Fuse holder and associated electrical panel

Abstract

Fuse Holder and Associated Electrical Panel 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) 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 configured to push the fuse cartridge from the inserted position to a removed position when the gripping support is moved from the closed position to the open position. See Figure 3 for abbreviations.

Description

Title of the invention: Fuse holder and associated electrical panel

[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 a current flowing through the circuit exceeds a fuse rating, the fuse melts, opening the electrical circuit. The fuse must then be replaced.

[0003] We are interested here in fuse holders comprising a housing and a gripping support that provides a recess for receiving the fuse cartridge. The gripping support is movable relative to the housing, so as to free one end of the fuse cartridge from the housing, allowing a user to 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.

[0004] It is these problems that the invention intends to remedy 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 housing for receiving the fuse cartridge, so that when the fuse cartridge is received in the housing, 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 housing, and a withdrawn position, in which the fuse cartridge is not received in the housing,

[0006] in which: - The gripping support is movable relative to the casing 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 position connected to the housing, with the fuse holder in an engaged position. • 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 means of a withdrawal movement, so as to extract the fuse cartridge from the housing, - the fuse holder also includes an ejection mechanism, which is integral with the housing and which is configured to push the fuse cartridge from the inserted position to the removed position when the gripping support is moved from the closed position to the open position in an opening motion, the fuse holder being initially in the engaged configuration.

[0007] 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 the situation where the fuse cartridge remains at the bottom of its housing, thereby facilitating access for the installer. The installer can thus grasp the fuse cartridge and extract it from the housing more easily.

[0008] 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 member includes a flexible portion, which is elastically deformable between a constrained configuration and a relaxed configuration, and which has a captive end, by which the ejection member is fixed to the housing, while the fuse holder is initially in the engaged configuration, during the opening movement, the flexible portion is configured to pass into the constrained configuration and then to return, by elastic return, to the relaxed configuration, pushing the fuse cartridge from the inserted position to the removed position. - The ejection mechanism is made in one piece with the housing. - The gripping support is mobile in rotation relative to the housing around an axis of rotation, the open position and the closed position 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. towards the closed position by a closing movement, the fusible cartridge being initially received in the housing, against the ejection device. - The fuse holder includes one copy of the fuse cartridge, the fuse cartridge being received in the housing of the gripping support.

[0009] The invention also relates to an electrical panel, which includes: - an enclosure, which is designed to house at least one electrical device, and - a copy of the fuse holder as defined above, the fuse holder being received in the enclosure by being fixed to the enclosure.

[0010] The invention will be better understood, and other advantages thereof will become more apparent in the 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:

[0011] - [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1] schematically represents, on two insets a) and b), a view in 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, some parts being hidden;

[0012] - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents, respectively on two inserts a) and b), a view in exploded perspective and a side view of the fuse holder of [Fig.1], some parts being hidden, and the fuse holder being in a first configuration;

[0013] - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents respectively, on two inserts a) and b), the carrier- fuse of the [Fig.2] b) in two other configurations;

[0014] - [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents respectively, on two inserts a) and b), the carrier- fuse of [Fig.2] b) in two other configurations, and

[0015] - [Fig.5] [Fig.5] represents, respectively, on two inserts a) and b), a view in perspective of an electrical installation according to a second embodiment of the invention and comprising a fuse holder also according to the invention, and a side view of the fuse holder of the electrical installation, some parts being hidden.

[0016] An electrical panel 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention is schematically represented in [Fig. 1]#a). The electrical panel 10 comprises 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. Without limitation, the electrical devices are selected from a list including a circuit breaker, a disconnect switch, etc. The electrical devices are used, for example, for the distribution of electrical power, for the protection of persons, for diagnostic purposes, etc. Generally, the enclosure 12 includes mounting brackets 14, for example Rails with an omega-shaped profile – Q – or equivalent, which are designed to facilitate the mounting and dismounting of electrical devices. A single mounting support 14 is shown schematically in [Fig. 1]#a). The mounting support 14 is here a rail, which is generally arranged horizontally in the enclosure 12.

[0017] 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 here, are of course conceivable. The fuse holder 100, which conforms to the first embodiment of the invention, is described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

[0018] The fuse holder 100 is configured to receive a fuse cartridge 20. The fuse cartridge 20, also referred to simply as the "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 two opposite ends of the body 22. The two terminals are thus aligned along the principal axis A20. The two terminals include a first "upstream" terminal 24A, which is located at the top of the figures; and a second "downstream" terminal 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 be different in reality.

[0019] In a known manner, 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.

[0020] Fuse holder 100 includes: - a housing 110, which provides a cavity VI10 for receiving the fuse cartridge 20. The cavity VI10 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 VI20 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 VI10, through the mouth 114, or to extract the fuse cartridge 20 from the cavity VI10, through the mouth 114.

[0021] 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 generally comprises several parts, preferably two parts, which are assembled together and which together 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 so as to delimit the cavity V110, as illustrated in [Fig. 1]#a). In [Fig. 1]#b), the fuse holder 100 is shown in isolation, the cover 110B being omitted to reveal the interior of the fuse holder 100.

[0022] 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 [Fig. 1]#b). The two electrical terminals include a first terminal, referred to as the "upstream terminal" 112A, and a second terminal, referred to as the "downstream terminal" 112B. When the fuse cartridge 20 is received in the 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 here formed by copper strips, which are each respectively connected to a connection terminal block 113, the connection terminal blocks 113 being intended for connection to an electrical conductor - not shown in the figures - for example a cable or a rigid conductor.

[0023] 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 includes 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 defining the housing A120. The basket 122 has an opening 124, which is located opposite the stop 123B and 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.

[0024] 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#a). In 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 Figures 2#a) and 4#a).

[0025] 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, as illustrated in figures 1#b) and 2#b). The 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 suitable for being moved, by a user, between the inserted position and the removed position according to the removal motion, so as to extract the fuse cartridge 20 from the housing V120. The gripping support 120 is shown in the open position in figures 3#b) and 4#a).

[0026] 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.

[0027] The fuse holder 100 also includes an ejection member 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 ejection member 130 is shown in [Fig. 2]#a). The ejection member 130 is made of an electrically insulating material. The ejection organ 130 is arranged in the cavity VI10, near a bottom 116 of the cavity V110, the bottom 116 being located on the other side of the cavity VI10 with respect to the opening 114. In other words, the cavity VI10 is located between the opening 114 and the bottom 116.

[0028] 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 in one piece with the housing 110, in particular when the housing 110 is manufactured by Hot injection. The ejector member 130 is shown in its relaxed configuration in Figures 2#a), 3#b), and 4#a), and in its constrained configuration in Figures 2#b), 3#a), and 4#b).

[0029] In an alternative not shown, the ejector 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 ejector member 130 being held in place in the cavity VI10 by the assembly of the cover 110B to the main portion 110A.

[0030] 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 bulged relative to the rest of the flexible portion 132.

[0031] The operation of the ejection member 130 is now described with reference to figures 2#b) to 4#a), which illustrate various configurations of the fuse holder 100 during the opening of the gripping support 120.

[0032] The fuse holder 100 is initially in the engaged configuration, as illustrated in [Fig. 2]#b). The fuse 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 the constrained configuration, the free end 134B being pushed back by the peripheral portion 123A of the gripping support 120.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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 [Fig. 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" is meant a surface supported by a surface radial to the main axis A20, that is to say, 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 constrained configuration and exerts a contact force on the fusible cartridge, only the contact force being 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 ejector member 130 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the fusible cartridge 20, the friction of the ejector member 130 on the peripheral surface advantageously tends to keep the fusible cartridge 20 in contact with the stop 123B.

[0035] As the opening movement continues, a contact area between the ejector 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.A point is reached where the contact force of the ejector 130 on the fuse cartridge 20 includes an axial component, oriented in the extraction direction. At this point, the ejector 130, by means of the elastic return of the flexible portion 132, pushes the fuse cartridge 20 from the inserted position to the removed position. The fuse holder 100 is then in the configuration shown in [Fig. 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. The fuse cartridge 20 is thus 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. Extraction of the fuse cartridge 20 is therefore facilitated. The fuse holder 100 is then in the configuration of the [Fig.4]#a), where when the fusible cartridge 20 is in the removed position. .

[0036] When the user wishes to install a new fuse cartridge 20 in the fuse holder 20, initially the user presents the new fuse cartridge 20 in front of the opening 124, as illustrated in [Fig.4]#a), then inserts the fuse cartridge 20 into the housing V120, until the downstream terminal 24A is in contact with the ejection member 130, as illustrated in [Fig.3]#b). The fuse cartridge 20 is then in the intermediate position.

[0037] The user then begins to move the gripping support 120 in the closing motion. As illustrated in [Fig. 4]#b), the upstream terminal 24A then comes into contact with a surface of the housing 110, which is oriented towards the cavity VI10 and which forms an insertion ramp 118. The insertion ramp 118 is configured to push the fusible cartridge 120, against the ejection member 130, from the withdrawn position to the inserted position when the gripping support 120 is moved in the closing motion.

[0038] As the closing movement continues, it is understood that a contact zone between the ejection member 130 and the sub-assembly formed by the cartridge The fuse 20 received in the housing VI20 of the gripping portion 120 gradually moves until it reaches the peripheral wall 123A of the basket 122, where the ejection member 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 [Fig. 2]#b).

[0039] An electrical panel 11 according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in [Fig. 5]#a). In the second embodiment, the elements analogous to those of the first embodiment bear the same reference numerals and function in the same way. The following mainly 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 designates the same element as the one bearing the same reference numeral in the first embodiment.

[0040] The electrical panel 11 includes a fuse holder 200, with an ejection device 230.

[0041] One of the main differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that in the second embodiment, the ejector member 230 remains in the released position when the fuse holder 11 is in the engaged position. In other words, the ejector member 230 is not in contact with either the fuse cartridge or the gripping support when the fuse holder 11 is in the engaged position.

[0042] 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.

[0043] In both illustrated embodiments, the gripping support 120 is a rotary gripper. In a variant not illustrated, 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.

[0044] In both illustrated embodiments, the ejection member 130 / 230 comprises the flexible portion 132 and is elastically deformable. In an alternative 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.

[0045] The embodiments and variants mentioned above can be combined with each other to generate new embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. Demands 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 (VI10) 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 (VI10), the fuse cartridge (20) then being in a connected position relative to the housing (110), • a gripping support (120), which provides a housing (V120) for receiving the fuse cartridge (20), so that when the fuse cartridge (20) is received in the housing (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 against a 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 designed to be moved by a user between the inserted position and the removed position by means of a retraction movement, so as to extract the fuse cartridge (20) from the housing (V120), • 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 removed position when the gripping support (120) is moved from the closed position to the open position by means of an opening movement, 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.