FR2708390A1 - Device for fixing an electrical appliance to a support profile. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for fixing an electrical appliance (6), the housing (1, 2) of which has a rigid sole (11) forming a central clearance (12) adapted to a support profile (3) and framed by side slides (15, 16) in which can slide edges (34, 35) of the profile (3) essentially characterized in that it comprises an elastomer locking stud (4) which is guided and held in a housing (17) of the sole (11) of the housing and rests by a support base (42) against the rigid housing and by a support base (43) against an edge (36) of the profile (3) so as to be compressed during assembly along an axis (Y-Y ') perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X-X') of the clearance (12), the slide (16) opposite the locking pin (4) being in contact direct with the second edge (37) of the profile (3) and that said clearance (12) has dimensions suitable for the compression clipping of this locking stud (4).

Description

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  The present invention relates to a device for fixing an electrical appliance

on a support profile.

  Certain electrical devices such as contactors, circuit breakers, contactors -

  circuit breakers can be fixed on a rail or support profile which often has a section in n or in "hat". The housings of these devices have, on the rear face, a clearance adapted to the profile and framed by retaining slides each adapted to receive a flange of the profile. A movable lock subjected to a spring is mounted on the housing. This latch which is guided perpendicular to the profile can engage at the rear of a flange of a wing of the profile. To mount the device on the profile, after having positioned it against the profile, exert a force in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the profile core so as to slightly tilt the device and snap the lock . Part of the lock projects from the housing and has a maneuvering eye into which a tool can be inserted to move the lock and disengage the device from the profile. The

  French Patent No. 2,625,603 describes a device of this type.

  On other devices, there is, in place of the lock, a metal coil spring which presses on the edge of a wing of the profile when the device is mounted on the profile. To mount the device on the profile, position it against the profile then press so as to compress the spring. This fixing cannot completely prevent lateral movements of the device along the profile because the coefficient of friction of the

  metal of the spring against the metal of the profile is insufficient.

  French Patent No. 2,019,969 describes an apparatus, the housing of which is produced in two halves assembled by elastic members and in which elastic buffers are mounted cooperating with the elastic members to act against the profile in order to ensure good adhesion. The two opposite edges of the profile rest against

  elastic bodies which does not allow proper positioning of the device.

  The present invention aims to provide an elastic fixing device for performing the mounting of the device on a profile by exerting vertical pressure on the device. It includes an elastomer locking pad which, by its elasticity, immobilizes the device on the profile and which, thanks to its coefficient of

  friction, prevents movement of the device along the profile.

  The fixing device according to the invention is mounted on a device having a rigid sole forming a central clearance adapted to a support profile and framed by lateral slides in which the edges of the profile can slide and it

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  is essentially characterized by the fact that it comprises an elastomer locking stud which is guided and held in a housing in the sole of the housing and which has an elastic tongue providing a contact face capable of coming into contact with the edge and with the edge of the profile, which is engaged in the slide opposite to this locking stud. According to one characteristic, the locking stud has the shape of a straight cylinder or prism which has a cylindrical or prismatic guide surface and two support bases and the housing forms a conjugate surface centered on the axis of symmetry perpendicular to

  the longitudinal axis of the clearance and in which the stud is held.

  According to another characteristic, the guide housing of the elastomer locking stud is constituted by two elastic clamps enclosing the cylindrical surface or

  prismatic locking pin.

  The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an embodiment given by way of example and represented by the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of an electrical appliance equipped of the fixing device according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of an electrical device equipped with the fixing device according to the invention; Figure 3 is a partial rear view showing a first embodiment of the fixing device according to the invention; - Figure 4 is a section along 111-111 of Figure 3; - Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of an electrical device equipped with the fixing device according to the invention; - Figure 6 is an elevational view of the apparatus at the start of the mounting operation on a support profile; Figure 7 is an elevational view of the device after mounting on the support profile. Referring to the drawings, the electrical apparatus designated 6 as a whole is a contactor whose function is to establish or cut the passage of currents to a load such as a motor. This contactor comprises on the one hand separable contacts and on the other hand an electromagnet mechanism used to move the moving parts linked to the

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  mobile contacts. The conductive paths associated with the different poles connect to

  conductors not shown via terminals such as 5.

  The electromagnet is housed in a base 1. The contacts are housed in an arcing box 2. The arcing housing 2 is fixed on the base 1 and the assembly constitutes the rigid housing of the contactor. The base 1 forms, at the rear, a sole 11 in which are provided fixing holes used for fixing on the plate and a clearance 12 adapted to a profile or rail

support 3.

  The support profile 3 is folded so as to have, in cross section, an n-shaped or "hat" shape. It is constituted by a central core 31 connected to two wings 32, 33 folded back forming two flanges 34, 35 located in the same plane, on either side of the central core 31. The upper flange 34 forms an upper edge 36 and the

  lower edge 35 forms a lower edge 37.

  The sole 11 has, on one side of the clearance 12, two pins 13 providing a first slide 15 adapted to receive the flange 34 (core) of the profile. It has, on the other side of the clearance 12, two pins 14 providing a second slide 16

  adapted to receive the flange 35 (core) of the profile.

  The device comprises a locking element or pad 4 made entirely of elastomer. This locking pad 4 made of elastomer has the shape of a straight cylinder or prism, of square or rectangular section for example. It forms a cylindrical or prismatic guide surface 41 centered on an axis of symmetry Y-Y ', a flat support base 42 and a contact base 43 coming into contact with the profile 3. The axis YY' is parallel to the flat face 12 of the clearance (plane R-R ') and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX' of the clearance 12. The support base 42 which is perpendicular to the axis YY is in abutment against a bearing surface of the housing . The contact base 43 opens into the clearance 12 and

  is intended to rest against profile 3.

  The sole 11 of the housing has a housing for guiding the stud 4 which is centered on the axis YY 'perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX' of the clearance 12. The cross section of this housing is adapted to the cross section of the locking stud 4. This accommodation

  authorizes the compression of the locking pad along the axis Y-Y '.

  The cross section (section perpendicular to Y-Y ') of the locking stud 4 shown in the drawings is cylindrical. Alternatively, this cross section could be

square or rectangular.

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  The housing in the sole 11 for guiding the locking stud 4 is constituted by two elastic clamps 17 which guide and pinch the cylindrical surface 41 of the locking stud 4 made of elastomer. These clamps 17 are arranged between the two lugs 13 of the sole, at an equal distance from these two lugs 13. They hold the locking stud 4 in position when the device is separated from the profile and allow the

  compression of pad 4 when the device is mounted on the rail.

  In the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, the contact face 43 is planar

  (perpendicular to Y-Y ') and bears against the upper edge 36 of the profile.

  In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5, the locking stud has an elastic tongue 44 forming a shoulder of two perpendicular facets 431 and 432. The facet 431 bears against the edge 36 of the profile while the facet 432 is supported

against the edge 34 of the profile.

  The operation of the device will now be described with reference to the figures.

6 and 7.

  To mount the device on the profile 3, the device is engaged on the upper edge 34 of the profile (Figure 6) so that the support base 43 of the locking pad 4 made of elastomer comes into contact with the edge 36 of the upper rim 34. It is noted that the upper rim 34 begins to be engaged in the upper slide 15 but that the lower rim 35 is not engaged in the lower slide 16. The plane RR 'from the bottom of the

  clearance 12 makes an acute angle with the plane P-P 'of the core 31 of the profile.

  To clip the device onto the profile, a substantially vertical force F directed from top to bottom is exerted on the device, which has the effect of compressing the locking stud 4 in elastomer, the support base 42 of which is in contact with the housing and pushing the upper edge 34 a little more into the slide 15. We can then tilt the device slightly so as to position the lower edge 35 in front of the slide 16. The

  clamps 17 allow compression of the locking stud 4.

  By releasing the force exerted on the device, the lower flange 35 engages in the

  lower slide 16 (figure 7).

  The bearing face 43 bears against the profile 3. The friction of the locking stud 4 eliminates untimely displacements along the axis XX '. The lower edge 37 of the profile bears directly against the rigid bottom of the slide 16 which is produced in the

  constituent material of the base 1, without any interposition of an elastic element.

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  The clearance 12 has dimensions suitable for clipping by compression of this locking stud 4. The height H between the bottoms of the slides 15 and 16 is slightly

  greater than the height h between edges 36 and 37.

  To remove the device 6 from the support rail 3, it suffices to exert a substantially vertical force directed from top to bottom on the device and to do it slightly

  tilt so as to return to the position of figure 6.

  It is understood that it is possible without departing from the scope of the invention to imagine variants and improvements in detail and even envisage the use of equivalent means.

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Claims (5)

  1. Device for fixing an electrical appliance (6), the housing (1,2) of which has a rigid sole (11) forming a central clearance (12) adapted to a support profile (3) and framed by lateral slides (15, 16) into which can slide edges (34, 35) of the profile (3), characterized in that it comprises an elastomer locking stud (4) which has an elastic tongue (44) providing a contact face (43) capable of coming into contact with the edge (36) and with the flange (34) of the profile (3), which   is engaged in the slide (16) opposite this locking stud (4).   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking stud (4) has the shape of a straight cylinder or prism which has a cylindrical or prismatic guide surface (41) and two support bases ( 42, 43) and that the housing (17) forms a conjugate surface centered on the axis of symmetry (Y-Y ') perpendicular to the axis   longitudinal (X-X ') of the clearance (12) and in which the stud is held.   3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized   by the fact that the guide housing of the locking pad (4) made of elastomer consists of two elastic clamps (17) enclosing the cylindrical or prismatic surface (41) of the locking stud.   4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized   by the fact that the elastic clamps (17) for guiding the locking stud are arranged   between two pins (13) of the sole.   5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized   by the fact that the locking pad (4) made of elastomer presses on an edge (36) of the profile and that the opposite edge (37) presses directly on the bottom the opposite lateral slide (16) to the locking stud.