ES2404285T3 - Splice block for electrical conductors - Google Patents

Abstract

Junction block that includes: - a conductive strip (3; 103; 203) that has a section (51; 151; 251) provided with an alveolus (54; 154; 254) to receive a terminal portion (70) of a electric cable, said socket (54; 154; 254) being partially delimited by a seat (56; 156; 256); - a spring sheet (4; 104; 204) having a first (58; 158; 258) and a second (59; 159; 259) branch and a curved section (60; 160; 260) that relates to each other said first and second branches, said spring sheet (4; 104; 204) being adapted to deform so as to allow said terminal portion (70) of the cable, when it is strung into said socket (54; 154; 254), insert between said seat (56; 156; 256) and the terminal edge (61; 161; 261) of said first branch (58; 158; 258) and, if said cable is then requested to be removed from said block, to lock said terminal portion (70) of the cable between said seat (56; 156; 256) and said terminal edge (61; 161; 261); and - an insulating box (2; 102; 202) having a receiving housing (39; 139; 239) of said strip (3; 103; 203) and said spring sheet (4; 104; 204) and a conduit for introducing (32; 132; 232) of said terminal portion (70) of the cable, said insertion conduit (32; 132; 232) leading into said socket (54; 154; 254); characterized in that said section (51; 151; 251) provided with an alveolus (54; 154; 254) belongs to a portion of said strip (3; 103; 203), said portion also presenting a section (52; 152; 252) provided of a stop with unextremo that is connected with one end of said section (51; 151; 251) provided with an alveolus and because the end portion of said second branch (59; 159; 259) faces, on the opposite side to said first branch (58; 158; 258), said stop of said strip (3; 103; 203).

Description

Splice block for electrical conductors.

Field of the Invention

The invention concerns a splice block for electrical conductors.

Technological background

It is known that such splice blocks are used, in particular in electrical cabinets, in order to electrically join two or more electrical conductors together.

Splicing blocks are known for strung on a conductive rail at 0, provided with an insulating box that has two main faces (one partially open and the other closed) and side faces that relate the main faces. Inside this box two conduits for the introduction of terminal portions of electrical cables and a receiver housing of a subset consisting of a conductive strip and two spring plates are conditioned.

The strips of such subsets include two sockets to receive the terminal portions of the electric wires, each socket being delimited by surfaces from which one of them determines a seat.

Each spring sheet has two branches related to each other by a curved section.

The terminal portions of the two branches of each spring sheet are previously strung into the corresponding socket to form the subset that will be introduced into the receiving housing by the open face of the box.

In this subset thus formed, for each spring sheet, one of the branches comes to rest against the corresponding socket seat while the other branch rests against the surface of the socket opposite the seat.

When this subset is disposed in the receiving housing, each conduit for the introduction of conditioned cable into the box flows into a corresponding socket of the terminal strip.

Each spring sheet is adapted to deform in order to allow the terminal portion of a cable, when it is threaded into said socket, to be inserted between the seat and a terminal edge of the spring sheet and, if then the cable it is requested to be removed from the block, to lock the terminal portion of the cable between the seat and the terminal edge.

Also known by German patent application DE 19940971, busbars are provided with several openings each surrounded by tongues that delimit an alveolus into which the two branches of a spring sheet are strung.

Object of the invention

The invention is aimed at providing a secure, reliable and at the same time simple and convenient assembly block. To this end, it proposes a splice block that includes:

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a conductive strip having a section provided with a socket to receive a terminal portion of an electric cable, said socket being partially delimited by a seat;

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a spring sheet having a first and a second branch and a curved section that relates said first and second branches to each other, said spring sheet being adapted to deform so as to allow said terminal portion of the cable, when it is strung within said socket, it is inserted between said seat and the terminal edge of said first branch and, if said cable is then requested to be removed from said block, to lock said terminal portion of the cable between said seat and said terminal edge; Y

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an insulating box having a receiving housing of said strip and said spring sheet and an introduction conduit of said terminal portion of the cable, said introduction conduit leading into said socket;

characterized in that said section provided with a socket belongs to a portion of said strip, said portion also presenting a section provided with a stop with an end that is connected to one end of said section provided with a socket and because the terminal portion of said second branch faces, on the opposite side to said first branch, to said stop of said strip.

Thus, when the spring sheet is requested for inflection in the introduction of the terminal portion of a cable, the exertion exerted on the first branch causes the second branch to hit the top of the section of the strip provided with this stop. The fastening in position of the second branch entails the inflection of the spring sheet, so that the first branch is distanced from the seat to allow the driver to insert.

The presence of a section provided with a stop on the strip thus allows the spring sheet not to have to be skewered in its socket by its two branches, leaving the terminal portion of one of these branches in position facing the section provided with a stop of the strip, out of that socket.

The positional displacement of the section provided with a stop outside and at a distance from the socket allows the spring sheet to cooperate in a more favorable mechanical condition than in the case where the terminal portions of the two branches of the spring sheet are inserted in the socket.

In particular, the effort of insertion of an electric cable is reduced in the present case, thus improving the comfort of use, being at the same time sufficient to ensure a good electrical contact.

According to preferred characteristics, for reasons of simplicity, comfort and economy of implementation in the assembly:

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said section endowed with an alveolus and said section endowed with a stopper are transversely linked, said portion being to which said section endowed with an alveolus and said section endowed with a stopper a portion in L;

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said section endowed with an alveolus and said section endowed with a stop are one in prolongation of the other; I

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said section provided with a stop includes, on the opposite side of said socket, an ear whose face closest to said socket determines said stop.

In accordance with other preferred features, for the same reasons as those indicated above:

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said lug is inclined in the direction of said socket; and eventually

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said second branch of said spring sheet has an elbow shape adapted to cooperate with said lug.

The inclination of the lug in the direction of the socket allows, through cooperation with the spring sheet, to absorb most of the efforts exerted on that sheet in the presence of a conductor within the socket, by passing the spring sheet to press the corresponding lug of so that this sheet does not overpress the insulating box when it is requested by the driver.

The main mechanical stresses transverse to the strip are thus exerted essentially on the lug and not on the insulating box, which ensures better reliability and improved safety of use.

In addition, with the spring sheet and the splice block strip according to the invention it is possible even, for example, when the preferred features set forth below are put into practice, separately assemble the sheet of insulation inside the insulating box spring and the strip.

Thus, according to preferred characteristics, for reasons of simplicity, comfort and economics of implementation:

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said spring sheet is adapted to deform in order to cross a hard point in relation to said strip in order to arrange said terminal edge of the first branch of said sheet facing said seat inside said socket.

The passage of the hard point to arrange the terminal edge of the spring sheet facing the seat means that it is no longer necessary to arrange either of the two branches of the spring sheet within the socket.

Since the preassembly between the strip and the spring sheet is no longer required to form the subset, it is possible to carry out a successive assembly of the spring sheet and then the strip in the case.

The successive installation, inside the box, of the spring sheet and then of the strip thus ensures a simple and easy assembly.

In accordance with other preferred features, for reasons of simplicity, comfort and economics of implementation both in assembly and in use:

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said box includes two main faces related by means of side faces, said introduction duct with said receiving housing a common area at least partially closed by the two main faces, the portion of the receiving housing being different from said common area at least partially open by one of said main faces for housing said strip and said spring sheet;

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said common zone flows into said socket and the terminal portion of said first branch of the spring sheet is disposed within said common zone;

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said box includes a guide ramp of said terminal portion of said first branch of the spring sheet towards said common area; I

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This ramp belongs to a wedge.

The partial closure of the common area for the introduction duct and for the receiving housing is made possible by the fact that the spring sheet is assembled independently of the strip. It is thus possible, first, to introduce the spring sheet into the box through the open part of the receiving housing and then, secondly, to move the spring sheet so that a portion of this sheet becomes lodged in the common area partially closed and finally, thirdly, assemble the strip to keep in position the spring sheet thus arranged.

The common partially closed area for the introduction duct and for the receiving housing thus ensures optimum guidance of the terminal portion of the cable towards the socket during its insertion thus preventing the terminal portion of the cable, especially in the vicinity of the socket, escapes from the splice block transversely to the main faces of this block.

In accordance with other preferred features, for the same reasons as those indicated above:

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said box includes in said receiving housing a pin, around which said spring sheet is arranged; I

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said pin is located between said first and second branches of said spring sheet, in the vicinity of said curved section.

The presence of the pin facilitates the placement of the spring sheet in the partially closed area by developing the support function around which the spring sheet pivots to be put into position within the introduction duct.

In accordance with other preferred features, for the same reasons as those indicated above:

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said box includes, in said receiving housing, another pin located between said first and second branches of said spring sheet and in opposition to said curved section in relation to said pin.

The supplementary pin develops the function of a stopper pin that allows limiting the travel of the first branch of the spring sheet.

In accordance with other preferred features, for the same reasons as those indicated above:

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said strip has a means of coupling adapted to cooperate with a complementary means of coupling which includes said box;

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said crimping means of said strip include at least one shoulder and said complementary means of crimping said box include a wall having a recess adapted to receive said shoulder;

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said wall is flexible;

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said block includes two said spring sheets and said strip includes two said portions each having a section provided with a stop and a section provided with an alveolus, said strip also including a central section of which each end is connected with a respective of said portions by the end of the section provided with a corresponding stop opposite to that connected with the section provided with an alveolus;

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each said section provided with a stop is transversely connected with said central section and with said section provided with a corresponding socket; I

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said sections provided with a stop, said sections provided with an alveolus and said central section are in extension of the other, said strip being rectilinear.

Brief description of the drawings

The exposition of the invention will now continue with the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, which is given below by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In them:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a splice block in which wiring strips of different diameters have been inserted;

Figure 2 is an elevation view of that splice block taken from the front in Figure 1 but without having introduced the wiring strips in this block;

Figures 3 to 5 are three elevation views similar to Figure 2 showing the different operations of assembly of spring plates and a conductive strip that includes this splice block;

Figures 6 and 7 are two views in elevation-section according to a parallel and centered plane with respect to the main faces of the splice block taken respectively before and after one of the branches of each of the assembled spring sheets has been skewered in a corresponding socket conditioned on the strip;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 but taken at a different angle and illustrating the operation of removing a wiring harness with the contest of the flat end of a screwdriver;

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the detail indicated by IX in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an elevation-sectional view of a splicing block similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 9 to which a contact foot has been added which will be put in electrical connection with a conductive rail at 0;

Figure 11 is an elevation-sectional view of that block taken along a perpendicular plane and centered with respect to the main faces of the splice block;

Figure 12 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly operation of that contact foot with the splice block;

Figures 13 and 14 are respectively an elevational view and a perspective view representing that contact foot in isolation;

Figures 15 and 16 are two perspective views of the splice block provided with the contact foot illustrated in Figures 10 to 14, taken respectively before and after the operation of inserting this block into the rail at 0;

Figures 17 and 18 are two views similar to Figures 15 and 16 but the insulating box which includes that splice block is not represented;

Figures 19 and 20 are two views similar to Figure 17, but the strip and spring plates are not shown, for two variants of the 0-rail represented in Figures 17 and 18;

Figure 21 is a perspective view showing an assembly constituted from a splice block represented in Figures 1 to 9, in which wiring beams of different diameters have been inserted, and of a removable partition fitted in this block;

Figure 22 is a view representing that partition and that splice block unlinked from each other;

Figure 23 is a perspective view of a series of assemblies each formed from a splice block and a partition arranged against each other on a 0 rail;

Figures 24 to 26 are three perspective views illustrating the different assembly operations of a second embodiment of the splice block;

Figures 27 and 28 are two elevation-sectional views taken along a parallel and centered plane with respect to the main faces of the splice block illustrating respectively this splice block without and with the contact foot shown in Figures 13 and 14;

Figure 29 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the splice block;

Figures 30 to 33 are four elevation views illustrating the different assembly operations of this splice block;

Figure 34 is an elevation-sectional view taken along a parallel and centered plane with respect to the main faces of the splice block; Y

Figure 35 is a view similar to Figure 33 but in which the splice block is provided with a contact foot.

Detailed description of an embodiment example

The junction block 1 shown in Figures 1 to 12 includes an insulating box 2, a conductive strip 3 and two spring plates 4.

The insulating box 2 is made of molded plastic material and has two main faces 5 and 6 related to each other by means of a front side face 7, a rear side face 8, a high face 9 and a low face 10.

The face 6 is completely hidden by a partition 22 while the face 5 is partially open.

This box includes a hitch pin 15, an insert pin 16 in a 0-track, two cable entry ducts 32, two maneuvering ducts 33 and a receiving housing 39 (Figure 3) of the strip 3 and of the sheets spring 4.

The pins 15 and 16 are located on the side of the face 8. Between those pins runs a groove 17 which, practiced inside the box 2, flows into the face 8.

The hitch pin 15 includes two identical portions 19 on either side of the recess 17, each portion, facing the insert pin, having a recess 20 adapted to receive, as will be seen below, a wing of a rail in 0.

The insert pin 16 has three partitions 25, 26 and 27 that run substantially transversely to the face 8. The partition 25 closest to the engagement pin is separated by the recess 17 into two identical portions 18. Each portion 18 has a tooth 24 protruding towards the hitch pin 15.

The box also includes between the pins 15 and 16 two partitions 21 on either side of the groove 17 which parallel to the faces 5 and 6 extend the portions of the partition 19.

The ducts 32 (Figures 7 and 8) are delimited by two concave surfaces 47 and by the surface of a partition 48 which, located on the side of the face 6, has a flange 48 '. The ducts 32 flow into the face 7 through an opening 45 and into the face 5 through an opening 43.

The opening 43 has two parallel edges 43 'according to the direction of insertion of the cable and a curved edge 43 ".

Each duct 32 is closed by the main faces by triangular partitions 34 bays parallel to the faces 5 and 6 towards the inside of the box.

One of these partitions 34 is located at the level of the partially open face 5 and the other, against the wall 22 that closes the face 6 of the splice block (Figure 9) by locally determining an excess thickness.

The partition 34 located on the side of the face 6 is extended by a wedge 42 (Figure 9).

The ducts 33 have a rectangular section and only flow into the face 7 through an opening 46.

The receiving housing 39 of the strip 3 and the spring plates 4 is partially delimited by a pair of closed contour ribs 30 and a pair of closed contour ribs 31 (Figure 3).

The area of the housing 39 adapted to receive the strip is partially delimited by the rib sections 30 ", 31 '" and the lower edge in Figure 3 of the tabs 34, while each area of the housing 39 adapted to receive a spring sheet 4 is partially delimited by the rib sections 30 ', 31', 31 "(figure 4) and comprises the space 44 (figure 7) located between the two corresponding partitions 34.

In each area of the receiving housing 39 adapted to receive a spring sheet 4, a cylindrical pin 40 and an oblong pin 41 are located.

At each end, the space 44 located between two partitions 34 is common for the corresponding duct 32 and for the housing 39. The receiving housing 39 is thus, at each end, partially hidden on the face 5 by a partition 34.

The molding of the box is obtained with the contest of three slides, one for each pair of ducts 32, 33 and a third to form the groove 17.

The strip 3 and the spring plates 4 will now be described with the aid of Figures 1 to 10.

The strip 3 includes a central step 50 (Figure 7) and, on each side of the central step, a side step 51, each side step being related to the central step by means of a riser 52 in square with respect to the central step 50 and the lateral steps 51, so that each step 51 determines with its riser 52 a portion in L.

The lateral steps 51 are located relative to each other at the same level, so that the strip has a podium profile.

The central step 50 has in its center a single hole 63, while each side step 51 is provided with an alveolus 54 delimited by the surfaces of a sausage embedded cell 55 on the side opposite to the central step

fifty.

The spring plates 4 shown in Figures 1 to 10 have a dissymmetric V profile, each spring sheet being formed from a straight major branch 58 and a straight minor branch 59 related to each other by one end by a curved section 60

Each of the branches 58 and 59 has, approximately half its length, a change in width, its width being smaller between its free end and the zone of change in width.

The assembly operation of the splice block will now be described with the help of Figures 3 to 7.

This assembly consists firstly of arranging each spring sheet 4 in the receiving housing 39. The curved section 60 of each spring sheet 4 is disposed around the pin 40 within the space located in the vicinity of that pin on the side opposite the pin 41 (figure 3). For each spring sheet, the major branch 58 then takes a position between the corresponding pins 40, 41 and the corresponding partitions 34, while the minor branch 59 takes a position between the corresponding pins 40, 41 and the corresponding rib 30 '(Figure 3).

The next step consists in swinging each spring sheet 4 around the corresponding pin 40, parallel to faces 5 and 6, so that the terminal portion of the large length section 58 of the spring sheet is located in the space 44 between the partitions 34 (figure 4), this section being guided to this space by the ramp determined by one of the surfaces of the wedge 42 (figure 9), until it stops against the box (figure 4).

The terminal portion of the branch 58 is thus housed in the corresponding introduction duct 32.

The sheet thus disposed then leaves the area of the housing 39 adapted to house the strip 3 free, so that from then on it is possible to introduce this strip into the box.

In the course of this introduction, the central step 50 is disposed between the rib sections 30 "and 31 '" of the insulating box, while the end portions of the side steps 51 are housed under the tabs 34 (Figure 5 ).

For each cell 55, the conduit 32 thus flows into the socket 54. A wall 56 of the cell 55 is then arranged under the terminal edge 61 of the branch 58 of the corresponding spring sheet, while the terminal portion of the branch 59 faces, on the opposite side of the branch 58, the riser 52 (figures 5 and 6).

The last operation consists, with the help of a tool or a rigid core cable through the conduit 32 or 33, in exerting a pressure against the branch 58 to make the branch 59 butt against the riser 52 and, thus, flexing the branch 58 in order to cross a hard point in relation to the strip 3, in order to arrange the terminal edge 61 of this branch within the socket 54, against the surface 57 of the wall 56 of the cell 55 (figure 7).

In this position, the strip is retained in the direction of the face 5 by the terminal portion of the spring blade branch 58 skewered in the cell 55, this same branch being retained by the partition 34 located at the level of that face 5, remaining the spring sheet 4 held in position by virtue of the riser 52 against which the end portion of the branch 59 abuts.

The operation of inserting a wiring harness into the junction block 1 will now be described with the aid of Figure 1.

Such wiring strips are used, for example, in conjunction with cables whose conductive core is formed from flexible cords to facilitate the introduction of the conductors in the splice block without danger of causing the flexible cords to bend.

These beams (70) include a conductive and rigid hollow cylindrical element 71 threaded around the stripped end of a conductor (not shown) and a cover of insulating plastic material 72.

The first operation consists in penetrating the bead 70 through the conduit 32 into which it must be inserted in order to bind the spring sheet by pressing the branch 58 to distance the terminal edge 61 (Figures 6 and 7) from the surface 57 , in order to give way to this element between that edge 61 and the wall 56.

No turning movement of the spring sheet 4 is possible since the branch 59 of this sheet is, in the course of this effort, held to the stop against the riser 52.

The wiring harness 70 is thus inserted into the conduit 32, the deepening movement of the cable continuing, for example, until the tip of the element 71 abuts against the rib section 31 'or until the cover 72 abuts by the face 5 against the curved edge 43 'of the partition 34 or, on the face 6, against the flange 48' of the partition 48.

The inner surface 57 of this wall determines for the element 71 a seat against which it is held by the spring sheet 4, which presses it against that surface. If this element, once installed in splice block 1, tends to be removed from the block, that is, if it is subjected to an effort directed in a direction opposite to the direction of insertion, this element will tend to drag branch 58 with it, which is going to be minted and therefore locked against wall 56, which will prohibit the removal of this element.

For the removal of the holder 70, the operator penetrates, through the conduit 33 corresponding to the conduit 32 into which the holder 70 is inserted, a tool (for example, the flat end 73 of the screwdriver shown in Figure 8) with in order to bind the spring sheet, until the branch 58 eventually stops against the oblong pin 41, to release the element 71 and allow the container 70 to be removed.

The contact foot 80 that will be assembled with the splice block 1 will now be described with the aid of Figures 10 to 14 if it is desired to form a splice block that electrically connects one or two wires, not only with each other, but also to the conductor rail at 0 (block for protective conductors).

Such splice blocks are generally identified by their color, the insulating box of these blocks being dyed in two colors, one yellow and the other green (green / yellow block).

The contact foot 80 illustrated in Figures 13 and 14 is made of conductive metal and is formed in one piece. It includes a central body 81, a hitch pin 82 and an insert pin 83.

The central body 81 includes two rectangular portions 84 and 85, the portion 84 being wider than the portion 85. The portion 84 links the pins 82 and 83 to the rectangular portion 85.

This portion 85 has two bay teeth 86 on its summit opposite the portion 84, while the portion 84 has a rectangular window 87.

The insert pin 83 includes at its distal end a rigid notch 88 and a narrow elongated and flexible arm 91 that links the notch 88 to the body 81.

This notch 88 has a tooth 90 and a finger 77 that has a ramp surface 89 and a shoulder 78.

The arm 91 is of constant width except in its terminal portions that are slightly curved, each of them coming together respectively, when flared, with the notch 88 and with the body 81.

The hitch pin 82 includes a hook 92 adapted to receive, as will be seen below, one of the wings of a rail at 0 and a narrow elongated and flexible arm 76 that splices the hook 92 with the body 81 when connected to the hook 92 on the side of the hook opposite the body 81 in relation to the recess 93.

The arm 76 includes a section in C 94, in the present case more exactly in a semicircle, in whose cavity the hook 92 and a straight inclined section 95 are housed.

The section in C 94 is connected at one end to the hook 92 and at the other end to the inclined straight section 95 connected in turn, by its opposite end, to the body 81, so that the arm 76 has a J-profile.

The hook 92 includes a rigid block 79 that has a V-shaped recess 93. The branch of the block 79 that delimits the V-shaped recess located on the side of the hook opposite the body 81 relative to the recess 93 is linked to the arm 94 of the pin 82.

The assembly operation of this contact foot with the splice block will now be described, with the help of Figures 10 to 12.

The contact foot is inserted into the junction block on the side of the face 8 through the groove 17 that runs from the hitch pin 15 to the hitch pin 16 of the insulating box 2.

In the course of this introduction, the body 81 penetrates the insulating box between the rib sections 31 "", starting with the portion 85 until a tooth 35 (Figure 11) of the insulating box, protruding from the partition 21 located in the side of the face 5 towards the inside of the box is housed in the square contour hole 87 of the body 81, providing the grooves 23 made in this partition 21 an elastic deformation of the tooth

35

In the crimped position, the hook 92 of the hitch pin 82 of the contact foot is housed between the two portions of the partition 19 of the pin 15, so that the recess 93 is located between the two recesses 20, while the notch 88 of the insert pin 83 is housed between the two portions of the partition 18, between the teeth 24 (Figure 11).

In this crimped position, the teeth 86 of the foot 80 are disposed within the opening 63 of the step 50 and protrude with respect to the strip in the direction of the face 7 (Figure 11).

To finish this assembly operation, a crimping operation is carried out with the help of a tool (not shown) adapted to be introduced into the box by the side of the face 7 by two chimneys 37 (figure 10) which, practiced in the box insulating on each side of a central wall 38, they flow into the face 7 to exert pressure against the surfaces 96 of the teeth 86 in order to distance them from each other as illustrated in Figure 10.

This crimp allows to guarantee the permanent mechanical fastening of the contact foot 80 with the strip 3 and improves, by increasing the clamping pressure with this strip, the quality of the electrical contact between this foot and this strip.

The operation of inserting a splice block 1 into a conductive rail at 0 will now be described with the aid of Figures 15 to 18.

The connection of the splice block is described at this point in the case where it has a contact foot. The coupling characteristics relative to the insulating box alone remain the same when the splice block is devoid of such a contact foot (without electrical connection with the rail).

The conductive support rail 65 shown in Figures 15 to 18 is a profiled rail currently used to receive the installation of the splice blocks. It has a central section 66 and two branches 67 bent at right angles, with the ends of the branches 67 folded at right angles to the outside to determine two lateral wings 68, thus presenting the profiled rail section a 0-shaped (inverted in the figures).

This rail can be fixed (for example by screwing the section 66) to the uprights of an electrical cabinet or against a wall bracket, the central section 66 and the wings 68 being then in a vertical plane (rotated 90 ° with respect to figures 17 and 18).

First, the insertion operation consists of hooking the splice block against one of the wings 68 of the rail at 0, as illustrated in Figure 15, introducing this wing into the recess 93 of the hitch pin 82 of the foot of contact (shown in figure 17 without the insulating box for clarity of exposure) as well as in the recess 20 of the hitch pin 15 of the insulating box (figure 15).

The next step consists in simultaneously inserting the locking pin 83 (figure 18) of the contact foot and the locking pin 16 (figure 16) of the insulating box on the other wing 68 of the rail at 0. To do this, the operator presses the splice block against the face 7 in the direction of the rail at 0 and, preferably, to take advantage of the lever effect, on the side furthest from the pin 15.

This action involves a deformation of the arm 82 until the insert pin 83 takes support by means of the ramp 89 of the finger 77 against the upper edge of the corresponding wing 68.

The ramp 89 thus guides the foot 80 which deforms until this ramp passes under the wing 68, while the tooth 90 stops against this wing (figure 18).

The shoulder 78 located at the tip of the ramp 89, under the tooth 90, is responsible for keeping the contact foot stable in the rail, preventing any risk of accidental disengagement.

The large length of sections 94 and 95 ensures optimum flexibility for arm 76, which deforms during this entire operation.

Simultaneously to the insertion of the contact foot 80 in the rail 65, the insertion pin 16 of the insulating box is similarly embedded in that same wing, each tooth 24 taking support, for its curved surface 28 (Figure 15), against the upper edge of the corresponding wing 68 to guide the pin 16. In response to this effort, the tabs 25 to 27 of this pin deform slightly transversely to the rail so that each tooth 24 is strung and retracted under this wing by recovery elastic (figure 16).

Once this splice block is embedded in the rail, the cable connection operations can be carried out with total safety as described above.

For a splice block that does not have such a contact foot, a connection to the rail at 0 is made in the same way except that such a splice block is only strung in the rail by the hook and loop pins of the insulating box. This operation allows, in this case, not only to procure an electrical connection but only to guarantee a mechanical support of the splice block in the rail.

There are other types of lanes such as those shown in Figures 19 and 20.

In general, the same references have been used for similar elements, but increased with the number 100 for each embodiment.

The rail 165 represented in Figure 19 and the rail 265 represented in Figure 20 differ from the rail 65 represented in Figure 17 particularly by the height and thickness of its branches and wings.

They remain constant due to current regulations, whatever the type of lane, the distance between the ends of the two wings and the thickness of each wing at its end (1 mm).

The V-shape of the recess 93 and especially the distance to the bottom of the recess that separates the two branches of the V are adapted to cooperate with the three types of rail illustrated, whether the wings of these rails are of constant thickness (lane 65) or decrease this thickness towards the edge of the wings (lanes 165 and 265).

A removable extension partition will now be described which, if necessary, will fit into the splice block to receive the housing, as will be seen below, of the wiring strips that can protrude from the splice block.

This partition 97 (figures 21 to 23) has two recesses 99, two pins 98 and two ribs 96 protrusions on the same side of the partition 97.

Each recess 99 has a contour similar to that of the opening 43 of the corresponding conduit 32. Each recess is thus delimited by two straight edges 99 'parallel to the direction of insertion of the cable and an edge 99 "transverse to that direction that splices the straight edges 99'.

This partition fits into the splice block 1, providing the partition 97 facing the face 5 of the splice block 1 so that the spikes 98 of this partition pass into a recessed 29 which has the insulating box 1 of the splice block ( Figure 22), the rib 96 then being housed within the rib 31 in order to increase the length of the leakage lines of the splice block.

As stated above, each conduit 32 of the splice block has an opening 43 through which a wiring bead can protrude laterally, especially if the larger diameter of that end is greater than the distance between the main faces 5 and 6 ( also called the passage of the splicing block), neglecting the thickness of the partition 48 that closes the conduit 32 on the face 6.

In fact, the thickness of the partition 48 is relatively small, such that it is considered to be a negligible amount compared to the passage of the splice block.

At this point, "larger diameter" is understood as that of the diameters of the element of the bead having the largest dimension, for example, in the case of the bead 70, the diameter of the cover 72.

Thus, it is interesting to fit a partition 97 into the splice block 1 so that the part of the protrusion of the block by the opening 43 is accommodated in the opening 99 of this partition, especially in order to be able to arrange juxtaposition, some against others, several assemblies thus formed (figure 23) without these assemblies being mutually hindered by the neighboring wiring harnesses, then each splice block is supported, on its face 6, not against the baying part of the wiring harness housed in the neighboring junction block, but against tab 97 of that neighboring block.

In addition, the convex faces 47, the partition 48 and the flange 48 'as well as the edges 43' and 43 "are sized together with the partition 97 to ensure that, even for a wiring harness having a larger diameter equal to the diameter maximum that can be received in the conduit, the part of that protrusion from the block by the opening 43 of the conduit can be fully accommodated in the opening 99 of the partition 97 without protruding from this partition.

Thus, in the illustrated example, the splice block has a 5 mm pitch and the conduits 32 are adapted to receive wiring beams of a maximum diameter greater than 6 mm, while the partition 97 has a thickness of 1 mm in order to be able to accommodate in each opening 99 the portions of the protruding ends of the block, and this up to a maximum diameter of 6 mm (that is, a maximum lateral projection of approximately 1 mm with respect to the splice block).

A container with a larger diameter of more than 6 mm cannot be inserted into the ducts 32, these ducts being formed so that the duct stops against the edges of the opening 45 and thus prevents its insertion.

Wiring counts provided for determining a terminal portion of a cable have been described above. Of course, such a terminal portion can be constituted perfectly from the cable itself that has a rigid or flexible conductive core corresponding to the element 71 of the bead 70 and an insulating sheath corresponding to the cover 72 of this bead.

When the cable is flexible and devoid of bending, it is necessary, before inserting it into the splice block, to use a tool such as that illustrated in Figure 8, in order to press the branch 58 to distance the edge 61 from the wall 56 and allow the cable to penetrate into socket 54.

Another embodiment of the splice block is shown in Figures 24 to 28.

In general, the same references have been used for similar elements, but increased with the number 100 for each embodiment.

In this embodiment, the pins 140 and 141 are joined together, the end of the pin 140 determining a finer finger than the pin 40 to reduce the bending effort and ensure a better fit of the curved section 160 within the box 102 .

The rib section 131 "'has a recess 136 facing the corresponding rib section 130" and is thus adapted to cooperate by crimping, as will be seen below, with the strip 103.

The partition 122 is not located in the present case at the level of the face 106 but halfway between the faces 105 and 106 (except under the rib section 131 '"), in order to maximize the leakage lines between conductive elements.

The strip 103 has two highlights 149.

The assembly of the spring sheets and the strip is carried out in a manner similar to that described for the splice block 1. Each spring sheet is arranged inside the box (figure 24) and then rotated (figure 25) to leave step to the strip 103 (figure 26).

In this embodiment, in the assembly of the strip, the projections 149 of this strip (figure 27) cooperate by crimping with the recesses 136 to reinforce the mechanical fastening of the strip 103 to the box 102 (figure 26).

In the crimping, the positional displacement located under the rib section 131 '"of the wall 122 at the level of the face 106 allows this section to be sufficiently deformable and elastic to ensure the crimping of the strip.

The branch 158 is then flexed to pass a hard point in relation to the strip, so that it goes on to face the wall 156 of the cell 155 (Figure 27).

As with the splicing block, 1, the strip 103 of the block 101 has a window 163 so that this block can receive the contact foot 80 (Figure 28).

Another embodiment of the splice block is shown in Figures 29 to 35. In this embodiment, the strip 203 is rectilinear and has a central section 250 each of whose ends is attached to the end of a section 252 provided with a lug 253 with a face that determines, as will be seen below, a stop for a corresponding spring sheet 204. The end of each section 252 opposite to that connected to section 250 is attached to one end of a section 251 provided with an alveolus 254.

Unlike the risers 52 connected transversely to sections 50 and 51, sections 252 are joined in extension of neighboring section 251 and central section 250.

Each lug 253 is inclined in the direction of the corresponding socket 254, so that the lug forms, with the rest of the section 252 closest to the socket 254, an acute angle.

The insulating box 202 presents under the rib 230 a finger 264 adapted to cooperate with the section 250 and the corresponding section 252.

For each spring sheet 204, the branch 259 includes a straight section 269 and a straight section 262 joined together so that the branch 259 has an angled shape, the section 262 being rotated to the side opposite the branch 258 and facing the lug face 253 closest to the socket.

The different assembly stages illustrated in Figures 30 to 33 are similar to those described in the previous embodiments except that, in this case, the strip 203 is inserted between the fingers 264 and the ribs 231 '"(passing the lug 253 that borders this finger to be located next to it) and in which section 262 is the one that stops against lug 253 (figure 33).

The branch 259 is layered in the present case in order to cooperate effectively with the corresponding inclined lug 253, the section 262 being arranged facing it.

The inclination of each lug 253 in the direction of the corresponding socket 254 makes it possible to absorb part of the stresses exerted on the case transversely to the strip by means of the spring sheet 204 when a conductor is inserted into the socket.

In fact, in this case, the section 262 of the spring sheet is pressed against the corresponding lug, which absorbs part of the stresses so that the curved section 260 of this sheet is less requested to move towards the face 207 and, therefore, does not exert excessive pressure against the insulating box at the level of the wall of this box located in opposition to the pin 240 in relation to this section 260.

The main mechanical forces transverse to the strip are thus exercised more at the level of the metal lug 253 than at the level of the insulating box.

In addition, the structure of the strip is no longer on the podium but straight it greatly simplifies its manufacture and, thus, significantly reduces its cost price.

In a variant not shown, each lug 253 is connected to the rest of the section 252 forming a right angle and / or the force to be exerted to cross the hard point for each spring sheet in order to be arranged facing the seat of the Corresponding socket is very small, if not non-existent, depending on the non-reproducible assembly set of the different elements from each other (box, sheets, strip).

In other variants not shown, the splice block is designed to receive not two but at least three conductors arranged on one or several floors of the splice block.

Numerous other variants are possible depending on the circumstances, and in this regard it is noted that the invention is in accordance with the following claims.

Claims (20)

1. Splice block that includes:

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a conductive strip (3; 103; 203) having a section (51; 151; 251) provided with a socket (54; 154; 254) to receive a terminal portion (70) of an electric cable, said socket ( 54; 154; 254) partially delimited by a seat (56; 156; 256);

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a spring sheet (4; 104; 204) having a first (58; 158; 258) and a second (59; 159; 259) branch and a curved section (60; 160; 260) that relates one to the other first and second branches, said spring sheet (4; 104; 204) being adapted to deform so as to allow said terminal portion (70) of the cable, when it is threaded into said socket (54; 154; 254), it is inserted between said seat (56; 156; 256) and the terminal edge (61; 161; 261) of said first branch (58; 158; 258) and, if said cable is then requested to be removed from said block , to lock said terminal portion (70) of the cable between said seat (56; 156; 256) and said terminal edge (61; 161; 261); Y

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an insulating box (2; 102; 202) having a receiving housing (39; 139; 239) of said strip (3; 103; 203) and of said spring sheet (4; 104; 204) and an introduction duct (32; 132; 232) of said terminal portion (70) of the cable, said insertion conduit (32; 132; 232) leading into said socket (54; 154; 254);

characterized in that said section (51; 151; 251) provided with an alveolus (54; 154; 254) belongs to a portion of said strip (3; 103; 203), said portion also presenting a section (52; 152; 252) provided with a stop with an end that is connected to an end of said section (51; 151; 251) provided with an alveolus and because the terminal portion of said second branch (59; 159; 259) faces, on the opposite side to said first branch (58; 158; 258), said stop of said strip (3; 103; 203).

2.

Block according to claim 1, characterized in that said section (51; 151) provided with an alveolus (54; 154) and said section (52; 152) provided with a stop are transversely linked, said portion being to which said section belong ( 51; 151) provided with an alveolus (54; 154) and said section (52; 152) provided with an abutment an L portion.

3.

Block according to claim 1, characterized in that said section (251) provided with an alveolus and said section

(252) endowed with one stop are one in prolongation of the other. A block according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said section (252) provided with a stop includes, on the opposite side of said socket (254), an ear (253) whose face closest to said socket (254) determines said stop.

5.

Block according to claim 4, characterized in that said lug (253) is inclined in the direction of said socket (254).

6.

Block according to claim 5, characterized in that said second branch (259) of said spring sheet

(204) has an elbow shape adapted to cooperate with said lug (253).

7.

Block according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said spring sheet (4; 104; 204) is adapted to deform in order to cross a hard point relative to said strip (3; 103; 203) for the purpose said terminal edge (61; 161; 261) of the first branch (58; 158; 258) of said sheet (4; 104; 204) facing said seat (56; 156; 256) inside said socket ( 54; 154; 254).

8.

Block according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said box (2; 102; 202) includes two main faces (5, 6; 105, 106; 205, 206) related by means of side faces (7, 8, 9 , 10; 107, 108, 109, 110; 207, 208, 209, 210), said introduction duct (32; 132; 232) having said receiving housing (39; 139; 239) a common area (44; 144 ; 244) at least partially closed by the two main faces (5, 6; 105, 106; 205, 206), the portion of the receiving housing (39; 139; 239) being distinct from said common area (44; 144; 244 ) at least partially open by one of said main faces (5, 6; 105, 106; 205, 206) to house said strip (3; 103; 203) and said spring sheet (4; 104; 204).

9.

Block according to claim 8, characterized in that said common area (44; 144; 244) flows into said socket (54; 154; 254) and that the terminal portion of said first branch (58; 158; 258) of the sheet of spring is disposed within said common area (44; 144; 244).

10.

Block according to claim 9, characterized in that said box (2; 102; 202) includes a guide ramp of said terminal portion of said first branch (58; 158; 258) of the spring sheet (4; 104; 204) towards said common area (44; 144; 244).

eleven.

Block according to claim 10, characterized in that said ramp belongs to a wedge (42; 142; 242).

12.

Block according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said box (2; 102; 202)

it includes in said receiving housing (39; 139; 239) a pin (40; 140; 240), around which said spring sheet (4; 104; 204) is arranged.

13.

Block according to claim 12, characterized in that said pin (40; 140; 240) is located between said first and second branches (58, 59; 158, 159; 258, 259) of said spring sheet (4; 104; 204) , in the vicinity of said curved section (60; 160; 260).

14.

Block according to claim 13, characterized in that said box (2; 102; 202) includes, in said receiving housing (39; 139; 239), another pin (41; 141; 241) located between said first and second branches (58, 59; 158, 159; 258, 259) of said spring sheet (4; 104; 204) and in opposition to said curved section (60; 160; 260) relative to said pin (40; 140; 240).

fifteen.

Block according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said strip (103; 203) has a crimping means (149; 249) adapted to cooperate with a complementary crimping means (136, 131 '"; 236, 231' ") which includes said box (102; 202).

16.

Block according to claim 15, characterized in that said crimping means of said strip (103; 203) include at least one shoulder (149; 249) and said complementary means of crimping said box (102; 202) include a wall (131 ' "; 231" ') presenting a recess (136; 236) adapted to receive said projection (149; 249).

17.

Block according to claim 16, characterized in that said wall (131 "'; 231'") is flexible.

18.

Block according to claim 1, characterized in that said block includes two said spring sheets (4; 104; 204) and that said strip (3; 103; 203) includes two said portions each having a section (52; 152 ; 252) provided with a stop and a section (51; 151; 251) equipped with an alveolus (54; 154; 254), said strip also including a central section (50; 150; 250) of which each end is connected with a respective one of said portions by the end of the section (52; 152; 252) provided with a corresponding stop opposite to that connected with the section (51; 151; 251) provided with an alveolus.

19.

Block according to claim 18, characterized in that each section (52; 152) provided with a stop is transversely connected with said central section (50; 150) and with said section (51; 151) provided with a corresponding socket (54; 154) ).

twenty.

Block according to claim 18, characterized in that said sections (252) provided with a stop, said sections

(251) equipped with an alveolus (254) and said central section (250) are in extension of the other, said strip being rectilinear (203).