Surge protection device, as well as electrical installation incorporating such a protection device

Abstract

Surge protection device, and electrical installation including such a protection device. This surge protection device (100) comprises a housing (110) and an electrical module (120) arranged within an internal volume (V110) of the housing. The electrical module includes a phase terminal (121) adjacent to one end (115) of the housing, a slot (E120) adjacent to an opposite end (116) of the housing, and a fuse (122) and a varistor (123) connected in series with the phase terminal and arranged along a length axis (Z110) such that the fuse is positioned between the phase terminal and the varistor, and the varistor is positioned between the fuse and the slot. The electrical module further includes a gas discharge tube (124) and an earth terminal (125), which are connected in series with the varistor and arranged within the slot. Figure for the summary: Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: Overvoltage protection device, as well as electrical installation comprising such a protection device

[0001] The present invention relates to a surge protection device. It also relates to an electrical installation comprising such a protection device.

[0002] An electrical installation of a building usually includes an electrical panel connecting this installation to a collective electricity distribution network, as well as to the ground. Generally, the electrical installation also includes various devices for protecting, controlling and / or monitoring the installation. Among these various devices, we know in particular the surge protection devices, commonly called surge arresters or surge protectors or SPD which is the acronym for the English expression "Surge Protection Devices". These protection devices make it possible to protect the electrical installation against transient surges in the electric current supplying this installation. These surges typically originate from lightning or incidents in the electricity distribution network.Such transient overvoltages are characterized by a significant transient rise in the supply voltage and are often accompanied by high current pulses.

[0003] The invention relates more specifically to electrical panels on an intermediate part of which are arranged, parallel and side by side, phase bus bars, which are typically three in number and which are intended to be respectively supplied by one phase of a polyphase electrical voltage, typically a three-phase voltage. These bus bars, commonly called "busbar" according to the English terminology in the field, thus form a group. Such electrical panels are common in many Anglo-Saxon countries, notably in the United Kingdom, where the phase bus bars extend lengthwise generally vertically, in the center of the electrical panel.To support electrical equipment to be connected to the phase busbars, the electrical panel is very often provided with two rails, such as DIN rails, each extending lengthwise parallel to the phase busbars and arranged along and on either side of the group formed by the phase busbars. Electrical equipment, such as certain protection, control and / or monitoring devices, can then be mounted on the rails, each being arranged perpendicular to the group of phase busbars to which these equipment are connected. connected directly. This arrangement of the electrical panel means that the latter is often referred to as the "fishbone" type. The electrical panel is, where appropriate, supplemented by two neutral bus bars, which are intended to be connected to the neutral of the electric current and which extend in length parallel to and at a distance from the phase bus bars, one of the two rails being interposed between the group of phase bus bars and one of the two neutral bus bars while the other rail is interposed between the group of phase bus bars and the other neutral bus bar.

[0004] The transient overvoltage protection devices currently available for fishbone type electrical panels are not satisfactory. These protection devices are generally bulky due to the electrical equipment they incorporate, so they cannot be mounted on one or other of the rails of the electrical panel, except, where appropriate, by occupying a substantial segment. This very often leads to at least some of the components of the protection device, or even the entire protection device, being arranged outside the rails, at a distance from the group of phase bus bars, where appropriate in a dedicated additional box, separate from the electrical panel.In all cases, this then requires the use of dedicated cabling between at least part of the protection device and the phase and neutral bus bars: beyond the installation and space constraints that this implies, the aforementioned cabling often leads, due to its length, to a degradation in the effectiveness of the overvoltage protection device.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is to remedy the problem detailed above, by proposing a surge protection device which, while being effective and practical, is particularly suitable for the aforementioned “fishbone” type electrical panels.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a device for protection against overvoltages, comprising: - a box, which defines a depth axis, a width axis and a length axis, which are perpendicular to each other, and which includes: - a front and a back, which are opposite each other along the depth axis, the back being adapted to cooperate with a rail of an electrical panel so that the box is supported by the rail, - two lateral sides, which are opposite each other along the width axis and which are connected to each other along the width axis by the front and the back of the case, and - first and second ends, which are opposite each other along the length axis and which are connected to each other along the length axis through the front, the back and the two side panels of the case, and - an electrical module or a plurality of electrical modules, which is arranged in an internal volume of the housing, delimited jointly by the front, the back, the two lateral sides and the first and second ends of the housing,

[0007] wherein the electrical module or each of the electrical modules of said plurality comprises: - a phase terminal, which is adjacent to the first end of the box so that a phase conductor of the electrical panel can be connected to the phase terminal at the first end of the box, - a location, which is adjacent to the second end of the box, and - a fuse and a varistor, which are connected in series to the phase terminal in the internal volume of the housing and which, along the length axis, are distributed so that the fuse is arranged between the phase terminal and the varistor and the varistor is arranged between the fuse and the location,

[0008] and wherein the electrical module or one of the electrical modules of said plurality further comprises a gas discharger and an earth terminal, which are:

[0009] - connected in series to the varistor of the electrical module or to the varistors res prospects of the electrical modules of said plurality in the internal volume of the housing, and

[0010] - arranged in the location of the electrical module considered so that a The protective conductor of the electrical panel can be connected to the earth terminal at the second end of the box.

[0011] One of the ideas underlying the invention is to make the protection device both compact and modular, in particular for the purposes of adapting it to an electrical panel of the aforementioned "fishbone" type. To do this, the invention provides for arranging, in the form of an electrical module, components arranged one after the other along a length axis of the housing of the protection device, these components being a phase terminal, a fuse and a varistor, which are connected in series inside the housing.The invention also provides that each electrical module includes a location which, along the length axis, is opposite the phase terminal, the varistor being thus arranged between this location and the fuse: a gas discharger and an earth terminal are received in the location of the electrical module when the protection device comprises only one such electrical module or are received in only one of the respective locations of the electrical modules when the protection device comprises a plurality of such electrical modules, the gas discharger and the earth terminal being connected in series to the varistor(s). The protection device according to the invention is thus advantageously available in a single-phase version. a single electrical module and a three-phase version with three electrical modules. The modular design allows the protection device according to the invention to both optimize the industrialization of its manufacture, by easily and inexpensively adapting the protection device to the number of phases that the protection device must protect, and to facilitate maintenance or repair work on the protection device.

[0012] Furthermore, the fact that the fuse, the varistor and the gas discharger are "stacked" along the length axis between the phase terminal and the earth terminal exploits, in terms of arrangement, to the maximum the dimension of the housing along this length axis, which makes it possible to minimize as much as possible the dimension of the housing along a width axis of the housing. This dimension of the housing along the width axis can thus advantageously reach a value of 18 mm when the protection device according to the invention comprises only a single electrical module and a value of 54 mm when the protection device according to the invention comprises three electrical modules, it being noted that these values ​​of 18 mm and 54 mm are market standards.

[0013] In all cases, the phase terminal and the earth terminal are located, within the protection device according to the invention, respectively at the two ends of the housing, opposite along the length axis, which makes it possible to mount the housing on a rail of an electrical panel of the aforementioned "fishbone" type so that the phase terminal is turned towards the group of phase bus bars in order to be easily and directly connected to one of them. In other words, the protection device according to the invention is particularly suitable for electrical panels of the aforementioned "fishbone" type.As detailed below, the protection device according to the invention is advantageously adapted to “fishbone” type electrical panels, including neutral bus bars: to do this, the protection device then integrates a neutral terminal, which is adjacent to the same end of the box as that to which the earth terminal is adjacent, and which is connected to the earth terminal via the gas discharger.

[0014] Other advantageous aspects of the device according to the invention, which aim in particular to reinforce the performance of the latter, will also be detailed later.

[0015] Thus, according to additional advantageous characteristics of the protection device according to the invention, taken in isolation or according to all technically possible combinations:

[0016] - the electrical module or one of the electrical modules of said plurality further comprises a neutral terminal which is (i) connected to the earth terminal via the gas discharger in the internal volume of the housing, and (ii) adjoining the second end of the housing such that a neutral conductor of the electrical panel is connectable to the neutral terminal at the second end of the housing;

[0017] - the gas discharger is connected to the varistor of the electrical module or to the va respective resistances of the electrical modules of said plurality by a conductive plate (i) which is arranged in the internal volume of the housing, being adjoining the back of the housing, and (ii) against which a terminal of the gas discharger is applied along the depth axis;

[0018] - the neutral terminal is connected to the gas discharger by the conductive plate;

[0019] - a single electrical module is provided, the protection device being single-phase, and the two lateral sides of the case are flat and parallel, being spaced from each other, along the width axis, by 18 mm;

[0020] - three electrical modules are provided, the protection device being three-phase, and the two lateral sides of the case are flat and parallel, being spaced from each other, along the width axis, by 54 mm;

[0021] - for the electrical module or each of the electrical modules of said plurality, the fuse has an elongated shape which extends in length from substantially the front to substantially the back of the case;

[0022] - for the electrical module or each of the electrical modules of said plurality, the fuse and the varistor are connected to each other by an electrical connection including two contacts and a weld which abuts the two contacts when the weld is intact while being adapted to break under the effect of heating of the varistor, and one of the two contacts is carried by an arm, which is held fixed in position by the weld when the weld is intact, and which is driven by a spring in the internal volume of the housing when the weld is broken so as to separate the two contacts from each other at least along the width axis;

[0023] - the protection device further comprises an electronic monitoring device pervision, which (i) includes an assembled printed circuit that is configured to provide an end-of-life indication for the electrical module or electrical modules of said plurality, and (ii) is arranged in the internal volume of the housing such that the assembled printed circuit is adjacent to one of the side walls of the housing;

[0024] - the electronic supervision device is connected to the respective varistors electrical modules of said plurality by respective conductive wires, and the housing includes internal partitions which position and maintain the conductive wires apart from each other in the internal volume of the housing.

[0025] The invention also relates to an electrical installation, comprising:

[0026] - an electrical panel which comprises (i) phase bus bars, which are intended to be respectively supplied by a phase of a voltage of a power supply electrical supply and which extend in length parallel to each other, being arranged side by side so as to form a group in an intermediate zone of the electrical panel, (ii) two rails, which are each adapted to support electrical equipment and which each extend in length parallel to the phase busbars, the two rails being arranged along and on either side of the group, and (iii) an earth bar which is intended to be connected to earth, and - the protection device as defined above,

[0027] wherein the housing is mounted on one of the two rails so that the first end of the housing faces the group of phase bus bars along the length axis,

[0028] wherein the phase terminal of the or each of the electrical modules of said plurality is connected to one of the phase bus bars by a phase conductor, which extends from and transversely to the phase bus bar in question and which is connected to the phase terminal of the electrical module in question at the first end of the housing,

[0029] and in which the earth terminal is connected to the earth bar by a protective conductor, which is wired and one end of which is connected to the earth terminal at the second end of the housing.

[0030] According to additional advantageous characteristics of the electrical installation according to the invention:

[0031] - a neutral conductor is connected to the neutral terminal at the second end of the case;

[0032] - the electrical panel further comprises, for at least one of the two rails, a bar neutral bus, which is intended to be supplied by a neutral of the electrical supply and which extends in length parallel to and at a distance from the phase bus bars, said at least one of the two rails being interposed between the neutral bus bar and the group of phase bus bars, and the neutral terminal is connected to the neutral bus bar by the neutral conductor which extends from and transversely to the neutral bus bar.

[0033] The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the drawings in which: - [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a schematic elevation view of an electrical installation in accordance with the invention; - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a protective device in accordance with the invention, according to a single-phase embodiment; - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a view similar to [Fig.2], from an angle different observation; - [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a section along plane IV of [Fig.2]; - [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of certain internal components of the protection device of [Fig.2]; - [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a view similar to [Fig.5], from a different observation angle; - [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of a protective device in accordance with the invention, according to a three-phase embodiment; - [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a view similar to [Fig.7], from a different observation angle; - [Fig.9] [Fig.9] is a section along plane IX of [Fig.7]; - [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] is a perspective view of certain internal components of the protection device of [Fig.7]; - [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] is a view similar to [Fig. 10], from a different angle of observation; - [Fig. 12] [Fig. 12] is a view similar to that of [Fig.5], but illustrating a variant of the single-phase embodiment of the protection device according to the invention; and - [Fig. 13] [Fig. 13] is a view similar to [Fig. 12], from a different viewing angle.

[0034] In [Fig.l] is shown an electrical installation 1 which equips for example a building for the purpose of connecting the latter to a collective electricity distribution network.

[0035] The electrical installation 1 comprises an electrical panel 10, which makes it possible to connect the electrical installation 1 to the electricity distribution network and which is fixedly attached to the building.

[0036] As schematically illustrated in [Fig.l], the electrical panel 10 comprises an insulating frame 11, which is fixed to the building and which supports the other components of the electrical panel 10, in particular the electrical components of the latter, by electrically insulating them from the building. The embodiment of the frame 11 is not limiting.

[0037] The electrical panel 10 also includes phase bus bars, which are here three in number and which are respectively referenced 12, 13 and 14. The phase bus bars 12, 13 and 14, commonly called "busbars" in the field, are, in service, respectively supplied by one phase of a voltage of an electrical supply, here three-phase, provided by the aforementioned electricity network. For this purpose, the phase bus bars 12, 13 and 14 are connected to a power cable of the electricity network, according to non-limiting arrangements which are not visible in [Fig.l]. Each of the phase bus bars 12, 13 and 14 mainly comprises a conductive bar or a set of conductive bars which are aligned and abutted against each other. In all cases, the phase busbars 12, 13 and 14 extend lengthwise parallel to each other, being arranged side by side while obviously being electrically insulated from each other. The phase busbars 12, 13 and 14 thus form a group which is arranged in an intermediate, or even central, area of ​​the electrical panel 10, being located in an intermediate, or even central, region of the frame 11. In practice, as illustrated schematically in [Fig.l], the phase busbars 12, 13 and 14 thus extend lengthwise along the vertical and the group which it forms is located horizontally halfway between the left and right lateral end edges of the frame 11.

[0038] As illustrated in [Fig.l] only schematically, the phase bus bar 12 is provided with phase conductors 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 which extend from and transversely to the phase bus bar 12, both on either side of the latter and being regularly distributed along it. These phase conductors 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 are for example fins which form, in an integrated manner with the phase bus bar 12, an electrical comb, the teeth of which correspond to the aforementioned fins and which distributes the phase supplying this phase bus bar 12. Of course, the number of phase conductors 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 of the phase bus bar 12, which is equal to three in the example of [Fig.l], is not limiting.

[0039] The phase bus bar 13 is provided with phase conductors, 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3, which are functionally and structurally similar to the phase conductors 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3 of the phase bus bar 12, but for the phase bus bar 13. Similarly, the phase bus bar 14 is provided with phase conductors 14.1, 14.2 and 14.3 which are functionally and structurally similar to the phase conductors 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3 of the phase bus bar 12, but for the phase bus bar 14. Of course, the different phase conductors 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3, 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3, 14.1, 14.2 and 14.3 are electrically insulated from each other, as well as from the two phase bus bars with which they are not associated, while being distributed alternately between them, so that, following the longitudinal direction of the phase bus bars 12, 13 and 14, the phase conductor 12.1, the phase conductor 13 follow one another.1, phase conductor 14.1, phase conductor 12.2, phase conductor 13.2, phase conductor 14.2, and so on.

[0040] The electrical panel 10 also comprises two rails 15 and 16 which are each adapted to support electrical equipment. The rails 15 and 16 are for example DIN rails, well known as such in the field. As illustrated schematically in [Fig.l], each of the rails 15 and 16 extends lengthwise parallel to the phase bus bars 12, 13 and 14. The rails 15 and 16 are arranged along and on either side of the group formed by the phase bus bars 12, 13 and 14.

[0041] In practice, the intrinsic specificities of the rails 15 and 16 are not limiting since the rails 15 and 16 advantageously make it possible to make the electrical panel 10 modular in the sense that each of the rails 15 and 16 is designed to support indifferently various electrical equipment to be connected to the phase bus bars 12, 13 and 14, it being noted that such electrical equipment is illustrated in [Fig.l], as detailed below: these various electrical equipment, which advantageously make it possible to protect, control and / or supervise the electrical installation 1, are chosen according to the needs of the electrical installation 1 and are interchangeable in the event of maintenance or changes in the aforementioned needs.In all cases, the electrical equipment which is actually mounted on the rails 15 and 16 is arranged perpendicular to these rails 15 and 16 and to the group formed by the phase bus bars 12, 13 and 14 to which this equipment can be connected directly via the phase conductors 12.1 to 14.3. Thus, the electrical panel 10 is of the “fishbone” type, as mentioned in the introductory part of this document.

[0042] As clearly visible in [Fig.l], the electrical apparatuses, mounted on the rails 15 and 16, include two overvoltage protection devices, namely a single-phase protection device 100, which is here mounted on the rail 15 and which is shown alone in Figures 2 to 6, and a three-phase protection device 200, which is here mounted on the rail 16 and which is shown alone in Figures 7 to 11. As schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the protection device 100 is connected to the phase bus bar 12 by the phase conductor 12.1, it being noted that this protection device 100 is not connected to the other phase bus bars 13 and 14. As schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 7, the protection device 200 is connected to the phase bus bars 12, 13 and 14 respectively by the conductors phase 12.1, 13.1 and 14.1. The protection devices 100 and 200 will be described in more detail later.

[0043] It will be noted that, in practice, an electrical installation of the type of installation 1 only comprises one or the other of the protection devices 100 and 200. In [Fig.l], the protection devices 100 and 200 are however both shown together in the same electrical panel which is panel 10 to illustrate the way in which these protection devices 100 and 200 are arranged in such an electrical panel.

[0044] Furthermore, in the example illustrated in [Fig.l], the electrical apparatuses, mounted on the rails 15 and 16, also include handle circuit breakers 50. Each of these handle circuit breakers 50 is connected to one of the phase bus bars 12, 13 and 14 via one of the phase conductors 12.1 to 14.3, which belongs to the phase bus bar concerned. In a variant not shown, the electrical installation 1 includes multiple other electrical devices, in addition to and / or replacing the 50 handle circuit breakers, depending on the needs of the electrical installation 1.

[0045] Returning to the description of the electrical panel 10 of [Fig.l], the latter here advantageously comprises two neutral bus bars 17 and 18. The neutral bars 17 and 18 are, in service, supplied by a neutral of the electrical supply and are, for this purpose, connected to the aforementioned power cable according to non-limiting arrangements, not visible in [Fig.l]. Each of the neutral bus bars 17 and 18 extends in length parallel to and at a distance from the phase bus bars 12, 13 and 14, the rail 15 being interposed between the neutral bus bar 17 and the group formed by the phase bus bars 12, 13 and 14, while the rail 16 is interposed between the neutral bus bar 18 and this group.

[0046] The neutral bus bar 17 is provided with neutral conductors 17.1 to 17.9 which extend from and transversely to the neutral bus bar 17, being regularly distributed along this neutral bus bar 17. These neutral conductors are for example fins which form, in an integrated manner with the neutral bus bar 17, an electrical comb, the teeth of which correspond to the aforementioned fins and which distributes the neutral supplying the neutral bus bar 17. Of course, the number of these neutral conductors 17.1 to 17.9 of the neutral bus bar 17, which is here equal to nine, is not limiting. Within the electrical installation 1 envisaged here, the neutral conductor 17.1 connects the neutral bus bar 17 and the protective device 100 to each other, as shown schematically only in [Fig.2], the neutral conductor 17.1 not being visible in [Fig.l].

[0047] The neutral bus bar 18 is provided with neutral conductors 18.1 to 18.9 which are functionally and structurally similar to the neutral conductors 17.1 to 17.9 of the neutral bus bar 17, but for the neutral bus bar 18. Within the electrical installation 1, the neutral conductor 18.2 connects the neutral bus bar 18 and the protective device 200 to each other as shown schematically only in [Fig.7] in which the neutral conductors 18.1 and 18.3 are also illustrated, it being noted that the latter are not visible in [Fig.l].

[0048] The electrical panel 10 also includes an earth bar 20 which, in service, is connected directly to the earth of the building, as illustrated schematically in [Fig.l] on which the earth of the building is referenced 21. The arrangements relating to the connection between the earth bar 20 and the earth 21 are not limiting. Similarly, the intrinsic specificities of the earth bar 20, as well as the arrangement of the latter with respect to the rest of the electrical panel 10, are not limiting since the earth bar 20 is, within the electrical installation 1, connectable to the protection devices 100 and 200. Thus, as illustrated schematically in figures 1 and 3, the protective device 100 is connected to the ground bar 20 by a wired protective conductor 22, which can also be called a “grounding wire”. In addition, as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8, the protective device 200 is connected to the ground bar 20 by a wired protective conductor 23, which can also be called a “grounding wire”.

[0049] We will now examine the protection devices 100 and 200 in more detail. Each of these protection devices 100 and 200 makes it possible to protect the electrical installation 1 against transient overvoltages of the electrical current supplying this installation, these transient overvoltages possibly originating from lightning or incidents in the electricity distribution network. These transient overvoltages are characterized by a significant transient rise in voltage and are often accompanied by high intensity current pulses.

[0050] The protection device 100 will first be described in detail, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.

[0051] As clearly visible in Figures 2 to 4, the protection device 100 comprises a housing 110 which defines a depth axis XI10, a width axis Y110 and a length axis ZI 10, which are perpendicular to each other. The depth axes XI10, width Y110 and length axes ZI 10 are thus fixed relative to the housing 110. In the mounted state of the protection device 100 on the rail 15 within the electrical installation 1, the width axis Y110 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rail 15 and, thereby, to the longitudinal direction of the phase busbars 12, 13 and 14 and the neutral busbar 17. In the example considered here, the width axis Y110 thus extends vertically.

[0052] The housing 110 constitutes an essentially closed and electrically insulating envelope. For this purpose, the housing 110 includes: - a front 111 and a back 112, which are opposite each other along the depth axis XI10, - two lateral flanks 113 and 114, which are opposite each other along the width axis Y110 and which are connected to each other along this width axis Y110 by the front 111 and the back 112, and - a first end 115 and a second end 116, which are opposite each other along the length axis ZI 10 and which are connected to each other along this length axis ZI 10 by the front 111, the back 112 and the lateral sides 113 and 114.

[0053] The front 111, the back 112, the lateral flanks 113 and 114 and the first and second ends 115 and 116 jointly delimit between them an internal volume VI10 of the housing 110, as clearly visible in [Fig. 3]. Thus, the internal volume VI10 is separated from the exterior of the housing 110 by the front 111 and the back 112 along the depth axis XI10, by the lateral flanks 113 and 114 along the width axis Y110, and by the first and second ends 115 and 116 along the length axis ZI 10.

[0054] As clearly visible in [Fig.3], the facade 111 is advantageously provided with a through window 111.1 which connects the internal volume VI10 with the exterior of the housing 110. The advantage of this through window 111.1 will be given later.

[0055] As clearly visible in [Fig. 2], the back 112 is designed to cooperate with the rail 15 so that the housing 110 is supported by this rail. For this purpose, the back 112 integrates, in particular on its face facing the outside of the housing 110, any suitable fixing means by means of which the housing 110 can be fixedly attached to the rail 15. The embodiment of this fixing means is not limiting and the fixing that the latter provides is for example achieved by complementarity of shapes and / or by wedging and / or by pinching and / or by snap-fastening and / or etc. In all cases, in the mounted state of the protection device 100 on the rail 15, the first end 116 of the housing 110 is turned towards the group of phase bus bars 12, 13 and 14 along the length axis ZI 10.

[0056] As clearly visible in Figures 1 to 4, the lateral flanks 113 and 114 are advantageously flat and parallel to each other, each of these lateral flanks 113 and 114 thus extending here perpendicularly to the axis of width Y110. In this way, the protection device 100, in the state mounted on the rail 15, can be attached by an electrical apparatus with flat lateral sides, mounted on the rail 15 and arranged directly against one or the other of the lateral sides 113 and 115 along the axis of width Y110: in the example illustrated in [Fig.l], one of the handle circuit breakers 50 mounted on the rail 15 is thus attached to the housing 110, having a lateral side arranged adjoiningly against the lateral side 113 of the housing 110 along the axis of width Y110. In addition, the lateral sides 113 and 114 are spaced from each other by a distance, which is noted A1 10 in [Fig.4] and which is preferably 18 mm.The interest of this dimensioning is linked to the fact that this value of 18 mm is a market standard which is also found here for circuit breakers with handle 50 whose width is 18 mm. Thus, we understand that the space occupied by the box 110 on the rail 15 along the axis of width Y110 is identical to that which can be occupied by another electrical device mountable on the rail 15, such as circuit breakers with handle 50, which ensures remarkable modularity for the electrical installation 1. .

[0057] As clearly visible in Figures 2 and 4, the first end 115 of the housing 110 is crossed, here along the axis ZI 10, by a connection passage 115.1 which connects the internal volume VI10 with the exterior of the housing 110. In service, the connection passage 115.1 allows the phase conductor 12.1 to extend between the interior and the exterior of the housing 110 via this connection passage 115.1, as illustrated schematically in Figures 1 and 2.

[0058] As clearly visible in Figures 3 and 4, the second end 116 of the housing 110 is crossed, here along the length axis ZI 10, by a connection passage 116.1 which connects the internal volume VI10 with the exterior of the housing 110. In service, this connection passage 116.1 makes it possible to extend one of the ends of the protective conductor 22 between the interior and the exterior of the housing 110 via this connection passage 116.1, as illustrated schematically in Figures 1 and 3.

[0059] In practice, the housing 110 is made up of several insulating parts, fixedly assembled to each other by any appropriate means which are integrated into the housing 110, it being noted that the corresponding specificities are not limiting.

[0060] The protection device 100 also comprises an electrical module 120. As shown in [Fig. 4], the electrical module 120 is arranged in the internal volume VI10 of the housing 110. In Figures 5 and 6, the electrical module 120 is shown in the absence of the housing 110.

[0061] The electrical module 120 provides a dual function, namely a circuit breaker function and a voltage clipping function. Thus, the electrical module 120 makes it possible, when the protection device 100 is connected to the phase conductor 12.1, to the neutral conductor 17.1 and to the protective conductor 22, both (i) to stop the passage through it of an electric current coming from the phase conductor 12.1 when the intensity of the current exceeds a predetermined value and (ii) to easily evacuate a current flowing through it in the event of an overvoltage, that is to say when a voltage at its terminals exceeds a predetermined threshold, while allowing a quasi-zero leakage current to pass outside of such an overvoltage. In practice, the aforementioned dual function is performed sequentially, in the sense that, generally, the circuit breaker function is implemented after the voltage clipping function.

[0062] For this purpose, as clearly visible in Figures 4 to 6, the electrical module 120 comprises a phase terminal 121, a fuse 122, a varistor 123, a gas discharger 124, an earth terminal 125 and a neutral terminal 126, which will be successively described in more detail below.

[0063] The phase terminal 121 is designed to connect to a phase conductor, such as the phase conductor 12.1 within the electrical installation 1. Thus, in the mounted state of the protection device 100 on the rail 15, the phase conductor 12.1 is connected to the electrical module 120 and, thereby, to the protection device 100 via the phase terminal 121. In the example considered in the figures, the phase terminal 121 is a screw terminal, but, in a variant not shown, it is spring-loaded. More generally, the specific features of this phase terminal 121 are not limiting, as mentioned again later.

[0064] In all cases, as clearly visible in [Fig.4], the phase terminal 121 is arranged adjacent to the first end 115 of the housing 110 so that a conductor of phase is connectable to the phase terminal 121 at this first end 115 of the housing 110. Thus, here, the phase terminal 121 is arranged essentially in the internal volume V110, being arranged against the wall of the first end 115 of the housing 110, which is crossed by the connection passage 115.1, the phase terminal 121 being aligned with this connection passage 115.1: in this way, when the phase conductor 12.1 extends in the connection passage 115.1, here along the length axis ZI 10, this phase conductor is received in the phase terminal 121 for the purposes of the electrical connection between this phase conductor and the phase terminal, here by means of tightening a screw of the phase terminal 121.

[0065] The fuse 122 provides, within the electrical module 120, the circuit breaker function mentioned above. In practice, the intrinsic electrical specificities of the fuse 122 are not limiting, the fuse 122 being based on technologies known per se in the field. As a non-limiting example, the fuse 122 is designed to withstand 8 / 20ps waves, as defined for example in the IEC 61643 surge protection standard.

[0066] In all cases, the fuse 122 is connected in series to the phase terminal 121 in the internal volume V110, here by a conductive braid 127 which is arranged entirely in the internal volume V110, connecting the phase terminal 121 and an input terminal of the fuse 122 to each other.

[0067] In addition, the fuse 122, which is advantageously arranged entirely in the internal volume V110, is arranged, along the length axis ZI 10, between the phase terminal 121 and the rest of the electrical module 120. Thus, the phase terminal 121 and the fuse 122 are stacked along the length axis ZI 10.

[0068] According to a preferred aspect which is implemented in the example illustrated in the figures, the fuse 122 has an elongated shape which extends in length from substantially the front 111 to substantially the back 112 of the case 110. More precisely, here, the fuse 122 has a generally cylindrical shape, which is centered on a geometric axis, passing through the front 111 and the back 112 of the case 110, and whose opposite longitudinal ends are respectively adjacent to the front 111 and the back 112. Whatever the geometric specificities of the elongated shape of the fuse 122, this arrangement of the latter makes it possible to optimize the size of the internal volume VI10 by the fuse 122.

[0069] The varistor 123 partly ensures the voltage clipping function mentioned above. Indeed, the varistor 123 is designed to have a low impedance when the voltage across its terminals exceeds a predetermined threshold, thus allowing the current to be discharged through it in the event of an overvoltage, while when the voltage across its terminals is below the aforementioned predetermined threshold, in other words outside of an overvoltage, the impedance of the varistor 123 is high so as to limit, or even make almost zero, a leakage current through it. In practice, the specificities The intrinsic electrical characteristics of the varistor 123 are not limiting and are based on technologies known per se in the field. As a non-limiting example, the varistor 123 can withstand an 8 / 20 ps, ​​20 kA shock wave while limiting the voltage across its terminals to a lower level of 1.5 kV. According to another example, the shock wave to be supported is 10 / 350 ps, ​​while supporting a current of 12.5 kA and limiting the voltage across its terminals to 1.5 kV.

[0070] In all cases, the varistor 123 is connected in series to the fuse 122 in the internal volume V110, here by an electrical connection 128 which is arranged entirely in the internal volume V110, by connecting to each other an output terminal of the fuse 122 and an input terminal of the varistor 123. The fuse 122 and the varistor 123 are thus connected in series to the phase terminal 121 in the internal volume VI10.

[0071] In addition, the varistor 123, which is advantageously arranged entirely in the internal volume V110, is arranged, along the length axis Z10, between, on the one hand, the fuse 122 and the phase terminal 121 and, on the other hand, the rest of the electrical module 120. Thus, along the length axis Z110, the phase terminal 121, the fuse 122 and the varistor 123 are distributed in such a way that the fuse 122 is arranged between the phase terminal 121 and the varistor 123. In other words, the phase terminal 121, the fuse 122 and the varistor 123 are stacked along the length axis Z110.

[0072] According to a preferred aspect, which is implemented here, the electrical connection 128 includes, as clearly visible in FIGS. 4 and 5, two contacts 128.1 and 128.2, as well as a weld 128.3 which abuts the contacts 128.1 and 128.2 when the weld 128.3 is intact while being adapted to break under the effect of heating of the varistor 123. Thus, the contacts 128.1 and 128.2 and the weld 128.3 jointly form a thermal disconnector, which, as long as the varistor 123 is functional and does not heat up, keeps the varistor 123 connected to the fuse 122 by the electrical connection 128, but which, when the varistor 123 heats up too much, in particular due to its aging, cuts the electrical connection 128 and makes therefore inoperative the electrical module 120. So that the contacts 128.1 and 128.2 move clearly away from each other when the weld 123.3 is broken, one of the two contacts, here the contact 128.1, is fixedly carried by an arm 128.4 of the electrical connection 128: this arm 128.4 is held fixed in position by the weld 128.3 when the latter is intact, but is driven by a spring 128.5 when the weld 128.3 is broken so as to separate the contacts 128.1 and 128.2 from each other. The relative spacing of the contacts 128.1 and 128.2 under the effect of the arm 128.4 driven by the spring 128.5 is advantageously carried out at least along the axis of width Y110, in particular in order to optimize the space occupied by the arm 128.4 in the internal volume VI10. For this purpose, the varistor 123 is dimensioned and arranged in the internal volume VI10 so as to provide a free space laterally for it, along the axis of width Y110, which is . included in the internal volume VI10 and in which the arm 128.4 is arranged and driven by the spring 128.5. Here, the varistor 123 thus has a generally parallelepiped shape, the two smallest dimensions of which extend along the depth axis XI10 and the length axis ZI 10, and one lateral face of which, arranged perpendicular to the width axis Y110, forms the input terminal of the varistor 123, by fixedly carrying the contact 128.2, while being sufficiently distant, along the width axis Y110, from the lateral flank 113 of the housing 110 to provide the aforementioned free space, as clearly visible in [Fig.4].

[0073] The gas discharger 124 partly provides the voltage clipping function mentioned above. Indeed, the gas discharger 124 is designed to prevent the passage of current through it outside of an overvoltage, by insulating its input terminal and its output terminal with a gas contained in the gas discharger 124, while when the voltage between its input and output terminals exceeds a predetermined threshold, an electric arc forms in the aforementioned gas and allows the passage of current through the gas discharger 124. In practice, the intrinsic electrical specificities of the gas discharger 124 are not limiting and are based on technologies that are known per se in the field. As a non-limiting example, the gas discharger comprises a ceramic tube closed at its two ends by metal cups acting as electrodes, in particular so as to withstand an 8 / 20 pS shock wave, while supporting a current of 40 kA and limiting the overvoltage to 1.5 kV.

[0074] In all cases, the gas discharger 124 is connected in series to the varistor 123 in the internal volume VI10, here by a conductive plate 129 which is arranged entirely in the internal volume V110, by connecting the output terminal of the varistor 123 to the input terminal of the gas discharger 124.

[0075] In addition, the gas discharger 124, which is advantageously arranged entirely in the internal volume V110, is arranged, along the length axis ZI 10 between, on the one hand, the phase terminal 121, the fuse 122 and the varistor 123 and, on the other hand, the rest of the electrical module 120. Thus, along the length axis ZI 10, the varistor 123 is arranged between the fuse 122 and the gas discharger 124. In other words, the phase terminal 121, the fuse 122, the varistor 123 and the gas discharger 124 are stacked along the length axis ZI 10.

[0076] According to a preferred aspect, which is implemented here, the conductive plate 129 extends transversely to the depth axis XI10 and is arranged in the internal volume VI10 adjacent to the back 112 of the housing 110, in particular parallel to the back 112. In addition, the input terminal of the gas discharger 124 is applied against this conductive plate 29 along the depth axis XI10. This arrangement makes it possible to limit the size of the internal volume VI10 taken up by the gas discharger 124.

[0077] The earth terminal 125 is designed to connect to a protective conductor, such as than the protective conductor 22 within the electrical installation 1. Thus, in the mounted state of the protective device 100 on the rail 15, the protective conductor 22 is connected to the electrical module 120 and, thereby, to the protective device 100 via the earth terminal 125. In the example considered in the figures, the earth terminal 125 is a screw terminal, but, following considerations similar to those relating to the phase terminal 121, the specificities of the earth terminal 125 are not limiting.

[0078] In all cases, as clearly visible in [Fig. 4], the earth terminal 125 is arranged adjacent to the second end 116 of the housing 110 so that a protective conductor can be connected to the earth terminal 125 at this second end 116 of the housing 110. Thus, here, the earth terminal 125 is arranged essentially in the internal volume V110, being arranged against the wall of the second end 116 of the housing 110, which is crossed by the connection passage 116.1, the earth terminal 125 being aligned with this connection passage 116.1: in this way, when one end of the protective conductor 22 extends into the connection passage 116.1, here along the length axis Z1 10, this end of the protective conductor is received in the earth terminal 125 for the purpose of electrical connection between them, here by tightening a screw of the earth terminal 125.

[0079] The earth terminal 125 and the gas discharger 124 are advantageously distributed along the length axis ZI 10 so that the gas discharger 124 is arranged between the varistor 123 and the earth terminal 125. Thus, here, the phase terminal 121, the fuse 122, the varistor 123, the gas discharger 124 and the earth terminal 125 are stacked along the length axis ZI 10. This stacking gives the electrical module 120 a remarkable compactness along the width axis Y110, which allows the preferential dimensioning of the distance Al 10, indicated above.

[0080] In all cases, the earth terminal 125 is connected in series to the gas discharger 124 in the internal volume VI10, here by a conductive braid 130 which is arranged entirely in the internal volume V110, connecting the output terminal of the gas discharger 124 and the earth terminal 125 to each other. Thus, the earth terminal 125 is connected in series to the varistor 123 via the gas discharger 124.

[0081] The neutral terminal 126 is designed to connect to a neutral conductor, such as the neutral conductor 17.1 within the electrical installation 1. Thus, in the mounted state of the protection device 100 on the rail 15, the neutral conductor 17.1 is connected to the electrical module 120 and, thereby, to the protection device 100 via the neutral terminal 126. In the example considered in the figures, the neutral terminal 126 is an automatic terminal, also called a plug-in terminal, here provided with a clamp, but the specific features of the neutral terminal 126 are not limiting, as mentioned again later.

[0082] In all cases, the neutral terminal 126 is arranged adjacent to the second end 116 of the housing 110 so that a neutral conductor can be connected to the neutral terminal 126 at this second end 116 of the housing 110. Given that, here, the neutral terminal 126 is a plug-in terminal, this neutral terminal 126 extends from the internal volume VI10 to the outside of the housing 110, so that, when the protection device 100 is mounted on the rail 15, the neutral conductor 17.1 is directly engaged in the neutral terminal 126, more precisely in the part of the latter, here the aforementioned clamp, extending outside the housing 110, for the purposes of the automatic connection between this neutral conductor and the neutral terminal.

[0083] Along the length axis ZI 10, the neutral terminal 126 is advantageously arranged substantially at the same level as the earth terminal 125. The size of the internal volume VI10 by the neutral terminal 126 is thus optimized. In particular, the presence of the neutral terminal 126 does not impact the compactness of the electrical module 120 along the length axis ZI 10.

[0084] In all cases, the neutral terminal 126 is connected to the earth terminal 125 via the gas discharger 124 in the internal volume V10. For advantageous practical reasons, the neutral terminal 126 is preferably connected to the input terminal of the gas discharger 124 by the conductive plate 129. Here, the conductive plate 129 and the neutral terminal 126 are connected to each other by a conductive braid 131 which is arranged entirely in the internal volume VI10.

[0085] Taking into account what has been explained so far, it is understood that the voltage clipping function, provided by the electrical module 120, is operated by the varistor 123 and / or the gas discharger 124 depending on the terminals of the electrical module 120 between which an overvoltage occurs. Thus, when an overvoltage is applied between the phase terminal 121 and the earth terminal 125, the voltage clipping function is provided jointly by the varistor 123 and by the gas discharger 124. When an overvoltage is applied between the phase terminal 121 and the neutral terminal 126, the voltage clipping function is provided exclusively by the varistor 123. When an overvoltage is applied between the earth terminal 125 and the neutral terminal 126, the voltage clipping function is provided exclusively by the gas discharger 124.

[0086] Before continuing the detailed description of the protection device 100, a location E120 of the electrical module 120 is defined, which is advantageously arranged entirely in the internal volume V10 and in which the gas discharger 124 and the earth terminal 125 are arranged, but outside of which the phase terminal 121, the fuse 122 and the varistor 123 are arranged. Thus, the varistor 123 is arranged, along the length axis Z110, between the fuse 122 and this location E120, this the latter being attached to the second end 116 of the housing 110. The interest of this location E120 will appear later during the description of the protection device 200.

[0087] Returning now to the description of the protection device 100, the latter advantageously comprises an electronic supervision device 140 which makes it possible to control the operationality of the electrical module 120. The fact that the electrical module 120 may no longer be operational, in particular after a certain time of use, is linked to the fact that, each time the electrical module 120 is stressed by application of an overvoltage to its terminals, some of its components, in particular the fuse 122 and the varistor 123, suffer damage, so that, as the corresponding damage progresses, the capacity of the electrical module 120 to protect against future overvoltages decreases, which amounts to saying that the remaining service life of this protection device is reduced.Therefore, there is a real interest in providing a user of the protection device 100 with an end-of-life indication for the electrical module 120, so that the user can be warned that it is necessary to carry out maintenance or replacement of the protection device 100 as soon as the electrical module 120 is considered to be no longer operational.

[0088] The electronic supervision device 140 comprises an assembled printed circuit 141 which is configured to provide an end-of-life indication for the electrical module 120. For this purpose, the assembled printed circuit 141 comprises a printed circuit board and electronic components, which are carried by the printed circuit board and which are adapted to process appropriate electrical signals coming from the electrical module 120, to deduce the end-of-life indication therefrom. In practice, the corresponding processing is known as such in the field and will therefore not be described further here.In the example illustrated in the figures, the assembled printed circuit 141 thus receives and processes electrical signals coming respectively from the input terminal of the fuse 122, from the input terminal of the varistor 123 and from the output terminal of the varistor 123, in order to determine data representative of the operationality of the varistor 123, in particular the aging of the latter and / or the integrity of the solder 128.3, and the operationality of the fuse 122, in particular the integrity of the latter. Here, the aforementioned electrical signals are transmitted by a conductive wire 142, which connects the assembled printed circuit 141 to the input terminal of the fuse 122, a conductive wire 143, which connects the assembled printed circuit 141 to the input terminal of the varistor 123, and by a conductive wire 144, which connects the assembled printed circuit 141 to the conductive board 129 and, thereby, to the output terminal of the varistor 123.

[0089] The end of life indication, provided by the assembled printed circuit 141, is advantageously of a luminous nature, that is to say in the form of a luminous signal emitted by one or more ad hoc electronic components of the assembled printed circuit 141. This light signal is transmitted to the outside of the housing 110, for the attention of the user, by a light guide 145 which extends from the assembled printed circuit 141 to the through window 111.1 of the front 111 of the housing 110, as clearly visible in Figures 3, 5 and 6.

[0090] Whatever the functional and structural specificities of the assembled printed circuit 141, the latter is advantageously arranged in the internal volume VI10 in such a way that this assembled printed circuit 141 is adjacent to one of the lateral flanks 113 and 114 of the housing 110, here to the lateral flank 114. The size of the internal volume VI10 by the assembled printed circuit 141 and, more generally, by the electronic supervision device 140 is thus optimized.

[0091] In practice, the housing 110 is internally arranged to support and hold in place the electrical module 120 and the electronic supervision device 140. In other words, the housing 110 comprises, in its internal volume VI10, electrically insulating arrangements, which are dedicated to the fixed support of the electrical module 120 and the electronic supervision device 140, in particular the phase terminal 121, the fuse 122, the varistor 123, the gas discharger 124, the earth terminal 125, the neutral terminal 126 and the assembled printed circuit 141.

[0092] The protection device 200 will now be described in detail, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11.

[0093] As clearly visible in Figures 7 to 9, the protection device 200 comprises a housing 210 which defines a depth axis X210, a width axis Y210 and a length axis Z210, which are respectively functionally similar to the depth axes XI10, width Y110 and length Z110. In the mounted state of the protection device 200 on the rail 16 within the electrical installation 1, the width axis Y210 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the phase busbars 12, 13 and 14, the rail 16 and the neutral busbar 18.

[0094] In addition, the housing 210 includes a front 211, a back 212, side flanks 213 and 214, and first and second ends 215 and 216, which are respectively functionally similar to the front 111, the back 112, the side flanks 113 and 114, and the first and second ends 115 and 116 of the housing 110. In particular, the front 211, the back 212, the side flanks 213 and 214, and the first and second ends 215 and 216 jointly define an internal volume V210 of the housing 210, which is functionally similar to the internal volume VI10.

[0095] The housing 210 is distinguished from the housing 110 essentially by its dimensioning along the width axis Y210. Thus, the distance A210, which, as illustrated in [Fig.9], separates the lateral flanks 213 and 214 from each other along the width axis Y210, is three times the distance A110, namely preferably 54 mm.

[0096] This dimensioning of the housing 210 is linked to the fact that the protection device 200 does not comprise a single electrical module, as is the case for the electrical module 120 within the protection device 100, but three electrical modules 220, 260 and 280, which are distributed side by side along the width axis Y210.

[0097] As shown in Figures 9 to 11, each of the electrical modules 220, 260 and 280 comprises:

[0098] - a phase terminal 221, 261, 281, which is functionally, or even structurally similar to the phase terminal 121 and which, in the mounted state of the protection device 200 on the rail 16, is, at the level of the first end 215 of the housing 210, connected to the phase conductor 12.1, 13.1, 14.1, as illustrated schematically in [Fig.7], these three phase terminals 221, 261 and 281 being distributed side by side along the axis of width Y210;

[0099] - a fuse 222, 262, 282, which is functionally, or even structurally similar to the fuse 122, in particular with respect to the phase terminal 221, 261, 281, these three fuses 222, 262 and 282 being distributed side by side along the width axis Y210; and

[0100] - a varistor 223, 263, 283, which is functionally, or even structurally similar to the varistor 123, in particular with respect to the corresponding fuse 222, 262, 282, these three varistors 223, 263 and 283 being distributed side by side along the width axis Y210.

[0101] As shown schematically in [Fig.9], each of the electrical modules 220, 260 and 280 also comprises a location E220, E260, E280, which, similarly to the location E120, is arranged in the internal volume V210 so that the location E220, E260, E280 is adjacent to the second end 216 of the housing 210 and the corresponding varistor 223, 263, 283 is arranged, along the length axis Z210, between the corresponding fuse 222, 268, 282 and the location E220, E260, E280. The three locations E220, E260 and E280 are distributed side by side along the width axis Y210.

[0102] The electrical modules 220, 260 and 280 are distinguished from the electrical module 120 by the fact that only one of the three electrical modules 220, 260 and 280, here the electrical module 220, comprises a gas discharger 224 and an earth terminal 225.

[0103] The gas discharger 224 and the ground terminal 225 are respectively functionally similar, or even structurally similar, to the spark gap 124 and the ground terminal 125. In particular, the gas discharger 224 and the ground terminal 225 are connected in series to the varistors 223, 263 and 283 in the internal volume V210. In addition, in the mounted state of the protective device 200 on the rail 16, the protective conductor 23 is connected to the ground terminal 225 at the second end 216 of the housing 210, as shown schematically in [Fig.8].

[0104] The gas discharger 224 and the earth terminal 225 are arranged in the location E220 of the electrical module 220, without occupying the locations E260 and E280 of the other two electrical modules 260 and 280. We thus understand the interest of the modular structuring of the protection devices 100 and 200, linked to their electrical modules 120, 220, 260 and 280, in the sense that the phase terminal 121, the fuse 122, the varistor 123 and the location 120 before the latter is potentially occupied by the gas discharger 124 and the earth terminal 225, jointly form a subassembly of the electrical module 120, which is found functionally, or even structurally, identical in each of the electrical modules 220, 260 and 280. Of course, within the protection device 200, only one of the three subassemblies present has its location occupied by the gas discharger 224 and the terminal of land 225.This modular structure makes industrialization, as well as maintenance or replacement of the 100 and 200 protection devices, easier and more economical.

[0105] Also for practical and economic reasons, the three varistors 223, 263 and 283 of the protection device 200 are preferably connected to the gas discharger 224 by a conductive plate 229, which is functionally similar to the conductive plate 129 and which is advantageously common to the three electrical modules 120, 260 and 280, as clearly visible in [Fig. 10]. According to a particularly clever optional aspect, the conductive plate 229 is designed to be breakable, here along a cutting line 229.1 visible in [Fig. 10], so as to be used indifferently in the protection device 200 when the conductive plate 229 is kept whole and in the protection device 100 when the conductive plate 229 is cut to keep only a fragment which corresponds to the conductive plate 129.

[0106] Furthermore, one of the electrical modules 220, 260 and 280, here the electrical module 260, advantageously comprises a neutral terminal 266 which is functionally, or even structurally, similar to the neutral terminal 126. In particular, the neutral terminal 266 is adjacent to the second end 216 of the housing 210 so that, in the mounted state of the protection device 200 on the rail 16, the neutral conductor 18.2 is connected to the neutral terminal 266 at this second end 216, as schematically illustrated in [Fig. 7]. In addition, the neutral terminal 266 is connected to the earth terminal 225 via the gas discharger 224 in the internal volume V220. Here, the neutral terminal 266 is advantageously connected to the gas discharger 224 by the conductive plate 229.

[0107] The protection device 200 further comprises an electronic supervision device 240 which is functionally similar to the electronic supervision device 140. In particular, the electronic supervision device 240 comprises an assembled printed circuit 241 which is functionally similar to the printed circuit assembled 141, thus allowing the operationality of the three electrical modules 220, 260 and 280 to be controlled jointly.

[0108] Following considerations similar to those mentioned above for the assembled printed circuit 141, the assembled printed circuit 241 is advantageously connected to the respective input terminals of the three varistors 223, 263 and 283 by respective conductive wires 243, 246 and 247 of the electronic supervision device 240. These conductive wires 243, 246 and 247 are preferentially positioned and kept apart from each other in the internal volume V210 by dedicated internal partitions 217 of the housing 210, as clearly visible in [Fig.l 1]. The performance of the electronic supervision device 240 is thus preserved despite the compactness of the protection device 200.

[0109] Figures 12 and 13 show a variant of the protection device 100, which differs from the embodiment of the protection device 100, shown in Figures 2 to 6, by its neutral terminal, referenced 126', belonging to its electrical module, referenced 120'. Indeed, in the variant of Figures 12 and 13, the neutral terminal 126' is not a plug-in terminal, like the neutral terminal 126, but a screw terminal, such as that mentioned above for the phase 121 and earth 125 terminals, illustrated in Figures 2 to 6.

[0110] Thus, the variant of figures 12 and 13 illustrates the multiplicity of embodiments that the phase and / or neutral terminals of the protection device 100 can take. Of course, identical considerations apply to the protection device 200.

[0111] In practice, depending on the embodiment of the phase and neutral terminals, the embodiment of the phase and neutral conductors, to which these terminals are connected in the mounted state of the protection devices 100 and 200, is obviously adapted accordingly. Thus, for the variant of the protection device 100 illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the neutral conductor to which the neutral terminal 126' is connectable can be wired, being provided to connect the neutral terminal 126' to a neutral block terminal, located inside the electrical panel 10 at a distance from the group of phase bus bars 12, 13 and 14; in this case, it is understood that the electrical panel 10 can then be devoid of the neutral bus bars 17 and 18, in favor of the aforementioned neutral block terminal.

[0112] Finally, various arrangements and variants to the protection devices 100 and 200, as well as to the electrical installation 1, described so far, are also conceivable. For example:

[0113] - since the protection device comprises a plurality of modules electrical modules, such as the three electrical modules 220, 260 and 280 of the protection device 200, the number of electrical modules in this plurality may be different of three, the value of this number being, where applicable, equal to the number of phases of the current supplying the electrical installation; and / or

[0114] - as well as for single-phase protection devices, such as the device of protection 100, that for polyphase protection devices, such as the three-phase protection device 200, the protection device may be without a neutral terminal, such as the neutral terminals 126, 126' and 266; in this case, only the earth terminal 125 or 225 remains at the second end 116 or 216 of the corresponding box 110 or 210; such a simplification of the protection device is conceivable in particular when the neutral of the electrical installation is earthed locally, that is to say at the level of the building, and this by dedicated means which are distinct from the protection device and which directly connect the earth and the neutral.

Claims

1. Claims Protection device (100; 200) against overvoltages, comprising: - a housing (110; 210), which defines a depth axis (XI10; X210), a width axis (Y110; Y210) and a length axis (ZI 10; Z210), which are perpendicular to each other, and which includes: - a front (111; 211) and a back (112; 212), which are opposite each other along the depth axis, the back being adapted to cooperate with a rail (15) of an electrical panel (10) so that the box is supported by the rail, - two lateral flanks (113, 114; 213, 214), which are opposite each other along the width axis and which are connected to each other along the width axis by the front and the back of the case, and - first and second ends (115, 116; 215, 216), which are opposite each other along the length axis and which are connected to each other along the length axis by the front, the back and the two lateral sides of the housing, and - an electrical module (120; 120') or a plurality of electrical modules (220, 260, 280), which is arranged in an internal volume (VI10; V210) of the housing, delimited jointly by the front, the back, the two lateral sides and the first and second ends of the housing, wherein the electrical module (120) or each of the electrical modules (220, 260, 280) of said plurality comprises: - a phase terminal (121; 221, 264, 281), which is adjacent to the first end (115; 215) of the housing (110; 210) so that a phase conductor (12.1; 12.1, 13.1, 14.1) of the electrical panel (10) is connectable to the phase terminal at the first end of the housing, - a location (El20; E220, E260, E280), which is adjacent to the second end (116; 216) of the housing, and - a fuse (122; 222, 262, 282) and a varistor (123; 223, 263, 283), which are connected in series to the phase terminal in the internal volume (VI10; V210) of the housing and which, along the length axis (ZI 10; Z210), are distributed in such a way that the fuse is arranged between the phase terminal and the varistor and the varistor is arranged between the fuse and the location, and wherein the electrical module (120; 120') or one of the electrical modules (220, 260, 280) of said plurality further comprises a gas discharger (124; 224) and an earth terminal (125; 225), which are: - connected in series to the varistor of the electrical module or to the respective varistors of the electrical modules of said plurality in the internal volume (VI10; V210) of the housing (110; 210), and - arranged in the location (E120; E220, E260, E280) of the electrical module considered (120; 220) so that a protective conductor (22; 23) of the electrical panel (10) can be connected to the earth terminal at the second end (116; 216) of the housing.

2. A protection device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical module (120; 120') or one of the electrical modules (220, 260, 280) of said plurality further comprises a neutral terminal (126; 126'; 226) which is: - connected to the earth terminal (125; 225) via the gas discharger (124; 224) in the internal volume (VI10; V210) of the housing (110; 210), and - adjoining the second end (116; 216) of the housing so that a neutral conductor (17.1; 18.2) of the electrical panel (10) can be connected to the neutral terminal at the second end of the housing.

3. Protective device according to one of claims 1 or 2, in which the gas discharger (124; 224) is connected to the varistor (123) of the electrical module (120; 120') or to the respective varistors (223, 263, 283) of the electrical modules (220, 260, 280) of said plurality by a conductive plate (129; 229): which is arranged in the internal volume (VI10; V210) of the housing (110; 210), being attached to the back (112; 212) of the housing, and - against which a terminal of the gas discharger is applied along the depth axis (XI10; X210).

4. Protective device according to claims 2 and 3 taken together, in which the neutral terminal (126; 126'; 226) is connected to the gas discharger (124; 224) by the conductive plate (129; 229).

5. Protective device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a single electrical module (120; 120') is provided, the protective device (100) being single-phase, and in which the two lateral flanks (113, 114) of the housing (110) are flat and parallel, being spaced from each other, along the width axis (Y 110), by 18 mm.

6. Protective device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which three electrical modules (220, 260, 280) are provided, the protective device (200) being three-phase, and in which the two lateral flanks (213, 214) of the housing (210) are flat and parallel, being spaced from each other, along the width axis (Y210), by 54 mm.

7. Protective device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which, for the electrical module (120; 120') or each of the electrical modules (220, 260, 280) of said plurality, the fuse (122; 222, 262, 282) has an elongated shape which extends in length from substantially the front (111; 211) to substantially the back (112; 212) of the housing (110; 210).

8. A protection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, for the electrical module (120; 120') or each of the electrical modules (220, 260, 280) of said plurality, the fuse (122; 222, 262, 282) and the varistor (123; 223, 263, 283) are connected to each other by an electrical connection (128) including two contacts (128.1, 128.2) and a weld (128.3) which abuts the two contacts when the weld is intact while being adapted to break under the effect of heating of the varistor (123; 223, 263, 283), and in which one of the two contacts (128.1, 128.2) is carried by an arm (128.4), which is held fixed in position by the weld (128.3) when the weld is intact, and which is driven by a spring (128.5) into the internal volume (VI10; V210) of the housing (110; 210) when the weld is broken so as to separate the two contacts from each other at least along the width axis (Y110; Y210).

9. Protection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protection device (100; 200) further comprises an electronic supervision device (140; 240), which: - includes an assembled printed circuit (141; 241) which is configured to provide an end-of-life indication for the electrical module (120; 120') or for the electrical modules (220, 260, 280) of said plurality, and - is arranged in the internal volume (VI10; V210) of the housing (110; 210) so that the assembled printed circuit is adjacent to one of the lateral flanks (113, 114; 213, 214) of the housing.

10. A protection device according to claim 9, wherein the electronic supervision device (240) is connected to the respective varistors (223, 263, 283) of the electrical modules (220, 260, 280) of said plurality by respective conductive wires (243, 246, 247), and wherein the housing (210) includes internal partitions (217) which position and keep the conductive wires apart from each other in the internal volume (V210) of the housing.

11. Electrical installation (1), comprising: - an electrical panel (10) which comprises: - phase bus bars (12, 13, 14), which are intended to be respectively supplied by one phase of a voltage of an electrical supply and which extend in length parallel to each other, being arranged side by side so as to form a group in an intermediate zone of the electrical panel, - two rails (14, 15), which are each adapted to support electrical equipment (50, 100, 200) and which each extend in length parallel to the phase bus bars, the two rails being arranged along and on either side of the group, and - an earth bar (20) which is intended to be connected to the earth, and - the protection device (100; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the housing (110; 210) is mounted on one of the two rails (15, 16) so that the first end (115; 215) of the housing faces the group of phase bus bars (12, 13, 14) along the length axis (ZI 10; Z210), wherein the phase terminal (121; 221, 264, 281) of the electrical module (120; 120') or of each of the electrical modules (220, 260, 280) of said plurality is connected to one of the phase bus bars (12, 13, 14) by a phase conductor (12.1; 12.1, 13.1, 14.1), which extends from and transversely to the phase bus bar in question and which is connected to the phase terminal (121; 221, 261, 281) of the electrical module in question at the first end (115; 215) of the housing (110; 210), and wherein the earth terminal (125; 225) is connected to the earth bar (20) by a protective conductor (22, 23), which is wired and one end of which is connected to the earth terminal (125; 225) at the second end (116; 216) of the housing (110; 210).

12. Electrical installation according to claim 11, wherein the protection device (100; 200) is in accordance with claim 2, and wherein a neutral conductor (17.1; 18.2) is connected to the neutral terminal (126; 226) at the second end of the housing (110; 210).

13. Electrical installation according to claim 12, in which the electrical panel (10) further comprises, for at least one of the two rails (15, 16), a neutral bus bar (17, 18), which is intended to be supplied by a neutral of the electrical supply and which extends in length parallel to and at a distance from the phase bus bars (12, 13, 14), said at least one of the two rails being interposed between the neutral bus bar and the group of bars phase bus, and wherein the neutral terminal (126; 126'; 226) is connected to the neutral bus bar (17, 18) by the neutral conductor (17.1; 18.2) which extends from and transversely to the neutral bus bar.

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