FR2827702A1 - DEVICE FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING TWO SIDE BY SIDE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES ON THE SAME MOUNTING SUPPORT - Google Patents

Abstract

The electrical apparatus connection method has two electrical units mounted side by side (B,D). Each apparatus has a connector (2) connected to a conductor (3). An accessory (9) is mounted on a support (4) providing mechanical association. A first position is provided with the output wired folded in the support whilst mechanically connecting the apparatus, and a second non retracted position where the output wire is connected to the accessory. A first and second mechanism assist in providing the two positions.

Description

preventing their adhesion after molding.

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  DEVICE FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING TWO DEVICES

  ELECTRICS MOUNTED SIDE BY SIDE ON THE SAME SUPPORT

MOUNTING.

  The present invention relates to a device for electrically connecting two devices mounted side by side on the same mounting support, the two devices being housed in a housing, one of the devices, known as first, comprising output terminals and the other, said second, comprising electrical conductors leaving the casing of the apparatus, the casing of the second apparatus further comprising a support housing the aforementioned conductors and being intended to be brought opposite the output terminals of the first apparatus of so as to allow the electrical connection of the output terminals to the aforementioned conductors after

  the mechanical coupling of the two devices carried out.

  An electrical protection device such as a modular circuit breaker is. in a manner known per se, housed in a housing of substantially parallelepipedal shape and intended to be mounted on a mounting rail. This device comprises, located on either side of the rail, two faces

  of connection comprising respectively input terminals and output terminals.

  This device is often associated with a differential protection device, also housed in a modular casing and intended to be mounted on the mounting rail at the side of the first device, said differential device comprising, projecting from the casing of the device on one side of the rail, conductors intended to be electrically connected to the aforementioned output terminals of the circuit breaker. Before final mounting of the devices on the rail, they are first mechanically coupled. To do this, two faces belonging respectively to the two devices are brought opposite one with respect to the other and joined to one another. Then, the coupling members of the two devices located on these faces are mechanically coupled. The electrical connection of the two devices is then made. The document EP 0 806 784 describes the association of two devices as described above. In this document, the differential protection device comprises a support made integrally with the housing of the differential device, said support being intended to house the conductors of the differential device and extending opposite the output terminals. of the circuit breaker so that the ends of the conductors are facing each other

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  said output terminals when the two devices are mechanically coupled. In this document, the conductors of the differential device are fixed relative to the support in which they are housed but are mounted movable with this same support, relative to the housing of the differential device, perpendicular to the rail, between a position retracted in which the support is distant from the circuit breaker casing and the conductors not engaged in the terminals of the circuit breaker, and a non-retracted position in which the support is brought closer to the casing of the circuit breaker and the conductors engaged in the output terminals of the circuit breaker . After engaging the conductors in the output terminals, the connection operation is completed by tightening the terminal screws. Mechanical coupling and

  electrical devices is therefore carried out in two successive translational movements.

  The present invention provides a connection device providing in another way

  the aforementioned electrical connection.

  To this end, the subject of the present invention is an electrical connection device of the type mentioned above, this device being characterized in that it comprises, for each output terminal associated with a conductor, an intermediate accessory intended to electrically connect said terminal to said conductor, the or each accessory being mounted movable inside the aforementioned support, between a first position in which said accessory, not electrically connected to the corresponding output terminal, is retracted inside the support so as to allow the mechanical combination of the devices and a non-retracted position in which said accessory is electrically connected to the corresponding output terminal, the or each accessory comprising a first means capable of cooperating with the corresponding output terminal to make the aforementioned connection and a second means to electrically connect said accessory to ux primary conductors of

  so as to allow the aforementioned movement of said accessory.

  According to a particular embodiment, this first means comprises a means for making an automatic and final electrical connection of said accessory to the corresponding terminal

  of the first device when said accessory moves from the first to the second position.

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  According to another embodiment, this first means comprises a conductor in the form of a rigid pad, having one end capable of being tightened by a screw in a terminal of the screw type and the other end of which is mechanically and electrically connected to the corresponding main conductor by the second aforementioned means so as to allow the movement of the accessory between the two aforementioned positions. According to a particular characteristic, the device comprises locking means

  partly provided on the first support and partly on the second support.

  But other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear better in the

  detailed description which follows and refers to the appended drawings given solely as a

  example and in which: FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective, a circuit breaker and a differential protection device intended to be electrically connected by means of a device according to the invention, said devices being in separate position, FIGS. 2 and 3 are views similar to the previous one, the two devices being only mechanically coupled in FIG. 2 and mechanically coupled and electrically connected in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view, illustrating a support belonging to the differential device and housing the connection device according to a particular embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views comprising a cutaway of the two devices, illustrating the aforementioned connection device, respectively in position unconnected and in the connected position, FIG. 7 is a partially sectional view of the circuit breaker, illustrating more particularly the aforementioned connection device, in the connected position,

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  FIG. 8 illustrates in perspective a second embodiment of the connection device according to the invention, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the two devices comprising a cutaway, more particularly illustrating the aforementioned second embodiment of the connection device, 10 is a partially sectional view of the circuit breaker, illustrating this second embodiment of the connection device, FIGS. 11 and 12 are respectively partial perspective and sectional views, illustrating more particularly a screw cover respectively in an inactive position and

  in an active position for closing the output terminals.

  In Figures 1 to 3, we see a miniature circuit breaker D and a differential block B mounted on a mounting rail R. The circuit breaker D is housed in a modular box and has on both sides of the rail R. terminals d input 1 and output terminals 2. The differential unit B is housed in a housing comprising at its lower part rigid conductors 3 fixed relative to the housing of the apparatus, said conductors 3, called primary conductors, extending in parallel to the rail R and being housed in a support 4, known as the first one, integrally formed with the case of the differential unit B. These two devices D, B are intended to be mechanically coupled by bringing their respective cases together until their faces opposite 5.6 are contiguous and the coupling members 7.8 of one D of the devices are engaged with the coupling members of the other device B so as to couple the mechanisms of the two devices together (fi g.2). In Figure 3, the two devices B, D are mechanically and electrically connected as will be

explained in the following.

  Referring to Figures 4 to 11, it can be seen that the electrical connection device E according to the invention comprises, for each conductor 3 intended to be connected to an output terminal 2, a connection accessory 9. These connection accessories 9 are fixed in a support 10, called the second support, which is mounted in translation in the aforementioned first support 4 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail in position

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  mounting of the devices, and parallel to the face for fixing the devices to the rails. Each of these accessories 9 comprises a first means 11 for the electrical connection of the accessory 9 to the corresponding terminal 2 and a second means 12 for the connection

  of said accessory 9 to the corresponding conductor 3.

  According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7, this first means 11 comprises a flat connection pad 13 electrically connected and fixed to a substantially U-shaped clamp 14 constituting the second means 12 of the accessory 9. This connection pad 13 is intended to be introduced into a terminal 2 of the screw type of the circuit breaker D in order to be clamped there against the corresponding connection pad 15 of the circuit breaker D, as is known per se. The aforementioned clamp 14 comprises two branches 14a, 14b (fig.4) between which the end of a conductor 3 of the differential block B is intended to be tightened elastically so as to form with this conductor 3 a sliding contact. In FIGS. 8 to 11, the two means 11, 12 each consist of a U-shaped clamp 16, 17 arranged one inside the other, as more particularly illustrated in FIG. 8. The clamp 16, said first, because constituting the first means, comprises a base 16a on which is fixed the base 17a of the clamp 17, said second because constituting the second means. This clamp 16 also comprises two branches 16b, 16c, the ends 16d, 16e each of which have a domed part a, b inwardly capable of cooperating with two faces c, d (fig.10) belonging to the end of the range connecting the circuit breaker D so that, during the connection operation, an automatic and final electrical connection is made between the conductor 3 of the differential block B and that 15 of the corresponding terminal of the circuit breaker D. The clamp 17, called second , is fixed inside the first clamp 16 so that their bases 16a, 17a are contiguous and that the branches 17b, 17c of the second clamp extend parallel to the branches 16b, 16c of the first clamp 16. As in the previous embodiment, this second clamp 17 is intended to come to engage on the corresponding conductor 3 of the block

  differential B so as to form with this conductor 3 a sliding contact.

  Referring to Figures 11 and 12, it can be seen that the second support 10 comprises a screw cover 18 made integrally with the second support 10 and comprising locking means 19 for said support 10 on the support 4. These means include a tongue 20 come from

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  material with the cover 18 and capable of coming to engage in a recess 21 provided for this purpose

  in the support 4 of the differential device.

  The operation of connecting the two devices will be described below with reference to the figures.

  for the two embodiments described above.

  First of all, the two devices D, B are brought together relative to each other until their opposite faces 5,6 are joined, and are mechanically associated by engagement of the coupling members 7, 8 of one of the devices with the coupling members of the other of the devices (fig. 2). In this position, the accessories 9 are located opposite the output terminals 2 of the circuit breaker D (fig.5). The electrical connection is then made by driving the second support 10 in translation inside the first support 4 (fig. 3) towards the output terminals of the circuit breaker, which leads, for the first embodiment described (FIGS. 4 to 7) ), on the one hand, for each accessory 9, the engagement of the connection pad 13 on the contact pad 15 of the circuit breaker D and, on the other hand, the engagement of the sliding contact 14 on the corresponding primary conductor 3 . Note that the second support 10 forms an actuatable push button for driving the accessory from the first to the second position. In this first embodiment, it is necessary to complete the connection operation by screwing the terminal screw 2a. In the second embodiment described (FIGS. 8 to 12), the drive of the support 10 drives on the one hand, the engagement of the first clamp 16 on the corresponding pad 15, this engagement being definitive insofar as it is not no need to carry out other operations to make the connection, and on the other hand, the engagement of the sliding contact in the form of a clamp 17 on the corresponding primary conductor 3. In this second described embodiment, during the displacement of the second support 10, the cover 18 is brought opposite the orifices 2b of the terminal screws 2a (FIG. 7, 9, 10, 12) and is locked in this position by insertion of the tongue 20 into the corresponding orifice 21 of the support 4 ( fig.12). In the embodiments described above, the primary conductors are connected to the accessories by a sliding contact. Other types of connection could have been envisaged such as a braid connection or quite simply the use of the flexibility of the

  conductors, for small sizes.

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  Likewise, in the embodiments described, the second support is mounted in translation relative to the first whereas it could also have been envisaged that it was mounted in rotation in

  this first support, or both in rotation and in translation.

  According to another embodiment of the connection without connection, not shown in the drawings, said accessory, instead of being constituted by a double clamp, can be constituted by a clamp and a contact pad, said clamp being intended to cooperate with the corresponding primary conductor and the contact pad being able to cooperate with another clamp

  secured to the corresponding contact area of the circuit breaker, by plugging in.

  According to yet another embodiment, said accessory can be constituted by two clamps

joined by a rigid conductor.

  According to another embodiment making it possible to obtain an automatic and final connection, the first means could be constituted by a spring putting the conductor under pressure on the range, either by spring pressure on the range, or by pressing on the bottom of the terminal connection. The invention is particularly applicable to electrical devices, in particular modular,

  contiguous mounted on an installation rail, and intended to be electrically connected.

  The invention therefore makes it possible to achieve mechanical and then electrical coupling of the devices in two perpendicular directions in two simple movements thanks to the presence of the retractable accessories. These accessories make it possible to make a connection without screwing, for example of the racking-in type, this type of connection making it possible to ensure that all the conductors are properly electrically connected without requiring any additional tightening operation, thus obtaining a reliable and independent electrical connection

  the user facilitating the association of mechanical organs.

  In addition, the use of these accessories makes it possible to adapt to different variants of connection ends of the circuit breaker, depending on the type of circuit breaker, for the same configuration of terminal position by simply modifying the shape of the accessory. Likewise, by changing the shape of the accessory, it is possible to adapt to different variants of connection configuration, the position of the terminals being different, from which it follows that this solution is particularly suitable for

delayed differentiation.

  The presence of the cover makes it possible, in the case where the solution of the screw terminal is chosen, to avoid loosening by mistake, or else, in the case where the connection without screwing is chosen, the deterioration of the connection by accidental tightening screws. In the case where the solution of the screw terminal is chosen, a mobile screw cover (fig.S to 7) mounted articulated on the support 4, will make it possible to obtain additional insulation. The locking system provided on the cover makes it possible to make the block differential

almost impossible to dismantle.

  It is also possible to provide a system allowing the second support to interfere with the mechanism of the circuit breaker or of the differential unit so as to lock the mechanism in

  open position until the electrical connection is made.

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RESELL I CAT I O N S

  1. Device for the electrical connection of two devices mounted side by side on the same mounting support, the two devices being housed in a housing, one of the devices, said first, comprising output terminals and the other, said second , comprising electrical conductors leaving the housing of the apparatus, the housing of the second apparatus further comprising a support housing the aforementioned conductors and being intended to be brought opposite the output terminals of the first apparatus so as to allow connection electrical output terminals to the aforementioned conductors after the mechanical coupling of the two devices produced, characterized in that it comprises, for each output terminal (2) associated with a conductor (3), an intermediate accessory (9) intended for electrically connect said terminal to said conductor, the or each accessory being mounted movable inside the aforementioned support (4), between a first position in lacquer the said accessory (9), not electrically connected to the corresponding output terminal (2), is retracted inside the support (4) so as to allow the mechanical association of the devices D, B and a position not retracted in which said accessory (9) is electrically connected to the corresponding output terminal (2), the or each accessory (9) comprising a first means (11) capable of cooperating with the corresponding output terminal (2) to make the aforementioned connection and second means (12) for electrically connecting said accessory (9) to the primary conductors (3) of

  so as to allow the aforementioned movement of said accessory (9).

  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that this first means (11) comprises means for making an automatic and final electrical connection of said accessory (9) to the corresponding terminal (2) of the first device D when said

  accessory (9) goes from the first to the second position.

  3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that this first means (11) comprises a conductor in the form of a rigid pad (13), having an end capable of being tightened by a screw (2a) in a terminal (2) of the screw type and the other

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  end is mechanically and electrically connected to the corresponding main conductor (3) by the aforementioned second means (12) so as to allow the

  movement of the accessory (9) between the two aforementioned positions.

  4. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that this first means (11) comprises a racking clamp (16), said first, substantially U-shaped. Said clamp (16) comprising a base (16a) intended to be electrically connected to the corresponding main conductor (3) by the second means (12) and two branches (16b, 16c) whose ends (16d, 16e) are able to cooperate with the contact pad

  (15) of the corresponding terminal (2) of the device.

  5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

  that this second means (12) comprises a sliding contact.

  6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that this sliding contact comprises a clamp (17), said second, U-shaped. Whose base (17a) is electrically and mechanically connected to the first means (11) and whose branches (17b, 17c) cooperate with the corresponding conductor (3) of the second device B.

  7. Device according to claims 4 and 6, characterized in that the two clamps

  (16,17) are interconnected electrically and mechanically by a conductor

  rigid fixed by its two opposite ends respectively to the two clamps (16,17).

  8. Device according to claims 4 and 6, characterized in that it comprises two

  U-shaped clamps (16,17) arranged one inside the other and fixed one to the other

the other by their base (16a, 17a).

  9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

  that this second means (12) comprises a braid.

  10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

  that the or each accessory (9) is fixedly mounted in a second support (10), which is

  mounted in translation inside a first support (4).

  11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the second support (10) forms an actuatable push button for driving the accessory (9) from the first to

the second position.

  12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

  that the second support (10) includes a cover (18) preventing access to the screws.

  13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

  that it includes locking means (19,20,21) provided in part on the first

  support (4) and partly on the second support (10).

  14 Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

  that the first device D is a circuit breaker and the second device B is a device

differential protection.