Electrical socket including a movable piston
The electrical socket addresses the issue of central post damage by incorporating inclined surfaces that enable the central upright to slide and retract upon impact, enhancing the socket's durability and safety.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2022003471
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-04-14
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-05
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-04-14
AI Technical Summary
Existing electrical sockets with a central post locked in the upper axial position are prone to damage from frontal impacts or strong pressure, as they cannot slide backwards without first rotating, risking deformation of the central post and well bottom.
The electrical socket design includes inclined surfaces on the central upright and bottom wall that allow the central upright to slide from a locking to a sliding position upon a frontal impact, reducing the risk of breakage by enabling retraction of the central upright into the well.
This design significantly reduces the risk of central post breakage by allowing the central upright to retract upon impact, maintaining the socket's integrity and functionality.
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Electrical socket comprising a movable piston
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of electrical sockets.
[0002] It relates more specifically to an electrical socket comprising:
[0003] - a cylindrical wall of a well,
[0004] - a piston closing the section of this well, movable in translation relative to said cylindrical wall, comprising at least two openings,
[0005] - a central post that can be moved in translation along the axis of the well, jointly with the piston,
[0006] said central upright being adapted to pivot around the axis of the well between an axial sliding angular position and a locking angular position,
[0007] - the central upright comprising a rear part adapted to rest on a front part of a bottom wall of the well to lock in a high axial position when the central upright is in the angular locking position.
[0008] The invention allows the production of electrical sockets of any standard, in particular electrical sockets conforming to the standard with lateral earth contacts or to the Franco-Belgian standard.
[0009] An electrical socket such as the one mentioned above in document FR2967830 belonging to the applicants is already known. One drawback of the electrical socket described in this document is that the central post, locked in the upper axial position when in the locking angular position, cannot be unlocked to allow the piston to be pushed in without first rotating it from its locking angular position to its axial sliding angular position.
[0010] Therefore, a frontal impact or a strong pressure on the piston when the central post is locked in the high position risks damaging said central post because it cannot slide backwards and risks deforming the bottom of the well.
[0011] In order to remedy this drawback, the present invention proposes an electrical socket as defined in the introduction in which the locking of the central upright in the high axial position can be disengaged in the event of a frontal impact occurring on the piston.
[0012] More particularly, the invention proposes an electrical socket in which, at least on one of said rear parts of the central upright and front part of the bottom wall, an inclined surface is provided so that said rear and front parts are adapted to slide on each other to move the central upright from its locking angular position to its sliding angular position when the piston receives a displacement force directed towards the bottom wall of the well.
[0013] Thus, when an impact occurs on the front face of the electrical plug piston According to the invention, the cooperation of the rear part of the central upright and the front part of the bottom wall of the electrical socket well allows the central upright and piston to retract into the well, which considerably reduces the risk of breakage of the central upright.
[0014] Other non-limiting and advantageous features of the electrical socket according to the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations, are as follows:
[0015] - it includes a shutter mounted at one front end of the central upright, this ob turator being adapted to rotate freely relative to the central upright between a position of closure of said orifices of the piston and a position of opening of said orifices;
[0016] - the obturator is housed at the rear of the piston, in a cassette;
[0017] - said inclined surface makes a non-zero angle with a plane perpendicular to the axis of the well, said inclined surface moving away from the piston in the direction of pivoting of the central upright from its locking angular position to its sliding angular position;
[0018] - said rear part of the central upright has a perpendicular flat surface to the longitudinal axis of the central upright;
[0019] - the central upright has at least one longitudinal rib extending outwards of its external face and of which a rear end face forms said rear part of the central upright;
[0020] - a portion of the socket located at the front of the central upright comprises at least one ramp inclined towards the rear and said central post includes at least a front part adapted to slide on said ramp to move from its angular sliding position to its angular locking position;
[0021] - each ramp is provided on the rear face of a back wall of the cassette;
[0022] - said longitudinal rib comprises a front end face which forms said front part of the central upright;
[0023] - each inclined ramp extends along a slope less than the slope along which extends the said inclined surface of one of the rear parts of the central upright and front of the bottom wall of the well;
[0024] - said central upright is rotationally linked to the shutter in its angular position of lockdown ;
[0025] - said bottom wall of the well has a central opening through which said central upright is adapted to slide when it is in the angular sliding position;
[0026] - a means of permanently constraining the central amount towards the position high axial in which the piston extends near the front edge of said wall cylindrical;
[0027] - said return means is a compression spring housed at least in part in the inside of the central upright and interposed between it and a bottom of the electrical socket.
[0028] The following description with regard to the attached drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be carried out.
[0029] On the attached drawings:
[0030] [Fig-1] is an exploded schematic view of an electrical socket according to the invention,
[0031] [Fig.2] is a schematic perspective view of the electrical socket of the [Fig.1] assembly,
[0032] [Fig.3] is a schematic perspective view of the electrical socket of the [Fig.2] in which a plug is being inserted, the prongs of the plug being inserted into the socket without the piston being retracted,
[0033] [Fig.4] is a schematic perspective view of the electrical socket of [Fig.2], with a section torn off,
[0034] [Fig.5] is an enlarged schematic view of area A of [Fig.4],
[0035] [Fig.6] is a schematic perspective view of the electrical socket of the [Fig.2] in which the piston experiences a displacement force directed towards the bottom wall of the well,
[0036] [Fig.7] is an enlarged schematic view of area B of [Fig.6],
[0037] [Fig.8] is a schematic front perspective view of the bottom of the intake well electric of the [Fig.l],
[0038] [Fig.9] is an enlarged schematic view of area C of [Fig.8],
[0039] [Fig. 10] is a schematic top view of a central area of the bottom wall of the electrical outlet shaft of [Fig. 1] with the central upright in its sliding angular position,
[0040] [Fig. 11] is a schematic top view of part of the electrical socket of [Fig. 1], shown without the piston, in which the shutter has pivoted to release access to the connection terminals,
[0041] [Fig. 12] is a schematic profile view of part of the electrical socket of [Fig. 1], comprising the piston, the shutter and the cassette containing the shutter, as well as the central upright,
[0042] [Fig. 13] is an enlarged schematic view of area D of [Fig. 12],
[0043] [Fig. 14] is a schematic perspective view of the central upright of the socket electric of the [Fig.l],
[0044] [Fig.15] is an enlarged schematic view of area E of [Fig.14], viewed from a different angle,
[0045] [Fig. 16] is a schematic view similar to that of [Fig. 15], showing one possible variant of the shape of the central upright, and
[0046] [Fig. 17] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electrical outlet of [Fig.2].
[0047] In the description that follows, by convention, the term "front" will refer to the side of the electrical plug facing a user when it is in the position of use, while the term "rear" will refer to the opposite side of this electrical plug.
[0048] As a preliminary point, it should be noted that, from one figure to another, the identical or similar elements of the different embodiments of the invention will be referenced by the same reference signs and will not be described each time.
[0049] Figures 1 to 15 and 17 show a preferred embodiment of an electrical socket 700 according to the invention.
[0050] This electrical socket 700 has a well 300 adapted to receive an electrical plug 800 for connecting this plug to the electrical network (see [Fig.3]).
[0051] The electrical outlet 700 can be recessed into any wall (not shown) or surface-mounted on such a wall. Alternatively, it can be an extension cord type outlet or a multi-outlet power strip. The principle of the invention described below remains unchanged.
[0052] As shown in figures 1 to 4, 6, and 17, the electrical socket 700 has an overall cylindrical shape.
[0053] It includes a base 100 on which is attached, at the front, the well 300 adapted to receive the body of the electrical plug 800 (figures 2 and 3).
[0054] The base 100 and the well 300 are made of insulating material, for example by molding a plastic material.
[0055] The base 100 has a complex shape, inscribed within a cylinder. It is closed at the rear by a bottom wall 120 from which rises a generally cylindrical side wall 110 ([Fig. 1]). This base 100 is open at the front.
[0056] The well 300 comprises a cylindrical wall 310 that delimits an interior space for the insertion of the plug body 800 and a bottom wall 320 that closes this interior space at the rear. The cylindrical wall 310 extends along a longitudinal axis X defining the direction of insertion of the plug 800 into the well (Figures 1, 2, and 4). The interior space of the well 300 opens at the front by a circular opening 310A through which the plug body 800 is inserted into the well (Figures 1 and 8). The bottom wall 320 of the well 300 extends substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X ([Fig. 4]).
[0057] The well 300 is mounted on the side wall 110 of the base 100, at the front of it (figures 2, 3, 4 and 6).
[0058] To this end, the cylindrical wall 310 of the well 300 extends rearward by means of two diametrically opposed tabs 330 provided with mounting means by ratchets adapted to cooperate with complementary means provided in the side wall 110 of the base 100 (figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6).
[0059] More particularly, each tongue 330 here has two windows 331 in each of which hooks a hooking tooth 112 projecting from the side wall 110 of the base 100 to secure the base 100 and the well 300 (figures 1 to 3).
[0060] The cylindrical wall 310 of the well 300 has an external face 31 IA which extends at least partially in the continuation of an external face 111 of the lateral wall 110 of the base 100 (figures 2 and 3).
[0061] The circular front opening 310A of the well 300 is bordered by a rim 312 which protrudes from the external face 31 IA of the cylindrical wall 310 of the well 300 (figures 1 and 8).
[0062] This cylindrical wall 310 has two lateral uprights 340 provided face to face, extending outward from an internal face 31 IB of this cylindrical wall 310 parallel to its longitudinal axis X ([Fig.l]). Each side post 340 has a central groove 342 which opens at a front end of the side post 340 (located near the circular front opening 310A of the shaft 300) and which separates two parallel legs of said side post 340. Mounting ribs are provided on the back of the legs of each side post 340 (i.e., on a face turned towards the inner face 31 IB of the cylindrical wall 310) for fitting into corresponding slots 314 provided in said cylindrical wall 310. The slots 314 are visible in [Fig. 8], which shows the cylindrical wall 310 of the shaft 300 not fitted with said side posts 340.
[0063] The side uprights 340 are diametrically opposed in the well 300 of the electrical socket 700 and are adapted to guide the sliding of the electrical plug 800 in the well 300 of the electrical socket 700 when it is inserted.
[0064] The base 100 houses the electrical contact elements 200 allowing the electrical contact elements of the electrical plug 800 inserted in the well 300 of the electrical socket 700 to be connected to the electrical network.
[0065] These electrical contact elements 200 comprise three connection terminals ( [Fig.l]).
[0066] A phase terminal 210 and a neutral terminal 210 are provided ([Fig.l]) as well as an earth terminal 220, each intended to be electrically connected to an electrical conductor from the network.
[0067] Each of the three connection terminals includes a part for contacting the electrical contact elements of the electrical plug 800 and a part for connecting to the electrical network.
[0068] Each phase 210 and neutral 210 terminal housed in the base 110 has a receiving recess 211 adapted to receive one of the phase and neutral pins of the electrical plug 800 (Figures 1 and 8). This receiving recess constitutes part of contact at each terminal.
[0069] As shown more particularly in figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 closes the base 100 at the front. It has two circular openings 321 located opposite the receiving recesses 211 of the phase terminals 210 and neutral terminals 210 housed in the base 100.
[0070] The earth terminal 220 shown in the figures here comprises a U-shaped metal blade forming a lyre, shown in [Fig.1] and which constitutes its contact part.
[0071] The lyre 220 has two lateral branches 221 which rise from a central base 222 ([Fig.1]).
[0072] The bottom wall 320 of the well 300 has two diametrically opposed peripheral cutouts 322 for the passage of the lateral branches 221 of this lyre 220 ( [Fig.8]).
[0073] The inner face 31 IB of the cylindrical wall 310 of the shaft 300 has two recesses 313 (Figures 1 and 8) which meet rearward at the cutouts 322 of the bottom wall 320 of the shaft 300. The two recesses 313 are diametrically opposed along a diameter oriented at 90 degrees to the diameter at which the lateral uprights 340 are positioned. They house a portion of each lateral arm 221 of the lyre 220, another portion of which protrudes into the interior space of the shaft 300 of the electrical socket 700.
[0074] The base 222 of the lyre 220 is housed in the base 100, against the rear face of the bottom wall 320 of the shaft 300.
[0075] Each phase 210, neutral 210, and earth 220 terminal housed in the base 100 also includes an automatic connector 212, 224 for connecting the electrical conductor from the mains. Each automatic connector is accessible through an opening in the back wall 120 of the base 100 (not visible in the accompanying figures).
[0076] Alternatively, the earth terminal could conform to another standard, for example to the Franco-Belgian standard.
[0077] When the electrical plug 800 is inserted into the electrical socket 700, the pins of this plug pass through the circular openings 321 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 and enter the receiving recesses 211 of the phase 210 and neutral 210 terminals. The earth contact elements of the electrical plug also come into contact with the lateral arms 221 of the yoke 220.
[0078] The electrical socket 700 also includes a piston 600 which closes the section of the interior space of the well 300 and which is mounted movable in translation relative to said cylindrical wall 310 along the longitudinal axis X thereof, between two extreme positions (figures 1, 4, 6 and 17).
[0079] This piston 600 has a main wall 601 with an overall circular contour.
[0080] The contour of the main wall 601 of the piston 600 here has two cutouts 603 diametrically opposed for the passage of the lateral branches 221 of the lyre 220 as well as two pairs of notches 605 at right angles adapted to the passage of the legs of the lateral uprights 340 during the translation of the piston 600 (figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6).
[0081] Alternatively, if the electrical socket conforms to the Franco-Belgian standard, the piston includes, in place of the 603 cutouts, an opening allowing a ground pin to pass through.
[0082] The main wall 601 of the piston 600 has two circular orifices 604 whose centers are aligned on a diameter of this main wall 601. The dimensions and positions of these circular orifices 604 are adapted to the passage of the pins of the electrical plug 800 inserted in the well 300 of the electrical socket 700 (figures 1 to 4 and 6).
[0083] The main wall 601 of the piston 600 is partially surrounded by a falling wall 602 oriented towards the rear of the electrical socket 700 (figures 1 to 4 and 6, 17).
[0084] This falling wall 602 applies against the inner face 31 IB of the cylindrical wall 310 of the well 300 of the electrical socket 700 and participates in the translational guidance of the piston 600 along this cylindrical wall 310.
[0085] In one of the two extreme positions of the piston 600, referred to hereafter as the retracted position (not shown), the piston 600 extends back from the front edge of the cylindrical wall 310, close to the bottom wall 320 of the well 300.
[0086] In this recessed position, the circular orifices 604 of the main wall 601 of the piston 600 extend opposite and near the circular openings 321 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300. The pins of the electrical plug 800 pass through the circular orifices 604 of the main wall 601 of the piston 600 as well as the circular openings 321 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 to insert into the receiving recesses 211 of the phase 210 and neutral 210 terminals housed in the base 100.
[0087] In the other extreme position, referred to hereafter as the waiting position and shown in [Fig.2], the piston 600 extends close to the front edge of said cylindrical wall 310.
[0088] More specifically, in the waiting position, the front face of the main wall 601 of the piston 600 is flush with the front face of the rim 312 which runs along the front edge of the cylindrical wall 310.
[0089] In this standby position, the piston 600 closes most of the circular front opening 310A of the well 300 and closes the well 300 to prevent access to the electrical contact elements 200 housed in the electrical socket 700.
[0090] The piston 600 further comprises sliding means 606, 607 in the well 300, adapted to slide in complementary guiding means 341, 342 provided in the side posts 340 ([Fig.l]).
[0091] The sliding means 606, 607 of the piston 600 comprise two pairs of studs 607 carried by the falling wall 602 of the piston 600. These studs 607 are positioned opposite the notches 605 provided in the contour of the main wall 601 of the piston 600. They also comprise two diametrically opposed cooperation tabs 606, each formed by one of the pairs of right-angled notches 605 made in the contour of the main wall 601 of the piston 600 and adapted to the passage of the lateral uprights 340 (figures 1 to 4, 6 and 12).
[0092] The guiding means 341, 342 of each side post 340 comprise two grooves 341 formed in the inner face of the two legs of the side post 340, in which the corresponding studs 607 of the piston 600 are adapted to slide. They also comprise the central groove 342 of the side post 340 in which one of the cooperating lugs 606 of the piston 600 is adapted to slide.
[0093] The front end wall of each groove 341 of the legs of the side uprights 340 forms a stop wall against which the corresponding studs 607 of the piston 600 bear in order to limit the translational movement of the piston 600 towards the front of the electrical socket 700.
[0094] The bottoms of the central grooves 342 of the lateral uprights 340 further form stops against which the corresponding cooperation lugs 606 of the piston 600 bear in order to limit the translational movement of the piston 600 towards the rear of the electrical socket 700.
[0095] The piston 600 slides in the well jointly with a central upright 400 whose longitudinal axis XI coincides with the longitudinal axis X of the cylindrical wall 310 of the well 300.
[0096] The central upright 400 is adapted to slide axially in two opposite grooves 323A (figures 4, 6, 8, 9 and 10) between a high axial position corresponding to the waiting position of the piston 600 and a low axial position corresponding to the pushed-in position of the piston 600.
[0097] In the upper axial position (Figures 2, 3, 4, and 17), the central upright 400 is also adapted to pivot about the longitudinal axis X between a sliding angular position in which it is adapted to slide in the grooves 323A and a locking angular position in which the sliding of said central upright 400 is blocked so as to hold the piston 600 in its waiting position. This pivoting is accompanied by a small axial translational movement, as explained later. The central upright 400 has a rear portion (located near its rear end 404) adapted to bear against a front portion of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 to lock in the upper axial position when the central upright 400 is in the locking angular position.
[0098] In its lower axial position (not shown), the central upright 400 is engaged in the grooves 323A which prevent any pivoting of the central upright 400 around the longitudinal axis X. It then remains in its angular sliding position.
[0099] This operation is made possible thanks to the particular structure of the central upright 400, which has a section that is at least partially non-circular, and thanks to the shape of the front part 324 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 which cooperates with the central upright 400.
[0100] Remarkably, at least one of said rear and front parts of the central upright 400 and the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 is provided with an inclined surface such that said rear and front parts of the central upright 400 and the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 are adapted to slide on each other to move the central upright 400 from its locking angular position to its sliding angular position when the piston 600 receives a displacement force directed towards the bottom wall of the well.
[0101] The locking of the central upright 400 in its high axial position, corresponding to the waiting position of the piston 600, is therefore advantageously disengageable, independently of the insertion of the electrical plug 800 into the electrical socket 700, by a simple press on the piston 600 towards the rear of the socket, according to a predetermined minimum force.
[0102] The central upright 400 comprises a cylindrical body 401 with a front end 403 and a rear end 404. This cylindrical body 401 is provided with two longitudinal ribs 402, hereafter referred to as fins 402 ([Fig. 16]), which extend diametrically opposite, projecting from the external face of this cylindrical body 401.
[0103] These fins 402 extend lengthwise along two generatrices of the cylindrical body 401 over a determined portion of said cylindrical body 401.
[0104] Each of the fins 402 therefore has a rear end face 402A located near the rear end 404 of the central upright 400 and a front end face 402B located near the front end 403 of said central upright 400.
[0105] The central upright 400 slides through a central opening 323 in the bottom wall 320 of the well 300. The edge of this central opening 323 in the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 forms here the two grooves 323A in which the fins 402 of the central upright 400 slide (figures 8 and 9).
[0106] The central opening 323 of the bottom wall 320 of the shaft 300 has a contour adapted to the passage of the fins 402 of the central upright 400 when the latter is in its angular sliding position, as shown in [Fig. 10]. When sliding, the central upright 400 also passes through a similarly shaped opening 223 in the base 222 of the lyre 220 (see [Fig. 1]).
[0107] When the central upright 400 is in its upper axial position and pivots around the longitudinal axis X, it moves away from this angular sliding position and the fins 402 are no longer positioned opposite the grooves 323A of the central opening 323 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300. Each fin has a rear portion adapted to bear against said front portion of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 to block the sliding of the central upright 400 towards the rear of the electrical socket 700. The central upright 400 is then in its angular locking position. More specifically, in this angular locking position, the rear end face 402A of each fin 402 extends opposite a bearing portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300. Each bearing portion 324 is located at the edge of the central opening 323 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300.
[0108] The position of the fins 402 of the central upright 400 in the angular locking position is schematically represented in dotted lines on [Fig. 10].
[0109] In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 15 and 17, the rear end face 402A of each fin 402 of the central upright 400 and each bearing portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis X, XI (see Figures 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14 and 15). The rear end face 402A of each fin 402 slides on the corresponding bearing portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 when a downward displacement force is applied to the piston 600 while it is in the standby position (Figures 8 and 9).
[0110] Each inclined surface, here the rear end face 402A of each fin 402, and each front portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320, makes a non-zero angle with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XI of the central upright 400 (Figures 9, 14, 15). Furthermore, each inclined surface 402A, 324 moves away from the piston 600 in the direction of pivoting (indicated by arrow F in [Fig. 12]) of the central upright 400 from its locking angular position to its sliding angular position. The rear end faces 402A of the fins 402 and the bearing portions 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 have approximately the same inclination. This has the advantage of increasing the contact between these faces. With the pressure distributed over a larger area, the risks of wear on these surfaces are limited.
[0111] The rear end face 402A of each fin 402 is substantially flat. Each bearing portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 has a helical shape which connects the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 to the corresponding groove 323A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300.
[0112] When a downward displacement force is applied to the piston 600, particularly in the absence of an electrical plug 800 being inserted into the socket When the electrical connection 700 is activated, the piston 600 retracts very slightly until the rear end face 402A of each fin 402 of the central upright 400 contacts the corresponding bearing portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 (Figures 6 and 7). If the displacement force exceeds a certain threshold, the rear end face 402A of each fin 402 slides on the corresponding bearing portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300, causing the central upright 400 to pivot around the longitudinal axis X from its locking angular position to its sliding angular position. The central upright 400 can then slide towards the rear of the electrical connection 700.
[0113] Thus, when a shock occurs on the piston 600, the central upright 400 pivots thanks to the cooperation of the inclined surfaces provided on the rear part of the central upright 400 and on the front part of the bottom wall of the well 300. This makes it possible to avoid damage to the central upright 400 in such a situation.
[0114] There are also provision of return means 450 which continuously return the central upright 400 to its upper axial position.
[0115] Here, these return means comprise a compression spring 450 housed at least partially inside the hollow cylindrical body 401 of the central upright 400 ( [Fig.1]).
[0116] This compression spring 450 is interposed between a wall connected to the base 100 and an inner face of the central upright 400.
[0117] In the example shown in the accompanying figures, the wall connected to the base 100 against which the compression spring 450 rests belongs to an element 121 attached to the base 100 (Figures 1 and 17). This element 121 is attached to the bottom wall 120 of the base 100 to close a central recess 122 ([Fig. 17]) of the base 100, delimited by internal partitions 123 of this base 100.
[0118] Housing 122 partially houses the central upright 400 in its lower axial position.
[0119] When the piston 600 is in its depressed position, the compression spring 450 is compressed inside the central upright 400 in its lower axial position.
[0120] When the displacement force exerted on the piston 600 (with or without insertion of an electrical plug 800 into the electrical socket) is released, the compression spring 450 relaxes and pushes the central upright 400 forward of the electrical socket 700.
[0121] The central upright 400 slides forward of the socket and pushes the piston 600 back to its waiting position ([Fig. 17]). The compression spring 450 relaxes while remaining partially housed in the cylindrical body 401 of the central upright 400. A rear portion of the compression spring 450 remains housed in the recess 122 of the base 100.
[0122] In order to return the central upright 400 to its locking angular position, the The electrical socket 700 further includes means for guiding the central upright 400 from its angular sliding position to its angular locking position when the central upright 400 slides forward of the socket.
[0123] These guiding means comprise at least one ramp 502 (figures 12 and 13) provided on a part 500 of the socket located at the front of the central upright 400. Each ramp 502 is inclined towards the rear.
[0124] The central upright 400 has correspondingly a front part adapted to slide on each ramp to move from its sliding angular position to its locking angular position.
[0125] The guiding means preferably comprise two ramps 502 diametrically opposed with respect to the central upright 400. The central upright 400 comprises the two front end faces 402B of the two fins 402 adapted to slide on these ramps 502 ([Fig. 14]).
[0126] Each of these ramps 502 is thus adapted to cooperate with each of the front end faces 402B of the fins 402 to rotate the central post 400 from its sliding angular position to its locking angular position.
[0127] In practice, when the central upright 400 slides forward from the electrical socket, the front end face 402B of each fin 402 comes to rest against the corresponding ramp 502. The piston 600 is then in its waiting position. As shown in Figures 12 and 14, the front end face 402B of each fin 402 is a flat surface extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis XI of the central upright 400. Each front end face 402B bears against the corresponding ramp 502 along one of its edges and slides on the ramp 502 ([Fig. 13]).
[0128] The action of the fins 402 on the ramps 502 disengages the rear end of each fin 402 from the grooves 323A of the central opening 323 in the bottom wall 320 of the well 300, and the upright 400 can pivot. The corresponding front end face 402B of each fin 402 then slides along the ramp 502. The central upright 400 pivots accordingly from its sliding angular position to its locking angular position.
[0129] Each ramp extends along a slope less than the slope along which said inclined surface extends from one of the rear and front parts of the central upright and the bottom wall of the well.
[0130] More specifically, the rear end face 402A of each fin 402 and each bearing portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 are inclined at a greater angle than the ramps 502. In this way, when bearing against the front face of the piston 600, the rear end face 402A of each fin 402 of the central support 400 slides at a greater angle than each ramp 502. This allows the fins 402 to pass under the ramps 502, without These do not interact with the fins 402 of the central upright 400.
[0131] A shutter 510 is also provided, mounted at the front end 403 of the central upright 400 ([Fig.11]).
[0132] This obturator 510 is disposed at the rear of the piston 600 and extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X (figures 1 and 11).
[0133] It is adapted to rotate around the longitudinal axis X, between a position of closing the circular orifices 604 of the main wall 601 of the piston 600 in which it prohibits access to the phase and neutral terminals, and an opening position of said circular orifices 604 in which it allows this access ([Fig. 11]).
[0134] For this purpose, the shutter 510 is mounted in a housing 403A of the front end 403 of the central upright 400, which will be described in more detail later. The shutter 510 further includes drive means 511 adapted to cooperate with the free ends of the pins of the electrical plug 800 inserted through the circular orifices 604 of the main wall 601 of the piston 600, to move the shutter 510 from its closed position to its open position ([Fig. 11]).
[0135] These drive means are in the form of inclined surfaces 511 on which slide the free ends of the pins of the electrical plug 800, inserted in the electrical socket 700.
[0136] More specifically, here the obturator 510 is housed in a cassette 500 mounted at the rear of the piston 600.
[0137] The piston 600, the obturator 510, the cassette 500, and the central upright 400 are thus fixed together in translation within the well 300 of the electrical socket 700 ([Fig. 1]). The translation of the piston 600 towards the rear of the electrical socket 700 is further limited by the stop of the cassette 500 against the bottom wall 320 of the well 300.
[0138] The cassette 500 is in the form of a parallelepiped closed at the front by the main wall 601 of the piston 600.
[0139] This cassette 500 comprises a bottom wall 501 surrounded by a side wall 507 extending perpendicularly to this bottom 501 (Figures 1 and 11). Teeth 503 projecting from the side wall 507 of the cassette 500 allow the piston 600 to be snapped onto this side wall 507 of the cassette 500 ([Fig. 1]). The ramps 502 are provided on the rear face of this bottom wall 501 and border a central opening in the bottom wall 501.
[0140] The bottom wall 501 of the cassette 500 has openings 506 allowing the passage of the pins of the electrical plug 800 when the shutter 510 is in its open position. The front end 403 of the central upright 400 passes through the central opening of the bottom wall 501 (Figures 1 and 11).
[0141] A partition 504 of the cassette 500 rises from the front face of the bottom wall 501, at the edge of the central orifice, to guide the rotation of the shutter 510 and of the end of the 400 amount ([Fig.l]).
[0142] Two internal partitions 505 of the cassette 500 form stop partitions limiting the rotation of the shutter 510 ([Fig. 11]).
[0143] It is also provided for means of returning the shutter 510 to its shutter position, which act continuously on the shutter 510.
[0144] These return means here comprise a compression spring 520 ([Fig. 11]) interposed between a lateral part of the shutter 510 and the lateral wall 507 of the cassette 500.
[0145] One end of the compression spring 520 is housed here in a housing 521 of the cassette 500. The other end of the spring 520 is threaded onto a pin of the shutter 510.
[0146] The shutter 510 has a central bar 512 which is received in the housing 403A provided at the front end 403 of the central upright 400 for its mounting on it.
[0147] The shutter 510 is here free to rotate relative to the central upright 400 when the latter is in its angular sliding position, whether the central upright 400 is otherwise in a high or low axial position.
[0148] On the other hand, as will be explained in more detail below, the shutter 510 is rotationally linked to the central post 400 when the latter is in its angular locking position.
[0149] This is made possible by the particular shape of the housing 403A which receives the central bar 512 of the shutter 510. A gap is in fact provided between this central bar 512 and the edge of the housing 403A of the front end 403 of the central upright 400.
[0150] More specifically, the housing 403A is in the form of a groove extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis XI of the central upright 400 and opening out at its front end.
[0151] This groove 403A has a central portion with a cross-section smaller than the cross-section of the remainder of groove 403A. As a result, this central part of groove 403A closely frames, with only a gap, the central bar 512 of the shutter 510 so that it can rotate around the longitudinal axis XI of the central post 400.
[0152] The remainder of the groove 403A gradually widens from this central part towards the periphery of the central upright 400, so as to delimit an angular sector in which the central bar 512 of the shutter 510 can pivot ([Fig. 11]).
[0153] Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of the central post 400 and the shutter 510 when the central post 400 is in its angular locking position.
[0154] The central bar 512 of the shutter 510 is then in contact with a part of the edge of the housing 403A which is located on the side towards which the central bar 512 rotates when the shutter 510 moves from its shutter position to its opening position.
[0155] Thus, during a rotation in this direction, the central bar 512 of the shutter 510 pushes the edge of the housing 403A and causes the central upright 400 to pivot.
[0156] The shutter 510 and the central upright 400 are then linked in rotation.
[0157] The shape of the housing 403A of the central upright 400 is designed so that this rotation brings the central upright 400 into its angular sliding position.
[0158] For this purpose, the front end face 402B of each fin 402 of the central upright 400 slides along each ramp 502 provided at the rear of the cassette 500. The movement of the central upright 400 is therefore helical (see [Fig.3]) because each ramp 502 imposes a slight translational movement towards the rear when the front end face 402B of each fin 402 slides along each ramp 502.
[0159] In its locked position, the simple pivoting of the central upright 400, not driven by a press on the piston or by the pivoting of the shutter when the free ends of the pins of the electrical plug are inserted into the socket, is therefore blocked in one direction by each ramp 502 and in the other direction by the stop of the edge of the housing 403A of the front end 403 of the central upright 400 against the central bar 512 of the shutter 510, itself blocked by the butting against one of the internal partitions 505 of the cassette 500.
[0160] In the angular sliding position of the central upright 400, when the shutter 510 is in its open position, a clearance is present between the central bar 512 of the shutter 510 and the edge of the housing 403A of the front end 403 of the central upright 400. This clearance allows the rotation of the shutter 510 from its open position to its closed position ([Fig. 11]).
[0161] Consequently, if the pins of the electrical plug 800 do not hold the shutter 510 in its open position, it is returned to its closed position by the compression spring 520. The central bar 512 of the shutter 510 pivots in the housing 403A of the front end 403 of the central upright 400.
[0162] The rotational movement of the shutter 510 does not then cause any movement of the central upright 400.
[0163] The central upright 400 cannot therefore prevent the rotation of the shutter 510.
[0164] Thus, in particular, the shutter 510 is free to return to its shutter position, even if the central 400 post is in its lower axial position in which it is not free to pivot.
[0165] The body of the electrical plug 800 advantageously has an external lateral face with geometry complementary to that of the internal space of the well 300 of the electrical socket 700, and its insertion into the well 300 is guided by the central grooves 342 of the lateral uprights 340.
[0166] In practice, when the piston 600 is in its standby position, the central post 400 is in its upper axial position and in its locking angular position and The 510 shutter is in its shutter position.
[0167] The introduction of the pins of the electrical plug 800 into the circular openings 604 of the main wall 601 of the piston 600 causes the obturator 510 to rotate from its obturating position to its opening position by action of the free ends of said pins on the inclined faces 511 of this obturator 510.
[0168] The rotation of the shutter 510 causes the central upright 400 to pivot from its locking angular position to its sliding angular position.
[0169] The piston 600 and the central upright 400 then slide in the well 300 under the pressure of the electrical plug 800 until the piston 600 is in its depressed position. The central upright 400 is then in its lower axial position, still in the angular sliding position.
[0170] The electrical plug 800 is inserted into the socket and its pins are then connected to the electrical terminals 210 of the electrical socket 700.
[0171] In an abnormal operating situation, if the piston 600 is held in its depressed position, while the electrical plug 800 is removed, the obturator 510 is then free to rotate around the longitudinal axis X.
[0172] The action of the spring 520 on the obturator 510 immediately returns the latter to its obturating position, as soon as the pins of the electrical plug 800 are extracted from the circular openings 604 of the main wall 601 of the piston 600.
[0173] Access to the socket connection terminals is thus prevented in this situation and the electrical safety of the electrical socket is reinforced.
[0174] If the piston 600 is then released, the central post 400 slides forward under the action of the compression spring 450 described previously, and returns the piston 600 to its waiting position.
[0175] The central upright 400 then slides on the ramps 502 provided at the rear of the cassette 500 and is brought back into its angular locking position.
[0176] The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and represented, but a person skilled in the art will be able to make any variation in accordance with their spirit.
[0177] Alternatively, it can be envisaged that only each bearing portion of the front face of the bottom wall of the electrical socket well is inclined: the rear end face 402'A of each fin 402 then extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis XI of the central upright 400, as shown in [Fig. 16]. An edge of each rear end face 402'A bears against each inclined bearing portion of the front face of the bottom wall of the well in order to slide along it.
[0178] Alternatively, only the rear part of the central upright can be inclined: the rear end face of each fin then has an inclined rear face, which slides on an edge of each straight support part of the front face from the bottom wall of the intake shaft.
Claims
Demands
1. An electrical socket (700) comprising: - a cylindrical wall (310) of a well (300), - a piston (600) closing the cross-section of this well (300), movable in translation relative to said cylindrical wall (310), having at least two orifices (604), - a central upright (400) movable in translation along the axis of the well (300), jointly with the piston (600), said central upright (400) being adapted to pivot about the axis (X) of the well between an axial sliding angular position and a locking angular position, - the central upright (400) having a rear portion (402A), adapted to bear against a front portion (324) of a bottom wall (320) of the well to lock in a high axial position when the central upright (400) is in the locking angular position, characterized in that it is provided, at least on one of said rear portions (402A) of the central upright (400) and in front (324) of the bottom wall (320),an inclined surface such that said rear and front parts (402A, 324) are adapted to slide over each other to move the central upright (400) from its locking angular position to its sliding angular position when the piston (600) receives a displacement force directed towards the bottom wall (320) of the well.
2. Electrical socket (700) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a shutter (510) mounted at a front end of the central post (400), this shutter (510) being adapted to rotate freely relative to the central post (400) between a position of closing said orifices (604) of the piston (600) and a position of opening said orifices.
3. Electrical socket (700) according to claim 2, wherein the shutter (510) is housed at the rear of the piston (600), in a cassette (500).
4. Electrical socket (700) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said inclined surface makes a non-zero angle with a plane perpendicular to the axis (X) of the well (300), said inclined surface moving away from the piston (600) in the pivoting direction of the central upright (400) from its locking angular position to its sliding angular position.
5. Electrical socket (700) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which said rear part (402'A) of the central upright (400) has a flat surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (XI) of the central upright (400).
6. Electrical socket (700) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the central upright (400) has at least one longitudinal rib (402) projecting out of its outer face and of which a rear end face forms said rear part (402A) of the central upright (400).
7. Electrical socket (700) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a portion (500) of the socket located at the front of the center post (400) comprises at least one ramp (502) inclined towards the rear and said center post (400) comprises at least one front portion (402B) adapted to slide on said ramp (502) to move from its sliding angular position to its locking angular position.
8. Electrical outlet (700) according to claims 3 and 7, wherein each ramp (502) is provided on the rear face of a bottom wall (501) of the cassette (500).
9. Electrical socket (700) according to claims 6 and 7, wherein said longitudinal rib (402) has a front end face which forms said front part (402B) of the central upright (400).
10. Electrical outlet (700) according to any one of claims 7 and 8, wherein each inclined ramp (502) extends along a slope less than the slope along which said inclined surface extends from one of the rear (402A) portions of the center post (400) and front (324) portions of the bottom wall (320).
11. Electrical socket (700) according to claim 2, wherein said central post (400) is rotationally linked to the shutter (510) in its locking angular position.
12. Electrical outlet (700) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said bottom wall (320) of the well (300) has a central opening (323) through which said central post (400) is adapted to slide when in the sliding angular position.
13. Electrical socket (700) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a return means (450) permanently constrains the central upright (400) towards the high axial position in which the piston (600) extends near the front edge of said cylindrical wall (310).
14. Electrical socket (700) according to claim 13, wherein said return means (450) is a compression spring (450) housed in less partly inside the central upright (400) and interposed between it and the back wall (320) of the electrical outlet (700).