FR2730096A1 - Multi-terminal connection block with self-stripping contacts for node of digital network, e.g. electricity meter network - Google Patents

Abstract

The electrical connection block includes a base (10) on which a series of connection elements are mounted. Each connection element includes a similar number of self-stripping wire connectors for wires introduced through slots in the side wall (14) of the connector. A pivoting block (9) is mounted above each connection element, with fingers (20) aligned to press the wires into the respective connectors when it is folded down into the locked position. Connections are provided in the base of the block for connecting together the individual connectors of separate elements within the block.

Description

 The present invention relates to a connection device for constituting a node of a digital network, such as a network for reading electrical meters.

The development of electric meters has seen the appearance of meters
digital devices which not only measure electrical consumption by electronic means but can also provide various information and in particular electrical consumption information. We took advantage of these innovations by providing for a reading of these electric meters by means of data acquisition devices. .

 To avoid the meter reading attendant having to enter each dwelling, it has been proposed to establish a digital link between the meter installed in the dwelling and a reading terminal which is accessible from the public domain, for example on the step of the street or the hall and in any case in a place where the attendant can go freely. The attendant has a data acquisition device that can communicate, at the level of the reading terminal, with the house meter. For example, the reading terminal and the data acquisition device are mutually equipped with magnetic data exchange means.

 The connection between a meter and a terminal is carried out by means of a two-wire cable for data transmission, said cable being provided with a screen wire for the ground. the digital information is transmitted from the counter to the reading terminal, then from the dc reading terminal to the data acquisition device in the form of bit trams.

 To simplify the task of the attendant, it has been proposed, when possible, in particular in daabnties tds as housing estates or buildings, to connect the, different reading terminals according to a network so that the reading of the meters of the dwellings A single set of dwellings can be carried out on a single terminal.

 At each reading terminal, it is then necessary to have a connection device which forms a node of the network thus formed. At this node, the connection device ensures, on the one hand, the connection of a counter to the means of exchange of said terminal, and on the other hand, the connection of said terminal to other terminals of the same set of dwellings. On this connection device, there therefore arrives a cable from the upstream terminal, a target from the downstream terminal, a cable from the counter of this terminal, and a target from the exchange means of this terminal, these cables having to be connected For other dense housing complexes, it may be necessary to provide for the connection, on the same connection device, of more than four cables.

 The object of the invention is to propose a connection device for constituting a node of a digital network such as that which has just been described.

 Another object of the invention is to provide such a connection device (ply or dc structure such that the connection operation of the various cables is facilitated, simple and non-binding.

 To this end, a connection device according to the invention is characterized in that it consists of a base on which one or a plurality of connection elements are mounted, each connection element consisting of n connection members without stripping and with a finger intended to drive, by pivoting, n wires of a cable so as to respectively bring them, in a locking position, into said n connection members and thus to establish h connection between said n wires and said n members, means being provided for electrically connecting together said connection elements.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the finger of each connection element is pierced with n holes extending radially with respect to its pivot axis, each hole being designed to receive a wire in order to drive it and bring it in the corresponding connection member
According to another characteristic of the invention, each finger is pierced with a cavity provided to match the shape of said connection members, the guide holes of said wires passing through said cavity.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, each connection member without stripping has two respcc walls (ivcnait provided with fines at the cutting edges to incise the sheath of the wire introduced and thus to make the electrical connection, said slots defining a plane which is parallel to the pivot plane of the associated finger in the same connection element.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, each connection member without stripping has two walls respectively provided with slots with cutting edges to incise the sheath of the wire introduced and thus to make the electrical connection, said slots defining a plane which is parallel to the plane for pivoting the associated finger in the same connection element, each cavity of a finger being provided with as many guide pads as there are wires carried by said finger, the end of said pad being provided for guiding said luff wire dc being introduced into the 'corresponding connecting member.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the means for electrically connecting said connection elements to each other consist of a printed circuit on which said connection members are soldered without stripping.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, said fingers are made of a transparent plastic material.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, each finger is pierced with holes allowing the wires to be seen.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, one of the guide holes of each finger has a diameter less than the diameters of said other holes for the passage of a screen wire.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, said connection members without stripping are coated with a protective product.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the number n of wires or screen wires per
connection element is three.

According to another characteristic of the invention, each finger has means for
present a hard point in an intermediate open position.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, said fingers are pous us of locking means to lock them in their closed position.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said locking means are
made up of a wing opposite the pivot axis of said finger and capable of bending elastically
relative to the body of said finger, the free end of said wing being provided with a groove
transverse in which is housed, in the closed position of said finger, a flange of said base.

According to another characteristic of the invention, it comprises connection pads for
connection of measuring or control devices.

The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others,
will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment,
ladRe description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which:
h Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connection device according to the invention,
h Fig.2 is a sectional view along b plane II / II of Fig. 1 of a dc device
connection with the finger in its open position,
Fig.3 is a sectional view along the plane IIUII1 of Fig. l a device
connection with the finger in its closed position, and
Fig 4 is a mootrant perspective view of the connection members without stripping.

The bypass connection device shown in FIG. 1 is
consisting of a base 10 on which can pivot, along an axis xx 'parallel to the length
of said base 10, fingers of conrixion 20 here four in number. One of the fingers 20 is
shown in the open position while the others are in the closed position.

Squeak we will understand it later, the base 10 and the fingers 20 are made up of
electrically insulating materials, such as plastics.

 The base 10 is provided with ears 11 for its fixing, for example on the wall of a housing (not shown).

 One of the longitudinal walls 12 of the base 10 is provided with notches 13 which are grouped walls, each group being separated by a partition wall 14. As will be seen below, the notches 13 are provided for the passage of wires and d 'a screen thread from the same target. It will be noted that each connection finger 20 is associated with a group of notches 13.

 Each finger 20 is pierced, perpendicularly to its pivot axis, with three guide holes 21 provided for respectively receiving the wires and the screen wire of a target.

It will be noted that with each hole 21 is associated a notch 13 of the base 10.

 At one end, the base 10 is provided with a connection member 30 for the connection of a ground wire, and connection pads 41 and 42 to allow the connection of a measurement or control device, this for network maintenance. .

The detailed description of a device according to the invention is made in relation to the
Figs, 2 and 3.

 We see in Fig. 2, the base 10, with its ears 11 pierced with holes 11a for the passage of fixing screws (not shown), as well as a notch 13 and a wall 14.

 The base 10 consists of two loegitudinal walls 12 12 and 15 and a wall 16 connecting them p The walls 12, 15 and 16 form a housing 10a closed by a cover 17. Inside the housing 10a, is fixed, by means (not shown) such as fixing screws, a printed circuit 70 and this, on the internal face of the wall 16.

 The wall 16 is pierced right through with a hole 16a provided for the passage of a connection member without stripping 80 soldered on the printed circuit 70. This member 80 protrudes above the wall 16.

 There is shown in FIG. 4, three connection members without stripping 80 mounted on a printed circuit 70 and passing through holes 16a drilled in the wall 16 of a base 10.

Each member 80 has the shape of a rectangular metal parallelepiped. The transverse walls 81 are respectively provided with f @ slots 81a whose entries 81b are flared and whose bottoms 81c are circular. The facing walls of each slot 81a are cutting so as to be able to incise the sheath of a wire introduced into the slot and to come into electrical contact with the rhyme of the wire. The flaring of the input 81b dc facilitates the introduction of the wire.

 In Fig. 1, it can be seen that the slots 81a of the members 80 are in the same plane parallel to the pivot plane of each finger 20 associated in the same connection element.

On the longitudinal walls 82 of each organ 80, are stuck fiítes 82a
substantially parasitic to the walls 81. They ensure a certain elasticity of the
upper part of each wall 81.

The finger 20 shown in Fig 2 is in an open position. In the hole
guide 21 rep a wire 60 has passed. It will be seen that the guide hole 21 21 extends
radially with respect to the pivot axis xx 'of the finger 21.

 The finger 20 is pierced, at one end and along its pivot axis, with a hole 22 which is designed to receive an axis 18 secured to the base 10.

 The finger 20 is pierced with three cavities 23 (the three cavities 23 are visible in Fig. 1 while only one is visible in Fig. 2 and 3) which are respectively close to match the shapes of the three organs 80 associated with said finger 20, when the latter is in its closed position (see Fig. 3). The holes 21 open into the cavity 23 and it can be considered that they pass through the cavity 23. Inside each cavity 23, there are provided guide pads 24 in a number equal to the number of wires 60 capable of being carried by finger 20, in this case three. The end edge of each stud 24 has a shape of part of a cylinder or a channel shape depending on the diameter of the wire which has passed through hole 21. This part of cylinder on this channel is an extension of the hole 21 drilled in the finger 20. Each wire 60 is amsi gmdé in a hole 21 as well as by this end of the stud 24.

 In Fig. 3, we see the finger 20 which is in its closed position. The finger 20 then rests on the wall 16 of the base 10. The wire 60 is sandwiched between the cutting walls of the 81a of the member 80 which ensures its electrical connection to the member 80 as has been explained above. From an electrical point of view, the printed circuit 70 is designed to connect all the members of the same position at each finger 20.

 For passage from the open position of FIG. 2 to that of neture or locking of FIG. 3, each finger 20 pivots, under the action of a thrust exerted by the user's finger on the external surface of the finger 20, around the axis 18 of the base 10, thus causing, in the same movement, the two wires and the screen wire which it carries, and this until the latter are positioned in the slots of the member 80 and establish the electrical connection.

 Each finger 20 has a substantially firm section of the right triangle, the hypotenuse being turned upwards and being slightly arched to match the shape of the user's finger. The face of the finger 20 containing this hypotenuse can also be striated (see Fig. 1) so that the user's finger adheres better during handling. As for the large side adjacent to this hypotenuse, it is intended to rest on the wall 16 of the base 10.

 Significantly parallel to the short side adjacent to the hypotenuse of its section, each finger 20 is undu so as to form a wing 25 which can flex elastically relative to the body of finger 20 while approaching it more or less. The wing 25 is provided, near its free end, with a transverse groove 25a.

 The wall 14 between two connection assemblies of the base 10 is provided at its free end with a flange 14a which projects towards the finger 20. During the pivoting of the finger 20, h part 25b of the wing 25 comes into cootad with the advanced part of the rim 14a which has the effect of causing the deflection of the wing 25. The pivoting movement can then continue and this, until the rim 14a penetrates into the groove 25a When the finger 20 is in its closed position (see Fig. 3), the rim 14a is therefore housed in the groove 25a, which has the effect of locking the finger 20 in this position.

 The finger 20 also includes a lug 26 which is designed to be housed in a rai-re 16b of the wall 16, and this in an intermediate position of opening of the finger20.

Thus, the finger 20 has a hard point in this intermediate position. There, it is possible for the user to pass the wires and the screen wire assigned to finger 20 before making it pivoted to its closed position.

 In reality, each finger 20 can pivot around an angle of approximately 150, which makes it possible to ensure the possibility of easily passing the wires and the screen wire whatever the position and accessibility of the connection device.

 The connection device of the invention is therefore provided for the simultaneous connection of the two wires and the screen wire of the same target and this by means of the single manipulation of a finger 20 which drives these wires and this wire. screen to three connection barley without 80. Each assembly consisting of a finger 20 and three connection members 80 can be considered as a connection element of a cable which is connected. via the printed circuit 70, to another connection element.

 In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the number of connection elements is four, but it will be understood that the invention covers cases where this number is different as soon as it is greater than one. If this number is equal to or greater than two, there is an input cable and at least one output cable. In the case where this number is one, it can be an insulated barrel element which can be connected to at least one other insulated connection element or have terminals, such as the connection pads 41 and 42, for measuring or checking devices.

 In order to control the correct introduction of the wires into the holes 21, the fingers 20 are made of transparent plastic.

 B would be possible, for the same reason. to drill holes in the upper part of the studs 24 through which the user could see the wires passed.

 In order to ensure protection of the organs 80, it is possible to fill their interior with a protection product. This operation is facilitated by the accessibility of the members 80 when the corresponding finger 20 is in the open position.

 It will also be noted that one of the three holes 21 drilled in each finger 20 has a diameter smaller than the other two. Indeed, it is provided to accommodate the screen wire which is of diameter smaller than the diameters of the two sheathed wires. However, the fact of providing a smaller hole for the screen wire avoids the eneurs of connection.

Claims (15)

 1) Connection device for constituting a node of a digital network, such as a network for reading electrical meters, characterized in that it consists of a base (10) on which is mounted a plurality of elanents connection, each coen element consisting of n connection members without stripping (80) and a finger (20) provided for driving, by pivoting, n wires (60) of a cable so as to bring them respectively, in a locked position, in said n connection members (80) and thereby establishing the connection between said n wires (60) and said n members (80), means (70) for electrically connecting said said elements connection being provided.  2) Connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the finger (20) of each connection element is pierced with n guide holes (21) extending radially relative to its pivot axis, each hole (21 ) being designed to receive a wire (60) in order to drive it and bring it back into the corresponding fixing member (80).  3) Connection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each finger (20) is pierced with a cavity (23) provided to match the shape of said connection members (80), the holes (21) guide said wires (60) passing through said cavity (23).  4) Connection device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in cc qoe each connection member without stripping (80) compost two walls (81) respectively provided with slots (81a) with cutting edges to incise the sheath of the wire (60 ) introduced and thus to achieve the eclectic connection, said droppings (81a) defining a plane which is paid to the pivot plane of the finger (20) associated in the me connection element.  5) Connection device according to claim 3, characterized in that each connection member without stripping (80) comprises two walls (81) respectively provided with slots (81a) with cutting edges to mciser the sheath of the wire (60) introduced and to thereby make the electrical connection, said slots (8a) defining a plane which is parallel to the plane of pi of the finger (20) associated in the same connection element, each cavity (23) of a finger (20) being provided as many guide pads (24) as there are wires (60) capable of being carried by said finger (20), the end of each pad (24) being provided to guide said wire (60) during its introduction into the 'corresponding connecting member (80).  6) Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in cc that the means for electrically connecting together said connection elements are instituted by a printed circuit (70) on which are welded said connection members without stripping (80).  7) Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that  that said fingers (20) are made of a transparent plastic.  8) Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that  that each finger (20) is pierced with holes revealing the wires (60) which it carries  9) Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized ai oe  that one of the guide holes (21) of each finger (20) is of diameter less than  said other holes (21) for the passage Screen screen notch  10) dc connion device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that ballast connection members without stripping (80) are coated with a protective product.  11) Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number n of wires (60) or screen wire per connection element is three.  12) Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each finger (20) carries means (26) for presenting a hard point in an intermediate open position  13) Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fingers (20) are provided with locking means (25) to lock them in their closed position.  14) Connection device according to claim 13, characterized in that said locking means consist of a wing (25) opposite the pivot axis of said finger (20) and being able to flex elastically relative to the body of said finger ( 20), the free end of said wing (25) being provided with a transverse groove (25a) in which is housed, in the closed position of said finger (20), a flange (14a) of said base (10).  15) Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises connection pads (41, 42) for the connection of measuring devices on dccontrôle.