FR3093867A1 - Electrical connector for an electrical device - Google Patents

Abstract

Connection device comprising: - a conductive body having an internal bearing surface (26), - a leaf spring (32) in the conductive body with an elastic tab (38) prestressed towards the bearing surface (26) and inclined relative to the bearing surface (26) so as to allow the introduction of one end of a conductive wire (58) between said elastic tab (38) and the bearing surface (26) and to prevent its withdrawal - a finger (52) movable substantially parallel to the bearing surface (26) but offset relative to the latter, said finger (52) extending outside the conductive body and being movable between a first position in which a free end of the finger (52) faces the elastic tab and a second position in which the free end of the finger acts on the elastic tab. Connection device incorporating at least one such connection device.

Description

Electrical connector for an electrical device

The present invention relates to an electrical connector intended for an electrical appliance and more particularly for a light fitting. It also relates to an electrical connection device comprising such an electrical connector as well as an electrical appliance, in particular a luminaire, and more particularly a luminaire intended to be recessed, provided with such a connection device. In the case of a luminaire, it can also be a wall lamp, a surface-mounted or suspended luminaire.

Here we consider an electrical device mounted in a box and to be electrically connected by external electrical wires of an electrical network. A wall of the box then has an opening intended for the passage of external electrical wires to supply the electrical device inside the box. This is the case, for example, for a luminaire recessed in a ceiling.

Most often, it is necessary to open the housing of the device to connect it electrically. Once the connection has been made, the case of the device must be closed, preferably sealing it against dust and water at the level of the opening through which the electrical wires pass. The electrical connection must be done most often when the light or other electrical device is already in place. When the luminaire is recessed into a ceiling, the operation is made more difficult and less comfortable to perform.

It is known from document FR2838248 to facilitate the electrical connection of a device by providing a movable electrical connection support between a first position in which the support is inside the housing and a second position in which said support is at least partially outside the case. In the embodiment described, the electrical connection support is in the form of a drawer which is pulled out to make an electrical connection or disconnection and which is retracted to seal the case tightly.

Technical problem

This known solution does not make it possible to connect a large number of electrical wires or else requires having an opening that is all the larger as the number of electrical connections is large.

In addition, this solution of the prior art is relatively bulky and it is necessary to provide a space to accommodate the support of the mobile electrical connection inside the luminaire (or other device) in the retracted position of the drawer.

The invention improves the situation. It aims to propose a connection device making it possible to have a compact connection device (with a low impact inside the casing of the electrical apparatus), allowing automatic connection of conductors and also to disconnect the conductors connected easily from the outside.

The present invention then proposes a connection device comprising:

- a substantially tubular conductive body and having an inner support surface,

- a leaf spring disposed in the conductive body and having an elastic tab prestressed in the direction of the support surface and inclined with respect to the support surface so as to allow the introduction of an end of conductive wire between said tab elastic and the support surface and to prevent its removal,

According to the present invention, this connection device further comprises:

- a movable finger having a guide surface substantially parallel to the support surface but offset from it,

said finger extending outside the conductive body and being movable between a first so-called rest position in which a free end of the finger is facing the elastic tab without acting on the latter and a second position in which the free end of the finger comes to act on the elastic tab to move it away from the bearing surface.

Such an automatic connection device is particularly advantageous because the means for performing the disconnection "work" parallel to the direction of insertion (and withdrawal) of the wires to be connected. In this way, a compact device is obtained.

Such a connection device may further comprise an insulating body with:

- a housing in which the conductive body takes place,

- a tubular zone for access to the housing comprising a first guide wall for a wire to be connected and a second guide wall facing the first for guiding the movable finger.

In such an embodiment, the means used for the disconnection of a conductor are also used as guide means for the introduction of said conductor.

According to another aspect, a connection device is proposed, characterized in that it comprises an insulating body and several connection devices as described above housed in the insulating body,

in that the insulating body has a housing for each conductive body, and

in that each housing is associated with an access zone having a first guide wall for guiding a wire to be connected towards the support surface and a second guide wall facing the first for guiding a finger mobile.

With several connection devices, it is then possible to connect an electrical device. In such a connection device, it can be provided that:

movable fingers extend parallel to each other,

each movable finger has a free end facing an elastic tab and an opposite end, and

the opposite ends of the movable fingers are attached to a central part or button.

A single piece is thus produced with the button and the mobile fingers which allows in a single operation to act on all the connection devices.

To obtain a compact connection device, it is proposed that the insulating body has an elongated shape along a longitudinal axis, and

that the housings for the conductive bodies are evenly distributed around the longitudinal axis.

Advantageously, each connection device is capable of receiving two wires to be connected in the same conductive body, the leaf spring being split longitudinally at least at the level of its elastic tab. It is then possible with a single connection device to supply the electrical device associated with said connection device and from this connection device, to carry out a transfer to go and supply another neighboring (or distant) device.

For fixing the connection device to an electrical device, the insulating body advantageously comprises a shoulder and a threaded part, and the connection device can then also comprise a nut capable of cooperating with the threaded part and the shoulder to take sandwich a wall provided with an opening between the shoulder and a transverse face of the nut. To obtain better sealing of the connection device, the nut can be adapted to receive a cable gland cap.

According to another aspect, there is proposed an electrical device disposed in a box, characterized in that it is provided with a connection device as described above. This apparatus may further comprise connection terminals electrically connected with conductive bodies of the connection devices of the connection device.

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1

shows in perspective and in section a device for connecting an electrical device before connection of said device;

Fig. 2

is a view similar to that of Figure 1, just before connection of the electrical apparatus;

Fig. 3

is a view similar to that of the two previous views and shows the electrical appliance connected;

Fig. 4

is a view similar to that of the preceding views and shows the connection device in a position allowing electrical disconnection of the electrical apparatus;

Fig. 5

shows in perspective one end of a body of the connecting device of Figures 1 to 4;

Fig. 6

shows in perspective the end opposite that illustrated in FIG. 5 of the body of the connecting device of FIGS. 1 to 4;

Fig. 7

shows in front view the arrangement of the five connection devices of the connection device of FIGS. 1 to 4;

Fig. 8

shows in perspective the five connection devices of Figure 7 with a guide piece;

Fig. 9

illustrates the guide piece of Figure 8 in perspective from another angle on another scale; and

Fig. 10

shows in perspective the connection device of Figures 1 to 4 mounted on a luminaire.

The figures and the description below contain, for the most part, certain elements. They may therefore not only be used to better understand the present invention but also contribute to its definition, where appropriate.

Figure 1 illustrates an electrical connection device for making a connection through a wall 2 of an electrical device. The wall 2 is provided with a circular opening 4 in which takes place a body 6 having an overall shape of revolution around an axis perpendicular to the wall 2. The body 6 is made of an electrically insulating material, for example a synthetic material and has on one side of the wall 2 a shoulder 8 which bears against one side of the wall 2 around the opening 4 and a nut 10 comes to cooperate with a threaded part 12 of the body 6 extending from the other side of the wall 2 to fix the body 6 on the wall 2. Such a construction is quite conventional for making a wall crossing. Other equivalent constructions, for example using a snap ring instead of a nut, could be considered.

The body 6 has five compartments 14 as illustrated by FIGS. 5 and 6. On the side intended to be inside the electrical device, the body 6 has a larger diameter than on the side intended to be inside the electrical appliance. exterior of the electrical appliance. On the outside, the body 6 has an outside diameter at most equal to the inside diameter of the opening 4. Thus, the body 6 is introduced from inside the electrical device and the part with the smallest outside diameter passes through the opening 4 until it presses against the shoulder 8 against the wall 2, on the inside.

Hereafter, we will call “inner part” a part intended to be on the inner side of the wall 2 when the body 6 is fixed as explained above on the wall 2 and “outer part” a part intended to be on the outer side of the wall 2 under these same conditions.

In the interior part of the body 6, the compartments 14 are separated from each other by first longitudinal walls 16 extending from a center 18 of the body 6 by radiating towards a peripheral wall (FIG. 5).

The outer part of the body 6 has a central tubular hub 20 from which extend second longitudinal walls 22 to a peripheral wall of the body 6.

On the inside of the body 6, each compartment 14 includes a connection device 24. The five connection devices 24 are similar. Each time it is a screwless connection device for making the connection of two wires. Such a connection device 24 can also be called “screwless automatic contact”.

Each connection device 24 has a structure known to those skilled in the art (FIGS. 1-4, 7 and 8). It comprises a metallic conductive body and a leaf spring 32 housed in said conductive body. The conductive body has a tubular shape with a substantially rectangular section. A first inner face of the conductive body is called support face 26 because it is intended to come into contact with an electrical conductor by establishing an electrical connection. A second inner face of the conductive body, called the opposite face 28, extends opposite the support face 26. The opposite face 28 is provided with means of connection with an electrical conductor (not shown) which connects (or makes it possible to connect) the conductive body to the corresponding electrical device. The first face and the second face are connected to each other by side faces 30.

The leaf spring 32 is made from sheet metal which is plastically bent to form a spring. This leaf spring 32 comprises a substantially planar base 34 intended to bear against the opposite face 28 of the conductive body. One end of the base 34 is folded over at more than 90° to form a fixing lug 36, the free end of which is fixed (by mechanical connection with hooks for example or else by other means such as welding) to the face support 26. The other end of the base 34 is also folded over at more than 90°, on the same side of the base 34 as the fixing lug 36 so as to form an elastic lug which can come into abutment, in its rest position, against the bearing face 26 and which can come to deform in the direction of the base 34. The leaf spring 32 is split longitudinally into two strips of the same width at least at the level of the elastic tab 38 so as to form two elastic tabs 38 in order to cooperate with two conductors as will be explained later.

The connection device comprises five connection devices 24. Two of them are visible in section in Figures 1 to 4. These five connection devices 24 are mounted on a plate 40 as illustrated in more detail in Figures 7 and 8 The plate 40 extends transversely with respect to the axis of the connection device and has five housings for each receiving an electrical connection device 24 . As can be seen in particular in Figure 7, the connection devices 24 are not arranged radially relative to the axis of the connection device but are inclined. This position allows space optimization and allows the 24 connection devices to be housed with a reduced footprint.

The plate 40 is mounted on the body 6 by snap-fastening. Note (Figure 5) the presence of teeth 42 extending radially outwards on the edge of the inner part of the body 6 and notches 44 made in a ring 46 formed at the periphery of the plate 40. For assembling the plate 40 with the connection devices 24 on the body 6, the ring 46 comes to pass over the teeth 42. The parts (body 6 and plate 40, in particular ring 46) are dimensioned so that by elastic deformation the ring 46 can pass around the teeth 42 when the teeth 42 are in the notches 44. Once in this position, the plate 40 is integral with the body 6.

Note in Figure 8 (but also in Figures 1 to 4) the presence of a part subsequently called central part 48. The latter comprises a central part called button 50 (because a user is required to act on this part center) and fingers extending longitudinally from button 50 called needles 52.

The needles 52 each extend against the inner wall of the outer part of the body 6. In this way, the central part 48 is guided in translation in the body 6. Note on the outer face of the needles 52 the presence of a tooth 54. A corresponding groove is arranged each time in the body 6 so as on the one hand to guide the needles 52 in their longitudinal translational movement and on the other hand to prevent the withdrawal of the central piece 48 from the body 6 The central part 48 is mounted on the body 6 by snapping the teeth 54 and then remains prisoner of this body 6.

The operation of this device as described above is then as follows.

Initially, the connection device is mounted on the wall 2 of an electrical device, for example a luminaire 56 like that illustrated in Figure 10. As illustrated in Figure 1, the body 6 is fixed to the wall 2 at the using the nut 10. The connection devices 24 are in place in the interior part of the body 6, both in the body 6 and held in the housings of the plate 40 which is snapped onto the body 6. The devices connection 24 are electrically connected to the luminaire 56 (the electrical connections are not shown in the figures). The central part 48 is mounted in the outer part of the body 6. The free ends of the needles 52, that is to say the ends of the needles 52 remote from the button 50, are each close to an elastic tab 38 of a connection device. Wires to be connected 58 (FIG. 1) are in position to be connected in the connection devices 24.

Figure 2 shows the same elements as Figure 1. The bare free ends of the wires to be connected 58 have been introduced into the connection device and are each at the entrance of a connection device. The yarns used here are preferably single-strand rigid yarns or else compacted multi-strand yarns. Each end of wire to be connected 58, and each wire to be connected 58, between the position of FIG. 1 and that of FIG. 2 is guided, on the one hand, by a needle 52 and, on the other hand, either by the tubular hub 20, or by a second longitudinal wall 22 (FIG. 6). It should be noted here that five wires to be connected 58 are shown but that it is possible to connect up to ten. It is then possible to electrically connect the luminaire 56 and to leave from each connection/connection point to another luminaire to power it too.

In Fig. 3, the wires to be connected 58 are connected. By pressing on the wire, the corresponding elastic tab 38 deforms and lets the end of the wire pass. Due to the shape of the elastic tab 38, removal is impossible. Indeed, traction in the direction of wire withdrawal causes an arching of the elastic tab 38 which strongly retains the end of the wire introduced into the corresponding connection device 24.

Once the electrical connection has been made between all the wires to be connected 58 and the connection devices 24, a cable gland (threaded beforehand on the wires) is put in place to ensure the dust and water tightness of the connections made. A cabochon 60 comes to cover the nut 10. The cabochon 60 is fixed for example on the nut by a quarter turn system. A seal 62 ensures the seal between the wires to be connected 58 (which are connected) and the cap 60, a nut 64 being used in a known manner to complete the seal by tightening the seal 62 on the wires (cable gland device ).

It is planned to be able to disconnect the wires which are in the position of FIG. 3. To do this, it is necessary to remove the cable gland to have access to the central part 48. connection 24, the needles 52 come to act on each elastic tab 38 to deform them in the direction of their corresponding base 34 in order to release the ends of the wires to be connected 58. By keeping the button 50 pressed in the direction of the connection devices 24, it is possible to freely pull the wires out of the connection devices 24.

The connection device described above thus allows quick connection of an electrical device, without tools, in a dust- and water-tight and removable manner.

Such a connection device, when installing for example a luminaire in a ceiling, greatly facilitates the work of the installer. Due to the structure of the connection device, the person skilled in the art immediately understands that it is unnecessary to open the luminaire to connect it electrically (or disconnect it).

It is possible with the proposed structure to make the connection of ten wires through an opening 4 in the wall 2 of the luminaire 56 (or more generally in a wall of an electrical device).

Disconnection of the wires connected in the connecting device is carried out using the central part. The latter makes it possible to disconnect the ends of the wires without completely releasing them by inserting the needles between the connected ends and the elastic tab which holds them in their connection device. It is then sufficient to exert a pulling action to make the disconnection effective.

The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment described above and to the variant embodiments mentioned, solely by way of examples, but it encompasses all the variants that a person skilled in the art may consider in the context of the protection sought.

Claims (10)

Connection device comprising:
- a substantially tubular conductive body and having an inner bearing surface (26),
- a leaf spring (32) disposed in the conductive body and having an elastic tab (38) prestressed in the direction of the support surface (26) and inclined with respect to the support surface (26) so as to allow the introduction of an end of conductive wire (58) between said elastic tab (38) and the bearing surface (26) and preventing its withdrawal,
characterized in that it further comprises:
- a movable finger (52) having a guide surface substantially parallel to the bearing surface (26) but offset with respect to the latter,
said finger (52) extending outside the conductive body and being movable between a first so-called rest position in which a free end of the finger (52) is facing the elastic tab without acting on it and a second position in which the free end of the finger acts on the elastic tab to move it away from the bearing surface. Connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an insulating body (6) having
- a housing (14) in which the conductive body takes place,
- a tubular housing access zone comprising a first guide wall (20, 22) for a wire to be connected (58) and a second guide wall facing the first for guiding the movable finger (52). Connection device, characterized in that it comprises an insulating body (6) and several connection devices (24) according to claim 1 housed in the insulating body (6),
in that the insulating body (6) has a housing for each conductive body, and
in that each housing is associated with an access zone having a first guide wall (20, 22) for guiding a wire to be connected (58) towards the support surface and a second guide wall facing the first for guiding a movable finger (52). Connection device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the movable fingers (52) extend parallel to one another,
in that each movable finger (52) has a free end facing an elastic tab (38) and an opposite end, and
in that the opposite ends of the movable fingers (52) are attached to a central part or button (50). Connection device according to one of Claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the insulating body (6) has an elongated shape along a longitudinal axis, and
in that the housings for the conductive bodies are regularly distributed around the longitudinal axis. Connection device according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that each connection device (24) is capable of receiving two wires (58) to be connected in the same conductive body, the leaf spring (32) being split longitudinally at least at its elastic tab (38). Connection device according to one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the insulating body (6) comprises a shoulder (8) and a threaded part (12), and in that the connection device further comprises a nut (10) adapted to cooperate with the threaded part (12) and the shoulder (8) to sandwich a wall (2) provided with an opening (4) between the shoulder (8) and a transverse face of the nut (10). Connection device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the nut is capable of receiving a cabochon (60) cable gland. Electrical device (56) arranged in a box, characterized in that it is provided with a connection device according to one of Claims 3 to 8. Electrical apparatus (56) according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises connection terminals electrically connected with conductive bodies of the connection devices (24) of the connection device.