EP0837528B1 - Terminal block - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates generally distributors of the kind comprising two flanges, in terms of insulating, which, arranged at a distance from each other, extend substantially parallel to each other, and at least one connection strip, which extends longitudinally from one to the other of these two flanges by being engaged by means latching with these at its ends, this bar connection itself comprising a connection strip, metal, which forms longitudinally, from place to place, several connection terminals.

One of these connection terminals is a terminal and the rest are departure terminals, but all are at the same potential.

A distributor of this type is for example described in the French patent which, filed on September 28, 1990 under No. 90 12265, was published under No. 2 667 455.

In this French patent, the latching means by which the terminal strip is in engagement with the two flanges intervene longitudinally with respect to this connection strip, and therefore perpendicular to the flanges, these bearing in practice projecting therefor end pieces, gutter-shaped, through which they can be engaged on the connection strip, along the length of it.

The assembly of the assembly therefore implies that, first away from the connection strip, the two flanges are close together, until they enclose this connection strip.

If, as is the general case, several bars of connection are provided, parallel to each other, to distance from each other, between the two flanges, the mounting must cover simultaneously all of the connection, and, therefore, it is relatively difficult.

This is why, in practice, this mounting is done in the factory, and, predetermined during this, the number of terminal blocks that the distributor contains remains frozen thereafter and the nature of these terminal blocks remains immutable itself.

In other words, the capacity of a dispatcher as well achieved is in practice fixed once and for all.

Therefore, to meet the demand, which is very variable depending on the number of connections to be made, it is necessary for the manufacturer to make available interested a whole range of capacity distributors at the expense of costs.

In French patent No 90 12265, the bars of connection are further reduced each to the strip of connection they contain, and this one, which is likely to be energized, is naked, to the detriment of security.

It is therefore normally necessary, and this is the case in this French patent, to have around the distributor, on at least part of the periphery thereof, an envelope in insulating material.

Besides that to intervene on a bar of connection, it is necessary to disassemble completely or part of this envelope of insulating material, it does not not fail to increase costs.

It has however been proposed, to minimize the latter disadvantage of associating with the connection strip of each connection bars, an individual protection body, of insulating material, which surrounds transversely, on a part, at least, of its periphery, this connection strip, by constituting, with it, the connection strip concerned.

In practice, this connection body is reduced to a simple insulating partition, which runs longitudinally on substantially the entire length of the connection strip, and through which the means intervene latching ensuring the fixing of the assembly on the flanges.

This provision is satisfactory, to the extent, at least, where the protective body thus implemented protects users in respect of any direct contact with the connection strip on the part thereof opposite from which it extends, and to the extent, also, where, jointly it advantageously minimizes the consequences a possible short circuit in the case of defective wiring of this connection strip.

But, as before, the capacity of the dispatcher remains in practice intangible.

European patent application No 0 645 845 does not concern not a splitter, but a simple electrical component to fit into any chassis, and the problems, including capacity, raised by such a distributor are not not even mentioned.

The present invention generally has for subject a provision allowing a modulation of this capacity if desired and further leading to other benefits.

More specifically, it relates to a type distributor with two flanges, in material insulating, which, arranged at a distance from each other, extend substantially parallel to each other, and at least one connection strip, which extends longitudinally from one to the other of these two flanges by being engaged by means latching with these at its ends, this bar connection comprising a connection strip, made of metal, which forms longitudinally, from place to place, by itself, several connection terminals, this distributor being of one generally characterized in that, according to a first aspect of the invention, the latching means, one at less of the ends of the connection strip, intervene transversely to this connection strip, and, therefore, parallel to the two flanges.

Thus, it is advantageously possible to carry out fitting, or removing, a terminal strip without separate the two flanges, and, therefore, without any disassembly of the assembly.

The user can therefore adjust himself, easily, and at will, the capacity of the dispatcher whose disposes, by intervening in a modular way between the two flanges the number of terminal blocks it wish.

Instead of a whole range of distributors different capacities, it is enough for the manufacturer to put at the disposal of the interested parties, on the one hand, flanges, and, on the other hand, terminal blocks, dependent on each ensure the mounting of the distributor that suits him.

Although, under this first aspect, the provision of the invention is equally suitable for bars of connection being reduced to a bare connection strip, it particularly suitable for the case where this connection, is associated with an individual protection body.

According to a development of the invention, this body of protection then advantageously forms an envelope while around the connection strip, both with regard to longitudinal sides of this connection strip that in this which concerns its transverse end faces.

Each of the connection bars, taken in isolation, then forms by itself, advantageously, which is usually called a terminal block.

So, according to this second aspect, the dispatcher according to the invention is further characterized in that the the connection bars it comprises are formed of terminal blocks.

Duly insulated on all their faces, these bars advantageously offer, by themselves, a total security without the need to provide a any insulating jacket around the distributor.

In addition, they are advantageously susceptible to be marketed in isolation, and, moreover, to be used in isolation in the manner of standard type terminal blocks.

This may result in the manufacturer advantageous standardization of manufacturing, and advantageous reduction in the number of references, to the benefit a reduction in overall costs.

la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un répartiteur suivant l'invention ;

la figure 2 est, déduite de celle de la figure 1, une vue en perspective éclatée des deux flasques que comporte ce répartiteur et de deux des barrettes de connexion susceptibles d'être établies de l'un à l'autre de ceux-ci ;

la figure 3 est, à échelle supérieure, une vue en élévation d'un de ces flasques, suivant la flèche III de la figure 2 ;

la figure 4 est, à échelle encore supérieure, une vue partielle en coupe transversale de ce flasque, suivant la ligne IV-IV de la figure 3 ;

la figure 5 en est, à l'échelle de la figure 3, une autre vue partielle en coupe transversale, suivant la ligne V-V de la figure 4 ;

la figure 6 est, déduite de celle de la figure 2, mais à échelle supérieure à celle de celle-ci, une vue en perspective d'une des barrettes de connexion ;

la figure 7 est, à l'échelle de la figure 6, une vue en perspective éclatée de cette barrette de connexion ;

la figure 8 est, à échelle encore supérieure, une vue partielle en élévation du socle du corps de protection que comporte cette barrette de connexion, vu isolément, suivant la flèche VIII de la figure 7 ;

la figure 9 est une vue partielle en coupe transversale de ce socle, suivant la ligne IX-IX de la figure 8 ;

la figure 10 en est une autre vue partielle en coupe transversale, suivant la ligne X-X de la figure 8 ;

la figure 11 est une vue partielle en coupe transversale qui, analogue à celle de la figure 4, se rapporte à une variante de réalisation.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a distributor according to the invention;

Figure 2 is, deduced from that of Figure 1, an exploded perspective view of the two flanges that includes this distributor and two of the connection bars capable of being established from one to the other thereof;

Figure 3 is, on a larger scale, an elevational view of one of these flanges, according to arrow III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is, on a still larger scale, a partial cross-sectional view of this flange, along the line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is, on the scale of Figure 3, another partial view in cross section, along the line VV of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is, deduced from that of Figure 2, but on a scale larger than that thereof, a perspective view of one of the connection bars;

Figure 7 is, on the scale of Figure 6, an exploded perspective view of this connection strip;

Figure 8 is, on a still larger scale, a partial elevational view of the base of the protective body that includes this connection strip, seen in isolation, according to arrow VIII of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of this base, along the line IX-IX of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is another partial view in cross section along line XX of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a partial cross-sectional view which, similar to that of Figure 4, relates to an alternative embodiment.

As illustrated in these figures, and in a known manner per se, the distributor 10 according to the invention comprises two flanges 11, of insulating material, which, arranged at a distance one on the other, extend substantially parallel to each other the other, and at least one connection strip 12, which extends longitudinally from one to the other of these two flanges 11, by being engaged, by latching means 13, with these, at its ends, and which will be described in more detail later.

According to the invention, at at least one of the ends of the connection strip 12, and, preferably, to one and the other of these ends, as shown, the means latching 13 intervene transversely with respect to to this connection strip 12, and, therefore, parallel to the two flanges 11.

In the embodiments shown, and so that it is better visible in FIGS. 4 and 11, these means latch 13 comprise, substantially parallel one to the other, at a distance from each other, on the flange 11 concerned, a stop shoulder 14 and a retaining notch 15.

The stop shoulder 14 is formed in practice by a plate 16, which protrudes from the internal surface of the flange 11 concerned, perpendicular to this flange 11, in preferably being integral with it, such as shown, and, in the embodiments shown, this stop shoulder 14 is framed by two retaining ribs 17, which extend substantially perpendicular to it, and which also protrude on the internal surface of the flange 11, perpendicular to this flange 11, preferably being in one piece with this one.

In the embodiments shown, the internal surface 18 of the retaining ribs 17 extends slightly oblique to a plane normal to the flange 11, and, from one of the holding ribs 17 to the other, the internal surfaces 18 converge towards each other as and as they move away from the flange 11.

In the embodiments shown, the retaining ribs 17 each have, in the direction of one on the other, on at least part of their height, a return square 19.

For example, and as shown, this return in square 19 extends over the entire height of the ribs of maintenance 17 from the stop shoulder 14, along the free edge of these retaining ribs 17.

From one to the other of the retaining ribs 17, the angled returns 19 form, globally, between them, a slot 20.

Given this slot 20, the ribs of maintenance 17 form, overall, with their square returns 19 and the flange 11, a T-groove 21, which, at its end opposite the retaining catch 15, is closed transversely by the plate 16 forming the stop shoulder 14.

In another aspect, but disregarded, then, of the slot 20, the retaining ribs 17 form, overall, with their returns at square 19, the flange 11 and the plate 16 forming the stop shoulder 14, a pocket 22.

As a corollary, in the embodiments shown, the retaining catch 15 is carried by a lug elastically deformable 24, which, like the ribs of support 17, also extends substantially perpendicular to the stop shoulder 14, and it is preceded by an oblique engagement chamfer 25.

In the embodiment more particularly shown in Figure 4, the elastically deformable tab 24 carrying the retaining catch 15 extends on the same side as the stop shoulder 14 relative to this retaining notch 15.

More specifically, in this embodiment, this elastically deformable tab 24 extends from the stop shoulder 14.

It also extends substantially in the plane of the flange 11 concerned, being delimited therein by a openwork 26 in the general shape of an inverted U.

Preferably, and as shown, the paw elastically deformable 24 carrying the retaining notch 15 extends midway between the retaining ribs 17 corresponding.

In the embodiments shown, it is provided, between the two flanges 11, at least one pair of terminal strips 12, and, in practice, several pairs of these.

For example, and as shown, two pairs of connection bars 12 are provided.

Of course, the various connection strips 12 thus implemented have the same length.

The two flanges 11 therefore each have, in correspondence with each other, as many means latching 13, pocket 22 and elastically deformable tab 24, that there are connection strips 12.

In the embodiments shown, both flanges 11 thus have, each, projecting from their internal surface, four pockets 22, and, each associated respectively in their plan to these, as many legs elastically deformable 24.

Furthermore, in these embodiments, the terminal strips 12 of the same pair extend to the same level, and, when, as in this case, more than a pair of connection bars 12 is provided, they extend by pairs according to distinct levels N1, N2 ... etc ...

As shown in broken lines in the figure 2, it is generally the same, on the flanges 11, for the latching means 13, with pocket 22 and tab elastically deformable 24, corresponding.

As a corollary, and according to the invention, these means latching 13 intervene in directions of engagement D parallel to each other.

In other words, the retaining ribs 17 of all the pockets 22 are parallel to each other, and the same is true for the corresponding elastically deformable tabs 24.

Preferably, when, as in the present case, more a pair of terminal strips 12 is provided, being stepped in pairs in several levels N1, N2 ... etc ..., these connection bars 12 are offset transversely the relative to each other from level N1, N2 ... etc ... to the other.

It is therefore the same for the latching means 13 correspondents on the flanges 11.

Thus, in the embodiment shown, the latching means 13 of the lower level N2 are offset transversely inward relative to the means latching 13 of the upper level N1.

Overall, the various connection strips 12 implemented are arranged symmetrically with respect to one another to the other on either side of a plane of symmetry which, perpendicular to the flanges 11, is common to all of these connection strips 12.

It is therefore also the same for the means 13 corresponding snaps on the flanges 11.

In the embodiments shown, the connection bars 12 are all identical to each other, and so it is the same for the pockets 22 and the legs elastically deformable 24 forming the latching means 13 correspondents on the flanges 11.

In practice, in these embodiments, both flanges 11 are themselves symmetrical to each other by relation to a plane of symmetry perpendicular to the bars of connection 12.

For example, and as shown, they have an outline overall rectangular, with long sides perpendicular to the engagement directions D of the bars connection 12 and short sides parallel to these directions of engagement D, and, for their reinforcement, they comprise, peripherally, projecting from their external surface, and perpendicular thereto, a flange 28.

Along that of the long sides of their outline which is arranged on the side opposite the stop shoulders 14 by relative to the retaining notches 15, the flanges 11 are equipped means of enabling them to be reported on a any medium.

In particular, to be able to be reported on a rail 30, with hat profile, of the type shown schematically in broken lines in FIG. 1, they include, set back, but at the same level, thanks to notches 31 of their long side concerned, grooves 32, the concavities of which are facing each other, and at least one of which is carried by a wall 33 which, delimiting an aperture 34, is elastically deformable.

To be able to be brought back on a wing rail uneven, not shown, the flanges 11 comprise, also, in cooperation with this same groove 32, in the embodiments shown, a hook 35 formed at the favor a notch 36 of that of their short sides which is immediately adjacent.

Finally, to be able to be brought back, by screwing, on any plate, they have, projecting from their internal surface, in the middle zone of their long side, a tab 37, which extends generally at right angles, and which is perforated by a hole 38.

As will be noted, that of the pockets 22 which is at right of the aperture 34 is slightly truncated by it.

The connection strips 12 are all identical between them, only one of them will now be described in what follows.

In a manner known per se, and as it is better visible in FIG. 7, this connection strip 12 includes a connection strip 39, made of metal, and for example made of brass, the cross section of which is generally quadrangular, and, for example, rectangular, and that forms, longitudinally, from place to place, by itself, of the terminals connection 40.

To do this, this connection strip 39 is crossing from one side to the other of two faces longitudinal 41 parallel, through holes 42, at a rate of by connection terminal 40, and these holes 42 are each individually intersected by threaded holes 43, which lead to one of the longitudinal 44 intermediate faces between the preceding longitudinal faces 41, and with each which is screwed in tightening screw 46.

The holes 42 all have the same diameter or not, and it the same is true for threaded holes 43.

At its ends, the connection strip 39 has transverse faces 47.

In the embodiment shown, the bar connection 12 also comprises, in addition to the strip of connection 39, a protective body 48, made of insulating material, which surrounds transversely, over at least part of its around this connection strip 39.

According to the invention, the protective body 48 forms an envelope all around the connection strip 39, both with regard to the longitudinal faces 41 and 44 of this connection strip 39, as regards its faces transverse 47, so that, taken in isolation, the bar connection 12 itself forms a terminal block.

In the embodiment shown, the body of protection 48 comprises, on the one hand, a base 52, which, having two longitudinal walls 53 and two walls 54, is in the form of a closed gutter transversely at its ends, and in which is arranged, clamping screw 46 facing upwards, the connection 39, and, on the other hand, a cover 55, which is attached on the base 52, being duly subject thereto, by example by snap-fastening.

One, at least, of the longitudinal walls 53 of the base 52 has holes 56 in correspondence with holes 42 of the connection strip 39.

In the embodiment shown, only one of these longitudinal walls 53 includes such holes 56.

As a corollary, the cover 55 comprises, itself, on a longitudinal ridge wall 57, holes 58 in correspondence with the threaded holes 43 of the strip connection 39, to give access to the clamping screws 46 in engagement with these threaded holes 43.

As is easy to understand, the holes 56 of the base 52 constitute cable entries for the strip connection 12.

In the embodiments shown, for its latching on the base 52, the cover 55 has lugs elastically deformable 59, which cooperate with a groove 60 provided for this purpose on each of the longitudinal walls 53 of the base 52.

Having regard to the fact that the protective body 48 cover on all sides the connection strip 39, the latching means 13 provided on the flanges 11 for a connection strip 12 cooperate with this protective body 48 at at least one of the ends of this strip of connection 12, and, in practice, to either of these ends.

When, as in the present case, these latching means 13 form a T-shaped groove 21, each of the ends of the connection strip 12, and therefore, in practice, each of the ends of the protective body 48, is, so complementary, generally T-shaped.

More specifically, in the embodiment represented, it is by the ends of the base 52 of the body of protection 48 that the connection strip 12 is adapted to cooperate with the latching means 13 of the flanges 11.

To this end, this base 52 has, projecting from each of its transverse walls 54, a nozzle 62 which, in longitudinal section, is duly generally T-shaped, figure 9.

In the embodiment shown, this tip 62 is split into two branches 63 by a slot 64.

It presents, transversely, therefore, a certain elasticity.

This elasticity is favorable for a maintenance without play of the connection strip 12 on the flanges 11, both transversely than longitudinally, having regard to the obliquity of the internal surface of the retaining ribs 17 defining a T-shaped groove 21 on the flanges 11.

It is also advantageously favorable to possible maintenance, on such a tip 62, of any mark 65 reported by snap-fastening on it in the manner of a jumper, as shown in dashed lines on the figure 10.

To cooperate more securely by snap-fastening with a as reference 65, the tip 62 has, projecting from its surface upper, two beads 66, one for each of its branches 63.

Alternatively, the tip 62 can just as easily be free of any slots 64.

In other words, it is then massive.

For its use as a terminal block, the connection 12 present by itself, in addition to the end pieces 62 of the base 52 of the protective body 48 which it comprises, various means to allow it to be subject to any support.

These means do not fall, in their own right, from this invention, they will not be described in detail here.

It will suffice to indicate that, among them, are, in particular, in the embodiment shown, two ears 67 which, parallel to each other, protrude at distance from each other, over that of the longitudinal walls 53 of the base 52 of this protective body 48 which is devoid of hole 56, Figure 2.

When the connection strip 12, duly assembled, is established from one to the other of the two flanges 11, it is engaged, by the ends 62 of the base 52 of the protective body 48 which it comprises, in the pockets 22 formed by the means 13 corresponding snaps of these flanges 11, and, therefore, in the T-shaped grooves 21 formed by these pockets 22 until that after a temporary elastic deformation of the legs elastically deformable 24 corresponding, these tips 62 abut against the stop shoulder 14 of these means snap 13, and that, as a corollary, the dimensions having been duly planned accordingly, they are taken under the retaining notch 15 of the legs elastically deformable 24, after crossing this retaining notch 15 and a return to the initial configuration of these legs elastically deformable 24.

Because the protective body 48 which comprises the connection strip 12 surrounds its strip on all sides connection 39, it is not necessary to provide any insulating jacket on the periphery of the distributor 10 as well consisting.

Furthermore, when, as in the present case, several connection bars 12 are provided, the support on which this distributor 10 is reported is located itself advantageously protected by these connection strips 12, if, as shown, these are offset from each other others from level N1, N2 ... etc ... to another.

Preferably, and as shown, each connection strip 12 is placed on the flanges 11 in an orientation for which the cable entries that form the holes 56 present on one of the walls longitudinal 53 of the base 52 of the protective body 48 that it features are facing outward, to facilitate the introduction of cables into the connection terminals 40 corresponding.

As a result, the connection terminals 40 of the two terminal blocks 12 of the same pair have their inputs of cable, in this case the holes 56, turned back to back of a of these connection strips 12 to the other of these.

Access to these cable entries is facilitated.

In the alternative embodiment shown in the Figure 11, the elastically deformable tab 24 carrying the notch retaining 15 of the latching means 13 extends from the side opposite the stop shoulder 14 relative to this notch deduction 15.

In other words, instead of extending upward as previously, this elastically deformable tab 24 extends down.

For the rest, the provisions are of the same type as those previously described.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but includes any variant and / or combination of their various elements.

In particular, when several bars of connection are provided, instead of being arranged in pairs, symmetrically, on either side of a plane of symmetry common to the assembly, these terminal blocks can by example be just as well arranged in staircase.

In such a case, their cable entries are preferably all on the same side.

Claims (20)

1. A distributor of the kind comprising two side plate portions (11) of insulating material which, disposed at a spacing from each other, extend substantially parallel to each other, and at least one connecting bar (12) which extends longitudinally from one of said two side plate portions (11) to the other, being in engagement by latching means (13) with them at its ends, the connecting bar (12) comprising a connecting strip (39) of metal which forms longitudinally at spaced positions by itself a plurality of connecting terminals (40), characterised in that, at one at least of the ends of the connecting bar (12), the latching means (13) are operative transversely with respect to said connecting bar (12) and thus parallel to the side plate portions (11).
2. A distributor according to claim 1 characterised in that the latching means (13) comprise in substantially mutually parallel spaced relationship on the side plate portion (11) in question an arresting shoulder (14) and a retaining catch (15), the arresting shoulder (14) being flanked by two holding ribs (17) which extend substantially perpendicularly to the arresting shoulder, and the retaining catch (15) being carried by an elastically deformable tongue (24) which also extends substantially perpendicularly to the arresting shoulder (14).
3. A distributor according to claim 2 characterised in that the elastically deformable tongue (24) carrying the retaining catch (15) extends on the same side as the arresting shoulder (14) with respect to said retaining catch (15).
4. A distributor according to claim 3 characterised in that the elastically deformable tongue (24) carrying the retaining catch (15) extends from the arresting shoulder (14).
5. A distributor according to claim 2 characterised in that the elastically deformable tongue (24) carrying the retaining catch (15) extends on the side opposite to the arresting shoulder (14) with respect to said retaining catch (15).
6. A distributor according to any one of claims 2 to 5 characterised in that the elastically deformable tongue (24) carrying the retaining catch (15) extends substantially in the plane of the side plate portion (11) in question.
7. A distributor according to any one of claims 2 to 6 characterised in that, over a part at least of their height, the holding ribs (17) each have in mutually facing directions a right-angle flange portion (19) and in complementary relationship the end in question of the connecting bar (12) is generally T-shaped.
8. A distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that the latching means (13) are operative transversely with respect to the connecting bar (12) at both of the ends thereof.
9. A distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterised in that, a protective body (48) of insulating material transversely surrounding over a part at least of its periphery the connecting strip (39) of the connecting bar (12), said protective body (48) forms a casing all around said connecting strip (39) both as regards the longitudinal faces (41, 44) of said connecting strip (39) and as regards its transverse faces (47) in such a way that considered separately the connecting bar (12) itself forms a terminal block.
10. A distributor according to claim 9 characterised in that the protective body (48) that the connecting bar (12) comprises includes a base (52) which is in the form of a channel closed transversely at its ends and in which is disposed the connecting strip (39), and a cap (55) which is fitted over the base (52), one at least of the longitudinal walls (53) of said base (52) comprising holes (56) corresponding to the holes (42) of the connecting strip (39), and the cap (55) itself comprising holes (58) corresponding to the screwthreaded openings (43) therein.
11. A distributor according to either one of claims 9 and 10 characterised in that, at one at least of the ends of the connecting bar (12), the latching means (13) co-operate with the protective body (48) that it comprises.
12. A distributor according to claims 10 and 11 in combination characterised in that, for co-operating with the latching means (13), the base (52) of the protective body (48) that the connecting bar (12) comprises has an end portion (62) in projecting relationship on its corresponding transverse wall (54).
13. A distributor according to claims 2 and 12 in combination characterised in that the end portion (62) is divided into two limbs (63) by a slot (64).
14. A distributor according to claim 13 characterised in that the internal surface (18) of the holding ribs (17) that the latching means (13) comprise extends slightly inclinedly with respect to a plane normal to the side plate portion (11) in question.
15. A distributor according to any one of claims 11 to 14 characterised in that at both of the ends of the connecting bar (12) the latching means (13) co-operate with the protective body (48) that said connecting bar (12) comprises.
16. A distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 15 characterised in that, there being provided at least one pair of connecting bars (12), the connecting bars (12) of the same pair extend at the same level (N1, N2... etc ...) and the corresponding latching means (13) are operative in mutually parallel engagement directions (D).
17. A distributor according to claim 16 characterised in that the connecting terminals (40) of the two connecting bars (12) of the same pair have their cable entries turned back-to-back from one of said connecting bars (12) to the other thereof.
18. A distributor according to either one of claims 16 and 17 characterised in that, there being provided more than one pair of connecting bars (12), the connecting bars (12) are staggered in pairs at a plurality of levels (N1, N2... etc ...), being displaced transversely with respect to each other from one level (N1, N2... etc ...) to the other.
19. A distributor according to any one of claims 16 to 18 characterised in that the connecting bars (12) are generally disposed symmetrically with respect to each other on respective sides of a plane of symmetry which, perpendicular to the side plate portions (11), is common to the array of said connecting bars (12).
20. A distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 19 characterised in that said side plate portions have a side provided with fixing means (31-36) for fixing on a support and that said latching means (13) comprise an arresting shoulder (14) which is directed upwardly, that is to say in opposite relationship to the side provided with the fixing means (31-36).

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