FR2932614A1 - TERMINAL HAS IMPROVED SHORT CIRCUITS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a terminal block comprising a longitudinal bar (1) pierced transversely connecting ports (11) juxtaposed, each connection port (11) being equipped with a screw (12) engaged in a corresponding thread of the bar (1). ) and suitable for tightening, in use, a cable (K) engaged in this orifice (11) against a wall (110) forming a floor of this orifice (11). The terminal block of the invention further comprises a comb (2) monobloc copper formed of a row of teeth (21) and a bar (22) connecting and supporting the teeth (21), each tooth (21) being inserted in a corresponding orifice (11) of the bar (1) and resting on the floor (110), this tooth (21) being thus, in use, interposed between this floor (110) and the cable (K) engaged in this orifice (11).

Description

TERMINAL HAS IMPROVED SHORT CIRCUITS.

The present invention relates generally to terminal blocks of the type of those used for example in electrical distribution boards, in junction boxes, or in electrical cabinets.

More specifically, the invention relates to a terminal block comprising at least a first equipotential electrical connection module, this first module comprising a bar made of rigid and conductive material extending in a longitudinal direction and pierced with connection orifices, these orifices being juxtaposed according to the longitudinal direction and each passing through the bar in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, each connection orifice being equipped with a screw engaged in a corresponding thread drilled in the bar in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions, and the screw equipping each orifice can thus clamp, in use, a cable engaged in this orifice against a wall wall of this hole.

A terminal block of this type is for example described in patent document FR 2,750,262.

The main quality criteria of such a terminal block are the mechanical strength, the improvement of the resistance to high currents of short circuits in an identical or even smaller volume, the thermal conductivity, and the compactness, which is important at the same time. for economy of material and ease of installation.

However, the essential problem that the design of such terminal blocks has to overcome lies in the fact that these characteristics are antinomic in several respects.

Indeed, materials having the desirable mechanical strength, such as brass, have average electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity.

Conversely, copper, which is known to have excellent electrical and thermal conductivities, has insufficient mechanical strength.

In addition, the smaller the dimensions of the terminal block, the more difficult it is to achieve the required performance in terms of mechanical strength and heat dissipation.

In this context, the object of the invention is to propose a terminal block whose structure offers an excellent compromise for obtaining these contradictory performances.

To this end, the terminal block of the invention, furthermore in accordance with the preamble above, is essentially characterized in that the first module further comprises a one-piece copper comb essentially formed of a row of mutually parallel juxtaposed teeth and a bar connecting and supporting the teeth, and in that each tooth of the comb is inserted into a corresponding orifice of the bar and resting on the floor of this orifice, this tooth being thus, in use, interposed between this floor and the cable engaged in this hole.

The bar can then be made of brass without limiting the resistance of the terminal block to short-circuit currents or its ability to evacuate heat.

It may be wise to provide that the floor of each orifice is flat and that each tooth of the comb itself is at least partially flat.

Each tooth of the comb may further have lateral flanges intended to bear against side walls of the corresponding orifice, contiguous to the floor of this orifice.

The bar of the comb is advantageously folded against the teeth, the floor of each orifice being thus clamped between the bar of the comb and the tooth corresponding to this orifice. It may also be advisable to provide that the bar of the comb has a longitudinal section protruding from the row of teeth, in particular in the case where the terminal block comprises a second equipotential electrical connection module comprising a cage of conductive material and disposed in the extension of the bar of the first connection module.

In effect, the terminal block may then comprise an elastic clip gripping together the cage of the second connection module and at least a portion of the longitudinal section of the bar which protrudes from the row of teeth of the comb of the first module, the two modules being thus coupled mechanically, electrically, and thermally.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description which is given hereinafter, by way of indication and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a terminal block according to a possible embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal block shown in Figure 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a detail of the terminal block illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and on which the main characteristics of the invention are concentrated; and

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the detail shown in Figure 3, viewed at a different angle. As previously announced, the invention relates to an electrical connection terminal block of which a non-limiting example is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

There are several types of terminal blocks, namely essentially screw terminal blocks, self-locking terminal blocks, and mixed terminal blocks.

In a screw terminal block, as described for example in the aforementioned FR 2,750,262, the electric cable is tightened by means of a screw.

In a self-locking terminal block, the cable is clamped by means of a spring blade which is resiliently moved by the cable when inserting this cable into a connection port, and which, in its harpoon shape, opposes pulling the cable out of the hole.

The invention relates primarily to the screw terminal blocks and, consequently, also to the terminal blocks.

mixed, that is to say the terminal blocks which comprise, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a module M1 screw terminal block and a module M2 self-locking terminal block.

As shown in the figures, a terminal block according to the invention therefore comprises at least one module M1 equipotential electrical screw connection.

Such a module M1 traditionally comprises a bar 1 of rigid and conductive material, for example of brass, extending in a longitudinal direction X and pierced with connection orifices 11.

The connection ports 11 are juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction X and each pass through the bar 1 in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X.

Each connection port 11 is equipped with a screw 12 engaged in a corresponding thread 120, this thread being pierced in the bar 1 in a vertical direction in FIGS. 1 and 2, that is to say in a direction perpendicular to both at the longitudinal direction X of the bar 1 and at the transverse direction of the orifices 11.

Opposite each thread 120, the corresponding orifice 11 has a wall 110 forming a floor for the cable housing that constitutes this orifice. In this way, the screw 12 equipping each orifice 11 can, in use, clamp against the floor 110 a cable K which is engaged in this orifice 11.

The screw connection module M1 which constitutes a terminal block according to the invention, or which belongs to such a terminal block, further comprises a copper monoblock comb 2.

This comb 2 essentially consists of a row of 5 teeth 21 juxtaposed and mutually parallel, and a bar 22 which connects and supports the teeth 21.

Moreover, each tooth 21 of the comb 2 is inserted into a corresponding orifice 11 of the bar 1 and bears against the floor 110 of this orifice 11, very preferably over the entire width of the bar 1, that is to say say over the entire length of the orifice 11.

In use, each tooth 21 engaged in an orifice 11 is thus interposed between the floor 110 of this orifice and the cable K also engaged in this orifice 11.

To optimize the contact between the bar 1 and the comb 2, the floor 110 of each orifice 11 is preferably flat, each tooth 21 of the comb 2 itself being at least partially flat to be applied on the floor 110.

In addition, each tooth 21 of the comb 2 may have lateral flanges 211 which are intended to bear against the side walls 111 of the corresponding orifice 11, contiguous to the floor 110, so as to further increase the electrical and thermal contact. between the bar 1 and the comb 2. As best shown in Figures 2 and 4, the bar 22 of the comb 2 is advantageously folded against the teeth 21, and thus adopts a position in which the floor 110 of each orifice 11 is enclosed between the bar 22 of the comb 2 and the tooth 21 corresponding to this orifice 11.

In the case where the terminal block of the invention is of the mixed type, it comprises, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an M2 module for equipotential electrical connection with automatic locking, this second module itself comprising a cage 4 made of conductive material. , for example of copper, and arranged in the extension of the bar 1 of the screw connection module M1.

For its part, the bar 22 of the comb 2 may be longer than the row of teeth 21, that is to say have a free longitudinal section 221 protruding from the row of teeth 21.

Under these conditions, the terminal block may comprise a clip 3 shaped as an elastic clip and making it possible to connect the connection modules M1 and M2 to each other at the same time mechanically, thermally and electrically.

To do this, as shown in a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 4, the staple together encloses a web of the cage 4 of the module M2 and at least a portion of the longitudinal section 221 of the bar 22 of the module M1.

As further shown in FIG. 2, the module M2 comprises, in addition to the cage 4, a set of spring blades 5, and the terminal block also comprises a support base 6 and a cover 7.

The cover 7 is designed to be snapped onto the support 6, in which are housed the bar 1, the comb 2, the staple 3, and the cage 4.

The leaf springs 5 are themselves housed inside the cage 4, in which these blades have the function of holding in the cage 4 cables

Claims (8)

CLAIMS. 1. Terminal block comprising at least a first module (Ml) equipotential electrical connection, the first module comprising a bar (1) of rigid material and conductive extending in a longitudinal direction (X) and pierced with connection ports (11). ), these orifices (11) being juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction (X) and each passing through the bar (1) in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X), each connection orifice (11) being equipped with a screw (12) engaged in a corresponding thread drilled in the bar (1) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal (X) and transverse directions, and the screw (12) fitted to each orifice (11) can thus clamp, in use, a cable ( K) engaged in this orifice (11) against a wall (110) forming a floor of this orifice (11), characterized in that the first module (Ml) further comprises a comb (2) monobloc copper essentially formed of a row of mutually parallel juxtaposed teeth (21) and of a bar (22) connecting and supporting the teeth (21), and in that each tooth (21) of the comb (2) is inserted into a corresponding orifice (11) of the bar (1) and resting on the floor (110) of this orifice (11), this tooth (21) being thus, in use, interposed between this floor (110) and the cable (K) engaged in this orifice (11) . 2. Terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that the bar (1) is brass. 3. Terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor (110) of each orifice (11) is flat and in that each tooth (21) of the comb (2) is at least partially flat. 4. Terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each tooth (21) of the comb (2) has lateral flanges (211) intended to bear against the side walls (111) of the orifice ( 11), contiguous to the floor (110) of this orifice (11). 5. Terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strip (22) of the comb (2) is folded against the teeth (21), the floor (110) of each orifice (11) being sandwiched between the bar (22) of the comb (2) and the tooth (21) corresponding to this orifice (11). 6. Terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strip (22) of the comb (2) has a longitudinal section (221) protruding from the row of teeth (21). 7. Terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a second module (M2) equipotential electrical connection comprising a cage (4) of conductive material and disposed in the extension of the bar (1) of the first connection module (M1). 8. Terminal block according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that it comprises an elastic clip (3) gripping together the cage (4) of the second module (M2) connection and at least a portion of the longitudinal section (221) of the bar (22) protruding from the row of teeth (21) of the comb (2) of the first module (Ml).