Fuse holder and associated electrical switchboard

Abstract

This fuse holder (100), which is configured to receive a cylindrical fuse cartridge (20), includes a housing (110) providing a cavity (V110) for receiving the fuse cartridge (20). Two terminals (112A, 112B) are provided for connection to the fuse cartridge. A gripping support (120), which provides a recess (V120) for receiving the fuse cartridge in an inserted position, is movable relative to the housing (110), in an opening movement, between a closed position, in which the fuse cartridge is connected to the terminals, and an open position, in which the fuse cartridge is disconnected from the terminals and can be removed from the recess by a user. The fuse holder also includes an ejection mechanism (130), which is integral with the housing and is configured to push the fuse cartridge from the inserted position to a removed position in conjunction with the opening movement of the gripping support.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuse holder, as well as an electrical panel comprising such a fuse holder.

[0002] Generally speaking, a fuse holder is an electrical device used to hold a fuse cartridge—also simply called a "fuse"—in place. The fuse holder is connected in series with an electrical circuit, for example, between a power source and an electrical load, and if the current flowing through the circuit exceeds the fuse's rated value, the fuse melts, opening the electrical circuit. The fuse must then be replaced.

[0003] This discussion focuses on fuse holders comprising a housing and a gripping support that provides a recess for the fuse cartridge. The gripping support is movable relative to the housing, allowing one end of the fuse cartridge to be freed from the housing so that a user can grasp the end of the fuse cartridge and remove it from its recess. However, the fuse cartridge remains relatively difficult to remove in the case of known fuse holders. CN-118 712 031-A and CN-114 496 683-A each describe such fuse holders, while US-2 009 235-A, DE-654 845-C, GB-469 779-A, CA-1 325 822-C, and GB-799 362-A each describe manual fuse ejection devices.

[0004] It is these problems that the invention aims to address in particular, by proposing a fuse holder that facilitates the replacement of the fuse cartridge.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a fuse holder, configured to receive a fuse cartridge, the fuse cartridge comprising a cylindrical body with two connection terminals, the fuse holder comprising: a housing, which provides a cavity for receiving the fuse cartridge and which includes two terminals, each terminal being configured to be connected to a respective terminal of the fuse cartridge when the fuse cartridge is received in the cavity, the fuse cartridge then being in a connected position relative to the housing, a gripping support, which provides a recess for receiving the fuse cartridge, so that when the fuse cartridge is received in the recess, the fuse cartridge is guided in translation relative to the gripping support along an insertion axis, between an inserted position, in which the fuse cartridge is against a bottom of the recess, and a withdrawn position, in which the fuse cartridge is not received in the recess, in which: The gripping support is movable relative to the housing between: a closed position, in which, when the fuse cartridge is received in the inserted position in the housing, the fuse cartridge is in the connected position relative to the housing, the fuse holder being in an engaged configuration; an open position, in which, when the fuse cartridge is received in the housing, at least one of the two terminals is disconnected from the respective terminal, the fuse cartridge then being able to be moved, by a user, between the inserted position and the removed position by a retraction movement, so as to extract the fuse cartridge from the housing; a movement of the gripping support from the closed position to the open position defining an opening movement; the fuse holder also includes an ejection mechanism.which is integral to the housing and is configured to push the fuse cartridge from the inserted position to the removed position in conjunction with the opening movement of the gripping support, the fuse holder being initially in the engaged position.

[0006] Thanks to the invention, the ejection mechanism pushes the fuse cartridge out of the bottom of the housing in conjunction with the opening movement of the gripping support. The upper end of the fuse cartridge is thus more accessible compared to when the fuse cartridge remains at the bottom of its housing, making it easier for the installer to access. The installer can therefore grasp the fuse cartridge and remove it from the housing more easily.

[0007] According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such a fuse holder may incorporate one or more of the following features taken individually or in any technically permissible combination: The ejection mechanism comprises a flexible portion, elastically deformable between a constrained and a relaxed configuration, and having a captive end by which the ejection mechanism is fixed to the housing. While the fuse holder is initially in the engaged position, during the opening movement, the flexible portion is configured to transition to the constrained position and then, by elastic recoil, to the relaxed position, pushing the fuse cartridge from the inserted position to the withdrawn position. The ejection mechanism is formed as a single piece with the housing. The gripping support is rotatable relative to the housing about an axis of rotation, the open and closed positions being two angular positions of the gripping support around the axis of rotation.The fuse holder also includes an insertion ramp, which is configured to push the fuse cartridge from the removed position to the inserted position when the gripping support is moved from the open position to the closed position in a closing motion, the fuse cartridge being initially received in the housing, against the ejection mechanism. The fuse holder includes one fuse cartridge, the fuse cartridge being received in the housing of the gripping support.

[0008] The invention also relates to an electrical panel, which includes: an enclosure, which is designed to accommodate at least one electrical device, and a copy of the fuse holder as defined previously, the fuse holder being received in the enclosure by being fixed to the enclosure.

[0009] The invention will be better understood, and other advantages thereof will become more apparent, in light of the following description of several embodiments of a fuse holder and an electrical panel, conforming to its principle, given solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [ Fig 1 ] there figure 1 schematically represents, on two inserts a) and b), a perspective view of an electrical panel conforming to a first embodiment of the invention, the fuse holder also conforming to the invention, and the fuse holder of the electrical installation, certain parts being hidden; Fig 2 ] there figure 2 represents respectively on two inserts a) and b), an exploded perspective view and a side view of the fuse holder of the figure 1 , some parts being hidden, and the fuse holder being in an initial configuration; Fig 3 ] there figure 3 represents respectively, on two inserts a) and b), the fuse holder of the figure 2 b) in two other configurations; [ Fig 4 ] there figure 4 represents respectively, on two inserts a) and b), the fuse holder of the figure 2 b) in two other configurations, and [ Fig 5 ] there figure 5 represents respectively, on two inserts a) and b), a perspective view of an electrical installation according to a second embodiment of the invention and including a fuse holder also according to the invention, and a side view of the fuse holder of the electrical installation, some parts being hidden.

[0010] An electrical panel 10 conforming to a first embodiment of the invention is schematically represented in the figure 1 a) The electrical panel 10 includes an enclosure 12, for example an electrical cabinet, which is shown schematically here in dashed lines. The enclosure 12 is designed to house one or more electrical devices or accessories. The electrical devices are selected from a list that includes, but are not limited to, a circuit breaker, a disconnect switch, etc. The electrical devices are used, for example, for power distribution, personal protection, diagnostic purposes, etc. Generally, the enclosure 12 includes mounting brackets 14, for example rails with an omega-shaped profile (Ω) or equivalent, which are designed to facilitate the mounting and dismounting of the electrical devices. Only one mounting bracket 14 is shown schematically in the diagram. figure 1 a) The mounting support 14 is here a rail, which is usually arranged horizontally in the enclosure 12.

[0011] The electrical panel 10 includes a fuse holder 100, which is received in the enclosure 12 by being fixed to the enclosure 12, here by means of the mounting bracket 14. Other fixing methods, not detailed, are of course conceivable. The fuse holder 100, which conforms to the first embodiment of the invention, is described with reference to the figures 1 à 4 .

[0012] The fuse holder 100 is configured to receive a fuse cartridge 20. The fuse cartridge 20, also referred to simply as "fuse" 20 in this description, has a cylindrical body 22 extending along a principal axis A20. Preferably, the fuse 20 has a circular cross-section. The fuse 20 comprises two terminals, arranged at opposite ends of the body 22. The two terminals are thus aligned along the principal axis A20. The two terminals include a first terminal, referred to as "upstream" 24A, which is located at the top of the figures; and a second terminal, referred to as "downstream" 24B, which is located at the bottom of the figures. The description is given with respect to the orientation of the various elements of the fuse holder 100 as shown in the figures, although this may differ in reality.

[0013] As is known, the body 22 is made of an insulating material, while the upstream terminal 22A and downstream terminal 22B are connected to each other, through the body 22, by a fusible element, which is configured to melt when the fusible element carries an electric current exceeding a predetermined threshold. The fusible element is not shown.

[0014] The 100 fuse holder includes: a housing 110, which provides a cavity V110 for receiving the fuse cartridge 20. The cavity V110 opens to the outside through an opening 114, which is provided for the passage of the fuse cartridge 20. a gripping support 120, which provides a housing V120 for receiving the fuse cartridge 20, the gripping support 120 being movable relative to the housing 110 so as to introduce the fuse cartridge 20 into the cavity V110, through the opening 114, or to extract the fuse cartridge 20 from the cavity V110, through the opening 114.

[0015] The housing 110 is made of an electrically insulating material. The housing 110 is generally manufactured by hot injection molding of a synthetic polymer material. The housing 110 typically comprises several parts, preferably two, which are assembled together to form a hollow shell delimiting the cavity V110. The housing 110 here comprises a main portion 110A, which forms a hollow shell, and a cover 110B, which is assembled to the main portion 110A to delimit the cavity V110, as illustrated in the figure. figure 1 a) On the figure 1 b) , fuse holder 100 is shown in isolation, cover 110B being omitted to reveal the interior of fuse holder 100.

[0016] The housing 110 comprises two electrical terminals, each electrical terminal being configured to be connected to a respective terminal of the fuse cartridge 20 when the fuse cartridge 20 is received in the cavity V110, the fuse cartridge 20 then being in a connected position relative to the housing, as in the figure 1 b) The two electrical terminals include a first terminal, called the "upstream terminal" 112A, and a second terminal, called the "downstream terminal" 112B. When the fuse cartridge 20 is received in cavity V110 in the connected position, the upstream terminal 112A is connected to the upstream terminal 22A, while the downstream terminal 112B is connected to the downstream terminal 22B. The upstream terminals 112A and downstream terminals 112B are formed here by copper strips, each of which is respectively connected to a terminal block 113. The terminal blocks 113 are intended for connection to an electrical conductor—not shown in the figures—for example, a cable or a rigid conductor.

[0017] The gripping support 120, also sometimes simply called the "gripper," includes a basket 122, which provides the housing A120 intended to receive the fuse cartridge 20. The basket 122 comprises a peripheral wall 123A and a stop 123B, which forms the bottom of the basket 122. The peripheral wall 123A and the stop 123B thus define the housing A120. The basket 122 has an opening 124, located opposite the stop 123B, which is intended for inserting the fuse cartridge 20 into the housing V120. The housing A120 is generally cylindrical with a circular cross-section, centered on an insertion axis A122. The gripping support 120 generally includes a handle 126, which is intended to be manipulated by a user, so as to move the gripping support 120 between the open position and the closed position.A movement from the open position to the closed position is a closing movement, while a movement from the closed position to the open position is an opening movement.

[0018] An insertion movement of the fusible cartridge 20 into the housing V120 is defined as a translational movement along an insertion direction, the insertion direction being parallel to the insertion axis A122 and oriented from the opening 124 towards the stop 123B. A withdrawal movement is a movement opposite to the insertion movement, that is, a translational movement along a withdrawal direction opposite to the insertion direction. When the fusible cartridge 20 is received in the housing V120 and resting against the stop 123B, the fusible cartridge 20 is in an inserted position relative to the gripping support 120, as illustrated in figures 1 b) , 2 b ) And 3 aIn the inserted position, the main shaft A20 and the insertion shaft A122 are aligned. When the fuse cartridge 20 is fully extended from the housing V120, the fuse cartridge 20 is in a withdrawn position, as illustrated in the diagrams. figures 2 a) And 4 a ).

[0019] The gripping support 120 is movable relative to the housing 110 between: a closed position, in which, when the fuse cartridge 20 is received in the inserted position in the V120 housing, the fuse cartridge 20 is in the connected position relative to the housing, as illustrated in figures 1 b) And 2 bThe fuse holder 100 is then in an engaged configuration, an open position in which, when the fuse cartridge 20 is received in the housing V120, at least one of the two electrical terminals 122A / 122B is disconnected from the respective terminal 22A / 22B, the fuse cartridge 20 being able to be moved by a user between the inserted position and the removed position in a retraction motion, so as to extract the fuse cartridge 20 from the housing V120. The gripping support 120 is shown in the open position in the figures 3 b) And 4 a) .

[0020] The gripping support 120 is here mobile in rotation relative to the housing 110, around an axis of rotation A120. In other words, the gripping support 120 is here a rotary gripper, the open position and the closed position being two angular positions of the gripping support 120 relative to the housing 110 around the axis of rotation A120.

[0021] The fuse holder 100 also includes an ejector 130, which is integral with the housing 110 and is configured to push the fuse cartridge 20 from the inserted position to the withdrawn position when the gripping support 120 is moved from the closed position to the open position in an opening motion, the fuse holder 100 being initially in the engaged configuration – in other words, the fuse cartridge 20 is initially inserted in the slot V120 of the gripping support 120, which is initially in the closed position. An example of the ejector 130 is shown in the figure 2 a) The ejection member 130 is made of an electrically insulating material. The ejection member 130 is arranged in the cavity V110, near a bottom 116 of the cavity V110, the bottom 116 being located on the opposite side of the cavity V110 from the opening 114. In other words, the cavity V110 is located between the opening 114 and the bottom 116.

[0022] The ejection member 130 advantageously comprises a flexible portion 132, which is elastically deformable between a constrained and a relaxed configuration, and which has a captive end 134A, by which the ejection ramp is integral with the housing 110. Preferably, the ejection member 130 is made as a single piece with the housing 110, particularly when the housing 110 is manufactured by hot injection molding. The ejection member 130 is shown in its relaxed configuration in the figures 2 a) , 3 b ) And 4 a) , and in a constrained configuration to figures 2 b) , 3 b) And 4 a ).

[0023] In an alternative not shown, the ejection member is a separate part from the housing 110°, which is assembled to the housing. According to a non-limiting example, the captive end is received in a recess provided for this purpose, the ejection member 130 being held in place in the cavity V110 by the assembly of the cover 110B to the main portion 110A.

[0024] In the illustrated example, the flexible portion 132 is generally rectangular in shape, with the captive end 134A extending along one side of the rectangle. The flexible portion 132 also includes a free end 134B, distinct from the captive end, which is configured to exert a force on the downstream terminal 22B in the direction of retraction. The free end 134B is bulging relative to the rest of the flexible portion 132.

[0025] The operation of the ejection mechanism 130 is now described with reference to figures 2 b) à 4 a) , which illustrate various configurations of the fuse holder 100 during the opening of the gripping support 120.

[0026] Fuse holder 100 is initially in the engaged configuration, as illustrated in the figure 2 b) The fusible cartridge 20 is received in the housing V120 in the inserted position, while the gripping support 120 is in the closed position. In the first embodiment, the flexible portion 132 is already in a constrained configuration, the free end 134B being pushed back by the peripheral portion 123A of the gripping support 120.

[0027] As the user begins to move the gripping support 120 according to the opening movement, the ejection member 130 remains in the constrained configuration, the free end 134B sliding against a surface of the peripheral portion 123A.

[0028] Advantageously, a lower end 128 of the peripheral portion is axially offset on the side of the opening 124 relative to the stop 123B, along the insertion axis A122, so that when the fusible cartridge 20 is in the inserted position, a portion of the fusible cartridge 20 is accessible to the ejection member 130. As the opening movement continues, the free end 134B reaches the level of the lower end 128 of the peripheral portion 123A, as illustrated in the figure 3 a) The free end 134B is then jointly on a peripheral surface of the fusible cartridge 20 and on the lower end 128. By "peripheral surface," we mean a surface supported by a surface radial to the main axis A20, that is, a surface whose normal is radial to the main axis A20. The peripheral surface here is a cylindrical portion of the downstream terminal 23B. The flexible portion 132 is still deformed in the stressed configuration and exerts a contact force on the fusible cartridge; however, since the contact force is exerted on a peripheral surface of the fusible cartridge 20, no component of this force tends to move the fusible cartridge 20 away from the stop 123B.On the contrary, in the illustrated example, during the opening movement of the gripping portion 120, and as long as the ejection member 130 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the fusible cartridge 20, the friction of the ejection member 130 on the peripheral surface tends advantageously to keep the fusible cartridge 20 in contact with the stop 123B.

[0029] As the opening movement continues, a contact area between the ejection member 130 and the fusible cartridge 20 gradually moves from the peripheral surface towards one end of the downstream terminal 23B. The axial end of the downstream terminal 23B is here a disk, which extends orthogonally to the main axis A20. IlA moment then arrives when the contact force of the ejection member 130 on the fusible cartridge 20 includes an axial component, oriented along the extraction direction. At this moment, the ejection member 130, by elastic return of the flexible portion 132, pushes the fusible cartridge 20 from the inserted position to the withdrawn position. The fuse holder 100 is then in the configuration of the figure 3 b) in which the fuse cartridge 20 is in an intermediate position between the inserted and removed positions. In this intermediate position, the fuse cartridge 20 is partially disengaged from the housing V120. This makes the fuse cartridge 20 more accessible to the user who wishes to remove it from the housing V120, for example, by grasping the upstream terminal 24A between the thumb and forefinger of the same hand. Removing the fuse cartridge 20 is thus facilitated. The fuse holder 100 is then in the configuration of the figure 4 a) , where when the fuse cartridge 20 is in the removed position.

[0030] When the user wishes to install a new fuse cartridge 20 in the fuse holder 20, the user initially presents the new fuse cartridge 20 in front of the opening 124, as illustrated in the figure 4 a) , then insert the fuse cartridge 20 into the V120 housing, until the downstream terminal 24A is in contact with the ejection member 130, as illustrated in the figure 3 b) The fuse cartridge 20 is then in the intermediate position.

[0031] The user then begins to move the gripping support 120 according to the closing motion. As illustrated in the figure 4 b) , the upstream terminal 24A then comes into contact with a surface of the housing 110, which is oriented towards the cavity V110 and which forms an insertion ramp 118. The insertion ramp 118 is configured to push the fuse cartridge 120, against the ejection member 130, from the withdrawn position to the inserted position when the gripping support 120 is moved according to the closing movement.

[0032] As the closing movement continues, a contact area between the ejector 130 and the sub-assembly formed by the fuse cartridge 20, received in the housing V120 of the gripping portion 120, gradually moves until it reaches the peripheral wall 123A of the basket 122, where the ejector 130 no longer exerts any force on the fuse cartridge. As the closing movement continues, the gripping portion 120 eventually reaches its closed position, the fuse holder 100 then being in the engaged configuration, as illustrated in the figure 2 b) .

[0033] An electrical panel 11 conforming to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in the figure 5 a)In the second embodiment, elements analogous to those in the first embodiment bear the same reference numerals and function in the same way. The following primarily describes the differences between the first and second embodiments. If a reference numeral is mentioned in the description but not shown in a figure, or shown in a figure but not mentioned in the description, it refers to the same element as the one bearing the same reference numeral in the first embodiment.

[0034] The electrical panel 11 includes a 200 fuse holder, with a 230 ejection device.

[0035] One of the main differences between the second embodiment and the first is that in the second embodiment, the ejector 230 remains in the released position when the fuse holder 11 is in the engaged position. In other words, the ejector 230 is not in contact with either the fuse cartridge or the gripping support when the fuse holder 11 is in the engaged position.

[0036] During the opening movement, the downstream terminal 24B of the fusible cartridge comes into contact with the ejection member 130, in particular with the flexible portion 132, which deforms elastically to accommodate the passage of the fusible cartridge, storing mechanical energy, which tends to push the fusible cartridge 20 from the inserted position to the withdrawn position progressively, as the opening movement continues.

[0037] In both illustrated embodiments, the gripping support 120 is a rotary gripper. In the variant not shown, the gripping support is movable in translation relative to the housing, the open position and the closed position being two different positions along a closing axis.

[0038] In both illustrated embodiments, the ejection member 130 / 230 comprises the flexible portion 132 and is elastically deformable. In the variant not shown, the ejection member 130 is considered rigid and simply forms a ramp, configured to push the fusible cartridge from the inserted position to the withdrawn position during the opening movement of the gripping support.

[0039] The embodiments and variants mentioned above can be combined to generate new embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. Fuse holder (100; 200), configured to receive a fuse cartridge (20), the fuse cartridge (20) comprising a cylindrical body (22) with two connection terminals (24A, 24B), the fuse holder (100; 200) comprising: - a housing (110), which provides a cavity (V110) for receiving the fuse cartridge (20) and which includes two terminals (112A, 112B), each terminal being configured to be connected to a respective terminal of the fuse cartridge (20) when the fuse cartridge (20) is received in the cavity (V110), the fuse cartridge (20) then being in a connected position relative to the housing (110), - a gripping support (120), which provides a recess (V120) for receiving the fuse cartridge (20), so that when the fuse cartridge (20) is received in the recess (V120), the fuse cartridge (20) is guided in translation relative to the gripping support (120) along an insertion axis (A122), between an inserted position,in which the fuse cartridge (20) is abutted against the bottom of the housing (V120), and a withdrawn position, in which the fuse cartridge (20) is not received in the housing (V120), in which: - the gripping support (120) is movable relative to the housing (110) between: • a closed position, in which, when the fuse cartridge (20) is received in the inserted position in the housing (V120), the fuse cartridge (20) is in the connected position relative to the housing (110), the fuse holder being in an engaged configuration, • an open position, in which, when the fuse cartridge (20) is received in the housing (V120), at least one of the two terminals (112A, 112B) is disconnected from the respective terminal (24A, 24B), the fuse cartridge (20) then being able to be moved, by a user, between the inserted position and the withdrawn position according to a withdrawal movement, so as to extract the fusible cartridge (20) from the housing (V120),a movement of the gripping support (120) from the closed position to the open position defining an opening movement, - the fuse holder also includes an ejection member (130; 230), which is integral with the housing (110) and which is configured to push the fuse cartridge (20) from the inserted position to the withdrawn position in conjunction with the opening movement of the gripping support (120), the fuse holder being initially in the engaged configuration.

2. Fuse holder (100; 200) according to claim 1, wherein: - the ejection member (130; 230) comprises a flexible portion (132), which is elastically deformable between a constrained configuration and a relaxed configuration, and which has a captive end (134A), by which the ejection member (130; 230) is integral with the housing (110), - the fuse holder being initially in the engaged configuration, during the opening movement, the flexible portion (132) is configured to pass into the constrained configuration and then to return, by elastic return, to the relaxed configuration, pushing the fuse cartridge (20) from the inserted position to the withdrawn position.

3. Fuse holder (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein: - the ejection member (130; 230) is made in one piece with the housing (110).

4. Fuse holder (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: - the gripping support (120) is rotationally movable relative to the housing (110) about an axis of rotation (A120), the open position and the closed position being two angular positions of the gripping support (120) about the axis of rotation (A102).

5. Fuse holder (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: - the fuse holder also includes an insertion ramp, which is configured to push the fuse cartridge (20) from the withdrawn position to the inserted position when the gripping support (120) is moved from the open position to the closed position in a closing motion, the fuse cartridge (20) being initially received in the housing (V120), against the ejection member (130; 230).

6. Fuse holder (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: - the fuse holder comprises one copy of the fuse cartridge (20), the fuse cartridge (20) being received in the housing (V120) of the gripping support (120).

7. Electrical panel (10; 11), comprising: - an enclosure (12), which is intended to accommodate at least one electrical device, - a copy of the fuse holder (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the fuse holder being received in the enclosure by being fixed to the enclosure.

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