FR2571904A1 - Electrical installation and components constituting it - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is an electrical installation and components constituting it. The electrical installation 1, of the type including a branch box, includes capacitive-effect control members 6 and includes thin self- adhesive insulated metal strips 3 providing the connection between the capacitive member or members 6 and a relay device housed in the branch box 2, this said relay device being associated with at least one receiver member 7.

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical installation and the elements constituting it.

Electrical installations are known which are made up of prefabricated elements in the factory.

Such elements are known as "octopus".

These elements are constituted by a central junction box to which are connected several electric lines constituted by electric wires.

These electrical wires are grouped in synthetic material sheaths.

The octopus as described is generally placed on the ceiling of the room to be fitted, and the electrical wires, and the sheaths are brought vertically into the room before the construction of the partitions.

It is easily understood that such elements and that such a way of operating is likely to reduce the manufacturing costs of electrical installations.

However, the cost of the various electrical components necessary for the production of such an octopus is itself quite high and further burdens the total cost of these installations.

 It should also be noted that after the construction of the walls, those skilled in the art will have to arrange in them one or more grooves which serve as accommodation for one or more sheaths.

These neat are filled in after the sheaths have been put in place. It is immediately apparent that these operations are likely to lengthen the manufacturing time of electrical installations and further increase the cost of these installations.

In addition, it should be noted that despite the prefabrication in the factory of such octopuses, the connection of the control members and receiver members to the power lines requires the presence of qualified personnel.

Faced with these drawbacks, the applicant has implemented a new type of electrical installation, each component of which lends itself better to prefabrication and the installation of which does not necessarily require qualified personnel.

In addition, the Applicant has implemented an electrical installation for which the grooving work is reduced. More precisely, the electrical installation is such that it does not require grooves for the electrical lines which connect to the control members.
To further reduce the cost of electrical installations, the applicant sought to reduce the use of conventional components (electrical wires and sheaths) necessary for an electrical connection between the control members and the junction box.

To this end, the electrical installation according to the invention of the type of those comprising an octopus consisting of a junction box to which several electrical lines are connected to ensure the distribution of the electric current at several points of the building and to ensure the connection electric between control elements and receiving elements, is essentially characterized in that the electric lines associated with the control elements are partly or entirely constituted by insulated, flat, thin metal strips affixed to the partitions of the local, that the control elements have a capacitive effect and that the junction box receives a relay device ensuring the electrical relay between the control elements and the receiver elements.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the junction box comprises means which are suitable for receiving the electrical relay members and the electrical connecting members between several electrical lines and / or between these electrical lines and the relay members, so as to lend itself better to a prefabrication and in particular to an automation of the connection operation.

An electrical installation having the aforementioned technical characteristics has a total cost lower than 20% of the installations of the prior art.

In addition, such an installation can be carried out by unqualified personnel.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the description of a preferred embodiment given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which - Figure 1 is a view in installation perspective according to
the invention, - Figure 2 is a sectional view of a junction box put
used in the context of the installation according to the invention, - Figure 3 is a top view of the junction box, - Figure 4 is a perspective view of a control member, - Figure 5 is a detail view showing the connection between
metal strips, - Figure 6 is a schematic view of one of the channels of the device
tif of relay, - Figure 7 is a sectional view of a member ensuring the connection
electric between a metal strip and an electric wire, - Figure 8 is an external view of the box, - Figure 9 is a sectional view of a sleeve receiving the box
bypass te.

- Figure 10 is a sectional view of another embodiment
tion of the control member.

As shown in Figure 1, the electrical installation of a room, according to the invention comprises in particular, an octopus 1 which includes a junction box 2 to which are connected several electrical lines to allow the distribution of current at different points of the local and to enable electrical connection to be made between control members 6 and receiving members 7.

In accordance with the invention, the electrical lines which provide an electrical connection between a control member and the bypass boot are formed wholly or in part by an insulated, flat metal strip of small thickness 3 affixed to the partition while the control member 6 associated with this line is constituted by a capacitive effect member, for example a touch button.

According to this arrangement, the junction box 2 is equipped with at least one relay device 4 which detects the pressing of the touch-sensitive button and which opens or closes, as the case may be, the supply circuit of the receiving member 7.

It should be noted that these metal strips are not housed in the sheaths and that they are directly affixed to the partition.

Preferably these bands are affixed to the finishing layer of the partition (plaster) before the installation of the tapestries.

It is immediately apparent that this arrangement makes it possible to reduce the number of grooves to be made and allows a saving in exposure time as well as a saving in sheath length.

The strip 3 is constituted, for example, by a strip of aluminum of small thickness and small width coated with a synthetic material with low electrical conduction.

It is quite obvious that the maximum intensity of the current which can circulate in the electric line constituted by the metal strip 3 is limited to a very low value so as to avoid all dangers of electrocution.

For example, the intensity of this current has a value of 12 micro amperes.

In Figure 1, we can see that the octopus 1 is spread over the ceiling of the room to be equipped and that the electrical wires and sheaths radiate in several horizontal directions before being brought vertically into the enclosure of the room to connect either to a receiving member 7, for example a lamp, either to a control member 6, or to a socket outlet 8.

Preferably, the vertical part of the electrical line connecting the junction box to a control member is constituted by an insulated metal strip 3 while the horizontal part of this line is constituted by an electric wire 5 placed under sheath 9.

The connection between the metal strip and the electric wire is carried out using any means and methods known to those skilled in the art.

For example, there is provided a box 10 comprising at least one internal connection member 20 to which the electric wire and the metal strip are connected.

Preferably, this box is mounted under the ceiling.

The internal connection member is for example constituted by a clamp provided with a fixed toothed jaw 20A, integral with the case and by a metal toothed jaw 208 mounted in articulation on the previous one. Between these two jaws are disposed the stripped end of the wire 5 and the end of the strip 3.

The teeth of the jaws are capable of perforating the insulating coating of the strip 3 so as to come into contact with the metal of the strip or to perforate the latter.

In addition, these jaws come into contact with the stripped end of the wire.

Preferably, the two jaws include self-locking members which maintain pressure against one another.

It can also be seen in this figure that the strip 3 is connected to a horizontal insulated metal strip 3A.

To this horizontal strip 3a can be connected other vertical insulated metal strips 3 each associated with a control member 6.

In this way, a receiving member 7 can be controlled by several control members 6.

 To ensure the electrical connection between the two strips 3 and 3, the end of one of them is affixed to the other strip.

To maintain the two bands in contact with each other and to ensure the electrical connection between these two bands, a staple 11 is provided which punctures both the insulation and the metal of each band.

Preferably, the clip 11 is of the type of those having a
head 11A and four points 11B which perforate the two strips and sink into the lining of the partition.

According to another embodiment, the two strips 3 after demolding are welded to each other using material which performs cold welding.

Advantageously, the strips 3 and 3A are each provided on one of the faces of their insulator with an adhesive coating so as to be glued to the partition.

Thus, the installation of the strips 3 and 3A is carried out quickly and easily.

The capacitive effect control members which are each associated with a vertical strip 3 each consist of an insulating wall 12 of square shape made of synthetic material constituting the dielectric and by a metal layer 13 affixed to the insulating wall.

The control member is fixed to the partition so that the metal face is turned towards the latter.

The strip which is associated with this control member is pressed between the partition and the metal layer.

Metal pins 27 are arranged on the metal layer 13. These pins perforate the strip 3 and provide the electrical connection between the metal of this strip and the metal layer 13. These pins 21 also make it possible to fix the end of the strip 3 to the control unit 6.

To be fixed to the partition, the control member 6 is provided at each angle with an adhesive pad 12 known per se.

Advantageously, the wall is also equipped with four blind holes closed by a veil intended to be broken if necessary for the mounting of a fixing screw to the partition.

Preferably, the insulating wall of the control member is provided with a hollow shape 15 to receive the lower end of the vertical bung 6.

This hollow shape is practiced in the metallic face of the wall of the control member and runs from the horizontal upper edge of said wall 12 to about its median zone.

The width of this hollow shape corresponds substantially to the width of the strip 3.

It is obvious that the metal layer which comprises the control member is also affixed in the hollow form.

According to this embodiment, the pins 21 are projecting from the face 15A of the hollow shape 15, this face 15A of the hollow shape 15, being the one on which the strip 3 is affixed.

As before, these pins pierce the strip 3 and provide the electrical connection between the metal of this strip and the metallic layer of the face 15 A and the metallic layer 13.

Advantageously, the pins 21 are integral with a plate inserted in the wall 12 of the member 6 during the manufacture of the latter. According to an alternative embodiment, the control member 6 comprises a plate 34 made of synthetic material on which the pins 21 are projecting, this plate being affixed to the partition. In addition, the control member comprises a metal plate 35 provided with several housings 36 which each receive a pin 21 in wedging.

The strip 3 is interposed between the plate 34 and the plate 35 and is perforated by the pins 21.

Preferably the plate 34 has an adhesive coating for sticking to the partition. It is obvious that any other method of attachment may be used.

Preferably the metal plate 35 is bordered by a frame 37 of synthetic material.

It is understood that according to this embodiment the plate 35 is visible. According to another embodiment, the frame 37 is provided with a veil which covers the plate 35. According to yet another alternative embodiment, the control member consists only of a metal patch provided with a series of pins which come perforate the strip 3 and anchor in the wall covering. The control members 6 as described have a capacitive effect.

Pressing by the user on this control member is detected by the relay device 4 which opens or closes the electrical circuit of the corresponding receiving member 7.

According to a preferred embodiment, the relay device 4 comprises eight relay channels which each provide the relay between one or more control members 6 and a receiving member 7.

In FIG. 6, only one channel of the relay device 4 has been shown.

Each channel is constituted by an integrated circuit 16 which detects the capacitive effect and which delivers a signal representative of this detection to a triac or any other equivalent member placed on the circuit supplying the receiving member 7.

The input of the circuit 16 is electrically connected to the control member 6 and to an electric line L1 carrying the power current; this line being the phase line.

To limit the current between the phase line and the circuit 16, on the one hand, and between the phase line and the control member on the other hand, electrical resistors 19 are provided.

These electrical resistors are arranged in series between the phase line L1 and the input of the circuit 16 and between this input and the control member 6.

As said before, the relay device 4 is mounted in the junction box of 2 of the electric octopus.

The junction box also receives electrical connection members 22 which provide the electrical connection between the various electrical lines of the electrical installation and between the relay device 4 and the control members 6 and the receiving members 7.

The electrical connection elements consist of connection bars themselves formed by juxtaposition of electric dominoes.

The junction box 2 has a bottom 23, an endless wall 24 cylindrical or polygonal and a cover 25.

From the lower end of the wall 25, that is to say the end which is closest to the bottom 23, radiate a plurality of cylindrical end pieces 26 which open into the internal space of the bolt 2. In these end pieces are engaged the ends of the sheaths 9.

These nozzles are perpendicular to the vertical axis of the bolte and are projecting from the external face of the wall 24.

These tips are regularly distributed.

The junction box includes means capable of receiving, in a staggered manner at a distance from the bottom 23 and parallel to the latter, the electrical connection members 22 as well as the relay device 4.

Thus the electrical bars 22 and the relay device form steps.

Preferably, the electrical connection members as well as the relay device are arranged above the mouths 26A of the end pieces 26.

Preferably, the relay device 4 is arranged with respect to the members 22 so that it is located at a lower level in the box, the said members 22 being arranged in increasing levels from this said device to the cover. of the box.

In addition, at each level there is only one electrical connecting member 22.

Still according to a preferred embodiment, the box is divided into three zones of substantially identical volumes, a central zone Z1 and two lateral zones Z2 and Z3.

Preferably, the connection members 23 as well as the relay device 4 are respectively arranged in the middle zone Z1 and in the lateral zone Z2, the lateral zone Z3 remaining free to receive the electrical wires.

The device 4 which occupies the lateral zone Z2 is mounted on a rigid plate 27.

This plate 27 substantially matches the shape of a segment of a circle whose radius corresponds substantially or inside radius of the box.

The connection bars are for example made of a rigid, insulating material or else carried by a rigid plate, not shown.

This provision which provides rigid bars allows the support of these in the box only by their ends. In addition, this arrangement allows the connection of the wires to the bars once they are in place, the so-called borrettes being unable to flex under the pressure of the screwdriver.

According to a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal axes of the bars on a horizontal plane, parallel to the bottom of the box are parallel to spaced apart by a constant pitch.

This arrangement allows better automation of the connection of electrical wires to the different bars.

Finally, it should be noted that the screws of the bars are advantageously cut into a point to perforate the sheath of the wires during screwing. In this way, the ends of the wires no longer need to be stripped.

The means for ensuring the arrangement in stages of the bars and of the device 4 are constituted by vertical grooves 28 formed in the cylindrical wall of the box, the said grooves being of decreasing length, and cooperating two by two with a borrette or with the plate. 27, and by pins 29 formed at the end of the bars and of the plate which engage in the corresponding vertical grooves 28.

The grooves 28 as can be seen are grouped in pairs and each pair of grooves cooperates with a bar.

The difference between the two grooves of the same pair is constant from one pair to another, which allows the use of bars of the same lengths.

Due to the fact that the wall 24 of the box is cylindrical, the grooves 24 are formed in vertical bosses 30 projecting from the cylindrical internal face of the box.

Advantageously, the bottom of the box is surmounted by bosses in the form of a cradle 31 to receive "DIN" rails.

The boot as described has a joining plane P parallel to the bottom 23 containing the axis of the end pieces 26.

Thus, each endpiece 26 is separated into an upper part linked to the cylindrical wall of the boot and into a lower part linked to the bottom of the boot.

Each upper and lower part of the end pieces 26 has lugs terminated by hooks which snap into place with projections made on the other part.

In addition, the bolte as described may be provided with a waiting sleeve 32 intended to be placed in the concrete, waiting for the box. The upper part of the box snaps into the sleeve. This sleeve consists of a cylindrical wall to which a cover is subsequently attached.

The sleeve is provided with a series of parallel grooves (33) each formed along one of the generatrices of its cylindrical wall.

Each groove runs to the bottom edge of the sleeve. The roinures are arranged in pairs according to parallel, regularly spaced planes. The spacing pitch between two contiguous planes corresponds to the spacing pitch of the bars of the reinforcements of the prestressed pre-slab in which the sleeve is inserted. Thus in each groove will be engaged one of the irons of the frame.

The electrical installation as described as well as the junction box make it possible to significantly reduce production costs.

In addition, the electrical installation is quick and easy to install and does not require qualified personnel.

It goes without saying that the present invention can receive all variants and all arrangements without departing from the scope of this patent.

Claims (1)

 R1 / Electrical installation and constituent elements of the type of  those comprising an octopus (1) consisting of a box of  branch (2) to which several lines are connected  electric to ensure the distribution of electric current  at several points in the building and to ensure the connection  electric between control members (6) and members  receivers (8), characterized in that the power lines  associated with the control elements are partially or totally  formed by insulated metal strips, flat  thin (3.3A) affixed to the room partitions, that  the control members 6 have a capacitive effect and that the  junction box receives a relay device (4) assu  the relay between the control elements (6) and the organs  our receivers (7). R2 / Electrical installation according to claim 1 characterized  in that the insulated metal strip 3 is provided on one of the  sides of an adhesive coating so as to be glued on  partition. R3 / Electrical installation according to claim 1 comprising a  capacitive effect control member (6) consisting of a  insulating wall (12) made of synthetic road forming the dié  electric and by a metallic layer (13) affixed on the  insulating wall characterized by a hollow shape (15) mena  gée in the wall (12) to receive the lower end of  the band (3).  R4 / Electrical installation according to claim 3 characterized  in that the hollow form (15) is provided with a series of  metal pins (21) which perforate the strip (3).  Ril Electrical installation according to claim 1 comprising a  control member (6) characterized in that the control member  mande (6) comprises a plate (34) made of synthetic material on  which the pins (21) are projecting, this plate being  affixed to the partition, and a metal plate (35) provided  of several housings (36) which each receive a wedge  a pin (21), the strip (3) being interposed between the plate  (34) and the plate (35) and perforated by the pins (21). R6 / Installation according to claim 1 comprising a box  bypass (2) in which electrical components are housed  connection risks (22) or bars and the  relay (4) characterized in that said box is provided with  means capable of receiving in a stepped manner at a spacing of sound  bottom (23) and parallel to it the electrical components  connection (22) as well as the relay device.  R7; Installation according to claim 1 comprising a box  bypass consisting of a bottom (23), an endless wall  (24) cylindrical and a cover (25), characterized by  cylindrical end caps (26) projecting from the external face of the  wall (24), opening into the box and arranged at most  near the bottom (23). R8 / Installation according to claims 6 and 7 characterized in  what the electrical connection members (22) and the availability  relay relay (4) are arranged above the mouth  (26A) end caps (26). R9 / Installation according to claim 6 characterized in that  the boot is divided into three zones Z1, Z2, Z3 of volume  substantially identical and that the middle zone Z1 receives the  organs (22) while the lateral zone Z2 receives the device  relay relay (4).  R10 / Installation according to claim 7 comprising a box  bypass (2) characterized in that the box is provided  a joint plane P parallel to the bottom (23), containing  the axis of the end pieces (26), the said end pieces being thus separated  in an upper part linked to the cylindrical wall (24) and  in a lower part linked to the bottom (23).  Roi1 / Installation according to claim 10 characterized in that  each upper and lower part of the end caps (26) com  wears legs terminated by hooks which clip  with projections made on the other part. R12 / Installation according to claim 10 comprising a box  bypass (2) intended to be mounted in a sleeve (32)  consisting of a cylindrical wall characterized in that the  said sleeve is provided with a series of parallel grooves (33)  each arranged along one of the generators of the wall  cylindrical and that said grooves are arranged in pairs  following regularly spaced plans.