48, of smaller diameter, it is introduced in the holes 23, 24 of the boxes of the wing 15 of the differential block B and of the circuit breaker D. Near the free end 49 of the rod 48 of smaller diameter, the sliding element 20 comprises a bolt 50 that extends perpendicularly to the axis of this rod 48. This bolt 50 is designed to cooperate with a ramp 51 fixed on a rear face 52 of the wing box 15.

It can also be seen in Figures 17 and 20 that the rod 48 also comprises a projection 55 designed to cooperate with two projections 53, 54 of the hole 23 in order to constitute two stop points, respectively, in the open position of the fixing device 19 (figure 17) and in the fixation position (figure 20).

In fact, it can be seen in Figures 17 and 20 that the projection of the rod constitutes a stop point in the non-fixed and unblocked position and in the fixed and locked position.

The operation of the fixing device and the locking device is described below with reference to Figures 12 to 22.

First, the sliding element 20 equipped with its bolt 50 is inserted in two holes 23, 24 arranged in the wing and circuit breaker housing, the dimensions and shape of the holes having been designed in such a way as to allow this insertion (figures 12, 13, 17, 18, 19).

Then, once the sliding element has been engaged in the fixed position, the operator drags the sliding element 20 by turning it a quarter turn around its axis. During this rotation, the bolt 50 engages in a ramp 51 formed in the wall of the opening disposed in the wing 15 and passes to the other side of the ramp 51, a position in which the fixing device is locked. The unlocking of the device becomes impossible or implies the deterioration of the bolt 50, which leaves a visible trace of this attempt (figures 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22). The latter is a function required by regulations and is intended to prevent deactivation of the differential module.

It should be noted that, in all these operations, the blocking can be immediate or can be carried out on site after the installation tests. In case of deliberate disassembly, the part of the insurance that exerts the blockage is broken and constitutes the required disassembly trail.

This system limits the risks of error in the choice of the electrical characteristics of the differential blocks and circuit breakers, since it allows the association to be canceled at any time, even after the products are connected to the power grid, or even during the installation tests.

The lock must be of a certain color and visible from the front when it is not locked in the locked position, which will allow checking at a glance that all products equipped with this system installed in a panel have been locked.

The assembly of the sliding element and of the insurance is achieved by means of movements that allow to carry out the required operations without tools and that, in the areas of easy access, allow to carry out the blocking operation once the product has been installed in the panel.

The blocking operation is performed by a single translation movement (or translation followed by rotation). The design of the support piece is such that the system formed by the sliding element and the lock can be advantageously replaced by a single piece that simultaneously fulfills the two locking and locking functions, for the factory-mounted differential circuit breaker variants. .

This system according to the invention makes the set reversible as long as the customer wishes (which makes it possible to perform the installation tests), and this set, after moving from its inactive position to its active position, is found in an irreversible position, which definitely blocks the sliding fastener in the active position.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, which are included by way of example only.

Thus, the invention is applicable to any electrical distribution, protection, control, modular type apparatus.

Claims (17)

one.

Locking device of the fixing device of two electrical devices designed to be mounted on the same mounting bracket, said devices being housed in a box of substantially parallelepipedic shape and each composed of a rear face of fixing to the support, two connecting faces , a front face comprising means for controlling the devices and two side faces by means of which the devices are coupled to each other, where one of the devices, called first, comprises a part that forms a wing, said part comprising a first part that extends from the connection face of said first apparatus facing this connection face and a second part capable of being moved so as to face the connection face of the other of the apparatus, called second, located in the same side as the previous one, characterized in that the fixing device (19) comprises a sliding element (20) movable in the interior of said wing (15) and the box of the second device D between an inactive position and a fixation position of the two devices D, B, a mobile lock (26) between an inactive position and a locked position of said device of fixation (19) in the fixation position and so-called irreversible retention means (27, 30, 33, 45, 46, 50, 51) which allow said insurance (26) to be irreversibly retained in the aforementioned blocking position.

2.

Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises reversible retention means (43, 44, 46, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57) which allow said sliding element (20) to be reversibly retained in the aforementioned fixing position.

3.

Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sliding element (20) is movably mounted in translation between the two aforementioned positions.

Four.

Fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sliding element (20) comprises a rod (21) and a clamping part (22), said rod being susceptible

(21) of successively passing through a hole (23), called first, arranged in the second part (17) of said wing (15) and a hole (24), called second, arranged in the box of the second apparatus D. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the aforementioned reversible retention means (55, 56, 57) comprise a projection (55) formed on the rod (21) of the sliding element (20) and susceptible cooperating with a recess (56) followed by a projection (57) arranged in the delimitation wall of the first aforementioned opening (23), in order to retain said sliding element (20) reversibly in the fixation position.

6.

 Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the sliding element (20) has a substantially T-shaped section and that the clamping part (22) is formed by a flat part capable of contacting the outer face (32 ) of the aforementioned wing (15) in the fixing position.

7.

Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lock (26) comprises a plate (27, 28) capable of sliding along the outer face (32) of the wing box (15) between a first position in which the fixing device (19) is not locked and a second position in which the plate (27, 28) cooperates with the clamping part (22) of the sliding element (20) in order to block said fixing device (19) in the fixation position.

8.

Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the retention means called irreversible of the lock (26) in the locked position comprise a sheet (30) mounted inside an opening (31), called third, arranged in the wing box (15), said sheet (30) being connected through one of its ends to said plate (27) and cooperating through its opposite end with a ramp (33) formed in the delimitation wall of said third opening (31 ) in order to irreversibly retain said insurance

(26) in the aforementioned locking position.

9.

Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the aforementioned sheet (30) is substantially bent in a V-shape.

10.

Device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the lock (26) comprises two branches (36, 37) extending from the plate (27) perpendicular to the plane of the plate (27) and comprising at its ends anchoring elements (38, 39) on a part of the wing box (15) in order to allow the reversible anchoring of the lock (26) in its inactive and irreversible position in its active position.

eleven.

Device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the rod (21) of the sliding element (20) comprises two notches (41, 42) forming three grooves (43, 44, 45) designed to

cooperating with an elastic tongue (46) integral with the delimitation wall of a third opening (31) arranged in said wing (15), in order to retain the sliding element (20), respectively for the three grooves (43, 44 , 45), in an open position, in a reversible fixing position and in an irreversible locking position, where said flange (46) and the third groove (45) constitute the irreversible locking means.

12.

Device according to claim 11, characterized in that from the end of the rod (21) located on the side of the apparatus B, D, the first slot (43) corresponds to the open position, the second (44) to the fixing position , and the third (45) to the irreversible blocking position.

13.

Device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the rod (21) of the sliding element (20) comprises a bolt (50) which extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of the rod (21) and is designed to cooperate with a ramp (51) fixed on a wall belonging to a third opening (31) arranged in said wing (15) so that, after the translation of the sliding element (20) and the bolt (50) through the first opening (23) arranged in the wing (15) and the circuit breaker housing D, the sliding element (20) can be dragged in rotation between a first position corresponding to a fixed state of the apparatus B, D and a second position in which, after going through the ramp (51), the bolt (50) is located on the other side of the ramp (51), a position in which it ensures the irreversible locking of the insurance (26).

14.

Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the rod (21) of the sliding element

(20) comprises a projection (55) designed to cooperate with two projections (53, 54) of the wall belonging to the first hole (23) so as to form, respectively, a stop point in the non-fixed position and a point stop in the reversible fixing position of the sliding element (20).

fifteen.

Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the devices are electrical protection devices.

16.

Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first device is a differential block B and the second device is a circuit breaker D.

17.

Electric apparatus comprising a locking device according to any one of the preceding claims.