FR2995457A1 - Electric connection device for earthing secondary electric cables i.e. power cables, in domestic use, has conducting connection block comprising body, where cavity is placed in body to receive intermediate section of main electrical cable - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical connection device for grounding having a first main terminal (8) for receiving an intermediate section of a main earth power cable and a plurality of secondary terminals (10) each for receiving an end (7). a secondary electrical cable (6); characterized in that said connecting device (1) comprises a first conductive connection block (21) having a first body (23) extending in a first direction and provided with at least one of said secondary terminals (10). ) configured to receive said end (7) of said secondary electrical cable (6) oriented in said second direction and comprises a second conductive connection block (22) which has a second body (24) extending in a second direction transverse to said first direction and provided with said first main terminal (8) configured to receive said main earth power cable oriented in said first direction.

Description

The invention relates to the general field of electrical connection, and in particular to electrical connection devices for grounding secondary electric cables, such as electric earth cables for domestic use, by establishing a connection equipotential between these secondary power cables and a main earth power cable.

Electrical connection devices known generally as earth distributors are already known, comprising a conductive connection block and an insulating plastic envelope in which the connection block is introduced. The connection block comprises a generally parallelepipedal body extending longitudinally and provided with a plurality of connection terminals, including a main terminal and a plurality of secondary terminals. The main terminal has a receiving cavity formed transversely in the body and configured to receive an intermediate portion of a main earth power cable oriented in a direction transverse to the direction of the body. The main terminal further comprises an orifice formed in the body and opening into the cavity and a clamping screw introduced into this orifice and provided with a pressure pad at one end in the cavity. This clamping screw is configured to clamp the main electrical cable and more particularly the intermediate section against the body in the cavity. Each secondary terminal has a receiving cavity formed transversely in the body and configured to receive an end of a secondary electrical cable oriented transversely to the body.

Each secondary terminal further comprises an orifice formed in the body and opening into the cavity and a clamping screw introduced into this orifice and configured to clamp the end of the secondary electrical cable against the body in the cavity. The casing has a plurality of indentations facing the cavities of the secondary terminals and the main terminal for the insertion of the secondary cables and the main cable respectively into the secondary terminals and into the main terminal. The invention aims to provide a connection device of a similar kind that is particularly simple, convenient and economical. The invention thus relates to an electrical connection device 10 for grounding secondary electrical cables by establishing an equipotential bond between said secondary electrical cables and a main earth power cable, said device comprising a plurality of connection terminals, including a first main terminal and a plurality of secondary terminals, with said first main terminal having a first receiving cavity configured to receive an intermediate section of said main earth power cable, and which further comprises a first clamping member introduced into said first cavity and configured to clamp said intermediate portion of said main earth power cable into said first cavity, with each said secondary terminal having a second receiving cavity configured to receive an end of one of said secondary electrical cables and t further comprises a second clamping member introduced into said second cavity and configured to clamp said end of said secondary electric cable into said second cavity; characterized in that said connecting device comprises a first conductive connection block and a second conductive connection block, with said first connection block which comprises a first body extending in a first direction and provided with at least one one of said secondary terminals and with said second conductive connection block which comprises a second body extending in a second direction transverse to said first direction and provided with said first main terminal, with said second cavity which is formed in said second direction in said first body for receiving said end of said secondary electrical cable oriented in said second direction, with said first cavity being provided in said first direction in said second body for receiving said intermediate portion of said main earth power cable oriented in said first direction.

By virtue of the configuration of the first and second connection blocks of the electrical connection device according to the invention, the connection of a main electrical earth cable oriented in a first direction to secondary electrical cables oriented in a second direction transverse to the first direction, is facilitated.

The above-described arrangement of the secondary electric cables with respect to the main earth power cable is particularly frequent, especially in buildings, where, for each floor, an electrical connection device, also known as an earth distributor, is necessary for the establishing an equipotential bond between the secondary electrical cables from the floor apartments to the main earth power cable, which is connected for example to a ground rod and runs along each floor of the building. Thanks to the device according to the invention, an operator having to establish an equipotential bonding as described above, does not need to bend, for example to 900, the secondary electric cables. This is particularly convenient since these secondary electric cables generally have a section for example less than or equal to about 25 mm 2. The electrical connection device according to the invention is therefore particularly simple, convenient and economical.

According to preferred, simple, convenient and economical characteristics of the connection device according to the invention: said first connection block comprises a second main terminal provided with a third reception cavity formed along said second direction in said first body and configured to receiving an intermediate portion of said main earth power cable oriented in said second direction, and further comprises a third clamp member inserted into said third cavity and configured to clamp said intermediate portion of said main earth power cable into said third cavity; which allows the device according to the invention to provide a simple and convenient solution regardless of the arrangement of the secondary cables relative to the main cable; said second connection block is distinct from said first connection block and attached thereto; said second body of said second connection block comprises an assembly arm and said first connection block has a recessing recess formed in said first body and configured to at least partially receive said assembly arm; said first body of said first connection block has a first assembly opening opening into said recess housing and said assembly arm has a second assembly opening opening and configured to face said first assembly opening, and said device further comprises a connecting member configured to be inserted into said first and second connecting holes for assembling said second connection block to said first connection block; said assembly member is formed by a split spring pin; said connection device has a general T shape, with said first connection block forming a first branch of the T and said second connection block forming a second branch of the T; said connecting device is generally L-shaped, with said first connection block forming a first leg of the L and said second connecting block forming a second leg of the L; said first cavity of said first main terminal has an opening on an end face of said second body of said second connection block; said first cavity of said first main terminal has a curved, gutter-shaped bottom; said first main terminal comprises a first orifice formed in said second body of said second connection block and opening into said first cavity, and said first clamping member is formed of a clamping screw introduced into said first orifice and provided with a a pressure pad at one end of said clamping screw in said first cavity; said secondary terminal comprises a second orifice formed in said first body of said first connection block and opening into said second cavity, and said second clamping member is formed of a clamping screw introduced into said second orifice and opening into said second cavity ; said device further comprises an insulating plastic envelope in which the first and second connection blocks are introduced, said envelope comprising a plurality of indentations provided opposite said first and second cavities respectively of said first main earth terminal and said secondary terminals; and / or - said envelope comprises a first half-shell provided with a first internal receiving space and a second half-shell, said first half-shell comprising a plurality of holding projections each formed in said internal receiving space, said first connection block comprises at least one first complementary retaining projection and said second connection block comprises at least one second complementary retaining projection, which first and second complementary retaining projections are configured to snap together with said retaining protrusions of said first half-hull. We will now continue the presentation of the invention by the description of an exemplary embodiment, given below by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 shows schematically an example of connection electric cables secondary to a main earth power cable via a connection device according to the invention, according to a first connection configuration of the main electrical cable to the connection device; FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing a second configuration of connection of the main electrical cable to the connection device; FIG. 3 is an isolated perspective view of the connection device of FIGS. 1 and 2, showing an envelope and two connection blocks of this connection device, in a configuration in which the two connection blocks are in the envelope; and the latter is open; FIG. 4 is an isolated perspective view of the two connection blocks of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a partial view, in isolated perspective, of one of the two connection blocks of FIG. 4; - Figure 6 is a sectional view marked VI-VI in Figure 5; FIG. 7 is a partial view, in isolated perspective, of the other of the connection blocks of FIG. 4; Figure 8 is a sectional view marked VIII-VIII in Figure 4; and FIG. 9 is an isolated perspective view of the envelope of FIG. 3, the latter being completely open. FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate an electrical connection device 1, hereinafter referred to as an earth distributor, configured to establish an equipotential bonding between secondary electrical cables 6 coming from flats of the same floor of a building, which comprises a plurality of stages, and a main earth power cable 4. Each secondary electrical cable 6 comes from an electrical panel 2 of an apartment, to which board this cable 6 is connected. The main earth power cable 4 is connected to a ground terminal 3 generally formed by a ground rod to which this cable 4 is connected and runs along the plurality of floors of the building. Figures 1 and 2 show different configurations of connection of the main cable 4 to the earth distributor 1. The earth distributor 1 shown schematically in Figures 1 and 2 comprises an envelope 75 enclosing a plurality of secondary connection terminals 10, here five in number, and two main connection terminals 8 and 9, respectively called first and second main connection terminals. Each secondary connection terminal 10 has a receiving cavity 12, also called a second cavity, which are each configured to receive an end 7 of a secondary electrical cable 6. Each main connection terminal 8 and 9 has a receiving cavity 11 and 13, respectively called the first receiving cavity and the third receiving cavity, each of which is configured to receive an intermediate portion 5 of the main earth power cable 4. It will be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the earth distributor 1 has a T-shaped general shape comprising a first branch extending in a first direction and a second branch extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction of the first branch. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the secondary electrical cables 6 oriented in the second direction come from the tables 2 and are each introduced by a front opening into a receiving cavity 12 of a secondary connection terminal 10. It will be observed that the end 7 of each secondary electrical cable 6 is introduced directly, without bending, into a cavity 12, since each of the cavities 12 is formed in the second direction, as are the secondary cables 6, in the earth distributor 1. In FIG. the main earth power cable 4, oriented in the first direction, originates from the earth terminal 3, is introduced through a lateral opening in the second direction into the cavity 11 of the main connection terminal 8. intermediate section 5 of this main earth cable 4 is introduced directly, without bending, into this cavity 11 because the latter is formed in the first direction and the main earth cable 4, 30 in the earth distributor I. The orientation of the main cable 4 with respect to the secondary cables 6 illustrates in FIG. 1 a first connection configuration.

In FIG. 2, the main earth power cable 4, oriented in the second direction, is introduced in the first direction through a lateral opening in the cavity 13 of the main connection terminal 9. The section 5 of this main cable 4 is directly introduced, without bending, in this cavity 13 because the latter is formed in the second direction in the earth distributor 1. It will be observed that this cavity 13 is oriented in the same way as the cavities 12 of the secondary connection terminals 10, unlike the cavity 11 of the main connection terminal 8. The orientation of the main cable 4 with respect to the secondary cables 6 in FIG. 2 illustrates a second connection configuration distinct from the first connection configuration shown in FIG. It will be noted that the secondary electrical cables 6 are cables provided with a conductive core, for example made of copper, whose section is t here is at most equal to about 25 mm 2, while the main cable 4 is provided with a conductive core, for example copper, whose section is here equal to about 35 mm 2. It will be seen in the following description that the cavities 12 of the secondary connection terminals 10 are therefore configured to receive the cables 6 section up to about 25mm2 and not to accommodate the cables of the type of the main cable earth 4 having a section of about 35mm2, while the cavities 11 and 13 of the main connection terminals 8 and 9 are configured to receive the cables of such section. The earth distributor 1 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9. The earth distributor 1 comprises a terminal block 20 completely housed in the envelope 75 which is shown partially open in FIG. see below, the envelope 75 comprises a first half-shell 76 of plastic and a second half-shell 77 of plastic. The terminal 20 is housed in the first half-shell 76 while the second half-shell 77 is configured to cover this terminal 20.

The terminal 20 is made of an electrically conductive material, here a copper alloy. The terminal block 20 comprises a first connection block 21 and a second connection block 22 attached and fixed to the first connection block 21 so that the first connected connection block 21 and the second assembled block 22 have the general T-shape. terminal 20, with the first block 21 forming the first branch and the second block 22 forming the second branch. The first connection block 21 comprises an electrically conductive body 23 generally parallelepipedic and extending in the first direction. This body 23 has an upper face 25, a lower face 26 opposite the upper face 25, a first end face 27, a second end face 28 opposite the first end face 27, a first lateral face 29 and a second side face 30 opposite to the first side face 29. The first connection block 21 further comprises the five secondary connection terminals 10, each being formed transversely in the body 23, in the second direction. Three of the secondary terminals 10 are here arranged between the second end face 28 and a recess recess 45 formed in the body 23, and the two other secondary terminals 10 are here arranged between this recessed housing 45 and the first face of the recess. end 27. Each secondary terminal 10 has a generally cylindrical receiving cavity 12 formed transversely in the body 23 in the second direction and opening on the first and second side faces 29 and 30. Each secondary terminal 10 further comprises an orifice 35, here tapped, formed in the body 23 and opening on the upper face 25 and 30 in the receiving cavity 12 of this secondary terminal 10. Each secondary terminal 10 comprises a clamping member, also called the second clamping member, formed here a headless pressure screw 31, for example with a Pozidriv® impression, which is inserted into the orifice 35 of this secondary terminal 10. Ch aque pressure screw without head 31 comprises a rod 33, here threaded, in the orifice 35 and a bearing face 34 at a free end of the screw 31 located in the cavity 12 of the secondary terminal 10. Each pressure screw headless 31 is configured to clamp the end 7 of a secondary electrical cable 6 oriented in the second direction introduced into the cavity 12 of the respective secondary terminal 10 (Figures 1 and 2).

The bearing face 34 of this screw 31 pushes this end 7 of the cable 6 against the body 23, in the cavity 12, to establish a good electrical contact between the body 23 and the cable 6 and a good mechanical hold in the secondary terminal 10. The first connection block 21 further comprises the main connection terminal 9 called the second main connection terminal. This main terminal 9 is arranged between the first end face 27 and the secondary terminal 10 closest to this first end face 27. This main connection terminal 9 comprises a receiving cavity 13 formed transversely in the body 23 in the second direction, which cavity opens on the first and second side faces 29 and 30. This cavity 13 has a lateral opening 95 at the first end face 27. This opening 95 is configured to allow the insertion without folding of the electric cable 4 oriented in the second direction and more particularly its intermediate portion 5 in the cavity 13. The cavity 13 further comprises a curved bottom wall 42, here in the form of a gutter, an inner wall 44 opposite the opening 95 and connecting to the bottom wall 42, as well as an upper wall 43 opposite to the bottom wall 42 and connecting to the wall internal 44.

The main terminal 9 further comprises an orifice 51, here tapped, formed in the body 23 and opening on the upper face 25 and in the receiving cavity 13 of this main terminal 9. The main terminal 9 comprises a clamping member, also called the third clamping member, here formed of a headless pressure screw 36, for example a Pozidrive impression, which is inserted into the orifice 51 of this main terminal 9. The headless pressure screw 36 comprises a rod 38 , here threaded, in the orifice 51 and a pressure pad 40 at one end of the screw 36 located in the cavity 13 of the main terminal 9. The pressure pad 40 is provided with a bearing face 41 in The headless pressure screw 36 is configured to clamp the section 5 of a main electrical cable 4 oriented in the second direction introduced into the cavity 13 of the main terminal 9 (FIG. 2). . The bearing surface 41 of the pad 40 pushes this end 5 of the cable 4 against the body 23 (and more precisely against the curved bottom wall 42), in the cavity 13, to establish a good electrical contact between the body 23 and the cable 4 and a good mechanical hold in the main terminal 9. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the recess housing 45 formed in the body 23 of the first connection block 21 is generally parallelepiped shape and arranged between two secondary terminals 10. This housing 45 is formed transversely in the body 23 in the second direction and opens on the first and second side faces 29 and 30, and on the upper face 25. This housing 45 has two opposite inner walls 46 and a bottom wall 47 connected to the two inner walls 46, which walls 46 and 47 define a space 48. The body 23 of the first connection block 21 further comprises an orifice 49, also called the first assembly opening, opening on the bottom wall 47 of the housing 45 (in its space 48) and on the lower face 26 of the body 23.

The first connection block 21 further comprises a first complementary projection 50 protruding protruding from the first end face 27 of the body 23 and a second complementary retaining projection 150 projecting from the second end face 28 of the body 23 .

The second connection block 22 comprises an electrically conductive body 24 extending in the second direction and having an upper face 53, a lower face 54 opposite to the upper face 53, a first end face 55, a second face of end 56 opposite the first end face 55, a first lateral face 58 and a second lateral face 59 opposite to the first lateral face 58. The body 24 comprises an assembly arm 52 extending in the second direction from of the second end face 56, which arm 52 has an upper face extending the upper face 53 of the body 24, a lower face 72 opposite to the upper face, a first lateral face partially extending the first lateral face 58 of the body 24, a second lateral face also partially extending the second lateral face 59 of the body 24, as well as an end face 73 opposite to the second end face 56 of the body 24.

The assembly arm 52 comprises an assembly orifice 57, also called second assembly orifice, formed near the end face 73 and opening on the upper and lower faces 72 of the assembly arm 52. body 24 further comprises the main connection terminal 8, called the first main connection terminal. This main terminal 8 is arranged between the assembly arm 52 and the first end face 55. This main terminal 8 has a receiving cavity 11 formed transversely in the body 24 in the first direction and opening on the first and second lateral faces 58 and 59. This cavity 11 has a lateral opening 96 at the level of the first end face 55.

This opening 96 is configured to allow the insertion without bending of the electrical cable 4 oriented in the first direction and more particularly its intermediate portion 5 in the cavity 11. The cavity 11 further comprises a curved bottom wall 67, here in form gutter, an inner wall 69 opposite the opening 96 and connecting to the bottom wall 67, and an upper wall 68 opposite the bottom wall 67. and connected to the inner wall 69. The terminal main 8 further comprises an orifice 71, here tapped, formed in the body 24 and opening on the upper face 53 and in the receiving cavity 11 of this main terminal 8. The main terminal 8 comprises a clamping member, also called first clamping member, formed here of a headless pressure screw 60, for example Pozidrie impression, which is introduced into the orifice 71 of this main terminal 8. 15 The headless pressure screw 60 comp orte a rod 62, here threaded, in the orifice 71 and a pressure pad 65 at one end of the screw 60 located in the cavity 11 of the main terminal 8. The pressure pad 65 is provided with a face of support 66 facing the curved bottom wall 67. The headless pressure screw 60 is configured to clamp the section of a main electrical cable 4 oriented in the first direction introduced into the cavity 11 of the main terminal 8 (FIG. 1), as described below. The bearing face 66 of the shoe 65 pushes this section 5 of the cable 4 against the body 24 (and more precisely against the curved bottom wall 67), 25 in the cavity 11, to establish a good electrical contact between the body 24 and the cable 4 and a good mechanical support in the main terminal 8. We will now describe the terminal 20 with the second connection block 22 attached and fixed to the first connection block 21 (Figures 4 and 8). The connecting arm 52 of the second connection block 22 is partially inserted into the internal space 48 of the recess recess 45 of the first connection block 21. The upper face of the connecting arm 52 comes into contact. of the upper face 25 of the body 23 of the first connection block 21, the end face 73 of the connecting arm 52 is flush with the first lateral face 29 of the body 23, the lower face 72 of the connecting arm 52 rests on the bottom wall 47 of the housing 45 and the first and second lateral faces of the connecting arm 52 are partially facing the inner walls 46 of the housing 45. The bodies 23 and 24 are configured so that the orifice assembly 57 of the assembly arm 52 of the body 24 is opposite the assembly opening 49 of the body 23. The terminal block 20 comprises an assembly member here formed of a spring-loaded cotter pin 70, which pin 70 is configured to be introduced in the ori assembling parts 57 and 49 for fixing the body 24 with the body 23.

Thus, the second connection block 22 is attached and fixed on the first connection block 21, with the second connection block 22 extending transversely with respect to the first connection block 21, so that the assembly of these two connecting blocks 21 and 22 gives the general T-shape of the terminal block 20.

Figure 9 illustrates the envelope 75 fully open. This envelope 75 is made of plastic material molded in one piece. The first half-shell 76 is hinged to the second half-shell 77 around a hinge 88 with which the first and second half-shells 76 and 77 are each formed together. The first half-shell 76 has an internal receiving space 78 of the terminal block 20 and the second half-shell 77 has an internal covering space 79 of the terminal block 20 (housed in the internal receiving space 78). The first and second half-shells 76 and 77 each have a general T-shape which gives the casing 75 a general T shape.

The first half-shell 76 has a bottom wall 114, a first side wall 105, a second side wall 106 opposite the first side wall 105, a third side wall 107, and a fourth side wall 108 opposite. at the third side wall 107.

The first half-shell 76 further has a fifth side wall 109 extending from the second side wall 106, at an opening 112 formed therein, a sixth side wall 110 opposite the fifth side wall 109 and also extending from the second side wall 106 at the opening 112, and a seventh side wall 111 opposite the opening 112. The hinge 88 extends from the fourth side wall 108, outside the internal receiving space 78. The first half-shell 76 has a plurality of notches 113 defining a plurality of foldable tabs 81, 82 and 100 formed on the first, second, fifth and sixth side wall 105, 106, 109 and 110. The first side wall 105 has six tabs 81 each having a first width, and a tab 82 having a second width greater than the first width. The six tabs 81 are formed successively from the fourth side wall 108, while the tongue 82 is formed near the third side wall 107. The second side wall 106 has two tabs 81 opposite two tabs 81 of the first side wall 105 and similar to the latter, and a tab 82 facing the tongue 82 of the first side wall 105 and similar to the latter. The fifth side wall 109 has a tongue 100 having the same second width as the tongues 82, and the sixth side wall 110 also has a tongue 100 facing the tongue 100 of the fifth side wall 109.

These two tabs 100 are formed near the seventh side wall 111. The first half-shell 76 further comprises two attachment eyelets 97 formed at the corners formed by the second side wall 106 and, respectively, the fifth and sixth side walls 109 and 110. Each eyelet 97 has an elongate hole 98 configured to receive a fastener (not shown) of the envelope 75 on a support, for example a wall (not shown). The first half-shell 76 further comprises a closing nose 90 formed on the third side wall 107, outside the internal receiving space 78. The first half-shell 76 furthermore comprises supporting ribs 39, here substantially planar, formed on the bottom wall 114 (Figure 3), in the inner receiving space 78. These support ribs 39 are configured to receive bearing (that is to say to carry) the lower face 26 of the first block The first half-shell 76 further comprises a shim 32 provided on the bottom wall 114, in the internal receiving space 78. This shim 32 is configured to form a support for the lower face. 72 of the connecting arm 52 of the body 24 of the second connection block 22 of the terminal block 20, and to form a stop for the second end face 56 of the body 24. The first half-shell 76 further comprises three protrusions 93 (only one of which is visible 9) respectively on the third, fourth and seventh side walls 107, 108 and 111 in the inner receiving space 78. These three retaining projections 93 are configured to engage with the first and second complementary holding protrusions 50, 150 and 64 of the terminal block 20, for holding the latter in the casing 75. The second half-shell 77 has a bottom wall 115 (FIG. 3), a first side wall 116, a second side wall 117 opposite the first side wall 116, a third side wall 118, and a fourth side wall 119 opposite the third side wall 118.

The second half-shell 77 further has a fifth side wall 120 extending from the second side wall 117, at an opening 123 in the latter, a sixth side wall 121 opposite the fifth side wall 120 and also extending from the second side wall 117 at the opening 123, and a seventh side wall 122 facing the opening 123. The hinge 88 extends from the third side wall 118, out of the internal covering space 79 to join the fourth side wall 108 of the first half-shell 76.

The second half-shell 77 has a plurality of notches 85, 86 and 102 formed on the first, second, fifth and sixth walls of sides 116, 117, 120 and 121. The first side wall 116 has six notches 85 each having a first width, and a notch 86 having a second width greater than the first width. The second side wall 117 has two notches 85 opposite two notches 85 of the first side wall 116 and similar to the latter, and a notch 86 opposite the notch 86 of the first side wall 116 and similar to the latter.

The fifth side wall 120 has a notch 102 having the same second width as the notches 86, and the sixth side wall 121 also has a notch 102 opposite the notch 102 of the fifth side wall 120. The notches 85 , 86 and 102 of the second half-shell 77 are configured to be respectively opposite tabs 81, 82 and 100 formed on the first half-shell 76 when the envelope 75 is closed. The second half-shell 77 further includes a closure nose 91 formed on the fourth side wall 119, out of the internal lap gap 79. This closure nose 91 has an opening 92 and is configured so that the nose closing 90 of the first half-shell 76 is received in this opening 92 when the envelope 75 is closed.

It will be observed in FIG. 3 that the notches 113, 85, 86 and 102 of the first and second half-shells 76 and 77 are configured so that the foldable tabs 81, 82 and 100 are respectively facing cavities 12, 13 and 11. arranged in the terminal block 20 when the latter is housed in the envelope 75. It will further be observed that the first width of the indentations 85 is here approximately equal to the first width of the tongues 81 and that the second width of the indentations 86 and 102 is here approximately equal to the second width of the tabs 82 and 100.

Note that these foldable tabs 81, 82 and 100 are configured to be folded to allow the insertion of the section 5 and the ends 7 respectively of the main cable 4 and secondary cables 6 in the respective cavities 11 or 13, and 12. will now describe the use of the earth distributor 1.

The envelope 75 being at least partially open, the ends 7 of the secondary ground cables 6 are each inserted into a cavity 12 of the first connection block 21 in the first direction, the tongues 81 being folded for the passage of these secondary cables 6. Each pressure screw 31 is then set in motion to push one end 7 of a secondary cable 6 against the body 23 of the first connection block 21, in a cavity 12, to mechanically fasten and electrically connect the secondary cables 6 to 20. Depending on the orientation of the main cable 4 (that is, its direction of routing to the earth terminal 1), the latter may be connected either to the first main terminal 8 or to the second main terminal 9. In the case where the main cable 4 is oriented in the first direction (the same direction as that of the first connection block 21), or in other words, transversally t to the secondary cables 6 oriented in the second direction, the section 5 of the main cable 4 is inserted into the cavity 30 11 of the main terminal 8 in the second direction, the two tabs 100 being folded for the passage of this main cable 4 ( figure 1). The pressure screw 60 is then set in motion so that the bearing face 66 of the shoe 65 comes to push the intermediate portion 5 of the main cable 4 against the body 24 of the second connection block 22, in the cavity 11. for mechanically securing and electrically connecting the main cable 4 to the terminal block 20. In the case where the main cable 4 is oriented in the second direction, or in other words, in the same direction as the secondary cables 6, the cable section 5 main 4 is inserted into the cavity 13 of the main terminal 9 in the first direction, the two tabs 82 being bent for the passage of this main cable 4 (Figure 2). The pressure screw 36 is then set in motion so that the bearing surface 41 of the pad 40 pushes the section 5 of the main cable 4 against the body 23 of the first connection block 21, in the cavity 13, to mechanically fasten and electrically connect the main cable 4 to the terminal 20. The second half-shell 77 is then hinged to the first half-shell 76 via the hinge 88 to close the casing 75 and thus cover and isolate the terminal block 20 connected. In non-illustrated variants: the first connection block comprises a plurality of secondary terminals and does not have a main connection terminal, only the second connection block being provided with a main terminal; the second connection block is further provided with at least one secondary terminal; the first connection block has no recess housing and the second connection block is attached and fixed on the upper face of this first connection block; the clamping members are not formed by headless pressure screws, but rather by other screws, for example screws provided with a head; 30 - the assembly hole in the first connection block is blind and opens only into the internal space of the recess housing; the connection blocks of the terminal block are configured so that the latter has an L shape rather than T, and the envelope has an L shape rather than T, the first connection block forming a branch of the L and the second connection block forming the other branch of the L; - The connecting member of the second connection block with the first connection block is different, for example formed of a screw-nut device rather than a cotter pin; and / or - the earth distributor has no casing and forms a terminal block for a switchboard or electrical cabinet.

It is recalled more generally that the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown.