Insulation device for battery compartment, battery compartment, electrical apparatus and associated electrical circuit breaker

Abstract

To provide an insulation device that allows the state of a battery to be checked without removing the battery from a compartment, a battery compartment, an electrical apparatus, and an electrical circuit breaker.SOLUTION: An insulation device 250 for a battery compartment includes a ribbon 260. The ribbon extends according to a longitudinal axis and includes a first insulating portion 261. The first insulating portion has electrical insulating properties, is continuous along the longitudinal axis, and is configured to be interposed between a contact terminal 214 and a terminal of a battery 212 in order to prevent the passage of current between the contact terminal and the terminal. The ribbon also includes a second insulating portion 262 and a conductive portion 263. The conductive portion is configured not to prevent the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal when the conductive portion is interposed between the contact terminal and the terminal. The conductive portion is interposed, according to the longitudinal axis, between the first insulating portion and the second insulating portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] This particularly concerns electrical or electronic devices that are equipped with a battery compartment designed to receive at least one battery that is used for the operation of the electrical equipment when the electronic device is not powered by the electricity grid. [Background technology]

[0003] While the battery has two electrical terminals, the battery compartment has two contact terminals, each configured to press against a respective terminal of the battery when the battery is received in the compartment. The battery is typically inserted into the compartment during device manufacturing, so that the device is ready for use as soon as it is turned on. To prevent the battery from discharging before the device is turned on, it is known to insert an insulating device, specifically a tab made of insulating material, between one of the battery terminals and the corresponding contact terminal. The insulating device has a gripping portion that extends outside the compartment and / or the electrical device. When the electrical device is turned on, a user pulls the gripping portion to remove the insulating device from the battery compartment, thereby bringing the insulating device into contact with the contact terminal that was previously interposed between the insulating device and the terminal.

[0004] However, in some applications, it is desirable to check the battery condition, and in particular the battery charge, before the electronic device is put into operation. Such a situation occurs, for example, when an electronic device is stored between its manufacture and its commissioning. In that case, it is necessary to remove the battery from its compartment, check the battery charge, and then return the battery to its compartment by reinstalling the isolation device. These operations are impractical and time-consuming. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to address these problems more specifically by proposing an isolation device that allows the state of the battery to be checked without the need to remove the battery from the compartment.

[0006] To this end, the present invention relates to an insulating device for a battery compartment, the insulating device comprising: - a ribbon, the ribbon extending according to a longitudinal axis, the ribbon exhibiting a substantially constant width measured orthogonally to the longitudinal axis, the ribbon comprising a first insulating portion, the first insulating portion being electrically insulating and continuous along the longitudinal axis; - a gripping portion connected to the ribbon and intended to be gripped by a user to pull the insulating device; - the ribbon is configured to be interposed between the contact terminals of the battery compartment and respective terminals of batteries received in the interior volume of the battery compartment, the position of the ribbon relative to the battery compartment being adjustable, and the first insulating portion is configured to prevent the passage of current between the contact terminals and the terminals when the first insulating portion is interposed between the contact terminals and the terminals; - the ribbon comprises, in addition to a first insulating portion, a second insulating portion and a conductive portion, the conductive portion being interposed between the first insulating portion and the second insulating portion along the longitudinal axis; - the second insulating portion is electrically insulating and configured to prevent the passage of electric current between the contact terminal and the terminal when the second insulating portion is interposed between the contact terminal and the terminal and the insulating device is in the second insulating position; - the conductive portion is configured so as not to prevent the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal when the conductive portion is interposed between the terminal and the contact terminal and the insulating device is in the conducting position.

[0007] The present invention allows the insulating device to be displaced between the insulating and conducting positions without completely removing it when the ribbon is interposed between the contact terminals and the associated electrical terminals, thus allowing the battery to be tested without having to remove it from the compartment. Once testing is complete, the insulating device is returned to one of the insulating positions to prevent the battery from being prematurely discharged.

[0008] According to advantageous but non-essential aspects of the invention, such a control unit may incorporate one or more of the following features, either individually or in any technically permissible combination: - The conductive part is the perforated part. - the ribbon comprises a captive end by which the ribbon is connected to the remainder of the insulating device and a free end opposite the captive end, while the ribbon comprises a first visual indicator at the free end, the first visual indicator being configured to indicate to a user the integrity of the insulating device. - the first insulating portion is disposed between the conductive portion and the gripping portion, while the insulating device includes an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion being interposed between the first insulating portion and the gripping portion along the longitudinal axis; The intermediate portion is connected to the first insulating portion by a connection portion that forms a shoulder, the shoulder having a width greater than the width of the ribbon, and the shoulder configured to form a stop for the battery compartment when the insulating device is in the first insulating position.

[0009] The present invention also relates to a battery compartment, the battery compartment comprising: - an envelope made from an electrically insulating material and defining an interior volume for receiving the battery; - contact terminals received in the internal volume and configured to press against respective terminals of the battery when the battery is received in the internal volume; - an example of an isolation device as described above; - the envelope has two notches, the internal volume opens to the outside of the envelope through the two notches, the two notches are aligned according to the major axis and are configured to allow the ribbon to pass through the internal volume, the ribbon is inserted into the two notches simultaneously in the ribbon insertion configuration, the ribbon in the insertion configuration can slide in the two notches parallel to the major axis, so that the longitudinal position of the ribbon relative to the envelope is adjustable; - when the battery is received in the internal volume and the ribbon is in an inserted configuration, the ribbon is interposed between the contact terminals and corresponding terminals of the battery; - when the battery is received in the internal volume and the first insulating portion is interposed between the contact terminal and the corresponding terminal, the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal is prevented and the insulating device is in a first insulating position; - when the battery is received in the internal volume and the second insulating portion is interposed between the contact terminal and the corresponding terminal, the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal is prevented and the insulating device is in a second insulating position; When the battery is received in the internal volume and the conductive part is interposed between the contact terminal and the terminal, the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal is not prevented and the insulating device is in the conductive position.

[0010] Advantageously, - the ribbon includes at least one visual indicator, the at least one visual indicator being disposed along the ribbon to indicate to a user that the insulating device is in a conducting position. - the at least one visual indicator comprises two visual indicators, the two visual indicators being located on opposite sides of the conductive portion; On the other hand, when the insulating device is in the conducting position, the two visual markers are visible together outside the envelope, and when the insulating device is in one of the first insulating position and the second insulating position, only one of the two visual markers is visible outside the envelope, and the other visual marker is located inside the envelope. - the at least one visual indicator comprises two visual indicators, the two visual indicators being located on the same side of the conductive portion; when the insulating device is in the conductive position, only one visual indicator is visible outside the envelope and the other visual indicator is located inside the envelope; when the insulating device is in an insulating position relative to an insulating part that is located on the opposite side of the two visual markers relative to the conductive part, the two visual markers are visible together on the outside of the envelope; When the insulating device is in one of the first insulating position and the second insulating position, only one of the two visual indicators is visible outside the envelope, and the other visual indicator is located inside the envelope. - the at least one visual indicator comprises two visual indicators, the two visual indicators being located on the same side of the conductive portion; On the other hand, when the insulating device is in the conductive position, only one visual indicator is visible outside the envelope, and the other visual indicator is located inside the envelope; When the insulating device is in an insulating position associated with an insulating portion located opposite the two visual markers relative to the conductive portion, the two visual markers are visible together on the outside of the envelope.

[0011] The present invention also relates to an electrical device, the electrical device comprising: - a casing made from an insulating material, the casing comprising an enclosure, the enclosure forming an envelope of the battery compartment as defined above.

[0012] Alternatively, the electrical device may be - a battery compartment as defined above; - a casing, the casing being separate from the battery compartment and providing an enclosure for receiving the battery compartment; When the battery compartment is received in the housing, - The notch is located inside the housing, The gripping portion is located outside the housing.

[0013] Advantageously, the electrical device is a control unit for an electrical circuit breaker.

[0014] The present invention also relates to an electric circuit breaker, comprising: - a breaker unit comprising at least one breaker device and an actuator, the breaker device being actuatable by the actuator; - an example of a control unit as described above, - the breaker unit provides a receptacle, the receptacle opening onto a front face of the breaker unit; - The control unit is received in a receptacle on the breaker unit, so that the gripping portion is accessible from the front face of the breaker unit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are perspective and partially exploded perspective views of an electric circuit breaker according to the invention, respectively represented in two inserts a) and b), and further comprising a control unit according to the invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view of the control unit of FIG. 1, further comprising a battery compartment and an isolation device according to the present invention; FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the control unit of FIG. 2, represented in two inserts a) and b), as well as a perspective view of the battery compartment and the isolation device. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a partially exploded perspective view of the battery compartment and isolation device in two different configurations, represented in two inserts a) and b). [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of the battery compartment and insulating device in the so-called insulating configuration, shown in two inserts a) and b), with some parts hidden in insert b). [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a partially exploded perspective view of the battery compartment and insulating device in the so-called conductive configuration, shown in two inserts a) and b), with some parts hidden in insert b). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] An electric circuit breaker 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The electric circuit breaker 10, also referred to simply as circuit breaker 10, is herein a multi-pole circuit breaker, specifically a three-pole circuit breaker. The number of poles of the circuit breaker 10 is not limited. As is known, a multi-pole electric circuit breaker includes input and output power terminals for each pole, which are connected to or electrically isolated from each other by a breaker device of the circuit breaker. The breaker device includes, for example, a separable movable contact, which is received in a breaker chamber of the electric circuit breaker 10, and the movement of the separable movable contact is controlled by an actuator. Thus, the breaker device can be activated by the actuator. The breaker chamber is herein realized by three grids 12 visible on the top surface of the circuit breaker 10; other elements of the breaker device are not depicted.

[0017] The electrical circuit breaker 10 is intended for use in electrical installations, for example to control the power supply of machine tools. In its normal use configuration, the electrical circuit breaker 10 is typically located in an electrical cabinet, with the electrical circuit breaker 10 presenting a front face 14 that is oriented towards a user standing in front of the electrical cabinet. The electrical cabinet is not depicted.

[0018] The electrical circuit breaker 10 comprises a breaker unit 16, which includes, inter alia, each of the breaker chambers as well as the breaker device and associated actuator. The electrical circuit breaker 10 advantageously comprises a cover 18, which is reversibly fixed to the breaker unit 16. The cover 18 is made of an electrically insulating material and extends generally according to a front plane P14, which defines part of the front face 14 of the electrical circuit breaker 10 and, further, of the breaker unit 16. The cover 18 thus serves to protect the user of the circuit breaker 10. In FIG. 1a), the cover 18 is shown assembled to the breaker unit 16, which corresponds to the normal use configuration of the circuit breaker 10. In FIG. 1b), the cover 18 is detached from the breaker unit 16, which may be seen, for example, during maintenance of the breaker unit 16.

[0019] The electrical circuit breaker 10 also includes a control unit 20. The control unit 20 is configured to analyze one or more conditions of the breaker units 16 and, based on the results of these analyses, to activate an actuator, thereby separating the separable contacts.

[0020] The control unit has a front surface 22, which is generally flat and geometrically supported by a front plane P22, which is perpendicular to a depth axis A22 of the control unit 20. When the control unit 20 is in its normal use configuration, the front surface 22 is oriented toward the user. The front surface 22 therefore defines a forward direction D22, which is parallel to the depth axis A22. The forward direction D22 is represented by an arrow. The concepts of directions such as "forward," "backward," "up," and "down" are defined with respect to the elements represented in the drawings, with the understanding that in practice they may differ.

[0021] The cover 18 includes a window 19 through which the front face 22 of the control unit 20 is visible. The window 19 is preferably closed by a transparent flap, which is not depicted.

[0022] The control unit 20 is reversibly assembled to the breaker unit 16. In the examples of Figures 1a) and 1b), the control unit 20 is shown in an assembled configuration to the breaker unit 16. The control unit 20 is shown separately in Figure 2.

[0023] The breaker unit 16 provides a receptacle that opens onto the front face 14 of the breaker unit 16 and that receives the control unit 20, such that the front face 22 of the control unit 20 is substantially aligned with the front face 14 of the breaker unit 16, as particularly shown in Figure 1a). The receptacle is not depicted.

[0024] The control unit 20 will now be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

[0025] The control unit 20 includes a casing 30, which is made of an insulating material and forms a receiving volume for the various components of the control unit 20. In the example shown, the casing 30 houses an electronic board, which is not depicted. Herein, the casing 30 includes a front subassembly 100, which forms a portion of the front face 22.

[0026] The control unit 20 also includes a battery compartment 200, which is received within the housing 201. The battery compartment 200 is configured to receive at least one battery. In the example shown, the battery compartment 200 receives a single battery 212, herein a cylindrical battery. The battery 212 includes two electrical terminals, herein located on opposite sides of the battery 212. The type of battery and the number of batteries are not limiting to the implementation of the present invention. Depending on the type of battery, the battery 212 exhibits a voltage of several volts across its terminals, typically between 3V and 24V.

[0027] The casing 30 provides an enclosure 201 for receiving a battery compartment 200. In the example of Fig. 2, the battery compartment 200 is received in the enclosure 201, which is hidden. In Fig. 3a) the battery compartment 200 is shown separated from the enclosure 201.

[0028] The control unit 20 also includes an insulating device 250. In Figure 2, only a gripping portion 252 of the insulating device 250 is visible, with the remainder of the insulating device 250 hidden. In Figures 3a) and 3b), the insulating device 250 is depicted in two different configurations: a folded configuration and an extended configuration, respectively.

[0029] The gripping portion 252 is provided to be grasped by a user to pull on the insulating device 250 to separate the insulating device 250 from the battery compartment 200, as will be described in more detail below.

[0030] In this specification, the grip portion 252 has a generally rectangular shape. When the battery compartment 200 is received in the housing 201, the grip portion 252 is located outside the housing 201. Advantageously, when the control unit 20 is received in a receptacle of the breaker unit 16, the grip portion 252 is accessible from the front face 14 of the breaker unit 16.

[0031] Herein, the insulating device 250 is made entirely from an electrically insulating material, preferably a synthetic polymer material. Herein, the insulating device 250 is made from polycarbonate, referred to as PC.

[0032] The insulating device 250 is fabricated, for example, by cutting a polymer film, which typically has a thickness between 100 and 200 μm.

[0033] Insulation device 250 is sufficiently flexible to be deployed between several configurations, specifically between a folded configuration or an extended configuration. Thus, insulation device 250 can be folded or extended, preferably by hand without tools. For the remainder of this specification, unless specifically stated, insulation device 250 will be considered to be in the extended configuration.

[0034] In addition to the gripping portion 252, the insulating device 250 comprises a ribbon 260, which has an elongated shape and extends according to a longitudinal axis A260. The ribbon 260 has a width L260, measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A260, which is substantially constant. In this specification, the width L260 is equal to 5 mm.

[0035] The ribbon 260 comprises three portions, including a first insulating portion 261 , a second insulating portion 262 , and a conductive portion 263 .

[0036] First insulating portion 261 is electrically insulating and continuous along longitudinal axis A 260. By "electrically insulating," it is meant that when two electrodes are placed on either side of first insulating portion 261, pressing against the ribbon, and a continuous voltage of 24 volts or less is applied between the two electrodes, no current will pass between the two electrodes.

[0037] The second insulating portion 262 is electrically insulating and continuous along the longitudinal axis A 260 .

[0038] Conductive portion 263 is not electrically insulating. In the example shown, conductive portion 263 is made up of perforations 264, which are provided through ribbon 260. Perforations 264 are advantageously positioned across longitudinal axis A 260. Thus, conductive portion 263 is a perforated portion of ribbon 260.

[0039] In one alternative not depicted, a conductive film is applied to the surface of ribbon 260 on both sides of the ribbon to form conductive portions 263. However, conductive portions 263 with perforations 264 are preferred because they are simpler and less costly to implement.

[0040] The conductive portion 263 is interposed along the longitudinal axis A 260 between the first insulating portion 261 and the second insulating portion 262. In the example shown, the first insulating portion 161 is disposed between the conductive portion 263 and the gripping portion 252.

[0041] The insulating device 250 also comprises an intermediate portion 270, which is interposed between the first insulating portion 161 and the gripping portion 252 along the longitudinal axis A260. In the example shown, the intermediate portion 270 exhibits a width L270 measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A260. The intermediate portion 270 is connected to the first insulating portion 261 by a connecting portion 272, which thereby forms a shoulder 274, the width L270 of which is greater than the width L260 of the ribbon 260.

[0042] Ribbon 260 includes a restrained end by which the ribbon is connected to the remainder of the insulating device and a free end 280 opposite the restrained end. In the example shown, ribbon 260 is connected to intermediate portion 270 by the restrained end. Ribbon 260 includes a first visual indicator 281 at the free end, which is provided to confirm to a user the integrity of insulating device 250. Specifically, first visual indicator 281 is provided to confirm that the insulating device has been completely removed from the battery compartment after a user pulls gripping portion 252, and that no pieces of insulating device 250 remain within battery compartment 200 or housing 201 of control unit 20. Herein, first visual indicator 281 has a semicircular shape. Alternatively and / or additionally, first visual indicator 281 includes an area that has a different visual appearance from the remainder of ribbon 260. For example, the first visual indicator 281 is red, while the remainder of the ribbon 260 is clear.

[0043] The battery compartment 200 is described below.

[0044] The battery compartment 200 includes an envelope 210 made of an electrically insulating material and defining an interior volume 211 for receiving a battery 212. The battery compartment 200 also includes contact terminals 214 received in the interior volume 211 and configured to press against respective terminals of the battery 212 when the battery 212 is received in the interior volume 211. Herein, the contact terminals 214 are metal wings 214A, each having one end with a bulge 214B configured to press against a corresponding terminal.

[0045] In the non-limiting example shown, the envelope 210 is formed from a first part 210A that is closed by a cover 210B that is pivotally attached to the first part 210B and that is intended to hold a battery 212 in an internal volume 211. Of course, other configurations of the envelope 210 are possible, for example an envelope 210 with a cover screwed onto the main part, or even an envelope 201 made in one piece.

[0046] The envelope 210 comprises two notches 215 through which the internal volume 211 opens to the outside of the envelope 210, the two notches 215 being aligned according to a major axis A 215. When the battery 212 is received in the internal volume 211, the contact area between the contact terminal 214 and the corresponding terminal is considered to be located astride the major axis A 215.

[0047] The notches 215 are configured to allow passage of the ribbon 260 into the interior volume 211, and the ribbon 260 is inserted into the two notches 215 simultaneously in the insertion configuration of the ribbon 260. In the insertion configuration, the longitudinal axis A 260 coincides with the major axis A 215. The ribbon 260 in the insertion configuration can slide parallel to the major axis A 215 in the two notches 215, such that the longitudinal position of the ribbon 260 relative to the envelope 210 is adjustable.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 5 , when the battery 212 is received in the internal volume 211 and the first insulating portion 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 and the insulating device 250 is in a first insulating position relative to the envelope 210.

[0049] 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 and the insulating device 250 is in a second insulating position relative to the envelope 210.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 6 , when the battery 212 is received in the internal volume 211 and the conductive 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 and the insulating device 250 is in a conductive position relative to the envelope 210.

[0051] It will be appreciated that the longitudinal position of ribbon 260 relative to envelope 210 generally, and relative to contact terminals 214 specifically, can be adjusted by a user, particularly by pulling gripping portion 252 or free end 280 of ribbon 260. When a user pulls gripping portion 252, ribbon 260 is displaced relative to envelope 210 in a removal direction, whereas when a user pulls free end 280, ribbon 260 is displaced relative to envelope 210 in an insertion direction opposite the removal direction.

[0052] Advantageously, when the insulating device 250 is in the first insulating position, the shoulder 274 is configured to form a stop for the envelope 210. In other words, the shoulder 274 cooperates with the envelope 210 to limit the displacement of the ribbon according to the insertion direction. Naturally, when the shoulder 274 abuts against the envelope 210, the user knows that the insulating device 250 is in the first insulating position.

[0053] Advantageously, ribbon 260 includes at least one visual indicator, the at least one visual indicator being arranged along ribbon 260 to indicate to a user that insulating device 250 is in the conductive position. The at least one visual indicator includes two visual indicators 282 and 283, the two visual indicators 282 and 283 being arranged on either side of conductive portion 263, and as shown in FIG. 6 a), when insulating device 250 is in the conductive position, the two visual indicators 282 and 283 are visible together outside envelope 210. Thus, when a user sees the two visual indicators 282 and 283 outside envelope 210, the user is assured that perforation 264 is aligned with contact terminal 214. In the example shown, the two visual indicators 282 and 283 are formed by colored lines arranged on ribbon 260, the remainder of which is transparent. Alternatively, the entire area between the two visual indicators 282 and 283 is colored, with the remainder of the ribbon 260 being clear.

[0054] Advantageously, the envelope 210 comprises an opening 216 arranged radially relative to the main axis A215, through which the internal volume 211 opens to the outside of the envelope 211, and when the insulating device is in one of the insulating positions, which is herein the first insulating position as shown in Figure 5a), one of the visual indicators, which is herein the visual indicator 282, is visible through the opening 216.

[0055] Advantageously, ribbon 260 comprises, in addition to visual marker 283 located between conductive portion 263 and free end 280, another visual marker 284, which is interposed between visual marker 283 and conductive portion 263. In other words, ribbon 260 comprises two visual markers located on the same side of conductive portion 263 according to longitudinal axis A260. In this specification, the two visual markers 283 / 284 are located between conductive portion 263 and free end 280, in other words, on the side of second insulating portion 262.

[0056] As depicted in Figure 5, when insulating device 250 is in the first insulating position, two visual indicators 283 and 284 are visible outside envelope 210. As depicted in Figure 6, when insulating device 250 is in the first conducting position, only one of the two visual indicators, herein indicator 283, is visible outside envelope 210, and the other visual indicator, herein visual indicator 284, is hidden inside envelope 210. Thus, each visual indicator 283 or 284 is associated with one of the conducting position and the first insulating position, respectively.

[0057] In an alternative not depicted, a mirror arrangement is of course possible, in other words the ribbon comprises, in addition to the visual indicator 282 located between the conductive portion 263 and the gripping portion 252, another visual indicator, which is interposed between the conductive portion 263 and the visual indicator 282. When the insulating device 250 is in the second, insulating position, the two visual indicators are visible outside the envelope 210. When the insulating device 250 is in the conducting position, only one of the two visual indicators, here visual indicator 282, is visible outside the envelope 210, the other visual indicator being hidden inside the envelope 210.

[0058] More generally, the insulating device 250 includes two visual indicators, the two visual indicators being located on the same side of the conductive portion 263. When the insulating device 250 is in the conducting position, only one visual indicator 283 is visible on the outside of the envelope 210, and the other visual indicator 284 is located on the inside of the envelope. When the insulating device 250 is in the insulating position associated with an insulating portion located on the opposite side of the two visual indicators relative to the conductive portion 263, the two visual indicators 283, 284 are both visible on the outside of the envelope 210.

[0059] In the example shown, the two visual indicators 283 and 284 are colored bands. As an advantageous alternative, not depicted, the two visual indicators are two arrows that are aligned on the longitudinal axis A 260 and directed toward the conductive portion 263. When the insulating device 250 is in one of the conducting position and the first insulating position, the tip of the corresponding arrow is substantially aligned with the nearest notch 215.

[0060] In the illustrated example, the control unit 20 is an example of an electrical device that provides a housing for receiving a battery compartment that is received in the housing. Of course, the principles of the present invention are transferable to other types of electrical devices.

[0061] In the example shown, the battery compartment is separate from the casing of the electrical device, here the control unit 20. In an alternative not depicted, the battery compartment is formed by a recess provided directly in the casing of the electrical device.

[0062] The above-described embodiments and alternatives may be combined with each other to produce new embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An insulating device (250) for a battery compartment (200), said insulating device (250) comprising: a ribbon (260), said ribbon (260) extending according to a longitudinal axis (A260), said ribbon (260) presenting a constant width (L260) measured perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (A260), said ribbon (260) comprising a first insulating portion (261), said first insulating portion (261) being electrically insulating and continuous along said longitudinal axis (A260); a gripping portion (252), said gripping portion (252) being connected to said ribbon (260) and being provided to be gripped by a user to pull said insulating device (250); an insulating device (250) configured to be interposed between contact terminals (214) of a battery compartment (200) and respective terminals of batteries (212) received in an internal volume (211) of the battery compartment (200), the position of the ribbon (260) relative to the battery compartment (200) being adjustable, and the first insulating portion (261) configured to prevent the passage of current between the contact terminals (214) and the terminals when the first insulating portion (261) is interposed between the contact terminals (214) and the terminals; - said ribbon (260) comprises, in addition to said first insulating part (261), a second insulating part (262) and a conductive part (263), said conductive part (263) being interposed, along said longitudinal axis (A260), between said first insulating part (261) and said second insulating part (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 and the insulating device (250) is in the second insulating position; an insulating device (250) characterized in that the conductive portion (263) is configured so as not to prevent the passage of current between the terminal and the contact terminal (214) when the conductive portion (263) is interposed between the terminal and the contact terminal (214) and the insulating device (250) is in the conducting position.

2. An insulating device (250) according to claim 1, wherein said conductive portion (263) is a perforated portion.

3. - said ribbon (260) comprises a constrained end by which said ribbon (260) is connected to the remainder of said insulating device (250) and a free end (280) opposite said constrained end; An insulating device (250) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ribbon (260) comprises a first visual indicator (281) at the free end (280), the first visual indicator (281) being configured to indicate to the user the integrity of the insulating device (250).

4. - said first insulating part (261) is arranged between said conductive part (263) and said gripping part (252); - said insulating device (250) comprises an intermediate portion (270) interposed along said longitudinal axis (A260) between said first insulating portion (261) and said gripping portion (252); An insulating device (250) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the intermediate portion (270) is connected to the first insulating portion (261) by a connection portion (272) forming a shoulder (274), the shoulder (274) presenting a width (L270) greater than the width (L260) of the ribbon (260), the shoulder (274) being configured to form a stop for the battery compartment (200) when the insulating device (250) is in the first insulating position.

5. A battery compartment (200), an envelope (210), said envelope (210) being made from an electrically insulating material and delimiting an internal volume (211) for receiving a battery (212); contact terminals (214) received in the internal volume (211) and configured to press against respective terminals of the battery (212) when the battery (212) is received in the internal volume (211); an example of an insulating device (250) according to claim 1 or 2, the envelope (210) comprises two notches (215), the internal volume (211) opens to the outside of the envelope (210) through the two notches (215), the two notches (215) are aligned according to a major axis (A215) and are configured to allow the ribbon (260) to pass through the internal volume (211), the ribbon (260) being inserted into the two notches (215) simultaneously in an insertion configuration of the ribbon (260), the ribbon (260) being able to slide in the two notches (215) parallel to the major axis (A215) in the insertion configuration, so that the longitudinal position of the ribbon (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 terminals (214) and the corresponding terminals of the battery (212); when the battery (212) is received in the internal volume (211) and the first insulating part (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 and the insulating device (250) is in the first insulating position; when the battery (212) is received in the internal volume (211) and the second insulating part (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 and the insulating device (250) is in the second insulating position; a battery compartment (200) in which, when the battery (212) is received in the internal volume (211) and the conductive 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 and the insulating device (250) is in the conductive position.

6. 6. The battery compartment (200) of claim 5, wherein the ribbon (260) comprises at least one visual indicator (282, 283), the at least one visual indicator (282, 283) being disposed along the ribbon (260) to indicate to the user that the insulating device (250) is in the conducting position.

7. - said at least one visual indicator comprises two visual indicators (282, 283), said two visual indicators (282, 283) being arranged on either side of said conductive portion (263); - when said insulating device (250) is in said conducting position, said two visual indicators (282, 283) are visible together on the outside of said envelope (210); 7. The battery compartment (200) of claim 6, wherein when the insulating device (250) is in one of the first insulating position and the second insulating position, only one visual indicator (283) of the two visual indicators is visible outside the envelope (210), and the other visual indicator (282) is located inside the envelope (210).

8. - said at least one visual indicator comprises two visual indicators (283, 284), said two visual indicators (283, 284) being located on the same side of said conductive portion (263); when said insulating device (250) is in said conducting position, only one visual indicator (283) is visible outside said envelope (210), and the other visual indicator (284) is located inside said envelope; The battery compartment (200) of claim 6, wherein the two visual markers (283, 284) are visible together outside the envelope (210) when the insulating device (250) is in the insulating position associated with the insulating portion located on the opposite side of the two visual markers relative to the conductive portion (263).

9. An electrical device (20) comprising: An electrical device (20) comprising a casing (30), said casing (30) being made from an insulating material and comprising a housing (201), said housing forming an envelope (210) of a battery compartment (200) according to claim 5.

10. An electrical device (20) comprising: a battery compartment (200) according to claim 5; a casing (30), said casing (30) being separate from said battery compartment (200) and providing an enclosure (201) for receiving said battery compartment (200); When the battery compartment (200) is received in the housing (201), - said notch (215) is located inside said housing (201); an electrical device (20), wherein said gripping portion (252) is located outside said housing (201).

11. - An electric device (20) according to claim 10, wherein said electric device is a control unit for an electric circuit breaker (10).

12. An electric circuit breaker (10), comprising: a breaker unit (16) comprising at least one breaker device and an actuator, said breaker device being actuatable by said actuator; - an example of a control unit (20) according to claim 11, - said breaker unit (16) provides a receptacle, said receptacle opening onto the front face (14) of said breaker unit (16); an electric circuit breaker (10) wherein said control unit (20) is received in said receptacle of said breaker unit (16) so that said gripping portion (252) is accessible from said front face (14) of said breaker unit (16).

Images