Connection device and arrangement for electrical wires

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connection device (10) for connecting electrical wires (W) with electrically conducting cores and surrounding insulation, comprising a passage (20, 26), the passage (20, 26) being arranged for receiving an insulated wire, at least one insulation removing element (34, 36) arranged adjacent the passage (20, 26), at least one operating element (16) operably connected to the insulation removing element (34, 36), an electrically conducting surface (38) at an end area of the passage (20, 26), wherein, when a wire is inserted in a passage (20, 26), operation of the operating element (16) causes the insulation removing element (34, 36) to remove a substantial part of the insulation of an end area of the wire and to press the exposed conducting core of the wire against the conducting surface (38) The invention also relates to an arrangement comprising at least one connection device.

Description

[0001] CONNECTION DEVICE AND ARRANGEMENT FOR ELECTRICAL WIRES

[0002] TECHNICAL AREA

[0003] The present application relates to a connection device for connecting and interconnecting electrical wires and an arrangement comprising the device.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0005] Electrical wiring is an essential feature in buildings for providing electricity to various places and points. For that purpose, electrical wires are drawn from usually a mains fuse box or cabinet to various outlet points. The electrical wires are predominantly drawn in flexible pipes installed inside or outside of walls and ceilings of the building. The electrical wires are commonly at least one lead, at least one neutral and at least one earth.

[0006] For branching the electrical wires or for installing switches, dimmers, electrical wall sockets or lighting connections in ceilings, electrical boxes are installed inside or outside the walls and ceilings, wherein the pipes are connected to the electrical boxes. In this regard, a plurality of pipes with electrical wires may be connected to an electrical box. Thus, at these junctions, the electrical wires from the mains fuse box are connected to other electrical wires to provide electricity to several places.

[0007] Conventionally, the different types of electrical wires, lead, neutral and earth are interconnected manually to the same type. Thus, an electrician strips the ends of for instance neutral wires and connects the stripped ends together manually. The connecting elements are usually twist-on connectors comprising a cap with a conical coil inside and by inserting the stripped ends into the cap and twisting it, the ends a locked inside the cap. Other types frequently used are push-wire connectors comprising a number of inlets into which the stripped ends are pushed and are locked in place. The drawback with these types of connections is that there is a lot of manual labour for an electrician to strip the ends of the wires and then manually interconnect specific wires with each other with the connectors. Apart from the time aspect, there is also a risk of connecting the wrong wires to each other or the risk of an electrical shock if the power is not disconnected. There is thus room for improvements in this technical field.

[0008] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0009] The aim of the present application is to improve and facilitate the connection of electrical wires, and in particular electrical wires used with voltages between about 110 to 240 volts.

[0010] This aim is solved by a device and an arrangement according to the features of the independent patent claims. Preferable embodiments of the invention are formed by the dependent patent claims.

[0011] According to one aspect, a connection device for connecting electrical wires with electrically conducting cores and surrounding insulation is provided, comprising a passage, the passage being arranged for receiving an insulated wire, at least one insulation removing element arranged adjacent the passage, at least one operating element operably connected to the insulation removing element, an electrically conducting surface at an end area of the passage, wherein, when a wire is inserted in a passage, operation of the operating element causes the insulation removing element to remove a substantial part of the insulation of an end area of the wire and to press the exposed conducting core of the wire against the conducting surface.

[0012] With this solution, a very convenient and secure connection of an electrical wire to a conducting surface is obtained. The removal of a substantial part of the insulation enables a large area of the conducting core of the wire to be in contact with the conducting surface, which in turn ascertains that the contact between them can handle current levels that can occur with connected loads of appliances operating in the above-mentioned voltage span.

[0013] In order to obtain as good as possible contact between the electrical wire and the conducting surface, the insulation removing element may be arranged to completely remove insulation of an end area of the wire.

[0014] According to another aspect, the connection device may further comprise a stop surface arranged inside each passage, wherein, when a wire is inserted in a passage it abuts against the stop surface. The stop surface ascertains that the inserted electrical wire is in the correct position for removal of insulation of the end area.

[0015] In this regard, the insulation removing element may be at least one cutting or stripping element, and may possibly comprise at least one cutting edge.

[0016] According to a further aspect, a connection unit is provided, comprising several connection devices attached in parallel with each other. This may be advantageous where several electrical wires are to be connected, especially when the several wires are arranged as a bundle or are incoming to a connection point from the same direction.

[0017] Further, the connection unit may comprise several connection devices attached in line with each other. This may be advantageous when several wires are incoming to a connection point from different or opposite directions. In this regard, the connection unit may further comprise electrically conducting bridges between selected conducting surfaces of at least two connection devices.

[0018] According to yet an aspect, an arrangement for connecting electrical wires is provided, which may comprise an electrical box and at least one connection device or at least one connection unit arranged inside said electrical box. This provides easy and secure connection of electrical wires in or on for instance walls or ceilings where electrical boxes are installed. In this regard, the electrical box may further comprise a plurality of inlets for electrical wires.

[0019] Preferably, the inlets of the electrical box may be adjacent or even aligned with the plurality of passages of the device, which further facilitates correct connection of electrical wires. In this regard, the inlets of said electrical box may be arranged to receive a single electrical wire and wherein each inlet is aligned with a specific passage of the device.

[0020] Moreover, the arrangement may further comprise at least one connector for attachment of a load as well as at least one connector for an electricity control device. These and other aspects of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and from the accompanying drawings.

[0021] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] In the following detailed description of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, of which

[0023] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a connection device,

[0024] Figs 2-4 are cross-sectional views of the device of Fig. 1 in different operating positions,

[0025] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of two connection devices electrically interconnected,

[0026] Fig. 6 is a schematic view of an arrangement comprising an electrical box with several connection devices, and

[0027] Figs. 7-8 are detailed views of variants of insulation removing elements.

[0028] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] A connection device 10 according to one embodiment is shown in Figs. 1-2. It comprises a generally rectangular base element 12 comprising a generally rectangular space 14 that is open upwards as seen in the figures. A generally rectangular operating element 16 is provided in the space 14. The operating element 16 has a complementary shape to the shape of the space 14, providing a vertical movement of the operating element 16 in relation to the space 14. Further, a side wall 18 of the base element 12 is provided with a generally tubular passage 20 and a side wall 22 of the operating element 16 facing the side wall 18 with the passage 20 is arranged with an opening 24 of a space 26 inside the operating element 16. The space 26 is further provided with an opening 28 in an opposite side wall 30 of the operating element 16 at a lower area thereof, whereby a passage is provided through the operating element 16. The space 26 has an inclined wall 32 extending from the upper part of the opening 24 down to the opening 28. The inclination of the inclined wall 32 is chosen such that an upper edge 34 of the opening 28 will have a support or cutting function, as will be described below.

[0030] The base element 12 is further provided with an edge 36 pointing upward positioned adjacent and below the opening 28 when the operating element 16 is in its initial position as seen in Fig. 2, wherein the upper edge 34 of the opening 28 and the edge 36 form an insulation removing element. Below the edge 36 of the base element 12, an electrically conductive surface 38 is arranged, for example on a side wall of the space 14 of the base element 12. Moreover, the base element 12 is provided with a generally vertical stop surface or element 40 positioned at a certain distance from the edge 36 as seen in a horizontal direction.

[0031] The connection device 10 is intended to function as follows. When the connection device 10 is in the initial position, ready for connecting wires, the operating element 16 is in an extended position as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The operating element 16 may be biased in this position by for instance a spring or the like (not shown). In this position, the lower area of the space 26 of the operating element 16 is aligned with the passage 20 of the side wall 18 of the base element 12, and the edge 36 is positioned below the opening 28 of the operating element 16. An insulated wire W can now be introduced in the passage 20 and through the space 26 of the operating element 16 until the end of the wire comes in contact with the stop element 40. Even though the passage 20 is shown as tubular, it may have the form of an open trough or a groove, one important thing is that the inserted wire is guided such that it reaches the right position against the stop element.

[0032] The operating element 16 may now be pressed downward, Fig. 3, wherein the upper edge 34 of the opening 28 comes in contact with the insulation of the wire W from above while the edge 36 comes in contact with the insulation of the wire from below. Further pressing will cause the edge 36 to cut into the insulation with the support of the edge 34 and as the operating element 16 continues downward, the end area of the wire will bend upwards, Fig. 3, and the insulation is removed from the end area of the wire by the cooperation between the edges 34 and 36. In this regard, the edge 34 may in addition to supporting the edge 36 in removing the insulation also have a cutting function. The now uninsulated or stripped end area of the wire will bend further upwards until it comes in contact with the wall surface 30 of the operating element 16 above the opening 28, and further be moved in contact with the electrically conductive surface 38, Fig. 4. Thus, the uninsulated part of the wire is now squeezed or pressed between the wall 30 of the operating element 16 and the electrically conductive surface 38, providing a good electrical contact between the wire W and the conductive surface 38. In this regard, the electrically conductive surface may be arranged with a recess or slit into which the wire may be pressed. The operating element 16 may be held in this position by suitable form- or frictionlocking elements. In addition, the operating element may be lifted by a suitable tool if the inserted wire is to be removed or be replaced by another wire.

[0033] The device described above may be used in many ways. For instance, two connection devices 10 may be connected together electrically with a conductive bridge 50 between the conductive surfaces 38 of the two connection devices 10, see Fig. 5. This may be used at a junction point in an electrical box. In this regard, the connection device 10 may be provided with attachment elements, enabling connection of several devices in parallel with each other, forming a connection unit. This may be very suitable if the incoming wires for instance are a lead wire, a neutral wire and an earth wire that are incoming from the same direction. In order to facilitate the connection regarding the different types of wires, each device in a connection unit may have a distinct label or colour indicating which type of wire should be connected as described above.

[0034] Regarding electrical boxes, several connection devices and / or connection units described above may be implemented in an electrical box 52, either as separate units or integrated in the electrical box, Fig. 6. In this regard, the electrical box 52 may include any suitable container or enclosure with in- and outlets for electrical wires that can house one or several connection devices as described. The electrical box 52 shown in Fig. 6 is provided with suitable attachments 54 for flexible tubes 56, providing in- and outlets for electrical wires. According to one favourable solution, the in-and outlets of the electrical box 52 are provided with discrete passages or holes 58 for one electric wire. Preferably these discrete passages 58 are arranged such, and several of the connection devices 10 are positioned such in the electrical box 52, that each discrete passage 58 is aligned with one specific connection device 10. This provides an easy and precise insertion of an electric wire into the electric box 52 and into a connection device 10 for correct position prior to activation of the operating element 16 for providing a removal of insulation and contact with a conducting element as described above.

[0035] In order to increase the functionality of the electrical box, several conductive paths 60 and elements may be incorporated. This enables the connection of auxiliary devices such as electrical control devices, including wireless control devices. In this regard, the electrical box 52 may be provided with one or several connectors 62 that facilitates the electrical connection of such auxiliary devices as well as connectors 64 for loads, such as lights, fans etc.

[0036] The device may be modified in several ways for providing automatic removal of insulation and electrical contact. Fig. 7 shows one variant of an insulation removing element. Here sharp blades 70 extend in the insertion direction of a wire. When the operating element is pressed down, the blades 70 will cut into the insulation and remove a substantial part of the insulation. Fig. 8 shows another variant of an insulation removing element with two oppositely positioned and slightly inclined blades 72 are arranged transversal to the insertion direction. When the operating element is pressed down the blades 72 will cut into the insulation. Further pressing of the operating element will bend the wire as described above and the blades 72 will remove the insulation from the end area of the wire.

[0037] It is to be understood that the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings is to be regarded only as a non-limiting example of the invention and that it may be modified in many ways within the scope of the patent claims.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS1 . Connection device (10) for connecting electrical wires (W) with electrically conducting cores and surrounding insulation, comprising- a passage (20, 26), the passage (20, 26) being arranged for receiving an insulated wire,- at least one insulation removing element (34, 36) arranged adjacent the passage (20, 26),- at least one operating element (16) operably connected to the insulation removing element (34, 36),- an electrically conducting surface (38) at an end area of the passage (20, 26), wherein, when a wire is inserted in a passage (20, 26), operation of the operating element (16) causes the insulation removing element (34, 36) to remove a substantial part of the insulation of an end area of the wire and to press the exposed conducting core of the wire against the conducting surface (38).

2. Connection device (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the insulation removing element (34, 36) is arranged to completely remove insulation of an end area of the wire.

3. Connection device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a stop surface (40) arranged inside the passage, wherein, when a wire is inserted in a passage (20, 26), it abuts against the stop surface (40).

4. Connection device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the insulation removing element is at least one cutting or stripping element.

5. Connection device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the operating element comprises at least one cutting edge.

6. Connection unit, comprising several connection devices (10) according to any of the claims 1 - 5 attached in parallel with each other.

7. Connection unit, comprising several connection devices (10) according to any of the claims 1 - 5 attached in line with each other.

8. Connection unit according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising electrically conducting bridges (50) between selected conducting surfaces (38) of at least two connection devices (10).

9. Arrangement for connecting electrical wires, comprising an electrical box (52) and at least one connection device or at least one connection unit according to any of the claims 1 to 8 arranged inside said electrical box (52).

10. Arrangement according to claim 9, said electrical box (52) further comprises a plurality of inlets (54, 58) for electrical wires.11 .Arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said inlets (54, 58) of said electrical box are aligned with the plurality of passages of the device.

12. Arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein said inlets (58) of said electrical box are arranged to receive a single electrical wire and wherein each inlet (58) is aligned with a specific passage (20, 26) of the connection device (10).

13. Arrangement according any of the claims 9 - 12, wherein it further comprises at least one connector (64) for attachment of a load.

14. Arrangement according to any of the claims 9 - 13, wherein it further comprises at least one connector (62) for an electricity control device.

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