ES2536097T3 - Electrical assembly comprising an electrical plug and an electrical modular apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Electrical assembly comprising - an electrical plug (100) comprising an insulating body (110) and at least one connecting plug (130) protruding from said insulating body (110), and - a modular apparatus (400; 500) electrical comprising a insulating box (480; 580) of globally parallelepipedic shape, which has an opposite front face (411; 511) and a rear face (415; 515), two parallel main side faces (410; 510) that rise at the height of the box (480; 580) and two transverse faces (413, 414; 513, 514) opposite, of which one comprises at least a first opening (440, 441, 442, 443; 540, 541, 542, 543) that gives access to an electrical connection terminal (417, 419) and at least a second opening (450A, 450B; 550A, 550B) that gives access to an empty housing (451A, 451B; 551A, 551B) , said second opening (450A, 450B; 550A, 550B) being disposed between said first opening (440, 441, 442, 443; 540, 541, 542, 543) and the face of the ntera (411; 511) of said box (480; 580), and said empty housing (451A, 451B; 551A, 551B) of the modular apparatus (400; 500) comprising mounting means (425) adapted to cooperate with the engagement means (153 ) of said electric plug (100) on said box (480; 580), characterized in that said electric plug (100) comprises interlocking means (150) of its insulating body (110) on the box (480; 580) of said modular apparatus (400; 500), comprising, - on the one hand, a movable part (152) provided with said engagement means (153), adapted to cooperate with said mounting means (425) of the modular apparatus (400; 500), and a fixed part (151) belonging to said insulating body (110), said movable part (152) being slidably mounted on said fixed part (151) between a free position and a hooking position, and - on the other hand, an interlocking element (155) movably mounted on said movable part (152) between an unlocked position wherein it allows said mobile part (152) to slide over said fixed part (151) and an interlocked position in which said mobile part (152) is locked, in its engaged position, on said fixed part (151).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Electrical assembly comprising an electrical plug and an electrical modular apparatus.

5 Technical field to which the invention relates

The present invention generally relates to an electrical assembly comprising:

- an electrical plug comprising an insulating body and at least one connecting pin protruding 10 from said insulating body, and

- an electrical modular apparatus comprising an insulating box with a globally parallelepipedic shape having an opposite front and a rear facing face, two parallel lateral main faces that rise above the height of the box and two opposite transverse faces, of which one understand so

15 minus a first opening that gives access to an electrical connection terminal, and at least a second opening that gives access to an empty housing, said second opening being disposed between said first opening and the front face of said box.

Technological background

20 It is already known, in particular from patent FR 2 730 855, an electrical modular apparatus comprising in one of the transverse faces of its box an opening that gives access to an empty housing, located between the rear face of this box and another opening that gives access to a connection terminal housed inside this box.

25 This empty housing is intended to accommodate an unused tooth of a connecting comb that further feeds other electrical modular devices arranged in the same ringlera.

It is also known, from EP 0 626 711, an electrical modular apparatus comprising, on its inlet face, two openings leading to a connection terminal and two slits, located between each opening 30 leading to a terminal of connection and the front face of the device, which give access to housings that flow into the front face of the device.

These two grooves are adapted to receive a pinch leg of a cover that allows the housing of this electrical modular apparatus to be connected with the housing of another modular apparatus, in particular with the case of a differential circuit breaker 35 connected to this electrical modular apparatus.

US 2006/0243569 (US 2006/0243569) discloses, on the other hand, an electrical assembly according to the preamble of claim 1.

40 Object of the invention

The objective of the present invention is to propose another type of electrical assembly, in which the modular apparatus is more specially adapted to receive the locking means of a specific electrical plug.

For this purpose, an electrical assembly comprising an electrical plug and a modular apparatus as described in claim 1 is proposed according to the invention.

Said electric plug comprises interlocking means comprising hooking means having the form of one or two hooks arranged in front of the connecting plugs of said plug, each being

50 one of these hooks suitable for insertion into an empty housing of the modular apparatus through said second opening. In this way, the assembly of the electrical plug on the modular apparatus is interlocked and therefore secured.

Other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the electrical assembly according to the invention are described in claims 2 to 5.

Detailed description of an embodiment example

The following description, made with respect to the accompanying drawings, provided by way of non-limiting example, will help to understand well what the invention consists of and how it can be carried out.

In the attached drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of the modular apparatus of an electrical assembly according to the invention ready to receive an electrical plug of this electrical assembly;

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FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of the modular apparatus of

said electrical assembly; Y

Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the electrical plug of the electrical assembly of Figure 1; and 5-Figures 4 to 6 are sectional views of three stages of connection, engagement and interlocking of the electrical plug on the modular apparatus of the electrical assembly of Figure 1.

An electrical assembly according to the invention comprising a modular apparatus 400 is shown in Figure 1;

10 500 and an electric plug 100. In Figures 1 to 3, different embodiments of said modular apparatus 400 are shown; 500 that is adapted to be powered by said electrical plug 100.

The modular apparatus 400; 500 has a standardized width equal to a multiple of the width of a base module approximately equal to 18 millimeters, and is intended to be aligned with other electrical modular devices

15 to form a ringlera of modular devices.

According to the first embodiment represented in Figure 1, the modular apparatus 400 has a width equal to the width of a base module, while according to the second embodiment represented in Figure 2, the modular apparatus 500 has a width equal to twice the width of a base module.

20 The first embodiment of the modular apparatus 400 corresponds to a circuit breaker. The second embodiment of the modular apparatus 500 corresponds to a modular apparatus intended to be positioned at the beginning of the ringlera, of the differential circuit breaker type.

25 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the modular apparatus 400; 500 comprises a box 480; 580 globally parallelepiped insulator, made for example of plastic material, which has two main side faces 410; 510 parallel, a rear face 415; 515, a front face 411; 511 and two transverse faces 413, 414; 513, 514 opposite electrical connection.

30 In this case, the two main side faces 410; 510 of box 480; 580 of the modular apparatus 400; 500 rise over the entire height of its 480 box; 580 and are separated by a width equal to once the width of a base module.

They are intended to be brought into contact with the main side faces of other modular devices to form said edge of modular devices.

The back face 415; 515 of box 480; 580 of the modular apparatus 400; 500 usually comprises a notch 416; 516 for mounting this box 480; 580 on a support rail (not shown). Also includes mounting means of the modular apparatus 400; 500 on this support rail, intended to apply the support rail on the

40 bottom of notch 416; 516

These mounting means comprise in this case, for example, two locks 418 that extend along the rear face 415; 515 of box 480; 580 of each modular device 400; 500 on either side of the notch 416; 516 perpendicular to it. Only housing 518 of this bolt can be seen in Figure 2, not

45 the bolt being represented.

The front face 411; 511 of box 480; 580 of the modular apparatus 400; 500 comprises, projecting, in its middle zone, a part of facade 412; 512 (see Figures 1 and 2) by which said box 480; 580 is intended to emerge out of a plate (not shown), through a window of said plate, when placed in a

50 support rail, for example in an electrical cabinet.

The facade part 412; 512 of box 480; 580 of the modular apparatus 400; 500 comprises in this case a maneuver lever 435. Only the reception means 535 of this maneuver lever can be seen in Figure 2, the maneuver lever not being represented.

55 It also comprises a support 436; 536 for a location element that is protected by a transparent cover 437. This transparent cover has not been represented in Figure 2.

One of the transverse faces 414; Top 514 of box 480; 580 is called input face 414; 514 and is

60 adapted for the connection of the modular device 400; 500 to the electric plug 100 and two connecting combs (not shown) that feed the other modular devices of the ringlera.

The input face 514 of the modular apparatus 500 according to the second embodiment is further adapted for connection to power cables or a vertical connection comb connected to the mains (not

65 represented).

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Each connection comb comprises a metal connection bar housed in an insulating profile. Each connection bar comprises connection teeth protruding from the insulating profile.

The entrance face 414; 514 of the modular apparatus 400; 500 comprises six access openings 450A, 450B, 440, 441, 442, 443; 550A, 550B, 540, 541, 542, 543 arranged in two lines parallel to the side faces 410; 510 of box 480; 580 and in three ringleras parallel to its front face 411; 511

Among the six access openings 450A, 450B, 440, 441, 442, 443; 550A, 550B, 540, 541, 542, 543, first four access openings 440, 441, 442, 443; 540, 541, 542, 543 each lead to a connection terminal housed in the box of the modular device 400; 500

Two of them 440, 441; 540, 541, located on the same line, lead to connection terminals 417, 419 (see Figures 4 to 6) adapted to receive connection pins 130, 131 of said electrical plug 100 and the other two access openings 442 , 443; 542, 543 lead to two other connection terminals of the modular apparatus 400; 500 adapted to receive the connection teeth of each connection comb.

The connection terminals 417, 419 are, in this case, lira connection terminals. Alternatively, it can be any other type of connection terminals, for example screw connection terminals.

Two second access openings 450A, 450B; 550A, 550B, aligned along an axis perpendicular to said lateral faces 410; 510 of said box 480; 580 are arranged in a first front of the three lines of the box 480; 580, and each end in an empty housing 451A, 451B; 551A, 551B.

This empty housing 451A, 451B; 551A, 551B comprises a mounting means 425 (see Figures 4 to 6) adapted to cooperate with retention with means for engaging the electric plug 100 which will be described in more detail below.

In this case, this mounting means 425 consists of a groove 425 provided in a hollow in the wall of said empty housing 451A, 451B, near the mouth of the corresponding access opening, in which said means for engaging the plug are coupled. electric 100 (see figures 4 to 6).

According to the second embodiment of the modular apparatus 500, shown in Figure 3, the inlet face 514 comprises two additional access openings 561. In the inlet face 514, these two additional access openings are separated from the first four openings of access 540, 541, 542, 543 by a wall 560 that rises from this entrance face 514, perpendicularly to it, between said first four access openings 540, 541, 542, 543 and the additional access openings 561 .

These additional access openings lead to connection terminals housed in the insulating box 580.

These connection terminals are, in this case, screw connection terminals, and the front face 511 of the box 580 comprises, in the vertical of the additional access openings 561 of the input face 514, holes that give access to clamping screws 562 (see figure 3).

Each of these clamping screws, when screwed, carries a metal clamping cage that applies the stripped end of the power cable or the connection tooth of said vertical connection comb inserted in the corresponding connection terminal against a contact element connected to the internal electrical circuit of the modular device 500.

The electric plug 100 comprises, in this case, two connecting plugs 130, 131 adapted to feed the modular apparatus 400 or to derive the electric current that reaches the modular apparatus 500 via the power cables or the vertical comb towards another modular apparatus or another ringlera of modular devices.

These two connection plugs 130, 131 are partially housed in an insulating body 110 of the electrical plug

100

In the continuation of the description, the electric plug 100 will be described positioned on the box 480; 580 of the modular apparatus 400; 500 to which it is connected. In this way, the orientation of the different faces of the electric plug 100 will be determined in correspondence with the different faces of the box 480; 580 of the modular apparatus 400; 500

The insulating body 110 of the electric plug 100 comprises two parallel side faces 114, a rear face on which two power cables 120, 121 and a bottom face 116 opposite an upper face 117 arrive (see Figures 1 and 3). It is made, for example, in plastic material.

Said connection plugs 130, 131 of the electric plug 100 protrude from their insulating body 110 through the bottom face 116, perpendicular to it, and are aligned according to a plane passing through a longitudinal axis X1

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of the electrical plug 100 parallel to the side faces 114 of its insulating body 110 (see Figures 1 and 3).

Inside the insulating body 110 of the electric plug 100, each of the two connecting plugs 130, 131 is electrically connected to one of said two electric wires 120, 121 (see Figures 4 to 6) of large diameter. These are connected to the mains, carrying one 120 the neutral current, while the other 121 carries the phase current.

The two power cables 120, 121 of the electric plug 100 extend side by side, juxtaposed, in a plane perpendicular to the direction in which the connecting plugs 130, 131 of the electric plug 100 extend. One 121 of the two power cables 120, 121 is in the alignment of the connecting pins 130, 131 while the other 120 is offset.

As a variant, it is possible to provide that the two power cables of the electrical plug are each displaced symmetrically with respect to the plane containing the connecting plugs. It can also be provided that the two power cables of the electrical plug extend one over the other, in a juxtaposed or superimposed manner, in a plane parallel to the direction in which the connection plugs of the electrical plug extend.

Said electric plug 100 comprises on the front face interlocking means 150 of the insulating body 110 of said electric plug 100 on the box 480; 580 of said modular apparatus 400; 500

It should be noted that these interlocking means 150 comprise a mobile part 152 provided with engaging means 153 and a fixed part 151 belonging to said insulating body 110, said mobile part 152 being slidably mounted on said fixed part 151 between a position free (figure 4) and a hook position (figures 5 and 6).

The movable part 152 of the locking means 150 slides on said fixed part 151 along said longitudinal axis X1 of the electric plug 100.

Said interlocking means 150 of the electric plug 100 are adapted to block it on said box 480; 580 of the modular apparatus 400; 500 such that this longitudinal axis X1 is parallel to the main lateral faces 410; 510 of box 480; 580

The fixed part 151 of the locking means 150 has a generally parallelepipedic shape and extends along this longitudinal axis X1 in the alignment of the connecting pins 130, 131. The lower face of the fixed part 151 extends the lower face 116 of the body insulator 110 of the electric plug 100.

The hooking means 153 comprise in this case two hooks 153 integral with the movable part 152 of the locking means 150 extending from the inner face of the upper wall 152C of this mobile part 152, perpendicular to this upper wall 152C, in direction to the bottom face of the fixed part 151 (see Figures 4 to 6).

These hooks 153 protrude out of said movable part 152 below the lower face of the fixed part 151. A first of the two hooks 153 extends in the alignment of the connecting pins 130, 131 while the second hook 153 is offset with with respect to these connection plugs 130, 131.

Each hook 153 comprises a straight part that extends parallel to the connecting pins 130, 131 and a curved part oriented towards the rear of the electrical plug 100.

Each hook 153 passes through the fixed part 151 of the locking means 150 at the level of a groove 154 (see Figure 3) which extends along the longitudinal axis X1 of the electric plug, and in which said hook 153 travels in translation when the moving part 152 slides over the fixed part 151.

As a variant, it can be provided that the hooking means of the electric plug only comprise a single hook that extends in the alignment of the connecting pins.

In the free position of said movable part 152, the back of the hook 153 is abutted against a stop member 151A of the fixed part 151 (see Figure 4). In the engagement position of said movable part 152, it comes into abutment against the insulating body 110 of the electrical plug 100 (see Figure 5).

The interlocking means 150 also comprise a locking nail 155 movable mounted on said movable part 152 between an unlocked position in which it allows the sliding of said movable part 152 on said fixed part 151 and an interlocked position where it blocks said movable part 152 in its engaged position, on said fixed part 151.

Nail 155 has, in this case, the shape of an easel and comprises two uprights 157 (visible in figures 4

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to 6) parallels extending from the head 156 of this nail 155, in a housing 158 of the movable part 152 of the interlocking means 150, along the straight part of each hook 153 of said movable part 152 , ahead of this one.

5 This nail 155 is mobile in translation, in the movable part of said plug, along an axis perpendicular to the axis according to which said movable part slides.

In its locked position, shown in Figure 6, it protrudes from said movable part 152 in said recess 154 of the fixed part 151, between the corresponding hook 153 and said stop element 151A. Block then

10 any sliding movement of the hook 153 in said groove 154.

In their unlocked position, represented for example in Figures 4 and 5, the free end of each stud 157 of the nail 155 is positioned removed with respect to the housing 158 of the movable part 152 so that the head 156 of this nail 155 protrudes from said movable part 152 through the upper wall thereof (see the

15 figures 4 and 5).

In this unlocked position, the movable part 152 is free to slide over the fixed part 151 between said free position and said engagement position.

20 The nail 155 further comprises locking means adapted to block its translational movement in each of its locked and unlocked positions.

In the present example, it is a question of fitting means having two notches 159, 160 of each stud 157 that alternately cooperate with retention with a weatherstrip that extends in the housing 158 to block the

25 nail 155 in each of its positions (see Figures 4 to 6).

As a variant, it can be envisaged that said blocking means are disengageable enclosure means.

When using the modular apparatus according to the invention, the user connects the electrical plug 100 to said modular apparatus 400; 500, applying it on the modular apparatus 400; 500 so that the bottom face 116 of the electric plug 100 rests on the input face 414; 514 of said modular apparatus 400; 500, as shown in Figures 4 to 6, in the case of the first embodiment of the modular apparatus 400.

Each connecting plug 130, 131 of the electric plug 100 is thus connected through one of said first access openings of the input face 414; 514 of the box 480 of the modular apparatus 400, between the branches of the lyre of the corresponding connection terminal 417, 419 which is connected to the internal electrical circuit of the modular apparatus 400; 500

40 The movable part 152 is then in its free position, and the nail 155 in its unlocked position.

Each hook 153 of the locking means is inserted through one of said second access openings 450A, 450B; 550A, 550B of the input face 414; 514 of box 480; 580 in the empty housing 451A, 451B; 551A, 551B corresponding. The empty housing 451A, 451B; 551A, 551B also hosts the stop part

45 151A of the fixed part 151 of the locking means 150 protruding from the underside of this fixed part151.

The electrical connection of the electrical plug 100 with the modular apparatus 400; 500 is then secured with the use of interlocking means 150 according to two successive stages of engagement and interlocking shown in Figures 5 and 6.

50 In the engagement stage (figure 5), the user causes the movable part 152 of the locking means 150 to slide on its fixed part 151 from its free position towards its engagement position, butt against the insulating body 110 of the plug electric 100.

55 In doing so, each hook 153 slides in the groove 154 and in the empty housing 451A, 451B; 551A, 551B corresponding and its curved portion is engaged in slot 425 of said empty housing 451A, 451B; 551A; 551B.

The nail 155 is then placed in front of a free part of the groove 154 of the fixed part 151 of the locking means 150 and of the access opening 450A, 450B; 550A, corresponding 550B of the modular apparatus 400;

60,500

To interlock the connection of the electric plug 100 (Figure 6), the user presses on the head 156 of the nail 155 to release the cooperation of the notch 159 of each stud 157 of the nail 155 and the weatherstrip of the housing 158 of the moving part 152, and move it in translation through the groove 154 and the access opening 450A,

65 450B; 550A, 550B of the input face 414; 514 of the modular apparatus 400; 500

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The width of the nail 155 is such that it comes to seal the groove 154 and the access opening 450A, 450B; 550A, 550B, blocking any movement of the hook 153 in said housing 451A, 451B; 551A, 551B corresponding. The hook 153 is thus locked coupled in the slot 425 of the empty housing 451A, 451B; 551A, 551B.

5 The electrical plug 100 is then solidly hooked onto the box 480; 580 of the modular apparatus 400; 500, and any tearing of this electric plug 100 is prevented.

The user also plugs the connection teeth located at the end of the two connection combs through

10 of each of the other first access openings 442, 443; 542, 543, and connect these connection combs to the other modular devices of the ringlera.

Finally, in the case of the modular apparatus 500, this differential circuit breaker is, on the other hand, connected to the power grid by introducing the connection teeth of said vertical connection comb or said cables

15 through the additional access openings 561. The wall 560 allows to avoid any risk of accidental connection of this vertical connection comb or of these power cables in the connection terminals 540, 541, 542, 543 neighbors, which would cause a short circuit.

To unlock the electric plug 100, the user inserts the tip of a screwdriver into a slot 161

20 (see Figures 3 to 6) of the head 156 of the nail 155, in order to release the cooperation of the other notch 160 of each stud 157 of the nail 155 and of the weatherstrip of the housing 158 of the movable part 152 and of lifting the nail 155 by a lever effect.

The removal of the plug is then carried out easily, according to some stages inverse to those of its coupling and its connection.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented, but the person skilled in the art will know how to provide any variant according to the invention defined in the claims.

In particular, it can be provided that the modular apparatus only comprises a second access opening that leads to an empty housing for the engagement of an electrical plug comprising only a hook.

Claims (4)

1. Electrical assembly comprising 5 -a electrical plug (100) comprising an insulating body (110) and at least one connection plug (130) protruding from said insulating body (110), and - an electric modular apparatus (400; 500) comprising an insulating box (480; 580) of a globally parallelepipedic shape, having a front face (411; 511) and a rear face (415; 515) opposite, two main faces 10 parallel sides (410; 510) that rise at the height of the box (480; 580) and two opposite transverse faces (413, 414; 513, 514), of which one comprises at least a first opening (440, 441, 442, 443; 540, 541, 542, 543) that gives access to an electrical connection terminal (417, 419) and at least a second opening (450A, 450B; 550A, 550B) that gives access to a housing vacuum (451A, 451B; 551A, 551B), said second opening (450A, 450B; 550A, 550B) being disposed between said First opening (440, 441, 442, 443; 540, 541, 542, 543) and the front face (411; 511) of said box (480; 580), and said empty housing (451A, 451B; 551A, 551B) of the modular apparatus (400; 500) comprising mounting means (425) adapted to cooperate with the hooking means (153) of said electric plug (100) on said box (480; 580), characterized in that said electrical plug (100) comprises interlocking means (150) of its insulating body (110) on the housing (480; 580) of said modular apparatus (400; 500), comprising, 25 - on the one hand, a movable part (152) provided with said coupling means (153), adapted to cooperate with said mounting means (425) of the modular apparatus (400; 500), and a fixed part (151) that belongs to said insulating body (110), said movable part (152) being slidably mounted on said fixed part (151) between a free position and a hooking position, and 30 -On the other hand, an interlocking element (155) movably mounted on said movable part (152) between an unlocked position in which it allows said movable part (152) to slide on said fixed part (151) and an interlocked position in which said moving part (152), in its engagement position, is locked on said fixed part (151). Electrical assembly according to the preceding claim, in which at least a first opening (440, 441, 442, 443; 540, 541, 542, 543) and at least a second opening (450A, 450B; 550A, 550B) of the modular apparatus (400; 500) are aligned along an axis parallel to said lateral main faces (410; 510) of said box (480; 580). 3. Electrical assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein they are provided on said apparatus Modular (400; 500) two second openings (450A, 450B; 550A, 550B) aligned along an axis perpendicular to said lateral main faces (410; 510) of said box (480; 580). 4. Electrical assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said mounting means (425) of said empty housing (451A, 451B; 551A, 551B) of the modular apparatus (400; 500) comprise a groove (425) 45 provided hollow in the wall of said empty housing (451A, 451B; 551A, 551B), near the mouth of said second opening (450A, 450B; 550A, 550B) in this empty housing (451A, 451B; 551A, 551B ). 5. Electrical assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein they are provided in said apparatus modular, (400; 500) at least two first openings (440, 441, 442, 443; 540, 541, 542, 543) aligned along an axis parallel to said lateral main faces (410; 510) of said box ( 480; 580). 8