Housing wall with cable entry to prevent the ingress of contaminants in accordance with the IP43 standard

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of routing cable(s) passing through an enclosure in which an electrical component is housed, for example for its power supply.

[0002] It relates more particularly to an enclosure wall which is provided with an opening for the passage of cable(s) and which is configured to limit the penetration of pollutants from this opening according to the criteria of the international IP43 sealing standard.

[0003] The invention finds application for any type of enclosure in which an electrical device requires comparable or lesser protection against exposure to foreign bodies, for example a housing for an emergency lighting device.

[0004] Document EP 0 248 181 A1, for example, relates to a fuse and distribution box for motor vehicles. A front panel of a housing of the fuse and distribution box has cavities into which cable grommets are inserted. Cable bundles from consumers arranged in an engine compartment are guided through the cable grommets into the fuse and distribution box, the cable grommets providing a sealing effect. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0005] Generally speaking, electrical equipment is subject to a protection index, known as the IP index, which determines the level of protection to be respected against the introduction of solid foreign bodies, such as dust, and liquid bodies, mainly water in the form of rain.

[0006] This IP index is more or less severe depending on the use and the environment of the electrical device in question.

[0007] For example, in the field of emergency lighting, regulations require the installation of illuminated beaconing lights at strategic locations in a commercial or industrial establishment to guide anyone outside during an evacuation. In particular, it is required to install a lighting device above each emergency exit door.

[0008] Such an emergency exit lighting device is presented in a known manner in the form of a box which integrates electrical equipment including at least one light fixture. The legislation requires for this type of lighting system an IP43 protection rating for the electrical equipment which integrates it, namely protection both against solid bodies greater than 1 mm and against water sprayed at less than 60° from the vertical. In principle, this involves conforming the box in such a way as to obtain a seal which meets the standard.

[0009] The electrical equipment of the emergency exit lighting device can be powered by a battery integrated into the housing, or by an external source. If powered by an external source, an opening must be formed in a wall delimiting the housing to allow one or more cables to be routed through it to reach the electrical equipment. However, such an opening constitutes a direct obstacle to proper compliance with the IP43 standard, and must therefore be sealed once the wiring is installed.

[0010] One solution adopted by manufacturers is to provide a rubber element that is custom-made and integrated into the box so as to fill the space between the outline of the opening and the wiring that passes through it, like an eyelet.

[0011] However, using such a custom-made organ generates additional production and integration costs.

[0012] The invention aims to propose an alternative solution to ensure compliance with the IP43 standard which at least partially overcomes the drawbacks identified above. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0013] To this end, the invention relates to a delimiting wall of an interior enclosure intended to isolate at least one piece of electrical equipment from an external environment, this wall comprising: a panel in which a through opening is formed in a longitudinal direction; and a chute which jointly delimits with the panel a cable routing conduit between the external environment and the internal enclosure to connect said at least one electrical equipment to an external element, this conduit extending from the opening of the panel forming an inlet mouth to an outlet mouth opening into the internal enclosure; characterized in that the conduit defines a serpentine cable path comprising: an elbow in the longitudinal extension of the opening which forms a stop surface configured to prevent intrusion of foreign bodies into the inner enclosure by penetrating into the opening from the external environment or in the longitudinal direction; and a ramp to ensure retention of liquid in the conduit by gravity.

[0014] The invention also relates to a wall thus defined, in which the chute comprises a first part in the form of a gutter with a U-shaped section profile, the ends of which are flush with the panel, this first part of the chute extending orthogonally to the longitudinal direction and in the longitudinal extension of the opening to define the bend of the path.

[0015] The invention also relates to a wall thus defined, in which the chute comprises a second part which extends the first part of the chute in its alignment, this second part jointly delimiting with the panel the outlet mouth in a plane orthogonal to the direction of extension of the chute to define the ramp of the path.

[0016] The invention also relates to a wall thus defined, in which the second chute portion comprises a deflector along the ramp for deflecting a foreign body against the panel.

[0017] The invention also relates to a wall thus defined, in which the panel comprises a groove along the ramp which is shaped to promote the flapping of the foreign body by the deflector.

[0018] The invention also relates to a wall thus defined, in which the panel and the chute are in one piece.

[0019] The invention also relates to a wall thus defined, in which the chute is attached to the panel.

[0020] The invention also relates to a housing for insulating at least one piece of electrical equipment from an external environment, comprising a wall thus defined.

[0021] The invention also relates to an emergency exit lighting device comprising a housing thus defined, this lighting device comprising electrical equipment connected to an external element by a cable passing through the housing, this housing comprising two parallel panels, including: a front panel supporting a pictogram sign to indicate a direction, and a back panel in which the opening is formed, this back panel delimiting the conduit through which the cable extends. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a bottom panel of a lighting device according to an exterior view, this panel being provided with an opening according to the invention; Fig.2illustrates a front panel of the light block housing from an exterior view; Fig.3 illustrates the bottom panel as seen from inside the housing, a channel being arranged on the bottom panel to jointly delimit a cable passage conduit in accordance with the invention; Fig.4 is a detail view of the chute of the figure 3 ; Fig.5a is a sectional view on plan P1 of the figure 3 ; Fig.5b is a sectional view on plan P2 of the figure 3 ; Fig.5c is a sectional view on plan P3 of the figure 3 ; Fig.6 is a schematic of the outline of the cable passage conduit defined by the bottom panel and the trunking; Fig.7 illustrates the insertion of a cable along the conduit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] In reference to the figures 1 to 3, an emergency exit lighting device 10 comprises a housing 12 which delimits an interior enclosure I in which electrical equipment is housed, including at least one light fitting, advantageously of the LED type.

[0024] In the example of the figures, the housing 12 is in the form of a parallelepiped formed of two substantially parallel panels 14 and 16, including a bottom panel 14 and a front panel 16, which are fitted into each other.

[0025] Once the housing 12 is assembled, the respective so-called interior surfaces of the bottom and front panels 14, 16 extend opposite each other to jointly delimit the interior enclosure I of the housing 12.

[0026] The front panel 16 has a window in the central region at the level of which a sign 18 is arranged. In the example of the figure 2, this sign 18 displays a static pictogram which represents a silhouette of a character running through a door as well as a directional arrow to indicate the direction to take.

[0027] Electrical equipment, marked 20 on the figure 3 , are carried by the bottom panel 14, flush with its interior surface. They are advantageously arranged at the corners of the box 12. Among these electrical equipments, the light fixture(s) arranged are oriented towards this sign 18 so as to backlight it.

[0028] The emergency exit light device 10 is intended to be fixed to a wall or partition so that the sign 18 is visible from the outside. In this regard, the back panel 14 may comprise a fixing member for fixing the lighting device 1, for example by means of a wall mounting plate or by direct screwing.

[0029] In the following, the vertical, longitudinal and transverse orientations will be adopted, without limitation, according to the reference V, L, T indicated in the figures, considering the box arranged vertically in a building, namely with the back walls 14 and front walls 16 oriented vertically.

[0030] In the context of the invention, at least one of the electrical equipment 20 requires a wired connection with an element external to the emergency exit lighting device 10. By way of non-limiting example, an electrical power supply external to the device 10 may be required, for example to ensure the operation of the light fixture(s).

[0031] In this respect, it is a question of forming an opening in the housing 12 to allow a cable to pass through. In the example of the figures, an opening 22 is formed at the central region of the bottom panel 14. This opening 22 is formed through the bottom panel 14, in the so-called longitudinal direction L which is normal to the plane of this panel. The size of this opening 22 is in particular defined as a function of the number and diameter of cabling required.

[0032] This opening 22, although essential for routing the cable(s), constitutes a route for the intrusion of pollutants into the housing 12. As understood, it exposes the electrical equipment to dust or water splashes, which goes against the sealing criteria laid down according to the IP43 standard for this type of device.

[0033] The idea behind the invention lies in the desire to find a substitute for the addition of a rubber member to seal the residual spaces between the opening 22 and the wiring passing through. In this respect, the major feature of the invention lies in the formation of a conduit 24 whose particular morphology ensures passive retention of pollutant outside the internal enclosure I.

[0034] In reference to the figures 4 to 6 , the conduit 24 is jointly delimited by the bottom panel 14 and a chute 26. This chute will be described according to its destination location, namely when it equips the bottom panel 14.

[0035] The chute 26 extends generally in the transverse direction, being bounded by a first and a second end partition 27, 28. Between the transverse end partitions 27, 28, the chute 26 is shaped into two successive parts, including a first part 30 which is in the form of a gutter with a U-shaped section profile and a second part 32 which is in the form of an L-shaped section profile. The first part 30 of the chute is connected to the first partition 27, the second part is connected to the second partition 28, and the first and second parts of the chute are connected together between the transverse end partitions 27, 28.

[0036] As seen in detail on the Figures 5a, 5b And 6, the first part 30 comprises three flanks, two of which are respectively upper and lower flanks 30a1, 30a2, extending orthogonally to the vertical direction V, and an intermediate flank 30b which connects the upper and lower flanks 30a1, 30a2 by extending orthogonally to the longitudinal direction. As understood, the upper and lower flanks 30a1 and 30a2 correspond to the legs of the U and the longitudinal flank 30b corresponds to the central sector of the U.

[0037] In particular, the first part 30 of the chute is configured: so as to extend in the longitudinal extension of the opening 22, as illustrated in the Figure 5a resulting from a section following a plan identified by P1 on the figure 4 ; and such that the upper and lower flanks 30a1, 30a2 are arranged on either side of the opening 22 in the vertical direction.

[0038] With this arrangement, the opening 22 corresponds to an inlet mouth of the conduit 24. Since the first chute portion 30 extends transversely while the opening 22 extends longitudinally, it is understood that the conduit 24 forms an elbow which imposes a path, denoted C, comprising a turning component V1, to advance along it from the opening 22. The turn V1 is defined as a transition from longitudinal to transverse orientation.

[0039] In practice, any foreign body unexpectedly entering the opening 22 in the longitudinal direction will thus come up against the intermediate flank 30b of the first part 30 of the chute, preventing it from directly accessing the internal enclosure I.

[0040] As for the second part 32 of the chute, it has two sides including: a lower flank 32a, oriented normal to the vertical direction, which extends the lower flank 30a2 of the first part 30 of the chute; and a lateral flank 32b, oriented normal to the longitudinal direction, which extends the intermediate flank 30a2 of the first part 30 of the chute, as visible in detail on the Figure 5c .

[0041] The fact that this second part 32 of the chute is devoid of a side in the extension of the upper side 30a1 of the first part 30 of the chute thus leads to forming, jointly with the second end partition 28, an outlet mouth of the conduit 24, noted 34.

[0042] Given that this outlet mouth 34 extends in a plane normal to the vertical direction V, the conduit 24 imposes a path C comprising a second bend component V2 to open into the interior enclosure I. The bend V2 is defined as a transition from transverse to vertical orientation in the form of an ascending ramp.

[0043] From a functional point of view, assuming that a quantity of water enters the conduit 24 through the opening 22, the effect of gravity prevents it from reaching the outlet mouth 34. This ascending ramp thus makes it possible to avoid the intrusion of liquid into the internal enclosure I from the conduit 24.

[0044] In view of the above, the bends V1 and V2 give the path C a serpentine character between the inlet and outlet openings 22, 34. In principle, such bends constitute singular pressure losses in the conduit 24, which limits the progression of pollutant towards the inner enclosure I. In addition, direct intrusion of solid or liquid pollutant into the inner enclosure I is prevented because the openings 22, 34 are offset from each other.

[0045] According to another feature of the invention, it is intended to provide additional protection in the event of intrusion of a solid body into the conduit 24. In this regard, it is advantageous to form a deflector 36 which makes it possible to divert from the electrical equipment 20 any solid body which would be caused to penetrate into the interior enclosure I via the outlet mouth 34. This deflector 36 is in the form of an arcuate wall which extends between the lateral flank 32b of the second part 32 of the chute and the second partition 28, in the manner of a rounding at their interface. It makes it possible to fold a solid body towards the interior surface of the bottom panel 14, at the level of a so-called quarantine zone S, vertically above and devoid of electrical equipment 20 as illustrated in the figure 3. With this arrangement, it is understood that in the critical case where a solid pollutant manages to enter the inner enclosure I, the electrical equipment 20 is not directly exposed.

[0046] In addition to the deflector 36, the inner surface of the bottom panel 14 is shaped with a groove 38 opposite the lateral flank 32b of the second part 32 of the chute. The deflector 36 is contiguous to this groove 38 so as to guide a solid body against it. As can be seen in detail in the Figure 5c , the groove 38 is formed at an angle with the vertical direction V to form a slope which softens the angle defined between the inner surface of the bottom panel 14 and the lower flank 32a of the second part 32 of the chute. This arrangement promotes the folding of a solid body by the deflector 36 against the inner surface of the bottom panel 14.

[0047] The chute 26 is preferably formed in one piece with the bottom panel 14, for example by molding, so as to avoid an assembly step.

[0048] It should be noted that an assembly of the trunking 26 on the bottom panel 14 can also be retained without departing from the scope of the invention, for example by gluing, snap-fastening or by screws. In the latter case, the trunking 26 can comprise fixing lugs provided with orifices coming opposite corresponding orifices formed at the level of the bottom panel 14 for the insertion of screws. The assembly of the trunking 26 corresponds to an easy step since it occurs before positioning the cable(s), unlike the addition of a rubber member, the installation of which occurs after the installation of the cabling to fill the residual spaces.

[0049] Also, mass production of the trunking 26 is permitted, which is not the case for a custom-made member, by definition. In practice, this trunking 26 can be sized in relation to a maximum number and diameter of cable, allowing it to equip the panels with several ranges of lighting devices 10. The manufacturing costs are thus reduced in comparison with the development and formation of a custom-made member for a given application.

[0050] Routing a T cable through conduit 24, as shown in figure 7, is carried out before the assembly of the bottom and front panels 14, 16. This involves inserting one end of the cable into the opening 22 and pushing the cable until this end protrudes at the level of the outlet mouth 34. It is recommended to use a tool to guide the end of the cable along the conduit 24, otherwise the operation is not easy given the serpentine nature of this conduit.

[0051] The invention has been described as relating to the association of a bottom panel 14 of a housing 12 of a lighting device 10 provided with an opening 22, and a channel 26 arranged in the extension of the opening 22 to define a cable routing conduit 24.

[0052] It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the arrangement described on the basis of the attached figures. In practice, the opening 22 may be formed at any location of a housing 12 which may comprise a plurality of panels. As understood, the morphology of the trunking 26 may be modified as needed depending on the position of the opening 22 and the general orientation of the housing 12, in particular with respect to the vertical direction, since the conduit 24 defines a serpentine cable path comprising: an elbow in the extension of the opening 22 which forms a stop surface configured to prevent intrusion of foreign bodies into the interior enclosure I by penetrating into the opening from the exterior environment E; and a ramp to ensure retention of liquid in the conduit by gravity.

[0053] In the same way, the deflector 36 and the groove 38 can have different structures depending on the orientation of the housing 12 in space and the position of the opening 22, since these elements ensure the flapping of a foreign body against the panel 14 at the level of the outlet mouth 34. The positioning of the electrical equipment 20 can be modified as needed so as not to be in the quarantine zone S.

[0054] Finally, the invention has been described as relating to a delimiting wall of a housing 12 of a lighting device making it possible to satisfy the IP43 standard to which this type of device is subject. It should be noted that this wall, formed by the association of the panel 14 and the trunking 26, is not limited to this particular application. In practice, it can be used to delimit any interior enclosure which must comply with the IP43 protection index or an index of a lower degree of severity.

[0055] This patent application claims priority from French patent application 2302619.

Claims

1. A boundary wall of an interior enclosure (I) intended to isolate at least one electrical device (20) from an external environment (E), this wall comprising: - a panel (14), wherein a through-opening (22) is formed in a longitudinal direction; and - a chute (26) that, together with the panel (14), delimits a cable routing conduit between the external environment (E) and the interior enclosure (I) to connect said at least one electrical device (20) to an external element, this conduit extending from the opening of the panel (14) forming an inlet mouth to an outlet mouth (34) opening into the interior enclosure (I); characterised in that the conduit defines a serpentine cable routing (C) comprising: - a bend in the longitudinal extension of the opening (22) that forms a stop surface configured to prevent intrusion of foreign bodies into the interior enclosure (I) by penetrating into the opening from the external environment (E); and - a ramp to ensure liquid retention in the conduit (24) by gravity.

2. The wall according to claim 1, wherein the chute (26) comprises a first part (30) in the form of a gutter with a U-shaped profile in section, the ends of which are flush with the panel (14), this first chute part (30) extending orthogonally to the longitudinal direction and in the longitudinal extension of the opening (22) to define the bend of the routing.

3. The wall according to claim 2, wherein the chute (26) comprises a second part (32) that extends the first chute part (30) in its alignment, this second part (32), together with the panel (14), delimiting the outlet mouth (34) in a plane orthogonal to the direction of extension of the chute (26) to define the ramp of the routing.

4. The wall according to claim 3, wherein the second chute part (32) comprises a deflector (36) along the ramp for deflecting a foreign body against the panel (14).

5. The wall according to claim 4, wherein the panel (14) comprises a groove (38) along the ramp that is shaped to promote the deflection of the foreign body by the deflector (36).

6. The wall according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panel (14) and the chute (26) are in one piece.

7. The wall according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the chute (26) is attached to the panel (14).

8. A housing (12) for insulating at least one electrical device (20) from an external environment (E), comprising a wall according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. An emergency exit lighting device comprising a housing (12) according to claim 8, this lighting device comprising an electrical device (20) connected to an external element by a cable (T) passing through the housing (12), this housing comprising two parallel panels (14; 16), including: - a front panel (16) supporting a sign (18) with a pictogram to indicate a direction, and - a rear panel (14) in which the opening (22) is formed, this rear panel (14) delimiting the conduit (24) through which the cable (T) extends.