GB2319396A

GB2319396A - A protection module

Info

Publication number: GB2319396A
Application number: GB9724036A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marcel Daccord
Original assignee: Legrand SA; Legrand SNC
Current assignee: Legrand SA; Legrand SNC
Priority date: 1996-11-18
Filing date: 1997-11-13
Publication date: 1998-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2017-11-13
Also published as: GB2319396B; FR2756094A1; GB9724036D0; FR2756094B1

Abstract

A protection module has, in a housing (11), a support plate (12), with, on one side thereof, at least one push-button (13, 13') and, on the other side, a movable vane (15) to which a visual indicator (16) is coupled. At a distance from the support plate (12) the housing (11) as a front panel (31) through which the push-button (13, 13') projects. The visual indicator (16) which is flexible embraces the edge of the support plate (12) and then extends between that support plate (12) and the front panel (31), to the side of the push-button (13, 13'), and, in the path of the visual indicator (16), the front panel (31) has an observation window (34) through which the indicator (16) is visible only when the movable vane (15) is in a closed position. The protection module has particular use with an electric socket, supply to which is controlled by the protection module.

Description

"A PROTECTION MODULE WITH DIFFERENTIAL FUNCTION" The invention relates to protection modules with differential function.

Such a module may comprise overall a support plate, at least one push-button which is disposed on one side of the support plate and comprises a movable member at the user's disposal, and, on the side of the support plate opposite the first side, a movable vane which is capable of occupying one of two positions, namely an open position in which it is relatively distanced from the support plate, and a closed position in which it is, on the contrary, relatively close to that support plate.

A protection module of this type is disclosed, in particular, in the French Patent No. 2 547 454 wherein a movable vane controls a switch which can be operatively disposed on an electrical circuit to be controlled, thus forming by itself, for example, the movable member of such a switch, and the push-button controls a flexible actuating member controlled firstly by elastic return means and secondly by the plunger of a solenoid and being capable of keeping the movable vane in the closed position under given voltage conditions prevailing at the terminals of the solenoid.

The assembly is also usually disposed in a housing.

A protection module of this kind may form part of a functional assembly comprising a functional module of any kind, e.g. an electric socket, on whose supply circuit the switch provided on the protection module is operatively disposed.

In this way, the functional module is only under voltage for as long as safety conditions e g. in connection with fault currents, are duly respected.

Before the functional module is used it is desirable for the user to know whether, or not, the functional module is under voltage.

To that end, thought has been given to coupling a visual indicator in the form of a flag to the movable vane of the protection module, since supply to the functional module actually depends on the position of that movable vane, and the visual indicator is usually a rigid visual indicator.

However, as far as construction of the protection module is concerned, the visual indicator is usually laterally disposed, and it therefore usually has to be viewed laterally.

Although this arrangement can be envisaged for some uses, it cannot be done so for all.

According to the invention there is provided a protection module with differential function, comprising, in a housing, a support plate; at least one pushbutton which is disposed on one side of the support plate and comprises a movable member at the user's disposal; a movable vane which is disposed on the side of the support plate opposite the first side and is capable of occupying one of two positions, namely an open position in which it is relatively distanced from the support plate, and a closed position in which it is, on the contrary, relatively close to that support plate; and, coupled to the movable vane a visual indicator; in which the housing comprises at a distance from the support plate a front panel through a hole in which the movable member, at least, of the push-button projects to the outside; the visual indicator which is flexible embraces the edge of the support plate beyond the edge thereof, and then extends between the support plate and the front panel, at the side of the push-button; and the front panel comprises, on the trajectory of the visual indicator, an observation window through which the visual indicator is only visible when the movable vane is in the closed position.

Such an arrangement can permit observation of the visual indicator from the front.

Almost any functional module can be provided with an associated protection switch of this kind.

In brief, the flexibility of the visual indicator can make it possible to place the observation window on the front panel of the housing of the protection module, through which observation window the visual indicator appears when the movable vane of the protection module is in the closed position, thus indicating immediately on sight that the functional module with which the protection module is associated is under voltage.

Preferably, the visual indicator is in the general form of a thin, flexible plate which is cut away in the form of a frame for passage therethrough of the push-button.

It is therefore advantageously capable of keeping masses balanced when the protection module on which it is provided is in motion.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a protection module according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view in perspective; Figure 3 is a view in perspective, on a larger scale, of the visual indicator used in this protection module and of part of the connecting piece to which it is connected; Figure 4 is a schematic view, in cross-section along the line IV-IV of Figure 1, of a protection module according to the invention, for the open position of the movable vane which that protection module comprises; and Figure 5 is a view in cross-section, like that in Figure 4, for the closed position of the movable vane.

As illustrated in these drawings, a protection module 10 comprises overall in a housing 11 a support plate 12, at least one push-button 13 which is disposed on one side of the support plate 12 and which comprises a movable member 14 at the user's disposal, a movable vane 15 which is disposed on the side of the support plate 12 opposite the first side and which is capable of occupying one of two positions, namely an open position in which, as shown in Figure 4, it is relatively distanced from the support plate 12, and a closed position in which, as shown in Figure 5, it is, on the contrary, relatively close to that support plate 12, and, coupled to that movable vane 15, under conditions to be described in detail hereinafter, a visual indicator 16.

The protection module 10 is usually a protection module with differential function of the type which is the object of French Patent No. 2 547 454 mentioned hereinabove.

Since that protection module 10 is thus generally known per se, it will not be described in every detail here.

Only those components will be mentioned, and possibly partly described, which are necessary in understanding the invention.

In the embodiment shown, two push-buttons 13, 13' are provided in projecting relationship from the support plate 12.

Provided at a distance apart from each other they both extend substantially along a plane M which forms a centre plane for the assembly.

This centre plane M which is supposed as being the plane in Figures 4 and 5 is outlined by broken lines in Figure 1.

The push-buttons 13, 13' are similar in structure.

Their movable member 14, 14' is usually a slide which is mounted movably for translatory movement in a guide member 18, 18' integrally formed with the support plate 12 and fixed.

The push-button 13 which is close to the upper transverse edge of the support plate 12, and therefore an edge 19 thereof, is usually an actuating push-button.

By virtue of its movable member 14 it actually permits the control, on meeting elastic return means, not visible in the drawings, of an actuating member 20 which is elongate and flexible and extends beyond the support plate 12 and has a transverse groove 21 to hold the movable vane 15 in the closed position.

Conjointly, the push-button 13' may be a resettable push-button.

The support plate 12 usually bears the assembly of components of the protection module 10.

It also bears a printed circuit for the various connections needed between the components.

In the embodiment shown, the movable vane 15 comprises a lug 22 which extends parallel to the support plate 12 and the ends of which are connected pivotally to the support plate by means of elastically deformable arms 23.

These elastically deformable arms 23, only one of which is visible in the drawings, urge the movable vane 15 permanently towards its open position.

Usually, these elastically deformable arms 23 are metal, and each one bears a movable contact 24 for cooperation with a fixed contact 25 provided correspondingly on the support plate 12.

The movable vane 15 thus forms the movable member of a switch 26, the fixed member of which is formed conjointly by the support plate 12.

The components carried by the support plate 12 include a solenoid, only the plunger 28 of which has been shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The actuating member 20 passes freely through the plunger 28 from one side to the other.

When certain,voltage conditions are observed at the terminals of the solenoid, the plunger 28 holds the actuating member 20 in a bent condition in which, by virtue of its groove 21, it itself holds the movable vane 15 in the closed position, as shown in Figure 5.

In the absence of any voltage conditions, the actuating member 20 readily assumes a rest position where it escapes from its groove 21, and, being thus released, the movable vane 15 returns by itself into the open position, as shown in Figure 4, urged by the elastically deformable arms 23 which carry it.

In the embodiment shown, the movable vane 15 also comprises a connecting piece 30 for the coupled attachment of the visual indicator 16, this connecting piece 30 extending transversely to the lug 22 thereof, in the central zone of this latter, and therefore substantially along the centre plane M of the assembly.

In the embodiment shown, the housing 11 comprises at a distance from the support plate 12 on the side of the push-buttons 13, 13' a front panel 31 by virtue of holes 32, 32' in which the movable member 14, 14', at least of the push-buttons 13, 13', projects to the outside, in order to be effectively at the user's disposal.

By way of example, and as shown, the front panel 31 forms a cover for a hollow body 33.

As a variant, it could also be formed by the base of such a hollow body 33, this latter then being closed to the rear by a cover.

Be that as it may, the front panel 31 is duly formed integrally with the hollow body 33, and, in the housing 11 which is thus formed the support plate 12 is duly held in position parallel to the front panel 31.

Since the corresponding arrangements are familiar to the skilled person, and since they are not relevant to the invention they will not be described here.

The visual indicator 16 which is flexible embraces the edge of the support plate 12, beyond the edge 19 thereof, and then extends between that support plate 12 and the front panel 31, to the side of the push-buttons 13, 13', and, conjointly, the front panel 31 comprises on the trajectory of the visual indicator 16 an observation window 34 through which the visual indicator 16 is only visible when the movable vane 15 is in the closed position, and which, in the embodiment shown by solid lines in Figures 4 and 5, is closed by a transparent hatch 36.

Projecting over the front panel 31, the distance D1 separating the observation window 34 from the edge 19 of the support plate 12 is at least equal to the length D2 of the portion 16B of the visual indicator 16 present between the support plate 12 and the front panel 31 when the movable vane 15 is in the open position.

Preferably, and as shown, the length D2 is slightly less than the distance D1.

In the embodiment shown, the free end of the visual indicator 16 bears on the front panel 31, and it is therefore urged elastically by it.

As a result, the visual indicator 16 forms overall a largely rounded shoulder 37 by means of which it embraces the edge of the support plate 12, possibly bearing against the front crest of the edge 19 thereof, and divides it into two portions, namely a portion 16A on this side of the support plate 12, and another portion 16B on that side of the support plate.

In the embodiment shown, the visual indicator 16 comprises a head portion 38 by means of which it is coupled to the movable vane 15, and at least one leg portion 40 by means of which it extends laterally to the side of the push-buttons 13, 13'.

Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, the head portion 38 of the visual indicator 16 extends along the centre plane M of the assembly, like the push-buttons 13, 13'.

Preferably, too, and this also applies to the embodiment shown, the visual indicator 16 comprises two leg portions 40 which emanate from an intermediate crosspiece 41 between the head portion 38 and said leg portions, and each of which extends on a respective side of the push-buttons 13, 13', parallel to each other, and symmetrically to each other relative to the centre plane M of the assembly, and therefore relative to the plane which passes through the head portion 38 and the pushbuttons 13, 13'.

In this way, the visual indicator 16 respects the symmetry of the protection module 10, and, as a result, it does not disturb the balance of masses when the protection module 10 is in motion.

Usually, the crosspiece 41 extends substantially perpendicularly to the centre plane M of the assembly.

In the embodiment shown, on the side opposite the crosspiece 41 whence they emanate the leg portions 40 of the visual indicator 16 are joined together by a second crosspiece 42 which is parallel to the first, and the observation window 34 provided on the front panel 31 of the housing 11 is disposed on the trajectory of the second crosspiece 42.

By way of example, and as shown, disposed in the centre plane M of the assembly, that is to say in the plane which passes through the head portion 38 and the push-buttons 13, 13', the observation window 34 is operatively disposed in the centre zone of the second crosspiece 42.

In the embodiment shown, this observation window 34 has the configuration of a slot which is elongate in a direction perpendicularly to the centre plane M of the assembly.

Like the crosspiece 41, the crosspiece 42 of the visual indicator 16 itself extends substantially perpendicularly to the centre plane M of the assembly In the embodiment shown, the head portion 38 of the visual indicator 16 has a hole 43 by means of which it engages on the connecting piece 30 belonging to the movable vane 15, and, along two opposite edges of the opening 43 it has two tongue portions 44 by means of which it engages with two slots 45 provided correspondingly to that end on the connecting piece 30.

By way of example, the connecting piece 30 is in two parts, namely a main part 46 which is finger-shaped and which may be integrally formed, for example, with the lug 22, and a secondary piece 47 which is connected to the main piece 46, at the end thereof, e.g. by way of a dovetail-type fitting, as shown, and forms the two slots 45 laterally with that main part 46.

Be that as it may, owing to the fact that tongue portions 44 of the head portion 38 engage into these two slots 45, the visual indicator 16 is duly placed upon and coupled to the coupling piece 30, and, by virtue of this latter, to the movable vane 15.

Thus, it can be seen that the visual indicator 16 is in the general shape of a thin, flexible rectangular plate which is cut out in the form of a frame preferably a rectangular frame.

The head portion 38 which it comprises and which is itself cut out in the form of a frame forms laterally an outwardly projecting lengthening piece, which, in the general plane of the assembly, extends in the centre zone of one of the sides of the afore-mentioned frame.

Taken overall, this visual indicator 16 has a plane of symmetry M which is schematically represented by broken lines in Figure 3, and when it is in position on the connecting piece 30, the plane of symmetry M is coincident with the centre plane M of the assembly.

The visual indicator 16 can, for example, be made of a flexible or semi-rigid synthetic material, such as polyvinylchloride, by being cut out from a strip of such material.

Preferably, it is coloured, e g. red.

In the free state, the visual indicator 16 extends substantially along a plane, as illustrated by broken lines in Figure 2, and as shown by solid lines in Figure 3.

It is only after the housing 11 in which it is operatively disposed has been closed by the front panel 31 that it adopts the shouldered configuration which is inherent to it during use.

As illustrated by broken lines in Figure 1, the protection module 10 comprising a visual indicator 16 of this kind can form one of the components of a functional assembly 50 comprising a functional module 51 with an associated protection module 10.

By way of example, this functional module 51 is an electric socket, and it is disposed side by side with the protection module 10.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the protection module 10 is embedded in a body 52, and, similarly, the functional module 51 is embedded in a body 53, one of the lateral faces of which abuts on the body 52.

By virtue of connections not shown, the switch 26 provided on the protection module 10 is operatively disposed on the supply to the functional module 51.

When, as shown in Figure 4, the movable vane 15 of the protection module 10 is in the open position, this switch 26 is itself open, and the functional module 51 is then not under voltage.

Conjointly, arrested at a distance from the observation window 34, the visual indicator 16 is invisible.

On the other hand, when the movable vane 15 of the protection module 10 is in the closed position, as shown in Figure 5, the switch 26 is itself closed, and the functional module 51 is then under voltage.

Conjointly, the visual indicator 16 is then visible through the observation window 34.

In the embodiment illustrated by broken lines in Figures 4 and 5, the front panel 31 of the protection module 10 bears locally in projecting manner from the inner surface thereof, at the level of the observation window 34, an internal partitioning 55 which has two facets, namely a facet 56 by means of which it is joined to the front panel 31 perpendicularly thereto, and a facet 57 which is parallel to the front panel 31 and extends in line with the observation window 34, in the direction of the push-buttons 13, 13'.

This internal partitioning 55 has a two-fold function: it guides the visual indicator 16 in its movement, and if there is no hatch 36 over the observation window 34, it prevents access by using a tool of some sort to the active parts of the protection module 10 through the observation window 34.

In this way, when the internal partitioning 55 is present, the hatch 36 can therefore be eliminated.

Use is not restricted to electric sockets alone, the invention may find use in other types of functional module.

Claims

1. A protection module with differential function, comprising, in a housing, a support plate; at least one push-button which is disposed on one side of the support plate and comprises a movable member at the user's disposal; a movable vane which is disposed on the side of the support plate opposite the first side and is capable of occupying one of two positions, namely an open position in which it is relatively distanced from the support plate, and a closed position in which it is, on the contrary, relatively close to that support plate; and, coupled to the movable vane a visual indicator; in which the housing comprises at a distance from the support plate a front panel through a hole in which the movable member, at least, of the push-button projects to the outside; the visual indicator which is flexible embraces the edge of the support plate beyond the edge thereof, and then extends between the support plate and the front panel, at the side of the push-button; and the front panel comprises, on the trajectory of the visual indicator, an observation window through which the visual indicator is only visible when the movable vane is in the closed position.

2. A protection module according to claim 1, in which projecting over the front panel the distance separating the observation window from the edge of the support plate is at least equal to the length of the portion of the visual indicator present between the support plate and the front panel when the movable vane is in the open position.

3. A protection module according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which, urged elastically by the front panel, the visual indicator overall forms a largely rounded shoulder by means of which it embraces the edge of the support plate and which divides it into two portions, namely the one portion on one side of the support plate, and the other portion on the other side of the support plate.

4. A protection module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the visual indicator comprises a head portion by means of which it is coupled to the movable vane, and at least one leg portion by means of which it extends laterally to the side of the push-button.

5. A protection module according to' claim 4, in which the visual indicator comprises two leg portions which emanate from an intermediate crosspiece between the head portion and said leg portions, each one extending on either side of the pushbutton respectively, parallel to each other and symmetrically to each other relative to a centre plane which passes through the head portion and the push-button.

6. A protection module according to claim 5, in which on the side opposite the crosspiece the leg portions of the visual indicator are joined together by a second crosspiece which is parallel to the first, and the observation window which is provided on the front panel is disposed on the trajectory of the second crosspiece.

7. A protection module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the head portion of the visual indicator has a hole by means of which it engages on a connecting piece belonging to the movable vane, and along the two opposite edges of the hole it has two tongue portions by means of which it engages with two slots provided correspondingly for the purpose on the connecting piece.

8. A protection module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the visual indicator is in the general shape of a thin, flexible rectangular plate which is cut-out in the form of a frame.

9. A functional assembly comprising a functional module with an associated protection module is in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A functional assembly according to claim 9, in which the functional module and the protection module are disposed side by side.

11. A protection module with differential function substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing.

12. A functional assembly comprising a protection module and a functional module substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing.