FR2761540A1 - Fused service cable way in 3=phase distribution box - Google Patents

Abstract

Phase (1, 2, 3) and neutral (4) busbars lie in locating blocks (5) fitting into the underside of insulating bases (6) providing outgoing ways at 90 degrees to the busbars. Integrally moulded barriers (10, 11) establish two open-top compartments (A, D; B, E; C, F) per phase, containing contact pairs bridged on one (A, B, C) by a removable link (16), in the other (D, E, F) by a removable fuse (15). One link contact is connected to the neutral bar (4), the other to a neutral core terminal block (31; 7b, 8b, 9b) for one of three outgoing single-phase service cables (7, 8, 9). Corresponding fuse contacts are connected to phase bars (1, 2, 3) and to phase core terminal blocks (31; 7a, 8a, 9a). Phase and neutral terminals, staggered and tiered to facilitate wiring, lie between integrally moulded barriers (35-38; 55-58). Sealable shrouds (81-83; 80) cover fuse and link on each phase.

Description

 The invention relates to a sectionable electrical connection device between a busbar system and several conductive cables each connected to a site for using electrical energy, such as for example a dwelling or an industrial premises.

 Such an electrical connection device can be used in a connection cabinet and, for example, in a current distribution cabinet between several dwellings distributed in a housing estate or a street, or several apartments located in a building. The distribution cabinet may include a rod connection device as described in patent FR-sl-2,715,775 in the name of the Applicant.

 In the electrical connection devices used for low voltage currents, that is to say between 50 and 1000 volts, it is necessary to comply with the standards in force, and in particular with standard NF C 14 100. This standard provides, in particular, that the conductors belonging to a cable connected to a site of use must be sectionable.

However, in a bar system such as that known from the aforementioned document, three bars are respectively provided for the three phases of a three-phase current, while a single bar is provided to constitute a common neutral. When three user sites are respectively supplied by being connected, on the one hand, to one of the phases and, on the other hand, to neutral, it is possible to provide a disconnecting device, such as for example a fuse , at the start of each of the phases, that is to say at the junction point between one of the bars connected to one of the phases and a conductor of a cable connected to the point of use. On the other hand, when three conductors are connected in parallel to the neutral of the busbar system, there cannot be an independent break from one of these three conductors, failing which, in the event of intervention on one of the installations, the other two installations would also be shut down, which would be inadmissible for users.

 Furthermore, current systems which include a triple connection on the neutral bar result in a tangle of wires which can lead an operator to make errors when connecting to the bar system.

 The invention aims to solve these problems and to propose an electrical connection device allowing cutting of each of the two conductors of a cable supplying a site of use, without influencing the other conductors connected to the busbar system. Another object of the invention is to provide a device facilitating the connection of the conductors without entanglement thereof.

 In this spirit, the invention relates to an electrical connection device between a busbar system and a plurality of conductive cables, characterized in that it comprises a base made of insulating material carrying, for each conductive cable, two pairs of jaws conductive fuse or bar holder.

 Thanks to the invention, it is possible to interrupt the electrical supply to a site of use on its two conductors by removing the two fuses or conductive bars from the corresponding jaws, which avoids any danger of electric shock . This device is in compliance with the aforementioned standard.

 According to a first advantageous aspect of the invention, the jaws are separated in pairs by ribs from the base.

This aspect of the invention makes it possible to electrically isolate each pair of jaws from the neighboring pairs, so that any danger of short circuit, for example due to a false movement when handling a fuse or a conducting bar , is discarded.

 According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, each pair of jaws comprises a first jaw whose upstream part is connected to a bar of the bar system corresponding to a phase of the current, and a second jaw whose upstream part is connected to a bar of the bar system corresponding to neutral. This construction makes it possible to provide a rational supply of electric current to the two jaws belonging to a pair.

 According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the jaws of a pair are arranged side by side, the jaws connected to the neutral of several pairs of jaws being located side by side, on the same side of a central rib of the base . This construction allows efficient identification, on the one hand of the jaws used for the electrical supply of a given site of current consumption, and on the other hand of the jaws connected to the neutral bar of the bar system.

 According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the device comprises screws for fixing the base to a module of the bar system, these screws being housed in receiving wells formed in the base. This aspect of the invention makes it possible to isolate the screws which are brought to the potential of the bars of the bar system in which they are fixed.

In this case and according to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the wells have heights such that they surround the fixing screws as close as possible to the bars of the bar system. This aspect of the invention guarantees effective insulation of the fixing screws.

 According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, it is also possible to provide that a conductive plate is arranged around each of the screws between the well and the corresponding bar of the bar system. This conductive plate constitutes the end of a conductor connected to the upstream part of one of the jaws of the device of the invention.

 According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the downstream parts of the jaws are connected to connection terminals of the pairs of conductors, these terminals being grouped at one end of the base. This aspect of the invention facilitates the connection operations that an operator must carry out on site insofar as the connection terminals can be provided for easy access. In addition, this aspect of the invention avoids entanglement of the conductors and completely frees access to the cut-off points of the connections.

 According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the connection terminals are arranged on two levels, the terminals corresponding to the neutral being grouped together at the same level. This aspect of the invention facilitates the location of the terminals.

 According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the connection terminals are separated two by two by ribs of the base. This aspect of the invention makes it possible to avoid any risk of short circuit between two connection terminals or between two conductors, during handling.

 According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the device comprises at least one cover able to cover at least some of the jaws. This cover serves as a protective screen and prevents direct access to the jaws.

 It is also possible to provide that the device comprises means for fixing the cover to the base, these means being able to prevent manipulation of the jaws by an unauthorized person.

 To facilitate wiring and interventions on the device of the invention, and according to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the jaws, the cover or the terminals are identified by a color code.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of an embodiment of the electrical connection device in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connection device according to the invention;
- Figure 2 is a section along the plane II-II in Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a section along the plane III-III in Figure 1;
- Figure 4 is a perspective view on a larger scale of an end portion of the device of Figure 1.

 In FIG. 1, three bars respectively referenced 1, 2 and 3 convey the phases of a three-phase current. A fourth bar, bearing the reference 4, is connected to the neutral.

These bars are arranged under several modules, only one of which, bearing the reference 5, is shown in the figure, these modules possibly being of the type known from FR-2-715 775.

 In accordance with the invention, a base 6 made of electrically insulating material is provided for connecting the bars 1 to 4 to three conductive cables respectively bearing the references 7, 8 and 9 and each connected to a site for using electrical energy. Each cable 7, 8 or 9 comprises two conductors 7a-7b, 8a-8b and 9a-9b.

 This base 6 comprises a central rib 10 and at least two transverse ribs 11 and 12 which together define six locations referenced A, B, C, D, E and F in which are respectively housed six pairs of jaws 13 and 14 capable of receiving between they have a fuse 15 or a conducting bar 16. The ribs 10 to 12 advantageously come integrally with the base 6.

The electrical connection between the bars 1 to 4, the jaws 13 and 14 and the conductors 7a to 9b appears more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, it is noted that a conductive plate or washer 20 is arranged in contact with the bar 4 and is connected to three electric cables 21, 22 and 23, the other ends of which are respectively welded to the part of the jaws 13 of the locations A, B and C situated inside the base 6. Furthermore, a second plate 24 is arranged in contact with the bar 2 and connected to a cable 25 connected to the jaw 13 of location E, as shown in FIG. 3. Each of the jaws 14 of locations A, B and
C is respectively connected, by a cable referenced 26, 27 or 28, to one of three neutral connection terminals N1, N2 and N3, more particularly visible in FIG. 4, and intended respectively to receive the conductors 7b, 8b and 9b.

 These connection terminals are respectively constituted by a plate 30 provided with teeth and by a stirrup 31 able to immobilize an electrical conductor with respect to the toothed part of the plates 30. The connection terminals N1, N2 and N3 are arranged side by side. the same level, being separated by ribs 35 and 36, while lateral ribs 37 and 38 are provided on either side of the end terminals N1 and N3.

 In FIG. 3, a plate 40 is disposed in contact with the bar 1 and connected by a cable 41 to the upstream jaw 13 of the location D. In the same way, a plate 42 is disposed in contact with the bar 3 and is connected by a cable 43 to the upstream jaw 13 of the location F. As indicated above, the upstream jaw 13 of the location E is connected by the cable 25 to the plate 24.

 The downstream jaws 14 of locations D, E and F are respectively connected by conductive cables 45, 46 and 47 to three connection terminals respectively bearing the references L1, L2 and L3. The terminals L1 to L3, which appear more clearly in FIG. 4, are arranged side by side, at a level different from the terminals N1, N2 and N3. The terminals L1 to L3 are slightly offset laterally relative to the terminals N1 to N3 so that, in top view, the terminals L are staggered relative to the terminals N. The terminals L1 to L3 are respectively intended to receive the conductors 7a, 8a and 9a.

 It is noted that the terminals L1 and N1 are arranged on the left of FIG. 4, the terminals L2 and N2 being arranged in the center while the terminals L3 and N3 are arranged on the right. Thus, an operator who wishes to connect the pair of conductors 7 to the connection device of the invention must only handle the stirrups 31 associated with the terminals L1 and N1, knowing that the phase is to be connected to the upper terminal while the neutral is to be connected to the lower terminal. The same goes for the other connections.

 The terminals L1, L2 and L3 are separated by ribs 55 and 56 while lateral ribs 57 and 58 are also provided. The ribs 35 to 38 and 55 to 58 advantageously come integrally with the rest of the base 6.

 The individual housings of the terminals L1 to L3 and N1 to N3 are provided in their rear part with a clearance in the form of a half-cylinder 60 allowing the passage of the rod of a screwdriver capable of operating a screw 32 for immobilizing the plates 30 on the base 6.

 The base 6 is mounted on the module 5 by means of four screws 61, 62, 63 and 64 respectively inserted in the bars 1, 2, 3 and 4. The screws 61 to 64 are of the M12 type, which corresponds to the standard type used with the device known from FR-B1-2 715 775. These screws are housed in receiving wells 71, 72, 73 and 74 extending from the upper surface of the base 6 to the immediate vicinity of the bars 1 to 4 These wells make it possible to electrically isolate the screws 61 to 64 relative to the other elements present under the base 6 while allowing access to these screws for their operation. The plates 20, 24, 40 and 42 are respectively fixed to the lower part of the wells 74, 72, 71 and 73, so that their jamming by the screws 61 to 64 results in the immobilization of the wells 71 to 74 relative to to module 5 and, thereby, to that of the base 6 with respect to this module. One can in particular provide that the plates 20, 24, 40 and 42 are glued, screwed or welded on the wells 71 to 74.

 The location, orientation and height of the shafts 71 to 74 are defined so that they extend to the immediate vicinity, or even in contact, of the bars 1 to 4.

 In view of the above, the jaws of the locations A and D constitute a first pair associated with the connection terminals N1 and L1. Likewise, the jaws of locations B and E form a pair associated with terminals N2 and L2 while the jaws of locations C and F are respectively associated with terminals N3 and L3. The jaws of locations A, B and C, which are connected to the neutral, are located to the left of the rib 10 in Figure 1, which facilitates their location.

 For safety purposes and in order to avoid as much as possible manipulation of the jaws 13 and 14 by an unauthorized person, provision may be made for covers 80, only two of which are shown in FIG. 1, are provided to be mounted on the base 6 above the ribs 10 to 12 and thus cover the jaws 13 and 14. For clarity of the drawing, the covers 80 are not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

 Each cover 80 is provided with three orifices 80a, 80b and 80c intended to receive respectively vertical lugs 10a, 10b and 10c from the rib 10. The lugs 10b and 10c are bent so as to constitute a means of blocking the cover 80 on the rib 10. The legs 10a to 10c are each provided with a bore which can receive the rod of a padlock 81 or an opening indicator such as a wire 82 carrying a destructible seal 83.

Access to the jaws 13 and 14 is thus limited.

 A cover 80 has been shown above the locations A and D and another equivalent cover shown in place on the locations C and F. Of course, a third cover comes to cover, in the same way, the locations B and E.

 According to a variant not shown of the invention, a single cover can also be used to cover both the six locations A to F. In addition, the cover or covers can be provided with flanges extending in the direction of the module 5.

 According to a particularly advantageous aspect of the invention, a color code is used to facilitate the identification of the jaws 13 and 14, the covers 80 and the terminals L1 to L3 and N1 to N3. It is thus possible to provide that the cover associated with locations A and D is the same color as the stirrups of terminals L1 and N1, for example blue, while the cover associated with locations B and E and the terminals L2 and N2 is green and that the cover associated with locations C and F and the terminals L3 and N3 is yellow. In other words, a color is used for the connection elements associated with each connection corresponding to an electrical energy use site, represented respectively by the cables 7, 8 and 9.

 In the absence of covers, the jaws 13 or 14 can be colored or a colored mark can be affixed near each jaw. In all cases, the location of the parts of the device and the connection are facilitated.

 According to another advantageous aspect of the invention which is not shown, one of the covers 80 can be pierced with at least one hole allowing the passage of a conductive cable to the jaws 13 or 14 which it covers. This allows a temporary connection to the jaws 13 or 14 without using the terminals L1 to L3 or N1 to N3, for example for a network test or a site.

FIG. 1 has been represented with the pairs of jaws of locations A, B and C equipped with conductive bars 16 while the pairs of jaws of locations D, E and
F are fitted with fuses 15. This is due to the fact that the locations A, B and C correspond to the three neutrals associated with the pairs of conductors 7, 8 and 9 while the locations
D, E and F correspond to active phases likely to be at the origin of over-intensities. For safety reasons, it is however also possible to provide that the jaws 13 and 14 of the locations A, B and C also carry fuses similar to fuses 15.

 The invention has been shown with cables 21 to 23, 25, 26 to 28, 41, 43 and 45 to 47 respectively arranged between the bars 1 to 4, the jaws 13 and 14 and the connection terminals L1 to L3 and N1 to N3. It is however possible to replace these cables by busbars or conductive tracks arranged inside the base 6.

Claims (13)

 1. Device for electrical connection between a busbar system (1-4) and a plurality of conductive cables (7-9), characterized in that it comprises a base (6) made of insulating material carrying, for each conductive cable, two pairs of jaws (13, 14) fuse holder (15) or conductive bar holder (16).  2. Connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that said jaws (13, 14) are separated in pairs by ribs (10-12) of said base (6).  3. Connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that each pair of jaws (13, 14) comprises a first jaw (D, E, F) whose upstream part (13) is connected to a bar (1-3 ) of the bar system corresponding to a phase of the current and a second jaw (A, B, C) whose upstream part is connected to a bar (4) of the bar system corresponding to the neutral of the current.  4. Connection device according to claim 2 and 3, characterized in that the jaws (13, 14) of a pair (A D, B-E, C-F) are arranged side by side, the jaws (A, B, C) connected to the neutral of several pairs of jaws being located side by side on the same side of a central rib (10) of said base (6).  5. Connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises screws (61-64) for fixing said base (6) on a module (5) of said bar system, said screws being housed in wells ( 71-74) of reception provided in said base.  6. Connection device according to claim 5, characterized in that said receiving wells (71,74) have heights such that they surround said fixing screws (61-64) as close as possible to said bars (1- 4) of said bar system.  7. Connection device according to claim 6, characterized in that a conductive plate (20, 24, 40, 42) is arranged around each of said screws (61-64), between said well (71-74) and the corresponding bar (1-4) of said bar system.  8. Connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the downstream parts (14) of said jaws (13, 14) are connected to connection terminals (N1-N3, L1-L3) of said conductive cables (7-9 ), said terminals being grouped at one end of said base (6).  9. Connection device according to claim 8, characterized in that said connection terminals (N1-N3, L1-L3) are arranged on two levels, the terminals (N1-N3) corresponding to the neutral being grouped at the same level.  10. Connection device according to claim 8, characterized in that said connection terminals (N1-N3, L1-L3) are separated in pairs by ribs (35, 36, 55, 56) of said base (6).  11. Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one cover (80) capable of covering at least some of said jaws (13, 14).  12. Connection device according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises means (l0a-10c, 80a-80c, 81-83) for fixing said cover on said base (6).  13. Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said jaws (13, 14), said cover (80) or said terminals (L1-L3, N1-N3) are identified by a color code.