FR2740911A1 - ELECTRICAL APPARATUS WITH CONNECTING TERMINALS PROTECTED BY WING FIXED DIAPHRAGM - Google Patents

Abstract

The clamping element has a rectangular shaped metallic section with an upper screw (29). The screw is attached to an inner moving plate (27) which tightens up against an inserted wire. The wire is trapped by an internal U-shaped section (28). The clamping element slides into and is held by a shaped container (11) which has a side hole (26) for the wire to be passed through to the clamp. There is an upper hole (30) for screwdriver screw tightening.

Description

"Electrical apparatus with connection terminals protected by a diaphragm

  The present invention generally relates to electrical apparatus of which at least one of the connection terminals is protected by a diaphragm. This is the case, for example, in the international patent application which, filed under No. PCT / EP94 / 02304, was

published in No W095 / 03641.

  Overall, the connection terminal intervenes, as is obvious, to the right of an opening of the housing, and, of the type commonly called "elevator", it comprises two elements, including one, at least, obviously, is conductive, to namely, on the one hand, a fixed element, which is wedged in the housing, being, in practice, disposed more or less on the edge of the opening thereof, and, on the other hand, a movable element, which, under the control of a clamping screw at the disposal of the user, is mounted movably parallel to the opening of the housing, between an engagement position, for which, away from the fixed element, it is cleaning with the latter in continuity with this opening, a passage sufficient to allow the engagement of the conductive core of an electric cable, and a clamping position for which, close to the fixed element, it restricts this passage, to ensure the tightening of this conductive soul, with solidarity in motion of the mobile element e, on the opposite side of the element

fixed, a diaphragm.

  This diaphragm has the function of ensuring a systematic concealment of the part of the opening of the housing which, with respect to the fixed element of the connection terminal, extends beyond its movable element, and this in order to on the one hand, when the connection terminal is not fully open, to prevent that the engagement of the conductive core of an electric cable can be done unwittingly under the movable element of the connection terminal, this which would obviously prevent its actual connection, and, secondly, when the connection terminal is tightened on the conductive core of an electric cable and is thus likely to be live, to oppose access by below to the movable element of this connection terminal, or, more generally, to access to any live part that can be reached through the opening portion of the housing left free by the electric cable, which could

  obviously be the cause of an incident or an accident.

  In the international patent application published under No. W095 / 03641, the diaphragm, which is in practice constituted by a rigid plate, forming in a way a flap, or a flanged edge, for the mobile element of the connection terminal , is directly coupled frontally to this movable element, or, more exactly, to the lateral strands of the stirrup to which it belongs, following, therefore, a provision which does not involve the hooking means

  corresponding only to one side of this movable element.

  This provision can give satisfaction.

  But, being thus only one side, and, moreover, according to the plane of the diaphragm, the attachment of this diaphragm to the movable element is in practice relatively

poorly insured.

  As a result, when mounting, the diaphragm forms with the stirrup of the connection terminal a subset relatively uncertain, which is difficult to assemble, and which it is practically impossible to ensure implementation

  automatic in the case, to the detriment of productivity.

  The present invention generally relates to a provision making it possible to avoid this drawback and

  leading further to other advantages.

  More specifically, it relates to an electrical appliance of the type comprising, in a housing, to the right of an opening of this housing, a connection terminal comprising two elements, one of which, at least, is conductive, namely, on the one hand, a fixed element, which is wedged in the housing, and, on the other hand, a movable element, which, under the control of a clamping screw at the disposal of the user, is mounted movably parallel to this opening between an engagement position, for which, away from the fixed element, it maintains with it, in continuity with this opening, a passage sufficient to allow the engagement of the conductive core of an electric cable , and a clamping position, for which, close to the fixed element, it restricts this passage to ensure the clamping of the conductive core, with integral movement of the movable element, the side thereof opposite the fixed element, a diaphragm, for the occultatio n of the part of the opening of the housing extending beyond the movable element relative to the fixed element, this electrical apparatus being generally characterized in that, for its coupling to the element mobile, the diaphragm belongs to a part having two wings which, generally parallel to each other, each extend respectively on either side of the movable element, each being integral with

movement of it.

  Thus, the attachment of the diaphragm to the movable element, and more precisely to the stirrup to which this mobile element belongs in practice, is advantageously, more

  balanced, along two opposite sides of this movable element.

  In practice, the wings of the part to which the diaphragm belongs extend substantially perpendicular to the wall of the housing having the opening, so that, instead of intervening frontally, the attachment of the diaphragm is lateral, on two sides

opposite of the stirrup.

  Anyway, intervening on two opposite sides of the mobile element, this hanging is

  particularly easy to ensure and particularly safe.

  During assembly, the insertion into the housing of the subassembly formed by the diaphragm with the stirrup can therefore advantageously be ensured automatically if

  desired, to the benefit of productivity.

  According to a first development of the invention, the part to which the diaphragm belongs comprises a second diaphragm, which, globally parallel to the first, extends from

  the other side of his wings in relation to this one.

  It follows that, thus having two diaphragms, this piece can advantageously be indifferently mounted in one direction or the other on the stirrup of the connection terminal, which further facilitates the corresponding operations. According to a second development of the invention, the two diaphragms that this piece thus presents are connected

one to the other by two partitions.

  While improving the rigidity of the assembly, these two partitions advantageously delimit with the two diaphragms a bell-shaped volume advantageously capable of insulating a pin belonging to another connection device when the electrical apparatus in question being placed on the same support with other electrical appliances for which this other device is provided.

  connection, he is not affected by it.

  Thus, the electrical apparatus equipped with a diaphragm according to the invention can in this case advantageously be satisfied with the presence of a pin which is not provided for him and which it is then not necessary to ensure

  elimination to allow its implementation.

  The characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will emerge from the description which follows,

  by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical apparatus equipped with diaphragm connection terminals according to the invention; FIG. 2 is, on a larger scale, an exploded perspective view of a part of the housing of this electrical appliance and of one of its connection terminals; Figure 3 is an even larger scale, an exploded perspective view of this connection terminal; Figures 4 and 5 are, on a larger scale, cross-sectional views of the part to which belongs the diaphragm equipping according to the invention this connection terminal, respectively along the lines IV-IV and V-V of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a partial perspective view which, derived from that of Figure 2, illustrates the configuration of the assembly when the connection terminal is fully open; FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view similar to that of FIG. 6, when the terminal of

  connection is completely closed.

  These figures illustrate, by way of example, the application of the invention to a modular electrical appliance 10, that is to say to an electrical appliance 10 itself.

  presenting in the general form of a wafer.

  In the present case, it is an example of a

  circuit. But it could just as well be another electrical device, and, for example, a switch or a circuit breaker. Anyway, the electrical apparatus 10 is intended to be integrated into an electrical installation, being arranged side by side with other electrical appliances.

modular of the same type.

  Its service is therefore done in practice by the slice.

  In a manner known per se, the housing 11 of this electrical apparatus 10 comprises, on this edge, a rear face 12, by a notch 13 of which it is adapted to be attached to any support, not shown, in practice a rail of standard type, with, intervening in this notch 13, a fastening device adapted to its snap on this support, two side faces 14, and a front face 15 having, on the one hand, two side faces 16, and, on the other hand, part, between these side facets 16, a projecting portion 17 on which intervenes an organ 18 at the disposal of the user, in this case, being a circuit breaker, a

  own handle for entering the corresponding fuse holder.

  In the embodiment shown, the housing 11 is formed of two distinct parts, namely, on the one hand, a base 11A, which, forming a can body, essentially ensures the housing of the various internal constituents of the electrical apparatus 10, and, on the other hand, a hood 11B, which

  forming a lid, closes the base 11A.

  These two separate parts are duly secured to each other, according to arrangements which, well known by themselves, and not falling within the scope of the present invention, do not

will not be described here.

  By its bottom 20, the base 11A forms one of the faces

main 21 of the housing 11.

  By its rim 22, which, with the exception of a notch 23 specific to the passage of the member 18, runs substantially over the entire perimeter of its bottom 20, the base 11A forms, in addition, for

  the essential, the slice of the case 11.

  As for the hood 11B, it forms, by itself, the other of

  main faces 21 of the housing 11.

  In the housing 11, in particular, for the serving of the electrical apparatus 10, at least two connection terminals 25, which are each respectively established in the vicinity of the lateral faces 14 of this housing 11, to the right of an opening 26 of these giving them access, and one of which

only one is visible in the figures.

  In practice, these two connection terminals 25 are

identical to each other.

  They each comprise, in a manner known per se, two elements, at least one of which is conductive, namely, on the one hand, a fixed element 27, which, disposed more or less on the edge of the opening 26 of the housing 11, at the upper limit of this opening 26, that is to say along the edge thereof thereof closest to the front face 15, is wedged in the housing 11, and, secondly, a movable member 28, which, under the control of a clamping screw 29 at the disposal of the user through an opening 30 provided for this purpose on the side facet 16 corresponding to the front face 15, is mounted mobile parallel to the opening 26, and, therefore, parallel to the side face 14, between an engagement position, shown in Figure 6, for which, distant from the fixed element 27, it is consistent with it, in continuity with the opening 26, a passage 31 sufficient to allow the engagement of the conductive core of a non-repeating electrical cable the end of which has been previously stripped for this purpose, and a clamping position, shown in FIG. 7, for which, close to the fixed element 27, it restricts the passage 31, for clamping the end of

this conductive soul.

  For example, the fixed element 27 and the movable element 28 are both conductors, being formed one and

the other of a metal piece.

  In the embodiment shown, the fixed element 27 extends substantially perpendicular to the lateral face 14 of the housing 11, and, as indicated, of a circuit breaker, it is in continuity with a clamp 32 , which, in the form of a cradle, is fit to receive, by one of its

  caps, a suitable fuse, not shown.

  The arrangements according to which the fixed element 27, and the clamp 32 with it, are wedged in the housing 11, and, more precisely, in the base 11A thereof, belong to

  the man of the art, and they will not be described here.

  It is, moreover, of usual provisions in this matter. In the embodiment shown, and in a manner known per se, the movable element 28 is formed by the lower strand of a stirrup 34, in the form of a cylindrical ring

  overall quadrangular outline.

  This stirrup 34, whose generatrices are in practice perpendicular to the lateral face 14 of the housing 11, is freely engaged on the fixed element 27, by surrounding it, and its upper strand 36, formed in practice from the superposition of its two ends, has a tapped hole 37 for

  the intervention of the clamping screw 29.

  In addition to its upper strand 36 and the lower strand formed by the movable member 28, the stirrup 34 has, overall

  parallel to each other, two lateral strands 38.

  For better positioning of the conductive core of the electric cable to be clamped, the lateral strands 38 are each connected by a wide radius to the movable member 28

forming the lower strand.

  In the embodiment shown, the housing 11 has, on its rear face 12, in line with each of the connection terminals 25, a recess 39, which is in practice formed by a recess locally affecting the flange 22 of its base 11A, and which, as shown schematically in broken lines in Figures 6 and 7, is intended to allow the possible intervention of a pin 40, when, instead of being on one of the side faces 14 of the housing 11 , the service of

  the electrical apparatus 10 is on its rear face 12.

  Of course, in this case, it is provided, in substitution for the connection terminal 25, a terminal of

  connection adapted to such a pin 40.

  In practice, the pin 40 is in one piece with a bus bar 41, which, from place to place, has, in a regular pitch, in the manner of the teeth of a comb, a plurality of pins 40 of the same type , for the service of

  several electrical appliances 10.

  In the absence of such a recess 39, the corresponding pin 40 should be eliminated when, as in the present case, the electrical apparatus 10 concerned is an electrical appliance having a connection terminal 25 whose access is

on a side face 14.

  In a manner known per se, finally, there is provided, on the side of the movable element 28 opposed to the fixed element 27, a diaphragm 42, which, for the occultation of the portion of the opening 26 of the housing 11 s extending beyond this movable element 28 with respect to this fixed element 27, as shown in FIG. 7, is integral in motion with the movable element 28. According to the invention, for its coupling to the movable element 28, the diaphragm 42 belongs to a part 44 having two flanges 45 which, generally parallel to each other, each extend respectively on either side of this movable element 28, each being integral with

movement of it.

  In practice, the wings 45 of this piece 44 extend substantially perpendicular to the wall 46 of the housing 11 having the opening 26, that is to say the wall 46 of this

  housing 11 forming the corresponding lateral face 14 of this

  ci, and they enclose the stirrup 34, over almost all the height of the lateral strands 38 thereof, each being

  respectively pressed against these lateral strands 38.

  Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, between each of the wings 45 of the piece 44 and the corresponding lateral strand 38 of the stirrup 34 intervene interlocking means, to strengthen

  the coupling of this piece 44 to this stirrup 34.

  More specifically, in the embodiment shown, these interlocking means comprise, for each of the wings 45, two lugs 47, which, respectively arranged along their edge, project on their inner surface, and, jointly, for each of the lateral strands 38 of the stirrup 34, two notches 49 affecting each

  respectively, their lateral edge.

  In practice, the lugs 47 extend away from the root of the flanges 45 of the piece 44 so that the notches 49 of the lateral strands 38 of the yoke 34 are located on the part

rectilinear of these.

  In the embodiment shown, the lugs 47 intervene at the base of a section of greater width

wings 45 of the room 44.

  To facilitate their engagement in the notches 49 of the lateral strands 38 of the stirrup 34, they are bevelled by a chamfer 50, on the side of the free end 51 of these wings 45. For their stiffening, the wings 45 of the piece 44 are reinforced, on their outer surface, by ribs 52, which run over their entire height, and whose width is

greater than that of the pins 47.

  To facilitate its engagement on the stirrup 34, the free end 51 of the wings 45 of this piece 44 is beveled

  by a chamfer 53, at least on the side of their inner surface.

  In the embodiment shown, part 44

  has a plate 54 between its wings 45.

  The diaphragm 42 somehow forms a fallen edge

for this turntable 54.

  In practice, the diaphragm 42 is rigid, and it is

  in one piece with the piece 44 to which it belongs.

  Preferably, the piece 44 comprises a second

  diaphragm 42 ', which generally parallels the first, that is,

  say to the diaphragm 42, extends on the other side of the wings 45 by

report to this one.

  This second diaphragm 42 'has the same width and even

height as the diaphragm 42.

  Overall, the two diaphragms 42, 42 'extend along two opposite edges of the plate 54, alternately with the wings 45, and in the opposite direction relative thereto. Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, they are connected to each other by

two partitions 55.

  In practice, substantially perpendicular to the diaphragms 42, 42 'and the plate 54, the two partitions 55 are substantially parallel to each other, and they are also substantially parallel to the wings 45, while being

  slightly behind these.

  Whatever the case, they delimit, with the diaphragms 42, 42 'and with the plate 54, a bell-shaped volume 56, the transverse contour of which is substantially the same as that of the recess 39 of the casing 11, and in favor of which, when a pin 40 is present, the piece 44 is fit for more

  or less engage on this pin 40, at a distance from it.

  Preferably, the piece 44 is made of

  synthetic material, so that it is insulating.

  Preferably, also, the plane which, parallel to the diaphragms 42, 42 ', passes through the median zone of the wings 45 forms a plane of symmetry for the assembly, so that the piece 44 is reversible, and that, when mounting, it It can indifferently be arranged according to one or other of two positions, one for which it is the diaphragm 42 which is on the side of the wall 46 of the housing 11, the other for

which is the diaphragm 42 '.

  In either case, this assembly is done by simply engaging the flanges 45 of the part 44 on the yoke 34, until the lugs 47 of these flanges 45 snap into the

  notches 49 of the lateral strands 38 of this stirrup 34.

  As will be understood, the rounded portion of these

  lateral strands 38 facilitates this snapping.

  Taking into account the grip of the flanges 45 of the piece 44 on the stirrup 34, the subassembly 58 that then forms this piece 44 with this stirrup 34 is particularly safe, so that it can be handled, and put in place. automatically place in

  the housing 11, without risk of disunity.

  When, as shown in Figure 6, the connection terminal 25 is fully open, the part 44 which is coupled to its bracket 34 completely cap, by its volume in

bell 56, the possible pin 40.

  When, as shown in FIG. 7, this connection terminal 25 is completely closed, the diaphragm 42, or 42 ', which this part 44 comprises, conceals the passage 31 previously underlying the fixed element 27, and it 'opposite

  any access to the possible pin 40.

  When the stripped end of the conductive core of an electric cable has been engaged in the passage 31, and that, by action on the clamping screw 29, this conductive core is clamped between the fixed element 27 of the terminal 25 and its movable element 28, the stirrup 34 to which this movable element 28 belongs occupies an intermediate position between the two previous ones, and it is the same

  diaphragm 42, or 42 ', belonging to the piece 44.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown, but encompasses

any variant of execution.

Claims (10)

  1. Electrical apparatus of the kind comprising, in a housing (11), at an opening (26) of this housing (11), a connection terminal (25) comprising two elements, at least one of which is conductive, namely, on the one hand, a fixed element (27), which is wedged in the housing (11), and, on the other hand, a movable element (28), which, under the control of a clamping screw (29) at the disposal of the user, is mounted movable parallel to said opening (26) between an engagement position, for which, away from the fixed element (27), it provides with it, in continuity with said opening (26), a passage (31) sufficient to allow the engagement of the conductive core of an electric cable, and a clamping position, for which, close to the fixed element (27), it restricts said passage (31) for clamping said conductive core, with integral motion of said movable member (28), on the opposite side to the element f nix (27), a diaphragm (42), for concealing the portion of said opening (26) extending beyond said movable member (28) with respect to said stationary member (27), characterized in that, for its coupling to the movable element (28), the diaphragm (42) belongs to a part (44) having two wings (45) which, generally parallel to each other, each extend respectively from other of the movable element (28), in   being each fasting in motion of it.   2. Electrical device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wings (45) of the part (44) to which the diaphragm (42) belongs extend substantially perpendicularly to the wall (46) of the housing (11) having the opening (26).   Electrical device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the movable element (28) is formed by the lower end of a stirrup (34) which, in the form of a ring, is freely engaged on the fixed element. (27), the wings (45) of the part (44) to which the diaphragm (42) belongs enclose said stirrup (34), each being respectively clad   against the lateral strands (38) thereof.   4. Electrical device according to claim 3, characterized in that between each of the flanges (45) of the part (44) to which the diaphragm (42) belongs and the corresponding lateral strand (38) of the stirrup (34). interfering means (47, 49). 5. Electrical apparatus according to any one of   Claims i to 4, characterized in that the diaphragm (42) is rigid.   6. Electrical apparatus according to any one of   Claims i to 5, characterized in that the diaphragm (42)   is in one piece with the part (44) to which it belongs. 7. Electrical apparatus according to any one of   Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the workpiece (44)   which the diaphragm (42) belongs to has a platinum (54) between its wings (45).   8. Electrical apparatus according to any one of   Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the workpiece (44)   which belongs to the diaphragm (42) comprises a second diaphragm (42 '), which, generally parallel to the first, extends on the other side of its wings (45) with respect thereto.   Electrical apparatus according to claims 7 and   8, taken together, characterized in that the two diaphragms (42, 42 ') extend along two opposite edges of the plate (54), alternately with the wings (45), and direction opposite to these.   10. Electrical apparatus according to any one of   Claims 8, 9, characterized in that the two diaphragms   (42, 42 ') are connected to one another by two partitions (55).