Surge protection device and electrical system with such a surge protection device

Description

[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 in a building typically includes an electrical panel that connects the installation to a shared electricity distribution network and to ground. Generally, the electrical installation also includes various protection, control, and / or monitoring devices. Among these devices are surge protection devices, commonly known as lightning arresters, surge protectors, or SPDs (Surge Protection Devices). These devices protect the electrical installation against transient overvoltages in the electrical current supplying it. These overvoltages typically originate from lightning strikes or incidents in the electricity distribution network.Such transient overvoltages are characterized by a significant transient rise in supply voltage and are often accompanied by high current pulses.

[0003] The invention relates more specifically to electrical switchboards on an intermediate section of which phase busbars are arranged parallel and side by side. Typically, there are three busbars, each intended to be supplied by a phase of a polyphase electrical voltage, typically a three-phase voltage. These busbars, commonly referred to as "busbars" in English terminology within the field, thus form a group. Such switchboards are common in many English-speaking countries, particularly in the United Kingdom, where the phase busbars generally extend vertically along the center of the switchboard.To support electrical equipment connected to the busbars, the electrical panel is very often equipped with two rails, such as DIN rails, each extending lengthwise parallel to the busbars and positioned along and on either side of the busbar group. Electrical equipment, such as certain protection, control, and / or monitoring devices, can then be mounted on the rails, each arranged perpendicular to the busbar group to which the equipment is directly connected. This panel layout is why it is often referred to as a "fishbone" panel.The electrical panel is, where appropriate, supplemented by two neutral busbars, which are intended to be connected to the neutral of the electric current and which extend lengthwise parallel and at a distance from the phase busbars, one of the two rails being interposed between the group of phase busbars and one of the two neutral busbars while the other rail is interposed between the group of phase busbars and the other neutral busbar.

[0004] The transient overvoltage protection devices currently available for fishbone-type electrical panels are unsatisfactory. These devices are generally bulky due to the electrical components they incorporate, making them difficult to mount on either of the panel's rails, except perhaps by occupying a significant portion of them. This often results in at least some, or even all, of the protection device's components being located off-rail, away from the main busbars, sometimes in a separate, dedicated enclosure.In all cases, this then requires the use of dedicated wiring between at least part of the protection device and the phase and neutral busbars: beyond the installation and space constraints that this implies, the aforementioned wiring often leads, due to its length, to a degradation of the effectiveness of the overvoltage protection device.

[0005] US 2023 / 223 749 A1 and US 10 734 176 B2 disclose prior art protection devices.

[0006] 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 suited to the aforementioned "fishbone" type electrical panels.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a surge protection device, comprising: an enclosure, 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 enclosure is supported by the rail; two side panels, which are opposite each other along the width axis and which are connected to each other along the width axis by the front and back panels of the enclosure; 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 by the front, the back, and the two side panels of the enclosure; and an electrical module or a plurality of electrical modules, which is arranged within an internal volume of the enclosure, delimited jointly by the front, the back, the two side panels, and the first and second ends of the case, in which 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 from the electrical panel can be connected to the phase terminal at the first end of the box, a slot, 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 box and which, along the length axis, are distributed so that the fuse is positioned between the phase terminal and the varistor and the varistor is positioned between the fuse and the slot, and in which the electrical module or one of the electrical modules of said plurality further comprises a gas spark gap and an earth terminal, 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 of the box, and arranged in the location of the electrical module in question so that a protective conductor of the electrical panel is connectable to the earth terminal at the second end of the box.

[0008] One of the ideas behind the invention is to make the protection device both compact and modular, particularly for the purpose of adapting it to the aforementioned "fishbone" type electrical panel. To achieve this, the invention provides for arranging, in the form of an electrical module, components arranged one after the other along a lengthwise axis of the protection device's housing. These components are 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 slot which, along its length, is opposite the phase terminal, the varistor being thus arranged between this slot and the fuse. A gas discharge tube and an earth terminal are housed in the slot of the electrical module when the protective device comprises only one such electrical module, or in only one of the respective slots of the electrical modules when the protective device comprises a plurality of such electrical modules, the gas discharge tube and the earth terminal being connected in series to the varistor(s). The protective device according to the invention is thus advantageously available in a single-phase version with 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 at a lower cost adapting the protection device to the number of phase(s) that the protection device must protect, and to facilitate maintenance or repair interventions of the protection device.

[0009] Furthermore, the fact that the fuse, varistor, and gas discharge tube are stacked along the lengthwise axis between the phase terminal and the ground terminal maximizes the available space in the housing along this lengthwise axis, thereby minimizing the housing's widthwise dimension as much as possible. This widthwise dimension can thus advantageously reach a value of 18 mm when the protective device according to the invention comprises only one electrical module, and a value of 54 mm when the protective device according to the invention comprises three electrical modules, it being noted that these values ​​of 18 mm and 54 mm are market standards.

[0010] In all cases, the phase terminal and the earth terminal are located, within the protective device according to the invention, at opposite ends of the housing, respectively, along its length. This allows the housing to be mounted on a rail of the aforementioned "fishbone" type electrical panel so that the phase terminal faces the phase busbar group for easy and direct connection to one of them. In other words, the protective device according to the invention is particularly well-suited to the aforementioned "fishbone" type electrical panels.As detailed later, the protection device according to the invention is advantageously adapted to "fishbone" type electrical panels, including neutral busbars: to do this, the protection device then integrates a neutral terminal, which is attached to the same end of the box as that to which the earth terminal is attached, and which is connected to the earth terminal via the gas discharge tube.

[0011] Other advantageous aspects of the device according to the invention, which aim in particular to enhance its performance, will also be detailed later.

[0012] Thus, according to additional advantageous characteristics of the protection device according to the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations: the electrical module or one of the electrical modules of said plurality further includes a neutral terminal which is (i) connected to the earth terminal via the gas discharge tube in the internal volume of the housing, and (ii) adjacent to the second end of the housing so that a neutral conductor from the electrical panel is connectable to the neutral terminal at the second end of the housing; the gas discharge tube is connected to the varistor of the electrical module or to the respective varistors of the electrical modules of said plurality by a conductive plate (i) which is disposed in the internal volume of the housing, being adjacent to the back of the housing, and (ii) against which a terminal of the gas discharge tube is applied along the depth axis; The neutral terminal is connected to the gas discharge tube by the conductive plate; a single electrical module is provided, the protection device being single-phase, and the two lateral sides of the box are flat and parallel, being spaced apart from each other, along the width axis, by 18 mm; three electrical modules are provided, the protection device being three-phase, and the two lateral sides of the box are flat and parallel, being spaced apart from each other, along the width axis, by 54 mm; for the electrical module or each of the electrical modules of said plurality, the fuse has an elongated shape which extends lengthwise from substantially the front to substantially the back of the box;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 link including two contacts and a solder joint which joins the two contacts when the solder joint 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 solder joint when the solder joint is intact, and which is driven by a spring in the internal volume of the housing when the solder joint is broken so as to separate the two contacts at least along the width axis;The protection device further comprises an electronic monitoring device, which (i) includes an assembled printed circuit board configured to provide an end-of-life indication for the electrical module or modules of said plurality, and (ii) is arranged within the internal volume of the enclosure so that the assembled printed circuit board is adjacent to one of the lateral sides of the enclosure; the electronic monitoring device is connected to the respective varistors of the electrical modules of said plurality by respective conducting wires, and the enclosure includes internal partitions that position and keep the conducting wires separate from each other within the internal volume of the enclosure.

[0013] The invention also relates to an electrical installation, comprising: an electrical panel comprising (i) phase busbars, which are intended to be supplied by a phase of a voltage from an electrical supply and which extend lengthwise 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, each adapted to support electrical equipment and which each extend lengthwise parallel to the phase busbars, the two rails being arranged along and on either side of the group, and (iii) an earthing bar which is intended to be connected to earth, and the protective device as defined above, in which the enclosure is mounted on one of the two rails so that the first end of the enclosure is turned towards the group of phase busbars along the longitudinal axis,in which the phase terminal of the electrical module or of each of the electrical modules of said plurality is connected to one of the phase busbars by a phase conductor, which extends from and transversely to the phase busbar in question and which is connected to the phase terminal of the electrical module in question at the first end of the enclosure, 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 enclosure.

[0014] According to additional advantageous characteristics of the electrical installation according to the invention: a neutral conductor is connected to the neutral terminal at the second end of the box; the electrical panel further includes, for at least one of the two rails, a neutral busbar, which is intended to be supplied by a neutral from the power supply and which extends lengthwise parallel and at a distance from the phase busbars, said at least one of the two rails being interposed between the neutral busbar and the group of phase busbars, and the neutral terminal is connected to the neutral busbar by the neutral conductor which extends from and transversely to the neutral busbar.

[0015] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the drawings in which: [ Fig.1 ] there figure 1 is a schematic elevation view of an electrical installation according to the invention; [ Fig.2 ] there figure 2 is a perspective view of a protection device according to the invention, in a single-phase embodiment; [ Fig.3 ] there figure 3 is a view similar to the figure 2 , from a different perspective; [ Fig.4 ] there figure 4 is a section along plane IV of the figure 2 ; Fig.5 ] there figure 5 is a perspective view of certain internal components of the protection device of the figure 2 ; Fig.6 ] there figure 6 is a view similar to the figure 5 , from a different perspective; [ Fig.7 ] there figure 7 is a perspective view of a protection device according to the invention, in a three-phase embodiment; [ Fig.8 ] there figure 8 is a view similar to the figure 7 , from a different perspective; [ Fig.9 ] there figure 9 is a section along plane IX of the figure 7 ; Fig.10 ] there figure 10 is a perspective view of certain internal components of the protection device of the figure 7 ; Fig.11 ] there figure 11 is a view similar to the figure 10 , from a different perspective; [ Fig.12 ] there figure 12 is a view analogous to that of the figure 5 , but illustrating a variant of the single-phase embodiment of the protection device according to the invention; and [ Fig.13 ] there figure 13 is a view similar to the figure 12 , from a different point of view.

[0016] On the figure 1 is represented an electrical installation 1 which equips for example a building for the purpose of connecting the latter to a collective electricity distribution network.

[0017] The electrical installation 1 includes an electrical panel 10, which allows the electrical installation 1 to be connected to the electricity distribution network and which is fixedly installed in the building.

[0018] As schematically illustrated in the figure 1 The electrical panel 10 includes an insulating frame 11, which is fixed to the building and supports the other components of the electrical panel 10, in particular its electrical components, by electrically isolating them from the building. The embodiment of the frame 11 is not limited.

[0019] Electrical panel 10 also includes phase busbars, of which there are three, designated 12, 13, and 14. Phase busbars 12, 13, and 14, commonly referred to as "busbars" in the field, are, in operation, supplied by a phase of a voltage from a power supply, in this case three-phase, provided by the aforementioned electricity network. To this end, phase busbars 12, 13, and 14 are connected to a power supply cable from the electricity network, according to non-exhaustive arrangements that are not shown on the diagram. figure 1 Each of the phase busbars 12, 13, and 14 primarily comprises a conductor or a set of conductors aligned and joined together. In all cases, the phase busbars 12, 13, and 14 extend lengthwise parallel to one another, arranged side by side while being electrically insulated from each other. The phase busbars 12, 13, and 14 thus form a group arranged in an intermediate, or even central, area of ​​the electrical panel 10, located in an intermediate, or even central, region of the framework 11. In practice, as schematically illustrated in the figure 1 , the omnibus bars of phase 12, 13 and 14 thus extend lengthwise along the vertical and the group it forms is located horizontally at mid-distance from the lateral end edges, left and right, of the reinforcement 11.

[0020] As illustrated in the figure 1 In purely schematic terms, the 12-phase busbar is equipped with phase conductors 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3 that extend from and transversely to the 12-phase busbar, both on either side of it and evenly distributed along its length. These phase conductors 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3 are, for example, fins that, integrated with the 12-phase busbar, form an electrical comb. The teeth of this comb correspond to the aforementioned fins, and it distributes the phase power supplying the 12-phase busbar. Naturally, the number of phase conductors 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3 in the 12-phase busbar, which is three in this example, figure 1 , is not exhaustive.

[0021] The 13-phase busbar is equipped with phase conductors 13.1, 13.2, and 13.3, which are functionally and structurally similar to phase conductors 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3 of the 12-phase busbar, but for the 13-phase busbar. Similarly, the 14-phase busbar is equipped with phase conductors 14.1, 14.2, and 14.3, which are functionally and structurally similar to phase conductors 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3 of the 12-phase busbar, but for the 14-phase busbar. Of course, the individual phase conductors 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3, 13.1, 13.2, and 13.3, and 14.1, 14.2, and 14.3 are electrically insulated from each other. others, as well as vis-à-vis the two phase bus bars to 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, the phase 14.1 conductor, the phase 12.2 conductor, the phase 13.2 conductor, the phase 14.2 conductor, and so on.

[0022] The electrical panel 10 also includes two rails, 15 and 16, each adapted to support electrical equipment. Rails 15 and 16 are, for example, DIN rails, well-known as such in the field. As schematically illustrated in the figure 1 , each of the rails 15 and 16 extends lengthwise parallel to the omnibus bars of phase 12, 13 and 14. The rails 15 and 16 are arranged along and on either side of the group formed by the omnibus bars of phase 12, 13 and 14.

[0023] In practice, the intrinsic characteristics of rails 15 and 16 are not limiting, since rails 15 and 16 advantageously allow for the modularity of the electrical panel 10, in the sense that each of rails 15 and 16 is designed to support various electrical devices to be connected to the phase busbars 12, 13, and 14, it being noted that such electrical devices are illustrated on the figure 1 As detailed below, these various electrical devices, which advantageously protect, control, and / or monitor the electrical installation 1, are selected according to the needs of the electrical installation 1 and are interchangeable in case of maintenance or changes to the aforementioned needs. In all cases, the electrical devices actually mounted on rails 15 and 16 are arranged perpendicular to these rails 15 and 16 and to the group formed by the phase busbars 12, 13, and 14, to which these devices can be directly connected via the phase conductors 12.1 to 14.3. Thus, the electrical panel 10 is of the "fishbone" type, as mentioned in the introductory section of this document.

[0024] As clearly visible on the figure 1 The electrical equipment, mounted on rails 15 and 16, includes two overvoltage protection devices, namely a single-phase 100 protection device, which is mounted here on rail 15 and is shown alone on the figures 2 à 6 and a 200 three-phase protection device, which is mounted here on rail 16 and is shown alone figures 7 à 11 As schematically illustrated in figures 1 And 2 The protective device 100 is connected to the phase busbar 12 by the phase conductor 12.1, it being noted that this protective device 100 is not connected to the other phase busbars 13 and 14. As schematically illustrated in figures 1 And 7 The protection device 200 is connected to the phase busbars 12, 13 and 14 respectively by phase conductors 12.1, 13.1 and 14.1. The protection devices 100 and 200 will be described in more detail later.

[0025] It should be noted that, in practice, an electrical installation of type 1 only includes one or the other of the 100 and 200 protection devices. On the figure 1 , the protection devices 100 and 200 are however both represented together in the same electrical panel, which is table 10, to illustrate how these protection devices 100 and 200 are arranged in such an electrical panel.

[0026] Furthermore, in the example illustrated in the figure 1 The electrical equipment, mounted on rails 15 and 16, also includes 50-type lever circuit breakers. Each of these 50-type lever circuit breakers is connected to one of the phase busbars 12, 13, and 14 via one of the phase conductors 12.1 to 14.3, which belongs to the relevant phase busbar. In an alternative configuration not shown, electrical installation 1 includes multiple other electrical devices, either in addition to or as replacements for the 50-type lever circuit breakers, depending on the requirements of electrical installation 1.

[0027] Returning to the description of electrical panel 10 of the figure 1 The latter advantageously includes two neutral busbars 17 and 18. In operation, the neutral bars 17 and 18 are supplied by a neutral from the power supply and are, for this purpose, connected to the aforementioned power cable according to non-exhaustive arrangements, not visible on the figure 1 . Each of the neutral bus bars 17 and 18 extends lengthwise parallel 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.

[0028] The neutral busbar 17 is equipped with neutral conductors 17.1 to 17.9 that extend from and transversely to the neutral busbar 17, being regularly distributed along its length. These neutral conductors are, for example, fins that, integrated with the neutral busbar 17, form an electrical comb, the teeth of which correspond to the aforementioned fins and which distributes the neutral power supplying the neutral busbar 17. Of course, the number of these neutral conductors 17.1 to 17.9 on the neutral busbar 17, which is nine here, is not limited. Within the electrical installation 1 considered here, the neutral conductor 17.1 connects the neutral busbar 17 and the protective device 100, as schematically illustrated only in the diagram. figure 2 , the neutral conductor 17.1 not being visible on the figure 1 .

[0029] The neutral busbar 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 busbar 17, but for the neutral busbar 18. Within the electrical installation 1, the neutral conductor 18.2 connects the neutral busbar 18 and the protective device 200 to each other, as shown schematically only in the diagram. figure 7 on which are also illustrated the neutral conductors 18.1 and 18.3, it being noted that the latter are not visible on the figure 1 .

[0030] The electrical panel 10 also includes an earth bar 20 which, in operation, is directly connected to the building's earth, as schematically illustrated in the figure 1 on which the building's earth is referenced as 21. The arrangements relating to the connection between the earth bar 20 and the earth 21 are not limiting. Similarly, the intrinsic characteristics of the earth bar 20, as well as its arrangement in relation to the rest of the electrical panel 10, are not limiting provided that the earth bar 20 is, within the electrical installation 1, connectable to the protective devices 100 and 200. Thus, as schematically illustrated in figures 1 And 3 The protective device 100 is connected to the earthing bar 20 by a protective conductor 22, which can also be called the "earthing wire". Furthermore, as schematically illustrated in figures 1 And 8 , the protection device 200 is connected to the earth bar 20 by a wired protective conductor 23, which can also be described as a “grounding wire”.

[0031] We will now examine in more detail the protection devices 100 and 200. Each of these protection devices, 100 and 200, protects the electrical installation 1 against transient overvoltages in the electrical current supplying this installation. These transient overvoltages can originate 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.

[0032] The 100 protection device will first be described in detail, with reference to figures 2 à 6 .

[0033] As clearly visible on the figures 2 à 4 The protective device 100 comprises a housing 110 which defines a depth axis X110, a width axis Y110, and a length axis Z110, which are perpendicular to each other. The depth axis X110, the width axis Y110, and the length axis Z110 are thus fixed relative to the housing 110. When the protective device 100 is mounted on the rail 15 within the electrical installation 1, the width axis Y110 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rail 15 and, therefore, 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.

[0034] The 110 enclosure is essentially a closed and electrically insulating housing. To this end, the 110 enclosure includes: a front 111 and a back 112, which are opposite each other along the depth axis X110, two side sides 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 Z110 and which are connected to each other along this length axis Z110 by the front 111, the back 112 and the side sides 113 and 114.

[0035] The front 111, the back 112, the side panels 113 and 114, and the first and second ends 115 and 116 together define an internal volume V110 of the case 110, as clearly visible on the figure 3 . Thus, the internal volume V110 is separated from the exterior of the case 110 by the front 111 and the back 112 along the depth axis X110, by the side panels 113 and 114 along the width axis Y110, and by the first and second ends 115 and 116 along the length axis Z110.

[0036] As clearly visible on the figure 3 The front panel 111 is advantageously equipped with a through window 111.1 which connects the internal volume V110 with the outside of the case 110. The benefit of this through window 111.1 will be given later.

[0037] As clearly visible on the figure 2 The back 112 is designed to cooperate with the rail 15 so that the housing 110 is supported by this rail. To this end, the back 112 incorporates, particularly on its face facing outwards from the housing 110, any suitable fastening means by which the housing 110 can be securely attached to the rail 15. The embodiment of this fastening means is not limiting, and the fastening it provides may, for example, be achieved by complementary shapes and / or by wedging and / or by pinching and / or by snap-fitting and / or etc. In all cases, when the protective device 100 is mounted on the rail 15, the first end 116 of the housing 110 is oriented towards the group of phase busbars 12, 13, and 14 along the length axis Z110.

[0038] As clearly visible on the figures 1 à 4 The side walls 113 and 114 are advantageously flat and parallel to each other, each of these side walls 113 and 114 thus extending perpendicularly to the width axis Y110. In this way, the protective device 100, mounted on the rail 15, can be attached by electrical equipment with flat side walls, mounted on the rail 15 and positioned directly against one or the other of the side walls 113 and 115 along the width axis Y110: in the example illustrated in the figure 1 One of the lever-operated circuit breakers 50 mounted on rail 15 is thus attached to the housing 110, with one side panel arranged adjacently against the side panel 113 of the housing 110 along the width axis Y110. Furthermore, the side panels 113 and 114 are separated from each other by a distance, which is denoted Δ110 on the figure 4 and which is preferably 18 mm. The advantage of this dimensioning is that this 18 mm value is a market standard, which is also found here for 50 mm lever circuit breakers, which are 18 mm wide. Thus, it is clear that the space occupied by the 110 mm enclosure on the 15 mm rail along the Y110 width axis is identical to that which can be occupied by other electrical equipment mountable on the 15 mm rail, such as 50 mm lever circuit breakers, which ensures remarkable modularity for electrical installation 1.

[0039] As clearly visible on the figures 2 And 4The first end 115 of the enclosure 110 is traversed, here along the Z110 axis, by a branch passage 115.1 which connects the internal volume V110 with the exterior of the enclosure 110. In operation, the branch passage 115.1 allows the phase conductor 12.1 to extend between the inside and outside of the enclosure 110 via this branch passage 115.1, as schematically illustrated in the diagrams. figures 1 And 2 .

[0040] As clearly visible on the figures 3 And 4 The second end 116 of the enclosure 110 is traversed, here along the length axis Z110, by a branch passage 116.1 which connects the internal volume V110 with the exterior of the enclosure 110. In operation, this branch passage 116.1 allows one end of the protective conductor 22 to extend between the inside and outside of the enclosure 110 via this branch passage 116.1, as schematically illustrated in the diagrams. figures 1 And 3 .

[0041] In practice, the 110 box consists of several insulating parts, fixedly assembled to each other by all appropriate means which are integrated into the 110 box, it being noted that the corresponding specifications are not limiting.

[0042] The 100 protection device also includes a 120 electrical module. As shown in the figure 4 The electrical module 120 is arranged within the internal volume V110 of the housing 110. On the figures 5 And 6 , the electrical module 120 is shown in the absence of the box 110.

[0043] The electrical module 120 performs a dual function: a circuit breaker and a voltage-shrinking function. Thus, when the protective device 100 is connected to the phase conductor 12.1, the neutral conductor 17.1, and the protective conductor 22, the electrical module 120 both (i) stops the flow of electric current from the phase conductor 12.1 when the current exceeds a predetermined value and (ii) easily dissipates current flowing through it in the event of an overvoltage, i.e., when the voltage across its terminals exceeds a predetermined threshold, while allowing a near-zero leakage current outside of such an overvoltage. In practice, the aforementioned dual function is performed sequentially, meaning that the circuit breaker function is generally implemented after the voltage-shrinking function.

[0044] To that end, as clearly visible on the figures 4 à 6 , the electrical module 120 includes a phase terminal 121, a fuse 122, a varistor 123, a gas spark gap 124, an earth terminal 125 and a neutral terminal 126, which will be described in more detail below.

[0045] The phase terminal 121 is designed to connect to a phase conductor, such as phase conductor 12.1 in the electrical installation 1. Thus, when the protective device 100 is mounted on the rail 15, phase conductor 12.1 is connected to the electrical module 120 and, consequently, to the protective device 100 via the phase terminal 121. In the example shown in the figures, the phase terminal 121 is a screw terminal, but in an alternative version not shown, it is spring-loaded. More generally, the specifications of this phase terminal 121 are not exhaustive, as discussed further below.

[0046] In all cases, as clearly visible in the figure 4 The phase terminal 121 is positioned adjacent to the first end 115 of the housing 110 so that a phase conductor can be connected to the phase terminal 121 at this first end 115 of the housing 110. Thus, here, the phase terminal 121 is essentially arranged within the internal volume V110, positioned against the wall of the first end 115 of the housing 110, which is traversed by the branch passage 115.1. The phase terminal 121 is aligned with this branch passage 115.1. In this way, when the phase conductor 12.1 extends into the branch passage 115.1, here along the length axis Z110, this phase conductor is received in the phase terminal 121 for the purpose of the electrical connection between this phase conductor and the phase terminal, here by tightening a phase terminal screw 121.

[0047] Fuse 122, within electrical module 120, provides the circuit breaker function mentioned above. In practice, the intrinsic electrical specifications of fuse 122 are not limiting, as fuse 122 utilizes technologies already established in the field. As a non-limiting example, fuse 122 is designed to withstand 8 / 20µs waves, as defined, for example, in the IEC 61643 surge protection standard.

[0048] 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 together.

[0049] Furthermore, the fuse 122, which is advantageously arranged entirely within the internal volume V110, is positioned along the length axis Z110 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 Z110.

[0050] Following a preferred design implemented in the example illustrated in the figures, the fuse 122 has an elongated shape extending lengthwise from approximately the front 111 to approximately the back 112 of the housing 110. More precisely, here, the fuse 122 has a generally cylindrical shape, centered on a geometric axis that passes through the front 111 and the back 112 of the housing 110, and whose opposite longitudinal ends are respectively adjacent to the front 111 and the back 112. Regardless of the specific geometric characteristics of the elongated shape of the fuse 122, this arrangement optimizes the space occupied by the fuse 122 within the internal volume V110.

[0051] Varistor 123 partially performs the voltage clipping function mentioned above. Specifically, varistor 123 is designed to exhibit low impedance when the voltage across its terminals exceeds a predetermined threshold, thus allowing current to flow through it in the event of an overvoltage. Conversely, when the voltage across its terminals is below the aforementioned predetermined threshold—that is, outside of an overvoltage—the impedance of varistor 123 is high, thereby limiting, or even virtually eliminating, any leakage current through it. In practice, the intrinsic electrical characteristics of varistor 123 are not limiting and are based on technologies already established in the field. As a non-limiting example, varistor 123 can withstand an 8 / 20 µs, 20 kA surge while limiting the voltage across its terminals to a level below 1.5 kV. According to another example, the shock wave to be withstood is 10 / 350 µs, while withstanding a current of 12.5 kA and limiting the voltage across its terminals to 1.5 kV.

[0052] In all cases, the varistor 123 is connected in series to the fuse 122 in the internal volume V110, here by an electrical link 128 which is arranged entirely in the internal volume V110, connecting one output terminal of the fuse 122 and one 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 V110.

[0053] Furthermore, the varistor 123, which is advantageously arranged entirely within the internal volume V110, is positioned 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 such that the fuse 122 is positioned 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.

[0054] Following a preferential approach, which is implemented here, the electrical connection 128 includes, as clearly visible on the figures 4 And 5, two contacts 128.1 and 128.2, as well as a solder joint 128.3 which joins contacts 128.1 and 128.2 when the solder joint 128.3 is intact while being designed to break under the effect of heating of the varistor 123. Thus, contacts 128.1 and 128.2 and solder joint 128.3 together form a thermal disconnector, which, as long as the varistor 123 is functional and does not overheat, keeps the varistor 123 connected to the fuse 122 by the electrical connection 128, but which, when the varistor 123 overheats, particularly due to aging, breaks the electrical connection 128 and therefore renders the electrical module 120 inoperative. In order for contacts 128.1 and 128.2 to move apart clearly from each other the 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 link 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 separation 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 width axis Y110, in order in particular to optimize the space occupied by the arm 128.4 in the internal volume V110. To this end, the varistor 123 is dimensioned and arranged in the internal volume V110 so as to provide laterally to it, along the width axis Y110, a free space, which is included in the internal volume V110 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 X110 and the length axis Z110, and one lateral face of which, arranged perpendicular to the width axis Y110, forms the input terminal of the varistor 123, fixedly carrying the contact 128.2, while being sufficiently distant, along the width axis Y110, from the lateral side 113 of the housing 110 to preserve the aforementioned free space, as clearly visible on the . figure 4 .

[0055] The 124 gas discharge tube partially fulfills the voltage clipping function mentioned above. Indeed, the 124 gas discharge tube is designed to prevent current from passing through it except in the event of an overvoltage, by insulating its input and output terminals with a gas contained within the tube. When the voltage between its input and output terminals exceeds a predetermined threshold, an electric arc forms in the aforementioned gas, allowing current to flow through the 124 gas discharge tube. In practice, the intrinsic electrical characteristics of the 124 gas discharge tube are not limiting and rely on technologies that are well-established in the field. By way of non-limiting example, the gas burst includes a ceramic tube closed at both ends by metal cups acting as electrodes, in particular so as to withstand an 8 / 20 µS shock wave, while supporting a current of 40 kA and limiting the overvoltage to 1.5kV.

[0056] In all cases, the gas spark gap 124 is connected in series to the varistor 123 in the internal volume V110, here by a conductive plate 129 which is arranged entirely in the internal volume V110, connecting the output terminal of the varistor 123 to the input terminal of the gas spark gap 124.

[0057] Furthermore, the gas discharger 124, which is advantageously arranged entirely within the internal volume V110, is positioned along the length axis Z110 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 Z110, the varistor 123 is positioned 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 Z110.

[0058] According to a preferred arrangement, which is implemented here, the conductive plate 129 extends transversely to the depth axis X110 and is positioned within the internal volume V110 adjacent to the back 112 of the housing 110, specifically parallel to the back 112. Furthermore, the inlet terminal of the gas discharger 124 is applied against this conductive plate 29 along the depth axis X110. This arrangement minimizes the space occupied by the gas discharger 124 within the internal volume V110.

[0059] The earth terminal 125 is designed to connect to a protective conductor, such as 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, through it, to the protective device 100 via the earth terminal 125. In the example shown in the figures, the earth terminal 125 is a screw terminal, but, following considerations similar to those relating to the phase terminal 121, the specifics of the earth terminal 125 are not limiting.

[0060] In all cases, as clearly visible on the figure 4 The earth terminal 125 is positioned 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 essentially located within the internal volume V110, positioned against the wall of the second end 116 of the housing 110, which is traversed by the service passage 116.1. The earth terminal 125 is aligned with this service passage 116.1. In this way, when one end of the protective conductor 22 extends into the service passage 116.1, here along the length axis Z110, 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 terminal. 125 of earth.

[0061] The ground terminal 125 and the gas discharge tube 124 are advantageously distributed along the length axis Z110 such that the gas discharge tube 124 is positioned between the varistor 123 and the ground terminal 125. Thus, here, the phase terminal 121, the fuse 122, the varistor 123, the gas discharge tube 124, and the ground terminal 125 are stacked along the length axis Z110. This stacking gives the electrical module 120 remarkable compactness along the width axis Y110, which allows for the preferential dimensioning of the distance Δ110, indicated above.

[0062] In all cases, the ground terminal 125 is connected in series to the gas spark gap 124 in the internal volume V110, here by a conductive braid 130 which is arranged entirely in the internal volume V110, connecting the output terminal of the gas spark gap 124 and the ground terminal 125 to each other. Thus, the ground terminal 125 is connected in series to the varistor 123 via the gas spark gap 124.

[0063] 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 protective device 100 on the rail 15, the neutral conductor 17.1 is connected to the electrical module 120 and, through it, to the protective device 100 via the neutral terminal 126. In the example shown in the figures, the neutral terminal 126 is an automatic terminal, also called a plug-in terminal, here equipped with a clamp, but the specifics of the neutral terminal 126 are not limiting, as mentioned again later.

[0064] In all cases, the neutral terminal 126 is positioned 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 V110 to the outside of the housing 110, so that, when the protective 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 purpose of the automatic connection between this neutral conductor and the neutral terminal.

[0065] Along the Z110 length axis, the neutral terminal 126 is advantageously positioned at approximately the same level as the earth terminal 125. This optimizes the space occupied by the neutral terminal 126 within the internal volume V110. In particular, the presence of the neutral terminal 126 does not affect the compactness of the electrical module 120 along the Z110 length axis.

[0066] In all cases, the neutral terminal 126 is connected to the earth terminal 125 via the gas discharge tube 124 in the internal volume V10. For practical advantages, the neutral terminal 126 is preferably connected to the inlet terminal of the gas discharge tube 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 entirely arranged within the internal volume V110.

[0067] Considering the foregoing, it is understood that the voltage clipping function, provided by the electrical module 120, is operated by the varistor 123 and / or the gas discharge tube 124, depending on which terminals of the electrical module 120 are affected by an overvoltage. Thus, when an overvoltage is applied between the phase terminal 121 and the ground terminal 125, the voltage clipping function is performed jointly by the varistor 123 and the gas discharge tube 124. When an overvoltage is applied between the phase terminal 121 and the neutral terminal 126, the voltage clipping function is performed exclusively by the varistor 123. When an overvoltage is applied between the ground terminal 125 and the neutral terminal 126, the voltage clipping function is performed exclusively by the gas discharge tube 124.

[0068] Before proceeding with the detailed description of the protection device 100, a location E120 of the electrical module 120 is defined. This location is advantageously arranged entirely within the internal volume V10 and contains the gas discharge tube 124 and the earth terminal 125, but outside of which are located the phase terminal 121, the fuse 122, and the varistor 123. Thus, the varistor 123 is positioned, along the length axis Z110, between the fuse 122 and this location E120, the latter being adjacent to the second end 116 of the housing 110. The advantage of this location E120 will become apparent later in the description of the protection device 200.

[0069] Returning now to the description of the protection device 100, the latter advantageously includes an electronic monitoring device 140 which allows the operationality of the electrical module 120 to be monitored. The fact that the electrical module 120 may no longer be operational, particularly after a certain period of use, is linked to the fact that, each time the electrical module 120 is subjected to an overvoltage applied to its terminals, some of its components, in particular the fuse 122 and the varistor 123, are damaged, so that, as the corresponding damage progresses, the capacity of the electrical module 120 to protect against future overvoltages decreases, which is to say that the remaining life of this protection device is reduced.Therefore, there is a real benefit 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.

[0070] The electronic monitoring device 140 includes an assembled printed circuit board 141 configured to provide an end-of-life indication for the electrical module 120. To this end, the assembled printed circuit board 141 comprises a printed circuit board and electronic components mounted on the board, which are adapted to process appropriate electrical signals from the electrical module 120 in order to derive the end-of-life indication. In practice, this processing is well-known in the field and will therefore not be described further here.In the example illustrated in the figures, the assembled printed circuit board 141 receives and processes electrical signals from the input terminal of the fuse 122, the input terminal of the varistor 123 and the output terminal of the varistor 123 respectively, in order to determine data representative of the operationality of the varistor 123, in particular its aging and / or the integrity of the solder 128.3, and the operationality of the fuse 122, in particular its integrity. Here, the aforementioned electrical signals are transmitted by a conductive wire 142, which connects the assembled printed circuit board 141 to the input terminal of the fuse 122, a conductive wire 143, which connects the assembled printed circuit board 141 to the input terminal of the varistor 123, and by a conductive wire 144, which connects the assembled printed circuit board 141 to the conductive plate 129 and, through there, to the output terminal of the varistor 123.

[0071] The end-of-life indicator, provided by the assembled printed circuit board 141, is advantageously luminous in nature, that is to say, in the form of a light signal emitted by one or more ad hoc electronic components of the assembled printed circuit board 141. This light signal is transmitted outside the housing 110, for the user's attention, by a light guide 145 which extends from the assembled printed circuit board 141 to the pass-through window 111.1 of the front panel 111 of the housing 110, as clearly visible on the figures 3 , 5 And 6 .

[0072] Whatever the functional and structural specificities of the assembled printed circuit board 141, the latter is advantageously arranged in the internal volume V110 so that this assembled printed circuit board 141 is adjacent to one of the lateral sides 113 and 114 of the housing 110, here to the lateral side 114. The footprint of the internal volume V110 by the assembled printed circuit board 141 and, more generally, by the electronic monitoring device 140 is thus optimized.

[0073] In practice, the housing 110 is internally arranged to support and hold in place the electrical module 120 and the electronic monitoring device 140. In other words, the housing 110 has, in its internal volume V110, electrically insulating arrangements, which are dedicated to the fixed support of the electrical module 120 and the electronic monitoring device 140, in particular of the phase terminal 121, the fuse 122, the varistor 123, the gas discharge tube 124, the earth terminal 125, the neutral terminal 126 and the assembled printed circuit board 141.

[0074] The 200 protection device will now be described in detail, with reference to the figures 7 à 11 .

[0075] As clearly visible on the figures 7 à 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 X110, width axis Y110 and length axis 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.

[0076] Furthermore, the 210 case includes a front panel 211, a back panel 212, side panels 213 and 214, and first and second ends 215 and 216, which are respectively functionally similar to the front panel 111, the back panel 112, the side panels 113 and 114, and the first and second ends 115 and 116 of the 110 case. In particular, the front panel 211, the back panel 212, the side panels 213 and 214, and the first and second ends 215 and 216 jointly delimit an internal volume V210 of the 210 case, which is functionally similar to the internal volume V110.

[0077] The 210 housing differs from the 110 housing primarily in its dimensions along the Y210 width axis. Thus, the distance Δ210, which, as illustrated in the figure 9 , separates the lateral sides 213 and 214 from each other along the width axis Y210, is worth three times the distance Δ110, namely preferably 54 mm.

[0078] This sizing of the 210 box is linked to the fact that the protection device 200 does not include 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.

[0079] As shown to figures 9 à 11 Each of the electrical modules 220, 260 and 280 includes: a phase terminal 221, 261, 281, which is functionally, and even structurally, similar to the phase terminal 121 and which, in the mounted state of the protective device 200 on rail 16, is, at the first end 215 of the housing 210, connected to the phase conductor 12.1, 13.1, 14.1, as schematically illustrated in the figure 7 , these three phase terminals 221, 261 and 281 being distributed side by side along the width axis Y210; a fuse 222, 262, 282, which is functionally, or even structurally similar to 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 a varistor 223, 263, 283, which is functionally, or even structurally similar to 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.

[0080] As schematically shown in the figure 9 Each of the electrical modules 220, 260, and 280 also includes a location E220, E260, E280, which, similarly to location E120, is arranged within the internal volume V210 so that location E220, E260, E280 is adjacent to the second end 216 of the housing 210, and the corresponding varistor 223, 263, 283 is positioned, along the length axis Z210, between the corresponding fuse 222, 268, 282 and location E220, E260, E280. The three locations E220, E260, and E280 are distributed side by side along the width axis Y210.

[0081] Electrical modules 220, 260 and 280 differ from electrical module 120 in that only one of the three electrical modules 220, 260 and 280, here electrical module 220, includes a gas spark gap 224 and an earth terminal 225.

[0082] The gas discharge tube 224 and the earth terminal 225 are functionally, and even structurally, similar to the gas discharge tube 124 and the earth terminal 125. In particular, the gas discharge tube 224 and the earth terminal 225 are connected in series to the varistors 223, 263, and 283 in the internal chamber V210. Furthermore, when the protective device 200 is mounted on rail 16, the protective conductor 23 is connected to the earth terminal 225 at the second end 216 of the housing 210, as schematically shown in the diagram. figure 8 .

[0083] The gas discharge tube 224 and the earth terminal 225 are located in position E220 of the electrical module 220, without occupying positions E260 and E280 of the other two electrical modules 260 and 280. This explains the advantage of the modular structure of the protection devices 100 and 200, linked to their electrical modules 120, 220, 260, and 280, in that the phase terminal 121, the fuse 122, the varistor 123, and position 120 before it is potentially occupied by the gas discharge tube 124 and the earth terminal 225, together form a subset of the electrical module 120, which is functionally, and 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 sub-assemblies present has its location occupied by the gas spark gap 224 and the ground terminal 225.This modular structure makes it easier and more economical to industrialize, maintain or replace the 100 and 200 protection devices.

[0084] Also for practical and economic reasons, the three varistors 223, 263 and 283 of the protection device 200 are preferentially connected to the gas spark gap 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 on the figure 10 Following a particularly ingenious optional feature, the conductive plate 229 is designed to be breakable, here along a cut line 229.1 visible at the figure 10 , so as to be used interchangeably in the protective device 200 when the conductive plate 229 is kept whole and in the protective device 100 when the conductive plate 229 is cut to keep only a fragment which corresponds to the conductive plate 129.

[0085] Furthermore, one of the electrical modules 220, 260, and 280—here, electrical module 260—advantageously includes a neutral terminal 266 that is functionally, and 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, when the protective device 200 is mounted 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 the figure 7 Furthermore, the neutral terminal 266 is connected to the earth terminal 225 via the gas discharge tube 224 in the internal volume V220. Here, the neutral terminal 266 is advantageously connected to the gas discharge tube 224 by the conductive plate 229.

[0086] The protection device 200 also includes an electronic monitoring device 240 which is functionally similar to the electronic monitoring device 140. In particular, the electronic monitoring device 240 includes an assembled printed circuit board 241 which is functionally similar to the assembled printed circuit board 141, thus allowing the operationality of the three electrical modules 220, 260 and 280 to be controlled jointly.

[0087] Following considerations similar to those mentioned above for the assembled printed circuit board 141, the assembled printed circuit board 241 is advantageously connected to the respective input terminals of the three varistors 223, 263, and 283 by respective conductors 243, 246, and 247 of the electronic monitoring device 240. These conductors 243, 246, and 247 are preferably positioned and kept separate from each other within the internal volume V210 by dedicated internal partitions 217 of the housing 210, as clearly visible in the figure 11 The performance of the electronic monitoring device 240 is thus preserved despite the compactness of the protection device 200.

[0088] On the figures 12 And 13 is shown a variant of the protective device 100, which differs from the embodiment of the protective device 100 shown in the figures 2 à 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 the one mentioned above for the phase terminal 121 and earth terminal 125, illustrated in the diagrams. figures 2 à 6 .

[0089] 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.

[0090] 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 when the protective devices 100 and 200 are installed, is obviously adapted accordingly. Thus, for the variant of the protective device 100 illustrated in figures 12 And 13 , the neutral conductor to which the neutral terminal 126' can be connected may be wired, being intended to connect the neutral terminal 126' to a neutral block terminal, located inside the electrical panel 10 away 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 favour of the aforementioned neutral block terminal.

[0091] Finally, various modifications and variations to the protection devices 100 and 200, as well as to the electrical installation 1, described so far, are also possible. For example: where the protection device comprises a plurality of 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 from three, the value of this number being, where appropriate, equal to the number of phases of the current supplying the electrical installation; and / or both for single-phase protection devices, such as the protection device 100, and 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 grounded locally, i.e. at the building level, by dedicated means which are separate from the protection device and which directly connect the earth and the neutral.

Claims

1. An overvoltage protection device (100; 200) comprising: - a housing (110; 210), which defines a depth axis (X110; X210), a width axis (Y110; Y210) and a length axis (Z110; 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 housing is supported by the rail, - two lateral sides (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 back of the housing, and - first and second ends (115, 116 ; 215, 216), opposite each other along the length axis and joined 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 within an internal volume (V110; V210) of the housing, jointly delimited 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 adjoins 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) can be connected to the phase terminal at the first end of the housing, - a location (E120; E220, E260, E280), which adjoins 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 within the internal volume (V110; V210) of the housing and which, along the length axis (Z110; Z210), are distributed in such a way that the fuse is arranged between the phase terminal and the varistor and so that 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 discharge tube (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 within the internal volume (V110; V210) of the housing (110; 210), and - arranged in the location (E120; E220, E260, E280) of the relevant electrical module (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. The 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 discharge tube (124; 224) within the internal volume (V110; 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. The protection device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the gas discharge tube (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 within the internal volume (V110; V210) of the housing (110; 210), adjoining the back (112; 212) of the housing, and - against which a terminal of the gas discharge tube is placed along the depth axis (X110; X210).

4. The protection device according to claims 2 and 3 taken together, wherein the neutral terminal (126; 126'; 226) is connected to the gas discharge tube (124; 224) by the conductive plate (129; 229).

5. The protection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a single electrical module (120; 120') is provided, the protection device (100) being single-phase, and wherein the two lateral sides (113, 114) of the housing (110) are flat and parallel, being 18 mm apart along the width axis (Y110).

6. The protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein three electrical modules (220, 260, 280) are provided, the protection device (200) being three-phase, and wherein the two lateral sides (213, 214) of the housing (210) are flat and parallel, being 54 mm apart along the width axis (Y210).

7. The 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) has an elongated shape which extends lengthwise from substantially the front (111; 211) to substantially the back (112; 212) of the housing (110; 210).

8. The protection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, for the electrical module (120; 120') or for 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 link (128) including two contacts (128.1, 128.2) and a solder (128.3) which joins the two contacts when intact and is adapted to break when the varistor (123; 223, 263, 283) heats up, and wherein one of the two contacts (128.1, 128.2) is carried by an arm (128.4), which is held fixed in position by the solder (128.3) when the solder is intact, and which is driven by a spring (128.5) into the internal volume (V110 ; V210) of the housing (110; 210) when the solder is broken so as to separate the two contacts from each other, at least along the width axis (Y110 ; Y210).

9. The 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 circuit board (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 within the internal volume (V110 ; V210) of the housing (110 ; 210) so that the assembled printed circuit board adjoins one of the lateral sides (113, 114 ; 213, 214) of the housing.

10. The 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 apart the conductive wires within the internal volume (V210) of the housing.

11. An electrical installation (1) comprising: - an electrical panel (10) which comprises: - phase busbars (12, 13, 14), each intended to be supplied by a phase of the power-supply voltage, which extend lengthwise, parallel to one another, and are arranged side by side so as to form a group in an intermediate region of the electrical panel, - two rails (14, 15), each of which is adapted to support electrical equipment (50, 100, 200) and each of which extends lengthwise parallel to the phase busbars, the two rails being arranged along and on either side of the group, and - an earthing strip (20) which is intended to be connected to earth, and - the protection device (100; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein 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 busbars (12, 13, 14) along the length axis (Z110; 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 busbars (12, 13, 14) by a phase conductor (12.1; 12.1, 13.1, 14.1), which extends from and transversely across the given phase busbar and is connected to the phase terminal (121; 221, 261, 281) of the given electrical module at the first end (115; 215) of the housing (110; 210), and wherein the earth terminal (125 ; 225) is connected to the earthing strip (20) by a protective conductor (22, 23), which is in wire form, 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. The electrical installation according to claim 11, wherein the protection device (100; 200) is according to 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. The electrical installation according to claim 12, wherein the electrical panel (10) further comprises, for at least one of the two rails (15, 16), a neutral busbar (17, 18), which is intended to be supplied by a neutral of the power supply and which extends lengthwise parallel to and at a distance from the phase busbars (12, 13, 14), said at least one of the two rails being interposed between the neutral busbar and the group of phase busbars, and wherein the neutral terminal (126; 126' ; 226) is connected to the neutral busbar (17, 18) by the neutral conductor (17.1; 18.2) which extends from and transversely across the neutral busbar.