FR2946191A1 - Electrical connection device i.e. electrical connection comb, for supplying power to circuit breakers, in e.g. collective building, has interruptor to electrically connect conducting bars with one another when interruptor is closed - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has connection branches connected to corresponding permanent and controllable power supply conducting bars (6, 7), and connection teeth (18) fixed with a programmable modular electrical apparatus (3) and a non-programmable modular electrical apparatus, respectively. Each tooth is connected to one of the branches based on needs, by a switch e.g. rotary switch, where the switch comprises an electrically insulating push button (9) and an electrically conductive movable piece (16). An interruptor electrically connects the conducting bars with one another when the interruptor is closed. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) an electrical installation comprising an electric board (2) a method for utilizing an electrical connection device.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electrical connection device such as a comb, installed on a switchboard, for modular electrical devices arranged side by side on a support rail, and said connection device enabling to suppress unwanted electricity consumption in residential premises or any other type of premises, for example when the premises are unoccupied. State-of-the-art Current systems for saving electricity, for example by cutting off the power supply of certain lighting and / or heaters and / or other electrical loads when the premises are not occupied, or by cutting the power supply of devices with only a standby function and not a general power switch, are generally either global and modular electrical programming systems using devices called home automation, complex, expensive and difficult to add in existing installations, ie local electrical programming systems, to be installed on each device to be controlled. The latter systems can be programmable sockets. US Pat. No. 6,522,227 to General Electric discloses a device for remote control of a circuit breaker board. The device comprises a plurality of circuit breakers, a first actuator in communication with a second actuator. The first actuator positions the second actuator near a circuit breaker, the second actuator moves a handle or lever of the circuit breaker to an on or off position. The device further comprises an electronic control system of the displacement of the first and second actuators. This system is complex and difficult to implement, it is not easy to install on existing electrical panels. US Patent 5,861,683 to Eaton Corp. describes an electrical panel connected to one or more phase lines and to a neutral line. The panel is connected to electrical loads, and includes a housing, conventional circuit breakers and remotely controllable circuit breakers housed in the housing. The table further comprises a control device which communicates with a remote system. The control device controls the remotely controllable circuit breakers. The remotely controllable circuit breakers consist of a conventional circuit breaker in series with a remotely controllable switch. This device comprises conventional circuit breakers on the one hand and remotely controlled circuit breakers on the other hand.

Each remote controlled circuit breaker is controlled independently of the other circuit breakers, which makes their control very complex. In addition, this device can not be easily installed on an existing electrical panel. In addition, electrical panels with connection combs are known. These combs generally comprise a conductive bar housed in an insulating support, said bar having teeth distributed at regular intervals along said bar, and extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of said bar. The teeth of these combs are intended to be introduced respectively into the terminals provided for this purpose modular electrical appliances. These combs do not allow a modulable or programmable power supply. The problem that the present invention proposes to solve is to provide a simplified programmable electrical connection device, easy to install on existing electrical panels, and for remotely controlling the power supply of one or more electrical appliances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electrical connection device, in particular a comb, comprising a first permanent power supply conductor bar, said first conductive bar being intended to be connected to a power supply, a second conductor bar to a controllable power supply disposed substantially parallel to the first conducting bar, a plurality of connection branches, each branch being connected to said first bar and to said second bar, and at least one branch and preferably all the branches comprising a switch, a plurality of connection teeth for connection to modular devices, each connection tooth being connected to said first branch or second branch as appropriate via said switch, and each switch setting a connection tooth in electrical contact is the bar a permanent power supply conductor, or with the controllable power supply conductor bar, a switch electrically connecting said conductive bars to one another when closed. Advantageously, the busbars, the switches, the connection teeth, and the switch form a unitary assembly in one piece, intended to be used as a phase comb. The present invention also relates to a connecting tooth for the electrical connection device 10 described above. The connecting tooth comprises a substantially straight portion and two legs substantially parallel to each other and parallel to the right portion, which extend in a direction opposite to that of said right portion, said connecting tooth being able to connect said device to the devices. modular.

The present invention also relates to an electrical panel comprising modular devices such as circuit breakers arranged side by side on one or more rows, and generally fixed on a support rail, a differential switch, and further comprising the connection device according to the invention. invention. The connection teeth of the device according to the invention are connected to the modular devices, and the first conductive bar is connected to the differential switch. In a preferred embodiment, the switch is connected to a receiver. The present invention also relates to an electrical installation comprising the electrical panel described above and further comprising at least one transmitter for remotely controlling the receiver.

The present invention finally relates to a method of using the device, and / or the electrical panel, and / or the electrical installation described above, in which: one supplies said device, and one installs on said table As a phase comb, the switches are positioned in the desired position, depending on whether or not it is desired to be able to switch off the power supply to the devices connected to the modular devices, when it is desired that the electrical devices connected to the devices. Modular modules that have become programmable are powered by electricity, one of the transmitting devices or the switch is actuated, so that the switch is closed, when it is desired that the devices connected to the modular devices are not powered. In electricity, one of the emitting devices or the switch is actuated so that the switch is open. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of an electrical installation comprising a connection device according to the invention. Figure 2 is a sectional view A-A of Figure 1, and shows a schematic view of a connecting tooth and a switch of the connecting device according to the invention. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the busbars, as well as a connection tooth and a switch of the connecting device according to the invention. Fig. 4 is a sectional view B-B of Fig. 1 and shows a schematic view of the switch and the receiver. List of marks 1. Connecting device 2. Differential switch 3,4. Modular electrical devices 5. Receiver 6. Permanent power supply busbar 7. Controllable power supply busbar 8. Switch 9. Pushbutton 12. Switch 13 Common box of receiver 5 and switch 12 14 Comb connection tooth 6 to the power supply 15. Insulating material 16. Moving part 17. Neutral comb 18. Connecting teeth of assembly 1 to circuit breakers 3.4 19 Connecting tooth of comb 6 to receiver 5 20 Connecting tooth of comb 7 Receiver 5 2946191 -5- 30,31 Receiver Control Transmitters 5 40 Straight portion of connection tooth 18 41, 42 Connector tooth legs 18 Description of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical connection device installable on an electrical panel, for supplying electricity to modular electrical appliances 5 generally arranged side by side on a support rail, and said connection device allows ant to suppress unwanted electricity consumption in residential premises or any other type of premises, for example when said premises are unoccupied. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an electrical installation according to the present invention, a row of an electrical panel comprising the device 1 according to the invention being shown schematically. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the row of the electric panel shown comprises a differential switch 2, modular electric devices 3, 4 connected to the loads or electrical apparatus of the installation (not shown), a device 1 according to the invention. invention, used as a phase comb. The neutral comb 17 is shown in dotted lines. The device 1 according to the invention comprises two conductive bars 6, 7. The conductive bars 6, 7 are composed of an electrically conductive material, generally a metal and preferably copper. Preferably, the conductive material is covered with an insulating material 11 on the parts which are not intended to be electrically connected to other elements. This insulating material is generally a polymeric material such as polyamide, PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene, EPR (ethylene propylene rubber), chemically crosslinked polyethylene. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the busbars 6, 7 are located at a distance from each other, allowing the transmission of the electric current to the modular devices 3, 4 either by one or the other The busbars 6, 7 are preferably insulated externally and can be brought into electrical contact with each other by actuation of a switch 12. The busbars 6, 7 are arranged to be substantially parallel to each other. The connecting device 1 further comprises teeth 18 connecting said device 1 to the modular devices 3, 4. The connection device 1 also comprises a plurality of switches 8. According to their position, said switches 8 electrically connect the teeth 18 to the busbar 6 or to the conductive bar 7. The connection teeth 18 are located at regular intervals, the length of the intervals being such that when mounting the connection device on a switchboard, the connection teeth 18 can be connected to modular electrical devices 3, 4. In addition the connection teeth 18 are electrically insulated from each other. The connection teeth 18 have a shape 10 suitable for enabling them to connect the device 1 according to the invention to the modular electrical devices 3, 4. Modular devices are understood to mean the standard-sized devices which are fixed on the support rails of the electrical panel. . Among these modular devices include for example circuit breakers, remote switches, televariators, load cells, programmable clocks, it being understood that the main modular devices are circuit breakers intended for the protection of circuits and devices against electrical overload. In a preferred embodiment, the busbars 6,7, the switches 8, the connecting teeth 18, and the switch 12 form a unitary integral assembly 20 for use as a phase comb. Advantageously, the conductive bars 6, 7 are made integral with one another by an insulating material 21, as shown in FIG. 2. The insulating material 21 is generally identical to the insulating sheathing material 15. The fact of connecting the busbars 6 and 7 makes it possible in particular to give the connecting device according to the invention greater mechanical rigidity, which makes its handling and its use more practical. The switches 8 and the connection teeth 18 are also fixed to the assembly constituted by the busbars 6, 7. The fixing can be done by any appropriate means, such as by screwing, gluing, riveting, molding.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the electric current coming from the differential switch 2 arrives at each modular device 3, 4 via the electrical connection device 1 according to the invention. In use, the conductive bar 6 is connected to the differential switch 2, therefore the conductive bar 6 is supplied with electricity as soon as the differential switch 2 is closed. The conductive bar 7 is supplied with electricity when the switch 12 is closed. Depending on the position of the switch 8 connected to each modular device 3, 4, the power supply is provided continuously, as is the case on the modular devices 3, or punctually, as is the case for the modular devices 4. The modular devices 3 are electrically connected to the busbar 6 by electrical connection between the busbar 6 and the connection teeth 18 by actuation of the switch 8, the modular devices 4 are electrically connected to the busbar 7 by connection between the conductive bar 7 and the connecting teeth 18 by actuating the switches 8. Therefore the modular devices 3 are permanently supplied with electricity as soon as the differential switch 2 is closed. Modular devices 4 are supplied with electricity only when the switch 12 is closed.

Currently, the differential switch 2 is mandatory for the protection of persons in new electrical installations or during complete renovations, in accordance with standard NF C 15-100. The embodiment of FIG. 1 therefore takes this obligation into account. However, it is possible to remove the differential switch 2 and connect the busbar 6 directly to the power supply from the subscriber counter. It is also possible to replace the differential switch 2 by any other appropriate device to ensure the upstream safety of the modular devices known to those skilled in the art. The switch 12 can be operated directly by the user, however in a preferred embodiment, the control of the switch 12 by the user is remote. More specifically, the control of the switch 12 can be done wirelessly, for example by radio or by remote transmission. The connection device 1 according to the invention can be installed on an existing electrical panel, preferably as a replacement for the phase comb. The connection device 1 is intended to be used for single-phase power supplies. Advantageously, the connecting device 1 according to the invention has notches for guiding the cutting of the device to adapt to the number of existing modular devices of a row of the electrical panel to equip. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a particular embodiment of connection teeth 18 and switches 8 of connection device 1 according to the invention. In this embodiment, the switch 8 consists of a button 9 and a moving part 16 integral with the push button 9. The button 9 is made of an electrical insulating material, generally a plastic, the moving part 16 is made of an electrically conductive material, usually a metal, such as copper. The passage from one position to another is done by pushing or pulling the button 9. In the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, the connection teeth comprise a substantially straight portion 40 and two legs substantially parallel to each other. 41, 42 and parallel to the straight portion 40, which extend in a direction opposite to that of said straight portion 40, said connecting tooth 18 being able to connect said device 1 to the modular devices 3, 4. In Other embodiments, the switch 8 may be of another known type, for example lever, rotary, slide, rocker.

For a supply of the modular devices 3, 4 continuously, the push button 9 keeps the moving part 16 in contact with the conductive bar 6 and the teeth 18. When the user wishes to be able to suspend the power supply of the devices powered by one or more modular devices 3, 4 identified, it actuates the corresponding pushbutton or buttons 9 so as to move the movable member 16, thus ensuring the contact between the conductive bar 7 and the connection teeth 18. The shape of the device 1 is such that it allows to have sufficient space to position the neutral feed comb 17 and to operate the switches 8. Preferably, the shape of the connecting device 1 is such that the busbars 6, 7 are located above the neutral comb 17 25 when the device 1 is positioned in the electrical panel, as is schematically represented by FIG. In addition, the shape of the connecting device 1 is such that it allows easy operation of the switches 8 when the connection device 1 is placed in an electrical panel. The connection teeth 18 may have a shape substantially identical to that shown in FIG. 2. The switch 12 shown in FIG. 1 may be actuated directly by the user, for example by means of a push button. The switch 12 is preferably controlled remotely by at least one transmitting device 30, 31, via a receiver 5 installed on the electrical panel. The receiver 5 actuates the switch 12. Figure 4 shows a particular embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the switch 12 and the receiver 5 are contained in a common housing 13. In a particular embodiment, the housing 13 containing the receiver 5 and the switch 12 has a shape that allows it to to mount on a standard support rail of a switchboard. In addition, the housing 13 has two parallel orifices enabling the teeth 19, 20 of the busbars 6 and 7 respectively to be accommodated. In FIG. 4, the teeth 19, 20 of the busbars 6, 7 are connected to the switch 12. The receiver 5 actuates the switch 12 making it possible to electrically connect the two busbars 6, 7. All modular devices 3 15 fed by the conductive bar 6 are continuously, all modular devices 4 powered by the busbar 7 depend on the action of the user on the switch 12, and are powered only when the switch 12 is closed. In some embodiments, the electrical board on which the device is to be installed has several rows of modular devices, so it is necessary to install as many devices as rows, and therefore as many receivers as there are rows. Advantageously, all the receivers 5 are controlled by the same transmitter 30, 31. The transmitting devices 30, 31 are installed in the room equipped with the electrical installation according to the invention. It may be wireless or wired transmitter devices. Preferably, the transmitter devices 30, 31 are wireless devices, the control of the receiver 5 is then by transmission of electromagnetic waves. The transmitting devices can be fixed, that is to say, fixed to the wall of the room, such as for example a switch, and / or mobile, such as for example a remote control. The present invention also relates to a method of using the device 1, an electrical panel comprising the device 1 as a phase comb and the installation comprising said electrical panel. In this method, supply device 1 according to the invention and is installed on the electrical panel as a phase comb, so that the conductive bar 6 is connected to the differential switch 2946191 -10- 2 of the electrical panel, it is possible to install the receiver 5 on the electrical panel, the switches 8 are positioned in the desired position according to the electrical devices that are connected to the modular devices 3, 4. When it is desired that the devices connected to the devices programmable modular modules 4 are powered, the transmitter device 30, 31 or the switch 12 is actuated so that the switch 12 is closed, and on the contrary when it is desired that the devices connected to the programmable modular devices 4 do not are not powered, it operates one of the emitting devices 30, 31 or the switch 12 so that the switch 12 is closed.

The devices connected to programmable modular devices 4 may for example be lights, appliances with standby function, electric heaters. The devices connected to non-programmable modular devices 3 are for example refrigerators or freezers.

Advantages of the invention The device according to the invention makes it possible to replace the complex global electrical programming systems by simple mechanical programming systems by switches 8, advantageously in the form of push-buttons 9. The connection device according to the invention can in advantageous embodiments, be connected to the independent receiver 5 consisting of an electrically insulated assembly whose outer shapes allow its adaptation to the standard rail of an electrical panel. The mounting of the device according to the invention and possibly the associated receiver 5 is extremely simple. At first, the general power supply of the switchboard on which the connection device is to be installed must be cut off. Then simply remove the phase supply comb to replace, install the receiver 5, then a device according to the invention, after cutting the device to the right length according to the number of modular electrical devices. Then the user can select modular devices that must remain permanently powered (eg circuit breakers controlling refrigerators and / or freezers), and appliances that must benefit from a programmable power supply, and position the switches 8 so adequate. 2946191 -11- Thus, once the programming by the switches 8 performed, the user can, in one gesture and thanks to the transmitter 30, 31, cut off the power supply of all the lines whose permanent supply is not considered necessary. The connection device according to the invention thus makes it possible to remedy the complexity of the current global home automation systems and their associated costs. It is easy to use and low cost. The device of the invention is intended for a large public aware of environmental issues, with old premises not equipped with home automation systems and having a limited budget. It is for example particularly suitable for multi-room rooms with many rooms because it makes it easy to ensure the complete extinction of the lighting each evening. This system also provides a simple and effective response to the problem of unnecessary consumption of many devices equipped with a monitoring system that can not always completely extinguish. 15

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. An electrical connection device (1), in particular an electrical connection comb, comprising: a first permanent power supply conductor bar (6), said first conductive bar (6) being intended to be connected to a power supply, a second conductor bar ( 7), disposed substantially parallel to the first conductor bar (6), a plurality of connection legs, each branch being connected to said first bar (6) and said second bar (7), and to at least one limb and preferably all branches comprising a switch (8), a plurality of connection teeth (18) intended to be connected to modular devices (3, 4), each connection tooth (18) being connected to said first branch (6) or second limb (7) where appropriate via said switch (8), and each switch (8) putting a connecting tooth (18) in contact with either the conductive bar (6) or the conductive bar (7), a switch (12) electrically connecting said bus bars (6, 7) to one another when closed. 2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductive bars (6,7), the switches (8), the connection teeth (18), the switch (12) form a unitary assembly, intended to be used as a live comb. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the switches (8) comprise a push button of electrical insulating material (9) and a movable piece of electrically conductive material (16). 2946191 -13- 4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that it is of adjustable length, depending on the number of modular devices (3,4). 5. Connecting tooth (18) for the electrical connecting device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a substantially straight portion (40), and two legs (41, 42) substantially parallel to each other and parallel to the straight part (40), which extend in a direction opposite to that of said right part (40), said connection tooth (18) being able to connect said device (1) modular devices (3, 4). 10 Electrical board comprising the connecting device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, modular devices (3,4), a differential switch (2), and wherein the connection teeth (18) are connected to the modular devices (3, 4), and wherein the conductive bar (6) is connected to the differential switch (2). 7. Electrical panel according to claim 6 further comprising a receiver (5) connected to the switch (12). 20 8. Table according to claim 7 characterized in that the receiver (5) is adapted to be controlled remotely, preferably by a remote transmission means. 9. Electrical installation comprising the electrical panel according to any one of claims 6 to 8 and further comprising at least one transmitter (30, 31) for remotely controlling the receiver (5), and preferably at least one transmitter without thread. 10. A method of using the device 1 according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and / or the table according to any one of claims 6 to 8, and / or the installation according to claim 9, in which: supplying said device 1, and it is installed on said electrical panel as a phase comb, the switches (8) are positioned in the desired position, depending on the devices connected to the modular devices (3,4), when it is desired that the devices connected to the modular devices (4) are supplied with electricity, one of the emitting devices 30,31 or the switch (12) is actuated so that the switch (12) is closed, when it is desired that the devices connected to the modular devices (4) are not supplied with electricity, is actuated one of the emitting devices 30,31 or the switch (12), so that the switch (12) is open,