Fast connecting system for electrical or electronic devices with interchangeable common elements

ES 2

DESCRIPTION

Quick connection system for electrical or electronic devices with interchangeable common elements.

Object of the invention

The present invention, as expressed in the wording of this specification, refers to a system for quick connection of electrical or electronic devices with interchangeable common elements, where the devices are made up of individual modules equipped with input terminals for connection to other devices or equipment, and output terminals for its connection with the other module, through input terminals that it incorporates. Both modules are equipped with respective protection covers for the aforementioned terminals, with steps to access them.

The object of the invention is to provide a system in which in the input terminal area of ​​one of the modules, the socket and the protection cover belonging to the other module are integrated and reproduced, with which these can be mounted on the output terminal area of ​​the previous module, allowing this to be supplied without said socket and protection cover, and allowing the coupling and connection between both modules after disassembling the aforementioned socket and protection cover of the module that initially incorporates them.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a rapid connection and fixation system between both modules, based on the fact that the screws by means of which the connections between terminals and the corresponding fixation are established, are mounted on springs that keep them guided and positioned in the correct position. opening and facing the through holes and threading of the terminals, to make the aforementioned connections and fixation easily and quickly.

Therefore, it can be said that the system is solved structurally with a reduction of components that provide an economic saving to the manufacturer and therefore to the user, as well as a reduction of time in the connection and / or assembly between modules.

The system is preferably applicable in those devices or modules formed by a differential protection relay against leakage of current to earth and an automatic switch, which are mounted in electrical distribution circuits, to protect against overcurrents produced by any type of alteration or electrical anomaly, being equally applicable to other electrical or electronic appliances or devices in which its use is required and feasible.

The system allows, based on its structural characteristics, the successive coupling of modules in cascade.

Background of the invention

In the protection of electrical distribution circuits, devices are used that usually comprise two devices or modules, one constituting a switch and the other constituting a differential protection relay against leakage of current to earth, both incorporating an area corresponding to input terminals and an area corresponding to output terminals, so that in each

029 B1 2 in one of these areas there is a socket carrying the terminals and, in some cases, a protection cover with access passages to be able to manipulate, using an appropriate tool, the terminals in question, specifically the screws that must fix the terminals. of the terminals.

Conventionally, in this type of modules, the socket that carries the terminals, both input and output, are usually removable to be able to mount one or another type of terminals, depending on the application or use of the appliances or devices. In addition, in the assembly or coupling areas of both modules, the corresponding terminals, at the output of the automatic switch module and at the input of the differential module, include complementary elements so that when assembling common terminals are established to make the electrical connection. between both modules.

On the other hand, the protection covers provided in these modules are fixed, that is, they form an integral part of the module, preventing its disassembly, which prevents and hinders the corresponding assembly or assembly of the different types of conductors and / or plates.

Based on the aforementioned, it is evident that for the electrical interconnection between the two modules, four pieces are required, two of them corresponding to the sockets and the other two corresponding to the covers. These four pieces suppose an economic cost in the production or manufacture of the same, regardless of the time used in their assembly and the time in carrying out the assembly between both modules, without counting on the fact that normally the fixing of the terminals by means of corresponding screws carries with it a series of problems and inconveniences for the operator, who sometimes sees how the screws fall off at the moment of starting their corresponding threading, It could even produce the loss of some of them.

Description of the invention

The system object of the invention is designed to be able to carry out in a simple, fast and efficient way, the electrical interconnection and at the same time the assembly between modules or electrical devices, using fewer pieces than those conventionally required, being reduced to a single socket and a protection cover instead of the two sockets and the two covers that are conventionally required.

The system that is advocated, being applicable to the type of modules or devices referred to above, where one module will be considered from now on as the first module, and the other will be considered as the second module, presents the peculiarity that In the first module, both the sockets on which the corresponding terminals are established and the respective protection covers are removable, Interchangeable and mountable in the area of ​​the output terminals of the second module, allowing this to be marketed without those output terminals, since the sockets carrying the output terminals of the first module can be mounted in their area after disassembling from this .

For this, it is a fundamental characteristic of the invention that in the input terminal area

ES 2 199 029 B1 of the second module are reproduced and integrated the socket and protection cover of the first module, with which these can be removed from said first module and mounted in the output terminal area of ​​the second module, allowing the supply of this without said socket and cover.

On the other hand, it is also a feature of novelty that the connection and fixing screws of the terminals corresponding to the terminals of the input area of ​​the second module, are mounted in a permanent open position, that is, towards the position in the that the screw does not fix the terminals corresponding to the two modules together, achieving that permanent open predisposition of the screw that fixes the terminals, by means of a spring, in combination with a washer with pins determining a kind of cup, which is positioned at the upper end of the spring and which is constituted as a means of support and retention for the head of the screw that is housed concentrically to the spring, and all this located in the interior of a guide piece or cover that is mounted with a detachable character in a recess provided for this purpose in the corresponding input terminal area of ​​the second module. In this way, the electrical interconnection and at the same time the assembly between the modules in which the system of the invention is applicable can be carried out in a simple, fast and efficient way, achieving at the same time the advantage that the second module can be marketed without the socket and the protection cover corresponding to the output terminal area, since these elements will be removed from the first module and mounted in that output terminal area of ​​the second module.

Likewise, it is worth highlighting the fact that since the protection covers are removable, the manipulation in the assembly and connection can be carried out with greater ease and comfort.

Another advantage is that the fixing screws of the terminals corresponding to the interconnection terminals between the modules are integrated in the second module, thus avoiding the typical loss or loss of the screws themselves, while not It is necessary to try to make the threading of the screws, since, as already mentioned, they are properly guided and predisposed so that by pushing the corresponding tool, and actuation thereof, the threading and fixing of the corresponding terminals takes place.

Finally, it has been foreseen that the modules in their connection and assembly are complemented with an upper intermediate cover, both for protection of that area and concealment of the intersection steps established in the assembly between both modules, as well as for finishing or embellishing, which provides a better aesthetic appearance in the assembly between them.

Brief description of the drawings

To complement the description that is going to be made below and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, the present specification is accompanied by a set of drawings on the basis of which the innovations and advantages will be more easily understood. of the system object of the invention.

Figure 1.- Shows a representation according to a perspective of the basic and complementary modules, independent of each other, as they arrive at the user, to carry out their connection and assembly.

Figure 2.- Shows a perspective view of the same basic and complementary modules represented in the previous figure, where it can be seen how the socket that carries the nuts into which the terminal fixing screws are threaded, has been made independent of the output terminal area of ​​the basic module, as well as its corresponding protection cover, the arrows shown in this figure indicating the extraction area of ​​these two elements, as well as their mounting area on the corresponding complementary module.

Figure 3.- Shows a perspective view of the two modules facing each other to establish their connection and assembly, the complementary module incorporating the corresponding cover and socket that have previously been disassembled from the base module.

Figure 4.- Shows a perspective view of the part corresponding to the output terminals of the complementary module, as it is marketed, that is, without the socket and cover that must be separated from the basic module to be mounted in that area of output terminals of the complementary module represented in this figure.

Figure 5.- Shows a side elevation view of the two modules in a position to be coupled together, showing the end parts of the coupling in section to reveal its fundamental components.

Figure 6.- Shows a view like the one in the previous figure with the two modules assembled together.

Figure 7.- Shows a view like the one in the previous figure with the screw threaded in the nut belonging to the input terminals of the complementary module, and whose screw establishes the fixation of the terminal corresponding to the basic module.

Figure 8.- Shows a perspective view of the complementary module, on the part corresponding to the input terminal area, with one of these removed and exploded to reveal the parts and components that make up it.

Description of the preferred embodiment

In the referred figures, the modules 1 and 2 that have to be connected and assembled together can be seen. Module 1 comprises a part or zone 3 corresponding to the input terminals, and an opposite part or zone 4 corresponding to the output terminals, while module 2 includes a part or zone 5 corresponding to input terminals and a part or zone 6 corresponding to output terminals.

Module 1 incorporates in these input 3 and output 4 zones, respective sockets 7 and protection covers 8, the sockets 7 being the same and interchangeable, like the mentioned covers

ES 2 199 029 B1 protection 8.

The sockets 7 incorporate the corresponding nuts 9 into which the screws 10 for fixing to the terminals 11 have to be screwed, the latter being fixed elements, while the nuts 9 with the screws 10 are always associated with the corresponding socket 7. The nuts 9 with the screws 10 and terminals 11 form in each case the corresponding terminals of the module.

Although modules have been shown with three poles in the drawings, undoubtedly they could have four poles or any appropriate number.

The protection covers 8 are provided with passages 12 to allow the introduction of an appropriate tool and carry out the manipulation of the screws 10 for fixing the terminals, in order to be able to carry out the threading or unscrewing of said screws.

In figure 2 module 1 is shown once its socket 7 and respective protection cover 8 have been removed, corresponding to zone 4 of output terminals, showing in that figure 2 an arrow marking indicating the areas of module 2 where to mount that socket 7 and protection cover 8.

For its part, the aforementioned module 2 incorporates in the input zone 5 the corresponding terminals integrated in said module, and whose terminals are located on a lower socket 13 that is fixed and forms an integral part of the module 2, each terminal being formed in this case by a nut 14, with the corresponding threaded hole 15, as well as with a screw 16 that is mounted in a guided way on a piece 17 as an inverted bowl and determining a protection and covering cap of said screw 16, as well as a spring 18 that keeps it constantly pushed up, supporting the screw 16 in a washer 19 with pins 20 that determine a kind of cup positioned inside the spring 18 and retention in east, the stem of the screw 16 being housed concaentrically in the spring 18 and with its head resting precisely on the bowl that forms the washer 19. The part that functions as a protection cover 17 has an upper hole 21 for access to the screw 16 to lead to carry out its actuation.

This set, which determines the corresponding terminal on module 2, forms in each case an integrated terminal located in a recess 22 established for this purpose in module 2 itself, in correspondence with the input terminal zone 5. In this case, the protection of the terminals is carried out by means of a cover 8 'that is an integral part of the module 2 itself, as shown in the corresponding figures, and whose cover 8', like the protection covers 8, has the following holes or passages 12 to access the screws 16 of the connection terminals.

In this way, and in accordance with the above, module 1 and module 2 are supplied as they appear in figure 1, that is, module 1 with its corresponding sockets 7 as well as the respective protection covers 8, while that module 2 is supplied only with socket 13 and cover 8 'which are fixed and correspond to the part or zone 5 of input terminals, module lacking the socket and cover corresponding to zone 6 of output terminals.

Well, from what is shown in figure 1, to make the connection and assembly between modules 1 and 2, the first thing that is done is the disassembly of socket 7 corresponding to zone 4 of output terminals of module 1 and of the cover 8 in the same area, leaving the terminals 11 free as shown in figure 2.

B that socket 7 is then coupled with the nuts 9 and screws 10, in the area 6 of the output terminals of the module 2, establishing, together with the fixed terminals on that side of the module 2, the corresponding output terminals of the same. The protection cover 8 is also mounted in this area.

Furthermore, modules 1 and 2 are confronted and coupled with each other, as shown from Figure 3, so that in this coupling the terminals 11 of the output terminal area 4 of module 1 are arranged between the nuts 14 of said module 2 and respective plates located at a higher level, so that this coupling can be carried out easily since the screws 16 are pushed upwards by the springs 18, that is to say, always predisposed towards an opening or lifting position, retained by the washer 19, as shown in figures 5 and 6.

Once this coupling is made, the screws 16 are threaded, introducing the appropriate tool through the upper passage 12 of the cover 8 'and through the passage 21 established in the protective cover 17, where the terminals that constitute these are housed. screws 16 with the corresponding terminals. In this sense, the screw 16 passes through the corresponding holes of the terminals 11 and threads in the holes 15 of the nuts 14 corresponding to the module 2, thus establishing the fixation.

To carry out the disassembly, it is enough to unscrew the screws 16, which by the effect of the springs 18 are pushed upwards, releasing the terminals 11 and allowing, by simply pulling in the opposite direction, to carry out the independence or separation of the modules 1 and 2.

As can be seen, both assembly and disassembly is carried out easily, completely quickly and without any kind of problems, since the screws 16 for fixing or tightening the terminals are, in an inoperative position, pushed upwards, or which is the same, in an open position, but facing the holes of the terminals and of the nut of the module 2 so that a simple push and turn of the same makes the threading on the hole 15 of the nut 14 of such module 2.

Finally, to say that the connection and assembly between modules 1 and 2, as shown in figures 6 and 7, is complemented with a cover 23 that, in addition to covering the upper connection area, constitutes a beautifying or decorative element of the assembly between both modules 1 and 2.

As has already been said before, by means of the aforementioned connection system, it is possible to quickly perform the interconnection and / or in

ES 2 199 029 B1 assembly between modules that correspond to electrical and / or electronic devices equipped with input and output terminals, allowing a cascade coupling of an indeterminate number of modules, which in a preferred embodiment can be materialized in a differential leakage protection relay to earth and in a circuit breaker.