Isolation device for a battery compartment, battery compartment, electrical appliance and associated electrical circuit breaker

Abstract

Battery compartment insulation device, battery compartment, associated electrical appliance, and circuit breaker. This insulation device (250) for a battery compartment (200) includes a tape (260) extending along a longitudinal axis (A260) and comprising a first insulating portion (261) that is electrically insulating, continuous along the longitudinal axis (A260), and configured to be interposed between a contact terminal (214) and a terminal of a battery (212) to prevent current flow between the contact terminal and the terminal. The tape also includes a second insulating portion (262) and a conductive portion (263) configured not to prevent current flow between the terminal and the contact terminal when the conductive portion (263) is interposed between the contact terminal and the terminal.The conductive portion is interposed, along the longitudinal axis, between the first insulation portion (261) and the second insulation portion (262). Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 5.

Description

Title of the invention: Isolation device for a battery compartment, battery compartment, electrical device and associated electrical circuit breaker

[0001] The present invention relates to an insulation device for a battery compartment, a battery compartment comprising such an insulation device, an electrical device comprising such a battery compartment and an electrical circuit breaker comprising such an electrical device.

[0002] We are interested here in electrical or electronic devices which are equipped with a battery compartment, which is designed to receive at least one battery used for the operation of the electrical device, in particular when the electronic device is not supplied with electrical energy by the electrical network.

[0003] The battery comprises two electrical terminals, while the battery compartment comprises two contact terminals, each configured to bear against a respective terminal of the battery when the battery is received in the compartment. The battery is generally inserted into the compartment during the manufacture of the device, so that the device is usable immediately upon commissioning. To prevent the battery from discharging before the electrical device is put into operation, it is known to interpose an insulating device, in particular a tab made of an insulating material, between one of the battery terminals and the corresponding contact terminal. The insulating device comprises a gripping portion that extends outside the compartment and / or the electrical device.When switching on the electrical device, the user pulls on the gripping portion to release the insulation device from the battery compartment, thus bringing the contact terminal and the terminal between which the insulation device was previously interposed.

[0004] However, in certain applications, it is preferable to check the battery's condition, particularly its charge, before putting the electronic device into service. This situation arises, for example, when the electronic device is stored between its manufacture and its commissioning. It is then necessary to remove the battery from its compartment, check its charge, and then replace the battery in its compartment, ensuring the insulating device is reinstalled. These operations are inconvenient and time-consuming.

[0005] It is these problems that the invention intends to remedy in particular, by proposing an isolation device which makes it possible to check the condition of the battery without having to remove the battery from the compartment.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to an isolation device for a compartment battery, the insulation device comprising: - a ribbon, which extends along a longitudinal axis, the ribbon having a width, measured orthogonally to the longitudinal axis, which is substantially constant, the ribbon comprising a first portion of insulation, which is electrically insulating and continuous along the longitudinal axis, - a gripping portion, which is connected to the tape and is designed to be grasped by a user in order to pull on the insulation device, - the ribbon is configured to be interposed between a contact terminal of a battery compartment and a respective terminal of a battery received in an internal volume of the battery compartment, the position of the ribbon relative to the battery compartment being adjustable, the first portion of insulation being configured to prevent the passage of current between the contact terminal and the terminal when the first portion of insulation is interposed between the contact terminal and the terminal,

[0007] in which: - the tape comprises, in addition to the first insulating portion, a second insulating portion and a conductive portion, the conductive portion being interposed, along the longitudinal axis, between the first insulating portion and the second insulating portion, - the second insulating portion is electrically insulating and is configured to prevent the passage of current between the contact terminal and the terminal when the second insulating portion is interposed between the contact terminal and the terminal, the insulating device being in a second insulating position, - the conduction portion is configured so as not to impede the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal when the conduction portion is interposed between the contact terminal and the terminal, the insulation device being in a conduction position.

[0008] Thanks to the invention, when the tape is interposed between the contact terminal and the associated electrical terminal, it is possible to move the insulating device between the insulation and conduction positions without completely removing it, and thus it is possible to test the battery without having to remove it from the compartment. Once the test is complete, the insulating device is returned to one of the insulation positions to prevent the battery from discharging prematurely.

[0009] According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such a control unit may incorporate one or more of the following features taken individually or in any technically permissible combination: - The conduction portion is a perforated portion. - The tape includes a captive end, by which the tape is connected to the rest of the insulation device, and a free end opposite the captive end, while the tape includes, at the free end, a first visual indicator, which is configured to indicate to the user the integrity of the insulation device. - The first insulation portion is arranged between the conduction portion and the gripping portion, while the insulation device includes an intermediate portion, which is interposed between the first insulation portion and the gripping portion along the longitudinal axis, and the intermediate portion is connected to the first insulation portion by a fitting forming a shoulder, which has a width greater than one width of the tape, the shoulder being configured to form a stop against the battery compartment when the insulation device is in the first insulation position.

[0010] The invention also relates to a battery compartment, which includes: - an enclosure, made of an electrically insulating material, which defines an internal volume for housing a battery, - a contact terminal, which is received in the internal volume and which is configured to be in contact with a respective terminal of the battery when the battery is received in the internal volume, - a copy of the insulation device as described above,

[0011] in which: - the envelope comprises two notches, through which the internal volume opens onto an external side of the envelope, the two notches being aligned along a principal axis and configured to allow the passage of the tape into the internal volume, the tape being inserted simultaneously into the two notches, in an inserted configuration of the tape, the tape in the inserted configuration being able to slide in the two notches parallel to the principal axis so that a longitudinal position of the tape relative to the envelope is adjustable, - when the battery is received in the internal volume and the ribbon is in the inserted configuration, the ribbon is interposed between the contact terminal and the corresponding terminal of the battery, - when the battery is received in the internal volume and the first portion of insulation is interposed between the contact terminal and the corresponding terminal, the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal is prevented, the insulation device being in the first insulation position, - when the battery is received in the internal volume and the second portion of insulation is interposed between the contact terminal and the corresponding terminal, the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal is prevented, the insulation device being in the second insulation position, - when the battery is received in the internal volume and the conduction portion is interposed between the contact terminal and the terminal, the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal is not prevented, the insulation device being in the conduction position.

[0012] Advantageously: - The tape includes at least one visual indicator, which is arranged along the tape so as to indicate to the user when the insulation device is in the conduction position. - The at least one visual indicator comprises two visual indicators, which are arranged on either side of the conduction portion, while the two visual indicators are jointly visible outside the enclosure when the insulation device is in the conduction position and that when the insulation device is in one of the positions between the first insulation position and the second insulation position, only one of the two visual indicators is visible outside the envelope, the other visual indicator being located inside the envelope. - The at least one visual indicator comprises two visual indicators, which are arranged on the same side of the conduction portion, whereas, when the insulation device is in the conduction position, only one visual indicator is visible outside the envelope, the other visual indicator being located inside the envelope, and both visual indicators are jointly visible outside the envelope when the insulation device is in the insulation position associated with the insulation portion located on the opposite side of the two visual indicators with respect to the conduction portion. and that, when the insulation device is in one of the positions between the first insulation position and the second insulation position, only one of the two visual indicators is visible outside the envelope, the other visual indicator being located inside the envelope. - The at least one visual indicator comprises two visual indicators, which are arranged on the same side of the conduction portion, whereas, when the insulation device is in the conduction position, only one visual indicator is visible outside the casing, the other inside. visual indicator being located inside the envelope, and that the two visual indicators are jointly visible outside the envelope when the insulation device is in the insulation position associated with the portion of insulation located on the opposite side of the two visual indicators relative to the conduction portion.

[0013] The invention also relates to an electrical device, which comprises: - a casing, which is made of an insulating material, and which includes a housing, the housing forming the envelope of the battery compartment as defined previously.

[0014] Alternatively, the electrical device comprises: - the battery compartment as defined previously, - a casing, which is separate from the battery compartment and which provides a housing for receiving the battery compartment,

[0015] in which, when the battery compartment is received in the housing: - the notches are located inside the housing, - the gripping portion is located outside the housing.

[0016] Advantageously, the electrical device is a control unit for an electrical circuit breaker.

[0017] The invention also relates to an electrical circuit breaker, which comprises: - a switching unit, comprising at least one switching device and an actuator, the switching device being actuable by means of the actuator, - a copy of the control unit as described above,

[0018] in which: - the switching unit provides a receptacle, which opens onto a front face of the switching unit, - the control unit is received in the receptacle of the cutting unit, so that the gripping portion is accessible from the front face of the unit cut.

[0019] - [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1] represents, respectively, on two inserts a) and b), a view in perspective and a partially exploded perspective view of an electrical circuit breaker according to the invention, the electrical circuit breaker comprising a control unit, also according to the invention;

[0020] - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the control unit of [Fig.1], the control unit comprising a battery compartment and an isolation device, also conforming to the invention;

[0021] - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents, on two insets a) and b), a perspective view by exploded view of the control unit of the [Fig.2] and a perspective view of the battery compartment and the isolation device;

[0022] - [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents, on two insets a) and b), a perspective view by fully exploded from the battery compartment and the isolation device into two different configurations;

[0023] - [Fig. 5] [Fig. 5] represents, on two insets a) and b), a perspective view by fully disassembled battery compartment and insulation device in a so-called insulation configuration, with some parts hidden in insert b), and

[0024] - [Fig.6] [Fig.6] represents, on two insets a) and b), a perspective view by fully disassembled battery compartment and insulation device in a so-called conduction configuration, some parts being hidden in insert b).

[0025] An electrical circuit breaker 10 is shown in [Fig. 1]. The electrical circuit breaker 10, also simply called circuit breaker 10, is here a multipole circuit breaker, in particular a three-pole circuit breaker. The number of poles of the circuit breaker 10 is not limited. As is known, a multipole electrical circuit breaker has, for each electrical pole, input and output power terminals, which are respectively connected or electrically isolated from each other by a circuit breaker disconnecting device. The disconnecting device comprises, for example, separable moving contacts, which are received in a breaking chamber of the electrical circuit breaker 10 and whose movements are controlled by an actuator. Thus, the disconnecting device can be tripped by means of the actuator.The breaking chambers are here represented by three grids 12 visible on one upper face of the circuit breaker 10, the other elements of the breaking device not being shown.

[0026] The circuit breaker 10 is intended for use within an electrical installation, for example, to control the power supply to a machine tool. In a normal operating configuration, the circuit breaker 10 is generally housed within an electrical cabinet, the circuit breaker 10 having a front face 14, which is oriented towards the user standing in front of the electrical cabinet. The electrical cabinet is not shown.

[0027] The electrical circuit breaker 10 includes a breaking unit 16, which in particular comprises each of the breaking chambers, as well as the breaking device and the associated actuator. The circuit breaker 10 advantageously includes a faceplate 18, which is reversibly fixed to the breaking unit 16. The faceplate 18 is made of an electrically insulating material and extends generally along a front plane P14, which defines a portion of the front face 14 of the circuit breaker 10, and by extension, of the breaking unit 16. The faceplate 18 thus serves to protect the user of the circuit breaker 10. In [Fig. 1 a), the faceplate 18 is shown assembled with the breaking unit 16, which corresponds to a normal operating configuration of the circuit breaker 10. In [Fig. 1 b), the faceplate 18 is separated from the breaking unit 16, this configuration being found, for example, during maintenance of the breaking unit. 16.

[0028] The electrical circuit breaker 10 also includes a control unit 20. The control unit 20 is configured to analyze one or more states of the breaking unit 16 and is configured to trigger the actuator according to the result(s) of these analyses, thus separating the separable contacts.

[0029] The control unit 20 comprises a front face 22. The front face 22 has a generally planar shape and is geometrically supported by a front plane P22, which is orthogonal to a depth axis A22 of the control unit 20. The front face 22 is oriented towards the user when the control unit 20 is in its normal operating configuration. The front face 22 thus defines a front direction D22, which is parallel to the depth axis A22. The front direction D22 is represented by an arrow. The notions of directions such as "front," "back," "up," "down," etc., are defined in relation to the elements as shown in the drawings, bearing in mind that this may be different in reality.

[0030] The front panel 18 includes a window 19 through which the front face 22 of the cutting unit 20 is visible. The window 19 is preferably closed by a transparent flap. The flap is not shown.

[0031] The control unit 20 is assembled to the switching unit 16 in a reversible manner. In the example of figures 1a) and 1b), the control unit 20 is shown in the configuration assembled to the switching unit 16. The control unit 20 is shown in isolation in [Fig.2].

[0032] The cutting unit 16 provides a receptacle, which opens onto a front face 14 of the cutting unit 16 and in which the control unit 20 is received, so that the front face 22 of the control unit 20 is substantially aligned with the front face 14 of the cutting unit 16, as illustrated in particular in [Fig.1] a). The receptacle is not shown.

[0033] The control unit 20 is now described, with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

[0034] The control unit 20 comprises a housing 30, which is made of an insulating material and which forms a receiving volume for various components of the control unit 20. In the illustrated example, the housing 30 contains an electronic board. The electronic board is not shown. The housing 30 here includes a front subassembly 100, which forms a portion of the front panel 22.

[0035] The control unit 20 also includes a battery compartment 200, which is received in a housing 201. The battery compartment 200 is configured to receive at least one battery. In the illustrated example, the battery compartment 200 receives a single battery 212, here a cylindrical battery. The battery 212 has two electrical terminals, which are arranged here on opposite faces of the battery 212. The type of battery and the number of batteries are not limiting to the implementation of the invention. Depending on the type of battery, The 212 battery has a voltage of a few volts between its terminals, typically between 3V and 24V.

[0036] The housing 30 provides a recess 201 for receiving the battery compartment 200. In the example of [Fig. 2], the battery compartment 200 is received in the recess 201, the recess being concealed. In [Fig. 3] a), the battery compartment 200 is shown at a distance from the recess 201.

[0037] The control unit 20 also includes an insulation device 250. In [Fig. 2], only a gripping portion 252 of the insulation device 250 is visible, the rest of the insulation device 250 being hidden. In Figures 3a) and 3b), the insulation device 250 is shown in two different configurations, respectively a folded configuration and an extended configuration.

[0038] The gripping portion 252 is intended to be grasped by a user, so as to pull on the insulation device 250 and separate the insulation device 250 from the battery compartment 200, as explained later.

[0039] The gripping portion 252 here has an overall rectangular shape. The gripping portion 252 is located outside the housing 201 when the battery compartment 200 is received in the housing 201. Advantageously, when the control unit 20 is received in the receptacle of the switching unit 16, the gripping portion 252 is accessible from the front face 14 of the switching unit 16.

[0040] The insulation device 250 is here made entirely of an electrically insulating material, preferably a synthetic polymer material. The insulation device 250 is here made of polycarbonate - denoted PC-.

[0041] The insulation device 250 is for example made by cutting a polymer film, the polymer film having a thickness between 100 and 200 qm.

[0042] The insulation device 250 is sufficiently flexible to move between several configurations, including folded and unfolded configurations. The insulation device 150 can thus be folded or unfolded, preferably by hand and without tools. In the remainder of the description, unless otherwise specified, the insulation device 250 is considered to be in the unfolded configuration.

[0043] The insulation device 250 comprises, in addition to the gripping portion 252, a ribbon 260, which has an elongated shape and extends along a longitudinal axis A260. The ribbon 260 has a width L260, measured orthogonally to the longitudinal axis A260, which is substantially constant. The width L260 is here equal to 5 mm.

[0044] The ribbon 260 comprising three portions, which include a first insulating portion 261, a second insulating portion 262 and a conductive portion 263.

[0045] The first insulating portion 261 is electrically insulating and is continuous along the longitudinal axis A260. By "electrically insulating", it is meant that when two electrodes are placed on either side of the first insulating portion 261, when pressed against the tape, and a direct current voltage of less than or equal to 24 Volts is applied between these two electrodes, no electric current passes between the two electrodes.

[0046] The second portion of insulation 262 is electrically insulating and is continuous along the longitudinal axis A260.

[0047] The conductive portion 263 is not electrically insulating. In the illustrated example, the conductive portion 263 is formed by means of a perforation 264, which is provided through the tape 260. The perforation 264 is advantageously located straddling the longitudinal axis A260. The conductive portion 263 is thus a perforated portion of the tape 260.

[0048] In an alternative not shown, a conductive film is applied to the surface of the ribbon 260, on both sides of the ribbon, to form the conduction portion 263. The conduction portion 263 including the perforation 264 is however preferred because it is simpler and less expensive to implement.

[0049] The conduction portion 263 is interposed, along the longitudinal axis A260, between the first insulation portion 261 and the second insulation portion 262. In the illustrated example, the first insulation portion 161 is arranged between the conduction portion 263 and the gripping portion 252.

[0050] The insulation device 250 also includes an intermediate portion 270, which is interposed between the first insulation portion 161 and the gripping portion 252 along the longitudinal axis A260. In the illustrated example, the intermediate portion 270 has a width L270, measured orthogonally to the longitudinal axis A260. The intermediate portion 270 is connected to the first insulation portion 261 by a fitting 272, thus forming a shoulder 274, the width L270 of which is greater than the width L260 of the tape 260.

[0051] The tape 260 comprises a captive end, by which the tape is connected to the rest of the insulating device, and a free end 280 opposite the captive end. In the illustrated example, the tape 260 is connected to the intermediate portion 270 via the captive end. The tape 260 includes, at its free end, a first visual indicator 281, which is intended to confirm to the user the integrity of the insulating device 250. In particular, the first visual indicator 281 is intended to confirm that the insulating device is completely removed from the battery compartment after the user has pulled on the gripping portion 252, and that no piece of the insulating device 250 remains in the battery compartment 200 or in the housing 201 of the control unit 20. The first visual indicator 281 is here semicircular in shape.Alternatively and / or in addition, the first visual indicator 281 includes an area with a visual appearance different from the rest of the tape 260. For example, the first visual indicator 281 is red, while the rest of the tape 260 is . transparent.

[0052] The battery compartment 200 is now described.

[0053] The battery compartment 200 includes an enclosure 210, which is made of an electrically insulating material and which delimits an internal volume 211 for receiving the electric battery 212. The battery compartment 200 also includes a contact terminal 214, which is received in the internal volume 211 and which is configured to bear against a respective terminal of the battery 212 when the battery 212 is received in the internal volume 211. The contact terminal 214 is here a metal blade 214A, which has an end with a bulge 214B, intended to bear against the corresponding terminal.

[0054] In the non-limiting example shown, the enclosure 210 is formed of a first portion 210A closed by a lid 210B, which is pivotally mounted on the first portion 210B and which is intended to hold the battery 211 in the internal volume 211. Other arrangements of the enclosure 210 are of course possible, for example with a lid screwed to the main portion, or even an enclosure 201 made of a single piece.

[0055] The casing 210 includes two notches 215 and 215, through which the internal volume 211 opens onto an external side of the casing 210, the two notches 215 being aligned along a principal axis A215. When the stack 212 is received in the internal volume 211, a contact area between the contact terminal 214 and the corresponding terminal is considered to be located straddling the principal axis A215.

[0056] The notches 215 are configured to allow the passage of the tape 260 into the internal volume 211, the tape 260 being inserted simultaneously into the two notches 215, in an inserted configuration of the tape 260. In the inserted configuration, the longitudinal axis A260 coincides with the main axis A215. The tape 260 in the inserted configuration is able to slide in the two notches 215 parallel to the main axis A215, so that a longitudinal position of the tape 260 relative to the envelope 210 is adjustable.

[0057] When the battery 212 is received in the internal volume 211 and the first portion of insulation 261 is interposed between the contact terminal 214 and the corresponding terminal, the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal 214 is prevented, the insulation device 250 being in a first insulation position with respect to the envelope 210, as illustrated in [Fig. 5].

[0058] When the battery 212 is received in the internal volume 211 and the second portion of insulation 262 is interposed between the contact terminal 214 and the corresponding terminal, the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal 214 is prevented, the insulation device 250 being in a second insulation position with respect to the envelope 210.

[0059] When the battery 212 is received in the internal volume 211 and the conduction portion 263 is interposed between the contact terminal 214 and the corresponding terminal, the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal 214 is not prevented, the insulation device 250 being in a conduction position relative to the envelope 210, as illustrated in [Fig.6].

[0060] It is understood that the longitudinal position of the tape 260 relative to the envelope 210 in general, and relative to the contact terminal 214 in particular, is adjustable by the user, notably by pulling on the gripping portion 252 or on the free end 280 of the tape 260. When the user pulls on the gripping portion 252, the tape 260 moves relative to the envelope 210 in a withdrawal direction, while when the user pulls on the free end 280, the tape 260 moves relative to the envelope 210 in an insertion direction, which is opposite to the withdrawal direction.

[0061] Advantageously, the shoulder 274 is configured to form a stop against the casing 210 when the insulating device 250 is in its first insulation position. In other words, the shoulder 274 cooperates with the casing 210 so as to limit the tape's movement along the insertion direction. Consequently, when the shoulder 274 is abutting the casing 210, the user knows that the insulating device 250 is in its first insulation position.

[0062] Advantageously, the tape 260 includes at least one visual indicator, which is arranged along the tape 260 so as to indicate to the user when the insulating device 250 is in the conduction position. The at least one visual indicator includes two visual indicators 282 and 283, which are arranged on either side of the conduction portion 263, the two visual indicators 282 and 283 being jointly visible outside the casing 210 when the insulating device 250 is in the conduction position, as illustrated in [Fig. 6] a). Thus the user, seeing the two visual indicators 282 and 283 outside the envelope 210, obtains confirmation that the perforation 264 is aligned with the contact terminal 214. In the illustrated example, the two visual indicators 282 and 283 are formed by colored lines arranged on the tape 260, the rest of the tape 260 being transparent.Alternatively, an entire area between the two visual indicators 282 and 283 is colored, the rest of the strip 260 being transparent.

[0063] Advantageously, the envelope 210 includes an opening 216, which is arranged radially to the main axis A215 and through which the internal volume 211 opens to the outside of the envelope 211, one of the visual indicators, here the visual indicator 282, being visible through the opening 216 when the insulation device is in one of the insulation positions, here the first insulation position, as illustrated in [Fig.5] a).

[0064] Advantageously, the tape 260 comprises, in addition to the visual indicator 283 located between the conductive portion 263 and the free end 280, another visual indicator 284, which is interposed between the visual indicator 283 and the conductive portion 263. In other words, the tape 260 comprises two visual indicators located on the same side of the conductive portion 263 along the longitudinal axis A260. The two visual indicators 283 / 284 are thus located between the conductive portion 263 and the free end 280, that is, on the side of the second insulating portion 262.

[0065] When the insulation device 250 is in the first insulation position, both visual indicators 283 and 284 are visible on the outside of the casing 210, as shown in [Fig. 5]. When the insulation device 250 is in the first conduction position, as shown in [Fig. 6], only one of the two visual indicators—here, indicator 283—is visible on the outside of the casing 210, the other visual indicator—here, visual indicator 284—being hidden inside the casing 210. Each visual indicator 283 or 284 is thus respectively associated with one of the conduction and first insulation positions.

[0066] In an alternative not shown, a mirrored arrangement is of course possible, i.e. that the tape includes, in addition to the visual indicator 282 located between the conduction portion 263 and the gripping portion 252, another visual indicator, which is interposed between the conduction portion 263 and the visual indicator 282. When the insulating device 250 is in the second insulating position, both visual indicators are visible outside the sheath 210. When the insulating device 250 is in the conduction position, only one of the two visual indicators - here the visual indicator 282 - is visible outside the sheath 210, the other visual indicator being hidden inside the sheath 210.

[0067] More generally, the insulation device 250 comprises two visual indicators, which are arranged on the same side of the conduction portion 263. When the insulation device 250 is in the conduction position, only one visual indicator 283 is visible outside the enclosure 210, the other visual indicator 284 being located inside the enclosure. Both visual indicators 283 and 284 are jointly visible outside the enclosure 210 when the insulation device 250 is in the insulation position associated with the insulation portion located on the opposite side of the two visual indicators from the conduction portion 263.

[0068] In the illustrated example, the two visual indicators 283 and 284 are colored bands. In an alternative not shown but nevertheless advantageous, the two visual indicators are two arrows, which are aligned on the longitudinal axis A260 and oriented towards the conduction portion 263. When the insulating device 250 is in one of the positions between the conduction position and the first insulating position, one tip of the corresponding arrow is substantially aligned with the nearest notch 215.

[0069] In the illustrated example, the control unit 20 is an example of an electrical device, which houses the battery compartment. Of course, the principles of the invention are applicable to other types of electrical devices.

[0070] In the illustrated example, the battery compartment is separate from the housing of the electrical device, here the control unit 20. In an alternative not shown, the battery compartment is formed by a recess made directly in the housing of the electrical device.

[0071] The embodiments and variants mentioned above can be combined with each other to generate new embodiments of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Insulation device (250) for a battery compartment (200), the insulation device (250) comprising: • a ribbon (260), which extends along a longitudinal axis (A260), the ribbon (260) having a width (L260), measured orthogonally to the longitudinal axis (A260), substantially constant, the ribbon (260) comprising a first portion of insulation (261), which is electrically insulating and which is continuous along the longitudinal axis (A260), • a gripping portion (252), which is connected to the tape (260) and which is intended to be grasped by a user, so as to pull on the insulation device (250), • the ribbon (260) is configured to be interposed between a contact terminal (214) of a battery compartment (200) and a respective terminal of a battery (212) received in an internal volume (211) of the battery compartment (200), a position of the ribbon (260) relative to the battery compartment (200) being adjustable, the first insulating portion (261) being configured to prevent the passage of current between the contact terminal (214) and the terminal when the first insulating portion (261) is interposed between the contact terminal (214) and the terminal, in which: • the tape (260) comprises, in addition to the first insulation portion (261), a second insulation portion (262) and a conduction portion (263), the conduction portion (263) being interposed, along the longitudinal axis (A260), between the first insulation portion (261) and the second insulation portion (262), • the second insulating portion (262) is electrically insulating and is configured to prevent the passage of current between the contact terminal (214) and the terminal when the second insulating portion (262) is interposed between the contact terminal (214) and the terminal, the insulating device (250) being in a second insulating position, • the conduction portion (263) is configured so as not to impede the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal (214) when the conduction portion (263) is interposed between the contact terminal (214) and the terminal, the isolation device (250) being in a conduction position.

2. Insulation device (250) according to claim 1, wherein: • the conduction portion (263) is a perforated portion.

3. Insulation device (250) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein: • the tape (260) includes a captive end, by which the tape (260) is connected to the rest of the insulation device (250), and a free end (280) opposite the captive end, • the tape (260) includes, at the free end (280), a first visual indicator (281), which is configured to indicate to the user the integrity of the insulation device (250).

4. Insulation device (250) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: • the first insulation portion (261) is arranged between the conduction portion (263) and the gripping portion (252), • the insulation device (250) includes an intermediate portion (270), which is interposed between the first insulation portion (261) and the gripping portion (252) along the longitudinal axis (A260), • the intermediate portion (270) is connected to the first insulation portion (261) by a fitting (272) forming a shoulder (274), which has a width (L270) greater than a width (L260) of the tape (260), the shoulder (274) being configured to form a stop against the battery compartment (200) when the insulation device (250) is in the first insulation position.

5. Battery compartment (200), including: • an enclosure (210), which is made of an electrically insulating material and which delimits an internal volume (211) for receiving an electric battery (212), • a contact terminal (214), which is received in the internal volume (211) and which is configured to be in contact with a respective terminal of the stack (212) when the stack (212) is received in the internal volume (211), • a copy of the insulation device (250) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which: • the envelope (210) includes two notches (215), through which the internal volume (211) opens onto an external side of the envelope (210), the two notches (215) being aligned along a principal axis (A215) and being configured to allow the passage of the tape (260) into the internal volume (211), the tape (260) being inserted simultaneously into the two notches (215), in an inserted configuration of the tape (260), the tape (260) in the inserted configuration being able to slide in the two notches (215) parallel to the principal axis (A215) so that a longitudinal position of the tape (260) relative to the envelope (210) is adjustable, • when the battery (212) is received in the internal volume (211) and the ribbon (260) is in the inserted configuration, the ribbon (260) is interposed between the contact terminal (214) and the corresponding terminal of the battery (212), • when the battery (212) is received in the internal volume (211) and the first portion of insulation (261) is interposed between the contact terminal (214) and the corresponding terminal, the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal (214) is prevented, the insulation device (250) being in the first insulation position, • when the battery (212) is received in the internal volume (211) and the second insulating portion (262) is interposed between the contact terminal (214) and the corresponding terminal, the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal (214) is prevented, the isolation device (250) being in the second isolation position, • when the battery (212) is received in the internal volume (211) and the conduction portion (263) is interposed between the contact terminal (214) and the terminal, the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal (214) is not prevented, the isolation device (250) being in the conduction position.

6. Battery compartment (200) according to claim 5, in which: • the ribbon (260) includes at least one visual indicator (282, 283), which is arranged along the ribbon (260) so as to indicate to the user when the insulation device (250) is in the conduction position.

7. Battery compartment (200) according to claim 6, wherein: • at least one visual indicator comprises two visual indicators (282, 283), which are arranged on either side of the conduction portion (263), • the two visual indicators (282, 283) are jointly visible outside the enclosure (210) when the insulation device (250) is in the conduction position, • when the insulation device (250) is in one of the positions between the first insulation position and the second insulation position, only one of the two visual indicators (283) is visible outside the enclosure (210), the other visual indicator (282) being located inside the enclosure (210).

8. Battery compartment (200) according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein: • at least one visual indicator comprises two visual indicators (283, 284), which are arranged on the same side of the conduction portion (263), • when the isolation device (250) is in the conduction position, only one visual indicator (283) is visible outside the casing (210), the other visual indicator (284) being located inside the envelope, • the two visual indicators (283, 284) are jointly visible outside the envelope (210) when the insulation device (250) is in the insulation position associated with the portion of insulation located on the opposite side of the two visual indicators with respect to the portion of conduction (263).

9. Electrical device (20), comprising: • a housing (30), which is made of an insulating material, and which includes a housing (201), the housing forming the enclosure (210) of the battery compartment (200) according to any one of claims 5 to 8.

10. Electrical device (20), comprising: • the battery compartment (200) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, • a housing (30), which is separate from the battery compartment (200) and which provides a housing (201) for receiving the battery compartment (200), in which, when the battery compartment (200) is received in the housing (201): • the notches (215) are located inside the housing (201), • the gripping portion (252) is located outside the housing (201).

11. Electrical device (20) according to claim 10, wherein: • the electrical device is a control unit for an electrical circuit breaker (10).

12. Electrical circuit breaker (10), comprising: • a breaking unit (16), comprising at least one breaking device and an actuator, the breaking device being trippable by means of the actuator, • one copy of the control unit (20) according to claim 11, in which: • the cutting unit (16) provides a receptacle, which opens onto a front face (14) of the cutting unit (16), • the control unit (20) is received in the receptacle of the cutting unit (16), so that the gripping portion (252) is accessible from the front face (14) of the cutting unit (16).