EP1198030B1 - Connector with a leaf spring in a cage with a plate connected to the leaf spring - Google Patents

Abstract

The electrical connector has a base plate (1) with spring casing (2,3) attached forming a loop. The casing attaches onto forward windows (8,9). The forward window terminal section has plane plate sections (5,4) which are independent of the attached loop.

Description

The present invention relates to a spring-loaded electrical connector with cage, and to a modular electrical appliance comprising at least one such connector, the connector being of the type consisting of a leaf spring forming a loop, one of which of the ends is generally fixed on an electrical terminal in the form a plate, which is engaged in an opening in the other end of the blade. In the idle state, the terminal attached to the leaf spring rests on the edge of the hole closest to the end of the blade.

A connector of this type is known from document DE-A-198 23 648.

To make the connection of a conductor, you must constrain the blade spring, so that the opening, which only extends in a stable position on one side of the terminal swaps from one side to the other thereof. We then introduces the conductor into the orifice thus permuted by constraint, and the action is released on the leaf spring, so that the conductor found wedged between the terminal and a song of the hole recalled towards of the latter.

This type of configuration is well known and has been the subject of multiple variants, aimed at adapting it to a large number of applications. The invention more particularly aims to apply this type of connector to modular electrical devices such as a circuit breaker.

For these devices, the connection capacity is an important factor. Thus, it must be possible to connect gauge conductors or to connect several conductors with the same connector, etc. One of the limitations that have cage spring connectors often resides in the surface of the orifice, on which the above-mentioned loop configuration is in fact based.

The increase in this area in fact leads to an increase in width which quickly becomes problematic in an electrical appliance type application Modular. One of the essential requirements for the design of these devices is in fact in the optimization of the management of the interior space in their case. But, he is necessary in many applications to allow two inputs of adjacent conductor (s) arranged at the same level in the side façade of a such device. In this case, the use of the aforementioned cage spring terminals poses problem because the standardized width of these devices is not sufficient to allow their positioning in width, except to restrict the surface of the orifice, which is impossible because the surface of the inlet openings must not be too narrow in because of the practical constraints of using these devices.

This is the problem which the present invention proposes to solve.

For this purpose, the proposed connector, formed of a plate constituting a terminal electrical for a device equipped with said connector, to which is fixed at least one cage spring taking the form of a loop-shaped blade comprising a first end portion of flat appearance secured to the terminal, followed by a inclined portion deviating from it, then of a terminal portion of planar aspect oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the terminal, which includes a window surrounding the latter, the relative elastic displacement terminal / blade spring being limited by edges of said window oriented parallel to the terminal, is essentially characterized in that the terminal portion is constituted a flat plate independent of the rest of the blade, fixed to the latter in its distal part of the terminal.

The main advantage of this structure is that it leads to a much greater compactness of these cage spring connection systems, authorizing in particular their application to modular electrical devices in much better conditions. The end plate thus increases the width of the opening, in a proportion that could not be obtained if the hole was made directly in the leaf spring. This width can then easily reach the width of the spring.

This end plate is also interesting from the point of view of the manufacturing because it facilitates the assembly of the connector in the modular device. As will be seen below, in a use with several connectors of forehead, a space saving in width is notably obtained by shifting said plates in a direction perpendicular to their main plane.

According to one possibility, the fixing of the leaf spring to the end plate is produced by crimping. It is of course possible to implement other fixing possibilities, crimping, however, has the advantage of being able be produced industrially simply and at low cost.

The end of the terminal protruding from the window of the terminal plate, at the opposite of the leaf spring, has a projection projecting from the face of said terminal opposite to that on which the blade is fixed.

This characteristic allows a better behavior of the conductor, and plate in particular the latter against the terminal, thus making the electrical connection more reliable.

Similarly, according to a construction possibility, the fixing of the blade comes out at the bollard is produced by means of a relief of cylindrical appearance projecting from the bollard and fixed in a hole in the blade.

For reasons which will be explained later in the description, and which relate to the particular application of the connector of the invention to devices modular electrical, the terminal may include a projection, arranged at its distal end of that which cooperates with the end plate, oriented substantially perpendicular to the general plane of the terminal.

This portion actually makes it possible to facilitate the verification tests of the quality of the connection.

In a configuration with two connection points, the terminal can include two sets with leaf spring and end plate, the end plates being then shifted perpendicular to their mean planes so that the edges side of the leaf springs can be in contact, the end of the terminal cooperating with the windows of the end plates then being separated in two branches whose ends are also offset.

This offset configuration allows, as already mentioned, a gain of place in width which is appreciable in view of the integration of the system to classic modular electrical appliances.

The invention also relates to these devices, when they comprise at least one connector as described above, at least one connector then being arranged in at least one housing of the device housing located behind a side face of said housing, a number of orifices corresponding to the number of end plates being practiced in each side face under the fixed location of each terminal.

When at least two leaf springs are arranged across the width of device, independent end plate configuration has the advantages aforementioned and mainly the possibility of shifting without hampering the ability to connection. This configuration can of course also be used in a hypothesis with only one leaf spring, the existence of the end plate presenting in this case the advantage of offering a connection capacity compatible with the applicable requirements for modular electrical devices. In addition, the ease system assembly remains verified in this hypothesis.

According to a configuration possibility, the orifices made in the lateral face connection can be fitted with a guide bush. The function of such a cannon is to facilitate the insertion of the conductors in a side which is generally less accessible to the user because it is not facing him.

According to a variant, said orifices can be surmounted by a number corresponding of openings allowing the insertion of a tool to flex the blades spring, a stop being then provided at the bottom of the housing.

The tool used, for example a screwdriver, is inserted at an angle parallel to one portions of the leaf spring, on which pressure is exerted by printing a rotation with the blade of the tool around an axis identified with the linear contact zone between the end of the tool and the stop.

According to another variant, these leaf springs are surmounted by a number corresponding push buttons accessible on the front of the device, and also allowing them to flex.

The pushers themselves can be handled either with a tool or manually.

To allow the implementation of quality testing procedures connection, the front of the device can be fitted with a test hole placed in look of the aforementioned outgrowth equipping the terminal and extending towards said orifice.

This protuberance is for this purpose oriented approximately perpendicular to the portion on which the leaf spring is fixed.

la figure 1 représente un double connecteur selon l'invention, en vue perspective ;

la figure 2 montre sous un autre angle la configuration de la figure 1, agrémentée de boutons poussoirs coopérant avec les lames ressorts ;

la figure 3 représente une configuration avec outil de manipulation, dont le fonctionnement est illustré par rapport au boítier d'un appareil électrique modulaire ;

la figure 4 représente le même dispositif de raccordement, inséré à un boítier d'appareil électrique modulaire, les orifices d'accès étant pratiqués dans un capot doté de canons de guidage, ledit capot étant figuré à distance du boítier ; et

la figure 5 représente la même vue que la figure 4, ledit capot étant à présent fixé au boítier.

The invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended figures, for which:

FIG. 1 represents a double connector according to the invention, in perspective view;

Figure 2 shows from another angle the configuration of Figure 1, embellished with push buttons cooperating with the leaf springs;

Figure 3 shows a configuration with manipulation tool, the operation of which is illustrated with respect to the housing of a modular electrical appliance;

FIG. 4 represents the same connection device, inserted into a modular electrical appliance box, the access orifices being formed in a cover provided with guide guns, said cover being shown at a distance from the box; and

Figure 5 shows the same view as Figure 4, said cover now being attached to the housing.

In the representation of Figure 1, the terminal (1) is surmounted by two blades springs (2) and (3) to which end plates (4) and (5) are attached, having the appearance perpendicular to the terminal (1).

On the side of said end plates (4) and (5), the terminal (1) is divided into two portions (6, 7) engaged respectively in holes (8) and (9) made in plates (4) and (5). The end portions (6) and (7) are themselves provided with bosses (10, 11) oriented downwards, and making it possible to press the conductors against the lower surface of the terminal (1).

The other end of the terminal (1) is provided with a portion (12) extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the mean plane of terminal 1, the operation will be explained in more detail below. In the configuration shown in Figure 1, the leaf springs (2) and (3) are partially crimped upper end plates (4) and (5). At their other end, the attachment is produced using a cylinder (13, 14) engaged in a circular orifice made in said spring blades (2) and (3). Windows (8) and (9) have a width identical to that of leaf springs (2) and (3), which is one of the advantages of the invention. To provide this feature, the end plates (4) and (5) are slightly offset, so that they overlap at the uprights respectively right and left of their orifices (8) and (9). This configuration results in proposing a connection port of the widest possible surface, all allowing the establishment of a double connection across the width of a device standard modular electric.

Figure 2 is identical to the configuration of Figure 1, which are added push buttons (15, 16) allowing the manipulation of the blades springs (2) and (3). The button (15) has an oblong hole (17) on its side face allowing its guidance in rectilinear translation using a lug protruding from the inner wall of the housing (not shown) opposite this oblong hole (17). The same possibility exists on the framed side face of the push button (16).

With reference to FIG. 3, the configuration shown makes it possible to operate a deflection of the leaf springs using a tool (O) of which the leaf is inserted in the housing (B) of the modular device, until it comes into contact with a stop (18) disposed between the front (F) of said housing and the terminal (1).

The face of the housing (B) of the modular electrical device through which the connection has a guide bush (19), better visible in the figures following, whose conductor insertion holes (20, 21) are obviously arranged under the terminal (1).

The utility of the protuberance (12) also appears in this figure 3. It actually has two portions, a portion of shape perpendicular to the terminal (1), and a second inclined portion which goes towards an orifice (22) made in the facade. This orifice (22) provides access to the live parts with a tester type instrument, which can test the state of contact connections with the protuberance (12).

Referring to Figure 4, the guide barrel appears disjoint from the housing (B) of the modular device, and in particular comprises two upper orifices referenced (23, 24) allowing the passage of the tool blade (O). This is inserted above end plates (4) and (5), and is biased between the portions inclined leaf springs (2) and (3) and an inclined plane leading to the stop (18). The biasing of the spring blades is done by pivoting the tool blade (O) around a theoretical axis located in the contact zone between the end of the blade and the rounded bottom of said stopper (18).

Figure 5 is identical to the previous one, with the guide barrel now fixed on the housing (B) of the modular apparatus. The connector of the invention is then completely hidden, the user having access only to the orifices (20, 21) inserting the conductors, at the holes (23, 24) inserting a tool blade at the to control the opening of the connectors, and finally to the hole (22) allowing to test the quality of the connections.

The above description is of course only a non-limiting example of the invention, which on the contrary encompasses all variants of shapes and configurations which are within the reach of those skilled in the art.

Claims (11)

1. Connector formed by a plate (1) constituting an electrical terminal to which is fixed at least one cage spring (2, 3) in the form of a looped strip which has a flat first end section attached to the terminal (1), followed by an inclined section diverging from it, then by a flat terminal section oriented in a direction approximately perpendicular to the terminal (1), which has an opening (8, 9) surrounding the latter, the elastic relative movement between the terminal (1) and the strip spring (2, 3) being limited by the edges of the said opening oriented approximately parallel to the terminal (1), characterised in that the end section is constituted of a flat plate (5, 4) independent of the rest of the spring (2, 3) fixed to the latter in the distal part of the terminal (1).
2. Connector according to the preceding Claim, characterised in that the fixing of the strip spring (2, 3) to the end plate (5, 4) is achieved by crimping.
3. Connector according to either of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the end of the terminal (1) extending beyond the opening (9, 8) in the end plate (5, 4) on the opposite side to the strip spring (2, 3) has a projection (11, 10) extending beyond the face of the said terminal (1) opposite the face to which the said strip (2, 3) is fixed.
4. Connector according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the fixing of the strip spring (2, 3) to the end plate (5, 4) is achieved by means of a raised cylindrical portion (14,13) extending above the said terminal (1) and fixed in an opening in the strip (2, 3).
5. Connector according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the terminal (1) has a projection (12) positioned at its end opposite from the end which works in association with the terminal plate (4, 5), oriented approximately perpendicularly to the general plane of the terminal (1).
6. Connector according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the terminal (1) has two strip spring (2, 3)/terminal plate (4, 5) assemblies, the terminal plates (5, 4) being offset perpendicularly relative to their mean planes so that the lateral edges of the strip springs (2, 3) can be in contact, the end of the terminal (1) working in association with the openings (9,8) in the end plates (5, 4) being then separated into two branches (7, 6) whose ends are also offset.
7. Modular electrical circuit breaker apparatus having at least one connector according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that at least one connector is positioned in at least one housing in the envelope (B) of the apparatus situated behind a lateral face of the said envelope (B), a number of orifices (20, 21) corresponding to the number of end plates (4, 5) being made in each lateral face beneath the fixed housing of each terminal (1).
8. Modular electrical apparatus according to the preceding Claim, characterised in that the said orifices (20, 21) are fitted with a guide barrel (19).
9. Modular electrical apparatus according to one of Claims 7 and 8, characterised in that the said orifices (20, 21) are surmounted by a corresponding number of openings (23, 24) allowing a tool (O) to be inserted in order to bend the strip springs (2, 3), a stop (18) being provided at the bottom of the housing.
10. Modular electrical apparatus according to one of Claims 7 and 8, characterised in that the strip springs (2, 3) are surmounted by a corresponding number of push buttons (15, 16) accessible from the face (F) of the apparatus and allowing them to be bent.
11. Modular electrical apparatus according to one of Claims 7 to 10, characterised in that the face (F) of the apparatus is provided with a test orifice (22) positioned opposite a projection (12) from the terminal (1) which extends in the direction of the said orifice (22).

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