ES2536101T3 - Electric plug provided with interlocking means - Google Patents

Abstract

Electrical plug (100; 200; 300) to be connected to an electrical modular device (400), comprising: - an insulating body (110; 210; 310); - at least one connection pin (130, 131; 230, 231; 330, 331) that protrudes from said insulating body (110; 210; 310); and - interlocking means (150; 250; 350) of the insulating body (110; 210; 310) in the housing (480) of said modular apparatus (400); said locking means (150; 250; 350) comprising: - a movable part (152; 252; 352) which is provided with hooking means (153; 253; 353) in the box (480) of said modular apparatus (400 ) and a fixed part (151) belonging to said insulating body (110; 210; 310), said movable part (152; 252; 352) being slidably mounted on said fixed part (151) between a free position and a hitch position; and - an interlocking element (155; 255; 355) adapted to be mounted on said movable part at least in an interlocked position in which said movable part (152; 252; 352) is locked in its engagement position on said part fixed (151), characterized in that - said interlocking element (155; 255; 355) comprises a nail (155; 255; 355) mounted movable in translation on the movable part (152; 252; 352) of said plug (100 ; 200; 300), along an axis perpendicular to the axis according to which said movable part (152; 252; 352) slides, between said locked position in which it protrudes from said movable part (152; 252; 352) in a groove ( 154) of the fixed part (151) that houses it, and an unlocked position in which it allows said mobile part (152; 252; 352) to slide over said fixed part (151) and in which it protrudes from said mobile part (152; 252; 352) through the upper wall (152C; 252C; 352C) of the latter, and why - said nail (155; 255; 355) bought therefore, blocking means (159, 160) adapted to block its translational movement in each of its two positions.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Electric plug provided with interlocking means.

Technical field to which the invention relates

The present invention relates in general to an electrical plug to be connected to a modular electrical apparatus, comprising an insulating body, at least one connecting pin protruding from said insulating body, and interlocking means of the insulating body over the box of said modular electrical apparatus.

Technological background

An electric plug is used in particular to connect a modular device to the power grid arranged at the head of a ringlera of modular devices. Then, the other modular devices of this ringlera are fed thanks to a connecting comb, connected to this modular head unit. It can also be used to make a shunt between two ringleras.

This electrical plug is connected to the mains by means of large diameter power cables that are not very flexible. Safety regulations require that an electrical plug of this type be firmly attached and interlocked on the modular device to which it is connected, in order to avoid accidental disconnection of this electrical plug caused for example by the voltage of the power cables.

It is already known, in particular from EP 1 378 977, an electrical connection comb comprising a plurality of connection pins housed in an insulating body, as well as interlocking means that are presented in different shapes, in particular in in the form of a hook that belongs to the longitudinal side wall of this comb or in the form of a monobloc clip integral with the insulating body of said connecting comb.

These interlocking means suffer in particular from the inconvenience of being difficult to unlock. Indeed, the removal of the connection comb requires the use of a tool and relatively long handling by the user.

In addition, interlocking means of this type are subject to strong mechanical stresses that can cause their rupture, in particular in the aging of the plastic material from which they are made.

It is also known from EP 0 589 780 a disconnecting apparatus for connecting to an electrical modular apparatus. This sectioning apparatus comprises a moving part that slides over a fixed part. This moving part is provided with an orientation element that forces a heel to feel the position of a button located on the front face of the electric modular apparatus before operating the disconnector.

However, this disconnecting device suffers from the inconvenience of being able to be disconnected at any time since its assembly in the modular apparatus is not safe.

Object of the invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a solution to the drawbacks of the state of the art, proposing an electrical plug comprising interlocking means adapted to firmly hold the electrical plug on an electrical modular apparatus while being subjected to mechanical forces weak and easy to unlock.

For this purpose, an electrical plug as described in claim 1 is proposed according to the invention.

In this way, the electrical plug is firmly held in the box of the modular device, but its interlocking means are only subjected to weak forces: the fixing means are brought to their sliding engagement position, and locked in their engaging position. by an interlocking element.

Other advantageous but non-limiting characteristics of the electrical plug according to the invention are described in claims 2 to 9.

Detailed description of an embodiment example

The following description, made with respect to the attached 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:

-Figure 1 is a perspective view, above, of a first embodiment of the electrical plug according to

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the invention ready to be connected to a modular apparatus;

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the electrical plug of Figure 1;

5 - Figure 3 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of the electrical plug;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a third embodiment of the electric plug; and

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views of three stages of connection, engagement and interlocking 10 of the electrical plug of Figure 1 on the modular apparatus.

In figures 1 to 4 different embodiments of an electric plug 100 are shown; 200; 300 which herein forms a bypass plug for the power supply of an electrical modular apparatus 400.

15 The electric plug 100; 200; 300 herein comprises two connecting pins 130, 131; 230, 231; 330, 331 adapted to feed the biphasic modular apparatus 400, partially housed in an insulating body 110; 210; 310 of the electric plug 100; 200; 300

20 Alternatively, it is possible to provide that the electrical plug comprises a single connection plug for supplying a single-phase modular device.

In the continuation of the text, the electric plug 100; 200; 300 is described positioned on the box 480 of the modular apparatus 400 to which it is connected. Thus, the orientation of the different faces of the electric plug 25; 200; 300 will be determined in correspondence with the different faces of the box 480 of the modular apparatus 400.

The insulating body 110; 210; 310 of the electric plug 100; 200; 300 comprises two side faces 114; 214; 314 parallel, a rear face to which two power cables 120, 121 arrive; 220, 221; 320, 321 and a lower face 30 116; 216; 316 opposite an upper face 117; 217; 317 (see Figures 1, 3 and 4). It is made, for example, in plastic material.

Said connection pins 130, 131; 230, 231; 330, 331 of the electric plug 100; 200; 300 protrude from insulating body 110; 210; 310 through the lower face 116; 216; 316, perpendicular to it, and are aligned 35 in a plane passing through a longitudinal axis X1; X2; X3 of the electric plug 100; 200; 300 parallel to the side faces 114; 214; 314 of its insulating body 110; 210; 310 (see Figures 1, 3 and 4).

Inside the insulating body 110; 210; 310 of the electric plug 100; 200; 300, each of the two connecting pins 130, 131; 230, 231; 330, 331 is electrically connected to one of said two power cables 120, 40 121; 220, 221; 320, 321 (see Figures 5 to 7) of large diameter. These are connected to the electricity grid, carrying one 120; 220; 320 the neutral current, while the other 121; 221; 321 carries the phase current.

According to the first embodiment of the invention represented in Figures 1, 2 and 5 to 7, the two power cables 120, 121 of the electric plug 100 extend side by side, in a juxtaposed manner, in a

45 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 plugs 130, 131, while the other 120 is displaced.

According to the second embodiment shown in Figure 3, the two power cables 220, 221 of the

50 electric plug 200 extend side by side, juxtaposed, in a plane perpendicular to the direction in which the connecting plugs 230, 231 of the electric plug 200 extend. They are each displaced symmetrically with respect to the plane containing the connection plugs 230, 231.

According to the third embodiment shown in Figure 4, the two power cables 320, 321 of the electric plug 300 extend one above the other, in a juxtaposed or superimposed manner, in a plane parallel to the direction in which extend the connection pins 330, 331 of the electric plug 300.

Said electric plug 100; 200; 300 comprises interlocking means 150 on the front face; 250; 350 of insulating body 110; 210; 310 of said electric plug 100; 200; 300 in an insulating box 480 of said modular apparatus 60 400.

Notably, these interlocking means 150; 250; 350 comprise a mobile part 152; 252; 352 provided with coupling means 153; 253; 353 and a fixed part 151 (see Figure 2) belonging to said insulating body 110; 210; 310, said movable part 152 being; 252; 352 slidably mounted on said fixed part

65 151 between a free position (figures 2 and 5) and a hooking position (figures 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7).

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The mobile part 152; 252; 352 of interlocking means 150; 250; 350 slides on said fixed part 151 along said longitudinal axis X1; X2; X3 of the electric plug 100; 200; 300

The fixed part 151 of the locking means 150; 250; 350 has a generally parallelepipedic shape and extends along this longitudinal axis X1; X2; X3, in the alignment of the connecting pins 130, 131; 230, 231; 330,

331. The lower face of the fixed part 151 extends the lower face 116; 216; 316 of insulating body 110; 210; 310 of the electric plug 100; 200; 300

The mobile part 152; 252; 352 comprises two side walls 152A, 252A; 352A joined by a top wall

10 152C, 252C, 352C and a front wall 152B; 252B; 352B (Figures 1 to 4) forming an inner housing 152D (Figures 5 to 7) which flows outwardly through a side opening and which houses the fixed part 151 of the locking means 150; 250; 350

The coupling means 153; 253; 353 in this case comprise one (figures 3 and 4) or two (figures 1 and 2) hooks

15 153; 253; 353 in solidarity with the mobile part 152; 252; 352 of interlocking means 150; 250; 350, which extend from the inner face of the upper wall 152C; 252C; 352C of this mobile part 152; 252; 352 perpendicular to this upper wall 152C; 252C; 352C, in the direction of the lower face of the fixed part 151. This hook 153; 253; 353 protrudes outside said movable part 152; 252; 352 under the underside of the fixed part 151.

20 Each hook 153; 253; 353 has a straight part that extends parallel to the connecting pins 130, 131; 230, 231; 330, 331 and a curved part oriented towards the back of the electrical plug 100; 200; 300

In the free position of said mobile part 152; 252; 352, the back of each hook 153; 253; 353 is placed butt against a stopper element 151A; 251A; 351A of the fixed part 151 (see Figure 5).

25 In the engagement position of said mobile part 152; 252; 352, this is placed against the insulating body 110; 210; 310 of the electric plug 100; 200; 300 (see figure 6).

According to the first embodiment represented in Figures 1,2 and 5 to 7, 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 respect to these connection plugs 130, 131.

According to the second and third embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 4, the engagement means 253; 353 of the electric plug comprise a single hook 253; 353 extending in the alignment of the connecting pins 230, 231; 330, 331.

Whatever the embodiment of the invention, each hook 153; 253; 353 passes through the fixed part 151 of the locking means 150; 250; 350 at the height of one or two grooves 154 (see Figure 1) extending along the longitudinal axis X1; X2; X3 of the electric plug 100; 200; 300, and in which each hook 153; 253; 353 se

40 displaces in translation when the mobile part 152; 252; 352 slides on the fixed part 151 of the locking means 150; 250; 350

The interlocking means 150; 250; 350; they also comprise an interlocking element 155; 255; 355 mounted mobile on said mobile part 152; 252; 352 between an unlocked position in which it allows sliding of said movable part 152; 252; 352 on said fixed part 151 and a locked position in which said moving part 152 blocks; 252; 352 in its engagement position, on said fixed part 151.

This interlocking element 155; 255; 355 is formed in this case by a nail 155; 255; 355. According to the second and third embodiments, nail 255; 355 comprises a single amount. According to the first way

50 (visible in Figures 5 to 7), the nail 155 is in the form of an easel and comprises two parallel uprights 157. Each post 157 extends from head 156; 256; 356 of this nail 155; 255; 355, in a housing 158 of the mobile part 152; 252; 352 of interlocking means 150; 250; 350, along the straight part of each hook 153; 253; 353 of said mobile part 152; 252; 352, ahead of this one.

55 This nail 155; 255; 355 is mobile in translation in the mobile part of said plug along an axis perpendicular to the axis according to which said moving part slides.

In its locked position, represented for example in Figure 7, it protrudes from said movable part 152; 252; 352 in said groove 154 of the fixed part 151, between the hook 153; 253; Corresponding 353 and said stop element 60 151A. It then blocks any sliding movement of the hook 153; 253; 353 in said groove 154.

In its unlocked position, represented for example in Figures 5 and 6, the free end of each stud 157 of the nail 155; 255; 355 is positioned removed with respect to the housing 158 of the mobile part 152; 252; 352, so that head 156; 256; 356 of this nail 155; 255; 355 protrudes from said movable part 152; 252; 352, to

65 through upper wall 152C; 252C; 352C of this (see Figures 5 and 6).

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In this unlocked position, the movable part 152; 252; 352 is free to slide on the fixed part 151 between said free position and said engagement position.

The mobile part 152; 252; 352 is in this case inseparable from the fixed part 151 of the locking means 150; 250; 350 and therefore is advantageously unmissable.

Nail 155; 255; 355, on the other hand, comprises locking means capable of blocking its translational movement in each of its locked and unlocked positions.

In particular, they are embedded means having two notches 159, 160 of each stud 157; 257; 357 (see Figures 5 to 7) which cooperate alternately with retention, with a weatherstrip extending in the housing 158 to block the nail 155; 255; 355 in each of their positions.

As a variant, it can be provided that said blocking means are removable encycling means.

The modular apparatus 400 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 to form a border of modular devices. Here, it has a width equal to the width of a base module.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the electric plug 100; 200 according to the first and second embodiments has a width between half the width of a base module and the width of a base module. Its width measured at the height of the connecting plugs 130, 131; 230, 231 is less than or equal to half the width of a base module.

As shown in Figure 4, the electrical plug 300 according to the third embodiment has a width less than or equal to half the width of a base module in its entire length.

As shown more particularly in Figure 1, the modular apparatus 400 comprises an insulating housing 480 in a globally parallelepipedic manner, made for example of plastic material, having two parallel main side faces 410, a rear face 415, a front face 411 and two opposite transverse faces 413, 414 of electrical connection.

In this case, said two main side faces 410 of the box 480 of the modular apparatus 400 are raised throughout the height of its box 480 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.

In this case, said interlocking means 150; 250; 350 of said electric plug 100; 200; 300 are adapted to lock it on the housing 480 of the modular apparatus 400 so that this longitudinal axis X1; X2; X3 is parallel to the main side faces 410 of said box 480.

The rear face 415 of the box 480 of the modular device 400 usually comprises a notch 416 for mounting this box 480 on a support rail (not shown). It also includes mounting means of the modular device 400 on the rail of support, intended to apply the support rail at the bottom of this notch 416.

These mounting means comprise in this case, for example, two bolts 418 that extend along the rear face 415 of the housing 480 of each modular apparatus 400, on either side of the notch 416, perpendicularly thereto.

The front face 411 of the box 480 of the modular apparatus 400 comprises, protruding, in its middle area, a facade part 412 through which said box 480 is intended to emerge out of a plate (not shown), through a window of this plate, when placed in a support rail, for example in an electrical cabinet.

The facade part 412 of the box 480 of the modular apparatus 400 comprises in this case a maneuvering lever

435

One of the upper transverse faces 414 of the box 480 is called the input face 414 and is adapted for the connection of the modular apparatus 400 to the electrical outlet 100; 200; 300 and two connecting combs (not shown) that feed the other modular devices of the ringlera.

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

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The input face 414 of the modular apparatus 400 comprises in this case six access openings 450A, 450B, 440, 441, 442, 443 arranged in two lines parallel to the side faces 410 of the box 480 and in three rows parallel to its face front 411 (see figure 1).

Two first access openings 450A, 450B are arranged on a first front of the three lines of the box 480 and each flow into an empty housing 451A, 451B comprising a mounting means 425 (see Figures 5 to 7) adapted to cooperate with retention with each hook 153; 253; 353 of the electric plug 100; 200; 300

In this case, the mounting means 425 consists of a slot 425 provided in a hollow in the wall of said empty housing 451A, 451B, near the mouth of the corresponding access opening, in which the curved part of the hook 153 will be coupled. ; 253; 353

Among the other four access openings 440, 441, 442, 443, two of them 440, 441, located on the same line, flow into connection terminals 417, 419 (see Figures 5 to 7) adapted to receive a of the connection plugs 130, 131; 230, 231 of the electric plug 100; 200; 300 and the other two access openings 442, 443 flow into two other connection terminals of the modular apparatus 400 adapted to receive the connection teeth of each connection comb.

The connection terminals 417, 419 housed in the housing 480 of said modular apparatus 400 are, in this case, lira connection terminals. Alternatively, it can be any other type of connection terminals, for example screw connection terminals.

As shown in Figure 5, to connect the electric plug 100; 200; 300 to said modular apparatus 400, said electrical plug 100 is applied; 200; 300 on the modular apparatus 400 such that its lower face 116; 216; 316 rests on the entrance face 414 of said modular apparatus 400. The movable part 152; 252; 352 is then in its free position, and nail 155; 255; 355 in its unlocked position.

Each plug 130, 131; 230, 231; 330, 331 of the electric plug 100; 200; 300 is connected through one of said other access openings of the input face 414 of the housing 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 device 400.

Each hook 153; 253; 353 of the interlocking means is inserted through one of the first two access openings 450A, 450B, in the corresponding empty housing 451A, 451B of the box 480 of the modular apparatus 400. The empty housing 451A, 451B also houses the part of stop 151A of the fixed part 151; 251; 351 of the interlocking means 150; 250; 350 protruding from the underside of this fixed part 151.

This stop part 151A also facilitates the centering of the electrical plug 150; 250; 350

The electrical connection of the electrical plug 100; 200; 300 with the modular apparatus 400 is then secured with the use of the locking means 150; 250; 350 according to two successive stages of engagement and interlocking shown in Figures 6 and 7.

In the engagement stage, the user slides the mobile part 152; 252; 352 of interlocking means 150; 250; 350 on the fixed part 151, from its free position towards its engagement position, butt against the insulating body 110; 210; 310 of the electric plug 100; 200; 300

In doing so, each hook 153; 253; 353 slides in the groove 154 and in the corresponding empty housing 451A, 451B, and its curved portion engages in the groove 425 of said empty housing 451A, 451B (Figure 6).

Nail 155; 255; 355 is then placed in front of a free part of the groove 154 of the fixed part 151; 251; 351 of the interlocking means 150; 250; 350 and the corresponding access opening 450A, 450B of the modular apparatus 400.

To lock the connection of the electric plug 100; 200; 300, the user presses on head 156; 256; 356 of nail 155; 255; 355 to release the cooperation of notch 159 of each stud 157; 257; 357 of nail 155; 255; 355 and of the housing weatherstrip 158 of the mobile part 152, 252; 352 and move nail 155; 255; 355 in translation through the groove 154 and the access opening 450A, 450B of the inlet face 414 of the modular apparatus 400, to its locked position (Figure 7).

The width of the nail 155; 255; 355 is such that it comes to seal the groove 154 and the access opening 450A, 450B, blocking any movement of the hook 153; 253; 353 in said corresponding housing 451A, 451B. Hook 153; 253; 353 is thus locked, coupled in slot 425 of the empty housing 451A.

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The electric plug 100; 200; 300 is then solidly hooked on the housing 480 of the modular apparatus 400, and any tearing of this electrical plug 100 is prevented; 200; 300

5 The geometry of the head 156; 256; 356 of nail 155; 255; 355 is such that there is a space between this head 156; 256; 356 of nail 155; 255; 355 and upper wall 152C; 252C; 352C of the mobile part 152, 252; 352 of the locking means 150; 250; 350

To unlock the electric plug 100; 200; 300, the user inserts the tip of a screwdriver in this space

10 which in this case forms a groove 161; 261; 361 (see Figures 1 to 4) in order to release the cooperation of the other notch 160 of each stud 157; 257; 357 of nail 155; 255; 355 and of the housing weatherstrip 158 of the mobile part 152, 252; 352, and lift the nail 155; 255; 355 for 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 as defined in the claims.

In particular, the different embodiments described herein can be combined.

Claims (8)

1. Electrical plug (100; 200; 300) to be connected to an electrical modular device (400), comprising: 5-an insulating body (110; 210; 310); - at least one connection pin (130, 131; 230, 231; 330, 331) that protrudes from said insulating body (110; 210; 310); Y 10 -a interlocking means (150; 250; 350) of the insulating body (110; 210; 310) in the housing (480) of said modular apparatus (400); said interlocking means comprising (150; 250; 350): 15 -a movable part (152; 252; 352) which is provided with coupling means (153; 253; 353) in the box (480) of said modular apparatus (400) and a fixed part (151) belonging to said insulating body (110; 210; 310), said movable part (152; 252; 352) being slidably mounted on said fixed part (151) between a free position and an engagement position; Y 20 - an interlocking element (155; 255; 355) adapted to be mounted on said mobile part at least in an interlocked position in which said mobile part (152; 252; 352) is locked in its engagement position on said part fixed (151), characterized by that 25 - said interlocking element (155; 255; 355) comprises a nail (155; 255; 355) mounted movable in translation on the movable part (152; 252; 352) of said plug (100; 200; 300), according to an axis perpendicular to the axis according to which said moving part slides (152; 252; 352), between said locked position in which it protrudes from said moving part (152; 252; 352) in a groove (154) of the fixed part ( 151) that hosts it, and 30 an unlocked position in which it allows said mobile part (152; 252; 352) to slide on said fixed part (151) and in which said mobile part (152; 252; 352) protrudes through the upper wall (152C; 252C; 352C) of this one, and why - said nail (155; 255; 355) comprises blocking means (159, 160) adapted to block its translation movement in each of its two positions. 2. An electric plug (100; 200; 300) according to the preceding claim, wherein said hooking means (153; 253; 353) comprise at least one hook (153; 253; 353) adapted to cooperate with retention with about mounting means (425) of said box (480). 40 3. An electric plug (100; 200; 300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking means (159, 160) are a fitting means. 4. An electric plug according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking means are about 45 enclosure means that can be disengaged. An electric plug (100; 200; 300) according to claim 3, wherein said locking means (159; 160) comprise two notches (159, 160) located on said nail (155; 255; 355) and a heel which extends over the fixed part (151). fifty An electric plug (100; 200; 300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said electric plug (100, 200; 300) comprises two connecting plugs (130, 131; 230, 231; 330, 331) which they are aligned along the sliding axis of said moving part on said fixed part. 7. Electrical plug (100; 200) according to the preceding claim, wherein the two connecting plugs (130, 131; 230, 231) of the electrical plug are supplied by two power cables (120, 121; 220, 221 ) juxtaposed in a plane perpendicular to the direction according to which said connecting pins (130, 131; 230, 231) extend. 8. Electrical plug (300) according to claim 6, wherein the two connecting plugs (330, 331) of the plug 60 (300) electric are fed by two electric current cables (320, 321) juxtaposed in a plane parallel to the direction according to which said connecting pins (330, 331) extend. 9. Electric plug (100; 200; 300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the width of this electrical plug, considered at the height of its connection plugs (130, 131; 230, 231; 330, 331) is less than or equal to half the width of a base module. 8