RU2756851C2 - Auxiliary modular device and corresponding modular electrical unit - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: electrical engineering.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to auxiliary modular device (1), case (10) of which contains on its upper or lower side (13, 15) two holes (17A, 17B) for access to electrical contacts and at least one input (19) for electrical connecting wires (3, 4). The specified case contains internal devices for mounting first internal element (50) having two windows (52A, 52B) and two passages (53A) that face one side (52) of the specified first internal element, while the specified internal devices are located symmetrically relatively to the median plane running parallel to the specified upper and lower sides of the case, so that the specified first internal element can be installed on the specified internal devices in two positions symmetrical relatively to the specified median plane, so that the specified windows and the specified passages form, respectively, the specified holes and the specified input of the case on the upper or lower side of the case.EFFECT: simplification of manufacturing.15 cl, 13 dwg

Description

The technical field to which the invention relates

The invention generally relates to the field of modular devices mounted on a rail of an electrical switchboard.

In particular, it relates to an auxiliary modular device comprising a casing of a general parallelepiped shape, having a back side with which it can be installed on a rail, two main sides perpendicular to the specified back side, with which it can be connected to the main modular device , and two sides, upper and lower, perpendicular to the specified main sides and to the rear side, while on one of the specified upper and lower sides, the specified housing contains simultaneously two holes that provide access to the sockets of electrical connection contacts located inside the housing, and at least one inlet located between the rear side of the housing and at least one of said openings for insertion into the housing of electrical connecting wires extending from the main modular device.

The invention finds its preferred application in the implementation of an auxiliary modular device for detecting an electric arc in a line of current, also called AFDD, which is an English abbreviation for "Arc Fault Detection Device".

State of the art

Various modular accessory devices are now known, all of the openings and inputs of which are located on only one top or bottom side of the housing, in order to match the familiar electrical connection in different countries.

Particularly in France, China and Italy, modular auxiliary devices contain at least one inlet for electrical connecting wires and two holes (forming electrical outlets) on the underside of the housing. Indeed, in these countries, the main modular appliances are powered through the top of the case and have electrical outlets on the underside so that an auxiliary modular appliance, electrically connected to one of these main modular appliances, can be powered through its underside, which is close to the electrical outlets of the specified main modular device, and it shall have its electrical outlets on this lower side.

On the other hand, in Germany, Poland, Polynesia, Australia, as well as Belgium, modular auxiliary devices contain at least one input for electrical connecting wires and two outlets on the upper side of the case, since in these countries the main modular devices receive electrical power through the underside of the housing and have electrical outlets on the upper side. Such an auxiliary modular device is described, for example, in document DE102015203778.

Currently, modular auxiliary devices are specially manufactured to match the familiar electrical connection in the countries where they are used. This leads to an increase in the number of articles and to an increase in manufacturing costs, since it is necessary to provide for as many production lines as there are types of electrical appliances.

Disclosure of the essence of the invention

To reduce manufacturing costs for these modular accessory devices, the present invention provides an easy-to-manufacture modular accessory device that can be easily adapted to a familiar electrical connection in each country where it is sold.

In particular, the invention proposes an auxiliary modular device described in the introduction, in which said housing comprises internal fixtures for mounting, inside the housing, a first inner element having two windows and two passages that open at different locations on one side of said first inner element, wherein said internals are arranged symmetrically with respect to a median plane running parallel to said upper and lower sides of the housing and dividing said main lateral sides into two equal parts, so that said first internal member can be mounted on said internals in two positions symmetrical with respect to the indicated median plane, so that the indicated windows and the indicated passages form respectively the indicated holes and the indicated entrance of the housing, while one of the indicated positions corresponds to the formation of the indicated holes and the entrance at the indicated upper st orone, and the other on the indicated lower side.

Thus, the auxiliary modular device is configured by simply positioning the first element in one or the other of the internal fixtures provided in said housing, such that the assembly formed by the contact access holes and the entry of the electrical connection wires is either on the underside of the housing or on the top side of the specified housing.

In other words, using the same housing and the same first internal element, two configurations of the auxiliary modular device can be obtained: a first configuration in which the input and output electrical connections of said auxiliary modular device are made through the lower side of the housing of the auxiliary modular device, and a second configuration, in which the input and output electrical connections of the specified auxiliary modular device are made through the upper side of the specified housing.

The claimed auxiliary modular device also has the following other preferred and non-limiting features, considered separately or in any technically possible combinations:

- provided two inputs of electrical connecting wires formed by the specified passages of the specified first internal element;

said first inner element is completely enclosed in the inner space of the housing in such a way that said side having said windows is the only side of the first inner element accessible from the outside of the housing of the auxiliary modular device, a portion of this side forming part of the upper or lower side of said housing;

- one of the main lateral sides of the body is formed by the outer side of only one part of the body, while at least part of the said internal devices for mounting the first inner element is located on the inner side of this part of the body;

- the other main side side of the body is formed by the outer side of the other only one part of the body, on the inner side of which there is a part of the said internal devices;

- each internal device contains positioning means configured to interact with the corresponding positioning means provided on the specified first internal element;

- said locating means of each internal device comprise at least one seat adapted to receive a locating pin of the first internal member;

- said positioning means of each inner device comprise a wall defining the receiving socket along a contour substantially corresponding to the outer contour of said first inner element;

- on said side having said windows, the first inner element comprises an insulating wall located in a space dividing said windows;

- each window of the specified first inner element has a closed contour in the indicated side of the first inner element;

- additionally, a cover is provided that can be installed on the upper or lower side of the housing of the auxiliary modular device in order to cover each entrance of this housing, as well as the sections of the electrical connecting wires entering it, while leaving free access to the indicated openings of the housing of the auxiliary modular device;

- the specified cover contains fastening means made with the ability to closely interact with the corresponding fastening means provided on the housing of the auxiliary modular device;

- a second inner element is provided, having a blind hole accessible from one side of the said second inner element, configured to be installed in the internal devices of the auxiliary modular device body so that the blind hole is accessible from one of the indicated upper and lower sides of the auxiliary modular device body ;

- each internal element is made in the form of a single piece of insulating plastic material.

The subject of the invention is also a modular electrical unit containing the claimed auxiliary modular device electrically and mechanically connected to the main modular device.

Brief Description of Drawings

The invention and its implementation will be better understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, presented as non-limiting examples.

In these attached drawings:

in fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an electrical unit containing the claimed auxiliary modular appliance electrically connected through its underside to the main modular appliance on which it is mounted;

in fig. 2 schematically shows the electrical unit shown in FIG. 1 in a perspective opposite to that shown in FIG. 1;

in fig. 3 is a schematic bottom perspective view of the electrical unit shown in FIG. 1;

in fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the claimed auxiliary modular device, into which electrical connecting wires enter through its upper side;

in fig. 5 is an exploded view of the auxiliary modular device shown in FIG. 1;

in fig. 6 is a schematic inside view of the housing of the auxiliary modular device shown in FIG. 1, with the internal elements of said auxiliary modular device shown in the first housing part;

in fig. 7 is a schematic inside view of the housing of the auxiliary modular device shown in FIG. 1, in a projection opposite to FIG. 6, while the second housing part shows the same internal elements as in FIG. 6;

in fig. 8 is a schematic inside view of the first housing part shown in FIG. 1, without internal elements;

in fig. 9 is a schematic inside view of the second housing portion shown in FIG. 7, without internals and rotated 180 ° about an axis perpendicular to the main wall of said second housing part;

in fig. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a first internal member of the claimed auxiliary modular device;

in fig. 11 is a side view of the first inner member shown in FIG. 10 rotated 180 ° about the longitudinal axis of the extension of the specified first inner element;

in fig. 12 is a schematic perspective view of a second internal member of the claimed auxiliary modular device;

in fig. 13 is a side view of the second inner member shown in FIG. 12 rotated 180 ° about the longitudinal extension axis of said second inner member.

Implementation of the invention

Conventionally, in the following text of this description, the terms "front" and "rear" are defined with respect to the view of an observer facing the modular appliance in the normal position of use in a switchgear cabinet. Thus, the term "front" refers to the side of the modular appliance facing the user, while the term "rear" refers to the side of the modular appliance facing in the opposite direction.

FIG. 1-3, a modular electrical unit 100 is shown to be positioned on a panel in an electrical distribution box located in an electrical distribution cabinet (not shown). The modular electrical unit 100 comprises an auxiliary modular device 1 electrically and mechanically connected to the main modular device 2.

In this case, the main modular device 2 is a classic switch, and its detailed description is omitted.

The switch 2 basically comprises an insulating body 20, which contains electrical connection contacts for input and output of electric current, connected to each other through an electrical circuit that can be opened or closed by means of an opening and closing device 27 (see FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 1 and 2, the body 20 of the switch 2 is generally parallelepiped and has two parallel main sides 21, a rear side 22 containing a horizontal slot 22A for mounting in a rail (not shown) of an electrical distribution cabinet, a front side 24 extending into in its middle zone, the front part 26, with which the body protrudes outside the plastron (not shown) of the electrical distribution cabinet, and two transverse upper and lower sides 23, 25.

The switch 2 is called “modular” in the sense that its main sides 21 are spaced apart from each other by a multiple of the size of the base module M, typically 18 millimeters (mm). In this case, switch 2 has a width equal to only one basic module M.

The housing 20 of the switch 2 contains locks 29 that allow the switch 2 to be locked on the rail of the electrical distribution cabinet. In particular, the housing 20 is equipped in this case with an upper lock 29 (see Fig. 1) and a lower lock 29 (see Fig. 3). Each lock 29 is made in the form of a plate that slides vertically between the locked position, into which it naturally comes, thanks to the resilient return means, and the unlocked position. In the locked position, one of the ends of each lock 29 fits into the horizontal groove 22A of the rear side 22 of the housing 20, interacting with the guide, and the other end of each lock 29 protrudes from the corresponding upper or lower side 23, 25 of the housing. This other end contains an opening 29A that allows the user to pull on the lock 29 against the force of the resilient return means to bring it into the unlocked position.

As shown in FIG. 1 and 2, the opening and closing device 27 of the switch 2 protrudes partially from the front portion 26 of the housing 20. This projecting part of the said opening and closing device 27 comprises a lever 27A connected to a control handle 27B. Lever 27A is operated by handle 27B to open and close the electrical circuit connecting the input and output contacts of switch 2. FIG. 1-3 switch 2 is off, that is, the electrical circuit is open, which is reflected in the lowered position of the handle 27B. When the switch 2 is on (not shown), that is, the electrical circuit is closed, the handle 27B, on the contrary, is in the raised position.

The auxiliary modular device 1 associated with circuit breaker 2 is in this case a modular electric arc detection device in the line of current, also called AFDD, which is the English abbreviation for “Arc Fault Detection Device”.

The principle of operation of the AFDD 1 device is known in itself: the AFDD 1 device automatically switches off the switch 1 when a dangerous electric arc occurs in the electrical system in order to avoid a fire. For example, an AFDD 1 turns off switch 2 when an arc is detected on one of the electrical supply currents or between the electrical supply currents of the modular electrical unit 100.

For this, as shown in FIG. 5, the AFDD device 1 contains in its housing, on the one hand, an electronic part 41 configured to monitor an electrical signal and detect a possible electric arc, and, on the other hand, a mechanical part 40, configured to turn off the switch 2 when the need arises.

In particular, the electronic part 41 comprises an electrical circuit 41A equipped with various electronic components, and two torus 41B configured to monitor the electrical power signal in order to detect possible power outages therein. The mechanical part 40 comprises a first lever 40A, the end of which is intended to fit into the handle 27B of the opening and closing device 27 (see Fig. 1), a second lever 40B and an actuator controlled by the electronic part 41 and designed to actuate said second lever 40B to lower it when an electric arc is detected. When lowering, the second lever 40B turns off the switch 2. When the user turns on the switch 2 again, lifting the handle 27B of the opening and closing device 27, said handle 27B drags the first lever 40A of the mechanical part 40 of the AFDD 1, which causes the AFDD 1 to turn on again.

Preferably in this case, the AFDD 1 is an auxiliary device of the switch 2 in the sense that it can be combined with the said switch 2 to add an arc detection function to it, while the switch 2 may well operate autonomously when the AFDD is not connected to it. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1-4, the AFDD 1 also comprises an insulating housing 10, the shape of which is generally similar to that of the body 20 of the circuit breaker 2. Thus, the housing 10 of the AFDD 1 is generally parallelepiped and includes a rear side 12 provided with a horizontal slot 12A for its installation. in the rail of an electrical distribution cabinet (see Fig. 2), two main lateral sides 11, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the specified rear side 12, two transverse upper and lower sides 13, 15 (see Figs. 1 and 3), perpendicular to said rear side 12 and to said main lateral sides 11, and a front side 14, which comprises a front part 16 protruding in its middle region, through which the housing 10 projects outwardly of the plastron of the electrical distribution cabinet. As shown in FIG. 6 and 7, the mechanical part of the AFDD 1 is mainly located in this front part 16 of the housing 10 of the AFDD 1.

The device AFDD 1 itself is also "modular", while its main sides 11 are spaced from each other by a width equal to only one basic module M (see Fig. 1).

As shown in FIG. 1-3, the housings 10, 20 of the AFDD 1 and the switch 2 are intended to be docked with each other by one of their respective main lateral sides 11, 12. For their mechanical connection, the AFDD 1 housing 10 contains fasteners made to interact closely with suitable fastening means provided on the housing 20 of the switch 9. In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, the housing 10 of the AFDD 1 contains hooks 42 protruding on the right main side 11 of said housing 10, said hooks 42 coming in and engaging in corresponding slots (not shown) made in the left main side 21 of the housing 20 of the switch 2. The free main sides 11, 21 of the enclosures 10, 20 of the AFDD 1 and switch 2 can be adjacent to the sides of other modular devices on the electrical switchboard panel.

The modular electrical unit 100, formed by electrically and mechanically connecting the switch 2 and the AFDD 1, is powered via electrical power connectors (not shown).

In particular, the switch 2 is configured to enter it at the input of the said electrical power connectors and provide power at its output to the AFDD device 1, which, in turn, feeds the rest of the electrical switchboard panel.

To this end, the switch 2 contains on one of the upper or lower sides 23, 25 of its housing 10, called the "inlet side", openings 23A for access to its input electrical connection contacts, into which the indicated power supply connectors can enter (see Fig. 1) , and on the opposite side of the said housing 20, called the "outlet side", there are openings 25A for access to its output electrical connecting contacts, into which electrical connectors can enter, in this case electrical connecting wires 3, 4, intended for the electrical connection of the AFDD 1 and switch 2 (see Fig. 3).

The AFDD device 1 has on the upper or lower side 13, 15 of its housing 10, called the "working side", simultaneously two openings 17A, 17B, providing access to the sockets 18A, 18B of the output electrical connecting contacts 49 located inside the specified housing 10 (see. Fig. 5), and at least one inlet 19, located between the rear side 12 of the housing 10 and at least one of the indicated openings 17A, 17B, for insertion into the specified housing 10 of the specified electrical connecting wires 3, 4 coming out of the switch 2 ...

In the specific example shown in FIG. 1-3, the switch 2 is single-phase and comprises a phase current input contact and a neutral current input contact N, each of which is accessible from the upper (working) side 23 of the housing 20 through separate access holes 23A. In this case, the electrical connection contacts are screw contacts, which are designed to secure the power supply wires and the clamping screw of which is accessible from the front side 24 of the housing 20 through the opening 24A (see FIG. 1). In a variant, each electrical connecting contact can be an automatic contact, for example, made with the possibility of engaging a tooth of the electric power comb into it. In this case, the output side of the switch 2 is the lower side 25 of the housing 20 and contains two openings 25A for access to the output electrical connecting contacts, each of which receives one of the electrical connecting wires 3, 4, also connected to the input 19 of the AFDD 1 (see. Fig. 3).

Depending on the country for which the switch 2 is intended, the output side and the input side of the housing 20 of the switch 2 can be interchanged. In this case, the working side of the housing 10 of the AFDD 1 is usually changed so that it always corresponds to the output side of the switch 2. This allows the length of the electrical connecting wires 3, 4 to be optimized, and the usual output connection of modular devices is maintained.

For this, in accordance with the invention, the housing 10 of the AFDD 1 device contains internal devices 31, 33, 34 (see Fig. 8 and 9) for mounting in two possible positions inside the housing 10 of the first internal element 50 (shown in Fig. 10 and 11) forming said holes 17A, 17B and said inlet 19: the first position of the first inner element 50 corresponds to the formation of said holes 17A, 17B and an inlet 19 on said upper side 13 of the housing 10 (FIG. 4), and the second position of said first inner element 50 corresponds their formation on the lower side 15 of the specified housing 10 (Fig. 3).

In particular, as shown in FIG. 8 and 9, said internals 31, 33, 34 are arranged symmetrically with respect to a median plane P running parallel to said upper and lower sides 13, 15 of the housing 10 of the AFDD 1 and dividing said main sides 11 into two equal parts, so that said first inner member 50 could be positioned in said internals 31, 33, 34 in said first and second positions symmetrical about said median plane P.

Thus, the AFDD 1 according to the invention can be easily adapted to different configurations of the switch 2.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, 8 and 9, the AFDD 1 in this case comprises a first body portion 30 defining a first cheek of the body 10, which is connected by means of seating and locking means to a second body portion 32 forming a second cheek of the body 10.

The first housing part 30 of the AFDD 1, shown separately in FIG. 8 has a main wall 301, the outer side 301B of which forms the left main side 11 of the housing 10 of the AFDD 1 (see FIG. 5). This main wall 301 is framed by four secondary walls 302, 303, 304, 305 perpendicular to said main wall 301, namely: a rear wall 302 containing a recessed ledge 302A, an upper wall 303 and a lower wall 305 corresponding to free edges 303A, 305A which have cutouts of a special shape, and a front wall 304, the outer side 304B of which forms the front side 14 of the housing 10 of the AFDD 1, including the front part 16 of the specified housing 10.

As shown in FIG. 8, the inner side 301A of the main wall 301 of the first body portion 30 comprises locating means, in this case four locating slots 301C, adapted to receive corresponding locating means provided on the second body portion 32 for guiding the connection of said first and second portions 30, 32 buildings. To connect said body parts 30, 32, the front wall 304 of the first body part 30 is provided, at its edge facing the second body part 32, with seating grooves 304F which are snap engaging with corresponding seating means of the second body part 32.

The second housing part 32 of the AFDD 1, shown separately in FIG. 9 has a main wall 321, the outer side 321B of which forms the right main side 11 of the housing 10 of the AFDD 1 (see FIG. 4). This main wall 321 is framed by three secondary walls 322, 323, 325, perpendicular to the specified main wall 321, namely: a rear wall 322 containing a recessed ledge 322A, an upper wall 323 (below in Fig. 9) and a lower wall 325 ( top in Fig. 9), the corresponding free edges 323A, 325A of which have specially shaped cutouts.

As shown in FIG. 9, said main wall 321 of the second housing portion 32 comprises an elongated slot 321D through which the first arm 40A of the AFDD 1 can pass and move, interacting with the handle 27B of the switch 2 (see FIG. 4). This main wall 321 also includes a second elongated slot 321G through which the second arm 40B of the AFDD 1 can pass and move in order to turn off the switch 2 (see FIG. 4).

On the inner side 321A of said main wall 321 there are locating pins 321C (in this case in the number of four) adapted to fit into the locating slots 301C of the first housing part 30. In addition, teeth 321F are formed on the inner side 321A of the main wall 321 near its front free edge and snap into said locating grooves 304F of the first housing part 30. Finally, on the specified main wall 321 there are shoulders 321E near its front free edge and near its rear edge in continuation of the rear wall 322, which can go under the front wall 304 and under the rear wall 302 of the first housing part 30, respectively.

When the first and second body portions 30, 32 are connected to each other, the outer sides 302B, 322B of the rear walls 302, 322 of the first and second body portions 30, 32, containing corresponding steps 302A, 322A, together form the rear side 12 and the horizontal groove 12A of the body 10 AFDD 1.

As shown in FIG. 8 and 9, on the inner sides 301A, 321A of the main walls 301, 321 of the first and second body parts 30, 32, internal devices 31, 33, 34 are provided. walls of one of the body parts.

As shown in FIG. 8 and 9, the internals 31, 33, 34 comprise positioning means adapted to cooperate with corresponding positioning means of the first inner member 50. In particular, the internals 31, 33, 34 form in each housing part 30, 32 a lower location 35, configured to receive the first inner member 50 in its second position; and an upper seat 37 configured to receive the first inner member 50 therein in its first position.

In particular, in this case, the internal fixtures 31, 33, 34 of each lower and upper place 35, 37 of each part 30, 32 of the body contain two locating sockets 33, 34, made with the possibility of receiving two locating pins 57A, 57B, 58A, 58B formed on the first core 50 (shown in FIGS. 10 and 11). One of the mounting slots 33 is located near the rear wall 302, 322 of the corresponding housing part 30, 32 and close to the upper wall 303, 323 (at the upper position 37) and, respectively, the lower wall 305, 325 (at the lower position 35). Another mounting slot 34 is located near the front wall 304 (for the first body portion 30) or the free front edge of the main wall 321 (for the second body portion 32) and further from the top wall 303, 323 (at the top 37) and, accordingly, from the bottom wall 305 , 325 (at the bottom 35) than the indicated mounting slot 33.

Thus, the positioning slots 33, 34 serve as effective positioning means for positioning the first inner member 50 at each top or bottom position 37, 35 depending on its first or second position.

As shown in FIG. 8 and 9, the inner fittings 31, 33, 34 of each lower and upper location 35, 37 of each body part 30, 32 further comprise a wall 31 defining a receptacle 35A, 37A for the first inner member 50. The receptacle 35A, 37A is delimited by a wall 31 along a contour substantially corresponding to the outer contour of said first inner element 50. Thus, the wall 31 also serves as a positioning means especially for positioning the first inner element 50 in its second position at the lower position 35 and in its first position at the upper position 37.

The first inner member 50 is an integral piece of insulating material, for example, by casting from an insulating plastic material.

As shown in FIG. 10 and 11, the first inner member 50 comprises a main body 500, which is abutted by an extension 550 of a width smaller than the width of said main body 500.

The main part 500 of the first inner element 50 has a shape, generally inscribed in a parallelepiped, and contains two parallel longitudinal sides 502, 504, connected by end transverse sides 501, 503, perpendicular to said longitudinal sides 502, 504, namely: front transverse side 501 and a rear transverse side 503. A vertical center wall 505 is perpendicular to said longitudinal and transverse sides 502, 504, 501, 503 and divides the main portion 500 of the first inner member 50 into two symmetrical portions. The sides of the main body 500 are generally open and face the said central wall 505. In practice, the central wall 505 forms the plane of symmetry of the first inner member 50.

One of the longitudinal sides 502 of the main body 500, hereinafter referred to as the "first longitudinal side 502", must face the outside of the housing 10 when the first inner member 50 is installed in the internals 31, 33, 34 of the housing 10 of the AFDD 1, while the other is opposite the longitudinal side 504 of the main body 500, referred to as the "second longitudinal side 504", faces the inside of the AFDD 1 housing. The side and front edges 502B, 502C of the first longitudinal side 502 of the said main body 500 form an outline of the first longitudinal side 502 corresponding to the contour formed by the free edges 303A, 323A, 305A, 325A of the upper and lower walls 303, 323, 305, 325 of the assembled parts 30, 32 of the AFDD 1.

On the rear transverse side 503 of the main body 500, an extension 550 is made at a distance from the first longitudinal side 502 in such a way that said extension 550 is located behind the main body 500 with an offset from the specified first longitudinal side 502. The first longitudinal side 502 of the main body 500 and the extension side 552 550 facing the same side as said first longitudinal side 502 together form the main side 52 of the first inner member 50.

In addition, the extension 550 is equidistant from the sides of said main body 500 such that the side edges 552A of the side 552 of the extension 550 and a portion of the rear edge 502A of the first longitudinal side 502 of the main body 500 define together two passages 53A, 53B extending from two sides of the specified extension 550 to the specified main side 52 of the first inner member 50.

As shown in FIG. 10, the first inner element 50 also has two openings 52A, 52B, which open onto said base side 52 of the first inner element 50. Each window 52A, 52B of said first inner element 50 has a closed contour in this case at said side 52 of the first inner element 50 In particular, the windows 52A, 52B are located in the main body 500 of the first inner member 50, and their closed contour is included in the first longitudinal side 502 of the said main body 500.

Each window 52A, 52B provides access to an electrical connection socket 54A, 54B formed in the main body 500 of the first inner member 50, said ports 54A, 54B being insulated from each other by a central wall 505 of the main body 500. When the first inner member 50 is installed in the housing 10, the sockets 54A, 54B can receive screw contacts, the clamping screw of which is accessible through the circular cutouts 501A, 501B, made on the front transverse side 501 of the main part 500 of the specified inner element 50, and these circular cutouts 501A, 501B are located opposite the pair of holes 304C formed in the front wall 304 of the housing 10.

To guide the insertion of the first inner element 50 into the inner fittings 31, 33, 34 of the housing 10, the extension 550 of the said first inner element 50 comprises, in the rear region of each of its lateral sides, a locating pin 57A, 57B adapted to engage in one of the corresponding locating slots 33 of said parts 30, 32 of the AFDD 1 housing 1. The main part 500 of the first inner element 50 comprises on each of its lateral sides near its second longitudinal side 504 a locating pin 58A, 58B adapted to fit into one of the other corresponding locating slots 34 of said parts 30, 32 buildings.

Specifically, when the first inner member 50 is set to its first position, it is positioned at the top 37 of one of the body portions 30, 32, typically at the top 37 of the first body portion 30, such that the locating pin 57A of the extension 550, respectively, the dowel pin 58A of the main part 500 engages in the dowel seat 33, respectively 34 of the said upper position 37. When the second housing part 32 is connected to the first housing part 30, the dowel pins 57B, 58B of the first inner element 50 engage respectively in the dowel seats 33, 34 of the upper position 37 of said second housing part 32. The side and front edges 502B, 502C of the first longitudinal side 502 of said main part 500 come into contact with the free edges 303A, 323A of the upper walls 303, 323 of said parts 30, 32 of the AFDD 1 housing (see Fig. 4), thus, that said first longitudinal side 502 is flush with the outer side 303B, 323B of said top walls 303, 323, and together these sides form the working top side 13 of the housing 10 of the AFDD 1.

Likewise, when the first inner member 50 is placed in its second position (see FIGS. 6 and 7), the locating pins 57A, 57B of the extension 550 engage in the locating slots 33 of the lower locations 35 of the first and second housing portions 30, 32, and locating pins 58A 58 In the main body 500, they engage other seating slots 34 of said lower locations 35 such that the side and front edges 502B, 502C of the first longitudinal side 502 of said main body 500 of the first inner member 50 come into contact with the free edges 305A, 325A of the lower walls 305 , 325 of said body parts 30, 32 (see FIG. 3). The first longitudinal side 502 of the first inner member 50 is flush with the outer side 305B, 325B of said bottom walls 305, 325, and together these sides form the working bottom side 15 of the housing 10 of the AFDD 1.

Thus, irrespective of the mounting position in the internals 31, 33, 34, the first inner member 50, installed in the body 10, is completely located in the interior of the said body 10, while only the said first longitudinal side 502 of the main part 500 of the first inner member 50 is flush with the outside of the housing 10 of the AFDD 1. In this case, the main side 52 of the first inner element 50 is the only side of the specified inner element 50, accessible from the outside of the housing 100 for connecting the AFDD 1 at the inlet and outlet.

As shown in FIG. 3, 4, 6 and 7, when the first inner element 10 is installed in the internals 31, 33, 34 of the housing 10 of the AFDD 1, each passage 53A, 53B forms a separate entrance for the introduction of the electrical connecting wires 3, 4 into the AFDD 1. Otherwise Speaking of which, the inlet 19 of the housing 10 of the AFDD 1 is formed by two separate passages 53A, 53B extending to the side 52 of the first inner member 50.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the first inner member 50 is installed in the first body portion 30, the rear transverse side 503 of the main body 500 of the first inner member 50 and one of the walls 31 of said first body portion 30 parallel to said rear transverse side 503 form a passage 53A for introducing an electrical connection wires 4 inside the housing 10. Another passage 53B for the introduction of the electrical connecting wire 3 is likewise formed between the rear transverse side 503 of the main body 500 of the first inner member 50 and the wall 31 of the second body portion 32 parallel to said rear transverse wall 503.

As shown in FIG. 3 and 4, the windows 52A, 52B of the first inner element 50, installed in the housing 10, form openings 17A, 17B of the housing 10 of the AFDD 1, providing access to the sockets 18A, 18B of the output electrical connecting contacts 49 of the AFDD 1, while these sockets 18A , 18B are formed by seats 54A, 54B of said first inner member 50.

Regardless of the mounting position of the first inner member 50, circular cutouts 501A, 501B provided on the front transverse side 501 of the main body of said first inner member 50 extend in a rearward direction said circular holes 304C provided on the front wall 304 of the first body portion 30 (see Fig. Fig. 2 and 4), to provide access to the specified clamping screws of the electrical connection contacts 49.

Thus, with a total of three parts, namely two housing parts 30, 32 and the first inner element 50, the AFDD 1 can be configured in two different ways so that the AFDD 1 according to the invention allows the configurations of the circuit breaker 2 to be met all over the world. In addition, the number of parts and the length of the electrical connecting wires 3, 4 are optimized, which improves the profitability of production.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, 4, 10 and 11, the first inner element 10 comprises an insulating wall 55 perpendicular to the first longitudinal side 502 of the main body 500 of said first element 50 in a space dividing said windows 52A, 52B. The insulating wall 55 extends longitudinally from front to back a distance greater than the length of each window 52A, 52B. Preferably, the insulating wall 55 allows the two electrical wires connected to the electrical connection contacts 49 through the windows 52A, 52B of the first inner member 50 to be electrically insulated. Thus, the insulating wall 55 prevents the two electrical wires inserted in the electrical connection contacts 49 from touching, in particular , in the case when they are exposed too long. This improves the electrical safety of the user.

As shown in FIG. 2, 4 and 5, the AFDD 1 device additionally contains a cover 90 configured to be installed on the working side (upper or lower 13, 15) of the AFDD 1 housing 10 in such a way as to close the inlet 19 of this housing 10, as well as sections of electrical connecting wires 3, 4, while leaving free access to the openings 17A, 17B of the specified housing 10, formed by the windows 52A, 52B of the first inner element 50.

In particular, the lid 90 comprises two portions 91, 92, generally perpendicular to each other and forming L in the case when the lid overlaps the upper side 13 of the housing 10 (see Fig. 4), and mirrored L in the case when it overlaps the lower side 15 of the housing 10 (see Fig. 5), if we assume that the AFDD 1 is located to the left of the switch 2. The first transverse section 91 is intended to cover the entrance 19 to the housing 10 of the AFDD 1, while the second longitudinal section 92 is intended for partial overlapping the output side 23, 25 of the switch 2 so that the cover 90 protects the sections of the connecting wires 3, 4 of the current outside the said housings 10, 20 located in it.

The cover 90 contains fasteners adapted to interact closely with corresponding fasteners provided on the body 10 of the AFDD 1.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, at the rear of the first portion 91 of the cover 90, a tab 91A is provided, which is provided with an attachment tooth 91B. The fastening tooth 91B is adapted to snap in at the rear of the shoulder 305C, 303C along the free edge 305A, 303A of the bottom or top wall 305, 303 of the first housing part 30, over the first inner member 50 (see FIG. 8). Preferably, an extension 550 of the first inner member 50, spaced from the first longitudinal side 502 of the main body 500 of said first member 50, provides access for attaching the fastening tooth 91B under the shoulder 303C, 305C. The second section 92 of the cover 90 contains two flexible legs 92A, each of which ends with a fastening tooth 92B designed to fit into the groove 23B (see Fig. 1) of the upper or lower side 23, 25 of the housing 20 of the switch 2 and for snapping under the corresponding wall of the housing 20. Cover 90 is locked in position on said housings 10, 20 with a locking pin 93 (see FIG. 5) for engaging in said groove 23B between flexible tabs 92A to lock fastening teeth 92B to housing 20.

Preferably, the cover 90, which is locked onto the housings 10, 20, increases the safety of the user and prevents the connecting wires 3, 4 from being accidentally pulled out of the connecting contacts to which they are connected.

The size of the first and second sections 91, 92 of the cover 90, as well as their respective positions, can be calculated in such a way as to maintain the function of protecting the wires for the specified cover 90, including when the housings 10, 20 have a width greater than one module M (for example, equal to two M modules), or when AFDD 1 is located to the right of switch 2.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 1, 5, 6 and 7, the AFDD 1 also comprises a second inner member 60 adapted to fit into the inner fittings 31, 33, 34 of said body 10, not occupied by the first inner member 50, to cover the side of the body 10 of the AFDD 1, opposite to the working side of the specified housing 10.

The second inner member 60 is made in a single piece of insulating plastic material. As shown in FIG. 12 and 13, the second inner member has a shape similar to that of the first inner member 50. It comprises a main body 600, the shape of which is very similar to that of the main body 500 of the first inner member 50, except that it is longer than said main body 500 of the first inner member 50. On the rear transverse side 603 of the main body 600 is an extension 650, which is located in a continuation of the first longitudinal side 602 of the main body 600. The extension 650, located behind the main body 600, forms with the first longitudinal side 602 the specified first portion 600 flat side 62 of the second inner member 60.

The flat side 62 of the first element 60 must face the outside of the housing 10 of the AFDD 1 when the second inner element 60 is installed in the said housing 10, with the front and rear side edges 62B, 62C, 62D of the said flat side 62 (see FIG. 12) form a contour coinciding with the free edges 303A, 323A, 305A, 325A of the upper and lower walls of the connected body portions 30, 32, such that when the second inner member 60 is fitted into the inner fittings 31, 33, 34, said flat side 62 and the outer sides 303B, 323B, 305B, 325B of said upper or lower walls 303, 305 of the housing portions 30, 32 together form the upper or lower side of the housing 10 of the AFDD 1 (see FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 12 and 13, extension 650 comprises at the rear a recessed ledge 651 adapted to abut against said corresponding shoulder 303C, 305C of the top or bottom wall 303, 305 of the first portion 30 of the AFDD 1 housing (see FIG. 8).

As shown in FIG. 12, the second inner element 60 also comprises a blind hole 63 opening onto said flat side 62. This blind hole 63 is designed to receive at least one contact tooth of the electric power comb in such a way that each tooth entering it does not generate any electrical power. connections to the AFDD 1.

Finally, the second inner member 60 comprises, in the front region of its main body 600, plugs 64 for sealing the circular openings 304C of the front wall 304 of the body 10 of the AFDD 1 in order to close the said body 10 in the region in which the second inner member 60 is disposed (cf. Fig. 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7).

As shown in FIG. 12 and 13, to guide the installation of the second inner element 60 in the inner devices 31, 33, 34 of the parts 30, 32 of the AFDD 1 housing, on the second inner element 60, locating pins 67A, 67B, 68A, 68B are made, similar to the locating pins of the first inner element 50. Thus, the extension 650 contains on each of its lateral sides a locating pin 67A, 67B configured to fit into one of the corresponding locating slots 33 of said body parts 30, 32, and the main part 600 contains on each of its lateral sides near its a second longitudinal side 604 a locating pin 68A, 68B adapted to fit into one of the other corresponding locating slots 34 of the AFDD 1 housing portion 30, 32.

In practice, to assemble the AFDD 1 device, the first inner element 50 is installed in the first part 30 of the housing 30 in the upper or lower position 37, 35 located on the output side of the switch 2. The mechanical and electronic parts 40, 41 of the AFDD 1 device are installed in the said first part 30 of the housing, and into the sockets 54A, 54B of the first inner element 50, the output electrical connection contacts 49 of the AFDD 1 are inserted. so that a sufficient length of the connecting wire 3, 4 extends outside the housing 10. The second inner element 60 is installed in the inner devices 31, 33, 34 of the AFDD 1 housing 10, symmetrical to the devices in which the said first inner element 50 is installed so that the indicated blind hole 63 is accessible from one of the indicated upper and lower sides 13, 15 of the housing 10, against on the opposite working side of said body 10. The second body part 32 is attached to the first body part 30, and the said body parts 30, 32 are fastened to each other by means of locking means, in this case in the form of rivets 39 inserted into holes made on each part 30, 32 buildings. The rivets 39 pass through the body 10 of the AFDD 1 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Then the main side 11 of the AFDD device 1 is connected to the main wall of the switch 2 so that the first lever 40A goes into the handle 27B and so that the hooks 42 of the AFDD 1 device go into the corresponding slots of the case 20. The electrical connecting wires are connected to the output electrical connecting contacts of the switch 2 and the cover 90 is installed on the working side of the AFDD 1 and on the output side of the switch 2 and is interlocked on the housings 10, 20.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the figures, and a person skilled in the art can provide any versions thereof.

In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, the main modular device is a switch. However, it can be any other main modular device that can be combined with an auxiliary modular device. Likewise, the presented modular auxiliary device is an AFDD device, but it can be any other modular auxiliary device that provides a differential function for the circuit breaker.

Claims (16)

1. Auxiliary modular device (1) designed for electrical connection with a modular switch (2) installed in the switchboard, and containing a body (10) of the general parallelepiped shape, having a back side (12), by means of which it is configured to be mounted on the distribution board guide, two main lateral sides (11) perpendicular to the specified rear side (12), by means of one of which it is configured to be connected to the specified modular switch (2), and two sides (13, 15), upper and lower , perpendicular to the specified main lateral and rear sides (11, 12), while on the working side formed by one of the specified upper and lower sides (13, 15), the specified housing contains simultaneously two holes (17A, 17B), providing access to sockets (18A, 18B) of electrical connection contacts located inside the housing (10), and at least one input (19) located between the rear sides th (12) of the housing (10) and at least one of the indicated holes (17A, 17B), for insertion into the housing (10) of electrical connecting wires (3, 4) passing from the modular switch (2), characterized in that said body (10) contains internal devices (31, 33, 34) for mounting, inside the body (10), the first inner element (50) limiting part of the working side, while the first inner element (50) has two windows (52A, 52B) and two passages (53A, 53B), which exit at different places on one side (52) of said first inner member (50), while said inner devices (31, 33, 34) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the median plane (P) running parallel to said upper and lower sides (13, 15) of housing (10) and dividing said main sides (11) into two equal parts, so that said first inner element (50) can be mounted on said internals (31, 33, 34) in two positions symmetrical with respect to the indicated median plane (P) so that the indicated windows (52A, 52B) and the indicated passages (53A, 53B) form respectively the indicated holes (17A, 17B) and the indicated entrance (1 9) of the housing (10), with one of the indicated positions corresponding to the formation of the indicated holes and the inlet (17A, 17B, 19) on the indicated upper side (13) of the housing (10), and the other - on the indicated lower side (15). 2. An auxiliary modular device (1) according to claim 1, wherein two electrical connection wire inputs are provided, formed by said passages (53A, 53B) of said first inner element (50). 3. An auxiliary modular device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said first inner element (50) is completely enclosed in the inner space of the housing (10) so that said side (52) having said windows (52A, 52B) is the only side of the first inner element (50) accessible from the outside of the housing (10) of the auxiliary modular device (1), while the portion (502) of this side forms part of the upper or lower working side (13, 15) of the said housing (10). 4. An auxiliary modular device (1) according to claim 1, in which one of the main lateral sides (11) of the housing (10) is formed by the outer side (301B, 321B) of only one part (30, 32) of the housing, wherein at least a part of said internal devices (31, 33, 34) for mounting the first internal element (50) is located on the inner side (301A, 321A) of this part (30, 32) of the housing (10). 5. An auxiliary modular device (1) according to claim 4, in which the other main side (11) of the housing (10) is formed by the outer side (321B, 301B) of another only one part (30, 32) of the housing, on the inner side (301A) , 321A) which contains at least a part of said internal devices (31, 33, 34). 6. An auxiliary modular device (1) according to claim 1, in which each internal device (31, 33, 34) comprises positioning means adapted to interact with the corresponding positioning means located on said first internal element (50). 7. Auxiliary modular device (1) according to claim 6, in which said positioning means of each internal device comprise at least one seat (33, 34) adapted to receive a positioning pin (57A, 57B, 58A, 58B) the first inner element (50). 8. An auxiliary modular device (1) according to claim 6, wherein said positioning means of each internal device comprise a wall (31) defining the receiving socket (35A, 37A) along a contour substantially corresponding to the external contour of said first internal element (50) ... 9. An auxiliary modular device (1) according to claim 1, wherein on said side (52) having said windows (52A, 52B), the first inner element (50) comprises an insulating wall (55) located in a space dividing said windows (52A, 52B). 10. An auxiliary modular device (1) according to claim 1, wherein each window (52A, 52B) of said first inner element (50) has a closed loop in said side (52) of the first inner element (50). 11. Auxiliary modular device (1) according to claim 1, in which there is additionally a cover (90) configured to be installed on the upper or lower side (13, 15) of the housing (10) of the auxiliary modular device (1) to cover each the entrance (19) of this housing (10), as well as the sections of the electrical connecting wires (3, 4) entering it, while leaving free access to the indicated holes (17A, 17B) of the housing (10) of the auxiliary modular device (1). 12. An auxiliary modular device (1) according to claim 11, wherein said cover (90) comprises fasteners (91A, 91B) adapted to closely interact with corresponding fasteners (303C, 323C) present on the body (10) auxiliary modular device (1). 13. Auxiliary modular device (1) according to claim 1, in which there is a second inner element (60) overlapping the upper or lower side (13, 15) of said housing (10) opposite the working side, while said second inner element (60 ) has a blind hole (63) accessible from one side (62) of the specified second inner element (60), made with the possibility of installation in the internal devices (31, 33, 34) of the housing (10) of the auxiliary modular device (1) so that the indicated blind hole (63) was accessible from one of the indicated upper and lower sides (13, 15) of the housing (10) of the auxiliary modular device (1). 14. Ancillary modular device (1) according to claim 1, in which each inner element (50, 60) is made in the form of a single piece of insulating plastic material. 15. Modular electrical unit (100), designed to be placed on the panel of the electrical switchboard, containing the declared auxiliary modular device (1) according to claim 1, electrically and mechanically connected to the modular switch (2) of the switchboard.

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