FR2684241A1 - SECURITY CONNECTION DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for quickly and releasably connecting an electrical apparatus to a power supply via a fixed or detachable outlet which is connected to two live conductors. The connection is made by coupling an electric plug (8) having a plurality of pins to an outlet socket (1) having two or more fixed live terminals (2, 2', 2") which are engageable by said pins (7, 7', 7"). The assembly is characterized in that the outlet socket is provided with a movable plate (6) which in turn comprises a plurality of openings (5, 5', 5") which are spaced and sized so as to allow the pins (7, 7', 7") from the plug to engage the plate in a first stand-by position thereof, in which said plate conceals the live terminals (2, 2', 2") so that no contact is possible between said pins and said terminals. The plate may be moved, along with the plug and the pins engaged in said openings, into an operative position in which the pins contact the terminals to establish an electrical connection therebetween.

Description

The present invention relates to improvements in connection devices, in particular with a view to ensuring the electrical connection of an appliance or an accessory to an electrical power source.

The invention is more particularly applicable to the connection of any electrical appliance or device to a power source in ranges of voltages liable to present a danger in the event of bodily contact.

And the device thus relates more particularly to a safety connection capable of allowing the connection and the electrical supply of an appliance, device or any accessory on a power source in particular in a range of voltages corresponding to supply voltages. current greater than 20 volts especially in the case of supplying the sector with 120, 220, 380 volts and more.

The invention will be more particularly described in relation to its use for the production of a power outlet consisting of a wall socket capable of receiving a mobile plug whose pins come into engagement position on receiving pads and kept under voltage.

However, the invention is applicable to any electrical connection device in particular for light bulb receptacles or for connection for the supply of industrial devices, machines, electrical equipment or the like.

We know the danger of making available to users in rooms with wall outlets generally located in the low position and which are therefore accessible to young children, who are inevitably tempted to introduce bodies, especially metallic ones, into the rooms. openings thus offered and which therefore represent a worrying source of potential accidents.

This danger multiplies with the development of electrical equipment and the habits of interior fittings; it is indeed common in modern apartments to remove the traditional ceiling light for the lighting of the room and to make available on several locations of the side walls of sockets often in battery to allow the installation of light fixtures in places appropriate and suitable with the interior fittings and furniture in place.

Irrespective of the danger posed by traditional types of sockets for young children, traditional connections by plug-in male plug into a female socket are also dangerous for adults; improper grip can bring the fingers into contact with the two pins when they are plugged in and consequently cause partial electrocution; moreover, the male plugs being extractable from their base by pulling in a direction of separation from the base, it is often tempting for the user who wants to avoid a downward movement to pull purely and simply on the wire, which during the operations risks to strip the conductive metallic wires and lead to a degradation likely to ultimately cause a short circuit.

We have sought to remedy these drawbacks by providing covers capable of being put in place by a key in the female sockets, which however causes the inconvenience of having to remove the covers and then replace them each time the 'we want to use the power outlet; moreover, this system does not eliminate the risk of seeing a young child playing with a socket in place (supplying for example a floor lamp or a device in place permanently.

There are also known sockets comprising a shutter naturally returned to the position of occlusion of the opening as long as a male plug does not appear in front of the two openings; the release being effected by the presence of the two plugs pressed at the same time; However, this complex and consequently expensive construction system does not eliminate the risk of seeing a young child engaging a conductive element (for example a hairpin) at the same time in the two cards at the same time, thereby allowing access to the studs. under tension which reconstitutes the risk of electric shock.

The present invention seeks to remedy these drawbacks and provides a safety connection which categorically and mechanically excludes, using extremely simple means, any possibility of accessing the energized studs from the outside other than by engaging the plug carrying the pins of a male power outlet; any introduction of metallic conductive elements (nail, metallic wire, etc.) is excluded, the studs being in the waiting position for the female socket concealed and inaccessible.

The device of the invention being particularly simple only implements extremely limited means, of simple configuration and of easy manufacture, in particular by molding of synthetic material, so that the male plug and female plug assembly can be produced at prices. cost extremely advantageous and not exceeding the cost of current devices, compared to which they provide individuals with the considerable advantage of perfect safety for both young children and adults.

To this end, the invention relates to a device for the rapid and removable connection of an electrical device intended to be connected to a power source by means of a base, fixed or mobile, to which two live conductive wires terminate, the connection being effected by coupling of a male electrical plug carrying a plurality of pins on a receptive female base and carrying at least two fixed studs under voltage and capable of receiving the contact of said pins, and the assembly is characterized in that the receiving base is provided with a movable plate itself comprising a plurality of openings, the spacing and dimensions of which allow the engagement of the pins coming from the male plug in a first position for waiting for the plate , position in which the plate obscures the studs under voltage, said openings of said plate do not allow, in this waiting position, contact between the plugs and said studs , and the plate is capable of being moved with the plug and the pins being in place in said openings, towards an engagement position in which the pins are brought into contact with the pads to establish a voltaic connection between the pins and the pads under pressure.

According to a more specific characteristic, the base comprises means for locking said plug in its engagement position, then opposing the withdrawal of the plug from the base, this withdrawal being possible only in the position of the plug on the plate. then herself in her waiting position.

And more especially the locking means are brought into the active position by displacement of the crew formed by the plate carrying the plug brought from the standby position into the engagement position in which the locking means block the plug in s opposing its retraction from the base.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the pins of the plug protrude from a plane formed by the face of the plug brought opposite the base, and the pins protrude by a length corresponding substantially to the thickness of the plate, l 'end of the pins thus flush or slightly overflow on the rear face of the plate in contact with the fixed part of the base.

And more specifically the end of the pins has a small bevel whose rising face is oriented towards the corresponding receiving pad.

And advantageously still and in a symmetrical manner the studs under tension themselves comprise beveled faces complementary to the beveled faces of the pins thus facilitating the bringing into mutual contact face against face of the transverse end of the pin on its receiving stud.

More particularly the movement of movement of the crew constituted by the plate and the plug in the engagement position on said plate from the standby position, in which the live studs are obscured, towards the engagement position, bringing the pins in contact with the studs, is an angular movement and for this purpose the plate is constituted by a circular disc, the openings made on the plate on the one hand, the pins from the plug engaging on the plate on the other hand and finally the studs under tension fixed on the base being located on a circle concentric with the pivot axis of the crew formed by the plate and the plug, so that the pins engaged in the openings of the plate are brought, after angular rotation in the co-linear position and in contact with the live studs.

Advantageously also the means for locking the plug on the base after angular displacement of the equipment formed by the plate and the plug, from the standby position with concealment of the studs under tension, towards the engagement and contact position, are constituted by a bar-type system known per se, the plug being able to be engaged from the outside in a frontal direction towards the base for engagement of the pins in the receiving openings of the plate then in the occultation position, the sheet laterally having pins engaged in L-shaped housings from the base, the rotation of the crew formed by the plate and the plug bringing said pins into the horizontal branch of L then opposing any escape of the plug, at the same time as the pins are brought in this rotational movement opposite and in contact with the studs under tension.

And more specifically, two pins are provided, arranged diametrically on the plug of dimensions or differential shapes, the receptive housings provided on the base being of complementary dimensions, the engagement of the plug on the base then being unequivocal and not allowing a incorrect engagement of the pins in the base.

According to yet another development of the invention, the plate comprises closing elements capable of occupying said openings by being pushed back to a position of flush with the free plane of the plate, by spring members each disposed in a rear housing. provided on the base in alignment with said opening arranged on the plate in the waiting position of the latter, the shutter elements then opposing in the waiting position of the plate, and the base being uncovered, to any artificial or accidental access of a foreign body, conductive or not, towards the studs arranged behind the plate and laterally with respect to said openings, these obturation elements thus being capable of yielding and of being elastically withdrawn in their housing by repelling their spring member when the plug is placed on the base, the pins then being engaged in the openings of the plate.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows and which is given in connection with a preferred embodiment and presented by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

- Figures la, lb, lc schematically represent the principle of the device according to the invention.

- Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the plug and receptacle base assembly in one embodiment of the invention.

- Figures 3a, 3b, 3c show a sectional view of a base and plug assembly in three successive positions of the plug relative to the base.

- Figure 4a shows a plan view of a base while Figure 4b shows a section along line IVb
IVb of Figure 4a.

- Figure 5a shows a plan view of a male plug while Figure 5b shows a longitudinal sectional view of said plug along the line Vb - Vb of Figure 6a.

According to Figures la, lb, lc is shown the block diagram of the device according to the invention, the illustration here being limited to a single contact it being understood that the invention is not limited to the numbers of contacts, the base and the plug conventionally comprising at least two contacts, usually three contacts to incorporate the earth but possibly a number of contacts corresponding to the requirements, for example five pads and five pins in the case of a three-phase supply.

The example of Figures la, lb, îc is therefore limited for the simplification of the presentation to a single contact.

It can be seen that the base 1 comprises a tensioned stud 2 which ends in a bevelled upper transverse face 2a.

This stud is embedded in the mass of the base, which has a lateral bore lb relative to the stud under tension 2.

This bore 1b constitutes the housing for a return spring 3 now energized a shutter 4 engaged in an opening 5 disposed in the upper plate 6, which is mounted to move on the transverse wall lc of the base relative to which the stud is flush with tension 2.

The opening 5 arranged in the plate 6 is capable of receiving the engagement of the pin 7 coming from the male plug 8.

It can be seen from FIG. 1b that the penetration of the pin into the opening 5 pushes the shutter 4 back into the housing 1b by compression of the spring 3.

Subsequently, the sliding or pivoting of the plate 6 brings the spindle 7 facing and against the energized stud 2.

The end transverse face 7a of the spindle 7 is for this purpose slightly bevelled at an angle corresponding substantially to the angle of the bevel 1 a of the fixed receiving stud 2, which facilitates the engagement face against face of the spindle 7 in contact with the pad 2.

This provides easy contacting without wear phenomenon while ensuring face to face contact for good electrical conductivity.

The sliding or displacement of the plate 6 can be a linear and rectilinear movement just as it can be an angular movement as will be seen below.

It is understood that the base 1 comprises at least two studs 2 and advantageously three studs suitably spaced and in number equal to the number of pins coming from the plug 8.

In the case of a rectilinear movement of the plate 6 the spacing between the apertures 5 receiving the pins 7 corresponds to the spacing between the pads 2 and the movement of the crew formed by the plate 6 and the plug 8 in position of engagement on the plate (from FIG. 1b to FIG. 1c) is then a movement in a direction perpendicular to the alignment between them respectively of the plugs, openings and studs.

According to an embodiment which is advantageously shown in FIG. 2, the plug 8, the plate 6 and the base 1 are of circular shape, the movement of the equipment formed by the plug and the receiving plate then being an angular pivoting according to the arrow F in Figure 2.

In the present case, the plate 6 is locked under an upper edge id extending upwards the base 1 and at the same time allowing the reception of the plug 8.

It can be seen in particular in FIG. 2 that the pin 7 during the engagement of the plug 8 on the base 1 enters the opening 5 by pushing the shutter 4.

And during the angular rotation according to the arrow F, in the clockwise movement, the spindle 7 will be brought into the engagement and contact position relative to the stud 2 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 and which is located under the plate 6 .

It is thus seen that in the release position of the plug 8 as shown in Figure 2 the shutters 4 being in place in the openings 5 it is not possible to access, by some means whatsoever to the studs under tension 2, 2 'no more than the 2 "earth studs; in fact these studs are on the one hand concealed by the plate 6, the openings 5 being offset with respect to the studs; and moreover the openings are closed by shutters 4 which oppose the insertion of any element.

Figures 3a, 3b, 3c show more fully the three phases of the operation of placing the plug on the female receptacle base.

In Figure 3a we find the elements previously described.

The plug 8 carrying the two pins 17, 17 ′ is positioned facing the base 11 which itself has the studs 12, 12 ′ under tension and the top of which is flush with slightly overhanging with respect to the lic plane formed by the bottom of the base 11 open for receipt of sheet 8.

The plate 16 is immobilized by the screw 10 and it is pushed back slightly upwards being detached from the bottom lic by the effect of the springs 13 which push up the shutters 14, 14 '; the latter have a slight shoulder on their periphery cooperating with a shoulder complementary to the housing 15 provided on the plate 16 so as to keep the shutters in place by coming flush with the upper plane of the plate 16.

The latter is constituted by a rotary disc rotating around the axis constituted by the retaining screw 10.

We see in Figure 3b the plug brought into the engagement position on the plate then remained in the standby position as in Figure 3a; the pins 17, 17 'are then in place in the openings 15 having pushed the shutters 14, 14' back into their receptor housing llb with compression of the springs 13.

In this position, no contact is yet made between the plugs and the studs under voltage.

In this position the underside of the plate 16 is brought into contact with the plane 11c forming the bottom of the base; the head of the screw 10 then flush without contact with the front transverse wall 18a of the plug.

In this movement, no electrical contact occurs, the plug being capable of being released by a retraction movement from the base.

The rotation of the crew formed by the plug and the plate, which are then integral since the pins are engaged in the openings 15 of the plate, then brings the pins 17, 17 'in contact with the live studs 12 and 12 '; it is that which is represented in FIG. 3 in which the same section has been kept; it being understood that the stud 12 ′ and the pin 17 shown in dotted lines are actually in front with respect to the plane of the figure while the stud 12 and the pin 17 are located behind with respect to the plane of the figure.

As has been specified, the studs 12, 12 ', the openings 15 of the plate and the plugs 17, 17' are all located on the same concentric circle with respect to the axis of rotation formed by the axis of the screw 10.

And as has been specified, the transverse faces of the studs and of the pins, respectively, being bevelled, come into contact by two inclined planes complementary to meeting one another, thus avoiding any projection and any aggressive approach.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2, 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b, the plug 8 comprises two locking lugs 31, 32 of unequal dimensions and which cooperate during the engagement of the plug on the base with receiving housings 41, 42; these L-shaped housings allow a locking system of the balloon type and known per se; after engagement by a frontal approach of the plug on the base, the rotation brings the lug into the horizontal branch of the L-shaped housing 41a or 42a.

It is thus seen in particular in Figure 2 that after rotation of the crew formed by the plug 8 and the plate 6, the lug 32 is in position in the bottom of the horizontal housing 42a while the diametrically opposite lug 31 is found in the housing 41a (not shown in Figure 2).

The positioning of the pins can be arbitrary when the pins are located on a concentric circle with respect to the angular pivoting movement of the assembly of plug and plate, the openings arranged on the plate and the receiving pads being located on the same circle.

In FIG. 2, the pins are shown in an equidistant position while in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b the pins and openings are arranged differently but in all cases the pins of the plug, the housings of the corresponding plate and the receiving pads are located on the same circle concentric with the rotation movement of the plate.

We see that the invention can thus be applied to all kinds of connections; this regardless of the number of pins; it is not limited to the connection of a removable socket with respect to a fixed base; this connection can be used to connect, for example, directly a device and in particular an electric bulb to a socket which would then be constituted by the receiving base provided with the plate, the bulb comprising pins coming in position of engagement then of rotation relative with the swivel plate.

The invention will in particular multiply the electrical connection points safely.

This both inside and out; a wall socket of this type can indeed be positioned outside being covered by a hermetic cover; the connection can then be made while obtaining, as seen in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, a contact of the plug which can thus be implemented
The invention can be carried out in a simple manner from parts made of molded material, the studs 12, 12 ′ being, for example, embedded in the mass in a manner known per se and allowing rapid connection of the wires, the metal end of which is exposed.

The release of the grip is necessarily done after rotation and not by a frontal pulling movement, this avoids the temptation (especially for service personnel), to spare a bodily movement downward by seeking to release the grip by a dry pull on the conductive wire so that the device also provides in this regard additional security.

Claims (10)

 1 - Device for the quick and removable connection of an electrical device intended to be connected to a power source by means of a base, fixed or mobile, to which two live conductive wires end, the connection being made by coupling d '' a male electrical plug (8) carrying a plurality of pins on a female base (1) receiver and carrying at least two pads 2, 2 ', 2 ") fixed under voltage and able to receive the contact of said pins (7, 7 ', 7 "), and the assembly is characterized in that the receiving base is provided with a movable plate (6) itself comprising a plurality of openings (5, 5', 5") , whose spacing and dimensions allow the engagement of the pins (7, 7 ', 7 ") coming from the male plug in a first position for waiting for the plate, position in which the plate obscures the pads under tension ( 2, 2 ', 2 "), said openings of said plate not allowing in this waiting position a co ntact between the plugs and said pads, and the plate is capable of being moved with the plug and the pins being in place in said openings, to an engagement position in which the pins are brought into contact with the pads to establish a connection voltaic between the pins and the live studs. 2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (1) comprises locking means (41, 41a, 42) of said plug (8) in its position of engagement then opposing the withdrawal of the plug (8) from the base (1), this withdrawal being possible only in the position of the plug on the plate then itself in its standby position. 3 - Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the locking means are brought into the active position by movement of the crew formed by the plate (6) carrying the plug (8) brought from the standby position into the position engagement in which the locking means block the plug by opposing its retraction from the base. 4 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pins (7, 7 ', 7 ") of the plug protrude from a plane formed by the face (8a) of the plug brought opposite the base, and the pins extend beyond a length corresponding substantially to the thickness of the plate (6), the end of the pins thus coming flush or slightly overflowing on the rear face of the plate in contact with the fixed part of the base. 5 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the end of the pins (7, 7 ', 7 ") has a small bevel whose rising face is oriented towards the corresponding receiving pad. 6 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the live studs (2, 2 ', 2 ") themselves have beveled faces complementary to the beveled faces of the pins thus facilitating the face to face mutual contact of the transverse end of the spindle on its receiving stud. 7 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the movement of movement of the crew formed by the plate (6) and the plug (8) in the engagement position on said plate from the position standby, in which the live studs (2, 2 ', 2 ") are concealed, towards the engagement position, bringing the pins (7, 7', 7") into contact with the studs (2, 2 ' , 2 "), is an angular movement and for this purpose the plate is constituted by a circular disc, the openings (5, 5 ', 5") made on the plate on the one hand, the pins (7, 7', 7 ") coming from the plug which can be engaged on the plate on the other hand and finally the energized studs (2, 2 ', 2") fixed on the base being located on a circle concentric with the pivot axis of the crew formed by the plate and the plug, so that the pins engaged in the openings of the plate are brought, after angular rotation in the co-linear position and in contact with the pads so us tension. 8 - Device according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the locking means of the plug on the base after angular displacement of the crew formed by the plate and the plug, from the standby position with occultation of the studs under tension, towards the position of engagement and contact, are constituted by a bayonet system of a type known per se, the plug being able to be engaged from the outside in a frontal direction towards the base for engagement of the pins in the receiving openings of the plate then in the concealed position, the plug laterally having lugs (31, 32) engaged in L-shaped housings from the base, the rotation of the crew formed by the plate and the plug bringing said pins into the horizontal branch (41a) of the L then opposing any escape of the plug, at the same time as the pins are brought in this rotational movement opposite and in contact with the live studs. 9 - Device according to claim 8, characterized in that ilcarorte 2 lugs arranged diametrically on the plug of dimensions or differential shapes, the receptacle housings provided on the base being of complementary dimensions, the engagement of the plug on the base then unequivocal and not allowing an incorrect engagement of the pins in the base. 10 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the plate (6) comprises closure elements (4, 4 ', 4 ") capable of occupying said openings by being pushed towards a position d flush with the free plane of the plate, by spring members each arranged in a rear housing provided on the base in alignment with said opening arranged on the plate in the waiting position of the latter, the elements of obturation then opposing in the standby position of the plate, and the base being uncovered, to any artificial or accidental access of a foreign body which may or may not be conductive towards the studs disposed behind the plate and laterally with respect to said openings , these closure elements thus being able to yield and to withdraw elastically in their housing by pushing their spring member when the plug is placed on the base, the pins being alo rs engaged in the openings of the plate.