Device for supplying power and electrically connecting a contactor to a group of modular electrical units

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for supplying power to a contactor C and electrically connecting it to a set of modular electrical devices mounted side by side on a mounting bracket (20), said device D comprising an assembly of conducting rods mounted in a so-called first insulating bracket, each rod delivering phase or neutral power and comprising teeth (d) for connection to respective terminals (a, b, c, d, e, f) of the modular electrical devices, those teeth being aligned with a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the modular devices m. The device comprises a number of auxiliary teeth (11 to 14) corresponding to the number of rods, those auxiliary teeth (11 to 14) being fixed to and electrically connected to the respective rods in a toothless area (z), said toothless area being located at one end on one side of said assembly of said rods, those auxiliary teeth (11 to 14) being aligned with a pitch corresponding to said contactor (C) and for connection to the respective terminals (a, b, c, d) of said contactor (C).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device for supplying power to a contactor and electrically connecting it to a group of modular electrical devices mounted side by side on a mounting support, the device comprising an assembly of conducting rods mounted in a so-called first insulating support, each rod carrying phase or neutral current and comprising teeth for connection to respective terminals of the devices, the teeth being aligned with a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the modular devices. Background Art

[0002] Cables are usually used to electrically connect contactors of the four-pole type to components of modular electrical devices of the phase and neutral type, those modular devices being mounted on mounting rails, on one side or the other of the contactors. In practice, the pitch of the terminals of the contactors is different from the pitch of the teeth of the power comb of the modular devices, and it is not possible to electrically connect the terminals of the contactors to the terminals of the modular devices through the same power comb.

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to prepare at least four cables and crimp the terminals of these cables, each of which electrically connects the terminals of the conductors to the standard comb. This type of connection is bulky, time-consuming (especially preparing the cables and crimping the terminals), and there is a risk of the phase and neutral lines being interchanged.

[0004] The present invention solves the above problems and proposes a device for supplying power to a contactor and electrically connecting it to a group of modular electrical devices mounted side by side on the same mounting bracket. The device has a simple design and a small overall size, which can reduce the connection time and eliminate the risk of exchanging phase and neutral lines. Summary of the invention

[0005] To this end, the invention comprises a power supply and connection device of the type described above, characterized in that it comprises a number of auxiliary teeth corresponding to the number of rods, those auxiliary teeth being fixed to and electrically connected to the corresponding rods in a toothless area, said toothless area being located at one end on one side of said assembly of said rods, those auxiliary teeth being aligned at a pitch corresponding to the pitch of said contactor C and being used to be electrically connected to the corresponding terminals of the contactor.

[0006] According to a particular feature, the or each rod is made from an existing standard rod which is cut to produce the above-mentioned area without teeth.

[0007] According to another feature, the aforementioned toothless zone extends beyond the housing of a so-called first insulating support, and the device also comprises a so-called second insulating support suitable for housing the aforementioned toothless zone of the rod, the second support being intended to be removably fixed to the first support.

[0008] According to another feature, the first insulating support comprises a housing for housing rods extending in a direction substantially parallel to the alignment direction of the teeth, and the so-called second insulating support comprises housings for the rods extending in alignment with the corresponding rods of the so-called first insulating support.

[0009] According to another feature, the aforementioned auxiliary tooth is fixed to the upper surface of the respective rod, said surface being situated on the side opposite to the surface facing the aforementioned modular device.

[0010] According to another feature, the aforementioned auxiliary tooth is fixed to the rod by welding.

[0011] According to another feature, the so-called second insulating support has dimensions, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the device fixed to the fixing support, such that a portion of the access opening to the terminals of the contactor C can be kept free so as to be able to insert a cable under the teeth of the power supply and connection device, which teeth engage in the terminals of the contactor.

[0012] According to another feature, the device is of the three-pole and neutral type, comprising a pole distributing the neutral line and three poles distributing the phase lines, the teeth being aligned and distributing the phases consecutively, wherein the tooth of the distributed neutral line is arranged between two consecutive phase teeth.

[0013] According to another feature, the auxiliary teeth are arranged at a pitch of 11 mm, while the teeth for electrical connection to the modular device are arranged at a pitch of 18 mm.

[0014] According to another feature, the or each modular device is a phase and neutral type device comprising a phase circuit and a neutral circuit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] However, other advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent during the course of the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings which are provided by way of example only and in which:

[0016] - Figure 1 and Figure 2 are two perspective views of a power supply and a connection device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention before being electrically connected to the device and seen from the front and rear of the device, respectively,

[0017] - Figure 3 and Figure 4 is with Figure 1 and Figure 2 The same two views, but after being connected,

[0018] - Figure 5 is a partial perspective view from the rear showing the insertion of the cable with the teeth engaged in the terminals of the contactor,

[0019] - Figure 6 is a perspective view from the front showing the insertion of cables for supplying power to the second row of circuit breakers,

[0020] - Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the power supply and connection device in the aforementioned figure,

[0021] - Figure 8 is a partial view showing the two parts of the same connecting device after the rod has been installed inside one of the two parts,

[0022] - Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view of the same power supply and connection means after securing the second part of the device to the first part,

[0023] - Fig.10 is a perspective view of the power supply and connections from below, and

[0024] - Fig.11 is a perspective view of the same device seen from above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] exist Figures 1 to 4 In it can be seen a component A of a modular electrical device m of the phase and neutral type, for example a phase and neutral circuit breaker, which is mounted to the right of an electrical contactor C comprising four poles 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 .

[0026] Each pole of the contactor comprises a phase or neutral terminal a, b, c, d, while each modular circuit breaker m comprises two terminals, namely a phase terminal e and a neutral terminal f. The circuit breakers are supplied via a connection comb P of standard type, which comprises, for example Figure 7 As shown more specifically in FIG. 5 , a rod 5 for conveying neutral current and a set of rods 6, 7, 8 for conveying phase current are provided. To this end, each rod 6, 7, 8 comprises a number of teeth d extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the rod, which teeth are arranged at regular intervals along the rod. All these rods are placed in a longitudinal housing 9 provided for this purpose in a so-called first insulating support 10, so that the assembly consisting of the so-called first insulating support 10 and the rods 5 to 8 has two rows of teeth, i.e. Fig.10 and 11 As shown, a row R of neutral teeth n and a row S of phase teeth p, the neutral teeth n are arranged between two consecutive phase teeth p.

[0027] These teeth are separated from one another so that the continuous phase teeth p of the comb P can be inserted into the holes of the continuous phase terminal e of the modular device and the continuous neutral teeth n of the device can be introduced into the holes of the continuous neutral terminal f of the device.

[0028] According to the invention, each of these rods 5 to 8 comprises, at one of its ends, situated on the same side of all the rods, an area z for supporting a so-called auxiliary tooth 11, 12, 13, 14 intended for electrical connection to one of the terminals a, b, c, d of the contactor C. These four portions or free areas z situated at the ends of the rods 5, 6, 7, 8 thus form an assembly comprising four teeth 11 to 14 aligned in the longitudinal direction of the rods and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fixing plane, so that these teeth can be connected to corresponding connection elements of the terminals a, b, c, d of the contactor C.

[0029] like Figure 7 As shown, the teeth d of the power supply and connection means according to the invention for introduction into the terminals e, f of the modular device m are made integrally with the corresponding bars and extend from those bars with two consecutive bends in the direction of the device.

[0030] In this particular embodiment of the invention shown here, the auxiliary teeth 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the power supply and connection device D for cooperating with the contactor C are intended to be fixed (for example welded) to the corresponding upper surface i (i) of the rod opposite to the surface j facing the modular device. Figure 8 )'s independent component g.

[0031] The end portions of the rods 5 to 8, on which the regions z without teeth are located, are intended to be mounted in corresponding grooves 15 which are part of a so-called second insulating support 16 ( Figure 8 ), the so-called second bracket is used to be fixed to the so-called first insulating bracket 10 (for example by being closely nested therein) before connecting the power supply and the tooth d of the connection device to the corresponding modular device m. Fig. 9 )).

[0032] The recess or housing 9 of the so-called first insulating support 10 is aligned with a corresponding one of the so-called second insulating support 16 .

[0033] like Figure 7 As shown, the device according to the invention also includes a so-called end storage 17, which is used to be mounted on the end of a so-called first insulating support 10, which end is used to be fixed to a so-called second insulating support 16, and the storage 17 is suitable for receiving the free ends of the copper rods 5 to 8 and fixing them to the first insulating support 10.

[0034] The two insulating supports 10, 16 and the reservoir 17 are made of electrically insulating material. Since the connecting elements g are fixed to the upper surface of the bars 5 to 8, this so-called second insulating support 16 comprises openings 18 for receiving parts of those connecting elements g, through which these elements g are fixed to said bars 5 to 8 and thus absorb the volume of the weld.

[0035] Thus, of all the parts constituting the power supply and connection device D according to the invention, some are standard, such as the rods 5 to 8 in which the teeth d are cut so as to form a free zone z without teeth, the so-called first insulating support 10 is a standard support, and likewise the end cap or reservoir 17 is standard. Other parts are new and include the four new teeth 11 to 14 and the so-called second insulating support 16.

[0036] like Figure 5 and 6 As shown, the so-called second insulating support 16 has dimensions in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fixing plane P such that it is possible to leave a part of the access opening to the terminals a, b, c, d of the contactor C free, making it possible to access those terminals of the crimped ends of the cables, the other end of which is intended to be electrically connected to the input terminals h of the header device N mounted next to the series of modular devices O on the mounting rail 19 located above or below the first mounting rail 20. This makes it possible to insert a cable under the teeth engaged in the terminals a, b, c, d of the contactor C in order to supply the second row of circuit breakers located above or below the first row of circuit breakers.

[0037] The invention thus makes it possible to quickly electrically connect, without cables and without risk of error, a series of modular devices of the phase and neutral type located to the right and downstream of a contactor having four poles. The invention also makes it possible to electrically connect one row of such devices to a second row of devices located on a second fixed rail above a first fixed rail, by inserting a cable under the teeth engaged in the terminals of the contactor.

[0038] Thus, thanks to the invention, a power supply and connection device in the form of a comb is created, said comb initially comprising a number of teeth corresponding to the number of poles of the contactor, those teeth being arranged at a pitch of the contactor (for example 11 mm), those teeth being fixed to a copper bar comprising power supply teeth arranged according to the pitch of the modular device (that is to say at a pitch of 18 mm, for example). Thus, the invention makes it possible to save connection time, save space and eliminate the risk of exchanging phase and neutral conductors.

[0039] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, which are provided merely as examples.

[0040] On the contrary, the invention comprises all technical equivalents of the devices described and their combinations, if the latter are produced according to the spirit thereof.

Claims

1. A power supply and connection device for supplying power to a contactor and electrically connecting it to a group of modular electrical devices mounted side by side on a mounting bracket, the power supply and connection device (D) comprising an assembly of conductive rods mounted in a first insulating bracket, the assembly of conductive rods comprising a conductive rod for distributing neutral power and conductive rods for distributing phase power, each rod comprising teeth for connecting to respective terminals of the modular electrical devices (m), the teeth being aligned at a first pitch corresponding to the pitch of the modular electrical devices, The assembly consists of the first insulating support (10) and the rod (5 to 8), the rod having two rows (R, S) of teeth, namely a row (R) of neutral teeth (n) and a row (S) of phase teeth (p), wherein the neutral teeth (n) are arranged between two consecutive phase teeth (p), the power supply and connection device (D) comprising a certain number of auxiliary teeth (11 to 14), wherein, This number corresponds to the number of rods (5 to 8), those auxiliary teeth (11 to 14) are fixed to and electrically connected to the corresponding rods (5 to 8) in a toothless area (z), and the toothless area (z) is located at one end of the rod (5 to 8) on one side of the assembly, when the contactor (C) and the set of modular electrical devices (m) are mounted side by side on the same mounting bracket, those auxiliary teeth (11 to 14) are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the rod at a second pitch corresponding to the pitch of the contactor (C) and are used to electrically connect to the corresponding terminals (a, b, c, d) of the contactor (C).

2. The power supply and connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The or each rod (5 to 8) is made of a rod cut to produce the above-mentioned area (z) without teeth.

3. The power supply and connection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The toothless area (z) extends beyond the housing of a so-called first insulating support (10), and the power supply and connection device (D) also comprises a second insulating support (16) suitable for accommodating the toothless area (z) of the rods (5 to 8), the second insulating support (16) being intended to be removably fixed to the first insulating support (10).

4. A power supply and connection device according to claim 3, said so-called first insulating support (10) comprising a housing for accommodating a rod extending in a direction substantially parallel to the alignment direction of the teeth, characterized in that The so-called second insulating support (16) comprises housings for the rods (5 to 8), which extend in alignment with the corresponding rods of the so-called first insulating support (10).

5. The power supply and connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 2 and 4, characterized in that: The aforementioned auxiliary teeth (11 to 14) are fixed to the upper surface (i) of the respective rod (5 to 8), said surface being located on the side opposite to the surface (j) facing the aforementioned modular electrical device (m).

6. The power supply and connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 2 and 4, characterized in that: The auxiliary teeth (11 to 14) are fixed to the rods (5 to 8) by welding.

7. The power supply and connection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The so-called second insulating support (16) has dimensions, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane (P) in which the modular electrical device (m) is fixed to the fixing support, such that a portion of the access opening to the terminals (a, b, c, d) of the contactor (C) can be kept free in order to be able to insert a cable under the teeth of the power supply and connection device (D) which engage in the terminals (a, b, c, d) of the contactor (C).

8. The power supply and connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, 4 and 7, characterized in that: The power supply and connection device (D) is of three-pole and neutral type, comprising a pole (5) for distributing the neutral line and three poles (6, 7, 8) for distributing the phase lines, the teeth being aligned and distributing the phases continuously, wherein the teeth of the distributing neutral line are arranged between two consecutive phase teeth.

9. The power supply and connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, 4 and 7, characterized in that: The auxiliary teeth (11 to 14) are arranged at a pitch of 11 mm, while the teeth for electrical connection to the modular electrical device (m) are arranged at a pitch of 18 mm.

10. The power supply and connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, 4 and 7, characterized in that: The or each modular electrical device (m) is a phase and neutral type device comprising a phase circuit and a neutral circuit.

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