FR2725838A1 - ELECTRIC CONTACT CLIP, AND CLAMP DEVICE PROVIDED WITH SUCH A CLAMP - Google Patents

Abstract

The electric contact clamp (1) includes clamp body (2) which defines a grip plane (3) on each side of which two series of fingers (5) are mounted with their front faces (6) towards the plane. These define one jaw (9a) between the leading ends (8a) of the fingers, and another jaw (9b) between their trailing ends (8b). A frontal central region of the front face of each finger bears upon a frontal blocking element (11), and a dorsal central region of its rear face (7) upon a dorsal abutment (12).

Description

i Electrical contact clamp, and clamp device

provided with such a clamp.

  The invention relates to an electrical contact clamp,

  and a clamp device provided with such a clamp.

  The invention relates in particular to a contact clamp and a clamp device intended in particular to be mounted on the poles of the circuit breaker disconnectors

rotary movement.

  Connection clamps are known comprising a clamp body defining a longitudinal pinch plane, a first series of contact fingers mounted longitudinally on the clamp body, on one side of the pinch plane, and a second series of contact fingers mounted longitudinally on the clamp body, on the other side of the clamping plane, opposite the first series. Each contact finger has a front face facing the pinch plane, a dorsal face opposite the front face, first and second front ends facing the pinch plane. Said first and second series define a first jaw between the first front ends of the facing contact fingers, and a second jaw between the second front ends of the facing contact fingers. The first ends of each series are linked together by a longitudinal axis, the spacing between each end of the same series being maintained by spacers carried by said axis. The second ends of each series are also linked by a longitudinal axis. This axis is also associated with the gripper body by an association with radial clearance to allow the movement of the second ends relative to the gripper body. The spacing between each second end of the same series is also maintained by spacers carried by the axis. The spacing between two opposite fingers is obtained by a transverse spacer. The elasticity of the clamp is obtained by a helical spring stretched between two fingers opposite. Such a clamp is part of a clamp device. This device comprises, in addition to the clamp, a support on which the clamp body is rigidly mounted, the second jaw enclosing said support. The purpose of this device is that the first jaw is clamped, by pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the pinch plane, on a conductive bar to ensure the passage of a current

  between the support and the bar.

  The clamp and the clamp device described above have drawbacks, namely: - the large number of constituent parts of the clamp. Indeed for the assembly of a clamp having series of six contact fingers it is necessary at least, twenty axial spacers, three transverse spacers (one for four fingers), three coil springs (one for four

  fingers) and their support points, four longitudinal axes.

  - The fact that the fingers of the same series are mounted integral with each other via the longitudinal axes induces an overall movement of the ends. Thus if the conductive bar has an axial deviation such that it is not in the pinch plane, part of the ends cannot be in contact with the bar since they are forced to a

  alignment along the longitudinal axes.

  - The fact that the clamp body is rigidly mounted on the support does not allow any inclination of the clamp relative to the support. Therefore, if the bar is not exactly included in the pinch plane, it does not

  can enter the first jaw.

  A first object of the present invention is to provide a clamp comprising a limited number of parts,

easy assembly.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a clamp where the fingers are mounted independently of each other.

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  others, so that each contact finger has its own

pinch movement.

  Another object of the present invention is to articulate the gripper body on the support so that the bar can penetrate the first jaw even if it is not exactly included in the initial gripping plane. Another object of the present invention is to provide a spoon-shaped contact finger end having a leading edge rounded in all directions and in particular in that of the longitudinal axis of

the clamp.

  To this end, the invention relates to a connection clamp comprising a clamp body defining a longitudinal clamping plane, a first series of contact fingers mounted longitudinally on the clamp body, on one side of the clamping plane, and a second series of contact fingers mounted longitudinally on the clamp body, on the other side of the pinch plane, facing the first series, Each contact finger having a front face opposite the pinch plane, a dorsal face opposite to the front face, a first and a second front ends facing the pinch plane, the said first and second series defining a first jaw between the first front ends of the facing contact fingers, and a second jaw between the second

  frontal ends of the facing contact fingers.

  According to the invention each finger of the first and second series mounted on said clamp body, is movable

regardless of other fingers.

  The clamp comprises a front locking element on which carries a central frontal area of the front face of the finger, and a dorsal support element on which carries a

  central dorsal area of the dorsal side of the finger.

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  At least one of the frontal or dorsal zones bears respectively on the blocking or support element by

  through an elastic element.

  According to one embodiment of the invention, the clamp body comprises two transverse ends of general "U" shape, coupled to each other by at least two facing longitudinal uprights, each upright comprising a plurality of contact finger receiving cells, each of the cells having a bottom and two side walls, each contact finger comprising a central passage or equivalent adjusted to the width between the side walls of the contact cells, longitudinal holding clips being mounted on the clamp body parallel to the transverse uprights, blocking the faces

  free of the fingers mounted in said cells.

  Advantageously, the clamp body is in one piece.

  The cells, located on the opposite faces of the transverse uprights, form said back support elements, and said clips, blocking the front faces of the contact fingers, form the front blocking elements. The elastic element is an elastic blade inserted between the bottom of the cell and the dorsal face of the associated contact finger. The elastic blade has a general "U" shape, and the contact finger has hollowed back ends, housing the free ends of the "U" shaped elastic blade, the central branch of the elastic blade.

  being in contact with the bottom of the cell.

  The clamp comprises a longitudinal clip by longitudinal post, having a longitudinal central part blocking the contact fingers, and two end parts

  clicks on or in the transverse ends.

  In the position ready to be combined, the clamp comprises a pretensioner tool, pre-bathing the elastic elements

  to open the jaw intended to grip the support.

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  The invention also relates to a connection clamp device comprising a conductive support, and a connection clamp having a clamp body defining a longitudinal pinching plane, a first series of contact fingers mounted longitudinally on the clamp body, one side of the pinch plane, and a second series of contact fingers mounted longitudinally on the clamp body, on the other side of the pinch plane, facing the first series, each contact finger having a facing front face of the pinch plane, a dorsal face opposite the front face, first and second front ends facing the pinch plane, said first and second series defining a first jaw between the first front ends of the contact fingers facing, and a second jaw between the second front ends of the facing contact fingers, said clamp body being secured to the sup port, one of the jaws enclosing the support. According to the invention, the device comprises means for associating the clamp body on the support so that the clamp body is free to tilt around a longitudinal tilt axis by

support.

  With pliers according to the embodiment of the invention, the transverse branches of the two transverse ends in the shape of a "U" cover the transverse ends of the support, a longitudinal tilting axis passing through said transverse branches and of the support. The advantages of such a clamp and of such a clamp device are in particular: a significant simplification of the mounting of the clamp due to a reduction in the constituent parts; - ease of assembly due to the fact that all the elastic parts are mounted relaxed, and are only constrained in the subsequent step where the clamp is placed in the position ready for use;

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  - each finger has its own pinching movement independent of the other fingers; - a tilting mounting of the clamp body on the support. Other advantages and features of this

  invention will result from the description which follows in

  reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a clamp according to the invention in the rest position; - Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a clamp according to the invention in the position ready to be associated on a support; - Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view along line III-III of the view of Figure 2; - Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view along line IV-IV of the view of Figure 3; - Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view along the line V-V of the view of Figure 3; - Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a device according to the invention; - Figures 7 and 8 are schematic cross-sectional views of the device of Figure 6 in the engaged position. The clamp 1 according to the invention comprises a clamp body 2 defining a pinch plane 3. The longitudinal term refers to a reference line included in the pinch plane 3. The transverse term refers to the plane perpendicular to said line of

reference.

  The clamp 1 further comprises a first series of contact fingers 5 mounted longitudinally on the clamp body 2, on one side of the clamping plane 3, and a second series of contact fingers 5 mounted longitudinally on the clamp body 2 , on the other side of the pinch plane 3, opposite the first series, Each contact finger 5 having

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  a front face 6 facing the pinch plane 3, a dorsal face 7 opposite the front face 6, a first 8a and a second 8b front ends facing the pinch plane 3. the first and second series define a first jaw 9a between the first front ends 8a of the contact fingers 5 facing each other, and a second jaw 9b between the second front ends 8b of the

contact fingers 5 facing each other.

  In one embodiment, the clamp comprises a front locking element 11 on which carries a central front zone of the front face 6 of the contact finger and a back support element 12 on which carries a zone

  dorsal center of the dorsal face 7 of the contact finger 5.

  Advantageously at least one of the front faces or

  back protector includes an elastic element.

  The gripper body 2 comprises two transverse ends 14 of general "U" shape, coupled to one another by at least two longitudinal uprights 15 facing each other, each upright 15 comprising a plurality of cells 16 for receiving contact fingers 5, each of

  cells 16 having a bottom 20 and two side walls 18.

  Each contact finger 5 comprising four longitudinal projections 50 defining a central passage 17 adjusted to the width between the side walls 18 of the receiving cells 16, so that in the mounted position, the contact finger rests on the bottom of the alveolus by its front 6 or dorsal face 7, the projections 50 cooperating with the side walls 18 to block the contact finger in translation in directions contained in the nipping plane 3. The central passage 17 of the contact finger 5 comprises a stamped part 51 making it possible to increase the height of embedding of the contact finger in the cell, thus preventing a possible reversal of the contact finger in its receiving cell 16. Longitudinal staples 19 for holding are mounted on the body of clamp 2 parallel to the longitudinal uprights 15 and block the

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  free sides of the contact fingers 5 mounted in

said cells 16.

  In the representations of the figures, the clamp body 12 is in one piece, the free arms of the "U" shape extending from the side of the first ends 8a of the contact fingers 5. The cells, located on the opposite faces of the uprights longitudinal 15, form said back support elements 12, and said staples 19, blocking the central areas of the front faces 6 of the fingers

  contact 5, form the front locking elements 11.

  Each finger comprises an elastic blade 13 interposed between the bottom 20 of the cell 16 and the dorsal face 7 of the

associated contact finger 5.

  At least one end of each contact finger 5 has a general spoon shape, the back of the spoon

  being the front end 8a, 8b of said contact finger 5.

  The elastic blade 13 has a general "U" shape. The free ends 22 of the elastic blade 13 in the shape of a "U" are housed in hollow dorsal parts of the ends of the contact fingers 5, the central branch 23 of the elastic blade 13 being in contact with the bottom 20 of

cell 16.

  The clamp comprises a longitudinal clip 19 per longitudinal post 15. Each clip 19 has a longitudinal central portion 24 blocking the contact fingers 5, and two end portions 25 snap-on on or in the transverse ends 14. The longitudinal central portion 24 of the clip 19 is positioned between the first ends 8a of the contact fingers 5 and the longitudinal uprights 15. Advantageously, the latching system is molded with the one-piece clamp body. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the latching system is of the baffle type, the end part 25 is wound a quarter turn around a stud 52 of longitudinal axis located on the face external of the transverse ends 14, the free end

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  53 of said end portion 25 coming to block against a

  stop 54 in opposition with the pad 52.

  In Figure 1, the clamp is shown in the rest position. This is how the clamp is made, without any elastic prestressed part, which facilitates

substantially the assembly stage.

  In Figures 2 to 5, the clamp is shown in the ready to use position. In this position, a pretensioner tool 26 has been introduced, prestressing the elastic blades 13, so that the second jaw 9b is open, ready to grip the support on which the clamp will be associated. This tool 26 is positioned between the two series of contact fingers 5, between the second ends 8b of the contact fingers 5 and the longitudinal uprights 15. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the tool 26 rests on the branch center of the "U" shape of the transverse ends 14. The tool 26 is a wire of circular section curved in the shape of a rectangle, which clips into shapes arranged at the intersection of the free branches with the central branch

  transverse ends in a "U" shape.

  The invention also relates to a connection clamp device comprising a conductive support 30, and a connection clamp 1 as described above. The clamp body 2 is associated with the support 30, the second jaw 9b enclosing the support. The clamp body 2 and the support are associated by association means such that the clamp body 2 is free to tilt relative to the support 30

  about a longitudinal tilt axis 31.

  According to the representations of the figures, the association means comprise the central branches of the transverse ends 14 in the shape of a "U", each provided with a circular hole 32 of the same axis, a longitudinal bore

  33 passing right through the support 30, and an axis 31.

  The second jaw 9b encloses the support 30, the central branches of the transverse ends 14 in the shape of a "U" overlapping the transverse ends of the support 30, the holes come opposite the bore, the longitudinal tilting axis passing through said holes

and said bore.

  According to the invention, the clamp, at the end of making, has

the appearance of Figure 1.

  The clamp is delivered ready to use in appearance

  shown in Figures 2 to 5.

  Figure 6 shows the device according to

  the invention, the clamp being associated on the support.

  FIG. 7 shows the device in the normal engaged position, that is to say when the bar 36 is

  in the same plane as the support 30.

  FIG. 8 represents the device in the engaged position with tilting, that is to say when the clamp rocks to catch up with the play existing between the plane of the

bar 36 and the plane of the support 30.

  In the last two configurations (fig. 7 and 8) the contact fingers are well positioned on the support 30 and on the bar 36 thanks to the compression of the blades

elastic 13.

  This type of clamp device finds its application in particular in circuit breakers disconnecting from an active position to a passive position by rotation. The poles of the circuit breaker disconnectors are provided with a device according to the invention, so that when the circuit breaker disconnectors are rotated, the clamps

  snap onto the busbars.

  The advantages of such a clamp and of such a clamp device are in particular: - a significant simplification of the mounting of the clamp due to a reduction in the constituent parts; - Ease of assembly due to the fact that all the elastic parts are mounted relaxed, and are only constrained in the subsequent step where the clamp is placed in the position ready for use; - each finger has its own pinching movement independent of the other fingers; - The spoon shape of the ends of the contact fingers at least on the side of the first jaw, makes it possible to present a leading edge favorable to clamping; - a pivoting mounting of the clamp body on the support. Although only one embodiment has been described, it is clear that any modification which would be obvious to a person skilled in the art is included within the scope of the present invention.

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Claims (14)

  1. Connection clamp (1) comprising a clamp body (2) defining a pinching plane (3), a first series of contact fingers (5) mounted longitudinally on the clamp body (2), on one side of the pinch plane (3), and a second series of contact fingers (5) mounted longitudinally on the clamp body (2), on the other side of the pinch plane (3), facing the first series, each contact finger (5) having a front face (6) facing the pinch plane (3), a dorsal face (7) opposite the front face (6), a first (8a) and a second (8b) front ends facing the pinch plane (3), said first and second series defining a first jaw (9a) between the first front ends (8a) of the contact fingers (5) facing each other, and a second jaw (9b) between the second front ends (8b) of the facing contact fingers (5), characterized in that each contact finger (5) first and second series mounted on said body of   clamp (2), is movable independently of the other fingers.   2. Pliers according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a front locking element (11) on which carries a central front region of the front face (6) of the contact finger (5), and a support element dorsal (12) on which there is a central dorsal area of the face   dorsal (7) of the contact finger (5).   3. Pliers according to claim 2 characterized in that at least one of the front (6) or dorsal (7) faces of the   contact fingers (5) comprises an elastic element (13).   4. Pliers according to any one of claims 1 to   3 characterized in that the clamp body (2) comprises two transverse ends (14) of general "U" shape, coupled to one another by at least two longitudinal uprights (15) facing each other, each upright ( 15) comprising a plurality of cells (16) for receiving the contact fingers (5), each of the cells (16) having a bottom (20) and two side walls (18), each contact finger (5) comprising a central passage (17) adjusted to the width between the side walls (18) of the receiving cells (16), longitudinal holding clips (19) being mounted on the clamp body (2) parallel to the longitudinal uprights (15 ), barring, the faces remained free of the fingers of   contact (5) mounted in said cells (16).   5. Pliers according to claim 4 characterized in that each contact finger (5) comprises four projections   longitudinal (50) forming said central passage (17).   6 pliers according to claim 4 or 5 characterized in that said central passage (17) comprises a part stamped (51).   7. Pliers according to any one of claims 1 to   6 characterized in that the clamp body (2) is in one piece.   8. Pliers according to any one of claims 4 to   7 characterized in that the cells (16), located on the opposite faces of the longitudinal uprights (15), form said back support elements (12), and said staples (19), blocking the front central zones of the front faces (6) contact fingers (5), form the front pivot elements (11).   9. Pliers according to any one of claims 4 to   8 characterized in that the elastic element (13) is an elastic blade (13) interposed between the bottom (20) of the cell (16) and the dorsal face (7) of the contact finger (5) associated.   10. Pliers according to any one of claims 1   to 9 characterized in that at least one end of each finger has a general spoon shape, the front end forming the back of the spoon.   11. Pliers according to claim 9 or 10 characterized in that the elastic blade (13) has a general "U" shape, and the contact finger (5) has hollowed back ends (21), housing the free ends ( 22) of the elastic blade (13) in the shape of a "U", the central branch of the elastic blade (13) in the shape of "U" being in contact with the bottom (20) of the cell (16).   12. Pliers according to any one of claims 4   to 11, characterized in that it comprises a longitudinal clip (19) for the longitudinal upright (15), having a longitudinal central part (23) blocking the contact fingers (5), and two end parts (25) which can be snapped onto   or in the transverse ends (14).   13. Pliers according to any one of claims 3   to 10 characterized in that, in the rest position, the   elastic elements (13) are released.   14. Pliers according to any one of claims 4   to 13 characterized in that in the ready-to-use position, it comprises a pretensioner tool (26), prestressing the elastic elements (13), so that the second jaw (9b) is open, ready to grip a support (30 )   on which the clamp (1) will be associated.   connection clamp device comprising a conductive support (30), and a connection clamp (1) having a clamp body (2) defining a pinching plane (3), a first series of contact fingers (5) mounted longitudinally on the clamp body (2), on one side of the clamping plane (3), and a second series of contact fingers (5) mounted longitudinally on the clamp body (2), on the other side of the plane pinch (3), facing the first series, each contact finger (5) having a front face (6) facing the pinch plane (3), a dorsal face (7) opposite the front face (6 ), a first (8a) and a second (8b) front ends facing the pinch plane (3), said first and second series defining a first jaw (9a) between the first front ends (8a) of the contact fingers (5) facing, and a second jaw (9b) between the second front ends (8b) of the contact fingers (5) facing, said clamp body (2) being associated with the support (30), one of the jaws (9a, 9b) enclosing the support (30), characterized in that it comprises means of association of the clamp body (2) on the support (30) such that the clamp body 2 is free to tilt relative to the support 30 about a longitudinal tilt axis 31. 16. Device according to claim 15 characterized in that the clamp (1) is a clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 14.   17. Device according to claim 16 characterized in that the association means comprise the central branches of the transverse ends (14) in the shape of "U", each provided with a circular hole (32) of the same axis, a longitudinal bore (33) passing right through the support (30), and an axis (31), the second jaw (9b) enclosing the support (30), the central branches of the transverse ends (14) in the shape of a "U" coming from overlapping the transverse ends of the support (30), the holes (32) facing the bore (33), the longitudinal pivot axis (31) passing through said holes (32) and said bore (33).