FR2703845A1 - Base socket. - Google Patents

Abstract

It is a socket outlet of the kind having at least three connection terminals. According to the invention, these connection terminals are aligned, and there is for example associated with the socket outlet a connection strip (50) having, projecting on a sole (51), at the spacing of these terminals of connection (13A, 13B), at least one set of pins (52A, 52B) forming connection members for them. Application both to low voltage socket outlets and to very low voltage socket outlets.

Description

The present invention relates in a unique manner to

  In general, the socket-outlets, whether they are low-voltage socket-outlets intended for the equipment of a traditional power distribution network, or very low-voltage socket-outlets intended, for example, for

  the equipment of any specific computer network.

  In the usual way, such a socket base comprises, on the one hand, contact elements, such as pins or cells for example, for its cooperation with the contact elements of a paired plug, when connected. of the latter, and, on the other hand, for its connection to the electrical conductors necessary for its serving, connection terminals, which, respectively,

  are electrically connected to these contact members.

  The present invention relates more particularly to the case where at least three contact members, and therefore three terminals of

connection, are provided.

  This is the case, for example,

  bipolar low voltage current with grounding.

  Traditionally, the contact members are then arranged in a triangle, the two cells corresponding to the two blades being aligned along a center line of the assembly normally constituting a diameter therefor, and the pin corresponding to the earth electrode being arranged transversely. away from this median line, following a

mediator of it.

  Traditionally, too, and to minimize the

  corresponding copper-plating, the connection terminals are themselves

  same arranged in a triangle, like the contact organs.

  The present invention generally relates to a different arrangement of these connection terminals

leading to various benefits.

  More specifically, it relates to a plug socket of the type comprising at least three connection terminals and characterized in a general manner in that these connection terminals are aligned, for example belonging to a strip which, protruding from its back, extends substantially

  following a median line of it.

  Preferably, the connection terminals each having, in the usual manner, for cooperation with a connection member, a bore which opens outwards at at least one of its ends, the bores of these connection terminals are all parallel to each other. to each other and their

  outlets all extend to the same side.

  Thus, according to a development of one invention, it can advantageously be associated with a socket base whose connection terminals are aligned according to the invention a connection strip having, projecting on a sole, the spacing of these connection terminals, at least one set of pins forming connection members for them. In this case, the connection of the socket outlet according to the invention to the electrical conductors necessary for its serving can advantageously be done by

  via such a terminal strip.

  For example, the pins of this connection strip can then each be respectively connected to these electrical conductors and this connection strip thus include place in place several sets of pins, the assembly constituting somehow

a bus bar.

  Thanks to such a terminal strip, which advantageously replaces the usual wire connections, the connection of the socket outlet according to the invention to the electrical conductors necessary for its service is advantageously by simple engagement on pins, without the use of any particular tool. If desired, any use of clamping screws can be avoided, to the benefit of subsequent safety in use, the desirable contact reliability can be ensured by construction. Only the connection of the terminal strip to the electrical conductors at one of its ends possibly implies in this case the implementation of screws But, being remote from any socket base, or, more Generally, remote from any apparatus, without being hindered by such apparatus, this connection is particularly easy to perform and control. In a pre-wired installation, the connection strip according to the invention also advantageously makes it possible to modify on demand if necessary the installation of a socket-outlet, without

the intervention of an electrician.

  This implementation modification involves only the release of the socket base from the set of pins with which it is engaged and its commitment on

a new set of pins.

  The socket base according to the invention and the connecting strip associated therewith allow a great flexibility of development for pre-wired installations. When, as is the usual case, the drilling of the connection terminals of this socket outlet opens out at both ends, the pins of the terminal strip associated with this socket base may, as an alternative to the preceding provision, be isolated from each other and have a length greater than that of the bores of the connection terminals, for

  protrude beyond these after their crossing.

  Instead of constituting a busbar, this connection strip is in this case, for the socket base according to the invention, an individual connection accessory. This individual connection accessory leads to

  same advantages of easy and safe connection as before.

  But, if desired, it can also allow the easy change of the destination of the socket outlet, allowing its connection to a traditional power distribution network or a network

specific computer.

  To do this, it is still associated with the base socket according to the invention, in a complementary development thereof, a supply base having a groove, for the engagement of the connection terminals of the socket base current, and, opening on at least one of the flanks of this groove, and in practice on each of them, at the spacing of the connection terminals of this socket base, at least one set of cells, which are specific to the engagement of the pins of the terminal strip engaged with these connection terminals, and to which each of them are respectively connected

electric.

  Thus, and by means, preferably, the intervention of polarizing means between the terminal strip and the power supply base, it is sufficient, to switch from one network to another, to have the right side of the connection strip

associated.

  In any case, the connection of the socket-outlet according to the invention to such a network is advantageously done by simply snapping the pins of this connection strip into the corresponding cells of the

the feed base.

  As above, this advantageously results in a great flexibility of development for pre-wired installations, any modification of such an installation can be done reliably and safely without the intervention of a

electrician.

  The characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will emerge from the description which follows,

  by way of example, with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawings in which: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a socket base according to the invention and of the power supply base associated therewith, with in connection with the connection terminals of this socket base, a connection strip suitable for such a power supply base; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the socket base according to the invention, seen separately from the front, in the orientation of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the socket base according to the invention, seen from the rear; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the body of the socket outlet according to the invention, seen from the front, in the orientation of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the connecting strip associated therewith; Figure 6 is a larger scale, a partial cross-sectional view of the connecting strip, along the line VI-VI of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a plan view of the body of the socket outlet according to the invention, along arrow VII of Figure 4; Figures 8 and 9 are partial sectional views

  of this body, following, each respectively, lines VIII-

  VIII and IX-IX of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a perspective view of another connection strip may be associated with the socket base according to the invention; FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view of this connection strip, along the line XI-XI of FIG. 10. These figures illustrate, by way of example, the application of the invention to a socket-outlet socket 10 of FIG. type of those implemented for the equipment of a network of

  low voltage power distribution.

  This is, in practice, a base socket

bipolar with grounding.

  In a manner known per se, this socket base comprises, on the one hand, on the one hand, a body 11, made of insulating material, in which contact members 12 A, 12 B are arranged, each of which is electrically connected to these contact members 12A, 12B, connection terminals 13A, 13B, and, secondly, a trim 14, which, removably attached to the body 11, is able to leave the contact members unrepresented matched record access to

  contact members 12 A, 12 B contained in the body 11.

  In the case of a bipolar plug socket with earth electrode, the contact elements 12 A are in the usual manner constituted by cells, FIG. 4, and in the embodiment shown, the contact member 12 B, intended to form grounding, is a pin arranged in

triangle with these cells.

  Such contact members 12A, 12B being well known per se, and not falling within the scope of the present invention, they

  will not be described in more detail here.

  In the embodiment shown, the body has, in one piece, on the one hand, a bottom 15, which is more or less perforated, and on which intervene the contact members 12 A, 12 B, and on the other hand, following a generally quadrangular outline, and in practice square, a wall

lateral 16.

  Jointly, for the engagement of a paired plug, the hubcap 14 forms a well 18, presenting, in one piece, on the one hand, a bottom 19, which is perforated holes 20 A, 20 B in correspondence with the contact members 12 A, 12 B of the body 11, and, on the other hand, according to an overall outline

circular, a side wall 21.

  At the outlet of the well 18, the trim 14 further has, in one piece, projecting outwardly, a flange 22, which, in the general shape of a frame, is generally in outline

of the body 11.

  In the embodiment shown, the hubcap 14 is equipped, at the rear, with a shutter 24, commonly called "eclipse", mounted movably in a compartment 25 projecting from the bottom 19 of the well 18, on the back of this bottom 19, for

  the control of the access to contact members 12 A of the body 11.

  Such a shutter 24 is well known by itself, and not falling under the present invention, it will not be described

more in detail here.

  In the embodiment shown, between the hubcap 14 and the body there are means

latching 26.

  In practice, these latching means 26 intervene laterally, and they are accessible only from the rear of the

body 11.

  In the embodiment shown, they comprise, projecting on any one of the two constituents formed by the body 11 and the hubcap 14, at least one elastically deformable tab 28 shaped as a hook at its end, and, in correspondence on the other of these constituents, for the hooking of this leg

  elastically deformable 28, at least one notch 29.

  In the embodiment shown, the latching means 26 comprise, in diametrically opposite positions with respect to one another, two elastically deformable tabs 28, and these protrude from the bottom 19 of the

  well 18 of the hubcap 14, on the back of this bottom 19.

  Each of them has a notch 30 preceded by a

commitment chamfer 31.

  Together, each of the corresponding notches 29 of the body is formed by one of the edges of a recess 32

affecting this body 11.

  In the embodiment shown, the recesses 32 thus affecting the body 11 extend, jointly, on the one hand, on the bottom 15 of this body 11, for the axial engagement of the corresponding elastically deformable tabs 28 and the deflection of these necessary for this engagement, and, secondly, on the side wall 16, for the hooking of these elastically deformable tabs 28, the corresponding notches 29 being formed by the slice of this

  side wall 16 in these recesses 32.

  Finally, in the embodiment shown, the connection terminals 13A, 13B each comprise, on the one hand, a pad 34, of generally parallelepipedal contour, which, for cooperation with any connection member, has a hole 35 and, on the other hand, a screw 36, which, for clamping such a connecting member, is screwed into engagement with the stud 34, in a threaded bore 37 intersecting

transversely piercing 35.

  For the engagement of a connecting member, the bore 35 opens out at at least one of its ends. In the embodiment shown, it opens

  outside at one and the other end.

  Let L1 be the length of such a hole 35.

  In the embodiment shown, finally, the electrical connection between the contact members 12 A, 12 B and the connection terminals 13 A, 13 B is via lamellae 38 A, 38 B on which the stud 34 of the terminals 12 A connection, 12 B is

  duly crimped on the opposite side to their screw 36.

  In practice, the cells constituting the contact members 12A are formed by wings coming integrally from the corresponding lamellae 38A, and the pin constituting the

  contact members 12 B is crimped on the plate 38 B associated.

  The corresponding arrangements being well known by themselves, and not falling within the scope of the present invention, they

  will not be described in more detail here.

  According to the invention, the connection terminals 13 A, 13 B

are aligned.

  In practice, in the embodiment shown, they belong to a strip 40, which, projecting from the back of the socket-outlet base 10, extends substantially along a

midline of it.

  More specifically, in the embodiment shown, this strip 40, which is of generally parallelepipedal shape, with a quadrangular cross section along its length, protrudes over the body of the

  base socket 10, on the back of it.

  More precisely, it extends projecting from the bottom 15 of this body 11, at the back of the latter, with two longitudinal walls 41 perpendicular to this bottom 15, a longitudinal wall 42 parallel thereto, and two transverse end walls 44 which, perpendicular to the bottom 15, are in continuity with the corresponding faces of the associated side wall 16. In practice, the strip 40 thus formed is formed by a hollow rib of the body It open towards the inside of

this one and rectilinear.

  The internal volume of this hollow rib is partitioned into three compartments 45A, 45B. In the compartments 45A, which are the lateral compartments, are respectively arranged the contact members 12A and corresponding connection terminals 13A. In the compartment 45 B, which is the central compartment, is disposed the connection terminal 13 B associated with the contact member 12 B. This contact member 12 B being arranged in a triangle with respect to the contact members 12 A, the lamella 38 B which connects it to the connection terminal 13 B is bent in Z. In the embodiment shown, the bores of the connection terminals 13A, 13B are all parallel to one another, and they all extend parallel to the bottom

of the body 11.

  Their outlets all extend on the same side of the strip 40, perpendicular to one and / or the other of

  longitudinal walls 41 thereof.

  The holes 35 of the connection terminals 13 A, 13 B opening at one and the other of their ends in the embodiment shown, one and the other of the longitudinal walls 41 of the strip 40 have at their spacing.

  holes 46 A, 46 B giving access to these bores 35.

  In the embodiment shown, these holes 46 A, 46 B are slightly elongated, to facilitate engagement

  corresponding connecting members.

  At the same time, the screws 36 of the connection terminals 13 A,

  13 B all extend on the same side.

  In practice, they are all perpendicular to the bottom of the body 11, being accessible from the inside thereof. For their maintenance, it is attached, for example by welding or gluing, on the bottom 15 of the body 11, inside thereof, a cover 48, which, on the one hand, has bores 12 'A giving access to the contact members 12 A and a bore 12 'B allowing the passage of the contact member 12 B, and which, on the other hand, has holes 13' A, 13 'B to access the screws 36 of the connection terminals 13 A, 13 B. According to a development of the invention, it is associated with the socket base 10, a connecting strip 50 having, projecting, on a sole 51, the spacing of its connection terminals 13A, 13B, at least one set of pins 52A, 52B forming connecting members therefor. In the embodiment more particularly shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the pins 52A, 52B are isolated from each other, and they have a length L 2 greater than that of the holes 35 of the connection terminals 13A, 13 B, to protrude beyond these connection terminals

13 A, 13 B after their crossing.

  In practice, in this embodiment, the sole 51 is in the form of a wafer of rectangular contour, it is of insulating material, and it comprises only a set of pins 52 A, 52 B. In practice, also, the pins 52 A, 52 B are rigid pins, and their length L 2 is much greater

at the thickness L 3 of the strip 40.

  For example, and as shown in FIG.

  pins 52 A, 52 B are reported by screwing on the sole 51.

  When, thanks to the holes 35 of the connection terminals 13A, 13B, the connection strip 50 is engaged by its pins 52A, 52B in these connection terminals 13A, 13B, on a first side of the band 40, until its sole 51 is applied against the corresponding longitudinal wall 41 of this strip 40, these pins 52 A, 52 B project substantially from 11.

  the other side of the strip 40, FIG.

  If desired, the screws 36 of the connection terminals 13A, 13B can be tightened on the pins 52A, 52B. In a variant, these can simply be forced into the holes 35 of these connection terminals 13A. B. In any event, the pins 52A, 52B of the terminal strip 50 and engaged with the connection terminals 13A, 13B of the socket-outlet socket 10 according to the invention

  constitute for this one connecting members.

  According to a further development of the invention, and as illustrated by Figure 1, it is associated with the socket base 10 and equipped with a connecting bar 50, a power supply base 54 comprising, d ' on the one hand, a groove 55, for the engagement of its connection terminals 13A, 13B, and, more precisely, of the strip 40 containing them, and, on the other hand, opening onto at least one of the flanks 56, 56 'of this groove 55, at the spacing of these connection terminals 13A, 13B, at least one set of cells 57A, 57B, which are specific to the engagement of the pins 52A, 52 B of the terminal strip 50, and to which are respectively connected electrical conductors 58 A, 58 B. In practice, the groove 55 of the supply base 54 has a quadrangular cross section, complementary to that of the strip 40 of the socket socket

current 10.

  In the embodiment shown, there is at least one set of cells 57 A, 57 B, 57 'A, 57' B on one and the other of the flanks 56, 56 'of this groove 55, and 57 A, 57 B, 57 'A, 57' B are connected to the electrical conductors 58 A, 58 B, 58 'A, 58' B belonging to two separate networks which, for example, have in common, such as represent,

  their earth conductor 58 B, 58 'B.

  The network to which the electrical conductors 58 A belongs is for example a distribution network of

low voltage power.

  - At the same time, the network to which the electrical conductors 58 'A belongs is for example a network

very low voltage computing.

  For cooperation with the pins 52 A, 52 B of the terminal strip 50, the cells 57 A, 57 B, 57 'A, 57' B comprise for example, and as visible for one of them in the figure 1, a simple jumper 60, duly connected to the

  electrical conductor 58 A, 58 B, 58 'A, 58' B corresponding.

  To switch from one network to another, simply have the connection bar 50 on the right side of the banner

of socket outlet 10.

  FIG. 1 shows in dashed lines, in 50 I, the position of the connecting strip 50 when it is engaged on the strip 40 on the side thereof corresponding to the network of the electrical conductors 58 A, and 50 .I 'his position during his commitment on the side of this headband

  corresponding to the network of electrical conductors 58 'A.

  It is also possible, by pivoting 180 about its axis, to proceed by turning the socket-outlet base 10 duly equipped with a connection strip 50, it being understood, however, that, in the usual manner, the device contact 12 B of this ground socket outlet socket 10 must normally be above its contact members 12 A. In any case, the connection to a network socket base 10 and equipped with of a connecting strip 50 is made by simply snapping the pins 52 A, 52 B thereof into the cells 57 A, 57 B, 57 'A, 57' B

  corresponding to the supply base 54.

  Preferably, keying means, not shown, are provided between the terminal strip 50 and the power supply base 54, so that the connection of the socket outlet 10 can not be certain

do that on the desired network.

  For example, it may be provided for this purpose a projection on the sole 51 of the terminal strip 50 on the side thereof opposite the pins 52 A, 52 B, for cooperation in engagement with a recess provided in correspondence on the supply base 54 on the desired side of the groove 55 thereof. Of course, and as shown schematically by dashed lines in FIG. 1, the feed base 54 may comprise, in place of a bus bar, several sets of cells 57 A, 57 B, 57 'A, 57' B on the same side 56, 56 'of its groove 55, which allows to choose in

  consequently, the location of the socket outlet 10.

  In the embodiment shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 10 and 11, at the pins 52A, 52B of the terminal strip 50 are respectively connected electrical conductors 58A, 58B, and this connection strip 50 thus has room in place, in the manner of a busbar, several sets of pins 52 A, 52 B. For example, and as shown, the electrical conductors 58A, 58B are embedded in the sole 51 of this

connecting bar 50.

  Anyway, well duly powered, the terminal strip 50 by itself serves the socket base 10 when it is engaged by its connection terminals 13 A, 13 B on one of his pin games

52 A, 52 B.

  In the embodiment shown, the pins 52A, 52B are longitudinally open tubular pins

by a slot 66.

  They are therefore elastically deformable transversely, which does not require the use of the screws 36 of the connection terminals 13A, 13B to benefit from a good contact between them and these connection terminals 13A, 13B. In the foregoing, the connection members through which the electrical conductors of the plug socket 10 according to the invention are connected to the pins 52 A, 52 B of a connection strip 50, these pins 52 A 52B being for this purpose duly engaged with electrical contact in the connection terminals 13A,

  13 B of this socket socket 10.

  With regard, in particular, to the fact that the connection terminals 13A, 13B are advantageously of the usual type, it goes without saying that this connection can also be made directly if desired, by engagement of the stripped end of the electrical conductors 58A, 58 B in these connection terminals 13 A, 13 B. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses

  any variant of execution and / or combination of their various elements.

Claims (18)

  1 socket-type socket having at least three connection terminals (13 A, 13 B), characterized in that   that these connection terminals (13 A, 13 B) are aligned.   2 socket outlet according to claim 1, characterized in that its connection terminals (13 A, 13 B) belong to a strip (40) projecting from its back,   extends substantially along a median line thereof.   3 socket outlet according to claim 2, characterized in that the strip (40) is generally parallelepipedal shape, with a quadrangular straight section while along its length.   4 socket outlet according to any one of   claims 2, 3, characterized in that, comprising,   on the one hand, a body (11), in which the connection terminals (13 A, 13 B) are arranged, each of which is connected to these connection terminals (13 A, 13 B), contact elements ( 12 A, 12 B), and, secondly, a hubcap (14), which, removably attached to the body (11), is able to leave the contact members of a paired plug access to organs contact (12 A, 12 B) contained in the body (11), the strip (40) protrudes over the body (11), on the back of it.   Socket socket according to Claim 4, characterized in that the body (11) having a base (15) and a side wall (16) as one piece, the strip (40)   protrudes on the bottom (15), on the back thereof.   Socket socket according to claim 1, characterized in that, in one piece with the bottom (15) of the body (11), the strip (40) is formed by a hollow rib   from it open to the inside of the body (11).   7 Receptacle socket according to any one of   Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that between the body   (11) and the hubcap (14), intervene means latching (26).   8 Socket socket according to any one of   Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, the terminals of   connection (13 A, 13 B) each having, for cooperation with a connection member, a bore (35) which opens out at least one of its ends on the outside, the bores (35) of said connection terminals ( 13A, 13B) are all parallel to one another and their outlets extend all on the same side.   9 Socket socket according to claim 8, characterized in that it is associated with a connecting strip (50) having, projecting on a sole (51), the spacing of its connection terminals (13 A , 13 B), at least one set of pins (52 A, 52 B) forming connecting members for these.   Socket socket according to Claim 9, characterized in that the bore (35) of its connection terminals (13 A, 13 B) opening outwards at both ends thereof, pins (52 A, 52 B) of the terminal strip (50) are insulated from one another and have a length (L 2) greater than that (L 1) of the bores (35) of the connection terminals (13 A). , 13 B), to make   protruding beyond these after their crossing.   Plug socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the sole plate (51) of the socket strip   connection (50) has only one set of pins (52 A, 52 B).   12 Receptacle socket according to any one   claims 10, 11, characterized in that it is   associated a supply base (54) having a groove (55), for the engagement of its connection terminals (13 A, 13 B), and opening on at least one of the flanks (56, 56 ') of this groove (55), at the spacing of these terminals (13 A, 13 B), at least one set of cells (57 A, 57 B, 57 'A, 57' B), which are clean at the engagement of the pins (52 A, 52 B) of the terminal strip (50) engaged with these connection terminals (13 A, 13 B), and to which are respectively   connected to the electrical conductors (58 A, 58 B, 58 'A, 58' B).   Socket socket according to Claim 12, characterized in that there are in place several sets of cells (57 A, 57 B, 57 'A, 57' B) on the same side (56,   56 ') of the groove (55) of the supply base (54).   14 Receptacle socket according to any one of   claims 12, 13, characterized in that there is at least   a set of cells (57 A, 57 B, 57 'A, 57' B) on one and the other of the flanks (56, 56 ') of the groove (55) of the base power supply (54).   Socket socket according to Claim 14, characterized in that polarizing means are provided between the terminal strip (50) and the base power supply (54).   Plug socket according to Claim 9, characterized in that the pins (52 A, 52 B) of the terminal strip (50) are   electrical conductors (58 A, 58 B).   Socket socket according to Claim 16, characterized in that the terminal strip (50) has in place several sets of pins (52 A, 52 B).   18 Receptacle socket according to any one   Claims 9 to 17, characterized in that the pins   (52 A, 52 B) of the terminal strip (50) are rigid.   19 Receptacle socket according to any one   Claims 9 to 17, characterized in that the pins   (52 A, 52 B) of the terminal strip (50) are   elastically deformable transversely.   Socket socket according to any one   Claims 9 to 19, characterized in that the sole   (51) of the terminal strip (50) is under the shape of a wafer.