Manually-operated multiple switch for electrical street box

Abstract

The present invention relates to a manually-operated multiple switch for a terminal block installed into an electrical street box. Preferably the electrical street box is installed in a low voltage distribution network.

Description

[0001] MANUALLY-OPERATED MULTIPLE SWITCH FOR ELECTRICAL STREET BOX

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a manually-operated multiple switch for an electrical terminal block. Such terminal block is suitable for installation into an electrical street box of a low voltage distribution network.

[0004] The terminal block comprises a fixed frame structure in which a plurality of electrical pole terminals are inserted in an orderly manner.

[0005] Each pole terminal comprises an electrical input port for the connection of an electrical cable.

[0006] The electrical input port is in turn electrically connected to an input connector.

[0007] The pole terminal also comprises an output connector. Between the input connector and the output connector there is a physical gap defining an electrical disconnection between the two connectors.

[0008] Again, each pole terminal comprises a slide slidingly connected to the fixed frame structure of the terminal block which is movable between a position where it is physically in contact with both the input and the output connectors, defining an electrical bridge therebetween which functionally bridges such gap, and a position where it is physically in contact with only the output connector; in such position, it goes without saying that the input and output connectors remain spaced apart.

[0009] In the position in which the slide touches both connectors, the pole terminal is electrically closed, i.e., it allows the passage of electricity conducted by the cable to the consumer downstream of the terminal block. In the position in which the slide only touches the input connector, the gap between the two connectors is maintained and therefore the pole terminal is electrically open, i.e., the passage of electricity conducted by the cable to the consumer downstream of the terminal block is prevented.

[0010] With reference to the terminal block itself, currently, the electrical closing and / or opening of each individual pole terminal is performed by means of a manual operation.

[0011] It should be noticed that, below, the terms “pole terminal opening” or “pole terminal closing” or possibly the terms “pole terminal disconnection” or “pole terminal connection” will be used.

[0012] Now, going into detail, to close or open each pole terminal of the terminal block, the operator must first open the electrical box and completely remove any safety protections.

[0013] Taking as an example the case in which the operator must close the pole terminal, the operator shall move the slide into the electrically closed position, i.e., the one in which it is in contact with both the input and output connectors with the terminal block exposed.

[0014] To move the slide, the operator must move it manually until it reaches the desired position, straddling the two connectors, and then lock it firmly in this position.

[0015] To lock the slide, the operator must, for example, tighten one or more screws which, by abutting the heads thereof against the slide itself, force it against the connectors, thus preventing further and / or unwanted sliding.

[0016] Alternatively, to open the pole terminal, the operator must unscrew one or more screws which lock the slide and move it so as to interrupt the electrical connection bridge between the two input and output connectors.

[0017] It is obvious that these operations must be repeated for each pole terminal of the terminal block, depending on the electrical configurations which are to be assumed.

[0018] These operations are obviously long and laborious since they involve several steps to be repeated manually for each individual pole terminal.

[0019] Furthermore, such operations are intrinsically risky since they involve obvious dangers for the operator; even more so, since the safety guards have been removed, the operator is at risk of shock or other injuries.

[0020] Again, having to operate on each pole terminal individually, the possible opening of all pole terminals of the terminal block, and therefore the total electrical disconnection of the downstream consumer, requires a non-negligible operating time for the intervention and this may be problematic if it is necessary to disconnect a consumer quickly. Obviously, the same criticality also occurs in reverse in the case of a connection of the terminal block as a whole.

[0021] It is the object of the invention to find a solution for these issues, speeding up such closing / opening operation of the individual pole terminals and of the terminal block as a whole.

[0022] It is another object to provide a terminal block which allows the opening / closing operations of the pole terminals in conditions of safety for the operator.

[0023] The features and advantages of the terminal block according to the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of explanation and not of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0024] Figure 1 shows a terminal block of the four-pole type;

[0025] Figure 2 shows a terminal block of the four-pole type with protection elements removed for greater clarity, in which the pole terminals of the terminal block are visible;

[0026] Figure 3 shows in detail the pole terminals of the terminal block including a base of the terminal block removed for representative clarity; in Figure 3 the pole terminal is electrically open, a slide of such pole terminal is placed in a first position;

[0027] Figure 4 shows the pole terminal of Figure 3 electrically closed, with the slide in a second position;

[0028] Figure 5 shows the terminal block of Figure 4 from another point of view;

[0029] Figure 6 shows a view of the terminal block with a protective cover installed; and

[0030] Figure 7 shows an overall view of the terminal block with a protective shell installed.

[0031] With reference to these Figures, the terminal block according to the invention comprises a fixed frame structure 1 , or base 1 , in which a plurality of electrical pole terminals 2, or simply pole terminals or electrical circuits, are inserted in an orderly manner.

[0032] With reference to the Figures, inserted in an orderly manner means that the pole terminals are arranged in an ordered array, one next to the other, separated by non- conductive bulkheads 10 which belong to the fixed frame structure. Again, the fixed frame structure defines, between pairs of consecutive bulkheads 10, circuits or channels defining a longitudinal axis X within which each pole terminal is housed.

[0033] Obviously, other configurations and settings may be arranged, therefore the architecture just described and represented in the drawings is not to be considered in a limitative sense.

[0034] Each pole terminal 2 comprises an electrical input port 20 for the connection of an electrical cable C.

[0035] The electrical input port 20 is, in turn, electrically connected to an input connector 21.

[0036] The pole terminal also comprises an output connector 22.

[0037] The input connectors 21 and output connectors 22 are made of electrically conductive materials.

[0038] The output connector 22 is, in turn, connected to an electrical output port, not shown, connected to the consumer downstream of the terminal block.

[0039] Between the input connector and the output connector there is a gap 23. The gap 23 prevents the physical contact between the connectors and therefore the electrical connection thereof.

[0040] Again, each pole terminal 2 comprises an electrical bridge element 24 movable between: a first electrically open position of the pole terminal in which such bridge element is physically in contact with only one connector or with no connector, and; - a second electrically closed position of the pole terminal in which such bridge element is physically in contact with both the input 21 and output 22 connectors so as to functionally bridge the gap 23.

[0041] In the first position, the pole terminal 2 is electrically open, i.e., the passage of electricity conducted by the cable C towards the downstream consumer is prevented.

[0042] In the second position, the pole terminal is electrically closed, i.e., it allows the passage of electricity conducted by the cable towards the downstream consumer.

[0043] The electrical bridge element 24 is made of electrically conductive material.

[0044] In an embodiment, the electrical bridge element is a slide 24. The slide 24 is slidably connected to the fixed frame structure 1 of the terminal block. In particular, each slide 24 is slidably engaged on a pair of consecutive bulkheads.

[0045] The slide 24 is slidably movable between the first position and the second position where it is physically in contact with both the input connectors 21 and the output connectors 22.

[0046] In the second position in which the slide 24 touches both connectors 21 , 22, the pole terminal is electrically closed, i.e., it allows the passage of electricity conducted by the cable to the exit. In the first position, the gap 23 between the two connectors 21 , 22 is maintained and therefore the pole terminal 2 is electrically open, i.e., the passage of electricity conducted by the cable C is prevented.

[0047] In the first position, in the example shown in the Figures, the slide 24 is physically in contact with only the input connector 21. Obviously, other solutions may be envisaged, in which the slide 24 may possibly be in contact with no connector or with only the output connector.

[0048] Each slide 24 also has a through-hole housing 240 for the passage of the rod 40 of at least one screw 4. In the solution described, the through-hole housing 240 may house the rod of two screws 4.

[0049] The through-hole housing 240 is arranged according to a transverse axis Y, i.e., perpendicular with respect to the extension of the pole terminal channel.

[0050] The screw is threaded onto the input connector 21 or the output connector 22.

[0051] When the at least one screw 4 is tightened, one head 41 thereof abuts against the slide 24, forcing it against the connector itself. Therefore, by virtue of such tightening action, the slide is locked in the desired position.

[0052] In the case of the solution shown in the images, each slide houses two screws, a first one 40a which engages the input connector 21 , a second one 40b which engages the output connector 22.

[0053] The first screw 40a also acts as an abutment for the sliding of the slide, abutting against a bottom portion 240a of the through-hole housing 240 when the slide has reached the second position, or electrical closing position of the pole terminal.

[0054] In the example shown in the images, the slide has a substantially parallelepiped shape; therefore, it has at least two mutually perpendicular faces, one longitudinally arranged 241 and one transversally arranged 242.

[0055] The face longitudinally arranged, or upper face 241 , is the one against which the head of one or more screws abuts.

[0056] The face transversally arranged, or bottom 242, is instead arranged in a substantially perpendicular arrangement at least with respect to the input connector.

[0057] According to an aspect of the invention, the terminal block comprises a manually- operated multiple switch 3 which allows to control the opening and / or closing of a functional group comprising at least two of said pole terminals.

[0058] To this end, the manually-operated multiple switch 3 controls the sliding movement of two or more bridge elements 24 associated with said two or more pole terminals of said functional group.

[0059] The movement of the manually-operated multiple switch 3 simultaneously activates the simultaneous and uniform movement of the group of bridge elements 24, thus simultaneously acting on each of the pole terminals 2 to which each element of the group is associated.

[0060] In a preferred solution, the manually-operated multiple switch operates four bridge elements 24, therefore it opens / closes four pole terminals simultaneously.

[0061] In an embodiment shown in the Figures, the manually-operated multiple switch 3 comprises a main body 30 connected to each of said slides 24. The main body 30, in turn, has a handle 31 which is made of a non-conductive material.

[0062] In the example shown in the Figures, the main body 30 also comprises rails 30a for the sliding engagement with the bulkheads 10. The switch is therefore slidingly engaged with the base 1 .

[0063] The main body 30 has an L-shape, i.e., it has two portions, a longitudinal one 300 and a transverse one 301 , which are arranged respectively at the longitudinal face and the bottom face of the slide. The manually-operated multiple switch activates the sliding movement of the two or more slides by exerting thereon a pushing action on each bottom face 242.

[0064] Generally, the main body 30 may be directly connected to the slide 24 so as to be integral therewith. For example, such connection may be obtained by means of a joint or a threaded engagement.

[0065] To allow access to the head of each screw 40 with a suitable tool, such as, for example, a screwdriver, through holes 302 are obtained on the main body, at the longitudinal portion 300.

[0066] In light of the above, a method for connecting a terminal block comprises the following steps: moving a manually-operated multiple switch of said terminal block to simultaneously close and / or open all pole terminals of said functional group; - locking the manually-operated multiple switch in position.

[0067] In which, the step of locking the switch in position is achieved by tightening the screws acting on the slides 24 altogether, in a single step.

[0068] Similarly, if the switch needs to be moved towards the opening of the terminal block, the operator acts by unscrewing all the screws acting on the slides 24 in a single step, so that the group of slides is free to slide and therefore the switch may be suitably arranged to interrupt the electrical connection, thus moving the handle 31 with a translational movement.

[0069] The terminal block may also comprise more than one manually-operated multiple switch, depending on how many pole terminals and downstream consumers are connected thereto. In the example of Figure 1 or 6, the terminal block has three manually-operated multiple switches.

[0070] By virtue of the terminal block solution described in the text, it is also possible to install electrical protections for the operator, which are revised with respect to those of the prior art. In particular, Figure 6 shows a protective cover 5 that covers the terminal block. The protective cover is fixed and provided with at least one slot 50 to accommodate the sliding of the manually-operated multiple switch 3 which protrudes externally from the protection only with the handle 31 . The protective cover 5 also has holes 51 to allow access to the heads of the screws (or to the head of the one screw) with an appropriate tool. A protective shell 6 may be installed over the protective cover, completely covering the handles of the switches and therefore completely isolating the terminal block. The protective shell is removable in case the operator needs to operate the switches when opening / closing the terminal block. The shell 6 may also be made of transparent material to allow viewing of one or more switches and therefore the position thereof.

[0071] The protective cover 5 is also mounted in a removable manner to allow the operator, for example, in cases of extraordinary maintenance, to access the conductive parts, therefore input and output connectors, slide, etc.

[0072] The terminal block according to the invention has several advantages.

[0073] It safely ensures for the operator the rapid disconnection / connection of a functional group, by acting simultaneously on all the pole terminals involved, without having to operate on the single pole terminal as in the prior art. This therefore ensures greater speed of operations, greater safety for the operator and also a greater control of the correctness of the intervention.

[0074] By virtue of the protective cover and the protective shell 6, the safety of the operator is significantly increased. In particular, by virtue of the protective cover, all the exposed parts (the handle in this case) are non-conductive, while the conductive parts remain shielded by the cover and therefore the risk of the operator being hit by accidental sparks, for example, is reduced.

[0075] The present invention has been described up to now with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof. It is to be understood that other embodiments may exist which pertain to the same inventive core, all falling within the scope of protection of the claims reported below.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . An electrical terminal block comprising a fixed frame structure (1) and a plurality of electrical pole terminals (2) inserted into said frame structure (1) in an orderly manner, each pole terminal comprising:- an input port (20) for connecting an electrical cable (C) to the pole terminal,- an input connector (21 ) in electrical connection with said input port (20);- an output connector (22);- a gap (23) defined between said input connector (21 ) and said output connector (22);- an electrical bridge element (24) movable between: a first electrically open position of said pole terminal (2) wherein said bridge element (24) is physically in contact with only one connector (21 , 22) or with no connector, and; - a second electrically closed position of said pole terminal (2) wherein said bridge element is physically in contact with both said input (21 ) and output (22) connectors so as to functionally bridge said gap (23), said terminal block being characterized in that it also comprises at least one manually-operated multiple switch (3) which connects two or more of said bridge elements (24) so as to move them uniformly and simultaneously between said open position and said electrically closed position of said pole terminal.

2. An electrical terminal block according to claim 1 , wherein said manually- operated multiple switch operates on four pole terminals.

3. An electrical terminal block according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said bridge element is a slide (24) slidingly engaged with said fixed frame structure between said first position and said second position.

4. An electrical terminal block according to claim 3, wherein said slide (24) is in contact with said input connector (21 ) in said first position.

5. An electrical terminal block according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said slide (24) comprises a through-hole housing (240) for the passage of the rod (40) of at least one screw (4).

6. An electrical terminal block according to claim 5, wherein each slide comprises two screws, a first one (40a) which engages the input connector (21 ), a second one(40b) which engages the output connector (22).

7. An electrical terminal block according to claim 6, wherein said first screw (40a) defines an abutment for the sliding of said slide, abutting onto a bottom portion (240a) of said through-hole housing (240) when said slide is in said second position.

8. An electrical terminal block according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein said manually-operated multiple switch comprises a main body (30) connected to each of said two or more slides (24).

9. An electrical terminal block according to claim 8, wherein said main body also comprises rails (30a) for the sliding engagement with said fixed frame structure.

10. An electrical terminal block according to claim 8 or 9, wherein on the portion of said main body which is arranged at said through-hole housing there are through-holes (302) to allow the access of a tool to the head of said at least one screw.11 . An electrical terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, also comprising a protective cover (5) covering said terminal block, said one or more manually-operated multiple switches protruding externally from said protective cover (5) with respective non-conductive grips (31), said protective cover (5) comprising at least one slot (50) to allow the sliding of said at least one manually-operated multiple switch.

12. An electrical terminal block according to claim 11 , wherein a shell (6) made of a transparent material to completely isolate said terminal block is removably mounted over said protective cover (5).

13. An electrical street box comprising an electrical terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims.

14. An electrical street box according to the preceding claim, adapted to be used in a low voltage electrical distribution network.

15. A method for electrically operating an electrical terminal block, comprising a plurality of pole terminals and a manually-operated multiple switch which controls in opening and / or closing a functional group comprising at least two of said pole terminals, said method comprising the steps of:- moving said manually-operated multiple switch of said terminal block to simultaneously close and / or open all pole terminals of said functional group of saidterminal block;- locking said manually-operated multiple switch in position.

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