FR2955978A1 - ELASTIC LEVER CONNECTION TERMINAL - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to improve the safety of the clamping before the first power up of the installation and during the life of the circuit breaker, an elastic connection terminal (10) lever connection has been optimized. In particular, the traditional wiring zone (8, 9) of electrical appliances (1) remains freely accessible by positioning the lever on the front of the appliance (1) and opening it from the nose of the appliance (1) to the input (82) of the terminal; the absence of clamping of the terminals during the control before power-up is indicated visually (34B). In particular, the sealing of the terminal (10) is optimized by placing a screen (40) floating between the spring (14i) for holding the cable (9) and the cam (32) compression.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to the connection to the electrical network of distribution and / or protection devices, for example circuit breakers, or the supply of electrically operated receivers. More particularly, the invention relates to elastic type connection terminals, in which the clamping is provided by a spring and in which a lever allows the opening or closing of a passage hole for the connection.

STATE OF THE ART

The connection of an electrical device is made at a terminal, in which a connection pad is associated with an orifice allowing the passage of an external cable; different types of terminals exist depending on the means provided to access the orifice and / or to tighten the cable against the beach. In particular, an option compensating for any loosening during the life of the apparatus uses a spring immobilizing an electrical conductor against the connection range of an electrical appliance; the spring, for example blade and loop, can be solicited by a lever that allows to access or not to the cable passage opening. Embodiments of this type of elastic terminal are given in EP 1 296 413 or WO 2008/128668 for example.

Conventionally, the lever comprises a cam pivoting about an axis and acting directly on the spring blade; however, it appears that, particularly when the lever is closed to ensure the tightening of the cable, the spring blade is directly accessible from the outside, and thereby there is a risk of contacting the connection pad with a external object. What is more, the known solutions are based on a radical choice: either the direct identification of the position of the lever, and therefore the tightening of the terminals, is preferred which causes a protrusion of the lever relative to the housing of the protective devices, preventing for example the setting up of a plastron; either the lever is integrated in the envelope of the protective devices, which makes it difficult 2720 LPu operation and requires a second verification of the tightening of the terminals. Finally, some levers exceed in the wiring space of electrical devices, which hinders the technician during connection operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among other advantages, the invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of existing connection devices. In particular, the invention proposes to provide an elastic connection terminal in which the verification of the clamping of the terminals is facilitated and the protection against intrusions at the connection pads is increased, while maintaining the reflexes of installation of 'a user and integrating into protection devices and / or distribution, including modular.

More generally, in one of its aspects, the invention relates to a connecting device, or terminal, elastic for an electrical device in which a screen serves as an interface between the spring and the compression member of the spring, the screen being mobile with respect to these two elements. Advantageously, the screen is associated with return means which bring it into contact with the compression means so as to tolerate different shapes of said means, and in particular a cam and a lever covering a different surface according to their rest position or compression.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an electrical apparatus whose housing comprises housings for the terminals accessible from one or more orifices, a first of the at least housing being provided with such a connecting device, which comprises a connection pad capable of being connected to a conductor of the electrical appliance, preferably unitary with it.

The connection device furthermore comprises a member for holding a conductor against the connection pad, the holding element being substantially orthogonal to it and comprising a passage for the conductor. The holding element is coupled, preferably unitarily, with spring means, which in particular can form a loop with a bearing branch parallel to the connection pad, a 2720 LPu bend, a maneuvering part and said holding element advantageously extended by a sealing flap; according to a preferred embodiment, the support branch and / or the connection area pass through the passage of the holding element. The spring means may be biased by the compression member which acts on the operating part, via the screen, and causes a displacement of the holding member substantially parallel to the wall of the housing of the apparatus comprising the orifice, so that the passage of the holding member takes two positions, a first rest position in which it is offset from said orifice, with in particular the connection area located substantially at a first end of said passage, and a second compression position in which the passage and the orifice are face to face so that a conductor can pass through the orifice and the holding element at the first end of its orifice to be parallel to the connection range.

The compression member comprises a pivoting cam acting on the screen and the operating portion of the spring means, extended by a gripping lever external to the housing of the apparatus. In the first rest position, the lever is housed against the housing, for example without protruding and it preferably comprises an orifice to be able to associate a tool to mobilize it. In the second position, advantageously orthogonal to the first, the gripping lever protrudes from the housing; preferably, a portion of the lever visible only in the second position is provided with a light to identify the position of the lever at a glance. Advantageously, the lever is housed against the front face of the electrical appliance at rest and pivots outwardly of the housing, so as to extend the face of the housing comprising the connection port in the second position.

In one embodiment, two connection ports are provided for a connection pad, i.e., a single connector. Preferably, the connecting device then comprises two cable holding elements, each comprising a passage and parallel to each other. The spring means are advantageously also split, to form two similar loops; the actuation is performed by 2720 LPu via a single screen and a single compression member which increases the surface area and therefore increases the maneuverability.

More generally, the invention relates to a connection device for an electrical apparatus comprising: a connection range of the apparatus; a conductor holding member having a passage substantially perpendicular to the connection pad; spring means coupled to the holding member; a compression member comprising a gripping lever and a pivoting cam which can act on an operating part of the spring means and mobilizing the holding element substantially orthogonally to the connection area between a first rest position in which the connection range is located substantially at a first end of the passage and a second compression position, wherein the passage is clear and a conductor passing through the passage at the first end is parallel to the connection pad; and a screen serving as an interface between the operating portion of the spring means and the compression member, said screen being movable relative to the spring means and the compression member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, given by way of illustration and in no way limiting, represented in the appended figures.

FIG. 1 represents an electrical apparatus in which a connection device 25 according to the invention can be set up.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the two positions of a connection device according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows the different components of a connection device according to one embodiment of the invention. 2720 LPu Figure 4 shows a connection device according to the invention set up in an electrical device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 5 As illustrated in FIG. 1, an electrical protection and / or distribution device 1, in particular a modular circuit breaker, conventionally comprises a substantially parallelepipedal rectangular housing 2, with the exception of one nose 3 on its front face 4 which opens for example an actuating lever; for the establishment of the apparatus 1 in a table, the rear face of the housing 2 may for example comprise a recess for coupling to a DIN-type rail. The large faces of the housing 2 are intended to be contiguous between appliances 1 of the same type; the two remaining faces 5, usually positioned above and below the apparatus 1 in a mounting cabinet, are provided with means for connecting the apparatus 1 to a distribution network. In particular, the conductors 6 of the apparatus 1 (see FIG. 2) open into housings 7 at this level, and are accessible through orifices 8 in which cables 9 may be inserted. The housings 7 comprise connection devices 10 , or terminals, for clamping the cables, or other wires, 9 in order to keep them in contact with a portion of the conductors 6 of the apparatus 1 to finalize the electrical installation.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a connection device 10 according to the invention thus comprises a connection or connection pad 12 for a conductor 6 of the electrical apparatus 1; classically part of the conductor 6, the range 12 is flat, especially copper, and substantially parallel to the bottom and front walls 4 of the device 1, so that the orifice 8 of the housing 2 is orthogonal to it and that a cable 9 passing through the orifice 8 is parallel thereto.

The connecting device 10 illustrated further comprises a leaf spring 14 in the form of a loop for clamping a cable 9 against the track 12. The spring 14 thus comprises a holding element 16, substantially parallel to the wall 5 of the orifice 8, provided with a passage 18 for the cable 9; the holding member 16 is extended by a portion 2720 LPu maneuver 20 allowing, when a force is exerted, to move the passage 18 substantially parallel to the wall 5, so that the orifices 8 of the housing 2 and 18 of the holding member 16 may be located face to face, to allow the insertion or removal of a cable 9, or offset with respect to each other. The operating portion 20 extends, via a bend, to a support arm 22 which rests against the connection pad 12; in a preferred embodiment, in order to stabilize the assembly, an end 24 of the bearing branch 22 projects through the holding element 16, the relative movement of the end relative to the passage 18 being free, without friction, regardless of the relative position of the holding member 16 and the compression of the spring 14; alternatively or in addition, the connection pad 12 can also pass through the holding member 16.

In a first rest position (Figure 2A), in the absence of cable 9, the spring 14 is deployed, and the orifices 8, 18 are non-aligned, with the connection pad 12 at one end of the passage 18 ; the holding member 16 then preferably closes the orifice 8 of the apparatus 1 by means of a flap 26 under the passage 18, in order to eliminate any risk of intrusion of an object through the orifice 8. To connect a cable 9, a force is exerted on the operating portion 20 so that the passage 18 deviates from the connection pad 12 and is located at the orifice 8 (Figure 2B): a cable 9 can to be inserted. When the cable 9 is put in place, the action on the spring 14 is eliminated, and the operating portion 20 tends to return the passage 18 in its first position; the presence of the cable 9 blocks the displacement of the holding element 16 in a position in which the cable 9 remains tight against the connection pad 12, opposite the holding arm 22.

The means 30 for exerting the compression of the spring 14 comprise a cam 32 which is adapted for the housing 7 and which is rotatable between a rest position in which it does not act on the operating part 20 and a second position in which the spring 14 is compressed. The cam 32 is extended by a gripping lever 34 accessible from outside the housing 2; advantageously, the first and second positions are separated by a rotation of the order of 90 ° of the lever 34. 2720 LPu In order to reduce the size of the apparatus 1, in its first rest position, the lever 34 is plated against the housing 2, or even preferably integrated in a housing wall arrangement 2. Advantageously, the lever 34 is housed in the front wall 4 of the housing 2, under the nose 3 of the device 1: 1 access to the lever 34 is thus facilitated, and it is not necessary for the operator to seek access from above (or below) 5 of the apparatus 1, face congested by the connecting cables 9 which may be inaccessible depending on the position of the device 1 in the control cabinet.

In a preferred embodiment, the direction of rotation of the cam 32 is reversed, that is to say that the axis of rotation 36 of the compression member 30 is located towards the wall 5 comprising the orifice 8 connection, at the end of the lever 34 away from the nose 3 of the apparatus 1, so that the opening of the lever 34 is from the nose 3 of the apparatus 1 to a position, substantially 90 ° , in the extension of the lower or upper face 5. In this way, the wiring zone 8 remains free access, as with a screw terminal, and the closing movement of the lever 34 is facilitated, exerted by pressure against a fixed wall 4.

The lever 34 is housed in an arrangement of the walls 4, 5 of the housing 2, which are partially recessed and against which the compression member 30 abuts in the two positions. Due to the difference in height between the abutment on the housing 2 of the base of the lever 34 in the open position (FIG. 2B) and the base of the cam 32 when the lever 34 is in the closed position (FIG. 2A), the housing 7 of the connecting device 10 may be accessible from the outside. In order to eliminate the risk of an object, in particular metal, of small thickness penetrating between the cam 32 and the spring 14, and thus to mitigate the risk of electrocution, a movable screen 40, made of insulating material, is placed between the cam 32 and the operating portion 20 of the spring 14, to cover the area of the spring that is exposed; to transmit the compression exerted by the cam 32, the screen 40 is movable in the housing 7, preferably without friction, and preferably in translation orthogonal to the holding member 16, so as to obstruct the passage created by the In particular, the screen comprises a flat surface 42 bearing on the operating part 20 of the spring means 14 and transmitting to it the compression of the cam 32; advantageously, the flat surface 42 substantially closes the housing 7 of the terminal 10, so as to also close the passage created in the second open position of the lever 34 in the front wall 4 towards the spring 14. Preferably, screen 40 is provided with spring means 44, preferably unitary with it, allowing its return to the cam 32; it is then recommended that the spring means 44 of the screen 40 are coupled to the housing 2, the screen 40 is thus mounted free in translation so as to minimize friction by allowing any freedom of movement to the flat surface 42 of the 40 screen.

What is more, the screen 40 comprises a flange 46 allowing the closure of the housing 7 and the covering of the operating portion 20 of the spring 14, thus preventing any contact with the spring 14 from outside the device 1.

Advantageously, in the first rest position (FIG. 2A), the lever 34 does not protrude from the casing 2, so that the possible placement of a protective plastron (visible in FIG. 1) in the cabinets, directly around the nose 3 devices 1 aligned, is not changed. To allow a simple opening of the compression member 30, actuating means are provided, and in particular, a hole-type arrangement 34A makes it possible to introduce a tool 50, for example a screwdriver, to mobilize the lever for gripping. 34. This option offers for another advantage a reduction of the lever arm at the opening: it becomes possible to actuate elastic connection devices 10 for large cable sections 9. Preferably, the hole 34A is designed to guide a elongated tool 50 in a plane orthogonal to the lever 34, that is to say free facing the housing 2; advantageously, the tool 50 is inserted with a predetermined angle α, constant along the displacement, for example 25 °, so that insertion and movement are natural and the tool 50 is not obstructed by the housing 2 of the device 1 from the first to the second position.

Although the preferred embodiment has a lever 34 conforming to the profile 4 of the apparatus 1 when it closes the connection device 10, actuated by a screwdriver 50 to open the terminal and manually to close it, other options are possible. , in which the lever 34 can be grasped by hand for opening and / or has only 2720 LPu second stable position of closure. However, the presented mode offers additional advantages of facilitating the connection by holding the cable 9 with one hand and closing the terminal of the other, to accept large sections of conductors 9, for which the means 30 acting on the spring 14 can be operated with a large lever on opening. Furthermore, the use of a tool 50 to open the connection device 10 requires conscious action and avoids inadvertent disconnections.

Preferably, in the second open position, the establishment of a plastron is not possible, the lever 34 protruding from the casing of the housing 2. In particular, it may be preferable to deliver the devices 1 with the levers 34 in the second open position, so that the manual closure is required and thus the minimization of connections minimized: thus, the reception of the installation can be achieved only if the tightenings are effective. Alternatively, or in addition, means can be provided to quickly identify the closure of the levers 34, that is to say the tightening of the terminals 10: for example, on the projecting portion of the lever 34 invisible in the first position, it It is possible to put an indicator 34B (FIG. 4), in particular a bright color which is absent from the usual housings 2, which makes it possible to immediately locate the possibly unclamped terminals.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, certain electrical appliances 1 comprise two connection orifices 82 for a recess 7 and a conductive pad 12. Preferably, the connection device 10 according to the invention then comprises two springs 14 for holding and clamping the cables 9 independently of one another; the two springs 141, 142 are advantageously identical and parallel, their passages 181, 182 facing each of the orifices in the second compressed position. On the other hand, the connecting device 10 comprises a single compression member 30 and a single screen 40; preferably, the protective screen 40 is provided with guide means 48, in particular a rail which is positioned between the two operating parts 20 of the springs 14;

Although the invention has been described with reference to an electrical protection apparatus 1, it is not limited thereto: other elements may be concerned. In particular, the invention adapts to an elastic system 14 of terminal 10 actuated by a lever 34, that lever 34 2720 LPu has two stable positions or not. In addition, the shape of the spring means 14 can be varied according to the range and design of the apparatus 1: the presence in this type of terminal of a screen 40 placed between the actuating means 30 and the compression means 14 to complete the connection makes it possible to comply with the strictest sealing criteria, and to prevent the penetration of objects of 1 mm which could come into contact with the spring blade 20 under tension of the terminal. The screen 40 meanwhile can be movable in translation or in rotation according to the design of the other components of the device 10. Similarly, the pivoting direction of the lever 34 can be reversed, but the preferred option allows to use the free space in front of the apparatus 1 to insert and rotate the tool 50, to set up means 34B to visualize the state of closure or not of the lever 34, and to prevent the final installation of the plastron in case of lack of connection.

2720 LPu

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Connecting device (10) for an electrical apparatus (1) comprising: a connection pad (12) of the apparatus (1); a holding member (16) of a conductor (9) having a passage (18) substantially perpendicular to the connection pad (12); spring means (14) coupled to the holding member (16); a compression member (30) comprising a gripping lever (34) and a pivoting cam (32) operable on an actuating portion (20) of the spring means (14) and engaging the holding member (16) substantially orthogonally to the connection pad (12) between a first rest position in which the connection pad (12) is located substantially at a first end of the passage (18) and a second compression position, in which the passage (18) is released and a conductor (9) passing through the passage (18) at the first end is parallel to the connection pad (12); a screen (40) serving as an interface between the operating portion (20) of the spring means (14) and the pressing member (30), said screen (40) being movable relative to the spring means (14) and the compression member (30). 2. Device according to claim 1 wherein the spring means (14) comprise a bearing arm (22) parallel to the connection pad (12), the operating part (20) connected to the support arm ( 22) by a bend and unitarily coupled to the holding member (16). 3. Device according to claim 2 wherein the support leg (22) through the passage (18) of the holding member (16) and the holding member (16) comprises a flap (26) shutter . 30 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the screen (40) comprises biasing means (44) urging it to a contact with the cam (32). 11 2720 LPu 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4 comprising two holding elements (16) parallel for the passage of two conductors (9). Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the spring means (141, 142) are split, and comprising a single compression member (30) and a single screen (40) acting on the two spring means (141, 142). jointly. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the handle lever (34) comprises an orifice (34A) for placing a tool (50). 8. Electrical protection device (1) comprising a housing (2) provided with inlet openings (8) through which connecting conductors (6) are accessible in housings (7), a first housing (7) at less being provided with a connecting device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, the gripping lever (34) of said connecting device (10) being housed against the housing (2) in the first position, and protruding from the housing (2) in the second position in which the passage (s) (18) of said connecting device (10) is (are) facing the orifices (8) of the first housing (7) of the protective device (1). 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the gripping lever (34) comprises a light (34B) visible only in its second position. 10. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 or 9 comprising a front face (4) substantially orthogonal to a face (5) comprising the inlet ports (8), wherein the gripping lever (34) is housed against the front face (4) in the first position, and the pivoting of the first to the second position is achieved by a movement from the front face (4) to the face (5) comprising the orifices (8). 2720 LPu