FR2802712A1 - DEVICE FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING AT LEAST ONE BYPASS CABLE TO A MAIN CABLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The object of the invention is an electrical connection device of at least one branch cable to a principal cable, comprising at least one pair of upper half jaws (14-1; 16-1) and a pair of lower half jaws (14-2; 16-2) facing each other, each of the jaws being provided with an electrical contact blade for piercing insulation, as well as means (22) for gripping the half jaws, characterized in that it comprises a first plate (18-1) for connecting the upper half jaws and a second plate (18-2) for connecting the lower half jaws, said plates receiving the gripping means (22).

Description

DEVICE FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING AT LEAST ONE WIRE

DERIVATION ON A MAIN CABLE

  The present invention relates to an electrical connection device

  at least one drop cable on a main cable.

  There are known devices for connecting branch cables to

main power cables.

  American patent US-A-4 247 159 describes a connector comprising two jaws mounted to slide relative to one another in the manner of the jaws of a vice, a bolt making it possible to bring these two jaws together one of the 'other ensures a tightening effect. These jaws advantageously have a T shape and the wings on either side of the central axis

allow you to grip the cables.

  An electrical contact blade, of the insulating perforation type, comprising in a known manner perforation teeth, is interposed between

  two wings opposite the jaws.

  This blade comprises two parts connected by a flexible bridge.

  Such a connector does not include insulating protection of the electrical contacts. Another electrical connector with jaws is described in French patent application FR-A-2 760 570. This connector comprises two jaws tightened one against the other by a bolt with a head having a point of

  weakness for tightening with a determined torque.

  This request seeks to solve a problem of play between the barrel of the

screws and jaw bodies.

  The arrangement of the jaws is identical to that of the connector described above but with insulating sheaths in which the blades are housed

  of electrical connection with insulation perforation.

  Such connectors do not allow any modularity of the arrangements.

  One type of connector is required for each type of cable without being able to

  use standardized parts from one connector to another.

  In addition, in certain circumstances, it is necessary to be able to have several branch connectors of this type one after the other. The modularity then finds all its interest both in manufacturing, because the number of molds is reduced as in the reduction of the volume of the stock of

  parts required to perform all types of intervention.

  Patent application FR-A-2 436 509 is also known, which relates to the production of insulating piercing blades connected by plates directly to the clamping means, on either side of the conductor on which they are attached. The blades are in this case interconnected by the same plate. The object of the invention is to provide an electrical connection device for at least one branch cable on a main cable which is modular, which can be multiple with common holding means, which is adaptable to the conditions of the intervention, cable diameters and number

cables.

  The present invention is described below according to a particular, nonlimiting embodiment, with reference to the appended drawings in which the various figures represent: FIG. 1, a schematic perspective view of a connection device according to the present invention, Figure 2, a perspective view of a half-jaw and an end frame of the main embodiment of the same device, - Figure 3, a schematic front view of two half-jaws in the mounted position with a frame end, without inner cable or clamping screw, Figure 4, an exploded perspective view of a complete connection device as assembled in Figure 1, - Figure 5, an exploded perspective view of a variant of the device of FIG. 4, - FIG. 6, an exploded perspective view of a variant with three pairs of half-jaws and two clamping screws, - FIG. 7A, a detail view of a particular arrangement of means for holding the m insulating anchors in the half-jaws, - Figure 7B, a perspective view of the male part of these holding means, and - Figure 8, a perspective view of another embodiment of a

  frame according to the present invention with different pawns.

  In Figure 1, there is shown a connection device according to the present invention which comprises two pairs 10, 12 of half-jaws 14-1 and 14-2; 16-1 and 16-2. Indeed each pair includes a half-jaw

  upper and a lower half-jaw, arranged opposite.

  Such a half-jaw is shown in isolation and in detail on

Figure 2.

  This connection device further comprises connection plates 18-

  1 and 18-2, respectively upper half jaws and half

lower jaws.

  At the ends of each of the connection devices, there is provided a

end frame 20-1 and 20-2.

  Clamping means 22 ensure the connection of the assembly. These clamping means 22 comprise a bolt and advantageously, the nut cooperating with the screw is connected to maneuvering means with controlled break

  so as to exert a suitable tightening torque.

  Each half-jaw comprises a body 24 with recesses 26 and 28, concave, designed to each receive a main cable 30 or a cable

bypass 32.

  The upper part of the body 24 is also concave in shape and carries at its two ends retaining means 34. In this case, these retaining means are composed of elastic fingers 36 for snap fastening. A housing 38-1 constituting a part of connecting means referenced 40 and in this case 40-1 for one of the half-jaws 16-1 shown in FIG. 2, is molded with each half-jaw. This housing is more particularly arranged on a face perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the connector, corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the cables 30 and 32. This housing is of the blind type and is open on the side of the external surface of each half jaw. Each housing has a groove 42 oriented parallel to the clamping direction Y, forming guide rail 44.

  The width of each housing is referenced l.

  Each plate 20-1; 20-2 end has a shape substantially in X, defining two pairs of branches 46-1, 46-2 and 48-1, 48-2, grooved on their inner edge and forming two housings substantially in C. On the one of the faces of each end plate, two pins 50-1 and -2 protrude each with a head 52-1 and 52-2 oblong, transverse,

  respectively at the top and bottom.

  These heads have the largest dimension less than I and greater than the width of the grooves 42-1 and 42-2 and a height h less than the width of these same grooves so that each head can slide in a housing such as 38. In addition, as will be indicated later, this particular dimensioning allows insertion of the head into the groove and the rail 44 when the half-jaw has its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis Y and a retention when it is returned to its position. perpendicular, it's at

say ready for tightening.

  As is clearly visible in Figure 3 and the exploded view of Figure 4, each half-jaw comprises in known manner a blade 54-1; 54-2 made of conductive material, provided with indentations likely to pierce the insulators of electric cables when they are subjected to mechanical pressure. These blades are inserted into sleeves 56-1; 56-2 made of insulating material, themselves

  adapted to be accommodated in the half-jaws.

  These sleeves can advantageously be fixed in half

  jaws by holding means 57. Such means in a mode of

  particular embodiment include a 57-1 male clip and a 57-2 female clip.

  The female clip is attached to the corresponding half-jaw. The sleeve 56 is then placed in this half-jaw over the female clip and the male clip 57-1 is in turn mounted over it to hold the sleeve between the two clips, pressed into the half-jaw. The branches of the clips are positioned on either side of the sleeve. This sleeve is also shown without a blade for the sake of simplification, but it must be positioned beforehand since the blade is introduced by

  below, with the sleeve out of the half-jaw.

  Half jaw / sleeve / blade assemblies are thus obtained, arranged

in pairs, facing each other.

  Caps such as the cap 58 of insulating material are provided to be removably housed in the end plates 20-1 or 20-2, on the main cable or branch side so as to isolate the end if necessary East. Each cap has a frustoconical shape and a peripheral lip adapted to engage in the grooved part of the edges of the branches constituting the C-shaped housings. Advantageously, notches are formed concentrically in

  each cap to adapt to the various diameters of the cables.

  The installation is carried out as will be explained.

  Before use, in manufacturing, the complete connector is assembled, ready to mount on cable. In this case, we are in the presence of a main cable 30 and a drop cable 32 that we want to connect

  electrically at two separate points.

  For this purpose, a suitable connector is used which has undergone the following assembly steps: In the embodiment of FIG. 1 to 4, a first frame is hooked to a first half-jaw, for example the lower half-jaw, by introducing the pin 50 through the opening on the outer surface side of the groove 42 of this half-jaw. The oblong shape of the frame prevents

  detachment of the frame and the half-jaw by rotation.

  The same steps are carried out with the other lower half-jaw and the other frame. The lower half-jaws are assembled by the lower retaining plate 18-2, which closes the grooves 42. This sub-assembly then makes it possible to assemble the upper half-jaws according to three methods: - either one by one, by each orienting at an angle relative to the sub-assembly and therefore to the corresponding pins of the plates already in place so that the short sides of the pins penetrate transversely into the grooves 42. The upper half-jaws are then each brought back into a position such that 'they are opposite the lower half-jaws, the pins remaining prisoners of the rails 44. The upper retaining plate is then put in place to link the two upper half-jaws, which also closes the grooves 42, - either one by one by sliding the pins in the grooves through the opening opening from the outer surface and by binding them by the corresponding connection plate, - either e ncore by linking the two half-jaws by their plate of

  maintaining and removing the frames to allow the placement of the pins.

  It is then necessary to arrange the clamping means, in this case the bolt, the screw of which passes through the connection plates in holes.

adapted oblongs.

  The connector is then monolithic and can be attached to the main and branch cables even if the main cable is live, which is

usually the case.

  It then suffices to move aside the upper and lower half-jaws in order to pass the branch cable into the housing 28 on one side.

  the operator tilts the half-jaws slightly, which separates the half-jaws

jaws on the opposite side.

  The main cable is in turn introduced, this time in the

housing 26.

  The two cables being in place, the clamping force is exerted by screwing the screw into the nut of the clamping means 22, this until breaking

  of the element calibrated to the desired tightening torque.

  Simultaneously with tightening, the teeth of the blades penetrate through the insulation and come into contact with the conductors, thus ensuring the electrical connection of the main and branch cables, this without any

risk for the operator.

  The fact of having the half-jaws articulated around the bolt makes it possible to compensate for the differences in thickness, as can be seen on the

figure 1.

  In the case where one of the cables, for example the branch cable has a free end, access to this end must be protected and a cover 58 must then be placed on this end beforehand. The cap is arranged in the end plate by sliding the peripheral lip in the corresponding groove of the edge of the branches of the

  corresponding end plate.

  In Figures 5 and 6, there is shown an alternative embodiment in which the connecting means 60 are modified. The end plates are each provided with a light 62-1; 62-2 oriented along the Y axis and almost

over their entire height.

  The pins 64 are carried this time by the half-jaws and not by the end plates. These pins 64 are substantially identical to the

  pins 50 previously described and are also provided with an oblong head.

  The heads of the pawns can be inserted through the lights but only when the largest axis of the head is parallel to the Y axis, this is to

  say parallel to the longitudinal axis of light.

  The connector is mounted in the same way as above except for the introduction of the pin which first requires setting the end plate 90 relative to the half-jaw to allow the introduction of the pin then a rotation to put the two back

  parts in their working orientation as shown in Figure 5.

  In the case of FIG. 6, the assembly has been kept but an additional half-jaw has been interposed to bring the number to three pairs of jaws, this when for example it is desired to reinforce the number of contact points. In this case, the central half-jaws are retained by the only upper and lower connecting plates during assembly. We first mount the central half-jaws before joining

the end half-jaws.

  The tightening means should be adapted and two bolts provided,

  each being introduced between two pairs of juxtaposed half-jaws.

The implementation remains identical.

  In Figure 8, there is shown an alternative embodiment of an end frame with an identical lower pin 50-2 of oblong shape and an upper pin of substantially parallelepiped shape. This particular shape makes it easier to put in place because it allows the frame to be kept perpendicular to the nested half-jaw because the lateral faces of the parallelepiped cooperate

  with the groove 42 and the associated rails 44.

  When the cables must be inserted between the half-jaws, it is the lower half-jaws which are moved apart by tilting because the upper half-jaws are almost immobilized in rotation by

compared to the executives who wear them.

  It can be seen that in the various embodiments, it is possible to adjust the number of half-jaws with a reduced stock of parts because the half-jaws are the same, the bolts are the same as the

  end pieces, only the connecting pieces change.

  In addition, the end plates allow for monolithic connectors and easy handling while leaving great freedom

  adjustment during assembly, before tightening.

Claims (11)

  1. Device for electrical connection of at least one branch cable to a main cable comprising at least one pair of half-jaws   upper (14-1: 16-1) and a pair of lower half-jaws (14-2; 16-   2) opposite, each of the jaws being equipped with an electrical contact blade (54) with insulation piercing, as well as means (22) for clamping the half-jaws, characterized in that it comprises a first plate (18-1) for connecting the upper half-jaws and a second plate (18-2) for connecting the lower half-jaws, said plates receiving the clamping means (22).   2. Electrical connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the half-jaws (14,16) comprise means (34) for retaining and abutting by snap-fastening of the plates (18) of connection. 3. An electrical connection device according to claim 1 or 2,   characterized in that the connecting plates (18) and the surfaces of the half   facing jaws (14,16) are convex.   4. Electrical connection device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that it comprises frames (20)   end, arranged parallel to the clamping direction Y and means (40, 60) for connecting each frame to each of the end half-jaws. 5. Electrical connection device according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting means (40, 60) comprise a pin (50)   with a head (52), oriented perpendicular to the frame, towards the half   corresponding jaw, and a housing (38) formed in the half-jaw with a groove (42) forming a rail (44) oriented parallel to the clamping direction Y, of profile conjugate with that of the head so as to allow the   translation of said pin relative to the half-jaw.   6. An electrical connection device according to claim 5, characterized in that the head of at least one pin (50) has its largest dimension less than l and greater than the width of the grooves and a height h less than the width of these same grooves so that each head slides and enters the housing (38) corresponding through the groove has its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis Y and is retained when this half-jaw is   returned to its perpendicular position.   7. An electrical connection device according to claim 4, characterized in that the end half-jaws (14,16) comprise a pin (64) in T, oriented perpendicular to the direction (Y) of tightening and towards the frame end, this pin being provided with a head forming part of a rectangle of length L and width l and each frame comprises a light (62), oriented parallel to the tightening direction, provided for   slidingly receive said pawn.   8. Electrical connection device according to any one of   Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the end frame comprises   branches (46, 48) forming open C-profile housings and caps (58) made of insulating material.   9. An electrical connection device according to claim 8, characterized in that each branch (46, 48) comprises a groove formed on its edge and each cap comprises a peripheral lip in profile   complementary to that of said groove.   10. Electrical connection device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that each cap (58) has a frustoconical shape, so as to   adapt to different cable sections.   11. Electrical connection device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the clamping means (22)   consist of a bolt, the nut of which has a tightening head with controlled break.