CN114830475A

CN114830475A - Electrical device

Info

Publication number: CN114830475A
Application number: CN202080087035.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·鲍杜; L·雅尼科
Original assignee: Legrand SNC; Legrand France SA
Current assignee: Legrand SNC; Legrand France SA
Priority date: 2019-12-20
Filing date: 2020-12-04
Publication date: 2022-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2040-12-04
Also published as: FR3105616B1; WO2021122051A1; FR3105616A1; CN114830475B

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical device, provided with: -an electrical casing having a main body comprising a rear portion (12) having a bottom wall with fixing means to the receiving support and a side wall (13) bordering the bottom wall and having a front edge (13C) to which the rear edge of the side wall of the front portion is attached so that the side wall of the front portion extends in an extension of the side wall of the rear portion so as to form, together with the side wall of the rear portion, a side wall of the main body delimiting a receiving cavity adapted to receive an electrical equipment mechanism (20); -an electrical equipment mechanism housed in said housing and having an opening (25, 26) accessible to the electrical connection terminals. According to the invention, the entire front edge of the side walls of the rear portion along the rear edge of the front portion is located at a determined height (H1) with respect to the bottom wall and is set back by a minimum distance (d) with respect to the access opening.

Description

Electrical device

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to the field of sealed electrical equipment comprising an insulated electrical casing made of two parts, for housing an electrical equipment mechanism (typically a socket mechanism or an electrical switching mechanism).

More specifically, the present invention relates to an electrical apparatus, wherein the electrical apparatus is provided with:

-an electrical casing (box) having a main body comprising a rear portion comprising a bottom wall provided with fixing means for fixing to a receiving support and a side wall bordering the bottom wall and having a front edge to which the rear edge of the side wall of the front portion is attached so that it extends in an extension of the side wall of the rear portion forming therewith a side wall of the main body delimiting a receiving cavity adapted to receive an electrical equipment mechanism;

an electrical equipment mechanism housed in said housing and having an access opening for accessing (touching, operating) the electrical connection terminals.

Background

An electrical device of the above-mentioned type, which comprises an electrical housing made of two parts, is known in particular from document DE 19540681.

In this electrical casing, the main body of the electrical casing comprises a rear portion and a front portion, the side walls of the two portions having the same height, equal to 50% of the total height of the side walls of the main body.

The rear portion typically carries mounting means for the electrical equipment mechanism. The mounting device is such that the opening for accessing the connection terminals of the electric line (usually neutral, live, earth or even wiring or control lines) is oriented towards the cable entry provided at the rear. However, when the electrical equipment mechanism is attached to the mounting device and the installer makes electrical connections thereto, the height of the side walls of the rear portion prevents the installer from accessing the access opening.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention is therefore directed to an electrical device in which an access opening for accessing a connection terminal facilitates access.

More specifically, according to the invention, an electrical apparatus as initially defined is proposed, wherein the whole of the front edge of the side wall of the rear portion along the rear edge of the front portion is located at a determined height with respect to the bottom wall and is set back with respect to the access opening by a minimum distance, the predetermined distance being greater than or equal to the diameter of the access opening.

Advantageously, therefore, according to the invention, the access openings of the electrical connection terminals are accessible, since the height of the side walls of the rear portion is determined such that these openings are positioned in a position that is set back in height with respect to said side walls. Therefore, the installer can easily perform electrical connection of the device mechanism.

Other non-limiting and advantageous technical features of the electrical apparatus according to the invention-which may be applied separately or combined in a technically possible way-are the following:

-said front edge of the side wall of said rear portion along the rear edge of said front portion is included in a plane parallel to said bottom wall, said plane being located at a predetermined distance from a further plane parallel to the bottom wall, which further plane is crossed by the centre of the access opening closest to said bottom wall;

-the maximum height of the side walls of the rear portion is less than or equal to 50%, preferably less than or equal to 40%, of the maximum overall height of the side walls of the body;

-the bottom wall of the rear portion of the main body carries a post for mounting a base of an electrical equipment mechanism, the post extending from the bottom wall perpendicularly to the bottom wall towards the front;

-each upright comprises, at a position of predetermined distance, stop means for the base of the electrical equipment mechanism, so that the access opening is positioned above the front edge of the side wall of the rear portion;

-the predetermined distance is such that the base of the electrical equipment mechanism attached to the upright is positioned above the bottom wall;

-each upright comprises a snap-in means which receives a complementary snap-in means provided on the base of the electrical equipment mechanism;

-at least four uprights arranged symmetrically with respect to the centre of the bottom wall are provided;

-the upright and the rear portion form a single part (one-piece part) made of moulded plastic material;

-the rear portion forms a single part made of moulded plastic material;

a decorative plate is fixed to the front of the electrical housing for closing the receiving volume.

Drawings

The description set out below, given as a non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, will make apparent what the invention consists of and how it may be implemented.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective schematic view of an electrical device including a trim panel and an electrical housing of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective schematic view of the electrical device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is an assembled perspective schematic view of an electrical housing according to the present invention;

FIG. 3B is an assembled perspective schematic view of a portion of an electrical housing according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective schematic view of the electrical housing of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective schematic view of a rear portion of an electrical housing according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front schematic view of a rear portion of the electrical housing of FIG. 5 with the equipment mechanism installed;

fig. 7 is a side view schematic of fig. 6 along direction y.

Detailed Description

In the following description, the terms "front" and "rear" are used with respect to the direction of a line of sight of a person looking at the illustrated element. The front of an element refers to the side facing the person looking at it, and the rear of an element refers to the side of the element facing the support to which it is attached.

The terms "inner" and "outer" are used with respect to the electrical housing itself to refer to the side of the element facing the center of the electrical housing and the side of the element facing the outside of the electrical housing, respectively.

In fig. 1 and 2, an electrical apparatus 1 is shown, comprising an electrical casing 10 according to the invention, an electrical apparatus mechanism 20 received by a housing delimited by the electrical casing 10, and a trim panel 30 closing a front opening of the electrical casing 10 through which the interior of said housing is accessible and giving it a function to the electrical apparatus 1.

The electrical housing 10 shown in fig. 1 to 4 is a sealed electrical housing attached protruding from a wall and arranged for receiving the electrical equipment mechanism 20 inside. The electrical equipment device 20 is here a socket device (see fig. 2), but can also be an electrical switching device or even a detection device.

The decorative plate 30 has a shape associated with the electrical equipment mechanism 20. The decorative plate 30 here comprises a socket 32 for an electrical plug inside a frame-like structural part 31. The trim panel 30 also carries a folding cover 35 (see figure 2) for protecting the spigot 32.

In a variant (not shown), in the case of an electrical switching mechanism, the decorative panel comprises one or more control contacts adapted to snap into engagement with receiving means provided on a wall enclosing said structural part in the form of a frame. The receiving device is used for providing turnover movability for the control touch plate.

As shown in fig. 1 and 3A, the electrical casing 10 comprises a main body 15, here in the shape of a parallelepiped as a whole. It may be of different shapes, for example cylindrical.

The body 15 comprises a side wall 16 of height H3, closed at the rear by a bottom wall 11. The side wall 16 and the bottom wall 11 delimit a receiving volume adapted to receive an electrical equipment mechanism 20. The receiving cavity is open at the front to allow access to the electrical equipment mechanism 20 mounted in said cavity.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, in practice, the body 15 is made of two distinct main parts: the rear portion 12, hereinafter referred to as "panel support 12", and the front portion 17, hereinafter referred to as "frame 17". The panel-type support 12 is provided for fixing to a partition or a wall, and for supporting the electrical equipment mechanism 20. The frame 17 has a function of protecting the electrical equipment mechanism 20, and a function of supporting an interface device (particularly, a decorative plate 30) that allows a user to interact with the electrical equipment mechanism 20.

The plate carrier 12 is here formed as a single part from moulded plastics material, and the frame 17 is formed from two components by clamping, to simplify the process of making the frame 17 by the moulding process.

As shown in fig. 2 to 5, the plate-type support 12 comprises a bottom wall 11, the boundary of which is formed by a side wall 13 rising from the bottom wall 11, the side wall 13 being almost perpendicular to the bottom wall 11. The side walls 13 of the panel-type support 12 have a generally rectangular and in particular square profile, with

flat panels

13A, 13B connected by ramp portions forming truncated corners.

The bottom wall 11 of the panel-form support 12 has fixing means for fixing to a receiving support, here a partition or a wall (not shown). Thus, these fixing means for fixing to the receiving support are here delimited by the side walls 13 of the panel support 12.

For fixing to the receiving support, the bottom wall 11 of the plate support 12 has a circular aperture 12A, which is closed here by a pierceable sealing cap (see fig. 4, 5 and 6). These circular apertures 12A may be passed through by screws (not shown) to secure the panel support 12 to a partition or wall.

As shown in fig. 2, 4, 5 and 6, the bottom wall 11 of the plate-like support member 12 also has oblong apertures 12C (their major axes are vertical). These oblong apertures 12C may also be passed through by screws (not shown) to secure the panel support 12 to a partition or wall. The oblong shape of these apertures 12C allows adjustment to the mounting direction of the panel support 12 on a partition or wall.

The bottom wall 11 of the panel-form support 12 also comprises a central opening 12B, closed here by a tearable sealing cap, for the passage of, for example, a cable (U1000RO2V type or HO7RNF type), an IRL type or an ICTA type wire sheath.

As shown in fig. 4, 5 and 7, the side walls 13 of the panel support 12 have a determined and constant maximum height H1 on two opposite flat panels 13A. Here, the maximum height H1 is, for example, between 20 and 23 millimeters (mm). When the panel support 12 and frame 17 are assembled together (as shown in fig. 1), the maximum height H1 is approximately 20 mm.

On the other two opposite flat panels 13B of the side walls 13 of the panel support 12, the height of the side walls 13 is locally reduced from a maximum height H1 to a minimum height H1 (see fig. 7). The minimum height H1 is, for example, less than or equal to 10% of the maximum overall height H3 (see FIG. 3B) of the side wall 16 of the main body 15.

The local reduction in height from maximum height H1 to minimum height H1 forms a first access opening portion 14A in each respective flat panel 13B of the side walls 13 of the panel-like support 12 for accessing the interior of the main body 15 of the electrical enclosure 10. Therefore, here, two first inlet opening portions 14A are formed on the respective opposite flat panels 13B of the side walls 13 of the panel support 12.

Likewise, as shown in fig. 2, 4 and 5, the front edge 13C of the side wall 13 of the panel-type support 12 is shaped and defines a groove open towards the front. The groove extends along the front edge 13C of the side wall 13, including along a first opening portion 14A formed in the opposite flat panel 13B of the side wall 13 of the panel support 12.

In the groove, outside the portion along each first inlet opening portion 14A, there is provided a sealing joint (here, not shown) positioned between the front edge 13C of the side wall 13 of the panel bearing 12 and the rear edge 18C of the side wall 18 of the frame 17. This sealing joint ensures a sealed assembly between the panel support 12 and the frame 17.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, the portion of the groove extending along each first entrance opening portion 14A is intended to slidably receive a cable input ferrule 50.

Here, the two cable input ferrules 50 are mounted to the panel type support member 12 in the two first entrance opening portions 14A formed on the respective opposite flat panels 13B of the side walls 13 of the panel type support member 12.

As shown in fig. 2, each cable inlet hoop member 50 comprises a support sheet 52, which support sheet 52 is provided with an inner peripheral edge delimiting an opening 50A for the passage of a cable, an ICTA type wire sheath or an IRL type tube. Each cable inlet ferrule 50 further comprises a pierceable flexible sealing membrane 54 at least partially overmoulded on the support sheet 52, which seals off said opening 50A and is adapted to be penetrated by a cable, IRL-type tube or ICTA-type wire sheath.

Thus, a portion of the support sheet 52 of each cable input ferrule 50 slides into the groove of the first entrance opening portion 14A formed in the corresponding flat panel 13B of the side wall 13 of the panel support 12.

In order to make it possible to mount the electrical equipment mechanism 20 to the electrical casing 10, the bottom wall 11 of the plate support 12 carries a column 200 (see fig. 2, 3A, 3B, 4 and 5). These uprights 200 extend from the bottom wall 11 towards the front. They extend perpendicularly to the bottom wall.

The upright 200 is formed with the panel support 12 as a single component from a moulded plastics material.

As shown in fig. 2, 4 and 5, there are provided four uprights 200, which are arranged in pairs in a symmetrical manner with respect to the centre O of the bottom wall 11 of the plate-like support 12.

Thus, the center O of the bottom wall 11 of the plate support 12 is the center of symmetry for positioning the upright 200. In the positioning of the upright 200 of the plate support 12, this centrosymmetric form may allow mounting of the electrical apparatus mechanism 20 to the electrical casing 10 in different positions offset from each other by rotation around an axis Z (see fig. 5) orthogonal to the bottom wall 11 of the plate support 12 and passing through the center O of the bottom wall 11.

Here, the uprights 200 of the panel bearing 12 are arranged in a manner orthogonal to the diagonals D1, D2 of the bottom wall 11 in the region of the sloping portions facing the corners forming the side walls 13 of the panel bearing 12 (see fig. 6).

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, here, each upright 200 has a front portion 200A and a rear portion 201A.

Each rear portion 201A is connected to the bottom wall 11 of the panel-like support 12. It has a rectangular profile as a whole and is slightly convex curved towards the outside. The lateral edges of each rear portion 201A form ribs.

As shown in fig. 2, 4 and 5, the front portion 200A of each upright 200 extends from the rear portion 201A toward the front.

The front portion 200A has an inverted U shape, defined by two side branches 200B and a branch 200D parallel to the bottom wall 11 of the plate-like support 12 and joining the two side branches 200B together at an end remote from the rear portion 201A (the branch 200D corresponds to the bottom of the inverted U). The side branch 200B also forms a rib. Here, the side branch 200B allows the mounting device 21 of the base of the electrical equipment mechanism 20 to slide when mounting the electrical equipment mechanism 20 to the electrical housing 10.

The side branches 200B, the branches 200D and the upper portion of the rear portion 201A define, in their entirety, a window 200C in each upright 200.

Likewise, as shown in fig. 4 and 5, the front portion 200A has a smaller thickness than the rear portion 201A, thus forming the dislocation portion 202. The offset 202 may form a stop flange 202 that extends between the front portion 200A and the rear portion 201A of each upright 200. When mounting the electrical equipment mechanism 20 to the electrical housing 10, the stop flange 202 is formed to position the base of the electrical equipment mechanism 20 in the electrical housing 10 at a determined distance from the bottom wall 11 of the plate support 12 to leave free space for easy placement of electrical connection wires.

The arrangement of the ribs of the side branches 200B and the windows 200C of the front portion 200A of each upright 200 in combination with the stop flanges 202 formed at the junction of the front portion 200A and the rear portion 201A of each upright 200 constitute a mounting means which is mounted by snap-engaging the base of the apparatus mechanism 20.

More specifically, as shown in fig. 2, the base of the mechanism 20 comprises, at its four corners, four identical snap means 21, which are adapted to cooperate with the above-mentioned mounting means, by snapping four uprights 200. Each snap means 21 mainly comprises a portion sliding on the rib of the side branch 200B and a tooth hooking in the window 200C. Each snap means 21, once snapped on, abuts against a respective stop flange 202.

Notably, the maximum height H1 of the side wall 13 of the panel-type support 12 is less than or equal to 50% of the maximum overall height H3 of the side wall 16 of the main body 15. Preferably, the maximum height H1 of the side wall 13 of the panel-type support 12 is less than or equal to 40% of the maximum overall height H3 of the side wall 16 of the body 15. More preferably, the maximum height H1 of the side wall 13 of the panel-type support 12 is strictly less than 40% of the maximum overall height H3 of the side wall 16 of the body 15. In the example shown in fig. 1 to 2B, this ratio is about 37%. Thus, access to the interior of the panel support 12, for example by an installer when making electrical connections, is facilitated because the height of the side walls 13 of the panel support 12 is small.

More generally, advantageously, the maximum height H1 of the side walls 13 of the panel-like support 12 is determined so that a portion of the front edge 13C of the side walls 13 of the panel-like support 12, along the rear edge 18C of the side walls 18 of the frame 17, is located at a determined height, here the maximum height H1, with respect to the bottom wall 11, set back by a minimum distance, here a predetermined distance d, with respect to the

access openings

25, 26 of the electrical connection terminals of the electrical equipment mechanism 20 attached to the upright 200 of said panel-like support 12 (see fig. 7). Here, the receding refers to a receding in height, that is to say, the height of the side wall 13 of the plate bearing 12 is locally smaller than the height at which the

access openings

25, 26 of the electrical connection terminals of the electrical equipment mechanism 20 are located.

More specifically, here, as can be seen visually in fig. 7, the

access openings

25, 26 are located above the front edge 13C of the side wall 13 of the panel-type support 12, thus facilitating the electrical connection of the electrical equipment mechanism 20.

As shown in fig. 7, the entire front edge 13C of the side wall 13 of the panel bearing 12, along the rear edge 18C of the frame 17, is here in a position set back with respect to the

access openings

25, 26.

As shown in fig. 7, six generally

circular access openings

25, 26 are provided, grouped in pairs. In each pair of

access openings

25, 26, a compartment is accessible from the outside of the electrical apparatus mechanism 20 through one of the

access openings

25, 26 for supplying the electrical connection terminals housed in this compartment, the other access opening then being used for possible bridging of the electrical connection terminals.

A plane parallel to the bottom wall 11 of the plate support 12 is defined for each pair of

access openings

25, 26 and passes through the centre of the

access openings

25, 26. The

access openings

25, 26 are cylindrical. The cylindrical axis of each access opening (passing through the centre of the respective access opening 25, 26) is therefore included in the associated plane, which is parallel to the bottom wall 11 of the plate-like support 12. The

access openings

25, 26 are therefore oriented towards the side wall 13 of the panel-type support 12.

According to fig. 7, here, two pairs of access openings 26 are aligned, which are the access openings positioned at the outermost part of the electrical apparatus mechanism 20 and from whose center a plane P1 parallel to the bottom wall 11 of the plate-like support 12 passes. The central pair of access openings 25 is located between the other two pairs of access openings 26 and the bottom wall 11 of the panel-type support 12, and a plane P2 parallel to the bottom wall 11 passes through the centre of this access opening 25.

As can be seen visually in fig. 7, advantageously, the planes P1 and P2 passing from the centre of the

access openings

25, 26 are here located at a distance from the plane P parallel to the bottom wall 11 of the panel-like support 12 and comprising the front edges 13C of the side walls 13 of the panel-like support 12 along the rear edge 18C of the frame 17.

According to the invention, the base of electrical equipment mechanism 20 is positioned in electrical housing 10 and is attached to upright 200 of plate support 12 so that plane P2 passing from access opening 25 closest to bottom wall 11 of plate support 12 is located at a predetermined distance d from plane P comprising front edge 13C of lateral wall 13 of plate support 12 along rear edge 18C of frame 17. Here, the predetermined distance d is, for example, greater than or equal to the diameter of the

access openings

25, 26.

To this end, stop flange 202, which extends between front portion 200A and rear portion 201A of each upright 200 of panel-type support 12, is located at a predetermined distance from bottom wall 11 of panel-type support 12, so that access openings 25, 26 (more specifically, the access opening closest to bottom wall 11) are located above front edge 13C of lateral wall 13 of panel-type support 12. The stop flange 202 of each upright 200 of the panel-like support 12 also constitutes a stop means for the base of the electrical apparatus mechanism 20, so as to position it above the bottom wall 11.

This facilitates access to the interior of the plate-like support 12 and thus the electrical connection between the electrical supply line and the electrical terminals of the electrical equipment mechanism 20.

In addition, as shown in fig. 2, 3B and 4, the frame 17 comprises a side wall 18, the side wall 18 being in the form of a sleeve and having a central opening of given section S. The side wall 18 of the frame 17 is provided for attachment to the side wall 13 of the panel support 12 so as to extend in extension of the side wall 13, thereby forming the side wall 16 of the body 15. More specifically, the side walls 18 of the frame 17 are provided for attachment to mounting means provided in the side walls 13 of the panel-type support 12. In addition, a substantial part of the side wall 18 of the frame 17 is in the extension of the side wall 13 of the panel support 12. The side walls 18 of the frame 17 have a substantially rectangular and in particular square profile, with

flat panels

18A, 18B connected by sloping portions forming truncated corners and corresponding to the profile of the side walls 13 of the panel support 12.

As shown in fig. 3B, at the front, the side walls 18 of the frame 17 are offset (set back) to form a ledge 18A extending perpendicular to a majority of the side walls 18 of the frame 17.

The front portion 18B of the side wall 18 of the frame 17 extends concentrically with the majority of the side wall 18 of the frame 17. The front portion 18B defines a reduced cross-section S1 of the central opening (see fig. 3B). The offset of the side walls 18 of the frame 17 thus makes it possible to reduce the section of the central opening at the front.

The offset of the side walls 18 of the frame 17 is adapted to receive a raised portion 19 (see fig. 1, 2, 3A and 4), the raised portion 19 being in the form of a frame and having a lower height H4. Here, the height H4 is, for example, about 10.4 mm. The elevation 19 is fixed to the frame 17 by means of clamping. To this end, the raised portion 19 comprises four clips arranged at its four corners, which are housed in housings provided at the four corners of the frame 17, the housings having a shape corresponding to the clips. In addition, as shown in fig. 3B, the front portion 18B of the side wall 18 of the frame 17 comprises, along its contour, a centering rib 18C of the raised portion 19. The raised portions 19 are therefore intended to be attached to these ribs 18C on the outer part of the front portions 18B of the side walls 18 of the frame 17 and to be fixed to the frame 17 by means of clamping. The frame 17 is thus formed by the clamping combination of the sleeve formed by the side walls 18 and the raised portion 19. Making the frame 17 from two sub-components can simplify the design by molding. The elevated portion 19 has an aesthetic effect and is designed to conceal the front portion of the frame 17.

In a variant, the frame may be formed from a single piece made of, for example, moulded plastics material.

As shown in fig. 1, 2, 3A and 4, the frame 17 is designed to receive the trim panel 30 over the offset formed by the front portions 18B of the side walls 18 of the frame 17. To this end, the frame 17 comprises fixing apertures 30A for the decorative plate 30 on the front portion 18B of the side wall 18 of the frame 17. These apertures 30A are adapted to receive elements that can mount the trim panel 30 to the frame 17. These mounting elements (not visible) are, for example, quarter turn elements and can be operated from the front surface of the decorative plate 30.

Similar to the side walls 13 of the panel support 12, as shown in fig. 2 and 4, the side walls 18 of the frame 17 have a determined and constant maximum height H2 (see fig. 3B) on two opposite flat panels 18A, which flat panels 18A extend in the extension of the opposite flat panels 13A of the side walls 13 of the panel support 12.

The height of the side wall 18 decreases locally from a maximum height H2 to a minimum height H2 (see fig. 3B) on the other two opposite flat panels 18B, which two opposite flat panels 18B extend in extension of the opposite flat panels 13B of the side wall 13 of the panel support 12. The minimum height H2 is for example less than or equal to 20% of the maximum overall height H3 of the side walls 16 of the body 15. The local reduction in height forms the second inlet opening portion 14B in the side wall 18. Here, two second entrance opening portions 14B are formed on the opposite flat panels 18B of the side walls 18 of the frame 17. Each second inlet opening portion 14B is intended to correspond to one of the first inlet opening portions 14A formed on one of the otherwise opposite flat panels 13B of the side wall 13 of the panel support 12.

Thus, when the panel type support 12 and the frame 17 are assembled as described below, the junction between the first inlet opening portion 14A of the side wall 13 of the panel type support 12 and the second inlet opening portion 14B of the side wall 18 of the frame 17 forms a complete inlet opening. Here, as shown in fig. 1 to 6, two complete inlet openings are formed on two opposite panels of the side wall 16 of the main body 15. In a variant, the inlet opening may be formed on two adjacent panels of the side wall of the body.

Similar to the side walls 13 of the panel support 12, along each second entrance opening portion 14B formed in the corresponding flat panel 18B, the rear edge 18C of the side wall 18 of the frame 17 has a specific shape and defines a groove that opens toward the rear. The groove is also intended to slidingly receive the cable input ferrule 50, and more specifically a portion of the support sheet 52 of the cable input ferrule 50.

In addition to the portion along each second inlet opening portion 14B, the rear edge 18C of the side wall 18 of the frame 17 has a rib adapted to be inserted or to be engaged into a groove formed along the front edge 13C of the side wall 13 of the panel supporter 12 when the panel supporter 12 and the frame 17 are assembled.

Thus, the above-mentioned circumferential engagement portion, which can establish sealing engagement between the front edge 13C of the side wall 13 of the panel-type support 12 and the rear edge 18C of the side wall 18 of the frame 17, is positioned between the surface of the groove and the rib.

The engagement of the ribs of the frame 17 in the grooves of the panel bearing 12 ensures a relative blocking of the frame 17 with respect to the panel bearing 12 in a plane (x, y) parallel to the plane of the partition or wall. Conversely, such engagement does not ensure the blocking of the frame 17 with respect to the panel-type support 12 along an axis z orthogonal to the plane of said partition or wall.

To ensure such blocking, the plate support 12 and the frame 17 comprise complementary locking means intended to lock the assembly of the frame 17 on the plate support 12. These complementary latching means are releasable latching means.

Here, four sets of complementary latching means are provided, which are located at the four corners of the electrical housing 10, respectively. This ensures that the frame 17 is firmly fixed to the panel-type support 12 and at the same time frees up space inside the electrical housing 10, so that the arrangement of the cables can be optimized.

As shown in fig. 2, 4 and 5, each catch means provided on the plate-like support 12 is in the form of a bayonet 100A, which is formed in a single piece with the plate-like support 12, here made by moulding a plastic material.

Each bayonet 100A extends projecting from the inner surface of each ramp portion of the side wall 13 of the plate-like support 12 and has a sharp profile towards the inside.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, each locking device provided on the frame 17 intended to cooperate with a respective bayonet 100A of the plate support 12 is carried by a lever 110. Each lever 110 is formed of a single piece with the side wall 18 of the frame 17 and extends projecting from the inner surface of the respective ramp portion of the side wall 18.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, each lever 110 is in the form of a rectangular sheet 111 bounded by two reinforcing sides 112.

Each lever 110 is connected to the side wall 18 of the frame 17 only by its front end. It forms a hinge structure at the junction with the side wall 18 of the frame 17 and is elastically deformable.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, each lever 110 has an opening 115 adapted to engage a respective bayonet 100A of the plate bearing 12. In particular, the opening 115 has an edge 115A (see fig. 4) adapted to hook the rear surface of the bayonet 100A to lock the frame 17 to the plate support 12.

The rear end of each lever 110 is bent toward the inside of the frame 17, thereby forming a flange 116. The flange 116 includes a slot 117 into which an end of a tool such as a screwdriver may be inserted to, for example, disengage the bayonet 100A of the lever 110 to release the lever 110 (and thus remove the catch of the frame 17 from the catch of the plate support 12).

It should be noted that the electrical casing 10 has side walls of overall height H (see fig. 1 and 2) when the frame 17 equipped with the raised portion 19 is scarf-jointed to the plate support 12. The total height H is for example between 54 and 57 mm. Preferably, here, the overall height H is approximately 54mm when the plate support 12, the frame 17 and the raised portion 19 are assembled together as shown in fig. 1.

When the electrical apparatus 1 is mounted protruding from a wall, first, the installer fixes the panel type support 12 to the wall by inserting screws into the oblong holes 12C and performing rotational adjustment before inserting the screws into the round holes 12A (see fig. 2, 4, 5, and 6).

The installer then inserts the electrical sheath of the cable, pipe or supply line through the sealing membrane 54 of the cable inlet ferrule 50.

According to a first installation option, the installer inserts the support sheet 52 of the cable inlet ferrule 50 along the first entrance opening portion 14A into the recess formed in the side wall 13 of the panel-type support member 12.

The installer then positions the electrical equipment mechanism 20 on the upright 200 of the panel support 12. As shown in fig. 4, when the cable input ferrule 50 is inserted into the side wall 13 of the panel-type support member 12, its height is greater than the height of the side wall 13 of the panel-type support member 12, and may interfere with the electrical connection of the electrical equipment mechanism (that is, the insertion of each electrical connection line into each electrical terminal via each respective access opening 25, 26 of the electrical equipment mechanism 20). Advantageously, however, here, on the one hand, the installer accesses the inside of the panel-type support 12 with the lower height of the side wall 13 of the panel-type support 12 (excluding the cable input ferrule), and on the other hand, the

access openings

25, 26 of the electrical terminals of the base of the electrical equipment mechanism 20 attached to the upright 200 of the panel-type support 12 are positioned in a position set back in height with respect to the side wall 13 (and thus above the side wall 13), with which the installer is apt to make the electrical connection.

The stop means on the upright 200 can position the base of the equipment mechanism 20 at a distance from the bottom wall 11 of the plate support 12, so that the installer can arrange the electrical connection lines in the electrical housing 10 without the latter being crushed and limiting the clutter of the electrical housing 10.

According to a second installation option, once the electrical sheath of the cable, pipe or supply line is inserted into the cable inlet ferrule 50, the installer makes an electrical connection to the electrical device 20. Then, the support sheet 52 of the cable feeding ferrule 50 is inserted into the groove formed in the side wall 13 of the panel type support 12 along the first entrance opening portion 14A, and at the same time, the electric equipment mechanism 20 is positioned on the column 200 of the panel type support 12. Here, the installer also uses the lower height of the side walls 13 of the panel support 12 and the distance between the base of the electrical installation mechanism 20 and the bottom wall 11 of the panel support 12 to arrange the electrical connection lines.

Once the electrical equipment mechanism 20 is mounted and electrically connected, the installer assembles the frame 17 equipped with the raised portion 19 to the panel-like support 12 by means of a complementary mounting device by means of an engagement and by means of a complementary snap device by means of a snap. The frame 17 provides mechanical and electrical protection for the electrical equipment mechanism 20 and the electrical connection wires housed inside the electrical enclosure 10. Finally, the installer mounts the trim panel 30 into the aperture 30A of the front portion 18B of the side wall 18 of the frame 17 to hermetically close the front opening of the electrical housing 10 and impart its function to the electrical apparatus 1 (see fig. 1 and 2).

In the different figures, the electrical casing has a square cross-section and defines a unique position in which one or two electrical equipment mechanisms can be housed: we will refer to this as a unit cell.

In a variant, it may be a multi-position cartridge, having a rectangular cross-section, and defining two or three positions. In this variant, preferably, the electrical housing comprises a frame defining a plurality of openings, each intended to receive a bit.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the different figures, but a person skilled in the art will understand how to make any modifications according to the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. An electrical apparatus (1), wherein it is provided with:

-an electrical casing (10) having a main body (15) comprising a rear portion (12) comprising a bottom wall (11) provided with fixing means for fixing to a receiving support and a side wall (13) bordering said bottom wall (11), said side wall (13) having a front edge (13C), a rear edge (18C) of a side wall (18) of a front portion (17) being attached to said front edge (13C) so that the side wall (18) of said front portion (17) extends in extension of the side wall (13) of said rear portion (12) so as to form, together with the latter, a side wall (16) of said main body (15) delimiting a receiving cavity suitable for receiving an electrical equipment mechanism (20);

-an electrical equipment mechanism (20) housed in said housing and provided with access openings (25, 26) for accessing electrical connection terminals,

characterized in that the entire front edge (13C) of the side wall (13) of the rear portion (12) along the rear edge (18C) of the front portion (17) is located at a height (H1) determined with respect to the bottom wall (11) and is set back with respect to the access opening (25, 26) by a minimum distance (d) greater than or equal to the diameter of the access opening (25, 26).

2. The electrical apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the front edge (13C) of the side wall (13) of the rear portion (12) along the rear edge (18C) of the front portion (17) is comprised in a plane (P) parallel to the bottom wall (11), said plane (P) being located at a predetermined distance (d) from a further plane (P2) parallel to the bottom wall (11), said further plane being crossed by the centre of the access opening (25) closest to the bottom wall (11).

3. The electrical apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the maximum height (H1) of the side walls (13) of the rear portion (12) is less than or equal to 50% of the maximum overall height (H3) of the side walls (16) of the main body (15).

4. Electrical apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a bottom wall (11) of the rear portion (12) of the main body (15) carries a post (200) for mounting a base of an electrical apparatus mechanism (20), said post extending from the bottom wall (11) perpendicularly thereto towards the front.

5. Electrical apparatus (1) according to claim 4, wherein each upright (200) comprises, at a predetermined distance, stop means for the base of the electrical apparatus mechanism (20) so that said access opening (25, 26) is positioned above the front edge (13C) of the side wall (13) of said rear portion (12).

6. The electrical apparatus (1) according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined distance is such that the base of the electrical apparatus mechanism (20) attached to the upright is positioned above the bottom wall (11).

7. Electrical device (1) according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein each upright (200) comprises a snap-in means which receives a complementary snap-in means provided on the base of the electrical device mechanism (20).

8. Electrical apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein at least four uprights (200) are provided, arranged symmetrically with respect to the centre (O) of the bottom wall (11).

9. Electrical apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein said upright (200) and said rear portion (12) are formed as a single part made of moulded plastic material.

10. The electrical apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the rear portion is formed as a single part made of moulded plastic material.

11. Electrical apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a decorative plate (30) is fixed to a front portion of the electrical housing (10) for closing the receiving volume.