U.S. patent number 3,634,809 [Application Number 05/013,442] was granted by the patent office on 1972-01-11 for electrical distribution assembly intended to form prefabricated electric conduits.
This patent grant is currently assigned to La Telemacanique Electrique. Invention is credited to Jean Joly.
United States Patent |
3,634,809 |
Joly |
January 11, 1972 |
ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY INTENDED TO FORM PREFABRICATED
ELECTRIC CONDUITS
Abstract
An electric distribution unit with electric current supply
conductors advantageously embedded in a strip of insulating
material of which a portion can be bared, said unit being mounted
in an opening formed in a supporting wall and comprising: at least
one element adapted to receive said bared portion of said
conductors, at least two flexible parallel edges provided on said
element and locking lugs carried by said flexible edges; whereby:
said unit adapts itself on the perimeter of said opening and said
strip containing said conductors is held flat against said
wall.
Inventors: |
Joly; Jean (Houilles,
FR) |
Assignee: |
La Telemacanique Electrique
(Nanterre Hauts-de-Seine, FR)
|
Family
ID: |
26214853 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/013,442 |
Filed: |
February 24, 1970 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
|
Feb 21, 1969 [FR] |
|
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6904379 |
Feb 6, 1970 [FR] |
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7004355 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
439/214 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
25/164 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
25/16 (20060101); H01R 25/00 (20060101); H01r
013/60 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/20-24 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Moore; Richard E.
Assistant Examiner: Hafer; Robert A.
Claims
I claim:
1. A connection device for connecting electrical conductors
embedded in two strips of insulating material with said electrical
conductors having bared portions protruding from said strips of
insulating material and said device being mounted in an opening
formed in a supporting wall comprising
first and second elements interfitted to each other;
said first element including
straight parallel cradles adapted to receive said bared portions of
said conductors,
centering means connected to each of said strips of insulating
material,
at least two flexible parallel edges,
and locking lugs carried by said edges so as to obtain a locking
effect of said first element on the periphery of said opening in
the supporting wall;
said second element including
straight parallel grooves, each adjacent one of said cradles of
said first element,
double jaws of conducting and resilient material housed in said
grooves and each connecting one of the bared portions to another
bared portion of the other strip of insulating material,
a locking tongue along at least one edge of said second element
permitting said first and second elements to be joined by pressure
around said tongue serving as a supporting point.
2. An electrical distribution system comprising
a U-shaped channel adapted for carrying conductors between the
parallel walls of said channel;
at least one insulated strip having a plurality of parallel wires
embedded therein with intermediate webs between said wires;
said insulated strip positioned along the inside face of one of
said walls and held between a first insulated element and a second
insulated element;
one of said elements having inwardly clamping surfaces and said
insulated strip having a bared portion positioned in said clamping
surfaces;
said second insulated element positioned in front of an opening
formed in said wall of said channel and having apertures adapted to
receive the prong of a connecting plug;
said first insulated element having lateral edges outside the area
of said clamping surfaces;
said second insulated element having lateral edges of flexible
material positioned in front of said edges of said first
element;
a pair of locking lugs between said edges of said elements;
and means for securing said second element to said wall of said
channel.
3. The electrical distribution system of claim 2, further
characterized by
said locking lugs having a hollow spongy stud integral with said
flexible edge of said second element, a head on said stud suitable
for engaging in a hole in said edge of said first element, and a
shaft threaded in its interior for an attaching screw passing
through said wall of said channel.
4. The electrical distribution system of claim 2, further
characterized by
said second element having a central substantially quadrangular
plate having said aperture therethrough adjacent said bared portion
of said insulated strip;
said plate having a groove on said periphery;
a connecting plug substantially similarly shaped to said plate and
having resilient flanges flexibly engaging said groove on said
plate;
and a locking lug passing through the face of said connecting plug
and engaging said plate of said second element.
5. The electrical distribution system of claim 4, further
characterized by
said inwardly clamping surfaces being positioned on said second
element and having double jaws of conducting material located
adjacent said apertures for contact with prongs from said
connecting plug.
6. The electrical distribution system of claim 2, further
characterized by
said means for securing said second element to said wall of said
channel being a flexible frame on said second element with parallel
flanges on said frame and protruding fins on said frame to obtain a
locking effect with the periphery of said wall of said channel.
Description
The present invention has for its object an electrical distribution
assembly which is placed in an opening formed in a supporting
wall.
Outlet unit assemblies or like accessories are already known which
are intended for use in electrical installations comprising
insulating strips or tapes containing conducting wires, these
strips or tapes being placed on the surface of their support, for
example on a wall or on a skirting board.
One or more accessories of this kind are interposed at any points
of the strip without it being necessary to cut the conductors, a
portion of the conductors being bared without being cut, in order
to carry out the desired electrical connection.
These outlet unit assemblies or similar accessories comprise a base
and a cover which grip between them the insulating strip. The cover
and the base are mechanically coupled to each other by appropriate
means, for example by forming holes in the cover close to its
opposite edges, these holes facing corresponding holes formed in
the base so as to receive screws which also serve to fix the outlet
unit assembly on an appropriate support. These screws also pass
through the insulating body of the strip, and holes are thus formed
in this strip.
Furthermore, harness ducts for electric current distribution
installations are also known which are pierced with openings for
the wiring of switches and outlet unit assemblies.
These harness ducts generally leave little room for other conducts
intended for other uses, which are most frequently carried by
channels, housings or additional shelves, added internally to the
harness ducts.
The invention is directed to an electrical distribution assembly
which is placed in an opening of a supporting wall, characterized
in that it comprises at least one plate receiving the electric
current supply conductors, which are preferably embedded in a strip
of insulating material, in such manner that this strip is placed,
without other fixing means, against the inner face of the sidewall
in which is formed the opening considered.
The assembly according to the invention may especially be placed in
an opening formed in a sidewall of an electric current distribution
installation duct, the central portion of this duct, left empty by
the side flattening of the conductor strips, being capable of
receiving other conduits intended for various other uses.
Other characteristic features and advantages of the present
invention will be brought out in the description which follows
below, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly according to the
invention, having its mounting in an opening formed in a sidewall
of an electric current distribution installation ducts;
FIG. 1a is a perspective view of an assembly according to the
invention, forming a current supply outlet arranged for three
conductors;
FIGS. 2 and 2a are plan views of an element common to two forms of
embodiment of current supply outlets; FIG. 2 shows the rear face of
the element and FIG. 2a the front face;
FIGS. 3 and 3a are plan views of the exterior and interior of
another current supply outlet element with two conductors;
FIGS. 4 and 4a are plan views of the exterior and interior of an
element similar to the previous element but in a current supply
outlet with three conductors;
FIGS. 5, 5a and 5b are views of the back, the interior and the end
of a male current supply outlet with two pins;
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an alternative form in which two
elements permit the jointing of two portions of conductor
strips;
FIG. 6a is a detail view of double jaw;
FIG. 7 is a view in elevation of a portion of supporting wall
pierced with an opening.
With reference to FIG. 1, a portion of ducting 1 is shown with a
rectangular cross section, the two sides of which correspond to the
lateral walls 1a and 1b. These two walls, or one only, are formed
with openings 2, separated from each other by a distance depending
on the desired utilization. On each side of each opening, there are
formed fixing holes 3 and 4.
The lower part 1c of the duct is provided longitudinally with
openings 5 which can be arranged either axially, for example in the
central axis, or in staggered relation or in any other way. As
regards the upper portion 1d, this is provided with a continuous
axial gap limited by the supporting edges for a cover (not shown)
which is fitted in position for example by click and ratchet
engagement.
In the interior of this duct, against the lateral walls 1a and 1b,
are respectively arranged the element 6 and 7 which constitute the
carrying and distribution conduits of the electric current. These
elements are held against the internal faces of these supporting
walls and are advantageously joined together so as to form a kind
of strip, and comprise the desired number of wires, generally
corresponding to the number of holes for receiving the pins of the
current supply outlet, these holes being provided in a supporting
plate 10.
This plate serves, at the same time, as a means of distribution of
the electric current and of maintenance of all the wires or cables
of each electric conduit against the wall. The latter are in fact
placed in front of each opening 2 in the duct and are gripped in a
plate 10 which is securely coupled to the wall by fixing means
introduced into the holes 3 and 4.
The electric conduits being thus held against the lateral walls of
the duct and being easily arranged so as to provide a branch supply
of electric current necessary for supplying the geographical sector
placed in the area of passage of the duct, it follows that the
intermediate space is no longer encumbered so that there may easily
be placed in this space a certain number of wires, cables or tubes
intended for different uses, the utilization of which is completely
independent of the lateral electric conduits.
In this way it is possible to arrange a certain number of elements
8 loosely arranged on the lower portion 1c serving as a support,
until they completely fill the whole of the empty space defined on
one side by the distance between the two electric conduits 6-7 or
possibly between one of these latter and the opposite wall and, on
another side, by the distance between the two parts 1c and 1d.
Depending on the utilization and the destination of the elements 8,
the latter may be deviated from the supporting duct when this is
necessary, by causing them to pass out of the duct through the
openings which have been formed in the duct, such as the ports
provided in the bottom 1c, or alternatively through the
longitudinal continuous opening located in the upper portion 1d.
This is the case of the cable 9 which, as shown in the drawing,
passes through the port 5 in such manner that one extremity 9a
passes out of the duct over a length sufficient to reach the device
which is to be coupled to the other extremity of the cable (not
shown).
In the form of embodiment shown in FIG. 1a, a plate A and a cover B
made of insulating material and preferably of molded plastic
material, hold between them a strip of insulating material C in
which are embedded three conductors c. The whole unit constitutes a
current supply outlet completed externally by a male element D with
pins.
The conductors c are laid bare over a certain length 1 so as to be
received in corresponding cradles 11, formed in the plate A.
On the path of the conductors c introduced into their respective
cradles 11, the cover B is provided with orifices 12 so as to
receive the pins 13 of the element D.
The form of embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 3a constitutes a
current supply outlet with two conductor.
The form of embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 4a relates to a current
supply outlet with three conductors.
FIGS. 2 and 2a represent an element A which is equally suitable to
the form of embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 3a and to the form of FIGS. 4
and 4a.
This element is provided internally with three cradles 11 arranged
parallel so that they can receive, either a set of two conductors
c, or a set of three conductors c.
The element B shown in FIGS. 3 and 3a (current supply outlet with
two conductors) like the element B shown in FIGS. 4 and 4a (current
supply outlet with three conductors) is provided provided
externally with a quadrangular projecting plate 14 surrounded by a
flexible frame 15, a groove 16 existing between the plate and the
flexible frame (the flexibility of the frame 15 is due to the
material of which the element B is made).
This flexible frame is provided laterally with lugs 17 intended, as
will be explained below, for fitting the element into an opening O
in the supporting wall P which may be a lateral wall of the
duct.
The male element D of the current supply outlet, carrying the pins
13, is provided with straight fins 18 on three of its sides. These
fins are intended to serve at the same time for automatic guiding
of the male element D in the groove 16 of quadrangular perimeter of
the element B, for holding this element D in position and as a
means of protection for the user.
The element D shown in FIGS. 5 and 5a cooperates with the element B
of the current supply outlet with two conductors.
The element D cooperating with the element B of the current supply
outlet with three conductors obviously comprises three pins 13 and
has not been shown.
In the alternative form shown in FIG. 6, the element A and the
element B serve to join together two different elements C1 and C2
of the strip with embedded conductors. The element A receives in
its cradles 11 a bared portion of conductors c of the element C1
and a bared portion of conductors c of the element C2.
This element A comprises two lateral edges 19, parallel to each
other and parallel to the cradles 11 on which are provided lugs 17a
similar to the lugs 17 of the elements B of the forms of embodiment
of FIGS. 3, 3a, and 4, 4a.
The cover B of the alternative form shown in FIG. 6 comprises
double jaws 20 gripped by clips 20a and housed in grooves or
recesses in this cover, the said jaws each joining a conductor c of
the element C1 and a conductor c of the element C2. It further
comprises a locking tongue 21.
The fixing, immobilization and locking of the various elements to
each other and of the whole of these elements on a supporting wall,
resulting in the production of current supply assemblies and
jointing devices, are effected in the following manner:
I the form of construction shown in FIG. 1a, two hollow studs 22
(in the form of headed plugs) provided on the wings 22a of the
element B, each pass through a hole 23 formed in the strip of
insulating material of the element C so as to be driven and locked
in a corresponding socket 24 formed in the element A. This
arrangement thus permits the fixing of the elements A, B and C to
each other. The fixing of this assembly in a supporting wall (which
may be a lateral wall of a duct) is obtained by means of simple
screws passing through the wall and screwing into the hollow studs
22 which are threaded for that purpose. The element D with pins 13
can be locked in its turn on the assembly A, B, C by means of a
bayonet screw 25 engaging in a corresponding socket 26 formed in
the element A, after having passed through the element D by an
orifice 25a and the element B by an orifice 27.
In the forms of embodiment of FIGS. 3, 3a and FIGS. 4, 4a (the
element A of FIGS. 2 and 2a being common to the two alternatives),
the assembly of the element A and the element B with the
interposition of the element C is effected as previously by means
of hollow studs 22 in the form of headed plugs locked in
corresponding sockets 24. On the other hand, these studs are not
necessarily threaded to receive fixing screws passing through the
supporting wall (see the holes 3 and 4 formed in the duct shown i
FIG. 1), this fixing being then obtained by hooking the element B
on the periphery of the opening formed in the supporting wall.
Due to the elasticity of the frame 15, the studs 17 can be
withdrawn during a first stage and then returned to their first
position in front of the front face of the wall in a second stage,
the introduction into the opening O being effected by the rear
face.
It is therefore not necessary in this case to form the holes 3 and
4 for fixing screws in the supporting wall P.
The element D with pins 13 can be fitted on the element B by means
of its fins 18 which pass into the quadrangular perimeter groove 16
of the element B. Two of these fins, parallel to each other, pass
deeply into two parallel sides of the perimeter of the groove 16,
while the third fin of lower height is engaged in one of the sides
perpendicular to the two sides already considered of the perimeter
of this groove and having a depth corresponding to this third fin.
Elastic lateral earthing clips 28 are provided on the element D so
that these clips close on the flexible frame 15 of the element B
when the element D is completely forced into the element B. A notch
28a can be provided on two parallel sides of the periphery of the
opening O formed in the supporting wall P in order to permit the
passage of these clips 28.
The element D can be locked on the assembly A, B, C by means of a
screw (not shown) which passes through the element D by an orifice
29, the element B by an orifice 30 and is screwed into a nut 31
embedded in a corresponding socket 32 of the element A.
I the form of construction shown in FIG. 6, the element C1 and the
element C2 are each pierced with a hole 23a for the passage of a
centering stud 33 provided on one wing 33a of the element A. The
cut edge 34 of the strip forming the element C1, and also the cut
edge 34 of the strip forming the element C2 come into abutment
against the lateral edges 35 of the cradles 11.
The lateral edges 19 of the element A are provided, like the
flexible frame 15 of the alternative forms shown in FIGS. 3, 3a and
4, 4a, with lugs 17a permitting the locking of the element on the
periphery of the opening O formed in the wall P.
The double jaws 20 of the element B may then be engaged on the
bared portions of the conductors c of the elements C1 and C2 so as
to join these conductors together. In doing this, the tongue 21 of
the element B is slid from the outside towards the inside behind
the wall P and the element B is engaged by pivoting between the
edges 19 of the element A.
An outer tongue 36 is provided on the element B and in a different
plane from the tongue 21, so as to enable the element B to be
disengaged. The element B can be fixed to the element A by means of
a screw passing through the element B by a hole 37 and screwing
into a nut embedded in a corresponding socket 38 of the element
A.
It will of course be understood that the present invention has only
been described and illustrated by way of preferred examples, and
that equivalent means can be provided in its constituent elements
without thereby departing from the scope of the said invention.
* * * * *