FR2695517A1 - Dual standard extruded fixing rail for electrical equipment - has C=shaped profile with unequal horizontal flanges for asymmetric fixings, with extension brackets giving symmetric fixing option - Google Patents

Abstract

The horizontally fixed aluminium alloy rail comprises a flat central element (101) and two slightly thinner flanges. The top flange (102) has a turned-down edge (103) and equally spaced slots (108) on an axis parallel to the rail's. The longer lower flange (104) ends in a narrow vertical face 9107). The inward facing edges (103, 105) of the flanges accept equipment designed to clip into DIN asymmetric type rails. An adaptor bracket (110), fitting any slot (108), throws out an upstand (113), which, with the lower vertical face (107), fits equipment designed for DIN symmetric rails. Another accessory, a diagonally slotted square vertical plate with asymmetric rear clip-in fixings, accepts equipment designed to be screwed to a vertical surface. ADVANTAGE - Equipment with two or three different fixing arrangements clips to common rail.

Description

 The invention relates to the field of electrical wiring, and more specifically the attachment of electrical devices to a metal profile of the rail type.

 Fastening rails are commonly used for mounting and connecting electrical devices, and these rails are usually in the form of a profile, the cross section of which is either the shape of an omega (for example the symmetrical DIN rail) , or the shape of an L (for example the asymmetrical DIN rail).

 Thus in particular, asymmetric type rails are known, produced in the form of a profile constituted by a central wing and two front wings extending perpendicular to said central wing, on the same side thereof, these wings fronts being of different lengths and each ending with an internal projecting return to allow the installation of at least one electrical device equipped with a conventional system of fixing by snap-fastening of asymmetrical type.

 The electrical devices concerned are of very different types: they can be, for example, circuit breakers, terminal blocks, selectors, relays, regulators, terminal blocks, or various modular devices.

 These electrical devices are generally intended to be fixed by snap-fastening, and for this purpose have on their rear face a conformation corresponding to a snap-fitting adapted to the particular type of rail encountered (symmetrical rail, asymmetrical rail).

 As a result, the fitter must use electrical devices specifically designed to be able to mount on the rail concerned, which requires having several different types for each range of devices. In addition, some electrical devices are designed to be fixed by screwing, which in this case requires the use of special nuts, shaped to be clipped onto the metal support concerned.

 It has also been proposed accessories for fixing electrical devices, the structure of which allows versatile mounting on different types of fixing rails, the electrical device concerned then being mounted on the associated accessory.

 Such a known accessory comprises on one side latching means for fixing the accessory on a rail (symmetrical or asymmetrical), and on the opposite side means for receiving an electrical appliance. More specifically, the use face is produced in the form of a rectangular plate, which is only designed for clipping on two opposite edges, so that one is limited to using electrical devices equipped with a system. symmetrical type latching. Such a restriction on this particular type of device is not only restrictive for the fitter, but can also have the effect of increasing the overall height of the installation.

 The invention aims precisely to solve this problem, by designing a fixing rail which does not have the aforementioned drawbacks and / or limitations.

 The object of the invention is therefore to produce a rail for fixing electrical appliances which provides the assembler with maximum flexibility, while allowing optimum use of the height available for his installation.

 It is more particularly a rail for fixing electrical appliances, produced in the form of a profile constituted by a central wing and two front wings extending perpendicular to said central wing, on the same side of that -this, these front wings being of different lengths and each ending in an internal projecting return to allow the installation of at least one electrical appliance equipped with a conventional system of fixing by snap fastening of asymmetrical type, characterized in that that the shortest front wing has at least one elongated opening extending in the direction of the profile and allowing the removable mounting of an adaptation bracket, a branch of which is inserted from the outside into said opening, while the 'other branch of said bracket ends with an external protruding return, and the longest front wing has an external protruding return associated with the aforementioned external return , So that these two outer Returns allow the introduction of at least one electrical apparatus equipped with a conventional fastening system by snapping the symmetrical type.

 Preferably, the internal and external returns of the long front wing extend on either side of the end of this wing, parallel to the central wing of said fixing rail. This gives a relatively wide front support rim, favorable for the correct positioning of electrical devices, whether they are of the symmetrical or asymmetrical snap type.

 Advantageously, the leading edges of the various internal and external returns are chamfered, for example at 450.

 It is also advantageous for the central wing to have an internal rib extending in the direction of the profile, this rib forming both reinforcement for this central wing and bearing stop for the branch of the adaptation bracket which is inserted into the associated elongated lumen, the other branch of this adaptation bracket then being supported on the short front wing.

 More preferably, the short front wing has an alignment of elongated openings, arranged successively one after the other in the direction of the profile. In particular, each elongated lumen has an essentially rectangular shape, adapted to the section of the branch concerned of the adaptation bracket.

 It may be advantageous for the central wing to have a thickness slightly greater than that of the two front wings which, for their part, are made with the same thickness.

 Advantageously also, the branch of the adaptation bracket which ends with an external return has, on the front face of this external return, end bosses ensuring the lateral maintenance of the electrical device in place. In particular, this branch also has a width greater than that of the other branch, and such that two brackets associated with adjacent elongated openings are juxtaposed laterally by their wide branch.

 Finally, it may prove advantageous that a pair of returns is used to snap-fit a plate with diagonal lights to allow the attachment of an electrical device of the screw type.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows and of the appended drawings, relating to a particular embodiment, with reference to the figures where
- Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate, respectively in perspective, from above and from the side, a fixing rail according to the invention, without adapter bracket (s)
- Figure 4 is a cross section along IV
IV of FIG. 2, of the aforementioned rail, and FIG. 5 illustrates with the same section the mounting of an electrical appliance (shown diagrammatically in dashed lines) equipped with a known latching system of the asymmetrical type
- Figure 6 illustrates in perspective the aforementioned rail equipped with an adapter bracket, which bracket is illustrated in elevation in Figures 7 and 8
- Figure 9 is a cross section along IX
IX of Figure 6, the rail with its adapter bracket, and Figure 10 illustrates with the same section the mounting of an electrical device (shown in dashed lines) equipped with a known snap system of symmetrical type
- Figures 11 and 12 illustrate, with a half-view in elevation and a side view, an adapter plate designed for fixing devices of the screw type, this plate being mounted on the aforementioned rail as shown in the section of FIG. 13 which illustrates the mounting of an electrical device (shown in dashed lines) equipped with a known fixing system with screwing.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a fixing rail 100 according to the invention, this rail being made in the form of a profile whose direction is denoted 200, made of rigid material, preferably aluminum alloy. The fixing rail 100 is constituted by a central wing 101 and two front wings 102 and 104 which extend perpendicular to the central wing, on the same side of the latter. In practice, the fixing rail will be fixed in a conventional way by its central wing, then vertical, either directly on a wall support, or on vertical fixing angles. The front wings 102 and 104 are of different lengths, and terminate each by an internal protruding return 103 and 105 to allow the installation of at least one electrical appliance equipped with a conventional snap-fastening system of asymmetrical type, in a manner analogous to known L-shaped rails such as the rails
Asymmetrical DINs.

 According to a characteristic of the invention, the shortest front wing 102 has at least one elongated lumen 108 extending in the direction 200 of the profile, to allow the removable mounting of an adapter bracket 110, which is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The longest branch 104 has an external protruding return 106.

 As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the adaptation bracket 110 comprises two branches 111 and 112, the branch 111 having the shape of a rectangular plate whose section corresponds to that of the elongated slots 108 of the rail. attachment 100, so that the adaptation bracket 110 can be inserted from the outside into said lumen.

The other branch 112 of the adaptation bracket 110 ends in turn with an external protruding return 113.

 As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 9, when the adaptation bracket 110 is put in place by a predetermined elongated opening 108, the wing 112 of this bracket rests on the outer face of the short wing 102 of the fixing rail 100, and its projecting external return 113, which is identical to the external projecting return 106 of the long wing 104 of the fixing rail 100, is automatically positioned so that the two returns 106 and 113 are coplanar and symmetrically directed outwards, so as to allow the installation of at least one electrical appliance equipped with a conventional snap-fastening system of the symmetrical type.

 FIG. 4 illustrates the fixing rail 100, by a cross section made at the level of an elongated lumen 108 which is not used to receive an adaptation bracket. This assumption corresponds to the case where the fixing rail 100 is used for mounting an electrical appliance equipped with a known snap-fastening system of asymmetrical type. Such an arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 5, in which an electrical appliance 50 of this type is shown diagrammatically, an appliance which has a V-shaped groove 51 at the top and, at the bottom, a mechanical system for hooking by compression. 52 (in practice, the precise geometry of this compression system differs according to the manufacturers, but its operating principle remains generally the same). In this case, the groove 51 which is V-shaped receives the internal return 103 from the 'short wing 102, while the attachment system 52 is maintained by the internal return 105 of the long wing 104. The mounting of such an apparatus 50 is easily carried out by first setting up the upper groove 51 against the return 103, then by tilting the device (as shown diagrammatically by the arrow 201), until the deformable lug system 52 exceeds the return 105. It will be noted that the leading edges of the returns concerned 103 and 105 are chamfered here , at angles which are preferably equal to 450: the chamfered edges 103.1 and 106.1 are thus referenced for the returns respectively 103 and 106. The electrical appliance 50 can thus snap onto the fixing rail 100 as if this appliance was snapped directly onto a conventional asymmetric rail, the internal returns 103 and 105 of this rail then fulfilling the function of the re-entrant returns of an asymmetric rail.

 In the case of an electrical appliance with a symmetrical snap-on type, the adapter bracket 110 should be used, and this bracket should be put in place by inserting its lower branch 111 from the outside of the fixing rail into the elongated light 108 which corresponds to the zone chosen by the operator to mount a symmetrical type snap-on electrical appliance. Once the adaptation bracket 110 is in place, the fixing rail 100 then has two external returns 106 and 113, which are coplanar, and constitute the counterparts of the salient returns of a conventional profile of symmetrical type. FIG. 10 illustrates the mounting on the fixing rail 100 thus equipped with its adaptation bracket 110, of an electrical device 60 (shown diagrammatically in dashed lines), equipped with a known snap-fastening system of the symmetrical type. electrical appliance 60 comprises in its upper part a return defining a groove 61 in the form of an inverted V and, in the lower part, a mechanical system for hooking by compression 62. The return 113 of the adaptation bracket 110 is thus received in the groove 61 of the device 60, while the external return 106 of the long wing 104 cooperates with the mechanical system of snap-fastening by compression 62. For the installation of the electrical device 60, it suffices thus to first hook the upper part of the device on the upward-facing return 113 of the adapter bracket 110, then rotate the said device (as shown by arrow 202), until the system snap-in mechanism 62 cooperates re with the external return 106 of the long wing 104 of the fixing rail 100. As with the internal returns previously used for the installation of an electrical appliance with an asymmetrical snap-on type, the external returns 106 and 113 used here are chamfered, for example at 45, and a distinction is thus made between the chamfered edge 106.1 of the external return 106 of the long wing 104, and the chamfered edge 113.1 of the external return 113 of the adaptation bracket 110.

 In this case, the internal return 105 and the external return 106 of the long front wing 104 extend on either side of the end of this wing, parallel to the central wing 101 of the fixing rail. In this case, a relatively wide front support flange 107 is thus obtained, which is favorable to the correct positioning of the electrical device 60 installed.

 When the electrical device 60 is placed on the fixing rail equipped with its adaptation bracket, a certain compression is exerted vertically on the external returns 106 and 113. To better take account of these compression forces, we have here provided a rib 109 on the central wing 101, on the interior side thereof, this rib extending in the direction 200 of the profile. The rib 109 naturally serves as reinforcement for the central wing 101, but also fulfills a function of abutment for the branch 111 of the adaptation bracket 110 which is inserted by the associated elongated slot 108, which allows better recovery of the aforementioned compression forces. It then becomes possible to provide for the central wing 101 to have a thickness slightly greater than that of the two front wings 102 and 104 which are preferably made with the same thickness. In practice, we can even provide a thickness of 3 mm for the central wing 101, and 2 mm for the front wings 102 and 104. This provides better flexibility for the front wings 102 and 104, which which is favorable to the installation by snap-fastening of an electrical device, whether it is an attachment device of the asymmetrical or symmetrical type. The other branch 112 of the adaptation bracket 110 also has a particular configuration which provides additional advantages. Firstly, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 to 9, the branch 112 has, on the face frontal of its external return 113, end bosses 114 which make it possible to ensure lateral maintenance of the electrical device 60, once the latter has been put in place. In addition, the branch 112 has a width greater than that of the other branch 111 so as to have a large bearing face on the short wing 102 of the fixing rail 110. Preferably, the width of the branch 112 of the adaptation gap 110 will be chosen such that two brackets 110 associated with adjacent elongated slots 108 are juxtaposed laterally, thus forming an upper protective cover.

 In practice, provision will preferably be made for an alignment of elongated openings 108, successively arranged one after the other in the direction 200 of the profile. Each elongated lumen 108 has here an essentially rectangular shape, which is adapted to the section of the branch concerned 111 of the adaptation bracket 110. It will be advantageous to provide elongated lumens 108 all having the same length (denoted a on the Figure 2), spaced apart by the same interval (denoted b in Figure 2) all along the fixing rail 110. As an indication, we can choose the dimensions a and b respectively equal to 20 and 10 mm for a fixing rail dimensioned so as to accommodate conventional electrical devices.

 As is easy to understand, the removable nature of each adaptation bracket makes it possible to limit its use only to the cases where the attachment of an electrical appliance with a symmetrical snap type is required. Thanks to the possibility of inserting or not an adaptation bracket at desired locations, the operator can thus freely choose to install on the same fixing rail the electrical appliances with symmetrical or asymmetrical type snap-fastening.

 The fixing rail according to the invention allows, in the alternative, an additional possibility, namely to mount electrical devices, the fixing of which is carried out by screwing.

 In this case, it is intended that a pair of returns is used to snap-fit a plate with diagonal lights to allow the attachment of an electrical device of the screw type. Such a possibility is illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13, and the internal returns 103 and 105 are used here to mount a plate 150 with diagonal lights. The plate 150 constitutes an adaptation piece, with a square plate 151 provided with four diagonal lights 152 (only two of which are visible in FIG. 11). The plate has on the rear face a lower tab 153, the end 154 of rounded shape ends in a lower transverse groove 155. An upper tab 156 similarly has a transverse groove 157 facing upwards. 156 allow direct engagement of the plate 150 on the fixing rail 100, by cooperation with the internal returns 103 and 105 thereof.

 FIG. 13 illustrates the complete assembly of such a plate 10. The installation of this plate is carried out in the same way as the installation of an electrical device equipped with a latching system of asymmetrical type: Indeed, it suffices to set up the upper internal return 103 in the groove 157 of the tab 156, then to rotate the plate (as shown schematically by the arrow 203), until the rounded head 154 of the tab 153 exceeds the internal return 105, which return is then received in the groove 155. The plate 150 can receive an electrical device 70 (shown in dashed lines), the fixing of which is carried out by screwing using four cage nuts 71 inserted in the lights diagonal 152, in accordance with a well-known assembly. The electrical device 70 may be placed on the plate 150 before mounting it on the fixing rail 100, this to facilitate the fixing of the device on its plate . It would naturally be possible to provide for the installation of an adaptation bracket for mounting a plate supporting an electrical appliance with screw fastening: the plate would then have two legs whose grooves would be turned towards one another. However, the adapter plate illustrated here has the advantage of a quick snap-in not requiring the use of an adapter bracket.

 The fixing rail according to the invention thus appears as a perfectly versatile rail, providing the installer with maximum flexibility since he can choose three types of fixing of electrical devices (snap-fastening of symmetrical or asymmetrical type, or screwing). In addition, by providing an adapter bracket removably mounted for the case of an electrical appliance with a symmetrical snap-on type, it is possible to avoid any unnecessary excess thickness when the assembler installs electrical appliances whose fixing system is different.

 Thus, the fixing rail according to the invention provides the assembler with maximum flexibility, while allowing optimal use of the height available for his installation.

 The invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described, but on the contrary encompasses any variant incorporating, with equivalent means, the essential characteristics set out above.

Claims (10)

 1. Rail for fixing electrical appliances, produced in the form of a profile constituted by a central wing and two front wings extending perpendicular to said central wing, on the same side thereof, these front wings being of different lengths and each ending with an internal projecting return to allow the installation of at least one electrical appliance equipped with a conventional system of fixing by snap-fastening of asymmetrical type, characterized in that the most front wing short (102) has at least one elongated lumen (108) extending in the direction of the profile and allowing the removable mounting of an adaptation bracket (110) of which a branch (111) is inserted from the outside into said lumen, while the other branch (112) of said bracket ends with a projecting external return (113), and the longest front wing (104) has a projecting external return (106) associated with the external return rne aforementioned (113), so that these two external returns (106, 113) allow the establishment of at least one electrical device equipped with a conventional snap-fastening system of symmetrical type.  2. Fastening rail according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal (105) and external (106) returns of the long front wing (104) extend on either side of the end of this wing , parallel to the central wing (101) of said fixing rail.  3. Fastening rail according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the leading edges of the various internal (103, 105) and external (106, 113) returns are chamfered, for example at 450  4. Fastening rail according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the central wing (101) has an internal rib (109) extending in the direction of the profile, this rib forming both reinforcement for this central wing and bearing stop for the branch (111) of the adaptation bracket (110) which is inserted into the associated elongated lumen (108), the other branch (112) of this adaptation bracket being while pressing on the short front wing (102).  5. Fastening rail according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the short front wing (102) has an alignment of elongated slots (108), successively arranged one after the other in the direction of streamlined.  6. Fastening rail according to claim 5, characterized in that each elongated lumen (108) has an essentially rectangular shape, adapted to the section of the branch concerned (111) of the adaptation bracket (110).  7. Fastening rail according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the central wing (101) has a thickness slightly greater than that of the two front wings (102, 104) which are in turn made with the same thickness.  8. Fastening rail according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the branch (112) of the adaptation bracket (110) which ends with an external return (113) present, on the front face of this external return, end bosses (114) ensuring the lateral maintenance of the electrical device in place.  9. Fastening rail according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the branch (112) of the adaptation bracket (110) which ends in an external return (113) has a width greater than that of the other branch (111), and such that two brackets (110) associated with adjacent elongated slots (108) are juxtaposed laterally by their wide branch (112).  10. Fastening rail according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a pair of returns (103, 105) is used to snap-fit a plate (150) with diagonal lights to allow the fixing of a screw-type electrical appliance.