EP1605547A1 - fast connecting/disconnecting device for électrical systems - Google Patents

Abstract

The mechanism has a contact spring (2) that is placed inside a contact body (1) that is placed at the interior an electric device. The spring is fixed by small projections (3) and inner flanges (4). The body has the projections at bottom part of its inner side faces. The inner flanges are located inside the body and are folded towards the interior, until arriving at a perpendicular position perpendicular to a wall of the body.

Description

This patent relates to a connection and quick disconnect that is normally located inside the electrical device in which it is installed as can be the switches, pushbuttons, outlets and other similar products and where it is essential to connect the ends of the electrical conductors connected to these devices, this mechanism being essentially characterized in that it is fast actuating, without the need to use other fasteners as could be the screws, and in that the contact spring has a snap that facilitates and ensures the action of connection and disconnection.

Electrical devices commonly used in low voltage for homes and small activity areas such as shops or offices, etc. currently have a design that allows components are easily exchangeable, in order to improve the conditions of storage and maintenance, and they also have a design that allows them to reduce maximum the number of their components, thereby reducing costs, all of this obviously taking into account what is regulated for safety and electrical installations.

Regarding the connection and disconnection operation, the application of a quick connection system will obviously have an influence on the time employed by the technicians to run the installations with the labor saving that this represents and taking into account that a mechanism of this kind will offer a total guarantee of correct connection and permed. This mechanism will also be very useful for maintenance work.

STATE OF THE ART

There are currently many implementations of connection, to some they lack the speed of execution, when they were applied, while others must inevitably use conventional screws for tightening their components that guarantee the contact and a fixation correct electrical conductors.

Furthermore, the systems known hitherto do not allow to immediately realize the connection of cables having different diameters given the arrangement of the contact springs.
Among other known implementations can be mentioned Utility Models U200002682 (Moret) in which there is claimed a block for quick connection terminals but the clamping levers, although divided, do not allow them to turn one with the other and they must be firmly tightened for the connection of cables or wires.

Known screw connections also do not allow the action of hands free that offers the invention. We can quote here utility models U9502164 and U9402165 of the applicant, whose characteristics are those indicated in this paragraph.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The mechanism of connection and fast disconnection object of this patent of invention, is essentially characterized in that the body of the contact which will be placed in the appropriate place inside the corresponding electrical device, has a contact spring on which will act separately buttons the user or installer will press to proceed with the connection or disconnection of electrical cables, one of the characteristics of the invention given the structure of this contact body and its elements as well as that of the contact spring that will connect the electrical conductors, having different diameters and shapes, as well as the special arrangement of the two actuating buttons, all this as this is described later in this description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To be able to carry out a detailed description of the components of the mechanism of this invention, a series of drawings is annexed in which, by way of non-illustrative example, examples of implementation of this connection mechanism were represented.

La Figure 1 est une vue en perspective du mécanisme avec tous ses composants séparés et éclatés;

La Figure 2 est une vue également en perspective d'un ressort de contact semblable à celui de la figure 1 mais sans qu'une zone d'enclenchement n'ait été prévue;

La Figure 3 est une vue en perspective de l'ensemble du mécanisme conformément à la figure 1 déjà assemblé;

La Figure 3a est une vue en perspective du corps de contact conformément à la Figure 1, qui montre la position dans laquelle resteront les flasques de fixation du ressort de contact lorsqu'il a été placé à l'intérieur du corps;

La Figure 4 est une vue en plan du corps avec tous ses composants déjà assemblés;

La Figure 5 est une vue conformément à la section AA du corps, de la figure précédente;

La Figure 6 est une section du corps, conformément à la Figure 4, par le plan CC, cette figure étant la première de la séquence qui montre l'utilisation de la connexion rapide objet de cette invention;

La Figure 7 est une coupe du corps par BB, conformément à la section B du corps correspondant à la figure 4;

La Figure 8 illustre le corps conformément à la section BB avec le ressort de contact situé à la position de connexion commandant le bouton sur l'enclenchement du ressort;

La Figure 9 montre où est placé un conducteur électrique pour sa connexion conformément à la figure précédente; et

La Figure 10 illustre, conformément aux Figures 7, 8 et 9, la fixation définitive du conducteur électrique, une fois le ressort de contact a été dégagé.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mechanism with all its components separated and exploded;

Figure 2 is a view also in perspective of a contact spring similar to that of Figure 1 but without an engagement zone has been provided;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the entire mechanism according to Figure 1 already assembled;

Figure 3a is a perspective view of the contact body in accordance with Figure 1, showing the position in which the contact spring mounting flanges will remain when it has been placed inside the body;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the body with all its components already assembled;

Figure 5 is a view in accordance with section AA of the body of the preceding figure;

Figure 6 is a section of the body, according to Figure 4, through the plane CC, this figure being the first of the sequence which shows the use of the fast connection object of this invention;

Figure 7 is a section of the body through BB, in accordance with section B of the body corresponding to Figure 4;

Figure 8 illustrates the body in accordance with section BB with the contact spring located at the connection position controlling the button on the engagement of the spring;

Figure 9 shows where is placed an electrical conductor for its connection according to the previous figure; and

Figure 10 illustrates, in accordance with Figures 7, 8 and 9, the final fixing of the electrical conductor, once the contact spring has been cleared.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the above and in accordance with the reported drawings, the quick connect and disconnect mechanism for electrical devices object of this invention, is essentially characterized in it consists of a contact body (1) having a shape substantially prismatic, inside which a contact spring (2) is housed which will remain perfectly fixed between small projections (3) that this contact body (1) has at the bottom part of its inner side faces and by internal flanges (4) also located at the bottom part inside the body (1), near the projections (3), these flanges (4), when the contact spring (2) has been placed inside the body (1), will be opened inwards, as shown in FIG. arrive at the position perpendicular to the respective wall of the body (1).

The contact spring (2) is constituted by a conductive metal blade forming a horizontal flat base (5) provided on both sides of entrances (6) rectangular which surround said projections (3) of the body (1).

This base (5) of the spring (2) is extended by a large fold bent in forming a flange inclined towards the rear and divided by section into two equal parts (7) from a central opening (8) that this spring has precisely at the curved area, all this allows the two parts of the flange can be folded independently when the lower angular end (19) of its button corresponding command (9) acts what will be described later and with more details.

At the central part of the two parts in which the flange (7) of contact spring (2) is divided there is a transverse delineation (11) arranged horizontally and with a semi-cylindrical section which constitutes the zone latching point where this lower angular end (10) of the command (9) will remain nested.

In Figure 2 and as an illustration of this essential characteristic of the system which is described, a contact spring (2a) has been illustrated, completely flat and, therefore, devoid of this delicacy with semi-cylindrical cut (11) and in this that the angular end (10) of the button (9) can not be housed there.

On the contact body (1) the two control buttons (9) remain positioned, which are practically symmetrical and can be coupled between them, a coupling that is made thanks to the cylindrical core (12) that one of them possesses and in the cylindrical hollow (13) facing it that possesses the other, so that the core remains inserted in the hollow (13) allowing the two buttons can swing independently of each other.

The swaying of these buttons (9) is performed on the support axes (14) which they possess at their outer central part, which will be supported on the carcass (1a) of the body (1) with which they are integrated, the sway of one being independent of the other button depending on whether the user or technician (19) whether or not the actuating lever (15) corresponding to each button (9) has at its upper part.

The button is extended downward by the vertical foot (16) while being introduced inside the contact body (1) by the opening placed at its part (17) and ending at said lower angular end (10) which will be based on the corresponding part of the flange (7) by fitting in with accuracy and perfectly in the corresponding engagement delay (11).

When the user or the technician (19) presses the lever (15) of the button actuator (9) in the direction of the arrow which is indicated in FIG. will cause the rocking of the button (9) and the displacement of its vertical foot (16) whose lower angular end (10) will cause the descent of the part of the flange (7) in the direction also indicated by an arrow in the same figure 8, the portion of the flange (7) leaving then a free space (7a) between it and the face Upper interior of the body (1).

In this space (7a) we will place the end to connect the driver electrical system (18) introduced by the user or technician (19) as indicated clearly Figure 9, an operation that will be done very easily because this technician will not have to support the portion of the flange (7) to the open position of Figures 8 and 9, because it is the own end (10) of the foot of the button that will keep it fixed to this position because it will be fitted in the engagement notch (11) of this part of the flange (7).

Immediately, the technician will clear the flange part by pressing the lever (15) of the knob (9) upwards as shown in Figure 10 to to release it and to allow that it strongly presses the driver (18) between the part of the flange (7) and the upper inner face of the contact body (1).

As can be appreciated in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the elasticity of the own part of the flange (7) will make it possible to fix, without any difficulty, electrical conductors (18) having a different diameter, placed in the body contact (1) an essential feature also of the system which has has been described.

The subject of this invention being sufficiently described, it should be stated that any variation in dimensions, shapes, external appearance and types of materials employees in the implementation of the system that has been described will not change anything its spirit which is summarized in the following claims.

Claims (5)

Fast connection and disconnect mechanism for electrical devices, especially for devices used in low voltage installations, such as switches, pushbuttons, sockets and the like where the ends of the electrical conductors connected to these devices must be connected, essentially characterized by the fact that a contact spring (2) remains housed inside a contact body (1), this spring is fixed by small projections (3) that this contact body (1) has at the part of the bottom of its inner side faces and by internal flanges (4) also located at the inner part of the body (1) and which have been bent inwards until reaching the perpendicular. Connection and quick-disconnect mechanism for electrical devices according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the contact spring (2) is formed by a horizontal flat base (5) provided on both sides of rectangular entrances (6) which will surround the protrusions (3) of the interior of the body (1) this base of the spring being extended by means of a very sharp fold, rounded, into an inclined flange divided into two identical parts (7) from a single central opening (8) allowing the independent bending of the two flanges when the lower angular end (10) of each of the two corresponding actuating buttons (9) acts on them, this contact spring (2) being provided at the central portion flanges (7) of a transverse delineation (11) semi-cylindrical section which constitutes the engagement zone where this lower angular end (10) of the corresponding actuating button (9) will remain nested. Connection and quick disconnect mechanism for electrical devices according to claim 2, characterized in that the two actuating buttons (9) are substantially symmetrical and can be coupled together by means of a cylindrical core (12) d one of them, which is introduced into the cylindrical hollow (13) in front of the other, these buttons (9) being provided with support pins (14) which will be fitted into the carcass (1a) of the body ( 1) where they are integrated, which allow the independent swinging of each button and each button being also provided with a control lever (15) for acting independently on each button and a vertical foot (16) for engagement on the corresponding part of the flange (7) of the contact spring, the vertical feet which are introduced by an upper opening (17 of the contact body (1) by pressing on the corresponding portion of the flange (7) and which end at the end angular (10 ) for easy and correct interlocking in the engagement delta (11) of the corresponding flange (7). Connection and fast disconnection device for electrical devices according to the preceding claims, characterized in that , by means of a downward pressure on the actuating lever (15) of the button, it will be rocked and displaced accordingly. the foot (16) whose lower angular end, acute apex (10) will cause the descent of the flange (7) leaving a space (7a) in which the user or technician (19) will remain placed, an operation that is will easily do when the flange will remain fixed to the appropriate position for the fitting of the end (10) of the foot of the button into the snapping notch (11), a moment to which, by pressing the lever (15) of the button (9) upwards, it will proceed to release the flange (7) to disengage it, this flange suitably fix the electrical conductor (18) against the body (1) of the contact by its upper inner face. Connection and quick disconnect mechanism for electrical devices according to claim 4, characterized in that the fact that the two buttons (9) can be actuated independently on the corresponding flanges (7) of the contact spring (2) will enable the placement by connection of electrical conductors (18) having different diameters because the flexibility of these flange portions (7) will fix, when released, the corresponding conductors (18) regardless of their size.

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