Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
  • H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
  • H01R4/30—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a screw or nut clamping member
  • H01R4/36—Conductive members located under tip of screw
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
  • H01R4/58—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation characterised by the form or material of the contacting members
  • H01R4/66—Connections with the terrestrial mass, e.g. earth plate, earth pin

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates and essentially relates to an electrical grounding device of the type comprising, on the one hand, a conductive metallic stake with direct drive in the form of a straight profiled bar with a substantially uniform straight cross section and longitudinal wings with faces planes and orthogonally concurrent, angularly spaced and, on the other hand, a removable removable metal connection thimble by sliding on the exposed end of the stake and provided with a tapped hole crossed by a pressure screw with head external to the thimble and with direction of own longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of own longitudinal extent of said stake while being located substantially in the bisector plane of the hollow dihedral angle returning entering delimited between two adjacent wings and oriented towards the latter, said terminal serving for removably fix, to said stake, the bare or bare end of a cable ble grounding conductor, intended to be housed in the bottom of said hollow dihedral angle entering and tightened by said pressure screw in friction contact against said stake, as well as a method of manufacturing such an electrical
• a device of this type is known in particular from British Patent No. 423,385 published in 1935 and revealing a metal grounding post, corrosion resistant, preferably made of copper, with a cross-shaped cross section with four aligned longitudinal wings. respectively two by two in opposition in two intersecting orthogonal planes as well as a removable electrical connection terminal comprising an overlapping trigger guard and gripping transversely two adjacent wings of the stake and crossed by a pressure screw located in the bisector plane of the returning dihedral formed by these two wings and intended to clamp the bare end of a grounding conductor cable against the bottom of the hollow in dihedral angle delimited by these two wings.
• This known device has in particular the following drawbacks:
• the profiled bar, constituting the stake may not be readily available on the market;
• the main object of the present invention is to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks of the aforementioned known device and to solve this technical problem, the invention is characterized in that the stake is constituted by a standard steel angle iron of the trade ending in point of penetration at one end and the aforementioned terminal is generally annular by forming a substantially non-deformable rigid collar, intended to surround said angle iron by its central recess of shape substantially in isosceles right triangle at right angles to the top of the equal lateral sides conjugate of the angle of the right projecting dihedral formed by said angle iron and whose base side, parallel, in the assembled position of the terminal, to the plane containing the longitudinal edges of the two angle wings, is crossed by said screw and is, in the tightening position of the latter, slightly separated from said plane, so that the two lateral and equal sides and said right angle at the top of said recess in an isosceles triangle then marry the corresponding projecting external dihedron of said angle.
• This structure according to the invention provides in particular the following advantages with appropriate dimensional characteristics, compared with the aforementioned known device:
• the angle iron has a rigidity and a mechanical buckling resistance at least equivalent to that of the bar with known cruciform cross section;
• the perimeter of the electrical contact of the angle iron can be equivalent to that of the bar with known cruciform cross section
• the electrical resistance of the angle iron is lower than that of the bar with known cross-shaped cross-section.
• the electrical connection terminal of the device according to the invention has the following advantages in particular:
• the aforementioned terminal is in a single piece made of material in the form of a stirrup with a flat bottom, substantially symmetrical with respect to two median orthogonal planes, respectively longitudinal and transverse and the two parallel branches of which respectively two portions of planar wall each comprising the aforementioned recess, each preferably having an external contour at least approximately homologous to the shape of said recess and connected to each other at their base by a substantially rectangular planar bar provided with a threaded central hole through which the aforementioned pressure screw passes.
• the invention also relates to a process for the mass production of electrical connection lugs for the aforementioned electrical earth connection device according to the invention, of the type for simultaneous execution, by means of a tool to be followed progressively at successive stations, mounted on a single fixed press with a row of pairs of punch and associated cooperating form matrix forming as many separate individual tools, shaping operations respectively representing successive stages of progressive shaping ranging from roughing to finishing of the part to be obtained, produced on a strip of continuous flat sheet metal running horizontally in said press under said row of tools in a periodically intermittent periodic movement, synchronized with the operation of the press and at a constant advance step corresponding substantially to the center distance between said tools with a frequency and a e constant stopping times corresponding to the frequency and duration of repetitive working passes or strokes of the press on successive working areas of said sheet metal strip, located each time respectively under said tools and respectively presenting progressive forming states d increasing production from entry to exit from the press, characterized by the following work operations:
• This manufacturing process has the advantage of being simple, economical and rapid, making it possible to obtain a finished part forming a terminal at each useful working stroke of the press.
• At least two aforementioned operations can be carried out in the same working zone of the sheet metal strip by a single compound tool.
• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the device according to the invention installed in the service position, connected to an earth cable.
• Figure 2 shows, on a larger scale, a perspective view of the device according to Figure 1 off the ground.
• FIG. 3 represents, on an even larger scale, an isolated perspective view of the electrical connection terminal according to the invention.
• FIG. 4 represents a top plan view of a segment of a continuous sheet metal strip showing a repetitive set of four simultaneous operations for manufacturing the terminal according to the invention, carried out in said sheet metal strip at each cycle of job.
• FIG. 5 represents the finished terminal in cross section along the line of section V-V of FIG. 4.
• the device according to the invention comprises a metal earth stake 2 constituted by a simple steel angle of commercial length suitable, with wings respectively of equal widths, for example 20 mm and 3 mm thick, corresponding substantially to a weight of 0.88 kg per linear meter, this stake being partially driven in substantially vertically in the ground 3 and ending at its lower end by a penetration point 4 produced by cutting obliquely beveled equally the two angle wings according to a portion of rectilinear inclined edge extending from the vertical longitudinal edge of each wing up to the lower terminal end of the dihedral edge formed by the angle iron.
• a metal earth stake 2 constituted by a simple steel angle of commercial length suitable, with wings respectively of equal widths, for example 20 mm and 3 mm thick, corresponding substantially to a weight of 0.88 kg per linear meter, this stake being partially driven in substantially vertically in the ground 3 and ending at its lower end by a penetration point 4 produced by cutting obliquely beveled equally the two angle wings according to a portion of rectilinear inclined
• an electrical connection terminal 5 On the upper extreme portion, protruding above the ground 3, from the section of angle iron forming the post 2 is mounted an electrical connection terminal 5 forming a sort of collar threaded from above onto the post 2 and fixing, by tightening, the bare end portion 6 of an electrically conductive grounding cable.
• the electrical connection lug 5 has the general shape of a U-shaped bracket horizontally lying in the mounted position on the post 2 and having, in this position, a flat bottom 7 substantially vertical and two identical horizontal parallel flat branches, vertically spaced 8. These two branches 8 are each crossed by an opening 9 substantially in the form of an isosceles right triangle, these two openings being identical and vertically aligned in superposition.
• the right angle at the top 10 is intended to marry, in the fixed position of the terminal on the stake, the right salient dihedral angle of the angle 2 while the two equal lateral sides 11 forming the re-entrant angle 10 each have a length slightly greater than the width of the external face of each angle flange 2 while the two opposite parallel longitudinal edges 12 of the rectangular bar constituting the flat bottom 7 respectively form the basic horizontal sides of the openings triangular 9.
• the height of the opening triangle 9 of each branch 8, coming from its right angle 10 is greater than the corresponding height of the right triangle formed by the right cross section of the angle 2, lowered from the top of its right angle perpendicular to a straight line passing through the respective ends of the sides of this right angle.
• the terminal 5 can be easily threaded with play on this angle before this play is compensated by the immobilization of the terminal by fixing the latter on the angle.
• the fixing of the terminal 5 on the angle 2 is carried out by means of a pressure screw 13 passing horizontally through a tapped hole 14 located substantially in the center of the flat bottom 7 of the terminal, thus having its horizontal longitudinal axis situated at the intersection of the vertical plane of symmetry of the terminal passing through the respective re-entering right angle vertices of the two triangular openings 9 with the horizontal plane of symmetry of the terminal equidistant from the two branches 8 thereof.
• This screw 13 is with a head 15 for example hexagonal accessible externally to the terminal to be maneuverable by means of an appropriate key.
• the stake 2 having been previously inserted vertically into the ground 3 and the terminal 5 having been previously threaded by sliding on the projecting upper end of the stake, the stripped end portion 6 of the conductive cable of earthing is placed against the bottom of the hollow of the angle iron 2 by passing it between this bottom and the end 16 of the pressure screw 13 after having sufficiently unscrewed it.
• the screw 13 is then screwed until it energetically presses the cable against the bottom of the hollow of the angle iron 2, thereby wedging it in the angle iron 2 to fix it by tight friction contact against the latter.
• Tightening the screw causes the clearance between the right angle returning from the triangular openings of the terminal and the external projecting dihedral of the angle 2 to be suppressed so as to apply the terminal tightly by its returning internal angles against the external projecting dihedral of angle 2.
• each of the two branches 8 of the terminal 5 is at least approximately similar to the shape of the opening 9 in the said branch, for example having an isosceles trapezoid shape at least with orthogonal lateral sides and the large base has each of its two opposite ends connected to the flat bottom 7 by a straight segment perpendicular to this flat bottom.
• the process for the serial production of the terminal 13 takes place in the following manner by means of a press provided with a tool to be followed at successive stations and through which a strip passes horizontally of flat sheet metal 17 such as a strip or the like.
• the intermittent advance of the sheet metal strip 17 taking place in the direction of the arrow 18 from left to right in FIG.
• the following five operations are carried out simultaneously on successive corresponding working zones of the sheet metal strip 17 at each stop of the latter by cutouts according to the supposed configuration developed in plan of the terminal transversely to the sheet metal strip 17: -
• the sheet metal is cut out by simultaneous cutting of the two triangular openings 9 opposite by their respective base sides parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strip 17 and spaced transversely from one another by the width of a longitudinal strip of solid sheet metal corresponding to the width of the flat bottom 7;
• next second working area B is carried out the punching of a smooth round hole 14 to be subsequently tapped, located in the middle of the aforementioned sheet metal strip on the common transverse axis of symmetry of the two openings 9;
• a trimming is carried out by cutting with removal of excess material in the hatched regions in FIG. 4 between two perforated zones and successive holes on either side of the strip of continuous longitudinal sheet metal intermediate between the two aforementioned successive openwork and perforated working zones, said strip being in aligned extension of the two bars respectively separating the two triangular openings of each zone, thereby forming a half-contour of each wing on each zone thus completing the configuration of the terminal in its development in plan on the strip following the second work area B;
• the cutting of the aforementioned connecting sheet strip is cut, by double simultaneous cutting, in order to separate the flat blank thus cut and punched representing the configuration of the terminal in development in plan by completely detaching said intermediate strip on its entire length;
• - in working area E constituted by the aforementioned separate blank the blank is bent by a sort of stamping acting on the sheet metal strip intended to form the flat bottom 7 of the terminal, thereby causing simultaneous folding at a right angle of the two wings 8 towards the same side of the plane of the strip 17 on either side of the intermediate bar intended to form the flat bottom 7 so as to obtain the finished piece folded in a U shown in FIG. 5.
• the hatched parts in FIG. 4 represent the sheet metal falls resulting from the cuts.
• This terminal is then advantageously galvanized and, possibly before the tapping of the aforementioned hole 14 and possibly the stake (2) is also galvanized.
• the lugs are thus successively manufactured in series from the aforementioned strip with a production rate determined by the frequency of useful repetitive working strokes of the press which is equal to the frequency of intermittent advance of the strip.

Landscapes

• Manufacturing Of Electrical Connectors (AREA)
• Connections Effected By Soldering, Adhesion, Or Permanent Deformation (AREA)
• Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)
• Manufacture Of Motors, Generators (AREA)
• Suspension Of Electric Lines Or Cables (AREA)
• Elimination Of Static Electricity (AREA)
• Investigation Of Foundation Soil And Reinforcement Of Foundation Soil By Compacting Or Drainage (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=9513760

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 1997
  • 1997-11-25 FR FR9714788A patent/FR2771553B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1998
  • 1998-11-24 PL PL98340700A patent/PL340700A1/xx unknown
  • 1998-11-24 WO PCT/FR1998/002512 patent/WO1999027613A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1998-11-24 HU HU0100254A patent/HUP0100254A3/hu unknown
  • 1998-11-24 DE DE69804662T patent/DE69804662D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-11-24 EP EP98955732A patent/EP1034580B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-11-24 SK SK786-2000A patent/SK7862000A3/sk unknown
  • 1998-11-24 AT AT98955732T patent/ATE215751T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2000
  • 2000-05-24 NO NO20002660A patent/NO20002660L/no not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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