FR2721045A1 - Distribution terminal for collective equipment. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improvement to terminals (1) for the distribution of water and electricity, in particular, which are normally installed in collective equipments such as in campings and marinas and which comprise an upper frame (2) fitted with output taps (25, 24), a lower-frame (3) mounted on a base (4) and sealed hood (41); the upper frame is comprised of an upper connection block (22) provided with two quick half-connectors (44, 45) for the electric and water connection, and the lower frame is comprised of a lower connection block (21) provided with two quick half connectors for the electric and water connection, respectively, and cooperate with those of the upper block; the upper and lower connection blocks (21, 22) may be brought close to each other and fastened one against the other by means of a lock. The upper frame may be easily decoupled from the lower frame by means of a specific tool for actuating said lock.

Description

 The present invention relates to an improvement made to water and electricity distribution terminals in particular, which are usually installed in collective equipment such as campsites and marinas in particular.

 the technical field of the invention is that of the manufacture of water and electricity distribution equipment.

 I1 is known to equip campsites or marinas with distribution terminals which are equipped with several assemblies comprising a water connection socket (or terminal), an electrical connection socket (or terminal) and, where appropriate, a telephone connection socket.

 Such terminals are generally firmly anchored in the ground and intended to allow at least two users to be supplied with water and electricity by connecting to the output terminals provided on these terminals; such terminals are themselves connected to networks (for example underground) of water and electricity distribution in particular.

 A terminal of this type is notably described in FIG. 5 of European patent application 347 357 (GUILLOT Francis).

 The objective of the present invention is to facilitate the upkeep, maintenance and management of such collective equipment incorporating such terminals; indeed, it is not uncommon that following attempts at fraud in particular, these materials undergo deterioration; indeed, unscrupulous users frequently try to connect to the output terminals fitted with such terminals, without their consumption being imputed to them; to do this, a partial disassembly of the terminal and / or the output terminals is generally carried out in order to allow the unscrupulous user to obtain such a result.

 These degradations require significant staff to regularly visit and inspect the proper functioning of the terminals and the absence of fraud.

 In addition, during these fraudulent connection attempts, it is not uncommon for this to result in losses (in particular of water) which can represent significant costs.

 An objective of the present invention is to provide better user safety by improving protection against mechanical intrusion and by minimizing the risk of electric shock accident; another objective is to allow better management of both electrical and hydraulic consumption, even without fraud, either directly on the terminal and self-managed, or remotely from an external control station.

In accordance with the invention, the solution to the problem posed consists in providing a water and electricity distribution terminal, intended for collective equipment such as marinas and campsites, by respective water outlets or outlets and of electricity, comprising
- A first part (lower) intended to be rigidly fixed to the ground and devoid of direct connection means in order to avoid possibilities of fraudulent connection; a second part or upper part which can be easily disconnected by authorized persons only, from the lower part by means of a lock actuated by a specific tool, either manual, hydraulic, pneumatic, electric ... and which comprises the output terminals for connecting users; a waterproof protective cover covering the two parts.

 According to a preferred embodiment, said terminal comprises an upper frame, a lower frame mounted on a base anchored or moored securely in the ground, and a waterproof cover covering the whole; said upper frame comprises in its lower part an upper block (or half block) for connection equipped with at least one half quick connector (male or female) for conduction of electricity and at least one half male or female quick connector for water connection; said lower frame comprises in its upper part a lower block (or half block) for connection equipped with at least one half quick connector (female or male respectively) for electrical connection and at least one half quick connector (female or male respectively ) water connection which half-fittings of the lower frame each cooperating respectively with those of the upper frame to ensure electrical and hydraulic continuity without loss and safely. Said upper and lower connection blocks can be brought together and tightened one against the other for this by a lock, and said upper frame can be uncoupled from said lower frame by unlocking said lock, such as using a specific tool, (said upper frame being equipped with said sockets or output terminals).

 Advantageously, said upper frame comprises at least three partitions (plates or discs) superimposed, delimiting an electrical compartment (containing the control / metering and electrical cut-off equipment for said outlet sockets) and a compartment for water connections ( containing the control / metering and cut-off equipment for supplying water to said outlet sockets), which are superimposed and are separated by one of said watertight partitions.

 Said lower and upper frames and said cover preferably extend along a substantially vertical axis Z, and the axis Y of actuation of said lock can be inclined relative to the horizontal by an angle of at least equal to 10 , preferably at least equal to 25, and said connection block comprises a shaft fixed to one of said upper or lower connection blocks and extending, in the locked position of said upper and lower blocks, substantially over the entire height respectively of said lower block or said upper block.

 In one embodiment, but others are possible either hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically and therefore possibly even remotely, the control of said lock can be obtained by the rotation of a threaded rod of reduced pitch, and comprising a head for example hexagon, and said terminal (preferably said cover) has an opening for access to said locking control rod which is reduced in size, and the stroke of said rod allowing locking or unlocking is significant (representing at least five and preferably at least ten turns of said rod).

 Advantageously, a terminal according to the invention comprises sockets or terminals for the outlet of water and electricity which are fitted with specific quick couplings, that is to say fitted for example with polarizing pins requiring the use of an additional fitting fitted a key then collaborating with the keying device; in a preferred embodiment, said connection compartment mentioned above comprises, for each of said water outlets, a consumption totalizer and a solenoid valve for opening and closing the water supply to said outlets so that consumption is then controllable either remotely or directly on site by a self-management system as described below.

 A bollard according to the invention may include an upper lighting compartment, and optionally includes an upper compartment receiving electronic control and management equipment, in particular a memory card reader and a central control unit such as a programmable automaton: thus such a terminal can either be managed remotely from an external control station, or can be self-managed by means of a memory card authorizing the supply of water and electricity thanks to this said automaton controlling the various circuit breakers and solenoid valves the totalizers in water and electricity of said outputs; the upper part of said terminal when a memory card reader is used may include a keyboard with a screen and a slot for inserting said cards.

 A bollard according to the invention can comprise thick plates and said lower frame (or respectively said upper frame) can comprise columns provided at their ends with lugs which can cooperate with orifices provided in the plate arranged opposite said upper frame ( or respectively of said lower frame) so as to ensure centering and the correct relative positioning of said upper frame and said lower frame.

 Said upper frame may comprise a sealed passage for electrical wires or cables, preferably perpendicular to compartment separation plates of said upper frame, which electrical cables pass through the walls of said passage duct through orifices fitted with cable glands.

 Advantageously, said plates are circular in general disc shape and said cover is of slightly cylindrical or frustoconical shape provided with a closed upper part in the shape of a dome or of an inclined or horizontal plane.

 Advantageously, the upper frame comprises an electrical compartment separated in a watertight manner from a water connection compartment, which electrical compartment comprises for each of said electrical outlets: a totalizer of electrical consumption, a magneto-thermal circuit breaker and a device for resetting of said circuit breaker, which is accessible from outside of said terminal. Said consumption totalizers and circuit breakers can be managed and controlled as indicated above for hydraulic consumption, either remotely from an external control station, or on site by a self-management system associated with a memory card reader with code access.

 The numerous advantages provided by the invention will be understood through the following description referring to the appended drawings which illustrate without any limiting nature the preferred embodiments of terminals according to the invention.

 Figure 1 schematically illustrates in perspective view comprising a partial cutaway view, the main components of a distribution terminal according to the invention.

 FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates in perspective two main components of a terminal according to the invention, namely the removable upper part (or upper frame) and the lower part comprising a lower frame mounted on a base.

 Figure 3 illustrates schematically and partially, in sectional view through a vertical plane, a terminal according to the invention, and more particularly details of embodiment of an upper and lower connection block and the locking system of the two parts of the terminal and / or both parts of the connection block.

 FIG. 4 schematically illustrates in plan view the components entering into an electrical compartment of a terminal according to the invention and is a view according to IV-IV of FIG. 2.

 With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that a terminal according to the invention is of generally cylindrical or frustoconical shape flared downwards; in FIG. 1, a distinction is made between the upper module (or frame or the part) equipped in its lower part with an upper half connecting block 22 capable of fitting into a lower half connecting block 21 provided at the upper part of the lower part of the terminal; as illustrated in FIG. 2, the lower part (or module) of the terminal comprises a lower frame which is rigidly fixed to a base 4 itself fixed permanently in the ground and allowing the connection of the terminal to the distribution networks of water and electricity in particular (preferably underground).

 As illustrated in FIG. 1, the cover 41 covering the upper frame and the lower frame of the terminal is provided on its peripheral wall (substantially cylindrical or frustoconical) with cutouts (or openings or window) 51 for example of rectangular shape, which are placed in manhole cover 23 in which, as illustrated in FIG. 2, an electrical connection socket (or terminal) 25 and a water connection socket (or terminal) 24 are placed, which essentially consists of a half quick connector, optionally equipped a key.

 With reference to FIG. 2, said niche 23 further comprises a push button 26 allowing the user to cause the resetting of the magnetic to thermal circuit breaker corresponding to the terminal 25 of its own electrical distribution, if necessary.

 In an embodiment corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 3, it can be seen that the upper frame of said terminal comprises three superimposed compartments, one a lighting compartment 33 (FIGS. 1 and 3), an electrical compartment 32 (FIG. 3) located under said compartment 33 for lighting and separated from it by a plate (reference 5 in figure 2), and a compartment (34 figure 3) for water connection situated under said compartment 32 for electrical connection and separated from it by a second plate 6.

 Said lighting compartment 33 may include a neon or various other sources of lighting with deflectors to illuminate the passage on the quay or the pontoon or the like as well as capillaries such as light beams to illuminate the supply niches 23 on which are housed the electrical and hydraulic outputs of said terminal:: it is this upper compartment 33 or possibly another compartment isolated therefrom which may include in its inner part an automaton managing the various circuit breakers 37 and solenoid valves 40 and water totalizers 39 and electricity 38 of the outputs as well as a set of computer cards allowing the operation of these various solenoid valves and circuit breakers as well as in its external part a keyboard, a screen and a slot for inserting memory cards in a reader cards located inside.

 Said upper frame comprises in the lower part a thick plate 7 (with reference to FIG. 2).

 With reference to this figure, it can be seen that the lower part of the terminal comprises a base 4 comprising in its lower part a plate 10 allowing its fixing in the ground thanks to orifices 11 allowing the passage of fixing means in the ground or d anchoring in the ground, and comprises a base box 14 inside which circulates a pipe 12 for connection to the water distribution network and wires or cables 13 for connection to the electrical distribution network (which are preferably underground ).

 The base 4 is limited in the upper part by a plate 9 on which is fixed the plate 8 located in the lower part of a lower frame 3 of said terminal.

 Said lower frame is equipped with vertical columns 16 mounted on the upper face of said plate 8 and each carrying at their ends a lug 17 for positioning and centering the upper frame and more particularly of the plate 7 located in the lower part of this upper frame , which plate 7 is provided with holes 18 into which the pins and / or upper ends of said columns 16 must be inserted in order to ensure the relative positioning of the two respective parts of the terminal frame.

 Said lower frame 3 comprises a lower connection block 21 which incorporates a half electrical quick connector 19 and a half water quick connector 20, inside a rigid and sealed enclosure which is rigidly mounted on said plate 8 , and which is made integral with the lower frame itself made integral with said base 4.

 Said half connectors 19 and 20 do not normally allow direct connection of the user, on the one hand because they are of a type of connector which is not currently commercially available, on the other hand because 'Such a connection would prevent other users from using their connection plugs or terminals because such a connection would prevent reassembly of the upper part of the terminal on the lower part; and finally and mainly because of their rigid fixing inside the block, in a position of approach.

 Said lower connection block 21 is intended to receive (when the upper frame is mounted on the lower frame), and to cooperate with a corresponding part 22 or half upper connection block, which comprises complementary connection means 44, 45 which cooperate with the half fittings 19 and 20 as illustrated in Figure 3.

 With reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the electrical connections arriving in the lower part of the upper frame 2 are directed towards a channel 27 for the passage of electrical cables in order to avoid any connection and any possible contact with water and the equipment. water distribution located in the compartment between the plates 6 and 7 of the upper frame; for this purpose, as illustrated in FIG. 4, said cables or electric wires pass through the walls 31, 31A, 3lB, 31C of said cable passage conduit 27 by means of cable gland 30.

 Referring to Figure 3, we see that in the mounting position shown in this figure, said cover 41 has in its upper part an end face in dome shape and is provided with a substantially cylindrical or slightly frustoconical peripheral wall covering and surrounding the lower and upper parts of the terminal.

 The lower part comprising the frame 4 is provided with means (as illustrated in the other figures) allowing the permanent fixing of the base 4 in the ground 49 and the passage of pipe 12 for connection to the water distribution network and of wires or cables 13 for connection to the electrical distribution network.

 Said lower frame 3 comprises said block or lower half block 21 for connection equipped with two quick half connectors 19 and 20 placed side by side, mutually parallel and rigidly fixed to said block (that is to say an integral part of said block) equipping respectively the end of said electric cables 13 and water supply conduit 12.

 It can also be seen in this figure that the compartment located inside part 4 of the base is separated into two watertight compartments by a partition 15.

 In the coupling (or mounting) position of the lower and upper parts of the terminal shown in this figure, the upper connection block 22 is mounted on the lower connection block 21 so as to ensure the continuity of the electrical connections and d water supply, via half connections 44 and 45 for electrical and water connection, placed side by side, mutually parallel and rigidly fixed to said block (that is to say an integral part of said block) provided in said upper block 22 for connection and which, in the position shown in this figure, cooperate respectively with said half quick couplings 19 and 20, so as to ensure said supply of the upper b ti of the terminal and therefore of the terminals intended for users.

 In the locking position illustrated in FIG. 3, a shaft 50 linked at its lower end to said lower connection block 21, but other locking and unlocking systems are possible, extends substantially over a height corresponding to the height of the half upper block 22 for connection said shaft is provided in its upper part with a shoulder or a prominent head under which comes to bear the end of a lock 42 mounted at the end of a threaded rod 43 which passes through the wall of said upper block 22, which wall is provided with a nut allowing the rotation of said threaded rod 43; the rotation of the threaded rod in one direction or another causes the displacement along the Y axis which is inclined downward relative to the horizontal by an angle at least equal to 10; said threaded rod 43 has at its free end a head 46, for example with a hexagon, which can be operated by a key passing through an orifice 47 provided in the cover 41 of said terminal; for the operation of the rod 43 for actuating the lock, the plug 48 closing the opening 47 provided in the cover is removed beforehand, which plug may be provided with a key for example.

 By a rotation of several turns of said rod 43 maneuvered by a key via said head 46, one obtains in a locking direction, the ultimate approximation of the two lower and upper parts 21 and 22 of the connection block, then the locking in the coupled position of these two blocks; in the opposite direction of rotation of said rod 43, we first obtain the unlocking of the locking shaft 50 of the two parts of the block, then their separation is made possible.

 As illustrated in FIG. 3, at the upper outlet of the half quick connector 45 for water connection fitted to the upper half block 22, two taps 52 are provided for supplying outlet and water distribution terminals: in other embodiments, there can be only one outlet terminal or on the contrary more than two such as the three shown in FIG. 4 for the electrical outlets but each corresponding to a water outlet located below in the same niche 23; each of said water outlets 24 is associated with a consumption totalizer 39 and a solenoid valve 40 for opening and closing the water supply to said outlet.

 Said electrical wires or cables leaving the half quick connector 44 for the electrical connection provided in the upper half body 22, are preferably routed via said passage conduit (reference 27 in Figures 1 and 2), to the user output terminals by the 'intermediary of the devices illustrated in figure 4.

 With reference to this FIG. 4, it can be seen that the electrical supply wires or cables 35 pass through the passage or isolation conduit 27 relative to the water distribution compartment provided in the upper half-frame, pass through the partition 31B of this conduit by a cable gland 30; each of the cables is successively equipped with a totalizing consumption counter 38, a circuit breaker 37, preferably a magnetothermal differential, then a socket 25 to which the user can connect, which socket is preferably provided with a coding device preventing its use using a socket other than the complementary socket provided by the collective equipment management body.

 In each of the recesses 23 receiving said terminal 25 for electrical connection, said push button 26 for actuating a rod 29 for resetting said circuit breaker 37 is provided.

Claims (10)

 1. Water and electricity distribution terminal (1) for collective equipment by water and electricity outlet sockets (25, 24), comprising  - an upper frame (2) equipped with said outlet sockets (25, 24),  - a lower frame (3) mounted on a base (4) moored in the ground (49),  - a water-tight cover (41) covering the whole,  - which upper frame comprises an upper connection block (22) equipped with at least one half quick connector (44) for electrical connection and at least one half quick connector (45) for water connection,  - which lower frame comprises a lower connection block (21) equipped with at least one half quick connector for electrical connection and at least one half quick connector for water connection cooperating with those of the upper block, which upper blocks and lower (21, 22) connection are brought together and tightened against each other by a latch (42),  - Which upper frame can be uncoupled from said lower frame by unlocking said latch (42).  2. Terminal according to claim 1 wherein said upper frame comprises three superimposed plates or discs (5, 6, 7) delimiting a compartment (32) for electrical connection and a compartment (34) for water connection, which are superimposed and are separated by one of said partitions (6) which is waterproof. Y of said latch (42) is inclined relative to the horizontal, and said connection block comprises a shaft (50) fixed to one of said upper or lower connection blocks and extending, in the locked position of said upper blocks and lower, over the entire height respectively of said lower block or said upper block.  3. Terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein said lower and upper frames and said cover extend along a substantially vertical axis Z, and in which the axis  4. Terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said water and / or electricity outlet sockets (25, 24) are fitted with quick couplings fitted with polarizing pins requiring the use of a complementary fitting equipped with a key collaborating with the keying device.  5. Bollard according to any one of claims 1 to 4 further comprising an upper compartment (33) lighting and / or an upper compartment receiving electronic control and management equipment.  6. Terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said plates (7) and (8) are thick and said lower frame comprises columns (16) provided at their ends with lugs (17) which can cooperate with orifices (18) provided in the plate of said upper frame.  7. Terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said upper frame comprises a sealed passage passage (27) of electrical son.  8. Terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said plates (5, 6, 7, 8) are circular in general disc shape and said cover is of slightly frustoconical shape.  9. Terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the upper frame comprises at least one electrical compartment (32) separated in a watertight manner from a water connection compartment (34), which compartment electrical comprises for each of said electrical outputs (25), a totalizer (38) of electrical consumption, a circuit breaker (37) and a reset device (26) of said circuit breaker accessible from outside said terminal.  10. Terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said upper frame (2) comprises a water connection compartment (34) separated from at least one compartment (32) for electrical connection, which compartment in water comprises for each of said water outlets (24), a consumption totalizer (39) and a solenoid valve (40) for opening and closing the water supply to said outlets.