FR2532811A1 - Component box with annular wall - Google Patents

Abstract

THIS BOX IS OF THE KIND INCLUDING, ON THE ONE HAND, FOR THE DEFINITION OF A HOUSING 19 CLEAN TO RECEIVE AT LEAST ONE ELECTRICAL OR ELECTRONIC COMPONENT, A GLOBALLY ANNULAR WALL 15 CALLED BELT, AND, ON THE OTHER HAND, FOR THE CONNECTION OF 'SUCH A COMPONENT HAS AN ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR, AT LEAST ONE CONNECTION TERMINAL 16 FORMING A SEPARATE PART OF THE SAID BELT 15. ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION, THE CONNECTION TERMINAL (S) IS (OR ARE) ENTIRELY PROVIDED (S) OUTSIDE THE BELT 15, OUTSIDE THE HOUSING 19 DEFINED BY THIS. APPLICATION ESPECIALLY TO ELECTRICAL CABINET EQUIPMENT.

Description

The present invention relates generally to the component-carrying housings, that is to say the housings which, for example intended to be snapped by a foot on any support profile, in the manner of a terminal iron or terminal blocks, for 1 # equipment in particular of electrical cabinets, are capable of containing at least one electrical or electronic component, such as rectifier bridge, relay or others, suitable for enabling them to assume,
If desired, a function other than a simple junction function, the component (s) which they comprise being in practice for this purpose most often in conjunction with a printed circuit board
It relates more particularly to -eeus of these component-carrying housings which, for the definition of a housing suitable for thus receiving at least one electrical or electronic component, comprise a generally annular wall, of any contour, forming a frame and called ci -after, for simple convenience, belt, and, in practice, for the closing of said housing, two end partitions reported transversely on said belt, on the opposite end faces thereof.

 Such a component-carrying case (s) is notably described in the French patent filed on March 6, 1970 under the N0 70 08028 and published under the No 2.140.694.

 For the connection of the component (s) which it comprises, it must be equipped with at least one connection terminal, and, in practice, with a plurality of such connection terminals.

 In French patent B 2,140,694, these connection terminals are integrated into the belt.

This results in a certain complexity of implementation for eelle-civ
In the French patent filed on September 12, 1977 under No. 77 27963 and published under No. 2,368,204, however, it was proposed to make the connection terminals in the form of separate parts of the belt.

 But, in practice, in French patent N0 2,368,204, the connection terminals used are entirely arranged inside the belt, in the housing defined by the latter.

 It follows, in particular, that, for the passage of electrical conductors, this belt must have, on the right of the connection terminals, openings.

 Such openings do not fail to weaken the belt which affect, the full section thereof being reduced accordingly.

 Now such a belt constitutes the magpie that mistress of the case.

 In addition, because of these openings, the manufacture of this belt is relatively complicated.

Indeed, such a belt, which, although of any outline, is generally cylindrical, is usually made in one piece by molding of an appropriate synthetic material, and, for the production of the openings in question, the mold corresponding must include, transversely ment, drawers, that is to say movable cores to be able to be retracted to demoulding
The present invention generally relates to a provision which makes it possible to avoid these drawbacks and which also leads to other advantages.
More specifically, it relates to a component-carrying case (s), of the type comprising, on the one hand for the definition of a housing suitable for receiving at least one electrical or electronic component, a generally annular wall, of any contour, known as a belt, and, on the other hand, for the connection of such a component to an electrical conductor, at least one connection terminal forming a separate part from said belt, this component carrying case (s) being characterized in that said connection terminal is entirely disposed outside the belt, outside the housing defined by it
In practice for housing this connection terminal, the contour of the belt forms, recessed inward, a recess that fills said connection terminal, so that said contour is thus generally restored
Anyway, thanks to such an arrangement, the integrity of the belt is advantageously preserved, no opening being required to be provided therein for the passage of the electrical conductor to be engaged in the connection terminal
The belt therefore therefore having no opening, its realization is also facilitated, no drawer being provided on the corresponding mold.

Admittedly, as is usual, such a drawer is however to be provided on the mold necessary for the production of the body of insulating material from the connection terminal.
But such a mold is already found to have anyway another drawer, that relating to the formation of the passage necessary for the clamping screw that usually comprises the active metal part of such a connection terminal, so that its realization is not otherwise complicated e
In addition, the fact that, according to the invention, the connection terminal is located outside the belt, facilitates, during assembly, the installation of this connection terminal, a correct presentation thereof. opposite said belt being therefore easier to insure
Finally, in use, the engagement in the connection terminal of the corresponding electrical conductor is advantageously done directly, without crossing the belt d
Such engagement is therefore easier and safer, by being related to the engagement of an electrical conductor in any standard connection volume, and requires an advantageously shorter length of electrical conductor than If such a connection terminal was disposed inside the belt.

According to a preferred embodiment, the connection terminal is engaged with the belt by a sliding assembly comprising axially at least one set of grooves and ribs provided in a complementary manner, one on any of the parts that said belt forms. and said connection terminal, the other on the other of these and, according to the invention, said sliding assembly is adjusted
This advantageously results in a stiffening of the belt by the connection terminal, and therefore better stability and better longevity for the assembly.

Preferably, the sliding assembly between belt and connection terminal comprises two sets of grooves and ribs, and, according to the invention, for each of said sets, the transverse profile of the groove is a profile which partially closes on itself. , the outlet of such a groove having a dimension smaller than that of the current part of that eyelash
It follows that each of said groove and rib games intervening between the belt and the connection terminal is advantageously able to ensure alone, independently of the other, the maintenance of such a connection terminal vis- vis-à-vis the belt, which makes it possible to compensate in advance for a possible failure of one or the other of these
Games.

 Preferably, the body made of insulating material that the connection terminal usually comprises is, according to a development of the invention, a modular piece equipped with latching means specific to its stacking with a similar piece, and not comprising in addition to a single housing, for a single active metal part, such a modular part advantageously constitutes, according to the invention, a unitary connection terminal.

It is thus advantageously possible to produce, on request, a component-holder box (s) comprising a variable number of connection terminals
In addition, the mounting in them an active metal part is advantageously always on the same side, according to the usual techniques in the matter, and, therefore, without it being necessary to intervene successively on one and on the other side of such a connection terminal.

The cprresponaant mounting station is advantageously simplified
These characteristics, as well as others, and their advantages will emerge moreover from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a component-carrying case (s) according to the invention
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view a
FIG. 3 is, on a larger scale, an elevation view of the belt which this component-carrying case (s) includes;
Figure 4 shows, on a larger scale, the detail of Figure 3 identified by an insert IV thereon;
Figure 5 is, also on a larger scale, a partial cross-sectional view of this belt, following the line VV of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view along the broken line VI-VI of Figure 3
Figure 7 is another partial view in cross section along the line VII-VII of Figure 6;
FIG. 8 is, on the scale of FIG. 4, an elevation view of the body of insulating material that each of the connection terminals of the component-carrying case (s) according to the invention comprises.
Figure 9 is a side view of this body along arrow IX of Figure 23 8
Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view along line XX of the figure;
Figure 11 is another elevational view, along arrow XI of Figure 9 ;;
Figure 12 is another cross-sectional view along the broken line XII-XII of Figure 11
FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the stacking, according to the invention, of several connection terminals equipping the component-carrying case (s) concerned;
Figure 14 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 1 and relates to a variant of reat lization.

 These figures illustrate, by way of example, the application of the invention to the production of a component-carrying case (s) 10 intended to be snapped on, by an elastically deformable foot 11, on any profile of sup port 12, shown diagrammatically in broken lines in FIGS. 1 and 14.

It has been assumed in these figures that this profile 12 is a rail of the type known as uneven wings, but this is not necessarily so.
The corresponding elastically deformable foot 11 does not, moreover, fall within the scope of the present invention, and it will therefore not be described in detail here.

 This is also the reason why it has only been shown diagrammatically in broken lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, as well as in FIG. 14.

 Overall, and in a manner known per se, the component-carrying case (s) 10 according to the invention comprises, on the one hand, for the definition of a housing 13 suitable for receiving at least one electrical or electronic component, a wall generally annular 15, of any outline, called here, for simple convenience, belt, and, on the other hand, for the connection of such a component to an electrical conductor, at least one connection terminal 16 forming a separate part from said belt 15.

 The electrical component (s) concerned not falling within the scope of the present invention, they have not been shown in the figures, and they will not be described here.

It is the same for the corresponding electrical conductors
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 13, two groups of connection terminals are each provided with a stack of three connection terminals 16, and, according to arrangements described in more detail below, they are each respectively attached to a printed circuit board 18 suitable for being engaged transversely in the housing 13 formed by the belt 15.

Anyway according to the invention, the connection terminals 16 are each entirely arranged outside the belt 15, outside the housing 13 defined by it.
In practice, the belt 15 is generally cylindrical, and its outline, which is generally quadrangular, forms in two opposite angles, recessed inwards, recesses 19 9 FIG. 3, 3.s specific to the housings of the connection terminals 16 corresponding, and filled by them.

Given these recesses 19, the outline of the belt 15 is therefore that of two superimposed rectangles in the embodiment shown-
On that of its faces which forms the sole thereof, and which is opposite to its recesses 199 the belt 15 carries, in one piece9 projecting outwards, the elastically deformable foot it correspond.

 The outline of the printed circuit board 18 generally follows that of the belt 15.

 Nais, for connection with the connection terminals 169 the printed circuit board 18 extends beyond the hooks 19 thereof.

 In practice, the printed circuit board 18 is axially engaged in the housing 13 defined by the belt 15, the edge 20 ′ of the recesses 19 thereof being axially set back relative to that of its current part, for actually allow penetration.

 This axial penetration of the printed circuit board 18 in the housing 13 defined by the belt 15 is limited by the abutment of said printed circuit board 18 against, on the one hand, the corresponding edge 20 'of the recesses 19 of said belt 15, and, on the other hand, as shown diagrammatically in broken lines in FIG. 6, against the end of axial ribs 22 which, for this purpose, protrudes on its internal wall, said belt 15 in the vicinity of that of its faces which forms the sole.

 Preferably, and according to the invention, on the internal wall of the belt 15 are further provided, for the printed circuit board 189 latching means.

 In practice, in the embodiment shown, these are constituted by two hooks 23 protruding shapes on said internal wall, on that of the faces of the belt 15 comprising the ribs 22, each of these hooks having, as visible in particular in FIG. 7, an oblique engagement facet 24 followed, on the side of the ribs 22, by a transverse retaining shoulder 25.

 Usually, the belt 15 is closed transversely, at its axial ends, by two removable end partitions 27, 27 ′, the first on the side opposite to the printed circuit board 18, the second on the side thereof.

These end partitions 27, 27 ′ have an outline which in practice follows that of the belt 15 without taking account of the recesses 19 of the latter, so that they cover not only this belt 15, but also the connection terminals 16 established in these 19th recesses
In practice, the terminal partition 27 ′, ie that which is disposed on the side of the printed circuit board 18, has projecting, according to the invention, two wings 28 ′, for covering the corresponding parts of the plate. printed circuit 18 extending beyond the recesses 19 of the belt 15
In addition, simple latching means are provided between the end partitions 27, 27 ′ and the belt 15 for their removable attachment thereto,
In the embodiment shown, these latching means comprise lugs 30 provided axially projecting from the end partitions 27, 27 ′, and complementary grooves 31 provided axially recessed on the belt 15.

 In the embodiment shown, two groups of lugs 30 and cells 31 of transverse cross section, diS ferent, are provided according to the thickness available at the relevant locations of the belt 15.

These provisions falling within the skill of the art, they are not described in more detail iCib
In practice, the cells 31 of the belt 15 are established at the angles thereof and those of these cells which are of larger cross section form the ends of hollow ribs 32 provided protruding from the inner wall of this double belt 15.

 These hollow ribs 32, which are adjacent to that of the faces of the belt 15 which forms the sole thereof, constitute in the embodiment shown, with the corresponding ribs 22, grooves 33, suitable for insertion, if desired. , in the housing 13, of any support plate for an electrical or electronic component, no longer transversely, but axially, that is to say parallel to the generatrices of the belt 15.

In a manner known per se, each connection terminal 16 comprises a body made of insulating material 35, and an active part made of metal 36 disposed in a housing 37 provided for this purpose in said body made of insulating material 350
Only the latter has been shown in detail in the figures, and, more specifically, in FIGS. 8 to 12.

According to the invention, such a body made of insulating material 35 is a modular piece in the form of a plate with parallel main faces, and this modular piece is equipped with latching means specific to its stacking with a modular piece. similar0
In the embodiment shown, these latching means consist of lugs 38 three in number, for example as shown, that such a modular part has axially projecting on one of its faces, and by cells complementary 39 which it presents in correspondence, in hollow, on its opposite face0
The practical production of these lugs 38 and cells 39 is within the skill of the art, and will therefore not be described in detail here.
In the embodiment shown, three pairs of pins 38 and cells 39 are thus provided.

According to the invention, the body of insulating material 35 of each connection terminal 16 has only one housing 37, for a single active metal part 36, so that such connection terminal 16 is unitary
In practice, this housing 37 is generally bowl-shaped, so that, in the stack formed by several connection terminals 16, and from one of these to another, the bottom 40 of such a housing 37 , on the outer face of which project the corresponding lugs 38, forms a closure wall for the housing 37 of the body of insulating material 35 of the connection terminal 16 adjacent.

 By a substantially median groove 42, such a housing 37 communicates with a groove 43, and, on the side of said lugs 38, and therefore on the side of the corresponding bottom 40, this opens out through a plurality of windows 45A, 453 , 45C, which, three in number in the embodiment shown, are suitably scaled.

 Transversally, the housing 37 opens to the outside, on the one hand, on one of the edges of the body of insulating material 35, through an opening 47, and, from the suture on the other hand, on a edge of said body of insulating material at right angles with the previous one, by a well 48.

 The opening 47, which is intended for the engagement of an electrical conductor, widens outward.

 According to ltinventicn, and as is better visible in FIG. 9, two opposite flanks 49 of the outline of this opening 47 form a dihedral between them, over at least part of their length.

 In practice, the electrical conductor concerned is engaged with this dihedral.

Thus, any possible lateral movement of this electrical conductor is immediately blocked by the body of insulating material 35 itself from the connection terminal, before transmission to the active metal part 36 thereof, which advantageously protects the connections including this active metal part 36 is the object, especially when it comes to welds
Such an active metal part 36 appears as a whole only in FIG. 11 only. and it was only diagrammed there in broken lines.

 It comprises, in a manner known per se, in the embodiment shown, a tubular clamping bracket 52, which is disposed in the housing 37, being elongated in correspondence with the opening 47, a clamping screw 53, which, disposed in the well 48 is engaged by screwing in a threaded bore of said clamping bracket 52, and a strip 54, which, passing through the latter, forms a connection pin 55A, 55B or 55C, outside the body of insulating material 35.

 In the embodiment shown, the well 48 is partially transversely flanged by an internal projection 56, for retaining the clamping screw 53.

Below the clamping stirrup 529 the strip 54 is folded back on itself, and, for its maintenance, the elbow which it thus forms is engaged in a notch 58 of the body of insulating material 35 opening into the housing 37 of this cib
Beyond the clamping stirrup 529 it is9 for the same purpose, snapped under an elastically deformable tongue 59, forming a hook, which for this purpose comprises the body of insulating material 35 at the edge of said housing9 FIGS. 10 to 12e
For all of the connection terminals 16 of the same group, the connection pins 55E, 553, 55G formed by the corresponding strips 54 after two bends at right angles to each other, are all oriented in the same direction, towards the printed circuit board 18 X they are therefore of different lengths, the first re passing only through the insulating body 35 of the connection terminal 16 closest to this circuit board printed 189, through the window 45A thereof, the second successively passing through the bodies of insulating material 35 from the two connection terminals 169 closest to the printed circuit board 189 through the windows 45B thereof , and the third successively passing through the bodies of insulating material of the three connection terminals 16 concerned in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 13, through the windows 45C thereof.

 In practice, in FIG. 1, these connection pins 55A, 553, 55C also pass through the printed circuit board 18, for connection, for example by welding, to the printed circuit carried by it.

 In a manner known per se, each connection terminal 16 is engaged with the belt 15 by a sliding assembly comprising axially, that is to say parallel to the generatrices of said belt 15, at least one set of grooves 61 and rib 62 provided in a complementary manner, one.

on any of the parts formed by such a connection terminal 16 and the belt 15, the other on the other of them.

According to the invention, such a sliding assembly, which is of course common to the connection terminals 16 of the same group, and which intervenes in the offset 19 corresponding to the contour of the belt 159 is adjusted; in other words it is established so as to lead to a precise aboitement of the connection terminals 16 on the belt 15e
The overall rigidity of the latter is thus before markedly reinforced by the connection terminals 16 when these are in place, and this is all the more so since these connection terminals then intervene in areas of angle of its outline
In the embodiments shown7 two sets of grooves 61 and rib 62 are provided between connection terminals 16 and belt 15, diagonally in the recesses 19 of the contour of that, and the grooves 61 belong to the 'belt 15, while the ribs 62 belong to the connection terminals 16.

 Preferably, and as shown, for each of these games, the transverse profile of the groove 61 is a profile which partially closes on itself, the outlet of such a groove 61, which is directed inwards, having e dimension d1 smaller than that d2 of the current part thereof, FIG. 4.

 Thus, each of the games of groove 61 and rib 62 is advantageously able to ensure on its own, independently of the other, the maintenance of the connection terminals 16 concerned with respect to the belt 15, any stress exterior of which the connection terminals 16 could be subject to you, thus being advantageously absorbed by one or other of these games, and one and the other of these can also advantageously compensate for any possible failure of the other.

In the embodiments shown, one of the flanks of such a groove 61, which is its innermost flank, is straight, only the other, which is its outermost flank, being oblique, which advantageously minimizes the embrittlement of the corresponding sliding assembly
In practice, the grooves 61 being directed inwards this oblique flank belongs to a rod 63, with a hook-shaped profile, and the latter is engaged with a groove 65 provided for this purpose, so additional, on 16o connection terminals
The double engagement thus produced between belt 15 and connection terminals advantageously provides protection for the sliding assembly provided between these parts, while at the same time strengthening it.

 In practice, according to the invention, it is freely that each of the connection terminals 16 is engaged with the belt 15 by the sliding assembly previously described.

It is therefore the printed circuit board 18 which carries them which ensures their axial retention in the belt 15, by the latching means provided between it and eelle-eiO
The assembly of the assembly is advantageously simplified
For this mounting, the connection terminals 16 are firstly in groups which are suitably stacked, being snapped together; as will be noted, these connection terminals 16 being modular and unitary, the prior installation of their active metal part 36 in their body of insulating material 35 is advantageously always in the same direction, which is favorable for possible automation of the corresponding assembly station.

 Thus stacked in an appropriate number, the connection terminals 16 are then attached to the printed circuit board 18, with possible welding of their connection pin 55A, 553, 55C.

 The assembly is then engaged on the belt 15, until the printed circuit board 18 clicks into it, and the assembly ends with the closure of this belt 15 by the end partitions 27, 27 'provided for this purpose.

 Preferably, these being provided removable so that, as required, the components carried by the printed circuit board 18 can be revised and / or changed for example, the edge of the belt 15 has from place to place notches 67 suitable for inserting a tool, such as a screwdriver blade, to facilitate their removal, Figures 1, 3 and 5.

 Of course, thanks to their unitary and modular construction, the number of connection terminals 16 to be implemented can be arbitrary.

 There are for example two for each group of connection terminals 16 in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14, instead of three as previously.

 In this case, to fill the void left by a connection terminal for each of these groups, two terminal partitions 27 ′ with wings 28 ′ are used, on either side of the belt 15, as shown.

 The present invention is also not limited to embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any variant.

 In addition, there may be provided clean intermediate partitions & ensure the successive connection two by two belts aligned axially.

Claims (11)

 1. Component carrier (s), of the type comprising, on the one hand, for the definition of a housing suitable for receiving at least one electrical or electronic component, a wall (15) generally annular, of any outline, said below, for simple convenience, cap, and, on the other hand, for the connection of such a component & an electrical conductor, one at least one connection terminal (16) forming a separate part from said belt, characterized in that said connection terminal is entirely disposed outside of the cover (15), outside the housing (19) defined by the latter.  2. Housing according to claim 1, wherein, the belt being generally cylindrical, the connection terminal is engaged with the latter by a sliding assembly comprising axially at least one set of grooves (61) and rib (62) provided in a complementary manner, one on any of the parts that form said belt and said connection terminal, the other on the other of these, characterized in that said sliding assembly is adjusted.  3. Housing according to claim 1, wherein the sliding assembly between belt and connection terminal comprises two sets of grooves and ribs, characterized in that, for each of said sets, the transverse profile of the groove (61) is a profile which partially closes on itself, the outlet of such a groove having a dimension (d1) smaller than that (d2) of the current part thereof, so that each of said games is able to provide it only, independently of the other, maintaining the connection terminal vis-à-vis the belt.  4. Housing according to claim 3, characterized in that, relative to the bottom of the groove, one of the sides thereof is straight, while the other is oblique.  5. Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connection terminal comprises a body of insulating material (35) and an active part (36) of metal disposed in a housing provided for this purpose in said body in insulating material, characterized in that the body of insulating material of such a connection terminal is a modular piece equipped with latching means (38) suitable for stacking with a similar piece.  6. A boot according to claim 5, characterized in that the body of insulating material of the connection terminal has only one housing, for a single active metal part.  7. Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the connection terminal comprises a body of insulating material and an active part made of metal disposed in a housing, which is provided for this purpose in said body of insulating material, and which opens through an opening to the outside, for engagement of an electrical conductor, characterized in that on at least part of their length, two flanks (49) opposite the contour of said opening (47) form between them a dihedral.  8. Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 7, 7, in -lequel the connection terminal comprises a body of insulating material and an active metal part disposed in a housing provided for this purpose in said body in the field insulator, and in which said active part comprises a clamping bracket and a strip, which, passing through said clamping bracket, forms a connecting pin xi outside the body of insulating material characterized in that said body of insulating material comprises an elae tically deformable tongue (59), forming a hook, under which said strip is snapped in.  9. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the connection terminal (16) is attached to a printed circuit board (18) characterized in that, on the inner wall of the belt (15) are provided snap-fastening means (23) for said printed circuit board, and it is freely understood that said connection terminal (16) is engaged with said belt by a sliding assembly.  10. Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the connection terminal is attached to a printed circuit board, characterized in that, for housing the connection terminal (16), the contour of the belt (15) forms, recessed inwards, a recess, the printed circuit board extends beyond said recess, and, the belt being closed transversely by a removable partition (27 '), said partition pre projecting a wing (28 '), for covering the corresponding part of said printed circuit board.  11. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the belt has axially ment at least one groove (33) suitable for the possible establishment of a printed circuit board parallel to its generatricesOO